Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon

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The forest bed stretched for miles ahead of them as Ash and the others headed for the next town. Togepi chirped happily in Misty's arms while Pikachu sang a song in its native language. The lush green grass and overgrown trees created a jungle-like scenery, a path of patted down grass created a barely visible road. Misty sighed and looked at Brock. He was examining the map while Ash tried to take it from him. Ash grabbed at it and Brock lifted it higher in the air.

"Come on, Brock, just let me see it already!" Ash whined, grabbing for the map. Brock shook his head and moved the map out of his grasp. Ash sighed in irritation. Brock ignored him.

"We're almost to the next town, we should reach it about an hour before the sun goes down." He said. Misty looked to the sky, fatigue washing over her thin body. She looked back at Ash, who was walking ahead of them, his arms crossed. He was in pout mode.

"Guys, could we rest for a bit, I'm getting kind of tired." Misty asked. Ash snickered and turned to face her. He placed a hand on his hip and stuck his finger in her face.

"Don't tell me the almighty Misty is getting sleepy, want your binky?" He asked. His abrupt reply was getting a sneaker imprint mashed into his face. He crumpled to the ground, twitching every few seconds. Brock sweatdropped.

"Yeah, it looks like we could use a rest." He said. Misty grinned and walked along the road, searching for a log to sit on. She plopped down on a large hollow one with a gaping hole in it. Togepi hopped out of her grasp and ran along the log, totally oblivious to the large hole right in front of her.

"Pipipi!" Pikachu exclaimed as Togepi dropped into the log. Misty made a mad grab for her.

"Togepi, be careful!" She cried, sticking her arm into the hole to find the egg pokemon. As her hands searched, Togepi trilled happily and walked out of the log. Misty hadn't seen her and continued to feel around inside the log when she grasped something almost rubberlike. She gripped it, believing that it was her Togepi. A pair of sharp teeth bit into her hand. She gasped and tore her hand out of the hole.

"CHAN!" Was her reply as a fiery fist exploded through the log. Misty screamed and jumped out of the way. The entire log erupted into flames and disintegrated. Standing in the burning remains of the log was an angry hitmonchan, its gloves flaming from the fire punch attack it had just used. Misty stepped back. Her heart began to beat furiously. She looked at the Hitmonchan's feet so see Togepi running towards her. Misty gasped in fear.

"Togepriiii!" Togepi exclaimed happily, jumping up and down. She ran past the hitmonchan.

"Togepi!" Misty exclaimed. She dived for it. The hitmonchan's eyes flashed angrily, it pulled back a fist and slammed it into her shoulder. She cried out in pain as ice began to cover her body.

"Misty!" Ash and Brock yelled in unison. Misty smiled weakly when Togepi reached Pikachu's care. Pikachu used thunderbolt and instantly knocked out the raging pokemon. The ice crawled over her face and down her body. Ash pulled out a pokeball.

"Cyndaquil, flamethrower, melt that ice!" He cried.

"Wait Ash!" Brock yelled. Ash stopped in mid throw.

"If you accidentally burn her, that could worsen her condition, we have to get her to a hospital." Brock said.

"You're right." Ash replied, returning the pokeball to his belt. Pikachu dragged Togepi to him. Ash picked up the silent egg and Pikachu clawed his way to Ash's shoulder. Brock struggled with Misty's frozen body that kept slipping out of his grasp. Togepi smiled and began to chant as her arms glowed purple when she began to wave them back and forth. A lavender aura surrounded them as they disappeared.

***

The hospital was buzzing with activity when two boys, a frozen girl, a Pikachu and a baby Togepi appeared in the center. Doctor Cason stopped in the middle of reading a patient's medical chart.

"What in the-?" He started. The younger of the two boys cut him off as he practically leapt at him.

"Please, we need your help! Our friend got attacked by a wild pokemon, she's frozen solid!" He cried frantically. The doctor's green eyes widened. He grabbed the phone off of the receptionist's desk.

"We need assistance in the lobby, ASAP" He called over the intercom. He hung up the phone roughly.

"Did she get harmed in any other way." He asked the children. The younger boy shook his head.

"I don't think so." He replied.

"I'm doctor Cason, but you may call me Doc, seeing as you may be here a while." The doctor said, putting his hand out.

"I'm Ash, he's Brock, and our friend is Misty." The black haired boy said, gesturing towards his friends and shaking the doctor's hand. Three nurses rushed into the lobby.

"What's the emergency?" One of them asked. The women were identical to each other, they had green hair pulled into a bun and coal black eyes. Doc pointed at Misty's frozen body.

"Pokemon attack, severity is unknown." He said. The women nodded in unison. They each grabbed a limb of Misty's frozen body and picked her up. They marched away. Ash started to follow but Doc put out a restricting hand. Ash glanced at him.

"We need to run a few tests, there's a restaurant across the street, you look hungry, just be sure you have your pokemon with you." He said. Ash raised an eyebrow but kept silent. Togepi squeaked out a cry of sadness, realizing her surrogate mother had disappeared. Ash placed her on the ground so that Pikachu could comfort her. Ash patted Togepi on the head.

"Its okay Togepi, Misty will be alright, in the meantime, lets get something to eat." He said as warmly as he could manage. Pikachu nodded.

"Pikapi chu pika, Pikachupi chu pikachu pika chu pikachu pi." He said. His speech had gone along the lines of saying that Ash was right and Misty would never leave them. Togepi trilled happily, finally convinced. Ash grinned and picked her up, placing his arm out for Pikachu to climb up.

"Ash, we better get going, it looks like its going to storm soon." Brock said, placing a hand on the young trainer's shoulder. Ash nodded and stood up, Pikachu resting on his shoulder and Togepi nestled safely in his arms. He turned to Brock.

"Should we just leave her here?" He asked worriedly. Brock smimled weakly and patted Ash's back softly.

"Don't worry Ash, Misty'll be fine, we can visit her later." He said. Ash looked to the ground and nodded.

"I guess." He sighed and headed out of the hospital towards the reasturant that Doc had spoken of. Brock glanced back at Doc, who had been watching them with keen interest. He sighed and turned around.

"You can see her tomorrow if all goes well." Doc called to him. Brock nodded.

"Thank you." He replied and walked through the hospital doors.

***

Misty's brow furrowed as it became beaded with sweat. Her breathing became ragged. A nurse wiped her forehead with a soft cloth. A knock sounded on the door before opening. Ash stood in the doorway. The nurse smiled weakly before walking out, handing Ash the wet rag before closing the door. Ash turned to Misty. He sat in the nurse's chair and leaned over her sleeping form.

"Hey Mist, can you hear me? Its Ash." He asked, patting her cheek softly. Misty pried her eyes open weakly.

"Ash? Where am I? Is Togepi alright? Where's the hitmonchan?" She asked hoarsly, pushing herself off the bed. Ash placed a hand on her shoulder and pushed her back.

"Lie back, your still recovering." He said, noticing the bandage on her hand. Misty quickly concealed it from view.

"I'm fine, I don't need to be here! Where's Togepi?" She asked again. Ash frowned.

"She's asleep. So is Brock and Pikachu." He replied. Misty ###### her eyebrow, it twitched slightly before she succumbed to yawning. She noted that Ash yawned almost immediately after. She grinned slightly.

"What time is it?" She asked. Ash blushed and turned his head away from her view. He mumbled a few incoherent words.

"What?" Misty asked.

"One in the morning." Ash muttered. Misty's eyes widened.

"One in the morning!? Why'd you wake me up?!" She screeched. Ash flinched. He turned his shameful face from her view.

"I..... s..sorry." He stuttered, standing up. He left without another sound. Misty glaring gaze suddenly softened when she realized the cause of his actions.

"He was that worried about me?"

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