From: WRmistyRW@aol.com Author's Note: Here it is! Darn, two cuties in this series... ::sigh:: I hope everyone is enjoying these! Sorry I'm working on, like, 5 fan fics at once but I have to get my ideas down! Disclaimer: I don't own anything, just the idea. Princess Kasumi by Miyu Chapter One ~ Heart of Iron Ash Ketchum was walking along a road. He had not only accomplished his dream of becoming a pokémon master, but he looked like one too. His black spiky hair brushed against his dark brown eyes. His face was serious yet gentle. And his skin was a bronze color. He was very handsome. His structuring was very complex also. He didn't have a lot of muscles yet he was very strong. He was pretty tall, also. Ash was walking to Comadia, a place where he lost his friend six years ago. He was there to find out what really happened. On top of his head perched a Pikachu, a mouse pokémon. Instead of being yellow, it was a more tannish color. Electricty sparked on its rusty red cheeks. "Ohh, how handsome!" girls sighed as Ash walked passed them. Ash walked on, oblivious to the swooning girls or the jealous men. He kept walking until he reached the top of the hill, where his friend had vanished. "Do you see anything, Pikachu?" he asked his friend. "Pika..." Pikachu hopped from Ash's head and landed soundlessly on the mossy grass. "PIKA!" it shouted as it spotted something below. "What is it?" Ash asked. He looked down. Then, gasped. Below them was the most colorful and undescirbable city he had ever seen. It wasn't even a city. It was more like a small village. Flowers and trees surrounded it and a gigantic fortress stood in the middle. "Let's go pay them a visit, shall we?" Ash asked. Ash and Pikachu jumped from the hill and landed on the bottom. Something small squeaked under them which made Ash jump. "What is that thing? A deformed Rattata or something?" The creature was very small and very white. It looked like a Rattata but it didn't. "I'm going to find out what that thing is," Ash made a mental note to himself. Then, he advanced towards the village. The only way to get there, though, was to cross a wide lake. But for Ash, this was no problem. He jumped in and began swimming with powerful strokes. In no time, he reached the village. "Hello up there?" he shouted. A bunch of women on the fortress looked down. Then they started to giggle. "My, he's gorgeous!" one exclaimed. "I've never seen one like him in a long time," another one added. One woman who was dressed in pink made her way to the front. "He may be, but he can't compare to Ashitaka." "Ashitaka?" the one dressed in blue said. "My, now HE'S something." "What's your name and what do you want?" the one in pink called. "I am Ash!" Ash shouted. "And I want to come in your village." "Ash? Now that's an odd name!" the one in yellow commented. "But should we let him in?" "Why do you want to come in?" the one in pink asked. "In search of someone!" Ash replied. "Wait...don't let him in yet," the one in blue warned. "What's that thing on your head?" "Thing?" Ash asked. "Oh yeah. That's Pikachu!" "What's a Pikachu?" the one in pink asked. "Is that a G...hush! Ashitaka has returned!" "Who's Ashitaka?" Ash called. But he got no response. Instead, he tried to climb up the fortress and the best he could do was high enough to peer into the village and see this Ashitaka. Walking in was a handsome boy who was about Ash's age. He had black hair and brown eyes. He seemed younger than any other man in the village. "Ashitaka, I think you better come look at this!" the one in pink shouted. "What is it, Toki?" Ashitaka asked. He swiftly jumped from the ground up to the fortress much to Ash's amazement. Ashitaka peered down at Ash. "Who are you, stranger?" "I am Ash Ketchum!" Ash shouted. "I want to come in your village! What is this place called?" "Iron Town!" Askitaka replied. "What's that thing on your head?" "It's Pikachu!" Ash called. "Why don't they know that, buddy?" he asked Pikachu. Suddenly, a memory came back to him. It is a very small place with hardly any pokémon. "A Pikachu?" Ashitaka asked. "Ladies, I better handle this one." All the women giggled and left. "Why are you here?" Ashitaka questioned. "I am in search of someone. A girl, actually. Her name is Misty Waterflower! Have you seen her?" Ash asked. Ashitaka stood still for a moment or two. Then he said, "Toki, let this stranger in." "Yes, gorgeous," the one in pink replied with a laugh. Ash stood in front of the door as i slowly opened. Then, he proceeded inside. Iron Town was a very industrious place. The streets were crowded with people who wanted to see this stranger and the Pikachu. Ashitaka jumped from above and landed in front of Ash. "A girl, you say?" he asked. "Describe her." Ash frowned as he tried to remember what she looked liked. But only two words came to his head. A dog...a mouse... he shook it away. "All I can remember is orangy hair." Ashitaka widened his eyes. "Orange hair, you say?" Then, he spread his arm. "Look around, stranger. All the women here have black hair. Unless you want to count the old ones who have hair of gray." Ash looked around. Indeed, what Ashitaka said was true. "Then I'm sorry I disturbed you. I must be going now." Ash turned to leave but was stopped by Ashitaka. "May I ask where you come from?" "Pallet Town." "Pallet Town? Where is that?" Toki asked. "Far from here," Ash replied coolly. "I must get going." "Please," Ashitaka said. "Stay with us for a night or so. We offer you our hospitality. See how iron is made. You must meet Lady Eboshi. I would like to know more of your Pikachu, also." This reminded Ash of something. "What was that creature I encountered? It resembled something of a Rattata yet it looked different." "A Rattata?" Toki exclaimed. "Man, this guy's gone beserk!" She and her lady friends began laughing. "Silence!" Ashitaka commanded them. "Was it small and white?" "Yes." "That was one of the Rat Clan," Ashitaka replied. "Rat Clan?" Ash asked, doubtfully. "What's a Rat?" Ashitaka laughed. It was one that was hearty and full. "If I didn't know any better, I would have to ask you what a Rattata is. Come, stay." Ash frowned but agreed. "I suppose," he replied. "I guess I can learn a little bit more about this strange place. Perhaps it will aid me in search of Misty." Ashitaka hesitated. Then he said, "Would you like for me to show you around our village first? You might find it interesting." "Sure," Ash said. Ashitaka lead Ash through Iron Town. Many people turned to look at the stranger. "This is where all our iron is made," Ashitaka told Ash as they went inside a room. There were many women there. Some were working on a deivce that made the iron smooth. Ash walked over. "May I try?" he asked. Ashitaka laughed. "Yes, that's more or less the way I reacted. Go ahead." Ash took a place of a woman and began pumping the wooden board so hard that the women began flying around. "He won't be able to keep that pace up," a woman in yellow laughed. "Which is what all you ladies told me," Ashitaka laughed. "Come on, Ash. Let me introduce you to Lady Eboshi." Ash stopped pumping and followed Ashitaka to a garden. "HALT!" a guard stopped them. "Relax, it's only me, Ashitaka," Ashitaka told the guard. "I'm here with a stranger. We want to see Lady Eboshi." "Ashitaka, you know that Lady Eboshi is...er...busy," the guard said uneasily. "Please, make our lives easier and see her another time." "We can trust this stranger," Ashitaka persuaded. "This one has a Pikachu." "A PIKACHU?" the guard exclaimed. He turned around to see Pikachu. "By all means, please pass." As Ashitaka and Ash passed into the garden, Ash asked, "Why is everyone so excited to meet my Pikachu?" "They have their reasons," Ashitaka responded. "You will soon find out, anyways." Ashitaka lead Ash to a wooden house. "LADY EBOSHI!" he called. "I have brought a stranger with me. Please permit us to come in." The door was quickly opened. Ash saw a lady who was fairly pretty in a way. She smiled. "Well, well, what have we here? A Pikachu!" "My name is Ash Ketchum," Ash told her. "I have come in search for a Misty Waterflower." "I am Lady Eboshi," the lady replied. "And I'm afraid that I do not know a Misty Waterflower. But, Ash. What a strange name." "The Pikachu," Ashitaka cleared his throat. "Why yes," Lady Eboshi laughed. "That can wait. Ash, have you ever shot with a rifle before?" "A rifle? I do not know of such device," Ash replied. "Please, explain." "I'm afraid I can't," Lady Eboshi sighed. "Or perhaps I should say, I don't know how. Maybe if you tried it, you might understand." Lady Eboshi walked over to a person who was bandaged up and took a strange looking thing from him. It looked like a long metal stick. She handed it to Ash. "Come out here, Ash Ketchum. Let me show you how to use a rifle." Ash followed Lady Eboshi outside. Ashitaka remained inside. Lady Eboshi taught Ash how to shoot a rifle outside. On the first few tries, it didn't work for Ash. But on the sixth one, his aim and shot was perfect. Lady Eboshi congratulated him. Then, the two went back inside. "Well?" Ashitaka asked. "Strange. It's easier to command yet its flames are as deadly as a Charizard," Ash said. Ashitaka laughed. "Yes. But let us turn to your Pikachu. How did you get such a rare creature as this? I have only heard of these and have not seen one." "This was my starting pokémon," Ash replied. "I am sorry but I didn't bring any others." "There are more?" Lady Eboshi questioned. "Yes. I have a Charizard, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Pidgeotto, and my Pikachu." "Amazing!" Ashitaka exclaimed. "Not really," Ash replied. "They aren't very rare." "There aren't any pokémon here," Ashitaka told him. "Lady Eboshi and I are the only ones who know of them. And that was all coincidential.." "Hush, Ashitaka! We must not let this stranger know..." Lady Eboshi warned. "I don't know if we can trust him." "Of course you can!" Ash snapped at her. "Ash Ketchum, you don't understand," Ashitaka said sadly. He pushed some hair away from his eyes. "Good evening, Lady Eboshi, we must get going now." "Yes, Ashitaka," Lady Eboshi sighed. "I would like to see you tomorrow, Ash Ketchum." Ash glared at her and followed Ashitaka out. "Why do you call me Ash Ketchum? Isn't Ash sufficient enough?" he said angrily. "I'm sorry, Ash," Ashitaka apologized. "It's just that you have a very odd name." "I have the odd name? Look who's talking!" Ash snapped. "I'm sorry," Ashitaka repeated. "Please, let us go rest." Ash grumbled something and followed Ashitaka to a small house. Ashitaka opened the door and motioned Ash to go in. "I hope you find it most comfortable here." "I'm sure I will," Ash mumbled, slamming the door. Ashitaka drew his eyebrows together. "Don't be a stranger, now.." **************** Ash thought he heard something outside of his window. Pikachu did, too, because its ears twitched. "What is it, buddy?" Ash asked softly. "Pikkaaaa..." "Agreed, buddy," Ash replied. "I don't like the sounds of it either." Ash got up and changed into his outfit..black shirt and blue jeans. He pulled open a drawer and polished his knife. He stuck it in his leather knife holder. Then, as Pikachu swiftly jumped onto Ash's head, Ash leaped out of his window and scanned the black darkness. Then, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Ash pulled out his knife and stuck it on the person's throat. Quickly, the person did a flip and landed behind Ash. "Quite impressive, Ash Ketchum. But I can say more of your reflexes." Ash frowned as he tried again, but the figure just did the same. Trying to make out who it was, Ash could see the faint features of Ashitaka. "What are you doing out here?" Ash snarled savagely. "I should be asking you that question, Ash Ketchum," Ashitaka replied sharply. "Come with me." "Why should I?" Ash snapped, putting his knife back. "PIKA!" Pikachu added. "Just come." To be Continued.... One Word: Feedback!