The next morning, she woke up with a smile on her face, unsure as to why she felt so light hearted. Nevertheless, she flung her arms instinctively over whoever's arms she was sleeping in. The warmth was a welcome change from the relatively thin PokeCentre blankets.

Whoever's…

Eyes flew open and she bolted up, narrowly missing hitting her head on the top bunk. Two sets of snores could be heard and Brock's singing from outside. Her heart was racing and her breath, heavy, as she turned to see who had lay beside her all night without her realising. Messy black hair and an adorable expression she was certain she'd be able to identify were she to be blinded. He emitted a soft groan, the depth of his voice making it seem louder. He peered wearily at her and smiled slightly, shifting himself into a seated position.

"Morning, Mist."

"Morning Ash!" cried an over enthusiastic chirrup that made Misty wince.

"Oh, morning, Keya."

"My goodness, Misty. You look terrible. Did you get enough sleep? Do we need to go shopping to get you a new set of pyjamas? This set seems a little too small for you," then, as if realising this might offend her, "Oh, not implying that you've grown heavier, of course," she added with a fake innocent look.

Misty withheld the urge to beat this girl up into oblivion and forced a tight smile.

"No, I'm fine, thank you," she replied through gritted teeth.

"So what's for breakfast?" asked Ash, changing the topic quickly, having foreseen this battle in his nightmares.

"If Brock's finished terrorising Nurse Joy with his singing? I think French toast today."

"Hey, I wasn't terrorising anyone!"

Misty turned and stuck her tongue out childishly at Brock, who arched an eyebrow.

"In need of some new clothing there, Misty?"

No one needed to say anything more. Misty grabbed her bag and fled the scene to change. Brock turned and went back to his cooking, whistling as he did so. Keya made an advance. Seating herself snugly besides Ash, she wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled seductively at him.

"So, what are we going to do today?"

Ash blinked and seemed to remain emotionless as he calmly removed her arms, ignoring the fact that he'd accidentally brushed slightly against her chest. Keya pouted, crossing her arms and turning away from him. He sighed inwardly, ruffling his hair and cursing himself.

"Let's go get some breakfast, okay, Keya?"

She whirled around before he'd finished his sentence, smiling cheerfully.

"Okay!"

Once inside the bathroom, she breathed a sigh of relief. Well that was awkward. She gazed into the mirror and her reflection gazed back. Tangled red A/n: or is it orange? hair reaching just past her shoulders. Blue A/n: I hope eyes that sparkled with innocence. Tight, tight clothing. She had thought it was merely due to her height, but was it true? Could she have grown larger? Hesitating, she turned to her side and viewed her profile in the mirror. Maybe? Or was it because of the growing she'd done in the past couple of years?

Almost seething with despair now, it occurred to her what Keya had been wearing. A strapless pink top which accentuated the strawberry highlights in her blonde hair and a denim mini which barely did its job. She had the demeanour of a stereotypical cheerleader, which was terribly irritating at the age of fifteen. Rather, sixteen. She was a year older than the herself and Ash, but two years under Brock. Really, it was rather depressing to see a girl so desperate she was willing to hit on someone younger than herself. Ash, however, would have loved to be slightly older. Gary, a whole year older than him, never failed to continually remind him of being the younger one between them.

Shrugging, she grabbed a pair of denim shorts and a white halter top, then began to brush her hair. The tangles eased out of it gently and she brushed it up to the side. She stared at herself in the mirror for a while, then smiled listlessly. Some things just never changed. She stepped outside just in time to see Keya dragging Ash outside, and raised an eyebrow.

"Uh… Ash?"

He turned to her.

"Yeah?"

"You might want to change first?"

Ash looked down and grinned sheepishly when he realised he was only wearing his boxers. Sliding his wrist from Keya's grasp, he walked back to find his clothing. Pikachu shook its head when it saw its trainer return, muttering something only Pokemon could understand.

Keya pouted.

"Aw, you're no fun!"

Ash shrugged his reply.

"Could we stop? Please? My feet are killing me," she whined.

Misty took a deep breath and counted to ten.

"Well they probably wouldn't hurt as much if you didn't insist on wearing platforms when you know perfectly well we'll be travelling on a rocky road all day," she snapped.

Keya glared at her for a moment. Misty watched as it dissolved into a puppy dog expression as she pouted at Ash, tugging at his sleeve. Hearing a small chortle from their lagging companion, she turned and sent him flying. Groaning, Brock stood up, holding his head.

"Some things never change," he muttered to himself.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," he replied quickly.

Misty smirked her satisfaction.

"We're almost there, Keya," replied Ash gently, attempting unsuccessfully to pry her off his arm.

"But I'm tired!"

"It's not that far away. Once we're over this hill, we'll see the city," he tried in a soothing voice.

"Why can't we just rest for a moment."

"It's not that long, Keya. You can do it, I'm sure you can."

"I can't! I'm dying of thirst! My feet are killing me! My clothes are sticking to my body! Look!"

She pointed at herself, arching her back slightly, stretching the neckline of her top as she did so. Misty noticed Ash had the decency to at least look away. Not, of course, that the increased awareness of her figure was due to the heat. Her clothes stuck to her because they were too tight. There was no telltale crease of a bra strap against it. Misty rolled her eyes, disgusted.

"Slut," she murmured to herself.

Keya seemed to catch this and directed a murderous glare towards Misty, who glowered back in return, challenging her. Within moments, Keya had grabbed a poke ball, quickly followed by Misty. Keya looked up into hazel eyes as she felt a hand fall gently onto her arm, pushing it downwards, lightly yet firmly.

"Look, we're there."

Keya turned and viewed gazed towards the city. Exactly like all the others. However, she could tell Ash was enjoying the sight, and did her best to look excited.

"Wow! It's so beautiful!" she exclaimed, gazing at it in awe.

Misty watched this scene unfold with a sense of betrayal, hurt that Ash hadn't attempted to defend her and, instead, taken Keya sightseeing. Inwardly, she fought both the urge to kill him and to cry. Brock, having caught up to them, began to edge backwards slowly, watching as Misty clenched and unclenched her fists.

"Come on, Misty, you'll love it."

Misty raised her head, startled. Ash was holding out a hand to her, smiling. For a moment, her anger vanished, replaced with embarrassment, but it returned just as quickly.

"I can walk by myself, thanks," she retorted, storming up towards the summit and straight past him.

Ash shrugged, still smiling. He was used to her behaviour now. Misty reached her destination, only to stop suddenly and gasp. She took in the landscape with a dreamy look. Keya was right for a change. It was beautiful. The whole town glistened where the sunlight reflected off the many fountains, ponds, lake, and the sea.

"Well, it's called Coral Cay for a reason," remarked Brock, having finally travelled up there himself.

For a moment, the group stood and stared. Misty at the town, Ash at Misty, Keya at Ash, and Brock at all three.

"Can we go yet? I'm thirsty," whined Keya.

"Okay, we can go now," snapped Misty, annoyed at being broken out of her reverie.

Keya flung back her blonde locks and took a long exaggerated drink before flinging away the bottle dramatically, sinking onto the bench and sighing. She allowed her head to rest backwards and the sun to gently caress her gently tanned skin. Misty rolled her eyes at the display. She was seated under the tree beside the pond, watching her Pokemon frolic in the cool clear water below. She sighed wistfully where Staryu had dived and watched the ripples expand slowly, then vanish.

"Okay, we have to leave now."

Keya groaned.

"Already? Must we?"

She gave Ash another pout. Misty rolled her eyes.

"Oh please. Enough with the dramatics already," she muttered under her breath.

If Keya heard, she showed no signs of it.

"It's not that far. We're only walking towards the docks."

"Not that far! That's what you said last time!" she moaned, bringing an arm to her forehead, "Let me rest. I'm much too tired."

"You know," interjected Brock in a would-be innocent voice, "Coral Cay's largest shopping mall is located right next to the docks."

"But Coral Cay…"

"Hurry up already!" exclaimed Keya, cutting off Misty, "Come on Ash!"

As she watched Keya drag Ash unceremoniously away, Misty gave a slight smirk.

"Well done, Brock."

"Thank you."

"This is it?" demanded Keya in disgust.

"Well, Coral Cay is known for its scenic views, not for its shopping experiences, darling," drawled Misty in return.

She was enjoying Keya's evident rage at being led on.

"Why you…"

"Let's have lunch," interjected Ash quickly.

"Why you what, Keya?" asked Misty innocently over Ash's attempt.

"I ought to…"

"Ought to what?"

Keya fumed, stamping her foot angrily. Ash sighed.

"I see how it must have been for you when Misty and I used to argue all the time," he remarked wearily.

Brock laughed.

"Not at all. I learnt long ago there was no point in trying to break up the inevitable."

Ash glared at his friend, who was grinning like Christmas had come early. Then he turned his gaze towards the two bickering females.

"Perhaps I should take a leaf out of your book then?"

"That would be very wise."

"Indeed."

Still he looked on with a chary expression clearly imprinted upon his face.

She knew the reason why certain people were avoiding her. She was well known in these parts. Stupid Gary. It made travelling in discretion all that much harder. Nevertheless, she wasn't well known by her appearance any more than the way she dressed. Her black garments and bells had been replaced by something that produced a less dangerous appearance. Of course, anyone who underestimated her was a fool.

Still, it wouldn't be their fault if they did. Turning thirteen within the week, she was tall for her age but still held the youthful innocence of someone younger. Her long black hair, tied up in pigtails and hidden beneath her cap, was one of the few features which allowed her any resemblance to her older brother. Her eyes were a startling sky blue that seemed to turn a silvery azure when she was angry. Her brother's was a chocolate brown, showing his inner stability and kindness. She was much more unpredictable.

Not that her outward appearance suggested anything of the sort. A pair of jeans, sneakers, and a baby blue halter top with two white diagonal stripes across it. It showed nothing of her inner personality, nor of her status. Nothing. It was merely an illusion and nothing else. Still, she was only young and the thought of reuniting with her older brother made her giddy with childish happiness.

So what she saw made her stop in her tracks. Blonde hair, blue eyes and a dress sense which radiated with immodesty. Something she could never forget. It was still too soon. Still much to soon for her to remember. Carefully avoiding having to look at her again, Mia took in the appearance of the other figure, and a feeble smile began to form. Who else could possibly have withstood that thing with such a vigorous attitude? Misty Waterflower, her good friend and one day, she was certain, her sister-in-law. The one beside her she could recognise with ease also. Brock, despite his… sometimes queer mind-set, was nevertheless the definition of dependability. And the one beside him…

Ash sighed, looking away. Let them figure it out. He couldn't be bothered. To Brock's surprise, he was suddenly grinning, then running forward. He himself turned and smiled, having just seen the figure Ash had run out to greet.

"Mia!"

She found herself enveloped in a gigantic hug by her brother, over a head taller than herself. Laughing, she attempted to push him away.

"Bro! I can't breathe!"

Ash let go, smiling sheepishly.

"How've you been?"

"Oh, okay," she replied, her eyes scanning the scene, confusing Ash.

"Looking for some…"

"Pikachu!" she squealed, running forward to meet the Pokemon with wide open arms.

Ash watched this display with a sense of déjà vu. Why did all the females of his family favour his Pikachu over him? However, this was a rather ironic thought, as his family consisted only of Delia and Mia anyway. He watched with a dampening sense of self confidence as his younger sister paid all her attention to Pikachu.

"Hey Mia!"

Misty walked away from Keya, who was left stranded in mid speech. Mia turned and grinned at her friend, allowing Pikachu to jump away from her and return to its owner.

"Oh, so now you come back to me."

Pikachu stuck out it's tongue.

"Traitor."

"Pika!" it replied reproachfully.

Ash laughed and picked it up.

"Fine. I'm sorry."

"Pika pi!"

"No need to rub it in!"

"Hey Mia! How've you been?"

"Okay, I guess. How's the travelling trio? Or should I say, quartet?"

Mia could see Misty visibly tense up at the thought.

Good. At least she doesn't like her, either.

"Liveable," she muttered back.

"Yeah, I don't like her either," agreed Mia.

Misty looked at her in mild surprise.

"You know her?"

"Yeah. She used to attend my school."

"That was years ago!"

"… No… I just finished last year."

"Oh. Really?"

Mia nodded slowly, staring critically at Misty. Was she ill? Having graduated at 12 was an achievement enough. Still, it seemed a long time since they'd last met. At the end of last year, in fact, when Ash decided it was time to finally continue pursuing the title of the world's greatest Pokemon Master. Misty laughed sheepishly.

"Sorry. I seem to have lost track of time."

Mia shrugged her reply. Her cheery smile turned into a pondering expression, which further transformed into a scowl.

"What's she doing here anyway?"

Misty shrugged.

"Beats me. Ash promised to take care of her. You know how your brother is."

Mia rolled her eyes. She knew.

Heyya! Pity me. I have three fanfics, a lot of pissed off reviewers and under average test results. It is such an annoyance, having to live. My apologies for taking my time!

Angel Skykitten