The Bucket List

"You made it," Brock sighed in relief when he saw Ash walk through the sliding glass doors. "I was starting to worry you weren't going to come."

Ash shrugged. "Well, I'm here."

Brock shot Ash a look, but he avoided Brock's eyes in favor of the lobby floor. It was apparent Ash either unhappy or uncomfortable with being here, but Brock was glad to see him anyway. It'd taken him a long time to get Ash to come to Cerulean, but Brock hadn't given up. It meant too much to Misty.

"Are you ready to see her?" Brock asked.

"I guess," Ash replied, sounding disinterested. "I mean, that's why I'm here, right?"

Brock frowned. Why is Ash acting so cold? Couldn't he try to be more understanding? After all, their best friend was very sick. Ash should have been here the second they found out.

"Right. I'll take you there," Brock replied. Turning on his heel, he led the way to the elevator. Once inside, Brock selected their floor, and the elevator began to move. "I should warn you, she looks...different," Brock cautioned.

"What do you mean?"

Brock wanted to tell Ash that he should already know why, but he didn't have the energy for an argument. "Remember Ash, it's been a few weeks since Misty found out she was sick. We thought she was getting better, but then in the last two weeks, she's been getting weaker every day. She's just...I don't know. She's lost her spirit."

"Lost her spirit?"

"You'll see what I mean."

The door opened with a ding, and Brock headed over to the nurse's station without even trying to flirt with any nurses.

"Hi there, Brock," one of the nurses named Sara greeted him. "Here to see Misty again?"

"Actually, I'm here to bring a special visitor for her," Brock replied. "I'll be by later, though."

"Who's the visitor?" Sara asked

Stepping aside, Brock revealed Ash, who was hidden from Sara's view. "Hi, I'm Ash," Ash introduced himself.

"So, you're the famous Ash Ketchum," Sarah remarked, her eyes lighting up with recognition. "I've heard a lot about you."Ash stuffed his hands into the pocket of his hoodie and stared down at the ground. "Just write the password on this piece of paper, and if it's correct, I'll give you a visitor's badge, and you can go see her."

Flicking his head up, Ash gave the nurse a puzzled look.

"But I don't-"

Grabbing a piece of paper from Sara, Brock scribbled down the password before handing it to Ash. "Here, the password's bicycle," he said. "Misty created it. She wanted to make sure to remind you of what you owe her."

"Oh."

"Thank you!" Sara beamed as she peeled off a visitor's sticker and handed it over to Ash. "Make sure you have this on so that we can see it, at all times," she explained. "It's for security reasons." Placing the sticker on the right side of his chest, Ash thanked the woman before turning around. "I'm glad you made it, Ash. I think you'll be exactly what she needs right now to lift her spirits."

"Thanks, Sara." Brock led the way as he and Ash walked down the hallway. About halfway down, Brock turned right, entering a room that had a giant paper Dewgong on the propped open door. In the middle of the Dewgong, someone had written Get Well Soon! and surrounding the words, and encompassing the rest of the Pokémon, were signatures and messages from Misty's friends and family.

"Hey Brock," a voice called followed by a cough."Back again?"

"Actually, I have a surprise for you," Brock announced, unable to contain his excitement. He never doubted she appreciated everything the others had done for her, but Ash was her best friend, and he hated seeing the disappointed look on her face when another day would go by without him coming to visit. Stepping aside, Brock gestured his hand toward Ash. "Look who I found wandering around the lobby?"