Ash slowly opened his eyes. Everything was blurry. He rubbed his eyes and tried to think back on what had happened, but his mind came up blank. He was really too tired to think right now.
He sat up and immediately noticed that he was covered in a warm green blanket. He looked around and realized that he was in a small cabin. Sitting near a stone fireplace was a girl with her back to Ash.
The girl had shoulder length brown hair and a slim build. By looking at the back of her, Ash could see that she was wearing a pink spaghetti strap tank top and a light blue mini skirt. She was bending down in front of the fireplace poking a log with an iron rod.
Ash cleared his throat. "Ummm…" The girl turned around. She had dark blue eyes and faint freckles. She immediately saw that Ash was up, dropped the rod, and rushed to his side. "Oh, thank God," she muttered, "You're okay!"
Ash looked around the cabin. "Where am I?" The girl shook her head. "I wish I knew." Her thoughts turned to the boy lying beside her. "Do you know anything about what happened to you? Actually, who are you?"
"My name's Ash," he said. "But I think that's what I should be asking you." The girl smiled. "I'm Lisa." "What do you mean you wish you knew where we were?" Ash inquired. Lisa shrugged. "I mean I have no idea where we are either! I just surfed here on my Lapras a few months ago and haven't seen another person since." Ash was shocked. "You mean you haven't seen anybody here in months?!? You've gotta be kidding me!" Lisa smiled. "No, it's true. Just my Pokemon and me!"
Ash was getting a little uneasy. He didn't really like the fact that he was stuck in a cabin with some girl he didn't know who apparently hadn't been around another human in a while. He tried to get up, but immediately pain overtook him and he collapsed back down. Lisa grabbed his arm. "Please don't try to get up! You'll get more hurt that you already are!" Ash looked at her. "Look, it's really nice that you're trying to help me and all, but I'll tell ya', I feel a little weird being stuck in who-knows-where with someone I don't know who apparently hasn't even seen her own parents in a while!"
Lisa sighed. "Look," she said, "Maybe if I tell you why I haven't seen anyone, then you'll understand why I'm here." Ash nodded and relaxed. "That might be nice." Lisa took a breath and started:
"Ever since the time I was a baby, my parents decided I was to be a doctor. As I got older, they started teaching me medical terms and made me study nonstop. They were doctors themselves, and they decided that their baby girl was gonna be just like them, whether she liked it or not. I always told them that I didn't want to do it, but they always asked me, 'If you're not a doctor, what will you be?' I could never answer them, because I didn't know!
"My parents were also good friend with Lorelei of the Elite Four. Since I lived on Two Island, not many kids were around. I really didn't have anyone to play with, so Lorelei would surf over from Four Island on her Lapras and we would play together each day. Then, she got into the Elite Four and had to move away. We sent each other letters, but it wasn't the same. I was back to having nobody to play with and virtually no friends.
"Then, my parents both got promotions and had to work all the time. They hired nannies to take care of me, and the nannies' idea of fun was to have lessons nonstop. I felt like I had no freedom and that my life would go on this way. One day, the nanny my parents had hired quit for no apparent reason. My mother and father decided that I was responsible enough to stay at home alone, so they left for work and left me by myself. This went on for a while, and eventually I got so bored that I started to take long walks by the beach near my house, always being back by the time my parents got home and telling them that I had been studying all day.
"On my ninth birthday, I was alone again. My parents forgot my birthday and went to work. There was a storm blowing in, so I knew I had to cut my walk short. The sea was choppy that day, so I didn't go too close to the shoreline. Then, I heard the familiar cry of a Lapras. I looked out onto the horizon, and not far out was a baby Lapras, fighting the waves to get to shore. I knew I had to something, or else the Pokemon would drown! I was a skilled swimmer, so I managed to fight the waves and guide to Lapras back to shore.
"The Pokemon was terrified of the storm, so I led it back to my house and kept it in a bathtub. It was small, so it fit perfectly. Somehow, I understood what the Lapras was saying. It told me that during the storm, it had become separated from its family. It had searched for hours, but had no luck whatsoever of finding them. It was exhausted and felt like it was going to pass out when I found it. I told her (the Lapras was a girl, by the way) about how my parents left me at home every day and how they forgot about my birthday. From that day forward, the Lapras and I were best friends.
"I knew I couldn't tell my parents about the Lapras. They considered Pokemon dangerous and refused to let me within twenty feet of one. So, I wrote to Lorelei and told her about my new Pokemon friend. She sent me a Pokeball and told me to keep my Lapras in there until she returned from the Elite Four. When she came back, she told me that I had to tell my parents. I refused because I knew that they'd make me set my Lapras free. So, I began secretly training my Lapras with trainers that were visiting the Isle. Day by day, my Lapras got stronger and eventually Lapras could send a Pokemon flying with a single Ice Beam.
"Lorelei wanted me to keep up training, so she secretly began sending me Pokemon that she caught and knew I would like. Unfortunately, my parents got suspicious and inquired about what I was doing every day. Finally, a few months ago, I broke down and told them about my training and how Lorelei sent me Pokemon once in a while. They were furious. They refused to let me train anymore and told me to release all of my Pokemon! I couldn't bear to do it, so I sent a letter to Lorelei via my Pidgeot telling her about what happened. The same day I sent it, I got a letter back from her, telling me to pack my things and all my Pokemon and surf to Four Island. I was to stay with her until she could convince my parents that Pokemon weren't dangerous and to let me keep them. Everything went according to plan, and I set out to Four Island without my parents finding out.
"However, while I was going across the water, a storm brewed up and the sea got choppy. My Lapras is terrified of stormy waters, and she headed in the wrong direction of the Island. Soon, she came across this island, and we've been here ever since. I sent a letter to Lorelei telling her I was safe and not to worry about me. I didn't make it to Four Island, but at least I'm away from my parents and now I can keep training."
All this time, Ash had been listening. "Wow," he said in awe, "I can't believe you would go that far as to keep your Pokemon. And your parents forgot your own birthday? I'm so sorry…"
Lisa seemed to be in a trance from telling her story. Her eyes were clouded with sadness. She snapped out of it though as soon as Ash had apologized. "What are you sorry for?" she asked. "You didn't do anything! You shouldn't feel sorry for me either. I'm perfectly content with my Pokemon living with me!" She sighed. "But I guess it's nice to see another actual human." She and Ash both laughed. Suddenly, Ash clutched his stomach in pain. "Augh!" he cried. Lisa gently pushed him back down and took the blanket off. "I think I know what's wrong, but you'll have to take your shirt off." Ash nodded. "Anything, just make the pain go away!"
Lisa carefully took of his vest and shirt and pressed a cold cloth soaked in a sweet smelling liquid. Almost instantly, the pain was one. Ash sat up again, amazed. "What did you do?"
"It's a mixture of Miltank Milk, yolk from a Chansey's egg, and Sunflora Sunflower Oil. Just apply it to body parts in pain once every five hours and you'll be cured in a day. It's my own remedy."
Ash smiled. "Wow, that's incredible. That you made your own medicine, I mean. Sounds like something Brock would do…"
Lisa's eyes widened. "Brock? You mean the Pewter City gym leader? Do you actually know him?"
Ash nodded. "Yeah, he's one of my best friends. Why?"
Lisa shook her head. "Nothing. It's just that… I kinda look up to him. Actually, I look up to any gym leader. They're all so tough and they train so hard. I'd love to be like them."
Ash thought for a moment. "If you want," he said, "I could introduce you to him. I'm sure he'd be happy to meet a fan."
Lisa's eyes widened even more. "You would do that? Wow, thanks Ash! I mean, you don't have to, but if you would…"
Ash laughed. "Then it's settled. Once I'm well enough, you'll get to meet him! That is, if I can find him and Misty-"
"Wait, what?!?" Lisa jumped up. "You know Misty of the Cerulean gym too??? Wow, you're, like, best friend with celebrities! And what do you mean 'if you can find them?'"
Ash sighed. "I don't know. I don't remember how I got here or how I got hurt. I don't even remember your name right now!"
"It's Lisa," she reminded him.
Suddenly, a huge crash of thunder rocked the cabin. Ash heard a shriek come from outside. Lisa ran to the door and ran outside. A moment later, she came back in, carrying a pink bundle.
"It was Aphrodite, my Clefairy. She got out of her Pokeball and started walking around. The thunder scared her."
Aphrodite jumped out of Lisa's arms and ran over to Ash. She sniffed him and then ran behind Lisa's legs.
"She's a little shy," she explained. "She seems to like you, though."
Ash nodded. Lisa went back to taking care of the fire. Aphrodite looked at Ash again and walked over to a corner of the cabin where a small cushion was on the floor. She promptly sat down and fell asleep. Ash then realized how tired he was. He laid back and closed his eyes. Within moments, he was asleep.