Hey Everybody! Wow, two updates on time in a row! Needless to say this warrants another three year break, right?

Anyway, I don't have a lot to say up here, except that to accomodate my schedule I'm going to keep updates at this pace for the future. That means a new chapter will be published every two weeks instead of every week.

As for the dedication: this week's chapter is dedicated to iluvpokemon101! Thank you for all of your reviews and loyal readership over the years!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or any of its affiliated companies including, but not limited to, 4Kids, The Pokémon Company, Game Freaks, or Cartoon Network. The characters written within this story are solely based upon the fictional characters created by these companies, and the story is not meant to, nor will it, receive any monetary funding.

Characters' Ages:

Ash: 18

Misty: 19

"You know, I'm getting tired of hotels."

"Same."

Ash fell back on the bed. "Nothing feels quite right, you know? The bed's either too hard or too soft. The showers don't have enough pressure." He rolled to his side. "It's just annoying never having anything the way you want it."

"Yeah, it'll be nice to get home."

"That's kinda the problem, though. Where is home?"

"Well, I was thinking Pallet. I've pretty much started thinking of your mom's place as my own house, with how much time we've spent there."

He chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so."

An uncomfortable silence followed.

"So, what do you think?"

"About?"

"You know."

"Well, what do you think?"

He sighed. "I asked first."

"This is about your future, not mine."

"It's our future, now."

She shook her head. "I need to hear what you're thinking before I can make my own opinion."

"Fine." He sat up, and motioned for her to sit next to him. "I think I need to go to school. I don't really want to, but after everything Goodshow and Cynthia said, I feel like I need to. It feels like a million years ago since I spoke to the Sinnoh League about their gym leader pay, but I still remember how nervous I felt. I barely knew what I was talking about, and the only reason I got what I wanted was because me and you practiced a ton and I think they felt embarrassed getting called out by me. In the future, the issues might not be as obvious as that was. Cynthia said she didn't understand any of the reports she got when she was champion, and honestly, I don't either. Every month the League sends me facts and figures, and I sign off on them, without ever really understanding. Who knows how much corruption there is? Who knows if we're really taking care of our trainers and leaders? There's no way for me to figure it out now."

Misty nodded as he spoke.

"Listening to people talk about Lance and his accomplishments today, I realized I still have a lot of work to do to make the Pokémon League what it needs to be. If I become the Master, I'll have the power to make that happen, but only if I understand how to use it. I can't do that by hiding up in a mountain like Red, or obsessing about battles like Cynthia. I have to be like Lance, and dedicate myself to people as much as I do to Pokémon."

"I agree. It's why I said what I did back at the funeral home. I realized we couldn't keep you out of college just to stay with me. Steven was right, anyway. One more year of practice, and I'll be ready to join the Pokémon team and get a scholarship."

At this, Ash shook his head. "No."

"Huh?"

"No, Mist. You're not going to college next year."

"What? So I'm just not going ever? That's not your decision-"

He rolled his eyes. "And you say I'm dense. No, I'm saying you're not going to Vermillion with me. You're taking Professor Oak up on his offer!"

She blinked.

"Wait, so you want me to go to Pallet alone?"

"I don't want it, but that's what needs to happen. You have to do this, Mist. This kind of opportunity doesn't come by very often. And you've earned it, all on your own, just like you wanted!"

"Are you insane?!" She stood up, her face turning red. "You can't possibly think I'd leave you on the other side of the country just so I could go to college when I can just wait one year and go with you!"

"That's not the point! You have an amazing chance to study under one of the smartest Pokémon experts in the world! There's no college in the world that could give you the kind of education Oak will, and he's offering it to you for free! How could you even think of passing that up?"

"Because I love you, you idiot! Do you even realize what you're saying? You're suggesting we live apart for three years, at least! Is that really what you want?"

He sighed. "No, it's not. But what kind of boyfriend would I be if I made you hold off on your dreams to chase mine?"

"You're not making me, though! I want this. I want to wait a year."

"Then what?"

"Huh?"

"Wait a year, and then what? What's the plan?" Now he stood up beside her. His voice was softer. "Because two years later, I'll be graduating. And while I'm still in school, my job – either as a champion or the Master – will have me travelling a ton."

She hung her head, dejected. "I'm not doing it, Ash. I'm not leaving you for three years."

He held her hands and turned her towards him. "We'd still see each other a lot. You wouldn't even be on a regular schedule, so I bet you could visit whenever you wanted. And I'd obviously be back every chance I got. This would actually be perfect for me, since I could visit you and Ma in the same trip."

Misty ripped her hands away. "Well I'm glad me being out of your life's convenient for you!" She ran for the door and slammed it behind her. She heard him calling after her, so she went to the stairwell and raced down it and out of the lobby. Zigging and zagging through random streets, she finally stopped to catch her breath, sure he couldn't have followed.

"The nerve." If he wanted to be alone, then so be it. She wouldn't be the one getting left behind, though. "He can sit there and see how it feels being without me."

Her phone began buzzing in her pocket. With a snort, she shut it off and began walking.

Back at the hotel, Ash had traced her steps through the stairwell and lobby, but was completely lost once out the door. "Do you have any ideas?"

"Pika."

"Can you smell her?"

"Chu."

"Didn't think so. Hey! I'll give her a call…no luck. She's turned off her phone." He sighed. "Well, maybe if we wander around, we'll luck out."

Choosing a random direction, he walked toward a blue-steepled clock tower in the distance. The day was a pleasant one. Birds and Pidgey chirped in the trees, and the sun was beginning its descent through a cascade of thick white clouds.

Overhead, a number of dragon Pokémon were flying with their trainers; an extraordinary sight anywhere else, but fairly commonplace in Blackthorn.

Turning a corner, keeping his eyes on the tower, they came across a hot dog stand.

"You have beef?"

"Sorry, only bird and pig meat."

"Ugh. Okay."

Pikachu tugged on his ear as he turned to leave. "Huh?"

"Pika!"

"Oh, right. Um, can I have a couple of ketchup packets?"

Ash appreciated the relative quiet of Blackthorn compared to Saffron. The sidewalks were brown and tiled, and the streets were paved with a green cement that gave the urban district a distinctly natural feel. He needed a break from large cities for a while. Misty was probably right, he was something of a country boy.

"Can you not spill ketchup on my shoulder?"

"Pikachu."

"Of course not."

The base of the tower came within view. It was surrounded by a sizable, circular courtyard. The yard was laid with heavy stones and surrounded by thick, swaying trees. Coming to the base of the clock tower, he read the inscribed sign at the bottom. It was dedicated to the founder of the town; one of the first leaders of the dragon clan.

"He came here in search of religious freedom, and created a haven where humans and dragons coexist." Beneath was a direct quote. "Harmony requires acceptance."

Ash smirked. Too bad Misty wasn't a member of the dragon clan.

Or was he the one refusing to accept her decision?

His head hurt.

"Water Gun!"

Two kids were battling their Totodile and Cyndaquil. He stood off to the side and watched the battle unfold.

On the other side of town, Misty had calmed somewhat. Walking through the quiet town brought a peace for which she wasn't altogether thankful. She wanted to stay mad at Ash. She needed to, because if she didn't she worried she would begin seeing his point of view.

A fountain came into view, and she sat along its edge. Some teenagers were dipping their feet at the other end, and she decided to do the same.

The fountain was concrete, molded to the shape of a Kingdra spouting water over its head.

Watching the teenagers laugh, she couldn't help feeling jealous. Most people her age weren't facing these choices. Normal people didn't know Professor Oak, and didn't date the Pokémon Champion of Sinnoh. Most people weren't gym leaders.

She thought back to their fight. She was right, technically. It wasn't his decision where she went, or what she did. Moreover, who was he to push her away? She had never seen herself as the "loyal girlfriend" type before this journey, and had become just that because of Ash. Now he was urging her to give that up? Did he not want her love and support anymore?

The thought was immediately rebutted by her own common sense. He wasn't pushing her away because he didn't love her. He did it because he did. The problem was that she didn't see how spending the next three to five years apart did them any good.

That's enough time for anyone to grow apart.

As she sat at the fountain, Ash was congratulating the Totodile's trainer. "You were smart to use the type advantage."

"Thanks!"

"Type advantage?" the Cyndaquil's trainer asked, returning his injured Pokémon.

"Yeah, fire types are weak to water. All types of Pokémon are weak to different types. Learning those weaknesses will help you win more battles."

"You didn't know that?" the Totodile trainer mocked. "C'mon, Luke, everyone knows about types!"

"I didn't."

"Wait-really? But you're the Sinnoh Champ!"

"Yeah, and when I was your age, I sent out a Pikachu against an Onix."

The Cyndaquil's trainer gave a small smile. "So you made the same mistake?"

"Are you kidding? I made way more! Everyone makes mistakes, kid." He gave a wink. "The secret's learning from them. If you're less dense than me, you'll be fine."

They took a picture together, then left for the Pokémon Center. Left with Pikachu once again, Ash sighed. "I just don't know. You think she turned her phone on yet?"

"Pi."

"You're right. Might as well." He tried calling again, but immediately caught her voicemail. "Let's go sit."

On the bench they watched more trainers battle, and took in the cool breeze coming in from the Silver mountain range to the east. This far north even summers didn't get too warm, and the duo appreciated the break from Vermillion's sweltering heat.

"Wonder what it's like back in Sinnoh."

"Pika."

"It's been over a month since we've been. We should probably visit again before the big match."

"I wish she understood that her future is just as important as mine."

"Chu."

"Exactly. She's putting her entire life on hold for me, and it's not right. I've already dragged her all over the world trying to become the Master."

"Chu."

"I know, I know. She liked it. Misty definitely isn't the kind of person to do something she doesn't want. But that doesn't change the fact we're growing up. She needs to achieve her own dreams – that's what she told me! She went from refusing to let me pay for college because she's so 'independent' to refusing to leave me for college! How backwards can you get?"

"Chu."

He took a moment. "Maybe there is a difference, I guess. You're right that being apart from each other is a different issue than paying for college. But it's not like I'm happy at the idea of being away from her! I just want what's best for her."

"Chu."

"But we were separated with no contact for almost four years straight and immediately picked up where we left off. It'll be even easier to keep from growing apart now that we're a couple. We'll talk all the time and visit each other a ton!"

"Chu."

"I guess I hadn't. I mean, it just seems obvious to me, but maybe it's not to her? How do I convince her I'm serious about this relationship? How do I show her this isn't going to fall apart just because we're apart?"

To this, Pikachu yawned, walked a circle, and then nestled down for a nap.

"Wow. You're lucky you're so good at battling, because you are a terrible therapist." Sighing, he leaned back and tilted his cap forward to block out the sun. "Maybe you're right, though. A nap might help clear this up."

As he began to close his eyes, though, something caught his attention from their corner. He smiled.

Careful to not disturb Pikachu's sleep, he got up and walked out of the courtyard, through the trees, and to a jewelry store across the street.

Author's Notes: So whose side are you on? Is Ash right that Misty can't delay her dreams for him, or is Misty right that it's her life and her choice? If you were in their situation, what would you do? Also, what do you think Ash is going to get at the jewelry store?

Find out in the next chapter: "A Grim Gathering." It will be published in two weeks, on June 10 at 3:00 PM EST!