In Love and War

by legionaireofthe10th

Ash Ketchum is the new Indigo League Champion and is about to challenge for the title of Pokemon Master when the Pokemon World comes under attack. A war with Teams Rocket, Aqua, Magma and Galactic plunges Ash and his friends into a conflict that they do not wish to fight but must in order to preserve all they hold dear. They must deal with treachery, death and love. PS CS IS OS

21. Biggest Part Of My Life

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hello again readers, I know this chapter is late in coming to you once again. Unfortunately my university decided to give me four essay assignments during the past month, which as you can imagine, has taken up a large chunk of my life. I do not want to begin to comprehend the average number of words I have written each day for the past few weeks but all I can say is I'm surprised that I have not eroded my keyboard into tiny fragments of dust. Anyway here it is so, as ever, I hope you enjoy.

In Love and War

Chapter 21: Biggest Part Of My Life

The sound of crunching leaves and snapping twigs echoed around the small wood as Ritchie crashed through the undergrowth. The trainer ran as fast as he could, jumping over bushes and rotting logs and ducking under low hanging branches that threatened to clothes-line him if he didn't time them right. The muscles in his legs where aching and his lungs burning but he pushed himself onwards none the less.

In one of the rare moments when his path was obstacle free he flicked his gaze up and scanned the foliage ahead for any sign of a yellow blur. He caught it, a small flash of brightness against the khaki background and he altered his course to pursue it.

"Sparky," he shouted hoarsely between laboured breaths but the yellow shape had vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Ritchie gritted his teeth in frustration. He had no idea what had gotten into the small electric type. The two of them had been taking a morning jog along the small path that ran along the island's coast when without warning the Pikachu had scampered off into the trees. At first the trainer had assumed that there was some sort of danger and he had torn Cruise's pokeball from his belt, ready to throw at any threat that materialised. However, when a minute passed without so much as the flutter of a Pidgey's wings he had realised that nothing was amiss and had set off in pursuit of his wayward pokemon.

Ahead the dense leaves began to thin and the pale blue of the morning's sky started to show through the canopy. With a sense of relief Ritchie saw that he had reached the edge of the wood and he spurred himself onwards towards the break in the trees.

Just as he was about to break through into the open the trainer saw the vast expanse of the ocean open up before him and he realised with sickening horror that he was about to run straight off a cliff. With an athleticism born out of years of training he sprang to the side and wrapped his arms around the trunk of the last tree before the drop. His momentum strained the muscles in his arms and the rough bark rubbed the skin off his palms but he managed to cling on and bring himself to halt.

For a minute he stayed completely still, allowing the shock and adrenaline surging through his body to dissipate. Then with a calmness that contrasted wildly with his pounding heart he gingerly walked to the edge of the cliff and peered over the drop. The black rocks seventy feet below looked hard and jagged and he shuddered at the thought of what they would have done to his body had he fallen.

"Pika."

The small noise caused Ritchie to jump and he almost went over the edge for a second time. Regaining his balance he spun to face the sound and his eyes locked onto Sparky. The Pikachu was standing on a large rock just five meters away, watching him intensely.

"Are you crazy!" Ritchie growled, marching over to the creature. "You nearly got me killed."

Sparky however, ignored the harsh words and scampered further up the rock, gesturing with its small paws to something on the other side.

"Pikachu, Pikachu!" it called urgently.

Seeing that the pokemon was agitated by something Ritchie forgot his anger and clambered up the rock along side it. "What is-"

The words caught in the trainer's throat as he spotted what Sparky had found. Nestled in the long tufts of grass that grew at the base of the boulder was a second yellow mouse.

"Pikachu!" Ritchie gasped in horror and scrambled down the other side of the rock.

The electric type lifted its head at the sudden disturbance. It watched with sad eyes as the trainer crouched down beside it but made no sound in greeting.

Now that he was closer Ritchie could examine the creature properly and he was horrified by what he saw. The mouse's usually glossy short fur was ruffled and matted with dirt and its long pointy years drooped languidly like flowers that had been denied water. It was skinnier than the last time he had seen it and despite the warm summer morning it was trembling all over.

He reached out to stroke the animal but it flinched at his touch so he withdrew his hand.

"What are you doing out here buddy?" he asked in a soft voice that he hoped would provide some comfort.

Pikachu made no response, instead it just stared up at him, its eyes dark pools of despair.

Seeing the lack of success its trainer was having, Sparky bounded down the rock and carefully approached its fellow Pikachu.

"Pika Pikachu Pika?" it chattered, it's tone delicate but inquisitive.

Pikachu switched its attention to Sparky and gave it the same hopeless look. "Pika-pi," it muttered weekly before turning its head back to the sea.

Ritchie followed the electric type's gaze and suddenly he understood. Across the sea and beyond the horizon lay Shamouti Island, the last place Ash had been seen alive.

He glanced both to his left and to his right and confirmed what he already suspected. They were located on a large headland that extended out from the main shoreline of the island and Ritchie's heart melted as he connected the dots. Pikachu was not out here by chance. This spot was the closest it could get to Ash's final resting place and it had come here to conduct its own vigil and mourn for the loss it had suffered.

"Oh Pikachu," Ritchie whispered his voice full of sorrow. The bond between a trainer and their first pokemon was a unique one that could not be equalled and he knew better than perhaps anyone the bond the mouse had shared with its trainer. The grief he would feel if Sparky were ever taken from him could not be quantified and he knew that the relationship that had existed between Ash and Pikachu had been just as fierce.

For a second Ritchie was torn by what to do. He knew that Pikachu wanted to be left alone but he couldn't leave it here, not in its current state. The electric type had spent over three days out in the open with no food and very little water and shelter. If it remained here it would grow even weaker and he was not about to let it suffer the same fate as its late owner.

Steeling his resolve the auburn haired boy leaned towards the little mouse and scooped it up in his arms. It made a squeal of protest and he braced himself for the inevitable thundershock that he was about to receive. However, the attack never came. He glanced down at the creature surprised by its lack of resistance. It's red cheeks were sparking furiously but hardly enough to create any concern and he realised that the pokemon was far weaker than he had initially perceived.

"We've got to get you to the Pokémon Centre," he said straightening and turning away from the sea.

Sparky seemed to take this as a cue and scampered back the way they had come, though not nearly as fast as before, allowing Ritchie to keep pace.

As Ritchie jogged towards Kumquat City he stared down at Pikachu, his eyes thoughtful. When a pokemon's trainer died unless they were bequeathed to a friend or family member they were usually released back into the wild. As far as he was aware Ash had left no will - why would he when he was only 18 - meaning that Pikachu was now technically a wild pokemon.

He scowled at the thought. The notion that Pikachu was now just one unforgettable number in the population of wild Pikachus seemed to him utterly ridiculous. The electric type had been in training all of its life and it had won countless battles and even the Indigo League. Its trainer had been a League Champion and it was arguably the most powerful member of its species alive. It would be a crime to abandon the electric type after all it had been through so Ritchie decided as he held the mouse firmly in his arms that he would look after the creature. He knew that despite their obvious similarities he could never replace Ash but he hoped that he could offer the creature some solace and possibly give it a new life.

---

Dawn stood up to leave, her royal hair swishing as she rose. "I'll see you same time tomorrow then?" she said looking down at the figure who was perched on edge of the bed.

Paul watched her closely his face set in its usual stern mask. "Ok," he replied tersely.

Dawn sighed at the unemotional response and gave the trainer a pointed stare. "See Paul, that is precisely the attitude that you cannot show tomorrow," she explained, her tone exasperated.

Paul scowled, unsure as to why he was being chastised. "And I won't show it tomorrow," he responded slowly as if speaking to a child.

Dawn glared at the purple haired boy but bit her tongue. An argument now would destroy the uneasy alliance that they had built up over the past few days and as frustrating as he was she did not want to lose the ground she had fought so hard to win. "Well it wouldn't hurt to practice," she muttered, trying to keep the irritation out of her tone.

"Don't worry about me, I'll play my part," Paul said, in the closest he could come to a reassuring tone. "It's my head on the block remember."

Dawn relaxed slightly. The trainer was right, he was the one in trouble not her and whatever happened the following day she would be largely unaffected. Still, given their relationship, strange and uneasy though it was, part of her felt that her fate was intertwined with that of Paul's. She had offered him her assistance and had promised to help him explain himself to the rest of the Unit. Not for the first time she considered whether she was doing the right thing, but she was where she was, and she knew that she would have had far more doubts had she neglected her fellow Sinnoh native.

"Well, just try to think positively," she said, mustering her best smile before heading to the door.

Paul followed her path across the room and as she placed a hand on the door's brass handle a strange urge to speak rose up within him.

"Oh and Dawn?"

Dawn stopped and turned back to look at the trainer.

"Thank You!"

For a second the coordinator's stomach dropped, then like a geyser it burst back up filling her with warmth. This was the first time ever Paul and shown her even a shred of gratitude and although the words were small and conversational she appreciated just how big a milestone this was. She quickly felt the heat of a blush creeping up her neck and on to her cheeks and her joy suddenly turned to embarrassment.

"Y-You're welcome," she stumbled in response. She wanted to linger but the heat in face only intensified and with one last shy glance at Paul she darted out of the room.

As the door clicked shut Paul allowed himself to flop backwards onto to the bed so that he was staring up at the room's ceiling. What the hell was that! He mentally berated. Although he didn't have a problem with thanking the coordinator, his apparent lack of control over his emotions troubled him.

Paul shook his head to clear his mind of such thoughts and concentrated on the much more pressing issue of what was going to happen tomorrow. News had reached the Unit that Drake would be arriving later that day to assume overall command. It did not take a genius to figure out that the first thing the Head Leader would do upon his arrival would be to summon Paul to him to decide the trainer's punishment for his hand in the defeat over Shamouti.

The purple haired trainer was in no doubt that he would get punished. His roll of the dice had gone disastrously wrong and even he admitted that their should be some consequences. The question was, how severe would they be? The scenario he feared most was that he would be stripped of his pokemon and sent back to the mainland in disgrace. His desire to battle Team Rocket still blazed within him and he would do anything to stay in the Unit. That was all he wanted and that was what he had to prove to Drake tomorrow.

Dawn had helped conjurer up his meagre defence and explained to him the approach and reasoning he should take. Her guidance had proved invaluable and she had given his cause a softer, more personal side than he could ever of dreamed of on his own. It was clear that he had found an ally in the young blue haired coordinator and if he played his cards right he maybe, just maybe, able to get himself back into the game.

---

Dawn strode through the open doors of the hotel's dinning room and quickly scanned it for any sign of familiar faces. Like a beacon shining in the dark here eye's immediately picked out May's unmistakable scarlet bandanna from the sea of heads and she marched purposefully towards it. When she drew closer to her friend she saw that she was not alone but sat at a small oblong table for four with Brock and Drew for company.

It was Drew who spotted her first and he nodded his head at her in a gesture of greeting. May caught the action and swivelled to see what had attracted the coordinator's attention. When she saw Dawn her face lit up into a bright smile and she beckoned enthusiastically for the girl to join them.

"I was wondering where you had got to?" May said as Dawn slipped into the vacant seat beside Brock.

"As was I," Dawn replied, pulling the chair towards the table so that she could rest her elbows on the wooden surface. "I haven't seen you for a couple of days."

May nodded and jerked a thumb towards Drew. "That's his fault," she accused light-heartedly. "I've been over at the hospital with him. He only got released this morning so I had to bring him all the clothes and stuff he needed whilst he was there."

Drew scowled slightly at the remark. "You didn't have to bring them. I never made you stay," he pointed out indignantly.

"You never told me to leave either," May countered quickly.

Dawn sucked in her breath and braced herself for the argument that was about to come. The events of the past few days had brought about a momentary peace to the everyday rifts between the pair however, now that they were back together in public she knew that such a truce could not last. However, much to her surprise the dinning room did not suddenly fill with the sound of curses and hurled abuse. Drew did not shoot a snide remark in response instead he simply shrugged and accepted May's comment without any concern.

Dawn's eyes flicked between the two coordinators in amazement. Given their tendency to explode at the slightest provocation the harmony between the pair was unnerving. Either she was missing something or Drew was still under the influence of the drugs the hospital had given him.

Dawn shifted her gaze over to the boy and examined him properly for the first time. His broken arm was set in a thick plaster cast, which was held to his chest by a crisp white sling. A single crutch rested against the table next to him and she guessed he needed it to support his dislocated knee. His features seemed healthy enough but he was gaunter than she remembered and she felt a small sense of guilt for not having visited him in hospital.

"How are you feeling?" she asked in a concerned tone that she hoped made up for are absence.

Drew shrugged his shoulders and looked at her with an even expression that showed he accepted if not appreciated his condition. "I'll survive," he answered bluntly. "My arm is going to take six weeks to heal properly and although my knee is now back in the right place it is still difficult to move. The doctors have given me pain killers but otherwise they both hurt like he hell. The worse thing though is that I can't take part in the war any more."

Dawn nodded along with the explanation but was unsure of how to respond when it was over. The green haired boy appeared to be over the initial shock of his injuries but it was obvious that he was incredibly frustrated at his lack of mobility. For someone who liked battling and competing in contests so much it must be extremely irritating to know that he couldn't do either for over a month.

"Well I wish you a speedy recovery," she said eventually, shooting the coordinator a warm smile.

"Thanks," Drew muttered, a small smile creeping onto his lips. "I just want to heal quickly so that I can pay Team Rocket back. For me and for Ash."

The conversation paused at the mention of Ash. Although all of them had been able to regain control of their emotions over the past few days and haul themselves back into the distractions of everyday life, the grief was still there. It lingered just below the surface of their thoughts, ready to burst up and consume them if given even the tiniest chance.

Brock gritted his jaw defiantly. "We're all going to pay Team Rocket back," he said, his voice low and deadly serious.

The dark words hung heavily in the air but Dawn was not about to let the atmosphere turn gloomy. Kumquat Island had been an understandably sullen place recently and she was not about to let the small light of Drew's release from hospital and his current good relations with May be overshadowed.

Leaning across the table the coordinator plucked one of the leather-bound menus from its wooden stand and flipped it open eagerly. "So are you guys eating?" she asked brightly.

"I'm afraid we've already ordered," May replied with an apologetic grin.

Dawn glanced up at her friend then back down, un-phased by the fact that they had ordered without her. She scanned the list of food in front of her and her eyebrows rose in surprise. "All the stuff on her is new!" she exclaimed.

May nodded somewhat less enthusiastically, having already made this discovery fifteen minutes ago. "The hotel is getting back to normal," she explained.

Dawn's face morphed into a confused expression but as always Brock provided her with an answer.

"The island has started trading again," he said, assuming his accustomed role of teacher. "All of the goods Kumquat imports from Kanto and Johto have now started arriving. The hotel can now buy all of the products that it was unable to get under Team Rocket."

As if to demonstrate this point a young waitress appeared next to their table, her arms covered with carefully balance plates of food. Without having to ask she placed a steaming lasagne before Brock, a plate of traditional fish and chips in front of Drew and the biggest hot-dog Dawn had ever seen in front of May.

Dawn quickly ordered a risotto and pint of coke before the waitress could scamper off to another table. Once she had placed her order she raised one slender eyebrow and stared at May as the brunette lifted the hot dog to her mouth and took a huge chunk out of it.

"Just because the island has more food that doesn't mean you have to eat it all at once," she teased, giving the accompanying chips and onion rings meaningful looks.

May shot her friend an unamused look but was unable to retaliate given the amount of food in her mouth.

Dawn grinned at the little victory but her humour was quickly forgotten as the harsh sound of metal grating on ceramic punctured her thoughts and chips went flying across the table. All eyes turned to Drew who was glaring down angrily at his plate and cursing the loss of his deep-fried morsels. With only one arm in action he had attempted to cut his piece of fish one-handed and though he had been successful, his lack of control and excessive force had jogged the plate.

With a frustrated huff and several muttered curses he dropped his knife onto the table with a loud clang and began retrieving the debris.

Seeing the boy's irritation May quickly swallowed her mouthful and leaned across the green haired boy. "Here, let me," she offered, picking up his fork and discarded knife.

Drew did not appear surprise by the offer nor did he object when May began cutting his fish. He merely leaned back in his seat to give the brunette some room and began grazing on the several chips that he held in his good hand.

Dawn watched in astonishment as May methodically sliced the fish into neat bite sized pieces. The dish itself held no interest to her what so ever, it was the unequivocal peaceful exchange that baffled her.

It was an extremely rare phenomenon for one of the Hoenn born coordinators to help the other. May and Drew were both enormously proud people, especially when it came to each other and they defended their independence aggressively in the other's presence. Still, it was not unknown for them to offer assistance. According to Brock there had been occasions when Drew had given May advice on contests and when May had consoled him after a loss, however these were few and far between.

What really astonished Dawn was that Drew had accepted it without batting an eyelid. It was unheard of for the pair not to make a big deal out of anything the other did and it was extraordinary that both could act so casual in such an unprecedented situation.

It required all her will power to keep her expression straight but the blue haired girl managed to suppress the sirens going off in her head. Part of her was completely shocked by the camaraderie between the pair. After the confusion and animosity that had existed between them after the incident at the hospital it was a miracle that they were even speaking to one another.

Of course the second part of her was delighted that, after all the denials and everything that had happened, they couldn't stay mad at each other. She wanted to leap up out of her chair and shout 'I told you so' at the top her voice. At the end of the day she was a teenage girl and this was huge.

However, despite her temptations Dawn managed to keep her emotions in check and remained silent. She was experienced enough by now to know that any reaction she made was likely to reconstruct the mental barriers that had held May and Drew back for so long. If that happened she was scared that they may never come down again and she sure as hell did not want to be caught in the middle of any feud for a second time. The two coordinators were mere inches away from each other and both seemed completely comfortable with the close proximity. As a self-proclaimed romantic it would be a crime to break apart anything quite so cute.

Instead Dawn sated her desire to acknowledge the moment by glancing over at Brock. Like herself the breeder was also watching the pair on the other side of the table and the small smile that played on his lips told her that he was thinking the exact same thoughts.

He seemed to sense her staring at him and he turned his gaze towards her. A knowing gleam appeared in his eyes and his eyebrows twitched upwards ever so slightly.

Dawn couldn't prevent a small grin from creeping across her lips and a sudden wave of optimism unexpectedly filled her. After so much pain and distress it was encouraging to know that good things could still prevail.

"So Dawn, where were you this morning?"

May's sudden question caught the coordinator off guard.

"Hmm, what?" she replied, completely lost in her thoughts.

May finished cutting up Drew's food and handed the cutlery back to him without any search for thanks. "Where were you before lunch? I tried your room but you weren't there," she clarified, sitting back in her seat.

Dawn's good mood immediately evaporated at the change in conversation. Her friends knew about her visits to Paul and none approved of them. She had no desire to be lectured or chastised but there was no point lying to them.

She glanced down so as to avoid her friend's gaze. "I was with Paul," she mumbled quietly.

May had picked up her hot dog once more and was raising it to her mouth for another bite but lowered it again at the girl's words. "Again," she exclaimed in a disapproving tone. "How much time do you need to spend with him?"

Dawn sighed, May had made her feelings about Paul quite clear after the first time she had been to visit him and she was in no mood to hear them again. "As much as I want," she fired back irritably.

May pursed her lips and stared at Dawn as if she were a child who had no sense of what was right or wrong. "Well you shouldn't want to after what he did," she pointed out.

"May's right," Drew cut in before Dawn had a chance to reply. "I know you're only trying to be nice but the truth is that he doesn't deserve your sympathy."

Dawn frowned back at the green haired boy. She had never crossed swords or exchanged angry words with him, partly because she had never seen the need, but mainly because her best friend, and therefore herself, had avoided him like the plague. Only five minutes earlier she had been celebrating the cooperation between the two coordinators however, now she saw that this new alliance was not all beneficial.

"That doesn't mean I can't give it to him," she said coolly, crossing her arms.

Drew eyed her disapprovingly. He liked the young quirky coordinator but given her current support for Paul and the fact that he had only 50% use of his limbs as a result of the trainer's actions meant he was not going to side with her this time.

"Can't you see that you're defending a guilty man," he said tersely.

Dawn opened her mouth to reply but stopped herself just in time. Paul had made her promise not to repeat any of the conversations they had had and she did not want to break the small amount of trust she had currently built between them. Besides, even if she wasn't bound to secrecy there was nothing that she could say to her friends to reverse their disliking for the trainer. In their eyes he was completely guilty and they wanted to see him punished. She knew they had nothing against her personally but with Paul locked away in his room she sometimes felt that their anger and frustration was targeted at her instead.

Some of her dejection must have shown on her face as Brock suddenly placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry Dawn," he said in a kind tone. "We're not having a go at you."

"That's right," Drew added his eyes wide and apologetic. "I didn't mean to upset you."

Dawn acknowledged the statement with a nod and small smile. "I know you guys mean well," she replied quickly. "It's just that sometimes it seems like you treat me as if I'm on a different side."

At this all three companions quickly broke out into a chorus of denials and declarations of their support for her. Eventually when they had all died down it was Brock who spoke.

"Of course you're not on a different side to us," he assured in his trademark confident tone that removed all uncertainty. "We're just concerned about you that's all."

Dawn frowned at the odd response. She had been willing to accept that they might be angry at her but concern was not something she had expected.

"And why is that?" she questioned.

Brock hesitated, unsure how to respond. This was not the first time he had considered his friend's situation, in fact it had been troubling him for a couple of days. Ever since he had learnt of the coordinator's visits to Paul a heavy sense of foreboding had settled upon him.

He had not been surprised by Dawn's first visit. It was in the girl's nature to want to resolve conflict and as strange as it was he knew she felt a connection with her fellow Sinnoh native. However, as the frequency and length of the interactions had grown he had become increasingly anxious for the girl.

It was obvious that Dawn had a soft spot for Paul. His refusal to acknowledge her presence the first few times they had met had created an unusual paradox. The more he shut her out the more she wanted to get in and over time this desire to be recognised had evolved into something much more complex.

What concerned Brock was whether Paul knew this. Despite his character flaws the trainer was intelligent and extremely perceptive and could have easily deduced what the breeder had. In his mind, Paul's sudden engagement with Dawn was not a coincidence and he couldn't help but feel that the purple haired boy was taking advantage of the girl's kindness to form a new ally. Although Dawn insisted that the trainer's motives were innocent and all he wanted was to be understood Brock was not convinced. Whatever had motivated him to disobey Ash and attack Shamouti Island would undoubtedly still be at the core of his ambitions.

The problem was that he could not explain his reservations to Dawn. The coordinator already thought him, May, Drew and Gary to be far too judgemental and to suggest that Paul was hatching some elaborate scheme would only increase her resentment.

The breeder chewed his bottom lip for a second as he gathered his thoughts. "I just think you should be cautious with your trust that's all," he said as diplomatically as he could.

The remark however appeared to confuse Dawn and she tilted her head to once side with a look of bewilderment. "Why is that an issue? I haven't told him any secrets," she said seriously.

"I mean, be careful of what he tells you," Brock clarified quietly.

Dawn opened her mouth to speak but May cut in before she could say a word. "I wouldn't believe a single word that leaves his mouth," she remarked bluntly.

Immediately Dawn felt her hackles rise and she glowered at May. "Well then it is a good think he's not talking to you then isn't it," she hissed.

Dawn wasn't sure where the ferocity came from. May had only insulted Paul - an act that was rather popular at the moment - but the coordinator felt like it was she who had been attacked.

"Don't comment on matters that you don't understand!"

May's face flushed with anger and she stared stonily at her friend. "I understand perfectly well," she snapped. "He's only interested in himself, end of story."

Dawn clenched her fists in anger. At the back of brain a voice told her that this was the second time that she had argued about Paul with her friend, which surely wasn't normal, but she ignored it and continued her rant. "You have no idea what he is interested in. If you actually went and spoke to him you might learn that all he wanted was to beat Team Rocket."

May leaned forward and glowered at Dawn. "We all want to beat Team Rocket in case you haven't notice. As noble as you want him to be Paul is nothing but an unpleasant, self-obsessed outcast," she said hotly.

For a second Dawn envisioned herself grabbing May's bandanna and pushing her friend's head down into her plate of food but her better sense prevailed. When did I get so violent? She thought distractedly and her anger abated slightly.

"Speaking of things that are unpleasant," Drew said suddenly, the low male tone catching the table's attention after the high-pitched exchange.

All three heads turned towards the coordinator but his gaze was focused on the dining room's doors. It didn't take them long to find what had caught his attention, in fact once they saw it, the rest of the dining room became obsolete and melted into the background.

Misty and Rudy stood framed in the doorway, their tall slender figures standing out like skyscrapers over the expanse of seated diners.

A hush descended all over the room as people stopped to stare, their own conversations stuttering to a halt as they caught sight of the Gym Leaders. It was the first time any of them had seen Misty since the day of the failed attack and they strained to get a look at her.

Rudy shifted awkwardly at the attention but Misty either didn't notice or didn't care. She glared back at the room with hard eyes, her jaw set in a look of determination.

"What's happened to her?" Dawn whispered to her friends.

Brock didn't have to ask what she meant, Misty couldn't have looked more different from the last time he had seen her. Four days ago she had been a mess of tears and grief and had shut herself away from the world refusing to see anyone other than Rudy, yet now she appeared as calm and relaxed as a Slowbro at a spa.

The breeder couldn't make sense of it. Misty's emotions had never been easy to read but after what had happened to Ash and her own mental collapse he had expected swollen eyes and puffy cheeks for weeks to come. This cool air of indifference was completely unexpected, it was as if Ash's death had never happened at all.

The breeder was not the one trying to figure out exactly what he was witnessing. Both May and Dawn were staring at Misty their eyes wide with traces of panic. Despite their personal concerns regarding Drew and Paul respectively, Misty had not been far from either of their minds. She was their friend and the fact she was actively avoiding them was troubling.

"We should do something?" May hissed, looking over at Dawn.

The two girls appeared to have already forgotten their argument and they leaned towards each other.

Dawn had gone a little pale, her face a mask of concern. "What can we do?" she asked. "She clearly doesn't want to talk to us. I've knocked on her door like a gazillion times!"

"Maybe so, but we have to try. She's clearly not thinking straight otherwise she wouldn't be with him."

Brock knew May was referring to Rudy and his eyes slid over to the Gym Leader. After seven years of travelling with Ash there were few things that the breeder did not know about the trainer's life. However, one of the enigmas he had always been unable to decipher was what exactly had happened on Trovita Island during the time he had spent away from his friends with Professor Ivy. Throughout their travels in Johto and subsequent other meetings, Rudy's name had only come up a few times but whenever it did it caused Misty to blush and Ash to descend into a stony silence. He had spoken to Tracey and even Ash and Misty themselves about the subject but each offered him limited and conflicting stories and explanations. In the end he had come to accept that it was something that he would never get to the bottom of but he was beginning to see that whatever had happened had been no small thing.

For Misty to choose Rudy as a source of comfort over that of himself or even May and Dawn was both surprising and worrying at the same time. From all accounts Misty had clearly chosen Ash over Rudy that fateful day and never looked back. She may have fancied the Gym Leader five years ago but the breeder was confident that Misty was no where near shallow enough to simply move onto second place now that first was no longer an option. Therefore, the only explanation for the renewed relations was that Rudy had somehow persuaded her to trust him instead of her other friends.

The thought made Brock uneasy and he scrutinised the auburn haired man for any indication of his motives. Rudy seemed uncomfortable by the sudden attention and he moved awkwardly under the stares of those around him. It wasn't just Brock, May, Drew and Dawn who had seen the chemistry between Ash and Misty. Many in the Unit had noted the relationship between the pair and the idea of the Indigo League Champion and one of Kanto's best Gym Leaders hooking up and been a popular topic over the past week. There breeder was therefore pleased to note the air off disapproval that wafted through the room at the man's entrance.

The two Gym Leaders seemed to decide that they had received enough attention for one day and began searching for a free table. Both May and Dawn tracked them as they weaved through the crowded room their eyes dark with worry.

"She can't turn us away in here," May said severely. "That would create too much of a scene and I doubt she wants another on of those."

Dawn frowned. "She could just ignore us like before," she pointed out.

May sighed, contemplating the next best move. "What choice do we have? For all we know she is going to lock herself in her room for another three days."

Dawn looked sceptical for a second then a look of resolution carved itself onto her features. "Alright, let's do it."

The coordinator made to get up from her chair but a firm hand placed itself on her shoulder forcing her to stay in her seat.

"No," Brock said staring purposefully at his two old travelling companions. "I'll go. If she is going to listen to anyone it'll be me."

---

Misty felt the eyes upon her but ignored the other diners with a remote sense of detachment. She knew that the news of her breakdown in the Pokemon Centre and her self-enforced exile would have spread across the Unit. With so many young trainers packed together gossip spread through the Unit almost as fast as it did in a High School and she was acutely aware that her sudden appearance would cause a stir of interest. Yet she did not care and she made a point of showing so.

The many faces sitting at the tables turned to watch her pass yet she disregarded them with an icy air of disdain. She did not want their pity or their understanding for her loss and she loathed the looks they gave her. As pure as their intentions may be what meaning could they possibly have? None of them could even begin to comprehend her relationship with Ash let alone sympathise with its abrupt and premature termination. This was her grief, hers alone.

Until now she had never completely understood how big a part Ash had been in her life. She had spent most of the past five years in a different region to him but there had always been hope, hope for the future that one day something might happen between them. He had been a source of heat within her, burning bright and strong, keeping her going through the toughest points in her life. However, now that the warmth had been extinguished the cold had come rushing in with its icy grasp. Her tears had stopped as if they had actually frozen inside her and the grief that had been born out of love for her friend had twisted and tortured itself into a vicious contempt for everything in the world.

Finally, Rudy found a table for two near the far end of the room and they slipped into the chairs without a word.

The only connection she maintained with her old life was through her alliance with the Gym Leader. On the very few occasions that she need one Rudy provided her with an outlet for her pent-up hatred and despair. Though short, her outbursts were wild and hysterical and often made no sense at all. The rest of her time she sat in harsh silence barely acknowledging the auburn haired man for hours on end.

Despite her transformation she was not ignorant to why he spent so much time with her. As much as he thought he was hiding his motives his intentions were crystal clear, yet they did not bother Misty. She held no romantic feelings for the man but even if she had wanted to she doubted she could ever care for anyone again. A small voice inside her head told her it that it was unfair to use the man in such away but the larger, crueller side of her insisted that it was not her problem. If Rudy didn't like it he didn't have to visit her.

"Hey, Misty." A familiar voice said behind her, distracting her from her thoughts.

Misty twisted in her chair and looked up, her expression unreadable. She had of course anticipated that her friends would try to talk to her at the first opportunity and she was not surprised to see the person standing beside her.

"Hello Brock," she greeted.

Brock shivered at the dispassionate tone. The Gym's Leader's voice was normally always filled with emotion yet it was as dead as her cold teal eyes. For a second the breeder was too shocked by the girl's change to reply but he recovered quickly. This was his friend and she needed his help.

"I haven't seen you-" Brock stopped himself before he could say 'since Ash's death', "-in a few days. How are you feeling?"

The breeder tried to keep his tone conversational but his concern must have shown as Misty's eyes hardened defensively.

"I'm fine Brock. You don't need to worry about me," she replied frostily.

Despite the warning tone Brock didn't back down. "Don't do this Misty, we both know that you're anything but fine. You can't keep shutting yourself out, it's not healthy," he said, his voice taking on an edge of its own.

Misty hesitated for a fraction of a second then seemed to think better of it. "It's none of your business what I do," she snapped harshly. "I can look after myself."

Brock gritted his teeth in frustration. He had always admired Misty's fierce sense of independence but in times like this it worked against her. "We're all hurting Misty," he said in a softer tone. "We all miss Ash so don't think you're alone in this."

Misty's features suddenly broke into a smile but it was one of bitterness and contempt rather than joy. "Oh but I am alone Brock," she whispered, her eyes almost mocking. "I was alone before I met Ash and when this war is over I shall return to Cerulean alone once again."

Brock didn't know what to say to that. He had known Ash had been important to Misty but the person sitting before him was merely a shell of the girl he had known.

Seeing that Misty was currently a lost cause he resorted to plan B. If he couldn't get Misty to leave Rudy he would get Rudy to leave Misty.

The Breeder turned to the Gym Leader who had been watching the exchange with a peculiar expression.

"Rudy, I'm heading down to the harbour in a minute to meet Drake. You should come with me as you know him best."

Rudy glanced up at the breeder, then shot a doubtful glance at Misty, contemplating the offer. When he had first gained access to the young woman's room he had been confident that their relationship had taken on a new dynamic. He had known that it would take the Gym Leader a long time to recover from Ash's death but he had imaged that by sharing her pain he would slowly be able to build a new bond with her. He knew she had liked him when they had first met on Trovita Island, all he had to do was find a way of triggering those emotions once again.

Misty however, had done the exact reverse to what he had expected. Instead of slowly opening herself up she completely pulled the plug, shutting herself out. He had offered to share her pain in the hope that it would lead to further interaction but he received nothing but raw misery. He had always know that the feelings Misty had harboured for Ash had been strong but he was now beginning to see just how much he had underestimated them.

For a second Rudy was tempted to take Brock's offer. In three days he had made no progress with the red haired woman and was starting to think that it was a hopeless cause. He quickly dismissed the idea however. He had spent the past five years hoping for another chance with the Gym Leader and he was not about to give up now.

"I think I'll stay and keep Misty company," he replied.

Brock nodded reluctantly then looked back at Misty.

"Please Misty, Ash wouldn't want you to be like this."

Misty spared him one last look and for an instant the frozen wastelands that were her eyes seemed to melt and he could see right through to their liquid depths. He could see fear there, a fear for the future and the ghost of a person that she was slowly becoming.

And then the ice crept back upon her, sealing away the brief show of emotion. She was truly lost and Brock had no idea how to save her.

---

With Team Rocket's occupation now a fading memory, life for the residents of Kumquat Island was slowly returning to normal. After the liberation of the island by the Unit they had slowly emerged from the safety of their homes and returned to their dormant places of work. With the economy re-ignited trade from Kanto, Johto and the other free islands in the archipelago had steadily returned.

Each day brought a greater number of ships to the island's main port and the concrete dockyards that had been largely deserted a week ago were now teeming with people and large metal containers. The rumble of engines and the clang of metal on metal filled there air and the entire harbour hummed with activity.

Gary stood at the very end of one of the port's jetties, amerced in the very centre of the commotion, yet oblivious it all. Instead he gazed stoically out sea, his expression void of any discernible emotion. He stood completely still with his feet planted shoulder width apart and his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans. He was so close to the edge that the tips of brown leather boots protruded out over the concrete lip.

The researcher watched the gentle swell of the waves and noted with grim irony just how small and harmless they were. Compared to the giant, thrashing walls of salty water that he had encountered four days ago they seemed pathetic and a person could be forgiven for not understanding how dangerous they could really be.

Gary shifted his gaze from the far distance to the water that was lapping against the concrete just four feet beneath his toes. Here the water was calmer, almost still and the blue sky and dazzling sun made it sparkle enticingly. However, he was not fooled by the brilliant turquoise colour. He knew the deadly wrath that the glittering water held and just how quickly and powerfully it could unleash it.

His reflection danced on the rippling surface yet his eyes stared past his grotesquely distorted features and into the depths below. He wondered what it would be like to drown in the water. How nice would the sea seem when it held him in its cold grasp and pushed him around as if he were nothing but the tiniest bubble of air. How beautiful would it be when it was cutting his body off from the precious oxygen it so desperately needed and forced stinging salty brine down his throat instead. In all honesty he had no idea but he was absolutely certain that it would be like hell.

"There you are!" a voice called from behind him.

Gary snapped himself out of his thoughts and taking care not to fall over the edge, turned slowly to face the sound.

Brock came hurrying down the jetty towards him a satisfied expression at having found his quarry plastered on his face. He quickly covered the remaining distance and came to a stop besides the researcher though not quite as close to the edge.

"I've been looking all over for you, I didn't think you'd be out here so early," he explained in voice that contained a hint of exasperation.

Gary shrugged his shoulders in a dismissive gesture. "I didn't have anything else to do," he said as if standing on the edge of a dock was a completely normal way of passing time.

"You should have had lunch with the rest of us," the breeder pointed out.

Gary shook his head. "I wasn't hungry," he stated in a deadpan tone.

Brock looked at the researcher but did not bother to reply. Just like Misty the younger man was not acting like his usual self. The intelligent gleam that shone in his eyes had faded and the fire that fuelled his razor-sharp whip seemed to have died to embers. The breeder had never seen him so dejected and lifeless before and it filled him with a sense of dread. Gary was a vital member of the Unit and if they were going to win this war they needed him to get back to his cunning old self.

"I think that's them!"

The statement jerked Brock out of his thoughts and he followed Gary's gaze to see what had caught the researcher's attention. Just beyond the harbour's walls a small white yacht was turning in a sluggish arch so that it's bow pointed like and arrow towards the narrow entrance. The breeder couldn't make out anyone on board but when he glanced down at his watch he saw that the boat was precisely on time.

The yacht drew steadily closer, slowing its pace as it passed through the sea walls and into the heart of the harbour. To confirm what the two men already suspected the unmistakable figure of Drake suddenly appeared on the bow and raised his hand in greeting.

Both Brock and Gary returned the gesture and watched as the vessel altered its course in order to line itself up with dockside. About ten meters from the jetty the boat's engines were cut and the sleek white vessel glided slowly to a stop perfectly in line with a concrete.

As soon as the boat was stationary Drake leapt across the small gap and tied a rope to a melt ring that had been cemented into the ground. Once he was sure that the knot was tight and would not come undone he straighten up and called back to the boat.

"Thanks Maren!"

A woman with long green hair stuck her head out from what presumably was the vessel's bridge. "My pleasure," she shouted back giving Drake an enthusiastic thumbs up.

The Head Leader acknowledged the gesture with a nod and turned to face Gary and Brock who had watched the entire display with interest. As soon as he caught their eyes his cheerful expression faded as he remembered the reason why he was here.

"Brock. Gary," he greeted sombrely, walking over to where the pair stood. "I'm so sorry about…well, you know…"

A sudden movement on the boat caught Gary's attention and he shifted his gaze away from Drake. The woman known as Maren had descended the small flight of steps from the bridge and was busy helping a second passenger with a number of bags.

Although her back was turned to him he could tell that the person was clearly a young woman though whether she was his age or older he did not know. Her long brunette hair tumble from beneath a trim white hat to a point just above her waist. She was dressed in a sky blue tank top that hugged her figure and a short red skirt that only fell halfway down her thighs. The exposed skin of her arms and legs was pale and milky but shone with a healthy vitality.

Completely oblivious to the conversation that was taking part just feet from him Gary willed the woman to turn around. Despite common belief, Gary did not pursue any and every girl that he could get his hands on and in fact had a specific set of criteria that had to be met. It was not a coincidence that all of the girls he had ever dated had been considered beautiful by all who saw them and though many called him vain and shallow, the rewards outweighed the taunts. So far the girl on the boat had ticked every box in his mental check list and he was eager to see whether she would continue such a promising start.

For another ten seconds the young woman fiddled with the bags, trying to carry them all at once without over-balancing. Finally she positioned them all into a successful combination and straightened up to her full height. Slowly and carefully she began to turn on the spot and Gary strained to see the face that was hidden by the locks of brown hair.

Without warning the girl glanced down the jetty and her sparkling green eyes locked onto his own viridian ones.

Recognition tore through Gary like and electric shock and his whole body shuddered from the intensity of the surprise. To steady himself he took one step backwards but to his horror his foot found nothing but thin air.

For a split second the researcher's balanced desperately held onto dry land but ultimately gravity's dominance took control and he tumbled backwards into the water with a loud splash.

The sensation of hitting the water wasn't nearly as unpleasant as he had imagined. Instead of the cold icy grip that he had feared he barely noticed a change in temperature, though it was impossible to tell whether this was because the water was warm or because his body was too shocked to notice.

For a couple of seconds he did not know how to react. The only thing his mind could concentrate on was the face of the girl on the boat and it blocked all the messages that should be travelling from his brain to his limbs. Eventually, the reality of his situation struck home and he pumped his legs and arms to propel himself back towards the light.

As soon as his head broke the surface he gasped in a lungful of air and shook his long auburn hair out of his eyes.

"Arceus, Gary! Are you alright!"

The researcher looked up towards the sound of the voice. The heads of both Brock and Drake loomed four feet above him, both men kneeling on the jetty.

"I'm fine," Gary gasped.

Both men extended an arm down towards the stricken researcher and he clasped hold of them with each of his hands. With a lot grunting noises the two older men pulled him out of the water and up the side of the jetty until he lay dripping on the concrete surface.

"Well that was entertaining."

All three men glanced up and saw that the young woman from the boat was now standing next to them on the jetty.

The brunette grinned down at them with a smile that was as bright as sunshine. "However, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to give you a three for execution," she said with a gleam in her eyes.

Drake quickly pushed himself back to his feet and wiped his has on the back of his trousers to dry them. He turned to the girl then looked down at the men on the ground. "Guys, I would like to introduce you to-,"

"Leaf Green!" Gary spat, interrupting the Gym Leader.

Drake's eyebrows rose in surprise and he shot Gary a bewildered look. "You two know each other?" he asked.

Gary kept his eyes firmly on Leaf who was watching him with an interested, almost amused expression. Her face was exactly how he remembered it even after all these years yet it seemed enormously different at the same time. Her deep emerald eyes sparkled like they always had but they were unusually penetrating as if they had witnessed a profundity of experiences rarely encountered by a person her age. Her pale cream cheeks were silky smooth and her lips a soft rose but they seemed tense and slightly drawn as if they were seldom stretched in laughter. There was a maturity there that he did not recognise and it intrigued him.

The researcher shook his head to shake off the spell that had suddenly come over him. Gary had always prided himself on his sharp mind and near genius intelligence. It was something he used to his advantage for most of his life and it was both a weapon and a tool at the same time. Those who knew him always credited the Oak genes for his gift and they were probably half right. Intelligence ran in his family but Gary knew that his abilities were not just a product handed down from his grandfather.

In the years before he had become a trainer he had forced himself to think faster and deeper than those around him. The wit that he now took for granted had been something he had learned to make him stand out and be better than the rest. Of course, he hadn't need to teach himself much to outsmart Ash when they were younger, he could do that in his sleep. No, the reason why he was who he was today was because of the girl standing before him.

Gary held Leaf's gaze for a long time but eventually he spoke. "We used to be friends," he said, a sudden hardness to his tone. "But that was a long time ago."

---

The last of the sun's golden rays faded then disappeared as they silently slipped below the horizon. In that instant, day turned to dusk and the long shadows that stretched across Shamouti Island slowly became less distinct as the pools of gloom began to merge with the creeping darkness. As the night drew on the only source of light came from the windows of houses and the few stars that had started to emerge in the sky.

The air was still fresh from the storm but warm and pleasant after the heat of the day. There was no breeze to create a chill and the few clouds that lingered in the sky where light and wispy, possessing no threat of rain. Normally such good conditions on a summer's evening would have left the streets of the small island town overflowing with both locals and tourists alike. The air would have been thick with the noise of conversation, music and laughter and hazy with the aromas of grilled fish, roasted meat and a thousand other dishes from the numerous restaurants on the island. Trade stalls, musicians and street performers would have been on every corner adding to the atmosphere and merriment, making the night one to remember.

Tonight however, the streets were quiet. There were no tourists and all of the locals were shut inside their homes, firmly locked behind doors. There was no music, no laughter and the restaurants had closed for business weeks ago. All that could be heard and smelt were the sea's salty waves breaking lazily over the deserted shore.

The only figures that were out in the empty streets were dressed in uniforms as black as the night around them. Team Rocket grunts patrolled the town in pairs or more, hunting for residents who were foolish enough to leave their houses after dark. Their routes were systematic and well organised and they covered every major road and street in the small town. Growlithe, Raticate and other pokemon padded alongside their human masters to help detect any perpetrators with their acute senses.

On one of the main shopping streets in the town a Houndour patrolling alongside two grunts suddenly stopped and glanced down a small alleyway situated between a restaurant and a souvenir shop. The dog-like pokemon took a few steps towards the opening and sniffed at the air.

"What is it, Houndour?" one of the grunts asked, stopping to watch the pokemon.

The second grunt looked into the alley though the darkness allowed him to see only a couple of feet into passageway. "Perhaps there is something down their?" he mused, in a doubtful tone.

The Houndour seemed to share the man's reluctance as it quickly relaxed and padded back to it owners.

The first grunt stared at the dark type with a look of contempt. "Stupid creature," he spat and continued walking down the street.

The second grunt shot a furtive glance down the alleyway before hurrying to catch up with his companion.

As the footsteps of man and pokemon faded into the night the seemingly impenetrable darkness of the alleyway shifted as two shadows moved. The movement was barely perceptible as black moved on black and it was unlikely that it would have been registered even if the grunts had still been there. Without investigating properly the only thing they might have noticed were two slightly darker patches of night.

Like a pair of Haunters the two wraith like shadows slipped to the end of the alley and glided across the street. They moved slowly and calmly without any sudden or abrupt actions that might catch the eye. The little sound they did make was covered by the backdrop of the sea and it was only the moonlight that exposed the hunched forms of two humans.

Ash could not remember the last time his concentration levels had been so high. Every part of his brain was focused on making his body as quiet and stealthy as possible. Each footfall, each breath and each swing of his arms was carefully measured to produce a minimal amount of sound. Out in the open with no people or activity around him the town was eerily silent and even the smallest cough and slightest stumble would carry a long way.

Glancing ahead the trainer watched the shadowy figure ahead of him slip into a gap between a bar and a clothes store. Keeping his movements controlled he altered his direction a fraction and followed the shape into the gloomy space.

His biggest challenge was not staying silent but keeping pace with his guide. Melody moved with the grace and agility of a Persian and it was all Ash could do to keep her in sight. The way she floated from shadow to shadow and moulded her body into objects for cover was astonishing if slightly frightening. More than once he had thought he had lost the brunette only for her to materialize out of gloom next to his shoulder. In comparison Ash felt like he lumbered and staggered around like a drunken brute. His body still ached from the battering it had taken and trying to keep his movements fluid was nearly impossible.

They were both dressed from head to toe in jet black clothing. Shoes, socks, trousers, hooded jumpers and gloves all covered their pale skin. Only their faces were exposed to the air and Melody had even found a balck bandana to cover her ears and forehead. If any light was shone on them all they had to do was bury their faces into the ground or a nearby surface and hope that they would be mistaken for shadows. So far their camouflage seemed to have worked.

As the pair came to the rear of the buildings either side of them Melody stopped and placed a hand on his chest. Ash glanced down at the black clad limb then up at the brunette but didn't question the gesture. He may be the Indigo League Champion and commander of the Orange Archipelago Unit but right now, Melody was firmly in charge.

"Don't move," the brunette whispered, her voice barely audible.

Ash didn't need telling twice. He froze where he was and regulated his breaths so that his chest expanded and contracted with hardly any movement.

A long minute ticked past without anything happening. Ash's bruised ribs started to ache but he remained as still as a statue. To take his mind off of the pain he focused his attention on the opening at the end of the little passageway. Beyond the rear of the buildings was the pavement and then what was clearly a road. Past that the light from the moon illuminated a small promenade then the ghostly pale white glow of the beach. Finally the glitter of waves indicated the vast expanse of ocean that was as dark as the sky above and their ultimate destination.

Content that nothing was amiss Melody beckoned Ash to follow and cautiously moved out from between the buildings. Out in open, with nothing but the beach and sea before him the trainer felt horribly exposed. If any grunt happened to glance down the road they would easily spot the two silhouettes as they crossed the flat strip of tarmac. He felt the instinct to run for the nearest piece of cover but forced himself to remain calm.

After what seemed like hours the pair reached the promenade without detection. With the same controlled movements they crouched down at its edge and carefully lowered themselves down to the beach below. They had to drop the last few feet but the soft dry sand cushioned and muffled the impact of the fall.

With the dark, ten foot high stone wall looming over him Ash felt a lot better. Despite the moon being high in the sky the position of the wall created a small shadow that was just big enough for their bodies to hide in. Unless someone looked directly at them they would not be spotted and Melody and Carol had been confident that the grunts did not patrol the beach in any case.

The white sand was surprisingly noticeable against they're black clothes and they spent several seconds brushing the tiny grains off of the fabric. Once they were done Melody pointed down the west side of the wall and then to the ground. Ash nodded once to show that he understood. Before leaving Carol and Melody's house they had discussed exactly what route they were going to take and exactly what they needed to do.

Turning around so that his back was to Melody, Ash crouched down and began to walk backwards. If the action was not already strange enough he began to sweep his hands over the sand in small arcs, brushing it to each side. The idea behind the unusual behaviour was to remove their footprints from the sand. As unlikely as it was, the last thing they needed was for a pair of grunts to stumble over their tracks and follow them all the way to their eventual destination.

It was slow work and by the time they reached a small rocky headland that jutted out into the ocean Ash's already sore body was aching all over. With no danger of their footprints being traced on the rocks the trainer straightened up and peered around in the gloom.

"So this is where you found me?" he asked, his voice only slightly louder than a whisper. Despite having moved away from the town and the Rocket patrols their voices could still carry along way.

Melody lowered her hood and allowed her locks to tumble down her shoulders and back. It's brunette colour appeared grey in the moonlight but it's silky texture shone from the reflection, so much so that Ash was worried that it might draw attention.

"Just over here," Melody replied, gesturing further down the headland to where the rocks disappeared into the waves.

Taking care not to slip or send any lose stones tumbling the pair negotiate their way over the boulders and rock pools to the shore. The tide was nearly out and it took them over five minutes to navigate their way silently.

"I'm amazed that you were able to spot me at all," Ash said as he perched down on one of the more rounded rocks.

Melody remained standing for a few seconds then sat down beside the trainer. "I nearly didn't," she confessed. "If the Lapras hadn't moved I never would have noticed it."

Ash nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Well that just confirms it," he announced.

"Confirms what?" the brunette asked, confused.

"That it was my Lapras."

"It does?"

The trainer gave her an impatient look. "Of course. It must have known your were not a member of Team Rocket, it all makes sense."

Melody looked sceptical. "Maybe it was just uncomfortable," she mused as she shifted unconsciously.

The comment didn't discourage Ash. It all fitted so perfectly. No other Lapras would save him or make sure it was Melody who found him.

"So what do we do now?" Melody said, interrupting his thoughts.

Ash shrugged, he honestly hadn't thought this part through. He had been so keen to get to the spot where he had been found that he hadn't considered what to do when he got there. Half of him had almost expected his Lapras to be waiting for him.

He glanced around to see if the plesiosaur like creature was indeed nearby but all he could see was the flat expanse of water. "I guess we should wait," he replied, his brain unable to think of anything else.

"Great!" Melody retorted with fake enthusiasm but Ash did not let it dampen his spirits. He knew he was right.

The pair lapsed into silence and for a long time neither of them spoke, both content with their own thoughts. Eventually however, Melody grew restless and as she tried to think of a topic to restart the conversation she remembered her musings from the other day.

Swivelling on her stony seat so that she faced Ash she thought of how to phrase her next question. If her instincts were right as she believed they were, the trainer's reactions would be amusing to say the least.

"So Ash," she said, capturing the boy's attention. "What's the deal between you and Misty."

Her voice was so casual she could have been discussing the weather, yet despite the relaxed tone her words had the desired effect and she watched with mischievous satisfaction as the trainer's eyes widened with horror.

Ash's insides leapt at the unexpected question and he stared dumbfounded at the brunette. The only good thing about being stranded on Shamouti Island was that he had escaped the constant teasing about his feelings for Misty. Given his current predicament he was not sure that he could handle any more romantic insinuations. Ever since his dream about Misty his brain had been working overdrive to suppress the vision and as a result his nerves regarding that matter had become as taught as a guitar string.

"W-What do-do you mean?" he stammered.

Melody bit her bottom lip to prevent herself from smiling. She had always enjoyed winding people up about relationships and she knew she was good at it. "As in are you two still friends?" she replied in an innocent tone as if her motives for asking the question were purely conversational.

The panic that had risen up within Ash abated slightly at the response. After weeks of suffering at the hands of Gary and his other male companions he had been convinced that Melody was also out to torture him about his so called feelings for Misty. However, now that he thought about it, why would the brunette even suspect that he might have feelings for the Gym Leader? She had not met either of them for over five years, her interest in the matter was surely only born out of friendly curiosity.

"Um-yeah, of course we are," he answered in an unconcerned tone that he hoped would not reveal the tumultuous thoughts whirling around his brain.

Melody nodded, seemingly content with the response and for a second Ash thought he was safe.

The brunette however, had barely started.

"In that case, why is that you can't pronounce her name without hesitating and looking like a frightened Stantler caught in a pair of headlight," she mused, a coy smile playing on her hips.

The panic exploded within the trainer and as if proving Melody's point for her his eyes widen to that of saucers. He had thought he had done a good job of covering his tracks whenever the Gym Leader's name had slipped into conversation but it was clear that he had been rumbled.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," he retorted in a tone that didn't convince him let alone Melody.

"Have you two fallen out?" the brunette probed knowing full well that this was not the case .

The question caught Ash of guard. He was so used to being asked whether he liked Misty that being asked whether they were fighting completely threw him off of his usual line of defence. "No of course not," he demanded.

Knowing that she had set the boy up perfectly Melody went for the kill. Her brow creased and she stared at the trainer with a look that pleaded for him to help. "But why would you be so uncomfortable saying her name? Surely it's because you two have fallen out?"

The trap was there, more obvious than anything Team Rocket had ever conducted in their years of appalling schemes but Ash walked straight into it without a pause in his metaphorical stride. "It's because I miss her that's all," he stated loudly.

Melody's resulting grin was triumphant while Ash's feature's paled as he realised what he had just said.

Ash's stomach almost dropped out of his body and he cursed his own stupidity. He swallowed thickly as a wave of embarrassment washed over him but he endeavoured not show it. "That is to say-I miss her as much as my other friends," he said in a vain attempt to backtrack.

Melody however was having none of it. She had the trainer firmly hooked and she was going to reel him in no matter how hard he tried to escape. "Then why can you talk about them without any problems," she challenged, pressing home her obvious advantage.

Ash wanted to turn and flee but realised he had nowhere to go. He was stuck on this small spit of rock in the middle of the night on a small island that was controlled by people who wanted to kill or imprison him. Despite the fact that a large proportion of his brain actually favoured Team Rocket over his current predicament he remained where he was, pinned by the brunette's interrogation.

"I don't know," Ash whined holding his hands up in frustration

"You like her don't you?" Melody teased her eyes shinning with amusement.

"WHAT!" Ash howled indignantly and Melody's smile faded as she shot him a warning look.

"No I' don't" he said lowering his voice back to more reasonable level. "You're wrong, you're all wrong!"

Melody pounced. "Oh so I'm not the only one?" she asked.

Ash groaned as he realised that he had put his foot in it once more. "No," he conceded grudgingly.

"So if other people also think you like her don't you think they might be on to something," the brunette mused playfully.

"No," the trainer retorted bluntly. "Besides, if it was true then I would know it. I'm the one who is supposed to have these feelings after all."

Ash stared at the girl triumphantly, confident that he had come up with a sound logical argument that couldn't be refuted.

Melody however did not seem impressed by the trainer's reasoning and she merely shrugged at the statement. "I think you do know, you just don't want to admit it to yourself."

Panic rose up within the trainer's throat and did its best to suffocate him. "You're crazy," he croaked, not knowing what else to say.

Ash was down on the ground, out for the count, and he knew it. For some reason all of the arguments he had formulated to prove he did not like Misty, which had seemed so logical in his own mind, now appeared pathetic and useless. He struggled desperately to come up with some brilliant comeback that proved once and for all that his feelings for Misty were purely platonic but there was nothing. His brain seemed to have given up the fight.

Yet just like countless times before when there was nothing he could do save himself, luck came to his rescue. From the darkness of the sea an eerie high pitched lament floated out to them, causing the hairs to stand up on Ash's neck.

"Did you hear that," Ash asked but Melody was already on her feet peering into the gloom.

The sound game again, closure this time but not nearly as creepy as before. In fact it held a joyous note to it as if whatever it was making the noise was squealing with delight.

Realisation dawned on Ash a second later and he grinned uncontrollably as the shape of a lapras drifted out of the night.

"Lapras!" he cried, not caring if his voice carried back to the town.

Despite the darkness there was no doubt in his mind that this was his friend and he skipped down the rocks to where the water lapped gently over them.

Lapras made a beeline straight for him, putting to bed any doubts that remained as to its identity. With another cry of glee the transport pokemon lowered its long serpent-like neck so that Ash could latch onto it in a tight embrace.

The trainer's accompanying laugh was one of warmth and pleasure and Melody could see that even after five years apart the bond that existed between man and pokemon was still as strong as ever.

"It's great to see you buddy," Ash gushed after he had detached himself from the creature. "You've gotten so big, you must be what, twice the size you were last time I saw you."

Lapras hummed its approval and licked the trainer's face with a long red tongue.

"Ah ha, cut it out Lapras," Ash laughed, the rough wet surface tickling him.

Obedient as ever the Plesiosaur pulled away and stared at its former trainer with fond eyes.

Ash rubbed the creature on it's round blue snout. "I've missed you. I can't believe that it has been five years since we last saw each other," he said in a meloncoly tone.

Lapras pushed it's head into the trainer's palm and it let out a low pitched cry from deep within its throat to indicate that it too was saddened by their time apart.

"Do you remember when we travelled the Islands together," Ash said is voice wistful. "Do you remember when it was just you, Misty, Tracey and I?"

A glazed look appeared in the raven haired boy's eyes and he stared out into the night. By the now the heavens were ablaze with millions of stars, twinkling in perfect harmony but he did not see them. Instead his mind had travelled back in time to when he had first laid eyes upon this part of the world.

A long time past before the silence was broken once more.

"Things were so much simpler back then," Ash whispered in a tone thick with nostalgia. "All we had to worry about was the next Island gym battle, not thousands of other lives."

He glanced back at the transport pokemon, his eyes suddenly full of a compassionate respect. "Being a leader is difficult isn't it pal?"

Lapras dipped its head in acknowledgement. It had spent the past half a decade leading its heard around the world's seas and was all too familiar with the heavy weight of responsibility.

From her position further up the rocks Melody observed the reunion with a silent yet profound interest. She watched both human and pokemon grieve for the loss of their youth and she suddenly understood the trainer's earlier denials.

"That's why," she breathed, revelation dawning on her.

Hearing the words Ash turned to face the brunette with a look of confusion. "What did you say?" he asked, perplexed.

Melody careful negotiated her way down the rocks until she was side by side with the trainer. "That's why you don't want to admit you're feelings for Misty," she said, a knowing glint in her eyes.

Ash moaned and shot the young woman an ugly look. He had hoped that the subject of Misty had died with the appearance of lapras. Despite his own convictions he was not sure that he could go another round with Melody on the subject. He realised with mounting horror that if he didn't put a stop this, things were going to get a lot worse very quickly.

"Drop it Melody," Ash snapped, his panic quickly moulding into anger. "You have no idea what you are talking about so I don't want to hear it."

Melody however was not put off by the sudden onslaught in fact, much to Ash's infuriation, she grinned.

"The idea terrifies you, doesn't it?" she said smugly.

Ash couldn't help himself. "What terrifies me?" he question frostily.

"You liking Misty. You know it, you're just scared to admit it."

Ash froze and he glared daggers at the brunette. "You're wrong," he hissed

Melody shook her head. She had stumbled upon the truth and she knew it. "You don't want things to change, you just said it yourself. You've been friends with Misty for all these years and you can't handle the thought of that changing. You know you have these feelings but you're terrified that they will ruin what you have already. That somehow, she might resent you for liking her."

Ash's mouth dropped open and his eyes bulged at the explanation. He gargled incoherently as if were trying to protest the statement but his brain wouldn't let him.

"You can either go on denying it or you can accepted it," Melody finished, her voice the very definition of reason.

Ash rallied as much of his blitzed senses as he could. Melody was wrong. Melody had to be wrong! Why should he even listen to her in the first place? She didn't know him or Misty for that matter, the only thing that connected her to them was a single week that had occured five years ago. There was no tangible reason why he should believe her at all.

Yet a small voice in the back of his head told him that the brunette was right. It was like a light had been switched on in his mind, illuminating the entire picture and no matter what he told himself he could not turn it back off.

The twisted, almost pained look on Ash's features told Melody that she was breaking through and although it seemed cruel to torture the clueless boy further she knew one last swing of the ram would break down the gates.

"Some things are meant to happen Ash. You were meant to come to this island five years ago and save the world. Heck, it was prophesied and carved into stone hundreds of years before you were even born. It was Misty who pulled you unconscious from the water that day, allowing you succeed. Without her you and the prophecy would have failed, so can't you see, you two were meant to find each other."

Ash felt the world shift beneath him and he swayed slightly, his legs numb. There was no way he could deny Melody's words. He had always felt that meeting Misty had never been a mere coincidence and had told her as much when they had parted at the end of his journey in Johto. When he thought about it everything made complete sense. All of the strange emotions, insinuating comments, embarrassing moments and peculiar dreams all suddenly converged in his mind. One plus one finally equalled two and a single simple truth flourished out of years of confusion and denial.

I'm in love with Misty.

Ash closed his eyes and groaned. As if he didn't have enough problems already.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

About bloody time! Ash has finally cottoned onto how he feels about Misty. Can he survive the trauma of being in love and still have enough brain power to fight Team Rocket? Is it too little too late now that Misty has shut herself to the world. Only one way to find out.

As always, please read and review. I know this chapter is another that is fractured by lots of different points of view but this should be the last as everyone starts coming back together. Anyway let me know your thoughts, you never fail to amaze, encourage and inspire to improve my writing so please if you do have anything to say, don't hesitate to tell me!

Responses to reviews

Nameaaml - I apologise for the lack of aaml in the last chapter. I hope this one made up for it and it is just a taste of things to come!

Person - Hey, yes I am alive although sometimes I do feel like I am dying under the amount of work I have to do. Paul's fate will be decided in the next chapter and now that Leaf and Drake have arrived things have become less predictable. Don't worry, we will hear from Delia and the Pallet Town lot again.

Guest - Thanks, glad you are enjoying things.

Guest - I can't imagine your opinion of Dawn has improved with this chapter but I'm thrilled that you like the story. Thanks for the review!