Sunrise

            Our heroes, Ash, Pikachu, Brock and Misty have been travelling for quite a while now. 

            "Hey guys, look at this town!" Ash's voice slightly rang over the valley.

            brock brought out his handy-dandy guide book.  "This is Valley Summit.  Hm... 'Valley Sumit is well-known for its seasonal fesitvals that take place at every change of season.' It sounds like an interseting place."

            "They probably have hotels with warm, soft beds," Misty cooed.

            "And delicious food!" Ash exclaimed.

            "Pika!" exclaimed Pikachu, the little yellow rodent pokemon riding on Ash's shoulder.

            "Let's go, let's go!" Ash ran down the hill and headed towards town, with Brock and Misty slowly following.

            When they arrived in town, they saw the streets filled with carts, balloons, floats and floods of poeple.

            "Wow...it's like a party," Misty said.

            "Actually it must be one of the season festivals," Brock said, still looking at the guide book.  "According to this, Valley Summit holds a festival to welcome the new season.  There's winter solstice, vernal equinox, summer solstice and fall equinox.  Hm...tomorrow is the first day of summer so this must be the summer solstice festival."

            "Oh wow! A festival! Let's go check it out!" Ash said.

            "Wait! Don't you think we should check into a hotel? It might be crowded by tonight," Misty advised.

            So, the four entered the first hotel they saw: the Helios Inn.  They walked up to the counter and checked in.  As soon as they were settled in their room, they left the hotel and headed to the festivities.

            The citizens were dressed in yukatas and kimonos, with prints of scenery, paterns and pokemon.  The three humans wanted to be part of the act so they headed to a store to buy some clothes for the occasion.  Misty headed to the woman's section while Pikachu, Brock and Ash headed across the store to the men's section. They ran into a very nice, very beautiful clerk and immediately Brock jumped head over heels; Ash and Pikachu left him alone.

            While looking through a rack of yukatas, Pikachu looked up. "Pika?"

            "You're cute," came a female voice.  Ash looked up.  A young girl about his age was standing across the rack.  She had light bown wavy hair, blue eyes, olive skin and was wearing a lavender kimono with starmies printed on it. She smiled.

            "Uh..."Ash  looked at his Pikachu. "Yah. Say thank you."

            "Pika-pi."

            "Of course Pikachu's cute but I was talking about his owner," she continued her radient smile. "So, you just arrived in town or something? What's your name?"

            "Ash. Ash Ketchum. How'd you know I just came?"

            "Well, Valey Summit is small and besides...I could never forget a good-looking guy like yourself," the girl said. Ash began to blush. "My name is Cordelia. Cordelia Maris. Where are you staying?"

            "At the Helios Inn."

            "The Helios? My uncle owns that! What a coincidence!" Cordelia said. "Since you're new, why don't I meet you there and I can play tour guife throuhg the festival?"

            "Uh, actually I'm here with my friends and..." the girl was cute, he had to admit that.  She was kind and very sweet.  She seemed to be the very opposite of Misty.  And besides, he always hung around Misty so maybe he should...Wait! Why is he rationalizing his circumstances? "SUre!"

            "Great! I'll meet you in hte lobby at 6 o'clock," Cordelia reached her hand in the rack and pulled out a dark blue yukata with a few thunderbolts here and there.  "Here. I think this one would look really good on you."

            Ash took the yukata and watched her walk away. "Wow..."

            "Pi-pika..."

            "I know..."

            MIsty was in the bathroom, getting ready.  She left her orange hair down and put two small braids on each side of her head.  She tied a gold bow on the back of her Goldeen patterned kimono. I hope Ash likes this...

            "I'm going now!"

            "Wow Ash! You look really good. It's like you got a date or something."

            "Well, kinda. I'm meeting her downstairs."

            "Really? What's her name?"

            "It a really cool name. IT's Cordelia."

            "Hey Pikachu, do you want to stay with Misty and me instead of hanging around Ash's date?"

            "Pi-pika."

            "Are you sure, Pikachu?"

            "Pika!"

            "Ok then, if you say so. Bye guys!"

            "Have fun Ash!"

            "Pika!"

            Misty took a deep breath. Oh...Ash is going out on a date?

            Just then, a knock came to the bathroom door. "Misty?" Brock called. "Come on, let's get going."

            Misty sighed. "All right."

            It was about 9 o'clock now and Misty already lsot Brock.  About an hour ago, they spotted the Nirse Joy and Officer Jenny of Valley Summt; she lost him ever since.  Misty and Pikachu sat on a bench; Pikachu was snacking on cotton candy. "Pi-pika?"

            "Huh?" Misty looked down at him. "Nothing's wrong."

            "Pi. Pika-pika-cha. Chu-chu-pikachu."

            Misty smiled slightly. "I guess I can't hide anything from you. It's something like that, Pikachu." They sat for a while longer. "Is...is she nice?" she hesitated. Pikachu nodded. "Oh," Misty's voice became a whisper. "I see."

            "Pi-pika-pikachu!" Pikachu jumped on her lap and hugged her.

             "It's ok, Pikachu. I like you a lot too," Misty fed him more cotton candy. "So Cordelia is really nice..." she let out a big sigh. Misty felt Pikachu hug her tighter. "It's ok Pikachu. I'll be fine. Come on, let's go on the ferris wheel."      

            Meanwhile, Ash and Cordelia were just getting off the ferris wheel. "That was fun!" Ash said.

            "Oh for sure!" Cordelia slowly climbed out of the seat. "Ow!"

            Ash turned to her. "Are you ok?"

            "Yah...it's just..." at the base of her palm was a bleeding cut. "It's ok."

            "No it's not. You could still get an infection!" Ash held her hand tightly. "You getta put pressure on it or it won't stop bleeding." Ash guided her out of the line, holding her hand tightly. Just then he heard a familiar call.

            "Pika-chu!"

            Ash and Cordelia turned. "Oh..hey Pikachu! Hey Misty!" Ash said.

            "Misty..." Cordelia mumbled to herself.

            Misty looked at thier joined hands.  Her blood boiled and her eyes were harsh and glaring; Ash could tell she was mad.

            "Misty, what..?" Ash followed her eyes to his handholding Cordelia's.  "I can explain..."

            "Don't bother Ash! It's not like we're going out anyway! Bsides, I came here to have fun so don't bug me! I hang out with you enough as it is! So just run along now!" Misty stomped away.

            "Wait Misty!" Ash called. He sighed and watched her disappear. Misty... he slowly turned to Cordelia. "Um...maybe there's a fist aid station around here." He turned away, still clinging to her hand.

            "Um Ash...?" Cordelia began.

            "If she wants to be like that, fine! I don't really care."

...to be continued.

Notes: Here are my disclaimers. I don't own pokemon or the characters.  I am just borrowing the characters for pure entertainment and boredom. Thank you very much