Misty sighed happily. She was warm and in dry clothes. She set herself to the 
task of braiding her still damp hair. There was a knock at her door. "Come in," 
she said, staring into her mirror as she wove her red hair into a thick braid. 
In the mirror she saw the door open, Brock standing behind it. Misty didn't 
turn, instead she talked to him in the mirror. "Do you need something?"

"Erika called," he told her. "She want's to meet."

She tied a rubber band at the end of her braid then turned to face him. "What 
about?"

"She didn't say. You know as well as I do that the phones are tapped." He took a 
seat on her bed, running a hand through his brown hair. Brock looked around her 
room as Misty went back to staring into the mirror. Her room was painted a pale 
blue, the bed spread he was sitting on matching the walls perfectly. The vanity 
Misty was sitting at was a shade of white, as were her dresser and the small 
nightstand. His eyes fell upon a picture that sat on the nightstand, encased in 
a silver frame. 

Brock picked the picture up in order to examine it more closely. The picture was 
of two boys and a girl. Two of the kids appeared to be around thirteen or 
fourteen, while the tallest boy looked older, perhaps eighteen. The girl stood 
between the boys, her red hair pulled into a ponytail on the side of her head. 
It was obviously a younger Misty. The oldest boy stood at her right, grinning 
madly. Of course, Brock thought, they *had* gotten a Nurse Joy to take the 
picture, which was probably the cause of the goofy expression on his younger 
self's face. The boy on Misty's left was also smiling, but not extravagantly 
like Brock. A Pokemon League hat adorned his head, taming his unruly black hair, 
which still stuck out in certain places. 

"Do you ever wonder what he's doing?" Brock asked Misty as he continued to stare 
at the picture in his hands. 

Misty turned, and upon seeing what he was looking at, responded, "Just about 
every day." She stood from the vanity and went to sit next to him. She sighed. 
"I wish we had kept in touch."

Brock took one more glance at the picture before setting it back on the 
nightstand. 

Misty continued. "About a year after Giovanni took over I tried to contact him. 
But his mother didn't know where he was and he had stopped checking in with 
Professor Oak."

Brock smiled sadly. "I never even tried to contact him. I was just so busy. Some 
friend, huh?"

"I wonder what he's doing now?" Misty said. 

~*~*~

Gary watched his partner and friend concernedly. Ash had hardly said anything 
since Giovanni had given them the assignment. He simply sat on his bed, staring 
at his hands. 

Gary and Ash shared a room. It wasn't big, but there was enough room for two 
beds and two dressers, which was all the two men required anyway. Gary, who had 
been packing, preparing for their assignment, sighed when he looked once more at 
his depressed friend. He sat down on his own bed, across from Ash, and leaned 
forward, resting his elbows upon his knees. 

"Ash are you okay?" he asked.

Ash looked up at him, obviously upset. "I don't know if I can do this. Oh, hell, 
I *know* I can't do this." 

Gary nodded, understanding Ash's conflict. "I know. But what choice do you have? 
Giovanni obviously suspects that you purposely saved her."

"I can't kill her," Ash said, placing his head in his hands. "You know as well 
as I do that I can't kill her."

"Pikachu," the small yellow pokemon next to Ash consoled. Ash absently reached 
out and pet Pikachu between the ears, receiving a contented "Chaa..." for the 
action. 

Gary stood. "Let's go on the mission. We'll play it by ear. Hopefully we'll 
think of something."

Ash nodded in agreement. 

After he was done packing, Ash flopped upon his bed and lay staring at the 
ceiling. He apprehensive about the assignment, not only about the fact that he 
was supposed to kill one of his best friends, but also that he was going to have 
to deceive her and lie about his current position in Team Rocket. 

He and Misty had been fourteen when she had received a letter from her sisters, 
saying that the gym was in trouble. Between the three of them, Misty's sisters 
had managed to spend most of the Cerulean Gym's money. Misty had to leave, she 
had an obligation to the gym and her sisters. 

After four years of traveling together, it had been a teary goodbye, at least on 
Brock and Misty's part. To this day, Ash still didn't know why he hadn't cried. 
The excuse he always came up with was that Misty was a girl, she was expected to 
cry. And Brock, well Brock always had been emotional. But as Ash thought back on 
it, he realized that he hadn't been as sad as he had been angry. He had felt as 
though Misty was abandoning him, which was rather ironic considering he hadn't 
wanted her to follow him in the first place. 

Guilt began to creep into his stomach, for he knew that she hadn't abandoned 
him. Misty most likely would have followed him until he had abandoned her, had 
it not been for the poor state of her gym. 

Brock had journeyed with Ash for another year, before duties at his own gym also 
called him away. Even then Ash hadn't cried. Of course, Brock hadn't either., 
but one could tell he was on the verge. The day he had left, he had said 
something that Ash never forgot, even now, six years later. "I always thought of 
you as my brother, Ash. I am so proud of you, the way you have grown, the 
trainer you have become, and the way you stand up for what you believe in, no 
matter how hard the circumstances." With that he had given Ash a hug, something 
Ash couldn't recall him doing in the five years he had known him. Then he had 
left, and that was the last time Ash had seen him.

Once again he felt guilty, for he had let Brock down. He hadn't stood up for 
what he believed in, he was one of the top members of Team Rocket. 

Gary, also laying on his bed, cast a worried glance at his best friend, who 
almost seemed comatose as he stared at the ceiling. Gary wondered if Ash knew he 
considered him his best friend. He knew Ash didn't think of him as his best 
friend, Misty and Brock had always held that position. But Ash was *his* best 
friend even if he wasn't Ash's. 

He thought back to the first time he and Ash had met after Misty and Brock had 
left Ash to return to their respective gyms. Gary had been surprised to see Ash 
walking alone, save for Pikachu. Although Gary had matured greatly from when 
they had been kids, he could still be an ass. As he looked back on it Gary 
regretted it, but he couldn't let the opportunity pass by. 

"What's the matter Ketchum?" he had sneered, blocking Ash's way. "Did your 
friends finally realize what a loser you are and leave?" 

Ash had looked up at him, after all Gary had been taller than him at the time, 
and sighed. "I suppose so."

Now *that* had surprised Gary. Ash had never been one to take an insult lying 
down. In fact, Gary was always quite pleased at the rise he could get out of 
Ash, just by showing his face. Gary then did something that not only surprised 
Ash, it had surprised himself. 

"Are you okay?" he had asked, genuinely concerned. 

And from that one phrase a friendship began. Slowly, over time, their rivalry 
was forgotten. Of course, they still held friendly pokemon battles, which Ash 
always seemed to win. He was good, Gary admitted, and although he looked small, 
Ash's Pikachu was one of the most powerful pokemon Gary had ever seen.

From an early age Gary had realized that Ash seemed to excel at everything he 
did. That, he supposed, was the cause of their rivalry. Even when Gary had hated 
Ash, he had known Ash was an exceptional trainer, although he would never admit 
it. Ash had relationships with his pokemon that Gary could only dream about. 

Ash, as Gary later found out, had also turned out to be an amazing martial 
artist. He had picked it up quickly and was very good after only a few days. 
Unfortunately for Gary, he hadn't figured this out until he had been paired 
against Ash at Rocket Training Camp. He had woken up a day later with a 
splitting headache, a sore back, and a sheepish looking Ash standing over his 
bed. 

Ash was also incredible when it came to using a wooden staff, which was the only 
weapon he would use. He absolutely refused to wield a gun. This ability, 
combined with his martial arts skills, and his talent for pokemon training 
allowed him to rise quickly through the ranks of Team Rocket. He was one of the- 
no, Gary decided, he was most likely the best agent Giovanni had. 

Unlike Ash, Gary preferred a gun. He never used it unless it was absolutely 
necessary, especially with Ash's aversion to guns, but when it came down to it, 
he was a crack shot. 

When he had been partnered with Ash, Gary had been surprised. But since day one, 
almost five years ago, they became inseparable.

Gary dosed off, but Ash remained awake, still staring at the ceiling, thoughts 
of his friends running through his head. 

~*~*~

"Don't you think you look a little conspicuous with your bow on your back?" Gary 
asked as he and Ash wandered into the Cerulean Gym. 

"What would you have me do with it, Gary?" Ash asked. "Fold it up and stick it 
in my bag?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. 

Ash felt his backpack stir slightly. "I know it's uncomfortable, Pikachu, but 
it'll be pretty obvious what I've been up to if I saunter in with you on my 
shoulder." He hoped to keep Pikachu hidden from Misty, so she wouldn't be able 
to guess his line of work. He and Gary had left their other pokemon at Rocket 
Headquarters. Ash had insisted upon bringing his bow, and Gary's gun was well 
hidden in it's holster under his coat. 

The smell of chlorine filled the air. "We're near the pool," Ash told Gary. Sure 
enough his words echoed off the tiled walls of the pool room. The walked into 
the room, which was taken up by a vast pool which stretched almost from one end 
to the other. Above them were skylights, allowing the sun to illuminate the room 
and bounce of the crystal clear water. Not a ripple was on it. As soon as Ash 
thought that Gary was pushed into the pool, causing the calm water to become 
extremely choppy. 

Ash easily whipped his staff from the leather holder that attached around him at 
about his waist. He was silently grateful it had been Gary who was pushed in, 
for he knew Pikachu would have been less than happy to end up in the water. He 
spun his bow once for a better grip as he turned to face the attacker. He came 
face to face with a young woman who was angrily glaring at him with piercing 
blue eyes. Her red hair hung in a loose braid down her back. He recognized her 
at once. 

Misty also recognized the man in front of her. "You!" she cried, her eyes 
narrowing. "You're the jackass who pushed me into the fountain."

A slight splash behind him and a loud "Blech!" told him that Gary had climbed 
from the pool. 

Misty began to advance on him, most likely wanting to pay him back for her 
earlier unwanted bath. 

Ash spun his bow, creating a moving shield to keep her at bay. He was already 
too close to the edge of the pool for his liking. He grinned as she stopped, 
apparently not wanting to be hit by the quickly spinning rod. "Yes I pushed you. 
And you might have thanked me," he said, knowing it would rile her up.

"THANKED YOU!" Misty screamed in rage. She looked as though she was going to 
tackle him, spinning bow or not. 

"Oh, good job, Ash," Gary said sardonically. He stood, a few feet away, wringing 
out his dripping wet clothing. "Piss her off even more."

Misty became silent when she heard the man call the jerk in front of her Ash. 
Her jaw dropped. "Ash?" she said, examining him closely. 

He cracked a lopsided grin. "What? Did you forget me over the past seven years?" 
he said, reaching over his shoulder and placing his staff back into its holder. 

"Where have you been?" Misty cried as she ran up to him and hugged him, nearly 
pushing them both into the pool. 

"Okay," Ash said, sliding them both away from the pool. "Water is bad."

Misty released him from the hug and began to barrage him with questions. "Where 
were you? What are you doing here? Why did you push me into the goddamn 
fountain?" 

Ash raised a hand to stop her. "It's a long story."

Misty's eyes suddenly lit up. "Oh! Come with me!" she said excitedly, grabbing 
his hand and pulling him. Bewildered, Ash allowed her to lead him through the 
gym. Ash looked behind him to see Gary following, apparently disgruntled about 
his sopping wet clothes. 

Misty pulled Ash along, taking him through twists and turns, until suddenly 
stopping at a closed door. She grinned at him, looking as though she might burst 
from excitement, then knocked on the door.

"Come in," was heard from inside the room and Misty pushed the door open, 
abruptly pulling Ash with her. They entered what looked like a guest room. A bed 
sat in the center of it and a few bureau drawers hung open. What surprised Ash 
though, was the man standing in front of a mirror that was mounted on the wall, 
brushing his dark brown hair. 

"Brock," Misty said, barely able to contain her delight. "Look who's here!"

Brock glanced from the mirror and did a double take when he saw the young man 
standing next to Misty. "Ash?" he said in astonishment, setting down the brush. 
He appeared to be at a loss for words. Then he said, "You're so tall." The last 
time Brock had seen Ash, he was still only around 5'5". 

"I didn't know you were here, Brock," Ash said, avoiding eye contact. He had let 
him down. This man, who thought of Ash as a brother. He had been proud. Of 
*him*. If Brock knew what he had become, he would hate him. 

But Brock didn't know, and he welcomed Ash happily, with a hug. "We were just 
talking about you," Brock told him.

"Really?" Ash said softly, still avoiding his gaze.

Gary, who had been standing in the background the entire time, noticed Ash's 
sudden discomfort. "Okay," he said, interrupting the reunion. "I'm wet. I don't 
like being wet."

The attention left Ash and was placed on him. Although the other two didn't 
notice, Gary saw the look of gratitude Ash sent him. 

Misty, who had forgotten the other man in all the excitement, now examined him 
closely. He looked familiar, but it was difficult to tell. After all, as he had 
said, he was wet. "Who are you?" she asked.

Ash spoke up. "Uh, you both remember Gary, right?"

Misty and Brock gave Ash incredulous looks. 

"Gary *Oak*?: Brock said in disbelief. "What are you doing with *Gary Oak*?" 

"Hey," Gary said indignantly. "I'm right here."

"Gary and I met up not long after we split up," Ash said, beginning the 
explanation with the truth, but planning to end it with the story they had made 
up. "We resolved our differences and we've traveled together ever since. We came 
here because we want to start a rebellion. Giovanni's rule has gone on long 
enough. I figured you might have some connections with gym leaders, Misty. We 
can use all the help we can get."

Misty and Brock exchanged glances, then they smiled. "It's interesting you 
should say that Ash," Misty began. "Why don't you go get cleaned up, Gary, then 
we can talk." 

~*~*~

Ash paced the room Misty had showed them to. She told them they could stay at 
the gym as long as they wanted. Gary pulled on one of Ash's dry shirts, seeing 
as his had all been drowned in the pool with him. He was fortunate they were the 
same height and build. 

"Ash stop pacing you're making me dizzy," Gary said. 

Ash shook his head. "I had no idea Brock was here. I can't do this. We have to 
leave. Now." 

Gary walked over to him and grabbed him by his shoulders. "Get a grip." He was 
startled to see tears forming in the young man's eyes. 

"Misty's bad enough," Ash whispered. "But not Brock. I can't lie to him. If he 
finds out what I'm involved in, he'll be crushed. He believed in me, Gary. He 
thinks of me as his brother and you know what? He's like the older brother and 
the father I never had. I don't want him to hate me." 

Gary sighed, his hands still on Ash's shoulders. "Ash, I know you feel like you 
betrayed him, but you know as well as I do, you and I had very little choice 
when it came to Team Rocket. They were targeting you from the very beginning."

Ash looked away. "But look at me Gary. I'm one of the best. I thrived in Team 
Rocket, and that shouldn't have happened."

"Oh, come on, Ash," Gary said. "You thrive at everything you do. If you had 
suddenly decided to become a Nurse Joy, I have no doubt you would have pulled it 
off with very little trouble."

Ash smiled at the ridiculous thought. "You know what? I'm really glad we put our 
differences behind us, Gary. You're probably the best friend I've ever had."

Gary dropped his hands from Ash's shoulder's, thoroughly surprised by the 
statement. Then he smiled. He went back to changing, pulling on a pair of Ash's 
jeans. Then picked up his gun and slid it under his mattress. "Let's go."

~*~*~

Misty and Brock sat next to one another on the couch in the living room, waiting 
for Ash and Gary to return. Brock frowned. 

"What's wrong?" Misty asked, noticing his expression. 

"It's just..." he trailed off. "I can't believe Ash and Gary are friends. He was 
always such and asshole, especially to him."

Misty shrugged. "They made up. I think it's great."

Brock continued to frown. 

Misty watched him curiously then suddenly it hit her. "You're jealous!" she 
blurted out.

Brock looked at her, surprised. "What?"

"You're jealous of Gary, because he and Ash have been traveling together for the 
past six years, and you haven't been there with him," Misty said. It was 
suddenly so clear.

Brock sighed. "I guess so. During our journey, I kind of adopted you and Ash, 
you know. You guys were like my little brother and sister. I was the one who 
took care of you two, made sure you ate right, and didn't kill one another." 
Misty smiled at that. "But I haven't been there for Ash in the past years, and 
he's grown without me, and now he has Gary. Every time I think of Gary I think 
of an ignorant little kid who has no regard for anyone's feelings, especially 
Ash's. I just hope that Gary isn't using Ash to further his own means." 

"Ahem," a voice said. Brock looked up to see Ash and Gary standing in the door 
way. Gary looked furious as he sat down across from them in a comfortable chair. 
Ash remained impassive, although Brock could see a glint of anger in his eyes. 
He was hurt that Brock didn't trust Gary, and that he would say something so 
mean about his closest friend. Ash and Gary had only heard the last few 
sentences of Brock's conversation.

"Let's get down to business shall we?" Ash said, his voice colder than it had 
been thirty minutes ago. 




A/N: What do you think? Was it chalk full of emotion or what? Hehe. Ok, there 
will be action very soon, I promise. I needed to get some of Ash's past out 
though. What do you think about Gary? By the way, Llyxius, I have no clue why, 
but I don't think this story was on the first page for some reason. I was a bit 
confused about that myself. Well, please read and review.