Warming Hearts

Sneaking Into the Wing

Warming Hearts

A/N: Okay, just so you can read this and not listen to me rambling again, let's get on with Chapter 10. Roll it!

Chapter 10

Sneaking Into the Wing

After such a hearty and fulfilling dinner, Ash was walking alongside Zoey, with MJ sleeping deeply on her back. Pikachu and Piplup were by Ash's side, walking and talking together. Ash smiled at how well those two were getting along, and then turned back over to Zoey.

"I don't get why everyone here is being so nice to me." He said. "Even the Pokémon, and some of them are supposed to not have the best reputation of being nice to humans."

"You are the first guest we have had in over five years." Zoey replied, slightly laughing.

"Man, that is a long time." Ash said. "But don't you ever want to escape?" He asked. "Your so-called mistress treats all of you like dirt. You're probably just as trapped as me and Pikachu are."

"The mistress is not as terrible as she appears." Zoey said. "Somewhere, deep inside her, there's a princess-ly young lady just waiting to be set free."

Ash raised a confused brow. By the way she had said that, it seemed like she was hiding something about the beast. And the more he thought about it, there was something that Leona and Kenny were also not telling him. They had told him not to enter into the beast's quarters on the west side of the castle. He didn't plan to because of what she did, but what if there was something there that they didn't want him to know?

He looked up as they approached the main staircase of the front room, his eyes glued towards the separate stairs that led to the west wing. "Leona mentioned something about the west side of the castle, where your mistress spends most of her time." He said, remembering what the Swinub had said about it earlier.

"Don't mind that, kid." Zoey said, gently nudging Ash up the staircase and towards his bedroom in the east wing; the opposite side of the castle. "Now, how about you head to bed?" She suggested, then turned to the sleeping MJ on her back. "It's been quite a long day."

Ash slightly smiled at how adorable the little Bellossom was while she slept, then began to take slow steps up the eastern stairs. "Good night, then." He said.

"Good night, Ash." Zoey said to him. Pikachu bade good night to Piplup, then began to follow his Trainer. "Straight to bed." She reminded Ash. He only nodded to her as Pikachu jumped up onto his shoulder.

Once Zoey was out of sight, Ash quickly switched directions and headed to the west wing. It was time to get some answers.

"Pika-pi?" Pikachu asked him, wondering what he was planning.

"We need to know who this mistress is, buddy." Ash whispered to his number one partner as they cautiously wandered through the hallways. "Find her weakness, and then use it to get the heck out of here."

As the two of them quietly walked down the unfamiliar hallway, they both noticed that the interior atmosphere around them started to feel cold and dark the further they went. Soon, they arrived at two large wooden doors, with two cold brass handles.

"Geez, it even feels creepy." Ash commented. Pikachu only shivered in agreement, feeling like the temperature had dropped ten degrees. Ash slowly reached for the handle, but when his fingers lightly brushed against the cold surface, he stopped, feeling the coldness of the metal; and it was not just temperamental.

This was his idea, and he needed answers, right? Well, what is going to stop him? Even if things get worse, the beast might throw him out, and then, he's free. But will she go after his mother and bring her back to be her captive forever? Well, that won't happen, at least not without a fight. Mustering the courage he needed, Ash grabbed the door handle again and pulled it open. He and Pikachu looked around the chamber as they quietly entered.