AN: From here on out the story hasn't been beta-ed. It's funny returning back to this story because I did write many of the first few chapters in the beginning of the second arc (this one included). I'm wondering if my style will change once I get to the chapters I haven't written yet.

Rating: PG to PG-13

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or any of its characters, but I do owe this story line. :)

Note: [ Brackets ] indicates Pokémon language while "Quotes" indicates human language.

It was dawn when Ash Ketchum was banging on the door of the Oak laboratory.

"My goodness, what is it?" A groggy Professor Oak answered, still in his pajamas.

"G'morning Professor; are Gary and Tracy ready yet?" Ash asked quickly while barging through the door.

"Well, I most certainly hope not or else they should have answered the door." But there was no use in answering; Ash had already left for the two boys' rooms.

"My word." Oak said to himself in shock as Pikachu patted his ankle in understanding.

"Pika pika."

"C'MON! RISE AND SHINE!" Ash shouted while pushing open the drapes and tossing off Gary's bed sheets.

"Wha-?" Gary mumbled before the instant cold hit his skin and light reached his eyes. "GEEZE ASH!" Gary shouted while covering his face with his pillow and blindly grabbing for the non-existent sheets.

"C'mon! To quote your grandfather," Ash cleared his throat and spoke as deeply as possible, "The early bird gets the worm, or in this case, the Pokémon." He laughed with, what Gary would describe an "annoying", grin on his face. "Those water Pokémon aren't going to film themselves!" Ash compressed the sheets in his arms into a ball-shape and placed them on Gary's desk – guaranteeing the late teen would have to get up.

Gary grumbled and turned onto his back when he finally realized the covers were no longer there. He hurled his pillow at Ash as he forced himself to sit up. "You're hopeless! Honestly!" Gary said forcefully, a frown on his face.

Ash caught the pillow and smiled. "Aww! It's been a while since I've heard that cranky voice in the morning, roomie." Ash said with a smirk and false sentimentalism.

Gary turned around on his bed, his feet hanging over the side, a smirk also on his face. "For the record I'm the one who woke you up for class ninety-nine percent of the time."

The cheeky grin returned to Ash's face, "Exactly! See you're a natural early bird!" He threw the pillow back at Gary. "Now c'mon get a shirt on! We've got some fish to record!" Ash said with a wave while exiting the room, heading over to Tracy's room.

"Don't bother trying to wake me up." Tracy said as the Pokémon watcher closed his door, one last yawn escaping him in the hallway.

Ash smiled, "You're ready to go?"

Tracy nodded, "Yup – the yelling woke me up." Tracy replied, a teasing smile on his face.

Like a Stantler caught in the headlights, Ash chuckled in embarrassment. "Heh, opps… Sorry…"

Tracy let out a small laugh, "It's okay. C'mon let's make breakfast and lunch for the road."

"Great idea!" Ash said while eagerly making his way to the Oak kitchen.

Light flooded her vision, despite the fact that her eyes were closed; the light was persistent upon her eyelids and woke her from her peaceful sleep.

Misty lifted the top half of her body, and stretched out her arms and pectoral fins. She gave a small yawn, covering her mouth with a hand.

'What an odd dream.' She thought to herself as she now looked at the hand that was once covering her open mouth. She raised the other hand to form a cup. Her hands were nothing new to Misty but this morning she looked at them as though they had taken on a second meaning. 'I was trying to catch something. It shone in the darkness like a beacon… But what was it..?'

[Mist-Ka-Kasumi… what are you doing up?] A sleepy small voice asked.

Misty turned around to see Tatsu, his eyes indicating he was still half-asleep. [Nothing Tatsu, I just woke up that's all. I had… such a strange dream.]

This new information seemed to jolt Tatsu into full consciousness, although Misty couldn't understand why. [Was it about him?] Tatsu asked; his eyes and tone seem to be slightly hostile. The Horsea's eyes widened as he realized how he came across, and how he promised to give Ash a chance. [I…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound so…] Tatsu mumbled while looking off to the side in guilt.

Misty gave a nod, [It's okay; I appreciate it though. But, no, it wasn't about him. I can't really remember it. I just remember… warmth.]

Tatsu just nodded, unsure what to make of "warmth", but ended up concluding that warmth couldn't be bad. [Good! It sounds like a nice dream!] The seahorse said with a smile in his eyes.

Misty smiled back and looked up towards the surface point. "I better get going.

Tatsu swam forward in protest, [A-already?! B-b-but you're going to miss my first lesson!]

Misty raised her index finger to her lips a small frown on her features, 'shh' being implied. [I told him I'd see him.] A smile now spread across her lips, [I'm sure he's already searching for me.]

[But…why can't you stay here?] Tatsu mumbled while looking off to the side.

Misty pulled Tatsu in close, [It's not like I'm leaving forever. I'll be back by night, and you can show me all that you learned then, okay?]

Tatsu gave a slow nod, [Okay…]

Misty's smile grew as she gave Tasu a small kiss on the cheek, [Thanks Tatsu, I look forward to hearing what you learned tonight.]

Tatsu looked away in embarrassment, [H-have a good time.] The words came out in a shutter at first, but he tried his best to sound supportive.

Misty let him go and swam over to her mother. She gave her a small kiss on top of her head, next to her horn, [Bye mother, and good luck today.] She whispered.

Then she swam out of the bed of rocks, [Bye!] She whispered with a small wave while swimming away.

Tatsu swam outside the bed of rocks and watched Misty leave until she was out of sight. [Please come back…] He mumbled to himself.

Ash finished tying the last knot on the boat. He dusted his hands on his pants, stood up straight, closed his eyes, took a deep breath of sea air, and ran over his mental checklist. After another moment he let out his breath and opened his eyes, instantly seeking his best friend, "I think we did everything, Pikachu. You know what that means right?"

"Pikachupi!" Pikachu exclaimed happily.

Ash smiled, "Exactly! … … … But…" Ash looked over the edge of the boat. "Why haven't we seen her yet?"

"Maaagnummm…" Meganium said as nonchalantly as possible, trying to hide the happiness she felt.

"Pika Pikachu…" Pikachu said in a low warning. Even though Ash was oblivious to the love triangle that formed in the flower Pokémon's head, Pikachu knew he had to keep her straight.

Meganium frowned, looked away from Pikachu and cuddled as best she could with Ash.

However, Ash was too deep in thought to notice. "Maybe she got lost..?" He mumbled to himself while sitting on the small cushioned bench built in on the side of the bow of the ship.

He suddenly stood up. "That's it!" Ash shouted with a fist raised. Still missing Meganium's signs of affection, Ash turned to Pikachu.

"Pikachu! We told Misty we'd be here but we didn't really clarify a meeting spot! For all we know she could be in the area we saw her yesterday. Or maybe she's searching for us!"

A flash of last night's nightmare came through Ash's head. How stupid of him! Not telling her where to meet him might put her at risk! What if…

"GAH!" Ash literally shook his head as if the action could somehow shake out all of his bad thoughts, "C'mon Pikachu we've gotta do something!" He said while taking off his shirt, ready to jump into the water.

"PIKAPI!" Pikachu shouted back while managing to grab his ankle.

"Huh?" Ash looked down to see what Pikachu was trying to tell him.

"Pikapi! Pika-chu pi Pika pi pika!" The mouse frantically tried to act out the actions of the two other humans that were on the boat less than ten minutes ago.

Ash paused, a small sweat drop rolling down his face. "R-right… Gary and Tracy." He said embarrassedly while scratching his cheek.

"Kaaaa!" Pikachu sighed in relief, as he collapsed backwards.

Ash frowned; he should send another Pokémon out to look for Misty… But who? It would've been easier if he had brought Squirtle with him but the thought slipped his mind.

Ash reached for one of his pokéballs and looked thoughtfully at it.

'He can be a stubborn… Doesn't take too kindly to strangers… But… He is fast, and I know he'll do it if I ask him to.'

Ash nodded to himself, firm in his decision, "Alright! I need your help… Buizel!"

"Buizz!" The Pokémon called out.

Ash kneeled down, "Buizel I'm going to send you on an extremely important mission. Do you think you can handle it?"

"Zuull" The weasel replied, one arm already up in determination and excitement.

Ash returned the gesture, feeling pumped up himself, "Alright here it is."

'I can't believe I'm searching for a girl…' The weasel Pokémon complained in his head. 'That look in his eyes made me think my mission was extremely important, how could I have known it was actually going to be something so… demoralizing…' His dark eyes narrowed in discontent.

"I need you to find Misty for me. She's half human, half Goldeen. She has really long red hair."

[And she's really fast, Buizel.] Pikachu added.

Humph, like a mouse would know anything about swimming fast.

"It's really important that you find her for me and bring her back here. If anyone tries to attack her, I need you to protect her for me, got it?"

'Gesh… I heard rumors that Ash fell in love with the Maideen, but who would've guessed it was true…' Buizel mused to himself. He frowned, 'The Maideen… Even though I never met her it's amazing how much my feelings towards her have changed.'

The weasel reflected on his previous feelings, they were formed from the time he was a hatchling based on storied he heard from his parents.

Every Pokémon in the world knows the story of the Maideen, long before humans even scribed it. Every parent made sure to tell their children about the Goldeen who sacrificed herself, leaving behind her own child, for the sake of a human child.

To wild Pokémon, the Maideen represented shame. She was disgusting; a being that shouldn't exist in this world. Humans and Pokémon have long fought for their right to exist centuries before, and that wish, that "sacrifice", was the ultimate act of betrayal from the Goldeen upon her own kind. The fact that she left her own child behind was even more despicable.

Oddly enough, Pokémon never actually blamed the Gods who helped design the Maideen or who brought her into existence. They had to carry out the wish; one would suppose that was the "curse" of Jirachi: needing to carry out all wishes it is asked.

'I hated the Maideen too.' Buizel mused to himself, 'That is… Until I met Dawn, and Ash…'

Pokémon who had masters, masters that truly cared, viewed the Maideen differently. Instead of seeing that sacrifice as shameful, they saw it as noble. Each Pokémon began to wonder… Would I do that for my master? They felt bonded to the Maideen, feeling that they understood the devotion and love that came with her being born. They saw the embodiment of hope for the future, may all humans and Pokémon care for each other as that human and that Goldeen had.

Pokémon with horrible masters kept their previous prejudice, while those with more neutral masters also began to feel indifferent towards the Maideen.

Buizel continued to reflect on his change of views, 'Aside from Pikachu and Ash, every view, and every deposition that I know regarding the Maideen all revolve around her existence and what her existence meant, rather than whoshe is.' Buizel stopped as he realized this, 'I wonder…'

"ASH?! PIKACHU?!"

A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"ASH?! PIKACHU?! Are you around here?!"

And then, there she was. Light long red hair and bright orange scales to match. [T-the Maideen…] Buizel muttered to himself in surprise.

It only took him a second to regain his composure, he was never one to stop and gawk at any one thing for too long, this being no different.

Misty turned around and noticed Buizel. She frowned and began to swim over towards the Pokémon.

Buizel was taken back when he saw the half-human swim towards him. How stupid was she? He could be wild and attack her at any moment!

[You must've been sent by Ash.] Misty smiled at the sea weasel as she drew nearer. [Hi, I'm Misty.] She gave a small bow, [Very nice to meet you.]

Buizel was slightly more than taken back at this… not shocked! But slightly more than taken back. No, no, no, no. Pride wouldn't let himself be "shocked" per say…

After not receiving a response, Misty thought it was best to ask a question, [So… what do you wished to be called?] She asked, hoping it didn't sound as awkward as she thought it did, but she didn't meet caught Pokémon often.

Buizel seemed to shake himself out of his daze. [Buizel is fine. No specific name or nickname for me.] He said before turning around and beginning to swim back to the boat.

[I-I see…] Misty responded, unsure how she should respond.

They swam in silence for a while, each of them lost in their own thoughts.

[How did you know Ash sent me?] Buizel finally asked; the question had been pestering his mind.

[Buizels are found in the Sinnoh region, not here in Kanto. And knowing Ash must've been searching for me, I could put two and two together. At least, that's the simple answer.]

Buizel frowned, but maintained firm not to look back at her, his pride didn't let him appear too interested. [Simple answer?] He asked casually.

Misty smiled, [I once heard that a Pokémon takes after their trainer. It applies to you. As a trainer Ash has made an impression on you. Your personality is your own, but your presence has a sense of 'Ash' about it.]

Buizel frowned, unsure of what that meant; did he pick up something from Ash? Did that mean Ash picked up something from him as well? Buizel shrugged, [Such odd talk. And the manners… Geesh.]

Misty perked up at this, [I see… Actions speak louder than words, heh, no wonder you and Ash must get along well.]

Buizel smirked, [Yea. He and I like the action of training and battles.]

Misty smirked as well, [I have a feeling you can swim fast. I'm sure faster than Squirtle…]

[Naturally! Faster than any Pokémon even any Floizel!]

[I see… So you refuse to evolve.] She half-mummbled.

[I don't see the point. Those Floatzel, I could be just as fast as them! Just as strong too! I'll never become one of them, I promised myself long ago.]

Misty smiled to herself, [Good for you.] For some reason her voice sounded a little sad.

Buizel shifted his eyes to look at her and frowned. He didn't like seeing that bittersweet look on her face. [Say, I heard from Pikachu that you're pretty fast yourself.]

Misty's fin-ear twitched at this, [The fastest!] She said with a determined fist.

Buizel turned his head at this, [I would suggest a race, but since you don't know where we're going that seems unfair.]

[How considerate of you.] Misty teased.

Buizel smirked; he could appreciate this type of humor. [So, how about this… I swim back at full speed and let's see if you can keep up with me.]

[What's at stake besides my pride as a swimmer?]

Buizel looked straightforward, his smirk now wide with anticipation, [Well, if you win, you get to Ash that much faster. If you lose track of me you don't get to see him at all.]

Misty thought about it for a second before she gave a definitive nod, [Then I will not lose!] She said determinedly.

Buizel looked back at the woman; he was beginning to see why his master was so fond of her. [Your loss. 3… 2… 1… GO!]

Ash had to do everything in his willpower to keep himself from pacing the deck of the ship. One could never label Ash as a 'patient' person, but this wait seemed long… too long… excruciatingly long.

"GAH! What can be taking them so long?!" Ash shouted into the air.

"Pi pi pi Pikapi." Pikachu patted Ash's shoulder, a small sweat drop rolling down his face.

"HEY! We didn't complain about YOU taking forever!" An angry voice that could only belong to Gary shouted from one end of the boat.

Ash's face fell, "C'mon Meganium…" He muttered in disappointment while heading towards the voice.

Within a minute both Gary and Tracy were pulled out of the water with Meganium's vine whip.

"Erg! Why are you two back so early?!" Ash complained while ruffling through a bag trying to look for two towels for the pair.

"You got us out the door by 5:30, Ash. We started filming by 7:00, and ended at 1:00. That's six hours of footage!"

"So! It should be eight! Eight is the work standard, isn't it?" Ash shouted back, a weak defense but beggars can't be choosers.

"We're hungry! Burr!" Gary shivered, "And freezing! How much longer for those towels, Ash?!"

Ash tossed the towel, aiming for his begrudged friend's face, before handing Tracy his towel.

"Thanks, Ash." Tracy smiled, polite as always.

"It's about time." Gary said with a huff as he also began to dry himself off.

Tracy looked at the towel questionably, "Ash… it's not that I'm not grateful for the towel or anything… but didn't I see two towel-blankets in your other bag this morning."

Ash heard the stomping across the deck, and Pikachu's quizzical remark was definitely an indication that the professor-in-training was looking into the personal beach bag Ash brought.

Ash didn't have to turn around to know that Gary was giving him an intense evil glare.

"You Mean We Had To Wait For Regular Towels When Big Soft Blanket-Towels Were Right Here The Whole Time…?" Gary never raised his voice but the slow and distinctive enunciation of each word was effective in getting his point across.

A sweat drop rolled down the side of Ash's face as he turned around, an arm thrown behind him in nervous causal attempt.

"C'mon now Gary, those are actually for Misty."

Gary was certain a vein was popping out by now, "Misty…? And Why Would "Misty" Need Two Of Them?"

"Heh, well it's kinda hard to explain…" Ash managed to say, followed by a nervous laugh. He was in trouble, so much trouble.

Gary closed his eyes, took a deep breath in, and slowly let it out. He raised a hand and with a finger rubbed his temple in an attempt to stop the forming headache. 'Be gentle, Gary. Be gentle.' He said to himself before he reopened his eyes and focused them back on Ash.

Ash froze in place, and gulped. Gary always had an intense glare, Ash used to joke that's why Gary never had a girl friend, "Your eyes never show any love Gary! What are you gunna do, scare her into loving you with all that intensity?" Ash would laugh. Of course, being the one under that intensive gaze was no laughing matter. It wouldn't surprise Ash if Pokémon learned "Mean Look" from studying the young Oak.

"Ash…" Gary tried to sound both stern and sympathetic, which… wasn't something that came easily to him. "If she hasn't come by now…"

"ASH! PIKACHU!" A voice interrupted him.

Gary would be lying if he said that the sound of the female voice in the water didn't shock him. He stood there with wide eyes, as Ash ran past him, glued to the rail behind him in an instant, Pikachu shortly behind.

"MISTY! BUIZEL!" Ash waved, a gigantic grin on his face.

"PIKACHUPI! PIKA!" Pikachu happily waved as well.

"I was wondering what was taking you so long!" Ash shouted into the ocean.

"Sorry! It took us a while to find each other! But it's okay. We set up a meeting spot now!"

Gary blinked, several times; trying his best to process this was really happening.

Tracy and Meganium made it to the rail by now.

Tracy laughed, not because anything was funny, it was a laugh of shock and disbelief, but all of that added together into pure excitement.

"C'mon Gary, you need to see her!" Tracy waved.

Gray didn't know how, but his legs managed to turn around and walk over to the side of the rail, next to Meganium. He didn't want to look down; he really didn't want to. He didn't want to have to admit that Ash was right, but he mainly didn't want to believe that the Maideen was real. If she was real… then everything in that prophecy was real as well.

Tracy's face dropped as he saw Gary's hesitation. "Not looking at her isn't going to make her go away…" He said in understanding, as he gave his friend a pat on the shoulder for encouragement.

Gary gave a small nod and reluctantly looked down.

There was a young woman with light red hair treading water next to Ash's Buizel, his neck sac inflated with air keeping him afloat.

"Hold on!" Ash shouted while he turned around and shifted through his bag and pull out one of the towel-blankets. "Here! Catch!" Ash shouted while throwing it over the rail.

Pikachu blinked in confusion. "Pikapi…?"

Gary and Tracy froze.

"ASH! YOU DUMMY! WHY DID YA DO THAT FOR?!" Gary shouted after getting over the shock.

Ash frowned and kept his attention on Misty, who swam over and now held the soaked cloth in her arms.

She looked up at Ash curiously, "Ash… You knew the towel was going to get wet, what was the point?" Not that Ash could hear her, but she still felt the need to verbalize it.

Buizel swam over, and looked at the object questioningly, [Hmm…]

Ash smiled, able to read both of their faces, "Rap that around you, please!" He shouted.

Misty looked gave Ash an inquisitive look and a small closed smile, but did what he asked.

Ash's smile grew. "Alright! Hold on! I'll get you up here in no time!"

Ash ran over to Meganium. "Meganium can you pull up Misty?"

The light green Pokémon looked into her master's pleading eyes and after seeing how much this meant to him with firm resolve turned her head around in refusal. "Mag."

Pikachu frowned. "Pika?!"

Ash frowned too, "Please, Meganium? It would mean a lot…"

"Mag!" The Pokémon refused again.

"Pika…" He warned.

"Maaaguummmm!" She replied, stomping a foot that shook the boat.

Pikachu's frown deepened, this will be a problem in the future.

Tracy reached for his two pokéballs; no way Scyther could pick up Misty. The old Pokémon was still strong, but his wings… Not so much. Venonat couldn't fly and even if he did bring Marill, there was no way the small water mouse could help pull a fully grown human … or half-human… onto a boat.

"I'm sorry Ash, I don't have any Pokémon that could help…" Tracy said, sounding somewhat defeated.

"Blastoise can't really help in getting her up." Gary added, making both trainers unable to help.

Ash nodded, he was really counting on Meganium. If they Misty was 10 again Bulbasaur would have no problem pulling her up, but… he can't pull up her up as an adult…

In the water, Buizel tightened his fist, grinding his teeth slightly, [I can't believe it. She's really not going to help.]

Misty looked down at the sea weasel, upon rapping herself in the cloth the Pokémon had insisted she should hold onto him, correctly reasoning that the cloth restricted her movements and his inflatable collar would keep her afloat without much effort.

"Who?" She asked.

Buizel frowned, dark eyes determined, [Hang on tightly. You earned your way up there; I'm not about to let her take that victory from you.]

Water surrounded the pair and Misty could feel Buizel build up energy. [Hang on!] Buizel shouted before releasing the attack.

It was amazing, Misty witnessed a few Pokémon use Aqua Jet but to be in it was something else. They were flying through the air, water still surrounding them.

[Landing time.] He told her.

Buizel skillfully landed on his feet, but since Misty was quite a bit longer than Buizel the lower half of her body ended up slamming onto the ship with a pained gasp.

"M-Misty..?!" Ash asked shocked.

Misty let go of Buizel, [T-thank you.] She said while wincing slightly.

Buizel didn't like the concern he felt for the half-human upon seeing her pain, he was beginning to trust her faster than any other human he had met before. He wondered if it was because he could empathize with his master's feelings for her or if it was because she earned some of his respect; perhaps, a mixture both. Still… he ignored her sign of pain, certain the girl could handle it. [Ehh, it was part of our deal. You earned it fair and square.] He said with a smirk and a shrug.

[Misty!] "Misty!" Both Ash and Pikachu shouted, running over to her.

"Are you okay?" Ash asked kneeling down, eyes intense while holding onto her shoulders.

Misty let out a small laugh, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You're safe… I'm so glad." Ash whispered as he pulled her into a tight hug, relieved that his nightmare was just that, a nightmare, and held no greater meaning.

Misty hugged him back, "Ash…"

[Misty!] Pikachu joined the hug as well, and she welcomed him into the now group hug.

There was a wave of shared relief among the three friends, but as Misty pulled away she looked up to see three pairs of eyes looking down on them. "Uh… Ash..? Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?"

End Chapter 10