Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo, Satoshi Tajiri, Game FREAK, etc. Stuff like Flaris, Destiny, and the Wand of the Water Guardian belong to me.

Notes: ** for thoughts, <> for telepathy, and italics for pokemon speech.

Episode 167: But of course, the probability of winning is a lot higher…

Ash woke up to find himself on a soft, downy bed covered with a dark blue coverlet. “Where am I?”

Pika-chan flew up next to his face. “Ice Island.”

“Wow!” Ash said.

“Yep, cool, isn’t it?”

“Where’s Crystal?”

“Not sure.” Pika-chan said. Just then, Sabrina came in. “Looks like the judgment was no trouble, Master Ash.”

“Sabrina, you don’t need to call me that. Do you know where Crystal went?”

“I believe she is downstairs.”

“Oh, thanks!” Ash said. He went to the bathroom and showered and brushed his teeth, before he changed into a dark blue t-shirt with a Mantine on it and jeans. Then, he went downstairs.

Ash found Lance in the kitchen.

“Good morning, Crystal.”

“Good morning, Ash. Did you sleep well?” Lance asked as she salted the scrambled eggs.

“Yep!” Ash said.

Lance set down the plates of breakfast. “That’s good.”

Ash quickly ate heartily. Lance took half a grapefruit and some buttered toast for herself. Soon, the dishes were cleared and whirring in the dishwasher.

“Well, Ash, now you’re the master of the Johto cards as well. Where do you want to go next?”

“The Houen league!” Ash cheered.

Lance smiled. “Well, there are a lot of new pokemon there.”

Ash nodded enthusiastically. “And I can create a lot of new pokemon cards!”

“Why not?” Pika-chan asked.

“Well, a new climate suits me.” Luna said, yawning.

Sabrina came downstairs. “Hi.” She was levitating several spoons with her powers.

“Hi, Sabrina.” Ash said. He yawned. “Hungry?’

“I don’t eat.”

“Oh. But Pika-chan eats like there’s no tomorrow!”

“We are rather different.” Sabrina said dryly.

“I see…”

Ash was out relaxing on the beach a while later when trouble brewed.

“Hey! Who are you?” Ash looked up from his book and saw four surfers. They were all dressed in blue Speedos and carried large boards.

“We’re here looking for Articuno, man.” One said.

“So get out of our way, because you’re obviously our rival.” Another said.

Ash narrowed his eyes. They didn’t look familiar. “Are you from Houen?”

“Yeah, man.”

“So step aside.”

“I don’t think so.” Ash said, forgetting he wasn’t wearing his poke belt.

“Oh? A pokemon battle then? All right.”

“Sharpedo, go!”

“Seaking, go!”

“Remoraid, go!”

“Tentacruel, go!”

Ash smiled as the four pokemon materialized. He was about to reach for his poke belt when he realized he was only in a t-shirt and shorts and didn’t have it. Ash shrugged and closed his eyes as he reached for his key. * Illusion beam. *

An invisible beam of red light surrounded the boys. They saw him opening poke balls and releasing pokemon instead of using his magic.

“Sparkle, Match Thunder.”

The four water types flailed in despair, but fainted. Ash laughed lightly. His eyes flashed once, twice.

The surfers were undaunted.

“We’re still going ahead!”

“With no pokemon?” Asked a lilting voice.

They looked up and saw Lance dressed in a light blue sundress, poke belt buckled over it. “That’s not very wise.”

The surfers developed hearts for eyes. However, Lance unleashed her Dragonite. None of them were ever seen again.

Lance smiled.

Luna and Pika-chan sweatdropped as they watched.

< Does she just kill people she doesn’t like? > Pika-chan asked.

< Not usually. >

< Really? >

< I think she’s in a bad mood right now. >

< Oh. > Pika-chan gesticulated slightly. * Oh well, she’s a great cook! I can deal with bad moods! *

* Right… * Luna thought.

Loud noises came from somewhere else.

Lance rolled her eyes. “What is it now?” She asked. She pulled a Moon Card out of her pocket and activated it. “Maze, I choose you! Lock the intruders in a maze!”

The card nodded and flew off to do his mistress’s bidding.

“Wow.” Ash said. “Cool!”

Lance smiled. “Well, let’s find some way to keep ourselves occupied while you rest. Chess?”

“Nah, don’t like it. Makes me too nervous.” Ash said.

“Okay then.” Lance said. “Want to train a little bit?”

“Sure!”

“Just don’t overexert yourself!” Pika-chan yelled.

Luna pulled out a bowl of salsa and some tortilla chips and began eating. Pika-chan made some caramel popcorn and did the same.

“Better go change first.” Lance said. * Why did I even put on a dress in the first place? * She shrugged and headed upstairs.

Ash found that his dirty clothes were in the laundry, so he sighed and dug through the costumes, searching for something sensible. He came up with an apple-green long-sleeved top and pantaloons, silk, with a little white tassel at the collar of the shirt. They were fringed with a bit of yellow circular designs at the hems, but other than that, fine. Ash checked that the armor and healing spells were on securely, before he grinned. “Okay, ready!”

Lance came downstairs in a dark blue jacket and pants, embroidered with silver dragon scales. Her hair was secured back with a dark blue ribbon. “I’m ready as well.” She detached her key from its chain and chanted softly. “Key that hides the power of the darkness, show thy true form before me! Your master under the seal of contract Lance commandeth you, Release!”

The key changed into staff form. Ash nodded and pulled out his own 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!”

*FLASH*

The two guardians munched their snacks and waited.

Lance drew two cards out and activated them. “Firey! Windy!” The two combined into a raging firestorm that surrounded Ash. Ash quickly activated his Slowbro card, which spat out a Surf attack while shielding him with Amnesia. Lance shrugged and threw out Thunder, and Slowbro was out.

Ash narrowed his eyes. * I’d better use more than one card then. * He smiled. “Girafarig, Crunch! Tyranitar, use Earthquake! Mantine, Surf!”

Lance had Windy shield Firey from the water and ground attacks, while Firey sent Girafarig up in flames. Then, Windy blasted Tyranitar back into card form and sent Mantine flying.

“Pidgeot, Whirlwind!” Ash said, countering, while he sprouted Fearow’s wings instead and flew up, hopefully out of the way. “Muk, Sludge Bomb!”

Lance threw up Shield around herself and hit Muk with Psychic, but failed to notice Mantine hitting her with Supersonic from behind.

Ash sighed in relief, but then Lance pulled out the Counter card, and reflected the attack back at him. Ash quickly called out Mysdreavus, who negated it with Night Shade. He sighed in relief.

Pika-chan and Luna munched quietly.

“Snow.” Lance said softly, and Ash found himself buried inside of a snowman. He frantically used Pinsir to break out, and then promptly was blinded by a Flash from Lance’s Electabuzz.

He surrendered.

“Not bad, Thunder’s child.” Lance said. Ash sighed and gulped down a Full Restore. “Thanks…”

End Episode 167!

Extra Episode. *bows*

I’m so tired… *collapses*