Author's Note: Thanks to all my reviewers! Here's Chapter 3!
Chapter 3 – Path to Pacifidlog
Ash and friends reached the port just as the ferry blew its horn for final passengers to hop on.
"Who knew," May gasped, breathing and exhaling puffs of air slowly so she could keep up with Brock and Ash, "that the Sootopolis gym would be so far from the Sootopolis Port!"
"Yeah," Max agreed, jogging at May's exact speed.
"C'mon you guys, hurry up!" Ash and Brock were already close enough to the ferry to signal them to wait a few more seconds.
The man helping the ferry out of the port nodded sympathetically and signaled for it to move slower. The ferry was just about to pull out when Ash, May, Brock, and Max made a jump for it and landed inside the ship just in time. They continued lying on the floor of the ferry to catch their breath.
"Well, well, well," a male voice chuckled maliciously, "look who it is; May."
May looked up and had to squint her eyes and cup her face with her hands to be able to distinguish the person standing before them in the white hot sun.
"Drew?" the green-haired boy smirked down at the girl below him, smelling the rose in his hand.
"Nice to see you still know who I am," he reached out his hand to help her up and she gladly accepted.
"Gee thanks," she smiled at him, "Drew, what are you doing here?"
"Well, I heard this famous Pokemon Expert was going to be at Pacifidlog Town," Drew's smile brightened, "and I just felt I needed to go see him and ask him for tips on Pokemon attacks to help my Coordinating—if the old man has any of course."
"Oh, you mean at the Hoenn League?" Ash jumped in before May could say anything, "What's his name?"
"Well, first off, yes he will be the guest announcer at the Hoenn League and…" he looked Ash up and down, "Why would you care?"
"Well first off," Ash responded, mimicking Drew, "I happen to be competing in the Hoenn League…"
Ash showed him the badges, "and second, I know a lot of Pokemon experts and I was just wondering."
"Oh well," Drew crossed his arms and looked around aimlessly, "I don't know what his name was; Pine, Palm, Bark, Wood—"
"Oak?" Ash and May chimed and looked at each other surprised, "wow!"
Max and Brock, who were standing behind them quietly, chuckled and nodded.
"As a matter of fact," Drew said softly, "that WAS his name; you must really know your experts, Ash!"
"Thanks," Ash stood proudly until he noticed Drew was being sarcastic, "hey!"
Drew and May laughed and May continued, "cool, so I guess we'll see you there?"
"I guess so," Drew nodded to May, stood there gazing at her for five seconds and handed her the rose, "I'll always be the better Coordinator."
Then he disappeared into the crowd of people on the ferry, "Why does he always do that?"
"I have no idea," Ash shook his head.
"Maybe he's giving you the rose as a sign hat he has a burning desire to be with you, but doesn't want to sound like a loser so he says something slick instead," Brock pointed out.
Everyone in the group was silent until they all burst out laughing, including Brock.
"Good one Brock," May giggled and put the rose in her waist bag, "but I sure like the roses."
"I know, sorry, May, stupid theory," Brock wiped a joyful tear from his eye and the gang decided to walk around and tour the ferry for a while, not knowing someone was watching from the shadows.
"This is a perfect plan Jessie," James grinned, "now we'll really get Pikachu!"
"Yeah, da boss will so proud," Meowth cheered.
"I know it is," Jessie grinned and they all chimed with a maniac laugh, "Pikachu, we'll get you!"
——
Misty rode her bike to Pallet Town where she was meeting Richie, Tracey, Georgio, and Oak at the lab. When at her gym, Misty usually sported a yellow shirt and some shorts, but when she was going somewhere, she chose a combination consisting of a tight ruby undershirt, a yellow vest that reached just above her navel, and a matching yellow pair of shorts that reached just below her thighs. To match this ensemble she wore a pair of orange converse. On the front of her bike, in between the handles, sat Azurill in a khaki-colored basket.
"It's great to finally go out somewhere, eh Azurill?" Misty smiled down at her mouse Pokemon.
"Rill, rill," Azurill hopped up and down happily in the carrier basket.
"I'm glad you agree," Misty looked straight ahead as they reached the hill leading to Pallet Town, "finally. I feel like we've been traveling for hours!"
Suddenly her PokeNav began ringing and Misty stopped to answer it, "oh, it's Tracey. Hello?"
"Hey Misty," Tracey's voice could be heard, "Richie, Georgio, and I have been trying to think of things to talk about and I think the only conversation left is about makeup and hair products!"
Misty laughed at Tracey's joke, "that's very nice, but I'm sorry to say you won't be able to talk much longer, I'm already at the hill over viewing Pallet!"
"About time too, we'll be waiting for you outside Oak's lab, bye," and with that, Tracey ended the connection.
"Bye," Misty said to her PokeNav and got back onto her bike, "Come on Azurill, in day's time we'll be in Pacifidlog!"
She hopped on and continued pedaling as fast as she could to the lab with Azurill's loud voice fading as they drew further and further away from the hill overseeing Pallet Town.
——
"I wonder why this ferry is taking so long," Max asked, pushing up his glasses and squinting down at the map of Hoenn, "We've already been on this ferry for at least an hour!"
"Goodness Max," May said, "Give the ferry a break!"
"Yeah, but it's not exactly getting there as quickly as possible either," Ash pointed out.
"Although Ash," Brock took May's side, "It doesn't have to."
Max sighed and stood up from the bench they were sitting on, "I think I'm going to go to the bathroom…"
"Yeah, and I'll go get some drinks," May took the money they had and the siblings left.
It was silent between Brock and Ash for a minute until Brock broke the silence with an outburst, "You know it was different with you and Misty…"
"Really, how so?" Ash looked at Brock confused, "if you mean we've known each other longer, then you're right—"
"No, I mean in your fights and discussions, it's different," Ash didn't catch on, "I don't know, forget it, it's nothing important; just a thought."
"Oh, you mean like it's a different kind of bond," Ash actually gave a suitable response to his and Brock's surprise.
"Yeah," Brock said, "it's like you and Misty—"
Too late. Brock spotted a tall blond haired woman his age walking past them, "Brock please don't…"
But Brock was already scampering to yet another "lost love" and introducing himself.
"Hello fair maiden," he pranced around her, "I am you knight in shining armor here to sweep you off your feet!"
But this lady was prepared when she yelled, "Get away you freak!" and took out a bottle of perfume. She sprayed it right in his eyes and continued walking, muttering, "Loser."
"Ow, ow, it burns!" Brock pulled and scratched at his eyes in order to get the Eau de Toilette out but it was no use.
Ash sighed and stood up, "better go take Brock to a bathroom sink, where he can wash off the stinging and his millionth rejection."
——
Richie, Georgio, and Tracey were already standing outside the door as Misty reached the lab.