Subject: [PW!] Bug Pokemon Bug Robert Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 18:11:40 GMT From: Rob <robfrompw@yahoo.com> Organization: AT&T Worldnet Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Robert looks down at the Map of Johto displayed on the screen of the Pokegear on his wrist, "This map is deceptive - it makes Route 36 look tiny, not mentioning any of the little towns between Ecruteak and Goldenrod City that I slept at in the past couple of days. I need to be in Goldenrod City soon - I promised my girlfriend I'd be back in Lavender Town for Christmas, and the fastest way to get back to Kanto is by riding the Magnet Train from Goldenrod to Saffron!" The gray-haired old man operating the boat Robert's riding on says, "Once we cross this river, the best way to find Goldenrod is to keep heading west until you hit the National Park. It's a huge park and very hard to miss. After that, head down Route 35 and you'll be in Goldenrod in no time!" After saying this, the man docks his boat at the southern bank of the river. "Thanks for the ride, sir!" Robert hops off the boat and heads westward, as he was directed to. After a couple of minutes of walking in silence, he's feeling very lonely. He hasn't been apart from his girlfriend Rilli for so long ever in his life. Hoping to cure his loneliness, he pushes some buttons on his Pokegear until it starts ringing. After four rings, Rilli's image appears on the screen, and he smiles at her, "Good afternoon, Rilli! I'm really bored - can we chat?" "I'm kinda busy right now." Rilli replies, "Someone just came in and challenged me for an Oasis Badge. Don't worry, we'll chat later." That said, the image on his Pokegear disappears, and seconds later, when it is replaced with the Pokegear's Clock function, Robert's still staring at the screen. Robert sighs and he continues his trip towards the National Park, still feeling very lonely. The only numbers he has stored on his Pokegear are his mother's and Rilli's, and he doesn't feel like chatting with his mom right now. Wanting some kind of companionship as he travels, Robert plucks a Pokeball off his belt and pushes the button on it. A white beam of light shoots out and forms into his Farfetch'd. Robert asks, "You'll keep me company on the way to the National Park, right Farfetch'd?" "Fetch'd." The Farfetch'd nods and walks at Robert's side as they head towards the western horizon. After a few minutes of silence, Robert asks, "Soo... how are you?" Farfetch'd shrugs, "Far fetch'd." Robert doesn't understand his Farfetch'd's language, but he plays along due to his boredom anyhow, "Oh, is that so?" "Farf." When Farfetch'd says this, his leek almost falls out of its place in his beak, but he snaps it up in time. Robert sighs yet again, realizing that in the past few months he's been paying so much attention to his Raichu's pregnancy and his Gengar's family that he's neglected his other Pokemon, especially those he hasn't used often during battles in the Diversity Gym. Ever since he got to Johto, he hasn't really chatted with his Farfetch'd, he's only used him in battles, and he feels bad about this now. Trying to reach out to his Pokemon, he asks, "Are you enjoying yourself in Johto?" Farfetch'd knows that his Trainer doesn't understand what he says, so he simply nods, then points forward with one wing. "What is it, boy? Are you trying to tell me something?" Robert asks, still looking down at his Farfetch'd, "Did Horsea break out of her Pokeball and fall down a well?" When his Farfetch'd's only response is pointing forward with both wings, Robert looks up to see a man dressed like a Venomoth standing below a huge blue arch with a mostly-green Pokeball painted on it. Robert blinks at the sight of the costumed man and tells him, "Halloween's been over for over a month now." "I know that!" The chubby man wearing the costume explains, "I'm dressed like a Venomoth to advertise the Bug Pokemon Catching Contest. It's held in the National Park, right through this arch, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The winner receives a Sun Stone and gets to keep whatever Bug Pokemon they catch. You look a little too old to participate though." Robert shudders, imagining a park full of Bug Pokemon, "Oh believe me, I don't mind. I LOATHE disgusting creepy crawly Bug Pokemon! Is there any way to get to Goldenrod City without going through the National Park?" The Venomoth-disguised man points southward, at a narrow path full of tangled up vines and small trees, "Well, there used to be a path that went straight to Route 35 over there, but as you can see, it hasn't been used in quite a while since most people enjoy strolling through the National Park to go from Route 35 to Route 36. You can head through the National Park, if you wish - the Bug Pokemon Catching Contest won't begin for about an hour." "No way! I might bump into a Caterpie or something even more frightening on my way through." Robert slumps downward and sighs a third time, "I guess we're going to have to head back to Olivine City to take the S.S. Aqua to Kanto, Farfetch'd." He glances over to his side, but Farfetch'd isn't standing there. "Farfetch'd?" Robert looks around the area until he spots Farfetch'd - the Wild Duck Pokemon is using his leek to Cut down all the foliage blocking the path to Route 35! Robert races over to his Pokemon, "Way to go, Farfetch'd! You DO care about me. From now on I'll show you how much I care about you too!" Farfetch'd finishes Cutting the last small tree, places his leek back in his beak, and salutes to Robert, "Fetch'd far far!" Robert happily walks down the path his Farfetch'd has cleared for him. Once he's standing among the tall grasses of Route 35, near where a Bug Catcher's standing, he sees the peaks of the Goldenrod City Radio Tower, the Galleria, and the Department Store. While he has no idea what these buildings are, he does know that they belong to Goldenrod City, so he exclaims, "All thanks to you, Farfetch'd, we're not going to bump into a single hideous Bug Pokemon on the way to Goldenrod City! YEAH!" "Mama!" At first, Robert thinks that the young Bug Catcher standing behind him was the one who said this. But when he feels a sudden breeze coming from his left side, he turns to face what, in his opinion, is the most horrifying creature he's ever seen. The four-foot-long red-green-and-blue Dragonfly Pokemon is flapping his long translucent wings rapidly in Robert's direction, which is what's causing the breeze. The Yanma blinks his bug-eyes at Robert, smiles, and licks the human on his face, "Yanma mama!" "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..." Robert's scream continues for about thirty seconds, then he turns around to run away from the terrifying Flying Bug Pokemon, only to bump into an even larger Yanma, who seems less playful than the last. The next scream that Robert issues is even more bloodcurdling and high-pitched than the last, and while he's still screaming, he spins southward, only to see two Yanma blocking his path - a sight that only intensifies the pitch of the continuous scream coming from Robert. He turns around to run away, but three more large Yanma are blocking his only remaining escape route! The screaming continues. The Bug Catcher, very calm but somewhat annoyed by Robert's now-girlish screams, flips open his Pokegear and calls someone on the list, "Hi, this is Arnie. There's a YANMA swarm in progress on ROUTE 35. Just thought I'd let you know." He then pushes some buttons on the Pokegear to call the next person on his Pokegear's phonebook. "Farf." Realizing that the Bug Catcher isn't going to help, Farfetch'd does a brief Swords Dance, then Pecks at the Yanma surrounding Robert, hoping to scatter them, "Fetch'd! Fetch'd!" Some weaker Yanma faint when they're attacked, but stronger ones just use Double Team to avoid being Pecked again, making it appear to Robert that the number of Yanma surrounding him is increasing instead of decreasing. Farfetch'd sweatdrops as he Pecks at fake Yanma, unable to discern which ones are real. Robert sees what his Farfetch'd is doing, so he picks the Wild Duck Pokemon up and holds him in front of his face, "Keep on Pecking, Farfetch'd!" Using his Pokemon as both a shield and a weapon, Robert breaks out of the Yanma swarm. Once he's out, he doesn't pause to celebrate, but instead runs straight down Route 35, a flock of angered Yanma pursuing him. He sweatdrops all over his face and screams, not daring to look back at the Flying Bug Pokemon he can hear flapping their wings behind him. "FARFETCH'D!" Farfetch'd's eyes go wide when he sees a picket fence up ahead as Robert rounds a corner. He panics and starts to flap his wings frantically, even though he doesn't know how to Fly. Robert also sees the picket fence, but he's afraid that if he stops running, the Yanma chasing after him will attack, so he holds his Farfetch'd up high and hops up into the air when he's a few feet from the picket fence, hoping to clear it. While Robert alone would never be able to hop over a picket fence, his Farfetch'd's frantic flapping gives him enough lift to just barely clear the fence! He lands on the other side, sees a police outpost nearby, runs into it, and slams the doors shut. The guard and the lady standing in the outpost both blink at the heavily panting young man who's just entered the building. "Heh, heh... Hi..." Robert waves at the two people staring at him, then smiles at his Farfetch'd and pants as he says, "Thanks for... helping me out... back there... We make... a great team!" He hugs his Pokemon as he heads out of the outpost's other double doors, onto the Main Street of Goldenrod City. He admires all the tall buildings in the metropolis. He notices that not too many people are roaming around the city, but as far as he's concerned, this is good since he's never liked large crowds. Deciding that he should explore the city before heading back home, Robert casually strolls down Main Street, taking in all the sights. -Robert