Disclamer: So, does anyone watch The Mentalist? No? Well, I do. I didn't realize until I finished writing this that my Team Rocket pair, Patrick and Jane, when you combine them, you get the main character of The Mentalist, Patrick Jane. So, just to clarify this, it was coincidental that the terribly intricate plot was devized by Patrick and Jane. I don't own Pokemon or any of their characters/creatures, nor do I own The Mentalist. Those belong to Nintendo and CBS respectively.

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A cool breeze wafted up the shore from the ocean. May felt goose bumps on her legs as the wind brushed by her, but they soon went away from the warmth of the sun. She lay on a towel at the Slateport beach, back in her home region of Hoenn, tanning before the Pokémon contest in a few days. This was a big one, too. Winning this would ensure her place in the Grand Festival this year in Hoenn. She was confident she would win, too.

Maybe I should call up Ash and invite him? She thought to herself, not realizing it. As soon as she heard her thought, though, she shook her head, as if to dislodge the offending idea. She turned over onto her stomach, so her back could tan. Reaching behind her back, May undid the tie of her bikini, so as not to get a tan line. Her competition dress was backless, after all. What am I thinking? Ash wouldn't come all the way here for a contest. He's training and battling gyms in Sinnoh. With Dawn… She shook her head again. Dawn was a nice girl. A little young, yes, but otherwise very nice. Even though she HAD beaten May at the Wallace Cup.

May lay on her stomach, trying to think other thoughts than Ash with that little slu… girl. That little girl. She wasn't doing very well, but she was trying. Not that Ash would ever do anything with her, May thought bitterly. I was with him for forever, and he didn't make a single move. Not one single attempt. Sometimes I thought I'd have to strip in front of him to notice anything except Pokémon! She blushed at the idea. She wouldn't go that far…she though. May had never met a more frustrating man in her life, though. Ash Ketchum, the world's densest man.

May kept charging down this line of thought. And not only that, but he kept that stupid lure in his pocket the entire time I knew him. I ask you, what does Misty have that I don't?

Red hair, another piece of her mind replied. May chuckled a little. A side pony. May laughed a little more, smiling. Misty still thought that side ponies were in. She was a little behind the times when it came to fashion. A Pokémon Gym. That stopped all laughter dead in its tracks. A love of Pokémon that didn't have to be taught to her. A similar goal.

A history with Ash.

May stopped the mental list. No, he LEFT her behind when he came to Hoenn. Something had to have happened between them. They aren't together. They may have been at one point, but not anymore. She probably broke up with him, and he's keeping that lure as a keepsake. Yeah, that has to be it. Something to remind him of the good times.

But then, why were they so nice to each other when they met again?

May gripped her head in confusion. She didn't know what to think. And why did he leave me behind when he went to Sinnoh? Why did he leave me, for Dawn? May knew she wasn't thinking very rationally, but she couldn't help it. That's what it seemed like to her.

Or maybe he's just as lecherous as Brock. Picks up a new girl with every region he visits. But then why doesn't he do anything? May didn't know what to think anymore. So instead of thinking about Ash, she thought instead about the upcoming contest. She was going to win it, then go on to the Grand Festival and win that! That would show them all; Ash, Brock, Misty….DAWN.

May ground her teeth in anger. She had only met the girl once, but she had stolen HER spotlight to look good in front of Ash. She had beaten her pride Glaceon with a little Piplup! Pipsqueak is more like it. She let the thoughts of rage and revenge lull her into a sort of mental calm, where she didn't think anything. It was almost like being asleep, except she was aware of everything around her. She felt the warmth of the sun tingling on her back and legs, turning the skin a golden brown. She felt the sand under the folds of the blanket, the gentle caress of the wind on her skin, heard the wingulls crying for scraps of food, the waves crashing against the shore, the chatter of the other beach goers.

Suddenly, there was a patch on her back that wasn't feeling the tingling warmth of the sun. She opened one eye and looked up to see a man in a pair of swim trunks standing over her to her left. "Can I help you?" she asked in an unpleasant tone.

The man didn't seem to take the hint. "Sure, you can go on a date with me tonight," he said, his voice cocky with assurance that he was impossible to resist, and that she would say yes.

May closed her eyes and lay her head back down again. "Sorry, even if I wanted to - which, I can guarantee you, I don't – I have a boyfriend."

"Well, he's not a very smart guy, letting a catch like you out all alone."

"He knows that I can take care of myself." She was beginning to find this man very annoying. She couldn't see him anymore either. Running through the self-defense lessons her father had given her all her life, she was confident she could overcome this…boy… if he tried to do anything. Actually, in her peeved state, she wanted him to try something.

Lo and behold, he did try something. He reached down and grabbed her left wrist, trying to pull her up. May felt her heartbeat increase anticipating the action she would have to take. She could feel the adrenaline kicking in. "Come on, it's just lunch."

May grudgingly gave him his first, and last, warning, as she pulled her wrist out of his grasp. It was easy, if you knew how. It was all about pulling against the thumb, no matter how strong the opponent was. "First off, I already said no. I have a boyfriend. Second, I'm not getting up with my top untied. Third, touch me again, and I'll break your wrist." She wouldn't really, but it was going to be really painful, regardless.

The man smiled. Well, it sounded like he was smiling when he talked. May couldn't see, her eyes were still closed. "Feisty, aren't we? Good. I like my kittens to have a little fight in them." He reached down and took her left wrist again in his right hand. "Come on, we're going."

May rotated her hand clockwise, freeing her wrist from the grip. She continued turning her wrist clockwise until her palm was under his. Grabbing the back of his hand with her thumb tightly, she unwound her wrist counter clockwise and pulled it level with her neck. The effect was immediate.

Letting out a small yell of pain, the man found himself, completely against his will, on his side next to May, his back to her. When he landed, a small wave of sand went onto May's towel. She looked at the sand, and then looked at the man, who had turned his head a little so that he could see her out of the corner of his eye. May glared at him. "You got sand on my towel," she said in a level, yet menacing, tone. She twisted his wrist a little more. The man let out another yelp.

"Wait, stop, you're going to break it!" he complained.

"I said I would, didn't I? Why shouldn't I break it?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, just please let me go."

"Didn't I say I didn't want to go with you?"

"Yes,"

"Didn't I tell you what would happen if you touched me again?"

"Yes,"

"Didn't I say I had a boyfriend?"

"Yes,"

"Then why did you do it again?"

"I thought you were playing hard to get. I'm sorry. Please let me go?"

May twisted a tiny fraction more. "And now you got sand on my towel." She took a deep breath, appearing to calm herself. "I'm going to let you go and count to ten. If I can still see you when I get to ten, I'm coming after you." She let go of his wrist without giving him a chance to respond. "One…Two…Three…Four…" She stopped counting after that. He was way out of hearing distance now if the indignant yells of the people and squawks of the wingull were anything to go by.

Sighing, May tied back up the back of her bikini. She really wasn't in the mood to sunbathe anymore. She needed to hit something that wouldn't yell in protest. There was a gym nearby. A real gym, not a Pokémon gym. Maybe she would stop by there later, hit the punching bag for a while.

Standing up, she brushed the sand from her legs, arms, and stomach, shook out her towel, put on her flip flops, and went to the little showers they had just off the sand. May took off her bandanna and washed her hair out under the showers, too. They were a little cold, but not all unpleasant. Going to the lockers to collect her spare towel and bag, her thoughts turned to the contest ahead. Her Pokémon were at the Pokecenter right now, getting a once over from Nurse Joy. Let's see…I have Blaziken, Venasaur, Skitty, Glaceon, Beautifly, and Wartortle. Glaceon is dying to get out there, so I'll use her first… She let the thoughts carry her away as she walked to the Pokecenter.

Nurse Joy brought her out of her reverie as May walked into the Pokecenter. "Oh, May, it's you," she said. "A message came in for you just after you left yesterday."

May furrowed her brow quizzically. Who would be sending her a message? Her heart was screaming It's Ash, it's Ash!, while her mind logically decided It's probably Mom and Dad. She went over to the screen as Nurse Joy hit the button to display the message.

From: Ash Ketchum

May stood frozen. Ash really HAD sent her the message! What did he need? Was something wrong? Had he finally realized his feelings for her? Only one way to find out. May continued reading.

From: Ash Ketchum

To: May Haruka

Subject: See me

May, I need you to come see me as soon as possible. I'm in Cerulean City. I know it's a bit much to ask, but please. I need you right now.

End.

Ash. Needed her. She felt like she was going to float away. And then, reading through the letter, she fell like a lead balloon. Cerulean City. That's where Misty lived. Why did Ash need her there, in the reaches of enemy territory? Unless…

Could it be? Had Misty finally broken Ash's heart to pieces? And if she had, Ash needed HER to be there to help him? May went back to floating.

"Is everything alright?" Nurse Joy asked her, bringing her back to reality.

"Uhmm, yeah. Fine. Nurse Joy, are my Pokémon ready? I need to get going." All thoughts of the contest were blown out of her mind. She needed to get to Cerulean City. Fortunately, she had connections. One of her father's friends in Mauville City raised and raced Pidgeot for a living. She'd flown them before. They couldn't even get close to their top speed with a passenger, but they were still extremely fast. Two days and I can be in Cerulean City. And the Pidgeot were trained to return home after they flew their passenger.

"Yes, here they are," Nurse Joy replied, bringing out May's pokeballs.

"Thanks, Nurse Joy."

"No problem May."

May grabbed the pokeballs and ran into the room she had in the pokecenter. She quickly changed out of her bikini and into her normal clothes, then sprinted out the door. She eventually had to slow the sprint to a jog though. Have to pace myself if I'm going to get to Mauville soon. It isn't too far. A few hours bike ride. That means most of the day running. I swear, next time I see that Pikachu, I'm going to strangle him for turning my bike into charcoal.

-----

It was evening by the time she got to her dad's friends house in Mauville. And May was exhausted. She knocked on the door wearily, trying to stay standing. A light on the porch came on, and the door opened.

"Hi May! How are you? What are you doing here so late at night?" It was her dad's friend, Juliet.

May spoke with a slight daze in her voice. "Oh, hi Juliet. How are you? Mind if I come in?"

The woman stepped into the house, ushering May inside. May was led through a hallway to a sitting room, where she promptly plopped down on a large comfortable looking sofa.

"Can I get you something to eat or drink?"

"No, I had some berry's on the run over."

"What are you doing here? Aren't you in the contest in Slateport? Shouldn't you be headed there?"

"Well… I just came from there, actually."

Juliet looked at May for a moment, scrutinizing her. "This has to do with a boy, doesn't it?" she suddenly asked.

May blushed a bright red. "No, it doesn't." Juliet gave her a disbelieving look. "I mean, not really." The look continued. "Only a little." The look was unrelenting. May looked down at her feet. "Yes," she finally admitted in a small voice.

Juliet said nothing. She had a small cup of tea on a saucer resting on the table. She picked it up and took a sip. "What's his name?"

May continued staring at her feet. "Ash Ketchum."

Juliet furrowed her brow. "I think I've heard that name, somewhere." She shrugged, setting the thought aside for the moment. "Are you pregnant?"

May looked up in shock, her face going even redder, if that was possible. "Jesus, Juliet, no! I'm only 12!"

Juliet snorted. "Please, you're more developed than some 16 year olds I know." She took another sip of her tea. "So do you want to tell me what's going on?"

May knew Juliet wouldn't help her without knowing the whole story. So she started at the very beginning. "Well, when I started out on my journey, there were some mishaps. I ran into this guy, who was having some trouble with one of his Pokémon, a Pikachu. We had to fight off Team Rocket from stealing the Pikachu, who was sick. He had some kind of electric cold. Anyways, Pikachu summoned some kind of super powerful Thunder, and charred my bike to a crisp. After that, I-"

"You don't need to start that far back. Though I was wondering why you ran instead of riding your bike. Let's get to the immediate problem. Why are you here now, tonight?"

"Oh, sorry," May said, embarrassed even a little more. "A while back, Ash, the guy with the Pikachu, went to continue fighting gyms in Sinnoh, while I stayed here to compete in contests. Earlier today, I got a message from him saying he needed me in Cerulean City."

"What's he doing in Cerulean City?"

"I'm not sure, but I think I know. Before he met me, he traveled with another girl named Misty. She's the Gym Leader of the Cerulean City Gym. I think he went there, and she broke his heart." May looked at her feet again. "He said he needed me. I'm kind of hoping he needs me to…you know…help his…heart."

Juliet looked at her for a moment longer, sipping her tea. "Well," she said after a moment. "I really shouldn't help you. I should send you right back to Slateport to go on that contest." Juliet turned to look out the window. "But I can understand how you're feeling, having feelings for a man while he has feelings for another." She appeared to be deep in thought. "I know that, given the chance, I would swoop in the moment the other one made the mistake." Juliet turned back to May. "Are you desperate enough to get there, to Cerulean, to try something semi-experimental?"

"Will I live through it?" May asked, a little concerned.

Juliet waved her hand. "Probably. Unless, you know, you punch a hole in the chamber. You'd need a rocket launcher to do that, though. You might get really sick, though."

"Sick, I can put up with. Tell me what I need to do."

Juliet gave her a conspiratorial smile. "Come on. Let me show you my Sky Sled."

-----

"So, what do you think?" Juliet asked May.

"What is it?"

"I call it the Sky Sled." It looked like an egg, with wheels on the bottom, and two wings out to the side.

"Umm, what does it do?"

Juliet gave May a look. "Isn't it obvious? It flies."

"Without any propellers? Or jets?"

"Well, it's pulled by something that flies."

Now it was May's turn to give Juliet a look. "Are you telling me a Pidgeot pulls this thing along behind it? Isn't this too heavy to pull?"

"No, not A Pidgeot. Five." May looked at Juliet like she was crazy. "Hey, it works. I've spent years studying Pidgeot and how they fly in flocks. You've seen other birds fly in flocks, right? In that inverted V shape?" May nodded. "Pidgeot fly in the same way. It's the most efficient way for any group of birds to fly. The first bird cuts through the air, making a slipstream behind both of its wings. That's where the next birds are. And then the next birds are on the outside of the second and third birds slipstream."

"Then why is there only one bird behind the second and third birds, and not two?"

"Because it causes turbulence. The slipstream of the inside wings mix with the fading slipstream behind the first bird. Causes all sorts of chaos for a bird to fly through."

May looked at it for a while. "So how does it work?"

Juliet smiled. "I'm glad you asked. You see, on the nose of the Sky Sled, there is a rotating plate from which five cords extend. Each cord attaches to a Pidgeot. After a while, the plate rotates, allowing the lead bird to change so that none of them tire too quickly. When the plate rotates, it shortens or lengthens the chords. It's calibrated to rotate at times a bit sooner than Pidgeot normally change lead, to make up for the added weight of the Sled. Brilliant, huh?"

May looked at it, a seed of concern growing in her stomach. "It's…something all right."

Juliet looked at the contraption in pride. "It has an auto-stabelizer that keeps you pretty level in the air, and the wheels retract when they haven't had pressure on them for a minute. This thing will get you there inside two days. Probably closer to 36 hours. Because you're in the pressurized cockpit, and supplied with oxygen, and five Pidgeot pulling you, you can reach Mach 1.2 easy. 1.5 if you're really lucky."

May blinked in surprise. "How fast can a Pidgeot fly without this thing?"

"About Mach 2."

May looked at the sleeping Pidgeot with a new respect. "Wow. That's fast. Why can't I just ride on one, without the sky sled?"

"You're not strong enough to hold on when it's going at top speed. You'd be ripped off its back like that." Juliet snapped her fingers. "I've trained these guys personally. They'll land when they're close to their limit, and then go hunting. Their harnesses are specially designed to let go when they're done flying, then reattach when they're ready to go again. Give them about 10 hours rest for every 7 flying Once you get to Cerulean, they'll fly back here, so you don't need to worry about them.. Oh, and bring a book. It's a long flight."

May gave Juliet a big hug. "Thanks for helping me. I owe you one, big time."

Juliet hugged May back, rubbing her back. "No, sweetie, you don't owe me a thing. I'm helping you because I would want to be helped too."

May gave her one last squeeze, then let go. "So, when can I leave?"

"Tomorrow morning if you want."

"Then I'm going to have to go buy some books and food tonight. Can't have me and my Pokémon starving when we get to Cerulean, can we?"

-----

It had been a long day for Ash, Brock, and Dawn. It had started with flying, and ended with flying. Tracy had sent over Ash's Pidgeot, just as he said he would, and Liza had sent Charizard. Ash was in no mood to talk. He was set on getting to Cerulean City.

It had been Dawn's first time flying on a Pokémon. Under normal circumstances, it would have been amazing. But, considering the severity of the reason for their flight, it was a somber flight.

Since Brock was the heaviest, Charizard flew him. Dawn was the lightest, so Staraptor had flown her. That left Ash with Pidgeot. Probably not the best of ideas, in retrospect. Ash had had a hard time staying with the rest of the group. Not because Pidgeot had trouble keeping up with the group. The opposite, in fact. Ash had a hard time keeping Pidgeot to stay slow enough for the others to follow.

At the end of the day, they had reached the airport. Mrs. Ketchum had booked a non-stop flight to Celadon City. That was almost 40 hours of non-stop flying.

Dawn groaned at the aspect of it. Brock was feeding all the Pokémon, and Ash was sitting in one of the airport chairs, staring at the lure in his hands. Oh, I really shouldn't… Dawn thought to herself. It would be taking advantage of a realllllly emotional situation. But, if she doesn't make it, Ash is going to need a shoulder to cry on. Dawn's resolution firmed. And I'm going to be that shoulder. And if everything…stays the same, if Misty is okay, then we'll just be closer friends. Dawn felt like a dirt bag for what she was about to do. But, all's fair in love in war. And this isn't just love, it's war too.

Dawn picked up Piplup and walked over to where Ash was sitting. Her arms and legs were sore from holding on to Staraptor during the flight. No doubt Ash was just as sore, but he wasn't showing it.

"Hey," she said in a soft, comforting voice as she sat down next to him. "Are you okay?" Dawn held Piplup in her lap. The little blue bird, sensing the mood of the situation, jumped down and went off to where Pikachu was. Ash had wanted to be alone for a while, and Pikachu understood his Master's feelings.

Ash didn't say anything. "You know," he finally said. "I remember when I first met Misty. It was back on the very first day of my journey." He rubbed a thumb across the face of the lure. "Pikachu wouldn't listen to me back then. He hated being in his pokeball, and I kept trying to make him. Finally, I had given up. I saw a spearow in the fields, and had thought it would be a good first Pokémon to catch. But Pikachu ignored me when I asked him to help. So I threw a rock at it instead." He laughed at the memory. "It got sooooo mad. It flew off to get the rest of its flock. They all ganged up and attacked Pikachu and me." His eyes were teary at the memory. "They got at Pikachu first. He couldn't move. I picked him up and ran. I ran and ran, trying to get away. I saw a river, and I jumped into it. The river led to a waterfall. Which, of course, I fell down." Ash pulled down the bill of his cap, to try and hide his tears from Dawn.

"Misty." His voice choked up a little. "Misty fished me out. Me and Pikachu. And then I stole her bike, trying to get Pikachu to the Pokecenter in Viridian City. I said 'I'll bring it back I promise!' as I rode off with it." Ash choked up at the end of the sentence. He couldn't bring his voice, or his tears, under control again at this point. "I rode as hard as I could, but the spearow caught up again. Then Pikachu used the strongest Thunderbolt I've ever seen. He scared off all the spearow, and char grilled Misty's bike in the process." He let out a quick chuckle. "Kind of like your bike. Sorry about that by the way. Pikachu just doesn't like bikes, it seems." He wiped an arm over his eyes, trying to get rid of the tears. "Then I ran to the pokecenter. Obviously, Pikachu got better, but it was touch and go for a while. While I was waiting, Misty storms into the Pokecenter, the burnt bike over her shoulder. She promised she'd travel with me until I paid her back for the bike." He cry/laughed at the memory. Dawn didn't know what to say. Instead, she put her arms around him, pulling him into a hug. Ash turned into the hug and pulled Dawn close to him, crying onto her shoulder. "Even when she wasn't with me, all this time, she's always been with me. I just… I don't know how I could handle her not being there." He cried onto her shoulder a good while. Dawn's heart leapt, but her consciousness beat her heart into submission. For the moment, at least.

"Shhh, Ash. Shhhh. Everything's going to be okay." She rubbed his back as she whispered into his ear. "I haven't met her, but Misty's a Gym Leader. You've got to be tough to be a Gym Leader. Why, I bet that she'll be better and ready for a battle the minute you get there."

Ash snorted at that. "Probably a verbal battle, saying that I shouldn't have come all this way. She probably cares more about me being a Master than I do." Ash let go of Dawn, wiping his eyes again. "Thanks, Dawn. I needed that. You really are one of the best friends I have. Thanks for being here with me." Ash looked down at the lure at that moment, so he didn't see Dawn blush redder than Charizard.

"Hey," Dawn said to Ash. He put the lure in his pocket and looked up at Dawn again. "Why don't you give her another call? Just to see how she is."

Ash thought for a minute. "I don't know. What if she's worse than before? I don't know how I could take it if she's…she's…"

Dawn stood up and grabbed his hand, pulling him up too. This is all for the bigger picture, Dawn kept chanting to herself as she pulled him to the pay phones. Be a good friend now, and a girlfriend later. If I'm a good friend for him in this rough spot, he'll see how much I care about him. Then maybe he'll care about me some. I just hope Misty doesn't really die. I'd hate to win that way. Pulling some change out of her skirt pocket, Dawn paid the pay phone, dialed the number for the Gym, and handed the phone to Ash. The camera on this side was broken, so they wouldn't be able to see Ash, but they could still hear him.

The phone rang. The screen flashed to life as the phone was picked up. "Hello?" said the woman on the other side, her eyes red and puffy from crying, her voice a little hoarse.

"Hi, Lily," Ash said, his own voice a little hoarse. "It's – "

"I know who it is," Lily said in anger. "I can't see you, but I recognize your voice. And we do have caller ID you know."

"Lily, could I talk to – "

"No, you can't!" she yelled, tears coming back into her eyes. "It's because of you that my sister's….No, you can't talk to her!" And she slammed the phone on the receiver, cutting off the image.

Ash stared at the screen, face blank. Gently, he hung up the receiver, his head bowed. Dawn saw a tear fall from his face to the floor, and it almost broke her heart.

"Oh, Ash," she said, pulling him into another hug. This time, though, he didn't even have the strength to hug her back. He just cried.

-----

(What the hell does your trainer think she's doing?) Pikachu demanded of Piplup as the little blue penguin walked over.

(What are you talking about?) Piplup asked. (She's being a good friend, which is just what YOUR trainer needs right now. In case you haven't noticed, he's upset,) she retorted, crossing her wings in front of her.

Pikachu didn't want to fight. It wasn't Piplup's fault. Instead, he patted the ground next to him, indicating that she should sit there. Piplup looked at Pikachu suspiciously, and then sat down.

(I'm sorry. I'm a little upset too. Misty's one of the best friends we've,) Pikachu indicated Ash, (Ever had. She was there right at the beginning.)

Piplup looked a little confused. (I thought it was me and Dawn at the beginning. And who is Misty? I've never met her before. If she was so important, why haven't I met her?)

Pikachu took a deep breath. Piplup could be a little self-centered. (It was you and Dawn at the beginning of our journey in Sinnoh. But me and Ash, we've been traveling for a while. Probably since before you were hatched. We're from Kanto, which is where we're heading now. Misty met us on the first day we left Pallet Town. She saved my life, actually.) Pikachu scratched an ear absently. (I accidentally…broke her bike, but she's still one of my best human friends.)

Piplup looked at Pikachu. (You broke Dawn's bike, too. Do you not like bikes or something?)

Pikachu laughed nervously. (Well, hehe, it's not that I don't LIKE them. It's just that…well, they…I mean, they're…) Piplup gave Pikachu a look. He hung his head. (Okay. They scare me. I don't know why, but they do, and I kind of…shock them if they surprise me. It's not my fault that they're made of weak material.)

Piplup shook her head. (You electric types. Always quick to shoot first and ask questions later.)

(At least we aren't haughty and self-centered like you water types.)

Piplup looked like she was about to retort, but thought better of it. (What were you saying earlier about Dawn?)

Pikachu had expected something harsh, and was caught a little by surprise. (Uh…well, it's just that I can smell the pheromones from here. It seems a little low to take advantage of Ash when he's like this, don't you think?)

Piplup shook her head. (You can't understand it. You're a guy. Trust me, Bunneary would be doing the same thing with you if something happened to…I don't know, who's your oldest friend? Bulbasaur?)

Pikachu sighed. (Can we not talk about Bunneary, please?)

Piplup smiled as much as she could smile with a beak, but let it go. (Alright.)

The two Pokémon watched as their trainers embraced.

-----

Misty jumped in surprise as she heard Lily slam the phone down on the receiver.

"Lily?" she called. "Is everything okay?"

Lily wandered back into the living room, a scowl on her face. They had all been watching another sad movie that Daisy had picked out the day before. "No," she said. "Everything is not okay. You'll never believe who just called."

Misty wondered who could have made Lily so angry. "I don't know? Who?"

"Derick. He wanted to talk to Daisy."

"No!" the three seated sisters cried out in unison. "Why? What did he say?" Violet asked.

"I didn't give him much chance to talk. He didn't even have the nerve to turn on the camera on his end. I told him off, and hung up on him."

"Good," Daisy huffed. "I don't want to speak to him again." She patted the seat Lily had vacated to answer the phone. "Come on, sit back down, grab some popcorn, and we'll start the movie back up."

Lily waved her hand at the idea. "I'm too pissed right now. I need to go for a swim."

"Don't go skinny dipping!" Misty cried out as Lily left. "We still need to fix the hole in the wall from that guy with the Tyranitar!"

"I won't!" she replied, disappearing down the hall.

Misty turned back to the TV and pushed play on the DVD player. She wasn't paying too much attention to the movie, though. She had had a busy day today. Stocking the refrigerator with things Ash liked, cleaning up the Gym, scrubbing the water tank. She wanted everything to be perfect for when he came in two days.

Just two days, and her Ash would be back. I wonder if Brock will be with him? Misty wondered to herself. I hope not. I'd like to have a little time with just me and Ash. She went to daydreaming about the future. Cooking Ash's favorite foods, training with him. Resting with him after a good work out, going for a swim. Kissing him…

She let her mind wander on that pleasant tangent. Then she remembered his other companions. May, she thought almost viciously. Dawn. They have nothing on me. I'll be civil with them when Ash is around, but if he's gone… they'll probably be just as vicious. But, he isn't traveling with May anymore. So there's just this 'Dawn' character to worry about right now. Who knows, she may have a boyfriend. She's bound to meet someone in the contest circuit. Of course, Misty had thought the same thing about May.

We'll just have to wait and see.

-----

Patrick and Jane sat at the computer they had set up on their base. It beeped once, showing that there had been a call from outside Kanto to the Cerulean Gym. It had been successfully renamed.

Jane looked at the Magnemite and the Alakazam on the side of the wall. Magnemite was connected on two sides to a telephone cable. Magnemite acted as the transmitter between the two cables, monitoring every call that went through. When one came from a number outside Kanto, the Alakazam picked it up, changed the electrical signal that Magnemite would send out using Confusion, and let the impulse continue traveling through the cable. Whenever Ash called, it would look like Derick was calling.

"Jane, my dear," Patrick cooed. "You are brilliant. Using Magnemite as a terminal monitor and Alakazam as a re-logging algorithm was genius."

"Why, thank you Patrick." Her phone rang. "Hello? Good. Why, where is he? Okay. No, shouldn't be a problem. Just add him to the list in Pettleburg. Yes. Cancel his message. Yes. Bye."

"Who was that?"

"The relay from Hoenn. He got reports saying that May is prepared to head out here in the morning, and should be here in two days. Max, though, is doing some training with his Dad in Pettleburg."

"And where is Ash?"

Jane turned to the computer. "According to this, he called from a pay phone in the airport. Our contacts say his plane leaves in the morning. He and May should arrive a few hours apart."

"Who will get here first?"

"Probably May."

"Do you have a plan to keep her occupied?"

Jane smiled. "Why, of course I do. After all, we want them all together, so we can break them apart." Jane chuckled darkly, Patrick joining her as they contemplated the next phases of their plan.

End Chapter

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AN: I wrote this chapter while listening to the new Pokemon opening song. Nonstop, over and over. It actually isn't that bad. So... What do you think of my version of May? Dawn's plot to win Ash's heart? Ash's less-than-manly reactions? The conversation between the Pokemon? Misty's troublesome sisters? Who has a good guess who the guy Juliet is talking about is?

And what do you think of the Sky Sled? I personally thought it was rather clever. Read, review, and recommend! Penguin King, out~