Disclaimer: The characters of Pokémon do not belong to me. Nor do any of the other known characters that may appear in this fic. The story is mine, and was made for entertainment purpose only.

Another Chance: Arc II

Ash's P.O.V.

We left Pikachu and Squirtle with Nurse Joy that night. She hadn't been happy about being woken up in the middle of the night, but after some apologies (since she'd been woken up), she took them out back to heal.

So here I was, in this dark room, waiting for Misty to tell me her secrets. I wanted to again tell her I didn't want to hear it, that I didn't care, but there were three reasons why I hadn't stopped her.

Number 1. I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious. There were certain actions that gave me little ease. The way Misty had looked at Giovanni. The way her emotions seemed to shift so much more drastically than normal. She never was this bad. Sure, she was a tomboy, and her fiery temper always was always, strangely, a huge turn-on. But the past few days had shown me how… passionate…her emotions could be. For some reason…I don't even think she has noticed. But that's just my guess…

Number 2. She would beat the living crap out of me if I told her. Oh that wasn't something new, but after tonight's performance… I am sure she is serious. My body is still aching from Pikachu's Thunderbolt. My body is lacking in pain tolerance right now…especially high voltage attacks. I really have to remember that in the future, but I doubt I'll forget anytime soon, especially with the way my hand is still shaking from that surging electricity. I still am unable to stop my hand from shaking. I promise, I will never show Misty or Pikachu any weakness. I have to be strong.

Number 3. I love her. People have called me an idiot, to be an idiot to the constant abuse and pain she gives out…but that only makes those precious, less painful moments more special. Before this whole time-travel business, we knew each other inside and out. Before our marriage, I knew so much, the words that could make her blush. The way an ocean's roar could put her to sleep. How she liked it when I kissed her nec-

I give myself a painful smack to the face, trying to forget images I won't be able to enjoy for a long time. I hate being 10-years-old.

She is looking at me again. Great job Ketchum. I guess she isn't the only one who's acting strange. Oh yeah…she's speaking. I look at her cute pout, and at the same time wonder how young she looks.

"Ash, Ash please pay attention." Her voice lacked that older, mature voice that plagued my nightmares way back then, but held that energetic, chirpy quality. I couldn't complain…it was nice. Way better than my voice. I sound like I sucked on a bottle of helium. My f-ing squeaky voice so pissed me off when compared to my well-missed baritone.

"Please continue," I say. I try to smile, pretending that adolescence didn't tick me off.

And I listened to her story, these mysterious secrets that were troubling her mind and pulling her away from my arms.

I couldn't help but wrap her in my arms. Sure, she was somewhat taller than me, but a guy could pretend. And she was warm. So I sat and listened, pretending she wasn't crying as her voice unraveled her own tale.

OoOoOoOoO

Misty's face held a weak grin as Ash held her as she explained her story. She tried to mask her emotions as she continued. She had just told him how she ran away from home. That she ran away from her sisters in order to search for him…

OoOoOoOoO

A six-year-old Misty kept charging past the trees. She didn't know how long she had been running through that forest, her small lungs feeling as if they were on fire. Her skin felt raw from the scratches the branches had nicked at her skin.

She didn't understand what was happening. One moment she was at her own wedding, the happiest day of her life, when suddenly she was suddenly shoved in front of a cake. Her family all in a room, wearing birthday hats, and she was suddenly inhabiting a body that was too small.

Panic had overtaken any rational sense, and she had later found herself scribbling a small note, and then charging towards Pallet Town. This hadn't been the first time she had ran away from home…

So she ventured towards Pallet Town. She had climbed through caves…she had run though bustling crowds… had willingly bypassed the bug-infested forest, her goal keeping her from succumbing to insanity. Her mind tried not to focus on her empty stomach, but instead drifted towards improbable journeys where Ash Ketchum had survived against all odds. Why couldn't she do it too!?

And at last she had arrived at Pallet Town. She did it! Her mind focused on finding Ash, he would definitely save the day. And everything would fix itself.

Her small body was aching and her consciousness was blurring from the lack of substance but she pressed on.

As minutes turned into hours, she finally saw him. Albeit, she recognized the 4-year-old version of Ash from his baby photos, but that didn't matter. With the last of her energy she reached the small neighborhood park, and hugged her future-husband.

What she didn't expect was the boy's sudden screams.

"AHHHH! A MONSTER IS ATTACKING ME!" cried Ash. His eyes watered as he successfully pushed himself out of her frozen grip. The boy seemed to crawl away from her.

The way mud covered her clothes, and how her bruises made her skin so red made her look… disturbing.

Misty slowly walked to the frightened boy. She looked through messy locks, seeing a miniature Gary Oak teasing Ash.

"Ash, it's me," cried out Misty. "Please tell me you remember me!"

Ash just looked at her with shock, as his friend mocked him. "You've got cooties Ash! Hahahaha!"

"The wedding, please tell me you remember."

"Ewww. Girls are yucky! Aren't they Ash!" chanted a 4-year-old Gary.

Misty could feel a piece of her heart break as Ash nodded.

"Yeah," muttered Ash. "Girls are yucky…"

Misty just watched as Ash stared at her, before running away from the park.

The hours ticked by, and she eventually was left all alone.

OoOoOoOoO

Ash looked at the moon, as the clouds slowly hid it from view. Misty wasn't even close towards finishing her story and he could feel it was going to be a painful one.

"I'm here now," whispered Ash.

Misty gave him a sad smile, before continuing.

"As I sat there in that park, dirty and weak…my sister somehow stumbles onto me." Misty's expression darkens as certain memories came up into mind. "You couldn't understand the anger I felt then. There she was, looking perfect and beautiful like ever, and there I was… smothered in sweat and wearing crapped out clothes."

She paused before continuing.

"We had a fight, and I think that was my first big change in the past."

Misty noticed Ash's curious expression, and was glad he hadn't pushed forward.

"She brought me home…and a couple days ago I sort of…"

OoOoOoOoO

"Misty?" echoed Daisy's voice. "Are you, li-…I mean. Aa-are you alright?"

Daisy felt a bit unnerved as her little sister just stared at her. She didn't think wearing a simple white shirt, unlike her usual pink frilly vest would make a difference. Trying her best to look as professional as possible.

"You're tota-…I mean…is th-there anything I ca-can do to help you?"

"I'm alright," answered her little sister.

Daisy looked at Misty, before closing the door.

As soon as the door gave a small –Click- Misty opened her window and bolted out the door. Her hands clutching her head as she just ran… and ran…and disappeared into the crowd of people.

OoOoOoOoO

An unsuspecting driver drove through the nightlife of Cerulean City and pushed the pedal as the light turned a bright green.

Out of nowhere a young girl flew onto the road, right in front of his car. He tried to stop in time, but the body slammed into his windshield, cracking the glass.

OoOoOoOoO

"What the hell is wrong with you!" yelled Ash. He hadn't expected his own scream, but the way she casually said "I tried to commit suicide" had him red with anger.

Misty seemed to be ignoring his tirade. Her voice was quiet for a minute before she started to speak again. "You're right to be angry," whispered Misty. "But I'm not done with the story… you see. If this was any ordinary man he would have taken me to the hospital…but he kind of…"

OoOoOoOoO

"Awwww shit," cursed the driver. He adorned a dark suit and his mouth held and expensive cigarette in his mouth. He scowled, only looking at the damage to his luxurious new car.

He felt like killing the person responsible, but as he looked at the bleeding girl he noticed that the job was already taken care of. And it was only a kid too…pity.

Giovanni carefully looked into his leather bag, and searched through several of the many Pokeballs, until finally pulled out a nice beige colored orb.

"Gotta get rid of the evidence," muttered Team Rocket's leader. Luckily, there were no witnesses.

"C'mon out Alakazam," ordered the tuxedo-clad man.

The scarred Pokemon stared at his master awaiting his orders.

"Get rid of the body." And with a snap of his fingers the kid was teleported out of his sight. Blood and all. Random and untraceable…just the way he liked it…"Damn useful…" muttered the sneering man.

OoOoOoOoO

"I'll KILL HIM!" roared Ash. Misty had successfully pinned Ash down onto the floor.

"Calm down," muttered Misty. Her face turned into a light frown. "I was the one who jumped…"

"That doesn't change the fact that I'll rip his bal-"

"That's enough!" barked Misty.

The sky was already shifting slowly into a lighter blue. Night seemed to be almost over.

"We don't have much time, and I'd like to tell you a bit more."

Ash just shut his mouth, wondering how Misty was still alive… Good thing there aren't any zombie Pokemon.

The time-traveler shifted 2 centimeters away from Misty. Misty could only groan, and continued…

OoOoOoOoO

The young girl slowly opened her eyes. Bright light was the first thing she saw. She had to use her hands to block the bright sun, traveling through the window.

She tried to roll out of the soft bed she was currently in, but she later noticed that she could barely move her lower body. She grew alarmed as she looked at the bandages that covered her chest, and legs.

"What…what happened?"

A light rustling from the behind the door distracted her, and her confusion grew as she saw a person enter the room. She was sure she hadn't seen the woman before, and she didn't know if she was to be worried. Especially with how the woman was gaping and covering her mouth.

She watched as the elderly lady gave an excited yell outside, before closing the door and approaching her. The lady's hand was cool as her palm rubbed her head.

"Thank goodness you're alright!" beamed the excited woman, "You've been asleep for several days, and you've had me and my husband so worried!"

As she looked at the animated woman, she couldn't help but speak.

"Wh-where am I?" choked out Misty. Misty's left hand touched her neck, surprised at how painful it was to speak.

"Oh my, take it easy little one," whispered the kind lady, "You're just a couple miles off from Lilycove City. Sleep a bit more and then we'll return you parents…"

Misty lay slowly on her back, looking towards the window. Staring at the green hills.

OoOoOoOoO

Several hours had passed before the older lady had questioned her about her family. She was also frightened to know that the only thing she could really remember was her name.

"Oh my," whispered the nurse. "Please, is there anything you remember?"

"I can't remember…"

Misty sat in the woman's office. She tried to stay quiet as the woman's fingers began clicking on the keyboard.

She watched as her hands typed onto the computer, checking if there were any missing children in Hoenn. None of the children matched up with her.

"I guess you'll be a temporary guest. Welcome to Lily Saint Oceania Orphanage," Misty looked at kind woman. Wondering why her face looked sad. "Don't worry dear, you'll remember soon…and you'll be back home in no time."

OoOoOoOoO

"…. Unfortunately after several weeks my memory never recovered, and then later on I was adopted, and some stuff happened." Misty turned towards Ash. "That's all I'm going to tell you for now."

Ash just sat there speechless.

"You're just going to leave it there?" questioned Ash. "I mean…you obviously remember me now. I want to know more."

Misty looked at him funny, before shaking her head. A small smile, lighting up her face. "We can talk about this some other day…we are currently running out of time," Misty nodded towards the rising sun, " and I have to tell you several big things…very big, bad things that you have to know to keep up with me."

Ash watched as Misty seemed to be shaking slightly.

"Then Mist, why didn't you tell me that first?" Ash carefully tightened his grip around her waist.

"I have told you a bit of my story," said Misty, "so you can understand a small piece of what I've gone through, and how so much…can be changed in so little time."

Misty looked at him pleadingly. "The sooner you understand that six years is enough time to ruin the future… the more I can hope you'll be less disappointed in me."

"Misty," replied Ash. "None of it is your fault."

The hysterical girl gave a soft chuckle as she grabbed her nearby pack.

"Did you know," explained Misty, "That Team Aqua and Team Magma will be arriving in Kanto, today."

"You've got to be kidding?" Ash was currently failing at hiding his worry. He turned towards Misty, and went a bit cold as he looked at her face. "You're serious."

Misty's silence was enough to get Ash thinking. "But, they have no reason to come here!" His thoughts were spinning as he tried to find a hole in his logic. "They're at Hoenn, because that's where their legendaries are. It shouldn't even be several months until they are even close to understanding the secrets."

Ash watched as Misty lifted out a sparkling object. With the sun now rising into the air he could see that her possession was a simple crystal cube. He craned his neck forward, mesmerized as the sunlight tinted the shining trinket a majestic soft blue.

Misty expertly twisted and turned the objects sides. Its walls were sliding left to right, upward and downward, before stopping with a light -click-.

"You'll be the judge of that," murmured Misty.

With a quick movement of her fingers, she twisted off the cube's lid.

He felt his eyes widen as he looked inside. Two very familiar orbs, one red and the other blue.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Ash was now lying on the ground. His head lightly banging the floor as he thought of how badly the time-line had been screwed.

"What were you thinking?" groaned Ash. He slowly began pushing himself up to his usual sitting position. He could feel his head hurt as he watched Misty giving a small grin.

Ash was just twitching, looking at the chortling girl. "What's so funny?"

"Oh it's nothing," half-laughed the smiling girl, "It just feels so good telling some of these secrets I've got in store. I am already starting to feel better."

The time-traveler had to fight off a sudden feeling of dread.

"You've got more secrets?" bluntly stated Ash.

"Tons, and tons, and tons, and tons…" listed off Misty. Her fingers seemed to be listing off several ideas until, to Ash's displeasure, seemed to acknowledge that she ran out of fingers to count on.

"But anyways," continued a now less hyper Misty, "I have to tell you an even bigger shocker."

Ash just shook his head. "C'mon Misty…I'm pretty sure there is nothing you can do to surprise me now."

"Well...Team Aqua and Team Magma kind of confiscated Giovanni's research on the Mewtwo project."

Ash just sat there, staring at her. His eyes were dull, and his jaw was hanging slightly.

Misty wondered if she broke him.

"Please, please tell me they don't also have Groudon and Kyogre," finally choked out Ash.

"They don't," mumbled Misty. "I'm pretty sure they don't have them…yet."

Ash just rubbed his eyes, wondering how Misty stayed sane with the stress.

"Ash, do you have any questions?"

"Well YEAH!" He hadn't expected the eagerness of his own voice. "I have tons of questions! But the first is, how…" Ash was now pointing at the red and blue orbs. "Why do you have that!?"

"Here's a hint," stated Misty. "Time-travel."

Ash hadn't been expecting that. His hand barely traced the spherical objects as he pondered over her words.

"So these two orbs, have the ability to send people through time?" inquired Ash.

Misty's features brightened, before turning serious again.

"You're close, but that's not exactly correct." Ash watched as Misty seemed to be twirling a loose strand of hair. "Just think of the orbs as a powerful battery. The time-machine is what sends people, Pokemon, or whatever though time…the orb are just its energy source."

Ash mused over that for a bit. It kind of made sense…

"So what happens when there isn't enough energy?" questioned Ash.

Misty seemed to lay her back further into the wall as she thought. "Bad things…"

Ash just looked at her.

"Can you be a bit less vague?"

Misty just stared right back at him.

Ash could feel his left eye twitching just a bit.

"Well anyways," continued Misty. "Back to the problem at hand. My sources have informed me that Team Aqua and Team Magma are already making their first move. With Giovanni gone, they can easily access Kanto. And they will be looking for the orbs, and possibly something a bit more…sinister."

Ash seemed to mull over the information, wondering what this had to do with her earlier depression. After they had fought in the park, it had taken forever for Misty to tell him she was only worried about her 'dad.'

Her expression became a bit vacant as she spoke. "Team Aqua is attacking by sea, while Team Magma is going to Cinnabar Island."

"You'd think they would be less predictable," muttered Ash. A light bulb lit up in Ash's mind as he put the pieces together.

"I think I understand now," whispered Ash. "Team Aqua is going to be attacking the S.S. Anne, and your adoptive father might be on that same ship. Am I right?"

Misty looked at him funny, before nodding. "That's right."

"I have a question though…" Ash gently held her hand. "Why couldn't we both go save your dad? I know you're stubborn and all, but you didn't have to go alone."

"Just forget it," growled Misty, "You wouldn't understand."

"I get it Misty. You're worried." Ash seemed oblivious to Misty's irritation. "We can go get your dad first, beat up Team Aqua, and then go to Cinnabar Isla-"

"Lay off it Ketchum!" screamed Misty, her chest heaving. "I've already talked it over with my contact, and we both agree that Team Magma is now our main priority."

"But your da-"

"I know Ash! I know…" Misty shook her head in frustration. "Just me, by myself, was no match for Team Magma. But now that I have your help, we can destroy the bigger threat."

"But your da-"

"Are you a tape recorder?!" Ash wondered why Misty was so emotional about this subject. "My dad can wait Ketchum. He's a strong man. Team Magma is the one we should be worried about."

"And why is that?"

Ash literally felt chills travel up his spine as Misty began to speak.

"It's because," whispered the nervous girl, "Team Magma already has…"

oOoOoOoOoOo

Several rivers of flames burst forward, enveloping his weapon, his Pokemon.

Team Magma's leader stared at the battle scene below. He had taken his top five Admins and had ordered every one of them to attack and eliminate it.

The heat was rising as one of his veteran Admins ordered one the Charizards to spat an even hotter pillar of fire. He could feel sweat dripping from his forehead, as the temperature rose to unparalleled heights.

Maxie's attention drifted towards his ticking watch, mentally counting the seconds. He gave another glance to the Pokemon battle.

The two Charizards and three Camerupts were now hurtling their Flamethrowers at the center of the room. As the flames combined, it had created a spinning tornado of fire.

Team Magma's leader gave a small grin, pleased to have noticed that even the floor of the battle arena was melting from the heat.

The display of unbridled power was truly mesmerizing. He was almost disappointed, knowing that the theatrics had to end.

With a small flick, he snapped his fingers.

A powerful shield of energy erupted from his creation, extinguishing the flames.

Maxie's smile widened as he watched his Pokemon dispose of its attackers. One simple mental Psychic wave had easily slammed each of the fire-types into the ground.

The ground shook, as each fire Pokemon was embedded into the granite floor.

He watched as the cloned Pokemon levitated several feet into the air and looked into his eyes, sending him a message.

/ My purpose…/

'…will come,' mentally replied Maxie. He almost couldn't contain his excitement. 'You've done well… this is only a fragment of your potential. Your true power awaits!'

The frightened Admins looked towards their now laughing leader. His laughter echoed in the dark room.

"We will not fail!" yelled the commander. Pressing a button in his hand, his voice suddenly began echoing out from every hallway in the base.

"Set forth to Kanto!" His commands heard throughout the building, traveling through every perched speaker. "Cinnabar Island, here we come!"

A/N:

So sorry about the delay. ; I've got no excuse. XP But anyways...

FINALLY ! SHIPS AWAY, the plot it comes!

I want to personally thank all the reviewers. ALL of you! :D I couldn't have gotten this far without your insight. Those reviews are what gets me thinking, and wondering what new ideas are gonna pop in.

Also, I want to give a special mention to lpride21 for sparking several ideas. XP

You all get cookies! -gives out invisible cookies-

A HUGE thank you to ReLeeS for being a great beta! She might take a long time to revise, but I'm jumping for joy when it comes!

Stay tuned for the next chapter! Chapter 21:Psychic Peril