Disclaimer: Don't own 'em.

A/N: Thank you, thank you! Here's the, er, tenth chappie I think. For the person who suggested that Erika use her pokémon's vine whips or something (sorry I don't have your pen name ^^;) that's a great idea but if I had done that, this chappie wouldn't be here! But thanks for reviewing! R n R!!!

~ Kasagi Onaso

~! Switched !~

* Missing My Four Leaf Clover *

"Misty, no!" Ash reached out to try and snag her arm but grabbed only air as she disappeared into the crowd. He cursed under his breath and watched as Eevee darted after her trainer. "Where has she gone now?" he muttered and began to weave his own way through the crowd.

Misty had burst through the door and made her way up to the deck again. The shore was nothing but a slim piece of land and she watched mournfully as it slowly disappeared from view.

"Oh, Eevee!" she whispered as she reached into her purse and pulled out the ticket. "They're all the way back on shore now. How are we going to get them back?"

"Eevee," Eevee whispered and lay down on the deck mournfully, peering down into the black and churning waters.

"I don't get it," Misty whispered, leaning against the bar. The cold metal soaked through her elbow-gloves and into her elbows but she thoroughly examined the front of the ticket. "What's wrong with it?" Eevee looked up and its eyes widened.

"Vee!"

"Nan? Turn it over?"

"Ee-vee-e-e!" Eevee cried and Misty flipped the ticket over. Her aqua eyes searched the back as thoroughly as they had the front and widened slightly.

"Some of it didn't print off," she said softly. The lower corner was the blank white printer paper. "But at first glance, you can't tell. It must've been noticeable on Erika Alexis'!"

"Vee," Eevee said solemnly.

"Oh!" growled Misty and clenched the laminated ticket in her hand. "How could we be so stupid?" she whispered, sinking onto the deck. Water that had sprayed the smooth surface was soaked up into her dress but she didn't feel it.

"Vee, eve," said Eevee sternly.

"Hmm? Oh, you're right. It was all my fault. And poor Erika! She was so afraid of getting caught… Well, they aren't going to turn the boat around for us, are they?"

"Eevee."

"I didn't think so. We'll just have to organize something when we get to wherever this boat is heading." Misty's eyes watered. "I don't even know where we're going!"

"Misty? Misty, what are you doing?" Hands grasped her arms and hauled her to her feet.

"Ash? I was just…just…"

"That was stupid," snapped Ash, dropping her arms once she regained her balance. "And you got yourself all wet." Misty's eyes, which had dried slightly, watered again and almost spilled over.

"I'm sorry. I just came out here for some air."

"You should have told me," Ash said crossly. "I've been looking all over for you. I even asked a woman to check the woman's room for you." Misty flushed in the pale light and shrugged a shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

"What's that?"

"Hmm?" She looked where he was pointing and opened her hand.

"Oh, you wrinkled it!" he exclaimed and she bowed her head.

"I'm sorry," she said again, for what seemed like the umpteenth time. Suddenly, she looked up. "May I see your ticket?" Ash was too startled to reply and reached into his tux pocket. Misty quickly snatched it from his hands and examined the back. "Yours is like mine," she whispered.

"What are you talking about?" Ash demanded crossly as Misty sunk onto the deck again. "Stop that!"

"No! Come here! Look!" Ash reluctantly knelt beside her and looked where a gloved finger was pointing.

"It's a misprint," he breathed. Misty looked to the side to see his reaction and cringed. His face was right beside hers, his eyes narrowed and mouth turned into a frown.

"Yeah," she gulped. "Erika and Alexis' must not have printed at all."

"I don't believe this," he muttered and took his ticket gently from her hands.

"It's all my fault," she said suddenly, her voice wavering. Ash rolled his eyes and pocketed his ticket.

"Stop blaming yourself," he snapped. "You're always doing that and it doesn't get anything done."

"Well you could've told me it wasn't my fault!" she yelled at him, standing in a flash of black and fake diamonds. Her eyes were wavering with angry tears as she glared down on him. "That's what a real friend would've done!"

"Mist…" he sighed as she turned on a heel and stormed off towards the other side of the boat. He slowly stood and walked cautiously towards her.

"Vee?" Eevee murmured and pressed against one of Misty's legs.

Ash reluctantly embraced her from behind, his hands going over hers as they clenched the rail, and felt her back tense against his chest.

"I think," he whispered through her red curls and into her ear. "That you deserve the truth and I was a real friend to give it to you." Misty said nothing but let him hold her as the waves churned the boat restlessly.

*******

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"She helped us once."

"I know but do you think we're taking advantage of her?" asked Alexis as she strayed a couple steps behind Erika.

"No," snapped Erika. "Please don't stop me while I'm willing to do this, Alexis." The girl fell silent as she followed the storming Erika to the Pokecenter. "Look in the corners," whispered Erika as people shot them bemused and baffled looks.

"What if she's not here?"

"Tsk, tsk, Alexis. Being pessimistic is not an option right now." Alexis shot her friend a look but Erika missed it as she quickly surveyed the Center.

"You missed the boat?"

"Lina!" cried Alexis as Erika screamed loudly.

"SHHH!" hissed Lina as the whole Pokecenter glanced at them. Erika didn't flush but quickly darted forward. Alexis thought she might reach out and grab the front of Lina's cloak but Erika retained herself and took a deep breath.

"Lina, we--"

"Hush," said Lina curtly, turning. "I know what happened. Let me see your tickets. Both of you." The two exchanged quick looks as they followed Lina out into the misted night.

"I don't see what our tickets have to do with anything," said Alexis but she and Erika handed theirs over all the same.

"They have to do with everything," said Lina. "The ticket boy caught you, didn't he?"

"How'd you…?"

"No talking! Look." Without looking, Lina flipped the tickets over and their white back glared at Erika and Alexis.

"What? The back didn't print!" gasped Alexis and Erika flushed with anger.

"That's so cheap!! Why do they check the back, anyway?" she yelled, stamping her foot and sending water from a puddle splashing into the dirt.

"It must've happened before," said Lina and shrugged before handing them their tickets.

"Wait," said Alexis as Erika tried to rip her ticket in half. "How'd you know?"

"A guess," said Lina with a shrug.

"You can't rip it," said Alexis, casting an amused sidelong glance at Erika. "It's laminated, remember?" Erika, who had successfully managed to wrinkle the shining ticket, stopped abruptly and glared at Alexis.

"I can get you to the SS Anne." The two stopped what they were doing and looked at Lina with amazement.

"Did I hear…?"

"I can get you to the SS Anne," repeated Lina, continuing to walk slowly, her eerie lantern swinging in front of her. "Follow me." Erika and Alexis trotted next to her, one on either side, and stared at her.

"Can you really?" asked Alexis in wonder.

"Yes."

"Are you sure? How do we get on the boat? It's already so far away."

"Here." Lina extended her arm and let the lantern's light fall on the object in front of her. Alexis took a step forward, her jaw dropped slightly. Erika suddenly smiled and laughed.

"Bless Lugia, it's perfect!"

*******

Ash worriedly paced along the deck as Misty sat in one of the chairs.

"Do you think Pidgeotto will be okay?" Misty whispered.

"What?" Ash stopped pacing and glanced at her. She looked at her feet bashfully.

"Pidgeotto."

"He'll be fine, Misty," assured Ash softly and went back to pacing.

They had reluctantly and coyly broken apart from their warm embrace and made a plan, carefully avoiding each other's eyes. Misty wasn't sure what to say and quickly agreed to everything Ash had suggested.

"I'm just worried, that's all," she said, more to herself than anyone else. He sighed and sat in a chair beside her. Misty held her breath. She nervously crossed and uncrossed her legs, making sure to look away from where he was sitting and towards the shore where Erika and Alexis must be sitting now.

"Misty…" She stiffened slightly, her movement becoming more choppy and mechanical.

"Nan?" she said softly after he remained silent. He had a slightly pained look on his face but managed to smile.

"Don't be worried. We'll find them all right, I know it. Pidgeotto knows the way." Misty exhaled with anticipated disappointment. Ash cocked his head slightly, un-slightly-geled spikes falling lightly into his eyes. "Misty?"

"Yeah… I know," she said softly, still looking away from him.

"All right. I was just…" Misty slowly turned so she could see him out of the corner of her eye. Just…what? "Never mind." She quickly turned to glare into the black night, the waves so black it was hard to tell them from the sky.

Except the sky doesn't move, does it?

*******

Vroom!!!

"Whoo-hoo!" yelled Erika as they sped across the waves. "Yeah!" Lina rolled her eyes and Alexis chuckled.

"Thanks for letting us use your pontoon boat," Alexis yelled over the roar of the engine. Lina's full lips curled into a half-smile at this remark, her raspberry hair flowing out behind her.

"Oh," she said airily. "It's not mine."

"What?!" choked Alexis as Lina pressed on the gas. The boat lurched forward sending Alexis onto her back and almost flinging Erika into the water.

"Hey!" she yelled. "Watch it! Having fun?" she shouted to Alexis as her friend picked herself up.

"Loads," Alexis snapped grumpily, her sapphire eyes flashing angrily. She quickly swept her wind-blown green hair into a ponytail, wrapping one of her elastic bracelets around it, and stood.

"Wait. Look!" The two gathered at the back of the boat and Alexis squinted where Erika was pointing. Blue and red lights flashed through the misted waters.

"Looks like it might storm tonight," said Lina, smiling her half-smile and taking her eyes off the water in front of her for a moment to stare at the clouded sky.

"Oh, my God," whispered Alexis. "Is that…?"

"Stop the boat! You're under arrest!"

*******

"Will you look at the sky?" Ash said into the silence. Misty smiled slightly and looked up. The stars were no where to be seen as dark rain clouds covered them.

"Tut, tut, it looks like rain," Misty said softly and was suddenly very homesick.

"What's wrong?"

"Nan?"

"You suddenly got this horrible look on your face," Ash said.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Misty said, voice something she had been asking herself for a while. The darkness covered Ash's blush well as he fingered the cloth covering his knee cap.

"What?"

"You're being nice to me all the sudden," Misty said, shrugging. "I'm sorry," she said as Ash didn't answer. This time she blushed. "I guess it was a personal question."

"Yeah," Ash agreed. He quickly cast a glance at her, hoping to catch her eyes but only caught her profile. His gaze quickly returned ahead of him.

Misty was left unsure of what to do next. Her hands were cold and wet with nervous perspiration. So she sat silent and they waited for Pidgeotto's return.

*******

"Oh, my God," repeated Alexis and they quickly sat on the ground, hoping the boat wall would make them invisible to the Officer Jenny.

"Why is she here?" whispered Erika, her voice strained.

"I said, pull over! Pull over or I will be forced to use force!" Alexis almost laughed at the stumbling officer's speech but yelped as Erika tugged on her sleeve.

"This boat isn't exactly Lina's," said Alexis, wincing as Erika flushed scarlet with anger.

"WHAT?!" she screamed and Alexis clapped a hand over her mouth.

"Sh-h!" she hissed and began crawling to the seat where Lina sat behind the steering wheel. "Lina!"

"Hmm?" Alexis felt a cold wave of bewilderment and fear rush over her. Why was she smiling? "Oh, them?" laughed Lina as Alexis pointed behind them where an Officer Jenny and two cops sped towards them on a speed boat.

"Yes, them!" yelled Erika.

"Erika!"

"Sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Lina said, shrugging one shoulder. "We can loose them. I know my way around these waters and they aren't exactly the Coast Guard."

"Lina? Cracking a joke?" hissed Erika in Alexis' ear and Alexis smiled slightly. Suddenly, a white light washed over the boat as the speed boat's motor filled the air with loud roars.

"Pull over this instant!"

"So that's how it is," said Lina wisely, nodding. "Well, we can play too, right?"

"What? LINA!"

"Here we go!" The pontoon boat roared and lurched forward as the speed boat swallowed its wake.

"Gyah!" cried Erika and fell back. Alexis reached out and managed to grip the end of a chair. A flapping noise by her ear made her look up and she gasped.

"A Pidgeotto?"

"It must be Misty's!" said Erika from her spot on the floor. Pidgeotto cooed softly and sped off in front of them, darting into the mist.

"Hey! Wait!" Alexis yelled after it.

"Oh, no," groaned Erika. "They're gaining."

"Welcome," said Lina suddenly. "To the SS Anne. Will you two be boarding?" Erika and Alexis gaped up at the upcoming ship, speed boat and officers momentarily forgotten behind them.

*******

"Pidge!"

"Pidgeotto?" Misty quickly leapt out of her chair, Ash quickly following suit, and ran to the edge of the ship where Pidgeotto perched on the rail. "Oh, I'm so glad!"

"It's raining," Ash said gloomily but Misty barely felt the cold drops as they bit into the bare skin on her back. Pidgeotto spoke rapidly in its own language, which Misty couldn't understand, so she made him say it slower and Eevee translated for her.

"Oh, no!" gasped Misty. Eevee and Pidgeotto looked on solemnly.

"What's wrong?" Ash asked quickly.

"Lina's bringing them to the SS Anne in a pontoon boat," Misty said miserably.

"What's so bad about that?" asked Ash, completely bewildered.

"Well, the boat isn't exactly Lina's."

"What?!"

"And they're being chased by the police," Misty finished, finally looking up at him. He stared back, her eyes wavering with tears. "They're very close to the SS Anne, Pidgeotto says."

"Well," Ash said slowly, reluctantly looking away from her and into the water beyond them. "They had better hurry up or they're going to be caught in the storm."

"That wouldn't be good," Misty whispered and they both watched the waves, waiting for that pontoon boat to speed over the SS Anne's wake, Erika and Alexis waving cheerily from the back seats.

All right! Kit Kat! So far, one of your questions have been answered. Another one or two should be answered in the next chappie which will only be posted if there are 70 reviews at least! So go on! Review! And don't be afraid to ask any questions because they make me realize how stupid I was to be non-specific at some times! ^.^ Oh, and there was some AAMRN in here for all of y'all, wasn't there! So voici le AAMRN! LOL! Thank you everyone who reviewed! Please keep on reviewing!

~ Kasagi Onaso