174…

2 x 87

87 is not a prime number, it’s 3 x 29

Despite the Fact that shadow is suffering from the AP grind (Ah! So few weeks left until the test. *Anger sparks*), she will try her best to update. K? ^-^ So keep the encouragement coming.

Link Masters – yes, Ash needs to adjust… and since there’s no captor, let’s see what I have up my sleeve shall I?

Ranma – thankies! *Beams* But not all my fics are this good

Jarzard – well, I think Kawarimi was possible… because it’s just a substitute.

SS2 Megami-sama – you’re right! I like Brendan and May is kind of annoying…

Ihire AKA Lady Phoenix – wow! Glad to see you’re still reading and enjoying my fics. *Smiles* and glad to see a fellow championshipper and misty-basher!
Zapdos Articuno – um, I think Team Aqua will show up, maybe Magma will too later.

Episode 174: Not so nice

The group was walking out of Petalburg City two days later. There was a meadow, but behind that lay a dark forest.

Ashline was quite unhappy.

“Come on, it’s not that bad.”

“Yes it is. You’re not wearing it.” Ashline said. She was dressed in a lavender colored short overcoat trimmed with white fur over a light blue leotard. Her feet were in tiny pixie blue boots.

Lance shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly and inspected a miniscule speck of dust on her jacket. “Whatever. Let’s keep walking.’

‘Hai, hai.”

Soon, a wild Zigzagoon poked its head out of the bushes. Ashline remembered that she already had the card, so she walked on.

Ahead there was a small patch of boggy ground.

“Oh no.”

“What?”

“Your pretty costume will get all dirty if we walk through that.” Pika-chan lamented.

“Not if I use this.” Ashline said. She knew that if this costume got dirty, Pika-chan would undoubtedly force her into another sparkly, glittery one.

“Dragonite, I choose you!” Ash said. “Cloak us in safeguard.”

The mud was no longer a problem, for it could not penetrate the veil, which covered the group.

“Wai! That was smart!” Pika-chan told Ash.

“Thanks, Pika-chan.” * Even though I did it for my sake… *

Lance hid a smile.

“Excuse me.” A voice said. “But are you Ashline?”

“Who are you?” Ash asked.

A dark-haired girl in a clinging orange outfit strode out. “I am Lynx. And I challenge you to a battle!”

“So be it.” Ash said. “What will it be?”

“Three on three.”

“Very well. I accept.”

“Good. Because there’s no way I’m going to lose to some novice, even if they did make it through one of the battle park challenges.”

Ash gritted her teeth.

“Lynx chooses Zigzagoon! Go!”

“Pidgey, I choose you!”

“Zigzagoon, use Mud Sport!”

Ash blinked. * Did she know about desert storm? Oh well. *

“Pidgey, use Wing Attack!”

Pidgey’s strong wings easily tossed the Zigzagoon aside, but it valiantly attempted a Quick Attack.

Pidgey shrugged aimlessly as it used Gust. Zigzagoon fainted. Her gold markings sparkled as she did some victory acrobatics.

Ash allowed a small smirk past her lips.

“Grr! Linoone, go!”

Ashline yawned. “Sky Attack, Pidgey.”

Pidgey nodded and charged up as Linoone attempted an Odor Sleuth attack. Admittedly, it worked, but Linoone had no time to celebrate before a moving object with a trajectory of 60 Mph careened into it.

Linoone surrendered unconditionally to the ephemeral darkness.

Lynx practically glowed with animosity.

“Well?” Ashline asked.

“You asked for it! I normally don’t use this one on beginners, but… Aggron, go!”

Ashline quickly used her pokédex. “Aggron. The iron armor pokemon. No other data.”

“Steel type then.” Ash said. “Okay then. Torchic, go!”

The Torchic card appeared and cheered.

“Aggron, use Earthquake!”

“Yikes!” Ash said. “Torchic, use Protect quickly!”

Torchic quickly protected herself, and then used Flamethrower.

Aggron crumpled like a heap.

Ash grinned. “So.”

“GRR!” Lynx said. As she ran towards her, Lance noticed that her form was shifting, becoming more feline. “Oh no you don’t.”

Lance pulled out her key.

“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!”

“Maze!”

The maze card appeared and Lynx found herself in a black-walled maze. She furiously tore at the walls with her newly created claws, but to no avail.

“What is she?” Ash asked in a tremulous voice.

“Well, it was rumored that Professor Beech was engaging in illegal gene-splicing experiments.” Lance said. “She’s a pokegirl.”

“A what?”

“Part pokemon, part human.”

Ash nearly fainted.

“Not like you and me and Charlotte.” Lance said. “It’s not natural. So all pokegirls will eventually become dark.”

Ash shuddered. “What do we do with her?”

“Split them.”

“What?”

“Split the human from the pokemon.”

“How?”

“You know…” Lance said.

Ash convulsed as something in her mind fitted into place. After a few seconds, she recovered.

He transformed into Hope. In his hands lay a thin rapier made of clear crystal. Slowly, he drifted down into the maze, sea-green eyes with a fixed purpose of intent. He landed in front of Lynx.

She immediately attacked with Fury Swipes.

Hope phased through her and then dealt her a blow from one of his long fins. Lynx swooned, and then fell asleep.

Nodding to himself, Hope drew the rapier down the length of her body. Her form buckled, than broke into a Persian and a naked girl.

Hope covered the girl with a green blanket. The maze vanished.

Lance smiled. Hope barely had time to smile back before the transformation reversed and Ashline lay unconscious on the ground.

Pika-chan quickly hurried over with Hyper Potion.

“Will he be okay?”

Lance nodded. “Ash will be fine. But I’m not sure if he can keep up Henge no Jutsu while he’s unconscious.”

“Should we take a break from the journey right now then?”

“We can wait before we go see Mr. Briney and Peeko.”

“Okay.”

Ash was awakened a while later by Lance holding a bowl of chicken noodle soup in front of his face.

“Glad to see you’re awake, thunder’s child.”

“Ne, why are you calling me that, Crystal?”

“Feel like it.” Lance said.

“Um… how’s Lynx?”

“I had to reverse time on her.”

“And?”

Lance pointed to a four-year old and a Meowth sleeping peacefully. “Don’t worry, I’ll drop her off at the orphanage.”

“All right…”

“Maybe you should go into Healing Trance.”

“Yes, that’s a good idea.” Luna added, flicking her tails. “You don’t want to drain Sabrina.”

“I know.” Ash said. “Is she okay?”

“As long as you don’t change too many cards, yes.”

“Ok then.”

True to his word, Ash only changed Aggron. And the next day, they headed off again.

End Episode!

Now, more championshipping stories should be arriving on fanfiction.net soon.

And… in case you had any ideas you wanted to see but didn’t want to write yourself, feel free to give me suggestions. ^-^