-1 -
Misty Waterflower picked up the phone. The screen flickered on, showing the smiling black-haired man who was at that very moment, at Meribia in Lunar. She felt her cheeks warm to red, as she pulled the towel around her tighter. "Hello Misty! Er..."
"Oh, shut up!" Misty snapped, grinning sheepishly, "I just got out of the shower!"
"Thanks for telling." Misty pushed some loose wet strands of red hair behind her ear, as he grinned. "It's overly obvious. I thought that you took a shower and hadn't gotten dressed yet, or-" he sniggered "went skinny dipping!"
"Ash Ketchum!" Misty hollered, her face going even redder then it was before. She made a fist, clenching her teeth together. Ash grinned, and put his hands up in surrender.
"Sorry! I'm just kiddin' around!" Ash whimpered, "Come on, don't take everything so seriously."
Ash blinked, when his videophone went blank. "Misty? MISTY?"
"It's alright. I'm just getting dressed," Misty said into the phone, slipping into her shorts and shirt. She turned the camera back on, when she was fully dressed.
"Misty, are you busy this year?"
"This *year*?"
"Yeah..."
"No, why?"
"I was thinking you could come up here for a few months...? You, Brock, Richie, and Gary. You haven't met Heather yet!"
Misty smiled, and nodded. "I'll be there. And I'll drag them by their hair if I have to get them there!"
Ash laughed. "You don't have to go *that* far!" he said, "I'll see you soon then?"
Misty nodded, before saying good-bye. She hung up and put the phone in its place, before rushing off to pack.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Dragonship Destiny sat in the lapping waters of Meribia's port, while it's passengers got off. Misty, Brock, Richie, and Gary looked around the port, the last two with wide eyes. Lord Leo and Ronfar stood behind them.
"This is Meribia?" Richie asked.
"This is the port of Meribia!" Brock laughed, "Meribia itself is a whole lot more interesting..."
Gary and Richie followed Misty and Brock, as they walked through the streets of Meribia, looking around at the people, buildings, and everything else. "This is just like a second version of Cerulean City!" Gary said.
They got to the house district, when a single fact hit them like a train; they didn't know what house they were to go to! "Er, Misty?" Brock asked, "Did Ash happen to mention which one it would be?"
"No." Birds squawked and flew away, when the small group screamed out in irritation.
Misty looked around, a hand shielding her eyes from the sun. She screamed, when someone grabbed her and lifted her up off the ground. "AHHHHH!" she shrieked, thrashing about.
"Oh, knock that off." Misty stopped, and looked up. "I might end up dropping you."
"Ash!" Misty gasped, her jaw dropping, "How in the world-"
"ROOOOOOAR!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! ASH, SOMETHING IS ATTACKING ME!!!" Misty yelled.
"Nothing is attacking you!" Ash laughed, "That's Ruby!"
"Ruby?" A reddish-pink head poked her in the side. "Ruby! How are you?"
Gary and Richie were down on the ground with Brock, eyes popping out of their heads. Ash was hanging upside down on Ruby's neck, holding Misty's arms tightly. The Red Dragon was hovering in mid-air.
"Ruby, land!" Ash said, as the dragon lowered herself down to the ground. When all was in order and Ruby was in her baby form again, they started walking down the street.
"How have you been, Gary? It's been quite a while, hasn't it?" Ash asked. Gary smiled.
"I've been doing fine. How about you?"
"Quite well." They stopped in front of one of the houses. Ash pushed the door open, and stuck his head in. "Ok, coast is clear."
He led them in. They sat down in the living room. Ash turned around in his seat, and looked down the hallway, frowning.
Ash turned back around, and continued the discussion. "Where's Nimbus and the others?" Misty asked, "And Heather? You mentioned her on the phone."
"No clue."
"Why didn't you come get me?" They jumped, and looked towards the hall.
Ash sighed, and smiled. "May, do I look like a Labrador to you? You expect me to go fetch you? Stop standing around and sit down, while ya?"
"Ok." May walked over, and sat down gently on Ash's lap. He looked at her.
"When I said 'sit down,' I didn't mean on me."
"You didn't say where to, you just said to sit down. I want to sit *here*." Ash rolled his eyes.
"Forget it. Misty and the others are here, obviously." May looked at Gary, Richie, Misty, and Brock.
"Um..." May looked at Ash questioningly.
"Oh! That's Gary, and that's Richie," Ash said. Gary and Richie nodded.
"Hello," they said. Misty crossed her arms, and scowled. Gary frowned at her.
"Misty, Brock. Don't we have something to tell Ashy-boy here?" Gary asked. Ash grabbed a book off the table, and threw it at him. He cursed, when the book hit him in the head.
Misty went sober, as she picked up her bag. "Ash, we have bad news."
He looked at her, and frowned. "What?"
Brock got up, and walked over. He put a hand on Ash's shoulder, before saying "Ash, Pikachu died."
"W-W-W-W-WHAT!?"
"There was a fire at the gym, and Pikachu didn't get out," Gary said.
"What gym?" Ash asked, his voice monotone.
"Kanto built a gym in Pallet Town that I run," Gary replied, "Pikachu hung around there to keep me company all the time. The gym caught fire, and didn't escape in time. I tried finding him, but the roof was caving in, so..."
"You had to get out." Ash closed his eyes, and blew out a wisp of breath. "Get off, May."
She hopped off, and stood by Brock. Ash stood up, and walked over to the desk. He opened one of the drawers, and pulled out a small red object- his poke dex. He flipped it open, and pushed a button.
"Pikachu, Level 100, Location: Pallet Town, Status: Unknown," it said blankly, before going silent again. Ash shut it, before slamming it down on the desktop with a thud.
"Pikachu's dead." he whispered, "Dead. Perfect timing."
Sarcasm dripped from his voice. Misty unclasped her bag. "A-ash?" she asked timidly, "I got something for you, b-because of what happened..."
Ash looked at her, his eyes dark. Misty opened her bag, and a little head popped up out of it-a baby pikachu {not pichu, PIKACHU! Like, one of those tiny ones from that pikachu family in Pikachu's Goodbye} It looked up with small black eyes, before squeaking in happiness.
"Pika! Pika! Pikachu!" it chanted, as it looked at Ash with watery eyes. The pikachu propelled itself up out of Misty's bag, and landed on the floor. It bounced, until it hit Ash's foot. "Pik?"
Ash looked down at it. Misty bit her bottom lip, praying. He stooped, and picked up the baby pikachu. It clambered up onto Ash's head, giggling, paws covering his eyes. "Pika!" it giggled, "Pikachu!"
Everyone held his/her breath, as Ash stood silently, mouth in a straight line. The pikachu stopped giggling, and looked at him, its ears bent back in displeasure. "Pi Pikachu?" it asked.
The baby pokemon sneezed; the fine black strands tickled its tiny nose. Ash's eyes rolled up, as he looked up at the pikachu. A smile spread across his face, as he started laughing, tears running down his cheeks. He pulled the pikachu off, and held it to his chest.
"Pika!" it squealed. Ash scratched its chin, earning a "Chaaaa," out of the baby.
"This one is a girl," he stated abruptly. Everyone looked at him.
"How do you know?" May asked, walking over to look at the *female* pikachu. Ash smiled at pikachu, before holding it up.
"I just do," came the short response, "Now, what shall I call you?"
"Pika!"
"How about Amber?" Richie asked, looking at them.
"Amber..." Ash said, "How you like that name?"
"Chu!"
"Amber it is then!" he said, sitting down comfortably in the chair. May sat on the arm of his chair, looking at Amber.
"Pika!" Amber said, curled up on Ash's lap, her head on her little yellow paws.
"Hey, what did I miss?" Everyone turned to see Nimbus walk in, along with Cirrus. Amber squealed, and jumped.
"Damn!" Ash shouted, "Amber!"
The frightened baby had gone right up his shirt, scratching Ash severely. Amber whimpered, shaking. He pulled the neck of his shirt, and looked at Amber. "Tell me when you're going to do that, will ya?" he sighed, pulling her out.
"That is so cuuuute!" the girls gushed. Ash glared at May.
"What is so 'cuuuuute' about it?! I'm scratched up!"
"Amber trust you already!" Misty said, "Most pokemon would just run to find a hiding place, she...er, sorta did, in a way, and-"
"Let me guess, she trust me to be the oh-so-wonderful hero, I always am?"
"Correct! Now let's work with our ABCs!" Misty replied. Ash frowned at her, before openly ignoring her.
"Um, right. Anyway, where did you two come from?"
"We were at the store!" Nimbus replied, sitting down on the couch with Cirrus next to Gary and Richie.
"We thought we'd get something for Misty and Brock!" Cirrus said. She looked at Gary and Richie. "Oh! And who are these two blindingly handsome men?"
Gary and Richie blushed. "That's Gary, and that's Richie." Ash laughed, "Actually, we should change his name to 'Berry'!"
"Ash!" Gary yelled, going even redder. "Shut up!"
The hanging clock chimed twice. "Oh!" Ash looked up at it, frowning, "Didn't know it was getting so late!"
It was 12 o' clock. Amber had long ago fallen asleep. "Were do we stay?" Misty asked.
"Um, ah." Ash looked around, "Er, May?"
She sighed. "Fine! Since you can't seem to do it yourself, I'll do it! The bedrooms are down that hall. The first one is Ash's and mine. The second, third, and fourth one are empty. Just pick one."
Misty looked at them, before getting up. "We'll see you in the morning," she said, before rushing off. Brock frowned at her back, before standing up, along with Gary and Richie.
"Night," they said, before trooping into the hallway. Ash scooped up Amber, and stood up from the chair. She stirred, looking at him groggily.
"Pika?" Amber climbed up onto Ash's head, sprawling out again. May giggled. He stuck his tongue out at her, before making a run for the bedroom. "Chuuuu!"
Misty Waterflower picked up the phone. The screen flickered on, showing the smiling black-haired man who was at that very moment, at Meribia in Lunar. She felt her cheeks warm to red, as she pulled the towel around her tighter. "Hello Misty! Er..."
"Oh, shut up!" Misty snapped, grinning sheepishly, "I just got out of the shower!"
"Thanks for telling." Misty pushed some loose wet strands of red hair behind her ear, as he grinned. "It's overly obvious. I thought that you took a shower and hadn't gotten dressed yet, or-" he sniggered "went skinny dipping!"
"Ash Ketchum!" Misty hollered, her face going even redder then it was before. She made a fist, clenching her teeth together. Ash grinned, and put his hands up in surrender.
"Sorry! I'm just kiddin' around!" Ash whimpered, "Come on, don't take everything so seriously."
Ash blinked, when his videophone went blank. "Misty? MISTY?"
"It's alright. I'm just getting dressed," Misty said into the phone, slipping into her shorts and shirt. She turned the camera back on, when she was fully dressed.
"Misty, are you busy this year?"
"This *year*?"
"Yeah..."
"No, why?"
"I was thinking you could come up here for a few months...? You, Brock, Richie, and Gary. You haven't met Heather yet!"
Misty smiled, and nodded. "I'll be there. And I'll drag them by their hair if I have to get them there!"
Ash laughed. "You don't have to go *that* far!" he said, "I'll see you soon then?"
Misty nodded, before saying good-bye. She hung up and put the phone in its place, before rushing off to pack.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Dragonship Destiny sat in the lapping waters of Meribia's port, while it's passengers got off. Misty, Brock, Richie, and Gary looked around the port, the last two with wide eyes. Lord Leo and Ronfar stood behind them.
"This is Meribia?" Richie asked.
"This is the port of Meribia!" Brock laughed, "Meribia itself is a whole lot more interesting..."
Gary and Richie followed Misty and Brock, as they walked through the streets of Meribia, looking around at the people, buildings, and everything else. "This is just like a second version of Cerulean City!" Gary said.
They got to the house district, when a single fact hit them like a train; they didn't know what house they were to go to! "Er, Misty?" Brock asked, "Did Ash happen to mention which one it would be?"
"No." Birds squawked and flew away, when the small group screamed out in irritation.
Misty looked around, a hand shielding her eyes from the sun. She screamed, when someone grabbed her and lifted her up off the ground. "AHHHHH!" she shrieked, thrashing about.
"Oh, knock that off." Misty stopped, and looked up. "I might end up dropping you."
"Ash!" Misty gasped, her jaw dropping, "How in the world-"
"ROOOOOOAR!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! ASH, SOMETHING IS ATTACKING ME!!!" Misty yelled.
"Nothing is attacking you!" Ash laughed, "That's Ruby!"
"Ruby?" A reddish-pink head poked her in the side. "Ruby! How are you?"
Gary and Richie were down on the ground with Brock, eyes popping out of their heads. Ash was hanging upside down on Ruby's neck, holding Misty's arms tightly. The Red Dragon was hovering in mid-air.
"Ruby, land!" Ash said, as the dragon lowered herself down to the ground. When all was in order and Ruby was in her baby form again, they started walking down the street.
"How have you been, Gary? It's been quite a while, hasn't it?" Ash asked. Gary smiled.
"I've been doing fine. How about you?"
"Quite well." They stopped in front of one of the houses. Ash pushed the door open, and stuck his head in. "Ok, coast is clear."
He led them in. They sat down in the living room. Ash turned around in his seat, and looked down the hallway, frowning.
Ash turned back around, and continued the discussion. "Where's Nimbus and the others?" Misty asked, "And Heather? You mentioned her on the phone."
"No clue."
"Why didn't you come get me?" They jumped, and looked towards the hall.
Ash sighed, and smiled. "May, do I look like a Labrador to you? You expect me to go fetch you? Stop standing around and sit down, while ya?"
"Ok." May walked over, and sat down gently on Ash's lap. He looked at her.
"When I said 'sit down,' I didn't mean on me."
"You didn't say where to, you just said to sit down. I want to sit *here*." Ash rolled his eyes.
"Forget it. Misty and the others are here, obviously." May looked at Gary, Richie, Misty, and Brock.
"Um..." May looked at Ash questioningly.
"Oh! That's Gary, and that's Richie," Ash said. Gary and Richie nodded.
"Hello," they said. Misty crossed her arms, and scowled. Gary frowned at her.
"Misty, Brock. Don't we have something to tell Ashy-boy here?" Gary asked. Ash grabbed a book off the table, and threw it at him. He cursed, when the book hit him in the head.
Misty went sober, as she picked up her bag. "Ash, we have bad news."
He looked at her, and frowned. "What?"
Brock got up, and walked over. He put a hand on Ash's shoulder, before saying "Ash, Pikachu died."
"W-W-W-W-WHAT!?"
"There was a fire at the gym, and Pikachu didn't get out," Gary said.
"What gym?" Ash asked, his voice monotone.
"Kanto built a gym in Pallet Town that I run," Gary replied, "Pikachu hung around there to keep me company all the time. The gym caught fire, and didn't escape in time. I tried finding him, but the roof was caving in, so..."
"You had to get out." Ash closed his eyes, and blew out a wisp of breath. "Get off, May."
She hopped off, and stood by Brock. Ash stood up, and walked over to the desk. He opened one of the drawers, and pulled out a small red object- his poke dex. He flipped it open, and pushed a button.
"Pikachu, Level 100, Location: Pallet Town, Status: Unknown," it said blankly, before going silent again. Ash shut it, before slamming it down on the desktop with a thud.
"Pikachu's dead." he whispered, "Dead. Perfect timing."
Sarcasm dripped from his voice. Misty unclasped her bag. "A-ash?" she asked timidly, "I got something for you, b-because of what happened..."
Ash looked at her, his eyes dark. Misty opened her bag, and a little head popped up out of it-a baby pikachu {not pichu, PIKACHU! Like, one of those tiny ones from that pikachu family in Pikachu's Goodbye} It looked up with small black eyes, before squeaking in happiness.
"Pika! Pika! Pikachu!" it chanted, as it looked at Ash with watery eyes. The pikachu propelled itself up out of Misty's bag, and landed on the floor. It bounced, until it hit Ash's foot. "Pik?"
Ash looked down at it. Misty bit her bottom lip, praying. He stooped, and picked up the baby pikachu. It clambered up onto Ash's head, giggling, paws covering his eyes. "Pika!" it giggled, "Pikachu!"
Everyone held his/her breath, as Ash stood silently, mouth in a straight line. The pikachu stopped giggling, and looked at him, its ears bent back in displeasure. "Pi Pikachu?" it asked.
The baby pokemon sneezed; the fine black strands tickled its tiny nose. Ash's eyes rolled up, as he looked up at the pikachu. A smile spread across his face, as he started laughing, tears running down his cheeks. He pulled the pikachu off, and held it to his chest.
"Pika!" it squealed. Ash scratched its chin, earning a "Chaaaa," out of the baby.
"This one is a girl," he stated abruptly. Everyone looked at him.
"How do you know?" May asked, walking over to look at the *female* pikachu. Ash smiled at pikachu, before holding it up.
"I just do," came the short response, "Now, what shall I call you?"
"Pika!"
"How about Amber?" Richie asked, looking at them.
"Amber..." Ash said, "How you like that name?"
"Chu!"
"Amber it is then!" he said, sitting down comfortably in the chair. May sat on the arm of his chair, looking at Amber.
"Pika!" Amber said, curled up on Ash's lap, her head on her little yellow paws.
"Hey, what did I miss?" Everyone turned to see Nimbus walk in, along with Cirrus. Amber squealed, and jumped.
"Damn!" Ash shouted, "Amber!"
The frightened baby had gone right up his shirt, scratching Ash severely. Amber whimpered, shaking. He pulled the neck of his shirt, and looked at Amber. "Tell me when you're going to do that, will ya?" he sighed, pulling her out.
"That is so cuuuute!" the girls gushed. Ash glared at May.
"What is so 'cuuuuute' about it?! I'm scratched up!"
"Amber trust you already!" Misty said, "Most pokemon would just run to find a hiding place, she...er, sorta did, in a way, and-"
"Let me guess, she trust me to be the oh-so-wonderful hero, I always am?"
"Correct! Now let's work with our ABCs!" Misty replied. Ash frowned at her, before openly ignoring her.
"Um, right. Anyway, where did you two come from?"
"We were at the store!" Nimbus replied, sitting down on the couch with Cirrus next to Gary and Richie.
"We thought we'd get something for Misty and Brock!" Cirrus said. She looked at Gary and Richie. "Oh! And who are these two blindingly handsome men?"
Gary and Richie blushed. "That's Gary, and that's Richie." Ash laughed, "Actually, we should change his name to 'Berry'!"
"Ash!" Gary yelled, going even redder. "Shut up!"
The hanging clock chimed twice. "Oh!" Ash looked up at it, frowning, "Didn't know it was getting so late!"
It was 12 o' clock. Amber had long ago fallen asleep. "Were do we stay?" Misty asked.
"Um, ah." Ash looked around, "Er, May?"
She sighed. "Fine! Since you can't seem to do it yourself, I'll do it! The bedrooms are down that hall. The first one is Ash's and mine. The second, third, and fourth one are empty. Just pick one."
Misty looked at them, before getting up. "We'll see you in the morning," she said, before rushing off. Brock frowned at her back, before standing up, along with Gary and Richie.
"Night," they said, before trooping into the hallway. Ash scooped up Amber, and stood up from the chair. She stirred, looking at him groggily.
"Pika?" Amber climbed up onto Ash's head, sprawling out again. May giggled. He stuck his tongue out at her, before making a run for the bedroom. "Chuuuu!"
