Chapter One: Something Not Right

The sun slowly sets in the distance, turning the sky beautiful shades of pink and purple. The forms of Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu can be seen walking in the evening light, heading towards a Pokemon center situated about a mile away. They hope to reach it soon before it gets too dark to continue traveling and they are forced to camp outside. Brock is walking out front with Ash and Pikachu a step behind him and Misty farther back. However the usual cheerfulness of the group is strangely absent.

Narrator Meowth: We once again see Ash and his companions traveling on their Pokemon quest. Ash has accomplished a lot in the last few months. He successfully picked up the GS ball from Professor Ivy...

Brock: (turning blue, crouching down to the ground depressed) Don't mention that name!!!!!

Narrator Meowth: (sweatdrop, ignores Brock) and then earned four badges, allowing him to compete in the Orange League. Brock left to stay with Ivy.....

Brock: (turning blue) I said don't mention that name!!!!

Narrator Meowth: (angry) Stop interrupting me!!!!!!!! Just get over her, she dumped you, it's as simple as that. Move on with your life already (clears his throat) anyway; Brock left and the kids got a new traveling companion named Tracy, who hitched a ride in order to meet his idol, Professor Oak. Ash had many adventures and battles in the Orange Islands; he even ended up saving the world. But he finally returned to Pallet Town, where Oak examined the GS ball and then sent Ash on a mission to deliver it to Kurt in Azalea Town. Tracy left, Brock returned, and the three kids set off to deliver the ball and compete in the Johto League. Will Ash reach Violet City, the site of the first Johto gym, soon? Or will something else side track him, like always? Find out today on Pokemon.

Brock: (inching closer to Ash, whispering) Ash, what's up with you and Misty? You two have barely spoken to each other since we left Pallet Town. What's up?

Ash: (sad, solemn voice) I don't want to talk about it

Narrator Meowth: Uh oh, it looks like something is up with those two again. So what else is new?

Ash's voice (announcing the title) Back to Your Heart 2

The three kids walk into the Pokemon center just as the final ray of light from the sun disappears.

Ash: Our timing was perfect Pikachu. But for a minute I was afraid we wouldn't make it and would have to camp out again.

Brock: I will go and find out if there are any rooms available. (turns and floats towards the front desk) Oh Nurse JOOOOOOOOOOOOOY!!!!!!!!!!!

Ash sweatdrops and watches as Brock go through his normal flirting routine. Pikachu yawns loudly and crawls into Ash's backpack to sleep. Misty quietly walks across the lobby and sits on a couch, letting out a sad depressed sounding sigh. Ash glances over at her with sadness in his eyes. "This has gone on long enough." he thinks to himself as he begins to walk towards her, when suddenly......

Voice: Why if it isn't the "chosen one". How's it going Ash?

Ash recognizes the voice and turns around immediately. Standing behind him is a girl with shoulder length brown hair done up in braids, wearing a white and yellow dress. She looks just like she did when he last saw her. Misty looks up when she hears the voice and she too approaches the girl.

Ash: Melody! What are you doing in Johto? Aren't you supposed to be back on Shamuti isle?

Melody: Hey, can't a girl travel if she wants? I don't spend all my time on that boring little island. I like to go places whenever I can.

Misty: What a coincidence running into you here.

Melody: (suddenly not so cheerful) Oh, hi Misty, nice to see you too. (uncomfortable silence) So....How are you two doing? You guys getting along?

Sadness fills Ash, as he tries to think of the words to use to answer Melody's question. Misty just looks at him with those sad eyes full of shame, the ones he has seen for so long now and that hurt him deeply every time he sees them. But before anything can be said, Brock returns. Ash immediately notices Brock's distressed state.

Ash: Brock, what's wrong?

Brock: (blue color) Nurse Joy mentioned….that name.

Ash: Wa? She did?

short flashback Brock stands next to the counter. Nurse Joy is on the phone.

Joy: Yeah I will, and thanks again for the lovely ivy plant you gave me last week.

Brock: (turning blue) THAT NAME!!!!!!!!

Joy: (hangs up the phone, addresses Brock) Um excuse me sir, is something wrong? Do you need a room or your Pokemon healed or something? (looks closely at Brock, sweatdrops) Um, from the way you look I think you better get a room and rest sir. Here you go. (tosses Brock some keys) end flashback

Brock: (still blue) Yes she did. (turns normal color) but I got us that room. Come on, lets go un-pack. (suddenly notices Melody) Who's this girl?

Ash: Oh this is Melody. We met her on Shamuti Island in the Orange Archipelago. She helped us save the world when that evil collector guy upset nature's balance by kidnapping Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos.

Brock: Oh yeah, I remember hearing all about that on the news. (nudges Ash with his elbow) You did a pretty good job "oh chosen one"

Ash: (blushing) Stop it Brock, you're embarrassing me!

Melody: Who is this guy Ash? Weren't you traveling with a guy named Tracy?

Ash: This is Brock. He was traveling with Misty and me for a long time before we traveled the Orange Islands. He left briefly to stay with Professor I... (thinks about it a second) to study Pokemon breeding, and that's when Tracy joined us. When we got back to my home town of Pallet, Brock was waiting for us and starting traveling again.

Melody: That's cool. It's nice to meet you Brock. (looks over at Misty) Is anything wrong Misty? You really haven't said anything.

Misty: (snaps out of deep thought) Oh I wasn't really paying attention. I guess I haven't been feeling very good lately.

Melody: I'm sorry. That's too bad.

Brock: (frowns slightly, walks around behind Misty) Um. I have to talk to Misty for a minute. Why don't you two catch up on old times and we will be back in a few. (pulls Misty away)

Ash: That sounds all right. Hurry back k?

Brock: Don't worry, we will.

Brock pulls Misty down the hall, unlocks the room Joy gave them, and enters. Misty walks over and sits on the bed with a large frown on her face

Misty: What's the big idea Brock? What's so important that you need to talk to me in here?

Brock: (serious) I need to talk to you about how you and Ash have been acting. You two have hardly said a single thing to each other for a long time. I know something's up. What happened??

Misty opens her mouth to speak but can't bring herself to say anything. She closes it and looks down at the ground. Tears begin to trickle down her face.

Brock: (kneels down in front of Misty) Please tell me Misty. I only ask because I really care about you and Ash. You are my best friends and it hurts me to see you acting like this. You two are supposed to be in love, but you sure aren't acting like it. Please… (tilts Misty's head up to look at him) tell me what happened.

Misty takes a deep breath and finally decides to tell him what has plagued her and Ash for the last few months.