A/N: I started to write this fic about a year ago but didn't particularly like the way that it was going, so I regrouped and started it over. This idea actually fascinates me, the thought that one single action, no matter how small, can change your life. In this case, Ash did not throw the rock at the Spearow causing them to chase him, jump off the cliff and meet Misty. It took a long time for me to work out what would and wouldn't be changed by Misty's absence in the group. Obviously, Ash would grow up a little differently without her influence, but I did decide that her being gone wouldn't affect whether or not Brock joined Ash after he battled him. And Misty wouldn't affect his win in Pewter City.

Because of whatever I felt seemed the most plausible, the characters may be different than they are in the anime. I am trying my hardest to keep them the same deep down, Misty still easily provoked and Ash is still clueless with a hero complex. But other aspects may be slightly skewed. Please don't review or send me a message about how ooc they are. Cuz I know, that's the point. However if you do want to send me an alternate view or discuss their new personalities, feel free.

Chapter 1

The world is a big place for a small boy. There isn't anyone to clean up your messes, no one to hold accountable but yourself.

This boy, was alone. He had his first pokemon but the yellow mouse wouldn't listen to him. Ash figured that when people wrote about his rise to fame, at least this will be an amusing beginning. Now though, he found it irritating.

"Can't you just listen to me for a little bit?" he called up to the trees, he couldn't see Pikachu but he knew it was up there.

"Pi." was the faint response he heard. Probably a no.

Ash pouted slightly, "Stupid sleepwalking. Stupid breakable alarm clock. Stupid Mom for not waking me up." still set in his childish ways, nothing was his fault.

Then, in the distance was a silhouette of a bird.

"A pokemon!" he exclaimed reaching for the ball on his belt, feeling the tingle of excitement the first time causes. Then he remembered, "oh yeah…I guess I'll have to do this on my own." Ash looked around, finding a small stone and picking it up.

This is a cheap way to win. He told himself, but I promise, whatever god is up there, if you let me catch this one, I'll be much, much better from now on.

Rolling the rock between his fingers, he thought about his options.

"If I throw this rock…I'll catch my first pokemon by myself and I won't need Pikachu. But if I don't…" Ash was torn, his first moral decision, could he really call himself a trainer if he resorted to cheap shots?

No, he couldn't. So he tossed the rock to the ground and sighed.

"Come on Pikachu," he sang before walking through the field. Surprisingly, he head the tiny footsteps behind him as he walked.

It was a nice enough day, the sun was high and there were no clouds as far as the eye could see. He had never been this far away from his home before and was surprised by how calming it was to just enjoy nature. The was a long expanse of knee high grass in every direction and to his right a small river leading to a waterfall. He took a mental picture as he stared down to the water below, this would be a good spot to go swimming in the summer.

****

Misty was lying lazily in the cool grass alongside a river dividing Pallet Town with Route 1. What did she say to her sisters before she left?

"That's right," she murmured aloud, "I won't come back until I'm a world renowned trainer!"

The words of a tempermental girl, but she didn't mean them…not entirely. She loved her sisters as much as any preteen. They were her surrogate parents, she had so few memories of their mother and father. But she was the smallest, the runt, and it was hard to be the youngest.

There was an ache in her heart to go out on her own and be just Misty, not the youngest sensational sister, not Brandon and Katherine's daughter, not gym leader, but just her. She had never been alone though, and wasn't sure that she could last.

Glancing up at the clear sky that was beginning to darken, the redhead stood and gathered her belongings before packing up and peddling off toward her home.

*****13 years later*****

Daisy twirled a finger through her golden hair, a childhood habit that never really died out.

"Are you sure you're okay with going?" she asked for the third time that day.

Misty turned away from her suitcase to giver her older sister a grin, "Don't worry, I love going. I've gone every time since I was 17."

"I know but," she trailed off as Misty pulled her hand away from her hair, "I just feel like we're shoving you out of the gym."

"You can't shove someone who wants to go," she laughed but became serious again at Daisy's expression, "I like going. I have friends at other gyms and it's nice to have a vacation. I don't mind at all."

The eldest Williams sister smiled in relief, "Good, you know I worry about you."

"I know," Misty smiled going back to packing the items on her bed.

"So…did you tell Seth that you were going?" Daisy asked reaching over to help Misty fold.

"No…I didn't…" she said it cheerfully enough but the blonde noticed her sister's tension.

"Why not?"

"Because it doesn't matter, we…aren't together anymore."

"Oh!" she pulled Misty into a tight hug, "I'm so sorry, why didn't you say something?"

"For this reason," she sighed allowing herself to be hugged.

"Was it bad?"

"Is there a good way to break up?"

"I guess that's a good point…was it his idea or yours?"

"His."

"Why?"

Misty hesitated, talking about the breakup was still painful, "He told me that we were too comfortable and 23 isn't an age to be settled down. He wanted to experience other people."

"What an ass!" Daisy exclaimed, "I can't believe he said that. You guys have been together since you were 15! You deserve a better reason than that."

"Maybe he's right…" Misty said softly avoiding Daisy's gaze.

"Excuse me?"

"You said so yourself, we had been together for so long. I mean, I've only been in one serious relationship, I've only been with one man…I'm only 23, maybe he's right about us experiencing new people."

"Misty…that's not you, I mean, you don't flirt like we do. You're a monogamous girl and I love you for that. Don't change who you are because of one guy."

Misty rolled her eyes a little, after her tween years, she and her sisters had gotten along much better and Misty could even say that she and Daisy were close. But sometimes they made her feel like she was still a little girl when she wasn't.

"How do I know that I can't do that stuff? I've never given myself the chance," she resumed packing the last of her clothes and struggled with the zipper, "So, I'll go on the cruise, represent the gym…and maybe have a little fun being a different Misty."

"A different Misty? But I love this Misty," Daisy teased, realizing that she wasn't going to change her sister's mind.

"Well, maybe not completely different…but it might be fun to try something new." she winked pulling her suitcase off of the bed and wheeling it to join the rest of the matching set.

****

Ash Ketchum, Division One Champion. Fresh off of his victory in the Sinnoh region, it still felt weird to say. He wasn't completely used to the fame yet, the constant spattering of paparazzi and seeing his face on magazines. When Ash was starting out, there were rumblings of regions combining their leagues to make the transition to master less messy. Prof Oak would always tell Ash and Gary that the distinction between Champion and Master loose and there were always people looking for a way to make the lines more clear. The Mastery Board reached a decision the year he turned 15. The regions to the west, Kanto, Johto, and Sinnoh were called Division One and regions to the east were Division Two. If a person competed, and won, the Championship in every region for their division, the were given the title of Division Champion, which Ash was now. But you couldn't compete in the opposite division without becoming a Champion of their home division, and whoever was the champion of both regions became a Master. It became a lot more difficult to earn that all too important title.

He spent the two months since his win bouncing around from house to house, hoping to outrun the attention. It was a miracle that he happened to stop by his home in time to RSVP for the Division One Cruise. In an effort to keep the regions that were once separate together, they had begun sending Champions, Masters, and Gym Leaders on a month long cruise, once every 2 years, to all 3 regions and through the islands. Ash was excited to finally be able to go. He hadn't had a proper vacation since he started training 13 years ago and he had never been on a cruise, the only downfall was that pokemon were prohibited to keep the cruise fun and not about battles. Many of his gym leader friends would be going as well. It would be like a month long party, just the break he deserved before heading off to compete in Division Two. It took 13 years to win all three championships and become a champion, he figured he could be a master by 40 if he kept this up.

He wandered around the deck of the ship as people continued to check in and board. It was a nice day in Vermillion City, warm but not hot with a slight breeze. June was probably the best month for a cruise. There was Erica from the Celadon Gym, May from Petalburg, Candice from Snowpoint, and finally he saw the dark brown hair of his best friend.

"Brock!" Ash exclaimed, jogging over to the ramp he walked up on.

"Hey, Ash, I was hoping you'd come," Brock laughed, "I haven't seen you since you went home."

"Yeah," Ash scratched the back of his neck, "I went to help Mom out and pick up some clothes and I found the invitation. I almost didn't make it in time, but I'm glad I did."

"It's fun," Brock insisted, "I come whenever I'm not traveling with you. Besides you'll pretty much know everyone here."

"Yeah, I've defeated them all!"

"Don't be cocky." Brock shook his head.

"Brock! I was worried one of your siblings would get to the ticket before you again!" A voice cried out behind Ash.

Brock's eyes lit up as he glanced at the comment's owner, "I think I've timed when to be home so I can always go, at least until I get bored. Your sisters didn't want to come again?"

"Nope, they all have boytoys and what if they find someone else while the girls are forced to hang out with Gym Leaders?" she laughed and joined the two men.

"Misty, I don't know if you've met Ash Ketchum, he just became a Division One Champion, and Ash, This is Misty Williams, one of the Cerulean City Gym Leaders," Brock introduced the two standing next to each other.

And for the first time, Ash turned to look at the new member of their conversation. She was a pretty redhead, probably only a couple inches shorter than he was with blue-green eyes.

"Cerulean City?" he asked smiling, "I certainly don't remember you."