Whaaa- what's this? Uploading three times within four days? It's almost unprecedented for me! LOL seriously though, if you guys know me, this is a big deal since, in the past, I maybe uploaded to each story maybe two times in a year at most. It's tragic.

But, this chapter has been waiting on my USB for long enough, and while I'm still grappling with my writing a bit, hopefully you guys like this chapter. It's admitedly VERY choppy and short in comparison to my other chapters, but I figure that this story is never going to get remotely to how I described it in the story description unless I move along at a faster speed.

It's taken me almost ELEVEN chapters, but I finally introduced ALL of the main characters of Midsummer Nightmare! (Although the last two were kind of quickly introduced in comparison to last chapter's). I also want to explain that there WILL be a POV shift that's not marked, but hopefully it's obvious whose POV it is.

EDIT: If any of you with an FFN account is interested in being my ORS beta, PM me! I'm looking for someone who can give me feedback on mainly writing content in a prompt manner.

Anyway, enjoy reading!

Misty

My heart's pounding as I life my knuckles to the Ketchum's front door. It's more likely that Mrs. Ketchum or even Mr. Mime would answer the door, but my hands can't help but get a little clammy at the thought of Ash being the one to appear in front of me.

He'd been acting so strange around me ever since we performed that death scene for Mr. Fuwacchi. He'd never really look or talk to me, and the time we spent in a somewhat close proximity was usually because of group outings.

The thought that Ash is avoiding me alone is enough to make me upset, but it doesn't help that Ash has been getting really close to Leaf lately. They had pet names and inside jokes- not to mention how angry Ash had gotten when we had run into Leaf on her date.

And it's actually really suspicious that shortly after the whole debacle, Ash- and Gary- disappeared when they were running after Leaf. Perhaps the two of them had both been comforting her, but it really bothered me how Ash practically flew out of the café after them.

What if he was competing with Gary again like when were kids, but after Leaf?

I'm so stuck in my thoughts that I don't notice Mrs. Ketchum until she puts a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"-okay, Misty?"

"I'm sorry." I blink. "What were you saying, Mrs. Ketchum?"

Almost immediately, Mrs. Ketchum laughs. "Misty, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Delia?"

She'd been telling me to call her that for years, but I feel like that's too disrespectful. Still, it always made me happy to know that Ash's mother and I got along really well.

"Anyway," she continues, "I was asking you if everything was okay with you. You had quite the troubled expression on your face."

Did I? I do have a lot on my plate, but Mrs. Ketchum's words reminds me of the reason I'm here in the first place.

"If it's alright with you, Mrs. Ketchum, may I come inside?"

Mrs. Ketchum frowns, and I almost think that Ash has told her to deny me entry if I show up at their front door.

"Not until you call me Delia!" She declares. "Honestly, Misty, you're making me feel so old!"

"I can't!" I protest. "That seems so informal!"

"We're family friends and co-conspirators, are we not?" Mrs. Ketchum winks at me. "I know how much of a handful my boy's been."

I smile. At least I have Mrs. Ketchum- er Delia- on my side.

"Alright, Delia," I stress her name, earning a huge smile from her. "May I come inside?"

"Why of course!" Mrs. Ketchum beams, leading me to the living room. She offers me drinks and snacks, but I decline.

I have to get straight to the point, after all.

"Delia," I begin, "for the past couple of weeks, I've been staying in the pokémon center. I thought things would be fine, but apparently, tomorrow's my last day before they give my room up to pokémon coordinators here for the Prestige Contest."

The group had pretty much dispersed after Gary and Ash's dramatic exit, so I had gone around to all of Pallet Town's hotels checking for a vacancy. Apparently, they were all booked up too.

"Say no more." Delia puts up a hand when I attempt to explain more of my situation to her. "You need a place to stay?"

I nod nervously.

"Hmm…" Delia taps her finger to her chin. "I think we do have that one guest room open. You'd have to share the bathroom with Ash though."

"So I can stay here?" I ask, relief starting to fill my body. I'd been so worried coming here.

"Of course!" Delia gives me a dubious look. "I wouldn't turn you away, Misty."

I'm about to thank her profusely when the front door opens.

"Mom-" An all-too-familiar voice calls out. "-I'm home."

Leaf

"Gary and I are starting over," I tell Marina as I chop up the peppers for supper. I don't bother to give her the details, as I strangely want that special moment to remain between Gary and me.

There's nothing but silence, and, for a moment, I think that Marina had left the room without me noticing.

When I look up from the cutting board, I find Marina with the oddest expression on her face. She looks like she's bursting with happiness but also has tears coming out of her eyes.

"Mari?" I ask slowly. "Did I break you?"

"I'm just so happy for you!" Marina jumps up and down excitedly, tears basically evaporating. "You guys can finally get together-"

"Mari," I attempt to interrupt before she can get too carried away. Besides, our newfound friendship is purely platonic.

Marina ignores me. "-get married and have children, and then grandchildren!"

"Mari," I sigh. Honestly, she didn't need to make such a big deal out of it. "It's not going to be like that."

Noticing my exasperation, she calms down a little, looking at me in concern. She then brightens, as if coming to a realization.

Dread fills my stomach at whatever conclusion she's reached. Marina's wise and insightful when she wants to be, but, when it comes to fangirling, all sensible thoughts are out the window and on a plane to the next region.

"Ohhhh….I get it. I won't judge you in the least, Lele," Marina giggles, winking at me as if I had said something scandalous. "Marriage and having children don't need to be in a specific order…"

I flush at the implication of getting married to Gary and having his children. I'd honestly get embarrassed at the thought of that with anybody though!

"I'm not going to get married to Gary and bear his children," I say, rolling my eyes and trying very hard not to let my knife slip.

"Who's getting married and having children?"

Of course, at this moment, Mom decides to pop back in. She looks between the both of us amusedly. "Is there something that either one of you wants to tell me?"

I give Marina a pointed look. "No, Mom. Mari's just being ridiculous."

Mom is skeptical at best but says nothing more on the subject. At least, not to me.

"Marina." Mom beckons her over. "May I speak with you for a bit?"

She disappears into the living room, and, after giving me an odd look, Marina follows.

I'm sorely tempted to eavesdrop on their conversation- I mean, what if it's about what Mom thinks she overheard?- but a sudden buzz from my phone distracts me.

'Daisy wants to know whether you'd like to come over after dinner to "celebrate"'

The number, while appearing as 'Unknown' on my phone, is one that is very familiar to me. After randomly getting it from Daisy, there were several moments of loneliness where my thumb would tap out the digits. By now, I have it memorized by heart.

Deciding to be bolder, I text, 'Just Daisy wants me over?'

When at first there's no response, I panic and send another text as a topic change.

'Also, celebrate what?'

Gary's reply comes quickly. 'Honestly have no idea what that woman's ever doing'

There's another pause before a second text appears on my phone. 'Daisy may have been the one to suggest it, but I'm asking you for a reason.'

'And what reason would that be?' Feeling strangely empowered by the direction of the conversation, I can't help but let a grin take over my face.

'You know, to get to know my neighbor better and make sure she's not a psychopath. Obviously.'

'Obviously.' I mimic him. 'It's not like you just want my superior company.'

'Hey, no need to be like that. I can rescind the invite you know.'

'You wouldn't.'

'Try me.'

'If you do, I will break into your house anyway.'

'…I've locked the doors. Good luck with that.'

'I'm a psychopath, remember? Your unlocked patio door is too easy. Even climbing the tree in my backyard to get to your bedroom window would be child's play.'

I add, 'You will find that Leaf Green is not a force to be trifled with.'

'You will find that Leaf Green is not a force to be trifled with.'

Despite my attempts not to, I let out a low chuckle. I had learned that lesson first hand at a very young age. Leaf had always been like a hurricane, shaking things up and leaving those in her path confused and disoriented. In a good way, if possible. Rather than oppose her, it was always better off to buckle in and enjoy the ride.

'Hah, maybe I should make it easier on myself then and just let you in through the front door.'

'Yes. Be a good boy and go do that, Gare-bear.'

Gare-bear.

That nickname had previously been a nuisance to me- something that, when we were children, was often used to purposefully provoke me- but now I feel nothing but a surge of affection at seeing the old nickname.

'See you then, Pesky Girl'

No sooner have I sent the text does my older sister suddenly embrace me.

"Daise, what the hell?!" I attempt to pry my overly affectionate sister off of me.

"Awww," Daisy cooes. "my brother's so cute when he has a crush!"

My body loosens. "…what gave you that ridiculous idea?"

"Don't play coy. I saw you two hugging it out earlier." Daisy's tone, while light, leaves little to no room for me to challenge.

"Hugs can be platonic, you know." Nonetheless, I feel the need to point this out. Daisy doesn't know the specifics of our falling out, but she knows enough that the hug was a significant turning point for Leaf and me's friendship.

"But that little love-sick smile is not." Daisy lightly taps me on the nose. She loosens her hold on me, moving away to continue her preparations for dinner.

"That was not a love-sick smile," I protest. "That's my signature Oak smirk."

"Regardless-" she calls out as she sets the table. I follow her, taking over in setting up for three, "-we're celebrating the rekindling of your relationship!"

Dawn

"Oh dear," I murmur to myself as I tap away my pokétch. "Where is the informational meeting again?"

I follow the directions that my pokétch gives me, only to wind up right back in front of the pokémon center. "Alright, no need to worry." I take a deep breath, glancing at the time. "It's only-"

"-TEN MINUTES UNTIL IT BEGINS?!"

Okay, not good, but no need to panic. I'm sure I can just ask a local for help…right?

I'm about to head back inside the pokécenter when I spot a flash of green out of my peripherals. No way…

"May!" I shout, waving enthusiastically as I chase after her. Luckily, she hears me and waits up.

"Dawn!" She hugs me once I reach her. "I'm guessing you're here for the Prestige Contest too?"

"Of course!" I beam. "How have you been? I haven't seen you since Petalburg!"

"Great, actually!" We walk alongside one another, and I can only hope May knows where she's going. "I've been in Johto, where I just finished competing for the Wallace Cup."

She grimaces slightly before perking up. "I didn't win that time either, but I've improved a lot and will be sure to give you a run for your money this time!"

"I don't doubt it for a second!" I laugh. "Hopefully one of the two of us will be bringing home the Prestige Cup!"

We spend the next couple of minutes, talking to each other about fashion and other things we've been up to. I'm about to bring up running into Ash when May suddenly stops walking.

"Um, Dawn, where are we?"

"Huh?" I look at her incredulously. "I thought you knew where we were going?"

We look at each other in disbelief before blowing into full blown panic.

"We can't be late to the informational meeting!"

"How can neither of us know where we're supposed to go?!"

It's amidst our panicking that I hear an all-too-familiar chuckle that has only followed me my whole life.

"Same old Dee Dee." Kenny snickers, "I can always count on you to get yourself lost."

Though I'm incredibly relieved to see him, my first instinct prevails. "Hey! Don't call me that!"

"Kenny?" May peers out from next to me, blinking as she takes in my childhood friend.

"Oh hey, May." Kenny appears to be surprised too, but then he quickly takes things in stride. "Didn't know you knew Dawn too."

"Wait-" I know that I should be more concerned with other things (namely getting to the meeting on time!) but my curiosity is too great. "-how do you two know each other?"

They glance at each other before looking at me.

"We met in Johto," they say in unison.

"But how?" I press. I want to know the whole story! The coordinating world can't be that small.

But Kenny waves me off. "C'mon, we've got no time to dawdle. We don't want to be late for the meeting.'

"So you know where it is?" May asks hopefully. Her shoulders sag in relief.

He snorts. "Of course I do. We're standing right across the street from it."

May and I high-five. "Yes! We aren't lost after all!"

Kenny rolls his eyes at us good-naturedly before prodding us both in the direction of some school. "Congrats, you two. Now let's go before all three of us are late."

"No need to worry, Ken," I say cheerily, now that I know there's still time. I say it often, but I have a good feeling about this contest...and about this summer.

Ending feels a tad awkward to me tbh, but it was the best I could do with that scene ahaha. Anyway, some notes and clarifications:

1) Misty's POVS has been hinting for awhile that she'd eventually end up having to leave the pokecenter. This [naturally] leads her to staying at the Ketchum house. Which is obviously awkward for certain reasons, if you guys recall.

2) Yes, I know in reality people don't text like Gary and Leaf OFTEN {sometimes I text gramatically, no judgment please), but it just feels weird to me to have text speech in the story. And, you know, have a million red lines pop up when I'm in the writing and editing process.

3) I see people comment this in their reviews, but yes, Gary is as good as whipped (but he can't admit that to himself). But if any of you think that Gary and Leaf will hook up in the next couple of chapters, I have bad news for you xD

4) Time for the Prestige Contest that I made up! Honestly, too many of the main characters of this story are coordinators, so a contest is the easiest way to pull them all to Kanto. I quickly introduced my last two main characters, but I didn't bother with the physical descriptions because a) you guys all know what they look like and b) Dawn's not going to comment on their appearance since she's already friends with both of them.

Anyway, please give me your comments, opinions, and suggestions! If you have any questions, feel free to also PM me, and I will try my best to somewhat answer them without giving away spoilers!