Sandshrew Shrine
by Mega Mewtwo
Sandshrew Shrine, Chapter 1: The Birthday Party
"Ash, wake up! It's your birthday!" my mom woke me up one morning.
"Oh, cool! I'm 11!" I shouted and jumped out of bed. I slid down the banister and skidded into the kitchen.
"Happy B day, spit wad!" my big brother Doug said. I gave him a thumbs up.
"Whoa, cool cake! And it has a Bulbasaur on it!" I said. There was blue frosting on the cake that read 'Happy Birthday Ash!'
'Hey there, son! Have I got a present for you!" said my dad, handing me a Pokeball. I opened it up.
"Yeah!!!! A Sandshrew! Thanx, dad!!" I said.
"Son," my mom said. "I think it's time you had one of these!" she told me, handing me a Pokeball. It jiggled and wiggled. I opened it up.
"Whoa! Mewtwo! How did you get this, mom?! They are extremely rare!" I took my Pokedex out to see Mewtwo and Sandshrew's Current status.
"Mewtwo," the Pokedex said. "Moves: Psybeam, Psywave, Psychic, Mega Punch. Original trainer: Mom." it said. I pointed it at Sandshrew. "Sandshrew," it said, "Moves: Dig, Slash, Scratch. Original trainer: Dad." it said.
"Spit wad, " Doug said, "here is your very first... Master Ball!"
"Cool!!" I said. "I think I'll go try out my new Pokemon!" I said.
Chapter 2: The Journey
"Hey Ash, wait up!" Misty yelled to me as I was going to Viridian Forest. "You're 11 now, Ash! What presents did you get?"
"I got a Sandshrew and a..... MEWTWO!!!!" I told her.
"Cool! I don't have Mewtwo or Sandshrew." she told me.
"I'm going to Viridian Forest. Wanna come?" I asked her.
"Sure!" she responded.
We were walking in some tall grass, bragging about our Pokemons. " Wait! I hear something!" I said. We looked in back of us.
"Pika!!!" a small Pikachu said.
"Well hello, there!" Misty said.
"Pika!!" it replied, climbing up Misty's back.
"Hey that tickles!! Hahahaha!" she laughed.
"Well, looks like you've got yourself a Pikachu, Misty!" I giggled.
"But I collect water Pokemon! And plus, thunder Pokemon are strong against water Pokemon! You take it, Ash," she explained, still being tickled by the Pikachu's paws.
"I already have one. Look!" I said. My Pikachu peeked out and stuck his tongue out at the other Pikachu.
"Oh, okay! I'll keep you!!" Misty said.
We encountered a lake of pure, fresh water. We stuck our heads under. We were shocked at what we saw under there. It was an underwater tunnel.
Chapter 3: The Caverns
We dove down under the surface, our Pokemon were warm and safe in our backpacks. We swam through the tunnel and found ourselves in a warm, dry cavern. We were dazzled! There were sparkling crystals on the ceiling and big stalactites on the ground. A bunch of Sandshrews were inhabiting this subterranean cavern. There was a group of Sandslashes in a corner. They stared at the baby Sandshrew in my arms and frowned.
I walked up to them and asked, "Do you want this Sandshrew?" They nodded. I frowned and handed it to them. They all smiled. Then, a young Sandslash jumped into my backpack. I started to smile, too.
"Thank you!!" I said to them. All of a sudden, all of the Sandshrews and Sandslashes got on their knees and bowed. Soon, Misty and I found out why.
"Who dares to enter my caverns?!" a rumbly voice said. "Well? Give me an answer! I don't have all day!!" the fat Sandslash on the red carpet asked me.
"W-w-well, s-sir, we were exploring, and we stumbled across this huge cavern," I explained.
"Well explore your way back out before I have to DIG you out!!" he grunted. The Sandslash in my backpack poked his head out.
"Oh! You have a Sandslash! Oh great kid, we have underestimated you! I am King Rumbly Butt, king of Sandshrews and Sandslashes!" He said.
"Uhhh, I'm Ash, and this is my friend, Misty." I told him.
"Here is a Max revive for you, Ash! Come back anytime!" he said, handing us a Max Revive. "Thanx, King Rumbly Butt." I said.
Chapter 4: Life and Death
I hurried back to Pallet Town.
"Bye, Ash! Happy Birthday!" Misty yelled to me as I was about to enter my house.
"Hey, spit wadd, did you and your little friend Missy kiss in the forest?" Doug asked.
"Her name is Misty, and no, we didn"t kiss!" I told him.
"Back, son? Let's see how your Pokemon are doing!" My dad said, taking out the two Pokeballs. "Mewtwo is fine. Wow! A Sandslash! did you evolve that Sandshrew? Little sucker, I couldn't get him to evolve!" dad laughed.
"Uhh, yeah, I finally evolved that shrew! Hehe..." I lied. The next morning, I ran outside to meet Misty and go on another hike.
"So, Ash, how are your Pokemon?" she asked me.
"Fine. Sandslash ate too much cake last night. I thought he was going to pop!" I giggled to her. I took out the two Pokeballs. I opened one. There was Mewtwo.
"He's one healthy cat!" Misty giggled. I nodded. I opened the other. No Sandslash. Just a note that said: 'Team Rocket was here!!'
"No!! Jessie and James got to Sandslash before I woke up!!!" I yelled. "C'mon, Misty!! I know where they dwell!! Hop on my Articuno!" I said. "Articuno, fly to Celadon!" I ordered. The Articuno lifted lightly off the ground with Misty and I on it's back. We landed at Celadon City safely. I loosened my grip on the Articuno's soft feathers. "Everybody off! We've got a Sandslash to find!" I told Misty. We caught a glimpse of James sneaking back to Team Rocket HQ with a squirming bag of Pokemon over his shoulder. "Follow that Rocket!!" I whispered to Misty as James slunk behind into the alley.We followed him into the HQ and crawled behind a giant flower pot.
"I brought you an aniversery present, Jessie! It's a Bulbasaur!" James said, plopping the squirming bag on the table.
"But James, we aren't even married!" Jessie responded, rolling her eyes.
"Oh, yeah, I knew that!" he stammered. We slunk downstairs. There were lots of caged Pokemon, the skeleton of Misty's Cubone that she didn't want at first, and my Sandslash, shot to death. Then, Cassandra and Butch discovered us down there.
"Well, well, what do we have here? A couple of love birds, do we? Oh Jessie, James!" they smirked.
"What Butch? Oh! Some visitors! The same ones who busted us a while back! Prepare for trouble! Make it double! Tor protect the world from devastation! To unite all people within our nation! To denounce the evils of truth and love! To extend the reach of the stars above! Jessie! James! Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light! Surrender now or prepare to fight! Meowth! That's right!! So, you two wise guys (and gals) wanna battle? I have one Pokemon, but I know he'll whip yours! Zubat, GO!!" James said.
"Mewtwo, GO!!" I said.
"Zubat, bite, NOW!!" James ordered.
"Hah, Zubat! that barely broke my Mewtwo's skin! Mewtwo, try your Psybeam!" I told it.
"Mewtwo!!!" It hollered, using Psybeam.
"ZU? ZUBAT??" The Zubat yelped before collapsing.
"Kid! You ain't getting away with this!" James said. "Let's ride guys!" Jessie announced, cueing her Pidgeotto. "Pidgeion, fly to Vermillion." The Pidgeotto lifted off, breaking a hole in the ceiling. "We won't forget this!" James yelled to me as they departed. I hopped on Articuno. "All aboard for Pallet Town!" I told Misty. She hopped on and we flew home through the new skylight.
© Mega Mewtwo -- reprinting available by permission only