@Scytherwolf;

Episode 27: Good Quill Ambassadors

"Well, once again, we're lost..." Ash sighed as he led Misty and Brock through yet another forest.

"And this is how many forests we've gotten lost in on our way to Azalea Town?" Misty asked, a note of frustration in her voice.

"There has to be a misprint on the map somewhere..." Brock mused as he turned the map upside down, and then sideways. If there IS a misprint, either I'm not looking hard enough, or it's in a very obscure place."

"Silly! All we need to do is keep going through the forest until we reach the road again." Ash grinned, pleased with himself.

"Understatement of the year." Misty deadpanned as the group emerged from the forest onto a path lined with high cliffs.

Just then, a boy with purple hair approached them. "Excuse me, but have you guys seen any Cyndaquil around?"

"Cyndaquil?" Ash gasped, excited about welcoming a new fire Pokemon to the team. "Where? Where?"

"Ash, wait!" Misty started to protest as Ash dashed off towards some bushes. Here we go again...

She was snapped back to reality when she heard the purple haired boy call "Whatever you do, leave any Cyndaquil you find alone--some red haired punk caught one, and I shudder to know how he's treating it!"

"Now wait a minute!" Misty protested. "You can't tell Ash to leave them alone and horde all the Cyndaquils for yourself!"

"Yeah--if Ash finds one, he has every right to catch it." Brock agreed, unaware Ash had disappeared into the brush with Tintri.

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Meanwhile, Kamon watched Brock and Misty argue with the purple haired boy from a bush on top of a rock. There they are--I've got Wonderboy and pals right where I want them! he grinned before moving out to the edge of the rock in preparation to jump down and ambush the group.

After a few tense moments, he leaped from the rock, making Brock, Misty, and the boy gasp when he landed before them with the grace and agility of a Meowth.

"Weird...where's Wonderboy and Wonder-chu?" Kamon asked as he brushed the dust from his clothing.

Just then, a flash of red and white in the brush got Kamon's attention. "Never mind, I found him!"

He heaved a Poke Ball skyward. "Helena, go give Wonderboy the scare of his life!"

A ghostly spirit Pokemon emerged from the Poke Ball, and flew off after Ash. Misty just swallowed hard as the spirit Pokemon flew off through the forest underbrush. Ash...please be careful...

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In the forest, Ash yelped in surprise as Helena appeared before him and Tintri. [I've gotcha, Ash!] Tintri called as he leaped towards the Gastly and fired a massive Thunderbolt.

He shuddered when he saw his attack had not fazed the ghostly Pokemon. [Oh no...] he started as Helena started charging a large ball of ominous purple energy. [Shadow Ball!]

"Jump!" Ash called to Tintri, prompting them both to make a running leap into a ditch, making the Shadow Ball miss completely. Once sure the ghostly attack had disappeared, Ash motioned for Tintri to follow him out of the ditch and up towards a network of caves in the rocks.

They wound their way through mossy rocks, a patch of wild mushrooms, gnarled tree roots, over a stream, and through a cave made out of a hollow tree, but it wasn't long before Ash managed to catch his breath. "Whew...we're safe here." he assured Tintri.

[I'll say...you run pretty fast for a human.] Tintri wheezed.

Ash smiled. "Came in the top five fastest times running a mile in gym class when I was little...but I don't think that Gastly will find us in here..."

[Forgetting something, Wonderboy?] Helena asked as she warped inside the hollow. [Solid walls are no match for me!]

"Run for it!" Ash called as he and Tintri scrambled out of the hollow to avoid another Shadow Ball, tripping over a tree root on the way.

After dashing through the forest some more, Ash and Tintri emerged from the underbrush to find a series of small caves along a wall of rock. [Where are we?] Tintri asked. [Did we lose the Gastly?]

"I think so..." Ash nervously replied before a familiar tiny porcupine-like Pokemon popped out of one of the caves. Piqued, he fished out his Pokedex to read up on the tiny Pokemon:

"Cyndaquil, the fire mouse Pokemon. The fire that spouts from its back burns hottest when it is angry. The flaring flames intimidate foes."

A voice calling "Mica, use Sand Attack!" snapped him back to reality. "Gah!" he cried as sand flew into his face, sending him tumbling back to the ground.

The Cyndaquil, however ran back into the cave it came from, with the purple haired boy in hot pursuit. [Follow that boy!] Tintri called as Ash rubbed the sand from his eyes and eased himself to his feet.

"Hold it, Wonderboy!" Kamon called as he arrived with Helena, just as Ash was checking himself over for injuries.

"Sorry, I haven't got time for you guys!" Ash replied before dashing off after the boy and the Cyndaquil.

"Hey, I wasn't done talking to you!" Kamon yelled, but Ash and Tintri were already gone.

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Ash balked when he saw several small holes inside the second cave. "Okay...where could the Cyndaquil have gotten to..." he mused as he checked each hole, only to find pebbles, twigs, and leaves in each one.

A flash of red got his attention, but before he could run after it, a sharp claw sent him falling backwards.

[Shadow Ball incoming!] Tintri called as Ash hurried to get up.

Ash gasped when he saw the purple energy ball, and dove into an alcove, making it fizzle out on the stone floor. As he caught his breath, he saw that the purple haired boy had the Cyndaquil up against a wall, trying to battle it. I can't hide in the shadows while an innocent Pokemon gets hurt... he thought as he watched the Sandslash use Poison Sting from the safety of the alcove. I've gotta do something!

After summoning all the courage he had, Ash leaped from the alcove and grabbed the frightened Cyndaquil seconds before the Poison Sting landed, making sure to roll to avoid another Shadow Ball on the way.

The Shadow Ball's energy was enough to send Ash and Tintri flying out of the cave. "I knew I'd corner you here sooner or later..." Kamon sneered as he and his Gastly approached Ash. "You've got a lot of questions to answer for me...."

Just then, Ash realized he still had the Cyndaquil in his arms! After checking its gender, he set it down on the ground. "I wish we could visit some more, but you need to run before things get bad."

[No--you saved me, and now it's my turn to save you!] the Cyndaquil replied.

With that, she heaved a huge stream of fire at Kamon's Gastly. "No!" Ash cried, heaving a Poke Ball into the stream of fire, in a desperate attempt to save the little Pokemon.

"Ash!" Brock called as he and Misty arrived on the path near the cave, where Ash was struggling to get up. "You okay?"

"Yeah..." Ash replied as Misty looked him over for injuries. "But...I caught this Cyndaquil..."

Just then, the purple haired boy came out of the cave. "Hey! I wanted that Cyndaquil--I demand a duel to see who gets Cyndaquil!"

"Well, Ash already caught Cyndaquil fair and square." Brock replied. "There's plenty of other Cyndaquils here..."

"I accept the challenge." Ash replied as Misty finished bandaging the scrapes and scratches he had sustained on the wild chase. "I'll even use my new Cyndaquil--her name is Cyndy!"

"Cyndy?" Misty winced at the seemingly cheesy name Ash had chosen. "Really?"

"She belongs to Ash, and he can name her whatever he wants." Brock reminded Misty as he retrieved his whistle and hurried to referee the impending battle.

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The sound of a referee's whistle echoed through the caves, signaling that the match between the Sandslash Mica and Cyndy was underway. From the right side of the Poke Ball, Ash watched in awe as Cyndy dodged all of Mica's attacks. "Wow! Not only is Cyndy strong offensively, but defensively too!"

He gasped as he watched Mica heave a flurry of shining stars at Cyndy. "Cyndy! Counter with Flamethrower!"

[Waaaaa!] Cyndy cried as the shining stars knocked her back into a tree. She quickly darted away as Mica charged at her in an attempt to Tackle her, but ended up getting stuck in the tree's trunk. Cyndy looked up at Ash with a smile, then blew out a small Ember, burning Mica, and making him faint.

"Gold is unable to battle--Silver wins!" Brock announced, making Ash and Cyndy cheer.

Ash saw his opponent grab a bug net. "If you won't willingly give the Cyndaquil to me, I'll just take her from you!"

Brock just blew his whistle again. "Silver won, fair and square--now, shake hands."

Cyndy flared her quills at the boy. [I WANT to be with Ash, you jerk!] she screeched as she let out an impressive Flamethrower, sending the boy and his Sandslash tearing down the path with burning feet.

"Talk about the old hot foot..." Misty grinned.

Ash gently hugged Cyndy. "Welcome aboard, Cyndy! Our road to glory burns white hot!"

To Be Continued...