Chapter Three
The Key to Healthy Living is Bacon
Ash woke up very early the next morning, because the sun was shining directly in his face. He sat up disorientated, and wondered why his curtains were open. Squinting, he looked across the room to where Pikachu was sleeping in a pile of dirty clothes by the door. He swung his bare legs over the side of the bed and yawning, scratched the back of his head. He had not had a good nights sleep.
He had a re-occurring nightmare, in which Misty would be trapped behind a glass wall, suffocating to death and Ash couldn't get in to save her. The dream didn't even give him the mercy of waking up in a cold sweat, it continued. Night after night Ash had to witness Misty die in front of him; her lips turning blue, her chest locking, and all he could do was watch helplessly, banging on the glass.
He looked at his clock and groaned. 5:43 am. He couldn't even think of going back to sleep, so instead he wandered into his bathroom to have a shower.
@~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~@
Misty's reflexes snapped into action and she immediately woke up and sprung from the bed.
"Pssst!" The noise came again. Cautiously she walked over to the door and put her ear against the wood. "Er, I've er…got your breakfast!" whispered a voice. Misty groaned.
"What time is it?" There was a fumbling sound outside.
"About quarter to six."
"In the morning!?"
"Er, yeah."
"I don't get my breakfast until half eight. Cassidy brings it to me." There was a feminine chuckle from outside, then the man spoke again.
"God Misty, stop being so awkward and step away from the door!" At the sound of her real name Misty fell silent and stepped away. She watched as the little hatch her food came through was unlocked and a plate of unappetising looking bacon was pushed through. Misty stared at the plate, then back at the door. "Good luck…" the man whispered, then all Misty could hear was two sets of footsteps running away from the door.
"I hope you're right about this Jess" huffed James as they ran through the corridors.
"Oh be quiet," snapped Jesse. "Now we've done our part and we won't get involved any more."
"Yeah" James nodded. "And now at least we won't feel guilty."
Misty stared at the plate, unusually heaped quite high. The bacon was either burnt or practically raw, and Misty's stomach turned just looking at it. She ignored it, and flopped down on her bed, and tried to go back to sleep. As she reached over to take a sip from her water glass, she noticed something in the pile of bacon glinting in the early morning sunshine.
Curiously, she walked over to the plate, which was still sitting on the floor. Grimacing, she stuck her hand into the meat and her heart leaped as her fingers touched cool metal and she extracted a small metal key from the bacon. Misty gazed at the key in her hand, and absentmindedly brushed a bit of bacon fat off of it. She had no idea who that man was, or why he was helping her, but he would never know how much this one act meant to her.
@~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~@
Free. She was finally free. She literally couldn't remember a time when she hadn't lived in the Rocket HQ, forced to be Rudi's female 'companion'. It hadn't been so bad at first, but she had grown to despise him in time. He had told her that her sisters had run up a huge debt to his father on the Cerulean City Pokémon Gym and they had no choice but to kill them. Misty had just got in the way.
Misty swung the red backpack that she had found outside her room on to her shoulders. It felt…right there, like she had worn it before. It also felt full. She dropped it to the ground and then crouched down beside it. She undid the top, and almost on instinct pulled out a few Pokéballs. She allowed them to open. Staryu. Psyduck. Seadra. Poliwag. Starmie. Togepi. Dewgong. They all stared at their Trainer, who they had so long ago given up for dead. It was her, definitely, but there was something missing.
Togepi waddled up to its 'mommy' and threw itself into her arms. As Misty held the little egg Pokémon in her arms, something clicked in her non-existent memory.
[…=START FLASHBACK=…]
"Just as I though, you chose Bulbasaur!" she could remember herself saying, and then she looked at the boy standing opposite her. "In that case I choose…" She reached for the Pokéball containing Starmie, but instead a different one opened. "Ahh! Quick Psyduck, return!"
"Hey! No fair! You can't return your Pokémon in a one-on-one battle" laughed the boy.
"Ohh, he's right." she growled. "Alright Bulbasaur, aim for Psyduck's head!"
"Its head?" said the boy surprised. Then he laughed at the furious red head. "Yeah, like I'm that dense! Bulbasaur, go and lick Psyduck on the head!" The plant Pokémon obeyed.
"Noooo Bulbasaur!" cried Misty, infuriated. "You'll never lick Psyduck if you lick it!"
"Right Bulbasaur, let's win this! Tickle attack!" Misty watched as Bulbasaur used its vines to tickle her Psyduck, sending it whimpering back to its Pokéball.
"Oooh, Ash!" she wailed as she sank to her knees.
[…=END FLASHBACK=…]
The transfer from her memory back to reality gave Misty a physical jolt. That was…strange. It was like watching a movie you stared in , but not being able to remember actually filming it. She cradled Togepi in her arms and smiled at the group of Pokémon around her. She returned them all to their balls, and then stood up. Ash. She had said Ash. The name brought a smile to her lips. The person who gave her the locket?
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a sign. In one direction, the sign said 'Viridian City; 8 miles'. On the other side, it said, 'Pewter City; 3 miles'.
"Pewter sounds good to me," she said out loud as she hoisted her bag to her shoulder again and set off in the direction of Brock's hometown.
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Brock wandered out of the Pokémon Centre, with his Vulpix hot on his heels. He was so busy day-dreaming about Nurse Joy that he didn't see the girl in front of him until it was too late.
"Owww!" Brock immediately jumped up, and offered his hand to the red head sprawled on the pavement. She took it gladly and dusted herself off. It was only when she looked at the man she had bumped into to apologise for not looking where she was going that she noticed he was staring at her like she had three heads.
It can't be...her he was thinking to himself. There is just…no way. Misty stared at the young man, who could be no more than 20 years old. She got that now familiar twinge in the back of her mind.
"Are…are you new in town?" Brock squeaked. Misty smiled warmly and nodded.
"Yep, I just arrived."
"Where are you staying?"
"Nowhere at the moment, I have no money and I don't know my way around."
It's not Misty Brock concluded, she would have recognised me and she would know her way around the city. Even if she's not Misty, there's no need to be inhospitable.
"Er, I'm the Gym Leader here, and I run a Breeding Salon. My name is Brock Flint." Misty shook his hand warmly.
"My name's Misty." Brock stared at her blankly.
"Er, hi Misty. Nice to…meet you. Is there a last name to go with that?" Misty rolled her eyes.
"It's a long story."
"Okay, then it's settled. You'll stay with me for the time being and I'll get to hear your long story." Misty laughed gleefully.
"Really? Oh, thank you!" As the duo walked to Brock's Breeding Salon, Brock noticed how his shy Vulpix immediately took to Misty, as if they were old friends. Then he noticed her necklace.
"Misty?" he cleared his throat. "Where did you get that locket?"
"That's all part of the long story Brock."
"I can't wait."
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Later that night, after telling her long story, Misty fell asleep on Brock's couch. Brock was almost convinced that she was in fact Misty Waterflower, but there was still one thing to clear up. He tip-toed into the kitchen and rang a familiar number.
"Hello?" came a groggy voice from the other line.
"Ash? That you?"
"Who do you think it is Brock, Pikachu?" Brock smiled as he heard an inquisitive 'Pika?' in the background.
"Anyway man, I've got something very important to ask you."
"Fire away."
"Did you ever give Misty a heart shaped locket?" There was silence on the other line. "Ash?"
"Why do you want to know Brock?"
"Just answer me Ash."
"Yes, I did. The day she…left."
"I knew it."
"Knew what?"
"Ash, can you come down tomorrow? It's very important."
"Sure Brock…"
"Okay man, I'd better go."
"Brock, how did you know about the locket?" Brock smiled.
"You'll find out tomorrow man."
As Ash hung up, he allowed himself to sink to the floor next to Pikachu.
Gee, thanks for bringing that up Brock he thought bitterly, but it wasn't as if he had ever stopped thinking about the last time he saw her.
[…=START FLASHBACK=…}
Misty leaned back against the car, feeling the cool metal against her bare legs. She smiled uneasily at Ash, who was staring at his shoe. A few moments of silence passed. Ash's eyes were obscured by the shade of his hat and he repeatedly kicked at the dirt, searching his heart for the right thing to say.
"Well, I guess…" Misty began.
"Misty, I…" Ash began. They both laughed, and the tension between them lifted. Misty was the first to speak after that.
"I'm gonna miss you Mr. Pokémon Master!" she shrugged. "I can't believe that after five years, this is goodbye."
"No Myst, it's not goodbye, " Ash laughed. "I'll see you next month, and I'll definitely be coming down for your birthday." He blushed suddenly. "You er, promised me another dance."
Misty suddenly pushed herself back from the car, and into Ash's arms. Something wasn't quite right; something deep inside told her to hold on to him tightly. So she did. Embarrassed, she pulled away after about 10 seconds. Blushing, she pushed an annoying lock of hair from her eyes.
"Sure Ash, you'll get your dance." Ash suddenly reached into his pocket, and pulled out something, which he placed in Misty's hand.
It was a beautiful golden heart-shaped locket, on a glittery thin chain. Misty awed at its elegance, and blushed slightly as Ash put his hand on hers.
"Open it!" he urged.
"It opens?" she asked. He nodded.
Misty gently flipped the tiny catch and looked inside. The first thing to catch her eye was the tiny picture on one side. She laughed; it was her favourite picture of her and Ash, it had been taken when they were 12, just before Ash had won the Orange League. On the other side, was a little leather envelope, embedded in the gold. Misty stuck her fingers inside, and pulled out a small piece of paper. She unfolded it, then read the words in Ash's familiar handwriting.
Myst,
I know this isn't a bike, but at least this heart locket will remind you that you'll always have a piece of my heart.
Love, Ash
This time, Misty wasn't self-conscious about hugging Ash. They stood that way for a while, just with their arms around each other, silently telling each other how much they loved the other, and wishing they could say it out loud. They heard a cough, and drew apart to see Daisy a little way away from them.
"Like, come on Misty! We have to get home like!"
"Like totally" interrupted Lily. "I'll be late for my date with Greg!"
"I thought you were going out with that Shane guy from the supermarket?" asked Violet.
"I am." stated Lily bluntly.
With one last squeeze of Ash's hand, Misty got into the car. Her awful premonition hit her again, and she frantically made eye contact with Ash through the window. The rest of her sisters piled in, and Daisy started the engine. Ash and Misty held their gaze until they couldn't anymore, and Ash watched as his childhood friend disappeared over the horizon.
[…=END FLASHBACK=…]