I don't own Pokémon!

FINAL EXAMS *Insert sad face*

I'M NOT EVEN DONE WITH THEM YET!

SCHOOOOOOOOL!

I get that they try, and I respect that. But that doesn't mean that every assignment has to be SO DAMN BORING!

Let me just note that the above was written near the end of school. Congrats me, I am a terrible. Yes, I am a terrible.

Don't even get me started on public speaking. Seriously, this story isn't rated high enough for me to explain my displeasure.

But enough about my sorrow…

x :( x

"Hey, Ash."

No response.

"Ash?"

Still none.

"Ash."

Just snoring.

A slap was heard around the Center.

"Ow!" Ash rubbed his cheek. "Why?!"

"Get up when I tell you and that wouldn't happen!" Misty yelled.

Ash checked the room's clock. "Its not even nine yet!"

"To get through the mountain we need to wake up early. I don't want to have to spend any more time in there as needed." Misty explained as she grabbed her bag. Ash noticed that she was already dressed.

"Why didn't you tell me last night?" Ash got off the bed, grabbing his bag and unzipping it.

"I thought you would have had some common sense? A mountain isn't exactly an easy thing to go through in a day." Misty called from the bathroom, grabbing any things left over from that morning.

"I haven't even been outside of Pallet and Viridian, how was I supposed to know that? I'd at least think they would have made it simple to travel…" Ash muttered, taking out his clothes and pokéballs. Enlarging pikachu's, he returned the sleeping rodent before standing by the bathroom.

"Don't take forever in there…" Ash muttered again.

"Just grabbing things, don't get all impatient." She walked out, letting the ten year old in.

After getting ready, or as ready as any could get to traverse a mountain with his limited funds, Ash walked out of the Pokémon center into the cool morning air. Misty followed him out.

They walked down the path that led to the Cave's entrance. Ash slowed down a bit to talk to Misty.

"You think I could start training pikachu before our match? I don't even know any of his moves yet…" Ash trailed off.

"Its not like there is a set time yet," She said as they walked.

"Just checking," He thought for a second. "Hey, any chance you could give me any… cluesto what pokémon you're using?"

Misty snorted," Yeah, in your dreams."

Ash sweatdropped. "Aw, come on… You already know what Pokémon I have…"

"Yep, and it's a pikachu, an electric type that has an advantage over mine."

Ash rubbed his head. "It was worth a shot, I guess."

"No, it really wasn't. Did you honestly think I'd tell you? I have to keep it semi fair. I don't go around announcing my pokémon to random people off the streets, do I?" She asked.

"I thought Gym Leaders allowed spectators in their gyms...?"

"It was rhetorical. No, even if you are my friend, I won't give you an advantage over any one else."

Ash smiled a bit. "Thats pretty, uh… Admirable, I guess."

Misty smiled too, looking ahead. "Thanks, Ash."

"But seriously, no clues?"

"Oh, by the way Ash, I lied. I never left my mallet at the Center."

"...Damn it."

x :( x

"Hey, you got a light or something?" Ash asked Misty. They were both hesitant to step into the cave before they could see.

"I don't think I- oh wait!" She pulled a Pokéball out of her pocket. "Light this place up for me, Staryu."

An orange starfish pokémon appeared in a flash. Its red jewel lit up the cave and allowed them to see where they were walking.

"I know I said you wouldn't be getting any hints, but I am only showing you Staryu, okay?" Misty said to Ash.

"Yeah, yeah. Where do you usually find your pokémon? I know Cerulean city has like a cape or something, but there can't be too many different kinds."

Misty stepped over a suspicious looking boulder, a flash of Staryu's attack revealed it to be a Geodude. "Well, I caught most of my pokémon by the cape, but I also caught some by Vermillion and the pier in the east."

"Really," Ash seemed surprised. "I thought that was closed down a while ago."

Misty hummed. "It was, but they opened it a few months ago. There wasn't many people over there besides the construction workers."

Staryu flashed as a few Zubat flew overhead. Ash and Misty ducked as a stray one almost hit them.

"Do you remember how long it takes to get through here," Ash asked.

"It took me a couple of hours, but I got kind of… lost a few times." Misty replied.

Ash stopped. "Misty."

"Yeah?" Misty stopped as well.

"Do you know where we are?"

Misty blinked. "Uh… no?"

Ash sat down slowly. "...damn it."

x :( x

As they walked through what they hoped was the way out, Ash's foot bumped into something. Picking it up, he said, "Hey, Misty. Look at this."

He held up a small painted black sheet of metal. It was dented and had a bit of paint chipped off, but a red "R" was clearly visible. Misty glanced at it.

"What is it?" She asked.

Ash shrugged, "It was here in the ground. Think it's important?"

"I don't know. Would it have been here if someone needed it?" She replied.

"Hm… Should we just leave it here?" He looked at it.

Misty sighed. "If they needed it, they shouldn't have just left it in a cave. Speaking of the cave, let's get out of the cave."

"Alright, alright." He dropped it and they kept on going through the cave.

x :( x

Ash squinted through his eye. "Hey, is that light?"

Misty perked up, "Where!?"

"There," Ash pointed, and he had never seen a human run faster before in his life. Actually, he'd never seen a pokémon run faster.

He caught up as fast as he could, which as to say he only did so because she stopped to recall her Staryu.. "Sweet sunshine! I have never been so happy to be outside before…"

Ash rubbed his stomach. "I wish I had brought something better than a few ration bars with us… Lets just go to the Center. I'm starving!"

Misty nodded. "Me too. Hey, what time is it?"

Ash looked at the sun. "Hm… around five. Why?"

"Lets skip the gym battle for now. I don't feel like doing anything after that awful time in the cave…"

Ash snickered, too quietly for Misty to hear.

Wait 'till she sees the Rock Tunnel.

x :( x

I'd say I was sorry for the incredibly late update, but it's happened too much before to be worth anything at this point. I can say I am incredibly happy with all the reviews this story has gotten!

Thank you to:

Shadragon - I guess Ash will just have to make sure to not get accused of anything by Jenny, ha!

HellsMaji - It's really a matter of comic relief. That part wasn't supposed to be serious, I just thought I was straying too far from Misty's character and personality.

Dragonsrule18 - Thank you so much! I'm sorry you have to be kept waiting so long by me.

X59 - I am still debating whether to have Pikachu stay in the ball or not.

LoneWolfsRage - Will do! (Hopefully)

Mewtwo23 - No, in the beginning of the story- though I doubt anyone remembers it- I mentioned a Pokémon Migration. That will play a role in Ash's captures.

thor94 - To both of your reviews, I- and to not spoil much, if not anything- a battle will result in the loser paying the winner.

Hero in the shadows1 - No romance, I am terrible at romance. Friendship only. I am, thankfully, good at friendship. Misty will not be in forever. She was really just an addition to differentiate from my other story that I am currently writing alongside this one. She will be popping up from time to time, though.

HMP - Thanks! I hope so too…

Hinagiku Flower - I don't know what was going through my head when I wrote that, but I assume it was me thinking along the lines of: Pika too hurt. No attack. I am quite a simple mind. He does pass out quite a bit in this story…

Treetho - Hopefully my muse keeps up with this story.

As usual, Thank you to all that reviewed, and will hopefully continue to review.

Reviews are love, and I finally decided to devote my life to them.

-_SuperSmasher4Ever_-