What has happened before: Our favorite Pokemon gang has run afoul of
Butch and Cassidy, other members of Team Rocket, twice.  Meowth, Arbox,
and Lickitung agrees to join up with Ash and the gang.

Opening Theme : Pokemon 152 - ? 2000 Opening Theme

So you wanna be a master of Pokemon?
You got the skills to be number one?
(A downward shot of a brown Pokemon Stadium floor and then it moved up
into a three dimensional Pokeball. It then splits apart and the logo
"Pokemon 2000" shoots out. Shots of several different Pokemon light up
the screen)

I gotta take, the ultimate step, got the courage to be bold,
to face it out, and not forget the lessons that I hold
(A shot of Misty, Brock, Ranma, James and Tracy watching Ash as he
stands in a pillar of light. A shot of Ash and Pikachu facing off
against Ritchie and Sparky.)

I wanna go, where no one's been, far beyond the crowd
A shot of Ranma and Ash, leaping high into the air, doing a
full three sixty rotation in the air, followed by Brock, Misty, Tracy
and James. A shot of Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy zooming by in a
motorbike.)

Learn the way to take command
Release the power within my hand
(A downward shot of Ash, Misty, Brock, Tracy, James and Ranma releasing
Pokeballs that seem to hover at chest height)

We're all living, in a Pokemon World
Pokemon
(A sequence of shots of Staryu squirting a long stream of water, then
Snorlax swiping downwards, and then Charizard swoops down and opens its
mouth in a bellow.)

I wanna be the greatest Master of them all
Greatest Master
(A shot of Ash and Pikachu on his shoulder looking up, and then a long
downward pan of several people, Duplica, AJ, Hiker and several others
with Ritchie at the bottom is shown.)

We're all living, in a Pokemon World
Pokemon
(A shot of Ranma and Misty shaking their heads, and then the screen is
filled with Marril, Venonat and Scyther.)

So you want to beat all the rest and be better than all the rest?
(Ash throwing a Pokeball, followed by James. A shot of Jessie in a dark
sky, laughing while the lightning crashes around her.)

So you wanna be a Master of Pokemon, do you got the skills to
be number one?
(A sequences of shots of Water type Pokemon using watergun, fire types
using firespin and then a shot of Giovanni pointing into the screen,
then a shot of Cassidy and Butch, arms crossed, and then a Sandshrew
jumps into view.)

We're all living, in a Pokemon World
Pokemon! I wanna be the greatest Master of them ALL!
(A spinning shot of Jigglypuff about to sing, then Bulbasaur jumps into
the screen, followed by a Slowbro who starts to glow before Squirtle
headbutts him away, and then is chased away by a Magneton, and then
Pikachu leaps into the screen, and then unleashes a powerful Thunderbolt
attack. The Thunderbolt rockets out from a shot of the earth, and then
the logo Pokemon 152 - ? 2000 appears with two Pokeballs encircling it.)

POKEMON!

                    A Pokemon, Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction
                    Developed for the new Millennium

                          Pokemon 152 - ? 2000

                         written by Shaun Garin
                          revised by WarChild

                   based on an idea by Kahlil Noriega
                   written with the authors permission

Episode 8: Weirdness Abroad!

Today, Ash, Brock, Misty and Ranma are taking the day to train for the
Pokemon League. Unknown by them that they would be taking on the
weirdest adventures as they meet up with new faces.

<><><>

"Vulpix, agility!"

"Pikachu, agility!"

The pair of Pokemon clashed together and parted. They met with a shower
of sparks and flame once again. To the side, James tended to Wheezing
and Victribell, feeding them. Misty moved through the complicated
motions of the Saotome Anything Goes Martial Arts with Ranma guiding her
through them.

Pikachu and Vulpix clashed together and then parted, landing on seperate
rocks.

"Pikachu!" Ash commanded, "Thundershock!"

"Vulpix, Flamethrower!" Brock ordered.

The pair built up power to the breaking point. Suddenly, a familiar pink
and rotound Pokemon with a familiar pen landed in the line of fire.
"Jigglypuff!"

"AH! Pikachu, Vulpix, divert the attack!"

The twin bursts of flame and electricity crackled for an instant before
it diverted, and slammed into the mountain side. With a low rumble, the
mountain side collapsed.

"Wow Pikachu, your attacks are getting stronger."

"Pika..."

Ranma leapt from the rocks and landed on a flat stone left from the
rubble. "Hey! Check it out, there's some kinda ancient ruins here!"

When everyone joined the martial artist, they all gaped at a massive set
of ruins installed deep into the mountain side. It was at least over two
thousand years old or so.

"What is this place?" Misty asked.

Just then, a woman with blue hair popped up and poked her head into the
ruins. "I can't believe it! I found it!"

"Found it?" Ash said.

"Didn't WE find it?" James seconded.

By now, digging crews had roared up in a van and truck, unloaded and was
now interviewing the young woman. "Congratulations Professor Iseley,"
one of the Paleontologists said, "You found the ancient city of
Pokeopolis!"

"Didn't we find it?" Brock repeated.

"Pi-ka-chu."

"Togepei, togei togei priiiii!"

Ranma leapt behind her and tapped her shoulder. "Excuse me miss, but my
friends and I were the ones who brought down the mountain side and..."

"PROFESSOR ISELEY! WE FOUND ANOTHER ARTIFACT!"

An aid dressed in normal safari/expedition clothing for the warm
mountains ran up, holding a strange double pointed object with a small
slot in the side. It was pattered strangely with yellow and brown
flecks. "This was found in the  ruins!"

"Good job!" she said, taking the artifact. Dr. Iseley spoke in a strange
accent that was evident in her Japanese.

James looked over the ruins intently. "Pokeopolis... sounds like an old
civilization to me."

"Say, just who is this Professor Iseley anyhow?" Misty asked.

A rather rotound man popped up in front of her suddenly. "YOU DON'T KNOW
PROFESSOR ISELEY?!"

With a scream, Misty activated an old talent long since unused. A huge
mallet the size of a mack truck cab appeared in her hands and she
slammed him into the ground. The weight inscribed on the side clearly
revealed the weight to be about three hundred tonnes. Ash slowly inched
away as with the others.

The man picked himself up from out under the mallet, he said, "Professor
Iseley achieved her Doctorate when she was ten years old!"

"At ten I was afraid of Doctors," Misty remarked, a huge sweatdrop
hanging from her forehead.

Professor Iseley turned to them and said, "Thank you for your help!
Please, share some food that I have here."

"Food?" Ranma's stomach grumbled noisly.

<><><>

Butch peered out from the back of a pair of digital binoculars intently
at the ruins. "Here's our chance to snag something good for the Boss.
After that little fiasco with that power crazed Jessie, I think we're
better off working on our own."

Cassidy studied the ruins. "Strange ornament atop the pillars." She
pointed towards the huge bell atop the stone ruins.

"I see. Wonder what's it for?"

"I don't know. Maybe the boss would want it."

"What would he want with an oversized doorstop?" Butch countered.

The two Pokemon thieves sighed. Then, Cassidy snapped her fingers. "I
know!" She removed a Pokeball and expanded it. "Pokeball GO!"

The Pokeball split open and out appeared a Sandshrew. "Sand! Shrew!"

Butch caught on quickly. "Ah! I see, if we have Sandshrew dig into the
ruins, we can recover some really good stuff for the Boss!"

"Right! Sandshew, dig into the ruins and recover the first thing you can
find!"

"Shrew!" The Sandshrew started to dig into the top of the mountain.

Down below, the others had the same idea as Ash withdrew a Pokeball from
his belt. "Go Arbok!"

The serpentine Pokemon appeared with a loud "Charbok!"

"Arbok, dig into the ruins and recover some really nice stuff!" Ash
ordered.

"Char!" The Arbok nodded and dove into the ruins.

Behind him, Ranma said, "Hey Ash, ya sure Arbok can find something good
in there?"

"Sure! Team Rocket may have been inept but they trained them well."

James took the time to glare at Ash before saying, "We are NOT inept."

"No, just stupid at times," Misty interjected.

Just then, a voice caught them off guard. "What a discovery!" Turning,
there was a teen, making some drawings in a sketch book. "The lost city
of Pokeopolis! Incredible!"

"Hey, who're you?" Ranma asked.

"Oh, my name's Tracy. I'm a Pokemon Watcher."

"A Pokemon Watcher?" Misty asked, accompanied by a questioning "Pika"
from Pikachu.

"A Pokemon Watcher studies Pokemon around the globe with sketchbooks and
the like," Brock said. "We had one come to the Pewter Gym once when I
was young."

"Exactly. I came here to the mountains to try and study Pokemon of the
Ground and Rock type. There's rumors that one of the Elite Four, Bruno,
is up here right now trying to capture the worlds largest Onyx!" Tracy
grinned a bit as he looked the ruins over critically. "That's the
biggest bell I've ever seen."

Suddenly, Arbok came soaring out from the ruins, a Sandshrew hot on its
tail. James gasped. "That's a Team Rocket Sandshrew!"

"AHAHAHAHA!" Came two voices in eerie synchronization.

"Prepare for trouble!"

"And make it double!"

"To Infect the world with devastation!"

"To Blight all people's within our nation!"

"To protect the goodness of Truth and Love!"

"To extend our Wrath to the stars above!"

"Cassidy!"

"Butch!"

"Team Rocket circling the earth all day and night!"

"Surrender now or you will surely loose the fight!"

"That's right!"

"Shrew!"

Brock had a huge sweatdrop as he commented, "If it isn't one team, it's
another."

"OH GIVE IT A REST YOU TWO!" Misty screamed at them. "Stop following us
around!"

"You just don't get it do you," Cassidy said, sneering. "It's not your
Pokemon we want, but the artifacts instead."

"Right," Butch seconded. "Now give them here or you'll be sorry!"

"I don't think so! Pikachu, go!"

Ranma fished his pokeball from his belt and expanded it. "Hitmonchan, go
!"

"Wheezing, go!"

Butch and Cassidy smirked. "Two can play at that game! Goldbat, go!"

"Growlithe, go!" Butch added.

Ash twisted his cap and shouted, "Pikachu, Thundershock, now!"

"Pika! PIkkkaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaCHU!!" With a thunderclap, the lightning
ripped along the ground, scattering the enemy. Cassidy growled angrily.

"Goldbat, Megadrain!"

"Goldbat!" The bat flew upwards and then a beam of energy lanced out
from its mouth, striking Pikachu. The electric mouse started to weaken
as it tottered on its hind legs.

"I got him Ash! Hitmonchan, Megapunch!"

The Hitmonchan cocked its hand back and in a surprising move, released
the energy in a type of fireball move. It struck the Goldbat and it flew
backwards, spiralling out of control.

"My turn!" James announced. "Wheezing, Smog attack!"

"Wheezing!" The dence liquid filled Pokemon soared by the other members
of Team Rocket, spewing choking gas.

"Now, tackle attack!"

The Wheezing rounded about, knocking the Team Rocket members off the
ledge backwards into the wall. Soon, three punches from Hitmonchan sent
the enemy into the stratosphere, their Pokemon battered and bruised as
well.

"VICTORY!" Ash crowed happily.

"I've never seen Pokemon battle like that," Tracy commented. "You three
must be great trainers!"

"Great is not the word, lucky is more like it," Misty said, smirking.

<><><>

"So, you're packing up now Professor Iseley?" Ash asked of the young
scientist.

"Oui Mon Ami," she said in her accent, "we have not found anything else
in the ruins. In fact..."

"PROFESSOR!" Came a shout. The portly archeologist ran into the room,
panting. "Our team disappeared!"

"What?"

The group all ran outside to the spot. There, sitting in the ground was
a black double ball. The portly man seemed nervous about it. "It just
sucked the whole team inside! What is it?"

Suddenly, the skies darkened as lightning started to crackle. Then, IT
happened.

>From the artifact, a black and purple body grew until it was at least
seventeen stories tall. It took shape until it formed a gigantic Gengar,
painted in odd markings.

"It's a giant Gengar!" Brock shouted.

"I've never seen one that big before!" Tracy added.

"Is it real?" As one, Ash, James and Ranma pulled Pokedex's from their
pockets and aimed it at the Gengar.

*Gengar, the ghost Pokemon. No available data.*

"Yup, definately a Gengar," James said.

"But why is it so big?" Ash asked.

Then, the Gengar turned, and in a deep bass voice, it snarled, "Gengar!"
Cupping its hands together, it fired a dark purple and black energy
beam. The team was sent scrambling to hiding places as the attack ran
its course.

Ash landed, his hands over his head. "What was that?!"

*Gengar's Nightshade attack. It projects waves of fear at its opponent.*
His Pokedex replied.

Ranma jumped up and then sprang to the nearest tree. Using a branch, he
sprang high into the air, cupping his hands before him. The Professor
and Tracy's jaws dropped in shock. "My God!" she said.

"Better believe it," Misty said.

Ranma developed the confidence into his hands, a oblong sphere of gold
energy between them. "Chew on this Godzilla-breath! Mouko Takabisha!!"
The beam of energy screamed forwards, cutting through the air with a
sound much like a howling TIE fighter. The beam lanced downwards...then
passed through harmlessly.

"It didn't affect it!" Misty shouted.

"This is bad!" Brock shouted back. "Ranma's Mouko Takabisha was the most
potent attack he's got! And that Gengar has no heat to be used for the
Hiryu Shoten Ha!"

Professor Iseley narrowed her eyes and sprang from her hiding place, to
the truck. She entered it and within moments, a bright orange glow was
seen from the windows, and a object flung itself from the van, and then
started to grow. Within moments, there stood was a gigantic Alakazam,
spoons brandished.

The Gengar turned to him, eyes met.

And within their minds, a age old phrase was spoken.

One shall Stand....One Shall Fall...

Let the battle be joined.

<><><>

>From his window, Oak stared out into the horizon, sipping tea. "Oh,
peculiar weather today."

<><><>

The two mighty titans clashed together as one, their hands gripping each
other. The Alacazam blocked a mighty blow from the Gengar and let loose
a psybeam of tremendous power. The Gengar replied in form, shooting the
nightshade attack back at his opponent.

James stared in shock. "The Ancient City of Pokeopolis. Destroyed by an
unknown force." He whirled on Dr. Iseley. "Could they be the ones who
destroyed the city?"

"Quite possible."

Then, from out of nowhere, a pink fluffball appeared. And Ash got an
idea. "Hey! It's Jigglypuff! We can have him sing the Pokemon to sleep!"

"Great idea Ash," Misty said. "Now we just have to explain it to him."

Fifteen minutes later, Jigglypuff was stationed at a ridge, overlooking
the combatants, while the crew were at the other side of the ridge, well
away from Jigglypuff's range. Ranma stared through a pair of binoculars
and said, "Jigglypuff's in position."

Jigglypuff opened its mouth and then started to sing. "Jigglypuff,
jiggly puff."

As the minutes ticked by, the two fighting Pokemon showed no signs of
tiredness and hopes fell. "Aw man," Ranma complained, "Jigglypuff is
just too small."

Suddenly, a confused voice broke into their trains of thought. "Where's
the Tendo Dojo?"

The group whirled to see Ryoga standing in the middle of the bush,
scratching his head. Bulbasaur just shook his head, disgusted. "Ryoga?"
Ash asked.

Ryoga turned to look at him. "Ash? This isn't Nerima, is it?"

"Way off. Now get down man!"

Not comprehending the situation he was in, Ryoga soon joined the others
lying on the ground. As he took in the sight of the Pokemon dueling it
out, he gaped and said, "Aren't Pokemon supposed to be smaller than
that?"

"No duh," James grumbled.

Meanwhile, Jigglypuff still sang, unknowingly calling forth a new force
from within the ruins. The bell, started to gong really loudlike before
a nightshade attack knocked the pink Pokemon off the cliff.

Then, with an extraordinarily loud gong, the bell let off a hiss,
revealing a strangely patterned giant Jigglypuff. And in a loud,
proclaiming "PUFF!" that sounded like a tuba hooked up to a kick ass
stereo system on megabase with the volume turned up full, it started to
sing in a loud rumbling voice.

The humans clapped their hands over their ears as with Pikachu.
Bulbasaur slapped two vines over its ears. "Pika piiiikaaaaa!" he
groaned.

"Bulbasaur, bulba."

Soon though, the loud blearing started to lull the group to sleep. As
with the combatants who fell asleep as well. In the midst of the loud
song, the Jigglypuff stopped and stared at the sleeping giant Pokemon,
and said in a loud voice, "Jigglypuff puff puff," It unwound the bell,
brandishing a giant ink brush, "PUFFF!"

<><><>

"I can't thank you enough for helping out with the situation," the
pretty doctor gushed gratefully. "If it was not for you, then the whole
of Pokemon Island would have been doomed."

"We can't take all the credit," Misty said.

"Yeah," Brock seconded, "It was with the help of Jigglypuff that we were
able to beat those ancient Pokemon."

Tracy looked back at the ruins, which the crew was working hard to seal
back up. "I wonder, could those objects you guys found were actually
ancient Pokeballs?"

"Who knows?" Ash said. "What matters is that this situation was solved."

Tracy nodded. "Well then, I'm heading up to Mt. Hideaway. I hear Bruno
of the Elite Four is up there trying to capture the worlds biggest
Onyx!"

"MASTER BRUNO?!" Brock and Ash shouted together.

"Alright! We're coming too!" Ash enthused.

"Yeah, I'll bet that he could teach us a lot."

Tracy smiled and shouldered his backpack. "Then come on."

As the group grabbed their backpacks and stuff, Ranma looked at Ryoga.
"You coming? I think you need an Onyx in your group."

"You mean it Ranma?" Ryoga asked suspiciously.

"Yeah! It's match for your hard head!"

With a scream of rage, the two took off down the hill, Ryoga screaming
at Ranma while the other laughing hystarically. "COME BACK HERE RANMA!
PREPARE TO DIE!"

"GOTTA CATCH ME P-CHAN!"

"DON'T CALL ME P-CHAN!"

As the two disappeared into the distance, Ash just stared ahead, Pikachu
riding on his head. "Wow, look at them go."

"At that rate, they'll beat us to Mt. Hideaway," Brock commented.

Misty just sighed as Togepi bounced happily in her backpack. "Men."

<><><>

"Here we are, Mt. Hideaway."

Ash sat down on a rock, only to have it give way. With a yelp, he fell
backwards into a huge trench.

Ranma looked in, still mussed from the chase. "Looks like a track."

"Yeah, but a track for what?" Misty asked.

Pikachu looked down and asked, "Pika pi? Chu, pikachu?"

Ash looked up and grinned a bit. "I'm alright Pikachu. Just shook up a
bit."

Suddenly, a loud rumble was heard a distance away, but growing louder.
The blood drained from Brock's dark face. "Oh no. This is no ordinary
track! This is a Onyx trail! Ash! Get out of there!"

"Onyx?!" Ash tried to scramble up the sides but it was too steep.
"I can't get out!"

Ryoga studied the face before shouting, "Get back. Busaitenketsu!" He
dug a finger into the soil, blowing a ramp into the deep trench. Ash
scrambled up the ridge just before a HUGE Onyx rumbled past.

Ranma held onto his cousin's hand as the Onyx rumbled back down the way
it came, roaring its fool head off.

"What's with it?" Ryoga asked.

"Dunno, it looked kinda spooked."

To answer its question, a high pitched laugh echoed over the canyon,
followed by an incredible blast of energy which ripped up part of the
mountain side.

"What was that?!" Misty screamed.

"Prepare for trouble!" Shouted a voice that was familiar to them.

(And Make it Double,) echoed a voice unfamiliar to them.

"Jessie?" James asked of the figures standing in the middle of the
rubble.

"To destroy the world through devastation!"

(To destroy all people's within nations.)

"To obliterate the feelings of truth and love!"

(To blaze towards the stars above.)

"Jessie!"

(Mewtwo)

"Evil reigns and kneels supreme!

(Given the chance, you should flee.)

"THAT'S RIGHT!"

"Jessie how could you?!" James wailed into his hands.

"Ah! Jessie!" Ash exclaimed.

"And Happosai!" Ranma added, looking at the dirty old man who stood,
eyes gleaming red.

"And who's the Pokemon?" Tracy added.

"CHUUUUUUUUU...."

Jessie smirked down at the group and cracked her knuckles. "Come along
James, it's time you should leave this goody goody group and come to the
darkside."

"FAT CHANCE!" Misty shouted.

"Yeah!" Brock added, clenching his fist. "James isn't evil like you
three!"

"That all depends on your point of view," Happosai said with a dark
chuckle. "MEWTWO, GET THEM!"

(As you command,) he said, nodding his head. His eyes glowed blue for a
second before a pure psychic blast knocked them off their feet.

Ranma staggered up and spat out bloody phlegm. "Feh, that was nothing."
He cupped his hands and the yellow ball grew between his hands. "MOUKO
TAKABISHA!"

The beam raced forwards before it sprang off the energy globe that
Mewtwo erected. (Pathetic.) He raised his hand again before firing a
beam that sent Ranma to his knees.

Just then, Happosai cocked his head as something seemed to speak to the
three of them. "Fall back!" he crowed, a fiendish smile on his face.
"We'll finish this another day!" Then, in triple flashes of black light,
they vanished.

Ryoga staggered to his feet. "What, or who the heck was that?"

"Mewtwo..." Ash shook his head before saying, "We'd better head to
Hideaway's peak before lunch."

"Food? Alright, FOOD FOOD FOOD!" Brock and Ranma took off running for
the top of the mountain, the rest in hot pursuit.

<><><>

Bruno of the Elite Four looked up at the dust cloud being kicked up from
the lower parts of the mountain. Arching an eyebrow, he smiled. "Another
Pokemon Trainer."

The dust cloud resolved into a group of teens, all panting. The one in
the middle of the group, a red headed girl dropped to her knees. "Why'd
we run all the way up here?"

"It's good training," Ranma replied. Then, he noticed the man who was
sitting cross-legged in the middle of the cave. "Hey, are you Bruno of
the Elite Four?"

He nodded. "And you guys are?"

"Oh, I'm Brock, and this is Ash, Misty, James, Ranma, Ryoga, Tracy and
Pikachu. We came because Tracy here said that you were here on Mt.
Hideaway."

Ash jumped forward enthusiastically. "I want to learn from you to become
the Greatest Pokemon Master ever!"

"So, you want to be a Master, eh?" Bruno stood up....and up...and up
until he towered over the teens.

"Whoa, he's huge!" Misty marveled.

"Pikaaaaaa....cha!" Pikachu leaned backwards, looking up at the giant of
a man, dressed only in pants and black wrist bands.

Bruno looked thoughtful before noticing Ranma and Ryoga looking at him.
"Yes? You have something to say?"

"You seem rather light on your feet, Bruno-san," Ryoga said. "Are you a
Martial Artist?"

Bruno nodded. "Master of the Pokemon Fighting Styles. I have never been
KO'ed. But you two look like better fighters than I am."

Ranma puffed up. "Damn straight! Though I could beat P-chan over there
with one hand behind my back!"

"DON'T CALL ME P-CHAN!"

"Aw, the little Piggy get offended?"

Insert Gratuitous Violence.

Meanwhile, Ash and Brock started to haul rocks up the mountain side, Ash
occasionally causing damage to Misty. Tracy and James were sitting down,
James making comments on Tracy's drawings, and Tracy asking him about
Team Rocket. Ranma and Ryoga were still beating each other's brains in,
cries of "Shi-shi-Hokodan" and "Mouko Takabisha," ringing in the air,
punctuated by blasts that rocked the mountian side.

Meanwhile, two intrepid people walked along the sides of the mountain
trail, conversing on a cellular phone with a familiar voice.

"Reports of the Massive Onix have been sighted here near Mt. Hideaway.
It's your duty to catch it and all other Onix immediately."

"Right boss," one of them said.

"We're on the job," the other added.

Back to the Mt. Hideaway retreat, the group had unpacked for lunch and
the two Martial Artists were dueling over lunch.

"Give that back Ranma!"

"Too late bacon breath!"

"Half man!"

"Pork chop!"

"Enemy of all Women!"

"Breakfast Special!"

"DIE!"

Misty picked up a grape and fed Togepei as she asked, "Mr. Bruno, what
is your secret anyhow? How did you become part of the Elite Four?"

Bruno smiled. "It was about twenty years ago..."

<><><>

Back then, the Pokemon League held a tri monthly competition to see who
was the best Pokemon Trainer in the world. Pokemon were more frequently
seen outside of the Island, and I was down to one Pokemon: my
Hitmonchan.

My Opponent, a woman named Nadoka had beaten me down to one Pokemon, as
I had done. Nadoka, already part of the League, offered me a charge:
beat her, and gain an audience with the Elites and her.

The other Elites, Loralei, Agatha, Lance and Samuel were surprised when
I pulled out a hyperslam attack on Nadoka's Kingler. But, true to her
word, she let me meet them.

A fantastic banquet was thrown in my honor for beating the League
Champion, and that night, Samuel announced that he was retiring to
become a Professor. That, was how I became Bruno of the Elite Four.

<><><>

"It was almost twenty years ago," Bruno said, a wistful smile on his
face. "Then, to my surprise, I wound up marrying Nadoka. I wish it
lasted but a fight lead to a premature divorce."

Jaws dropped around the campfire in utter shock.

"MOM?!" Ranma exclaimed.

"Auntie Saotome?!" Ash added.

"PIKA?!"

Bruno looked at Ranma. "Mom? You mean to say that YOU are..."

Ranma cleared his throat. "Ranma Saotome, son of the League Champion."
Bruno facefaulted.

"Then that means that..." Misty started.

"That Ranma is your step-son Mr. Bruno." Brock finished.

"The Twerp's family gets bigger than ever now," James commented.

Bruno recovered from his shock. "But your mother...that is to say... she
had only one kid, and that was with me!"

"What do you mean?" Tracy asked.

Bruno cleared his throat. "Nadoka had fallen ill after conceiving the
baby. I had visited her in the hospital and the doctors said that a high
temperature had caused sterility. She was married to Genma, (never liked
that guy), and he was off on a training trip with some sort of ancient
pervert."

"So Mrs. Saotome is actually..."

"Mr. and Mrs. Bruno Powers."

"Ranma Powers," Ash said, snickering.

"Don't laugh," Ranma growled, elbowing his cousin in the ribs.

"I remember that day clearly.  Before all this happened your mother had
some kind of dream that caused her to toss and turn.  When she did wake
up, she was sweating furiously.  I asked her what happened and all she
said she had a nightmare.  But before I could ask her to elaborate, the
contractions started and I rushed her to the hospital.  The rest, you
know.  The odd thing was, she never said anything about the nightmare to
me at all."  Bruno shook his.  "But enough of this.  We got to get some
sleep."

<><><>

"Here's where the Onix has been spotted." Bruno turned to his charges
who sat down. "We'll be staying here until it comes."

Suddenly, a loud rumble alerted them to the presence of something big.
Big and loud. Just then, an Onix came rumbling up the hill. And it was
BIG. Bigger than anything else they had seen.

"I guess we don't have to wait," Brock commented.

"And that's our cue!" Shouted a figure on the hill.

"To cause harm for you!"

"Prepare for trouble and make it double!"

They were two younger Team Rocket members, dressed in blue and red
costumes with the red R on their chests. One had white hair and red
eyes, the other had brown hair and brown eyes.

"To devastate the world through chaos and harm!"

"To control the people through power and charm!"

"To destroy the evils of truth and love!"

"To extend control to the stars above!"

"Calamity!"

"Jane!"

"Team Rocket roaring all day and night!"

"Surrender now and prepare to loose the fight!"

"EEEEYAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

The two female Team Rocket members were flanked by a screeching
Victribell who leveled glaring eyes at them.

James slapped a hand on them. "Oh great, the enforcers. The boss is
really scraping the bottom of the barrel."

"Don't make trouble for yourself," Calamity snapped at him.

"Or we'll really make it hard for all of you!"

"That's it! Onix go!"

"Follow the leader everyone!" Ash said with a grin. "Pikachu, go!"

"Hitmonchan go!"

"Staryu, attack!"

"Wheezing go!"

"Scyther, go!"

The two female Team Rocket members sweatdropped as they threw out their
Pokeballs. "Electabuzz, Pincer, go!" Calamity shouted.

"Radicate, Sandslash, Victribell, go!" Jane added.

What happened next is a scene of greatious violence. Ranma's Hitmonchan
had engaged Electabuzz into an elaborate dance of shock and punch while
Pikachu and Staryu double teamed Pincer. Radicate, Onix, Wheezing and
Scyther all took on Radicate, Sandslash and Victribell with gusto.

Dust and attacks flew like clockwork as Ash watched in morbid
fascination. "This is crazy!" He exclaimed. "We've gotta stop them!"

"No, we can't!" James put in. "The Enforcers will fight to the death if
they have to!"

To prove his point, Onix went down hard as Victribell pummelled it with
Razor Leaf.

Two more fell.

"Ash, we've gotta do something!" Misty cried. "Our Pokemon is out
there!"

"PIKAAAAAAAAAAA!" Pikachu went down hard. Ash gaped in pure naked shock.
And a word tore from his throat.

"PIKACHU!!!!!"

In the span of a second, something just....clicked.

Suddenly, without warning, a orange glow shone from his chest as his
clothes ripped from Ash's body, a funky orange and blue radiance dancing
over his body as he leapt into the fray. Within moments, a dust cloud
settled over as the two sides separated by an unknown force. And in the
middle, stood a figure who was dressed strangely. Great white wings rose
from his back, a white body suit with metal inset into the chest, blue
pants with belts and boots. A staff upraised as long black hair flowed
from the strange metal cap that covered his eyes and half of his head.
And he was NOT happy as he cradled Pikachu in the crook of his arm.

"Ash?" everyone chorused.

He looked up and raised his staff high. "Hear me, the fighting will stop
today." His staff glowed as the Pokemon backed down.

"Hey you can't do that!" Jane exclaimed.

"Yeah! Get 'em guys!"

The Rocket Pokemon rushed forwards. But suddenly, what Ash did was
truely amazing. His staff melted into his hand in an orange glow. Then,
he punched forwards, shouting a trio of words that would settle in their
minds forever.

"HAND OF FATE!"

With a tremendous explosion, the Rocketeers were sent flying into the
atmosphere shouting, "TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"

Pikachu stirred, looked up, and said, "Pika pi." (Ash.)

Bruno watched in fascination. "This expedition will have to wait." He
pulled a cellular phone from his pocket and dialed a number. "Hi, Sam?
This is Bruno. Bring Sora to Indigo, something happened to Ash. Thanks,
bye."

Suddenly, Ash pitched forwards, and collapsed on the ground.

"Ash!"

<><><>

"IT happened. You were supposed to prevent it."

Happosai groveled. "I'm sorry master, I won't let it happen again."

"That you shall. Now go. Leave me."

As the aged pervert left, Jessie came into the room and bowed. "Master.
How may I serve you?"

The master smiled wickedly. "Keep an eye on young Ketchum and report to
me if anything else happens."

"Yes sir."

<><><>

"ASH! My Ash, what happened to him?"

"Please Sora, calm yourself," Agatha said. "Bruno, how's he doing?"

"Normal blood pressure, brain wave activity normal. I suppose this is
normal for him."

Oak nodded. "I see."

Sora Ketchum clutched her necklace. "Ash, I hope he's alright."

Just then, the figure on the bed stirred as his body flashed again,
revealing him in his normal clothes and height. "Mmm...Mom, what are you
doing here and where am I?"

"You're in Indigo Plateau young man," Agatha said. "I am Agatha of the
Elite Four. Bruno brought you here. How do you feel?"

"Tired." Ash smiled and lay back down.

"Then rest. Things will pick up tomorrow."

End Episode 8: To be Continued



(Don't go away, the PokeRAP is next!)


POKERAP

I want to be the best, there ever was, to beat all the rest, yeah that's
my call

ELECTRODE

DIGLETT

NIDORAN

MANKEY

VENUSAUR

RATTATTA

FEARROW

PIDGEY

SEEKING

JOLTEON

DRAGONITE

GASTLY

PONYTA

VAPOREON

POLIWRATH

BUTTERFREE

Catch 'em catch 'em gotta catch 'em all,
POKEMON!

I'll search across the land, look far and wide, release from my hand the
power that's inside

VENOMOTH

POLIWAG

NIDORINO

GOLDUCK

IVYSAUR

GRIMER

VICTREEBEL

MOLTRES

NIDOKING

FARFRETCH'D

ABRA

JIGGLYPUFF

KINGLER

RHYHORN

CLEFABLE

WIGGLYTUFF

Thirty two down! That's it for now. Turn in tomorrow!
We'll rap at you some more! Tune in tomorrow!

Gotta gotta gotta catch'em all, Gotta catch 'em all,
POKEMON!


Closing Credits and Them : The Time Has Come

I close my eyes
And I can see
The day we met
(A scene of Ash picking up a Pokeball and Pikachu escaping from its
inside. He picks up Pikachu and he zaps him.)

Just one moment and I knew
You're my best friend
'Do anything
For you
(A scene of Ash meeting Misty, Brock throwing a pokeball, and Ash
looking upwards, the camera panning backwards, into the sky.)

We've gone so far
And done so much
And I feel
Like we've always been together
(Scenes of Ash running along a beach, Misty, Brock and Pikachu trailing
along in the setting sunlight. A still photo of Ranma sitting atop a
cliff, that fades from brown and white tones to a full color picture,
his pigtail swinging in the wind. A constellation draws itself out on
the sky, Sagittarius the Archer. A shooting star arcs across the sky.)

Right by my side
Through thick and thin
You're the part of my life
I'll always remember
(A shot of Pikachu waving to the sky, his eyes glistening with tears,
Pidgeotto carrying Ryoga away. A shot of Ash's shadowed face, a stream
of tears dripping from his eyes. Ranma gathering Akane in his arms,
Ukyou wrapping a consolidating arm about Brock's shoulder. Ash sitting
down in the grass, Misty leaning on his shoulder, his jacket wrapped
about her shoulders.)

The time has come,
It's for the best I know it
Who could have guessed that you and I...
(Ash's face, haloed in a corona of light, Misty holding onto his
fingertips. He smiles at her, as the light brightens to a blinding view
and she collapses on the ground, sobbing.)

Somehow, someday,
We'd have to say goodbye
Somehow today...
...we have to say goodbye.
(Fade out.)


(A Magic Tech Production. A Shaun Garin Story.)

Next time on Pokemon 152 - ? 2000:  Ash's true heritage.  And what is
Missingno really up too?

Revision Notes November 5, 2000(WarChild):Fixed minor errors for RAAC
posting.  Added a little bit to Bruno's revelation that he's Ranma's
father.

Revision Notes November 6, 2000(WarChild): Removed references to
Nodoka's last name.