THE NEW FRIEND OF HOPE


	"Are we there yet?" asked Gato for about the fifth time.
	"If you don't stop asking me that, I'm going to put you in your Pokeball." 
Misty growled.
	"I don't have one." Gato said and stuck out her small tongue.
	"You will in a second if you don't keep quiet!" Misty snapped.
	Ash sighed. They had just set out on yet another mission for Ray and the 
other queens. The had to stop Tigress, who was evil and Catze, her evil friend. 
Tigress and Catze were stealing Heart Crystal's from people and Poke'mon alike. 
They were looking for the Pure Heart Crystal that was in some one. In order to 
stop Tigress from becoming evil, they had to find Echo. A dolphin with powers to 
turn back time or remove things from places many can't move. Little did they 
know that this dolphin was something so different, they weren't even close. They 
were walking on a long path that would lead them to Dark Forest, the first place 
Ray said they needed to be. Ash then wondered.
	"Hey guys, does it seem strange that Ray said that Dark Forest was where 
we needed to be. It's like she knew something was there that could help us." Ash 
called to his friends.
	"That does seem strange. Maybe she just wanted us to guess or something." 
Brock said.
	"Meanwhile, while were looking for this Echo guy, we have to keep a high 
caution for Catze. She is after Ash's Heart Crystal." Misty said.
	"And yours." Ash added.
	Misty nodded. They walked on. Soon, they came to Dark Forest and entered.
	"They weren't kidding when they named it Dark Forest." Gato said while 
looking around.
	"Chaa."
	The forest was pitch black and it was daytime.
	"I can fix that. Vulpix, go!" Brock yelled.
	His Pokeball opened and the little fox Poke'mon appeared on the ground 
with a 'vul'. Brock searched in the dark and found a stick. He held it up to 
Vulpix.
	"Use your Flamethrower to light this." Brock ordered.
	"Vul!"
	Vulpix's blazing bright flame lit the stick and they had there light. 
Brock returned his Poke'mon and they went into the forest. It got strange 
because the deeper they went, it seemed to get lighter. Soon, they didn't need a 
light. They went on. A black figure watched them from a tall tree.
	"If there not the one's then I must be in the wrong place." said the 
creature. 
	It jumped from the tree and disappeared into darkness.
	"What exactly are we looking for in here?" asked Misty.
	"Good question." Brock answered.
	"That's great. Why are we in here when we don't know what were looking 
for?" asked Gato.
	Pikachu's ears twitched and he looked confused.
	"Pika?"
	He sat on his trainers head and looked around. No one noticed.
	"Ray said to come here. Maybe we have to make it to the end." Ash said.
	"Then we could have gone around it and to the end." Brock said.
	"Great. Now what?" Ash asked.
	"We go though it, I guess." Gato said.
	"Can't we just turn around?" asked Misty.
	"It's quicker to keep going." Brock said.
	They all agreed and kept going. Pikachu twitched his ears again and looked 
into a tree. Leaves rustled and then stopped. Pikachu watched that same spot as 
they went by it. It didn't move again.
	"Pika?"
	Pikachu blinked at another tree. A black figure disappeared in the trees. 
Pikachu had a bad feeling as they walked under the same branch. Suddenly, 
something leaped and landed on Brock's head. He yelled in surprise and hit the 
thing off. They all looked to see it land and turned to them, tail swishing.
	"What is it?" asked Misty as she backed away.
	"Are you the follow's of Ray?" asked the black creature.
	It was a female because of the sound of its voice.
	"Sort of. Were on a mission for her." Ash said.
	The creature stepped closer so they could see it. It was a black, female 
cat. She had bright, big blue eyes and then inside of her ears pink. One thing 
that stood out from any normal cat was she had a yellow, crescent moon on her 
forehead. It glowed at the sight of them.
	"You are the ones Ray as sent to find Echo. Am I right?" asked the cat, 
her tail swishing some more.
	"Uh, what every happened to Poke'mon?" asked Gato.
	"Yes." Brock answered.
	"Pikachu?"
	The cat smiled.
	"I'm Luna, the moon kitty that has been sent to guide you though our world 
in your search." she said.
	"Your world?" asked Ash.
	"Moon kitty? What kind of species is that?" asked Gato.
	"I'm sorry. I should have said more. I'm from the world called Berland. 
It's a world where many creatures that shouldn't but do live." she explained.
	They all stared and blinked.
	"This is a dream. I never met these trainers, I never fought Ghost. I'll 
wake up and I'll be in my happy tree in my bed." Gato said.
	"This is no dream. Now weather you believe be or not you have to stop 
Tigra." Luna snapped at the kitten Poke'mon.
	Gato jumped from Misty's shoulder and in front of Luna.
	"You mean to tell me that you came from another world? You think that's 
normal?" asked Gato.
	"Normal to me. If you want to find Echo, you have to come to my world." 
Luna told them.
	"Echo lives in another world? How come Ray didn't tell us?" asked Ash who 
was a little angry at that fact.
	"Don't be angry Ash. Ray wanted me to tell you. And don't worry about 
getting lost, I'll help you." Luna said.
	"I was just about to ask that." Brock said in surprise.
	"How'd you know I was angry?" asked Ash.
	"Us Moon Kitties can read minds. Only if we want to, however. Now, shall I 
show you what creatures live in my world?" asked Luna with a grin.
	They all nodded. Luna turned to face the dark part to the woods. Her moon 
glowed yellow and shot a yellow beam. It grew into a holograph picture. It 
showed some dolphin's leap and dove and swim.
	"Our world is built around the dolphin's. There magical and can talk, as 
all of us can in Berland. They are powerful and playful creatures and are the 
water spirits of the ocean." Luna said as the picture was shown.
	It flashed and then showed another picture of a beautiful meadow. 
Unicorn's of all colors with long, silver horns ran in the grasses and flowers.
	"These are the Unicorn's, the majestic part of my world. They are the 
spirits of the land and run free. There horns are powerful and they don't trust 
humans. I suggest you be careful around them." Luna told them as the picture 
faded.
	Another holograph appeared. It showed flying horse's of all colors. Few 
had horns and most didn't. All had white, feathered wings. they flew in the air 
together.
	"We call them the Dreamspeaker's. Some of the Dreamspeaker's are flying 
unicorns and others mare just flying horse's. They are the spirit of the wind 
and keeper of dreams. They make sure we all have good dreams." Luna explained.
	The picture also faded and it showed and huge pasture of flowers of all 
colors and types. Fairies flew out from the flowers and to them. They were small 
but big enough to see. All had different color hair and clothes.
	"The Fairies love to play tricks on humans and other creatures. They are 
the spirits of the flowers and are shy at times. They can change there size to 
be as big as a human or small enough to kit though a key hole." Luna said and 
the picture flashed.
	Another picture flashed in its place. It showed a bunch of cats like Luna. 
All with the moon on there forehead and long whiskers. The all jumped and played 
with echo other. Most were pink, black, white, light purple and some were even 
blue. Only a couple were different colors like yellow or red.
	"These are, of course, the Moon Kitties. I'm one of them and as you see, 
we have strong powers that are from our moon. We can read mind's and sometimes 
see the future. Only  old and wise Moon Kitties can see the future. We are the 
spirits of the moon." Luna said and the picture changed.
	"Can you see the future?" asked Misty.
	"I'm not that old." laughed Luna.
	Yet another picture appeared. A blue dragon appeared from the forest. It 
was about three times bigger than a Charizard It roared loudly and then the 
holograph showed more dragons. Some were as small as mice and others were the 
size of cats and dogs. Only a few were as big as the first one they saw. They 
were in all most all colors.
	"The Dragon's are strong and powerful. There flame can do great damage as 
well as some who can spit water, use thunder bolts or use sharp leaves. They are 
spirits of fire and power. They are very shy and some are cowards." Luna said 
and the picture of the happy dragons faded.
	The next holograph picture was of a volcano. A black dragon exploded from 
it. Embers flew and the black dragon spit flames from its mouth at the near by 
forest. The woods were caught on fire. Pikachu hid behind Ash's leg and Gato 
jumped onto Misty's shoulder.
	"Last we have our evil. We call then Volcano Dragon's. They are mean, 
ruthless and care nothing for others. They are either black with red eyes or red 
with black eyes. They come and destroy forest's and lives. If the Dragon's 
fought these evil dragon's, our world might shatter because they are both 
strong. But the Dragon's are to shy and scared to fight them. " Luna said.
	The holograph picture disappeared. Luna turned to them.
	"My world is full or danger and beauty. Are you sure you want to 
continue?" asked Luna.
	"If your trying to talk us out of it, your doing a pretty good job. But we 
have to continue. Catze is after Misty's Heart Crystal as well as mine. We can't 
let Tigra win." Ash said.
	Luna nodded and smiled.
	"Strong and brave. You all are very good for this job. Follow me and I'll 
take you to the portal to our world." Luna said with a warming smile.
	"Now so fast kitty cat!" 
	A woman jumped in front of them all.
	"Catze!" gasped Ash.
	"The one and only. Give me your Heart Crystal. We had a deal!" Cazte 
growled.
	"The deal's off!" Ash yelled.
	Catze pointed her hand at Ash. 
	"Sorry, but it isn't." Catze yelled.
	The black beam was shot and it got Ash. He cried in pain an the sparkles 
surround the spot.
	"Pi-ka-CCCCHHHHUUUUU!!"
	Lightning bolts shot out of Ash's Poke-pal and at Catze. She was hit the 
stopped the beam. Ash staggered back. His crystal wasn't out, but he was weak.
	"Gato, use your Lightning Claw!" Misty ordered.
	Gato leaped and slashed Catze faster than the eye could see. Catze, 
somehow, was able to slap Gato away.
	"I"m getting that crystal!" she screamed.
	"Not here. Tiger, attack!" Ash yelled weakly.
	Tiger appeared from the Pokeball and hit Catze right away. She hit the 
ground and Tiger landed in front of her.
	"This is getting weird." Tiger snorted.
	"Quickly! Follow me!" Luna yelled.
	They all ran after the black cat. She lead them to a cave. Catze appeared 
in front of the cave in a flash of black smoke.
	"Not today." she growled.
	"Torpedo!!"
	Tiger fired his attack. Catze pointed her hand and shot a black ray. It 
went though the lightning. Tiger jumped away and it exploded the ground.
	"Blizzard!!"
	Tiger used his attack but Catze moved. They saw this chance and ran into 
the cave. Tiger followed.
	"Where are we going and who is that cat?" yelled Tiger to Ash.
	"Long story!" Ash panted.
	They came to the end of the cave and Luna closed her eyes. Her moon 
glowed. Catze suddenly came in and kicked Tiger hard with her foot. He staggered 
back and was wrapped with a black energy light. Ash didn't get to returned him. 
Tiger bit hard and broke the chain of light. He leaped at Catze.
	"Ice Bomb!!"
	The little snowball faster than a bullet was shot from Tiger's mouth. 
Catze shot her black ray and metaled it.
	"Try your Ice Beam!" Ash yelled.
	"Gato, Ray!" Misty ordered.
	The two attacks went for her. Catze disappeared and reappeared above the 
attacks. A miss. Tiger growled and Gato landed on the ground on her two legs. 
Luna's moon glowed.
	"Hurry up!" Brock told her.
	Luna didn't answer. Catze laughed at them and Tiger leaped
	"Roar!!"
	He opened his mouth and shot a blast of wind. It was a hit and Catze was 
blasted back into the wall. She went though the rock and the whole cave shook as 
everyone stared at the hole. Catze stood up slowly.
	"Moon Power take me home!!" Luna shouted suddenly.
	Suddenly, Ash and his friends along with Luna disappeared in a flash of 
white light. Catze clenched her fist. She cursed under her breath.
	"Those brats! I all most had his crystal!" Catze yelled.
	"Follow them." came her master's voice.
	She turned and saw the holograph image of Tigra.
	"Where?" she asked.
	"To the world of Berland. You had better not fail for your shake." she 
said and disappeared.
	Catze nodded. She focused her powers and disappeared in black smoke. 

		To be continued....

	Note: Comments? Questions? Send 'em in! I really hope you enjoy my stories 
as well as others. I would just like to say to Jolt, thanks for posting all my 
stories! It must be a lot of work!

((Webmaster note:  Yeah, you better appreciate it, pal! :D  Just kidding, hey, 
I'm happy to do it. :^) -- Jolt))