Chapter 17: There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow? 

When I woke up, I kept my eyes tightly shut, thinking that maybe if I stayed like this long enough life would go back to normal. 

"Emma, Misty and I are going to breakfast," Amanda announced. 

I groaned. My theory had been wrong. "Ok. I'll be there eventually." 

I heard the door close and sat up, looking around. Their bags were still littered around the room, so I guessed we were staying here for a while longer and I wouldn't have to bother getting all my stuff together before joining my friends. Dressing quickly, not wanting to ignore my empty stomach, I ran to the Pokemon Center's kitchen area. 

Everyone in our group was there. Brock was staring at his bowl of oatmeal, looking up eagerly every time he heard footsteps down the hallway, but frowning every time it wasn't Nurse Joy. Misty and Amanda had bonded immensely in the past day. They were talking about Water Pokemon and eating fruit from a large bowl that sat in the center of the table. Amanda was giving Togepi strawberries. I looked to the other side of the table to see that Daniel was competing with Ash to see who could eat the most pancakes. 

"They've been doing that the past half hour," Anthony informed me as I sat down. "Disgusting, isn't it?" 

I wasn't sure if I should disapprove or laugh-it was funny. 

"So, did you all sleep well last night?" I asked tersely, remembering the gossiping jab that Daniel had given me last night, trying to leave out the visual of him in a lone towel as I remembered our conversation. 

"Daniel kept trying to badger your dad's current love life out of him." Anthony poked at a diced potato roughly. "I told him to leave your dad alone." 

"Thanks. You're so much more responsible." I sighed in relief. 

"I'm also a lot less fun, or so I'm told," Anthony said darkly. 

"You know that's not true." I frowned. Anthony and I normally didn't talk often, at least about feelings. I mean, we met up with Anthony for a week or so every couple months, but I still didn't know him too well considering we never spent time alone together. Yet last night he'd proven that he had my dad's best interests at heart, so I swallowed any awkwardness I felt and said soothingly, "You're so great at battling that I think you may be my favorite opponent." 

"Really?" A tone of shrewd disbelief. 

"Well, yeah. Not to mention you're funny and smart." I shrugged, starting to feel embarrassed. I grabbed a plate of French toast and took a bite so I wouldn't have to talk anymore, avoiding Anthony's eyes. 

"Thanks," he said, also beginning to eat again, his cheeks red. 

I turned my attention to my dad and Daniel. 

"Hah! I win." Daniel grinned, putting down his fork triumphantly. 

Ash frowned in defeat, then smiled. "I'm still going to win at the Pokemon Gym today. Who cares about some eating contest?" 

"He wouldn't be saying that if he had won," Misty whispered so only Amanda and I could hear. We laughed quietly. 

"Did you say that you're challenging Pryce?" Nurse Joy walked in holding a jug of orange juice. 

Brock stood up, almost knocking a plate of scrambled eggs onto the floor. "Nurse Joy! You look absolutely radiant this morning." 

Daniel, who had been drinking a glass of milk, attempted not to spray the table with a Milk Gun attack as held in his laughter. 

"Um, thank you," Nurse Joy said tiredly. 

"I'm going to challenge Pryce right now." Ash stretched eagerly. 

"I'm sorry, but the Gym Leader is off on the Ice Path, which is east of here," she informed. "He should be back by tomorrow." 

"Awe, no!" Ash wailed. 

"If I were you, I'd go to the Lake of Rage," Nurse Joy added helpfully after seeing the disappointment on Ash's face. 

"What's the Lake of Rage?" Misty asked. 

"The most northern point of Johto. It's often used for Pokemon training. I'm sure your Pokemon would get stronger and more prepared for your Gym battle if you go there." Nurse Joy placed the orange juice onto the table.  

"Oh! That'd be perfect. Thanks, Nurse Joy." Ash picked up his backpack and shrugged it on. 

Nurse Joy nodded in good bye and left. 

"So we're going to the Lake of Rage?" I asked Anthony. 

"I don't think we have any other choice. We're stuck here till we get answers. We can ask some questions on the way there about time traveling since they've known someone who's done it before. I mean, it seems like we're all getting along." Anthony eyed Amanda and Misty, who were laughing again. "Not that I blame anyone for liking Amanda instantly." 

He cleared his throat suddenly and picked up his plate, taking it to the kitchen to be washed. 

Ash began walking towards the door, but Misty barked, "Hold it, Ash. You're waiting for everyone to finish." She softened her voice, "Take your time finishing up, Emma. Don't worry about him." 

"Um, ok." Feeling a wave of gratitude toward my mom, I stuffed a couple more bites into my mouth and downed a glass of water. "Done. Let's go." 

We all gave our Pokemon to Nurse Joy, who let them out of their Poke Balls and fed them while we went back to our rooms and gathered our things. Brock went to the nearby Poke Mart and stocked up on medicine, Pokemon food ingredients, and food for us in case we stayed too long at the lake. 

With all of our Pokemon's bellies full, our bags packed, and our bodies refreshed, we made our way north of town. Soon, our party made its way through the vast forest of trees. 

"You know, I never did get to battle you guys yesterday," Brock said. 

"Oh! Wow, we totally forgot." Amanda bit her lip. "Sorry. You'll have to battle us later today." 

"When we get to the lake I'm sure there's space to battle," Anthony guessed. This was his first time to visit the Lake of Rage in the past or present. 

"Yeah, there's plenty of room." I stepped carefully over a tree root. "We've been there before." 

"Good! I hope there are plenty of Trainers to battle." Ash was walking ahead of us all, Pikachu gripping his hat tightly to hang on. 

"Slow down, Ash! The lake isn't going to move before we get there," Misty called, annoyed. 

"Does his energy ever fizzle?" Daniel asked. 

"Nope." Misty and I said at the same time. She looked at me oddly again, wondering why I felt like the question had been addressed to me when I technically had just met the guy. 

I ran to catch up to my dad to avoid my mom's confused eyes. "Hey, Ash." 

"Hm?" He slowed down. 

"I have a question." I breathed deeply, figuring now might as well be a good time to bring the subject of time travel up. 

"Want a rematch?" He laughed, looking very carefree. 

"Well, yes, but that's not what I wanted to ask." I paused. "I was wondering if you've ever seen a Celebi?" 

"Yep. Met one last year in Ilex Forest." 

"Wow." I still couldn't believe it. "Can you tell me about it?" 

"Sure. Our friend Sammy came from the past, you know, since Celebi can time travel, and we ended up saving the world." 

"You really become a better story teller later on in life," I grumbled under my breath. 

"What'd you say?" Ash stopped mid-step and stared at me. 

"Nothing." I still couldn't believe how gullible he was, or should I say is. "So, would you know where to find Celebi again?" 

"I'm sure I could. We're friends." Ash smiled. Pikachu nodded. I held my arms out, wanting to give one of my small best friends a hug. Pikachu gave me a hesitant look. 

"Oh, come on." I grinned. "I wouldn't ever drop you." 

The caution in Pikachu's eyes disappeared as he jumped, his yellow body flying through the air and into my embrace. I hugged him tightly, but not tight enough that he would electrocute me. I'd learned that lesson the hard way when I was three years old. 

"Hi, buddy," I whispered to him. I'd really missed Pikachu as much as I did my parents and he really didn't look any different, or act differently, than his future self. I scratched the middle of the top of his head, making his tail flicker up and down with pleasure. Exactly how I knew he liked it. 

"Cha!" he cried happily. 

"Wow, how'd you know his favorite spot to be rubbed?" Ash asked, astounded. 

"Oh, um. Amanda has a Pikachu," I said weakly. 

Ash gave me a curious glance. "Every Pokemon is different, you know." 

I shrugged and stopped rubbing Pikachu's head. His tail drooped in disappointment, but Ash stopped asking me questions. Pikachu moved back onto Ash's shoulder and I smiled at the pair. 

"Find out anything?" Anthony murmured to me a couple minutes later as I rejoined the straggling, larger party. 

"I found out my dad is maybe less gullible than I expected." I sighed. 

"I meant about time travel." 

"Oh. Yeah, I talked to him about it." I blushed. 

"And?" 

"He said he could probably find Celebi again in the Ilex Forest." 

Anthony sighed in relief. "Good to know. Maybe after Ash's gym battle we could fly those three with us to Ilex Forest and find Celebi." 

"Yeah, there's nothing wrong with that plan at all." Daniel, who had been listening in, patted Anthony on the back. 

"Does that mean you have a better one?" Anthony raised an eyebrow. 

"Nope. I've got nothing, so carry on." Daniel waved his hand airily. 

Ash continued to walk farther ahead of the rest of us, talking animatedly with Pikachu. 

"Oh!" Misty cried suddenly. 

We all stopped walking and crowded around her. It seemed like Ash hadn't heard- he was nowhere in sight. 

"What's wrong?" Brock asked. 

"It's Togepi! She looks sick."

"Can I see her?" Anthony asked. 

Misty wordlessly handed Togepi to Anthony who examine the small Pokemon, checking her temperature. "Well, she doesn't feel warm. Unfortunately I don't know enough about medicine to know what's wrong." 

"AHHH!" Ash shouted from up ahead. We heard the thwacking of branches and saw Ash carrying Pikachu in his arms. "Pikachu's sick!" 

"This is really weird," Brock said slowly. 

"What's wrong with them?" I asked. 

"No idea," Anthony answered. 

We all stood there uncomfortably until a chorus of painful Pokemon cries came through the forest. Suddenly, a few Rattata and Oddish came out through the trees while Spinarak, Weedle, and Caterpie dropped from the trees on their String Shots, looking weak and in pain. 

Misty scrambled behind Brock, shaking in fear from the Bug types. 

"Why are all these Pokemon sick?" Amanda frowned. 

Before any of us could speculate further, a long, raging roar from the north silenced us. It sounded angry and in pain as well.  

"What was that?" Ash turned his head slightly toward the sound. 

"No idea. Let's go see." Daniel started running ahead. 

We jogged for a couple minutes until the trees thinned and we stood at the edge of the Lake of Rage. Before I could take anything else in, we all stared wide eyed at a huge, gleaming red scaled Gyarados that loomed fifty feet high in the lake, thrashing around, big enough to obliterate us to death with a simple Hyper Beam.

Hey guys!

It's been awhile since I updated this story, so here you go! By the way, if some of the text doesn't show up on a chapter, let me know. I noticed that happened with chapter sixteen (at least on my screen) and I freak out when that happens because it means you guys aren't getting the whole chapter. You can't miss a page in any story (unless it's like a political book for school like the ones I skim for class. Heh.) so... let me know if anything fishy is going on. It's Wattpad's fault, but I'll see if I can fix it.

I hope you liked this chapter! If you did, make sure to follow, vote, comment, and all that good stuff. 

Pokemon Question of the Day: Which Pokemon to you looks best as a shiny?

Have an awesome day!

-Flips