Subject: Re: [PW!] Now in Saffron (Readable format this time) Date: Thu, 08 Apr 1999 00:02:34 -0400 From: Continue <continue@netzero.net> Organization: CyberGate, Inc. Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon [NS]: Signed on and saw what the hell had happened to my post. This version (if it goes through right) should have the margins fixed. Also there are some spelling errors that have been corrected. If you managed to actually wade through my last post to this thread, then you can ignore this one, nothing new here... Time Lady wrote: >Vulpix5746@aol.com wrote: >>Jon returned to the Pokemon Center and began to explain her strengths to the rest of the group. > >Sarah Jane listened intently. Her mind turned over several different >ways she could approach Sabrina. She knew her Butterfree and her >Beedrill probably stood the best chance, as research showed bug Pokemon >tended to do well against psychics. But Ariel and Tweedle weren't at a >high enough level to take on Sabrina. > >"So, are you two ready to take Sabrina on?" asked Jon. > >"I don't think I am... at least, not yet," said Sarah Jane. "Though I'd >feel more comfortable talking to her after I earned my Marshbadge." She >picked up her backpack and put her Nidorans on their leashes. "I saw a >grassy area as we were coming to Saffron... I think I want to go and try >training my Pokemon a bit more first." "I wanted to train my pokemon, too. It's been awhile." Damian put in. "You mean other than Pokemon Tower, right?" Jon prodded. "Yeah, other than Pokemon Tower." Damian's face became a cold mask for a moment, then he continued "I was thinking about going to the gym for training. I'm hoping that going up against other trained pokemon will be better training for my pokemon. How about we meet here in three hours?" Jon nodded and Sarah Jane said "That sounds good. Tell us how the gym training goes." Damian turned to Drake "Are you coming this time?" Drake grinned broadly and nodded. The dragonite then turned to the others and bowed before waving. The two then started to walk out of the Pokemon Center with Damian in the lead...until he stopped short. Drake, on the other hand, continued walking. Since the laws of physics state that two objects can't occupy the same space, Damian had a problem. Damian was pushed forward by several feet and once again encountered physics in action as his face met the ground. "Mmph. Ow. Anymore of that and I'll be qualifying for frequent flier miles with extra crash bonus points" he commented as he got up and dusted himself off. He turned around to see Drake trying very hard to keep from bursting into a fit of laughter. Damian's t-shirt now read: "Next time, watch where I'M going!" Damian sighed "Are you over it yet?" In response Drake started to laugh out loud. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Hopefully you'll be over this by then." Damian proceeded back into the Pokemon Center with as much dignity as he could muster under the circumstances. As he approached the counter Nurse Joy sat there with a drawn and haggard look. Almost instantly she resumed her normal cheerful expression as she caught sight of Damian "You're one of the young trainers who brought the medicine over from Lavender Town. Is there something I can do for you?" "Um, yeah, I was thinking of going to the gym here to get some training in for my pokemon before challenging for a badge, but I don't want to end up wasting my time. Can you tell me if the gym is a good place to train?" She beamed "If you have psychic pokemon then the gym is a great place to train," then she noted that Damian had quickly developed an expression of disappointment "but there is another gym in town." Damian's expression changed to one of interest. "Even though they can't offer badges for challenges they are the only gym that specializes in fighting pokemon. It offers a unique opportunity for training that no trainer should pass up." Despite the transformation from useful information to a tour brochure Damian still found what Nurse Joy had said to be of interest. He asked for directions and headed out of the center, stopping long enough to collect the no longer laughing dragonite. The pair made their way through the bustling ultra-modern streets of Saffron until they came to a singular building. Unlike the great structures around it, this building was a short building constructed of wood. While it stood out for its lack of height, it stood out even more for how much ground space it took up. While the human and dragonite didn't even pause at how wide the structure was, they did notice how weathered the wood appeared and stepped gingerly as they walked inside. Upon entering the building they found themselves in a room that seemed to be too large for the building that if was situated in. It was a good thing, though, since it needed to be that large for the people and the pokemon that those people were training. The next thing that struck Damian as he looked around the room was that every single trainer in here was wearing a simple white gi and a colored belt. With another look around he could see that most of the people were training their pokemon by demonstrating a move to their pokemon and having them repeat. Some of the others appeared to be training their pokemon by fighting against them directly. It was one of the latter group of trainers that was the first to notice Damian. It happened as Damian walked into the room and a kick sent one of the trainers to the floor at Damian's feet. The trainer on the floor wore a black belt with one rectangular mark at each end of it. He grimaced in pain before opening his eyes. When he did open them, they seemed to be a void of anger. He shot to his feet and barked at Damian "What do you want?" No one else seemed to take notice of it over the din of training. "I was told this is a good place to train." Damian answered him. The young black belt snorted derisively "Of course it's a good place to train. It's the best place to train, but you have to beat me to train here." Some of the other trainers took notice of this and stopped to watch the scene as it began to unfold. "If you can beat me in a one-on-one pokemon match, then you can train here. If you lose, you leave and never return or I'll beat you into a coma then throw you out. Are you up for the challenge?" The room suddenly fell silent. The young black belt gave an evil grin as he thought it was from awe of what he had just done. The grin vanished instantly as he heard the swift movement of fabric and caught movement from the sides of his vision. He looked around and saw that all of the other trainers had fallen silent and bowed out of respect for the man who had just entered the room. He quickly turned and bowed to the elderly man. The man wore a long robe covered in a stylized pattern of trees. His bald head and white mustache and goatee marked him as elderly despite the almost unwrinkled skin. As the elderly gentleman moved closer to Damian, the young pokemon trainer could see that the older man probably had so few wrinkles on his face because of the tough, leathery texture of the skin that covered it. The elderly man stopped when he came to the young black belt that had been speaking to Damian. He spoke with a clear, even tone with a hint of curiosity "So...all who wish to train here must now face you before they are allowed to do so?" The black belt stammered out "I..." He was cut short as the old man quickly held up his hand. "You have challenged this young man. You must follow through on your challenge or be forever dishonored." "I, uh...yes, Sensei." He turned back to Damian "I will use my Hitmonlee, Fleetfoot." He stretched his arm out from his side and the hitmonlee that had kicked him to the floor earlier walked over and stood in front of him. Damian rooted through his backpack and pulled out a pokeball. As he produced it the black belt asked him "You're not going to use your dragonite?" Damian looked over to see Drake already shaking his head. "No, Drake's powerful enough already, he doesn't need to train anymore." A wave of relief passed over the black belt when Damian said this. "Instead I'll use Spook." Damian popped open the pokeball that he was holding and when the pokemon had finished forming from the red light that emerged it spoke one word "Gengar!" The evil grin plastered across its face dwarfed the one that had been on the black belt's a short while ago and perfectly complemented it's glowing red eyes. The black belt's eyes momentarily bulged and all gathered in the room could hear a slight chuckle emanating from the old man. The young man composed himself and gave his first order. "Fleetfoot, Rolling Kick!" Damian followed suit "Spook, Hypnosis!" The fighting pokemon leapt forward and tucked into a ball as it hit the floor and quickly rolled across it towards its opponent. At the last moment before impact the Hitmonlee came out of the ball with a powerful kick, which passed right through the ghostly pokemon. Fleetfoot skidded painfully to a stop and opened its eyes. The only thing in its field of vision were two glowing red eyes and large, ice-white teeth. The fighting pokemon could also barely make a monotonous tone repeatedly chanting "gen-gar, gen-gar, gen-gar..." As the Hitmonlee's eyes closed, the black belt's head slumped to his chest in resignation. "Spook, Dream Eater!" Right after Damian's order, the ghost pokemon's eyes shone brightly as he continued to hover over the dozing pokemon. It took more than one attack, but within a minute the fighting went completely limp. The elderly man addressed the young black belt "I hope you have learned your lesson. Perhaps next time you will not be so arrogant." As he paused, a look of apprehension grew in the young man's eyes "I think you will need a solid reminder of this occasion. I also think that the young challenger deserves a gesture of apology. You will give one to him." "But, Sensei," the black belt began to protest but was cut off as the old man appeared behind him as if by teleportation and smacked him in the back of the head. The black belt fell silent as he removed a pokeball from his gi and held it out towards Damian. "I offer this to you. It was my Hitmonchan, but it is now yours. It's name is Bruiser." The words were spoken as if they had already been heard or perhaps spoken many times before. Damian looked confused but took the pokeball that was offered. The black belt bowed to him and returned the bow with the confused look still on his face. After this the young black belt left the room with his fainted pokemon and the other trainers in the room resumed their training. The elderly man faced Damian and once again spoke in an even tone "Some of my students have not fully absorbed the lessons that they have been taught. I hope you will accept his apology." Damian nodded with the confused expression still prevalent on his face. The old man continued "I am Hiroshi. I am the master of this gym. If you wish, I can offer you some training." The confused expression finally left Damian's face "That would be great, thanks! I can only stay for a couple of hours, but I really appreciate any time that you can give." Hiroshi chuckled lightly "You are welcome to come to train anytime, but let us see if you are as eager to do so after we have finished here today." After many pokemon matches, several fainted pokemon, and two more hours, Damian begins to make his way back to the Pokemon Center with Drake once again in tow. TBC... Jeff Hauser* *Sig Sold Seperately