Last time, on "Pokemon: The Heart of the Cards"....

For several months now, Maya and Michael have been maintaining a loving relationship, and it has grown very close...but when the first anniversary arrives, Michael is unsure about what to do to commemorate the occasion--or even whether or not Maya will like what he chooses.

Thankfully, the Pokepals come to the rescue by giving the two lovers a romantic dinner and a song, both of which neither will forget.

Now, the Pokepals return to the arena, where they are about to meet their strangest opponent yet.

Who is this opponent? Will the Pokepals be able to defeat her? Find out!

The Heart of the Cards, part 33: The Sound of Silence

Ash stretched his arms as he led the way into the grand hall. "Goodness...I never dreamed that all these people would be here!"

"Things are beginning to heat up in the tournament, so more people are turning out to watch the duels." Maya explained. "Besides, don't you guys have 3 crests remaining?"

"Oh, we do!" Misty giggled. "I knew that!" Her giggling was cut short when she noticed a young girl clad in a beautiful red, black, and purple robe silently observing a duel in progress in a nearby arena. Every so often, she would applaud a good move or smile at passersby, but for the most part, her cold, silent eyes remained fixed on the unfolding duel, silently observing the two opponents.

"Who's she?" Ash wondered, noticing Misty's interest in the mysterious girl. "I've never seen her around here before."

"Well..." Maya thought for a moment about how to explain the mysterious figure, then continued. "No one really knows her name or where she came from...people say that her parents were killed in a terrible accident a long time ago; and because of that and her tremendous psychic power, she remains silent. For a while, she wandered from town to town, seeking out a place for her own...but a few weeks ago, she settled down here."

"Has she ever spoken to anyone?" Now Brock's interest was piqued. "Is there any way to get her to speak?"

"As far as I know...she will only speak if she feels you are capable of great things." Maya replied. "But, her psychic powers enable her to speak through thought."

"Cool!" Misty was impressed.

Just then, Ash noticed the girl walking in their direction. "I think she wants to 'talk' to us!"

You have guessed correctly, Ash Ketchum. came a reply that echoed in Ash's head.

"Huh?" Ash was confused. "Did you guys just say something?"

"Nope..." was Misty's reply.

"I didn't say anything..." Brock agreed.

The girl brushed a wisp of hair from her face, annoyed. I have come to challenge one of you three...and apparently Hat-boy here doesn't look very strong... she laughed, summoning a clear crystal orb from the air. Go...show me which one of this trio is worthy enough for me to challenge. With that, the crystal flew up above Ash's head, only displaying a red 'X' inside.

"I guess I'm not dueling..." Ash sighed as he settled on the bench next to Maya.

Misty glanced up to see the crystal hovering above her, also with a big red 'X' inside. "I guess I'm not the lucky opponent either." she sighed as she sat down next to Ash.

"Then, then..." Brock was clearly getting excited. "Am I the one?" At this, he glanced up at the crystal hovering above him, which was flashing different colors and a green 'O' inside.

You have chosen wisely... the girl smiled.

"Oh, if only I knew your name..." Brock mused. "We'd be a peach of a pair!" Just then, Misty and Ash heard a POOF!!! from the floor.

"What hap--" Ash started, but soon burst out laughing when he noticed Brock was now clad in a peach costume, complete with a stem and leaves hanging from his head. "Feeling peachy now, Brock?" he taunted.

"You stay out of this..." Brock grumbled as he stumbled about in the bulky costume.

"Actually, he'd look cuter as a pear..." Misty laughed. At this, another POOF!!! came from the floor--leaving Brock as a pear.

"No...he needs something more appealing..." Ash suggested.

POOF!!! Brock was now transformed into a banana.

"Better idea, he's more of the apple of our eyes!" Misty suggested.

POOF!!! Now Brock was an apple....

"Nah...he's more like a raisin for love!" Maya suggested.

POOF!!! Brock was now a raisin...

"Can you guys just pick a fruit and stay with it? Or turn me back to normal?" Brock protested.

All right, that's enough.... the girl interrupted, returning Brock to normal. We have business to take care of... With that, she teleported everyone away towards an empty arena...

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Ash watched as the deck information and stats appeared on the screen RUBY MYSTERY??? SAPPHIRE ROCK STORM RUBY 3 3 4 53 220 SAPPHIRE 4 2 4 53 170 "Wow...That was fast!"

"Her Psychic power arranged all the cards on both sides." Maya explained as the coin went up...and landed on heads.

"Sapphire plays first!" called the ref. "And begin!"

I shall open with my personal favorite...Beldum! With that, a Beldum floated into the arena.

"Go for it, Vulpix!" Brock commanded as a Vulpix romped into the arena.

"Sapphire's turn!"

"Vulpix, Hypnotic Gaze!" Brock commanded. The Vulpix's eyes began swirling in a strange green pattern, making the Beldum's eye flutter, then close, as it slumped to the arena floor.

"Ruby's turn!"

Awaken, Beldum... With that, an Awakening card fell onto the Ruby platform, jolting the Beldum awake. Metal Ball, now! The Beldum formed a small metal ball, then threw it at the Vulpix. Brock's HP went down by 10

"Sapphire's turn!"

"Vulpix, Fire Ring with Pluspower!" Brock called as he attached a Pluspower to his Vulpix, smiling confidently as the Beldum was encircled in fire, defeating it and dropping his opponent's HP by 50. A second ring formed on the Ruby bench, damaging a card by 20.

"Ruby's turn!"

Well, aren't you clever? the girl giggled. For my next card, I choose...Gastly At this, a Gastly flew into the arena and stealthily eyed the tiny Vulpix. Use your Hypnosis and turn my opponent's strategy against him!i The Gastly obedently stared menancingly at the Vulpix, making it slump to the floor, asleep...

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"Wow...I never knew this girl had such great cards!" Misty smiled.

"Beldum is considered to be one of the strongest non-Legendary Pokemon availiable..." Maya began as she pulled up the card's profile. "In fact, many duelists want to have its final form, Metagross..."

"Maybe Brock might get a Metagross if he wins!" Ash cried as he watched Brock place a Ninetales lv. 64 in the arena, making a Ninetales appear in the Vulpix's place.

"Brock may do just that with his Ninetales..." Maya laughed. "It's Fire Blast attack can do 100 damage!" She was about to say more when she saw the Ninetales breathe a blast of fire that formed into the Mew character 'hi', defeating the Gastly! An ember singed an extra card, dropping the HP by 10.

"Way to go, Brock!" Misty cheered....

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"Ruby's turn!"

Go, Skarmory! Show him your true power! The Skarmory fired a barrage of metal feathers at the Ninetales, dropping Brock's HP by 50 to 150.

"Sapphire's turn!"

"Ninetales, Fire Blast!" The 'hi' of fire proved to be too much for the Skarmory to handle, so it fell, defeated. The recoil also exhausted the benched Pokemon, defeating it too!

"Game Set!" called the ref to the cheering crowd. "Sapphire wins!"

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"Well done!" Maya smiled as Brock flashed the Marsh Crest to the crowd. "Now only two Crests remain!"

The girl just smiled at the group. "Well done, all of you...you have shown me you have the skills and the strength necessary to claim the Legendary Cards...I leave you with Her blessings and the hope in knowing you are true champions!" With that, she disappeared into the crowd...

Ash grinned. "I guess you were worthy enough to let her speak..."

"Whatever her blessing was...I hope her prophecy comes true." Brock laughed. "and I'll certainly never forget her...even if she tried to turn me into a fruit!" Everyone laughed at this as they departed the arena.

With two Crests remaining, can the Pokepals survive? Find out!