From: otaku (animeotaku@mindspring.com) Subject: [PW!][Repost, revised] Warrior's Jouney Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2000/04/09 *Ok, this is changed because many, many people pointed out the arm thing. Viridian forest. A calm, peaceful and all around serene place. Except of course for the occasional Pokemon battle. "Caterpie, I choose you!" The young trainer sent a Pokeball out into the open field, releasing the small green bug. "Go, Faust." Savage pulled a small gun from out of its holster, and fired it onto the ground. A Pokeball landed on the ground, expanded, and released the Meowth from inside. "Caterpie, use your tackle!" The plucky bug rushed forward with all its might, and leapt into the air. Faust stood perfectly still, awaiting his masters? command. Savage grinned as the Caterpie prepared to land a blow to Faust's head. "Now." Faust unsheathed his claws and sliced the bug in mid-air, causing it to fall to the ground, withering like the worm it was. Green blood oozed from it's wound, and it was obvious that the bug was helpless. With a frustrated groan, the trainer recalled his fallen Pokemon. "You need more practice boy. Now go hide under your mother's skirt until you can truly call yourself a Pokemon trainer." Savage turned and started to walk away, but the young trainer decided to defend his honor, and rushed at him. "You big, stupid-" THUD. Within a matter of seconds, Savage had whirled around, and the boy was on the ground. Savage held him there with his foot pressing against the tender flesh of the child's neck. "You are pathetic. Did you really think an oaf like you could get within three feet of me unless I allowed it? I've warned you once boy. Go home, or you won't live to hit puberty." As an added effect, Savage pulled the boys right arm until he heard an audible snap. The child screamed in agony, but managed to scamper away as Savage lifted his foot. Savage recalled Faust into his Pokeball, and reloaded it into his gun. As he walked through the forest, Savage admired the calm violence of it. The newly hatched Beedrills devouring Caterpie, the Fearow eating fresh Pidgey eggs...it was a touching moment. Savage sighed as the communicator beeped. Pulling it out of his suit pocket he frowned at the shadowy figure. Even though he had seen Giovanni in person before, the leader of Team Rocket chose to keep his face hidden. "How many Pokemon have you captured today?" "None." "This is most distressing news Savage. If you wish to rise in this business, you must succeed as a thief." Giovanni's Persian hissed from under the table, and the crimson suited gym leader held up a picture of a young girl, no older than nine, with a smile as wide as that of her grinning Chansey. "This is your first mission. Your target is Sally Burton?s Chansey. My informants tell me her Chansey is quite powerful, and would make a nice addition to my collection. Capture it for me, and I will consider promoting you. The girl and her Chansey reside in Vermilion City." "Understood." "Oh, and Savage. You have 24 hours to bring the Chansey to me, or consider yourself...terminated as an employee of Team Rocket. The leaders face disappeared, and a digital clock appeared, reading 24:00. Savage nodded, and chuckled darkly. "I welcome the challenge sir. Savage out." He clicked the communicator shut, and began walking towards Pewter City. "24 hours eh? This will be interesting." Pulling his sharp shooter out, he fired both Pokeballs out. Faust and Mobius looked up at their master quizzically, not seeing any enemies. "Stay in this forest and train yourselves. When you believe you have trained enough, meet me in the Pewter City Pokemon center." Both Pokemon nodded, and ran into the thicket of the forest. Savage turned and walked out of the forest, and into the small town of Pewter. While he was there, he figured he should walk around town and attempt to find some rare catches. "Might as well start at the center." Heading through its large double doors, Savage raised one eyebrow as a smell engulfed his nostrils. A large man wearing a black T-shirt and shades approached Savage. "Do you smell what the Brock is cooking?" Savage grimaced. "Smells like burnt pancakes." "It doesn't matter what it smells like!" The man suddenly shouted, and stormed out of the center. Savage shrugged and took a seat next to a sleeping man and his Jigglypuff. Time passed. Savage nodded off into a deep slumber, and began to dream. * * * * * "Who are you?" Savage screamed his throat raw as if he had screamed the question a thousand times before. "I am number one." The person replied simply. Out on a grassy field, thunder and lightning surrounded the two people. The man took a step forward, and Savage took a step back. "I am the number one fear in your life, the number one thing that drives you on. I am your fear incarnate. Now Savage, face your fear!" Savage screamed, and felt a force pulling him forward. A bright light engulfed him, and the opposing man's face shone through. "Noooo! You're not real!" * * * * * "Sir, please wake up." Savage groaned and looked up, where the frowning face of Nurse Joy looked down at him. "You have been screaming for several minutes and are disturbing the patients." Savage nodded, and sat up, ignoring the frowns from the other people in the center. He sighed and checked his watch. 4:00 P.M. It had been three hours since he had dozed off. Calling the nurse over again, he asked if a Meowth and a Charmander had wandered in. She shook her head, asking if they were lost. "No...forget I asked." She clucked her tongue and went into the back room. As if on cue, both Faust and Mobius wandered into the Pokemon center, more than worse for the wear. "How did it go?" He questioned. Faust was sporting twin scars across his face, one on each cheek, and at least three of his claws were snapped off. Mobius's flame was burning low, and blood streaked down her left arm. Taking out his modified Pokedex, Savage flipped it open and pointed it at Faust. "Harley, identify level and current health." "Right away Mr. S." The feminine voice chimed. "Pokemon name; Meowth. Current level; 7. Current health; 40%" Savage nodded appreciably and then pointed the Pokedex at Mobius. "Pokemon name; Charmander. Current level; 7. Current health; 30%. New attack learned, ember." Snapping Harley shut, he smiled. "Excellent. You've both increased your power greatly." Removing two ultra potions from his suit, he sprayed them both and recalled them into their Pokeballs. Reloading his sharp shooter with the two Pokeballs, and walked out the door without a word. Walking through the town of Pewter, Savage received many strange looks. Not many people in the town dressed in suits, especially in the muggy spring weather. However, Savage didn't seem to notice, or sweat for that matter. As he continued his trip, Savage had made it to Mt. Moon by 6:00. Opening the communicator again, he checked the clock. 19:00 hours. Plenty of time for him to make it Vermilion and back again. As Savage entered Mt. Moon, he wondered if the fabled Coke bottle existed. It was supposedly around the Mt. Moon area, but Savage had no time to look. Entering the mountain range, he didn't even blink as a flurry of Zubats rushed past his head. Within an hour, he had made it through the mountain. As he exit it, three singsong voices spoke from behind. "Clefairy, Clefairy, Clefairy!" Turning around, Savage sighed. "I HATE Clefairy." The three Clefairy bounced up and down happily, still singing and laughing. Savage sighed, and pulled his Glock out. "I warned you." He fired three shots, each directly into the hearts of the Clefairy. Savage turned and began whistling "The day the music died". Savage sighed, and checked his watch. 18:00 hours left. Time enough for a few hours sleep. He checked into one of the hotels, and grabbed a hotel key off the rack, paying with cash. Opening the room, he sighed and flopped down on the bed, ordered a wake up call for 6 A.M., and fell asleep. * * * * * "What's your name?" "Savage. I'm here because I heard the leader of Team Rocket was the gym leader here." "You were mistaken boy. Your last mistake as a matter of fact." The man pulled a gun from out of his crimson suit and fired. * * * * * "NO!" Savage screamed, and shot up out of the bed. Sweat soaked the sheets. Glancing at the clock, he slipped into his clothes and headed out of the hotel. It was 4 A.M., and still dark out. But it didn't matter. Savage had only 11:00 hours to go, and a long way to go. Releasing Mobius as a light source, he was careful not to walk through the grass. By 6 A.M., Savage had made it into Vermilion. Stealthy walking up to the target house, Savage silently managed to pick the lock of the door and enter the house without a sound. The girl was sleeping, snoring softly, with her Chansey right next to her. Removing an empty Pokeball from his pocket, he tapped the Chansey, and it was sucked in. The young girl stirred, yawning. "Santa-Jynx?" She asked, wide eyed. "No child, not Santa-Jynx." Savage spoke in a hushed whisper, removing the Glock from its holster. "Now close your eyes, this may hurt." Without a word, he fired one shot into her head, and fled into the night, leaving the young girl in a pool of her own blood. Savage audibly yawned as he entered the Pidgeot express building. "One way flight to Viridian please." The clerk gave him a ticket as he boarded the red eye flight. It was 6:30 in the morning, and the sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon. It had been a long day's work. "Ah, Savage. Back already, and with nine hours to spare. How did it go?" Savage reached into his pocket, and tossed the Pokeball on the table. "Mission successful." "Excellent. Keep this up, and one day you may become my right hand man, if I so will it." Savage bowed, and returned to his apartment a few blocks away from the Viridian gym. It had been a long first mission. He looked forward to many more. TBC