It was still early in the morning when misty woke up, the sun was hidden behind the clouds but she had an over whelming force telling her to get up, no matter how many times she tried to close her eyes and go back to sleep, it would never come. She sighed as she got out of bed and put on a heavy hoodie and boots, if she was up this early she might as well see as much of the scenery as she could, it's not everyday that she was at the plateau, only coming every few months for league meetings.

She grabbed her pack with her pokemon and headed out the door to the stairs at the end of the hall, surprised to see some trainers outside already in the weather at this hour, but then again so was she. At the ground floor she made herself some coffee and walked outside, the cold wind nipped at her neck and face, the coffee in her hands was nice and hot and she hoped for it to cool down sooner to help with the chilly weather.

Misty made her way around the center and onto the paths leading through the indigo plateau and local town, she opted to take the one closest to the border as you could see the land of johto and untamed wilderness before newbark town, the mountains were beautiful yet intimidating, it brought out ones inner most trainer to explore and conquer the unknown in a different land, but most people contained that desire these days.

Majority of the trainers these days would take man made paths to their destinations to make their 'journey' quicker and more relaxed at their own pace. To misty that was missing the whole point of your journey, it was good to be camped out in the wilderness for days surrounded pokemon and live life to the fullest, everyone should experience that sort of pleasure in their life. She groaned to herself as the path opened up to a large platform shaped like a half circle that stood ten feet off the ground at the edge, it was covered in snow, two articuno statues stood guard at the entrance, their wings expanded and chest puffed out.

She started walking to the railing when, to her surprise, her 'neighbor' was there already, a coffee mug in his hand and a small pikachu in the hood of his jacket, it reminded her of ash to be honest, she can't remember the last time she saw one that wasn't ash's.

She walked to the edge of the platform a few feet away from satoshi, and stared out onto the land, watching as the steam from her coffee blended in with the snow from the landscape. She could not keep replaying memories of her making her way through lands like this with her friends when she was younger, a smile crept onto her face as she looked upon the land.

"Kind of gives you an itch huh?" Misty turned her head to the side, satoshi was leaning up against the rail and taking a sip of his coffee, his eyes glanced to her and he smiled, it was hard to tell with that thick scarf and hat, but she thought he did.

"Pardon me?" Her face scrunched up in confusiuon.

"Looking out there probably makes a few trainers want to explore on a whim, stay out there a few weeks and really explore the land, it's almost like an itch."

"I guess you could say that. I was just thinking about how I used to go headfirst into the unknown when I was younger."

Satoshi chuckled and took another sip of his coffee before turning and making his way to a bench that sat three feet from the rail, easy for people to sit and still enjoy the sights, he brushed off the snow and took a seat, the cold not seeming to bother him.

"That's good, exploring the unknown gives quite the thrill." He took another sip of his coffee and sighed, the wisps of air coming from his mouth blowing away quickly with the wind.

"Are you still traveling?" The question took her off guard but she smiled at satoshi, it was a simple question, but one she hadn't thought of him to ask.

"No, I stopped traveling many years ago, I run the cerulean city gym and that takes up most of my time. How about yourself?" She walked over to the same bench and asked if she could take a seat next to satoshi, he brushed off the rest of the snow form the bench and scooted over, taking another sip of his coffee while settling in.

"Indeed I am, one exploration that I hope will never end." Satoshi stared out into the wilderness, his deep blue eyes flared with anticipation and excitement, each going hand in hand for a glorious outcome.

"Well that's good, you seemed to be at the age where most trainers quit and find real jobs. I had a friend that had the same outlook as you, always reaching for the stars."

"Real jobs you say? The life of a trainer and explorer is a job, you yourself as a child must have said you were going to do this forever and daydreamed about being a pokemon trainer until you were too old to walk."

"It's a big part of your life no doubt, but to experience it once is good enough for some people." Herself included.

"Tell me misty, what's the one thing you remember about your travels that always comes to mind, whether it be a busy city, training your pokemon or sight seeing. What do you remember the most?"

She was caught off guard by his sudden 'attack' on her past, but it was a simple question none the less and thought nothing of it.

"The stars. I remember you could lay out on the grass during the summer and gaze at the stars all night." She looked towards the sky with a smile on her face, many memories were made underneath those stars during her travels.

"I see, the stars are quite the site away from the city, you could see majority of the night sky from my village, not very close to a distinct town so the scenery is quite pleasant."

"Where are you from satoshi?" Misty was curious where he was from, he was rather mysterious but friendly and easy to get a long with.

"I could tell you, but the details won't do itself any justice, you'll just have to see it with your owns eyes on your next journey." Satoshi stood up and stretched out his back and arms, waking the slumbering Pikachu in his hood in the process. The small rodent yawned and scratched it's face before climbing onto satoshis shoulder, giving a small chirp to misty.

"Goodmorning Pikachu, sleep well?" The small pokemon nodded and nuzzled it's cheek against his trainers.

"It's so cute, a friend of mine I traveled with had a pikachu, they were inseparable." She smiled as memories of ash came flooding into her brain.

"Did he now? Smart trainer, pikachu are underestimated, but if trained properly can be quite the troublemaker on the field."

Misty looked at the man before her, his attitude and personality was absolutely calming and soothing, other than his blue eyes she couldn't see what he looked like behind the hat and scarf.

"I'm sorry to leave but my battle starts in half an hour in stadium three, I have to be going now. Thank you for the talk." He nodded his head politely and shook her hand then turned around and started to walk a few feet, before turning back around to face misty.

"You remember looking at the stars when you were younger and feeling at one with nature?"

"Yeah?"

"How much more do you think you would appreciate it now that you've had to time to mature and take things for granted unlike you did when you were younger?"

"I don't know? It's too big of a risk to find out. But my gut tells me it would be great!"

"I'd listen to it, I can guarantee it will change your life." His dark blue eyes seemed to gleam and dance in the gloomy cloud covered sunlight, like waves in the ocean, it was a mesmerizing sight that misty reveled in.

His words made her rethink her entire outlook on another journey. Satoshi turned around and walked off down the path towards town and his battle, should she go to his battle? Or will he think it would be weird?

As he rounded the corner misty finished her coffee and decided to go watch, wondering if his battle style was like his personality, calm and relaxing. Her phone rang a few minutes into her walk, most likely brock or gary.

"Heya red, wanna grab some breakfast before our battles? Brock says he's getting hungry."

"Sounds great, where at?"

Gary gave her the directions and she headed off at a quicker pace, if she ate fast enough maybe she could catch satoshis battle half way through.

"In the red corner we have Anna Rose from Cerulean city!" The announcer spoke into the microphone from the stands.

Close to one hundred people were in the stands of the small arena, most of the viewers would either be going to trainer battles that news outlets claimed as the favorites to win or ones that had the best odds from previous tournament placings.

"In the blue corner we have Satoshi from Rota."

The crowd cheered and applauded for the trainers as the match started, each giving each other a handshake before heading to their respective corners.

"Tangela, let's do this!"

"Leafeon! Go!"

The two pokemon materialized on the battle field and stared each other down.

"Tangela use leech seed!" The pokemon planted two vines in the ground and shot countless seeds towards the leafeon.

"Double team." The command was simple and relaxed.

Multiple leafeon appeared on the field and began to spring around the field confusing the tangela as to which one was real.

"Tangela use vine whip now!" The command was rushed and fierce.

"Quick attack leafeon."

The small verdant pokemon sprinted directly at the tangela, the real copy behind the tangela all along, and smashed into it making the pokemon fly a few feet in the air before crashing into the ground. The tangela hopped up quickly ready for more although it was taking heavier breaths.

"Leafeon has struck first and now commands the battle field, how will the red corner react to this?" The announcer proclaimed as the spectators watched closely.

"Tangela usa stun spore!"

"Use sand attack!" Satoshi was hoping this would cancel out most of the spores and take out this pokemon in the next move if he could plan it right.

The plan worked perfectly, the amount of debris that leafeon kicked up had blocked out most of the spores, the rest didn't make it past the halfway mark of the field.

"Look at the brilliance on satoshi from the blue corner, that sand attack cancelled out the stun spore completely!" The crowd was getting more active as the battle progressed.

"Tangela use grass knot!"

"Protect!"

Leafeon was able to get the protective move off in just the right time as massive roots sprung life from the ground and bombarded the pokemon, the makeshift bubble strained for a few seconds.

"Now use aerial ace!" Satoshis command was calm yet quick, not wanting to miss the window he had planned out go to waste. The pokemon sprung to action as another root smashed through the protect, it ran across the field and closed in on the tangela at break neck speeds. It slashed at the pokemon in the mid section, sending it careening to the side of the field where it did not get up.

"What a spectacular tactic! The tangela stood no chance against satoshis plan of attack. Trainer, send out your next pokemon!" The crowd cheered loudly at the sight, hoping to see more. The crowd now housing three more spectators as misty brock and gary joined the seats around the field to watch satoshis battle.

"Exactly how do you know this guy?" Brock asked misty as they sat down a in the middle sections of the stands.

"He's staying across from me, mentioned that his battle was this morning and I wanted to check out the competition."

Brock and gary both nodded as they looked onto the field and waited for the other trainer to release her pokemon.

"Alright, let's do this ursaring!"

She threw her ball onto the field and it burst open, the white light bright and the energy forming into a massive form of a bear. The ursaring roared and stared down the small grass pokemon, it stood at six feet at least.

"The trainer chooses an ursaring! An intense pokemon with immense power, how will this match play out?" The commentator was getting excited of the upcoming battle.

"Ursaring use slash!" The bear pokemon sprinted down the field, it's speed underwhelming but it's power behind the slash would be like a freight train, unable to stop.

"Leafeon dodge and use swords dance." The little verdant pokemon hopped around as the ursaring came closer and jumped around the bears arm and sped down the field as the pokemon stumbled after the massive hit missed. Leafeon powered up the attack, small leaves shaking off her body as they formed make shift swords above her head before crumbling away and falling onto her, disappearing as they fell onto the ground.

"Ursaring use hammer arm!"

"Leafeon grass knot!" Vines shot out from around leafeaon and raced towards the bear, shooting in and out of the ground, varying in size. The bear smashed it's way through a few of them but one came from behind and snagged it's foot, sending the bear to the ground with a mighty crash.

"Leafeon sunny day!" The pokemon shot a small sphere into the high rafters of the stadium and a bright light filled the area, a 'makeshift' sun now in the presence of everyone and the temperature rising a few degrees. The ursaring hacked and slashed at the vines and continued it's rampage, hell bent on smashing the smaller pokemon into the ground.

"Solarbeam." The command was almost unheard, it traveled on the wind and hung in the air as the leafeon formed a small golden yellow sphere in it's mouth, holding in the attack as it grew larger and larger in size. The ursaring smashing the ground as it made it's way towards the small pokemon, trying it's best to disrupt it's opponent and finish it.

The leafeon held it's ground and fired the beam at ursaring, hitting it square in the chest and causing it to make a dead stop in the middle of the field knocked out.

"Would you believe that folks! Leafeon and satoshi are the winners!"

The crowd cheered as both trainers met in the middle of the field and shook hands, conveying few words as they departed the field.

"That was pretty good, nice use of tactics." Gary said aloud and stood up. "Now let's get to our battles." He flashed a smile at his friends.

"Sounds good, I think mine starts in a few hours." Brock stated as he took out a small book to check the battle times.

"Mines not until later this evening, i'll catch up with you guys later!" Misty was already half way down the stands as she spoke

"Call me!" Gary shouted out to her before leaving with brock.

"Satoshi!" Misty called out to the young man walking out of the stadium, few people stopping to congratulate him on his win.

"Hey Misty! Thanks for coming!"

"No problem, you were amazing out there, sorry I missed your first match, but that leafeon you used was absolutely amazing!"

"That she is, she's my most recent addition to the team, but she has adapted well."

The two walked out of the stadium and began walking towards town, the outskirts of town was at least ten minutes.

"Do you battle today?"

"Tonight actually, i'll be in stadium four at seven." Silence hung throughout the air as the pair walked down the path, seconds turned into minutes as they enjoyed the walk as the snow crunched beneath their feet.

"Well this has been quite riveting misty but I have to get going for now, i'll catch you at your match tonight."

"Are you hungry? They should be serving lunch about now at the restaurants in town." Even though she had just eaten, her comfortable silence with satoshi was pleasant and relaxing, she didn't want it to end to be honest.

"I appreciate the invitation but I have a prior engagement to attend to today."

"Oh, no problem, I was just about to go get some food myself and figured i'd offer." Even though she had eaten no more than an hour before.

"I'd like to though if you don't mind, how about dinner after the preliminaries are over?" His voice was smooth and muffled do to his scarf tightly around his face still, his hat was held high and his dark blue eyes shone brightly even though it was a cloudy day, a few strands of his black hair poked out from beneath his hat, damp from the sweat of his previous battle.

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Her cheeks darkened slightly and she giggled a little, it wasn't like her to joke around with someone she had only met, but with satoshi she felt at ease and confident.

"Something like that." Satoshis laugh resonated through the surrounding area. "I'll most likely be at my room so feel free to give it knock anytime."

Misty laughed and said she would swing by sometime soon and left to go find brock and garys to watch their matches.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to one of our finals matches of the day!" The stands held close to a thousand people all cheering and yelling as the announcer let the excitement levels build up before calling the match.

"In the blue corner we have misty, gym leader of cerulean city!" The crowd hollered and cheered as the red head waved to the crowd

"And in the red corner we have morty, the gym leader of ecruteak city!" The crowd cheered again as the two trainers met in the middle of the field and shook hands before departing to their sides of the field and choosing their pokemon.

"Trainers! Begin!"