From: Steffan Alun (ic3duck@hotmail.com) Subject: [PW!] The Ghosts of Christmas Presents Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2003-12-21 07:57:57 PST Phoom felt uneasy. He wasn't sure why. Everything was normal, after all. Alright, so he was about to spend Christmas on the streets, but that was no worse than Phoom's life had been up until now. In fact, things had never been better. Phoom had his health. He was perfectly able to survive on his own. He had THAT particular item from a Silph warehouse. Nothing seemed to matter. However, something felt wrong, somehow. Something was dawning on Phoom. Things dawned slowly on Phoom; unless he already KNEW something, then new information was difficult to digest. "It's your lifestyle," whispered a voice. Phoom looked around. Where was the speaker? "You may think you're a big fish in a small sea," continued the voice. "You 'd be wrong. You may have the whole of Kanto impressed by your looks and skills, but things have evolved." "Who's THERE?" shouted Phoom. "Trenchcoats and shades are no longer as impressive as they once were. A tragic childhood matters not to the citizens of big cities like Goldenod or Lilycove. And, more than anything, martial arts and fighting skills aren't necessary in a world of...Pokémon." "What? What are you talking about?" The air in front of Phoom darkened. A Gengar materialised. "That's right, Phenomelous. I'm a Pokémon." PokéWars!: Phenomelous Marvaleon "The Ghosts of Christmas Presents" Steffan Alun Phoom's mouth and eyes were wide with terror and incomprehension. "Who...wha...hippo..." "I'm here to tell you to change your ways, Phenomelous." "My friends call me Phoom! That makes you a foe!" "Phenomelous...you HAVE no friends." Phoom opened his mouth to reply, but realised that Gengar was correct. "I am here to introduce you to three ghosts. They will all show you how other people are spending their Christmas. Observe them, and you will learn that there's more to life than the things with which you occupy your time." Three other ghosts materialised behind Gengar. Phoom didn't recognise them. "These are Misdreavus, Banette and Dusclops. You are in their hands now." Phoom backed away slowly. Suddenly, without warning, Misdreavus flew straight through his heart. The world went white. TBC