Episode 144! 12 squared! *Grins*

Disclaimer: *Runs away from scientists in white lab coats* Get away from me! I know that Nintendo owns pokemon, but you obviously don’t! Anyways, I own Charlotte, Destiny, Vulpix-chan, Pika-chan, etc.

Notes: <> indicates thoughts, italics indicates pokemon speech, ** indicates thoughts.

Lance = Crystal, Lance is a girl. Ash calls Lance Crystal.

More notes: WARNING! This usually deviates from the anime a lot. Be warned. I am more familiar with the game then the anime, so that is probably what I will use, okay?

Note: decided to give poor Falkner a few good pokemon. *Smile* If he has a Lv. 7 Pidgey, and a Lv.9 Pidgeotto, than the fun between him and Ash would be boring to write. Right?

Xaero – hi! Well, no, I don’t like to overuse things…

Jarzard – thanks! I realize it might not have been that bad, but still. *cries*

Blackness44 – hehehe… *Running from a sugar-high Espeon*

Tmp – nope, I didn’t forget Eriol. He just wasn’t vital to the plot yet.

Link Masters – well, Giselle can’t die so easily… but at least they got rid of all of TR’s dark and shadow types and Kamon.

Ranma – well, actually, the fic title is ‘Cardcaptor May’. It just kind of irked me…

Digifan1 – gracias!

Aragorn the Ranger – well, if you see Ranma’s reply…

SS2 Megami-sama – well, admittedly they just lifted the CCA idea as a whole, but I just got really annoyed… *points to above reply*

#1 fan – hi! Moomoo milk I decided to reduce the price. And my fic isn’t that dark, I mean, look at Ace Sanchez… Dragoness… others… hey, wait a minute! All of those are AAMRN! *glares*

Pheonyx-X – well, deleting the fic would make me happy and well, spare you some flames since I think some of my reviewers are really mad…

And well, I don’t want to be a hypocrite… plus flaming usually leads to increased popularity.

Episode 146: The open sky

“Let’s go to Violet City.” Ash said. “Since I’m not hiding from team Rocket anymore, I can go get the badges.”

Lance nodded. “Yes. It will be fun.”

“Why not?” Charlotte asked. “Wait… where are we in relation to violet city?”

Ash pulled up his pokégear map. “Hmm… we’re pretty close, actually. About an hour of riding.”

“Okay, then. Arcanine, go!”
“Rapidash, go!” Ash said. He and Lance climbed on. “Okay, girl, we’re heading southeast, okay?”

Rapidash tossed her mane and nodded. I know! And I’m all prepared!

Same here. Arcanine said.

“Then let’s go!”

Soon, they saw the purple roofs of Violet City ahead.

“It’s not as bad as Cosmos Island.” Ash said in relief.

“Yeah, but Amethyst City was nice.” Charlotte reminded him.

Ash shrugged.

“Violet City gym, coming up! What does the leader use, anyways?”

‘Flying-type pokemon.” Lance said.

“Thanks, Crys!”

“Crys?” Lance blinked. * Weird… *

“Oh! Sorry! Do you mind if I call you Crys? It’s short for Crystal, after all.”

“I guess not…”

Charlotte looked up. * I sense a relationship forming. Of course, I’m probably not the only one. *

< I bet you twenty dollars that Ash will ask her out. > Pika-chan told Luna.

Luna snorted. < As if! I’m taking it! >

Violet City Gym

“Falkner!”
Falkner looked up from where he was grooming his Pidgeot. “What is it?”

Lance pointed to Ash. “He wants to battle you for a Zephyrbadge.”

“Oh. I see.” Falkner said. He brushed some non-existent lint off his clothes and turned to Ash. “I accept!”

Ash grinned cockily and reached for his poke balls.

The referee woke up, startled, as Pidgeot let off an ear-splitting shriek.

“I’m up! I’m up!” He said, grabbing the flags.

Falkner nodded in satisfaction. “All right, this is a three on three battle for the Zephyrbadge. Challenger picks first.”
“Sunny, I choose you!”

“Pidgeot, go! Use Steel Wing!”
Pidgeot covered its wings with steel and slammed them into Sunny’s head. Sunny, dazed, staggered around in a circle for a few minutes, birds flying around her head.

“Sunny!” Ash said, worried. He quickly tossed her a Soda Pop. Sunny drank it and stood up.

“Sand-Attack!”

Pidgeot nodded and blew a dust storm into Sunny’s face. Sunny coughed, and closed her eyes.

“Sunny, try using Thunderwave.”

< Yes sir! > Sunny said sending electric bolts everywhere to stop Pidgeot. Pidgeot managed to dodge most of them, but one finally hit. It cawed, paralyzed.

< Now hone in on its voice. >

Sunny’s ears pricked up. Then, she dashed towards Pidgeot with a Tackle and booted it into the air.

“Try using Wing Attack!”

Pidgeot dived close to Sunny, but Sunny opened her mouth and shot out a Thunder. Shocked, Pidgeot dropped to the floor.

“Pidgeot, return!” Falkner said. * Not bad… not bad at all… he’s definitely not a novice, so I won’t use Pidgey or Pidgeotto. *

“Skarmory, go!”

“Sunny, return.” Ash said. * Were steel types weak to fire? I think so… *

He drew out a pokemon card and it flashed white. “Charmeleon, go!”

Falkner winced. * Oh well. Might as well try… *

“Skarmory, use Drill Peck!”

Charmeleon freaked out as the Skarmory charged. It quickly dived into the ground, using Dig.

Ash sweatdropped.

Skarmory circled around, waiting for Charmeleon to show up. After ten minutes, both trainers were looking anxiously at the ground.

“If your Charmeleon doesn’t come back up, this will count as a forfeit.” Falkner said.

< Charmeleon! What are you doing? >

< But I’m scared! >

< Look, I won’t let you get hurt. I promise. Just come out and do a Flamethrower. >

Slightly reassured, Charmeleon stuck its head out and breathed out a Flamethrower.

“Mud Slap!”

Charmeleon got a face full of mud, covering its eyes. Annoyed, its tail flame flickered brightly and it began to use Rage. Soon, Skarmory was down, in flames.

“Return, Skarmory.” Falkner said. “In that case…”

“Dodrio, go! Use Tri-Attack!”

Charmeleon got dizzy as the bird bombarded it with three different elements. It toppled over, fainted.

“You were great, Charmeleon.” Ash said to the card. < Return. >

Charmeleon vanished in white light.

Ash pulled out another pokemon card. * Something fast, that can nail Dodrio or something strong to live through its tri-attack… *

“Onix, go!”

Faulkner paled. * This is bad… *

“Okay, Onix, Screech!”

Onix nodded and let off a shrill, high note, not within the range of human hearing. Dodrio quailed at the sound of it. The sight of a roaring Onix did not help either.

“Dodrio, you can’t lose. I know you can’t. Use Icy Wind!” (Note: I know that Dodrio can’t learn Icy wind. But I’m making this more interesting)

“Onix, use Rock Throw!”

Onix hurled many rocks at Dodrio, but they were all frozen solid.

“Use Icy Wind again.”

Ash gritted his teeth. “Onix, use Frustration!”

An anger spark appeared on Onix’s head. It was getting very annoyed. It began bashing into the Dodrio over and over.

“Curse!”

Dodrio nodded. It’s speed fell to very low, but its Attack and Defense went up, so it took minimal damage from Onix.

Charlotte nodded in approval. * Faulkner’s a good trainer. *

Lance pursed her lips. * I hope Ash knows what he’s doing… Faulkner isn’t a gym leader for nothing. *

“Onix, just use Slam!”

Onix reared up and slammed itself into Dodrio. That attack finally took the bird down.

“Falkner is out of pokemon! Ash wins the match!” The referee said.

Falkner smiled and handed Ash the Zephyrbadge. “You have strategy. Even if I am the first Johto gym leader, not many have beaten me. It’s a compliment.”

Ash beamed.

“Cool!” Pika-chan cheered. “You rule, Ash!”

Luna snarled as one of Pika-chan’s pompoms smacked her in the face.

“Grr…”

“Eep!” Pika-chan said, as she dashed off. The three Chosen ran after their guardians, who were running away fast.

*CRASH*

Pika-chan looked annoyed at the pokemon standing in her path. Get out of the way – oh!

< Ash! There’s a pokemon card! >

Ash dashed over, activating his key with a thought.

The pokemon thrashed angrily, snorting.

< Donphan. > Lance said. < Good luck! >

Ash thought quickly. * Is it a rock type? Might as well try. *

“Squirtle, go!”

The pokemon card began spraying foam at Donphan, who flailed.

Squirtle quickly withdrew into its shell.

Ash nodded. “Okay, Squirtle, use Hydro Pump!”

Donphan vanished under the sheer volume of water. A few minutes later, it floated up to the surface, looking worse for wear.

“Now!” Pika-chan said.

“Under a new seal of contract, your master commands you, Return to your true form, pokemon card!”

Donphan snorted once before it reverted to a white card.

Ash caught it between his fingertips. “One down!”

Lance laughed and tossed him a bottle of Fresh Water. “It’s a game?”

Ash nodded unreservedly.

“Let’s go celebrate at the Mew Café!”

“Is this a date?” Lance asked.

“Sure.” Ash replied, not paying much attention.

< Hah! Pay up! > Pika-chan crowed, to Luna, who frowned and handed over the money.

< This means nothing! >

< Whatever you say, Luna! > Pika-chan laughed.

End Episode 146! Well, this arc will end in about 11 episodes. *Shrugs*

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