Episode 142! *Shrugs*

Hi, minna! Anyways, you know that – DISCLAIMER: SHADOW OWNS DESTINY. NINTENDO AND SATOSHI TAJIRI OWN POKEMON.

Right! Anyways, as usual, <> indicates telepathy, ** indicates thoughts, and italics indicates pokemon speech!

That’s it! Lance and Ash are back to normal now! So Lance is a girl and Ash is a boy.

Episode 144: Twists and turns as usual

“I should be going back now.” Charlotte said. They had awakened to find the three legendary cats standing above them, respectively Raikou, Suicune, and Entei. Each had captured his or her legendary, with the pokemon’s assent, of course. The first bird trio had been absent because they already had one each.

Ash absentmindedly petted Raikou on the head. * It’s so cute! But Raikou is powerful, too…what a great combination. *

Raikou purred.

Lance smiled and petted Suicune. * Well, it all seems to end well. *

“Unfortunately, we cannot reverse the damage that has already been done.” Charlotte said.

Ash looked disappointed.

“Ash, they’re happy now. You said so yourself.” Lance reminded him. “Would you deprive them of that happiness?”

“N-no…”

“I could stay for a few days, just to check on the progress of this dimension and prevent creatures from entering.” Charlotte offered.

“Okay!” Ash said.

“So, how are the cards? I surmise that you beat Lance?”

“That was a while ago.” Ash said, hugging his white Ash cards. “I have the Kanto set and most of the Johto set now.”

“Good! When you acquire the rest, then you will have Mastery of all the pokemon cards.”
Ash smiled.

“Let’s go exploring!”

Lance sweatdropped. * Still a child… it’s unbelievable how he manages to retain his naivéte. But it is better that way. *

Luna nodded in response to her master’s thoughts.

“What?” Angel asked.

Luna blinked.

Angel pointed to her paw, which was on his tail. “Can’t you just ask me?”

Shockingly, Luna blushed, to the amazement of all present.

Ash noticed and smiled. < I think I sense a bond forming. >
< The guardians would do well to be paired. >

< Ah. I see. >

“Let’s go.” Lance said. She climbed onto Dragonair’s back.

Ash nodded and released Fearow, which he climbed on.

Charlotte shrugged and released Pidgeot.

The three of them took off for the wilds. Soon, they discovered a flying pokemon card.

“Interesting.” Lance said. “Normally, Hoothoot wouldn’t be out during the day. That’s how strong your aura is calling, Ash.”

Ash was wide-eyed in astonishment. He reached for his key.

“Key that hides the power of the stars, reveal your true form before me! Your master under the seal of contract Ashura commands you, Release!”

His staff appeared.

Ash quickly pointed it at the Hoothoot. “Aerodactyl, go!”

The Aerodactyl screeched, lowering Hoothoot’s defense. Hoothoot retaliated with Growl.

“Aerodactyl, use Ancientpower!”

Aerodactyl grinned toothily and launched the barrage of rocks at Hoothoot. The poor owl really had only one or two percent chance of winning…

Hoothoot began dropping down to earth.

“Under a new seal of contract, your master commands you, return to your true form, Pokemon card!” Ash said triumphantly.

Hoothoot waved and turned into a card.

“You did great, Ash – Oh shoot.” Charlotte said.

Lance looked up. “What is it?”

“Shadowbane.”

“So we have to do the Triple Guardianship chant to drive them away?” Ash asked.

“Yes.”

Charlotte whipped out her wand. “Bright flame to call the phoenix…” From behind her, Moltres rose up, ready to battle.

“Holy water to cleanse the presence…” Lance said. Suicune nodded and sent a tidal wave of water at the approaching demons, eliciting screams from all of them.

“Heavens Fury to destroy this abomination and purify the earth!” Ash shouted. From the lightning wand came sparks of electricity. Zapdos and Raikou both let off Thunder Devastation attacks, while Serebii appeared out of nowhere and sealed the gateway.

Tortured shrieks filled the air.

“We can’t let them in!” Ash said. His eyes blazed angrily. “Porygon, go! Use Conversion!”

Porygon nodded and converted the gateway into an impenetrateable wall.

“That was impressive, Ash.” Charlotte said laconically. “But now I have no way to get home.”

“Eep!” Ash said, abashed at his error.

Charlotte sweatdropped. “It’s okay. I think… I’ll just have to wait.”

Lance laughed. “Look before you leap, Ash.”

“I will from now on.” Ash promised.

“Well, I guess I’m stuck here for ten days.”

“Guess you are.” Ash said. “So let’s go exploring!”

“You just said that, Ash.”

“I did?” Ash blinked cutely. “Okay then.”

They flew around for a while, before they spotted a prospective forest.

Ash smiled happily. * I hope I can catch some more pokemon cards. *

“You can work on your spells.” Pika-chan said.

Ash looked downcast. “Aw… but I wanted a break.”

“Ash, there aren’t many vacations in the life of a magic user.”

“I know…”

Ash shrugged. “Then what are we going to work on?”

“How about double teaming?” Lance asked.

Charlotte shrugged. “Interesting. Let’s try a free for all.”

Lance and Ash agreed, and they all pulled on their armor and pulled out their respective weapons.

“Any rules?”

“Well, no Attract or using more than three cards at a time.”

“Let’s begin, then!”

“Reflect.” Charlotte said, as the clear shield dropped in front of her. * Okay, I’ve got defense down. Now, what’s good against both electric and ice? Might as well try rock… *

“Zapdos, go!” Ash said, releasing the pokemon card. “Use Thunderwave!”

Lance smiled. “Not so fast! Quagsire, I choose you!” The moon pokemon card popped out and yawned, absorbing the Thunderwave attack. “Quagsire, use Earthquake!”

“Yikes!” Ash said, sprouting Pidgeot’s wings and rising into the sky.

“Mew, go!” Charlotte said, picking her pokemon. “Use Ancientpower!” Rocks flew towards both other combatants.

“Then for my next pokemon, I choose Mysdreavus.” Lance said. The rocks just flew through it. “Use Shadow Ball!”

The balls flew towards Mew, who vanished in a flash of light.

“Not bad at all.” Charlotte said, as she blurred and knocked into Ash with Extreemespeed. Ash retaliated with Toxic.

Pika-chan, Vulpix-chan, and Luna munched chips as they watched.

“Seems pretty balanced to me.”

“I know. Who will know?”

*Shrugs*

Charlotte shook herself off and used Flame Wheel to trap Ash. Meanwhile, Lance decided that since the two of them were occupied with fighting each other, she could knock them both out. She summoned up a Magneton who Locked On and finished them with Zap Cannon.

Two crispified chosen dropped to the floor.

“Yeah!” Luna said. “I’m so proud of you!”

Lance passed around Full Restores. “Well, this is pretty good exercise.”

Charlotte and Ash both nodded.

“I’m tired.” Ash said. Charlotte blinked.

“What? Already?”

“Well, I don’t know…something’s still wrong.”

The two exchanged looks and began to think on it.

“That’s strange… you don’t have sun or moon magic. My magic wanes with the sun, and hers with the moon, but the stars shine all the time.”

“So what’s wrong?” Ash asked.

“We don’t’ know…” Lance said gravely, concern in her blue eyes. “But we’ll try to find out…”

End Episode 144!

Yay! All 3 chosen in one story make Shadowphantomness happy! Review!

Flames will be used to make gingerbread cookies!

Put up an extra chapter since the prophecy took up space