The group walked out of Petalburg and got on the road to Slateport City. The journey would take a few days, but they were in no hurry. Everybody was enjoying themselves; talking and laughing around. Everybody, save for one.
Misty was unusually quiet for as long as they were on the road. This went unnoticed at first, until Brock noticed Misty looking at the ground and not saying a word. He lowered his pace and started walking next to her.
"Hey Misty, is something the matter? You haven't said anything since we left Petalburg," he asked, sounding worried. It pained him a little seeing Misty like this. Misty looked at Brock and smiled. "Nothing is the matter Brock, just thinking a little," she replied to him.
Brock wasn't completely satisfied. "Thinking about what? If there is anything, you can tell us, you know that," he said. Misty sighed. "It has been quite some time since I've seen you all. Guess the excitement got the better of me," she said. Brock looked at her. Something wasn't quite right.
"Are you sure that is all?" he asked, still worried. Misty smiled again, a little broader this time. "It is Brock. I'm fine," she said. Brock didn't press the matter, because he knew that if he did, it would end in argument. "If you say so. Just remember to talk to us if there is anything wrong. Anything at all," he said. "I will Brock. Don't worry about me," she said.
Brock gave her a nod and gave it no more attention. He didn't notice however, that Misty was looking at Ash and May, who were having fun talking and laughing. They also didn't notice Misty's prying eyes in their backs.
Somewhere behind them, a certain trio followed the group. "Meowth, are you sure this is going to work out? I mean, if this doesn't work the Boss will have our heads for sure!" James whined. "Oh, cut it out James. If the Boss says the plan is as good as foolproof, then nothing will go wrong." Jessie said. "Indeed. The Boss has a special plan. The twerps will be most surprised!" Meowth said, grinning. James felt a little better after it, but it still bothered him. What if it went wrong?
Not aware of what went on behind them, the group continued their way to Slateport. The sun was starting to set, and Brock suggested to set up camp for the night. "We will reach the city tomorrow if we wake up early tomorrow," he said. Everyone agreed to that idea. The tents were set up, and while Brock made dinner, everyone else relaxed.
"Hey Ash. What are Johto and Kanto like?" Max asked. He was very anxious to see all the different species of Pokémon that weren't in Hoenn.
"Well, there's a lot to do. But in essence, it isn't much different from Hoenn. However, I know you both will be enjoying yourselves just fine there," he said, grinning. He remembered how he started and how he was impressed with everything he saw on his journey. A sudden voice got him back to his senses.
"Different or not, I'm sure I am gonna catch me some Pokémon from your region, Ash!" May said, sounding confident. Ash laughed at this. "I think you will find some that are just fine for you, May!" he replied.
Misty had followed the conversation and looked at May and Ash. "They sure are enjoying themselves," she thought. "Hey Misty! Can you show me your Pokémon?" Max asked her, suddenly, breaking her away from her thoughts. May heard this and joined her brother. "Yeah! Then we have an idea of what we can expect!" she added. Misty smiled and let her Pokémon out.
After dinner, they talked for a bit, exchanging some other stories. Misty wasn't so quiet anymore. Brock noticed this and felt relieved. "I guess I was worried for nothing," he thought, before joining in the conversation again.
In the forest, three pair of eyes watched the group. "You know, we can get their Pokémon as they sleep," James said, keeping his voice down. "No you dimwit! That is against orders! We have to wait until they're in Johto! Then the plan will be carried out!" Jessie hissed, shutting James up effectively. Meowth sighed and continued watching the group.
"I think it is time to hit the sack. The sooner we sleep, the sooner we will wake up and continue," Max suggested, while he stretched. "I think it is a good idea. The early Pidgey gets the Caterpie," Ash said, yawning. "Are those Pokémon from Johto?" May asked, excited. Ash shook his head, grinning. "Nope, they are from Kanto. But you will see them soon enough, don't worry," he said.
After Brock had cleaned up the dishes and got the fire out he headed for his tent. But something got his attention. "Hmm? I thought I heard something…" he said to himself, and looked around. But there was nothing out of the ordinary. Shrugging it off, he went inside his tent to sleep.
"Idiot! You almost gave us away!" Jessie hissed quietly. "Hey! I can't help it that I'm hungry!" James whispered back. "Chew on your tongue and be quiet!" Jessie responded. She turned to Meowth. "You take the first watch. Then me, then James. We'll need to stay as close to them as possible without giving ourselves away," she said. "You got it! I'll wake you in about an hour or four," Meowth said, and went for his guard duty.
Misty lay in her sleeping bag. She wasn't asleep. She stared upwards, her breathing heavy and controlled. Inside herself, she was struggling with her own problems. Her own feelings. And with something else.
Early in the morning, Brock was the first to wake up. He yawned, and got out of his sleeping bag to get dressed. When he got out of tent, he was greeted by a pleasantly quiet morning. The sun was up already. He decided to make some breakfast for the rest.
Ash and Pikachu where the second to wake up. Pikachu sniffed the air and darted out of the tent. Ash was too busy yawning to notice. After getting dressed he got out of his tent and saw Pikachu already eating.
"You couldn't wait for me or the rest, could you?" he grinned. Pikachu smiled and continued eating. Ash sat down next to him and waited for the rest to wake up. Brock took a seat next to him and started talking, quietly.
"Ash, did you notice something wrong with Misty?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper. Ash looked confused at his friend. "Well, no. I can't say I did. Why'd you ask?" he replied. Brock sighed. "It seems if something is bothering her. She hasn't said much the entire day yesterday," he explained.
Ash thought about it for a second. "Well, now that you mention it. I almost forgot that she was there with us. Something must be up," he said, thinking. Brock nodded. "True. Although she keeps insisting that nothing is the matter. She blames it on the excitement," he explained. Ash wanted to reply but he and Brock where interrupted by the sound of waking people.
James had watched the group and saw them eating breakfast. "Man, I'm hungry," he said. His stomach growled. He sighed. No food meant more stomach growling. He continued to watch and saw that they were busy packing their stuff. James woke up Jessie and Meowth.
"Here we are. Slateport City. If we hurry, we can get the next ferry to Johto," Ash said. The group agreed and made their way to the harbour. Ash looked around, but shot an unnoticed glance at Misty every now and then. "There must be something up. Why doesn't she talk?" he thought after glancing at the depressed look on her face.
James, Jessie and Meowth had entered the city just after Ash and his friends. They stayed out of sight while following the group. "Now we only need to find which ferry they will take. Then we take that one as well and we go over the details of the plan again," Jessie said. James and Meowth nodded in agreement.
Ash and his friends had arrived at the docks, and found the ferry bound for Olivine City. "Ready for the journey of a lifetime?" Ash asked, smiling broadly. May and Max nodded vigorously. The group got aboard and made themselves comfortable on the deck. "The journey won't take so long. We'll be there before you even know it," Brock said.
Max was the most anticipated. "I can't wait!" he kept on saying. "Max, would you stop that? It is getting annoying!" May cried. Max didn't hear it; he was lost in his own little world. "I can't wait!" he exclaimed again. May just sighed.
Somewhere in the cargo hold, the three members of Team Rocket had gone over the plan. "So, everybody knows what to do?" Jessie asked. "Yessirree!" Meowth grinned. James nodded in reply. "Those twerps won't know what will happen to them," Jessie sneered. She didn't notice James' worried look on his face.
The trip with the ferry ended pretty quickly. However, it was starting to get dark. "We'll find a Pokémon Centre to sleep. Tomorrow we will go through Johto and from there to Kanto," Brock explained. The group agreed. Luckily the Centre was close by. As they walked, a trio followed them.
"It has to happen tonight or tomorrow. I hope nothing will go wrong this time, otherwise we can kiss our assess goodbye!" Jessie said. The others agreed to this. They've got too far now to fail. But it can always go wrong when you're not paying attention.
Ash and his friends where only a block away from the Centre, when Ash suddenly tripped. Pikachu quickly jumped off of his head and landed on all fours. He looked at his master, as did the others.
"Christ, my shoelace has come loose," he said. He kneeled down to fasten it. "You guys go on ahead. I'll catch up," he said. The group did so and walked on.
But Misty waited for a moment. She made sure nobody saw her, and then she suddenly hid herself in an alley. "It is time," she thought. A footstep behind her made her jump and turn around. She didn't see much; only a faint glimmer of some kind of object caught her eye.
A voice spoke to her, startling her again. "One sound, one move, and you're dead, got that?" it said. A figure of a man walked out of the shadows, and only now she noticed the gun he was holding. And it was aimed at her heart.
Ash finished with his shoelace, only to find that his other one was loose as well. He sighed. "Just a second Pika-" he started, but the deafening sound of a gunshot screeched throughout the streets. A few moments later, he saw someone crawling out of an alley. It didn't take long for him to find who it was.
"Misty!!!" he screamed, and ran towards her. When he reached her he noticed she was holding her chest. Red liquid made its way through her fingers on the ground. Brock and the others had returned after they heard the gunshot. "Oh no…" Brock gasped. May and Max looked at the scene, eyes wide in horror. Ash didn't say anything. He just cried over Misty's unconscious body.
Hidden in the shadows, a figure watched the scene unfold. He smiled. He tapped with his fingers on the cane he was holding in front of him. After watching the police arrive, he turned around and left. He smiled again. "Finally. An opportunity," he said to himself, before he vanished into thin air.
