After what seems to be the longest absence, I am back, and I have something epic to honor my return!

Warning: This story DOES contain a surprise shipping (wonder what it'll be).

Oh, and I was reminded to tell y'all that I don't own Pokemon.

Being attacked by Team Rocket was really starting to feel old.

It was like an everyday routine for Ash Ketchum and his friends. They, as well as a few new friends they made, were being attacked by the "villainous" trio. Honestly, Ash thought that these daily attacks were starting to feel . . . robotic.

"Listen, guys," Ash said, "I hate to break it to you, but this daily 'stealing-Pokemon-and-getting-them-back-to-their-rightful-Trainers' thing is starting to feel old! You know what I'm gonna do anyway!"

"Ahahaha!" Jessie laughed. "But it's all we can do for a promotion from our boss. True, I am feeling that this is old as well; but there's no other way around getting a promotion! Curse Cassidy and Bill for getting there first! Uggghhhh!" She took out a Pokeball. "Seviper, show these twerps what it means to feel jealous and upset!"

"Seviiiiii!" Jessie's Seviper breathed out a hazy smokescreen. Ash, Dawn, Brock, as well as Barry and Kenny, couldn't see each other!

"Pika! Pika-pi!" (You there? Ash?)

"I'm here, buddy!"

"Ash, where are you?"

"Brock, I'm over here!"

"Over where?"

"Here! Follow my voice! Argh . . . can't see . . . can't see . . ."

"Piplup, where are you? Are you there?"

Jessie and James laughed as the kids tried to search for one another. Suddenly, they noticed Ash slipping out of the smoke and running in some random direction.

"Dat poor twerp has no clue where he's goin'," Meowth commented, stifling a laugh.

"I agree," James said. "Imagine him getting lost." He gasped excitedly. "Meaning . . . we won't have to be blasted off like every other moment!"

"Huzzah!" Jessie cheered. "Hooray for confusing twerps!"

"Wobbuffet~!" Wobbuffet chimed.

"Mime, mime, mime!"

Ash and Pikachu walked around aimlessly, calling out Dawn, Brock, Barry, Kenny, and even Piplup's names, but to no avail. The raven-haired boy's stomach was starting to growl, and he was feeling desperately hungry. For a while, they decided to search for edible berries and resume searching on full stomachs.

"Stupid Team Rocket," Ash groaned. "I'm getting sick of being interrupted by them."

"Pika, pikachu," Pikachu agreed. (Me, too. I agree.)

"I hope Dawn and the others find us," Ash said. "Being lost will slow our progress to the Sinnoh League." He looked up. "They're worried right now. I just know it. They're probably starting to search right now."

"Pika . . . " (I hope . . .)

By the time they had found some Oran and Pecha Berries, the sun was starting to set. Ash figured that the berries would be their dinner and breakfast until they either found Dawn and the others by chance or were rescued. The two ate slowly and sadly. As delicious and sweet the berries were, they could never match against Brock's delicious dinners. Brock was perhaps the greatest journeying cook Ash could ever ask for.

"Pikachu," he said to his yellow electric friend, "remind me to thank Brock for all the meals he has made for us during our journeys."

"Pika." (Will do.)

Ash smiled and then chuckled. "If I forget, you can shock me with your Thunderbolt, OK?"

Pikachu nodded his head.

Elsewhere, not too far away, a young white-haired girl was watching Ash and Pikachu eat and talk.

"You poor things," she said. "I'll help you get back to your friends."

And with that, she slowly slipped away . . .

EDIT: DECIDED TO REMOVE OCs TO REDUCE ANY BIZARRE POTENTIAL CONFUSION.

Who could this girl be? Will she guide Ash and Pikachu back? Find out next chapter: The Mysterious Girl Guide!