Hello everyone! I thank the peoples that gave me the reviews! Um, okay, I
don't own pokemon, so don't sue me. Um, this chapter doesn't have much in it,
but I swear that there shall be more adventure stuff in it soon! Well, I hope
yous all like this chapter, even though nothing really happens... Well,
R&R please!

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Chapter Three:

"Wow... You look great, Mist!" I heard Tracey call, as I looked myself over.
He was right, I did look good. My newly dyed, bright blonde hair was held back
by two aqua colored clips, that were both decorated by delicate minute angelfish.
A beautiful teal dress hung loosely about my meager body. The spaghetti straps
showed off my delicate pale shoulders and the slit up the right side of my
dress stopped just above the knee, allowing easier movement. My feet were
covered by dainty aqua sandals.

"Jeez..." I said to no one, myself. I looked nothing like the Misty I knew. At
least I knew my new look was a good one, since I doubted my own mother would
have been able to recognize me. I held myself almost like a princess, not
like I had done before, and I seemed to be happy, truly happy. Tomorrow I
would take off into the world a new person, no longer Misty Mayflower. I shall
become Rubia M. Springleaf, a water pokemon trainer who wishes only to become
the best water trainer ever...

Yet there was still something missing. Both in my appearance and in my soul.
I felt like there was something I needed, but didn't have. Something that no
one would expect a girl like me to do, or have...

Anyway, Tracey took my to dinner, calling me Rubia the whole night, so that I
would become at least a little used to it, before I had to leave tomorrow...

Dinner was great! We went to a wonderful Italian restaurant on the outskirts
of Pallet. I had some delicious pasta that was covered in a delectable tomato
sauce, along with a few bread sticks, and a glass of a sweet peach juice.

After Tracey and I had finished our meal, we had started to walk home, to the
lab, when he stopped me. "I got something for you..." Tracey said slyly, as he
reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small red box. He gave it to me...

Slowly, ever so slowly, I opened the lid, and I was greeted by a pair of
fervent red crystalline stones, that hung from a thin silver chain and were
then connected to the same shade of red stone. I gasped involuntarily, as I
gazed at the pair of set jewels that must have cost Tracey a fortune.

"Do you like them?" Tracey asked, as he looked at the surprised expression on
my face.

"Yes, of coarse I do! But, Tracey, I don't have my ears pierced..."

Smiling, Tracey asked, "Well, would you be willing to have them pierced?"

Grinning like a little child, I stated, "Yes! Oh my gosh, Tracey! Thank you!"
With those words said, I quickly jumped into his arms, and gave him a quick
hug. "Thank you so much, Tracey! How can I ever repay you for doing all this
for me?"

"You have already repaid me, Mist, by being happy again. Come on, let's go
get those ears of yours pierced!"

"Okay, but on one condition."

"And what is that?"

"You have to get at least one of your ears pierced!"

"Okay, if it will make you happy..."

"Yes it will!"

"Okay, fine..." Tracey said with a smile.

"One more thing."

"What?"

"Will you hold my hand?" I asked. I had never thought I would be putting
little wholes through my ears. I actually thought it was kind of morbid...

Then realization hit me. It would be another part of my new identity. No one
expected the Misty I was to ever do this, so why would anybody suspect that
Misty turned herself into Rubia? I knew I would have to stay clear of my home
town, and of my other friends... But that was okay. I would see them again...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Oh god! Why had I let myself get talked into doing this!?!? IT HURT LIKE
HELL!!

"Okay, done!" said the man whom had pierced my ears. My nails were digging
into Tracey's palm, and I was holding back tears. Why had I let Tracey talk
me into this?

Tracey was holding a white tissue to his left ear, trying to stop the small
little wound from bleeding any more, and I held a tissue to the ear that had
just been stabbed, while the elderly man held a tissue to the other.

"Okay," said the man, as he continued to hold the white gauze to my ear,
"you, young man, will have to turn that ring every night, to make sure the
skin doesn't grow over the ring itself, and you should clean the hole with
Peroxide every night for two weeks. If your ear starts to itch, start using
the Peroxide again. You got that?" Tracey nodded. "That goes for you too,
Miss. You hear what I said to your boyfriend over there?"

"He's not my boyfriend," I mumbled, but I nodded my head.

"Alright. Now, don't be worried if your ears start to swell up tonight. It's
normal. The swelling will go down by the morning, okay you two?"

"Yep, we got it," said Tracey, as he let go of my hand, and fished in his
pocket for his wallet. "How much do we owe you?"

"Let's see..." The man aloud me to hold the white tissue, and he walked over
to the cash register. Punching in a few numbers, he announced, "That will be
$43.59, please. That includes both of you." Tracey handed over the cash, and
after my Tracey's ear, and my ears stopped bleeding, we walked home.

It was after midnight before we got back to the lab, and I was thankful that
the ship I was leaving on left in the afternoon, so I could sleep in for a
while...

I fell asleep listening to Togepi's soft chirps and the sound of waves at the
port. Even though the lab was across the city from the port, I could still
hear the waves break on the shore, and I could smell the fishy sent of the
ocean. This night was the first to have pleasant dreams. Dreams of my new
life, new friends, new loves, new pokemon...

And hope. True blue hope...

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Well, how was it? I swear that the next one will be better! I hope you all
keep reading! I would love reviews!

~~Esylie Reechan~~