Cerulean gym, the prize gym of the Kanto region. In Misty's opinion. Everything about the gym was exactly the way she wanted it. If anyone changed anything, they'd have to answer to her. Especially when it comes to the gym floor.

"Daisy!" Misty burst through the doors of the lobby as she glared down at her sister.
Daisy looked up at her coolly. "What's up?"

"What's up? I'll tell you what's up! You just had to put up all those stupid little decorations on the gym floor, didn't you?"  Fists clenched Misty stared down at the sensational sister.

"We, like need them for the play." Daisy winched as Misty threw her hands up in the air and started walking around in circles. She looked as if she were breathing fire, literally. "Hey chill out Mist-y, they won't be there forever." Knowing Misty would be infuriated by the use of the nick name Daisy picked up one of the multiple pillows next to her.

Misty turned to face her sister, fire in her eyes. How dare she! Misty looked past the pillow at her sister, who appeared to be making a lame attempt at inspecting the pillow. Oh please. Spare me.

"What's got you so worked up anyway? It's not like it's going to effect the gym's reputation," Lily said in a long, drawn out voice.

"I had a challenger come in today! They thought I was a complete whack job when they saw the gym floor!" Misty stomped up to Lily, expecting her to show some sign of recognition… nothing. "When you ask a question you should show the person a little respect and listen to the answer!"

Lily looked at Misty and blinked a couple times. "Did you, like say something?"

Nails pierced the skin on Misty's hand as she clenched her fists. She could feel her temperature rising as her blood boiled. Right now the gym leader felt like a Gyarados that was using outrage. "You lot are so infuriating! Has it ever occurred to you that there are other things in this world beside you three! No of course not, you're the three sensational sisters. You can have anything you want. The only time other things exist is when you want them to, and after you're done they fade away again!" Misty felt her heart racing and her breathing become shallow as she stopped to inspect her three sisters. To Misty's dismay all three sisters didn't even glace her way.

"Hey Misty, can you, like, call Professor Oak." The question sounded more like a command coming from Violet.

"Did you hear any of what I just said?" Misty asked bluntly as her shoulders fell.

Violet looked over the phone and pointed at it. Sighing Misty knew her calls fell on deaf ears.

"Misty might have a point." Daisy threw the pillow down and jumped to her feet. Misty turned around, hopeful that she may have been heard. "We need to, like, think about what the viewers want!" Daisy declared.

Misty's head hung low in response. "That wasn't what I meant," she mumbled while kicking at the tiles. "I guess I should be grateful that one was paying attention half the time."

Misty looked over at her sisters as they ran to the gym room. Her gaze then fell on the phone. If I'm using that thing, it's for my benefit only! Misty stormed away from the phone. Anger fuelled by a current hatred of the phone. That thing has never done me any favours! Her walking turned into a stomp as she walked into her room and slammed the door. The worst part is he never called. Misty flopped onto her bad and hugged the Pokémon League cap that had been left behind by one boy. Why? Did I say something before I left Hoenn? Have you forgotten about me? The thought of Ash forgetting her caused her stomach to turn, her thoughts scattered and her emotions threatened to break out of the cage she had built around them. The walls around her heart crumbled at the thought of his name. The walls she had built after her mother's death. I shouldn't have followed him, if I wasn't so stubborn about my bike I would be in a completely different situation right now.

"What did you have to enter my life, Ash Ketchum!" Misty slammed a fist against the wall above her head. "And why did you leave it?" She whimpered as her hand fell. The second question invaded her thoughts and challenged her emotions. "Maybe you didn't want me to leave. Maybe, just maybe you giving me your cap, which you treasured so much, is a sign." With a firm nod Misty sat up while putting the cap on her head.

In the lobby Misty put Professor Oaks number into the phone. Just ask where Ash is and go. With a form nod pulled the cap further down. The dial tone seemed to invade Misty life for what felt like a few minutes.

"Hello?" She rolled her eyes as Gary answered.

Should've known. Misty picked up the hand set, turning on video mode. What happened to his hair? It stood in multiple spikes that stood straight. A black shirt was covered by a white lab coat. Misty took special notice of the purple water drop hanging from his neck. "Hey Gary," Misty said cheerfully.

"Hey, Misty. Gramps isn't here." His tone told Misty he had very little interest in this phone call.

"Oh, okay. Is Tracey there?" In response Gary shook his head. "Do you treat every caller like this?" At Misty's question Gary's body jumped to attention.

"No, but I'm not always chasing Ash's Tauros either." It's exhausting, Gary added silently.

That name. Pulling herself together Misty thought of a response for the trainer turned professor. "You were pretty quick to defend yourself, Gary."

"And you were pretty quick to recover, Misty." Misty froze and looked at the screen in disbelief. As if Gary could hear her thoughts he spoke. "Yes, it was that easy to notice. So, what was the original purpose of this phone call?"

"I-Dai-I was wondering-"

"If I knew where Ash was?" Maybe she forgot about the hat, Gary thought. Once again Misty froze, in an attempt to cover up her actions she turned to the screen in rage.

"It's not polite to cut people off!" Gary shrugged back. "You know what forget it!" With that Misty raised the receiver while glaring down at the screen. Hesitating when Gary started swinging his arms around at the phone. Growling she held the receiver to her ear.

"Do you want grandpa to call you back?" Scowling at the young professor Misty nodded. "And you want Tracey sent down to Cerulean because?"

"I needed to ask him something."

"Do you want me to take a note?" Gary rolled his eyes as Misty shook her head. "Okay, what do you want? I have a lot of hungry Pokémon to feed."

Misty looked around the room, trying to think of something to say. "Umm… Has Ash been there recently?"

"Nope, but grandpa has seen him around the Sinnoh region when his going to conferences. Do you want to leave a message for grandpa to give to Ash?"

"No, can you just tell Professor Oak I called?" Misty breathed a sigh of relief as Gary nodded. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Gary went to put the receiver back when he remembered the hat Misty was wearing. "Oh and one more thing, you may want to stop making it so obvious by wearing his hat." With that Gary placed the receiver back and started drumming his fingers on the table in front of him. "I need to do something about this."

Misty blinked at the screen a couple times as she thought about the last thing Gary said. Hat? I don't wear hats. Misty placed a hand on her head loosely. The nerve of that guy! Misty tore the hat off her head and threw it down on the table. After a few moments of staring the hat down, Misty picked it up again. "Sorry little hat, but Gary can be so annoying sometimes." Placing the hat on her head again Misty started walking away. Great, now I'm talking to a hat!