Ash and May got off the plane at Cerulean City and went to the gym to see Misty, the girl who they think is what the Ash they are looking for, is here seeing. However, a gym referee said that she has been at Pallet Town working on something there and has been there since after the murder happened. So, they decided to head there and took a subway to Viridian City, then started to walk to Pallet Town.
It was starting to get dark and wondered if they should put up camp and head out in the morning. But then they heard a psyduck calling out to them, and soon a politoad. They looked over at them and quickly ran to the pokemon to see what is going on. Once they got there, they saw an injured pikachu. Both Ash and May gave a worried look.
"What? Pikachu? What happened?" Ash asked.
His pikachu hopped off Ash's shoulder and went to see if he could figure out what happened to the injured pikachu, and it is what they feared. Team Rainbow had attacked him, and the group knew that they had to be after the Ash they're looking for.
May gave a worried look. "Where's the Ash we are looking for? He could be in danger as well…"
Ash frowned. "This isn't good… this pikachu needs to get to a pokecenter. But if we leave… another me could die!" He clenched his fists as he thought. But then gently picked up the injured pikachu and wrapped him up in a black shirt and handed him to May. "It looks we are going to have to split up… for now."
May took the pikachu with a serious look. "Please… don't do anything too reckless. We need you."
"I'll come back. I'm not going to let Team Rainbow take me away from you…"
May smiled and gave him a quick kiss before they left. "Alright… See you soon."
Ash beamed and nodded.
May ran off back to Viridian City.
Ash looked at Psyduck and Politoad. "You must belong to Misty, right? Let's go and find her and another me."
They both looked at Ash with a confused look.
Ash sighed. "This is not the time to explain…"
Pikachu explained to them that once we find them, that they'll explain everything.
They agreed and went with them to look for Misty and the other Ash.
Back with Brock's group:
Tracey, Gary and Brock went to look for Misty. They let her have her space, but she's usually back by now and they were getting worried with how late it was getting. People have said they seen her run out of the town, but they know she didn't return to her gym as they called there, and they said she wasn't there. They called out her name, yet there was no response.
Brock heard a familiar pokemon call out to him and looked over to it. "Azumarill! Where's Misty?"
Azumarill gave a sad look, making it known that it doesn't know where she's at.
Brock gave a worried look. "This looks bad…"
Azumarill told him to follow it.
Brock nodded and called the other guys to come and follow too.
Once they arrived to where Azumarill lead them, they saw Gyarados and Kingdra at a calmer area of the river, with six pokeballs on the ground that Gyarados got.
"Half of Misty's pokemon… What happened?" Tracey asked.
Gary gave a worried look. "Did she…?"
Brock frowned. He knows Misty really had a thing for Ash, but… "I can't see her doing that. She seemed too determined bringing Ash's killers to justice."
Azumarill shook its head to Gary.
"Oh… you don't know where Misty is, but she didn't try to end her life?" Tracey question Azumarill.
Azumarill nodded to Tracey.
Everyone sighed in relief.
"Still… something obviously happened, and you don't know where she could be…" Brock stated with a worried look.
Azumarill gave a sad look and nodded.
Tracey kneeled and petted Azumarill to comfort it. "Don't worry, Azumarill. You did a great job finding us. We'll definitely find her."
Azumarill looked at Tracey with a happy look.
Gary sent out Arcanine and told him to track Misty's sent.
Tracey sent out Venomoth to use its radar in the air to see if it can sense her.
Brock sent out Crobat to use its Supersonic to find her.
Back with Misty and Ash:
It was slow moving for searching for Pikachu with Ash's injuries. Starmie was scouting ahead to try to find him, but it was dark out now and they wouldn't be able to find him. Besides, they knew that if Pikachu didn't make it up to land now, it would be too late. The found a small cave and looked inside it. It seemed empty. They went inside, and Misty gently set Ash down. She then went out and got some firewood with Starmie and Ash's other pokemon he had on hand and started a fire. They were injured as well and couldn't get much heavy wood, but they were still able to collect some. She then sat down by Ash along with Starmie with a sad look. It wasn't long before all the pokemon fell asleep with all that happened and being by a nice warm fire.
"I'm so sorry…" Misty said. Misty went to clean his wounds the best she could with Starmie's help.
Ash gently smiled at her. "Misty, you don't have to apologize to me. Really… You've done so much for me and Pikachu… that it's about time I say, thank you…"
Misty starred at him with a shocked look.
"Besides, I don't know why or how… but I feel that Pikachu is still alive and is in safe hands."
Misty smiled a bit. "I see…" She then smirked a bit. "It IS a about time you thank me for all I've done for you."
Ash gave a worried look.
"But…" She then narrowed her eyes with a smile. "There's so much… I need to thank you for." Misty finished cleaning his wounds and sat by him by the fire.
Starmie went to stand guard for a bit.
Ash gave her a confused look. "You need to thank me…?"
Misty nodded. "Thank you, Ash… for bringing me joy, happiness, and being there for me."
Ash chuckled.
Misty gave an angry look. "What's so funny? I'm serious!"
"It's just that… I realized I need to thank you for a lot more that you did for me than I realized…"
Misty gave a confused look.
"I am grateful for you for doing those things for me as well…"
Misty starred at Ash with a blush and a surprised look.
"And for being there for me even when I was so terrible and inconsiderate, and for helping me become the man I am today…"
Misty narrowed her eyes with a blush. "Ash…" Then she shook her head and smirked. "I guess you have grown a bit from your time away from me."
Ash looked down with a sad look. "I guess… I still need you to save my butt, like when we first met…" He then looked up at Misty with a huge grin. "However, I'm so glad you do! I'm glad you care so much about me…"
Misty looked down with a serious look. "Well… you've done so much for me. Of course, I'd do anything for you…"
Ash starred at Misty with an intense look. "Misty…"
"Ash…" She looked away, but then looked at him with a determined look, deciding to just tell him. "I really… Have you ever thought about me during your travels?"
"Of course…! A lot of times!" He looked away with a modest look, but then turned to Misty. "Have you…?"
Misty blushed and slowly nodded. "A bunch of times…" Misty looked deeply in Ash's eyes with a serious look. "I… really enjoyed spending my time with you, and wished that I never had to leave you…"
Ash looked away with a frown. "A lot of times, I wished to take you with on my journeys, but… I know that it wouldn't be possible with you in charge of the gym and all."
Misty starred at Ash with a blush. "Ash… just, how do you feel about me?"
Ash looked at the ground with a serious look. "I value you more than any of my other friends, and…" He found it hard to find the words to express how much Misty means to her.
Misty blushed as she heard him spoke. It sounds like he and her feel the same, so she figured since she is finding it hard to just say it, she'll show him how she feels. She put a hand on his.
Ash looked at Misty at a surprised look and a blush.
Misty scooted to Ash to where there was no space in between them and slowly moved her face towards Ash's.
Ash's heart raced as Misty came closer to him and started to close his eyes and move his lips to hers.
"Venoo!" a pokemon excitingly shouted.
Both screamed in surprise with red faces.
Ash then gave a confused look. "Oh, it's a venomoth… what's it doing here?"
Misty gasped. "Oh, you belong to Tracey, don't you?"
Venomoth nodded.
Misty looked away and clenched her fist with an angry look. "Tracey…" she thought to herself.
Ash gave a confused look. "But… what's Tracey's Venomoth doing here?"
Misty sighed. "Well, I was with him, Brock, Gary, and Prof. Oak at the lab and we were looking into who was it that attacked you in Wyndon Stadium…" She looked away with an embarrassed look. "I went out to take a walk, and since I never came back… they probably got worried."
"I see…" Ash looked at Venomoth. "Have you by chance… seen Pikachu?"
Venomoth gave a worried look and shook his head.
"Alright… Well, you should head back to Tracey and tell him Misty's safe. We'll head to the lab in the morning."
Venomoth just noticed it was Ash speaking to him. It was sure he'd died. Afterall, isn't what its trainer and his friends are trying to figure out, is who is responsible for his death? However, it left it be for now, nodded and left.
Ash then turned to Misty. "… We should probably get some sleep."
Misty nodded and they both laid down.
