Yes, it is episode 196

Disclaimer/Note: Oh come on. Unless you’re a new reader you know it’s not mine. Pokemon, I mean.

I would have updated sooner if not for… college and my network being a real pain!

Episode 196: Watching the fire die

The Lavaridge gym turned out to be full of hot springs one had to jump into in order to get to the leader. Of course, trainers lurked at all the wrong exits.

“I challenge you!”

Ash sighed as a Slugma appeared. “Mudkip, give it a Water Gun.”

Mudkip trilled as she complied.

“Next.” Ash said, jumping into another spring.

Vaporeon and Mudkip were both feeling a bit winded from the sixteen trainers before Ash finally found Flannery.

She was meditating. Ash was briefly reminded of Rachel for a second. A brief glow surrounded him as he pulled on the unseen magic web around the earth to heal his pokemon. A second later, he smiled.

“Flannery, I challenge you for the Heat Badge.”

“As if!” The girl scoffed. “I accept!”

“Well, all right then.” Ash said. He twirled his fingers and muttered a ‘Release’ under his breath as a card appeared, flashing brightly and revealing a pokemon.

“Octillery, I choose you!”

Octillery’s bright red body bounced on his suckers as it waited for Flannery to attack.

“Slugma, overheat!”

“No good.” Ash said. “Use Surf before it attacks.”

Octillery nodded and KO’d Slugma, but still felt the attacks of Overheat as his special attack dropped two points.

Another Slugma fell, and a Magcargo also, before Flannery pulled out her trump card. It was a female Torkoal.

“Torkoal, attract!”

“Shoot…” Ash said. “Return!”

Octillery escaped into the card and Ash changed for another pokemon. After all, five repeated overheats were quite devastating.

“Vaporeon, Hydro Pump!”

Vaporeon preened as she devastated the rock/fire type, and then she returned to her poke ball. What a magnificent display of her power.

She was happy.

After all, she was the one of the guardian’s chosen pokemon.

She was one of the strongest pokemon.

“Last one…” Flannery said, tossing out another ball.

Ash inclined his head.

A ninetails emerged, but Ash simply narrowed his eyes and called out Wartortle. Sure, Confuse Ray was the first hit, but Wartortle has enough defenses to take the two quick attacks thrown at it, before the confusion was cured with a Bitter Berry. Then, a well-aimed Spin Tackle, to knock Ninetails off his feet, before finishing up with a Bubblebeam while it was in midair.

Perfect ten out of ten, Wartortle decided, as he posed triumphantly.

Flannery had to hand over Overheat and the Heat Badge, before Ash conceded to leaving.

Lance was waiting outside, grooming her Charmander on a bench.

“How did it go?”

“Well.” Ash replied with an impish grin.

“Ah. Very nice.”

“Lance?” Ash asked, sitting down next to her. “Are you mad at me?”

The Dragon Trainer looked bemused. “No, I’m not.”

“But Lance-chan, I hurt you.”
The Dragon Master crossed her legs and looked at Ash. “If I lost my control that easily, I couldn’t be a guardian.”

“…Oh…”

“You see, Ash, you’ll learn the tricks of being a realm guardian.” Lance explained. “It’s difficult. The power, the control needed to wield it, what a rash decision can do… you must weigh lives against each other. I won’t say it’s pleasant because it isn’t.”

Ash frowned. “But you’ll be here to teach me, right?”
Lance nodded. And so, the lessons began.

Five months later…

Ash held a pair of scales in his hand. They were made out of silver, with the kanji for water scrawled on the three plates.

On one, sat a poke ball. The other two were empty.

Ash’s eyes glowed bluely, before the scale with the poke ball rose.

He smiled.

Taking the poke ball off, he released the frantic Gloom.

I am innocent!

I know. Ash replied. The scales do not lie. Your trainer framed you, were you not?

How…

I can see the truth in your heart. Ash replied. For weeks you have suffered, keeping this secret. I release you from your trainer.

With a flash, Gloom was erased from his trainer’s memory and the pokemon system.

Thank you, Guardian. Gloom said, crying tears of happiness.

Ash shook his head. I was just doing the right thing. Run along now.

Gloom nodded and flew off.

Ash sighed slightly as a portion of energy flowed out of him. Every time he judged, it took magic.

Lifeforce from the system, actually, but he was linked to the dream realm and the pokemon realm and they fed him.

He would just be a shell without all that power.

Lance flew down next to him.

“You dealt with the mudslide near Route 7?”

“Yes. It wiped out a good portion of the Bellsprout’s habitat. So, I’m using Wood to restore it for the time being and sending them to one of the reserves for a month until it grows back on its own.”

“Good idea.”

“I had to relocate the Hoothoot and Rattata that lived there too. The metapods are fine though, still clinging on their trees. And the Butterfrees will be able to fly away safely.”

“Thank you.” Ash said gratefully as he poured warm milk with honey for them both.

“It’s a busy job, certainly.”

“I never knew it was this hard…” Ash sighed.

“Yes, it seems simple. But besides minding the threads of the reality so they stay together, there’s also the problem of dealing with individual crisis.”

“Sometimes, they all crash down at once.”

Lance nodded. “Yes, but on the bright side, there are often month-long stretches without any problems. It can be compared to a cycle, one of stress and one of relaxation.”

Ash nodded, the explanation made sense.

She took a few sips of milk and smiled. “We’ve got a break for two or three days right now.”

In her hands, the Orb of the Moon shimmered. It was a good source of moon energy, drawing it from the moon every night and being able to store a year’s worth inside. Lance often used it to replenish her and Sabrina’s energy, but since Sabrina now had a faint connection to stars, she could draw quite a large amount of energy from that source.

Very useful, that gift from Charlotte had turned out to be. Well, Foresight was that itself.

One didn’t scorn the gifts she was born with.

Lance smoothed down her black slacks, frowning as she felt dust on her palms. “Don’t tell me I need to get these dry cleaned again….”

“Hm?”

“Nothing, Ash. Just relax.” Lance sent.

Ash nodded as he helped himself to a pear out of the fruit basket. “Advice taken.”

“Think I should go after more badges?”

“Do you feel ready, thunder guardian?” Lance asked, her eyes taking on a purple tint, as Lugia was the one asking the question.

Ash chewed on his lip as he deliberated.

“It is still difficult, but not as hard as it was. I think I need some more time.”

“Take all the time you like, it is important that this realm’s guardian be safe.” Lugia said, before fading from Lance’s mind.

Sometimes, being a Chosen was annoying. You were responsible to the calls of your legendaries. But mostly it was worth it.

Ash smiled as Lance sat down again and waited.

End Chapter!

Completed 1/16/2004, created 1/12/04

I am very, _very_ busy; please remember that!