"You did Ash, you beat her." Ish said as he fell back to the ground, his wounds still hurting him.

"I beat her this time, I don't think my tactics will work the next time." Ash said in an angry tone as she powered down and offered Ish a hand, which he took, and she helped him to his feet.

"What do we do now?" he asked his friend.

"I'm taking your advice, I'm going home, I think it's time for me to face my fears, as cliche as that may sound." Ash said as a small smile formed on her face.

"Sounds like a plan, for you," Ish said with a small laugh, "I don't know what the heck I'm going to do, after all, I can barely stand after being electrocuted." Ish said as he slung his hand over Ash's shoulder and she helped him walk.

"I got a plan for that," Ash said with a smile, and that earned all of Ish's attention, "you'll stay with me for the night, we've got guest room after all, and you where here for me when I needed you most, and now it's my turn to be with you now that you need me most." Ash said with a big smile, and that earned a blush from Ish, and a big smile as well, as they slowly made their way towards Ash's house.

"Thank God Ash, where have you been young lady?" Charles asked as Ash helped Ish into her living room, and she helped him get situated on the couch.

"We both where kinda... occupied..." Ish answered with a pain filled hiss, and Charles could see the burn marks which had been burned into his shirt and jeans.

"Define occupied." Linda answered before her husband could say it as she entered the room.

"We where attacked-." Ash began as her father interrupted her.

"By Wild Card, or the Anticorians?" Charles asked with a big sigh.

"By Endgame, she's... new to town." Ash said, and that earned a small face-palm from Charles.

"Who is this, Endgame?" Linda asked her step-daughter, as Ish and Ash took the next fifteen minutes describing their battles with Endgame, and that earned concerned looks from Charles and Linda.

"Is Endgame more dangerous than Wild Card?" Linda asked.

"Much more, unlike them who captured us a few times, Endgame seems to have no trouble torturing us to complete her objectives." Ash said with a concerned tone, and that earned a look between Charles and Linda.

"So Endgame attacked you tonight, might I ask why?" Charles asked with a big sigh.

"I have my theories, but I can take a guess from what she said the last time we fought, I'm guessing she feeds off conflict, since she seems to get stronger the longer the battle goes on." Ash explained, and that earned a sharp inhale from her parents.

"Ash, we've been OK with you being a Guardian, but things seem to be a lot more dangerous than normal, and I admit, I'm starting to have second thoughts." Charles said, and that earned a sigh from Ash.

Ash sighed as she looked up at the starry sky from her roof. Looking up at the stars always made her feel better when she was stressed or when she needed time to think. When she was younger, she and her mother would come up to the roof at night and just lay there as they stared up at the stars. They would sometimes draw out figures in the sky and make up stories about the figures they made. Now a days when she looks up at the stars, all she thinks about is her mother and how much she misses her.

"Hey, kiddo."

Ash looked over as her dad came over to her and took a spot next to her "Beautiful night, ain't it?"

"Yeah, it is." Ash said as she looked down.

Her dad looked at her and sighed "Listen, kiddo about what I said before about having second thoughts on you being a guardian, I only said it because I love you and I worry. I don't wanna loose you, too."

"I know, dad" Ash said looking over at him "For the past few days I've been having seconds, but after what happened today with Endgame... I feel like now, this is what I have to do."

"Ash..."

"I know you're just trying to protect me, dad" Ash continued "But I feel like this is who I am, this is my destiny. I have to stop Endgame in case she ever comes back, I have to do this. Not just for myself and my friends, but Linda, for you... and for mom."

Tears filled Ash's eyes at the mention of her mother, but she held them back. She needed to be strong, just like her mother used to be.

"Sweetie..." her father began as he brought her in for a side hug "No matter what you decide to do, your mother will always be proud of you... and so will I."

Ash's lips quivered and tears pricked her eyes at her father's words "Thanks, dad."

"Anytime, sweetie" he kissed the top of her forehead "So... you and Ish, huh?"

Ash giggled as she looked up at her father "Yeah... I guess. Why?"

Her father shook her head "No reason. He's a good kid and I like him, I just... think it might be time for the talk..."

"Dad!" Ash said surprised, but couldn't help the smile that formed on her face.

"I'm just saying... you two are gonna be getting to that age soon, so..." her father trailed off.

"Dad, don't think it's too soon for that?" Ash asked him.

"I know it is, I just don't want you to grow up so fast" her dad said "But if you ever need to talk about something like that... Linda will be there to explain it to you."

Ash laughed at the last part "Will do, dad" she then stood up "It's getting late, I'm gonna head to bed now"

"Okay, good night sweetie."

"Good night, dad."

Ash climbed back down to her window and crawled inside her room where she was met with Ish.

"Hey" she said with a smile.

"Hey," he said back "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good" Ash answered "How about you?"

"Still a little sore after being electrocuted, but I'll live." Ish told her.

"Good" she nodded as she walked over to him and hugged him tightly "I'm glad you're okay."

"Me, too" Ish returned the hug, but winced slightly as Ash pulled away.

"You alright?" She asked.

"I will be." He answered her as he rubbed his side.

"You wanna stay in here tonight?" Ash asked him "I'm sure a bed is more comfortable than the couch."

Before Ish could answer, a yell could be heard from outside Ash's window "SEPARATE ROOMS, YOU TWO!"

Ash groaned as Ish laughed at her reaction "It's okay, I don't mind sleeping on the couch."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, well... I'll see you in the morning" she kissed him on the cheek "Good night."

"Good night" Ish said with a smile on his face.

Ash closed the door behind him and smiled brightly to herself before she headed off to bed.

I want to once again thank my amazing girlfriend for writing this wonderful emotional scene, she did way better than I could have, I recommend you give her stories a read, they are excellent.