From: Marco262 (marco262@yahoo.computer) Subject: [PW!] The Second Phase Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2000-09-23 22:55:05 PST He couldn't see anything. But it didn't matter. Simeon floated through the empty space around him. The world had become suddenly a black nothingness, with soundtrack to match. He turned his head back and forth. After reassuring himself that there was nothing to see or hear, he shut off his senses and focused on his mind. He could sense the minds of his three pokémon behind him, although only faintly. Unconscious probably. No, sleeping. And fitful sleep as well. ~Hello Simeon, how nice of you to join me.~ Simeon snapped his head around. He had been unconsciously looking over his shoulder to get a better sense of his pokémons? whereabouts. He recognized the voice, and struggled to bring his ?sight? back up. A gray dot appeared in his vision, which widened to become a gray-scale blob. The mass quickly congregated into a form, two arms, two legs, and a long pendulous tail. Mewtwo stared back at him, and smiled. ~You see me now don't you?~ Simeon's eyes widened, and he spluttered, completely dumbfounded. ~As talkative as ever,~ Mewtwo gave a quick, dry laugh. His face immediately hardened. ~I never was one for long, gossipy dialogues, and I?m sure you have some questions that I would just love to answer.~ Simeon looked around him again. Now a faint light permeated the blackness and, if he was able to turn around, he could see Machoke, Haunter, and Vulpix behind him. They were all groggy and confused. This was probably because they weren?t used to waking up in limbo. Simeon could feel a chill, like a dull breeze blowing from all directions. Simeon blinked his eyes. Feel? He blinked again. He raised a hand up to his face, and discovered he needed a shave. ?My sight, and touch. They?re back,? he said in awe. Mewtwo laughed derisively. ~Well, you have been a good boy. And I brought you here to discuss your future.~ ?My future?? Simeon was perplexed. In the back of his mind, he wondered why he couldn?t come up with a better response. ~Yes, your future.~ Mewtwo intoned, ~Don?t think I haven?t been watching you Simeon. It?s impossible for a man with your abilities to go around with attracting my attention. Of course, I think you realized that the first time we met.~ Simeon said nothing. Mewtwo watched him for a few seconds. ~Oh come on. Ask me some questions. I?ve been looking forward to bragging to someone about my accomplishment. Being an omnipotent villain doesn?t really raise your popularity level.? He laughed hoarsely at his joke. Simeon gave his head a quick shake. It felt so weird to actually feel yourself shake your head. And he felt slightly dizzy after he did. ?Alright,? he replied, still slightly perplexed, ?Why did you remove my spinal cord and leave me a helpless cripple?? Mewtwo stopped laughing. ~I?d have thought you?d have figured it out by now. But I guess spending 99% of your brain power just making sure you see the next day kind of lowers your GPA doesn?t it?~ Simeon lowered his eyelids and glared at him. Whatever respect he had had for Mewtwo was quickly diminishing. ?You were saying?? ~Ambition, Simeon. There is nothing that those in power fear more than underlings with ambition. Expect for those underlings that have power.~ On the word power, Mewtwo brought a fist up and, for a brief moment, the nothingness got a bit brighter. He continued. ~Quite frankly, you make me nervous Simeon. You have the talent to challenge my power. If you had taken your psychic training seriously, you would have withstood my attack the first time we became ?acquainted?~ Simeon grimaced. ?So you decided that you should eliminate me before I become a threat. You lured me in here with that Maiden?s Peak trick.? And a very cheap one at that, he thought, I should?ve realized that when I felt her touch my hand. ~And now you think I?m going to kill you?~ Mewtwo shook his head. A surprisingly human gesture. ~Simeon, Simeon. I said I?ve been watching you, and I have been. All your life. You move me Simeon. That?s the only way I can describe it. You move me. I couldn?t bring myself to kill you.~ ?And yet you found it in your heart to cripple me?? Simeon barked. Mewtwo narrowed his eyes. ~Again with the crippling. Simeon, did you really think I thought you?d be helpless? Psychics are remarkably adaptable, as you yourself have proven. Give them an obstacle, they increase their power until they overcome it. So, I decided now is the time for phase two.? ?Phase two?? Simeon was beginning to get worried now. ~That?s right Simeon. Now, let me ask you something. How do you get stop something that always gets more powerful, no matter what you do to slow them down?~ Mewtwo leaned forward so that their faces were almost touching. Simeon could smell Mewtwo?s breath. ~You take away their keys. Make so they never want to get in your way again. Get rid of their ambition. And I figure the best way to do that: Make your enemy your ally. Have their morals do a complete U-turn.~ Simeon?s breath was coming in short gasp. He tried to run, but he was still floating on nothing. Mewtwo backed up and wandered around behind Simeon. He passed by Machoke and Haunter, the former struggling to get in a god punch, and the latter just trying to function at all in the weightless, airless environment. Mewtwo cupped Vulpix?s chin in his unwieldy, three-fingered hand and brought her tear-stained face up to look at his. ~The baby,~ he said, ~Such a big risk to my plans. You show Simeon the joys of life, the fact that simple love can be the greatest thing in life. And yet, you will now help me more than any amount of brute force ever could.~ He looked up at Simeon, who was unable to turn around and look at his captor. Mewtwo turned his head to the side, and Simeon spun around roughly so he could look him in the eye. Mewtwo raised his hands in front of his face, and a ball of energy began to form between them, getting more and more intense by the second. All the while Mewtwo was talking. ~Some people complain that things aren?t just black and white. I beg to differ. There are opposites of everything, and that?s all things are. Hot and cold, loud and soft, light and dark. Never in-between. These may intermix, and confuse as to where each other are, but they are always separate. And at least one side is always dominant. Ever notice how you can never be at just the right temperature? It?s always too hot or too cold?~ Mewtwo clasped his hands on the mass of energy he had created and brought his hands down. ~I hope you paid attention that was your science lesson for the day.~ He brought his hands up again and there, contrasted against his cream and purple skin, Simeon saw a jet-black stone. Inside it, bright blue energy congregated into the symbol of a flame. Mewtwo smiled and touched the stone to Vulpix?s head. Simeon screamed once and blacked out. TBC...