Go Satoshi Tajiri. He's rich and I'm not. I own squat.

Author's Note: Oh man, Pokemon. I feel so old... oh well! This is going to be Egoshippy; yes you heard right, Misty + Gary! I think that Misty was a seriously awesome character and never really got her chance. That never stopped any other authors on so why in the hell should it stop me?

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Time to Shine

Chapter 1

Lost Heaven

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Have you ever noticed how time seems to stay trapped in a never ending pendulum-like limbo when you know that there's someplace you'd much rather be? Well, that's exactly how Misty Waterflower had felt for the past... oh it didn't even matter how long it had been now, just a damn long time. Wanting waiting yearning burning. Deep down inside she knew exactly the reason of this crazy jumble of emotion she was feeling. It seemed that everyone knew, actually; everyone except him.

She had seen him since their parting. It had been ridiculously brief, but it really didn't matter to her. She had to let go of her Togepi(tic), the pokemon she had raised since it hatched. Still didn't matter (well, maybe a little bit). But having to see another girl fitting in so well with the group dynamic- that was something that mattered. Misty would be the first to admit that she was possessive and this whole "May problem" was definitely ruffling her feathers, so to speak. But it was practically written in stone! Ash and Misty would live happily ever after, the end.

"Psh, happily ever after is for fairy tales."

Even so, it all seemed so perfect. She had been there since day 1. She had been by his side through all the gyms, and through the championships. She stayed by idly and put Misty on standby. Wouldn't it be obvious that he would one day see her through a new light? Apparently not. Ash was finally old enough to notice the fairer sex and she had to watch the gym! Misty knew that she didn't put years into this just to watch Ash make off like a bandit with jailbait on a stick!

Sometimes being a Gym Leader just didn't quite pay enough.

Misty cut her internal ranting short as she took notice of an official looking letter that had just been slid in through the mail slot. It had been a while since the Elite Four had actually sent her a letter, she didn't quite believe it at first. But she opened it none the less and as she skimmed the page she couldn't keep the smile off her face. She was just starting to get bored with beating young trainers all the time. And besides, who in their right mind would deny such an awesome honor?

To: Misty Waterflower, Gym Leader of Cerulean City

Hello, and let me personally congratulate you. It is quite a great time to be a Gym Leader in this world. As you very well know, being a Gym Leader is no easy feat. Your social life gets put on hold and the only interaction you get usually comes in the form of young upstarts who want nothing more than to take you down. Take it from me, as hard as it may be for you imagine being in the Elite Four, so believe me when I say that your pain is felt. But alas, our reasons for contacting you have nothing to do with the pressures of life and it is indeed time for me to get to the point.

While some might think that we do nothing here at the Indigo Plateau, those people are seriously mistaken. For the past year we have been planning for the single most important event that will rock the whole Pokemon community. And not just Kanto. We have made agreements and arrangements with both the Johto and the Hoenn Leagues. This is where you, Misty Waterflower, enter the picture. The event I'm speaking of will be an exhibition of sorts. We will be displaying the power of all the Gym Leaders and members of the Elite Fours throughout the three leagues.

We will be hosting a tournament here at the Indigo Plateau.

Hotel arrangements have already been made, so don't stress yourself out over the nitty gritty. The tournament itself will take place next weekend, but I ask that you show up a week early unless there are special circumstances, in which case you will have to contact us directly. I'm requesting this for a multitude of reasons. There will be tons of press coverage and press conferences. But I also want you to be able to consider this week as a mini vacation where you can get to know fellow Gym Leaders from all over the land.

In the meantime, I bid you farewell. Choose your pokemon well and I will see you real soon!

-Lance

Misty scanned the letter over once more just to be sure she read right. The weekend after next... come a week early... today being Wednesday... wait! WEDNESDAY! She checked the date on the letter one more time. Yup! There was no doubt about it, she had 2 days to get up to the Indigo Plateau! That in itself wasn't necessarily the problem, though. The Indigo Plateau itself was only a few hours away by car.

What the hell would she bring! Now it's a true fact that Misty was a tomboy of sorts, but it's also true that Misty is a red blooded female. She wanted to look good! She had heard through the grapevine that some of those Hoenn Gym Leaders were quite the lookers. And with Ash currently busy with that "other girl" it was only fair that she be able to get a social life of her own.

With that thought in her head Misty smiled. She would get over Ash. She COULD get over Ash. Guys would be begging her for dates, she was a Waterflower! And if dating didn't work out then she would still win the tournament and come out on top!

She didn't quite realize it at the time, but that moment really was the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new.

It was now Misty's time to shine.