From: Perfect Chaos <regulus@webzone.net> Subject: [PW!] A League of Their Own Date: Friday, February 18, 2000 3:51 PM "Damn this fog!" Spec stood on one of the Seafoam Islands. There had been thick fog near Cinnibar...and as a result, any transport to it had been cut off. The pokemon seemed to be spooked too, as his Lapras ride adamantly refused to go further than Seafoam. Scyther was off clawing at a rock face near the entrance to the island, making the only noise. Or at least, one better than the eerie sound of the faintly blowing wind. The fog had started to set in here as well. Spec slumped on a smaller chunk of rock and sighed. "At this rate, we're never gonna catch up to Kat." Scyther looked over, then back out towards the open sea. He felt something, but wasn't sure what. His blade sharpening had slowed down...the first time since they arrived. Spec turned his head. "Something wrong?" A flurry of roaring arose nearby, causing both members to quickly turn. A swarm of Gyarados were crashing through the waves. Or...they looked like Gyarados anyway. They were heading for the island at full force, showing absolutely no sign of slowing down. "Scyther...I think we better get ready to run..." "Scyyy...." The five or six huge pokemon leaped into the air as they ran out of water...and promptly started glowing. Their bodies shrank down, and when they landed, they had been replaced by Dittos. Spec blinked. "Ditto cluster?" "Scy?" Both blinked a few times. The six Ditto smiled, formed arms, and waved. Spec sighed in relief. No fighting today. ...then he looked up, and at the Dittos. "Hey...uh...you came from beyond the fog, right?" The blobs looked to each other, then up at the human and nodded. Spec gave a thumbs-up to Scyther. "We got a ride." He looked down again, "Would you guys give us a ride to Pallet?" Scyther blinked. "Scy?" "Well, I figure, if Kat's going somewhere, she'll probably use that entrance to the mainland, right?" "Scy.....scyther scy!" "What if she...alREADY went somewhere? Um....eh heh..." The ditto were glowing again, and in a moment had formed into a giant Fearow. Spec blinked, looking to Scyther, "Can they do that?" The bug pokemon shrugged...and they both leaped onto the back of the huge bird, which promptly took off into the sky. It was mid day when they left, and was closing in towards evening when the cluster set them down in Pallet (and scared quite a few citizens during the landing), and splitting back into six seperate, purple blobs. The Ditto swarm started back towards the watery exit of Pallet...save for one. Spec looked down at it and tilted his head. "What?" "Dit-to...." "Huh?" "Dit-toooo!" It giggled. Spec looked to Scyther, who was holding in a snicker. "Scy scyther scy scyth scyyyy!" "It LIKES me?" Spec facefaulted. The Ditto bounded up onto Spec's head, forming into a backwards black cap. The rest of the cluster giggled in unison and waved to their departing friend, who in turn waved back. This scared more people, as they had never seen a hat wave before. "Well, Scyther..." "Dit!" The cap squeaked. "And...Ditto....where do you think Kat is?" "Scy....scyther?" "The League? Why?" "Scy Scyther Scy ther scyther ther....scyyyyy...." "You saw a poster up?! Why didn't you say anything way back then, dammit?" "Scy." He shrugged. Spec sighed. "Fine....then it's off to the League we go." "Scyther?" "To compete? No...I don't think we stand a chance." "Scyyyy..." They took off walking. "This seems familiar." By nightfall, they had reached the entrance building. "Scuse me..." A rep said, "You can only get by if you have all eight badges." "I don't plan on competing...I'm looking for someone." "Be that as it may, sir, we need to see if you have all eight badges." Spec sighed, opening his trenchcoat. In random order, he had....seven. He blinked. 'Seven? Didn't I....aww hell....the boss....' "I'm sorry, sir. I can't let you pass." Spec turned and sighed. "Scyther?" "Scy." "Ditto?" The cap squeaked. "Now!" Spec turned and swung at the rep with a fast left hook. The unsuspecting rep went down in one blow...causing Spec to blink for what seemed like the 50th time today. He shrugged and the two (plus Ditto) took off running. "Hopefully, Kat's still around there somewhere!" "Scyyyy!" "Dit! Dit!" Somewhere behind them, a human followed. He wore a yellow t-shirt, blue jeans, black boots, and sunglasses. Unfortunately, it wasn't altogether a human. The Ditto cluster was following Spec. Spec entered Victory Road, caught off guard briefly by the darkness. "Damn!" Behind them, they heard footsteps. It was the human Ditto cluster. Spec turned, as did Scyther. "Who are you?" The human's clothes turned into purple blobs, and the main form itself did as well soon. Spec blinked as his cap changed back, sitting on his head and waving to his friends. "Ditto!" "Why're you following us?" The cluster shrugged, giggling. The ground started to shake lightly. "Uh-oh..." The Dittos all started looking around, trying to find the source. Out of the darkness, a huge Machamp stormed. Huge, considering it was about twice as big as one would expect. Spec looked to Scyther, who made a face. He then started to speak to the Dittos. After a brief discussion, they nodded and leaped onto Scyther. The one on Scyther's head glowed and shrunk down into a blue helmet. The back stuck up in a sharp point. Two on his arms formed over them, into blue armored blades. One over Scyther's chest formed the breastplate, one on his back covered his wings with a semi-thick layer of armor. The final Ditto, the one on Spec's head, just watched on, frowning as the armored Scyther dashed at the Machamp. The Machamp growled and kept taking swings at Scyther, who quickly avoided them, slashing up at the fighting pokemon's face a few times, bounding off it's arms. The Machamp clutched it's face, roaring out in pain. It stepped back, and slammed all four fists into the ground. The ground opened up underneath them. "Scyther, watch out!" Scyther growled from within his armor and nodded, leaping up into the air and holding out both claws. Spec, meanwhile, ran and leapt to higher ground to prevent getting swallowed by the earthquake. Scyther's wings flittered quickly, keeping him aloft under the Ditto-plating. He started to form a blue ball of energy between his claws. The Machamp roared again and took more swings at Scyther, who buzzed back and forth, too quick to hit. The energy formed into a bigger sphere, which then launched towards Machamp in a beam arc. The ground kept opening underfoot, and the Machamp got slammed with the Hyper Beam. It crashed into the ground, which shuddered under the weight, and promptly collapsed, sending the fighter falling into the large crevase. Scyther flew over to Spec, and the Ditto armor disbanded, all of them looking tired. "Thanks guys..." "Ditto!" "Dit!" "Dit-toooo!" They then all heard the calling of voices, along with flashlight beams hitting them. "There they are! That's the guy who punched me out!" Spec twitched. "Great..." The League reps had caught up, all looking pissed off. The Ditto on Spec's head called to his friends, who nodded and forms into five Nidokings. The cluster bounded down and towards the reps, giving Spec time to escape. "C'mon, you two! The League building's up ahead! Kat's gotta be around there SOMEwhere!" -- Reg