Disclaimer: Don't own nothing except one character (Crystal)
This is really introducing my character Crystal Ember. I really hate this part! (I have no confidence in anything I do)
Ash-11 (I think. I'll tell you later if I change it) Crystal-11
Misty-11 Gary-11
Brock-13 Tracey-13
CHAPTER THREE
Misty Waterflower opened her eyes slowly. Everything was blurry, and hard to make out. She found turning her head was a painful ordeal, but eventually she managed to turn it towards the window. It was dark outside apart from the light of the full moon. She had no idea where she was and her head ached too much for her to even attempt to work it out. Slowly, she drifted into another dreamless sleep.
She woke again to the sound of Dodrio's morning wake-up call. Sitting up, Misty glanced around the room. It seemed like some basic hotel room, with white wash walls, and that distinct hotel smell.
Misty held her hand to her head and mumbled, "Where am I?" Suddenly a door opened and in walked a vaguely familiar person.
"Oh, good morning sleepy head! Nice to see you awake for once!" The girl laughed brushing her brown shoulder length hair back. She looked around the same age as herself. The girl began scraping her hair back into a loose ponytail. At the front, to strands hung down passed her deep crystal blue eyes. She wore a red strapless top and fringed blue denim shorts. She seemed friendly enough, and the easy to get along with type, so Misty relaxed a little and lay back on her pillows.
"Who are you?" She asked, hoping for a not too detailed explanation of what had happened to her. The last thing she could remember was being stuck on the mountain.
"The name's Crystal Ember. You can call me Crys though, it's not as corny." She beamed back at Misty. "Guess you'll be wanting me to tell you how yah ended up here, huh?" Crystal asked. Misty nodded a little weakly.
"Please." She answered. "The short version, if there is one."
"Well," Crys shrugged, "I found you on that volcano, Mt Velex or something like that, and brought you here. You've been out cold for two days. Got me a little worried." The girl laughed. "So are you hungry?" Misty nodded eagerly, suddenly realising that her last full meal was more than two days ago.
Crystal smiled and nodded. "I'll be right back." And sure enough, in ten minutes flat, she had brought back a tray full of delicious food.
Misty shovelled it into her mouth, reminding herself of Ash. However, she didn't care, she was too hungry to care!
Afterwards the two girls had many conversations, talking about various adventures and about their own pokémon training. Crys had been training pokémon for about as long as Ash, which was no suprise seeing as she was actually one of the four trainers who had left Pallet. She had apparently been in a popular band for a while but had recently left it to return to her pokémon training. Misty explained that she had been travelling with Ash for ages, and had simply decided to leave. However Crystal sensed that there was more to the subject and eventually got it out of her.
Misty, deciding that she liked this new found friend, told her the real reason she had left Ash and Tracey. Finally she told Crystal of the Ninetails and explained about Team Rocket capturing him.
"Wow, that's…quite a story." Crys murmured, wondering if Misty was suffering from some sort of amnesia. Misty recognised the doubt in Crys' eyes and sighed.
"I know you think I probably hit my head really hard?" Misty smiled, cocking one eyebrow.
"Well…" Crys admitted. Suddenly, Misty shoved something into her hand.
"I don't blame you." Misty sighed, "But take a look at this before you make up your mind." Crys looked at what Misty had shoved into her hand.
"A neckalce?" Crystal peered at it and recognised the pendant as a red moonstone in simple setting. Three metallic balls surrounded the stone. Misty saw that Crystal obviously recognised it from somewhere.
"Do you recognise it?" Misty asked quietly. Crystal nodded a little.
"I think so. Well, I guess you weren't lying after all." She smiled up at Misty who pretended to look hurt.
"You actually doubted me?" Misty saw that Crystal deep in thought again. "What? What's wrong?" She asked.
"I'm trying to remember…that's it!" Crystal suddenly cried out.
"That's what?" Misty asked confused.
"I remember where I saw this pendant. Prof. Oak. I used to visit him a lot and well, I remember reading some book of his about four stones of the elements. I can't remember much about them, but I'm sure if you get there he'll help you." Crystal said happily.
"Yep, I know Prof. Oak alright." Misty asked with a slight smile.
"Guess you would if you travel with Ashy boy." Crystal nodded smiling back.
"Uh huh…hey wait a minute. What do you mean, if I go there. Aren't you coming too?" Misty asked hopefully. She didn't even have Togepi now. However, she knew the infant pokémon would be safe with Ash and Tracey and she could most probably find them with Professor Oak's help. But still, she didn't want to be alone anymore. She continued to stare at Crystal with sorrowful eyes.
"I'm sorry Misty, but Pallet town is pretty far from here and…" Misty begged her with her pitiful stare. "I…I…Oh alright. I'll come, but only half way, deal?" Misty grabbed her hand and shook it happily.
"Sure, deal!" The two girls immediately stood up and began packing.
"Where'd you learn that anyways?" Crys asked curiously.
"What do you mean?" Misty frowned at her.
"That pitiful stare thing." She explained.
"Guess it's just a gift." Misty shrugged, grinning and continued packing the supplies.
Two hours and twenty four minutes later, Misty and Crystal boarded the ship to the mainland and started out on their journey back to Pallet town.
As the boat left the peer on the small shipping village of Tollow, three characters appeared on the scene.
"Huh! Wah! We just missed the boat!" Tracey cried as he saw the cruiser sail off into the horizon and back to mainland.
"Looks like we've missed our trip back to civilization." Ash shrugged wearily. He turned slowly to Tracey, his puffy red rimmed eyes showing clearly that he had obviously been crying. However, the last thing Tracey was going to do was make fun of him. Ash was seriously concerned for Misty, even if he tried to hide it, even if he tried to avoid talking about her, both Pikachu and Tracey knew that he was worried.
"Ash, maybe we'll find more about Misty's whereabouts here. We'll try the hotels. They're aren't that many around here…well, not more than two or three." Tracey said, trying to comfort his friend.
"Pikachu." Pikachu said softly as he nuzzled Ash's leg. Ash bent down and picked Pikachu up.
"Thanks Pikachu, Tracey. I never realised I'd ever be this worried about Misty if she..." Ash sniffed, placing Pikachu back down on the ground. Wiping his damp eyes on the sleeve of his jacket, he glanced around, with a determined expression burning in his eyes.
"Let's get going."
***
The two young teens walked through the peaceful countryside, on their journey to the small town of Pallet.
Birds singing in the trees above, sweet bunnies playing happily in the grass below, gave the perfect day the perfect touch.
"This is sickening." Crys mumbled and clung onto the straps of her backpack. Beside her strode a red haired girl, and a Vulpix of whom Crystal owned.
"What is?" Misty asked her somewhat cynical friend.
"Huh…oh, nothing." Crys smiled nervously. Misty was too tired to delve further into the conversation, so she left it and continued on with a steady pace. So far she was making good time and would hopefully be reunited with Togepi and Ash soon.
After a while, Crystal decided to ask Misty what had been on her own mind for the last couple of hours! "Isn't this about half way yet?" She asked, cocking one eyebrow at Misty. A sweatdrop appeared on Misty's forehead and she shook her head nervously.
"Eh, just a few more miles." She lied through clenched teeth. Now Crys raised both eyebrows in deep suspicion.
"Yeah, sure." She said with a slight smile. Dropping her bag down at the side of the path. She immediately began rummaging through her bag. After a few minutes she brought out some food for her Vulpix, Misty and herself. Sitting down to lunch on a comfortable grassy patch, they realised how tired they all were.
"Vul! Vulpix!" Vulpix cried, delighted at finally being fed. Crys patted her Vulpix softly and apologised, "I'm sorry Vulpix, we just haven't had the time to stop before."
Misty had noticed how well Crys and her Vulpix got on together. It was almost like her and Togepi or Ash and Pikachu. Soon she found herself thinking about Ash again. Was she going utterly crazy?!
Gotta stop thinking about him! She repeated to herself. She looked up to see that Crys was staring at her in a rather sympathetic way.
"You're missing him, aren't you?" She suddenly asked. Misty swallowed thickly. Was she that transparent? She supposed there was no reason to lie to Crystal. She did know after all, why she had left Ash, Tracey and Pikachu.
Slowly, Misty nodded in reply, and fed the rest of her sandwich to Vulpix who took it eagerly.
"Vul, Vul!" It cried thankfully. Crystal sighed. She had no idea about how to handle relationships, but from what she could grasp they really sucked! However, she couldn't say this to Misty. She would have to come up with something that her friend could take as good advice. She was just about to open her mouth and speak before she was saved by the sound of a car horn behind her. Turning round, Misty, Vulpix and Crystal were faced with a very flash red convertible, seating a dozen cheer leaders and one very good looking (yet obnoxious), kid around their age, with spikey auburn hair and brown eyes.
"Gary Oak?!" Misty said, a little surprised. The boy, surrounded by the singing cheer leaders, smirked at her a little.
"Ha! Finally dumped loser Ash, huh?!" He laughed. Crystal stood up and turned to Misty.
"Huh, know this guy?" She asked disapprovingly. Gary frowned at her.
"Seems like you've teamed up with another Gary wannabe." He rolled his eyes, and Crys scowled at him. Misty leapt between them.
"Nice to see you Gary." Misty said through clenched teeth.
"Sure it is! I would offer you a ride, but we're so near to Viridian city, I'm sure you'd rather walk." He shrugged, with the faintest smile touching his lips, "But if you're desperate you're…"
Quickly, Crys interupted him, "No! We don't need a ride."
"Vulpix?! (we don't?!)". Suddenly, the sky above split with a loud clap of thunder and dark clouds rolled in over the sun. Rain poured over them. Gary flicked a button on the car and a hood flipped over them, keeping them warm and dry…that is, apart from Misty Vulpix and Crys.
"If your sure." Gary said, tempting Misty and Vulpix more and more as they shivered in the rain.
"We're sure! In fact, we love the rain! Don't we!" Crys called to the others who nodded meekly. Gary had had quite an effect Crys, which was slam bang in your face obvious to Misty.
"Well, Misty, maybe see you later!" He laughed, "That is if you don't drown out there." With that last statement Misty, Vulpix and Crystal watched as he drove off in his flash car and cheerleaders singing, "Let's go Gary, let's go! Yeah, yeah! Let's go Gary, let's go! Yeah, yeah!" Crys groaned. "I really hate him." Misty stared at her unbelievably.
"You know him too!" She asked. Crystal picked up her sodden backpack and swinging it over her shoulder nodded in reply.
"Well, I did live in Pallet you know. In Pallet it's quite hard not to know Gary Oak. Plus he was one of the four trainers to leave." She said uncomfortably. "Stuck up, know it all, aarrgh!" She groaned. Misty followed her along the road with Vulpix hot on their heels.
"You sound exactly like Ash." Misty laughed.
"That's why Ash and I are friends." Crys mumbled, still fuming at Gary. Even Ash didn't get so worked up about Gary as she did. Misty shrugged it off and followed on.
After a couple of hours of walking up the road which would have taken half an hour in Gary's car, Misty thought, the group finally reached Viridian City.
"Well, here we are." The trio walked into the city centre square. Crys sighed and leaned on the edge of the large, fountain set in the middle. "Guess it's time to say goodbye." Crystal said sadly. Misty turned to Crystal and hugged her.
"Thanks Crystal…you've done so much for me, and, and, well I don't know how to repay you." Misty said, wiping tears away from her eyes. Crys stood up and rested her hands on her hips beaming.
"Saving pokémon trainers in distress is my speciality!" Misty laughed and Crystal sat down on the edge of the fountain once more. "Seriously Misty… I earned a friend." Crys didn't mean for something so soppy to come out like that, however, she was going to miss Misty a lot. Even though she'd only known her for a couple of days, and half the time Misty had been unconscious!
"Contact me soon." Misty said handing her a number. "And let's stop the soppyness!" she added. Crystal laughed and shook her hand.
"I'm glad one of us mentioned that. It was good meeting you Misty Waterflower, even though our first meeting almost cost me my life." They laughed and hugged once more.
"The next time I see you, you'd better be a Master water pokémon trainer!" Crys called as she walked away with Vulpix. "And a Mrs Ketchem!" She added. Misty blushed.
"I'll try my best!" Misty waved and turned to walk in the opposite direction. She decided that she at least deserved to get a bus to Pallet town. Then, as good luck goes, a familiar car was parked outside a rather luxurious looking restaurant.
Oh great, another encounter with my best friend Gary Oak! Misty rolled her eyes and headed towards him as he strolled out of the restaurant.
"Gary!" She called to him. Gary spun round to see Misty running towards him. He smiled casually running a hand through his hair. "I see you and Crystal have changed your minds?"
Misty shook her head, "Actually, Crystal was only travelling half way with me to Pallet town. I was wondering if you were by chance…going to, visit your Grandfather." She added hopefully.
"Actually yeah. Hop in." He said, jumping in himself. The cheerleaders in the back all beamed and smiled at Misty, singing some sort of greeting. It was like an entirely different language to her.
"This is going to be one fine journey." Misty muttered under her breath as she leapt in beside him and they drove off towards Pallet town where one year agoGary Oak, Crystal Ember and Ash Ketchum had started their pokémon training.
(plus some other guy, but who gives a SH*T!)
***
Ash sighed, relieved of the news he had received from the last hotel he had inquired at about Misty. Apparently she had been ill, and had been staying there with a friend. Ash wasn't so sure about this 'friend', but he was happy that Misty was at least alive. A note was also left for him, written by Misty.
"Hey Ash! Find anything about Misty?!" Called Tracey as he ran towards Pikachu and Ash, his long white coat, flying around him.
"Yeah, the hotel people she left a note saying she was heading back to Pallet town." Ash grinned. Tracey nodded and then turned to the port where the ship was just arriving.
"Alright, then it's off to Pallet town!" He shouted racing towards the ship. Maybe there we'll get some good food! Were Tracey's only thoughts as he ran.
"Pikaa, Pikachu!" Pikachu glanced up to Ash who picked him up and placed him on his shoulder.
"Come on Pikachu! We don't want to miss this ship as well!"
Okay, so I know that was utter crap. With any luck it'll get better. See yah!
