A year or two after our story ends...

      A woman tipped up her water bottle, letting icy cool water run down the back of her scratchy throat. Twisting the cap back on, she then raised her arm to wipe the sweat off her forehead as she looked around at her surroundings.

'I cannot believe how content my heart feels after everything I've been through. To think that you can do one simple action to make it feel as if all your troubles have drifted away... it's just... amazing. When I'm all the way up here, and I feel the wind twisting, racing, and weaving through my hair, and when I feel the hot gleaming sun shine down onto my face, I feel free as the wind. I feel so... light. It's hard to explain. But all I know is this - if I ever feel like the world is going to end, if I ever feel like there's nobody out there that loves me anymore... all I have to do is soar through the skies.'

      The woman continued staring at the words carefully written in cursive. How curious they were. But what could they mean?

      Before her, lie an Articuno. A dead Articuno.

      ...In the middle of a rainforest?

Part One

      I slowly pressed my hand against the window pane, squinting out into the sun gleaming down on all of Pallet Town and the memories etched throughout it. I could feel my face rise into a warm smile as I let those memories sink into my mind and heart, recalling all the battles, arguments, agreements, and friendships the three of us had been through together over the years. Ash, Brock, and I... Ash, Brock, and Misty. Somehow, saying our three names together seemed to let me know that everything was going to be alright, that no matter how low we dropped, we would be able to pick ourselves back up and continue on. But nowadays, Ash's journey is pretty much over, and I wonder what would happen if we did drop. Brock is back in Pewter City, and Ash and I are now eighteen, now adults, now depending on ourselves to make our own decisions.

      At the static-filled sound of an audience's crowds growing louder coming behind me, I let myself sigh as I gently pulled away my ponytail holder, letting my orange tangled hair fall to my shoulders.

      "Whoa! Did you see that, Misty?!" I heard Ash suddenly exclaim from behind me. I shut my eyes tightly for a moment, willing myself to keep my temper down, and then slowly opened them up so I could turn around to face Ash. There he was on the edge of his bed, lightly hugging Pikachu to his chest, eyes glued to the rapid flashing colors of the TV screen. He was on his knees, muscles tensed as if ready to spring into action if needed.

      "No Ash, I didn't see it." I replied in one slow breath. I continued just standing there, refusing to let my eyes wander to the bright TV screen. Instead I crossed my arms at my waist and then took a step forward so I was placed between Ash and the TV, attempting to catch his attention. Before I had a chance to lean forward so I could glare into his chocolate-brown eyes, he sprung from the bed to a different position, continuing to watch in a trance. His Pikachu quickly hopped out of his arms with a small "Pika!", quickly crawling back onto the edge of the bed.

      I let out a frustrated growl. "Ash, you're a pokemon master, and you're still watching battles on TV." I noted.

      I watched as his face rose into that wild grin of his that I loved oh-so-much. "Yeah. So what?" He replied simply. We continued just standing there in silence, us both focusing on our own private thoughts. I jumped slightly at the sound of Ash's loud voice ringing out into the room. "Wow! Look at that Earthquake attack!"

      My eyes quickly wandered to the TV. I couldn't help it. I watched as the ground beneath the two pokemon cracked and groaned as it quickly trembled into pieces. As a thin chunk of land shot up, the opponent pokemon let out a yelp as it got tossed into the air. At that moment I felt something pierce my heart, something that sent shivers racing down my spine, something I hadn't felt for awhile since Ash was always there next to me. I looked down at my hands at my waist, drifting into my own thoughts, wondering what this hidden emotion could be.

      "Isn't Earthquake the coolest attack?" Ash breathed out in pure amazement.

      Fear...? The emotion was fear.

      "No." I snapped at him. "It isn't, okay?"

      Ash raised an eyebrow. "Geeze, somebody's in a bad mood." He teased.

      I could feel my temper flaring up once again as I felt my fists tremble. "I am not in a bad mood." I lied. Then, knowing that wouldn't convince him, I decided to give my reasons. "Do you know how many people have been killed during earthquakes around the globe? Thousands, Ash! Thousands!"

      He waved his hands in front of himself, gesturing a surrender. "Okay, okay, I get the point. But it's just a pokemon attack, Mist."

      Calm down... just calm down... don't let your temper take control of you... breathe deeply and slowly... you've had way too many arguments with Ash before...

      "Pokemon! Pokemon! That's all I ever hear about! I thought that maybe after you became a pokemon master, you would focus more on everybody around you!" I heard a voice shout out in pure fury. It was only after a split second of a heartbeat that I realized it was my own voice that had been ringing out. Shocked at my own words, I buried my head in my hands, only to find my face streaming with tears. I had to get out of Ash's house. Now. I couldn't bear it any longer.

      "Misty..." Ash said weakly. Ignoring him, I whirled around and walked towards the window, only to find my ponytail holder gone.

      I quickly whirled around once again to face him, but I avoided his eyes. "Where's my ponytail holder?!" I spat.

      "I-" But before he could finish, I was had already slammed shut his door behind me and was sprinting downstairs. One step from the floor, I took a deep shuddering breath and brushed my own tears from my face. I couldn't let Delia see me like this.

      After a few more thudding heartbeats, I swiftly walked through the kitchen, towards the front door, spotting Delia. I halted to a stop in front of her. "Do you have any extra ponytail holders?" I asked, my eyes wandering to her thick mud-brown hair tied back.

      "No, dear." Delia answered in a friendly voice. "But I do have an extra rubber band you could use."

      I sighed, glaring at the ground. "That'll have to do." I replied, holding out my hand. Delia gently placed a small stretchy rubber band in it, and then turned around, continuing to wash the dishes. Placing the rubber band in my pocket, I quickly ran out the front door. I managed to drop my temper just low enough so I would have to slam the door on the way outside.

      It was only after a few jogged steps did I nearly collapse to the side of a tree. I buried my head in my hands, letting everything that had just happened sink into my heart. It was only as I pulled my hair back into a side ponytail using the rubber band that Delia gave me did I realize tears were streaming down my face. How could this be happening to me? Why was I getting so emotional all of a sudden?

      At the sound of a door opening, I quickly brushed away the stained tears on my cheeks and stared at the ground, and listened as the sound of crunching grass got closer and closer. I didn't need to look up to know that it was Ash.

      When the crunching footsteps stopped, I listened to his fast, heavy breathing. Proof that he had been running before he had gotten outside. Well, if he had been in such a hurry to get to me, then why wasn't he saying anything? Why was he forcing me to be alone with my own emotional thoughts?! It was annoying!

      "Misty." Ash said finally. His voice was full of worry, full of care. But I wouldn't let my heart soften. No, not yet.

      I slowly raised my head to glare into his chocolate-brown eyes. "What?" I replied coldly.

      More of that silence Ash had left me alone with before. Then he spoke, a strange emotion etched throughout his voice.

      "I think I liked your hair better when it was down. You should wear it like that more often."

      What?!

      I looked at the smile that has arisen on his face. "Are you trying to apologize?" I asked suspiciously.

      "It depends." Ash replied, his eyes then wandering to the ground. "This... this argument is about you and me, isn't it?"

      Yes... yes it is, Ash. Not that I'd ever tell him that.

      I felt a soft tear roll down my cheek. And then another. I was crying in front of Ash, and there was no stopping myself now.

      Ash's smile then slowly rose into a wide grin. What was he grinning about during a situation like this? Can't he see I'm crying?!

      "Don't you see these tears, Ash Ketchum?!" I shouted. Why had I called him by his full name? "Can't you see that they're not fake?! They're real!"

      Ash didn't say anything.

      "They're real..."

      ...I sank to my knees...

      "They're the most real thing..."

      ...I buried my face in my hands...

      "Please."

      ...I looked up into Ash's eyes, my vision becoming blurry from all the tears.

      "I'm sorry." Ash said softly, continuing to gaze into my eyes. His voice was so soft, so careful, it sent shivers down my spine. "I really am sorry."

      I stood back up, and then whirled around

      And with one last glance over my shoulder, I left.