AUTHORS NOTE: This story takes place AFTER Ash lost to Harrison and BEFORE all of the 
Advanced episodes. Brock and Misty are still with Ash right now.
DISCLAIMER:  I don't own Pokemon. I'm a poor college student . . . and if Pokemon were 
mine then I would be rich and I wouldn't have to go to school. Ohh, then I could read fics here 
all day. Alas!

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Chapter 1

	*I can't let It catch me!  I just have to run faster! Faster! If It reaches me I'll be 
killed! And so will. . .*
	Gary Oak shuddered in horror as he finished his thought. 
	* . . . so will my Pokemon. . .*
	Torrents of icy sweat soaked Gary's mane of spicy-brown hair. His brow was 
drenched from the sticky perspiration and his heart pounding so furiously he feared it 
would rupture.
	*I must keep moving. I can't let It catch me.*
	Gary's right ankle was twisted and swollen from his last encounter with the beast 
that was so rapidly closing in behind him. 
	His natural ability to outwit opposition was quickly splintering away.
	He could barely focus on limping hastily through the masses of treacherous forest. 
Tree branches surrounded and ensnared his weak body no matter which direction he 
stumbled.
	It was not yet sunrise and the half-moon above provided little more than a drizzle 
of light through the thick trees. 
	He might as well have been blind. He was surrounded by a blackness only the 
inside of a coffin could match.
	The damage to Gary’s ankle grew graver by the second. He was forced to hop on 
his sound left leg throughout the labyrinth of leafy entanglement. 
	He somehow lost control of his good leg. He collapsed, plummeting hard against 
the soggy earth.


	As he staggered to once again gain footing, Gary glanced behind him. In the near 
distance he immediately detected a pair of infuriated crimson eyes. It glared at him 
hungrily. It was getting closer . . . increasing speed every second.  
	Gary's pace was declining dangerously. Terror tightened his chest, causing him to 
breathe only in shattered gasps. He finally commenced to gag on the air within his 
burning lungs. He was too weak to exhale properly, too tired to run anymore.  
	*I can't let It get my Pokemon! My Pokemon nearly died protecting me from that. 
.  . Thing. I NEED to move my legs.*
	Vivid images of loyal Arcanine, courageous Nidoking, and honorable Blastoise 
surged smoothly inside his head. Accompanying these images was a renewed burst of 
adrenaline. As the flow of fresh energy coursed within his veins, Gary proceeded to drag 
his defunct limb behind him. Though the action ravaged flesh, he was able to move 
quicker, freer about the dense trees.
	With an abrupt loss of balance, Gary tripped on the oily moss. His entire body 
was propelled downward. His skull crashed instantaneously with a rock. Blinding 
blotches of brilliant-orange and sapphire-blue fire worked before his eyes.  
	Gary held his breath.
	He lay contorted among the damp leaves and blood stained shrubbery. His head 
pulsated unmercifully.
	* I can’t give up now!  *
	He could scarcely see out of one eye due to the fresh blood spurting over his face. 
Nonetheless he continued onward.
	During his accident the beast behind him had gained significant ground. Gary 
could feel the thundering confliction as Its feet trembled against the earth.
	As though finally displaying a glimmer of compassion, the forest slowly began to 
disappear; transforming into a vast open field. 
	Although it had been previously impossible to navigate where he was going, 
dribbles of moonlight could now spill upon him without the trees in their way. The moon 
cast an eerie spotlight across the glen. The light was finally sufficient enough for Gary to 
determine which direction to run.  
	The field before him was surrounded entirely by dozens of hills. Each hill was as 
tall as a Dragonite -- far too high for him to climb. 
	He was trapped. 
	The only place to go was behind him . . . back into the forest.