Here's the fourth chapter and after this, there will be some action in the story so you won't have to deal with so much dialogue. I hope you like this chapter anyway. Read & Review.

Ash was now in the kitchen, with the phone in his hand, trying to muster up the courage to call the Cerulean City Gym. He felt a tugging on his pant leg and glanced down to see Pikachu, looking at him with an encouraging smile on its face.

"Pika-pika," it said. Ash, who had come to understand much of his buddy's language over the years, knew that to mean, "Go ahead."

With this small surge of confidence, Ash finally punched in the numbers and waited for the call to go through. About thirty seconds later, he heard a female voice answer the phone.

"Hello, you've reached the Cerulean City Gym," the voice said.

Ash immediately knew that it wasn't Misty who was on the phone, nor did it sound like any of her sisters.

"Um, I'm trying to reach Misty Waterflower. Is she in?" Ash asked.

There was a period of silence before the voice answered, "One moment please."

What's going on? Who is that girl and why is she in the gym? Ash thought.

After waiting for almost five minutes, Ash was getting ready to hang up when he heard Misty's voice on the line, and she didn't sound happy.

"What do you want Ash?" she asked.

"Look Misty, I was an absolute jerk to you and I'm sorry. I didn't mean a word of what I said. I couldn't stand it if I never saw you again," Ash said.

"Then why did you act that way earlier today?"

"Because I have a fragile ego, a thick head, and a big mouth."

"Thanks for stating the obvious, but that doesn't answer my question," she said with a hint of anger in her voice.

"Listen, when you said that I didn't visit you during the whole time I was in Sinnoh, I knew it was the truth and that you didn't mean anything by it, but still…it hurt. It hurt because I felt really guilty for not visiting you or contacting you more often and I know it upset you too. See, I knew that I was hurting you by not doing more to stay in touch and when you reminded me of the fact that I didn't visit you, it felt like you were throwing my making you feel bad back in my face. That's why I got angry."

Misty was silent for several moments to digest all that she was told. Ash continued before she could answer.

"When you said I was a lousy friend, I lashed out because it seemed like you were dismissing all the good times we had together but also because…I knew that in some ways, you were right and I didn't want to admit it. I mean, I never bothered to even call you in all the time I was away and then when you come to see me, I act like a first-class jackass."

Misty still didn't say anything and Ash was beginning to think she'd put the phone down or simply walked away.

"Misty? Are you still there? Please, say something!"

"…Why didn't you tell me any of this before?" she finally asked. "Why didn't you say how you felt instead of yelling at me?"

"Misty, you know I'm not good with words or emotions. I wasn't thinking. I'm really sorry for how I acted. You know I would never do anything to hurt you intentionally."

"Well, what you said certainly didn't sound like an accident!" she told him.

"I didn't mean it, any of it! I was an idiot, a total bastard! I'm sorry! I don't wanna lose our friendship, lose you. Please forgive me Misty." He was on the verge of tears at this point. "Please…"

There was a moment of silence and then a sigh over the phone. "…Alright Ash, I forgive you," she said.

Ash smiled. "Thank you…I'll never be that nasty toward you again, I promise."

"That's a promise you'd better make sure you keep," she told him.

"You can count on it," he said firmly.

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. I guess I'll talk to you later." she said.

"So…we're still friends right? Just so I'm clear?" he asked nervously.

Misty giggled. "Yes Ash, we're still friends."

"Good. I'll talk to you later. Bye," Ash said.

"Bye Ash."

There was a click and then a dial-tone and Ash knew she had hung up.

"I love you Mist…" he said softly, still smiling. He put the phone back on the receiver and headed back up to his room.

"So, how did it go?" Tyson asked once Ash had returned.

"You were right. We're friends again," Ash said, grinning.

"That's great!" Tyson said, grinning back.

"Something weird happened when I called the gym though. The voice that answered the phone wasn't Misty and it wasn't any of her sisters."

"Was the voice male or female?" Tyson asked.

"It was definitely a girl's voice," Ash answered. "Maybe it was Hilary. Of course, I wouldn't know since I've never met her."

"You may be right. Would you mind calling the gym again and seeing if she's over there?"

"I could give you the number so you can call and see for yourself," Ash said.

"Alright."

Misty had told Hilary of Ash's call and apology.

"I'm really happy for you," Hilary said.

"Thanks. Even if Ash doesn't have feelings for me, it means a lot that he wants to preserve our friendship."

"I've been meaning to ask this, but do you mind if I go for a swim in that big pool?"

"Of course you can. In fact, I'll swim with you. I could use a dip in the water after the rough day I've had. Afterwards, we'll eat dinner, watch TV for a while and then go to bed."

"Sounds good."

"You can sleep in the regular bed and I'll sleep on the waterbed," Misty said. "You go ahead and get in the water and I'll join you after I change into my bathing suit."

Hilary nodded and then left the room. Misty went into her closet and took a couple of minutes to change. Just as she was about to leave for the pool, the phone rang in her room. She looked at the caller ID and saw that the call came from Pallet Town. Assuming it was Ash, she hurriedly answered and heard an unfamiliar male voice on the other end.

"Hello? Is this the Cerulean City Gym?" the voice asked.

"Yes it is. Who may I ask is calling?" Misty asked.

"My name is Tyson and I was wondering if a girl named Hilary Tatibana was in the building."

Tyson? He must be the boy Hilary came here with. "Yes, Hilary's here but I'm afraid she's not available right now. She's swimming in the pool here and I was just about to join her. I'll tell her to call you back."

"But I wanna talk to her now!" Tyson said.

"I think you'll live," Misty said. She hung up the phone and went to join Hilary.

After a couple of races across the pool (both of which Misty won) and a splash-fight, Misty and Hilary were now floating next to each other, just relaxing.

"Hey Hilary, I just thought of something. You said that you and Tyson had gotten into an argument before you were transported here. What was the argument about?" Misty asked.

"Well, beybladers have to train regularly in order to improve and maintain their skill level. The World Championship Tournament had concluded a week ago and Tyson had made an agreement with Hiro, Kai, and myself, that everyone, excluding me since I don't beyblade, would begin training exactly one week after the tournament. That day fell on a Sunday and normally, the team gets the weekends off from training but since everyone had agreed to the new arrangement, they had to get up in the morning to start practicing. Tyson decided that he wanted to back out of the deal and I wouldn't let him so we argued."

"Did he end up having to practice?" Misty asked.

"Yeah, he gave in. He and everyone else got the previous week off and they needed to start training again so they could get back up to their optimum level. Tyson gets angry with me because I harp on him so much about training but I only do it because I want him to be at his best. I'm trying to help him. It's my job as his coach and I feel, my duty as his friend. But he doesn't seem to appreciate it and it's so frustrating."

"I understand completely. Ash was the same way when he was younger. He was starting out on his pokémon journey and since I was a gym leader, I knew a lot more than him. I tried to help him out at first, but he was so stubborn. Eventually, I just let him make mistakes and learn on his own."

"Tyson was a professional at beyblading before I came along. I'm only there to make sure he doesn't get lazy and his skills end up diminishing. Well, that and cheer him on in his battles. It's what I'm able to do since I don't beyblade myself and I just wish that it meant something to him, but apparently it doesn't. The only time he shows any form of appreciation for me being on the team is when he thanks me for congratulating him after he's won a tournament and even that happens only occasionally."

"Oh, I almost forgot. Tyson called here looking for you right before I came down here," Misty said.

"Really? I guess I should call him back and let him know I'm okay…"

"No, you can call him back later after we eat. Relax for a little while."

Later that night, Hilary was just about ready to go to bed and she called the Ketchum residence (Misty provided the phone number), hoping that Tyson hadn't gone to sleep already. The phone only rang once and then she heard Tyson's voice.

"Hello?" He sounded excited.

"Hey Tyson, it's Hilary," she said.

"Hilary! I was beginning to think you wouldn't call back. I've been waiting by the phone for over four hours. Are you okay?"

Hilary was surprised by his statement to say the least, but kept calm. "I'm fine. What about you?"

"I'm okay too. I know it's late, so I'll make this quick. I wanna see you and I know Ash wants to see Misty too so how about you and her come over to Ash's house tomorrow?"

"Well Misty is still up, so hold on and let me ask her," Hilary said.

After a couple minutes, Tyson heard Hilary's voice again. "She says that since Ash's house is a lot smaller than the gym, it would be better if you and Ash came over here instead."

"That's fine with me. Ash is already asleep, so I'll have to tell him in the morning. Goodnight Hil."

"Goodnight Tyson."