@Scytherwolf; @Soups;

Episode 87: Fight For the Light

The sun shone down on the sparkling waters of the Olivine City Harbor, illuminating the excited boy and his Pikachu making a beeline for the futuristic steel building that stood on a hill overlooking the harbor. "This is it, Tintri--all we have to do is just breeze though this battle, and we have our fifth badge."

[I don't know...] Tintri cautioned when he saw a sign near the path leading to the Gym. [The sign says the Gym Leader is "the steel-clad defense girl"...]

"Well, Steel types don't like fire, and I have Cyndy, so this should be easy as pie." Ash assured Tintri before going inside the massive building. "Hello, anyone accepting challenges right now?" he asked as he and Tintri walked through the elegant rock garden that served as the foyer, which in turn opened into a large and specious arena ringed by glittering rocks, complete with the gold and silver colored Poke Ball in the center of the room.

[Did we just walk in a gem mine?] Tintri asked as Ash approached the Silver side of the arena.

A door opening got his attention. [Someone's here!] he called as a girl with light brown hair and wearing a mint green shirt and white skirt arrived in the room.

"Oh, are you here for a Gym challenge?" the girl asked. "My name's Jasmine."

"Are you the Gym Leader?" Ash asked. "If you are, I have journeyed from afar to challenge you!"

A weak smile formed on Jasmine's face. "As much as I want to accept your challenge, I have some other things to do right now, okay?"

"Okay..." Ash slumped to the floor, dejected.

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"So, now what?" Misty mused as the group reunited back in a park some moments later.

"Did Jasmine say what it was she needed to do?" Brock was equally curious about what had happened in the Gym.

"If you're worried about Jasmine, travelers, she's worried about the Ampharos that creates the light for the lighthouse." a man explained as he walked by. "She's always had a big heart, but I'm sure she could use the help."

Inspired, Ash got up from the bench. "Let's go give Jasmine a hand--maybe it will inspire her to battle again!"

"Good call." Brock agreed before the group made their way to the majestic lighthouse overlooking the harbor...

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When the group arrived at the top of the lighthouse some time later, they saw Jasmine and an older man with similar features to her tending to a large yellow sheep-like Pokemon with a long tail, who let out a weak bleat as Jasmine comforted it. "It's okay, Amphy...I'm here."

She looked up to find the group watching. "Oh, you were worried about me?" she smiled. "I could always use a hand. Having Grandpa here to help take care of Amphy helps a little."

"I didn't get a chance to introduce myself before...I'm Ash, and these are my companions Misty and Brock." Ash replied, making a grand gesture to Misty and Brock as they waved hello.

"This must be Amphy..." Misty mused as she studied the large sheep Pokemon.

"Ampharos, the light Pokemon. The bright light on its tail can be seen far away. It has been treasured since ancient times as a beacon. Ash's Pokedex explained as Jasmine covered the large Pokemon with a blanket.

"Amphy is the source of light for the lighthouse because her tail creates quite a glow." Jasmine's grandfather explained. "The Olivine Lighthouse used to be the main lighthouse, but another lighthouse took over some years back."

"Is there any medicine we can give this Ampharos?" Brock asked as the Ampharos gave another weak bleat, prompting Luce to emerge in the room with a pop.

"We ordered some medicine from someone in Cianwood City, but neither Grandpa or nor me has any time to get it." Jasmine explained. "We can't leave Amphy alone, as there is the very real risk she could die."

"We'll go get the medicine, if you'd like." Ash offered. "This way, you can do your best to help Amphy."

[I'm going to help too!] Luce declared before glowing white.

"I don't believe it, Luce evolved to help Amphy?" Misty gasped as Luce transformed into an Ampharos.

"Not just that, but look again at the Pokedex entry." Brock pointed out a "MORE..." icon on Ash's Pokedex screen.

Piqued, Ash tapped the screen. Ampharos is capable of Mega Evolution if its owner has awakened their Heart Song. the Pokedex explained as it displayed a picture of an Ampharos with a white mane and a bushy white tail studded in topazes.

He smiled as Luce attempted to send some sparks in an attempt to help Amphy, but his solitude and pride as a trainer was interrupted by a whistle and a low rumble that made the lighthouse shake. "What was that?" Misty wondered.

Jasmine looked out one of the lighthouse windows and gasped. "A pair of crooks and their Meowth, up there!" she called, pointing out a black blimp with the familiar red R denoting Team Rocket.

Misty growled as she watched James summon Weezing. "I know Team Rocket had sunk to some new lows, but I didn't expect them to stoop THIS low..." she muttered as outside, Weezing used Smokescreen, making Amphy scream in panic.

"I've got Amphy, you guys need to go!" Brock called as he carefully picked up the squawking Ampharos in his arms. "Sh, it's okay...I'm here to help you." he assured Amphy as Luce followed him out the main entrance.

"Meet by the harbor!" Jasmine called as she and the others raced out a back entrance.

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[Almost there!] Luce reported as the lighthouse's main entrance came into view.

Neither Brock or Luce expected a cage to spring up from the floor. While Luce managed to leap to safety, Brock and Amphy ended up trapped inside. [Oh no!]

"Hah! Hut!" Brock tried what few kung fu moves he knew that worked in a confined space, to no avail. "Luce, can I trust you to find Ash and get help?" he asked as an arm hooked to the cage and started carrying it outside.

[What are you going to do?] Luce asked, sparking a little in concern.

"The only thing I know to do that will alert Ash and Misty that I need their help." Brock replied as he did his best to console the frightened Amphy.

With that, he started to sing a familiar melody as Luce ran to find Ash. Gatrandis favel, secret, edena...
Emusto ronzen fine el balaziis...

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...Katoradis favel siicletu edena... Brock's voice rang over the city, snapping Ash, Misty, and Jasmine to attention.
Emusto koron zen fine, si....

"Brock! That was Brock singing!" Ash gasped as he embraced Luce, relieved his new Ampharos was all right.

"What happened, Luce?" Misty asked.

[We were on our way back to the main entrance of the main lighthouse, when Brock tripped a Rocket trap, trapping him and Amphy.] Luce explained. [He told me to find you, and then sang the Swanna Song to alert you guys he needed you.]

"We heard him loud and clear." Misty assured Luce as she spotted Team Rocket with the cage near the harbor. "Now to show Team Rocket the fury of a tsunami...."

A pop of a Poke Ball got her attention. "I'm coming too--those hoodlums will pay for trying to hurt Amphy!" Jasmine offered as she climbed aboard her own Onix. "Hagane, let's go!"

"Arbok, use Poison Sting!" Jessie commanded, her Arbok flinging the familiar poison needles at the approaching rock snake.

"I don't believe it...Hagane protected Jasmine!" Misty was impressed--Jasmine's Onix didn't even bat an eye at Arbok's attack.

"So you have a huge rock snake...but it can't go in the water!" James taunted as he and Jessie recalled their Pokemon and zip lined out to a waiting boat on the water.

As Hagane approached the end of the pier, Jasmine noticed a tsunami barrier in a work zone and got an idea. "Hagane, can you use that tsunami barrier as a brace?"

[Sure!] Ash and Misty watched in awe as Hagane anchored onto the barrier and latched onto Arbok, stretching him out farther and farther.

"Thanks, Hagane!" Jasmine grabbed a chipped off piece of rock and climbed up to the cage sitting on an overlook. After whacking the lock a few times, it opened with a pop!

"Thanks, Jasmine." Brock wheezed, still tired from using the Swanna Song.

"Anytime--consider it thanks for helping me back there." Jasmine smiled as she motioned for Brock to bring Amphy down to the edge of the pier, where Ash, Misty, and Hagane were waiting.

Once Brock and Jasmine reunited with Ash and Misty, Jasmine told Ash "Feel free to use any electrical attack you want, since Hagane won't be affected."

"I have just the one..." With that, Ash held his Mega Ring to the sky. Jao wiisha nes chiel com yutuul...

Misty, Brock, and Jasmine watched in awe as Luce was engulfed in red thunderbolts and red light, emerging with the white mane and topaz studded bushy tail seconds later. [This is it...the power of Mega Evolution!] Luce cried in delight. [This is what I've waited to use for so long!]

"Well, send Team Rocket a supercharged Thunderbolt with the power of Mega Evolution!" Ash called.

Time for a little payback... Brock smiled as he watched Luce shock Team Rocket with an almost white Thunderbolt, followed by Hagane throwing them out into the sky with a ping...

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"I'm amazed you were able to use the power of your Heart Song to Mega Evolve your own Ampharos." Jasmine smiled as they arrived at another pier later that evening. "That, and how your companion can actually sing the Swanna Song--for a long time, I thought that was just one of Grandpa's stories. But now I know those powers are real!"

"Remember that only a rare few can use the Swanna Song for real, Jasmine." Jasmine's grandfather cautioned. "But Mega Evolution is the ultimate sign of love between trainer and Pokemon, should the trainer choose to use that power."

"Can I ask you all a favor?" Jasmine asked the group. "Would it be okay if I went with you to get the medicine from Cianwood City?"

"Besides, there's a Gym in Cianwood too." Jasmine's grandfather smiled.

"Sure!" Ash replied as he scrambled aboard the boat, eager to set sail and see what Cianwood Gym was like...

To Be Continued...