From: MTSowbug <mtsowbug@aohell.com> Subject: [PW!] [Clan Caterpie] Spectrum Way Date: Thursday, April 29, 1999 5:41 PM Recently Phoo has come to Saffron City. He is now searching for Icy, who, unknown to Phoo, is now in Lavender Town. Phoo hid in the shadows of the tall buildings, heading towards a old mental signal which he felt might be of Icy. Evading people left and right, Phoo scurried onwards. "Hmm... this mental feeling... it is different... not quite what I would expect. But I assume... that the great power source in Saffron is what is... distorting it," Phoo thought, to himself. After a long walk, Phoo reached the house in which he felt the strange mental signal coming from. He felt no major acitivity inside the building, so he entered the one-story residential house through a crack under the door. The inside of the house was lightly furnished. Phoo searched around. Several minutes had passed, and Phoo had searched the house. It had appeared to be empty. "Hmm... this house... there is some signal about it... but absolutely nothing here..." Phoo thought, as he continued to search. After a while, Phoo found a stairwell, which apparently led upwards. The house was erriily quiet as Phoo crawled up the stairs. Phoo reached the top of the stairwell, and came out onto the roof, where it seemed like there was still nothing. Phoo looked around himself, then noticed something spectacular only about 30 yards above his head. Up in the sky loomed a glowing, rainbow set of colors, which spiraled into the sky. Phoo was mesmerized at the great shape in the air. "Spectrum Way... invisible to humans, but visible to those from my plane... the source of energy in this world. The house... must have been... I must have been picking up signals from this place. Icy isn't here... but maybe if I..." Phoo stopped, in recall of a previous memory. *** Flashback, about a year ago, in a peaceful meadow outside of a log cabin *** Phoo meditated in silence. The birds were chirping, and Phoo's pokemon had gone off adventuring. As Phoo concentrated, the voice of Foomyama spoke into his mind. Foomyama communicated to Phoo, in a fashion such as this. (of course, the enlightened tones of the great Foomyama could not be written here) "Phoo! Of course you know that Spectrum Way is the center of the great nexus of energy throughout the lower world. You know this means that from this central point in the nexus, you could travel anywhere." "Yes." "But only once, when you reach the summit. You also know that climbing Spectrum Way would require incredible effort, the likes of which almost none are capable of. The Spectrum Way locks on to your mind, your energy. If you start climbing it, you must reach the top or... perish trying." "Indeed. But why would I ever need to go there?" "I believe... you might need to in your future. It... it will be necessary, I am now certain of it, Phoo. It will be hard, and the strain may affect you forever. But if the apex is reached, a realm of wisdom and understanding will come to ye..." *** End flashback. Back to present *** "Yes... if I go to the top... I could reach Icy... if I can..." Phoo thought. "I... I must. I will." And with that, Phoo shimmered with light, and teleported to the base of the great Spectrum Way. "This is it..." Phoo thought, as he watched the great road spiral above him. Phoo put his claw onto the first colorful step of Spectrum Way. Instantaneously, Phoo's entire body was glued to the first step. Phoo found it almost impossible to move, and he had to use all his energy to get the the next step. The top loomed about a mile above. Phoo tried to sigh in exasperation, but couldn't, as his thoughts were drowned out in Spectrum Way's power. *** Minutes later, but it seemed like hours *** Phoo had, with the power of his mind, actually ascended halfway up the great Spectrum Way. His concentration was starting to waver, but Phoo didn't think about that. He couldn't. The power of where he was didn't allow him to. Energy bombarded Phoo's mind and will, but Phoo repelled it as best he could. His mind slowly cramped under the severe pressure. *** Hours later, but it seemed like eternities *** Phoo had almost reached the top. His mind was crumbling, and he had no idea where he was going, except up. Phoo had no idea how close he was to the edge of the road. His legs dangled off the edge, and Phoo had no idea what was about to happen. In a second, Phoo's body fell off of Spectrum Way. He tumbled and tumbled downwards towards Saffron city below. Phoo could do nothing as he plummeted towards the blunt edges of the buildings far below. Phoo was increasing velocity when... Phoo started to feel some force, some energy, moving about him. He started to shake and pulsate in a way he had never felt before, and then... he blacked out. *** An unknown amount of time later *** Phoo slowly returned to his senses. His eyes opened, and he saw himself high up in the sky, floating there. Looking about himself, he noticed a rainbow of colors completely enveloping him. A strange surge of energy started flowing into his mind. With one thought, Phoo exclamined, "Hmm!" Phoo had reached the top of Spectrum Way. The wealth of energy filled Phoo's mind. He felt a greater sense of understanding, a greater sense of enlightment. It slowly went on for moments, and Phoo glowed a translucent color. For the most brief of a moment, he felt a fleeting oneness with the great Foomyama himself. Then, as if a computer prompt were asking it, a new, alien thought entered his mind. "Where?" it simply asked. Phoo understood, and blanked his mind to one thought. Fuzzy, warping sounds could be heard, and the sky flashed an aurora of colors. Suddenly, a boom of sound, and Phoo found himself in a different space. *** An unknown place, an unknown time *** Phoo looked about him. He was in a town that rotted of the dead. It reeked of negative energy. "Hmm! Is this... the town of Lavender? Negative placeholder of Saffron? Hmm... maybe..." just then, Phoo saw Clan Caterpie only about 15 yards ahead of him. Phoo rushed over to the one he was looking for, Icy. "So I guess Spectrum Way does its trick after all..." Phoo thought, as he looked up to the sky. Phoo snuck up behind Icy when he was somewhat seperated from the rest of the group. Phoo reached out, and tapped him with his claw. Icy turned around slowly, then noticed Phoo. Of course, being surprised to see a giant cockroach behind him, Icy gasped. Phoo took a deep breath, and spoke aloud, "Greetings, Icy. Remember... me? Phoo? We met several times in... umm... ah, yes. Celadon. I'm back." TBC by IcyPika Did the tabs come out alright? -- "They taste salty" - Cassidy Wright No, my name isn't Cassidy! A wok is a Chinese cooking device oftentimes used to make stirfries.