Misty clambered over the ladder of the pool, and sat on the emerald grass in one of the meadows that surrounded Cerulean. She rummaged through her backpack for Marill, and let it out with another flash of light.

When it emerged, looking thoroughly confused, Misty embraced it in a huge hug. Tears running down her face, she told it how sorry she was.

Ash, May, Brock and Tracey all stared at Daisy, who had overheard them talking, and felt it was only necessary to explain what was wrong with her little sister. "Well, it all started about two weeks before you, uh, 'lost her'. Our Mom, Coral Waterflower, came to the gym, and tried to take it over. Our Dad is dead, so she thought that she was the owner, but in his will he left it to me."

Ash nodded, it was starting to make sense.

"Coral kept telling Misty how her mermaid act was all wrong, how she was swimming in the wrong formation, and how we didn't have enough Pokemon here." Daisy continued.

"It was only a matter a time before Misty had had enough. She snapped, and told Coral to leave and start up her own gym somewhere else."

"Isn't that a little extreme? Even for Misty?" Brock said suddenly.

Daisy evaded his eyes, she couldn't meet his gaze.

"Daisy?" May prompted gently.

"It was awful!" Daisy broke down, tears dripping down her cheeks. "Coral had Misty up every day at 5am, just to catch more water Pokemon. Me, Violet and Lily were OK, we were the 'pretty' girls the 'perfect' girls, Mommy's little babies. But she made Misty work like heck. And then, one day, Misty woke up to find that Coral had been 'having trouble' with Misty's Dewgong. It wasn't, sleek enough." Daisy said through gritted teeth. "So Coral sold it. To Team Rocket."

May clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh, how horrible. Poor Misty!"

Daisy nodded, and swallowed. "Misty was so upset. She hates anyone helping her, she just wants to prove to Coral that she's as strong as we are."

"But, where are Lily and Violet?" Tracey wondered aloud.

Daisy took a deep shuddering breath, her sobs escaping her as she told them.

"Coral took Lily and Violet to set up their own gym, she tricked them, she told them it was only for a week, but she lied! She lied!"

Ash glanced out of the window. "We have to go now, to get her back."

He looked at his friends, who nodded. "Let's go." he said.

As he walked out of the kitchen, he laid a hand on Daisy's shoulder. "We'll get them back, Daisy. You'll see." Daisy sniffed and nodded.

Then they ran out of the back door, and through the Cerulean gardens.

Misty gathered up her things, and zapped Marill back into it's Pokeball. She had to leave, before the others, mainly Ash, came to look for her.

That would just be awful. She pictured Daisy's face as Ash told her. Then she stood up, ready to go, trying to fight back the tears.

Ash tore through the gardens. It was going to be hard to do this, he knew, Misty was every bit as tough as she had been all those months ago when she had travelled with him. But now she had her family to worry about. Now it was personal. She would be even tougher.

Misty walked along the dusty track, her backpack swinging over her shoulder. It was a long journey ahead of her. She would take maybe weeks to get there. But it was worth it.

The gang walked though the gardens silently. Ash had slowed down, and was now walking with the others.

"I guess Misty is really serious about whatever it is she has to do, huh?" May asked no-one in particular, trying to break the silence.

"Yeah, there's no way she'd just leave like that otherwise." Brock replied.

"Just what is it she has to do?" Tracey asked.

Everyone was silent. Nobody knew the answer.

Misty stopped a while down the track to rummage in her backpack. She lifted out a Pokeball. On it was a little bubble sticker she used as identification. She gazed at the ball, reading the name engraved. Horsea.

Flashback.

Misty's arms were sore, and her lungs were aching. She'd had enough of swimming now. She started swimming towards the shore, the edge of the river, a grassy ledge. Then she saw the shadow, and her heart sunk.

"Young lady, get back in the water. You still haven't caught me a Horsea."

"Coral, I've been swimming for three hours. There isn't any here. I'll go upstream tomorrow."

Misty swung her arms over the end of the ledge, trying to hoist herself up, but sank back under the water as Coral pushed her back.

"It's not good enough Misty. I want a Horsea."

Misty spluttered. "I can't find any!"

Coral laughed. "Then look for one!"

"I have been looking for one all day!"

Coral's smiled disappeared. "Misty, you're not coming back into that house without a Horsea."

"Get one yourself."

"How dare you!"

Coral struck Misty across the cheek, her long fuchsia painted nails scratching her hard. Misty's blood trickled into the water, creating a pink halo around her orange hair.

"Good." Coral stood up and walked away, leaving her youngest daughter to be pushed to safety by some Goldeen.

When Misty opened her eyes, she was face to face with a little Horsea.

Feeling the scratches on her face, she caught it quickly, tears running down her face as she injured it.

End of Flashback.

Misty gripped her head and sank to her knees, sobbing.

Ash and the others didn't know it, but they had to reach Misty sooner than they thought….

R&R!