First, let me say this: if you don't like to sleep, you're a moron.

I was sleeping in a tree. Arms folded across my chest, hat over my face, back against a big, strong branch, eyes closed. Some of you are probably wondering how I can stand sleeping in a tree. Well, when you've been drifting for a year, you get used to sleeping in some usually uncomfortable places. In fact, I love it! I can't even stand the idea of sleeping in a bed anymore.

A flock of Pidgey woke me up. I put my hat back on right and stretched. I climbed down from the tree, yawned, and stretched some more. I let my two Pokémon out of their pokéballs. Sandshrew was a little groggy, like it always is in the morning. War Jay flew over to a tree stump and started preening itself.

Of course, my name's still Cap and this is the second chapter of my Pokémon Chronicles. It's titled:

Cap got his backpack down, which was hanging on a tree branch. He put some Pokémon food in a dish he had bought. Sandshrew, upon hearing the food hit the dish, walked sluggishly over to the food and started to eat it. War Jay remained on the stump.

"Don't you want some food, War Jay?" Cap asked his flying Pokémon. It shook its head.

"War Jay only eat prey they've hunted," Cap's pokédex beeped from his pocket. "Usually bug Pokémon."

"Oh," Cap said. "Then go hunt."

War Jay gave a small chirp sound and flew into the forest, disappearing in the trees.

"You think that was a good idea?" Sandshrew asked, shoving the last bit of food in its mouth. "What if it doesn't come back?"

"It will," Cap said. "I trust it." He then took off his shoes, socks, hat and jeans jacket. He rolled up his pant legs. "Climb on my arm," he told Sandshrew.

"Why?" Sandshrew asked. It raised an eyebrow.

"Just do it," Cap replied. He held out his arm.

"Alright," Sandshrew said. It climbed on Cap's forearm. Then Cap walked toward the small stream a few feet in front of them. "What are you doing?" Sandshrew asked, tightening its grip.

"I'm going to help you get over your hydrophobia," Cap replied.

"May I ask why?!" Sandshrew's claws started to dig into Cap's skin.

"If we're going to start fighting trainers," Cap explained, "you're going to eventually face a water type."

"Then you can send out War Jay!" Sandshrew exclaimed. "Water may be vital for life, but it hurts!" Its grip started to cut off the circulation in Cap's arm.

"Relax," Cap said. "Nothing's going to happen." He stepped into the stream. Something grabbed his leg, he slipped and fell face first into the water.

Viridian City, in an underground laboratory, a figure dressed in a black ninja uniform leaped down from the ceiling. He scanned the room carefully, then stood up straight. He was very tall, at least 6'5", and was in perfect shape. He wore a black ninja's costume with silver gauntlets on his forearms. Attached to each of the gauntlets were three pokéballs. He also wore a silver belt around his waist. There were some sort of braces on his lower legs. In the right corner of his chest were blood red Japanese characters. The only part of his body that was visible were his eyes, which were a dark, almost black, blue.

The figure took two of the pokéballs from one of his gauntlets and threw them into the air. "Sin Sai. Kantana," he whispered.

The two humanoid Pokémon emerged in two bright flashes. Sin Sai was 4'11" and wearing mostly black. On his waist was a multi-colored belt with the Japanese character for "honor" in the center. It didn't wear gloves. The only parts of its face that could be seen were its eyes and the skin around them. The eyes were an emotionless black and its skin green. In each of its green, four-fingered hands were a sharp, silver sai.

Kantana looked similar to Sin Sai. Only it was 6'11" and held a large, extremely sharp sword in its five-fingered hands. Its belt had the Japanese character for "war" in the center. Its skin was a much darker green and it had a Charmeleon-like horn coming off the back of its head. Its eyes, while still emotionless, shined bright with psychic power.

"Kantana," the figured hissed, "stand guard. Sin Sai, steal the mind stone." he pointed to a pedestal in front of them. It was protected by several laser beams. On the pedestal was a stone that glowed with multi-colored light.

Sin Sai stared at its target and the system that protected it. It threw one of its sais. The sai sailed through the air, in between the lasers. It hit an electrical box and the lasers shut down. Sin Sai held out its hand and the sai floated back to its hand. Sin Sai then walked over to the mind stone and tossed it to his master.

The figure caught the stone. "Excellent," he said as he put the stone in a bag hanging from the belt. "I've trained you well, Sin Sai." He called both the ninjas back, reattached the pokéballs to his gauntlet and left as silently as he had come.

Sandshrew leaped to the shore before it went down with Cap. Cap came out of the water two seconds later, choking and gasping for air as he crawled back to land. "S-s-something >gasp< grabbed my >choke< leg!"

"And it's still there," Sandshrew said, pointing to Cap's right leg.

"Huh?"

Wrapped around Cap's leg was a red, worm-like creature. It was about one foot long and had a mouth full of small flat teeth. It was covered with slime. It looked cute and disgusting at the same time. It was rubbing its head against Cap's leg affectionately, saying "Shug. Shug."

Cap dug out his pokédex from his jacket pocket and pointed at the worm. "Seaslug," it beeped, "the slimy slug Pokémon. They are very friendly and make good pets, if you don't mind cleaning up all the slime they leave everywhere."

Cap slowly reached into the pocket where he kept his pokéballs and pulled one out. "Easy," he whispered. He was about to toss the red and white ball at the worm, when it suddenly looked at him.

"She?" it said tilting its head to the side.

"Um, hi," Cap said. "Wanna go in the nice pokéball?"

To Cap's surprise, Seaslug leaped on to the pokéball, pressed the button with its tail. It then became red energy and was sucked into the ball. The light went out instantly.

"That was weird," Sandshrew said.

"Tell me about it," Cap said. He put the pokéball in the stream to wash the slime off. He dried it off and put his shoes and jacket back on. He clasped Seaslug's ball to his belt. He whistled and called War Jay.

The raptor Pokémon flew out of the woods and landed on Cap's arm. It had a disappointed look on its face.

"Couldn't find anything?" Cap asked.

War Jay shook its head.

"Don't worry," Cap said. "We'll find something later." He called War Jay back into its pokéball and clasped it next to Seaslug. He then put the dish back in his backpack and put the backpack on. "Come on, Sandshrew," Cap said. He turned around to start walking and found a sword in front of his face.

The sword's wielder was a boy of about ten, dressed in a Samurai armor. "Greetings," he said. "Are you the trainer who comes from Pallet?"

"Well, I just left from Pallet yesterday....who are you?" Cap asked.

"I am Samurai," the boy replied. "I am Ososhru. And I challenge you to a Pokémon match!" He lowered his sword and shoved a pokéball in Cap's face.

"Well, um...I..." Cap stammered.

"Uh, Cap," Sandshrew said, pointing to the pokéballs clasped to Cap's belt.

"Oh yeah," Cap said. "I'm an official trainer now! Ok. I accept."

"Excellent," Ososhru replied, sheathing his sword. "Pinsir, prepare for battle!" Ososhru threw his pokéball.

The huge stag beetle Pokémon emerged. It opened and closed its huge claws as a threat.

"Whoa," Cap whispered. "Alright Sandshrew..."

"Let me know how it turns out," Sandshrew said, running up a tree.

Cap gasped and fell down. "Ok, fine," Cap said as he got back to his feet. "I don't need you." He turned his hat backwards. "Wow! That felt great!"

"Are you going to battle or not?" Ososhru demanded.

"Oh, sorry," Cap said. He threw a pokéball and yelled "War Jay, go!"

War Jay emerged and shrieked a warning to its opponent.

"Pinsir, tackle!" commanded Ososhru.

"Air Razor!" Cap commanded War Jay.

Pinsir ran at War Jay, but the raptor dodged aside. It lashed out its wings and white energy blades hit Pinsir, cutting into its exoskeleton.

"Vice grip!" exclaimed Ososhru, but War Jay dodged again.

"Gust!" Cap instructed.

War Jay flapped its wings furiously, creating a mini-tornado. Pinsir was sucked in and spun around. When the tornado died out, Pinsir landed on its face. Its eyes looked like dizzy spirals.

"Pinsir, return," Ososhru said, calling the giant bug back. "Impressive," he said as he drew another pokéball. "Butterfree, ariel attack!"

The blue butterfly creature materialized and tackled War Jay. War Jay started to crash, but recovered. It looked at its opponent and licked its beak.

"Fury talons," Cap said.

War Jay dove at Butterfree, talons beared, but Butterfree dodged.

"Butterfree, confusion!" Ososhru almost shouted.

Butterfree's eyes flashed with multi-colored light. War Jay crashed into a tree, then another, then another, and another. Then it finally landed on the ground.

"War Jay, return," Cap said. The red beam fired and pulled War Jay back into the pokéball before it could be hurt any further. Cap drew his second one and looked at it. "I know this may be a bit out of your league," he whispered, "but I'm counting on you." He threw it. "Go, Seaslug!" he exclaimed.

The little red worm appeared and Ososhru started to laugh.

"This shall be child's play," he said. "Butterfree, tackle!"

Butterfree dove at Seaslug. "Sheshug!" it exclaimed, burying its face in the ground.

"Constrict!" Cap shouted desperately.

Seaslug looked back up. When Butterfree was close enough, it jumped into the air and wrapped itself around Butterfree. The butterfly couldn't move.

"Butterfree, return," Ososhru said. Calling his Butterfree back. He took out another pokéball. "So it's come to this. Go, Caterpie!"

The small, green worm type emerged in front of Seaslug and barked out some sounds that can't be spelled.

"Seaslug, tackle!" Cap commanded. The red worm just stared at him blankly.

"Seaslug only has three attacks," Cap's pokédex informed him. "Constrict, slime and tail whip."

"Okay," Cap said. "Tail whip!"

Seaslug swung its tail at Caterpie. It hit the bug and sent it flying a few feet.

"Tackle!" Ososhru barked.

Caterpie ran at Seaslug. When it was a few inches away, Seaslug jumped up and wrapped itself around the worm. It started to squeeze.

Ososhru called Caterpie back and took out his last pokéball. "You are a formidable adversary," he said, "but let's see how your Seaslug battles when it has deadly toxins coursing through its body! Weedle, poison sting!"

The Weedle materialized and immediately sunk the stinger on its head into Seaslug. Seaslug tried to fight back, but the poison traveled through it faster every time it moved. It soon fainted.

"Seaslug, return," Cap said calling his new Pokémon back. When the pokéball was clasped back on his belt he said very loudly. "I GUESS YOU WIN! MY SANDSHREW IS TOO CHICKEN TO FIGHT!"

"What was that?" Sandshrew asked, sticking its head out from the tree. It ran over to Weedle and looked at it. It smirked, picked the small bug by the tail and swung it over its head. After a minute, it let go. Weedle collided with Ososhru, knocking the Samurai down. Weedle was out cold.

Ososhru called the bug back as he climbed to his feet. "It appears that I am still a novice," he said, extending his hand to Cap. "My congratulations."

"Thanks," Cap said. He shook hands with Ososhru, and noticed something on the Samurai's arm. It was a purple tattoo. Of the same dragon he saw on the wall his house after it was destroyed. He pulled the arm hard to get a closer look, forcing Ososhru to his knees. "Where'd you get this?!" he demanded.

"That is none of your concern!" Ososhru retorted.

"Like hell it isn't! I saw the same symbol when my Grandad was killed!"

Before Ososhru could answer, the two of them heard a loud buzzing that was getting closer. "Beedrill!" Ososhru exclaimed. "They must be looking for the Weedle I captured this morning!"

Cap looked at the trees. A horde of huge bee-like creatures came out and started to dive at them. Cap let go of Ososhru in fright and the Samurai managed to sneak away. Cap quickly regained composure and threw a pokéball. "War Jay!" he exclaimed. "Go get breakfast!"

War Jay materialized, shrieked hungrily and attacked.

The figure walked into a clearing in the forest and released Sin Sai. Sin Sai emerged and looked up at its master. "You've served me well, Sin Sai," he said. "You've learned all the attacks I require. Your strength and skill is only surpassed by Kantana." He took the mind stone out of the bag on his belt. "It is time."

Sin Sai looked at the stone. It slid its sais into its belt. He took it from its master and looked at it some more. He then threw it into the woods.

"WHAT?!" he figure shouted. "How dare you! I am your master!" He raised his hand to the ninja Pokémon, but it dodged the strike. "Sin Sai, return!" he exclaimed. The beam fired and sucked Sin Sai back into the pokéball. "I'll deal with you later," he muttered angrily. He then went into the woods to look for the mind stone.

War Jay belched. Cap and Sandshrew laughed. After Cap released War Jay, it took down one of the Beedrill, the others flew off scared. War Jay then devoured its victim. Cap and Sandshrew were forced to look away from the gruesome sight, but they still found the situation amusing. When War Jay was done, all that was left were the Beedrill's two massive stingers.

"War Jay, return," Cap said when he stopped laughing. The raptor was once again pulled into the pokéball. Cap was about to let Seaslug out, when he heard a whistling sound. He looked up just in time for a falling rock to hit him in the face. "Ow!" Cap cried. The rock bounced off his face and landed on the ground next to him. He looked at the rock. It shined with multi-color light. "What the hell is that?" he asked.

"Looks like a rock," Sandshrew said.

"Visualize the eyeball," Cap muttered.

"Visualize my claws in your throat," Sandshrew said cheerfully.

Cap picked up the rock and looked at it. "It might be worth something," he said. "I'll try to sell it when we get into town." He then let out Seaslug. It was breathing irregularly. Cap took off his backpack, put the rock inside it and pulled out a small bottle and a spray can. "Here," he said gently to Seaslug. He poured the clear liquid from the bottle into Seaslug's mouth. The red worm woke up.

"Sh-she..." it said weakly.

"Shh," Cap said soothingly. He sprayed the mist from the other container on Seaslug. The bruises and wounds slowly healed. Seaslug rose up and smiled the best it could.

"Sheshug she!" it exclaimed happily.

Cap chuckled and pat his Pokémon on the head. "Ew," he said when he was done and washed his hand off in the stream. He looked back at Seaslug and noticed something. "Hey! You're longer!"

"Shug?" Seaslug said as it looked at its tail. The red worm was now at least two feet long.

"You're just now noticing this?" Sandshrew said smugly.

"Shut up," Cap retorted. He was about to head off again when he saw the two strange looking creatures coming out from a bush. They looked similar to Sandshrew only one was completely orange while the other was completely blue. They had no scaled plates and they had small antennas on the top of their heads. "It's those things," Cap said as he pointed his pokédex at them.

"U-twos, the duo Pokémon," it said. "This Pokémon is actually the two separate Pokémon of U-Fire and U-Water. However, these Pokémon have a symbiotic relationship and act as one."

"I gotta catch those!" Cap said. "I'll show that stupid Ash..."

"Your saying," Sandshrew interrupted, "that you wanna catch those things to show off to a trainer you only met once?"

"What?" Cap asked. "You don't want to pay that guy back for siccing his Squirtle on you?"

"Well, I didn't say that..."

"Good, 'cause I gotta plan. Come closer, Seaslug. I'll need your help too."

"She!" it said happily moving closer. The trainer told his two Pokémon his plan. They looked to Cap's pokédex to confirm some theories. Seaslug nodded in agreement. Sandshrew protested.

"I don't know," it said. "What if I get wet?"

"We'll dry you off," Cap said. He looked at the U-Twos. They were talking with each other and didn't seem to notice Cap and company. "Seaslug, go!" Cap exclaimed suddenly.

"SHEEEEE!" Seaslug yelled as it ran toward the U-Twos.

"U?" they said in unison when they saw Seaslug coming.

"Seaslug, slime!" Cap commanded.

"She-SHUG!" Seaslug cried as it flung blobs of slime off its body. The blobs hit the blue one, sending it back a step.

"Water?" it said looking at Seaslug. It sprayed a jet of water from its hand, sending Seaslug away.

"The pokédex was right," Cap said. "The blue one's U-Water. Alright, Sandshrew. Like we planned."

"You owe me," Sandshrew muttered as it ran towards the duo Pokémon. It stopped between them and faced U-Water. It made a face and said "U-Water is a nut! He has a rubber butt!"

"Two water!" U-Water exclaimed angrily. It fired two jets of water at Sandshrew. The ground mouse quickly leaped out of the way and the jets hit U-Fire instead.

"Fiiiiiire!" U-fire screamed. U-Water stopped and started to apologize, but U-Fire just stared at it, rage building. It fired two flame jets from its arms at its counterpart. The flame ignited the slime on U-Water's body.

U-Water burst into flames and started to run around screaming "WATER! WATER! WATER! WATER!" It waved its hands madly. A gallon of water fell from the sky and landed on U-Water, putting it out.

"Sandshrew, swift!" Cap ordered.

Sandshrew threw yellow energy star from its hands. The stars hit the U-Twos, but only knocked them on their backs.

"Pokéball, go!" Cap shouted. He threw the white and red sphere. The ball hit U-Water and sucked it in, then hit U-Fire and sucked it in. The ball landed on the ground and shook once. Twice. Three times. Four. Five! It shook six times before it finally became still and the light went out.

"YES!" Cap shouted. He ran over and picked up the pokéball. "WE CAUGHT U-TWOS!"

"Shug! Shug!" cheered Seaslug, jumping up and down.

"Thank you, thank you," Sandshrew said, taking bows. "Yes, I know. I'm the best."

"Y'know," Cap said clasping the U-Twos to his belt, "swift usually does damage."

"Shut up!" Sandshrew shouted. "Just shut up!"

Cap chuckled as he called back Seaslug. He took out his pokédex and asked for U-Twos attacks. He and Sandshrew started walking as he listened. The pokédex had just finished when he saw the figure standing in his path.

"Give me the mind stone, boy," he said.

"And who the hell are you?" Cap said, looking at the figure's choice of cloths.

"I have many names," the figure answered, "but you may call me Grendel."

"Well, 'Grendel,' "Cap said, "I don't know what you're talking about. You must have me confused with someone else."

"I do not," Grendel retorted. "Now give me the mind stone or incur my wrath." He took one of the pokéballs from his gauntlets.

"I don't have your mind stone," Cap said, drawing his own pokéball, "but if you want to fight, I'll be happy to oblige."

"You don't know who your dealing with," Grendel said. He threw the pokéball. "Scorpio, death toxin!" Scorpio was a large scorpion-like creature. It was mostly yellow with green patterns and red eyes. Its pincers were huge and sharp. It had a long tail with a very sharp stinger on the end.

"Scorpio?" Cap said, looking at his pokédex.

"Scorpio," it beeped, "the scorpion Pokémon. Its toxins are so deadly, they have been known to cause death in humans and Pokémon. Do not approach. Turn and run away!" Sirens in the pokédex started to go off.

"War Jay," Cap said, throwing his pokéball, "mirror move!"

Upon the arrival of War Jay, Scorpio fired a stream of red liquid from its stinger. War Jay dodged, glowed for a few seconds and fired the same liquid from its beak. It hit Scorpio, but it was unaffected.

"Scorpio is immune to its own poison," Grendel said self-righteously. "Psybeam!"

A beam of multi-colored light fired from Scorpio's eyes. The beam hit War Jay. The raptor started to fall, but caught itself. It shrieked in rage. Scorpio twitched its pincers and covered its head, trying to block out the sound.

"War Jay, rage!" Cap said, pointing at Scorpio.

War Jay's eyes burned like tongues of fire. It shrieked again and dove at Scorpio. It scratched, pecked, tackled the Scorpion. Any attempt by Scorpio to defend itself only made War Jay madder. And the increase in anger lead to an increase in attack power.

"Scorpio, return," Grendel said. He reattached the pokéball to the gauntlet and threw another. "Venomoth, stun spore."

The poison moth Pokémon flapped its wings, releasing the deadly spore. War Jay flapped its wings, blowing away the dust. Its rage continued to build.

"Feather knives!" Cap directed.

War Jay continued to flap its wings, this time launching a hail of razor sharp feathers. Venomoth sent them back with a whirlwind attack. The knives hurt War Jay very little. Cap told it to use fury talons. War Jay flew in close and thrashed its talons at Venomoth, cutting deep. War Jay tried to take several bites out of the bug.

"Return, Venomoth," Grendel said. He reattached the pokéball and threw two more. "Sin Sai! Kantana!"

Kantana swung its sword repeatedly at War Jay. The raptor managed to dodge the long blade. Kantana then threw several throwing stars at War Jay. Each one hit the raptor dead on. As it crashed to the ground, Kantana slashed its sword, cutting deep into War Jay's right wing. When War Jay was down, Kantana threw some more throwing stars, taking out Sandshrew.

Cap was about to call his Pokémon back when he was hit across the face by Sin Sai. Cap stumbled back and was kicked in the gut before he could regain his balance. Sin Sai then slammed the hilts of its sais on Cap's shoulders. The boy screamed and fell to the ground. Blood started to trickle down from his mouth. He started to sit up, but was punched hard in the face. Cap then blacked out.

Sin Sai stepped on Cap's chest and looked at the boy. It pointed its sais at his neck. It meant the action as a threat.

"Finish him," Grendel said. Kantana was now standing loyally by his side.

Sin Sai looked at its master. Though it didn't show in anyway, it was shocked. Sin Sai had never killed. Nor was it ever ordered to. It looked at Kantana. Sin Sai could tell that the swordsman had killed many living things. It looked back at Cap. The boy was defenseless. There was no reason to kill him.

"What are you waiting for?!" Grendel demanded. "Finish him!"

Sin Sai raised its sais, then stopped. No. It would not do this. Its master may not have one and Kantana lost its long ago, but Sin Sai had a code of honor. And cold blooded murder violated that code. It was about to confront its master, when the sky grew dark.

"What?" Grendel said. Kantana assumed a battle stance. Floating skulls appeared out of thin air and surrounded Grendel and his Pokémon. Grendel was about order the ninja to attack when the ground started to shake. It split beneath Grendel and Kantana. They managed to leap out of the way before they fell in. "Come!" Grendel commanded. "We will deal with the boy later." With that, he ran off. Sin Sai and Kantana were right behind him.

When the villains were gone, the skulls vanished, the sky returned to normal and the ground had no fractures. Above Cap a black ball surrounded by swirling, purple mist appeared. It had two large, evil eyes and two fangs coming from the top its mouth. "Gastly!" it said.

A girl of at least 16 years old came out of her hiding place in the woods. "Good job, Phantom," she said. She picked up Cap's pokéballs and called Sandshrew and War Jay into them. She picked up Cap and carried him off. Phantom followed her like a puppy.

Click here to read the rest of the story.