Stratovarius - Against The Wind
Once again I tried to make things work
Facing all the power of society
Searching all the answers of the life
I'll never make it on my own.
Was I meant to fail every time?
Seems to me that's my destiny
Is it all that's left for me
Confusion and bad memories?

But now my time has come
No more running in the dark
I want much more than this
I really want it all.

Chorus
Against the wind we run
To every place under the sun
We got so much power inside
We will never give up.
Against the wind we go
Towards the new shore
Together we forget the sorrow
It's forever gone.

Glory's Long Road: Episode #01 "From Humble Beginnings..."

The air of the ferry's old dining hall smelt, or reeked, of cigarette smoke 
and sea salt. Nearly all of the seats and tables of the hall were taken up. 
The only exception: Once across from Erik. Resting chin in palm, he 
contemplated a few of minor issues that still remained. Beside Erik is 
Sandopan, tucked up into a spiny ball of quills, rocking in time with the 
list of the boat.

"Mind if I sit here?" A voice drew Erik from his thoughts. He glanced up to 
see a young man, around seventeen. The youth was rather ill-dressed, 
noticeable by the faded denim jacket, and faded everything else. Shags of 
unkempt black hair protrude from under a trucker's cap. At least he was 
somebody to have a conversation with.

"No, don't mind." The teen sat down in the only empty chair, laying a red 
plastic tray on the tabletop. "Thanks. It's hard as hell to find a place to 
sit down and eat during lunch." Erik passed on a warning as the teen goes to 
eat his sandwich. "Food's not the greatest though."

"What do you mean?" With one bite, his face, for an instant, became devoid 
of colour. Forcing himself to, he swallowed the vile food. "Never mind. I 
see what you mean." He tossed the sandwich back onto the tray, and slid it 
away. His eyes take note of the still napping Sandopan. "Is that your 
pokemon in the chair beside you?"

"Yes he is."

"Where'd you get him? Sanddo and Sandopan aren't native to these parts."

"My hometown bought him from the States for my birthday." The untidy teen's 
eyebrows jumped up slightly. "You mean, you weren't just given one like most 
beginning trainers?"

"Nope. The nearest place that gave out pokemon was St. John's, almost an 
hours drive from where I lived."

"I see."

"Did you get one?"

"Sure did. Had to wait a long time to get him though." He removed a pokeball 
from inside his jacket, and released the contents onto the now vacant chair 
beside him. From the energy, a Arigeizu took form. He rubbed it's sizable 
jaw, taking pride in it's destructive potential. "Looks tough." Erik 
complimented. "He is. Arigeizu here has won me a good few fights. I think 
he'll soon be evolving as well."

"His adult from, Oudairu, should be an even better fighter, given his high 
attack and defense ratings."

"Never knew that."

"You didn't?"

He shook his head, admitting to a slight case of ignorance. "I just heard 
people say he was really good. Guess I know why now." He stopped for a 
moment. "Never got your name."

"It's Erik Iverson."

"Nice to meet you Erik. I'm Guy Mares." The two trainers sook the other's 
hand, a sure sign of respect. "Where you going to anyway?"

"I'm about to start collecting badges."

"Down to Halifax I take it."

"One of the gyms is down there, right?"

"Yes. But it's a water gym. That'll be a problem for your Sandopan."

"I'll manage to work something out."

"Hope you do."

"Don't worry. I've waited too long just to lose."

Just as Erik finished up what he has to say, the captain of the ferry cut in 
over the PA system. "Your attention please. We are about to arrive at North 
Sydney harbour. Owners of vehicles are asked to return to them, and await 
for disembarking."

"Say Erik, do you need a ride down to Halifax?"

"Wouldn't mind one."

"Alright then, let's go."

*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

Several Hours Later
Halifax Waterfront


A dull, not to mention loud, blue Mustang slowed to a stop. Guy stepped out 
to allow Erik and Sandopan to get out from the back seat. "There you are." 
Guy pointed to a large group of people over beside a building on the 
waterfront. "The gym here usually sponsors a small tournament for the 
trainers. Mostly there's just beginners, but there are a few older trainers. 
And the payout is alright too."

"Thanks man."

"No problem." Guy tipped the peak his hat as he got back into the car. "See 
you at the Blue League, if you make it in time."

Erik reassured him on possibility of them meeting again. "I'll be there." He 
walkd over to the ever growing crowd as Guy's Mustang pelt away in a screech 
of tyres and cloud of smoke. A small table is their destination. The woman 
greeted them with a smile, pen in hand to sign them up for the tournament. 
"Here for the tournament son?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Name and pokemon please."

"Erik Iverson, and I have a Sandopan."

"Just one?" She replies, just a bit shocked.

"Yep."

"I just thought it a little odd that someone your age would have only have 
one pokemon." She wrote down the information, and handed Erik a slip of 
paper with a number onto it.  "We'll announce when your fight is next."

"Thanks." He said as he took the number. To pass the time before the match, 
Erik and Sandopan walked over to the edge of the docks, to get a good view 
of the schooners used for ocean tours. "This is where it all begins."

"Pan."

"From humble beginnings, the road to glory starts." Sandopan gazed up at 
him. Erik looks down and smiled, rubbing his pokemon's forehead. "Don't 
worry though, we'll make it to the end of that road together." Sandopan 
nods.

A loudspeaker crackled, attached to one of the nearby light poles. "Next up: 
#46 vs. #39." Erik takes glance at his number, #46.

"That's us Sandopan."

*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

A crowd of spectators formed a square opening around chalk lines marked on 
the asphalt. Erik and Sandopan stood at one end, while a young boy stood at 
the opposite end. Throwing out a pokeball, the boy shouted. "Go Katerupii." 
The small green caterpillar materialized near the center of the ring. "Take 
it away Sandopan." Sandopan marched out to the center of the ring, claws 
held high. The two pokemon stared each other down until the word 'Go.'

"Katerupii, String Shot." The worm released a thin white thread of silk. 
Sandopan held up its right claw, allowing the silk to wrap around it. With a 
quick lift and a drop of the entwined claw, Sandopan snapped the Katerupii 
around like a whip, slamming it into the hard ground.

Hauling back his right claw, Sandopan reeled in the dazed worm, before 
striking it away with the back of the left claw. The force of the blow snaps 
the fine filament, allowing Katerupii to limply hit the ground, and slid to 
a stop in front of Mikey. The boy recalled his pokemon and quickly left. 
Sandopan strode back to Erik, all smiles over his first victory.

"Don't be too confident now. It was only a Katerupii."

"Pan."

"You're right there. May it be the first of many."

*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

Late Afternoon


"And this has been an exciting tournament. We are now ready for the last 
match of the day, between Erik and local champion, Joe." The announcer 
stated, getting the crowd ready for the final match. The two combatants 
stoodd at the opposite ends of the ring.

"I've been seeing what you're doing. Takes a *real* trainer to do that, 
beating up on kids."

"It's within the rules. Besides, It'll only toughen them up a bit."

"Whatever." He threw out a pokeball. "Teach 'em a lesson Sutoraiku." The red 
energy formed a tall mantis like pokemon, scraping it's blades together with 
a dull metallic shriek.

'Sutoraiku, quick but lacking defense.' Erik reminded himself of prior 
knowledge as Sandopan marched out to meet the mantis.

"Sutoraiku, won't even take a hit from your slow Sandopan." A grin crept 
across Joe's face. "Fury Swipes." The insect pokemon quickly zipped forward, 
slashing its scythes in a berserk fashion. The sharp clicks of clashing 
cuticle resound each time Sandopan blocked Sutoraiku's attack. Halting its 
attack, Sutoraiku flapped its wings once, quickly moving back. "Slash 
Attack." Sandopan made a powerful lunge, swiping its left claw. Again, 
Sutoraiku fell back. "Not bad. But try to keep up with this. Sutoraiku, 
Double Team." Possessing cat-like quickness, Sutoraiku began jumping around 
at an extreme speed, creating multiple images of itself. Sandopan held his 
ground, watching the flickering images.

"Cut Attack!" Sandopan's ears twitch once, detecting a faint rush of wind, 
and spun around, left claw held out. This claw pierced into Sutoraiku's 
side, tearing a red line through flesh. Impaled partially onto the nail, 
Sutoraiku hung in mid-air, mouth open, and blades held high. Sandopan ripped 
the claw out, dragging with it a few drops of red blood. He quickly jumped 
up, and with a hard spin kick, slamming Sutoraiku into the pavement. The 
mantis made no effort to return to combat. Joe recalled his Sutoraiku.

"Good job Sandopan." Erik said, as he walked out to his pokemon.

Joe remained confused as to how he lost the match in such a short length of 
time. "How did he manage to do that?" Erik explained to Joe just what 
happened. "Sandopan heard your Sutoraiku just before it struck."

"I see. Have to work on that sound problem then. Thanks for the tip..." 
Pokeball and pointer in hand, Joe disappeared into the crowd.

*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

Twilight


Erik and Sandopan sat on the edge of a pier, legs dangling off the salt 
encrusted lumber. Quietly, Erik thumbed through a bundle of bills. "Not bad 
for a days work." Sandopan agrees in his own little way. Pocketing the cash, 
Erik stood back up, wiping the accumulated dirt off the back of his pants. 
"I'd say we should get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a hard day." With 
the stars beginning to shine bright above, Sandopan and Erik strode down the 
pier.


End Episode #01

Pokemon Report
*-----*-----*-----*
Free Style Battle (FSB) - Erik's main and trademark style of combat. FSB 
relies on the pokemon's own ability to fight, as it receives very little in 
the line of orders. But by doing so, reaction times are cut, which can, and 
often does, determine success and failure. FSB becomes more and more common 
as the fic goes on.

Translations
Arigeizu = Croconaw
Oudairu = Feralligator
Katerupii (?) = Caterpie
Sutoraiku = Scyther

Ending Song:
Stratovarius - Hunting High And Low
I feel the wind in my hair
And it's whispering, telling me things
Of the storm that is gathering near
full of power, I'm spreading my wings

Now I'm leaving my worries behind
Feel the freedom of body and mind
I have started my journey
I'm drifting away with the wind I go

I am hunting high and low
Diving from the sky above
Looking for, more and more, once again
I´m hunting high and low
Sometimes I may win, sometimes I´ll lose
It´s just a game that I play

After the storm there´s a calm
Through the clouds shines a ray of the sun
I am carried from all of my harm
There is no-one that I can't outrun

Now I´m leaving my worries behind
Feel the freedom of body and mind
I have started my journey,
I'm drifting away with the wind I fly

I am hunting high and low
Diving from the sky above
Looking for, more and more, once again
I´m hunting high and low
Sometimes I may win, sometimes I´ll lose
It´s just a game that I play