From: Shard Fields or Megasomething <goola2u@aol.compostheap> Subject: [PW!] Eye of the Persian Date: Saturday, July 17, 1999 12:25 PM The time has come, the Dewgong said, thought Sneakers. He’d run from two Persians too many. Eventually, he’d have to face at least one of those two eventually. Now, he’d decided, was as good a time as any. Strutting confidently into the Viridian gym, Sneakers tried to think of Persian’s weaknesses. Overconfidence was the only one he could think of. Maybe it’d be enough. "Alright, Giovanni," hissed Sneakers as he reached the Gym Leader’s room. "This time, I’ve got the will to win." "Will, perhaps, but I doubt you can best Persian in combat… Or has the head trauma you suffered made you forget how badly you got beaten?" Sneakers arched and hissed at this, bur on the inside, he shuddered. It was obvious to most of the world that big cats can beat up small cats, and Sneakers was not oblivious to this. Very few pokemon could compete against their evolved forms. Even Ash Ketchum’s Pikachu, said to be the most powerful of its breed, and capable, even without much training, of taking down a flock of Spearows or a similarly-leveled Cubone, had no chance against a Raichu. It eventually beat Surge’s Raichu, but only with superior speed. And Persian was at least as fast as Sneakers, as well as stronger, larger, and smart… Well, maybe not quite so smart. Sneakers held his head and tail in the air again as he proudly challenged Giovanni to the match. "Two on two," sneered Giovanni. "Rhyhorn, go!" "Hardshell, GO!" shouted Sneakers, hoping the gung-ho Wartortle could do the trick. Hardshell stared down his massive foe, not daunted in the least. Even as the Rhyhorn charge, the turtle held its ground. Even as Giovanni ordered a Take Down, the Wartortle just charged exactly as his massive foe was charging, Hydro Pump at full blast. This game of Chicken was going to be played for keeps. Suddenly, the Rhyhorn broke away, fazed by his foe’s courage, and the dual type advantage which made the sea-spray that more damaging. "Rhyyy…" it groaned in pain and anger, preparing to charge again. "Tortle!" taunted the swampland monster, appalled by the lack of courage displayed by its opponent. Enraged, the Rhyhorn slammed into the Wartortle like a battering ram. The Wartortle, though the wind was knocked out of him, easily returned to his feet, and spouted a huge tide of water that all but washed the Rhydon away completely, and was more than sufficient to make it faint. "Blast! But no bother," smiled Giovanni as he called Rhyhorn back, "Persian will be the end of this, yet again." As the cat slunk out of his lap and onto the battlefield, Giovanni sneered. Sneakers, however, showed no sign of his fear. The earlier part of the battle, Sneakers barely landed any blows, and got scratched up like heck. Then, just as it appeared all was lost, Sneakers had an idea. He bared his teeth and began barking like a Growlithe. While the Persian was scared and confused by this tactic, Sneakers took a cheap shot. The Persian still tried to regain its wits, and as Sneakers landed blow after blow. "All Star" played in the background. Even after Persian resumed fighting back, Sneakers managed to win, much to Giovanni’s astonishment. Head and tail held up in pride, Sneakers strutted confidently up to Giovanni. "My Earth Badge?" Giovanni was too shocked to talk as he pinned the eighth and final badge onto Sneakers’s collar. Sneakers then left the gym walked to the pokemon center, beaming with pride despite his wounds. TBC? Shard Fields, who hadn't written with Sneakers in a while. .sig not included. Shard Fields on AGNP Megasomething on ATT