They were all waiting outside Ash’s hospital room, waiting nervously. Misty looked at their strange savior. His trenchcoat covered most of his body, he had a long rimmed hat that shadowed his face, and he wore black gloves. Misty wondered if he was a psychic, like Sabrina, because the psychics they had met had covered themselves up too. But they never used physical force, like he did. "Who are you?" She asked him suddenly. "Pikapikachu? (Yeah, and why’d you save us?)" Pikachu forgot humans couldn’t understand him. "Who I am is of little consequence. I saved you because I know something about your emotions which you are not yet sure of, and I wish to protect that." The man replied. A doctor came out of Ash’s room. They all stood up. "How is he doing, doctor?" Brock asked. "He should be fine. He’s fast asleep now, but you can go in if you want." They did. Inside, They saw Ash asleep on a confertable hospital bed. The strange man stayed in the shadows of the room while Brock, Misty, and Pikachu went over to their sleeping friend. After a while, Pikachu fell asleep on Ash’s chest, and Brock left for a hotel. Misty and the man stayed. Misty sat there, looking hard at Ash’s face. She thought, . "You’re afraid that he may leave you, aren’t you?" The man inquired, "You’re afraid that something will happen to him and you won’t have time enough to tell him how you feel about him." Misty was a little startled, but there was something about this man that made her feel she could trust him. "Y-yes." She admitted, "But I don’t have the guts to tell him...what if he laughs?" "If it’s any consolation, I don’t think he will. But I don’t expect you to believe me." He assured her. "Thank you anyway." She said, "Who are you? You should at least give me a name." "You can call me Ecthros." Was the reply. "Isn’t that Latin for something...." Misty asked. "Hush! He’s waking up." Ecthros pointed out. They both looked to see Ash open his eyes. The first thing he saw was Misty, then a strange man he’d never seen before. "W-what happened? Who’s that?" Ash asked weakly. Misty held back tears when she heard him spoke. "Team Rocket tried to kill you. This man, Ecthros, saved us." Then Misty couldn’t hold back any more. She hugged Ash and cried. "I thought you had died! Don’t ever scare me like that again!" Ash was a little surprised, but enjoyed having Misty so close...though he wouldn’t admit it. "Why Misty, I didn’t know you cared." Ash joked. "Of course I do! You still owe me a bike!" She teased. Pikachu had woken up and was fussing over Ash as well. "Oh yes...and I believe this is yours. Team Rocket tried to steal it as they left." Ecthros handed Togepi to Misty. "TOGEPI! I’m so sorry! I forgot about you in all the worry!" Misty hugged Togepi and held him in her arms. "Briii!" Togepi shouted, and pointed to Ecthros. "Togie Togie Briii!" "What’s he saying, Pikachu?" Ash asked. "PikapikachupikaCHUchupika.(He says that it’s ok, he was with ‘Uncle Ecthros’)" "UNCLE Ecthros?" Misty laughed. "It’s ok, I’ve been called worse." Ecthros told them. Finally, Misty had to leave to go back to the hotel, and took Pikachu and Togepi with her. Ecthros stayed behind. After they had left, Ecthros started talking to Ash. "Your emotions are confused and Jumbled, Ash Ketchum." Ash looked surprised. "what do you mean?" He asked. "I know how you feel about Misty, Ash. That’s why I’ve been watching you for a while. That’s why I’ve made sure that you haven’t been hurt...too badly." Ecthros said, as if it were obvious. "I don’t know why..." Ash said, "But I trust you. It’s true, I’m madly in love with Misty, but too afraid to tell her. But, why do you care what happens to us? This is the first time we’ve actually met." "Because I know what it’s like to loose someone you Love, and I don’t want that to happen to anyone else." Ecthros replied. "I’m sorry..." Ash apologized. "For what? There’s nothing you could do about my past, it was before you were born." "I know. I’m sorry I brought it up though." Ash said. What Ash didn’t know was that concealed in one of Ecthros’ pockets was a tape recorder. They talked through most of the night, till Ash fell asleep. In the morning, Ecthros was gone. Brock, Misty, Pikachu, and Togepi met Ash outside the hospital, and they decided to continue their Journey. They walked for the whole day, talking about Team Rocket and how weird they looked when they shot at Ash. They talked about Ecthros, and about how strong he was. Finally, at nightfall, they set up a camp site. They needed firewood, and Misty volunteered to go get some. She picked up Togepi and Pikachu followed after them. Deep into the forest, Ecthros appeared from behind a tree. "Hello, friend. I have a gift for you." He then disappeared. Where he had been standing there was a little tape player. Misty put it in one of her pockets to listen to later, and started gathering firewood. They all stayed up that night around the fire, and Ecthros visited them once more. "We have to talk about Team Rocket." He said. "Are you going to help us still?" Ash asked, hopeful. "Of course, but only if I have to. You three can take care of yourselves usually." "PIKA!" "You four, I mean." "Then what did you want to talk about exactly?" Brock asked. "I believe that Giovanni is performing more genetic experiments, and this time he could be on to something. If he succeeds, he will probably go after you three...I mean, four, first. He will want to test it on old enemies." They all opened their eyes wide with fear (except Brock). "What should we do?" Ash asked. "I can help you destroy the complex where Giovanni does his experiments, but you’ll have to do most of the work." They all agreed to do it. Ecthros disappeared, leaving them with more questions than ever. When they all got in their sleeping bags, Misty put Togepi in his, and got out the tape player. She put the earphones on, and heard all of the conversation Ecthros had had with Ash. Tears welled up in her eyes. Did he really like her? Was it possible? She couldn’t wait till morning. She walked over to Ash’s sleeping bag and woke him up. "Ash?" She whispered. "Hmmm...Misty? Wha-what time is it?" Ash asked sleepily. "We need to talk. Can you come into the forest with me?" she asked. Ash was surprised by the kindness of her voice, and followed her. They were completely alone. "Ash...Ecthros taped the conversation you had with him the other night." She said. Ash’s eyes went wide. She knew! He thought. He looked down to the ground. Ash thought. Misty put her fingers under his cheek and made him look at her. "Ash, I love you too. I always have!" Now Ash really didn’t know what to say. He opened his mouth to say something, but found that his mouth was busy doing other things at the moment. Up in the treetops, Ecthros watched. he thought, In the morning, Brock found that Ash had moved his sleeping bag next to Misty’s. He could guess what that meant. Brock thought. Ecthros jumped down from a tree and landed in front of Brock. "Morning Brock." "Morning Ecthros. You want some breakfast? I could make eggs, rice treats," "I’m full, thank you." "Tell me the truth, you had something to do with Ash and Misty getting together, right?" Brock asked. Ecthros grinned, a frightening sight. White, razor sharp teeth glinted in the sun. Ecthros quickly closed his mouth. "What’s with your-" "Morning Brock!" Misty said cheerfully. "I didn’t notice you wake up, Misty. Here’s some breakfast." Brock handed her a plate of eggs. Misty smiled at Ecthros. Ecthros grinned a little, so that his teeth wouldn’t show. Ash got up with Pikachu a few minutes later. "Wow, Ash got up by himself today. Will wonders never cease." Brock grinned. He handed Ash a plate. Ash looked at Ecthros and smiled. "You taped our conversation, you big jerk." Ash said playfully. He grabbed Misty’s hand and squeezed it. "Shame on me." Ecthros said. "Today I will take you all to the Team Rocket complex. After Breakfast, follow me." Jesse, James and Meowth stared down at the floor as their boss yelled at them. "It was a simple mission, how could you fail?!?! You don’t deserve to be in Team Rocket! Now, as punishment, you have to go to the prison tower and stay there on guard duty for a month!" James groaned. Guard duty was the most boring assignment they could get. "But boss," Meowth complained, "We ain’t ever killed anyone before! We froze, and then this big guy grabbed us-" "A Large man grabbed you?! Did you see what he looked like?!" Giovanni demanded, looking a little afraid. "No, he was wearin a big trenchcoat but-" "That changes everything. Find this man and bring him to me. Alive. But that goes without saying , doesn’t it? This is your last chance. Don’t fail." The screen went blank. The outlaws looked at each other, surprised at how to boss had reacted. "He seemed really scared right after we told him about the guy in the trenchcoat...like he knew who it was." James pointed out. "Who cares? At least now we have a job to do that doesn’t involve killing someone." Jesse sighed. They all nodded and went out to their blimp to search for the man. Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu followed as Ecthros led them to the Team Rocket complex. "How much farther?" Ash asked. It was already getting dark, they had been walking all day. "Well, we’re getting there. We won’t make it before dark, so we will have to camp somewhere nearby, but not too close." Ecthros replied. Misty squeezed Ash’s hand. "Well, it’s pretty dark now," Misty pointed out, "How much farther should we go?" "Ah, forgive me, I didn’t notice. We can camp out here if you want." Ecthros told them. They immediately started unpacking their sleeping bags. Brock started a fire and set up to cook dinner. Pikachu and Togepi laid down next to each other. Ash and Misty sat leaning on each other, and Ecthros stood in front of the fire. As they sat there, Misty decided to try and question Ecthros. "Ecthros?" She called. He turned to her. "Why do you wear all that stuff over your face?" "Trust me, you’re much happier not knowing." He replied. "Come on, you can tell us," Ash pushed, "You saved us all! I don’t care if you’re a murderer, I owe you my life." Under the shadows of his hat, Ecthros smiled. "Oh, it’s nothing like that, it has nothing to do with crimes. Well, not my crimes, anyway. Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough, no matter how hard I try." He replied. "Do you know that your answers only give us more questions?" Misty teased. Before they could say anything more, Brock announced that dinner was ready. After dinner, they all went to sleep. All except Ecthros, that is. In the morning, Misty woke up first. Her sleeping bag was right next to Ash’s, so she gave him a little push to wake him up. After he opened his eyes he smiled at her. "Morning Misty." He said "Good Morning Ash. I guess today’s the day we whupp Team Rocket." Misty told him. "Yeah...I guess so..." Ash looked like something was troubling him. "What’s the matter? Scared?" Misty teased. "I just thought of something..." Ash looked puzzled. "Well?" Misty demanded. "Ecthros said that Team Rocket was doing genetic experiments again. What did he mean by that?" They looked at each other in confusion. "Just another mystery added by Ecthros." Misty whispered. She kissed him on the cheek and got out of the sleeping bag. Ash got up and woke Pikachu. Misty picked up Togepi and went over to wake Brock. After they all woke, Ecthros appeared. "We have company." he said. He pointed up at a large, Meowth shaped balloon.