Subject: [PW] The Trouble with Tribbles, I Mean Nincadas Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2003 13:03:27 -0700 From: "Tekaider \(Chet Weaver\)" <nichirasu@hotmail.com> Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon "Wow, that was one exciting and hilarious adventure we had just getting to back to Ecruteak," Yolei said as they enterred town. "I'll say," Lynkeru agreed. "I'm glad I came along. If I would've killed myself if I missed out on *that* experience." "Well, I don't like to brag," Smasher said. "I guess I'm just a magnet for trouble." "Yeah," Lynkeru said. "Remember the part where..." "That was just amazing!" Yolei interrupted. "Spectacular even! You'll have to teach me how to do that sometime!" "Ah, that's nothin'," Smasher replied. "Now that other guy had some great moves." "Yeah, I can't believe someone as famous as *him* showed up!" Yolei exclaimed. "I mean, you'd think he'd have better things to do than to show up there and..." "Hey, remember when that Team Rocket girl said..." Lynkeru started. "What about later when you said..." "Aw, geez, will you quit harping about that already?" "I don't know. It could leave me in stitches for weeks!" "Quiet, you two!" "Wha?" "Huh?" The three of them stood silently for a moment, listening to the ambient sounds of the city. Cars zoomed by on the streets. Wind rustled tree leaves and litter alike. Across the street, a couple people argued over the price of an apple from a corner street vendor. All the usual sounds where there, but something was amiss... "Do you guys hear that buzzing sound?" Yolei asked. "Barely," Smasher answered. "But it seems to be coming from all around. I don't remember hearing it last time I was here." "I remember it," Lynkeru replied. "Well why didn't you say anything about it?" Yolei inquired. "It's hardly unusual to hear cicadas this time of year," Lynkeru explained. "To hear what?" Smasher asked. "You guys don't know what cicadas are? They're these insects that make a buzzing sound not unlike this during their mating season." "I think she means the Nincadas," a voice said. The three of them turned around and noticed the local gym leader, Morty, standing behind them. "Hey, Morty, what's up?" Smasher greeted. "I think I remember hearing something about Nincadas," Yolei said. "They're from Hoenn, aren't they?" "That's right," Morty said. "We don't know how they came here. They just mysterious appeared one day and have been multiplying ever since. Here's one I caught recently." Morty opened a PokeBall. When the light faded, it revealed a four-legged bug with short, green wings and sharp claws on its forelegs. It immediately shut its eyes tightly and covered them with its claws. Smasher took out his PokeDex. "No data available," it said. "That's because it doesn't appear in the Johto or Kanto PokeDexes," Morty explained. "I had to upgrade to an international PokeDex in order to get any information on them." Morty took out his own PokeDex and scanned the Nincada. "Nincada," the PokeDex droned. "The Trainee Pokemon. Nincada lives underground. It uses its sharp claws to carve the roots of trees and absorb moisture and nutrients. This Pokemon can't withstand bright sunlight so avoids it." "Interesting," Yolei said. Morty recalled the Nincada and said, "Another odd thing is that most of them live around the Tin Tower, along with their evolved form, Ninjask. I've tried to investigate, but for some reason the monks won't let me into the tower." Smasher glanced in the direction of the Tin Tower and then the Burned Tower. A serious look washed over his face. "You still sense it, don't you?" Morty asked. "Yeah, only now its stronger," Smasher replied. "Those weird, interdimensional vibes. It feels kinda like when I was in that room at the top of the Pokemon Tower in Lavender Town a few years ago. I told you about that, right?" "The Shadow Walkers," Morty noted. "Yeah, but this is different," Smasher said. "Whatever's at the top of the Burned Tower is far more concentrated than the Shadow Walkers, and I bet it has something to do with the Nincada in the Tin Tower. Anything else we should know about Nincada or Ninjask?" "It's a little weird," Morty said. "It seems that, under the right conditions, Nincada evolves into two different Pokemon." "You mean like Eevee or Tyrogue do?" Yolei asked. "Not quite," Morty answered. "While Eevee can become any one of five different evolved forms, Nincada will become both of its evolutions at the same time. At level twenty, it becomes Ninjask and the skin it sheds in the process becomes Shedinja. Thankfully, we haven't seen any of those around yet." "How so?" Lynkeru inquires. "There is a legend that Shedinjas steal the spirit of whoever looks into the hole in their backs," Morty explained. "I don't know if there's any truth to it, but I know I'd rather not find out." Smasher glanced over to his Starmie, Shuriken. Emotions of faceless Pokemon are hard to read, but their psychic connection made Shuriken's concern clear to Smasher. "I think it's time I paid my respects to Ho-Oh," Smasher said. "Yolei, Lynkeru, I think you two have a schedule to keep. Why don't you head to the Pokemon Center?" As Smasher walked off, Morty said, "I'm going to follow Smasher. If I'm right, this might be too dangerous for you. Take care of whatever business you have here and get moving." With that, Smasher and Morty left for the Tin Tower. As the girls watched them, Lynkeru said, "We're not going to let them have all the fun, are we?" Yolei just sighed and walked off to the Pokemon Center. "Was it something I said?" Lynkeru remarked before taking off after her. To be continued...? -- Chet "Tech" Weaver AIM: PanGatomon MSN/E-mail: Nichirasu@hotmail.com Yahoo! Messenger: tech_weaver ICQ: 122744531 Webcomic: http://desperadocoyote.keenspace.com "Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once." -- Unknown