(( It seems my readers were surprised about Trinity. –cackles evilly- Yes, indeed. She works for Team Magma. Don't ask me how she became an Admin so quick, when she's fourteen. I'll probably explain it later. Maybe you can guess what Team Magma is going to do. Maybe you can't. I know, but I'm not telling you-yet. And I do not know how long the journey will be in this world. I'm hoping not too long, as I am hoping to make another story soon. ))

Chapter Eleven: Are We There Yet?

" Are we there yet?" asked a tired and very bored Bry, walking behind Ash, Brock, May, and Max, who seemed fine, except for May, who was lagging a bit behind the boys in front. The rest of the gang walked behind Bry, also looking tired, except Anna, who was riding Apology Accepted.

" Do you see Fortree City yet?" Ash asked, looking back at him.

" Umm. Well, I don't know what Fortree City looks like." Bry responded, looking around absently.

" Well, do you see a City anywhere?"

" No."

" Then we're not there yet." Ash glared," Now shut up. I think we're almost there." He then looked towards Brock," Are we?"

Brock studied his map carefully," Yes. We should be there soon. Less than an hour away."

" I'm tired." Matthew complained.

" I can't feel my feet." Miro moaned.

" My feet hurt." William whined, staring at his feet.

" My feet are going to fall off." Ricca complained.

" I think Apology Accepted might have a rock in his hoof." Anna said, concerned a bit as she petted Apology Accepted's flank.

" Oh yes. We must stop for the fire horse. All will go to hell if your horsie is hurt." Bry said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

Anna narrowed her eyes, and kicked her stallion's sides. He snorted, and went off at a trot, easily catching up with Bry's slow pace. The stallion then trotted behind Bry, and grabbed hold of his shirt by the collar, picking him off the group easily. It took a few moments off walking in mid-air to finally realize Bry was getting anywhere. He then looked around, confused, and stared down, now a few feet off the ground," Hey! Get your damn horse to let me go!"

Everyone had stopped now, and watched amusingly as the stallion snorted, beginning to chew on Bry's shirt to show him to shut up.

" Hey! Your horse is going to ruin my shirt!" Bry protested, squirming," Make him let go now Anna!"

" Not until you say you're sorry to him. You've hurt his feelings." Anna retorted, crossing her arms.

" Oh come on. I'm not going to apologize to your horse. Let go boy! Let go now before I really hurt you." Bry threatened.

Apology Accepted snorted, beginning to shake Bry a bit, showing him he had full power of him now.

" Ah quit it! Hey Ash! Get your Pika-Thing to do something about this pesky horse!" Bry ordered, being shaken by the stallion.

Pikachu stared blankly at Bry, then looked to Ash. It then returned its gaze to Bry, still hanging helplessly from the stallion's jaws. " Pika?"

" Yes, Pika. Now get me down." Bry replied.

Pikachu scampered towards the stallion, jumping onto his head, and skillfully missing the horn. Pikachu then looked down at the stallion, and reached its tail down to touch Bry's head.

" What are you doing? Just make him let go." Bry demanded.

Pikachu nodded," Pika." Its cheeks began to… spark with electricity, as it yelled," Pikachu!" and a blast of lightning shot through its tail.

Bry yelped madly, strangling with all his might as his body began to glow bright yellow, shocks sparking from him. Finally, the lightning bolt ended, resulting in Bry, hanging lifelessly there in Apology Accepted's jaws. Apology Accepted looked around with shifty eyes, and dropped Bry, backing away.

" We get fireworks too! Wow!" Ricca laughed. " He deserved it anyway."

Matthew picked up a stick, and began to poke Bry," Anyone in there? Bryson?"

" He's knocked out cold. That Pikachu can kick ass." William observed, chuckling.

Cecilia gasped in shock, and looked away, sniffling.

" Oh come on. I doubt Bry could die from that Cecilia." Anna responded, turning Apology Accepted to face her back.

Bry began to twitch, as Matthew stepped back, nodding. " He's alive. Just took some good poking." He grinned, then turned around," Does anyone know if he'll be able to sit up though? That Pikachu sure can shock things."

Pikachu looked over to Ash, to see his face full of anger. Pikachu's ears fell downwards as it looked away from Ash, tail low. It then began to walk away, muttering," Pika." With sadness in its tone as it sat on a log.

Corphish tilted its head at Pikachu, and crab walked over Pikachu, jumping onto the log. It then placed its pincer on Pikachu's shoulder," Corphish." Corphish said, trying to comfort Pikachu.

Bry then opened his eyes," That freaking hurt." Bry said obviously, trying to sit up.

" Sorry Bry. Pikachu just doesn't know its own strength." Ash admitted," Are you alright?"

" How the hell should I know? Can you break anything when you get shocked by lightning?" Bry asked, feelings his arms and legs.

" No, I don't think so." May said, thinking. " I've never really been shocked by lightning before."

Bry then managed to stand up, dusting himself off, he jumped a bit," Whoa. I'm all shocky. So, are we gonna rest or what?" Bry asked, looking to Brock and Ash.

Brock agreed," I'm sure we're all tired. And I need to make sure we've got everything sorted out, and the maps need to be sure they aren't damaged or anything. If something happens to them, we'll probably get lost and never find our way to Lilycove."

Ash sighed," I guess we can."

Everyone cried out in joy, as they all walked towards a campsite, and everyone sat down. Anna took out a hoof pick that she always carried around for one reason or another, and checked Apology Accepted's hoofs, scraping out dirt and rocks. Apology Accepted then began to graze and drink happily, making sure not to fall in the river.

Pikachu and Corphish walked over, sitting on a tree trunk as Brock began to make a fire.

" Hmmm. I can't get this to work right." Brock said, trying without success to create a flame," Hey Anna. Can you get your Rapidash over here?" He called.

Apology Accepted raised his head, turning around to face Brock. " Umm. Okay Brock." Anna said, leading her stallion towards Brock, wondering what he wanted to do.

" Okay. Now you might want to step back Anna. Just tell him 'Ember'."

Anna stepped back a bit, and said a bit confused," Ember."

Rapidash snorted, flaring his nostrils. His mane and tail shot out straight, as he opened his jaws, a shot of flame poured out over the wood, catching fire instantly. Anna watched with wide eyes," Oh my! He can do that?" she asked, looking at Brock.

Brock nodded," Of course. He's a fire type, isn't he? He has a set of attacks that he can use."

" Wow." Anna said, amazed," Our horses sure don't do that."

Brock gave a nod, then grabbed out a few pots and pans, setting them down, he went over to the river and dumped water into the pot. Returning, he set the pot over the raging fire, beginning to cut vegetables with amazing speed. Anna watched, a bit impressed.

" Wow. You sure can cut vegetables." Anna said, watching him.

Brock grinned," Well honey, I'm used to it. If you travel with Ash, he never stops eating. It's amazing really how much he eats."

Anna looked a bit stern at Brock calling her honey, and Matthew turned his head, glaring, but Anna sighed," My mom can cook too. Actually, all my family have been great cooks. My Grandpa owns the Inn where I come from, so he has to cook a lot."

" Wow. That's pretty neat. I just picked up cooking. I used to be a Gym Leader of Rock Types, but when I basically gave Ash the badge, I decided to travel along with him." Brock started to cut carrots with ease, his hands quick. " So, do you cook like the rest of your family?"

" Not really. I guess I got some of my genes from my mom, but I have a great interest in animals from my dad. He's a farmer, so we have livestock and stuff."

Matthew mumbled something under his breath as Anna and Brock made conversation, William looking up from staring at his feet," Are Anna and Brock getting along?" William asked, looking from Anna and Brock to Matthew.

" Looks like it." Bry observed, sitting with them," Are we going to have a fight now? I'd like to see one." Bry smirked, looking to Matthew as well.

Matthew growled," Shut up you two. They could never get along. Brock is too…girly."

" Girly? He flirts with every girl in a two-mile radius except May! I call that a guy." Bry pointed out.

" He cooks! And from the looks of it, if Ash can eat as much as Brock says he can, Brock must cook pretty well. I know a fact that boys can't cook worth crap, and from experience. Girls are the only ones who can. It's just that girls seem to have some power over a stove, when guys can barely get near one." Matthew crossed his arms, nodding.

" I agree with that Matthew." Everyone turned to see Miro. " We guys just can't manage a stove."

" Or a blender." William pointed out.

" Or a microwave." Matthew joined in.

" Or a knife." Bry said. Everyone turned to look at Bry," What?"

Everyone shook their heads, then turned to look at Anna and Brock, who were talking happily.

" I'm sure they won't get along that well." William encouraged.

" You only say that because Ricca isn't getting flirted with." Bry pointed out. " If Brock was doing that, you'd be just as pissed as Matthew."

" Oh be quiet you two." Miro said with a groan," This is getting us no where."

" Were we trying to get somewhere in the first place?" William asked.

" Nope." The three boys said in unison.

" Thought so. Well, just call her over here, and make up some excuse of wanting her over here. That way, she isn't near Brock." William suggested.

" But what do I say as an excuse?" Matthew asked, looking to William.

" Just make something up. Like some crap about horses. She'll go hyper, and never shut up, which is good, because then Brock won't get the chance to talk to her." Bry snickered.

" Okay. I'll just make something up." Matthew said, sighing," Thanks guys."

" No problem."

Matthew then gulped, and called," Hey Anna! Come over here!"

Anna looked up, and yelled," Coming!" She looked to Brock, gave a slight wave, and ran over towards the boys. Brock looked disappointed, and narrowed his eyes, if that is possible with Brock, towards Matthew. Anna smiled, reaching them," What Matt?" she asked.

Matthew stuttered," U-Um. I need to ask you something."

" What?"
" U-Ummmm… who won the quarter of a million dollars and the eight Thoroughbred Race Horses on American Dream Derby? I didn't get to see the finale." (( For those of you who didn't get to see it, here's your chance to know who won! ))

Anna replied with a smile," You didn't get to see that? It was the best! Everyone chose their horses, and guess who got back in? David, Susan, Deanna, Chris, and Dean! Seems everyone voted for them to come back in for the final race with Levar, Eric, and Sara. I was happy, because those were all the people I liked, especially Deanna! Anyway, they all chose their horses, Deanna chose Avenue Of Knowlege, one of my favourites. Anyway, after a performance from LeAnn Rhymes (how do you spell her name anyway?), they talked a bit about the horses, and finally had the race. It was really down to the wire, but Avenue kept going fast, and-"

This lasted for I don't know how long. Anna went on and on and on for what? Two hours? Basically, in a matter of five minutes, Matthew and the guys had lost all interest, and began doing their own thing while Anna talked. Bry began to play with a rubber band, while Miro nodded his head and kicked a rock. William began to hum a song, and Matthew just nodded his head to the beat of William's humming.

" So Deanna won with Avenue, and they got the money and the horses, along with Avenue, and it was great! Does that answer your question Matthew?" she asked.

Matthew yawned, nodding," Yeah. Thanks Anna."

" Can we get going now?" Ash called, looking up from playing crochet with Pikachu, Corphish, May, Skitty, and Beautifly. " It's been over two hours!"

" Yeah Ash. Come on everyone. Let's get going." Bry roused, getting up, everyone doing the same. Anna ran over and jumped on Apology Accepted, and everyone moved out onto the path again, setting off.

In an hour, Fortree finally came into view, Bry running towards it while everyone watched amused as he crashed into a nearby tree. Bry quickly recovered, and continued running, crashing into a couple people, a rock, another tree, and a building just as he entered the city. Everyone followed along at their own pace, and gasped as they saw the houses over trees, with ladders leading up to them. A Pokemon Center came into view quickly, with a Poke Mart across from it. There were only a few houses, and the top of a large building extended from a huge group of trees. This was obviously the Gym.

" We're here, finally!" Ricca yelled in triumph. " So, hopefully, we'll be near Lilycove soon."

Brock shook his head, studying the map," Sadly not. Route 120 is known for its weather, and it's very long. We could be there for a long time."

Everyone groaned, shaking their heads. Mumbles like 'Damn it' and 'Oh man' and 'Oh come on!' came from the large group of people.

" Well come on then everyone. Let's go into the Pokemon Center and rest for a bit before we start off. I'll have to come back here later anyway to get my badge."

" Why don't right after we stop to rest you get your badge? I don't think we're in much of a hurry." Max suggested. " And besides, our new friends have never seen a Gym Battle. It would do them some good to see one. It'll also help them understand Pokemon a bit better."

Veloci crowed his agreement, seeming to have taken a liking to Max, as he now followed him around.

" Okay then! Everyone, to the Pokemon Center!" Ash yelled, pointing towards the red building. Everyone yelled 'Hooray' and walked clumsily in, the doors opening as they were automatic and closing behind them.