Author's notes: Okay folks, this is my first attempt at writing Pokemon fanfiction, so if I've made any mistakes (and I no doubt will), please reply and I'll try to fix them as best I can.
While I'm not familiar with the actual time-line of the Pokemon series, I'm going to have this story take place about two years after the events of the second movie, The Power of One (Pokemon 2000 in North America). It also takes place sometime during the third season of the TV series (more commonly known as The Johto Journeys in North America), mostly because I prefer Brock over Tracey any day of the week.
I'm also going to be using the "dub" names for all characters, because that's what I'm used to calling them and it's just easier that way.
This story is rated PG for mild language. Pokemon and its characters are copyright of Nintendo and 4Kids Entertainment. Used without permission. All rights reserved.
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Walking on Water
A Pokemon Fanfiction by Kasumi Todoh
Prologue
The sky hung dark with gray clouds, and the occasional flash of lightning and rumble of thunder could be heard. But a large flying structure moved silently through the parting clouds, ignoring it all. The massive airship had the size and appearance of a small medieval castle, complete with rotating cannons mounted on the turrets. Yet there was no door, or any means of entering and exiting, to be seen anywhere. Also, the entire thing appeared to be held up effortlessly and kept moving forward by half a dozen large rotating propellers. If not for the dark clouds that completely shrouded the giant ship, these oddities would have truly been a sight to behold for anyone standing on the ground.
Yet only one man occupied the giant fortress. The reason there were no doors was because he never left. He ate there, slept there, lived there. He preferred it that way. And at that moment, that man was inside, as he always was, riding up a small elevator toward the control centre of the fortress. As he did, one hand ran through his spiky green hair, while the other brushed a tiny piece of dirt from his long purple-and-periwinkle-striped coat.
At last the elevator brought the man to his destination: the command centre of the fortress, a semi-large area situated in the center of the fortress, in between the two turrets, and encircled by a clear, shatter-proof dome to protect it from the elements. Inside the dome, there was no conventional flight equipment to be seen, for the ship was piloted by a computerized auto-pilot twenty-four hours a day. Instead, half a dozen computers formed a half-circle around the man, and, as if sensing his presence, all of them blink to life as he entered.
A computerized voice is heard over an unseen P.A. system, as it addressed the man. "Lawrence, I have located the target. Fifteen miles northeast of the town of Cedarville, and heading east."
"Excellent," Lawrence smiled, at hint of relief mixed with the British accent of his voice. However, he quickly shook off such feelings and became serious, directing his orders toward the computer. "Set a course for there at once."
"Yes, sir," the computer answers. "We will reach the target's co-ordinates in approximately twenty minutes."
"Try to do it in ten." Lawrence then turned and left the control room, stepping back on the elevator once more. As it descended, he became lost in thought.
The events of two years ago were still as clear to him as if they had happened yesterday. Lawrence's collection had been something to be viewed, awed and admired by people around the world, and he had been so close to completing and perfecting it, until it was all destroyed by one meddling brat and the brat's worthless rat Pikachu. Lawrence had captured the great birds Moltres and Zapdos, and almost succeeded in reeling in the biggest prize of all, the legendary Lugia, when he first ran into a young Pokemon trainer named Ash Ketchum. A nobody from a tiny spot on the map called Pallet Town, Lawrence hadn't even given the boy a second thought-something he regretted later. Ash freed Moltres and Zapdos, and ultimately destroyed his beautiful fortress, ruining everything that had taken him years to collect.
Looking back, Lawrence could see now that this was no ordinary boy. He had a strong will and a legion of friends and highly-trained Pokemon backing him up. The legends even listed him as the Chosen One-"...the earth shall turn to Ash." Lawrence had dismissed it all, but now he knew better. He had spent many months, building a better fortress and restoring his collections, while researching everything he could find on Ash-his friends, enemies, strengths, weaknesses (know your enemy, as they say). Now, after weeks of planning the perfect revenge for his young friend, the time to implement it was finally at hand.
As his blue eyes scanned the dark horizon ahead, Lawrence reflected on how normally such clouds could be a nuisance when flying through mountainous or low-lying areas. Today, however, he welcomed them, for they made the element of surprise work more to his favour. And again, he smiled.
Lawrence had underestimated that boy once. He would not make the same mistake again. ______________________________________________________________________________
Phew! Now this was a long time coming. I started out co-authoring this 'fic with another girl, but we had a small falling-out, and she ended up erasing the entire two-and-a-half chapters we had written without telling me. So I had to start over, alone and from scratch. However, I'm pretty much back on track, and Chapter 1 should be up pretty soon (or whenever I can find time to write it.)
If this chapter sounded confusing to anyone, my apologies. I'll try to work on that for the next chapter.
Read and review, please!
Kasumi Todoh.