Episode 72!

Disclaimer: No, Shadow does not own pokemon. *Glares at scientists who are rubbing their hands gleefully* It belongs to Nintendo, Game FREAK, 4Kids, etc.

Notes: As always, italics will be indicative of translated pokemon speech, <> will show telepathic communication, and ** will mean thoughts.

Ranma – Hehehe, thank you! ^_^

Hell Flame Vulpix – my, someone is excited. Well, me like squirtles too!

Fire Eevee – and the answers! Glimskunk is an electric type. I wouldn’t know about aishas being blind, but yes, they do have good hearing. My neopets username is ‘phantomness’, and Glimskunk’s four attacks that I’ve written out are Thunder, Thunderwave, Thundershock, and Headbutt.

SnowTiger – what will happen next? Not always the safest question to ask the authoress…

The Pokemon Reader – I know, I’m posting!

Episode 74: Watch your step – battle on the steel field!

“So what is the steel field like, anyways?” Ash asked. He and his pokemon were at a restaurant, pigging out on the free food.

Charlotte took a sip of her chocolate milkshake before she answered. “Well, it’s like a bunch of steel bars in a crisscross pattern. Imagine a grid. The bars are the lines and there are spaces in between. People usually use larger pokemon for this field, because the small ones could get stuck between the bars.”

In one hand, an illusion formed. “See?”
Ash thought hard. “Hmm… I could use Pidgey, because she can fly, but that might be the only one. Skymew, do you want to battle?”

Skymew looked up from her blueberries and cereal. < Well, I could, but I would rather let one of the others take a turn. I feel a bit tired. >

“Eterneon might work. Or any of the other eevelutions could too. They are very agile.”

“Hmm….”
“Just take it easy.” Vulpix-chan said, as she munched on her fish filet.

“Your pokemon will do their best for you!” Pika-chan said, pouring herself another glass of hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Ash nodded.

Teresa and Scarlet were running laps in the park. Scarlet explained that magical training did have somewhat of a basis in physical health, so she had to be in very good shape to make her magic more effective.

“Phew.” Teresa said, wiping a drop of sweat out of her eyes. “Can we take a break?”

“Fine.” Scarlet said. “We’ve run two miles. Good job.” He procured a bottle of dark red liquid and handed it to her.

“This is nightshade potion. Very good for you.” Scarlet said.

Teresa nodded and drank it. It burned a little going down, like a spicy drink, but otherwise she was fine.

Scarlet smiled to himself. With the aid of items, her fall to darkness would speed up rapidly.

Teresa took a few deep breaths. “Okay, I think I’m ready now.”

She and Scarlet stretched for about fifteen minutes and then began running again.

The next day…

“I look like a robot.” Ash said. He was wearing shiny silver pants and a silver breastplate with sleeves attached to it. He also had bulky white gloves with blue spots on one side, and white boots that went up to his knees. A silver molded space helmet that fit his head very well replaced his league cap. The blue clear visor on the helmet covered his entire face.

“Well, it is the steel field.” Charlotte said. She wore her white cheerleader’s outfit with the blue skirt and was holding pom-poms.

“Go Ash!” Pika-chan cheered.

Ash sighed. “Guess I might as well go out and face the crowds… my match starts in a minute, anyways.”

Pika-chan gave him a ‘V’ for victory before she teleported herself and Charlotte to the stands.

“Now, on the steel field, we have the red trainer Ash versus the green trainer Caroline!” Cried the announcer.

Caroline burst out laughing when she saw Ash’s outfit. Ash felt his face heat up, but he managed not to react.

“The match will now begin!” Cried the ref.

“Steelix, I choose you!” Caroline said.

Ash winced. < Pika-chan, what is that?! >

< Evolution of Onix, Steel/ground type. Use a fire-type against it. > Charlotte whispered.

< Thank you. > Ash said. “Okay, let’s do it! Flareon, I choose you!”

Flareon appeared, sniffed the air, twitched her ears, and stared at the Steelix with a bit of surprise.

“Steelix, use Rock Throw!” Steelix nodded and launched a barrage of rocks at Flareon. She barely managed to dodge them all.

“Flareon, use Fire Spin!” Ash called.

Flareon nodded and surrounded the Steelix with a ring of fire. However, since Fire Spin had pretty low base damage, it didn’t do too much.

“Crunch!” Caroline said.

“Flareon, use Quick attack!” Flareon jumped out of the way, and then charged into Steelix, sending it flying only a few feet. Flareon managed to land on one of the steel beams safely, but Steelix’s tail got stuck.

“Now use Flamethrower!” Flareon nodded and breathed out enough flame to consume the Steelix. Cries of pain came from the trapped pokemon.

“Argh! Steelix, return!” Caroline said. Her pretty face twisted with rage. “Try this, then! Golem!”

Ash thought quickly. * Golem’s bulk will make it slower, and if it gets stuck between bars, then we can nail it. The problem is, I’m not sure if Flareon can avoid all of its attacks… *

I’m not sure if I can do this. Flareon confided.

“That’s okay.” Ash said. “Flareon, return! Let’s try – Eterneon! I choose you!”

The crowd oohed and aahed at the pretty pokemon.

“Golem, use Tackle!”

Eterneon flew up into the air, out of the way. Then, she smiled and blasted Golem with Psychic. Golem flew towards the trainer’s stand, but managed to skid to a stop.

“Grr! Golem, get up! Use Rock Throw!” More rocks headed for Eterneon. Eterneon’s eyes glowed and she teleported away.

Ash smiled. < You’re good at this, Eterneon. >
< Of course I am. Are you going to give me any specific orders, or should I just attack by myself? > Eterneon asked as she blasted Golem with Light Ray.

The stars all hit their target.

< You’re doing fine. > Ash said, smiling. < How about a Light Beam to finish it off? >

Eterneon nodded. Golem fell like a toppling tree.

“Oh no! golem, Return!” Caroline cried. By now, she was feeling exceedingly flustered. What was she doing wrong? Usually her charming nature and good looks would be enough to win her the match, most boys not daring to hurt a pretty girl like her. But her strategy wasn’t working at all this time!

“Great job, Ash!” Charlotte called. Ash gave her a thumbs-up and turned back to the battle.

“Magneton, go!”

“So she’s a steel and rock-type user…” Ash said, a tiny bit interested. “Okay then. Eterneon, do you think you have enough energy to fight another round?”
Eterneon yawned. < Probably. >
“Okay then. Eterneon, use Psybeam!”

“Magneton, use Lock-On!” Magneton was hit squarely in the center with the psychic attack, but it kept tracking Eterneon.

“Sonicboom!”

Eterneon went flying, but then she spread her wings and banked sharply, before hitting Magneton with a Sacred Fire attack.

Magneton went down in a hurry.

“And Ash wins this round!” The announcer announced. Several cheers and whistles rang out.

“Great job, Ash!” Charlotte called. Ash jumped up and down happily as he hugged Eterneon and Flareon.

Teresa snapped a picture, and then shut down her video camera. * And it’s all on tape, too! *
After celebrations were over, the trio returned to the pokemon center.

“I think only Flareon needs healing.” Ash said.

“That’s good. Right?”

“Yep.” Ash handed over his tired Flareon to Nurse Joy, along with some fresh berries for her. Flareon smiled happily and wagged her tail.

“Let’s go out to dinner!” Pika-chan suggested. She had changed out of her cheerleading outfit already.

“Fine by me.” Ash said, knowing that the restaurants were serving the pokemon trainers competing in the Cosmos League for free.

“Why not?” Charlotte asked.

“Cool!” Teresa chimed in.

Soon, a group headed for the nearest restaurant. The poor manager was a bit overwhelmed by all the orders, but he did eventually bring everything. Considering that the two gluttonous guardians were present, it took a long time.

Fortunately, by nightfall, everyone was well fed and it was a happy group that trailed back to the pokemon center.

End Episode 74! Hmm… I know! Flames will be used to forge Libra, so she can tell the world of the horrors Nelvana has done to CCS! Yeah!

After Episode 78 I’m starting another new arc, okay?