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“So,” Brock started, “have you asked anyone out for the Winter Formal?”
Ash looked to one of his best friends as they walked down the hall to ‘The Cave,’ a large, roofed, sunken dining area. Long tables and benches have already been set up for the lunch rush which a lot of other students have either walked or run up to. You could usually get a full meal there for under seven dollars, minus snacks and some of the more expensive drinks.
“Actually, I have,” Ash smiled as he slurped his noodle cup soup. Brock usually had home made items, and today, it was a spiced sandwich.
“Really? Who’s the ‘lucky’ girl?”
“Misty River,” Ash said, nonchalantly. Brock’s eyes widened and almost started choking on the sandwich. Seeing his friend in possible danger, Ash slid over his bottled water. Brock gulped it down quickly, and let out a sigh.
“Wait, the Misty River? The water polo captain?”
“The one and only,” Ash grinned, “but please, Brock, try and keep it on the down low. She’s kind of shy about telling people about going to the dance.”
Brock raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“It’s the image that people sometimes have of her; the ‘Tomboy Mermaid’. She also doesn’t feel very confident to put on a formal dress, let alone make-up.”
“Have you told her that she’d look fine any way she went?” Ash chuckled.
“Yeah, I did. Years ago, before she got into water polo, I went with her to the Lantern Festival up in the city. We both decided to go up in traditional clothing. We both had on yukata; me in navy blue, and Misty in her chrysanthemum pattern one.
“Hell, she even had her hair down, which was pretty rare to see back then.”
Ash’s cheeks blushed, thinking back to that day. He could remember dancing, chatting, and lighting up a lantern together. Ash touched his own right cheek without noticing it, and for only a second, Brock gave him a smirk. Ash’s eyes narrowed.
“What,” asked Ash.
“Nothing. It just seems you’ve had a crush on her ever since then.”
Ash rolled his eyes. “So who are you going out with, Brock?"
“That’s for me to know, and you to butt out of,” the older teen replied.
“Figured.”
River Residence…
“I still can’t believe you’re going to the Formal with Ash Ketchum of all people,” scowled Violet.
“Oh, I’m sorry, am I not allowed to go on a date with my best friend,” Misty asked her sister sarcastically, as she brushed out her long mane of ginger hair. She looked at herself in the mirror, moving her head this way and that, taking note of the make-up her sisters have helped put on.
“It’s just- you’re the captain of your team. You could’ve gone to the dance with anyone!” Misty rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, well, all the other people who have asked me out only cared my status, and maybe try to get in my teammates’ pants.” Misty shivered.
“Okay, those guys sound like real creeps,” Lily remarked with disgust.
“So, who else do you know is going to the Formal,” asked Daisy.
“Let’s see,” Misty pondered, then started counting with her fingers. “May is going out with Brendan, Dawn with Lucas, Iris with Dent, Serena is going out with Clement.”
Violet raised an eyebrow. “Wait, didn’t Serena have the biggest crush on Ash?”
“Yeah, she had a huge crush on him for a long time,” nodded Misty. “I’m just glad Ash let her down easy. Still, she was upset for two or three days afterwards. Clemont wouldn’t speak to Ash for the week.”
“Wow,” the three sisters murmured. Misty looked back at herself in the mirror, wanting to break the tension. Seeing now break, she let out a tiny cough.
“You think I should put anything in my hair? Maybe a necklace?”
“Hmm… I think I have the perfect accessories for you,” grinned Daisy.
Nishida High School…
Misty was still nervous, wondering what Ash would think of her when her. Of course all three of her sisters gave her words of encouragement.
“You’ll knock him dead.”
“Take a deep breath, and walk up with confidence.”
“Take the lead, and show them how awesome we River sisters really are!””
Misty stood for just a moment, took a deep breath, and walked in to the large foyer of the dance hall.
Ash had taken a break from the dance floor. He had met his friends including ,Brock’s date, Suzie Shirayuki, who wanted to be a veterinarian.
I wonder how those two met, Ash thought, but his reverie was broken by a tap on the shoulder.
“Hey, I think I just saw your date outside, Ash,” whispered Gary. He had his own date who was linked together at the elbow, and now trying to drag him away from his childhood rival. Gary looked at his date, motioned her head to the vendors outside.
Misty’s here, Ash thought. A door opened and closed as Misty entered. Ash’s eyes went wide and his jaw figuratively dropped to the floor when he saw her.
Misty was in peach, yellow, white, and orange waterfall dress dress, gold bead necklace and matching earrings, with a golden-yellow cord just below the ribs. To Ash, it almost looked like she was wearing the setting Sun. Her usual short, wavy hair was now let down, going about mid-way down her back with a golden hairpiece artfully slid into place.
Misty herself blushed when she saw Ash; an Oregon Blue suit, white button-up shirt, black bowtie, and matching dress shoes. Seeing Ash’s own face blush made her giggle.
Guess I must’ve really knocked him dead, thought Misty. She walked up to him.
“Nice bowtie you got there,” Misty smiled, poking at it. Ash smiled back, then slightly fixed the accessory.
“‘Bowties are cool,’” Ash quoted. Misty snorted and then the two broke out into laughter.
“So, Mister Ketchum, have you come here to dance with me,” Misty asked after she stopped laughing.
“Why yes, Miss River, I believe I have,” Ash said with a nod. He looked over towards the DJ, hearing that the music track had changed from fast-paced to something slow.
The two looked at the DJ and back to each other, smiling. Misty put her arms around Ash’s neck, and Ash put his hands around Misty’s waist, pulling each other in close, and started dancing, as though one was the Earth, and the other the Moon.
Misty laid her head on Ash’s shoulder and nuzzled into it and his neck, breathing slow. Ash let his hands rest where they were on her hips.
“I like this,” Misty said, her eyes closed.
“The song, or the two of us dancing together?”
“Both,” she gently replied.
“Me too,” Ash smiled. He closed his eyes and kept dancing, the two changing their dance with the tempo and style of whichever song came next.
There you have it, folks, Part 2 of Pokeshipping Week 2023. Just some trivia: Nishida High School is named after Atsuko Nishida, one of the artists of the original Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow games.
Ash’s suit is based on the Tenth Doctor’s “Blue Suit”. Misty’s dress is based off a design by Scarlett-Knight.