A/N: So…I may be having a minor…grammatical issue…So, I made the choice not to capitalize pokémon names unless they were proper names by following the logic that we don't capitalize cat unless the animal in questions name happens to be Cat. I was fine with this decision until I found out that within the pokémon writing community this is somewhat controversial. But I was going to stick with my life choice and was complaining about it to Aetheron who asked if we capitalize breed names…like Basset Hound…which, turns out, we do…so…should pokémon types be capitalized?
The Harsh Light of Day
It's not as bad with the three of them.
It's worse.
Misty is honestly not sure how Ash had even convinced them that camping was the best option. Well, that's not strictly true. When arguing with Ash there always comes a point where you've said 'no' so many times that you run out; a point when you've brought up the fact that he's going to get himself killed so many times that it loses all meaning; a point where there's left to do but agree and resign yourself to pulling him out of the water when he drowns. It was how Misty had met him. It had happened on Shamouti. It had happened...in...her dreams?
Regardless, Ash shouldn't be allowed alone near large bodies of water. That was a given.
It had taken a full hour of arguing between the three of them before they reached any sort of agreement. By the time they had finished Misty's head had hurt and her eyes had throbbed and she probably would have agreed to near anything just to stop the yelling. Which itself is odd-a few months ago and a little yelling between friends wouldn't have given her any pause. But now? Now it's been over an hour and Misty just wants to do something. Even Pikachu looks like he's going to shock someone if only to end this.
It takes them another hour past the end of the fight to gather supplies.
They need food, mostly, they've run out of the energy bars that seem to be all anyone can get in the area. Brock refuses to believe that they're all that's around and swears that he doesn't understand how Ash and Misty have survived without him. Misty can't help but smirk as he walks up to Nurse Joy asking about fresh food and promptly turns around with a scowl on his face. Though, more surprising may be the fact that he actually asks Nurse Joy about the food. Misty has never, to her memory, seen him able to talk to any of the nurses without minutes of drooling preceding the conversation. So it's weird, watching him have an actual conversation. Weird enough that she misses him coming back to her and Ash and asking what they want to do, because he does not want to eat those energy bars. It's only as Ash is talking that she zones back into the conversation.
"Well...we need food. We should probably get the energy bars Brock." Ash says, Pikachu nodding along on his shoulder. Misty sighs. The energy bars aren't terrible. At least, they're not if you squint...or don't think about them. But she is disappointed. She'd hoped that with Brock around they might actually get to eat something other than prepackaged bars.
Brock shakes his head, "We can't live on those. See this is why we need to take the shorter path. We'll get to the coast faster and back to real food."
"Don't start this again." Misty chimes in before she's even thought about what she's going to say. "We have an agreement. Let's just stick to it? Ok?" Pikachu backs her up with a forceful chuuu and Misty pats his head in appreciation. And they do, have an agreement anyway. Or at least a compromise. They'll try the path back and then, when that fails, walk towards the coast camping when needed. It's not something Misty wants to do, go camping, but she's tired and they're running out of daylight. Besides, after the hour plus spent trying and failing to convince Brock that they the safest way through the badlands was the straight-well, not really straight, it was more a jagged sprint between pokémon centers-line they were carving, Misty is done. They just need to move on.
"We're going to try that path anyway." Ash cuts in.
Brock nods. "Still, we can't live on these energy bars."
Misty sighs and moves Togepi to her hip, subconsciously shifting into a fighting stance. It's almost natural now, standing with shoulders squared and feet apart so she can throw a punch or run as needed. Ash places a hand on her shoulder and shakes his head. Misty takes a deep breath and turns to Brock with a tight smile on her face. "OK, we can't live on the energy bars. What do we do then?"
"I don't know, Misty. I got here last night? Is there something that grows here?" Brock asks tiredly.
"Oh, the berries." Ash jumps, jostling Pikachu so that he runs to Misty's shoulder. "Remember, Mist? That old man? His hands were all purple. He must have been picking berries."
"Arceus, Ash. You're brilliant. We'll just pick berries." Misty smiles. Brock looks between the two of them and shakes his head.
"Did you just call Ash brilliant?"
Misty nods. "Yeah...I was surprised to hear myself say it, but credit where it's due."
"Hey" Ash says. Misty smiles at him and takes his hat to ruffle his hair.
"Give that back!" Ash reaches for the hat, but Misty holds it up just out of his reach-at least until he steps towards her and pulls it from her hands. They both laugh and Brock can't help but to shake his head at the two of them, sixteen and still acting like ten year olds.
"Ok." Brock says, hitting his hand with his fist. "We'll pick berries on the way and get some energy bars."
"I wouldn't pick the berries that grow around here." Nurse Joy cuts in. Ash, Misty and Brock jump at her voice. They've been taking in a corner in the pokémon center lobby and hadn't heard her come up behind them. Nurse Joy smiles at their shock and, seeing Misty's hands full of Togepi and Ash's hat, hands Ash a package of energy bars and two pokeballs. "Here are your pokémon and some extra food. Staryu and Lapras both made full recoveries."
"Why shouldn't we eat the berries?" Ash asks while putting Staryu's pokeball back into Misty's bag. Misty sticks his hat on her head while he's distracted and ducks out of the way when he moves to grab it back.
Nurse Joy laughs at their antics. "I'm glad to see you two are feeling better after last night. And that your friend found you."
"What about the berries?" Brock chimes in, watching Ash and Misty chase each other jokingly around the lobby. Misty's hobbling just out of Ash's reach as he walks after her, Pikachu dogging his steps.
"Oh. They're highly poisonous, except to certain types of pokémon." Nurse Joy replies. Ash and Misty stop in their tracks.
"What types?" Misty asks, quietly.
"Psychic types." Nurse Joy says, mouth twisting as though the word is distasteful. She shudders and that more than anything else is shocking. Misty has never, in all her years of traveling, seen a Nurse Joy dislike any type of pokémon. Sure, just like most trainers some Nurse Joys prefered some types over others, some even specialized in specific types. But Misty had never, ever, seen any Nurse Joy revulsed at the idea of a pokémon type. It's...horrifying. Misty glances at Ash and sees that he's noticed the Joy's attitude as well. He's staring, mouth open, at the nurse as though he can't quite believe what he's seing. Brock shakes his head sadly.
Misty sighs and reaches over to push Ash's mouth shut with her index finger. "You'll catch venomoth with your mouth open like that." She says in an undertone causing him to smirk. "Ok," she continues aloud, "we can't eat the berries. I guess...we'll...need more energy bars and try and find some fresh food at the next town?" Nurse nods and scurries off, returning moments later with another pack of energy bars which Brock takes, grimacing, and together they head out the doors into the cold noon sun.
Four hours later, Misty is exhausted. She's kept pace with the boys, limping along on an ankle that screams pain with every step, gritting her teeth into a smile any time either has glanced at her. It's been a merciful few looks, both seem so caught up in whatever is going on in their heads. But it hurts, and she's tired and she...doesn't see the rock on the path. She falls forward and Togepi trills in alarm. Misty clutches the baby pokémon in her arms and shifts her balance, hoping to hit her shoulder. She clenches her eyes and tenses her arms in wait of hitting the ground.
She doesn't.
Minutes pass.
Tentatively she opens her eyes to find Ash has caught her.
Like he always does.
Brock has run on ahead down the path and is pointing at something Misty can't see. Ash seems to know what it is though and nods at him before looking back at Misty.
"You ok?" He asks. Misty nods. "Can you walk?"
"Of course I can walk, Ketchum. What do you take me for? A weakling?" She pushes Ash away and stands to her feet only to stumble again.
Ash sighs, takes off his bag and crouches down. "Brock found some rocks up ahead and the trail he thinks will get us to the coast." Ash rolls his eyes as he says it and Misty suppresses a grin. "Hop on, I'll give you a lift." Misty opens her mouth to protest but Ash gives her a harsh look. "Would you let me walk on an ankle like that?"
Misty shakes her head, picks up Ash's pack and shifts Togepi to her bag. "If you're sure." She says. Ash nods and she climbs on. He doesn't comment on the added weight or huff or do anything other than start walking along to meet Brock. Misty can't help but laugh. "You know, this is why people always say stuff about us."
"What stuff?" Ash asks as they reach Brock.
"Misty, did you actually trip or had it just been too long since you'd had alone time with Ash?" Brock asks, waggling his eyebrows.
"That stuff." Misty says as Ash places her down on the rocks that Brock had found. Ash ignores both her and Brock and kneels to check on her ankle.
"The wrapping came loose," Ash says. He unwraps the ankle and tightens the bandage while Brock lays out his map beside the two of them. With the bandage tighter, her ankle feels much better and Misty smiles at Ash in thanks.
"So this here," Brock says, gesturing first at a trail on the map and then at a flattened patch of weeds in the forest they're walking through. "This is the fastest trail to the coast. You know? The one you said wouldn't exist because it back tracks?" Ash and Misty share a look and Pikachu sighs, audibly. Brock smiles back at them, convinced he's solved all of their problems. "Look, there's a center on this path that we can reach tonight. We don't even need to camp. And I am sure the Joy there can help Misty."
"You know there's not always a Nurse Joy at these pokémon centers." Ash says after a pause. Pikachu offers an agreeable pikaa to confirm what his master has said.
Brock shakes his hand as though shooing away a zubat. "There's always a Nurse Joy." He answers.
Ash shakes his head. "Not here. Brock, the pokémon centers here are...they're not always…" Ash trails off and looks to Misty.
"OK, Brock," Misty says. "Why don't you scout ahead on the path while I catch my breath?"
"Why do you need to catch your breath?" Ash asks, looking to Misty. "I'm the one who carried you here."
Pikachu slaps his own face with an aggravated kaaa and Misty shakes her head. Really, the pokémon can figure it out, why can't Ash.
"Fine." Misty says, smacking her face, "Brock, why don't you scout ahead while Ash catches his breath."
Ash opens his mouth to protest again but Pikachu gives him a small shock and he falls silent.
"Thanks Pikachu." Misty mumbles under her breath.
Brock laughs uncomfortably and scratches the back of his head. "Alright, I'll just...walk ahead then." He starts walking but turns around just before setting off on the path. "Though, Misty, if you two wanted alone time, all you had to do was ask."
Misty throws a small pebble at him and he laughs and disappears into the path. For a few minutes she and Ash are quiet and the only sounds are Togepi trilling and what they hope is Brock in the woods beyond them. Misty reaches for her bag to pull a few pokémon treats for Togepi but can't quite reach it. Ash hands it to her without her asking.
"I need to catch my breath?" Ash asks, breaking the silence.
"Hush." Misty huffs and her breath comes out in a white puff. The light is growing weaker and Misty shivers as she offers some treats to Pikachu. The electric rodent takes them happily and gives Ash a glare as he chomps them down.
"What did I do?" Ash swats at Pikachu who sparks up again threateningly. "Oh come on, Pikachu." Pikachu turns his back on Ash and chuu's warningly. Ash throws his hands up in defeat, "I didn't do anything."
The forests rustle again and the three of them, Ash, Misty and Pikachu, turn to stare at the woods in silence.
The rustling stops and Togepi coos, demanding more food from Misty. She sighs and offers the baby a few more treats. "Pikachu, Ash doesn't know what he did. He'd be sorry though if he understood."
"I would be." Ash agrees solemnly. Pikachu gives a soft chu and licks Ash's hand. "Hey. I could understand what I did."
Misty is saved from replying by Brock bursting through the leaves not ten feet ahead of them. "Hah, I knew this would connect with the path." Brock shouts, looking ahead. He raises his arms triumphantly. "Serves them right too, acting like the paths vanish." He places hands on his hips and raises his voice comically, "Oh I'm Misty and you have to listen to me, I'm always right." He lowers his voice and raises his hand to his forehead as though messing with a hat. "And I'm Ash and I always side with Misty against other people but we are definitely not going out."
Misty coughs loudly and Brock turns around, face pale.
"How much of that did you hear?" He asks, quietly.
"Well...I'm Misty and always right and heard...oh all of it." She says.
"And I'm Ash and always side with Misty against other people." Ash adds, trying not to laugh.
"I don't understand." Brock says, flushing, "I followed the path. It wasn't supposed to connect here."
"Imagine that. The path vanished." Misty intones.
Brock consults the map and points determinedly at a specific turn, "I think I missed this, I'm going to try again." And he walks determinedly into the forest.
Misty shivers and Ash hands over his jacket.
The woods rustle.
Pikachu climbs under the jacket against Misty's skin.
The woods rustle.
Ash sits on the rock beside Misty.
Brock bursts through the woods not ten feet away. "I knew it was that turn." He says, hands raised in victory as he turns around.
"It was not that turn." Ash says, somehow situating himself under the jacket so that the two of them are sharing.
Brock looks down at the map again. "Maybe a left?" he asks, vanishing back into the forest. Ash and Misty share a look and together slowly count to ten. Brock bursts through the forest ahead of them just before they reach eight.
"Oh, you were so close." Misty says. "Pay up, Ketchum."
"Come on, Brock." Ash whines, "Two more seconds and she'd have owed me." He extricates himself from the jacket long enough to grab an energy bar from his bag and split it in two. He hands half to Misty and keeps half for himself.
Brock looks at the two of them, head hung in defeat, and mumbles, "I suppose we should set up camp. It's getting cold."
Ash and Misty both nod. It's gotten cooler and the light is getting watery and pale. It'll be dark soon, blackness falling like the pitch waves of night daze. And with that dark, the air will freeze.
"Well, Brock." Misty chatters as Ash slips back under the shared jacket, "since you've gotten so well acquainted with the forest, why don't you gather some wood for a fire. We'll work on a tent."
"Two tents," Brock says, nodding. "Delia will murder me if I let you sleep in one tent." And he disappears back into the woods.
Ash turns to Misty and shrugs. "I don't really think my mom would care." He says, standing up from the rock to retrieve his bag. He sticks his head down, digging for the tent that they have.
Behind him, in the woods, the leaves rustle.
A twig snaps.
Misty sighs and slips Togepi in her bag so that the baby pokémon is snug and warm in the dropping temperature. Leaves crunch ahead of them and Misty shakes her head. Brock must be lost again.
"Did you forget something, Brock?" Ash asks with his head in his bag.
"Well, what do we have here?" A smooth, low voice responds. It's not Brock. Misty hurriedly settles Togepi in her bag and pulls out Staryu's pokeball.
"Oh James, it looks like we've found the twerps." A feminine voice replies.
"And still standing too."
Ash stands up from his bag to face them, pushing his hat back as he does. Pikachu jumps to his shoulder.
"Rather shocking after our last meeting, wouldn't you say?" And then that feminine voice cackles cruelly.
"We're the ones who left you tied up." Misty spits, balancing herself on the rock so that she can push off as soon as she needs too.
"How's your leg?" James snarls back.
"Better than your face is going to be." Misty grits out, depressing the button to enlarge Staryu's pokeball. The five of them stare at each other until Meowth comes out from behind the trees.
"Now ain't this cute?" The cat pokémon growls, slinking in front of Jessie and James. "A regular reunion. And you without a welcome back present. Tell you what. You two just hand over Pikachu and we make sure anything we do to you can be healed at a pokémon center."
Misty yawns, "You know, as touching as that offer is. I have a counter offer. You leave and we let you. Sound good, Ash?"
Ash nods and Pikachu sparks menacingly on his shoulder.
"Good." Misty says, pushing herself off the rock, "Then we're all in agreement...so if you all would just leave?"
"Victreebel, go." James calls out, releasing his pokémon. "Razorleaf." A red arc of light materializes into a large plant which whips honed leaves towards Ash and Misty.
Both teens throws their arms in front of their faces, neither flinching as the leaves grate their skin.
"Staryu!" Misty shouts, releasing her pokémon. The star shaped creature offers a loud hyaa before aiming a powerful blast of water at Jessie and James. One which is blocked by Wobbuffet.
"That was cute, kid." Meowth smirks, unleashing his claws. "But I'm done with this now." He leaps to Misty, claws outstretched. Misty breathes out and launches herself over him, somersaulting to land unsteadily on her feet and hands.
"Rapid spin." She breathes the moment she hits the ground. Straryu spins over her head and hits Jessie, sending her flying into the trees. She doesn't stand back up. Wobbuffet disappears into an arc of red.
"Weezing." James murmurs and another arc of red appears.
Pikachu screams and rushes over to the new pokémon and electricity sparks over the smog that Weezing unleashes.
Ash rushes over to Misty, but she doesn't dare look away from Meowth who shakes his head and stands again, claws glinting.
"Vine Whip." James whispers, hoarsely, behind Misty.
"Mew," Misty breathes. "Ash, duck." Ash doesn't hear her in time and the vines wrap around his middle. He goes purple as they haul him towards the plant creatures' mouth. "Staryu!" Misty commands. The star pokémon spins into Meowth, slamming him into the rocks Misty had been sitting on only moments before. Meowth struggles to sit up but Misty nods and Staryu drops out of the air onto the cat. "Stay down," Misty hisses.
"Not a chance, doll." Meowth replies. Misty sighs and throws a rock at him, smiling when she hears it clank satisfyingly against the medallion on Meowth's head. Convinced that the cat is down, Misty turns to find Pikachu and Ash.
There's a rustling to Misty's left and a gasp, but she can't focus on that, not right now. Jessie is down and Wobbuffet recalled, and Meowth is down but James is in front of her and Victreebel is up and Ash is choking for breath.
Her vision swims.
Right. Razorleaf. Those must have cut deep.
This has to end.
"Pikachu!" She shouts. The electric rodent finishes Weezing with one final jolt and runs over to Misty under the red arc recalling the fainted pokémon. "Thunderbolt." She says, deadly calm with arm stretched towards James. Pikachu nods and unleashes a large bolt of thunder, hitting James squarely in the chest. The blue haired trainer goes down near instantly and Victreebel is recalled in an arc of red.
Misty rushes to Ash and help him sit up as he chokes for air.
"Ash." She says, hoarsely. Her throat is raw and her ankle is throbbing and her vision is fuzzy around the edges. Ash reaches a hand towards her, smiling.
"You popped your stitches." He says once he's caught his breath.
Misty smiles sadly. "I'm ok." She says.
'You always are. What are we going to do with them?" Ash asks, nodding his chin towards the passed out members of Team Rocket.
Misty opens her mouth to reply but freezes at the sound of retching somewhere to her left. Slowly she looks up and locks eyes with Brock. His eyes are wide and his skin is pale and for the millionth time in the day he's looking at them like he doesn't quite believe who they are.
"What?" Brock starts.
Misty hushes him. "Later. First, we tie these three up. Then we get as far away from here as we can. Then we set up camp."
"But..."Brock starts again, only to be cut off by Ash.
"Later. Right now...we follow Misty's plan." And he walks to his bag and pulls a rope. Together he and Misty tie Team Rocket to a tree while Brock looks on, shuddering in the quickly falling night.