People:

Ash Ketchum: age 20, currently living in Cherrygrove City, but on a road trip of sorts.

Misty Waterflower: age 21, currently living in Cerulean City, and is the gym leader there.

Brock Stone: age 24, currently in the Mt. Silver region searching for new pokemon to breed.

Lilly Tama: age 20, a good friend that Ash made when he first went to Hoenn.

Gai Brink: age 24, another good friend Ash made while in Hoenn, currently living in New Bark.

Professor Oak: age approx. 52, you know him, that unusually chipper guy that always seem to pop up in the most convenient of times.

Beautiful Morning with You.

Chapter 1:

Good Ol’ Led.

I have a car. I know it would be more logical for me to drive it all the way over there but, my memories beg me to walk. I have my CD player, my pokemon, and some money; I’m good to go. I actually put a lot of thought into what pokemon to take. I sat there for hours before I decided on pikachu, peliper, noctowl, typhlosion, blaziken, and rayquaza. I brought two extra. Not for me though, for her. I traded a nosepass for a luvdisc (that’s one of them), and a spheal. I know she’ll love them. At least I hope so. I should be walking now; I know I will be for a month at most. Perhaps I will stop and buy something from each city for her. I put my old Led Zeppelin CD in and started to go. Pikachu was on my shoulder jamming out to the music. Then a song came on. It reminded me so much of what I felt like. “Been dazed and confused for so long, its not true…” its just that line. It rang in my head as I stopped for a break. It was night already; I was barely half way to New Bark. I set up a fire and laid down on the soft brown earth. I looked up at those stars, and my heart dropped a mile. I hope she knows I’m coming. I hope she feels it more or less. I would like to say I’m going to save her, but I’m going to save me. I swear I have seen those stars before.

I woke up the next morning ready to go. I had a dream of the most odd things. She was sitting there singing the top of a lighthouse. Maybe I was invisible, or she just didn’t care that I was there. I walked up to her and put my hand on her shoulder. I felt a jolt of electricity pulse through my veins. That’s how I woke up. Strong and unseen electric current running through me. I was walking again and good ol’ Led was sitting in my head.

“A fortune for a handsome young man? I’m sure you’ll have lots of interesting issues awaiting in what is becoming your present.” Huh? Is she talking to me?

“Yes, I am. Don’t be afraid, for 2 dollars I will tell you what you may want to know.” I handed her the two dollars, not fully understanding what comfort I sought from her. “Thank you, now just wait a second and let me see.” She threw some bones on her table. I don’t know why I stood there. It was only 2 dollars, after all. “Well young man, issues really was the right word. I see pressing times ahead of you. I hope you can endure this. I guarantee, it will be more extreme, yes that’s the word, then before.”

“Total nonsense, lady! You have no idea who I am! So you don’t know what’s going to happen to me!” I was quite upset. I stormed away. Complete disappointment.

The question of why I stopped is unanswerable, even now. I continued walking.

I will be getting to New Bark soon. Only a couple more hours. I have a few things I need to do when I get there. Got to see Prof. Oak to let him know I will be gone.

I ‘spose I can go and visit Lilly. I haven’t seen her in ages. Oh, though she may not want to see me. According to Brink, I broke her heart. I n all actuality, I don’t exactly remember excepting her heart, but just incase. I need to quit thinking and just walk.

Hey! Finally, the New Bark sign!

“Ash? Ash Ketchum? Is that you??”

“Oh! Hi Lilly!” Lilly runs over to him and jumps on him. “Lilly, if you really don’t mind…I can’t breathe.”

“Oh, right. Its been a long time Ash <hits Ash on the arm> Why haven’t you come the see me sooner?!” I am not going to tell her that I am just passing through. “Ouch… that hurt, ya know…”

Before I knew it, I was being shoved inside her house.

“Sit! Eat!”

“You don’t have to tell me twice, Lilly!”

Ash began to eat some rice cakes and drink his juice. “So, Ash. Tell me, what is your business here in New Bark?” she asked as if it was for her. “To be honest, I came to talk to Prof. Oak. I am going to Kanto. And, well, I wanted to let him know…”

“Oh… to Kanto… I don’t suppose you will be stopping in Cerulean?”

“Um actually-

“Ash, if you’re in there you better let me in!!” the door slammed open.

“BRINK!”

“ASH!”

“How’ve ya been, Ash?”

“hm, Ok. Yourself?”

“Great! Lets go see Oak, he wanted me to come and get you.” Once again I was being shoved somewhere. No wonder I stayed in Cherrygrove so long, pushy people. Gees. “Ash, my boy! Nice to see you! Brink if you don’t mind, I would really like to have a word with Ash alone.”

“Oh, sure! See you Ash!” Professor Oak paced silently… “I know why you are passing through. I am a little disappointed you let so much time pass.”

“Well, I had more to work out with myself, I ‘spose.”

“Tell me then, what inner demon did you beat off in order to realize what you lack?”

“I’ve never heard it in such harsh terms before; the demons would be regret and self-pity.”

“Those always seem to be the worst. In any case, I am glad you are through it.”

“I’m not”-Ash

“Not glad?”-Oak

“Not through it”

“Oh, I see.”

“Well since you know I’m going to be gone, my time in New Bark was a waste. Thank you Prof. Oak, but I don’t really feel to much comfort at the moment.” Ash got up and walked towards the door.

“You know Ash, you are stronger than you think. But you have unclear water here. Perhaps you haven’t realized it but 3 years is a lot of water under the bridge. Can you even be sure she loves you?”

“Good bye Oak.” The door slammed behind him. Oak and Ash have been on very bitter terms for 3 years; when he let her go. Oak never forgave Ash for it.

Misty must have some type of feelings for me. That’s the only reason I feel so strongly. I know 3 years is a long time.

“Ash!! Just what do you see in her?! What does she have that I don’t? … Stop walking and look at me!” Her fist went slamming into his back. Ash turned around to see her on her knees, crying.

“Lilly, you hold a place in my heart as a friend.” He kneeled down and placed his hand on her face. With a velvet touch, he wiped away her tears. “Misty is your friend.”

“I have known Misty for years, Lilly. Please don’t compare yourself to her. I … I have to go now. Please don’t be sad; you will find someone.”

“I will always love you Ash. I know you don’t feel the same. Misty is very lucky.”

“Good bye Lilly.”

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