From: RobfromVoid <RobfromVoid@prodigy.net> Subject: [PW!] The Gauntlet Date: Friday, December 10, 1999 7:25 PM "OUT TO LUNCH?!" Robert angrily reads the piece of paper posted on the door of the Saffron City Gym. He looks down sadly at the Mithril-rama doll that currently resides in his pocket, who is wearing his six Badges which were shrunk along with Rilli. Robert sighs and sits down on the floor, to wait for Sabrina to return to her Gym. After a few seconds of twiddling his thumbs, he quickly gets bored, "If only I had something to play with... Hey! That's right, I have the perfect thing!" Minutes later... "Eeeheeheehee! That's right, my little friend, you're going to swallow my balls and you're going to like it!" Robert is fidgeting around rather excitedly, staring at the thing on his lap, "Why won't you suck them in, you stupid little Cloyster?!" Robert gets so frustrated with his difficult game that he has to turn off his Gameboy Color, "Geeze, why couldn't my mom have gotten me a better present for my birthday than Pokemon Pinball? It feels like I'm having seizures when I play it..." After putting his Gameboy Color back inside his backpack, he pulls on the cord on the back of his Rilli doll's back. The doll speaks without moving, "It's about time you pull my string, Robert! I think you should go train your Pokem..." "Train my Pokemon, eh? Now, that's a good idea. But where...?" Robert looks around the immediate area next to the Saffron City Gym and sees the Fighting Dojo next door where a wedding was held yesterday, which he attended while still trapped in Rilli's body. Robert stands and walks up to the Oriental building. The first thing he notices is that there are still some holes in the wall from the battle that ruined the wedding, but much has been fixed and patched up with wood planks. Robert marches up to the door of the Dojo and remembers to take off his sneakers before going in. Once inside the Dojo, he sees all sorts of Pokemon trainers in Karate uniforms, practicing their martial art with their own Pokemon. The Pokemon who are training with their masters are Machoke, Machamp, Mankey, Primeape, and even a few Poliwrath. Though the Pokemon are different, they all have one thing in common - they are all Fighting type Pokemon. Seeing so many Fighting Pokemon in once place reminds Robert of something, "I don't have any Fighting Pokemon! My dream is not just to become a Pokemon Master, but also to be famous for using a wide variety of Types... and I don't even have a Fighting Type yet?" The Karate Master, who has an excellent sense of hearing after many years of conditioning, heard what Robert said despite the fact that he was at the other side of the Dojo and concentrating on fighting with a partner. The Master stops fighting and bows to his opponent, then leaps into the air and soars across the Gym with his leg outstretched! The Master lands right in front of Robert without flinching, both feet placed firmly on the ground. He bows, "Hello. Welcome to the Fighting Dojo." Robert's jaw drops at the Master's amazing kicking move, and after a moment of awe, he starts clapping wildly! "Do not clap." The Karate Master looks sternly into Robert's eyes, "Bowing is sufficient, and it is also proper etiquette." Robert nods, places his hands on his sides, and bows at the Karate Master. When he sees the Master smiling, Robert feels a little less tense, and he asks, "Does everyone merit such an extravagant greeting when they enter the Dojo?" "I overheard you say that you were interested in adding a Fighting Pokemon to your Team. As you can see, we specialize in Fighting Pokemon in this Dojo..." The Master motions to a Primeape and a Machoke, among other Fighting Pokemon present, "I am willing to help you, young man. But Fighting Pokemon are a very special Type of Pokemon, so you must first prove yourself as a trainer before I will give you the chance to choose one out of two very strong Fighting Pokemon." "How do I prove myself, sir?" Robert asks, as solemnly as if he were talking to Mr. Fuji, his mentor from Lavender Town. "Call me sensei." The Karate Master goes on to explain what Robert must do, "To prove your abilities as a Pokemon trainer, you must go through the Gauntlet. I will return to the far end of the Dojo, and instruct some of the Dojo members to line up in front of me. You must challenge each one to a one-on-one Pokemon match and defeat them to move on. If you reach me, you will have a two-on-two match with the Pokemon that you can choose from, to help you decide. Do you accept to this?" Robert eyes widen when he hears all that he has to go through if he wants this Pokemon, trying to figure out of it's worth it, "Well, it's a little harder than throwing a Pokeball at a wild Mankey, but my Pokemon need the training... so I accept." "Excellent." The Karate Master backflips to send himself flying to the opposite wall of the Dojo. Once he lands, he calls out in a loud voice, "Attention, Dojo members. Take your places for the Gauntlet." Hearing their sensei's instructions, half of the people on the hard wooden floor clear out to the sides of the room. A few confident Dojo members and one drunk Dojo member remain on the floor, and line up in order of seniority - the troublemaking twins called Tip and Tup in the front. Robert steps up to the ten year old twin boys, and tries to remain serious while bowing, but can't take it and cracks up in mid-bow because these mere children are his first opponent, "Oh man, little kids... This is going to be too easy..." Tup replies to Robert's jeering with some chuckles of his own, "Hey, we may be kids, but at least we don't play with dollies!" "Huh?" Tip looks at Tup, who points at Robert's pocket. Tip notices the Mithril-rama doll peeking out of Robert's front jeans pocket and goes on to laugh even louder than Tup! Tip takes the mocking to a higher level when he runs up to Robert and snatches the Rilli doll away, "Haa Haaa, got your dolly! Hey Tup, catch!" Tip tosses the Rilli doll towards his twin brother! "AHHHH! Be careful with that!!!" Robert runs up to Tip just as the little boy catches the Rilli doll, "Don't throw her around, you might kill her!" Tip just giggles at what he shrugs off as Robert's crazy imagination and tosses the Rilli doll back up into the air, back to Tup. Robert chases after it, but when he gets to Tup, Tup tosses it back to Tip. Then Tip tosses it to Tup, Tup tosses it to Tip, Tip tosses it to Tup, Tup tosses it to Tip, and Tip tosses it to Tup, playing the cruel game of keep away... with Robert playing the part of the Mankey in the middle, screaming every time the twins nearly fumble the Rilli doll... "Hey, Tip..." Tup says while smirking, "This doll is being disrespectful." Ignoring Robert while he shouts "You're the ones being disrespectful!", Tup pulls off the Rilli doll's little sneakers and drops them on the floor. Robert picks up the tiny shoes and puts them in his pocket, saying, "Don't take her clothes off! Why are you treating my girlfriend like this?! STOP IT!" "Your... girlfriend...?" Tup falls to the floor laughing, rolling around and everything. Most children do exactly what older people tell them not to, and Tup isn't any different. He starts to pull up the Rilli doll's pink Clefairy shirt, but before he can find out that the doll is anatomically correct, Tip snatches it away from Tup. Tip crosses his arms and shakes his head at Tup, "I think the poor kid's had enough. We should give him his toy back." Tup makes a face and asks, "Who are you and what have you done to Tip?" Tip whispers under his breath, "Master looks angry at us... we have to send out a Pokemon..." Robert takes the Rilli doll away from Tip. "Are you okay?" He pulls the cord on her back. The doll's tone of voice sounds very ticked off, "Beat those brats, Robert! And people wonder why I dislike little kids. Show those bast..." Tip and Tup are shocked. Tup stammers, "Uh... maybe it's one of those... interactive dolls?" Despite the fact that he's afraid... very afraid, Tip removes a Pokeball from his white belt and throws it, "Poliwag, we choose you!" The small tadpole Pokemon appears on the floor. Tup adds, "Maybe you'll evolve into Poliwhirl after we beat this doll-loving weirdo." After giving his Rilli doll a kiss on the forehead, which ends up being a kiss on her entire face, he places her back inside his front jeans pocket. He then looks down at the Poliwag on the floor, "I wish I had Raichu or Vileplume with me, so I could go for the over-kill... But since I don't, I'll just have to settle for my highest level Pokemon... Haunter, I choose you!" Robert snaps the first Pokeball off his belt and hurls it at the Poliwag! It snaps open after knocking Poliwag over... "Haunter? Haunt..." The purple Ghost Pokemon looks left and right for his opponent, then looks up, and finally looks down at the floor to see a knocked over Poliwag, "HAW HAW HAW HAW..." The Haunter continues laughing so loudly that human ears can't hear it, and after a few seconds, he becomes audible again, "...HAW HAW HAW HAW HAUNTER!!!" Robert growls at Tip and Tup, "Do you like *your* toy being laughed at? Oh wait, that's your Pokemon. Haunter, Hypnosis." "Haunter Haunt..." Haunter moves his disembodied hands around in circles while the Poliwag stares at him. In mere seconds, the Poliwag who is already laying down falls asleep, and starts snoring. A snot bubble goes in and out of its mouth. Tip and Tup sweatdrop. Tip orders, "Wake up!" Tup narrows his eyes, "Poliwag, you were supposed to put *him* to sleep!" Robert rubs his Rilli doll's black hair with his thumb and says, "This one's for you, Rilli. Haunter, Dream Eater." Robert's Haunter raises his hands up high and breaks out into maniacal laughter, his eyes popping out, "HAW HAW HAW HAW HAUNTER!" He licks his lips and hops into the Poliwag's body... Poliwag flinches around spasmodically, until it can't move around any more. Haunter floats out of Poliwag, smiling and rubbing his ghostly belly, "Haunter Haunter!" Tip recalls his fainted Poliwag and slaps Tup on the back of his head, "This is all your fault for taking the guy's doll! Now we're in trouble with sensei..." Tup's jaw drops, "*My* fault? You're the one who pointed at the doll! I didn't even notice it..." Tip growls, "Oh yeah?!" Tup growls even louder, "YEAH! Let's settle this outside!" Tip nods, "You're on!" They both run outside of the Dojo to have a Pokemon battle without the Karate Master watching them use disrespectful tactics. Robert recalls his Haunter into his Pokeball, and approaches his next opponent. The next person he has to face is a lanky seven foot tall man in a white Karate uniform tied with a brown belt. He has long blond hair in a ponytail. Robert must look up to lock eyes with him. Still bitter from his encounter with Tip and Tup, Robert doesn't mind his manners, "My, my, you're a tall drink of piss." The tall man narrows his eyes and punches Robert in the stomach in such a quick motion that Robert doesn't even try to move out of the way. After Robert regains the ability to breathe, he coughs out, "I'm sorry... My name's... Robert..." "I'm Tom. Enough small talk, let's fight." The man grabs the only Pokeball on his brown belt and extends it forward. In a striking contrast to the tall, skinny man who is its trainer, a short, fat Primeape emerges, knocking its fists together and snorting as he appears, "Prrrimeape! Prrrrrime-ape!" The Fighting Pokemon starts throwing phantom punches in Robert's direction, hopping around, showing him that he's ready for anything, "Primeape, Prime! PRIMEAPE!!!" Still holding his aching stomach with one hand, Robert grabs the golden Ultraball in the fourth slot on his belt and pitches it up above the Primeape. When the Ultraball pops open, a huge shadow covers a large radius around the Primeape. Tom is quick enough to leap away from the shadow, but the only thing his Primeape does is look up to see giant buttcheeks belonging to a female Snorlax seconds before he gets squashed under them! Robert's Snorlax suddenly wakes up, "SNORLAX!" Tom blinks and furrows his brow before commanding, "Primeape, get out from under that Pokemon. Primeape?" "Hmmm, Snorlax looks a little fatter than before..." Robert wonders why his Pokemon seems fatter. Snorlax has been hibernating since Robert was on Cinnabar Island, "...and I haven't fed her anything since I earned my Volcano Badge..." Snorlax feels a little pained. She lies down and rolls away from where she was sitting. Tom's Primeape is no where to be seen. A muffled noise comes from the Snorlax's rear end, "Mmmape! Mmmm! MMMAPE! MAAAAAPE!" Tom notices where the noise is coming from and grabs his Pokeball off the floor. He shoots beams of red energy at Snorlax's butt, but they just bounce off her fatness. Analyzing Tom's actions, Robert realizes what happened and he makes a face of disgust, "Snorlax... Uhm, 'release' Primape... then use Headbutt... or would that be Butthead, in this case?" Snorlax's closed eyes close tighter and she starts making pained noises, similar to those a pregnant woman makes during labor. Robert hugs his Snorlax and acts like a Lamaze coach, "Okay, Snorlax! PUSH! Push harder!" Snorlax keeps pushing, until a dirty Primeape appears behind her behind. Snorlax rolls around to face it, but instead of hugging it like mothers do to their newborns, she Headbutts it, knocking it out in one hit! Tom is disgraced when he recalls his Primeape, "Now I don't feel bad about punching you in the stomach." He bows to Robert, like he should have at the beginning of the match, then joins his fellow Dojo members at one of the Dojo's walls. Robert recalls Snorlax, who fell asleep after the difficult labor of 'delivering' Primeape, back into her Ultraball. He walks up to his next opponent, a short, stout man wearing a black belt, and remembers his etiquette this time. Robert bows, but the stout man doesn't even notice since he's so drunk. Despite the fact that his opponent can't even stand up straight, Robert feels that this is going to be a very difficult opponent - perhaps because of his black belt or perhaps because he looks so tough! Solon, the drunk man, staggers about, "So, ye wants sta fight for a Fight'n Pokerman?! Well, I'm gonna send ya up ag'nst one-o-dah str'ngst Poke-bon-bon in the Uni'hic'verse... Brace yerself, c'mon, Punch Drunk!" Solon's hand drops to his black belt and he fumbles with the Pokeballs there, grabbing one of them without really checking to see which one it is! He doesn't intentionally drop it, but it falls anyhow, and it pops open to release a Rattata! "Hey, lookits wunna Gads'! Hic!" "A Rattata?!" Robert starts laughing, and Solon doesn't get angry, he just joins in on it. Once done laughing, Robert grabs the second Pokeball on his belt, "It looks like I'll finally be able to send out Cubone to get some experience. Cubone, go!" When Robert's Pokeball hits the floor, a small Cubone appears holding his Bone Club so that it hits the floor. He's a little depressed, since he's been in the Pokeball by himself for so long, "Cuuubone..." Robert shouts, "Cubone, Bone Club, now!" Cubone raises his Bone Club and sends it crashing down on Solon's Rattata's head. In response, the Rattata just drunkenly giggles while falling back. Apparently, Solon had given him some spiked punch to drink, which not only reduces the rat's pain, but it also gives it a bit of courage. After Quick Attacking Cubone without taking an order from Solon first, it hops past Cubone and lands on Robert's foot. The Rattata looks up and shows its fangs, "RATTATA!" Though a sock separates the Rat Pokemon from Robert's foot, Robert shrieks like a little girl and starts running around in circles, swinging his foot around! The Rattata keeps holding on with its claws, and chuckling at the large man's reaction! Tears flow from Robert's eyes as he runs around. He shouts while frantically flailing his limbs around, "I *hate* Rat Pokemon! GET IT OFF ME! Cubone, Bone Club it again!" Cubone stares intently at the Rattata clinging onto Robert's foot, until Robert runs close to Cubone for the Pokemon to land a clean hit. "Cuu... uu... bone!" Cubone sends his Bone Club crashing down... ....but Rattata leaps out of the way just before it gets hit... and due to the laws of inertia, the Bone Club crashes onto Robert's foot! Robert starts leaping around on his one good foot snarling from pain, "ARGH! Oh the pain, oh the pain of it all!" "Y'know, there was a Pokimom..." Solon furrows his brow, "...called Pain Dance, m'tinks... Wonder what ever 'appened to th' sucker. Ahh well, I'll 'member when I'm more sober... or m'bee less sober..." Solon swills from his bottle of beer! "There's only one pain I can think about now..." Robert points at the drunk Rattata, who is rolling around laughing, "You dirty rat! Cubone, Bone Club THE RATTATA!" Robert's Cubone looks sad that he hit his trainer, and he tries to make up for it by making sure that he doesn't miss the Rattata this time. He holds his Bone Club like a bat and walks up to the Rattata. He closes one eye, wiggles his Bone Club a little, then smacks it onto the Rattata, sending it flying! It soars through one of the holes on the walls of the Dojo, and keeps going until it is nothing but a little star in the sky. Cubone raises his Club high, "Bone!" "It looks like... it looks like he..." Solon suddenly passes out before making his half-wit comment. A Machamp watching from the sidelines walks up to Solon and drags him away using its four arms. After congratulating him on his successful home run, Robert recalls Cubone. Robert then looks up to see who is his next opponent. The only person left in the Gauntlet is the Karate Master. He steps up to the Master and bows, "Have I proven myself worthy thus far, sensei? I apologize for anything which you might deem inappropriate, I am not used to these customs." "I do question your earlier actions, but if you are able to defeat me, that should rid me of my worries." The Karate Master bows at Robert and takes a Pokeball off his black belt, "Hitmonchan, prepare for combat." When the Master extends his Pokeball, it releases a Hitmonchan, who holds her gloved hands at her sides. She awaits her opponent, "Monchan." Robert grabs his sixth Pokeball, "One good female Pokemon deserves another... Golduck, go!" Robert drops his Golduck's Pokeball and after a red flash, a curvaceous blue Golduck appears, "Golduck, gold!" Once Golduck is out of her Pokemon, the Master's Hitmonchan bows, and Golduck decides that she should be just as polite. She bows, but since her 'upper body weight' is too much for her short legs, she trips in mid-bow and falls on top of Hitmonchan! "Duck! Duck!" "How clumsy." The Master shakes his head, "Hitmonchan, Comet Punch." Hitmonchan starts running circles around Golduck, sending volleys of lighting fast punches at her! "Monchan, Monchan, Monchan!" Golduck tries to avoid them, but ends up tripping on her own tail and falls to the floor. Hitmonchan keeps Comet Punching her, even after Golduck falls. Golduck starts to get a headache. Robert grins - not because his Pokemon's getting hurt, but since he's heard tales of Psyduck and Golduck gaining immense power when they get headaches. Robert shouts, "Golduck, Confusion!" Golduck places her webbed hands on her temples and closes her eyes. "GOLDUCK!" The Confusion blast hits the Hitmonchan with so much force that it sends her crashing to the floor in pain... The Fighting Pokemon struggles to get up, and finally manages to, "Hitmon... chaaan..." The Karate Master ponders the situation for a brief moment, and decides on an attack, "This is a long shot, but if Hitmonchan is able to burn Golduck, then she will have the advantage over the duck. Hitmonchan, Fire Punch!" Robert watches in disbelief as the Master's Hitmonchan's red gloves catch on Fire and she Punches Golduck with so much force that the Fire attack actually hurts the Water Pokemon! Robert wonders how it is possible for a Fighting Type Pokemon to use a Fire Type attack, then remembers the question he got wrong on Blaine's test in the Volcano, "That's the Fighting Pokemon with the different elemental attacks! I must have a Hitmonchan of my own... Golduck, Surf!" Golduck raises her arms up and starts moving around as if she was on a surf board, and it starts raining inside the Dojo. While Hitmonchan is distracted by the rain, Golduck spews geysers of water from her gray beak! When the Surf attack is finished, a drenched Hitmonchan with a wet t-shirt is sprawled on the ground, fainted. The Karate Master recalls his Pokemon and grabs a second Pokeball. Before the Master can throw the Pokeball, however, Robert interjects, "Hey! There's no need for me to battle the other Pokemon, sensei! I've decided that I want to own a Hitmonchan!" "You aren't getting any Pokemon until you defeat my Hitmonlee." The Karate Master extends his Pokeball forward and a tall brown Fighting Pokemon with long legs wrapped in cloth appears. The Hitmonlee takes a fighting stance, "Monleeee!" Robert smirks at the strange looking Pokemon, "Okay, I'll beat that, no sweat... but then you have to give me a Hitmonchan! Golduck, Confusion!" "Hitmonlee, Rolling Kick." The Karate Master commands while standing with his hands pressed together in meditation. "Hitmon... LEEEE!" The Master's Hitmonlee rolls up to Golduck before she can even think about using Confusion and pelts her with a series of kicks so fast and devastating that it makes Robert hurt just from looking at them. Needless to say, Golduck is fainted by the time Hitmonlee finishes his Rolling Kick attack. Hitmonlee bows at the fainted female Golduck. Robert frowns, "Golduck, return..." When his Water Pokemon is back inside her Pokeball, Robert looks down at his belt and removes the fifth Pokeball from it, "I've been saving Slowbro for the strongest opponent, so he can gain the most experience... and this definitely looks like the strongest opponent. Slowbro, go!" Robert throws the Pokeball and the large, fat pink Pokemon with the blue Shellder on his tail appears, grinning and yawning, "Ahhhh, Slowbro! Slowww..." Robert points at the Hitmonlee so that Slowbro knows who he has to attack and says, "Slowbro, Confusion!" "A Slowbro? This will give Hitmonlee time to raise his Attack power." The Karate Master knows that Slowbro tend to be slow... in fact, he knows much about many Psychic Pokemon, believing that he should 'know his enemy', "Hitmonlee, Meditate." The Karate Master's Hitmonlee sits down and crosses his legs, "Monnnnleee... Monnnleeee... Monnnleee..." "Ah, but this Slowbro knows Swift, so he's learned how to be faster than most other Slowbro! He even won sixth place in the Big P Pokemon Ranch!" Robert grins, seeing that Hitmonlee isn't moving any part of his body while in deep Meditation. Robert is shown to be right about Slowbro's quickness, when in a mere 4 seconds, Slowbro sends purple waves of Confusion towards Hitmonlee! Not only do they hurt the Fighting Pokemon, they also Confuse him! Hitmonlee breaks out of his Meditation in order to kick himself in the face! Hitmonlee falls over, and faints due to his own kick. Slowbro's grin widens, "Ahh, Slow!" Robert cheers and hugs his Slowbro! He dances around with his Slowbro, who doesn't follow very well, being five seconds late on every dance step. Then Robert remembers his prize and bows, "So, sensei, am I worthy of the Hitmonchan?" "You were able to withstand the Gauntlet, and though I don't approve of your methods, you have shown your worth, so I will award you with a Fighting Pokemon." The Karate Master walks over to a nearby vault and opens it up. He looks inside and shakes his head, "Are you sure you don't want a Hitmonlee, instead? I seem to be running out of Hitmonchan..." Robert's eyes get filled with tears, "You mean... there are no Hitmonchan left? Not even one...?" "There is one left, but I doubt that you'll want her. No one else has." The Karate Master looks at Robert to explain, "Almost two years ago, we mated a Hitmonlee with a Hitmonchan and got a very peculiar Hitmonchan. She was born without shoes, unlike other Hitmonchan, and her feet are somewhat similar to a Hitmonlee's. She is considered very strange, especially since she was born with her father's Mega Kick attack instead of her mother's Comet Punch. She's only Level 30, and I am not even sure that she'll learn Fire Punch, Ice Punch, and Thunder Punch... but if you want her, anyway, you can have her..." Robert thinks about it, and feels sorry for the poor Hitmonchan that no one wants, "I'll take her... and I'll train her so that she'll learn those Elemental Punches!" Robert bows as the Karate Master, who is also bowing, hands him the Hitmonchan's Pokeball. Robert's Pokedex acts up and the Pokeball disappears the moment it touches the palms of Robert's hands. Robert pats his Slowbro on the back, "...and now it's time to face Sabrina, Slowbro! I think you're ready!" "You are going to face Sabrina?" The Karate Master smiles at Robert, and gets an idea, "Please stay here and train with me for a few hours, young man. I know Sabrina personally, and I can help you devise a way to defeat her. Somehow, I doubt your Snorlax's peculiar method of subduing her enemy will work against her. Do you wish to train with me personally?" It doesn't take a long time for Robert to make his decision. Having been beaten by Sabrina three times facilitates Robert's decision making process, "I would be honored to train with you, sensei. Oh, and my name is Robert." "Very well, Robert. Change into this." The Karate Master gives Robert a white Karate uniform and a white belt. Robert nods and gives the Karate Master his Rilli doll, "Hold this for me while I change. I wouldn't want her to see me naked!" As Robert walks away, the Karate Master stares at the Rilli doll, and recognizes the craftsmanship immediately, "Sabrina." He smiles at the Rilli doll and says, "Don't worry, after I train your companion, Sabrina will have no choice but to change you back to normal." He pulls the cord on Rilli's back and she says, "Thanks, sensei, but could you please get your fingers off my b..." When Tip and Tup walk back into the Dojo all bruised up, they see the Karate Master holding the Rilli doll. Tip looks at Tup, "Is that sensei playing with a doll?" Tup looks at Tip, "That's what it looks like..." Tip scratches his head, "Do you think now would be a good time to hide in our room?" Tup nods, "Definitely." They both run away scared! -Robert