From: Goola2u <goola2u@aol.comREMOVE> Subject: [PW!] The Smile, the Owner, and the Mentor Date: Wednesday, May 05, 1999 5:05 PM Shard watched as his Hitmonlee lept towards Koga's Electrode. As they were about to collide yet again, Koga ordered the Electrode to self-destruct. The spherical pokemon vanished in a firey blast, badly injuring Pain Dance. Shard, concerned, ran to his injured Pokemon. "Pain Dance?!?! Talk to me! By Eternalplume, Koga... Pain dance, return! If he's hurt, I'm rounding up some of my less 'honorable' friends!" "Concern is well, but you must not let your mind be shaken, young one. We must continue," answered Koga. "Venomoth, go." "Shockwave, avenge our fallen warrior!" shouted Shard. Shockwave came out, but didn't look too eager to fight, as usual. At the sight of the Venomoth before him, he hid behind Shard, as usual. "Shockwave, you must," sighed Shard. "Thundershock, please?" he begged. "Pika pichu..." agreed the Pikachu reluctantly. "Venomoth, Poison Powder!" ordered Koga. Shockwave's thundershock badly damaged the Venomoth, but the Pikachu was unable to take the poison. After a few more shocks, the Venomoth's Psybeams got the best of him, and Koga claimed victory of this round. Shard was aghast. Two of his pokemon had almost been KILLED, and Koga was still smiling like this was some sort of game! That Muk of his that had just been sent out seemed to have an abstract echo of that grin on its strange face. "Koga, you're grinning like this is a game! Let's see if you're a sore loser!" shouted Shard. "Undermine, GO!" "Diglett!" grinned Undermine. "Undermine, EARTHQUAKE!" shouted Shard. "Muk, use Sludge." ordered Koga. The Earthquake wiped out the blob-like beast before it had a chance to fight back, but Koga STILL had that grin on his face. Koga had sent out a Golbat, and Banshee seemed to be more than ready for a battle. "Banshee, let's pound 'em!" shouted Shard. "Alright, it's clobberin' time!" laughed the Jigglypuff, who then turned to face his opponent. "Yech! Time to teach that thing propper battle etiquette!" "I agree," said Shard. Banshee walked rightup to the confused Golbat and Pounded it on the head with his stone hammer. "Put yer tongue away, you slob!" laughed the Jigglypuff, and all but the Golbat joined in the mirth. They were so busy laughing that Shard and Banshee forgot about the fight until Koga ordered the Golbat to use Confuse Ray. Banshe, hit by the ray, tried desperately to make Koga's car faint, until he passed out from exhaust. "I hope you have insurance," whimpered Shard, calling back Banshee. "I'll return!" he shouted, Smirker on his shoulders. "Smirker, fly us to Celadon!" "AAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEROOOOOOO!" screeched Smirker, takin off. "I shall await, and see what you have learned, young one!" shouted Koga. --- Shard was walking out of the Celadon pokemon center, when Jenny, accompanied by a snobbish-looking young man with purple hair. "There 'e is, the Rocket what swiped moi 'Itmonlee." "Alright," proclaimed Jeny, "I'll handle this, Damion! Let's hear it!" "Alright, Jenny, you want the truth, here you go," spat Shard, "First off, I've had Pain Dance FAR longer than I've had this R. Second, I caught him wild, though a friend told me he thought that he may ave run away from a trainer. Third, I've worked hard training this Hitmonlee, earning his respect, and learning to respect him, and if you think I'll let some upper-crust crumb take it away, you got another thought coming, and I think Pain Dance will be more than happy to explain himself!" "Ain't nothin' wrong with lettin' go of a disobedient pokemon," laughed Damion. "I'm sorry," said Jenny, "But, I have to give Pain Dance back to Damion. And, as a Rocket, you don't really deserve him much more..." "Alright," said Shard, "why don't we let him decide himself? If this is in th best interest of the pokemon, why can't he decide what trainer is best for his interest?" Damion was about to protest, but Jenny stopped him. "Alright," she said, taking the pokeball from Shardand setting it between the two trainers. When Pain Dance emerged, he ran straight towards... Damion? Shard couldn't believe it. Not until Damion found himself with a face full of Double Kick and Pain Dance rushed back to Shard. "Well, I guess that settles it," said Jenny. "Both of you, about your business!" --- Shard's business took him to the Celadon gym. "Hello? RK?" TBC? Shard Fields, who hopes RK isn't at Azure Heights at the moment.