Chapter 11: Two Teams Twogether


It had been a while since T.K. had pursued Misty, after she was scared off by the newly presented Tentomon, the bug Digimon that was Izzy's partner. Ash, Izzy, Hawkmon, Kari, Max, Pikachu, Salamon, Tentomon, and Yolei, in the meantime, were waiting for the other two, and Patamon, to return. "Interesting, that your friend suffers from entomophobia," Yolei specified to Ash. Entomophobia? That's a mouthful. Ash was stumped with that word, and turned to her, wondering what that meant.

"Entomophobia?" he repeated. "Was Misty, being frightened off by Tentomon, some sort of example?"

"That's right. Entomophobia means, fear of bugs." The trainer, and Max sweat dropped. Max had no clue that Misty was downright afraid of bugs. Ash knew about it, the whole time, even advising T.K., Izzy and Yolei about that, but the name of that fear, entomophobia, was the only word that he began to understand, and how it applied to Misty. Speaking of, coming back from that badly timed event, T.K., Patamon, Misty and Togepi returned to the group. Misty was still horribly shaken by the sight of Tentomon, and clutched onto T.K. tightly, not wanting to see it again.

"I had a bad feeling about that, when I captured a Caterpie at the start of my journey. Just by looking at it, made Misty lose feeling of her nerves." Everyone was wondering if, even the sight of something like a butterfly, or something that shoned like her Fusion Orb, was also on that list of fear.

"Well, how about something like a butterfly?" Izzy questioned. "Was she afraid of those, too?" Ash looked over at the male redhead, and softly chuckled. There had to have been some bugs that didn't irritate Misty.

"Actually, I've seen different bugs that she had taken a liking, and I believe I have the list, somewhere." He dug into his pockets, and pulled a folded piece of paper from his back-pants pocket. "Here it is." He began to read that paper. "Metapod, Butterfree, Venonat, Venomoth, Paras, Parasect, Shuckle, Pineco, Foretress, Ledyba, and Ledian." From what Ash had read, Misty wasn't overly consumed with the bug fear.

"Sorry about that," she apologized. "I just can't stand bugs." Seeing her still shivering, the Digidestined nodded, though, how could they have done anything to present Izzy's Digimon, more carefully? T.K. sat by Izzy, wanting to comfort Tentomon for that outburst. Misty started to think T.K. didn't get the message. "Don't you dare bring that thing back out!" Everyone sighed, a little frustrated about Misty's actions.

"Misty, we're understanding how much you hate bugs," Kari muttered. "But, from my point of view, you're gonna need to grin and bear it." More flustered, Misty moaned, trying to deny the fact that she had to tag along with Izzy's Digimon. Meanwhile, Ash was thinking about how their other friends managed to arrive in RainBellian.

"You know, when T.K., Kari, Misty, and I found ourselves here, we were told that we were chosen to save this world," he clarified. "So, I'm a little confused on how you guys actually fit in." Izzy, Max and Yolei shot looks at one another, wanting to know who would start their story of survival. Before anyone tried a rock-paper-scissors game, Hawkmon decided to speak up for the three.

"Izzy, I think they need your intelligence of telling," it beaked. Izzy gave the idea, a run through his mind. Then, he agreed to speaking, first.

"All right, Hawkmon," he sighed.


FLASHBACK

(Izzy)
I believe you were told of the blimp explosion and the car crash stories, right? Well, when I woke up in a plain of gray, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Then again, I thought heaven was full of white clouds, and lovley angels.

(Max)
I had awaken in the forest, surprised that I was still alive from that blimp blast. I found myself on a tree limb, above some freaky Ursuring...at least, they looked like Ursuring to me, except for that third eye in the middle. At the time, I had no idea who the Digimon were, but Tentomon and Hawkmon were protecting me. When they cleared a path for us, we bolted out of the forest, and saw something out of a 1930s movie. Of course, it was this world. That's when I found Yolei, passed out.

(Yolei)
I rose to my senses when Max shook me awake, but I began to doze off again, and grabbed and wrapped him to cuddle. I guess, because of the accident, I probably suffered a concussion. During that second KO, I felt a pair of lips, and I thought it was some strong man kissing me, like I was a princess. I had no idea that
I was the one doing the kissing, with Max. As soon as I realized it, by seeing him, I pushed him away. I was so embarrassed, by it, all I could do, shyly, was apologized. That's when Tentomon and Hawkmon greeted me, and told me how they were able to protect Max.

(Izzy)
When my Digivice's radar started to beep, I knew that another Digidestined was nearby. I ran to, and found Yolei and Max, and the Digimon, even though it was the first time seeing the little guy. I was surprised to see Tentomon, since he wanted to stay at a withered tree in a hot spot in the DigiWorld.

(Max)
After we made introductions, we proceeded throughout the area, and found a town that was named Red Town. One day, when we were lodging at that inn, we saw the map of this world, as Izzy was interrogating the innkeeper about the world, Yolei and I saw something weird with it. The bottom of the world map changed into color. We saw it, in disbelief and awe. That's when the innkeeper told us, that Princess Crystal's chosen must've managed to restore some of the world's color from aliens known as the Vendetta.

(Yolei)
We did more investigating on the world and the Vendetta. Then, just recently, my D3 went off. Looking at the radar, I saw two dots: one was stationary, while the other was closing in on the first. Before we planned on checking it out, there was an explosion. From my radar, the two dots were moving away from each other, but one was heading our way. Before we had a chance to react, Izzy was nailed with Patamon, and Pikachu was sailing over my head. I think it was all the times, playing with my sisters, but I managed to impersonate Ichiro a little, and catch Pikachu...or could I use Jerry Rice, or maybe...never mind.

(Max)
Afterwards, we saw you boys hit the dirt, only a few inches from some soft spots. When T.K. was the first to come around, he saw you, Ash. He knew you, girls, were somewhere else, and Izzy sent me to look for you.

(Izzy)
Then, after he left, T.K. and I took Patamon and Pikachu to a nearby spring, whlie Yolei was treating Ash.

END FLASHBACK


Ash, Misty, and Kari were in shock. These three, with the Digimon, were together, and had gotten along. Ash was more stunned with Max. The fact that Max got a kiss from an older girl, was more than Ash would take with a straight face. Kari was wondering how Max knew about the Armor Digivolution, and thanks to this story, she understood how it was done. That's when something clicked into Ash's head. "Say, Max," he called. "Knowing that you're here, have you had a chance to see if, by any possible way, you looked for May or Brock?" Misty was a tad outraged. She knew that Max was with Izzy and Yolei, the whole time, and probably never had a chance to go and find either of those names.

"He was with them," she snapped, flinching Ash and Yolei. "I don't think he would've had time!" That's when Max did remember something, during his brief travel with the Digidestined.

"Now that you mentioned it," he voiced up. "Back in Red Town, there was a girl, who ran a clinic near the center of town. It was the hairstyle that lured me to her, because it looked like May. When I got to her, she gave me that confused look. That's when she told me her name was Marian. I was so humiliated, I didn't feel like talking for a while." A look-alike of May in Red Town? Now something was definitely up with this world. First, Yvonne, and now, this Marian. What's going on with RainBellian, that look-alikes of their friends keep appearing? What's next, Team Rocket? Davis? Maybe, T.K.'s father?

"We did feel the same way, back at Violet Village," Kari spoke out. Yolei knew the reason, considering it was her look-alike.

"Well, you should've seen Ash's face when he figured out it was me, and not this 'Yvonne'," she giggled. Embarrassed, Ash started to blush beet red, and scratched the back of his head. The creatures saw the trainer's face, and began to breakout in laughter.

("Now, that's what I call a priceless face,") Pikachu chuckled.

"I agree," Hawkmon added in its moment of calm, before reigniting his laugh. Joining in Ash's embarrassment, Kari and Misty appeared mulled, but blushed at the sight of his face. After a little while, the larger group packed up, ready to get to Pinkville. Ash was wondering how Max felt after getting kissed by Yolei in the lips. He was feeling a little jelous, since he was only kissed in the cheek a few times...all in front of Misty. First by a girl named Melody on Shamuti Isle, then by another one, still unsure if it was the girl, Bianca, or the dragon Pokemon, Latias, and lately by Kari, by forgiveness for slapping him.

"So, how did it feel to get a kiss from Yolei?" he asked to his little friend. Max's face turned ruby red, feeling completely embarrassed. Yolei didn't blush as bad as Max, but she knew deeply about it. Even she was humiliated by that lip-lock.

"Well, I have to admit, I couldn't speak for quite some time," Max spoke. "I mean, not even May would get that close to me, let alone, kiss me." So much for family love. Still, Ash was stunned, some with envy, but he couldn't help but smile at the young kid's treat.

"Y'know, you're pretty lucky. I've had my share of kisses, but not in the lips, only in the cheek." The Digidestined girls and Misty were appearing upset.

"You mean you never got a straight lip-to-lip smack?" Yolei voiced in surprise.

"No. Not even from Misty. She never gave me one, at all." Everyone stopped in their tracks, and stared at Misty. Those two were together from the start, but no one, but Ash and Misty, believed that they never fallen for each other, not even once. Fumed with frustration, she decided to speak up.

"That's because I was mad at you, for destroying my bike on Route 1, when you began your journey," she exhausted. Max sighed in dismay. His sister's bike was destroyed in front on Prof. Birch's house, when Ash and May were attacked by Team Rocket, while Pikachu was ill with excessive electricity. When May told her parents, and Max about the incident, they told her not to worry about it, but for her sake, proposed to join Ash, in which Max, also, wanted to go along. "I mean, going with Ash through the Kanto Region, the Orange Islands, and the Johto Region, I was starting to feel for him. I guess, separating Pikachu and Togepi, had the worst outcome I could think of." Not one person, or creature could react to Misty's words. "I think I grew fond of Ash, because of the way he battles with his Pokemon. He doesn't look at type advantages and disadvantages, or what moves, his Pokemon, or his opponents had. He goes with his gut, and its been his greatest strategy. Also, his love for Pokemon, regardless of type, has had its overwhelming experience..."

Misty was confessing to having feelings for Ash. It had seem that she liked Ash, despite that whole bike incident. "Misty..." Kari hushed.

"I think, if it hadn't been for his accidental discovery of Togepi, or his overbearing will of journeying, or even his unquitting attitude of battle, I might've made him into the biggest jerk, no matter where he goes. I see him, as a guy who has the strongest heart ever." Tears shedding, everyone knew Misty was telling the truth. However, Ash was wondering why she kept those feelings bottled up. It had to be more than the bike. He decided to ask.

"How come...you didn't tell me about it, after our travel through Johto?" he questioned.

"Well, even I wasn't sure if it was, in fact, love." That's when something clicked in Izzy's large brain, and quickly took a guess.

"It sounds more like admiration, to me," he shot. Now, everyone gave a look to Izzy, amazed at his logical answer. So, that was it. Misty had admired Ash, over the time they were together. Knowing the truth, Ash walked up to, and hugged, his Ceruliean friend. Caught off-guard, Misty was wondering why Ash had decided to show compassion to her. Was it out of forgiveness for the actions, earlier in the adventure? Payback for all the things that happened between them, even further back in time? Was it his reply to what Misty said?

"You know, if you did tell me," he whispered. "I would, more than likely, train you to be a better gym leader, and probably help you get over your entomophobia." Misty was blushing like nuts. Was she, like Kari, falling for him? "Besides, you're not alone. T.K., Izzy, and Max, as well as Kari and Yolei, are here to help." Misty was lost in the comfort. It was the first time, she was given a hug from the trainer she became friends with. Patamon and Hawkmon swooped down and joined the two, also in the effort of comfort.

"See, Misty," Patamon started. "We all love you. We're here to help in anyway possible." Tearing still, Misty nodded in understanding. They were all there for each other, including her. Even T.K. stepped up, and placed a hand on her shoulder, a sign of trust.

"All for one, one for all," he quoted, like a member of the Three Musketeers. "We're all gonna save this world, but we can't do it without you and Togepi." Confidence grew in her heart. Misty felt more and more trustworthy with everyone around her. Finally, she decided to speak for herself.

"Thanks, all of you," she smiled. "Anyway, let's go to Pinkville." Everyone agreed to the decision. They resumed their journey, hoping that they get to Pinkville before Vendetta Lusion could strike again.


TO BE CONTINUED...(Today's word of the day is Entomophobia, meaning fear of bugs)