Subject: Re: [PW] Passing the ComiCon! Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2003 09:46:02 GMT From: Rob <robfrompw@yahoo.com> Organization: AT&T Worldnet Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon "International Superstorm (Chet Weaver)" wrote: > "Okay, keep an eye out for a Ninja Squirtle," Kitsu said as they stepped into > the crowd. > > "Right," Keaton confirmed. "Um... which Ninja Squirtle will he be again?" > > "I forget," Kitsu replied. "But he should be accompanied by a Mouser." By the time Kitsu and Keaton reach the highest floor of the Shining Lighthouse that's open to the public for the Comic Book Convention, they have seen a great deal of characters from both the Marvel and D.C. Universes, but not a single Teenage Mutant Ninja Squirtle. What they do see is a large stage set up in the center of the room, a huge audience gathered around the stage, a registration desk with a sign next to it that reads "Costume Rank Pokemon Contest", and a short line of costumed people and Pokemon near the desk. Kitsu, the half-Ninetales samurai asks her half-Tauros brother, "Keaton, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Keaton grins, "Yeah, Kitsu - that girl on the third floor dressed like Wonder Woman was hot!" "...Keaton, that was a guy." Kitsu crosses her arms as her brother winces, then she continues, "And besides, that wasn't what I was thinking. I think one of us should enter one of our Pokemon into the Pokemon Contest and look for the Ninja Squirtle from the stage - it'll be the best vantage point. Let's go stand in line and decide who should enter." The siblings take their place at the end of the line, right behind a goateed man dressed like Superman, a teenager who looks somewhat like Robin Hood, and a young girl dressed like Elektra from the Daredevil series. Needless to say, the were-Pokemon fit right in. A Golem wearing a small purple hat and a yellow vest stands beside the man dressed as Superman and a Hitmonchan disguised as Iron Fist stands near the Elektra girl. The man asks, "Becky, who's my Golem supposed to be again? Mister Mixster Spitlick?" "Mr. Mxyzptlk." Becky corrects the Superman-lookalike, "Just be happy I helped you find that child version of the disguise at one of the shops set up on the second floor. It works so well - Superman and his prank-playing enemy from the fifth dimension! I'm sure the audience will love it and you'll gain plenty of points in the Pokemon Contest's primary judging!" "Primary judging?" The purple-haired young man dressed in tight green clothing asks, "Since when are you the expert on Pokemon Contests?" "While you guys were trying to convince Golem to wear that outfit, I was talking with the Registration Lady." Becky explains, "Pokemon Contests have two stages of judging - primary, where the audience votes for their favorite Pokemon, and secondary, where a Judge rates appeals performed by the Pokemon using their moves. If an appeal excites the audience, the Judge gives that appeal extra points. The scores from primary and secondary judging are then added together and a winner is declared." The lady at the registration desk calls out, "Becky's Kicker the Hitmonchan as Iron Fist has been registered as Entry Number One. Next in line, please!" Robert steps up to the desk and says, "Hello, my name's Robert and I'd like to enter my Golem into the costume contest." The woman asks, "What is the nickname of the Pokemon if it has one and what is the name of the costume its wearing?" "Golem's disguised as Mr. Mix... uh... mixyes... Mix-yes-spitlick." "Do you have a Pokedex or similar device?" "I have a Pokepedia." Robert withdraws his Pokepedia from his laptop case and hands it to the woman. The Registration Lady slides the Pokepedia into a slot on her computer, waits a moment, then hands the device back to Robert, "Please wait a moment while I complete the registration - I might require further information." "So... uh, I hear someone will be Judging our Pokemon..." Robert makes small talk with the woman as she types on her computer keyboard, "Anyone I might know? Did you get the local Gym Leader to do it? She's an acquaintance of mine..." "No, sir. Gym Leaders may be certified to hand out Badges by Pokemon Leagues, but Pokemon Contests are very different than Pokemon Battles. Gym Leaders are not certified to hand out official Ribbons unless they become Certified Pokemon Judges at Verdanturf Town in Hoenn, the birthplace of Pokemon Contests. That's the Town Judge Wanda, the person who will be judging tonight's contest, is from - she's the first woman to ever become a Pokemon Judge. In the past, the job was only given to fat old men similarly to how Pokemon Centers all around the world are run almost exclusively by pink-haired young women." "Ohh..." Robert smiles, "I can't wait for her to judge my Golem, then!" "You'll have to wait just a little longer." The lady informs Robert, "Two more contestants have to enter before the Costume Rank Pokemon Contest can begin." "Are there other Pokemon Contest Ranks?" "There are four different basic Ranks - from lowest Rank to highest there's Normal, Super, Hyper, and Master - and there are five different Types of contests - Cool, Beauty, Cute, Smart, and Tough. You have to win a Ribbon from a lower Rank before moving on to a higher Rank. This Pokemon Contest is merely a theme variation on a Normal Rank Cool Contest. Each night of the Comic Book Convention we'll be holding a different Type of contest in the same Rank." "Cool." "Yes, that's tonight's Contest. Tomorrow we'll hold a Beauty Contest, the next day we'll hold..." Robert interrupts, "No, I meant Pokemon Contests are cool!" "I'm glad you like them." She then looks up and calls out, "Robert's Golem as Mr. Mixuhmixyesmix-yes-spitlick has been registered as Entry Number Two. Next in line, please!" "...actually, I think the disguise is called..." "Next in line, please!" "...okay." Robert walks away from the desk and asks his purple-haired friend, "Are you going to enter the contest, Travis?" "I don't think so." Travis shrugs, "Like I said, I'm not into comics. I'm not even sure who I'm supposed to be and I don't want to subject any of my Pokemon to the costume Becky would choose if it's anything like the one she chose for me." "In that case, we're next," says Kitsu as she and her brother step past Robert and approach the registration desk. Robert then notices that Becky is crouching next to her Hitmonchan asking the Pokemon to tell her what number she's thinking of every few seconds. He leans over and asks, "Uhm... what are you doing?" Becky answers, "I'm Training my Hitmonchan for the Appeals Round." She then pauses for a moment before asking, "Now?" Kicker the Hitmonchan slams his gloved fists together four times in a row. Becky nods, "That's right." "Huh." Robert comments, "I have a Hitmonchan myself and I've never trained her like that. Mine knows three different kinds of Punches - Thunder, Ice, and Fire - and she inherited the ability to perform Mega Kick along with big Hitmonlee feet from her dad, but I'm pretty sure she isn't able to read my mind." "That's probably because she doesn't know Mind Reader," Becky says, "Now?" Kicker slams his fists together twice. Becky nods, then turns to face Robert, "Your Hitmonchan inherited the ability to kick from her father? I always wondered how Kicker learned Hi Jump Kick - ever since I saw him perform it and nicknamed him Kicker - but I guess it's reasonable that he might have inherited from one of his parents. By any chance, did you give your Hitmonchan a nickname due to her special talent?" "I don't give my Pokemon nicknames." Robert replies as he stands up straight, "The way I figure, the greatest and most famous Trainers of our time don't nickname their Pokemon, so why should I? Ash Ketchum, Misty the Water Pokemon Master, Lance of the Elite Four... One of the only famous Trainers I can think of who nicknamed his Pokemon is Richie, and when was the last time you heard about his adventures? Even all the famous Gym Leaders don't nickname their Pokemon... "Well, except for Jasmine. During the Whirl Cup, she told me she nicknamed her Ampharos Sparkles. Now, I have no idea what an Ampharos is, but that's a ridiculous nickname regardless - she would've been better off simply being called Ampharos. She's a Pokemon, not dishwashing powder! I mean, she might as well have nicknamed her Pokemon Amphy..." Robert starts laughing as both Travis and Becky stare at him in silence with looks of concern on their faces. Robert's laughter slowly fades and once it stops he asks, "She's standing right behind me, isn't she?" Travis and Becky nod simultaneously and Robert sweatdrops before turning around to face the Olivine City Gym Leader. "Ridiculous, is it? Dishwashing powder?!" The fair-skinned young woman named Jasmine fumes, "I'll show you what an Ampharos is and how badly one can kick your butt! Come to my Gym tomorrow afternoon - and you'll face my Steelix for good measure. You'll earn a Mineral Badge if you win, but I seriously doubt that'll happen." "...uh, Jasmine, this may be a bad time..." Travis starts, his calm voice contrasting Jasmine's enraged one, "But my friend Becky and I would like to earn Mineral Badges ourselves. Is there any chance you might be able to battle us soon as well?" "Sure, I have six Pokemon. I'll hold three Pokemon matches in a row - you can face my Magnemite and my Scizor. Becky can face my Magneton and the Mawile I just received as a gift from a friend of mine who's visiting Hoenn. And after those matches, Robert, who I thought was my friend but apparently isn't, shall face the combined wrath of my Ampharos and Steelix!" Jasmine pauses to think for a moment as Robert stares at her speechlessly with his mouth agape, then she says, "Hmmm, combined... I've got an idea - Robert, your match will be a double team match! Both of my Pokemon against two of yours at the same time! Now if you don't mind, I have a Pokemon Contest to watch!" She storms off before Robert can figure out what to say to her. "I... but... the... Amph... it's..." Robert sighs, already anticipating defeat, "Well, at least Jasmine's not a Pokemon Contest Judge - that means I still have some chance of winning tonight's Cool Contest." -Robert (( NS: Two more characters can register a disguised Pokemon for the Cool Contest [I'm thinking Smasher and Kitsu or Keaton] then I'll start the contest in my next post and randomly determine the winner. If your Pokemon's movesets are not available in your character's WG, then please mention them somewhere in your reply to this post. ))