A/N: I finally have my reviews into the double digits . The chapters are now in the double digits too. I'd like to thank all my reviewers so far and any new readers getting to this point feel free to drop a comment. And now to respond to a couple of things…

Foxyjosh-Looks like Meowth did join "Team Twerp."

Thebenjamin-I am glad you like it and thanks for the review

Antithesis-Thanks for the "Flame" lol. I will try to correct those spelling errors for future chapters. Which ones really stand out by the way? And I do know exactly what the prophecy means since I have a basic outline of this story til the end. And as the writer I won't say.

Cdfe88-I am glad you like it. I am updating now so I guess this is as ASAP as you can get since you just reviewed yesterday. I know what you mean about not seeing a next button when your really into a story. I can name quite a few excellent fics in many categories that I wish would get updated

Ri2-I saved the best for last. First I'd like to say thank you for comprising 50 of my review count so far. Second, I have read your story and I can also see similarities, however, this story is going in a totally different direction. Also I don't think I can write this to be as long as yours. 400,000+ words that's pretty long. Also Ash doesn't report Gio because he doesn't have any proof. Gary was getting proof but we see what happened to him. GOD DAMN FEAROW. Anyways thanks again and I hope you you're enjoying this fic.

And now the story…

Mind Scars

Voices. That's what she heard. They sounded distant but they were there. Her head felt like it was filled with lead. She hurt all over and her body felt stiff. Whenever she tried to open her eyes the lids refused to comply. She didn't know how long she'd felt like this. Days? Weeks? Months? She couldn't even remember how she'd gotten in this state. The only thing she knew was this feeling and the voices.

"She coming around yet?" Asked a gruff male voice.

"No, I'm afraid not." Said a kindly female voice. "I'm beginning to worry it's been almost a week.") So that's how long it had been a week. A week sense when?

"That Gyrados that washed up with her isn't doing much better." Said the gruff voice again. "I checked on it with Nurse Joy. She says the things utterly exhausted and won't eat anything. She also said it got really violent whenever it's let out of its ball."

Gyrados? That's right she had one of those.

"I still don't understand why a young girl like her would have such a fearsome pokemon." Said the woman's voice again. "Didn't you say there where more pokeballs that washed up along the beach?"

"Yes there were six of them." Said the man "One of them was the Gyrados' and another one was empty. The rest had different water pokemon. I assume that's her type specialty."

That's right she was a water pokemon trainer. Why would she have an empty pokeball?

"I still think we should have tried to get her to Olivine City." Said the man "Joy says that we've been doing a good job with her but we're only a small clinic."

"It was a big enough risk to move her from the beach to here." Said the woman "Olivine's not far from Cainwood but I'd like to see if she recovers consciousness first."

"I know what you mean." Said the man "Hey did you hear what's going on over in Kanto…" His voice trailed off as her consciousness began to wane.

"Corsala?" ("Misty?")

She heard someone talking but couldn't quite understand them.

"Politoad poli politoad" ("I don't think she's waking up.")

"Psy iy iiy Duck!" (Don't say that!")

"Hyhaaa" ("You actually know what's going on?")

"Duck?" ("huh?")

"Corsala Cor." ("It figures.")

"Politoad poli politoad?" ("Where are Gyrados and Starmie?")

A single word that she was able to decipher made a memory flash into her mind. A large yellow bird sending a plume of lighting at a purple starfish. The starfish writhing in pain and shriveling up. A large blue serpentine creature freezing part of the bird's wing.

Misty's eyes suddenly shot open and she bolted upright. Only to have a wave of dizziness overtake her and cause her to fall back onto the crude hospital bed.

("Misty!") A chorus of pokemon voices said at once. They were all there Politoed, Corsala, Staryu, and Psyduck. She remembered Gyrados was at the pokemon center and Starmie was…

She couldn't help but let the tears fall. All the memories of the past few weeks came flooding back. She remembered having to watch Team Rocket destroy the Gym, watch them torture the other Gym Leaders, being tortured herself, having to battle against those terrifying pokemon and seeing Starmie's petrified ashes crack and crumble.

Her sobs drew the attention of the nurse in the other room. She came in and saw Misty's eyes open and immediately went about checking her vitals. "It's alright dear." She said trying to soothe her patient "I'm only trying to help."

Misty didn't respond she just had to let the tears fall. After holding back from releasing her emotions for so long the dam on them was broken and it seemed as though the river of pain had no intention of subsiding. She didn't even try to resist the nurse's administrations. She didn't have the strength, mentally of physically.

Three days. Three days since she'd returned to the world of consciousness. The world of pain. She'd been able to answer a few of the Nurse's questions about her name, where she'd come from, but she couldn't bring herself to explain how she'd come to be on the island. The pain was too much. She knew her sisters and their pokemon where still trapped. Brock and his family plus all the other Gym leaders. There was also two of her other pokemon still being held there. She'd left Seeking and Seadra with her sisters and they hadn't been a part of her regular party sense she'd left the Gym with Ash. Now that was a comforting thought. He wasn't in Kanto. He was somewhere in Hoenn doing what he loved. At least he didn't need to witness any of the atrocities she had to go through. Along with the comfort came a wave of bitterness toward the young trainer. He'd left her there. Sent Brock away to go through all these horrible things. He didn't know and he probably didn't care. These were only a few of the conflicting emotions she felt.

The nurse informed her that she would be discharged from the clinic soon. She knew that she should be happy about this, but happiness seemed so far away. Now she sat in her room her only company her pokemon. She'd manage to answer Politoed's question eventually. They seemed to take it pretty hard, but they all tried to cheer her up. Their efforts however seemed to be doing little to no good in curing her depression.

("Psyduck don't stick your finger in…") Began Staryu. It was trying to stop Psyduck from sticking his finger into an electrical socket. As usual it didn't work.

"Psy iyiyiyiyiy" Screamed Psyduck.

("You stupid duck! Can't you go two seconds without hurting yourself?") Asked Corsala

("Headache!") Yelled Psyduck

("Misty quick return him before…") Started Politoad

Misty looked over to her pokemon. She knew she should probably take Politoed's suggestion, but she just didn't feel like it. Psyduck's eyes began to glow a pale blew and he began to emit odd psywaves. Unknown to him and everyone else. He was combining Hypnosis and Calm Mind. His finger was also still in the electric socket.

What happened next would always baffle Misty's pokemon. One minute they where all standing in a hospital room with their trainer. The next they seemed to be in a dark cave.

"huh?" Asked Psyduck

"What are we doing in a cave?" Asked Staryu "Where's Misty?"

"You stupid duck! What did you do this time!" Yelled Corsala

'Umm guys?" Started Politoed. The others stopped yelling at Psyduck and looked at him expectantly "You notice something different?"

"You mean besides the fact that we are in a cave and there seems to be some weird crying going on in the background?" Asked Staryu sarcastically.

"Yeah," Said Politoed. "We're not speaking in our own languages. We're talking like humans."

"Huh?" Said the others. Then the realization hit them like a ton of bricks.

"How is that possible?" Asked Staryu

Corsala ran up to Psyduck and smacked him with her horn. "What did you do!" She yelled.

"Ow." Said the idiotic duck "That hurt"

"He doesn't know Corsala so stop abusing him." Said Politoed. "I know he used a Hypnosis attack but other then that I have no clue."

"So we're all asleep then?" Asked Staryu

"Seems that way." Said Politoed "His finger was still in the electric socket so he probably released some kind of electric waves that causes us all to be in some sort of linked dream."

"How do you know that?" Asked Corsala "Not like you know much about electricity."

"You're right." Said Politoed "But if you hang around Pikachu as long as I have you pick a few things up."

"So how do we get out of here?" Asked Staryu

"I guess we fallow this cave and see where it goes." Said Politoed. "I wanna know what that crying noise is."

They all agreed that Politoed had the best pan of action. They started walking through the cave the crying noise steadily growing louder. Finally they came to a large chamber with many different tunnels branching out from it. The tunnels all had a blue haze around them.

"What do we do now?" Asked Corsala

"I guess we pick one." Said Staryu

Psyduck didn't seem to notice that the group had stopped so he continued walking to the passage on the far left. Not heading the warning of the other pokemon he walked right through the haze.

"That duck is the most stupid creature I have ever seen." Said Corsala

"I have to agree with you but we'd better follow him." Said Politoed "If something happens to him we might be stuck here."

The others gasped at the Idea of their fates being in the hands of a dimwitted duck. They all charged after him into the haze.

What greeted them through the passage was a sight indeed. It looked like they where in the Cerulean Gym. The living quarters actually. They stared at a puzzling scene. There were four young girls the oldest no more then 14. The youngest about 5. There was an Officer Jenny in the living room with the girls she looked very grim.

"Girls I think you should all sit down." Said Jenny

"Why?" Asked the oldest girl. She had blonde hair and very familiar looking eyes. "Where's mom and dad? Why are you here?" You could tell she was panicking. Being the age she was it didn't take her long to figure out what was going on.

"There was an incident." Said Jenny "Team Rocket attacked the Vessel they where on which was heading back from the Orange Islands. They stole all the pokemon on board and sank the ship. They locked the passengers in their cabins and sank the ship. There where no survivors."

"So when are mommy and daddy coming back?" asked the youngest girl. She didn't quite understand what was just said.

"They aren't coming back Runt!" Yelled one of the other girls. She had blue hair and looked to be about 10. "Didn't you hear her there where no survivors. THEY'RE DEAD!" She broke down into tears along with the rest of her sisters.

The youngest girl was still confused. She didn't understand why her sister had yelled at her. She just wanted her parents to come home. But they never came.

The pokemon looked on in awe. They knew who these people where. They where a lot younger, but there was no mistaking them. These where Daisy, Lilly, Violet and Misty. They knew Misty's parents had died, but they didn't know how.

Suddenly the scene went fuzzy and dark. All that could be seen was Misty still 5 and her sisters standing around her.

"You see runt. You see how incompetent you were and still are?" Asked Lilly taunting the little girl. "That's why mom and dad died to get away from you!"

"Hey!" Said Staryu "Leave her alone that's not true."

They didn't seem to hear it because Violet spoke up next. "You pushed this memory to the back of your head hoping to forget all about it." She said mockingly. "You remember what you did the next day? You tried to run away crying to yourself like a weakling. Just like you're doing now. You left us to rot in that hell hole Team Rocket put us in and all you do is sit there crying!"

"Misty didn't leave you there on purpose!" Yelled Corsala "Stop yelling at her!"

Again it was as if the Pokemon weren't there. Daisy took her turn to belittle her sister next. "You're so pathetic Misty." She said in a sing-song voice. "You couldn't understand then and you can't understand now. What a useless waste of space you are."

Politoed had seen enough of this and launched a water gun at the figures of Misty's sisters. The attack went right through them. They laughed at the short pokemon. "Look Misty your little pets want to help you!" Laughed Daisy.

"You can see us?" Asked Staryu

"Like duh!" They said in unison. "You're all trying so hard to save your pathetic trainer from herself. You can't do anything. You should just let her wallow in her own self pity."

"Misty is not pathetic!" Said Psyduck. The other pokemon looked at him confused. That was the most coherent thing they'd heard him say since…well ever. It was a double shock when he continued. "You're the pathetic ones. You three are nothing but shallow valley-girl wannabes who can't train a pokemon to save your life. Misty's a better trainer, better person and better then all of you put together period!"

The pokemon stood there open mouthed. Even Misty's small form looked at Psyduck confused. Suddenly the scene changed again. Now Misty was about 11 or 12. She was in a battle against Jessie during the pokemon princess doll tournament. Jessie had lost two pokemon already and was now on her last one, Lickitung. The long tongued lizard had already beaten Pikachu and Bulbasaur which Misty had borrowed from Ash for the tournament. Now Misty was preparing to call out Staryu when there was a rumble from her backpack fallowed by a flash of light and out popped none other than Psyduck.

"Psy?" ("What?") Said the duck now on Misty's side of the field.

"Lickitung Lick that duck!" Ordered Jessie

"Oh no Psyduck!" Yelled Misty

"This looks bad." Said Corsala. She turned to the real Psyduck "Did you really do that? Never mind I'm sure you did."

"Huh?" Said a confused Psyduck

Meanwhile Lickitung had successfully licked the other Psyduck right on the head. There was a collective gasp from all present in the scene and a triumphant laugh from Jessie. Then the Psyduck on the battle field shook his head from side to side and started moaning in pain.

"Psyiyiy!" ("Headache!")

"huh?" Said the real Psyduck

Misty's frown grew into a huge grin when she realized what was happening. "Psyduck, Confusion!" Psyduck's eyes started to glow a pale purple as he unleashed his psychic onslaught on Lickitung. The force of the attack caused the lizard to go flying into Jessie who flew into James and Meowth. They all landed in a heap on the other end of the field.

"Why you-" Started Jessie. She was silenced when she and her team where surrounded by a read glow and tossed into the air. They where then hit with another psychic blast.

The trio flew away toward the horizon yelling their classic departure. "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off agaaaaiiiin!" They yelled.

Afterward Misty was rewarded the set of Pokemon Princess dolls and had them shipped them off to the Cerulean Gym.

"This'll prove to my sisters once and for all how much better I am than they are!" She said cheerily. "I wish I could see the looks on their faces."

The room went back to being black again with Misty once again 5 facing her sisters. The older girls looked at Misty and began to laugh.

"What's that suppose to prove?" Asked Daisy

"It proves I'm not pathetic and I'm much better than you are!" Yelled Misty.

Everything began to go fuzzy and the pokemon found themselves back in the chamber with the hazy passages. The passage on the far left began to fade and suddenly it disappeared. Now there where 4 passages left. The group looked around trying to decide which way to go next.

"We may as well take the next one from left again." Said Staryu "I think I see what's happening here. We're in Misty's nightmare. These are all the negative things she thinks about herself."

"Not all just the worst ones." Said a voice from behind them. They turned around to see a ghostly outline of Misty standing in the middle of the room. "I don't know how you got in here but you're wasting your time. These are all true and there's nothing you can do to change them. I'm useless and I'm not fit to be your trainer."

"That's not true!" They all said in unison

"Yes it is." Said Misty "I let one of my pokemon die and sent another into an uncontrolled rage. What kind of trainer does that. Keep trying if you want, but you'll only get dragged down with me."

The image of their trainer disappeared and the pokemon continued on their exploration of her dark subconscious. They walked through the next door and found themselves back in the Gym. Again Misty's sisters now a little older were berating her.

"You can't be in the show!" Said Daisy "Your too scrawny and you'd just ruin our image."

"Besides you can't swim as well as we can anyway." Said Lilly

"I can to swim as well as you probably better!" Said Misty indignantly.

"Prove it!" Said Violet "If you beat Seel in a race we'll let you swim in the show with us."

The three other girls smirked. They knew very well that there was no way Misty could beat the seal pokemon. Misty knew it as well but she wouldn't let her sisters win.

"Fine you're on!" She declared

The pokemon watched as Misty attempted to out swim Seel. She was actually doing a good job of keeping up with it until Violet gave it an order. "Seel, like use Agility!" The pokemon complied and within seconds it had outdistanced Misty and was now on its return trip waving happily at the girl as it swam back past her.

"See we knew you couldn't do it!" Said Lilly "You're just a scrawny little runt who'll never amount to anything. And you'll never be in the show."

The three laughed and laughed. Eventually it seemed as though there was nothing but their laughter. The scene went dark as it had in the other chamber leaving Misty standing alone, however the laughter still didn't fade.

"They where right I was too scrawny and I'll never be good enough for them." Said Misty.

"No they weren't." Said Staryu "Did you forget that easily? You got the chance to prove them wrong."

The chamber began to change again. This time Misty was in the Gym with her sisters. Ash and Brock where there as well and they where all talking about something.

"Where do you three get off thinking I'll do a show for you?" Asked Misty indignantly

"We're like desperate Misty." Said Daisy "The public is getting bored with our diving and swimming shows so we needed something new."

"How did you know I was coming anyway?" Asked Misty

Her sisters looked at Ash and Brock who began to cower away. "Brock like sent a letter saying you were on your way." Said Violet. She didn't realize that this was going to result in Brock being smacked on the head with a mallet that came out of nowhere.

"We also need your help since we don't have enough pokemon for the show." Said Lilly

"Now you want my pokemon?" Shrieked Misty

"Like chill out Misty it's only for one show." Said Daisy

"We really need your help." Said Lilly

"Please?" Said all three in unison

"Fine." Resigned Misty

The chamber began to show events moving very fast. Misty in the mermaid costume performing with the pokemon. Team Rocket interrupting the show. Ash, Brock and Pikachu jumping into the pool to fend off the rockets. Pikachu sending team rocket out through the whole from which they came.

"Looks like Team Rocket's Blasting off agaaaiiinn!" They cried.

As Misty got out of the pool the crowed cheered enthusiastically for Misty and her friends. The chamber shifted to later that day with Misty and her sisters talking.

"We like really appreciate what you did for us little sis." Said Daisy

"Yea we like owe you big time." Said Violet.

When the chamber returned to the black area Misty stood once again alone but the laughter of her sisters was gone. The room began to blur again and now the pokemon where all back in the main cavern. Once again facing the hazy passages. The one they had entered faded and now there were only three left.

"Please stop." Whimpered the ghostly form of their trainer. It was a little less translucent than it was before and now could be distinctly made out to be Misty. "Don't go to anymore rooms. I don't want to go through anymore."

"We have to." Said Politoed "We can't leave you like this."

The Pokemon started heading toward the next passage.

"No! don't go in there!" Cried Misty. She ran after her pokemon who had already reached the entrance's threshold. Upon getting close to the haze she was sucked into the room after her pokemon.

Misty opened her eyes to see she was standing in a burning forest. There was fire everywhere. She could barely see the ghostly outlines of her four pokemon standing some ways away from her. She looked at them with contempt. I told them to stop and they won't listen to me. I don't want their help I'm fine the way I am. She thought bitterly. She continued to look at her surroundings trying to figure out which horrible memory she was dragged into this time.

All she could see was forest. Some the trees where burning others where now lifeless and withered already having been consumed by the flames. She could see something moving in the distance and headed toward it. When she got there she saw something she wished she hadn't. On the ground lay dozens of Togepi. Standing over them where scores of Ninjask and a single Shadinja. The Shadinja was floating in front of a very sinister looking man who Misty immediately recognized as Hanson. The Shadinja was attacking something that looked like a Togepi with short stubby wings and slightly longer neck and legs. Misty gasped when she saw exactly what it was.

"Togetic!" She cried. It didn't seem as though he'd heard her. Togetic's eyes began to glow an eerie red and it let out a cry of pure rage.

"Togeeeeeeeee!" ("Ancient Power!")

The forest floor suddenly rose upward bringing anything on top of it high into the air. In a fabulous display of power Togetic caused the whole area to come floating upward leaving a giant crater where the forest floor once was. Trees, Ninjasks, Togepi corpses and even Hanson and his Shadinja where now floating high above the ground at the mercy of the raging Happiness Pokemon. The floating chunk of land suddenly flipped upside down and came crashing toward the crater at lightning speed. Togetic forced the giant rock to smash into the bottom of the crater again and again killing all that lay between it and the ground. Eventually the giant slab of land crumbled and its remains where spattered with the blood of the Ninjasks and Hanson along with his Shadinja. Togetic wasn't done yet however. He took a deep breath and unleashed a flamethrower over the rocks. The fire was so hot it caused the rocks to liquefy and form a smoldering lake of lava. If anything had miraculously survived the first assault it was sure to be gone now.

Misty watched all this in complete shock. Had her innocent baby pokemon actually done that. Had Togetic killed all those pokemon in cold blood. She couldn't believe it. She wouldn't believe it.

Togetic turned to Misty with a sinister expression on his face. "Hello Mom." He said. His voice dripping with detest for Misty. "You don't deserve to be called a mother. What kind of parent turns their child into a mass murderer?"

"NO!" Screamed Misty "You were just defending yourself. You were trying to help the Togepi!"

Togetic laughed heartily "You think I was trying to protect them?" He asked "I'm the one that killed them. Hanson was trying to stop me and you see what happened to him."

Misty was shocked. She didn't know what to say. The only word she could get out was "Why?"

"Why?" Said Togetic "Why! Why not? They were annoying always trilling around acting so happy. They disgusted me. I wasn't happy. First daddy left me but I still had you and then you left me hear because I evolved and wasn't cute and cuddly anymore. You never cared about me. I was just some show thing for you. Something to make you feel better about yourself. You were a horrible excuse for a mother!"

Togetic's words ate away at Misty's already breaking heart. He was right. She just babied him and took him around. She left him there as soon as he evolved and didn't look like he needed to be held anymore. What kind of mother figure was she? She turned her baby into a monster. She didn't deserve him at all. Even though she admitted these things to herself they left a bitter taste in her mouth. Something inside of her would not except the fact that she was admitting these things. Deep inside she knew she was wrong. She had been a good mother to Togepi. She'd always put him first no matter what. She'd always looked out for him even at the cost of her own safety. Whenever Togepi would get into trouble it was always her that went crazy with worry wondering if he'd be alright. When Togepi finally evolved into Togetic she'd been so happy for him. She had wanted him to come back from the Mirage Kingdom with her, but he had stayed because he wanted to make sure the Togepi where alright. She did none of those things he was accusing her of. And there was no way that this thing or these images could be real.

"You're lying." She said calmly "I wasn't perfect, not by a long shot, but I always treated Togepi with love and care. You aren't the real Togetic. The real Togetic would never do anything like this!"

"How would you know?" Asked Togetic "Have you so much as checked on me since you abandoned me?"

"I know Togetic will guard the Togepi just like I guarded him when he was one." Said Misty "You're just a figment and you aren't real."

"You may be right." Said Togetic "But this will always be your worst nightmare. You'll always have the seed of doubt in your mind about weather or not you were good enough for your precious Togetic."

"I know I have doubts from time to time but that's what makes me who I am." Said Misty "If I thought I was perfect I'd never be able to improve. You can say whatever you want about way might happen and how much doubt I have in myself, but If you say that you also have to acknowledge the confidence I have. I know Togetic is strong and noble, he'd never do something as horrible as what you just did."

The forest scene began to distort and gradually started to disappear. There was a sudden flash of light and Misty found herself back in the main cavern now with only two passages remaining.

"Great job Misty!" Cheered Corsala "You didn't even need our help that time."

"Yeah you showed that Togetic wannabe whose boss!" Said Politoed

"Do you still wish for us to stop?" Asked Staryu

"I think we can make it out of here guys." Said Misty "I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier and thank you for helping me."

"huh?" Said Psyduck

Misty couldn't help but smile. Even in the worst of situations Psyduck was still Psyduck. "Come on guys we're almost done." They walked to the next passageway and entered the next chamber. Misty was not ready for what she saw.

She looked at the towering form of Zapdos flying high above the arena. Starmie poised for action awaiting her commands. She saw herself in the tattered remains of her clothing that she was wearing during the attack on the Gym. She saw Domino looking as smug as ever commanding the Thunder Titan.

The battle played out just as before. Misty ordered Starmie to use Psychic, Domino using Endure fallowed by a Full Restore. Misty calling for another Psychic and Domino ordering Zapdos to "Shock that thing to oblivion." Misty pleading with her to stop after trying and failing to return her pokemon to its ball. Domino laughing triumphantly.

Misty watched in horror for a second time these events. She didn't see the purpose of her mind making her relive this tragedy. It only served in ripping the wounds open once more. Misty's other self called out Gyrados and the serpent reappeared on the field. Misty caught Gyardos' eyes moving around and landing on Starmie's remains she then saw him look at Domino who was beside herself with glee. She noted the Gyrados' eyes already started to glow red even before she'd given him the order to use Rage. Now she realized that her pokemon was already at the end of his rope and Starmie's death combined with Domino's cackling is what really pushed him over the edge. Her order only served as a catalyst to boost his rage.

"So that's what happened?" Asked Staryu. It was in shock. Starmie and Staryu had both been Misty's starter pokemon. Starmie had wanted to evolve so Misty had use a water stone on it. They where as close as close could be. Staryu was filled with rage at the human who ordered the attack on its kin.

"Yes Staryu. It was my fault." Said Misty sadly. "I should've returned Starmie as soon as she used that Full Restore."

"It wasn't you." Said Staryu. "It was HER!" The star shape pokemon sent itself flying toward the image of Domino in a monstrous Rapid Spin. Once it got to the image it sailed right through her with no resistance. Staryu landed and tried continually to damage Domino in one way or another.

Misty was taken aback. She was so sure that her pokemon would blame her for the loss of its best friend. She blamed herself, why should anyone else think differently. Watching her pokemon attack again and again Misty came to realize why he blamed her. He knew that Zapdos didn't have a choice, the master ball manipulating his will. She also realized that Staryu didn't blame her because she had tried to save Starmie and she wasn't the one who ordered the attack. This left only one person at fault. Domino.

In another blinding flash the group was back in the main chamber. Staryu was still trying to take its revenge on Domino, but suddenly realized where it was. "Misty when we get out of here we have to find that human." He said simply

"I know Staryu." She said quietly "We'll pay her back for what she did to Starmie."

Now there was only one passage remaining. Like the others it was surrounded by a thick haze, but unlike the others it was shrouded in a red colored mist while. The others had been blue.

"I don't like the look of that." Said Politoed. "Why does it look different?"

"It doesn't matter." Said Misty "This is the last one. Let's go."

She walked to the passages entrances and disappeared through the haze. Before the pokemon could fallow the passage disappeared.

"Misty!" They cried

Tonight was the night. She'd been waiting for this day for a long time. Everything was perfect. The sky was clear so that all the stars could be seen. The moon was in full view at the zenith of its cycle. And she had finally built up the courage to tell him the truth.

They where walking down the path just outside Pallet Town. She had her arm intertwined with his her head leaning on his shoulder. They where headed to the river where they'd first met. This was going to be perfect. Nothing could go wrong, nothing.

They reached the water fall and stared at the sky just taking in its natural beauty. She turned to her companion and looked him in his chocolate brown eyes. Those eyes that she was so desperately in love with.

"Ash" She whispered

"What is it Mist?" Asked Ash

"There's something I need to tell you." Began Misty nervously. "I've been hiding it from you for a long time now…"

"Don't be so nervous." Encouraged Ash "Whatever it is I'm sure it's no big deal."

"Well it kind of is." Said Misty Ash looked at her expectantly and she lost herself in his eyes once again finding the encouragement she needed to continue. "For the longest time Ash I've been in love with you."

Ash just stared at her. He looked at her eyes pleading with him to respond. His mouth twisted into a smile. Not a happy smile but a cold cynical smile. "And?" He asked

"What do you mean and?" Asked Misty "Aren't you going to say something?"

"Oh yeah," He said as if he'd just realized he'd forgotten something. "I love you too Mist." He said mockingly before bursting out laughing. "That is the funniest thing I've ever heard. You love me? I suppose you hoped I'd love you back?"

"What are you saying?" Asked Misty "You're saying you don't love me back?"

Ash just laughed some more taking in the hurt expression on her face. "Are you kidding?" He asked incredulously "How could anyone love a scrawny runt like you? You've done nothing but put me down time and time again. Always calling me dense or stupid. Why would I even consider you in as a romantic prospect?"

"You're right Ash" Said Misty sadly "I should have known better. I just hoped that you might feel the same way."

"Sorry to disappoint you." He said not sounding sorry at all.

"We're still friends right?" Asked Misty the desperation clear in her voice.

"We never were friends." Said Ash "The only reason you followed me around is because of some stupid bike. As soon as you got it back you were gone. You never cared about me or helping me achieve my dream. So to answer your question no we are not still friends because we never where to begin with."

"You can't mean that Ash!" Yelled Misty

"I can and I do." Said Ash coldly "I want you gone Misty. Get out of my life!"

Misty was devastated. She'd poured her heart out to this boy only to have it smashed to smithereens without a second thought. How could she have been in love with someone so callas, cold and inconsiderate. She turned to Ash who had his finger pointed northward back toward Cerulean City. She walked right up to Ash and looked him straight in the eyes. All she saw in his brown orbs was spite and bitterness. After Six years of what seemed to her to be friendship she couldn't believe that he could discard it like yesterdays trash. She felt overwhelming anger. This rage was unparalleled with any she'd felt before. Her right hand tightened into a fist and she struck him square in the jaw with a devastating right hook. "BASTARD!" She shouted "I follow you around giving you all the support I could for nearly five years and this is how you repay me after I share one of my deepest secrets with you? I was wrong Ash Ketchum. I don't love you. I HATE you. You are the most selfish bastard on the face of the planet. You don't have to tell me to leave because I'm doing it on my own. Goodbye Ash!"

Suddenly everything was being covered in a thick red mist. Misty could hear several voices calling to her trying to get her attention. She walked toward the voices and found herself back in the cavern with her pokemon.

"Misty!" They cried in relief

"We saw you go in and then it closed up!" Said Corsala almost in tears "We thought you weren't coming back."

Misty looked around at the faces of her loyal pokemon. None of them knew what she had just had to go through. Her worst fear was of telling Ash how she felt about him and for what just happened to transpire in some form or another. She did feel a sense of closure though. Since she had now faced that fear she felt more confident that she could deal with it in reality. She had faced her most painful grief and came to terms with it. She'd faced her worst nightmare of leaving her most precious pokemon to a horrible fate. She'd conquered another of her most painful memories. Her parents' death and her sisters' constant ridicule. Now she finally felt the pain ease. It was still there and she didn't know how long it would take for it to completely go away, but now it was bearable.

"Psyduck come here." Said Misty

"Huh?" Said Psyduck He walked over to his trainer "Yes?"

"Sorry Psyduck." Said Misty. She raised her fist and struck Psyduck full force on the top his head.

"HEADACHE!" Groaned Psyduck in pain. His eyes started glowing pale blew once more and he unleashed a monstrous psywave hitting everyone in the chamber.

Misty opened her eyes to see the worried face of the Cainwood Clinic's nurse. "Are you alright dear?" She asked

"I'm fine." Said Misty "Just fine."

A/N: MAN THIS CHAPTER WAS FREAKIGN LONG. I was not expecting for it to be this long, but o well. Please Review I'd greatly appreciate it.

Until Next Time…