THE QUEST WORTH WHILE	


	"So, you all thought that getting Catze on your side would help you? That's pathetic! Your all 
doomed." Tigra sneered.
	Ash was in shock. Her voice was Tigress's, her eye's and her hair, but she was not Tigress. She 
had the worst sneer in her voice and her Wolflithe features were gone.
	"Our finally battle hasn't come yet! Back off!" yelled Ray and pointed her staff at Tigra.
	Tigra didn't move or flinch, nor did she take her eye's off Ash.
	"Try as you might, but bravery will get you know where." she sneered at Ray without moving her 
eyes.
	"What do you want?" asked Ash with more courage than he felt.
	Tigra finally moved. She walked over and got on the back of the black dragon with blood red 
eyes.
	"Nothing more than to see your death. Our finally battle shall never come. After your all dead, I'll 
take the Pure Heart Crystal from you, Ash, and use it with no one to stop me!" she yelled and suddenly, 
the whole little island shook.
	The black dragon rose into the black clouds. They herd Tigra's shout.
	"You'll never survive! Even with dragon wings!" she laughed and suddenly two black rays were 
shot.
	No one could move. They both burned two holes in Sleeth's two wings. He roared in pain and 
couldn't fly. The island shook and everyone gathered in the center as the edges began to fall and plunge 
into the icy, black sea. The rain was ice cold and poured harder than every.
	"I'm not sure what to do." May puzzled.
	"I wish I could still teleport I lost that power win I was turned good." Catze said and sighed.
	Luna was still limp, cold, wet and lifeless in Catze's arms.
	"What we need to do is make our group as less as possible." Brock said thoughtfully.
	"How? That can't work." Saraya said and another huge crash told them that they were running 
out of time.
	"Tiger, you have to go into your Pokeball. No question's." Ash said and held it up.
	Tiger was still stubborn about Rachel and dodged the red beam.
	"No! I'm keeping an eye on her!" he growled.
	"You want us all to die because of your hate for Rachel!? Get in the Pokeball!" Ash yelled in 
rage.
	Tiger watched him in hate as he disappeared in his Pokeball.
	"Now, who can swim?" asked Brock.
	"I was born in water!" Sea Breeze said and stepped forward.
	"My wings can't fly but I can swim." Sleeth also stepped forward.
	"That's about it." Gato said and sighed.
	CRASH!! CRACK!! BOOM!!
	Everyone jumped as a piece of the island fell in the sea, another piece broke and thunder boomed 
all at the same time.
	"Now, who is willing to fly?" Brock asked while trying to ignore the island breaking.
	"Me and Violet are open." Lily said and Violet nodded.
	"I can but I can only carry Luna." Catze said.
	"Okay, let's think this out." Brock began but was cut off but a huge crash. 
	The island was beginning to lean to one side.
	"Forget it! Grab a ride!" Amara said and jumped onto Sleeth.
	Gato and Pikachu were on Lily's back fast as another flash of lightning struck the sky. 
	"Wait! I know! We have to call the three birds for help!" Blaze said.
	"Your crazy! That would bring Lugia and a lot of fighting! We don't need any of that right now!" 
Mel cried over the raging storm.
	"It's the only way! They'll listen to us and Amy can control Lugia if he should appear!" Lita 
argued and the island leaned more.
	Ash, Misty, Rachel and Brock scrambled onto Sleeth with Amara as thunder boomed again. 
Blaze, Lita and Mel raised there staff's. The island suddenly began to lean back and then was still. Sea 
Breeze gulped and looked down the fifty feet or more drop into the black sea.
	"Ice Poke'mon Power!"
	"Electric Poke'mon Power!"
	"Fire Poke'mon Power!"
	Red, ice blue and green light exploded from the end of each of there staff's. 
	CRACK!! BOOM!!
	More of the island fell and thunder crashed. The bottom of of the island gave way and they were 
out of time. They all plunged into the black and cold sea. May, Mel and Nine were able to grab Sea 
Breeze, Ray Saraya and Amy got on Violet and Lita, Blaze and Erika got on Sleeth with Ash, Misty, 
Rachel, Brock and Amara. Lily, Violet and Catze skimmed the water and shot up into the black clouds. 
they disappeared. Sleeth made the biggest wave as Sea Breeze and himself plunged into the icy water. 
Under the water, everyone held there breath as Sleeth powered his wings and swim though the hard 
current. Sea Breeze was having more trouble but soon was swimming beside Sleeth. Above the sea, Violet, 
Catze and Lily flew.
	"I'm wondering if we should all have gone by air." Ray said and watched the horrible sea turning.
	"I want to know why Tigra burned holes in Sleeth's wing? What good is that if he can still 
swim?" Lily asked and Amy got the answer.
	"Because in the air is the safest way to travel in a storm. I'm the Water Queen and know that 
well. In a sea storm, you travel in the air." Amy said.
	"Duh!" Gato snorted.
	"So we might make it, but she knew that anyone who swam in the water wouldn't. And she also 
knew we wouldn't leave without our friends." Amy continued.
	"That's not good." Violet sighed.
	"Pika pi?"
	"He'll be okay." Gato told Pikachu.
	Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos and seen the light and that was there call. However they were 
puzzled when they saw no one. Suddenly, lightning flashed and they were able to see Violet and Lily in 
the air along with Catze. For some reason, even without the queens, they didn't fight and flew at the 
shadow's. Soon, they were flying next to them.
	"There are our three birds!" Saraya said happily.
	"Listen up you three. No fighting!" Ray said sternly and the three birds nodded but eyed each 
other with hate.
	"When they come up, find them and take them on your back." Ray said and pointed to the sea.
	Puzzled by who "they" were, the three birds agreed and waited. They circled the sea and knew 
that there master's, the queens of there type, would rise. Under the water, Sea Breeze was having horrible 
trouble. They all needed air and soon was able to. Articuno saw Blaze and dove toward her. However she 
was thrown away by a huge wave. Faster than anyone could blink, Sea Breeze and Sleeth lost there riders.
	"Oh-no! That's not good!" cried Catze.
	Flame suddenly came from no where and burned Violet, Lily, Catze, Gato, Pikachu, Ray, Saraya, 
Amy and the already lifeless Luna. They were knocked out and plunged into the icy sea. The three birds 
let out a horrible shriek as the flames hit them. The three plunged and disappeared into the sea. No one 
resurface. A black dragon circled the water. On his back was Tigra with an evil smile and mean glare.
	"And for our finally battle, I win." she said and the dragon flew off and left the black sea behind.
	Ash was slowly coming to, but was out of air. Suddenly, something pushed him up and to the 
surface. He breathed in a bunch of air and then grabbed onto a pink thing in front of him. He backed out.

					*		*		*

	Ash coughed hard and water came fro his mouth. He rolled over on his stomach and coughed up 
more water. He then pushed him self up on his knees. He looked around and saw nothing he knew. The 
sky was blue with no clouds and the sun shined brightly over head. The sea was blue, bright and sparkled 
in the sunlight. Ash stood up slowly and looked down the beach. He walked closer and saw his friends! 
Not all of them. Brock, Rachel, Pikachu, Gato, Amy, Nina, Mel, Lita, Blaze, May, Ray, Saraya, Catze, 
Erika, Amara, Luna, Lily, Sleeth, Violet and Sea Breeze. The three brids had left. Where was Misty? Ash 
herd water splash and he turned. Three dolphins pushed a lifeless Misty onto the shore. They pushed her 
as far as they could get and then disappeared into the blue sea. The thing that caught Ash's eye was that 
the dolphins were different color's of the rainbow. Ash went over and shook Misty gently.
	"Misty? Misty?" he asked.
	Misty's blue eye's opened and she looked at him with confusion.
	"Are you okay?" Ash asked and helped her stand up.
	"Yeah, but, what happened?" she asked and looked around at every one.
	"Good question, but I think dolphin's saved us." Ash said.
	Misty looked at him like he was crazy.
	"Dolphin's?" she asked.
	"There!" Ash yelled and pointed out to the blue ocean.
	Misty turned and saw three dolphins leap from the water. However one was pink, one was purple 
and the other was yellow. They then disappeared into the water. Misty blinked.
	"Ouch." came Gato's voice.
	Soon, everyone was up and looking around. There attention caught to a pink dolphin that swam 
up and spit out a blue and white Pokeball from its mouth.
	"Tiger!" Ash cried and picked it up.
	It opened and Tiger appeared, wet. He shook himself and spit out a little fish.
	"That Pokeball has way to many leaks." he snorted.
	Ash laughed and hugged his wolf friend.
	"I'm glad your okay." he said.
	"I'm glad you are and sorry I attacked you." Tiger said and Ash stood up.
	"You should have said that ages ago." came Amara's voice.
	Everyone looked over to see her leaning against a tree, looking cool and at the same time, evil in 
a way.
	"Amara, thank you." Misty said and Amara shrugged.
	"Lucky I saw and found you." she said simply.
	"Amara?" asked May.
	Amara turned to all the queens that watched her. May had tears in her eye's and Ray held 
Amara's staff. She held it out to Amara.
	"Take it and I'll give you your name as the Queen of Fighting Poke'mon." Ray said.
	Amara stared at her staff and looked from one queen to the other. She looked at everyone else 
who was watching her. Ash, Misty, Brock, Rachel and everyone else. Amara's eyes darted to the trees and 
she watched.
	"Your heart is your guide. I am not." she said and smiled.
	Amara smiled back and turned to the staff. She reached out her hand and grabbed it. Yellow and 
orange light engulfed her and then disappeared. Everyone cheered and clapped.
	"Thank you Amara. Thank you." May whispered and Amara nodded.
	"Were finally whole again!" cheered Saraya.
	A little splash told them another dolphin had come back. They turned and saw a sky blue dolphin 
with four star's around its blow-hole. One of each color was with him. One yellow, purple, pink, green, 
violet, red, orange, white and blue. The one with star's was the only sky blue one. Everyone crowded 
around the colorful dolphins.
	"Hello and welcome to our beach. You must be the group that is looking for Echo." said the sky 
blue one.
	"Yes, we are. Know him?" asked Sea Breeze.
	The sky blue one smiled.
	"Welcome to Sandy Beach. We are the Rainbow Pod and I, Echo, welcome you." 
	Everyone stared and blinked.
	"Your Echo? The one we've been looking for?" asked Ash.
	Luna jumped from Catze's arms, not knocked out anymore, and went over to Echo.
	"I'm Luna, the leader of the Moon Kitties. We have all come to ask of your help in destroying 
Tigra. We need the power to stop her." Luna said in her same voice she had when she was a human.
	"Happy to help. First, have you located the Pure Heart Crystal?" Echo asked.
	Everyone sort of looked at Ash then back at Echo. Ash stepped forward with Pikachu at his feet.
	"I have it." Ash said with a deep breath.
	"Do you, now?" Echo said with interests.
	"Is it possible to beat Tigra without the Pure Heart Crystal?" asked May.
	Echo shook his head which caused the water to ripple.
	"My power's only help the crystal, not replace it. I'm sorry if that's what you thought." Echo said 
and looked at everyone's sad face's.
	"Forget it then. We'll beat-"
	"No." Ash interrupted Ray.
	Everyone stared at him.
	"Pika pi?"
	"We need the crystal and so take it. If it will help everyone." Ash said.
	"Never! We can't risk your life just for that!" Amara said.
	"Just for everyone else's life? One for all? I don't think so." Ash said.
	"You must decide, Ash. Shall I take it or not?" Echo said with a magic smile.
	Ash nodded.
	"Ash, don't! Please! We can beat her another way!" Misty cried and tear's were forming.
	"Don't do it!" Tiger agreed and stepped in front of Ash to block Echo.
	"We have to." Ash said softly.
	Everyone looked horror struck and in tears. Tiger growled at Ash, but in sadness not anger. Tiger 
stepped away and Echo looked at Ash.
	"Your sure?" he asked.
	Ash nodded. Everyone stepped away.
	"I can't believe he agreed." Lily sobbed in a whisper.
	"He is a brave one, he is." Sleeth said with a nod.
	"Pika pi...."
	Pikachu brushed a tear. Gato's ears down and blue eyes filled with watery tears. Amara shook her 
head and tears flew. The star's on Echo's head glowed and before anything happened, a black ray struck 
the ground in front of Ash. He was knocked back. Tigra appeared in the air above them. She smiled coldly 
and glared at them. 
	"So, your the holder of the Pure Heart Crystal, are you Ash?" she growled.
	"Tigra, go away!" Catze said.
	Tiger stepped to her and growled. 
	"I'm not going to go away until I have that Pure Heart Crystal!" Tigra yelled.
	She turned to Ash.
	"I'll make your pain easier and destroy you first!" Tigra cried and shot a black beam at Ash.
	Everything happened a second. One of Ash's Pokeballs opened and Persian leaped in the way of 
Tigra's back beam. There was a horrible scream from Persian as he fell the ground, limp. Ash ran up and 
supported the Persian's head.
	"Persian! You....you saved me." Ash gasped at the dying Persian.
	Persian gave a weak smile and licked Ash's hand that held him. Then, his head hung and his 
body was limp. He was gone. Ash lay the dead Persian down and tears splashed on the sand. Tigra smiled 
with happiness at the death of Persian.
	"Now hold still. I'm going to take your crystal!" she said and held out her hand.
	A black cat was also in the palm. It flickered black and shot a black beam. Ash didn't move as it 
hit him in the chest. He cried in pain and suddenly, Tigra cried in pain and the black beam disappeared. 
Ash fell to the ground on his knees. Tigra had been scratched badly by black claws. Amara smiled at her 
friend who stood next to Ash. It was her who was with Amara ever since they appeared. She looked like 
an eight-year old girl but with Gato ears and a Gato tail. She had a yellow, sleevless shirt on and pink 
pants. She wore a pink scarf around her neck that was tied in a knot at the left side and hung there. She 
had Gato's green paw's on that looked like gloves. She had five finger's and long, black claws on each of 
them. She had short brown hair and came right to her shoulder. She had blue eyes and stared at Tigra 
with hatred.
	"Kari! You finally showed yourself!" Amara said happily.
	"Told you I would when the time came." she said to her friend.
	Tigra just smiled at the newcomer. Suddenly, a flash of black light brought them to Tigra's castle.
	"What is with all these castle's?" asked Gato.
	"Oh-no! Echo's not with us!" Luna said and looked around.
	"That's bad." Erika agreed.
	Tigra floated above them.
	"No one leaves without the Pure Heart Crystal in my hands." Tigra said and gave a sly smile.
	Everyone backed up against the wall. Tiger was growling, all the queens were ready to attack and 
the others were ready to attack. Tigra laughed.
	"Talk about short lived." Gato muttered under her breath.
	"So, the last battle begins now! What fun." Tigra sneered and smiled with evil.
	
	To be continued.....


	Author's Note: Next story might be a long one. You have be warned.
			
		Quote of the Day!
			"You know Tai, you have the attention span of a gnat."
					-Izzy from Digimon