Voice: Pallet Town! Pallet Town! Ketchum! The Gates of Minas Tronge open, and the riders in black are seen riding out from them. Then the scene switches to Samuel, who is riding up a slope and looking out onto Mount Silver. He then rides off to Saffron City, and enters a building full of old scrolls. Samuel: (reads) The year 3434, of the Second Age. Here follows the account of Xavier, High King of Nintendo, and the finding of the Game Shark of Power. (Images are seen of Xavier taking the Game Shark from the hand of Giovanni). It has come to me, the One Game Shark, which shall be an heirloom of my kingdom. All those who follow in my bloodline shall be bound to its fate, for I will risk no hurt to the Game Shark. It is precious to me, though I buy it with a great pain... The markings upon the band begin to fade. The writing, which at first was as clear as red flame, has all but disappeared, a secret now that only fire can tell. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----- Scene switches to a house in the Pallet Town. It is Crime, and a man and his dog are standing outside the door, when a rider in black approaches. The dog starts barking, but backs into the house. Rider: Pallet Town. Ketchum Trainer: There's no Ketchum around here. They're all up in the mainland. That way... Rider leaves. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----- Scene switches to Viridian, where Ash is at the Green Charizard Inn. Misty and Brock leave, and pass by Ash Ketchum. Misty: Um... good night, Ash. Ash: Good night. Brock and Misty leave, and Ash walks back to Oak End. Ash: Good night, Misty. Ash enters Oak End, while Misty continues on his way home. Upon entering Oak End, Ash finds the windows open, and his papers flying about the house. Suddenly, he feels a hand on his shoulder. He turns around, and sees Samuel. Samuel: Is it secret? Is it safe? Ash: (Searches in a box, where he finds the envelope he put the Game Shark into) Ah. Samuel grabs it from him, and throws it into the fire. Ash: What are you doing? Samuel: (Takes it out from the fire with tongs, and holds it out to Ash). Hold out your hand, Ash. It's quite cool. Ash holds out his hand, as though expecting it to be hot. Samuel drops the Game Shark onto his palm. Samuel: What can you see? Can you see anything? Ash: (Examines the Game Shark). Nothing. There's nothing. Samuel sighs in relief. Ash: Wait... There are markings. It's some form of Pikish. I can't read it. Samuel: There are few who can. The language is that of Tyrannis, which I will not utter here. Ash: Tyrannis?! Samuel: In the common tongue, it says "One Game Shark to Rule them all, One Game Shark to find them. One Game Shark to bring them all, and in the Darkness bind them." Samuel sits at the table, smoking, while Ash makes tea Samuel: This is the One Game Shark, forged by the Crime Lord, Giovanni in the fires of Mount Silver, taken by Xavier from the hand of Giovanni himself. Ash: Jake found it. In Mewtwo's cave. Samuel: Yes. For 60 years the Game Shark lay quiet, in Jake's keeping, prolonging his life, delaying old age. But no, no longer, Ash. Evil is stirring in Tyrannis. The Game Shark has awoken. It's heard its master's call. Ash: But he was destroyed. Giovanni was destroyed. Sounds come from the Game Shark, and Samuel and Ash look at it, as though afraid of it. Samuel: (whispers) No, Ash. The spirit of Giovanni endured. His life force is bound to the Game Shark, and the Game Shark survived. Giovanni has returned. His Rockets have multiplied; his fortress of Sarad-hur is rebuilt in the land of Tyrannis. Giovanni needs only this Game Shark to cover all the lands in a second Darkness. He is seeking it. Seeking it, all his thought is bent on it. The Game Shark yearns above all else to return to the hand of its master. (whispers) They are one. The Game Shark, and the Crime Lord. Ash. He must never find it. Ash: (Takes the envelope containing the Game Shark, and walks into the next room, as though seeking for a place to hide it). All right. We put it away. We keep it hidden. We never speak of it again. No one knows it's here, do they? Do they, Samuel? (Turns around to face Samuel) Samuel: There is one other that knew that Jake had the Game Shark. I looked everywhere for the creature Mewtwo. But the enemy found him first. We see shots of Mewtwo being tortured. Samuel: I don't know how long they tortured him for. But amidst the endless screams and inane babble, they discerned two words. Mewtwo: PALLET! KETCHUM! Ash: Pallet! KETCHUM?! But that would lead them here! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Scene switches, and the riders in black are seen. A trainer holds out a lantern. Trainer: Who goes there? One of the riders swings a sword at his head. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ash: Take it Samuel! Take it! (Ash holds out the Game Shark to Samuel). Samuel: No Ash Ash: You must take it! Samuel: You cannot offer me this Game Shark. Ash: I'm giving it to you! Samuel: DON'T ... tempt me, Ash! Ash lowers his hand. Samuel: I dare not take it. (whispers) Not even to keep it safe. Understand, Ash, I would use this Game Shark from a desire to do good. But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine. Ash: But it cannot stay in Pallet Town! Samuel: NO - no it can't. Ash: (Closes his hand over the Ring) What must I do? We hear a cupboard door creaking, and we see Ash packing to leave. Samuel: You must leave. And leave quickly. Ash: Where? Where do I go? Samuel: Get out of Pallet Town. Make for the village of Pewter. Ash: Pewter... what about you? Samuel: I'll be waiting for you, at the inn of the Prancing Ponyta. Ash: And the Game Shark will be safe there? Samuel: I don't know, Ash. I don't have any answers. I must see the head of my order. He is both wise, and powerful. Trust me, Ash. He'll know what to do. You'll have to leave the name of Ketchum behind you, for that name is not safe outside Pallet Town. Travel only by day, and stay off the road. Ash: I can cut across country easily enough. Samuel: My dear Ash. Trainers really are amazing creatures. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years, they can still surprise you. A clicking noise is heard. Samuel: Get down. He takes his staff, slowly moving towards the window, then points his staff out of the window, and hits something. Then he sticks his hands out of the window and grabs something. It turns out to be a Trainer. He drops her onto the table. Misty: OW! Samuel: Confound it all, Misty Waterflower! Have you been eavesdropping? Misty: (blushing fiercely) I haven't been dropping no eaves, sir. Honest. I was just... uh, cutting the grass under the window there, if you follow me. Samuel: A little late for trimming the verge, don't you think? Misty: I heard raised voices... Samuel: What did you hear? SPEAK! Misty: N-n-n-nothing important. That is I heard a good deal about a Game Shark, Crime Lord, and something about the end of the world, but, please Mr. Samuel, sir, please don't hurt me. Don't turn me into anything - unnatural... like a bug (shudders). Samuel: No... Perhaps not... (whispers) I've thought of a better use for you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- The next day, at dawn, Samuel is seen leading his horse into the woods, with Ash and Misty following him. Samuel: Come along, Misty. Keep up. Be careful, both of you. The enemy has many spies in his service: Birds, beasts... (To Ash:) Is it safe? Ash puts his hand over his coat pocket. Samuel: Never put it on. For the agent of the Crime Lord will be drawn to its power. Always remember Ash. The Game Shark is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found. Samuel rides off into the woods as birds are heard screeching. Misty and Ash set off. We see several shots of them travelling across the countryside. After some time, they come to a field, with knee-high crops. Misty stops. Misty: This is it. Ash: This is what? Misty: If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been. Ash: (Walks back towards Misty) Come on, Misty. Misty takes step Ash: (Puts his hand onto Misty's shoulder) Remember what Jake used to say? (They continue walking) "It's a dangerous business... Misty blushes slightly but takes Ash's hand. He blushes as well, but doesn't mind as they walk. Voice changes to Jake's. Jake: Ash, going out your door. You step out onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scene switches to Samuel. He rides off to Goldenrod, to find Elm, the head of his order. We see shots of him on the way to Goldenrod. Elm: Smoke rises from the mountain of Silver, and the hour grows late, and Samuel Oak rides to Goldenrod, seeking my counsel. For that is why you have come, is it not? My old friend. Samuel: Elm. (bows head) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----- Samuel and Elm are talking as they walk in the garden. Elm: You are sure of this? Samuel: Beyond any doubt. Elm: So the Ring of Power has been found. Samuel: All these long years, it was in Pallet Town, under my very nose. Elm: Yet you did not have the wits to see it. Your love of the Trainers' leaf has clearly slowed your mind. Samuel: But we still have time. Time enough to counter Giovanni if we act quickly. Elm: Time? What time do you think we have? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----- The scene moves to Elm's room. Elm: Giovanni has regained much of his former strength. He cannot yet take physical form, but his spirit has lost none of its potency. Concealed within his fortress, the Lord of Johto sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth and flesh. You know of what I speak, Samuel. A Great Eye, lidless, wreathed in flame. Samuel: (Whispers) The Eye of Giovanni. Elm: He is gathering all evil to him. Very soon he will summon an army great enough to launch an assault upon Middle Earth. Samuel: You know all this? How? Elm: I have seen it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---- Samuel and Elm are walking into the hall. Samuel: A palantir is a dangerous tool, Elm. (walking towards the palantir). Elm: Why? Why should we fear to use it? (Takes cover off palantir) Samuel: They are not all accounted for, the lost Seeing-stones. We do not know who else may be watching. Samuel puts the cover back onto the palantir as Samuel sees Giovanni's eye. Elm: The hour is later than you think. Giovanni's forces are already moving. The nine have left Minas Tronge. Samuel: (whispers)The Nine? Elm: They crossed the river Isen on Midsummer's Eve, disguised as riders in black. Samuel: They've reached Pallet Town? Elm: They will find the ring, and kill the one who carries it. Samuel: (whispers)Ash! Ash! (Makes for a door, but as he approaches it, it is closed. He makes for the other 3 doors, but each close as he heads for them). Elm: You do not seriously think that a Trainer could contend with the will of Giovanni? There are none who can. Against the power of Johto, there can be no victory. We must join with him, Samuel. We must join with Giovanni. It would be wise, my friend. Samuel: Tell me, friend. When did Professor Elm abandon reason for madness? Elm pins Samuel against the wall about the door, then lets him drop. They use their staffs to fight, but Elm manages to take Samuel's staff from him. Elm: (Pointing both staffs at Samuel.) I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly, but you have elected a way of pain! He uses his staff to throw him to the top of the tower of Goldenrod.