BEFORE YOU READ: 

The PFFL is a fighting tournament whose intent is to harmlessly
poke fun at the decidedly (and delightfully) weird world of
Pokemon fanfiction, particularly its SI and Mary Sue aspects...
though we are not limited to those. 

The 16 contenders for this tournament were chosen based purely on
popular vote.  New characters beyond those sixteen will not be
admitted until such time as we choose to hold another tournament,
and another vote to determine who *those* sixteen contenders will
be. The match outcomes are also determined by vote, and a ballot
for the upcoming card can usually be found posted at our
homepage, along with the tournament's brackets.  All readers 
are invited to cast their votes regarding the outcome of future
matches.  The show's writers, however, do not vote in said
ballot, and make no decisions regarding the outcome of matches
save in the cases of a tie vote.  

You may send comments and criticisms to the writers via e-mail: 

Alicia Ashby: aashby@roanoke.edu
Tim McLees: silvertooth@i-plus.net

Enjoy the show! 
_________________________________________________________________

     The stylized block letters of the PTB Productions logo materialize
onto a simple black background before slowly advancing towards the viewer.
The initials phase "through" the camera's viewpoint, revealing a vast 
flat grassland. The perspective, initially angled with the ground, corrects 
itself as the camera rotates itself parallel with the grass below and 
rushes into the horizon.

     The camera speeds silently along the plain... until Shadow Pikachu
drops nimbly from above, barely disturbing the grass beneath him. The 
view speeds past the dark rodent Pokemon and continues...
     Until Hitmonlee leaps down into view, steadying himself as the 
camera passes...
     A steady rumbling is heard as Onix erupts from the ground, causing
the view to narrowly swerve out of the way of the stone serpent...
     A trio of colored bursts plow into the ground to the left, signaling
the arrival of the chimeric Evee fusion Trineon, its three heads roaring
as the camera zips by...
     A green insectoid shape lands off to the right, and Scyther bolts
upright and extends his bladed arms, narrowly missing the camera as it
evades his swipe. Orchestrated music begins to build as a humanoid appears
in the distance... and reaches a sudden crescendo as the camera finally reaches
its destination: A slim teenaged girl with thick round glasses and flowing
violet hair, now recognizable as Messila Samatha Wetall, spins in surprise 
to regard the camera.

     Abruptly, the scene changes to a brightly lit Pokemon battlefield, as
Vileplume readies herself gracefully for action, summoning a swirling mass
of leaves around her. In time with the music beats, the shot cuts away to 
shots of the Grass Pokemon's trainer: Messila's smiling spectacled face, the silver
choker/translator around her neck, and finally the blue and white Pokeball 
she's gripping, proudly showing the North American League Championship ring 
on her hand...
     The view cuts abruptly to elsewhere in the ring, where an ivory furred
rodent Pokemon leaps elegantly into the air. The blue-eyed Light Pikachu closes her eyes,
summoning wisps of white electrical energy. The dramatic beats return to show 
the Pikachu's master Mistaria, allowing snapshots of her blonde-streaked red hair, 
her hands held behind her (not incidentally showing off her exceptional posterior in the 
process), and finally her Staryu-shaped cloak clasp.
    Horns begin to build as a massive boulder rumbles into view from the side...
and suddenly feet emerge from it, allowing it to kick itself upright with an 
earth rumbling thud. Golem spins to snarl at the camera, which quickly cuts away
to a massive and muscular man in a tattered tunic and brown cloak, perched on an
outcropping of rocks. The music and cutaways become more jarring and chaotic as
it focuses on Brock's mighty folded arms, his broad back, and finally his face,
hidden mostly by his cloak, save for his ever-present squint. The camera remains
on the Earth Master's glare until the scene fades to black...

     The next image shows the legendary white Pokemon Lugia majestically rising 
from the oceans as the flowing orchestra returns. He vanishes into the sky 
in a burst of dazzling light as the footage returns to this season's combatants...
     A silhouetted male form displays a flawless kata with his pitch-black katana
as he advances past a traditional Japanese paper screen, turning to reveal himself
as the dark warrior Ashura as the camera closes in.
     Elsewhere, Scyther hovers above the pavement of Fushcia City, cleaving easily
through a pair of ghostly monsters. From below, Carly McGowan and her Ivysaur
companion look up proudly.
     In an alleyway, Adauchi is surrounded by a squad of Rocket United agents.
He quickly draws his twin Glock pistols and spins to take crack shots at each of 
them turning to face the camera as he takes aim...
     Another silhouetted figure, this time feminine, performs a deadly routine
with her trademark long sword and tanto. In the background of these images, the
armored figure of Crystal Dagger is revealed, until the camera pans up to her
lovely but icy face.
     
     The music abruptly becomes more gentle and melodious as the scene cuts to
a grassy flowered field, where Erika kneels away from the camera
looking out towards the hills. The green cloaked woman stands up, steadying herself
with her oak staff. The druidess turns to face the camera, smiling as she waves 
the stray brown hair from in front of her eyes. The camera closes in on her lovely 
face and leaves pass before the camera...
     And the soft violins are replaced by jarring horns as the view returns to 
a burning field filled with noxious smoke. A globulus, multi-eyed Pokemon, the 
gaseous Hakking, looms within the foul mists. Standing in front of Hakking is a uniformed 
man with a flowing cape stands with his arms folded. The blaring chords 
build as we close in on the wicked smile of James Hallendale, beaming with 
pride, holding up a rose as the disturbing scene fades to black...

     The beats of timpani drums signal more footage, as the powerful female
Rocket Bloody Mary hefts her iron maul in both hands, an unholy aura of power
highlighting her form as the camera pulls away from her.
     The scene cuts away to the footsteps of a majestic gothic church, 
where Ryan Edgerton stands nobly, his faithful Weedle companion by his feet.
     The red-haired lass Amanda leaps gracefully into the air, arcs of electricity
spiraling around her as her regular jeans and shirt dissolve away, and a sailor
fuku quickly materializes onto her now pokemorphed body. As the musical theme
builds she lands and, with a golden flash from her hands, an electrified sword
forms in her hands as she lands...
     The montage returns to Messila standing triumphant, flanked
by her Vileplume companion on her right side, and the green furred coyote Jenkar
on her left, who tilts his head back to let loose a howl as the orchestra builds
to a head...

     Abruptly, Messila and Vileplume are once again back in the grassy field from 
the start of the introduction, the clouds now more dark and ominous. They 
turn cautiously to see the towering form of Brock, his massive hands tightening 
into fists. The purple-haired girl's glasses gleam as she steels herself, 
her Grass Pokemon readying to defend her master. The strings and horns build 
up as the view switches to a faraway shot, displaying the green and auburn 
auras now surrounding Vileplume and the Geomancer. Finally, the two experienced 
Pokemon trainers advance on each other, the scene finishing as Vileplume 
fires off a Hyper Beam from the blossom on top of her head, and Brock summons
a tidal wave of earth towards the two champions...

     Jarring chords accompany a trio of black and white close-ups of Ashura, Messila, 
and Sailor Pikagirl, which snap into place to fill the screen. These photos vanish
as the reflective ivory and blue plates of Starmos spiral across the camera's view, 
pausing in midair momentarily before veering off screen. This makes room for a second 
trio of photos, this time depicting Ryan Edgerton, Brock and James Hallendale.
     The next shot we see is above the reigning PFFL Champion Satoshi, as the wind kicks 
up around himself and his golden-brown rodent companion. The final discordant tones of 
the symphony then blare as the dark haired man casts his gaze up to the source of the 
disturbance... and we cut away to the cloaked form of League Emperor Garrick, his grey 
robes billowing and his arms stretched out as the he sails away in a field of telekinetic 
force, leaving flares of psychic energy in his wake. Finally, the Pokemon Fan Fiction 
League logo snaps into place just before the scene fades to black and the live feed picks 
up...

GALAXIAN WAR ARENA
TOKYO

     The live camera opened on a shot of an open, circular arena, a modern-day 
Colosseum. The venue bustled with activity, both from the capacity crowd swarming within 
and the groups of eager spectators who watched from projection screens outside the arena.
Inside the confines of the archaic structure, a pentagon-shaped Pokemon Battle ring has 
been set up on the bottom of the arena floor, the familiar PFFL logo etched into the 
center. Numerous young men stand outside the periphery of the battle ring and within the 
stands, dressed in ornate armor. These fighters, or "Saints", as they are called in this 
part of the Multiverse, are among the mightiest warriors in existence, and are the subject
of a heated debate as the audio cues up....
     "That's a guy," the former senior WCW commentator, Tony Schiovone said.
     "Correct," Joey Styles, former ECW announcer, nodded.
     "That one, too," WWE representative Jim Ross added. 
     "Yup!"
     The two veteran announcers simultaneously squinted, leaning forward to peer
at a willowy figure in pastel-colored armor. They shared a baffled look before glancing 
back at their bespectacled cohort.
     "Hrmm..." JR shook his head. 
     "... say, the girl with the green hair's pretty cute!" Tony grinned.
     "Nope, sorry, Tony," Joey corrected him with a smirk. "That's a guy, too."
     "Really?" Tony blinked.
     "Yep..." Joey nodded. "I'm afraid so."  
     "Well, damn..." JR mumbled, before finally noticing the camera. "Well! Greetings
everyone, and welcome to the SOLD-OUT Galaxian Wars Arena! Welcome to this week's Pokemon 
Fight!"
     "That's right, Jim!" Tony recovered. "We are *live* for the season opener
of the Multiverse's premiere Pokemon tournament, the PFFL!"
     "And this second season brings back several familiar faces from last time."
Joey continued. "Foremost of which is reigning champion Satoshi, along with his nefarious
counterpart Ashura and Team Rocket's most renowned assassin, Crystal Dagger.
     "Several of our returning contenders have been busy since our last event," JR
added. "Ryan Edgerton's been touring and doing some training of his own, and some
of last year's youngsters sure have changed. Skye Dreame's back with some new Pokemon,
and little Messila's back, all grown up and comin' in as the North American Pokemon League
champ!"
     "Let's not forget the new contenders, gentlemen!" Tony enthused. "One of the
League Emperor's own generals, the man-mountain Brock has made it in, as well as Team 
Rocket's own Bloody Mary... and perhaps the biggest surprise of all, the legendary home 
run hero, former St. Louis Cardinals' slugger Mark McGwire!"
     The senior WWE announcer shrugged with bemusement. "That's right, Tony. 
McGwire's obviously found a new hobby since retiring from baseball..."
     "Who knows, Jim, he could have cross-sport potential," Joey Styles interrupted
with a smirk. "Just like Lawrence Taylor!"
     Jim Ross grumbled in the ECW commentator's direction just as the arena lights died
down. The opening beats of Two-Mix's "Naked Dance" resounded throughout the colosseum.
"Regardless, it's time for our show to begin, and the CEO of PTB Productions is making
her appearance to start things up!"
     The house lights of the Galaxian War Arena dimmed to make way for a dazzling
violet and gold display of lights, centered in one of the VIP booths overlooking the
stands. All eyes turned to the balcony as the wisps of color flared and merged 
together... and the flash faded, revealing a thin young woman with messy black hair, 
dressed in a classical Roman toga. Malahelicon, the Lesser Muse of Kitsch and Goddess of 
Bad Fan Fiction, beamed a perky smile to the cheering crowds, giving a salute as she 
twirled her ornate staff and propped it by her feet. 
     "Mally seems to be dressed for the part tonight, at least." Joey snickered. 
"Trading in her usual spandex and mini-skirt for something more becoming a goddess."

     "Greetings and salutations, citizens of Tokyo!" Mally exalted, "And welcome
to this stage of history! Tonight we begin the next chapter in the Multiverse's
grandest monster trainer competition. Please welcome our new challengers...
Let the tournament begin!" Mally thrust her gold and silver staff towards the ring
below, illuminating the ring posts in divine flame as the crowd cheered in response.

     The beginning enchanting tones of Two-Mix's "Trust Me Now" resounded throughout
the arena. As it broke into the predictable techno beats of a Two-Mix song, the 
spotlights turned to the rampway at the floor below.
     "We start things off with a standard League match featuring a pair of newcomers 
to the PFFL!" JR proclaimed as a slim young woman stepped through the archway. The tanned
blonde wore a snug blue t-shirt beneath her black leather jacket, with grey baggy
cargo pants completing her aggressively American ensemble. "Here comes Carly McGowan 
in this season's first match-up!"
     "Hailing from Pallet Town, this multi-talented ghost hunter and Pokemon 
trainer Carly brings a line-up of superpowered Pokemon here to the PFFL!" Tony added
without skipping a beat.
     "She's gonna be in for a helluva fight tonight, though," Joey rebutted as 
the opening theme to .Hack//Sign, "Obsession", began to play. The curtains parted
to make way for a feminine hooded figure, wearing a snug white tunic and flowing
blue and white cloak.
     "Carly's first match will be against the elemental mistress of Water and Light, 
Mistaria--" The woman elegantly stepped down to the arena floor, stopping in the 
trainer's box opposite of Carly, and cast off her hood, revealing her flowing 
blonde-streaked orange locks of hair.
     "... who has plenty of powers of her own." Joey finished, mouth gaping slightly.
     "Try not to drool on the mike, Joey," Jim Ross grumbled as the match began.
  
Mistaria vs Carly McGowan 
STANDARD LEAGUE RULES

     "Get ready, Scyther!" Carly cheered, casting forth her first Pokeball.
     Carly activated the ball, summoning the lanky insectoid Pokemon. He extended his 
wings and bladed arms, letting out a shrill screech as he lifted off the ground into flight.
     Mistaria responded by calmly grasping the star shaped clasp on her cloak,
yanking it off and casting it out into the ring.
     The former WCW announcer arched a brow. "Gentlemen, she seems to have
just thrown her hood pin into the ring..."
     "That's no ordinary jewel, Tony," Joey corrected him as the star-shaped
gem stopped in mid-air as it was about to hit the ground. It began to spin
and grow in size, until it blossomed into an oversized white starfish with
gleaming metallic edges and a single blue gem shimmering in its center.
     "Mistaria's starting off with one sharp-looking Pokemon!" Tony smirked.
     "Don't make me slap you, Schiovone..." his ECW counterpart threatened him. "She's
chosen Starmos, an advanced evolution of the water Pokemon Staryu, armored with an array 
of serrated appendages and empowered by the Forbidden Element of Light!"
     Jim Ross looked over to the grinning, bespectacled man. "You're worse than Tenay 
sometimes, Styles." 
     
     The hovering Pokemon circled each other, sizing each other up before
suddenly rushing towards one another in blinding blurs.
     "The Pokemon begin with a burst of speed, it's already getting difficult
to call the action, folks!"
     "Indeed they are, Tony!" JR remarked as the green and white blurs swept
by, resulting in a clash of sparks as their bladed arms collided. "Though it 
looks like they're just testing each other out with these glancing blows."

     "Stop toying with me, Mistaria! I'm not some kid!" Carly protested, 
annoyed at her rival's evasive tactics. "Cut him, Scyther!"
     The mantis Pokemon stopped abruptly in midair and spun to advance towards
the divine Starmos, bringing his bladed hands up in front of him as he rushed
forward.
     "Bubblebeam," the red-haired Mistress of Water ordered calmly. The white
starfish leveled itself to face the incoming Scyther, blasting a stream of 
bubbles towards him.
     "Scyther's much too fast for that attack." JR shook his head. "He's
sailin' on over and ready to carve into Starmos!--"
     "Now, Starmos! Holy Light!"
     In response, the ivory star Pokemon spun rapidly, casting off a 
dazzling array of white and blue sparkles, causing Scyther to flutter
back into the air, disoriented.
     "Misty suckered her in! Letting Scyther come close enough to 
blind him!" Joey approved.
     "You don't mess with the power of Light, folks," Tony nodded. "Looks like Starmos is 
ready to put him away."
     "That's the spirit, Starmos! Now... Hydro Pump!" Mistaria commanded.
The white water Pokemon leveled three of its arms to the barely airborne
Scyther and shot forth a trio of powerful streams of water.
     "... heh." Carly snorted. In response, Scyther abruptly came out 
of his stupor and vanished in a grey blur as the watery blasts shot 
past.
     "What in the world..." JR uttered as, just a second later, Scyther
reappeared behind Starmos, its claws now gleaming with a foul grey aura
of power.
     "Gotcha," the ghost hunter taunted her opponent. "Go with the Faint Attack,
Scyther."
     In a trio of quick slashes with his darkened blades, the mantis Pokemon
tore into the flat-footed Starmos, who toppled forward to the dirt after
the impact his sneak attack.
     "And with an attack from behind, Carly gets the first knockout of the
match!" Tony informed.
     "That's no ordinary Scyther," JR said, not sounding too surprised. "Carly's been 
doin' some strange stuff to her Pokemon."

     "It's an honor to battle you, Mistaria," Carly addressed her confidently.
"I have long admired the skill of the elemental masters... but I won't let 
anyone get in my way against the Shades!"
     "... you risk becoming tainted by the very darkness you fight, Carly," the 
mistress of Water replied quietly, as she raised her chosen Pokeball. "Come, Blastoise." 
The massive blue tortoise materialized before Mistaria, the cannons on his back locking 
into position as it rose to its hind feet.
     "Mistaria appears to be going to a heavy hitter this time around!" Tony
proclaimed.
     "But Carly's still pressing her early advantage!" JR interrupted as the mantis 
Pokemon swept in suddenly towards Blastoise, swiping with his bladed arms as he flew past. 
"Diving in a Quick Attack right out of the gate. Just a glancing blow..."
     "Blastoise is handling Scyther's blades well enough so far, though," Joey
noted as the water-turtle brought his arms up to block another Quick Attack. "It's gonna 
be interesting to see how Misty's been handling Ash's old Squirtle..."
     
     "Heh... I was expecting more of a challenge from the Mistress of Water," Carly
smirked. "Scyther! Fly in for a Slash attack!"
     "SCY-THEEER!!" The lean insect pokemon screeched as it looped in midair and began
a diving roll towards Blastoise.
     "Be careful what you wish for, young one." Mistaria threw her red-blonde hair back
over her shoulders as she cast her hand forward to point at the ring with authority. 
"Blastoise, block and counter with a Headbutt!"
     The giant turtle grunted with approval as he spun to face the incoming Scyther, 
wrapping a thick arm around his opponent's bladed arm to deflect its attack.  Blastoise 
then veered in to ram the top of its hard head into Scyther's temple. Slightly 
dazed, the insect Pokemon attempted another Slash with its free arm, only to 
have that blocked and grabbed as well. Scyther received another smash to his beak 
from Blastoise's thick skull for his trouble. Finally, with a sudden burst 
of speed, Blastoise roared and fell back, flinging Scyther back and dropping 
him painfully onto his neck and shoulders.

     "*Impressive* chain of moves from Blastoise!" JR approved as Scyther stumbled
slowly to his feet, before finally collapsing face first. "Headbutt, Skull Bash, following
into a Slam for the KO! That's definitely gonna throw Carly off her game." 
     "After having her initial Pokemon so swiftly defeated, which Pokemon will
Carly switch to now?" Tony wondered aloud.
     Carly McGowan bitterly yanked another Pokeball from her loosely fastened belt,
summoning her next monster in annoyance.
     Before her, a tall and somewhat pudgy golden dragon materialized into existence.
     "She's switching to a powerhouse now as well, in the form of the pure Dragon-
type Pokemon Dragonite." Joey informed, pausing as he noted the uncharacteristic 
brooding glare the normally serene beast was giving Blastoise. "And he looks  
pissed-off tonight!"
     "These two massive beasts close in... and Dragonite takes a swing with one
of his big claws!" JR yelled as the blue tortoise narrowly lumbered out of harm's
way.
     "Dragonite's continuing the spin and just *nails* Blastoise with the flat of 
its tail!" Joey winced as the massive turtle staggered momentily. "That just sent him 
flying to the middle of the ring..."
     "Ya got him on the ropes, Dragonite, time to power up...." Carly beamed as her
dragon Pokemon stood ready. The winged Pokemon let out a mighty roar as 
it fluttered its short wings and went airborne, high above the arena floor.
     "He's goin' high above Blastoise..." JR continued in a hushed tone. The 
Dragon Pokemon stopped in mid-air and head his arms out straight from his sides. His
form began to shimmer, beams of light being cast by his glowing figure. "Oh
my... he's settin' up for something big. Look at him shine!"
     The bespectacled ECW announcer merely gazed up at the glowing Dragonite, 
adjusting his glasses.     
     "Let's see what your Blastoise can take, Misty!" Carly taunted. "Hit him 
with the Draco Slam!"
    The crowd gasped as Dragonite surged downward towards the arena floor, blazing
a trail of gold and white energy behind him.
     "He's blazin' a path towards his opponent! Dragonite's on a collision course!"
JR continued to rave.
     The normally reserved Mistress of Water was taken back by the incoming dragon.
     "Brace for it, Blastoise! Withdrawl!"
     The golden and white Dragon slammed into the massive water Pokemon with an 
explosion of lunar power. From out of the devastating blast, Dragonite sailed back upwards,
pausing once more to look down at the carnage.
     "... he just did Getta Robo's Stunner Spark. What the hell?" Joey wondered.
     
     Far below, the smoke slowly cleared, revealing Blastoise's thick shell, still
smoldering from the Draco Slam and covered in random rocks and debris.
     "There's no way he could have escaped that blast, folks," Tony shook his head, 
"This'll put Carly at a two-to-one edge as--"
     From within the folds of the sealed shell, one of Blastoises powerful clawed hands 
reached outwards, slamming and gripping the ground. Then, his remaining limbs stretched 
out. As Blastoise lurched back upright into a sitting position, his head extended into 
view, a grim, enraged expression across its face.
     "And Blastoise is *right back up!*" JR cheered. Mistaria smiled with approval as her
aquatic Pokemon rose to his feet, its twin shoulder cannons now shifting into position, 
aimed high into the air. "And he looks ready to cool that beast's dragon fire right now!"
     "Dammit, Dragonite, get him!" Carly raved above her. "Shoot the Hyper Beam before--"
     "Blizzard."
     Blastoise roared as he followed Mistaria's command, bowing to one knee to brace 
himself as twin blasts of arctic wind and frost roared into the sky to engulf the shocked 
Dragonite.
     "Sweet Monkey Jesus!" Joey yelped. "Looks like Misty's been hitting the Technique
Machines, as her Blastoise just put his foe on ice!" The frost-covered gold dragon crashed
painfully onto the arena floor, unmoving.
     "And just one powerful blow is all Mistaria needs to turn this fight around!" Tony
stated, just before the mighty turtle Pokemon slumped forward, bringing its forearms 
forward to support itself. "But Blastoise is still feeling the effects of the Draco Slam. 
Could Carly's final Pokemon put this match away?"
     "Heh, it's almost down," the ghost hunter smirked, drawing out her final Pokeball.
"Let's finish him off, Ivysaur!"
     The Mistress of Water and her Blastoise companion looked on indignantly as the
frog-like grass Pokemon materialized before them.
     "I would have expected more with all your bravado, Carly," Mistaria shrugged.
     "HA! This is no ordinary Ivysaur!" Carly shot back, "Behold the power of the night! 
ULTRA LUNAR BLAST!"
     A state of confusion settled across the Galaxian War arena as the clouds in the 
night sky above parted slightly to make room for a shimmering thin beam of moonlight to 
descend to the ring. The leaves atop Ivysaur's back unfolded into an x-like formation,
allowing the incoming energy to enter its blossom...
     "Ultra... Lunar Blast?" Mistaria uttered in horror.
     Blastoise breathed heavily, clutching his shoulder as it glared bitterly at
its opponent, who tensed as the glowing beam intensified, the leaves on its back
shimmering in response.
     "That's right, Misty!" Carly proclaimed. "My Ivysaur has adapted to fighting 
creatures of the night, absorbing the *moon's* power instead of the sun's to crush its 
foes!"
     The aura of lunar power finally reached the tips of Ivysaur's leaves, and 
it braced itself for its ultimate attack... much to the awkward silence of the 
capacity crowd.
     "Carly McGowan seems to be taking her sweet time with this attack, isn't she?"
JR asked to no one in particular. 
	Joey Styles fidgeted with annoyance. "Move. Sidestep. Dodge. GET OUT OF THE WAY. DO 
SOMETHING."
     In spite of the ECW announcer's comments, the injured Blastoise was ill prepared as
Ivysaur croaked mightily and expelled the mysterious mass of silver energy, engulfing
the blue tortoise in a tidal wave of lunar power. 
     "And with precise timing, Ivysaur lands the Lunar Blast to put Blastoise away!"
Tony exclaimed.
     "I could have gotten nachos and a large soda while this was going on..." 
JR fumed. 
     "That leaves the Mistress of Water with only one Pokemon! Who is it?" Tony asked.
     
     In a graceful and fluid motion, Mistaria drew her final Pokeball and extended
it outward.
     "I'll have to show you the light, so that you can learn the folly 
of your current path... come forth, Light Pikachu!"
     Within the red beam that shot forth from the red and white sphere, a white mass
grew and took the familiar form of the mouse Pokemon Pikachu. It sailed through
the air, its white fur gleaming, and opened its blue eyes before doing a flip and
landing flawlessly before the disgruntled Ivysaur.
     "And it's another pallette-swapped Pikachu," JR shook his head.
     "Yes, much like Ashura's infamous Shadow Pikachu, Mistaria's familiar 
possesses the forbidden element of the light. Such is the power she
inherited when she... umm... merged with her predecessor Valdera."
     Tony gasped. "Can you *say* that on broadcast television!?"
     "Hush, you two!" JR scolded, before returning his attention to the action. "Ivysaur's
starting off with a quick Vine Whip. Pikachu's blocking-- No! She just 
grabbed one of its tendrils!"
     The white mouse yanked with all her might and pulled Ivysaur in, 
shooting forward with her free hand as sparks came to life in it.
     "Light Pikachu with a quick Thunder Punch!" Joey yelped, "Not going
to do much against Ivysaur's innate electrical resistance, though."
     "She ducks in underneath," Tony began as Light Pikachu maneuvered in
to lift the grass Pokemon and flip him to the side. "And Slams him with a
quick fireman's takedown!"

     The two Pokemon quickly scrambled back upright and spin to each other.
     "Pikachu's the quicker of the two... and she's bearing down for a
Swift attack..." JR began.
     "Get ready to counterattack, Ivysaur! Set up the Leech Cage!" The 
blonde trainer ordered. At her command, the frog-like Pokemon thrust a 
pair of vines from its back into the ground. A tight barrier of thorns
and foliage quickly grew and surrounded it. 
     "Carly was just settin' Mistaria up!" JR protested, "Pikachu's 
on a collision course and--" The summoned wall exploded in thorny 
shrapnel upon impact, sending Light Pikachu flailing back to the 
middle of the ring, her once flawless white fur now covered in 
scratches. "Whatta shot from Ivysaur!
     "Time to finish those primadonnas, Ivysaur!" Carly proclaimed
proudly. "Get ready for another Ultra Lunar Blast!"
     As yet another moonbeam began to majestically descend from the sky...
Light Pikachu got up to her feet and began to rush towards the steadfast
Ivysaur.
     "That's it, Pikachu! Interrupt his attack!" Mistaria approved.
     "HEY! YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" Carly protested.

     "What's this? Misty's Pikachu's leaping forward to engage its
opponent!" Tony noted. "Lands with a *dazzling* handstand right before
him and-- Could it be...?"
     In a physics defying-instant, the pure white Pikachu did a sharp
back flip, sweeping both of her hind legs square into Ivysaur's face
and chest, launching it airborne with the resulting shockwave of
electrical and Light energies.
     "MEGA KICK FROM LIGHT PIKACHU!" JR raved. "It looks like it's
Game Over for McGowan!"
     "Now we have him!" Mistaria smiled. "Pikachu, unleash the Holy 
Thunder!"
     "Fah, this is *so* ghey!" Carly whined.
     "PIKA!" the female Pikachu responded, elegantly waving
her electrified paws around before thrusting them forward, launching
a pair of white ethereal spheres at the still airborne Ivysaur...
which blossomed, on impact, into an dazzling white and gold explosion of lightning.

     "MISTARIA WINS!" Tony cheered as the unconscious and charred
Ivysaur dropped to the ground as "Obsession" resounded over the 
arena's sound system. "An impressive win from the Mistress 
of Water and Light, gentlemen. The kind of action we've come to 
expect from the PFFL!"
     "Our next opening round contest is another in this league's 
extreme history of Circle of Masters matches," Joey started as Megumi
Hayashibara's "Give a Reason", the opening theme from Slayers
Next, began. "Up first, one of our first returning contender from 
last year, the First Lady of the PFFL, Sailor Pikagirl!"
     Through the archway, the fiery horse Ponyta trotted onto the stage.
Mounted atop of the red steed was the Pikachu Senshi herself, her yellow
skinned face brightening as she smiled and waved to the cheering fans.
Her usual white and yellow uniform was now decorated with intricate
lighting-designed lacings along the ribbon on her shoulders and the 
base of her dress. With an enthusiastic yell, she snapped her reins and
her Ponyta scampered to the arena floor.
     "Sailor Pikagirl brings her many assets to the ring tonight,"
Tony commented. "She'll be teaming with her trademark fiery
stallion for tonight's match."
     "And that li'l firebrand is gonna have to be ready for her
first opponent," JR forewarned as the happy J-Pop segued to ominous
industrial ones. Wumpscut's "Golgotha" screeched throughout the arena
as the lights dimmed and the spotlights cued up, searching along the 
stands until, when the vocals kicked in, the lights snapped to 
the upper tiers of the stadium to find a silhouetted robed figure, paired
katanas sheathed across his back, mounted on top of some unidentified 
bestial form.
     "Oh great, an Ashura-wanna be..." Joey stated bluntly.
     "That would be the one of Team Rocket's premier ninja agents, Raeko
Steel!" Tony affirmed.
     "They sure have a lot of those ninja fellas, don't they?" JR
questioned as the cloaked ninja leapt onto his feral steed. They leapt
to the arena floor... and horrified gasps filled the arena as they 
caught a better look at Raeko's Pokemon. Sailor Pikagirl stood silently, 
but her true rage was evident as she tightened her fist around the reigns
of her fiery steed.
     "Good Gawd... What in the *hell* is that monstrosity?" JR gaped 
as the Team Rocket ninja steadied his multi-headed Pokemon. The 
beast possessed three heads, all vaguely canine: The first one, 
on the left, was covered in slick blue scales, the middle one was
yellow with sharp locks of fur, while the red and gold one on the right
emitted wisps of flame. The Pokemon's legs and body where a muted brown
in color.
     "That would be Trineon, Ross," Joey noted, equally appalled.
"Raeko Steel specializes in genetic engineering. This... thing is 
obviously one of his creations."

Sailor Pikagirl vs Raeko Steel
CIRCLE OF MASTERS RULES

     "Impressive, is it not?" The black clad Rocket agent beamed with
pride. "Three powerful elements, contained in one powerful Pokemon...
One of my best creations, if I say so myself."
     Sailor Pikagirl emitted a low, almost feral growl, one that 
grew with the electrical halo of power that emitted from her. Her Ponyta
responded in kind, its own fiery glow shimmering and melding with her
trainer's...
     "This is an abomination to all Pokemon trainers. The Legendary 
Beasts *may* forgive you... but I WILL NOT!" The enraged senshi pulled
her steed onto its hind legs, her free hand tightening as a mass of 
ball lightning consumed it. "I, Sailor Pikagirl, swear it! HIYAA!"
     "Sailor Pikagirl is at a full charge toward her opposition!"
Tony informed, "And, folks, I have *never* seen her so enraged before in
all my PFFL history!" The yellow skinned senshi kicked her legs up,
managing to perch herself on top Ponyta's back, steadied herself...
     "And she just *leapt* off of her charging Pokemon! What agility!"
Joey yelped, "She's summoning something to her hands as she brings them
together..."
     Down below, Raeko coughed out an offended snort, leapt onto Trineon's
tensed back, and hurled himself airborne, drawing for his paired katanas.
     "Ponyta's comin' in and just *rams* into that hellbeast with a
Takedown!" JR exclaimed as the fiery horse charged into Trineon's chest,
"Doesn't look like that move did much to him, though, and that fiery 
filly's left herself wide open..."
     "And high above, Pikagirl's just summoned her Thunder Sword to engage
Raeko in midair, but he's having none of that!" Tony stated. The Pikachu
Senshi swept her golden sword downward in a powerful arc, which the ninja
promptly crossed his blades to block. Quickly, he spun his offhand blade
around to attempt to counter.
     "Amanda gets out of this initial melee with a light slash," Joey
continued as Sailor Pikagirl rolled with her nemesis' strike, his katana
grazing her left flank. "She's continuing her spin.... and follows up 
with a vicious elbow to Raeko's face!" Both combatants tumbled back to 
the ground, landing easily on their feet.
	Their Pokemon counterparts, meanwhile, struggled violently, as two of
Trineon's heads reeled back for a pair of breath weapons...
     "Trineon connects with a swipe of its claw, Ponyta's stunned..." Tony
worried as the monstrous Pokemon's mouths glowed blue and yellow. The three-
headed beast reared its head forward, exhaling a flurry of elemental blasts
from their respecive mouths. "SERIOUS DAMAGE! Bowling over the fiery 
Pokemon with a combined Aurora Beam and a thunderous breath attack!"
     Raeko Steel touched the ground and quickly vaulted back to the back
of his Trineon, standing back upright. He wiped his bloodied lip with 
the back of his gloved hand, peering down to the worried Sailor Pikagirl
as she comforted her wounded Ponyta.
     
     "You've grown too attached to that old mare, Amanda," Raeko snorted.
"Pokemon are meant to be improved. Perfected."
     "And *you* underestimate the power of purity," Sailor Pikagirl
shot back, stroking the back of her flaming horse Pokemon as it steadied
herself. "You ready, girl?"
     Ponyta neighed in affirmation, its golden eyes steady on the three
headed beast towering above them.
     "Looks like Sailor Pikagirl is getting back on her faithful steed,
in spite of the heavy attack she just took," Tony stated.
     "The both of you are *weak*," The cloaked warrior snarled.
"Trineon! Let's finish this... Tri Attack!"
     "This could be it folks... Raeko's gettin' ready to open fire
with all three heads from that hellacious beast!" JR gasped as they opened
their glowing mouths. "Pikagirl's on the defensive. They may try to jump
over this..."
     "Get ready, girl," the yellow skinned senshi assured, waiting until
Trineon finally lunged forward, heaving its energized breath attacks
towards them, "Now Swift attack! Straight above!"
     "Here comes the Tri Attack..." Tony yelped as Ponyta and Sailor
Pikagirl's form blurred upward. "And it hits *nothing but air!*"
     The fiery steed and her partner seemed to hover in midair, until
their combined auras of power flared, forming a halo of crimson lightning
around them, culminating in a pair of wing-like extensions from Ponyta's
back...
     "Eat Zapdos' justice, creep!" the Pikachu senshi exclaimed. "Ponyta?
Fire Blast!"
     "DEATH FROM ABOVE!" JR bellowed as the horse Pokemon launched a
thick mass of flame down onto the startled three-headed Pokemon, just
as Sailor Pikagirl leapt off of its shoulders, "Ponyta just dropped an 
inferno on Trineon! Sadly, it looks like Raeko hopped off just in time..."
     "I don't think so, Ross!" Joey interrupted. "Pikagirl's right there
to intercept him!"
     "ZAANDERU..." The golden skinned senshi twisted twice in midair, 
her English suddenly becoming broken and heavily accented. She then 
barreled downward towards the incoming ninja, her powerful legs 
extended. "KIIIIIKKU!"
     "Thunderous drop kick to the chest sends Raeko Steel to the ground!"
Tony stated. After a feeble attempt to struggle back to his feet,
the cloaked ninja clutched his smoldering chest and collapsed next to his 
charred Pokemon. "FINEST KNOCK OUT! And Sailor Pikagirl is advancing to the
next round!"
     The kneeling senshi slowly rose to her feet as "Give a Reason"
returned to the arena's sound system, then struck a cheerful and
victorious pose, offering the nearby hovercam a "V" handsign.
     "Raeko Steel might have had a tougher Pokemon in that monstrous
Trineon," Joey observed. "But he learned first hand that you just don't
piss off a girl in a sailor fuku."
     
     "We're goin' into our second hour here on Pokemon Fight! There's 
two more hot matches comin' your--" Jim Ross' introduction was cut off 
as the opening, distant guitar chords of Creed's "My Sacrifice" sounded 
throughout the arena, and the lighting darkened. "What the heck...?"
     All eyes turned to the pedestal where the PFFL Championship cup sat... which 
now illuminated with a soft light. The glow increased as the guitars began to build,
until finally the entire platform exploded upward in a beam of white light as
the song hit its bridge.
     From within the column of light, a silhouetted figure could be seen
rising, being lifted from somewhere within the pedestal into the open air...
     "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" Malahelicon's voice chirped over the cheering fans,
"Your Messiah of Monster Trainers: SATOSHI!"
     The divine light below the figure cut out to reveal the familiar 
guise of the spiky haired young man, wearing a red jacket. The multiversally 
renowned Pokemon champion squinted and brought a gloved hand to his eyes. At
his feet, his faithful rodent companion Tenchu had a similar reaction, rubbing
his eyes with his forepaws.
     "... was starting to wonder how long the CEO was planning on keeping us
down there," Satoshi said.
     "Tenchuten..." the golden mouse Pokemon agreed, blinking his eyes
before scampering down the stairs from the pedestal to the nearby VIP booth.
Satoshi followed him and took a seat in the unusually posh chair next to 
the CEO's hovering throne.
     "Well, now!" Tony gasped. "The champ makes a dramatic appearance as he
joins us *live* tonight!"
     "And methinks he's not used to such festivities," Joey observed. "But 
I'm certain he's going to want to see the next couple matches, scouting out
would be contenders."

     The hard rocking sounds of Motorhead's "Burner" signaled the 
evening's newest contender.
     "Our next rookie comes from Cinnabar Island," JR informed as a brawny
man emerged from the curtains. He wore dark hair, tied into a ponytail that
ran down his back, and dark glasses. Dressed in black military pants, 
boots, and sleeveless muscle shirt, he hefted a black flag over his 
shoulder, bearing the trademark skull and flames of his team's insignia.
     "And he's as cutthroat as they come, gentlemen," Tony added cautiously.
"Jonathan 'The Incinerator' Burns is one of the most surly roughnecks on
the Kanto Islands! He and his gang, the nefarious INFERNO, hope to upset
Team Rocket as the Islands' primary crime syndicate."
     "So we're dealing with Dreadnoks with Pokeballs here?" Joey snickered
as Incinerator planted the pole of his banner into the ground next to him in 
his trainer's box, laughing boorishly at the jeering fans in attendance.

     The lighting throughout the arena died out as Godsmack's trademark
industrial rock guitars began resonating through the arena as the opening
chords of "I Stand Alone" began. The music built to the first vocals, and
indigo spotlights snapped on to illuminate a familiar black cloaked warrior
standing on the rampway.
     "And finally, Ashura has returned to the PFFL!" Tony exclaimed. The 
brooding shadow warrior reached up and pulled his hood off, eyeing the 
enthusiastic capacity crowd carefully, before smiling darkly and making
his way down to the ring. His familiar, the ebony furred Shadow Pikachu,
scampered methodically at his side.
     "The incomparable Master of Shadows is once more a prime contender
at this year's event! The Incinerator's going to really have to turn
up the heat to stand up to Ashura," JR foretold.

Ashura vs Jonathan "Incinerator" Burns
STANDARD LEAGUE RULES

     "Feh, your dye-job Pikachu doesn't look so tough." the INFERNO gang
leader dismissed. "Go kick its ass, Sizzler!"
     The small crimson biped dragon materialized into view and snarled
menacingly at the dark Pikachu... who promptly ignored the roaring fire
Pokemon.
     "Burns is *severely* underestimating what Ashura and Pikachu capable of,"
Joey shook his head. "You just can't take the Forbidden Elements lightly!"
     "Go on, man! Rage Attack!"
     Charmeleon snarled angrily and rushed toward the unmoving dark 
Pokemon, extending its claws.
     "Dark Shock."
     Shadow Pikachu casually rose one of its forepaws at its master's order,
sending a single violet-black arc of electricity shooting out at the small incoming 
dragon. The burst exploded in a dazzling array of dark sparks as it collided with the
fiery Pokemon, who was knocked away backwards to land in a painful heap.
     "And with *just one shot* Shadow Pikachu takes down his first challenge!"
Tony gasped. "The Incinerator's gonna have to light a fire under his two remaining
Pokemon to stand a chance in this opening round."
     "...you two are gonna keep up with those fire puns, aren't you?" Joey
winced.

     "That was just a warm up, pretty boy!" Jonathan countered. Ashura simply
choked out a stifled snicker as the Incinerator recalled his already injured 
Charmeleon. "Let's see how ya stand up against Scorch!"
     With a blast of his second Pokeball, the roughneck soldier summoned a 
large fiery canine, the powerful Arcanine. Upon materializing into existence,
Arcanine charged forward, managing to ram into the unprepared dark rodent Pokemon.
     "Right out of the gate with a Takedown!" JR announced. "He'll have to stay
right on Pikachu before he can do any damage. He seems to have him pinned thus far..."
     Shadow Pikachu struggled under the massive fiery dog's weight, and looked 
up just in time to see Arcanine's head lunge in.
     "He's going for a Bite, Pikachu! Block it!" Ashura warned, nodding with approval
as his companion quickly reached up to hold the flaming canine's snout away.
Arcanine snarled in frustration, forcing its head back down to face the prone 
Pikachu, opening its jaws slightly to allow trails of smoke to escape from it...
     "That's it, Scorch! Fry it with a Flamethrower!" Burns roared proudly.
     "Nice try, Burns, but not fast enough," the Shadow Warrior taunted. "Lightning
Shield!" A crackling sphere of dark lighting engulfed both Pokemon, Arcanine
launching away an instant later, just managing a proper landing from the resulting
blast. 
     "Great escape on the part of Shadow Pikachu!" Joey approved as Ashura's
trademark Pokemon flipped back to its feet. "The dark rodent kippups right 
back up and-- wait a second, he's glaring right up at the VIP booth."
     High above the usual spectators, Tenchu took notice of his shadowy nemesis
and scampered out from his master's lap. He hopped onto the railing and
met Shadow Pikachu's indignant grinning with a scowl of his own.
     "What's Shadow Pikachu doing?" Tony wondered aloud. "He should be paying
attention to the match!"
     "I think he and Ashura are about to send a message to our PFFL champions..."
JR groaned.

     "Pikachu, Agility," the cloaked warrior commanded evenly. The dark rodent
Pokemon's form blurred into several duplicates of itself, and began rushing
rapidly around the baffled Arcanine.
     "Just as I thought, stealing a classic play from Satoshi's proverbial 
book!" JR protested. Each image of Shadow Pikachu suddenly crackled with 
indigo wisps of electricity.
     "He's just psychin' ya out Scorch!" Incinerator encouraged. "Just
fry all of them with the Flame Wheel!"
     With a sudden short leap, Arcanine spun and let fly a ring of flames off
its tail and back. The fiery ring spiraled and crashed into each of the incoming
Shadow Pikachus... which just vanished in sulphuric clouds of smoke.
     "Arcanine's not gonna get them all in time--" Joey choked, just as the remaining
dark rodents erupted into dark spheres of ball lightning and rushed in to bombard
the the crimson dog. "And he just ate an Agility-powered Shadow Bolt attack!
That's harsh..."

     Ashura allowed himself a mildly amused laugh as Jonathan dismissed his
defeated Arcanine with a huff.
     "Heh... pretty much what I'd expect from a Rocket wanna-be."
     "HEY! Don't lump me and my boys with those chumps!" Incinerator protested.
His body tensed... and seemed to grow slightly, before the dark haired man settled
himself. He snapped his final Pokeball from his belt and held it forward. "You 
ninja boys don't stand a chance against my big gun. Come on out, Red Baron!"
     The Galaxian Arena filled with stunned gasps as Incinerator's trademark
Pokemon was summoned into the ring.
     "Sweet Mary and Joseph..." JR stammered. "What's happened to that Pokemon?"
     What materialized before Shadow Pikachu was, for the most part, a mighty
specimen of a Charizard. This particular dragon Pokemon, however, had been fitted
with numerous cybernetic prosthetics. Half of its head and maw were plated with 
steel, an infrared beam emitting from his left eye-lens. Its upper body was covered
by a breastplate, the INFERNO skull logo imbedded dead in its center. Red Baron's
arms and claws, too, had been replaced by titanium replacements, an array of gun
barrels attached to his left one. On his back were the most notable of his bionic
attachments: A pair of folding black wings, with a rocket pack on his back.
     "You can chalk that up to Team Rocket's handiwork," Joey informed grimly.
"During one of INFERNO and Team Rocket's skirmishes, Jonathan's Charizard took 
a lot of crossfire, so they had to operate and rebuild him."
     "And he became the $6 Million Dollar Charizard," JR finished.

     Just then, Red Baron turned its gaze over to the dark furred rodent Pokemon
and much to the surprise of many in attendance, began to taunt him.
     "Pikachu..." The cybernetic Charizard growled. "You and your little shadow
think you know war? You know nothing! I'll show you what a real full assault is like!"
     "...Pi?" Shadow Pikachu blinked.
     "That's right! I don't play to win... I play TO CRUSH!"
     "Ka-*chu*" The dark rodent agreed confidently, smiling cutely
as it braced itself for combat.
     "YEAH, BRING IT!" Red Baron howled.
     "...ummm, yeah," Joey arched an eyebrow.
     
     "After a round of trash talking, our final Pokemon are ready to 
fight!" Tony began, covering for his speechless co-horts.
     "Shadow Pikachu with the first attack, a pair of Dark Shocks..."
JR added as the black rodent attacked. Red Baron merely edged a step
back and swept his titanium wings in front of him, easily blocking the bursts,
as the turbines on his back activated... and the metallic Charizard 
jetted forward at blinding speed, hovering just above the ground.
     "Red Baron's rushing in to intercept! Pikachu wasn't expecting that 
much agility from him..." Joey yelped as the bionic Charizard closed in and
easily snatched the dark rodent with one of his steel claws. "He's got 
a hold of Shadow Pikachu-- and just *drives* him right into the ground!"
Red Baron continued his charge, crushing the dark rodent warrior into the
earth as he sped along. Shadow Pikachu finally managed to grab hold of
Red Baron's massive claw with both forepaws, and discharged a blinding
flash of indigo light, causing the cybernetic Charizard to finally 
break his grip.
     "Incinerator's Red Machine just delivered a *massive* opening strike
against Shadow Pikachu!" JR called out as the dark rodent struggled from 
the trench his rival's attack created. "And Red Baron's cybernetic tricks
can't *possibly* be legal! He's got *guns* on one of his arms, for cryin'
out loud!"
     "Perfectly legal move, Jim," Tony affirmed. "Nothing too unusual
in anything-goes monster combat."
     "Ha HA! That's it, Baron! Gun 'im down" Jonathan cheered as his
draconian companion leveled his left arm at the recovering Pikachu. A
trio of barrels extended from it, and the bionic Charizard opened fire
on the dark rodent Pokemon, who quickly flailed and dove away from the salvo.
     "That's it, Pikachu," Ashura nodded in approval. "Keep moving
and close in!"
     "Not that the guns are doing Red Baron any good... Pikachu's
right under him now and--" Joey observed, just as the dark rodent 
warrior paused at the Charizard's feet and flipped upward, cleaving
its chest with his electrified tail. "Lightning Slash!" Shadow Pikachu
continued its somersault, tumbling to an upright position when it
reached the fire and metal dragon's head... and lowered its forepaws
to summon a cone of dark crackling energies into its face. "And
a mouthful of shadow lightning just turned this match around!"
     "Don't be so sure, Styles..." JR warned, just as Red Baron
lashed forward to wrap its titanium alloy right claw easily around
Shadow Pikachu's body. "Red Baron just caught him with one hand!"
     "Nice shot, Ninja boy," Jonathan smirked, "But not quite enough.
Red Baron, Gatling Punch!"
     "SEE YA!" Red Baron roared triumphantly as the sliding cylinders
on his right arm locked into position... and an eruption of fire and
gunpowder consumed his iron fist, along with Shadow Pikachu! Three more
blasts rapidly followed, and the dark elemental Pokemon was thrown 
unceremoniously back to the center of the ring. Across from the prone 
rodent, Red Baron stood back up and regarded his metallic right hand 
and mentally commanded the cylinders surrounding his wrist to open up. 
Four large smoking shells, now empty, dropped out and to the ground.
     "Stupid Pikachu..." the cybernetic dragon grumbled, "No match
for the power of INFERNO-- What the hell?" Red Baron's jeering was 
cut off as he noticed trails of dark blue lightning trickling around 
him, and the wind picking up around him. He turned back in time to 
see the charred Shadow Pikachu lurching back to his feet, eyes 
gleaming with dark power.
     "And you two know nothing of the power... or the responsibility
of the Shadow," Ashura retorted cryptically. Red Baron looked about
wildly as the winds began to spiral around him, random bolts of dark
lightning lashing into him. "Pikachu... LIGHTNING VORTEX!"
     "Shadow Pikachu is sending the Red Machine airborne!" 
Tony gasped.
     "*Really*, Schiovane?" Joey quipped as his WCW cohort continued.
     "Red Baron's caught in midair by those hurricane winds-- and once
more Shadow Pikachu's looking back to the VIP booth! What is his deal?"
     "Ashura's now turning his attention up to the PFFL champion up there
too," JR observed, noticing the Assassin's dark smile. "Looks like he's 
got something else to say to Satoshi..."
     The dark furred rodent Pokemon looked up at the vulnerable
bionic Charizard above, held aloof by the Lightning Vortex. Shadow
Pikachu held up a single paw in front of him... and grinned as his
stubby fist was quickly consumed by a foul violet and black glow.
     "Oh, he didn't..." Satoshi glowered in annoyance.
     "Chuuu...!" His golden furred companioned growled.
     "Behold! The new Shadow technique!" Ashura declared with pride.
"FIST OF HELL!"
     Shadow Pikachu gripped his crackling paw with his free one and
leapt up towards the trapped Charizard, spinning wildly as the dark
indigo electricity formed and shrouded his form. An unholy shockwave 
of lightning and thunder erupted above the Galaxian War Arena upon
the dark rodent's impact. When the flash died out, Red Baron lay 
unconscious on the ground, Shadow Pikachu standing victoriously on 
his charred chest, his own forepaws still smoking from the deadly technique.
     "Unbelievable!" Tony gasped in horror, "Shadow Pikachu's new
finisher, the Fist of Hell, is a *mirror image* of Tenchu's trademark
move!"
     "I don't think Ashura knows that Satoshi named Tenchu's
technique when he was twelve..." Joey pondered.
     "Well, in spite of Ashura's lack of originality, he's got a
deadly new move and he's heading to the quarter-finals!" JR commented,
pausing as he saw Red Baron's master trembling in range. "And the 
Incinerator is furious!"
     "...not just furious, he's hulking out! Literally!" Joey yelped
and pointed to the INFERNO leader. Jonathan Burns growled angrily as
his body began to contort and grow slightly in size. His arm and chest
muscles expanded, ripping through his shirt as his skin began to turn
orange in tone. The Incinerator roared, exposing his new fangs, as
a pair of draconian wing emerged from his back. In a rare instance
of surprise, Ashura spun with wide eyes as the Charizard hybrid surged
forward, clawed hands stretched forward.
     "Jonathan Burns is a Were-Charizard," The WWE senior announcer
flatly commented, not a single hint of surprise in his voice.
     "Yeah..." Joey added awkwardly as Incinerator and Ashura grappled.
"An accident in a Team Rocket lab facility left Burns and his lieutenants
with the DNA of their respective trademark Pokemon."
     "Does he know every form of martial arts, too?" JR asked casually.
     "I don't think our in-house security staff will let the Incinerator
answer that question, gentlemen!" Tony intervened as several armored
Saints scrambled in to pull Ashura and the draconian Jonathan away from
each other, enduring the streams of electricity and blasts of fire the
two trainers hurled wildly at each other. "We'll need a moment to clean 
up after this match, so don't go away!"

	"It's been ten years since the Spear of Light has vanished from
the Realm of Colors..." The deep and dramatic voice of the narrator
warns. An eerie and dismal landscape unfolds into view: A crag-littered
stone citadel, jutting out from what was once a fertile hillside.
	A lanky, robed green-skinned figure stands confidently on the
castle's balcony, wheezing out a laugh as he surveys the bleak surroundings.
	"Glorious!" The mustachied goblinoid proclaims. "The Spear of Light,
gone! Those *infernal* children, gone!"
	The hulking brown furred humanoid, the foul ruler's bodyguard
grunted in approval.
	"That's right, Lurker..." Lightning flashes in the grey skies, 
illuminating the madman's dull steel helm. "Now, without them around,
my power can spread, and *all* shall feel the wrath of... Dizmal!"
	The steady beats of techno dance music fade in as a stylized
shot of a sweater wearing teenaged girl with short purple hair snaps
into view, a bright purple gleam on her glasses obscuring her eyes.
	*SHY VIOLET*
	"It looks pretty bad, guys," The bespectacled girl worries as
she punches information into her laptop. "Murky's done a number on the
place since we were banished, and I've yet to find the others..."
	Another still shot, this one of a much more athletic girl
with short brown hair, wearing a sleeveless orange vest. Her taped
wrists and hands are covered with a pair of brass bracers, and wears
a stylish beret. An orange glow illuminates her fists and hat.
	*LALA ORANGE*
	"Don't sweat it, Violet!" The French tomboy chuckles, as combat 
footage rolls, featuring LaLa felling a pack of shadowy humanoids 
with dazzling martial arts. "There's nothing he can throw at me 
that can defeat my Shimmering Maiden Technique!"
	The action scene gets replaced by a still of a lovely dark-skinned
youth, wearing a snug light blue sweater with a purple vest over it.
Her eyes are closed, and as she holds her hands up maidenly, a deep purple
glow flows from them...
	*INDIGO*
	"We better move fast though," Indigo spoke softly, as the scene
cuts away to see the reserved young woman summoning a dark blue barrier 
with her raised hands, which harmlessly absorb a hair of lightning 
bolts. "Dizmal's already started to infiltrate the Real World..."
	The next still frame shows an adolecent boy with styled curly
red locks and a snug flame-embossed tank top. He holds a gloved hand
off to the side, flames spiraling around it.
	*RED BUTLER*
	"Heh..." The fiery lad smirks. "Me and my gang can protect the
streets on Earth." Another montage plays, showing Red's fist consumed in
fire... before crouching down and slamming it into the pavement,
summoning a massive column of flame that advances towards the camera.
"You ladies just worry about getting the Spear."
	Finally, a determined blonde haired lass appears on the last
freeze frame. She wears a blue leather jacket over her white t-shirt
and silver metallic belt, and sports a familiar star-shaped tattoo 
on her cheek. A multi-colored surge of light shimmers from her clenched fist.
	*RAINBOW BRITE*
	"The children of Rainbow Land are *back*!" The narrator proclaims
dramatically. A feminine figure hovers in the lightning filled skies. Within
the flashes of lightning, a lithe gothic girl with pinkish-purple hair 
smiles indignantly, dressed in a black leather jacket and denim... 
and holding an ornate black and grey curved sword in her left hand as she 
summons a sphere of ball lightning in her right...
	"It's time to take back the Light!" her blonde nemesis challenges from 
below, bracing herself as a dazzling halo of colors swirls around her form,
then finally shooting her hands skyward toward the camera with a yell, 
firing off a prismatic burst of light.
	"Rainbow Brite... Only on TOONAMI!" The narrator concludes as the
cartoon's block-lettered title comes into view, seconds after the impending 
battle snaps into action, and quickly blacks out. 
	
     "Welcome back to tonight's main event, and a duel of champions at 
that!" Joey welcomed as the live feed returned.
     "This first returning trainer is one that our reigning 
champion's *definately* familiar with," JR added as Godsmack's "Keep Away" 
began to blare over the sound system. "Former Pokemon League champ and 
Satoshi's partner-in-crime Adauchi makes a return appearance this season!"
     The bald shaven hitman paced down to the pentagonal battle ring, grey
trenchcoat billowing behind him. He stopped in the trainer's box and folded 
his arms, turning around and looking up the marble booth high above him, 
giving Satoshi an incredulous smirk before turning back to the ring.
     "One gets the feeling that Adauchi isn't used to being beneath his cohort,"
Tony noted wisely. "He's got a long road to get to the championship."
     The hard guitars of Godsmack faded away to be replaced with the opening 
dance lyrics of Dance Dance Revolution's "Shooting Star". A thin young girl in
denim jeans and a t-shirt scampered enthusiastically onto the rampway. The 
violet-haired teenager wore thick round rimmed eyeglasses, and a silver 
beaded choker around her neck.
     "The ever enthusiastic Messilla Samatha Wetall's done a *lot* of growing
up since last season!" the senior WWE announcer informed. "She's been traveling
around America, and trained to become the best Pokemon trainer this side of 
the Islands!"
     "And wherever Messilla goes, you know her big brother's close behind..."
Joey noted when numerous female spectators in the Galaxian War arena 
cheered as PFFL's head of security approached Messilla's side. The incomparable
Lord Thinker shouldered his gunblade-styled Delete Key and smiled to the 
nearby fans. His brown hair was a bit longer now, down to shoulder length with
long styled bangs. His yellow jacket no longer had a furred collar, and its
sleeves were cropped off at the elbows, showing the leather bands around his
arms and gloved hands.
     "And the ladies seem to approve of Thinker's new attire." JR 
observed with a shrug, "Who'd of thought the kid would become such a 
fashion plate."
     "Messilla's going to have her work cut out in this opening round,"
Tony foretold as the two trainers readied themselves. "Which trainer will
reign supreme?"

MESSILLA SAMATHA WETALL vs ADAUCHI
STANDARD LEAGUE RULES

     "The North American champion chooses her first Pokemon!" cheered
Tony, as the violet haired girl released her first Pokeball. The red
light solidified into the massive draconian form of the fiery Charizard,
who spread its wings. "And it appears that her little Charmander's grown 
up too!"
     "CHAZIROD!" The mighty dragon Pokemon roared, earning a pair of 
blinks from the silent gunman.
     "Some things, fortunately, don't change." Joey quipped. "But
I'm gonna have to question her first choice, given Adauchi's usual
line-up."
     "Quite true, Styles." Joey's WWE counterpart agreed. "Adauchi's 
beginning with his usual power hitter, the rock hard snake Onix!" 
JR observed as the massive stone Pokemon materialized before the 
bald gunman. "Messilla better have some tricks up her sleeve."
     
     "Start off with Smokescreen, Charizard!" Messilla ordered, 
"Fog up the field!"
     Charizard inhaled deeply and bellowed forth a stream of thick 
grey smoke, enveloping the floor of the Galaxian War arena.
     "Messilla's starting off on the right track." Joey noted
between coughs. "All this smoke's gonna make it harder for Onix
to land a hit."
     "But one hit's all Onix will need, given his elemental edge
on Charizard." JR reminded as the stone serpent lashed forward through
the smog. "That dragon's flapping out of harm's way so far though..."
     "Charizard's moving in from behind," Tony announced as the 
fiery dragon hovered into position, "Looks like he's gearing up
for a sneak attack!"
     "Ya think?" Joey smirked as Charizard inhaled once more and
exhaled a blueish stream of flame. "Let's see how Onix 
likes a mouthful of dragon fire, folks!"
     Charizard's breath passed through the smoke clouds, whcih 
gradually began to fade... to reveal a large hole and a ring of
dislodged earth surrounding it. The baffled dragon blinked and
looked about nervously.
     "Adauchi had his Pokemon play possum!" JR observed, "And 
that wily gunslinger's got his opponent right in his sight!"
     A steady rumbling began to resonate throughout the arena
and built to an earth-shaking roar... as the stone Pokemon launched
out of from the ground and hurled itself skyward to ram its spiked
head into Charizard's flank!
     "Onix is twisting in mid-air-- and absolutely *bitch-slaps*
Charizard with his tail, sending him to the ground!" Joey
raved markishly as the battered dragon crashed painfully to the 
ground.

     "Charizard's sudden defeat evens this match back up at 
two apiece." Tony informed. "Messila's gonna have to turn things
up a notch to gain ground."   
     The bespectabled teen furrowed her brow amusingly with 
determination, retracting her defeated Charizard. She reached for
her belt, carefully picking out her next Pokemon, and drew it
confidently toward the ring.
     "Time to show us your power... come on out, Jenkar!"
     Before Messilla formed a striped coyote with green and grey
fur. The lean canine Pokemon paced around the massive stone
serpent, who looked down with an indignant glare.
     "...huh, looks like she tie-dyed Red 13," JR blinked.
     "Actually, according to our sources, Jenkar's one of several
new Pokemon Messila's discovered in her travels across the US."
Joey informed, thumbing through his notes. 
     
     "Cut that Onix down to size, Jenkar!" the violet haired
girl shouted. "Start off with Rock Smash!"
     "That coyote's running chargin' in," JR began as the 
canine Pokemon rushed in, "And rams its head into a weak spot
in Onix's massive plated midsection!"
     The Onix emitted a brief roar of equal parts pain
and annoyance as Jenkar cracked a portion of its flank,
then roared in protest as it sunk its fangs into the wound...
     "Following up nicely with a Crunch attack!" Tony 
approved. "Nice chain of moves from Messilla, but it might
not be enough to slow that rock solid Pokemon down..."
     The Lone Gunman Adauchi allowed himself a knowing 
smirk as his Pokemon lifted his head and body upward and
twisted about, his would-be attacker now holding on for 
dear life.
     "Good God! Jenkar's literally hanging by his teeth
as Onix Thrashes about!" Joey yelped. The weary Jenkar finally
released its grip and went sailing across and beyond the battle
ring, landing on its side before struggling back upright. 
"And Messilla's unique Pokemon just got thrown for distance for
a quick ring out."
     "Adauchi's steamrollin' through the North American champion
thus far," JR nodded somberly, "She's down to her last Pokemon, 
and she'll be in for a helluva fight here..."
     The young woman adjusted her glasses and held up her remaining
blue and white Pokemon, giving it an assuring smile.
     "It's all up to you now, girl," Messila encouraged. "Do your
best, Vileplume!"
     A shimmering red beam launched out from Messila's remaining Pokemon,
and in a flash, the grey and green grass Pokemon tumbled to the
ground, her large head-pedals slowing her fall and leaving a trail of 
leaves in her wake.
     "Great Scott!" Tony enthused on cue, "Messila's little Oddish
has evolved into a graceful warrior! Adauchi better take care of her
quick!"
     The bald hitman growled in annoyance and thrust his hand forward,
motioning for the attack. Onix plowed his head far into the earth, sending forth
a wave of rock and debris towards the veteran Grass Pokemon.
     "Vileplume's attempting to jump over the Rock Throw," Joey began as
the squat mushroom Pokemon vaulted upward and, landing upon a boulder, leapt
further up. "And she's getting some air! This isn't going to be pretty..."
     With several waves of her stubby arms, Vileplume cast forth a flurry 
of leaves to descend and spiral around her pained opponent...
     "That's right, Vileplume! Leaf Hurricane!" Messila cheered as the 
tornado of leaves solidified and consumed the mighty earth serpent. Seconds
later, the green vortex faded and Onix collapsed forward, his stone body
covered in slashes, onto the now leaf filled battle ring.
     "MAH GAWD! That girl's got some tricks left yet," JR enthused. "Messila's
mighty radish has grown up, and is kickin' butt tonight!"
     Vileplume landed back on the ground, eyes closed and awaiting her next
opponent. Adauchi shoved his gloved hands into his coat pockets, an unusual dark
presence in the field of lively green leaves, and took out his remaining Pokeball.
With a flip of the ball's switch, the Lone Gunman's trademark monster, the 
brown humanoid martial artist Hitmonlee appeared. The dwarfed Fighter Pokemon 
looked across grimly to his opposition before steadily treading through the 
swirling leaves.
     
     "The tension is mounting in this heated battle!" Tony uttered in 
a hushed tone. "Each trainer is down to their last Pokemon. Both Messilla and
Adauchi have shown true Pokemon Master spirit, but only *one* will advance
to the quarterfinals!"
     "You can do it, Vileplume!" the purple haired girl supported. 
Start off with Razer Leaf and keep your distance!"
     The squat grey Pokemon twirled and spun about, casting forth a series
of leaves from her flower-shaped head. Hitmonlee was quick to respond, twisting and
advancing past the Razor Leaves, kicking up the leaves and grass that covered the 
battlefield dramatically as he rushed forward.
     "Uh..." Joey sniffled in irritation. "Guys, I think my allergies are
gonna get to me at this rate..."
     "Hitmonlee's closing in with his trademark feet of fury!" 
JR continued, ignoring his cohort's whining as the brown fighter leap forward.
Hitmonlee twisted in mid-air and swept his extended leg downward. "Starts things off with 
a vicious ax kick!"
     "Vileplume's having none of that, though!" Tony rebutted. "She ducks 
and shields herself, her stylish array of petals softening the blow."
     "And it sets Hitmonlee up good for her next attack!" JR interrupted,
noticing the sudden burst of grey mist that shot forth from Vileplume's
blossom as the fighting Pokemon's leg dropped onto it.
     "Stun Spores, Hitmonlee," Adauchi warned, breaking his silence. "Step in and stop 
it."
     "He's setting up for Double Kick, Vileplume! Get out of its way!"
     "Plume!" The grass Pokemon lifted her head-leaves slightly and then suddenly swept 
them downward, giving her leap the extra strength to sail harmlessly above the spinning 
kicks. She twirled slowly and began to glow, seeming to hover as she spun.
     "Vileplume's settingh up for her trademark dancing moves, startin' off
with Sword Dance..." Joey began before succumbing to a sneeze.
     "While he's open, cut him with your leaves!" Messila cried out. Vileplume
landed silently and quickly spiraled towards the defiant Hitmonlee, buffeting
him with her large petals and launching nearby leaves at him. Hitmonlee staggered
back from the graceful assault, until finally managing to break away with a
back flip, lashing out with his legs and stopping Vileplume's Petal Dance. Each 
Pokemon landed a final glancing strike, and finished back on the ground, crouching low
and away from each other as leaves flowed across the arena.
     "An even match thus far between these two seasoned trainers," JR nodded
as his bespectacled counterpart let loose another sneeze.
     "Ya... bud I thimk Adauchi's gonna finnith thish," Joey managed,
blowing his nose.
     "I have to disagree, Styles," Tony shook his head, "Adauchi looks ready
to end this match for good." Joey Styles snarled in annoyance as he rubbed his eyes.

     "Hitmonlee!"
     "LEE," The brown fighter grunted as he leapt in.
     The cocky gunman smirked over to the confused girl. "Mega Kick!"
     "Get ready to block, Vileplume!" Messilla warned. The flower
warrior readied herself, ducking low to block the powerful kick...
     The Lone Gunman smiled proudly as his fighter Pokemon feigned back upright
and swiped his fist out for a left hook.
     "Hey! He said he was going to use a Mega Kick!" Tony protested as Hitmonlee
continued to pummel his shocked opponent with another pair of punches.
     "Look, just because he *said* he was going to use a kick doesn't mean
he has to," Joey rebutted, finally recovering from his allergy attack. "Perfectly
legal maneuver."
     "And none too surprising, considering the former League Champion's track 
record," JR grumbled as Hitmonlee grabbed a hold of Vileplume's head and unceremoniously
threw her to the ground. "Adauchi's just having his way with Messila's
remaining Pokemon now, flinging her over with a snapmare takedown..."
     The greyish grass Pokemon struggled back to her feet, facing away from the
ready Hitmonlee, who ducked low into a powerful wide legged stance...
     Adauchi smirked proudly. "Let's finish her off."
     "Hitmonlee *now* looks ready to throw his patented Mega Kick, this could be it,"
Tony sighed, discouraged.
     "... You don't like it when Hitmonlee *doesn't* do the move Adauchi called. You
don't like it when he *does*," Joey jeered. "There's no pleasing some people..."
     As the brown humanoid Fighter Pokemon rushed forward to deliver the coup
de grace, he didn't see the shimmering white glow building in the bulb on Vileplume's
lowered head. That is, until she jerked upright and spun around, lowering her
head to take aim at her incoming foe.
     "Now's your chance, Vileplume!" Messila pleaded. "Fire your Hyper Beam!"
     "Mah stars and garters! Hyper Beam from point blank range!" JR exclaimed as
the dazzling white beam consumed Hitmonlee and knocked him back towards the center
ring. The force of the Hyper Beam cleared out the remaining leaves from the battle ring
and knocked Hitmonlee to the opposite edge. The smoldering Fighter landed on his back, 
unmoving. Just as the energies died out, Vileplume, too collapsed face first in exhaustion.
     "We're down to a grueling finish, as *both Pokemon* are now down!" Tony
cried out, "The ten count has begun! How will get up in time?"
     Both trainers paced their trainer's boxes as the count tolled over the PA system.
     "Dammit, Hitmonlee, get up!" Adauchi snarled in agitation, clutching his gloved
fists.
     "Vileplume..." Messila cried softly. "We have a long way to go, you can't
give up now! Please..."
     "SIX..."
     The crowd counted off with the automated timer, and both Pokemon began to 
show signs of movement as their bodies twitched and tightened, trying to draw any 
remaining strength.
     "SEVEN..."
     Hitmonlee managed to lurch back into a sitting position, his head and 
upper body still hunched over as it breathed heavily.
     "EIGHT..."
     Vileplume had now propped her stubby arms beneath her mass, the leaves
on her head drooping.
     "NINE..."
     Hitmonlee rocked a few times before shifting his weight back on his feet, 
just as Vileplume rose sluggishly back to her feet, tossing her head back and
staggering a few steps. Hitmonlee rushed up to an upright position... and 
stumbled before collapsing back down to his hands and knees...
     "TEN!"
     "Vileplume is UP!" Tony exalted. "Messila Samatha Wetall's done the 
unthinkable: knocking Adauchi out of the opening round after one of the most
grueling League matches we've seen!" The bespectacled girl sobbed as she 
rushed forward to cradle her weathered Vileplume. Meanwhile, Adauchi stood
silently at the pair, before making his way into the ring. His brown humanoid
Pokemon joined the Lone Gunman at his side, hobbling over to the victors.
     "The North American champ has proven herself tonight, folks!" JR 
enthused. "Going the distance with in-ring veteran Adauchi... but can 
you *imagine* what's going through his mind right now. His championship dreams,
already over...."
     The silent hitman glowered grimly as Messila comforted Vileplume, who
then turned up to notice him. The violet haired girl stood up to face Adauchi,
keeping her head low and looking to the ground awkwardly. Adauchi's face finally
softened to a bemused smirk, and turned his attention back up to the upper
VIP booth... where Satoshi stood, looking down at the two former champions and smiling 
with pride. 
     Messila, too, looked up to see the PFFL champion at the edge of the railings,
blinking behind her thick glasses, before turning back to meet Adauchi's gaze.
"Shooting Star" resounded throughout the Galaxian War Arena and the cheers
returned throughout the ring, breaking the remaining tension. The Lone Gunman
showed an uncharacteristic moment of reflection, looking once more to the champion's
booth before addressing Messila.
     " ... good luck, kid." Adauchi finally managed, before turning back around
to retrieve his injured Hitmonlee. 
     "A helluva way to start off the new season, eh folks?" Joey asked, 
"Lots of new contenders, a *huge* upset, and lots of great action. And we'll
got more Opening Round action next time!"
     "So on behalf of everyone here at Pokemon Fight: Good night!"
Tony dismissed cheerfully. "And we'll see you next time, Space Cowboy!"
     "Schiavone, what the hell?" JR scolded as the scene faded to black.

_________________________________________________________________

NEXT TIME on the Pokemon Fan Fic League: 

Opening Round, Part 2: 

Ryan Edgerton vs James Hallendale

Erika vs. Skye Dreame

Bloody Mary vs. Crystal Dagger

Mark McGwire vs. Brock the Geomancer

Voting Ballot coming soon to a website near you!
_________________________________________________________________

Author's Notes:  

Tim: Well, PFFL Season 2 is finally on its way. Took a while to get
	our collective mojo in gear, but we hope this was a kick ass
	start to this new tournament. The commercial was a fun piece
	of work too. My partner in crime seems to approve, though I
	wonder if it's for the kickass girl fighters or Red Butler's
	new design. Anywho, see ya for the next round! 

Alicia: I think this chapter was more than worth the wait, I'm very 
	happy with it. Incidentally, I'm pretty sure Rainbow Brite 
	Extreme would do pretty well on Cartoon Network. I mean, I'd watch it.... 
_________________________________________________________________

All characters appearing within this story are *not* the property
of PTB Productions.  PTB Productions lays no claim to any
licenses or trademarks in the making of this fic, and means no
offense to anyone.  This story is written in the spirit of
good-natured comedy, and it is our sincere hope that you will
read the original works these characters came from.  You might
just be surprised!  

The PFFL itself, however, is the creation of PTB Productions, all
rights reserved.  
_________________________________________________________________