From: Yosh <yosh1121@aol.combustible> Subject: [PW!] Enemy in the Shadows Date: Thursday, June 17, 1999 5:46 PM (OOC: Eck, been busy alot lately, and I kinda suck at emotional writing and stuff (More like just plain suck over all...), so hopefully this won't flop too bad... =/) ~ ~ ~ Oz slept in the hospital bed, snoring lightly as the moonlight streamed peacefully through the open shades of the window, illuminating a sharp pattern across the linen. It was late, and on such a serene night, only one creature in the entire hospital ward remained awake. Sandshrew sat in a chair next to the bed, watching Oz, in a constant deeply concerned gaze. For the last few days, Oz had been thoroughly silent. He merely stared deep into nothingness, showing close to no signs of response. No hyperness, none of the familiar, unoriginal, and lacking in intellect Oz-comments. Nothing. He even ate the grossly disfigured hospital food that was brought to his bed, which usually was the most activity seen out of him lately. There was something bothering Oz. To great lengths, obviously. Oz wouldn't even talk to him, the Sandshrew he's had since what seemed like forever. They'd always been friends, and Oz had even learned to understand him. No matter how much they argued, they were always close. They always trusted each other. So, what was it? What was the grim, secret Oz was holding? The horrible lore that seemed to be eating at him from the inside. Sandshrew sighed, and dropped his head. Whatever it ended up being, he'd wait. If Oz ever needed help, he'd always be here by his side. He'd never leave. * * * Fog. Nothing but fog. Everywhere, that's all Oz saw. "Ah yes, the ever present, consuming fog of cliche. I know it well..." Oz sighed. "Tanos! Quit the cheesy Disney melodrama! This ends now." The mist swirled away, disappearing into nothingness. Out of the receding shadows, stepped Tanos, a psychically advanced Mr. Mime with a vengeance. #Indeed. So, you're finally ready to die now? I should have known it wouldn't be too hard to bring down such a delinquent.# Tanos gloated. Oz ignored Tanos's ego, and looked around him. They were in inside what seemed to be a large circular arena, floor was hidden beneath large mass of sand. All of the walls were thick mirrors, permitting combatants a view from different angles, although Oz doubted if anybody really looked in them while trying to lob somebody else's head off. More for show, most likely. Looking up, he noticed with a slight start that there was no roof. Instead, a large, swirling void hung over their heads. "And what exactly is this delightful place?" #I refer to it as the Salle. I created it. It's to test the mentality. Combatants cannot rely only on their physical self. It requires equal mental output, or else failure is irrefutable.# "Oh really? Uhh, wow." #But you,# Tanos added, grinning as devilishly as Mr.-Mime-ly possible, #May refer to it as your final stop before the pits of hell!# "Well, yippee kai yay.." Oz muttered, as he tensed. This fight wasn't going to be pleasant, especially from his perspective, but he had had enough. He was determined to end this one way or another. He was too tired of it. There was no other visible thing. Only one of them would survive this. Only one would be able to walk away. And he knew that the odds were definitely on that being the psychic. TBC! ~ ~ ~ Yes, I'm back... sort of. I still got school to take care of, so next story probably won't come in a bit.. why do they call 'em arches anyway? Yosh ---------- Note: Beware the rabid Yosh.