Faith in a Child
Chapter Eight: Planning
Ash stared at Mew in confusion. What did she mean, Scouts?
"Come with me," Mew smiled returning Ash's gaze. "We have be waiting for your arrival for quite some time."
Team Rocket sent a hard look in Ash's direction, "What?"
Mew smiled a took off the other way; Celebi in hot pursuit.
Ash looked over at Team Rocket and shrugged, "You wanted to be heroes. Well, this is how you do it."
Team Rocket looked even more stunned. Ash turned from them and headed in the course which Mew and Celebi went. Team Rocket stood in the dark for a bit until they decided to join them.
Ash followed Mew and Celebi for a long time over the rocky hills. Mew eventually healed James right up.
Team Rocket hadn't gone this long walking. Most of the time they used their balloon. It was their complaints that kept Ash laughing. Team Rocket certainly added some spark into the gloomy dead life he had left. Ash was certain when he lost his friends he was lost forever. That he would never recover… but somehow Team Rocket helped him realize that he was still alive and well. Surprising, that Team Rocket could do more then blasting off all the time.
"Here we are." Mew smiled stopping at the peck of the mountain they stood on. When Ash looked down he could see a huge and beautiful valley despite the dark shadow that loomed over it. Ash blinked back memories and smiled.
"Cool. Now when do we kick some bad guy bootie?!" James squealed.
"Shut up! You're ruining the moment, James!" Jessie shouted at the absentminded teenager.
Ash laughed.
Ash and Team Rocket followed Mew to a group of pokemon. All of them legendary except for a Charizard and a Pikachu. Ash recognized them to be the clones from Ash's real pokemon.
A big purple cat pokemon stood in the middle of them. Ash realized who he was immediately… Mewtwo.
"Ah. Ash," Mewtwo acknowledged as Ash and Team Rocket joined the group. "We have been waiting for the Chosen One for a long time."
All eyes fell on the small eleven year old boy. Ash blushed bright crimson.
"Uh… Look. Let's get one thing straight," Ash muttered. "You chose me. So if I fail, it's not my fault…"
Mewtwo smiled and glanced in Mew's direction. Mew nodded.
"Only the evil ones fail, Ash Ketchum."
The Legendary Pokemon around him nodded giving Ash looks of concern and encouragement. The Clone Pikachu leapt onto Ash's shoulder and replied, "We are in this together. Don't worry. We'll get Pikachu and everyone else back."
Ash smiled and scratched the pokemon behind the ears. He wasn't so sure he could almost believe that this Pikachu was his own. The Pikachu rubbed against Ash's hand and beamed.
"Yeah. Evil always loses," James nodded.
"And no one knows better than doths two," Meowth snickered.
Jessie gave the cat a sharp kick in the stomach.
"Here is the plan so far," Celebi announced importantly. "When the shadows attack, Charizard will carry Ash and his friends up to the tower. Ash, you must get the crystal and bring it back to us. Mew will know what to do from there."
"What?" Ash asked, "What are you doing?"
"Fighting off the shadows." Celebi repeated.
"Shadows?"
"Yes…"
"Those are shadows. At least that is what we call them," Mew pointed to the tower as three dark shapes circled round it. "They can take up any form…"
"Like the tower we hit." James exclaimed.
"No, actually, you hit real tower."
"Darn," James muttered in defeat.
"They are Zai's guards." Mew explained looking over to Ash, "Keota was once the chosen one of Planet Earth. She was attempting to get the crystal too. Ash, you must be careful."
"This crystal… Where do I find it?" Ash asked.
"It is worn about Zai's neck."
"You're kidding right?" Ash gulped.
"The crystal," The hologram of Keota spoke in a tired voice. "I haven't much time. You must get the crystal and place it in the energy orb at the bottom of the tower. He's coming. He's going to find me. Not just anyone can do it. I couldn't… He's here!"
The hologram cut off leaving the group in dead silence. Before anyone could stop her, Moltres smashed the disk into pieces.
"Now that the Chosen One has seen her we don't have to ever watch that tape again," Moltres snapped.
"That was Keota before she disappeared." Mew cleared it up for Ash.
Ash blinked back the image of the beautiful girl. She had glorious blue eyes and long slivery hair tied up into a braid. She looked only a couple of years older than Ash.
"She was beautiful," Ash murmured softly thinking of what she was now.
"That girl is gone… But we may be able to save others from turning out like her," Mewtwo said clearing the silence.
"Blast you Zai," Moltres growled.
As the group settled down for the night, Ash couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned in his sleeping bag but to no avail. Mewtwo's words still rang in his ears,
"That girl is gone… But we may be able to save others from turning out like her."
"You are very brave," A voice said from the darkness. Ash sat up startled. It was only Moltres…
"Thanks," Ash replied. "I think…"
"You remind me of her," Moltres said sadly taking a seat next to Ash. She snuggled down into the grass and gazed up at the stars.
"Really?" Ash smiled not needed to ask who.
"Yes. I must tell you… There are many dangers. You will fail if you are not warned…"
"Like what?" Ash asked curiously.
"The elements," Moltres said softly. "The four elements that block your path to Zai. He is very protective of himself. He guards himself with a powerful enchantment."
"What elements?"
"Grass, Fire, Water, and Lighting," Moltres muttered. "I do not know the order but I do know you must pass each. Fire is first."
"You miss her…" Ash muttered.
Moltres turned. Ash excepted her to glare at him with annoyance but strangely she had warmed up to him. Her eyes were full of sorrow.
"We all miss what we leave behind," Moltres said softly. "Between you and me, I hope I am killed by the shadows… So I can be with Keota again."
Ash looked shocked. He never thought Moltres could feel all this love to a human… He shook his surprise away and smiled, "We must all have someone we care for."
To Be Continued…
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