Disclaimer: Don't own 'em.

A/N: Hey, here's the third part to the story!!! Hope all who read enjoyed it and please review! It might take a while longer next time…

~~~~~~~ Kasagi Onaso ~~~~~~~

The Perfect Fairytale

Chapter two: Stone Cold

They landed with a loud splash below. The water flew into Misty's mouth, ears, nose…She shut her eyes tight and pumped at the water surrounding her with cupped hands. Just as she thought her lungs would burst, her head popped above the surface.

"Suika!" she screamed.

"Misty!" she heard Ash yell above her. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," she lied back between tightly clenched teeth. In truth, her right arm was almost completely numb but she said nothing about it. "Suika!" Nothing. "Where's Suika?"

"She's downstream! Try not to move!"

"Ash?" She looked up and saw the flash of his cape and a blaze of black magick. "Don't leave me alone…?" she whispered, cradling her right arm to her body. She dug her foot underneath a root floating in the water and turned her body so the violent rippling waves crashed against the back of her body.

"Misty! I see her!"

"Where are you?" she yelled. Smack! She fell forward, hands flailing, into the water as she was hit with a wave, causing her foot to become untangled. "Help!"

"Where are you?"

"Over--" She was dunked under. Water rushed above her and a roaring filled her ears. Her right arm wasn't working as she tried to reach the top. Slowly, as her breath grew short, she drifted to the bottom and was carried along with the current.

*

Ash's eyes scanned the surface as he yanked the trembling horse ashore.

"Where are you?" he heard her call. He opened his mouth to answer but her voice cut through the air again, pleading and strained. "Help!"

"Where are you?"

"Over--" Her voice was caught off.

She's gone under, he thought, heart racing. "Misty!" Nothing. "Damn…" He waded into the cold water and stuck his hands in the wetness, feeling for something solid. When he felt nothing, he threw off his cloak and waded in deeper. Taking a deep breath, he ducked under the water. He opened his eyes as long as he could and stayed under as long as his lungs would allow and then gasped to the surface.

A flash of red.

He jerked towards the water fall and saw a flash of firey hair. He dove under and grabbed Misty's arm. Clutching her to him, he gasped to the shore.

"She…wake…" he gasped and knelt over the princess. She had a blue tinge around her lips and her eyelids were pale but other then that, she was breathing and looked fine. His eyes ventured to her right arm as she stirred.

"Ash…"

"I'm here. Hold still. Your arm…"

"Arh! Don't touch it!" she hissed as his clammy fingers brushed her arm. It sent shooting pains up her arm and into her shoulder. A large gash ran from her elbow up to the tip of her shoulder. It was bleeding rigorously and Ash could see pebbles embedded in it.

"I'm going to try to--"

"No! Stop! I can take care of it!"

"Misty, you're being ridiculous--"

"Leggo! I say, leggo!" He put his left hand on her collar bone to hold her down and examined her arm with his right.

"Nasty cut you've got here, Misty," he teased as she struggled against his hold. "Don't make me strap you to a tree." She quieted down and he slowly removed his hand. "If you really don't want to feel the pain whilst I'm doing this, I've got a flask of whiskey or two in my cloak pocket if you--"

"I've never heard anything so preposterous," interrupted Misty, snorting in disdain. "Me, drinking whiskey?" Ash shrugged, a bemused smile tugging at his lips.

"Jus' wondering." Misty lay back and stared at the sky as he rubbed alcohol on her cut. Tears poured out of her eyes but she said not a thing and kept her quivering mouth shut. Finally, he dressed the cut and put a hand on her back, pushing her up. "Are you all right?"

"Fine." She swiftly turned her head to glare at him and her eyes widened as she realized his face was only inches from hers. She blushed and looked at the ground as Suika snorted. "Suika!" She leapt up and embraced the horse, sending droplets of water spraying everywhere from her drenched dress. Ash smiled and stood.

"We should get going." He whistled and his steed rushed to him. "We'll reach his house by moonrise."

"Who's he?"

"I already told you. He's someone the Mage Thieves wold associate with." She saw him wince in the fading sun. "I know I did."

"Did," she said with satisfaction.

"No matter, Misty," said he sternly. "I am still a Mage Thief." Then he mounted his horse and began to trot off, his black cloak billowing as he posted.

*

They rode the rest of the night in silence, stopping once to fill their flasks with water.

"He lives here," announced Ash, dismounting. Misty's nose wrinkled. They had stopped in front of an old, beat up hut.

"How many rooms do you supposed this has?" she asked, touching the mud-caked wall as Ash rapt the door.

"One," he answered as the door swung open. "Jepson," said Ash heartily and the toothy old man smiled widely.

"I ain't 'apposed to be a-talkin' to ya, Ash," said Jepson, his eyes darting this was and that. "Yer mage brothers came by earlier the other night. Had a fair pretty girl with 'em…aye! Much loik this one!" One of Jepson's yellowed eyes glared at Misty. "Oi! If I should say, she looks almost exactly loik--"

"This is…er…rather…Rose."

"Is it 'cause of the hair?"

"No," laughed Misty, waving her hand and giving Ash a look. "But I do get that all the time." Ash sighed with relief.

"Come on in, come on in…got some fresh mint tea resting on the table…" Ash stepped aside to let Misty pass and as she swept by him, she made note to grind her heel into his toe. He flinched, his cheeks reddening slightly, and followed her in.

"Now…what be yer business?" asked Jepson, handing them each cracked cups of tea.

"Do you know where Henry is leading the pack?"

"Can't tell ya that, Ash, though it pains me to tell ya so." And it did, how Jepson flinched while saying it. "Though I don't get it…I thought you was the head mage."

"I was," said Ash crossly. "We had a…er…disagreement."

"Couldn't decide which one of ya wanted which lady, hmm?" asked Jepson, winking at Misty. She put her clammy hands to her heated cheeks.

"Could Misty use your shower?" asked Ash and Misty's blush deepened.

"Oi, she's wet this one is. What happened? Ya fall into the river?" Jepson laughed heartily, slapping his thighs and shaking his head. Misty and Ash chuckled along half-heartily.

"Somewhat."

"Sure then. It's just upstairs." Misty sent Ash a look, remembering how he had said only one room. He covered his mouth with his napkin and looked away. "The towels are in the first door to yer left."

"Thank you, sir," she chirped, eyes glaring at Ash, and bowed slightly. Jepson chuckled.

"It's Jepson, Rose."

"Of course."

*

The water had been hot and clean and when she had scrubbed herself down enough with the gritty, lilac-smelling soap and made sure her hair was gleaming, she stepped out and wrapped a soft towel around her midsection.

"Misty?" She whipped around.

"Ash?"

"Yes. Uh…I have some clothes…?"

"Oh." She shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably. She walked towards the door and opened it a crack. "Here, Ash." He slid some cotton clothes into her hand.

"You got them?"

"Yes, Ash."

"Dinner's in ten minutes. Oh, here's a brush too."

"Thanks, Ash."

"Mm-hmm." She heard the flapping of his cloak and unfolded her clothes. A breast band fell out and she flushed. But were these the clothes she was supposed to wear? A cotton tunic and baggy breeches? She put on the breast band and wrinkled her nose before slipping on the tunic. After she had fastened the breeches on, she began to brush her hair.

*

"That was so embarrassing," she hissed to Ash as she sat beside him.

"Beautiful clothes," he said, eyes shining. "To think Jepson made them himself."

"You told me there was only one room!"

"So there's four. Oh, wait five. Including the attic. They're all just rather small." Rather small was right. The wooden table set in the kitchen took up half the room. An ice box and a fire pit lay at the other end. Ash chuckled. "And so you're vulnerable." Misty growled as Jepson pushed some black bread on the table.

"I'll be back with the chicken and butter."

"Nice fellow," said Ash happily, cutting the end piece off the loaf of bread.

"What is that?"

"Bread."

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Misty scolded. "And how can you eat the end piece?" Ash shrugged and pushed the loaf board towards her.

"Come on. Try something new."

"I hope you drink wine, Rose," came Jepson's voice. "I just happen to have some bottles from 1489 here. Good year that was…" Ash chuckled.

"Crazy bloke," added Ash, biting into the bread again. "For the gods sake, Misty! Just eat it!" Misty stared at the black bread like it was poison.

"It's black."

"Very good. Now tell me, what you say is the color of this cloth? Or my eyes? Or, even harder, your hair? So what it's black!" he finished, laughing. "It tastes all the better. A bit coarse, I'll give you that, but much more filling than that foofy white stuff." Misty stuck her nose in the air and nibbled the edge.

"Here we go," said Jepson. "Butter, wine and chicken. If ya want anythin' stronger Ash, just ask." Jepson winked and began to dish out the chicken. "What's wrong lass? Need butter?" Misty blushed.

"Yes please." Soon they fell silent, the only sound a scraping coming from Misty's knife.

"Why can't you tell me, Jepson?" said Ash, his voice cutting through the silence. Jepson sighed.

"I swore to secrecy."

"You've broken it before, Jep." Jepson sighed and Misty's eyes rounded with interest.

"That was a life or death situation--?"

"This is a life or death situation, Jepson," said Ash stealthily, leaning forward. "That girl you saw could be killed. She's Mis…uh, miss Rose's sister."

"Is that so?" Misty nodded. "They're off to the sea."

"What? What's at the sea?"

"They told me they needed a quiet place…a place to regroup and plan something…"

"That's a well over two-day trip," murmured Ash.

"Are ye hungry, lass? Ya haven't eaten a thing." Misty looked down.

"Sorry. I'm not very hungry." Jepson nodded.

"It's well past midnight. I bet yer both tired. I've got two beds set upstairs in the attic. There's plenty of pillows and blankets. If ye need anythin', jus' call, okay?"

"Thanks Jep. Let's go Rose." Misty smiled sleepily at Jepson and followed Ash up the stairs.

Later, she lay upon a goose down mattress piled under blankets. Ash lay breathing deeply close beside her. Finally, after a moment's thought, she turned and fell asleep.

Hey~! Looking for over 10 reviews PLEASE! Well here it is, the glorious third chapter. I spy, with my little eye, something that begins with 'L'…could it be LOVE? Dunno…But you'll find out in the next chapter!

~ Kasagi Onaso