Misty'

Author's Note: Okay.. Thanks to the reviewers, but I'd like to clarify something. People have asked me why I wrote the story the way I have if Ash obviously loves her. This is not starnge behavior. Even if it does seem as if Ash loves her, that does not mean she should go running back does it? Sometimes you have to put yourself before others. Besides she may just think she loves Ash romantically. Misty is unsure of her feelings towards Ash. This is Misty's Adventure, not Ash's. He does not play a starring role in this fic! This is turning into more a rant, than a note.. Please remember that! "If get anymore why did she leave if they kissed?" I will well.. I don't know what I'll do , but it'll be big! Save your flames for my barbeque! Seriously! I'm out of lighter fluid!

Misty's Great Adventure

Disclaimer: Although it may seem annoying and redundant, it is necessary to have a disclaimer. In case some yahoo tries to sue you for copyright infringements. In other words the show ain't mine, neither is the game, or all that other stuff that belongs to people I could care less about!! ^_^

The train ride was long, but comfortable. She wasn't really tired, but apparently Togepi was. She smiled down at her baby Pokemon, and sighed. She had actually done it! She left! She was on her own now. No Ash, no Brock, and no Mrs. Ketchum.. She already missed them, and they hadn't even made it half a mile out of town. Of course she wasn't going back. She needed to do this. It was going to be a soul searching adventure. At least she wanted it to be. Pallet was beckoning, her return, and she wanted to gladly return to it's warm open arms.. She would not give into the temptation.. She would not.

She could be a strong as Samson, but her heart was still a delicate flower. So easily torn. Just like Samson's beautiful locks. The strength that she held inside her would be needed for her journey. She really did not consider it a Pokemon journey.. Far from it. More so a journey of the mind. Either that or Mrs. Ketchum should not have ordered her those sets of 'Chicken Soup' books. She was becoming restless. She was going on that blasted train for three straight days!! She stood, and stretched a bit, before returning to her seat. A few moments later she began fidgeting with the T.V. in her cabin.

There was not really anything very entertaining on television. No romances, no battles, no talk shows.. Nothing. Could her day get any boring? She decided to leave the cabin. She didn't want to risk waking up Togepi, so she simply grabbed, a carryall, and placed the soft egg Pokemon into into. She heard murmurs from it's mouth, but the pokemon's eyes, remained closed. Her baby was asleep. Misty smiled down at it. 'Well at least someone is content.' She grabbed her purse, took out a few bills, and headed into the lobby. Surely there was something a girl could do for fun.

She saw a table that appeared to have some sort of game going on. She walked over, and saw it was a game of blackjack! There was gambling on this train! Misty's eyes bulged open. She had to get away before she got into any trouble. She had never been one to challenge the law. As of now, she wasn't willing to start trouble. Just as she turned to tread back to her cabin, she bumped into someone. The two parties fell to the ground.

"Watch it!!" She hjeard a familar voice say.

"Watch yourself!" She replied, a litle frustrated.

Amidst sprawled legs, and twisted arms, was a very familar face. Misty evoked a string of exacrations, that would make even the crudest sailor blush. She stopped herself when she realized that she was in front of many people, and that she was a lady. Her face turned bright red. 'Great, I've been on this train no less than two hours and I'm already embarassing myself..' She thought. As she tried to assemble her thoughts, and get up from the floor, a hand helped her up. She of course politely took it, and when she saw her assistant, her eyes bulged. It was Gary! 'What's he doing here?' Mistysquinted her eyes, a bit.

"Gary?" She said her mouth agape.

The boy smiled, and gave her his famous smirk..

"Were you expecting someone else?" He said brushing himself off. "Sorry I bumped into you.." He said smiling.

"It's okay, no broken bones.." She replied still staring at the boy. "What are you doing here?"

"I should ask you the same thing.." He said smiling at her.

She didn't know what he was doing on the train, and she didn't expect to see much more. He was after all her enemy. Well she knew she sounded drastic. He was more like a pest. They really didn't know each other well, but what she did know about the young Oak was that he was a jerk. He was mean to her friends. She hoped he wouldn't be annoying her anytime soon. She really wasn't in the mood for it. It bothered her that he was always so rude. Where the hell were those cheerleaders? She glanced around, and saw none. She gave him a smirk. Payback time! It was her time to shine. He had called her a loser for the last time.

"Where are your cheerleaders, Gary?" Misty asked.

"They aren't here." He said. "Why, are you willing to fill in?" He said with a smirk.

"Ah.. That's the Gary, I know.. Rude, and presumptous." She said with a sneer.

"That's the Misty I know, bratty, and sarcastic!"

The two teens studied each other's face, and then broke into laughter. The laughter was not long. It lasted for only a few seconds, but helped to ease the tension dramatically. The two held back a few more muffled chuckles before Gary spoke.

"Actually the girls were not invited. I'm going away for a while." He said looking into her eyes.

Misty stared at his eyes. She never really paid much attention to his psychical appearance. He was actually a bit attractive. Nice smile, muscular body, and great hair. She stared at him more. Why hadn't she noticed that before? Probably because you were with Ash all the time. She shooked her head, and came back to reality.

They both were silent. There was enough tension in the air to cut it with a knife. Misty looked into his eyes.

The boy grinned, and took her hand. "Come on, it's too noisy in here." Before Misty could protest, they were already out of the lobby, and in Gary's cabin. Misty sat down , and watched as he locked the door. He turned to face her, a smile broad on his face. Misty studied his eyes, and then realized what he was planning, and jumped out of her seat. Her eyes bulged wide.

"What do you think you are doing?" Misty yelled.

"Nothing, I thought we might like a little less noise, is all..."

"Unlock the door." Misty commanded.

"Why?" Gary asked.

"Do it!!" Misty yelled again.

When Gary didn't she jumped up, and tried to unlock it herself. Gary stopped her. He looked into her eyes again, and led her back to her seat. Misty once again tried to escape the cabin, and short scuffle ensued. Gary was victorious, and Misty was tired. They breathed heavily, and collapsed on the couch.

"M-M-Misty why are you.. trying.. t-to leave?? I just want to talk to you.." He said as his he breathed in deeply. Gasping for breath Misty spoke up.

"If you wanted to talk... you s-should... have told me, instead of leading me away .." She stopped and glanced around the room. It was beautiful. There were chic carpets, lovely paintings, a bathroom, and a large bed. Misty could not tell, but it looked to be a small kitchenette further in the back.

"Gary.. it's beautiful." He grinned at her, and nodded.

"I know. I have a deluxe suite." He said.

She couldn't tell if he was boasting, or being genuinely sincere. She wanted to know how much it cost, but decided against it. That would be prying, and she didn't want to seem nosy. He moved over to the bar. She gave him a quizzical look, but he didn't notice. His back was facing her. She heard the clink of glasses.

"Would you like somthing to drink?" He said shuffling in the cubboards.

"Gary were only sixteen. We can't drink yet!" She said seriously.

"I don't mean alcohol. Would you like a non-alcoholic bevarage?"

Misty blushed from her mistake. She was glad he did not see her face. "Yes.. please." She said looking aroud the cabin.

He made a drink for himself as well, and walked back over to her. He handed her a glass. Misty stared at it before drinking. She smelled it, and swirled the glass around. Gary looked at her amusingly.

"C'mon surely you trust I wouldn't poison you?"

Misty said nothing but looked him the eye. She then glanced back at her drink. She shrugged her shoulders and swallowed. It was very tart. They sipped in silence for a few moments, before Misty asked another question.

"Gary, you never answered my question." She said.

Gary cocked an eyebrow.

"Oh, what question was that?" He said sipping his drink.

"You know very well what I'm refering to."

She said pausing before swallowing another gulp.

"I see you like my drink." He said smiling.

Misty nodded, but prodded on.

"Are you always this evasive?" Misty asked.

"Are you always this beautiful?" Gary asked with a smile.

Misty raised her eyebrow. She stared at Gary for a moment before blushing beet red, at his compliment. He sighed, and shrugged his shoulders.

"Actually I'm going away to school." He said without looking at her.

"What kind of school?" Misty asked.

"A university." Gary replied

"Oh, a pokemon school." She said more as statement, than a question.

"No, it's totally different. This is a school for students. It has nothing to do with Pokemon. I'm going for my education."

Misty watched boy speak. He didn't sound as if he were very enthusicatic about going. Maybe it was Professer Oak's wish. The cabin was silent. The sound of the wheels scraping the metal could be heard. Neither teen spoke.

"It's not my Grandfather's wishes. I want to go to this school on my own accord. There is more to the world than just pokemon Misty."

He said as if he could read her thoughts.

"Don't you have dreams of other things? You can't be a trainer forever, you know. You don't have to be a Pokemon trainer to be a success or be happy in life."

"Then why do you train os hard?" Misty aske dhim.

"I train because I am a winner. I want to win. I have to win."

He said looking at her. Misty felt uncomfortable. It was almost as if he were trying to persuade her.

"Well.... I'm a Water trainer. It's what I know how to do. I've done it all my life. I love my pokemon." She said staring at her glass.

Gary sighed. They were facing each other. He moved over, and sat next to her.

"That's just it Misty. I don't want to be defined as Gary Oak, The Pokemon Trainer. I love my pokemon too, but I don't always want to train pokemon. There other things in the world that are more important to me."

"Like what?" Misty asked. The boy seemed as if her were serious. There was more to Gary Oak then meets the eye.

Gary stood, and walked around the large cabin.

"I don't know Misty. That's why I am going to school. I want to know what else there is for me. I have many skills. I just need to find something I'm passionate about, and stick with it."

"But you are! You're good at training pokemon!"

Misty said eagerly. Even she shocked herself. Why was she trying to convince him? He was always a jerk to her. Calling her names, and such. She knew darn well that she wasn't trying ot convince him, only herself.

"You do it because you want to be the greatest." She said, her voice barely above a whisper. She knew what she was saying was crazy. She was sounding like Ash now. Had Gary heard her?

"Misty don't lie to yourself." He said looking at her.

She had her head down. She wasn't lying to herself was she? She wanted to be the greatest water pokemon trainer, right? She was not lying to herself. How could wanting the best for yourself be a lie? That's not why you left though. You don't care about being the best. You left because you were tired of it. If Gary can see through the facade, why couldn't she? Misty glanced at her watch. It was getting late. Time to get back to Togepi.

"Gary, I have to go.. I'll talk to you later okay?" She said with a twinkle in her eye. If she didn't know better she would swear, she actually was looking forward to talking to Gary again.

"Okay Misty see you later." He said.

She thanked him for the drink, and he volunteered to escort her to her room. He showed her to her room, and they exchanged goodbyes. When she entered she found that Togepi had slept. Safely tucked in thebed, the egg Pokemon slept softly. The little guy must really be tuckered out. She unpacked her suitcases, and began sorting things out. She had less than three days. The train ride was three days, it's last destination was to the coast. She didn't know exactly where she wanted to go, but she had better find out.

She brushed her hair out, and combed it. It was longer now. Just barely grazing he back. She always wore it in a ponytail. She brushed it more. 100 strokes, no more no less. It had remained shiny, and smooth just like Pikachu's coat. Pikachu. Whenever Misty thought Pikachu, she thought of Ash, and Brock. She missed them. Maybe they missed her. The pains of leaving loved ones.. She loved all of them. When she left, she did remembered thta kiss. Was it supposed ot be a friendly gesture, or a romantic goodbye? Ash wasn't that bad of a kisser either. Maybe Gary was good kisser.

Speaking of whom, why was he being nice to her? Was it because she wasn't with Ash, or Brock? Then again he never really was that mean to her. Only to Ash. They were obviously both jealous of eachother. Always the first to cast insults, and pokeballs.

She would ask him why he was being kind to her tommorrow. Right now she was sleepy, and she needed her rest. She set the comb on the dresser, and and changed into her pajamas. She glanced at the clock. It was 10:27. She had but two days. Where would she go? She snuggled up next to Togepi, who in turn murmered, before squeezing tightly to the familar body of it's mother. It was going to be a interesting trip indeed.

Footnotes: Okay, this is a romance. There hasn't been much yet, but I promise there willl be some in the next installment. Although there were micro hints in this chapter. It's getting better. ^_^ Where will Misty go? The clock is ticking.. Is Gary serious about school? If so, will he finally learn a lesson in manners? Find out in the next installment of Misty's Great Adventure.