Hi everyone,

Here's the latest update, hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 49

The sun was shining down on the pristine lake before her, but Misty could not focus on the beautiful scenery. She couldn't focus on the Starly that were flying around her, nor the Magikarp who were surfacing every so often. The wind was rustling the long reeds which were coming out of the pristine lake, but, again, the woman seemed oblivious to its peaceful sway.

Instead, her Cerulean eyes were trained upon the trio on the other side of the lake, observing their every interaction. She didn't seem at all aware of the man standing behind her, watching her movements as she focused on the humans on the opposite side of the lake. In fact, if she had noticed the man, she might have appeared to be more intrigued by the serene beauty which was on display around her.

Considering the figures of the trio, she could barely make out the differences, but they were there. One had immaculately styled light blue hair, and his arm was draped over a brunette who was probably pulling one or another immature expression. The way the two were interacting, Misty almost thought that they were lovers, if it weren't for Ash Ketchum's words to her the previous night. The idea of the Luvdisc she had released almost set her blood boilling again. Why would he give her the pokémon that he had caught with May? Did they both mean so little to him? Just watching the second man made her feel all the more frustrated. Of course, Ash himself, had been oblivious to her frustrations, and he seemed to be unaffected by her anger. Even now, his black hair was hidden by his red and white cap as he animatedly discussed something with the duo before him, probably battling.

It all left the annoyed orange haired woman all the more irate. Not one of her friends had even noticed her moody state, or how she was avoiding them. It made her feel all the more resentment towards the brunette she'd once counted as one of her close friends.

'Misty, you shouldn't focus on them so much. May is grieving for Drew—haven't you heard that we don't know if he'll be paralysed? Surely you can understand that, as one of her closest friends, she might not be as observant as she usually is,' a deep voice chuckled in her ear as someone took a seat beside her.

Turning to face the man who was one of her closest friends, Misty let out a strangled sigh. She knew where the man was coming from, but just looking at how May amiably talked to the two men made Misty feel her blood boil. She seemed to be completely unaffected by Drew's absence, smiling and laughing as she usually did.

'I know what you're thinking and it's not true,' Brock mused at her, his tiny eyes intent upon the group of friends before them. His lips were pulled in a small smile, though that did nothing to appease the fiery woman's mood.

'What do you mean?' Misty quipped as May released two pokémon with an extravagant twirl. It was an act which Misty now hated, considering it to be childish and unnecessary.

'You know what I mean, don't feign ignorance. I see the way you're glaring at them, and May isn't being the immature flirt that you're making her out to be. You know as well as I do that she considers Ash to be an older brother. As for him, Ash wouldn't and couldn't replace you and you can't convince anyone of that, either. He'd never dare consider trying it, you can't say you don't know it. Besides, if anyone is flirting with anyone, it would be Steven and May, especially with his arm around her,' the man chided, surprising the younger woman. She hadn't realised she was being so obvious. But then, Brock had always been incredibly insightful, and he knew her better than most, including her sisters.

'I don't know what you're talking about,' Misty scowled stubbornly, wrapping her legs into a tight hug as she turned her eyes onto her plain red shoes. If she admitted it to Brock of all people, she'd have to delve into her emotions—which she obviously didn't want to do.

'Misty, I've known you since you were a very young girl. I've known Ash for just as long, and May almost as long as that. Considering all of this, please don't take me for a fool, and don't cut off one of the oldest friendships you have. Bar whatever is going on between herself and Steven, you know that May has only ever had eyes for Drew, just as Ash and you are both besotted with each other. Don't ruin perfectly good friendships because you can't trust yourself to trust others,' Brock frowned at the woman, his voice filled with amused scolding.

'She has a funny way of showing her affection for Drew! The guy is in a coma and she's out conniving with the Lopunnies, flirting with all the available men in sight!' Misty snarled, the anger in her voice surprising her companion. She hated this strong sense of jealousy she had, but she'd never before considered May of all people to betray her. She'd found Luvdisc with Ash. LUVDISC! If that wasn't a hint at their strong, intimate affection for each other, than Misty had no idea what would convince the others. Knowing her luck, they'd both been sleeping on their strong affection for each other. They were both completely clueless.

'Mist, you know that Ash and May are too identical for them to be anything other than friends. If I didn't know better, I'd say they're cousins. However, I know who her cousins are, so I know it's not true. Even then, I expected better from you, especially when your friends were concerned,' Brock sighed as Misty began to pull at the immaculate grass, undoubtedly imagining she was pulling off heads.

'Oh? She never told me about her cousins, isn't that funny? I wonder how many other things she's keeping from me!' Misty snapped once again, wishing the man would leave her be.

'If you'd bothered to notice the things she's said as well as the way she acts around others you'd have noticed. I've never had to explain my family to you, nor has Gary. However, you're too blinded by jealousy to even care for anything else,' Brock sighed at the woman, his voice filled with an angry resentment that surprised the Kanto woman.

Abruptly, the man stood up and dusted off his pants. In a clipped tone, he scowled, 'very well, if that's how you'd like to be. I thought our years of friendship meant more to you than that, but I suppose I was wrong. After all we've been through, and all the years I've known you, I barely recognise you anymore, Misty, and I miss the girl you used to be. Ash and May deserve your trust and would forgive you in a heartbeat without even thinking about it. However, they probably don't even realise what you think of them now. I have patients I need to see and won't spend any more time waiting for you to see the light in the Rock Tunnel thanks to a pokémon using flash.'

Watching the man walk away, Misty felt an unsettling feeling creep into her gut, almost as though a Houndour had released a dark pulse there.

With a grimace she returned her attention to the group on the other side of the lake, noticing May dancing around Blaziken as Roserade clung onto her leg, apparently being pleased by one or another feat Misty hadn't deigned to watch.

Chewing the inside of her gum, Misty wondered how right Brock was. She couldn't help but notice that she was sitting on one side of the lake by herself, whilst her friends were interacting on the other side.

I feel terrible for putting Ash and Misty through this! But it felt right for the story.

Also, I'll be heading overseas for a bit so I'm not sure when I'll update again, but I'll do it ASAP!

Let me know what you think :)