Chapter Two
"She seems to have acute amnesia." The doctor said as he talked to Ash and Brock in the hospital's hallway. Stephen was in Misty's room, keeping her company and letting her play with Togepi.
The group had taken Misty to the nearest hospital, with Stephen and Ash riding on Stephen's Ponyta, and Brock and Misty on his Onix. They had waited in the hallway as the doctor examined Misty and came back with the diagnosis.
"How bad is it?" Ash asked the doctor.
"Well, since it was because of that Poliwhirl you told me about, then the amnesia should fade within one or two weeks." He replied.
"One or two weeks?!" Brock gasped.
"The best way to make the amnesia go away faster would be to surround her with things she's familiar with." The doctor said. "Other than that, you'll just have to wait."
"Thank you doctor." Ash said as he and Brock walked into Misty's room. However, there was no Misty.
"Hey, where's Misty?" Brock asked Stephen, who was sitting in a chair, playing peek-a-boo with Togepi.
"Peek a boo! I see you...huh? Oh, she took her backpack and went into the bathroom. She said something about looking too boyish." Stephen replied as he pointed to the bathroom door by the bed.
As Stephen finished saying that, Misty walked out of the bathroom looking nothing like Misty. She had her hair out of it's usual sideways ponytail and down to her back. Instead of her favorite baby shirt, shorts, and red suspenders, she wore a light red dress with a V neck and a hem just above her knees. She also had a pair of rose colored flats on instead of her sneakers. Ash and Stephen's jaws dropped. Brock, Pikachu, and Togepi just stared blankly.
"Misty...you look..." Stephen mumbled in surprise.
"You look beautiful." Ash gaped.
"Thanks uh...what was your name again?" Misty said as she rubbed a wrinkle out of her dress.
"Um...Ash." Ash stammered.
"When did she get a new dress?" Brock whispered to Pikachu.
"Pika." Pikachu said, shrugging his little shoulders.
"The doctor says we can take you out of here." Ash said, still staring at Misty.
"Oh, great! I was getting sick of sitting in here and...what? Do I have something in my teeth? Misty asked as she looked at the group quizzically.
The boys realized they were staring and quickly turned away. Stephen handed Misty Togepi, which she quickly handed back.
"Would you mind holding him for me? Just for a little bit?" She asked, flashing Stephen a smile.
"Uh...yeah...okay." Stephen said as he grinned stupidly.
"Toki?" Togepi asked, looking at the weird look on Stephen's face.
The group left the hospital and continued on their way. Misty continued to act nothing like her old self. She even called Psyduck "the most adorable little duck she'd ever seen." She even hugged him!
"Boy, I guess Misty's amnesia gave her a different personality too." Brock said as he watched Misty cuddle Psyduck.
"Yeah, I guess so." Ash said.
That night, the guys made camp while Misty got water from a nearby lake. She was taking a long time, so Ash went to look for her. He found her by a small river, washing her hair in the water. He hid behind a small tree, not wanting to disturb her. She pulled her hair out of the river and began to brush it with a small brush.
"Boy, I never realized how pretty Misty was." Ash thought to himself. "She seems so much more likable now."
Misty finished brushing her hair and Ash quickly headed back to camp with Misty arriving shortly after him.
"Hey Misty, nice hair. The wet-look suits you." Stephen said as Misty handed him his canteen.
"Thanks Samuel." Misty said, twisting a strand of hair around her finger.
"It's Stephen." Stephen deadpanned.
"Sorry." she said, smiling.
Stephen grinned stupidly again and sat down by the fire. Togepi waddled over to Misty and she picked him up and hugged him.
"Well hello there little one!" she cooed as Togepi trilled happily. She took a plate of food from Brock and quietly spoon fed Togepi.
"Toki!" Togepi said as he munched on his dinner. Misty took dainty bites out of the food every now and then. They guys just kind of inhaled it. Misty gave them a sort of grossed out look as they gulped and munched loudly. Brock saw her look and gave her a weird look of his own.
"What's wrong Misty?" he asked with a large bite of meat hanging his mouth.
"Uh...nothing really, I was just wondering if you guys could eat a little quieter." She said, smiling an embarrassed smile.
The four guys sitting across from Misty looked at her blankly.
"I don't see why it bothers you." Stephen said. "You eat just as loud, or you used to..."
"The sound kinda reminded me of a cow..." Ash whispered to Pikachu.
Pikachu chuckled a little, but then stopped. Ash realized he had spoken loud enough that Misty had heard him. He threw his hands over his head to protect himself from one of Misty's death blows. However, the hit didn't come from Misty. Instead, it came from Stephen and Brock. Rubbing his head, he looked up to see Misty setting down a confused Togepi. Small tears ran down her face as she stood and hurried off into the woods.
"How could you say something like that!?" Stephen demanded as he whacked Ash again.
"You know she's confused from the amnesia! You can't insult her like that!" Brock said angrily.
"I didn't mean for her to hear..." Ash said, trying to defend himself.
"Well go apologize to her!" Brock and Stephen both shouted. Brock pushed Ash towards where Misty ran off too. He dashed off after her while Pikachu, Stephen, and Brock sat down to finish their dinner.
"Ash can be so insensitive sometimes." Stephen said.
"He's just too young to know how to talk to girls." Brock said as he held out a spoonful of rice to Togepi.
"Like you know how to talk to girls."
"Hey, I think that last one liked me."
"Who do think you're kidding? She punched you so hard, I had to use my Tentacruel to pry your head out of that tree."
"I still think she liked me..."
"Pika...."
Meanwhile, Ash had caught up to Misty, who was sitting on a log by the river, crying quietly. Ash took a seat next to her and offered her a handkerchief. She reluctantly took it and wiped at her eyes daintily.
"Listen, I'm sorry about what I said back there Misty..." Ash started.
"It's all right. You were just acting how you always act...I must be the one acting different." Misty said quickly.
"Well, losing your memory doesn't help with acting normal."
"I guess so. It's just hard to think that I'm supposed to be someone else. I feel fine with who I am right now..."
Ash didn't really know how to help her. All he could do was try to be there for her. Gazing at the moonlight dancing across the river, Misty leant on Ash's shoulder as they watched fireflies streak through the night sky.