The Time We Knew

By Kirbyhan@aol.com

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Part 1


Misty sat alone outside of the Ceruleum City Gym holding a letter in her hand. It had been three years since she had spoken to Ash, and she wasn't sure what to do.
She remembered when she had to leave Ash and Tracy, which was one of the hardest choices of her life. Daisy had sent her a _long_ letter telling her matches were getting rare and that they needed her. Of course it was just a scheme to get her home and nag her about the fact she would never be a Pokemon Master. After that day, Ash and Misty had just lost track of each other, until today. Misty pulled out the letter and unfolded it. Its edges had been crisply folded and the handwriting was too neat for Ash. She quickly skimmed the letter again. It read:

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Dear Misty,
Times have changed, and I'm really sorry we haven't been in touch. I've decided to stay home for a while and I want you to come over with me. I've done some thinking and I know you need training...so...I figured I could help you out. I know things must be rough for you, considering knowing your sisters, your stuck with all of the work. Well, here's your excuse! You just one an all expense paid trip to Ash's house in Pallet! Well, I hope I see you soon,

Your friend, Ash~~~

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What a hard decision. Most of the things he had said were true, she had been doing most all of the work, including finances, Pokemon training (which she was doing a bad job at),and her sisters had also bribed her into being Misty Mermaid again.
She sighed. Right now more than anything she just needed to get away. Her sisters had treated her like dirt and in her opinion, this was a form of torturing them. She smiled and stood up. The sky was covered in stars and the moon bled through the pitch black darkness the night gave. She turned around and ran inside to Daisy's room.
"Daisy!" Misty knocked impatiently on her sisters door. She heard a moan from the other side and slowly the door opened. A head poked from behind it and gave a small squeak.
"Like, Misty, What do you want?"
Misty decided to try out Ash's excuse. "Remember a year ago I entered that contest on winning a free trip to Pokemon Falls? Well I one and I'm going tomorrow! Actually, I think I'll leave tonight..."Misty pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and unfolded it. "Train leaves in one hour...Well Bye!" She turned to leave and Daisy firmly grasped her shoulder.
"Misty, Your like not doing or like going anywhere. Your work like, lies here and I, as your older sister cannot allow to leave"
"Too bad" Misty escaped her sisters grasp and raced up to her room to pack.
She locked the door from the inside so her sisters couldn't get in and strap her down. She could here they're angry shouts and objections and ignored them by placing her Nine Days CD in. Slowly the shouts died out, but she knew they hadn't given up. With her luck they'd stalk her...She gathered her backpacks, two to be exact, and slowly turned her music up loud to muffle the sounds of her opening window. She slowly slid out and climbed down the nearest tree. Once on the ground, she headed for the gym. She crept in and silently called her Pokemon into their Pokeballs. She slipped them onto her belt and made a dash for the train station. The man boarding passengers was lean and very tall. He towered above misty at least be two feet, and if he wasn't as old as the Taj Mahall, might have been elected a new basketball player. Heck, he probably wouldn't even need to reach for the basketball hoop. Misty laughed a little at the thought of an 80 y/o man playing basketball.
"I need one one way ticket to Pallet Town." she stated. The man gave her an odd look and gave her the ticket. "Aren't you a little young?"
"17" she quickly turned from him to avoid a lecture on how the streets could be dangerous. Besides, she was nearly and adult anyway, wasn't she? She boarded and climbed over to the nearest window-seat.
She wasn't about to admit it, but she was a little nervous. Last time she had seen Ash was when she was a little girl, and had a slight crush on him..."I wonder if he's still cute..."She turned red and pulled out a book. Lost in the world of reading, she arrived at Pallet.

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Part 2

Misty slowly walked down the streets of Pallet, searching for a Cab. People
surrounded her, and some of the younger ones were looking at her. She had
changed as much as she hoped Ash did. She had grown her hair down to her
waist and over time it had become naturally, slightly crimpy. Her eyes were
still aquamarine, but had more blue towards the center. She blushed a little
at the stares, and continued her search.
On the opposite side of the street she saw what looked like a cab. She
quickly prayed that it was and dodged across the crosswalk. Once she was
approached, she noticed that it was a cab and had a movie-like driver. He had
obviously been related or even became a hippy. Long nappy hair stretched down
his back while a cigarette was oodged in his mouth. She sighed and knocked on
the window.
The man opened it and In a very sweet voice, almost unnerving, asked, "What
can I do for a gorgeous young lady like yourself?"
She didn't bother blushing, figuring it might give the clueless guy an idea.
"I need to go here" She handed him Ash's address, neatly printed on a piece
of scratch paper. The man eyed the paper and gave her a suspicious grin.
"So, why on Earth would _you_ be doing wanting to go to a Pokemon Masters
home?" She was a little shocked at his response and was surprised that his
house was so well known.
"I'm one of his old friends though I don't see why it should concern you!
Your a cab driver, your supposed to drive people to their destinations not
inquire."
He was taken back by her rough tone and slowly got out of the car to open the
door for her. She slid in and he did the same. "So" He started, "You're an
old friend of Ash?"
Misty knew he probably wouldn't give up so she gave in.
"Yeah...We lost track of each other a few years ago and we finally located
each other again...He invited me actually, and I really wanted to get away
from home."
He started up the car and began driving down the streets. "Why?"
Misty thought, ~Well aren't you the questionable folk, sheesh~.
"Well, I'm one of the Cerulean City Gym leaders...kind of. I came here for
some training. So how long have you lived here?"
The man noticed her struggling to get out of his subject.
"About, mmmmmmm...5 years? Yes, that sounds about right."
Misty nodded and the car stopped. "We're here!" The man was utterly happy to
reach such an important residence. Misty could really care less. All Pokemon
Masters tended to be the same, some stuck up and others shy. She knew Ash was
neither and stepped out from the car. The man jumped out and ran to her side.
"Do you need help with your bags?"
"Uh..no"
"Do you, need help with anything?"
"No"
She heard the man mutter 'darn' and he got back inside his compact car. He
drove away, leaving her to sway outside of Ash's home. She was really nervous
now. She didn't think she could go or if she could just stand there. Using
all of the self esteem she had left, she took her first step. She steadily
began walking up ti the front porch of the house and took a deep breath.
"Misty, your 17 and your afraid to see an old friend! Your pathetic..."She
muttered to herself. Taking her last ounce of courage, she rang the doorbell.
"Hang on!" She heard a voice call. Though she hadn't spoke to Ash, it didn't
seem like his voice at all. From behind her a small voice purred "Togepi!"
The sound startled her and the book she had been reading fell in front of
her. She bent down to pick it up as the door opened. She stood back up and
brushed the book off.
"Can I...Help you?" The voice caused her head to slowly rise and she
exclaimed, "Tracy!?"
The boy looked confused. "That's me, who are you?"
She face faulted and replied, "You don't have any memory of 'Misty'?"
The boy gave a gasp and put on a huge grin. "Misty!? That's you? Boy your
gorgeous! Great now I'm talking like Brock..."
She blushed and hung her head down.
"So what are you here for?"
She looked back up to him. "Ash invited me over for training and I came as
soon as I got the letter...My sisters were being kind of low and I decided to
get out as soon as I could."
"Wow! Come in, please!" He was still admiring her while he lead her over to
the living room. He helped her set her bags down and said, "Lemme go get Ash,
he's trying something new with Pikachu..."Misty gave him a confused
expression and he answered, "Don't ask"
He left upstairs and she sat down. Mrs, Ketchum had done some remodeling
while she was gone. The couch was a light brown and the walls were a
bash/white colour. She admired the pictures they had hung on the wall; the
ones where they were all a small group together and the ones of him winning
the league. She smiled as she perched Togepi on her lap. It gave a small
squeak in reply.
Footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs and she heard Tracy saying,
"Well, I guess it really is a surprise"
Ash asked "What?"
"You'll see"
When he reached the bottom of the stairs both him and her gasped. Misty did
not see the boy she once knew. No, this one was taller, more muscular, and
definitely more cute.
Ash saw a beautiful redhead with shoulder length hair that had also grown as
well. She had become shorter that him, he could tell, when she stood up. She
was beautiful. He walked over to her and studdered, "M...Misty?"
She nodded and he gave her a huge hug. She blushe deeply and pulled back at
first and then sank into it. She was so happy she felt wanted and was almost
mad when he broke the hug. She had a couple tears in her eyes and said, "I'm
so glad to see you again."
He nodded and they both sat down.
"Well, It looks like we're having a reunion the rest of today."Tracy stated.
The rest of the afternoon was filled with laughing and talking, and lots of
blushes.