Disclaimer: All characters that are used belong to their respective
creators. I do this for fun and do not take any money off of it. Please
don't sue me. The stories are mine, so please don't use them without
asking me.
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Ash looked at his human Pok�mon and turned away, blushing.
"Err. Sorry Misty, I forgot all about that."
Misty clenched and unclenched her fists and breathed heavily as she
fought back her anger a bit more.
"Ash, sometimes I think you'd forget your head if it wasn't attached,"
Misty ground out.
"I said I was sorry," Ash replied, still looking away. "It's just that
I'm still not used to this."
Blinking her eyes in confusion, Misty let the anger go and stared at
Ash. "What do you mean by that?"
Sitting down on a table, Ash stared at a wall and said, "Well, having
you for a Pok�mon for one thing. I have no idea of what to do."
"That's never stopped you before," Misty countered. "Now about my skin
and hair..."
"Err. Oh right. I wish that your body was back to the way it was
before I started polishing your Pok�ball," Ash said, still staring at
the wall and not looking at Misty.
"That's better," Misty said, ignoring the fact that her costume was
still shiny.
Misty sat down behind Ash, facing away from her trainer. The genie and
her Trainer said nothing for a few moment, while they sat back to back.
Biting his lower lip, Ash looked first down and then back at the wall.
"Misty, I've been meaning to ask you something."
"Yes."
"Why don't you mind staying in a Pok�ball?"
The human Pok�mon closed her eyes and recalled a scene from near the
beginning of her journey alongside Ash. Looking somber, she bowed her
head.
"I did it to myself, Ash. Remember Caterpie? I once told him that if
he's a Pok�mon he should stay in a ball like all the others."
"Huh?" Ash asked, looking confused. "I don't get it."
"I believed that caught Pok�mon should stay in their balls and I guess
I accepted that since I am one now, I should stay in a ball as well."
"That's silly. You know that I wouldn't keep you in one, if you didn't
want to."
"I know that, Ash. But, that doesn't change anything," Misty replied
sadly. Shaking her head, she asked, "Now I have a question for you.
Why do act so dumb?"
"Who says it's an act?" Ash countered.
A long silence greeted him and he finally relented.
Sighing a bit, Ash explained, "If I act so silly, most people will
underestimate me."
"I see. Ash, I will forget about this incident on one condition."
Feeling a bit wary, Ash asked, "And that is?"
The genie phased her body and leaned backwards through her trainer.
Looking up into Ash's face, the human Pok�mon smiled.
"That you have me as one of your primary Pok�mon team from now on."
Feeling a bit unnerved that Misty was phased through his body, Ash
said, "Misty, the reason I haven't been using you that much was because
I wasn't sure you'd be able to change back if you became too much
stronger. But if you want me to, I'll use you."
Feeling touched by Ash's concern, Misty whispered, "Thank you, Ash.
I'm still going to hold you to that, but you did give me something to
think about. I'm going to look in on Togepi."
Misty straightened back up, phasing through Ash once more. Getting off
the table, the genie headed out the door.
Ash watched as Misty left and muttered under his breath, "Misty sure is
cute in that genie costume."
----------------------------------
In the ball storage room, Daisy was talking with Bill.
"You know, how are we supposed to handle this until our gym is
repaired?" Daisy asked.
Shrugging, Bill replied, "The Pok�mon league understands disasters like
this happen. It won't be held against you. I'm wondering how Cerulean
and this place will be able to communicate."
"I'm not sure. I like totally want to be able to keep in contact with
my little sister, but there is no way for us to visit."
Entering the room carrying Togepi, Misty commented, "Actually there
is. Ash, Brock, and I encountered it a while back."
Misty said nothing more as she went to the cabinet that held her
Pok�mon and put some balls in place.
Bill and Daisy looked at each other and then at Misty.
"Er. What way?" Bill asked.
The genie idly commented, "The person who built the current Pok�mon
transporter also built something that could transport humans as well.
Unfortunately it was destroyed. He was thinking about making a new
one."
Bill bit his lower lip and muttered, "That could be useful. A series
of transporters linking here, Professor Oak's lab, my homes, and
Cerulean Gym would be of great benefit."
"We have at least another month to go, before we can even think about
leaving," Misty said.
Bill shook his head, "Maybe, but it's something to think about doing
once the exile is over. Team Rocket shouldn't be bothering you for a
little while also."
"True. They have to figure a way off of that mountain in Australia,
first."
Daisy laughed, "You like totally put them on top of Ayer's Rock?
That's rad Misty."
"I thought so. By the way, where is Violet and Lily?"
Daisy replied, "Oh, they're with Professor Oak. He's getting blood and
hair samples from them. I've already been through it, so I'm free to
wonder around."
Bowing her head, Misty mumbled, "Yeah. That's right. I'd better go
see how my cure is coming along."
Misty shuffled out of the room, leaving a confused Daisy behind.
"I like wonder what's her problem," Daisy muttered.
Bill speculated, "She probably doesn't want to be reminded that she is
a Pok�mon or that there might not be a cure for her."
"Maybe. But I wonder..." Daisy mused, and then a thought struck her.
*Wait a second. How did Misty get Togepi outside of her Pok�ball? Last
I saw of it, Ash was going to clean it up.*
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After making sure that Misty's ball was with him, Ash headed off to
check up on Sapphire. On his way, he encountered Brock and Agatha. A
few seconds later, Pikachu rushed in and jumped on top of Ash's
shoulder.
"Hi, Brock," Ash called. "I'm checking up on Sapphire."
"You know, you never did tell us how you got him," Brock commented.
"The next time we're all together, I'll go into that, if I don't
forget."
Brock just mumbled and dropped that subject. While he was thinking of
something to say, Agatha spoke up.
"Ash, I owe you an apology," Agatha said.
"An apology? For what?" Ash asked confused.
Sighing, she replied, "I made a mistake a while back and that mistake
cost you your friendship with my grandson Gary. I've heard how he is
always putting you down and trying to sap your self confidence. I made
a remark that he could learn what he needed to know from you. I'm
afraid he took it the wrong way."
Ash closed his eyes and thought back to when Gary first started to
verbally abuse him. Opening his eyes he looked straight at Agatha.
"This is about something other than who the best Pok�mon trainer is,
isn't it?" Ash asked. "Gary changed almost overnight."
Nodding, the old Pok�mon trainer said, "Yes, it is. When Gary gets
here, I'll explain it to both of you."
Ash absently asked, "Are you going to tell him that Karin is going to
be your successor to the Elite Four and not him?"
"How did you know that?" Agatha asked in a shocked voice.
Ash shrugged and replied, "Karin, Gary's sister Brock, babysat me when
my mom had to be elsewhere. She told me all about Pok�mon and once
mentioned that she had several badges, but didn't tell Professor Oak
about it. She didn't want the pressure of trying to live up to
impossible expectations. One of the times she babysat me, I overheard
her talking to someone on the phone. She said that she would be glad to
take over for that person when they were ready to retire. Because by
that time, Gary will be drawing all the attention to himself."
"Who are you and what have you done with Ash?" Brock asked. "There is
no way Ash could have remembered all that."
"Jeez, Brock I had a crush on Karin when I was younger. It's just
something that stayed with me," Ash replied. *Had? I guess I finally
put that behind me. I wonder why.*
Shaking his head, the trainer from Pallet continued on his way to where
Sapphire and Charizard's quarters. Once he arrived, he made sure that
his bird Pok�mon was doing all right and gave Charizard a friendly pat
on the nose.
"It's great having you back Charizard," Ash commented. "I have no idea
why you started obeying me again, but I am grateful for it. Thanks for
saving Misty and Pikachu from Team Rocket. I'll convey my thanks to
Chansey the next time I see her."
Charizard just grumbled a little bit and curled up to go to sleep. Ash
saw that and nodded.
"Right. See you in the morning, Charizard," he said, and turned off
the lights as he left.
Brock walked beside Ash and remarked, "Your caring for Sapphire is
probably what made Charizard turn around. Despite it all, you refused
to give up on saving that Pok�mon. Charizard saw you do that and
understood that you really do have your Pok�mon's best interests at
heart."
"Maybe, Brock," Ash replied. "I don't really care why. I'm just glad
that Charizard is listening to me again."
"That is what I wanted Gary to learn from you, Ash. The ability to
care for Pok�mon even when they are stubborn and willful."
Ash paid no attention to Agatha as he went to his room to plan
tomorrow's expedition.
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Somewhere in the waters north of Cerulean City, three boys rode Gyrados
back northwards.
Spitting seawater out of his mouth, Jack called out, "How much further
is it to wherever Ash is at?"
Biting his lower lip, Gary replied, "I have no idea. I just know it's
north."
"What?!?!" Jack and John called together.
"Gary, it's going to be almost impossible to find that island," John
loudly declared.
"I don't care."
Jack and John just looked at each other and sighed.
------------------------------------
Still in genie garb, Misty shuffled towards the lab where Professor Oak
was studying her DNA. She closed her eyes and a belt appeared around
her waist. The genie set her Togepi on the ground and smiled softly
down to it.
"Togepi, I'm going to send you back inside. Staryu and Rocky should be
able to take care of you while I'm busy," Misty said.
Tapping a few buttons on her belt, Misty watched as Togepi flashed red
and faded away as it was transferred to her Pok�mon storage area inside
her ball. She pushed another button on the belt and it shrank down to a
gold cord lining the top of her pantaloons.
Sighing heavily, Misty mumbled, "Let's get to this. I need to know."
The human Pok�mon entered the lab and glanced around. She saw Lily and
Violet were rubbing the insides of their elbows. Professor Oak was bent
over a microscope and was busy switching slides. He glanced up and
caught sight of the genie.
"Ah, Misty. I'm glad you came. I've been busy comparing your DNA and
your sisters' DNA. I've isolated those things that all three of you
have in common. Now, I'm going to try to isolate things that you have
in common with only one or two of your sisters. Once that's done, I
should be able to figure out what was changed when you were turned into
a Pok�mon."
"Err. Yeah," Misty muttered. "Professor Oak, there's something I need
to ask you in private."
Taking the hint, Violet and Lily quietly excused themselves from the
room. Misty waited until she was sure they were gone before saying
anything.
"Professor, can Pok�mon tell where their trainers are at?"
Oak replied, "They can smell, see, or hear their trainers, but beyond
that they don't have much else. The Psychics, of course, can form
mental links with their trainers. Why do you ask?"
The genie took a deep breath and explained, "When I'm outside my ball,
I can tell exactly where Ash is."
"An internal compass linked to your trainer? Intriguing. That is
probably just a natural ability to pick up. Anything else?"
"Yes. I was used in a combat against Team Rocket and felt myself get
stronger. Is that going to have an effect?"
Professor Oak rubbed his hand through his hair and replied, "I don't
know."
Misty thought back to when she drank down those vials of vitamins,
belonging to Ash. She winced as she realized that she could have fouled
up her chances at returning to normal by doing so. Before she could say
anything she felt Professor Oak place a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Misty, if you are having second thoughts about becoming human, talk to
Ash. He's the one who'll be the most affected by whatever decision you
make. Answer this question to yourself, if no one else: Am I happy
being a Pok�mon? Answer that, and you'll have your answer on what you
should do."
Misty bowed her head and left. Using her sense, she was easily able to
find Ash in his room. The genie knocked on her trainer's door and
waited.
"Come in."
The human Pok�mon entered Ash's room and sat down on the bed.
"Ash," Misty began hesitantly. "I'm unsure if I want to go back being
a human."
Ash looked at his Pok�mon and replied, "Misty, that is your decision.
If you choose to become human again, I won't hold it against you. If
you choose to remain a Pok�mon, I will do my best to be your trainer. I
won't make it for you. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get some
sleep. I want to explore that underground forest tomorrow."
Misty nodded and said, "Just recall me, and I'll gladly leave you
alone."
Ash blushed a bit as he pulled out a Pok�ball with a badly shaking
hand.
He pointed the ball at his genie and said, "Misty, return."
Misty felt herself dissolve under the red beam emitted from the
Pok�ball, as she was pulled inside. As soon as she reformed inside the
ball, Togepi came waddling up. Picking the egg Pok�mon up, the genie
gazed upwards and sighed.
"Am I happy? I don't know," Misty mumbled. "Ash is leaving the choice
in my hands, but what do I do?"