Okay, I'd just like to say that I am no expert as far as pokemon moves go. I like the animation, and have played the games a little, but I'm no expert. So, if any of the moves I use are incorrect, just take them at face value please! So, here's the next bit. Thanks a lot to all of those who reviewed my story! Some of them made my day!

Okay, on with the story.

Ash stared at the night sky, deep in thought. He felt as if he had been laying there for a month, a year, just staring skywards, eyes flicking between the stars and the moon, killing time, until.. What? *What am I waiting for? Morning? Will morning bring back the past? I have nothing to look forward to without doubt, nothing to look back on without disdain. Do I have a future? What is left for me now? How do I change my life, if it has been just a sham for so many years?* Ash's mind span endlessly, trying to fathom the unfathomable. Until barely hours ago, had aims in life, a goal to focus on, a glittering prize to pursue. Now? Nothing. Years of life vanished into a haze, achievements tainted, desire broken, dreams gutted, left hollow and burned. All due to one person. The one who slept but yards away. Ash twisted to look across at the sleeping Misty, for the first time since the vicious argument had taken place. *I long to feel angry, but I just can't. Why? I should be ready to tear her apart, to want to give the pain to her which I bear. But I can't. Why?* Ash gazed upon the silent, sleeping body for a few moments. *And why have I let her destroy my dreams with a few words, while to others I wouldn't listen or even laugh at their insults?* Just then Misty turned over, and Ash gasped silently. Her dirty, tear-stained face and dark complexion, what had happened to her? Ash was suddenly unable to look any longer, feeling himself being taken over by a plague of sadness and guilt. *Guilt? Why do I feel guilty? Isn't the guilt hers?* Suddenly, a thought sprang into clear focus. *Why is it her fault. You were the one who risked your pokemons health for just your own satisfaction. Face it, she's right.* Turning away, he came face to face with Chikorita, who sat inches away with a look of deep concern in her eyes.

"Chi-ko" She breathed, and looked at Ash quizzically. Ash smiled.

"At least I've got you, Chikorita. You don't think I use you, do you?" A hint of a pleading tone entered his voice as he finished the sentence, but his concerns instantly evaporated as Chikorita moved over to nuzzle his cheek. Glowing, Ash reached out to her, and hugged her gently. "At least you love me, unlike her..."

The thought slapped Ash like Misty's hand on his cheek, which began to glow as if he'd received one. *Did I just say that?* Ash looked down at Chikorita, who, to his relief, hadn't picked up on the open desire expressed in the statement. *Do I want her to..I don't know. No, of course not! She's been making my life hell! Following me for a bike, taunting me, blaming me for anything and everything wrong in the world. Besides, she's scrawny! A scrawny witch who has nothing better to do than try and cast a spell on me.* Even as these thoughts passed however, Ash's mind supplied him with the answer. *Of course you do. You've been flirting with her and you love her. Go on, admit it.* Ash turned over once again, startling Chikorita, and whispered through the darkness "I do. I love you, Misty." Choked by emotion once again, he turned back to Chikorita, who looked shocked to see a tear shine in the moonlight in her master's eye.

"Chi..?" Ash sighed quietly, and shook his head.

"No, I'll be fine thanks Chikorita. I just want to sleep now."

"Chi." As silence descended once again, Ash smelt a strange smell around him. With eyes becoming increasingly heavy, he saw Chikorita giving off a small amount of mist. He smiled, and reached out to stroke her cheek.

"Thanks, Chikorita. I'm really grateful." Slowly, Ash drifted off. Chikorita nodded in satisfaction, and went back to her post as sentry. For just a second, she glanced in Misty's direction through the gloom. *He looked at her, and then the tears came again. I won't let her anywhere near Ash, she'll just make him break down.* Turning to face Ash again, Chikorita licked his face gently, and tasted the salty liquid upon it. Her determination redoubled, and she sat down to wait out the night.

Light slowly descended on the forest, first glowing orange-red, and then yellow as the dawn of a new day began. The forest woke up, stretched and began its day. A pidgey coo-ed slowly and the distant call of a spearow could be heard. Brock opened his eyes, and yawned. Crawling out of his sleeping bag and getting to his feet, he pulled his top on and glanced around the clearing. He noted with satisfaction that Ash and Misty both still slept, Ash snoring gently. Then, his eyes travelled to Ash's side, and to Chikorita. Brock nodded to himself, impressed. Chikorita, although looking tired, guarded Ash all night with fierce pride, and still seemed alert. He strolled over, and bent down in front of her. Chikorita regarded him with a friendly look and a smile.

"Hey, do you want some breakfast? You know that you could do with some of my top treats after a night up." He murmured to her, and she nodded enthusiastically. "O.K, you just wait right here, I'll be back soon." He picked up the soup bowl, and went over to his rucksack. *Looks like Ash has got an admirer.* He said to himself. Picking out the food he was looking for, he paced back over to Chikorita, who licked her lips in anticipation as Brock mixed the food and tipped it into the bowl. "Here you go, and enjoy." He finished with a smile, as Chikorita skipped forward to the bowl and started eating. *Whew. Ash sure has picked one fiery, determined pair of ladies to hang around with. Looks like this will get interesting all right.* Picking up Ash's bag, he set about trying to find Cindaquil.

"Totodile, no..Bulbasaur no..Ah!" He picked up a ball and threw it out, to release Cindaquil. "Cindaqil, could you light the fire for me?" In response, Cindaquil's flame lit, and Brock held a few twigs over it until they lit. "Thanks!"

"Cynda-quiiil." Brock re-called Cyndaquil into its pokeball, and put the burning twigs into the small pile of wood to start a fire. *I sure am glad that I didn't have to ask Charizard to light the fire.* He chuckled and shook his head at the thought. *It took Ash years to even get him to listen, so I probably would've ended up charred myself.* A groan from his left signified that Misty must be waking up. Strolling over, he crouched by her as her eyes fluttered open.

"Morning Misty."

"Ooooh.I feel like I've been sat on by a snorlax." Misty clutched her head, and squeezed her eyelids shut.

"Probably all that energy you used yesterday...I'll get you some painkillers." Misty groaned again. *Great. I wake up praying that yesterday would be forgotten, and Brock goes and smashes that to bits within half a minute of waking up. He's subtle, isn't he?* Pushing herself up, Misty crawled over to the fire, which now had a pan on it. Something is sizzling. She sniffed the air. *Mmmmm, something good.* Brock knelt down, holding out a glass of water and a tablet.

"Here, this'll help you out." Misty took the glass, put the tablets in her mouth, and downed the water in one. Feeling refreshed, she got to her feet, and arched her back. Relaxing slightly, she turned to look over at Ash, but instead locked eyes with Chikorita. She was staring at her with an intent, no, irritated look in her eyes. Misty felt Brock touch her arm. Turning away, she looked at Brock.

"I'd watch out for her today. She's been up like that all night, staring around. And, in particular, watching you."

"Why?"

"I think that she took your argument yesterday to heart, like Ash. She's trying to prove to him that what you said isn't true."

"..."

"Also, I think that.." Brock stopped himself dead before he could spill the beans. Misty peered at him in confusion.

"Think what?"

"Err, nothing."

"Brock!"

"I can't say. This isn't the time or the place." This was also the wrong thing to say. Instantly, there was a fire in Misty's eye.

"Brock, you're coming with me on a little walk. And don't argue, because I know how to turn your world into unique world of agony if you don't. Starting with this." She withdrew the mallet, anime style, and cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Uh, sure Misty! I'd love to go for a walk!" Brock jumped to attention. *Not the mallet, please, not the mallet!* Misty strode off into the undergrowth, followed meekly by Brock. Just as she left, she glanced out of the corner of her eye to see Chikorita still watching her. *Okay, this needs answers.* She averted her gaze, and walked into the wood.

"Oh-kay. This is pretty much all I know Misty." Brock gathered breath, knowing that he had no choice but to tell the truth, and all of it. He was not a good liar, and Misty had known him for so long that so much as a flicker of doubt in his voice and she would pounce on it. He ran his hands through his hair, trying to assemble his thoughts in the right order. Misty, opposite him, sat on a log and paid close attention, casually tapping her mallet against her leg in a gentle reminder to Brock as to its destination if he tried to deceive her. Noting Brock's eyes flicking to it, she knew he remembered her promise. "Kneecaps first, then where you REALLY don't want it." Brock took a deep breath, and started explaining.

"When you and Ash had your..." (Brock's eye's flicked for a moment to the mallet again) "disagreement, he sat in the clearing where he had battled for a while. He talked with Pikachu, and Pikachu told me that Ash believed that he'd been using her and everyone else. Pikachu was really upset to see Ash in that state, and was especially upset to have Ash question why she travels with him. Pikachu thinks that Ash might truly believe that he's been using her, and beat himself up for it. She thinks she can't live around you or Ash if he feels that way." Brock paused, and glanced up. Misty looked back at him, her expression steady. "C'mon Brock, I want the whole story."

"Well, after we'd discussed that, she told me Chikorita had been acting oddly since the fight. That she seemed, well, possessive of Ash. And she's especially protective of him against you." Again, Brock looked up. Misty, her mallet hanging loosely in her hand, was now looking blankly at the sky. After a few moments, she noticed the silence, and re-focused. Biting her lip, she said to Brock in a quavering tone

"Brock, I want to know it all."

"Chikorita sees you as a threat. A threat to her, as well as Ash." Brock silently prayed Misty wouldn't ask the inevitable question. Prayers which went unanswered.

"A threat? Why?" Misty felt perplexed. She was obviously not a physical threat, so what could the reason be?

"Well, Ash, erm..you know how Chikorita feels more than protective than Ash, she doesn't like anyone sharing him.."

"...Yes."

"And that she wants him to love her above anyone else?"

"Yes?" Brock steeled himself, and looked Misty straight in the eyes.

"She's afraid you will take Ash's love. She knows he feels for you more than he lets on, and she resents it. Especially after the battering he took yesterday." Misty's eyes widened in shock. *So, Ash does have feelings for me. All this time I hoped it to be the truth, but just when I find out I have to go and smash the chance in a fit of anger! God damn it!* Brock watched silently, as Misty's head drooped. After a few minutes passed, he got up and walked over to her.

"Misty..." Misty looked up at him, and momentarily broke down. Brock gently pulled her to her feet and gave her a brief squeeze. "You think you'll be okay?" Misty wiped her eyes, sniffed, and then nodded. "C'mon, I've got to finish up breakfast." Together they crept through back to the campsite.

Before they entered the clearing, Brock stopped Misty with his arm. Peering through the trees, he saw a figure sat near the fire, accompanied by 2 diminutive figures. "Misty, Ash is awake." He whispered to her. Misty exhaled deeply, and squared her shoulders before nodding back at him.

"Lets go."

They pushed their way past the final branches, and stepped out. Ash looked up, and nodded at them.

"Mornin' Brock, Misty." He smiled at them, but his eyes remained cool. Brock walked over to the pot on the stove, and stirred it in silence. Misty walked over, and sat down cautiously around a quarter of the way round from Ash. An age passed in silence. Brock broke it by turning to Ash.

"Got any plans today?" he asked cautiously.

"I just think getting to the next city so we can sleep in proper rooms for once." Ash replied. Misty picked up on the "rooms" however. When they did get to a hotel they always shared a room because it saved money and was, well, more fun. Was Ash just hinting that he wanted a proper bed, or suggesting he didn't want to sleep in the same place as her? Deciding that this wasn't the best time to enquire, she struggled for something to talk about to break the silence. A thought snapped into her head, and before she'd stopped to consider it, she had already asked "Planning to get a new badge there Ash?". Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Brock stare at her in disbelief, and the implications of her words finally hit her. *Great job Mist, nice to see you've started thinking before you open your mouth.* she kicked herself, but then waited with bated breath to see Ash's response. He looked down for a minute before answering.

"No."

"Chi-ko! Chi-ko-chi!" Chikorita cried at Ash.

("She says she wants to fight for you ASH.") Pikachu translated.

"No, it's not right. I make you train and endure the pain of battle, just for a few of these." He opened the side of his jacket, revealing his large collection of badges. "A few badges. You're worth more than that."

"Chi! Chi-ko!Chi-chi-ko!"

("She says that they're ours. That you helped us to achieve as a team what we never could alone.") Pikachu looked at Ash, her dark eyes piercing him. ("I want to fight with you too, always.") Ash blushed, and bent down to Chikorita and Pikachu.

"Thanks you two. But I need to think about this." At that, he turned and began packing up his equipment. Pikachu nodded, a little more cheerfully, and moved over to give him a hand. But Chikorita, who had been watching Ash for the rest of the exchange, turned and ran over to Misty.

"CHI-KO!" She screamed, and glared at her, trembling with fury. Misty knew Chikorita had never hurt anyone before, but the way she was glaring at her scared her. She moved away to near Brock, and Chikorita's eyes followed her as she made a growling noise deep in her throat. Brock noticed Misty's fearful stance, and glanced past her. Her gasped as he saw Chikorita's expression. He called across the clearing.

"Errr, Ash! Could you come here for a second?" Ash sauntered over, and Chikorita broke her glare to run over to him. Rubbing against his legs, she shot a look over to Misty, almost as if to say "He's MINE!"

"Well, at least that worked." Brock breathed out in relief. The way things had looked, Misty would have been ducking razor leaves in about two seconds time, but Chikorita was distracted. At least for now. Brock gestured to Ash to help him pack up his stuff into a bag as Misty wandered off to wake togapei and give him some breakfast. Ash squatted down, and Brock felt another warm breeze of relief as he saw his expression, which was slightly cheerful and with an overtone of determination. That was the Ash he knew, alright. Or was it? Dropping his voice low, he asked "You okay Ash?"

"Yeah." The response was offhand, suggesting Brock drop it, but Brock was made of sterner stuff. He swivelled slightly to get a better look into Ash's face, and took the plunge.

"Do you still hate Misty?"

"....I never have." A dull monotone. *Well, I'm not buying it.* Brock thought.

"But after yesterday, you wouldn't even talk to her."

"I.I guess I was kinda annoyed, but I've been thinking about it, and realise she.."

"She what?"

"She told me what I've known all along. I've been using everyone for my own gains, just for a bit of pride." Ash's face fell, his façade of cheer crumpling like a paper bag.

"C'mon, she knows she was just blowing off. So do I, and your pokemon, and deep down, so do you."

"....."

"You gotta get back to reality. Keep doing what you were born to do. And try to forgive Misty. She's beating herself up over this as much as you are." Ash just nodded in reply, and moved to pack up the cooking utensils. "Oh, and don't forget you can come to talk to me anytime if you need to. That's what I'm here for. That and to be god's gift to women!" Ash turned away with barely a word. *Even that didn't make him react. Ah well, it'll get better, just keep reminding yourself and them that.* With that, he finished clearing up, and got ready to leave.

"You got us lost AGAIN!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!" Brock nodded to himself. This was how it was supposed to go. Half an hour on the road, and they were going at it, as usual.

"Did not!"

"Ash Ketchum, you KNOW you did, so don't deny it! Useless!"

"...."

Now that wasn't how it was supposed to go. As was supposed to defend himself to the hilt, or come back with a counter-insult, or call her scrawny, or something. Not silence. Glancing out of the corner of his eye to Ash, Brock noticed his vacant expression. He'd believed her again. *Geez man, you got it bad.* Looking to the other side, he saw Misty caught in a mix of feelings. Victory and pride at making him back down, mixed with puzzlement, concern and more than a little anger. Angry at him for wilting, but more anger at herself for arguing again, and making the same mistake. As I had wondered many times through the passing seasons of our travels, I wondered again if this was Misty's way of flirting with Ash. *She seems to do it to get him to pay attention to her. Perhaps she argues with him to get him to notice her without it being obvious she is doing so.* Again an uneasy silence descended across the group. Brock smiled to himself. *Okay, it's time for a little mischief!*.

"So, uh, Ash..nice day isn't it?" Brock turned his head slightly and smiled sweetly at him as they walked.

"Yeah.."

"Nights are drawing in though."

"Yeah.." Again the non-committal response. Brock smiled, knowing that the next thing he said would bring a more lively reaction. Opening his wallet, he looked into it and sighed.

"Looking at our money Ash, next time we get to a city, we only got enough for a 2-bed room - I call the free bed!" Ash stopped dead in his tracks, looking as if he had just been shocked by Pikachu. Simultaneously, Misty's head snapped up like it was spring loaded.

"Share a bed with HIM/HER?!" A flock of Pidgey erupted from the undergrowth, startled by the noise.

"We-el, you know the rules guys. I'm afraid you two are gonna have to get used to the idea." Brock grinned and put his hands behind his head, and looked up at the sky. *That should get them to start talking, at least.*

"Why should you get the bet to yourself? I'm the only girl here, so I should claim it!" Misty seethed.

"I'm the youngest, so I get the right to choose first!" Ash responded in turn. Brock dropped his arms, and looked at the two of them.

"Need I remind you that I'm the biggest here, so I need the space? Oh, and if one of you gets the bed on your own, the other one is gonna have me dreaming about Jenny and Joy in the same bed.."

Silence, as Misty and Ash slowly digested this fact. Not appealing. Ohhhh, definitely not appealing. Brock smiled again as he watched Ash and Misty's expressions turn from perplexed slowly through to disgust. With perfect choreography, they both turned to each other and screamed

"I don't mind, as long as it's HIM/HER!" They both broke off, glaring daggers at each other. But, again, Ash backed down.

"Okay, okay. Is there any way that we can get an extra room Brock?" Ash looked at Brock with a pleading expression.

"Well, you have quite a bit of money tucked away.." Brock began, but stopped short upon seeing Ash's wild gesture. Ash moved closer to him, and dropped his voice to a whisper.

"You know what that money is for, and why I can't use it." Glancing around at Misty briefly, he continued. "Brock, I can't give up the money. I've saved for too long, and I'm getting close to affording a bike..."

Misty, confused by the sudden change in tone, watched suspiciously as Ash whispered to Brock. Annoyed at being excluded, she strained to make out what they were saying, and only made out the last word - bike. Ash turned to face her, but looked instead at the floor.

"Mist, you have the bed. I'll sleep on the floor, or find somewhere else." With that, he turned back to the way they were travelling, and started to walk. *Money tucked away? Bike? Why won't Ash buy a bigger room? And why is he letting me have the bed? Face it, you wouldn't mind if you had to share with Ash* Misty's mind murmured. "No, he's just trying to make me feel guilty." Misty whispered angrily to herself, knowing how futile arguing with her own mind was, but determined to deny it anyway. Just then, the words clicked. *He's still saving up for my bike?!* Misty allowed a fraction of a smile to pass her lips. *Maybe there's still a chance he can rescue his confidence, but I gotta help him. I owe him this much..* Slowly, an idea began to hatch. Misty smiled again, and started to plan for the next city..

Okay, I know I left this a little open ended, but I think it's about time I got this part up for everyone who is waiting with baited breath. (Yeah, like anyone is actually interested, maybe I'm delusional!) Please please please R&R! I need to know if I'm doing this well or not. Any tips/comments/flames, send them all!