DISCLAIMER: Pokemon is not mine! Okay? Please don't sue me, I can't afford it!

A/N: Like I said, huge time span, but nothing to worry about, you'll get the jist of it!

"Marill, did you really have to squirt Pysduck?" Misty sighed, shaking her head at the mouse-water pokemon. Marill grinned, and so did Misty.

The last minute had been a disaster. Marill and Pysduck, two of her pokemon, had gotten into a big fight over some ridiculous thing. Marill had squirted Pysduck in frustration, and in response, ditzy Pysduck had pulled down the table cloth off the table - along with all the leftovers from lunch that were now sinking into the carpet.

It had been five years since her mother's death, and her sister's were still hard at work at the university. There had been a small scare, with Violet threatning to drop out because of the pressure, but that was over with. Now Misty was relieved it would only be two more years until they came home for good. To her, two years didn't seem long, considering the anguish of the past five years.

She dragged out the vacuum cleaner and started sucking up the stubborn crumbs that refused to leave the carpet.

"Misty!"

"Yeah?" Misty yelled back at Mitch, the gym security guard.

"You got another challenge!"

Just what I need, Misty thought bitterly. "Coming!" She recalled her pokemon, turned off the vacuum cleaner and ran to the gym, which was just next door.

She stepped inside and smiled at her challenger. "Hi, I'm Misty, I'll be your opponent."

"My name's Rad" the ten-year old introduced himself.

Misty checked the Pokemon League computer, which had now become compulsory for gym leaders to do before a match.
A year ago a kid had gone around beating gym leaders for money without a licence, so now every gym had with a computer containing all the trainers names.

"Yup, you're clean...come on through." Misty lead him to the water based gym and the battle started.

The kid was so confident, he reminded Misty of Ash. She had never forgotten him. But in truth, he had really been the last thing on her mind since her mother died.

Misty lost, mostly because she had a huge type disadvantage. The kid had obviously studied. He had a strong Raichu and a Vileplume, which were both dominant against water.

She happily handed over a cascade badge, though the trainer was much happier than she was.

She walked slowly back to the house, thinking of Ash and her mother. As she collapsed on a couch, ignoring the mess that still needed to be cleaned, she heard a familiar noise.

"New messages, new messages." It was her answering machine. Misty groaned and walked over. She hit a button and heard the tape start.

"Like, hi Misty!" She smiled at Lily's chirpy voice. "Listen we're, like, on vacation in two weeks so we're gonna come down and see you! Isn't that, like, totally amazing? Catch up with ya soon, sweetie!"

The message ended and Misty saved it, not for the information, but for the small family ties she had left with her sisters. The next message started.

"Misty, hi, it's Professor Oak here." Misty jumped. What would Professor Oak be calling for? "I just wanted to congratulate you on the fine state of your gym." Misty exhaled with relief. "I know you've been through a lot of pressure, but I'm coming up to Cerulean soon, and I have a few of your mother's things..."

Her mother's things? Five years after she died?

"Just some trainers things. I'll call you when you're not busy. Bye!"

Misty's eyes filled with tears. She couldn't ignore the fact that her mother was a much-loved person, everyone around probably had memoirs of her. But she was grateful.

"Hello, this is the official Pokemon League inspector." A formal sounding voice penetrated Misty's thoughts and she paid attention. "I have to do my annual rounds, and I will be visiting your gym in about two weeks. Please make sure it is tidy, up-to-date and acceptable for the Pokemon League."

Misty started biting her nails, a habit that she had developed as a child. If the gym didn't pass, it would be shut down. And her mother would be ashamed. It was this time of year that always made Misty nervous.

As if a trigger had been set off, Misty stood bolt upright and started the vacuum cleaner again, hurridly removing the mess.

"Oh God, save me, please save me, I can't do this..." It was a prayer Misty had been saying constantly for the past five years.

She finished the vacuuming and sprinted back to the gym. Summer was on its way, and she ran in bare feet to avoid sweaty smelly feet that she despised.

"Mitch!" Misty yelled desperatly. "Miiiiiitch!" She was panicking. And she didn't have her inhaler. A bad asthmatic, Misty usually always had her inhaler, but today it wasn't in her pocket, and an attack was not impossible in a panicky condition.

Mitch came running up in a matter of seconds. "Misty, what's wrong?"

He had always thought she was a little over-reactive, but it must be the result of being shattered with a death at the age of 10. The truth was, however, that no matter how over-reactive, Misty was much more mature than most girls her age. Even Mitch realised that.

"The League....inspector....is coming...two weeks..." Misty wheezed her way through the sentance and sat down on a chair to calm herself.

"The League inspector is coming? And you've got two weeks? What are you worried about?" Mitch raised an eyebrow.

Misty glared. She hated people who disagreed. "I'm worried about the gym being shut down and being disloyal to Mom, is that a good enough reason?" she hissed.

Mitch nodded immediatly, not wanting to get in trouble with her. Misty ran the gym, she could fire or hire people, though she hadn't fired anyone yet, just been through a couple of retirements.

"We have to get this place in shape!" Misty declared, standing up. Mitch looked around. It was in shape. The gym had come second only to Pallet's new gym in the Pokemon League ranking.

"Last year we were second" Mitch offered his input, but Misty rejected it.

"That was last year! And we were second to Pallet! I will NOT come second this year, second is not good enough, is that understood?" Misty yelled, her asthma miraculously recovering. Mitch nodded once again.

"Right. I want you to tell all the cleaners to get ready, I want the pool thouroughly cleaned by the time he gets here, the Pokemon are to be treated in time, I want the very last stand in the spectator's section spotless. Clear?" Misty asked.

Mitch saluted her and she grinned. She was fifteen, but very organised and demanding, no one to mess with.

"We'll start tomorrow. I think you can all go home, it's four, I'll stay here in case anyone else comes" Misty offered.

Mitch looked surprised. "Thanks, I'll tell the others."

"Good. See ya tomorrow!" Misty said cheerily. Mitch waved and Misty looked at him as he left. He was a good guy, and an excellent security gaurd. He had recently got married to a girl from Saffron City, who was now pregnant, and Misty couldn't be more thrilled than Mitch himself.

She sat down next to the pool and dangled her feet in its sparkling blue water, which was a great relief to her hot feet. She looked down in the water and her reflection stared back. She was fifteen years old, single, no parents, a gym leader, part-time Pokemon trainer and through all that she had kept her sanity. Some people would call her a heroine. But the people who knew her best knew her as Misty, the tomboy who didn't stand for injustice or cruelty.

And as her feet cooled in the huge pool, she looked up at the roof, and quietly said hello to her mother.

A/N: Right-o, time for some more chapters! We're over half way there now, so don't worry, the conclusion will happen sooner than you think! Please review, love ya! :)