Misty Goes To America

Thirteen

Anchorage, Alaska...

Our friends arrive in Anchorage (on yet an another red-eye

flight), where Ash's next challenge await: The NAPL crown. Gary had

already defeated the North American Elite Four, and it was time for

Ash to put him in his place.

"Next time, Brock, don't book us on the red eye flight!" Misty

shouted, stepping out of the passageway. "I need my beauty sleep, you

know!"

"Yeah, Brock, remind me NEVER to let you book anything again!"

Ash added.

"Hey, it was cheap, so why not?" Brock replied, shrugging.

"Just because it's cheap doesn't mean you can sacrifice other

people's health and sanity!" Scott shouted.

"All right, fine. I won't book anything ever again." Brock sighed.

"Thank goodness." Ash mumbled.

"You got that right, Ash." Misty commented.

Our friends exit the airport, and made their way to downtown

Anchorage. There, they would catch the NAPL Express, which would take

them right to the NAPL HQ just outside the Northern border of Denali

National Park.

The cab pulls up into the station, and Ash rushed into the

station, only to see long lines at the ticket booths. Many of them

were carrying "Go Gary Go" banners, much to Ash's chagrin. Gary must

know that Ash was coming.

After 3 quarrels between Ash and Misty, 11 cups of coffee,

and two dozen donuts later, Ash was finally able to get tickets for

the next train for the NAPL HQ. With tickets in hand, the four walked

to the crowded platform.

Outside, the train was pulling into the station on its

southbound journey. Once all the southbound passengers have all

gotten off, our friends, as well as all the other northbound

passengers, scrambled onto the train.

Once safely on board, Misty settled into her seat, while

Ash was anxiously pacing around in the aisle, Brock was ogling

some of the female passengers (Doesn't this sound familiar?), and

Scott was asleep.

The train ran through the majestic mountains, crossed tall

trestles, and through the endless forests. Finally, after an uneasy

few hours, the train slowed down, and pulled off of the main line, and

into a branch track.

Then, suddenly, there it was: The NAPL HQ. The train pulled

into the building, and came to a complete halt at the station's

platform. The passengers were discharged, and filed into the HQ.

Once inside the HQ, Ash went straight to the Pokemon Centre.

He gave his Poke Balls to the nurse, and went off to get himself

registered for a showdown with the Elite Four, and if he beats them,

Gary.

"Do you have all 8 badges?" The receptionist asked.

"Here they are." Ash replied, handing them all to her.

"Well, let's put this through the machine, and let's see if

it approves you."

The receptionist puts in the registration card, as well as

all 8 badges into the slots. The red light came on, and Ash crossed

his fingers. Soon, the noises stopped, and the registration card came

back out with a stamp on it.

"Well, you've been approved, Ash." The receptionist said.

"Here's your invoice, and your badges."

"Thanks." Ash replied.

"Good luck. You'll need it."

Ash walked away, and met up with Brock, Misty and Scott at

the café. "Hey, guys, what time is it right now?" He asked.

"It's 3:30 PM local time. Why?" Misty replied.

"I'm going to be on at 5:30." Ash replied.

"Well Ash, this is your final challenge. Good luck with those

Elite Four and Gary." Scott commented. "Yeah, I've been here before..."

"You have, Scott?" Brock asked.

"Sure. I've been the NAPL Champ once..." Scott mumbled. "Until

Jenny came along..."

"Jenny? Who's she?" Misty asked.

"Never mind about that. Ash, all I can say is, don't give in

to them. It's just going to get worse." Scott replied.

"Thanks, Scott. Well, I'd better get ready." Ash declared.

"You'll all be in the stands, right?"

"Of course, Ash!" Brock replied.

"We'll be there to cheer for you, Ash, all the way!" Misty

added. "And we'll be there to drag your carcass off, too."

"Misty!" Scott shouted.

"Sorry." Misty mumbled.

"Well, I'll see you later." Ash mumbled.

"Later, Ash." The three mumble.

Ash left the café, and disappears into the challengers' room.

Then, suddenly, Scott finished his coffee, got up, and abruptly left.

He went toward the station, with Misty and Brock chasing after him.

He quickly purchased his ticket, headed out to the platform,

and boarded the southbound train. (which was packed to the seams) When

Misty and Brock got there, the train was already pulling out of the

station.

Misty tried to rush after it, but Brock stopped her. They went

back into the building, and went into the Battle Stadium, to catch some

of the challengers going against the Elite Four, and perhaps, Gary, the

NAPL champ.

Misty found a seat between a row of Gary supporters, and

quietly watched everything unfold amongst the loud cheers and

whistles when Gary appeared, waved to the crowd, and took his

seat at the champions' seat.

The first challenger stepped in, and did fairly well against

the first two of the Elite Four. Then, when he got to the fourth one,

it started to go downhill. There was nothing he could do, but to accept

defeat. One down.

The next person did really well, cleaning the clocks of all

four of the Elites. It was time for Gary to defend, for the first

time, his crown. He went down to the arena, and threw out his first

Poke Ball amongst cheers from his supporters.

The match went for a while, but Gary managed to come out on

top. He went back to his seat, and waited for the next challenger.

He came out of the shadows, and Gary gasped, as well as all his fans.

"Ash Ketchum the loser." Gary shouted. "I'd never expect YOU

to get so far!"

"Shove it, Gary." Ash replied. "Let's get down to business."

The first PokeElite, David, stepped into the arena. He had a

fighting line, so that would mean an easy job for Pidgeot. Ash sent

it out, and that match was quickly ended with a perfect KO. (All

Pokemon knocked out.)

The next PokeElite, Siu Ling, came in. She had a ghost line,

and only one type of Pokemon was strong against ghosts. Ash sent out

his Kadabra (Sabrina had given it to Ash as a gift), which cleaned out

her line.

Next, was the third PokeElite, Greg, who commanded a Ice/Water

line. Pikachu would make short work of that, but then, Ash remembered

that he had given Pikachu to Scott, and he was nowhere to be found.

Ash went with Ivysaur, and easily wins, but not without

Ivysaur getting frozen. Once Greg was out of the way, the final

PokeElite, Edward, stepped into the arena, and sent out his

Dragonair.

Ash had no chance. All of Edward's Pokemon were just too

powerful. They overwhelmed Ash's entire line, and when Ash's final

Pokemon was knocked out, Gary smiled, and broke into a maniacal laugh.

"I told you I'd have my revenge, Ash." Gary shouted. "And now,

here it is!"

"Save your breath, Gary. I'll be back, and you can be sure

of it!" Ash snapped back.

"Ooh, I'm SO scared!"

"I'll beat you, Gary, if it's the last thing I do!"

"Yeah, right!"

"You just watch, Gary!"

"Hah!"

Ash walked out of the arena, and Gary laughed. Misty and Brock

went with him, and they dejectedly make their way to the station, and

back to Anchorage. The trip was silent, as Ash was totally mute along

the way.

Misty looked at Ash, and tried to cheer him up. "Ash, you did

great! Not too many people make it as far as Edward, you know." She

commented.

No reply.

"Ash, you did great! Let's go out to someplace nice when we

get back to Anchorage, OK?" Brock added.

Still no reply.

"Ash, listen to me! You tried your hardest. You'll get Gary, I

promise!" Misty shouted.

"Yeah, right." Ash mumbled.

"Ash!" Brock shouted. "Misty was only trying to help."

"Well, I don't need it." Ash replied.

"Fine, Mr. Pokemon Master, be that way." Misty huffed.

The train finally arrived at Anchorage station, and Misty, Ash

and Brock quietly get off. They found a small little hotel, where they

settled in for the night. Then, suddenly, during her shower, Misty

realized something.

Scott had talked about an island for NAPL gym leaders somewhere

south of Juneau that they were welcome to come to and train if Ash

needed it. She dialed up the ferry company, and made arrangements.

Leader's Island, the next day...

Scott looked out into the wide open ocean, and pulled the line

out of the water. The fish seem to be still asleep, so it's best to go

back to the cabin, and fix up some breakfast before going back to drown

a few more worms.

Then, suddenly, a ferry boat (British Columbia or Alaska, it

was hard to tell in the mist.) passed by the island, and sounded its

horn. Must be the supplies, he thought. And maybe even someone he

could actually talk to.

A small raft was lowered, and large boxes were loaded onto

it. The craft soon sailed toward the pier, and Scott and a weary-

eyed Pikachu was there to greet them. "Hey there, what's new?"

Scott shouted.

"We've got a few people waiting to come onto the island." The

sailor replied. "We need your permission first."

"Sure. Send them over."

"Righty-o, Scott They'll be here by around 6 to 7 this evening

on the late ferry to Prince Rupert."

"Thanks, Craig."

"No prob. Have a nice day."

With all the supplies unloaded, Scott dragged it all into

the stores, and went back to get some breakfast for him and Pikachu.

Usually, the island was quiet during this time, and it was the

perfect place to think.

Scott had thought about that year that he was NAPL Champ when

he was 17. He had traveled up to Alaska to challenge the Elite Four,

and defeated them and the champ. During that time, he was lonely,

bored, and far from home.

Then, came Jenny. She was fairly good, and got past all of

the Elite Four with dumb luck. She narrowly defeated him for the

crown, and today, she's working in Los Angeles, as a financial

consultant and broker.

Since then, he had traveled around the world, and finally

settling down back in Vancouver and winning the job of Gym Leader

at the new Gym when the NAPL had stripped Edmonton gym's official

status and bestowing it on Vancouver's.

Later, after dinner...

Scott sat down on the edge of the dock, and looked out into

the water. A ferry boat from Anchorage was coming, and if Craig wasn't

playing an another prank to get onto the island, there was company

coming.

Pikachu was right beside him, fishing with his little rod.

The ferry boat came within sight, and a dinghy was lowered into the

water, with two people getting on. They paddled over, and when the

raft got close enough, one of them started to wave.

"Scott!" A female voice shouted.

"Misty?" Scott mumbled, making Pikachu look the other way,

and dropping his rod into the water.

"Scott!"

"Misty!"

"Scott! What are you doing here?"

"I knew we would find you here. Why did you run away?"

"I needed a bit of time to think. And besides, I wanted to

get ready for you guys to come!"

"Oh?"

"Hey, where's Ash?"

"Over there. He's still pouting over his loss."

"Oh. Okay, you guys go into my cabin over there."

"Sure."

Scott looked at Ash, who was still pouting on the raft. "Hey,

Ash." He mumbled.

"Yeah, whatever." Ash replied.

"Ash, I know how you feel. I've been like this before."

"Yeah, right. You're a gym leader. How are YOU supposed to

know that?"

"Because, I was NAPL champ once."

"Yeah? Maybe you're also the PL champ once, too?"

"Ash, I can help you."

"How? You've stolen my girlfriend, and even my Pikachu."

"Hey, I've told you before. Misty liked me, and besides, you

said I could hang on to Pikachu."

"Yeah, right."

"Look, Ash. If I was any meaner, I would have let you lose.

But I'm offering to help you."

"So?"

"Besides, have I ever failed you?"

"No."

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

"Fine. I'll be coming."

Scott went back into the cabin, and Ash slowly got up, gathered

his stuff, and went onto shore. Inside, Misty had already unloaded her

stuff in one of the guest rooms, and was playing with Pikachu.

"Hey, Scott. How's Ash?" Misty asked.

"Oh, he's coming." Scott replied.

"Where's Brock?"

"I don't know. I didn't see him get on the ferry."

"You left Brock in Anchorage?"

"He said that he would come ASAP."

"Okay."

"So, is there anything to eat? I'm starved."

"Uh, check the fridge."

"All right."

Misty got up, and went into the kitchen. Pikachu trailed off

after him, and then, Ash came in the door. Scott pointed him to the

guest rooms, and he disappeared just as Misty reemerged with a

defrosted sandwich.

"So, how long are you gonna stay here?" Scott asked.

"Well, once Ash thinks he's ready." Misty replied.

"So, how's it been with you and Ash?"

"Well, not bad."

"Well, that's great."

Scott sat down beside Misty, and she put down her sandwich on

the table. Then, suddenly, they embraced, and kissed. They fell onto

the floor, and started to roll around. "Pika pika pikachu. (Oh, no,

not again!" Pikachu moaned.

A few days later...

"Well Ash, are you ready to go back?" Misty asked, as Ash came

into the kitchen.

"I haven't slept a wink last night." Ash mumbled back.

"What happened?"

"A Gastly woke me up sometime between 3 and 4 this morning,

and kept on talking this strange stuff."

"What?"

"I have no idea. It just rambled on and on."

"Well, okay..."

After breakfast...

"Ready, Ash?" Scott asked.

"Yep. Thanks for all your help." Ash replied.

"Hey, whoa, I'm coming too, you know."

"Why?"

"Me and Misty will be in your corner all the way."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Thanks."

The ship was coming in, and was about to take them back to

Anchorage and back to the NAPL HQ, where Gary and the Elite Four

await him. And Brock...where is he? He hadn't shown up in a week.

Once onto the ferry boat, Misty bid the island farewell. A

week of training was over, the pieces have been picked up, and it

was time for Ash to return to the NAPL champ and put Gary in his

place once and for all.

To be continued...