Subject: [PW!] The Ghost Post Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2001 19:04:53 GMT From: Rob <robfrompw@yahoo.com> Organization: EarthLink Inc. -- http://www.EarthLink.net Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Robert, dressed in his usual black shirt and blue jeans, stands before a long staircase leading up a stone platform to a wooden building with a blue roof. He smiles and says, "So this is the Ecruteak City Gym. Wait, this IS the Gym, right?" "I don't know, Robert." His girlfriend's voice comes from the purple Pokegear on his left wrist, "I can't see the building, and even if I could, I wouldn't be able to tell you if it was the Gym just by looking at it. Look for a sign or something." "Great idea, Rilli! I love you!" Robert kisses the screen on his Pokegear, then gazes across the base of the stone platform until he spots a small wooden sign. He reads it out loud, "Ecruteak City Pokemon Gym. Leader: Morty, the Mystic Seer of the Future." He looks into his Pokegear and comments, "Whoa, the Gym Leader's probably some old blind guy dressed in black robes who has a raspy foreboding voice. I wonder how many strange and exotic old Pokemon he has..." Rilli's voice emits from Robert's Pokegear, "If he sends any out, please enter them into the Pokepedia this time." "Of course!" Robert exclaims, then reaches into his laptop case with his right hand. He pulls out the Pokepedia, a rectangular device that looks somwhat like a Pokedex, and asks Rilli, with all sincerity, "When have I not?" Robert's girlfriend's small hand looks even smaller as she holds it up on the Pokegear's tiny screen. She raises one finger every time she mentions a Pokemon as she says, "There's that evolved Onix Jasmine sent out who you said was slow, there's the one pink bulldog Pokemon you ran into on the way to Ecruteak but couldn't catch, there's that country girl's sheep-like Pokemon and the non-Snorlax tiny bear Pokemon you said was..." "Alright, I get the point!" Robert starts to walk up the stairs to the Ecruteak City Gym, "I'll be sure to enter info on the mystical Johto Pokemon the future-seeing robed elder uses in his battle against me into the Pokepedia. Bye, Rilli!" The small image of Mithril-rama smiles and waves at Robert, "Good luck, Robert! Remember to call me after the match!" After Rilli says this, the call is disconnected. After half a minute, the Pokegear automatically shifts to Clock mode and Robert arrives at the top of the stone platform the Gym is built on, panting a little since it was quite a long walk. Robert catches his breath, then walks into the Ecruteak City Gym. He sees a tall blond young man wearing blue and yellow clothing, including a blue headband. The man, who looks like a college fratboy, partly due to his lowered eyelids that make him look like he's recently consumed illicit narcotics, is teaching a group of kids who own Gastly. Robert approaches the blonde man, and he tries to speak to him like a fellow college student despite the fact that Robert hasn't gone to college yet, "Hey there, uhh, dude. My name's Robert. What, uhm... be up? Can you give me any, uhm, 411 on this... crib's Gym Leader?" "I am Morty, the Ecruteak City Gym Leader." The young man nods at Robert, "Are you here to challenge me for a Fog Badge?" Robert snickers, "You think you're the Gym Leader? Heh, did you just recently smoke some Acid-covered Oddish leaves, dude?" The blond man raises an eyebrow at Robert, "I am the Gym Leader. Just ask my students." Robert looks over to the students in the Gym, who all line up like soldiers and nod in unison. He sweatdrops and gulps, then slowly faces Morty again, "...but I thought... the sign said... you're a mystic seer... and I figured you... and I..." Morty places one hand on Robert's shoulder, "Calm down. Many people think that Ghost Pokemon Trainers and seers are all very old, so they are surprised to see that I am not. Now, Robert, are you here to challenge me to an official Gym match?" Robert nods, a little relieved, but still embarrassed about what he said to Morty earlier. "I accept." Morty removes his hand from Robert's shoulder and reaches for a Pokeball, "We will have a three-on-three..." Robert interrupts, another sweatdrop appearing on his face, "Uh, actually, I only have two Pokemon on me right now." Morty raises both eyebrows this time, expressing his shock, "I almost always challenge Pokemon Trainers to three on three matches and they have always had at least three Pokemon to use. You should really catch some more Pokemon, Robert." "Those are my sentiments exactly! But the Pokemon I've been trying to catch for the past week haven't been very cooperative." Robert explains, "After losing to Jasmine, she told me I could catch Steel Magnemite on the way to Ecruteak. On the way here, I tried to, but they teamed up against my Pokemon, who're both weak to Electric attacks! One trio of Magnemite even evolved into one Magneton to defeat my Horsea! I also saw some bulldog-like Pokemon, but he ran away too, so I didn't get the-" "Relax, Robert." Morty heads over to his side of the Pokemon Arena as he says, "We will have a two-on-two match. There will be no time limit. You are allowed to switch Pokemon." When Morty arrives at his end of the Arena, Robert's already standing across the Arena from him. Morty reaches for a different Pokeball than he reached for earlier and calls out, "Haunter, go!" Morty tosses his Pokeball into the Arena and a Haunter pops out, grinning widely, ready for battle, "Haunt!" Robert puts away the Pokepedia he's been holding since it already has information about Haunter in it. He then smiles, "Your Haunter reminds me of my Gengar, back when he was still a Haunter, but that doesn't mean I'll go easy on him!" Robert grabs the Pokeball attached to his belt's second slot and hurls it into the Arena, releasing a small Horsea who stands on her tail, "Horsea, Smokescreen!" "Haunter, Confuse Ray!" Morty calls out as his students gather around the edges of the Arena, to watch the Pokemon match. "Haunter!" Morty's Haunter, being that he's much faster than Robert's Horsea, shoots circular red beams out of his eyes. The beams make contact with Horsea's eyes, creating a visible film of confusion over them. "Sea?" Horsea takes a deep breath and spews out black smoke - but she spews it straight down at the floor under her curled tail. The Smokescreen rises up into her mouth, causing her to close her eyes and cough repeatedly. Morty's Haunter grins and awaits his Trainer's next command. "Yikes!" Robert bites his lower lip, seeing his Pokemon hurt herself, "Horsea, shake off that confusion and use Water Gun!" Morty doesn't mind that he issues his orders after Robert issues his, since his Haunter's so fast, "Lick that Horsea!" Indeed, Morty's Haunter soars over to Robert's Horsea before the Water Pokemon can even initiate her Water Gun attack and he Licks her with his long tongue, "Haunt Haunter!" Morty frowns when he sees that the Lick attack's only hurt Horsea a little and hasn't paralyzed her. "Seaaa!" The Gym Leader's frown turns to a grimace when Horsea manages to overcome her confusion and attacks his Haunter with Water Gun at point blank range, shooting a stream of water into Haunter's open mouth that sends the Ghost Pokemon soaring backwards halfway across the Arena! Robert cheers for his Pokemon, "Way to go, Horsea!" He points at the seemingly salivating Haunter, "Use Water Gun again!" "Horsea won't be able to use Water Gun again if she's asleep." Morty comments, then calls out, "Haunter, use Hypnosis!" This time, before Robert's Horsea can shoot another Water Gun attack, Morty's Haunter begins to sway his large dismembered purple hands back and forth and then move them closer to Horsea every second, Hypnotizing her into a deep sleep. Morty and Robert watch as the cute little Horsea blows a small bubble out of her mouth every time she snores. Morty chuckles, then tells his Pokemon, "Haunter, now that the Horsea's asleep, use your Night Shade attack!" "You're right Morty - she can't use Water Gun if she's asleep." Robert reaches into one of the pockets of his black laptop case, "But she won't be asleep for long." He pulls out his Pokeflute and blows into it for a prolonged period of time. The loud noise that the Pokeflute emits startles Horsea into waking up and makes Haunter plug his ears with his floating hands. Haunter continues to hold his ears as his eyes glow dark red. He shoots out dark red plasma at Horsea, weakening her. Morty shouts out at his opponent, "Face it, Robert - Haunter's too fast for your Horsea! You might as well switch Pokemon." "Too fast?" Robert asks, pauses to think, then shouts, "You're right, Morty! Horsea, slow Haunter down with a Bubble attack!" Morty nods at Robert, "Interesting strategy - telling your Pokemon to use a weak attack in order to slow down an opponent. I think I'll do the same. Haunter, Lick Horsea again!" Morty whispers under his breath, "I hope it paralyzes her this time..." Morty's Haunter sticks his tongue out and lets it soar all the way across the Arena to Lick Horsea, but Horsea bounces on her curled-up tail, dodging the attack! While in mid-air, she blows a great deal of Bubbles towards Haunter, "Horseee!" Robert notices that Haunter's being hurt by the barrage of his Horsea's Bubbles, and more importantly, that the Bubbles are distracting him, so he calls out to his Water Pokemon, "Horsea, now that Haunter's slowed down, use Water Gun!" "Haunter, Night Shade, now!" Morty cries out, hoping his Pokemon will attack before Robert's despite the Bubbles in his face. Robert's Horsea attacks first. "Horsea!" She shoots a huge Water Gun stream out of her small circular mouth and it penetrates through the earlier Bubble attack, hitting Morty's Haunter directly with intense force! The Haunter gargles the water that lands in his mouth before closing his eyes and falling onto the Arena floor. The soaked Haunter tries to get up, but ends up fainting. Horsea beams and hops around on her tail to celebrate and her mouth briefly glows blue. Morty notices the glowing before Robert does and he slaps his forehead, right under his blue headband, "That's the third Pokemon who's learned an attack in the middle of a match against me." Morty recalls his fainted Haunter, hides the Pokeball, and pulls out another one, "First Ash Ketchum's Noctowl, then Bob Raiser's Girafarig, and now your Horsea. I wonder what attack it learned... Robert exchanges the Pokeflute in his hand for the Pokepedia in his bag, "Let's see what the Pokepedia has to say..." He flips open the Pokepedia, points it at his Horsea, and asks, "What are my Horsea's current attacks?" The Pokepedia hums for a moment, then replies, "Horsea, Female, Level 29. Originally caught by Professor Elm in New Bark Town, who sent her to Professor Oak in Pallet Town. Original Trainer: Mithril-rama AKA Rilli. Current attacks are Bubble, Smokescreen... Unknown, and Water Gun. Current statistics are..." Robert furrows his brow, closes the Pokepedia, and puts it away, wondering why it wasn't able to identify Horsea's new attack. Morty shrugs, "That strange Pokedex of yours must be malfunctioning. An Unown is a Pokemon, not an attack. Have you ever considered using one of the Pokedexes made by Westwood V? Some of them are programmed by the famous Professor Oak!" "Ugh, no way..." Robert frowns and shakes his head, "I had one of those on my first Pokemon Journey. It was really confusing - it kept malfunctioning and giving me wrong information about Pokemon. It broke about five years ago. Good riddance!" "That's strange - in all my years of being a Gym Leader, I haven't heard anyone else complain about those Pokedexes. Enough chit chat - let's continue our battle!" Morty throws the Pokeball he pulled out a moment ago into the Arena. Red light is released and it assumes the shape of a Gengar, who smirks upon seeing the small opponent he has to defeat, "Gengar!" Morty's Gengar's amused when Robert's Horsea begins to tremble since she's scared of the large Ghost Pokemon hovering before her. Robert sees that his Horsea is frightened, so he tells her, "Don't be scared, Horsea. Ghost Pokemon aren't scary - they're funny! Don't you remember how silly my Gengar is? Now let's defeat this goofy ghost - use the attack you just learned!" Morty notices that Robert's Horsea does seem less scared after Robert's pep talk, so he says, "Gengar, give that Horsea a reason to be scared - Mean Look!" Immediately, Morty's Gengar's gives Horsea a very Mean Look. His eyes glow purple, then Horsea's entire body glows purple too. The two Pokemon continue to glow purple for a few seconds, then the attack is over. "What was that?" Robert asks, scratching his head, further messing up his already poorly combed thick black hair. Morty smirks and explains, "You can't recall Horsea until she faints now." Despite the scared look on Horsea's face following Gengar's Mean Look, she takes in a deep breath, then blows out a tornado that's quite large relative to the size of her small orifice! The twister engulfs Morty's Gengar, weakening him. "Oh! I've seen that attack before..." Morty comments, recalling the last time he saw a Pokemon use it, "It's called Twister." Robert snickers, "Twister? That sounds more like a party game that can be used for erotic purposes than a Pokemon attack!" He notices that his Horsea's Twister attack has left Morty's Gengar somewhat dizzy, "...but I like it! Horsea, do it again!" Morty shakes his head, "Oh, no you don't. Gengar - use your Shadow Ball attack!" Quick to respond, Morty's Gengar puts both of his arms out and forms an orb of darkness between his hands. He then hurls the Shadow Ball at the terrified Horsea before she can even inhale some air for her pending Twister attack. "HORSEA!" The Horsea's too scared to move, so the powerful Ghost attack hits her directly, knocking her out on contact sending her flying out of the Arena! Robert's eyes widen at about the same time his jaw falls open, "...my Gengar never learned how to do THAT." "Must be a retro Kanto Pokemon. Is that the next Pokemon you're going to send out?" Morty's eyelids raise for a moment and he chuckles, "If so, it'll be an interesting match - a retro Kanto Gengar versus a modern Johto Gengar..." "Actually..." Robert calls his fainted Horsea back into her Pokeball, puts it on his belt, then grabs his other Pokeball, "I left my Gengar back in Kanto. I'm going to use the first Pokemon I caught on my first Pokemon Journey - go, Farfetch'd!" He throws the Pokeball into the Arena and after the Pokeball snaps open, a tan Farfetch'd stands before Morty's Gengar, holding a leek in his beak. The wild duck Pokemon stretches out his wings, pulls his leek out of his beak, and quacks, "Far! Far!" Morty and his Gengar laugh at the goofy-looking Farfetch'd. Morty's laughter subsides before Gengar's and he says, "I know Ghost attacks don't work against Normal Pokemon, but I seriously doubt that Farfetch'd will be able to knock out my Gengar using its little twig. Gengar, Confuse Ray that Farfetch'd, then kick back, relax, and watch as Farfetch'd defeats himself." Robert ignores Morty's comments, recalling that Lieutenant Surge was even more confident than Morty right before Farfetch'd defeated his Raichu. He says, "Farfetch'd, don't pay attention to them. Use Agility, then keep using Swords Dance until I tell you to stop." Both Pokemon do as their Trainers instructed them to. "Gen, gen, gen gar!" Gengar chuckles, even while his Confuse Ray shoots out of his eyes and hits Farfetch'd, successfully confusing the Wild Duck Pokemon. "Far... fetch'd?" Farfetch'd manages to use Agility despite his confusion and runs around the Arena in a circle like a Magmar with his head Cut off. Gengar sits down on the Arena's floor and watches with a silly smirk on his face as Robert's Farfetch'd struggles to Swords Dance. "Farf? Farfetch'd..." Sometimes, Farfetch'd manages to flail his limbs about in a Swords Dance around for a moment, but most of the time, he's just smacking himself over the head with his leek due to his confusion. Morty's Gengar finds Farfetch'd's uncoordinated dancing just as funny as the Pokemon's confusion-induced self-abuse, so he laughs so hard he falls over! "Stop!" Robert calls out to his Pokemon after three successful Swords Dances. Farfetch'd stops hopping around ridiculously and blinks. Robert points at the Gengar, who's holding his belly as he chortles, and tells his Farfetch'd, "Now PECK!" Morty gasps when he sees Robert's hurt Farfetch'd limping over to where his Gengar's doubled over in laughter. Noticing that the look of confusion is gone from the Farfetch'd's face, Morty shouts, "Gengar, get up! Use Confuse Ray one more time!" When prompted to, Morty's Gengar sits up and his eyes glow red, but since Farfetch'd used his Agility earlier, the Wild Duck Pokemon manages to Peck Morty's Gengar right in the face before the Gengar can attack, "Fetch'd!" Gengar falls back, and his Confuse Ray shoots straight up at the ceiling. The Gengar's body goes limp from the sheer force of the Farfetch'd's Peck since it was powered up by multiple Swords Dances. Morty stares in stunned silence as he recalls his Gengar. Robert claps loudly for his victorious Pokemon, and cheers, "Great job, Farfetch'd! I'm sure you've just gained a bunch of experience, which means you're that much closer to evolving now!" He calls the hurt but smiling Farfetch'd back into his Pokeball, then puts it back on his belt. Robert grins at Morty, who's speechless, "I guess we're even now - earlier, I thought you'd be an old man because you were a seer and just now, you thought my Pokemon was weak since he was a Farfetch'd." "...I guess you're right." Morty blinks, then walks across the Arena to where Robert's standing, "I'm sorry I underestimated your Farfetch'd." He pulls a Fog Badge out of his pocket and hands it to Robert, "The Fog Badge is yours. You earned it." "Woohoo!" Robert glances down at the left side of his shirt where his eight Kanto League Badges are pinned, then pins the small blue Fog Badge on the right side of his shirt, starting his new collection of Johto League Badges. Morty combs back his hair with both hands, then says, "Farfetch'd may be strong, but you could use more Pokemon, Robert." "I couldn't agree more!" Robert exclaims, "That's one of the reasons I came to Johto, after all. Do you have any idea where I could find some really cool Pokemon?" Morty thinks for a moment, then replies, "There's many Grass Pokemon on Route 37. It's also known as the Grass Route." "But I already HAVE a Grass Pokemon back home!" Robert whines, then tells Morty what kind of Pokemon he wants, "I'm looking for a Steel Pokemon or a Dark Pokemon. You know, something exotic that used to be unique to Johto before the Johto Pokemon Rush." Morty rubs his chin with one hand, then snaps his fingers with the other, "I know! I've heard that there's a rather large Skarmory, a Steel Bird Pokemon, on Route 36, south of Ecruteak. It's probably really hard to catch, though, so maybe..." "Then I'll stop by the Pokemart to buy a Great Ball first! Thanks for all your help, Morty!" Robert shakes Morty's hand and heads out of the Ecruteak City Gym, using his Pokegear to call his girlfriend Rilli as he walks. The Pokegear rings for a moment, then Rilli's face appears on its screen, "Hi, Robert! Did you win?" Robert nods, grinning widely, "Yeah! Check out my new Fog Badge!" Robert points his Pokegear's screen at the Fog Badge pinned on his shirt, then points it back at his face. "That's great!" Rilli exclaims, then asks in a more sober voice, "Did you get information on the Gym Leader's Johto Pokemon?" Robert shakes his head, but quickly explains himself, "He only used Kanto Pokemon." Mithril-rama rolls her eyes, "Yeah right." "No, really!" Robert insists, as he heads down the staircase leading up to the Gym, "He used a Haunter and a Gengar!" Rilli shakes her head, "I believe you, Robert." "Are you being sarcastic?!" Robert asks. He notices a little smirk appear on Rilli's face. -Robert