The sky darkened as heavy clouds gathered overhead. Rain began to fall, lightly at first, then with increasing force…
Pikachu, Ash and Misty, who had been sleeping, were awakened by the rain and the sound of rustling leaves.
Ash shifted his arms, pulling back slightly from Misty, who had been nestled against his chest. He looked down at her now-awake form.
Her face was flushed and for a moment he wanted to whisper, "Misty, you look beautiful."
But a loud *clap* of thunder shook the air. Before he could speak, she pushed him away…
Soon, they were kneeling naked in the rain, water running down their skin. Misty glared at Ash, her expression one of anger.
"Misty..." Ash's whisper was barely audible over the rain. He swallowed hard, forcing the words out. "I know 'sorry' doesn't mean anything. I don't have the right to ask for anything."
He looked down at his hands, then back at her, his gaze pleading. "But please... let me try to fix this. I will take full responsibility. If you agree, I will even marry you."
He took a deep breath. "What I did... it wasn't by my own choice." Slowly, he began to explain, telling her the same story he had told his mom: a mix of truth and lies.
He told her about the system and its mission, how it had forced him to act against his will. To make her believe, he summoned a small item from thin air.
Then he showed her the system's screen, pointing out its benefits to her, like the shop features and other capabilities.
Ash wasn't worried about her refusing to go with him and telling anyone about this.
The slave mark ensured she couldn't defy his direct commands. If she truly wanted to leave, he could just order her to never speak of what happened.
He didn't want to force her to stay; he wasn't some evil person, he was just a 10-year-old kid who now had an evil system and a dream to become a god.
If she chose to go, the system's benefits would help her too. It would be her loss if she walked away, but in his heart, he really didn't want Misty to go.
That's why he showed her the system, why he explained it all. She had always been one of his favorite characters from the anime and now she was right in front of him. After everything that had already happened between them, he definitely didn't want her to leave.
Misty listened, her mind reeling. How did I become a slave? she thought, the truth crashing down on her. I left home to become a Water Pokémon Master, to prove myself to my sisters... and now I've lost everything.
The memory of what he had done to her played in her mind. He had taken everything from her: her innocence, her freedom and her very will was no longer her own; she had become his slave. A sob escaped her lips as the first hot tear mixed with the cold rain.
Soon, more tears started falling from her eyes, her shoulders shaking with silent, hiccupping cries. "Hic... sniff..."
Ash knew she was shattered. He pulled her against his chest, holding her tightly. She reacted on instinct, her fists pounding against his chest. "Let go! Hngh...!" she cried out, but he only held her tighter, his grip firm but not cruel.
Her struggles slowly weakened, her angry hits turning into weak pushes as her cries grew louder. She buried her face in his chest, her body wracked with sobs. "Ugh... hic... sniff..." The sounds of her crying were muffled against him, a heartbreaking mix of grief, anger and utter defeat.
After five minutes, Misty's anger and frustration began to fade, replaced by a numb exhaustion. "I'm not crying now," she said, her voice still weak and shaky from her tears.
"You can let me go." Her eyes were still filled with tears and they were red and puffy from crying. The steady rain continued to fall around them.
Hearing her, Ash loosened his hold. "Misty, I will take full responsibility. Please… join me on my journey. Not as my slave, but as my partner. I will do everything I can to prove I'm not the monster who did those things. I will help you achieve your dream. Think of the advantages the system can provide for us."
From his explanation, she understood his absolute power over her. He could command her to do anything he wished.
Yet he was gentle, offering a choice: walk away forever or stay by his side. He had also promised to marry her and help her achieve her dreams.
There were still doubts in her heart. She had seen the other two girls with him. Did he say similar things to them? They seemed genuinely happy... content.
Her face grew hot, flushing deeper as she recalled the intimate things she had witnessed. A secret part of her had undeniably liked it… and the system itself was truly miraculous. She had seen its amazing items, the ability to breathe underwater and to communicate directly with Pokémon. Such gifts could make her dream a reality. Not to mention things like restored youth, a longer lifespan... benefits one couldn't find anywhere else.
Misty felt utterly torn. This boy had clearly violated her. She knew the right choice was to leave. But her heart and a deeper, more primal part of her didn't want to acknowledge that she wanted to stay. She wanted to be like those other women, to feel that extreme pleasure again, to have his cock inside her…
After a long moment of silence, broken only by the rain, she finally spoke. "Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Then she looked at him with new determination. "I will give you a chance. But you have to treat me well. You have to promise."
A wide smile broke across Ash's face. "You have my word, Misty," he said, his voice firm and sincere. He gently placed his hand on her shoulder in a gesture of promise. "I will treat you like my queen."
A loud clap of thunder boomed across the sky. The rain began to slow and the clouds started to part.
Both of them looked up at the sky. A majestic creature appeared in the clearing sky, its wings shining with vibrant colors. "So beautiful," Misty whispered.
Ash and Pikachu both looked up, mesmerized. Even though Ash had seen Ho-Oh on TV years ago, back when he was on Earth watching anime, seeing it now in real life as was breathtaking.
A single rainbow-colored feather drifted down from the sky as the creature flew away. It landed between Ash and Misty. They both reached for it at the same time, their fingers brushing.
"Is this a sign of approval?" Ash asked, his voice full of wonder.
Misty looked confused. "Do you know what that Pokémon was?"
Ash nodded. "It was Ho-Oh. A legendary Pokémon. It's said to have the power to bring the dead back to life."
Misty was amazed, her eyes wide.
"But its Wing," Ash continued, "is a sign you're chosen. It marks you as someone destined to chase greatness, to face impossible trials."
In his mind, memories from the anime came back, Pokémon: I Choose You! Where Ho-Oh's Rainbow Wing marked Ash as the chosen "Rainbow Hero" and led him toward Ho-Oh.
Back then, he had dreamed of being that Ash. But now, with this system guiding his path, that destiny felt unnecessary. He didn't need a feather to prove himself or to meet Ho-Oh.
Ash looked at the feather, then at Misty. "We should let the feather go," he said softly.
Misty tilted her head, not fully understanding what the feather meant but trusting Ash's words. She nodded.
Together, they stood up and blew gently on the feather. In that moment, Ash let go of the idea of being a chosen hero, choosing his new path instead.
The feather lifted into the air and floated away on the wind.
Ash turned to Misty, grinning. "Are you ready?" He pulled out a Slave Ball.
Misty nodded, her eyes filled with trust. But before Ash could press the ball, she pulled him close, kissing him firmly on the lips.
"Next time… I will take the lead" she whispered, before Slave Ball pressed against her. In a flash of pink light, Misty vanished inside, the ball clicking shut with a soft hum.
A smile spread across Ash's face as he held the ball. "Now that's the Fiery Misty I remember," Ash said with a warm smile.
Pikachu jumped up, sparking with excitement, and cried out, "Pika pi!" It was happy, as Ash was happy.
Then, a message appeared in front of Ash:
[ Mission: Find abandoned Queen Pidgeot egg (♀ Shiny)
Reward: 1 Heartball ]