Episode 66! *Cheers and throws confetti*

Disclaimer: *Sighs* Shadow does not own pokemon. I wish I did, but Nintendo won’t sell it! Come on, I’ll pay $5, a barely-used Statistics textbook, dead batteries from my Gameboy, three rolls of toilet paper, and a Hershey’s dark chocolate bar. Oh, and a *holographic* Entei card!

Notes: ** indicates thoughts of course, <> indicates telepathy in case you didn’t know, and italics indicates (insert drum roll) translated pokemon speech!

Guy Shani – thank you

Ranma – the Teresa thing is familiar? *Confused blinking* Wonder why, I’ve never written anything like that before I think.

Digifan – yep, funny! And Teresa has been lured to the dark side. ^_^

Hell Flame Vulpix – you know, it’s a lot easier for me if you keep the same name? Just a suggestion, oh, someone else wants Teresa to die!

The Pokemon reader – I hate summer school… >.< Oh well, thanx.

SnowTiger – Hi! Guessed right, yay! ^_^ Actually, I think Amethyst city is not paranoid. Hmm… well, Ash and Charlotte’s reactions won’t be good, that’s for sure, once they find out. And Eriol ought to be checking in on them soon.

Episode 66: Deceptive souls

“We’re here!” Charlotte said as her Pidgeot landed. “What do you think? This is one of the nicer cities.”
“I like it!” Ash said. * The light purple doesn’t hurt my eyes… yay! *

“I wonder if there are any clothing shops nearby?” Teresa mused to herself. * I can get some stuff… *

Suddenly, Teresa felt a slightly familiar but still freaky presence enter her mind. * I have an assignment for you, Teresa. *

< Already? > Teresa asked the mysterious mage. She had no idea who he really was. Too bad for her…

< Yes. Do not worry, I shall send you a helper. He shall be your guardian. >

< When will I meet him? >

< Leave them. I will send him to you then. >

“Charlotte, do you know where the gym is? Please tell me it’s not hidden again.” Ash pleaded.

“Luckily, this gym (Amethyst City) is in plain view. The gym in Aquamarine city is very well camouflaged though.” Charlotte said.

“Great! Where is it?”

“Follow me.” Charlotte said. “Teresa, do you want to come along?”
“No thank you.” Teresa said.

Charlotte nodded and led Ash off. The guardians immediately headed to the nearest sweetshop in the vicinity.

“Mmm! They have lemon drops and caramel creams and candy canes and licorice and strawberry pudding and-!” Pika-chan said as she scampered towards it.

“And cinnamon sugar treats and raspberry nut clusters and peppermint patties and caramel apples and salt-water taffy and sugar bunnies…” Vulpix-chan added as she raced at Pika-chan’s heels.

Angel yawned. “Well, they do have coffee.” This earned him dumbfounded looks from the other two guardians.

“You want coffee?!”

“Oh well.” Pika-chan said. * It’s his loss. *

Vulpix-chan smiled as she pranced around. * More for me then! *

Teresa headed to the park. When she got there, she sat down at a bench and waited. Soon, a bright red Rattata came up.

“Are you my guardian?” Teresa asked.

The Rattata nodded and made a little bow. “My name is Scarlet.”

“Cool. So does that mean you’ll teach me how to use my magic?”

“I will indeed.” The Rattata said. “But first, do you know any spells?”

Teresa shook her head.

“Then I will start at the beginning.” And so, the Scarlet began teaching Teresa one of the most basic dark spells. Darkness call.

Meanwhile…

“I’m so glad I’m not stuck wearing anything this time.” Ash said in mingled relief and a bit of uncertainty as he and Charlotte walked into the Amethyst gym.

“Me too.” Charlotte said as she went up to the lady at the front desk. “My friend would like to battle the gym leader.”

The receptionist sniffed haughtily and tossed her hair. “Sorry, but Hester’s all booked for today.”

Ash looked disappointed. “Come on, let’s go…” He said.

“Just a second.” Charlotte said. “I don’t like your attitude, miss, and I’d suggest that you change it.”

The receptionist laughed lightly. “Oh, I’d like to see a ragamuffin like you try to beat me!”

Ash, sensing a catfight coming up, retreated to the side of the room, before deciding that it was wiser to leave.

“One on one.” Charlotte said.

“Done. Ursaring, go!”

Charlotte smirked a little bit. “Raichu, I choose you!” The electric squirrel popped out from its poke ball and sparked its cheeks happily.

“Ursaring, crush that Raichu with your Body Slam!”

Raichu easily dodged the clumsy attack.

“Match Thunder!” Charlotte said, not bothering to waste time. The deadly accurate electric attack crashed into Ursaring, downing it instantly.

“Why you!” The receptionist shouted angrily as she rushed at Charlotte. Ash had gone off to the restroom to hide until it was over.

Charlotte calmly opened her dark blue jacket, revealing an elaborate badge pinned on her blouse. The receptionist immediately stopped short.

“You were saying?” Charlotte asked icily.

“I’ll clear some room immediately!” The now-flustered lady said.

“You’d better. Ash, you can come out now!” Charlotte called.

A few minutes later, Ash and Charlotte walked into the arena. A woman in her late twenties was there. She had gray eyes and beautiful dark brown hair braided into a serviceable bun, and on the bodice of her plain gray dress was a fantastically embroidered letter ‘A’.

(A/N: Quip to Hawthorne, writer of the Scarlet Letter, which is required reading in high school. Heh.)

“You wish to challenge me?” She asked softly.

“Yes, ma’am.” Ash said, instantly sensing that he had to be polite.

“Very well. Would a one on one battle suffice? I am sorry, but my daughter is ill and I must tend to her.”

“Fine by me.” Ash said with a smile.

“Very well. Smeargle.” From Hester’s poke ball came a fantastic pokemon. It was obviously a normal-type, with floppy ears and a paint-tipped tail.

“Careful, Ash. Smeargle can mimic other pokemon’s attacks. Like ditto.” Charlotte warned.

“I’ll remember that.” Ash said. “Let’s begin!”

“Choose your pokemon.” Hester said impatiently.

“Okay… Sunny, you haven’t fought in a while. I choose you!”

Sunny leapt out of her poke ball, fur already sparking in eagerness. < I’m ready whenever you are! >

“Smeargle, use Earthquake!” Hester commanded. Ash blanched, but quickly ordered Sunny to Agility so she wouldn’t get hit.

“Now use Zap cannon!” Sunny nodded and fired the whirling ball of swirling electric power at the Smeargle, which couldn’t duck in time.

“Smeargle, don’t panic! Use Crabhammer!” One of Smeargle’s arms went into claw form and it charged Sunny.

“No way! Pin Missle!” The poison pins shot at Smeargle, making it resemble a porcupine, but it kept charging until the claw connected with Sunny, who shrieked as her side buckled.

“Sunny, quick! Headbutt!” Sunny nodded and head butted the Smeargle, sending it flying into the air. It fell back down, looking utterly exhausted.

“Not bad.” Hester said as she recalled her fallen pokemon. “Not bad at all. Here’s the Saturn Badge. You deserve it.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Ash said. Hester nodded and shoed them out, so she could go check on her daughter, Pearl, who was sick.

“Well, it’s really pretty.” Teresa said that night when they were relaxing in the Amethyst city pokemon center.

Ash smiled as he put his Saturn badge back in his vest. “Thanks, Teresa.” He said. “Did you have fun today?”

“Yep!” Teresa said. “I found a Rattata today! Isn’t it cute?”

Ash blinked. The Rattata did not look very special, it resembled just about every other Rattata on the planet.

“Nice.” Ash said.

Scarlet allowed a small smirk. * Those fools. Master Bob was right. They can’t even tell that there’s an enemy in their midst. *

“Lightning Flash!”

Ash looked up. * What was that? * He ran downstairs to the miniature battle arena to take a peek.

There, Charlotte, dressed in her golden quest armor was practicing hurling lightning bolts at targets the size of tennis balls.

“Hi, Ash.” Charlotte said, as she blasted two apart.

“Hi! You’re still training?”

“We never know when Bob will attack again. And I have no cards to change, unlike you.” Charlotte replied. “So I have to practice my magic.”

“Ah. Well, I’m going to bed.” Ash said, yawning. “Night!”

“Night.”

End Episode 66! Reviews are accepted with gratitude. Quick! Post a review! Plotbunnies are shriveling up faster than drying raisins!

I have writer’s block… but don’t worry, I have enough extra episodes on hand for a few months at least, until I can get my mind to start ticking again…

I GOT MY BRACES OFF! YIPPEE!