Disclaimer: The offer my friend and I made fell through. Turns out they wanted at least $10.00, 3 matching buttons, and a stick of gum. Too steep for us. Oh well, I still don't own Pokemon.

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pA/N: I'm sorry it took longer to get this chapter out then it was supposed to. I was supposed to be able to get to a computer after the first week and a half, but we ended up staying up north for the full three weeks straight. And let me clarify something really quick. The man with the gun and Ash are two different people. This will be a little clearer in this chapter. Sorry about the misunderstanding.

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pLost Dreams

brBy: Pixi Powder

brPixi_powder@yahoo.com

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pThe name rang out in Misty's ears. Ash. She sunk into the dirt floor of the forest. Her head seemed too heavy to hold up. Ice blue eyes stared in disbelief at the leaves beneath her.

p"You... you...you saw Ash? Are you sure? I mean are you sure it was really him?" A single tear escaped the corner of Misty's eye. She tilted her head up towards Jason.

p"Yeah. I'm sure. I mean, I think I'm sure. I mean...yeah. Listen I know I was only 10 when he disappeared, but I really want to me a Pokemon Master. So I read everything I could about all the previous Masters. I know what he looks like, I saw tons of pictures. The guys in the house. He had black hair that looked like it didn't want to cooperate, but it was kinda long and messed up. And, and...and his eyes. They were a hazel color, just like Ash's." Jason paused to think for a second.

p"But Jason," Misty paused, trying not to get her hopes up. "That could have been anyone. Ash isn't the only one with black hair and hazel eyes." She looked at Jason with sympathetic eyes.

pHe gazed back at her with complete certainty. "I know that. But how many of them would be tied to a chair? And, and how many of them would have a Pikachu with them?"

pThe name Pikachu seemed to hit Misty in the face. "You saw a Pikachu there too?"

pHe nodded his head quickly. "Yeah, it was in some container thing. It was sleeping when I walked in."

pHope began to cloud Misty's mind. "Do you really think it was Ash?"

pJason nodded his head again. "I know it was him."

pSomething in Jason's eyes made it hard not to believe him. He seemed to sure it was Ash. iHe doesn't doubt himself, so why should I?/i

p"Okay." Misty smiled briefly. "Let's get to the town. We can tell Officer Jenny everything. Do you think you can remember how to get to the house?"

pJason looked at Misty hopefully, "I can try."

pMisty nodded and began to stand back up. "Come on. We better go before we get found."

pThe pair set off, continually getting closer and closer to the town. The trees thinned out allowing Misty to occasionally catch a glimpse of light from the town. They were close. It would only be a few minutes until she could talk to Officer Jenny and get this whole thing figured out.

pA smile crossed Misty's face. iI might actually get to see him. I have a chance to make it all right again./i Her thoughts absorbed her and she walked without really paying attention. It was Jason pulling her forward suddenly that yanked her out of her inward slumber.

p"Misty hurry. I heard a shot. I know I did. Misty. Misty let's go." Jason pled with his eyes. He was scared. So scared.

p"What?" Misty gathered her thoughts for the last few seconds and pieced them together quickly. "Okay. Come on. We'll try and out run him. Just go as fast as you can." She began to pump her legs, running fast.

p"Please don't leave me. I can't run that fast. Please don't leave me Misty." Tears began to slide out of the corners of Jason's eyes. Sticks scraped past his face, leaving trails of red blood in their wake.

p"Just run. I promise I won't leave you." Misty glanced behind her and saw the gap between her and Jason growing. iI can't do this./i She stopped. Jason nearly ran into her. "Come on. I'll carry you on my back. I can run faster then you."

pHe scrambled onto her back, holding on to her tightly. Tears ran down his cheeks and stained her shirt. He buried his face into her hair, trying to hide from the world. Misty ran. She was slower with Jason on her back, less maneuverable, but she was still running. Breaths came few and far between and Misty was running out of energy.

pSuddenly another shot rang out. It whizzed through the trees and planted itself securely in the tree next to Misty.

p"Okay. Time to move a little faster. Let's go." Misty said more for her own motivation then for Jason.

pAnother shot rang out, sending a nearby tree limb into splinters. And then the tree line broke. Buildings rose in front of them. Misty ran for the Police Station. It was still dark outside, but somebody had to be in there.

pMisty ran towards the door, and to her luck, it opened with a whoosh. She ran towards the back of the station to the nearest Officer.

p"Can I help you?" A man sitting behind a desk managed to say between yawns.

pJason climbed off of Misty's back and slid towards the tiled floor. Misty bent over, trying to catch her breath. "Yea...yea...yeah. Let me...talk to... Officer Jenny." Seeing the suspicion in his eyes, she added, "It's important."

p"Alright, one minute." He walked calmly into the back and emerged a minute later with a half sleeping Officer Jenny.

pSeeing Misty, Officer Jenny woke up a bit more. "Hello Misty. The League sent up a notice that you hadn't arrived at the Plateau yet. Said that they were getting worried. Told us to keep an eye out for you. They were worried that the same thing had happened to you as..." She paused, regretting her words, "Ash."

p"He's alive." Misty smiled at Officer Jenny.

pConfusion filled Officer Jenny's face. "Wait. You mean that Ash is? How do you know? This is amazing."

pMisty took a deep breath. "I know. It's a long story and Jason here can tell it to you better then I can. It's his discovery after all." She glanced over at Jason, "You tell her everything you saw," looking back to Jenny she added, "I'm going to go call the League and tell them everything that's going on."

pJason motioned okay and began to tell Officer Jenny everything. Gathering her wits, Misty paced over to the video phone. She quickly dialed Gary's quarters. It was early and he would still be sleeping. She didn't mind waking him though. Him of all people she didn't mind waking.

p"What is it?" Gary whimpered out, his eyes still closed.

p"He's alive." The only two words Misty needed to say to get Gary's attention.

pHis eyes shot open and stared directly at Misty. "What? Who's alive?"

p"Ash is alive. He's in the forest near where I am. Tell the rest of the League. Me, Officer Jenny and the boy who found him are going soon. I should be to the Plateau in a few days. Sorry I'm gonna miss the meeting. I'll call when I know more."

pGary continued to stare in disbelief. "What do you mean Ash is alive? He was pronounced dead over a year ago. Your just getting your hopes up."

pMisty smirked at Gary. "Guess you don't get to be Master anymore. Too bad for you." After one last glare from Gary, Misty hung up the video phone. She ran towards the bathrooms and changed into a clean pair of jeans, a tank top, a hoodie and a pair of hiking boots. She was going to find Ash. Her Ash.

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pA figure loomed on the video phone. He was covered in mud, scratches on his face. A rifle sat propped against the wall. he was trying to explain everything to his boss. "I know there's been a few kids that saw him, but I've always taken care of them," he glanced at his rifle. "I almost had this one. I really did, but he was hiding part of the time. I was tracking him, but the rain made it almost impossible to keep tracks for long. I thought I got him a few times, but he was small, a hard shot when he was moving. When I finally caught up to him, he was with some girl. She had long red hair, reminded me of that one gym leader, what's her name... Misty. She was carrying him and they got to the town. I shot at them a couple times, got the trees instead. I'll get them though. I'll go back out there and..."

pHe was cut off by his boss. "No. You aren't going to go look for them. It's too late. They're probably already looking. For as much as I'm paying you, I thought you could keep him hidden. I've been the only reason you haven't been found yet. They almost had you when they first started looking. If it weren't for me dumping his backpack in Lavender, you would have gotten caught then. I can't trust you to do anything right can I?" He took a deep breath, regaining his composure. "Alright. They're already on their way. I want you to knock out Ash. Use the sleep powder from the gloom I gave you. That should put him under for a while. I want you to load him up and take him to the cabin in Ilex. Stay there until you hear from me. I have to find a way to cover this up."

p"Fine. I'll leave in a couple minutes. What do you want me to do with the Pikachu?"

pHe thought for a minute. "Knock it out too, dump it in the woods as you leave. Maybe that will distract them for a little while. Give me enough time to figure out what to do."

p"Alright sir. I promise I won't get found this time. Team Rocket signing out."

p"Thank you." The phone line went dead.

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pA/N: You will be happy to know that I have the rest of the story worked out. At least the base. I still have to write it out, but it'll be done soon. And you don't have to worry about writer's block. I'm going to try to get it done by the time I go back to school, cause there's no telling how much time I'll actually get once we go back. So you have a finished date. It'll be done by August 25th (that's the day before I go back). As always, post some thoughts and maybe start giving me ideas for a new story. Thanks as always.