By: Adrienne and Christine (Salt*N*Pepper)
Summery: Misty and Ash continue through the Orange Islands, seeing a familiar face who helps them eventually get to Tangelo Island. After the funneral, Misty sees another familiar face, one she's not too happy with...Meanwhile, our tired friend Brock takes a nap from pedddling the submarine, while Jesse explains to James why she thinks Misty and Brock have a thing for eachother...
"Tell me again why you want to travel with me?" Brock asked, his arms crossed. Jesse and James panicked.
"Uh, well, you see, we uh, have to go to the Orange Islands to um…get Meowth some special pokemon fruit, yes, that's it, because he's really sick…"James looked over at Meowth.
"Oh, right…cough, cough" Meowth said.
"And since you're going the same way, why not travel together?" Jesse added.
"Funny, in all my pokemon breeding research, I never heard of a meowth being cured by a tropical fruit." Brock said, scratching his chin.
"Maybe dat's because you were researching breeding, not curing ya dummy!" Meowth said, annoyed. Every one turned to look at him. "Uh, I mean…H..e..l..p…M..e." he added, sweat dropping. Brock sighed.
"Look, I don't have time for this, so if you wanna come, let's just go…" Jesse and James happily gave each other high-fives. "I think the ferry is coming back to port at ten" Brock started. "So we'll have to-"
"Oh, please, we have our own means of travel…" Jesse smiled at James who pushed a small red button. A small Magicarp submarine submerged out of the water.
"You're kidding right?" Brock asked looking at Team Rocket.
"You get to petal first!" James smiled shaking Brock's hand. "I'll just take a nap…" "Hey, why should you be the first one to take a break?!" Jesse demanded.
"What about Meowth!? I'm da sick one remember?!" Meowth added in. Brock jumped into the submarine, and began peddling by himself.
"You three morons coming or not?" He shouted as the Magicarp began to move.
"Yes, wait for us!" Team Rocket said in unison. Jesse pulled James into the sub, watching Brock with awe, as he peddled the Magicarp with enormous strength and determination.
"He's amazing!" Jesse cried.
"He's astounding!" James added.
"He's crazy!" Meowth screamed. "Look he's headed for dat whirl pool!"
"Hold on tight guys…we just might be blasting off again…hey is that by any chance fun?" Brock asked looking back at the trio. Jesse and James screamed loudly and tightly embraced each other in one of their famous fear hugs. Brock peddled on, straight into the whirlpool, then tightly closed his eyes, waiting for the worst. A tiny bump was felt beneath the terrified teens.
"Whoa, are you serious?" Brock asked himself opening his eyes.
"No way did we survive that!" He added sarcastically. Jesse and James slowly let go of each other. " Mist-…uh, I mean, Orange Islands here I come!" Brock shouted.
Ash yawned and opened his eyes. He stretched as he glanced at the alarm clock. "I knew I didn't set it right!" He suddenly screamed. "Misty! Misty! Wake up! Come-on we gotta go!" Ash leaped up from the couch he had crashed on last night and tripped on the sheets. Pikachu calmly jumped down to the floor and looked pathetically at his trainer. "So I over-sleep a lot, big deal!" Ash shouted. Misty suddenly bolted up. "Ash! It's almost ten A.M!!!!" she yelled. "We were supposed to leave at six!" Misty threw off the sheets and zoomed into the bathroom. Ash frantically zipped his jeans and tied his sneakers. Misty raced out of the bathroom, fully dressed. "Let's go, let's go, let's go!" She shouted picking up Togepi. "If we hurry, maybe, just maybe we can find a way to get to the seven grape fruit islands!" Misty said, glaring at Ash.
"I'm sorry!" He said to her. Ash and Misty were out of the hotel by ten fifteen. They frantically ran through Kumquat city, desperately searching for a way to the Grapefruit Islands. "Over here!" Ash called. "I found a ride!" Misty and Ash boarded a small sailboat. "You'll never believe who it is!" Ash cried happily.
"Who?!" Misty asked. Suddenly a young girl, about her age, turned around to face them. She was sporting a pink shirt with jeans, sunglasses, and a white hat atop her head.
"Hey there Misty!" She said with a laugh.
"Melody…the flute player!?" Misty asked, shocked.
"Yep, the one and only! I decided to take a little break on Kumquat Island from our traditional festival and I ran into you guys! How are you? Together yet?!" Melody said with a smirk. Misty frowned.
"No, we're not." she simply stated.
"Oh man, I thought by now you two would have least kissed…" Melody replied.
"Would you shut the hell up!" Misty snapped. "I don't like Ash okay? Maybe I thought I did at one time, but now that someone else has come back into my life I don't anymore….so you can shove your stupid little remarks up your ass!" Ash stared at the two girls, very confused.
"Oh, so you mean, you're into that other kid…Tracey was it?" Melody laughed, enjoying torturing Misty.
"You bitch! How can I possibly like him?! He's dead!" Misty screamed. Melody fell silent.
"Oh…I'm so sorry…" she said. Melody looked over at Ash. He glared at her. "I honestly didn't know…please guys, I- I 'm sorry…"
"We're going to his funeral and we need a ride…" Misty began, feeling anger rage up in her blood. "So if you don't mind, take us straight to Tangelo Island." Melody nodded, as she got her boat into gear.
"Misty…" Ash whispered. "Weren't we going to stop at the Grapefruit Islands first?" "That was only if we needed to Ash, I think Melody can manage to skip them." Misty replied through clenched teeth. Hours passed, and still no sign of land. "It's already seven…" Misty sighed. "We're never going to make it."
"Not if I can help it!" Melody suddenly shouted. "I'll get you there…I swear on my life I will!"
"Good, she's gonna die…" Misty said, stretching. Ash griped on tighter to his seat, as the sailboat increased speed.
"He may have started off amazing, but his energy boost was a bust." Jesse said, looking at the exhausted Brock.
"Must…keep…going…" Brock said, sweat pouring down his forehead.
"Listen kid, why don't you take a break, I'm sure James and I could keep on going for you." Jesse said sweetly. Brock winced at the thought of Jesse trying to be sweet, but nevertheless, finally gave up peddling. Jesse and James took over, while Brock announced he was going to take a nap. Just to be safe he called out Vulpix.
"Watch over my pokemon okay?" Brock said. "I still don't trust them…" Almost immediately, Brock fell into a long deep sleep.
"Jesse, where are we?" James asked, peddling behind her. Jesse looked through the periscope and sighed.
"We're only in the waters near Hamilin Island." She replied. "We've got a long way to go."
"I still say we should have waited until the twerps came back to Pallet town to steal Pikachu." James whined.
"Well we didn't, so quit whining." Jesse snapped back.
"Hey, why do you suppose the twerp didn't go when the others went?" James asked.
"I don't know James, I'm not one of them! But if you ask me I think he's got a thing for the little red head, maybe that's got something to do with it." Meowth laughed.
"I know somebody else whose got a ting for a red head!"
"How can you tell Jesse?" James asked, ignoring Meowth.
"Oh, it's so obvious, James, I can always tell when a guy likes a girl!"
"Not always!" Meowth interrupted.
"Just the way he smiles when she pulls him away from EVERY girl, in fact I think he flirts with every girl just to get her jealous."
"Sounds like she likes him too Jess." James added.
"Hey! Dat's just like you and James aint it Jess?!" Meowth asked, cracking up.
"What is that supposed to mean?!" Jesse demanded, trying to hide the blush on her face.
"Not funny…" James said quietly doing the same.
"You….you actually did it!" Misty cried looking out at the upcoming island. "That's Tangelo! We're here! And it's only eight thirty! Ash we made it!" Ash smiled.
"I knew we would!" he cried jumping up and down.
"You two look like you're ready for a party, not a funeral." Melody said.
"You don't know what we've gone through to get here…" Ash started. Misty walked over to Melody.
"Even though you put me through so much crap before in the past, I have to say…we couldn't have done it without you…thank you."
"No problem, Misty, friends?" Melody asked, holding out her hand.
"Friends!" she replied shaking it.
"I'll see you around sometime Ash…you made a great Chosen One."
"Awe, it was nothing, really…" Ash said, remembering his adventure with Lugia. The sailboat began to dock.
"Say hi to your sister for us!" Misty said as she jumped out of the boat with Ash. "Good bye!" The two waved as Melody sailed away.
"Remember the last time we were here, we thought we were stranded?" Ash asked Misty as they walked through a forest. Misty laughed.
"I sure do!" Minutes pasted by before they were on a beach.
"Then remember when we found Laparas here?" Ash asked smiling.
"Yea I hope those people rot in hell for treating it that way!" Misty said. Her face softened. "Remember this is where we met Tracey…" Somewhere In the background the song "Pikachu's Goodbye" began to play.
"I can't believe he's really gone Misty." Ash said sadly.
"Look Ash!" Misty said pointing to a bunch of lights. "That must be it!" Eyes tearing, Ash and Misty made their way to the funeral. Familiar faces looked upon them. Ash recognized Prima, Drake, Sissy, Marina, Dan, Tad, Travis's mother, Russell and his turtle pokemon teams, numerous Nurse Joys and Officer Jennys, and Professor Quackinpoker.
"They're all here…" he thought. "For Tracey…" Through out the whole procession, Ash and Misty shared tears, and at one point even embraced each other in a comforting hug. "May Tracey Sketchit rest in peace, now and forever, Amen." The casket was lowered into the ground. The Sketchit family hosted a small dinner afterwards, which Misty and Ash promised to attend.
"Misty, I 'm going to talk to Drake over there, okay? I want to find out all his battling strategies!"
"Sure Ash, I'll just go get something to eat." Misty sighed. She walked up to the bar with a plate and made her selection.
"Heh, heh okay, Mari, but save some room for desert!" A familiar voice said. Misty jerked her head up and spun around. A teenage boy, with careless brown hair flowing into his eyes, was bending on one knee, talking to his little sister. He suddenly looked up at Misty, and his eyes widened.
"Misty?!" He asked, standing up.
"Rudy…" Misty replied in a soft voice.
"Hi Misty!" Mari yelled excitingly.
"Hey Mari…" Misty replied, slightly smiling.
"Where's Ash? I read in the paper he won the Orange League Trophy!" Rudy said happily. "I still can't believe he beat me! So what are you guys up to now?"
"Oh, Ash is planning on entering the Johto League when we get home." Misty answered.
"Johto eh? Well I hope he battles just as good as he battled me, because that league is supposed to be a tough one!" Misty smiled.
"How are the guys at the Gym, Mari?" she asked, looking at the little girl.
"Oh they're okay, but I'm kinda lonely cause there still aren't any girls to play with me, Misty, I really wish you would have stayed." Mari replied looking down at her feet.
"Mari! Heh,heh, Now that's enough." Rudy laughed nervously. Misty shifted her weight. "Misty, you aren't planning to go home right away are you?" Rudy asked looking at her. Misty wrung her hands.
"Uh…no Rudy, I think we'll stay just a little bit longer." Misty said.
" Well, then would you and Ash like to come to dinner tomorrow night? We haven't seen each other in such along time, I'm sure there'll be plenty to talk about." Rudy asked anxiously.
"Oh, I don't know…" Misty began, looking around the room nervously.
"Ash really wants to get back to Pallet to start the Johto league and all, so the faster we leave, the faster he'll get to go…" Suddenly Ash came up to them.
"Well speak of the devil here's the great Orange Island League champion himself! How ya doing Ash!?" Rudy said, shaking Ash's hand.
"My big brother just invited you and Misty over for dinner tomorrow night, wanna come?!" Mari asked, jumping up and down.
"I've taught my pokemon all new battling/dancing techniques, that you just have to see!" Rudy said convincingly. Misty silently prayed that Ash would remember the last time they were At Rudy's Gym, and how he fell in love with her. He even asked her to stay, but she could never leave Ash, or abandon her hopes of ever seeing Brock again at that time.
"Ash will say no!" Misty happily thought to herself.
"Oh sure! I'd love to see your new techniques, Rudy! I love pokemon!" Ash replied joyfully. Misty fell over anime style. "I'll definitely see you tomorrow night!"
"Great! I'll pick you guys up in my boat around eight!" Rudy said.
"Me two!!" Mari cried happily.
" Haha! Yes, you too, Mari." Rudy laughed. "Till then…" Rudy dug into his pocket and pulled out a white rose for Misty.
"Uh…thanks…" Misty said quietly.