"RUN!"

"I... I ... am... RUNNING!"

"RUN FASTER, THEN!"

Misty couldn't believe she was running a lot faster than Ash. She didn't have an advantage with her high heels and dress that she had to pull down every time the wind blew, but Ash was still slow. Considering all he did was eat, sleep and play video games, she wasn't surprised he couldn't run a minute straight without stopping several times to gasp for air – but NOT to this point. He almost passed out on a bench earlier!

They could hear the church bells ringing.

"No no no no no!" Misty screeched. "They're starting!"

"I'm going *pant* to give you *pant* the rings and *pant* you do your fast run! Okay?" Ash was still panting as stuffed his hands in the breast pocket of his tuxedo jacket to get the rings.

"Okay!" Misty rushed back toward Ash. "Hand them over."

"..." Ash searched the other pockets of his tuxedo jacket. He took a deep breathe.

"Ash, give me Brock's and Lucy's rings."

Ash searched desperately the pockets of his pants.

"Ash, GIVE ME THE RINGS!"

Ash even searched his wallet. He put it back in his pocket and kept staring at his girlfriend. "Uhm, what?"

The church bells were still ringing in the horizon.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you right now."

"Aside from the fact that you love me, I'm sure there are a lot of married couples in the wedding who are wearing rings we can use, right?" Ash spoke quickly and then exhaled loudly.

Misty took off her shoes and started running again, leaving Ash completely behind with no breath.

"I stand before this couple this day to united them in the bonds of holy matrimony. If there be anyone present that may present just and lawful cause......"

Ash was still panting. That was the first time in probably ten years he gets some exercise. He made it right for the ceremony, but missed Lucy's entrance. Misty was already seated among the guests, next to Leaf and Gary; giving him deathly glares. He looked away from her and glanced at his parents who were seated at the front, their hands ring-less ...

Delia did a throat-slit gesture to him, making him quickly look away from her.

"Brock, Lucy, would you please join hands."

The vows were starting. Everyone turned their attention to the two. Lucy turned towards her maid of honor and passed off her bouquet.

The pastor turned slightly towards Brock who was staring at Lucy and only Lucy "Do you, Brock Harrison, take Lucy Pike to be your lawfully wed-"

"I do." Brock answered eagerly, barely giving the pastor time to finish reading off the vows. Some guests laughed at his impatience.

"Alright... Do you, Lucy Pike, take Brock Harrison to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do."

The pastor turned to Ash, the Best Man. "May I have the rings?"

Ash retrieved the rings from his tuxedo jacket and put them into the pastor's palm.

Brock and Lucy looked completely confused as the pastor handed to Brock a thick gold band that was a little big for her finger. Both glanced at Ash, who was smiling awkwardly at them.

As Brock and Lucy slid the rings for each other, they couldn't help but think of what has become of their rings in the safe hands of Ash.

"In the eyes of the Lord and all of your friends and family, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The pastor declared. "Brock, you may finally kiss your bride!"

"I'm not making you Best Man." Gary shook his head. "Anyone but you."

"You can't be serious!" Ash frowned. "I only get to do the town's tradition if I'm your Best Man!"

"What tradition?" Leaf sat straight.

"The Best Man takes the bride while the groom is not looking and doesn't give her back until the groom gives him what he asks for." Gary rolled his eyes while Ash explained to Leaf. "You usually ask for simple stuff – like a red shirt, or cheese, or a pan – no real kidnapping here, just fun kidnapping! I'd just ask for a sandwich."

"Where do you want me to find you a sandwich on my wedding day?" Gary narrowed his eyes.

"That sounds awesome!" Leaf smiled. She looked at Ash. "Please kidnap me on my wedding day."

"Okay!"

"The rings are not in the hotel!" Misty walked toward the table where her friends and boyfriend were seated. She called the hotel later on to make sure the rings were where Ash left them but the staff assured there were no rings on the nightstand. "How could you lose the only thing that Brock trusted you with?"

"But it doesn't matter anymore, right?" Ash shrugged. "They're married now!" He pointed to Lucy and Brock who were hugging and greeting the guests.

"Wait, can we do that to Lucy?" Gary blinked. "Can we do our town's tradition?"

"Do what?" Misty questioned.

"But Brock won't leave her side!"

"Do WHAT?"

"The most ideal thing is giving Ash a taste of his own medicine and kidnapping Misty on their wedding day!"

"I am NOT going to let Misty on her own for a second!" Ash spoke proudly. "So good luck with that, Gary frigging Oak!"

"You will see, Ashy-Boy!"

"Why are you talking about a nonexistent wedding?" Misty rubbed her upper arms, chuckling nervously.

Ash looked at her. "You mean you wouldn't marry me?"

Misty froze in her spot.

Ash kept staring at Misty as if he was waiting for an answer, but didn't he realize what kind of question was that? Was he even conscious of the fact that he may or may have not indirectly proposed to her?   

"Ahem..." Gary shifted on his chair.

Leaf nodded, implicitly agreeing on how awkward the situation was.

"I've got to go." Misty rushed away from the table, her face red.

Leaf and Gary turned to look at Ash at the same time.

"You're going to make her regret falling in love with you."

"Alright, ladies! Get ready!" Lucy giggled loudly as she gave her back to the women who were standing behind, waiting for her to throw the bouquet.

Delia has made Misty stand at the front. Every time the redhead tried to make her way to the back and eventually get out of this mess, Ash's mom led her back to this crowd.

"Is this going to get any more awkward..." Misty whispered to herself. Ash was watching her do this. Frankly, she's always thought fighting for the bride's bouquet was desperate. She understood it was a fun tradition, but wasn't it a bit embarrassing? Didn't it mean you were desperate to get married? That's how Misty pictured it. Maybe it was just her thinking this because all the women around her looked like they were having fun. Well, as a reminder, Misty was sensitive... about everything, apparently.

"Misty! That woman to your left is pushing you!" Delia shouted. "Push her out of the way! That's your spot and you've got to stay there!" Ronny was trying to make her sit down.

Misty turned toward the woman standing beside her. "Sorry about that. It's my boyfriend's mom..."

"She seems like a pain." The young woman made a disgusted face.

"Get ready..." Lucy got their attention.

Now, everyone was getting ready to catch.

"Aaaand..." Lucy lifted the bouquet up. "Catch!"

All the women raised their arms but noticed something; Lucy didn't throw the bouquet. She turned around, walked toward Misty and handed it over to her.

"What?" Misty let a nervous chuckle. "I know we're friends but you can't do that. It's not fair."

"I can, but not just because I want to." Lucy smiled.

"What?" Misty had no idea what was happening. She felt someone poke her side. Misty looked behind her.

It was Ash, smiling broadly at her.

"W-what is going on?" Misty's hands started trembling. She looked around her. Lucy stepped to the back. All the women did. There was clearly something going on...

Misty gasped when she realized what was finally happening to her. She felt her heart beat so fast when she noticed the small red velvet box in Ash's hand.

The reception hall went silent.

Ash opened the box, revealing a ring... an engagement ring. "Misty Waterflower, will you marry me?"

Misty had two options; break in hard sobs like she always does when she's emotional, or keep a strong face on, say yes, and not ruin this lovely and romantic moment Ash had planned with everyone else for her. She could always sob hard in the bathroom later.

The redhead dropped the bouquet and started sobbing.

"Oh no." The crowd cooed as Ash brought Misty close in a hug. "Don't cry!"

"I'm sorry!" Misty sniffed, her makeup running down her cheeks. "I can't help it! This is too perfect!" She could have never imagined her proposal to be like this. She knew Ash was creative, but she couldn't think of anything beyond proposing to her on his gaming chair.

"Misty, you're crying now. It doesn't matter if it's because you're happy; they're still tears."

Misty broke the hug. She looked her boyfriend in the eye. "Yes, I will marry you." She took a deep breath. "Now, give me." She grabbed the ring and told him, "Put it on."

"Bossing me on the very first second... I see where this is going!" He joked as he slid the ring in Misty's hand. "There you go. Can you stop crying now?"

Misty wiped her tears off as everyone else clapped their hands. She could hear Gary whistle in the background. The cheers got louder as the two kissed each other, not wanting to let go of each other.

"At least you didn't forget that ring," Brock told Ash after they made their way back to the buffet. Misty was busy showing her ring to every person she recognized as an acquaintance in this wedding and Lucy and Leaf were squealing every time she showed them her ring. 

"It's my mom's old engagement ring. I told her to bring it." Ash collected all the mini pastries and put them on his plate. "I thought it'd be nice."

"It's a good idea not to be in charge." Brock watched his friend fit six mini pastries into his mouth."I'm just glad the hotel staff found the rings, even if they were on the bathroom floor."

"I was trying to put on my pants quickly! We were late!" Ash rolled his eyes.

"On a side happy note, you can't be the Best Man for you own wedding, so your rings won't get lost."

"You can't imagine how relieved I am about that," Ash said. "But what's really worrying me is the fact that Gary wants to be the Best Man as well and he wants to fight you for it."

"Nope, not a chance. He's too average for our trio. We're the original three, Ash." Brock shrugged. "F*ck Gary Oak. Just because I'm married now doesn't mean I can be replaced."

Ash looked like he had a moment of epiphany. He whispered, "Let's go get Misty, grab a bottle of champagne and drink it in your dressing room!"

"I'm not saying no to that!"

Ash grabbed a bottle of champagne and some salty snacks from the buffet before he and Brock started walking in fast steps towards Misty who was sitting next to Leaf and talking to her.

The moment she noticed them, she grinned and got up.