Articuno waited no longer. Matariel still hovered frighteningly near one corner of the cavern, glaring at its nemesis maliciously yet smiling maniacally. The icy avian quit its pause and completed its Fly attack, propelling itself toward my Gengar at unbelievable speed. Articuno was nothing more than a blue streak against the white background, and continued its lightning fast onslaught toward Matariel. At the last second, I commanded, "MATARIEL, PHASE OUT!" Time seemed to slow to a creeping pace. My Gengar's eyes lit up demonically as its body darkened. It slid to its left several feet, leaving behind a dark, twisting cloud of black vapor as a snail leaves a slime trail.

Articuno slammed into the frozen surface of the floor before careening off and continuing its circle, seemingly unscathed. Matariel and I grinned. That's not a registered battle move. It's just a quick defensive maneuver we developed. My joy quickly became sorrow as I realized that Articuno was still near full power. Articuno's high velocity impact with the ice caused the cracking noise to reverberate through the cavern once again. I knew that the situation was getting even more horribly grim with each passing second. This had to be finished now, or we were going to die. I kneeled down to Tech, who still sat slumped over on the ice. "Tech....Jack." I said. "There's only one thing left to do. If it doesn't work, it's been an honor. I've got to end this."

Tech stared at me blankly for a moment, obviously still fazed. I knew he understood when a sharp look of alarm leapt into his eyes. "What do you...oh no," he replied weakly. "Hell no Neil, don't do this." He coughed harshly and didn't have the strength to speak anything more.

________________________________I watch the sun slowly set and wonder where time has gone. As the last ________________________________crimson rays drop below the earth, I begin to think.

I returned to my feet and stood defiantly in the face of death. My backpack was jostled and a round, heavy item thunked around in the top compartment. The sound bothered me, but I didn't have time to deal with that. "Matariel!" I shouted. "Get ready!" My Gengar turned to acknowledge me but I still stood stone-faced on the unstable terrain. Articuno's sharp shadow loomed over me as a cold, biting wind howled out of the abyss and assailed me. I shivered in my therma-gear, and knew I could end this. With one attack. Because of the danger involved, it's not worth using unless I absolutely have to. I do. One attack.

Tech sat back up, having regained some energy. "Neil!" he managed to shout. "The rest of the floor is going!!!!" I knew it was true. I ignored him. My anger, fear and frustration exploded as my face contorted into one of pure rage. I started to scream in fury, uncontrollably, with a ferocity I didn't know I had. The ferocity of a warrior.

"MATARIEL!!!! THUNDER, NOW!"

________________________________ I want to be the greatest Pokemon master the world has ever seen. The cold, ________________________________silver moon casts its light on me from across the void of space, and I know ________________________________that nothing keeps me from my dream.

Page Fourteen
Page Fourteen

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