Disclaimer: Don't own, never said I did.

Anybody else think its weird that all the gym leaders parents (or in fact almost all the parents in Pokemon) seem to be suspiciously absent – then suddenly return in the case of some? Just occurred to me that it was kind of weird.

Gonna warn you all now that Brock and Sabrina are my second favourite Pokemon ship so it looks like my version of Lavender Town is going to be heading in that direction, I just have to figure out how.

I apologise for the long wait on this. It's been a very long time since I've updated, and I'm trying to keep the updates coming while I'm still on holiday. Right now my focus is really on trying to finish Sweet Home Pallet so this one has been languishing a bit.

On Angels Wings – Are You Afraid of the Dark?

She did not like it, not one little bit.

She didn't care that her thoughts were starting to sound like a bad Doctor Seuss fairy tale; she just really didn't like this place.

She looked up at the castle, dark and foreboding. It was the typical location for a horror movie, the typical place to find a ghost. Ghost Pokemon that is, which in turn meant the typical place that Ash Ketchum, the boy that she typically had been assigned to in a mortal form, would typically want to go.

How bloody typical!

And that all meant that she had to go with him because quite typically Ash seemed to have well, a knack for getting himself in and out of the worst possible situations he could. No wonder he needed a special sort of guardian angel.

She couldn't believe how lucky she was, stuck with him until the day one of them died.

This was all their fault, the Powers That Be, her parents - both sets - Sabrina's, anybody but hers.

Why on earth did he have to have that badge? I mean there are about twenty other gyms in the Kanto league alone so why did he insist on having that badge in particular?

'Damn you Ash Ketchum,' she thought angrily still looking at the scary building she would be forced to enter any minute now.

Why did that weird old man have to go and tell Ash how he could beat Sabrina? She had known all along just how to do it and she had even begged the man not to tell him, but he just wouldn't listen. Chances are Ash would have found out some other way anyway, he was just like that.

And that explained why they were all in Lavender Town staring up at the creepy looking tower with nervous glances.

If there was one thing that scared Misty more than bugs it would have to be ghosts. She had been afraid of them since she was little and her sisters used to tell her ghost stories to frighten her. When she was about seven she had insisted on staying up late to watch movies with her sisters just to prove she wasn't a baby so in return her sisters would always make sure it was the worst possible movie that would end up giving her nightmares for weeks afterwards in the hopes that it would prove their point.

And now she was practically staring in her own horror movie all thanks to a scary gym leader, her crazy, estranged father and Ashton bloody Ketchum.

Sabrina had psychic powers that matched even angels like her self, they definitely excelled her own in mortal form, but that didn't matter especially with that freaky little doll to back her up.

It seemed her options were down to very few.

Ash was just so damn stubborn, he just had to have that badge and no other. He couldn't admit defeat no matter how many times you hit him back down again.

In the beginning that had been a trait she had admired in him, she had liked the way he would just get back up again when you hit him down and wouldn't give up no matter what, but now she was really beginning to despise that quality in him.

Strangely enough though, her hand was still grasped around his in their efforts not to loose each other in the fog but not Brock's, which had been unnoticeably lost along the way. She tried to ignore the strange tingles she felt through her body that seemed to be emitting from their linked hands.

She resisted the urge to hide herself in Ash's comforting arms again like she had when the fog had first started rolling in as a frightening animal cry echoed around them at an agonising pitch. This whole place just freaked her out.

She could almost feel darkness emitting from the lightless tower, as if it had engulfed everything surrounding it in its dark tendrils of shadow that clawed at the blanket of sky tearing holes that only just lit the way. Angels were extra sensitive to theses sort of feelings just like psychics or witches, but she could never tell Ash and Brock her feelings, she knew they would probably just laugh at her and continue into the darkness.

Night always came so much sooner in Lavender Town than any where else in Kanto or any of the other leagues major, or minor. It was almost as if this was where all night started from, like this was where all the darkness began.

Lavender nights were longer than any other night you could ever experience, but tonight especially would be the longest night she would ever know.

The town, though its early nights wasn't nearly as dark as the tower itself. It was always dark around the tower or so the locals had told them distressingly. The locals wouldn't even venture there after night had come to the town.

Their eyes had been clouded with worry for the young trio who seemed set on heading towards the haunted Tower of Terror filled with it's many ghosts and ghost Pokemon that the little seaside town was famous for. Many tried to warn them, but Ash's stubborn attitude was too much for them to cope with.

"I think we should go now," she said softly subconsciously inching closer to him for protection. "I don't like this place."

She felt so cold just from simply looking at the tower. It was the sort of cold that couldn't be eased by the addition of another layer of clothing. It was a haunting chill that seemed to come straight from the Tower of Terror itself that stood tall and proud before them.

"I agree Ash," Brock confirmed. "Maybe we should wait till morning."

"It won't be any different then," Misty said so quietly that the two boys could only hear her soft mutter but not the words she spoke that were truer than they could realise. "It's always dark here, always cold, always night."

"How am I supposed to catch a ghost Pokemon during the day?" Ash asked them sceptically not waiting for their reply. "Everyone knows that ghosts only come out at night."

Misty's hand grasped his tighter almost refusing to let go as tears welled in her eyes. She tried to talk herself into this, or maybe talk Ash out of it, but neither was working.

"What about the fog?" she asked letting go of Ash's hand as she noticed Brock snicker. "Maybe it was an omen, telling you not to go here."

"That's a bunch of superstitious rubbish Misty," Ash told her trying to banish his own fear as well. He knew he had to be brave, for Misty at least because he needed her with him in there, he didn't think he had a chance without her. "C'mon Myst, it'll be alright. You'll see."

Misty looked him straight in the eye for a few seconds, just trying to discover whether or not she really could trust him on this.

Tears fell from her eyes, but her attention was caught elsewhere and she didn't notice the crystalline teardrops falling down her cheek until Ash reached out his hand and wiped them away lightly tracing his fingers against her smooth skin.

Their eyes locked into each others and it took several coughs from Brock to tear them away forcing them as far apart as possible blushing red enough that it was slightly noticeable in the towers apprehensive darkness.

Again Misty found herself looking up at the dark tower trying to predict what was about to happen to them. She wished she didn't have to go in there, but sometimes fate has a mind of its own.

"Trust me Myst," Ash added sincerely seeing she was still uneasy about entering the tower.

"Don't worry Misty," Brock told her a slight teasing tone noted in his voice, "Ash'll protect yah."

Again they both blushed.

Misty silently reminded herself to make sure Brock got his later, much later.

Ash took a deep breath as he silently, and as bravely as he could muster, led his two friends into the creepy tower trying not to notice the fact that Misty was especially close to him right about now.

"Hello? Anyone there?" Ash asked anxiously hoping that Misty couldn't tell that he was just as scared as she was.

His voice echoed through the emptiness bouncing off any surface it offered.

"It's so dark in here," Misty stammered subconsciously grabbing Ash's arm tighter. She jumped as the door slammed shut behind them. "And it just got darker," she wept.

"It'll be ok Myst," Ash comforted her, his hand lightly caressing her hair.

She nodded silently as tears filled her eyes Ash's simple words comforting her just enough to hold them back for now.

"I've got candles," Brock said after rummaging through his bag. He carefully lighted three candles and handed them one each. "Just on the off chance that you actually want to go off on your own," he added sarcastically.

Ash carefully scanned the room bringing his light into every corner so he knew where he was.

Misty decided she liked this place better in the pitch darkness, or even better outside. Cobwebs hung limply everywhere she looked. Old paintings stared down at her as if they were watching her every move with great interest.

The candles cast an eerie glow over the place, which looked as if it hadn't been stepped inside of since the Victorian era. She wanted out . . . now.

"Why must you do this to me?" she whispered quietly glancing in Ash's direction where he seemed completely unaware of her desperate plea.

Misty moved ever closer to Ash as she sidestepped a large hole in the ground and heard a loud moan coming from there.

She turned her eyes on Ash as the tears began to overflow and trickle down her face. "Please," she said simply knowing little more was needed.

"Just a little more Myst, for me," he said appealing to side of this girl that only he knew. "We'll be out of here in no time."

A haunting laughter echoed through the tower as the trio entered the main room Misty noting the best escape route as she did.

It was just then that anything not bolted the ground was lifted into the air and started spinning precariously around the room. A sudden gust of wind blew past them chilling their insides and blowing out the only light they had.

Ash pushed Misty to the ground and shielded her with his own body. Brock was not quite so lucky. He was caught on one of the chairs that swept behind him forcing him to sit down and making him part of this twisted merry-go-round.

"Brock, jump down and lay on the ground until it all stops," Ash told him as he looked up at his friend.

Brock nodded as he looked for the right moment to do as Ash had told him to.

Within seconds the spinning furniture stopped and it was as if none of it had ever happened as the flames of their candles returned.

"Please," Misty said again as more tears flooded to her eyes.

Ash nodded as he led them out of the haunted tower and back outside.

"I'm sorry," Ash said to Misty.

He felt so guilty, as if he had failed her or something. He felt like he had lied to her, he had made a promise that it would all be ok and then it wasn't and now Misty was scared and upset all because of him.

"It's alright," she replied softly, "you couldn't have known what would happen, Ash."

'But I could,' she thought sadly wondering why they hadn't warned her of what was going to happen in there. Ash could have been in serious danger in there but instead of her protecting him the way it should be, he had shielded her from harm and protected her instead. 'Some guardian angle I am.'

'Don't worry Misty,' a voice familiar voice echoed in her head. It was soft and harmonic with an unconditional understanding that only an angel could find. 'There's always a reason things happen the way they do. Don't try to fight it Misty.'

The voice was filled with such certainty that Misty knew that all she had to do was follow whatever she felt deep inside, and right now all she felt was an intense fear and a warning not to go into that tower.

"I guess we should head back to town," Misty suggested with a sigh as all of them watched the tower cautiously.

"I can't," Ash said, his eyes locked on target. "I need that badge, and I need a ghost Pokemon to get it. This is one time when failure isn't an option."

Misty looked at him, pleading with him to change his mind.

"You don't have to come, Misty," he told her, "you just have to believe in me."

"I do," she said quietly.

"You coming Brocko?" he asked turning to Brock, his voice filled with false cheer and confidence.

Brock shook his head. "You won't catch me back in there. Besides, I have to protect your assets," he said gesturing to Misty.

Ash shrugged his shoulders, not quite understanding what Brock meant but heading in all the same glad that Brock was there to protect her while he wasn't.

Misty whacked Brock upside the head as soon as Ash turned his back on them.

"Moron," she muttered. "You know if he gets hurt in there I'm blaming it all on you," she growled at him.

"Wow Misty," Brock gaped. "I never knew you cared so much."

She took this opportunity to send Brock into an unconscious state, she liked him better that way; he was easier to deal with when he couldn't speak.

Misty's eyes worriedly searched the building wishing she could see through walls, one of the few powers that didn't come with the whole celestial being gig. She didn't want Ash to get hurt not just because he was her charge and her responsibility, but even though she wouldn't admit it, Ash was probably her first true friend in this world.

'Damn you Sabrina,' Misty called in her mind hoping the psychic gym leader would hear her curse. 'You just wait till I'm back in heaven and I'll be sure to put a word in for you there, not necessarily a good one.'

She knew that Sabrina probably wouldn't care, I mean she was a mindless shell of a human being now; there was no way she or that freaky little doll she seemed to speak through would really give a damn about it. The freaky little doll was probably going to hell anyway just like Chuckey and Barbie, so for now all they were, were empty threats.

Not like she'd be back in heaven any time soon. If she did her job right then she'd be stuck down here for another seventy years at the least whether it be physically or spiritually, not that Ash made this any easier.

He was a walking target for disaster. It seemed where danger came to wreak havoc on the world, Ash Ketchum wasn't too far behind. She'd only known him a few months but that was more than enough to discover that fact, it didn't help that they constantly had team rocket on their heals. Heck, she probably wouldn't be surprised if they were in the tower already.

A sort of low moan sounded from inside the tower either emphasizing her thoughts, or trying to bring her out of them, she wasn't sure.

She wished that Ash was out here. She felt so much safer when he was around. Its strange how often things seemed to be the other way round, how Ash was always saving her and protecting her and guarding her from harm when she was the guardian angel, and something about that scared her beyond comprehension.

"Wa!!!" Ash gaped as he looked down at his own body lying underneath a broken chandelier. "Pikachu, if we're up here, then whose down there?'

"Pika pi ka?" the yellow rat replied looking tentivly between his two masters, the one lying lifelessly on the floor and the one floating aimlessly through the air.

"Pikachu, what's that?"

~ to be continued ~

Pretty spooky right? I've split the Lavender Town business into three parts, and I've probably left it there in the worst possible place. Especially with me having writers block and having really written nothing but the chapter title for the next one.

Although it is an incredibly good title if that makes any difference and as soon as I post this I'm getting onto it.

Please review, even if it's just to scream obscurities at me for what a crap updater I am . . . and how I over use ellipses.