Disclaimer: Don't own 'em!
A/N: Hey, hey! What's up? The third is finally out, thank God, and it took me a little while to finally start it again. Needless to say, I'm working on the sequel to Changing Identity (if ya don't know what that is-check it out! Make sure u review) and it might take some time away from my other fics but that's okay! Well God Bless (He doesn't bless ~~!$WAR$!~~) and please R&R!
~ Kasagi Onaso
Don't own the song Cornelius either (heh heh, sorry I forgot!) by the Newsboys (whaddya know! It's them again-JK!) This is the last song I swear unless you don't mind it…? And I just really like the lyrics! You should read 'em. Okay! On with the show!
Like a Million Raindrops
Chapter Two
Misty suddenly felt all energy and excitement drain from her but she managed a weak smile anyway. Ash really seemed hyped up about it and she didn't want him changing his plans just because of it.
(And every generation's got the fearless few who can't be bought They don't take polls or look around They act the truth, and they stand their ground)
"Great!" she exclaimed. "Just…just let me pack." Ash grinned at her and nodded, sending her away with a fluid motion. A lump in her throat, she dragged herself back into her room. "Cerulean City," she whispered as she grabbed her pack.
Walking out to the lobby, she saw Ash and Brock talking wildly about something or another. She felt a wave of uneasiness settle over her but with one swift shake of the shoulder, it was off and away and she approached the two boys. Greeted with a smile, they handed back their keys and began walking the road to Cerulean. She bit her lip as the two wandered ahead.
(Come up and see the world stripped bare The free indeed They breathe a rarified air Yeah, they got spirit! Yeah, they got game! And some get christened with a righteous-sounding name-
Cornelius)
Tell them where she was from? She would not! She wasn't about to tell them about her childhood at some slum orphanage or Jack or…or…
"Misty!"
"What?" she responded, only by reflex.
"Come on! You looked like you were off in space or something!" Ash gave her a careless smile before turning back around.
"Sure," she said uneasily and walked up to the two. They shared a look before Ash cleared his throat.
"Do you train pokèmon, Misty?"
"Um, I used to," she near whispered, thinking of her beloved pokèmon, abandoned that one night at the Gym. "But I stopped." Well that ended the conversation, she silently scolded herself as the two boys fell silent. You could've at least said no and told them what kind you liked!
(And every generation knows The doers do the posers pose 'Cause every time the plop goes fizz another yes-man gets his)
"But," she said, the thought striking her mind. "I do love water pokèmon!" Ash grinned.
"I like all types! Especially electric, eh Pikachu?" The yellow mouse nodded happily in response.
"I used to have a Staryu," said Misty dreamily. Brock laughed.
"You could've beaten my pokèmon easily! I like rock pokèmon. They're the best!"
"Brock here used to be a Gym Leader at Pewter but his dad took over when he decided to travel with me," explained Ash. "He wants to be a famous pokèmon breeder." He leaned over to her. "And just between you and me, you don't wanna see him around a Nurse Joy!" She giggled loudly and snared a look at the squinty-eyed teen.
(Come on and see the big man's boss The mind clears out when you're taking up the cross Yeah, his burden's easy No it don't chafe It's God's safe harbor; why play it safe?-Cornelius)
"What?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Ash and Misty laughed.
"Nothing!" said Misty, grinning. "Ash, um, was just telling me-" Her sentence was cut short as Ash nudged her gently in the side.
"That it'll take a while to get to Cerulean!" Ash finished proudly, smiling widely. While Brock looked upon the two with doubt, Ash tapped his chin. "How long will it take to get there?"
"Well, we should definitely camp for the night. It's still a couple more hours until we reach the outskirts of the big city. That it, unless you wanna travel through the night-?"
"'Coarse not," said Brock before Ash could say anything. "Let's put one more hour into it," he finished as Ash gave him a dirty look. Misty chuckled and nodded.
"Sure!"
So after a half-hour of walking, they walking into the woods on the side of the road. Misty's eyes drooped.
(Core strong like a centurion-I wanna be Cornelius-Core strong like a centurion-I wanna be Cornelius His kneel is real His kneel is real What rhymes with Cornelius? Helium (Helium))
"Here. Do you have a sleeping bag?" asked Ash as he handed her a flashlight. The spring days still ended short. Too short, she thought bitterly, gazing up at the darkening sky.
"Yeah. Thanks." Suddenly, thunder rolled across the sky like the clash of heavy metal. "Oh, no! A storm's rolling in!" she cried and the rain came down. It streaked her face with clear liquid as Ash grabbed her wrist and pulled her deeper into the forest.
They soon came to a cave.
"Get it!" Ash screamed over the wind, rain and thunder. "Hurry!" They ducked inside the warm cave.
"I hope there's nothing living in here," said Misty shakily, shuddering at the thought.
"Pikachu," whispered Ash and the small rodent began to glow softly. He clicked off the flashlight as they strode deeper into the cave. Finally coming to the end of it, they sat upon the knobbed ground and spread out their sleeping bags. Soon, the air was filled with Brock's light snoring.
(The 'cor' is before a kneel, a kneel the 'i' is an 'e' in us, in us he's ready to fight but not to fuss we like, we like Cornelius!)
"Misty?"
"Hmm?"
"You're not asleep, are you?" Misty chuckled softly and propped herself up with her elbows.
"How can I answer you if you're asleep?" Ash scratched the back of his head and grinned sheepishly.
"I guess you're right."
"Why…Why are you heading to Cerulean?"
"I wanna battle the Gym Leader." The Gym Leader. A lump began to form in the base of Misty's throat, a hated and familiar feeling, and she shoved it down. She could remember when her sisters were the Gym Leaders…
"I see."
"It's weird, but when I looked up her on the net I couldn't find any information on her for a while. Turns out there were other Leaders before her but their files were erased! Wild, huh?"
"Yeah. Wild."
(And history proves the axiom Surface skimmers choke on scum Who's calling deep? Who opens wide? Who put the just in justified?)
"What's wrong?" he asked softly as he turned to face her. His dark orbs peered at her behind wild locks of raven hair. She held the gaze for a moment before falling back onto her side.
"Nothing." She heard the metallic sound of shifting nylon as he lay back as well.
"Well, okay. But you'll tell me eventually, won't you?" Misty bit her lip.
"Yeah…I guess I will." She could almost hear him smile as she turned over.
"Good. G'night Misty."
"'Night Ash."
(Check, check it out-the view you get It's God's high-wire There isn't any net! Show a little spirit Show you got game Show you know (we know, we know) You know what's in a name-
Cornelius
(He's ready to fight but not to fuss we like
we like Cornelius
He isn't a wuss he never was we like
we like Cornelius)
*
She was shaken gently awake by Ash in the early morning.
"I wanna get there by midday," he explained roughly and Misty groaned.
"What, by getting up at six in the morning?" Brock sighed as he pulled on his green vest.
"You get used to it after a while." Misty laughed and lugged herself to her feet. After packing up her sleeping bag, she followed the two out of the cave. Sleep nagged at her mind, her body and especially her eyes but she kept them open and working.
"Ah!" said Ash, throwing his hands above his head. "The morning air! Hey look! There's a sign! It says we have five miles until we reach the outskirts. Maybe it won't take as long as you said, Mist!" Misty smiled.
"Maybe not. And if it's so close, maybe we could walk a little slower-?" Brock laughed.
"Right!" said Ash, slowing his pace down a little bit so that it was even with hers and Brock's. "We'll be there in no time. Oh, and by the way, it's eight. Not six."
"I could have sworn," she said, shaking her head. "Lemme see that watch!"
"Cerulean City," marveled Ash. "Gosh, it's so big!" Brock nodded. "I wonder if it's got a good Gym," Ash said, clenching his fists with excitement.
"Whoa, slow down there! First we need to head to the Mart and pick up some stuff for your pokèmon. Let's go," said Brock, grabbing the teen's arm and nearly dragging him towards the Mart.
"How'm I supposed to be a Master if you keep dragging me into these things?" he huffed. Brock rolled his eyes and Misty suppressed a giggle.
"You act like you're ten again. Why can't you act your age?"
"I AM acting my age!" insisted Ash with a scrunched face. "Who in their right mind wouldn't wanna battle the Gym Leader? That's crazy talk, I tell ya!"
"Just a few potions," said Brock, pulling the white bottles off the shelves. "Gimme some money and you can go next door."
"Or I can stay here and you can just pay for it with your own money," said Ash hopefully. Brock rolled his eyes again and nodded.'
"Fine. Oh! Mr. Master, are you forgetting about that major battle you 'kicked ass' in yesterday?"
"Yeah!" said Ash, pumping his fist into the air. "The guy didn't stand a chance!"
"Did you heal your pokèmon?"
"Oh, heh, heh! I must've forgotten about that! Come on Misty! Let's go next door okay?" Misty, who had been thinking about the 'new' Gym Leader for the past few minutes, was snapped out of her daydream as Ash tugged on her arm.
"What? Oh, sure!" she said and followed him out. "I can't believe you forgot to heal your pokèmon. You would've been toast!" she said, giggling. Ash shot her a look.
"I know. I just got a little carried away, that's all. Oh, here we are!" They pushed the doors open.
After a few minutes, the pokèmon were healed and they headed out to meet Brock.
"All right," he said, handing Ash the bag. "There are four potions in there-"
"It's nice to know you have so much confidence in me," mumbled Ash, taking the bag.
"And are your pokèmon healed?"
"Yeah, me 'n Misty just went over there and healed 'em. So let's go already!" Misty began to shift from foot to foot. She had to stall them some how-?
"Come on Misty!" called Ash as he sprinted towards the tall Gym. Same old Dewgong. Same old yellow and pink roof. Not much had changed as far as she could see. Shrugging, she followed the adrenaline-high teen into the Gym.
"Hello?" called Brock. "Is anyone there?"
"Hello?" called Ash as well. Only Misty remained silent as Pikachu joined in on the call. "Damn," whispered Ash. "Maybe he's not here."
"Then maybe we should go and come back another time," said Misty, backing away. "Like, in a week or something." Ash laughed.
"Yeah right."
"There will be no need for leaving," came a smooth voice. "That is, unless you wish to." Misty froze, her eyes widening.
She knew that voice. Somewhere, somehow, she knew it.
Ash whipped around and smiled. Misty squinted her eyes shut, willing herself not to look but think. Who…Who was it? She could take it no longer. She spun around. Suddenly, she knew. Suddenly, it was all clear. The room spun around her as did the person's form.
It couldn't be.
Yeah, that's it. Chapter Three. Finè. Or whatever. Liked it? Hated it? Who's this mysterious person now in control of the Gym and how does Misty know her? AAMRN in later chapters, I swear. Well, please read and review! The fourth to this one and the third to the other one (Don't Try to Rain on me) should be out soon.
~ Kasagi Onaso
