Page Two

	The following day, Misty strolls down Victory Road looking for a specific
person. The water trainer heads off the normal path into some trees that line the road in
order to avoid any Pokemon battles. Misty comes to the other side of the trees to find
the small cove of water that borders Victory Road. Next to the water’s edge the trainer
finally comes across whom she was looking for.
	The other trainer turns around to greet her guest as she asks, “Misty. What
brings you way out here? Looking for a good Pokemon battle?”
	The Cerulean Gym leader stands next to Nina replying, “No, that’s not it.”
	“Then what?” the young trainer asks.
	“I really need some help, Nina.”
	The female trainer does not ask anything further knowing that Misty intends to
explain, but raises an eyebrow in interest.
	“It’s Ash. He’s been acting real weird lately.”
	Having lost interest in the subject, Nina simply answers, “I’m not a counselor,
Misty. You’ll have to find someone else to help with your boyfriend problems.”
	Getting real worked up, Misty goes on, “That’s not it, either!”
	Nina sits down looking at the crystal blue water not responding.
	Misty has a seat as well while she continues to explain, “Ash has been training
excessively all day and night. It doesn’t even seem like he eats or sleeps anymore. It’s
just training and more training. He’s becoming obsessive.”
	Nina just answers flatly, “It’s not too unusual for trainers to have such a strong
passion.”
	“Not like this,” Misty adds with some urgency. “It’s unhealthy. Ash needs
boundaries. I’m sure if I can find someone to beat him, then maybe he’ll uncover some
humility.”
	Nina gets back up and walks over the placid water. “I’m sorry, Misty. I can’t
help you.”
	“But you can,” the water trainer urges. “I know you can,” she asks further while
getting up.
	“Wasn’t it you and Ash who beat me in Cherrygrove?” Nina queries, not looking
back.
	“Aw, don’t tell me you’re still upset over that?” Misty answers a little shakily.
	“No. I’m not upset over that at all,” Nina carries on. “I couldn’t beat him then,
and if you say he’s been training like I’ve heard, then I don’t think I can win now.”
	“But if you and Richie pooled your talents then-” Misty tries to begin.
	“Richie’s gone.” Nina replies quickly.
	The gym leader only gives out a little, “huh?”
	“He left, Misty,” Nina says trying to keep any emotion out of her words. Looking
halfway back she finishes, “Said he was going to take some time off from Pokemon
training.”
	The water trainer sees now that Nina cannot be swayed. She turns around to
leave as Nina adds, “I’m sorry that I can’t help.”
	Misty comes back into the small area of trees with Brock waiting for her.
	“No luck,” the water trainer states somewhat disappointed. Now wondering why
Brock did not reply or even move, the gym leader asks, “What’s the matter, Brock?”

	The Pewter Gym leader slowly falls to his knees and collapses onto the forest
floor completely taking Misty by surprise. The water trainer comes running up calling
out to the rock trainer, but quickly stops as she sees a small shadowy Pokemon standing
behind the fallen trainer.
	Trying to build up some courage, the gym leader calls out, “What are you
doing?”
	Brock finally finds enough strength to mutter, “-Misty. Get out of here. Go get
Nina.”
	Reluctant to leave her fallen friend, the female trainer turns around only to find
another shadowy Pokemon waiting for her. Misty changes directions and runs to her left,
but a third figure comes up, snatching the trainer, and disappears into the forest.
	The water trainer yells, “Let me go!” as her voice fades out.
	Moments later, Brock slowly makes his way to where Nina had just been. The
female trainer does not turn around, but addresses the rock trainer, “So, you came along
too, huh Brock? Well, you’ll only get the same reply that I gave Misty. I can’t beat him.”
	Hearing nothing but odd silence, Nina turns around to find the ailing gym leader
ready to fall under his own weight. The female trainer catches the injured trainer before
he has a chance to drop. 
	“Brock, what on earth happened to you?”
	The gym leader gradually tells her, “they got misty.”
	Nina slowly sets Brock down asking, “What? Right now? Who got her?”
	“I don’t know. They came out of nowhere and took her. Two Black-Pokemon
and a dark trainer.”
	“That, rat. How could he do something like this?” Nina says a little to herself.
	Moderately getting his composure back, Brock asks, “You know who it was?”
	“I- I think it was Ash.”
	“No way,” Brock contends. “He’d never do something like this.”
	“I felt it only for a second. Before I could figure it out, it had come and gone.
However, from what I sensed, that is who I think it was,” Nina says solemnly. “But...”
	Brock looks up questioningly. “But what?”
	“It was incredible power. Brock, I don’t think I can stop whoever it was...”
	“Don’t worry about it, Nina. We’ll figure something out.”
	“I guess so...” Nina says in an uncertain tone. “I think I know someone who can
help, though.”
	Later that evening, Brock and Nina are riding the Magnet Train from Goldenrod
to Saffron City. 
	“You know Ash as well as anyone. Why do you still insist that it’s him?” the gym
leader inquires.
	“It’s the Black Power-Up,” Nina begins. “I can feel it in him like I can in
Pikachu. The same way I felt it in Skripter and Magik.”
	“But it is just a technique. How can it have such a profound change in any person
or Pokemon?” Brock probes further.
	“You have to experience it to know what it’s really like. When you use the Black
Power-Up, it’s like no one can stop you. You feel one with your Pokemon, like an
unstoppable force.”
	The last question Brock has is, “Is it really that dangerous, Nina?”
	The train shoots down the tracks as the female trainer closes her eyes and begins
to explain, “I was once told that the Spirit Temple’s style was originally used for
warring. The wish to become the strongest of all. You must never let such a desire rule
you, or let the Dark Power-Up enter your Pokemon. One possessed of an evil spirit will
fight out of pride until his dying day, and most likely fight to kill. Just like Skripter who
took the Dark Power-Up, and whose hands are dark with the blood of his own master.”
	Out in Lavender Town, Misty finds herself held hostage in the huge structure
known only as Pokemon Tower. The water trainer yells and yells, but no one comes to
rescue her. It is not until much later that the dark trainer and his Pokemon enter the large
hall, and the gym leader has a chance to see the Pokemon and trainer who abducted her. 
	“A Marill, a Raichu and a Pichu,” The female trainer thinks to herself. Right
away, Misty asks, “Why did you bring me here? What do you want with me?”
	The figure answers, “Want with you, Misty? Nothing. You are the bait.”
	“I don’t care what you think I am. You’d better let me go this instant! Brock saw
who you are, and he’ll come with Nina or Tracy and stop you!”
	“Let them come! I'll beat them just like I destroyed Skripter!”
	The trainer exits the hall, leaving Misty to wonder whether her friends should
come and save her or not. It is early morning the next day when Brock and Nina are
hiking north of Mt. Moon. 
	“What are we doing way out here, Nina?” Brock asks wearily.
	Also a little red in the face, the female trainer answers, “We’re trying to find
some help.”
	“You really expect to find someone out in the middle of this wilderness?” the
rock trainer continues with disbelief.
	The pair of trainers slowly descends a steep slope to find themselves in a small
valley. Under the bright sun, the wind blows gently causing the yellow grass to sway.
	Looking around, the gym leader asks with some concern, “What is this place?”
	Throughout the valley are a countless number of wooden stakes driven into the
ground. Brock takes a closer look to see that each stake has a trainer’s name and six
Pokemon.
	Nina straightens up as he tells her partner, “He’s here.”
	“What do you mean?” Brock questions now more confused than ever. “Who’s
here?”
	From down the valley a loud “boom” occurs as some of the stakes go flying
through the air. 
	“What was that?!” the rock trainer almost yells. Brock’s attention soon changes
from the explosion to Nina who seems to be having some problems of her own. “What’s
wrong, Nina?” the gym leader asks while trying to fight off his anxiety.
	Nina stands there stiff as a board, gasping for breath, and with her fists clenched.
What sounds like she’s thinking out loud, the female trainer says, “It’s too intense.”
After taking a few quick breathes, she adds, “It feels like it’s going to swallow me up.”
	“What do you mean?” Brock tries to ask, but another explosion occurs even
closer than the last sending more stakes into the air. 
	“It’s driving me nuts!” Nina tries to say without screaming as she grasps her
head.
	Both trainer’s eyes grow wide as they hear from everywhere, “The true
Pokemon Master enters the arena with all his powers at the ready.”
	The young trainer finally breaks free of the trance as she kicks one of the stakes
down the valley yelling, “Show Yourself!” The girl knocks another one away as she goes
on, “I know you’re out there!!”
	Another explosion erupts closer still, sending stakes flying in all directions. In an
angrier tone the voice states, “The True Pokemon Master Enters The Arena
With All His Powers At The Ready!”
	Nina knocks more and more of the stakes down looking for the voice as she
cries, “Come out!”
	“Ah, Nina. You’ve come back!” the voice declares.
	“Quit hiding!” she answers back.
	“Have you come to find out? Are you afraid of the answer?”
	“I’m not afraid of anything!” the female trainer goes on yelling.
	“Are you scared that you’re changing. That you’re turning into Skripter?”
	“No!” the young trainer states. “I’ll never be like him!”
	Brock shouts, “Nina! Behind You!”
	Nina turns swiftly around to find another trainer looming over her with an angry
face. The breeze blows through the female trainer’s thick blonde hair, as it sways
through the trainer’s straight black hair.
	“If you haven’t come to challenge me then there’s no reason for me to be here.”
the trainer says getting ready to leave.
	“No, wait!” Nina urges. “I have to asks something of you.”
	Still walking slowly away, the trainer does not reply.
	“My friend has been possessed by the Black Power-Up,” Nina continues.
“You’re the only one who’s ever overcome that. We desperately need your help to save
him!”
	The trainer proceeds, as it looks like he vanishes into the distance as his words
echo through the small valley. “Where I fight, I fight alone. Where I go, I go alone...”
	The young trainer hunches over with her hands on her knees as she gasps for
breath.
	Brock comes up asking, “Who or what was that?”
	Taking a deep breath, Nina answers, “That was the Pokemon Master, and gym
leader of the Spirit Temple, Rob Mare. My father.”