From: TheRunt <therunt411@aol.com> Subject: [PW!] Return to the Forgotten Forest Date: Thursday, December 09, 1999 10:57 PM (For your convenience, a summary of this episode appears at the bottom) "Problem solved guys," says Sarah Jane, holding several marked pokéballs. "My grandmother figured we'd want to make the tournament and sent some of her trained Pidgeots!" The group blinks in surprise. "You're kidding," says Julia. "Nope. My grandmother raises and trains Pidgeots aside from her Pokémon teaching. A lot of her Pidgeots go to Pidgeot Express." Sarah Jane sets the Pidgeot pokéballs on the table, "We can head out once we finish here. My grandparents are going to meet us at the Tournament." "Cool," remarks Kirsty, "we can head out once our Pokémon are healed." "You guys can go on without me, I'm not ready to be in any kind of tournament," comments Runt. "Why do you say that?" Damian inquires. "I should've lost that match against Blaine." Runt replies, "He wiped out my three best Pokémon with almost no problem. The only reason I did win was because of dumb luck - why, if it wasn't for Kreskin..." He stares out into space, lost in thought. "What?" asks Christy. "I know exactly what I have to do." Runt grabs his stuff and heads out the door, "Hopefully, I'll see you guys later." A small paw pops up over his shoulder and waves, "Skha-an." Runt heads to the shore of Cinnabar Island and summons Tiny. Over the next day, Runt makes his way north - stopping periodically to defeat a local trainer and rest his Pokémon. Eventually he reaches his destination: The Forgotten Forest. Runt pulls out his flashlight, "Okay guys, anybody want in their balls before we enter?" "Nair," "Shwew," "Pix," {Nah} they reply, shaking their respective heads. {Besides, it'll be good to be home again} adds Kreskin mentally. "Okay," says Runt, "but I guess I better put you safely away Roo." "Kanga, kanga," begs the infant, holding Runt's chin in its paws. "It's too dangerous" "ga skhan?" orphan pleads, pulling Runt's chin down so it can look in his eyes. Runt sighs, "Fine, you can stay out - for now..." "Kan-ga," coos Roo, hugging him. Runt looks at his compass and multi-purpose digital readout: [Nearest City/Town: Viridian City.... Approx. Direction: West NW] He takes a deep breath, turns on his flashlight and enters the forest. Minutes pass with no signs of life other than the small group. Runt leans up against a tree, "Where could those beasts be?" He examines his watch again: [Nearest City/Town: -ERROR- Approx. Direction: -ERROR-] "I'm in the right place," comments Runt. "Here, Monster Monster Monster..." he calls jokingly. Suddenly, he hears a noise: "Ex," "- egg," "- u," "- tor" Surprised, Runt turns around and looks at the tree behind him. "Ex," "- egg," "- u," "- tor," snores the beast. {Well, if it isn't sleeping beauty} remarks Kreskin "Why is it that every time I see this thing, it's after I was resting up against it?" asks Runt. "Dra-on, air," replies Tiny. "It was - never mind. Okay Rip van Winkle, you're mine," declares Runt loudly as he pulls out an empty pokéball and winds up. The Exeggutor rotates itself slightly, "Ehhhgg," its heads yawn. "Ex," "- egg," "- u," "- tor" it snores again. Runt facefaults and lowers his arm. "And I thought Snorlaxes were lazy. -- Come on guys, lets go find something worth spending our time on." They walk away, leaving the sleeping giant to itself. Deeper and deeper into the forest they go, the terrain's unsettling silence engulfs the group. Minutes pass uneventfully until Runt yawns. "Hey Kreskin." {Yah Chief?} "Think you can find that cabin? - it's getting kinda late." {No prob, follow me} The group trails after the Butterfree for a time. Some bushes rustle a few feet away. "- What was that?" asks Runt defensively. {Prob'ly just the wind or something - don't worry, I'll sense those brainless bafoons well before they're within striking distance. Relax} They walk further. "- What was that?" asks Runt again. {What was what?} Kreskin psychically inquires "That noise - I distinctly heard something that sounded sorta like 'hubba-hubba'." {Well...with terminology as precise as that, who am I to argue?} Runt glares at the insect {What? Don't worry, we're almost to the cabin - your tired mind is just playing tricks on you} Moments later, a figure in red bounds from the foliage and catches Runt in a bearhug. The creature struggles to kiss him, but he manages to keep its face away. Rolly, Pixie, and Tiny attempt to pry the atrocity off of Runt while Roo tries to punch the humanoid's arms. {A Jynx? Geez, I don't remember seeing one of those before...} "Kreskin...ugh...A little help if you please?" {Oh, right -- Hey gorgeous, say 'Cheese!'} The offending Pokémon loosens its grip and turns towards the Butterfree. Quickly, Runt frees himself. {Run!} suggests Kreskin urgently as he tackles the Jynx. {I'll meet back up with you as soon as possible} The small group takes off quickly and the sounds of the battle between the Jynx and their comrade fade into the distance. After a few more minutes of running, the group stumbles across the clearing. There, as before, sits the rustic cabin, bathed in the dim light pouring through a small hole in the canopy. Calmed by its presence, the troupe slows to a walk and heads for the door. Runt begins to open the door when he notices that the plaque on it seems different. Upon further inspection, he realizes that it now reads: ---------------------------------- Come in, again, and rest your head, safe from those that'd strike you dead; For no being will these walls bust, not even the loathsome beast of Lust; Once within, be at peace and do not fret, the spirit of Sloth will not inside get; Fear not for your fluttering Pokémon, he shall come presently, or else, anon; First you must sleep - that is the deal, the answers you seek will I then reveal. ---------------------------------- Runt opens the door and the group hurries inside. As Rolly begins passing out refreshments, Runt secures the door. He then discretely attempts to examine the inside's plaque, but is surprised by what he sees: ---------------------------------- I'm tired of trying to say it with class, Go to sleep now - or I'll come kick your @$$! ---------------------------------- "That'll happen," scoffs Runt. As if in response, there is a loud knock at the door. Runt falls back in surprise. {Hey! Somebody wanna let me in?} projects Kreskin. Recovering from his shock, Runt gets off the floor and lets in the Butterfree. {Thank Goddish I didn't have to use my head this time...Rolly, pass me a few Butterfree Biscuits would'ya?} The young trainer gently removes Roo from his poképouch and sets him on the bed. Then, after setting the pouch on the floor, lies down himself and goes out like a light. Several hours later Runt wakes up, well rested and a little hungry. Careful not to wake the sleeping Pokémon around him, Runt gets out of bed and prepares a simple breakfast of jerky and Raspberry Lemonade. He then cautiously approaches the cabin's internal plaque. Relieved when he sees it has changed again, he begins to read: ---------------------------------- Be happy you had a chance to rest, for today your crew must be at their best; The beasts you seek, which of course are outside, tune into the feelings and emotions you hide; To defeat the monster with the head like a spear, you must learn to control your anger and fear; To conquer the scarab with relative ease, you first must be willing to get on your knees; And one final thing, about when I swore, I give you my word, it shall happen no more; ---------------------------------- Runt sits silently and contemplates the poem while he enjoys his repast. After a while, he feels a tiny tapping on his shoulder. "Kanga?" asks Roo. "Yah, I s'pose it is time to leave." responds Runt. He and the baby Pokémon proceed to wake up their companions. Then, after tidying up and getting their stuff together, the group heads back out into the forest. Shortly after leaving the clearing, Kreskin starts looking around suspiciously. "Something wrong?" asks Runt {I'm not sure} replies the psychic bug {Something's out there, but it's staying just out of my range} "It's not that Jynx again, is it?" {Don't think so, I wasn't able to sense her because of her psychic ability. But I'm definitely getting something right now...} The group slows down cautiously. {Wait, here it comes. It's a --} "-- SCYTHER!" yells the predator as it springs from the foliage. Surveying the group, it begins rubbing its blades together. The sound is ten times worse than fingers on a chalkboard and sends a chill down Runt's spine. It locks eyes with him and then begins slashing wildly around, "SCY-THER!" Runt takes an involuntary step backwards then remembers the poem, 'To defeat the monster with the head like a spear, you must learn to control your anger and fear.' As he composes himself, the Scyther stops slashing and looks at him menacingly. "Tiny, Wrap!" But before the Dragonair can do anything, the Scyther splits into three. The trio then steps towards the group, all rubbing their blades together. Runt covers his ears, "Tiny," commands Runt calmly, "Blizzard attack." The dragon nods and closes its eyes. A small white cloud begins to form on the its horn. The cloud grows larger then raises into the air, shards of ice fly from the cloud and towards the approaching Pokémon which begins slashing at the crystals. Soon, the Scyther triplets fall and two of them disappear. "I'm not afraid of you anymore," declares Runt as he throws a pokéball at the downed Pokémon. The Scyther is sucked into the ball and, after a few shakes, the red light goes on. "Showed you who's boss," says Runt coldly. {Incoming!} Suddenly a Pinsir comes charging out of the surrounding forest and knocks Tiny to the ground. "Tiny, return!" calls Runt. As the dragon is recalled to its pokéball, the blood red beetle looks around malevolently. "Rolly, Swift attack - now!" The evolved Sandshrew dives towards his target and, in midair, curls into a ball. Just as he's about to slam into the beast, it grabs him in it pinchers and flings him off into the forest. "You're not gonna beat us that easily - Pixie, Flamethrower" "Vull!" cries Pixie as she spews forth a stream of fire that engulfs the bug. "There's no way that thing could survive an onslaught like that," comments Runt. As the fire fades away, the Pinsir remains standing. It even brushes the small amount of soot on its shell. Runt's jaw drops. "Fine then. Pixie, show that fiend that new trick I taught you..." The Vulpix nods happily. She stands on her hind legs and, one by one, her tails begin to glow. "VULPIX!" she barks. Simultaneously, the concentrated essence of an inferno blasts from her mouth. The flaming character slams into its target and dissipates. But the insidious insect still stands there. It begins to laugh, "Pinsir Pinsir Pinsir..." Dropping to his knees in disbelief, Runt shouts, "How are we supposed to beat this thing?" Roo then bounds out of his pouch and walks up to the behemoth, "Kanga!" he yells defiantly. "Roo? No - get back here!" commands Runt as he fumbles for Roo's pokéball. The monster looks down at the infant. "PINSIR!!" it bellows at the puny Pokémon. "KangaSkhan!!" Roo roars back in his little voice. The stagbeetle is taken aback. After a moment, it bends down towards the poké-tot and chants, "Pin-sir, Pin-sir, Pin-sir," while it opens and closes its immense pinchers. "Kang-a, Kang-a, Kang-a," returns Roo as he raises his arms above his head and mimics his adversary. The surrounding forest grows even more silent, if that is possible, as the two Pokémon stare at eachother. Eventually, the Pinsir breaks eye contact. It then goes to a nearby tree and splits it in two, the top falling inches from the young Kangaskhan who doesn't move an inch. Roo glares at the beetle, picks a twig up off the ground, and breaks it over his tiny knee. Fed up, the Pinsir walks back over to the infant and bends over. Drool drips from its gaping maw, "Pin Sir," it declares. It reaches for Roo with its arms and -- is thrown into the air as Rolly pops up beneath it. After giving the Sandshrew a high five, the petite Pokémon walks over to the downed creature and begins punching it in the back repeatedly. "All right Roo, I think you've done enough," says Runt, stifling a laugh. He throws a pokéball at the beast and, after the Pinsir is sucked in, the Kangaskhan picks it up and presses in on it as it shakes. Soon, the light comes on. "Okay guys, Good work. Now let's get outta here - the last thing I want is to run into that Jynx again." <To Be Continued...> Summary: After leaving Cinnabar, Runt and his Pokémon revisit the Forgotten Forest. Following a brief encounter with an Exeggutor and a Jynx, they rest at a mysterious cabin. Later, they battle with a feral Scyther and then a wild Pinsir - both of which Runt manages to capture. _______________________________________________________________ "Slow and steady wins the race."