"Holiday inn... uh.. okay!" Ash stated. He didn't really care as long as he would be able to sleep in a bed. Oh how he missed beds! In his spirit form

he couldn't even touch a bed so sleeping in one was a real treat! They walked

Into the doors and went up to the clerk. " What do you want?" the clerk said snootily. Brock Misty and Ash got into a huddle. " How much money do we

have?" Brock whispered. Each person held out a hand and Brock counted the

money. " Okay we have enough to get one 2 bed room. One person will have to

sleep on the floor." Misty and Ash looked worried at the thought of having

to sleep on a floor " We'll decide who will sleep on the floor later but this

is okay right?" Misty and Ash nodded in approval." Okay!" Brock said with

unnecessary enthusiasm. " We would like one regular room." The clerk

leaned over the table and hissed " Cash or credit card?" "CASH" Misty Brock and

Ash almost yelled in unison. The clerk rang them up and gave them a key."

Room 803. Eighth floor to your right." The group thanked him and headed for the

elevator. Misty and Brock held the door open for Ash as he slowly trudged

along. " What's wrong Ash?" Brock said with worry in his eyes. " Nothing I'm

just...really..sleepy.." Ash barely finished the sentence as he collapsed on

the floor. Misty screamed and knelt down to check his pulse. Her eyes

frantic

as she checked desperately for a pulse. " I can't find a pulse! I CAN'T

FIND A PULSE!" Misty started to hyperventilate in the cramped elevator. Brock

took Misty's hand assuringly and placed her fingers in the correct position

on Ash's neck.

"Calm down Misty...there is a pulse.. see?"

She calmed down

and took a deep breath as she felt the steady pulse and for reassurance kept

her fingers on Ash's neck all the way to the 8th floor. The door popped

open and a voice said: " Eighth floor. " Brock carefully picked up Ash and

exited

the elevator. Misty fiddled with the key in her hand until they reached

the

room. " Here we go." Brock said, " Room 803. Can you unlock the door

please?"

Misty unlocked the door and they entered the room. It was nicely decorated

and fairly air-conditioned. Brock placed Ash in a chair and removed His

jacket. " Misty will you take his shoes off?" Ash lay limp in the chair as Misty practically ripped the tight sneakers off his feet. Then Brock lifted

Ash out of the chair, still in his black shirt and jeans, and placed him in

one of the beds. Misty then lifted the covers and pulled them up to his chin

as he snored quietly. Brock walked over to the closet and grabbed some

extra blankets. " I'll sleep on the floor okay Misty?" He said setting up a

makeshift bed on the floor. Misty tossed him 2 pillows from her bed. " Here

Brock. Thanks." Brock caught the pillows and nodded his head " S'okay."

Misty grabbed her bathroom bag from her backpack and said to Brock, " Do you mind if I use the bathroom first?" Brock again nodded his head. " Sure. I'm just

going to go to sleep. I'll take a shower in the morning." He said as he got

comftorable in the sheets on the floor. " G'night Brock." She said before

she closed the bathroom door. " Night Misty" Brock said before he drifted into

a dreamless sleep.

Ash's eyes slowly started to crack open. He looked around himself. He was

ina bed. His shoes and jacket were off. He looked to his left. Misty was

sleeping quietly in her bed. He looked around and soon found Brock snoring

onthe floor. He then again looked at Misty. She was still wearing his hat. He

smiled at her. She was wearing her hair down like she promised at the

grave. That brought his mind to the fact of what she had declared after his death. Did she really care? He hoped she did. Then as usual he just shrugged the

thought off and headed towards the balcony. Misty awoke to the sound of

a screen door opening. She opened her eyes slowly and Saw Ash sitting on the balcony bathed in moonlight. She then felt her head and turned red. She was

still wearing his hat. And she was positive he knew it. She slowly walked

towards the open door not as to make any sound as she slowly took the cap

off her head. She held it out to him and murmered softly " Here's your hat back

Ash." He almost jumped at her voice. His stomach already had butterflies and

the fact that she was there with him made him even more jumpy. " It's okay

I don't mind." Misty's face went wide with surprise. " Really? I-.." she

stopped herself for she couldn't think of anything to say. Ash then looked

inside himself pushed the butterflys out of his system and spoke to the

beautiful moon dappled girl grasping his favorite hat. " I was there you

know... at the funeral... " He said staring at the ground. " I know. " She

spoke softly as not to wake Brock. Ash then looked at her curious face.

"No I mean... I was there for the WHOLE fueneral. I was there when it started

and I was still there after you and Brock had left." Misty turned bright red

and placed his cap on her head hoping to hide her red face and ashamed eyes.

She walked towards the banister and stared down eight stories at the parking

lot. He knows! she screamed in her head HE KNOWS! HE WAS THERE!!! HE WAS THERE

WHEN I DECLARED MY FEELINGS!! OH..my...god...... Ash searched for the right

words to come out of his mouth. " And if you could only hear me then you

would of heard that I never would of... waiit no..." he ws going to hastily

add something like I would never leave you but it was too late. He wished

he could punch himself as he realized those were the most horrible words he

could of said. Tears of embaressment ran down her cheeks and she regretted

she was ever born. Then he walked up to her and put his hand on hers. She

looked at him, eyes red, a sad teffirfied look on her face awaiting more

rejection. He did all he could to show her how he felt. He smiled a warm

smile at her and said gently "Keep the hat. " . A small smile crawled up

her face." You.. you mean it? You mean you...?" She trailed off into silence as

Ash happily nodded his head. She then almost knocked him to the ground as

She held him in a tight hug. Ash then took her in his arms and looked up at the

moon, who seemed to be winking at him. Then he closed his eyes and just

stood there, in the cold dark night, being warmed by the girl that lay secure in

his arms. Misty smiled , eyes closed as she started to flutter into a

dreamland, lulled to sleep by Ash's warm touch. Nothing could reach her

now. She was in a place few people have ever been. She was in such a place of

happiness she momentarily forgot where she was, and what she was there for,

all she knew was she was in the arms of someone that, held in her mind, the

closet place in her heart. All she knew was she was in the arms of the only

person she would ever care for. The only person she would ever...love. Ash

held her tightly. He took his fingers and twiddled with her hair. It

whirled around his hands shining and glowing in the moonlight.

"You did keep your promise." Misty then lifted her head from his chest with a questioning look in her eyes.

"Your hair. You kept it down." She smiled warmly and rested her head once more on his chest. Then a worried look brushed over her eyes.

"You really were there...you heard-...." Ash finished the sentence for her

"I heard everything" She let out a contented sigh. "I'm glad..."

She then squeezed him once more before she slipped off into a sleep filled with

Dreams of her and her closest friend, whom she now, shared a special bond with.

Ash placed her in her bed. She had fallen asleep in his arms. He smiled warmly at the beautiful red head that lay before him. He slowly walked up to her and brushed a strand of hair off her face, then resting his hand on her cheek rubbing assuringly with his thumb. He then bent over, slowly, closinghis eyes.. Then he abruptly stood up.

"No....." He thought. "I'm not going to do something like kiss her until I have her consent."

He knew from once reading his mother's diary that women cherished their first kiss. Well, guys do too, but not like girls. He could not explain it. But he was sure it was too soon. "When the time is right..." Ash thought to himself.

Misty had said at her grave that she had had some bad experiences. Ash, more than anything, didn't want to be one of them. Plus he realized he was too young to get too personal. He then instead just pulled up the sheets and tucked her in, giving her a small, gentle hug. He then got comfy and lay in his bed ready to dream of the newly loved girl that he fell asleep watching.

Marissa looked through the large telescope. She glanced at the northern part of the moon lit sky. She turned the telescope a few degrees as a bright blue light filled the whole room.

"Yes! Yes! This is perfect." She yelled to no one.

The planets had aligned! It was time! It was time to do something she was planning for years! She raced up a ladder and onto a podium on top of the hill covering her subterranean cave. She stood facing the aligned planets as she let the hot blue light soak through her soul, giving her power. Her heart raced and her mind whirred at the power the planets were giving her!

She had been waiting years for this power and now she had it! Now she could use it! She then floated in the air soaring in the clouds. Then she talked to herself. She had no reason to but it made her feel like she was starring in a movie, all about her, and she was her own narrator.

"The loneliness, It had been with me for years! But now... but now! It will all be different! No one will be alone! They will all be my friends! No one else's!

No one has ever been nice enough to be my friend! Now they all will! They all will!" She screamed with laughter.

Then she was above Ash and company.

Actually Brock was somewhere else. It was just Misty and Ash. She decided to spy in on him before going along with her plan. Misty and Ash sat on a bench.

Misty was wearing his hat and he was wearing her gold necklace. Ash had given

Misty something. Something that was very important to him. So Misty in turn decided that she must give him something. Her mind wandered as she remembered the event only 2 days ago...

*******FLASHBACK***********

Misty looked around her. She then looked down at the uneaten food she had ordered. Misty fumbled with the hat on her head, as she felt guilty. She looked at Ash who was sitting eating his fried rice and noodles. He looked up at her as he was leaning over the bowl. He stopped mid slurp, hand raised with chopsticks, and noodles hanging out his mouth only half eaten. She giggled at him still with a guilty look in her eyes. He wiped his hand across his face as he slurped up the rest of the noodles.

"What's wrong Misty?" He said placing his chopsticks down on the napkin on the table.

She took the hat off her head and slowly started to rub the fabric between her thumb and forefinger. Ash's eyes grew wide with shock. Was she giving back the hat?! He had given it to her to show he loved her and now she was going to return it?! What did that mean? Was she bored with him? Was he too annoying? What was it? WHAT WAS IT?? He panicked in his mind. Misty saw the look on his face and grabbed his hand. She squeezed it tightly. "No it's okay.. I just feel really guilty."

Ash looked at her with sympathetic eyes.

"Why Misty?" She smiled at him. " You gave me something important to you.. andI.. I have nothing to give you....."

He smiled at her with an amused twinkle in his eyes.

His smile warm, he said blushing "Awwwww... come on.. don't get all depressed on me..... I don't care. I gave you my hat and you gave me...well, you gave me you." He smiled at her. She looked at him with a smile so bright, even the grumpy waiter smiled. Then her smile got even bigger and she reached around her neck with her hands. She found a tiny golden clasp and undid it. She removed the necklace and placed the pendant in her hand. It was a swirling dark and light blue. It was beautiful... She got up and walked behind Ash's chair. He followed her with his eyes until she was behind him.

He then leaned his head as far back as it could go until he was looking at Misty upside down. She took her hands, lifted his head back up and then put the golden necklace around his neck. She clasped the tiny hook and went back to her seat. Ash took the pendant in his hand. He tilted it back and forth as he was mesmerized by the beautiful swirling colors....

"Wowwww.........It's beautiful.." He said in a whisper. He looked up his eyes full of happiness.

" Just.... just like you..."

*******END FLASHBACK*********

Ash held the pendant in his hand just like that time two days ago. He looked up then after he saw drops of water splish splash onto the beautiful pendant. He put his arm around Misty and rubbed his hand on her arm trying

towarm her up in the cold rain. She rested her head on his shoulder. Then...

it happened. Everything was in slow motion. Ash looked at the pendant that had

somehow fell from his neck. He tried to move.... he tried to grab it. But

he could not move. Something was holding him back controlling his movements.

It wasn't his decision when he took in a breath of air. It was someone else's.

It was as if he were sitting in a large ship, Ash's body was the ship. And Ash was tied up somewhere in a corner while someone else, some stranger was driving the ship. But Ash did have one thing. His face. He could move his face and speak freely. And now his face was twisted and shaped with fear and sadness

***CRASH...*** The beautiful pendant Ash and Misty cherished so much

fell to the ground in peices. Misty looked at Ash shaking out of his grip.

Why did he do that??!! Did he do that on purpose??!! Does he hate me? If he

did hate me he didn't have to show it like that!! she screamed in her head.

The injustice was gripping at her heart. He could of just given it back to her

instead of crushing her only prized possesion!!! Tears welled up in her

eyes as Ash just sat there staring at the shattered peices on the ground. Misty

was about to scream and slap him across the face when she noticed all that

was moving was his face. " Misty I... I .. " He started to whisper getting

used to not having any control. Then out of thin air Marissa appeared. She

slightly gestured with her hand and Ash's movements were under her control.

"What's happening??!!" Misty screamed at the girl. Her face was twisted with

fear and resentment. Was this myserious girl trying to steal her... her...

Misty then grew even more protective of the boy in front of her as she

realized the title he held in her heart. Was this mysterious girl trying to

steal her BOYFRIEND?!??!!! " Well well Misty you are a fiesty one. My

name's Marissa. No I am not trying to steal your boyfriend." Marissa hissed at

Misty. Misty was about to counter act that statement when Marissa

continued.

"He was never yours to begin with." Ash's eyes opened wide with contempt

and hate for Marissa. She had saved his life but at this point he didn't care.

"I DO NOT BELONG TO YOU MARISSA!!! JUST BECAUSE YOU SAVED MY LIFE DOESN'T

MEAN YOU OWN ME!!!" He screamed with all his might even though he was frozen in

place. " Oh yes it does." Marissa giggled evily "That's exactley what it

means. " Then Marissa's hair frailed around her as she started to glow with

a strange blue light. " THE PLANETS HAVE ALLIGNED MY DEAR ASH!!! AND NOW YOU

WILL DO YOUR DUTY!!!!" She screamed as she directed all her power into Ash.

Ash started to glow with the blue light that was absorbed into his skin

While he was passed out on his first day of being alive again. He screamed in

agony. His scream echoed in Misty's mind and peirced into her heart. Again

and again and again.. his scream she was only hearing for the first time,

she knew, would haunt her the rest of her days. Marissa wrapped her hands

around his neck and lifted him off the ground. Then the light surronding them grew and turned into a bright white instead of blue . Rays of burning hot light

emitted from Ash's skin as he let out one last, heart wrenching, terror

filled shriek. It started off small and soft and then escelated louder and

louder as the instensity of the light filled him, buring his skin, from the

inside out. This hurt. This hurt a lot more than the first time he died.

Phisically and emotianally. His veins were boiling, his nerves threatening

To explode in a mass of blood and gore. His heart struggling, heaving under

The pressure and stress, trying desperately not to die and ooze with pounding

blood. And emotionally this hurt him more than ever. More than dying. He

had found her.. he had found the girl of his dreams.. a true friend and a true

love.. and now she was torn away from him! Now she had to watch him in his

moment of agony! He knew how her complicated love lorn mind worked. If she

did not kill herself after this moment she would suffer a fate worse than

death. Mourning. For the second time. She had watched him die and now she

was watching him die again. She was watching him suffer again. And she was

surely blaming herself once again. For one moment Ash did have control over his

body. For one horrible moment he ignored the pain and the cold hands around

his neck. His longing was so bad he could not stand it. He reached out with

his hand. He reached out with one trembling hand, trying to stay under

control as it reached for it's destination. Misty looked up at Ash. he was

reaching for her. She then too reached out and cried as her fingers brushed

his. His hand trembeled uncontrolably as his arm was torn between two minds

ordering it. Misty saw his lips move for a moment before he got the words

out." It's......not........your. . . . .. .. fault..... ....": Then she

was pushed away from him, away from the warm touch she had come so acusstomed

to feeling. Back into the darkness, into the darkness of loneliness, into the

darkness of loss. Marissa then screamed too. She dropped Ash. He was

powerful!

He had hurt her! He had hurt the great Marissa! She glanced at her hand. It

as burnt charred and bleeding. For a moment just a moment, the person

inside of her spoke out. The small abused child she always ignored. She wanted to be mean and ruthless. But every once in a while the scared, unloved, small

child she once was peeked out through the evil and hate. The scared child,

confused, not knowing what she was doing, not knowing was her hand hurt so

much... "Why?" The small little girl said, voice quivering, eyes wide,

crying. " Why does he wanna hurt me? Why? Ash not marissa's friend? Why?

Why?" She then ran off into the darkness alone. She wanted her mother. She

wanted her father. She wanted a friend. She was all alone. No one loved

her..

and she had no idea why. Then she snapped out of it. She kicked the small

child in her mind. She kicked and screamed and pushed her in a closet

somewhere deep in her mind. Then she returned to her normal evil state. She

dissapeared into the air. She scowled at the two figures on the ground. She

spoke then even though they could not hear her. " Oh no no no no Misty!! He

will not stay here! In just a few minutes I will be healed and I will grab

him from you! Oh well.. say your goodbyes. It will only make it more

painfull!!! HA! YOU WILL WOLLOW IN YOUR SUFFERING AND THIS WILL MAKE IT

WORSE!!! Such a fool.... enjoy your last minutes together." Then she

transported back to the island and began the 10 minute process of healing

her hand and returning enough strength to her empty heart to once again control

Ash. Misty raced over to Ash. He was laying on the ground, sprawled in an

unatural position. She tripped and fell flat on her face skidding to a stop

only a few feet away from his sprawled fugure, and closed eyes. She crawled

over on her knees to the boy, drawing in sharp breaths. She went over to

him as she whispered his name. " Ash?... Ash?... Ash?" Her voice was lowered to

a whisper for no reason at all. She picked herself up and sat on her knees

before Ash's head. She lifted his head of wavy hair and placed it in her

lap. She then looked down at the boy. She looked at his tired beaten face. The

face that she loved so much. His eyelids fluttered and his eyes slowly opened. He smiled. He tried to speak but his voice was dead. He could not

speak. Then he gathered up all his strength. He felt the pain, and he used

it to gain power to so something anyone could do even in their sleep, to do

something that Ash was too weak to do. He slowly raised his arm and

outstreched his fingers as he looked up at the face above him. He raised

his hand and placed it on Misty's cheek as her tears ran warm against his skin.

He reached up and brushed the tears off her cheeks. Then something clicked.

Time slowed. Misty looked up. The rain drops were still in mid air. This

Was a moment she would remember forever. This was her moment... time stands

Still once in everyone's life and it was now for Misty. She looked down at him.

He was watching her he was barely breathing, his face was still, he was just

watching her. He looked at her beautiful face as she looked towards the

sky.

Everything was slowing down. Then he recalled the time at the hotel. He had

come close to this moment. He could almost touch it. But she was asleep...

and he wanted to have that moment together... not just to himself. He just

looked at her as his vision started to blur. He knew he would be gone soon.

So he cherished the moment and the face he loved so much. Misty started to

pick him up. She hoisted him up and cradeled him in her arms. He rested

his head on her sholder. He was so warm. He wasn't hot.. just warm. He smiled

inwardly as her fingers brushed against his cheek wiping away his hair

lovingly. He then looked into her eyes. They were the most beautiful things

he had ever seen. Much more beautiful than the pendant even though he

cherished that peice of metal that sat broken on the ground. She looked at

his face. No.. she looked at his eyes. They swallowed her up and made her

proud. He was looking at her. She was lucky enough to be the one that he

was looking at. She slowly bent down compelled by his breathtaking eyes. She

bent down and she kissed him. She closed her eyes and kissed him. He was

surprised at this movement. He wasn't resentful or digusted or uncomftorable. He was just surprised and happy. He kissed her back. Not hard just softly kissed

her back afraid of shattering her young female mind. They both had a lot to

learn about relationships. They knew nothing about love, dressing, dancing, or

dating. All they knew is that they would be together. Even concidering the

matter on hand and the fact that they both knew they might not see each

other agiain they knew that one day they would be together. Then their lips

parted and Ash let out a sigh. He sunk back into the warmness of Misty's arms. But then he started to fade. He closed his eyes as a blackness started to

settle over his soul. He knew his fate. But he had Misty. For that one fleeting

moment of time that stood still for them and only them, she was his. Misty

looked at Ash. No she corrected herself , she looked through Ash!! He was

dissapearing! He was turning transparent! He was leaving. She tried to hold

him close to her but he just slipped through her hands. She grabbed for him

but he was untouchable. It was as like he was turning into a spirit only

she could see. She could see him, she could hear him, but she could not touch

him.He was like steam . She kneeled over him as a wind blew and he

dissaperared, his particles flowing through the air like steam. She

crouched on the ground, clutching the only peice of him she could touch. She held the hat to her heart as she let out all her fear, all her agony,..... and all herlove, in one sorrowful hopeless cry. "ASH!!!!!!!!".....................

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME??!!" The hate and contempt in Ash's eyes secretly hurt Marissa as he Materialized particle by particle into her cave. He lay beaten and bruised on the floor still only able to control his face and voice. "It is none of your business!" She snapped at him quickly. She didn't care anymore about what he thought. He didn't need to know anymore. After the way he burnt her hand she didn't want him to know anything. She would just

let him think what he wanted to think. He didn't matter. Only the task at

hand mattered.

"Come Ash. We are going to start right away!" she said as she walked towards the cave entrance not even looking at him. " NO!! I WON'T GO WITH YOU! I WON'T!!!" He screamed with all his might. Tears streaked down his cheeks. How dare she! How dare she take him away from Misty. Although it seemed hopeless now he would get her back for doing this to him! He would

take his revenge! His heart started to turn bitter with pure hate for the

evil being that had taken him away from the one he loved. She ignored him

and his screams. She snapped her fingers and he was walking casually next to

her as if nothing had happened. But his movements could not hide the way he

spokeand how he looked. He was crying ,and his scowl, never ceasing to relax his

face muscles, grew more and more sour with each step. He started to scream

and rant and rave trying to release his anger. But his rage seemed to be

likea bottomless pit never ceasing. But then he stopped screaming and his eyes

grew wide as Marissa transported to another place, miles away, with Ash

with her of course. But they didn't just appear at the place she wanted to go immediately. They had to travel.. BETWEEEN places. It was like an alternate

dimention. It was so cold Ash's blood stopped running and his heart almost

gave out from the intense cold. It was only a few seconds but it was there.

Then they appeared in a town that seemed familiar to Ash. Oh yeah! It's

Pewter city! Ash realized. Marissa snapped her fingers and dissaperared. "

Hey where are you going?!" Ash demanded. " I'm still here you idiot! I'm

Just invisible." She slightly gestured with her hands and Ash was off walking

towards Brocks house. " What are you going to do with Brock Marissa?! What

do you want with him?!!" He demanded as he slinked in the shadows. towards the

back door. " Oh Brock isn't here now.. right now it's his siblings I want."

she said nonanctly. " WHAT?!" Ash screamed. Then Marissa flung her hand

out and Ash's mouth was sealed shut. Of course Ash didn't see her shoot out her

hand but he felt the effects. She then made Ash sneak into the house and

into the 11 child bedroom as the kids lay sound asleep. Ash could not do

anything.

He wanted to stop so bad. He didn't want to have to do what he was being

forced to do. He didn't want to witness the horrors he was going to ,

against his will, force upon the sleeping children in the room. He tried to scream at them, telling them to get away, but that is exactly what Marissa was

preventing. Under Marissa's control Ash lifted his arm. His hand started to

glow a mysterious red. a bright burning red and yellow. Marissa was curous

at the color of his light. It was supposed to be white. But oh well. He will

still get the job done. The light from Ash's hand started to fill the room

and swirl around each child. It hovered and covered each of the children

with a circle of light, a cage, keeping them trapped in Ash's..no keeping them

trapped in MARISSA'S power. Ash's eyes opened wide and started to water.

One by one the children woke up. And one by one each one burnt their hands

Tring to escape the cage. Ash felt the guilt rip his heart apart as a small 2

Year old kept burning and burning and burning itself from knocking into the light so many times. The little 2 year old girl didn't know any better. Ash could smell burning flesh. He could hear the children scream and shriek in terror and fear and sadness. He wanted to kneel over and just throw up. The

Sickning sound of children's screams and flesh and blood sizzlinng in the hot red light made him sick to his stomach. Even Marissa could not stop the wave of

nasuea overwhelming him. Then Brock's father entered the room. And Ash

wanted to kill himself. He wanted to stab himself a thousand times. It was because of him that the children had to watch their father bleed and burn withering on the floor. It was because of him that the children had to call for their father to get up and save them only to see him fall on the floor unable to

help them. And Ash had to watch as Brock's father passed out as he stared at

Ash with sad questioning eyes. Ash knew this man. He had helped him get his

second badge. He had powered up Pikachu. He had pushed him along to his

future at the pokemon leauge. And this was how Ash was repaying him? Ash

screamed in his head. One long terror filled shreik. Ong long scream as he

saw what he would have to do for the rest of his life. He screamed in

horror as he stole the children of Pewter city. He screamed as he realized he

should of just...stayed...dead.

TO BE CONTINUED!