First Pokemon story. Features Ego and Indigo shipping. I know which it will end as already. There are several plot twists and the story is already in motion inside my head. I am not a fast updater so bear that in mind when reading this. Thanks for spending the time.

zabeth

Disclaimer for this story: I do not own Pokemon or any of it's characters. I only own my thoughts and variation and plot.

She was bored of the gym leader life. It had such a monotony to it that made it oh-so unbearable. She got away sometimes. But it was rare and fleeting. No one was ever around. Tracey was working and Ash and Brock were in Hoenn. When she got news that her sisters wanted to take a break from their round-world tour, she was ecstatic. Then she became depressed because she didn't know what to do with herself.

Suddenly it came to her. She would go to Hoenn. She could meet up with her old friends and get to see something new. It was so simple. So she booked fare on the next ship to Lilycove.

Misty was due for a change. A change in wardrobe, that is. Her last outfit was a complete disaster. Now that she was older, 16 to be exact, she wanted to look more mature. She now clad herself in a green long-sleeved shirt and distressed/ripped jeans that reached mid-calf length. She also put an aqua colored T-shirt over the ensemble.

When she arrived in Vermillion, she quickly made her way to the port to hop on the Fast Ship. Misty smiled to herself, enjoying the sense of freedom she now had.

"Hey there, Red. I suppose that you're smiling so sweetly 'cause you were just thinking about how hot I am, huh? I know I'm irresistible so why not just admit it?" An all-too-familiar voice rang through her ears.

"Gary Oak, what a pleasant surprise," Misty replied, sarcasm included. She scanned the boy to find he had changed from his very purple shirt to a deep blue and had ditched the boots. Eevee, now Umbreon, sat on his shoulder contently. "Why are you here?"

"Same reason you are, no doubt. I'm headed to Hoenn to check out the new species there." He replied easily, shrugging his shoulders. Misty's attention was brought to his hand that held a white lab coat over his shoulder. "I'm especially interested in the area around Sootopolis with the Deep Sea Caverns and such."

"Me, too. Want to travel there? I'm sure I could help you out with water-type research."

"I guess so. I've never actually had a real travel companion before and I guess it would be alright… You can't be that dumb..."

"Excuse me? I happen to be a Water Pokemon expert!"

"Hey! What's going on here? Break it up!" another teen entered the fight, his Pikachu sparking with anticipation. "Wait – Misty? Gary?"

"What?!" The two snapped. Misty looked at the boy. He had auburn hair, a rather fair complexion, and blue-green eyes. He was wearing a white T-shirt with gray sleeves and an attached red hood accompanied by a pair of blue jeans. His Pokemon sat on his baseball hat covered head, watching the exchange with interest. Suddenly, Misty glomped him.

"Richie!" she cried. "I missed you! And you, too, Sparky!" Togepi chirped in agreement.

"Hi, Misty. Long time, no see, eh? What are you doing fighting with Gary? Shouldn't you be fighting with Ash?" he said, adjusting the gray and black cap with a yellow pokeball symbol. Sparky was not perturbed by the adjustment and so Misty assumed that it happened often.

"I was actually on my way to the Hoenn Region to check out the new Pokemon and maybe run into Ash. What about you?"

"Me, too. I was going there to train and take the gym challenge. Want to come with me?"

"Sure, I'd love to!"

"Isn't anyone going to ask for my opinion in this?" Gary piped up.

"Why?" Misty questioned.

"Because you said you would travel with me…"

"Oh, well… why don't we all go together then? I could explore Hoenn, you could research new species as we travel and Richie can train and battle."

"Well, I don't see a problem with it. Do you Gary?"

"The more the merrier," he said and he rolled his cerulean blue eyes. Umbreon, suddenly inspired by Sparky, took a new perch, atop Gary's head, ruining his spikes. Misty expected him to say something about it, but apparently, Gary didn't care or it had happened once or twice before. So the trio agreed to meet up at the same place when the ship arrived in Lilycove.