As Ash and friends continued their journey to Ecruteak City for Ash's next gym battle, they find themselves in need of supplies, as well as directions.
The group was at the edge of what looked like a dense jungle, with two openings. Each opening offered a different path. While Brock was standing a few yards away peering at a map, with Pikachu standing by his leg, while Ash and Misty, with Togepi secure in her arms, were standing near the crossroads, deciding which path to take, in a mature fashion.
"We should go left," said Misty.
"We should go right," said Ash.
"No it's left," said Misty.
"No it's right," said Ash.
"Left,"
"Right,"
"Left,"
"Right,"
"LEFT,"
"RIGHT,"
"RIGHT,"
"LEFT,"
"RIGHT,"
"LEFT,"
"Are you sure we should go right, Ash," asked Misty.
"Yes, we should go left," said Ash, closing his eyes, and with a proud smile on his face.
"Well," she replied with a big grin, "if you say so Ash." Ash opened his eyes, wondering what happened. It only took him a few seconds before he realized he was just played. He flinched, bent down, and rubbed his head in shame.
"Look," said Misty pointing her finger, "See that rock." She pointed over to a rock, brown and grey and embedded in the ground, and little moss on it.
"Yeah," muttered Ash crouching down.
"Now moss always grows in the direction opposite of the sun," lectured Misty. "The sun right now is on the South. Thus the moss is facing north. And if the moss if facing north, by going left, we can go west," she finished with a proud smile.
"That's pretty good Misty," Brock said, lightly clapping.
"Wow," replied Ash, "that's pretty cool! Where did you find that out?"
"I read that travel guide that came with the map," said Misty, "since I get tired of us always getting lost."
"Yeah I've been read about moss in the travel guide to," Brock commented, "haven't you," he asked looking at Ash.
"Well," Ash muttered, rubbing his head, "I've seen the cover." Brock looked down and sighed, as did Pikachu with a soft "pika".
"I bet if you told him to head north, he'd probably head to the center of the Earth," spat Misty. Togepi, which was currently in Misty's arms, happily flailed its limbs and chirped.
"Ash haven't you even read the Poke-travel Logs," asked Brock, concerned, "they'll teach you everything about finding your way. And their found in every Pokemon Center".
"No, he depends on us to take him everywhere," muttered Misty.
"What's that supposed to mean," replied Ash, glaring at Misty, "first of all, you guys follow me on my journey."
"Yes," said Brock crossing his arms, "but we do keep you on track. Look you've never really been on your own. Since the beginning you've always had Misty, and then me, and then Tracey, with you. You expect some strange power to always tell you where we need to go. We've all enjoyed our adventures with you Ash, but you've never really learned travel skills or even cooking skills. Look what happened when I got sick."
"Yeah, well…," Ash said scratching his raven colored hair. Misty gave him a smug smile. "Fine," said Ash, feeling scolded.
"Ash," said Brock sympathetically, "I'm not trying to put you down. But I'm not only going to be around. You're a great trainer, and you shouldn't feel bad that Misty and I help you but you need to learn to do things on your own, or something bad could happen. Look at Misty. She didn't know how to cook and I ended up getting sick," Brock said. Misty had a large sweat drop appear on her head, with Ash giving her a quick smug glance of his own. Misty heard a large growl come from her stomach. She collapsed and fell to her knees with a groan. Togepi jumped out of Misty's arms, and looked at her with concern.
"Togepi," she asked with some sadness.
"Don't worry Togepi," replied Misty, looking at egged-shaped creature with a small smile, "it will be fine". She then looked at Brock with some concern. "Brock you said there was a Pokemon Center on this road."
"There is," replied Brock, "It just takes a while to get there even with directions."
"Well I need to eat in less than a while, or else I'm going to become skin and bones."
"You're already skinny Misty, so you shouldn't have to worry," said Ash. Misty glared at him, which Ash was oblivious to. He put himself into a running stance. "So let's-," a large crack came from behind. "What was that," said Ash with a panic.
In the distance, hidden in the canopy of the trees, a spectral creature was eyeing our heroes. From this point, only its red eyes were visible, but within them was not malice, but interest. As it hovered, it accidentally knocked over a Kakuna, which plummeted to the ground. An angry buzzing told the specter it needed to scram.
"I'm sure it was just some Raticate that stepped on an old twig Ash, calm down," exclaimed an exasperated Misty. Pikachu, reacting to Ash's nervousness, had climbed aboard his shoulder ready to defend him. He understood his trainer tended to act a little- wacky- but Ash stood by him no matter what, and as a grateful Pokemon, he would stand by him.
"Yeah, sorry," Ash said, relaxed, "I guess that buzzing noise was also from the Raticate."
"Wait," Misty asked concerned, "what buzzing noise?"
"The noise coming from behind-," Ash turned around a pointed, only to be face to face with at least 20 Beedrill coming his way. Everyone stared for a moment, shocked into stillness.
"RUN FOR IT," screamed Brock, and the trio, Pikachu and Togepi in tow, ran toward the crossroads, going to the road to the right in sheer panic, wailing in terror all the way.
The specter in the canopy sweat-dropped, before vanishing.
After several minutes of panicked running, the trio finally evaded the buzzing insects. They were doubled over for several minutes, breathing loudly and sweating profusely. They sat at the end of the road they walked through.
"What was that all about," asked Ash, abashed at the situation.
"I don't know," said Brock pausing a moment to breath, "we didn't walk into any Kakuna or Weedles."
"This is just great, we completely ran opposite of where we were supposed to go," muttered Misty. "Where are we anyways," she looked around, and saw down the dirt road there were several buildings on each side, many of them with trees hanging over their roofs. Brock, after collecting his breath, got up and began walking down the road.
"Where are you going," asked Ash, "the Pokemon Center's back the other way."
"Look," said Brock, "we're all exhausted. Maybe we can find a café where we can get some food, rest for ten minutes, and then we can head for the Pokemon Center. Sound like a plan!"
"Sure," said Ash, happily anticipating some food, "let's go Pikachu," he told the yellow mouse, who ran up to his shoulder. "Coming Misty?"
"Of course," replied an exhausted but determined Misty. "C'mon Togepi," she told the egg creature she carried in her arms. It chirped again.
The Pokemon trainers walked down the dirt road, to the nearest building on the left. It was white building with a flat roof, one story with a glass exterior. The trio, thinking it could be a restaurant, and if not, a place where they could ask for directions. They burst through the glass doors, and inside stunned them. On the left side they saw about twelve in spandex outfits, doing unusual stretches while standing on pink foam mats, on the other side were several Pokemon doing similar stretches. A few Machoke and Machamp, Scythers, Alakazams, and a Tyrogue. The walls on each side were mirrors.
"Welcome," said a calm, soothing, yet wise voice. The trio paused to look at the source of the voice. They saw a young woman, maybe in her early 20s. She had long, light grey-brown hair that went halfway down her back. Her eyes were a light brown. They seemed so tranquil, and yet so powerful, like looking straight at them would calm the most agitated individual. She wore a light-green vest, some jeans, and some sandals. She looked like a beauty queen, but had the grace of a wizened old sage. "You look exhausted," she continued in that same, gentle tone. She left such an impression that the group didn't notice she was carrying three glasses of water. "My name is Janine, what's yours."
"Thanks-," said Ash, before being cut off Brock, who had walked up to the woman in question his face only inches away from hers, and began flirting as usual.
"You are a treasure," said Brock with a dramatic air, " my name is Brock, and you've not only quenched my thirst, you've quenched a desire burning in me for so long. A desire for companion-" he stopped, feeling Misty tug at his ear as usual.
"Well the fire just restarted," uttered Misty scornfully, and with a frown, "and won't be out for a while," she concluded while pulling Brock back. While Brock rubbed his ear, Misty frowned a little, noticing something unusual as Ash took a glass of water.
"Hey," wondered Misty, "how did you know we were thirsty?" Janine darted to the left for a moment.
"I saw you guys outside and you looked exhausted," she uttered, never losing her tone, and held a glass of water in front of Misty, "so I figured you could use some."
"Oh," said Misty, a little unsure, though taking the clear glass anyways. "Thanks. My name is Misty, and this is Togepi ", she said while holding out the young Pokemon in front her, which as usual was as joyful as a whistle.
"My name is Ash, and this is Pikachu," Ash gestured with his thumb toward the little mouse perched on his right shoulder.
"Pika," he replied as hello.
"Man I've never been to a yoga place before," said Misty with wonder as Brock sheepishly took his glass.
"Wow," said Ash, "yoga." He looked at the Pokemon and humans stretching, "it's a good name for such a cool dancing." Brock and Misty face-palmed in incredulity at their friend's ignorance. But Janine never lost her kind gaze.
"You're either messing with us, or you really don't get out much do you," Misty muttered in frustration.
"What," asked Ash innocently?
"Yoga isn't a dance," Janine said, lightly shaking her head, "why don't we sit down and talk while you guys relax."
The trio agreed, and walked with Pikachu and Togepi in tow, heading over to three small chairs on the right, while Janine sat down in a stool.
"Yoga is a series of exercises," lectured Janine, "designed to help maintain balance and stability by combining the mind, body, and soul".
"Stability," asked Ash. Then the trio watched, as Janine closed her eyes while doing a tree pose, with her left foot prodded on her right thigh while bending her knee.
"By achieving stability and balance it is much easier to carry out our daily-," she paused as a young cheerful voice called her name.
"Janine," the voice called. A young girl, about 11 years of age ran through the doors. She had bright blond hair at mid-length, she was very skinny, almost as skinny as Misty. She had glowing gold eyes that seemed to excite everything around her. She wore a white blouse and a bright pink blouse. She had a very excitable disposition.
"You'll never believe what I found," she said, very excitably, "these Pidgeys were flying around and then they-", Janine closed her eyes and sighed, exhaling what appeared to be slight frustration, never losing her calm or smile.
"Sarah," Janine exclaimed with a bit of scolding. "I have some guests. This is Ash, Brock, and Misty." Sarah looked at the three, seemingly joyful at meeting new people. "Guys, one of students, Sarah."
"Nice to-," Misty started, before Sarah darted over to Ash.
"That Pikachu looks so cute," said Sarah. "Pikachu," Pikachu replied happily, liking this girl.
"Sarah," Janine said calmly but firmly, "I think Ash would like you to leave Pikachu-,"
"Naw, it's cool", said Ash good-naturedly, "Pikachu's use to gawkers by know. He won't shock you unless he thinks you are going to attack."
"You were saying Janine," said Misty, trying to steer the conversation back to the issue at hand.
"By achieving balance and stability," said Janine, "we can achieve much without being sidetracked by weakness or frustration by combining all parts of ourselves."
"Really," said Ash, leaning back in his plastic chair, "well I've already achieved that-," he leaned a little too far, and fell back on his head with a slight yell. Everyone winced. " Ash moaned a little, slightly dazed at being hit on the head.
"Yeah that's balance," said Misty sarcastically, "if he's been doing that for a while, that would explain all the head injuries."
"Pika," Pikachu sighed, watching Ash make a fool out of himself again.
Sarah, laughed a little, though it was less out of mockery, and seemingly finding amusement with Ash himself.
"Let me help you," Janine said, while pulling Ash off the ground. Ash noticed a strange tenderness in her arms as he was pulled off the ground. "Yoga isn't just for people. I specialize in a Pokemon yoga class, where Pokemon and their trainers both exercise together. When trainers and their Pokemon can find balance, they can achieve great things. Some of the elite four have taken these kinds of classes." Janine, knowing it or not, lit the fires of interest under Ash.
"Well why not," said Ash jumping up with his trademark enthusiasm related to Pokemon, "anything to help become a great Pokemon master. Let's-,"
"Hold on," uttered Misty, "I get that you're excited Ash, but we don't have an appointment, and we need to go to the Pokemon Center."
"Right," uttered Ash, suddenly remembering. "We need to go."
"Wait," said Janine holding up her hands, "I have some space for my next appointment tomorrow morning. Why don't you guys come in then?"
"That sounds alright," said Misty, "this Pokemon yoga sounds interesting. It could help me get in touch with my own Pokemon."
"I think I'll come to," said Brock, "learning to be in touch with Pokemon could help in becoming a breeder as well as get in touch with my beloved", Brock thought to himself while blushing.
"Alright, I'll see you guys tomorrow," Janine told them. Sarah waved goodbye to the trio with a vigor not seen in hand waving since the practice was implemented. "You guys said you were heading to the Pokemon Center, right?"
"Yeah we got a little … sidetracked," said Misty.
"You were supposed to go down to the left," said Janine, "don't worry, people without experience usually make that mistake."
"Yeah no kidding," Misty said, while glaring at Ash, who clenched his teeth a little. The trio walked out of the building, past a mother with an unruly son who walked right past them. Meanwhile, Janine and Sarah both couldn't take their eyes off the raven-haired boy as we walked out of the building.