Disclaimer: If I owned Pokémon I'd have lots of money. I don't have lots of money so… I don't own Pokémon.

Categories: AAML, Angst

Rated: T just to be on the safe side

A/N: I'm sorry it took me so long to update! This chapter is a little shorter than I wanted it to be but real life has been a little crazy on my end. My mom had surgery and my grandmother is in the hospital so I haven't had a lot of time to write this story. I have the whole story laid out in my head it's getting it on paper that takes the time I hope to update again this week!

Chapter 4: The Losing Battle Has Begun

Sometime after noon on April 1st is when the mood finally changed and things went down hill from there. There was no warning as the weather shifted and the sky grew dark. The sun that was shining brightly only moments before was blocked out by thick black rain clouds and lightning danced across the sky. Loud thunder made a crescendo around us as large drops of water spilled out of the heavens.

We were still a mile away from the Viridian City Pokémon Center when the storm started. The dirt path we were traveling on became a mud hole as we dashed forward in an attempt to find some sort of cover. Unfortunately there wasn't anywhere for us take refuge. The trees along the path that once resided on the outskirts of route one had been cut down recently to prevent thieves from mugging unsuspecting trainers. So, as you can imagine – we were dripping wet and covered with mud when we finally arrived at the Pokémon Center.

However, being cold, wet and dirty was the least of our problems. As doors swished open and we stepped onto the tile entry way I could feel our luck dropping to a new low. All three of us stopped dead in our tracks and even Ash and Pikachu stopped chattering. The warm moist air that immediately entered our nostrils smelled like a mixture of rain, mud and sweat.

Starting on my left I let my eyes sweep across the entire lobby and taking a moment I let it all sink in. There were so many trainers retreating from the storm that the small room was overflowing with people. Some of them were so exhausted from traveling that they were sleeping in heaps on the floor and Nurse Joy was nowhere to be seen.

The day that had started out so pleasantly had become an angry ferocious monster that wished to devour all of my joy. I could feel the exhaustion and defeat setting in and my body began to feel as though it was made of something much more heavy than a Snorlax. Motionlessly, I stood there, silently, contemplating how my perfect morning had transformed into the current fiasco that I was now experiencing. Before I could wrap my brain around the entire situation and how the days events had transpired the boys piteous squabble broke through my daze. I'll never forget what they were arguing about – if you can call it arguing. It was more like Brock just being Brock and Ash being well – Ash.

I can still hear the sense of urgency that he had in his voice while almost shouting the phrase, "Ash! Stop!" I looked up just in time to witness Brock acting incredibly silly he was almost jumping up and down in front of the Ash. He was waving his arms madly in an attempt to keep the younger boy from stepping off of the tile and onto the carpet with his muddy shoes.

Ash muttered to himself, almost silently, "Uhhhhh…." As he stood there looking back at Brock with a puzzled expression on his face trying to figure out why Brock didn't want him to walk any further. At the age of seventeen he was still clueless about some things. To me in my currently overwhelmed state of mind their overtly animated and highly ridiculous antics broke past my funk, so a small giggle escaped my lips as I watched their escapades unfold. At this point the entire ensemble of conscious trainers were watching with rapt attention as my traveling companions made a mockery of them selves.

With each of Ash's new attempts to get past Brock on their actions grew much more exaggerated and some of the onlookers even began to laugh out loud. I recognized the change in Ash's demeanor, as he grew more impatient and his irritation increased. I knew Ash was tired as I was and it would only be a matter of time before he snapped at Brock. Traveling with them for seven years had taught me many things one of the most important was when to stay out if it. Besides, Ash can be extra cute when he is annoyed.

Only when their voices started to grow louder and they reached the peak of their insanity did Nurse Joy emerge from the back. I could hear the concern clearly displayed in her voice as she asked, "Is everything alright out here?"

Before I could even look up or make eye contact with her Brock had made it over to the counter and was holding her hands in his. I could hear his mindless babbling from where I was standing and he had traipsed across the already soaked carpet tracking mud everywhere. I rolled my eyes at the sight as Ash and Pikachu stooped to examine the mess Brock had made. It was only then that Ash finally comprehended why Brock didn't want him to step onto the carpet.