AUTHOR'S NOTE: PLEASE READ THIS: Just to let you know, I am NOT rewriting the TV episode here. The plot gets much more original in a bit – just hang on I hope you like it!

"The woman in this painting perished over two thousand years ago," a short mustached man was saying, holding out his palm so as to halt a couple of younger ones walking dazed towards the picture – mumbling something about their "one true love".

She snorted. True love! As if they had known her all their lives! Things certainly had changed...But had it really been 2,000 years?

"The fools..." said the also invisible creature by her side, amused, and as if reading her mind.

"They know not of my legend?" said The Maiden, gazing at the two.

"Ahh...yes. I will be sure to inform them."

She smiled.

Screams awoke her from her slumber inside what the people around would call Maiden's Rock. It was quite silly how fond these villagers were of ghost stories, The Maiden thought. There was Maiden's Rock, Maiden's Peak, The Festival of the Maiden, The Ghost of the Maiden...

Heading for the source of the sound, she came upon a small battle. Scared-looking humans stood barking orders at their own creatures – who didn't seem to mind following them. The Maiden's now visible friend was toying with them.

They had caught her interest. She had seen two of the creatures before (the little blue one with a brown shell and the purple-and-yellow-striped one with a long forked tongue), but the others were new to her. The Maiden watched, eager to learn their names.

She had learned the name for the fighting, order-taking creatures – "Pokay-mon" – long ago (and had learned its real spelling in seeing a sign over a building reading "Pok'emon Center"). Because they weren't always called that, you know.

Let's see, she knew her friend was a "Ghastly", of all the stupid names.

And now there was..."Peeka-choo"... the little blue one "Squirtle"... "Bulba-sore"...

But soon, as always, she grew bored watching them.

"I've been waiting," said The Maiden dreamily, looking out to sea once more, "Waiting...for such a very long time."

Had he forgotten her? Had her love forgotten her promise – to wait for him forever?

She had often longed to search for him herself, but there was something...something that told her firmly: stay. And she dared not disobey. Perhaps it was that same force that kept her love from returning to her, or maybe the one that held the Pok'emon to their trainers...

"And I shall wait for you...forever...Come back to me, my love..."

Author's Note: If you don't like this intro , please give Chapter 13, The Maiden's Tears, a chance! If you want to read the whole story, though, don't read Chapter 13 yet!