Episode 38!

 

I need a replacement for Todd… maybe I should bring him back to life… yeah, wait, I’m doing that anyways!

 

Disclaimer: SHADOW DOES NOT OWN POKEMON. DESTINY IS MINE, as are the ideas and cards, chants, staffs, etc. Please do not steal. Otherwise, if I catch you, the penalty is pretty high.

 

Ranma – hi! *Smiles* Mysterious cloaked figures running around messing with our hero’s head = trouble! Well, the gym visit is going to be pretty turbulent… *Smiles* Die Togepi!

Trutenor – Thank you! *Waves* New reviewer!

Matthias –8888 – It’s to discourage people from flaming me, dear. Thanks! It’s hard to think up all the chapters…

Pikacar/Marle – well, as you use magic you become stronger. But yes, Moltres was harder since it’s one of the big four cards. The light purple figure was the Clow/sakura card ‘Voice’. The process does get a bit easier as time progresses, but Ash needs to rest…

SnowTiger – okay, I can do this. There are 3 Ashura cards so far, and for his actual pokemon, he has, in order, Storm (dragonair), Ponyta, Butterfree, Pidgey, Oddish, Sunny (Jolteon), and Skymew. He’ll get more pokemon later! Happy New Year! Oh, and I keep track by making little lists of pokemon I’ve used in the story so I don’t get messed up… This is going to be a very long story, right now, I have the Card Captor Arc done, and I’m working on the Ashura cards arc. There will also be an arc titled ‘Gateway/Dark Apprentice’, the Johto arc, and of course, the Houen arc (once I get the game that is).

The Pokemon Reader – thank you! It’ll get even better!

STK – Wai! Nice review! *Smile*

Satoshi – oh, I see. Sorry. Thanx for reviewing though!

The Mistress of Richard Cox – ah, I see. How very perceptive of you! Some people don’t know enough Japanese, so I just use a little bit. However, I may use more in the future. Pika-chan fangirl? Right on! *Hands over a stuffed pika-chan plushie*

 

Episode 38: A visit to Vulpix and some odd dreams

 

            Pika-chan watched anxiously as Ash slept. He looked so fragile, even though she knew that it wasn’t true, Ash was already twelve…

            < Pika-chan? > A timid little voice asked.

            Pika-chan looked up and saw Pidgey hovering near the bed. “Yes, Pidgey?”

            Pidgey seemed to fidget in midair, the gold feathers on her body that marked her as a magic-type pokemon catching the light and refracting it. < Is Ash going to be okay? He’s been spending a lot of time sleeping lately… >

            “Pidgey, it’s a complicated situation.”

            < Can you tell me? >

            Pika-chan considered. Well, it wouldn’t hurt. It wasn’t as if Pidgey was going to blab about the situation to anybody else.

            “All right. I’ll start from the beginning. You know that Ash was born possessing magical powers and the ability to understand pokemon and be emphatically bonded to them. He released the pokemon cards and therefore began the task of recapturing them. You knew about this, since you were his pokemon while he was still catching them. Correct?”

            Pidgey nodded.

            “Well, then, after he finished capturing all the cards, he had to pass the Final Judgment. During that period, we found out that he was Destiny. You were there too, so you know about that too. When he defeated Sabrina, we were quite certain that this magical ordeal was over and he could continue on his pokemon journey normally.”

            < So why is he having problems now? >

            “As it turned out, Ash is unable to support the pokemon cards with his magic power. That is because he has the magic type, ‘star’, while the pokemon cards were created with ‘darkness’ magic. Therefore, Ash is required to change a card to star type before he can activate it. Once changed, the cards can survive on his energy. However… changing a card, or any other magical venture, usually takes a large amount of magical energy. This is why Ash is so tired after he changes a card.”

            < Oh. > Pidgey said. A minute later, she was struck by a sudden thought. < But I’m a magic-type pokemon. So why aren’t I feeling the same drain as the cards? >

            “Because it was due to Ash that you evolved to a magic type. When you evolved, you latched onto his magic, star-type, not the dark-type the cards were. That’s why you’re fine.”

            < I think I understand now. > Pidgey said.

            “Good.” Pika-chan said. She pulled out a chessboard. “Ash is still sleeping, and I’m bored, so why don’t we play chess?”

            < Okay! > Pidgey said. She perched herself on the slick tile floor next to Pika-chan and they set up the pieces.

 

           

            “YOU TOLD MY SON TO SCRAM?!” Giovanni shouted at the guard.

            “I didn’t know!” The sleazy man protested. “I thought he was some trainer on his way to get a badge!”

            “Well, did you even listen to his explanation of why he was here? Or did you just slam the door in his face?”

            “Er, no, I didn’t ask…”

            Giovanni growled. “Take him away.” He barked to two Dan’in, who were standing by.

            “Yes sir!” They saluted and left.

            “No! I’m innocent!” The man screamed as he was dragged off.

            “Impudent man.” Giovanni said. He settled himself in his chair and petted his Persian on the head. “Well, maybe when he comes, we can have a real heart-to-heart talk. After all, if I marry his mother…”

            Persian purred.

            “Yes, I know we shouldn’t hold it in the fall, but I don’t want to wait until next summer. Maybe spring… she is a very fine woman, though. One in a million, strange why she wasn’t snapped up sooner…”

            Giovanni drifted off into thought.

 

 

The next morning…

 

            Ash yawned. “Wow, I feel much better. What time is it, Pika-chan. Pika-chan?” He looked out the window and noticed that it was still dark outside. A glance at the clock on the wall confirmed the hour as four forty-five A.M.

            “Why am I up at this ungodly hour?” Ash asked no one in particular. He sighed, took a sip of water from the glass by his bed, and forced himself to fall asleep again.

 

***************************Dreamscape**********************************

 

            In the dream, Ash was standing on a high tower. He finally identified it as the pokemon tower in Lavender Town.

            Pika-chan, in her chibi form, floated by his side. Sabrina was nowhere to be seen. In his hands, he held his new staff, the moon and star flanked by wings. Drifting past him on the waves of the wind were the pokemon cards.

            “What’s happening?” He heard himself ask. He would have said more, but then he saw another form appear.

            Someone… cloaked in long robes, a staff in their hands, face shadowed, but it was male…

            Ash gripped his wand tighter. In the distance, he could hear the sound of bells ringing, filling the night with sound.

            There were no stars in the sky. A blank expanse of dark was all that met his eye. And when Ash looked to his side, he saw that Pika-chan was also being consumed by the darkness.

            “Pika-chan!” Ash shouted.

            He whirled his staff around, ready to activate a card. But as he moved to form the words, he froze.

            The last sight he saw before he woke up was that of three cards floating solemnly in front of him. Moltres, Jigglypuff, and Abra.

            The cards that he had changed…

 

**********************End Dreamscape************************************

 

            “IIE!” Ash shrieked as he became drenched with cold water. He came up, coughing and spluttering.

            Pika-chan dusted off her hands and put the bucket down. Nearby, Skymew floated, giggling.

            “Rise and Shine, sleepyhead! Did you get a good night’s sleep?” Pika-chan asked. “You should have, you slept for sixteen hours.”

            “What?” Ash asked in disbelief.

            “I’m not pulling your leg! It’s true!” Pika-chan told him. “Right after you changed Abra yesterday, you blacked out!”

            “Oh.” Ash said. He shook his hair, sending water droplets flying every which way. As he fully awoke, he realized that he had completely forgotten his dream.

            “Why are you looking so puzzled?” Pika-chan asked.

            “I had a strange dream last night…”

            “What was it about?” Pika-chan asked in interest. “Some mages develop the power to see the future through dreams.”

            “I can’t remember…”

            Pika-chan fell out of the air. “Well, it must not have been a prophetic dream then.” She said as she jumped up again.

            < Excuse me, but I’m hungry. > Skymew piped up.

            “Oh yeah!” Ash said. He pulled out the fruit basket. Soon, they were all full, with the exception of Skymew, who was still eating.

 

            “Still hungry?” Ash asked.

            Skymew blushed. “I’m just feeling very hungry lately.” She said.

            “Well, that’s okay. The fruit basket will give you as much as you want. I’m going to see Vulpix now.” Ash said.

            < See you later! > Pidgey chirped as she polished off the last bits of birdseed and blueberries. * Ah, this is the life, easy battles, free food, and a great trainer. *

            Oddish tried to wave, but not possessing any arms, it waved its leaves instead. Ash nodded and left, Pika-chan perched on his shoulder.

            “Does Giovanni have any magic?” Pika-chan wanted to know.

            “I don’t know. Why don’t you zap your wings away just in case.” Ash suggested. “After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

            Pika-chan did and they headed off to the Gym.

 

            A few minutes later…

 

            Ash rang the doorbell to the gym.

            Giovanni looked up from his poached eggs and toast. Sighing, he slid his tray underneath his desk and pressed the automatic door opener.

            The doors of the gym slid open.

            Ash came in and looked around. “Giovanni? Are you here?”

            Giovanni walked down from his platform. “Yes, Ash. Here, let me take you to see your Vulpix.” He took Ash’s hand and led him to an elevator. They went down three floors. On the third floor, they dismounted.

            Ash looked around. The area resembled a pokemon center, only there were people reclining in some of the beds, with broken arms or legs in slings. So it was a human hospital as well.

            “Where’s Vulpix?”

            “We had to place her in the intensive care unit.” Giovanni said apologetically, leading him down to another section. “You’ll have to shower and disinfect first before going in. And your Pikachu will have to do the same.”

            “I understand.” Ash said. He and Pika-chan went and showered, before dressing in the special clothes that were provided.

 

            Ash gasped when he saw Vulpix. She lay completely still in a little bed, hooked up to a variety of machines and an I.V. stand. Her heartbeat was still normal, and she was breathing, said the doctor, but there was no brain activity.

            “I’m afraid she may be no more than a vegetable, unless we can find some way to repair the neurological damage done.” Doctor Mullins said.

            “Can I be alone with her for a few minutes?” Ash asked in a choked voice.

            The good doctor allowed him fifteen minutes and went to get some coffee.

            Ash closed the door. “Pika-chan, are there surveillance cameras anywhere? I don’t want this to be on tape.”

            Pika-chan scanned the area. “Only one, over in the upper left-hand corner, by the curtains.”

            “All right.” Pika-chan scurried over and began cutting the wires with her sharp teeth. When she was done, she nodded to Ash.

            “Key that hides the power of the stars, reveal your true form before me! Your master under the seal of contract Ashura commandeth you, Release!” The magic circle formed, as usual. Ash reached out and picked up his staff.

            “Card created by Clow, please accept this new star power and take your new form! Your new master Ashura commands you, Release!”

            Vulpix shivered, before turning into card form. But the card looked like it was in bad condition, with a scratch here and a tear there.

            “Oh my.” Pika-chan said.

            Ash wasn’t quite done yet. He transformed into Destiny, and put his hands over the card. “Heal.” He whispered, as pale blue light covered Vulpix and healed her. When Ash activated Vulpix again, she was healthy and perky as ever.

            Ash smiled, before he blacked out.

            Pika-chan groaned. This was not good. She put Vulpix back on the bed, sat down and waited for Doctor Mullins to return.

 

 

End Episode 38!

 

Yahoo! Review or else I’ll sic Tomo-chan on you! Flames will be used to make pancakes, yum! Or, if I get a lot, I’ll use them to create Windy so she can strangle Nelvana! Kakakakakaka!

 

Note: Not going to update for at least a week, because of Finals…