Thanks for reading everyone! This is my first fanfic, and I hope you all enjoy it!

Her heart thumped wildly in her chest. Misty thought May was something to worry about and here is this girl, clinging to Ash like she belonged there. Tracey seemed to notice her immediate discomfort, but he didn't do anything to help, instead he made it worse.

"Ash! Brock!" he called, waving his arms emphatically. Misty just wanted to shrink inside of herself and disappear. She inwardly wished that she never came to Sinnoh. Who was she kidding? Why would Ash wait for her? It's been years, of course he's moved on. This realistic approach did nothing to lift her spirits. Once Ash turned around, her heart sank deep into her stomach.

"Hey Tracey!" Ash yelled, running over to him. Then he noticed the suddenly bashful redhead beside him. "Misty?" his smile faded almost immediately, replaced with a shocked expression. Misty thought her heart was going to explode. He wasn't even excited to see her.

Brock grinned widely, "I can't believe it, what're you guys doing here?"

"Well," Tracey started and walked off with Brock to fill him in with the story of how they came to Sinnoh, leaving Misty and Ash alone gawking at each other.

"Whose this?" the blue haired girl stepped beside Ash, blinking her large eyes at Misty, sizing her up. Misty was unnerved by her scrutinizing; she looked like a hungry growlithe ready to pounce on the nearest caterpie.

"Oh." Ash sounded, recovering. "This is Misty; she's an old friend from Kanto. Misty, this is Dawn. She's been traveling with us for a while – she's a coordinator."

"I've already won five ribbons. We're headed to the Grand Festival. I'm so excited; I just know I'm going to win it." Dawn squealed.

I bet you're a coordinator. You have to be strong to be a trainer. Misty sneered inwardly, but nevertheless smiled on the outside and said, "That's great."

Dawn continued to babble about her last contest and how she proceeded to win, but Misty droned her voice out. Ash was watching her as if he couldn't get sick of reliving this contest, he was so enthused. Yet again, that was Ash, always positive when it comes to the betterment of others. Misty was glad that aspect of him hasn't changed, while physically he changed completely. He was a good head taller than Misty now, and there was a muscular tone to his body that could be noticed even with his clothing. His hair remained the same, and he still wore his traditional hat. There was a unmistakable glint in his dark eyes that brought all of the smothered feelings aflame.

"Your pokemon are all healed, please come see us again," Nurse Joy said to Ash, handing him a tray of his pokeballs. Pikachu hopped onto Misty's shoulder when it saw her and cuddled against her cheek.

"Pikapi!"

"Oh, Pikachu!" Misty gushed, hugging the electric mouse close.

"Looks like Pikachu missed you too," Ash said, rubbing the back of his head. Too? Misty smiled, trying to pretend she didn't notice the comment, but her heart wouldn't let her forget it. "Come on; let's go get something to eat. I'm starving."

Misty's spirits were healing, he didn't change too much then, over the years they were separated. She found she could actually smile now. He called Tracey and Brock over, and the group headed out of the pokecenter and into town. Misty marveled at the unique buildings. Brock began to tell her about his croagunk, and how the pokemon took Misty's place when it came to his chasing girls. Misty never doubted Brock's habits would stay the same. He couldn't resist a beautiful woman. She remembered how bitter she felt every time Brock sprinted off at some girl, wasn't she pretty enough to get his attention?

"Is that why you never pursued Misty? Because she always hit you when you tried to pursue other women?" Tracey asked, mimicking her thoughts.

Misty flushed a deep red. Brock laughed and said, "Partially, and, well, Ash –"

He was interrupted by a loud explosion. Smoke billowed around them, and two silhouettes appeared in the thick miasma. Misty narrowed her eyes, trying to make out the shapes. When the fog cleared away, there stood the two imposing figures of Jessie and James. But in front of her, Ash's arms went up and around Dawn almost instinctively, as if it were his job to protect her. He never did that for me… Misty lamented, feeling the constriction of her heart again. Stoic grey eyes watched as Ash pushed Dawn out of the way of a vine whip. She was so distracted by his saving her that she didn't even feel the slick vine slip around her waist until she was being dragged through the air over the heads of her friends.

"So the little red twerp decided to come back? Well, if you want her, you'll have to hand over your Pikachu!" Jessie exclaimed, sounding her signature laugh. Misty was almost impressed with their tactics, they had never kidnapped any of them before, they only futilely battled against them.

"Give it up, Team Rocket! Just let her go!" Ash yelled, an arm held out to steady Dawn. Tracey and Brock looked more distressed than Ash did about her predicament. Her broken heart overruled any fear that she felt being in their hands.

Jessie threw a dark grey capsule towards the ground and the smoke clouded out from it. Misty started coughing violently as she was carried away by James' strange pokemon. Misty was so overwhelmed from the fumes, that her vision went completely black.

When she woke up, her head was throbbing, and there was soreness in her wrists that stung every time her body moved. She felt something slick and wet against her cheek, and when she opened her eyes from the darkness, all she saw was more shadows. She couldn't remember the last thing that had happened, or how she had come to be without sight. Misty tried to rub her eyes, but her hands were tied behind her back, with a rough rope that cut into her skin. A miserable groan escaped her lips, as her senses were coming to their awareness. The wetness she felt was a stone wall, and beneath her the grimy feeling was repeated. Distinct shadows revealed themselves, and when she focused, she could see a very distant light flickering in the distance. Faintly, what happened slowly came back to her: the black smoke, the tight wrap of a vine, Ash protecting another girl.

She tried to move, but it hurt all over her body. Misty didn't have to see in order to tell she had multiple bruises coating her arms and her legs and thighs. With each scoot she felt a new sensitive place on her skin. What happened? Surely these bruises were not from a single vine whip.

When she came into contact with metal bars, sudden realization produced fear within her. It pooled in her chest. She had been kidnapped, and Team Rocket wasn't playing any games anymore. She felt for her pokeballs, but already knew before she touched her back that her pack and her balls were gone. Team Rocket was probably gone – leaving her to rot in this filthy cell.

Her fear was just about to dissipate into hopelessness when a sudden sharp noise broke the silence. It was metal grinding against metal, and Misty cringed at the noise and oncoming footsteps. Fear was reborn in her heart. She heard muttering, but couldn't make out the words. Then a male voice said, "Dinner." And a plate was dropped into her cell from somewhere. Some of the food splashed onto her leg, and the putrid odor wafted towards her, making her nauseous.

She waited until she heard the footsteps leave, and the noise of grinding metal before she let the tears fall.