(The freedom fighters)
(The gang spends the next two weeks on Lysat, competing in the Olympics, eating at Chi-chi's, and preventing Dr. J's occasional rampage. They pack up their winnings and take off. Scene opens in the ship's living room with all present except Dr. J)
Ryo: Man! I still can't believe I won every event!
Heero: Even the figure skating. I didn't know you were so artistic.
Ryo: I guess I just have talent. So how much did we make?
Trowa: I think it was something like 3 trillion. Say, where did you put it?
Ryo: I left my wallet on the table. (Looks at empty table) Hey! Where is it!!!?
(Dr. J enters)
Dr. J: Hey guys, you won't believe my luck! I found this wallet full of money just sitting on our table!
Ryo: Nooooooooo!!!!!!!!
Heero: And what did you do with it?
Dr. J: I bought this dipping bird! (holds up dipping bird)
Heero: You spent 3 trillion dollars on a dipping bird?!
Dr. J: Yes. Is there a problem?
(Ryo punches out Dr. J)
Ryo: My money...
Relena: (Gasps) Ryo! You may be angry, but that doesn’t give you the right to hit him!
Ryo: Huh? Are you still here? Sorry, it's been just us four for such a long time, I forget myself.
Heero: Great. We couldn't even support ourselves before, and now we have another mouth to feed.
Ryo: Good thing I got enough food to last for a year.
Heero: Wow...that's one of the few intelligent things you've done so far.
Ryo: Hey, I resent that!
Trowa: I'll put Dr. J back in his box...
(Trowa drags Dr. J off to his room)
Relena: Box!?
Heero: It's actually a room. We've just been calling him the J-in-the-box lately, since one time a bunch of clowns popped out.
Relena: (Blank, confused expression)
Heero: Don't worry; he's mostly harmless around us.
Relena: I don't remember Dr. J being that crazy.
Heero: Well, the joining did some crazy things to people.
Relena: That's so very sad.
Heero: Yes, it is.
(Trowa returns)
Ryo: So where are we going now?
Trowa: I overheard someone in the bar saying something about a rebel group called the Freedom Fighters. They're not far.
Ryo: Sounds like a plan. Now, where's Relena gonna sleep?
Heero: She can sleep in my room.
Ryo: (blank and surprised face) ...Heero, you dog!
Heero: I meant with me sleeping on the couch, you pervert!
Ryo: Oh...I knew that...
(A completely uneventful week passes. Except, perhaps, for one small situation that might be worth mentioning. Aboard the ship...)
Trowa: Heero, I'm getting a strange energy signal from that small asteroid. It's throwing off all our sensors.
Heero: Interesting. Let's check it out.
Trowa: Roger that.
(They cruise the surface of the asteroid and come upon a small glass dome structure. They land close by and Heero, Ryo, and Trowa leave in space suits)
Ryo: Hmm. Looks pretty suspicious. Think it could be a surveillance station or something?
Trowa: Unlikely. Why would it jam our instruments?
Ryo: I guess so...say, where did we get these suits, anyway?
Trowa: I think Dr. J made them.
(Momentary silence)
Heero: No. No he did not. They came with the ship. Now let's go.
(They walk up to the large transparent doors. There is a button on the side. Ryo looks questionably at the others. They give him a confirming nod. He pushes the button. The doors open without question)
Ryo: I don't like this. It's too easy.
Heero: Well so is outsmarting Ash, now let's go in.
(They enter into what appears to be an airlock. The doors close behind them)
Trowa: My suit says the area is pressurizing. It should be breathable in a minute.
(The room finishes pressurizing and the far door opens. They enter and remove their helmets)
Heero: Well, whatever lives here needs air.
(The entire dome consists of a grassy field, a few trees, a stone structure that appears to be a small house, and a very large machine. A strange man stands hovering over the machine. He turns and walks over to the gang. They wait for him, suspicious)
Strange man: Why hello! You must be the men the press sent over, right?
Heero: Um...yeah...we're very interested in your, uh, (glances at machine)...work. Anything you could tell us would be greatly appreciated.
Strange man: Why I'd be glad to! Come right this way!
(Strange man leads them to the machine)
Strange man: I've created something wonderful. I call it The Total Mal-perspective Vortex!
Heero: The what?
Strange man: No, not "The What", The Total Mal-perspective Vortex! The opposite of The Total Perspective Vortex, the machine that combined the dimensions. You see, with this machine, I will separate the dimensions again, banishing Ash to his homeworld, and restoring everything back to the way it used to be!
Heero: ...are you insane? There's no guarantee that the dimensions will be put back the way they were! And who knows what kind of destruction it will cause!?
Mad man: But it will solve the pokemon problem! I was just about to activate it. How would you like to be the only ones to witness this historic event?
(Heero shoots the mad man)
Heero: Well, there's one threat to peace gone.
(Dr. J pops out of the machine)
Dr. J: Hey guys, this is really interesting! Oh, and I found some fairy cake!
(Holds up half eaten fairy cake)
Dr. J: Want some?
Heero: Dr. J, how did you get in there?
Dr. J: Never question my magic!
Heero: ...whatever.
(They quickly search the place, find nothing of interest, plant explosives, and leave to watch the fireworks)
Relena: Who was on that thing?
Heero: Nobody. It was abandoned.
Relena: Then why did we blow it up?
Trowa: It was jamming our ship. We're clear now. Resuming set course.
(The rest of the week passes uneventfully. They arrive at their destination and land in the middle of a small village in the forest. Sonic, Tails, Amy, Big, Knuckles, Robotnik, and several forest creatures run out with various weapons. The gang leaves the ship, ready for combat)
Sonic: Who are you, and why have you come to our village?
Trowa: We're interested in joining the freedom fighters.
Sonic: Oh, then that's different. We need all the help we can get!
(They put away their weapons and sit down to talk)
Trowa: So this is all of you?
Tails: Yep.
Trowa: I don't suppose you have any starship battle cruisers, do you?
Tails: Well, not quite. Robotnik there builds us some great weapons, but we only have so many resources. And he always seems to build a weak point into everything!
Trowa: I see...
Robotnik: I still don't understand why I keep doing that. I even drew up plans, had Tails check them, but when I built it, I unconsciously put one in!
Trowa: Uh huh...so do you have any secret weapons that you're planning to defeat Ash with?
Tails: Well, we used to have these things called chaos emeralds that generated unlimited power, but during the joining, they got a bit...well, screwed up.
Ryo: How's that?
Tails: Now, instead of generating power, they generate insanity. I'm not even going to tell you what happened when Sonic tried to transform with them. We were cleaning it up for weeks!
Sonic: It was hell.
Heero: What do you mean transform?
Tails: Well, you can absorb their power and become a super self!
Ryo: Wow! Too bad they're messed up. I could have used it to help my armor.
Tails: We've got Knuckles meditating over them every day, but we can't seem to fix them.
Trowa: So that's all you have?
Tails: Yeah, this is it.
Trowa: Well thanks, but you're really not what we're looking for.
Tails: I don't blame you. We can barely even stay alive with the Pokemon everywhere. We were thinking of moving to the Nintendo planet. We heard they were a strong force.
Heero: Not really. In fact, they've probably been overthrown by now.
Tails: Really? Aw man. What are we gonna do?
Relena: You musn't give up hope. You'll find a way, just never give up!
Ryo: Yeah, don't worry little guy (scratches behind Tails' ears), we'll take care of that mean old Ash!
Tails: (Unamused) Stop that.
Ryo: Sorry. You reminded me of a tiger I used to have...uh...what's with the tails?
Tails: I was born with them! Leave me alone!
Heero: Ryo, stop upsetting the kid.
Tails: I'm not a kid!
Ryo: He’s got you there, Heero. Technically I think you’d call him a cub or something.
Tails: Shut up! I’ll show you!
(Tails attacks Ryo. He holds him back with one hand. Tails eventually collapses in exhaustion)
Ryo: …this planet’s sad.
(Amy comes out of a hut)
Amy: Alright everybody, supper's on!
Ryo: Oh! What are you having?
Sonic: Mushroom casserole. I hate mushrooms.
Ryo: I love mushrooms! Hey guys, stay for dinner!
Heero: Ryo, we have enough food to last for a year.
Ryo: Oh right. I forgot we're not poor anymore.
Heero: Well, technically we are; we just have food.
Ryo: Well...I don’t know about you guys, but I just wouldn't feel right leaving them in this situation. Let's give them some of Dr. J's weapons!
Heero: Are you nuts!? We don't even know what half of those things do!
Ryo: These guys don’t have much to lose, Heero.
Heero: ...well I guess it would at least give them a fighting chance. It’s better than just waiting to die. They’ll just have to hope they don't accidentally blow up the planet. Ok, let's do it.
(They unload some of Dr. J's choice weapons. By the time they're done, dinner is finished. The animals come out and thank them)
Sonic: Thanks again! This'll help a lot.
Heero: Sure. Just be careful with them.
Big: (picks up weapon) Hey Froggy, what do you think this button does?
(Big pushes button. A rocket launches into a Pokemon infested city, leveling it)
Dr. J: Hurray!
Heero: Box! (points to ship)
Dr. J: Boo...
(Dr. J leaves)
Sonic: Uh...yeah, so like we were saying-
(Tails runs up to Sonic)
Tails: Sonic, come quick! We’ve got a visitor!
Sonic: Another one? Who is it?
(The Pope walks up)
Pope: Hello my children.
Sonic: The pope?! What’re you doing here!?
Pope: I'm traveling the universe, giving my blessings to those opposed to the satanic ways of the Pokemon.
Heero: (whispers) Hey Ryo, maybe he could power up your armor.
Ryo: Heero, I'm not catholic!
Heero: Neither am I, but after all the things I’ve seen since the joining I’m not too sure of anything anymore. Besides, power is power. It couldn’t hurt to try.
Ryo: ...good point. (stops whispering) Hey Mr. Pope, uh, your Holiness, er, whatever, can you help me?
Pope: I shall do my best, my child.
Ryo: I'm going to be fighting Ash soon, and I was wondering if you could bless my mystical armor to give it power.
Pope: Mystical armor? I don't seem to recall any mystical armor in the Bible...
Ryo: Uh...it's not in the Bible. Can you help me anyway?
Pope: I'm not sure what power I can offer you, but I will pray to God for your safety and triumph. Now step closer, my son.
(Ryo approaches the Pope)
Pope: Now, show me this mystic armor.
Ryo: Alright. Armor of Wildfire, Dao-chi!
(Ryo dons his armor)
Pope: Very well. Now, relax...
(The Pope begins muttering a chant, and sprinkles holy water on Ryo. Then the Pope raises his staff of +2 Popliness and a beam of light erupts from the ground. A flashy light show ensues. It eventually ends.)
Ryo: Wow! So...what happened?
Pope: Nothing. I just asked God to help you and put on a flashy light show to make it look cool.
Ryo: That's it?
Pope: What'd you expect, magic?
Ryo: Well...yeah.
(Pope whacks Ryo with his staff)
Ryo: Ow! …well, thanks anyway.
Pope: It is a very brave and noble task that you seek to accomplish. I wish you luck, for all our sakes.
Ryo: Don't worry, Ash's going down!
Heero: Come on Ryo, it’s time to go.
Ryo: In a minute. I feel like going for a walk. This forest kinda brings back memories…
Heero: Alright, but don't be too long.
(Ryo walks aimlessly into the forest. He continues until he reaches a cliff overlooking the sun set over a city. He stops at the edge and thinks)
Ryo: (thinking) I know
my armor isn't strong enough to beat Ash, but I know I can make it stronger!
But...how?
Ancient One: Ryo, never forget the nature of your armor.
(Ryo turns quickly to find The Ancient One)
Ryo: Ancient One! But I thought you were dead!
Ancient One: These are strange times indeed.
Ryo: Oh yeah.
Ancient One: When evil surfaces, your armor will rise to meet it, but you mustn’t depend on its power alone.
Ryo: I know, but (clenches fists)...I'm just not strong enough!
Ancient One: You must be confident in your abilities, Ryo of wildfire. The spirits will aid you if your will is strong, as I know it is.
Ryo: (Stands firm) You're right! I must believe in myself. Good will triumph over evil!
Ancient One: Your spirit is indeed strong, as it always was. I will give you what aid I can, but be warned, power alone won't be enough to win this fight. Now, step forward.
(Ryo approaches the Ancient One. He bangs his staff against the ground, summoning an aura of good. He then whacks Ryo over the head with it. He grabs his head in pain, but he forgets about it as a white glow engulfs him. His armor becomes that of the inferno)
Ancient One: You can now summon the power of the inferno without the other Ronins. Good luck.
(Ancient One begins to fade)
Ryo: Ancient, wait!
(Ancient One unfades)
Ancient One: Yes?
Ryo: Uh...um...nothing. I just wanted you around in case I think of more questions.
Ancient One: Look, I've got places to be. I haven't got time for this.
Ryo: Oh...well then...uh...thanks!
(Ancient One fades away. Ryo returns to the ship and tells everyone what happened)
Heero: Well, that's good. Let's hope it's enough.
Ryo: Don't worry Heero, I've got a feeling Ash's days are numbered!
(They load up and leave the planet)
