--Hey everyone. Don't quit reading. It gets better. Thanks to everyone who actually reads this. This is my first Pokemon fanfic.--
Buzzzzzz---buzzzzzzzzzzz---buzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Misty groaned and opened her eyes. She looked at the clock. 9:15 am. Misty got up and looked in the mirror. She was a mess. She had neglected to take of her makeup and her dress. The dress hung loosely on her, covered in wrinkles, and she had dark circles around her eyes. Misty grabbed a washcloth and washed her face. She then took off her dress and put a robe on. Buzzzzzzzz---buzzzzzzzzzz---buzzzzzzzzzz…Misty's penthouse buzzer was buzzing like crazy.
"Arghhhhh," Misty grunted. She went down the ladder then went down the stairs. She looked through the peephole and a boy about her age was standing outside of the door. The boy was carrying a small brown package. Misty thought he looked somewhat familiar. Maybe she had battled him before. He had brown hair and was wearing khaki pants with a red polo shirt. Misty opened the door. "Can I help you?" she asked.
"Wow Misty, you look really different." The boy said. Misty looked at him in a confused manner. "I mean, different in a good way. Sorry I'm here so early in the morning." The boy added.
"Um, excuse me. Who are you?" Misty said.
"I guess I must look different too. You don't remember me?" the boy asked. Misty stared at him. The boy had a cocky tone to his voice. Out on the street, Misty could see a red corvette looking car parked on the side.
"…G—Gary? Gary Oak?" Misty asked in disbelief.
"Yup."
"You still drive the same car?" Misty asked with a little grin. Gary had changed but he still was the rich prat that he was before.
"No, that's a new model. And I dropped the cheerleaders- that whole scene was a little childish."
"Oh…heh. Well, what brings you to my gym today?" Misty said suddenly feeling conscious about herself. She wrapped her short robe around herself tighter.
"Well I was in the Hoenn region a couple of days ago and I decided to take a trip home. This guy asked me to take a detour and give you this package." Misty's hopes soared. A package from Ash? "The guy was an official for the Hoenn League."
"Oh…" Misty said.
"Yeah. The tournament is starting again in like a week or something."
"That's nice." There was a long pause.
"So Ash and Brock are doing well. I saw them a few weeks ago."
"Good for them." Misty said coolly. There was another long pause.
"Well I gotta head to Pallet town. Maybe sometime we could have a drink or something. You know, to catch up on old times?" Gary offered.
"Maybe." Misty replied. Gary shook her hand and jumped into his car. Misty closed the door and walked out onto the pool deck where her pokemon were lazily swimming about. She sat on the edge of the pool. She opened the package and an ID tag with her picture on it fell out. There was a letter also. Misty unfolded the letter slowly.
Misty of the Cerulean Gym,
The board of the Hoenn League is pleased to inform you that you have been selected to be one of our gym leader participants in the Hoenn tournament. Each year, five gym leaders from different regions are invited to participate in the tournament based on how they have done throughout the year. Your success rate prompted us to pick you. The gym leaders invited are not required to earn all of the badges of the Hoenn region and are allowed to immediately begin to battle in the tournament. The badge included in this package allows you access to all Hoenn league resources and shows that you do not need the badges to enter. Please R.S.V.P. to the number on the back of your ID tag. More information will be provided at that time. We wish the best of luck to you in the tournament.
Sincerely,
The Trusteeship Board of the Hoenn League
Misty looked up from the letter. This would be the perfect vacation away from everything. Not that it would be much of a vacation. Misty would have to be training for the competition. It would be great training for later matches at her gym. But who would look after the gym? Misty walked into the reception area of the gym near the main entrance. She went to a phone behind the desk. Apparently the gym's receptionist hadn't arrived yet. Misty typed in a long number and a French looking man appeared on the screen.
"Yutaka Inn. I am Pierre, how may I assist you?" the man said.
"Could you connect me with room 188 please?" Misty asked.
"Absolutely. One moment please," Pierre said. Misty waited as the hold music played. Suddenly, Misty's sister Daisy's face appeared on the screen.
"Misty! Misty I'm so glad you called!" she said with enthusiasm.
"Hi Daisy. Look, I've got a favor to ask you."
"Anything for my little sister!"
"Can one of you come back to the gym for awhile?" Misty saw her sister's face drop on the screen.
"Why? The tour isn't ending for another two weeks?"
"I—uh, got invited to the Hoenn tournament. It's this gym leader thing."
"Oh yeah I heard about that. The Hive gym leader from the Johto region got invited. Lily was talking to him the other day."
"Is he going?"
"Of course! This is like, a once in a lifetime opportunity. You don't even have to earn all your badges. If you're thinking about going, do it. I'll come home tomorrow if you need me to."
"Are you serious Daisy?"
"Like yeah! This is something you should really do for yourself. It'll be good for you. I hope it lifts your spirits a bit."
"Why would you say that?"
"We've all noticed you've been really down lately." Misty didn't respond. Even her sisters could see the pain she was feeling. "Yeah, so I'll catch the next boat back and I'll be home tomorrow morning. Make sure you book a boat to Hoenn…or you could always ride Gyrados there."
"I could. It's not to far is it?" Misty questioned.
"Naw, it's not too bad. It will be great training for him. Who are you going to take anyways?"
"Um… I haven't really thought about it yet. Gyrados for sure. And probably Politoed, Golduck, and Starmie. I might catch a few new ones while I'm down there. So expect me to transport a few back."
"Why those?" Daisy asked.
"I don't know. I guess seniority rules in this case." Misty replied.
Alright. Look, I have to go. We have a noon show in a bit and Violet wanted to practice. I should get to the pool. I'll see you tomorrow morning! Love you!"
"Love you too. And Daisy…"
"Yes?" Daisy said looking up expectantly.
"Thanks, thank you so much."
"That's what sisters are for right? Bye hon," Daisy said. Misty hung up the phone, ending the conversation. Misty got up and headed towards the kitchen. She poured a bowl of cereal and milk and sat down at the kitchen table. She began eating then she put her spoon down.
'What if I run into Ash?' she thought to herself. 'It would be so…awkward, so…weird.' Misty took another bite of cereal. 'He might not even be entered in the tournament this year. I probably will not even see him.' Misty tried to convince herself of this. 'Is the real reason I want to go is because I might see Ash?' Misty pushed the thought away. She finished her cereal and went upstairs to change. There would be new trainers to beat today. She pulled one of her Cerulean gym uniforms out of her closet. Misty had suits made for her battles. Some were plain suits while others were wet suits for complete water battles. Misty pulled a plain one out. It was navy blue with light blue trim. She put it on, zipped the long light blue zipper up to her chest, and went downstairs to warm up her pokemon.
Half an hour later, her first opponent arrived. It was a girl about twelve years old. The gym's receptionist had finally arrived and she called Misty over the intercom system. "Misty, you have a battle." Misty walked over to a white intercom on the wall of her pokemon's pool.
"I'm glad you finally decided to show up Mara," she said coyly.
"Sorry Misty."
"Yeah sure. Tell whoever it is to go to the south room."
"Will do."
Misty pulled two pokeballs out of her pocket. "Dewgong, return. Starmie, return." Misty then walked through a door and down a corridor. She turned and opened a door to reveal a large room. She walked in and stood on a platform. A few seconds later, a girl walked into the room.
"I, Amy Arlington of Pallet Town challenge Misty, leader of the Cerulean City Gym," the girl proclaimed.
"Challenge accepted," Misty said. Then, a referee stepped out of the shadows.
"The battle will be two pokemon to each battler. Good luck to you both. Leader, please select your first pokemon." The referee said.
Misty pulled out one pokeball. "Dewgong, I choose you," she said calmly. The girl chose a Charmander. Misty grimaced at the choice. The girl still had a lot to learn. Misty pushed a button on her platform and the middle of the floor split to reveal a pool with several pinnacle platforms floating in it.
The battle ended quickly and the girl left crying. Misty felt little guilt however. 'I'm going to be ready for the Hoenn tournament,' She thought to herself. "Starmie, return." Misty had used Starmie last. Misty walked to the reception room and pulled her ID tag out of her pocket. "Hey Mara, can you RSVP for me. The number is on the back of this tag."
"Of course," Mara said. Misty watched as Mara dialed the number. "Hello, I'd like to RSVP for the gym leader of the Cerulean City Gym, Misty. I'm her receptionist."
"Okay, when will she be arriving and by what mode of transportation?" An operator asked.
"One moment please," Mara said as she covered up the receiver.
"Tell them I'll be arriving tomorrow around noon and I'll be coming in by sea," Misty whispered.
Mara put the phone back up to her ear. "Misty will be arriving tomorrow at noon and will be coming by sea. I believe she will be riding her pokemon in."
"We will have a messenger waiting for her at the port to lead her to the hotel where we have set up accommodations for her. Each gym leader receives their own suite and unlimited room service free of charge," the operator stated.
"That's wonderful," said Mara.
"There is also a state of the art training facility, pool, workout room, etc. at the hotel available to her. She must be wearing her ID tag at all times to be able to use these facilities for free. The gym leader must also attend the opening and closing ceremonies and a few periodical gym leader meetings during the tournament."
"Excellent. Thank you."
"Goodbye."
Mara hung up the phone. "All set. What is this whole thing anyways?" she asked Misty.
"I'm competing in the Hoenn league competition."
"That's great! Are one of your sisters coming back to run the gym?"
"Yeah, Daisy is tomorrow morning."
"Awesome. They are SO much fun. And you really need the vacation, your all depres—" Mara said. Then she put her hand over her mouth. "I mean—you deserve it."
Misty eyed Mara then turned on her heel and went upstairs to her penthouse. She pulled a large waterproof hiking bag from a closet in the living room and brought it to her bedroom. She placed the bag on her bed and unzipped it. Misty pulled out enough gym suits for all of her battles, enough regular clothes for two weeks, two bathing suits, a few female commodities, and one fancy dress for any special occasion she might need to go to. Misty folded the clothes neatly and placed them in the bag. She then grabbed anything else she might need—extra pokeballs, medic kits, fishing gear, cellphone, etc. She put everything in the bag and placed it on the floor next to the door. 'I can't believe I'm actually doing this,' she thought.
"Misty, you have another battle in the East room," Misty suddenly heard, interrupting her thoughts. She walked over to the intercom on her bedroom wall.
"Thank you Mara. I'll be right down."
Misty battled the boy that had challenged her and won. Misty then had two more battles and went to sleep. Tomorrow she would embark to the Hoenn region.