This is the longest chapter so far for part 2. There were so many things that needed to be included! I hope you all enjoy, let me know what you think.
Smoke billowed slowly up into the one light high above in the small room. It was pointing down to the floor, creating one small circle of light in the center. An arm chair sat in the center of the light, a man relaxing in it. The light, being so high up, created long dark shadows across his face. Hiding his features from view. He had a morning paper in is hands, and a cup of coffee and a cigar resting in an ash tray, were on a small table beside his chair. He cleared his throat, and turned the page of his paper. A door burst open behind him, but he was not startled. Light spilled into the room from the open doorwar, but the man's features were still hidden in deep shadow. Another man had came into the room, and he was standing at attention.
"I assume you've found him since you've had the nerve to interrupt my reading" the man said, with a deep gruff voice.
The man in the door hesitated, but then answered, "N-No sir...we had tracked him to Cerulean City, and were right on his tail...but...he's disappeared. We can't find him".
The man in the chair slowly reached out for his coffee. He took a long sip, and sighed as he lowered the cup back to the table. The man at the door was silent, sweat forming on his brow.
"Do not come back in here again until you have found Gary Oak" the man in the chair said coldly, "I will not tolerate another failure".
"Yes sir" the man in the doorway said, and left the room in a hurry.
"Psy"?
"No Psyduck, you can't come with me" Misty said.
The little yellow duck Pokemon was trying to follow Misty out the front door. She gently pushed it back inside and knelt down to it's eye level.
"I need you stay here and watch out for the Gym while I'm gone" Misty told it, "don't worry about me. I'll be ok".
"Duck".
Sadness was in the Pokemon's tone, and it lowered it's head.
"I have to go Psyduck" Misty said, "I have to go see Ash".
"Psyduck" it nodded.
"I'm not sure when I'll be back, so Eric will be by to check in on all of you while I'm gone" Misty told Psyduck.
"Psy"?
Psyduck tilted it's head to the side, a blank stare across it's face.
"Eric? The Match Referee"?
"Duck"?
Misty sighed, shaking her head, "I don't know what I'm ever going to do with you".
She stood back up and walked out the door.
"I'll be back as soon as I can" Misty called to Psyduck, and closed the door behind her.
There was no breeze today, which was nice. She wasn't feeling up to dealing with the cold more than she had too. Shouldering her bag, she took off through the city, headed to the bus station. Misty checked her watch. Still half an hour before her bus left. Good, she could make that no problem. She mentally ran over everything she brought to make sure she wasn't forgetting everything. Clothes? Check. Toothbrush? Check. PokeBalls? Check. As she walked, she could see the people start their whispering once again. She tried to ignore them, but was failing. Why did they insist on gossiping? What about her life was their business anyway?!
'Don't cause a scene' she told herself, 'stay calm'.
She started to hum herself a tune her sisters used to do when she was smaller. She remembered how soothing it once was, and decided it might keep her from knocking someone out. Thankfully it worked. She hummed the rest of the way to the bus station. The clerk was leaning against his register, looking mildly bored.
"Hello" he said, straightening up as Misty walked up to him.
"Hello" Misty said back, "I need a ticket to Pallet Town please".
"Yes mam" he said, and printed out the stub.
Misty paid for her ticket, and proceeded through the terminal. There was a big clock hanging on the wall overhead, she still had ten minutes before her bus left.
'Coffee sounds nice' She thought to herself.
Misty walked through the few people in the concession area. One man was asleep on one of the benches, his bag over his face to block out the light. Another man was quietly bickering with a woman. The man was pointing at a map in his hands, and the woman was shaking her head. Misty spotted a small coffee shop on the other end of the room.
"What can I get you" the young woman asked Misty as she approached the register.
"Just a simple cup of coffee" Misty said, "Columbian though".
"You got it"!
Misty drummed her fingers across the countertop as she watched the lady fill her cup up. Misty heard the couple behind her still bickering. She was reminded of her bickering with Ash over getting lost all the time. She closed her eyes as her heart started aching. What she wouldn't give to be back on those days, arguing about which route to take along their journey.
"Here you are miss"!
Misty opened her eyes. The young lady was smiling at her, holding out her coffee.
"Thank you" Misty said, taking the cup and reaching into her pocket for her money.
"Oh no, it's on the house" the lady said.
Misty tilted her head, "Are you sure"?
"Absolutely! I can tell when someone's heart aches, and a free cup of coffee may not do the trick, but it's the least I can do to help" the lady said, smiling gently.
Water formed in Misty's eyes as the lady spoke, "thank you".
"There's sugar and creamer over there if you'd like some" the lady said, pointing to small table, "I hope you have a good day"!
"You too" Misty said, nodding to the lady.
She blinked the water from her eyes as she walked over to the table. The clock overhead now said she had five minutes to be on her bus. Misty grabbed a few sugar packets and took off to find her ride. The driver opened the door for her as she walked up to the bus. She handed over her ticket stub as she climbed up the steps.
"What time will we arrive in Pallet Town" Misty asked.
"Sometime tonight" the driver told her, "probably around 8:30. We have one stop in Viridian City first".
"Ok, thank you".
Misty walked through the aisle, taking a sip from her coffee. She passed a few old ladies, a small family, and a few teenagers with headphones in. One of the younger boys turned his head to look at Misty as she passed.
"Damn" she heard him whisper.
She had to fight the urge to dump her coffee on his head. She took a seat closer to the back, away from the other people. Misty took another sip of her coffee and looked at the precipitation forming on the window.
"Here we go" she mumbled to herself, trying to calm the pace of her heart, and the butterflies swirling in her stomach.
"NO"!
Ash sat straight up. He listened carefully, shutting out his other senses. Someone had screamed, he knew he had heard it. They sounded like they were in pain, but everything was silent. His adrenaline was flowing rapidly, and he nearly exploded through the roof when May and Pikachu burst into his room. They halted in the doorway.
"Are you ok" May asked urgently.
"Who screamed" Ash asked just as quickly, jumping out of bed.
"Um, you did" she told him.
"What"?
"That 'no'...that was you Ash".
"Pikapi"?
Ash's legs suddenly collapsed, and he crashed to the floor.
"ASH"!
"PIPIPI"!
May and Pikachu ran to him, helping him off the floor. May sat him on the edge of his bed, sitting next to him, and feeling his forehead.
"You're a little hot, sweating like a pig too".
"I screamed" Ash asked quietly.
May nodded, noticing the terror in his voice, "did you have another dream"?
Ash was silent, letting his mind catch up with the rest of him. Some details beginning to return.
"Yea" Ash said, "two of them actually...".
He started coughing, realizing his throat was extremely dry.
"I'll be right back with some water" May said, "don't you move! Watch him Pikachu"!
She stood up and left the room. Pikachu hopped up on the bed, and tilted his head at his trainer.
"Pikachu"?
The little Pokemon's expression was full of worry. Ash tried to swallow, but was unable too. He wiped the sweat off his arms, but more reappeared almost as fast as it was gone. He put his hands to his head, and closed his eyes. Two yellow eyes were burned on the back of his eyelids, staring back at him. He heard the maniacal metallic laugh. He gasped as he snapped his eyes back open.
"Pika"?!
The Pokemon moved closer to Ash, placing his hand on Ash's back. Ash tried to speak to Pikachu, but only a croak came out. May returned with the water, and Ash sucked it down. The cool liquid felt amazing on the back of his throat. He gasped for air after he had chugged the entire glass.
"That's better" Ash said, "thank you".
May nodded, and then asked, "what were the dreams"?
Ash turned his head to her. Her brow was furrowed, and she had her lips pulled in slightly. Ash tried to swallow again, and partly succeeded.
"The first one was the same as always, the Dominion above Pallet, the yellow lightning" Ash started shakily, "the second one...".
He stopped, seeing those piercing yellow eyes burned into his vision. May extended her hands out and took his, cupping them together.
"Ash" she said, "you're in your bedroom, with me and Pikachu. You're safe, it was just a dream".
Ash slowly look up, straight at the wall ahead of him.
"I'm not so sure it was...".
Pikachu fidgeted at the seriousness of Ash's tone. May took a deep breath through her nose.
"Tell me".
Ash gritted his teeth together, then swallowed one more time.
"The Dominion appeared to me, we were-nowhere. Standing in a black abyss. It laughed...and laughed".
Ash hesitated, able to hear the echo of the metallic laughter again.
"Then it spoke to me. It told me the end was drawing close. It had almost caught up with Mewtwo and the Mew. Then it pointed it's third arm at me...and I saw visions of all my friends. Dead or dying, bloody and broken. Crushed under rubble, or deep slits in their throats. My Pokemon...unable to fight anymore, dropping to the ground dead...".
Ash stopped, he couldn't continue. He saw the last of his dream, he could see the Dominion clear as day in front of him, holding Misty in the air. Ash was unable to move or scream. The Dominion pulled Misty tight between two of its arms, and then with the third, snapped Misty's back. He watched the shock shoot across her face, and then the sparkle in her eyes fade away. May's hug snapped him out of his vision. She had him pulled tight, and he could feel her heartbeat on his shoulder. Ash's eyes burned, and he felt the tears fall fast. Pikachu hopped into his lap and tried to wipe them away. Ash wrapped his arms around his Pokemon and pulled him in close. His own heartbeat began to slow. May's hug was making him feel safe, as if everything truly was as a bad dream. Ash heard his front door open, and Brock's voice call through the house.
"Hello? Food's here, anyone hungry"?
May slowly pulled away from Ash, and keeping her eyes on him, called back, "we'll be there in a second"!
She was looking over Ash with deep concern. Ash let go of Pikachu and tried to gather himself, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. He then looked at May.
"Can you stand now" she asked gently.
Ash nodded, and went to stand up. He felt his legs shake, but their strength had returned. He let out a long slow breath, and swallowed once more.
"Ash" May said standing beside him, "I don't know what to say...the best I got is we're all going to be ok. That much I do know"!
How could she have so much confidence? When even Ash himself was shaken to the core.
"How can you be so sure"?
"Because no matter what, we'll all stand together" May replied, "and nothing can stop us when we do"!
She clenched her fist tightly, giving Ash a 'we can kick some ass' smile. Ash wanted to believe her, but wasn't so sure. His dreams were a little too detailed for him to be as confident as May. He nodded anyway, not wanting to crush her spirit.
"Now you need some food, come on" May said, pulling him along.
Pikachu followed them out of Ash's room. In the kitchen Brock was pulling fast food out of paper bags. He looked up at them as they entered the kitchen.
"Whoa" Brock said when he saw Ash.
Ash wondered just how much of a mess he must look like.
"Everything ok" Brock asked, looking between Ash and May.
"For now" May answered, "more nightmare stuff".
"Here eat" Brock said pushing a breakfast burrito to Ash.
Ash's stomach howled at the smell. He hadn't realized how hungry he was.
"Good to know you're appetite is back at least" May chuckled.
"Yea, I'm starving" Ash said truthfully.
They spent the day lounging around the house, letting Ash rest. Ash spent a lot of time pondering just how much stress he had been putting himself under, and the toll it was having on him. May suggested that all the unnecessary stress was causing his nightmares. Brock agreed, but once again, Ash wasn't so sure. The sun was starting to set, and they were playing a card game when Ash's PokeGear buzzed on the table by the front door. Ash started to stand, but May stopped him.
"I got it" she said, "you sit"!
Ash plopped back onto the couch, watching May walk over to his PokeGear. She picked it up and answered it.
"Hello"?
She paused as the other person spoke.
"Hello Mrs. Ketchum! Yes he's here, we're just forcing him to relax today".
She paused again, and this time Ash recognized his mother's tone on the other end.
"Oh I think we could get him over there for dinner" May said, "we'll see you soon"!
May put down the PokeGear.
"How do you feel about having some of your mother's spagetti and meatballs"?
"Pikapi" Pikachu jumped up first, his ears perking up high.
"Pikachu's in" May said giggling.
Brock looked to Ash.
"I could go for your mother's cooking" Brock said.
"Yea, me too" Ash said, "let's go"!
Fifteen minutes later they were walking up the drive of Ash's mother's home in the chilly air. The house had been repaired in the summer months, almost to it's original condition. The only new feature, was now a balcony stuck out from the side of the house. It was connected to each bedroom upstairs, making for the perfect social area. Mr. Mime flung open the door before Ash could knock.
"Mime"!
"Hello Mr. Mime" Ash said, "were starving"!
"Mime. Mr. Mime"!
Mr. Mime beckoned them inside, and quickly shut the cold air back outside. The smell of food was hovering in the air, and all of their stomachs growled in unison. Ash took off his coat, but May snatched it from his hands. She took Brock's as well.
"I'll go put these away, you two go on into the kitchen" she said, bustling down the hall.
Delia was stirring intently over a large pot on the stove. The wonderful smell was a thousand times stronger in the kitchen, and Ash's stomach growled again.
"We're here mom" he said.
"Hi honey! I'm almost done" Delia said, turning to give them a big smile.
"Awesome" Ash exclaimed, taking a seat at the table. Pikachu jumped down off his shoulder, landing on the tabletop.
"Would you like any help Mrs. Ketchum" Brock asked, sliding along next to her.
"No thanks, Mimey's got it all taken care off" Delia smiled at Brock.
"Mime"!
Brock slumped over to the table, taking a seat next to Ash.
"Dude, don't try to hit on my mom" Ash whispered to Brock.
Brock turned to Ash and gave him an 'I would never' face. His face then cracked into a wide grin, and Ash couldn't help but laugh out loud. A small pop on the back of his head made him jump. He started to turn, but May danced around him to a seat. Giving him an innocent smile.
"Was that necessary" Ash asked her.
"I didn't think you'd want to be laughing, so I flicked you to make it stop" May teased him.
Ash started to reply, but at that moment Delia placed the large pot in the center of the table.
"Who's hungry" she asked happily.
Only May answered her. Ash, Brock, and Pikachu were already filling their plates. Soon the kitchen was filled with the clinking of silverware on dishes, and the laughter of good conversation.
A loud hiss escaped from under the bus as it rolled creakily to a stop into the station. Misty stood up, shouldering her bag.
"Enjoy your time in Pallet Town" the driver said as she stepped down to the pavement.
Misty didn't answer him, she couldn't be sure she would enjoy her time here. All she could do was pray everything would work out. The sun was set, so she checked her watch. 8:27 P.M. The night air was chilly, the cold penetrating deep into her nerves. Freezing her in place at the terminal. She shivered as she stood, trying to find the courage to start walking. This was the closest she'd been to Ash in months, all she had to do was walk for twenty minutes, knock on a door, and she would be standing face to face with him. Her mind took her to that day she left, re-writing her note over and over. Trying to keep it simple, to find the right words, but also because her tears kept ruining the ink. She remembered how he had changed, disappearing for long periods at a time, not speaking to her when he would return, and almost ignoring Pikachu. Of course she had changed as well, it wasn't all on him. Everything seemed fine when they first returned from Sea Foam, but as time crawled on she found herself becoming irritant more often. When she would look at Ash, she could almost blame him for everything that had happened. If he hadn't surprised her in Cerulean, Mark might never have started his crusade against them. Her leg wouldn't have gotten hurt, Pallet wouldn't have gotten attacked, and Tracy would still be alive. In truth he had tried to talk to her at first, but she pushed him away. Silently yelling at him for making her feel this way. Even though she never said anything, she knew he could see the blame in her eyes.
Only now, standing in the freezing cold, trying to work up the courage to go see him, did she realize that none of it was his fault. Ash had only ever tried to be there for her, to protect her...and she had blamed him for the awful things they went through. Her eyes stung from the guilt, every heartbeat had a deep ache. She thought of their time together, their first kiss by the lake. She could feel the soft warm breeze, and see the shine in his eyes from the moonlight. His warm lips as they gently pressed against hers, and they way the ground melted away beneath her, as if she were floating in the air. Misty clenched her fists tightly. She let out a hard breath, watching the steam from it billow away. She had found her courage, and marched off through the night. Her pace was quick, she wanted to get their and knock on the door before her courage decided to leave. The night was silent, the only sound being the gravel crunching beneath Misty's steps. She passed house after house, looking at the lights shining through the windows. Each house made her heart skip a beat, each house ment she was one step closer to Ash.
'Keep going' she told herself, 'you can do this'.
There it was, sitting silently on that little hill. She picked up her pace, feeling her courage begin to shake. She was about twenty feet away when the front door opened. Misty froze in place, watching Ash's mother step outside first.
"You all be careful heading back" Misty heard Delia's faint voice.
"We will mom, thanks for dinner".
Misty's heart exploded! There he was, sliding on a jean jacket as he stepped onto the front porch, Pikachu on his shoulder. He looked thinner, and his hair was much longer than Misty remembered it.
'Now! Go now' her conscious was yelling at her, but Misty couldn't move.
Next she saw Brock step outside, and then...May!
"Dinner was lovely Mrs. Ketchum" Misty heard May say.
"Thank you dear" Delia replied, "you three come back anytime. Especially you honey! Just because you have your own place doesn't mean you should stop seeing your mother".
"I know mom" Ash said sheepishly, "I've just been...busy".
"I know, I just worry is all" Delia said, pulling Ash into a hug.
Misty watched them exchange a few more goodbyes, and then...dread? Despair? Depression? She didn't know what word fit best as she watched May wrap her arm through Ash's. Thankfully they turned and walked the other direction down the dark path, because Misty was unable to move. Was she even breathing?! Her chest was becoming heavier by the second, and her head had started to spin. Her muscles tingled as if a thousand needles were poking at her. And then she ran, back down the way she had come. She didn't know where she was going, she didn't care. Misty cursed herself as she flew down the path, feeling her eyes beginning to burn, and a sob forming in her chest.
"I can hear you" Ash said, his voice bouncing off the sharp red rocks surrounding him.
He was standing in a cave of some kind. Lava flowed down the side of the wall ahead of him, casting off deep red shadows along the rocks. He clenched his fists as footsteps began to approach him. Each one echoed along the walls, bouncing further down the tunnel behind him. A figure started to appear out of the shadows, and for a moment he feared it was the Dominion.
"Mewtwo" he asked astounded.
Mewtwo shuffled into view. He looked hurt, holding his left arm with his right.
"We don't have long so listen" Mewtwo spoke, he sounded exhausted.
"What's going-" Ash started, but Mewtwo cut him off.
"We don't have much longer, the Dominion...it's very close now" Mewtwo said, "I can't fend it off for much longer. I need your help".
"We tried to help you remember" Ash said sternly, his brow furrowing.
"I should have listened" Mewtwo said looking down.
There was a brief moment of silence, and then Mewtwo snapped his head back up to Ash.
"I am at Mt. Chimeny in Hoenn" he said urgently, "come quickly! Or the Dominion will claim Mew"!
"You're in Hoenn" Ash started, but everything faded, and he was standing in a darker area.
He could feel a hard surface beneath his feet, but nothing was visible. Two yellow lights lit up ahead of him, and his stomach knotted up. Those eyes pierced through him, paralyzing his heart.
"I heard Hoenn" the Dominion's voice rang through the darkness, "but where in Hoenn"?
Ash didn't answer. Gritting his teeth, he tried to run, but smacked into a wall.
"You're not going anywhere" the Dominion called, "not until I know where they are"!
"ASH"!
That was May's voice, echoing as if from a great distance.
"TELL ME NOW" the Dominion screeched.
Ash watched the yellow eyes lunge at him in the darkness.
"ASH"!
He was violently jerked awake. Ash lunged out of bed, screaming in rage. He heard a loud thud, and small grunt. Ash was breathing hard. Sweat dripping from his hair, his nose, and his fingertips.
"Ash...it's me".
Her voice was soft, and scared. It was then Ash realized he was pinning her against the wall with his elbow across her chest. His other hand was raised in the air, ready to strike. May's blue eyes were cowering under his fist. Ash quickly let her go, stepping back and falling against his bed. He crashed onto his mattress, feeling his adrenaline surging through him like a hurricane. May stayed against the wall, pulling her hands to her chest. Pikachu was perched on the nightstand, sparks cracking out of his cheeks.
"Pikapi"?
Ash didn't look at him, he was trying to steady his breathing.
"Ash" May's voice came, soft and concerned.
He felt the bed sink slightly under her weight, and her hand rest on his leg.
"I...I'm sorry" he stammered, "I didn't mean to...".
He swallowed, feeling May shift next to him.
"Pikachu came to get me" May said, her voice still soft, "when I came in you were thrashing around, violently. I thought maybe you were having a seizure or something...until you said Mewtwo's name".
Ash bolted straight up, making May jump.
"We have to go see Professor Oak" Ash nearly shouted, flying out of his bed.
"Right now?! Maybe you should take a minute-"
"RIGHT NOW" this time he did shout, "the longer we wait, the less of a chance we have"!
Ash didn't even knock, he burst into Professor Oak's lab. Brock and May, with Pikachu on her shoulder, followed him inside. Desperately trying to keep up with his pace. Each of them were still in there pajama's, with a jacket for the cold.
"Professor"!
Ash's voice rang through the dark halls, bouncing through the long corridors.
"Professor! Everett"!
Ash walked briskly towards the back of the lab, his footsteps echoing with his shouts.
"Pika"!
His Pokemon's voice echoed past him, but Ash kept moving.
"Professor"!
A voice made him stop and spin around.
"Ash? What on earth, it's the middle of the night" Oak said sleepily.
Professor Oak and Everett were standing at the end of the hall. They were in their sleep clothes, blinking slowly at Ash.
"I'm sorry Professor, but this is urgent" Ash said quickly.
"So urgent that it couldn't wait until morning"?
Ash didn't speak this time, he just nodded vigorously. Professor Oak looked him over, examining the seriousness on Ash's face. Everett stretched out behind Oak, yawning wide.
"We'll discuss it in the lounge area" Oak said, nodding at Ash.
He beckoned them along, and led the way through his lab.
Ash fidgeted with his thumbs as he waited on Professor Oak to finish making his tea. They didn't have time for this! To Ash's left, Brock was slowly nodding off. His head would tilt forwards, and then snap back up. To Ash's right, May was scratching Pikachu behind the ears. She rubbed her eyes with her other hand, and then looked at Ash with concern. Everett had his feet resting on the small coffee table in between them. Professor Oak sat down on the sofa, handing Everett a cup. Oak took a small sip, and then looked at Ash.
"So what's the matter" Oak asked.
Ash launched into telling them his dream. He didn't leave out any details, telling them even how the rocks looked. Professor Oak looked more awake the longer Ash talked. Brock's mouth had fallen open, an Everett was sitting up straighter. May had quit looking at Ash. She was staring at the floor, not moving a muscle. When Ash finished, Professor Oak slowly placed his cup of tea on the table in front of him.
"You're sure this wasn't just a nightmare" Oak asked carefully.
"I'm sure" Ash said sternly.
Oak quickly licked his lower lip, then stood up.
"Then we must act quickly" Oak said, "there is a cruise ship that leaves for Hoenn tomorrow afternoon. You will be on it, you must reach Mt. Chimney before the Dominion".
That wasn't quite how he had expected Oak to respond, but Ash nodded anyway.
"I'll find Mewtwo" Ash said.
"I need to call Gary" Oak said, "he needs to go as well".
Oak was gone, walking as fast as he could out of the room.
"I'm going too" May spoke up.
"PikaPi"!
Ash snapped his gaze to May and Pikachu.
"Me too" Brock said.
Ash nearly gave himself whiplash turning the other way.
"You two don't have to come" Ash started, but May interjected.
"Don't start your regular Ash Ketchum routine. We're going, so just accept it here and now".
"All we'll do is go in circles until you accept it anyway" Brock added, "so just make it easier".
Ash sighed. They were right.
"Thank you" Ash said.
May touched his shoulder, giving him a confident smile. Ash smiled back, then looked at Brock who nodded. Professor Oak reentered the room, talking on his PokeGear.
"See you tomorrow" Oak said, then hung up, "Gary is in Venice Town, he will be boarding the next flight available to Pallet".
Oak stopped a few feet away from them. He looked them over, examining their confident faces. Only Ash's seemed to be worried.
"Everett" Oak said, "I'd like you to go as well. They may need help from some of your connections in Hoenn".
"Yes sir" Everett said.
Ash looked around the room, his eyes resting on each person. He then looked at the table in front of him.
'So this is it' he thought, 'it's officially started'.
The group approached the docks, feeling the spray of mist sprinkle across their skin. Gary had arrived early that morning, and they each had set to packing only essentials into backpacks. Ash led the way, Pikachu perched high on his shoulder. For the first time in a long time, Ash was wearing his hat. Not just any hat, the very first hat, the one from the Pokemon League Expo. He wasn't sure what made him want to wear it, but as he was packing his essentials, he noticed it among his other hats. Maybe it would bring him luck...or he hoped it would bring him luck. The horn blasted from the cruise ship, signaling it was about to sail off.
"Good luck" Oak said, "to all of you".
He grabbed Ash and Gary by the shoulder.
"You two have done so much for us already" Oak continued, "It's not fair to continue to put more pressure on you, but you are the best hope any of us have...and I know you'll get it done".
Oak paused, looking between the both of them.
"No matter what happens from here on, know that we are all proud of both of you".
"We know Gramps" Gary said.
Oak squeezed their shoulders, and stepped back to let them board the ship. Ash and Gary stepped up the ramp first, not looking back. May and Brock waved back to Professor Oak as they climbed up, and Everett shook Oaks hand before he followed.
"Pikachu"!
"You think so buddy" Ash asked, looking at his shoulder to his Pokemon.
"Pika"!
"Yea...we'll find Mewtwo for sure"!
CRASH! Ash hadn't been watching where he was going, and he had slammed straight into a woman. The two hit the hard wood deck, sliding a few feet. Pikachu slid next to Ash.
"Hey! Watch where you're going" the woman shouted.
"I'm so sorry" Ash stammered, quickly trying to get to his feet.
He spotted Pikachu, already on his feet and looking anxious, staring behind Ash. Ash looked up to the rest of his group. Each of them had a plain as day expression of shock on their faces. Ash stood all the way up and turned to the woman. His nerves shot as he saw the red hair, his stomach knotted as he looked over her pretty face, and his heart skipped into next year when he looked into those sparkling light blue eyes. His mouth fell open, he was frozen in place. No...No freaking way! Misty's face looked just as surprised as he felt.