Episode 85! 5 x 17 episodes! Yay! *Cheers and dances*

 

Disclaimer: No, I don’t own pokemon. Maybe, in a galaxy far, far away, I someday will, but that doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen anytime soon. *Sobs*

Notes: Hmm, what can I say? Oh, as usual <> indicates telepathy, ** indicates thoughts, and italics indicates translated pokemon talk!

Lance is a girl.

 

Episode 87: Light of magic

 

            Morning, 5 A.M… Cerulean City pokemon center

 

            “Crystal are you ok?” Ash asked worriedly. He was peering in the window of the pokemon center. Pika-chan added a reply.

            “We didn’t mean to hurt you!”

            “We’re really sorry!”

            “But we brought some snacks!”

            “Pika-chan. You brought snacks? Does that help sick people?”

            “If she eats the hospital food she’ll get worse!”

            “I guess you have a point there…” Ash used his key to magically open the window so they could sneak in.

            “Wake up.” Pika-chan whispered.

            Lance opened her eyes. “Pika-chan? Ow, my head… what time is it?”
            “We’re sorry!” Ash and Pika-chan chorused.

            “Not your fault…” Lance whispered.

            “We brought you some food.” Pika-chan added, handing Lance a little basket. “Are you okay?”

            Lance nodded. “Mostly, I think.”

            “I hope she’ll be okay.” Ash said as they left.

            “Joy will probably let her out.”

            “That’s good.”

 

            Ash and Pika-chan ran to the grassy plains nearby to train.

            “Okay, begin.” Pika-chan said. She and Ash began doing stretches, before they ran a couple of laps, and then finished off with some staff fighting (Ash doing it, not Pika-chan).

            “Pretty good, Ash!” Pika-chan said as Ash blocked yet another bolt of fire with some fancy twirling.

            “I know.” Ash said. “All that training in the Cosmos league helped a lot!”

            “So did the battle against Bob.” Pika-chan added. She threw two blasts this time, and Ash managed to block the first but only partially deflect the second one. Ash winced in pain at the burn on his side.

            Pika-chan tossed him a Burn Heal.

            “Thank you.” Ash said as he spread the ointment on. “Okay, let’s try again.” By the time the pokemon center opened at nine, Ash could block two bolts of fire with one fluid movement. Pika-chan was now teaching him how to block three. Because, she explained, shield spells were energy costly and not that effective in many circumstances.

 

            “Your friend is fine now.” Joy said cheerfully. “The damage from the Confusion has worn off. She’ll be fine. Just don’t do anything strenuous for three days.”

            “I won’t!” Lance promised.

            “Don’t’ worry, I’ll take care of Crystal.” Ash said. Nurse Joy nodded.

            “You’re mom called to ask about you. I told her you were fine, of course. She mentioned a wedding being held after the Indigo League Championships.”

            “Oh.” Ash said. * So she and Giovanni are having a spring wedding. That’s interesting. Better than winter, I suppose. *

            “Come on, let’s go.” Pika-chan said.

            “Where are we going now?”

            “Let’s head to the abandoned Power Plant.” Ash said. * If the rumors are true, there is a Zapdos there that I’d like to have. *

 

            They left Cerulean by way of the mountain trail, heading towards Rock Tunnel. Ash and Lance rode Rapidash, who didn’t mind. Pika-chan sang as they rode along. Soon, they encountered a trainer.

 

            “My name’s Kent, and I’m the best fire breather in Kanto!” He crowed.

            “Really?” Ash asked. “What’s a fire breather?”

            “You don’t know? I’ll tell you. We’re performers that breathe fire with the help of pokemon.” He said.

            “Oh!” Ash said. “That sounds cool.”

            “I’m dizzy, Ash.” Lance whispered. Ash turned around to face her. Lance was slumped against him, lines of weariness etched on her face.

            Ash suddenly felt guilty again. * We’ve been riding for five hours without a break. How could I forget? *

            Pika-chan handed the tired dragon trainer a Potion. She drank it and looked a bit better.

 

            Kent got a bit annoyed. “Do you want to battle?”

            “Sure, why not?” Ash asked. “Jolteon, I choose you!”

            Jolteon appeared with a cry and a flash of lightning. Kent didn’t look disturbed.

            “Koffing, go! Use Smog!”

            “Jolteon, use Pin Missle!” Jolteon nodded and the pins streaked at Koffing, puncturing its gaseous body and causing an explosion.

            “Koffing used Self-Destruct!”

           

            Kent recalled his Koffing with a scowl. “So, ready for the big leagues, huh? Magmar, go!” The spitfire pokemon popped out and puffed a stream of flame at Jolteon, missing it by less than a centimeter.

            Jolteon looked a bit frightened.

            < You’ll do fine! > Sunny assured her mate.

            < If you say so. > He replied.

            < Beat him for me! >

            Jolteon brightened up instantly. His fur stood on end as he prepared to attack.

           

            “Magmar, use Fire Punch!”

            “Jolteon, use Thunderwave!” A paralyzing thunderwave immobilized the Magmar, at least for a few seconds. Jolteon charged for Thunder and prepared to release the pent-up electric energy he had collected from the atmosphere.

            Magmar released a smokescreen, obscuring the area.

            Jolteon shrugged and released the lightning bolts. They all hit Magmar, crashing into it and dropping it to the ground.

            “Flamethrower!”

            “Pin Missle!”

            Jolteon’s pins cut through the fire like a steel knife through butter. They all struck home, too. Magmar resembled a pincushion when the attack was over.

            Jolteon let out a war cry proudly.

            Kent recalled his pokemon with a stricken look. “How?”

            “Well, I have all 8 badges already.” Ash said.

            “Oh. I should have known you were a master.”
            “I’m not a master yet!” Ash said. “I still have to go compete!”

            “Good luck, kid!”

            “Okay!”

 

            Ash and Lance left the fire breather behind and continued on their way. Soon, they ran into a hiker, whose rock-types Ash dispatched with his Vaporeon and Oddish, then another hiker, who Ash used his Oddish card on, and finally, a bird keeper. Sunny was more than happy to take him out.

            Ash smiled.

            “Don’t worry, Crystal. We’re almost there.”

            “Okay, Ash. I trust you.” Lance said, as she sipped spring water from her bottle. Pika-chan looked nervous. * If someone gets hurt as a result of our training, master will be displeased… *

 

            Eriol switched off his mirror. “Well, that’s boring. What’s next?”

            Spinel Sun fluttered in… covered with pink syrup. “GET THIS SUGAR OFF ME!”

            “If we give him more, he’ll turn cute!” Ruby Moon said, as she threw some powdered sugar at the guardian.

            “No! GO AWAY!”

            Nakaru successfully got some chocolate in Spinel’s mouth. Suddenly, he went all genki and chibi.

            “SUPPI!”

            “Oh no.” Eriol said as he quickly dived under his desk.

            “More sugar!” Suppi chirped, flying around with little bubble eyes.

            “NAKARU!”

            “Oops.” Ruby Moon said, unrepentantly. She quickly tossed Suppi some chocolate cupcakes so he wouldn’t wreck the mansion.

 

            “We’re near Rock Tunnel now.” Ash said, looking around.

            “Let’s go explore!” Pika-chan said.

            “But we were going to the abandoned power plant!” Ash protested. “Crystal? What do you think?”

            “I’m tired.”

            “Okay, we’ll rest first and then decide.”

 

End Episode 87! *Smiles* did you like it? Drop me a review or else I’ll set my Umbreon on you! *Umbreon growls* Flames will be used to burn down Nelvana, Mwahahah!