by MTSowbug and IcyPikachu

    Recently, Phoo has officially joined Clan Caterpie, and talked to Icy. After recalling his pokemon, and greeting the newest member, Phoo has some important business to attend to.
The Ordeal at the Pokémon Tower
    Phoo spoke quietly to Icy. He said, “Please tell all of them... I have to go somewhere... to the pokemon tower. I have... ... some... unfinished... I have something I have to do there, yes. Hmm? Alright, I’ll be seeing you very soon...” With that, Phoo left the table at the pokécenter, and crawling through an open window, left the building.
    Icy was a bit perplexed, not being able to understand Phoo very well. He told the rest of Clan Caterpie what Phoo had told him, and then started to wonder exactly where Phoo was going. Icy looked out the window, and saw Phoo striding up to the pokemon tower.

*** At the edge of Lavender Town ***

    Larry was very tired. Wigglytuff had been slave driving him for days, as the two of them traveled from Celadon City to Lavender Town, on foot. Larry jumped up, and knocked Wigglytuff of his back, then stuffed Wigglytuff into the pokeball, along with Wigglytuff’s whip. Larry smiled a devious grin, as he looked down on Lavender Town. “Little cockroach, we have yet to meet again. I am going to find you,” Larry said, with surprising composure, as he strode into town.

*** Back to Phoo, at the base of the pokemon tower ***

    Phoo had reached the base of the giant rock in which pokemon tower was carved into. The building stood about ten stories high, and had a dark, misty aura around it. “Hmm... the burial place of pokemon...” Phoo thought, as he entered through the open door. Inside the first floor, Phoo dodged around the various people who had dead pokemon, and he headed upwards via the stairs.
    The second floor was a mass of graves.  A funeral was being held on the far side of the floor, and Channelers were scurrying about, praying.  The floor was one big room, and the tombstones were everywhere, making a veritable maze.   As Phoo walked through the maze, he read some of the tombstones.

Beloved Clefairy
My true love and ally
Rest in peace

    After reading the first one, Phoo tried not to look at the others.   His eyes started to soften as he headed up the next flight of stairs.  There Phoo saw even more graves and Channelers.  It almost seemed like the entire floor was weeping.  The mood of the place made everything turn to tears.  No one paid attention to the cockroach, and if they did, they were too preoccupied with mourning to even care.  Phoo sadly trudged along and, after navigating between the graves, ascended another flight of stairs.
    There Phoo saw two people, who appeared to be pokemon trainers.   He ducked behind a large tombstone and watched.  The trainers were crying endlessly.  They shook hands, and then embraced each other.  Phoo turned his eyes, and saw an open grave where a Charizard was being buried.  Phoo looked to another open grave, and saw a Chansey in rigor mortis, burned grotesquely.  Phoo could not help the tears slide down his face as the two trainers threw their pokemon league authorization cards into the graves, along with sixteen badges.  Wanting to look no more, Phoo ran quickly to the next floor; the negative energy in the town prevented Phoo from teleporting easily.
    After many other such sad occurrences, Phoo reached the second highest floor of the pokemon tower. It was completely empty, save a lone, open door. Phoo stepped in.

*** To Icy ***

    Icy was starting to wonder where Phoo had gone to.  The rest of Clan Caterpie seemed to be enjoying each others company.  Icy stepped outside the pokécenter.  “Where could he be...” he thought to himself.

*** To Phoo ***

    Inside the room, Phoo met Acropomider, who was standing there, waiting. Phoo silently walked in to the room, which was very small, and completely empty save a lone tombstone and a cross on the wall.  A Channeller entered the room, and stood to the side of the tombstone, with book in hand.  A fourth figure seemed to enter the room, but at the same time, did not enter. It was a translucent figure, was it there, or was it not?  It looked like a Mew, but it was not a Mew, for it had great, angelic wings, and a long face. It radiated a yellow light, and it watched over the other three, as it stood behind them.
    The Channeller started to speak.  “A soul that died of a monstrosity. Companion of Phoo, friend to all who knew him.  A pokemon named Krabby.”

*** After a long period of obituaries ***

    The Channeller finished speaking, and stepped out of the room. Acropomider produced a green gem from his hand, and gave it to Phoo.  Phoo held it above his head, and placed it before the tombstone.  The gem gleamed brilliantly, and a beam of light extended into the sky.  The angelic creature continued to watch from behind smiling.  After a momentary flash of light, the gem disappeared, along with the spirit that stood behind Phoo. Phoo smiled, and started to leave the room, when he heard an explosion.

*** To Larry ***

    There was a monstrous explosion somewhere in Lavender Town, and Larry could hear it.  He looked up, and saw smoke trails from somewhere in the pokemon tower.  Larry came to his senses after staring at the smoke for a while, and started running up to the base of the tower, intrigued and hoping for a good story.

*** To Clan Caterpie ***

    Icy heard the explosion.  They all heard the explosion, and everyone stepped outside of the pokemon center.  The pokemon tower seemed to be burning.  They all looked at each other, mouths gaping.

*** To Phoo ***

    Phoo and Acropomider heard the explosion, saw the fire, and heard the voices.  “Rockets, the rockets are burning everything!  Team Rocket is taking over the building!” they cried from every direction.  Phoo and Acropomider rushed outside of the small room, to see women, children, and Channellers running around, screaming.  Fires were blazing, and Team Rocket members were smiling grimly.  “Somebody call the fire department!”  “Where did these rockets come from?” the voices cried.  Phoo and Acropomider looked at each other, and rushed in to help.
    Meanwhile, back at the pokécenter, Icy and the group watched the tower burning.  Fire engines rushed towards the tower and the Squirtle FireFighter Squad started putting out the flames.  Icy remembered Phoo was inside. “Guys, I’m goin’ in!”  Before they could stop him, Icy homed in on Phoo’s thought waves and teleported.
    Icy was running towards the pokemon tower. Channellers, pokemon trainers, and mourning citizens poured out of the tower’s one door. Falling embers started to scatter around from the building. A circle of devoted Channellers was praying in a circle outside of the building, in a séance. The firefighting Squirtles were blasting at the flames with Water Gun, and were making good progress. But Icy had to find out if Phoo was okay, so he rushed past a swarm of gawkers, and entered the building.
    There weren’t many people inside the building, except for a few stout Channellers and escaping trainers. Icy spent no time in running up the stairs, calling out Phoo’s name. A large wooden beam fell right behind him, smoldering. “Good god...” Icy mumbled to himself.

*** To Larry ***

    Larry was right up next to the pokemon tower. He thought it looked lovely, and perfectly normal as it burned and rockets peered out of the windows, sneering. Larry screeched, “MAMA!!!! I’m COMIN’ TO get YA?!?!?!?! DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EAT my shoes, please.” Larry threw one of his pokéballs, and Magnemite came out. Larry hopped on top of Magnemite, and started to ascend the outside of the building.

*** To Phoo and Acropomider ***

    Phoo was very angry. “Rockets... Team Rocket did this disgrace! The tower is burning... the souls... Acropomider, let’s stop this thing!” he said aloud. Phoo and Acropomider joined their minds psychically, and started to run downstairs, together, searching for anyone needing to escape. Phoo hid behind Acropomider, so that no one would see him.
    As they ran, the two of them saw horrible disfiguring. Graves were shredded, and the torn carcasses of pokemon lay open on the ground. Flames licked and burned everywhere, and pairs of eyes peered out of corners.

*** Somewhere on an empty floor of the pokemon tower ***

    Rockets were congratulating themselves on their work. “We’ll douse the fire, and with all the people gone, this’ll make an excellent base!” one sneered. They started to guffaw and laugh, creating a horrible cacophony. But suddenly, they heard a noise. The rockets hurriedly and haphazardly ducked behind some tombstones.
    Icy was coming from the floor below. Phoo and Acropomider were coming from the floor above. They unexpectedly met on that floor. Phoo started, “Icy... you’re here? Hmm... let’s make things easier. We’ll establish a mental link amongst the three of us. I... have no time to explain Acropomider... but let me just say he... is one of my so called ‘affiliates.’” With that, Phoo started glowing and concentrating, and a flash of blue light entered the room. Icy felt a strange touch of realization as their minds melded.
    “Phoo... you are psychic?” Icy’s thoughts asked.
    “Yes... you obviously are, as well,” Phoo thought back. Phoo communicated the thoughts of Icy to Acropomider, who instantaneously understood. Phoo continued, “Icy, is there anyone down there in trouble?”
    “No... last I checked, they were all escaping.”
    “Excellent... then all we have to worry about are the rockets running about... oh yeah, and these flames. Hmm...” Phoo thought, as he ducked a stream of fire.
    Just then, taking advantage of the moment, the rockets jumped out from their hiding places, and ambushed Acropomider, Phoo, and Icy.  They all had pulled out semi-automatic machine guns.
    “What now?” Icy frantically thought to the others.
    Just then, a humming noise was heard out the window.  The noise got louder, and some of the rockets turned their heads toward one of the windows.   They saw an incredibly disturbing sight.  A man was floating outside the window, suspended on a Magnemite.  He screamed, while spewing forth cytoplasm, “YER NIT MY MOMMY!!!!  Where did the POTTED PLANTS VIOLEN horse GO.   WHOWOWOWOWOWOWO...” And with that absurdity, the man jumped onto one of the rocket’s backs, pounding his fingernails into the rocket’s head.
    At the sight of the insanity, some of the rockets started chuckling. Others tried to help the lone rocket.  They managed to pry the crazy man off, who promptly slammed himself into a tombstone, and fell unconscious. Acropomider, Phoo, and Icy took the advantage and started running, but were promptly stopped by a rocket with two guns stuck up to Acropomider’s and Icy’s backs.  The rockets did not notice Phoo.
    The rocket sneered.  “Who’s the fellow in the green cloak?  And, hello Icy.  Rumor is you’ve been causing us some trouble, ya pipsqueak.”  But all of a sudden, the rocket froze solid, and turned white.   The guns dropped out of his hand, and fell to the floor.  Acropomider and Icy turned around to see what happened.  A gray mist floated in the air, which appeared to be a Gastly.
    A swarm of disgruntled Gastlies and Haunters had formed a circle around the rockets.  The ghosts were very peeved at the fact that the rockets were burning their tower down.  The apparitions screamed and laughed as the rockets were driven into fear, giving Icy, Phoo, and Acropomider the opportunity to escape.
    “I’ll try teleporting us outta here,” Icy said.   But his teleportation skills were too weak to transport the group so they had to make a run for it.  As they neared the flaming entrance, two strong TR agents blocked their path.
    “You guys are gonna pay for messing with our plans!”
    “Outta our way crooks!” Icy shouted.  His words were met with a fist in the face by one of the agents.  Icy was thrown halfway across the room and would have been well done if Phoo hadn’t teleported him to safety. “Thanks,” he said before collapsing.  Phoo and Acropomider prepared to battle the agents.
    “Huh...  A big bug.  Better get out the bug spray!”  The agents laughed.  Phoo used his telekinesis to throw them against a wall, knocked them both out.  Then he went back for Icy.
    Phoo scurried back to where Icy was, in a corner of the room.   He called Acropomider over to him, and they dragged Icy towards the center of the room.  Some frumious Gastlies and Haunters were toying with the semiconscious rockets.  As Phoo turned his head to look at the fire situation, he noticed that some sort of water was coming into the building, and dousing the flames.  It turned out to be a sprinkler system that detected heat.
    But there was still the matter of escape.  There seemed to be no way out, as the Gastlies and Haunters tormenting the rockets could be dangerous. Acropomider thought, to Phoo and Icy, “Well, I believe we are all psychics, so why don’t we combine our power and try to teleport out together?  And,” Acropomider thought, pointing to Larry’s unconscious body in another corner, “we should probably drag that thing out too, for ethical reasons.”
    After a nod of mental agreement, Icy, Phoo, and Acropomider started to concentrate in unison.  Their bodies, along with Larry’s, started to glow a sparkling blue color.  After a few seconds, there was a flash of light, and they all disappeared.

*** Lavender Town Pokécenter ***

    A corresponding flash of light was seen in the sky, and three figures appeared, heaped in a pile.  Icy was there, Phoo was there, and Larry was there.  Acropomider seemed to be gone.  Phoo dusted himself off, and spoke, “He seems to do that oftentimes... Acropomider does.  Comes and goes... hmm...   like the wind.”
    Just then, Phoo took notice of Larry’s unconscious body, heaped on the ground.  His Magnemite was lying next to him, shut down.  Phoo picked up the small Magnemite, and shook it.  A bunch of developed photographs fell out, some of which had pictures of Icy, Phoo, and Acropomider on them.  “No one will be seeing these... anytime soon,” Phoo said, quietly.
    Phoo picked up the pictures with his image on them, and concentrated deeply on the photos.  They started to glow orange, and sizzled with heat. All of a sudden, they burst into flame, and instantly disintegrated.  Phoo smiled a little cockroachy smile to himself.  He looked towards the west, and saw the pokemon tower, its flames almost completely extinguished.

*** From the perspective of Icy ***

    Icy was incredibly surprised.  First Phoo seemed to have teleporting abilities, then his friend disappeared without a trace, and then, most stupendously, the cockroach had seemed to be able to make a handful of photographs burst into flames.  Being shocked, Icy asked, “Phoo, you are psychic, aren’t you?   You seem to be different than I would have expected.”
    Phoo turned his head, and responded, aloud, “Yes... hmm... I guess the word ‘psychic’ might apply.  Mentally accelerated might fit... better,” Phoo took no other meaning to the question, and continued, “Hmm... all is well now.  What plans do you have in mind?”
    They were right in front of the pokécenter, and could see Insanellama, Tauras, and Nova inside, who had seemed to take little notice in the recent events.

To Be Continued…

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