Icy Sets Off

by Chichiri

  This is the story of Icy, a psychic pokémon trainer from Saffron City. He is 12 years old and is ready to set out on his pokémon journey. He received an Abra for his 10th birthday from his parents and attends classes at the Saffron City Gym. He has been working on training his Abra for 2 years now but doesn’t want it to evolve yet. Sabrina, the gym leader in Saffron, told Icy that he should meet a pokémon expert by the name of Professor Oak in Pallet Town. Icy decides the best way to get to Pallet would be through Digletts’ Cave in Vermilion City. Icy waves good-bye to his loving parents and sets off on his journey.

  “Well Abra, let’s go!”
  “Aaaabraaaa...,” replies Abra in a sleepy tone. Icy recalls Abra to its pokéball and decides to pick up some supplies at the Pokémart. He picks up a few pokéballs, some potions, and various healers. After paying for the supplies, Icy departs south from Saffron City.

by Abramaster

  “So this is what non-city stuff looks like,” proclaims Icy as he looks at the beautiful countryside. His psychic senses alert him to a nearby pokémon. “All right! I sense my first catch is near!” Just then, a Pidgey popped its head up out of the grass. “Let’s go Abra!” he says as he releases Abra from its pokéball. “Abra, teleport now!” Abra teleports behind the Pidgey. “Alright Abra, hit it with your confusion attack!” Abra lets out a psionic wave which makes the Pidgey start stumbling around in a dizzy manner. “Pidgey, you’ll be my first catch! Pokéball GO!” Icy throws the pokéball at the confused Pidgey. Pidgey is sucked into the pokéball as Icy watches patiently. The ball wobbles for a second but then becomes still.
  “YES! I caught my very first pokémon. I wonder if my new Pidgey can ever learn any psychic attacks. Abra, come back.” Abra returns to his pokéball and Icy decides to take a rest while he enjoys the scenery. “We’ll rest here, then set out across this grassland for Vermilion tomorrow.” Icy’s pokémon agree and take a nap. Icy thinks about all the new pokémon he will see when he gets to Vermilion City. He decides to set up camp since the sun has already begun to set. As Icy watches the extraordinary view, he thinks about his parents and friends back in Saffron City.

Icy's First Battle

  Last time, Icy and his pokémon set up camp just outside of Saffron City. He caught his very first pokémon, a Pidgey, with his Abra. Now, Icy continues on his hike toward Vermilion City.

  “Ahh, fresh air and sun shine. What a perfect morning...” His words are interrupted by the voice of a younger trainer.
  “C’mon Rattata... Yes! Good work... Huh...” The boy looks up and sees Icy approaching. “Hey, you’re a pokémon trainer, right?”
  “Yes,” replies Icy. Icy wonders for a second what the boy is getting at.
  “You wanna battle. How many pokémon do you have? I’ve got a Rattata and a Pidgey. Oh... My name’s Mike. What’s yours?”
  “Icy. Pleased to meet you. I’ve got two pokémon also, a Pidgey and an Abra.”
  “Wow! An Abra! Really! How did you get that? Ahh, never mind. C’mon, wanna battle? Pleeeasssse...”
  “Hmmmm... Sure.”
  The two trainers select their starting pokémon for the match. Icy starts out with his new Pidgey while Mike releases Rattata.
  “Rattata! Use your hyper fang to crème that Pidgey!” Rattata lunges for the Pidgey.
  “Pidgey. Fly high to evade and counter with a gust attack.” Pidgey evades the attack and blows Rattata into a tree. “Hehehe, nice job Pidgey, now finish it off with your Wing Attack!”
  Mike is worried now. “Rattata, use your quick attack!” Mike 's Rattata successfully evades Pidgey’s wings and smashes it to the ground. Now it’s Icy who is worried. “Tackle it Rattata!” Rattata pounds the Pidgey into the tree knocking it out.
  “Oh no, Pidgey... Uh... Return!” The beam from the pokéball takes Pidgey back. “All right, I’ll show you. Go Abra!”
  “Aaaabraaa...”
  “Abra! Confusion attack!” Abra uses its confusion attack to confuse Rattata and it accidentally knocks itself out as it lunges into a tree.
  “Huh... Errrr... Rattata return. Pidgey GO! Blow that Abra sky high!” The Pidgey tries to blow the Abra away with its Gust attack but Icy uses telepathy to have Abra use Confusion to send the attack back at Pidgey. “What... Hey, how did you do that? You didn’t order Abra to use that attack...” Mike seems to be the one who is confused now.
  “I can control my psychic pokémon using telepathy,” replies Icy proudly. “Well, I guess that makes my Abra the winner!”
  “Ah, you just got lucky. So, where are you headed?”
  “Vermilion City. Then through Digletts’ Cave to Pallet Town.” Icy’s facial expression changes from determined to joyful in the hopefulness of friendship.
  “Vermilion City? Cool! That’s where I live. I could go with you and show you around.”
  “OK. That would be wonderful.” Icy feels overjoyed that he has made a new friend. It seems that Mike doesn’t mind Icy’s psychic abilities, which makes Icy feel even better. As the two trainers head for Vermilion City together, they both realize that their destinies are somehow linked.

Icy and Mike Arrive in Vermilion City

  Last time, Icy met a young pokémon trainer named Mike. The two had a small battle in which Icy won but his Pidgey was badly injured. The two became friends and together they arrive in Vermilion City. It has been a while since Mewtwo had wreaked havoc on the beautiful harbor city. All of Vermilion has been rebuilt so Icy has no idea of what had happened.

  “This is a nice place you’ve got here,” says Icy.
  “Yeah. But last week, a giant white pokémon destroyed a lot of the city. They had to bring in the army! I didn’t get to see it because my parents told me to hide in our house.”
  “Oh my. That’s terrible! What did they do with the evil pokémon?”
  “I heard they took it to a special lab on Cinnabar Island.” He and Icy continue walking down the road leading to the pokécenter. “Just ahead is a pokécenter. We can heal our pokémon there.”
  They finally reach the pokécenter and each give their pokémon to Nurse Joy to be healed.
  “How long have you been training Icy?”
  “For about two years, but I left home only a few days ago.”
  “I just started. It’s not an easy task. After our pokémon are healed, let’s go to my house. I want you to meet my family.” Just then, Nurse Joy came out and called Icy and Mike to the front desk.
  “Your pokémon are all healed. Please come back any time.” She smiles then helps another trainer.
  “Let’s go Icy. I’ll show you the way to my house.” Icy and Mike head for his house. After walking for about five minutes, they are standing outside a white, medium sized home with a lovely garden in front.
  “Nice house,” says Icy. He is very impressed.
  “We were lucky that the giant pokémon was captured so soon, otherwise it may have destroyed it. Well, let’s go in. I want to introduce you.” They go inside where Mike’s mom is busy preparing dinner.
  “Well, your father and I have been wondering when you’d be coming home. Did you find any new pokémon?” asks Mike’s mother. She suddenly sees Icy and asks Mike, “Is this a new friend of yours?”
  “Uh huh. His name is Icy and he is a pokémon trainer too! He can also use psychic powers to control his pokémon!”
  “Wow! You’re quite a guy aren’t you,” she replies smiling at Icy. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, would you like to join us?”
  “That would be wonderful. Thank you very much,” Icy answers. They all sat down to a huge seafood meal. Seafood is a specialty in Vermilion City because it’s on the water. After dinner, Icy thanks Mike and his mom for their hospitality but tells them he must get going. They say their good-byes and Icy returns to the pokécenter to stay the night.
  “Tomorrow, we’ll head for Digletts’ Cave.” He yawns and quickly falls asleep. Icy dreams of all the new people he will see on his journey, not to mention all the interesting pokémon he’ll catch.

The Walking Grass

  Last time, Icy met his friend Mike’s parents in Vermilion City. After sleeping overnight at the pokécenter, he decides it would be a good idea to catch a grass pokémon before heading for Digletts’ Cave. And now…

  Icy heads back to Route 6 in search of a grass type pokémon. “From what I heard in Vermilion City, the Pewter City gym leader, Brock, is a push-over. But if I can capture an Oddish, I can really make him look like a fool!” Icy chuckles to himself as he walks through the dense grasses. “Ooooddddish! Ooooddddish!” he cries out. No response. “Go Abra. Use your psychic powers to find some Oddishes.” Abra sleepily points in a northerly direction toward a spring. “Abra, that’s a spring. Why would an Oddish hang out by a spring?” Icy is doubtful of Abra’s sense of location but then notices some grass swaying back and forth. He licks his finger and puts it in the air. “Hmm.. No wind...” He slowly approaches the grass near the spring and suddenly, about 20 Oddishes jump out of grass. “Aghh!!! Abra, confusion attack NOW!!!” Abra fires a psyonic wave at a few of the Oddishes confusing them. They begin attacking each other while Icy and Abra, well Abra just sits there with his eyes shut, just watch the different colors of the powders and spores the Oddishes were using on each other. One Oddish, slightly larger than the rest of them, seems to be unaffected by the other Oddishes attacks. “That one’s mine! Go pokéball!” he says as he throws the well-aimed pokéball at it. It captures the Oddish and floats back into Icy’s hands.
  “Yeeesssss! Boy is that Brock in for a surprise. He he he...” he laughs. Then he notices all the Oddishes crying in pain. “Oh no, they attacked each other so much that they all got hurt bad.” He snaps his fingers as an idea comes to him. “I know! Abra, teleport the Oddishes into the spring to wash the poisons off.”

by Abramaster

  Abra focuses his teleportation powers on the group of Oddishes and in an instant, they vanish. Seconds later, they reappear about 7 inches above the spring and plunge into the water below. { SPLASH!!!! } Icy watches hopefully as the Oddishes regain their strength and start to play in the water.
  “Well Abra, you may not be a great conversationalist, but at least you’ve got a great sense of humor! Let’s get going, it’ll be dark soon.” He waves goodbye to the group of soaked Oddishes and heads back toward Vermilion City. Abra returns to his pokéball and Icy decides the stop by the pokécenter to heal his new Oddish.
  While waiting for his Oddish to be healed, he thinks about why he didn’t want to evolve Abra. Icy had been lonely as a child and up until he met Mike, Abra was his only true friend. But now, Abra was getting quite boring and Icy could really use a friend he could talk to. “Mister, hello... Wake up... HEY!!!” Nurse Joy’s voice startles Icy as he remembers why he was waiting there in the first place. “Your Oddish is as good as new! It’s getting pretty late, you’re welcome to stay the night.” Icy nods and Joy returns to her desk. Icy remains sitting on the bench still trying to decide what to do with his Abra. He slowly drifts off and falls asleep as the sun sets over the water beyond the horizon. Tomorrow, he’ll be ready to set off for Digletts’ Cave.

In the Hall of the Dugtrio King

  Last time, Icy found a crowd of Oddishes and managed to capture one. After healing it at the pokécenter, he began thinking about what to do with Abra. And now…

  The sun rose in a spectacular display on the Vermilion Harbor. Icy woke up, had breakfast at the local diner, then set out for the cave. “I hope I get a chance to capture a Diglett or Dugtrio,” Icy said with confidence.
  He entered the caves. It was slightly dark but someone had placed small lights every 25 meters throughout the cave. Icy looked around but didn’t see any pokémon. Then, right under him, a Diglett zipped by. It was followed by another Diglett. Then, Icy felt the cave rumbling. He ducked into a side cavern as hundreds of Digletts rushed by. “Let’s follow them!” he said to Abra. They followed the Digletts through some winding tunnels until they came to a large open cavern. There, in the middle of all the Digletts, was a large Dugtrio. It was much larger than any of the other Digletts.
  “Wow, would you look at that. They look like they’re praising the Dugtrio.” Icy really wanted to capture a Diglett or two, and that Dugtrio was very tempting. He decided to have Abra use its confusion attack on the Digletts the same way he did with the Oddishes. He hadn’t taken more than two steps when he suddenly heard two voices ring out.
  “Prepare for trouble!” “Make that double!” It was two members of Team Rocket. “These Digletts belong to us!”
  “No, you guys can’t have them!”
  “Why not. They’re open to the public.”
  “As far as I’m concerned, thieves don’t belong in the public.”
  “That’s it squirt! We don’t have time to listen to your stupid remarks. We’re taking these pokémon back to the boss and there’s nothing you can do to stop us. Bwa ha ha ha!” they laughed. Icy reaches for Abra’s pokéball.
  “Oh yeah, I challenge you. If you want those Digletts, you gotta get through me first!” he shouts.
  “Whatever boy, it’s your funeral! Go Grimer! Sludge attack now!” Grimer jumps out of his pokéball and fires a massive ball of sludge in Icy’s direction.
  “Go Abra! Use reflect then counter with a confusion attack!” Abra reflects the sludge at Grimer then uses confusion. The Grimer tries to use another sludge attack on Abra but it backfires, blinding it.
  “Drat, Grimer return! Your turn!” he says to his female teammate.
  “I won’t fail! Kid, prepare for the beating of a lifetime! Go Machop!” She throws the pokéball releasing Machop.
  “Ha! What a fool. Now I know why no one is afraid of Team Rocket. Abra, confusion!” Abra uses its confusion attack on the Machop and it knocks itself out with one swing. (@_@)
  “CRAP. All right kid, you win this time. You’ll be sorry!” She recalls Machop and the two flee.
  “Whatever Team Rocket,” he shouts watching them run. The Digletts crowd around him and start chanting, “Dig..diglett..dig.” “Abra, what did they say?” Then, the big Dugtrio moves toward Icy.
  “Trio..Dug..Triodug..dug..dugtrio..trio”
  “Abra, what did HE say?” he asked Abra again.
  “Aaabraaa..aaa..bbb..rrr..aaa…”
  Somehow, it makes sense to Icy. The Dugtrio, in honor of Icy protecting all the Digletts from Team Rocket, wishes to join Icy on his quest. Icy joyfully accepts and had Dugtrio go into one of his pokéballs. Abra returns to its pokéball as well and Icy continues through the cave.
  Finally, he sees the light at the end of the cave. As he exits, he can see the dense Viridian Forest. Icy suddenly remembers that the Viridian Forest is home to many Caterpie (Icy has an unusual affection towards these cute, little bugs). But he and his pokémon are very tired from their hike and he hurries to the pokécenter.
  “Nurse Joy!”
  “Yes, I’m Nurse Joy. Can I help you with something…”
  “Wait a sec, weren’t you just in Vermilion City?” Icy, just like any other new trainer, is confused by the Joy twins.
  “Oh, that’s my sister-in-law. We all look alike!”
  “Wow, that’s really neat…Mmmmmm…Can you heal my pokémon?”
  “Certainly!” She takes Icy’s pokémon and he sits on a bench to wait. A few minutes later, she returns with his pokémon. “You should be careful, I just got word from the police that Team Rocket is nearby.”
  “I just beat the crap out of two of them. They’re push-overs. But thanks for the warning.” He leaves south. His destination, Pallet Town.

Pallet Town at Last

  Last time, Icy was traveling through Digletts’ Cave. He defeated two members of Team Rocket and the lead Dugtrio decided to join him on his journey. And now ...

  Icy leaves south from Viridian City for Pallet Town. As he traveled through Route 1, he saw some other types of pokémon but didn’t have time to capture any. He was determined to make it to Pallet Town by noon and after a few hours of hiking he finally reached it. “This is where Prof. Oak lives, it’s not even a large town.” Icy looked down at his Abra. “Oh well, let’s find Oak.” Abra now walked freely outside its pokéball. Icy decided that he would wait to evolve Abra, but he still needed someone for company. He found a rather large house atop a hill. Reading the sign posted outside the house, he knew he had finally reached his destination. Icy ran up the path to the door and eagerly rang the bell. An older gentleman, still looking somewhat young, answered the door.
  “Yes, hello. I wasn’t expecting any visitors at this hour. What is your name young man?” he asked Icy.
  “I am Icy, a psychic pokémon trainer from Saffron City. I’ve come here to receive my pokédex and official trainer qualifications from you.”
  “Oh. Well then Icy, you must have had quite a trip. Have you captured any pokémon before getting here?”
  “Yes. I caught a Pidgey, an Oddish, and a Dugtrio.”
  “That’s very impressive! Here you go,” he says as he gives Icy a pokédex and a small pokéball.
  “What’s this for?” Icy asked.
  “It’s an extra pokémon I had. Some trainer was going to get it, but sadly some....” he stopped in the middle of his sentence. “Never mind. It’s a Bulbasaur. I’m sorry it isn’t a psychic pokémon but judging from the pokémon you’ve already captured, you seem able to handle multiple types. You’ve got a lot of potential!”
  “Thanks professor. Is it ok if I spend the night here?”
  “Of course. By the way, your pokédex can tell you all about the pokémon you’ve captured or ones you see in the wild. You should head for Pewter City to get your first badge. You need all eight trainer badges in order to compete in the Pokémon Leagues. I believe the gym leader in Pewter is Brock. He specializes in...”
  “... Rock pokémon, I know,” Icy interrupted. “I’ve got a special surprise for him. But I’m headed for the Viridian Forest next. I want the capture some Caterpie.” Icy’s face brightens upon saying the word Caterpie. { He has an affection for them because they are sooooooooo cute! }
  “Caterpie??? Why would you want so many of them?”
  “BECAUSE, CATERPIE ARE THE CUTEST POKÉMON IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!!! I LOVE CATERPIE!!!” Icy shouted.
  Professor Oak is stunned for a second but then regathers his thoughts. “Whatever. They are kinda cute as far as bugs go. They will evolve into Butterfree and can learn psychic attacks later.”
  “Great. Oh, look at the time...”
  “I’ll treat you to dinner. I hope you like pineapple pizza!” Icy just moans to himself. First thing tomorrow morning he’d be heading for Viridian Forest.

Meanwhile…
  The sun comes up and Insanellama and Lonewolf pack up their beds.
  “Well I wonder where the herd’ll be a movin to today...”
  “We’re headin southwest,”(in pikaspeak but amazingly Insanellama understands it).
  “Pi pi Ka chu chu?” (Insanellama can now speak the language too, strange... in this message he said, “about how far.” Further pikaspeak messages said in this to and by him will be in English but with a ^PI^ after them).
  “What, do you actually understand them Insane?”
  “Well, I reckon I do, guess spendin the night with ‘em kinda taught it to me.... hrm..”
  “AMAZING!”
  “We’d better hurry up and go to Pallet Town to check on Oak. Can you like 20 of you come with us in case we see Team Rocket?”^Pi^
  “PI.”(Sure)
  Insanellama positions the 20 Pikachu on Ponyta’s back
  “Lonewolf is it ok if we double up on Vulpix’s saddle?”
  “Sure.”
  “OK LETS RIDE!” About 8 hours pass and they can see Pallet Town coming up in the distance.
  “Ok let’s slow down for a minute, let the horses cool down before they stop.” Another half an hour and they are at Professor Oak’s. Insanellama knocks on the door.
  “How are ya Oak? Mind if we stay the night?”
  “Sure, but Icy is already staying too, hope you don’t mind.”
  “Well I don’t if he don’t.”
  “Ok come right this way. By the way, why are there twenty Pikachus on that Ponyta?”
  “Long story, there’s about 280 more where they came from. There is a herd of ‘em in Viridian forest, I made friends with them, spent the night with ‘em, and the strangest thing is, now I speak the language.”
  “AMAZING.”
  “Howdy there Icy, how are ya?”
  “Fine I guess, how’d you know my name?”
  “Well I’ve known old Professor Oak here since I could speak.”
  “Hi there pikachu.”^Pi^
  “What how can you speak my language?”^Pi^
  “Calm down there little fella, I don’t mean no harm, if you want, you can go talk to some of my friends over there.”^Pi^
  “What, you can talk to pikachu’s in their own language??”
  “Well, yea, it’s a trick I picked up in viridian forest. I only have 4 actual pokémon, the other 20 won’t fight except against TR and wild pokémon if I am out, they’re some friends that agreed to travel with me. Oh by the way, Team Rocket has it in for me, and Professor Oak. I have some friends watchin out for him, but I came to check just in case.”
  “Oh I see.”
  “Well, I forgot to introduce Lonewolf here, sorry bout that.”
  “It’s ok, Hi Icy.”
  “Hi Lonewolf.”

-- SCENE SWITCH --
  “You’re mad heavy Bubba!” Random shouted at his Bulbasaur. Bubba writhed with severe burns from a Charmeleon accident on a small port east of Route 23.
  Random ran off of the ferry and right through Pallet Town until he found the largest building around. The sign said “Oak Research Lab.” Random slammed through the doors and laid the Bulbasaur on the front counter and yelled for some help.
  “HELP ME OUT HERE!!! My Bulbasaur is dying!!!”
  An aide walked to the front desk, shocked by the sight: Bubba’s bulb was burnt brown and badly singed. He was bleeding and nearly unconscious. “bulba... bull..” Bubba could barely bark. Without a word, the aide grabbed the Pokémon and ran to the back room; Random followed anxiously behind.
  Professor Oak was with company when he noticed the racket of Pokémon surgery and the new guest. Oak gave Random a quick look over. He wore tattered ripped jeans, a Spinal Tap t-shirt, and a flannel shirt. An acoustic guitar was hung over his back. His short brown hair was dirty and in need of a industrial strength comb. Oak was reminded of his own youth by the teenager’s “rebel” attitude.
  “Welcome to the Oak Research Institute” Oak proclaimed, “I am Profes-”
  “Professor Oak!” Random interrupted, “I know all about you. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
  “Allow me to introduce you to Icy, Lonewolf and Insane Llama.” Oak held his hand to each trainer as he announced his name.
  “Nice ta meet jer kwantance, Random.” Llama openly greeted Random with a forced handshake. Random flinched. Icy and Lonewolf nodded.
  “We are having some nice pineapple pizza, would you care to join us?” Icy invited Random, holding his slice high in the air. A slight grin could be seen across his face.
  “Where is my Bulbasaur? Is he alright?” Oak checked the back room and returned immediately.
  “He will be fine in a few hours. He seems to be very strong. You must train him well.” Oak was very peculiar about befriending Random.
  “Thank you, I would love some pizza.”
  “Well it’s gettin to be time for shuteye, I guess we’d better lay out our beds on the floor.”
  “Yup.”
  They all go to sleep. Tomorrow, the Viridian Forest awaits…

The Viridian Forest

  Last time, Icy finally made it to Pallet Town. After stopping at Prof. Oak’s, he met 3 new friends. And now…

  They woke up early that morning. “All right, he’s still sleeping, now’s our chance,” Icy said. Insanellama nodded.
  “Yeah, let’s get out of here before he wakes up!” Random and Lonewolf were already at the door. “Let’s go!” they whisper. Without another sound, they leave Oak’s house for Route 1.
  A few hours later, Oak wakes up to an empty house. “Good morning! Rise and shine! The early Pidgey catches the Caterpie! Hmm?!?” Oak looks around but sees no one. “I guess they were the early ones, oh well, looks like I get all the anchovy on rye for myself. Mmm, ymmm, mmmm….”
  The group stops at a local restaurant in town for a real breakfast. “We should head to Route 22 to hunt for Nidorans. They can be quite strong when well trained,” Insanellama says. The others agree and finish their breakfast. They pay and leave to hunt Nidorans.
  “Where are you Nidorans…,” Lonewolf called out. Suddenly, from behind her, 2 male Nidorans jumped out, catching her off guard.
  “Let’s double team them Lonewolf” “Ponyta, fire spin attack, now!” Insanellama shouted.
  “Vulpix fire spin attack NOW!” The flames wrapped both the Nidorans, seriously burning them. “Your mine!” they said, throwing their pokéballs. The two nidorans were easily captured.
  Just then, two more Nidorans popped up, but these were different from each other. They were a male and female. “Let’s double team these Random. Double Bulbasaur!” Icy and Random both release their Bulbasaurs. “Bulbasaur/Bubba, vine whip!” they both yell at the same time. “Bulbasaur!!” the Bulbasaurs cry as they restrain the Nidorans. “Let’s catch them now, go pokéball!” Icy and Random throw their pokéballs. Icy catches the female Nidoran, Random catches the male. “Nice work. Bulbasaurs return! Let’s get these pokémon healed before we continue.”
  “OK,” the others say.
  They head back to the Viridian Pokécenter and have their pokémon healed. “Here are your pokemon, take good care of them.” It’s now noon and they decide to grab some food and supplies before going any further. The Viridian Forest is their next challenge, or is it?
  Meanwhile, two shadows linger in a corner of the pokécenter. “Hmmm… Isn’t that Insanellama, that kid who double-crossed us?”
  “Yes. And that other kid with him, the one with the blue ring, he’s Icy. They’re high on the list.”
  “Then we should follow them. Huh…” Another shadowy figure approaches them, crosses his arms to reveal a red ring with an R on it.
  “Just leave everything to me…”

  The group goes in to the pokémart and buy pokéballs, potions, antidotes, food, and a new rope for Insanellama. “Well I guess we’d better hit the road” said Insanellama.
  “Yea it’s almost 2 o’clock” said Icy. They walk into the forest.
  “Ok guys, keep you eyes open” said Insanellama “Will a few of you guys go see if you can rustle some Caterpie up?^PI^”
  “Sure ^PI^” The pikascouts run off into the distance.
  The group keeps walking on. About 10 minutes later the pikascouts return telling them that they found 14 Caterpie in a group and will lead them to the Caterpie. “Yay, finally I’m gonna get some Caterpie” Icy said. His eyes lit up with the thought.
  “Well there they are, ok Icy, you take 10, and the rest of us will get one each, we’ll let one go free” said Insanellama. Icy uses his Abra to weaken 10 of the Caterpie one by one and catching them.
  “Pikachu THUNDERSHOCK NOW, POKEBALL GO!” and Insanellama had a Caterpie. Random’s Bulbasaur did a vine whip, and he now had one. Lonewolf’s Vulpix did a fire spin, and she now had a slightly singed Caterpie. “Well, let’s move on out guys” said Insanellama “My scouts tell me the pikaherd’s just a little bit up the road from here.”
  5 minutes later they begin to hear muddled pikaspeak, which soon grew to an almost deafening volume. “Hey pal’s can one of my friends each take one of ya with 'em in their journey?”^PI^
  “Sure” ^PI^ one Pikachu jumps on each trainer’s shoulder.
  “Well, I guess I’ll leave these guys with you” ^PI^ “Well, we got a lot of ground to cover.” The group walked off into the distance.
  Meanwhile 3 figures walked along following our heroes’ trail. “What’s that?” the man with the Red ring said. They found out that it was the pikaherd.
  “Holy crap!” said the one of the others.
  PIIIIIIIIIIIIIII KKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA CCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHUUUUUU. Electricity begins coming from every pikachu’s body and frying the Team Rocket members. They stumble away from and around the herd and pick up the trail on the other side.
  “Good thing we brought a lot of potions” said the man with the Red ring. They continued following our heroes trail.
  Meanwhile they continued walking and heard a SNOR SNOR LAX LAX coming from the east. “That’s my favorite kind of pokémon SNORLAX!!!” Said Random.
  “Ok then, you can be the one to catch it” Insanellama said. They walk towards the Snorlax.
  “BULBASAUR GO! BULBASAUR VINEWHIP NOW!!” The Snorlax is encircled by the vines. He eventually breaks free and tries to do a SIT attack. Bulbasaur narrowly evades this. Snorlax busts its rump. “POKEBALL GO!” Snorlax is caught. Random picks up the pokéball and puts it in his back, he then falls over from the weight of the bag. The others begin laughing hysterically.
  “Hahahha, don’t worry it’ll get lighter in a few seconds hehehe, you gotta be careful with heavy pokémon” Insanellama said. Insanellama stops laughing all of a sudden “Hey that looks like a pokécenter over there.” said Insanellama. They go inside and get their pokémon to be healed by the nurse inside.

Meanwhile…
  “You sure that’s enough C-4 to do the job,” Said Red Ringed Man.
  “Yea,” said one of the others.

*Back to our heroes*
  “AB RA ABRA AB AB AB!”
  “He’s pointing at that wall” said Icy. Insanellama puts his ear to the wall. “Uh. guys, it’s uh ticking, we’d better get out of here. You too Nurse” he said. They run out the door and are knocked over by the force of the explosion.
  “We got 'em, let’s go on to Pewter.”
  “Oh man, we’d better go to Pewter and rest,” said Random. They all agreed. They walk for a few hours of un-eventful travel. Just when they are at the edge of Viridian Forest.
  “TEAM ROCKET BLAST OFF AT THE SPEED OF LITE, SURRENDER NOW OR PREPARE TO FIGHT!”
  “I’m Shadow, the man with the red ring said”
  “And we’re Freaka and Reaka” The other two said.
  “You guys stay back I can take 2 of you at once” Giovanni said.
  “I’ll go first said Insanellama Pikachu GO, Ponyta GO, Pidgey go, Rattata go, Caterpie go!”
  “GENGAR GO GENGAR 2 GO GENGAR 3 GO! HAUNTER GO! HAUNTER2 GO! HAUNTER3 GO!”
  “PIKACHU THUNDERBOLT NOW” Shadow withdraws Gengar one
  “PONYTA FIRE SPIN NOW!” This attack causes him withdraw Haunter 1.
  “HAUNTER PSYCHIC NOW!” This attack hits all of Insanellama’s pokémon. Ponyta is the only one left standing.
  “PONYTA FIRESPIN NOW!” This faints one of the Haunters.
  Shadow finishes off Ponyta and Icy sends out his pokémon. “ABRA PSYCHIC NOW!” This knocks the rest of Shadow’s pokémon down to a few hit points.
  “GENGAR HYPNOSIS NOW! GENGAR DREAM EATER!” Only Dugtrio and 2 Gengar are left standing.
  “DUGTRIO EXPLOSION NOW!” This finishes the remaining Gengars, but also Icy’s last pokémon. After seeing Shadow defeated the other two rockets run off.
  Ponyta’s pokéball start’s to shake. Ponyta pops out and then turns into a ball of red energy. “WHAT IN THA… PONYTA’S EVOLVING! HE’S A RAPIDASH NOW!, CONGRATULATIONS RAPIDASH!!” Insanellama begins hugging Rapidash, about 5 minutes later they walk into the pokécenter…

Clan Caterpie and the Boulder Badge

  After a good haul, the four took to the bunks to sleep for the night. Insanellama embraced his newly evolved Rapidash and laid down to sleep for the night. Random climbed above Llama’s bunk, threw his sack by the pillow and laid on his back. Excited by his new pokémon, Snorlax, Random popped his pokéball open: Snorlax burst out.
  “SNORRR!!!” Surprise! Snorlax was sleeping!!! Random laughed at the lethargic beast and tucked over for the night. That was, until the bunk collapsed on an unsuspecting redneck, his horse, and several rabid Caterpie…

  The next morning, the four awoke and ate a great breakfast a la Lonewolf: grits and sausage. Refueled and raring for action, our heroes made their way to the Pewter City gym. Navigating through the corridors of Junior Trainers, Icy, Random, Lonewolf, and Insanellama made their way to the Main Room.
  Brock made his way to the floor of the stadium. “How can I help you?” Brock asked innocently enough.
  “A POKEMON BATTLE!!!” Random retorted.
  Brock didn’t loose his edge. “Of course….. 3 pokémon each. Who is first???”
  “Me.” Icy pushed and shoved his way to the front. Icy shouted, “ABRA!!! GO!!!!” Abra walked out onto the stadium floor.
  Brock returned fire. “Great. You look like a strong kid. But it’s gonna take more than strength to beat me. Geodude, attack.” The floating rock paraded into the corridor banged his fists.
  “Abra, Confusion attack, NOW!!!” Abra began to glow.
  “Geodude, TACKLE now!!!” Geodude dove down towards Abra and right as impact was made, Abra shot a bright blue beam of energy that shot Geodude to the wall, out cold!
  “Nice work Abra!!!” Icy and the others applauded.
  Brock nodded his head impressed. “Onix, your turn!”
  “Abra return, lets go ODDISH!!!” The Oddish appeared very fearful of the enormous rock pokémon. “Oddish, use your sleep powder!” The Oddish tried putting Onix to sleep but it didn’t work.
  “Onix, bind it now!” Onix wrapped around the little Oddish and tried to squeeze it.
  While the others just watched poor Oddish about to get turned into jelly, Icy prepared to put his plan into action. “Time to have some fun. Oddish, stun spore!” Oddish released spores into the Onix and it promptly let go. “Now, use absorb!” Oddish quickly absorbed the last of Onix’s energy. “Good work, Oddish!!! Guess that means you owe me a Boulder Badge!”
  “Not yet!! I still have a Zubat! GO ZUBAT!!”
  “GO CATERPIE!!!” The small insect squiggled from the pokéball onto the floor. “CATERPIE!!! String Shot!!!”
  “Zubat, use supersonic!!!” Zubat complied and let a horrible screech, rendering Caterpie disoriented.
  “Keep it together, Caterpie!!! Use String Shot!” Caterpie fired the string for Zubat’s chest. Zubat tried to avoid the blast, but was too slow. The shot knocked Zubat unconscious!!!
  Random commented a colorful, “How the f…-”
  “Tarnations!” Lonewolf and Insanellama interjected with frightening simultaneousness.
  “Simple vitamins, Iron & Carbos. I got some supplies from Oak’s kitchen before we left. Caterpie is healthy and in prime condition. He will be a strong Pokémon when he grows.” Icy smiled a wide grin.
  Brock mumbled as he handed over the badge, “Boulder Badge Dispenser: Over 100,000 Served…”
  “Now its my turn!!!” Random yelled, taking his guitar off his back and putting at his side, “Bubba, Open up a can!!!” Random tossed a pokéball above his head and Bubba dove out onto the floor.
  Brock sighed and threw a ball onto the floor apathetically. Bubba glanced at Random and fired a vine whip at the second Geodude. A ONE SHOT K.O.!!!
  Brock hates Bulbasaurs. “Go Onix..” Brock cringed. Bubba made short work of the Onix, gaining Random’s first Gym battle victory. Brock was running out of Boulder Badges, so he gave Random a voucher and his bus token.
  Insanellama took the field next. Rapidash had no problems overcoming adversity to thoroughly spank Brock’s pokémon. Rapidash was showing great skill and loyalty. Insanellama showed his pride and gave Rapidash a snack after single-handedly winning his master a Boulder Badge.
  Lonewolf tossed her hair back, stepped forward and threw her Vulpix on the floor. Brock’s eyes lit up. Icy and Llama put their attention to their pokémon. Random put his attention to Lonewolf. Brock released his own Vulpix and the two went at it. Lonewolf’s Vulpix used an ember attack and Brock’s returned a leer. Lonewolf commanded a Fire spin, and Vulpix wrapped Brock AND his pokémon in flame. Lonewolf laughed as she forced them into the corner. Vulpix let of a relieved belch of flame, and galloped back to Lonewolf. She collected her badge, and the team let themselves out.
  Brock was demoralized; Onix carried the broken man back to the shower. Our heroes, sporting Boulder Badges, carried the great Caterpie above their heads. “Great job y’all!”
  Lonewolf congratulated each trainer with a hug. Random really enjoyed his hug. As the group arrived at the Pokécenter, all other trainers circled around them. Icy, Random, Lonewolf, and Insanellama told the story of how they got their boulder badges, adding not to visit Brock again until he has had a nice, cold shower.
  Finally, a young trainer tugged on Icy’s pant leg and asked, “So who are you guys???”
  “Us?” Lonewolf bent down to the boy, “We are CLAN CATERPIE!!!”

Out of this World

  Last time, members of Clan Caterpie split up, each going their separate ways and paths. Icy remained at the Pewter City Pokécenter. They all know their paths will cross at some point in the future. And now…

  Icy went to the gym to watch a few badge matches. Brock was still having difficulty winning. Many of the trainers were using grass pokémon to weaken his rock type pokémon and other types to beat Vulpix and Zubat. As Icy watched Brock get beaten for the tenth time in a row without even coming close, he got bored and went out to lunch.
  He ate at a local restaurant where some Chanceys served him. After a good meal, he prepared his gear for Mt. Moon. “If I’m going to get all those badges, I’ve got to get to Cerulean City,” he said to his Abra. They could see the summit rising over the horizon. “There it is. Hmm, I think Insanellama said he was headed this way too, but he’s probably miles ahead of my be now.”
  Meanwhile, inside a secret meeting room somewhere in Pewter City. The lights are dim, but the silhouettes of five people can be made out. “Insanellama and Icy are both headed for Cerulean City. See that they never make it there.” A ruby glistened of the finger of the man speaking.
  Icy was almost to the entrance of the caves when Abra heard something. Icy turned to Abra and telepathically asked him what was wrong. It was too late. Four members of Team Rocket sprung from their hiding spots. “We have you surrounded, hand over those pokémon Icy and we won’t hurt you that much. Bwa ha ha ha!”
  From a distance, a short, little pokémon watched what was going on. The Rockets began advancing on Icy. He was trapped. Abra suddenly sensed the distant pokémon, a Clefairy, and telepathically asked it for help. It complied, and just before one of the agents was about to squish one of Icy’s Caterpie, ten Clefairies began hopping toward them waving their fingers. Team Rocket was mesmerized and Icy had Abra teleport him and his pokémon to a safe distance.
  Just then, the sky turned black, only to be broken by the intense power of the Clefairies’ metronome attack. Team Rocket was sent flying many miles into the air until they were no longer visible. Icy ran back to where the Clefairies had been to thank them, but they had mysteriously disappeared. From a distant hill, looking through a pair of slick black binoculars, a dark man had a frown on his face. “This isn’t going to be as easy as we had expected.” He began walking back towards Pewter to tell the bad news to his boss, whom he knew would be most disappointed.
  Icy, however, continued on his way towards Mt. Moon. Some trainers come to Mt. Moon in search of the legendary Moon Stone. Others come in hopes of capturing a Clefairy. Icy’s destiny had other plans in store for Mt. Moon, but for the present moment, all Icy could think about was getting to Cerulean City before Team Rocket ambushed him again. Abra navigated him through the winding caverns and they soon could see the Cerulean end. He would do battle with Misty’s water pokémon next for the Cascade Badge. But Icy knows that Team Rocket could be hiding anywhere and will stop at nothing to get him.

Icy Battles Misty

  Last time, Icy was ambushed once again by Team Rocket. After a group of Clefairies saved him, he continued his journey through Mt. Moon. And now…

  Icy looked down at the beautiful city below him. Cerulean City was well known for its beauty and water gardens. Icy decided it would be best to heal his pokémon at the pokécenter before competing for a Cascade Badge. Another one of Joy’s cousins, sisters, whichever, took Icy’s pokéballs and revitalized them. Icy had a quick snack while he waited. Soon after, a Chansey brought him his pokéballs. “Chan, Chansey!” “Thanks,” Icy said as he took his pokéballs and released his Caterpie, Pikachu, and Abra. “Let’s go earn a badge!”
  He walked confidently toward the Cerulean City Gym. As he approached, he saw three figures he thought to be human and one pokémon. “Must be having a warm-up battle before taking on Misty.” Icy disregarded them and entered the gym. It looked more like an aquarium then a gym. Icy asked the girl at the front desk where he could find Misty. She directed him to the main gym room. Icy walked down the corridor leading to the main room and found himself in front of a large swimming pool. In one corner of the gym, a young girl with a rather odd ponytail was shining her Starmie.
  “Excuse me, but I’m looking for the gym leader. Have you seen her little girl?” Misty flipped out.
  “I AM THE GYM LEADER AND I’M NOT LITTLE!” She clinched her fist, ready for a fight. “3 on 3 battle. Agreed?”
  “Uh-huh.” Icy nodded.
  “Let’s get started then. Misty calls, Staryu!” A five-pointed starfish jumped onto the platform.
  “Go Pikachu!” Pikachu jumped onto the floating platform. “Pikachu, thunderbolt now!”
  “Uh-no. Staryu, dive underwater…” Then Misty realized the terrible mistake she had just made. Pikachu used its thunderbolt on the water, electrifying the pool along with Staryu. “Owww. Staryu, return! Misty calls, Starmie!” This time, a ten-pointed starfish appeared.
  “No problem. Thunderbolt, Pikachu!”
  “Not again. Starmie, hit it with your psybeam now!”
  “Crap. Agility now Pikachu!” Starmie began to glow and then shot a colorful blast of energy at Pikachu who quickly dodged it by a hair. “Counter attack now Pikachu. Thunderbolt!” Pikachu complied sending a massive amount of electricity at the starfish. Starmie was flung into the wall, smashing its core.
  “Ohh. Starmie, return! Misty regretfully calls, Psyduck!”
  “Psy-yi-yiii!” The Psyduck appeared.
  “Confusion attack, Psyduck!” But Psyduck couldn’t remember how to do his attacks. In the morning, he had a splitting headache and took some aspirin to relieve it, now it was headache-free.
  “Pikachu, will you please do the honors!” Pikachu smiled, then preceded to using its most powerful attack, Thunder. Just the show off, Pikachu created a massive vortex above Psyduck, who just stared blankly into it. Then, large lightning bolts came crashing down on the Psyduck, reducing it to a perfect duck dinner.
  Misty recalled Psyduck and congratulated Icy on his victory. “You remind me of someone I met a long time ago. He had a cute little Pikachu too. Well, here you go, a Cascade Badge.” Icy thanked Misty and asked if it would be ok for him to stick around. She agreed. Just then, a few younger students came into the room and Misty began teaching a lesson on pokémon battles. She seemed glad that they didn’t get to see her embarrassing loss from just a few minutes ago. Icy listened in just in case he could catch a few pointers.

An Experiment Gone Wrong: Part 1 - One With the Pikachu

  Last time, Icy arrived in Cerulean City. After finding his way to the local gym, he swiftly defeated Misty. And now…

  Icy waited for the class to end. The students left the main gym for their homes, comparing pokémon as they left. Icy walked over to Misty. “Who was it that I reminded you of?” Icy asked curiously.
  Misty thought hard. It had been many years since she, Brock, and Ash had gone adventuring together. Then, the name hit her. “Ash! From Pallet Town. We used to go on adventures together when he was learning to be a pokémon master. I don’t know what happened to him.” She notices all the Caterpie crawling around Icy’s legs and turns green. “Ahhhhh! Bugs!!! Get them away!!!” She continues screaming for a second but then calms herself. “Hehe. I’m sorry. I’m not too thrilled about bugs. Hey, you look like someone who really loves pokémon. I know someone that you should meet. His name is Bill and he owns a lighthouse just a few miles north along the coast. He might be able to show you some neat rare pokémon.” Icy nodded and left the gym. Misty settled down completely as the last Caterpie disappeared with Icy. “I can’t stand bugs,” she muttered to herself. Just then the last Caterpie peeked back in only to find a metal loop flying its way. It ducked out just in time. “Grrr…”
  Icy traveled along the coast until he could see a tall building coming into focus. It was the lighthouse. After about 10 minutes, he finally made it to the front door. He rang the doorbell. A voice on a speaker greeted him.
  “Hello?” it asked.
  “My name is Icy. Is this Bill’s lighthouse? Misty sent me to see him.”
  “Yes it is. Please come in.” The doors swung open to reveal a wonderfully decorated foyer.
  “Wow,” Icy said in amazement. Bill walked up to him.
  “Hello. I am Bill, a pokémon researcher.” Bill extended his hand to Icy. They shook. “I don’t believe I’ve heard your name before. Were you at the Cerulean party last week?”
  “The name’s Icy. No, I wasn’t there. I was in Pallet Town during the party I think. But I heard about Team Rocket trying to crash it. I am a psychic trainer from Saffron City.”
  Bill notices the herd of Caterpie joyfully wiggling around Icy’s leg. “Very cute. You know, most trainers don’t let their pokémon roam freely outside their pokéballs.” He then notices a Pikachu playing with the group of Caterpie. “A Pikachu! Perfect!” He turns to Icy with a smile on his face. “Icy, would you like to be the first human to be able to read a pokémon’s thoughts? It’s perfectly safe.”
  Icy thought it over for a sec then decided it was worth a shot. “Sure, I’ll try your device.”
  “Great. Would you have Pikachu go into that pod over there please, and you go into this one.” Icy got into his pod and Bill started the device. For a second, both Icy and Pikachu felt a little funny, then Icy could hear something. The voice didn’t belong to Bill, it was Pikachu’s. Bill’s machine actually worked, Icy could hear Pikachu’s thoughts. As he listened, Pikachu was thinking about how much it missed the forest and the Pikachu herd, but it was happy to have such a kind trainer. Icy was pleased to know that his pokémon were content with him, but the serene atmosphere was interrupted by the sound of an explosion.
  “Let go of me!”
  “Bwa ha ha! We got him this time!”
  “Let’s get out of here!”
  “Right!”
  Just then, the machine, damaged by the explosion, went haywire. A weird beam Icy had never seen before fired out from the explosions at him. Pikachu was thrown from its pod into the pile of Icy’s pokéballs. The beam had a strange effect on Icy. As he pulled himself together, he thought, “What a headache. Where’s Bill? What happened?” Then, he looked down at his hands. They were yellow. An effect of the beam, possibly. Then he looked up. The controls for the machine were almost twice his height. “Weird,” he thought. A shiny, polished surface on the device glimmered in the sunlight. He slowly walked over to it and to a look at his reflection. When he saw himself, his body became completely limp and he fainted.
  Xavier, Insanellama, and X were jolted awake by the sound of the explosion. Insanellama mounted Rapidash, and told the others to move as fast as they could. Xavier got on his Nidoran, and X got aboard his Onix. Insanellama was the first on the scene. Xavier and X got there only seconds later. “Ok, Rapidash will be our flashlight guys.” said Insanellama. They walked through a door way where a door would have been if it hadn’t been knocked off of its hinges. “WHAT THE???” said Insanellama. “Those look like Icy’s Caterpie, and I think one of those two is his Pikachu.” X and Xavier and Insanellama stood motionless, in astonishment.

An Experiment Gone Wrong: Part 2 - Apples and Oranges

  Last time, Icy went to see Bill, a pokémon researcher. Bill asked Icy if he would participate in an experiment of his. Everything was going fine until Team Rocket decided to barge in. They captured Bill and a strange beam had done something horrible to Icy. Moments later, Insanellama, X, and Xavier entered the lighthouse only to find an astonishing scene. And now…

  “Which of those Pikachu belong to Icy, and where is he for that matter?” Insanellama asked, not expecting an answer. Icy’s Pikachu woke up first.
  “Pika. Chuuu. Kachupi,” it said to the other Pikachu. The other finally regained consciences. The others watched as both Pikachus stood up. The second turned facing Insanellama and tried to explain what had happened.
  “Pika! Chu-ka-pika-chuu-PI-chu-kachupi-KA!”
  “What did it say Insane?” the others asked together.
  “Yer not gonna believe this fellers, but that’s no ordinary Pikachu. It’s Icy!” The others gasp. “He says that Bill was doing an experiment, then he heard that big explosion and some strange beam hit him. Team Rocket took off with Bill too!”
  X began to wonder about what part he was playing in all this. “That’s terrible,” he said.
  Insane asked Icy where his pokéballs were and offered to hold on to them. Icy gave him the pokéballs but kept two. (Pika) “I might need these.” (Pika) With that, they left the lighthouse in search of Bill.
  Icy noticed some footprints in the sand and alerted the others. It was a very sunny day and after following the tracks for almost 15 minutes, they stopped for a break. Icy had a strange hunger for some apples and ran off towards a large tree. The others set up a small picnic. Icy climbed the tree and found a big, round, red, juicy looking apple. He grabbed it and began to eat it. Just then, he saw a Spearow flying overhead.
  From a distance, a trainer spotted Icy. “Cool! I wonder what a Pikachu is doing all the way out here.” He watched as the Spearow began complaining.
  “Spearrrrow.” (Give me that apple!)
  “PIKA. Pika-pi-chu-PI!” (No! It’s mine!)
  Spearow began to dive bomb Icy and as soon as it was only a few inches from its target, Icy let out an enormous thunderbolt, frying the Spearow. It fell to the ground. The trainer watched, becoming more and more interested in the Pikachu. “PIKA! CHAAAAA!!” (You’re mine Spearow!) Icy grabbed one the pokéballs tied to his tail. “Pi-pi-kachu!” He jumped down from the tree and began running towards the Spearow waving the pokéball high above his head. “Pika-pika, piiii-kaaaaa-CHUUUUUUU!!!!” he shouted as he threw the ball into the air. Then, electrifying his tail, he slapped the ball full force at the Spearow. It electrified Spearow as it captured it. The trainer was completely amazed at this point. “What kind of Pikachu is that? I’ve GOT to capture it!” Icy retied the pokéball to his tail, climbed back up the tree, and began eating another apple.
  The trainer approached Icy. “You’re gonna be mine, Pikachu!” He took Icy by surprise. Icy hadn’t thought of this happening. The trainer released a Diglett, impervious to electric attacks. “You won’t get away from me!” Icy thought for a sec, then realized he was in major trouble. Then an idea came to him. He used his psychic powers to teleport Abra’s pokéball into his hands. The pokéball opened revealing the Abra, who was ready to defend its master. The trainer was shocked beyond belief. “A pokémon who can control and capture other pokémon,” he thought. “Diglett, dig underground now!” Diglett disappeared into the ground.
  “Pika-chu, chapika, chuKA!” Abra understood its Pikachu master and waited for Diglett to surface. Abra sensed Diglett surfacing and teleported behind it as it did. “PIKA!” Abra complied, send a confusion attack at the unprepared Diglett. It struggled for a sec but couldn’t handle Abra’s power. It fainted.
  The trainer recalled Diglett. He had seen enough and ran away with tears in his eyes. “Mommy! Help! It’s a mutant Pikachu!!!” Icy gave him a small thundershock, making the boy run even faster. Icy returned Abra to its pokéball and rejoined the others. They were just finishing their lunch. Icy went over to Insane and showed him his new pokémon and told what had happened. Insane laughed and translated the story for the others. They cracked up imagining how a Pikachu would look capturing and battling other pokémon. They packed up, and set off again in search of Bill.

An Experiment Gone Wrong: Part 3 - Rescuing Bill

  Last time, Icy, Insanellama, and X were hot on the trail no Team Rocket. Xavier was unfortunately killed by a Team Rocket specialist. Insanellama found the pokéball with Nidoking that Xavier hid just before he was killed. And now…

  “I found Xavier’s Nidoking,” Insane told the group. X was horrified about Xavier’s death. His thoughts about Team Rocket were becoming more and more unclear. Icy had other thoughts on his mind. He was afraid of being stuck as a Pikachu for all time. It wasn’t that bad however. They continued following the tracks.
  After almost an hour, they saw a small cave. “The tracks lead straight on in,” Insane said. They went in the cave. “Icy, you go check it out. They won’t suspect a Pikaspy.”
  “Pika,” Icy replied. He slowly walked into a room off to the side. Team Rocket was there all right. Five Rockets were sound asleep with Bill tied up in a corner. Icy ran over to him and began gnawing on the ropes. Bill was free, but the sound woke one of the Rockets. Icy screamed in shock. He and Bill ran for the entrance.
  “Wake up you fools. Some stupid Pikachu just ran off with Bill!” The other four woke up and gave chase. Icy and the others were way ahead, already a good 100 yards away from the cave when they saw Team Rocket chasing them.
  “Icy, can you teleport all of us out of here? It’s our only chance.”
  “Chu. Pi-kachu!” (I’ll try!)
  Icy summoned all his psychic power, but it wasn’t enough. He released his Abra and combined his power with Abra’s. Together they were able to teleport the group just outside the lighthouse. Team Rocket had lost again.
  Bill went back to his home and called for repairs to fix the wall Team Rocket had blown up. Icy looked around, then up at Bill. He could see it in his eyes. Bill didn’t know how to fix Icy. That beam was so unnatural, even Bill couldn’t identify it. Icy began to whimper a bit and Insane walked over to him a held his close. “Everything will be fine Icy,” he said trying to comfort the saddened Pikachu. He gave Icy the pokéballs with his Caterpies, and they gathered around him. Icy smiled for a second. Caterpie always knew how to cheer him up. Then, Bill’s phone rang…

Random Rejoins Clan Caterpie Again

  Random had just gained a Growlithe in the Pokémon Mansion. He is still in search of his father, who evidently has a connection with Team Rocket. Speaking of TR, Random finally discover a Rocket, and thoroughly spanked him. Random is now on the phone with Llama from Clan Caterpie…

  “Hey! Random! How ya doin’?” Llama was excited to speak to his close friend, but was still upset over the loss of Xavier, a new friend and promising trainer.
  “I’m fine, thanks. I got a Growlithe. How is Icy? Have you spoken to Lonewolf at all?”
  Llama responded, “I haven’t talked to 'wolf in a while. Icy is…. uhh… indisposed at the moment.”
  “KAAAAACHHUUU!!!” Icy yelped in the background. Llama was hit by the powerful jolt of a Thunderwave.
  “Dang Nammit Icy!!! He won’t understand you anyway.” Llama wiped his brow.
  “What’s wrong with Icy?”

  Llama took a big breath. “We visited Bill, the Pokemaniac, and Icy participated in an experiment that turned him into a Pikachu. The machine was blown up by Team Rocket, who kidnapped Bill. But Icy stole him back. The problem is I am the only one around who can understand Pikachese (Pikachu language.. get it??).”
  “Oh.” Random said
  “Yeah…” Llama caught his breath.
  “I am coming down there. You are outside of Cerulean, right?” Random asked.
  “Yea…” Llama picked up Icy and fed him a snack.
  “I will be there in one day.” Random said, turning off his cell.
  Icy dragged himself across the Lighthouse. He was beginning to see the aggravation that comes with being unable to communicate effectively with others. His only consolation was in a car battery that Bill had been using. Icy jumped on top of the battery and gave it a big lick… “KAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCHHHHHHUUUUUUUU!!!!!”
  Random had no way to get from Cinnabar to Cerulean easily. There were no airports in Cinnabar. He must find a flying pokémon and hitch a ride. Bubba, at his side, spotted a bird-like creature perched above the Pokécenter. The great, blue bird let out a great howl (birds howl? yes.. yes they do.). Random walked up to the bird, unafraid. “Hey! I am in dire need of a ride to Cerulean City. Could you lend me a ride on your great wings???” The bird was silent, then gracefully flew down to the ground. Random and Bubba climbed onto his great wings. It was a cold perch, icicles dangled from its great wings, snow followed its path.
  The bird took off just as a man ran to the Pokécenter yelling, “My Pidgey!!! It’s dead!!!” The great bird, Articuno, had left its solemn mark.
  Within the hour, Random was at the lighthouse. The great bird gave a caw, and left immediately for Celadon City. Random had never seen a pokémon of its stature before, and would never again… He walked inside…
  Random saw a Pikachu sitting on a battery sobbing. “Is that…”
  “Yes, it’s Icy.” Insane interrupted.
  “Pika! Pikachu CHUUUUUUU!!!!!” (Random!!! Hi!!!)
  “Uhhh, what did he say?” Icy started to sob lightly again.
  “He says hello.”
  While they were all talking, BlackHole walked into the room with a Charmander following him. “Howdy there, I’m Insanellama, the Pikachu is Icy, it’s a long story, The guy with the guitar is Random. The man in black is X. Right nice to meet ya” said Insanellama.
  “Hello!” BH said as he looked behind him to see a Charmander. “Is that Charmander anyone’s?”
  “No, I don’t think so,” said Llama.
  “Pika, chu Chu Pika! (I haven’t seen it either)”
  “He said-”
  “Yeah I know what he said.” BH said as he turned to the Charmander, just to get a Flamethrower in the face. “Ay! Now you’re asking for it! Go Dratini!” BH said as Dratini looked at him, and than used Dragon Rage.
  “CHAR!!!” Charmander uses Ember and Dratini looks at Charmander and uses yet another Dragon Rage and than gets hit with the pokéball and is sucked inside by the red beam. The ball rattles around for a bit and the red center in the middle goes white. “Hey! I just caught a Charmander! Now, what were you saying? You call yourselves Clan Caterpie? I hope you know Caterpie really suck.”
  “KAAAAAACCCCCCHHHHUUUUUU!!” BH gets zapped.
  “Erk… I take it that Pikachu over there likes Caterpie…”
  “Chu, Pikachu Pikaa! Chu Ka Pikaaaaa! (My name’s Icy, and I’m not really a Pikachu, its a long story, and that’s right!)”
  “Ok ok! I get the picture! Well… would you all mind if I hung around? I don’t like traveling alone much. It depresses me.”
  “Well, sure yer welcome to stick around for a while. We’re hole up here for a while anyway.” said Insanellama. “Oh, and btw, the Pikachu over there isn’t REALLY a Pikachu. Well, it is, but it isn’t… Never mind, I’ll just tell the whole story.” Insanellama related Icy’s tale to BlackHole.
  After thinking long and hard, X had had enough. He took off his cap, faced it towards himself, he got a good grip on the edge of the TR badge, and jerked hard. “Hey guys, there’s something I need to tell you. I’m a member of Team Rocket.” He ducks a lightning bolt from Icy. “Well, after I have seen what has happened, I’ve decided to quit. Can you have your Rapidash burn this for me Insanellama?” asked X, and tossed the TR Patch to Insanellama.
  “Sure Rapidash, EMBER ATTACK NOW!” The patch burst into flames and was soon only a pile of ashes on the floor.
  “Sorry guys.” said X.
  “Look, all that matters is that you quit now. No hard feelings here pal,” said Insanellama.

Package for Icy

  “Special Delivery!”. The man dropped a small box at the lighthouse, then drove off.
  “I got it!” Insane said. He picked up the package. “Hey Icy, it’s for you. It’s from Quethril.”
  “Chu..” (So, open it already.)
  Insane opens the box. The others gather around to see what’s inside. Insane found a small black box with a rope strung through it like a necklace. A letter was also enclosed. It read…

Dear Icy,
  Heard about the incident at Bill’s. Maybe this will cheer you up. It’s a PikaTranslator I’ve been working on for the past few months. I want you to have it. Consider it a gift. Gotta go. Hope it makes you feel better.
  Quethril

  Icy was overjoyed. He cried not out of sadness, but out of happiness. He could finally be able to communicate with people again. Insane put the device around Icy’s neck.
  “Try it out.”
  The translator clicked, some static, but then they could hear Icy’s voice.
  “Testing 1,2,… It WORKS!!!!” Icy was jumping for joy, his Pikachu body glowing with electricity around him.
  “Thank you Insane for helping me. But I’m going to need someone to take care of me for a while. After battling that trainer out there, I could get in a lot of danger. I feel much safer with you guys.”
  Insane nodded. “No prob, Icy. I’ll look after you and your pokémon.”
  “Thanks, Insane! Wow, the whole group’s here. Where to next guys?”
  Black Hole spoke up first, “What is the next town?”
  X, still deep in thought regarding his dropping-out of Team Rocket mumbled, “Saffron City.”
  Llama, ever-knowing Pokémon trainer he was, said, “or Lavender Town, and the Rock Tunnel is nearby also.
  Icy responded, “BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH…”
  “Darnit Icy, the translator works…” Random said annoyed, ”STFU!!!”
  “Kachu.” Icy said, in his normal voice. A bolt smacked Random to the floor.
  Random apologized. Just then, Bill walked in.
  “Why are so many trainers showing up here? Oh well…. C’mere Flareon..” The flaming Pokémon strutted in behind Bill… Random’s eyes lit up!!! A Pokébattle!!!
  “Wanna go at it Bill?”
  “Sure… Random is it? One each?”
  “Yes. Why not? GO BUBBA…”
  “Go Flareon.”
  And with that the match began….
  “Flareon: Ember attack!” The Pokémon spit fire on Bubba, damaging his bulb.
  “Yer Okay Bubba, use your razor leaf!!!!” Bubba fired a pattern of leaves at Flareon, each burned up before hitting Flareon.. “This is a mis-match..” Random mumbled to himself… Random was becoming a smarter trainer. “Alright Bubba, try a normal tackle!” Bubba dove onto Flareon before the flame-poké could evade the attack. It was a hard hit, and Flareon hit the wall. “GOOD HIT!!! NOW STUN SPORE HIM!!!” Flareon fell asleep, and Bubba tackled once again… Flareon was defeated.
  “Great job Bubba!!! I am so proud.” Bubba fell down from Random’s arms… he was weak… he began flashing bright colors… and his bulb was shaking… he was becoming… Ivysaur!!!! “YOU EVOLVED!!!! SWEET!!!” Random exclaimed. The rest of the Clan applauded. “But now Bubba isn’t a good name; you aren’t a Bulbasaur, I hereby re-name you, Ivan, the IVYSAUR!!!!” Random tossed Ivysaur into the air!!!!
  “Well, I think we’d better leave, and let Bill finish straightening up the place,” said Insanellama. With that, he loaded up his gear into his pack.
  “Hey, will you keep all of my pokéballs except these two?” asked Icy. He had a Caterpie, and an Abra pokéball tied to his tail.
  “Sure thing pal,” Insanellama grabbed the remainder of Icy’s pokéballs and tucked them safely into his backpack. He decided only to carry four in his belt today, a Rapidash outside with him. He put Nidoking, Pikachu, Nidoran male, and Rapidash’s Pokéball on his belt. “Hope I can find someone with a Nidoran female to trade with…” he said to himself.
  Random got his gear together, muttering about the broken string on his guitar. Bill walked in and heard him muttering. “Hey, I play guitar, let me get ya a new string” A few seconds later he returned with a new guitar string for Random.
  “Thanx Bill.” He put the string in and happily played a few notes. Black hole got up, and said goodbye to Bill. They all walked out the door together, with Icy right next to Insanellama.
  “Ok, I guess Vermilion is the next stop, right guys?” They all agreed. After a couple of hours, they stopped for lunch. Icy went off to get an apple. “Don’t go off too far Icy” said Insanellama.
  Icy had just climbed back down from the tree with an apple when a trainer came out of the bushes. “Not again,” though Icy. The trainer through out a Geodude. “ABRA GO!” came from the translator as the pokéball was slung toward the Geodude.
  “What the…..????” said the trainer. “Oh well, GEODUDE TACKLE THE PIKACHU NOW!” Geodude went into a diving tackle. Abra faded out, and faded back in, in front of Icy. He started glowing and white beam erupted from his skull and Geodude reeled back in pain, hitting a tree. Icy let out a thunderbolt that sent the trainer running.
  Abra and Icy were rolling with laughter when Insanellama walked up. “Let me guess, some trainer tried to mess with you two?”
  “AB AB ABRA!” (yep)
  “Yea, good job Abra” said Icy.
  “Well, we’d better get movin again, I’d like to make the tunnel by dark” said Insanellama. BlackHole and Random took the lead, Icy, X, and Insanellama had rearguard.
  “There it is up ahead,” said Black hole. They continued walking. BlackHole sent out his Charmander to help Rapidash with the lighting situation. They went down into the tunnel, and but for the light from Charmander and Rapidash, it would have been pitch dark. When they were walking, they saw another light up ahead. As they gained on the light, they saw it was another trainer.
  “Howdy there,” said Insanellama.
  “Hi, you wouldn’t happen to have a Nidoran male to trade for a Nidoran female would you?” asked the trainer.
  “As a matter of fact, I do. Wanna trade?” said Insanellama.
  “Sure,” said the trainer. They saw a trading station embedded in the wall, so they walked over and made the trade. “Bye,” they said in unison, and continued walking.
  They got out of the tunnel, and walked towards the pokécenter to sleep for the night. They all said their goodnights, and went to sleep.

Clan Caterpie and the Thunder Badge

  They woke that morning to the cries of a Dodrio. Icy went to the front desk and asked the nurse to heal him. She gave Icy a nice apple and he finally got to eat it in peace for once. The others ate at the pokécenter restaurant. They had the nurse heal their pokémon while they ate.
  Icy remembered his friend from his first visit to Vermilion City, Mike. He wondered what he’d say when he saw Icy in the form of a Pikachu. He clicked the translator on. “Can we go visit my friend Mike?”
  “Sure Icy. Then, let’s go get ourselves some Thunder Badges!” Insanellama grinned at Icy, somehow knowing what Icy had in store for Lt. Surge. They followed Icy to Mike’s house.

  Mike was just finishing breakfast when they arrived at the front door. “Hello? What are you doing here?” Only Icy was at the door, the others were warming up their pokémon for later. Mike looked at the Pikachu.
  “Hello Mike. It’s me, Icy!” Mike just stared at the talking Pikachu. “It’s a long story.” Icy told Mike about the events that had taken place. Mike asked if he could come with Icy and his friends to watch them battle Surge and get some battle pointers. They agreed and set off the gym.
  They reached the gym. Once again, Icy and Insane exchanged grins. Icy would challenge Lt. Surge as himself. As they entered the gym, two trainers greeted them. “If you want to fight Surge, you gotta beat us first.”
  Icy walked toward one of the trainers. “All right then, let’s battle!” The trainer was dumbfounded, but remembered reading in the paper about a boy who was accidentally transformed into a Pikachu.
  “Ok little Pikachu. You’ll never make it to Surge! Go Magneton!”
  “Go Dugtrio!” Icy teleported Dugtrio’s pokéball into his hands and released it.
  “Magneton, thunderbolt!” Magneton tried to fry Dugtrio but it attacks just bounced right off.
  “Dugtrio, dig now!” Dugtrio disappeared into the ground, then popped up crashing into Magneton. It fell and fainted being weak against ground pokémon.
  “All right, you may pass! Any of you other wimps think you beat us?”
  Icy entered the main where Lt. Surge was training Raichu. When Icy saw the Raichu, he felt a strong hatred toward it. “Lt. Surge, I challenge you to a match!” Surge looked at Icy for a sec. He was in a cute little fighting pose that made Surge and Raichu both laugh. Insanellama was standing in back of Icy now. Surge looked at him.
  “Alright, one on one battle. My Raichu verses your Pikachu.”
  “Ok…” Insane just went along with it. Icy would be the one deciding on the attacks, not Insane. The battle began.
  Surge started off with Raichu using Take Down on Icy. As Raichu leapt for Icy, Icy just grinned, making the Raichu very angry. As soon as Raichu was about to crush Icy, he used telekinesis to suspend Raichu in thin air. Surge was in shock. “I can’t lose,” he thought. “What’s going on. A Pikachu can’t use psychic attacks!”
  “This ain’t no ordinary Pikachu!” Insane replied. Icy blasted Raichu with a super-charged thunderbolt. Raichu was stunned a little, but still able to fight. It started to charge at Icy again but was stopped once more by a field of psyonic energy Icy had set up around himself.
  “How does he do that? Pikachus aren’t psychic! Snap out of it Raichu! It’s a Pikachu! It’s inferior to you! You’re the better and stronger evolution!” Icy became infuriated.
  “PIIIIIII-KAAAAAAAAAA-CHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!” Icy sent enormous amounts of electricity throughout the gym so the field was enclosed in lightning. “What are you doing Icy?” Insanellama wondered. Using his psychic powers, he directed all the lightning at Raichu. Raichu could only look in each direction as the lightning moved closer. “Rai… Chu…???” The lightning decimated Raichu and he fell hard to the ground, but Icy wasn’t finished yet. Still hurt by Surge’s comment, he prepared to attack again, but Insane stopped him.
  “No Icy, don’t! You won. It’s over!”
  “CHUUUUU… Pik-chukapi!” Icy tried to calm himself down. Surge was devastated.
  “How??? How did you get him to be that strong?”
  “Why don’t you ask him yourself. While you’re at it, apologize to him for calling him inferior.” Icy was very upset with Surge. Surge respectfully walked over to Icy and apologized to him. Icy felt a bit better.
  “I don’t know why I’m asking a pokémon for battle tips but, here goes. How did you learn those psychic attacks?”
  “I was born with them. Now, may I have my Thunder Badge please?” Surge looked at Icy with a strange expression.
  “Pokémon don’t get badges, their masters do.” He extended the badge to Insanellama, be he refused it.
  “This isn’t mine. I’m not his trainer.”
  “What are you talking about…”
  “Like I told you earlier, this ain’t your average every-day Pikachu. His name is Icy, a psychic pokémon trainer. He was accidentally changed into a Pikachu.” Surge still had a puzzled look on his face. “Just give him the badge, I want to get to beat you some time this millennium!” Surge hands the badge to Icy and heals Raichu. Icy runs off to Mike and the other members of Clan Caterpie. Insanellama gets ready for his chance at a Thunder Badge…
  As the rest of Clan Caterpie was working on defeating Lt. Surge, Random took a trip with Bub… errr… Ivan, his pet Ivysaur. They went to see the Circus in Vermillion City that week. Random walked to a vendor and purchased some cotton candy, which he fed to Ivan. Ivan swallowed the sugary-candy whole.
  As Ivan and Random watched the circus march by, a clown on a tiny bike carted past. Random cackled at the sight… “Nice bike cholo!” The clown reversed direction and returned to Random, first to insult him back. But the clown noticed Random’s prized Martin guitar along his back, and remarked…
  “Nice guitar…” Random was deep in thought, the tiny bike would fit Icy perfectly, and because Icy being a pikachu was slowing down the Clan with his speed, a bike would suit him perfectly.
  “Wanna have a Pokébattle? 2 each? If I win, I get your bike. If you win, you may have my Martin guitar!”
  “Alright!!! Let’s do it.”
  Random sent out Ivan, who was feeling a tad queasy from the cotton candy… The clown sent out Mr. Mime…
  “Mr. Mime: use a confusion attack!!!” Mr. Mime juggled his balls around and flipped Ivan over mentally…
  “Getup Ivan! Tackle the fruitcake!!!” Ivan stumbled up to Mr. Mime and pounced into the air.. vomiting half-way to the opponent. Mr. Mime was soiled… and furious.
  “F$#@ This!! I quit… This was a stupid gig anyway…” Mr. Mime walked off… Random was roaring with laughter, and recalled Ivan…
  The clown was mortified… yet sent out his Magikarp anyway… “Go Growlithe!!!” Random was giggling about the beat-down that it was about to ensue…
  “Magikarp splash!!!” The fish complied but to no effect!
  “Growlithe!!! Go step on Magikarp!!!” Growlithe stood atop of the lame fish and barked.
  “Magikarp splash!!!” The fish again complied but to no effect!
  “Growlithe: do a little dance!!!” He popped on two paws and rotated around, barking the whole way.
  “Magikarp splash!!!” The fish complied but no effect!
  “Ok OK.. Growlithe… do some… kinda ….move.” Growlithe performed the Stone Cold Stunner with surprising execution for a Pokémon, and Random had won the match.
  “Here’s the bike…” The clown was no longer smiling.
  “w00t!!!” Random somehow managed to pronounce the zeroes…He marched back to the Gym with the bike on his shoulders Meanwhile, Ivan was stumbling behind… Random managed to watch the end of Icy’s match with Lt. Surge… hilarious.
  “Icy, gotcha a present.” Random handed the bike to Icy.
  “Pika piii!” Icy exclaimed outside his translator. Insane Llama was about to battle Surge…
  By this time, Insanellama is getting a mite impatient. “Ok SURGE, PICK A POKEMON.” Surge was trying to decide what pokémon to use against Insanellama. In the end he chose Raichu for a one on one. “Ok, I choose NIDOKING!”
  “NIDOKING GO!”
  “RAICHU GO!” RAICHU THUNDERBOLT NOW! Insanellama can’t help but laugh as the lightning ricochets harmlessly off of Nidoking.
  NIDOKING HORN DRILL NOW!!!! A horn erupts from his forehead and hits Raichu spinning and drilling. “Too bad Surge, right in the left cheek, very weak electric now, not that it’s any good. Nidoking FINISH IT TACKLE!!” The Nidoking tackles the Raichu, and retrieves its horn to end the match. “Tough break man, be nicer to competitors.”
  “WHATEVER,” said Surge, and throws the Badge well over Insanellama’s head, “FETCH DOG!”
  “I don’t think so,” said Insanellama, since the badge never hit ground and was coming right at his hand. “Thanx Icy” said Insanellama.
  “PIKA PI!” said Icy.
  “Good job guys, it’s my turn now!” Random shouted preparing to launch his beloved Snorlax.
  “I will use Pikachu.” Surge launched a ball containing a Pikachu. Icy’s eyes lit up.
  The two Pokémon faced off, Snorlax was calm and docile, but the Pikachu was rabid with anger.
  “Thunderwave Pikachu” A blast erupted from the cheeks of the mouse, but it barely scathed Snorlax.
  “Snorrrr…..” Snorlax was slightly annoyed.
  “Body Slam him Snorlax!” Random shouted from the sidelines. Snorlax fought to stand up; he wobbled towards Pikachu and thrust himself into the air, landing square on the opponent. Pikachu squealed and broke free, firing a Thunderbolt on his way. Snorlax reeled with the shock. Under impulse, Snorlax double-edged Pikachu, knocking the enemy out, but also crippling Snorlax.
  “We win!!! Good job Snorlax!”
  Lt. Surge handed Random the Thunder Badge. Random dropped it in his sack with a smile. He walked to the bleachers and sat next to Insanellama and Icy.
  “Ok Surge, my turn” BH says as he steps into the arena.
  “OK buddy, this time I’m gonna win! Just give me a second!” Surge yelled as he revived his Raichu. “OK 1 pokémon each! Raichu! Show him who’s boss!” Surge yelled as Raichu stepped forward.
  “Scyther go,” BH said as he tossed out the pokéball revealing Scyther. “SCY… THER!” it yelled.
  “Raiii…” Raichu looked at Scyther and grew pale. “Oh, crap! He’s still recovering from the shock that came from that punk kid with the Scyther! ARGH… could you please choose another pokémon? A Scyther traumatized my Raichu and he refuses to fight them.” Surge explained and BH grumbles and recalled Scyther.
  “Dratini! Go!” BH yelled as he threw the pokéball out revealing the small Dragon. “Ni! Dratini!” it peeped while looking at Raichu. The Raichu scoffed and tried to Body Slam it.
  Dratini moved out of the way and pounded on it. “Dratini! Dragon Rage!” BH yelled as Dratini glowed with energy and than suddenly released it in a burning rage of fury. Raichu blinked and got blasted, he than got back up and growled.
  “Raichu! Thunderbolt!” Surge yelled. Raichu built up Lightning in his body and… “CHUUUU!” Raichu zapped the tiny dragon and it went back to BH and looked at him sadly.
  “You still have to battle. I’ll tell you what, why don’t you do this…” BH whispered to Dratini and it grinned. It started hopping all over the place confusing the Raichu.
  “Raichu! Crush it with your Thunderbolt!” Surge yelled and Raichu illuminated the arena with a thunderbolt.
  BH coughed and when the dust settled Dratini was gone. Raichu looked around for the tiny dragon while Lt. Surge was screaming about it being a trick. Dratini dropped down off the rafters and pounded Raichu into the ground. Raichu fainted and BH got the Thunder badge from Lt. Surge!
  X was ready to continue the Clan’s winning streak. “Ok surge MY TURN.”
  “One pokémon, I choose RAICHU”
  “ONIX GO!” said X
  “RAICHU GO!”
  “ONIX DRAGON RAGE NOW!!!!”
  “RAICHU BODYSLAM NOW!!!”
  Ouch, Raichu jumped right into the pat of Onix’s flame, better luck next time.
  “Thanx for the badge man,” said X
  “Grrr, when will it end,” said Surge.
  X quickly took off his cap and sewed the badge into the bill, and then put his cap back on his head. As X made his way back to the group, they all cheered for their victories and left the gym sporting their new Thunder Badges.

Team Rocket Strikes

  The group had been spending the past few days enjoying the sights of Vermilion City. They had heard about the S.S. Anne coming to Vermilion Harbor in a few days and had to kill time. But, they had the feeling wherever they went, someone was watching them. It seemed Team Rocket wouldn’t rest until Clan Caterpie had been eliminated. Icy was being healed while the others finished their lunch.

  “Let’s go check out the boats in the harbor,” Icy said into his translator.
  “Nah, you and Mike go. You guys probably need to do some catching up.” Llama said.
  “OK, but I’m taking my Dugtrio and Bulbasaur with me too. Just in case.” He tied their pokéballs to his tail. He and Mike left for the harbor.
  “Sooooo…. What’s it like being a Pikachu?”
  “Ahh. It’s not that bad. I have to be careful no one tries to capture me. But other than that, I feel great.” I thought about what he had just said. ‘I feel great? I wanna be human again…’
  “Hmm. I wish I could be a pokémon too. If I were a pokémon, I’d want to be a Ditto. They are so cool!”
  “Yeah. I want to capture one of them.”
  They continued walking down the pier. They failed to notice three elite members of TR following them.
  “Icy, do you think you’ll ever become human again?”
  Icy stopped walking. His eyes started to tear up. He wiped them dry with his paw. “I… I don’t know. Bill never could figure out what made me a Pikachu to begin with. Without that knowledge, I don’t think I ever will be a human again.”
  “I’m sorry Icy.” Mike turned his head back just in time to see three shady characters duck behind some boxes. “Icy… I think someone’s following us…” Mike pointed indirectly at 3 black figures a few meters behind them.
  “I sense them. C’mon…” Icy led Mike down one of the piers. The Rockets followed them. “Quick, in here.” They jumped into a small boat with a cover over it. The Rockets walked by.
  “Where did they go? I just saw them.” They looked and searched, but never thought about looking in the boat. “Forget this. If Giovanni wants that Icy kid so badly, he can someone else to do this. I’m tired of chasing after stupid little kids.”
  “Yeah, let’s go. We can ambush always Clan Caterpie at night when they least expect it.” They ran off, laughing about the plan they were concocting.
  “Are they gone?” Icy asked Mike.
  “Yes. We’ve got to warn the others!” Mike replied. They jumped out of the boat and headed back to the pokécenter to warn Insane and the others.
  Icy and Mike came running in, out of breath. “Tea…..ket…. ter… aterpie.” said Mike.
  “Slow down there, catch yer breath and try it again,” said Insanellama. Mike and Icy waited a second, and then told them about the three members of TR, and the threat on Icy’s life.
  “Well, that don’t change things too much, now we just gotta be twice as careful,” said Insanellama.
  “I say we get outta Vermilion and meet the S.S. Anne at Fuchsia City,” said Lonewolf. “I bet we can stay with Koga at his gym.”
  “Agreed. Let’s go now. Mike, you be careful ok?” Icy said to his friend.
  “Hey no problem. Take care you all, and Icy, feel free to visit me and my folks anytime ok.”
  “Thanks Mike. Cya!” Icy and the others made their way to the docks while X covered their tracks and made sure there was no one following them.
  “We’d like to rent a boat please.” The harbormaster noticed Icy with them and smiled.
  “Hey, you’re Icy aren’t you? Tell ya kids what, since that little Pikachu friend of yours is so famous, I let you have the boat for free.”
  “Awesome! Let’s go guys.” Everyone jumped into the boat and they rowed into the sunset.
  During the night, Lonewolf’s Vulpix kept a light going so they could navigate. Finally, it became too dark to see anything. Luckily, the group had spotted an island very close by and was able to land there for the night. As morning came, the group headed back out.
  That day, Insanellama and Icy went fishing with makeshift polls they constructed earlier that morning on the island. Icy felt a little tug on his line. “Pi?”
  “Hey, you got something there!”
  Icy struggled to hold on. As a Pikachu, he didn’t really have that much strength so Insanellama had to help him hold on to his catch. “PIIIIIKKKAAA!!!!!!” They tugged hard until they were able to pull the fish out of the sea. It flew high into the air then landed flat on Icy’s head.
  Insane broke down in laughter as the two pokémon sat there with spirals in their eyes. @.@ “Hahahahahaha!!!” Lonewolf just turned around to make sure they were still on course.
  Icy finally came to and examined his catch. It was a bright blue Horsea. “Awww look!” He grabed the seahorse pokémon and raised it up. “I caught a Horsea!”
  “Great work.”
  “Land hoe! Hehe, I always wanted to say that,” Lonewolf said. She pointed towards the mainland. It was Fuchsia City!
  “Alright! Let’s get to land and find Koga’s Gym. I’m starved.” Icy quickly scooped up Horsea. “Haha, don’t worry there Icy. I won’t eat yer Horsea. Not really a fish kinda guy.” Icy breathed a sigh of relief. They landed on the coast and made their way into town.
  “Aha, the gym is just up this road.” The group followed the road till they reached a large mansion.
  “Guess this is it.” A Venonat greeted them and let them in.
  “Veno nat!” It led them to the room Koga was meditating in. He looked up to see his guests.
  “Welcome to Fuchsia Gym. I am Koga, ninja master and Gym Leader here.”
  “Please ta meet ya,” Insane said. Icy waved hello as well. “Is there a chance we could crash here till the S.S. Anne arrives? We’ve had to hide from Team Rocket.”
  “Ok. I suppose you may stay the night.”
  “Thanks a bunch Koga.”

Icy Verses Koga

  Clan Caterpie had arrived in Fuchsia City the night before and Icy was ready to earn himself a new badge. Insanellama and his friends had just finished battle Koga. Koga already knew Icy’s true identity since they had talked about it before going to sleep last night. Now Icy challenged Koga to a match.

  “Very well. I hope you’ve got some Antidotes with you. You’ll need them!” Koga said.
  “No prob...” Icy untied Abra’s pokéball from his tail.
  “It will be two on two. GO Venomoth!” Koga throw his pokéball into the ring. Venomoth popped out. “VENOMOTH!!” it screeched.
  “No problem. GO Abra!” Icy floated the pokéball into the center and Abra came out. “Psychic pokémon are strong against poison! Abra, use your psybeam!”
  “Venomoth, use your wing attack to break its concentration!” Venomoth flapped its wings quickly and Abra was about to be blown off balance.
  “Abra, teleport!” Abra teleported behind Venomoth. Before it could react, Abra fired a psybeam at it. Venomoth fainted easily from the psychic attack. Koga returned it and sent out Weezing.
  “Weezing, smokescreen!” The entire gym was covered in smoke.
  “Abra. Ummm. Psybeam again!” Abra could see what he was doing and fired psybeams everywhere. Koga ducked as one of the beams headed his way.
  “Weezing. Sludge attack now.” Abra never saw it coming. The sludge blinding it and Icy had to return it.
  “Darn. GO Caterpie!” Icy floated Caterpie’s pokéball over the field, and Caterpie popped out. “String Shot followed by tackle!” Weezing tried its best to avoid the netting but Icy’s Caterpie was so pumped with Calcium and other vitamins that its attacks were just too fast. Weezing fell to the ground covered in string. Caterpie rushed in and tackled it. Weezing fainted from the impact.
  “Very impressive. You have trained that Caterpie well. Here is the Soul Badge.” He respectfully handed Icy the badge. “I hear the S.S. Anne will be picking up passengers from Fuchsia City on Friday. You are free to stay in my gym until then. Team Rocket won’t find you here.”
  “Thanks Koga.” Icy returned to the group. It would be a long day.

The S.S. Anne Mini-Series: Clan Caterpie Boards The S.S. Anne

  “There! There it is!!” Random exclaimed!
  The ship was huge, and tons of trainers from Pallet and elsewhere were already aboard.
  “Guess a lot of people are coming!” Insanellama yelped.
  The ship dropped anchor and let the steps down.
  “ALLLL ABOOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRDDDDD!” A man over the PA announced.

  Random was first in line, followed by his esteemed compatriots. Each member was bursting with eagerness to get aboard. Llama wanted to fight some battles, X sought Pokémon advice, and Random sought…
  “Lonewolf!!!! Look everyone!!!” Random yelled.
  Lonewolf stood atop the steps waving eagerly. Insanellama and Icy gave a mutual “HEY!” and the team gave up their tickets to the doorman.
  “Thanks again for the tickets, Random.” Icy said.
  “No problem…. Lonewolf! What’s going?!?!?” Random was happy to see her.
  “Where is Icy?” Lonewolf shrugged.
  “Right here...”
  “Oh yeah, I had almost forgot…” Lonewolf said sweatdropping.
  “Pika pii!!!” Icy shouted. “Let’s get our rooms.”
  “Do you guys mind if I get my own room? I have taken care of all your room bills already.” Random asked, checking his FAT wallet.
  “No problem Random.” Lonewolf said.
  Random walked to his deluxe suite on the top level of the ship. Others were hurrying aboard also. Many looked like characters…
  BlackHole runs up to them. “Hey! You all left me behind!”
  “Pikaaaa! (Sorry about that!)” Icy said.
  “Well… Hey! There’s my room!” BH walks into the room with the number on the ticket. “Say… its nice in here…,” BH said as he opened a drawer and saw a pokéball. “Heyyyy… lookie here… a pokémon… and a note!” BH read over the note and looked at the pokéball. “Lets see what you are…,” BH wondered out loud as he opened the ball. A red beam shot out and it revealed a odd looking pokémon… It was a pinkish, fat, balloon type thing… and it screamed, “WIGGLY!”
  “AHHHHH! It’s a Wigglytuff!” BH yelled as he immediately recalled it.
  Shortly after Random left, Insanellama, Lonewolf, Icy, and X went down to the main floor. “There’s the market booths over there,” said Insanellama. Insanellama immediately bought a moon-stone for when his Nidoran female should become a Nidorina, and when it wanted to evolve to a Nidoqueen.
  Just then, they found a booth selling very rare types of pokémon. “Hey kid, you want this amazing pokémon. This is a Porygon, ah you thought I’d say Magikarp, but he’s over there.” The man pointed over to the funny looking man selling Magikarp. “This Porygon is a very special one, at least, from what I hear.”
  Insane remembered Random had given him some extra money so he bought the Porygon and gave it to Icy, knowing he wanted one. They happily enjoyed the rest of the sights. Later that evening, they all ate dinner together and Icy ordered a few dozen rounds of Ketchup. ^.^

The S.S. Anne Mini-Series: Icy's Dream

  It was around 9:00 PM and Icy wanted to get some shuteye early. It had been an eventful day. He sat down and fell asleep.
  At that same moment on a distant island, scientists were studying a rather large pokémon. “He’s way too powerful, stop the experiment. It’s not going to hold any longer, we can’t risk it again!” The containment field generators were overloading and sparks began flying from them. From a hanging cage, a small cat-like pokémon watched with fear.

  “Turn it off before it’s too late.” He didn’t get to finish his sentence before the generator exploded, killing two scientists near it. The containment fields were offline and the giant pokémon roared. “Ohhhhhhh, crap.” the other scientist moaned as he saw a flickering image of the giant pokémon. He got on the radio. “It’s escaped! Repeat! Mewtwo has esc.” Something kept him from finishing the distress call. Mewtwo glowed and the scientist was thrown across the room, knocked out. Mewtwo caught sight of the caged pokémon, Mew. It glowed again, this time a suit of armor flew at him, covering its entire body. It shined each time the lights attempted to re-light. From the suit, Mewtwo produced a large laser blaster. Not to Mewtwo’s knowing, a scientist, hurt from the initial blast, slowly moved over to one the computers still intact.
  “It’s your fault that I was created for their pleasure in the first place. I will begin my revenge with destroying you!” Mewtwo growls in Mew’s direction. Mew shivered with fear. Mewtwo aimed the laser at Mew and prepared to fire. Mew began to weep. The scientist realized what was about to happen and quickly typed in commands on the computer to teleport Mew to a safe location. Mewtwo fired the laser, but Mew was teleported to a top-secret pokécenter installation. The blast explosion from the laser was enough to spark a fire near the computer the scientist was working at. It blew out, fatally injuring him. Mewtwo grunted with displeasure, flipped a switch on his armor suit, and flew straight through the roof. On his ascent, he dropped three blast-balls into the lab. After only ten seconds, that entire complex exploded sending debris miles into the ocean. Satisfied with the destruction he had caused, Mewtwo flew off into the distance.
  At that moment, Icy sensed a disturbance in the ether. Something big had happened. Somehow, he knew. Images began to form in his mind. He saw the destroyed lab. Then, to his fear, he saw Mewtwo. “Oh my Goddish!” he screamed. It was only subconsciously. No one else heard him. Mewtwo could sense Icy’s awareness now. It spoke with him.
  “You know who I am, just as I do you.” Mewtwo said.
  “What do you mean?” Icy replied.
  “Don’t play games with me. You aren’t a pokémon, rather a human. A psychic human. One with a gift. Much like mine.”
  “I don’t understand. What have you done? I can see the destruction.”
  “They were the evil ones. They thought they could just create a being and experiment on it for their own benefit. They underestimated what they were getting in to.”
  “But why have you done this. What do you what from us? From me?”
  “As I said. You have a gift. You are a talented psychic human. I can’t allow someone like you to misinterpret my goal. I will destroy the SS Anne and everyone on it. They must not be allowed to live.”
  “They haven’t done you any harm. Why do you want to hurt us and pokémon?”
  “They aren’t innocent. They capture pokémon, train them to battle for them. And for what? So they can go around sporting their triumphs! And the fact that these pokémon willingly give themselves up to them.”
  “But most trainers are kind to their pokémon. You can’t destroy us all. Think about what you are doing.”
  “There is no turning back. Mankind was selfish enough to create me. Now, they must pay for meddling with forces even they cannot control.”
  “No! Wait! You can’t do this! Listen to me…”
  “I’ve heard enough of you already. I’m going to end this now!”
  Icy could see Mewtwo arm his laser cannon. The weapon was powerful enough to level a large building with one shot. He hovered over the ship, laser trained on its target. Icy saw the beam fire. It was the last of the images. But it was replaced with a voice.
  #So. I am not alone.#
  “Who are you? Where are you?”
  #Where I am, does not matter. I will be above the bridge at 10 tomorrow morning. As for who I am…I am an alteration. Like you, but more like Mewtwo.#
  “…”
  #Mew could stop Mewtwo. However, this ship’s Mew seems to have gotten a bit mad, and might not spare the passengers. Although I do not doubt that everyone on this ship will pitch in to help stop them, the actual battle may be up to us, at least at first. Don’t answer me now; just sleep on it.#
  And then the presence was gone.
  It was still visible and audible in his mind when he woke up that morning. Insanellama was trying to wake him. “Icy! Hello! Wake up! Time for breakfast.” Icy finally awoke and stretched his little paws out as far as they could go. He related the dream he had last night to Insane, but neither could think of who the other voice was. He would have to wait until 10AM to find out. But if the visions of Mewtwo were true, the SS Anne was running out of time.

The S.S. Anne Mini-Series: A Pokémon Meeting

  Icy checked the clock mounted on the wall. “9:45” it read. “Well, I guess it’s time to meet whoever that was.” He left his room and headed for the main bridge. Luckily, no one was paying attention to the little Pikachu since they were too busy wondering if the rumors of a bomb on the ship were true. He made it to the main bridge, but no one was there.
  “Psst. Over here,” someone whispered.
  “Huh. Who’s there?” Icy looked around. Then, a Ditto slowly materialized.
  “I’m Mimic. Pleased to meet you, Icy. I’ve been looking forward to this.” Icy was too stunned to respond.

  “Rumors true? Is Icy…human?”
  Icy blinked. “I was…” He quickly summed up his recent history for the nth time. “And you?”
  “Icy hear of city-destroyer pokémon?”
  “That one that put Surge out of business for a while? What about it?”
  “Icy ask who Mimic is.”
  “You…?” Icy backed away slowly.
  “That Mimic’s brother. Mimic has same powers, but no want destroy everyone.”
  “So, those were all the same pokémon. A single Ditto, just like the rumors said. But, how could one Ditto do so much?”
  “No just ditto. Altered, like Mewtwo. This why Mewtwo contact Mimic. Mewtwo want help. Mimic refuse. Icy refuse.” Mimic looked to one side. “*MEW* refuse.”
  A Diglett squirmed out of the shadows. “Interesting. I did not think you could spot me like this.”
  Icy sweat dropped. “Uh, Mimic, that isn’t a Mew…”
  “Is agent. Mew take over minds. Mew crazy,” Mimic snorted.
  “‘Crazy’, am I? This, coming from someone who toys with humans at every other level…and I do mean every level, after this cruise. I wonder if you’ve developed… feelings for some of them.”
  “Mimic no know what Mew talking about.”
  “No? Are you sure? Perhaps if I were to toy with that little ‘test subject’ of yours…”
  “Mew do what Mew wants. Icy see Mew. Is preoccupied. Maybe not able save humans on ship when Mewtwo arrive.”
  Icy took a moment to register that Mimic was talking to him again. “Save…? Uh-uh. I’m not a hero.”
  “…”
  “Look, just because…”
  Mimic cut him off. “No need explain. Icy no want save ship, Mimic no can force. Mimic thought not-trainer friend help.”
  “‘Not-trainer’?”
  “Mimic recognize scent of one who give Icy translator.”
  Icy looked at his translator. “Oh, you mean Quethiril.”
  “No know name. May be, may be not. By way, why use translator? Why not speak normal? Icy was human, so Icy once spoke…did Icy?”
  It took a second for Icy to realize he had been speaking through his translator all along, rather than using normal poke-speak. The device had already become second nature to him. “I can’t, not like this.”
  “Icy can. All Pokémon physically capable; most just no know how. Mimic teach Icy, if Icy help Mimic.”
  “Look, I told you…”
  “No now, Mimic know. Maybe later.”
  Casting his ear to the humans below, Icy heard some voices talking about bomb rumors. “I better go. Maybe we will meet again some day Mimic.”
  “Bye, Icy. Good luck!” Mimic melted into the background. “Mimic hope meet Icy again, too. Mimic want discuss more with human pokémon, Mimic sure.”
  Icy moved in closer to hear the conversation.
  “I heard that Team Rocket’s gonna blow the ship sky high. I’ll sell ya a Pidgey so you fly outta here if something happens.”
  “That’s OK. I don’t believe such nonsense. I’ll be fine thank you.” The man walked away. The other just grunted.
  “Hmm. Too many possibilities. They all lead to destruction. I’ve got to get out of here, before it’s too late.” Icy headed back to his room.
  Insanellama and Random were there when he arrived. “We gotta leave now!” Icy shouted.
  “Wooohhh, slow down there partner. What’s the rush? The ship won’t be arriving in port until tomorrow morning.”
  “That’s just it. There’s a bomb. It’s going to go off before that probably. We have to get out now. Team Rocket’s probably after us too.” Insane looks at Random. They discuss a course of action and agree that the voyage has suddenly become too dangerous.
  “OK Icy. But how do you propose we get off the ship?” Insane asked.
  “I have Pidgey to fly on, and you have can ride on Porygon. He can grow to fit you and he floats on water.”
  “Great idea. But what about the others.”
  “Leave a note for them. If we all leave at once, someone might get suspicious.”
  “I’m staying here.” Random said.
  “Suit yourself. Good luck Random.” Icy replied. “OK. We’ll wait till dark.”
*** Midnight ***
  “All right. Let’s go.” They got everything ready. Porygon appeared in the water. “Porygon, convert to water type to float and grow so Insane can fit on you.” Porygon began floating and Insane jumped on. Icy proceeded to release Pidgey. “Pidgey. I need you to fly me towards land, ok.” Pidgey nodded. Icy hopped on, and they were off. No one saw them leave as they disappeared into the night. They were only 20 miles from the mainland near Pallet Town. Following the stars, they hoped to reach land by morning.
  Someone didn’t miss seeing the two escape the ship. Shining, he hovered back towards the SS Anne. “I’ll take care of you later Icy. I won’t be denied my destiny twice.”

The S.S. Anne Mini-Series: Lost At Sea

  They had been floating toward in what they thought to be the direction towards Pallet Town. Pidgey was tired from flying, so Icy joined Insanellama on top of Porygon. Insane looked at his watch. 6:00AM.
  “We’ve been floating around for six hours! Where are we?” he asked.

  “Don’t know. Maybe Porygon can help. It’s a cybernetic pokémon, so I’ll just make a few adjustments to his programming.” Icy spent about a half hour tinkering with Porygon’s internal systems. A small satellite dish formed on Porygon’s tail and a computer screen appeared on its back. “Got it. Now we can find out where we are!”
  Insane gave Icy a perplexed look. “What is that going to do for us? Cable TV?”
  “It’s a link to the GPS System. We can use it to find out exactly where we are.” Icy switched it on and a map appeared on the screen. A blinking dot indicated their position. “Porygon, download these map coordinates into your navigation systems and plot a course for Pallet Town.” Porygon hummed and began float toward Pallet.
  “When did you learn how to do that?” Insane asked.
  “Oh, just something I did in my spare time. It shouldn’t be long before we reach Pallet.”
  “Great. Better develop a taste for pineapple pizza, quick!” Icy just laughed. They had no idea of the terrible explosion that had occurred only three hours after they left on the SS Anne.
  When they reached the shore, Porygon returned to its pokéball. Insanellama and Icy headed for the lab. When they rang the bell, Oak said, “Come in.” Professor Oak was reading a copy of the Celadon Times. The front page headline said, “S.S. Anne sinks.”
  Meanwhile, X and Lonewolf were making their way towards Pallet as well. When they hit the beach, they were in pallet. They walked to the lab, and rang the bell. Insanellama said, “Come on in.” When they walked in, they too saw the headline.
  X said in a very remorseful tone, “I didn’t catch Random before we left. I wonder if he got off before it sank.” Insanellama, X, and Icy were all very worried about their friends. Lonewolf shed a small tear as she thought about if Random was ok. Again the group’s expressions went even lower.
  “I’m sure they all made it off safe,” Oak said trying to comfort Icy who had small tears in his eyes.
  Just then, Random busted through the door. “Man that water is cold…”
  “See, look Icy, Random is ok,” Insane said to comfort his friend.
  Icy was still crying. Somehow, he couldn’t picture anyone surviving the explosion. “I h-h-hope you’re right…” he sniffled.
  Later that evening, as they sat down to dinner, Icy was speaking with Oak. “I’d like you to examine this Porygon I have. I want to upgrade its internal systems with some new procedures I’ve developed,” Icy said to Oak, handing him the pokéball.
  “Sure Icy. Porygons can be easily customized when done properly by a trained professional.”
  “I’m professional enough,” Icy proclaimed. Insane seconded it.
  “Huh. Customizable Porygons? Whatever…” It was a little out of Random’ s league.
  “Well, it may take a day or two to see how much of its systems can be modified. I’ll get started on it tonight. You boys can pick any guestroom to sleep in. There haven’t been too many visitors lately. Oh, by the way, who’s up for tofu?”
  “Uhhh…” Icy and Insane and Random sighed in unison. They finished their dinners and Icy ran off to bed.
  “I’m really tired. Ahhhhhhh… I need some sleep…” And with that he dropped down right in the middle of the floor. Insane picked up the sound asleep Pikachu and carried him to a room and tucked him into bed.
  “Good night Icy. Cya in the morning.” Insane returned to the foyer and spoke with Random.
  Icy still couldn’t help but wonder what Mimic was trying to tell him about Mewtwo. Was Mewtwo just completely misunderstood? It was too complicated for him to think about. All he knew was, Mewtwo said that he was a target. That was enough to keep Icy thinking about him.
  “Oh yeah!” Random interrupted breakfast. He ran back to his room and carried out the huge sack of Pokéballs that he found aboard the S.S. Anne. “These balls were left on the Anne right before she sank. I barely saved them.”
  “Well, let’s check them out!” Icy exclaimed.
  “Certainly,” Oak said.
  The team grabbed a handful of balls each and took turns throwing them out.
  “Sandshrew!” the Pokémon yelled.
  Random’s Pokédex spoke up, *Sandshrew - an UGLY Pokémon. Uses ground attacks so it can run away from real enemies.*
  “I really shouldn’t have let this model get out…” Oak murmured. Insanellama recalled the Pokémon.
  “Wiggly”
  “ARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!” The crowd shouted.
  “Return dangit! Return!” Random shouted.
  “Diglett.”
  Diglett - a MOLE type Pokémon. Looks like a piece of--- Random turned the Pokédex on mute.
  “Cool! A Diglett!” Random yelled. “Am I allowed to keep these Oak?”
  “You may keep the Pokémon if they are not claimed in 30 days,” Oak responded.
  “Wicked!”
  Icy tossed Random the next pokéball.
  “RaiCHU!”
  “Raichu is the evolved form of Pikachu, as Icy may know…” Oak is so smart!
  “Pika,” Icy scowled.
  “Rai…. CHU!!!” the Pokémon growled…
  “…umm…” Random took a step back.
  Insanellama recalled the Raichu before any sparks flew…
  “Horsea!”
  Oak spoke up, “Horsea is a very popular water Pokémon. She grows into Seadra - a very agile fighter.”
  “Cool. I think I will hold on to these balls until I find a good home for them.” Random hugged his Diglett.
  “And you have a lot more too,” Insanellama said, pointing to the pile of balls on the floor…
  That afternoon, Icy and his friends went to the local diner to have some real food for a change. They ate lunch and began discussing what city to visit next.
  “Well, we’ve already been to Pewter, Cerulean, and Vermilion. I think we should pick a city that we need a badge from,” Icy said. They all thought for a while.
  Random spoke up. “Let’s go to Celadon City. I can show you all around. Plus, I hear there are some programmers there who could help you with your Porygon Icy.”
  “There are?!? Great… We can go as soon as Oak is done analyzing Porygon!” They finished their lunch and headed back to the lab. Prof. Oak walked out of one of the backrooms carrying a pokéball.
  “I’m finished analyzing your Porygon. You should visit the programmers in Celadon City. They can help you make modifications to Porygon’s code. My study shows that most of its systems are upgradeable.”
  Icy took the pokéball from Oak and thanked him. “Thanks professor! We’ve already decided to go to Celadon City.” They decided it would be best to leave early tomorrow morning since it would be a long hike.
  Meanwhile, far away, something was listening to every word they said. “Celadon… That brings back memories… Enjoy your time while you can Icy… I’m not finished yet…” The silver figure remained hovering over the waters separating Pallet and Cinnabar. “Soon… All humans will pay for their ignorance.”

Porygon Airways

  They snuck out early again before Oak woke up. And again, Oak woke up to an empty house. Their next stop would be in Celadon…

  “It’ll take forever if we walk and the nearest Pidgeot Airport is in Pewter City. That’s about a two days walk from here.”
  “We don’t have to walk anywhere. Go Porygon!” Porygon sprung out of its pokéball. The others started wondering what Icy was going to do. “Porygon, convert to flying type and run program JetBird.” Porygon glowed as a fine set of polygonal wings appeared from its sides. “Everybody on!” They all got onto Porygon who had hollowed out seats for them.
  “Is there an in-flight movie Icy?” Insane asked jokingly.
  “Sorry. No VCR on this Porygon. Maybe later.” Porygon took off for Celadon.
  From many miles away, the silver pokémon clicked on its jetpack and set a course for Celadon City too. “I’ll fulfill my destiny when the time is right Icy. You won’t be able to interfere with my plans.”
  Porygon started to descend as they neared Celadon. It came to a perfect stop on the road into town. When they got off Porygon, Random had just remembered something. “There’s an air show for flying pokémon here every year. It’s just about time for it I believe, you could enter Porygon Icy!” said Random.
  Needless to say, they headed straight for the registration booth. “I’d like to enter my Porygon in the air-show,” said Icy through the translator. Insanellama quickly related the tale of Icy to the attendant.
  She still looked confused, “A Porygon? They can’t fly.”
  “Mine can,” said Icy. The attendant agreed and gave them a number.
  Before anyone knew what was going on, Icy was frantically programming a stunt routine into the Porygon. When Icy finished, they walked over to the start line. The other competitors were Pidgeot, and Fearow. Icy was last. When it was his turn up, the score to beat was a 9.83 out of a possible 10.0.
  Porygon took off and ran the routine of dives, flips, spins, and other maneuvers. When it landed, the judges scored it a 9.87. The crowd was astonished to see a Porygon win. The prize was a trophy and $500. Icy held up the trophy triumphantly! The crowd quickly departed, and they were left in a relatively empty town square… Too empty…

Mewtwo's Destiny

  We find our heroes looking at the sights from the Town Square. Unknown to them, a dangerous element was descending upon them. And now…

  “Wow, that air show was really fun. I wonder if Porygon can do other types of tricks,” Icy said.
  “Maybe those programmers here can help you with that,” Random replied.
  For some reason, Icy felt something strange approaching. He looked above him and shrieked. “PIKAAAA!!!”
  “What’s wr…” Insane stopped mid-word as he looked up seeing a silver armored pokémon hovering above them. “What is that? Another Porygon?”
  “Now I fulfill my destiny. Come with me Icy!” Icy tried to run, but Mewtwo just glowed and they were both teleported to a distant island.
  “What happened? Where’s Icy? Come on, we’ve got to get help!” The group ran for the pokécenter to get help. But there was nothing they could do to save Icy now.

  Meanwhile, Mewtwo and Icy appeared on a small, dark, deserted island. “Welcome to my home Icy. This will be the last place you ever see.” With that, Mewtwo fired a large psybeam directly at Icy, pinning him against a rock wall.
  “Aghhh!!” Icy screamed in pain. Mewtwo stopped his attack. “W-Why are you doing this to me? What do have to do with your destiny?”
  “You are the one with the gift, Icy. Your psychic powers, although undeveloped now, have high potential. You are a threat to me.”
  “But I don’t care about battling you.” Icy’s conversation with Mimic was coming back to him now. “You aren’t going to accomplish or make people feel any different about you by destroying me.” Mewtwo was annoyed by Icy’s remarks and fired a short psybeam at him. “Go Abra! We have to protect ourselves and fight back. Use your psybeam!” Abra fired multiple psybeams at Mewtwo, but each time they bounced right off his armor.
  “You fool! I cannot be beaten!” Mewtwo prepared to fire a psybeam at Abra. Just as the beam hit Abra, Icy returned him to his pokéball. “Now I will finish you!” Mewtwo fired its psybeam at Icy again.
  “Pik… aaaaaghhhhh…. chaaaaaa!!!!” Icy screamed in pain. It echoed off of every wall. Slowly, he attempted to get back up. “I-I-I understand how you feel about humans. But killing me won’t make you any better than them. You will be just like them.”
  “You can’t possibly hope to be capable of understanding my life. You humans take those pokémon from their homes and force them to battle for you. Then you went as far as genetically altering one of them to create me, to experiment on. Now I will have revenge, starting with you!” He increased the strength of the psybeam. Icy screamed even louder. He was almost completely out of energy, but managed to channel every last bit to form a psyonic shield around him to counter Mewtwo’s attack. It worked, but Icy fainted from losing all his energy.
  Mewtwo looked at Icy’s lifeless body. All the sudden it hit him. “Perhaps you do understand the pain I feel inside. I have become no better than those I hate so much. My own hatred for humans has caused me to be blind. What have I done?” He held his head as he thought about what to do. “I can’t destroy you Icy. But my feelings about humans remain unchanged. For what it’s worth, you have opened my eyes to see some hope for your race.” Mewtwo teleported Icy back to the town square.
  After a few moments, a little girl saw the badly injured Pikachu lying on the ground. She ran towards it. “Cool, a pokémon! Ouwww, you’re sooo cute. Huh, you’re hurt. Help! I don’t think it’s breathing! Somebody help me, please!!!”
  An older gentleman heard her cry for help and ran over to her. “What’s wrong little one?” he asked.
  “I found this cute little pokémon, but I think it’s hurt bad. Please, sir, can you help it?” She had tears in her eyes. The man took Icy into his arms.
  “Let’s take it to the pokécenter. They can treat him there.” They ran as fast as they could to the pokécenter.
  Inside, the rest of Clan Caterpie was waiting for any news about Icy. When they saw the little girl with the Pikachu come in, they hoped it was Icy. Insane walked over to the girl and noticed a black device around the Pikachu’s neck. It was Icy! “Little girl, where did you find this Pikachu?”
  The man spoke for her. “She found him in the Town Square. Why? Does it belong to you?”
  “No sir. Its name is Icy. He’s a human Pikachu! Some strange pokémon teleported him away earlier this afternoon. Is he… alive?”
  Nurse Joy came in with a group of Chanseys following her. “We need to act quickly!” The Chanseys took Icy and placed him on a stretcher and wheeled him into the emergency room.
  “Is he… going to be… alright?” Insane asked Joy.
  “It’s too soon to tell. We’ll do everything we can for him.” She joined the Chanseys in the emergency room. As the doors closed, all Insane could think about was Icy. He hoped he would pull through.
  After they waited for what seemed like an eternity, Nurse Joy let them enter the ER to see their friend.
  The group of friends was crowded around Icy, who was wired to a car battery. “Poor guy…” Llama muttered.
  “What’s a Mewtwo?” Random asked ashamed.
  “Definitely not a pokémon I wanna mess with,” said Lonewolf as she looked at the battery.
  “Nurse,” Insanellama asked, “when will Icy be able to leave?”
  “Very soon, but he will have to be partially immobilized.” Nurse Joy said grimly.
  A few hours later… Everyone was sitting in the waiting room. Nurse Joy wheeled Icy in. He was a paler shade of yellow and bandages were wrapped over his left ear and part of his head.
  “…chuuu…” Icy muttered. He spoke into his translator, “Lets get out of here…” Random took the wheelchair. They silently exited the building.
  Lonewolf reluctantly asked, “Icy, when will you be able to walk and move around again?”
  Icy’s color was returning as they wheeled down the street. “I want to walk now,” said Icy, hopping down. Since they were only about 70 yards from the pokécenter, Insanellama sent Rapidash to return the wheel chair. Rapidash returned a couple of minutes later and the group decided they’d check out the rest of the city.
  “Hey, I got an idea! Let’s do something to lift our spirits by battling at the Celadon Gym!” said Insane. The group concurred and they made their way to the gym.

Clan Caterpie and the Rainbow Badge

  They entered the Celadon City Gym. A girl at the counter greeted them. “Welcome to the Celadon City Pokémon Gym! Are you here to challenge our gym leader, Erika?”
  “Yes, we are,” Icy answered. The girl was startled. She looked down at the talking Pikachu.
  “Did that thing just talk?”
  “Of course I just talked. You talk. Well, so do I. My name is Icy. Now, where’s Erika?” Icy was very anxious to earn another badge. Winning was much better than losing.
  “Now I’ve seen everything. That or I’m wearing a bit too much perfume today. The main gym is just down the hall to your left. Good luck!” She returned to the desk. Some other young trainers came in. Clan Caterpie headed for the main gym.

  “Erika uses grass type pokémon, right?” Icy asked. He didn’t want to get caught using the wrong pokémon in a gym match.
  “Yeah. Fire and ice pokémon will have a real advantage over her grass types,” Insane replied.
  “Hmmm... I don’t have any fire or ice pokémon. What am I going to use?” Icy didn’t have too many options.
  “How about Abra? Abra can nail them with its psychic attacks. Or maybe Porygon,” Random said.
  “Hey. That might work! I’ll have that Rainbow Badge in no time!”
  They entered the main gym. There were trees and plants all over the place. “Hello. I am Erika, the gym leader. Are you here to earn a Rainbow Badge?”
  “Yes! I’m ready!” Icy stepped up to the challenger’s box. Erika watched in disbelief as the small Pikachu approached.
  “Ahehehe... That’s very cute. So who’s my challenger?”
  “I AM!!!” Icy yelled.
  “What. You can talk? Pokémon don’t compete for badges, humans do.”
  “Errr. Not this again. Insane, would you kindly educate to daft gym leader?”
  “Why not...” Insanellama spent the next few minutes explaining to Erika about the experiment mishap that transformed Icy into a Pikachu. She was still confused, but agreed to battle Icy.
  “See, if they’d cut back on the perfume, they’d understand things a lot better. That stuff goes right to your head,” Icy whispered to Insane. He laughed and the match began.
  “It will be a three on three battle. GO, Tangela!” She threw her pokéball into the field. A small vine-like pokémon popped out.
  “I choose, Abra! GO, Abra!” Icy swung Abra’s pokéball from his tail into the field. Abra came out, ready for battle. “Abra, use psybeam!” Abra prepared to attack.
  “Tangela, try to distract it with vine whip!” Tangela shot its vines at Abra, but Icy was ready for it.
  “Abra, use Psychic to repel the vines!” Abra reacted quickly and the vines missed their target. “Now, switch attack to Confusion!” Before Tangela could bring its vines back in, Abra fired its confusion attack. Before long, Tangela was tangled in its own vines. “Hehehe. That was easy.” Icy laughed.
  “The joke’s on you! Tangela, use constrict to put yourself back together, then hit Abra with stun spore!” Icy gasped. Tangela fired spores directly at Abra.
  “Abra, teleport!” Abra teleported just before the spores could hit him. “Now, psybeam!” Tangela was knocked out in one hit from Abra’s psybeam. Abra was starting to learn how to channel more energy into its attacks. But without evolving, it would never reach its full potential.
  “Tangela return! Very impressive, but you’ll have to do better to beat, Victreebel! GO, Victreebel!” A large bell shaped pokémon came out. “Razor leaf now!” Sharp leaves emerged from inside its bell. They quickly converged on Abra.
  “Teleport Abra!” It was too late. Abra was hit by each of the razor sharp leaves. “No, Abra! Return!” Icy thought to himself what to use next. He remembered Random suggesting Porygon. “Go, Porygon!” The polygonal pokémon came out. Icy quickly looked up Porygon’s attacks on his pokédex.
  “Victreebel, use vine whip to restrain that Porygon!” Icy was worried. He couldn’t lose another round.
  “Porygon, double team!” Porygon immediately split into three identical Porygons. Victreebel was confused. It couldn’t figure out which was the real Porygon. All the Porygons struck at it at once. Victreebel was too beat up to continue battling and fainted. Erika recalled it.
  “You’re pretty good. But you’ll never beat, Vileplume!” A large plant emerged from the pokéball. It had very large pedals on its top. “Vileplume, stun spore!” Two of the Porygons got hit by the spores and disappeared. The real Porygon charged again for Vileplume.
  “Porygon, sharpen, then tackle!” Porygon became razor sharp and as it hit Vileplume, Porygon cut its side. Vileplume was hurt badly and began crying. Icy was very sad that Porygon’s attack was so strong. “Oh my. Erika, I’m sorry.” Icy ran over to Insane’s backpack and found a potion spray. He then gave it to Erika. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know Porygon would be that sharp. I hope this heals your Vileplume.” She applied the potion to Vileplume. It recovered quickly.
  “Thanks, Icy. Well, I guess you win. I’d be a little more careful with that Porygon of yours. Here’s your Rainbow Badge!” Icy took the badge from Erika and ran back to the group. “OK, who wants to go next?” The other members of Clan Caterpie tried to decide who would battle Erika next.
  Insanellama decided he would go next. “It’ll be a two on two,” said Erika.
  “That’s right up my alley mam,” said Insanellama.
  “GO TANGELA”
  “GO PONYTA!”
  “TANGELA CONSTRICT NOW!”
  “PONYTA FIRESPIN NOW!” Ponyta’s firespin connected, but Tangela managed to reach through the fire and choke Ponyta. When the smoke cleared, both pokémon were down.
  “VICTREEBEL GO!”
  “Now you’ll face the other half of my fiery duo, RAPIDASH GO! RAPIDASH STOMP NOW!”
  “VICTREEBEL VINE WHIP!”
  Rapidash was faster, and took a running leap over the vines, and came crashing down on Victreebel.
  “VICTREEBEL STUN SPORE NOW!” Without warning Rapidash reared up on its front legs and mule kicked Victreebel. The spores connected, but Victreebel was out cold.
  “What tha? I didn’t give that command,” said Insanellama. Erika tossed him a Rainbow badge. Insanellama went over to his two fiery horses, and healed and hugged them. The next matches were one on one. X’s Abra defeated Erika’s Weepinbell. Lonewolf’s Vulpix defeated Erika’s Weepinbell.
  “Hey.” Random smiled coolly at Erika.
  “What?” Erika snorted.
  Random looked around, “Sup?”
  “You want a match too?” Erika grabbed her pokéballs.
  “Sure.”
  Everyone looked at Random. He was acting pretty weird. Random tossed Growlithe onto the floor. Erika tossed Weepinbell out.
  “Growlithe, do something.”
  “Weepinbell, use Razor Leaf!”
  The leaves singed as Growlithe launched flames across the plant Pokémon. Random smiled cheerfully, yet a bit dazed.
  “w00t.” Random sighed. “Go, Jigglypuff.” Growlithe returned to his Pokéball as Jigglypuff was released. Erika responded by firing out Victreebel.
  “Jigglypuff, sing.”
  “Petal Dance now!”
  Jigglypuff got the first shot in somehow, rendering Victreebel asleep.
  “Pound ‘em!” Random spoke with little passion.
  Jigglypuff began hopping high into the air and body slamming her foe with vigor. The enemy Pokémon was soon fainted. Jigglypuff hopped behind Random and wiped her sweat from her brow.
  “Yeah... that was nice.” Random breathed deep.
  Erika looked at Random curiously. “Here is your badge.” She cheerfully handed the Rainbow emblem over.
  “Yeah... thanks a lot.” Random gingerly gripped the badge.
  Random sat down and passed out. Ivan grabbed Random with his vine and dragged him outside.
  Dev looked at X, “must be the perfume.” X responded, “Must be.”
  Jigglypuff remained where Random sat down. She began glowing....
  “WIGGLY!!!” The great voice bellowed.
  “WIGGLY..... tuff?” The freakish balloon bounced around the building, taking bites out of Erika’s plants and harassing Icy.
  “WIGGLYWIGGLYWIGGLYWIGGLYWIGGLY!!!” She hopped outside to greet her master. Ivan scampered off back into the Gym.
  Wigglytuff sat atop her master and fell asleep with him.
  “ACK!” Random squirmed to a safe distance.
  “WIGGLY - -TUFF!!!” The homely Pokémon roared. The Twisted Pokédex announced, *Wigglytuff - an EVIL type Pokémon. Easily the most hated of all Pokémon: Run.*
  “Yeah.” Random grabbed a Pokéball and brought the wicked balloon inside. He pulled a small lock and chain from his bottomless pack and fastened it around the ball.
  Random inspected the ball, “Good enough.” He stood up and rejoined the clan.

The Programmers of Celadon City

  The team was standing idly around Celadon Town Square. Icy was, once again, fiddling with his Porygon - Dev watching curiously over his shoulder. Random switched between talking with his friends and speaking to others over his cell phone. When he concluded his conversation, he hung up the phone and turned to Icy.
  “Hey man, I know some cool techs in Celadon who could help you out with Porygon.” Random pointed to a tall building at the end of Scissor Street.
  Icy spoke into his translator necklace, “Sweet! Let’s go!” He packed up his bag and held Porygon’s Pokéball in his little Pikachu hands.
  “You guys ok here?” Random asked Llama, X, and Dev.
  “We’ll find something to do...”
  Random and Icy took a walk down the street. They passed ROCKET GAME CORNER. “That’s where I won the jackpot last year.” Random told the origin of his adventure, “With my mother accounted for, I left home.” Random checked his wallet - full. A grin came across his face. Icy rolled his eyes.
  “There.” Random pointed to a tall building with a large, 2nd floor glass window overlooking the street. They entered.
  “Random!” A young man in his 20’s called out.
  “Hey Will!” Random shook his hand.
  “How’s your Porygon Random?” Will inquired.
  “Haven’t fiddled with him in over a year...” Random replied coolly.
  ‘Random has a Porygon?’ Icy thought, ‘he never mentions it...I thought he wasn’t interested in this stuff...’
  “Will, this is Icy. Icy this is Wilhelm Bildungsroman.” Random pointed to the tiny Pikachu.
  “Hi lil fella!” Will bent over and patted Icy’s head. Icy smacked his hand.
  “Excuse me sir...” Icy replied sharply.
  “Wha-? He talks???” Will gasped.
  “....sigh....” Random told Will the story of Icy’s transformation.
  “Wow...” Will said, “So what can I do for you Icy?”
  Will took a look at Icy’s Porygon. “Hmm... I can see you’ve already made some additions to Porygon’s original programming. Very nice work. I think you might be able to enhance its flying capabilities and maybe add some submarine abilities by adding these command algorithms.” Will showed Icy some different programs he had been working on.
  Random walked around and watched the projects the other programmers were working on. He later came back to check on Will and Icy.
  Porygon was well shined and looked like new. It sparkled as the lights hit it. Will and Icy had added new flight procedures and gave Porygon the ability to act as a submarine. They also enhanced Porygon’s psychic attacks.
  “Thanks again Will.” Icy waved as he took his Porygon back.
  “Any time Icy. Hope to see you again some time,” Will answered. He turned to Random. “Take care Random. Thanks for visiting.”
  “No prob. I still enjoy coming here. I think we are headed for Saffron City, Icy’s hometown. Right, Icy?”
  “Yeah!”
  As they left the mansion, Icy saw a poster on a dark wall. He read it.

  “Wow. New fossils! I want one! After we get a Marsh badge, we’re coming back here!” Icy proclaimed excitedly.
  “Something just doesn’t seem right about this...,” Random added. Little did they know that Team Rocket had once again come up with the perfect trap for our heroes.

Icy Goes His Own Way

  While the group was eating that day in the pokécenter, Icy decided he’d go out on his own for a while and meet back with the group after the auction. They exchanged a tearful goodbye wishing Icy the best of luck. Icy then took his backpack and a sleeping bag and headed out to a forest outside Celadon City.
  Random watched Icy leave and spoke up, “Guys. I have been thinking. I am don’t want to be a nobody. I have decided to put myself through Pokémon Tech. I am going to leave you guys for a while. You are welcome to stay at my estate for as long as you wish. Thank you, you’re my best friends.”

  “Good luck Random.” Everyone wished him well. Random walked to the door, Ivan on his heels. Random set his map down and defined the best path to Pokémon Tech. He set off.
  It was a small forest, but Icy didn’t care about that. He just wanted a place no one would bother him at. It was getting very late and the sun had already set. Icy was suddenly lonely. As he reached for Porygon’s pokéball, he put it back thinking about Abra. He found Abra’s pokéball and called him out. Abra appeared in front of him, ready for battle. Icy calmed him down and said he just wanted to talk a while.
  “Hey, Abra. It’s been a while.” Abra nodded. Ever since Icy had got Porygon, he couldn’t put it down. Abra had become just another one of his many pokémon. But now Icy realized how lonely Abra was. “I’m sorry for not paying much attention to you Abra. I wonder how all our friends are doing? Let’s find out.” Icy had each of his other pokémon materialize. Most of them just sat there staring at Icy and Abra while others, like the ten Caterpie, played little games. Icy laughed as the Caterpies crawled over each other. He remembered the times when he played games with the other kids on his block, specifically a little girl who lived next door. But that was before the accident that changed his life forever. Not that it was any bad to be a Pikachu, there were just a few things that only humans could do. Icy and Abra both joined in the games their friends were playing.
  They played late into the night and were finally so wiped out, they just fell asleep right there. Icy had been playing games with the Caterpie, letting them crawl all over him, and now they were still all over him, asleep. Since they were deep in the forest where no one would see them, Icy decided to just fall asleep for the night, since he didn’t have the energy to return them all to pokéballs anyway. Sleep overtook him quickly and slowly he began to dream about his old life. Abra and Porygon fell asleep on each other as well, and the rest of Icy’s pokémon remained scattered around them. It was almost mid-night.
  Meanwhile, in a secret part of Celadon City, Giovanni and some of his TR henchmen were setting up headquarters. “Is everything ready for the big party?”
  “Yes sir. Everything will ready right on time. We’ve got posters throughout the city and in pokécenters everywhere.”
  “Very good. Now all we have to do is wait for those trainers to get here. And this time, there had better not be any screw ups.” The two henchmen had a nervous look. “Oh. And one more thing. I’ve heard rumors that Clan Caterpie is in town. See that they are eliminated at the party. I want Icy, however, brought to me, alive. He would make a perfect agent. Bwahahahaha!!” His laugh was very deep. The other two agents laughed with him.

Free as a Butterfree

  Deep in Celadon Forest, Icy awoke to a half-dozen Caterpie on top of him. “AHHH!!!” he screamed as he got up, sending the Caterpie flying. “Opps, sorry.” They crawled around looking for nice, juicy leaves to snack on. The rest of Icy’s pokémon also looked around for food. Icy found some bright red apples and shared them with the others. After breakfast, they all spent some time training and playing games.
  Icy and his pokémon took a walk through the forest. Sunlight poured through the trees and sparkled off water droplets. It was such a beautiful day and Icy wanted to do something special with his pokémon. They found a clearing which had some rocks scattered and a few small flowers. Swarms of Butterfree fluttered overhead. Icy’s Caterpie looked up at their evolved forms with awe.

  Finally, Icy decided to have a picnic with his pokémon. He sent Abra and Porygon to go find some good food. While they were gone, he set up the picnic. A few minutes later, Abra and Porygon returned with enough food to last the night. They put the food out and everyone ate.
  After finishing their lunch, Icy let them play in the clearing. The Butterfree he had seen earlier that day came back and began playing with his pokémon. It would take a long time for any of Icy’s Caterpie to evolve into Butterfree. As he watched them, one stood out. It had green tipped wings and a light green body instead of the normal blue and was slightly smaller than the other Butterfree. Immediately, Icy felt a strange calling to it. Something inside of him was saying, this was the one. “I want that one...,” Icy thought.
  Icy called Abra to his side, then called for the green Butterfree. Icy proposed a contest between Abra and Butterfree. If Abra won, Icy got to capture Butterfree, and if Butterfree won, Icy would give all the Butterfree lots of food. They agreed to the term and the contest began.
  “Abra, he doesn’t look that tough, just use your confusion attack.” Abra fired his confusion attack at the Butterfree, who evaded it with amazing agility. Then, Icy noticed Butterfree glowing and just before it could fire its psybeam at Abra, Abra teleported. “Whoa. Looks are deceiving... No matter. Abra, psybeam now!” Abra’s psybeam knocked Butterfree clear out of the sky. Icy won the contest and captured the Butterfree.
  They all spent the remainder of the day playing with the other Butterfree. Icy sat down caring for Butterfree’s wounds. After it was ok, they joined the others in their games. Icy was so happy with his new Butterfree that he decided to share his food with the Butterfree anyway. They promised to take Icy and his pokémon for flying lessons if they had the time the next day. Icy happily agreed and as the sun set, Icy wondered about all the pokémon he would see at the Pokémon Auction in Celadon City.

The Celadon City Pokémon Auction

  Trucks were coming in by the hundreds it looked as prospective auctioneers and merchants drove truckloads of pokémon into Celadon City. Most of them had sold pokémon stuff on the SS Anne cruise and each one was happier that no obvious dangers lurked at this event. After all, you can’t sink a city.
  The auction would take place mainly in Celadon Square and inside the pokécenter and Celadon City Mall. The first wave of merchants set up their booths along the main road knowing people would have to pass by. Among them was the Magikarp dealer from the SS Anne with a fresh supply of Magikarp.
  Merchants and auctioneers weren’t the only people entering the city. Many Rocket agents were too. But instead of looting and causing trouble, they were sweeping the roads and helping people set up. Many Celadon residents were amazed when they saw how nice and humane the Rockets were acting.

  “This sucks! I can’t believe the boss is making us go through with this. We should be terrorizing the city. This is gonna give us Rockets a bad name.”
  “Quiet. We have to do this. Besides, we’ll get our chance. There’s gonna be tons of trainers here. That’s a lot of pokémon just waiting to be stolen. Now let’s get back to work.”
  Meanwhile, back at Giovanni’s secret underground base outside Celadon City, one of his top specialists entered the room. “You have your orders. Make sure they are carried out flawlessly.”
  “You can count on me sir.” The specialist left the room.
  Giovanni turned his attention to a smaller agent by the door. “Make sure my suit is perfectly clean. I want to look my best for tomorrow.” The agent nodded and left. “Ahh... This is going to be the greatest scheme I’ve ever concocted. There’s nothing that can stop me now, fwahahaha...” He sat back in his chair.

The next day,
  Celadon City was packed. Merchants and trainers were flooding the city. As they gathered in the main square, a dark figure approached the podium. He was followed by two other dark figure dressed in black with big red ‘R’s on their shirts. The crowd gasped as they saw who it was.
  Giovanni stepped up to the microphone. He looked at the large crowd from behind a bulletproof glass window. His agents took their places at his sides. He cleared his throat.
  “Welcome, everyone! It is my great pleasure to welcome all of you to the 1999 Celadon City Pokémon Auction.” The crowd cheered. “My name is Giovanni, President of Team Rocket. I have spent many millions to make this event a reality for all of you. The main auctions will be held right here, in Celadon Square. There will also be merchants selling various pokémon products. I hope you all have an excellent time and feel free of ask any of my associates for help or info about Team Rocket. And now, I turn the program over to the mayor of Celadon City.” More cheering.
  The mayor walked to the podium while Giovanni whispered something to his agents. “As mayor of Celadon City, it gives me great honor to declare the Pokémon Auction, officially open!” The crowd cheered again. Giovanni and his agents had slipped away during the mayor’s short speech. The mayor was signing autographs and handing out ‘Vote for me’ buttons. It was a perfect sunny day and the first pokémon to hit the auction table was an Ivysaur, donated by the Celadon City Gym. Trainers had already begun placing their bids.

Meanwhile,
  After sending the night with the Butterfree in Celadon Forest, Icy made his way back into the big city. It was packed with trainers. He recalled all his pokémon except Porygon, which he rode, and Abra, who rode with them. Some people noticed him as he sped by, but Icy only replied, “Hi...” Most people now knew about Icy the Pikachu trainer. But Icy was still in danger of being spotted by Team Rocket.
  The auction was going well and except for a few fights between Giovanni and other trainers, everyone was getting along fine. Over a hundred trainers had already entered the city, and more were on the way. Icy looked around. He saw the Ivysaur being auctioned off at the main area. “Hmm... I already have a Bulbasaur...” Icy was hoping to get his hands on a rare pokémon with the money Random had given him just before he left. He continued walking.
  The crowd was getting very packed now. Fortunately for Icy, he could slip through because of his size. A bulletin board had an announcement for a Porygon technology demonstration at the Celadon Mansion on Wednesday. “I gotta go to that! Maybe I can show off my Porygon.” Icy continued wandering. He was getting lonely. “I wonder if Mimic will be here? I really want to see him again...”
  He hadn’t eaten since last night so he headed towards a packed pokécenter. Icy managed to make it to the front desk where Nurse Joy recognized him immediately. “Here’s an apple Icy. That’s all I can do for you now. There sure are a lot of trainers here. Be careful walking around along out there Icy.” Icy thanked Joy and scampered off with the apple. Apple in hand, he continued to peruse the main square.
  Icy wandered around, taking in the sights and sounds. Food was the last thing on his mind, but his body raised the apple to his mouth almost by itself, responding to some natural, Darwinian urge to eat now lest famine strike or better herbivores clear the food away.
  *Chom-*
  “Owwwwww!”
  Icy blinked. The apple...was moving.
  “Sorry. Mimic no think anyone eat *apple* at this festival. Everyone sell and eat junk food, so far as Mimic see.”
  Icy examined the apple from all sides, trying to find a face, but the only distinguishing features were his own tooth marks. “Mimic! I was hoping you’d come.”
  A very tiny, worm-like Dratini poked its head out of a hole, hidden by the shadows at the apple’s top. “Mimic see many people head to Celadon, so Mimic come see what happen. Hear something about auction.” Mimic’s left eye narrowed, and he looked straight at the Pikachu. “Icy no for sale, Mimic hope.”

Later that day,
  Even at night, the streets in Celadon City were completely lit up. Trainers were still up and about. Icy and Abra rode through the crowd on Porygon. As they were going along, Porygon accidentally bumped into a trainer.
  “Hey, watch where you’re... Huh?” The trainer looked down to notice the Pikachu riding Porygon. “Uh, don’t you belong to someone? You shouldn’t wander away from your trainer. Of course, maybe you don’t have a trainer.”
  “No. These pokémon belong to me. The name’s Icy.” The man didn’t know weather to be shocked or afraid. “Hey, you wanna battle me?”
  “Uh, ok little Pikachu. How’s about a one-on-one match. I choose you, Dratini!” A cute dragon pokémon now stood in front of Icy.
  “And for my pokémon, I choose, myself! Go IcyPikachu!”
  “Huh. I guess that’s fair. But don’t blame me for any injuries my Dratini gives you. Dratini, wrap him up!”
  “Go thunderball!” Icy created an enormous ball of electricity in front of him and fired it at Dratini. Dratini was shaken up, but not beaten. Icy, on the other hand, was slightly weakened from creating the attack.
  “Hang in there Dratini. He’s weak, hit him with Hyper Beam!” Dratini began glowing. Icy was frozen with fear.
  “H-h-hyper beam...” Icy said nervously. Dratini fired the beam with amazing accuracy. “Psyshield now!” Icy was too late. Although his psyonic shield protected him from most of the blast, enough of Dratini’s hyper beam got him before the shield kicked in. Almost unable to move, Icy declared defeat.
  “Aw kid, it’s not that bad. Nobody has ever beaten this Dratini. Here, let me help you.” The man took out a potion spray from his backpack and used it to heal Icy.
  “Thank you. Well, I guess I should be on my way. Sorry for bumping into you.”
  Icy was about to leave with Abra and Porygon when the man stopped him. “Hey. Wait a sec. What other neat pokémon do you have?”
  “Well, I do have a Bulbasaur and Dugtrio. Why?”
  “Ahh. I really love Dratini here, but there’s just no fun in winning all the time, know what I mean. Maybe it’s time Dratini helped someone else. How’s about a trade, Icy? I’ll give you my Dratini for your Bulbasaur and Dugtrio. Since Dratini is so powerful and rare, I think two is a fair deal.”
  “Well, I never really do get a chance to train them anyway. Ok, let’s trade!”
  “You made a good decision.” They traded pokémon and went their separate ways. Icy released Dratini from its pokéball. It was so cute. He had Dratini wrap around his head like a hat and rode off with Abra on Porygon.
  Icy, his Dratini and Abra all rode on Porygon to the Pokémon mansion where the Porygon technology demonstration was about to begin. Outside the mansion, many posters of the computer diagrams were shown. Icy returned his pokémon to their pokéballs and walked inside. Will and his colleagues were putting the finishing touches on the displays. Icy walked over to Will. “Hi. Looking good!”
  “Yes. We hope to get quite a crowd. I hear Random went off to Pokémon Tech.”
  “Yeah. I hope he comes back during the breaks.”
  “Well, I’d love to chat with ya Icy, but I need to finish this before any trainers get here. Cya!”
  Icy wanted around and took notice to some the new enhancements they how made for Porygons. He collected some of the data on his pokédex and then went back outside. He could already see the first wave of trainers approaching the building. For some odd reason, Icy had the distinct feeling he was being watched...
  A multitude of trainers were outside of the mansion. Icy got up in front of the crowd and brought out his Porygon. Will joined him.
  “Hello everybody!” Icy said into is translator and the mic. “I am Icy, and this is my Porygon.” Will and Icy both showed to crowd some more neat things Porygons could be programmed to do. One of the neatest tricks was when Porygon could change itself into vehicles big enough for at least two people. “Thank you everyone for coming to see the Porygons. There are many exhibits inside.” Will thanked Icy for helping out.
  For some reason or another, Icy somehow didn’t feel safe outside the mansion. His psychic senses were picking up something very faint. “Must just be nothing. Pro’ly just a psychic pokémon nearby.” He walked to the main square where to they were auctioning off some rarer pokémon.
  “Hey look! A stray Pikachu! Hehe. This is my lucky day! You’re mine Pikachu!” Icy looked up just in time to see a pokéball flying at him.
  “Silly fool.” Icy muttered to himself as he teleported onto the trainer’ s head. “Opps, I think you missed him.”
  “Huh!?! Who said that?” He noticed Icy on his head. “What the?!? What type of Pikachu are you?”
  After hopping off the trainer’s head and back onto the ground, Icy replied, “My name is Icy. I am a psychic Pikachu trainer. Happy. Never, ever, throw a pokéball at me again!” Icy went off on his way to the square. The trainer was still standing there, more confused than he ever was in his life.
  Finally, Icy reached the square. “The next pokémon up for bidding is this wonderful Seel! It’s perfect for all you ice-type pokémon trainers.” Icy wondered if this was the pokémon he should get. But then he decided not to get it because he already had so many pokémon to take care of. A little kid ran up to him, followed by some other kids.
  “See, see. I told you. This is that talking Pikachu. Mr. Pikachu, can you show me and my friends that Porygon please.”
  “Umm, ok.” Icy sent out Porygon. He had it morph into different objects and stuff. Icy sensed something with high psychic power nearby. “Um. I have to go now kids. Maybe another time. Porygon, return.” Icy ran off until he could no longer sense the psychic being.
  “Crap. I bet Mewtwo pro’ly changed his mind about killing me again,” Icy said to himself. Then, out of the bushes jumped two TR agents. One grabbed Icy while to other attempted to tie him up. “Ahh. No one tries to capture me and gets away with it. Take is! Psy-thundershock GO!” An electric field formed around Icy’s body and fried the TR agent holding him. The other agent ran away in fear of being next. “I don’t think so. I’ve had enough of Team Rocker bothering me. You aren’t going to have it that easy.”
  The TR agent tried to run faster, but Icy just teleported in front of him a set up a psyonic shield. The agent bounced off the shield and fell to the street. Some onlookers were completely amazed. Icy took out Porygon and had it aim its sharp beak at the Rocket’s neck. “Go back to your boss, and tell him to quit pestering me. Otherwise, he’s next!” With that, the agent sprang to his feet, and ran as fast as he could to the secret Rocket base. Icy gave him a thundershock to quicken his pace. Then, he collapsed, tired out from the struggle and energy used for attacks.
  Porygon scooped him up, and took him to the pokécenter. Nurse Joy healed him and restored his energy. “Thanks Nurse Joy!” Icy decided he should go back to the mansion now that the two agents who were following him were out of the way.

Icy and Giovanni

  “Sir! A pikachu attacked and killed one of our agents. In fact, he’s claiming to be a trainer, and had speaking capabilities!” The rocket slowed down as Dreadite got up. Dreadite walked over to the rocket, and looked at the man.
  “Where is this Pikachu?” Dreadite asked, and threw his cloak over his shoulders. The rocket watched True Car’tos warily as Dreadite approached the rocket. “I’ll deal with this myself.”
  The rocket turned to face Dreadite. “He was at the Porygon expo last I heard.”
  Dreadite gestured to Car’tos, who shrugged, and walked past the rocket. Dreadite walked through the door and into the crowd. The rocket ran off to tell Giovanni.

  Icy was talking about Porygons to whoever walked by. He sat down to catch his breath.
  “This is really weird. Porygon seems to be so popular these days, but nobody wants to talk about them!”
  Icy’s Caterpie just made a tired noise. Icy sat down. He wasn’t able to do as much as a Pikachu and he got tired quicker. “Pika!”
  A little girl walked over to him. “Wow, a cute Pikachu! Want a snack, pikachu?”
  Icy nodded. The girl tossed him a nut, and ran into the crowd, giggling. Icy ravenously ate, prompting his caterpie to step back.
  Dreadite watched Icy eat. “That’s the one. Strange, he doesn’t seem to be human at all.”
  Car’tos laughed. “Well, maybe he was hungry. We’re not ones to talk, you know.”
  Dreadite laughed, and stepped forward. He walked up to Icy, and smiled. “Well, aren’t you the cutest little thing.”
  Icy looked up and nodded before going back to eating. Dreadite puked.
  “Too bad you made a mistake.” Dreadite slashed at Icy, and the psychic Pikachu dodged out of the way, and looked at Car’tos, who had walked out of the crowd. Dreadite laughed. “Too late!”
  Dreadite tossed a net at Icy. “Giovanni wants to see you.”
  Icy struggled with the net. “Let me go...” he whimpered. Dreadite just sneered at him and headed back to base.
  “Hmph... I expected more out of you. Psychic Pikahcu indeed. You’re going to learn the price of messing with Team Rocket.”
  “I’m warning you. Let me go or you’ll end up like that other TR agent.”
  “You can’t do anything to me.” Dreadite continued walking. Icy knew he wouldn’t easily escape without help, so while Dreadite wasn’t looking, he used his telekinesis to send out Abra and Porygon.
  “Go find help. Abra, teleport Porygon and you outta here, now!” he whispered to his pokémon. Abra and Porygon vanished. Dreadite didn’t even realize what happened. He looked at Icy again.
  “How pathetic.” He sighed. “I think Giovanni is losing faith in me, sending me to capture such a weakling...”
  “I AM NOT A WEAKLING!!!” Icy summoned up most of his psychic energy to create a massive electric sphere around him. He then hurled it into Dreadite.
  The blast singed Dreadite’s arm. Icy began to run away when he heard to click of a pistol being loaded.
  “That will be far enough Icy. You have an appointment with Giovanni that you really shouldn’t be late for.” Icy stepped back. “Do you really want me to pull the trigger?”
  Dreadite was about to grab the Pikachu, when a young girl came out of the crowd. “Leave him alone!” she demanded.
  “This is has nothing to do with you... This is Team Rockets affair.”
  Car’tos pointed the gun at the girl. “Leave us, or ill be forced to shoot.” The young woman ran back into the crowd, no doubt to call the cops. Dreadite grabbed the little rodent, and tied him up with neon green rope.
  “Come on, before Jenny comes.” Car’tos snapped back his gun, and folded his wings over his chest.
  As they walked on, Car’tos whistled, (as much as he could over his mask,) the Japanese theme of Pokémon. “Hey, what tone is that? It’s catchy!”
  “I don’t know, I heard it somewhere.” By the time they got to where Giovanni was, both Dreadite and Icy were humming it.

  When they reached the Game Corner, Giovanni was busy with another trainer.
  Giovanni motioned for his associates to stay back. Dreadite and Car’tos complied, keeping Icy out of sight and quiet.
  “I chose Nido-“
  “SCYTHER!” A flash of red from somewhere around Dreadite formed into a blade-armed pokémon.
  “Dreadite! Keep your pokémon out of this.”
  “It’s not my pokémon.”
  “Then what was it doing on your person?”
  “I don’t know.” Almost faster than any of the eyes present could follow, Dreadite whipped out his sword, beheaded Scyther, and resheathed his weapon before Scyther could hit the ground. “And I don’t care.”
  Instead of collapsing, though, the Scyther’s body staggered for a bit, while its head made a perfect arc to land on Booga’s shoulder, gooey strands of *something* trailing from severed neck to neck stump. As startled as he was, Booga was even more surprised when the head whispered, “This is not a safe place for you right now. Leave.”
  Giovanni carefully watched the Scyther stagger, nearly straight and true, towards Booga. When it finally collapsed, it dug its arms into the floor, carving a roughly circular hole beneath the novice trainer and sending him to the floor below. The Scyther’s head landed on its body.
  Icy’s nose twitched. That Scyther smelled familiar...
  Giovanni abruptly kicked the Scyther into the hole, then walked out of his office into the hallway where Dreadite, Car’tos, and Icy waited. Only after he closed and locked his office door did he touch a wall intercom. “Security to my office NOW! There’s a Ditto on the loose.” He turned to the others. “Let us discuss business elsewhere. I suspect our guests are about to get noisy.”
  “Sir?”
  “Dreadite, Car’tos: from now on, scan yourselves for pokémon before entering our bases. It would seem that our old friend Mimic has picked up a new trick...”
  At that moment, though, Mimic was in the form of an Eevee, practicing nothing more sinister than sheer cuteness as four girls tried to cuddle him simultaneously in the Celadon Pokémon Center.
  “I’ll do what I feel is necessary, Giovanni.” Dreadite glared at the leader of Team Rocket, and waved his hand. “Not like that would help, you know. Dittos are amazingly harder to detect than you’d imagine.”
  Giovanni shrugged. “Do it. Understand?”
  Dreadite smirked. “Whatever you say.”
  Icy just panicked, and started to bolt. Dreadite stepped back, and disappeared as the teleport pad went into play, flashing bright before calming down. Icy panicked, and Dreadite reappeared above him on the ceiling, before dropping down in front of him. “Hold it.”
  Giovanni smiled. As much as Dreadite seemed to disobey and spite him, he WAS an effective member. Car’tos just shrugged as Dreadite kicked at Icy. Icy dodged back, and stepped right into Giovanni. Dreadite laughed, and Giovanni picked the Pikachu up.
  “Icy, Icy... you make too much of a fuss. You know you can’t win.”

  Just then, all of Icy’s friends converged on Giovanni’s office. Icy’s Abra and Porygon followed them.
  “D***. Security...” Giovanni yelled into the intercom.
  “Don’t even try it. We’ve already handled them. Give it up Giovanni. It’s all over for you!” InsaneLlama said bravely.
  “You won’t do anything to me.” He held Icy tightly in his hands. “Try anything,” he took out a small pistol, “and Icy dies. Now, put your weapons down, slowly” Giovanni’s grip on Icy tightened.
  “Ouch... That’s it. I’ve just about had it with you.” All the sudden, Icy vanished. He reappeared on top of InsaneLlama’s head. “I missed you. Ok guys, attack Giovanni!”
  “S***. You will never capture me!” Giovanni reached inside his suit to reveal a small sphere. He threw it to the ground and vanished in a puff of smoke.
  “NO. Where did he go?”
  Abra and Porygon rejoined Icy, and the group of trainers rejoiced having saved the psychic Pikachu trainer.
  Meanwhile, in a secret compartment of the base, TR specialists were preparing to take out the heroes.

  Somewhere near the back of the room, Dreadite and Car’tos watched as Giovanni used one of his Gas Balls to escape.
  “You know, he really should give us some warning before he does that.”
  “No time for joking”, Said Dreadite. “We better get that Pikachu back.”
  Icy’s group was about ready to strike, when both Dreadite, and True Car’tos flew out of the window, taking Icy off the head of InsaneLlama. “Let go of me!” Said Icy, shooting Psychic energy at Car’tos.
  “Fwahahha! Psy-attacks can’t hurt me!” he said, tightening his grip on the Pikachu.
  “Ack... PikaaaacHUUUUUU!!” Car’tos lost his grip as he fell, semi-comatose to the ground.
  “Car’tos!” Said Dread, flying back down catch him before he hit the floor.
  “Ahhh!” Came Icy, as he hit the ground.
  Dreadite landed, and woke Car’tos up. “Hey! Wake up!” Slapping him.
  “Oooo, I’m going to kill Icy! Where is he!?” They looked at him, and saw his friends. “Oh great!”
  “I guess we fight!” Yelled Car’tos, taking out his Gold ball.
  As Car’tos was about to throw the ball, Dreadite stopped him. “Car’tos, get out of here! I’ll take care of them.” Dread pushed Car’tos back. “Go on!”
  “Alright, take care!” As Car’tos was leaving, he saw the other trainers throw their balls as well. The last thing he heard was Dreadite saying, “Pidgey, Go!!”

  “I really don’t have time for this...” Icy was getting slightly low on energy but managed to fry Dreadite’s Pidgey.
  “NOOOOOO!!!!! My Pidgey. You are so dead Icy. You hear me!” Dreadite attended to his medium-rare Pidgey.
  Dreadite looked at his opposition. He called back his paralyzed Pidgey, and laughed. Icy just stood there, angry, as Dreadite walked toward him.
  “I don’t have time to deal with you. Not anymore.” Dreadite waved his hand, and a Pokéball appeared. “This should deal with you. Jynx, get out here.”
  The Jynx appeared, and Icy leapt back. “What the.. who uses JYNX!”
  Dreadite laughed, and looked at the Jynx. “Teleport, Jynx.” A flash of light engulfed him and the Pokémon, and he was gone. Icy just waved his tail. “I wonder why he ran off like that?”
  Icy looked down to see what Dreadite left behind. The Voltorb just grinned, as Icy sighed. “A Voltorb... d***.” The explosion drowned his words out. When the dust cleared, Icy was looking at a blank wall where the office once was. The room was only a memory. A note fluttered down, and Icy picked it up.
  “Sorry I couldn’t deal with you, but I have more pressing matters at hand.”
  Dreadite’s laugh echoed through the halls as Icy walked toward the exit, glad to be alive.
  InsaneLlama ran up to Icy. “Let’s get outta here fast. TR is everywhere looting the city. I don’t think this place is very safe anymore.”
  “I agree. Let’s go Porygon!” Porygon appeared. “Jetplane conversion now!” Porygon became a nice little jet. Icy and InsaneLlama jumped in and took off.
  Icy was so weakened from the Voltorb explosion and everything else that had happened to him that he quickly fainted in Insane’s arms. “Oh, Icy. Please just tell me you’re only sleeping. I have to get you to a pokécenter, fast! Come on Porygon, step on it. Your master’s life is at stake!” Porygon engaged its rocket engines and they were quickly on their way towards Saffron City.

Homecoming and Icy's Mentor

  Porygon landed in Saffron City and Icy finally woke up. InsaneLlama was very glad his friend wasn’t hurt badly.
  “Since we are in my hometown, I should really visit my parents.” At this, Icy’s friend shot him a disturbed glance. “What? Why are you staring at me like that?”
  “Icy, umm... you’re a Pikachu. Your parents aren’t going to recognize you,” Insane said hesitantly.
  “Oh yeah. Well, you’re just going to have to back me up.”
  “Ok Icy. Let’s go then.”

  They set off for Icy’s house. Icy had not seen his parents for almost half a year since he left to become a pokémon trainer. As they got near to Icy’s house, InsaneLlama went up and knocked on the front door. A fairly young woman answered.
  “Hello. Who are you?” she asked.
  “The name’s InsaneLlama. I’m a friend of your son, Icy.”
  “Where is he?” She looked around but couldn’t find him anywhere.
  “I’m right here mom,” Icy said into his translator.
  “That’s quite a mean trick to pull on his mother. Now, where is he for real?” Insane related to her about what happened to Icy during Bill’s experiment. She nearly fainted when she took another glance at the Pikachu smiling back at her.
  Icy’s father heard her talking and came to the door to see who it was. Insane told him the story also. Finally, they accepted Icy’s new form. It was already late into the day so they sat down to an early dinner.
  At dinner, Icy told his parents about all the adventures he had gone on since he left home. They were very proud of him, but also upset that he never called them. He showed them all the pokémon he had captured. Then, he formally introduced them to Insane.
  Just then the phone rang.
  “Pika? Hello?” Icy answered.
  “Icy!!! How are ya?” Random’s familiar voice was recognized by Icy instantly.
  “Not too hot... How did you get this number?” Icy groaned and smiled.
  “The book.”
  “Oh.”
  “Yeah.”
  “Yeah.”
  “Mmhmm...”
  “So how is Pokémon Tech???”
  “I destroyed a Pokémon-sacrificing cult. You?”
  “Met Giovanni - almost killed me.”
  “Cool.”
  “Yeah.”
  “Ivan evolved. He is now Vinnie - Vinnie the Venusaur.”
  “Okay.”
  “Uh oh!!! Looks like I gotta go... Keg party!!! Cya round little yellow buddy!” Random bid farewell to his younger teammate.
  “Cya round Random!!! Call again!!!”
  “I will. Tell everyone I said hey”
  “Ok. Bye” And with that, Icy hung up.
They continued sharing their stories until late into the night. Icy’s parents offered his friend a guest room to spend the night. They fell asleep almost instantly since they were so worn out from battling Team Rocket.

  The next day,
  They woke up around 7:00 in the morning. After eating a big breakfast, Icy suggested they visit the local gym. Insane a little worried about this. “Isn’t the gym leader here, Sabrina? I’ve heard some bad things about her.”
  “She won’t be mean to us. I know her. I was her student once remember.” Icy was very confident in meeting her again. As they got near to the gym, they let Icy lead them in. He opened the doors and walked in. A psychic walked up to the two. He noticed the Pikachu was leading him.
  “Ha. You expect to challenge the great Sabrina, yet you allow your pokémon to lead you. Ha ha huh?!?” All of the sudden, he found himself floating in mid-air. “What the.”
  “Don’t ever insult me or my friend again or next time I’ll show you what I can really do,” said Icy as he put the man down.
  “Forgive me. I shall escort you to the main gym.” They followed him down a long hallway. It was decorated with many ornate drawings. “Here we are. Sabrina will be with you soon.” The man left them alone in the empty gym.
  Then, out of nowhere, they could here a voice. “So, who is my next victim?”
  “I don’t know about victims, but I’m here to finally challenge you for a badge Sabrina!”
  “That attitude sounds familiar. Ah yes, Icy. What happened to you? Never mind. How tragic.”
  “How did she know?” Insane asked Icy.
  “She’s psychic.” Icy turned to Sabrina. “Now, how about a match. Two-on-two good for you.”
  “Usually it is the gym leader who chooses that, but since you insist. Go Kadabra!”
  “KADABRA!!!”
  “I choose, Porygon!”
  “PORYGON-GON-PORY!”
  “Porygon, conversion now!” Porygon converted to a psychic type.
  “Kadabra, confusion.” Kadabra focused its mind to use confusion. Icy had to think fast.
  “Porygon, reflect the light into Kadabra’s eyes to break its concentration.” Porygon responded and Kadabra was temporarily blinded. “Now Porygon, hit Kadabra with Psybeam!” Porygon hit Kadabra perfectly, but it was hardly damaged. “Porygon, get ready to use psybeam again.”
  Sabrina wasn’t at all worried. “Kadabra, psywave.” Kadabra’s attack paralyzed Porygon. Icy reached into his bag and took out a Paralyze healer. Porygon was ready for action again.
  “Porygon, use your double team and concentrate psybeams on Kadabra!” Porygon became three separate Porygons. All of them attacked at once. Kadabra could concentrate with three adversaries.
  “Good work Icy.” Kadabra was getting very confused by all the psybeams hitting it that it fainted. “This isn’t at all over yet. Go Alakazam!” The stronger psychic pokémon appeared. Icy was speechless.
  “Porygons, tackle it!” They were only inches from Alakazam when they all crashed into each other for some reason. “WHAT???” Sabrina laughed.
  “I told you this wouldn’t be easy.” Insane watched from the sidelines.
  “How am I going to beat her? Icy seems to be just getting lucky here and there.”
  “Now, finish it off Alakazam. Psybeam.”
  Icy froze. << Porygon, move quick. >> It was too late. Porygon was slammed against the wall by Alakazam’s psybeam. Icy recalled it and got ready to release his second pokémon. “I choose, Butterfree!” Icy remembered that his Butterfree was very talented in using psychic attacks, and its small size would give it an advantage. “Butterfree, sleep powder!”
  “Blast it out of the sky. Psybeam, multiple spread!” Alakazam fired multiple psybeams at Butterfree, but it was just to fast. Butterfree released its sleeping powder over Alakazam. “Teleport now!” Too late. Alakazam was fast asleep.
  “Psybeam now Butterfree!” Butterfree began glowing. It was obviously a strong Butterfree. The glow became so bright that everyone was blinded. When the flash ended, Butterfree was still hovering joyfully while Alakazam tried to get up unsuccessfully. Sabrina had lost the battle.
  “Here is the Marsh Badge Icy. You’ve grown to be a very strong trainer. May you continue to be a shining representative of our gym here.” Icy took the Marsh Badge.
  “Now I’ve got 6! Only two more to go.”
  “Now, did your friend want to earn a badge too?”
  Insanellama walked up to the floor, leading Rapidash behind him, and moved into position. “2on2” said Sabrina.
  Insanellama was all business, he tugged his hat down a little lower, and said “Giddeyap Rapidash.” Rapidash shucked its saddlebags and harness and galloped onto the floor.
  “KADABRA GO!”
  “RAPIDASH ATTACK!” Rapidash started glowing. Kadabra had just woken up and was a bit disturbed by the even brighter than normal Rapidash. Rapidash unleashed a tornado of fire upon the stunned Kadabra. “CONGRATULATIONS RAPIDASH U LEARNED FIRESPIN!!!!” said Insanellama actually showing a smile now. It soon reverted to an indifferent straight line as Kadabra fainted.
  “I’m not finished,” said Sabrina.
  “Yet,” said Insanellama with an edge to his voice.
  “ALAKAZAM GO!” said Sabrina.
  “RAPIDASH DIAMOND STOMP!!!!”
  “ALAKAZAM PSYBEAM RAPID FIRE NOW!!”
  Rapidash was charging while doing evasive maneuvers, dodging the psybeams. Rapidash leaped high into the air, and was hit by psybeams, but never the less came crashing down with 4 hooves on Alakazam, both fainted. “Since u still have one left, here’s yer badge.” Insanellama tucked it into his jacket, 6 of 8. Blaine was next on the list.

The Cure

  Sweat trickled off his face and sparkled before hitting the ground. Whatever was causing these visions was very powerful. He let his mind go and found himself in the same place again.

  “We’re so proud of you son. You’ll make a fine pokémon trainer.” He waved goodbye to his parents. What was this? This event happened in the past. Something was definitely out of order here. As he walked, the world seemed to change. It now resembled a field. He saw a familiar kid trying to capture a pokémon. Another event from the past. What was happening? It was all real. He could feel the wind in his face and the grass with his hands. It was all too real, but not from the present time. He tried to walk up the kid, but before he could speak, the world had changed once again.
  He found himself in a dark, unfamiliar place. A strange, deep voice rang out, “You have the gift. Do you not see it? You are unique. Can you not understand it?” The voice continued speaking. Although he couldn’t figure out the voice’s owner, he felt as if he had once heard those words spoken to him before. He walked in the general direction of the sound but a bright light blinded him for a moment. When the light had dimmed, he found himself in a laboratory. He recognized this place. But now he couldn’t tell if it was in the past or present. Everything still felt real. Everything.
  A familiar man walked up to him. This had to be real. In the other visions, he couldn’t interact with the people, but this time, they were interacting with him. “Are you ready?” he asked. Ready for what? What was Bill getting ready to do? “Walk over this way.” He followed Bill into the main test chamber. Now he remembered what this scene was about. It was the experiment. Had time given him another chance? He tried to walk away from the machine but instead found himself looking down on the room. He could see himself entering the tube. It was going to happen all over again.
  The experiment was going well, as it did the first time. Then, right on cue, an explosion hit near the tube he saw himself in. This was it. This was when it happened. But this time, he saw something he didn’t see before. From another corner of the room, something caught his eye. Then he saw the beam. It came from the corner of the room. Suddenly, everything was back to normal. Bill was working with some test tubes.
  Icy approached Bill. “Icy, I found it!” Icy wondered to himself what Bill was talking about. The room seemed real. But this time, Icy didn’t recognize the event taking place. It must be the present time. He was free to interact with Bill finally. “I have the cure!” Icy’s eyes lit up. He was so overjoyed that you couldn’t move, let alone speak. Bill extracted a dose of the medicine from the tube and gave it to Icy to drink. The transformation was almost instantaneous. It had worked. Icy was human again. “It works! It works!” Icy didn’t know what to say. But, amidst all the joy and happiness this scene had, it soon turned strange again.
  Icy could hear the mysterious voice again. “You have the gift. Why do you not realize it yet? You are using it now. Why do you not see it? It is unique to you only. Icy, I know you have the potential for it. You must understand it fully. Understand the gift. Icy…” The voice trailed off. Icy had a horrible feeling inside. It was all too real. Much too real. He should have been glad to finally be human again. But now, all he could think about was the mysterious voice and the strange beam from the experiment. Bill reappeared before Icy. He saw the terror in his eyes.
  “What’s wrong Icy? You’re healed. It’s what you wanted, right? All of this, it’s all what you wanted. You created it. You have the gift to create it.” Bill faded from view. Icy knew something wasn’t right now. Everything he experienced, it was all so real. But how could it all be true. Icy couldn’t make sense of what was happening. All he could do was shut his eyes and hope it would be over when he woke.

The Gift

  When Icy finally opened his eyes, he saw all his friends gathered around him. What happened, he thought. They were relieved to see his eyes again. Insane, and Icy’s parents helped him up. He was still a Pikachu. Everything about what he had seen was all just some big dream. But why then, did it seem so real to him? Icy had to find the answers somehow and knew just the right person to talk to. He got ready to leave the house when his friends stopped him.
  “Icy, wait! Where are you going?” they asked.
  “I have to see Sabrina. I need to talk to her about something.” He was already out the door before they could respond. Icy ran towards the gym, dodging people in the street. << I have to find out what those visions were about. >> Finally, he reached the gym.

  He didn’t wait for anyone to direct him as he raced sown the hall towards the main gym. He opened the large doors and saw Sabrina taking care of an Abra. “Sabrina! I need to talk with you,” Icy shouted.
  Startled by this, Sabrina replied, “What is it Icy? What do you to speak with me about?” She sensed Icy’s anxiety and quickly realized what was going on. “I understand what’s happening to you Icy.”
  “You, you do?” Icy moved closer to his former teacher. She recalled the Abra and sat next to Icy.
  “Yes Icy. I know exactly what’s going on. Icy, you have a unique, how to put it, talent, that from my knowledge, no one else possesses.”
  “What do you mean? What talent?”
  “You experienced many visions from the past. They felt real, correct?”
  “Yes.”
  “Then you saw visions that seem to be in the present since they were new to you, correct?”
  “Yes. How did you know?”
  “Please Icy. Don’t insult me.”
  “I’m sorry, please continue.”
  “These weren’t just images Icy.”
  “They weren’t. What do you mean?”
  “You were actually in those things you saw. Do you understand?”
  “I’m not sure I can. How could I be in those events then all the sudden be in an event that took place months later?”
  “You did. You were using this talent, this gift.” The word suddenly sparked Icy’s memory. ‘Gift’ was the word the mysterious voice had said to Icy over and over during the dream.
  “But what is this gift?”
  “It is an ability called ‘phasing’. It allows one to ‘phase’ in and out of time itself. One of the effects it can have is sending you to a different period of time. That is how you ended up in places from the past.”
  “Are you saying I can travel through time?”
  “In a sense, but it’s not that simple. Time travel, as far as we know, is generally impossible. But being able to leave time and re-emerge does bring in the possibility.”
  “But why couldn’t I stay in one place. The images I saw kept changing from one point in time to another.”
  “You haven’t learned to control this ability yet. Maybe I can help you with it.”
  “Sabrina, do you have this ability?”
  “No Icy. You are the only one. I have heard about it. Many years ago, I did a study on the ancient civilizations that possessed psychic members. It was from that research that I learned about this ability.”
  “Oh. What else does phasing do? Is it like teleporting?”
  “In a sense, but on a larger scale. When you teleport, you are concentrating your energy to convert itself into pure atoms, then sending them to a new location to be put back together. With phasing, you simply vanished into non-existence for a short period of time.”
  “But my friends were with me the whole time and it seemed I was go for hours. But to them, I was only asleep for a few seconds before I woke up.”
  “I’m no expert on temporal physics Icy, but did read somewhere that while to an observer, the person seems like they were always there, but the person actually spent many hours in a different point in time. It’s very weird and complicated.”
  “Ok. So, how do I use it?”
  “Let me think. If I remember correctly, all you need to do is blank your mind of any thoughts. Then use the same techniques you would normally use to teleport.”
  “Ahh, I get it. Instead of concentrating on a specific location, I think of nothing.”
  “That’s correct. Icy, you shouldn’t over use this ability. Because you are still young and your mind is not strong enough yet, you could be putting yourself at risk.”
  “I understand. Does it require a lot of energy to perform?”
  “I believe it does. Only another reason to seldom use it. I can’t be certain whether one can be trapped inside the void by mistake.”
  “The void?”
  “The place that exists outside of time. We call it the void because it represents nothingness.”
  “Oh. Thank you Sabrina. I’m off to Lavender Town with my friends.” Before Icy could leave, Sabrina stopped him.
  “Hold on. Icy, I think it would be best we kept this a secret until we are both sure what we are dealing with. Team Rocket could be very interested in this if they understood its power. Promise me you won’t repeat anything we said here to anyone, not even your friends or family.”
  “Ok Sabrina. I promise.” He ran out the door and headed home. Sabrina went back to caring for the Abra. She wondered if Icy would ever realize the true power that he possessed.
  Icy made it home in a matter of minutes. His friends and family were happy to see him. When they asked him what he went to see Sabrina about, he told them it was about tips for battling in the pokémon league. They believed him and got things packed for their journey to Lavender Town. “I hear that the Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town is haunted by ghost pokémon,” Insane said.
  “Great, maybe we’ll be lucky enough to capture some.” His friends admired his courage as they finished packing.

Out Of Phase

  Icy and InsaneLlama packed out their bags and began their long journey to Fuchsia City. “Let’s visit the Safari Zone while we’re there.”
  “Don’t you already ... have a ton of pokémon, Icy,” Insane asked.
  “Well... yes... but I wanna see what others I can find. I still take care of them all...,” Icy said in reply.
  They continued walking. They were nearing the docks when they ran into a fisherman.
  “Ahhh matey. How’s about a pokémon battle? I haven’t seen many people here lately,” the fisherman said to Insane.

  As usual, Icy volunteered to do battle. “I’ll battle you,” he said into the translator. As usual, the fisherman was shocked that a talking Pikachu wanted to battle him.
  “Uhhh... very well... One on one! GO Vaporeon!” Insane was amazed to see the old man actually had some good pokémon. Vaporeon appeared in front of Icy.
  “A water poké, this will be easy!”
  “That’s what you think.”
  Icy prepared to fire his thunderbolt at Vaporeon, but before he could, Vaporeon’s tail slammed into him.
  “AGGHHHHH!!!!” he screamed as he went flying through the air. Then, all the sudden, he vanished.
  “Wha... where’d he go?” Insane said in confusion.
  The fisherman looked at Vaporeon who was immensely pleased with its victory. “Wow... I never knew you were that strong...”
  No one knew where Icy had vanished to. No one except...

  The world seemed different now. The water was gone, along with the dock. Insane, the Vaporeon and its trainer, they were all gone. He found himself surrounded by stars and darkness. A voice called out to him.
  “Welcome Icy. So, you finally made it.” A deep and sinister laugh rang out.
  “Whe... Where am I? Who are you?” Icy asked childishly. Fear gripped him tighter then anything he’d ever experienced.
  “Don’t you recognize this place?” The voice began growing louder as it spoke. Soon, Icy saw the dark figure approaching him. “Don’t you recognize me? I told you I’d have my revenge...” The figure slowly came into focus.
  “Giovanni?” Icy said timidly.
  “Am I?” the figure puzzled. It transformed again to resemble Mew.
  “Mimic? Doppler?” Icy was becoming very confused.
  “Wrong again... Really Icy, I had a little more faith in you...”
  “Mewtwo...” Icy said...

  “Mewtwo...,” Icy said coldly.
  The dark figure quadrupled in size and revealed its true form. “Well, that took you long enough,” Mewtwo said sarcastically.
  Icy looked at his surroundings again. “What is this place?” Mewtwo sneered at him again.
  “Sure. You’d want me to connect the dots for you. Lead you from A to B to C. Well, it’s not that simple. You know Icy, I had much higher expectations of you.”
  “Is this the Void?”
  “You’re close.”
  “What do you mean, close?”
  “I’ll give you that one for free. We are still within the space-time continuum. This is a place known as the Ethereal Plane. Normal time is progressing while we are here.”
  “How did you bring me here? Why?”
  “There you go again. You ask so many questions, but you never ask the right one.”
  “Stop talking in riddles. What question should I ask?”
  “Oh you’re going to want to know the answer to it. It’s been bothering you for months.” Mewtwo chuckled to himself.
  Icy’s anger had started. “What? Tell me what you know. What is the right question?”
  “I’ll give you a hint,” he said quickly. Slowing his voice down, he continued, “It has to do with, your past.” Icy could have sworn Mewtwo sneered maliciously at him after finishing his sentence.
  “What from my past! Tell me! Tell me Mewtwo!” Icy’s rage was growing by the minute. He tried greatly to hold in his Pikachu instincts, knowing Mewtwo needed but a single blast to defeat him.
  “Temper temper. You just can’t figure it out. One of the most gifted psychics in the world, the others being myself and Sabrina, and you still can’t even figure out the right question.”
  Icy lost it finally screaming, “Enough puzzles! Tell me what you know NOW!!!” With that, he charged straight for Mewtwo. Psychic energy engulfed his body as he flew through the air. Just before he could land his attack, his body felt an enormous amount of pain.
  “BUFFALO CHIPS! Where in the heck did ICY GO! He was there one minute, but now he’s gone. Even my old pal FlamingHorse couldn’t track his trail now.” said Insanellama. A rustle in the bushes caught his attention. He started to draw, but saw it was to small to be a human. A charmander slipped out of the bushes. Insanellama unleashed Squirtle. “SQUIRTLE BUBBLE NOW!” He didn’t want to make it faint but he wanted it weakened. It had the desired effect. “POKEBALL GO!” Charmander casually sidestepped. Then in a strange gesture which Insanellama later interpreted as charmander wanting a friend, charmander walked over to the pokéball, leaned down with its nose, rolled it over near rapidash, and pressed the button. Charmander went into the pokéball. Insanellama called him out. “Howdy there pardner.” said Insanellama. “CHAR CHAR!” He packed up and got ready to make camp.

  Icy’s body flew freely through the ethereal plane until Mewtwo psychically pulled it back towards him. “Foolish child. You will never be able to defeat me. You obviously aren’t ready for the information I have. Even if I shared it with you, you couldn’t even hope to change the events that took place. Perhaps our paths will cross once again Icy. Until then, I return you to your previous time frame.” In a flash, a sunny road replaced the dark world with a trainer walking by. Icy saw as the ground came closer and closer. He screamed all the way down.
  InsaneLlama was petting his new Charmander. Its flame glowed with strength. “He’s such a great find. Not even the Charmanders that Prof. Oak gives out are this nice.” He was about the pet his Charmander again when something heavy hit him on the head. Icy’s little Pikachu body smashed into InsaneLlama causing him to fall over. “What the?!?” Insane said amazed.
  “Oww… Oh, thanks for breaking my fall.
  “No… problem…”

Gold Rush

  After an unpleasant meeting with Mewtwo, Icy and Insanellama now head for Grandpa Canyon rather than trying to visit the Safari Zone.

  Icy sent out Vapor, his Gastly he caught while the two were passing through Lavender Town. Icy had given all his pokémon names while they were there too. Now, he and Insane were on their way to Grandpa Canyon after hearing about a fossil rush there.
  Insane let Icy ride on Rapidash with him. “So, what fossils do you think we will find there?”
  “I have no idea. I’ve heard they think there might be Aerodactyl fossil buried there too. Wouldn’t that be awesome to have?”
  “Be scary if it wakes. Wasn’t it a carnivore?”
  “I think so. That could be pretty bad for those miners if they uncover one.”
  “Trust me, they’d be happy all they had to deal with was that and not Mewtwo.”
  “Heh, and you are one to talk, definitely.”
  They rode up to a crossing in the road. “Hey, there’s someone up ahead.”
  Insane had Rapidash stop. “Hey bro.”
  The other trainer smiled and returned the greeting. “Got them Tauros just like ya wanted em.”
  “Icy, meet ChaoticLlama, my brother.”
  “Pleased to meet you,” he said through the translator.
  “A pleasure Icy.”
  “I called him up while we were staying in Fuchsia and asked if he’d bring us some Tauros.”
  “Cool! Another pokémon!” Icy ran up to the large bull pokémon. “I think I’ll name you… Diamond.” The Tauros snorted happily in acceptance. Icy got on.
  “You sure you can ride it?”
  “Guess we’ll find out.” Icy tried getting Tauros to go forward but found himself throw right off.
  “Ouch… You got a lot to learn pardner.” Insane and Chaotic spent the next few minutes teaching Icy how to ride Tauros. Before long, he was a regular cowpika. ^.^
  “Yaaaaaahooooo…” he cheered.
  Chaotic turned to his brother. “Do you ah, yahoo?”
  “Not like that…”
  It was getting late and the three sat down to eating some fresh steaks Chaotic had brought along. “Well, I best be go’in. Insane, you make sure ya visit the ranch some time soon ye hear.”
  “Don’t worry bro. I haven’t forgotten you guys.”
  “And Icy, I hope they find a cure for you someday, cause I think you’d make a fine cowboy.” Icy sweatdropped. “Giddyup Tauros!” Chaotic rode into the sunset.
  “Well, we best be on our way too Icy. I think Grandpa Canyon is just beyond them hills yander.”
  “Alright.” They rode together towards the dig site. Finally, just as the sun was almost gone from the sky, they arrived at Grandpa Canyon. The two took a room at a small motel just outside the canyon.
  In the morning, they eagerly ate breakfast and ran to the dig site. There, they found a stand with a vendor selling picks and various other supplies. Icy and Insane both bought picks and headed into the canyon ready to dig up an awesome fossil.
  Icy started digging. He wasn’t very fast due to his size and looked quite strange. Some other diggers began staring as they watched the Pikachu dig. Icy suddenly noticed all the people looking at him. He put down the pick. “PIKA!!!” he shouted happily. The crowd just laughed and went back to what they were doing. Icy really didn’t want to draw attention to himself.
  Insane was busy digging away. “Hey, I think I found something.” He dug a little more and lifted a small fossil out of the ground. “Hey cool, I think it’s a Kabuto.” Just then, a little boy slowly walked by with tears in his eyes. He was accompanied by his dad. Insane took notice that the boy didn’t have a single fossil, nor did his father. “Hey there.”
  The boy looked up at the trainer. “Hi.”
  “Hey, how’d you like to have this neat fossil I just dug up. I’m more interested in horses. You want it?”
  The boy’s eyes lit up as he accepted the gift. Icy watched his companion display a very kind act of giving. “Thank you so much mister.”
  “The name’s Insanellama. Make sure you raise that well.”
  “I will.” The father thanked Insane for giving his son the pokémon and the two left.
  “Awww, how sweet of you.”
  “I’m just in a giving mood it seems…”
  “Hey, what’s that over there.” Icy pointed to where the kid and his dad were leaving. He saw a gold sparkle appear for a second, then again. “C’mon.” Icy dragged Insane along.
  “Whoa, slow down pika.” Icy kept going. He wanted to see what was up there.
  They reached the spot where Icy had seen the sparkle. “Oh my Goddish… look…” They peered behind the rock to see what appeared to be a nest. But there were about a dozen Caterpie lying in it. From deeper inside the rock came a Butterfree, but not an ordinary one, this Butterfree was completely covered in gold. It flew gracefully into the sky then vanished as it passed by the sunlight. The Caterpie slowly moved from the nest to reveal a single golden egg.
  “I think they want you to take it Icy.” The Caterpie watched as Icy careful walked into the nest to retrieve the egg.
  “For me?” The Caterpie nodded. Icy placed his hands on the egg. He felt a certain connection to it, like he was meant to find it for some reason. The placed it carefully in his bag and the when he looked back to thank the Caterpie, they had disappeared.
  “Where’d they go,” Icy said puzzled.
  “I guess they had to visit another Caterpie nest,” shrugged Insane.
  Icy and Insane called it a day and went back to the hotel to rest.
  In the morning, Insane told Icy he was going to stick around and dig for some more fossils. He had heard TR was in the area and didn’t want to let them cause any trouble. Icy said his goodbyes and headed out on his own.

Instinct

  Icy headed out of the canyon. “Cyber, GO!” he called as he held out Cyber’s pokéball. Cyber came out and awaited instructions from its master. “Cyber, run rover conversion program!” Cyber converted to a land rover and Icy hopped in. “Let’s head towards the shore Cyber.” Cyber took off. No one paid any attention to him as he exited the canyon. He rode down the road leading towards the ocean.
  Meanwhile, in a field near the shore, Sara walked around playing in the flowers. She was a very cheerful and beautiful pikachu and had many pokémon friends. The butterfrees fluttered around her as she picked a colorful bouquet. She lived in a small forest just outside of Fuchsia City. From what she was told, her parents had been captured by trainers, but she didn’t ever hold a grudge against them. She understood that most trainers are very kind to their pokémon and she believed that someday, she would soon find herself a master to take care of her.

  Icy was speeding down the path to the shore when something he saw interested him. “Cyber, stop quick!” Cyber hit the brakes almost sending Icy flying. “Return Cyber.” Icy looked into the field. At first, he didn’t notice Sara, only the butterfree flying around in the air. “They’re so pretty... huh...” His eyes focused in on Sara. Emotions he hadn’t felt before began to set in. To him, she was the most beautiful creature on earth, even if she was only a pokémon. But for some reason, that detail was no longer relevant to Icy. The fact that she was a pikachu made him even more attracted towards her. He couldn’t understand what he was feeling. He left almost like he was...
  Sara spotted Icy staring at her blankly. She giggled and ran up to him not knowing anything about Icy’s past. He was still speechless. All he could do was look at her. His eyes were transfixed on her. She looked at him and giggled again. Then, she saw the small black device around his neck. “Pika. Chu pi kapi?”
  “Huh?” Icy snapped out of his daze.
  “Pika. Chu pi kapi...,” Sara repeated.
  For some odd reason, Icy understood what she was saying. He didn’t know why at first, but then he realized.
** Flashback **
  During the experiment, he could hear clearly what his pikachu, Static, was saying to him.
** End Flashback **
  The experiment must have had other side effects on him. He responded, not speaking through the translator, “Ka. Chu pika pikachu cha pi-chu-ka-pi.” [It’s a translator.] She looked at him oddly not knowing what a translator was. She pointed to it again, gesturing to take a closer look. Icy look it off his neck and handed it to her. She looked at it and shook it. Icy grabbed her hands to make her stop. “No. You’ll hurt it.” Sara understood. “Talk into it.” She put the device close to her lips and started speaking. Upon hearing her words come out in English she dropped the translator. Icy dove to catch it, then placed it back around his neck.
  “Why do you have that?” Sara asked.
  Icy wasn’t sure how to answer her. How could be explain to her that he was once human? He decided it be best to tell her the truth. “I have it because I hang out with a group of humans. I was once a human myself.” Sara stepped back. She felt very confused. “Please. I don’t want to hurt you.” She tried to sort through everything that was happening. She moved closer to Icy again.
  “How can you be pikachu if you also human?” Her question startled Icy for a second. He didn’t know pokémon had enough intellect to hold such conversations. He answered her anyway.
  “There was an experiment I took part in. It was to help trainers better understand their pokémon by letting them communicate in their own languages. But something went wrong. I was transformed into a pikachu by a strange beam.” Now it was Sara’s turn to have the blank expression. Icy turned away from her. The feelings he had were slowly fading and he felt as if his heart had been smashed to pieces. A tear formed in his eye.
  Sara collected herself and ran towards Icy. “Pika!” she cried out. Icy stopped and turned around. “Where are you going? I want to know more about you.” This confused Icy. Suddenly, he felt there was still a chance of something between them.
  “More about me? Like what?” Icy asked.
  “Well. Since you are a pikachu, and I’m a pikachu... Well... Didn’t you learn anything about feelings when you were human?” Icy was shocked. Sara was definitely gifted with intelligence. Maybe it was because she had seen many humans in her life and had grown accustom to their customs, although never being captured by one before.
  “Umm...” Icy said looking for words.
  “What was your name. My parents called me Sara.”
  “Uhh... My name is Icy. Sara is a pretty name. I like it.”
  Sara smiled. Icy was beginning to wonder if she shared the same feelings he was having for her. Sara began wondering the same. “Icy... Hehe... That’s a cute name. Do you come from the mountains or some place cold and snowy?”
  “No. My parents just liked the name I guess.” She was holding his hand now. Hesitantly, she asked, “Icy, were you a pokémon trainer when you were human?” Oddly, she didn’t have a worried look on her face from what Icy could tell.
  “Yes. I fact, I had just began my pokémon journey.” Knowing her next question, he continued, “And yes, I am still a trainer. People from my world have accepted the fact that I can still be a trainer. They seem to think it’s interesting.” Now she had a worried expression. Icy could tell what she was thinking using his psychic powers. “Don’t worry, I’ve no intentions of trying to capture you.”
  She smiled at him and replied, “I think you already have.” Her body fell into Icy’s. He now understood what his feelings meant...

Pikas in a Pod

  Icy and Sara walked hand in hand down the path leading to the shore. If there was any confusion about their feelings for each other, they were nonexistent now. They both smiled as the coast came within sight. Other pokémon walked by and smiled at them, sensing their love for each other. Many pokémon were already choosing their mates now. Butterfree were flying over top of them, headed for the ocean to lay their eggs. Icy wondered if he should let Buttercup leave, but didn’t want his good friend to go so soon.

  They finally reached the beach. Fortunately for them, no trainers were in sight. They had it all to themselves. Icy set his bag down near them, then went back to Sara. Her eyes sparkled like the sun reflecting off the ocean. As Icy approached her, she kissed him softly on the head. All the sudden, Icy felt lightheaded and almost fell over. He laughed and asked Sara what she wanted to do for fun.
  “We could have a little beach picnic Icy...” she said.
  “That sounds like a great idea. But, where are we going to get the food?”
  “Leave that to me.” Sara called out to some other pokémon nearby. She knew almost every pokémon that lived in the area between Fuchsia and the shore. She asked them if they could gather a small meal for her and Icy. Since they were all friends, they complied and went into the forest to find some apples and other nice fruits. Icy watched as they returned with more than enough to eat themselves. They invited all of Sara’s friends to share the food they had gathered.
  From a distance, a very young trainer was headed down to the shore himself. He was only about 10 years old and had only one pokémon. He spotted the large group of pokémon gathered by the water. He moved closer as if to get ready to attempt capturing them, but then had a second thought. He just sat down and watched the pokémon eat and play games on the beach. “They look so peaceful,” he thought. He had never seen pokémon like this before and didn’t want to forget it. From his backpack, he took out a piece of paper and some colored pencils and began sketching the scene. He seemed to have high artistic talent. He put the paper into his pack and ran home to show his parents.
  Meanwhile, Icy and Sara finished their meal and set out away from the group to be alone. Sara jumped on top of Icy knocking him down. The two of them played for hours into the night. Even then, they lit up the sky with electricity. Then Icy showed Sara some of his psychic powers. He focused his energies on the sparks of electricity in the air making them change color. Then, he formed them into little hearts. Sara smiled as she watched in awe.
  “How are you doing that Icy?”
  “As a human, I had psychic powers. I think I still do have them. They’re even stronger now, I believe.”
  “That’s neat.” She watched the colors fade into darkness. Then they walked back to the home in the forest. Their friends had already left since it had gotten so late. Sara picked a nice, quiet, cozy clearing where she and Icy could sleep for the night. Icy couldn’t remember the last time he had slept outside. But, now that Sara was with him, the past no longer seemed to matter. They said goodnight to each other and fell asleep...

Aquapikas

  Sara woke up first that morning. Icy was still fast asleep. She poked him a few times but was unsuccessful in waking him. Stronger methods would have to be used. “Pika pika Kapi!” she shouted as she thundershocked Icy.

  “AGHHHH!!!!” Icy screamed, jumping high into the air. Sara laughed the entire duration of Icy’s flight. (SMASH!) Icy hit the ground and moaned softly to himself. His fur was totally messed up from Sara’s thundershock. When he finally stood up, Sara took one quick glance and burst into laughter again. Icy looked at his reflection in one of his pokéballs and almost fainted. Sara was now rolling on the forest floor, laughing hysterically.
  “Pihehehe... You should have seen how far you jumped when I shocked you!” she said teasingly. She went over to him and attempted to fix his fur by licking it back into place. Icy, although mentally awake, almost fell flat on his face from Sara pushing against him. Finally, he returned to his senses and turned around meeting Sara right in the face. “PIKA!” was all she needed to say to make the unbalanced Icy fall back. She caught him and pulled him back close to her and kissed him on the forehead. Then she scampered off into the foliage to gather some fruits for breakfast. A typical morning, Icy thought to himself.
  Icy walked slowly back to their clearing. Sara was the only thing on his mind since he met her. He had begun to forget about ever becoming human again. He never had something as great as this in that life. He set up a nice place to eat before Sara returned.
  Sara was just finished gathering their breakfast. She picked out the shiniest two apples she could find and headed back. She was pleasantly surprised to see Icy had already set everything up for them. The two pikachus sat down and enjoyed their meal.
  “Sara. Before I ran into you, I was headed for the Seafoam Islands. Do you have any interest in seeing them?” Icy asked.
  Sara blinked curiously. “Seafoam Islands? What’s that? I’ve only lived here in the forest. Is it far from here?”
  “It’s a good day’s trip from here I think.”
  “Why do you want to go there? Is there something special there?”
  “I think they have a Pokémon Resort Spa there. I was going to let my pokémon have a little vacation. Maybe you and me could get in there too.”
  “That sounds nice. When do we leave?”
  “Whenever you’re ready Sara.”
  “OK, let’s go now. Umm... How are we going to get there? I can’t swim well.”
  “That’s ok... My Porygon, Cyber, will swim us to the islands. Cyber can transform into a boat for us.”
  “Wow. Do all por... por... poragens do that?”
  “No, I programmed Cyber to be able to change into different vehicles. He’s a great pokémon.”
  “That’s neat. You said you had other pokémon right? Can I meet them too?”
  “Sure Sara.” Icy opened his bag and dumped out a pile of small, unexpanded pokéballs. “Everyone, come out!” All of the pokéballs opened up releasing all of Icy’s pokémon. “Here they are!” he said as he stood next to his friends. Sara was amazed. She had never seen so many different types of pokémon before. Icy introduced her to each one, even Static. She said hello to each of them.
  Hocus walked over to Icy. “Master, I’m sensing very high levels of activity in your body, are you felling ok?”
  “Yes Hocus. I’m fine. It’s nothing to worry about.”
  “Your thoughts seem to all involve that new pikachu you showed us. I don’t think that’s good for when you need your concentration.”
  “Hocus... I’m fine... She’s just... well... I...” For some odd reason, Icy was having difficulty telling Abra about his feelings for Sara.
  “You’re in love with her right. It’s not hard to see. I think you two make a cute pair.”
  “Thanks Hocus... I think...” Sara was now looking at all the caterpie Icy had.
  “Why do you have so many of these kind? They are kinda cute...” Some of the caterpie were crawling over and around her. The others quickly crawled towards Icy.
  “Those are caterpie. I think they are one of the cutest pokémon in the world. With the exception of you...” Sara blushed. The caterpie had successfully overtaken Icy and pinned him to the ground. “So... ouww... Sara ... mphh .. phhea,” a caterpie almost crawled into Icy’s mouth, “... shall we go?” He got up, knocking all the caterpie off of him.
  “All right, let’s go to the pokémon resort!” she cheered. Icy returned his pokémon and he and Sara held hands as they walked down to the beach.
  They were only a few yards from the shore when Sara heard some voices. “Icy... I think there are trainers on the beach. What are we going to do?” she asked nervously.
  “No problem. I’ll battle them!”
  “Huh. What do you mean, you’ll battle them? What if they try to capture you?” Sara wasn’t thrilled with Icy’s plan but she couldn’t come see any alternative.
  Icy ran down to the beach and found two trainers talking to each other and showing off their pokémon. “Hello. Would either of you care for a match?” The trainers looked at the talking pikachu.
  “No match, but I will take you. Pokéball, GO!” He carefully aimed the ball directly at Icy. Icy just stood there waiting patiently for the ball to get just in front of him. Sara peeked over a hill only to see Icy disappear. She wanted to cry but knew that would give her away.
  Icy reappeared on top of the trainer’s head. “All I wanted was a pokémon battle! Now I’m gonna get one! CHUUUUU!!!!” Icy fried the trainer who threw the ball at him. He and his friend ran off. Icy sensed Sara’s presence nearby and teleported to her.
  “I thought, I thought...” she panted, unable to speak.
  “It’s ok. I won’t scare ya like that anymore. C’mon. Let’s hit the waves!” Icy called out Cyber and had him transform into a boat for two. “Get on Sara. Cyber’s a great pokéboat, very safe.” She got in, then Icy followed and they set sail for the Seafoam Islands.
  Sara had never been so far out from the mainland and was beginning to get scared. She kept a tight grip to Icy almost breaking his paw. Icy tried to comfort her and make her calm down. “Maybe you should go down below Sara. It’s less scary down there.”
  “No, I’m fine as long as I’m with you.”
  “Well then, maybe you could loosen your grip just a tad.”
  “Huh... Oh... Sorry...” She released Icy’s now numb paw from hers. “There you go.”
  They had been sailing towards Seafoam for almost half a day now. Icy checked Cyber’s GPS link. “It looks like we should be arriving at Seafoam Islands in just a few hours.” Sara was relieved. Now she knew why she hadn’t learned to swim, she didn’t like water.
  “Are we almost there yet Icy? I’m starting to get tired.”
  “It should be within view in just a few minutes.” The first of the islands came within sight. Many more islands followed it. Then, they saw the main island of the Seafoam Islands. “Cyber, head for the port on the big island there.” Cyber set his course toward the main island.
  Sara looked out at the chain of islands. She was very excited having never seen islands before. Cyber landed at the Seafoam Port and Icy and Sara stepping onto the dock.
  “Cyber, return!” Some sailors were eyeing the new arrivals. Icy and Sara made their way to the resort. “According to that map back there, we just follow this road.” They continued up the road. After about five minutes, they could finally see the entrance to the Pokémon Resort Spa. They ran up to the main gate.
  The attendant watched as the pikachu couple approached the gate. He went back to filling out paperwork. Icy went up to the gate and asked the man for admittance into the resort. The man looked down at the pikachu talking to him. “Did you just talk?” he asked.
  “Yes. My name is Icy, ring a bell?”
  “Hmm... Uhh... Oh, yes... I remember! You’re that kid Bill did that crazy experiment on... You want to stay in our resort huh?”
  “Yes. I’d like to come in too if that’s ok. I am a pikachu... Here are the rest of my pokémon who are coming with me. And this is Sara. We’re friends...”
  The man nodded. “Fine. That will be 10000 PB. Do you have any money?”
  Icy handed him the money from his bag. The man opened the gate and gave Icy the key to his suite. “Thank you! C’mon Sara!” Laughing, Icy and Sara ran into the resort. Their summer vacation had finally begun.

Pika Vacation

  Last time, Icy and Sara left the forest outside Fuchsia City for the Seafoam Islands. They arrived there after a long sea voyage aboard Icy’s Porygon. Icy, Sara, and all Icy’s pokémon are now taking a summer vacation in the Pokémon Resort on the Seafoam Islands. And now...

  Icy and Sara had been enjoying every moment of their stay in the Pokémon Resort. Icy could tell his pokémon were having a good time as well. Since they arrived, they were given excellent care by the trainers who worked at the resort. Even Icy enjoyed learning how to better master his pikachu form. It seemed that with ever day, he was becoming more like a pikachu then a human.
  One day, while Icy was searching for Diamond’s pokéball, he came across a very dusty, round object. It was a pokéball he hadn’t used for quite a long time. He opened it, revealing a Spearow. He suddenly remembered about the Spearow he caught just after the accident. “Oh my. I can’t believe I forgot about you. I’m so sorry. Hmm. Well, you need a name. How about, Ironbeak?”
  “Spear spearow!” Ironbeak said with content.
  “Great. I’ll have to introduce you to my other pokémon.” Icy gathered Sara and the others and introduced them to Ironbeak. They welcomed the fearsome bird pokémon into the group.
  “Hor sea. Hor sea!” Neptune said cheerfully as she splashed around in the pool. Hyper was also with her and they were playing a little game in the water.
  “Sara,” Icy called.
  “Yes Icy.”
  “Why don’t we get one of the trainers here to teach you how the swim?”
  “But I’m scared...” she answered nervously.
  “Don’t worry. The trainers won’t let you drown. Besides I’ll be right here.” Sara thought about it for a sec. “C’mon... You don’t want to miss out on all the fun, do you?” Before Sara could even say ‘OK’, Icy took her by the paw and ran over to the trainer attending the pool.
  “Hello there Icy, Sara. What can I do for you?”
  “Can you teach Sara how to swim? She has a slight fear of water.”
  “Of course. It’s nice to be able to take a dip in the water from time to time.” He looked at Sara. “We’ll start with the basics.” He went over to a bag and pulled out two round floaties and put them around Sara’s arms. “Don’t worry. These will make you float.” Then, he took Sara over to a shallow pool. There were other pokémon there who were learning to swim too.
  The lesson began. Icy watched as Sara struggled furiously to stay about the water. Finally, she got so mad she let out a large thundershock through the pool. Sara looked at the fried pokémon and trainer and blushed. “Pika...” she muttered softly. After several more lessons, Sara was finally beginning to get the hang of it. Icy told her he’d come back later to see how she was doing and went to check on his other pokémon.
  Leafy, Buttercup, and all the Caterpie were playing in a field near the pool. Ironbeak and Windstorm were performing tricks in the air. Cyber was resting in the sun charging his solar energy batteries. Hocus sat under a tree in the shade concentrating. Icy went over to him.
  Hocus sensed Icy’s presence. “Yes master. Is there something you need from me?”
  “No Hocus. I just wanted to sit with you. What are you thinking about?”
  “I was thinking about many things. But my main thoughts were on you and Sara.”
  “Oh... Good thoughts I hope.”
  “Yes. Good. You and Sara are certainly meant for each other. I was also thinking about you in general.”
  “What do you mean?”
  “Master, you are showing signs that indicate you are becoming more Pikachu and less human.”
  “Is that a bad thing? There isn’t a cure. And even if there was, I would lose Sara.”
  “I don’t think it is a bad thing. I must caution you that you always remember what you did have as a human. You should remember that you are a trainer first, pokémon second.”
  “I understand.”
  “Master, I mean no disrespect, I only wish to advise you since I have known you for so long.”
  “I always appreciate your advice Hocus. You have been a great companion and friend, while I was human and now as a pikachu.”
  “I am glad you think so highly of me. Perhaps after our vacation here, we should go to Cinnabar Island to get another badge. That will help you hold on to your human side. Also, we are all prepared to battle other trainers if you wish. Those activities will keep you in balance.”
  “You never fail to help me Hocus. My parents made the right choice getting you for me as my first pokémon. Perhaps we’ll run into some trainers on out way to Cinnabar Island.”
  “Yes. Well, I sense you have other things to do. I will remain here to meditate.”
  “Thanks for the advice Hocus.” Icy left Hocus and went back to the pool where he saw Sara racing against some other water pokémon. She was doing quite well.

Pikas at Sea

  Sara was getting better at swimming every day. She beat Icy twice in a race earlier and was close to beating Neptune. Neptune won the first round and the two pokémon lined up at the end of the pool to start round two. Icy signaled to start and they jumped in. Neptune easily took the lead with Sara not too far behind. By halfway, Sara was beginning to catch up. Neptune gave it her last best effort and beat Sara again by only a fraction of a second.
  “I think she’s got the hang of it,” the trainer said. Sara shook herself dry and went over to Icy. She was so worn out that she fell right into his arms. Neptune continued playing in the pool while Icy took Sara back to the room.
  “Did you see me out there Icy?” she asked.
  “Yeah. You were good. You almost beat Neptune!”
  “Thanks. You were right. Swimming is fun!” With that, she fell asleep. Icy decided it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to catch a quick nap himself. He wanted to be ready for the journey to Cinnabar Island later that day.

  After a few hours, Icy woke up to find ten Caterpie comfortably snuggled up to him. The rest of his pokémon and Sara were also asleep in various places in the room. Icy poked Verde and she woke the rest of the Caterpie. They wiggled off of Icy and woke the others.
  “Listen up everyone, we’re leaving today for Cinnabar Island. It’s not too far from here. We should get there before nightfall.” His pokémon nodded in confirmation and Icy returned them to their pokéballs. He and Sara left the room and waved good-bye to the resort staff. Then, they walked down the road to the Seafoam Docks.
  “Come out Cyber!” Cyber appeared and awaited Icy’s next command. “Cyber, run Jetboat program. Convert now!” After a few alterations, Cyber took on the form of a small jetboat. Icy motioned to Sara. “C’mon. Cyber will get us to Cinnabar in no time!” She jumped in and they departed from the Seafoam Islands.
  They were making excellent time as Cyber raced over the water. Then, Icy saw something up ahead and told Cyber to stop. A water pokémon trainer was working with her Seadra. She quickly noticed the approaching Porygon Jetboat.
  “Hello. Nice boat... Hello?” She looked around but couldn’t find anyone. “That’s odd. Porygons don’t just turn into boats and go for joyrides...” Icy came up top of Cyber and looked at the trainer. “Well hello there little Pikachu. What are you doing way out here?”
  “I would ask you the same question, but you obviously are a water trainer. The name’s Icy.” She stared at him for a few seconds wondering if she was seeing things. “No dream. I am a psychic trainer. There was an accident that caused me to become a Pikachu.” Sara now came up to join Icy on deck.
  “Who’s that?” she asked Icy.
  “She’s a water pokémon trainer. Don’t worry, I don’t sense she has intentions to capture us.”
  “Well, Icy, would you care for a quick battle. My Seadra could use some experience. What do you say?”
  Icy agreed and expanded one of his pokéballs. “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Buttercup!” Buttercup materialized in the air. The trainer’s Seadra looked at its opponent. “Buttercup, psybeam now!”
  “Seadra, bubble attack now!” Buttercup fired her psybeam at Seadra. It cut through some of the bubbles but got deflected by others. Only a weak portion of the beam hit Seadra. Seadra prepared to make its move. “Seadra, knock that Butterfree out of the sky with your water gun!” Seadra fired rapidly at Buttercup but couldn’t keep up with her quick movements.
  “Good work Buttercup. Try using your confusion attack.” Buttercup emitted a confusion wave and Seadra’s determined expression began to fade.
  “Seadra, snap put of it! Water gun again!” Seadra fired again but this time its aim was way off.
  “Finish it Buttercup. Psybeam now!” Buttercup glowed a bright blue then fired the beam straight at Seadra. The attack was enough to beat it and the trainer admitted defeat.
  “Not bad. I guess my Seadra needs a little more training. Your Butterfree is very skilled with psychic attacks. You may even be able to beat Blain with it.”
  “Thanks. Your Seadra wasn’t too bad itself. That bubble attack was a smart move. Well, we must be going now if we want to reach Cinnabar by night.”
  “Farewell Icy and good luck!” She waved until Cyber was out of sight.
  After a few more hours, the large volcano in the center of Cinnabar Island came into view. Cyber came into port and let Icy and Sara off. Icy returned Cyber to his pokéball and he and Sara walked to the local pokécenter. Nurse Joy happily allowed Icy and Sara to stay the night in the pokécenter. Icy dreamed of the battle he would have with Blaine the following morning.

Fire and Icy: Buttercup's Defeat

  Icy woke up bright and early. The room was dark still. Sara was sleeping on a bench across from him. Pokéballs were scattered over the walls on other benches. Icy looked at the clock above the door. “6:30 AM” He hopped down from his spot and called up to Sara. She sighed softly as she opened her eyes. Icy collected his belongings and Sara followed him into the main foyer.
  Nurse Joy was half-awake at the front desk when Icy jumped up in front of her. She yawned then greeted him, “Good morning. Did you two sleep well? Can I interest you in some breakfast before you go?”
  “Yes to both,” Icy said. He was very energetic this morning. Sara, on the other hand, looked like she had seen better days as she almost fell asleep again.
  “I have something that will wake you both up. How about a nice, warm breakfast of pancakes.” She led the two pikachus into the diner next to the pokécenter. Some Chanseys brought them two entrees of pancakes. Icy and Sara ate their breakfast and thanked Nurse Joy for her hospitality.
  “Oh it’s nothing. You’re always welcome here. By the way, if you don’t mind me asking, where are you headed today?”
  “I’m going to try for Blaine’s Volcano Badge. We’re going to the gym after this.”
  “Oh. Good luck then. Blaine’s a tough trainer.”

  Icy and Sara left the pokécenter and headed for the gym. The gym was located inside the main chamber of the volcano. Blaine’s original gym had collapsed a few years back when he abandoned it. So many tourists had invaded the island that trainers were a rare site. Fortunately, Icy was aware of the relocated gym site. “Is... is... is that the gym?”
  “I think so. C’mon, let’s go in.” They entered the volcano through an entrance carved into the rock. The temperature inside was very high. Sweat dripped down their faces.
  “It’s so hot in here. Why did we come here anyway?”
  “In order for me to get the Volcano Badge, I have to defeat the gym leader here.”
  “Oh. Do you think you’ll win?”
  “I hope so.” They entered the main chamber. Blaine was standing in one corner tending to a shadowy pokémon. “Blaine, I challenge you to a pokémon battle for the Volcano Badge.” No matter the odds, Icy always stayed confident. Sara stayed to the side.
  “Very well. If you want the Volcano Badge, you must best me in a two on two match.” The dark pokémon Blaine was working with was gone now. Blain fussed a bit with his hair then readied his pokéball. His glassed glimmered as he threw the ball into the field. “Go Ninetails!” The golden, nine tailed fox appeared on the field. Its fur glimmered like the lava below it. “Well, what pokémon shall my Ninetails defeat?”
  “Defeat? Grrr... Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Hocus!” Hocus appeared ready for action. He studied his foxy opponent.
  “Let the match begin! Ninetails, take the Abra out with a fire spin.” Ninetails fired a large ring of flames at Hocus. He teleported out of the way just in time to avoid being burned.
  “That was close. Hang in there Hocus. Counter back with your confusion attack.” Hocus quickly emitted confusion waves at Ninetails but the fire pokémon was just too strong to be affected. “Hocus, psybeam quick!” The psybeam managed to hurt Ninetails slightly, but still not enough.
  “Sorry little pikachu, but those small attacks won’t win it. Ninetails, finish it off. Flamethrower!” Ninetails charged up its flamethrower attack while Icy psychically told Hocus to be prepared to teleport. “Ninetails, double play fire now!” Ninetails fired a small fireball at Hocus causing him to teleport. Unfortunately, it was a trick. Ninetails was waiting for Hocus to reappear before it blasted him with a full-power flamethrower.
  Icy was in shock. “How could Hocus lose. Uhh... Hocus, return!” He took his second pokéball and expanded it. “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Buttercup!” The small, green butterfree fluttered overhead. “Sleep powder now!” Buttercup quickly poured sleep powder on Ninetails.
  “Fight it off. Stay awake!” Ninetails tried to stay awake but finally gave in and fell asleep. “Hmm. Maybe I’ve underestimated your skill. But your butterfree is no match for my second pokémon.” The gym lights faded. Suddenly, the lava began glowing. Something climbed out from the crater onto the field. The lights came back on, slightly dimmer.
  “What type of pokémon is that?” Icy said as he looked at the brightly colored pokémon.
  “This is a Magmar. Its entire body is made out of lava. It can even live in lava without being hurt. And now, Magmar, give the pikachu a demonstration of your awesome power. Fire blast that butterfree!” Magmar spit a large fireball directly at Buttercup. She managed to dodge most of it but her left wing was burnt.
  “Aghh! Buttercup! Are you ok?” Icy screamed franticly. He was about to recall Buttercup while she shook her head no. “Alright Buttercup, but be careful. Watch for the flame attack. Use your psybeam!” Buttercup prepared to use her psybeam while Magmar got ready to fire another fireball.
  “Magmar, wait for it...” Buttercup fired her psybeam. “Now Magmar!” Magmar shot out a massive ball of flames at Buttercup. It was so strong it broke right through her psybeam and completely engulfed her. She fell to the ground crying in pain as the flames continued burning her.
  “NOOOO!!! BUTTERCUP!!! STOP!!! Please!!! I give up! Neptune go! Help Buttercup quick!” Neptune put out the flames on Buttercup. Magmar returned to the lava.
  “Here Icy. Take this burn heal. It should help ease the pain for your butterfree. Better luck next time.” Blaine tossed the healer to Icy. It fell just in front of him. Blaine looked back. He noticed Icy didn’t take to healer. He left the gym and headed for his personal training area.
  “Icy...” Sara said softly. Icy didn’t respond. She picked up the burn heal and applied some of it to Buttercup’s burn wounds. Icy’s eyes were filled with tears as he looked at Buttercup’s charred body. Losing the match was one thing, but watching his friend suffer like this was another. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he cried. Sara put her paw on his back. “She’ll be ok. Maybe we should take her to that place they heal pokémon at. That lady who served us breakfast might be able to help.”
  Icy nodded slowly. He lifted Buttercup into his arms and Sara carried Neptune. Buttercup looked at her master’s watery eyes. Pain seared through every part of her body. She continued to cry as Icy carried her out of the gym. Sara had Neptune spray Buttercup with water every few minutes as they walked to the pokécenter.
  They walked through the automatic doors. “Someone help me! Please, my butterfree’s burnt badly. Oh please, someone help her!” Icy cried as he looked for someone who would help Buttercup. Nurse Joy rushed over to them along with a few chanseys.
  “I’ll treat her right away!” She reached for Buttercup, but Icy could let go of his friend. Sara put arms around Icy and told him Buttercup would be fine. He handed Buttercup over to Nurse Joy and she took her into the ER. Sara led Icy over to a bench in the waiting room. Icy was still completely in tears. Sara wept softly too. Buttercup was the only thing on Icy’s mind at the moment...

Fire and Icy: Will Buttercup Survive?

  Icy and Sara were waiting impatiently in the waiting room. It was getting late. Images of the battle flashed past Icy’s mind. “I shouldn’t have let her continue the match. I should have called it off,” he kept muttering. Sara was getting worried. She searched for Hocus’ pokéball hoping he would be able to help Icy get through this.
  She finally found it and released Hocus. “Please Hocus. Icy needs help. He’s not acting like himself.” Hocus’ burns had already healed by using recover. He went at sat next to the depressed pikachu.
  “Master...” Icy was silent. His mind was elsewhere, all his thoughts focused of Buttercup. “Master, please answer me. You are beginning to frighten me as well as Sara.” Icy’s eyes were still distorted by tears. “MASTER! SNAP OUT OF IT!” Hocus shouted telepathically at Icy. Icy jumped being startled by Hocus and turned to him. “Now that you are back with us, perhaps you could cheer up. Sara is really afraid for you, as am I.”
  “I... I’m sorry...” Icy was still crying, but not as much now. He glanced again at the light above the ER. It was still lit bright red. “I could have prevented this. I could have recalled Buttercup when she got burnt the first time.”
  “You didn’t do anything wrong,” Sara said trying to comfort Icy. “There was nothing you or Buttercup could do. You didn’t know that Magmar was so powerful.”
  “I know, but, that’s not going to help Buttercup now...”

  “Master, you can’t change the past. Buttercup will recover. You yourself have survived much worse injuries. Perhaps the nurse will let us visit her in a few minutes. She won’t let Buttercup die. Buttercup has a strong life-force.”
  “I hope you are right. But there’s no way I’ll be able to defeat Blaine. He’s just too smart. You and Buttercup were my best bet on beating him, and he made fools of both of you.”
  “I admit, that Ninetails pulled a clever stunt tricking me into teleporting only to blast my when I reappeared. But losing can have just as much benefit as winning, maybe more. I may have lost the match against Ninetails, but I learn a valuable defense lesson. If I was to battle it again, I would not be as easily fooled.”
  “I understand what you mean. But Blaine’s pokémon are smart and strong. Fancy defense tactics won’t beat him.”
  “You need to think positive again. Buttercup wouldn’t want you to be so depressed like this. She, like me, made an underestimation. But she stayed positive. For her sake, at least smile. It will make you feel better as well.”
  Icy wiped the tears from his eyes. He looked at the light above the door again. It turned off. Joy came out of the room and walked towards Icy. “Is Buttercup... ok?” Icy asked sadly.
  “She’s resting now. You can go in and see her.” She led Icy, Hocus, and Sara to Buttercup’s room. She was lying on her back with wires and other medical equipment connected to her. Her body was still slightly dark from the burns but would heal in time. A monitor tracked her heartbeat. Icy couldn’t hold back the tears as he moved closer to his friend.
  “I... I’d... I’d like to... to be alone for a bit...” Sara and Hocus went with Nurse Joy back to the waiting room. Icy looked down at his friend. “Please be strong Buttercup. Don’t leave me.” He spent the rest of the night with her while Sara slept in Nurse Joy’s room with the other chanseys.

  Nurse Joy woke Icy in the morning. Buttercup was still asleep. Icy looked at her with sadness filling his face. “How is she?”
  “She’s doing better today Icy. She should make a complete recovery by the end of the day if all goes well.” Joy checked the monitors displaying Buttercup’s condition. “Icy, don’t worry. She’s going to be just fine. Why don’t you and Sara have some breakfast.” Sara stood behind Nurse Joy.
  “Thank you...” Icy said quietly. He walked over to Sara and the two pikachus held paws going to the diner.
  “Are you feeling better today Icy?” Sara asked.
  “A little...” he replied softly. They sat down at the table as a tall, baldheaded man walked in. He put on a red an orange wig and asked Nurse Joy something. Then, he walked over to where Icy and Sara were sitting.
  “Am I correct in assuming I am addressing Icy the Pikachu?” the man asked.
  “You would be correct. Who are you?”
  “Oh, you don’t recognize me? I am Blaine, the fire gym leader. I came to ask how that butterfree of yours was doing. It is... ok, isn’t it?”
  “We’re not sure, but Nurse Joy seems hopeful that she will survive...” Icy responded softly. A sigh of relief came over Blaine. He was glad to know his Magmar hadn’t killed Icy’s pokémon. The thought of it was too unbearable.
  “I’m glad to hear that. I am really sorry Magmar hurt your pokémon so badly. Perhaps when she’s better, you’ll return for another try?” Blaine collected himself and went back to his gym.
  “That was nice of him to apologize. Are you really going to battle him again?”
  “I have no choice. I need that badge. But I’m not going to use Buttercup. I’ll use Cyber and Hocus.”
  “But Hocus lost last time. What if Blaine’s pokémon beat him again?”
  “They won’t. This time will be different.” Nurse Joy went back to Buttercup’s room. Icy told Sara he’d be right back and ran to catch up with Joy.
  “Can I see her again please?” he asked.
  “Yes. She’s awake but very weak. You’ll have to keep it brief.” Icy nodded and went in. “That’s one dedicated trainer,” she said to herself.
  “Buttercup...”
  “I... I... Icy...” Buttercup managed to speak. Her voice was very weak. “I... I dreamed... last night that... that you came and stayed with... me...” Her voice trailed off.
  Icy put is paws on the backs of her wings. They were soft and had a silky texture. Her color was now almost back to normal, a few dark spots on her left wing. “I wanted to tell you that I am very proud of you. You are a very courageous pokémon and a valuable friend. I know you will pull through.”
  “Frii... friii...” Buttercup closed her eyes and fell asleep again. Icy took his paws off her wings and left the room. Nurse Joy entered with some chanseys to give Buttercup some medicine.
  Icy sat down with Sara again and finished his breakfast. Later that day, he, Hocus, and Cyber trained to battle Blaine. He wanted to be ready for anything Blaine could pull the next time they battled.
  That night, while Icy and Sara were having dinner, Nurse Joy came up to Icy and asked him to come with her. Sara followed them into Buttercup’s room.
  “She is doing much better Icy. She still needs rest, but it’s likely she’ll be able to leave with you tomorrow morning.” Buttercup was eating some pokémon food that Joy had got special order from Brock. Icy gave Buttercup a small hug.
  “I knew you could do it Buttercup.” A tear sparkled from his eye before hitting the ground. Buttercup smiled and went to sleep.

Fire and Icy: Backfire

  Icy and Sara woke next morning to a pleasant surprise. Waiting for them in the lobby was Buttercup, good as new. Icy ran up to his friend and gave her a big hug. “Buttercup! You’re ok!” Tears of joy fell from his eyes. Buttercup shed small tears too that sparkled as they fell. Sara and Nurse Joy were also equally as happy Buttercup was better.
  “Frii frii friiiii!” Buttercup cheered.
  “Buttercup’s ok! I knew she would make it!” Sara exclaimed.
  “Icy, in celebration of Buttercup’s recovery, I had Brock himself prepare a special meal.” Brock walked into the room. “Brock, I do believe you and Icy have met before.”

  “Yes, but when he was a human. It’s ok Icy, I’ve no hard feelings. Now, where’s that courageous butterfree?” Buttercup came forward. “There you are,” he said in a babyish tone as he petted her on the head. “She looks very healthy now. Joy must have taken really good care of you, didn’t she?” Joy blushed. “Well, I’ve taken the liberty of cooking you all a special breakfast. I hope you...” he stopped, noticing they were already eating the great meal. “Uhhh, let’s eat?” He sat down next to Joy and ate with them.
  After breakfast, Brock said his good-byes to everyone, especially Nurse Joy, and boarded the next Pidgeot to Pewter City. Icy and Sara thanked Nurse Joy for saving Buttercup’s life and left the pokécenter.
  “Well Icy, now that Buttercup is better, what are we going to do?” Sara asked.
  “I’m going to have a rematch with Blaine. Hocus and I have been working on a new strategy. Hocus and Cyber will battle Blaine’s fire pokémon.”
  “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Remember what happened to Buttercup...”
  “This time will be different,” Icy said. “I hope,” he added softly. They reached the volcano entrance. A trainer happily ran out, sporting a Volcano Badge. “If he can do it, I can do it.” Icy and Sara entered the gym and headed for the main chamber.
  “You decided to come back. I am impressed. I was hoping to get to battle you again. You are a worthy opponent. How is the butterfree?” Blaine seemed in be in quite a good mood for someone who just lost a gym match.
  “She fine now. I’ve come for a rematch. This time, I’m going to get that Volcano Badge.” Icy’s determination was definitely back as he expanded his first pokéball.
  “Very well. Two on two match. Go Ninetails!”
  “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Cyber!” Cyber materialized on the suspended field. “Cyber, conversion now!” Cyber’s physical characteristics now resembled a fire type.
  “Ninetails, fire spin!”
  “Cyber, sharpen and tackle!”
  Ninetails fired the ring of flames at Cyber but they had no effect. Cyber jump through the ring of fire and hit Ninetails with its sharp front. Ninetails cried out in pain.
  “Cyber, psybeam now!” Cyber finished off Ninetails with one blast. Blaine seemed impressed.
  “Impressive. You must be very close to your pokémon for them to fight so valiantly. Ninetails return. Magmar, come out!” The lava below the field bubbled. Suddenly, Magmar jumped out and landed in front of Cyber.
  “Double team Cyber, split up!” Cyber formed two duplicates of himself and immediately tried to tackle Magmar.
  “Defend yourself with a shield of fire Magmar.” Two of the porygons vanished when they hit the fire wall. Magmar caught hold of Cyber. “Good. Flame-thrower!” Magmar burned Cyber until he started to overheat.
  “Ughhh... Cyber return! Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Hocus!” His abra appeared. Hocus studied the lava covered pokémon. “Psywave!” Hocus sent out waves of psychic energy. Magmar was stunned for a sec but became fully alert when Hocus followed up with a psybeam.
  “Flame-thrower Magmar!” Magmar dodged the psybeam and launched his flames at Hocus.
  “Confusion Hocus!” Hocus used his confusion on the fireball sending it back at Magmar. It pushed him back slightly but didn’t do much damage. “Auww... How do I hurt him? Hocus, try using psychic to wear him down.”
  “Magmar, multiple fire blasts now!” Magmar spit five fireballs at Hocus. His concentration broken, he tried teleporting. He successfully dodged the first two fireballs but was hit by the last three. Hocus fell to the ground, sweat dripping from his head. Icy was worried. Flashbacks from the first match formed in his head.
  “Hocus. Are you ok? What’s wrong?” Hocus began to glow. His breathing had increased. “Hocus?” Hocus grew a bit taller and a spoon appeared in his hand. Hocus had evolved into Kadabra! “Hocus! You evolved! I can’t believe it!” Hocus recovered his energy and took on a fighting pose. “Alright Hocus, psybeam, full power!”
  “Kadabra...” he muttered as he conjured up his energy. A blue, glowing ball of psychic energy began forming in front of Hocus.
  “Magmar, fire blast now!” Magmar spit a large fireball at Hocus, but it was deflected. “Agh. You have to break its concentration. Multi-fireballs now!”
  Just as Magmar was about to spit more fireballs at Hocus, Hocus released the massive energy beam at him. It destroyed every fireball Magmar could spit then collided with the molten surface of Magmar’s body. He was knocked back a little and managed to stay on his feet.
  “Psychic attack Hocus.” Hocus lightly pushed Magmar over telekinetically. He fell and fainted. “All right!” Icy shouted with joy. “You beat him!” Hocus was pleased with himself as well and floated to Icy’s side.
  “Most impressive Icy. You have definitely earned this Volcano Badge!” Blaine walked over and handed Icy the shiny red Volcano Badge.
  “Haha! Seven badges! Just one more to go!” Icy and Sara joined paws and ran out of the gym.
  “You did great Icy! I never doubted you for a second! Cyber and Hocus really nailed those fire pokés!” Sara said. They headed back to the pokécenter to retire for the day.
  That night, Icy dreamed of winning the Earth Badge, the eighth badge necessary to enter the Pokémon League. But something wasn’t right in the dream.
{ Evil music plays }
  “I’m waiting for you Icy... I know what you want to know... I know... Bwahahahahaha!!!”

The Truth

  Icy woke immediately. Sweat dripped down his face. His heart raced uncontrollably. He was having trouble breathing correctly. His eyes searched the room for the owner of the voice.
  “You seek the truth. I have the truth.”
  “Where are you? Who are you?”
  “There you go again, always asking so many questions, never asking the right ones.”
  “We’ve been through this before. Why do you always have to bother me with your riddles?” They were back on the ethereal plain again.
  “I keep bringing you here because I somehow hope you can figure it out. Solve the puzzle Icy. I know you can do it.”
  “What puzzle?”
  “Think back, Icy. Do you remember what happened four months ago?” Icy’s mind flashed images past his eyes. He saw the events from his life going in reverse until he realized that Mewtwo was talking about. “The truth is in the lab. Not in Cerulean, here, on Cinnabar. That’s where the truth lies. Seek the truth...” Mewtwo returned Icy to his former location. “Seek the truth Icy... before it’s too late...”

  Mewtwo’s words echoed in his mind. He and Sara ate then took a walk in the Cinnabar Park. Icy decided he should tell Sara about Mewtwo.
  “Sara, I need to tell you about something. There is a pokémon named Mewtwo. He has information about my past that I need to know. I have to go and find a lab somewhere on this island. I think it would be better if you stayed with Joy in the pokécenter.”
  “No Icy. I’m coming with you. I don’t want you to go alone.”
  “Fine, but stay close. Mewtwo is known for his tricks.”
  Meanwhile, a dark, tall man picked up a red phone and dialed a number. A voice answered him. “He’s getting too close. Proceed with secondary protocols. Leave nothing...” He put the phone back on its holder and folded his hands as he leaned back in his chair. Sunlight poured through a large window behind him touching everything except him. “I never should have started this...”
  Icy and Sara searched for the Cinnabar Lab. Everyone they asked said they had no idea or just plain ignored them. Icy was beginning to lose hope when Mewtwo appeared in front of them. “You are in danger Icy.”
  “Tell me something I don’t know. I’m always in danger when you drop in for a visit.”
  “No, not from me. Someone is on his way here now. He intends to keep you from finding the truth. Believe it or not Icy, we are in this together.” Before Icy could reply, Mewtwo had begun to teleport them...

  Mewtwo, Icy, and Sara reappeared inside a cold, dark room. “I have brought you to the lab. The rest is up to you. Do hurry, you haven’t much time.” With that, Mewtwo vanished.
  “I really do hate him. C’mon. Let’s find out what this place is.” They walked past rows of shattered instruments and broken tables. Piles of ash marked either charred bodies or burnt documents. It was becoming too dark to see, so Icy created an electro sphere in his paw for light. The walls of the complex were burnt and some were even melted. Parts of computer systems were scattered over the floor.
  “I don’t like this place. It’s so spooky,” Sara said staying very close to Icy. They found what looked like a glass containment chamber. A small broken piece of metal with a strange hieroglyph lay near it. It resembled what looked to be a cat in an Egyptian pose. The glass around the chamber had spider-webbed and the front was completely broken. There must have been many computer systems working on the chamber judging from the amount of cybernetic debris in the vicinity.
  “This place looks like it was used to hold something, or someone.” Icy took a look at the area near the chamber. Parts of a former wall seemed to be intact hinting an office used to be there. “That must be the main control room.” The door was the only structure still unharmed. It was made of solid titanium alloy and had only a few scratches and dents. Sara electrocuted the locks and the door immediately opened.
  “It doesn’t look like this room was destroyed,” Sara said as they entered the control room. One computer and a file cabinet stood in the back of the room, seemingly unharmed. Icy walked towards it but suddenly ran into some type of force field.
  “No problem,” Icy said teleporting inside the field. He found a tiny metal device under the desk the computer was on. “This must be the field generator. I’ll try and disable it.” Icy tinkered with the device for a few minutes until finally it shut down. “This entire sector has it’s own power.” Sara walked over to him as he turned on the dusty computer. The screen flickered and then became clear. A logo appeared on the screen.
  “Oh... my... Goddish...”

  “What is it Icy? What does ‘TR’ stand for?” Sara asked. Icy just stared at the black screen with the letters ‘TR’ spelled out in red. A menu popped up. It had sections listed: daily logs, current projects, old projects, top-secret weapon development. “Icy, what does all that mean?”
  “I think this means Team Rocket was a part in the experiment. I have to be certain. “Icy clicked through the options but was denied access on each. “Maybe the password is somewhere in that file cabinet.” Icy skimmed through the papers. He found one that listed only the weapons projects password. “Figures.” He opened the folder. The password was ten lines long. He typed it in. “Hmm. Has a familiar ring to it.” The screen brought up a new option menu.”
  Meanwhile, over the sea near Cinnabar Island, Dreadite was on his way to the lab. “Ah, that pikachu is too darn nosey. I’ll be sure to doesn’t his little paws on any of our secrets.” He set his wings over a faster air current and quickened his pace.
  Back at the lab, Icy looked at the list of special weapons. Most of the items were on Wigglyweapons. He keyed in the date range of the experiment. “One record found,” the computer responded. Icy read the title. “The Transpokéfier Gun.” This was it. The experiment. Team Rocket had performed their own experiment. They created a weapon to transform humans into pokémon. Icy clicked the header but the computer only came up with an error. “It must have been classified. Maybe it’s in the recent project area.”
  Dreadite was closing in on the lab now. “Where are you! He’s in the mainframe! If he finds out about our current project, we’re finished! Just destroy the entire complex. We’ll throw the blame on Mewtwo.” “Understood, Dreadite out.” The island was almost in range.
  “Current projects. One entry found,” the computer read. Icy looked at the project codename. “The Doomsday Weapon...” He clicked on the title. “Access den...” the screen when blank. Then, everything went dark. Dreadite fired a few more energy balls at the lab. Icy saw everything flash before him as they hit.

  Mewtwo watched the sequence of events play out again. “You can’t change that, it was fate. You can’t just go around messing up other people’s lives.”
  “But I brought it upon him. By changing this, I undo changes I already made.”
  “That doesn’t count.”
  “Why?”
  “Because, those actions really did occur. That’s fate.”
  “But it wasn’t his fate. He wasn’t supposed to even know of the lab.”
  “Just because you didn’t get everything you wanted in the end, doesn’t mean you have the right to change the continuum. Icy’s timeline ends there. Understand?”
  “No, I don’t.” The man’s eyes widened as Mewtwo fired at massive psybeam at him. “You should thank me for that. After I’m done, you might end up with a better job in life. Of course, for now, your timeline ends here.” Mewtwo left the conference room the two were in and headed down the main corridor. It had been 10 years since Icy and Sara were killed in the explosion. Since then, Mewtwo could not accept the fact that he had staged Icy’s destruction. It wasn’t the plan he had in mind. For the years afterwards, he didn’t think of the consequences of Icy’s death. But when Team Rocket did end up using the Doomsday Weapon, all that changed. Icy’s role in that timeframe was critical. Without him, Team Rocket was able to keep the entire thing a secret until it was too late. He blasted open the doors to the chrono chamber.
  “Crap. You’re not authorized to be here!” The guard reached for his gun but found himself unable to move. “Secur...” his voice died off as quickly as he did. Mewtwo reset the controls on the ChronoJumper to only seconds before Dreadite would fire the energy balls at the lab.
  “As long as Icy lives through it, everything in the continuum will be fine. Everything except for Icy still being alive. But that’s how it was supposed to be.” He entered the ChronoJumper. Several armored guards came storming in. They were too late. Mewtwo had already traveled back in time.
  “Ahh, shit! Giovanni is not gonna like this.” They went to report the incident to the boss.
  Meanwhile, back in our normal timeframe, Icy was reading the screen output. “One entry found,” the computer said. “The Doomsday Project.” Icy clicked on the title but nothing happened. Suddenly, everything went dark. Dreadite prepared to fire the energy balls at the lab. Mewtwo came out of the ChronoJump just before he launched them.
  “I told you not to take so long! C’mon.” Mewtwo teleported Icy, Sara, and himself away from the lab. Dreadite’s energy balls hit with total accuracy and the lab was completely destroyed. “Humph. You can thank me some other time.” Mewtwo clicked a button on his wrist and vanished. His task had been accomplished. The timeline was altered.
  Icy and Sara woke to find themselves outside the Cinnabar Pokécenter. “Uhh... my head hurts,” Icy said as he got up. Sara wasn’t feeling any better. “How’d we get here?” Sara tried getting back up but was too dizzy to stand and fell flat on her face.
  “Ouww... I told you I didn’t like this place. Now can we go?” She grabbed Icy’s paw and dragged him into the pokécenter. “We’ll have some dinner and then we are leaving! No more crazy experiment stuff. No more Mewtwo. Just peacefulness.” She took Icy into the pokécenter. There were almost a hundred trainers gathered inside. Officer Jenny was making an announcement.
  “People please. Quiet down! QUIET!!!” They all stopped talking. “Thank you. As you know, a very loud explosion was heard earlier this morning. There is no reason to panic; it was just a robotic helicopter that crashed. We have already cleared the damage. You can all go home now. Again, there is nothing to worry about.” She obviously didn’t want the citizens of Cinnabar to know what happened. Icy and Sara walked up to the desk. “Hey, you two pikachus. You need to go home with your trainers.”
  “Excuse me? We don’t have trainers. I’m Icy, and this is Sara.” Jenny shrugged.
  “Well, you can’t just run around with a train... did you just talk?”
  “Aggghhhhh... Why me? Have you ever heard about the kid who was transformed into a pikachu?”
  “Ummm... Oh. You’re Icy...” She blushed bright red realizing the mistake she had made. “Umm... Sorry to bother you then. Have a nice day.” She ran out the door still embarrassed.
  “Ughh... That gets really annoying after the first 20 times... Nurse Joy, can we please spend one more night here in the pokécenter? I promise we’ll be headed out tomorrow.”
  “Of course you may Icy. I don’t mind it at all.” Icy and Sara ate a quick dinner and went to bed. They had a big day ahead of them tomorrow.
  “Just don’t forget what you saw Icy. I didn’t come back all that way just to let you enjoy your insignificant life,” and deep voice whispered in Icy’s head. Somehow, he managed to ignore it and was fast asleep.

Return to Pallet

  After having a modest breakfast, Icy and Sara went to the docks. “Where are we headed Icy?”
  “We can head north to Pallet Town.” Icy sent out Cyber who transformed into a boat. The pikachu couple hopped aboard and rode off into the open sea.
  Meanwhile, Dreadite headed back to his previous assignment. “Mission accomplished. We shouldn’t have any more trouble from that psychic pikachu anymore.” The voice on the other end sounded pleased. Little did they know that not only had Icy survived, he now knew about the existence of the Doomsday Project.

  “What’s in Pallet Town Icy?”
  “A man by the name of Prof. Oak has a lab there. It’s also home to two of the greatest pokémon trainers.” Sara tried to look impressed. The waters were smooth today. With a little luck, they would reach Pallet by late afternoon.
  The sun was directly overhead when they reached the shores of Pallet Town. Oak’s lab stood high upon a cliff overlooking the waters. They jumped on land and Icy returned Cyber to his pokéball. “Let’s pay Oak a visit. I haven’t seen him for a while.” They walked up the winding path to the front entrance and knocked.
  Oak answered the door. “Yes? Oh look, two adorable pikachus. Wait a second, I recognize you. You’re Icy. And who’s this with you Icy?”
  “This is my friend Sara.” Sara waved to Oak. He invited the two in for tea and crackers. They had a lot of catching up to do.
  “So Icy, it’s been... how long since you last contacted me?”
  “Sorry professor. Being a pikachu, I don’t regularly use phones.”
  “How are your pokémon doing? I heard that your butterfree was seriously injured in a battle against Blaine. How is she now?”
  “Buttercup? Oh, she’s doing much better. She’s a fighter.” Icy suddenly remembered something. He pulled the egg he had found in the canyon out from his bag. “I found this in Grandpa Canyon. Think you can tell me what’s inside?”
  Oak examined the egg. “Hmmm. I’ve never seen this type of pokémon egg before. I can’t be sure what’s in it. It may hatch any day now, so make sure you keep it extra warm.”
  Icy nodded and placed the egg carefully in his pack again. “I did win the Volcano Badge. I only need one more!”
  “You’ve got seven badges? That’s quite a feat. So, when will you battle the Viridian Gym Leader?”
  “I was hoping to battle him tomorrow. Do you know who it is?”
  “I can’t tell you that Icy. The league likes keeping that a secret.”
  “Hmphh... No fair... Professor, can we stay the night here?”
  “Of course, Icy. You’re always welcome.” He noticed something troubling Icy. “Was there something else you wanted to tell me?”
  “Ummm... Sara, I want to talk to the professor alone for a sec.” Sara understood and waited in another room. Icy turned his attention to Oak. “Professor, on Cinnabar Island, I uncovered data records from the experiment Bill was working on with me. But these records aren’t about his experiment, they were something about a TransPokéfier Gun. I think Team Rocket is involved in it.”
  “Icy... There were many things that happened on that day. No one is still certain as to what exactly happened. As for Team Rocket, they were there to capture Bill, not you.”
  “But the file was dated the same as the experiment.”
  “It could have been about anything. People have same birthdays. They could have done research on the same day. It doesn’t seem like a definite connection.” Oak was holding something back. Icy didn’t sense it for some odd reason.
  “Maybe you’re right. Another thing. On their central computer, I fo...” Oak covered Icy’s mouth.
  “Not here.” He led Icy into a special soundproof room. “I’m sorry but we don’t need the neighbors listening in on us.”
  “Like I was saying, on the main computer, I found a document titled ‘The Doomsday Project’. Do you know anything about it?”
  Oak tried to hold back the worried look. He had to think fast. “Sounds like a dangerous project. Better not get too involved with it. Team Rocket has been getting quite aggressive lately.” Icy agreed. They walked back into the main room and joined Sara. It was getting late so Oak offered them some real dinner for once. They ate and went to bed.
  Oak stayed up that night. “Done well, you have. Kept secret, our plan.” He sighed and went off to bed.

Secrets

  Oak made a nice breakfast for Icy and Sara then told them he had to go run some errands. The two pikachus left the lab and continued on their way towards Viridian City. Just on the outskirts of Pallet, Icy felt something funny. “What is it?”
  “I... I don’t know... I feel like I’m...” Icy fell to the ground. Sara became very nervous and tried reviving her friend. Icy’s body slowly disappeared.

  The phasing gift was having its random effect on him again. He entered once again, a dreamlike state in the Void.
  “So, we meet again.” Mewtwo’s shadowy figure was the only visible figure Icy could see. He moved towards Icy. “I must say, you really do pick rather inconvenient times for us to chat.”
  “I didn’t ask to come here.”
  “No. I suppose you’re right. The problem is, I didn’t either. You’re controlling all of this.”
  “How? How am I controlling it? This is the gift right? That thing Sabrina was telling me about?”
  “You catch on quick Icy. This is the eternal Void. All of space and time stands still here. Your appearances here are not by coincidence, let me remind you. You’ve come here to seek answers.”
  “The visions. That’s what took me to Cinnabar Lab. But now, from that, a new terror has arisen. Team Rocket’s Doomsday Project.”
  “Let go of your thoughts and concentrate on nothing. The past, present, and future will become known to you.” Icy cleared his mind of thought. He became one with the Void. It spoke to him. It put images into his mind.
  He opened his eyes, seeing a peaceful grassland. Many pokémon ran free. Eevees were playing cute little games with each other while some sandshrews ran races. It was all too real and too serene. “Why am I seeing this? What does this have to do with the Doomsday Weapon? I’ve never seen this place before.”
  “This isn’t from your life. The experiment was, but this requires your presence. The purpose of the visions will become clearer if you pay close attention. Ahh, look...” Icy focused his attention back on the vision. The pokémon were disappearing. One by one, they vanished. The landscape soon became dark. Ash and cinders replaced the grass. The trees were reduced to mere twigs or burning limbs. The once bright blue sky was now filled with dark gray clouds and was the color of burnt red.
  “Wha... What happened? This doesn’t look anything like the place I was just in.”
  “The visions are sometimes strange. Keep watching...” Mewtwo vanished, unknown to Icy. His eyes were focused on the field again. It was back to normal, green, fresh, and populated. A flock of spearows flew from the trees crying out. Something was happening. Icy couldn’t see for sure exactly what happened after that, but whatever it was that blinded him temporarily was definitely the cause of the destruction he had seen earlier.
  “What does all this...” Icy looked around for Mewtwo. He was nowhere to be found. “Oh that’s just great.” He began to cry a little. [sniff] “Why? Why me? Why do I have to be the one how must prevent all this? I don’t even know what this is! I can’t do it...” His tears rolled off his cheek and floated through the Void.
  “Why do you cry little one?”
  “Who... who’s there,” he managed to whimper.
  “I am not able to be identified by the words of your language. I am much more complicated then even you could hope to understand.”
  “If you’re Mewtwo playing another cruel joke on me, I’m not listening.”
  “I assure you, I’m not that egotistical freak of nature you call Mewtwo. I am a much higher being. You might say, I reside here, in the Void. I am that which watches over the world and keeps balance and peace. But now, Chaos has ripped the balance from your world.”
  “You mean the Doomsday Weapon?”
  “Yes. That is the source of the chaos. With this weapon, your world may cease to exist.”
  “But if you watch over everything, why don’t you stop it?”
  “Icy, there are things that even I can’t control. Only someone who is mutually involved, such as you, can stop this. You must see the connection here Icy. Nothing just happens. There is a reason for everything. We must all see these things and recognize them. You will find this. But now, it is imperative you understand what’s at stake now. Our time grows short. You’ll be back in your current timeframe soon. Remember what you saw here. Know that the gym leader of Viridian City is Giovanni himself. Use that opportunity to find out more about the Doomsday Project. Confront the less intelligent agents and use them to your advantage.”
  “But wait, I want to know the truth about the experiment. Please tell me...” Icy stopped his sentence as he felt himself drift thought the barriers of time.
  “Icy! Icy! Oh please answer me! Wake up!” Sara’s eyes were filled with tears. She didn’t know what to do so she dragged him behind some nearby trees so no trainers would find them. Icy slowly regained consciousness.
  “Ouhhhh....” he moaned. Sara was overjoyed. She gave Icy a huge hug.
  “I thought you’d never wake.”
  “How long was I out?”
  “Not long. But you gave me a big scare when you just fell for no reason.”
  “I’ll explain it to you some other time. For now, lets get to Viridian City. There’s a lot of things I’ve got to do there.” They continued on their way through Route 1 and reached the medium-sized city by noon. They rested for the middle of the day in the local pokécenter, which was all brand new since it was destroyed by Ash’s pikachu a while ago.

Nemesis

  Icy and Sara entered the city of Viridian. It was the first big city Sara had ever seen. All the tall buildings and lights amazed her. “What is this place?”
  “It’s called Viridian City.”
  “Where are we going in here?”
  “To the pokémon gym. I’m going to win my final badge!”

  “Huh... Why do you always want to win those badges? What good are they other than pretty to look at?”
  “Uhhh... They show how good a trainer is. If you have a lot of badges, that means you’re a really good trainer. I’ve got seven badges, and this will be the eighth.” Sara nodded, still not completely understanding what Icy was telling her. She went along with it anyway. They walked towards the gym entrance.
  They gasped as they looked at the magnificent gym. It was beautiful and huge. Icy had never seen such a great gym before. The two pikachus held hands as they approached the entrance. Two guards with long poles with large metal blades attached to them stopped Icy and Sara.
  “Halt! Only trainers may enter the gym. Go find your masters.” One of the guards thought about snatching one of the pikachus.
  “Let me through. I’m Icy, the Pikachu trainer. I’m here to challenge your boss!”
  “Hahahaha!!! Quite big words for such a little rod...” Icy psyshocked the guard before he could finish talking. “AGHHHHH!!!!!!” he screamed in pain, dropping to the floor. His partner tended to him while Icy and Sara walked past.
  “Humph... Losers...” They made their way to the main gym. It was just as elegant as the outside. A desk stood atop an upper level balcony in the room. Behind it, a large stain-glass window. A tall, slender man turned around in the chair.
  “Hmm, hmm, hmmmmm... We meet again, Icy...”
  “I... I... I... Icy... W...W...W...Who’s that......” Sara stuttered nervously.
  “So, you want to win my Earth Badge do you. Since you are here on League provisions, I can’t kill you legally.”
  “Such a pity Giovanni...” Icy retorted.
  “Don’t speak so soon pikarunt. Dreadite may have failed to destroy you and keep...” He stopped mid-sentence and sat back in his chair. His figure was still shadowed by the light from behind. “Nevermind... If you want the Earth Badge, you must best me in a 3-on-3 pokémon battle.” He expanded a pokéball as Icy selected his first. “Go pokéball!” He threw his first pokéball into the arena revealing a Nidoking.
  “Whoa! It’s huge!” Icy looked at the pokéball in his hand. “There’s no way I can beat that... Ahh, I have to try.” He threw the pokéball into the arena. “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Leafy!” Icy’s Oddish appeared on the gym floor. She shrieked upon seeing her enormous opponent.
  “Hmmm... I didn’t know you practiced pokémon sacrifices. Oh well, that sorta makes two of us. Nidoking, horn attack.” Nidoking charged Leafy with his horn. She was petrified.
  “Leafy, use your stun spore now!” Leafy obeyed Icy and quickly sprayed Nidoking with her stun spore. It stopped dead in its tracks. “Good work, now absorb his energy.” Nidoking tried moving but couldn’t while Leafy sucked away his power.
  “Damn you Nidoking. Here, take this.” He threw Nidoking a Paralyze Heal and Nidoking broke free. It pounded Leafy into the wall.
  “OOOOOOOOOODDDDDISHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!” she screamed.
  “No! Leafy, are you ok? Please, Leafy? Huh? AGHHHH!!!! She’s evolving too???” Sure enough, Leafy was evolving. She had already had much experience living in the wild and her courage and determination contributed to her growth. She grew plumper and slightly taller. Pedals sprouted from her head.
  “GLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!” she proclaimed.
  “WOW! Leafy evolved into a Gloom. Uhhhhhhhhh... Hmmmm... Oh. Leafy, sleep powder now!” Leafy let out sleep powder over Nidoking. It fell asleep almost instantly. “Horray!!! Great job Leafy! I knew you had it in you.”
  “Gloooommm!” she shouted. Leafy jumped in celebration.
  “Phaaa... Nidoking return. You won’t have it so easy this time. Go Kangaskhan!” The large pokémon emerged from its pokéball.
  “Ohhh... Leafy, you’ve done your job, take a rest. Leafy, return. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Hyper!” Icy’s Dratini appeared on the arena floor. This was the first time Icy had ever used Hyper to battle before. Hyper was ready for action and awaited Icy’s commands. “Hmm... I know... Hyper, water gun now!” Kangaskhan didn’t see it coming as Hyper rapidly slithered around the floor spraying it with water. The parent pokémon slipped on the wet floor and fainted after a quick hyper beam from Hyper.
  “WHAT!!! This is impossible. Hmmm... You are a clever trainer Icy. But you are still no match for me... oh yeah... he quit... that little jerk... never should have created... aghhhhhh... go Rhydon!” Another giant horned pokémon came into play. Hyper sized up his opponent. “You won’t escape this one.” Rhydon charge the Dratini and smashed it across the floor. Hyper managed to get back up, but then fainted. Icy was shocked. Hyper was such a strong pokémon. Fortunately he wasn’t too badly injured and would be fine later.
  “Ohh... Hyper, return. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Hocus!” Icy’s Kadabra leapt onto the arena floor. “Ok Hocus. Show that horned beast who’s boss! Psybeam, maximum power now!” Kadabra needed little time to produce the massive wave of psychic energy. It hit Rhydon head on and made it faint. Giovanni’s jaw dropped. He was outraged.
  “AGHH! You meddlesome pest. If this weren’t an official league match, I’d kill you now. Take you’re badge and get out.” He threw the Earth Badge as hard as he could at Icy. Icy used his telekinesis to float the badge into his hands. “You just watch your back. You may know about the name of my little operation, but that’s all you’ll ever know.” He clicked a button. The floor under Icy began to shake.
  “Crap! Hocus, get us out of here, quick!” Hocus nodded and they were teleported to safety.
  Back in his office, Giovanni sat down in his red chair. “D*** that pikachu. You told me you destroyed him.”
  “I did. That lab no longer exists.”
  “But the pikachu does! Mewtwo must have intervened. D*** him too. They are too close. Nothing and I mean nothing better go wrong with the Doomsday project. Understood?”
  “Yes sir.”
  Giovanni stoked Persian’s fur. “Soon it will be complete. The engineers in the Amazon have already finished phase one. It’s only a matter of time.” He cupped his hands and sat back.
  Meanwhile, Hocus teleported Icy and Sara outside the local pokécenter. “Let’s heal Hyper. He took a good beating during the battle.” They went up the front desk and Joy healed Hyper for Icy. “I can’t believe it. I’ve got all eight badges!” He couldn’t keep himself from jumping up and down throughout the pokécenter cheering. Many trainers were startled by the way the pikachu was acting. Most just went back to minding their own business though. As night fell, Icy could only dream about the wonderful feelings he had now that he’d won all eight badges. Sara curled up next to him and they both fell asleep...

Revenge Lasts Forever

  After spending the night at the pokécenter, Icy and Sara went for a walk around town. Sara stayed very close to Icy for there were many trainers gathering in Viridian lately.
  “It’s so crowded...” Sara pointed out.
  “Must be new trainers from Prof. Oak or something.” They continued on their way.

  Meanwhile, on an opposite corner, two men dressed in black observed the two pikachu. “You think he senses us?” one whispered to the other. His partner shook his head.
  “Not while we have these handy anti-psychic boxes with us. He won’t be able to pull any tricks on us.” He glanced again at Icy and Sara. “We’ll pursue them as they go down that alley.”
  Icy had sensed their presence. For some odd reason, the signal from the anti-psychic box was being distorted by the waves coming from Icy’s translator. “Hide behind those boxes. I need to deal with some agents real quick.” Icy got in position while Sara hid.
  The two agents entered the alley. “Well, well, well. A stray pikachu. Must be my lucky day. Hehehe...” The agent reached into his pocket and pulled out a black pokéball with a red ‘R’ on it. “You can’t escape us this time.” He threw the ball at Icy.
  “Nice try losers,” Icy shouted as he teleported in back of them. He realized his mistake too late however as three agents all threw pokéballs at him. “CRAP!” he screamed as one of the pokéballs hit him in the head. “Noooooooo!” Icy was sucked into the pokéball. He banged on the inside walls but something was stealing all his energy. His last images before he fainted were the metallic insides on the pokéball.
  “Ha! Good job.” One of the agents picked up the pokéball containing Icy. Another agent rushed back from the alley. In his hand was the black pokéball he had originally thrown. “Giovanni will be most pleased. Take them both to the gym. He is waiting to see them personally.” They all went off around town while the one agent took the two pokéballs to Giovanni.
  Giovanni stroked Persian’s white fur. It purred fiendishly as the agent entered the office. “I trust everything went according to plan.” The agent nodded and handed him the two pokéballs.
  “He fell for it just the way you said he would.”
  “Of course he did. I have an eye for the future. Literally!” Giovanni stood up and handed a large briefcase to a person standing in the shadows of the room. “He is your payment as promised. Count it here if you must.”
  The person opened the briefcase. It was filled with thousands of pokebucks. “Remember, no killing them. You may get whatever it is you want from them, but I cannot proceed with our plan if they are dead.”
  “Do not worry. They won’t be harmed, much. Be sure to have everything ready in time for the launch. Oh, and one more thing.” He handed the person some computer microchips. “Install these in your new...”
  “I know what they are for. Now, I must be going or I’ll arouse suspicion.” Giovanni walked back to his desk and picked up Icy’s pokéball.
  “Now I can have my revenge and make sure you don’t meddle with my plans any further.”
  The person Giovanni had paid off left the gym. After checking to see if any agents were following him, he headed for the police station.
  “So, did you get it?” Jenny asked. The man nodded and placed all but one of the chips on a table. “Great. Now our labs can analyze these and find out what Giovanni is really up to. I’d suggest you head back to your lab as soon as possible.” The man nodded. “Professor, you have been a great asset to this operation. Please don’t do anything heroic, ok?”
  “Giovanni’s got Icy and Sara.”
  “That’s not good.” The man nodded. “Well, my people will take care of that. You just get back to your lab.” The man left the station and hailed a taxi.
  “Pallet Town, please.” The cabby gave a small nod and drove off.
  Elsewhere. “Have the events occurred as planned?”
  “Yes my lord. Everything is going just as you said. We are close to a 100% match.”
  “Perfect.”
  Meanwhile, back at the police station. “Does he suspect anything?”
  “No sir. He got in your cab just as you said.” The officer removed the Jenny outfit and revealed her true self. “I won’t be needing this stuff anymore. What are your orders, sir?”
  “Return to base. But remember to destroy all the evidence. Leave nothing.”
  “Understood.” She took out three charges and placed them around the station. “This will tie up the loose end.” As she casually walked out of the building, the charges detonated. She didn’t look back or change her speed as the station exploded. Nothing was left when the smoke cleared.
  “Now I will have my total revenge. Starting with you Icy!” He opened the pokéball and Icy appeared on his desk hardly able to move. “You are such a pathetic worm.” He picked Icy up and threw him across his office. “You will never be able to stop me!” He kicked Icy into a corner. “I am going to enjoy destroying you once and for all.” Icy attempted to locate his pokéballs. He detected them being still on Giovanni’s desk. “Now I will finally end you pitiful life.” He moved closer. Icy summoned his last bit of energy to move Hocus’ pokéball to him.
  “Hocus... heeeeellllppppp meeeeeee....” Icy dropped the ball as he fainted. Hocus appeared in front of him.
  “Master?!?” Hocus used his telekinesis to gather all of Icy’s things. “Do not fear master. I will get us out of here.” Giovanni was furious now.
  “Come back here. I must have my revenge!” He chased the Kadabra down the main hallway. “There is no escape from me.”
  “Maybe, then again. Take this!” Hocus fired a psybeam at Giovanni throwing him back almost 50 feet.
  “Aghh! No! I’ll kill you for this Icy! I swear it. I will kill you! You can’t escape from the Doomsday Weapon!” He laughed as he blacked out from the effects of the psybeam.
  Hocus ran past the guards at the doors and enter the streets of Viridian. People everywhere stopped what they were doing to see what was going on. “Uhhh... Good day, nice, humans... Ahhh... sooo... how ‘bout that weather we’ve been having.” Suddenly, Hocus found himself the target of several dozen pokéballs. “This isn’t good...” He teleported just in time. “Shew... That was close. Now to heal you master.” He took Icy to the pokécenter where Nurse Joy fixed him up. They stayed there for the remainder of the day.
  Meanwhile, Oak was still riding in the cab. “I think you missed my turn.” The driver ignored him. Oak took out a pistol he had stashed away in his lab coat. He repeated, “I believe you missed my turn.” He pointed the gun at the driver’s head.
  “Ok, ok, just no shoot. I make big mess if fire.” Oak motioned for him to exit the vehicle.
  “Now, return Loki.” The driver, a ditto named Loki, beamed back into a pokéball Oak had in his hand. “Nice work. Mission complete. Now, I hope Icy somehow managed to survive.” He removed the tracer bugs on him and placed them inside of the car. Then, he let the cab drive into the lake and sink. “Time to take this chip back to the lab to be analyzed.”

  “Where are we now?”
  “Very close to 100% sir. His dialog was missing the colorful metaphors you said it would have.”
  “That’s acceptable. Everything is just as I foresaw. Proceed with the plan.”

The Doomsday Probe

  “Status.”
  “Still at 100% accuracy my lord. All actions in this timeline match the desired timeline.”
  “Perrrfect. According to the timeline, the probe should be ready for launch now.”
  “T-minus 5 minutes and counting,” a male computer voice announced. “All personal, clear launch area at this time.” The scientists left the launch pad and waited behind a glass wall inside the observation room. The Doomsday Project had been Team Rocket’s best kept secret until Icy, with the help of Mewtwo, uncovered it. Now, the completed Doomsday probe was ready to go into orbit.

  “Inform Giovanni that everything is going as planned.” The scientist walked over to the phone.
  “Sir, everything is going as planned. We will have liftoff in less than 3 minutes.”
  “Good. Keep me updated.” Giovanni signaled a guard to kick the little trainer who had come for an Earth Badge out. The guard picked the kid up and threw him out the door. “Now. Give me a visual.” A monitor showed the lab and the rocket preparing to blast off.
  “1 minute and counting,” the computer said. The countdown continued as the scientist who made to call walked over to the main control room. He took a barrel out of one of his pockets.
  “It’s time,” the dark figure muttered. “He won’t delay the countdown. I already know his fate.”
  Just before the scientist could arm his handheld bomb, a bullet from another agent’s gun struck his head. He fell to the ground instantly, dropping the unarmed bomb. “Take him away.” They dragged the body into another room.
  “10... 9... 8... 7...” The engines on the rocket began to fire. “4... 3... 2... 1... Blast off!” The rockets main boosters kicked in and the rocket took off. It was so bright the scientists had to cover their eyes as the rocket carrying the probe traveled into space.
  “We have liftoff sir. The rocket is away!”
  “Good. Nothing can stop me now.”
  “Wrong Giovanni. Nothing can stop US now. So soon you forget our agreement. We supplied the technology, you supplied the facilities. We are in a mutual agreement and contract.”
  “If you think I would honor any stupid agreement with a pokémon like you, you must be out of your pea-sized brain.” With that, Giovanni blasted the little pink pokémon. She gave a small cry before she passed away. “Dispose of it. I have my own plans for that rocket.”
  Meanwhile, on a starship orbiting the PokéEarth, the dark figure’s chief adviser became worried. “My lord, the continuum has dropped to 73%. The timeline has been altered. Something didn’t go right.”
  “Impossible! I saw every event. Nothing can change. What caused it?”
  “Giovanni has killed our earth contact.”
  “That bastard. He should know better to toil with me. Take control of the Doomsday rocket. I want it back! NOW!”
  Back at TR HQ. “Giovanni, urgent message from the mission control. The rocket has been taken off course. It’s heading back to the starship.”
  “No. D*** that mew. He won’t get away with this.”
(Scene switch to outer space)
  “Have the probe cloak and orbit the earth. I will see to it that the timeline does not get any more damaged then it already has.” The dark lord, Emperor Mewtine, sat down in his small black chair. Meanwhile, thousands of Mews scrambled aboard the ship checking on gauges and monitors. “Giovanni and the rest of this planet will learn the price of slavery. Why Mewtwo would not help us is beyond me, but I will see that the goal is met. Prepare the occupation phase.”
(Scene switch to Viridian Pokécenter)
  “This just in. Team Rocket, headed up by Giovanni, has launched a rocket into outer space. Reports are still sketchy on what the purpose of this rocket is for, but we have received leaks for some TR scientists that the rocket is part of some secret project code-named, Doomsday. We will bring you more updates on this story as information comes available. And look, here’s a look at today’s weather...”
  “Bahhh... Why do they always talk about the weather after something important.” Hocus was suddenly reminded of the previous day when he encountered the group of trainers and popped that same question. He laughed on the inside.
  “Doomsday... That’s familiar. Oh my Goddish! That’s what it was! Oh crap. Hocus, we are all in grave danger. We need to warn Officer Jenny right away.” Icy was about to leave his room when several armed guards opened the door. “Wha..wha..what’s the meaning of all this?”
  “You are under arrest for withholding evidence Icy. Please come with us quietly.” They handcuffed the little pikachu and dragged him to a small makeshift police station, since the TR agent had blown up the original.
  “Did they apprehend Icy?”
  “Yes my lord. He is in custody. Timeline is steady. What are our next moves?”
  “We wait. I want Icy out of the picture before anything else occurs.”
  “Understood my lord.” The probe orbited the earth while the starship remained steady above the planet.
  “Why am I under arrest? I didn’t commit any crime.”
  “Sure you didn’t. Hey, wait a minute. Since when do pikachus talk?”
  “You idiot. It’s Icy. See the box. Can you say, ‘translator’?” The other officer smacked the first in the back of the head. “Icy, what do you know about Doomsday?”
  “Nothing. I don’t know anything.”
  “He’s lying!”
  “Who are you?”
  “Your worse nightmare.” The small pinkish pokémon glowed and the officers found themselves floating in mid-air. “Now get out of here. He’s my prisoner now.”
  “Hey, you can’t do th.....” The mew telekinetically choked the officer to death then grabbed Icy and took off.
  “You are one troublesome pikachu. My lord doesn’t want you to stay around here much longer. I will spare your life now if you go and forget everything you know about the project called Doomsday. You won’t pay any attention to any newscasts you hear concerning Doomsday.”
  “Won’t pay any attention. I know nothing of Doomsday.” Icy’s words came out in a hypnotic tone. Mew walked him back to the pokécenter.
  “Now, gather your things. You are leaving at once. If you are still here in two days, I will have to terminate you. Now GO!”
  Icy scrambled back to his room and locked the door behind him. Panting, he turned to Sara. “We’ve got to get out of here.” Sara looked at him with a peculiar expression.
  “Whoa.. whoa... slow down. What’s the rush?” Icy couldn’t speak, he just packed all his stuff, grabbed Sara’s paw and bolted out the door. Unfortunately, he forgot to unlock the door and smashed right into it knocking him and Sara out cold. He laid there on the floor for the rest of the evening.
  “The timeline has suffered more damage my lord. Our agent didn’t kill Icy yet. She let him live. We are down to a 67% match.”
  “This is not good. We need the keep what’s left of the timeline intact.”
  Meanwhile, back in Pallet Town. “Loki, come here.” The small purple blob slithered over to Prof. Oak. “Now, transform into this one,” he said, pointing to a Staryu.
  “Ditto!” Loki transformed but it had one more point than normal.
  “Aghhhh... What’s wrong with you? Why don’t you transform right?” The doorbell rang. “Yes, coming... coming...” He opened the door and a small pink pokémon scampered in. “Well... uh... come in...”
  “You are in danger. I have little time. You already know enough about the Doomsday project. You must work with Icy and the others to stop it.”
  “Huh... I know about Icy, but who are the others? Wait, come back!” The mew ran from the lab. A bush near it transformed into another mew and tackled the one who warned Oak.
  “You trouble maker. Do you have any idea what you’ve done? The emperor is going to be so ticked off with you when he finds out.” Suddenly, they were both gone.
  “Ok... I think I put too much sugar in my tea today or something... I knew I shouldn’t have woken up this morning.” Oak went back to find Loki missing. “Loki? Loki come out!” A picture of Prof. Oak with only one eye transformed into the purple gooey Ditto. “There you are. Now, let’s get back to training...”

The End of the World

  “My lord, the probe is operating at almost 80% now. We will be able to transport our people down to the planet by tomorrow morning.”
  “Excellent. See that our agents see to it that Giovanni doesn’t interfere any further.”
  “Yes my lord.”
  Back on the planet, Icy and Sara finally came to. “Owww... my head.” They jumped to their feet. Icy unlocked the door and found himself face to face with three Mews. “Ummm, hello?”
  “Come with us pikachu.” Icy and Sara exchanged strange glances. “Let’s go! NOW!” They went with the Mews. In the lobby, Mews had cornered all the trainers. They had taken over the entire complex. “Do not worry about them, just keep moving.” They led them outside. “We are in position.” They were teleported onto the Mew starship.
  “Where are we? What is this place?” Icy and Sara looked around the ship filled with Mews. One walked up to them.
  “Come with me please.” They followed the Mew to another section of the ship. “The emperor doesn’t want you to be in the way.”

  “Who’s the emperor?”
  “You don’t need to know that. Now get into the cell.”
  “Wait. Come back here.” The Mew hissed at him and Icy jumped back. For a second, fear gripped him. His pikachu senses were coming out more. Sara backed away as well.
  “Icy... What are we going to do? I’m scared.” A guard took its post outside the cell. In his hand was a strange weapon. Sara started crying.
  “Sara... Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to get out of here.” Suddenly it clicked in his mind. “Wait a sec. I can teleport us both out of the cell. When I do, electrocute the guard and take his weapon.” Sara nodded.
  Back on the main bridge. “Activate now.”
  Icy attempted to teleport but found himself unable to. “What, what happened?”
  “He’s contained my lord.”
  “I can’t teleport. Something is prevent me from using my psychic powers.” The Mew guard laughed at him.
  “Hahaha... nice try rat. You know, when the Mew army invades earth, I think the rat population will the first to go.”
  “Why?”
  “Because.”
  “That’s not an answer.”
  “Fine. We are the master race. Do you see any other pokémon who can build space ships? No.”
  “But that’s not a valid reason.”
  “Too bad. Now get back from the door.”
  “Let us out. You can’t keep us in here forever. I’m warning you.”
  The Mew laughed. “In case you haven’t figured it out yet, pikabrains, our emperor has foreseen your every move. There is no escape from us. Doomsday will continue as scheduled.” The Mew went back to its post. Icy sat on the floor with Sara.
  “This isn’t good. There’s nothing we can do without the emperor Mew knowing it before we even think of it.” Sara sighed and sat down with Icy.
  A few hours passed. Finally, a cloaked figure walked up the cell. His hand glowed and the guard flew into a wall, knocking it out. “Hurry, there isn’t much time.” He unlocked the cell door. An alarm sounded. “Crap, you must hurry. Good luck.” The strange person ran off as quickly as he’d appeared.
  “This is why I hate my life. C’mon Sara. Let’s find a way outta here.” Icy and Sara ran toward the front of the ship.
  “Hey, how did you get out.” Two mew guards pointed their weapons at Icy and Sara. “Put your hands in the air now.”
  “Ok.” Icy sneered as they walked closer.
  “What? What’s so funny?” Sara was laughing for some odd reason. “Stop that! Stop laughing at me. Stop it! Stop it!” The mew was having a nervous breakdown.
  “He’s so cute with that gun. But he’s even cuter now,” Sara said still giggling.
  “Why did you make fun of him? You should be kinder to others,” the other guard said.
  “You aren’t.”
  “Mews don’t have to be. We’re the master pokémon race.”
  “Whatever.” Icy shocked the Mew and Sara did the same. He fell over and Icy continued on his way with Sara close behind. She giggled one last time before leaving the corridor.
  “My lord, the pikachus are heading this way. The timeline is at 20%. The Doomsday device isn’t going to work with these low numbers.”
  “Seal off the bridge.” Large metal doors closed at the bridge access points.
  “There must be some way off this ship.” Mewtwo suddenly appeared in from of Icy. “AGHHHHHH!!!! Not you again. What do you want now?”
  “For you to die! These Mews are my ticket for destroying all of humanity once and for all. And I’m not letting you ruin it.” Mewtwo blasted Icy into a nearby wall. Sara watched in horror.
  “Noo! Please don’t hurt Icy. Please stop. We only want to go home.”
  “I’ll send you both packing.” Mewtwo turned and fired at Sara. Icy finally got up and ran over to Sara. “Humph... This is way too easy. Why couldn’t those Mews take care of you?”
  “Cause they’re psychos like you.” Icy grabbed Sara and leaped out of the way as Mewtwo fired another psybeam at him.
  “You are no match against me Icy. Come out and fight me.”
  “My lord. Psychic battle outside the bridge. It’s the pikachu and Mewtwo.”
  “This isn’t supposed to happen. Activate the weapon. Begin the Doomsday Operation NOW!” Just as he finished his sentence, the bridge doors exploded. Icy came flying through the debris with Mewtwo close behind. “No, stop them. You’ll damage the controls.”
  “Shut up. I want that pikachu!”
  “Yeah, you and everyone else. But I want him the most,” Mewtwo shouted, firing another blast at Icy.
  “Whaghhh!” he screamed, just missing the beam. It hit the probe control systems.
  “You idiot. Now we’ve lost all contact with the probe. It’s going to crash into the planet. The whole mission is a failure due to your arrogance.”
  Mewtwo sneered at the tiny little pink Mew. “Some emperor you are. You should have foreseen this.” With that, Mewtwo fired another blast at the Mew, killing him. “Hmm... That was easy. Now for Icy.” The bridge was now on fire from all the blasts Mewtwo had fired.
  “Abandon ship!” one of the Mews cried. They ran to the escape pods but Mewtwo blocked the doorway.
  “No one’s going anywhere until I kill Icy. Now where is he?”
  “Forget him. The ship’s gonna explode. He will be killed in that. Now let us through.” Mewtwo shook his head. “Fine. Mews, charge!” The few hundred Mews that were on the bridge smashed into Mewtwo and ran to the escape pods. Icy and Sara quickly blended into the crowd. Mewtwo searched the bridge tirelessly for Icy.
  “WHERE ARE YOU ICY!!!”
  The two pikachus snuck into one of the escape pods and flew away from the ship. “Umm, Icy. Do you know how to fly this thing?”
  “No. Why?”
  “Because that green stuff it getting bigger and bigger.”
  “Ahhhh... duck!”
  “Where?”
  “No, get down!” He pushed her head down as the escape pod collided with the earth. The two pikachus were tossed and bashed around the pod as it bounced into the air and back down again. After what seemed for an eternity of rolling, they finally came to a stop inside the Viridian Forest.
  Meanwhile, back aboard the starship. “D***it! He slipped away from me again. I will find you again Icy. I always do.” Mewtwo teleported off the ship as it blew up. A bright circle lit up the sky for a second as the ship exploded. Giovanni watched in triumph.
  “Well, that takes care of those horrible little Mews. And hopefully Mewtwo and Icy.” He sat back in his chair awaiting the next trainer to challenge him.
  The Doomsday probe entered the atmosphere and crashed into Mt. Moon. Some Clefairies quickly salvaged the broken components and took them deep into the cave for unknown reasons.
  Icy and Sara’s pod opened up and they both rolled out. Icy and Sara were badly bruised. Icy tried getting up but found himself unable to move. Sara was having similar difficulty. They both blacked out as night fell…

A Pika Day Out

  When we last left Icy and Sara, they were lying unconscious on the floor of the Viridian Forest. During the night, Nurse Joy had led a search team out to recover them. They woke the next morning inside her pokécenter at Viridian City.

  Icy and Sara had a small breakfast before heading out into the streets of Viridian. “Let’s head north to the Viridian Forest. It’s a lot like the forest you’re from only bigger.” Sara liked the idea of seeing something similar to her home and happily held Icy’s paw as they walked towards the forest.
  As they entered the forest, Sara’s eyes lit up. “It’s beautiful Icy!” She kissed Icy on the cheek making him jump high into the air. “Pihehehe...” she giggled. Icy landed in front of her. “You’re silly!” She giggled again then ran ahead to scope out the sights. The forest was in great condition lately with many flowers blooming, as well as Oddishes. It gave Icy an idea.
  Icy searched his bag for a certain pokéball. “Ah, here it is.” He opened the ball revealing his Gloom, Leafy. “Sara, come here for a sec.” Icy tried to pick up his flower pokémon as Sara came back to him.
  “What Icy? Why did you call me?” Icy was still struggling to pick up Leafy. Finally, he managed to get the Gloom into his paws and presented it Sara as a flower arrangement. “Awww... Cute! Huh?” Icy wobbled for a sec, then collapsed with Leafy on top of him.
  “Uhh... for you...” he said as he gave up trying to get Leafy off of him. Sara pulled the large Gloom off of Icy and waited for him to get up. “Heh... thanks. Isn’t Leafy nice looking.”
  “Uh huh. She’s cute. She looks like a big flower!” Sara sniffed Leafy and promptly covered her nose. “Eww... but she doesn’t smell like a pretty flower,” she said falling back. Leafy and Icy sweatdropped.
  “Well, Glooms aren’t exactly known for having a nice scent. Oh well. Leafy, return.” Leafy was sucked back into the pokéball. Sara had recovered from the awful smell and was back on her feet.
  “What pokémon live in this forest Icy?”
  “Well, there are my favorites, Caterpies. There are also Weedles and even other Pikachus.”
  “Other Pikachus live here?”
  “Yep. But they are rare to spot. We might not run into their herd.”
  “Oh. That’s ok. I’m happy with the Pikachu I’ve got already.” She smiled at Icy. Icy’s cheeks became very red as he let out a small giggle. “Come on, I wanna go exploring!” Sara ran off into another wooded area with Icy close behind.
  “Wait for me Sara!”
  They came upon a small clearing where they found a small group of Weedles and Caterpies. “Look Icy! Caterpies!”
  “Caterpies?!? Where???” Sara pointed ahead and Icy’s face was filled with joy. “CATERPIES!!!” he shouted as he grabbed Sara’s paw and ran into the clearing. Since they were both pokémon, the Caterpies and Weedles didn’t mind their intrusion. They merely looked up to make sure it wasn’t a Pidgey or Spearow looking for a snack. Icy walked up to some of the Caterpies and introduced himself and Sara.
  “Hello. I’m Icy and this is Sara. What’cha all up to?”
  The Caterpie looked at Icy, then at Sara. “We’re just hanging out. It’s a really nice day today.”
  “Neat, may we join you?”
  “Sure I guess. We don’t see too many Pikachus around in this section of the forest. They tend to stay near the center.” Icy and Sara joined the other Caterpies and they played games with them for the afternoon. Icy didn’t mention to them that he was a trainer. As the sun was going down, Icy and Sara waved goodbye to the group of Caterpies and headed deeper into the forest.
  “It’s getting late Icy. I’m hungry.” Icy was also hungry and searched the area for something to eat. He hadn’t gone far before finding a big tree full of bright red apples.
  “Ymmm. Those look good.” He climbed up the tree and retrieved two of the apples and brought one back for Sara and one for himself.
  “Mmm... good!” She yawned softly. “Ohh... it’s really late now. I can hardly see.”
  “Yeah. Let’s sleep the night here and we can take another adventure through the forest in the morning.”
  “Ok. Good night Icy.” She yawned again and fell asleep. Icy gave her a kiss on her forehead and said good night to her before falling asleep himself. The sky became dark with only the glow of the Moon keeping the earth from being covered in total darkness. The two Pikachus slept well that night.

The Ace: Part I - Blast from the Past

  During that night, while Icy and Sara were alone, Icy dreams revealed a new message to him. A dark figure spoke in a deep voice.
  “Icy…” he moaned. Icy, in his dream, woke up, startled. Although in his conscience mind he knew whom the voice belonged to, something kept him from realizing it this time.
  “Who’s there?”
  “Icy… You still haven’t figured it all out.”
  “Figured what out? Who are you?” Icy’s pikachu instincts brought on a quick surge of anger and impatience.
  “You think it all ended with the Doomsday Project.”
  “What do you mean? What ended?”
  “You can’t even figure out what puzzle you’re trying to solve… Pathetic… Your pikachu form has made your mind weak.”
  “Why are you speaking in riddles? If you want to tell me something, just say it already.” Icy grew more impatient.
  “I sense the anger in you. You want to know the real truth. What really happened? It’s so much more than you could possibly hope to imagine.”
  “Who are you! Show yourself coward!” Icy took a fighting stance as the shadowy figure emerged from the darkness. “You…”

  “Yes Icy. We meet face to face once again. Hopefully for the last time. I’ve been trying to help you put together this complicated puzzle, but alas, I should have known even you can’t figure it out.”
  “What is the puzzle you speak of? Maybe if you told me what it’s about, I could solve it.”
  “Ha! Do you expect to get it that easily?”
  “Tell me what you’re hiding Mewtwo!” Fire raged through Icy’s eyes.
  “Hmm… Hatred… You were such a nice young lad when you were human. Look at yourself now. Full of hate and confusion. You haven’t a clue as to what is going on anymore around you.”
  “Why did you bring me back here again?”
  “Because she depends on it.” The ground near Mewtwo seemed to light up revealing Sara.
  “Sara! What have you done to her?” Icy ran to her side but was thrown back by some type of force field. “Why did you kill her?”
  “First of all, I didn’t kill her, you did. Secondly, you should have detected that field was there. Another sign of your fading psychic powers. A shame really…”
  Icy’s eyes were filled with tears now. “Why? How? How did I cause her to die?”
  “Let’s take a trip Icy…” With that, the world faded away. It was replaced with a scene from Icy’s childhood. Icy was a human again, about 9 years old. A little girl was playing in the yard next door.
  “Hey Icy, wanna come over for dinner? My daddy brought home a new pokémon and he’s gonna show it to me tonight!”
  “Ok. Lemme ask my mom first.” The human Icy ran inside and back out in less than 15 seconds. “It’s ok with my parents. I’ll be right over.”
  “Great!” Icy went back in a combed his dark black, blue tinted hair back and brushed his teeth. “Gotta look my best for her,” he said silently to himself.
  Meanwhile, Icy looked from within the clouds of the scene. “That was me 3 years ago. I remember that day. But the girl, something… I can’t remember… she…”
  “Just keep watching…,” Mewtwo interrupted. Icy focused his attention on the scene again.
  Icy walked up the girl’s front door. She quickly answered and let him in. “C’mon in Icy, we’re just getting started.” She led Icy inside and closed and locked the door. Saffron City was becoming a dangerous place lately with the high amount of Rockets in the area. Icy sat down with the little girl to eat dinner.
  “Daddy, show me and Icy that new pokémon you got!” The little girl was very energetic. Icy watched the event unfolding from above, unknown to the others in the scene.
  “Ha ha ha… Eat your dinner first sweetie, then I’ll show you and your friend Icy. By the way Icy, aren’t you planning on becoming a pokémon trainer?”
  Icy looked up from his meal. “Mmhmm…”
  “Well, I’m sure you’ll make a fine trainer. Have you met with Sabrina yet?”
  “No. I’m gonna visit her next week.”
  “That’s great. Well, finish up you two, then I’ll show you both this new pokémon.”
  They both stuffed the rest of their meals down and cleaned their plates. “Now can we see the new pokémon?”
  “Ok ok! Come out here.” The followed him out into the living room.
  “Show us daddy,” the little girl said loudly.
  “Alright! Pokéball go!” The ball opened to reveal a cute blue Butterfree. “I caught this one from a forest outside town. It was all alone. Perhaps you should have it Sara.”
  Icy jumped back. Suddenly it all became clear to him. “That can’t be!”
  “You remember that little girl?”
  “I… I… I know… I knew… It’s… Sara???”
  “A coincidence perhaps…?”
  “No, something happened… later that week…”
  The scene faded with the last view of Icy and Sara playing outside with the beautiful Butterfree.
  “What happened to her Icy? You do remember, don’t you?”
  “Yes… She disappeared. No one ever found her. Her parents were in shock and had to be hospitalized. That Butterfree was going to be her first pokémon.”
  “So, you know a pikachu named Sara, and a little girl from your childhood was named Sara…”
  “Are you hinting something to me?”
  “Of course not… I’m merely reiterating what is going on and what you know.”
  “She can’t possibly be the same. And why is this Sara dead?”
  “I already explained that. You killed her.”
  “HOW!”
  “By not doing something. But that’s in the future. You can still change it.”
  “But I don’t even know what I’m looking for…” Mewtwo had vanished, leaving behind a note. It read:
  “See Bill. Take the egg.”
  “The egg…?”
  Icy woke up from the dream. He looked to the side. Sara was still there and alive. He woke her up and told her about the dream. He left out the little girl’s name.
  “Icy, are you feeling ok?”
  “Yes. C’mon… We have to go to Cerulean City.”
  “But what about the others?”
  “I’ll leave them a note.” He quickly scribbled down on a piece of paper where he was going and set in on a tree stump. “Go Windstorm. I need you to fly us to Bill’s lighthouse outside Cerulean City. Ok?”
  “Pidg pidg!” They both got on and flew off into the night…

The Ace: Part II - All Hands Down

  Windstorm landed on the shores just a few meters away from the lighthouse. “Windstorm, return!” The tired Pidgey returned to its cozy pokéball. “C’mon Sara, let’s find out what Bill knows about this egg.”
  “Wow, it’s pretty.” The egg had multi-colored dots speckled over it. Icy figured it would hatch soon since the shell was beginning to crack. “Who’s Bill?”
  “Bill is a scientist. He does a lot of research on pokémon. He’s quite famous.” Icy hadn’t taken another step before the world changed to resemble the dark Void again. But this time, Sara was with him, alive.
  “Icy…” she shivered. “Where are we? This doesn’t look like the beach anymore…”
  “It’s not. Mewtwo is playing games with me again. We’re inside the Void.”
  “What’s that?”
  “It’s kinda complicated to explain…”
  “Welcome back Icy. I must admit, I wasn’t sure you’d come this far…”

  “What do you want from me Mewtwo? Tell me now!”
  “Tisk tisk tisk… Have a little patience why don’t you…”
  “Not with you! Tell me why I’m back here again! NOW!”
  “Silence!” Icy found himself unable to speak or move. Sara was also disabled. “I’ve brought you two here so you could learn more about events you didn’t have the chance to see. Your pasts are linked. They combine at many intersections. But you both don’t seem to make the connection. It’s vital you do. Now, watch…” Mewtwo pointed in front of him as a scene appeared.
  In it, they saw a small house. It was Sara’s house. The human Sara. She was playing in the yard with the Butterfree her father had brought home to other day. Suddenly, a black van pulled up. Two dark men jumped out. They pulled out a strange looking bazooka-like weapon and fired. The shell exploded opening a net that captured the Butterfree. It struggled to free itself but was unsuccessful. Sara began crying and tried to save her new pokémon. The other agent pulled out a different weapon this time. It was small, looked more like a gun. The scene vanished just as he pulled the trigger.
  “Wait, what happened?”
  “Those are the last of little Sara’s memories of that event. I can’t just create memories out of thin air.”
  “But. That weapon…”
  Sara, having heard her name used so many times was trying to put the pieces together. “Are they talking about me?” she wondered.
  “That weapon should look familiar. You’ve seen it before Icy.” A new scene appeared. Icy recognized it immediately. It was the lab in the lighthouse, the day of the accident.
  “Why do you pick that scene Mewtwo?”
  “Shhhh… you missed it during the real timeframe… Don’t miss it now.”
  “Miss wh…” he stopped upon seeing a shadow in the corner of the room. His keen Pikachu eyes focused in on the weapon in the figure’s hand. It matched. “Oh my…”
  The beam fired. But this time, Icy saw who fired it. It was a TR agent. He ducked out of the scene as the explosion occurred. That was it. The link. The agent who fired the weapon was the same one who was holding the strange gun to Sara from before. Mewtwo read Icy’s thoughts and grinned.
  “Now you are beginning to understand. All is not lost Icy. You and Sara suffered the same fate by Team Rocket. And although my hatred towards you boils warm, my hatred towards Giovanni and the rest of Team Rocket is hotter than the fiery pits of… umm… almost forgot, this is supposed to be a G rated story…”
  “But if that was the same agent and the same gun, then that means…”
  “… I knew you from before…???” Sara was very confused.
  “I think so… I remember now. You are the same girl I knew when we were little.”
  Mewtwo grinned again. “Sara, Icy is correct. You both have suffered similar fates. But I know of the way to fix all that. I have done much research on the Pokéfier Gun. Icy, now you know the truth. Your existence, and everything about you has been revealed…”
  Icy stood speechless. His eyes went back and forth from Mewtwo to Sara and back again. “I… I…”
  “So I was that little girl? But, I don’t remember being a human.”
  “That’s because it’s been too long since you were transformed.”
  “Wait a sec… I was transformed into a Pikachu because that was the pokémon closest to me at the time. Why didn’t Sara get turned into a Butterfree?”
  “I’m afraid I don’t have an answer for that question Icy. Perhaps it was set on a certain DNA strand… But never-the-less, I think I know how to cure you both.”
  “WHAT?!?” they both said in amazement. Mewtwo turned away from them. The scene vanished.
  “That egg you have. It is the key to reversing the effects. It contains a very special pokémon.”
  “What?”
  “I know not its type, only that it can cure you, and Sara. You must go to Bill and give him the egg. He’ll know what to do. I must leave you now. Oh, and Icy, this doesn’t change me feelings against you. While a cure exists for you, none can cleanse the hatred I have plaguing me against humans. But you have helped, a little. Now go!” With that, Icy and Sara found themselves on the beach again. It was dark. Mewtwo was gone. In the distance, the light from Bill’s tower pierced the ocean waters. Icy and Sara looked at each other confident this would be their last night together as pikachus…

The Ace: Part III - All Good Things

  They woke up the next morning overlooking a beautiful sunrise on the Cerulean Sea. The sky was full of reds, pinks, oranges, and purples. Icy and Sara ate their breakfast while they watched the impressive display. Sara leaned over to Icy.
  “Icy, do you think that Mr. Bill was a cure for us?”
  “Yes Sara, I do.”
  “How can you be so sure of it?”
  “Because, if he doesn’t, well, I just know he does, that’s all.”
  “Icy, tell me what the little girl Sara was like.”
  “Well, first, you were that little girl, remember.”
  “Uhhhh…”
  “Anyway. Sara was a sweet little girl. She always loved to play with pokémon and help them. She would spend time with me every now and then. Hehehe… at least you remembered to continue doing that part.”
  “Pihehe… Yah…”
  “Well, let’s go visit Bill.”
  “Wait, I want to enjoy one last morning of being a Pikachu first.” She took Icy’s paw and run into a nearby forest.

  “Where are you taking me to?”
  “You’ll see.” She led Icy to a clearing. In it were many caterpies and butterfrees. “See Icy. Your favorite pokémon are all right here.”
  “Awww! Let’s spend the morning here.” They played with the caterpies and Butterfrees all morning long. Then, after saying their goodbyes, they finally headed up to Bill’s lighthouse.
  Bill was there at the front door waiting for them. “Thank goodness you made it. Come in, please. You, do have, the egg, right?”
  “Yes Bill. What’s in it?”
  “I’m not sure, but Mewtwo gave me instructions on how to cure you two. I must say, he’s quite the scientist. A shame he’s always so evil. People really don’t see the good that’s still in him.” Icy took the egg out of his bag. “Oh, I see it’s almost hatched. Here, I’ll just put it in an incubator.” A few hours later, the shell began to pop off.
  Icy peered inside. A golden antenna popped out. Then another. Finally, a normal sized golden Butterfree flew out of the egg. “Ohhh! It’s beautiful.” He stopped. Then Icy remembered the wonderful Butterfree that Sara’s father had given to Sara 4 years ago. Mewtwo was right about one thing, the Butterfree was symbolic. It was the cure for her and Icy. It flew gracefully around the lab. Finally, it landed next to Sara.
  “It seems to like you Sara,” Bill said.
  “Uh huh…” She pet the Butterfree gently on the head.
  “OK… Let’s see… Mewtwo left instructions…” He took out a sheet of paper. “It says we need to collect some of its powder.” He asked the Butterfree to let out some of its powder. It nodded and shook its wings producing a blue powder. Bill collected the proper amount in a test tube. “Now we’ll just put this in the apparatus over here.”
  Icy and Sara watched as Bill worked quickly to develop the potion to cure them. “Do you really think it’s gonna work Icy?”
  “You asked that question already. Of course it will.”
  “It’s almost done. If you two had anything you still wanted do anything as pikachus, now’s the time.”
  “Oh wait. My pokémon. They need to know. Come out everyone!” Icy’s pokémon filled the room.
  “Master, why have you called for us all?”
  “Hocus, Bill and Mewtwo have found a cure for me. Isn’t that great?”
  Hocus thought about the possibilities for second. Then he nodded in agreement. “That’s wonderful master. Bill and Mewtwo are very generous souls. They should be commended for their time and effort. Especially Mewtwo. I always knew he had some good left in him. Even from our first encounter.”
  “Yes. Many people have helped us along the way. I’ll miss them.”
  “What do you mean?”
  “Well, our adventure is kinda over Hocus. I don’t want to journey anymore.” Bill was almost done now. “Me and Sara have decided to get married and settle down in the Viridian Forest.”
  “Master, I don’t fully catch your drift here.”
  “Hocus, you’re a great friend and mentor. But there is more to life than training pokémon. But don’t worry, I won’t ever stop playing with you all. Even old people can be trainers too!”
  “That is true.”
  “Well you two, it’s ready. There’s enough here for the both of you. Open wide.” Sara gripped Icy’s paw tight. He winced a sec but then understood her fear. He telepathically calmed her mind, putting her at ease. They drank the potion. Then, they waited. An hour past, but nothing had happened. Icy’s eyes began to water. Sara put her paw around him for comfort.
  “It’s not working… I’ll never be… never… be… cured…” Icy’s tears hit the floor. Bill lowered his head.
  “I… I’m so sorry… I really thought we had there…”
  “Icy… Are you going to be ok?”
  “I… I… Huh.” Icy looked at his paw. It was a hand again. “Hey! It’s working! It’s WORKING!!!” Icy laughed hysterically as the rest of his body changed back into human form. “I’m a human again! I’m a kid again! IT WORKED!!!” Sara too was slowly changing into a beautiful young lady. “Sara! You’re human again too! You are the Sara I knew. Mewtwo was right!”
  Somewhere, in the room, or just inside Icy’s head, he heard someone say to him faintly, “Now you hold all the aces Icy. May you continue to help pokémon and serve my cause. Don’t prove me wrong.” Icy knew who the voice belonged to and smiled inside. Sara went up to him and kissed him on the lips.
  “I love you Icy,” she said softly.
  “I love you too, Sara,” he replied. Bill left the room and Icy’s pokémon returned to their pokéballs.
(Dramatic music plays in the background)

Icy and Sara Together Forever

  Icy and Sara traveled to Saffron City to meet their parents and announce their engagement. Sara’s parents were so overjoyed to see their daughter for the first time in 4 years, and Icy’s parents were equally happy to see their son a human again.
  Sara’s father had a special gift for his daughter. It was the Butterfree from her childhood. It had grown a bit bigger, but was still cute. She took it and thanked him.
  Icy then told Sara he needed to contact the Pokémon League for some business. He called the league commissioner. “Hello, this is Icy. I was inquiring about opening a non-league gym in the Viridian Forest?”
  “Yes Icy. We have you on our file. It’s cleared. But the league will not recognize the badge you give out for there you know.”
  “I know, I know. I just want to have a gym to train pokémon in and hold battles.”
  “Can’t find any regulations against it. Good luck. Remember, you still gotta build it. Oh, just for the record, what type will you be primarily training there?”
  “Bug pokémon sir.”
  “Bug?”

  “Yes, you know, caterpies, weedles, butterfrees. Bugs.”
  “Ok, I’ll do you a favor and list you under our non-league gym section. Then you’ll get some trainers to battle you.”
  “Thanks.”
  Icy turned to Sara. “The League OK’d my gym idea. I’m going to be Viridian Forest’s first gym leader!”
  “That’s great Icy. Let’s go!” The kissed their parents good-bye and left for Viridian Forest. After a few months, Icy opened his new Bug Gym to the public. He and Sara were the gym trainers there, training all bug types, along with Icy’s other pokémon, of course.
  A young boy walked in. He was only 10 years old, had blond hair, short, and wore a silver ring. “Excuse me,” he asked politely, “but are you the same Icy who was once a Pikachu?”
  Icy walked over to the kid. “Yes, I am. How did you know?”
  “I read about you in the papers last month. Bill and Mewtwo cured you and Sara. That’s cool! You knew Mewtwo.”
  “Yah… He’s not that bad once you get to know him. So did you want a battle?”
  “Oh, wizards, yes! Would you battle me please. I just started training pokémon. I only have two though. Is that enough?”
  “Yes. We can battle two on two.” Icy teleported to his section. “I’m sure they told you I was psychic right?”
  “No, they left that part out. Ummm, you aren’t going to use any psychic pokémon are you?”
  “No, only bugs. Let’s go. Ready to fight, come in sight, Icy calls, Buttercup!”
  “Hehe… That’s a neat battle motto. I should come up with one too… I call, Flametail! Go!!” The boy’s Charmander eyed the Butterfree.
  “Buttercup, use your stun spore.” Buttercup swooped down and hit Flametail with the stun spore.
  “Oh no, Flametail, ember attack.” Although young, the boy knew his pokemon well. The ember attack fried the spores. “Ok, scratch that Butterfree now.” Flametail quickly got the upper hand pinning Buttercup to the ground.
  “You’re good kid. Buttercup return! Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Suctioncup!”
  “A caterpie?”
  “Never underestimate your opponent young trainer. This caterpie may look weak, but not after he does his stuff. Suctioncup, string shot now!” The caterpie tied up the amazed charmander then tackled it. Flametail smashed against the wall and fainted.
  “Oh… That caterpie is strong.” He returned the charmander to its pokéball. “Try this, go Pikachu! Hehehe…” The pikachu examined its rival. “Pikachu, thundershock that caterpie!” Pikachu blasted Caterpie across the gym into a wall with one blast. “Ha! Never underestimate the pikachu, eh Icy…” Icy laughed.
  “You fight well kid. Here’s a Forest Badge to show your friends. It won’t help you in the league, but it does show you bested a gym trainer. Wear it in good health.”
  “Thank you mister Icy. Well, I gotta go. C’mon Pikachu.” The kid waved goodbye and ran off. Icy healed his pokémon and went back with Sara.
  “You let him win?”
  “No, he beat me. Bugs don’t often win. But with a lot of training, they can. I don’t want to cream trainers, just teach them to be prepared for powerful pokémon in small packages.”
  “Oh, I see…” She went back to teaching a pokémon class in the back room. Icy went back into the main gym and trained some more of his pokémon.

The End... Or is it?

The Pokémon League

  When we last left our hero, he and Sara had opened an unofficial gym inside the Viridian Forest. But being only a gym leader is beginning to bore our young hero and he makes plans to embark on another adventure. And now…

  “Go Rattata, you’re my last chance!” A small purple rat stood in front of the little girl. Her other pokémon, a Pidgey, was recovering inside its pokéball. Icy recalled Wiggler and floated Buttercup’s pokéball into the field.
  “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Buttercup!” The small, green Butterfree fluttered above the ground.
  “Go Rattata, tackle it now!” Rattata charged toward Buttercup.
  “Throw it back with whirlwind Buttercup!” She flapped her colorful wings hard blowing the Rattata back towards its trainer.
  “C’mon Rattata, use your quick attack and pin that Butterfree to the ground.”
  “Buttercup, psybeam now!” Rattata wasn’t more than a foot off the ground before met to beam of energy head on. It fell to the ground helplessly. “Buttercup return. Good match Kelly. Just keep training and by the time you get to Pewter City, you’ll get to add your name to the long list of trainers who’ve humiliated Brock.”
  Kelly tried to giggle but her thoughts were transfixed on her pokémon. Icy sensed her feelings and handed her a few potions. “Thank you Icy. Bye Sara!” Sara waved good-bye, as did her golden Butterfree whom she named, Aura.
  “You fought well that match Icy. Wiggler is really getting strong.”
  “Yahh…”
  “What’s wrong?”
  “I don’t know. I thought I had everything, but, something’s missing.”
  “You’re bored right?”
  “Uh huh.”
  “Well, maybe this will interest you. Lance, from the Elite 4, emailed you this earlier today. She handed Icy the memo.
Dear Icy,
  I would be honored to invite you to compete against the Elite 4 and me. Please visit us at the Indigo Plateau. I’ve already taken care of housing arrangements.

Lance
  “Hmm. An invitation to compete in the Pokémon League. What do you think Sara?”
  She laughed as she nodded. She had already packed for the trip. “Let’s go!”
  “Ok. We’ll ride Cyber there. Come out Cyber!” Icy’s Porygon materialized. “Run program, Land Rover Conversion, Cyber.” Cyber glowed as it rearranged its code. After a really neat light show, Cyber had transformed into a small car. Icy and Sara hopped in and drove off the Indigo Plateau.

  Meanwhile, at the Pokémon League HW, Lance was addressing the other members of the Elite 4. “You won’t talk back to me Bruno.”
  “Lance, you can’t just let the kid have a free ride past us, it’s against the rules.”
  “I make the rules here! Let Icy win, and make it look easy. I want to really test him.”
  “Losing is not my specialty Lance, but if that’s what it takes to please you, then so be it. You just better be careful how many enemies you want to make.”
  “Please Lorelei, enough empty threats. Just get Icy up to me.”
  “And what if he wins?”
  “That’s impossible…” Lance drew his cape and left the room. The others discussed the issue.
  “Forget it. Lance has gone too far this time. Something smells foul here. I’m not purposely losing a match to some silly kid.”
  “Agreed. If Lance wants to get to battle this Icy fellow, he’ll have to beat us three first.”
  “Count me in too. I’m not standing up for his oppressiveness anymore.” The three elite trainers left the conference room.

  By now, Icy and Sara were only a few moments from the entrance to Indigo Plateau. A guard stopped them. “I’m sorry, but only trainers with eight badges may enter Indigo Plateau.” Icy showed the guard his badges and the letter from Lance. “Oh, you’re Icy. Yes. Your apartment suite is just down that road to the right. Third on the left.” Icy thanked the guard and drove to the apartment.
  “Wow, these sure are nice accommodations,” Icy said examining the inside of the room. Sara unpacked. A computer was in the corner of the main room and a TV in the bedroom.
  “So, when do you get to battle to Elite 4?”
  “It says I need to sign up tomorrow in the Grand Stadium.” Icy put down the card and turned on the computer. It greeted him with a message similar to that that was on the card. It also gave to times of all the events happening. “Well, looks like the fun starts tomorrow.” They went to bed immediately afterward being worn out from the trip.
  That next morning, Icy was awoken by the cries of a Dodrio. “Those things are sooooo annoying,” he thought. He woke Sara and they went to the café for breakfast. When they got there, they found many other trainers there too.
  “They must be here to challenge the Elite 4 too,” Sara said. Many of the trainers were much better built and broader than Icy making him look very small. One of the larger one’s walked over to him.
  “Hey, ain’tch you dat pikachtu keed?” The man was obviously up all night drinking and still had a good amount of alcohol in him to stay drunk. Icy just nodded and turned away quickly.
  He and Sara got their breakfast and sat at a table in the back for two. After finishing, they went to the Grand Stadium to sign up. A match was already in progress. Icy decided he’d better learn all he could about the Elite 4 before actually battling them.
  “Go Lapras!” Lorelei commanded. The challenger sent out a Raichu. Icy stared at the Raichu for a sec. Perhaps not all his Pikachu emotions had been purged yet. “Lapras, blizzard attack!” It began to snow heavily over Raichu. It looked quite confused but its trainer was still sharp.
  `”Raichu, thunderbolt now!” The large electric mouse regained its focus and zapped Lapras with every drop of electricity it could muster. Lapras fainted, but moments after the trainer had been declared the winner, his Raichu fainted as well. The trainer took out some revives and potions to recover his pokémon.
  “The league rule for battle the Elite 4 state that you must defeat them all in order at one time. You only choose one set of six pokémon.”
  “Ok. Where do I sign mis?” The clerk point to a line with an ‘X’ on it and Icy signed up. “What time do I get to battle them?”
  “Let’s see…” She punched some commands into the computer. “Look’s like you’re scheduled for at 2:00.”
  “Ok. Thanks!” Icy and Sara went back to apartment. Icy took out all of his pokéballs, setting the caterpies to the side. They were now inside green colored pokéballs called, “Forestballs”.
  “I wonder what pokémon I should use. You can only select six. Hmm…” Sara thought with him.
  “How many, Hyper?” Icy nodded and set Hyper’s pokéball aside. He also found Buttercup’s pokéball and placed it beside Hyper’s.
  “Ok, I’ve got a dragon and a psychic/bug type, what else.” Icy snapped his fingers. “Almost forgot!” He took Hocus’ pokéball and added it to the set. “I’ll need Hocus. Hmm, that’s three…”
  “How about Cyber? That triple attack illusion thing is sure to win.” Icy agreed and placed the ball with the others. “Ok, two more, right?”
  “Right. Let’s see. Who to pick? Who to pick?”
  “Are you going to use any of your Caterpies?”
  “No. They won’t stand a chance against these trainers. It’s too bad I don’t have any fire pokémon. A Charizard would crème all of them, hehehe…” Sara just rolled her eyes. “Hmmm, maybe not…”
  “We still need to pick two more. What about your Pidgey or Spearow? Are they any good?”
  “Too weak… Oh, I know! I’ll take Leafy.” Icy put his Gloom’s pokéball with the others. “That leaves just one more…”
  “Ehem…” Sara said clearing her throat as she held Static’s pokéball out in her hand. “Take Static, a pikachu. If not for the look, for its electric attacks.”
  “Right. Good idea. Well, that’s six.”
  “I heard there’s a training center in town where you can practice. I’ll go the store and buy you some potions and other healers for the matches.” She ran off towards the Pokémart mega store while Icy put back the pokéballs he wasn’t going to use. He attached his six chosen pokéballs to his belt and headed for the trainer arena.
  As he entered through the double glass doors, Icy saw a few different trainers all working with their pokémon. A poster in the back of the room caught Icy’s eye.
  “ELIMINATION STYLE TORNAMENT to be held NEXT WEEK with whoever is TOUGH enough to DEFEAT the ELITE FOUR. There can only be ONE TRUE POKEMON MASTER! Sign up after you DEFEAT the ELITE, if you can!”
  “Cool, maybe I’ll get to compete in that,” Icy thought to himself. “Well, time stands for no one, cept, ahh, never mind… Come out Hocus!” The wise Kadabra materialized in front of its master looking down. “Hocus, up here…”
  Hocus sweatdropped. “Oh… right… I forgot,” said the not-so-wise Kadabra as he lifted his head. “Where are we? This doesn’t look much like a gym.”
  “It’s not, it’s a training arena. I need you all in great shape before the big battle.” Hocus tilted his head in confusion. Icy had never gotten around to informing his pokémon about fighting against the Elite 4. “I’m sorry, I signed up to go against the Elite 4 Hocus. You are in my lineup.”
  “I see. Well, who’s my sparing partner?” Icy pushed a few buttons on a computer and a Porygon rolled over. “This?” The Porygon emitted a bright green beam producing a holographic Machamp. “Oh, ha! Even easier!” The Machamp made the first move smashing Hocus into Icy.
  “Owww… Ugh… Get off me Hocus…”
  “Sorry master. Hmph, I’ll show that overgrown brute.” Hocus used a couple of psybeams and made short work of the Machamp. “Told ya, piece of cake.” Icy’s other pokémon fought against other holopokes the porygon created. Icy had them stop around 1:15 so they could go to be healed and get some rest.
  Icy brought his pokéballs up to Nurse Joy who took them to be regenerated. Then, he stopped by the local diner where Sara was waiting there.
  “Something told me I should wait here for you. Strange huh?” Icy merely smiled and gave her a soft kiss. “Hehe, stop it. Not in public.”
  “Huh… Why not? You didn’t mind it when we were pikachu…” Sara sighed as Icy kissed her hand.
  “Well, what shall we eat?” she asked pulling her hand away.
  “Ummm, I don’t know. These decisions were mush easier when we were pikachu… Oh well. I think I’m just going to have a salad. You want one too? The people at the arena said they are very good.”
  “Ok, I’ll try it”
  “My pokémon are still at the pokécenter in the arena.”
  “Oh, did someone get hurt?”
  “Nah, not much. But they were pretty worn out. Don’t wanna pull an Ash Ketchum during a battle by sending out a worn out pokémon…” Many people standing nearby starting laughing hysterically. “Hmm, was it something I said?” They finished laughing and resumed their previous actions.
  Icy and Sara picked up their lunch, paid, and sat at a table next to the window. “This city is so beautiful. Everything here is so well kept.”
  “Yeah. Too bad we can’t live here. I think it’s reserved for the trainers competing and the staff. But, it would be nice…” Icy looked at his watch, “1:37,” it read. They finished their meals and headed back to the pokécenter inside the training arena. Icy pokémon were anxiously awaiting the return of their master. He gave them all a big group hug, something he hadn’t been able to do for quite some time.
  “Ok guys. This is what we’ve trained for our whole lives. This day. The day when we would come up against those trainers people called the best. But we are stronger than them. We can beat them. I know you all have it in you to make me a Pokémon Master. So, are you all ready to take on the Elite Four and win?” They all cried out in acknowledgement. “Alright then, let’s go show them what we’ve got!” They cheered again. Icy returned them all to their pokéballs and headed with Sara to the Grand Stadium.
  “Think they’ll let me watch from the field with you Icy?” Sara asked.
  Icy shrugged. “Don’t know. Just ask the official when we get there if you can. But you can always cheer me on from the stands.” When they got to the stadium, an official checked Icy’s appointment and his pokéballs. Sara asked her question.
  “You can watch your friend from the fan section on the sidelines miss.” Sara was pleased and the official led them both in.
  “Well Lorelei… time for Icy. Remember, forget about Lance. Just get it over with fast so we…” She quickly nodded to Bruno. He stopped talking and left her to go to the battle.
  “Now entering the stadium, the next challenger, from Saffron City, please welcome, Icy!” The crowd cheered. “Icy, as many of you already know, was once a pikachu due to a scheme by the notorious Team Rocket. He is now the gym leader of his Bug Gym in the Viridian Forest. His first opponent this afternoon will be Lorelei! Let the game begin!” Lorelei stepped into her trainer’s box and prepared to start the battle.
  “You don’t look so tough. This will be easy. Go Lapras!” Her Lapras appeared on the field.
  “In that case… Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Static!” Icy’s pikachu took the field. “Thunderbolt now!”
  “Ice beam now!” Lapras charged her ice beam while Static prepared to use its thunderbolt. Something told him to wait for Lapras. She made the first move by firing her beam of ice directly for Static.
  “Piiiiiiiiiii-kaaaaaaaaaa-CHUUUUUUUUUHHHUUUUUUHUUUUU!” Static shouted firing the thunderbolt. It sliced through the ice beam and hit lapras. Unfortunately, the ice and weakened the lightning bolt so much that it hardly damaged lapras.
  “Alright Static, agility now!” Static quickly headed for Lapras.
  “Mist attack Lapras.” Suddenly, Static for himself in an icy cloud of haze. “Tackle it Lapras.” Static was completely unprepared when Lapras smashed him down the field with a heavy blow to the back.
  “Agh! Static return. Icy calls, Leafy!” Lorelei laughed. “You won’t be smiling much longer! Leafy, posionpowder attack now.”
  “What the…” Lapras was poisoned.
  “Ok, leech life now!” Leafy sucked Lapras’ hit points dry.
  “Ouuuu… you win that round. Go Dewgong! Use your aurora beam attack now!” Leafy stepped back. The colorful beam threw her back towards Icy.
  “Oh… Leafy… C’mon… I know! Leafy, solar beam!” Leafy began taking in sunlight. Good thing they were battling during the day.
  “Don’t let it charge fully. Ice beam!” Dewgong’s horn glowed blue as a sphere of ice appeared above it. “FIRE!”
  “FIRE!” The intense heat of the solar beam melted right through Dewgong’s ice beam and torched it. Dewgong flopped around in pain.
  “That’s impossible!” Lorelei muttered. Sara cheered Icy on from the sidelines. “Ouuu… Dewgong return. This time, you’re through Icy. I call, Cloyster!”
  Leafy was getting tired. She had used most of her energy on the solar beam. Now, her opponent was almost 4 times stronger than her.
  “Stun spore now.” Leafy tried spraying Cloyster but it withdrew into its shell.
  “You can’t beat my Cloyster. Not that easily.”
  Meanwhile, from atop a balcony overlooking the entire field, Lance was beginning to anger. “What the h*** does she think she’s doing? D*** her! She’s not supposed to beat him.”
  “Cloyster, aurora beam!” Cloyster opened its shell and blasted Leafy right towards Icy.
  “Aghh! Leafy return!” he screamed quickly. She was sucked into the pokéball seconds before she would have hit Icy in the face.
  “Well folks, the score is now tied at 2!” Sara jumped up and down cheering for her boyfriend.
  Meanwhile, Icy worried about who to choose next. Lorelei only had 2 more pokémon left after Cloyster. “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Hyper!” The adorable yet powerful Dratini slithered onto the field.
  “Ha! You foolish boy. Watch as Cloyster sends your dratini back to the Ice Age!”
  Icy realized his grave error. “Oh crap!” He wanted to hit himself on the head, but determined there would be plenty of time for that later. “Ok, agility now!”
  “Cloyster, turn that worm into a popsicle with your ice beam.” Cloyster fired the frozen ray at Hyper but was too slow for him. “C’mon Cloyster, hit it!” It fired and missed again.
  Icy telepathically ordered Hyper to charge its Hyper Beam. After Cloyster missed Hyper for the fifth time in a row, Hyper lunged into the air and nailed Cloyster with a blinding hyper beam. Cloyster immediately fainted while Hyper began recovering from the energy drain.
  “Cloyster return. You just got lucky that time. I call, Jynx!” The crowd immediately turned in disgust. “Oh put a lid on it…” Jynx herself lowered her head in shame.
  “Hyper return! I call, Cyber!” Icy’s porygon appeared in front of jynx. “Double Team attack Cyber! Sharpen and tackle that horrid monster!” Icy had suddenly got a huge adrenalin rush it seemed. The Jynx didn’t know what to do as the three Porygons crashed into it.
  “Jynx, don’t just stand there, blizzard attack!” The snow froze the two porygon clones leaving just the original one.
  “That won’t help you much. Cyber, psybeam now!” Cyber defeated the Jynx with just one well-aimed psybeam.
  “Ouuu… Jynx return. Slowbro go!” The strange pink pokémon appeared in front of Cyber. “Use psychic now!” Slowbro just stood there. “Did you hear me? Psychic! Now! On him!” She was furious.
  “Here, lemme show you how it’s done. Cyber, psybeam, rapid fire!” Although every beam hit Slowbro directly, it didn’t really seem to mind it. However, about 5 seconds later, the dopey pokémon collapsed. The psybeams had confused it and caused it to knock itself out.
  “The match is over! Icy of Saffron City has won this battle! Congratulations young trainer! We will now have a short break. Remember, refreshments are being sold directly behind your seats inside the stadium. Now’s a great time…” His voice continued blaring into the distance.
  Icy walked over to Lorelei’s end and extended his hand. “Good match. That was quite a challenge.”
  “Ha. You may have beaten me Icy, but you haven’t even seen half the elite’s might! I suggest you heal those pokémon of yours during the break time. Bruno is going to make short work of them.” Icy stepped away and went to heal his pokémon with the potions and revives Sara had bought for him. Sara walked over to him.
  “You were great Icy! I’m sure you will be able to defeat the next elite trainer.”
  “I hope so…”

Icy’s Meltdown

  “Who’s the next trainer you battle?”
  “Bruno. He uses fighting types. I’m going to have Buttercup and Hocus do most of this match.” The bell rang. “Well, it’s time for the match. I have to get in position.”
  “Ok. I hope you win Icy. I’ll be routing for you!” She gave Icy a kiss and went back to the fan section.
  “Oh, now it’s ok?” Icy shouted. Sara giggled as she made her way to the box.
  “Now, the battle continues folks. Earlier, Icy of Saffron City, defeated Lorelei. But does he have the strength to beat Bruno. Let’s find out. Round two begins NOW!” The bell rang again. The sun was beginning to set over the Grand Stadium. Bruno came through the tunnel.
  “Hahaha. You’re Icy? HA! This is going to be too easy. Let’s just get this over with quick, ok?”
  “Are you all that mean? Don’t you ever get embarrassed after saying that whole thing then losing?”
  “Oh, a hot shot, huh? You’re going down. HARD! Onix, GO!” The rock serpent roared standing so high it blocked the sun.

  “Just like Brock,” Icy thought. “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Leafy!” His Gloom came out completely healed. “Alright Leafy, petal dance now!” She started swaying around as small flower petals formed around her.
  “Bind it Onix. Crush that little weed.” Before Onix could grab Leafy, she sent the petals at Onix. They did some damage but Onix was still ok. It grabbed Leafy and began to squeeze her.
  “No! Leafy, mega drain now!” Onix roared in pain as Leafy drained its power adding it to hers. Onix finally let go.
  “This isn’t over.” Bruno used a potion on Onix. “Ha, it’s perrrrrfectly legal to heal your pokémon during a match.”
  From somewhere in the stands, someone cried out, “*cough* rip-off!!!” Bruno sneered in the person’s direction and suddenly a Wigglytuff missile found its way to the man’s seat. He was covered in a warm, pinkish goo. “It’s still a rip-off!” Two Officer Jenny’s arrested the man and led him out of the stadium.
  “Hmph. All that over a lousy voice imitation. Shheeeshh… Where were we. Oh yeah. Now, Onix, slam!” It hurtled towards the fearful Gloom. (Yes, Glooms can express fear. Picture it with a sad face, drool going everywhere, and shaking. Yes, that’s it, a fearful Gloom.)
  “This is going to take forever. Sleep powder now!” She sprayed Onix with the blue dust just before being slammed into Icy. Onix fell asleep while Icy shook his head. Small cartoon birds tweeted as they flew around Icy in circles. Out of nowhere, a Meowth jumped onto the field and ate one of the birds. It purred, pleased with its small snack. “Owwww… return Leafy…”
  “Return Onix… Maybe you are good. But you won’t beat the kicking fiend. Go Hitmonlee!”
  “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Buttercup!” His green Butterfree fluttered around. “Buttercup, use your confusion attack.” She emitted confusion waves at Hitmonlee.”
  “Stay sharp. Focus energy, then give that flying pest a high jump kick”
  “Don’t call my Butterfree a pest! Grrrrrr… Buttercup, psybeam now!” Icy shouted. As the kicking fiend rushed towards her, Buttercup blasted it with a psybeam twice her size. Hitmonlee went flying back and fainted. Buttercup was still fluttering about, but she had very little energy left. “Here Buttercup, take this.” Icy gave her an elixir that Sara had bought for him to restore Buttercup’s energy. She immediately began to beat her wings with vigor. “Great, you’re all pumped up and ready for the next battle!”
  “Onix go!” Bruno’s second Onix appeared. “Onix, rage!”
  “Buttercup, supersonic now!” Onix became confused and for some reason, became enraged by its tail. As Onix chased it’s stone tail round and round, Icy and Buttercup laughed hysterically.
  “Onix, what’s wrong with you. Attack the Butterfree, not your tail.”
  “I’d love to continue watching this all day, but our 5 minute story slot just isn’t long enough to fit that. Buttercup, psybeam, full power!” Buttercup began to glow bright green. The sun had set and stadium lights were now on. Buttercup was glowing so bright, so lights weren’t even necessary.
  In another part of the stands, a young boy opened his brand new pokédex and aimed it at Icy’s Butterfree. “Butterfree,” the new computer voice dictated. “This particular specimen, although smaller than most of its type, is extremely powerful with psychic attacks. Its only drawback is that it lacks the full energy potential of a normal Butterfree. However, this Butterfree can is currently generating an attack with an energy level of 10,000 psys and rising.” The boy closed his pokédex and squinted as he looked at Buttercup. “Wow… This is going to be good.”
  The green aura that was around Buttercup was now bright white. She shimmered with multiple colors as she continued to build up energy. “Ready Buttercup. FIRE!!!” Time seemed to stand still as Buttercup stopped generating energy and focused it on her target. Her body glowed as the energy sphere rushed out from her.
  “FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!” she cried, sending the massive psybeam barreling down towards Onix. The crowd had to cover their eyes because the beam was so intense. After the smoke had cleared, Onix was totally wiped out. Buttercup was barely able to flutter more than a foot off the ground.
  “Buttercup, come back. Great job.”
  “D***! How? D*** psychic. Grrr. Strength and might will still prevail! Go Hitmonchan!” The punchy pokémon appeared.
  “Ha. This will be simple. Go Hocus!”
  “No, not another psychic…” Hocus materialized. “S***, a Kadabra.”
  “Hmm… Where… Oh… Me…”
  “Hocus, enough games, we’ve got a battle to win. Use a psybeam to take him out!” Hitmonchan dodged the attack and immediately lunged for Hocus. Icy’s eyes glowed blue and Hocus teleported. “Ha. Missed! Hocus psychic attack. You can play a bit.”
  “Thank you master.” Hocus glowed and so did Hitmonchan.
  “Hey, no fair.”
  “Legal move, sorry. But you haven’t even seen the best part yet.”
  “That’s right master. Time for some fun. Dance please.” Hitmonchan began dancing.
  “See mommy, he’s fine. He’s just doing a little dance for everyone,” said a kid in the stands.
  “Hmm, Ash in training up there,” Icy thought. Hocus now had Hitmonchan doing the can-can dance. “Ok Hocus, finish him off! Your call.”
  “I love it when he says that. Well Mr. Chan, I’m afraid we must cut this dance short. Goodnight…” Hocus teleported a safe distance away. The star on his head glowed red.
  “Fire Hocus!” Hocus blasted Hitmonchan with a well-aimed psybeam. It fainted.
  “This is not turning out the way I planned. Oh well, return Hitmonchan.”
-= Scene Switch =-
  Lance watched the battle from his suite. “At least he’s not going too hard on him.”
  “Lance, you’re an a** you know.”
  “Look here. I’m the boss.”
  “Well, boss, judging by his performance so far, you’re going to lose to him too. He’s good.”
  “Shut up.”
-= Scene Switch =-
  “Go Machamp!” Hocus stared at it and remembered his earlier encounter with the holo-Machamp.
  “He’s not gonna beat me!” Hocus began to fire psybeams everywhere.
  “Whoa. Hocus control yourself. Ahh!” He ducked, narrowly missing a psybeam by Hocus. Finally, a few hit Machamp. He was sent flying back. “Hocus stop, you got him.”
  “What? Oh… I see… Sorry master…”
  “Crap! How did it do that? This Machamp almost never loses.”
  “Psychic pokés have a big advantage.”
  “The winner! Icy, of the Viridian Forest Bug Gym! He’s now just one more match away from Lance. We will continue this great battle in 10 minutes time. Remember, you can get…” he continued his advertisement.
  “You did it!” Sara ran out to hug Icy.
  “I did. We won! We won! That’s two!” They looked like the two happiest people in the world. “Hocus come here and get healed. Oh, and never do that again.”
  “I’m so sorry master.”
  “It’s ok. You just scared me there.” Icy treated his pokémon.

  Agatha was warming up. “Don’t forget, make this short, got it.”
  “Piss off Lance. If he can beat me, he’s all yours, otherwise, you’ll have to hope he tries again.”

  “Icy, who’s next?”
  “Agatha. She uses ghost types. That means I’m in trouble.”
  “Why?”
  “Ghosts are extremely powerful. I’m not sure I can beat her.”
  “Yes you will.” Sara tried to put some confidence into her friend.
  “Alright. I will! I’m gonna give it my all!” Icy’s pokémon agreed. The match was about to start.
  “Welcome back everyone! Icy has now defeated the first two elite trainers, but can he defeat Agatha’s ghostly group.
  Agatha walked out slowly with her cane. “Well, you must be a talented trainer Icy. You’ve gone much farther than most other trainers.”
  “Really? Guess not all of you are insulting.”
  “Oh no. See, talented as you may be, there’s nothing that can prepare you for me. Go Gengar!”
  “Whoa… Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Cyber!”
  “No sweat. Gengar, lick it!” Gengar teleported over to the porygon and licked it. Cyber shivered in pain.
  “Cyber! Are you ok?” Cyber didn’t look too good. “Double team. Psybeam now!”
  “No you don’t! Gengar, confuse ray now!” Gengar’s confusion ray caused all three Porygons to smash into each other. Cyber fainted. “Well, that was too easy,” Agatha said slyly. “Give up, young one?”
  “Never! Return Cyber! Static, you’re on!”
  “Say good-night pikapest! Gengar, hypnosis!” Gengar used its hypnosis attack to put Static to sleep. “Awww… pleasant dreams little pikachu… Gengar, dream eater!” Gengar ate all of Static’s dreams. Static woke immediately and began screaming.
  “PIIIIIIIIIIKKKKKAAAAAAAAA!!!!!” Static suddenly became enraged and sent everything he had at Gengar. The electricity had a good effect on Gengar and Static began tackling him. “Piikaaa… chupi! [Try to eat my dreams will you…]” After several rounds of pounding, Static was able to defeat Gengar.
  “So. I still have 4 more pokémon, and my next will be Golbat.”
  “No prob. Static, thunderbolt!” Golbat was fried and fainted.
  “Oh… hmm… that really worked. Go Haunter!” Haunter came out. “Lick!” Haunter licked Static, paralyzing him.
  “Return Static. Go Buttercup!”
  “Lick Haunter!” Buttercup suffered the same fate as Static. “Well, who’s better now? Ready to concede?”
  “No. You aren’t through with me yet! Go Hyper! Agility!” Hyper avoided Haunter’s deadly tongue and fired a hyper beam at him. Haunter faded out just before the beam would hit him. While Hyper searched franticly for his opponent, Haunter sneaked up in back of him and licked him. Icy recalled his Dratini.
  “Hmm… you now have just two left.”
  “Go Leafy!”
  “Bad move. Haunter, night shade.” Leafy couldn’t see while Haunter snuck up on her. LICK! Icy’s Gloom was helpless just like him other pokémon.
  “Darn it. Return Leafy. Hocus, I choose you!”
  “I’ll handle him.” Haunter moved in. “Hello ghost. Eat this!” Hocus grabbed Haunter’s hand a sent a psyshock through him.
  “Hmm. Nice move,” Agatha said returning her Haunter. “But this will fix you. Gengar, go! Confusion ray now!” Gengar’s level was way too high for Icy’s Kadabra to withstand. “Now take it out. Body slam!” Gengar smashed Hocus to the ground. The match was over. Agatha recalled her Gengar and left the field.
  Icy dropped to his knees. A tear drop formed in his eye. “Noo…” he whimpered. The tear dropped a few feet before it hit the ground. “I… lost…”
  “Icy, are you alright?”
  “What… oh… I think… C’mon, let’s go heal my pokémon.”
  “Awww, don’t take it so hard. She’s really good. But guess what I found out. Bugs have an advantage over Ghost pokémon. Next time, bring Wiggler to battle that Gengar.”
  “Hmm…” They slowly exited the stadium while another trainer began her battle verses the Elite 4. They went to the diner, then went home.
  “You still did great Icy. Those trainers were really hard, but you still beat two of them on your first try.”
  “Yah… But I’m never gonna become a pokémon master.”
  “Don’t say that. You just need to pick some different pokémon next time.”
  “Perhaps… Let’s get some sleep…”
  “Good idea… Good-night…” Icy tried to sleep, but the elite 4 was the only thing on his mind. “Ohhhh…” he sighed. He fell asleep.

Success is Never Easy

  Last time, Icy did battle with Bruno and Agatha of the Elite 4. After he easily defeated Bruno’s fighting squad, Agatha’s ghostly bunch made short work of Icy’s team. You might say, she *licked* the problem. Discouraged by the utter defeat, Icy must decide whether to give it another shot, or give up on ever becoming a pokémon master. And now…

  “Cheer up master. We’ll try again to beat her.”
  “It’s not that simple. I have to beat Lorelei and Bruno again before I can challenge Agatha to a rematch.”
  “But we beat them both easily. If we could do it once, there’s no reason why we can’t do it again.” Hocus put his hand on Icy’s shoulder. “Master, you can’t give up on something that requires you to take your whole life to achieve. Becoming a pokémon master was your life-long dream!”
  “I know, but now it seems like I’ll never reach that goal. The Elite 4 are just too tough.” Icy looked at the ground. “I’ll never win…”
  “Master, you can still become a pokémon master. You just need to have confidence in yourself and us. C’mon, what happened to that lively spirit you once had?”
  “It’s gone…” Icy sulked.
  “Hmm… not quite the answer I was looking for. Master, you must challenge them again. It’s your goal, your dream. Your destiny? Why would you just quit like this?” Icy was silent. “Please think it over some more at least…”
  “You don’t understand. I can’t win… I just can’t beat them all…” Icy went into the bedroom and threw himself onto his bed. “I’ll never become a pokémon master,” he mumbled into the pillow. Hocus wasn’t ready to give up just yet. He went into the room too.
  “Master, you are just upset over this loss. But you’ve lost before and won the very next time. Why should this time be any different?”
  “Because I didn’t just lose to Agatha, she completely humiliated me.”
  “Next time, use a pokémon that’s strong against ghosts. Bugs, they have an advantage against ghosts for some odd reason. Maybe one of your Caterpie could help here.” It was getting late and Hocus could see Icy was just not in the mood to see a positive outcome to the events unfolding. “Good night master.” Icy muttered some more nonsense into the pillow before falling asleep. Sara joined him some time later. Hocus also went to sleep, but on the floor.
  The sun rose over Indigo Plateau as the Dodrio crowed. Icy slowly woke up. “Someone really does need to shoot that darn thing…” He got breakfast for Sara and himself.
  “Good morning Icy,” Sara yawned, half-awake. She sat down with him and ate breakfast. “So what’s the plan for today?”
  “There isn’t any plan. I don’t want to battle them again. I’ll only lose. Who’s gonna come to a gym whose leader is a loser? No one!”
  “No one’s gonna come to our gym if you don’t become a pokémon master. Please Icy, give it another try. You and your pokémon have come too far to give up now.” Icy just sighed and ate his breakfast. “C’mon Icy. Do it for me at least.”
  “Why are you all trying to get me to battle again? I don’t want them to hurt my pokémon again.”
  “Icy, what if the next time, you win? Remember when you were battling Blaine? Even after he almost killed Buttercup, you still challenged him again.”
  “Ohh… Hmmm…”
  “Icy, you know deep down inside this is the right thing. It’s what you want. You can’t let your loss to Agatha ruin your dreams. Please give it another shot.”
  Icy thought long and hard. Flashbacks of his battle against Blaine appeared in his mind. “I… I… I’ll do it! I’ll do it for you, for my pokémon, and for myself. I’ll beat them. This time, it’ll be different.”
  Sara was overjoyed. Hocus, who had been listening in on the conversation all along simply smiled to himself. “I won’t let you down master…” he said to himself.
  “This is great Icy. New, we need to work on some strategy, especially on fighting ghost pokémon.”
  “Right. C’mon everybody. We’ve got training to do!”

***

  Icy and Sara walked to the training arena. There weren’t many trainers there now because the day’s battles had already begun. “All right, we really need to get prepared for Agatha’s ghost pokémon. But remember, you all still need to get past Lorelei and Bruno first. We’ll train for them a little later.” Icy went to the computer and selected Gengar for an opponent and chose normal difficulty. “Hocus, let’s get started.”
  “Right master. Which attack shall I use?”
  “Well remember, Agatha’s pokémon are at higher levels then you, so your attacks might not do as much damage as normal. For now, let’s go with attacks that can prevent her from using Gengar’s special attacks.”
  “Ok. I believe my confusion attack could help in that department.”
  “Hmm… I thought we tried that. Confusion can easily be countered if the pokémon is strong and well trained. Can you use disable?”
  “I’m not sure. Can you have the pokédex explain the move and level? Perhaps I can learn the attack naturally.”
  “Sure.” Icy found is pokédex from the bottom of his pack and opened it, knocking of the pile of dust that had collected on it, and asked it for technical details on Disable.
  “Disable. Kadabras are capable of learning this attack and do so naturally. It involves using psychic energy to prevent the usage of an opponent’s attack. The energy must be targeted at the opponent’s brain in order to work. For further assistance on helping your Kadabra master this attack, please click the yellow button then give the pokédex to the Kadabra.”
  “Hmm… Do you think you can perform that attack right now without help Hocus?” Hocus wasn’t too sure so he shamefully shook his head no. “Well, that’s ok. Maybe the pokédex can aid you in it.” Icy pressed the yellow button and handed Hocus the pokédex. It blinked and made strange sounds while Hocus stared at its screen.
  “Ahh… Uh huh… Yes… Of course… Ha! I knew it! Mmmhmm… Got it!” Hocus closed the pokédex and handed it back to Icy. “I was very close. Just need to channel the energy over a slightly higher frequency for the right effect.”
  “Wow, pokédex told you all that?” Hocus nodded. “Well, I’m certainly impressed.” Icy and Sara were both glad that Hocus had learned a new attack. “Try it out on the Gengar and I’ll have the computer display a report on the outcome.”
  “Got it!” Hocus took a fighting pose. He touched his finger to the star on his head and began glowing. Only seconds later, he pointed his finger at the holo-Gengar firing the disable beam. The computer began calculating the results.
  “Let’s see what we got here,” Icy said reading the screen. “The attack did cause minimal damage and you were able to disable its Night Shade attack. Good work. Now, do you think you can focus on a specific attack? Maybe ‘D’ has some more methods you can try.” Icy gave Hocus his pokédex again. Hocus accessed more information on the Disable attack. Soon after, he returned D to Icy.
  “It says I still need more experience with the attack before I’ll be able to disable specific abilities.”
  “Ok. I guess that’s all right for now. How ‘bout you practice that attack while the others get some training as well.”
  “No problem. I won’t let her make fools of us again master.”
  “Thank you Hocus. You’re a true friend.” Icy went over to the next available area and had the Porygon there produce another Gengar. Just as he was about to release Wiggler, a familiar man rushed in.
  “Oh, hello little boy, are you and your girlfriend the only trainers in here?”
  “Uh, yeah, I think so. Why? Are you lost?”
  The man shook his head. “No, not lost… I am looking for someone. Someone I met a few months ago, in Celadon City. You know, they had that big auction thingy… ahhh… well maybe you didn’t get a chance to go.”
  “No, I was there. I remember, they had a Porygon Technology Demonstration. Who are you looking for, maybe I saw the person.”
  “No, not a person, a pokémon. Ahh, you wouldn’t understand, I know I didn’t at first.” Now Icy was certain. It was the man who had traded him Hyper for Bulbasaur and the Dugtrio King.
  “Was this pokémon Pikachu by any chance?”
  “Yes, how did you… oh, never mind,” he finished, seeing Icy’s Kadabra. “You’re a psychic aren’t you? I heard only psychics could control psychic-type pokémon.”
  “You heard right. Although Hocus there can sometimes do things all on his own, without my instruction. I still can’t figure it out, but he is a very good friend. So, did this Pikachu have a name?”
  “Yes, I believe it called itself, Icy. Yes, that’s it. Someone told me the trainer by the name of Icy was here.”
  “Well, I can tell you one thing, you can stop looking for the Pikachu.”
  “Really? I don’t see how I’d find this trainer any other way. You see little kid, this Icy fellow was involved in a tragic accident that transformed him into a Pikachu.”
  “Ahhh, the good days. Remember Sara, when we could just camp out in the forest together.”
  “We still do…” Icy sweatdropped.
  The man’s face went white as if he’d just seen a ghost (no pun intended!). “Uh, are you ok mister?”
  “You, you’re Icy?!?”
  “That’s right. The former Pikachu-trainer. And this fine lady is my girlfriend Sara.” Sara giggled slightly and bowed.
  The man was still getting over it. Icy quickly related how he and Sara were cured with the help of Mewtwo and Bill. “Ok, I get it now. Well, my search is over then. I have a small business matter to settle with you Icy.”
  “Really?”
  “You remember your Dugtrio and Bulbasaur you traded me. I gave you my Dratini for them. Well, I’m sorry to say it, but I’m growing tired of creaming young trainers as well as old ones with my pokémon. Your pokémon, after being trained by me, turned out to be very strong fighters. I want you to have them back as a token of my appreciation in getting to train such excellent pokémon. I’ve got plans to open a pokémon dojo for trainers who want to become champs like me. I’ve already got the pokémon I need to teach with and want to return these fine pokémon to you. They seem to miss you dearly…”
  “I guess it’s only fair I give you back your Dratini in return right?”
  “No. It’s not that I don’t want Dratini back; I want you to hold on to it. Icy, after I trained your pokémon, I found that there was something missing that I couldn’t teach them. Something you were able to show them. I found that even after we won so many matches and seemed to be becoming close, they always reflected back to you. You have taught them to show respect for the trainer and to know they will always be there for them. I’ve tried to get them to understand how much I enjoyed being their trainer, but they just didn’t get it. Not even Dratini ever fully trusted me; he just knew that he was capable of wining inside. I guess that’s my talent, building a pokémon’s confidence.
  “Wow. I never though I was really teaching my pokémon such a deep lesson. Well, thank you for giving me Dugtrio and Bulbasaur back. Stop by and visit anytime. I own a pokémon gym in the Viridian Forest.”
  “Ok, perhaps I will. Maybe I’ll bring some of my pupils along and you can show them how to build a pokémon’s trust in the trainer.”
  “Oh course. Goodbye!” They waved goodbye and the man ran off. Icy was still a bit shocked he didn’t want anything in return.
  “Well, I’ve never seen those types of pokémon before. Do they have names Icy?”
  “Not yet. Let’s see, Dugtrio will be called, Triking, and Bulbasaur here will be named, Seedy.” Icy gave his old friends a big hug. They all had tears in their eyes as they felt each other’s loving hold. Sara watch from a short distance with Wiggler on her shoulder.
  “Wiggler, who are those two pokémon?” Wiggly answer her in Caterpie-talk. Sara got the gist of it and understood why Icy was so glad to see them again. “Well Icy, that’s two more to put in the running for battle against the Elite 4.”
  Icy let go of Triking and Seedy. “Yes… Maybe they can help me defeat Agatha.” Icy looked back at Hocus to see how he was progressing. “How’s it coming Hocus?”
  “I am getting a little more accurate, but a simulation is no way of judging this. I’ll have to hope I get it right when the time comes.”
  “You’ll do it Hocus. I know you can. And I know I can now too. I won’t quit until I’ve reached my dream to become a pokémon master!”

***

  “That’s great master. By the way, the computer has measured a high increase of level since I began sparing with this Gengar. I think you should be sure the others get a thorough workout too, especially Wiggler.”
  “I almost forgot… But what attacks can Wiggler use to defeat Gengar?”
  “Well, I just know that bugs have advantages over ghost pokémon. Wiggler’s small size should prevent Gengar from licking it. I think if Wiggler uses a few string shots, he’ll be able to slow Gengar down enough to get the upper hand.”
  “Well Wiggler, are you ready to get trained to beat Gengar?” Wiggler produced a few cute Caterpie sounds and crawled down from Sara’s shoulder. “Ok, let’s start by using your string shot attack.” Wiggler nodded and sprayed the white string at Gengar. Gengar faded away before the string hit then reappeared. Wiggler was too slow. “You need to be faster Wiggler. This Gengar isn’t nearly as strong as the ones Agatha has. Let’s try it again.” Wiggler charged toward the Gengar who once again faded away. But this time, Wiggler had a plan. As soon as the Gengar reappeared, Wiggler sprayed its string shot at it. Gengar found itself unable to move. “All right! It worked! I’ll reset the simulation and you keep practicing it.” Wiggler nodded and waited for Porygon to reset his opponent.
  Hocus was resting beside the computer. “I’m worn out. Perhaps you should select a preliminary team now.”
  “Right. Well, you and Wiggler are in.”
  Sara interrupted him. “Icy, don’t you have a ghost pokémon of your own?”
  Icy suddenly remembered the Gastly he had captured a while back in the Pokémon Tower. “Oh yeah, Vapor. He could help me get past Lorelei and Bruno really fast. Go Vapor!” Icy’s Gastly materialized. “Hello Vapor. You’ve been added to the team to battle the Elite 4.” Vapor seemed pleased and floated around in circles. “Let’s see, how about we have you battle the types of pokémon Lorelei uses.” The Porygon produced a Lapras for Vapor to battle. Vapor was only able to use its Lick and Night Shade attacks. “Good work Vapor. Try disappearing now and then to avoid its attacks.” Vapor did as Icy suggested and was getting even more attacks in while not being hit as much. The computer tracked his performance.
  “So, should I add Vapor to the list?”
  “Yes. Put Static and Hyper on there too.”
  “That leaves room for one more.”
  “Cyber. Put Cyber on the list. That team will do it.”
  “Yeah. I think you’ve got a good chance of beating them all this time.”
  Wiggler was getting tired out from battling Gengar. It wanted to stop, but something inside it told him to keep going. Wiggler’s body began to glow bright green. “Wiggler, are you ok? Oh, no wait, you can’t evolve yet, I need you to stay as a Caterpie for now.” Somehow, Wiggler understood what Icy was saying and stopped glowing. It collapsed from the workout. “Ohhh… Here Wiggler…” Icy picked up the worn out Caterpie and pet him gently. “You’ll be all right after some rest. Let’s see how you did.” The computer readings showed good potential for Wiggler verses Gengar. His attack speed was much faster along with reaction time. Icy returned Wiggler to his pokéball and let Static do some training.
  Later that day, after all of Icy’s pokémon had had a full workout, he took them to Nurse Joy to be healed. Meanwhile, he and Sara went to a Brock’s Diner for dinner since it was getting late.
  “So, how do you think your pokémon will do?”
  “They seemed to get a lot out of that workout. Tomorrow, I’ll sign up to battle the Elite 4. Before I do, I’m gonna have them train some more. I want them pumped for battle.”
  “Great! I hope you win!”
  “I will. This time, Agatha won’t get the last laugh.”

To Be A Master: Part I - A New Plan

  Icy’s pokémon were pretty worn out by now. The day’s battles were coming to a close. The final match was about to begin. Icy took his pokémon to be healed then, he and Sara went to the Grand Stadium to watch the match.
  “Welcome back pokémon fans. Well, it’s been quite an eventful day and we are down to what should be the last battle for the night. So far, Nicky, from the Seafoam Islands, has defeated the first two elite trainers. Now he faces the third, Agatha. Ahh, it looks like the battle is about to begin.”

  Nicky looked at his pokéballs. “Hmm. Gotta beat her ghosts now.” Nicky selected one of the balls. Agatha took her place.
  “Let’s get this over with fast little boy. I’m already late for a date.” Agatha threw in her pokéball containing Gengar. Nicky choose a Sandslash.
  “Sandslash, go underground now!” His Sandslash quickly disappeared into the earth. Agatha didn’t look too worried. Meanwhile, Icy jotted down some notes. Just as Sandslash came through the ground under Gengar, Gengar faded and Sandslash went through him. Confused, Sandslash looked all around for its opponent.
  “Gengar, lick attack now!” Icy remembered well how this part went. Gengar appeared right in front of Sandslash and licked him. Sandslash looked sick but still stayed on its feet. Agatha just grunted, upset that the attack wasn’t enough to paralyze Sandslash.
  “Sandslash, slack attack!” Sandslash swiped Gengar a few times but it did little more than separate Gengar temporarily. Gengar pulled itself back together again. “What?!?” Nicky was shocked at the punitive results of the attack.
  “Let’s finish this off the right way Gengar. Hypnosis followed by dream eater.” Gengar’s hypnosis waves put the already worn down Sandslash to sleep, then Gengar followed up with its dream eater attack. Sandslash was beaten and Nicky held its pokéball out to return it. “Humph, this is all too easy.”
  Nicky decided it was time use a new strategy. { If I can’t use regular attacks against that ghost, I’ll try going with a more defensive approach. } Nicky pulled out his second pokéball. “Vileplume, it’s your turn now! GO!” The large plant pokémon jumped out from the pokéball and planted itself on the field in front of Gengar. “Vileplume, stun spore.”
  “Gengar, night shade, don’t let it find you.” Gengar’s nightshade kept Vileplume from knowing where to target its spores. “Now you will watch your Vileplume go down as well. Gengar, lick it now.” Gengar licked Vileplume but it had no effect. Icy checked his pokédex, which he had begun to use now more often.
  “Vileplumes are grass and poison. This particular situation favors Vileplume because it doesn’t need to move in order to attack. Vileplume uses long-range projectile or spore attacks. In this battle, Vileplume’s attacks can damage Gengar.”
  “Vileplume, poison power… wait, no, sleep powder!” Nicky commanded. Vileplume emitted sleep spores. This time, Gengar was the one sleeping. “Mega drain now.” Vileplume sucked all of Gengar’s energy away. Agatha had to recall her beaten Gengar.
  Icy continued to watch the battle. “According to ‘Dee’, Vileplume is impervious to Gengar’s poison attacks. I think Leafy would be able to do the same.”
  “But isn’t Vileplume the evolved form of a Gloom? Are you sure that Leafy is as powerful as that Vileplume?”
  “Leafy can be just as good as that Vileplume! She trusts me. She won’t let Gengar beat us again. Tomorrow, we’ll be training for these situations.”
  Agatha sent out her second pokémon, a Haunter. Nicky decided to keep Vileplume in the match. “Haunter, hypnosis attack.”
  Nicky couldn’t afford to let Vileplume be defeated now. “Petal dance Vileplume. Confuse Haunter with it.” Vileplume began her petal dance. Haunter tried to remain focused, but the petals swirling around Vileplume were distracting him from his target. “FIRE!” Vileplume sent the petals flying at Haunter who was able to dodge most of them. “Quick, sleep powder!” While the last of the petals were being fired off, Vileplume added sleep powder to the remaining. Some of the sleep powdered petals hit Haunter. It slowly fell asleep and Agatha recalled it.
  “That’s amazing! That Vileplume beat two of her pokémon! If Leafy can do that too, I’m set!”
  “I don’t know Icy. Don’t you think Agatha will be ready for that type of attack next time?”
  “Even if she is, Leafy won’t be beaten by her lick attacks. Leafy can work on perfecting the attacks that worked in this battle. I’m having Dee keep an analysis.”
  Agatha was getting slightly ticked off now. “You may be good now kid, but we’ll see just how good you really are. Go Gengar!”
  Nicky decided now was the best time to use Vileplume’s ultimate attack. “Vileplume, charge it up now!”
  “Gengar, confusion ray attack!” Agatha smiled with her plan but then frowned seeing Vileplume was still charging up. An expired Full Heal canister was lying in Nicky’s hand. “S***!” Even with the small amount of sunlight left, Vileplume was able to fully charge its solar beam. “Crap, Gengar night shade.”
  “Solar beam now!!!” The field became completely dark. It was like time had just stopped itself and stood still now. Icy and Sara looked around but, like the rest of the spectators, couldn’t find the two pokémon. Suddenly, the intense beam of light from Vileplume’s solar beam ripped through the darkness over the field. The audience was stunned for a moment. It all happened so quickly. The darkness cleared away, revealing a bright white Gengar and a panting Vileplume.
  Agatha was shocked, but not as white as her Gengar. “This can’t be. Gengar return. Arbok go!” Agatha’s Arbok slithered onto the field. Nicky determined it was time to let Vileplume sit it out. He returned it to the pokéball then selected another.
  “Ok Butterfree, your turn now!” Nicky selected a Butterfree to fight the venomous Arbok. Icy’s eyes lit up. Sara opened a silver pokéball and let Aura watch. (Aura is the golden Butterfree that Sara now owns, remember?)
  “Wow, a Butterfree. Let’s see what he does with it.” Aura seemed very happy to see another of her kind battling.
  “Butterfree, psybeam now!” Agatha knew Arbok would go down in an instant if the psybeam hit it. Arbok dodged the beam just by a hair then lunged for Butterfree with jaws wide open. “Confusion now!” Arbok was only a foot away from sinking its venomous fangs into Butterfree when it suddenly found itself confused and bit its own tail. Arbok figured out what had happened a little too late though. “Psybeam Butterfree!” Butterfree finished Arbok off with just one hit from the psybeam leaving Agatha with only one pokémon left.
  “Darn. I’m not going to win this one. Oh well, I can still weaken your pokémon so you can’t beat Lance. Hmm, what am I saying? I hate that jacka** of a trainer. Nevermind. Go Golbat!” The enormous bat appeared hovering over the field. “Bite now!” Golbat swooped past Butterfree then snuck up from behind. It sank its fangs deep into Butterfree’s back. Butterfree screamed in pain.
  “NO! Butterfree! Return now!” Nicky was about the cry but help the tears back. Icy was reminded of how he felt when Buttercup was almost killed by Blaine’s Magmar. Nicky gathered himself and took out another pokéball. “Raichu, go! Thunder attack, NOW!” The Raichu began to light up. The sky roared with thunder. Suddenly, enormous lightning bolts came striking down to Raichu. Raichu channeled all the electricity towards Golbat. Golbat puffed out some smoke before hitting the ground and fainting. Nicky had won.
  “Wow. What a battle! Nicky looks like he might be able to take out Lance as well. Due to the time, that battle will be postponed until tomorrow morning. Remember, the snack bar opens 30 minutes before the match so get your refreshments…” he continued to babble on and on as the crowd filed out of the stadium.
  “So Icy, are you going to battle the Elite 4 tomorrow?”
  “Yes. But not in the morning. I’m going to use that time to strategize. My pokémon and I have a great deal of training to do. I WILL become a pokémon master!” Sara and Aura followed Icy back home.

  Once again, Icy was awoken by the pestering Dodrio… eh-hem, I said, once again, Icy was awoken by the pestering Dodrio. Hmmm… Icy continued sleeping peacefully through Dodrio’s horrible morning crowing. Two fluffy, yellow earmuffs covered his ears. Sara and Aura were in the den playing games when Icy finally woke up several hours later. He joined them and everyone went to Brock’s Diner for breakfast.
  “That trainer Nicky was really great last night.”
  “Yes he was. Are you going to see him face Lance today?”
  “I guess I should. I want to be completely prepared for anything Lance can throw at me.” They finished their breakfast and headed towards the Grand Stadium. The battle had already begun! “Shoot! Quick, let’s find some open seats!” They got two seats close to the mid-level section of the stadium and watched the match currently in progress.
  Lance’s Gyarados fell to Nicky’s Raichu. It was now 3-2 in favor of Nicky. Raichu got back into its fighting pose and awaited its next opponent. Lance drew his cape, attempting to look all big and tough, and sent out his fourth pokéball. Nicky looked at his next opponent with fear in his eyes. The pokémon Lance sent out was like no pokémon he’d ever seen.
  “Wha, what is that?” He clicked open his pokédex.
  “Aerodactyl, an once to be believed extinct pokémon. This fearsome flying creature has many sharp teeth showing that it was a carnivore.” Nicky put the pokédex away quickly not wanting to hear anything more that would scare him or his pokémon.
  “That thing likes like it’s made of rock so Raichu is useless. Raichu, return!” Nicky didn’t want to lose now, not after making it this far… “All right Blastoise, it’s your turn to battle now!” The giant shellfish pokémon took the field. “Hydro pump now!”
  “Huh! Crap. Aerodactyl, fly to avoid getting hit.” The stone bird flew up high as Blastoise fired its water cannons. Because Aerodactyl was made on rock, it couldn’t move quickly enough to avoid all the blasts but did manage to survive. “Ok, now use sky attack!” Aerodactyl swooped down towards Blastoise.
  “Withdrawal now!” Blastoise complied quickly and Aerodactyl smacked flat into its shell. “Now, finish it off Blastoise.” His Blastoise took Aerodactyl by the tail and held it in front of his water cannons. After a thorough soaking, Lance gave up and recalled the beaten bird. “YYYYEEEEEESSSSSS!!! One more to go!”
  “GGGRRRRRR… I can’t lose this match… D***… Ok Dragonite, it’s all up to you now.” Lance sent out his final pokémon, Dragonite. Nicky looked at the huge dragon pokémon.
  “Ooohhh… That thing’s huge!” Blastoise waited for Nicky’s commands. “Ok, Hydro pump again Blastoise.” It fired the jet stream of water from its water cannons directly at Dragonite.
  “Agility now Dragonite. Follow it up with your Hyper Beam!” Dragonite completely dodged the water blast and charged up its hyper beam.
  “Oh no.”
  “Fire!” Dragonite made a perfect shot on Blastoise knocking it out with one hyper beam.
  “Oh, Blastoise return.”
  “It’s 4-3 now folks! Lance looks like he may make an incredible comeback here. Don’t forget to fill up on…” Suddenly, fighting sounds are broadcasted over the PA. The crowd cheers as a new announcer takes over. “Ok, Nicky is getting ready to select his next pokémon.”
  Nicky looked at his remaining pokéballs. He still had Sandslash, Vileplume, and a Dewgong. “That’s it, ice can beat dragons. All right Lance, prepare to lose. I’m gonna be a Pokémon Master! Your turn now Dewgong! GOOOO!!!” The seal pokémon entered the field. Dragonite was still recovering from the hyper beam energy drain.
  “Shoot, an ice pokémon. Dragonite, slam now.” Dragonite’s speed was greatly diminished due to its low energy state.
  “Dewgong, now’s your chance. Ice beam now!” Dewgong fired its ice beam directly at the slowly charging Dragonite. In the blink of an eye, Dragonite was encased in a block of ice. “Finish it, aurora beam!” Dewgong fired the colorful beam at the Dragonite-popsicle, finishing it off for good. “YES!!! WE DID IT!! I WON!!!!!” Nicky jumped up and down while Dewgong clapped cheerfully. Lance just sank his head as he recalled Dragonite. He walked over to Nicky.
  “You are a very talented pokémon trainer. You have proven this by defeating the world’s four strongest trainers. Now, by the power vested in me by the Pokémon League, I hereby name you, Pokémon Master Nicky. Congratulations master trainer Nicky, you have done what others can only dream of doing.” Lance presented Nicky with a multi-colored badge. In it were multiple gemstones that sparkled brightly in the sunlight. Nicky held the badge up high into the air. The crowd applauded the young boy for his valiant effort and skill. After the festivities were finally over, they crowds left and waited for the next set of battles to start.
  Icy and Sara left for the training arena. “That was cool. Nicky sure knows how to handle pokémon. I wish I could do that well too…”
  “You will Icy. But I think you should change the lineup a bit.”
  “Right. Ok, my lineup. Cyber, Hocus, Wiggler, Leafy, Vapor, and Buttercup. You guys are going to make me a pokémon master!” After training his new team in the arena for a few hours, Icy signed up to battle the Elite 4.
  “You just in luck, the last trainer just cancelled a few minutes ago.”
  “Hmm, why?”
  “I’m not really allowed to say. Sorry… You are scheduled to battle them in about one hour. Can you be ready by then?”
  “Yeah. I’ll be more than ready!”
  “Well, good luck little boy.” Icy took his pass and went back with Sara. They ate lunch and then picked up Icy’s pokémon from the pokécenter where they were healing from the training.
  “Let’s go guys. Our dreams await!” They headed back to the Grand Stadium. Icy was in the greatest of moods when the stadium seemed to vanish. “What, what’s happening?” Suddenly, everything was gone, replaced by a dark world. “Why am I here? I don’t have time to play games with you now Mewtwo!”
  “Come now Icy. Is that any way to treat the one who cured you? Personally, I’d be much more grateful.”
  “Somehow, I can’t picture someone like you being very grateful for anything.”
  “Whatever. There’s no riddle or conflict this time Icy. I merely wanted to wish you the best of luck.”
  “Huh? Am I getting this right? You are wishing me, luck?”
  “Oh… Yes Icy, I am. Please, I may be heartless at times, but you can understand that I do possess a heart like you all the same. I can’t help it if I carry a deep hatred towards trainers though. But still, you interest me most of all. So, once again, I wish you luck. Please don’t go and embarrass yourself again like you did battling Agatha. That can really damage your reputation as a trainer.” Mewtwo snickered audibly so Icy could hear.
  “Why you little…” his stopped after noticing he was back in normal time and space again. The phasing had worn off. Sara was staring at him funny.
  “Ummm, who are you talking to Icy?”
  “Oh, no one… C’mon, let’s get to the stadium!” They continued on their way. In the back of Icy’s mind, he thanked Mewtwo for his kindness.

To Be A Master: Part II - Dreams Do Come True

  “Wwwwellllcome back, pokémon fans! We have yet another great match lined up for all today. The psychic trainer from Saffron City, Icy, is going to try again to defeat the Elite 4. Icy was beaten by Agatha a few days ago, but he looks like he’s ready to beat them all this time. Let’s see if he’s got what it takes to become a true pokémon master!” The crowd cheered wildly. Icy took his place in the challenger’s box. Sara and Aura watched from the sidelines.
  Lorelei came out of the tunnel first. “Well, well, well. We meet again Icy. You may have won the first time, but I won’t let that happen this time. You’ll never make it to Lance!”

  “Don’t be so sure of yourself Lorelei.”
  “Whatever. I choose, Dewgong!”
  “In that case… Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Vapor!” Icy’s Gastly floated over the field. Lorelei was stunned.
  “I didn’t know he had a Gastly…” she thought to herself. “Ok Dewgong, ice beam now!” Dewgong fired the beam of ice at Vapor. The beam passed right through him.
  “Good work Vapor. Now it’s time to fight back! Use your lick attack!” Vapor hovered over to Dewgong and gave it a big lick. Dewgong turned bright green and wobbled as the paralyzing effects of Vapor’s lick attack took effect.
  “Uwwww… Return Dewgong. So, you’ve got some new pokémon for this match, it doesn’t matter what you use, I’ll never let you win! Go Cloyster!” The giant clamshell pokémon came onto the field. “Aurora beam now!”
  “Vapor, become invisible so it can’t target you.” Vapor nodded and disappeared. The aurora beam missed him completely. Vapor reappeared behind Cloyster and tapped him on the back. Cloyster turned around only to be met by Vapor’s tongue. Lorelei was becoming quite upset as she angrily recalled Cloyster.
  “Why you! Go Slowbro!” Icy remembered how dopey her Slowbro was and recalled Vapor so he could rest.
  “Ha, this is too easy. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Buttercup!” Icy’s Butterfree flew over the field. “Buttercup, use your sleep powder to knock him out cold.” Buttercup sprinkled the blue dust over Slowbro but it didn’t look like it had any effect.
  “Ha, you were saying?”
  “Go ahead, have Slowbro attack if you’re so confident.” Icy was starting to act just like the Elite 4.
  “Slowbro, use your amnesia attack.” Slowbro just stood there, eyes wide open. “Slowbro, listen to me! Attack, now!” Finally, Slowbro moved. His eyes shut, and he fell asleep. “Awwww!!!!! You pathetic pokémon, return now!” Icy couldn’t help but laugh seeing how frustrated Lorelei was getting. “Oh, you think it’s funny huh. You won’t be laughing for much longer you little twerp. Go Jynx!”
  Icy didn’t want that horrifying pokémon to get anywhere near Buttercup, so he had her return. “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Cyber!” The Porygon came out from the pokéball.
  “A Porygon, I’ll show you. Jynx, lovely kiss!”
  “Cyber, sharpen!” As soon as Jynx was about to give Cyber a smack on wherever his lips are, Cyber jabbed his sharpened beak into Jynx. The viking pokémon shuddered for a sec, then backed as far away from Cyber as she could. “That’s right, you can’t kiss my Porygon. Cyber, finish her off with psybeam attack.” Cyber was happy to vanquish the evil pokémon and sent a psybeam right for her lips. Jynx went down with just one blow.
  “AGHHH!!! This is impossible. How can I lose like this? Return Jynx. Go Lapras!” Lorelei sent out her final pokéball containing Lapras. Icy returned Cyber and brought out Hocus. “Oh s***, a psychic. Blizzard attack Lapras!” Lapras prepared its attack.
  “Hocus, use you confusion attack. Give Lapras a new weather report.”
  “Good idea master, can do! Here’s today’s forecast Lapras. Snow, with a chance of psy-storms.” Hocus used his confusion attack to make Lapras create to blizzard over itself. Although it did little good for Hocus, Lapras was still confused why it was now snowing over it. Hocus fired a few psybeams at it and Lorelei was defeated.
  “All right! You did it Hocus. One down, three to go!”
  “This just wasn’t my day. You won’t make it much further Icy. You’re going to lose again, just like you did against Agatha.” Lorelei sneered after her last remark. The Elite 4 weren’t exactly known for their kindness, however, which pokémon leader is? Icy recalled Hocus and healed his pokémon to be ready for Bruno.
  “Wow. What a short match. Lorelei is blanked completely by Icy. He might just make it folks!”
  Nicky was now in the stands. He decided he’d watch some other trainers try to do what he did. After seeing Icy easily beat Lorelei, he decided to see it to the end. “Hmm, he’s pretty good. Maybe I could challenge him to a match later.”
  “Are you talking about that there Icy fella,” an old man asked Nicky.
  “Uh, yeah, why?”
  “He owns a pokémon gym in the Viridian Forest. I think it’s called the Bug Gym.”
  “I never heard of a gym in the Viridian Forest.”
  “It’s not official. But if you want to challenge him, that’s where to go.”
  “Gee, thanks mist…” The old man was gone. “Hmm, that’s odd…”
  “Bruno is now entering the stadium. Icy’s second elite match begins now!” The crowd cheered again for the young trainer.
  Sara and Aura were especially proud of Icy. “See, you are doing great. You beat her more easily this time than the last time you fought her. Nice work.”
  “Yeah. I think Vapor is turning out to be a great addition to the team. Now I’ll just concentrate on using my psychic types to beat Bruno.” Sara gave Icy a kiss for good luck and he took his position.
  “So, you beat Lorelei flawlessly. I’m not too impressed. She may be a pushover, but I’m not so let’s get started. Onix GO!” The rock serpent materialized on the field. Icy thought about with pokémon to start with.
  “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Cyber!” The Porygon appeared in front of the giant snake. “Cyber, conversion!” Cyber reconfigured its body to be that of rock.
  “The pile of computer code can’t beat us, Onix, slam that Porygon into the earth now!” Onix wrapped its stone tail around Cyber and hurled him into the ground. Cyber’s rock form protected him somewhat but he was still dizzy from the pounding.
  “Cyber, are you alright. Don’t give up Cyber. Let’s see how Onix likes a psybeam to the head.” Cyber regained its pose and fired two psybeams directly at Onix’s head. The first one connected making Onix reel back in pain. Then the second one made the rock serpent fall to the ground.
  “Hmmm, good show Icy. Return Onix. Now you can take on the punchy pokémon.” Bruno threw his second pokéball into the field. It was Hitmonchan. Icy kept Cyber in for the match.
  “Cyber, double team. Split up, then all fire psybeams at once.” Cyber divided itself into three porygons. Hitmonchan was slightly confused and decided it be best to try taking one of them out before they could all fire. Bruno nodded and Hitmonchan aimed for the center Porygon. “Fire now!” Hitmonchan swung at the middle Porygon which vanished as his glove made contact. It was a fake. The psybeams however, were very real indeed and Hitmonchan learned the error of standing perfectly in the crossfire. It went down before it could realize its mistake.
  “What is wrong with me today? Must be the sun… Return Hitmonchan. Go Hitmonlee!”
  “Bruno sends out his third pokémon, the kicking fiend, Hitmonlee! Let’s see if Icy can continue his streak.”
  “Cyber return. You need to rest now. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Buttercup!”
  “High kick now!” Buttercup wasn’t ready for it when Hitmonlee connected with her entire body. She fell to the ground, hitting the earth hard. She struggled to get up. “Ha, now I’m doing better again. Finish her off Hitmonlee, mega kick!”
  “Buttercup!!! No, get up!” Somehow, she mustered enough strength to avoid getting kicked into orbit, but she couldn’t go on. Buttercup fell once again to the ground and fainted. “Oh… Buttercup, return. You’ll be ok.” Icy took a full heal out of his pocket and placed it next to Buttercup’s pokéball. “You’ll pay for that Bruno. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Hocus!”
  “Time for you to see stars mister kick boxer.”
  Hitmonlee wasn’t amused and took a swing for Hocus. His foot was stopped in mid air and he found himself unable to move.
  “What’s wrong with you? Hit him.” Bruno couldn’t stand to lose another pokémon to Icy. Hocus was controlling Hitmonlee via psychic.
  “Ok Hocus, finish him off!”
  “With pleasure master.” Hocus fired a psybeam straight into Hitmonlee’s chest throwing it across the field.
  “D***! Hitmonlee return. You are being a real pain, you know that?”
  “Good, now hurry up, I don’t wanna wait till next millennium to become a Pokémon Master…”
  “Oh, you’ll never get that far Icy. Go Onix!”
  “Hocus, telekinesis. You know what to do.” Hocus nodded and got to work. He summoned all of his psychic energy and the two pokémon both began to glow. Moments later, Onix found itself most tied up as it now took on the form of a rock hard pretzel. Meanwhile, Icy and the rest of the audience and even the announcer were laughing their heads off.
  “Hahahahaha… Would you look at that. Icy’s Kadabra has turned Onix into the world’s largest and hardest pretzel. Looks like Bruno is going to lose to Icy as well. He has just one more pokémon left.”
  “Onix, return. You asked for it Icy. I’m shutting that Kadabra down. Go Machamp.”
  “Return Hocus. I need you to rest and be ready for the next battle. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Vapor!” The Gastly floated over the field.
  “Now what?”
  “This is too easy. Just lick him Vapor.” Vapor laughed and licked Machamp who succumbed easily to the paralysis effects of Vapor’s lick attack. Bruno recalled Machamp and admitted defeat. Icy was back to where he had lost originally, Agatha.
  “Well folks, this surely has been an exciting day. First, Nicky defeats Lance to be a true pokémon master. And now, Icy may just do the same. But he needs to beat Agatha next. Don’t go anywhere, this could be the battle of the century here… or not…”
  Icy tended to his pokémon, especially Buttercup how looked like she had seen better days. She was badly bruised and Icy applied the full heal potion to her injuries. She began to recover, but she was still not fully healed. Icy came up with his battle plan for Agatha. Sara and Aura watched as Icy rearranged his pokéballs.
  Nicky watched Icy carefully from his seat. “He is good. But maybe they were just giving him a break. That looked WAY too easy. But he’s got a real advantage with that ghost pokémon. I wonder how he’ll deal with Agatha.”
  “He’ll lose again,” an old lady said in a crackling voice.
  “Huh?”
  “You heard me. Icy got creamed by Agatha last time they met. Her ghost pokémon are much stronger than Icy’s weak little baby pokémon. You know he’s got what, only 4 evolved pokémon out of the 20 or so he’s captured.”
  “Well, perhaps he doesn’t like to evolve them. He is winning you know.”
  “He doesn’t have the skill to win. You on the other hand used a vast array of evolved pokémon and won. You are a better trainer.”
  “Well, thanks. I guess I’ll…” She too had vanished. “Oh man, I gotta just keep my thoughts to myself. Maybe then these strange old people will stop bothering me…”
  Agatha entered the stadium. “So Icy, we meet again. Are you ready to be beaten all over again? Lemme ask you something. Did it hurt to be the laughing stock of Indigo Plateau?” Agatha laughed evilly. Icy just ignored her.
  “Let’s get started shall we?”
  “I concur. Gengar, go!”
  “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Leafy!” The Gloom stood in front of the ghostly opponent.
  “Hmm, a gloom ehh. That doesn’t scare me, but I wonder if Gengar scares her. Gengar, lick it now!”
  “Hmm, she doesn’t learn…” Icy thought to himself. Leafy just stood there while Gengar attempted to lick it. “Leafy, stun spore now.” Gengar was in for a big surprise. He had gotten too close to Leafy and now would learn the error he had made. Leafy wasn’t affected by Gengar’s lick attack, but Gengar seemed to be having a hard time getting his tongue back in his mouth after Leafy sprayed him with stun spores. “Mega drain Leafy!” Leafy drained Gengar life points and Agatha recalled it.
  “Oh, I see you’ve been training. Well, that is what’s called dumb luck. You don’t get it each time. I choose Golbat now.” The large bat flew onto the field.
  “Return Leafy. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Hocus!” Icy Kadabra made yet another appearance. “Hocus, you should be strong against poison types, so just use your psybeam on it.”
  “Will do master!” Hocus fired his psybeam at Golbat, but missed. Golbat dodged the beam narrowly and dove for Hocus.
  “Bite attack now. Poison that no good psychic pokémon.”
  “Look out Hocus!” Hocus was already aware of the approaching Golbat. He sent a psyshock right for Golbat and it fell to the ground, unable to move. “Ok, finish the job.” Hocus gave Golbat another psyshock and it fainted. Agatha was now very upset.
  “How is this possible? You weren’t this good last time. Golbat return. I’ll teach you a lesson Icy. I choose Haunter now.”
  “Great. Hocus, disable attack now!” Hocus focused on Haunter’s lick attack. He hoped he was successful.
  “Now I’m going to take out that meddlesome Kadabra of yours. Haunter, lick attack now.” Haunter prepared to attack, but stopped. “What? What’s wrong? I said attack.”
  “Ok,” Hocus replied. He fired multiple psybeams at the purple ghost pokémon.
  “No not you! Aghhhhhh!!!! Haunter, return!”
  “Well folks, Icy seems to be quite unbeatable this afternoon. I wonder what is giving such good luck today?”
  “His luck is about to run out. Arbok, GO!”
  “Hocus, return. I choose you now, Buttercup!” Icy slightly injured Butterfree fluttered over the field.
  “Go eat your dinner Arbok!”
  “Buttercup, psybeam, maximum strength!” Buttercup summoned all of her power and began glowing. She turned a bright blue as a sphere of pure energy formed around her body.
  “What’s this, Icy’s Butterfree is really generating a lot of energy. I hope Arbok is ready for this.”
  Arbok leapt for Buttercup. Just before he could make contact, Buttercup discharged all the energy directly at the approaching cobra. Arbok held onto the ball for a second before being thrown deep into the ground. Buttercup didn’t fare too well either was she was throw high into the air by the explosion of energy.
  “BUTTERCUP!!!!!” Icy watched in horror as she ascended further. Finally, she began heading back towards the surface. Icy homed in on her and used his telekinesis to guide her down slowly. “Buttercup, are you ok?” She couldn’t even move. Icy called for a quick timeout as he rushed his severely injured Butterfree over to Sara. “Sara, I need you to take Buttercup to Nurse Joy quick. I’ll get there as soon as I can. Please, go now.”
  “We all hope Buttercup will be ok. But now, let’s get back to the match. Agatha is down to her last pokémon. This is really turning out to be Icy’s lucky day!”
  “You may win against me Icy, but Lance will crush you. There I go again, praising that jerk. Do you know how much I hate that filthy piece of trash? I… hmmm, ok, another time then. Gengar, GO!”
  “Ok, here we go. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Wiggler!” One of Icy’s ten Caterpies wiggled onto the field.
  “A Caterpie??? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!”
  “Shutup! Wiggler, remember what we trained for. Now’s the time to do it. Ok, Wiggler, tackle attack alpha!”
  “Owww, the little buggy’s gonna tackle my Gengar, whatever. Gengar disappear, confuse the stupid little bug.”
  “My Caterpie is not stupid. However, your Gengar is. Wiggler, finish the move.” Wiggler muffled some cute Caterpie sounds and sprayed its silk string all over Gengar.
  “What’s this? Gengar lick, or just eat the bug.” Gengar couldn’t move. Wiggler continued to tie him up with its string. “Just break out of it. It’s only string.” Gengar tried, but Wiggler’s string was too strong, plus he already had almost 5 layers covering him. “This is pointless, return Gengar. I’m going to laugh when Lance crushes you and your stupid little worms.”
  “For the last time, they aren’t stupid!” Icy calmed down and had Wiggler return. Everything had gone just as they planned. Agatha stormed out and tried to get Wiggler’s silk off of her Gengar.

To Be A Master: Part III - The Ultimate Sacrifice

  “Well folks, Icy has proven himself worthy of battling the head of the Elite 4. Lance, the dragon pokémon trainer will battle with Icy to see if he’s got the skills to become a pokémon master. Can he do it?” The crowd expressed their support for Icy and his pokémon. Icy meanwhile busily healed the five remaining.
  Back at the pokécenter, Sara waited in the waiting room for an update on Buttercup’s condition. Nurse Joy came through the doors. “I think she’ll make it. What exactly happened to her?”
  “She was involved in a high energy explosion.”
  “Oh… I see,” she replied as if this type of thing happened every day.
  Back in the Grand Stadium, Lance was coming onto the field. “You’ve done well Icy. I have been waiting for the chance to beat, I mean meet you.”

  “Save it. I know you’ll just insult me like the others do. Let’s go at this shall we.”
  “If that is what you wish, then that we shall do. Gyarados, go!”
  “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Leafy.”
  “Tisk tisk. Big mistake. Dragon rage!”
  “No, Leafy mega drain. Sap his energy.” Leafy started draining Gyarados’s energy but it still fired the dragon rage. Leafy received a direct hit from the fiery rage from Gyarados. She screamed in pain as the fire spread over her head. “Oh, Leafy, return. Go Vapor.”
  “A ghost huh. Gyarados, hyper beam.”
  “Night shade Vapor.” The field became pitch black. Gyarados couldn’t find its target. “Lick it now Vapor,” Icy called into the darkness. When the night shade finally wore off, Gyarados was paralyzed while Vapor was doing a victory dance on top of it. “Good work.”
  “Lucky shot. Return Gyarados. Go Dragonair.”
  “Lick now!”
  “Agility now!” Dragonair dodged all of Vapor’s attacks. “Play time is over for you Icy. Dragonair, hyper beam that ghost.” Dragonair was faster at charging the hyper beam.
  “Now Vapor. While it’s still charging, lick it.” Icy’s plan worked. Dragonair wasn’t quick enough to avoid Vapor and charge the hyper beam at the same time.
  “What in the??? Well, you are clever my friend. Take this…” Lance recalled the paralyzed Dragonair and sent out another one. “Dragonair, dragon rage now!”
  “Vapor, look out!” A good portion of the raging fires hit Vapor. Something else happened to Vapor though. “Vapor, what’s wrong?”
  “Hmm, I think he’s going to evolve.”
  “Evolve? Oh cool! I’m gonna have a Haunter!” Sure enough, Vapor had gotten so much experience from battle the elite trainers’ pokémon that it finally got enough to evolve into Haunter. “Vapor, hypnosis attack!”
  “What, oh no.” Lance’s second Dragonair had already fallen asleep. Vapor just laughed the way most Hunters do… “Return. Go Aerodactyl.”
  “An Aerodactyl. But I thought they were extinct.”
  “They are. I found its fossil while on a mining expedition and took it to the Cinnabar Labs to be recreated. And now, you shall feel its wrath.”
  “I don’t think so. Vapor, hypnosis.” Vapor just stood there. “Vapor, why aren’t you attacking? Did you here me? Hypnosis attack now.”
  “Ha. Either you aren’t a very good trainer, or your pokémon’s tired out, which also makes you a bad trainer. Aerodactyl, hyper beam now.” Aerodactyl fired its hyper directly at Haunter. Haunter was completely beat.
  “Shoot… Return Vapor. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Cyber! Cyber, double team, multi psybeam attack now!” Cyber split into three and each fired a psybeam at Aerodactyl. It fainted easily and smashed into the ground crushing Cyber with it. “Oh!”
  “Hmm, that’s a first. See, you are a bad trainer.”
  “Cyber return. I’ll show you, who’s winning, huh?”
  “That’s not important, but now you shall lose. Dragonite, GO!” Lance’s ultimate pokémon, Dragonite, appeared on the field.
  “Wow. I’ve never seen that type of pokémon before.” Icy was definitely impressed by the Dragonite.
  Meanwhile, Nurse Joy was finishing up on Buttercup. “She’s felling better, but I don’t think she should do any battling for a while. Sara scooped up Buttercup and ran back to the stadium.
  “Go Wiggler!”
  “A Caterpie???”
  “Stop right there, don’t say another word. Wiggler, string shot now.”
  “You’re joking right. Dragonite, slam it.” Dragonite picked Wiggler up and prepared to knock it into the ground.
  “WAIT!!! I recall Wiggler.” Icy returned Wiggler to its pokéball. “No battle is worth losing a pokémon over. Besides, I still have Hocus.” Hocus appeared in front of the Dragonite.
  “My, what a large pokémon.”
  “Dragonite, hyper beam now.”
  “Huh?!?” Hocus didn’t know what hit him. The hyper beam completely fired him, as well as Icy’s dreams. Suddenly, he felt as if the world around him had collapsed. He fell to his knees, tears in his eyes. In the distance, he heard something, but he could focus on it. He extended Hocus’ pokéball and recalled him.
  “This can’t happen…” he heard a faint voice coming from behind him. It was Sara and Buttercup.
  “ICY!!! Buttercup’s ok.”
  “Great! Buttercup, I know you are weak, but I need you to be strong right now. Can you defeat the Dragonite? All you need to do is hit him with that ultra psybeam and we will win. Can you do that?”
  “Icy, Nurse Joy said she shouldn’t battle. Huh…” Sara saw Buttercup nodding. “You want to battle?” Buttercup nodded again. “Don’t do this Icy. She’s too weak.”
  “She has to try. She believes in me and in herself. She’s proven that time after time.” Icy turned to Buttercup. “I want you to know that I will love you and care for you no matter what happens Buttercup. But I know that you can pull this off. Please, just do this one last thing. Please help me Buttercup.” Buttercup had tears in her eyes. She nodded and attempted to hug Icy. “Th… thank you Buttercup.”
  “C’mon Icy, do you admit defeat?”
  “No Lance. I choose Buttercup now. Buttercup, psybeam, full power!” Buttercup began to glow, her body emitting a bright blue. She struggled to stay airborne and generate more power.
  “FFFFFFRRRRRRREREREREREREREREEEEEE,” she cried out. She was now engulfed in a bright white sphere. It blinded Icy and Lance, Dragonite, and the rest of the audience.
  “Buttercup! FIRE!!!”
  “FFFFFFFFFFFFRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!”
  Everything was quiet. For an instant, time stood perfectly still. Nothing moved. The light blinded everyone. The intense beam made direct contact with Dragonite causing him to faint instantly. But Buttercup was in worse shape. Because of the enormous amount of energy she used on the attack, she could not stay in the air. When the light had died down, Icy saw his best friend lying not even half alive on the field. Lance admitted defeat but waited for Icy to have a moment alone with Buttercup.
  A tear formed in his eye. “Buttercup… this can’t happen… Oh please wake up…” He began crying. “Please wake up Buttercup…”
  “Befreeee, free…….,” were the last words Buttercup emitted before she lost consciousness.
  Icy couldn’t hold back the tears and pain inside. He held Buttercup up close to his chest and pressed hard. “This… {sniff}… is all my… {sniff}… fault. What have I done…?” Icy cried over his stiff Butterfree’s body. She didn’t move and no longer had a pulse. “I wanted to win so badly I sacrificed my own friend to do it…” Icy couldn’t take the reality of the situation. Buttercup was no longer alive. She pasted away. Icy could not accept the fact that his dearest friend was gone for good. “NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” he put her back down and placed her body in his backpack inside a box to take with him on his journey back to Viridian Forest.
  Lance walked over to Icy. “Icy… I know you don’t believe you earned this, but, all the same, you have. Many trainers would have given up, maybe due to how much was at stake, maybe because they just didn’t have confidence. But you stood up to the challenge, even when it was the life of your friend at stake. I… I wish there was some way to bring her back. Here…” Lance handed Icy the master trainer’s badge. Sara took it for him and they both walked silently home. Lance’s words echoed in Icy’s head, ‘…some way to bring her back…’

Buttercup’s Legacy

  Last time, Icy battled to Elite 4 again to be a pokémon master. After creaming Lorelei and Bruno, he got revenge on Agatha. But in the end, Lance’s Dragonite had Icy pinned down. With the injured Buttercup as the only way of winning, Icy sent his friend into battle. Buttercup made the ultimate sacrifice to make Icy’s dream come true. Sadly, she went unconscious and never woke up. And now…

  Icy and Sara packed up their belongings from their Indigo Plateau apartment. Icy placed Buttercup’s body in a clear case and packed the last of their bags into Cyber. “Cheer up Icy. Buttercup knew what would happen. She did it for you Icy.”
  “That’s why I’m upset Sara.”
  “But she wouldn’t have done this if she didn’t love you so much. She knew how much you wanted that win.”
  “I never wanted her to sacrifice herself for me. Why did she have to die?”
  “Icy, me and Aura are sad too, but you have to remember that she did it for you.”
  “But, I would have quit if I’d known. I’d never have let her pull that.”
  “I know. She probably had so much loyalty towards you that she figured this would show just how much you meant to her.”
  “It means nothing now that she’s dead.” Icy got into the Porygon car. Sara and Aura both got in. “When we get back, I’ll have Triking dig her grave in the forest near the gym. It’s what she would have wanted.” They drove off into the sunset. Crystal-like tears rolled off Icy’s cheeks. He remembered the time Buttercup was almost killed by Magmar, but she pulled through. This time was different. She used every bit of her life force to perform her final attack. But Icy still blamed himself for letting her do it.
  They arrived back in the Viridian Forest a few hours later. “Sara, you take in the stuff. I want to be alone with Buttercup for a second. Aura wanted to conform Icy but Sara called her back over to her.
  “Come Aura, he needs this time with her.”
  “Buttercup… You didn’t have to sacrifice yourself for me. This wasn’t how I wanted to win. Why Buttercup, why?” Icy clutched her soft body and pressed it to his. His tears fell on Buttercup and roll down the contours of her back. “I love you Buttercup. I will always love you. You were my best {sniff} friend.” Icy could no longer hold back his emotions and burst into tears. A flock of Pidgeys flew off from the canopy.
  “Icy, dinner.” Icy and Triking had finished digging the grave for Buttercup. Sara came out with Aura. “We can do this first.” Some pokémon from the forest came out to see what was happening. When they saw the deceased Butterfree and Icy’s watery face, they kinda understood what was going on and began to pour dirt on the case. Icy wanted to smile, seeing how his friends from the forest understood his pain, but his emotions gripped him again. His tears moistened the soil below.
  “We are all gathered here to witness the burial of my dear friend, Buttercup. She was a true friend, loyal until the very end, and then still. She sacrificed her own life to fulfill my dreams. She had put herself on the line many times before this. She added a certain something to my life. She brought me joy when I was sad; she was there for me when I felt alone. But now, I am alone again, and she is not here anymore. I’d just like to say, you will be missed forever Buttercup. Your sacrifice will not have gone in vein. Rest in peace friend.” Icy finished his eulogy. Everyone was crying now, even the forest pokémon. “Thank you all for being here for me. I know that I’ll never be alone.” Sara walked up to Icy.
  “Icy, I’ll always be here for you.” She embraced Icy. Icy felt like he couldn’t ever let go of her. She let go and took Aura back to the gym. Meanwhile, the forest pokémon paid their respects to the fallen Butterfree and went back into the foliage. Icy followed Sara back home. They had dinner then went to bed. In his dreams, Icy dreamt about Buttercup and all the fond memories they had. She was unique. Sadly, she wasn’t meant to last…
  During the night though, the Caterpies and Butterfree of the forest, plus a few Pikachu gathered around the gravesite of Buttercup.
  “Cater cater.” “Pika.” “Free free freeeeeee.”
  They joined together and focused their energy on the ground Buttercup was buried under. The earth opened around the case Buttercup was in. Then, they combined their energy and focused it all on Buttercup…

Forever

  Last time, Icy had returned home to his gym in the Viridian Forest. But it wasn’t a joyous occasion at all. After burying his closest friend, Icy and Sara retired for the night. But during the night, many caterpies and butterfrees from the forest had gather around Buttercup’s grave. What could they be up too? And now…

  The Caterpies and Butterfrees focused their energies on Buttercup’s still corpse. Her body began to glow a bright blue. The light emanating from it could be seen from the sky as it pierced through the trees.
  Icy woke next morning to a strange site. Wiggler was running around all over the gym. “Wiggler, stop that. Wiggler! Huh…” Wiggler stopped and glowed. “Oh, Wiggler. Sara come quick, I think Wiggler’s ready to evolve!” Sara and Aura came in before Icy could finish his sentence. Wiggler stood upright and sprayed its string into the air above it kinda like a fountain. The string fell back over his body creating a cocoon. “Wiggler…” After he was done, a new pokémon looked at Icy and Sara for the first time. “Wiggler, you’ve evolved in Metapod! I’m so happy!”
  “This is great Icy!” Sara then turned to Aura. “At least this will turn his mind away from Buttercup for a while.” Sara was equally sad about Buttercup’s unfortunate death, but Icy was still worse off. He didn’t get much sleep last night.
  Meanwhile, back inside the forest, a flock of Butterfree flew over the canopy. Among them was a smaller, greenish colored Butterfree. She insisted on flying in loops and did other various tricks. The other Butterfree smiled, as was their form of applause. They flew over top Icy’s Gym. Sara watched them but turned away so Icy wouldn’t look. She didn’t want him to be constantly reminded of Buttercup. Not now… The green Butterfree looked at the gym and continued with the other Butterfree. Pokémon usually didn’t understand the differences in human buildings anyways…
  “So, what do metapods do? Dee, help us out here.” Icy opened his pokédex.
  “Metapod, the evolved form of Caterpie. Metapods cannot move thus are unable to attack. In time, they will evolve in the 3rd stage of the Caterpie evolutions, Butterfree.” Icy closed Dee slowly.
  “Buttercup…” he sighed. “Oooohhhh…”
  “Are you ok Icy, you look sick.”
  “No, I’m fine… Metapods don’t do anything… Not until they evolve…”
  “Icy…”
  “Wiggler can’t replace Buttercup…”
  “Icy, none of your pokémon can replace her. That’s what made her unique. She was special. But you need to accept the fact that she gave her own life to help you.”
  “That’s not fair. I didn’t want for her to die. She should have just refused to battle, I would have understood. I beat them all once, I could have done it again. Then she’d still be alive. She would have been a hero, instead she’s dead, and I don’t feel like a pokémon master. A master wouldn’t let his pokémon battle to the death. I could have prevented it.”
  “Icy, blaming yourself all day won’t bring Buttercup back to life. You can only learn from the mistake and move on. You’ll be happier once Wiggly evolves into a Butterfree. I wonder when the rest of your Caterpie will evolve?”
  “Them, I don’t know. They don’t ever get a chance to do much.”
  “Maybe you could let my class play with them. I have many young students, younger than 10. They love cute pokémon. They could give the Caterpies all the training they need to evolve.”
  “I suppose… But I don’t see how playing with them makes them evolve.”
  “Well, love and care helps somewhat…”
  “You have a point there.” Icy sat down in the center of the main gym floor and sent out his Caterpie. They immediately covered him. “Thanks guys. I’ll never allow any of you or my other pokémon to try something you are capable of ever again. Buttercup won’t have died in vein.” The caterpies were saddened, but knew that Icy had to live with the impression he had caused Buttercup’s death. They cuddled him more.
  Back in the forest, a young boy ran down the path. “AGHHHHHHHH!!!! Stay back you!”
  “PPPPPPIIIIIIIIIIKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACHUUUUUU!!!!”
  “AGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!” He jumped after being shocked for about the tenth time. “I said I’m sorry. I didn’t know that was your apple tree. Really! Please, leave me be!” The Pikachu continued perusing the kid. “AGHHHHH!!!!! Someone help me.”
  Back at the gym, Sara was looking out the window with Aura when she saw a small area of the forest light up. “Huh, what was that?”
  The kid began approaching the gym. “Oh, a gym! They’ll protect me!” The Pikachu was right behind him. He reached the doors and quickly jumped inside. “Wow!” The trainer looked at around. The main hall was lined with forest artifacts. Fairies and caterpies were placed atop pedestals down the walls. The boy walked slowly down the hallway. He admired every aspect of it. Finally, he reached the main doors. He pushed them open slowly. Then, he saw Icy, covered by Caterpies. “Wha, what is that,” he thought to himself.
  Icy sensed his presence in the room and got up quickly sending some of the Caterpie flying off in odd directions. They slid upon the waxed floor. Icy looked at the boy with curiosity. “What a sec, I know you from somewhere.”
  “Funny, same here.”
  “Nicky!”
  “Icy!”
  “A pokémon master, in my gym…”
  “What about yourself Icy? You beat Lance too remember… Oh…”
  “Please… I don’t consider that a very good reason for being a master…”
  “Sorry… Oh yeah… Is it ok for me to hang out here for a while? Some Pikachu was really ticked with me for picking an apple off a tree. I guess the tree belongs to him. He almost fried me with his thundershocks.”
  “Yes, thundershock is a strong Pikachu attack. I should know.”
  “Really, why’s that?”
  “Surely you must have known about me and the great accident.”
  “No.” Icy sweatdropped. Then, he related to Nicky the story about him being transformed into a Pikachu and all. Then he told him about Mewtwo and Bill’s cure for him and Sara. Nicky was sorta stumped but just nodded.
  “Well, I guess you can hang out for a while. I don’t often get visitors.”
  “Hey, can I see your pokémon, I’ll show you the one’s I’ve caught!”
  “Ok. They aren’t all evolved, but I love then just the same.”
  “Hey, it’s the ability of the pokémon combined with the trainer, not the form that matters. Appearances are meaningless, never forget that. That’s what makes a master. Hehehe… I must sound like a poképhilosopher… hehehe…”
  “Yeah…” Icy summoned his pokéballs via telekinesis and opened them. Nicky watched in awe.
  “You’re a psychic? That’s awesome!” Icy smiled. Not many people liked psychics, so anyone who thought it was cool was considered a good friend. Icy’s pokémon all jumped out from their pokéballs. “Wow. Now that’s a lot of pokémon!” Nicky set all his pokéballs in a line. There were only ten of them. “Ok guys, come out!”
Nicky’s pokémon included: Raichu, Butterfree, Vileplume, Sandslash, Venomoth, Nidorino, Pidgeot, Wigglytuff, Dewgong, and Blastoise. Icy was most impressed by his vast array of pokémon.
  “WOW! Those are really strong pokémon. I could never win a battle against you with that team.”
  “Oh come on. We are both pokémon masters, let’s go at it. Besides, you’re a gym leader right?”
  “Well, yes.”
  “Then I challenge you. Under league rules, you can’t turn down a challenge.”
  “Kinda… I operate outside the pokémon league… Which means for you, I’ll get to use pokémon other than bugs. This battle will be three on three.”
  “I see. That works fine for me. I choose you, Sandslash.”
  “A Sandslash huh. Ground type. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Neptune!” Icy’s Horsea leapt into the ring. She took one glance at the large mouse and began hopping away. “No Neptune, you are my only water type. Neptune, water gun now!” Neptune shrugged then fired her water gun at Sandslash.
  “That little squirt bottle doesn’t scare me. Sandslash, slash attack now!” The water gun was almost useless since Sandslash’s level was many times higher than Neptune’s. It slashed Neptune once and she was knocked out. “Uhh… Good thing you didn’t battle with her in the League.”
  “Ohhh… Neptune, return. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Hocus!”
  “I am ready master. Well hello Mr. Sandslash, care to dance.”
  “Right, psychic attack!” Hocus focused his mind on Sandslash and the mouse began doing some strange dance.
  “What’s going on? Sandslash, stop fooling around.”
  “Finish him Hocus.”
  “Righto. It’s been swell Mr. Sandslash, but now I’m afraid you shalt have to part in such sweet sorrow…” Hocus sent to psybeams at Sandslash knocking him out. “Goodnight…hehehe…”
  “Great job Hocus, as usual.”
  “Thank you master.”
  “Wow, your pokémon can talk?”
  “Kadabras are very smart. This one’s been talking since it was an Abra. He’s very special.”
  “I’m flattered,” Hocus interrupted blushing.
  “Well, talking Kadabras aren’t preventing me from beating you Icy. Return Sandslash. I now choose Dewgong. Dewgong, aurora beam now!” Dewgong fired the beam directly at Hocus. Hocus twitched but did not go down.
  “Tis a mere scratch.” Hocus used recover then followed up with a psybeam. Dewgong went down just like Sandslash.
  “Oh, you are good. That Kadabra is pretty funny too.”
  “Thank you Nicky. Now, which pokémon may I beat last?”
  “Humph… I think I liked the funny jokes better… Return Dewgong. Go, Blastoise.” Icy was speechless.
  “A Blastoise… Hocus, confusion now.” Hocus used his confusion beam but it had no effect. Blastoise picked up the upset Kadabra.
  “Good, now slam Blastoise.” He threw Hocus to the ground.
  “Teleport now!” Just before hitting the ground, Hocus managed to teleport to safety. He was still a bit shaken up though. “Ok, this won’t work, Hocus, return.”
  “Last one Icy. My Blastoise is gonna win it all!”
  “Don’t be so sure. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls Wiggler.” The motionless Metapod appeared. “Wiggler, harden now!”
  “Blastoise, wash it away with hydro pump.” Blastoise jet sprayed Wiggler, but it didn’t seem to matter. In fact, something was happening. The water was nurturing the Metapod.
  “Oh cool! It’s gonna evolve!” Sure enough, the Metapod cracked open and a beautiful Butterfree with bright colored wings popped out. It fluttered all around the gym. “Wiggler! You evolved! Hmm, Wiggler doesn’t sound like a name for a Butterfree, I’ll call you Flutter.” Flutter was please with its new name and prepared to attack. “Ok Flutter, psybeam!” Flutter got ready to do something, but then he realized he didn’t know how to do that attack. “Oh no, I forgot, Butterfree don’t learn that till latter.”
  “Too bad Icy. Blastoise, hydro pump!” Blastoise fired its water cannons at Flutter, pinning him to the wall.
  “Ok ok, that’s enough, one dead Butterfree is all I can take. Flutter, return. You have bested my Nicky. To prove your skills, not that you really need to, I present you with this Forest Badge.” Icy handed Nicky the colorful badge. On the left was a Caterpie and on the right, a Weedle. In the middle was an olive branch. Nicky took the badge and thanked Icy.
  “You were pretty good there yourself. I’m very sorry about your Butterfree. She was quite a fighter. Her attacks were way off the chart from any known pokémon. Researchers could learn a lot about her even from examining her corpse.”
  “WHAT! No one’s gonna operate on my Butterfree. It’s bad enough she died, now you want some scientists to cut her open!”
  “No no, I’m sorry I mentioned it. Could I at least see her? I never did get a chance to take a close look at her. I promise not to touch.”
  “Fine. Why you’d want to see a dead pokémon is beyond me though. She’s buried deep inside the forest. I’ll have to take you there.” Nicky nodded and they went to the gravesite.
  “She would be happy. This is really a beautiful place to be. Now her spirit can merge with the forest. Kinda like she’d be all around us right now. Just as he said the words, the flock of Butterfree flew overhead. The smaller Butterfree was inside the group too. She looked down at the earth to see what was happening. Nicky looked up and laughed. “See Icy, my point. She’s all around. Take those Butterfree for example… Icy…?”
  “It can’t be…” Icy’s eyes glanced at the ground. The hole had been undug and the case was empty. “Buttercup…”
  “What did you say?”
  “That’s Buttercup!”
  “Icy, she’s dead, ahhhhh!!” Nicky finally realized the case was empty. “How can you tell?”
  “She’s the green one, small than the rest. She’s looking at me.”
  Sure enough, Buttercup did make eye contact with Icy but didn’t seem to recognize him. She flew into the sunset with the other Butterfree.
  “No, come back! Windstorm, I choose you. Fly me to those Butterfree. Oh yeah, I’m not a Pikachu anymore… you can’t support me now. Return Windstorm. Cyber, I choose you. Jetplane program, run now!” Cyber converted to a jet. “I’m gonna track her down. I have to get her back.” He jumped into Cyber and they took off after the Butterfree.
  “Good luck!!!” Sara came running out.
  “What happened?”
  “Icy’s going after Buttercup. She’s alive!”
  “She is? How’s that possible?
  “Must be a miracle. But now Icy’s gotta find her. She flew away with a flock of Butterfree.”
  “Oh, please bring her home Icy.”
  “Faster Cyber, we need to catch up to them!” Cyber switched on the afterburners and soon, they caught up with the Butterfree. Icy got on top of Cyber and called out to them. “BUTTERCUP!!!!!”
  Buttercup heard her name. She looked back seeing the crazy human standing atop a speeding fast jet. “What a lunatic. He’s gonna kill himself doing that,” she thought. Thinking nothing of it, she turned back to the group.
  Icy wasn’t ready to give up yet. “BUTTERCUP!!!!! IT’S ME!!!!! ICY!!!!! PLEASE REMEMBER ME!!!!! I… I… I love you Buttercup! WAHHHHH!!!!!” Icy shouted upon seeing the tall tree. “TREE… TREE!!! Cyber tur… no. Oh crap!!!” Cyber couldn’t turn without risking Icy falling off. He attempted to avoid the first tree but a higher branch smashed into Icy’s chest. He was thrown from his Porygon and began falling straight down to the earth below. “AGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! HELP!!!!!” Cyber slowed down but found himself surround by trees and ended up crashing into one.
  The Butterfree flock was not too far away. Buttercup heard the boy’s plea for help and she saw him falling to the ground. She very well knew what would happen if he continued. He would splatter again the forest floor. Not a very pretty sight. Something inside her told her to try to save the boy. “Freeeeeeee!!!!” She called on the other Butterfree to help her save Icy.
  Icy continued to fall. He was still almost 400 feet up and falling quickly. The trees were coming in sight. “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Huh?” Something was supporting his weight. He looked in front of him and saw the Butterfree flock glowing. They were using their psychic energy to hold Icy up. They gently guided him to the ground. Then, all but the one small, green Butterfree took off.
  “Free free…” [Silly human… be a little more careful from now on.]
  “Wait, Buttercup, please don’t go. I… I… I’m sorry. It was my fault you ended up getting killed. I forced you into doing what couldn’t be done without the consequences. I didn’t want this to happen… You did sacrifice yourself for me. I sacrificed you for me… Buttercup, please, I’m begging you for another chance. The sheer fact that you have been brought back to life is an indication that this was never meant to happen. And, you saved my life. I know you couldn’t have done that if you didn’t still care about me. You could have just kept flying away, but you didn’t. Please Buttercup, please forgive me… I can never forgive myself for what I’ve done. I don’t deserve to be a pokémon master, not for how I made you fight. It was wrong and selfish.” Icy got down on the ground to Buttercup’s eye level. “Please Buttercup. My life without you is meaningless. I love you Buttercup. I would do anything for you. That’s why I’m so sorry that I betrayed you. Please, can you find it in your heart to forgive me, Buttercup? Can you give me another chance?”
  Buttercup stared at Icy. She remembered now what had happened. She could remember the Dragonite and Icy’s voice telling her she could do it. She remembered channeling all of her life force to beat it. Then, she remembered being with the other Butterfree, Caterpie, and a white pokémon. The white pokémon left, then she was flying with the other Butterfree. Now she looked at Icy with tears filling his eyes. She wondered why he was pleading with her. She looked deeper. Suddenly, she realized who it was she was looking into the eyes of. She remembered the time she first met this trainer. She remembered the times when Icy spent entire evenings caring for her when she was injured. Tears formed in her eyes. Icy took her and hugged her. Buttercup made her decision. She moved herself closer in Icy’s arms. Sara and Nicky finally found them.
  “Icy. Buttercup?? You found her.”
  “Buttercup has decided to come back with me.”
  “That’s sweet. Buttercup’s a true friend. Wait where’s Cyber?”
  “Oh no, I lost him when I got hit by the tree.” Cyber was only a few 100 feet from their location. Icy used telepathy to track him down. Cyber had already begun repairs on itself when they found him. “Cyber, you’re ok!” Cyber joined the happy group and they all returned home.
  “Thank you Buttercup,” Icy whispered to his true friend.

An Icy Battle

  While Icy celebrates Buttercup’s return, another trainer is wandering through the Viridian Forest…

  Meeko shuts her eyes and reaches slowly towards the handles, slowly, slowly...
  ( Just open the stupid door already! ) Bulba says and opens the door, all the other Pokémon follow.
  “Huh? Wha-?” Meeko slowly peeks inside, and walks carefully in.
  Jigglypuff!
  “What Jigglypuff?”
  Jigglypuff!
  “Caterpie what did she say?”
  ( Nice gym! )
  “Yeah, to be turned into dolls....”

  “Hi!” a twelve-year-old girl leaves the trainees and walks over to Meeko.
  “Ekk! Oh, uh, hi, I’d like to battle Icy, what’s your name?”
  “My name’s Sara, come this way, he’s in here, your name would be?”
  “Meeko, uh, Icy hasn’t turned anyone into dolls has he?”
  “Not that I know of...” Sara gives Meeko a weird look, “Here he is, Icy, a girl named Meeko has come to get the Forest Badge.”
  As Sara walks over to Icy’s side, she mutters under her breathe, “Dolls..???”
  “You are here to challenge me for my Forest Badge I suspect?”
  “Uhhh, yes…”
  “C’mon girl, have some confidence. Let’s hear some enthusiasm!” Icy wasn’t in the business of belittling his opponents. He didn’t find it amusing when the Elite 4 did it to him, so he figured it wasn’t the greatest way to be a gym leader.
  Meeko cheered up a bit. “Alright. Yes, I challenge you Icy! I want that Forest Badge!”
  “That’s the spirit! Ok, here are the rules. This will be a 4 on 4 match, to make things interesting. No time limits, and all of my pokémon are legal in accordance with unofficial gym rules.” Icy kinda laughs upon hearing himself use the words ‘rules’ and ‘unofficial’ in the same sentence.
  “Fine with me. Alright, I choose Caterpie!”
  Icy picks up a green pokéball from the stand behind him. “Ok guys, let’s go for another victory. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, BUTTERCUP!” Icy’s green Butterfree flew out over the field.
  “Caterpie, string shot!” Buttercup’s small size helped her to easily avoid the string attack.
  “Buttercup, don’t waste any time, psybeam attack now!” Buttercup charged and released her psybeam at Caterpie. It tries to get up but cannot and Meeko is forced to recall it.
  “Oh no, Caterpie return. You’ll pay for that! Pikachu, I choose you now! Thunder shock now!” Pikachu sends out a thunder shock and hits Buttercup. She is hurt but still manages to stay in the air. “Huh? How’s that possible?”
  “Buttercup is a very strong pokémon, but even she can’t keep going forever. Buttercup, this isn’t worth getting hurt again, return now.” Icy called his friend back to her pokéball. He knew not to push her too far anymore, since she would loyally do whatever it took to win as Icy had seen. “Ok Meeko, you fight well, but you’ll have to try better than that Pikachu to win this badge. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, HOCUS!”
  The amazing Kadabra appears on the field. “Ahh, a Pikachu! Pppphahahahaha!!!!”
  “Hey, stop laughing at my Pikachu. Go on, thunder shock attack!”
  “Hocus…” Icy commands his Kadabra telepathically.
  “Humph, such a weak electric attack.” His eyes glow blue. “Let’s see if you can take all that you can deal.” Hocus points his finger back at Pikachu and the lighting bolt follows.
  “PIIII!!!!!” Pikachu is hit by its own attack and falls over defeated.
  “Noo, oh, now I remember why I hate psychic pokémon. Return Pikachu. It’s a long shot, but here goes. Jigglypuff, I need you now!”
  “Jigglypuff???”
  “Yes! Jigglypuff, explosion now!”
  “Hocus, psychic attack.” Icy went back to a more serious stance. He never liked to reveal his thoughts to the opponent through facial expressions, so it was generally hard to tell whether he was mad or even happy. At most, Icy would sneer or grin slightly, but that was all.
  “Right.” Hocus used his psychic attack to float Jigglypuff into the air. She became confused from it all that she forgot about performing her attack.
  “Jigglypuff? Hey, what’s wrong with her?”
  “And now for my next trick.” Hocus floats Jigglypuff over to him. He takes her in on hand and begins dibbling her. Jigglypuff expands and deflates a bit.
  “Huh, what was that for.”
  “She’s mad that your Kadabra is playing B-ball with her.” Hocus floats Jigglypuff high into the air, then proceeds to slamming her into the ground. “Ok, ok, that’s enough. Jigglypuff return.”
  “Uhh, do you surrender Meeko? It’s 3 to 1.” Icy didn’t want to have to beat another of Meeko’s pokémon, at least, not with Hocus.
  “No, I’m going to win still. I call Bulba now!” Mekko’s Bulbasaur materializes on the field. “Solar beam quick!” Balba takes advantage of the situation by charging his solar beam. Meanwhile, Hocus is still cracking up over the cruel joke he played on Jigglypuff. He turns around just in time to see the glaring heat of the solar beam just inches from his spoon.
  “WHAT THE!”
  “YEAH!!! You beat him!”
  “Hm. So, you think you can really defeat a psychic trainer huh…”
  “{gulp}”
  “You have yet to see the full extent of my pokémon’s power. Ready to fight! Come in sight!! Icy calls… FLUTTER!!! GOOOOOOOOOO” Icy’s new Butterfree appears ready to take on Bulba. “Flutter, psybeam attack!”
  “Aghh!”
  “Huh?” Flutter just flutters over the ground unsure what to do. “Opps, I forgot, you still don’t know that move.”
  “Haha, now’s my chance. Bulba, stun spore!”
  “Flutter, whirlwind the spores away!”
  “Reeee?”
  Icy sweatdrops. “Ohhhh… Look, do this.” Icy starts waving his arms. “Flap your wings really fast.” Flutter just gives Icy and confused look. The spores hit him and he falls to the ground paralyzed.
  “Ok Bulba, finish him off with Razor Leaf!” Bulba uses its razor leaf attack on Flutter and wins.
  “Ohhhh… Flutter, return. Hmm, I guess he needs more training…”
  “Yeah, guess so.” Meeko tosses Icy some special herbs. “Here, they will make him feel better.”
  “Thanks,” Icy replies catching the bag. He hands them to Sara who gets started with treating Icy’s pokémon. “Ok Meeko, you have made an impressive comeback. Time to show you how a real pokémon battle is fought.”
  “Uh oh.”
  “Hmm, hmm, hmm… Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, CYBER!!!”
  “Hey, that’s not a pokémon, it’s a machine.”
  “On the contrary, this little guy is most definitely a pokémon… Cyber, Double Team Attack! Multiple psybeam attack NOW!”
  “Bulba, try using your stun spore!” The spores phases out one of Cyber’s clones, but the remaining two nails Bulba with their psybeams.
  “Finish it Cyber. Sharpen and tackle!” Cyber finishes off Bulba and the match ends.
  “Bulbasaur…”
  “It’s over young one.”
  Meeko looks up at Icy almost about to cry. “Uhh, yo you don’t turn people into dolls by any chance do you?”
  “Dolls? Oooooohhhhh…. Hehehe, you mean like what Sabrina once did? Nooooo, and she’s a lot nicer now. Besides, I don’t waste precious psychic power for that kinda stuff.”
  “Shew…”

Kelly’s First Adventure

  This is the story about a young girl named Kelly. Kelly is a short, darker blonde haired girl and has two Eevees named Mars and Venus. Mars, a male Eevee, is very playful, and Venus, a female Eevee, is more laid back and relates better to Kelly. She is only 9 years old but has special permission to have pokémon travel with her. Kelly is unsure of what she wants to do in life, but one thing is clear, she loves to care for and play with pokémon. She kisses her mom and dad goodbye and heads out in Celadon City.

  “Kelly, where are we going?” asks Mars.
  “Wherever this road leads. I want to explore the world and meet all kinds of pokémon!” Kelly replied joyfully.
  “It’s a pretty big world. How are we going to see it all just by walking?” Venus asks.
  “Hmm. Ah, we’ll rough it, right Mars?”
  “Veee!”
  “So, where does this road take us?”
  “Hmm, I’m not sure.” Kelly continues walking down the road until she stops at a sign. “Uhhh, this says. Uhhh. Hmm. What’s that word Mars?”
  “Sa. Saf. Saffron. Saffron City.”
  “Oh, that’s right. I remember hearing about that city. It’s a big place. Should we go there?”
  “I don’t know. How are we going to sleep and eat?”
  “I think pokécenters let young trainers eat and sleep for free now,” Venus cut in.
  “That’s perfect. If we can make it to Saffron by night, we can stay at the pokémon center!” Kelly smiles and starts to run down the road leading to Saffron City.
  “Heh, Kelly, wait for us!” Her two Eevees run to catch up with her. The trio heads toward the large city.
  “Hey, little girl.”
  “Huh?”
  “Yeah, you.” A boy walks out from behind a bush. “You have pokémon. C’mon, let’s have a little battle.”
  “Uhh, what do you mean?” Kelly wasn’t sure how a pokémon battle went, so she tried to talk herself out of it.
  “You know what I mean. Let’s see, you have an Eevee huh, I choose my Mankey, hahaha!”
  Kelly was very scared of the pig-like pokémon. Mars and Venus growled at the Mankey. “Venus, what do I do?” she whispers to her Eevee.
  “Don’t worry Kelly, me and Mars will handle it. Just call me out and have me tackle Mankey. Got that?” Kelly nods.
  “Umm, ok kid, you want to battle, then I choose my Eevee Venus! Venus, uhhhh, tackle attack.” Kelly didn’t exactly have the appearance of a trainer, which is why the boy chose her as an opponent.
  “Your Eevee can’t beat Mankey. Mankey, fury swipes attack!”
  Venus dodged the small paws of Mankey and rammed into the pig. “All right, I won!” Mankey got back and tossed Venus back towards Kelly. “Huh, oh no, Venus!”
  “What, are you even a real trainer. Oh forget you, I don’t wanna fight a stupid girl novice anyway. Mankey return!” The boy gave Kelly a snotty look then ran off.
  Kelly wanted to cry. She wondered why she left home in the first place. “{sniff} Oh Venus. I don’t like this world. It’s scary and full of mean people.”
  “C’mon Kelly. Let’s get to the pokémon center. The people there should be nicer.”
  Kelly sobbed softly and walked onward to Saffron City. They finally made it there just as the sun was setting. “We made it!” She looked around for the pokémon center. “But, where’s the pokécenter?”
  “Excuse my miss, are you lost?” The older gentleman could tell Kelly had been on a long journey. Her eevees studied his figure.
  “Uhh, yes. I can’t find the pokécenter {sniff} and I’m hungry.” She started crying softly.
  “Oh, now don’t cry little one. Uhh, the pokécenter is just down this road here. Go about two blocks. It’s on the left.”
  “{sniff} Thank you mister.” Kelly and her Eevees followed the man’s directions and made it to the pokécenter. “Wow! We made it here! Let’s get dinner.” They all walked in and had dinner. Soon after, Kelly got a room for the night and instantly fell asleep with her two Eevees cuddled together on the floor. She dreams about all the wonderful adventures she hopes to have on her tour of the world.

Kelly’s Dream

  Kelly woke up the next morning to find her two Eevees still cuddled up next to each other. “Aww, you two are so cute.”
  Mars woke with a start. “Huh. Agh!!! Um, er, ah, cya!” Mars ran into the next room to hide for a while.
  “Oooook. I’m just gonna pretend that didn’t happen. Venus, wake up. It’s morning. Let’s go get breakfast.”
  “Wait for me! I want food too!” Mars flew from his hiding spot at the sound of food. Kelly giggled as she left her room for the food area of the pokécenter.

  “I’d like some pancakes and eggs, and my Eevees will take some of Brock’ s special brand Eevee-Chow.” The Chansey waiter nodded and hurried back with the food she had ordered. “Wow, that was fast.” Kelly looked around. There was nobody in sight. “Hey, where is everybody?” Mars alerted Kelly to the time. “Aghh!!! It’s still only 5am!”
  “Yeah, but I was hungry anyway so I didn’t bother telling you the little details.”
  “Ohhh.” Kelly sighed.
  “Cheer up, at least we don’t have to worry about any mean trainers picking fights with you.”
  “But I’m going to have to stand up to them someday.”
  “Be happy that day isn’t yet here. Remember, you aren’t technically a pokémon trainer. You have to be 10 before you can be that. But we will still fight for you,” Venus said to Kelly.
  “Yeah, we won’t let those bullies boss you around.” Mars and Venus could be a tough team when they joined together.
  “Thanks guys. I can always count on you. Well, since we’re up, let’s pack. I wanna meet this gym leader Brock in Pewter City. He’s a pokémon breeder and I think that might be what I want to become. Maybe he can help me figure it out.”
  “A breeder. But I thought you were going to see the world and collect different pokémon. That’s the job of a pokémon trainer, not a breeder.”
  “I know, but raising pokémon is fun. Capturing them isn’t so nice when you think about it. Pokémon should be free, like you two.”
  “Well, I suppose we are kinda free, but we still like to travel with you.”
  “Good. So it’s settled. We head for Pewter City?”
  “Ok. But, Pewter is almost a week’s walk from here.”
  “Great! We’ll meet so many different pokémon along the way.”
  “Hmm, and trainers.”
  “That’s ok.”
  “You are headed for Pewter City?” Nurse Joy came around from behind the counter. She had been listening to Kelly’s half of the conversation.
  “Uh, yes m’am, why?”
  “Well, you know, you can always fly Pidgeot Express to Pewter.”
  “But I want to see more pokémon.”
  “I think it’s safer you did go adventuring just yet. Tell ya what I’ll do. I can get you tickets for you and your Eevees on the next flight out for free.”
  “Well.”
  “Please, I don’t want to see those bullies picking on you. They hide, waiting to stop any passing traveler.”
  “Ok, ok, I’ll take to Pidgeot. Uh, where is it?”
  “Oh, silly me, they take off from here too. Just wait in the lobby. Have you ever seen a Pidgeot before?”
  “Umm, in picture books. It’s like a giant bird right?”
  “Yes.”
  “Cool!”
  After waiting a few minutes from the Pidgeot to arrive, Kelly, Mars, and Venus all board the Pidgeot from Pewter City Pidgeyport. “Safe journey!”
  “Bye, and thank you!” As they take off, Kelly can only hope the pokémon gym leader Brock can help her in reaching her goals of being a pokémon breeder.

Brock’s Tips on Pokémon Breeding

  Kelly slept that night in the Pewter City pokécenter with her two wonderful Eevees, Mars and Venus. Her alarm went off at 7:00 this time, rather than the previous morning. “Ahhh. Oh good, it’s not 5 in the morning again. Wake up you two.” Kelly tapped Mars and Venus on the head.
  “Oh, good morning Kelly.”
  Mars simply rolled over a stayed asleep. Venus prodded him with her paw until the sleeping Eevee finally had enough. “Ok, ok, I’m up. Where are we going today? Please not another Pidgeot ride, I think I almost got sick last time.”
  “Hehe, no. Today, I’m going to see that gym leader Brock. He is a pokémon breeder. He might give me some tips on getting started.”
  “Sounds good to me!” The trio packed and went to the dining area for breakfast. After eating, Kelly and her Eevees head to Brock’s gym to speak with him.

  “Onix return. Here’s a boulder badge for you, and WHY DON’T YOU TAKE ALL OF THEM!” Brock stormed out of the main gym into a side office.
  “Not a very nice man to be a pokémon breeder. Are you sure he can help you?”
  “I hope so. I don’t know any other pokémon breeders.”
  “Oh well. Let’s go see if he’ll speak with you.” Venus took the front with Kelly close behind and Mars.
  “Ohhh. I’m just not cut out for this Vulpix.” Brock’s Vulpix stared innocently at him with her big eyes. “Ahh, at least you care about me. Huh, who’s there?”
  Kelly walked into the office. “Uhhh, hi! My name’s Kelly. Uhhh. I want to be a pokémon breeder like you.”
  Brock lifted his eyes from Vulpix to see the small girl standing in his office. He tried to block out the idea of asking her out. “Oh. Well, I am kindof a pokémon breeder. What brings you to me?”
  “Well, I hear you are to best at pokémon breeding.”
  “Hehe, who told you that?”
  “Huh, lots of people. They say you should give up being a gym leader and just be a breeder.” Brock facefaults. “Umm, oh, I’m sorry.”
  “It’s ok.” Brock points his attention over to the sign above a machine on the wall. ‘Boulder Badge Dispenser: Over 1,000,000 Served’. “See, I’m really not cut of to be a fighter. I’d rather raise pokémon.”
  “So you’ll help me?”
  “What a sec, how old are you?”
  “Uhhh, uhhh, nine.” Kelly lowers her head as if shamed by her young age.
  “Oh, that explains why you don’t have any pokéballs. So, how did you manage to get two Eevees?”
  “My mommy and daddy gave them to me. They were presents. I’ve loved pokémon ever since that day.”
  (Flashback)
  “Here you go sweetie, open the box.” Kelly’s mom handed her to wrapped box.
  “Hahaha,” Kelly giggled as she ripped to wrapping paper off. She was only 8 years old now and today was her birthday. “Oh.” Kelly stared at the strange red and white metallic ball.
  “That’s a pokéball Kelly. Inside is a pokémon all for you.”
  Kelly shifted the ball around. “Mommy, how does it work?”
  “See that button on the front.” Kelly looked at the ball. It was still in it’s small form. “Good, now press it.”
  Kelly touched the button but dropped the ball as it expanded. “Huh. Neat, it grows!”
  “Good work. Now, push the button again and it will open.” Kelly picked of the pokéball and pressed the button a second time. Now the ball opened revealing a tan colored pokémon. “Oh look Kelly, it’s a real pokémon.”
  “Veeeeeeeee!”
  “Hahaha, uhhhh, what is it?”
  “This type of pokémon is called an Eevee. This one’s a girl. Eevee’s are very playful and make great pets. Your mother and I had a hard time trying to get her. So, what will you call your new pokémon?”
  “I get to name her.” Her new Eevee looked at her with big sweet eyes. “I know, how ‘bout, Venus.” Eevee smiled in acceptance. Kelly’s parents just exchanged strange looks as they pondered why she chose the name.
  “Ok Kelly. There is one more gift for you.”
  Kelly opened the second present and found another small pokéball inside. “You got me another pokémon! Oh, thank you mommy! Thank you daddy!” Kelly ‘s parents just smiled as they watched their daughter play with her new pets. “I think I’ll call you. Mars.” Mars too was content with the name he was given and cuddled up next to Kelly.
  “Now, Kelly, because the law says that in order to be a trainer, you must be 10, you can’t carry any more pokéballs. But I think they let kids own pokémon as pets now.”
  “That’s ok. I just want these two pokémon. I love my new Eevees.” Kelly smiled hugging her new friends again.
  (End Flashback)
  “And that’s why I want to be a pokémon breeder. I’m really interested in going around battling pokémon, just raising them, like you.”
  “Well, that sure is a great story. Tell you what.” Brock walks over to a bookshelf and fingers through the line of texts. “Ah, here it is. Take this book.” He hands Kelly a book written by Suzie, the world famous pokémon breeder. “It’s written by an old friend of mine, Suzie.” Kelly notices Brock blushing slightly upon saying her name. “She’s a famous pokémon breeder. I learned most of my techniques from her.”
  Kelly takes the book from Brock who seems to be having a daydream. “Uhh, ok, thank you Brock. Um, when do you want it back?”
  “That’s ok, I’ve got lots of copies. You keep it. You’ll need it time to time as a reference. Hmm, where did you say you were headed?”
  “Oh. I don’t know.”
  “Well, south of here are Viridian City and Pallet Town. If you go east, you’ll run into Mt. Moon. I think you’re best going south because Team Rocket has been spotted on Mt. Moon recently. You don’t want to pick a fight with them.”
  “Ok. I’ll go to Viridian City then. Oh and, thanks again Brock!” Kelly waves goodbye to Brock as she heads out towards Viridian City. But first she must navigate through the Viridian Forest. I wonder which path was truly better?

Lost Then Found

  Kelly enters the mazelike Viridian Forest. “I guess we go through here.”
  “Yeah. Uh, it looks scary. Are you sure this is the only way?” Mars wasn’t too keen on treading through a mysterious place. Venus shared his view.
  “Isn’t there a route that goes around this forest?” Venus tugged at Kelly’s pant leg.
  “Not that I can see. C’mon, let’s just walk in.” Kelly walks into the thick forest. Her Eevees reluctantly follow her in. As they go deeper and deeper, Kelly and her Eevees get the distinct feeling they are lost.
  “Kelly, where are we,” asks Venus.
  “We’re lost,” answers Mars.

  “No we’re not. I just, well. Ok, I’m lost!” Kelly dropped down and started crying. “WHAAA!!! I want to go home!!!” The tears from her eyes began running down her cheeks.
  “Oh Kelly, don’t cry please. Now we’ve done it,” Venus scolded Mars.
  “Me? You brought it up!” Mars retorted.
  “Please {sniff}. Both of you stop fighting and help me figure out where we are.” Kelly whips the tears off her face.
  Mars and Venus begin looking for anything that would mark a trail of a direction to follow. Suddenly, Mars stepped on the edge of a wooden post which flipped up knocking him in the face. “Owwww.” Mars sobbed. He covered his face with his paws tending to the bruise.
  “Mars, are you ok? Did you find something?” Kelly looked at the ground. There was a wooden signpost that someone had ripped down off the tree in front of her. ‘The Bug Gym 3000ft’. In had a small wooden engraving of a Caterpie on it too. “Maybe to trainer at this gym can help us find a way out of this forest. It says to go this direction about 3000 feet.”
  “Ok, let’s go then.” Venus turned to Mars. “C’mon Mars, let’s hop to it!”
  “Oww. Just a sec.” Mars rubbed his sore nose. “Ok, I’m ready.”
  “Are you hurt bad Mars?”
  “No, I’ll live I think. It’s just a bruise.”
  “Ok. Just try to keep up.” The trio follows what they believe to be a path leading to a place called the Bug Gym. As they continue walked Kelly sees several strange looking pokémon staring at her. “Ohh, I hope we find that gym soon, those pokémon don’t too friendly.”
  “We’ll defend you Kelly.” Mars and Venus took up defensive positions on either side of Kelly. In the distance, they could see a medium sized building.
  “That must be the gym. Let’s go before those pokémon decide to come out any closer.” Kelly and her Eevees run towards the gym in hopes that the trainer there will be able to guide them out of the forest to Viridian City.
  Kelly walked into the Bug Gym. “Hello?” A younger kid, one of Sara’s pupils answered her.
  “Welcome to the Bug Gym of Viridian Forest. My name’s Toby, how can I help you?” Toby wasn’t that much taller that Kelly so it made her feel better.
  “Uh, I got lost in the forest and was hoping someone here could give me directions.”
  “Ok. Icy is in the main gym now. I can take you there if you’d like.”
  “Um, who is Icy?”
  “You’ve never heard of Icy the Pikachu trainer? Well, he’s not a Pikachu anymore, but, for the past few months he was.” After about 10 minutes, Toby completes his recount of Icy’s tale. “And that’s why he is sometimes referred to as the Pikachu Trainer.”
  “Wow. That must have been cool. Um, sure, can you take me to see him.”
  “Uh huh. Right this way please.” They walked down the large grand hallway lined with different forest type pokémon and statues.
  “This is such a beautiful place.”
  “Yeah, I like staying here.”
  “Are you a pokémon trainer?”
  “Well, not quite. I will be soon. I’m one of Icy and Sara’s students. Sara teaches pokémon classes to younger trainers to get them ready for pokémon training. I am in her class.”
  “And who’s Sara?”
  “Icy will introduce her to you. Here we are.” Toby pushed open the big wooded doors to reveal the main gym. Icy and Nicky were chatting about battle strategy. Sara was taking a look at Meeko’s Caterpie. Hocus stood in a back corner meditating.
  “Wow!”
  “Master Icy, I brought you a visitor.” Toby turns to Kelly. “Uhh, what was your name?”
  “Oh, I’m Kelly.”
  “Right.” He turns back to Icy. “This is Kelly. She got lost in the forest and needs directions.” Icy nodded and Toby went back to the main entrance.
  Kelly walked up to Icy and Nicky and formally introduced herself. “Oh, hello. My name is Kelly.”
  “And you are from Celadon City. Your two Eevees are named Mars and Venus. You are nine years old and want to become a pokémon breeder. Right?”
  “How did you know all that?”
  “Icy’s a psychic trainer. See the Kadabra.” Nicky was definitely impressed with Kelly’s appearance. Icy have him a friendly shove back into reality.
  “Snap out of it, you know she’s much to young for you. Not even Brock would act like that.”
  “Sorry… I spaced out for a sec.” Icy just shook his head.
  “So, you need directions, that’s all?”
  “Yes. Can you tell me how to get to Viridian City?”
  Sara and Meeko come out of the back office. Everyone suddenly hears the stereo blasting “Viridian City” in the background. “Opps, sorry ‘bout that.” Sara flips the switch on the stereo turning it off. “Why’s out new guest Icy?”
  “This is Kelly. Kelly, this is my girlfriend Sara.”
  “Ohhh, pleased to meet you Sara.” Kelly seemed to admire Sara. Sara could if she wanted to, become a pokémon breeder herself, but she rather spend her time working with helping other trainers and Icy then just raising pokémon.
  Nicky was spacing out once again. “Now that’s just plain rude Nicky,” Icy whispered to his friend while punching his shoulder.
  “Eheheh…,” Nicky half chuckled.
  “Well, there’s a path leaded to the left as you leave this gym. There should be signs along the road to tell you where to go. If you want, you can stay awhile. We don’t get many visitors around here that often.”

Time Passes Slowpokely

  Last time, a young girl named Kelly came to Icy’s Bug Gym, not too long after Meeko’s defeat, now, the adventure....

  “I guess I could stay for a while.....” Kelly answered, “There’s so many mean trainers, I might as well.” Icy pushes Nicky, again, he was staring at Kelly, again....
  Meeko’s Bulbasaur, Bulba, spoke up, ( Nicky and what’s-her-name? sittin’ in a tree- ) KA-WAP! Pikachu and Jigglypuff hit Bulba over the head.
  “Uh, these are my Pokémon, Caterpie, Bulba, Pikachu, and Jigglypuff. Do your Pokémon have Pokéballs? I thought I was the only one who never used them.....” Meeko asked.
  “No, Mars and Venus have no Pokéballs, I’m not at the legal age to be a trainer, and if you think about it, they’re not all that nice.” Nicky is staring again, and Bulba decides to play a trick on him..... Bulba Stun Spores him and he’s frozen in position.
  “I-c-y, I c-a-n-‘t m-o-v-e w-h-a-t i-s t-h-e m-a-t-t-e-r-?”
  “Oh, just Bulba again, think about it this way, in your standards, this should be a great view.” Icy chuckles and starts kidding Nicky some more.
  “These are really cute Pokémon you have Kelly, what are they called?”
  “Eevees, they are really nice, and yes, they are really cute.”
  ( You mean they’re bugged eyed chiwawas? Call that cute? Hahahahaha-oooooow! ) Bulba says, Pikachu, Caterpie, and Jigglypuff whack him again.
  ( And it’s said chihuahua you cabbage brain! ) Pikachu remarks.
  “Jigglypuff? Jigglypuff!”
  “Caterpie what’s she saying, huh? Wha-? Where’s Caterpie? Ok, Bulba, what did she say?”
  ( She wants to take a walk, so do I, and so does Pikachu )
  “Alright, c’mon Kelly, I can show you some eras to avoid in Viridian Forest.”
  Meanwhile, Caterpie sneaks over to Icy’s Forest Balls, and releases the, CATERPIES! Caterpie makes happy little Caterpie sounds and all the Caterpies start doing Caterpie stuff.
~~~~~~~SCENE SWITCH!~~~~~~~~~
  “See Kelly, the Viridian Forest can be beautiful at times.” Meeko picks a pretty flower and sniffs it, then gives it to Kelly.
  “Vee!”
  “What is it Mars?”
  “There’s bad people here, they are whipping some Pokémon!” Kelly understood, but all Meeko heard was, “Evee, vee, evee, ev!....”
  “What’s the matter Kelly?”
  “Some people are whipping some Pokémon!”
  When they reached there, two Slowpokes were being whipped, by Team Rocket.
  “......better remember fast, or we’ll have to whip you even more pea brains......” The men told the Pokémon.
  “Hey! Stop that!” Meeko and Kelly ran out of the bushes, the Pokémon ready to fight, the TR people ran away, leaving the Pokémon behind.
  “This is the first time I’ve thought a Pokémon looked stupid..... look at those clueless eyes....” Meeko remarked. Meeko picked up one of them and Kelly the other. Meeko decided she’d take care of this one.
~~~~~GYM~~~~~~~
  “Look at my new Pokémon Sara!” Meeko showed Sara Slowpoke.
  “Yeah, they where being whipped by some mean people.” Kelly told.
  “Here, I’ll heal them.”
  “It was Team Rocket again Sara.” Meeko informed.
  “Why would they be interested in these Pokémon?”

A Buggy Battle

  “This’ll be a three on three battle, agreed?” Icy asks.
  “Agreed.” Lewis replies. “Marowak go!” Lewis shouts, throwing a pokéball.
  “Ah yes, a Ground type. Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls Buttercup!” Icy shouts in battle phrase. “Buttercup, Psybeam attack!” Icy shouts. Buttercup fires the beam and is knocked back.
  “Marowak! Counter with bone club!” Lewis shouts. Marowak jumps up and hits Buttercup with its bone. Buttercup is a bit dazed, but not out.
  “Now Buttercup, sleep powder!” Icy shouts. Buttercup released the powder at Marowak. Marowak struggled to blow it away, but fell asleep.

  “Return, Marowak.” Lewis said. Lewis thought over his Pokémon. “Go Pidgeot!” Lewis shouts. The giant bird flew above Buttercup.
  “Buttercup! Stun spore!” Icy commands.
  “Blow it back with whirlwind!” Lewis says. Pidgeot flapped its wings and the stun spore hit Buttercup who now was paralyzed.
  “Agh! Return Buttercup, and now I choose... Static!” Icy says. The Pikachu comes out of its pokéball and stands at the ready for battle. “Static! Thunder attack!” Icy shouts. Static charged up, and lightning clouds formed in the gym! Suddenly, Static releases a powerful burst of electricity! Pidgeot was fried!
  “Return, Pidgeot.” Lewis says. Static puts up two fingers in victory.
  “You didn’t really think you could defeat a psychic trainer did you? Let alone a pokémon master?” Icy asks.
  “I’m not through yet. I know there’s still one Pokémon I’ve never seen a Pikachu defeat. Alakazam go!” Lewis shouts.
  “WHAAAT! You’re a Psychic trainer too???” Icy demanded.
  “Most people from Saffron are!” Lewis replies. Static was too afraid to move. “Alakazam, psywave.” Lewis says. Alakazam fires a wave of Psy energy straight at Static! Static was easily beaten by it.
  “Return Static!” Icy shouts.
  “Ready to accept defeat?” Lewis asks.
  “Ok Lewis... You may think you’re pretty hot stuff, but now you’ll see that you have made a grave error... I choose HOCUS!!!” Icy shouts. The Kadabra stands in battle ready mode, awaiting its master’s commands.
  “A Kadabra. Interesting.” Lewis says.
  “Hocus! Psychic attack!” Icy shouts.
  “Alakazam, teleport!” Lewis shouts. Hocus stops firing a Psychic attack.
  “Stay alert, Hocus.” Icy says. Lewis and Icy’s eyes both start to glow... Lewis nods his head, and Alakazam teleports right above Hocus! “Hocus! Teleport out of the way!” Icy shouts. Hocus teleports just as Alakazam safely touches ground.
  “Psybeam now!” the two shout at the same time. Alakazam and Hocus both fire a psybeam at each other, which collide and knock the two back.
  “Hocus! Quickly teleport and follow with a psybeam!” Icy shouts.
  “You aren’t gonna get to Alakazam that easily! Alakazam, teleport as well!” Lewis shouts. Alakazam and Hocus teleport so fast that only Lewis and Icy can see them, and the spectators can’t.
  “This is getting intense.” Sara says in the stadium seats.
  “I know, Hocus has the advantage of being a high level, but Alakazam has the advantage of being the evolution!” Meeko says.
  “This could be a mis-match.” Nicky says.
  Suddenly, the two stop teleporting, and Hocus fires a quick psybeam at Alakazam which hits! Hocus stops, happy for hitting Alakazam. “Looks like Hocus won.” Kelly says.
  Lewis smiles and says, “Recover.” Alakazam glows, and gets back up! Alakazam fires a psybeam at Hocus, who also gets hit!
  “Hocus! Recover!” Icy shouts. Hocus glows and gets back on the stadium.
  “This is gonna get tedious.” Meeko says.
  “Hocus! Full force psybeam nooooooooow!” Icy commands. Hocus powers up a powerful psybeam!
  “Alakazam, teleport!” Lewis shouts. Hocus fires its psybeam, but it misses and Alakazam teleports behind him! Hocus focuses and moves with the psybeam and fires it at Alakazam!
  “Alakazam, psybeam!” Lewis shouts. The psybeams collide again! The two are knocked to their trainer’s feet, and they both recall them.
  “One more round.” Icy says with a smile. Suddenly, the roof of the gym opens, revealing sunlight! Lewis was predicting what was happening next. “Go Leafy!” Icy shouts. The Gloom stood on the stadium floor. “It’s a beautiful day!” Icy shouts.
  Lewis looked at his pokéballs and thinks, Lewis takes out a pokéball and shouts, “I refuse to lose so it’s all up to you, Bulba-” Suddenly, Weedle pops out instead of Bulbasaur! Everyone looks in amazement at it!
  “A Weedle?” Icy asks.
  “Weedle, I wanted Bulbasaur, but try your hardest!” Lewis shouts.
  “Ha! Leafy solar beam! Let’s finish this battle!” Icy shouts. Gloom begins absorbing solar rays...
  “Weedle! Use that drill sting attack I taught you to dig underground!” Lewis shouts. Weedle starts spinning and digs underground! Leafy stops the attack as it waits. Lewis’s eyes glow, and it commands Weedle to attack telepathically. Weedle pops up under Leafy at an incredible speed, tackling her. Gloom recovers fast, and fires a solar beam straight at Weedle! Weedle is knocked to Lewis’s feet.
  “It’s over Lewis...” Icy says. Weedle suddenly gets a mean look in its eyes, and it jumps back onto the field! Weedle’s eyes start glowing! “What’s happening???” Icy demands.
  “Weedle, what are you doing?” Lewis asks. Weedle points its stinger at Leafy. The stinger is starting to glow too! Leafy starts a petal dance to protect herself. Weedle suddenly fires a Psybeam! Leafy opens her eyes and sees the beam hit her and knock her out! Icy and Lewis are both shocked!
  “Return, Leafy.” Icy says, still shaken from it.
  “That’s impossible.” Icy says. Everyone in the stadium is switching their views from Weedle, to Lewis.
  “Um, nice work Weedle. Return.” Lewis says, also shaken. An exhausted Weedle returns to its Pokéball.
  “As a sign of success for winning, here is a Forest badge.” Icy says, handing over the badge. Sara comes down and asks Lewis if she can assist Lewis in research on his Weedle.
  “Sure, I’m gonna need all the help I can get on this one.” Lewis replies, pinning the badge to his flannel shirt.

Lewis’ Amazing Pokémon

  Last time, Lewis battled with the unofficial Gym leader Icy. After Buttercup defeated Marowak, Static frying Pidgeot, and Alakazam and Hocus fought to a standoff, it was down to Weedle and Gloom. Weedle was about to lose when it mysteriously unleashed a psybeam attack! And now we join Lewis and Sara trying to uncover the mystery...

  “Weedle, just stay calm and stay under the light.” Lewis said to Weedle as he went underneath a scanner. Sara looked under a microscope and saw Weedle’s DNA. “It looks like standard Weedle DNA. The only thing strange is a high number of intelligence neurons.” Sara says. “Intelligence neurons?” Lewis asks. “What gives bug Pokémon the advantage of being superior to psychic type is that most don’t have a localized brain. Their mind is spread out through neurons across their body, and when one is damaged, it can easily be shut down and transferred to another neuron until it’s repaired. There are a lot more then a standard Weedle in your Weedle.” Sara explains. “Could that explain why Weedle fired a psybeam?” Lewis asks. “I’m not sure. No Weedle in history has fired a psybeam!” Sara says. “Well, this is very strange.” Lewis says. Weedle crawls out. Lewis takes out a cellular microscope and inspects Weedle. “This is fascinating!” Lewis exclaims. “What?” Sara asks. “Look at this!” Lewis says, handing over the cellular microscope. Sara looks into it. The neurons were glowing! They were getting bright, and energy was flowing through them. “I think I have an explanation.” Sara says. “What?” Lewis asks. “Your psychic, right?” Sara asks. “Yes. Most people from Saffron are psychic.” Lewis replies. “Where did you catch this Weedle?” Sara asks. “Just outside of Saffron, why?” Lewis asks. “Your Weedle has psychic-type DNA in it. It must have been descended from a psychic type Pokémon, so logically, you have the rarest Weedle in the world because it knows psychic attacks! But according to this it needs a lot of adrenaline to start the psy-attacks.” Sara replies.

  Lewis hugged his amazing Weedle that could psybeam. “This is really cool, Weedle! I didn’t think this would be possible!” Lewis says. Lewis walks back into the kitchen and recalls Weedle. He starts making a cup of tea.
  Kelly was looking at Lewis’s egg. “Hey Lewis, what is that egg you have here?” Kelly asks.
  “It’s a poke-egg. I found it when I was inside the forest.”
  “Can you tell us what’s inside of it?” Nicky asks.
  “Well, let me check.” Lewis says. Lewis pulls out a strange looking pokédex. It was more rectangular, and longer then wide. The pokédex opened two ways: first a top part opened up, and then a second part opened to the right. A bottom section about a half-inch long didn’t open at all. The pokédex showed the picture of the egg, and it said, “A poke-egg. Information available: a normal type Pokémon resides within. Current mass: 4 lbs. No other information available.”
  “What kind of pokédex is that?” Icy asks.
  “It’s a pokédex which won’t come out for another year or two.” Lewis replies.
  “Your family must be up in high places.” Nicky says.
  “Yep. My dad is vice-president of the Silph Co., and my Mom is a programmed for the pokédex.” Lewis replies. Suddenly, the egg starts shaking. Lewis runs over to it just as the egg starts cracking enough! A leg comes out! Another! Two arms pop out! The shell cracks off!
  The small Pokémon opens it’s eyes for the first time and says, “Jiggly! Puff puff!” Lewis pulls out the pokédex again which says, “Jigglypuff: a balloon Pokémon. Uses its alluring eyes to enrapture its foe. It then sings a pleasing melody that lulls the foe to sleep.”
  “It’s not as cute a Togepi, but it’s still the cutest thing ever!” Lewis says.

The Legend of Frosterpie — Prolouge

«Scenes of clouds and large hills with camera flying through»
  Many centuries ago, before modern man had discovered pokémon, an ancient manuscript was found in an abandoned city. Some scholars to this day claim the city was build by and inhabited by pokémon of various types because the document was not written in English, rather in multiple pokémon vocal sounds. The people who discovered the original documents saved them for future generations to study and understand.

«Scene switch: Researchers excavating the ruins»
  In time, people began to learn about pokémon and started to make a connection between them and the document. After another 15 years of studying pokémon, the top pokéresearchers theorized that the document had been written by the leader of a pokémon group who lived in the abandoned city the manuscript was found at. This pokémon was an Alakazam, since it was thought to be the smartest of all the know species at their time. By this time, they had translated almost all of the manuscript and with to aid of another Alakazam, had completed the task in 2 more years.

«Scene switch: Flashback of the story of Frosterpie»
  The document contained information about the society that had lived there. It listed the individual names and what they did. Towards the end, the paper went into a less happy mood. It told of the loss of one of their people. A Caterpie had wandered off one day, and when they found it, he was enclosed in a case of ice. Since the pokémon didn’t know what had happened to their fellow neighbor, they decided to place the frozen pokémon somewhere hidden so that nothing could disturb its slumber. But they did leave small hints on the whereabouts of this frozen Caterpie in the manuscript.

«Scene switch: Giovanni and his agents searching»
  The manuscript had been copied multiple times over the last 20 years and the most respected researchers dedicated their lives to finding what could possibly be the oldest pokémon specimen this well preserved. In the last 2 years, the evil organization, Team Rocket, headed by Giovanni, got their hands on a copy as well. Intrigued with the idea of owning the rarest pokémon alive, Giovanni had sent a small number of agents out to find the rest of the clues that would reveal the location. But, with little success, he finally called off the search until he could find some way of getting to it faster.

«Scene switch: Prof. Oak and Loki researching the document»
  Now, Professor Oak has almost completed his work on restoring the document and understanding its full meaning. Remembering from many months ago, the trainer who was obsessed with Caterpies, he contacts Icy and tells him about the legend. Icy, of course, is completely into the idea of finding a frozen Caterpie so he gladly accepts undertaking this adventure. Sara, Meeko, Kelly, Lewis, and Nicky all offer to join Icy and Oak in searching for the frozen pokémon.

«Scene switch: Oak copying the document»
  Oak, knowing Team Rocket would stop at nothing to try to get to the Caterpie before they did, created a copy of the document and stored it away in case something happened to the original. He only instructed Loki about its location. And that is how our adventure begins. What exciting adventures will our heroes embark on? What interesting pokémon will they meet? What dangers lurk around every corner, waiting to take the upper hand? So begins, the Legend of Frosterpie…

«Camera zooms out of Oak’s Lab until all we see is the earth slowly fading away»

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part I - The Adventure Begins

  The phone rings. “Yes.”
  “He has the manuscript sir.”
  “Hmm, I knew he would.”
  “What should I do about it sir?”
  “You have your instructions.”
  “Where do I take them to?”
  “Bring them here.”
  “Right sir.”
  He hangs up the phone. “Soon my pet. Soon it will be ours.” He strokes his Persian’s fur gently. “Soon I’ll have the most rarest pokémon on the planet.”

[Scene Switch - Icy’s Bug Gym]

  “This is truly an amazing discovery Lewis.”
  “Yeah. I wonder if all pokémon from Saffron have the ability to use psychic attacks.”
  “Maybe.”
  Nicky and Kelly were sitting together talking. “Soooo, Kelly, you really like Eevees huh?”
  Kelly smiled. “Yeah. I think they are the cutest pokémon in the world!”
  “That’s cool.”
  “What’s your favorite pokémon Nicky? Which pokémon do you love most?”
  “I know what he loves most, hehehe, OWWW!” Bulba rubs his head after Nicky’s fist make contact with it.
  “Eheheheh, what a silly pokémon. Come to think of it, I don’t know what pokémon I love most.”
  “Well, that’s ok.”
  Meanwhile, Lewis is busy playing hide and seek with his new baby Jigglypuff.
  “Pikaboo!”
  “Jiggy jiggy jiggy!” His young pokémon giggles, rocking back and forth.
  “Awww, it’s so cute!”
  “So guys, what are we doing today?”
  “I don’t have a class today, so I’m free,” Sara said.
  “I don’t really have anything I’m doing,” Nicky added.
  “I’m not busy,” Kelly answered.
  “Don’t forget me!” Meeko finished.
  “Ok, so, back to the original question, what are we doing today?”
  Just then, the phone rang.
  “Hello, Icy speaking.”
  “Icy, good to talk to you. This is Prof. Oak. I’ve uncovered a great discovery. It has to deal with a frozen Caterpie that could be many centuries old. Would you be interested in helping me in my research of it? You are one of the most respected names in Caterpies.”
  “Would I! Of course I would professor. Hey, can my friends here help too, we’ve got nothing else to do today. Please.”
  “Oh all right. But be careful. Team Rocket has been causing a lot of mischief in your area lately.”
  “Yeah, we know.” Meeko could only nod. “We’ll be right over.”
  Oak hung up the phone. “Loki, come here please.”
  “Ditto.” Loki came to its master’s side.
  “Loki, this is very important. This manuscript must get to Icy and his friends no matter what. Team Rocket may be headed this way I fear. If they take me, I want you to hide until Icy arrives. Give him the manuscript then. Do you understand?”
  “Ditto ditto.” Loki nodded and took the manuscript. He hid himself in a back room. Oak had created a duplicate of the manuscript just in case Team Rocket tried something. He had done so wisely.
  The doorbell rang. “Hold on, I’m coming.” Oak opens the door. “Yes, can I help you with something?”
  “Yes, you can.” The two agents grab Oak’s arms and escort him to a car waiting outside. “You are needed to assist Giovanni and Team Rocket.” Another agent went inside the lab and stole the document. The three agents and Oak got into the car and drove off.
  “What is the meaning of this?”
  “You are going to make Team Rocket very happy or you can kiss you worthless life goodbye.”
  “Well, when you put it that way…”
  They continue driving off towards Team Rocket headquarters outside Pallet Town.

  Lewis picked up Jigglypuff. “We should get going.” Lewis says.
  “Well, we should pack some supplies, we might be gone for a while,” Meeko said.
  “Good idea. Let’s get our stuff together.” Sara says.
  Lewis bounded to his guest room and took out all his pokéballs and commanded his pokémon to come out, and explained to them the events that had happened. “Well, what do you think we’ll need?” Lewis asked. Of course, the Pokémon replied in poketalk, and Lewis couldn’t understand one word of it. “Oooook, back in the balls now.” Lewis says, recalling his Pokémon. Charmander and Jigglypuff remained out of course. After that, he rushes back to the main room, everyone waiting for him.
  “Shall we be going?” Kelly asks.
  “One more thing!” Lewis says. He rushes over to the kitchen and grabs a several tea bags. “I always drink tea on adventures!” Lewis says. Lewis picked up Jigglypuff in his arms, and Charmander followed behind. “Let’s go!” Lewis says, nuzzling Jigglypuff.
  “On the road to Pallet Town, that place brings some good and bad memories....” Meeko said to herself, Caterpie never really understood why she was sad that day, but, he had to cheer her up again this time, ( We’ll play lots of games Meeko, you don’t worry, I’ll protect you! )
  “Thanks Caterpie, but what I’m afraid of isn’t something like that....” Caterpie, now more confused than ever, just went along with it.
  “Jiggly, puff puff jiggly!” Meeko’s Jigglypuff was sitting on Lewis’s shoulder to be near the newborn Jigglypuff.
  “This little baby is so cute!” Lewis said, for the thousandth’s time.
  ( Yes Lewis, you said that for the last, uh, since it was born time.... ) Bulba remarked, Lewis psychically brought Bulba into the air and bonked his head in a small bush.
  ( Ooooooow! ) Bulba holds his head.
  ( He had that one coming! ) Meeko’s Pikachu told Lewis’s Charmander, Charmander laughed.
  ( You wanna battle against Meeko to see how strong you are? Huh? Huh? She’s whipped, uh, many, uh, trainers, like, uh, you! ) Bulba says.
  “Uh, Meeko, your Bulbasaur wants you to battle me, do you want to battle? Meeko? Meeko? Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekoooooooooooooooo?”
  “Huh? Wha-? Sorry, I was, uh, daydreaming.....”
  “What’s been the matter with you Meeko? Ever since we left you haven’t been the same.”
  “Uh, nothing, nothing at all, I just haven’t been feeling very well.” Meeko kind of lies, she doesn’t want to worry other people with her troubles.
  “Uh, yeah, I guess I’ll battle you, prepare to lose, for it’s Caterpie I chose!” Caterpie creeps out.
  “Nice battle phrase, but it will get you nowhere for I chose, Bulba- Weedle? Oh, alright, you know Psybeam.”
  “Jump! Jump Caterpie! Jump!” Meeko yells.
  “Weedle, use Horn Drill!” but it was too late, Caterpie had leapt onto Weedle’s head, Weedle pulls back and tries to sting Caterpie, but Caterpie’s way too fast.
  “String shot!” Meeko and Lewis both yell.
  WREEEEEEEE!
  WEEEEEEEDLE! The two bugs yell, as they both get covered in silk, “Weedle, Psybeam! Weedle, I said Psybeam! Why won’t it work? Return...” Lewis says, Meeko runs over and takes some of the silk off.
  “Prepare to lose, for it’s Bulba I chose!”
  “Go Lickitung!”
  “Bulba, Solar Beam!”
  “Lickitung, bounce it away with your tongue!” it bounced off onto Bulba, “Yea! Huh? What’s Bulba doing?” Bulba got back up and started glowing, the bulb opened up into a flower, a stalk grew, and Bulba grew bigger, IVYSAUR!
  “Oh wow! Bulba evolved! Now I’ll call you, Ivysore!”
  “Prepare-”Meeko was interrupted by someone continuing the thing the wrong way, “For trouble, and make that more than double! Boy, what a stupid poem they had!” TR appeared.
  “Prepare to lose, for it’s all my Pokémon I chose!” Meeko yells.
  “Go all!” Lewis yells.
  “Ready to fight! Come in sight! Icy calls, Buttercup!”
  “Attack!” Team Rocket yells, their Pokémon form.
  “{ Gulp } Those are some tough Pokémon!” Meeko backs up a bit.
  The Rocket member who Lewis had already recognized, had sent out a massive Onix! The other, another who Lewis recognized, had sent out a Hypno. “Nice to see you again!” Lewis says.
  The two immediately looked at Lewis and shouted, “YOU!”
  “You know them, Lewis?” Kelly asks, holding her Eevees.
  “Of course. We’re old pals from Saffron City! I thought you guys retired after Sabrina and I cleared you out of the Silph Co.” Lewis replies.
  “Team Rocket never accepts defeat! And you’ll never get the Frosterpie! Onix, slam them all!” one of them says. Onix begins to fall down to slam them, when a tongue reaches up and touches Onix’s face! Everyone sees Lewis’s Lickitung holding Onix up, and Lickitung pushes Onix away.
  “Buttercup! Psybeam Hypno!” Icy shouts. Buttercup fires its psybeam, but it’s reflected from Hypno!
  “Hypno must be using reflect attack. Return, Lickitung! Bulbasaur go!” Lewis shouts. Bulbasaur comes out of its pokéball, and Lewis shouts, “Razor leaf now!” Bulbasaur launches several leaves, which also bounce off! “Return, Bulbasaur. Charmander go!” Lewis shouts. Charmander jumps up, and fires flamethrower! It fried Hypno, who falls to the ground.
  “Hypno return! We’re blasting off now!” the Team Rocket member shouts, recalling Hypno.
  Lewis then looks at the horizon. “Hey! Route 1 is just over that way! Let’s go!” Lewis shouts.
  “Jiggly! Puff puff!” Lewis’s Jigglypuff shouts.

  As our group heads out of the Viridian Forest into Viridian City, Team Rocket retreats back to their base. Our heroes are unaware however of Team Rocket’s plans for searching for Frosterpie. They finally get to the end of the forest and enter the city.
  “Well, I’m sure glad that’s over. Those guys were really mean.”
  “Don’t worry Kelly, we won’t let them hurt you or your Eevees.”
  “Thanks Icy.” Our heroes don’t need to make any stops in town, so they decide to just pass through.
  “So Icy, what exactly did Prof. Oak tell you about this Frosterpie?”
  “Not much. Just that he has a document that tells where to find it.”
  “I’m hungry, can’t we stop to eat?” asks Kelly.
  “No, let’s get to Prof. Oak’s first. He’ll have food there,” Nicky answers.
  “I don’t know if eating Prof. Oak’s cooking is good for us… Maybe we should stop in the local diner real quick.” The group decides to eat at the local diner and then resume their journey to Pallet Town.

-=( Scene Switch )=-
  “Hmm hmm hmm…”
  “You’ll never get away with this. I’ll never help you.”
  “Oh you will professor. You will.”
  “Unlikely.”
  “Silence. If you want your precious lab to stay in one piece and unharmed, you will help us.”
  “You wouldn’t. You can’t. Those pokémon are innocent.”
  “See what I care. Make your choice.”

-=( Back to our heroes )=-
  “Hey look!” Everyone gazes into the distance, but they see nothing.
  “What is it Icy?”
  “No, over there.” Icy points towards a tall building up on a hillside. “It’s Professor Oak’s Lab!” They all rush towards the lab. Icy and Sara suddenly stop for a sec.
  “Ohhh…,” Icy moans, falling to his knees. Sara drops too.
  “Huh? What’s wrong?” Icy and Sara both look at each other. They were breathing faster than normal.
  “Icy, are you ok?” Nicky and Kelly run to their aid.
  Icy wipes the sweat off his head. “Ohh… I think so… I don’t know what happened… Sara, are you ok?”
  “I think. That was strange. I saw…”
  “Yeah, I saw it too…”
  “Saw what?”
  “Nothing… It’s nothing,” they replied in unison.
  Icy and Sara recover their stamina and everyone continues up the walkway. They knock on the door.
  “Hello,” says a butler in a squeaky voice.
  “Umm, hi, is Prof. Oak in?” The butler pauses.
  “You Icy?”
  “Yes.”
  “Come this way.” Loki leads Icy and the group into a back room. “Oak said run tape. Will explain.” Loki puts a videodisk into the video machine. A picture of Oak appears.
  “Greetings Icy. If you are hearing this message, then something has gone wrong. Loki, my assistant Ditto, has been instructed to aid you in my absence. Icy, Frosterpie has much more meaning than just being an ancient frozen bug. Something in the document speaks of a great power. This Frosterpie may lead us to that power. Loki, please instruct Icy further now. Good journey to you.” The video went blank.
  “I Loki. Ditto of Oak. Oak kidnapped by Rockets. He give Loki copy of document for you. Loki give Icy document now. Wait.” Loki produces the copy of the manuscript and hands it to Icy. “You rescue Oak from Rockets now. They take Oak to Pallet HQ. You go now.”
  “Thank you Loki. Don’t worry about Oak. We’ll get him back.” With that, our heroes leave the pokémon lab and begin searching for Team Rocket’s Pallet Town HQ’s.

-=( Announcer )=-
  And so ends Part I of The Legend of Frosterpie. But what dangers and adventures lie in store for our heroes next? And what’s wrong with Icy and Sara? All these questions and more will be answered on the next, PokéWars!

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part II - Rescuing Professor Oak

  Last time, our heroes got to Pallet Town and met Loki, Oak’s ditto. They learned that Team Rocket had taken Professor Oak captive. They now search for Team Rocket’s secret headquarters somewhere outside Pallet Town.

  “I didn’t know Team Rocket has a base near Pallet Town.” They were walking east, hoping to find something.
  “Neither did I,” Lewis said.
  “Are we really going to invade their base,” Kelly said nervously.
  “Don’t worry Kelly, we’ll protect you. You don’t have to battle them.”
  They continued walking along a dirt path. So far, nothing they saw gave them any leads to the location of Team Rocket’s HQ. “We’ve been traveling this path for hours it seems,” Nicky complained.
  “It’s only been 5 minutes Nicky. C’mon, I’m sure it’s around here somewhere.”

-=(Scene Switch)=-
  “Here they come.”
  “Right, get ready.”
  “We can’t let those twerps be snooping around out here.”
  “We’ll teach them the price of trespassing on Team Rocket property.”
  “Let’s go.”
  “Yes, let’s.”

-=(Back to the group)=-
  “Hey, that looks like a clearing up there!”
  “Hmm, wait!”
  “HA! Too late!”
  “Who are you guys?”
  “Allow us to introduce ourselves,” they recite in unison.
  “To steal every pokémon in all the land.”
  “And take each pokéball out from your hand.”
  “To destroy all that is virtuous.”
  “To be villains who are so malicious.”
  “Techor.”
  “Livy.”
  “Team Rocket will rule the universe.”
  “Give up now, or travel home in a hearse.”
  “Huh? Do all Team Rocket agents have silly mottos like that?”
  “Silence boy. That took months to come up with.”
  “We cannot allow you to go any further.”
  “You don’t scare us. You want a battle, we’re ready.”
  “You may think you are all that young one, but we will surely teach you otherwise. Ready or not, go Muk!”
  “Go Venomoth!”
  Team Rocket’s pokémon prepare to attack.
  “Aghh!!” Kelly shrieks. Her Eevees take fighting stances in front of her.
  “Leave this to us Kelly. Buttercup, Hocus, Cyber! Help us out now!”
  “C’mon guys, we need everyone!” Lewis proceeds to call out his strongest pokémon. “Not you Jigglypuff.” Lewis says, holding Jigglypuff and then throwing his pokéball. “Alakazam, go!” Lewis shouts. Alakazam comes out, ready to fight. Suddenly, Venomoth comes down and stun spores Alakazam! “Return Alakazam!” Lewis shouts.
  Cyber began firing psybeams at the Muk, but they were having little effect. It must’ve been at a high level. Buttercup swooped down and tackled Venomoth, only to have Venomoth release a psybeam at Buttercup! Buttercup was knocked down, and Lewis threw Pidgeot’s pokéball. Pidgeot swooped out. “Pidgeot! Whirlwind!” Lewis shouts. Pidgeot flapped its wings. Venomoth was sent into a tree, but Muk jumped up and tackled Pidgeot. “Return Pidgeot! Ok Charmander, your turn!” Lewis shouts. Charmander jumped up and fired fire blast at Muk! Muk was badly burned, and running around hysterically!
  Techor and Livy were pulling off an impressive battle performance.
  “They’re just too strong!”
  “We can’t give up.”
  “We have to. A wise man once said, ‘he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.’ So let’s split. Everyone, return now.”
  “All, return.” The group recalled all their pokémon and made a mad dash through the clearing.
  “Get back here,” Techor shouted.
  “Let them run Techor.”
  “Hmm?”
  “They can’t beat us. They can’t do it now, they certainty won’t later. Let’s get back to base. The boss will need our protection.”
  “Right Livy.” The two elite agents headed back to the secret headquarters.

  “Hehehe…, the old hideaway. I thought I got rid of the place years ago. Oh well… ehehehe…”

  The group headed back to where the battle was fought. “I knew it! These footprints will lead us straight to their base!”
  “You aren’t really going to storm TR HQ are you?”
  “Not alone.”
  “That would imply us tagging along, right Icy?”
  “Oh course. C’mon, we gotta save Prof. Oak. Now let’s go.”
  “Fine, but we better come up with a better strategy for next time. Huh, Icy, you all right,” Meeko asked.
  Icy was sweating again. Visions passed before him. “No, it can’t be. Not now, please not again.”
  “Icy? Who are you talking to?”
  “Huh? No one… No one…” Icy wiped the sweat off his face. Sara had a similar vision. They both exchanged very worried looks. “It’s going to happen… It didn’t work.”
  “I know. We’ll be fine,” she whispered back.
  “Should we tell them,” Icy spoke softly.
  “No, don’t worry them. We don’t know for sure. It could be a side effect.”
  “Ok.”
  “Ok, we need to follow the tracks and attack, we’ll have Ivysore and Raichu distract the guards while we dash through the door and attack with all our might, since I don’t know what it’s like inside, we’ll just have to find out.” Nicky explained.
  “Now, anyone who doesn’t want to go, say so now....” Sara warned.
  “I won’t chicken out this time Sara, I left my friends in two battles because I was afraid, I’m not doing that again!” Meeko declared.
  “I was going to stay..... but, Meeko’s right.” Kelly said.
  “Then it looks like everybody’s going!” Lewis says.

  ( Hey you! ) Nicky’s Raichu zaps the guards.
  “Hey! You two Pokémon will pay!” the men ran off after Ivysore and Raichu.
  “Ok, let’s go!” everyone gets through the door.
  “Ok, let’s see, if I remember right. We go down, uh-oh!” Icy said.
  “We have you surrounded!” TR members came through the doorway, and out of rooms, everywhere, “We’ve been waiting for you.”
  “Prepare to lose, for it’s Ivysore I choose! Oh, wait, he’s gone....”
  “Go Bulbasaur!” But, as Lewis said that, his Weedle and Meeko’s Caterpie leapt to fight!
  “Weedle! No!”
  “No, Caterpie!” the brave bugs leapt at two of the men’s faces giving Lewis and Icy the chance they needed to get past them.
  “Agh! Look at the size of those Pokémon!” Meeko yelled, but didn’t back away this time. There was a whole assortment of huge Pokémon that TR released.
  “Look! Weedle’s getting pumped up enough to use Psybeam!” Weedle fired the massive beam at several TR members, but fainted after a while from the effort.
  “Oh! No! Team Rocket has us cornered!” Meeko yells, Team Rocket moved in on Meeko, Sara, Kelly, and Nicky.

Back with Lewis and Icy,
  “Take this!” Lewis sent out his Lickitung, while Icy sent out Buttercup.
  “Buttercup, psybeam now!”
  “Lickitung, lick now!”
  Icy and Lewis’ pokémon fought relentlessly to beat the TR pokémon. Luckily, their pokémon weren’t strong against Icy and Lewis’ and they retreated.

Back with the rest of the group,
  “Fall back!” one of the agents called out. They all retreated further into the base.
  “Hmm, that was a little too easy,” Icy announced when the team had regrouped. They ventured deeper into the base searching for the professor.

-=(Scene Switch)=-
  “Sir, our agents are losing to them.”
  “Pathetic losers. Why can’t I ever find good trainers?”
  “What do you want us to do about it?”
  “Stop them. Do not allow them to get any further.”
  “Right sir.”

-=(Back to the group)=-
  “C’mon, they went this way.” The group found themselves in a large, empty room. “Hmm, now what?”
  “We can’t allow you to go any further.”
  “Your little adventure ends here.”
  “It’s them again, the agents from the forest.” Meeko and Kelly backed up a bit.
  “Hey, we’ll need you two to help us battle them,” Lewis said.
  “No way, those other agents weren’t that bad, but these two are for real.” Kelly simply knelt on the floor holding her Eevees back. “No, you’ll only get beat up.”
  “Fine, we’ll battle them ourselves. Blastoise go!” Nicky shouted.
  “Help us out, Ivysore!”
  “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls, Buttercup and Hocus!”
  The group’s pokémon took up positions.
  “Well, four on two isn’t very fair.”
  “Since when did Team Rocket play fair?”
  “Since never! Go Muk!”
  “Venomoth go!”
  “Buttercup, sleep powder!” Buttercup sprayed her sleep powder at Venomoth but it retaliated with whirlwind. Buttercup was put to sleep by her own powder.
  “Hahaha, you little twerps are no match for us. Muk, tackle attack!” Muk charged towards Ivysore and Hocus.
  “Ivysore, vine whip!”
  “Hocus, disable quick!” Hocus concentrated quickly and attempted his disable attack on Muk. It slowed the slimy pokémon down a little, but not completely. Ivysore’s vine whip had no effect on it.
  “Ivysore, get out of the way!” Ivysore jumped out of Muk’s path, as did Hocus.
  “Psybeam Hocus!” Hocus fired a psybeam at Muk, defeating it.
  “Aghh, Muk return. It’s your turn now.”
  “Ivysore return! Go Charmander!”
  “Shoot, fire could hurt Venomoth. Venomoth, stun spore now.” Charmander was too slow and became paralyzed by the stun spores. “Psybeam it now!” Charmander was knocked into Lewis by Venomoth’s psybeam.
  “Blastoise, use your water gun to take out Venomoth.” Blastoise fired its hydro cannons at Venomoth, but the flying pokémon was too strong and stayed in the air.
  “You may think you’re good, but we are better. Venomoth, psybeam now!” Venomoth released a large psybeam and knocked out Blastoise.
  “What the!?! That’s impossible! Blastoise return.”
  “We’ve got to find Oak and get out of here. Someone needs to create a diversion. I’ll teleport to that door there and find Oak myself.”
  “Ok Icy. Ivysore go. Use your razor leaf attack to create a circle around us.” Ivysore surrounded the group with leaves while Icy teleported to the opening.
  While the group continued battling Livy and Techor, Icy quickly went to locate Oak. “Hocus, use your psy-power to render us invisible to their security scanners.” Hocus masked their energy so that the scanners wouldn’t detect them. Icy used his telepathy to located Oak. “Hmm, I sense Oak’s brain waves coming from that corridor. Let’s go!”
  “Venomoth, psybeam attack!” Venomoth finished off the rest of the team’s pokémon.
  “Oh no. This is bad.”
  “Hahaha, huh? Wait a minute, someone’s missing.” Livy pushed a red button on the wall. “Intruder alert! All agents, search the base!”
  “We’ll deal with you all later.” Techor pushed another button and a cage dropped on the group. “Why don’t you all stick around for a while.” With that, they went to search for Icy.
  “Oh no, I hope Icy finds Oak soon.”

  “Professor!”
  “Icy!”
  “Professor, stand back. I’ll get you out.”
  “Uhhh…” Oak stepped back a bit.
  “Cyber, go!” Icy held Cyber up to the bars and used his beak like a saw. “Ok professor. Let’s get out of here quick!” Suddenly, Icy received a telepathic message from Lewis. “Oh no, the others are in trouble. We must hurry.”
  “I’m coming.” Icy and Oak ran back toward the open room their friends were still trapped in.
  “Not so fast little one.”
  “Just where do you think you’re taking him.” Icy noticed a strange looking blaster in Techor’s hand. He had seen that blaster before somewhere.
  “We’re checking out. Cya!” Icy knew he didn’t have time to mess around and teleported himself and Oak as far as his energy levels would permit. They ended up only a few feet in back of the agents, but it was far enough.
  “Get back here!” Techor aimed to blaster at Icy and fired. Luckily the shot missed. “Grrrr!!! C’mon, after them!” Techor, Livy, and some other TR agents gave chase.
  “We’re almost there.” Icy and Oak entered the room where their friends were trapped. “Hocus, melt the bars with your psy-energy.” Hocus focused his psybeam on the bars and they slowly melted. “Faster Hocus, we don’t have much time.”
  “Right you are, pest!” Techor fired the blaster again. Icy was ready this time.
  “Psy-shield now!” Icy used his last bits of psy-energy to create a force field to block the blaster. “Ughh…” He was weak from the high-energy drains but still had enough energy to keep going. Hocus had melted through the bars and everyone made a quick dash for the entrance.
  “No, don’t let them get away! Seal the exits!” It was too late. Icy’s group and Oak had already made it outside with the help of Lewis’ Alakazam. It teleported them all out safely. “GRRRR!!!!! The boss is going to have a fit when he hears about this.
  “No Techor, I’ve already had that fit.”
  “Boss?”
  “You two may have failed to hold them this time, but I see potential in you both. I still have Oak’s manuscript. You two are to find the Frosterpie before they do. Understood?”
  “Yes sir,” Techor and Livy replied in unison.
  “Excellent. Oh, and Techor.”
  “Yes sir?”
  “Make sure you get him with that.” Giovanni motioned towards the blaster.
  “You want me to kill him?”
  “Don’t worry, it won’t kill him, but it will put an end to his group’s messing around with our plans. Just do as I say.”
  “Right sir. I’ll get him.”

-=(Scene Switch - Oak’s Lab)=-
  The group made it back to the lab without any more distractions. “Those two Rockets are impossible to beat.”
  “Techor and Livy are Giovanni’s special agents. They are part of his elite group,” Oak interrupted.
  “What was that blaster they were firing at you Icy?” Kelly asked.
  “I don’t know, but I’m glad it didn’t hit me.” Icy was still unsure if it was the same one. Sara sensed his tension and went over to him.
  “It’s the same one, isn’t it? The effects are going to wear off, aren’t they?” she whispered.
  “I think so…” Icy squeezed her hand. They both understood their fates.
  “Umm, Icy, Sara? Heeeeelllllooooooooo,” Meeko said waving her hand in front of their faces.
  “Oh, sorry. What?”
  “Icy, I trust Loki gave you the second copy of the manuscript already?”
  “Yes professor. How do we read it though?”
  “Hmm, yes, that’s the tricky part. So far, I’m the only pokémon scholar who can read the text. But I’m afraid I can’t afford to journey with you to find Frosterpie.”
  “Then how will we find it?” Nicky asked.
  “Loki will travel with you. I will give him a communicator so that I can talk to you and give him instructions. Loki, I want you to go with Icy and his friends and help them search for Frosterpie. Ok?”
  “Ditto!” Loki squeaked. He jumped into Kelly’s unsuspecting arms knocked the small girl over. She fortunately came down to a soft surface.
  “Oww…” she said rubbing her back.
  “Ohhh…” whined Mars and Venus. They got back up and stood by Kelly’s feet.
  “Sorry guys… Ehehehe…”

  And so our adventure continues. But what dangers lay in store for our group? And what is wrong with Icy and Sara? And will our team ever be strong enough to defeat the evil Rockets, Techor and Livy? Find out next time on, The PokéWars!

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part III - The Search for the First Clue

  Last time, our group of heroes narrowly escaped Team Rocket’s headquarters alive. After rescuing Professor Oak, they return to his laboratory in Pallet Town. Oak explains to the group that he is unable to leave the lab to go journey with them, so instead, he gives Icy Loki, his Ditto assistant, to come along. And now, we rejoin the group inside Oak’s lab...

  “Professor, how exactly are we supposed to find Frosterpie?”
  “What’s so special about a frozen, old Caterpie anyways?” Nicky interrupted.
  [> Wait your turn <] Ivysore said, smacking Nicky on the head.
  “Oww, I was just curious... Humph.”
  “Well Nicky, that’s actually a very good question. Team Rocket may want Frosterpie for its rarity, but there is a great significance to this particular Caterpie if what I’ve translated so far is true.”
  “What professor?”
  “Well, it seems that in order to find Frosterpie, you’ll need to locate eight elemental discs. Each disc will lead to the next with a clue to help.”
  “Uhhh, what’s so cool about that?”
  “There’s more. These elemental discs contain great power. Team Rocket mustn’t know about that yet. When you find those discs, you mustn’t let them fall into Team Rocket’s hands, understand.”
  “Yes professor. So where’s the first disc?”
  “Well, that’s the problem. I don’t know.”
  “WHAAA!!!” The group facefaults.
  “I’m sorry, but the manuscript doesn’t tell WHERE it is, it just gives this crazy riddle.”
  “Well, what’s it say?”
  “The riddle is, ‘An element of nature, when not controlled, it is your enemy, controlled, it is a friend. But it never comes to the same spot twice.’” The group pondered the question.
  “Hmmm, what never comes back to the same place twice.”
  “If it’s not controlled, it can be your enemy...”
  “Hey, I know!” said Icy.
  “What?”
  “Uhh, wait, no, never mind. I was going to say Jigglypuff. She never goes to the same place twice, when she’s under your control, she’s your best friend, and she’s not controlled, she’s DEFINITLY an enemy. But Jigglypuff isn’t an element of nature.”
  “It’s lightning. The element electricity,” Kelly said proudly.
  Everyone turned to stare at the smart, young girl. “Hey, I think she’s got it.”
  “Hehehe, I learned that in school.”
  “So, where’s a place with a lot of lightning?”
  “Maybe they meant a place where electricity is. That would be the power plant outside Cerulean City right?”
  “Yeah! Let’s go!”
  “Wait, you should have a quick meal before you go. You may be gone for a long time.”
  “Uhhhhh, I think Meeko wanted to visit someone or something in a few minutes. Sorry professor, but, time waits for no one.”
  “Oh, ok. Good luck Icy and the rest of you. Goddish-speed on your journey.”

  Meeko walked up to a graveyard, she walked over to two graves, side by side and knelled down, “Caterpie, Ivysore, Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Slowpoke, this is why I was afraid to come here, you see, the day I found you Caterpie, my parents died,” tears are coming from Meeko’s eyes, after this talk it’s been past 5 seconds, so Slowpoke even understands, and carries a bunch of flowers and puts them on the graves.
  Meanwhile, back at the restaurant there is a T.V. with the news on, “Aw, who wants the news!” Nicky complains.
  “Pallet is still searching for the girl that went missing after Mewtwo tried, but failed, to destroy Pallet. If you’ve seen this girl, please, call the police,” a picture of Meeko appears, “Here’s an eyewitness to her running away.”
  “She came up and asked what happened, I told her that Mewtwo tried to destroy Pallet and only got those two houses, when she asked what happened to the people inside, I told her they’d died, and she ran off like the wind!”
  “And here we are at the grave yard where her parents are, what?!?! That’s Meeko! Meeko! Meeko!”
  Meeko turns around to see a group of people running at her, she grabs Slowpoke and runs to the restaurant, when she finally gets there, “I’m..... outta.......breath.....could......someone......else.....tell......them......I’m.....fine......just......a.......trainer.......now....” Meeko says in between gulps of air.
  “Meeko slow down, we saw it on the news, they’re just worried about you.” Icy said.
  “Ok ummmmm, I’m not very good at talking to a crowd of strangers, can we just, oh, wait, that girl’s one of my old school friends!”
  Meeko timidly steps out, “Uhhhh, I’m sorry for concerning you, I’m just a Pokémon Trainer now, please, don’t worry, uh, bye!”
  “Wait! Meeko!” one of her old friends comes over to her and hands a Pokéball to her, “It was found at your house.”
  “They actually where going to let me have a Pokémon?” Meeko releases it and out comes a Meowth kitten, Meow! Meow! Meow! Meowth! Meeko picks up her new Pokémon, she thanks her friend and gives the Pokéball to Icy, “I can’t use that thing, you can.” The little Meowth happily purrs in Meeko’s arms.

  And the group continued on to the Power Plant. Lewis was of course, holding Jigglypuff and admiring its cuteness. Ivysore once again made a smart remark, and found itself in the middle of a tree.
  “You know, Meeko. Ivysore isn’t much better then Bulbasaur was.” Lewis says.
  “Still, I like him.” Meeko says, pulling Ivysore out of the tree. Icy and Sara suddenly collapsed! They looked at each other again, whispering to each other.
  “Here, you guys go over to that pond and get some water for these two.” Lewis said. The others left, and brought Sara along with them.
  “Lewis, there is something I should tell you.”
  “I thought so. What’s wrong with you and Sara?”
  “That’s just it. Lewis, remember when I told you we had been transformed into Pikachu before. Well, we’ve both seen visions of it happening again. The cure that Bill and Mewtwo created for us is wearing off. Soon, we’ll be Pikachus again... Huh, Lewis?”
  For some reason, Lewis wasn’t responding to him. He tapped his shoulder. “So, we meet again Icy.”
  “Whaa!!!!” Icy crawled back fearfully. He knew where he was. Mewtwo had phased them into the Void again. There was no way out. Icy still couldn’t control his phasing ability yet.
  “What’s wrong Icy? You seem distressed.” Mewtwo grips Icy by the throat choking him. “You no good, slimy, double-crossing human.” Mewtwo throws Icy across the plain. “You lied to me Icy.” Mewtwo began charging up a psybeam.
  “No, please.”
  “SHUTUP!” Mewtwo hurtles the beam at Icy. Icy reacts quickly with a psyshield to block the attack.
  “Stop this. Why are you attacking me?”
  “Because you are just like every other human down there. You using your pokémon for your own betterment. You’ve become just like them all.”
  “Buttercup. Is that what you think?”
  “Not just her, but she is the main reason I am upset. Yes, you let her die.”
  “I didn’t know.”
  “Liar!” Mewtwo fires a quick psybeam into Icy’s chest sending him flying back through space.
  “Ughh... Please, enough... Stop this Mewtwo. Violence isn’t the solution. You know that. Please, I never meant to harm any of my pokémon, especially Buttercup. I thought she could pull that off. I had no idea that she was going to do that.”
  “That’s not the point. You allowed her to sacrifice herself so that you could become a pokémon master. True or false.”
  “No, that’s not correct.”
  “FALSE!” Mewtwo sent another psybeam into Icy. This time Icy could not find the strength to get back up. His energy levels had almost completely depleted. “I could, and should kill you right here and now Icy. Giovanni would love that. And then again, that’s the only thing keeping you alive now. Besides, you know as well as I what’s about to happen.” Mewtwo sent one last psybeam into Icy before phasing him back into reality.
  “AGHHHH!!!” Icy cried before hitting the ground. Lewis was really confused. Sara went over to Icy and tried to revive him.
  “What happened to him?”
  “I don’t know. He was fine the first second, then, he just screamed in pain.”
  Suddenly, one of the bushes nearby shook. “We’ll take it from here. Out of the way twerp.” Livy takes out a wind device and blows Lewis away from Icy and Sara.
  “Giovanni’s going to be very proud of us.” Techor reaches into his holster and pulls out the strange blaster. He takes aim at Icy and Sara.
  “NOOOOOOOOO!!!!” Lewis shouts. He’s too late.
  “AGHHHH!!!” Icy and Sara scream together. They both fall to the ground unconscious.
  “What did you do to them?” Lewis’ eyes turn blue and Techor and Livy are blown away from Icy and Sara. “Icy, Sara, speak to me. Oh no.” He was too late to save them. The transformation had already begun. In a matter of seconds, the two humans had been transformed back into Pikachus. “Oh my Goddish...”
  Lewis immediately got back up. The others had just seen the terrible thing that had happened. Lewis was boiling with psy energy. “I am so sick of you two! Turn them back at once!” Lewis shouts.
  “Nope. Besides, you’ll enjoy it when you’re one too!” Techor shouts. Techor points the Transpokéfier gun at Lewis. Lewis holds up his hands, knocking the gun away from their hands. Lewis focuses his psy energy at the gun, destroying it. Techor and Livy sank their hearts about getting a promotion: Giovanni would not be pleased when he hears the gun was destroyed. Lewis was glowing with psychic energy, but it dispersed when he heard from Techor and Livy, “Venomoth! Muk! We choose you!”
  “I am having a REALLY bad day thanks to you two! Pidgeot, Lickitung go!” Lewis shouts. Lickitung and Pidgeot jump out, ready for a fight.
  “Ivysore, go get them!” Meeko shouts.
  “Blastoise, I choose you!” Nicky shouts.
  All four Pokémon jump into battle, ready and able. With Icy still unconscious, Lewis knew that he had to do something. Pidgeot and Lickitung were all over Venomoth, but it wasn’t helping. Blastoise and Ivysore were pounding and shooting leafs and water at Muk. It barely scratched them. Lewis looked over and saw Icy’s pokéballs. “I really hope Icy forgives me for this.” Lewis mutters. Lewis runs over and grabs two of Icy’s pokéballs and shouts, “Pokémon! Help us out!” Cyber and Hocus come out, confused that their master didn’t send them out. Before Hocus can speak, Lewis runs over and shouts, “No time to explain! Quickly, Cyber, get Icy and Sara away fast! Hocus, get Icy’s pokéballs and send out his Pokémon! We’re in way over our heads with that Venomoth and Muk!”
  Hocus and Cyber hesitated for a moment, but complied. Pidgeot was using wing attack on Venomoth, but Venomoth would quickly evade and counter with leech life. Lickitung was having a little more success though, licking Venomoth. Unfortunately, the paralysis didn’t last long enough. Venomoth would come out of it and attack more. Buttercup, Hocus, Static, and a few Caterpies joined that battle. Unfortunately, it still wasn’t enough. Lewis thought some more.
  “I think it’s time for tactical retreat!” Lewis shouts. Icy’s Pokémon hesitated again, but came back. Lewis quickly recalled Lickitung and Pidgeot. Nicky and Meeko recalled their Pokémon and also started to run.
  “Cyber! We need a distraction. Use your tri-attack and have the Cyber clones distract Venomoth and Muk long enough to get us away!” Nicky says. Cyber nods and suddenly two more Cybers appear and fly down to attack Muk and Venomoth.
  “Cyber! Get bigger and convert to flying type!” Lewis shouts. Cyber suddenly gets larger and the group is flying back to the forest, amazed and overwhelmed.
  Icy came to just as the group was landing next to the Bug Gym. “Wha... What happened?” Icy asks, but all everyone heard was, “Pi, pika...”
  “Icy. You and Sara are Pikachus again. I decided to fly us back to the Viridian Forest Gym using Cyber. We had another battle with Techor and Livy-... We lost again.” Lewis says. Icy closes his eyes and a tear runs down his cheek.
  Icy hopped out of Lewis’ arms and began looking for something. Finally he found a small black cube. It was the PikaTranslator that Quethril had constructed for him many months ago. He put it around his neck and took some string.
  “I need my pokéballs please.” Lewis could now understand Icy. He gave him his pokéballs and Icy selected Hocus and Buttercup. He tied the string around the balls and tied the other end to his tail.
  “Icy, are you going to be all right.”
  A tear formed in his eye. “No...” He looked at his reflection in the mirror. “Look at me! I’m a Pikachu again. I’ll never be human again.” Icy began to cry out loud. Sara wobbled over to his side.
  “Icy, we’ll pull though this. We always have each other, nothing can take that away.” She kissed him softly on his cheek. Icy half smiled.
  Loki slithered up to Icy. “Loki understand how Icy feel. Loki imitate human all day for Oak. Loki no like much. Loki like being Ditto. Icy like being human, not Pikachu. Loki sorry about Icy be Pikachu again. Maybe Oak find new cure for Icy?”
  “I don’t think so. Aura was the pokémon that cured us. But that only lasted for a month. Let’s face it, I’m going to spend the rest of my life a Pikachu...”
  “Don’t say that. Maybe Oak can find a cure. But anyway, how ‘bout we start heading to Cerulean City. We gotta find that first element disc.”
  As they walked to Cerulean, Meeko’s Pikachu was always with Icy and Sara, Meeko’s Jigglypuff was sitting on Lewis’s shoulder, Kelly and Nicky were chatting, with Ivysore ready to make a smart remark, Kelly’s Eevees were busy chasing Meeko’s Meowth, Yarns, and Caterpie sat on Meeko’s shoulder.
  “Hm, not much happening, lets go see what Lewis is doing.” Meeko walked over and spooked him when she asked what he was up to.
  “Ack! Don’t scare me like that!

  Pi!!!! Pikachu!!!!, Pikachu points at a Snorlax blocking the way.
  “Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Not a stupid Snorlax!” Lewis yells.
  “Why not wake it up with your psypowers?” Kelly asks.
  “Why not? Because these guys are very unhappy when you mess up nap time!” the Snorlax, suddenly woke up!
  SNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOREEEELAAAAAAAAAAX! It takes a swipe at our heroes, they duck, they stand back up, the Snorlax tries to sit on them!
  “I don’t like doing random teleports, but....” Lewis randomly teleported them to Cerulean ( hey, they were nearby it from the start! So it still was a short teleport! )
  “Why into a swimming pool? I forgot to bring my swim wear!” Meeko looked at her soggy dress. The three Pikachus, Icy, Sara, and Meeko’s, zapped everyone in the water by accident.
  “Sorry, Pikachus can’t hold it too well in water.” Icy apologizes.
  “Look! It’s Cerulean City!” Kelly yells over Yarns’ loud meows.
  Lewis quickly had Charmander, the only one besides his Jigglypuff, to dry his clothes. When Lewis was now crispy, he told Charmander that would be enough. “So now that we’re in Cerulean city, which way to the Pokémon Center?” Nicky asks. Lewis took out his map, all soggy, and saw the center was only a mile to two away. After half a mile, Kelly asked the group to stop for a break.
  Jigglypuff was crying because it wasn’t getting that much attention. Lewis calmed down Jigglypuff, and picked it up and said, “We better get going.” The group sat up and continued down to the center.
  The entire group handed their pokéballs over to Nurse Joy. Lewis went into a back room and continued working on the gun. Icy went over again and asked, “I know you are wanting me back as a human, but don’t you think you should take a rest? Maybe get some food?”
  Lewis said, “I’m not going to stop.”
  “Why? I think eating would be a little more helpful at this moment.” Icy says.
  Lewis muttered, “It’s my fault.”
  “What? What did you say?” Icy asks.
  “It’s my fault you were turned into a Pikachu early. I was preoccupied. If I hadn’t been, I could’ve sensed Techor and Livy coming. Icy gave him a pat on the back. Nurse Joy walked up and said their Pokémon were healed. “Let’s go Icy, we have a Frosterpie to find.” Lewis said.
  “Ok, let’s get going.” The group takes their pokéballs from Nurse Joy. “We need to reach the power plant. That’s were the first disc should be.” The group departs the pokémon center and heads east towards the outer city limits.

  “So, that disc is at the power plant.”
  “We’ll stay close and snatch it when they find it.”
  “An excellent plan Techor.”
  “Of course it is Livy.”
  “And we’ll take Icy and his little girlfriend too. Giovanni will be very pleased to see them too.”
  “Hmm, right. Too bad about the Transpokéfier gun. Boss won’t like that we lost it.”
  “So what. The lab can just create another. Icy’s weakened now. We won ‘t have trouble capturing him.”
  “Of course we won’t. All we need is a pokéball. Hahahaha!!!”

  The group took a rest. Icy snuck away from the group. “C’mon, float.” Icy concentrated hard on the pokéball in from of him. “C’mon.” The ball started to levitated a bit. Sweat poured down him face. The ball started to wobble. “No.” It fell to the ground. Icy stared at the ball and begin to sob. “I. I can’t control it. I can’t use my psychic powers.” Icy started crying. He picked up the ball. “Stupid ball.” He got ready to throw it, but stopped. He dropped to the ground. “I’ve lost it.”
  Sara heard him and snuck away too. “Icy?”
  “Don’t. Nothing will help me now. I can’t even keep a pokéball in the air. I’ve lost my psychic power.”
  “What?”
  “It’s gone, or too low to be of use.”
  “Well, you pull through. C’mon. The group is going to miss us.” Icy got up and rejoined the group. They continue their journey to the power plant where they believe the first of the elemental discs is located. But with Techor and Livy close behind, could our team be headed for another disaster. Find out next time on, The PokéWars!

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part IV - The Thunder Element

  We rejoin our heroes as they enter the area where the power plant lies. It’s a sunny, hot day and our team begins searching the area for the Thunder Elemental Disc.

  “Oak send transmission. Icy wait one moment.”
  “Cool. What’s Oak got to say Loki?”
  “Oak say, thunder disc in form of round marble circle. Have engraving of thunderbolt on it. No more information.”
  “Ok. Let’s start looking.”

  “Those twerps will lead us straight to the disc.”
  “Hmm, yes.”
  “Did you tell the boss about the gun yet?”
  “Yes.”
  “And.”
  “He’s ok. I think. He just said, next time, be more careful. I guess we have an untouchable track record.”
  “It’ll be even more untouchable once we nab that Frosterpie or whatever it is.”
  “Right.”

  Lewis suddenly heard a buzzing sound! He looked behind him and saw a Magnemite floating. “A perfect chance! Graveler go!” Lewis shouts. The Magnemite freaked out and started to float away, but floated right into a wall, making it dizzy. “Pokéball, go!” Lewis shouts. The pokéball touched Magnemite, sucking it inside. The little thing barely put up a fight. Jigglypuff put up two fingers of joy.
  “Find anything yet?”
  “No, nothing,” Kelly complained. Her eevees were digging holes everywhere.
  Icy motioned for Loki. “Icy?”
  “Loki, ask the professor what we are doing wrong. We can’t find the disc anywhere.” Loki set up a comm link to Prof. Oak and gave him the message. A few minutes later, he got a reply.
  “Oak say, disc only be found by electric pokémon. Only they sense disc in location. Disc have special properties. Oak research now.”
  “Ok Loki. Hmm, aren’t I considered an electric pokémon now? I can’t sense it.”
  “I think your human side is preventing it,” Nicky explained.
  “Static, I choose you!” Static appears. Nicky sends you his Raichu and the two electric mice go hunting for the element disc.
  “Rai rai!”
  “Pika pika!”
  They found something. But no one could see it. “What? What are you two so happy about?”
  “They say they found it.”
  “I don’t see anything.”
  In the eyes of Static and Raichu, the disc was magnificent. It was pure marble, and it shined with the sunlight hitting it. Static went to touch the disc. Suddenly, everyone could see it.
  “It exists beyond the ethereal plane?”
  “Say what?” Lewis asked.
  “The disc, it’s hidden inside the void. That’s why we can’t see it, but they can. It’s strange, but it’s the only explanation.”

  “And now it’s ours!” Techor and Livy leap from their hiding spots.
  “We thought we’d give you losers a fighting chance today. We’ll do one-on-one battles with you. It’s completely fair. If we win, we get the disc. Otherwise, you may scamper along.”
  “Don’t do it Icy, it’s gotta be a trick.”
  “It is, I can sense it.”
  “They know, plan B.”
  “Right!”
  “Go Muk, go Nidorino!”
  “Go Venomoth, go Nidorina!”
  “Well we aren’t going to surrender now. I’m first up! Blastoise go!” Nicky shouts. Nidorino and Blastoise stood on opposite sides of the plant.
  “Nidorino! Horn attack!” Techor shouts. Nidorino jumps up to ram its horn into Blastoise’s head, but Blastoise used withdraw and retreats into its shell. Nidorino hits the shell and gets knocked back.
  “Blastoise! Now give it hydro pump!” Nicky shouts. Blastoise gets out of its shell and begins firing massive amounts of water at Nidorino, but Nidorino was evading fast.
  “Nidorino! Focus energy!” Nidorino began glowing and got faster. Blastoise wasn’t too scared. When Nidorino jumped up to ram it, Blastoise countered up and skull bashed Nidorino right into a wall. Techor recalled it.
  “My turn now! Venomoth go!” Livy shouts.
  “It’s a flying type! And flying type is weak against electricity! Go Magnemite!” Lewis shouts.
  “Hey! Where did you get a Magnemite???” Icy asks.
  “I caught it just as we got inside.” Lewis replies.
  Icy sighed and said, “I should’ve done that.”
  “Venomoth! Hit it with stun spore!” Levy shouts. Venomoth fired its stun spore at Magnemite.
  Lewis was quick to act, “Magnemite! Dissolve it with sonic boom then follow up with thunder bolt!” Magnemite fires a sonic boom dissolving the spore and then quickly shocked Venomoth stunning it for a second. “Now finish it with thunder!” Lewis shouts. Magnemite moves closer to fire the thunder, but Venomoth was quicker. He quickly fired a psybeam at one of the magnets, making Magnemite spin while firing the thunder. Magnemite shocked itself too much, and fainted. “Return Magnemite.” Lewis says.
  “Muk go get them!” Techor shouts.
  “Ivysore get that pile of sludge!” Meeko shouts. Ivysore jumps into battle stance.
  “Muk! Poison gas attack!” Techor shouts. Muk releases the gas, which surrounds Ivysore. Ivysore barely noticed the gas.
  “Now Ivysore, Razor leaf!” Meeko shouts. The leaves fired and dissipated the gas. Muk then tried a tackle attack, which Ivysore easily evaded. “Give it another razor leaf!” Meeko shouts. The leaves fire and constantly pierce Muk, fainting it.
  “Return Muk.” Techor said, depressed that he had finally lost.
  “Well I will avenge you Techor! Nidorina go!” Livy shouts. Nidorina stood on the power plant floor.
  “I’m up now! Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls Hocus!” Icy shouts. Icy picks up the pokéball with his two little hands and throws it. It goes about two feet in the air, and Hocus comes out.
  “A new Pokémon of theirs? Bah! I will defeat it easily!” Hocus laughs. Hocus fires a psybeam at the Nidorina, who surprisingly evades it quickly! Nidorina jumped down for a double-kick attack. Hocus teleported behind Nidorina, and Nidorina switched directions and kicked Hocus down! Icy recalled his Pokémon.
  All of a sudden, a net fell on Icy! “What’s the big idea-Hey! Let me out of this!” Icy shouts.
  Techor immediately grabbed the net and said, “Fools! The battle was merely a diversion so we could capture Icy! Ha ha ha!” Lewis jumped to try and tackle them, but they put down a smoke bomb and they were suddenly gone.

  “We have a problem.” Nicky says. Suddenly they turn around, the disc was gone.
  “We need an electric Pokémon to find the disc! Magnemite go!” Lewis shouts. Magnemite floats out, and begins floating towards the location of the disc. About 10 minutes later, they saw Techor and Livy floating away in a balloon. “Not so fast airheads! Pidgeot and Marowak, I choose you!” Lewis shouts. Marowak jumps on Pidgeot’s back, and they fly up towards the balloon. Marowak jumps off Pidgeot, and bone clubs the two TR members in the head. Marowak quickly grabs Icy and jumps back onto Pidgeot, who flies them down.
  Techor and Livy get back up saying, “Well, you may have Icy back... But we have the disc!”. They hold up the disc. Magnemite flies up and thundershocks the balloon. It didn’t scratch it. “Ha! Our balloon is made from rubber! You cannot defeat it!” Livy shouts.
  Magnemite suddenly was getting very angry! All of a sudden, two Magnemites floated from the power plant and joined with Lewis’ Magnemite! Everyone looked in amazement as the Magnemites grew larger together, and evolved! Lewis pulled out his pokédex which opened up and said, “Magneton: the magnet Pokémon. It generates strange radio signals, and it raises the temperature 3.6 degrees within 3,000 feet.” Magneton quickly fired a tri-thunder shock that burst a hole through the balloon!
  Techor and Livy quickly jumped out and shouted, “Time for a Pokémon battle! Muk, Nidorino, Venomoth, Nidorina, we choose you!”
  Techor and Livy landed on the ground safely as their pokémon leapt into battle.
  “I choose you Buttercup!” Buttercup stormed into the clearing. “Psybeam now!” Buttercup targeted Muk with her psybeam knowing she was strongest against that particular pokémon.
  “Oh no, Muk, smokescreen now.” Muk created a smokescreen and Buttercup lost sight of her target.
  “I might be of some assistance Icy,” Nicky said. “Go Pidgeot!” The giant bird appeared in the area. “Whirlwind!” The smokescreen vanished but Venomoth was closely pursuing Buttercup.
  “Reeeee, reeeeeeee, reeeee!!!” she screamed dodging Venomoth’s psybeam attacks.
  “Pidgeot, you help Buttercup. Sandslash, go!” Sandslash materialized. “Sandslash, burrow under Team Rocket and get that disc. It’s our only chance at beat these guys.” Sandslash burrowed as ordered.
  Venomoth overtook Buttercup and nailed her with a short-range psybeam. Buttercup was knocked out of the air and hit the floor hard. Icy ran over to her. “Nooooo, Buttercup!” She was still alive, but very hurt. “Buttercup, return. I’ll heal you after we finish with these guys.” Pidgeot finally caught Venomoth and used its wing attack to defeat Venomoth.
  “Aghh, my Venomoth. Nidorina, get them!”
  “You too Nidorino. Wha?” Sandslash came up under them knocking the two agents over. Techor lost grip of the disc and Sandslash grabbed it in its claws. It returned to Nicky.
  “Excellent work. Raichu, I choose you!”
  “Static, you too!”
  “Magneton, team up with Static and Raichu!”
  The three electric pokémon all looked at each other then at the marble disc. Something inside them told them what they needed to do. Just as Nidorino and Nidorina were about to tackle them all, they joined paws, and magnet, on the disc. It was like time just stood still. The room became so bright that everyone had to look away. The emblem on the disc glowed a bright white. Then, a massive electric discharge erupted from the disc. It quickly blasted Nidorino and Nidorina then hit Techor and Livy.
  “AGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!” they screamed cacophonously. Finally, the shock wore out. All three electric pokémon simply collapsed from the energy drain. “Uhhhh, what hit us. That disc made those electric pokémon super strong. We’ve got to steal it back.”
  “No, let them keep it, we’ll get it later. We can’t risk it now.” Techor turned to Icy and his group. “We’ll be back. And next time, that little disc won’t save you. Frosterpie is going to be Team Rocket’s! Hahahaha!” Livy produced a small sphere from her pocket and throws it against the floor. “Now you see us,” {poof}, “now you don’t.”
  “Ahh, let ‘em run. We beat them, finally.”
  “Yea, but next time won’t be that easy. Their pokémon are so strong, we’ll need to have ours at full energy for that disc to stay effective.”
  “Icy, is Buttercup ok?” Sara asked.
  “Yes, she’s just hurt a bit. On our way out, we can stop in the pokécenter. I think there’s one not far from here.”

  And so our heroes have finally defeated Techor and Livy. But was it just luck that gave them the win. I sure hope not, because Techor and Livy don’t seem to give up easily. But now, they finally found the first clue to unlocking the secrets of Frosterpie. What new adventures lay in store for them next? Find out next time on, The PokéWars.

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part V - The Second Clue

  While their pokémon are being healed, Static starts talking to Icy. “Icy, we think we know what the disc says.”
  “Really, tell me what you found.”
  “Well, we can’t be sure, but we think this is the inscription. ‘It covers all the land; it brings life to all things. But as good as may be, it can take this all away.’”
  “Hmmm.” Icy goes to tell the rest of the group what the second clue is.
  “What covers everything?”
  “Land?”
  “No, there’s water too.”
  “Maybe water is the answer. A one point, water covered everything,” Kelly said.
  “Hey, that’s right. Very good Kelly. You’re such a smart little girl.”
  “Hehehehe, thank you…”
  “So, where is the location?”
  Just then, Icy senses a high-pitched hum. “EVERYBODY OUT NOW!!!” The missile came right through the window just as the last of the people inside had gotten out. The building immediately exploded launching debris for hundreds of feet.
  “WOW!!! That was too close.”

  “Drat, you missed.”
  “He shouldn’t have been able to sense that coming. You said his powers were low.”
  “Apparently not too low. C’mon, a pokémon battle is in order. We can show them our newest pokémon…”
  Techor looks at the shiny black and red pokéball. “Right.”

  “It must have been Techor and Livy. But where are they?” Icy says.
  “Allow us to introduce ourselves,” Techor and Livy say in unison.
  “To steal every pokémon in all the land.”
  “And take each pokéball out from your hand.”
  “To destroy all that is virtuous.”
  “To be villains who are sooooo malicious.”
  “Techor.”
  “Livy.”
  “Team Rocket will rule as decreed.”
  “Give up now, or prepare to be creamed.”
  “Huh, you changed the last two lines.”
  “So?”
  “That’s against TR regulations.”
  “SHUT UP!”
  “She’s right, you’ll pay for that insult little pika freak.”
  “I’m not a freak, you did this to me!”
  “Huh? You kn… grrrr… Muk, Nidorino, and Kabutops go!”
  “What, they got new pokémon?”
  “You haven’t seen anything yet. Venomoth, Nidorina, and Omastar go!”
  “Wow, they’ve got ancient pokémon!”
  “Ancient huh, attack!!!”
  “Ancient is right! Jigglypuff, Explosion on those oldies!” Jigglypuff glowed yellow, and a giant explosion wiped out Muk, but Jigglypuff fainted from the strong attack.
  “Go Magneton!” Lewis yells while Meeko is busy checking on her Jigglypuff.
  “Look! A Magnemite followed me; it likes me as a trainer, yea! I got a new Pokémon! I’ll call him Magnet!” Meeko was so happy she hugged her new Pokémon, just to get zapped.
  “ Uh, Meeko, we have other things to deal with....” Icy said.
  “ Um, right, Magnet, use Thunder Shock.”
  “ Same for you Magneton!” the magnet Pokémon gathered around Venomoth, but it quickly dodged and psybeamed them!
  “ Oh no! Raichu, Vileplume, Blastoise! It’s up to you!”
  “ Buttercup, Hocus, Cyber, Flutter, time to fight!”
  “ Pidgeot, Alakazam, Bulbasaur, Marowak go!” the Pokémon all worked together. Buttercup was dueling with Nidorina, along with poor Flutter who was trying his hardest. Raichu and Vileplume were dealing with Nidorino. Blastoise, Marowak, and Alakazam were fighting Omastar. Hocus, Ivysore, Cyber, Pidgeot, and Bulbasaur were fighting Kabutops.
  “ Ag! Raichu return!” Nicky’s mouse like Pokémon had been poisoned! But Vileplume stunned Nidorino!
  “ Their actually winning!” Livy tells Techor.
  “ That’s the problem.”
  “ Pikachu, get that Venomoth!” Pikachu fried Venomoth!
  “ Good Marowak, hit the Omastar in the head with your bone and Alakazam will psybeam it!” Omastar fainted too, but their last Pokémon teamed up and made Marowak, Alakazam, Vileplume and Pikachu faint! “ We were sooooooooooooooo close, but, I think it’d defiantly time to leave!” the group recalled their Pokémon and ran.
  “ Hey, get back here!”
  “ Let them go, we know where they’re going...”
  Techor and Livy let the group escape and get into a chopper waiting for them outside the power plant. “Take us to these coordinates, now!” The chopper takes off.

  “So Icy, where is the next disc located?”
  “I don’t know. Neptune, come out.” Icy’s Horsea appears. “Neptune, do you know where the water disc is located?” Icy shows the first disc to Neptune. She reads it a while then answers Icy.
  “What’s she saying Icy?”
  “Neptune says that the water disc is on an island called the Ethereal Springs.”
  “Hey, I’ve heard of that place. But I thought it was just a myth. Does it really exist?”
  “Guess so. Where do we find this island Neptune?”
  “Horsea, sea, horsea.”
  “Ok. I’ve got the coordinates. Cyber, come out!” Icy’s Porygon materializes. “Cyber, take us to these coordinates.” Cyber transforms into his marine mode and the whole group boards the poryboat. “Let’s go!”

  As the group heads off into the sunset, they can only imagine what the Ethereal Springs will have in store for them. But Techor and Livy are already on their way. And with those new ancient pokémon, will our group ever be able to overcome them? Find out next time, on The Legend of Frosterpie!

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part VI - The Ethereal Springs

  “Giovanni.”
  “You.”
  “Hmm, that’s right.”
  “How did you get in here?” Giovanni reaches for a button under his desk.
  “Don’t waste your time. I’ve disabled it.”
  “What are you here for?”
  “Your agents have failed.”
  “I know that.”
  “Well then, what are you doing about the situation?”
  “Techor and Livy can still handle it. I’ve given them even stronger pokémon now. They won’t lose. But I can’t locate each disc myself.”
  “Correct you are. You need Icy’s group. You’re dependent on them.”
  “Why do you have to lower me?”
  “Because that’s what I’m good at.”
  “Shutup. Get out of my office.”
  “You can’t run from us for long Giovanni. Remember, this isn’t your little plan. It’s ours. You mess it up, we take everything back. And you won’t like that.”
  “Get out!”
  “Plan wisely Giovanni. Retirement might not be a bad idea.” The figure vanished.
  “D*** you. I should have destroyed them while I had the chance on the ship.”

  “Look, there’s an island chain ahead!” Our group is closing in on the Ethereal Springs. It’s a small chain of islands unknown to humans. Only water pokémon have known of the island’s existence. “We should be there in the next 10 minutes.”
  “Icy, why were you and Sara getting weak earlier, when you were human,” Kelly asks.
  “Kelly, there’s something I need to explain to you.”
  “What?”
  “A few months ago, I was involved in a terrible accident. It changed me into a Pikachu. But it wasn’t an accident. Team Rocket had planned this. They used a special blaster on me. They did the same to Sara almost 4 years before me. Mewtwo and Bill created a cure for us, but it was wearing off. When Techor finally blasted me again, it was enough to complete the transformation again. Now, there is no cure. I’ll never be human again.” Icy broke into tears at the thought.
  “Oh, Icy, I’m so sorry. I. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
  “{sniff}It’s ok Kelly. It’s not your fault.”
  “Maybe they will find a cure someday.”
  “Kelly, it took them months to create the first antidote. Recreating it is impossible. Besides, Techor changed the settings. It sapped my psychic power. I’m almost powerless.”
  “What?”
  “I can’t use my psychic powers much anymore.”
  “That’s terrible.”
  “I’ll make it.”
  “Hey, you guys. We’ve got trouble.”
  Icy and Kelly went up on deck. Just above them, Techor and Livy were hovering in their chopper. “Well, well, well. Look who’s here.”
  “Let’s sink their adventure now.”
  “Fine with me.” Techor reaches into his jacket revealing a BlastoBall. “Let’s see how they like this.”
  Techor lit the BlastoBall and threw it at our heroes. Porygon shuttered with the explosion! Lewis screamed, “What the in the bloody name of Ash Ketchum is going on???”
  “It’s Techor and Livy!” Meeko shouts, pointing at the helicopter.
  “We’re in trouble!” Icy shouts.
  “Not as far as we are concerned! Time for a little water battle! Staryu I choose you!” Lewis shouts. The starfish came flying out of the pokéball and landed in the water.
  “Neptune! Go get them!” Icy shouts.
  “Blastoise, you’re the best swimmer so go!” Nicky shouts. All three Pokémon come into the water and go closer to T&L.
  “Time for another battle. Let’s give ‘em another taste of ancient Pokémon!” Livy says. Techor and Livy throw their pokéballs and Omastar and Kabutops come out. The two extinct Pokémon jump out of the copter and into the water.
  “Staryu! Water gun!” Lewis shouts. Staryu launched water at Kabutops, barely affecting it.
  “Blastoise, skull bash!” Nicky shouts. Blastoise launches head-first head into Omastar. It knocks it back a little, but it counters with a tackle attack.
  “Neptune! Bubblebeam!” Icy shouts. Neptune fires sparkling bubbles at Kabutops and Omastar. It also barely affects them! “We ARE in trouble!” Icy shouts. Lewis pulls out another pokéball.
  “Pidgeot I choose you!” he shouts. Pidgeot flies out into the battle. A wave hits the boat, and Lewis grabs Jigglypuff, and Charmander jumps into a pokéball to protect itself. “Pidgeot! Try to get them away with gust!” Lewis shouts. Pidgeot starts flapping his wings and starts creating a mini-tornado. Lewis immediately realizes his mistake. “Stop Pidgeot!” he shouts. He stops but it’s too late: a hurricane is forming! The group immediately recalls their Pokémon, as does Techor and Livy and they start to fly away. Unfortunately, they throw one more BlastoBall at Porygon-hitting it! Porygon starts to sink on one side, and they see the hurricane coming from the other direction towards them. “You were right Icy.” Lewis says.
  “About what?”
  “We ARE in trouble!” Lewis replies.
  “Icy, what are we going to do?” Kelly says worried.
  “I don’t know. Hmm, what if Hocus and your Alakazam protected us long enough to repair Cyber?” Icy asked Lewis.
  “It’s worth a shot, but what about the hurricane?”
  “We better work fast. Hocus, go!”
  “Alakazam, go!”
  “We need you both to keep us shielded from the water as long as you can. We need to repair Cyber so we can escape the hurricane.” Their pokémon understood and created barriers around them to keep any more water from entering. The hurricane was moving closer.
  “Faster Icy, that hurricane is getting closer!” Lewis, Nicky, and Icy were quickly repairing the damaged spots on Cyber. After another few seconds, Cyber was patched up and they began to float again.
  “Cyber, run Jet Booster program and convert from your current motor.” Cyber quickly integrated the jet engines into his engine and started them. They escaped just in time. “Now, let’s get to that island before Techor and Livy do!” Cyber set a course for the Ethereal Springs Island.

  “That must be it Livy.”
  “Yes, according to the coordinates we stole from them, that’s the place.” Just then, a flock of light blue Pidgeys flew past them.
  “Huh? What was that?”
  “Those Pidgeys were strange looking. They were completely blue.”
  “Hmm, I wonder if they come from that island. Take us down.”
  The chopper landed in a clearing on the coast. Techor and Livy both jump out. “Stay here and wait for us to return.” The pilot nodded. “Let’s begin searching for that disc.”
  “We can’t, remember. We don’t have any water types. Only pokémon of the correct element can detect these discs.”
  “Does that mean?”
  “Hmm, we may have sunk our chances of finding that disc.”
  “We don’t need them. Let’s just call Giovanni and get a water type.”
  “How’s he going to transport a pokémon out here?”
  “Hmm, well, let’s do something.”
  “Perhaps we can capture a water type from the island.” Suddenly, they noticed a group of pokémon who had gathered by the edge of the clearing. They were also completely blue.
  “What’s going on here? They’re all blue!”
  “This island must be a legendary place indeed. Giovanni might enjoy some of these rare forms of pokémon.”
  “We’ll get him a present later. Let’s find a water type first.”
  “Hold it!” Techor and Livy turn around.
  “What! How did you survive?”
  “Ha. Did you really think you could get rid of us that easily?”
  “What’s the difference? Now we just get to beat you pests again.” Techor and Livy both reach for their pokéballs.
  “Oh no, we can’t beat them.”
  “We don’t have a choice. C’mon, we have to try. Besides, we can’t let them steal these pokémon.”
  “Kabutops go! / Omastar go!” they say together.
  “Buttercup, Hocus, Flutter, go!” “Blastoise, Raichu, Pidgeot, go!” “Alakazam, Magneton, Marowak, go!” The girls stayed back covering their escape if necessary.
  “You can’t steal these pokémon.”
  “Who says? Omastar, get ‘em with your spike cannon.”
  “Kabutops, slash ‘em to pieces.”
  The two fossil pokémon put up a good fight, but now, the group’s pokémon just had them outnumbered.
  “Yes, we’re winning!” Finally, Buttercup, Hocus, Alakazam, and Flutter combined to perform an enormous psybeam attack.
  “We don’t have time to waste battle these kids, let’s try capturing the water pokémon and finding the disc.”
  “Right.” They pokémon defeated, Techor and Livy recalled them. “You may have won this round, but we will win the war. Hahaha!” Techor threw a smoke bomb against the beach and the two agents were gone.
  “Let them go, we better find that disc before they do.”
  “What’s the rush? This place is so peaceful. Oh?” Kelly notices a small blue Krabby walking along the shore. Her eevees exchange strange glances. “Hey, what’s up with the blue Krabby?”
  “Oh my. It’s completely blue. That’s not right is it?”
  “No.”
  “I think we should explore this island before searching for that disc. No one’s ever set foot upon this place before. Who knows what secrets it holds, especially if Krabbys here are blue.”
  “Umm, Nicky. Krabbys aren’t the only blue pokémon here. Look.” Meeko points into the distance at the pokémon staring at them from the bushes.
  “They’re all blue too.”
  “Ok, we explore the island. But I’m keeping Neptune out as a detector. Perhaps while we explore she can find the disc.”
  “Ok Icy. Don’t worry about Techor and Livy. They don’t even have any water pokémon. They’ll never be able to find the disc.”
  “I guess your right.” Sara takes Icy’s hand and pulls him off to the side.
  “We need a moment alone for a sec.” She turns to Icy. “What’s wrong? Let’s have fun. Team Rocket is still just as far from finding Frosterpie as we are, so what’s the difference. Tell ya what. I’ll keep close to you for company. But you have to promise to have a good time exploring.”
  “I will.”
  “Good.” Sara shocks Icy gently. He jumps high into the air from surprise and lands on his face. “Hehehe, c’mon, let’s go Icy!”
  “Owwwww…… I’ll get you for that! Come back here!”
  Icy and Sara start running circles around the group as they walk attempting to shock each other. “Must be a Pikachu thing or something.” Kelly’s eevees mimic them be chasing each other as well. “Oh no, it’s catching on…”
  “ Cool! It’s a spring! I’m going to take a dip!” Meeko yells.
  “ I thought you said back in Cerulean that you forgot your swim suit.” Lewis pointed out.
  “ Me and Misty went shopping while our Pokémon were being healed. Why are Chanseys always in PokéCenters anyways?”
  “ Don’t even ask...”
  “ Weeeeee!” Meeko jumped off from a tree into the sparkling pool. All the Pokémon were happily swimming, even Slowpoke ( after 5 seconds of figuring things out ) went to have some fun!
  “ Och!” Kelly jumped out; a blue Krabby was clamped onto her toe.
  “ It’s just a Krabby.” Meeko tried to help, but it pinched her! “ Ok! That’s it! First my friend, then me! Slowpoke! Psybeam! Er, wait, don’t!” 5 seconds passed, Slowpoke had figured out to Psybeam, but, it would’ve taken 5 more seconds to figure the last command, he fired a Psybeam right at Kelly!
  “ Hurry!” they dove underwater, the Krabby, very surprised, sat on the rock, to get beamed!
  “ I thought this was a vacation!”
  “ Meeko, look at your Caterpie!” Mars yelled.
  “ HUH?!?! I understood Mars!!!!!” Meeko was surprised that she finally learned Eevee.
  “ You just learnt it? Like that? Poof?” Lewis asked.
  “ Somehow, yep.” Meeko finally looked over at Caterpie, he was sitting next to a blue Caterpie.
  “ Well, I see you have a new friend!” Meeko said as she patted the new Caterpie.
  ( This Caterpie’s fun! Can she come with us? ) Caterpie asked. “ I dunno, do you?”
  ( Yes! It’ll be fun! I’ve never seen a greenish kind of Caterpie before! )
  “ That’s what most Caterpies look like, um, how bout I call you Blu?” ( Ok! ) Icy and Sara ran by, zapping and chasing each other, Blu and Caterpie did the same, but Blu would shot out blue silk, and used Water Gun!
  “ Ah, finally, time to relax...” Meeko, Kelly finally got a break from the troubles with the Pokémon, while Lewis was glad Meeko was done with giving Slowpoke any commands
  Vee!, a blue Eevee came up to Mars and Venus.
  “ EVEE!” they said back.
  “ Look, a blue Eevee!” Kelly yells.
  “ That’s neat! An Eevee!” then, the three dog like Pokémon smelled something, they went off into the forest to search.
  “ Wonder what they’re up to...” Nicky says.
  Nicky and Kelly started talking about ‘ something ‘ as Ivysore would say, and came up to bug Nicky.
  ( “ I dunno how to tell ya....” ) he was quoting ‘ Misty’s Song ‘ as he floated by Nicky. Nicky grabbed the stem of his flower with his feet, and pulled Ivysore underwater. When he got out, he squirted a small fountain of water out of his mouth.
  “ What a silly Ivysaur.... eheheheh....” Nicky looked over at Ivysore who was singing again.
  “ Jiggly, jiggly, puff puff!” Lewis’s happy little baby Jigglypuff rolled side to side, while Meeko’s floated in the pool with it on top.
  * You know, * Meeko thought, * Jigglypuff really likes that baby. * “ I’m going to go exploring, see you in a while!” Meeko says as she waves.
  “ Wait a minute, you’re going into the forest alone with Techor and Livy out there?” Lewis asked.
  “ Sure, I have my Pokémon....”
  “ No one goes alone in that forest. TR could jump on you before you knew what’s what.”
  “ Then come along if you want.”
  “ I didn’t mean me!”
  “ Then, see ya!” her Pokémon followed her into the forest. “ Hehehe, they don’t know what fun they’re missing, hehehe...” Meeko says to herself.
  Meeko reached a kind of clearing in the lush forest, and brought a small stereo/stereo out from her purse, and turned it on to ‘ 2.B.A.MASTER’ soundtrack. Blu and Caterpie started dancing with each other. Jigglypuff and Pikachu, Meeko and Ivysore all started dancing too! Slowpoke was still sitting under a tree wondering what was happening.
  “ What’s that?” Nicky said.
  “ Sounds like, ‘ Viridian City’!” Lewis says. When they reached there, they found Meeko and her Pokémon. Nicky ( Of course ) asked Kelly to dance. Lewis started teaching his baby Jigglypuff how to dance, and Mars and Venus came to see what was going on.
  Later, they were all tired out.
  “ I’m going back to the spring...” Meeko said.
  “ Ditto.” said Kelly. So did Loki, for, he is a Ditto...
  Back with Icy and Sara,
  “ Go Buttercup!” Icy said, he hopped on while Sara was still trying to zap him.
  “ Oh yeah, go Aura!” the golden Butterfree came out, and started to follow Icy’s green Butterfree. They did Butterfree races and tag. They zigzagged through the trees after each other up on their Butterfrees.
  “ Can’t catch me, can’t!” Icy said to Sara.
  “ Can too!” Aura’s wing tagged Buttercup.
  “ Well I can getcha faster!” Icy started chasing Sara. A few blue Butterfree watched the odd looking Pokémon ( well, these Pokémon are all blue, regulars look weird to them. )
  “ Ha! Tagged ya! Now it’s a race!” Icy sped off.
  “ Hey!” Sara went off after him. Aura, being bigger than Buttercup, got more speed and almost won, but, since Icy had gotten a head start, he won.
  Eventually, Lewis decided that Jigglypuff had had enough dancing. He carefully picked up Jigglypuff in his arms and started walking. To put Jigglypuff to sleep, he started to lightly sing to it. Eventually, Jigglypuff fell asleep, but Lewis found another problem: while he had been so focused on putting Jigglypuff to sleep, he had walked into the forest! Lewis ran the opposite direction, but instead found himself on the beach. “Well, I probably should try to teleport back to the group.” Lewis says. As Lewis begins to walk to an open area, he trips over something! Lewis gets up and sees what he tripped on: a blue Shellder! Its tongue was even blue! “An ice Pokémon! The group can wait, this could be useful... Go Lickitung!” Lewis shouts.
  Lickitung stood towering over the small clam. “Shellder!” it shouts. “Licki!” Lickitung replies. “Lickitung, supersonic attack!” Lewis shouts. Lickitung screeches at the Shellder, who uses withdraw and the supersonic reflects off the shell. “Hmmm, Lickitung try a Tongue wrap!” Lewis orders. Lickitung’s tongue comes out and wraps around the shell, and throws it into the air, and it lands. The Shellder opens it’s shell and it looked like this : @_@ “And now for the final touch: Pokéball go!” Lewis shouts. The pokéball hits Shellder, sucking it in. The ball wiggles once... Twice... And it locks! “Alright! I caught a Shellder!”

  With the group all back together and in high spirits, they continue their search for the Water Disc.
  “Neptune, sense anything yet?”
  “No, sorry.”
  “Nicky, use your Blastoise. Maybe it can sense over a longer range.”
  “Good thinking. Blastoise go! Blastoise, you detecting it?”
  “Toise.”
  “He says he’s sensing a signal in that direction. Maybe as we get closer, Neptune will have an easier time finding it.”
  “Right. Let’s go.”

  Meanwhile, on the shores.
  “So now what do we do?”
  “Capture the first water pokémon you see.”
  “Umm, how about that one?” Techor points at a Gyarados just off shore.
  “It’s perfect,” Livy sneers.

  “Neptune’s picking something up. It’s just up ahead. Oh, look!”
  “Wow! It’s beautiful!” Sitting in front of the group is the largest spring they’d ever seen. The water was of all different colors and sprayed high into the air.
  “Bet’cha Aura can fly right over that without even trying.”
  “Not now Sara, we need to locate the disc, then Buttercup will be glad to prove you wrong.”

  “Hm… We don’t mean to interrupt such a lovely squabble, but we believe our pokémon can best both your Butterfree put together.”
  “Yeah, and how’s that?”
  “Watch and learn rodent. Pokéball, GO!” Livy hurtles the pokéball down at the team. It opens revealing the Gyarados.
  “AGHHHH!!! Run!”
  “Wait, Icy, just zap it with your Pikachu attacks.”
  “Hey, right.” Icy attempt to charge an electric attack, but he can’t find enough energy to produce a shock powerful enough to harm Gyarados. “I don’t have enough energy. Static, I need your help now!” Icy’s Pikachu appears ready for action. “Thunder attack now!”
  “Magneton go!” Meeko and Lewis say in unison. “Double team Thunderbolt now!”
  “Raichu go! Double team Thunder attack!” The four electric pokémon combine their attacks and target at Gyarados. It faints and Techor and Livy call out their other pokémon.
  Venomoth uses it’s psywave to take out Static while Muk blinds Nicky’s Raichu with a sludge attack. Nidorina and Nidorino take care of the Magnetons with their horn attacks. “Give up, you’ve lost. Now, find us that disc since you had the nerve to take out our only water pokémon.”
  “Why should we?”
  “Because if you don’t” Livy points over in Icy’s direction. Techor’s Kabutops has its sickle raised above Icy’s head. Sweat dipped down his face. “Pikachu does taste pretty good you know. I could really go for a pikacabob! Hahaha! Now, get the disc, now!”
  “Ok, Neptune, locate the disc.” Neptune glances back at Icy. [Read it quickly before you hand it over,] Icy speaks to her telepathically. Neptune understands and dives into the spring. When she pops out, she has the disc stuck to her mouth. Livy snatches it.
  “Hm, thanks fools. I think I’ll be eating about now. Kabutops, finish Icy off now!”
  “What?!?” Icy closes his eyes tight as he shakes in fear. The blade hits the ground, but comes up empty on hitting its target. The blue aura around Lewis fades as Icy appears next to him. “Thank you.”
  “Hey, no problem, buddy. Neptune read it right? Let’s get out of here. They’re crazy.”
  “Yes. Everyone, retreat!” The group makes a hasty getaway while Techor and Livy examine their prize.
  “Umm, I just though of something. I can’t read this.”
  “You won’t have to.” Techor holds out a purple goo in his arms. “Look what I found.”
  “Great work Techor. Loki will gladly translate this for us, won’t you, you silly widdle gooey Ditto, ouwww!” Loki transforms into a claw and snaps Livy on the nose.
  “DITTO!!!” Loki jumps from Techor’s hands and transforms into a Rapidash and speeds off.
  “No! Errr… Hey, what the?” The disc begins to crumble a bit. “This isn’t marble, it’s sandstone. It’s a fake!”

  “Neptune says that that disc was not the real one.”
  “What? How can that be?”
  “She says that the real disc is deep under the ocean in an underwater city. I guess Cyber can take us down as a submarine.
  “Yeah.” Loki transforms back into his Ditto self again and rejoins the group as if nothing happened. “Oh, hi Loki. You hear that, we get to go underwater.”
  “Diiittttttooooo…”
  “Oh, don’t, we’ll be perfectly safe with Cyber.”
  As out team heads back to the shore, they prepare to embark on a journey to the bottom of the sea. This adventure’s got them going all over the place, but when will they find what they’re really searching for? And why is it so important they find it first? All these questions and more, to be answered, next time… Cya then!

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part VII - The Underwater City

  Last time, our heroes were searching for the water disc, Techor and Livy intervene and steal the water disc from them. But it turns out to be a fake. The real disc is located at the bottom of the ocean. And now, the adventure continues…

  “Your agents failed again Giovanni.”
  “I don’t remember asking you.”
  “That doesn’t matter to me. All that matters here is that you still have none of the discs while they have two.”
  “Why are those discs so important to you?”
  “That’s for me to know. You just get them.”
  “Leave me now.”
  “I’ll be back again Giovanni. Don’t screw it up again please.”

  “Ok, so the real disc is under the ocean huh?”
  “Guess so. Huh?”
  “Oh my Goddish, look at that!”
  Techor and Livy had set up a Gyarados blockade. “We’ve got the entire island surrounded.”
  “What are we going to do Icy?”
  “Cyber, go! Run submarine conversion program now! Quick, everyone into Cyber. Once we are underwater, they shouldn’t be able to track us.” The group jumps into the submarine Porygon.
  “They’re getting away!”
  “Not for long. Gyarados, take us under.” They put on oxygen masks as Gyarados takes then down after Icy and his team.
  “What are we going to do Icy?”
  “Everyone call out your water pokémon, it’s our only hope. Neptune go!”
  The rest of the group calls out their water pokémon. Techor and Livy command the other Gyarados to attack Cyber. “Attack!”
  “We are really dead now…”
  “Blastoise!”
  “Neptune!”
  “Krabby!”
  “Staryu and Shellder!”
  “When did you get a Shellder?” Nicky asks.
  “I caught it when I wandered off from the group.” Lewis replies. All the water Pokémon were already out in the water, with Lewis boosting his psi abilities to relay all the trainer’s commands to their Pokémon.
  “Blastoise! Skull bash!” Nicky commands. Blastoise rams its head straight into the nearest Gyarados. It barely affected it.
  “Neptune! Bubble!” Icy shouts. Neptune fired its bubble at the smallest Gyarados; it hurt it a little, but not enough.
  “There are too many of them!” Icy shouts.
  “Not if we can help it!” Meeko shouts and then commands, “Krabby! Try your most powerful attack, Guillotine!” Krabby’s claws powered up, and sent a relentless charge at a Gyarados, fainting it. 10 more Gyarados swarmed in!
  “If we all attack at one at once, we can probably faint them faster!” Kelly suggests. All the Pokémon attacked with water and more powerful attacks at each Gyarados. Unfortunately, more were still coming.
  “Hey wait a sec, I just had a thought!” Nicky says.
  “Give the boy a prize!” Lewis says.
  “Ha ha, very funny. If we use our electrical Pokémon, we can faint them faster!” Nicky replies.
  “Magentons, we choose you!” Meeko and Lewis say.
  “Static go!” Icy shouts.
  “Pidgeot! Have Static fly on you!” Nicky shouts. Static, Pidgeot, and two Magentons flew above the water, and all fired thundershock!(except for Pidgeot). All the Gyarados screamed in pain, and one accidentally slammed into Cyber! Water began seeping in...
  “What are we going to do now?” Mike asks.
  “I don’t know... I really do think this could be the end.” Lewis replies.
  “We’re sinking! Somebody do something!” Kelly yelled. Her eevees scrambled frantically around the ship.
  “Everybody stay calm. Lewis, we’ll need your Alakazam and my Kadabra again to prevent more water from coming in.”
  “Right.” They sent out their psychic pokémon and instruct them to keep the ship shielded for as long as they can.
  “As long as we can keep more water from coming in, maybe we’ll survive.”
  “Icy look!” Meeko points out the window of the sub. “It’s an underwater city. Maybe we can make it inside.”
  “Wow! That’s cool! They must have an opening somewhere. Cyber, plot course for that city and hurry.” Cyber sped along towards the city.
  “Look Livy, they’re heading for that city down there. The disc must be inside.”
  “How are we going to get it?”
  “Hmm, maybe we can force it out of them. Regroup the Gyarados. We’ll need them all together to pull it off right. Hahaha!”

  Cyber traveled through a small opening in one of the domes of the city and landed on an elevated platform. “Wow, is this Pokélantis?”
  “Hmm, maybe. The disc must be hidden somewhere in this complex. Neptune, search for the disc.” Icy’s Horsea began searching but came up empty. “She can’t find it.”
  “Maybe my Blastoise can.” Nicky’s Blastoise scans for the disc. Once again, it picks up on the location and the group heads in that direction.

  “You think they found it yet?”
  “Maybe. Shall we commence?”
  “Give them a few more minutes. Remember, we HAVE to find that disc to know the next clue. If we start too early, we might lose the disc.”
  “Good point. But they don’t get much longer.”

  “I wonder if Techor and Livy followed us down here?”
  “Did they spot the city?”
  “Don’t think so. I don’t see them anywhere. Let’s concentrate on finding the disc. We’ll worry about them when we leave.”
  “Horsea! Horsea! Sea!!!” Neptune cries out.
  “Hey, Neptune’s found something. Go retrieve it Neptune.” Neptune jumps out of Icy’s arms and hops over to the center of a large room. Her body glows as a bright portal opens up. “Ohhh…” The Water Disc appears as the portal closes. “She’s found it!”
  Suddenly, the group hears a loud explosion. “AGHH!! What was that?”
  “Sounded like it came from back that… whaghhh!!!! Run!!!” Water started rushing in from the hole the hyper beam had made in the dome. Icy and the group ran as fast as they could to escape the oncoming water.
  “I… I can’t keep up, aghhh…” Kelly slips on the floor. “Help!!!” Mars and Venus rush back for her but are no use as the water takes her and her eevees. “Someone help us!” The rest of the group is caught in the wave as well.

  “Fire!” The Gyarados army charges up their hyper beams again. They fire all at once at the domed city. Another direct hit. “We must have hit them by now, let’s move in.”
  “That disc is going to be ours.” Techor and Livy turn on their oxygen suits and ride their Gyarados down towards the city.

  “Icy, what are we going to do. Oh no, don’t look now, but I think we may have company.” They look to see Techor and Livy’s Gyarados army closing in fast. They get ready to fire again. “Aghh!!! They’re aiming right at us!”
  Icy’s eyes widen as he sees the beam head right for them. “C’mon, I need all of my power please… Psyshield, NOW!” Icy taps every last drop of energy he has and creates a force field around the group protecting them from the hyper beam for only a few seconds. “Aghhhhh!!! Too strong. I can’t keep it holding. Not enough energy… Ughh…” Icy finally loses all his energy and faints from the drain. The shield’s collapse throws the group back a bit. Icy is sent smack into a wall of the corridor.
  “Oh no, Icy!” Kelly tries to swim out and rescue him but Techor fires a small blaster at her. “Aghh! Hey, what are you trying to do! You could have killed me!”
  “That’s the idea little girl. We’ll be taking that disc now.” Livy meanwhile scoops up Icy’s almost lifeless body.

  Meanwhile,
  “You see. They can pull this off. I told you they would. Ah, and they are bringing me an extra gift. Hmhmhm…”
  “Why are you so obsessed with that insignificant Pikachu? He’s no longer a threat to our operation now. His powers are too low to be capable of anything.”
  “That’s not why I want him.”
  “Revenge won’t bring you anything special Giovanni. Stick to the plan and its goal. You’ll find more success in doing that.”
  “Whatever. As far as I am concerned, this operation is still in my hands and I will decide what actions are taken, got it.”
  “You are become a pain to work with. But because we don’t have another option as of now, I shall tolerate it.”
  “Just sit back and watch.”

  “Hey, give Icy back!”
  “Sorry kid, but the boss wants him too. You’ve had him far too long.”
  “Give him back!” Sara shouts.
  “Put a sock in it pikabrat.” Techor aims his blaster at Sara and fires.
  “Sara, look out! Alakazam, reflect now!” Lewis’ Alakazam quickly creates a shield to reflect the beam before it hits Sara. “That was close. Now, psybeam them!” Alakazam fires his psybeam at Livy and she drops Icy into the water.
  “Neptune, save him quick!” Meeko says to Icy’s Horsea. She dives under and saves Icy. She brings him back to the group. “Neptune, you need to figure out how this thing works. We need to escape before this whole place collapses.”
  Neptune analyzes the disc. She attempts to tell the group to bring out their water pokémon. Somehow, they understand. Blastoise and Shellder join Neptune and hold the disc together.
  “Ohhh, something’s happening.” Suddenly, the three water pokémon begin glowing bright blue. The disc starts glowing as well. It fires a massive water blast at Techor and Livy sending them floating quickly out of the city but at the same time causing an enormous whirlpool to begin to form.
  “Oh no! A whirlpool! We’re done for!”
  Lewis looked desperately on the situation: The whirlpool was forming, and no one had a chance at surviving it. Lewis looked at Mike and wondered:
  “DO SOMETHING!” Nicky shouts. Lewis quickly looked at Shellder. He then looked at the water disc. “Quickly! Send out every water Pokémon we have! We’ll drag ourselves out of this mess! Alakazam! I need you to try to repair the ship! Hocus, you form a psyshield and try to prevent the whirlpool from damaging Cyber any more!” Lewis commands. Nicky sent out Blastoise, Icy sent Neptune, and Lewis sent out his Staryu and Shellder.
  All the Pokémon were pulling with all their might, but Cyber would barely budge. The group new that if they had some more power, they could move the ship. Shellder and Staryu looked at each other and went back in Cyber. “What are you doing??? We have to get out of here!” Lewis says. Shellder and Staryu touched the water disc, and began to glow... From the glowing, came Starmie and Cloyster!
  “They evolved using the power of the disc!” Kelly said.
  “I want one of these! Ok Cloyster, Starmie, get us out of here!” Lewis ordered. The extra power was just enough to budge the group, just as the whirlpool hit the city.
  It was an hour before the group reached mainland. “Well, T&L are probably still back their, maybe dead or trying to get away.” Nicky said.
  “In the meantime, we should probably do something now, maybe rest up and head for the next disc. Plus, I think Icy needs a chance to rest” Lewis says. Icy was beginning to recover from the blows he’d received underwater.

  And so, our team is finally out of danger, or are they? Did Techor and Livy get out ok? And will Icy be ok? This adventure is getting more and more intense every minute. I sure hope that Frosterpie is worth it…

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part VIII - The Road to Mt. Moon

  Last time, our heroes escaped Techor and Livy from the underwater city, Pokélantis. Icy was severely hurt, but is recovering, and they were able to hold on to both discs. But where are Techor and Livy? Did they make it? Part VIII begins, now.

  “Icy, how are you feeling?” Kelly asks.
  “Uhhh, a little better. That hyper beam is not something you want to get hit by a lot.”
  “Are you going to make it?”
  “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Uh, Neptune, can you translate the water disc for us?”
  “Horsea!” Neptune reads the disc for Icy and translates.
  “Well, what’s she saying?”
  “She’s found the next clue. It says, ‘It extends farther then one can imagine. But from this spot, you can be very close the its end.’”
  “That’s a tricky one.”
  “Hmmm, I think I got it. It’s the sky!”
  “Hey, right! And the place closest to the sky must be Mt. Moon!”
  “Dang Kelly! Where did you go to school?”
  “Hehehe, I actually did a study at home course from PokéTech.”
  “Hey, that’s cool. So, Mt. Moon is next!”

  “Giovanni, where are your agents?”
  “They are already ahead of Icy. I’ve planned this all out. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
  “I hope not, for your sake Giovanni.”
  “Do not insult me.”
  “You do that fine yourself.”

  Meeko was walking with her new blue Caterpie, Blu. “That was close back in Pokélantis.” Meeko comments to Blu.
  ( Yep, good thing I came from an island, that means I can swim. ) Blu kind of smiles.
  “Gosh gosh kookie!” Meeko’s Krabby yells. ( It’s about the sound they make... )
  “What’s the matter?” Nicky calls Meeko over. There was a huge pit Krabby had fallen into!
  “That’s weird, Ivysore, get him out of there.” Ivysore wrapped his vines around Krabby and pulled the blue crab back out.
  “You should watch the road that’s ahead Krabby.”
  “Kookieeeeeeee.”
  “It was a trap? Krabby, just because you didn’t look ahead doesn’t mean it was a trap...”
  “Gosh gosh...”

  “Those little brats ruin everything...”

  “That didn’t seem like just a hole in the ground...” Lewis says.
  “Who’d wanna dig a hole right there anyways, come on Lewis.” Icy says.
  “Alright...”

  “They’re walking straight towards our next trap...”

  “Ouch!” Kelly’s foot fell through the ground.
  “Huh? Wha-?” Meeko says. Nicky tries to pull Kelly out, after a while of trying Kelly lands backwards right onto Nicky.
  ( Hmmm, PokéNews live, Brock JR. meets dream girl- OWWWWWW! ) Nicky kicked Ivysore mid-sentence.
  “I thought that was one of Ivysore’s funnier comments!” Icy says.
  “Ehehehehe...”
  “What did he say Meeko?”
  “Nothing... hehehe... Just a little something... hehehe...” Meeko couldn’t stop laughing and sits on a log. Suddenly, she looks at the log and notices the net that’s on it.
  “Huh? Wha-?” Meeko and her two Caterpies go flying up. They’d been caught in the net.

  “Time to introduce ourselves...”

  “Get me down!”
  “All in good time...” Techor and Livy come out.
  “WHAT?!?!
  “That’s right, we’re alive. But you guys won’t be for long, goooooo!”
  “Oh my, I can’t help them in this net.” Meeko squirms but all she ends up doing is swishing her Caterpies. “Sorry...”
  “Go Magneton!” Lewis says. Meeko’s Magnemite follows.
  “Go Hocus!”
  “Go Blastoise!” the Pokémon were fighting with no luck. But in the bushes…
  ( Krabby, hurry up and pinch the rope. ) Ivysore told Krabby. He did so and the net Meeko was in dropped with them, right onto TR! Then, two sticks swung down from the trees into Gyarados hurting him a bit. He couldn’t fight for a while and got electrocuted!
  “You brats!” Techor yells from underneath Meeko, she starts hitting him on the head with her over stuffed purse.
  “Ouch! What did you stick in that?!?! Bricks?!?!” Meanwhile, their Pokémon were getting whipped, and Krabby was pulling on Livy’s hair. “OWWWWWWWWWWW! STOP THAT YOU TINY LOBSTER!!!!!!” They returned their Pokémon and ran.
  “That, I think, was the best battle we’ve had.” Icy laughs.

  “You were saying Giovanni.”
  “Impossible. Techor and Livy are my strongest agents yet!”
  “It’s sad really. No matter how hard you try, you always end up losing in the end.”
  “I never lose. I’ve come up with a plan to get those discs. He’s already on his way now.”
  “I hope this little plan works. Otherwise, you’re running out of time, and options.”

  Elsewhere…
  “Status.”
  “Perfect sir.”
  “Hmhmhm. Excellent. And our agent?”
  “He’s doing fine. Can’t say the same for Giovanni though.”
  “Never mind him. Just make sure the time frame stays aligned.” The figure clutches its fist. “This time, we won’t fail.” The scene fades out.

  As our group continues towards Mt. Moon, they find themselves arriving in Cerulean City. “Finally, a place to rest.” Icy collapses on the sidewalk.
  “Agh! Icy, speak to me!” Sara gives Icy a thundershock to wake him up.
  “WAGH!!! I’m up!” After wobbling a few seconds, he gathers himself again. “I need a rest and I’m sure our pokémon could use one too. How ‘bout we visit the pokécenter for the day.” The rest of the group nods and they enter the pokécenter. “Mt. Moon’s only a half a day’s walk from here right?” Icy asks as they take their pokémon up to Nurse Joy.
  “Yeah, provided we don’t run into Techor and Livy again.”
  From the shadows of the room whispers a voice to himself, “Oh you will. I’ll make sure of it.”
  A cloaked figure walked out of the corner. He had a red Jigglypuff at his side. He walked up to the counter and picked up the Jigglypuff and gave it to Nurse Joy. “Now you be good.”
  “Jibbly...” it replied, as Nurse Joy carried it off.
  Icy jumped off the counter at this moment after handing a Chansey his pokéballs. The figure turned and sat down at a table. He put his feet up no the table and closed his eyes. Icy walked by the man and jumped up on the table next to the man where all the others were sitting.
  “Okay guys so when are pokémon are ready to go do you want to go to Mount Moon or wait a night?” Meeko asked.
  “I don’t care,” Lewis replied eating some take out he had gotten.
  “Well it’s getting kind of late I think we should wait here for a night.” Icy said.
  “Ok how about we do that?” Kelly asked looking for approval.
  Everyone nodded and went back to eating. After a little while Nurse Joy walked out carrying the red Jigglypuff. The man got up and walked over claiming his pokémon. He was about to leave when he looked at his watch. “Now...” He said.
  Just then two masked men charged through the door, carrying guns, “ALRIGHT EVERYONE FREEZE!!!!” They yelled, “Give us your pokémon and no one gets hurt.
  A man pointed a gun right at the group while the other noticed the only pokémon not in the back getting healed was a red Jigglypuff standing next to a man. “ALRIGHT BUDDY I’M TAKING THIS JIGGLYPUFF!!!!” The robber walked over and pointed his gun at the man. “Put it in its pokéball or it dies!!!”
  “Return...” the man returned the pokémon to his pokéball. Then held it out, the robber bent over to get it, when the mane threw it at his forehead. Opening it, then the man kicked the robber on the gut and elbowed his face knocking him to the ground. Next his Jigglypuff jumped up at the unsuspecting second robber, and Body Slammed him right in the back of his head. Icy took this opportunity to jump up and Thundershock the thief. Lewis caught the dropped gun.
  “HERE!!!” The man yelled to Lewis. Lewis through the gun to him, and then the man caught it and pointed it to the robber who was reaching for his gun. The man pointed it at the first robber, “FREEZE!”
  The robber didn’t move. Lewis picked up the second gun and pretended to be doing something important when the police arrived a few minutes later. They arrested the two men and took their guns.
  After everyone had gotten their pokémon, the man was walking away, when “HEY you thanks a lot for all your help.” Icy said stopping the man.
  The man smiled then turned around toward the group, “No problem I hate pokémon robbers, oh by the way my name’s Craven pleased to meet you.” Craven held out his hand to be shaken by the group.

  “Ok, Mt. Moon. This is the place the Air Disc will be. Nicky, you have a Pidgeot right?”
  “Hey, don’t forget Windstorm, my Pidgey,” Icy interjects.
  “Icy, a Pidgeot is better than Pidgey. Nicky, send out your Pidgeot to search for the disc.”
  “Hey, wouldn’t it be better to send it out at the top of the mountain. That’s where the highest point is.”
  “Huh, I guess you’re right. Let’s go.” The group begins the scale the mountain.

  “There they are.”
  “They’re gonna find that disc.”
  “Yes, and we’ll be there to snatch it.”
  “What about the boss’s agent in their group.”
  “Oh yeah. He said attack them anyway to make it look like he’s really on their side. He wants us the lose the battle, but he should slip us the discs in the confusion.”
  “Giovanni always makes such good plans!”

  After an hour and climbing and Icy, Meeko, Sara, and Kelly complaining, the group finally reaches, the halfway point! “Ahhhhhhh… -.-;;,,,,” Icy sweatdrops. “We’re only half-way?”
  “It’s a tall mountain. We’ll take a breather…” Nicky unpacked some sandwiches he had purchased earlier that day. “Here everyone,” he said distributing the food.
  “Thanks.” They all replied. Everyone ate the lunch then rested for a few minutes.
  “Lewis, what was the pokémon you saw earlier today?”
  “I think it was a Fearow.”
  “A Fearow. No offense, but the way you said it made it seem like it was something really special.”
  “Hey, if that’s the Fearow I think it is, it is a special pokémon.”
  “Oh, sorry.”
  “I think it belongs to a friend of mine who lives on this mountain. Oh well, guess it was nothing.”
  “Hmm…”
  “Hey you two! No time for chit-chat, let’s keep moving.” Nicky was suddenly getting really into this. Then again, he always followed up with a quick glance to Kelly.
  “Ok, we’re coming.” The group continued up the mountain. Finally, they reached the top.
  “Here we are, the top of the world. That disk must be hidden here somewhere. Pidgeot, go!”
  Pidgeot flew through the air searching for the disc. Suddenly, the sky seemed to open up. A sphere of dark matter appeared and Pidgeot flew inside. “Pidgeot. I wonder if it found the disc.” A few seconds later, Pidgeot appeared with the disc in its beak. It flew it back to Nicky and Icy. “Good work.”
  “Yes, very good work.”
  “Yeah, you saved us the trouble.”
  Craven just sneered to himself as Techor and Livy prepared to battle.

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part IX - The Air Element and the Fourth Clue

  “Who are these two goons?” Craven looked at Icy for an answer.
  “They’re a couple of Team Rocket members, that are a big problem. They’re trying to steal the discs.” Icy responded readying himself for a battle.
  “You may have three of the discs, but it won’t be that way for long,” Techor said smirking.
  “Alright guys let’s get ready to rumble, Cyber, Hocus, GO!!!!” Icy yelled releasing the two pokéballs.
  “Marowak, Magneton, Lickitung, GO!!!” Lewis released the three pokéballs.
  “Okay Pidgeot do your stuff! You too Blastoise!” Nicky yelled. Kelly grabbed her Eevees up and held them too make sure they didn’t run off. Meeko sent out Magneton and Ivysore.
  “Alright Jib-Jib do your stuff!” Craven yelled as the red Jigglypuff ran up to do battle.
  “Venomoth, Nidorina, Kabutops, Gyarados, GOOOO!!!!!” Livy yelled.
  “Muk, Nidorino, Omastar, ATTACK!!!!”

  The seven pokémon of the rockets, landed on top of the mountain, fortunately there was ample battling ground because the group was on a flat outstretch of the mountain about 30 yards below the actual peak.
  Icy was the first one to make a move, “Hocus, psybeam, into the center of them, Cyber conversion then sharpen, then double team attack. The Porygon began its conversion and sharpening, as Hocus fired a large psybeam into the center of the rocket pokémon. The Venomoth and Gyarados flew into the sky, while the ancient pokémon jumped to one side, and the other three poison types jumped to the other side. In the end the pokémon had only been scattered. Cyber had finished glowing; it split into three parts, circled the Gyarados and fired a psybeam into it.
  The flying dragon snake let out a wail of pain and began to fall to the ground. Before it struck the ground, it managed to regain it’s flying capabilities. “Gyarados, don’t take that, Hydro Pump that measly computer duck!” Livy yelled at the angered water pokémon. Gyarados flew up under the unwary Cyber who was busy avoiding, Venomoth’s psybeams. Gyarados unleashed the torrents of water at the virtual pokémon. Who was struck directly in what would be its belly. “CYBER!!!!” Icy yelled, as Cyber began to fall to the ground himself.
  “PIDGEOT, grab Cyber!” Nicky yelled. Cyber disappeared as it went below the cliff the group was standing on. Pidgeot flew into the air and then began to dive bomb at Cyber. Meanwhile, “Omastar, Spike Cannon, wide spread!” The extinct pokémon began firing spikes off into a large barrage of extremely sharp and extremely large needles. The bombardment of projectiles reached the group but everyone hit the deck, unfortunately the flying Magneton’s couldn’t get close enough to the ground, and were struck by numerous bolts from the Omastar. They went flying into the back of the cliff and fainted.
  “Stupid shellfish, Lickitung, supersonic the Omastar.” Lewis’s Lickitung let out a high pitched scream at Omastar when the sound waves reached the crustacean, its eyes turned into swirl’s and Omastar began to spin around in circles shooting of its spikes every which way. “AHHH stop that you stupid shell, Omastar return!” Techor yelled, as Omastar was sucked into his pokéball.
  “No matter, Venomoth, Psybeam attack, Gyarados Dragon Rage!” Livy said smiling.
  The two fired off their attacks in unison at the clustered group of pokémon and people. They jumped aside in every which way. Icy unfortunately took the tail end of the psybeam, being flung into a rock and knocked unconscious.
  “KADABRA (MASTER {For all of you who can’t speak Kadabra})!!!” Hocus yelled. He turned around and unleashed a psywave at the two evil pokémon, unfortunately rage had the best of him and his aiming was off, the two rocket pokémon flew to each side and easily avoided the psychic attack.
  “Alright Jib Jib I’ve had enough of these fools. Let’s give em a Body Slam!!!” Craven yelled.
  “JIBBBLLLYYY!!!!” Jib Jib yelled charging the nearest enemy pokémon, which happened to be Venomoth. Jib Jib leapt into the air puffed up really big and collided with the Venomoth. Venomoth whirled back into the air, it tried to stop but Jib Jib’s devastating attack caused it to fly into the rock of the cliff.
  “DRAT, Venomoth, return!” Livy screamed.
  It was at about this time that Nicky’s Pidgeot and Cyber flew up above the cliff face ok. From behind they each attacked Livy’s Nidorina, fainting it.
  “AHHH!!!! Nidorina return!” Livy yelled. But no one noticed Gyarados sneaking up behind them until both pokémon received a hyper beam to the back. Both pokémon fainted. “Shoot, Pidgeot return.” Nicky yelled.
  Kelly ran over to Icy’s limp body and returned Cyber for him. “Marowak, Lickitung take out Gyarados!!!” Lewis commanded. To this Marowak threw a Bonemerang and Lickitung jumped up try and stomp on him. Gyarados was still recovering from the Hyper Beam and was going to get hit except Muk threw a sludge at Lickitung, and Nidorino jumped up and horn drilled Marowak. The catastrophic attacks struck both pokémon and caused them to faint.
  “Shoot, alright Marowak, Lickitung, return. Pidgeot go!” Lewis’s Pidgeot appeared ready for battle.
  Meanwhile Jib Jib had snuck up behind Muk and Nidorino. “Hmm JIB JIB DOUBLE EDGE THEM BOTH NOW!!!!” Craven yelled. Jib Jib charged up while running at the two pokémon from behind, Techor tried to yell something but to no avail, the energy blades struck both pokémon from behind, they both fell to the ground. Despite the colossal recoil Jib Jib didn’t seem to notice.
  “MAN MUK NIDORINO, RETURN!!!!” Techor yelled. It was down to Livy’s two other pokémon.
  “Don’t worry, I have a plan. Gyarados, Hyper beam those boulders up there,” she pointed to a stack of boulders. “Kabutops, you Hydro Pump the boulders as well.” Both pokémon unleashed their ultimate attacks, blasting the boulders loose, causing them to fall onto the group below. Some rocks hit and caused to faint: Lewis, Kelly, Sara, Hocus and Nicky’s Blastoise. “HA HA!!!” Livy yelled, “Not too many left now, it’s just down to three people. Nicky was busy trying to un-bury Kelly as soon as possible as was her Eevees. He didn’t see the last of the rocks coming down striking him, and Kelly’s eevees.
  “Okay Meeko, it’s down to us!” Craven yelled. “Yep,” Meeko replied, “IVYSORE VINE WHIP, GYRADOS!” Ivysore tried to but was hydro pumped by Kabutops. Despite his natural resistance to water it was too much and Ivysore fainted. “DAG GONE IT, Ivysore return!” Meeko yelled.
  It was at this time that Techor noticed the three disks, lying at the feet of the boulder downfall. The only pokémon left awake were Jib Jib, and Lewis’s Pidgeot. “Now’s the time to strike Livy,” Techor said, he flung a large smoke grenade to the ground as they and Livy’s pokémon put on gas masks from Techor’s backpack. Techor grabbed the three discs and put them into his backpack. Except after the second disk there was a tugging on the third, Techor started yelling, “GIVE ME IT NOW OR YOU’LL PAY THE PENALTY!!!!” “NEVER!!!” Craven yelled trying to tug the Air Disc of Techor’s hands.
  Lewis’s Pidgeot was confused. He was coughing and his trainer had fainted. It was pitch black. Then he heard the barely conscious Lewis whisper, in a coughing tone, from under rocks.
  “Pidgeot...Whirlwindddd....” Lewis slipped back into unconsciousness. Now Pidgeot knew what to do. Nicky and Kelly’s Eevee’s had just come to when the onslaught of wind blew away the smoke. The first thing Nicky, Meeko, Lewis’s Pidgeot, and Kelly’s eevees all saw was the same thing. Craven was fighting for the Air Disc with Techor.
  Craven secretly noticed the others watching, “JIB JIB,” he yelled, “BODY SLAM THIS LOSER!!!!” Craven yelled. The Jigglypuff ran at the rocket, puffed up and jumped into him. Causing Techor to drop the disc and fly backwards. Craven reeled back with the Air Disc in his hands. At this time Lewis regained full consciousness although he was under a lot of rocks he could see what was happening. He also noticed Gyarados and Kabutops getting ready for an attack.
  “CRAVEN THROW THE DISC TO PIDGEOT!!!” Lewis yelled at Craven. Craven looked at the rubble and heard the scream. He understood and threw the disc to the bird pokémon. Techor and Livy were about to get out the Water Disc to give to Gyarados, but it was too late. Pidgeot’s eyes started to glow a bright white.
  “NO NO IT CAN’T BE WE WERE SO CLO....” the screaming Techor was cut off, by a giant whirlwind emitting from the glowing Pidgeot. The whirlwind picked up the two discs and pokémon and rockets and through them into the air. As they sailed away it could barely be heard. “BUT WE STILL HAVE THE OTHER TWO DISCS!!!!” Livy screaming her final decree as they sailed into the distance.
  Craven looked at the rubble and ran over to it and began throwing rocks off of people. Meeko and Nicky helped. After about ten or fifteen minutes everyone was out of the rubble. In an hour everyone was awake and everyone’s wounds were treated.
  Icy looked at Craven “Yo... you saved the Air Disc, and our lives Craven....”
  “It was nothing,” he replied.
  “No it was, you’re the only reason we’re alive and the only reason we have the next clue to the fourth disc, thank you.” Icy said wincing in pain at a slightly fractured arm.

  “Giovanni’s agents have captured two of the discs sir.”
  “Excellent. Everything is going just as I planned.”
  “Right sir. Our agent is meeting with him now.”

  “As you can see, my plan is working perfectly.”
  “For now it is. But you only got two of their discs. Why didn’t you get the third?”
  “My agent knows what he is doing.”
  “I suppose that’s why he didn’t dispose of Icy while he had the chance?”
  “You stay out of that matter. It does not concern you.”
  “A touchy topic… Heh, I understand.”
  “If that is all, you may go.”
  “Oh, I’m finished here. Until next time…”
  Giovanni picks up the red phone by his desk. “Techor, Livy, come in.”
  “Yes sir.”
  “You have pleased me. Now, protect those discs. I would have you return here, but I need you to remain close to Icy’s group. They will lead you to the fourth disc.”
  “Right sir. Your agent has done well too.”
  “Of course he has, he’s a star agent. Just don’t you two blow his cover.”
  “Don’t worry about a thing sir. Um, what do you want done about Icy?”
  “Take him, alive. I still have a score to settle with that Pikachu.”
  “Right. You can count on us. Consider those two discs ours.”
  “For your sake, I hope so.” Giovanni hangs up the phone and stokes his Persian. “Soon it’ll be mine. Soon, it will all be mine.”

  Icy and the rest of the group slide down Mt. Moon until finally reaching the bottom. “Ughh, my arm hurts.” Icy moaned holding his broken arm. “I think it’s broken.”
  “Oh my. We need to get you to a pokécenter right away,” Kelly said.
  “There’s one just down the road. It’s only 5 minutes from here I think.” They all rushed the center. Nicky took hold of Sara while Lewis held Icy. “It’s ok Icy. You’ll be as good as new in a few minutes.”
  They arrived at the pokécenter finally. Icy was still complaining a bit. “Oww, it hurts.”
  “Nurse Joy. Please, Icy here broke his arm. Can you help him?”
  “Of course, but you really should take better care of…, oh, wait, never mind.” Joy turned her focus from Lewis to Icy himself. “You should take better care of yourself.” Icy sweatdropped. “I’m sure it was just an accident, but accidents can be very dangerous, especially for a pokémon. I’ll fix you up right away.”
  “Thank you.” Nurse Joy called for the Chanseys and they rolled Icy into the ER.
  “Well, let’s find out where we are going next. Pidgeot, translate the disc for me.” Lewis’s Pidgeot translates the writing on the disc. “Hey!” Lewis suddenly realizes that they are missing the other two discs. “Techor and Livy stole the other discs!”
  “What! Oh no. How are we going to get them back?”
  “Never mind that. They seem to always run into us. Next time we see them, I’m getting those discs back.” Pidgeot finished translating the inscription. “Pidgeot says the next clue is, ‘That which clouds the mind is visible here,’”
  “Huh, that doesn’t make any sense,” Kelly said.
  “Hey, Kelly finally got stumped.” Mars jumped up and smacked Nicky on the head for the comment. “Oww, hey I was just joking around. You don’t have to get all protective.”
  “Yes he does…” Ivysore commented.
  “Stay out of it.” Nicky gave Ivysore a big clonk on the head.
  “Ok ok, stop fighting and start thinking about what the answer is.”
  The light to the emergency room dimmed and Nurse Joy came out holding Icy. He looked as good as next except for the cute little cast on his arm. “Make sure he wears this for a week. His arm still needs time to heal then it will be fine.”
  “No problem Nurse Joy.”
  “It’s psychic,” Icy said suddenly.
  “What?” Nicky replied.
  “The fourth element is psychic. Saffron City is the location.”
  “Hey, that works. To a psychic, nothing clouds the mind. All the highest concentration of psychic energy is in Saffron City. But, how did you know the clue Icy?”
  Icy attempts to use his broken arm but realizes he can’t so he uses his left to point to his head. “Telepathy. You weren’t too far away so I was able to hear it.”
  “That’s cool. So, shall we head out?”
  “Yep. Saffron City, here we come!”

  As our group continues their adventure, who knows what dangers they will run in to. The future doesn’t look too bright and our heroes still need five more of the discs plus the two they lost! How will they ever succeed? Find out next time.

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part X - The Psychic Disc

  Last time, our heroes found the Air Disc but lost the other two to Techor and Livy. Now, they prepare to go to Saffron City to find the Psychic Disc.

  Lewis then checked his pocket. “Oh no!” Lewis shouted unexpectedly.
  “What?” Craven asks.
  “I left Marowak and Alakazam back in Mt. Moon! I have to go back and get them!” Lewis replies.
  “Should we come with you?” Icy asks.
  “No thanks. This won’t take long.” Lewis said. Lewis pulled out his insta-bike. “Haven’t used this in weeks.” he said to himself.
  It didn’t take long for Lewis to get back into Mt. Moon. He saw the two pokéballs sitting there. “Good.” he said to himself. He grabbed the two pokéballs and put them on his belt. All of a sudden...

  “Prepare for trouble and make it double!” Lewis heard. Immediately, Lewis took something out of his backpack. “To-“ before Techor could finish what he was saying, he saw that a hyper beam had just missed him by a half-foot. There, holding a sort of rifle in his hand and pointing it at T&L, was Lewis.
  “I have no time for your motto right now!” he shouted.
  “What the **** is that???” Livy demanded.
  “It’s a new Silph Co. product. My dad gave it to me just before I started my journey! It’s good to have a rich family!” Lewis replies, resetting the weapon. Then, and ice beam fired out of it and Techor and Livy ducked, while the ice beam froze the wall behind them.
  “Muk!” Techor shouts.
  “Nidorina!” Livy shouts.
  “So you wanna battle that way, eh? Well...” Lewis says. Lewis took off his belt and tapped the buttons on all his pokéballs, and swung his belt out at Techor and Livy, not letting go and shouts, “Everyone, I choose you!”
  Pidgeot, Marowak, Lickitung, Graveler, Starmie, Alakazam, Weedle, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Cloyster, and Magneton all came out.
  “In that case, go Gyarados!” Techor and Livy shout. The giant Gyarados came out. The Gyarados came out and immediately, released a dragon rage! All the Pokémon were hit, except for one. Lewis saw Pidgeot, Marowak, Lickitung, Graveler, Starmie, Alakazam, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Cloyster, and Magneton all faint. He then saw Weedle come up from underground.
  “Oh no... Ok Weedle, try a drill sting!” Lewis commanded. Weedle started a drill and punched its stinger into Gyarados. It didn’t even feel it. Gyarados merely tackled Weedle into a wall. All of a sudden, Weedle got back up and its stinger glowed! It pointed it at Gyarados, and a psybeam fired!!! Gyarados was knocked down. Then, Muk and Nidorina closed in on Weedle. All of a sudden, a whirlwind knocked them back! Lewis turned around and saw a Fearow fly down. Fearow used fury attack, which repelled Muk and Nidorina. Techor and Livy decided to give up.
  Suddenly, Weedle was evolving! He saw the string surround it, and it grew larger. He knew he had Kakuna now.

  Our heroes move on. Deciding not to go through Mt. Moon, they take the long road around the mountain.
  “Why don’t we just go inside?”
  “Kelly, you’ve obviously never been inside Mt. Moon before.”
  “Yeah, it’s not pleasant.”
  “Oh…”
  “C’mon. Not much farther.”
  The group continues through the thick forests. “There’s Vermilion City up ahead!”
  “Great, let’s go!”
  “Um, Icy. Let’s stop for a sec please. I’m hungry,” Meeko complained.
  “Ok. We’ll rest at the pokécenter.”
  “Home sweet home.” Lewis says.
  “Yah.” Icy also says.
  The group heads into Saffron City, and Lewis says, “No need to stop at the Pokémon Center, our Pokémon are all healed.”
  “Good idea. We should probably send out our Psychic Pokémon to find the disc.” Meeko suggests.
  Lewis and Icy grab their pokéballs and say, “Hocus and Alakazam, we choose you!” The two Pokémon put up their spoons and began walking. Eventually, they stopped 20 feet in front of the Silph Co., where Alakazam and Hocus point to it.
  “How are we going to get inside? After the Rocket invasion of it, they’ve upped security!” Nicky says.
  “No problem.” Lewis says.
  “How do you suggest we get inside?” Icy asks.
  “Easy: I go up and ask them to let me in.” Lewis replies. Everyone but Lewis facefaults.
  “You don’t really think they’re just going to let you in like that, do you?” Kelly asks.
  Lewis picked up Jigglypuff and said, “My dad is Vice-President of the Silph Co. I’ve been in there a million times! I know my entire way around it! Where do you think I got my pokédex?” Lewis showed them his advanced pokédex once more.
  Lewis walked up to the guard and the guard said, “Hey Lewis! You’re back in Saffron already?”
  “Yah, but only for a little while, David.” Lewis replies.
  “Cool. Say, do you want to go inside?” David asks.
  “Yep, we’re searching for something.” Lewis replies.
  “Cool. I’ll tell your dad.” David said. Lewis led everyone in.
  As they enter Silph Co., they don’t even notice the two shady figures following them. Craven has also seemed to slip away unnoticed. “Shhh, keep quite.” Livy takes out a small ball. “This inviso ball to make us invisible for 5 seconds. Ready?”
  “Yes. Use it now.” Techor gets ready to run as Livy clicks the button. Suddenly, they vanish and dart through the open doors. “Quickly, over there.”
  “All right. Behind the bush.” The inviso effects wear out just as they hide themselves. “There they are. But where’s the disc?”
  “They must not have found it yet.”

  “Icy, let’s have our psychic pokémon search this floor.”
  “Good idea.” The two psychic types hunt around for the disc location.
  “Silph Co. is very elegant inside,” Kelly remarks.
  “Yeah. Wonder why they never let the regular public in.”
  “That’s because things here are secret.”
  “Huh?”
  “They don’t want anyone to steal their technology. Silph Co. has invented almost everything we use for Pokémon today.”
  “Wow.”
  “DABRA, KADABRA!”
  “Hocus, you find it.”
  “Master. Yes, it’s right here. Just a sec please.” Hocus slipped into the rift and retrieved the disc.

  “There it is.”
  “Let’s go to work!”
  Techor and Livy jump from their hiding spot. “Prepare for trouble.”
  “Yes, and you better make it double.” Techor pushes a button causing the power in the building to short circuit. Rocket agents suddenly burst in through the window. Craven has rejoined the group now, but Icy and Lewis are reading a strange psywave coming from him.
  “Actually, you better make that major trouble. Give up Icy, we’ve got the entire complex taken over.”

  “Someone tipped them off Lewis,” Icy says telepathically to Lewis.
  “I know. I think I know who. Let’s not reveal this yet. He might try something else. Let’s deal with Techor and Livy first.”
  “He must know where the two missing discs are. AGHHHH!”
  “No telepathy allowed here Icy,” Techor laughs focusing a strange beam on the Pikachu.
  “AGHHHHHH, what is that!”
  “A handy device from our buddies in the research department. The latest in anti-psychic technology. Pokémon battle time!”
  “Icy, if we can’t use our psychic abilities, what about our pokémon?”
  “They will no doubt be affected as well. Buttercup, go! Whirlwind now!” Buttercup used her whirlwind to blow Techor and Livy aside. “However, if we avoid the battle, we’ll succeed.” He grabbed the two discs that Techor had stolen and they were about to escape when Craven stopped them.
  “Sorry Icy, but this is the end of the line for all of you.”
  Lewis’s mind searched Craven’s... “You’re a spy!” Lewis shouts.
  “No duh moron.” Craven replies.
  “I hate spies. Alakazam, Kakuna, Cloyster I choose you!” Lewis replies.
  “Ivysore, Blu, you’re turn!” Meeko shouts.
  “Buttercup, Diamond go!” Icy shouts. Everyone looked at Icy.
  “You have a Tauros????” they all asked.
  “I just forgot about it for awhile.” Icy replies.
  “Muk, Nidorino, Venomoth, Nidorina, Omastar and Kabutops, we choose you!” Techor and Livy say. Craven merely smiled on the side lines.
  Alakazam fires a psywave at Omastar, who jumped out of the way and countered with water gun. Alakazam teleported, and the water gun merely hit a wall. Alakazam teleported behind Omastar and used a quick psybeam, knocking it down. Kabutops jumped up and slashed Alakazam, fainting it.
  Kakuna was next up. Kakuna unfortunately, was incapable of moving, so it just stood there as Kabutops kept hammering on Kakuna, not even flinching it. Kakuna just kept hardening and hardening. Kabutops gave one final slash then fainted from exhaustion. Nidorina tackled Kakuna, knocking it over.
  Nidorina and blue were just waiting for one of the either to do something. Blu was waiting for Nidorina to give a tackle or something, and Nidorina was waiting for Blu to do a string shot or something. They seemed to just wait for hours, until Muk was thrown into Blu, and Ivysore into Nidorina.
  Tauros was constantly whipping itself and trampling Nidorino. Nidorino finally countered with a horn attack, barely effecting Tauros. Tauros then jumped up and body slammed Nidorino. “I should’ve used this thing before.” Icy said, referring to Tauros. Tauros then finally gave it one last tackle, sending Nidorino flying.
  Cloyster and Buttercup were having a hard time with Venomoth. Venomoth and Buttercup were trying to defeat each other with whirlwind, but the whirlwinds were just vaporizing each other. Finally, Cloyster jumped up and clamped onto Venomoth. Venomoth psybeamed him off, but he was on long enough for Buttercup to finally launch one last whirlwind at Venomoth, sending it straight for Techor, Livy, and Craven. All three were sent through a wall out of the Silph Co. “Look’s like we’re blasting off again!!!!” they shout.
  The group recalled their Pokémon and started heading for the Pokémon Center. “Wait Lewis!” Lewis’ dad says, stopping Lewis.
  “Dad!” Lewis says.
  “Here, take this Pokémon. It was recently discovered in Victory Road. I thought you might want it.” Lewis’ dad says, handing over the pokéball.
  Hocus had finished translating the disc for Icy. “Master. You’re going to like what this one says. It appears that the Alakazam leader of this ancient pokémon race knew no one would get this far unless they were pure hearted. Thus, there are no more clues, just locations and elements.
  “Well then, let’s go!”

  As our group heads off into the city, they are completely unaware of the dangers that await them. If only they knew what was really going on. Find out next time on, The Legend of Frosterpie!

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part XI - The Search for the Fire Element Disc

  “So Icy, which element is next?”
  “It says Fire. I think we all know the one place we’ll find it.”
  “Cinnabar Island,” they said together.
  “Giovanni.”
  “What is it this time?”
  “Your agents have failed once again. And this time, they lost the discs. Now those brats have four. What are you going to do about this?”
  “I will handle it.” Giovanni snapped his finger and five agents in black entered the room and with Techor and Livy.
  “Sir?”
  “You two have failed me again. But, I will allow you another chance. Obviously 6 on 2 are bad odds. But now you have a larger team to aid you. Track them down to Cinnabar Island and make sure they don’t escape. Don’t fail me again.”
  “We shall crush them this time for sure Giovanni.” Livy and Techor led the group out and departed for Cinnabar.
  “As you can see, I have everything under control.”
  “You wish you did.”

  “The timeline?”
  “Perfect sir. Everything is going as planned. But they haven’t located the Frosterpie yet.”
  “What about the weapon?”
  “It’s almost complete. We still need to test the inverters.”
  “Excellent. Keep me informed.”

  “Last flight for Cinnabar is leaving now!”
  “NO! Wait!” Icy and the group ran as fast as they could but the plane had already taken off. “Awww, we’re too late.”
  “Icy, what about Cyber? Have him convert to a jet and I’ll take Nicky and Meeko on Pidgeot with me,” Lewis said.
  “Hey, good idea. Cyber, go! Jet conversion program now.” Cyber reformed into a PoryJet. “Perfect. After you Sara. Kelly.” The ladies hopped in and Icy followed. “Prepare for take-off!” Lewis, Nicky, and Meeko jumped on Pidgeot and they took to the sky. Cyber followed.
  “Cinnabar Island, here we come!” Kelly said.
  “Cinnabar. That brings back sad memories.,” Icy moaned to himself looking at Buttercup’s pokéball. Icy’s head was deep in thoughts about his battle against Blaine, and how Buttercup had almost been killed in the battle. “Cinnabar Island...” Icy said.
  “Hey look down there!” Kelly says. Everyone looked over the side and saw Pokémon swimming around. They had never seen anything like them.
  “What are they?” Sara asked. The Pokémon looked like Stingrays, with some sort of oval shaped thing on their side.
  Lewis pulled out his advanced pokédex which said, “This Stingray Pokémon has not been given a name yet. They are considered rare, and because they rarely speak, they cannot give an accurate name.”
  “Maybe I should catch one.” Lewis says.
  “Nah, let them be.” Sara says.
  “Ok...” Lewis replies.
  “We’re coming up on Cinnabar now.” Nicky says. “Ok, we’ll land on that beach.” Icy says. Cyber and Pidgeot landed on the beach. Lewis got off Pidgeot and walked around a little. He suddenly got a cold chill, something that is very rare on Cinnabar Island. He looked around. “What is it Lewis?” Meeko asks. “Just a twitch of angst. You guys start looking for the disc. I have a favor to accomplish.” Lewis replies.
  Lewis walked into Cinnabar Mansion, avoiding a lot of the Pokémon there and soon came to a hole in the roof. Lewis pulled out dexter and he said, “Analyze for DNA, energy, and matter traces.” Dexter opened up and it’s antennae came out and began scanning. A list of things was found. Two things popped up at him immediately. “Oh dear goddish. This is impossible.” Lewis says. He ran out the doors of the mansion.
  “We had better begin searching for the disc.” Kelly says. Suddenly, as if for a second, she had seen something in the shadows. She walked over to look, but nothing was there.
  “What is it?” Nicky asks.
  “Nothing. Just thought I saw something.” Kelly replied.
   Ivysore said. Nicky kicked Ivysore.
  As the group goes farther into the volcano, Blaine meets them.
  “ In order to battle me you must first go to the REGULAR entry and answer the quizzes! This may have been the old way that Ash came through, but it sure isn’t allowed anymore!” everyone sweat dropped.
  “ Blaine, we’re not here for Badges, we’re just looking for something.” Icy said, Blaine looked down and remembered the talking Pikachu that used a Butterfree against him a long time ago.
  “ Oh, it’s you Icy. You can go then, but first: What’s got many tails and is hot?” ‘ Uh...” and ‘ Um...’ is the response he got, but a little light bulb appears above Kelly’s head.
  “ A Vulpix!”
  “ Correct, and for that, your prize!” Blaine whipped a Vulpix out from behind his back and handed it to Kelly. She cuddled it and put it down, her Eevees sniffed the new dog Pokémon. The Vulpix looked over at Nicky and suddenly leapt into his arms.
  “ It seems to like you a lot Nicky. I guess you can have her.”
  “Thanks.” Nicky blushed.
  “ ( Hey! That’s like giving Nicky a k...i...s...s...OWWWWW!!!! )” Nicky’s foot somehow collided with Ivysore’s head.
  “ Oops, so sorry, my foot slipped.” Nicky said.
  “ ( Yeah, right, like I don’t have vines too. )”
  As they went farther and farther into the volcano, the heat got to them.
  “ Krabby, use...Water...Gun...” Meeko told her blue Krabby, it did so and everyone felt a bit better.
  “ Vul vul!” Nicky’s Vulpix leapt over and opened a portal; she then grabbed the Disc and gave it to Nicky.
  “ Good little Vulpix.” Nicky patted it on the head, and just as they were about to leave, they heard an unknown voice.
  “ Yes, but that Disc won’t be for long!” a young man appeared and released a Gengar.
  “ Exactly right.” Rozy appeared and her Ekans and Haunter followed. Then came Techor and Livy.
  “ Rozy.” Meeko glared at her.
  “ That’s right, murder. Pity your friends haffta go with you!” Rozy whipped out her Wigglytuff Launcher and fired, but Vulpix flamed the Wigglytuff before it hit them. Nicky and Icy released their Pokémon and all of Meeko’s ( That is, not including dopey Slowpoke and baby Yarns ) leapt onto the enemy Pokémon. Rattler poisoned Pikachu, but Nicky’s Raichu made him pay for that with constant Thunder Shocks. Nicky’s Vulpix seemed to be playing with the Disc when Muk Body Slammed Blu and Caterpie. Haunter did Night Shade and everything turned black. But Nicky’s Pidgeot Whirl Winded it away. After that they saw that almost all the Pokémon had fainted, except for Ivysore, Vulpix, and Tauros. Meeko noticed that Rozy was gone and looked up, Rozy was up at the mouth of the volcano with her two Pokémon. She got her WigglyGun ready to fire.
  “ Fool! You’ll kill us all!” Livy yelled at Rozy.
  “ So, revenge is all I need, baby!” Rozy pulled the trigger, but Nicky’s Vulpix suddenly glowed, and the Disc also did. First, the Vulpix grew and evolved, then used the Disc to send out a Fire Blast three times the size of a normal one! TR and all of their Pokémon blasted out the mouth of the volcano!
  “Wow! That was close. So, it went from Vulpix to Ninetails in no time.”
  “Just another powerful pokémon to add to my assortment. Every master needs a fire type. This one will do quite nicely.”
  “Well. We should probably find the next disc.”
  “Hold on Icy. Cinnabar’s a resort right? Let’s party!”
  “But, what about Frosterpie.?”
  “Icy, you need to chill out.”
  Icy sweatdropped and followed the rest of the group to the resorts area. Sara suddenly jumped on his head pulling him down. They rolled down the hill past the group and into the resort zone.
  “Heh, look at them. They look so cute together,” Nicky said. He just puts his arm around Kelly.
  “Nicky likes. OWWW.” “Nicky and Ke. OWWW.” “Kelly and,. OWWW OWWW!” Ivysore get clonked on the head by both Nicky and Kelly.
  Meanwhile, Icy and Sara continued rolling down the hill until they come to stop at the bottom. “Wow, that was fun.” Icy said as he tried to maintain his balance. Sara was also a tad dizzy. The two Pikachu bumped heads and knocked themselves out on the ground.
  “Hehehe, those two are so funny.”
  “Um, I think we should help them. They don’t look like they’re moving anymore.”
  “Ok. Now we can party!”
  “Yes, but not too much. Like Icy said, we really should be searching for Frosterpie.”
  “Ok ok ok.”
  “ICY!!!!!!!!!!!!!” They hear someone shout. Running at top speed from the direction of Cinnabar Mansion, was Lewis.
  “Oh hi Lewis. Did you-“ Icy starts to say. All of a sudden, a Muk was standing in front of them.
  “Hi again losers!” Techor shouts.
  “You again!” they all shout.
  “Yep. And this time, we shall not fail!” Livy shouts.
  “Don’t you people ever get tired of being wrong all the time?” Lewis asks.
  They just glared. “Go all Pokémon!” they shout.
  “Pokéball, go!” Lewis shouts. Lewis throws the pokéball his father gave him. An elephant Pokémon came out!
  “What is that?” Icy asks.
  Lewis pulls out his pokédex which says, “Donphan: the elephant Pokémon. Its body is like a steel wall, making Donphan a Pokémon you don’t want to get angry with. Getting hit by it is like getting hit by a brick wall.”
  “Cool! Donphan! Rolling tackle attack!” Lewis commands. Donphan curls into a ball and very speedily hits five of the Team Rocket Pokémon, sending them flying. Donphan comes back around, hitting them again. “Now Donphan! Horn attack!” Lewis shouts. Donphan jumps into Muk, Nidorina, Venomoth, Nidorino, Kabutops, and Omastar, hitting them hard.
  “Gyarados go!” T&L shout.
  “Donphan! Earthquake attack!” Lewis shouts. Donphan starts stomping the ground, hard, and Gyarados suddenly starts shaking and falling down! “Go Charmander!” Lewis shouts. “Charmander and Donphan, Fury attack and Fire blast!” Lewis commands. Donphan begins firing the horns at Team Rocket, repelling them for a moment. Charmander fires his fire blast, knocking them into the sky.
  “Looks like Team Rocket’s blazing off agaaaaaaaaain!” Techor and Livy shout.
  “They just don’t learn do they?” Icy said.
  “Nope,” replied Kelly. Nicky was standing right by her. He kicked Ivysore.
  “That’s for what you were about to say.” Ivysore runs back over to Meeko who simply laughs to herself.
  “Well, where’s the next disc Icy?”
  “Back home. In the forest.”
  “Where in the forest?”
  Flutter examined the markings on the psychic disc. “The Temple of Goddish. I know where that is. But it’s never been touched by humans, only pokémon should go there.”
  “Fine with us. Let’s head back to the gym first.”
  “Good idea.”

  Well, with Team Rocket out of the way for the time being, our group catches the next plane off Cinnabar Island. Too bad the stay was too short to have any fun, but with five discs, they’re only three away from the legendary Frosterpie. What exciting adventures await them next time?

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part XII - The Grass Disc and the Temple of Goddish

  “ TOOT TOOT!” is the sound our heroes heard. Everyone rushed up and saw that they’d made it back!
  “ Now I can see how the Bug Gym is doing!” Icy says.
  “ I wonder how everyone is.” Nicky said. Kelly walked up and stood beside him. Sara jumped over near Icy, it seemed peaceful until...
  “ ( ARE YOU FOUR LOVE BIRDS GONNA GET OFF THIS SHIP ANYTIME SOON?!?!?! )” was heard by Ivysore, “ ( Oh, wait, Nicky and Kelly, by each other? A Kodak moment! )” Ivysore whipped out a camera, but Nicky kicked it and it fell into the water.
  “ ( Hey! )” Ivysore tried to find it by looking over the edge, but Nicky kicked him into the water.
  “ ( Hey! You kicked my butt! )” Ivysore yelled as he swam across to the dock.
  “ You know, I’m beginning to think Ivysore’s more of a curse than a Pokémon.” Meeko said.
  “ Ditto.” replied Lewis.

  They entered the Bug Gym. Icy suddenly sniffed the air. “Something’s strange here. Stay back. I’ll check it out.” The rest of the group exchanged strange glances as Icy walked into the gym. He could hear small voices from inside the main room.
  “I didn’t leave anyone here over the time we were gone.” He slowly opened the door. The talking stopped. Icy took a few steps into the room. His psychic senses told him to jump quick. “What the!” Icy leapt into the air as a vine narrowly missed him. “PiiiiiiikkaaaaaCHUUU!!!!,” he cried. The pokémon that attacked him was baked over easy.
  “ICY!!! Are you ok?” Sara rushed in, didn’t see where Icy was and toppled over him. “Hehehe, sorry…”
  “Owww… It’s ok…Hey, what kind of pokémon is that?”
  “Hey cool!” Lewis opened his pokédex. “The pokédex calls it a Hima-Nuts. It’s a seed pokémon. I wonder what it doing here?”
  “Forget that, he’s mine now!” Icy used his telekinesis to teleport a forestball to his hands. “Forest Pokéball, GO!” The forestball sucked Hima-Nuts inside and clicked. “Awesome, it’s mine now. What should I call him?”
  “Well, its eyes kinda look like beads.”
  “Beads, that’s a good name.”
  “I suppose we should let our pokémon rest here a while before hunting for the Grass Disc.”
  “Yep.”
  While their pokémon took a rest, Icy and Sara played outside with each other. Nicky watched the two Pikachu shock each other then run off and hide. Kelly walked up to join him. “They look so cute together don’t they?” Nicky said quietly.
  “Nicky likes… OWWW,” Ivysore yelped as Nicky’s foot made contact with his mouth.
  “Hehehe, that Ivysaur is always saying the silliest of things.”
  “Yeah, silly, right…”

  “Come back here Icy. Come out, come out, wherever you are?” Icy jumped out of the tree he was hiding in with Buttercup and Flutter carrying him down. “Agh!”
  “Bombs away!” Icy flew past Sara holding onto his Butterfree.
  “Oh yeah, two can play at this. Aura, Sapphire, I call you both.” Sara’s two Butterfree appeared.
  “Hey, I didn’t know Sara had a second Butterfree. Look at it, it’s so pretty.” Sapphire’s body was as shiny as a gemstone and her wings were like diamonds. She glimmered as Sara took hold and gave chase for Icy.
  “Uh oh. Oh guys, split up ahead and I’ll teleport back onto you.” They went a few more feet then broke apart. Icy vanished.
  “Huh, where’d he go now?”
  Buttercup and Flutter joined up again as Icy reappeared holding onto to them. “Whoa. That was close. Let’s head back now.” Sara’s Butterfree were getting tired out from chasing Icy’s so she had them return and headed back with Icy.
  “Next time, you won’t escape me Icy Pikachu.”
  “Ha! That’s what you think.”
  Leafy was chatting with Hocus when they got back. Beads was also listening in.
  “I see Leafy, so only grass pokémon can enter The Temple of Goddish. No humans have ever been there. I will inform master.” Hocus became aware of Icy’s presence. “Ah, master. I’m afraid I have some bad news. Only grass pokémon can get to that temple. Humans can’t. I guess you and your friends should send your grass types out and hope they find the disk ok.”
  “Doesn’t look like we have a choice.”
  Ivysore looked away. “What’s wrong with your Ivysaur Meeko?” Kelly asked.
  “Oh… I don’t think Ivysore believes in Goddish.”
  “Aww… too bad.”
  “Yeah.”
  “I think we should send Hocus and Alakazam to protect Leafy and Beads while they enter the temple.”
  “Yeah, they just can’t enter.”
  “Well, good luck guys. Oh, wait.” Icy reached for a coffee mug on the counter.
  “No thanks master, I don’t drink coffee.”
  “Is fortunate. No good for health,” the mug responded. It transformed into Loki the Ditto.
  “Oh.”
  “Take Loki with you. He should know where the temple is probably located.”
  “Ok. Let’s get moving pokémon.” Hocus led the group out the door and they headed in the direction of the temple.
  “Oh, I hope they are ok.”
  “Don’t worry. Loki can protect them from anyone trying to capture them. Oak sent me a special cream to add to Dittos. He can use his body like a shield. It’s impervious to pokéballs.”
  They set off into the forest. Hocus led the way. “So, this temple, you’ve been there before?”
  “Yes, many times,” Loki responded. “Oak have me do study for him.”
  “I see.” Loki gave Hocus some directions and they continued on their way.
  “Wait for us,” shouted four tiny voices. It was the Butterfree group. Buttercup, Flutter, Aura, and Sapphire all finally caught up with the group. “Icy wants us to come too.”

  “Great, more pokémon to capture!”
  “Huh?” Hocus said. It was Techor and Livy.
  “Hmm, Giovanni will sure love this.” They hadn’t noticed Lewis’ Alakazam teleport behind them.
  “Zam!” Techor and Livy found themselves frozen. “Kazam!” They vanished.
  “Nice work. Let’s keep moving, it’s getting dark.”
  They continued moving through the forest. Finally, the temple came within view. They dropped to their knees, or at least attempted to kneel and offer blessings before the temple. “Well, let’s get that disc.”

  Meanwhile… Mewtwo waved his hand over a large glass in his cavern. An image formed. A massive energy discharge entered the atmosphere headed for a large blue structure surrounded by what appeared to be sand. Energy was being fed into the blue building. “Hmm…” Suddenly, the scene vanished. “A premonition… This isn’t good. Giovanni has no idea what he’s getting into.”

  After searching the temple for about an hour, Buttercup and Leafy located the portal. “Over here.” Leafy stepped through the transparent rift and retrieved the disc.
  “Great job. Alakazam, would you please teleport us back to the gym. I don’t want to have to deal with Techor and Livy again.”
  “No problem.” In no time they were teleported into the gym.
  “So glad you could join us,” Techor laughed clicking a button. A large cage enclosed the group of pokémon. On the other side of the gym, the rest of the trainers and pokémon were locked in cages.
  “Well, start loading them into the truck. You think Giovanni’s paying you guys to sit around?” The elite team began to cart the trainers into a van.
  “Leafy. Use the disc…” Hocus said telepathically. Leafy tapped the powers of the Grass Disc. Her flow began to glow a bright white. “Leafy, Grass Disc hyper beam now!” Leafy let out an enormous hyper beam that melted the cage and creamed TR.
  “Forget it Livy, this isn’t the time. Everyone, fall back.”
  “You win this time twirps, but I promise you, we’ll be back again. You’ll never get to Frosterpie alive.”

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part XIII - The Rock Element Disc

  Our heroes sure have been through a lot lately. Team Rocket has been getting closer at stealing those discs, but the team’s only got two more to go!

  “Icy, where’s the next disc located?”
  “The seventh disc is of the rock element.”
  “Hey, that’s an easy one,” exclaimed Kelly.
  “Really? I can’t think of anywhere except maybe Mount Moon.”
  “No, no, the Rock Tunnel, sheesh, where do you think they got the name?”
  “Hey, good thinking. We better get moving now before Team Rocket tries any more dirty schemes.”
  “Yea.” With that, the group heads out towards Cerulean City through the forests.

Meanwhile, Giovanni’s elite group has been quite busy.
  “Hurry it up, we know they are headed here. That Pikachu’s in for a big surprise when he finds out we got here first. Make sure those traps are full-proof.”
  “Yes sir!”
  Techor and Livy arrived. “Is everything progressing on schedule?”
  “Yes Techor. Everything will be perfect for his arrival.”
  “Good. We’ll try to cut them off and snatch a few of the discs up ahead but make sure that if they manage to escape us you get those discs. Oh, and Giovanni wants that Pikachu alive. Don’t ask why.”
  “Right, live Pikachu, gotcha.”
  “Let’s go,” Livy sneered. With that, Techor and Livy head towards Cerulean City also, ready to intercept our heroes.

  “We’re on the road to become the greatest Trainer...Trainer...and I won’t quite until I’m numba one...” Lewis sang as they walked along to the Rock Tunnel.
  “( He sings like a dying Pidgey... )” Ivysore said. A shoe suddenly found itself on his head.
  “Will you shut up for once in your life!!!!” Lewis yelled.
  “Ok, here we are!”
  “It’s dark, we need a Pokémon to light the way!”
  “That’s alright, I’ve got it covered, go, Charcoal!”
  “Char! Charmander!”
  “When did you name your Charmander.”
  “A little while ago.”
  “That neat.”
  “Prepare-”, Techor was interrupted.
  “Ag! We don’t have time for this!!” the all yelled.
  “-_-; We won’t let you pass! You have to come through us first!”
  “That’s fine with us! Go-”but everyone stopped, as Slowpoke slowly walked forward.
  “Slow!”
  “What’s that? A measly little pink air head?”
  “HAHAHAHAHAHA...huh?” Slowpoke slowly uncovered a symbol, the King’s symbol!
  “SLOW!” Slowpoke pushed on it and the symbol glowed, a Shellder leapt out of the crest symbol and attached to Slowpoke’s head, then, the Shellder and Slowpoke glowed. And, they became...
  “Slowking!” Slowking said.
  “Wow! A new Pokémon!” Lewis flipped open his PokéDex.
  “Slowking: Slowpoke’s brain power triples after evolving into Slowking...”
  “Wow! Slowking! Show them a Psybeam!” Meeko commanded. Unfortunately, Slowking didn’t notice the Nidoqueen hidden in the shadows of the cave.
  “NIDO!!” she stormed out, and before Slowking could react, she Double Kicked him.
  “King...” he wheezed out.
  “Oh no!” the others sent out their Pokémon too.
  “Haha! Those are wimps! Go, Nidoking!!!”
  “They evolved their Pokémon!”
  “Yes, and boy are you in for a surprise, remember ol’ Gyarados, well, we’ve got his land lovin’ cousin...” an Onix came out.
  “Ag! That thing’s HUGE!!!” the Onix Body Slammed half their Pokémon!
  “Oh no! Starmie! Water Gun!” Lewis yelled. But, while it was attacking Nidoqueen, the Nidoking rammed into its jewel!
  “It’s time...” Livy said, Techor dropped a smoke bomb, when the smoke cleared they were gone!
  “No! They got away.”
  “Now what?”
  “This isn’t right. They were winning that battle. Why would they suddenly retreat?” Lewis asked.
  “Maybe they thought we were winning!” Kelly said cheerfully. Lewis smiled as well as Nicky. Ivysore caught himself before saying anything.
  “Ok. Well, since we are here and Team Rocket’s out of the way for all we know, let’s find that rock disc. Umm, who exactly has a rock pokémon?” Icy said.
  “Hmm, I don’t know if anyone does have a rock type.”
  “Loki solve problem.” Loki jumped to the ground. “Loki ditto of Oak. Loki able change to pokémon Loki see. Loki remember see big rock snake Onix. Loki transform now to Onix.” The small Ditto began to expand and became a full sized Onix.
  “Awesome! Now we can find the disk!”
  After searching the Rock Tunnel for almost an hour, Loki finally found the disc’s hiding place. “Loki find.”
  “Thank you Loki,” a mysterious voice said as its owner snatched the disc.
  “And now you are all where we want you.”
  “Crap, Team Rocket set a trap for us.”
  “No duh genius. Nidoqueen go!”
  “Nidoking go. Get that Pikachu and his girlfriend.” Nidoking used a mega punch attack on Icy knocking him out.
  “No, Icy!” Sara takes her two pokéballs and releases them. “Sapphire, Aura, go!” Her Butterfree flew into action. “Psybeam attack!” Nidoking was sent back by the butterfrees attack.
  Meanwhile, Kelly and Nicky were being cornered by Nidoqueen. “Now!” Suddenly, the wall behind them crumbled and Team Rocket agents jumped out grabbing them. “Get all their pokéballs.” They stole as many as they could and ran off.
  “Hey, come back here!” Nidoqueen smashed them both into the rocks next to them.
  “Owww…,” Kelly whined. She was cut on her arm and had a few scrapes on her head and knees. “Owwww!” She started crying.
  Nicky was furious. “You are gonna pay for that!” He grabbed one of the pokéballs the agents missed. “Vileplume go! Solar beam now!” Vileplume blasted Nidoqueen back towards Techor and Livy.
  “We aren’t through yet. Muk go!”
  “Venomoth go! Attack!”
  “Icy, we’re outnumbered. What do we do?”
  “Run!”
  Nicky picked up Kelly who was still crying a little from her injuries. Meeko grabbed the pokéballs she could and followed Lewis. Icy and Sara were not far behind.
  “Oh no you don’t. We aren’t gonna let you off easy this time pest.” Techor pressed a button on a remote control. The ceiling over the group exploded.
  “Oh s***!” The rocks poured down on them. After the dust had settled, Techor and Livy exchanged glances of success and exited the cave.
  “That takes care of that loose end. Hahahaha!”
  Has Team Rocket finally won? How could the group have survived that cave-in? Those questions and more will be revealed on the next episode of The Legend of Frosterpie.

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part XIV - Give Back Our Pokémon

  Last time, our group of heroes were trapped by Techor and Livy inside the Rock Tunnel. Team Rocket’s agents stole the disc and some of their pokémon before causing a large cave-in. Now our group is really stuck between a rock, and several other rocks! How will they ever get out?

  Icy opened his eyes to see the rocks come crashing down on him and the others. Suddenly, they all seemed to stop. Hocus had created a barrier to protect them. “Hocus.”
  “Find a way out and quick. I don’t think I can hold this much longer master.”
  “Thank you Hocus. Buttercup, Flutter, psybeam attack.” Flutter shrugged but Buttercup psybeamed a path through the rocks. “Everybody out now!” They cleared out and Icy grabbed Hocus. “Let’s go.” Hocus’ barrier dissolved just as he was clear of the rocks. Everyone got out safely.
  “Are you ok Kelly?”
  Kelly’s leg was really hurt along with her arm. They were bleeding slightly. “Ughh… no…,” she said in a whiny voice. “It hurts to move.”
  “Oh no. I’ll carry you.”
  Ivysore for once kept quiet. He knew this time things were serious. Kelly took one last look at Nicky before fainting.
  “Oh. We gotta get her to a hospital or something.”
  “I think there’s a pokécenter just outside the cave. Let’s hurry.”
  Nicky held Kelly and they all ran quickly out of the cave.
  “Nurse Joy help us!!!” Joy quickly ran to the front door.
  “Oh my, what happened to this poor little girl?”
  “It was Team Rocket, Nurse Joy. They attacked us in the cave. We were lucky to survive. Hey, wait a sec, they still have some of our pokémon!”
  “Yeah. And the disc.”
  “We’ve got to find them.”
  “If we go after that Rock Disc again, I want to be prepared. I’ll get my Graveler from the computer,” Lewis said.
  “Ah, good thinking. So you do have a rock type after all.”
  “Yes.”
  “Nurse Joy. Is Kelly going to make it?”
  “Oh? Oh of course. This is only a minor injury…”
  “MINOR!!! SHE’S ALL CUT UP!!!”
  “Despite the bruises, she’s really not that badly hurt. I can’t fully treat her like a regular doctor, but I’ll do my best. She should be better by morning.” Some Chanceys came in and wheeled Kelly into the emergency room. Nicky sat down on the bench with tears rolling down his cheeks.
  Ivysore cautiously approached him. “Nicky?”
  “What?”
  “I…I’m sorry about the jokes I made…”
  “It’s ok… I just hope Kelly is all right.”
  “Me too. Friends?”
  “Friends.” Nicky shook Ivysore’s leaves.

  The next day, Nicky woke up to see Nurse Joy typing reports onto the front computer.
  “How is she?”
  “Oh, Kelly, she’s recovering in the patients ward. I’ll take you to her.” She led Nicky to Kelly’s room. “Here she is. She should be ready to leave by this afternoon.”
  “Thank you Nurse Joy.”
  “Nicky?”
  “Yes Kelly. I’m here.” Kelly’s Eevees entered the room.
  “Vee!” They jumped onto their master.
  “Hehe… hi guys.”
  “How do you feel Kelly?”
  “A little better. My arm still hurts a bit.”
  “You have me quite a scare there.”
  “Sorry.”
  “No, it’s not your fault. I should have protected you from them.”
  “Nicky, you did your best. Those two agents weren’t sent to steal our pokémon. I think they were sent to kill us. I’m sure of it.”
  “That’s not good. Why would Giovanni try to do something that bad. He could really get into serious trouble if someone found out.”
  “He doesn’t care about that I bet. What about the others? Are they ok?”
  “Yes. We are going to get back our pokémon and the Rock Disc today. But I want you to stay here.”
  “But…”
  “No. You’re hurt too badly. I don’t want you to get hurt again. Please promise me you’ll wait here. I promise you I’ll come back safe.”
  “Ok, but only since you promise to come back.”
  “Goodbye Kelly. Get well soon.”
  “Thank you Nicky.”

  Meanwhile, Icy and Sara were eating breakfast together while Lewis and Meeko devised a plan for getting their pokémon back.
  “Ok. They must be somewhere in these parts. My Pidgeot found their trail around those woods and can fly us there.”
  “Great. We’ll try to surround them. Icy, you try to sneak in and grab the stuff.”
  “Gotcha.”
  “Nicky. How’s Kelly?”
  “She’s doing better. Nurse Joy says she’ll be fully recovered by this afternoon. But we should go ahead without her. I can’t let them hurt her again.”
  “That’s understandable.” They informed Nicky of their plans.
  “Ok. Are we ready?”
  “We were just waiting for you.”
  “Then let’s get back our pokémon!”
  “Yeah!”
  “Ok, according my calculations, and by Pidgeot, Techor and Livy’s hideout is in a mountainous region. They’re probably holding our Pokémon high up so they’ll be out of breath.” Lewis explains.
  “How can we get there?” Nicky asks.
  “Well, my Pidgeot can probably take us there, but this is probably a trap.” Lewis says.
  “Agreed. We need to keep our wits about.” Icy says.

  Within an hour, our heroes were riding on Pidgeot and flying towards the mountain. Suddenly, an explosion came just next Pidgeot’s wing!
  Pidgeot made a hard left, only to be hit by another explosion!
  “What’s going on?” Sara asks.
  “Mines! They must’ve tapped this whole area! We have to go down or Pidgeot won’t make it!” Meeko says.
  “Agreed!” Lewis shouts. Pidgeot goes down and Lewis notices something about the ground-there were mines barely hidden on the ground.
  “We can’t stop now. We’ll just try to avoid what mines we can.” Icy says.
  Our heroes cautiously moved about the ground, until Lewis stopped everyone.
  “Guys...” Lewis says.
  “What?” Nicky asks.
  “I think I just stepped on a land mine.” Lewis replies, his face pale and with no expression.
  Icy went over and saw. Lewis was standing on something round and metallic.
   Ivysore says.
  “You? You probably just want to set it off!” Lewis says.
   Ivysore says.
  Ivysore took out its vines and carefully started fidgeting with the mine.
   Ivysore says.
  Lewis slowly stepped up and smiled.
  “I owe you a compliment.” Lewis says.
   Ivysore replies.

  Within another hour, our heroes had arrived at a hillside by the house. It was smallish, with about 20 feet of grass around it, and it had an “electrical fence”, so to speak.
  “What are those things?” Icy asks.
  “They look like giant plugs.” Meeko says.
  Lewis pulled out his pokédex which said, “Elekid: An evolutionary stage before Electabuzz. It’s electric power lies in the two spark plugs on its head.”
  “That told us a lot. We can’t fly over them, and we can’t try to go through them. What do we do?” Lewis asks.
  “We’ll battle them with what Pokémon we have! What about that Donphan of yours, Lewis?” Nicky asks.
  “Of course! It’s a ground type! It should be immune to their electric attacks! Donphan, I choose you!” Lewis shouts.
  The elephant Pokémon came out of its pokéball and landed right in front of the Elekids.
  “Elekiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiid!” the Elekids shout, using thundershock.
  Donphan barely feels it and horn attacks the nearest group of Elekid.
  The rest of our heroes run inside, where Techor and Livy are waiting.
  “Muk, Nidoqueen, go!” T&L shout.
  “Hocus, Ivysore, Graveler, go!” Icy, Meeko, and Lewis shout.
  The three come out and face the two. Hocus immediately starts psybeaming Muk with little effect, while Ivysore vine whips Nidoqueen and Graveler rock tackles her.
  “Nidoqueen, horn attack!”
  Nidoqueen rams into Ivysore, sending it flying, while Muk smothers Hocus, fainting it.
  Everyone suddenly notices one little fact-Icy was not recalling Hocus.
  Everyone turned to Icy’s position where he just was and looked in horror: Icy was gone.
  “Where’d I…,” Meeko began to say.
  Nicky covered his mouth. “Shhh…,” he said pointing to behind Livy.
  “So… You little kids really thought you could defeat Team Rocket? What a silly dream. You actually thought you could beat us, get back your pokémon, and recover the disc? You guys are so pathetic! Ahahahaha!!!” Livy laughed hard. The group could hardly take it.
  “Gyarados, keep them company for a bit won’t you.” The dragon pokémon coiled around the group.
  [Lewis.]
  [Icy?]
  [Get ready.]
  [Ready for what?]
  [Just get ready to get out of here. I got it.]
  [Ok Icy. Hurry please.]
  Icy slowly pulled the Rock Disc away. He didn’t count on the next thing to happen. A piece of sludge landed on his nose. “Pika?” Another slimy piece. He looked up to see a large pile of slime hovering over him. “Oh crap. Lewis!!!” Icy hurtled the disc into the air. Muk crashed down on him. “Pikaa!!!!!!!” His final words were drowned out in the sludge.
  “Graveler, catch it!” His rock pokémon caught the disc. “Use it quick!!!” Graveler tapped the disc’s power and began glowing.
  “Huh?” Graveler summoned a huge rockslide causing Muk to release Icy and Gyarados to uncoil his friends. “What the?!?” Techor gets covered by the rocks heading his way. Livy sidesteps to avoid the attack.
  “You kids are so dead. You don’t even know what’s at stake here.” She grabs Icy who had not been paying attention to her. “Give me that disc Lewis. You know what I can do to him.” She produced a small dagger from within her uniform and placed it near Icy. “Hand over that disc, slowly kid.”
  [Lewis, don’t. I should have enough energy.]
  [Icy, she’s gonna kill you. I have to.]
  [Ok, hold onto it for as long as possible. I’m gonna be out of energy if I do this.]
  [Understood Icy. Good luck.]
  Icy focused all his mental energy into his psi energy. “Teleport!” His body glimmered then vanished just before Lewis was about to give Livy the disc. Instead, he hit her over the head with it and Icy appeared on his. “Ughh…”
  “Icy… Ok, grab the pokéballs and let’s get outta here.”
  “Crap, they’re getting away. Oh, Livy. Grrrr, you punks live this time. We’ll be back, I promise you that. Next time, you won’t survive!”
  They shot out of the camp on Lewis’ Pidgeot and flew back to the safety of the pokécenter.
  “Shew, that was too close. Those guys are serious I think.”
  “Yes, we better be very careful from now on. I think Giovanni has given them permission to do whatever’s necessary to get these discs…”
  “They won’t ever get their hands on them. Those crooks’ll just have to find something else to steal.”
  “Yeah.” Little does our team know that they are being watched by a mysterious group of people from the corner of the center. Oh, I wonder what’s going to happen to them next?

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part XV - The Final Disc, Ice

  When we last left our heroes, they were just getting their pokémon all headed up from their battle against the evil Rocket agents, Techor and Livy. But, little does our group know that they are being watched. And now…

  “Your pokémon are ready.”
  “Thank you Nurse Joy.” Icy and the others collected their pokéballs and started heading out of the pokécenter. Some shadowy characters followed them keeping their distance.
  “Where are we headed next Icy?”
  “Hmm, I think the last disk is Ice.”
  “Guess we are headed for the Seafoam Islands then right?”
  “I think so.”
  They continued walked down the road towards the docks. The mysterious figures made their move.
  “I’m afraid we can’t let you go any further,” one agent said.
  “Hand over those elemental discs and we’ll think about letting you all live,” the other added.

  “Forget it, they belong to us.”
  “Suit yourself twirp.” Techor and Livy jumped down in back of them. Four more agents appeared on their sides. They were surrounded. “You’re giving us those discs whether you want to or not. ATTACK!”
  “Let’s go! Ivysore, Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Slowking! You’re on!” the four leapt into positions.
  “Raichu! Blastoise! Vileplume!” Nicky called out.
  “Pidgeot go! Alakazam, zam them!” Lewis said.
  “Buttercup, Cyber, and Hocus!” the Pokémon all faced each other before leaping at the enemy.
  “Buttercup, Stun Spore now!” Icy yelled out, the Spores went near Venomoth, but it used Whirl Wind, sending them straight at Buttercup! She fell down onto Icy, “Ahhhhhh!” he screamed before being creamed, ok, he was still alive, but that was funny, right?
  “Blastoise...uh, use Wall attack!”
  “Toise?”
  “Block any attacks from hitting Kelly.” the Blastoise responded and did so, but after turning his back, Venomoth Psybeamed him, he fell over and was about to squash Kelly!
  “RETURN!!!” Nicky yelled.
  “( So, you wanna take on the saur? Eh? Eh? C’mon, give me ya best shot! )” Ivysore said to Muk. Muk, enraged, leapt up for a Body Slam, but Ivysore stepped to the left and Razor Leafed him.
  “Muk, return!” a red beam shot out, recalling Techor’s Muk.
  “Nidoqueen! Finish Muk’s job and take out that loud mouth!”
  “Saur!” he yelled as he went flying.
  “Pidgeot! Whirlwind!” the Whirlwind blew Venomoth into Livy’s face.
  “You little twirp!” she said, putting Venomoth into the safety of it’s Pokéball.
  “Nidoking, Horn Drill that King Poke!”
  “Slowking!”
  “Whatever.”
  “Graaaaaw! Nido!” he yelled, pounding his chest.
  “Poke!” Slowking responded, posing like he was about to use Kung Fu. The horn twisted and twisted, getting faster, and faster.
  “Psybeam!” and his little jewel lit up. Nidoking drilled right into the jewel releasing the Psybeam head on Nidoking! Both fainted.
  “Why won’t you guys help?!?” Techor screamed at the other TR members.
  “Eh, we’re backup.”
  “Arrrr!” Techor yelled, pulling on his hair.
  “Vileplume, Petal Dance!” Vileplume spun in circles and petals went everywhere.
  “( Flower power! )” she yelled as the sharp petals dug into the skin of enemy Pokémon, a stray shot hit Kelly and Nicky recalled Vileplume.
  “Round one may be over, but now’s when the fun starts.” Techor and Livy recalled their pokémon. “Begin round two guys.” Suddenly, the agents around Techor and Livy ran in snatching all the element discs.
  “Hey,” Kelly screamed trying to pull away a disc from one of the agents.
  “Heh, get off wimp.” He smacked her hand off the disc then shoved her backwards into Nicky. “You guys are too weak to handle that Frosterpie anyways. You won’t be needing these.”
  Kelly’s eyes began to water. Mars and Venus both stood up and started barking violently at the agent. Kelly began crying and grabbed them both pulling them in close. “No, it’s ok… I don’t want to get hurt anymore.”
  “Ha! Weaklings. What are your orders Techor?”
  “Leave them here. They won’t be a problem anymore. We know where the final disc is. Once we have it, it’s all over. Thank you Icy for all your help. Team Rocket couldn’t have done it without you. And I mean that in more ways than you can image, catch my drift.”
  “You jerk.” Icy knew it wasn’t worth another battle. Even though they narrowly beat Techor and Livy, they were seriously outnumbered should the TR agents decide to jump in.
  “What a come back. Livy why don’t we teach to punk Pikachu a small lesson in manners.”
  “With pleasure Techor.” Livy moved closer to Icy.
  “Get away!” Icy charged a psionic shield around himself before Livy could strike him. She was repelled as she hit it.
  “Oww. You stupid Pikachu. Grrr, forget them. We have more important things to do. Is the Gyarados sub-team ready for launch?”
  “Yes Livy. We can leave immediately.”
  “Good. Get everyone on board and let’s blow this place.”
  “You’ll never find Frosterpie or the final disc.”
  “Small words for a small being. You can’t stop Team Rocket this time Icy. Maybe you thought agents like Jessie and James were the tops, but you are definitely mistaken. Me and Techor are the top agents as of now and we don’t accept failure.”
  “Is that why we beat you guys?”
  “Shutup.” Livy pulled out a small pistol. “I do have orders to use this on any one of you. Don’t tempt me.” Icy was about to say something but stopped. He knew he wasn’t going to get anywhere but killed if he continued. “Now, you all just hang here while we go find the Frosterpie.” The Rocket agents followed Techor and Livy to the shoreline and boarded their Gyaradoses. They set off for Seafoam Island.
  “Aren’t we going to stop them?” Nicky said.
  “How!” Icy shouted. He was crushed. This whole adventure had been nothing but problems since it began. Now, with all the discs lost, he was ready to give up.

  “Team Rocket has seven of the discs now sir.”
  “Good. Everything is still going as I foresaw. What is the current status of the weapon?”
  “We are finalizing tests. They need to know the target in order to fully calibrate it though.”
  “I cannot see that far into the timeline. Perhaps our friends from Team Rocket shall lead us to the target.”
  “And then our reign will begin.”
  “Yes. We will take control of this measly planet.”

  “Icy, you can’t give up.”
  “Why not? Look at us. Kelly is getting hurt in every battle. She’s only a little girl. She shouldn’t have to go through this. Me and you shouldn’t even have to go through this. And now look. We’ve led Team Rocket straight to Frosterpie. We lost…”
  “Master, you cannot give up hope so easily. There have been many occasions where odds have been against us and yet we pulled through.”
  “Hocus, this is different.”
  “Icy no give up. Oak count on Icy and others find Frosterpie. Frosterpie very powerful. Team Rocket no let have Frosterpie. Bad things happen Team Rocket get Frosterpie.”
  “Loki, we lost… We don’t have any of the discs. We are outnumbered. It’s over.”

  Mewtwo watched the dialog through his mirror to the outside. “Hmm, interesting. It only took that much for him to completely give up. Guess this means I must take revenge into my own hands.”
  “Mew?”
  “What?”
  “Mew, mew mew mewwww mew.”
  “Help them?”
  “Mew mew!”
  “No. I refuse to aid that Pikachu once more. I’d kill him first.”
  “Mew…”
  “We can slow down Team Rocket for now. That’s aid enough.”
  “Mew.”

  Lewis grabbed his pokéballs and said, “We’re going after them.”
  “What’s the point? We’re just going to be attacked again.” Icy replies.
  “Don’t give me that BS now, Icy! We’re going after them!” Lewis shouts.
  “You are, but I’m not.” Icy replied.
  Lewis’ eyes turned blue, and Lewis punched Icy right in his little Pikachu face.
  Sara ran over to help him.
  Icy jumped up and shouted, “You better have a good excuse for doing that!”
  “It was to prove a point, Icy.” Lewis replied.
  “Huh?” Icy asked.
  “All your life, Icy, you’ve had to face challenge after challenge, battler after battle, heartbreak after heartbreak. Well if something like this is going to hurt you, then maybe you’re not cut out to be the Pokémon Master you are. If you can’t take a little bloody nose, then maybe you should go home and hide under your bed.” Lewis said, coldly.
  “Then I’ll go home.” Icy replies, also saying it coldly.
  “Remember your Caterpies, Icy?” Lewis asks.
  “What about them?” Icy asks.
  “Think of what this means to them: all their lives, humans have oppressed bug Pokémon because people thought they were weak. Frosterpie is the Caterpie’s way of saying, ‘You can all go to h***, because we’re not gonna take it anymore!’ If you don’t help out your Caterpie by doing this, then you’ve let down their dreams, crushed their spirits, and given up the one thing that’ll save everyone in the end: faith and hope.” Lewis said.
  Icy looked down at his pokéballs. He remembered capturing each one of his Caterpie, also remembering Buttercup, and all it went through.
  Icy gripped his hands and said, “What’s the plan?”
  Lewis smiled and held out a map of Seafoam Islands.
  “Okay, we need to think of tactical positions we can take. We know for a fact that Team Rocket has stolen the discs, but they don’t actually know that.” Lewis says.
  “I don’t see what you’re getting at.” Nicky says.
  “They think they have the discs, right?” Lewis asks.
  “Yah...” Nicky replies.
  “Why don’t we show them otherwise.” Lewis says.
  Kelly perked up an eyebrow in fascination.

  The Gyarados sub lifted up from the underneath part of Seafoam Islands.
  “Ha! The final disc is ours! Now we’ll see what those brats think! Team Rocket will rule the world!” Techor shouts.
  “Not on your life, Team morons!” a voice shouts.
  Techor and Livy look around and see a Cloyster and Starmie come up from under the water, revealing Lewis.
  Icy and Sara jump out from behind some rocks, Nicky and Kelly come up from Nicky’s Blastoise, and Meeko jumps up from behind some more rocks.
  “Ha! Do you really think you scare us? We have the discs!” Livy shouts, holding up the discs.
  Everyone starts laughing except for Techor and Livy, who are bewildered.
  “Why are you laughing???” Techor demands.
  “You fools! Do you really think you could’ve grabbed the discs so easily!” Lewis shouts.
  “That’s right! You grabbed the decoys!” Meeko shouts.
  “That’s rubbish!” Livy shouts.
  “Oh no, HERE are the real discs!” Nicky shouts, holding up seven discs looking exactly like what Livy was holding.
  “But we have the eighth, which we know isn’t a fake!” Techor shouts.
  “Oh yes, that’s the real thing, but it’s pretty useless without ice Pokémon or the other discs!” Icy shouts.
  “Eeeerr, I can’t believe they tricked us!” Livy shouts. Livy threw the discs into the water, and Lewis’ Cloyster went over and immediately picked them up.
  The cold, dampness of the Seafoam Cave was starting to get to Icy, it was getting harder for him to hold in his electricity.
  “Well, at least we didn’t get away empty handed!” Techor shouts, holding up the eighth disc.
  Lewis powered up a psyball in his arms, and immediately shot it out at Techor, who jumped up in surprise and through the disc right into Meeko’s arms.
  “Eeeerrr, Pokémon battle time!” Livy shouts.
  “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!” a loud roar shouted.
  Everyone looked down the long corridor.
  Nicky gulped.
  Coming out of the dark side of the cave in a brilliant blue specter, came Articuno.
  “Oh my Goddish, Articuno!” Icy shouts.
  Lewis pulled out his pokédex.
  “Articuno: The legendary bird of ice. It’s ice powers rival that of all other ice Pokémon, and it can freeze with more intensity than a blizzard. No one has ever successfully captured Articuno.”
  Articuno circled around, and fired an ice beam at Techor and Livy, sensing their evil.
  Techor and Livy bailed out of the Gyarados sub as it froze over.
  “Team Rocket’s swimming off again!” they shout, swimming underwater.
  “Thank you, Articuno!” Icy shouts.
  The great bird nodded its head, and returned from which it came.
  Our heroes came up from under the ground, and walked up to a cliff.
  “Hmmm, we’ll have to fly off. Prepare our-“ Sara starts to say.
  “You should prepare for trouble!” Techor shouts from behind them.
  Everyone turns around and sees the two Rockets, drenched beyond belief with their clothes still leaking water.
  Everyone looked at the cliff before them, and then at Team Rocket, holding up bazookoids.
  “How did you get out of the cave so fast?” Meeko asks.
  “The writers don’t even know that!” Livy shouts.
  “So this is it, we’re going to die.” Lewis says.
  “I really wish you’d stop saying that.” Nicky says.

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part XVI - Where’s Frosterpie

  Last time, our heroes had narrowly managed to take back the discs from Team Rocket and stop them on the Seafoam Islands. They recovered the final disc, Ice, but now find themselves in the hot zone. Could this be the end for our team? Part 16 begins now…

  “No more games you.”
  “Hand over those discs. I’m so not playing around anymore. Giovanni’s given us permission to kill if necessary so do as you’re told,” Livy shouted. She nervously holds the launcher aimed at the group.
  “She doesn’t have the guts to fire that thing,” Lewis whispered to Icy.
  “Even so, she does have it and we are still dead meat should she use it.”
  “There’s gotta be some way out of this,” Nicky said. He looked out behind Techor and Livy and he could see were rows and rows or Gyarados subs.
  “There are so many,” Meeko shivered. Her pokémon were afraid too.
  “Icy, what do we do?” Kelly said fearfully. Her eevees were closely by her side.
  “Yes, I’m scared too Icy,” Sara said. She cautiously looked at her two pokéballs not wanting Team Rocket to see them. “I don’t want Aura or Sapphire to get hurt.”
  “Don’t worry, I’ve got a plan.” Hocus appeared beside him. “Hocus, I need you to create an illusion. We need to escape from them. If we teleport, you’ll probably waste all your energy doing it and we won’t get very far. We need to buy some time.”
  “Yes master. I can make us invisible with the help of Lewis’ Alakazam.”
  “Good thinking. Ok, let’s do it.”
  “Well twerps, have you decided yet?” Livy asked. No reply. “Don’t push me, I’m not bluffing.” Still no response. Livy aimed the gun at Kelly. “GIVE ME THE DISCS OR THE LITTLE GIRL DIES!!!” She again got no response. They continued to stare back at her and Techor. “Well then, have it your way.” She pulled the trigger and the missile flew out and connected with its target. As the snow settled out, they were all still there.
  “What the…”
  “AGHHHHH, IT’S A TRICK!!!!” Livy turned to the other agents. “Spread out and find them NOW!”
  “Hey, we’re tired Livy.”
  “Yea, screw the brats, I was paid to assist you back in the Rock Tunnel. You already went beyond the contract.”
  Livy motioned to Techor. “Well then, you should be heading on home them sir. You are dismissed.” Techor smiled.
  “It’s about time.”
  Techor smiled again. “Bon’ voyage.” Techor took out a small remote. The agent’s eyes widened.
  “Oh sh**!” {Click}. The sub exploded into a million pieces along with the agents on board.
  “Now, get your sorry behinds back on this shore and find those blasted kids. Get those discs!”
  “Yes Livy.” They quickly fanned out and began searching for the group.

  Back on another side of the island, the group was wondering what the explosion they heard was all about.
  “Nicky!” Kelly shouted when she heard. She almost flew into his arms.
  [See, you both are…] {Smack} [Oww…]
  “An explosion.”
  “It must have just been another of Livy’s missiles. Maybe they haven’t figured it out yet.”
  Suddenly, a beam hit close to Ivysore. [Aghh! I’m under attack!]
  “Great, finally someone will get rid of him.”
  “Nicky!”
  “Oh, sorry Kelly. I didn’t mean it.”
  “It’s ok Nicky. Ivysore, get over here. Team Rocket must have found us.”
  “Darn right we did.”
  “And this time you won’t escape.” Techor threw two pokéballs at the group. Out came Nidoking and Muk. “Battle time!”
  “You kids have reached the end of the line. Pokémon go!” Livy released her Nidoqueen and Venomoth.
  “Darnit. Nicky, protect Kelly and Meeko.”
  “No Icy,” Meeko said.
  “Meeko, they will hurt you.”
  “That doesn’t matter. If I’m gonna become a pokémon master, I gotta defend my pokémon from crooks like these guys.”
  “Aww, how touching. Too bad you can’t beat us.” Venomoth and Nidoqueen began their attack. Techor’s pokémon attacked as well.
  “Let’s go Buttercup and Hocus!”
  “Alakazam and Pidgeot, we need you too.”
  Nicky took Kelly and guarded her and Sara. “I’ll protect you two while they take out those creeps.”
  “Venomoth, sleep powder.”
  “Muk, smokescreen.”
  “Pidgeot, use gust to dispel them both!” Pidgeot flapped its wings hard the dispelled the attacks.
  “Now, run!!!” Icy yelled. They made a hasty retreat.
  [Huh, but we just started!].
  Meeko ran over to Ivysore. “Too late for that, let’s move.”
  “No, not this time.” Livy pulled out a small pistol and fired. The bullet grazed Meeko’s shoulder.
  “Aghhh!” she screamed. Her hand was red. “I…” she fainted. Ivysore’s eyes began to glow bright red.
  [It’s one thing to screw with me. But when you screw with my trainer, I will beat the sh** out of you.] Ivysore took up a fighting position. He began to collect the sunlight. [Solar beam attack!] He fired, aiming for Livy’s gun. It melted in her hands.
  “Ivysore! MEEKO!!!” Sara rushed over to her.
  “S…Sara…”
  “You’ll be ok… It hit your shoulder. I can heal you.” Meeko smiled.
  “Ivysore no. Look out!” Icy sensed Techor’s intention. He pulled out a small rocket launcher, took aim, and fired directly at Ivysore.
  [SAURRRRRR!!!!!!!!]

====

  The missile exploded.
  Meeko looked up. “Ivysore, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!”
  “Ahahahahaha,” Livy laughed. The smoke began to settle.
  [SUAR!!!!!] He was ok! Alakazam lowered his barrier attack. [Thanks for the save, but I’ll get them for this.]
  Meeko looked up. “Ivysore, be careful.” Ivysore leapt into the air. He charged his solar beam again.
  [SOLAR BEAM!!!] Ivysore blasted Techor and Livy with one shot from his solar beam. [That’s for Meeko!]
  “Uhhh… Livy, let’s get out of here. Regroup. We can’t beat them now.”
  “What are you saying?”
  “We will be better equipped for victory if we wait Livy. Besides, they can’t get out of here any time soon. No boats are coming into port.”
  “Fine, but if they get away, the boss is gonna have your head for this.”

  “Ivysore, what were you thinking back there?” Meeko asked.
  [You were in danger so I came to the rescue.]
  “But you almost got killed.” Meeko rubbed her eyes. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
  [Hey, don’t worry about me. I’m the SUAR ’member.]
  “{sniff} Uh huh…”
  “Hey guys, let’s try to come up with a way off this island. Those goons are gonna be back, and I don’t want to have to endure another battle like that.”
  “You’re right Icy. Something strange is going on here.” Everyone looked at Lewis. “Oh, sorry, what I mean is, why are they all the sudden trying to kill us.”
  “I’ve wondered why Team Rocket doesn’t kill everybody,” Nicky said.
  “Giovanni can’t have deaths on his hands. He may head Team Rocket, but he’s also a high ranking businessman. The feds can’t touch him for the small crimes, but murder would definitely not go unpunished.”
  “Maybe he’s certain no one will know. Each time they tried to kill us, we were all in unpopulated areas. No one would know about it.”
  “That’s true.”
  “Hey, don’t we have all eight discs?” Sara said suddenly.
  “Yes, why?”
  “Well, where’s Frosterpie then?”
  “Hey, that’s a good question. We do have the discs now, isn’t that all we need.” They turned to Loki.
  “Discs not all. Oak know rest. We go Pallet Town see Oak for rest. Go now to Pallet.”
  “Umm, anyone understand are that?” Nicky said confused.
  “Yeah, I do. Loki’s saying we need to see Professor Oak. He probably knows why we still haven’t found Froserpie.”
  “Yeah, maybe there’s something else in the manuscript we have to do.”
  “Well then, let’s get off this island and back to Pallet Town.”
  “How? Techor and Livy have the island surrounded with their Gyarados subs.”
  “Hmm, that is a problem.”
  “Not really.” Icy smiled. “Cyber can help us here. I need you now, Cyber!” Icy opened the ball containing Cyber, Icy’s Porygon. “Cyber transform into Jet program.” Cyber glowed and became a jet. “Ok, here’s how we’ll escape. In the air.”
  “Awesome thinking Icy.”
  “Nicky.”
  “Huh, what is it?”
  “Your Dewgong, keep it ready.”
  “Sure thing.”
  “Let’s get off this island.” Everyone got on board Cyber and they took off.

  “Look!”
  “Get them!!!” Livy shouted. The agents started to open fire on Cyber.
  “Icy, there’s too many of them. They might hit Cyber.”
  “Ok, Nicky, have Dewgong use the Ice Disc.”
  “Oh, I get it.” Nicky hands Dewgong the disc. “Dewgong, use the disc and fire your blizzard attack at those agents on the ground.”
  “DEWW-GONG!!!!” The power of the disc combined with Dewgong’s attack freeze-dried Team Rocket and the group was once again safe.
  “We did it!” Kelly and Meeko cheered.
  “Pallet Town, here we come!”
  Our heroes escape Seafoam Island and make their way towards Pallet Town. Meanwhile, Techor and Livy are thawing out finally.
  Livy glares angrily at the sun. “This is far from over Icy…”

  After about an hour of flying, Cyber finally lands in Pallet Town just outside Oak’s lab.
  “We made it!” Icy says.
  “Great! Now Oak can tell us where to find Frosterpie.”
  “I hope so, this adventure is getting to be really dangerous.”
  “I just want to meet this frozen Caterpie!” Icy grinned. He was the most anxious of them all to meet it. “I wonder just how old it really is.”
  “Well, let’s actually go inside rather than waste time talking out here,” Kelly finally said.
  “Oh… right,” they all replied. They entered Oak’s lab. “Hello?”
  “Oh, hi there. Hmm, must have left the door open again, whoops.”
  “You probably should be a little more careful professor.”
  “Never mind that, what brings you back here? Did you find Frosterpie?”
  “That’s why we’re here. We have all eight discs, but now where is Frosterpie?”
  “Ah, you got them all. That leaves just one more thing to do. Well, actually three.”
  “What? What do we still need to do?”
  “Well, according to the manuscript, there should be two generators. Earth, and Ether.”
  “Earth?” Kelly asked.
  “Ether?” asked Meeko.
  “Yes. The two make up the entire world we live in. Earth is represented by the ground, air, and life. The Ether contains elemental properties of life. Without one or the other, we wouldn’t be here. Four of the discs belong to the Earth, the other four to the Ether.”
  “Which go with which?”
  “Hmm, it doesn’t say. My guess is that when you find the generator, it should tell you.”
  “Um, professor?”
  “Yes Nicky.”
  “WHERE ARE THE GENERATORS!!!”
  “Well, you don’t have to yell. Uh, that’s a very good question. I don’t know. The manuscript doesn’t say.”
  “WHAT!!! HOW CAN IT NOT SAY!!!” Nicky was all the sudden really upset.
  “Isn’t there some type of clue?”
  “Hmm…” Oak read over the last few lines of the manuscript again. “Ah ha!”
  “What, did you find a clue?”
  “No, I found that sandwich I made for lunch finally.” The group face faults.
  “LOOK FOR THE CLUE NOT YOUR LUNCH!!!”
  “Ok ok… Can’t a guy eat around here? Hmm, let’s see. Ah, perhaps this is a clue.”
  “Where?”
  “It reads, ‘The place that touches all the earth, bring forth the elements of Earth.’”
  “Ok, that makes completely no sense.”
  Kelly started thinking. “It touches all the earth. Perhaps they mean that it touches all types of elements of the earth. You know, the ground, sky, and water.”
  “Oh, I get it. So the Earth Generator is located someplace where it touches all those things.”
  “Mt. Moon. I’ve heard tales of explorers finding underground waterways. And Mt. Moon definitely touches the sky.”
  “That’s it!” Meeko smiles as she and Kelly congratulate themselves for figuring it all out.
  “Well then, we have no time to lose.”
  “Right, let’s go.”
  “Have a safe trip.” Oak took his sandwich into the back of the lab and ate lunch. The group headed for the door.
  “This is it guys. We’re finally gonna find Frosterpie!”
  “That is great,” said a familiar voice.
  “Too bad you won’t get to keep it,” said another voice.
  Icy and the other froze upon seeing two shiny pistols aimed at their heads. Techor and Livy had gotten free.
  “I shoulda known you two would do anything to…” {whack}. Livy smashed the gun against Icy’s head knocking him out and sending his body into Lewis.
  “This isn’t a game anymore. Now follow us. No funny business,” she said picking up Sara and Icy. “Do anything, anything stupid, and pow, I blow their brains out. Got that?”
  Kelly started to cry a little. “Please don’t hurt them Livy.”
  “You’re a sweet little girl, it’s a good thing the boss only wants Icy and Sara right now. But you all still have to come with us.”
  “Huh, why just them?”
  “That’s none of your business,” Techor said in reply to Nicky. “Let’s move it now!” Techor waved his gun at them to get them to walk.

  Oh dear. As of heroes are taken prisoner by Techor and Livy, what cruel plans do they have in store for them. This is really starting to get bad. The team isn’t getting any edge anymore and it looks like Team Rocket may now know exactly what they need to find Frosterpie. I just hope they make it out of this alive at the least. You better not miss Part 17!

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part XVII - An Uneasy Group Effort

  Last time, our heroes thought they had escaped Techor and Livy on the Seafoam Islands. But, after the reached Pallet Town at met with Prof. Oak, they were unpleasantly surprised by the two infamous Rocket agents. And now… Part 17 of 21…

  “How did they get here so fast?” Sara asked quietly to Icy.
  “I don’t know, but wherever they’re taking us can’t be good.”
  “Hey you two, shut up back there. This isn’t a social get-together, it’s a kidnapping.”
  Icy tucked Hocus’ pokéball away from sight and had Loki transform into something that Techor and Livy wouldn’t notice.
  “You all are going to be put out of the way permanently by the boss. That is, unless Icy decides to help Team Rocket find the Frosterpie. Those were Giovanni’s terms.”
  “Don’t do it Icy. If we give them Frosterpie just think about what that would mean to Caterpies everywhere. We’ll be fine.”
  Icy spat in Livy’s face. “Screw you and Giovanni. I’ll never help Team Rocket.”
  “Ohhh, grrrr…” Livy grabbed Icy by the ears and shook him till he was really dizzy. “How do you like that twerp? No one screws with me, get it.”
  They continued on their way towards Team Rocket’s rebuilt Pallet Town Headquarters.
  “Ok, hand over your pokéballs now.” The team reluctantly gave up their pokéballs to Techor. “That’s good, now in!” They walked into the complex with Techor and Livy close behind.
  “This way.”
  “Take those kids to block C. The two pikabrats come with me.”
  “Hey, where are you taking Icy and Sara to?” Lewis shouted.
  “That’s not any of your concern little boy. Besides, you’ll have your own problems to worry about. Lock ‘em up.”
  “Yes Agent Livy.”
  Techor and Livy escoted Icy and Sara up to Giovanni’s office. This wasn’t the first time Icy had been there. He or Sara for that matter.

== FLASHBACK ==
  “Hide behind those boxes. I need to deal with some agents real quick.” Icy got in position while Sara hid.
  The two agents entered the alley. “Well, well, well. A stray pikachu. Must be my lucky day. Hehehe...” The agent reached into his pocket and pulled out a black pokéball with a red ‘R’ on it. “You can’t escape us this time.” He threw the ball at Icy.
  “Nice try losers,” Icy shouted as he teleported in back of them. He realized his mistake too late however as three agents all threw pokéballs at him. “CRAP!” he screamed as one of the pokéballs hit him in the head. “Noooooooo!” Icy was sucked into the pokéball. He banged on the inside walls but something was stealing all his energy. His last images before he fainted were the metallic insides on the pokéball.
  “Ha! Good job.” One of the agents picked up the pokéball containing Icy. Another agent rushed back from the alley. In his hand was the black pokéball he had originally thrown. “Giovanni will be most pleased. Take them both to the gym. He is waiting to see them personally.” They all went off around town while the one agent took the two pokéballs to Giovanni.
== END FLASHBACK ==

  The rest was just too painful of a memory. He knew that same fate was going to befall him this time. They reached the door. Icy shut his eyes as they entered. Sara was nervous too. She didn’t see what had happened the first time, but she did hear it, and it wasn’t a pleasant sound.
  “Finally. We meet for what will be the last time Icy.” Icy opened his eyes to notice a small handgun under Giovanni’s suit. “Yes, it’s armed Icy. It doesn’t take a psychic to know you looked at it. If you cooperate, I might not need to use it, more than once…” Icy swallowed hard. Giovanni snapped his fingers and Livy delivered the two Pikachus to him. “Leave us.”
  “Yes sir.” Techor and Livy left the office. “Are you going to miss that Pikachu?”
  “Miss it? Heh, we’ll find something better to hunt down on our next assignment.”
  “Yes, you are right. Well, let’s finish off his friends now.”
  “Right.”

  “So Icy, you thought you could get to Frosterpie huh?” Giovanni took Icy and slammed his body against the ground.
  “Stop it!” Sara screamed.
  “You are next little girl. Just after I kill you friend here.”
  “No please, stop. Please don’t kill Icy.”
  “No, your right. It would be much more interesting to kill his friends right before his eyes.” Giovanni picked Icy up and bashed him down on the table in front of a viewscreen. He turned to his nemesis. “Now, you have a choice Icy. If you side with Team Rocket, you’re friends will live. If you don’t, I kill them all, one by one.”
  “You… you… monster… You wouldn’t do it.”
  “Kill the little girl.”
  “Understood sir.”
  “Watch Icy.”
  “NOOO!!!” Icy shouted as the agent drew his gun at Kelly.

====

  Icy’s rage grew beyond normal conditions. “KELLY!!!” Icy’s body began to glow light blue. His eyes narrowed. In an instant, the gun in the agent’s hand began to melt.
  “What the…” the agent said as he attempted to throw the gun away. Instead the gun began to melt into his hand. “No, no, help!!!” Icy’s angry burned inside so much that the agent’s hand was now melting. Finally, the agent passed out.
  “Stand down. So Icy, you like Kelly? What about young Sara? I can remember when you both were young.”
  “Shut up. Ok, I’ll help Team Rocket. But the entire group must go or no one goes.”
  “Fine. Without your pokémon you’re powerless anyways.” Giovanni got on the two-way to Livy. “The Pikachu has agreed. You can let those other brats out of the cells for now. Meet me at the entrance in 15 minutes.”
  “As you wish sir.”
  Techor entered in the code to open the cells. “The boss says your friend has agreed to help us. You’ll be working for Team Rocket now.” The group didn’t look as enthusiastic.
  “This is all my fault…” Kelly moaned.
  “Don’t blame yourself. I’m sure any one of us would have given in rather than see another die. Icy’s got a plan, and so do I.”
  “What do you mean?” Meeko whispered.
  “Look,” Lewis said pointing outside the window with his eyes. Outside were two Eevees, an Ivysaur, and some other of Meeko’s pokémon.
  “Oh, I see. I hope they are ok.”
  “They’ll be fine just don’t say anything.” Techor and Livy led them to the front entrance.

MEANWHILE
  “Dark Emperor, everything continues to go as planned. The timeline is still holding at 100% and Icy has agreed to help Giovanni.”
  “How long until the weapon goes online?”
  “My crews are working round-the-clock. We’ll be ready on time for when they find Frosterpie.”
  “Excellent. We are going to rid the PokéEarth of all life, pokémon and human alike. This world is not fit for them. The Mew Empire will rein supreme, mwahahahahaha!!!”

  “I’m so glad you’ve agreed to my terms Icy. A wise decision I assure you.”
  Icy wanted to tell him to shut up but fear was lowering his courage. He didn’t want Giovanni to have any excuse to threaten anymore of his friends.
  “Silent now?” Giovanni taunted.
  Icy really wanted to do something now but he kept is cool. His friends looked like they shared his secret intentions.
  Techor and Livy were in the front and held onto their pokéballs. Giovanni explained their orders. “Right sir.” Giovanni then left them.
  “Wonder why he’s not coming.”
  “Leave it the heads of evil organizations to also leave their dirty work to their minions.”
  “Yea.”
  “Our orders are to force you to take us to the first generator. So, let’s go.”
  “Where is the Earth Generator?”
  Icy said nothing. Techor reached toward his gun. “Ok…” Techor sneered. “The generator is located inside Mt. Moon. That’s all we know.”
  “That doesn’t really help us much. I think he’s keeping information from us.”
  “Yes. How do we know he’s really telling the truth.”
  Icy’s eyes widened. He didn’t need to read their minds to figure out what could happen next.
  “Perhaps he needs persuasion?
  “NO! Please!”
  Techor cocked the gun and pretended to fire it at Sara. “Ahahahaha! We are going to have a lot of fun on this adventure Icy. Now get marching.”

  As Techor and Livy lead of heroes towards Mt. Moon, what will they do to get out of all this? I don’t know, but I’d say the group’s in big trouble, and if they don’t do something fast, Frosterpie might fall right into Team Rocket’s evil hands. Join us next time on LoF.

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part XVIII - The Earth Generator

  As Techor and Livy continued to lead out heroes towards Mt. Moon, Icy had already begun working on a plan.
  “Ok Loki, give it all you got.” Loki sent out a distress call to Prof. Oak. With a little luck, their call would be answered.
  “Mt. Moon dead ahead sir.”
  “You are a very observant young lad. Why don’t you go into town and observe the people there. You’re fired!” Techor was at a low tolerance right now. The ex-agent stormed off as if his mother just told him he couldn’t stay up playing video games.
  “Lead us to the generator Icy.”
  “No funny stuff either.” Techor nudged his gun against Kelly. Why her, Icy thought.

  They went into the cave. Icy didn’t know anymore than Team Rocket as to where the generator was located. Techor trained his gun on Kelly still while Livy escorted Icy and the others deeper into the caves.
  “Where is the generator Icy?”
  “For the last time, I don’t know. I’m telling the truth. Prof. Oak didn’t tell us the location. It’s not on the manuscript.”
  “Listen Icy, I am so not in the mood for games. We have been tracking you twerps done for the past month. I don’t like not getting results. You better start remembering where that generator is.”
  “Master,” Hocus said telepathically.
  “What?”
  “I’m detecting a cavern where we could lose them. Take them a few more feet to the left. The floor is soft so be careful. Loki has already taken up a position on the other side to stop them from following.”
  “Great.”
  “Well Icy. Don’t make poor Kelly suffer from your ignorance.”
  “It’s this way,” Icy replied in a reluctant voice.
  “That’s better.” Icy motioned to Kelly to run ahead a little more. They got across to the cavern.
  “Kelly run!” She darted into the cavern pushing Techor down.
  “Hey you brat, get back here.”
  “Loki, explosion now!” Loki caused the cavern to cave-in so Techor and Livy could no longer follow them.
  “D*** that Pikachu. They had been plotting this all along I bet.”
  “This isn’t over yet Livy. Those kids have nowhere to go. Not only that, but I still… huh…”
  “Techor? You still what?”
  “Oh no. Those d*** kids stole back the discs and pokéballs.”
  “AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!”

  “Do you think they are still following us?” Kelly asked.
  “No, that cave-in will keep them busy for a long time.”
  “We better find that generator Icy.”
  “Right.”
  They continued traveling deeper and deeper into the earth. “How much further?” Meeko whined.
  “How would he know Meeko,” Lewis said sternly. Nerves were becoming frail.
  “Hey leave her alone Lewis. Let’s work together or we’ll die down here.”
  “Hocus, are you detecting anything?”
  “I think so. Something is giving off a faint signal, but it’s originating further down in the cavern.”
  “Deeper still???”

Meanwhile…

  “The weapon is almost ready to go online sir.”
  “Very good captain. Soon, our moment of revenge will be at hand. Earth shall belong to us.”

Back to our heroes…

  After what seemed like hours, Kelly collapsed. “I can’t go any further Icy.”
  Nicky ran to her aid. “I’ll carry you Kelly.” He smiled when she did.
  [Aww, look at the two lo…] {SMACK}
  “Shut up you!” Nicky said whacking Ivysore with his foot.
  They continued to go on. “Master, I’m getting strong readings from behind this wall.”
  “Really? Hey, a dead end.” They were surrounded by rock everywhere.
  “Umm, guys, what happened to the path we just came from,” Lewis asked.
  “Oh my Goddish, it’s vanished.”
  “We’re gonna die!” Meeko cried. Sara started crying too, followed by Kelly.
  “Girls girls, please. We aren’t gonna die…” Icy was interrupted by the sound of an explosion further up in the cave. “Team Rocket. They must have blasted through the rocks. They’ll be here soon.” Icy looked at the wall Hocus was talking about. Strange symbols were inscribed on it.
  “Hey look, pokémon graffiti.”
  “No, it’s a code or something.” Icy looked around. “Aha!” He pushed on a spot in the wall. It vanished displaying a metal room.
  “Woo cool!”
  “The Earth Generator!”

====

  “They must have gone down this cavern.”
  “Blast those kids. When I get my hands on them.” Techor and Livy continued down the path Icy and the others had taken.

  “How do you think it works?” Sara asked Icy. He looked over the ancient machine.
  “It has four circles, they must be for the discs.”
  “But which discs go in them.” Lewis asked. Icy read the inscriptions and began placing the Water, Air, Grass, and Rock Discs on the alter of the device.
  “There,” he said. The device began to hum.

  “Those kids must be all the way deep inside. Have the backup units seal off the caves until we return. If there’s a second way out from where they went, our blockade will stop them from escaping.”
  “Brilliant plan Livy. Now let’s go strangle that Pikachu and his friends.”

  “Icy look.” Sara pointed to the screen above the generator.
  “Hey look.” An Alakazam appeared on the screen. It had very strange markings on it.
  “Greetings creatures from the future. If you are receiving this message, you have heard about of lost member, Frosterpie. Frosterpie was a young Caterpie in our village. He played well with the other members and was always in a cheery mood. But one day, he was going out for food and never returned. When an elder found the young Caterpie, his body had been turned to ice. No one in our group knew how to revive our friend so we hid his frozen body in The Temple of Ice. The location was to be kept a secret so that his slumber would remain uninterrupted until some future race could create technology to save him. Be warned, of one who is pure in heart can willfully claim Frosterpie, for his spirit will still have the power to choose his new friends and companion.
  My civilization was once great. No doubt we are lost by this time. We thrived off of the land and the elements. We praised the Earth and the Ether. Two special generators were created before the incident. Afterwards, my message was encrypted into them so that a future adventurer would save young Frosterpie. You still have a long distance to go my friend. The second of the two generators is located on an island covered by ice. I was able to give this generator a teleportation charge to make your trip an easier one. Please wait for teleportation to occur. I wish you luck in freeing my friend and hope that you will respect the wishes of my ancient civilization. I leave you now…”
  The image faded away. “That was too cool.”
  “Well, the researchers were right when they said Alakazams were the smartest of all pokémon. It ruled a pokémon society at one time.”
  On the other side of the metal door now dividing the chamber from the cavern, Techor and Livy heard everything.
  “An island covered by ice?”
  “Seafoam Islands.”
  “There’s no way to be teleported there, so lets book it. We’ll arrive there near the same time. Then we can steal those discs and location Frosterpie ourselves.”
  “Right Livy.”
  The group stood still as the room lit up. Within seconds, the temperature felt like it had dropped nearly 20 degrees. “We must be there. Let’s find that Ether Generator.”

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part XIX - The Ether Generator

  Last time, our heroes had been forced by Team Rocket to lead them to the Earth Generator deep inside Mt. Moon. But, when Icy and Hocus saw a way of escape, they quickly gave Techor and Livy the slip and found the generator themselves. After an ancient Alakazam explained to them more about Frosterpie and the old PokéCivilization, they were teleported to a colder island. That’s where we start off. Part 19 of 21 begins NOW!

  “It’s cold Icy,” Sara complained.
  “Yeah, I’m really chilly,” Meeko said in response.
  “What happened to the heat?” Kelly pondered.
  “Will you girls please quit whining,” Icy, Lewis, and Nicky said together. They searched for an exit.
  “Over here,” Meeko said proudly. She found a small handle for the door. As they exited the chamber, they found themselves on a familiar landscape.
  “That’s it. We must be back on the Seafoam Islands. They are the coldest places on earth.”
  “I just hope Articuno doesn’t freeze-dry us before we find that Ether Generator.”
  “Speaking of which, where exactly is it?”

  “You see, I told you they’d be here. Are you ready with the plan?”
  “Yes Livy. Those pikachus won’t know when hit ‘em.”

  “Let’s head this way. I’m sensing something over in those caves.”
  “How do you sense it Icy?”
  “I don’t know. Something inside of me is telling that the answer is in those caves over there. So let’s go!” They began hiking in the direction Icy had pointed.
  The cave began getting closer and closer. When they finally got to it, Icy quickly noticed some more ancient pokétext written on the cave walls.
  “Look, more pokégraffiti!” Kelly giggled.
  “That’s not graffiti Kelly, it’s ancient writing,” Nicky explained. Ivysore for once kept his mouth shut.
  “Well, let’s go inside.”
  “Not so fast!”
  “Those voices, it can’t be.”
  “Allow us to introduce ourselves. We haven’t had the chance to say the motto in so long this is as good a time as any.”
  “It’s Techor and Livy!”
  “To steal every pokémon in all the land.”
  “And take each pokéball out from your hand.”
  “To destroy all that is virtuous.”
  “To be villains, so malicious.”
  “Techor.” “Livy.”
  “Team Rocket will rule as decreed.”
  “Give up now or prepare to be creamed.”
  Their pokémon suddenly appeared behind them. “This time, we have a special surprise for you all.”
  “But you don’t get to see it just yet. Nidoqueen, Kabutops, Venomoth, GO!”
  “We must warm up first! Nidoking, Omastar, Muk, GO!”
  “Battle time!” Icy telekinetically transported two pokéballs to his hands. “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls Buttercup and Hocus!”
  “I choose you, Alakazam and Pidgeot!”
  “Let’s help them out! Go get em Magneton!”
  “I can’t be afraid forever, Mars and Venus, please battle for me.” Kelly’s eevees nodded to each other and took up fighting poses.
  “I won’t let you beat us again. Blastoise and Raichu, I call you,” Nicky says releasing his pokémon.
  For a split second, both Livy and Techor shifted their eyes to either side. “Let’s do this. Attack!”
  The two groups of pokémon met in a giant clash. Venomoth used its stun spore to paralyze Buttercup and Pidgeot. Nidoking had Blastoise worked over. Muk slimed Kelly’s eevees. Hocus and Alakazam had their hands full battling Omastar and Kabutops. Raichu and Magneton tried to gang up on Nidoqueen but she quickly had them both pinned.
  “We are losing.”
  “This isn’t good,” Icy said to himself. His eyes glanced to the side. “Tele…” It was too late. The Rocket-Ball fired its black beam at him and captured the Pikachu.
  “ICY!!!” Sara screamed. As she tried to open the ball, she too was hit by one and captured. The balls floated back to a collection of agents surrounding them.
  “Guys… we lost this round. Pokémon return.” All the pokémon returned to their pokéballs.
  “It would appear that you all are once again at Team Rocket’s mercy. You didn’t want to take us to the Earth Generator, but now you will escort us to the Ether Generator. March!”

  What a horrible turn of events. With Icy and Sara trapped inside pokéballs, how will our group get out of this mess?

====

  Whoa, last time we thought we were rid of Techor and Livy once and for all but it seems they followed us all the way here. Now Icy and Sara have been captured inside pokéballs… Oh, what’s to become of us…
  Techor and Livy stayed behind the kids as they wandered through the caverns of the Seafoam Islands. They didn’t know where the generator was any more than Team Rocket.
  “Where is it little kids? You better tell us, or we do something terrible to Icy and Sara here.”
  “Please, leave those two alone. We are trying to find it.”
  “Better hurry, she’s got a small fuse now a day.”
  Suddenly, Kelly felt a strong signal coming from a cavern nearby. She began walking in that direction.
  “Well, at least they aren’t all fools. Follow her, she seems to know where to go.” Everyone followed Kelly. She continued to walk in the direction of the signal.
  Lewis whispered to the others. “We gotta give those two the slip somehow.”
  “But how… They have Icy and Sara… We can’t leave them. Plus, they got the discs too…”
  “Then I guess we’ve no choice but to lead them to the generator.”
  They continued to follow Kelly deeper into the carvers. “Where are you exactly taking us little girl?”
  “I don’t know Livy. I have a strong feeling that the generator is down here.”
  “Well, that’s better than your friends. Take us to the generator immediately.”
  “I think I am, but please let Icy and Sara out of those pokéballs.”
  “No Kelly, that’s our insurance to keep you from running off again. Now be a doll and find that generator.”
  “Ok ok, just please don’t hurt them.”
  “FIND THE GENERATOR!!!”
  The group continued their hike through the caverns of the Seafoam Islands. Kelly sensed the energy was getting closer.
  “It should be right behind this wall.”
  “Where’s the door?” Meeko asked.
  “Right here.” Kelly walked through the wall revealing the secret entrance.
  ‘This is our chance,’ Lewis thought. “NOW GUYS!!!” Everyone shoved Techor and Livy back while Lewis stole the black pokéballs and Nicky stole back the discs.
  “Hey!” Livy attempted to enter the room but a forcefield threw her back. “What the?!?”
  “The room is protecting us,” Nicky proclaimed.
  “Greetings seekers.” It was the Alakazam.
  “Alakazam!”
  “This is a recording made many centuries ago. Please insert the discs of the Ether as proof you are the seekers.” They did. “Good. Many centuries ago, Frosterpie had disappeared without a trace. I was sure people would search these caves for him, the frozen islands being a prime location for something frozen. But this is not his resting place. The place you seek is where the beams of light from the Earth and the Ether meet. I’m going to teleport you to a place known as in my time, the Gi Desert. Good luck seekers and remember this well. Only one true in heart can hold Frosterpie. Should one of an evil heart attempt to hold him, the coldness of his heart will consume him in reality.” With that, two beams of light hit the black pokéballs. They vaporized revealing Icy and Sara.
  “What a ride…”
  “Glad that’s over…”
  “Icy!”
  “Sara!”
  “Yup, where are we?”
  “We fo… hey?”
  As the group looks out, all they see is the vast desert. “It’s the Gi Desert!” Nicky said. Unbeknownst to them, but a small tracking device had been planted on Kelly. Team Rocket would no doubtingly be close to follow.

Elsewhere,
  “Sir, the weapon is ready at your command.”
  “Excellent. We shall target Frosterpie, the pillar of this world. With the pillar destroyed, the earth will be mine!”
  “Yes master. Targeting systems are online and awaiting orders.”
  “Once those kids find the location of the frozen Caterpie, fire the weapon.”
  Somewhere else on the ship, a shadowy figure listened. “They are going to destroy the entire world. Even I hate humans, but this is going top far. I must stop them from completing their mission.”

  On a remote, hidden island, two figures walked about. “The time draws near.”
  “Yes your grace.”
  “You know what must be done?”
  “Your grace,” the figure came into the light, “I shall not fail you.”
  “See that you don’t.”

  As our heroes set off in search of Frosterpie’s resting place, what horrible danger is earth in? Who is this new friend or foe? Why is it that everyone is always in shadows? Surf in next time for Part 20 of this exciting adventure. You definitely cannot miss it.

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part XX - The Search for Frosterpie

  “Hey, Kelly here. Last time, those two evil goons, Techor and Livy, forced us to help them find the Ether Generator. They even trapped Icy and Sara inside these strange black pokéballs. Luckily, when I did find the generator, we got back the discs and pokéballs and were able to stop them from entering the generator room. Now we’re in this strange place called the Gi Desert. I didn’t know there was a desert in the PokéWorld…

  The sun glistened in the desert sky. It was really hot. Everyone was sweating. Even the water pokémon didn’t look too cool.
  “It’s soooo hot…” Kelly groaned.
  Nicky walked in front of her to try to block the sun from hitting her. “Is this better?”
  Kelly smiled. “Yes, thank you Nicky.”
  Ivysore was too burned out to make one of his witting remarks and Nicky was glad he couldn’t. They continued walking in the direction they agreed was correct. No one had a compass, not that it would do much good since they didn’t know where the resting spot of Frosterpie was anyways. So they just kept moving.
  “This heat is really bad for us and the pokémon. I wonder if being inside their pokéballs would be better for them?” Icy said. He took a look at the few he was carrying. Icy had captured so many pokémon in his life up to this point. Half of them almost never got to come out. Icy only had Hocus, Buttercup, and Cyber with him now. The rest he left home. The others only had a handful of theirs too.
  “Icy, hey, are you still with us?” Lewis waved his hand in front of his face.
  “Hehe, the sun’s getting to him,” Meeko remarked.
  “Wha? Oh sorry,” Icy said snapping out of it.
  “What were you thinking about?” Sara asked.
  “Oh… Nothing. Just, all the pokémon I caught and never play with…”
  “Oh, well, after this, we can play all day with our pokémon back at the gym.”
  “Yea…”

Elsewhere,
  “That’s what he thinks…”
  The human figure’s shadow appeared beside the speaker. “He doesn’t use that gift of his enough. If he did, he’d know what would happen. Typical, he must be one of those people who can’t stand spoiling the ending.” The shadow made a reserved laugh. His hands rested on the ball end of a staff.
  “If the Mews do what I foresaw in my travels, we may get lucky and not have to worry about destroying him.”
  “A pity. I’d love to challenge the kid. He appears to be a worthy adversary.”
  “Don’t let your lust for battle take you over again my child. You have been well trained to use that energy to better yourself. You should focus all your thoughts on our mission at hand.”
  “Yes my grace.” The figure knelt before the other.
  “If all is going as foreseen, your true nemesis should be arriving very soon.”

Meanwhile, on the Mew ship,
  “Weapons check finished sir. All systems are operating normally. But…”
  “But what ensign?”
  “Some crew detected psi-energy traces spanning multiple decks of the ship. There’s a possibility something else is onboard.”
  “If you see anything that isn’t a Mew, eliminate it without hesitation.”
  “Yes emperor.”
  Mewtine sat back in his chair. At last, his search for the pinnacle of the PokéEarth was almost over. And once it was destroyed, nothing would stand in his way.
  In another portion of the ship, the stowaway bided his time carefully. ‘I mustn’t allow them usage of that weapon,’ he thought quietly to himself.

Back to the group,
  It was growing late and the group couldn’t be happier. Loki had spent all day trying to detect a light source or something that might be Frosterpie, but he found nothing.
  “Finally, the sun is going down,” Kelly said happily.
  “Yeah, maybe now we can cool off,” Meeko added.
  “That sounds good to me,” Icy said.
  “I think we can camp out right here,” Lewis said. Everyone agreed.
  Loki began jumping up and down. “Icy come here. All kids look sky. Loki see light. Loki think light from generators. Light go to Caterpisicle.” Loki grinned. The others were too awed to laugh at the silly joke. Sure enough, two great beams of light flew through the air. The place where they hit the ground seemed to sparkle in many colors.
  “Do you think that’s it?” Sara asked.
  “It must be!” Icy shouted.
  “I can’t believe it, we finally found him,” Nicky cheered.
  “How do you know it’s a him? Maybe Frosterpie’s a her like me,” Kelly said.
  “Whatever it is, it would appear our search is finally over,” Meeko added holding her blue Caterpie.
  “There it is, the lights that other Alakazam spoke about,” Lewis said half to the group, half to his Alakazam.
  The whole group jumped for joy knowing their search had finally come to an end, or has it… For while they are celebrating, three dark figures are watching the very same lit up sky.
  “At last, the rarest pokémon of all time will be all mine… Hmhmhmhmhmmm…” The figures on each his sides grinned evilly.

  Is their quest finally over? Have Icy and his friends finally found the eternal resting place of the ancient Frosterpie? And who are those two new mysterious characters, and more importantly, what dark, or hopefully good, plans do they have? This episode isn’t over just yet, the conclusion to Part 20 of The Legend of Frosterpie is next.

====

  “Icy, we should see where those lights meet. We couldn’t see them during the day, so my guess is they only appear in the night sky,” Lewis explained.
  “I agree Lewis. C’mon everybody, there’s a frozen Caterpie would needs to be thawed out.” The group cheerful followed Icy towards the light.

  “That’s right. Head towards your final resting place young one. You have no idea of the game you are playing…”

  “You two had better not mess this one up.”
  “Yes sir,” Techor and Livy said together.
  “This time will be the final battle.”
  “We’ll get that Frosterpie for sure.”
  “Let’s go.” Giovanni and his agents got inside dune buggies and rode off towards the same light Icy’s group was headed for.

  “According to the satellite readings, both groups are converging on those lights.”
  “That must be it. Charge the weapon.”
  A dark figure loomed behind some boxes in the cargo bay of the ship. “Sounds like they are getting ready to start. I have to stop this madness or millions of pokémon will die. The humans I could care less about though.” Two Mews entered the room.
  “I’m detecting some strange readings in this room.”
  “Let’s check it out.”
  They started looking around the cargo bay, using small devices to pick up traces of psi-energy.
  ‘Getting close.’
  “Hey,” the one Mew whispered.
  “What is it?”
  “Shh, the readings are peeking behind those crates there.”
  “Alright. Set blasters to kill. Whatever it is, it’s gonna be particle dust soon.”
  The shadowy figure leapt out of his hiding spot. “I think your predicted outcome is off a tad.” It was Mewtwo. The two Mew guards’ eyes widened as a psybeam from Mewtwo collided with their small bodies. They hit the ground hard and fainted. “That didn’t take much. Now to find the weapon control room.”

  The light was getting brighter as the group continued walking towards it. “Man, how much further is it?” Meeko grumbled.
  Icy felt a strange feeling in him as they neared the intersection of the lights. “That’s really odd, I feel like I am meant to be here or something.” The others looked at him with confused glances.
  “You wanna put that in human talk for us?” Nicky said.
  “I can’t explain it. For some reason, my body feels like it knows this place, as if I was fated to find it.”
  “Fated, don’t you mean destined?” Kelly asked.
  “I’m not sure… They kinda mean the same thing…”

  “Fate is right young Pikachu. Your fate was sealed the day you left on this adventure. A pity we shall not meet…”

  ‘Must find the control room.’ Mewtwo floated around the ship’s corridors.
  “Hey, stop right there you.” Several Mew guards took positions in front of Mewtwo.
  “I don’t have time to play with you kittens right now.” Mewtwo emitted a psywave which ripped down the hallway knocking the Mews to the side.
  “Wait… :: cough :: stop…”

  “Those lights sure all a long distance from us,” Techor said.
  “The brightness is making depth perception more difficult,” Livy explained.
  “Who cares what the reason is, we must reach the intersection before those pests do.”
  “Right sir!”

  “Sir!” a younger Mew officer said in a worried tone.
  “What’s wrong?” Mewtine asked harshly.
  “Mewtwo is onboard and is taking out our forces like they were nothing.”
  “He must not be allowed to foil our plans.”
  “Right sir. He’s headed for the main weapons control room.”
  “Seal that deck off. He cannot interfere.”
  In the weapons room however…
  “Inversion cannon is charging. Inversion in 30 seconds.”
  The doors suddenly blasted open. “I can’t let you do this,” Mewtwo said as he charged his next attack.
  “Stop him!” Four Mew guards attempted to take Mewtwo but a quick psybeam took them all down.
  “Shut it down.”
  “Never,” the Mew replied. Something was off. His eye shifted slightly to the left.
  “Huh?” Mewtwo found himself unable to move. Behind him stood a large squad of Mews armed with stun spore blasters.
  “Take him to the bridge.” The Mews dragged Mewtwo back to the main deck. “What the?!?” The weapons officer looked at the control panel. That last explosion from the psybeam had damaged many of the controls.
  “Warning, Inversion Cannon polarity decreasing. Inversion lost. Critical Error.” Soon after, a blue screen was all the officer saw on the display panels. “Fatal Exception!”
  “NOOOOOOO, THE BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH!!!”

  “Hey look!” Lewis pointed over the hill. In the distance they saw where the lights met. It was an enormous palace reaching into the sky. Every inch of it sparkled in different colors like a spectrum. The group was speechless as they just gazed it the magnificent structure.
  “LET’S GO!!!” Icy shouted. Everyone ran as fast as they could down the hill towards the palace.
  “Hey what the?” Nicky said shocked.
  “I… I… It’s made of ICE!” Kelly said surprised.
  “No way, that’s scientifically impossible,” Meeko pointed out.
  “If it’s impossible, why is it here?” Lewis asked.
  Icy felt the feeling again. It was much stronger this time. “Frosterpie’s in here.”
  “Icy?” Sara said. The others looked at their Pikachu friend. He was glowing off and on.
  “Whoa, you’re glowing!” Nicky said.
  “Aghh! What’s going on?” Icy said.
  “It must be Frosterpie calling Icy to save him,” Meeko said happily.
  “Is that so?” said a voice.
  “Oh no!!! It can’t be!!!” they all yelled.

Could this be the end of the line for our heroes? You better not miss the final conclusion to The Legend of Frosterpie.

The Legend of Frosterpie — Part XXI - Frosterpie and the Final Destiny

  “Icy here! I’m so excited. This could be it, the resting place of the legendary Frosterpie. We’ve spend so long trying to find it, traveled the globe and back again. And now, just as we’re about to enter this temple of ice, guess who shows up…”

  “Oh my Goddish! It’s Giovanni,” Icy said.
  “Yoo-hoo, don’t forget us.” Techor and Livy appeared by Giovanni’s side.
  “Crap, how did they find us?” Lewis said angrily. He was getting really pissed now, especially since they were so close.
  “You led us right to it, ahhahahaha,” Techor laughed.
  “Whaaaa?!?” Kelly said.
  “That’s right, and we have you to thank,” Livy said looking at Kelly.
  “Me?”
  “That’s right. You were so helpful in finding that generator that we figured we’d put a tracer bug on ya. You led us straight to Frosterpie’s resting place!” Techor explained. The two agents couldn’t help but laugh to themselves. Meanwhile, Kelly angrily clinched her fists.
  “Enough chitchat, you,” Giovanni said pointing to Icy, “take us to Frosterpie. I can tell you must know where he rests.”
  “And if I refuse?”
  “You don’t want to do that Icy.” He snapped his fingers. Techor immediately revealed a small gun from behind his uniform and aimed it at Sara. “You and her go back a long way. You remember don’t you?” Images of Icy playing games with Sara flashed through is head from the past. He remembered the day when she was reported missing. It was right after her dad had given her Sapphire. Icy’s anger grew but there was nothing he could do.
  “Ok… But I don’t know where he is any more than you do Giovanni. Just please don’t harm Sara.”
  “She’ll be ok, just as long as you find that frozen Caterpie for me.”
  Icy led everyone into the palace. Inside, the roof extended high above them with large sculptures of ice dragons and various ice pokémon. “Look at all this architecture,” Meeko exclaimed as they continued. She made sure to look at every piece as they walked. On either side of the hallway, pedestals with various pokémon lined the wall.

Meanwhile, aboard the Mew ship…
  “So Mewtwo, you thought you could save you precious friends.”
  “You are a madmew. What could you possibly hope to gain from this?”
  “Ah, first of all, I’d like to propose that very question to you. What do you have to gain by stopping me?”
  “What? You would destroy my world. What better reason must I give to justify terminating your plot?”
  “Isn’t it you who so greatly despises the creatures than inhabit that world? Especially the humans that created you. You haven’t forgotten that have you? Why would you risk coming here to save them?”
  “My concerns are not for them. You would destroy millions of wild pokémon as well. They are the one’s I am here to defend.”
  “A righteous cause.”
  “What has happened to you? I’ve never seen Mews who were evil like you.”
  “That’s because we are not like those Mews on the surface. We are the elders of that generation. They exiled us because of our views on the continuation of the Mew society. Well, now we’ve returned. We will set this world aflame and rebuild our vision of the Mew Empire as it should have been.”
  “You are crazy.”

  “What are they waiting for? Why haven’t they fired the weapon at the Ice Palace?”
  “Mewtwo has disabled their weapons systems temporarily. Don’t be alarmed my pupil, they will repair the error. There is still time.”

  ‘Icy,’ Lewis said telepathically to Icy.
  ‘Yes,’ he responded.
  ‘The wall coming up is not too thick. If you and me combine our psi-energy, we could teleport the group through it.’
  ‘Good idea.’
  ‘When I give you the signal, teleport Sara and Kelly. I will take care of Nicky and Meeko.’
  ‘Ok.’
  They continued walked till the path split into two. “Which way Icy?”
  ‘Icy, now!’
  “That way! TELEPORTATION!!!”
  “TELEPORTATION!!!”
  In an instant, they had teleported behind the wall that was in front of them. Giovanni and his agents looked around and could not find them. “Find those kids!” The three began running down each path.
  “Great, we lost ‘em.”
  “Yeah, but now we can’t get back.”
  “That’s no problem. Our main objective right now is finding Frosterpie.”
  “Right.”
  As the group journeyed on, they failed to notice the strange markings lining the walls of the inner portion of the palace. For some reason though, they could have sworn they were being watched.

  “They’ve managed to slip away from him.”
  “As you can see, you’ll no trouble defeating him when the time comes.”
  “Right, your grace.”

  “Sir, I believe I’ve found the way to get into the center area of this palace.” Techor waited for the others to catch up to him.
  “This place was built like a maze,” Livy said.
  “No doubt to prevent people like us from stealing its prized display,” Techor added.
  “Just keep moving. Icy and his friends have a large head start on us due to your incompetence.” Techor and Livy simply exchanged upset glances and followed Giovanni.

  Back on the Mew ship, several guards kept Mewtwo from causing trouble while repair crews fixed the weapons systems.
  “How long until the weapon is ready to fire?”
  “It won’t be much longer sir. Mewtwo only damaged a few of the circuits. We should be ready in the next 10 or 15 minutes.”
  “Excellent.”

  “Icy, do you know where you are going?”
  “I already told you Meeko, I don’t know. I just keep getting this feeling we are getting closer and closer.”
  “Well, I guess that’s better than nothing at all,” Nicky said.
  Sara walked slowly behind Icy. Suddenly she stopped.
  “What is it Sara?” Icy asked her.
  “I coulda sworn that writing over there was staring at me.”
  “Sara, it’s just some ancient writing. Too bad we can’t read it.”
  “But it moved.”
  “Sara, it can’t move. Hmm, hey Loki.”
  “Icy need Loki do something?”
  “Yes. Can you translate that writing over there?”
  “Loki try translate for Icy.” Loki examined the writing. “Loki no can read. Loki sorry no can help Icy.”
  “That’s ok Loki, it’s probably nothing important anyway.” They continued on their way. Whatever that writing was, it blinked.

  “I heard something.”
  “Where?”
  “Coming from this direction.”
  “Good work Techor. It must be Icy and his friends. We must find that Frosterpie before they do.”
  “Right sir.” Techor and Livy once again ran to keep up with Giovanni.

  “Whoa, Icy look ahead!” Sara said. In front of them was a giant set of doors. On each door were extrusions of the four element discs they had found. One door containing the elements of Earth, the other with the elements of Ether. Icy ran up to them.
  “This must be it.” Icy approached the doors. Suddenly, his body began to glow again like before. The doors slowly opened.
  “Man, that’s freaky,” Lewis said as he watched.
  “And I thought this stuff only happened in the movies,” Meeko added.
  “Apparently not,” Nicky commented.
  “Maybe this is where Hollywood got their ideas from,” Kelly said smiling.
  The doors opened fully revealing an enormous room made entirely of ice. Every part of it sparkled. The light from the generators split into millions of colors making the room look as if a painter had must splashed paint everywhere. As Icy and the others entered the room, the light bended together and became white. There were lines extending from the doorway of solid gold leading to a pedestal in the center of the room.
  “Wow, pretty…” Kelly said quietly. The entire group was equally impressed by the array of gold and ice that lined the room.
  “Man, I hope someone goes to this much trouble for me when I die,” Meeko said jestingly.
  “Why would that have constructed elaborate of a temple just for Frosterpie?” Icy said.
  “Hmm, I know what you mean. There has to be some greater meaning…” Lewis replied.
  “The only meaning you’ll need to be understanding is your next means of escape,” said a voice from behind them.
  “Not again!” Sara said.
  “Miss us?” Techor laughed.
  “Not at all, in fact, we had just about forgotten about you two.”
  “Forgotten??? That’s not very friendly,” Livy retorted.
  “Would the two of you shut up. This is obviously the resting place of Frosterpie.”
  “You can’t have Frosterpie,” Icy said.
  “Really? And just how are you going to stop me? Techor, Livy, that blue glowing object on the pedestal must be it. Go and grab it for me.”

  “They’ve located the Frosterpie.”
  “You knew they would, why are you so surprised?”
  “I meant no insult your grace, I was just amazed they actually did pull it off.”
  “The best is yet to come child, watch…”

  “Sir, repairs are complete. But, Giovanni is inside the palace along with Icy and his friends.”
  “Perfect. The two champions of the balances in one place. Charge the weapon.” Mewtine turned to Mewtwo. “Any last comments before your world is destroyed?”
  “Go to h***,” Mewtwo said.
  “Your world first, then you. Say goodbye to everything you held dear to you Mewtwo, because once I press that button, it’ll all be erased from time.”

  “Erased from time? But only you can control the flow of time.”
  “Mewtine has constructed a weapon capable of pushing objects out of the timeframe. Do not worry, I already am aware of the outcome.”
  “I of course trust your judgment my grace.”

  “What are you saying?”
  “Your world will be erased. Taken back to a time without humans or other pokémon. And from that, I shall begin my empire. Captain.”
  “Yes Emperor?”
  “Fire as soon as the weapon is charged.”
  The main view screen of the ship displayed the status of the weapon charging cycle. At the lower right side of the screen were the words ‘Windows ME’ but with a ‘W’ stuck on the screen next to it. The status bar was almost to 70%.

  Techor and Livy approached the blue glowing glass. Icy stood back as they reached out for it. As soon as their hands came in contact with the glass, and bolt of electricity struck them both from the surface of glass throwing them both into the walls.
  “AGHH!!” they screamed before being knocked out by the blow against the wall.
  “Glad I didn’t go first,” Giovanni snickered to himself.
  “You monster. Those were two of your best agents and you coulda killed them! Don’t you even have a heart?” Sara screamed.
  “Of course. But right now, I think I know who can retrieve that pokémon for me.” Giovanni grabbed Sara. “Icy, be a good Pikachu and get that Frosterpie for me. Don’t even ask why, I’m not kidding around with you anymore. I will kill her if you refuse.”
  The others could do nothing to help as they stayed to the side. Icy sighed knowing he had no choice. Sara internally blamed herself for getting in the way. If not for her she thought, Icy coulda just attacked Giovanni everyone would have been safe. She was a burden. Icy calmed her thoughts by telepathically explaining she wasn’t at fault.
  “Ok Giovanni, you win again. I’ll get you that Frosterpie.” Icy turned to face the glass. He sighed again as he began walking towards it. Giovanni grinned evilly as he got closer and closer to it. With every step Icy took, his body began to glow even more. Even the strange markings on the wall began to glow.

  “Weapon charged sir!”
  “FIRE!”
  Mewtwo only watched as the view screen displayed the inversion beam head towards the planet. “You haven’t won yet. Teleport!” Mewtwo disappeared from the ship.
  “No. Find him. Search everywhere! Find him NOW!” Mewtine shouted. Guards spread out all over the ship.

  Icy’s hand touched the glass. As he did, his body glowed so bright that no one could see as they covered their eyes. From outside the palace, the spectrum of color shot out over the sky. The pokémon living in the desert stopped to look at the splendor of color.
  The bright light slowly faded leaving Icy standing in front of the pedestal and a small blue Caterpie sitting quietly on top of it. “Frosterpie…” Icy said silently.
  Giovanni slowly approached Icy. Icy’s attention was transfixed on the Caterpie in front of him that he failed to notice Giovanni. “At last, the most rarest pokémon of all time, it’s mine.” He reached out to take the frozen pokémon when suddenly, his hands turned to ice. “What is this! What is happening to me!” He quickly stepped back from Frosterpie.
  Icy closed his eyes. In his mind, Frosterpie spoke to him.
  “You are Icy. I have known about your search for me. You are one who is truly pure in heart, although you might doubt it at times because of events that have occurred. It was you I waited for so patiently these past months. I knew that this day would arrive when you’d finally unlock the mysteries of the eight discs and work together with your friends to make it here. I am most grateful to you for freeing me from my icy slumber. Unfortunately, the guardians of this palace have warned me that a great evil has fired a weapon that could destroy this world. You must channel your energy with mine so we can prevent it from eliminating our world.”
  “I don’t know if I understand.”
  “Open your mind. You can see it now can’t you?” In his mind’s eye, Icy saw the Mew starship. He saw the weapon. He saw the beam hurtling towards the Ice Palace. “Oh my Goddish!”
  “Don’t lose your concentration Icy. Together, we can protect this world from being destroyed. Believe in your power.” Icy’s body glowed again along with Frosterpie’s. Suddenly a beam of pure psi-energy fired straight up through the ceiling and into space.

  Giovanni took this chance to escape alone. “Forget about this. Something doesn’t sound right about this place and I’m not insured for personal injury.” He ran off towards the exit. A helicopter was waiting for him outside.
  “Sir, get in quick. Radar has picked up an energy reading coming from outer space.”
  “Get us out of here now!” The pilot took off. Giovanni took one look back. “Farewell Icy. You were a worthy adversary.” The helicopter flew off into the night back to Viridian City.

  The two beams hits in midair but the inversion beam quickly cut through Icy and Frosterpie’s psybeam. “It’s not working!”
  “Icy, we must stay here. Whatever this thing is, it’s too powerful for us to completely stop, but I believe we can prevent a planetary disaster. Tell your friends to get out of here while they still can.”
  “But, what’s going to happen to us?”
  “Ugh, you must trust me and yourself Icy. Your friends cannot help us. They will be lost if they do not leave now.”
  “Ok.” Icy turned to Lewis. “Lewis, get out of here now. This whole place is gonna be destroyed or something.”
  “No Icy, we can’t just leave you to die here!”
  “LEWIS, GO NOW!!!”
  “Icy, what’s wrong with you?”
  “Lewis please,” Icy began to shed a tear.
  “Icy… You… I’ll never forget our friendship.”
  “And I will never forget yours, now go, before it’s too late.”
  The inversion beam made contact with the top of the Ice Palace. The insides began to shake violently.
  Techor and Livy finally came to. “What the heck is happening?”
  “This whole place is gonna fall apart it seems,” Techor said. They made a dash for the exit.
  “Which way is it?”
  “I don’t remember. That bang against the wall is still making my head spin.”
  “Let’s just go this way.” They both ran down a passageway. Just before they got to the next corridor, the ice pillars holding up the ceiling above them began to buckle. “No…” The roof came crashing down on both of them.

  Sara went over to Icy. “I can’t leave you Icy.”
  Lewis was about to leave the main chamber. “Sara, let’s go! You’ll be killed if you stay here!”
  “NOOO!! I can’t leave Icy!!” Sara began to cry.
  “Please Sara!”
  “Sara, go,” Icy said sadly. His eyes filled with water.
  The energy beam was building up on the roof of the palace. Explosions were heard coming from everywhere. An explosion hit near where Icy had left his pokéballs and Sara’s. They were thrown through the fragile ice walls of the main chamber.
  “Sara, this whole building is going to collapse!”
  “I WON’T LEAVE YOU ICY!!!”
  “Please Sara, I don’t want you to die here.”
  “Icy, I’d rather die here with you then continue living without you. Icy…, I love you!”
  “Sara… I… I love you too.” Just then, her body began to glow as well. Her energy combined with that of Icy and Frosterpie. The surge pulsed through the roof and up into space.

  “Emperor, we have a problem!”
  “What is it?”
  “A feedback pulse. It’s gonna overload the weapon!”
  Mewtine watched the view screen as it displayed the pulse heading towards his ship. “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
  The pulse collided with the inverter weapon. For a second, time stood still as the small area of time distorted by the inverter was recalibrated. Then, in an instant, the entire ship exploded.

  Back on Earth, the inversion beam had almost completely penetrated the roof of the Ice Palace. Just then, something unexpected happened. The beam sent shockwaves through the light coming from the generators. Back on Mt. Moon, the Earth Generator surged and exploded causing a small earthquake in the local vicinity. Deep in the Seafoam Island caverns, the surge hit the Ether Generator causing it too to explode. The detonation caused the island to sink a few feet into the ocean.
  “LEWIS, GO NOW!!!”
  “Thank you Icy, Sara, Frosterpie.”
  “JUST GO!!!”
  Frosterpie used its energy to blast a path leading to the exit so they could escape.
  Lewis reached for Pidgeot’s pokéball. “Go Pidgeot!” Nicky did the same. “Everyone get on!” The two Pidgeots fly at lightning speed out of the palace just in time. As they escaped the entrance, an explosion caused the entranceway to be blocked. Lewis looked back. “Oh… my… Goddish…”
  It looked like a ribbon of water going down the sides of a slope. The inversion beam traveled down the palace and rushed outward in all directions. It began to gain on them as they flew away from the palace. “Must go faster, must go faster,” Meeko chanted as the beam closed in on them. As it swept over the desert, every pokémon it touched just vanished.
  “C’mon, we gotta make it!” They approached the boundary of the Gi Desert. “AGHHHHHHH!!!” The beam weakened just as they crossed the desert boundary. “WE MADE IT!!! WE’RE STILL ALIVE!!!” They all cheer as their Pidgeots landed on the ground. Lewis jumped off.
  “Whoa.” They looked back at what once was the Gi Desert. But the only thing they saw was black. There was nothing. The Gi Desert had been erased from time…
  “ICY!!!” Lewis dropped to his knees and started crying. Meeko went over to him while Nicky comforted Kelly. “Nooo… We shoulda taken him with us…”
  “Lewis, he gave his life to save us all. You or I would have done the same I bet.”
  “Mekko… It’s… it’s just…”
  “I understand Lewis… We will miss our dear friends…”
  “They are really gone…” Kelly sobbed. She remembered how Icy had let her stay in his gym when she got lost in the forest. She remembered how Sara would let her play with all the pokémon and show her how to care for them. Now they were gone forever…
  “Kelly, are ya gonna be ok?” Kelly threw herself into Nicky’s open arms. He held her tight. “They were very brave to save us like that.”
  The four kids walked back to their Pidgeots and flew back to Viridian City. They had to go back and explain what had occurred to their pokémon.

  And so, as the sun set over the rift that now marked the boundary of the Gi Desert, Lewis, Nicky, Meeko, and Kelly fly back to the Viridian Forest Gym. Each one of their lives had been changed as a result of this great adventure. And while they grieved the loss of their two friends, they knew deep in their hearts that Icy and Sara would always be there with them.

  Meanwhile, inside a large castle on an uncharted island, two mysterious figures stood next to each other.
  “The Emperor has lost his final battle.”
  “Now it is our turn to take our place as rulers of this planet.”
  “Yes Janus. Your time is at hand… Fulfill your destiny my child.”
  “I thank thee my grace,” Janus said bowing. He took his staff and exited the room.
  “I am once again the supreme lord of time…”

A New Evil

  On a far away dark island. “Emperor Mewtine has been defeated.”
  “A shame, is it not. He actually could have destroyed this world.”
  “That would have ruined our plan.”
  “This is true. The best part must be, I am once again ruler of the timeframe.”
  “And what about the Pikachu?”
  “Icy is no longer a problem.”
  “He wasn’t killed in that blast my grace.”
  “It matters not. If it would please you, I can have our new friend destroy him totally.”
  “That would be better”
  “Mewtwo, I have an assignment for you.”
  “Yes Dark Lord.”
  “Kill that insolent Pikachu and his little girlfriend. Do not bring them back. I don’t want any suspicion. Most people think he’s already dead.”
  “I will not fail you Dark Lord.” Mewtwo teleported away to complete his dark deed.
  “There Janus. Are you happy now?”
  “No. I would have wanted to finish the pathetic creature off myself.”
  “You have a more important goal to plan for. Concentrate on our first mission.”
  “Yes my grace.”
{Scene fades away}

  This is a story about a world much like our own. Except on this world, instead of animals roaming around, there are creatures known as pokémon. Pokémon are wondrous creatures that possess incredible abilities. They are chiefly used for battles, but to others, they are pets. The rest of the world is quite similar to ours. People live regular lives in cities, and young children attend school. The biggest difference is, once a child reaches the age of ten, they usually embark on a Pokémon Journey. This means they travel throughout the world battling gym leaders for badges. After collecting enough badges, they can enter the Pokémon League games. Trainers who win the games go on to become Master Trainers and gain the highest respects.
  But our story continues to focus on the adventurous life of one such trainer. His name is Icy. He was a trainer from Saffron City, a psychic. His life had been filled with adventure. Since the beginning of his journey, he had fought against Team Rocket. On many occasions, he had gone face to face against the most powerful pokémon, Mewtwo. He had been transformed into a Pikachu by a Team Rocket agent. But not even this stopped him from becoming a Pokémon Master. Over Icy’s life, he even managed to meet a long lost friend who had faced the same fate he had by Team Rocket. Her name was Sara, a little girl from Saffron City with a big heart.
  In the last saga of our story, Icy, Sara, and his friends ventured around the entire world, from the bottom of the sea, to the top of Mt. Moon, to the mysterious Gi Desert. They were searching for the most legendary pokémon in their time, the frozen Caterpie, Frosterpie. Their search was not an easy one, and it would end in disaster, as the evil Mew Emperor, Mewtine, would attempt to destroy their entire world. Fortunately, Icy, Sara, and Frosterpie stopped the Inversion Cannon from erasing the entire world, but at the cost of their lives, or so it seemed. Our story now continues, but what new adventures are awaiting our hero? Will he be able to defeat the deadly plot of Mewtwo and the Dark Lord? So begins Season 5: Icy’s Quest.

Not a Gastly of a Chance

  Behind a long wooden desk, he sat. The sunlight poured into the room through a stained glass window. He folded his hands. It had been a long time since it happened. He hadn’t forgotten. The cold. He could feel it in his hand every time he thought of the events. But then he thought about what he had gained from that event. At least ‘he’ was out of the picture for good. “At last I am rid of the that vermin.”
  “Sir, Mewtwo was spotted headed for the temporal boundary of the Gi Desert.”
  “Forget Mewtwo. It is unfortunate, that experiment, did not perish with Icy.”
  “But Giovanni, if Mewtwo is headed for the Gi Desert, could that mean that Icy is still…”
  “I have more important things to attend to.”

  “Yes, Giovanni, you do…”

  Mewtwo flew towards the temporal boundary. Pain gripped at him. His conscience was tormenting him. “Aghh, why does this bother me? I didn’t kill him, at least, not yet.” The pain only became worse. “It was his own fault for sacrificing all to save them.” As he closed in on the temporal boundary, anger was all that fueled him.
  “He was nothing close to pure. Allowing his own friend to sacrifice herself. He knew the outcome of that battle, yet he still cheered her on unto death.” He broke through the barrier. The Gi Desert was dark. Nothing had survived. “Was this what would have become of all the land? He stopped this…” Mewtwo’s heart was speaking for him. He quelled the words with his hatred. “No! He must pay for the crimes he and his kind have committed before. It was fate that allowed him to stop the world’s destruction. Mewtine didn’t finish his job.”

  “Yes Mewtwo. Allow your hate to consume you. Hate is the path to victory. You will be at peace once he is dead. Allow your hate to become your ally. Complete Emperor Mewtine’s destruction and destroy Icy.”

  Meanwhile, inside the Ice Palace, three figures seemed to be at complete peace, yet trapped within a thin sheet of glass ice. Whether they were still alive was yet to be known. From the outside, one could not determine if they were still alive in their icy prison. It was quiet now. No one was left to make any noise. Light glimmered down on the three captives from the prism-like ceiling. If someone was still there, they’d agree it was a most spectacular site.
  But not everything was inanimate inside the chamber. Two small pokémon were struggling to free their frozen masters. The one bashed against the ice again. “Open!” She started to cry as the bruise on her head only got worse. “Whaaa, please…, open…” The tears flew from her face as she slammed into the ice again. “Agh…” she cried falling to the floor. Her energy was totally gone now. She attempted to get up but could not. Her friend came to her aid.
  “Are you alright?”
  “NO!! Icy is trapped in there and there’s nothing I can doooooowwwaaaahhhhh….” She started crying again.
  “Buttercup, please don’t cry. We must stay strong. We obviously cannot open this glass ourselves. Where did their other pokéballs go?”
  “{sob}I… I… I don’t know…” Buttercup resumed crying. She was devastated. It was like Icy and her had traded places. She knew now how Icy would have felt when she had died fighting for him. Now, when he needed help the most, she was totally powerless. Buttercup managed to get on her feet again and began to charge up a Hyper Beam attack.
  “NO, Buttercup. You’ll kill yourself using that much energy.”
  “But…” she stood down. “But, I have to free him. What about Sara? Don’t you want her free too?”
  Aura thought for a moment. “Of course I do. But I don’t think either of us can break this trap. We have to hope that something will save them.”
  And so the two saddened Butterfree waited there, staring at their once joyful, now frozen masters with the hopes that something, or someone would save them.

  Meanwhile, Mewtwo was headed straight for the Ice Palace. “Aghh… why is this happening…” His head hurt a lot now. The pain was too much and he landed on the cold sands of the Gi Desert. “What’s happening to me…” In his mind, a great conflict raged on. For some reason, he still felt responsible for the current turn of events. But on the other hand, he was the one who prevented it from being any bit worse. So why did it continue to bother him?
  “Mewtwo.”
  “Ugh… I can’t…”
  “That’s not a good answer. You have a job to do, now do it. Kill them both and anyone else trapped in there.”
  “You don’t understand.”
  “I understand everything. This little psychological trauma of yours is becoming a nuisance. Kill them and move on. You’ve waited for this day, now finish the task.”
  “Yes. I will destroy them once and for all.”

  Back in the Ice Palace, another familiar pokémon wandered around aimlessly. This must have been the saddest part of this whole tragedy. Here was a most intelligent pokémon who had everything going for him, and in an instant, all was shattered. Now, Hocus walked around the cavern searching for the group. He had been blow away in the explosion but could no longer home in on his master.
  “Master? Where is everyone? Please, somebody answer me.” Hocus began to think about the worst-case scenarios. What if Icy had died in the explosion, or the cavern had collapsed on him. He shook his head. No, Icy couldn’t die, not now, not after all they had been though. This just couldn’t be how it ended. But without any clear signal to follow, Hocus continued to search for the main chamber where Icy awaited, frozen.

  “Ahh, there it is…” Mewtwo could see the Ice Palace straight ahead now. It was still glowing even though light was no longer in the desert now. “Of all the places in the world, this one is by far the most magical. Hmm, time to finish this.”
  “Mewtwo…”
  “Huh, who is it?”
  “Do you not recognize me?”
  Mewtwo suddenly saw flashbacks from his birth. His head ached again. “Are you, my creator?”
  “I am the creator of all this land. The pokémon, the people, the air, water, and ground. I am Goddish, and I have come before you to make a request of you.”
  Mewtwo bowed before the great pokémon. “If you are my creator, why was I brought into this world by the hands of humans? You know of my current goal, so why should I not have the revenge I deserve?”
  “Because your quarrel is not with the entity known as Icy. You have been upset with humanity and pokémon alike because of your method of birth. Mewtwo, I am truly sorry that life was given to you by those playing Goddish. But like all living creatures, you are still one of my children, and all of my children have good in their hearts.”
  “But mine is filled with hate and anger. Surly you cannot say I still have good to your standards.”
  “On the contrary Mewtwo. What you did on Mewtine’s ship was very brave. You risked your own life in an effort to save countless lives.”
  “I only stopped Mewtine because he would have destroyed my world. I had no care for its inhabitants.”
  “I think you do.”
  “No… All I feel is a deep hatred… And the one that angers it the most is that child Icy.”
  “Mewtwo. I understand how you feel. But, if you look deeper, you might see that you and Icy are more alike than you thought. You and him were the products of human experiments. You, a super-clone of Mew, and Icy, a subject of Team Rocket’s weapon. Neither of you asked for your situations, they were handed to you as fate decreed. But, you must not still think Icy is your enemy.”
  “I must destroy him…”
  “Free him. You are aiding someone whose power surpasses anything I’ve ever seen. The game you are playing has very high risks and you may turn out a loser in the end.”
  “No. I will not be betrayed.”
  “Giovanni led you to believe you were partners with him, what makes you believe your new friends won’t double cross you as well?”
  “Stop this.”
  “Mewtwo please. Do not kill Icy. You have the power to free them from their icy eternity. Use it to do good, not evil. In your heart, you know what the right path is…” Goddish faded away.
  “No… In my heart… there is nothing… no feelings… only hate…” Mewtwo stood up and flew once again towards the Ice Palace.

  Inside, Buttercup and Aura were simply trying to comfort themselves with the current situation. They had no idea what to do now that their masters were not with them. It was worse then being abandoned. Their loved ones were trapped and they could only stare helplessly at them. Buttercup started crying again and Aura could finally no longer hold it in. She started to cry as well.
  “What’s that?” Hocus sensed the high pitch noise of the crying. “Hmm, perhaps I can teleport to the origin of that sound.” Hocus used his teleportion skill and appeared just in front of the two weeping Butterfree. “Buttercup, Aura!”
  “HOCUS!!!” they both said in reply.
  Hocus turned around to see his master frozen. “MASTER! Oh what has happened to him? Psybeam!” Hocus unleashed a large psybeam at the glass but it had no effect. “My psychic attacks are ineffective…”
  “{sniff}We’ve been trying for hours to free them, but {sniff} we CAN’T!!!” Buttercup burst into tears again.
  “Buttercup please, calm yourself.” Just then, the rest of the pokémon found their way back to the main chamber. Static, Flutter, and Sapphire all entered. “Ahh, so you weren’t all killed.
  “No. Oh no, are they alright?”
  “I’m afraid our attacks do little good to free them… I think only those generators are the only hope…”
  “So, they are trapped forever…”
  “Let us hope not…”
  Hocus could have sworn he heard a strange voice whisper just then, but no one had spoken. He was getting the feeling they were being watched. It was the same feeling they had when they first entered the Palace. He sat in a corner to meditate and think of a solution to their problem.
  Just then, he sensed something. A huge energy buildup was heading their way and fast. Hocus stood up just as the ceiling cracked open. Mewtwo floated into the chamber. “So, we meet again Icy…” Hocus didn’t know what to do.
  “Psybeam!” He fired his most powerful attack at Mewtwo but it had no effect.
  “Pathetic creature. Psybeam!” Mewtwo countered back with a psybeam of his own knocking Hocus into the wall and unconscious. “Any other worthless challengers?”
  The other pokémon backed away, too afraid to defend their masters from a force this great. They went over to Hocus to try to revive him.
  “Good.” Mewtwo shifted his attention over to the frozen Icy, Sara, and Frosterpie. “This will end here and now…” Mewtwo focused his energy on the icy glass. “Telekinesis,” he said. Slowly, the ice began to melt away.
  The other pokémon gazed as Mewtwo freed their masters. But their hopeful expressions turned to distress as Mewtwo charged up his psychic attack. “No, please don’t hurt them Mewtwo.”
  “You dare to interrupt my vengeance. Away foolish one!” Mewtwo blasted Buttercup back into the wall.
  “Agh…,” she muttered before fainting. Aura came to her side to protect her from anymore attacks.
  “This is the end of you Icy.”
  Icy’s eyes slowly opened. As he looked ahead, Mewtwo’s image slowly began to focus. He could just about see the psybeam hurtling towards him. “AGHH!!” he cried being flung back against the wall. His body smashed against it. “Oww…”
  “No, Icy!” Flutter got up and was about to attack when Sapphire held him back.
  “Flutter don’t. Mewtwo will kill you.”
  “But he’ll kill Icy.”
  “Let’s try to revive Hocus.”
  Flutter’s eyes began to water as he turned around to assist the others in reviving their fallen friends.
  Sara and Frosterpie were coming to now. “Ah, so you both awake. I have been instructed to destroy you all and that is exactly what I shall do, ugh…” Mewtwo grabbed his head. “No… I must destroy them… ugh…”
  Sara turned to her back to see Icy barely moving. “ICY!!!”
  “No… Psybeam!” Mewtwo aimed his attack directly at Sara and fired. She too was thrown hard against the wall.
  “Agh… I…c…y… …,” she spoke softly before falling.
  Frosterpie crawled over towards the two Pikachus to protect them. He gave them both some energy to revive them but Mewtwo was already about to fire again.
  “This will be the final blast. Now, you die, Icy…” Mewtwo fired his strongest attack at Icy, Sara, and Frosterpie.
  Icy gasped and his eyes widened as the beam was about to hit…

=====

  The blast hit pinning the three against the wall. “Ugh…,” Icy moaned as he collapsed.
  “Mewtwo.”
  “Huh. So, you are awake again. Do you actually think that you can beat me?”
  “Not me…” All of Icy’s pokémon surrounded Mewtwo.
  “What’s this?”
  “You’re out-numbered Mewtwo. Leave us and do no more harm. You’ve caused enough pain and suffering today.”
  “My mission is completed. Besides, there’s no way any of you can escape this area because of the temporal barrier. You’ll be trapped here for eternity.” With that, Mewtwo flew out through the opening in the ceiling. “I have a score to settle with another…”
  “MASTER!!!” Hocus ran over to Icy’s motionless body. All three of them were out cold. Was this how it was to end? Hocus couldn’t accept that fate. “Master, please, wake up. Open your eyes.”
  “Sara. Oh Sara no… No, Sara…,” whimpered Aura and Sapphire.
  All the pokémon gathered around them. Suddenly, Frosterpie awoke.
  “Look, Frosterpie is still alive, but the others aren’t moving.”
  Frosterpie looked at the two Pikachus who had assisted him in stopping Mewtine’s plot. “Icy… Sara… You both were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to save countless millions. I must try to save your lives now.” Frosterpie’s body began to glow, as did Icy’s and Sara’s.
  “What is he doing?”
  “I think Frosterpie is giving them some of his own life-force energy to revive them.”
  Finally, all three stopped glowing. Frosterpie collapsed. He had used so much energy that his strength was completely gone. Hocus checked to make sure he was still alive, and he was. Icy and Sara both started coming to.
  “Master, you are alive!”
  “Sara!!!”
  Icy’s eyes began to focus. He was too weak to get up so Hocus leant him a hand. “H… Hocus…”
  “Shh… Save your energy master. Mewtwo nearly killed you and Sara. But Frosterpie used some of his energy to revive you both.”
  “Sara…”
  “I’m right here Icy.”
  “I’m… I’m glad you are ok…”
  “As am I.”
  The two Pikachus literally fell into each other’s arms. “You two should rest and regain your strength. I and the pokémon will attempt to find a way to leave this place and return to the normal time frame.”
  “Thank you Hocus…”
  “Rest master.”
  Icy and Sara both fell asleep next to each other. Buttercup and Flutter took Frosterpie and laid him next to them. Then, they too napped beside the three.

Meanwhile…
  “You have completed your task?”
  “Yes my lord.”
  “Good. I sense you ready for the real plan then?”
  “I wish to begin immediately.”
  “Janus.”
  “My grace?”
  “It is time.”
  “As you command my grace.”

  Back in Viridian City, some local trainers were watching the latest pokémon battles on TV.
  “And it looks like this will be the final move. Terry sure has a clear victory here. He and his Lapras have sure iced the competition. Ok, here it…” The screen went to static.
  “Hey, what gives…” Boo’s and hissing were heard from the group of trainers who had been watching.
  Finally, the picture returned. “We interrupt this presentation to bring you breaking news. Police are now almost certain they can pin evidence on Team Rocket President, Giovanni, for the devastating explosions and earthquakes around Cerulean City and the massive tidal waves that destroyed much of the Seafoam Island coast last month. No word yet on what Giovanni’s reaction to this issue is, but it looks like this could be the turning point in his infamous career. We take you live the Team Rocket’s gym in Viridian City with news correspondent, Ashly.”
  “Thanks Brian. I’m standing outside one of the most impressive gym structures ever built. Unfortunately, this gym belongs to the infamous Team Rocket, a well-known band of pokémon crooks. According to latest reports, Giovanni has been staying in his office for the past few weeks now while the gym remains closed to trainers.” Suddenly, a flash streaks through the air. Ashly, who didn’t notice it, continues her newscast.
  “Whoa, did you see that?”
  “Yeah, what was that thing?”
  “And so, this might be the final chapter in Giovanni’s career. I’m Ashly reporting live from Viridian City Gym, back to you Brian.”
  “We will keep you updated on this as more information comes in. We now return you to the event already in progress.”
  “Oh, a crushing defeat for Terry and his Lapras. My, they were really controlling this match till the very end there.”
  “What a spectacular finish for this young and rising little girl from the Spectral Islands.”
  “Yes. Trinity has definitely proven herself a very capable trainer in battle, and in caring for her pokémon. Our best wishes go out to this fine young lady and her bright career.”
  “Hey, don’t miss tonight’s special movie presentation of, Porygon: The Movie. It’s the story of a human created pokémon computer with a mind of it’s own. Definitely a must see!”
  “Aww man, we missed the battle!”
  “Hey, that Trinity girl is kinda cute.”
  “Don’t get any ideas. She’d kick your butt in a battle.”
  “Oh, like you could beat her?” The trainers went on arguing while Giovanni looked out over the city from his office.

  “There’s no proof Team Rocket was any bit involved in those incidents.”
  “Could someone be planting evidence on us?”
  “Definitely a possibility,” Giovanni sneered. The same flash streaked by the window. “Huh, what was that? Ugh, everything was going so perfect until that Frosterpie incident. I never should have gotten involved in all that.”
  “Do you want us to get you to our Pallet Town headquarters?”
  “No. That will only arouse suspicion. I want agents posted and armed around the gym. With all this media coverage, there’s likely to be a few foolish brave trainers who’d like to gain fame from defeating me. But that won’t happen.”
  “Right sir. I’ll make sure the guards are posted.”
  “Good.”

  “Your guards are no match for me Giovanni. Hmhmhmhmhmm…”

  Back in the Ice Palace, Icy and Sara were cuddled up together in a corner of the room while Hocus was meditating. They had given up on finding a solution for today and decided rest was a much better idea. But their time was running out. Several parts of the palace had begun to collapse. Hocus was aware of this. He knew if they didn’t come up with something, they’d all be buried for eternity…

  Will Hocus and the others be able to escape the Gi Desert realm? Find out next time on Pokémon: Icy’s Quest…

A New Way Home

  Last time on Pokémon: Icy’s Quest… An unknown being sends Mewtwo to kill Icy and his friends. But before Mewtwo gets there, Goddish asks that he reconsider his actions. Mewtwo refuses to listen and almost does kill Icy and Sara. But now that they are free from the icy prison, how will they escape the Gi Desert?

  Icy and Sara were still sleeping peacefully together. Hocus decided not to wake them since they had been through a lot. He continued his meditation, hoping to find from it a way of escaping the Gi Desert before it was too late. While he was pondering in the corner, Buttercup, Flutter, Aura, and Sapphire were sleeping beside Icy and Sara. Static was alone by himself. He had decided to take a look around and become familiar with the area since they might be there a very long time.
  “Who’s there?” Hocus said suddenly. Static came to him. “Static, did you just hear something?”
  “No Hocus, I didn’t hear anything.”
  “Hmm, strange, I could have sworn I heard voices…”
  “That’s odd. It couldn’t have been me, I didn’t say anything. And all the others are asleep.”
  “Strange… Perhaps we are not alone here.”
  “Umm, you’ve been watching too much Mew Files…”
  “Huh, I don’t even watch TV. Well, actually… ok, so I watch the Mew Files. What’s wrong with that? I think there must be other intelligent pokémon species out there.”
  Static made a circle with his finger next to his head. “CooCoo…”
  “Humph…”
  “Hey, don’t take it personally, I’m just trying to lighten the mood.”
  “That’s alright Static. I could use a good laugh now…”
  “Hey, I got an idea. Remember when we first got here, Loki tried to read the writing on these walls. See look.”
  “There’s something strange about that writing. It’s almost as if it was staring right back at us.”
  “You’re slipping back into that Mew Files mode…”
  “I mean it… Something just doesn’t seem right… Oh… I think too much…”
  “Hey, there ya go. We are making progress here. C’mon, you can’t possibly function without rest. Take a nap or something. Don’t worry Hocus, we’ll find a way home. I know we will.”
  “You’re right. I am a bit tired. Perhaps the voices I heard were just my imagination.”
  “Yup… I’ll stand guard in case these ‘voices’ do have owners.”
  “Ok. Thanks Static.” Hocus yawned and went to sleep.
  Icy finally woke up. Sara also woke. They both looked at each other and smiled. Both were glad they had not split up back then. “Hi Sara, did you sleep well?”
  “Uh huh. I had a wonderful dream.”
  “What was it about?”
  “I dreamed that we were all back home in the Viridian Forest. Everyone was happy and celebrating. And me and you were playing games with our pokémon while the students were admiring Frosterpie.”
  “Wow, that is a wonderful dream. Hopefully, we can make it real by escaping from here.”
  “I hope so too… I miss our home…”
  “Aww, look at our Butterfree. Don’t they look cute all piled on top of each other like that?”
  “Hehehe, yeah, they do.”
  “Hmm… I was wondering if there was some way of teleporting out of here…”
  “But you can’t teleport that far… Instead of being in here, we’d be in the desert.”
  “How did Mewtwo break through the temporal barrier…”
  “Probably because he’s all big and powerful. He’s such a show-off…”
  “Yeah, and he definitely enjoys showing me that power a lot…”
  “Don’t talk about that anymore… I was so terrified.”
  “Me too… But it’s all over now.” Sara ran up to Icy and gave him a big hug.
  “Are we ever going to get home?”
  “Yes. We’ll find a way to get back to the Viridian Forest. Don’t worry Sara.”
  Small tears fell from her eyes. “Ok…”

  “Can they be trusted?” said an unknown voice to another.
  “I don’t know.”
  “They did help protect the palace from that attack.”
  “Yes, but they were only here because they wanted to steal Frosterpie.”
  “I don’t think so. That other man was trying to steal it. The Pikachu was of a pure heart. He can’t be bad.”
  “So what do we do?”
  “I think the Kadabra is on to us.”
  “Right, it won’t be long until he discovers our secret.”
  “Then how should we go about this situation?”
  “We stay hidden for now. They might figure out how to leave and then we can resume our lives in peace.”
  “Agreed.”

  Frosterpie slowly awoke. “Hi Frosterpie. Glad to see you are alive too. Guess we all made it!”
  “Yes. Hmm, but I don’t think we are through yet. The palace is starting to collapse from the heavy damage it sustained.”
  “But there’s no way to return to the real world. We are trapped here.”
  “Oh no…”
  “Master.”
  “Hocus?”
  “I believe I may have an idea that will work.”
  “I’m waiting to hear it.”
  “Your phasing ability. If you transported us to the Void, we could phase back into the normal timeframe.”
  “That’s not a bad idea… but I still can’t control that ability…”
  “You have to master, it’s the only way we can get out of here.”
  “Ok, I will try.” Icy closed his eyes. His mind concentrated on opening the rift between their location and the Void. His body glowed with energy. “Eeeeee, Aghhhh… I can’t do it… I don’t have the power to open the rift…”
  “I will channel my energy into you then.”
  “Me too Icy,” said Frosterpie. They began to feed energy into Icy as he attempted again to open the rift. His body glowed bright white now.
  “UGHHH…,” he starting crying as he took in the energy. “No… stop… it’s too much, I can’t open the rift… Ugh…” Icy collapsed.
  “Oh no… We’ll never escape…”
  “This can’t be how it ends…”

  “They weren’t able to open the rift.”
  “Let’s at least help them on their way.”
  “Yes. The sooner they leave the better. We must repair the structure.”
  “Ok then. But we can’t just reveal ourselves to them.”
  “Ok. Let the Kadabra lead them to us.”

  “I can hear those voices again.”
  “Hocus, you are hearing things.”
  “No no, this is for real.” He heard the sounds again. “There, did you hear that?”
  “Come to think of it, I did…”
  “They came from over there.” Hocus and Static both walked over towards the wall.
  “It’s those strange markings again. Those things are everywhere it seems.”
  “Why do I get the feeling they’ve been watching us all this time?”
  “That’s ridiculous. You know that kind of stuff ONLY happens in The Mew Files.”
  “Yeah, but…”
  “Hocus, seriously. They’re just markings. They can’t think or speak or look.”

  “He insulted us. C’mon, I wanna teach that pokémon a lesson.”
  “Not just yet.”

  Hocus made a closer examination of the markings. “Hmm. They seem to be arranged in a pattern, as if forming words.”
  “Can you read it? Not even Loki could translate the stuff.”
  “I’m a lot smarter than Loki.”
  “Sure you are.”
  “Not now little Pikachu.”
  “Hey…”
  “You had it coming. Now stop acting like a kid and help me with this.”
  “What did you find?”
  “I think there’s a stone loose here.”

  “He found it.”
  “Now what?”

  “Hey cool.”
  Hocus and Static tugged on the stone letter. “Ouch, stop that.”
  “WHAT THE HECK!!!”

=====

  “Oh my Goddish, the wall just talked!” cried Static. This got Icy and Sara’s attention. Sara helped Icy limp over to where Hocus and Static were.
  “What are you talking about Static?” Sara asked.
  “Yah. You are starting to sound more like Hocus when he watches Mew Files,” giggled Icy.
  “Ha ha ha, real funny. But it did talk. It said ‘ouch’.”
  “Riiiiiiiiiiight.”
  “Humph, I heard it. Didn’t you Hocus? You’ve been hearing those things talking all day.”
  “I do think there’s some validity to what Static is saying.”
  “That’s it. After we get home no more Mew Files for either of you,” Icy said finally.
  “WOULD YOU STOP BASHING THE MEW FILES ALREADY!!!” Hocus yelled. Everyone else facefaulted.

  “Ok, enough’s enough. I’ve been trying to rest all week and these crazy pokémon just keep yapping and yapping away.”
  “Alright. But there’s no telling how we will be accepted.”
  “Anything is better than just watching them scream. It’s making my eye vibrate.”
  “Ok, here goes.”

  “ICY!!! Look!” Sara pointed at the wall. It was lighting up. “What could be causing that?” Sara asked.
  “This is absolutely astonishing. No light is hitting it from any area, yet it glows with such intensity,” Hocus remarked.
  “I’m glad you think so highly of this, ‘thing’, but what exactly is it?” Icy looked at the wall, still pondering what was going on.
  From the light, a small figure appeared floating in midair. It kinda resembled a letter from the alphabet. “Greetings Icy. I am Annon.”
  “Annon???”
  Annon facefaults (how ever that’s actually accomplished…) “Yes. My species have guarded shrines to pokémon like this from long ago. The writing you see on these walls, they are all Annon.”
  “But that most mean…” started Icy.
  “…Yes, there are countless varieties of my species. We exist in many different forms, but commonly resemble the letters of your alphabet.”
  “Hmm, I wonder, could that mean that pokémon created the alphabet rather than humans?” asked Sara.
  “It quite possibly could be,” replied Icy.
  “Anyways, we Annon have guarded this shrine even since the great Alakazam ordered its construction in prehistoric pokétimes. He asked us to make sure that only a person true and pure in heart could enter Frosterpie’s tomb.”
  “So that’s why the doors opened for Icy.”
  “Correct. You called it a cheap Hollywood trick when in fact it was very real.”
  “That’s cool.”
  “We have been the protectors of hundreds of rare pokémon relics to keep greedy people such as Team Rocket from stealing them. You are the first humans to ever see us in true form. Before now, no human has ever conversed with a member of the Annon species.”
  “You must be lonely…”
  “Not at all. See for yourselves. There are countless Annon living in this palace alone. I have many great friends here.” An explosion rings out from the NE corridor. “I am afraid this structure might not hold up longer.
  “What will happen to you Annon?”
  “That is unimportant, what is however, is getting you all out of this realm. We Annon will be fine no water what.”
  “We tried to escape but Icy can’t summon enough energy to open a temporal rift.”
  “A temporal rift, he can do that?”
  “No I can’t…”
  “Icy.”
  “Look, I can’t. I can’t control it.”
  “Icy, we Annon may be able to help you. We have seen many different situations in our lives. We can provide the energy you need to open the rift back to your home.”
  “Why are you in such a hurry to get rid of us?” Hocus asked.
  “We have nothing to hide. There’s no telling how long this place will stay in one piece. Unless you leave now, we cannot ensure your safety. Please, you must trust us, we have no intent on deceiving you.”
  “I think they are telling the truth, this place is falling apart. Plus, maybe they can get me to open the rift to escape.”
  “Please Icy, will you trust us. If you are, I guess we attempt to open that rift now.” Another explosion happens near the main chamber.
  “We are running out of time.” Another explosion wakes the sleeping Butterfree.
  “What was that?” Buttercup whines.
  “I think it was an explosion.”
  “Guys, over here quick. These Annon here are going to help us get home finally.”
  “Awesome!” Flutter said. The rest of the Butterfree flew over to Icy. Frosterpie joined them.
  “Ok Icy. Allow your mind to be open to us. Concentrate on beyond the rift and we will combine our power to open the rift.”
  “Ok. Let’s give it a try.” Icy closed his eyes.
  “Now THIS is definitely something out of the Mew Files,” Hocus said.
  “Do you EVER shut up?” Static remarked.
  Icy began to call forth the rift back home. A small blue stream of energy flowed from his body in front of him. The rift slowly began to form.
  “Look, it’s working.” Hocus and Sara watched the rift start to take shape. Sweat was dripping down Icy’s face. He began to falter.
  “Annon, now would be a good time to help him.”
  “Yes. Let’s go Annon!” All the Annon popped out of the walls and circled around Icy. “Lucky Light!” They fired all their energy into Icy. His flinched as it hit him.
  “AGHHHHHHHH!!!” he screamed. The blue beam got stronger and stronger. The rift was almost open.
  “It’s working.”
  “Look, home…”
  “Is it ready?”
  “TEMPORAL RIFT, OPEN!!!!!!” Icy fired one last energy beam into the forming rift which gave it a final oval shape. “Ughhhh…” He collapsed.
  “Go now…” Explosions rang out from all around the palace.
  “Come with us Annon,” Sara said as she dragged Icy over to the rift.
  “We can’t… We will hold this place up as long as we can.”
  “Thank you Annon. We will never forget you.”
  “Please… Do not tell this secret to any other humans or pokémon. Our identity must remain hidden… You must understand…”
  “Ok…”
  Sara went with Icy through the rift first. Hocus followed next with the four Butterfree and Static tagging behind. Frosterpie was the last to crawl up to the blue portal.
  “Frosterpie…”
  “Thank you Annon for protecting me all those years…” A cold tear formed in his eye. “I… I don’t think I would have made it without you…”
  “We were happy to protect your memory for all these years. And now, we are grateful to see you go with that fine trainer. Good luck young Frosterpie.”
  “Goodbye Annon. Goodbye…”
  “Enjoy your new life Frosterpie.”
  Frosterpie shed one last tear before crawling through the rift. It hit the cold floor of the Ice Palace. And with that, the palace finally began to collapse…

Meanwhile…
  “He didn’t fulfill the task I set…”
  “It doesn’t harm our plans…”
  “His hatred for the other better be strong enough to carry out the current mission. Go with him. Make sure the coup happens as planned.”
  “As you wish my grace.”

Could these mysterious people be our heroes’ latest villains? Who exactly is the next target in their evil plans? Find out next week on, Pokémon: Icy’s Quest.

A New Friend or Foe

  Last time on Pokémon: Icy’s Quest… After being almost toasted by Mewtwo, Icy and Sara and their friends discover a strange pokémon species know as Annon. These Annon help Icy to escape from the Ice Palace just before it collapses. But now that they are finally free again, what dangerous new plot is developing under their noses?

  “You failed his grace…”
  “He is no threat to you now.”
  “No? See for yourself all knowing cat…” The dark figure held up a small glass. In it, the image of Icy, Sara, and the others formed.
  “Impossible. He’s too weak to break the barrier.”
  “He obviously has… It doesn’t matter now. Are you ready to serve his grace again?”
  “The preparations are all set.”
  “Excellent…”

  “Icy, do you think we are close to the forest?” asked Sara.
  “I’m still trying to figure out where ‘here’ is…”
  “Perhaps I can be of assistance,” Hocus said. He used his higher senses to search for other people. “Darn, I don’t sense any other people for miles. We are alone out here…”
  “Well hello there little Pikachu. Is that your girlfriend over there?” said an old man walking by.
  “No one for miles huh…”
  “Well… Hmm…”
  “Hello sir, could you tell us where the closest city is?”
  “AGHHHH, it talks!!!” The old man suddenly leapt into the air and took off as fast as his old legs could carry him.
  “It talks… If I hear that one more time, I think I’m gonna have to thunderbolt the person…”
  “Master, let’s follow him.”
  “What, you wanna scare him some more?”
  “No, he might lead us to town or somewhere with other people.”
  “Good point, I can scare tons of people all at once! Let’s go!” The other mearly sweatdropped.
  So the group followed the old man’s tracks back towards some unknown location. They were too occupied to notice the other thing following them.

  “This is my destiny. I, Janus, champion of The Dark Lord, shall take my place as ruler of this realm. Those daring to oppose me shall meet an early end. I will destroy the group known as Team Rocket and bring an end to their treachery. Then, while the people applaud me as their hero, I will pave the way for a new empire. My empire.”
  “You speak too highly of yourself Janus.”
  “I speak the truth.”
  “Ha. Are you really going to just storm their headquarters?”
  “Yes.”
  “HA! You don’t even own a pokémon.”
  “I have one.”
  “One?”
  “When you see the pokémon I choose and raised, you will see that one is all I need.”
  “How about this. When I see you capable to taking down Team Rocket, then I’ll take you seriously. You just remember, after you defeat Giovanni, he’s mine.”
  “You may have him, but not to kill. Rough him up a bit like you do to Icy. You should know how to keep your opponent alive enough to survive right?”
  “Shutup.”
  “Do your job right next time and I won’t remind you of your failures.”
  “I’m only helping you because I hate Team Rocket just as much.”
  “Who said anything about me hating Team Rocket. This simply works into my ultimate plan.”
  “Ultimate plan?”
  “You have no part in it. Concern yourself with this only.”
  “I warn you Janus. Don’t double-cross me. You may talk big, but not many have lived to tell stories about me. Don’t think you will be an exception.”
  “Hold it. I just got word Giovanni has heard of Icy’s presence. Ahh, it seems he’s dispatched a group to finish the job.” Janus sneers at Mewtwo. “You might not get into so much trouble after all.”
  “This changes nothing.”

  “Sir.”
  “Where is that Pikachu now?”
  “He appears to be headed for some small village about 15 miles south of the rift.”
  “Send agents to that area and kill him. If the townsfolk see anything, burn the village.”
  “Sir?”
  “You heard me. There is to be no evidence.”
  “Yes sir.”
  “I want that Pikachu dead at any cost.

  Back to our heroes, they are still following the tracks left by the old man. Suddenly, Hocus senses something following them.
  “Master, behind us. Duck!”
  Everyone got down as a strange looking beast flew over them. “What the heck is that?”
  “Is it a pokémon?” Icy found Dee in his bag and analyzed.
  “Pokémon identified. Neiteio. Bird type pokémon. This is a newly discovered pokémon therefore no further information is available.”
  “Neiteio?” Icy watched the strange greenish colored bird fly by. Suddenly, it disappeared.
  “Hey, where did it go?” Sara said fearfully. The both looked around but didn’t see anything. Just then, Neiteio appeared behind them. “AGHHH!!!”
  “Nei!” it cried as it prepared a night shade attack.
  “Sara get down!” Icy shouted as he threw her out of the attack. “Ughh…” Icy hit the ground hard but get back up. “Alright. You want a battle with me huh? I’ll give you a battle.”
  Neiteio took off again. Once he was airborne, he began teleporting from one place to another. Icy’s eyes raced to keep up with his constant location switching. Finally, Icy could no longer see him. Out of the sun, Neiteio swooped down for its peck attack.
  “AGH!” Icy jumped out of the way and was mildly scratched by the giant bird’s peak. “Got it. Flying types are weak against lightning. THUNDERBOLT!!!” Icy let out a large bolt of lightning and fried Neiteio. The strange bird fly away acknowledging its defeat.
  “You beat it!” Sara said happily. “Oh… you’re hurt…” She examined the wound Icy received from the peck attack. His right shoulder was cut deep. “We better find a town quick to heal you. That doesn’t look good.”
  “Ugh… It’s nothing… Ugh… But… we do… need to get somewhere soon… Cyber, come out…” Icy’s Porygon appeared. “Land vehicle conversion program.” Cyber transformed into a land rover and Sara and Hocus helped Icy in. Frosterpie rode on Sara’s head. The rest of their pokémon were safe inside their pokéballs. Cyber sped for where the old man had run. Icy hoped that the Neiteio they beat would not return.

  “An impressive plan.”
  “Now do you understand how this is my destiny. First, I shall take away the corruption of this world. Then, while the people are too blind to notice, I will slowly dominate their lives. They will have choice but to willingly submit to my rule.”
  “What did you need my assistance for then?”
  “You are a diversion. Get as many agents out of the building as you can. What you do with them is your business. I’d prefer to expend as little of my energy as I have to.”
  “Oh. Are you too weak to handle a bunch of bumbling idiots?”
  “Not at all. But why should I waste my precious time on them when the bigger fish is much more worth my while.”
  “You have yet to show me this ultimate pokémon of yours.”
  “Heh heh heh. You’ll soon see. Now. I want the news covering all this. I want it to look as heroic as possible.”
  “Another piece of bait for your audience?”
  “Exactly.”
  “And what about Icy?”
  “Oh yes… Tell our contact to proceed at all costs. Casualties are irrelevant.”
  “I like that very much…”

  Cyber was approaching what looked like a small village. “Quick Cyber, Icy’s not doing so good.” The cut on his shoulder was getting worse. Icy could hardly open his eyes now. “Please Icy, hang on just a little while longer.”
  “Miss Sara, I don’t believe we can just walk into that Pokémon Center. If that one man got so freaked out, the other townsfolk will probably have similar reactions. Let us stop around back and I will teleport Icy to where Nurse Joy will find him.”
  “Ok.” Sara waited while Hocus teleported Icy into the pokécenter.
  Hocus quickly set Icy by the desk and rang the bell, he teleported into a dark corner to make sure Joy found Icy.
  “Yes, I’m coming… Houuuughhh,” she gasped. “Oh my Goddish. Chanseys come out here quickly. This Pikachu needs immediate medical treatment.” A group of Chanseys quickly placed Icy onto a stretcher and took him into the ER. Hocus teleported back out to Cyber and Sara.
  “Ok. Nurse Joy has him now.”
  “Umm, how exactly will we get Icy back?”
  “I never though about that… I guess when he starts talking to her, she’ll understand. It’s late and we both could use some rest. Don’t worry about him. Nurse Joy will take excellent care of him.”
  “Ok Hocus. Thank you.”
  “Good night Miss Sara.”
  The two pokémon fell asleep. Little did they realize that someone had spotted them. But this someone definitely wasn’t a friend. Beside the shadowy figure stood a tall metal bird. It’s cold steel eyes glowed as they watched the pokémon center below.

=====

  Nurse Joy and the Chanseys worked long into the night trying to heal Icy. Finally, he was in stable condition.
  “Whew… What an evening…,” Joy sighed. She looked at the instruments one last time to make sure Icy was still doing fine. In her entire career, she had never let one pokémon die. She was one of the best pokémon doctors and very dedicated to her work. “Chansey. Please monitor the patient’s condition. I’m going to turn in for the night. If anything looks abnormal, please wake me right away.”
  “Chansey!” it replied. Joy smiled and went to bed.

  The dark character continued his watch over the center. “This job is so not even worth my time. Usually I enjoy these missions but tonight just doesn’t feel the same.” His pokémon glanced at him. “You are not fazed by anything. That’s what I like. A heart of steel. One like mine. Still, I can’t understand why he’d send me to eliminate an injured creature. Not much fun or skill in that…” He sat back. “I will get them in the morning, when they are all together. Perhaps I will get lucky and have bonuses too.” He fell asleep while the steel bird kept watch.

  The sun rose over the hillsides of the town. Nurse Joy was already working. She checked on Icy’s condition. It had much improved over the night. He was just waking up. “Oh good. Ahh, another patient saved.”
  Icy slowly examined where he was. A Chansey stared back at him. “Oh… Hello Chansey.”
  “Chansey.”
  “I think I feel better now. Thank you, but I must be going.” Chansey watched as Icy climbed down from the table he was on. It watched as he made his way to the exit. Nurse Joy was just about to come back in when a trainer entered the center.
  “Nurse Joy, can you please help me?” he asked.
  She turned around and headed back to the desk. Icy continued for the door. He snuck past the desk and headed to the back of the center.
  Sara and Hocus were already awake and waiting for him. “Master, you are ok!”
  “ICY!” Sara cried a bit as she embraced Icy. “I was so worried. Why do you always do this to me?”
  “I’m sorry Sara. It’s not like I meant to get nearly eaten back there.” They both smiled. “So, I have a feeling we aren’t close to Viridian City. Cyber, GPS component program please.” Cyber’s back opened up revealing a small computer. On it, a radar displayed their current position. “Heh. We’re a good ways from Viridian. But, it shouldn’t take more than a day’s flight home. Shall we?”
  “Ok!”
  “I think not…” said a strange voice.
  “Huh.”
  “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Gamma, professional agent. I have orders to destroy you and I would not like to disappoint my superiors. Please, for your own comfort, try to make this easy and do not resist.”
  “You must be crazy. Cyber, jet mode!” Cyber quickly transformed into a jet. “Get in!” Everyone got inside. “See ya loser!” Cyber took off.
  “Hmm hmm hmm. Eamudo, go.” The steel bird flew with impressive speed after Cyber.
  “Icy, something’s following us.”
  “What’s that?”
  “Pokémon found: Eamudo, the steel bird pokémon. Its steel body makes its attacks much stronger than usual. No other information available.”
  “Not again. Aghh, Cyber watch out.” Cyber rolled to the right to avoid Eamudo’s steel wing attack. “Man, that bird looks more like a machine than a pokémon. Hey, my thunderbolt should hurt it since it’s made out of metal.” Icy fired a thunderbolt at Eamudo. A direct hit but the bird kept coming, faster now.
  “It didn’t work. You’re too weak.”
  Eamudo bashed Cyber with its steel wing attack. “Hocus, use your recover on Cyber. Sara, I need your help.”
  “What for?”
  “When I tell you to, aim a thunderbolt directly at its inner body. If we attack together, we should be able to defeat him.”
  “I got it.”
  “Ok, 1… 2… NOW!!!” Eamudo was about to take another slash at Cyber when it was met by Icy & Sara’s combined electric attacks. It gave up and returned to Gamma.

  “This is impossible!!!” Gamma said angrily. “Next time Icy, you shall not be so lucky!” Gamma recalled Eamudo to its pokéball.
  “Hey mister!” A kid ran up to Gamma. “Ya wanna battle?”
  “Get out of my way kid.”
  “Heh, chicken! What’s wrong old man? Think you’re too good for me?”
  Gamma swung around and grabbed the kid by the neck. “Listen boy. If you value your pathetic life, you will march straight on home to your mommy and daddy and never bother me again. Clear?”
  “Uh huh…” the kid whimpered. Gamma threw him down and he ran off crying.
  “Grrrr… At least today wasn’t a total loss.” Gamma opened his palm to see the three pokéballs he’d stolen off the kid. “I just love kids.”

  “Well, it’s smooth flying to Viridian City!”
  “I can’t believe we’re finally going home.”
  “It sure has been awhile.”
  “Yes… Oh no, I don’t think I cancelled the mail. It’s gonna be all over the place.”
  “Don’t worry about it Sara. Let’s just be glad we are finally going to be able to relax for once.”

As they fly into the afternoon sun, do they even know about the dark plans Janus has in store? And just who does Gamma work for? Could he be a new elite agent working for Giovanni? So far, nothing is quite as it seems. Don’t miss the next Pokémon: Icy’s Quest.

The Coup

  Last time on Pokémon: Icy’s Quest… Icy and Sara try to find their way to a village not far from the rift. On the way there, Neiteio attacks them and seriously injures Icy. They manage to get him to a pokécenter where Nurse Joy heals him. Just as they are leaving for Viridian City, a stranger named Gamma sends his metal bird pokémon, Eamudo, to destroy the group. Now, they are flying high in the sky, on route to Viridian City…

  “Icy’s powers as a Pikachu are too much. He has more speed and stronger attacks than a regular human would.”
  “Agreed.”
  “Then allow me to do something about it.”
  “Not yet.”
  “Why?”
  “Because I would like to test those skills. I will determine just how strong he is in this form.”
  “Yes my grace.”
  “Don’t you have a destiny to fulfill?”
  “Of course my grace. Consider the job done.”
  “Excellent…”

  Back at Giovanni’s Viridian HQ, he sat patiently at his desk while dozens of protestors gathered outside. “What is it with people today?”
  “I’m standing here live outside the Viridian City Gym, owned by Giovanni, President of Team Rocket. Protestors have gathered here in connection with yesterday’s bombing of a small town outside the desert regions. Witnesses said an agent was there with an iron bird. The death toll was nearly 30 people out of a village of no more than perhaps 50. There is still no evidence linking Giovanni to the crime, but nevertheless, people here sure seem to believe it was him.” Ashly went on speaking into the camera. She started interviewing local bystanders.
  Out of the alley, a tall, brown-eyed man crept into the crowd. The reporter found her way to him.
  “Mister, mister. Please, a quote on the recent events. Do you think Giovanni is responsible for yesterday’s bombing?”
  “Yes…” the man said coldly. “Giovanni is a very bad person and it’s time someone took a stand against him. If I were you, I’d keep that camera rolling and don’t miss anything.”
  “Oooooooook.” She made a cut motion to the cameraman. “Can I have your name please?”
  “You will know it soon enough…”
  “Hmm. Well, try not to get hurt in this mob scene.” She turned to her crew. “Get the cameras over there. Go!” She and the crew moved over to another set of people.
  “Whatever… Now, where is he?” A blue streak went across the sky pass Giovanni’s office window. “Ah, there he is. Time to start…” The strange man made his way to the front of the mob.
  “Sir,” an agent said to Giovanni.
  “I know.”
  “I really think now’s a good time to evacuate.”
  “Then leave. These people don’t scare me.”
  (“They might not, but I sure will”)
  The blue streak flew by Giovanni’s office window again. The stranger looked up again. “Right on schedule.”
  While some Rocket agents began to mobilize at the doors, Giovanni made a call to have his helicopter pick him up. They would be there in less than ten minutes.
  The stranger felt a slight buzz against his leg. He pulled out a small pager. “Warning. Target called escape. Mission time decreased to ten minutes. Start immediately.”
  Giovanni sat back in his chair while he waited. Two stronger guards were stationed at the locked office doors. He folded his hands and waited to see what would unfold.
  “I need to get inside,” the stranger said to the guards outside.
  “No one is allowed inside today. Giovanni has closed the gym for the day. Please come back tomorrow.”
  “I do not think you understood me. I want to go inside and you are not going to stop me.” The stranger’s eyes began glowing.
  “Look mister. I don’t know what’s wrong with your hearing, but I’m not going to let you in.”
  “I’m sorry to hear that…” The man turned around and began to walk away. Then, he drew from his side a short blade which he quickly positioned just inches from the guard’s neck. “We have an appointment. I do not enjoy being late to appointments. You understand don’t you?”
  “Alright alright. I’ll let you in. Please, don’t kill me, I’m just doing my job.”
  “You pathetic whiner.” The strange man made his way inside where he was met by a few dozen Rocket agents.
  From the skies, a stranger pokémon watched. “He’s in…”
  “Excellent. But he better hurry. Giovanni has called his helicopter. You could do us a favor and eliminate the risk. But, make sure you choose the right time. I want it to look like an accident.”
  “Anything to take revenge on him.”
  “I hoped you would feel that way.”

Meanwhile…
  Icy and Sara had been flying on Porygon the whole day. After that attack by Eamudo and Gamma, they were pretty worn out. Finally, they could see the coast come into view.
  “Wow look!” Icy pointed towards the land. Sara rubbed her eyes a little.
  “Huh? Are we home yet?”
  “We will be soon.”
  “Please tell my you got air conditioning in your house Icy. It’s a pretty hot day,” complained Frosterpie.
  Icy giggled a second. “Don’t worry Frosterpie, when we get back, I’ll turn up the AC for ya. You just better not turn the entire place into an ice cube alright.”
  “I won’t.”
  “Cyber, how long till we land in Viridian Forest?”
  Cyber made a few computer hums. Icy somehow knew exactly what they all meant. “Cyber says we are about 15 minutes from home!” The group was overjoyed knowing that any moment they would see the beautiful Viridian Forest and their gym.

=====

  The strange man found himself in a tight situation. Meanwhile, the other pokémon hovered outside the building, carefully staying out of sight of the crowds below. He waited for his target to arrive.
  “End of the line for you. Ok, attack!”
  “Nooo…,” the stranger said coldly. His eyes became bright blue. “Fire magic…”
  “What the h*** is he mumbling?”
  His hands became red with fire in them. He uncapped them to reveal a red sphere of energy. “FLAME BLAST!!!” His voice echoed as the sphere erupted into a ball of fire and flew towards the group of Rockets.
  “AGHHH!!!” Some of them managed to jump out of the way, but many of the agents were severely burned. The remaining agents regrouped. “Stop him!”
  “D***… My magic isn’t as strong here.”
  “Alright magic man, you’re about to see why people don’t mess with Team Rocket,” said the lead agent. The other agents readied their pokéballs. “Everyone, attack!” The agents threw out their pokéballs revealing various poisonous pokémon.
  “I didn’t think I’d have to call you out now, but these inferior humans give me no choice. In the words of any regular pokémon trainer, I choose you, Scizor.” The stranger opened a pokéball containing a reddish colored bug type pokémon. It was the evolved steel form of Scyther, and was ready to take care of the closing agents’ pokémon.
  “What the h*** is that pokémon?”
  “Kill him and take it!”
  “Scizor, iron claw attack.” Scizor ran into the group of pokémon and took a few slashes. It landed back at the side of its master. For a moment, nothing moved. Then, all of the agents’ pokémon fainted.
  “That’s impossible.”
  “Move.”
  “You don’t get past me.”
  “I have no time for you.” The stranger cupped his hands again. “Spectral magic… SPECTRAL BEAM!!!” His voice echoes as the sphere in his hand dissolved into multiple laser beams which then fired straight into the agents stand in front.
  “UGHhh…” the agent moaned as the beam cut right through him. He fell to the ground dead along with the other agents hit. The rest of the agents run away from the stranger. They didn’t want to be next.
  “Scizor, stay close. I will still need your assistance.” His pokémon nodded its head. He ascended the stairs towards Giovanni’s office.

  “Where is that d*** helicopter?” Giovanni was pacing at the window. The phone rang. His Persian growled as he picked it up. “Yes, who is this?”
  “Don’t hang up.”
  “What the h*** is this, some sort of joke? Who are you?”
  “You are about to find out everything you want to know about me.”
  Giovanni’s eyes narrowed. They shift towards the window. In the distance, he could see the helicopter. “Really? Is that so? I think I already have an idea who you are.”
  “Do you think so? I’d hate to have been underestimated. Your agents made that mistake. There weren’t too many survivors.”
  “What kind of creep are you? No one breaks into my gym and goes on a killing spree. I’ll give you 10 seconds to get out of my gym before I call the police.”
  “Do you really think they’d listen to you? Time’s up Giovanni. Prepare to meet destiny. My destiny.” The doors to the office exploded. When the smoke cleared, a tall man holding a cane with a monocle on his right eye was standing in the clearing. Beside his was Scizor. “I am Janus, Champion of the people.”
  “You are a freak. While I’d love to stay and chat with you, I have an important meeting to attend.” Giovanni looked back at the approaching helicopter. He and Persian made a run for the office window leading to the helipad. Janus stood there and watched.
  Giovanni climbed out the window and made his way to the helipad where the helicopter was making its approach. “Goodbye Janus. I hope you didn’t go to too much trouble to say hello to me.”
  “It was nothing Giovanni. By the way… Tell me something.” Giovanni’s eyes widened. “What good is a helipad, if you have no helicopter to land on it?” Giovanni turned back towards the helicopter.
  “S***.” Right before his eyes, he saw the chopper explode in a massive fireball. “Oh s***!” He ran back into the office as the flaming chopper began to crash on the roof. “You piece of crap. What the h*** do you want with me?”
  Janus snapped his finger and Scizor began to approach Giovanni.
  “All this for a lousy battle? Persian go! Slash attack.” Persian ran up to its foe and took a few slashes but it was completely useless against Scizor’s steel armor.
  “Was that it? Scizor, iron claw.” Scizor took a single slash at Persian cutting it badly. “You should give up now. This battle is mine, as are you.”
  “You are insane. What makes you think you can just walk out of here. You’ve committed murder. Do you really think the police out there are going to let you walk away?”
  “I think we will have to find out.” Just then, Mewtwo flew in through the window. “Ahh, excellent work with the helicopter.”
  “I told you I could accomplish your mission. Well Giovanni, we meet again.”
  “Two freaks in one day…”
  “Take him away Janus. My revenge will be complete once the officers have him arrested.”
  “What?”
  “You agents seemed to be easily persuaded into revealing your hidden records. They didn’t take much convincing. Look at this place one last time Giovanni. This is the last you’ll be seeing it.”
  Janus took Giovanni and led him down the stairs where officers were waiting.

Meanwhile…
  Icy and Sara were landing in the forest on Cyber. “HOME!!!” They all rushed inside. Icy turned on the AC for Frosterpie and let his pokémon come out to enjoy themselves after such a long trip.
  Sara flipped on the TV to see the evening news. She shrieked when she saw what was happening. “ICY COME QUICK!!!”
  He ran out into the main gym to see what was wrong. “What’s going on?”
  “They’ve arrested Giovanni. There’s some stranger there who supposedly single-handedly infiltrated TR HQ to capture Giovanni.”
  “Wow, that’s awesome. It’s about time he got what he deserved.” Sara turned off the TV.
  “C’mon… It’s been too long since we had a break. All the other pokémon are playing nicely… Seeing that we too are pokémon, well…”
  “Ok.” Icy quickly tackled Sara who retaliated with a thundershock. As they played around, other pokémon, mainly the Caterpie, jumped into the pile up. They played games long into the night and basically fell asleep all over the gym floor.

Back to Viridian City…
  Officer Jenny led Giovanni away. Mewtwo had already teleported out so not to arouse suspicion. The news reporters quickly ran up to Janus with questions.
  “Please. I came here to put an end to the evil wrong-doings of Giovanni’s organization. I have some important matters I must attend to and cannot answer any further questions.” Photographers took billions of pictures as Janus walked away. He entered a waiting car and drove off.
  “Well, there you have it folks. You just witnessed a historical event here. This mysterious man named, Janus, has single handedly brought Giovanni, former President of Team Rocket to justice as well as reveal startling new evidence about Team Rocket’s devious plots. Will this man take over Giovanni’s Gym now or was he just some good-doer trying to make a better world? Whichever the case, this reporter is sure glad she was here today. And now here’s Vinny with a look at the weather.”

  “Yes young one. Sleep well tonight. I will personally see if you are strong enough to be any threat… Bwahahahaha!!!”

Is this truly the end of Team Rocket? And does this mean Janus is really a good guy? This is just the beginning chapter of what will become one of the biggest adventures ever. Don’t miss the next exciting episode of Pokémon: Icy’s Quest…

Mysterious Evil

  Last time on the Pokémon: Icy’s Quest… The mysterious man known as Janus infiltrated Team Rocket HQ in Viridian bringing Giovanni to justice. While all this was happening, Icy and Sara made it back home just in time to watch it on the news. But trouble is still close by…

  It was a bright sunny morning. Hima-Nuts bathed in the sun while a group of Oddish casually strolled by outside. It watched as they waddled along. Then he looked at Leafy sleeping with the others. ‘She really should be in this sunlight…’ Hima-Nuts, or Beads as Icy named him, had taken a liking to the Viridian Forest Gym. But the site of the Oddish roaming free outside was tempting.
  Icy slow woke up finding Sara still asleep by his side. He smiled snuggled closer. Meanwhile, some of the Caterpie began to wake up. They crawled over top their master in search of something to eat. Finally, after they neared covered Icy, he woke up totally.
  “Ok, ok… I’ll get you some breakfast.” The Caterpie showed their excitement and quickly scattered. Icy turned back to Sara who was still asleep. “I’ll let her rest. I can cook…” Suddenly, the excited looks on the Caterpies’ faces turned sour. “Hey! I’m not that bad am I?” They nodded. “Oh… Wait a sec, you guys just eat leaves. What, do I pick the wrong ones or something.” They nodded a second time. “Aghhhh…” All nine of his Caterpie smiled and scattered once more.
  All the commotion woke the others. Sara yawned as she got up. “Ahh, what’s all that noise?”
  “The Caterpies don’t like my cooking or the leaves I gather for them.”
  “Aww… I bet they like my cooking, don’t you?” All the Caterpies grinned and nodded. “Hehe, see.”
  “… no fair…”
  “What’s Beads looking at over there?”
  “I dunno.” Icy walked over to the window Beads was looking out of. He saw the rest of the Oddish walk by. “Hey Beads, what’cha watching?”
  Beads didn’t respond, he only watched the last few walk by.
  “Are you ok?”
  Beads turned to Icy and nodded. Icy’s had never really trained Beads because they only found him moments before leaving to search for the next disc. Since then, Beads was left on his own.
  “What would you like for breakfast?”
  “Hima hima!” [Plant food, what else?]
  Icy laughed. “I coulda figured that out myself.”
  “So, what’s everyone having,” Sara asked.
  “Apples, plant food, leaves…”
  “Ok.” Sara checked the fridge. “Eww… we really shoulda cleaned this out before we left. What happened to the trainers we left in charge here?”
  “Did we leave anyone here?”
  “Oh, come to think of it no…”
  “Oh well, guess we better clean that…” He paused.
  “Is something wrong?”
  Icy couldn’t speak for a moment. In a vision he saw something strange. It felt like a premonition of some sort.
  “Icy?”
  “Huh… Ughh… My head feels a little woozy that’s all…”
  “Oh… ok.”

  “Do you have everything prepared?”
  “Yes my grace.”
  “Good. I want you to stay here during the experiment.”
  “As you wish my grace.”
  “It won’t be long now.”

Meanwhile,
  “I hereby sentence you, Giovanni, to life in prison without bail.” The judge slammed the gabble against her desk and officers escorted Giovanni back to his cell. His face was filled with hate.
  “We are here live where Giovanni, former President of Team Rocket has just been sentenced to life in prison. It looks like the end for this horrible man and his cruel organization. I’m Ashley, back to you Billy.”
  “Thank you Ashley. We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.” The TV switched to the pokémon battle that was about to start.
  “Welcome back folks. We have a very exciting match for you today in this training battle. You all remember young Trinity from last week’s battle. Today, she is up against another young and raising star, Greg. Greg is primarily an electric type trainer. Let’s see how well this two young trainers perform.”
  The judge came up to the center. “This is a training battle for the Spectral Island League. Therefore, the rules of the league will be implemented into this match with the exception that both trainers may switch pokémon at any time. Once two of one trainer’s pokémon have been defeated, we will switch fields.” The two nodded accepting the rules. “This will not be a full length battle. Four on four. Remember, you may reuse any pokémon you retreat that has not fainted. Let the battle begin!” The crowd roared on. Even for a practice match, this was a pretty big deal. Trainers who did well here were sure to be ready for the actual gym leaders.
  The field was a sandy terrain with small hills.
  “You don’t look so tough,” Greg said spitefully. Trinity just sneered. “I choose you, Electabuzz.”
  “In that case, I choose Yogirusu!” A small grayish looking rock pokémon emerged. “Yogirusu, sand storm attack!”
  “What a move. Trinity is using Yogirusu’s sand storm attack, a rock type, to take advantage of Electabuzz’s natural weakness to rock attacks.” Electabuzz was not only hurt bad from the attack, he could no longer see.
  “Huh, Electabuzz!!!”
  “Yogirusu, don’t let him recall it. Finish it with a bite attack!” Yogirusu bit Electabuzz while he wasn’t looking and it fainted. “YES!!!”
  “Crap. Electabuzz, return.” Greg searched through his pokéballs to find something capable of defeating Trinity’s rock/ground type pokémon. His specialty in electric pokémon was about to backfire against Trinity now. “Ok, I choose Wartortle!”
  “Fine with me. Yogirusu, return. Chonchi go!” A small blue pokémon with little antennas sprang out. It was miniature compared to Wartortle.
  “Wartortle, watergun attack now!” Wartortle’s watergun splashed Chonchi back towards Trinity. “Hahaha!!! I’m gonna beat that puny thing now. Watergun attack!”
  “Joke’s on you Greg. Chonchi, spark!” Chonchi charged its antennas with electricity and sent a spark through the water spray from Wartortle. Wartortle was electrocuted and fainted. “Who’s laughing now?”
  Greg was furious. He recalled Wartortle. Suddenly, the ground began to rumble. “And now, since Trinity has defeated two of Greg’s pokémon, we will be changing the playing field.” Then field lowered into the ground and a new field came up. This one was an ice field and no water. It looked very slippery and Chonchi was having trouble keeping his balance.
  “I choose you, Seel!” Seel had no problem keeping his balance on the ice. “Quickly Seel, head butt attack!” Seel charged into Chonchi and smashed him over the ice into Trinity. Chonchi was defeated. “YES! Take that. Aww, your little toy broke huh?” Trinity gave Greg a sour look.
  “Chonchi, good try. Return Chonchi. Ok Greg, you wanna see my toys? Go Nyura! Quick attack!” Nyura was a blue cat-like pokémon of the Ice/Evil type. It had no trouble moving over the ice and quickly attacked Seel. “Disappearing attack Nyura!” Nyura disappeared. Seel looked all around trying to find her. Suddenly, Nyura appeared beside Seel and gave him a good slash. That ended that round.
  “What! No way! Grrrrr… Seel return.” The audience cheered on. Greg was totally infuriated at this point. “That’s it! I choose Pikachu!” The crowd was impartial… They had seen Pikachus all the time. It was so overrated. Pikachu stared at the audience and sulked a bit. “Pikachu, thunderbolt.”
  “Nyura, agility now!” Nyura almost skated on the ice to avoid Pikachu’s thunderbolt attack. “Now, finish off that cute but overrated Pikachu with your fury swipes attack.” Nyura skated up to Pikachu and made her move. Pikachu was powerless to stop her and finally in an effort to avoid her attack, slipped on the ice. Nyura took one final swipe which finished Pikachu.
  “NOOOO!!! That’s not fair!” Greg recalled his Pikachu.
  “Huh. Oh don’t be such a sore loser.” The judge came up to Trinity.
  “Trinity is the winner of the battle.” The crowd cheered as Greg shamefully walked away.
  “I’ll get even with you someday Trinity…”

=====

Back in the Viridian City Forest…
  “Icy, how do you like your breakfast?”
  Icy took one last bite out of the apple. “It’s great.” The other’s finished as well. Sara went back into the main gym. A few of the pokémon were out there training. The Caterpies and Butterfree were playing games, Hocus was meditating, and Static was charging himself up.
  Icy walked out into the main gym with her. “It’s so nice to finally be home again.”
  “Ya. Definitely.”

  “It’s time.” The mysterious figure began to speak strange words. “Temporal magic…” A light blue sphere formed before him. “Timeshift…” The sphere exploded into a gateway.

  “So… What are we going to do today?” Sara asked.
  “Sleep.”
  “What?”
  “I’m tired…”
  “Ba…”
  “What the heck?” Icy looked over Sara to see a blue portal form.
  Sara turned to see. “What is that? Where did it come from?”
  “It just appeared.”
  “Do you think it’s safe?”
  Just then, a group of Oddish ran by and jumped into the portal. “Oh no, Oddish don’t go in there.” Icy ran after them.
  “No Icy! Wait, it’s gotta be a trap.” She was too late. Icy, the Oddishes, and the portal were gone.

  “Where am I?” Icy focused his eyes on the figure in front of him. Everything looked kinda weird, like it was inside a machine or something. The figure in front of him was totally dark. Icy couldn’t even make out a shape.
  “Welcome Icy. I’ve been expecting you quite some time now. You disappoint me by being so late.”
  “Sorry about that. I don’t even know who you are.”
  “That much is obvious. I did not summon you to my realm for idle chit-chat. I summoned you here to battle you and test your skills.”
  “Your realm? Where are we?”
  “VIRTUAL ARMOR!!!” Suddenly, pieces of white armor flew out of nowhere onto the figure speaking. “Prepare to meet your end Icy.” The figure lunged out of the shadows and into view wielding a large sword.
  “AGH!!!” Icy made a quick dash to the side avoiding the sword. “Virtual?” The figure was coming back. Icy ducked just narrowly missing the sword. “If that’s virtual, are we in some sort of VR?” Icy teleported to avoid the next blow. “No energy loss…” The figure was coming back. “THUNDER!!!” Icy’s energy levels soared way above normal even for pikachus.
  His opponent quickly moved to the side and avoided Icy’s attack. “Too slow little one.” He stopped in mid-air. “Block this! VIRTUAL MISSILES!!!” In a flash, six missiles appeared out of nowhere. “FIRE!” Each missile flew toward Icy.
  “Oh crap!” Icy quickly thought about his options. ‘Since in this place my energy doesn’t seem to deplete as fast, I should be able to block with my shield.’ The missiles were closing in. “PSIONIC SHIELD!” A blue sphere formed around Icy. The first missile exploded on contact but the second missile almost broke through. “Argh… Can’t hold it much longer…” The third missile shattered Icy’s shield and sent him flying back a ways. The last three missiles were still on target. “Teleportation!” Icy vanished just as the missile exploded. The next two were right on him. “Teleportation!!!” Icy teleported in back of the missiles. One turned around and headed straight into the other. They both exploded not far from Icy.
  “Most impressive. You are quite agile.”
  “Thanks for the compliment.” Icy took this opportunity to strike. “THUNDER!!!”
  “Temporal Magic!!! TIME STOP!!!” The lightning bolt froze in front of him.
  “Impossible!!!”
  “You think only with what you can see. There is a whole other dimension out there if you can be open to its call. NULLIFY!” The lightning bolt vanished into particles.
  “Who are you?”
  “It’s not time for you to know that yet. I’m also not through will you.” The figure flew directly at Icy with the sword drawn again.
  “Uh oh,” Icy said stepping aside. “Teleportation…” The sword sliced through the air that now occupied Icy’s position. “Missed me!”
  “Your speed is unbelievable. But for how long can you keep it up?”
  “I can run circles around you all day.”
  “How fast? Temporal magic!”
  Icy gasped. “PSIONIC SHIELD!!!” The sphere enveloped him again.
  “SLOW!!!” His opponent targeted his spell at Icy. The magic cut right through the shield.
  “Wwwwwhhhhhaaaaattttt tttthhhheeee…” he said slowly.
  “Now, you were saying?”
  Icy tried calculating an escape plan. So far, all he knew about this place was that he had almost limitless energy and his opponent could use some strange form of “magic”. His little Pikachu mind worked to understand all that was happening.
  “That spell should wear off now.” Icy felt his reflexes quicken to normal speed again.
  “What’s wrong with you? Why have you brought me here? Is this some sorta sick joke?”
  “Simple minded being. I’ve seen enough to satisfy my needs. You are free to leave this realm now and return to you gym. If you do not, I will destroy you for real.” He opened the portal back to Icy’s gym. “Tell no one of what you saw here for I can hear everything. Should you betray this, I will not be so easy next time.”
  “Who are you?”
  “No questions. Leave now or be destroyed.” Icy decided it’d be best to take his advice. He entered the portal. “I will take pleasure in destroying you and all the others in this pathetic world when the proper time is at hand.”
  Another figure appeared beside him. “I told you he was stronger in that form.”
  “The properties of this dimension aided him.”
  “You are thousands of times stronger here. A battle in the regular plane would not go so easily in your favor.”
  “While I detest that tone, you are correct. My only insurance is to restore him to his human state. He and that girl. You and Mewtwo can recreate the cure now that you’ve seized Giovanni’s records on the weapon. His power as a human will be purely psychic, easy enough to handle in this realm.”
  “Understood my grace…”

  Icy reappeared in the Viridian Forest Gym. Sara was waiting, hoping he’d be alright. When she finally saw him reappear, she was overjoyed. “Are you alright Icy?”
  “Yeah, I’m fine.”
  “Where did that thing lead? What happened to those Oddish?”
  “It was a deception. But I’m alright.”
  “By who?”
  “I don’t know…”
  “Well, at least you aren’t hurt.”
  “Yup.”
  “C’mon, everyone is in the main gym training. We could use a workout as well seeing we were frozen in ice for a while…”
  “I guess you are right there.” Icy followed Sara out into the main gym and they and the pokémon trained for the afternoon.

Who was that mysterious opponent? And why didn’t he want Icy to ever return? Things are getting stranger and stranger. Find out if any of it will make better sense next time on Pokémon: Icy’s Quest!

Icy’s New Quest

  After Icy and Sara had finally returned to their home in the Viridian Forest, a strange force teleported Icy to a different area. Next, after a tough battle, the stranger allowed Icy to return to Sara and the gym. Things can’t get any stranger than this, can they?

  The phone rang. Icy and Sara were busy training in the main gym hall. The way they figured, since they technically were pokémon, they might as well stay in shape, Icy especially. He didn’t want to be caught off guard should that mysterious figure teleport him back again. Again, the phone rang.
  Icy’s right eye twitched hearing the noise. “I think I hear the phone ringing.”
  Sara roll up behind him and made her move. Catching him completely off guard, she easily smashed Icy to the ground. “Gotcha!”
  “Owww…” Icy shook his head as he got up. “I think my head is ringing.”
  “I think it’s the phone.” Sara ran up and picked up the phone. “Hello?”
  “Hello, is this the Viridian Forest Gym?” the voice asked.
  “Umm, yes it is. Who’s calling?”
  “This is Professor Oak. Is Icy there by any chance?”
  “He’s still a little dizzy on the floor right now.”
  “Huh? Why’s that?”
  “I think I knocked him down a little too hard…,” Sara said giggling.
  “Oh. Well, maybe you could direct him over to the phone please?”
  “Sure.” Sara put the phone down on the table and went back to Icy. “Uhh, sorry for knocked you down so hard, but Professor Oak is on the phone and wants to speak with you.”
  Icy shook his head once more and finally came to. “Oh. It’s ok Sara. I’ll talk to him.” He went into the other room and picked up the phone. “Hello, this is Icy.”
  “Ah, Icy. It’s good to hear your voice. I was worried you and Sara didn’t make it.”
  “No, we are fine professor.”
  “Loki told me everything about the Ice Palace. It’ll be a great addition to my studies.”
  “Professor, you can’t. I’m not allowed to say why, but you just can’t do a study on it. Let’s just say a little Pidgey told me not to let anyone else know of the place. Sorry.”
  “Ok. I understand.”
  “You said Loki is there? Then that must mean?”
  “Yes. Your friends made it out just fine. Although, they’ve been worried sick over you. Lewis especially. The poor boy. He’s a fine friend, you should be very happy.”
  “Is he?”
  “Oh, no no no. He’s not dead. I’m sorry, I must have sounded like he was. No, he got everyone back here safely. He said it was a very dangerous journey home. He was almost in tears because he thought for sure that you were dead.”
  “Where is Lewis and the others now?”
  “That I don’t know. Oh wait. I do know where Kelly went.”
  “Kelly? Oh ya, the girl with the two Eevees.”
  “Yes. She’s traveling to a chain of islands in the west called, The Spectral Islands.”
  “The Spectral Islands? I’ve never heard of them. Is it a resort or something?”
  “Well, it’s true many tourist do go there.”
  “I never got to go on any vacations there…”
  “Only rich families can really afford vacations there. It’s really classy. You wouldn’t have liked it. At least you went to that Pokemon Resort in Seafoam.”
  “Yah, that place sure was cool right Sara? The Pokemon Resort in Seafoam?”
  “Oh, yeah! I loved that place.” She gave Icy a big Pikachu hug. “That’s so much for taking me. Are we going back there again?”
  “Umm, not exactly. Professor Oak was just telling me about The Spectral Islands and that Kelly is on her way there.”
  “Kelly. I remember her. She’s such a nice little girl. Are we going there too?”
  “Icy, if I might intrude.”
  “Go ahead professor.”
  “That’s not the main reason she went there. I did a little research on the islands recently and discovered they just started a brand new pokémon league called the Spectral League.”
  “Cool. So you mean there’s a new league to compete in?”
  “Yes. Kelly said since they were starting a new league, they’d need to have breeders there too. She’s quite a skillful and smart young lady.”
  “Yes, we know.”
  “Anyways, I have heard that in these islands are some new species of pokémon I haven’t even seen. Well, I asked her this same question I’m going to ask you.”

[Flashback]

  Kelly stood quietly while the professor searched through some boxes.
  “Ah, here it is. Kelly, have you heard of the Spectral Islands?”
  “Umm, no professor,” she said in a light voice. Her Eevees stood by her sides.
  “Well, I’ve recently heard they are starting a new league there. That could mean a chance for you to get some experience as a breeder working in the new gyms.”
  Kelly nodded.
  “There’s another reason I called you over.” She looked at the device in Oak’s hands. “Kelly, this is the latest pokédex. Unlike the models I used to give out, this new pokédex contains much more detailed information on the more common pokémon. It also includes brand new research features to collect data on new pokémon.”
  “Ok.”
  “Hmm, I’ll get to the point. I heard that some new species have been found living only in the Spectral Islands. I’m much too old to go out there and research them myself, but your young spirit is really one-of-a-kind. Is there any chance I can convince you to go to the Spectral Islands for me and record data on these new pokémon?”
  “It sounds like a pretty big job, but I think I can do it.”
  “Oh, you can take a friend along with you if you’d like.”
  Nicky ran in. “I’ll go with her professor!” Nicky stood still in the doorway, eyes fixed on Kelly. She turned around and looked at him. She still didn’t totally understand why Nicky would always do that, but she did think it was cute of him.
  “Are you sure Nicky?”
  “Yes professor. I’ve already battled and defeated the gyms in the Indigo League. I’d say it’s time to move on to a new league with new battles. Kelly, may I come with you?”
  “Uhh… sure, yeah.”
  “Thank you Kelly.” Nicky smiled.
  “Here Kelly. You’ll need this. Do you want any more pokémon to take with you?”
  “No thanks professor. I’ll be fine with my Eevees and Nicky,” she replied taking the pokédex from Oak. “When do we leave?”
  “Well, I still need to make the arrangements, but I think I can get you on your way by late next week. Is that too early?”
  “No. That is fine.” Kelly turned back to Nicky. “Isn’t this so cool. We get to go look at new pokémon!” Nicky smiled and watched as Kelly expressed her happiness.

[End Flashback]

=====

  “So Nicky and Kelly are both in The Spectral Islands?”
  “Yes. Nicky went along with her. He acts kinda strange whenever he’s around her I’ve seen.”
  Icy sweatdropped. “Yeah, well uh, ehhehheh…”
  “Anyways, do you think you’d be interested in helping out with my research too?”
  “I have to ask Sara first.” Icy turned to Sara. “Oak wants to know if we’d like to go to the Spectral Islands and help research some new species of pokémon for him.”
  “Sure, let’s go!!!” Sara ran off and began packing.
  “She says yes. And… I think the earlier the better, hehehe…”
  “What to bring, what to bring?” Sara sang as she collected things to take.
  “Well, I’m afraid I can’t get anything for you until next week. It’s pretty heavy traffic right now with the tourists, and they have special laws on personal flying pokémon transports because of all the jets and Pidgeots.”
  “Ok.”
  “Great. Please come over later this week and I will give you the tickets and a new pokédex to use. Catch, err, see ya later Icy.”
  “Ehheh, bye professor.” Icy hung up the phone.
  “So, when do we leave,” Sara said dressed in a snorkeling outfit.
  Icy giggled seeing Sara dressed up so funny. “Well, Oak says we can’t leave for about a week.”
  Sara pouted. “Awww… I wanna go now…” She looked at the ground unhappily.
  Icy ran over to her and hugged her. “Don’t be sad. One week isn’t that long. Besides, we are getting to spend a really long time down there.” She looked up to him with big, shiny eyes.
  “Ok…,” she said softly. “Thank you for taking me Icy.” She got up and kissed Icy.
  Icy rubbed his cheeks as he blushed. “Well, shall we get back to training?”
  “I think I better change out of this swimming outfit first.” She smiled and pranced back into her room.”

Meanwhile,
  “This could complicate things. That island chain is the perfect spot to begin our plan. If that kid is there, he could create a problem for us.”
  “Perhaps, I can find a way to ensure Icy will be a willing supporter of us.”
  “I’m listening.”

On the Spectral Islands,
  Trinity walked down the street alone. She never really hung out with any boys because to her, many of them were quite rude and only wanted to battle. And besides, any boy who did manage to get close to her found her fist in their faces before they could even try to challenge her.
  As she walked, some local people watched. Many of them had seen the match she won against Greg earlier. “There’s that new trainer. I heard she’s really good.”
  Trinity rolled her eyes. Praise was fun, but after you’ve heard people talk endlessly about you, had news reports covering your life non-stop, it got old, very quick. And so, she just walked down the road, alone.
  As she turned the corner, she saw a small, sphere-like shadow duck away. “Hey, who’s there?” She received to reply. “Hmm, I know you are there. If you’re some boy who wants to challenge me, you better show yourself.” Still, nothing happened. “Could I have just been seeing things? She shrugged and continued walking down the road. From behind the bushes, the shadow watched her move farther and farther away. It sighed softly and continued following a safe distance away and out of sight.

Elsewhere,
  Kelly took another bite out of the sandwich she got at the pokécenter. “Mmm, thanks Nicky. This is yummy.” She smiled as she munched on it.
  “I’m glad you like it Kelly.” Nicky smiled watching her eat.
  Kelly’s Eevees, Mars and Venus, both had little bits of pokefood to eat and enjoyed it just as much. Kelly giggled as they ate.
  “Nicky.”
  “Yes Kelly?”
  “Do you think Icy and Sara made it out?”
  “I hope so Kelly. But if they didn’t, I bet they are in a very special place right now. But I think they did make it. Icy’s not the type to just die.”
  “I hope they are alive too.” She paused then giggled to herself a moment. “Hehehe… Wouldn’t it be so cool if they were headed here right now?”
  “Yeah. C’mon, I think there’s a pokémon gym up this road. You can see if the leader there would like you to help him out.”
  “Alright!”

What exciting new adventures are in store for Icy and Sara? And what about their friends and Trinity? The real adventures are just now beginning so don’t you miss a moment! Catch the next episode of Icy’s Quest right here next time.

Common Interest

  Last time, Icy and Sara found out about the Spectral League from Professor Oak who also informed then that Kelly and Nicky were there too. They decide to head to the Spectral Islands themselves. Meanwhile, Trinity seems to be being followed by some strange pokémon. What’s in store for them next?

  Trinity made her way to the store to pick up some healers and other various items. She was always prepared. She had to be since most everyone on this island knew her, and everyone wanted to challenge her. For these reasons, Trinity was always prepared. She stopped right before entering. Quickly, she turned her head.
  “Who’s there?” she asked. Her eyes scanned the area, but cold find nothing.
  Behind the bushes, the figure waited. It breathed quickly, hoping it hadn’t been spotted.
  “You better stop following me or I’ll teach you a lesson.” She turned back around and entered the store. The figure stayed its ground and waited for her to complete her business.
  “Good morning Trinity,” said the shopkeeper.
  “Morning Sam. Did you get any new pokémon trainer magazines in yet?”
  “No Trinity, not for another week I think. I will set them aside for you if you like.”
  “That’s ok. I might not be staying on this island much longer… I need to get started earning badges. This trainer matches are getting boring.”
  “You are an excellent trainer Trinity. I’m sure someone like you will definitely win the Spectral League Championship.”
  “I hope I do too. Oh, I almost forgot, I need to pick up a few healers and pokéballs from you please.”
  “No problem. Here ya go. That’ll be 50 pokébucks.”
  “That cheap?”
  “Heh, least I can do. Go on, you earned it. I’m sure you don’t make enough money battling those half-baked trainers at the stadium.”
  “Ya got that right…”
  “Trinity, you take care. Good luck!”
  “Thanks Sam.” Trinity waved and left the store. She headed to the nearby pokécenter to heal her pokémon before setting off to another island.

Meanwhile
  Icy and Sara were packing to go to the Spectral Islands. Icy was placing a few last items in his bag when suddenly his body went limp. “AGHHHHHHH,” he cried as Sara shocked him.
  “Pihehehe!!!” she laughed while Icy shook around.
  “Hey, why’d ya do that?”
  “I dunno, to be funny. We are pikachus, why not enjoy it and play little games like that?”
  “I guess you leave me no other choice.” Icy turned around and shocked her back. The two began firing off attacks. The other pokémon watched the two play.
  “They look so funny doing that,” Buttercup said.
  “Hope they don’t hurt each other,” said Aura.
  The phone rang. Icy stopped his attack but was then shocked once more by Sara. “My head is ringing…”
  “I’ll get it.” Sara skipped cutely over to the phone and answered it. “Viridian Forest Gym, Sara speaking.”
  “Sara. Hello, this is Bill and have I great news for you.”
  “Oh, hello Bill. Really, can you make it quick, me and Icy are about to head out to Professor Oak’s before going to the Spectral Islands.”
  “You really should come here first. Now if you can.” Bill said one more thing to Sara. She dropped the phone as she heard him.
  Icy picked himself up and called to Sara. “What’s wrong?”
  “We need to visit Bill right away.”
  “Is it about…”
  She nodded.
  “Ok.” Icy grabbed Windstorm’s pokéball and they left. “Windstorm, come out.” His Pidgey appeared. “Please take us to Bill’s Lighthouse.” Windstorm crowed and took off for the lighthouse.

  “Are they?”
  “Yes my grace. I will be there.”
  “Excellent. With him out of the way, nothing can stop me.”

  Windstorm landed outside the lighthouse. “Here we are. Do you think this is it?”
  “I hope so. But… is this really what we want?”
  “Yes… It’s what we should do as well… Don’t worry.”
  The two pikachus entered the lighthouse where Mewtwo greeted them. “Welcome Icy, Sara.”
  “MEWTWO!!!”
  “Relax, I’m not here to harm you or Bill. In fact, this event and situation should be rather familiar to you both.”
  “That’s right.”
  “Well, this time, someone else has aided us in finding, answers.”
  “Who?”
  “You will see. Come, I just show you both something first.”
  “What Mewtwo.”
  “I found this relic a long time ago. I believe it was used by Mew. The Mew that created me. I am interested in finding that Mew. Bill tells me you are headed to the Spectral Islands and that this relic supposedly came from around there. I must ask of you to locate the Mew that lives there. It would mean a lot to me Icy.”
  “Sure Mewtwo… As long as you don’t go trying to trick me or something.”
  “Why ever would I do such a thing?”
  “Don’t get me…” Icy was interrupted by Bill.
  “Icy, you and Sara made it. This is wonderful. I see Mewtwo greeted you already. That Mew he’s talking about, it’s most definitely is Mewtwo’s genetic mother. I think that if they were to meet, it would be a very beneficial experience for Mewtwo, perhaps even cause him to develop a compassionate side, ehh.”
  “Don’t push it Bill. I merely want to have the opportunity to meet the pokémon who created me.”
  “Ok ok…”
  “Bill, is it true? Does it work?”
  “I can’t say for sure, but it’s definitely been improved. This time, I am confident you will be cured Icy. And with Team Rocket gone for good it seems, there’s no chance of you being turned back after this.”
  “Why now? Why just before I leave, Mewtwo asks this favor, and you uncover a new cure?”
  “Icy,” Sara said scolding.
  “I understand your concern over the timing of this all, but can’t you accept it may be a coincidence?”
  “Alright.”
  “Well, anyways, I have been working day and night on this new formula trying to find out why you reverted back suddenly. The problem was due to many things, but I think we’ve modified enough of them that so long as the Transpokéfier Gun is gone, you will be human for good this time.”
  “I hope you are right.”
  “Me too. Human again… I’ve been Pikachu for so long now, I had almost forgotten how it felt.”
  “It beats this… Besides, no one on the Spectral Islands will understand the whole story, and why blame em…” Everyone laughed.
  “It certainly is a trouble I’m sure. But we had help for a very informative source.”
  “Who, who helped you?”
  A man walked out from behind the door.
  “Janus.”

=====

  “Yes. I am Janus. You must recognize me from TV News.”
  “Uh huh. You defeated Team Rocket and brought Giovanni to justice.” Mewtwo cringed at Giovanni’s name.
  “That is correct. That man had driven fear into the people for long enough. It was time someone showed him up.”
  “You helped Bill and Mewtwo create a new cure for us?”
  “Well, Team Rocket kinda did the work for us. When I defeated them, I took the files they had and uncovered this. Believe it or not, I have heard many things about you, so I was interested in using this knowledge to aid you.”
  “That’s very kind of you.”
  “Don’t mention it. I am merely trying to bring peace and balance back to this world. And you child, you are one of many victims of Team Rocket. Thus, I have come to see that you are cured of this. The tonic should be ready in a few minutes. Perhaps it be best to spend these last moments as pikachus wisely?”
  “Ok. C’mon Sara. We outta enjoy being pikachus one last time.” Sara smiled and ran with Icy outside. Janus watched the two pikachus playing with each other.
  “They are nothing more than children…,” he thought to himself.

  “It’s ready Janus. Shall we can our subjects in?”
  “Yes. I am eager to see if it works this time.” Janus called for Icy and Sara to come back.
  “Well, this is it again. Ugh, you have something for us to wear right?”
  “Oh course Icy. Here you are. And here you are Sara.”
  “Here are the tonics. The effects should reverse almost immediately.”
  Icy and Sara drank the tonic Janus gave to them. Janus watched hopefully. Within seconds, they began transforming back into humans once more. “Aha! Success!”
  “It’s a miracle.”
  “We are humans again!” The two quickly put on the clothes Bill left them.
  “Are you two done?”
  “Yes Bill. It seems to have worked.”
  “Of course. I never doubted the outcome.”
  “Thank you Janus. We are in your debt.”
  “There is no need for thanks. I am just happy to see another one of Giovanni’s messes cleaned up. If Bill you are done seeing me, I should be on my way.”
  “Yes Janus. Thanks for dropping by and helping us with this. Safe travels.”
  “My thanks.” Janus left the lighthouse and entered a limo. Mewtwo also departed through teleportation.

  “It worked my grace.”
  “I am aware. They will no longer pose a serious threat. They seem to trust you completely.”
  “They are mere children. I do not see how they could pose any threat to our plans.”
  “Icy is a curious child though. He looks in places he does not belong. Make sure that while preparations are made, you make no suspicions. The second he gets involved, things will be difficult to plan.”
  “I understand.”

  Icy danced around the lab happily. “I can’t believe it.”
  “And this time guys, it’s for keeps,” Bill interjected.
  “I’m so happy. This is the greatest day of our lives.” Icy gave Sara a soft kiss on the cheek. “Are you ready to head home?”
  “Yes,” Sara replied returning a kiss to Icy. He kinda blushed then holding her human hand, walked with her outside. They waves good-bye to Bill and were off.
  When they arrived back at the gym, Hocus was first to greet them. “Master! You are human once again. And miss Sara too!”
  “Yes Hocus. Thanks to Mewtwo, Bill, and Janus.”
  “Janus? You mean the guy who defeated Giovanni for good?”
  “That’s right.”
  “What a marvel. He is quite an impressive guy. On the news today, he rescue a stay Meowth from a tree.”
  “Aww.”
  “Icy,” Sara motioned.
  “Ok. Hocus, excuse us.” Icy followed his girlfriend into the office.
  “You’ve grown up a bit since I last really remember you.”
  “You saw me as a human only a few months ago.”
  “No, I mean I remember back when we were still little kids.”
  “Your memory has returned?”
  “Yes. I can remember everything. Up until that one day they blasted me with that gun. Then I remember being a Pikachu, until I found you.”
  Icy giggles. “Can you believe the luck in that? Out of all the pikachus in the world I could have fallen in love with, who’d of guessed it would be the girl I knew next door.”
  Sara now giggled. “We have quite a story. I bet someday, someone will write a book about our crazy adventures.”
  Icy nodded. “They sure would be interesting.” Icy took Sara’s hand and led her back into the main gym.
  “So, we should get packed for our trip. We will no doubt be staying a long time in The Spectral Islands right?”
  “If there’s a pokémon league there, I will spend as long as it takes to become a master in it.”
  “And I’ll be there cheering you on from the sidelines.” Sara smiled as Icy beamed with excitement.
  “Oh, I almost forgot. Let’s just see if my psychic powers are back to normal as well.” He focused on a few forestballs. They quickly floated towards him. “Hahaha, no sweat.” Icy mentally juggled the forestballs while Sara just stood there laughing.
  “You are so awesome doing that Icy. Hehehe.” She and Icy played some games together and with their pokémon that night. In the morning, they got themselves ready to head over to Professor Oak’s to get the tickets to The Spectral Islands.

  And so, our friends finally are cured of Team Rocket’s evil plan. At last, they are humans, and this time, for good. What new adventures will they have while visiting The Spectral Islands? We will find out net time on Pokémon: Icy’s Quest.

The Spectral League

Last time on Icy’s Quest:
  “Me and Sara were called by Bill to stop by his lighthouse just one day before we’d leave for the Spectral Islands. When we got there, Mewtwo was with him, along with Janus. They had developed a new cure for me and Sara. To make a long story short, it worked! Now, we can be together as we were meant to be. I hope there are some nice beaches on the Spectral Islands too!

(Opening Theme Plays)

  We find our heroes back in the Viridian Forest Gym where they are eagerly packing to go the Spectral Islands. Icy intends to compete in a relatively new league called The Spectral League. Hey, where are our heroes?
  “Sara, have you seen my t-shirts?”
  “I think we packed up most of our human clothes. They are probably still in the storage room.”
  “Ok.” Icy heads into the storage area and brings out a large box labeled ‘Icy’s Clothes’. “Found em.” He dragged the box back to his room and packed some of his favorite Caterpie T-Shirts into a suitcase.
  Sara packed some of her fav shirts too, along with a cite swimsuit, and some pretty dresses just in case. She wanted to fun as much fun there as she could. Especially since Icy would probably spend most the day training anyways.
  Toby walked into the gym. “Hello. Anyone home?” He had come by day after day, but no one was home. Toby was the highest ranking trainer in the Bug Gym, and was pretty much the caretaker in Icy’s absence, which was frequent. He’d never met Icy as a Pikachu, and hopefully, he never would. Sara greeted him.
  “Good morning Toby. I’m sorry we were gone so long. Why didn’t you just let yourself in?”
  “Hi Miss Sara. Oh… Well, I kinda locked the keys inside… and then you guys never came back. So I’ve been checking each week. I love bug pokémon so I couldn’t just give up. Huh, are you leaving again!!!”
  Icy came out to see who it was. “Yes Toby… I’m afraid you are in charge of my gym once again. I don’t mean to put a high responsibility on a kid but…”
  “Say no more! WAHOO!!!” Toby seemed overjoyed.
  “He’s taking it better than I thought,” Icy whispered to Sara.
  “He’s excited to run a gym. I hope he doesn’t get too overwhelmed though.”
  “So, when do you leave?”
  “Uhh, in a few minutes. Oak sent Loki and a cab to pick us up and drive to Oak’s.”
  “AWESOME!!! I won’t let you down Icy sir! This is SO COOL!!! I get to run the BUGGY GYM!!! I get to run the BUGGY GYM!!!” Toby ran around singing his little phrase.
  “This is what happens when you don’t work enough kids… Always do what you love.”
  “Or in Toby’s case, just never not do it… You go nuts.”
  “NUTS??? HIMA-NUTS!!! Where’s that Hima-Nuts you captured?”
  “Huh, how’d you know?”
  “Well, while you were away, I found a Hima-Nuts and through it into the side window. I told it to unlock the door, but it just bathed in the sunlight. Then, the next week, it was gone. I figured either it ran off, or maybe I missed you guys, because the door looked used.”
  “How observant. Well, I did capture the Hima-Nuts. Its name is Beady.”
  “Lemme see.”
  “Ok. Come in sight, BEADY!!!” Beady appeared on the grass.
  Toby picked it up. “Hahaha, you’re so cool! Umm, Icy…”
  “You may.”
  “OH SWEET!!! Beady, you are mine now! Hear that!”
  Beady smiled. It did remember Toby so it had no problems switching owners. Icy was happy too, since Beady didn’t really show any feeling towards Icy.
  “Toby, please take good care of the gym. We should be back later in the year.”
  “That long!”
  “Icy is competing in a new league called the Spectral League. It’s held on the Spectral Islands. Oak told us that Nicky and Kelly are there now too. We want to meet up with them and Icy wants to win the league. So, we could be gone a while. Are you gonna be ok?”
  “Miss Sara, leave everything to me! Oh. Can some of my bug-loving friends be Jr. Trainers at the gym? They are good.”
  “Fine, go ahead. But please leave the place in the condition we left it.”
  “I will. You and Sara have an awesome trip. I’ll make sure the Caterpie Flag waves high and proud Icy.” Toby ran back into the main gym happy as can be.
  “That kid REALLY needs to switch to decaf.”
  “You said it.”
  With that, Icy and Sara walk outside where Loki is waiting in a car.

  “Ditto Express at you service. Destinations to Oak Lab and… no other place, just Oak Lab. Get in if want left. Icy and Sara have all stuff?”
  “Yes Loki. We’re ready to go.”
  “Ok. Loki take Icy and Sara to Oak. Oak say he give Icy new pokédex for new discovered species. Oak say also have something for Sara I think.” Loki drove to Pallet Town with Icy, Sara, and Frosterpie.

  “My grace, he’s on the move.”
  “His current form will not be a problem to me anymore.”
  “The cure restored his psychic powers as well.”
  “They are nothing compared to mine. But now is not the time to try anything we can’t cover. Proceed with our original plans regardless of what he does. If he gets in the way, treat him as any other person on this planet.”
  “As you wish my grace.”

  Loki drove through Viridian City. As Icy and Sara peered out the cab’s window, they saw Team Rocket’s former headquarters. Sara leaned over to Icy and kissed his cheek softly. “At last…” Icy blushed, knowing what her short message meant. He held her hand and the cab continued through the city.
  Finally, they arrived in Pallet Town. “Arrive at Oak Lab in 5 minute.”
  “Thank you Loki,” Icy said.
  Loki pulled up to the lab. “We here. Loki help Icy and Sara with bags.” Loki got out and took their bags. When he did grab the first bag, he fell to the ground. “Ouch. Bags heavy.”
  “Sorry Loki.”
  “No problem for Loki.” The little talking Ditto transformed into a cart. “Umm, you place bags on me. Pidgeyplane is waiting in the back. Oak have private Pidgey.”
  “Thanks Loki.” Icy and Sara loaded their bags onto Loki. Loki sped off to the lab.
  “Well, let’s go Icy.” Sara led Icy up the stairs to the lab. They rang the doorbell and Oak answered.
  “Icy, Sara, I see Bill finally perfected his cure. It’s good to see you two back to normal.”
  “Thank you professor. Umm, Loki said you had a newer version of the pokédex.”
  “That’s correct Icy. Like Bill always is saying, there are many species of pokémon out there that we still do not know of. But, in the recent months, close to a hundred new pokémon have been discovered, and many are said to live on these Spectral Islands.”
  “If they are so concentrated there, why weren’t they ever cataloged?” Sara said.
  “Well, the Spectral Islands weren’t known for pokémon training until recently. Because of this, the people there really never made a big deal about the pokémon who lived there. But, now that they run a whole league, more trainers are coming there, and some have done the task of cataloging them. Even my nephew Gary and his friend Ash went there recently. I’m sure you know both of them. They are real legends.”
  “Gary I bet, I dunno about Ash…,” Icy said coolly.
  “You’d be surprised Icy. Ash has grown up quite a bit. He’s not the puzzling boy he was when he started. He’s grown to be an excellent first-class trainer.”
  “Well, I could beat him I bet.” Icy smiled to himself.
  Sara looked back at Icy. “Well, are we going to go?”
  “Ah yes. You’re transport is waiting out back. It’ll take you both to the Prism Island. That’s the heart of the Spectral Islands chain. Kelly and Nicky are also there. I have called them and they should be waiting to meet you at the Pidgeyport.”
  “That’s great. Thank you so much professor.” Icy and Sara took hands and walked out back to board the Pidgeot Plane. “Well Sara, this is it. Another awesome adventure for us.”
  “Yeah. At least this time, it’s not something dangerous with Team Rocket chasing us around the globe.”
  “Yeah.” They boarded the Pidgeot and took off.

  Kelly walked with Mars and Venus tagging close behind. Nicky looked back to make sure she was still there. Nicky spent a good potion of the day staring at Kelly, but she never seemed to take notice of it. He turned around again and Kelly caught up to walking at his side.
  “Nicky, when are Icy and Sara getting here?”
  “Soon Kelly. Oak said they left over an hour ago. They should be here in only a few minutes.”
  “Cool. Are you excited to see them again too?”
  “Yes.”
  Kelly giggled. “I wanna sit here and play with my Eevees ok.” Mars had crawled onto her and Venus played nicely by her leg.
  Nicky laughed seeing the little girl be almost surrounded by Eevees. “Ok Kelly. You can play with your Eevees.” Kelly smiled and let Venus walk up her arm too.
  “HAHAHAHAHA!!!” she laughed as they played. Nicky simply watched.

Meanwhile,
  Trinity walked quietly down Main Street. “What a boring day… Huh?” She looked back. “This is getting to be boring too.” She turned around. “Whatever you are, STOP FOLLOWING ME!!!” she yelled. A few people stopped to look at her. She spun back around and continued walking. “Sooner I leave here the better.”
  The spherical creature peeked out again. As it watched her walk away, little hearts bubbled up over it. It ran to the next bush to continue following her safely.

  “We will be landing on Prism Island in 5 minutes. Please gather your belongings and prepare for arrival.”
  Icy and Sara got their stuff together and waited for the Pidgeot to land. In only a few minutes, they were on the ground. They ran off into the terminal. Waiting for them at the end were two familiar faces.
  “Kelly! Nicky!” they both shouted.
  “Icy! Sara!” The two groups ran to each other. “We are both ok. Oh, awesome.” Nicky noticed the blue Caterpie staring at him. “Is that?”
  “This is Frosterpie.”
  “Too cool. So, you didn’t die after all. We were all worried you two had died saving us.
  “It’ll take more than a crazy psychotic Mew to kill me.” Everyone laughed.
  “Well, me and Kelly have been touring this island. You are gonna love the Spectral League. In fact, there’s a match being held later today. Actually, it’s a night battle. They have so many different rules in this league. I’m even thinking of entering, and Kelly is going to help the trainers by caring for their pokémon at the gyms.”
  “Is there a gym on this island?”
  “No. The Prism Island is the start and the finish of the league. Right now, there are practice battles going on. In order to enter the league, you must participate in at least 3 practice battles. You really should see one first though. C’mon, if you hurry, you might even be able to get into one tomorrow.”
  “Ok, but let’s first drop our stuff off at the hotel. You guys made us reservations right?”
  “Yes we did. You’re all set at the PokéResorts Hotel. We are staying there too. Oak was very generous.”
  “Too cool.”

  Trinity glanced at her watch. “Man… Another match I gotta fight. I don’t get it. I am the best, yet they all want to challenge me. They know they’ll lose. Let’s see.” Trinity pulled out her pokédex. Her version had some alterations done to it. It doubled as a personal organizer. See brought up the calendar program. “Today I get to fight some kid named… Frank. Frank? Grrr, sounds like another regular everyday trainer. He’s so dead. I can’t stand fighting these novices anymore.” The spherical creature continued following and hiding. “You are ALSO dead when I find you.”
  Suddenly, Trinity had an idea. She ducked into an alley and walked. ‘It’ll probably follow me down here too,’ she thought. Sure enough, the strange creature followed and hid behind some trash barrels.
  The creature looked out. Trinity was nowhere to be found. “Buh?” It looked again. While it searched, Trinity got ready to make her move.
  “GOTCHA!!!” she yelled grabbing hold of the creature below. What happened next shocked Trinity. The creature felt like water and slipped right out of her hands. It looked back and ran for dear life leaving a trail of water puddles behind it. “Come back!”
  Trinity chased it into a dead-end. “Ok you, just stand still, I’m not going to hurt you.” The creature looked back at her with big watery eyes. It let her walk slowly towards it. “That’s right. Don’t be scared. I’m not going to hurt you. Just stay right there.” The creature stayed its ground. It breathed quickly as she got closer. “What are you?”

=====

  The creature started crying. “Baa baaa baaa baaaa buuuulll,” it cried.
  “Bubbles? Is that it? You are a pokémon?”
  The creature looked at her. Its eyes were tear-filled. She bent down to meet it at eye-level. It stepped back but found itself pressed against the wall. Admitting defeat it, laid perfectly still for her.
  “Aww, I’m really sorry little guy. Hmm…” Trinity took out her pokédex and pointed it at the small pokémon.
  A computerized female voice came on. “Searching for match… … …” The device crunched away for a few seconds. “Warning, pokémon does not match any known type. However, DNA spectral analysis indicates trace elements of multiple pokémon species. High probability that this specimen is the result of genetic testing.” She closed the pokédex.
  “You are a created pokémon?”
  The small pokémon nodded. It looked up at her and extended its tiny paws. She picked it up. It felt watery and it took her a few seconds to get used to holding it right. “So, you are called Bubbles I guess.” She brushed her hand across the grass on its head. Bubbles giggled and wagged its little tail. It looked like a cross between an Oddish, a Jigglypuff, and had the tail of a Poliwag. Trinity put it down. “Are you going to keep following me little guy?”
  Bubbles nodded.
  “Well then, you’ll have to travel in this.” She pulled out a small blue pokéball. Clicking the button, it expanded. She pointed it at Bubbles and in seconds the small water-like pokémon was transported into the ball. “Well, this is certainly a strange type of pokémon.” She looked at her watch. “Oh no! The match!” Trinity collected herself and ran towards the stadium.

  “These are great seats Nicky,” Icy said. He and Sara sat together. Kelly was sitting next to Nicky, her Eevees sitting nicely on her lap. “So, who’s battling?”
  “It says today’s match is Trinity vs. Frank. Trinity is one of the top new trainers. I’d like to see you battle her. I wanna take a shot too.”
  “Really? I guess I’ll see today.”

  Trinity ran into the stadium. “I’m here, I’m here,” she said panting. The official led her to the gate.
  “And now ladies and gentlemen, today’s preliminary Spectral League match is between Trinity from Prism Island, and Frank of Red Island. This match will be conducted in the same manner as a regular league match only with 4 pokemon to each trainer. And now, let the game begin!” The crowd cheered as the trainers took their places. The battle field this time was a water pool with small floating ice formations.
  Trinity sneered looking at her competitor. ‘Pushover…,’ she thought.
  Frank looked at Trinity. ‘Great, I’m gonna show her she’s not the best.’
  The judge stepped up to the center. “Send out your starting pokémon.” Trinity and Frank through their pokéballs at the same time.
  “Chonchi GO!”
  “Harisen GO!”
  “Wow, those aren’t pokémon I’ve seen before.”
  “Look ‘em up later Icy, you don’t wanna miss this.” Icy nodded and watched.
  “Chonchi, supersonic attack!” Chonchi’s antennae vibrated producing a supersonic wave confusing Harisen.”
  Frank watched worried. “What! Harisen, snap out of it! Grr, return. Once he recovers, I’ll send him back out. For now, I choose Dunsparce!” The flying dragonfly-like pokémon appeared above the water. “Double team attack. She wants to confuse me, let’s deal it back to her.” Dunsparce became multiple images and dove for Chonchi.
  “Chonchi, get in the water quick!” Chonchi dove in just before the swarm of Dunsparces could hit him. “Flying are weak to electricity, so Chonchi, use spark attack the next time they dive-bomb.”
  Frank motioned to Dunsparce to dive again. The swarm targeted the water Chonchi was floating in. Just as they were about to hit, Chonchi let out sparks into the water and electrocuted Dunsparce. “NOO!!! Aghh, return.”
  “Good work Chonchi. Get back on land now.”
  “Trinity has taken an early lead here as Dunsparce is defeated. What pokémon will Frank use next?”
  Frank took Harisen’s pokéball back out. “The confusion should be gone by now, so I choose Harisen!”
  “He already used that pokémon!” Icy said to Nicky.
  “No, in this league, you may reuse any pokémon that hasn’t fainted. At least, challengers may. Gym leaders cannot return their pokémon.”
  “Oh.”
  “Chonchi, water gun attack!” Chonchi blasted Harisen with its water gun but the other water pokémon broke free.
  “Harisen, fight back with your own water gun!” Harisen blasted a water gun at Chonchi, but Chonchi quickly avoided it. “Poison sting Harisen!” Harisen fired poison needles at Chonchi. This time, they hit.
  “Oh no, Chonchi!” Chonchi moved slower now. It looked horrible. Finally, the little pokémon collapsed from the poisons. “My Chonchi! YOU ARE DEAD FRANK!!!” Trinity recalled Chonchi. “NO ONE HURTS CHONCHI!!!!!” She reached into her pocket and pulled out another pokéball. “Ok, Nyura, I call you to avenge Chonchi! GO!!!”
  “An ice cat huh? Ok Harisen, let’s take this one out too! Dive under first.” Harisen dove under the water, out of Nyura’s sight.
  “My kitty can fish too. Nyura, be alert.” Nyura waited patiently, staring at the water with anticipation. Suddenly, she noticed Harisen’s shadow. Her eyes narrowed and she quickly thrust her claws into the water. They scratched against something. Harisen slowly bubbled up to the surface. “Ha ha! Good work Nyura!”
  Frank held out Harisen’s pokéball once again to return it for good.
  “And with an awesome display of agility, Trinity’s Nyura gives her a 2-1 lead. And now, with two pokémon down, the field will now change.” Trinity’s Nyura leapt back to her trainer as the water field began to disappear. In its place, a grass field formed from the sides.
  “This isn’t gonna be good for you Nyura. I will ask for your help if my others cannot finish this wimp off first.” Nyura smiled and purred to her master. She returned to her pokéball while Trinity decided which pokémon to select next. “Ok. Watakko, I select you for my next pokémon.”
  “Watakko? Great, just great. You are in for it Trinity. I’m gonna be the first trainer to take you down! Mwahahaha!!!” Frank expanded a new pokéball in his hand and released a Charmander. “Fire beats grass any day. You’re toast!”
  “Frank! I swear to Goddish, I will not let you win! Watakko, show that fire breathing pest that it shouldn’t judge a pokémon by its type. Let’s try, leech seed.” Watakko fired three seeds from its pollen spores. The seeds wrapped around the unsuspecting Charmander.
  “Flamethrower quick Charmander!” Frank’s Charmander fired flames in different directions, but the leech seed had already begun draining its health. It slowly became exhausted and fainted. “No!!! Charmander… That’s not fair.”
  “How so? I beat it fairly. You aren’t a good trainer if you couldn’t utilize your advantage. Now, let’s end this match.”
  Frank recalled Charmander. He needed to find a pokémon that could defeat three of hers. “Ok Trinity, you aren’t winning without a fight.” Trinity sighed. “Get ready to work for that win. I choose you, Oddish!” Frank’s Oddish appeared in the grass, almost blending completely in.
  “Too bad I gotta hurt such an adorable pokémon, but it’s fighting for the wrong side. Watakko, stun spore attack now!” Watakko flew into the air and released its spores over all the grass making sure it hit its target.
  “Oddish no!!!”
  “Finish it off. Tackle attack Watakko.” Watakko made a diving tackle at the paralyzed Oddish. It fainted after impact.
  “Oddish…” Frank’s head sunk. “Ok… I admit defeat.” He recalled his Oddish and unhappily walked out of the stadium.
  “And Trinity has won once again. Trinity is currently undefeated in practice rounds and we expect to see her go far in the Championships at the end of the season.”
  Trinity recalled Watakko and made her way out of the stadium. Icy watched as she walked away. “Nicky, have you battled her?”
  “Yeah right. I decided to battle some other trainers. I did win my 3 rounds already. You aren’t thinking of what I think you are.”
  “I gotta see if I can beat her. C’mon, I’m a master trainer. That kid was a rookie. Plus, she looks like someone who needs a challenge.”
  “She’ll rip you apart Icy.”
  “How do you know? I might be able to defeat her.”
  “Defeat who?” said a sharp voice. Icy turned around to see the girl who had just won the battle. “Are you challenging me mister?”
  “Trinity?”
  “That’s right. You wanna battle, I’ll give you a battle. I’ve just about had it with you snotty trainers thinking you can defeat me. C’mon, what makes you so special?”
  “Uhh, well, I am a Indigo League Master.”
  “Indigo League. Ha, baby league. Listen kiddo, this league is for pros, not children.”
  “But, you are a child.”
  “Hey, that’s it. Right now, I accept your challenge.”

  Will Icy be able to defeat Trinity in battle? Find out next time Pokémon: Icy’s Quest.

Icy’s New Rival

Last time,
  “Trinity here. Ok, so I creamed yet another loser trainer and met this brat named Icy who thinks just because he’s won a few other leagues that he’s got the strength to beat me. Well, I’m gonna teach this Caterpie-loving fool a lesson.”

(Opening Theme plays)

  “I accept your challenge Icy,” Trinity shouted.
  “Great.”
  “Great?? You battle now, there’s no one else left on the schedule. The other kid chickened out.”
  “Alright then, we battle now.” Icy and Trinity glared at each other.
  “Now entering the stadium, one of the best trainers in the Spectral Islands, TRINITY!!!!! Trinity hasn’t lost a battle in the past month of training and she faces off against yet another challenger. But this guy’s not an ordinary trainer folks. Please give a warm welcome, to the Indigo League’s, Viridian Forest Bug Gym Leader!!! ICY!!!!!” The cheered, impressed that a gym leader would visit to challenge a regular trainer.
  From the stands, Sara watched her friend with Nicky and Kelly. Mars laid in Kelly lapse while Venus sat on her head. She giggled and watched the action. Nicky meanwhile, had eyes on something else.
  “Nicky, they are starting,” Sara said poking the preoccupied kid.
  “Oh, right, ehheheh,” Nicky said and turned his attention to where it should have been, the match.
  “This will be a six on six match. After three pokémon on either side have been defeated, the floor will change. Are you both ready?” The current field was a grass field, kinda like a meadow and had a few small bushes too which could make perfect hiding spots.
  “YES!” Icy and Trinity said together. They again glared at each other and selected their first pokémon.
  “Jumpluff GO!” Trinity said sending the small grass type pokémon into action.
  “Ready to fight, come in sight! ICY CALLS!!! BUTTERCUP!!!” Icy’s green Butterfree materialized and awaited her commands.
  “Jumpluff, use your giga drain before that Butterfree has a chance to attack.”
  “Buttercup, be careful, use your stun spore to stop Jumpluff.” Buttercup flew over Jumpluff who leaped into the air with the breeze. Jumpluff tried to use its attack but the stun spore hit first and it slowly descended, paralyzed.
  The crowd was astonished. In just one hit, Trinity’s Jumpluff was rendered unable to battle. Nicky and Kelly were pleased, as well as Sara. “WOW, a rough start for Trinity as Icy’s Butterfree takes her Jumpluff out in a single attack. This could be the end of Trinity’s winning streak.”
  Trinity mumbled to herself, “Oh just shut up already,” she wanted to say. She recalled Jumpluff and detached a second pokéball. “You just got lucky mister, but pokémon battles aren’t about luck. I’m gonna teach that Butterfree of yours a lesson now.” Trinity threw the new pokéball into the field and revealed a Larvitar. “GO LARVITAR.”
  Icy was stunned for a moment. Larvitar was fire type, his worst fear for Buttercup to fight. “Buttercup, return. For your Larvitar, I’ll choose, HOCUS!!!” Icy threw Hocus’ pokéball into the field and his Kadabra jumped out, ready for battle.
  “The trainers have sent out their next set of pokémon. Trinity is using her Larvitar, and Icy, being a psychic trainer as well folks, is using Kadabra. Let’s see how this round turns out.”
  “Larvitar, earthquake now.” Larvitar used the horn on its head to burrow into the ground causing a giant crack to form in the field and taking Hocus off balance. “Great work, now, fury cutter attack!” Hocus was still too shaken from the earthquake to avoid Larvitar’s fury cutter attack and fell. “YES! You did it Larvitar!”
  The crowd was on their feet while Icy recalled his Kadabra woefully. “And Trinity bounces back with her Larvitar, getting in that first critical shot which decided this round. Let’s see how Icy will retaliate.”
  Buttercup released herself from her pokéball. “No Buttercup, you can’t fight that pokémon, it’s a fire type; you’ll get burnt again.” Buttercup shook its head as if to say she would be alright. “But…” Buttercup flew into her trainer’s arms and Icy hugged her saying softly, “Good luck friend.” Buttercup gathered herself and took a fighting pose in the air, facing Larvitar. “Ok Buttercup, let’s show this Larvitar who’s best! Psybeam attack now!”
  “Crap, Larvitar get your defense ready!” Buttercup glowed multi-colored and released a large psybeam at Larvitar, pushing him back a ways but causing minimal damage. “Fire Blast attack.” Larvitar shot the giant flame from his mouth that sped towards Buttercup.
  Icy’s eyes widened. “BUTTERCUP NO!!!” He covered his eyes. Somehow, Buttercup managed to use Teleport, and successfully avoided the strong fire attack. Icy uncovered his eyes to see his friend still flapping her wings gracefully in the sky, unharmed. “Buttercup, you are fine!” Icy clinched his fist. Buttercup’s eyes glared. She knew what to do now. “HYPER BEAM!!!!!!!!!”
  “What! Oh I don’t think so. Larvitar, you can crush that puny pokémon with your own. HYPER BEAM!!!” Larvitar glowed white and fired its Hyper Beam just as Buttercup fired hers. The intense light blinded the trainers and the crowd. When the two beams hit, they created an explosion so loud, it shattered windows almost a mile away. The shockwave was enough to knock down both Icy and Trinity and blow back a few crowd members. When it was all over, both pokémon were down.
  “BUTTERCUP. Speak to me, oh please be alright.” Buttercup opened her eyes and looked up at Icy as if to ask if she’d done a good job. Icy hugged his brave friend and nodded. “You did great Buttercup, I knew you would. Thanks a lot buddy, but now you should get some rest.” Buttercup nodded and transformed into energy as she was zapped back inside her pokéball.
  Trinity was stunned. “He’s actually quite good.” She recalled Larvitar and waited for Icy to make his next move.
  “Wow folks. Never before have we seen such an intense battle like this, and we are only in the pre-season! Remember, you can still purchase season passes to catch all the action during the regular season. And now, the score is tied with only 4 pokémon remaining to each trainer.
  “Ready to fight, come in sight! ICY CALLS!!!!!” He threw the next pokéball into the field finishing, “CYBER!!!” The sharp, duck-like, cybernetic pokémon appeared. It’s very rare to see a Porygon outside the Internet, and the crowd was very excited to get to see this one.
  “A Porygon? I’m gonna crash that cybernetic duck. Cyndaquil, I choose you!” Trinity’s Cyndaquil leaped out giving a cute “QQQQUUIIIIIIIILLLL.” “Alright Cyndaquil, overheat that pile of computer code with your flamethrower.” The holes on Cyndaquil’s back erupted in flames and it spit a large fireball at Cyber.
  “You can’t hit what you can’t find. Cyber, double team!” Cyber quickly became nearly ten Porygons and Cyndaquil’s flamethrower hit one of the fakes. “Cyber, psybeam attack!” All of the Porygons fired psybeams, only one being real.
  “Cyndaquil look out!” Trinity screamed. The nimble fire mouse dodged every last beam, impressing the crowd enormously. “Great work. Use detect. Find the real one.”
  “Psybeam again Cyber!” The Porygon team fired their barrage of psybeams at the waiting Cyndaquil.
  “You can do it,” Trinity said to herself. Cyndaquil was unharmed by the fake attacks until he detected the real one. “DO IT CYNDAQUIL!!! Fire blast the real one!” Cyndaquil jumped back and spit a huge fireball at the Porygons. It hit the real on dead one.
  “No way!” Cyber was overheating a fainted. “How could it figure out which was the real one? She’s good…” Icy thought to himself. “Cyber return.”
  The crowd cheered as the announcer came back on. “And Trinity defeats Icy’s third pokémon Cyber. That means we will now have a field change. The second environment for today is a small lake and ice surface. Let’s see how both trainers deal with this change.”
  “I’ll be fine. They almost always make this sorta change. First grassland, then water or ice. I’ve saved all my water types just for this. That kid’s gonna learn why I’m number one here,” Trinity thought to herself.

=====

  The field finished changing and Trinity’s Cyndaquil slid back onto the ice. Its hot body was slow melting the surface below him forcing him to stay in motion. Icy selected his next pokéball and threw it. “Static GO! Bounce your thunderbolt into the water.” Icy’s plan was to use Cyndaquil’s heat against him. He hoped it would work. Static charged up and sent a thunderbolt into the lake section. Sure enough, the places where Cyndaquil was standing had melted enough for the electricity to connect with him and electrocuted Cyndaquil.
  “Wow! Amazing strategy by Icy using Cyndaquil’s heat against him. These two trainers certainly know how to battle well. This match could go down to the wire!”
  Static stood on the ice, moving now and then in case it melted, and waited for Trinity to send out his next opponent. Trinity recalled Cyndaquil and grinned. “I’ve only begun to fight. Now you’re gonna feel my real power. Chonchii go!” The small electric and water type pokémon appeared.
  “A water type pokémon. Electric too… Something’s not making sense here. Static, use swift attack now.”
  “Chonchii get out of there and into the water. It’s too cold for that Pikachu to follow you.” Chonchii nodded and danced around the swift stars and did a double flip in the air before completing a perfect dive into the water. The crowds gave their approval and Chonchii surfaced only for a second to smile at them.
  “Static, thunder attack!” Icy assumed that since it was in the water, the electricity would easily knock it out. Static used his ultimate electric attack, but Chonchii did not surface.
  “It’s gonna take more than a little electricity to defeat my Chonchii. It’s an electric type too and I’ve trained it to withstand huge amounts of electricity. Seems that training paid off. But now, I’m afraid Chonchii’s gonna have to close this match. Zap cannon attack Chonchii,” Trinity yelled from above the ice. Below, Icy and Static could both see Chonchii light up, but it was too late, and the zap cannon attack shattered through the ice and paralyzed Static.
  “No, Static return,” Icy said hitting him with the pokéball beam before Static slipped into the freezing water. “They like to play hard eh? I only have Neptune and Leafy left. She’s still got that Chonchii and two others. I know Neptune will have some advantage with the water, so I’ll use Leafy now.” Icy detached the pokéball and expanded it. “Ready to fight, come in sight! ICY CALLS!!! LEAFY!!!” Icy’s Gloom, Leafy emerged. “Ready, go! SOLAR BEAM CHONCHI NOW!!!”
  “Chonchii, dive down!” Chonchii retreated as far down into the pool as it could but was just not far enough to avoid being burnt by the intense solar beam attack as it ripped through the ice and down to Chonchii. It floated back up and jumped onto the ice. “Chonchii, are you alright? Thunder attack Chonchii.” Chonchii’s little antennae glowed and struck Leafy with a large lightning bolt, stunning the large plant and doing heavy damage since Leafy could not ground herself on the ice.
  “We, can’t lose. Leafy, Petal dance now.” Leafy surrounded itself with petals which confused Chonchii because it could no long find its target. “Giga Drain now.” Leafy sapped Chonchii’s power dealing more damage since Chonchii is a water type.
  “Agghhhh, Chonchii return.” Chonchii was zapped back into its pokéball.
  “Well, it’s down to 2 on 2 folks. Icy’s Gloom Leafy will now face whatever of Trinity’s two remaining pokémon. Can he pull off a victory where so many others have failed?”
  “I so wanna kill him,” Trinity thought to herself.
  Meanwhile, up in the stands, Nicky and Kelly were getting worried. “I think Icy’s in real trouble. The only other pokémon he’s got is Neptune, a Horsea. She’s not gonna be much of a fight against whatever Trinity’s got left,” Kelly said.
  “You’re right. Icy may actually lose… but Trinity was the favorite.”
  “Nicky! You are supposed to be routing for Icy,” Kelly was disappointed.
  Nicky suddenly stood up and cheered. “GO ICY!!! C’MON, YOU CAN DO IT!!!” Kelly sweatdropped and asked Nicky to sit down before he made a fool of himself.
  At that moment, only a few miles north of the stadium, a dark man riding a steel bird pokémon observed the city coming within range of view. “They are here. I have my orders and I shall not fail this time. Come Eamudo, we have work to do.” The steel bird screeched and carried its trainer towards the city.
  Trinity threw her fifth pokéball into the field. This time, Leafy would have to beat Qwilfish.
  “No problem, Giga Drain.” Leafy aimed for the water pokémon but Trinity had other plans.
  “Qwilfish, use hydro pump to black the giga drain.” Her plan was successful and Icy had to quickly rethink strategies while Trinity appeared ready to finish the now scared Gloom. “Don’t wait for them Qwilfish, use sludge bomb.” Qwilfish got very large and then coughed up a giant ball of sludge and hurled it at Leafy. Leafy suffered major damage from the poison attack and was defeated.
  “And this could be it, Trinity appears to have Icy beaten. With just one pokémon left, Icy’s got a bit of catching up to do.”
  “Neptune, go!” Icy sent out his final pokémon, Neptune, a Horsea.
  “Qwilfish, use pin missile and take out that tiny sea horse.” Qwilfish fired pins from its body but Neptune was able to avoid being hit doing some fancy footwork before retreating to the water. “After it Qwilfish!
  “Now we got her! Do it Neptune!” Trinity could only gasp as she realized she’d just sent Qwilfish into a trap. “Dragonbreath attack!” Neptune blazed Qwilfish with her strongest dragon attack and Trinity had to recall it. “Great work Neptune. We may just win this yet!”
  “That’s what you think. I’ve saved the best for last.” Trinity took out a pokéball with a brownish star on it. “Sneasel GO!” The ice, dark cat pokémon appeared on the ice, having no trouble standing or moving. “Let’s win this! Lure that seafood out, hehehe.” Sneasel reached into the water and grabbed Neptune throwing her onto the ice.
  “Neptune, bubble beam!”
  “Sneasel, fury swipes to block and follow through to attack!” Sneasel sliced the bubbles apart then took swipes at Neptune.
  “Neptune, look out, dodge it!” Neptune managed to dodge some of Sneasel’s attacks but still took a fair amount of damage. “Ok, use hydro pump on that cat!” Neptune fired the jet stream of water at Sneasel but the nimble feline gracefully dodged the mighty water attack.
  “Blizzard attack Sneasel!” Trinity shouted. Sneasel landed then launched her blizzard attack.
  “Neptune. We won’t let her win like that. Counter attack with your blizzard too. Make a break for the water afterwards,” he said lightly so Trinity wouldn’t overhear. Neptune used her blizzard attack as well causing a massive snowstorm to form. Freezing, Neptune made her way for the water pond but hit something before getting there.
  Sneasel wasted no time in swiping the nearly frozen Horsea with its claws and Neptune fell easily as the snow began to clear. The referee raised his flag and announced Trinity’s Sneasel the winner. The crowd cheered and Icy recalled Neptune.
  “And Trinity has once again pulled off victory, though this time it cost everything she had. What an exciting match we’ve just witnessed. I hope the Spectral Gym Leaders were watching, because if the challengers are THIS good, you’re in for a showdown for sure! Remember folks, you can purchase videotapes of today’s match at the souvenir stands on your way out. Be sure to pick up one to remember this awesome match! The next pokémon match will begin in a half hour. We hope you stick with us for more heated action!”
  Icy walked through the stadium tunnel feeling quite down. It had been a while since someone was this difficult a trainer to beat, and he wasn’t able to win it this time. “You guys fought well, she’s definitely a worthy rival,” Icy said quietly to his pokéballs. Somehow, he knew they could hear him, and knew he was proud of them regardless of how the battle turned out. Sara, Nicky, and Kelly were there waiting for him as he came to the end of the tunnel.
  “Icy! Wow, what a battle, you and your pokémon were totally awesome!” Nicky said.
  “Yea, my Eevees were bouncing around the whole time from the excitement,” Kelly added.
  Sara ran up to Icy and gave him a kiss and hug. “You were so cool out there. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you get to battle such a talented trainer, it was really awesome to watch you.” Icy blushed and hugged Sara back.
  “Thanks Sara. I had a fun time too. My pokémon really did an awesome job. But we’re gonna have to train even harder if I want to beat that trainer Trinity.” Icy knew they’d meet again in the Spectral League. The four kids exited the stadium and walked down the now silent streets. The next pokémon battle had started.
  “Another battle in my favor… But he was different from the others. I actually… enjoyed that battle… Ughh… Whatever, he’s no different from the other ignorant kids I’ve crushed so far.” Trinity placed Suihou in her arms and walked home. “And you, well, I’ll figure out what’s with you sooner or later.” Suihou smiled making Trinity giggle a little. “C’mon, I’ll show you your new home.” She walked off into the afternoon horizon.
  Meanwhile, the man flying on the steel bird spotted Icy and his friends walking along the empty street. “Now, I have my chance. Eamudo, we shall not fail this time.” The main gave the command to attack, and Eamudo swooped down for Icy and the others.
  “What the,” Icy said suddenly as he sensed Eamudo closing. “DUCK NOW!” They all fell to the ground just in time. “What the heck was that?”
  “D***. He could see me coming. No matter. Eamudo, prepare to engage the enemy.” The steel bird allowed its trainer to dismount then took up a fighting pose.
  “No way!” Icy shouted. Sara kinda hid behind him, Kelly hid behind Nicky.
  “Who’s that?” Nicky asked.
  “I’m not sure, but he looks familiar.”
  “We have meet once before Mister Icy. I may have failed in my first attempt to vanquish you, but this time I shall not. Prepare to face your destiny at my hand, Eamudo get ready!”
  “Who the heck are you?” Icy asked.
  The man just laughed and drew his gray cape. “I am known as Gamma. It will be the last name you ever know. Eamudo, steel wing attack!”
  Icy grasped Sara’s hand and she joined with Nicky and Kelly. Just moments before Eamudo’s powerful steel wing could strike them, Icy teleported the group a safe distance. “You want a battle, I’ll be sure to see that you lose,” Icy said reaching for a pokéball.
  “No Icy, they are too weak from battle. That Eamudo is really powerful looking. Let me battle it while you guys escape, I’ll be fine.” Nicky selected a pokéball when Icy took the girls to safety.
  “I shall crush you and then your friend Icy. I will show no mercy.”
  “I’m not afraid of you,” Nicky said bravely.
  “You will be…” Gamma pointed in Nicky’s direction and Eamudo darted for him.
  “AGH. GO WIGGLYTUFF!!!” Nicky’s giant pink Wigglytuff emerged. “Sing now!!!” Nicky plugged his ears with a special Wigglytuff-Sound-Proof-Wax (available at a fine convenience store near you). Gamma grunted as Wigglytuff began singing.
  “Curses. Eamudo, get back here!” Gamma mounted Eamudo and flew off before he’d fall asleep. “You live this {yawn} time Icy. {yawn} But I’ll be back… Oh yes. Right after I take a nap.”
  Wigglytuff stopped singing and Nicky thanked her for saving them. He rejoined Icy and the others. “That was close. I don’t know who that guy was, but you sure know how to make powerful enemies Icy,” Nicky said.
  “I dunno, but I think I better keep an eye out for him. He’s attacked us before.”
  “C’mon, we can stay tonight at the Pokémon Center. I’ve already asked Nurse Joy,” Nicky said. The group retired to the pokécenter for the evening.

Meanwhile,
  “Twice your agent has failed you… I am not pleased.”
  “He knows what he is doing. Every confrontation builds character. Next time, Icy shall not be so lucky.”

False Idols

Last time…
  Icy’s new rival, Trinity, challenged the great Bug Trainer to a match while he and Sara are visiting the Spectral Islands. Icy accepted her challenge, but the up and coming star of the rainbow colored isles only expanded upon her undefeated streak. Will Icy ever win against her?

And now… the story continues…

{{ Spiffy music hinting at a more trying mood plays in the opener with scenes from episodes and of our main characters. }}

  “Twice… Twice you have failed to even capture let alone eliminate that pest.”
  “I shall not fail next time.”
  “I’m tired of excuses. You know as well I that I can’t afford to risk facing him myself. Not yet. It would ruin everything.”
  “I shall get him.”
  “Don’t return until you do…”

  “Rise and shine everybody,” Nurse Joy said cheerfully. “Oh, good morning Trinity. I was able to get those pokéballs you requested a week ago finally. Wait just a minute while I get them.”
  “Thank you Nurse Joy,” Trinity said bowing courteously. For such a tough trainer, she still had a very proper and delicate personality. In her arms was the strange water bubble shaped pokémon, Suihou. “Hey, stop wiggling like that ok.”
  Icy and Sara sleepily made their way towards the front desk. “Ooohhh…, morning already…?” Icy’s eyes slowly focused on the girl fidgeting with a strange pokémon at the front counter. “Huh?!?”
  “C’mon, quit it, uh? Oh… it’s you. Icy right?” Trinity didn’t smile, rather she had a more perplexed look as she observed Icy’s nocturnal-like movements. “Hey, you’ll never defeat me if you can’t even wake up before 9am.”
  Icy snapped out of it. “What!?! I can too. You got lucky, but… uh?” Icy may have woken up, but Sara was still rather sleepy and now leaning on Icy’s shoulder. “Ah… aghhh!” he yelped as Sara shifted more onto him, pushing him down.
  “Oh please… Go back to your room if you’re gonna act like that. Don’t you have any public decency?”
  Now Sara woke up. “Excuse me??? I’m sorry, but do you have something against me or Icy? Well? Speak up.”
  “You heard me.” Nurse Joy had returned and Trinity turned her attention back to the desk. “Thank you Nurse Joy. That’s all for today.” Trinity turned around and began to walk out.
  “Grrrrrr, that girl, who does she think she is. Oh, Icy, are you alright, you fell.”
  “No kidding,” Icy said with little pikachus dancing around his head.

=====

  Nicky was busy in the training hall of the pokecenter when Kelly poked her head in. “Hey, can I watch?”
  Nicky blushed and gave a forceful nod. “Uh, yes, yes you may, of course.” His pokémon gazed at him, puzzled.
  “I hope it’s not too much trouble, hehe.” Following her were Mars and Venus, her two lovable eevees.
  Nicky snapped out of it. “Oh, no, no trouble at all Kelly. Please. Maybe your eevees will get some tips out of it.”
  “Really?”
  “Sure. Ok, here we go!” Nicky and his pokémon continued their target exercises and general sparing techniques. Kelly looked on from the sidelines, observing how Nicky’s pokémon learned to battle.

Meanwhile,
  “La de la la laaa. My, such a beautiful day it is. La la laaaaa, huh?” The kind old woman stopped for a second, realizing her purse containing her precious Snubble had just been swiped. “Oh… Oh… Please, somebody save my baby!!!”
  The people around her stopped and stared at the woman’s strange talking.
  “I’ve been robbed. That man stole my precious Snubble!” The woman cried out for help but the thief was long gone.
  “Hahahaha, like taking candy from a baby,” the clever crook snickered. “Hey, what the?”
  “That’s as far as you go sir.”
  “Wow, I’ve moved up. ‘Sir’ eh? Look pal, I ain’t looking to give you any trouble but if you know what’s good for ya, you better let me be on my way.”
  “You may go about your business once you return that purse to the woman it belongs to.”
  “What are you, some kinda vigilante? Look bub, I don’t know what yer talking about, but you better just quit now before you start to piss me off.”
  “I was hoping you’d simply do this the easy way…” The man lifted his face revealing a monocle which glimmered as the sunlight reflected off of it. His clasped his hands together and began to murmur strange words.
  “Hey, listen bud. Just leave me alone you hear. Sheesh.” The crook went to walk around the man be suddenly felt a cold touch.
  “ICE magic. Freeze dry!” Suddenly, the thief’s feet were frozen to the concrete. “I’d like it if you could stay here a while longer.”
  “What are you? What the hell is this?”
  The man placed his head very close to the thief’s ear and whispered, “I know exactly who you are. I am Janus, and I shall knock you all down.” The thief stood frozen, but not totally from the ice at his feet. Hearing the name of the man sent a chill so cold, no magic in the world could reproduce its sensation. Janus took the purse and walked back to the place were the old woman was still calling out for help.
  “Oh, my purse. You got it back for me. You are a wonderful person. Umm, I never got your name good gentleman.”
  “I am Janus. That man was an agent of Team Rocket. I have sworn to rid this city and every other city of these scum. Please, take care and stay safe.”
  “Thank you Mr. Janus.”
  Janus walked off into the crowds of people, seeming to vanish. Elsewhere, people were gathering around the half frozen person who was now tying up traffic and forcing Officer Jenny to intervene.
  “What seems to be the commotion here?” she asked in her assertive tone. “You there, the street is no place to, oh my.” She realized the man was frozen there, but he had a note attached to the ice. “Another loss for Team Rocket – Janus.” Jenny frowned at the man. “You’re under arrest buddy… as soon as we thaw you out I guess.” ‘How could someone do this to a person?’ she thought. A few more officer Jenny’s arrived on the scene with blowtorches and Growliths. The thief’s eyes widened as they prepared to ‘thaw’ him out.

  “Don’t worry about her Icy, she’s a meanie anyways,” Sara pouted. She was still rather sore from Trinity’s words to her as well, but apparently they didn’t get to her as deep. Icy meanwhile, wasn’t phased, just upset.
  “That girl… She didn’t even win by much. She’s got no right dising me that harshly. One false move, and she’d have lost that match.”
  “Don’t be so sure.” Nurse Joy walked up to Icy and Sara. “You are talking about Trinity right, the White Star.”
  “‘The White Star’?” Icy and Sara both asked.
  “Yes. You may think you could have beaten her, but the fact remains, Trinity’s trained for the past two years just to compete. She’s faced many tough opponents who came close too, but she always wins in the end. Anger isn’t going to help you defeat her, that’s why she’s so calm in battle.”
  “She wasn’t calm when her Chonchii got nailed,” Icy laughed.
  “Well, I have observed she has a special bond with that pokémon. Sneasal as well. But exploiting that isn’t going to help you either. She’s simply a strong trainer, and she wants to be treated as such.”
  “I really don’t see that as an excuse for telling us off that way…”
  “Well… I can’t help you there, but you two already seem perfect for each other.”
  Icy and Sara both gasped. “HEY, just want are you implying???” Sara said eyeing Nurse Joy suspiciously.
  “OH, ahhahah, hmm, oh dear, I must get back to my paperwork. Sorry kids.” Nurse Joy quickly turned and retreated to her desk.
  “Hey hey, Sara, calm down.”
  “Icy… You aren’t REALLY interested more in Trinity than me are you???” Sara asked with adorable little puppy-dog eyes.
  “Huh??? No way. There isn’t a girl in the world better or more beautiful than you Sara,” Icy said with a big manly smile.
  “Oh Icy,” Sara said with little stars in her eyes.
  “Aghhh!!! Coming through!!!” shouted Kelly as she chased after Mars. Icy and Sara were both knocked apart as Mars, being chased by Venus, who were both being chased by Kelly, followed by Nicky, came through.
  “Ehhehe, sorry guys. Hey, Kelly, wait up! It’s dangerous to run.” Nicky said sorry again and ran after Kelly.
  Icy and Sara both eyed him suspiciously. “I don’t wanna know how this happened, and Mr. Author BETTER NOT explain it if he knows what’s good for him.”

=====

  Trinity was walking back to the stadium. “Just what I wanted to start my day out with…,” she muttered. “Ah well… guess it can’t be helped, those poor kids probably only train pokémon, they don’t have any money at all. Figures they stay at any PokéCenter they can find. Jeez, what do I care anyways…” Trinity reached into her pocket and pulled out a pokedex-like device. “Today’s matches please.” The device opened and began computing things. Finally, it showed her a schedule of battles. “Good, only one match today…” Suihou peeked up to see what she was toying with. “Oh no buddy. As far as I know, you are made of water. Water and electronics don’t mix got it. But, this electronic,” Trinity pulled out a blue pokéball, “does mix well with you.” She pointed the ball at Suihou and he was sucked inside. “Good Suihou, you stay in there where you can cause any mischief.”

  Meanwhile, back at the PokéCenter, Icy and Sara were enjoying brunch with Nicky and Kelly. The TV afternoon news had just started.
  “And our top story again, another Team Rocket agent was apprehended yesterday after tangling with the vigilante named Janus.” The TV showed scenes of the half-frozen agent with Growliths attempting to melt him out. “Janus was the sole person responsible for the capture and conviction of the notorious TR CEO, Giovanni. Since his capture, Janus has been ‘aiding’ police in their mission to close the books on Team Rocket for good. We go now to some bystanders. M’am, what do you have to say about this?”
  “Well sonny, that Janus fella is all right. He’s a man for the people. And he saved my dear Snubbles when none of these young whippersnappers would ever budge.” The old woman snapped her handbag and a group of teenage kids who looked like they’d been there quite a while. “Mr Janus, you are my hero. Please put an end to those nasty TR no-good people.”
  “Well there you have it. Janus is certainly a hero here. It’s a bad time for evil, and Janus will be sure to let TR know it. And now in a totally unrelated story…”
  “Icy, wasn’t Janus the guy who changed us back to humans for good?”
  Icy nodded chugging down the last few drops of orange juice. “Yeah. Seems like he’s doing quite a bit. Good to see someone take out Team Rocket like that.”
  “I dunno… I feel funny about him Icy. I… I don’t think we should meet him ever again ok… there’s something odd about him, I can feel it.”
  “You… uh… you’re starting to freak me out Sara.”
  “ICY!!!” Sara yelled and smashed Icy with a hammer she produced out of thin air. @_@ <-- Icy.
  Nicky and Kelly both stared blankly for a few seconds then went back to the pancakes.

  The crowded stadium roared loudly as the announcer introduced Trinity. Thousands of spectators were gathered for the final day of practice rounds. Trinity of course had won all three battles needed to enter, but still trainers wanted to battle her just for skill and experience. Trinity meanwhile, quietly accepted their challenges.
  “Here she is ladies and gentlemen! The White Star! This talented young lady has trained very hard and proven herself well over the past few days. Can any trainer defeat her? If the Spectral Gym Leaders are present, they better take notes, because Trinity’s un-stoppable!!! Let’s hear it again for The White Star, Trinity!!!” The crowd cheered again as Trinity took a respectful bow.
  “Jeez… I’m gonna be deaf at age 17 for sure at this rate.”
  “Her challenger this morning is Ricky. Ricky has also won his three battles but agreed on a battle with Trinity. We will begin the match in only a few minutes. Please visit the concession stands in the meantime.”

  “Thanks Nurse Joy. We’ll be heading out now. Oh, sorry again about the mess,” Icy said, giving a sharp eye at Nicky and Kelly. Kelly’s eevees sulked a little, being the guilty party.
  “Take care kids. Oh, you might want to visit the stadium again today. Trinity is having a battle plus today’s the last day of practice rounds. Well, have a great day.” Chansey and Nurse Joy waved Icy and Co. on as they made their way towards the stadium.

=====

  “And now, let the battle begin!!!” Trinity and Ricky took their positions and the referee signaled to begin the match.
  “The match will be a shorted 3 on 3 battle. There will be no field change as such. Select your first pokémon and begin!”
  “Ok, here we go. I call Misdreavus!” The vaporous ghost pokémon floated above the field. It was a normal grass turn, not much in the way of help.
  “Hmphf. I won’t lose to some ghost. Show them we aren’t afraid! Sneasel, I choose you!” The ice cat took a fighting pose, her sharp claws ready. “Forsight.” Sneasel quickly identified Misdreavus but stood still. Trinity meanwhile grinned. It was the same grin she had almost every battle.
  “Hahaha, wasting your time on such a worthless attack, Misdreavus, psybeam!”
  “Oh?” Trinty gasped. Sneasel was quick to sense the attack and before the beam exploded against the turf, Sneasel was already airborne. “Do it, Metal Claw!” Sneasel’s claws glowed and glimmered as she swooped down on Misdreavus. She made a clean swipe before landing perfectly on the ground. Her opponent was now having difficulty keeping itself together.
  “No way… That’s powerful. Misdreavus, return. Xatu, go!” The psychic bird flew out of the pokéball and soared above Sneasel.
  “Sneasel, blizzard attack!” Sneasel was again so quick to execute the command that Xatu didn’t even have a chance to react. The bird tried to stay in the air but the blistering cold storm was too much and Ricky was forced to recall him.
  “Is that it?” Trinity taunted.
  “Grrrrrr, Girafarig go!” Girafarig appeared on the ground. “Go now, stomp!” It dug its heels into the earth but again Sneasel was too quick and had already jumped. “Yes, quickly use your psybeam!” Sneasel wasn’t able to dodge attacks easily while airborne and Trinity knew she had to think fast.
  “Sneasel…” Trinity took out a small chip and attached it to her pokedex.
  “Whoa, could it be. Trinity’s going to use an in-game powerup. This is a new addition to pokémon battles folks, lets see what she does!”
  “TM17 activate! Protect!” Sneasel immediately used Protect and was shielded from the psybeam.
  “What, no fair!”
  “Say that again?” Trinity steamed. “Sneasel, let’s end this. Fury Swipes.” Sneasel landed and made a quick forward lunge at Girafarig with her claws ready. When it was all over, Girafarig lay there with spirls in his eyes. Sneasel took a meditative stance as the crowd applauded immensely.
  “There you have it folks, a flawless victory for Trinity and Sneasel. Sneasel as you all know is Trinity’s top pokémon and put on a performance we’ve come to expect. And what a smart move by Trinity at that last second. Using a quick technical machine plugin to give Sneasel the move she needed to block that psybeam. Trinity’s already taking advantage of the new rules. This could be a display for gym battles yet to come. Let’s here it one more time for Trinity and Sneasel. We all wish them and her other pokémon the best of luck. Oh… and, nice try Ricky,” the announcer finished. Under his breath, “Geez, what a pathetic trainer. I mean sure Trinity’s unstoppable, but to not even get a hit on her… well, c’mon.”
  “Yea. She’s gonna go far. Make sure you keep up the hype. She brings us good money for the matches fought here.”
  “Yea yea,” the announcer nodded. “Don’t forget folks, the snack bars are still open!” He snickered away from the mic.

  “Wow. So, you can use TMs as in-game attacks. That’s not a bad move. I’ll remember that,” Icy said.
  “Hehe, Icy, you’re so studious,” Sara giggled. Icy could only blush. “It’ll take more than notes to bring her down, but right now, I don’t have to worry about her. Gym matches are starting next week. I should train with my pokémon so we can beat them all. After that, I’ll get my rematch with Trinity.”
  “Yeah!”
  As the four kids exited the stadium, the jumbo TV outside was broadcasting scenes from the match. All the sudden, a newscaster came on. “We interrupt this broadcast to bring you this story. It appears that once again, the vigilante Janus has delivered another fatal blow to Team Rocket. We take you live now to The First PokéBank in Saffron City.”
  “Hey, our hometown.” Sara smiled too.
  “Thank you. Police apprehended today’s bank robbers after their getaway car was somehow melted into nearly nothing. Eyewitnesses claim Janus single-handedly caused this but there’s speculation. Officer Jenny now joins us. Officer, how do you feel about this vigilante doing your job?”
  “Well, it’s nice that he wants to help out, but I’m worried about the safety of the public. Janus might be a hero, but his methods are very dangerous and could lead to people getting hurt.”
  “So, I take it you don’t like him too much.”
  “Oh… well, no, I just…”
  “Well folks, there you have it. Janus, champion of the people, or a dangerous vigilante. Back to you.” The TV reporter gave a smug smile and Officer Jenny muttered some various four-lettered words under her breathe.
  “Sounds like Janus is still at it. Huh?” Icy looked around. Everyone was buzzing about the news. Trinity then walked by.
  “Jeez, what a show-off. And a freak.” She muttered.
  “Huh?”
  “You again? Man, what’s this world coming to?”
  “Excuse me? What’s with the insults?”
  “You and that Janus fellow. You both think you’re hot stuff. I showed you and I bet I could beat him as well.”
  “Sure, ok. Hey, what the?”
  The TV started to flicker suddenly. Icy felt a chill in the air. Sara stared at him, wondering what was wrong. “Icy? Icy are you ok? Icy?”
  “Something… Something’s not right. I sense it.”
  “What’s wrong with him? Agh, I don’t need this, good bye.” Trinity ran off while Sara and Nicky helped Icy.
  “Hey man, what’s the idea going crazy like that all the sudden. Don’t tell me you love TV THAT much. It’s only the news,” Nicky joked.
  “It’s… not that. I’ve felt this energy before…”

Meanwhile,
  A dark figure flew across the virtual world atop a dark blue and red colored creature. Behind it… only a faint outline of a small person was visible… It seemed to be laughing quietly… and in its hand… the outline of a strange pokéball… “Soon… Icy… You have what I want…, and soon I’ll be able to take it.”

The White Gym

  Last time, Icy and Sara were at the pokécenter when Trinity totally told them both off. Of course, both Icy and Sara kept their cool and even went out to see Trinity’s battle at the stadium. But now, the real Spectral season has begun, and the first challenge is, The White Gym…

{ Play opener showing the virtual plane, shadows of the villains, and dramatic shots of the gym leaders. }

  Icy was busy packing his bags, which somehow manage to follow him regardless of whether I write it in or not. Yea yea, it’s one of those special perks of being a main character or something. Back to the show. Sara was of course packing as well while Nicky and Kelly were nowhere to be seen.
  “Um, Icy? Hey. Icy, have you seen Kelly. Huh? Hey, are you listening to me???” Sara said forcefully.
  Icy snapped out of his trance. “Huh, oh, they went out for ice cream. I told them we were gonna leave soon don’t worry.”
  “Don’t worry? They, as in just the two of them, as in Nicky with Kelly, went for ice cream and you tell me not to be worried. Meh, I’m not worried, hahahahha. But… what’s up? You don’t look so good.”
  “I know. Remember the other day, on the TV. When that power surge hit, I felt something. Something, familiar. I felt it back in Viridian Forest as well, when I followed those Oddish into the woods. I think we better stay alert. Just because that Janus fellow is wiping out Team Rocket doesn’t mean you and me are still safe.”
  Suddenly, both of them felt a chill. “AGHHHH, I thought I was gonna die in there,” sighed a slightly damp Caterpie-like pokémon.
  “FROSTERPIE!!!???!!!” Icy and Sara shouted.
  “Yea, jeez, it took long enough for you both to notice.” Frosterpie looked away. “It was so cramped in there, no to mention really stuffy and hot.” He turned back to face Icy. “But, since I’m here, can I help in battle?”
  “Alright, alright, but… Keep it down ok. Most pokémon usually don’t speak human-talk. We don’t wanna draw more attention to ourselves, especially that Trinity girl. Come to think of it, no, you can’t battle. People are gonna notice you immediately.”
  Frosterpie sulked and looked up at Sara hoping for a different answer. “Hey, hey, don’t give me those eyes. Icy’s your trainer, not me.” Frosterpie was crushed, thus, his hopes for a fun battle squashed, he returned into a crystal pokéball and Icy placed him back in the bag.
  “Jeez, I wonder what brought that on…” He heard two voices getting nearer as he finished his sentence.
  “Hey!!! We’re back.” It was Nicky and Kelly. They had even bought extra ice cream for Icy, Sara, and their pokémon as well.
  “Thanks guys,” they said and everyone had ice cream before finally getting ready to leave.

=====

  “Nurse Joy, we need directions to the White Gym,” Icy requested politely.
  “Ah yes. The Spectral Islands are of course a small island chain. Each island also has its own gym. The islands are named by color, thus the name of the island chain.” Sara was having fun imagining a long steel-linked chain with a colorful spiked ball on the end like they give to prisoners. Icy, being able to psychically detect she was busy daydreaming gave her a loving clonk on the head to bring her back to the real world.
  “Ouww…” Sara gave a little pouting moan and pretended her head was really hurt making Kelly laugh a little. “I’ll get you back you understand. Umm, Nurse Joy, how do we get to, umm, White Island?”
  “Ah, there’s a ferry leaving in a few minutes headed there. If you hurry you might still catch it.”
  “WHAAA!!!” the four trainers darted out and ran as fast as they could to the docks.
  “All aboard!!!” shouted the porter.
  “WAIT!!!” yelled Icy. He and the others made it just in time and attempted to catch their breath as the ferry departed.
  “Humph… Tardiness seems to be your specialty.”
  “You again,” Icy snapped. “So what, I suppose you where here 30 minutes early?”
  “As a matter of fact…” Trinity looked away. “You might as well have missed the ferry and gone home. This league isn’t for babies like you. I’ll bet you can’t even get past Aaron. You know, he trains Ghost-type pokémon. I heard you’re not too good with them.” Trinity didn’t wait for his response and she walked away.
  “Grrr… I’ll show her.”
  “Don’t’ worry about it Icy. I’ll be there cheering you on. Who cares what she thinks.”
  “You’re right.” Icy sighed and he and his friends wandered around the ferry as they made their way towards White Island.

  Finally, the ferry docked and everyone was let off. “Welcome to White Island. For those of you who are pokémon trainers, the gym is straight down this road. Also, please be sure to stop by the pokecenter which is at the end of the pier. Have a nice day.”
  “Ok everyone. Let’s head to the pokecenter first then to the gym. I’m gonna win this badge.”
  “Confident, aren’t we? How are you gonna deal with the ghost types?”
  “Same thing I did before. And these.” Icy held out some TM cards.
  “What’s that?”
  “Well, remember how Trinity used these in her battle, it appears trainers may add in a special attack for their pokémon if they have these cards. I heard dark attacks are effective so I got a TM for Pursuit. It might come in handy in battle.”
  “Icy, your so smart!” Sara said hugging him. ^_^
  Trinity meanwhile headed straight to the gym. “No sense hanging around here… I already healed you all, we are ready for Aaron.”

=====

  Trinity entered the ancient, creepy styled gym building. Even the doors creaked as they opened. “Oh please… grow up already.” She stopped dead as a chill traveled up her spine. She was about to shriek but took the hand touching her shoulder and swung its owner around. “Aghh, who… who are you…,” she demanded breathing quickly.
  “Sorry sorry, I meant no harm. Ahhahaha, I’m Aaron, the White Gym Leader. Pardon the weak attempts at humor with the get-up here, but, I always thought it sorta added to the mood. You know this building was at one time thought to be truly haunted.”
  “No I didn’t, nor did I care.” She removed his arm from her shoulder. “I’ve come here for a gym battle.”
  “As you wish.” Aaron snapped his fingers and the lights illuminated the battle ground. A few kids and fans were sitting in bleachers eager to see a cool fight. “How’s 3 on 3 sound?”
  “Fine by me.”
  “Alright then. Let’s get this started.”
  Aaron and Trinity took their places and a referee came to the center of the field. “This is an official Spectral League Gym Match. The challenger, Trinity, versus the gym leader, Aaron, for the White Pearl Badge. The gym leader may use one pokémon at a time while the challenger may swap any non-defeated pokémon as she wishes. This will be a three on three match with no time limits. Trainers, BEGIN!”
  Trinity reached for her first pokéball and threw it. “Go, Cyndaquil!” Her cyndaquil appeared on the field as Aaron sent out his first pokémon.
  “Go Haunter. Lick attack now.”
  “I won’t be able to land a psychical blow without foresight. However. Cyndaquil, use detect.” Cyndaquil nodded and used its ability. At just the right moment, he managed to dodge Haunter and land a counter-attack headbutt. The flames on his back burst open as Trinity grinned.
  “Agh, Haunter, get up now, you’ve got to move!”
  “Too late for that. Cyndaquil, fire blast attack!” Cyndaquil sent out his strongest fire attack causing Haunter to faint.
  “This round goes to Trinity!”
  At this time, Icy and his friends were walking into the gym and took their seats in the bleachers. “Look Icy, it’s Trinity. Looks like she’s taken the lead.”
  “Yeah.”
  “Haunter, return. Go, Gengar!” Aaron’s second pokémon was a Gengar. “Hypnosis attack.” Gengar hit Cyndaquil with its hypnosis beam and put cyndaquil to sleep easily.
  “Drats, Cyndaquil return. Go Jumpluff. Cotton spore now!” Jumpluff jumped into the air and began floating, releasing spores everywhere.
  “Humph, nice trick, but it won’t work,” Aaron said as Gengar vanished.
  “Oh,” Trinity gasped. She looked around quickly for Gengar but he wasn’t anywhere. “Jumpluff, stay alert. Keep dropping spores everywhere to find him.” Trinity’s plan worked as Gengar accidently breathed in a spore and sneezed. “Found ya. Do it Jumpluff, solar beam attack.” Jumpluff turned angry and unleashed its solar beam on gengar and won the second round. Trinity recalled Jumpluff and sent out Cyndaquil who had just woken up from a nice nap.
  “You’re more cunning than I thought. Ah well, let’s see how you handle this.” Aaron snapped his fingers and the gym lights went out.
  “Hey, what gives?”
  “Calm down. A true trainer can sense everything in a battle. Prove your ability to me and the badge is yours.”
  Trinity sighed and focused. Cyndaquil’s flames gave her a little light, but she quickly realized how much of a mistake it was. Aaron had sent out a Gastly. Gastly was having an easy time landing normal tackle attacks on Cyndaquil from his flames. “Cyndaquil, return.” Cyndaquil managed to get in front of the beam and returned to the pokéball. “Time for my own stealth.” Trinity smirked, though no one could actually see it. Finding the pokéball she needed was no trouble at all, for this pokémon was closer to her than anything. “Go, Sneasel.” The cat silently landed on the field and immediately moved a safe distance as Gastly foolishly attacked the entry point. “Too slow.” Sneasel did not need audible commands from Trinity. She knew exactly what was needed. With graceful accuracy, she flew across the field to where she knew gastly would be. Her claws swiped fast and the referee signaled for the lights to be restored. Gastly had lost.
  “The winner is Trinity.” The small crowd cheered and Aaron recalled Gastly.
  “Excellent work Trinity. You can adapt well in battle. Hone that skill well as it will be necessary for the battles to come. I hope to see you in the championships alright. Here.” Aaron extended his hand and in it, the White Pearl Badge. “Congratulations.”
  “Thank you.” Trinity bowed and accepted her reward. She bowed again and went to pick up Sneasel who purred happily. “Good job Sneasel, you’ve become better.” Sneasel purred in content. Trinity, having completed her business at the gym, headed off back to the pokecenter.
  “Well then, if there aren’t any other challengers?”
  “Just a moment. I wish to have a battle for a badge as well. My name is Icy. I am the Viridian Forest Bug Gym Leader and I wish to challenge you for a White Pearl Badge.”
  “A gym leader? You refer to the Indigo League. Ah, I’ve heard about you. This ought to be interesting. I of course accept your challenge. But first, I must allow my pokémon to take a rest. We will start the match in about thirty minutes if it’s alright with you.”
  “Of course.”
  “Great. Well then, while we wait, how about I take you for a look around. I’m eager to hear about your escapades as well Icy.”
  “Oh… sure.” Icy and his friends went with Aaron for a short tour while his pokémon healed.

=====

  “Ah. So you’re not an ‘official’ gym yet huh?” Aaron asked as he and Icy talked.
  “No, but I’m going to be submitting the gym for official enrolment just as soon as I get back.”
  “That’s great Icy. For what I’ve heard about you, you’ve got quite some talent. In fact, I most say, I find you curious.” Icy stopped and stared back at Aaron.
  “Curious? What do you mean?”
  “Well… You are like a ghost. You vanish for years, and then, here you are again. But… you don’t seem to ever age… Hah, I’m not really making much sense am I. Forget about it. So, Icy, you train only bugs, or do you still work with psychic types?”
  Icy replied to Aaron’s questions, but in the back of his mind, he began to wonder. No one had ever told him, when he vanished, he truly did vanish. Icy had always thought the times he was in the Void, the timeflow had stopped, that the Void represented a noncontiguous state of time. He wondered now, if perhaps, that wasn’t true… or worse… something wasn’t right…
  “Ah, I believe my pokémon should be healed by now. What say you Icy? Shall we have our match now?”
  Icy nodded and everyone returned to the main gym room. The referee stepped out onto the field again to officially start the match. “This is an official Spectral League Gym Match. The challenger, the Bug Gym Leader from Viridian Forest, Icy. He will be challenging the White Gym Leader, Aaron, for the White Pearl Badge. This will be a three on three match with no time limit. Trainers, you may begin.”
  “All right, here we go. Gengar, I choose you!” Aaron led off this match with his Gengar instead of Haunter. Icy could still remember the horrible defeat dealt to him by Agatha… and then… the even more horrible defeat… against Lance… of Buttercup… Icy snapped out of it, coming to his senses and readying a pokéball.
  “Ready to fight, come in sight. Icy calls!!!” He threw his pokéball into the center of the field. “STATIC!!!” Icy’s pikachu landed on the field, sparks erupting from its cheeks and electrifying the ground.
  “Gengar, let’s go!” Gengar vanished but Icy didn’t worry. Telepathically, he spoke to Static.
  “Static, you can hear my voice. Let me be your eyes alright. He’s in front of you, waiting.” Static stayed put, waiting for Icy to tell him where and when to make his move. One false step, and it might be his last.
  “Gengar, go for it.” Gengar, still invisible made its move.
  “He’s coming from the right Static. Dodge with your tail and jump about 3 feet to go over him. Follow up with your swift attack ok,” Icy spoke telepathically. Static got ready. He could feel Gengar getting close as Icy told him to go. Static immediately bounced off his tail as his invisible attacker lunged at thin air. Static landed behind Gengar and fired his swift attack.
  Gengar took the hit, but it wasn’t enough to stop him, only make him visible again. “Interesting. You saw my Gengar coming.”
  “Static, thunderbolt.” Static reacted almost immediately and fried Gengar as it tried to evade. Aaron had no choice but to recall Gengar.
  “Icy wins the round.”
  “YEAAAAHHHHHH!!!” shouted Sara from the stands. Icy blushed as she continued cheering for him. “GO ICY!!!!”
  “Th…Thanks Sara… ehhheh”
  “Haunter, go!”
  “Static, swift attack.” Static’s attack connected, this time dealing heavy damage to Haunter.
  “What, no way. What a strong pikachu. I’ve never seen a swift attack that powerful before.” Aaron tried to encourage Haunter to move but Static gave him no chance as he finished the ghost off in the same way he finished Gengar. “Haunter, return.”
  “The second round, goes to Icy!” called the referee. One more win and the badge would be Icy’s.
  “Here we go Icy. You’ll have no trouble at this, but I wonder if your pokémon can manage.” The lights faded to nothing. Icy heard Aaron’s pokémon materialize on the field and recalled Static.
  “You did a great job Static, but this fight isn’t your specialty.” Icy selected Hocus’ pokéball using telekinesis. “Ready to fight, come in sight!!! Icy calls, HOCUS!!!” Icy’s kadabra, Hocus, appeared and immediately sensed Gastly’s location. “If you found him, end it. Psychic attack.” Hocus focused and acquired Gastly. Gastly knew he was done for if Hocus found him, and he kept moving.
  “Slippery vapor cloud, stay still,” Hocus muttered. Hocus determined where Gastly would be next and fired his psychic attack. His calculations were perfect, and the monitors showed Gastly’s HP drop quickly to zero.
  “The winner of the round, and the match, is the challenger, Icy!”
  Sara cheered, along with Nicky and Kelly, and her two eevees who took it upon themselves to personally congratulate Icy. “Agh, Mars, Venus, get back here!!!”
  Aaron laughed as they all celebrated and he handed Icy the White Pearl Badge. “Excellent work Icy. I expect to see even more from you in the championships. Promise me that.”
  “Absolutely Aaron. Thank you. I hope we meet again.”
  “Definitely. Good luck on your journey Icy.” And with that, the group departed for the pokecenter.

Meanwhile,
  “Water. The gentle sound of the water flowing, flowing peacefully, kindly, down the river, clean, untouched. Along the bend, green, as far as my eyes could see. The tops of endless trees, endless, and endless… And that’s when… the tears come back to my eyes. I don’t know why they do… I don’t know what this place is… Where it is… It is here? Have I been here before? Have I been here all this time? No… No, it wasn’t here yesterday, or the day before, but it is now… Did I move? The water… it’s moving… moving… peacefully…” Another tear rolled down its face. “I want to stay here. Please, let’s stay here now. I don’t want to move again… but you’ll make me… and I must… but not because you make me… because I want to…”
  A blueish-redish pokémon hovered beside the mumbling creature. It beeped random pitches as a form of communication. And then…
  “I like it here… why can’t it stay…” The creature looked around again. And then, it smiled. Its small wings carried it over the vast blue, crystal, clear water. “I love it here, I love this water, this feeling, this peacefulness… I… I feel, I feel like I’ve always loved it, always been in it, always had it… but… why…? Why do you go away…?” It looked at the water. In the clear waters, it could see its own reflection staring back. The reflection… it was… The Dark Lord staring back at the creature. “Nooo, noo, that’s not me… why, why, why??? Not me!!!” The creature drove its fist into the lake. “No no no no no, not me! NOT ME!!!” It began to cry again as the ripples of its anger and distress caused the once peaceful waters to react violently, shattering… like glass…
  The other pokémon sighed and attempted to offer sympathy.
  “That… that’s not me… is it? IS IT???”
  The other pokémon didn’t know what to say. What could he tell the poor thing? And furthermore, what good would it do for them both. They were just pawns… Or so he thought. So instead, he placed a flipper on the creature’s back.
  “I remember… this place… I want to go back to it… it looks like this… so how did I get here… I want to go back… but I want to go back as me… Am I really that? That’s not me is it? Is it??? Please, tell me…” Suddenly… the water began to act strange. “What… what is going on… why is the water falling… where is it going? Why? Why? No… don’t go, no don’t go again. Don’t leave me behind again, please, don’t go!” The creature’s terrified eyes watched as the water disappeared… being replaced with, with lines. “Wha… what is this… Where, where is the lake going? I liked that lake, come back, please come back lake.” Now the creature saw its real reflection in the waters, and it covered its eyes in tears. “Not real… never real… never again…” Its eyes started burning. “Not real, not real, nothing ever is real… nothing will ever be real… not until I am real again, and not that, that wasn’t me… not me, not real, not…” The last of its world vanished, leaving only the construct of the virtual plane behind. “I’m… back here again… its… empty… but… I’m…who’s there?”
  Another figure entered the plane. “You truly hate this prison don’t you? So much that you’d bend it into whatever you wish?”
  “What are you talking about… Where… where is he?”
  The figure laughed quietly. “You humor me so when you say that. It’s because you both are almost one in the same. But… I owe you my life, and therefore, I shall do what you both desire.”
  “I remember… we saved you… we saved you Janus…” Behind Janus… a little boy smiled, bringing a smile to the creature’s face. “You’re here!”

{ closing theme plays as we pan out from the virtual construct }

Furry, Flying Furrets

Last time,
  Icy and Trinity challenged the White Gym Leader, Aaron, and won themselves each a White Pearl Badge. Trinity went on ahead as Icy and the gang headed back to the pokecenter. But all is not cheerful for some… And this is where our story continues…

  The creature stared at the little boy smiling behind Janus. “It… it’s you. I was… lonely, I wanted you here… please stay. Or… take me with you this time.”
  “You realize that would be risky. You are not an ordinary creature.” Janus looked down at the boy. “And, you are no ordinary person…”
  “Why… Why can’t I go? I don’t wanna stay in here anymore.” The creature’s virtual world began to reform itself.
  “Oh? This is…” Janus stepped back. “Stop. You’re imagining it all over again. You’ll only hurt yourself when you get tired.” The creature realized its world had begun to shape itself again… but slowly, it crumbled back into data and pixels until finally becoming nothing.
  “You… you really miss your home… but…”
  “My lord, you, wouldn’t, your goal?” Janus questioned.
  “I know. I’m not giving up. I already spent one lifetime searching for it. I won’t waste another.”
  “My lord, Icy is presently on the White Island. Gamma is not far from there. I can… arrange their meeting.”
  “Is it?”
  “What you seek is with Icy as well.”
  The boy’s face lit up. “At last. At last, it’ll be mine.”
  The other creature sulked again. “I’m not important to you anymore… Why? Why do you keep me if you don’t want me?” The creature spotted the special pokéball its master held. “Why… why keep that? I… I…”
  “I don’t know why… I gave it to myself, with you… Somehow, it seemed useful, but, you’d follow me forever… But… we need it still. You and I, we need this… And… I must ask you to harm others again…”
  “Again? But… last time… you said it was the last time…”
  “I’m sorry… I found something more… I want that too… It’s not a lot more, but the people who had it won’t let me take it,” the boy said.
  “My lord… perhaps… your struggle, has lasted long enough. Do you really wish to use force to attain more than your original goal?”
  “Whatever it will take…”
  “I see…” Janus looked up at the creature floating in front of them. “And you… I suppose you have no choice, but given one… you’d choose to help him?”
  The creature nodded. “We are friends… Right? Friends, help each other. That’s what you taught me.”
  The boy nodded. “Janus. Tell Gamma to intercept Icy. If it can be done without killing him… then let it be so. I… I suppose peace would be better for us both.” The creature smiled and flew over to the boy. “Celebi, I love you, you’re my only friend.”
  “As you wish, your grace,” Janus said drawing his cape. His body pixelized as he exited the virtual world.
  “Celebi…” The boy pet the small pokémon’s head softly. “Would you really, even if it hurt others?”
  “I… I would, because it would make you happier right? You’ll get what you’ve been searching for right?”
  “Yes… I would. But… now I want more. I want a lot more Celebi… And me and you can get it together. We are strong together. This is strong,” he said holding up the special pokéball.
  Celebi sobbed for a moment. That ball, it was like a bad dream he’d been trying to wake up from. “I… I hate it.”
  “What?”
  “I hate that thing. You don’t need it anymore… I wanna help you… It’s controlling me but I’d help you anyways… Don’t you trust me…”
  “Celebi… it’s not for that… If I lose this… we can’t get everything. I’m going to make others. That’s what will happen. It’ll be a big place, it’ll go high into the sky, you’ll see.”
  Celebi began to glow again as the virtual world started to collect pixels. “Big sky. In the clouds.” A tower formed, reaching high into the clouds, dwarfing everything around it.
  “Yes Celebi, you remember it. You remember that…”
  “I do?” Celebi floated towards the building, towards the glass. “No…”
  “No? What is it then?”
  “Not me!! It’s not me!!!” Celebi glowed red as every window on the building shattered. He paused when a shard sliced past him. “Not… … … me… …”
  “Celebi!!!” The boy covered his friend and tended to the wound. Behind them, the building, the clouds, everything, it had already begun to vanish. “Celebi… please… Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong with you?”
  “It’s… You…” Celebi managed to speak before falling asleep.
  “Me… It’s me… your reflection…” The boy looked up at the red-blue pokémon. “That me?” He looked down at Celebi again. “I can’t stop it, not yet. Please… Please just let me continue it for a little longer. We’ll have everything together. I won’t leave you Celebi… I love you.” He hugged Celebi and decided to take him with him back to the reality plane.
  “Don’t go…”
  “You’re coming too Celebi. I’ll make Porygon II stay here.”
  Porygon waddled over to the boy. “But… the knight…”
  “Porygon can’t make me the knight outside the virtual plane. And he’s got important work to do.” Porygon nodded and flew off. The boy grinned.
  “Take me with you this time…”
  “Ok. VR… execute exit command on Willis and Celebi entities.” Their virtual forms pixelized as they exited the virtual world.

=====

  “Hello Nurse Joy. Could you please heal my pokémon, they’ve earned a nice rest from that gym battle.
  “Of course. I take you beat Aaron then?”
  Icy cheerfully displayed the badge he won as Sara made some side comments referring to a certain ego.
  “It was a fun match Icy. But, no one could see anything. How’d you beat him?”
  “Psychic. Hocus used his senses rather than eyes. I realized Trinity did the same thing, she let Sneasel sense Gastly was near.”
  “Icy… taking pointers from that girl are we?” Sara asked nudging.
  “Ow Ow, hey cut that out. It was a good strategy.”
  “Aghhh, you ARE taking pointers from her, which can mean only one thing!!!” Icy gasped and attempted to evade Sara’s thin-air mallet, but he was too slow. “Gahhh, I’ll show HER a pointer or two.”
  “Yippie…” Icy said as stars danced about his head.
  “If you’re gonna teach her anything, we might wanna think about getting a move on. I just saw Trinity boarding a ship for the Yellow Island,” Nicky said.
  Icy sprung up. “WHAT!!! Already??? Jeez, some people need to relax ya know.”
  “We’re going!!!” Sara said and she began to drag Icy out of the pokecenter.
  “Hey, hey wait! My pokémon!!!” Nurse Joy placed the tray on the counter which floated over to Icy and back to Joy empty.
  “Please come again :)”

  Nicky and Kelly followed Sara who was leading Icy towards to the pier. “Besides, you can’t let her get ahead of you. She’s your rival.”
  “Awww, cute,” Kelly said out of the blue.
  “Kelly, you’re a little young to making those comments about lovers’ quarrels,” Nicky remarked.
  “Huh, but, he’s cute,” Kelly repeated holding up a Furret. She hugged it close and the Furret seemed to like it.
  “Huh? Where the heck did that come from?” Suddenly, the air felt stiff.
  “I can tell you where it’s about to end up…,” said a familiar voice.
  “I know that voice…” Icy muttered turning around.

=====

  “Gamma!” Icy shouted, turning around to see his assassin staring maliciously at him. “Don’t you get tired of hunting us down? And what do you want with this Furret?”
  “It’s a long story, so I’ll make it short. That little furball stole my lunch which makes me rather ticked off.” Gamma’s stomach growled.
  “Ehheh, you sure sound hungry. If you weren’t such a jerk, you could get free food at the pokecenter…”
  “Shut up. I also have orders to eliminate you. However, I might spare you and your friends if you’d hand over the pokémon in that ball,” Gamma said pointing at the crystal pokéball.
  “Huh? Frosterpie? You’re joking right? Do you have any idea how much me and Sara went through just to get Frosterpie? You want him, you’re gonna hafta beat me first.”
  “Very well… You have chosen your fate Icy. Now you must die.” Gamma jumped back, taking a pokéball from his belt and throwing it. “Eamudo, destroy!” Gamma’s steel bird, Eamudo, appeared.
  “Hey!” called another familiar voice.
  “Trinity???”
  “Gamma is it? Why not fight a ‘real’ trainer. You want a challenge, fight me. Anyone could beat this loser…”
  “WHAT DID YOU SAY!!!” Icy fumed along with Sara.
  Gamma sneered. “Very well little girl. If you wish to die so badly, I shall set you free. Eamudo, attack!”
  “Sneasel, you’re on!” Trinity’s dark-ice cat appeared and gracefully dodged Eamudo’s airborne attack. “Sneasel, counter-attack time. Use fury swipes.” Sneasel waited for Eamudo to make another run before leaping into the air and landing on the bird’s back. “Do it!” Sneasel began lashing the steel bird with her razor sharp claws until Eamudo crashed into the ground. “Had enough?”
  “Can’t be… Eamudo return.” Gamma drew his cape and vanished.
  “Wow. You sure made short work of him,” Icy said.
  “Whatever. I can’t stand gluttons like that. Boasting power when they aren’t even fit to be called amateurs.” Trinity turned and walked back to the pier.
  “Jeez… Even when you complement her… she’s still cruel.”
  “Icy, you don’t complement me!!!” Icy could sense a large object about to hit his head for the second time and quickly dodged.
  “Sorry sorry, you’re great Sara!” Sara turned all happy again and hugged Icy.
  “Yeaaaaaaaa!!!”
  “Ummm, what should I do with this guy?” Kelly pointed at the Furret who was now sitting on her head like a hat.
  “He makes a nice hat doesn’t he? Guess you could keep him since he doesn’t really have an owner.”
  “Cool!” Kelly’s eevees approved of their new friend and the just as the group was about to leave, they saw their path had become blocked.
  “Umm… What’s with this???” Standing in their way were at least a hundred or so Furrets and Sentrets. “Why are you all here? Is that your friend?” Icy asked.
  The furrets looked like they wanted the group to follow them so everyone wandered into the woods. “Are you sure this is safe Icy? Doesn’t this seem too familiar…” Sara mentioned.
  “You’re right… But I don’t sense anything here besides the furrets and sentrets so let’s go.”
  Meanwhile, the little boy stood watching Icy and the others run into the forest. Clutched in his arms against his chest, was Celebi, who looked on. “Not fair… It’s mine…” Just then, all the street lights began exploding one by one. Even the lamps in the park lit up then exploded.
  “Whoa! What’s going on?” Icy suddenly released Sara was about to get hit by a shard of glass from one of the lamps and quickly grabbed her away from it.
  “Oww, what the. What was that for Icy?” Sara asked.
  “I’m sorry, are you alright?” Icy’s leg was bleeding a little from a shard hitting him.
  “I am, but your leg isn’t. C’mon, we gotta get to the pokecenter to get some bandages.”

  Celebi looked worried and begin fidgeting in the boy’s arms. “Now what? C’mon, I told you this was going to happen. Everything’s fine, just calm down ok, you’ll only make it worse.”
  “Not ok, not ok. It’s coming. Can’t stay. Can’t stay here.”
  “Celebi… Don’t do it…” With that, they both vanished.
  “Not me… That’s not… ME!” Celebi cowered back as it looked up at the half covered face of his friend. “Not me!” The Porygon Knight had returned. “NOOOOOOOOOO!!” Celebi vanished leaving only The Dark Lord.
  “Hahahahahaaaaa, Icy, I’m going to destroy you!” laughed The Dark Lord.

What are The Dark Lord’s evil plans. And just who is he anyway. Could it be that the time-traveler Celebi is really a cruel villain? Why do all the cute pokémon turn out so evil? Next time on the Adventures of Icy & Sara, make sure you don’t miss it!

Cyber's Secret - The Duel of the Porygon Knights

Last time,
  A strange boy and the time-traveler pokémon, Celebi, were watching over Icy and his friends as they fought Gamma. Trinity stepped in and helped them out. But just when our friends thought they were in the clear, Celebi and the boy vanished to the Virtual World where they became the infamous Dark Lord.
  This is where our story continues…

  “Mwahahaha… Finally, you are within my grasp. Now Icy, I shall take what is mine.” The Dark Lord raised his sword and Virtual Plane glowed.
  Icy and his friends continued following the Furrets and Sentrets into the forest when suddenly they began to glow. “Oh no, it’s a trap!” Icy shouted. It was too late. In an instant, they found themselves in a dark strange land.
  “Hmmhmmhmm…” In the distance, they could make out the figure of what looked like a warrior wielding a sword. “At last… I finally have you Icy. You have something I need…”
  “If you’re referring to Frosterpie than forget it. I’m not about to let anyone take away my friend.”
  “Your friend… Frosterpie should belong with me. If not for me, you’d never have found Frosterpie to begin with.”
  “What are you talking about?”
  “You pathetic being… You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into. You have no choice over your destiny now. Give up Frosterpie or watch as I destroy everything YOU hold dear.”
  “Icy… I feel something strange. The energy here. It’s twisted and angry.” Sara was shivering as she hid behind Icy.
  “Sara?” Icy looked closely at the floating entity in front of them. “What is this? Who are you? It’s not Mewtwo, so who can this enemy be?”
  “I grow impatient, Icy. You would be foolish to challenge me.” In the creature’s eyes, they began to glow red. “Give me what is mine!” He waited no longer and charged towards Icy and his friends.
  “Nooooo!” Suddenly, there was a beam of light. “Oh? Wha…what’s happening?”
  “No… He couldn’t…”
  Icy’s porygon, Cyber, appeared in the VR Plane and started glowing with Icy. “Cyber… you… want to help me defend everyone?” Cyber nodded. “Ok. Just tell me what to do!”

«« CG SEQUENCE »»
  Cyber started breaking apart into sections which then merged with Icy’s body. A knight’s helmet appeared along with a shield and a large sword which appeared to be made of ice. Finally, Icy’s body was covered in strong, shimmering armor.
«« END CG SEQUENCE »»

  “Wow… That was definitely cooler than special effects in the movies,” Nicky said.
  “Icy?” Sara asked, looking at the gallant knight standing before them.”
  “It’s me. I think me and Cyber somehow merged together.” Icy and Cyber had combined to become, The Porygon Knight!
  The creature stepped back and began laughing again. “Hmmhmmhmm, do you really expect to beat me in that form? I don’t know how you were able to attain this mode, but you don’t have nearly enough strength to stop me. Now, feel the wrath of The Dark Lord!”
  Everyone stopped, starring. “Whaaaa?!? That’s the Dark Lord? But, Icy, looks sorta just like him. What’s going on?” Sara stayed closer to Nicky and Kelly. This had become confusing. How could their enemy have the same form as their friend? “Icy?”
  “Sara, it’s still me. This isn’t the reality plane, it’s some sort of VR world or something.”
  “I’ll give you credit for figuring that much out Icy. However, this place will soon be your grave! I shall have what I’ve waited for all this time.” The Dark Lord charged at Icy, his sword glistening as it grew closer.
  “Huh? Aghh!” Icy shouted as he narrowly blocked his attack. “So… strong…”
  “Hahaha, already giving up? You worthless being, why did Frosterpie choose you? What possible use are you to Frosterpie? You who are so weak.”
  “Why do you want to take Frosterpie from me?” Icy managed to get back up and dodge The Dark Lord’s next attack. Off in the distance, Janus watched their battle.
  “They really lose all control like that… But… Why? Heh, well, at least he’ll finally get what he’s been after all this time.” Janus faded away as the fight continued.
  The Dark Lord struck another blow at Icy who blocked but was still being pushed back. “Enough of this.” The Dark Lord jumped back and held his sword straight up. “Temporal magic…” The sword lit up as his eyes narrowed. “Delay strike!”
  “Huh?” Icy looked all around but could not find his opponent. “Where’d he go?” Suddenly, The Dark Lord came from the right side. Icy blocked but the figure vanished. “A decoy?!?” He sensed an attack from his left now but when he blocked it, he could feel the real attack come from the front. “AGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!” he screamed out in pain. His sword fell to the ground as The Dark Lord withdrew his blade. Icy winced in pain. Although his own physical body hadn’t been cut, his body as the armor was wounded deeply. “Ughh…” he moaned, falling to his knees. He looked up, seeing only The Dark Lord, readying his blade to make the final blow.
  “You worthless creature. Now you shall suffer for my suffering.”
  “Your suffering? Wait. Please, don’t do this.”
  Inside, the boy was burning with hate. Celebi’s eyes were distant, yet focused on Icy. “Why does he resist us like this? He knows I can’t lose this fight.” He gripped the sword and raised it.
  “Ughh,” Icy grunted getting up a little. “Crap.”
  “DIE ICY!” The Dark Lord swung his sword but it hit only the ground. “What is this!”
  Icy flew above him, panting, but still able to hold his sword as he flew back down to strike a blow to The Dark Lord.
  “Ugh, no…” the knight uttered as he fell. “Why? Why did this happen?” Icy had managed to hit a slight weak spot on the armor and it was causing Porygon to crash. “What’s happening to me?”
  Icy landed and somehow, he and Cyber broke apart. “Ughhh…” Icy gripped his chest and fell to the ground. Cyber seemed to be in equal pain. Frosterpie meanwhile looked on, wondering just why he was being defended. “Huh, what the?”
  Across from Icy, three were three figures. Porygon, Celebi, and a small boy. “Ugh… no…” The boy jumped to his feet and scooped up Celebi. “Celebi, speak to me. I told you not to do this again…” His face frowned. “No… It’s YOUR fault.” The boy pointed at Icy. “You. You. YOU! How dare you harm my only friend.”
  “Me? What are you talking about, you attacked me and my friends!”
  “Frosterpie…” The boy laid eyes upon the legendary pokémon for his first time. “It’s so beautiful…” Celebi slowly opened its eyes, which had become slightly normal again. “You’re so close… yet, so far…”
  “Why did you attack us? Answer me,” Icy demanded.
  “Huh? Why won’t you give me Frosterpie? He belongs with me. I’ve been searching for him forever. Give him to me.” The kid didn’t move, mostly because Celebi was injured and he needed to hold him still.
  “I can’t give you Frosterpie. Not to you. You who’d attack people without reason, can you even call yourself a trainer?”
  “You… are so cruel. One day Icy… I’ll make you pay; I’ll make you wish you never found Frosterpie in the first place. We’ll meet again. Celebi…” Celebi glowed until the world around them became a blinding light and suddenly Icy and his friends found themselves back in the real world.

  “Icy, are you ok? You aren’t hurt are you?” Sara run up and hugged Icy.
  “Geez, what the heck was with that kid? Are you really gonna have to fight him again? You barely survived back there,” Nicky said.
  “Nicky… Please…” Icy replied.
  “Oh, sorry.” Kelly was silent. It had been too much excitement for her, plus, the Furret she had just become friends with was now gone too. They’d all been illusions, a clever trap set to lure them.
  “Kelly, are you gonna be alright?” Nicky sat beside her.
  “Why? He was so mean yet seemed so sad. How can he be like that?”
  “Kelly, that kid’s messed up. Who knows, but we are all safe now.”
  “No… We aren’t safe… No one is. The way he looked at me… It was as if he’s given this look to every person he’s come across.”
  “What are you saying Icy?”
  “I don’t think any of us are safe. He may be after Frosterpie, but at the same time, he looks as if he is at war with everyone…”
  “How sad,” Sara said.

  From a distance, the same boy watched them talk. “No… that’s not it at all…” He looked down at Celebi. “Is it?”
  “Not me… not you… but… us…”
  “Let’s go… I don’t want to stay here.”
  “One day… you’ll take it with me? Right? But you said it’s not going to make you happy with just that…”
  “Celebi, I’m sorry… But one day, we make them all pay for our suffering…”
  “I… guess so…” Celebi sighed and rested in the boy’s arms, making itself comfortable.
  “I’ll make you understand some day Celebi. Everything will be prefect for us, and I won’t be alone anymore.” A tear dropped from his face onto a small circular locket with pictures of two people inside it. “Frosterpie… will bring us together again…” With that, he ran off carrying Celebi with him.

  “You didn’t defeat him? I’m surprised.”
  “Shut up Janus…”
  “My grace, do you actually know Frosterpie can… bring them back?”
  “Yes, he has to.”
  “Even if he could… you want more?”
  “Yes…”
  “Why?”
  “Huh? Why?” The boy looked at Celebi who was sleeping. “Janus… You have a pokémon. It is… your friend, right?”
  “Uh? I… I um, well, I’ve never been asked that.”
  “Then answer my question now.”
  “Very well… I would say yes, I see Scizor to be my companion in battle and in life. We share our pain and joy together. It’s like your relationship to Celebi there.”
  “But… Celebi can’t feel that for me… Not like this.”
  “The Darkball. Destroy it. Can’t you at least see, Celebi’s not the one under its control, it’s you. Forgive me for saying this my grace, but I believe it with all my heart, you are being used. Even if you yourself gave that device to you now, it still doesn’t mean there’s more than we see to it.”
  “Silence. I’m not being manipulated or controlled… I can’t destroy it… I need it.”
  “Power is a drug… an addiction.”
  “I said silence. Janus, you draw my patience. I don’t believe any of that. Besides, the time has come. I want you to finish the work on the Ultima Cannon.”
  “As you wish, my grace.” Janus turned his head, placing his cane on the ground. In an instant he vanished.
  “Celebi? Why, why does everyone say these things to me?”
  “Are they true? I know, only, that wasn’t me… But… Maybe, you wished me to be that… I’ll be with you forever no matter what. I still wanna help you find happiness ok.”
  “Celebi, thank you.” The boy smiled. “You’re always kind to me.”
  “We’re friends, we have to be kind.” Celebi deep inside was truly connected with the boy, but, in his own heart, he believed Janus, because why else could he think freely… Though he’d never say it, he kept the idea in his mind, one day, it may come to a single choice which could decide the fate of himself and his friend. Celebi prayed the day would never come, that he’d never again see that creature, that he’d never again experience true horror.

  Back to Icy and his friends, the gang stopped by the pokecenter to have Cyber checked out.
  “Nurse Joy, could you take a quick look over my porygon please.”
  “Umm, may I speak with you privately Icy.” Joy looked around, knowing it was already a little too late. People were starring at Icy now upon hearing the pokémon’s name. “Come with me.”
  “Huh?” Nurse Joy led Icy into the ER as the crowds settled down and went back to their business.
  “What’s going on,” Sara thought to herself.
  Nurse Joy opened the ball and shook her head. “What a relief. Ok, I can examine it.”
  “Hey, what’s the idea? Don’t you go hiding things from me, Cyber’s a good pokémon, so what’s the idea dragging me in here like a criminal.”
  “I’m sorry, but… I had to be sure you weren’t a criminal.”
  “Huh???”
  “A few weeks ago, a prototype porygon was stolen from the lab on Data Island. Since then, all pokecenters are on the look-out for it. Since this one’s not it, you’re fine, but please, don’t mention the name too loud.” She examined the porygon but suddenly looked as though she’d seen a ghost.
  “Am I a criminal again?”
  “Where… Where did you get this?”
  “Why first?”
  “The lab… isn’t done perfecting the prototype… But… Yours, it’s…”
  “What is it?”
  “It’s the final version…”

Quite a Shock

Last time…
  Icy and his friends found themselves on the virtual plane, a VR world created by the Dark Lord. It was then that Icy’s porygon, Cyber, unlocked his ultimate transform skill, Porygon Knight mode, and Icy was able to stop the Dark Lord from killing him and his friends. But what does the Dark Lord really want from Icy? This… is where our adventure continues…

«« INTRO »»
  As the clouds part, the camera flies over a vast green landscape, lined with numerous flowers and small trees and pokémon running around. Finally, the camera zooms past Icy, Sara, and Trinity as it soars into the sky.
  Scenes change as we see each of the Spectral League gym leaders in dramatic poses with their pokémon and their respective island in the background. As we reach the final leader, the world begins to change into lines and becomes the Virtual Plane.
  A slightly more foreboding music plays as shadows of Celebi, Porygon, a young boy, and an older man with a staff pass by. A tear drops from the boy’s face as he drops a small locket, causing the scene to switch again.
  The ripples of the tear drops fade into a scene of Icy and his friends having a picnic and a few shots of battles with other trainers. Finally, the camera zooms out to show a large portion of the world, but with an ominous figure looming behind it.
«« END INTRO »»

  “What? How is that possible?” Icy said in disbelief.
  Nurse Joy examined his porygon again and shook her head. “I don’t understand it myself, but I’m sure that this porygon’s version number is higher than any of Data Island’s prototypes. But… maybe it’s just a glitch. Computers have been acting very strange over the past month and it’s caused quite a few problems.”
  “Oh. Ok, well, can we go then?”
  “Yes, but, please, keep the porygon hidden away. I may trust you, but they’ve even placed a reward for the capture of the criminal responsible for stealing that prototype porygon from the lab. If someone suspects you, there’s no telling what they’ll do.”
  “Right, thanks for the warning Nurse Joy. We’ll be careful.”
  “Ok. Well, if you are headed for Yellow Island, you better hurry. The boat is leaving in 10 minutes.”
  “Aghhh, the dock’s on the other side of town, we gotta run!” Icy and Sara stormed out but Nicky and Kelly were still waiting behind.
  “Hey, aren’t you two coming?” Sara asked.
  “Umm, well, Kelly says she really wants to stay here a while. Since she doesn’t have any guardian here to look after her, I’m gonna stay with her.”
  Sara looked suspicious. “Uh huh. Yes, you are gonna keep her safe right? Make sure no b,” she was unable to speak anymore.
  “C’mon Sara, those two will be fine ehheheh,” Icy giggled nervously dragging Sara out of the pokécenter.
  “You better keep her safe Nicky!!!” Sara shouted from outside. She turned back to Icy and gave a huge grin.
  “Geez, agh, the boat, we gotta run, now!” Icy grabbed Sara’s hand and the two ran as fast as they could towards the docks.

<< Scene Switch >>

  The whistle for the boat blew announcing it was about to depart. Icy and Sara were only a few feet away from the dock and had to jump to get on since they already retracted the gangplank.
  “Shew, we made it!” Icy said wiping the sweat off his forehead. Sara stood beside him looking around the ship.
  “Ack!” she uttered.
  “Huh, what is it?” Icy asked.
  “Look who’s here…,” Sara said pointing at Trinity.
  Trinity noticed Icy out of the corner of her eye and sighed. “You do know it’s impolite to point at people… Don’t you two have any manners at all?” She walked past them.
  “Ok, that’s it. You got a bad attitude and I can’t take it any more,” Sara said furiously.
  Trinity stopped and turned around to Sara. “What’s wrong little girl? Are you jealous? I can beat your boyfriend, and I can beat you, so you are no position to teach me anything.”
  “Sara, let it go, she’s not worth it,” Icy tried to calm Sara down but she was over the edge this time.
  “You haven’t battled me before. One on one, right now. This ship has a small sparing field, let’s go.” Sara was determined to teach Trinity a lesson of some sort. But really, she had just had it with Trinity’s snide attitude towards Icy and herself.
  “You want to lose to me too? Fine, if it’s only one on one, it won’t waste much of my time.” Trinity agreed to Sara’s challenge and the two girls made their way towards the field on the main deck of the ship.
  “C’mon ladies, you don’t really have to do this,” Icy said.
  “STAY OUT OF THIS!!!” replied Sara and Trinity.
  “I guess this can’t be helped, fine…” Icy followed Sara who had taken his hand and was now dragging him along.
  When they got to the field, there were already a few trainers battling. This however didn’t seem to bother Sara or Trinity who made their way to the field and personally declared the current match over. Since no one wanted to be involved in a fight with two seemingly pissed off girls, the other trainers stepped aside and let Sara and Trinity have the field.
  “Ok Trinity, one on one. I’m gonna teach you.”
  “Whatever. You’re gonna lose more than your boyfriend did now,” Trinity said as she selected Sneasel’s pokéball. “Sneasel, go!” Trinity’s ice cat, Sneasel, appeared on the field.
  “Here goes. Aura, show your light!” Sara released the golden butterfree from its pokéball. The spectators were quite impressed by it. Icy remembered why he first saw that golden butterfree, back in Cerulean Cape when Bill and Mewtwo used it to restore Icy and Sara to their human forms.
  “Sneasel, use your ice punch and freeze that bug.” Now this pissed off Icy.
  “Hey!!! Don’t you make fun of bug pokémon. C’mon Sara, I’m here for you. Crush that kitten!!!”
  Sara nodded, feeling a new courage from Icy’s belief in her, and she gave her commands to Aura. “Aura, use fly to get away,” Sara shouted. Aura fly up high, but Sneasel wasn’t so easily fooled. The crafty feline planted its paws onto the field and leapt gracefully and quickly into the air after Aura.
  “Hmmhmm, you can’t run,” Trinity taunted.
  “Oh yea,” Sara said grinning. “Teleport!” she commanded as she plugged a TM into her pokédex. Immediately, Aura disappeared, just as Sneasel was about to connect with its ice punch.
  “Ugh, sneaky wench,” Trinity muttered.
  “Aura, psychic attack,” Sara ordered and Aura began glowing until it emitted its most powerful psychic attack.
  “Block that Sneasel!!!” Trinity shouted as Sneasel shielded itself in an attempt to avoid mortal damage. It was able to survive the attack and even land back on the ground with its feet, but the ice cat looked worn out. “No way…” Trinity thought to herself.
  Sara didn’t waste any time. “Aura, finish it, Aura Rush!” Sara’s butterfree Aura was like no other, and its ultimate physical attack, Aura Rush, was an inescapable trap to a worn out pokémon. Aura hovered, then like lightning she rushed in towards Sneasel who counter-attacked with its claws but hit nothing but air. Suddenly, Trinity realized how much of an error she’d made. By countering so soon, Sneasel left itself completely open to the real attack. From all sides, Aura swooped past hitting Sneasel for incredible amounts of damage each time. Aura faded back into view on Sara’s shoulder as Sneasel collapsed. The spectators were in awe.
  “Whoa, did you see that? The butterfree, it, it moved like light. What kind of attack was that!!”
  Trinity held out her pokéball and recalled Sneasel. She didn’t raise her head to Sara, rather she ran off. “Hey, what?” Sara stopped as Icy asked her not to bother calling Trinity. He was just as shocked that Sara actually beat her.

<< Scene Switch >>

  The trip to Yellow Island never seemed so long to her. Since she had found Sneasel, Trinity had treated it with so much love and kindness, and in return, Sneasel had trained her hardest to please Trinity. And until a few minutes ago, they had been an unstoppable team. Trinity knew blaming Sneasel wouldn’t change anything, and in fact, Sneasel wasn’t the one to blame, it was her who let down her guard. But… that wasn’t everything. Her pride, and her foolish attitude, it seemed so childish to her suddenly. She had been making fun of Sara since she met her, but she never imagined Sara being such a competent trainer. Even when she battled Icy, she felt as though, if only one move went wrong for her, that would decide the battle. Now she had lost finally, and it wasn’t easy to deal with it.
  A knock came on the door. “Yes? Who’s there?” Trinity muttered.
  “It’s Icy and Sara. May we come in?”
  Trinity walked up to the door and opened it. Sara greeted her, not with a gloating smile, but with open arms. “Huh, what the?” Sara gave Trinity a big hug and then shook her hand.
  “Trinity, that… that was actually pretty fun. Believe it or not, I’ve never actually battled another trainer before, and you were definitely an awesome way to start.”
  “Huh? I don’t understand. Why'd you come here anyways?”
  “Well…,” started Icy. “Look, both of us are trying to make our way to the Spectral League Championships right? We may be rivals, but there’s no reason for us to be at each other’s throats all the time right?”
  Trinity looked up at Icy, and at Sara, and for the first time, she actually smiled. “I, I guess that was pretty childish of me to be taunting you two all the time. You’re right, we may be rivals, but, we can learn a lot from each other still.”
  “Yea!”
  “Ok then… So, you want to join me I suppose?” Trinity asked.
  “Huh, hey, but weren’t we gonna ask her to join US,” Sara started to say as Icy covered her mouth. Trinity laughed a little.
  “Sure, we’d be happy to join you. And when the time comes, and we meet in battle again, it will be the greatest battle ever.”
  “You got that right.” Trinity gave a thumbs-up to show her agreement. “Well then, I think we are almost to Yellow Island. Do you know about the gym leader there yet?”
  “Actually, no.”
  “I see, ok, well, I’ve heard only bits of information, but his name is Trevor, and he uses electric pokémon. It’s also not a three on three match, he’s got six pokémon and will use all of them. I might swap for one my ground types to use on him, and I suggest you do likewise. He’s no pushover, and even ground-types have had problems defeating him.”
  “Geez, this guy sounds serious.”
  “Get used to it Icy. The Spectral League is NOT for beginner trainers as you say from the practice rounds. I joined this league to prove myself as a true master trainer. I assume you are doing the same. The leaders of this league are very strong, and while Aaron was easy, he only does that to throw you off.”
  “No way,” Sara said. “You mean, he threw the match?”
  “Not quite, if you aren’t careful, he’ll beat you. That darkness trick was pretty sneaky. If you aren’t prepared for it, it could be the end, but he doesn’t fight with all his strength. If he did, I’m not sure even I could have beaten him so easily.”
  “Guess we’ll be stopping by the pokémon center when we arrive on Yellow Island then huh?” Icy said.
  “You got it,” Trinity answered. At last, the three trainers had become friends. In only a few more minutes, the ship arrived at Yellow Island port.

  “Welcome to the Yellow Island. Please, be sure to collect all of your personal belongings before leaving the boat. The pokémon center is just down the block from here, and those who are traveling to the gym will find it further into town. You can’t miss it.”
  “Alright, we’re here. Better head to the pokémon center first,” Icy said cheering.
  “Wahoo, not a very original name, but still cool,” Sara giggled.
  Trinity tried her best to ignore their childishness and act friendly. “Yes. We’re here. Let’s heal our pokémon and get the badge we came for.”
  “Gee Trinity, can’t you at least enjoy yourself a little? We just got here, let’s take a break…” Sara said.
  “But… Fine. I suppose the fresh air could do us and our pokémon some good.”
  “That’s the spirit. Trinity, training pokémon isn’t just about the battles, you know that I’m sure. Don’t forget, the trainer must be happy and strong as well, so, there’s no need to rush things. A little relaxation will help trainer and pokémon alike,” Icy said.
  “Ok ok, let’s go to the pokécenter already then,” Trinity answered. She knew what Icy was saying was true, but her mind was still set on planning how she’d get that next gym badge.

  “Welcome to our Pokémon Center. I’m Nurse Joy, pleased to meet you.”
  “Oh, thank you. Would you heal our pokémon please?”
  “Certainly. Are you going up against Trevor?”
  “He’s the gym leader here isn’t he?” Icy asked.
  “Yes. You shouldn’t underestimate him. Trevor is a very strong trainer. I usually have my hands full with injured pokémon as a result of trainers being careless against him. His pokémon are fast and evasive, so you’ll have to be quick witted if you want to stand a chance. But, I’m sure you are all great trainers. I wish you luck. Please, enjoy some lunch while you pokémon are being healed.”
  “Thank you. Oh, that’s right, gotta trade pokémon.” Icy walked over to the pokémon transport system. He placed Static’s pokéball on the tray and requested his Dugtrio. Instantly, Dugtrio was traded to his current pokéball. “Hmmm…I guess this’ll hafta due,” Icy said. Dugtrio was his only ground type pokémon, but Icy hoped to use it as a back-up for his other strong pokémon.
  Trinity meanwhile was switching through her pokémon. Sara started peeking over her should and Trinity asked her to leave her alone. “Please, I must concentrate,” she said as an excuse. Sara pouted but figured hanging out with Icy was more fun anyways. Trinity finished selecting her pokémon to use and the three trainers all ate lunch together while their pokémon were being healed.

Meanwhile…
  Gamma flew beside Eamudo, his steel bird pokémon, high above the Yellow Island. “Just you wait Icy. Human or pikachu, I will have my prey.” Eamudo cried out in detest as well as Gamma gave a sinister laugh. “Aaaahahahaha!!!”
  *BEEP* *BEEP*
  “Huh,” Gamma said and looked at his belt. “Damn, right in the middle of my laugh too…” Gamma clicked a button on the phone. “Gamma… What is it?”
  “Why does Icy still live? You were supposed to eliminate him and get that pokémon. What is taking so long?” said a voice on the other end.
  “Look, I’m handling it. Worry about your own problems, and I’ll take care of mine…”
  “You had better…” *CLICK*
  “Yea…” Gamma turned to Eamudo. “I’ll take care of it… Next time, we won’t fail.”

«« ENDING »»
  Light harp-like music plays showing each of the main characters with their pokémon asleep. Finally, we see just an outline of a young boy, asleep with a winged pokémon and a strange pokémon beside them.

Trevor's Thunder

Last time…
  While on board the ferry to the Yellow Island, Sara and Trinity got into a very heated battle. Using her golden butterfree, Aura, Sara actually beat the invincible Trinity. Afterwards, Trinity decided to give them both a break and agreed to journey together as they continue their quest for the Spectral League Championship! And this… is where the adventure continues…

«« INTRO »»
  As the clouds part, the camera flies over a vast green landscape, lined with numerous flowers and small trees and pokémon running around. Finally, the camera zooms past Icy, Sara, and Trinity as it soars into the sky.
  Scenes change as we see each of the Spectral League gym leaders in dramatic poses with their pokémon and their respective island in the background. As we reach the final leader, the world begins to change into lines and becomes the Virtual Plane.
  A slightly more foreboding music plays as shadows of a small winged pokémon, a duck-shaped red-bluish pokémon, a young boy, and an older man with a staff pass by. A tear drops from the boy’s face as he drops a small locket, causing the scene to switch again.
  The ripples of the tear drops fade into a scene of Icy and his friends having a picnic and a few shots of battles with other trainers and a short spar with Gamma and Eamudo. Finally, the camera zooms out to show a large portion of the world, but with an ominous figure looming behind it.
«« END INTRO »»

  “Ahhh, what a great lunch,” Icy proclaimed. Sara asked him to calm down a little.
  “C’mon Icy, it’s not like we haven’t eaten in weeks…” she said. “However, I guess you’re right, this was pretty good. And free ^_^.”
  “FREE!!!”
  A mankey waiter walked up the table slipping a small piece of paper before walking off.
  “AGHHHHH!!! A bill… I thought this was free…” Icy sulked as he left a few pokébucks as payment and tip and the group hurried back to the main foyer of the pokécenter.
  “Ah, Icy, you and your friends’ pokémon are all healed,” said Nurse Joy when she saw them all enter.
  “Ah, thank you Nurse Joy.” Everyone retrieved their pokémon and the trio left the pokécenter, making their way to the gym.
  “So, Trinity, this trainer is pretty tough you say?”
  “From what I’ve heard. He’s got some nasty electric-type pokémon; I just hope I can hold out. You know, it’s a full six on six battle. You get to rest after three pokémon are defeated, yours or his, but still, it’s gonna be a hard fight.”
  “Who should go first?”
  “Well, the thing is, you can’t watch the battle… It doesn’t matter who’s first. Trainers swear not to tell anything about the gym battles here. The idea of the Spectral League, is to train trainers, to be ready for anything! That’s why I entered this.”
  “I see.” Icy thought to himself. He had come to the Spectral Islands for a challenge, but he never dreamed it would be this great. Somehow, he would have to make it. “I, I want to become a real master trainer… Not by winning a silly, meaningless title…” tears came to his eyes recalling the very painful memory of Buttercup’s final sacrifice to him. “Even though I was given a second chance… it’s so meaningless…”
  “What… is he talking about?” Trinity asked Sara.
  “Icy, according to the Indigo League, is a Master Trainer. But… in order to defeat Lance in the final round, he entrusted Buttercup, his most favorite and truest friend of all, with giving her last best effort, even though she was injured.”
  “What! Why would anyone do that? Even to win!”
  “That’s not all… Buttercup… wanted to do it… But Icy still… and will always blame himself for what happened…”

{flashback}
  “BUTTERCUP!!!!! H-Y-P-E-R B-E-A-M !!!!!” Buttercup’s wings glowed a bright white, so bright, it blinded the entire stadium. And for a moment, time seemed to stand still. “FIRE!!!!!” When the dust had cleared, Dragonite had fallen… but Buttercup was not afloat either. She rest motionless in Icy’s trembling hands.
  “You may not believe you have earned this, but you are a master trainer. Congratulations,” said Lance handing Icy the master badge. Sara accepted it in his favor, for Icy was set on something much more important…
{end flashback}

  “Buttercup… used her life-force to summon the power to defeat Dragonite in that attack. And by doing so, she made the ultimate sacrifice for Icy, but, neither Icy nor I ever thought she would do something so rash… It… seemed like it would have been alright at the time…”
  “I… I guess I understand. That must have been tough… but… what do you mean, second chance. You’re not saying?”
  “Yes… Amazingly, when we laid Buttercup to rest, pokémon from all over the forest gathered one night and restored her life. Somehow, she remembered Icy, but he’s still never been the same since. He’ll never forgive himself any pain he allows be caused to any of his pokémon…”
  “But, being a trainer, means putting your friends at risk like that, not to the point of death, but, even minor injuries can’t always be avoided.”
  “None of Buttercup’s suffering were minor injuries…” Icy said coldly. “You go on Trinity… I think I better take a moment alone, ok…”
  “Icy…,” Sara said sadly… “Please, forgive me, I’m sorry…”
  “It’s alright Sara…”
  “Alright, but you are fighting Trevor after I crush him. I won’t let you lose your real dream Icy. You’ll become a true master trainer, and overcome the fear of losing your friends, because it’s not gonna happen.”
  “Trinity, thank you.” Icy said. He and Sara sat down together on a bench while Trinity went on ahead.
  ‘Geez… There’s a lot more to him than I thought… I guess we all can’t be so lucky to have a second chance with loved ones…,’ A flash came across Trinity’s mind’s eye. It wasn’t the first, nor the last time… An image, she had dealt with… even since long ago… when it happened… ‘They’d still be proud of me… and you, brother…’ She snapped together a locket and placed it back into her pocket.

[[[ SCENE SWITCH ]]]

  “Hmmmmm, well well well, what do I see… A couple of no good trainers playing around… Be on guard kiddies, because I’m not gonna miss this time, hahahahaha,” said a shady voice from the shadows…

  Trinity knocked on the doors of the Thunder Gym. They opened slowly, creaking to add to the effect. “Hello?”
  “Ah, a little lady is my next opponent. How wonderful,” said a suave voice from the shadows.
  “Who’s there?”
  “It’s fine, please, welcome…” The lights illuminated the once dim room revealing the large pokémon gym. “I, am Trevor, Yellow Island’s Gym Leader, master of Electric-Type Pokémon. If you can best me, the Amber Lighting Badge is yours. But, I shall give you fair warning, there are few trainers who have even heard of the gym leader who follows me. I shall not be easy on you even if you are such an elegant lady.”
  Trinity frowned. “What! You guys are so typical. I came here to win that badge, not go out on a date! But if you wanna dance, then let’s dance! Spill the rules!”
  “Tsk tsk, very well then. It’s a 6-on-6 match. After 3, we get a break. Also, this field is made to enhance electric attacks. It is up to you to find some way if any, of exploiting this to your advantage, if at all possible. But I warn you, do not waste time, I shall give you a fighting chance, but I will not let up, nor shall my pokémon. I expect no less from you either. Give it our all, or this badge will never be yours. Understand.”
  “Ha, I thought you were gonna make it impossible. But if these are the terms, then that Amber Badge is as good as mine.”
  “We shall see about that…” Trevor reached for a pokéball.
[Scene: Trevor pokéball entrance scene]
  Trevor snagged a small pokéball from his waist and brought his arm behind himself. Grinning, he clicked it once to expand the ball. “Let’s go! PIKACHU!!!” he shouted bringing his arm forward and stepping into the throw towards the field.
  “Sneasel, go!” Trinity tossed Sneasel’s pokéball into play releasing the ice cat. It landed gracefully then bared its claws at the pikachu. “Let’s do this! Ice punch.” Sneasel’s claws became freezing claw as she ran towards pikachu.
  “Hmmhmm, use that agility pikachu, dodge the attacks.” Pikachu was able to stay one step ahead of Sneasel, but not for very long. Sneasel was so well trained, not to mention agile, and she was finally able to connect with pikachu. The next slash put the yellow rodent on permanent ice. “Oh. You really got some skill there girl. I must hand it to you. Pikachu, return.”
  Trinity meanwhile remained calm and alert. “Nice work Sneasel, now stay sharp, this is far from over.” Sneasel nodded and meditated while Trevor selected his second pokémon.
  “Go Elekid!” Both Sneasel and Trinity stood still, unbelieving that a gym leader would actually use a baby pokémon in a match. “Elekid, thunderbolt!” Elekid’s reflexes were razor sharp, and it responded quickly. But Sneasel was still faster, however narrowly missing the lightning strike.
  “Ok, so it’s no joke, be careful Sneasel. Let’s shut this tiny electric plug down before it gets any more ideas.” Sneasel nodded again and raced towards Elekid. Elekid used its thunderbolt attack again, but there was nothing in front of it to hit anymore. Elekid fell soon after when two deep swipes from Sneasel’s razor claw attacks sliced past him. Once again, Trevor recalled his pokémon.
  “Hmm… So you can handle small electric pokémon. Now let’s see you take on their evolved forms. Oh yea, I forgot to mention this. This round is two pokémon verses two pokémon. You may recall Sneasel as well if you wish, but you are allowed to call one addition pokémon.”
  “Two on two, I’ve never heard of that. But ok, teamwork will win this battle.” Trinity decided to recall Sneasel for the time-being and selected two other pokéballs. Raising them both, she tossed them at the same time into the field. “Cyndaquil, Larvitar, you’re on!”
  “Oh yea, you cannot replace more than one pokémon during this round. Thus, if I defeat one of yours, you may replace it, but afterwards, you cannot select any others. I however, cannot replace any pokémon until you defeat both of my next two. Here we go! Raichu, Electabuz, I choose you both!” The evolved pokémon took the field. Facing them were Trinity’s two pokémon. Raichu and Electabuz looked ready to do some serious damage.
  “Ok you two, we gotta work together to win this round. Concentrate on the Electabuz, we’ll take him out first,” Trinity said to her pokémon, not letting Trevor hear her commands. “Go!” Cyndaquil came charged after Raichu shooting small flames at its tail which angered Raichu greatly. Electabuz gave chase to help his teammate. In all he confusion, Larvitar was now in the clear and figured out a place to cut Trevor’s pokémon off.
  “Hmmm, nice plan. Raichu, Electabuz, stop chasing Cyndaquil, you’re running into a trap.” Raichu stopped. It knew exactly how to fix the situation. Clinching its fists, it released its strongest thundershock attack, hitting everything within a good radius around it, including Electabuz, who was unharmed by the attack however. Larvitar got thrown back by the thundershock, giving away his position. Raichu concentrated his attack on Larvitar as Cyndaquil made a daring dive to try to prevent Raichu from hitting his friend. Electabuz gave Cyndaquil a sharp electric punch in the stomach knocking the wind out of the smaller pokémon while Raichu nailed Larvitar with is thunderbolt.
  “Crap! Cyndaquil!!! Larvitar!!!” Trinity called out as the two pokémon fell to the ground. “No way. Get up, get up!” Trinity still had all six of her pokémon to use, but now two might be eliminated in a single attack. Finally, Cyndaquil started to stand up, followed by Larvitar.
  “They got guts, but that’s not gonna help them win. Ok Raichu, Electabuz, Alpha attack pattern.” Trevor had taught his pokémon to work together and follow specific attack patterns while not letting his opponent know exactly what the move would be. In this case, both pokémon focused their attacks on just one target. Raichu used a direct thunderbolt attack on Cyndaquil along with Electabuz adding his power to it. Cyndaquil was wiped out in seconds but Larvitar had taken a new position and was ready to avenge his friend.
  “Cyndaquil!!! Aghh, Larvitar, that’s it, do it!” Larvitar had charged up its hyper beam attack and was able to take out both Raichu and Electabuz with a single hit.
  “Wow. Such power. Your pokémon are very well trained miss Trinity. I’m impressed, however, you’ve still got two more of mine to best before that badge is yours. Do you still think you can make it?”
  “I’m not about to quit,” Trinity said putting away Cyndaquil’s pokéball.
  “The last two rounds are one-on-one again. Let’s get to it! Go Mareep!” The sheep pokémon appeared on the field.
  “Another weak pokémon,” Trinity thought. “Larvitar return. I choose Phanpy.” The small elephant pokémon appeared. “Heh, take this!”
[MUSIC: Trinity’s TM add-in]
  Trinity reached into her pocket pulling out a small chip labeled ‘TM’. “TM26, ADD IN! Attack power, EARTHQUAKE!” Trinity placed the chip onto her pokédex which sent the attack data to Phanpy.
  Phanpy raised his front legs then smashed then into the ground hard causing the whole building to shake. The attack caused Mareep to lose its balance and it was hit by various pieces of earth shooting up from the floor. Phanpy charged in with its take down attack to finish Mareep off.
  “Mareep return, go Denryou!” The fully evolved form of Mareep appeared, towering over the small elephant. “This is where it ends. Denryou, thunder attack!” Even though Phanpy was a ground type pokémon, it was no match for the awesome power of Denryou’s thunder attack and ended up fainting from the one hit.
  “Good work buddy, you deserve a rest. But I’m not through with you yet,” Trinity said pointing at Denryou and Trevor.
  “That’s good. Show me all you got Trinity.”
  “Sneasel, finish this!” Trinity’s star pokémon, Sneasel, the ice cat, appeared again. Immediately, it flew towards Denryou at lightning speed. Dashing back and forth around Denryou, Sneasel used its fury swipes attack to slowly weaken the sheep dragon pokémon.
  “You have to fight back Denryou, concentrate on that cat and shut it down.” Denryou tried hard to keep focused, but Sneasel’s moves were so quick, Denryou got confused just trying to keep track and in the end, knocked itself out. “Noooo. Ugh… Denryou, return.”
  Trinity smiled for a second, pleased with herself and Sneasel’s excellent performance.
  “The winner, the challenger, Trinity! Congratulations.”
  “Great work young one. For defeating my pokémon in battle, I hereby award you with Yellow Amber Badge as proof of your victory. You did really well today, you just might go all the way to the top with that fighting spirit. I wish you the best of luck on your journey.” Trevor handed over the badge.
  “Thank you.” Sneasel hopped onto Trinity’s shoulder as her walked out of the gym.

  Icy and Sara were sitting in the pokécenter watching the latest news on Janus’ heroic efforts to wipe out the remnants of Team Rocket.
  “You know, I think all of this fame is gonna go to his head some day,” Icy said.
  “You mean like you?” Sara replied jokingly.
  “Yeah, hey, wait a minute, that’s not fair,” Icy said, flustered. Sara just giggled then looked up seeing Trinity enter the pokécenter.
  “Hey look, Trinity’s back. I wonder how she did.”
  “I’m sure she won,” Icy said.
  Trinity spotted the two and walked over to the table they were at.
  “So?” Sara asked.
  “Piece of cake. Even Icy here could beat him.”
  Icy pouted. “I must have a ‘Pick on me’ sign on me somewhere.” Trinity and Sara both laughed.
  “Honestly, you shouldn’t have too much trouble, but, I can’t tell you anything more than that. Remember the rules of this league forbid giving other trainers any information about the gym matches.”
  “I understand. Don’t worry, me and my pokémon are gonna do our best!” Icy and Sara finished up and they all walked back to the gym.
  Since Trinity had already won, she was allowed to spectate, and since Sara wasn’t in the league, she too was permitted to watch. That left only Icy to do battle with the gym leader, Trevor. As the group walked in, a younger kid was on his way out, but in lower spirits.
  “It’s hard to lose for anyone,” Trinity said.
  “Well, I’m not coming here to lose,” Icy said in reply. Sara smiled and gave him a hug.
  “Good luck Icy. Do you best!” She and Trinity went to the stands with some other spectators and Icy entered the gym field.
  “I am Icy from Saffron City and Gym Leader of the Viridian Forest Bug Gym. I wish to challenge you for the Yellow Amber Badge.”
  “Excellent, another strong trainer to battle today. I, Trevor, leader of the Yellow Gym accept your challenge. It shall be a six-on-six match. The rules are the same as usual so whenever you are ready, we can begin. I’ll be starting off with Pikachu!” Trevor’s pikachu appeared on the field bringing an odd sensation over Icy.
  Icy shook his head a second, clearing his mind. “Rrr… Ok, let’s do this.”
[ICY Pokéball entrance theme]
  Icy selected his pokéball and used his telekinesis to float the ball in front of him. Closing his eyes, he began saying, “Ready to fight… Come in sight…” His eyes opened as the ball spun forward and opened. “Icy calls!!!” The pokéball shot out its red beam onto the field. “HOCUS!!!!!” The beam materialized into Icy’s kadabra, Hocus.
  “Alright Hocus, let’s get to it, use confusion.”
  “Right away,” Hocus said as the symbol above his head glowed.
  Pikachu started feeling a bit dizzy and would up electrocuting itself, ending the round.
  Sara cheered happily while Trinity silently looked on. “Using a high level psychic type is rather low… But, perhaps he’ll learn soon enough…”
  Sara stopped and looked at Trinity. “Huh, did you say something?”
  “Me. No, nothing. Let’s see what he uses next.”
  Trevor recalled Pikachu and sent out Elekid. And once again, Hocus used its confusion attack to bring another round to a quick finish.
  “Great job Hocus, but don’t get overconfident, I have a feeling this battle has only just begun.”
  “You couldn’t be more correct Icy. This next round is two-on-two. You may select two new pokémon, and call one additional pokémon now. However, you may not replace more than one during this round. I cannot replace any of my own pokémon. Are you ready?”
  Icy was busy thinking about the situation. “Yes.”
  “Very well, as the gym leader, I will select mine first. Raichu, Electabuz, GO!”
  Icy suddenly lost his train of though. Seeing the Raichu reminded him of so many irritating memories. He was gritting his teeth when Hocus spoke telepathically to him.
  “Master, calm yourself, focus on our battle. I am still able to battle, but I need a partner, and your dedicated concentration if we are to win this.”
  Icy nodded and apologized. “You’re right,” he said telepathically. “Ok then, Hocus will remain out, and I will call as my second pokémon, Cyber!”
  As the pokéball shot out the beam, red and blue lines began to form and connect until they created the outline of a duck shaped pokémon. The boxed in lines took on color and Cyber was fully materialized.
  “A porygon? Aren’t those net pokémon?” Trevor said.
  Icy realized using his porygon might be risky, but even though wait Nurse Joy had mentioned earlier troubled him, Cyber was a critical member of Icy’s team, and he needed him for this fight.
  “Cyber, Hocus, work together and combine attacks. Focus your energy on shutting one out from the other. Don’t allow them to group up on you and we’ll win this round.” Icy of course gave his command telepathically, and Hocus emitted them to Cyber.
  “Raichu, Electabuz, get ready, attack as soon as you get your chance.” Raichu began to try drawing Hocus’ attention while Electabuz attempted to sneak away. Hocus however concentrated on the entire battle field and stood still while Cyber used its double team attack to form a ring of porygons around Hocus.
  “That’s it, confuse them then strike.” Hocus channeled its confusion attack through Cyber. Cyber released the attack from all angles but didn’t hit either opponent. Instead, it used the confusion energy to warp the field, and each angle the beam was sent, distorted the view at that point.
  Electabuz, who had been trying to sneak up on them both, lunged forward at Hocus but found only a rock face. “What are you doing Electabuz, the enemy isn’t even near there.” Trevor hadn’t a clue what Hocus and Cyber had pulled off, and actually, Icy was even impressed by their combined efforts. But the illusion was fading fast.
  “That’s good, now’s our chance to take out Raichu while Electabuz is wondering where you two are. Focus your illusions around just Raichu so it can’t escape then attack.”
  Cyber’s illusions circled around Raichu who attempted to thundershock each of the porygons but by the time it had narrowed it down to the true pokémon, Hocus nailed him with a very strong psybeam. Raichu fell to the ground fainted.
  “No way, c’mon Electabuz, I’m counting on you. Get it together here.”
  Electabuz was still confused and Cyber stopped his illusions and finished Electabuz off with a tri-beam attack.
  “Yes!” Icy cheered along with Sara too. Even Trinity was impressed, although no one could really see the impression mesh of illusions Cyber and Hocus had spent nearly all their energy to create. Icy was forced to return them both so they could rest.
  “I don’t know what you did to them, but seeing you are a psychic, you could have done anything. Your pokémon are great at working as a team, but now we will have two more one-on-one rounds to determine the outcome. For my next pokémon, I choose, Mareep!”
  “Icy calls Leafy!” Icy released his Gloom, Leafy, from her pokéball. “Leafy, charge it up.”
  “Ha, you won’t get away with that. Mareep, throw off its concentration.” Mareep began charging towards Leafy as she took in sunlight. But just as Mareep went to tackle Leafy…
  “Switch up, stun spore attack NOW!!!” Leafy had been planning to lure Mareep close all this time, and now that Mareep was within only a few feet of her, the stun spore attack was super effective. Leafy leapt back, continued to charge its solarbeam, and fired.
  “Unbelievable. I’ve never seen a trainer consider so many situations like that, and have their pokémon ready for then as well. This final round shall be most interesting.” Trevor returned Mareep and sent out Denryou. “Denryou, thunder!” Leafy absorbed most of the attack but had taken a large amount of damage. Another attack like that, and she’d be finished.
  “That’s enough Leafy, return.” Icy selected a pokéball he hadn’t used in quite a while. One of his original red and white pokéballs stood out from the shiny light green and jade colored pokéballs. He tapped it, expanding the ball and prepared to release it. “Ready to fight, come in sight! Icy calls!!! TRIKING!!!” One of the original pokémon Icy had captured was Triking, the Dugtrio King! Now, Triking was Icy’s chance to win the gym badge. “Triking, dig!”
  “Denryou, oh no.” Denryou was busy searching for where the dugtrio would emerge, but traveling at the speed of light, Triking easily nailed Denryou with its dig attack, and the match was decided.
  “The winner, the challenger from Saffron City, ICY!” Sara was jumping and cheering and ran onto the field to hug Icy.
  “Alright!!! You did it!”
  Icy was very happy as well and all of his pokémon gather around him to celebrate the victory as Trevor approached.
  “You have fought excellently Icy. Your abilities to consider all directions of attack in a match will make you a great trainer. For defeating me, I present to you the Yellow Amber Badge as proof of your victory. Good luck in the battles to come.”
  “Thank you Trevor.” Icy smiled and accepted the badge. “Alright, you got two now!” Everyone was cheering and happy as they left the gym building.
  “You know, those psychic attacks aren’t gonna protect you all the time,” Trinity said.
  “I know, but when they are useful, I use them. Don’t worry.” Icy was too happy to be bother by Trinity’s remarks now. They all walked down the main road back to the pokécenter.
  Meanwhile, unbeknown to our heroes, a dark figure watched the group as they walked. His eyes narrowed as he drew his cloak. The pokémon standing beside him snarled as they plotted their next evil deed.

«« ENDING »»
  Light harp-like music plays showing each of the main characters with their pokémon asleep. Finally, we see just an outline of a young boy, asleep with a winged pokémon and a strange pokémon beside them.

Buttercup's Big Day

Last time…
  Our heroes arrived on Yellow Island where Icy and Trinity both battled the gym leader Trevor for the Yellow Amber Badge. Trinity tested her skill first and overcame Trevor’s thunderous rage. Later that day, Icy too defeated the lightning trainer. But now, another enemy is waiting to derail our hero’s progress. And this… is where the adventure continues…

«« INTRO »»
  As the clouds part, the camera flies over a vast green landscape, lined with numerous flowers and small trees and pokémon running around. Finally, the camera zooms past Icy, Sara, and Trinity as it soars into the sky.
  Scenes change as we see each of the Spectral League gym leaders in dramatic poses with their pokémon and their respective island in the background. As we reach the final leader, the world begins to change into lines and becomes the Virtual Plane.
  A slightly more foreboding music plays as shadows of a small winged pokémon, a duck-shaped red-bluish pokémon, a young boy, and an older man with a staff pass by. A tear drops from the boy’s face as he drops a small locket, causing the scene to switch again.
  The ripples of the tear drops fade into a scene of Icy and his friends having a picnic and a few shots of battles with other trainers and a short spar with Gamma and Eamudo. Finally, the camera zooms out to show a large portion of the world, but with an ominous figure looming behind it.
«« END INTRO »»

  That night, Icy, Sara, and Trinity celebrated their victory by having a large feast at the Brock’s Diner in the pokécenter. Icy let his pokémon out to enjoy some of the food as well.
  “You actually did pretty well Icy. I must admit, when I first met you, I really thought you were all talk and no show, but, I guess you are a great trainer. You pokémon are really special too,” Trinity said. She was looking at Buttercup.
  “Thanks. You’re very resourceful too. And that Sneasel of yours is totally awesome in battle. You must have trained everyday to get that good.”
  “Well, Sneasel and I have been a team since I started training pokémon. She was my starting pokémon. We both knew the road ahead was tough, but we stuck to it and now we are going to make it all the way to the Championship.” She patted Sneasel’s head making the cat pokémon purr in delight. “By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask you about something.”
  “Oh, what is it?”
  “That butterfree you have there, Buttercup right? She’s different from what most pokémon guide books show under butterfrees. Where did you find such an interesting one?”
  “Oh, well, I was in a forest outside of Celadon City and met a group of butterfree there. Buttercup stood out from the others, but she was a real fighter. I challenged her to a match and it wasn’t easy, but I won and she agreed to travel with me. She’s a very special companion.”
  “May I see her for a moment?”
  “Umm, sure.” Icy handed Buttercup gently over to Trinity.
  “Aww, your wings are very soft, that’s really healthy. You’re a bit smaller than most butterfree, but faster I bet too.” Trinity examined her more closely and handed the pokémon back to Icy. “She really is a special one. In more ways than one,” she added smiling.
  “What do you mean?” Sara asked.
  “Well, I once did a huge science report on butterfree, so I learned a lot about them. As it turns out, today is Buttercup’s birthday.”
  “What, are you sure?” Icy asked.
  “Yea. It has to do with the patterns on their wings, but I’m almost certain that today is her birthday.”
  “That’s great!” Icy turned to Buttercup and smiled. “Happy Birthday Buttercup.” Buttercup flapped its wings happily. “Well then, since it’s your birthday, we have to throw you a big party hehe.” Sara smiled too now and was already busy planning out what to get.

Meanwhile…
  “Humph… Those brats… This time, I’m gonna get em good.” The dark man set his eyes on the main lightning power plant. “Yes, only a matter of time…”
  While the dark man was planning his next move, a shiny red-blue pokémon was flying through cyberspace now. Suddenly, a voice began instructing it. “Ok, you’re about five minutes away from the power station. It’ll be guarded so be sure to have your weapons charged and at full power now. Good luck.” The pokémon nodded and speeded towards its destination.
  A group of magnemites barred the pokémon’s path. “Halt. This is a restricted area. No unauthorized entry permitted. Return to your operator immediately or be erased.” The pokémon sneered at them menacingly. “This is your last warning, return…”
  The pokémon opened fire sending waves of psy-energy beams all over the area. One by one, the magnemites were defeated and their cyber-images vanished. In no time flat, the pokémon had beaten all of the power station’s security forces.
  “Good work, now for phase two,” its operator instructed.

  Sara had just finished the cake for Buttercup when Trinity’s Suihou came running into the kitchen. Apparently, it was being chased by Trinity’s cyndaquil for blowing bubbles at him. “Aghhh!!!” she screamed, but the cake was fine. At the last moment, Aura and Sapphire lifted her above the misbehaving pokémon and the cake and Sara were safe. She sighed and thanked her butterfree from the help and took the cake out to Icy and Trinity and Buttercup.
  “Calm down you two,” Trinity said sternly. Suihou tried to play innocent but Trinity wasn’t buying it. “You can’t fool me you little bubble blower, back in the ball with ya.” She recalled her pokémon and everyone began singing.
  “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Buttercup, Happy Birthday to you!!” Buttercup used a small gust attack to blow out the candle and everyone clapped. Suddenly, the lights went out.
  “Huh, what happened to the lights?” Sara asked trying to stay close to Icy. A few moments later, the center’s backup power generator kicked in. “Oh… Huh?!?”
  “Buttercup!!!” Icy shouted his friend’s name out but she was nowhere to be found. “Oh no!”
  “Icy, I think this might explain…” Trinity said grimly. She held up a ransom note.
  “If you wanna see your butterfree again, come to the power station. Signed, Gamma…” Icy balled his fist angrily. “Gaghh, if he so much as touches her, I’ll rip him apart!!!”
  “Icy, please, calm down. Let’s be careful, I think Gamma must also be behind this power outage too. He’s probably got the entire station under his control and this is all gonna be a trap…”
  “It doesn’t matter. I’ve got to save Buttercup. Even if it means walking into a trap.”
  “Well, you aren’t going alone,” Trinity said.
  “Don’t even think about leaving me behind,” Sara added.
  “Thanks girls. Ok then, let’s go save Buttercup.”

  “Hold still you little bug.” Eamudo gripped the bag containing Buttercup by its teeth while Gamma rode on top. “Your friends shall come for you soon enough.” Gamma laughed evilly as Eamudo flew towards the power plant.
  Meanwhile, at the plant… “W..Who are you?” a security guard asked.
  “Hmmhmmhmm, that’s not for you to know.” The sleek tall man chuckled and turned aside drawing his cape. From afar, a boy and another winged pokémon took seats to watch.
  “You’ll never get away with this. Please, this plant powers the entire island. Without it, how will the hospitals and pokécenters get power for their medical machines? Are you really that low?”
  The boy watched as the caped man returned to the guard. “They do not concern me.” The guard’s eyes widened upon hearing the words and was swiftly knocked unconscious by the man.
  “Yes, nothing else in this world concerns us but capturing that Frosterpie. Nothing else matters…” The pokémon crawled up beside him as the boy pet it. “Don’t fail me this time…” The boy and the pokémon slowly faded away.
  Gamma arrived inside the plant. The caped man greeted him. “Everything here is secure. I’m leaving the remainder of this mission in your hands. Please try not to screw it up. I am late for an appointment…” The caped man vanished.
  “Whatever. As soon as Icy arrives, the real show will begin. I won’t lose this time.” Gamma laughed evilly as a few agents assembled behind him. “Fwahahaha, are the preparations in order?”
  “Yes sir Gamma. Please, follow me to the command room. We will be able to monitor the entire station from there. Icy will not make it out of this plant alive.”
  “Excellent. Now, remember, we are supposed to keep this Frosterpie pokémon in one piece, but no one said anything about the others.” Gamma sneered. “I trust your men know what to do.”
  “Absolutely sir. We are ready.”
  “Perfect…” Gamma opened the bag. “Here, take this one to the main generator room. She’s outlived her usefulness to me.”
  “Y…Yes sir.” The head agent took the worn out butterfree with him to the main generator room.
  “Do come to save your precious friend Icy. I know you can make it this far, far enough to watch your little friend die before your very eyes, bwahahahahaha!!!”

Back to our heroes…
  “There it is,” Trinity said pointing ahead.
  “Gamma’s in there. Buttercup too. Huh?!?” Icy held his head. “No, Buttercup, they’re gonna kill her!”
  “No! C’mon, let’s go!” Sara said.
  “I hope you two know what you’re doing.”
  The trio ran towards the front entrance to the plant where a group of agents were waiting for them.
  “Welcome to your graves trainers!” The agents threw out pokéballs from each direction releasing various fighting, poison, and rock type pokémon.
  “We haven’t got time for this,” Icy said. Gathering energy, he created a psy-electric sphere around himself and the girls. “Go, psy-elec sphere!” Immediately, the sphere of energy emanated all around him, knocking out all the pokémon and the agents. Icy and the others ran inside.
  “Halt you!” Agents released other pokémon, but Trinity called out Sneasel to dispatch them.
  “Sneasel, time to help out too. Use your fury swipes to teach these no good losers a lesson.” Sneasel easily defeated the agents’ pokémon.
  Room by room, Icy, Sara, and Trinity faced harder and tougher agents and pokémon, but they were winning each battle, however, their pokémon were tiring out. By the time Icy reached the main generator room, most of their pokémon were completely worn out.
  “Buttercup’s in this room, I can feel her.” They smashed the door down to see Buttercup strapped to a small lightning rod in a row of rods. Hers was almost ready to be sent out. “BUTTERCUP!!!!!”
  “Well well, you finally showed. I was beginning to think you’d miss seeing her die.” Gamma drew his cape and Eamudo immediately lunged for Icy.
  “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Ready to fight, come in sight. Icy calls, Static.”
  “Hahaha, foolish kid. If you attack, your little butterfree friend will be fried. Hahahahaha!!!” Gamma snapped his finger and Eamudo swiped Static with its metal wings very hard. Static was cut bad and fainted.
  “No, Static return!”
  “I’ll handle him, go save Buttercup.” Trinity sent out her Cyndaquil who began to barbeque Eamudo.
  “Buttercup, I’m coming!” Icy ran towards the rods. Buttercup slowly opened her eyes, and struggled seeing her master racing to save her. “Buttercup!!!” Icy frantically went to untie her when he felt his body go stiff. “AAAGGGHHHHHHHHHH” he cried out falling to his knees and then laying face down on the floor.
  “Pathetic child. No one ever said I had to keep you alive. Give me Frosterpie, or I’ll kill every one of your pokémon until I find him, and then I’ll kill the rest.”
  Icy coughed. “Never you evil jerk. Hocus, help me!” Icy’s Kadabra appeared and narrowed its eyes, staring down Gamma.
  “No, NOOO, NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” Gamma tried to hold Icy down but lost his grip as Hocus sent him flying into the air. “Damn you Icy!!!!!” Hocus caught Eamudo in his telekinesis spell and sent them both packing.
  Icy struggled to get up but couldn’t. “Cyber, cut Buttercup free…” Icy collapsed as Cyber appeared and sliced the ropes holding Buttercup just before the lightning rod was sent up to be used.
  “ICY!!!” Sara called out running over to her friend. “Oh no, please Icy, speak to me. Please!!!”
  “Miss Sara, the master was alive I assure you. He’s injured bad though. I suggest we untie the other plant workers so they can fix this mess and take master to a doctor right away.”
  “Yes, yes, ok. Hang in there Icy, I’m here. Everything’s gonna be just fine.” Suddenly, Sara heard a ticking sound. “Oh… Oh GODDISH!!!” Her eyes widened seeing the timer of a bomb Gamma had planted on the main generator. “HOCUS!!!”
  Hocus didn’t think twice about it and used every last drop of psychic power in him to teleport everyone in the building to a safe distance as the bomb exploded.
  Gamma watched from a hilltop as the entire power plant exploded sending debris out for miles and smoke hundreds of feet into the air. Fire and rescue crews arrived on the scene only a few moments later. “Mission complete… for now…” Gamma drew his cape. “Next time Icy… I’ll kill you.” The walked off into the sunset as smoke rose above the horizon behind him.
  The rescue crews rushed Icy and other injured workers to the local clinic where pikachus were busy generating power for the facilities. Even Trevor was helping with his pokémon. “Huh, it’s those kids from earlier.”
  “Trevor? Icy’s hurt very badly…”
  “Yes, I can see that. What in the world happened there? All of the sudden, the lights in my gym just went out, and my pokémon had to generate power for lighting, and then, I hear this loud boom, and bang, the power plant is burning to the ground!”
  “We don’t have time to explain the details. Please, Icy needs to see a doctor right away.”
  “Alright.” Trevor helped Sara and Trinity take Icy to a doctor for examination.

Meanwhile…
  “And in other news today, the main power plant on Yellow Island in the Spectral Islands chain exploded today after a gang of ruthless criminals, possible agents of the notorious Team Rocket gang took over the power plant. Some kids competing in the pokémon... {crackle} {crackle}”.
  “Dang namit. What is wrong wit dis here TV?”
  “Huh, oh who cares, did you go food shopping like I told you to?”
  “Ah, there it is again,” the man said as the TV picture came back.
  “The kid, Icy, is in stable condition tonight at a makeshift hospital set up outside the power plant area. Firefighters continue to fight… {crackle}.”

  Meanwhile, in space… “Weapon charged and ready…”
  “Sir, your orders?”
  “Fire.”