From: NinjaMecha <ninjamecha@aol.com> Subject: [PW!] A dark future looms Date: Tuesday, August 03, 1999 6:48 PM [OOC: The ending on this is a bit dark, but im in a foul mood. >< Also, if anyone out there is reading this, feedback please! i'd like to know what people think of my writing.] Shinji thanked Nurse Joy as he left the pokemon center, and headed up the long path to Vermelion. Scyther was bye his side, listining to a cassete. When the batterys died however, the bug poked his master with one claw. Shinji dug into his pack, and withdrew 2 double A's. "Honestly, how do you listen to that stuff? You don't even speak japanese!" Scyther just shrugged as he carefully slipped the batteries in. "Cyber nation network's a good group, and i just like the tune." He slipped the music back on, turning it to full volume. Shinji grumbled, and contined walking up the path. As he passed a huge tree in the middle of the road, he felt the ground give way. Leaping backwards, Shinji quickly glancd around. Scyther buzzed angrily as he floated a few feet up in the air. "Who would dig a hole as a trap?" Scyther asked, setting himself down on the ground. A large man, dressed in all black, save for a red "R" on his shirt stepped out from behind a tree. "I am Genocide. Come quietly or suffer the consoqenses." Shinji did a double take. "Your...the old man from before!" "Well well well, i see your memory isn't that horrible. Yes, i have come to take you to Giovanni, dead or alive. And if you won't listen to me, prehaps you'll take the advice from your...wife." A woman appeared from the bushes, her uniform the same as Genocide's, exept the fabric of the shirt looked ready to rip, due to her large bust. "Better do what we say Shinji, i wouldn't want to hurt you...much." She smirked. Taking a fighting stance, Shinji glanced back and forth between the two people. "How do you know my name?" The girl yawned. "As Genocide mentioned, i am...was your wife. You may call me...Malice." She released a pokeball. "Magmar, lets give this boy a history lesson." She said, tossing the ball on the ground. A Margmar appeard, in a fightling stance. Genocide stepped to the side, to enjoy the fight. Shinji was about to release his Vaporeon, but Scyther stepped foward. "I'll field this once. The two pokemon circled each other, until the Magmar spat a large fireball at Scyther. He flew up, but it singed his foot, causing him to fall the the ground and slam into it. The Magmar took a few steps back, getting ready to do a body slam. "Scyther, get out of there! That body slam will kill you!" But the Bug wouldnt listen. "Theres no way i'm gonna be upstaged by some stupid flaming duck!" As if on cue, the Magmar leaped up, and slammed itself onto Scyther. Then, an audible scream was heard. "MAGMAR!!!!!!!!" Shinji opened his eyes to see the Magmar, still above Scyther, with a scythe poking through its body. Its face was clenched in pain, and a small puddle of blood below it. Malice's face turned from anger to sympathy as she returned her pokemon. She glared at Shinji, eyes burning brightly. "You will pay for that Shinji. I swear it." With that the two rockets leaped up and dissapeared. As Shinji Helped Scyther up, he grimiced. He didnt know what was real, what was fake..or who he really was. And who was this "Giovanii" that everyone kept talking about? It made no sense. "Hey, Shinji, don't go spacing out on me now!" Scyther waved a claw in front of his masters face. "Uh...yeah. Lets just head to Cerulian." The rest of the trip was uneventful as they went up the path. When they got to Cerulian however, a small girl ran up to the duo, tugging at Shinjis knees. "Daddy!" An old woman, of about 45 rushed over to scoop up the child. "Beth honey, its not nice to talk to strangers, you know that." "But thats daddy!" The girl crossed her ams, insisting. The elderly woman motioned for her to hush, and ran off with the child, who was still protesting. Scyther glanced up. "Just...how many women have you been with? Thats the second time a kids come up to you like that." He said with a snicker. "Baka!" Shinji backhanded him. "I don't know who that was, or if she had any relation to the girl in Vermellion, and i don't care." He glanced up at the dark clouds forming. "We should get to the pokemon center soon, i don't wanna get caught in a thunderstorm." When they got to the pokemon center, just as they were going inside, a man in a dark red suit pulled Shinji into the ally. His face was hidden by the shadows however, and a thick amount of cigarette smoke shrouded even the outlines of his face. "Who are you? What are you doing here? What do you want?" The man took a long drag from the ciggarete, and threw it down on the ground. "I don't have time for stupid questions. Just know this. Your on the right track. But a word of advice. Don't go to Viridian. Nothing but trouble awaits you there." Shinji clenched and unclenched his fists repeatadly. "I don't know who you are, but i want some answers. He released his eeveeloutions to further press the stranger. He just chuckled and withdrew a small pistol, shooting the three pokemon in the head without a word. "Your pokemon are now dead. If you do not wish a similler fate on yourself, do not go to Viridian." The rain began to fall, washing the blood on the ground into a nearby gutter. Shinji dropped to his knees as the man walked away. Scyther stood behind him, for once in his life, speechless. The 3 pokemon's corpses were matted and slick with blood. Without a word, Shinji Picked up thier bodys and carried them inside one at a time. Nurse Joy was horrified and turned a pale green as Shinji told her what happend. She promised him they would get a proper burial, and offered him a room. He declined however, and steped out of the center sadly. The rain was coming down hard now, and he saw a reflection of himelf in a large puddle. Dropping to his knees, Shinji looked up and screamed to the heveans, cursing God for causing him this pain, cursing his parents for dying on him, and cursing himself for not saving his pokemon. When his throat was raw and sore from screaming, he collapsed on the murky ground and passed out. -NinjaMecha "Ahh! Lina, he's burning my bottom!"-Gourry, Slayers episode 1 "I am not a bimbo!"-Shinesman Homer Simpson: Yeah, you Japanese may have your Karate, but we Americans have developed the fine art of board-whacking. /Thwap!\ TF 4EVR