Misty could care less about Casey and Brad’s antics. She was practically glowing from last night. All she wanted to do was eat her omelet and stare goofily at her boyfriend sitting on the edge of her plate. She’d occasionally pull her eyes away to see where she was cutting with her knife. The shrinkees squirming under the flaky surface of her omelet were hard not to cut. Misty had decided quite some time ago blood and entrails weren’t her favorite flavors. Using the flat side of her knife she’d push the squirming bite size pieces of cheese, mushroom, ham, green peppers, and shrinkee onto her fork all the while ogling Ash. On a few instances a shrinkee would break free of the cheesy barrier encasing him and leap off the fork, landing on the table, then disappears off the edge in a mad dash for freedom. Misty made no attempts to stop them. Though she was over flowing with energy, and had a bounce in her step, she was much more interested in staring at Ash dreamily with a big dopey smile splayed across her face. Ash thought it was cute. He waved to her just to see what her reaction would be. Misty waved back excitedly nearly dropping her knife.

“Are you just going to look at me like that all day?” Ash did his best to sound annoyed but his smile betrayed him.

“After our shower…… and last night…I just…..” Misty exhaled and put a hand to her heart, “This last week or two have been incredible. I never thought I could be happier than when I was traveling with you going from gym to gym, seeing new places….. I was wrong.”

“Well if you’re happy I’m happy.”

Misty beamed then squinted a little, “……. Hmmmmmmm.”

“What…… My bruises? Aw Mist, don’t worry about them.”

“I know; we already had this talk. But still, let’s just cuddle tonight.”

Setting her fork down on the plate Misty looked expectantly at Ash. He took the hint and boarded the piece of silverware. Misty raised it up to her lips. Ash was ready for them. As the two kissed Casey was busy fanning Daisy. Brad stared down at the fallen titaness worriedly while licking splattered ketchup up off his arms, “Damn Casey, you killed her.”

“We, we killed her.” Casey grumbled. Daisy’s initial reaction had been priceless but this was just too much. Casey had started smacking her silly, trying to bring Daisy back to the real world.

“You’re killing an insane number of brain cells kiddo. Keep it up and she’ll be almost half as dumb as you. Try pouring some ice water on her face.”

“Shaddup……. Grrrrrrrr, why’d I let you talk me into this?” Casey growled.

“What the hell?! This was your idea!”

“That’s not how I remember it….. fess up and take responsibility for your actions.”

“Hey, just because I’m a dozen years your senior doesn’t mean I’m gonna take responsibility for ALL of your messes.”

Finally Daisy came to. They explained to her what they’d done but Daisy wasn’t angry at all. She was just thrilled that Casey really didn’t plan to bump off Brad, not today or any day. That only made the duo feel even more guilty. Casey found it easier to shrug off guilt when she was chastised. When ever she did something wrong with Brad back when he was still a third baseman he’d just look at her a little disappointed or shrug it off, maybe even turn it into a joke. The other players and the teams manage would give her hell for mooning the opposing team (when it was done in broad daylight from the dugout at least) or cussing out their ‘dates’ letting them know what she thought of them. She usually felt little guilt, if any. And if she got yelled at not at all, but with Brad….. Well, that was another story. Though Casey considered herself tough she always felt bad when Brad was disappointed with her, or when he wasn’t angry with her at all (on the surface) even if he had good reason to be. Daisy Oak’s reaction really made her feel guilty, not because she really cared what the girl thought of her but because her reaction sort of reminded Casey of Brad’s.

“I’m really sorry.” Casey muttered.

“I already told you, don’t worry about it! I’m just happy you two are such good friends!” Daisy smiled, her cheeks blood red from Casey’s excessive slapping.

“You all right over there Daisy?” Ash called up from Misty’s plate, concerned.

“I’m fine, thank you Ash.”

“Would you like anything else honey? Some grapes, or home fries?” Misty questioned him.

“I’m fine with what you’re having,” Ash assured her, breaking off another piece of her omelet

The five ate their food. Full Misty pushed away from the table and steched, “Ahhhhh, I feel great! Who’s up for a dip in the pool before we get off?”

“Do we even have time?” Casey asked, she was busy trying to wrestle a stick shaped piece of French toast away from Brad. She held it between her index finger and her thumb while he held onto it with a bear hug. Casey started consuming the other end and brad hurried biting off as much as he could. Eventually Casey met Brad (though not in the middle. She didn’t stop eating and instead sucked him in half way with the French toast before letting him out with a loud smack of her lips.

“Yeah, of course we do. It’s not like they’re going to kick us off the second we make port. Come on guys, it’ll be fun!” Misty insisted.

“Well, I’ll go.” Daisy smiled.

Misty didn’t reply favorably or negatively, she had really only been asking Ash and Casey but she was in such a good mood she didn’t feel annoyed with Daisy in the least.

“I’ll pass. Brad still needs to clean out my belly button lint…….. I’m kidding Daisy, don’t look at me like that.”

Finally the two groups went their separate ways. Misty and Daisy changed and hopped in the pool. Misty spent the majority of the time creating ‘waves’ for Ash and occasionally splashing him gently. Daisy tried to get in on the action and, surprisingly, Misty wasn’t in the mood to protest. The three played in the pool while Casey and Brad remained inside.

In the golden days when she was a groupie traveling with the Electabuzz’s she used to snatch towels and soap from their hotel rooms. Since then Casey had grown a bit more ambitious. Heading to the ladies bathroom with brad securely on her shoulder she snuck into three separate stalls and pilfered them of their shrinkee toilet paper rolls. She quickly stuffed the squirming masses into her backpack and left in a hurry.

“Wow Casey……. just……..wow….. Is that all for you?” Brad asked.

“I’ll let you use them too.” She promised, grinning slyly.

“Thanks Casey, you’re a pal, but I think I’ll pass……. Goddamnit! Now I’m stuck with a nasty mental image!” Casey cackled as Brad muttered curses under his breath

……………………………….

The five of them finally disembarked in Petalburg.

“Wow, never been to Hoenn before but with kicked a lot of teams asses who came outta Hoenn. I heard it’s like a big island.”

“That’s right Casey, though many would call it a small continent.” Daisy explained.

“So how do we get to Littleroot Town?” Ash asked.

“Well we have to head east and take route 102 to Oldale town than from there head south along route 101.” Misty explained.

“Isn’t Slateport City closer?” Daisy asked, “Maybe we should have taken a ship there…”

“No,” Misty shook her head, “Though its closer its got some pretty mountainous regions to the west. It would be hard traveling.”

“Well Misty, I’m impressed! You really know your stuff when it comes to Hoenn!” Ash praised. Misty beamed almost literally bouncing on her feet, she couldn’t help but blush scarlet, “Oh no, it’s just what Casey said. Hoenn’s basically a giant island and where there’s water there’s water pokemon! I only know about the islands geography because I’m been reading up on where different rare water pokemon have been sighted.”

“Still, I’m impressed.” Misty’s smile didn’t disappear, if anything it grew a little wider.

“Well, let’s get going.” Casey suggested.