A/N: I decided to dedicate a somewhat large portion of the chapter to a character I felt needed more recognition and a part in the storyline. So don't think it's all about him, because it's not. So I'll leave you to it then. Enjoy! Please read and review!

Chapter 2

Ash and Misty were exhausted. Johnny had been, more or less, tough to handle. It seemed that he used their pity to his advantage, asking them for anything he laid his eyes on. When this didn't work, Johnny resorted to calling Ash and Misty his daddy and his mommy. At that point, they just couldn't say no, especially to a child who could possibly not have an actual parent. The sunset was nearing in the distance of the carnival's horizon. Lights came on everywhere, turning the already cheerfully colored carnival into what seemed like a fireworks display.

"Mommy! Daddy!"

Ash and Misty sighed.

"What is it honey?" asked Misty trying to sound lively.

Johnny started to bawl his eyes out and all she could do was cradle him in her arms. She looked to Ash, but all he did was give her a 'how should I know what to do' look. After a couple of minutes of desperately trying to get Johnny to calm down, it finally dawned upon her.

"Uh, Ash?"

"Yeah…?" Ash asked hesitantly.

Misty's eyes widened and became puppy like. Ash knew this meant he had to do something that he really would not like doing.

"I think I know what's wrong with him…I think, he needs to be, well, you know, be changed."

Ash leapt up in the air with his arms out stretched. His eyes popped out and he screamed at the idea.

"WHAT? No way! I'm not changing him!"

"Aw Ash! Please! Do it for Johnny! Do it for me…"

Misty flashed him the most innocently pleading smile that she could muster. Ash tried looking away, but she persisted, and she won. Johnny stopped crying for a second because he was confused as to why he was being handed over to the immature boy. Looking on, Misty smiled as Ash rocked Johnny in his arms and patted his back. He looked at Misty to see if she would somehow do the task for him. All he received from her was a big smile and a kiss on the cheek. Ash nodded his head and looked at Johnny, determination written on his face. He looked around and decided to lay him down on a bench nearby. Grimacing, he slowly reached for the baby's diaper, when to his relief he heard two familiar voices calling out.

"Hey Ash!" said Brock cheerfully.

"Hey Misty! Oh! Who do you guys have here? He's so cute!" May squealed.

Misty was about to explain when two more people started to call out to them from the crowd of people passing by.

"Johnny! Johnny darling!"

"Johnny, where are you?"

Out of the crowd emerged a tall woman. She seemed to be of the same age as Brock, and she had straight light blue hair that fell slightly below her shoulders. Her clothes were quite simple; nothing special, just a ruffled lavender dress that didn't seem too expensive. At a first glance, you would think nothing of her, but if you looked closely, you could see the beauty shining from within her. The other figure seemed to hide behind her, not because whoever it was seemed scared, but simply because it didn't want to be seen, well at least for now.

"Oh Johnny! Thank goodness!"

The woman hugged Johnny and in return he squealed in delight. Suddenly she noticed the four on looking stares from the group in front of her. Finally, her eyes lay to rest on Brock and she seemed to somewhat blush at the sight of him.

"Hi! I'm Ash and this is Misty, May and Brock," Ash said pointing to each person as he called out their names.

"Nice to meet you all! I guess you've already met Johnny. I'm Vivica…"

Misty seemed confused. She looked back at Brock and saw that he was smiling, everything seemed to be normal with him; something was wrong though. Why hadn't he had gone crazy over this woman like usual? Even though she could tell Brock was for some reason not interested in her, she could clearly tell that Vivica was interested in him.

"…and this is…"

"I don't need an introduction sis, we've already met."

Out from behind Vivica came a messy brown haired boy, about the same as Ash. He wore a purple long sleeve shirt with an unbuttoned sleeveless dark blue tee on top, along with dark blue jeans. Everyone's jaw dropped but Ash's utmost expression of shock showed how much he had been stunned to see him.

"Ga-ry!" Ash croaked.

"Yeah, it's me. Are you surprised to see that I'm here?"

Ash regained his composure and stood up straight.

"Well, yes. What are you doing here?"

"I have a right to be here, you know! Even though I'm not a trainer anymore, it doesn't mean that I don't like watching pokemon battles, especially in person."

Ash thought his answer seemed okay. And he was right; pokemon battles were fun and exciting to watch.

"So Gary, this is your sister? You two look nothing alike!" Misty chuckled and went on, "but of course you can take a look at me and my sisters. We're not exactly the same either."

Gary had noticed her for the first time. She looked so different…

"So how did you guys find Johnny?" asked Vivica with a shy smile as she tried to avert looking at Brock's face.

"Yeah, we want to know too. What have you guys been doing all day?" asked May.

Ash and Misty looked at each other and laughed.

"Well, you could say it was eventful. Johnny found us by the ice cream cart and so from then on we kept him with us for the day," replied Ash.

"Oh thank you so much! You really don't know how much this means to me…I was so worried about Johnny."

Ash started to talk about the Hoenn league with Gary and so Misty took the opportunity to take Brock aside and talk to him.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"Brock, is there something wrong with you? You didn't say anything romantic nor did you compliment Vivica on anything."

Misty looked at him sternly, releasing his arm as she waited for him to answer. Brock's cheery look turned into a bummed frown and he sighed.

"I've given up."

"WHAT?" asked Misty bewildered.

"Shh! They're going to hear us! … I've given up on girls Misty. You know I never have any luck with my charming compliments. I must have been rejected by at least thirty girls today! There's just nothing that is going to help me anymore, so I've given up," said Brock with a sad sigh.

Misty's angered expression became calm and understanding.

"Brock, I'm sorry you feel so sad and that you've given up. But what if I were to tell you something that would make you feel a lot better?"

Brock suddenly leapt up from his crouching position and looked at Misty excitedly.

"What is it? Do you know how to make girls love my charming ways?"

Misty chuckled unenthusiastically at the remark, but then smiled.

"No, but I do happen to know a girl that I believe already likes you, and she's standing right over there."

She cocked her head towards the group of their friends.

"What? You mean May?" asked Brock shocked.

"NO! Ugh, men."

She turned his head towards the direction of Vivica, who turned away abruptly when Brock's eyes met hers. Brock stood straight up and beamed with confidence. Misty and Brock returned to the group, Misty going back to Ash's side while Brock interrupted the current conversation and introduced himself more properly. He took Vivica's free hand in his, seeing as she was holding Johnny with the other, and smiled at her while her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Brock couldn't see it however because the sun had set and it was now dark outside.

"Allow me to introduce myself more properly. I am Brock, a professional pokemon breeder, and may I say you look beautiful tonight!"

Vivica chuckled and blushed an even deeper red at the compliment.

"Why thank you Brock! It's a pleasure to meet you!"

May stepped in between Brock and Vivica, interrupting their little get together.

"Excuse me Brock, but you have just interrupted my conversation with Vivica. So Vivica, where were we? Oh yeah! Your son! He's so cute!…"

At those words, Brock jumped in fright. 'Your son', she had a son. It was all over now. Misty saw this and quickly asked Vivica.

"Oh! So Johnny is your son! So where's his daddy?"

"No daddy! No mommy!" said Johnny suddenly at the mention of the fatherly word.

"Well, you see, he's actually right about that. He doesn't have a father, and he doesn't have a mother. You see, I've adopted him—."

"Wow! That is so sweet of you Vivica! You're such a kind and caring person!"

Once again Brock held her hand in his and she turned a dark red.

"Say…uh…would you like to…"

Misty nudged him in the ribs.

"Would you like to go out to dinner tonight?" Brock blurted out.

"I'd, I'd love to!" replied Vivica with a shy smile.

"Well then!" said Brock beaming, "let's not waste anymore time! The three of us shall go!"

He tickled Johnny and he giggled. Brock offered his arm and Vivica linked hers in his, and they left.

"Wow, what just happened?" asked a confused May.

"Well, I think I have just found Brock a girlfriend. Finally."

Ash, May, Misty and Pikachu all laughed but their laughter was cut short at the sight of Gary's expressionless face.

"I don't suppose you think my sister actually likes him. She just agreed to be polite," Gary said simply.

Misty looked at him with the smallest amount of anger in her eyes. Her tone of voice seemed to be slightly agitated.

"Well, to inform you, she definitely likes him. I can tell. But of course, what would you know about those kinds of things? I'm surprised to not see your squad of cheerleaders surrounding you."

Gary seemed taken aback by her fiery spirit.

"Well to inform you, I saw no need of cheerleaders because researching pokemon does not require that in the least. And they were getting annoying."

Ash and Gary both stared at her as she snorted. Misty put a hand up to her face and smiled. Obviously, she thought what Gary had said was very funny, hysterical even.

"You remind me somewhat of Drew…" May said quietly.

Gary turned around to face the brunette and he smiled.

"Drew huh? Isn't he that popular pokemon coordinator? I've heard of him. So I remind you of him huh?"

He started to chuckle but Misty gave him a stern look.

"Don't flatter yourself! He's not like you because he thinks of you as a role model. Now, if he had Ash as a role model, well at least that would be a bit better."

Misty smirked and now Ash was the one with the stern look on his face.

"What do you mean by that? Just a bit? I'm a great role model!"

She continued to smile cheerfully while Gary analyzed the situation at hand. It looked as if Ash and Misty were the same; they were still continually bickering at one another. Some things never changed.

"Um, guys? Am I the only one here that realizes that we still don't have a place to stay the night?" asked May annoyingly.

"OH! I completely forgot!" said Ash.

"Of course you'd forget," replied Misty with a smile behind the words she spoke.

Ash stormed off, followed by May, Misty and then finally Gary.

"I didn't mean for him to get that angry," said Misty quietly, somewhat to herself.

Gary heard her and responded to her comment.

"Oh, come on, Ash is always like that, you of all people should know that."

Misty looked at him somewhat bitterly, but then her expression eased into a worried frown. Gary had in fact been right; after all, Ash did in fact seem to have a fiery temper…somewhat like herself. Misty chuckled and started to quicken her pace, but Gary caught up to her. Ash and May were still a few yards in front of them. By now, they could all see the Pokemon Center in full view.

"I can't believe her! Who does she think she is to say that? So I forgot! It's not like she thought of it either!" spoke Ash fiercely.

"Come on Ash, she was just kidding! You know she's like that, she didn't mean anything offensive. And plus, you do seem to have somewhat of a temper problem…"

May said that last part reluctantly, not sure of how he'd react. To her surprise, Ash sighed and smiled.

"You know what? You're right May! I should go and apologize…"

But when Ash turned around, no one was behind them.

……

"Gary what are you doing?"

He had pulled her aside into the forest near the path and let go of her arm.

"Just hear me out."

Misty sighed and crossed her arms.

"Fine, what is it that you had to tell me away from Ash and May?"

"Well, I was wondering, if…if…"

She started to get annoyed.

"If what? Just say it!"

"If you'd go out with me…"

He started to pull her close to him, but she tore away from his grip and slapped him on the face angrily.

"HOW DARE YOU! How dare you try and…and touch me!"

Gary put his hand to his reddened cheek and smiled. He loved the fiery attitude she had. It was then that he realized the charm bracelet Misty had on her wrist.

"I'd never go out with you! Not even if I could!"

"What do you mean by that? I thought you were…"

"No, I'm not up for grabs like some sort of stuffed animal…"

"Then who-."

He stopped suddenly when Misty's enraged face became soft and docile.

"Oh Ash…" she whispered.

"Ha! Ash? Are you kidding me? You can't possibly be with that loser."

"Ash is not a loser! Remember, he beat you in the Johto League! You're the real loser, the sore loser in fact."

Misty started to run away from him, out of the forest and back onto the path. She left Gary standing there stunned and frozen in place. Then all of the anger rushed to his face and he became enraged with a feeling of revenge- against the one and only, his rival, Ash.

……

"MISTY! WHERE ARE YOU?" yelled Ash.

"Misty! Gary!" May called out.

They both turned around as Misty came jogging at a light pace from out of the forest. Gary was running out of it a few feet behind her. Misty came to Ash and hugged him forcefully. After she finally let go of him, she stepped away slightly.

"Misty, I'm sorry for being such a jerk back there. I shouldn't have just stormed off like that. Can you forgive me?"

She looked at him warmly with affection in her eyes. There was a problem though; should she tell him about what Gary had done, now that he apologized? She didn't want him getting all riled up again, even worse, starting a fight with Gary. So she decided against it, replying cheerfully and reassuringly.

"Of course Ash! Of course I forgive you, and I shouldn't have said what I said. I'm sorry as well."

Ash leaned towards her and took her in his arms, giving her a passionate kiss, while running his hands through her hair. They broke apart because of a slight cough from behind them. Gary looked at Ash who looked awkwardly at him from behind Misty's shoulder. May looked around, twiddling her thumbs, and at the sound of the cough, thought of a new topic to talk about.

"So, where did you two go off to anyway?"

Gary was in no hurry to answer, but Misty bit her lip and then replied confidently.

"Well, you see, there was this baby Spheal running into the forest crying, so, uh… Gary and I ran after it to see if it was okay…and then it dived into a pond but this angry mob of Ninjasks came running after us, and that's when you saw us run out of the forest! Yeah, that's what happened."

Gary glanced at her with a raised eyebrow but chuckled.

"Yeah… that's what happened."

"Are you alright? Did they hurt you?" asked Ash worryingly.

"No, no, I'm fine, really Ash."

"Well if you were being chased, then why aren't they here?" asked May curiously.

Gary looked at Misty with a pleasing grin on his face. How would she get them out of that one?

"Oh, uh, well I guess they didn't feel like leaving the forest. Uh, why don't we go to the pokemon center? It's getting a bit chilly out here."

"Yeah Ash, let's go, it's starting to freeze out here! And I didn't pack my sweater!" proclaimed May.

"Okay okay! Let's go."

Ash put his arm around Misty's shoulders to give her his warmth. She put her head against Ash's shoulder and looked at Gary out of the corner of her eye. Why hadn't he said anything? Probably because he knew just as well as her what would happen if he did. Gary caught her looking at him and he smirked. She took her gaze away from his immediately and instead looked straight at the pokemon center. Gary chuckled to himself. She sure knew how to draw him in. The four of them finally made their way up the steps and into the pokemon center. Ash made his way to the counter first and he greeted Nurse Joy like always.

"Hello and good evening! How may I help you and your pokemon, dears?"

"Hello Nurse Joy! I'd like to rest my pokemon! And I believe so would my friends."

He placed his poke balls on a tray and Misty and May did the same, each on their own separate tray. Gary looked down at his tray, and then reluctantly revealed his poke balls and put them on the silver tray.

"Hey Pikachu…do you want the special treatment too? Or do you just want to rest with us?"

"Pika, pika pi, Pikachu."

Ash chuckled and nodded.

"Alright Nurse Joy, that's all."

Misty smiled sadly and gave Nurse Joy her tray. Ash saw this and put his hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay Misty. Togetic is doing just fine."

Misty nodded and wiped away a tear. Togepi had evolved and left to help protect the other Togepis in the Mirage Kingdom.- She knew that Togetic was fine, but she couldn't help but miss her dear pokemon. Suddenly, they all looked back at Nurse Joy.

"Oh! You're May, aren't you?"

"Yes, I'm May."

"I have a package for you."

Nurse Joy handed a long rectangular package to May. She took it and read the card that was attached.

"It says, 'I'll be seeing you.' It's not signed."

"Oh! It's a secret admirer! I just now it! Open it May!" said Misty excitedly.

May tore open the package and found a beautiful red long stem rose inside of the box- the rose had been wrapped in tissue paper, black tissue paper.

"I knew it! Do you have any clue to who it could be?"

May chuckled and shrugged. They all left to their rooms, while May stayed in the lobby, pondering as to whom the rose could have been from. May inhaled the mesmerizing scent of the rose when suddenly she saw a movement in the trees outside the center. She stood up suddenly, but then she saw nothing. Sighing, she left the lobby and went to join Ash and Misty and get a decent rest.

……

- This is referring to the two episodes in the Advanced season with the Togepi Mirage Kingdom, but for my fic, I decided that it happened somewhere in between Lilycove City and where they are now, Ever Grande City.

A/N: I'll probably update sometime next week. I hope you've enjoyed this chapter and I hope you have a nice day!