Chapter 8! I'M BACK EVERYONE. :D Like, finally! OMG, I'M SO SORRY. I'm itching to write now! I wonder if my writing skills has gone from bad to worse, haha! Anyways, hope you enjoy this chapter. Uhm.. I do not own Pokemon. All characters belong to the creator, except random girl Melissa, or the story. Not good at Disclaimers, sorry! xP

"Pika, Pikachu!" Pikachu shouted, trying to wake Ash up yet again. It's been…. how many? Twenty times in a row? Or more. Pikachu couldn't remember, it was just too many to even count. Pikachu shook Ash again, even giving a slight 'Thundershock' to wake him up, however, it was all in vain.

"Ash, Ash! Ash? Ash. ASH! ASH!" Misty walked in, shouting in different voices. She was already all dressed up and ready to continue the group's exploring, or something like that. They were still in the same town, practically just lazing around. A good thing was that the town was gigantic; with lots of spots they could check out and train at before Dawn's contest next week.

"Ah..? Yes? Oh, hi there, Mist.." Ash yawned, saying a casual greeting, as if he didn't notice the look of dismay in Misty's emerald eyes, and the look that said, 'Finally' in Pikachu's eyes.

"Oh. Wait. WHAT TIME IS IT?! Is breakfast time gone? Oh, no!" Ash exclaimed, rushing out of bed, falling down on his way to wash up.

Misty and Pikachu sighed. This was a normal day for them.

"Ash! Where were you, you lazy bum! If you slept even a minute longer, we would have finished your breakfast!" Dawn sternly lectured, as she saw Ash rushing to their table with Misty and Pikachu.

"Jeez, Sorry. I got carried away again." Ash muttered, scratching his head innocently and reaching for his utensils to eat. "Have you ate, Misty? Pikachu?" He asked both of them, as they took the trouble to wake him up. He got nods as a reply from both of them.

"Huh, where's Brock? Flirting again?" Ash asked and glanced around, his mouth full of food.
"Ash, don't talk with your mouth full.. What if you choke? How long have I been reminding you?" Misty let out a sigh while Ash just nodded, as if he was getting a long lecture from his Mom about safety.

"Brock took Happiny outside to look at the gardens nearvy. Have you seen them? The flowers are so beautiful! Just like.. haha!" Dawn replied, smiling dreamily with a gazed look in her eyes.

"Thinking about Kenny, eh?" Misty raised an eyebrow, nudging Dawn in her arm.

"Wha..? No way!" Dawn fumed, waving Misty off. "Who would think about that brat?" She laughed menacingly. "Anyway.. Ash, are you—" Dawn wanted to ask if Ash was done eating, so that they could go find Brock in the big gardens. However, she saw the glimmering, polished plate, and stood up, ready to set off. Apparently, Piplup was in its Pokeball. It appears that Piplup wanted to sleep for the whole day today, and Dawn just let it be.

As they walked out of the Pokemon Centre, they began finding their way to the gardens. Walking past well-furnished houses, colourful bushes decorated with nice-scenting flowers and waterfalls that make you feel refreshed. Instead of a walk in a normal, 'what you see every day' park, it seemed like an elegant walk through castles where Princesses lived.

"Just look at those magnificent houses! Ooh, ooh! Look at those bushes! Aren't they pretty? Those sparkling waterfalls too! Aww, and look at those cute Pokémon playing in the water!" Dawn could not contain her excitement, and squeaked at everything she saw. Misty was astounded, and could not say a single word. She was speechless. And then.. there was Ash, looking at berries that looked ready to eat. Even Pikachu! Like they always say, 'Like trainer, Like Pokémon.' The saying might be true to them. They really loved to eat.

"Ah, my lady. Your name? Ah, yes, Melissa. I am appalled by your beauty, and I was wondering, if you would like to join me, at a marvellous, splendid dinner at a well-known restaurant, so that I would get to-OW!"

"Oh, my! Are you alright?"

"Hey, do you hear something? Sounds like Brock, don't you think?" Dawn questioned, looking at the other two, and scanning her surroundings.
"It's definitely him. He's always like that, and after that? Getting jabbed by Croagunk. Way too obvious!" Misty stated, walking in the direction that the voices were coming from. Ash followed soon after, not before grabbing some Oran berries to munch on. With Pikachu on his shoulder, it too, was seen munching a delicious, juicy Oran berry.

"Oh, Brock! There you are!" Dawn shouted, after spotting Brock from behind some bushes and trees.

"I'm so sorry! He's always like that, don't take his words to heart. Yes, yes, he'll be fine!" Misty said politely to the girl, Melissa. Melissa bowed, and quickly left the scene, probably embarrassed and frightened.

"Pika.. Pika? Chu? Pikapi." Pikachu used its tail and waved it in front of Brock's face, trying to get his attention.

"Ah.. Yes.. I'll.. be.. fi-fine!" Brock said, crawling up. After a while, he seemed to gain back his energy, and he started talking about girls.

"Whoa.. That was quick!" Misty exclaimed, being the first time she saw Brock recovering so fast.

"He's used to it." Ash and Dawn resonated, both giggling and chuckling.

"Well then, should we explore the garden..?" Dawn asked, leading the way. Brock followed closely behind, with Croagunk keeping an eye on him, and Happiny was sitting on top of Croagunk, laughing happily and innocently. While Dawn and Brock talked about how beautiful the garden (and girls) were, Ash started a conversation with Misty. Pikachu, being Pikachu, ran to talk with Happiny and Croagunk in their own language, giving Ash and Misty their much needed privacy.

"So.." They both started, before blushing slightly at the awkwardness.
"I need to ask you something, Ash." Misty said, sounding serious.
"Same here.. You go first?" Ash said, smiling, and wondering what Misty wanted to say. Misty nodded her head, and took a deep breath.
"Um.. Um.. Eh.." Misty stammered. She didn't have the courage to ask. It was her first confession to her first love, and she didn't know how to say it. "Why don't you go first? Ehehe.." Misty was embarrassed. Making a mistake in front of Ash was embarrassing. Especially since he was Ash.

"Alright.. Well.. Listen, Mist. Would you.. like to.. well.. go out? Together? Just the two of us?" Ash smiled awkwardly. He originally wanted to say 'go out for dinner together' or something like that, but he messed up.

Misty's eyes brightened up. "You mean.. like a date?" She asked, with glimmering eyes. She couldn't believe it was true.

"Well, yes.. Will you?" Ash looked away, kicking at the ground with his shoes.

"Of.. course, Ash! I've had a crush on you for years, why would I say no?" She leaped at Ash and hugged him. She was so elated.

"Whoa, Mist!" Ash said, surprised. He hugged the other back too, however.

"There you are! I was wondering why the both of you weren't following!" Dawn's voice echoed through the air.
Misty and Ash stared at her, shocked, and immediately let go of each other, blushing.

"Oh, Dawn. You interrupted a lovey-dovey session.. What a waste. Love should never be interrupted! Don't you know? Love is.." Brock's voice trailed off, he was talking about his view on 'love'.

"Guess you two finally confessed, eh?" Dawn smiled. She was happy to see her two friends so elated, and.. shy. "You two are so shy, ahahaha!" Dawn teased, pointing at them, while the both of them just stared daggers at her. "Ah, yet so alike!" Dawn chuckled once more.

After a whole afternoon sight-seeing, eating and having fun, the whole group was skipping happily back to the Pokemon Centre when suddenly..

Flash. Flash.

Then.. darkness.

"What's happening?" Misty asked worriedly, holding tightly to Ash and Pikachu. Dawn held on to Brock and his Happiny, as well as her own Piplup, which just came out of its Pokeball to observe.

The whole city blacked out. Not a single shine of light could be seen.