Author notes: Well, first off I want to ask what is normal? I know that it was in a review that I received and I just had to ask that. I'm not meaning that it's anything bad or whatever. It's just that I can't help but think about what normal is supposed to mean. As I don't think of anyone or anything as normal, more as usual or typical. Anyway, the answer to the trivia question two chapters ago is Asperger's Syndrome. I didn't exactly expect someone to figure it out on that chapter, but I thought that someone might. Oh well. Additional statements for the trivia question for last chapter is that it's a book that was written . . . uh I think about in the 1800's. I'm not certain, but I know that it's an older book. And the movie the Fugitive was not based on the book the Fugitive. The main character in the book that the movie the Fugitive was based on was John Val John. Anyway, I will accept answers to the trivia questions until I post the answer. You can change your answer as often as you like (via e-mail) but your last answer will count. Okay, now I like the idea of teleportation, but I have to think of how Team Rocket will capture that brand-new pokemon and how it'll get away from them. I'm thinking of something a little different than teleporting. Also, I know full well what MOVES can reduce accuracy, but what about the abilities? That's what I was wondering about last chapter. Anyway, I heard on a kind of entertainment news program that they were using music to torture the war captives they have who should know something. The music extends from heavy metal to the Sesame street theme song. The latter of those two I find the funniest because it can just be annoying at worst to us. Yet, the former could give some people headaches and wouldn't be as pleasant. Anyway, here's chapter 21! ^_^

*

Misty was walking back to her room when Gary tapped her shoulder. Misty wasn't certain what he wanted, but he motioned for her to follow him. Misty followed Gary out to the common area of the hotel that they were staying at. Gary took a seat on a sofa there and Misty sat down on the sofa across from Gary. "So, what do you want?" Misty asked.

"I was needing you to talk with Misty," Gary stated flatly.

"What?" Misty asked, surprised. Was there something that happened between them? Misty wondered.

"I need you to talk with Misty. I would, but I don't think that I'd help her out too well. Mostly because of how I pushed her to the point where she is now," Gary answered. He paused for a moment and then sighed. "I don't think that she's as strong as I originally thought. I never expected her to break down like this."

Misty didn't know what to think. This really meant that it was bigger than Gary would probably be able to handle. "What happened?" Misty asked.

"I'm not too certain of what it was myself," Gary answered. "I was just looking for her because I hadn't seen her all day, or at least since she registered. I found her in her room, but she's sleeping against the door." Gary paused again and then sighed. "I think that she was crying. I can't be certain, but that's the conclusion I can come to as to why she fell asleep there."

Misty thought this over. If what Gary said was true, Misty C. would be having difficulty that she might not let anyone in. "I'll try, but I don't know all of the situation. Do you know of any reason why she might have gotten upset?" Misty asked, recalling Misty C. storming out of the pokecenter where they were registering. "Anything at all that you think might have contributed to this?"

"Well, I did challenge her to try and capture Pokemon when we were in Ecruteak city. That's also when I told her that I would use this competition as a test to see how well she would do," Gary answered. Then he sighed again. Misty felt like hitting Gary. Although, Misty could understand him sighing, it was getting a little annoying.

"Stop sighing," Misty snapped. Misty then waited for a moment then asked, "What types does she prefer?"

"Fire-types," Gary answers quickly.

"I guess that's part of the problem. I can't think of any fire-types that are water-types as well. She probably is quite upset about not being able to use her favorite types," Misty responded, quickly getting ticked at how Gary had basically set this situation up without realizing it. And now he's putting it off on me, Misty thought to herself, noting how this probably was the only way to fix the situation. Well, at least he can't make it any worse now, Misty thought.

"Why? I've never understood that about her. Why can't she see that it's better to use several types?" Gary asked. Moments later Misty had swung her mallet down straight on Gary's head. Misty couldn't stand him talking like this anymore. Listening to how he had gotten Misty C. in this situation was bad enough, but to listen to him criticize those who preferred one type over all the others, especially because the one he was asking to help was one like that, was just too much.

"What was that for?!" Gary cried.

"You were just going on too much about how you were better than her," Misty snapped, not wanting Gary to know that that wasn't the entire reason.

"Well, you didn't have to do that," Gary growled.

"I'm sorry, but as a WATER trainer, I just felt like I had to," Misty answered, putting a lot of emphasis on the fact that she was a water trainer.

"Sorry, I forgot about that," Gary said, realizing that he had made a very big mistake with what he had said. I wonder if he says stuff like that to Ash, Misty wondered.

"It's okay, just try to keep that in mind a little more," Misty replied, putting her mallet back to wherever she keeps it.

"So, do you think that you could try to talk to her?" Gary asked.

"Is that all there is to this problem?" Misty pressed, wanting to make certain that Gary wasn't leaving something out.

"Not that I can think of," Gary answered.

Misty sighed. She figured that she would help, if only to help out a fellow trainer. "Yeah, I guess I should clean up your mess," Misty commented, getting up. "Where's her room?"

"Three doors to the left from mine," Gary replied.

"Thanks," Misty said as she turned and headed towards Misty's room.

* * * * * * * * * * *

(Author's mid-note: I don't know if anyone's noticed, but I've often been doing this in different character's POV alternating. Though, it's mostly been in third person. I feel that it'll be better for it to be in first person in this next piece. This way, I won't have too many people confused with how all of the conversation with Misty and Misty C.)

I open my eyes. The room is noticeably darker. I stand up, but have to steady myself against the door. My legs don't seem to want to support me, but I know that I need to see what time it is. I think that I fell asleep in the early afternoon. I look at the clock. 9 p.m. I sigh. It's really late and now it probably wouldn't be too good for me to go try to capture any pokemon. I know that I'll need to withdraw. I just can't make my pokemon lose on purpose. I know that I'll have to admit defeat to Gary. I just can't think of any other way to do it.

I sigh as I go into the bathroom that's in my room. I look in the mirror and I can see my eyes are still swollen from crying. I wash my face as I know that I'll need to go out to dinner. Or at least get something to eat. When I'm done and drying my hands on a towel, I hear someone knocking on the door. That must be Gary, I think as I leave the bathroom and go over towards the door. When I open it I'm surprised to see Misty there. I didn't even know that she was here.

"May I come in?" Misty inquires.

I nod, uncertain of what exactly to say. She was one of the last people I expected to see here. Of course, I didn't expect to see her at all. Especially since I thought that she lived in Kanto instead of Johto. Wait, she could be here for the Whirl cup competition, a part of me, a more reasonable part of me says.

"I didn't expect you to be here," I say, finally finding my voice.

"Is something wrong?" Misty asks, when she walks into the room, and can see me more clearly.

I shake my head. "No."

"Then why are your eyes swollen? It looks like you've been crying," Misty comments.

I bite my lip. I can't think of a way out of that, so I ask, "Why are you here?"

"I came with my husband to compete in the competition," Misty replied. "I am a water trainer after all."

I stare at Misty without realizing it. I never expected her to be something like that. I know that I didn't know very much about her, but I never expected that I'd know someone who preferred almost the exact opposite type of mine. "Well, I thought that I might try in the competition, but I don't think that I'll be able to," I comment as I take a seat in one of the two chairs in my room. I also motion for Misty to take a seat.

"Why not?" Misty asks, as she takes a seat.

"Well, it's just that I only have one water-type pokemon, but I don't have room in my party for another water-type, and I don't have anywhere I can send my pokemon to make room," I tell her, wondering why I feel so much trust in her when I still don't really know very much about her.

"Well, I know someone who would be willing to look after one of your pokemon for a short time," Misty offered. "What pokemon do you have?"

"I have a Rapidash, Vulpix, Houndour, Octillery, Phanpy, and a Blazeon," I reply.

"I haven't heard of a Blazeon before," Misty comments. "May I see it?"

"Okay," I tell her. I get up and go over to my pokeballs and pick up the one with my Blazeon in it. "Blazeon come on out!" I call, opening the pokeball. Blazeon comes out and trots over to me and begins to rub her head against my leg affectionately. I begin scratching her back like she likes me to do.

"I'm certain that he'll want to look at that one," Misty comments.

"Why?" I ask, a little confused.

"Well, because he's a pokemon professor. He does what he can to learn about all different pokemon," Misty tells me.

"Okay," I reply. I hope that he'll be kind to my Blazeon. Now I know that I can have a chance at the competition. I just need to think about what pokemon I'll need so I can have my best chance at the victory.

*

Author's note: So, how's that? I had originally planned on having more in this, but the descriptions took up more space than I had originally planned again. Anyway, does anyone know what happened to Ash's Squirtle? I never got a chance to see that episode. Though, in the Whirl cup, Ash's only water pokemon is apparently his Totodile and Kingler. So, I'm a little confused about that. Did his Squirtle go back with the Squirtle squad or something? If you know, please let me know. The trivia question for this chapter is what liquid will NEVER freeze. Now, anti-freeze isn't a liquid. It's a chemical, though it still freezes. Also, if you don't put in a suggestion, I can't add another vote to whatever ending you want. Anyway, does anyone know a site that has the lyrics to songs? Not just the music, but the written lyrics? If anyone does please let me know. I don't have enough to but the CD's with the lyrics so I have to find other ways to get that stuff. As I'm thinking of writing a song-fic, but I need more lyrics to choose from than what I have. Anyway, please look forward to chapter 22! ^_^