Alright, first, thanks to all of my reviewers! ^_^ I love you all!
Second off, this story is going to be moved to a different account come
the next part. So, if you want to continue checking it out, it'll be
under the name "Ami Lee Richards". Just thought I'd warn you!
And now, the story!

Chapter 1, Part 3

Misty came into the kitchen and began rattling off orders to Brock. Ash
sighed, draping himself over the back of his chair. He wasn't expected
to help, but sitting around all day was boring. Especially when it was
the same thing day in . . . and day out . . . or about six months . . .

"Can I do something?" he asked.

"Um…no," Misty smiled obnoxiously at him. "You'd forget any orders you'd
take, you'd probably burn anything you tried to cook, and we really don't
need any extra help around here."

"Hey, I'm a pretty good cook, and I wouldn't forget!" Ash glared at her.
Gary chose that moment to come in through the other door. He bopped Ash
on the top of the head with a magazine in passing. "Yup, mind like a
steel trap, that one," he sat down next to Ash. "What are we talking
about?"

"Oh, Ash wanted to help out and I told him he couldn't," Misty waved it
away. "Those orders going to be pretty fast, Brock?"

"I hate it when they don't want onions," Brock muttered by way of answer.
"Have to start from scratch all over again . . ."

"I could help . . ." Ash muttered, turning his glare from Misty who
wasn't paying attention to a spot on the floor. He was trying to decide
what had caused the spot when there was a twinge in his left wrist.
"Ow."

"What, the grease didn't get you, did it?" Todd, who was half listening
to the conversation and pulling a basket of fries from the fryer asked.

"I don't think so . . . my wrist just started hurting," he held up his
hand. Another twinge hit him. "Ow."

"Pika pi."

Everyone turned their attention to the ground, where Pikachu was sitting.


"Oh, hey, Pikachu," Ash grinned at the electric mouse.

"Pika," she took a faltering step forward.

"Ow," Ash winced. "Hey, why are you limping?"

Brock abandoned whatever was on the stove to Misty, kneeling down next to
the Pokemon. "Hm, she must have sprained it. She's favoring her front
left paw." He looked up at Ash. "Odd . . . your left wrist hurts . . ."

"Coincidence!" Misty sang out. "They probably both went through the same
obstacle course and sprained the same thing."

Brock scooped up Pikachu and strode over to Misty, pulling her to the
side. They had a rushed whispered conference, Brock looking deadly
serious, and Misty looking worried and more than a little upset.

"No," she said, loud enough that Ash and Gary could hear it. Brock
shushed her and continued talking.

"Wonder what that's about," Gary stared at the pair.

"Oh, don't you know? Brock's cheating on Liz with Misty," Ash replied
calmly, massaging his wrist.

"Wild passionate monkey love, eh?" Gary grinned. "Funny…that means
Misty's cheating on me…"

Ash's head whipped around and he stared at his friend. "You two are
going out?"

"Got a problem with it?" Gary leaned back, crossing his arms.

"No…it was just a little unexpected."

"Hello everyone!" Liz chirped as she came in. "Ash, you need a hair
cut."

Ash turned to look at her. Liz had changed, from the preppy teenager
that scared him, particularly when she was holding a pair of scissors, to
someone almost like the big sister he never had. Of course, she had
become to be like that with everyone, even Brock.

"'Kay," Ash replied.

"And what are you talking about?" she looked over at Brock and Liz.

Her boyfriend pulled her over and began explaining . . . something . . .
in the same whisper he had used with Misty. Liz's eyes widened, then she
became very calm.

"Wow, Ketchum, when people freak out over you they really freak out,"
Gary nodded his head to indicate the whispering trio.

"Ash, Gary, please leave the kitchen," Liz said without looking at them.

They decided not to ask why, simply left.

"What?" Todd looked up as they opened the door.

They both flopped down into chairs at one of the tables in the café when
they got out there. Gary leaned onto the tabletop, making a steeple with
his fingers. "Okay . . . this is starting to get confusing. They keep
DOING stuff like this, and I can't figure out why for the life of me."

"Yeah, I know," Ash leaned back and looked at the ceiling. "My wrist
hurt, for crying out loud."

"And just because your Pikachu just HAPPENED to have sprained the same .
. . limb as you did doesn't mean anything," Gary's eyes narrowed.
"There's something wrong with this picture."

"Yeah . . . but what?"

*****

More coming soon! Under a different account, but it's all the same,
right? Well, review and tell me what you think! (thanks once again to
everyone that reviewed!)