Disclaimer: Pokemon does not belong to me but to its rightful owners. You know who they are.

Dance, Dance

I'm two quarters and a heart down,

And I don't wanna forget how your voice sounds

These words are all I have so I'll write them

So you need them just to get by – Extract from 'Dance, Dance' by Fall Out Boy

Fourteen-year-old Ash ran his hands through his rumpled black hair. Choked by the black turtleneck his surrogate big brother Brock had forced him into, the teenager glanced around the populated hall. Streamers and balloons flew past, obscuring his vision.

A big banner reading 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICOLE!' divided the room in half, and Ash rubbed his eyes sleepily wondering how he could have been talked into this. He didn't even know who Nicole was and he would eat his hat with Pikachu's favourite apple puree if someone could prove that he would have more fun here than at home, playing Saffron City Street Fighting with Gary.

Gulping down the last few drops of the cheap market cola some random girl had poured him, Ash scanned the room for someone he knew.

“Misty!” he called out, spotting his best friend of old.

The redhead turned round to face him. Her skinny form was being hugged by a pair of drainpipe jeans and an electric blue halter neck. Holding the outfit together was her favorite beat-up leather jacket which added a certain edge to her appearance.

“Hey Ash,” her sneakers slapped their way towards him, “Enjoying yourself?”

“No,” Ash fidgeted with his tight jumper, “This is the worst party I've ever been too.”

“That's not very nice,” Misty wagged a finger at him, “And you're not going to enjoy it, anyway, if you sit around moping. You need to get up and dance.”

“Dance?” Ash's eyebrows shot up into his fringe and he laughed, “You've gotta be joking me.”

“Oh yeah,” Misty simpered, “I forgot. Dancing isn't one of the great Ketchum's talents.”

“Oh yeah?” Ash puffed his chest out.

Misty giggled, “You can huff and puff all you want, Ketchum, but it ain't gonna change the simple fact that you can't dance.”

“Can.”

“Can't.”

“Can.”

“Can't.”

“Can. Can. Can. CAN!”

“Hmph,” Misty set her shoulders back, “Then prove it, Ashy boy.”

“Erm,” Ash squirmed, realizing he'd ventured into dangerous grounds. He looked around wildly for some sign of help.

“I can't dance,” he stalled for time, “Without a...a...”

“A?” Misty looked skeptical, “Spit it out, Ketchum.”

“A dance partner,” Ash exhaled. That should work.

“Then dance with me, Ashy boy.”

“Bwa?!?!” Ash exclaimed, “Are you joking?”

“Er...no,” replied the radiant redhead, “Come on Ashy boy.”

She brought her face close to his, taunting him, “Show me the magic.”

“Er...er...no,” Ash replied, back stalling frantically.

Misty let out a shriek of laughter, “Fine! I win! One nil to the big M! Ashy boy can't dance.”

“Yes, I can,” Ash cried.

“No you can't,” Misty chortled.

“Fine,” Ash spat through gritted teeth, knowing soon enough he'd regret this, “Dance with me.”

And without further ado, he grabbed her hand and dragged her onto the dance floor.

“Well, Red?” Ash asked a clearly shell shocked Misty.

She straightened up, regaining her ever arrogant air, “But you're not dancing.”

She pouted, “Come oooooooooon, Ashy boy. Or I'll have to tell the world what a big loser you are.”

“Thanks,” Ash clenched his teeth, “Now, how does it go?”

He looked at the guy next to him and recoiled in disgust. The guy was hanging onto his girlfriend so tight it was impossible to tell where he ended and she began.

'At least,' Ash thought, 'I hope that's his girlfriend.”

Abruptly, the song ended and Ash let out a sigh of relief, thinking it was the end.

“Not so fast, Ketchum,” Misty chided him and to his utmost horror Fall Out Boy's 'Dance, Dance' began to blast out of the speakers.

“Wait,” Ash murmured in terror, “This...this...this is a fast song.”

“Ash,” Misty snapped, “Move it.”

Ash blanched as she began to sidestep, her elbows at her sides, clicking rhythmically to the beat.

'I have to do that?' he thought, his mind spinning, 'Holy Macaroni, Poké Gods above – help me!'

As best as he could, Ash mimicked Misty's footsteps. For a few moments, he was okay until...

The pulse of the song was really taking control of his body and almost against his will, Ash raised his arms and began to wave his hands about. His stepping became more of a bounce and he did little swirls every so often when the music 'required' it.

Misty slowed down and watched with a perturbed expression on her face.

Ash let the music win his body over. He hummed along, and began to do waggle his fingers and shake his head to the beat. His legs felt like rubber and he hopped, skipped, jumped and twirled when he felt like it. As he continued to 'dance', he didn't realize how many people had stopped dancing and were watching and snickering at him.

“Ash!” Misty yelped, grabbing his arm and she pulled him off the dance floor. The other dancers resumed their gyrating leaving the redhead alone to her humiliation.

“What?” Ash exclaimed.

“Never,” Misty spat, “Ever, ever do that again! Do you know how much you embarrassed me?”

“Whadya mean?” Ash spluttered, “I was awesome!”

“Oh Ash,” Misty shook her head, “You poor, deluded fool!”

“You...” she brought her face closer to him, “Suck.”

Ash deflated, “That's not very nice.”

“It's the truth!”

“No, you just didn't want to have all the attention stolen from you,” Ash accused her, “But when I got on the floor everyone was looking at me and you couldn't take it.”

“What kind of sick, twisted logic is that?” Misty cried.

Ash shrugged, “It's your logic. Ask yourself.”

“Do you have any idea how dumb you sound?” Misty asked.

“No,” Ash replied, “Because I don't...sound dumb. And now, if you'll excuse me I'm going to go and 'enjoy' myself unlike a certain someone.”

And with that, he practically skipped back onto the dance floor and began to vibrate his whole body with such intensity Misty was scared he'd implode.

“Hooo boy,” she drew herself up a chair, and covered one eye, “This is gonna be one looooong night.”

Draining the last of the cola in her glass, Misty rubbed her eyes to make sure her vision hadn't become blurry with sleep. But no, it was just Ash doing one of the craziest moves Misty had ever seen. He was wobbling his legs and shaking his hands while nodding his head. He looked like a zombie on drugs.

Finally, finally the song drew to a much-awaited end.

“And this ladies and gentleman,” the DJ piped up, “Is the last song. A slow one after all of the speedy tunes y'all have been chilling too. So I suggest you get with that 'special someone' and really enjoy yourselves.”

A lazy, sensual beat drifted into the air and the crowd of teenagers paired up and began to dance. Ash was left, abandoned, on the dance floor struggling to find himself a girl.

Suddenly, an idea struck him and with a wide grin spreading onto his face he approached Misty.

The red head back stalled desperately, waving her arms.

“No Ash!” she denied, “I am not dancing with you! No!”

“Please Mist,” Ash begged and threw her the scariest puppy dog eyes she had ever seen, “Please with sugar and a cherry on top.”

“No, Ash,” Misty hotly replied, “I am not, not, not dancing with you. Ever, ever, ever!”

“I'll give you my signed photograph of Loreli,” Ash said.

“Bwa?” Misty exclaimed. Ash had a photograph of her idol, the Ice Master Loreli in his room with her real live signature scribbled at the bottom and he knew she would do literally anything to get her hands on it.

“Well,” she looked around and Ash could see she was beginning to break, “I guess I never will see these people again...so I could risk another humiliation.”

“You mean apart from that jacket,” Ash murmured but not loud enough for her too hear.

“Great,” he smiled brightly and led her to the dance floor.

As they neared the group of slowly moving people, Ash extended an arm. Misty took his hand and he attempted to pull her closer but only succeeded in tripping over his own feet.

“Silly,” Misty giggled and drew him towards her. She was taller than him so it looked quite odd with her arms on his shoulders and his around her waist. Her cheek touched his forehead when it should have been the other way around but everyone was too lost in their own worlds too notice.

Ash felt undeniably warm at this alien contact between him and Misty but also very, very comfortable. He could most definitely get used to this. The only thing to make the moment more perfect would be...

“Hey, Ash,” Misty muttered bending down slightly.

“Hmmmm?” Ash asked.

“Gary's throwing a party for his sister next week,” the Waterflower whispered, “And I was wondering...”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Ash exclaimed happily.

“But wait,” Misty took a step back, “I didn't even ask you yet!”

“Um, okay,” Ash beamed, “Ask away.”

“Mind coming with me too pick up a present for her tomorrow?” Misty asked, “It would mean a lot to me.”

He facefaulted.