Shadow of the Past

Ch. 1

The day was hot; Misty could feel the rays beating down on her skin, as beads of sweat ran down the back of her neck.  The young boy following her ran his hands nervously down his pants.

Obviously he's never done this before, Misty thought. You have to be a little more discreet when you're trying to follow someone.

He was smallish maybe seven years old, and had a Pikachu on his head. He stuck out like a sore thumb, but apparently he didn't know that.  Misty simply ignored him, she just figured he was either following her because she was famous in these parts, or it was just some weird game.

Misty shook her head in thought, and stepped into the cool air-conditioned Poke Mart. She made her way to the back aisle and began looking for the new shipment of Water Antidote. The newest poison reliever made for water Pokemon.  
Two days previous a member of Team Rocket challenged her for a Gym battle, he of course lost, but Seaking had a nasty poison infection to show for it. Seaking was in the Pokemon Clinic, but Misty wanted to be prepared for next time.

After about five minutes of browsing the child who earlier was in pursuit marched up to her.

"Misty. Gym Leader of Cerulean City, I want to battle you!" he demanded.

Her first impression of this kid was that he looked so familiar. He was smaller than she thought before, and wore a red cap that covered a messy mop of jet black hair.
He placed his hands forcefully on his hips and looked up at her with a scowl.

"Are you def? I want to battle you."

This kid has attitude…

"How old are you?" Misty asked ignoring his intrusion.

"Eight."

Eight?

"You're too young to battle a gym leader kid; you're even too young to have a Pokemon license. What are you doing here?"

"They changed the law, and now you only have to be eight instead of ten to get your license." he said triumphantly.

"That's ridiculous an eight year old cannot handle being a trainer."

"I can!"

"I doubt that…"

"Nuh-uh."

And then she remembered who he reminded her of…

"Look I don't want to hurt your fee-"

"Why don't you just battle me to find out, or are you scared!"

"Why would I be scared of a child?"

"Cus' you know I'll win!"

Why am I fighting with him? He's a baby for Christ sake! Misty sighed, this kid made her memory swirl, he was so much like…him
.
"I won't be battling today, sorry kid. You can come back sometime tomorrow and challenge me at the gym, making a request as I'm shopping is not ethical, now if you'd excuse me I have purchases to make."

Misty walked away from the little boy, and headed to the check out.

**************************************************************

The gym needed a good cleaning. Because of the New Year's festivities, the cleaning crew was gone as well as Misty's sisters. Misty was lying on her water bed, reading the latest article in the Poke Times, when Violet barged in.

"Misty!"

"Can you learn to knock!? I could have been naked!" Misty barked throwing her magazine onto the end of her bed and propping herself up onto her elbows.

"Now why would you be naked Misty?" Violet asked with a condescending smirk.

"Shut up." Misty spat.  "What do you want?"

"Well you know how New Year's is coming up? Well Lily scored us three tickets to go on the S.S. Cruiser and celebrate there!"

"Three tickets? So who is not going?" Misty already knew.

"Well we drew short straws and Daisy drew for you…and you lost…"

"You would! That's totally not fair!"

"Misty? Why do you kill our buzz? Seriously, we'll only be gone for two weeks! Plus you're the youngest, we've been working here the longest, it's time you make up for your little adventures away from home. " Violet said, placing her hands on her hips.

"So I get no say in this?"

"You did! We pulled the straw for you!"

"Oh my god, fine, just go. I don't even care." And they left.


That was three days ago, when Violet, Lily, and Daisy left for their Holiday get a way. Misty wasn't too hurt about being excluded; she has become used to it by now. Back in the present; Misty began scrubbing the mold and grout off of the gyms battle floor; sea water and tile clearly do not mix. Next she vacuumed the waiting room floor, dusted the curtains, and finally she changed the filter of the water, which was a week over due.

Misty looked into the slight cloudy pool and was able to see her reflection. She looked a lot different than she used too. Her hair has grown out, now to her waist. The red cape clung to her curves that she acquired during her transition from adolescents to womanhood. She wore a blue dress and silver flats that were to be worn in the gym, otherwise she would slip. Once the least attractive of all of her sisters, she now fit perfectly with them; tall, slender, beautiful, and deadly with a water Pokemon.

"Gym leader Misty," said a voice that broke the eerie silence, jerking Misty upright.

"You have a challenger waiting in the foyer." The doorkeeper stood tall and wide taking up the majority of the space that the double doors offered.

"Who?"

"Um…He's short, has a Pikachu…"

So he decided to show.

"Wait five minutes and send him in Darrell."

"Will do." replied the Gym's doorkeeper and referee.

Misty took one last look at her new self and abruptly left for the back wing of the gym, or better known as her home. The back wing was the living courters for Misty and her sisters; it contained a room and bathroom for each, a guess suite, a kitchen, living room, and office. The office was large and was colored teal, as most of the rooms in this building were. A large mahogany table sat in the middle of it, and six chairs surrounded. In the far corner lay a safe, where trays of Pokeballs are kept for each gym leader. The office is where the challenged gym leader, goes to prepare for battle.

Misty walked over to the safe put the combination in and opened it. Her belt hung on the safes wall, and she clipped it around her waist. She looked at each tray. Her sister's trays were empty, for they took their Pokemon with them, but Misty's laid full on the bottom.

Let's see...I will take Poliwrath, Starmie, and Slowbro..." Misty spoke softly to herself. "...I can't use Seaking, since she's still recovering from Team Rocket...then Golduck it is, and I might as well work on leveling up my Horsea. Misty looked at her collected and attached them to her belt. The Gym Leader left the office and returned to the gym's battle floor, where she took her post at the leader's station and waited for her rival.

"Right this way please, be sure to stand on your mat to ensure your safety. The floor is quite slippery and we don't want you getting injured." Darrell's voice came through the double doors, and led the child from the previous day in.

Darrell took his position on the referee mat and began introductions.

"Cerulean City's Gym Leader Misty and challenger Cam Ketchum!"

Ketchum?!

Misty stood there and stared at her opponent, who now looked smug.
I should have seen it earlier. The Pikachu, the hat, the black hair, the attitude, it all screams-

"I can see you know my brother from that look on your face." Smirked the now recognized Cam Ketchum.

"I wasn't aware he had a brother..."

"Well he does, he's a Pokemon master now you know, no thanks to you!" Cam snapped.

"I heard that from somewhere. He also created a Gym in Pallet Town." Misty's tone was sad, her heart clenched at the thought of him.

"Yeah, he's undefeated no one has ever come close to beating him, but I will. However first I want to battle...are you ready Misty Gym Leader of Cerulean City, to lose, or are we just going to chat all day?"

His total demeanor has changed from yesterday, he seems much more powerful and in control. Yesterday he was just a whiney bratty child, today, however he showed traits of being a Pokemon master...Misty nodded towards Darrell to continue his opening.

If his Pikachu is any good, then I need to watch out. I can't let any of my water Pokemon take a single hit otherwise their done for…He really does look like him… It's been 7 years since we parted…I wonder…

Darrell's voice shattered her thoughts, "This will be a four versus four Pokemon match, call your Pokemon, and begin!"

"Pikachu go!" Pikachu leapt off of Cam's shoulder and landed with a light thud on one of the floating platforms in the large pool.

"Starmie!" Misty released her first Pokemon with a quick flip of her wrist.

"Thunderbolt Pikachu!" Pikachu jumped from his platform and landed onto another in the center of the pool sending a large shock into Starmie's direction.

"Dodge Starmie, Bubble beam!"

I can't believe how long it's been, ten years, since we first met. I was fishing that day, it was warm and bright, but I was there waiting for hours, and getting bored. I needed to prove to my sisters that I was better than they believed me to be, I told them I was never coming back until I was a great Pokemon Trainer, and they needed to know that although I wasn't as pretty as them, I was the most talented when it came to Pokemon. I was waiting for a bite, and then I finally got one, and it was huge. I was expecting a Krabby or a Tentacool...not a boy with a Pikachu in his arms.

"Thunderbolt!" Pikachu jumped in front of Misty onto another platform bringing Misty back into the present.

"Dodge!" Misty gave the order to late, and Starmie fell into the water in defeat.

Get into the game Misty, he's eight, you can do better than that. Start paying attention, and forget about him...

Misty pulled out Starmie's poke ball "Return Starmie...", and pulled out another "Slowbro go!"

Slowbro appeared on a platform that stood five feet away from Pikachu, as the red light faded the battle began again.

"Give her a Thunder shock Pikachu!"

"Dodge Slowbro, use water gun!" Pikachu dodged the attack and attempted another Thunder shock, Slowbro jetted out of the way onto another platform.

"Amnesia Slowbro!"

I remember now, he took my bike. That's where the whole journey started. He took my bike and totally trashed it, I remember finding him later and demanding him to replace it, but he wouldn't...or couldn't...I don't remember. I decided to follow him until he did and-

"Quick Attack Pikachu!" Pikachu hit Slowbro from the side and knocked him into the water.

"Get outta there! Slowbr-"

"Cook em' Pikachu!" Pikachu sent a wave of electricity into the water, shocking Slowbro into submission. Leaving the score 2-0 Cam.

Okay Misty, you really need to pay attention. This child just took out two of your strongest Pokemon. You can't let him beat you, this is your last chance. You need to stop this now. It's time to battle, not reminisce. I swear if he beats you this will be the end, you will never live this down. Now get your act together and beat him.

"Go Poliwrath! Double slap!" Pikachu jumped to another platform.

"Now, Bubble beam!"

"Dodge!" Pikachu barely escaped Poliwrath's attack, and stood stunned unsure what to do, Misty saw her opportunity and...

"Another Poliwrath!"

Poliwrath hit Pikachu dead center and sent him into the wall of the gym, Cam flinched.

"You okay Pikachu?!" Pikachu shook of Poliwrath's attack and looked at his owner.

"Pika!" Pikachu squeaked happily.

I remember he and his own Pikachu had a different relationship than any other trainer and Pokemon I have ever seen. They were best friends, I rarely saw them separated. Usually Pikachu was on his shoulder or his head. I remember when he was forced to consider evolving Pikachu into a Raichu, in order to beat Lt. Surge and his own Raichu. He didn't want to change Pikachu and chose not to. They ended up winning the match. They trusted and loved each other, and because of me it is go-

"Are you going easy on me?!" Misty jerked from her thoughts and saw that Pikachu just attacked Poliwrath, leaving him very weak and vulnerable. All it took was Pikachu's quick attack to finish him off. She returned Poliwrath to her Poke ball, and looked numbly at her possession. She was being beaten by an eight year old.

"Pikachu return we're done." Cam stated.

"You're pulling out?" Misty asked "Why?"

"It's obvious your letting me win. I don't want to fight you if you're not going to try. You're just going easy on me because of who I'm related to. When you're serious about battling me I'll come back."

Cam stared at her hard, and turned on his heel, leaving her alone with a very confused Darrell.
Thirty slow seconds past.

"Winner Misty...?" He quietly asked.

Misty looked into the water, disgusted with what she saw.

The last time we were together, was probably the worst time in my life. He was so mad, he looked at me like I was a monster…well I was…I am. I never have regretted anything so powerfully before…I miss him…he was my best friend…he was my-

"Misty is everything alright?" Darrell was looking at her, concern stained his face. "You're crying."

"I am?" Misty didn't even realize it. She raked her hands over her tear tainted face "Oh, yes, I'm fine. Just allergies, I don't think anyone else will be coming today, you can take the rest of the day off Darrell."

"Oh-okay…?" Darrell hesitantly turned and left.

Misty stood, alone in silence. She contemplated the battle, the mistakes she made, why she made them. She began reliving the memories from her past that she didn't want to remember.

Misty crumpled to the floor and began to sob.

Oh…Ash…