Faith in a Child

Chapter Sixteen: Cold Kisses

Ash stood up to his fear. And now Zai was powerless to control him.

"You fool!" Zai laughed. "Can't you see?! You have been fighting a losing battle. Even if I can't control you I can control the rest of the world…"

Zai stood up from his seat at the throne and walked towards Ash. He thrust the staff in Ash's face. Ash didn't flinch.

"As long as I have this staff nothing can go wrong."

Ash blinked. He swore he saw some movement out of the corner of his eye. He tried to avoid his amusement. Meowth was after the staff.

"You can not win. I won't let you get away with it," Ash shouted hoping rather than believing.

Come on, Meowth! Attack! Get the staff!

Zai glared at Ash suspiciously.

"What makes you so sure?"

Ash knew now. Meowth wouldn't take the staff in till Ash and Zai were away from it. He would need a distraction. Ash was going to be the distraction.

Ash backed away from Zai smiling. Zai's suspicious eyes followed him.

"Cause I'm going to escape!" Ash laughed turning to run. He pushed past the stunned guards and raced down the hallway.

"After him you fools!" Zai snapped at the guards. Most of them scrambled after him while the others stood in attention. Zai looked at each of the guards in turn pausing at the one with a pikachu at her side.

"You. Dispose of the boy," Zai hissed to the girl. She lowered her hood to reveal a small young red head with black empty eyes.

"Yes master," Misty nodded.

Meowth watched as Ash ran from the room.

"Does he want me to take the staff?" Meowth whispered.

He took a glimpse at who he know knew was Zai. Ash just risked his neck to give him a opportunity to steal the small stone on the staff. Meowth was sure of it. But couldn't Meowth do it. It seemed as if Meowth's courage had failed him.

He almost got it when Zai was telling his long story. If only Ash had him talking a bit longer…

But past was past. Zai still clutched the staff. If only he would put it down…

Ash sprinted out of the guards grasp. They were all either too slow or too clumsy. They obviously were not the special guards Zai had been so proud of. They had just joined Zai out of fear. Ash turned the left instead of straight to space, where the electric task was, hoping to lose the guards. Indeed, Ash slipped into a nearby training room and the guards ran right past. Ash let out a sigh of relief. He had no clue where he was now. All he knew was that this room was big and it was far from the exit.

"Ash," A bodiless voice hissed.

The hair on the back of Ash's neck prickled. He spun around sensing danger but saw no one. Ash turned back again to watch out for guards. No noise followed. Only the steady beating of his heart. Ash began to feel drowsy. He had standing he for a long time now. If he stayed much longer he might fall asleep.

"Ashton Ketchum…"

Ash froze at the sound of his full name. He turned around again to see no one. Was Zai here? Playing a trick on his mind?

Sweat beaded down Ash's forehead. He knew someone was in here besides him. He was afraid to run but afraid to stay as well.

"The mind can play tricks," Ash remembered his mom telling him one night back when he was five; after he had woken up afraid of the monster in his closet. "Don't let you mind fool you. Let your heart be your flashlight. Let it drive back the darkness of fear."

Ash smiled. His parents were full of sayings and wisdom. Ash always knew his father's words as things that came out of dreams that something didn't make sense to the mind but sense to the heart. But his mother always seemed to sing the words that played the perfect sense. Jeffery said words of courage but Delilah said words of comfort. Remembering of his parent Ash managed to his past his panic and regain the center of calm. It was hard. Ash wasn't used to being the wisest. He was usually the hyper little kid. But now he had to change that…

"Who is there?" Ash said coolly looking about the area. Not a thing stirred. Moonlight played from the windows coloring Ash silver in the light. Ash glanced about.

"Ash…" A voice echoed again. "Come to me Ashton Ketchum."

Ash shivered. Whoever this was, was giving him the creeps.

Out of the shadows came a cloaked figure. Ash took a step backwards. The person dropped the cloak at the feet to reveal a young scrawny red head wearing a yellow tank top and short blue jeans. Ash's mouth dropped. Misty's eyes were no longer blue a blank empty black. She stared at Ash no emotion on her face.

"Misty…" Ash muttered in bewilderment. She walked up to him while Ash kept a steady pace back.

"What's wrong, Ash?" Misty said in a caring voice. "Why are you afraid?"

Ash bit his lip. Was it really her? Or was this another of Zai's tricks?

Misty continued to walk closer. Ash's back hit the door. He fumbled for the door knob but it didn't turn. He was trapped. Ash's heart was beating rapidly. What was going on?

"Ash… I was so worried. I wanted to find you," Misty whispered coming face to face with Ash, "I couldn't. Zai held me captive…"

Ash was even more startled now. He knew something was wrong. This wasn't Misty!

Misty lifted and hand and caressed Ash's cheek. She was smiling.

Ash was frozen with fear.

"What do you want with me?!" Ash shouted bitterly.

Misty ignored him. She looked deeply into Ash's eyes. She leaned closer… Her lips touched his lightly for a brief moment. There was no warmth in the kiss. Ash pulled away, disgusted.

"You aren't, Misty!" Ash screamed pushing her away from him. "Get away!"

"What are you talking about, Ash?" Misty smiled. "I thought you loved me?"

Ash blinked. Had he made a mistake? This was all too confusing.

"I do… But not that way!" Ash muttered wiping his lips on the back of his hand. "Misty and I are friends! But that- that was wrong!"

"You are only a child," Misty smirked.

"What is that supposed to mean?!" Ash growled.

Misty grinned, "You are right. I am not Misty."

Ash flinched.

So Zai was telling the truth. They are all gone. And here I was hoping against hope…

"I am sent here to destroy you. And believe me I will not hold back," Misty continued, "The Misty you once knew is gone. She is better off there. She won't see what I'm about to do to you!"

Misty got into her fighting stance, "Any last words?"

"Yeah. Just one," Ash smiled reaching for the door knob, "Chow!"

Ash dashed out the door.

To Be Continued…

Please R + R!

Now that was a real short chapter! I apologize! It was not my intention to make it so short.

I will try not to do that again!