"I can't believe we're lost

A/N: This chapter was actually mostly done by the time I finished Chapter 1, so chapters probably won't usually get churned out this quickly. However, my winter break is coming up, as I mentioned before, so hopefully chapters won't be too long in coming out. I'm having a good time with this fic so I'm writing faster than I normally do.

So, um, thanks to all…one of my reviewers! Yay! waves a flag for Bittersweet Romanticide Seriously guys, I KNOW more than one person is reading this fic, because I've already gotten about 50 hits, and a couple of people even put it on alert/favs without leaving a review. Please take the time to leave a review! I really appreciate it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or any of its characters or concepts.


Five Days of Midnight

Some Enchanted Evening

Chapter 2

It was a familiar scene, Ash leading the way of the group with a grumbling Misty and Brock following behind him, Pikachu sitting on his hat as the leaves crunched under their shoes.

"I can't believe we're lost!" Misty exclaimed for what Ash was sure was the tenth time at least.

"We're not lost!" he snapped back, defensively.

"We are so lost! I know we've passed by that tree before!"

"How do you know that? All the trees look the same!"

"Exactly! So how do you know we're not lost?"

"Would you guys can it? Man, don't you ever get tired of bickering?" Brock finally interjected, throwing his hands up in frustration. "I had a nice long break from you two going at it, and it's only been a few days back, and already I'm ready to shove a sock in both of your mouths!"

Misty pressed her lips together, obviously biting her tongue against a myraid of retorts, and Brock sighed in relief, rubbing his temples against the onset of a headache.

They had been wandering around Viridian Forest for quite some time now, and couldn't seem to find their way out again. They had, of course, forgotten the map but Ash hadn't been worried because he had been sure that he had known exactly where he was going. He was still pretty sure that he knew how to get out, but of course Brock and Misty didn't trust him. He supposed that was part of reliving the 'good old times'.

They were tired after hours of searching, and now there were no longer certain which way they had come and which way they needed to go. Ash, however, remained certain that they would eventually find their way out and end up in Pewter City. They always seemed to find their way out in the end.

He plopped down on the ground, resting his head against his knees. "Man. I'm tired." He was actually pretty sure, at this point, that they were, in fact, lost. However, he didn't want to give Misty the satisfaction of hearing him say so. No matter how their friendship might have evolved, he still knew that if he came out and admitted he was wrong, he would never hear the end of it.

"'Chu," Pikachu sighed in agreement, slumping next to Ash.

"Well, we can't rest now," Misty protested.

"Why not?" Ash asked. "We've been walking for hours. Let's just sit down for a couple of minutes and eat."

"Again with the stomach," she muttered in response, but Misty and Brock sat down next to Ash, reaching into their packs for some of the food they had packed for leaving Pallet Town.

"It's been so long since we've been here," Misty said wonderingly, glancing around the tall trees of Viridian Forest that hovered over them like giants, ominous and yet startlingly beautiful.

"Yeah…" Ash answered, and then grinned and nudged her playfully. "If we're lucky, we'll run into some more Caterpies!" He laughed out loud at his own joke, until Misty gave him a shove so that he fell against Brock.

"Oh, be quiet," she grumbled. "Just because I don't like icky gross bug Pokemon…"

"Caterpie wasn't gross!" Ash protested before taking a big bite out of his apple.

"Yeah, he wasn't once he evolved into Butterfree!" Misty replied, reaching into her own pack to withdraw some Pokechow for Togepi. She happily fed the little Pokemon, handing some of the Pokechow to Pikachu so that he could enjoy it as well.

Ash sighed a bit. He missed Butterfree. It was always hard to let his Pokemon go, even though he knew it was part of becoming a Pokemon Master. At least he'd always have Pikachu, he thought, smiling as Pikachu happily ate his lunch. Pikachu shared Ash's appetite, that much was certain.

Suddenly, Misty sat up, her posture stiffening considerably. Ash looked at her curiously.

"What's wrong?" He tried not to, but a smirk flickered across his face. "See a Caterpie? Or maybe a Weedle?"

"No," Misty said, with no trace of humor nor annoyance in her voice. She merely sounded worried and this caused the smirk to fade from Ash's face as he examined her face more closely. Her bright blue-green eyes were darting to and fro, as though she were on the lookout for something to jump out at her, and her hands shakily put Togepi back into her safe, worn red backpack before curling them into fists at her side. "I thought I heard something." Her voice was barely a whisper, as though she were afraid that any sudden loud noise would cause disaster, and Ash pricked his ear instinctively.

"I don't hear anything," he said honestly. He looked at Brock for confirmation, and Brock simply shrugged in response, which Ash took to mean that he didn't hear whatever was spooking Misty, either.

She really did look frightened now, and Ash felt slightly bad for teasing her before. It was fun to see Misty overreact to a little bug Pokemon, but he didn't like seeing her genuinely upset. "Misty, it's fine. There's nothing," he assured her, trying to be comforting.

She wrinkled her brow, standing up, her arms wrapped around herself. "I heard…it was…like a flutter."

"Maybe a Pidgey overhead," Brock suggested, but Misty shook her head.

"No. It was…louder."

Ash paused, straining to hear, but he couldn't hear whatever had startled Misty. He shook his head. "Misty, I think you're losing it. There's nothing out there." He studied her face, taut and tense. "Come on," he suggested kindly. "Sit back down. Relax. It's fine."

"Maybe you're right…" Misty said reluctantly. "Maybe it's just my imagination. Viridian Forest can be kind of spooky." But she made no move to sit down, clutching the backpack that now held Togepi tightly.

Brock offered her a smile. "It's fine. It's been a long time since we've been here. We forget what it sounds like," he assured.

"Yeah…" Misty answered distractedly, still glancing around.

"Pika! Pika!" Pikachu suddenly yelped, springing to his feet, and at the next moment, Ash felt something hard and sharp smack the back of his head, causing him to duck forward and reach behind his head, massaging right at his hairline.

"Ouch!" he exclaimed instinctively, bringing his gloved hand back to the front. It was stained slightly in red, and his eyes widened in shock at the sight of the blood. "What was that?"

But he didn't have time to wonder further, because Misty was shrieking, "Run!" And then she was grabbing his hand and hauling him to his feet, barely giving him to time to grab his backpack before racing after her, Brock and Pikachu hot on their heels.

They crashed through underbrush and between narrow trees, hoping that heading off the trail would confuse their attacker. Ash felt branches and brush claw at his ankles, as though trying to keep him back and lead him to his doom, and still the group crashed through it, too afraid of what would happen if they stopped running to try and think of a way out of this situation

"What is it?" Ash yelled again over the sounds of their pounding feet and short, sharp breaths, and the sudden shrieking that had filled the air, angry cries that he had never before heard in the Viridian Forest. .

"A flock of Pidgies!" Misty yelled, running still faster, and Ash stumbled to catch up, shocked by what she had just told him.

"Of Pidgies?" Ash had, of course, had run-ins with Spearows before. In fact, he mused briefly, that was what led him to meeting the girl who was now dragging him through the woods in the first place. But Spearows were notorious for having nasty tempers, while Pidgies were more often regarded as a docile, harmless Pokemon. But the sting at the back of his head spoke differently, and so did the angry swoop of wings right above their heads as the Pokemon continued to dive bomb their group. Incredulous, he turned his head, needing to see this attacking flock of Pidgies for himself in order to believe it.

"Don't look! Just run!" Brock roared at him, pushing his back forward. Ash's eyes widened when he saw a nasty scratch running along Brock's hand.

"The Pidgies did that?" he demanded, and Misty let out a cry as one of the Pidgies crashed down on her now, nipping rather sharply on her upper arm.

"Misty!" Ash yelled, and lost his footing as he tripped over a root, bringing Brock and Misty down with him in a heap. He winced as the stones and branches cut into his fingers as he reached out to brace himself as he fell to the ground. "Cover your heads!" he yelled as he realized that they were now open targets for the Pidgies who were swarming down upon them, like an angry blur of tan and brown, and Ash never, never thought that he'd be so afraid of a group of Pidgies. He slammed his hands over the back of his head, feeling the cut there throb as he did so, but he would rather deal with that and whatever trauma his hands were about to take over more cuts in his head and neck.

"Pi…ka…CHU!"

The sound was as welcome as the sight of Pallet Town had been, and Ash sighed in relief as the sky was illuminated with Pikachu's Thunderbolt attack, as powerful and reliable as ever. There was a horrible cry as the flock of Pidgies squawked as one, a cry of pain and frustration, and Ash instinctively clamped his hands over his ears. And then there was a flapping as the wounded Pidgies flew weakly away from the heap of trainers and Pokemon that they had targeted.

The trio and Pikachu laid there for a long moment, tangled up in one another, a mass of arms and legs and bodies, too terrified to move and even to speak until Misty finally squeaked, somewhere near Ash's left shoulder, "Is…is it over?"

Ash held his breath, hesitating for a moment before lifting his head. The sky was clear and the sun shone down through the leaves, and he squinted in the bright light. It was as though nothing had happened, as though it had been their imagination. The forest felt too peaceful for anything as frightening as what they had just witnessed to occur. The only thing suggesting that they had not merely fallen asleep and dreamed of the attack was the wake of destruction they had left as they had crashed through the forest.

"I…" he cleared his throat as his voice cracked in his nervousness. "I think so."

Cautiously, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu followed his lead and sat up, glancing around carefully in the same manner that Misty had before the attacks had taken place, waiting, on guard, for anything out of the ordinary that might signal another attack.

Ash exhaled. "Thanks, Pikachu," he said gratefully.

Misty pawed through her backpack, withdrawing a distressed Togepi. "Oh, Togepi. It's okay. You're okay," she soothed, rocking Togepi gently. "It's over now. Mommy's here."

"What was that?" Brock mused. "I've never seen a group of Pidgies act that way!" He shook out his hand, stinging and bleeding slightly. "They just attacked us out of nowhere!"

"I know…" Ash said, concerned. "Everyone all right?" he asked, addressing the group as a whole.

"Pika…" Pikachu replied, a bit dazed and scratched from darting through the forest so quickly, but otherwise seemingly fine.

"I think so," Misty agreed, gazing up towards the sky, shielding her eyes from the sunlight. "Do you think…do you think they're gone?"

"I hope so," said Brock grimly. "But now we're even more lost than before."

"What should we do?" Misty asked quietly, hugging Togepi.

The crunch of the leaves a few feet away seemed to answer her question, and Ash stiffened, anticipating another attack. Instinctively he reached for the Pokeballs at his waist, and he saw Pikachu's cheeks spark with electricity as he too, prepared for another battle. Misty and Brock whipped around to face the sound, so that the three trainers sat side-by-side once more, instinctively huddling closer as the sound grew louder and louder in approach, trusting their power in numbers.

"Who's there?" Ash yelled out, but there was no answer, merely the steady 'crunch, crunch' that grew closer every moment.

"Ash…" Misty said, her voice tight with nerves, the sound barely escaping her throat in a breath no louder than a whisper.

"Who's there?" Ash demanded again, his own voice shaking a bit with fear despite his desire to stay firm and brave. When again there came no answer but the steady crunching of someone…or something…approaching, he growled under his breath in frustration, and withdrew a Pokeball from his belt. "That's it. Squirtle, I choose you!"

The turtle Pokemon exploded from his Pokeball in a bright flash of light, blinking expectantly at Ash, awaiting instruction. "Squirle squirt."

"Squirtle, Water Gun Attack into the—"

"Recall your Pokemon, son," a deep voice grumbled, seeming to come from the very depths of the woods itself.

"Who are you?" Now it was Brock who called out, his voice angry and his fists clenched at his sides with determination.

A figure stepped out from behind one of the trees, finally coming into clear view. He was tall, much taller than Misty and Ash and a good deal taller than Brock as well, and stocky, an all around imposing figure. His black hair was heavily streaked with grey, and he sported a large mustache as well as a beard that looked like it was in need of trimming. His sharp grey eyes fixed on them with an intense gaze that made them squirm in discomfort, and he had his large hands shoved into the pockets of his grimly jeans. If ever there was a 'man of the mountains', certainly the man standing before them was it.

"Squirtle…" the water Pokemon mumbled, taking a few hesitant steps backwards.

"Go ahead," the mysterious man said gruffly. "Call him back."

"First tell us who you are," Ash demanded.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu agreed firmly, a few warning sparks dancing about his cheeks.

"My name is Samuel," the man finally said. "And if you call off your Pokemon from attacking, I can help you out of Viridian Forest. I live just on the edge of the forest. I know my way through here well."

Ash gave a side-long glance at Misty and Brock. "Think we should trust him?" he muttered out of the corner of his mouth.

Misty hesitated. "I guess it's better than wandering around the forest for days on end," she said softly in response.

"Yeah…" Brock agreed uncertainly. "Let's just be on our guard."

"Right," Ash agreed, and held out the Pokeball once more. "Squirtle, return." The Pokemon disappeared in a beam of red light, and Ash cautiously replaced the Pokeball to his belt before clambering to his feet. Misty and Brock followed suit, Misty carefully dusting the leaves and dirt from her clothing and legs before slinging her backpack back onto her shoulders, still holding Togepi tight.

Shoulder to shoulder, the three trainers stood like a wall. Even Pikachu was standing strong and steady at Ash's leg, glaring at the man who had introduced himself as Samuel as though he suspected him of having something to do with the string of bad look they had encountered so far.

"Come with me," Samuel said, his deep voice echoing ominously throughout the clearing. "The forest is dangerous at night."

Misty, standing between Ash and Brock, her arms around Togepi, wrinkled her brow in confusion. "But it's the middle of the afternoon!" she pointed out, bewildered. She glanced up through the treetops where the sunshine was streaming through, which proved her point quite clearly.

"Yes," Samuel agreed solemnly. "But it won't be for long." Without another glance, he turned around, heading back the way he came. "Follow me," he called over his shoulder, but he didn't wait to see if they were following.

Ash, Misty, and Brock hesitated. "Do you think we should?" Brock asked in a low voice.

"I…guess so," Ash replied, not sounding at all certain.

"Well then, I guess we should…go, then," Misty chimed in. She reached around to place Togepi back in her bag before looping one arm through Ash's arm and the other through Brock's. "Let's not get separated," she said as way of explanation.

"Pika," Pikachu agreed, leaping up on Ash's shoulder so that the group could move as one unit, keeping a safe couple of paces between Samuel and themselves. He never looked back to make sure that they followed, and this only intensified the feeling of unease. They all walked in silence, the only sound the crushing of branches beneath feet, and Misty gripped Ash's and Brock's arms a little bit tighter.

They continued to walk for several hours, the sun beginning to dip below the treetops and the forest slowly becoming cast over with darkness, and Ash was immensely glad that they were not alone, even if he didn't know where the man who claimed to want to help them was planning on taking them.

Suddenly, though, Misty brightened, and spoke the first words to be uttered since they had started following Samuel. "Oh, look!" she exclaimed in relief, pointing to where they could clearly see the thinning of the trees and beyond that, a wide span of flat land. The edge of the forest, the end that they had been searching for for hours on end, and Ash felt his stomach flood with relief at the realization that they hadn't been led into some kind of death trap.

It wasn't until they had made it the last couple of yards to the edge of Viridian Forest, and they were safely out of the woods, that Samuel finally turned back to them again.

"Um. Thank you," Ash said awkwardly as the man regarded them, his eyes narrowed as though he could see right through them and know their deepest thoughts.

Samuel nodded heavily. "Come on," he said gruffly, nodding towards an old-fashioned log cabin, obviously built from hand, that sat a few yards off. "You kids can stay for the night. You shouldn't be walking around at night. Not safe."

The house was low and long, and small, with a thatched roof and a long rickety fence running along the perimeter. It didn't look completely run-down, but nor did it seem to be kept up with loving care. The cobblestone path leading from the creaky gate to the equally creaky stairs that led up to the front door was overrun with weeds, and the garden in the small backyard looked abandoned. Still, Ash allowed, it looked preferable to sleeping on the cold, damp floor of Viridian Forest.

Samuel pushed open the gate, and it yielded to him with a loud squeak. "Well, come on," he grunted at them. "Let's get you kids inside. You can camp out in the den for the night."

Reluctantly Misty released her grip on Ash and Brock's arms so that the three could fall into a single file as they headed through the gate.

"This place kind of gives me the creeps," Brock said under his breath.

Misty gave him a hesitant smile. "I think I'd rather take my chances here than out in the forest with those Pidgies."

"Misty's right," Ash said, and she gave him a bewildered look—he supposed he didn't say those words that often. Probably about as often as Misty herself said 'Ash is right'.

Samuel pushed open the door to his home, and flickered the light. Ash felt himself relax a bit—the inside of the cabin looked homely, if a bit worn and cluttered. The couches looked old and well-used, but comfortable, and there was a large shag rug that spread across most of the wooden floor.

"Your home is very nice," Misty said politely, still hovering near Ash and Brock uncertainly. Samuel merely grunted in response.

"You kids are probably hungry," he muttered. "I have some leftovers I'll put on the stove."

"That's very kind of you," Misty replied, still a bit uncertain but warming up slightly.

"Yeah, thanks," Ash chimed in automatically, swinging his backpack off and tossing it down on the couch. Pikachu hopped off of his shoulder and settled himself on the couch, curling up sleepily.

Samuel raised an eyebrow. "That's a pretty nasty cut you have on the back of your neck, son," he said to Ash. "Wait right here."

"Um…" Ash shrank back instinctively as Samuel disappeared, and even further when he reappeared with a washcloth that had a glob of nasty looking purple cream in it clutched in his giant hands. "No, no, really, I'm fine," he tried to assure.

"Don't be an idiot, boy," Samuel said irritably. "It'll get infected. Sit down and I'll get you cleaned up in no time."

"No, really, I'm great!" Ash squeaked, cowering back from the giant of a man, resisting the urge to duck behind Brock.

Samuel scowled, approaching and easily pushing Ash down into a sitting position on the couch with one large hand on his shoulder. "Hey! Wait a minute!" he sputtered, trying to get up to no avail.

"Wait," Misty interrupted suddenly. "Here. I'll do it." She took the washcloth from Samuel, and Ash watched her apprehensively.

"Do I have to?" he asked pitifully.

"Just sit still." Misty's voice was surprisingly calm and soothing, and so he decided to follow her orders and he sat quietly. Samuel removed his heavy hand when he saw that Ash had given in, and Ash closed his eyes against the sting of the cream against his neck.

He had to admit that he was glad that Misty had offered to do it instead of Samuel. Samuel looked like the kind of guy who could accidently break your neck in half, with those huge hands and not very careful nature. Misty's hands were cool and gentle as she dabbed at the back of his neck, right below his hairline, and her hands were normal-sized, especially when compared to Samuel.

And, well, he trusted Misty. Much more than he would trust some strange man that they can come across—rather, who had come across them—in the woods, a man whose intentions they still didn't know.

That probably wasn't a fair comparison. He trusted Misty more than he trusted a lot of people, not just more than this man they had just met. She was one of the few people in the world that he knew he was safe with, that he knew he could say anything and do anything and it would be okay in the morning. It was a comforting feeling, as comforting as the feeling of Misty's fingers gently patting the back of his neck dry.

"There," she said softly. "All done."

"Thanks," Ash replied sheepishly. He glanced over his shoulder at Misty, and was a bit surprised by the look she was giving him. There was something brimming in her eyes that he couldn't determine, something he couldn't quite recognize. "Are you okay?"

She blinked and the look was gone. "I'm fine. Are you okay?"

"Yeah…it feels better." He went to rub the back of his neck, but Misty slapped his hand lightly.

"Don't touch it," she scolded. "You'll wipe all the cream off!"

"Okay, okay, sorry, sorry," Ash answered, holding his hands up in surrender. Then, he took the washcloth from Misty, turning to face her. "Here." He pressed the cloth against the cut on her arm, watching her instinctively bite her lip. "Yeah, I know, it stings," he said ruefully, honestly feeling guilty about the situation. But, well, it wasn't something he could help, nor could he help Pikachu's misery as he turned next to his slightly battered Pokemon. Instead, all of his concentration went to begging the electric mouse not to electrocute him.

He stole a glance under his cap over at where Misty was now cleaning Brock's wound. She would be a good nurse, he thought as he watched her careful, precise movements. Although she hadn't been born a Joy, which Ash was now sure was a requirement for the position. But still, there was an innate gentleness in her actions. If not a good nurse, she'd be a good mother one day. But it was odd, and slightly uncomfortable, to think of Misty as a mother. Misty would forever be to him the redheaded hellion who had fished him out of the river almost five years ago. Even as they grew up, it was hard to imagine her different than what she was now.

"What happened to you kids, anyway?" Samuel's voice broke Ash from his thoughts, and he looked up at the man who was watching them with folded arms. "You look like you've been to hell and back."

"We were attacked by a flock of Pidgies!" Ash blurted out, the shock of what had transpired still heavy in his voice. "Of Pidgies!" he repeated, in case Samuel didn't grasp the importance of the fact that a group of normally docile Pokemon had launched a full-blown attack on the group.

Samuel wrinkled his brow. "Pidgies, you say."

"Professor Oak had said that the Pokemon were acting surprisingly agitated and aggressive lately," Misty pointed out quietly.

Samuel moved to the window, looking out at the setting sun, obviously lost in thought. His hands gripped the wooden windowsill and Ash was certain that it would crumble beneath his grip. "So. Is it time?" he wondered out loud, asking seemingly no one.

"Time for what?" Misty asked, instinctively reaching for Togepi, now poking its head out of her bag, and clutching it tightly.

Samuel hesitated, obviously weighing the options in his mind. "Well. There is a legend…" he started, obviously not completely willing to share what he knew. But it wouldn't have mattered how willing he was or was not, because he was immediately cut off by Ash.

"Oh no," Ash said stubbornly, holding his hands up in defense. "No more legends! I have had my fill of legends for awhile, thank you very much!"

Misty looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "Ash? What's the matter with you?"

"We just had to save the world!" Ash fairly exploded. "We're supposed to be resting!"

"But this could be important," Misty insisted. "What if the Pokemon are acting oddly for a reason? There could be something big going on!"

"Then let someone else do something about it," he replied through gritted teeth. "Why does it always have to be us? Why does it always have to be me? Why are we supposed to be the saviors of the world?" He looked down at his lap, a bit ashamed of his outburst, but unwilling to take back the words that he had, despite himself, meant.

A gentle hand landed on his forearm, and he glanced up at Misty, surprised that she hadn't started yelling at him, calling him a coward, lazy, anything mean that she could hurtle at him. Instead, she looked serious and her eyes shone with sympathy and warmth. "Hey," she said, and her voice was as gentle as her touch, as calming as rolling waves on a beach, and for a moment Ash let the sound wash over him. "Are you okay?"

"I almost died," he said softly, shocked into honesty by her soft response. "I almost died, and I don't care about me, but I was the 'Chosen One' and if I died, well, that was it for the world. I don't want the weight of the world on my shoulders again. It's too hard." He smiled a bit weakly. "I didn't sign up for this. I signed up to train Pokemon. Be a Pokemon Master. Those are things I can handle. Y'know? But I just…I don't want to get mixed up in any more legends that decide the fate of the world."

Misty made a bit of a sudden move, and for a moment, Ash thought that she was going to embrace him. She seemed to catch herself, and instead she rested a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it. "Yeah. I know," she said softly. "It's okay."

He let out his breath in a rush, relief washing over him. He felt as though they had dodged a bullet—if they didn't hear about whatever the supposed 'legend' was that Samuel was going on about, then they couldn't get involved. They could go about their lives and finish their rest and then they could move on to Johto where Ash could start collecting badges again. Badges, and training…Pokemon and battles. Those were the things he was comfortable with, the things he knew and trusted. "Thanks," he told Misty gratefully, and she flushed a bit before removing her hand from his shoulder.

Ash put Samuel's hesitant voice…there is a legend…out of his mind for the night, and concentrated instead on relaxing and enjoying the stew that Samuel had heated for them. The air was now quiet and solemn, the things left unsaid hanging in the air like a fog that separated each from the others. It was lonely in the room, although they all sat together.

But he pushed the concerns aside when it was time to curl up in his sleeping bag on the shag rug, and exhaustion hit him nearly as hard as that Pidgey in the woods had. Pikachu curled up next to him, and Ash himself curled up on his side so that he wasn't lying on his neck. He fell asleep with a foreboding feeling in his stomach, and all he wanted was for the morning to come so that he, and Misty, and Brock could all leave and move on. And forget about the unexplainable events of the day, as well as the fact that they would no longer be unexplainable if Ash had let Samuel finish. For now, he just wanted to sleep, and to forget.

But the entire party could not do that. Long after Ash, Brock, Pikachu, and her Togepi had drifted off into slumber, Misty sat awake, her eyes staring up at the thatched ceiling. The sounds of the calm night and the steady breathing of her companions could not soothe her, nor the unsettled feeling in her heart and stomach that told her that something, something was wrong. That something tore at her, her desire to know what was happening and her innate curiosity getting the best of her, until finally she threw off her sleeping bag and stood up, carefully weaving between the sleeping bags, making sure to not step on Ash's wayward arm or Brock's foot, or, most dangerous of all, Pikachu's tail.

To her surprise, Samuel was still awake, sitting at his small table, stirring a cup of tea with a heavy expression in his dark eyes. He looked like a man who knew too much, and Misty hesitated in taking on that knowledge for her own. She had too often looked like him, afraid beyond what any one person should feel, and she was leery of returning to that place. However, she couldn't simply close her eyes and pretend like Ash wanted to, though she understood why he had reacted the way she did.

She sat down next to him, and finally his tired eyes raised to her face. He looked world-weary and it was odd to think that he had seemed so intimidating before, when now he seemed older than his years and burdened by memories.

Despite this, she took a deep breath, searching his eyes with her own bright gaze, full of intent and apprehension. Softly, careful to keep her voice down lest she wake her friends, she spoke.

"Can you tell me what you know?"


This chapter went a little different than I had originally planned it, but I think in the long run it'll make it more interesting for you all. Yes, you ALL, because I know there's more than one of you out there! Again, if you could just drop a quick review, it'd be very appreciated. Hope you enjoyed Chapter 2!