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Misty was working with her Pokémon a new routine for the gym’s upcoming water show. Since she was the gym leader, with little help from her sisters, it had to be both simpler, and yet, still amazing.
Synchronized attacks like Bubble Beam, Water Pulse, and Aqua Ring were mixed in with Misty’s movements were used. She had to, begrudgingly, thank her sisters for those dance and gymnastics classes that she was able to go to.
The music swelled up into a crescendo, with all of the Pokémon performing a Hydro Pump that Misty would summersault onto, and then slowly let down into the water. She smiled as the routine ended.
“All right, I think we can call it for today,” she said to her Pokémon. That’s when she heard the door to the gym’s office open and then close with Daisy walking out holding gift wrapped box. No bow.
“Who’s it from?”
“Your boyfriend,” Daisy teased in a sing-song voice. Misty could feel her temples throb.
“I DO NOT HAVE A BOYFRIEND!”
“Alright, alright, I was just teasing. Yeesh. Here’s the package by the way.” Daisy handed over the box package with a ‘Fragile, Please Handle With Care’ label on all the sides and top.
Misty River
Cerulean Gym, Cerulean City
Kanto
Yep, this was definitely a package for her. She didn’t have a boyfriend like her older sister said. The return address, however, was interesting. No name was listed, but it had a residence number. And from… Pallet Town?
Maybe it’s something from Professor Oak, she thought, Or maybe it’s something I left with Ms. Ketchum from the last time I visited?
Misty set the box carefully down in the living room, and opened it. She gasped aloud and put her hand to her mouth. Inside was Ash’s original Indigo League hat. It was a little dirty, but mostly clean. There was also a letter in Ash’s own handwriting and two photos.
The first photo was a group shot of Ash, Brock, and a blue-haired girl wearing a white beanie, a black and pink dress, with matching socks and boots. On the back were written three names: Ash, Brock, and Dawn. She took the letter and started reading it.
Dear Misty,
When we last saw each other at the fateful crossroads, you left me with both your handkerchief and your best lure, your “Misty Special”. In case you’re wondering, yes, I still have them.
Misty giggled. He still had them. He still does cared about her. The letter continued.
Though, at the time I didn’t think about it, a new thought kept nagging at me: “Why didn’t you give Misty something in return?”
I racked my head for a while, trying to come up with the right gift. Would it be one of the new Pokémon I captured here in Sinnoh? No, I know you have the strength and skill to capture your own Pokémon, so you don’t need to rely on any Pokémon gifted to you.
I asked Dawn, the girl pictured in the photo, about what a girl would like to be gifted and she said clothes. Well, I don’t really know your tastes nor your sizes. I had to decline Dawn’s suggestion.
There was one more person I could call that could give me a suggestion: my mom. So I called her, asking, “I want to give Misty a gift, but I don’t know what would be good.”
My mom already knew about the lure and handkerchief that you gave me, so she said, “It has to be something precious to you that Misty would recognize easily. If you think about it, Ash, it shouldn’t be as hard as you think.”
Then, it clicked. “My hat.” My mom just gave me a nod and smiled. It WAS something precious to me, seeing only one out of just one-hundred, plus all the time sending in all the letters to the raffle. Remember when Primeape took it? Yeah, I was that mortified it’d be lost forever or completely destroyed.I know your handkerchief and lure are your precious items, and this, my hat, is mine, and it’s yours to keep. Enjoy this little piece of me.
Your friend,
Ash Ketchum
Misty let out a sigh. It felt like Ash was back in her company, right next to her. She pulled out the second photo. It was of Ash and Pikachu, both of them making a kissy face to ‘Mini Misty’.
Misty’s felt her face heat up.
“Ash… Ketchum,” Misty growled in both anger and embarrassment. However, her mood completely changed to shock when she heard Daisy’s voice behind her.
“Not your boyfriend, huh?”
“Daisy,” Misty screeched. “How long have you been standing there?!”
“Long enough,” Daisy replied, with a cat-like smile spreading across her face. She walked over toward and took the old cap, placing it own her head. “Since Ash is ‘just a friend, you wouldn’t mind if I ‘borrowed’ it then, hm?”
“You give it back!”
“Gotta catch me first, sis,” Daisy teased as she ran out the door. Misty took off straight after her.
“DAISY,” Misty roared, “I’M GONNA KILL YOU!” The older sister just laughed with Misty right her heels.
And that's it, folks. In case you're wondering, this is based on art by Miyatoriaka. Any comments and critiques are welcome. -BatouWrites