aaml fan – thankies!!
Dragonlord Daoka - no worries I'll keep it up!
sofyh – I'm glad you like my story!
Julie – thanks, updated, sorry it's been so long!
General shadow wolfsbane – PSing all the way ooo yea!
Pokeshipper – thanks for thinking my story is er awesome
Angel Born of Darkness – well you'll see more into Latias in future chapters.
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And now, ladies and gents---
Chapter 13 - Registration
Misty awoke coughing up water. She reached up with one hand to shield her eyes from the bright sun and used the other to boost herself up. Her hand grabbed hold of sand that immediately rushed through her fingers.
"Wha?" Misty squinted to survey her surroundings, "What am I doing here?"
Memories of the previous 24 hours rushed into her head and she groaned. This was really turning into an annoying adventure. Misty felt a dull aching in her hips and legs and heard a moaning sound near her.
"Hello?" She called out, not being able to see clearly with the sun in her face, "Who's there?"
"Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town," the voice recited as if he was being addressed by a competitor, "Who are you?"
Misty smirked and replied sarcastically, "The ice cream man from Cerulean City."
"Well 'Mr. Ice cream man'," Ash answered softly, "I have to say; you have an awfully feminine voice."
Misty knew by now Ash had recognized her voice but was unable to whack him with her mallet.
Instead she asked, "Ash, can you stand up?"
"Kind of…" Misty heard Ash grab onto the sand and heave himself up, faltering slighting in place.
"Can you, Misty?" Ash asked from a distance.
"No unfortunately," Misty admitted, "Can you, er, help me up?"
Ash laughed and shook his head, "I never thought I'd see the day when Misty Waterflower asks for help!"
Misty frowned angrily and blushed. Her vision was returning and she could make out Ash's figure treading unevenly toward her. Misty reached up to grab his outstretched hand when Ash reached her and was immediately hoisted upwards.
"Thank you," Misty held her head and felt dizzy, "Ash could you…?"
"Oh, sure," he put his hand on her waist and led her to the water, "here, wash up, maybe it'll help…"
"Oh so we're at a beach?" Misty asked, falling to her knees and splashing water in her face.
"Yeah and I'm hoping its Evergrande City's, otherwise I'd be in a lot of trouble," Ash chuckled trying to lighten up the awkward mood.
"Yeah," Misty agreed, "Can we hang out here for a little while before we start exploring the area?"
"Of course," Ash didn't refuse, but instead sat down next to Misty and admired the ocean, "what happened anyway, why did you and Latias argue?"
"Oh, that," Misty blushed and simply stared at her reflection, "I don't know, we were just discussing something and out of nowhere she pushed me into the water."
"Oh," Ash didn't continue asking.
"You've really changed," Misty admitted, "you don't argue anymore and you're a lot more mature to talk to."
"Oh," Ash paused, "thanks. You've changed too. You have yet to hit me with your mallet or yell."
"Well we haven't exactly had time," Misty noticed her hair was down, "everything has been rushed."
Ash nodded silently and stared at Misty, "Where'd your scrunchy go? And why are you missing shoes and are only wearing your red top?"
"Oh I dropped the other things in the ocean to lighten myself up… Where's your jacket and shoes?"
"I dropped them before I jumped in after you," Ash blushed and looked away.
"Oh so you were the shadow that grabbed my hand," Misty smiled.
"Yeah, I dragged you back up to the surface and swam until we reached shore. Then I passed out like you did."
"Oh…" Misty felt around her hair, "well we should start looking."
"True," Ash got up and pulled up Misty, supporting her on the waist, "let's go."
As they walked Misty thought of all the hard work she had put into making that scrunchy.
Oh well. I'll make a new one when we reach civilization… Maybe May will buy me the supplies…
--
"We're trying everything we can to locate your 'overboard' friends but we can't search the entire ocean—you understand?" Officer Jenny explained to the desperate looking group of friends, "It's a possibility they've reached land so we're alerting the police here in Evergrande, in Sootopolis, Mossdeep City, and in Lilycove."
"Thank you Officer Jenny," May smiled.
"Yeah thanks again," Max agreed pulling Brock's burning ear.
"Please let go," he pleaded, "I promise I wasn't trying to look up her skirt!"
Immediately Jenny grabbed hold of her skirt and held it down as she walked away, "enjoy your stay!"
The group had reached Evergrande City and had split up. The Professor, Tracey, Richie, Georgio, and his father were headed to the Gilmaxter (which was stationed in Evergrande as well) while May, Max, and Brock set out to help in any way possible to find Ash and Misty. Latias had once more disappeared.
"They can't have gone far," Brock admitted suddenly after getting let go by Max, "we were quite near shore… Maybe they landed ashore here or on the other side of the island, it is pretty large after all."
May sighed, "I wonder where Drew went… As soon as you guys came, he left."
"Maybe he didn't want to intrude," Max suggested.
"Maybe…" May recalled the occurrences.
Flashback
"So why'd you want to bring me out here?" May leaned on the railing of the ferry, wind blowing in her face.
"I just wanted to talk to you," May noticed Drew was fumbling with something in his pocket, "I guess I just want to know where we're at…"
"What do you mean?" May looked up at him and blushed, "Well we're rivals when it comes to contests…"
"Yes we have been for a while," Drew replied, staring into the horizon, "but…"
He turned to May and grabbed her hands, looking deep into her eyes. May felt she was about to faint at this point with the heat in her face increasing.
"..But aren't we really more than that?" Drew questioned seriously, "We don't just battle with each other. We meet up and we talk… Rivals can't be all we are…"
May was simply gapping at what Drew was saying, speechless. She winced as she felt trickles of water splash on her nose. Drew noticed this and sighed, letting go of her hand.
"Sorry," he mumbled, beginning to fumble in his pocket once more, "it was just something I was wondering about…"
"Drew…" May turned to him, knowing what to say, "We are more than rivals—we're friends. That's what friends do you see, they ponder issues together, train with each other, and support each other… You always stood up for me when Harley was making fun or me or trying to mess me up… You were on my side."
Drew blushed at this, "Yeah, I think you're right."
"And we could be best friends if we talked more and got along better," May suggested nicely.
They had been so distracted by their ponderings, Drew and May didn't realize how the rain was no longer trickling but pounding on them.
"I think we should get inside…" May smiled at Drew.
"Wait, I wanted to—" Drew began producing something out of his pocket.
Before he could continue, Brock and Max were running toward them screaming something about Ash and Misty and water. Drew quickly withdrew the item and stepped away from May.
"Some other time then May," Drew walked away with a hurt look.
"Drew, wait!" May tried to stop him but Max and Brock were already pummeling her with exclamations.
End flashback
"Oh Drew," May murmured to herself snapping out of her reverie, "What's going on?"
"C'mon May," Max grabbed her arm, "let's head to the Gilmaxter."
"I sure hope there are a lot of pretty maids," Brock speculated.
--
"Okay so what's this meeting for Boss?" Meowth demanded angrily, "Latias took us out of our hiding place to bring us here."
Well it's all going according to plan so far… They're on the shore of Evergrande correct?
Latias nodded, coming up behind Team Rocket, who looked extremely disgusted.
Now I just need to you, Ho-oh looked at Team Rocket, to head over to Ash and the girl and bring them to the Hoenn League registrations as soon as possible. The sign ups end in an hour from now… GO!
Jessie stopped, "Well, sir, I have a question…"
What? Ho-oh turned to her.
"Well I was wondering how long do we hold this?" Jessie held up a bag that was moving every which way incessantly.
Oh, the hostage? Ho-oh smiled evilly, you'll see, the competitions must begin first…
Team Rocket shrugged at each other and disappeared. Latias bowed and flew away, already knowing her destination.
Fools… Ho-oh chuckled to himself, let the games begin.
--
"Ash, how much longer?" Misty complained, dragging her feet on the soil, still grabbing onto Ash for support.
"I don't know Misty," Ash sighed and set her down on a rock, "we've been going through this stupid forest for miles, I'm sure we're near some sort of town…"
Misty cried in frustration and placed her head between her legs, resting from the walk, "Don't you have any Pokemon!?"
"Nope," Ash shook his head, "Pikachu is with Lily and Kimmy, I left my jacket and everything on board so Brock must have my things… But!"
Misty looked up in hope and Ash rummaged through his pocket, "I do have this!"
Misty caught sight of the Pokeball and just cried louder.
"What's the matter?" Ash asked in bewilderment and threw the Pokeball, "It was the Pokeball you let go when—"
Out of the orb appeared a duck like Pokemon, holding its head in a lopsided manner, "Psy!"
Ash did a double-take and sighed, "Ugh!"
Psyduck walked to Ash and tapped him on the head, then walked to Misty, pushing her shoulder teasingly. It giggled and gave her a sly look.
"Psyduck! What are you grinning at?" Misty demanded, blushing madly and silently recalling a similar incident involving Georgio, "go back in your stupid Pokeball!"
Psyduck looked at her and shrugged its small shoulders. Then it waddled to its Pokeball, tapped it with its beak and disappeared in a glare of red light. Misty sighed and crawled over to it, looking intently at the Pokeball, deep in thought.
"We should keep going," Ash suggested suddenly.
Misty was able to reply when they heard a chorus of voices.
"Why, hello!" Three figures dressed in Safari outfits appeared around Ash and Misty, "We're rangers, would you happen to be lost?"
"Yes!" the female agreed, "Evergrande Forest is rather large, it's common to get lost!"
"Evergrande!" Ash exclaimed happily, "So this is where the Hoenn League is taking place ?"
"As a matter of fact, we are a couple of miles away from the stadium," the male responded, "would you like to come with us in our jeep? It will be a lot faster that way!"
Ash and Misty jumped in joy, "Yes, please!"
The shortest of the three grabbed their arms and led them to the jeep, causing Ash and Misty to have to bend down as the small person pulled them.
"Ugh!" Jessie whispered to James, "No Pikachu AND we have to be nice to these twerps!"
"Don't worry Jessie," James consoled, "Ho-oh promised us Pikachu in the end…"
Both sighed and followed the group into the jeep.
--
After May, Max, and Brock had finished unpacking they quickly went out of the Gilmaxter to get a view of the city and maybe actually find Ash and Misty on the beaches surrounding the island. The sun was high above them and a soft wind floated around Evergrande.
"Hey," Max suddenly said, breaking the silence, "Where's Latias?"
"She has been gone a lot lately," May noted, "Do you think she may have to do with this Misty – Ash constant disappearance problem?"
Brock shrugged, "Maybe, she sure has been acting unusually… Maybe she went back to Alta Mare after seeing all of these problems…"
The group fell into a deafening silence once more and walked down the pier that led all around the island.
"So you think we'll find Ash before the competition starts?" May asked out loud after a few minutes.
Max and Brock shrugged at the same time and they kept walking, their eyes searching for a sign of their friends.
"Well it always was Ash and Misty getting lost together," Brock said, trying to lighten up the mood.
"Yeah," Max nodded, smiling solemnly, "Misty told me about some crazy times she had with Ash… She's been with him since the beginning of his journey right?"
"Yup." Brock replied, "When we split up that day before Ash went home to Pallet Town was pretty… hard on the both of them, you know. They've been through a lot together, and now when we're all able to hang out together, all these problems have to come up."
May looked up at him, "I wonder… Maybe… Someone's behind this?"
"Well not Team Rocket if that's what you're thinking," Brock had to laugh, "they wouldn't go through this effort just to stop Ash from getting into the competition, but if there is something… I don't think it bodes well for us."
May and Max shook their heads in unanimous agreement and stopped as they reached the end of the pier.
"Think we should head over to the Pokemon Center?" Max asked, "Maybe they… got there miraculously?"
"Maybe," Brock and May chimed and they turned heading in the direction of the registration offices.
--
The green jeep soon reached the large Pokemon Center near the Battle Stadium. Misty and Ash looked around in awe at the millions of people and attractions. The Jeep came to a halt and the "rangers" looked back at Ash and Misty, grinning fakely.
"Well we have reached the registrations," said the woman, looking at her watch, "you have 2 minutes to register, better hurry!"
"Two minutes?!?" Ash and Misty exclaimed, quickly getting out of the jeep.
As soon as Ash had managed to straighten up Misty, holding her up, they turned to say goodbye and thank you, but unfortunately the rangers had disappeared.
"Well they were rather odd," Misty commented, walking with Ash's assistance toward the entrance doors.
"Yeah, they remind me of someone." Ash scratched his head and smiled at the Nurse Joy as they arrived at the desk, "Hello, I'm Ash Ketchum, I'd like to register for the Hoenn League."
"Well you're just in time Ash Ketchum," the Nurse Joy smiled at them happily, "Your badges please…"
Misty sweat-dropped as Ash searched his person desperately exclaiming, "Oh no! They're with Brock…"
"And Brock is here!" A voice behind them exclaimed.
Ash and Misty turned to see Max, May, and Brock running toward them, Ash's things in Brock's outstretched hand.
"Brock! May! Max!" Ash cried happily, grabbing his things from Brock's hand, "you guys are the best… How… When…"
Ash was completely flustered until he received a large wack on the head, "Ow! Misty what was that for?"
"Well for one," Misty said in fake contemplation, "there are only 30 seconds left until registration and two… I've been waiting a long time to do that!"
"Oh… right." Ash snapped himself out of his 'blab-attack', "So Nurse Joy, here are my badges…"
Nurse Joy took them gladly and stared at all of them before asking for his Pokedex which he gave her. She quickly connected it to her computer and finished the registration.
"Alright, here you are Ash." Joy returned all his things and handed him a pack of pamphlets, "Here's the information on all the hotels, restaurants, and battle times… be sure to check back here later today to see who your opponent will be tomorrow!"
"Thank you Nurse Joy!" Ash said happily and handed the papers to Max who immediately began looking through them.
"No problem, see you later and have fun!" Nurse Joy began waving goodbye when Brock took her hands in his.
"Now that you have completed your registering with my little friend here, Nurse Joy, mistress of all that is medical," Brock wiggled his eyebrows, "Would you mind registering a date for you and me?"
"C'mon Romeo," Misty grabbed his ear, feeling a rush of memories hit her, "I've been missing tearing you away from Jennys and Joys."
"Ow… Ow!" Brock was torn away from the confused-looking Nurse Joy and pushed Misty's hands away from his ear, "Alright, alright! Careful, that's my good ear!"
"It's hard to imagine you'd have any ears by now," May commented seriously before folding her arms and turning to Ash and Misty, "Okay you guys – where have you been, how have you been, and what happened?!"
"Well," Misty and Ash said simultaneously before blushing and laughing, "Sorry, you first!"
"Okay I'll try and explain," Misty gesticulated, "Latias and I were, er, having an argument and I guess she got a bit angry with me and… pushed me overboard…"
"Overboard?!?" everyone except Ash, who had already heard this, exclaimed.
"Yes well, I think it was a misunderstanding," Misty tried desperately to justify Latias' actions, "And well as I'm sure you all know, Ash jumped after me and well… We were carried away onto the shores of Evergrande…"
"And we got lost in the forest and this group of rangers found us and brought us here," Ash finished, still sustaining Misty with his arm, "Er, I think we need to bring Misty to a room because she can barely hold herself up…"
"I must have knocked against something," Misty nodded and took a seat on a bench near them, giving Ash a thankful look.
"Well we already have rooms at the Gilmaxter here," Brock commented and pointed toward the luxurious hotel a mile from them.
"We have to walk all the way back?" Misty complained loudly, placing her head in her hands, "I'm so tired, I think I'm going to faint, especially in this heat!"
"We could get a cab," Max suggested.
The rest of the group looked relieved at the suggestion and the guys decided to go near the street to haul one while Misty and May waited on the bench.
"So…" May looked at Misty expectantly, "Did anything happen?"
"Why would anything happen?" Misty exclaimed surprised and blushed deeply, "No no Ash just saved me is all and… Oh yeah, I lost my scrunchy…"
May gasped slightly, "The one with the Ash doll?"
"Yes that one," Misty replied quickly, "Now keep quiet about that will you… I'm thinking of making a new one if I can get the supplies."
"Oh there will be plenty of time for that!" May grinned, "Unless you guys decide to get lost again…"
"We'll try not to," Misty joked and began fiddling with her hair, "Do you happen to have an extra one?"
"Yes, of course." May leaned over and rummaged through her bag before finding an orange one, "There you are and um… When we get to the hotel you should really consider taking a shower and maybe buy new clothes? Because the ones you have look a bit…"
Misty looked down, realizing that she had not been paying attention to her attire, and saw there were many rips in the clothing.
"I think I have an extra pair of shorts and shirt in my bookbag…" Misty looked around, "which is…"
She jumped up and remembered she had left everything on the ferry when a voice said, "Calm down Misty…"
Brock and Max were coming back, "I have all your things in my bookbag, why do you think it looks so large?"
Misty smiled relieved at Brock and looked at them, "Where's Ash?"
"Well he's in the cab waiting for us so c'mon guys!" Max exclaimed, grabbing hold of Misty and May's wrists and pulling them over to the cab, where Ash sat waving to them.
--