Part 172!

Disclaimer/Notes: See previous

 

Ranma – well, thanks! ^-^

Link Masters – hmm… well, they were temporarily hired as employees…

Twisted Canadian mind – ah, thank you

SS2 Megami-sama – I love mudkips too! ^-^ And you’re right

Aragorn the Ranger – well, I played as a girl so Brendan was the Professor’s son in Sapphire

Jarzard – you missed 12, ^-^

Digifan1 – k!

 

Episode 172: Night shroud

 

            “So, little girl, still want to battle? Sorry, but your challenge ends with me!” Cassidy said.

            Ash blinked. “All right then…”

            “Nosepass, go!”

            Blinking, Ashline pulled out her pokédex and pointed it at the pokemon.

            “Nosepass. The compass pokemon. Nosepass has been said to be completely unmoving, with its magnetic nose pointed due north.”

            “Ok then…” Ash said. “Mudkip, you’re up.”

            “Nosepass, use Zap Cannon!”

            “What?” Ash asked, shocked. “But it’s a rock type.” Mudkip barely managed to dodge.

            Cassidy chuckled nastily. “Scared now? Nosepass, Zap Cannon again!”

            “Mudkip, Earthquake!”
            Nosepass went flying, fainted.

 

            Mudkip smiled and suddenly glowed with the light of evolution.

            Ash smiled, knowing that it was magic-type. He poured in plenty of shadow and other energy. When the mist cleared, Mudkip had golden whiskers instead of orange ones, and a tiny star on her belly.

            Ash smirked and headed on, ignoring the fuming Cassidy.

 

            Lance followed him.

            Ash’s eyes glowed brightly. “Shimmering stars… grant me your energy… create newly a spirit… noble and free… with light and darkness… weave a tapestry… moonlight and sunlight… renewed in thee…Nosepass.”

            The card sparkled into existence. Ash smiled and it vanished into thin air.

 

            Lance handed him a Potion, which he drank for insurance, and they continued onwards.

            Pika-chan continued taping.

            < Where did you get that? > Luna asked.

            < Summoning spell. >

            < OH. >

 

            The next area was a lake. In the center on a tiny platform sat a girl with pink hair.

            “I am Penny! You will not defeat me.”

            “Let’s try.” Ash said, tossing her hair.

 

            “Go! Sharpedo!” Penny yelled.

            Ash looked carefully. < Water/dark type… all right. >

            “Mudkip, still want to battle?”

            Mudkip nodded and hopped forwards into the surf.

            “Ok then…”

 

            “Hah! That little thing? Sharpedo, Crunch now!”

            Sharpedo attempted to eat Mudkip.

            “Mudkip, use Kawarimi no Jutsu!”

            The girl blinked.

            Mudkip smiled and vanished into the water. A few minutes later, Sharpedo came up with a limp Mudkip in its mouth.

            “Ha! Hiding won’t work!”

            “Are you sure?” Ashline hid a smile.

            Sharpedo suddenly spat out a log.

 

            “Now.” Mudkip jumped out from where it had been hiding behind a few rocks. A Hydro Pump attack sent Sharpedo flying, followed up by Ice Ball.

            Ashline smiled charmingly. “So, who’s next?”

 

            Penny Williams took three minutes to collect her jaw from the floor. “How long have you had Mudkip?!”

            “Oh, about two weeks.” Ashline said.

            “TWO WEEKS?!”

            Team Rocket looked at each other. “Wow…”

 

            Lance telepathically poked her. < Baka! You want team rocket’s attention? >

            < Oops. >

            “Sorry, I meant two months. Sorry.” Ashline said, yawning. “I’m kind of tired and my brain is fried.”

            “I see. Well, the next challenge is in that forest ahead. Good luck. You’ll need it.”

            “Thanks.”

 

            They walked on, Pika-chan with starry eyes and eating gingerbread cookies. Luna primly did not comment on anything. Lance just looked amused.

 

            “I’m Clinton! And I challenge you!”

            Ashline nodded. “I accept, of course.”

            “Alakazam, go!”

            Mudkip hid behind Ash. She smiled. “Don’t worry, Mudkip, you already battled well. I choose you, Umbreon!”

           

            “RARE POKEMON” TR scribbled in the bushes.

           

            “What is that? Who gives,” Clinton said arrogantly. “Alakazam, blast it away with a Psychic attack!”

            Nothing happened…

            Umbreon yawned and used Faint Attack.

            Alakazam fell over, and got up, panting heavily.

 

            “What the? Alakazam, Recover now!”

            “Umbreon, Confuse Ray.”

            Umbreon stared the healed Alakazam in the eyes, confusing it.

            Alakazam had little birds ‘round the head’ and hit itself when Clinton called out the next order.

            “Now, Bite.”

            Alakazam keeled over in pain and fainted.

 

            Mudkip easily dispatched Joseph’s Golem.

 

            It was down to the last battle. Butch was sweating nervously.

 

            “Ready.” Ash smiled.

            “Here goes…” Butch said. “Hariyama, go!”

            Ash blinked. “Ok.” * what type is that?! *

            < Fighting. >

            < Thanks, Crystal. > Ash sent. “Okay then… Pidgey, I choose you!”

            Pidgey burst out of her ball, cheering, and Wing Attacked Hariyama before it could freak out.

            Hariyama retaliated with Mach Punch, but little damage was done.

            “Pidgey, now use Fly!”

            Pidgey flew away from Hariyama, and came back, crashing into it. The pokemon toppled over in a dead faint.

 

            “Now!” Jessie said. They burst out of the bushes.

            “Prepare for Trouble!”

            “And make it double!”

            “To protect – hey!”

            Tempest and Darkstar were wrapped around the two TR members, choking them.

            Lance brushed off her hands. “We don’t need you two clowns around.”

 

            “Grrr.” Butch said. “You’ll pay! Raticate, Drowzee, go!”

            “I remember you.” Lance continued. “Tempest, Darkstar, summon storm now!”

            Lightning and rain crashed down, knocking down all the TR agents. A few minutes later, the storm disappeared.

           

            Ash grinned at Lance and they went to the front desk.

            “She passed.” The receptionist said, ‘so here’s the prize”. Ash happily pocketed the money and items.

            Lance smiled.

 

            They left the battle palace in higher spirits.

           

            Ashline hugged the Sharpedo card to her chest. * This will be useful later, I think. Or at least I hope so. *

            “Going to create Hariyama too?”

            “Already did.” Ash said. “In the bathroom while I was changing out of that costume.”

            Pika-chan pouted.

            “Oh, stuff it.” Ash said.

            “Now on to the 1st gym.” Lance said.

            “Yep! Let’s go!”

 

End Episode 172

I shall always be updating something, it just might not be this particular fic. And if you can take shonen-ai, I suggest reading ‘Lagrimas y Silencia del Dragon’. The sequel to that shall be coming soon in case anyone is interested.