Subject: [PW!] Jungle Safari: Do as the Kangas-khan Date: 13 Jul 1999 04:45:24 GMT From: therunt411@aol.com (TheRunt) Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon (For your convenience, a summary of this episode appears at the bottom) Since we last left him, Runt has managed to track down a decent breakfast and spent a good deal of time waiting for his friends to return from the Gym. We now rejoin him as his friends turn in their Pokémon to be healed... "I got some information 'bout the Safari Zone," he says approaching the group. "First, it costs $500 to get in." "500!?!" Damian exclaims. "That kind of lets me out, for now." "Huh?" asks Jon. "How come?" "That's a little steep for me right now... I may as well use that time to do some training," replies Damian. "Also, you have to check your Pokéballs in at the desk," adds Runt. "Part of it is because you have to use special 'Safari Balls' to catch the Pokémon. The other part is that they don't want you battling the Safari Zone Pokémon with your own." "So how the heck are you supposed to catch them?" queries Jon. "According to the guard at the gate," Runt replies, "you can use rock or the bait they supply you with - but that's it." "I'd like to try it," says Christy. "Me too," Sarah Jane chimes in. "I just have a couple of small problems..." She says glancing at her wrestling Nidorans. "They're not used to being in their Pokéballs, and I don't want to leave them alone with just Shields." She then turns to Damian with a gleam in her eye. "Say Damian ... You wouldn't mind baby-sitting for a few hours, would you?" "Huh? Me?" Damian replies as he's caught off guard. "They should be fine with you and Drake," she comments as she begins rummaging through her pack. "Here's some of their Pokéchow if they get hungry, and a few toys to keep them busy. They should be fine playing on their own, just don't let them wander too far." She hands a disoriented Damian the leashes, then bend over to the two Nidorans. "You two behave. Mind Damian, Drake, and Shields." Then she turned to her Mr. Mime. "You go along with them. Make sure Cuddles and Spunky stay out of trouble." Sarah Jane gives Drake the supplies. "But..." Damian objects. "-- Hey, we better get started before it gets any later," interrupts Christy. "Yeah, come on," says Jon excitedly. "But..." Damian finds himself standing alone in the Pokémon Center with his Dragonite, a Mr. Mime, and two tussling Nidorans. *Sigh* --- A few minutes later, the rest of the crew is at the gates of the Safari Zone. An attendant gives them the run-down on the rules. The party checks in their Pokéballs, pays the fee, and each receives a package containing the special Safari Balls and bait. They agree to split up and meet back at the entrance around 6pm --- As Runt enters the Zone, he sees several types of Pokémon in the distance. "So, what kind should we go after first? Oh ... Yah - Everyone's back at the entrance..." After walking around for a while, he stops by a pond to take a break. Runt removes his shoes and soaks his tired feet in the cool water. The shadows of several Dratini playing beneath the surface serve as a nice distraction from his loneliness. Moments drift away, bringing serenity to our hero. That peace is shattered when a curious Krabby mistakes ones of Runt's toes for a snack and clamps onto it. Panicked, Runt quickly removes his legs and begins kicking the Pokémon with his free foot. Realizing it wasn't gonna get anything to eat, the Krabby lets go and plunks back into the water. After putting his shoes back on, Runt limps away. A while later, Runt comes across a herd of Tauros. "Cool," he says raising a Safari Ball. Suddenly, the herd becomes very upset - as a result, one of the younger males walks away from the rest. "Then again," says Runt as he lowers his arm, "I don't want to get risk getting hurt anymore than I am." In the distance, he hears what sounds like two Pokémon fighting. He begins running toward the battle, trying desperately to ignore the pain from his injured toe. "Maybe now I can finally get a Pokémon," he says to himself. Moments later he finds the source of the disturbance: a Scyther is fighting a battered Kangaskhan. "SCY-THER!" screams the bug Pokémon as it slashes at its prey. "Kan-ga SKHAN!" yells its adversary as it attempts to deliver a Comet Punch. Unfortunately, its opponent jumps out of the way and slashes at it again. This proves too much for the wounded Pokémon and it topples to the ground. Runt stands there, stupefied by the seen he's just witnessed. Then, he notices movement in the pouch of the fallen Kangaskhan. "Scy?" Out of the pouch crawls a baby Kangaskhan. "Kanga?" it says looking at its parent's lifeless body. "SCYTHER!" the Scyther screams in delight. "Skhan! Skhan!" peeps the tiny Pokémon. 'A Scyther...' thinks Runt, 'why'd it have to be a Scyther?' Joyfully, the Scyther begins to dance around. Rubbing its sword-like appendages together, it slowly begins to approach the helpless infant. "I can't let this happen," says Runt to himself. Temporarily forgetting his toe, Runt sprints toward the young Kangaskhan. As the Scyther's blades swing down, he dives under them and grabs the terrorized tot. "SCYTHER!!!" yells the bug in anger as it struggles to remove its arms from the dirt. Runt makes use of this chance to make a break for it - but it's then that he remembers the pain in his foot. Limping as fast as he can, Runt heads for the trees. Once the Scyther frees itself, it dashes towards him. As he reaches the trees, Runt's pain becomes unbearable and he trips. Hoping to at least protect the small Pokémon he's just rescued, Runt wraps his body around the baby Kangaskhan and passes out. As Runt comes to, he feels a stick poking into him. "You dead?" asks a strange voice. Runt opens his eyes and raises his head to see an odd blue-haired boy looking at him. "I don't think so..." he replies. "You people or Pokémon?" asks the strange kid. "Now Tommy," says a similarly dressed woman as she comes into view, "he's a person of course." "What happened?" asks Runt. "That Scyther that was after you has been attacking Kangaskhan recently, as I'm sure you've noticed. Anyways, Tommy here was on his way to help out that poor Kangaskhan you came across, but was a little late. Good thing he found you though, he managed to scare off the Scyther before he could hurt you or the little one you were protecting," explains the woman. Having almost forgotten about the tiny Kangaskhan, Runt looks down to see it sleeping peacefully next to him. "You help Kangaskhan," says the boy. "No prob, " Runt replies looking at his watch. "5:40?! I gotta get to the entrance - I assume you guys'll take care of the baby?" He gets to his feet and dusts himself off. At this the young Pokémon wakes up and begins pawing at his leg. "Kanga! Kanga!" "You is Kangaskhan momma now," answers the boy. Runt picks up the infant and heads to the exit. <To Be Continued...> Summary: Runt gets his toe injured by a Krabby. Then he saves a baby Kangaskhan from a mad Scyther, and ends up adopting it. _______________________________________________________________ "Slow and steady wins the race."