Episode 173…

Timeline: 1 week later

Zapdos Articuno – however, I doubt May will be much of a challenge…

Link Masters – well, thank you!

SS2 Megami-sama – flamers are always annoying… *sigh*

Lamar and 008 – yes, you can save copies of my work as long as you don’t try to pass it off as yours. I allow readers to keep copies since if their network is like mine, its usually broken and its real annoying when you want to read a fic and can’t b/c network is down.

Ranma – unfortunately, this fic isn’t that big on Naruto jutsu, I’m not sure how many more show up. Oh well… ‘Creating my own Destiny’ should have more when it comes up.

Elizabeth – I c

Skitty 2004 – you’re right, they were just… there for filler purposes.

Episode 173: Challenge the Petalburg gym! I’m getting tired of Linoone…

The group had arrived at Oldale town, but found nothing of interest. Now, they were on their way to the next area. Petalburg City.

“Hey, you got a pokemon at the lab, right?” A voice asked.

Ash turned and saw a boy with shocking white hair. “Yep.”

“Want to battle?”

“Sure.” Ash said. * He must have grass… *

“Great! Treecko, go!”

< Guessed right, Ash. Now how are you going to win this one? > Pika-chan asked.

< Pika-chan! > Ash said. < Don’t you trust me?! >

< Well, not right now… >

Ash eyed pika-chan suspiciously. < Just because I didn’t let you have my chocolate-vanilla swirl cake last night because I was sharing with Crys… >

“Let’s go!” Ashline said. “I choose you, T-.” She was about to use the Torchic card she had created two days ago when Lance sighed and malleted her invisibly.

< BAKA! You can’t have a Torchic! >

< Oops. > Ash sent. “Never mind.”

She shrugged and pulled out another card. With a flick of her wrist, the ball opened and the pokemon materialized.

“Pidgey, go!”

Lance sweatdropped. * These are pretty uncommon in Houen… *

Brendan pulled out his pokédex. “What is this?”

“Pidgey. The tiny bird pokemon.” The pokédex beeped.

“Flying type… all right, Treecko, let’s try a Fury Cutter!”

Treecko cut one of Pidgey’s wings, but Pidgey just whacked it away with a Wing Attack.

“Okay, let’s try another Fury Cutter!”

< Ash, remember what Bugsy said? Fury Cutter gets stronger with successive hits? > Lance asked as she watched Pidgey go flying twice in a row.

< Oh, okay. >

“Pidgey, protect now!”

Pidgey shielded herself and Fury Cutter missed, lowering its damage.

“Good, now use Gust!”

Pidgey blew Treecko into a tree, where it stayed stilly.

“Treecko, Return.” Brendan said. “Wow, you’re so much better than May.”

“Really?” Ash asked, * Although it doesn’t mean much…. *

Brendan nodded. “Yeah. Well, I’ve got to go find more pokemon for my dad’s research project.”

“Oh, Professor Birch is your father?” Lance asked.

“Yep, and he wants me to complete this pokédex. See you guys later.” And with that, Brendan hopped on his bike and rode off.

Soon, they arrived in Petalburg City. They healed their pokemon at the Center.

“Well, there’s a gym here.” Ash said.

“Mm-hmm.” Lance said.

“Don’t tell me you have all of these badges too.”

“Most of them.” Lance said. “I’m missing the Feather badge.”

“Oh.”

“And Ash, this isn’t the first gym. This is the fourth.”

Ash’s eyes popped out as Pika-chan cheered and began digging for a costume.

A full twenty minutes later, Ashline emerged from the pokemon center. She was wearing a chocolate brown top and skirt, trimmed with white curlicues. Her blue hair was held back with a brown-and-white striped headband, with two white ribbons tying off her ponytails. She wore short boots that were also chocolate brown, with two white flaps on each, and she looked adorable.

“KAWAII!” Luna cheered.

Pika-chan nodded. “Its really you, master.”

“Whatever you say…” Ash said, thinking to herself that it could have been pink and frilly.

“Let’s go.”

As soon as they entered, they were swamped with seven Linoone trainers, each obsessed with using one type of temporary battle enhancer. Ash was just finishing off the trainer with Dire Hit when the door opened and the gym leader entered.

“Sorry I’m late – a challenger already?!” Norman said, surprised. “It can’t have been more than a month since Birch sent off his newest group.”

One trainer moaned. “She’s pretty strong, boss.”

“Oh?”

“My Linoone got crushed before it could land a hit.”

“Well, what’d she use?”

“Mudkip, Skarmory…”

Norman turned his attention to where Ashline had just used Gloom’s Petal Dance to finish off the last Linoone.

“I see.” He said dryly. “Well, let’s head inside to the stadium.”

Ash grinned. Lance sighed. < Just don’t be overconfident… >

< Yeah, save your energy. >

< Ok… >

“Let’s begin.” Norman said. “Slaking, go!”

Ash thought. * Must be a normal type… so I’ll use… *

“Mudkip go!”

“Slaking, Yawn!”

Slaking yawned.

Ash blinked as nothing happened. * Delayed healing move? Oh well. *

“Mudkip, lets give them a Mud Slap attack!”

Mudkip slapped mud into Slaking’s eyes, but it barely flinched. She waited for Slaking to make its next move, but it just loafed around.

Ash blinked. * Is he being overconfident? *

“Mudkip, lets try Whirlpool.”

Mudkip trapped Slaking, and then promptly fell asleep.

“Ah, so that’s what yawn does.”

“Slaking, Body Slam.”

Slaking slammed into Mudkip.

Ash quickly sprayed Mudkip with awakening waking her up.

And Slaking loafed around again.

“Mudkip, Earthquake!”

Slaking fainted. Mudkip grinned happily. She jumped up into Ash’s arms, giving her a hug.

Ashline smiled and petted Mudkip’s head.

“Interesting.” Norman said. “Vigoroth, go.”

“Mudkip, lets do something different this time.” Ash said. He began whispering to her. Mudkip nodded and jumped into the arena.

*FLASH*

Norman was temporarily blinded. As his eyes cleared, he saw how Mudkip had managed to direct a wave of water straight into the path of the spotlights to create a magnifying effect. And while he, as the trainer, could not call out commands to his pokemon, Mudkip had managed to blind it completely with Mud-Slap.

Vigoroth was completely at Mudkip’s mercy, as Water Guns hit it from all sides, and soon, it had collapsed under the barrage.

“Well, I haven’t had a good fight in a while. I’m not holding anything back this time. Linoone, go!”

“Not another one…” Ash sighed.

“Linoone, Surf!”

“Mudkip, Return!” Ash said. * Water to block my water attacks. All right. *

“Hariyama, go! Use Vital Throw!”

Linoone tumbled to Norman’s feet, beaten.

“Very well.” Norman said. “I give you the Balance Badge and TM Façade.”

“Thanks.” Ashline said. She then left the gym.

Pika-chan followed, still taping.

Ash pulled out her staff. ““Light of the sky, grant me your energy, recreate fallen spirits, noble and free, the sun and moon, magic and mystery, light and darkness now shadow, I summon thee!”

Slaking, Vigoroth, Linoone and Treecko appeared.

Ashline leaned against her staff, breathing heavily.

“Why did you change the spell?” Lance asked.

“It didn’t seem right. I should only use the older one for light-types.” Ashline explained.

“I see.” Lance hugged her. “Get some rest.”

“All right…”

End Episode 173!

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