Enjoy! "What was that?" I looked up at the window in my quarters. I thought that something had just passed by there. Misty and Pikachu followed my gaze. "What was what?"she asked. I stood up and walked over to the window. There was something there. I could see it. It was a speck floating in the middle of the night sky. Was it a Pokemon? "Ash?" The figure started to light up. It seemed to be charging something. A ball of light was forming over it's uplifted arms. The ball was getting bigger and brighter. "Ash, what's wrong,"said Misty worriedly. My stomach lurched as the figure launched the ball twards my window. "GET DOWN!"I yelled, tackling Misty and Pikachu. The window exploded behind us. Shards of glass and debris flew passed us. I looked up at the figure again through the gaping whole in the wall. It was charging another blast. "LET'S GO!"I shouted, grabbing Misty and Pikachu and running out of the room just as the second blast hit the room. We ran down the hall just as people were poking their heads out of the door to see what happened. "RUN!"I shouted at them. Another blast hit the wall behind us. Everyone was scrambling to get out of the line of fire. "Where are the masters?"I heard one of them shout. "There!"said another, pointing through the hole in the wall. About half of the council, Gennin included, was flying tward the creature. The creature saw them coming and directed the next blast at them. They deflected it the blast and aimed their own at it. Just as the ball almost hit the creature, it vanished. "Where'd it go?"shouted one of them. It appeared behind one of them and grabbed his head. There was a sickening snap as the master fell lifelessly towards the ground. "NO!"shouted one of the monks looking at the battle from the ground. The other masters directed another blast at the creature, which it effortlessly deflected and retaliated. The masters scattered from the blast. One of them went flying at top speed tward the creature. It grabbed his arm and threw him toward the temple. He hit the wall with a defening crash. "EVERYBODY GET OUT OF HERE!"shouted Sabrina, emerging from the end of the hall. People were following in suit. There were explosions all around us as we ran. I clinged to Misty and Pikachu, desperate not to lose them. What was that thing? My answer came right through the wall in front of us. One of the masters lay crumpled in the rubble of the fallen wall. Sabrina and I ran forward and started lifting the rocks. When we uncovered him, he lifted a quivering finger at the wall he just crashed through. There, floating right in front of us, was the creature. It looked like...but it couldn't be... A blast collided with the creature and sent it flying. We all turned to the source of the blast to see Zach. "Let's go!"he shouted. Everyone followed him into the tunnles under the temple. "Where are we going to go?" I said to Zach. "We're going to get everyone to the Southern Temple,"he said. "Except us." "What do you mean?"I asked. "I'm sorry, Ash"he said. "I couldn't keep my promise." "What?" "I'll explain later. Get your friends together, we'll get everyone out." I obeyed. Misty and I went through the crowd and found our friends. "Zach needs us to guide them through the tunnles." They aknowledged and started hearding the crowd through. When everyone went to the end of the tunnle, Zach and Sabrina were sending people through a blue-looking vortex. "This will take everyone to the Southern Temple,"he explained. "Let's get everyone through!" There were more explosions up above as we were helping people through. There was so much chaos that the tunnles themselves were buckling and collapsing. "Ash! Sabrina!"shouted Zach. "Try to buy us some time! Keep the tunnles from caving in!" Sabrina and I both enforced the tunnle walls as more explosions erupted in the rooms above. I hope the masters can hold that thing off. I could have sworn it was him. But it couldn't be him. I know he doesn't like humans, but this? "They're through!"yelled Zach a few minutes later. "Everyone gather around Sabrina and Me!" We followed suit. "Let your minds rely on ours!"He shouted. I felt the same strange feeling as he shouted 'teleportation' where every molecule in my body was being ripped apart and being forced back together. When I opened my eyes we were in a dark forest. "Is everyone here?"said Zach, panting slightly. Sabrina did a headcount. "Everyone's here,"said Sabrina. "Thank the Gods,"I said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Misty! Are you all right?" "I'm fine, Ash,"she said. "I'm here!" "Where are we?" "We're in the Veridian forest,"said Zach. "What?"said Brock. "I thought we were going to the Southern Temple?" "No,"said Zach. "The Southern temple was too dangerous." "Then why did we just send everyone there?"asked Gary. "Because he's it's not after everyone else,"relplied Zach. "He?"I said. "I'll explain later. We have to get moving." "Where are we going?"I asked as we were walking. "Veridian city,"Zach replied. "We can lie low until there for a while until we can make passage to Cerulean city. I came in contact with your sisters, Misty,"he added. "They've were happy to give us board for a little while." "I'm glad,"said Misty, smiling. "But what are we running from?"asked Brock. "I think you can answer that for us, Ash?"said Zach. "Well,"I said. "It looked kind of like,"I paused. "Mewtwo." Misty looked startled. "Mewtwo? Are you sure?" "Well, not entirely. This one was....different. Not just in color, but in feeling. It's readings are different." "Well,"said Zach. "Then you know who he's working for?" "Yes,"I replied. "My father." Zach nodded. Then it hit me. "Zach,"I said urgently. "What happened? Where's my mother? Is she safe?" Zach suddenly stopped dead, looking ashen. "Zach?"I said desperatly. "Where is my mother?" He looked down at me, his face was filled with compassion. "Ash,"he said. "I'm sorry. As I said before, I couldn't uphold my promise." "Zach, tell me,"I said. "What happened?" Zach took a deep sigh. "I don't know where she is. When I got to your house she was gone. Mr. Mime was unconciouse. When I revived him, he said they were attacked by,"he paused. "A phycic." "No." "Ash, I'm so sorry,"said Misty. "No, I'm the one who should be sorry,"said Zach. "I failed you, Ash." I sank to my knees, feeling completely lost. It's over. He has her. "Is she dead?"I asked slowly. "I don't think so,"said Zach. I looked up. "Really?" Zach nodded. "You see, if he really wants you, he's going to keep her alive. It's the only leverage he has." "We have to go after her!"I said, standing up. "No." It wasn't Zach that said it, but Misty. "Zach's right, Ash,"she said. "He wants you to come to him, and kidnapping her is just the way he can do it. If you go, you'll be playing right into his hands." "Like a lamb to the slaughter,"Sabrina put in. "But-"I began. How could I just forget about my mother? "I have to do something!" "We will, Ash," replied Zach. "But right now, there is nothing we can do." "Your right,"I said slowly. "Your right." "Come on,"said Sabrina. "Let's just focus on getting to Veridian." We all started walking again. That's the next chapter. I hope it was interesting enough for you to read the next one! Until that time, like always, Keep a stick on the ice!