Episode 171! Wahey!

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo. Destiny belongs to me.

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

Ash = Ashline, really a boy but he’s in a girl’s body right now, so I’ll refer to Ash as ‘her’ sometimes

Episode 171: The mysterious battle palace

Ashline and Lance were walking down the road towards the first town when Ash spotted an enormous building. It was made out of shiny steel, with dark purple platforms and layers between the floors.

“Wow.” Pika-chan said. “I wonder what that is?”

Ash shrugged. “Who knows?”

Lance pointed. “There’s a sign, you guys.”

“Oops.” Ash said, looking sheepish. “Sorry, Crys.”

Her mudkip rubbed against her leg and purred. Ash happily scooped Mudkip up, smiling.

Ashline smiled. “Cool! A battle palace!”

“WAIT!” A voice yelled.

Ashline turned, blue hair billowing slightly behind her. She saw a girl in a long blue dress with a white lacy shawl.

“First, let’s battle!”

“Who are you?”

“My name’s Melissa. And you’ll have no chance in that Battle Tower. It’s for advanced trainers only, and you are obviously a beginner.”

Ashline looked insulted. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Lance smiled to herself and stepped back. “I’ll be the referee.”

“Go! Smoochum!” Melissa said.

Ashline smirked. “Oh? Ice/psychic type. Baby pokemon. As long as it doesn’t kiss you first, you’ll be fine.” She drew out a card/poke ball (with illusion). “Charmander, you’re up. Let’s make this a quick battle. Flamethrower.”

Smoochum attempted a Lovely Kiss attack, but was set on fire before she got within five yards of Charmander.

“Oh no!” Melissa gasped. “Grr, you just got lucky…”

Ashline raised her eyebrows.

“First round goes to Ashline.” Lance said.

“Poochyna, go!” Melissa said. “Use Crunch!”

“Charmander, let’s give it a Slash.”

Charmander slashed at Poochyna, scoring red lines on its side, but Poochyna’s slobbery mouth covered its tail flame, reducing its attack power.

“Charmander, Starfire now!”

“Star…fire?”

Charmander nodded and from each of its limbs came a streak of flame, resulting in a six-pointed flaming star, which then shot down Poochyna’s throat.

Poochyna fainted from the intense heat.

Ashline grinned.

“Second round goes to Ashline.” Lance continued.

“Grr… that’s it! I’m not making this easy anymore! Gligar, go! Use Earthquake!”

“Charmander, Return.” Ashline said. “All right then…Jumpluff, I choose you! Let’s give it a Poisonpowder!”

Jumpluff nodded and doused Gligar in poisonpowder, poisoning it.

“Gligar, Poison Sting!”

Jumpluff was poisoned as well.

“Don’t give up!” Ash said. “Petal Dance!”

No more Gligar…

Melissa angrily paid Ashline. “Well, if you’re so hot, then take on the Battle Tower! See if I care!” She stomped off.

“Just a sore loser.” Pika-chan said.

Luna nodded.

“Let’s go!” Ash cheered.

“Just a second.” Lance said. “You don’t look very tough in pink.”

“But aren’t I supposed to look cute and innocent so people underestimate me?”

“Well I guess so…”

“COSTUME!” Pika-chan proclaimed and dragged her behind a tree.

Ashline emerged a few minutes later. She was wearing a dark blue leotard with a transparent light blue skirt and sleeves over it. She also had fingerless light blue gloves and light blue boots that went up to her knees. Over all this went a dark blue cloak with a hood, fastened with a gold clasp.

“Um…” Lance wasn’t quite sure what to say. “It fits, kind of…I guess you’ll be using water pokemon. And you are cute as a girl.”

“Sure.” Ash said. “Mudkip could use some experience.” They entered the room and looked around.

The lady smiled. “Are you here to register for the battle tower?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Do you want the Lucky challenge, the Mirror challenge, the potluck challenge, or the Line challenge?”

“Um… which one’s which?”

“In the Lucky challenge, you fight seven trainers, each with two pokemon. If you defeat them all you receive a Chansey, $2000, 1000 coins, or twenty vitamins. In the Mirror challenge, you only fight one trainer, but he has three of the exact same pokemon as you do, or its evolutions. Winning this one nets $5000 or 2200 coins or thirty ultra balls. In the potluck challenge, you fight seven random trainers, each with one pokemon, as you travel through the Safari park out back, and winning this one nets $10000 and 500 coins. And the Line challenge is 4 trainers in a row, each with 6 pokemon, all one type though. Same prizes as the Mirror challenge.”

Ash looked astonished. “Wow! This will be good practice.”

“Careful, Ash.” Lance said, ruffling her hair. “It sounds difficult.”

< Do the Potluck challenge, you win the most that way. > Pika-chan said. < And it’s the most unexpected. >

< Ok… >

“I’ll take the Potluck.” Ash said. “How much does it cost?”

“Fifty dollars to try.” The lady said. Ash paid her, and then the group ventured to the back. The first area was desert.

Jessie was waiting. She gasped when she saw Lance. * Team Rocket is after her. Allright, I’ll beat her pokemon and then I’ll steal them! *

Ashline stepped up. “Hi!”

Jessie’s jaw dropped. * She’s not fighting?! *

She composed herself though. “Welcome. I am your first opponent. Let this battle begin.”

“All right.” Ash said, grinning.

“Charizard, go!”

“Mudkip, I choose you!” Mudkip dashed out, tiny next to its gigantic opponent.

“Um… Charizard, use Poison Sting!”

Charizard stared at Jessie.

Ash blinked. “Oh well. Free turn. Mudkip, give em a Surf attack!”

Mudkip nodded and drenched Charizard.

“Oh no! Charizard, Iron Tail!”

“That’s different.” Lance remarked.

“Mudkip, Dig underground to avoid it.” Ash said softly. She narrowed her eyes. * Something’s not right… *

“Charizard, Double Team!”

* Smart. * Ash thought. < But… > Mudkip’s eyes glowed blue as she screened out the false images and focused on the real Charizard. “Good! Now use Sheer Cold!”
The one-hit KO attack finished off Charizard.

Jessie growled. “You pass. Go on to the next trainer.”

James was waiting by the pond. He had the same reaction as Jessie. * I must defeat them and steal their pokemon! *

Ash rifled through a book while she waited for James to send out his pokemon.

“Poke ball, go!”

And out popped an Ampharos.

James cheered. “Ampharos, Thunderpunch!”

“Wait! I didn’t even pick my pokemon yet.” Ash protested. He smiled and released the Crystal Onix card.

James gaped.

“Onix, Earthquake now!”

“Oh no! Ampharos, try to dodge it!”

Startling, Ampharos managed to dodge and retaliated with Fire Punch, but not much damage was done.

“Finish it.” Ash said. “Rock Slide.”

No more Ampharos…

Groaning, James directed Ash to the next area, and the next trainer. Cassidy.

End Episode 171!