From: Time Lady (sailrgal@my-deja.com) Subject: [PW!] Viridian at last Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2000-12-03 18:20:06 PST In article <20001129064404.08442.00001675@ng-mk1.aol.com>, jonf911@aol.comSailorV (Jon) wrote: > Sarah Jane nodded. "The Magikarp farm closed when the U opened its Aquarium." > > "Well, let's get moving," Damian said. "We're still a ways from Pallet." > > "Agreed." The group of travellers reached Pallet just as the sun was beginning to set. They were lucky to find a small hotel in the town with empty rooms. After a good night's sleep, the group started out early. Everyone was optimistic about their chances in Viridian. This was the last gym before they would be able to face the Elite Four. They were all anxious to begin. Thanks to their early start, they were the first to arrive at the Viridian Gym. Two guards dressed as Roman gladiators waited at the door. "Are all of you here to face the gym leader?" asked one of the guards. "You bet," replied Jon. "Ummmm, I'm not that sure yet," said Runt hesitatingly. "Only one of you may enter at a time," said the other guard. "That is the rules of this gym." The four trainers glanced around at each other. "So. . . Who gets to go first?" asked Jon. "Sarah Jane, why don't you go?" offered Damian. His shirt read "Ladies first." "Why not?" said Jon. "You go ahead. We'll park ourselves on the bench over there." "All right...." Sarah Jane clipped on Cuddles and Spunky's leashes, just in case the two Nidorans decided to get frisky. The two huge wooden doors closed slowly behind her. Lights came up. A spotlight shone on a man sitting in a chair. A large Persian lounged on a red velvet cushion. "You are here for gym battle, I suppose," he said. "Yes sir." "I am Giovanni, the gym leader." He looked at Sarah Jane critically. "Have we met before?" "The gym leader lecture series at the University of Rosetta. My grandfather is one of the deans." "Ah yes. Dr. Eckert. Does your grandfather know you've come to challenge me?" "Yes sir," replied Sarah Jane. Suddenly, Pteryx, who had been sleeping in her carrier, awoke with a squawk. She began struggling to get out of the carrier. "Oh dear.... sorry sir, but I thought she would sleep longer." "A baby Aerodactyl?" said Giovanni in surprise. He stood and walked down to the gym floor. Sarah Jane removed the cranky Pokemon from the carrier. "How old is it?" "She's only a few weeks old sir. I found her egg in Grandpa Canyon and took care of it until it hatched." "I see." He reached out to touch Pteryx, who snapped at him. "Pteryx, bad girl!" admonished Sarah Jane. "I'm sorry sir. Sometimes she wakes up cranky." Giovanni examined his finger, but he had managed to pull it away before the baby could bite him. Cuddles and Spunky growled behind Sarah Jane. "I think I woke all of them too early this morning. But we wanted to get here early." "I see. Well then, shall we begin?" Giovanni strolled casually back to his chair. His mind was at work. Aerodactyls were rare enough. Extinct except for a few resurrected before the recent destruction of Cinnabar. They were difficult to breed and difficult to raise. But to have one that was still a baby.... "It must be mine," he thought to himself." A half hour later, Jon, Runt, and Damian saw the doors to the gym swing open. Sarah Jane stepped out, looking worn and tired. Shields came behind her, with Cuddles and Spunky in tow. "Well?" asked the guys in unison. Sarah Jane smiled and held up her Earthbadge. "Congrats," said Jon. "Okay, who's going next?" Before the guys could decide, one of the guards approached them. "Giovanni asks if you would wait a half hour before the next challenge," said the guard. "His pokemon were injured in the battle and he wishes to oversee their care." "I guess that's only fair," said Damian. "Yeah. I need to take Asterik, Medusa, and Svengali to the Pokemon Center myself," said Sarah Jane. "What if someone else comes in that time we're waiting?" asked Jon. "Giovanni said to assure you that your party is the first," replied the guard. "I guess we'll wait," said Runt. Inside the gym, Giovanni went to his private office and locked the door. He opened a panel to a special communications device. "Attention all Rockets.... I have a job for you," he said. "That baby Aerodactyl will be mine," he thought to himself. <TBC, soon I hope>