Endings and New Beginnings

Epilogue:

             They were having a party, Richie had just returned from defeating the Elite Five (in a much shorter time than Ash had.  It had only taken him four months, of course the Elite Five had been gathered in one place for a conference, which made it much easier- especially since that place was Viridian city. Richie only had to wait for the conference to end – that had been a long conference.) 

            Ash and Misty were sitting together on a fence at the Oak lab, watching the others.   Gary, with his arm around May, was talking to Richie about the plans for their gym, plans he and Ash had made together, who’da thunk?  Tracey was sketching Jenny, who was sitting on a tire swing by the lake, wearing a stunning blue number (what is with stunning blue numbers in this story?  They’re everywhere!)  Brock was watching Joy in wonder as she played with a baby Mareep (one of Ash’s Pokemon had recently given birth). 

            Ash sighed contentedly as Misty leaned against him.  Who’d have thought all those years ago when they were traveling together that the two of them would get together?  He looked at her and smiled; maybe he should have known.  He could remember countless things she had done that should have clued him in: all those times she’d been angry with him for reasons he couldn’t understand, times she’d given up great opportunities to be with him – like that time that Gym leader in the Orange Islands had wanted her to stay with him.  Then there were all the things people had said: Rudy had called him “a very lucky man”, but it hadn’t made sense to him then; and that girl Melody had said something too; and Tracey... Tracey had always seemed to know. 

            “Hey, Misty?”  He asked lightly.

            “Yeah?” He could feel her face move against his chest as she lifted her chin to look at him.

            He fingered the rose behind his back, tied to it was a ring.  “Will you do me a favor?”  He asked seriously.  Misty pulled back to get a better look at him and he smiled gently.

            “Um, sure.”  She looked puzzled.

            He took a deep breath, “Will you marry me?” he pulled out the rose and she gasped.  James had been right, the rose was a great touch.

            “Ash! I,” she blushed then looked into his eyes.

            “Please,” he said quietly.

            “Yeah.” Suddenly smiling brightly she threw her arms around his neck, “Yes, I will marry you Ash Ketchum!”

            He smiled, putting his arms around her waist, “I love you Misty.”

            “I love you Ash.”  She closed her eyes as he lowered his head and their lips met in a perfect kiss.