GUARDIANS OF POKEMON

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Pokemon or any of its characters. Any original characters are mine, however.

Seventeen legendary guardians

possessing powers far beyond comprehension

will soon arise and protect the world from a deadly force...

***

An old man entered a vast jungle. Another man had been attempting to sell him the land, "This would be a beautiful place to raise Pokemon." The old man said, "Raise Pokemon... uhhh... sure..." "So is this a deal?" The old man replied, "Yes, I will buy this land!" The other man smiled and placed a hat on the old man. He said, "Congratulations. You are the new safari warden." The new warden said, "Please, just call me Warden."

#39: SAFARI FOR LOVE

Tracey read to the others a brochure about the Safari Zone, "It has tons of jungle Pokemon all in one giant habitat!" Todd said, "It would be perfect for pictures!" "But," said Ash, "Isn't it a Pokemon preserve, as in not being able to catch any of the Pokemon?" Tracey and Todd moaned, "Didn't you hear us the first time? It would be perfect for pictures." Brock sweatdropped, "Is that all you two ever think about?"

The Guardians entered the safari warden's cabin in the Safari Zone. Warden grabbed his shotgun and yelled, "Who's there?!" Everyone gasped. Ash yelled, "Ugh! We just wanted to visit the Safari Zone." Warden yelled, "And what business do you have in the Safari Zone?" Tracey said, "We just wanted to look around. You know, what you usually do in the Safari Zone."

Ash then asked, "Who are you anyway? I don't remember the old safari warden so grumpy." The Warden laughed, "That old man. They fired him after his excessive used of guns. I believe he was so controversial that many never saw him again." He laughed in a more evil tone. "And you want to go inside the Safari Zone, you say?" Ash replied, "Yeah, that's kind of why we're here."

The Warden said, "I'll let you in, but you can only stay until you take your 500th step!" Tracey yelled, "That's absurd! How would you know when we've walked 500 steps?!" The warden thought about it for a second and said, "I mean, 5 hours. And one more thing... if you mess with any part of the Safari Zone, I'll have to kill you!" The Guardians gulped as the warden continued, "Or sue you. Whichever works best..."

The Guardians were permitted into the Safari Zone. The Safari Zone laughed, "Stupid kids. I just got here, and I have no intention to keep any of the small number of Pokemon that are still in the zone." He grabbed his rifle and whispered, "The hunt is on."

As the Guardians walked through the jungle setting of the Safari Zone, they hadn't passed a Pokemon at all. Tracey yelled, "This is lame! Where are all the Pokemon?" Suddenly, they heard a gunshot. Everyone eyed Sakura as she shouted, "What are you looking at me for?" They then heard another gunshot. Dash gulped, "What if someone's here to shoot us?" Green laughed, "Don't be silly. Who'd want to shoot us?"

Green walked fearlessly into a deep part of the jungle. Upon hearing a few sounds, she looked behind a bush and found a Nidoran (male) and Nidoran (female) walking together. She gasped, "A male and female Nidoran!" She then imagined what it would be like if she and Ash were together. In her dream, Ash cheerfully said, "Green, would you like to go for a romantic walk?" Green cheered, "Oh, Ash! Of course I'd love to!" As Green dreamt, she had paid no attention to where she was going.

Suddenly, Green walked into a rifle and yelled, "Hey! Watch where you're going!" The other Guardians followed Green and found Warden with a rifle aimed at Green's stomach. Ash yelled, "Green! What is he doing to you?!" The safari warden huffed, "Don't worry, kid. I wasn't going to hurt her. I was just going to show her what would happen if she messed with me!"

Warden then aimed his rifle towards the two Nidoran. Green gasped, "What are you doing to the Nidoran?!" Nidoran (female) ran off into the trees. Warden laughed, "Haven't you heard? Now that I'm the new safari warden, things will be different around here. Instead of some stupid preserve where we keep all the Pokemon safe, I'm making this a range to hunt Pokemon!" Ash yelled, "That's just wrong!" Green gasped at the lone Nidoran (male) and yelled, "Look what you did to the Nidoran!" Warden took out his gun and aimed at Nidoran (male) . Green yelled, "NO!" and pushed Warden down. Green then chased the Nidoran (female) that had run away.

Warden got up and yelled, "Where did those Nidoran go?!" Brock said, "They Nido ran away!" Warden aimed his gun at Brock as he cried, "Please don't shoot!" Warden ran after the Nidoran. The other Guardians just stood there. Ash then said, "Hey, shouldn't we be stopping him?" "Good idea, Ash," said Misty, "After all, we can always catch the two Nidoran." Dash asked, "Both Nidoran?" Tracey said, "Yes, the female and male version of Nidoran are considered different, so we must capture both of them to complete our collection."

Green ran after the Nidoran (female) . Nidoran (female) couldn't tell the difference between Green and Warden and continued running. Green screamed, "Hey! Come back, Nidoran! I want to help!" She then thought to herself, "Hey, that doesn't sound right..."

Warden tiptoed through the Safari Zone looking for both Nidoran. "Come out, wherever you are." The Guardians tiptoed behind him watching his every move. Ash whispered, "Just make sure that he doesn't get Nidoran." Meanwhile, Nidoran (female) walked by the Guardians. Misty gasped, "Nidoran's right there!" Ritchie yelled, "Poison Power! Poison Ball!" Nidoran (male) went in the ball for a few seconds until it escaped. Nidoran (male) used Poison Sting on Ritchie as he screamed, "Hey, that's not fair!" Nidoran (male) ran away again as Ash yelled, "After him!"

Green cried, "Nidoran!" Suddenly, she had another dream. In the dream, Ash had left her forever. Green cried, "Ash! Come back!" Back in the real world, Green caught up to Nidoran (male) . She tackled Nidoran (female) as it cried. Green said, "Don't worry. I know how you feel." She then carried it towards the other Guardians.

Meanwhile, everyone else had been trying to chase the quick Nidoran (female) . Finally, Ritchie ran in front of Nidoran (male) and yelled, "Sludge Squirt!" The Nidoran (male) became stuck in the sludge. Ash picked it up and said, "Calm down, little Nidoran." He then heard Green call out, "Ash!" The Nidoran (female) from Green's arms then jumped down, and the Nidoran (male) from Ash's arms also jumped down. The two Nidoran ran towards each other and kissed. Ash and Green smiled at the Nidoran.

Chibi smiled, "Aww... how cute! What a happy ending!" Warden then came with his rifle and said, "A happy ending indeed... for me, at least!" He then shot the Nidoran (male) as everyone gasped. The Nidoran (female) saw Nidoran's (male) wound and cried. Green yelled, "You monster! Dragon Power! Mega Twister Spin!" Warden and his gun were caught in the twister.

Once the twister subsided, Warden reached towards his gun and prepared to shoot it. Ritchie yelled, "Sludge Squirt!" Once Warden pulled the trigger, the bullet became stuck in sludge. Warden gasped, "No!" Green then yelled, "Ritchie! Quick! Catch the Nidoran!" Ritchie yelled, "Poison Ball! Poison Ball!" He released two balls and caught both Nidoran. Ash said, "Now we have to get them to a Pokemon Center."

Leaving the Safari Zone, the Guardians ran to the nearest Pokemon Center. Nurse Joy saw them run and asked, "What's the rush?" Ritchie released Nidoran (male) as Nurse Joy gasped.

Nidoran (male) was put in the intensive center while the Nidoran (female) stood by its side. Green asked Ash, "If I was hurt like that, would you stand by my side?" Ash gulped, "Well, you know..." Suddenly, Warden walked in with a few bandages and said, "You know, I got around to thinking. I've decided that I've been reckless in trying to hunt these Pokemon when they really need a safe place to stay. So I am officially declaring the new Safari Zone as a Pokemon preserve!" Ash smiled, "That's great!" Dash sighed, "But we still can't catch the Pokemon."

Everyone left the two Nidoran to be alone except Chibi who watched the two Nidoran and cried. "How sad that the romance had to end like this..." As Chibi cried, she began to glow. Nidoran (male) suddenly healed its wound, and the two Nidoran were able to kiss once more.

TO BE CONTINUED

***

Preview of Next Episode:

Ash: It's Sunny Town!

Misty: Grr...

Brock: We need to pass Cycling Road to get to Celadon, you know.

Misty: Grr...

Dash: Uh-oh. It's the Bridge Bike Gang!

Misty: Grr...

Ash: Is Misty mad or something?

Misty: Guardians of Pokemon #40: A Tentacruel Gang.

***

Author's Notes: And just a general note, vaguely answering someone's question... Most characters in this story usually have at least some kind of important purpose for being in this story at all. And I'll leave it at that.

Until next time!