{Hope I all got the corrections. Changed all attributions from Mana to Eric. -Mark}
>Chapter 9: Chris's Mana Increase
MMK <status text>: CHRIS earns 500 XP. CHRIS has gained a level. CHRIS is now level 58.
CHRIS gains 12 HP. CHRIS gains 5 STR. CHRIS--
VID: Okay, enough already.
>
>Chris arrived in the Forest of Seasons. Highly reminiscent of an old area he was familiar
>with, he searched all around, battling monsters which were barely a challenge.
TBS: Like Emerald Weapon, Profound Darkness, Negative Mazinger...
> He also
>found a few empty Poke Balls in the area.
VID: Let one of them be a Voltorb. Let one of them be a Voltorb.
TIFF: Mmm... messy explosion....
>"Hmmm, seems a few Poke Battles were fought here," said Chris. "I wonder who won and who
>lost."
>
>"You still have much to learn," said a voice from a tree."
>
>"Who are you?" asked Chris.
TBS <Agent Mana>: I've been tapped, so wait a few minutes.
> "You can come in, but you must come in peace, or the Mana
>Dragon will tear you apart before you have a chance."
>
>"I'll take it," said Chris. At that moment, a door boomed open from the pink tree.
GAVOK: ...and out stepped Darth Vader.
>
>Chris walked into the tree and saw an older kid,
VID: Yes, everyone in a position of power is a kid, we get it already, story!
> about 17 or 18 sitting at a table with a
>pretty beefed-up computer.
TBS: Mmm...beefy.
[I'm too lazy to pour through my Lain videos for the other suitable reference at the moment. Maybe tomorrow.]
>"Hello there Chris. I haven't properly introduced myself. I am Eric Mana, the last
>descendant of the Mana family."
>
TIFF: And for that we are most grateful.
>"Hello there, the name's Chris," Chris responded. "How are you doing today."
TIFF <Chris>: And where is my punctuation.
>"Not bad, Chris. I know you have came in reference to the Zenretsu situation."
VID: ..."have came"? Have you thought of suing your English teacher for malpractice?
>"What do you know about the Zenretsu situation?" asked Chris.
MARK <Chris>: Where were you on the night of the fifteenth?
TBS <Chris>: Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?
GAVOK <Chris>: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
MMK <Chris>: And for Pete's sake, why are you naked?
>"Well, I know he attacked Brosco and got the legendary Zapdos, so his Pokemon collection
>drives are complete."
GAVOK <Eric>: They held a bake sale.
MMK <Chris>: What's wrong with that?
GAVOK <Eric>: It was an EVIL bake sale!
>"Is there any way we can stop Zenretsu?" asked Chris.
VID <Chris>: What's it take to stop him, a court order?
>"He has to be faced, but not fought," said Mana.
MARK <Eric>: Fought, but not defeated.
TBS <Eric>: Shaken, but not stirred.
VID <Eric>: Photographed, but not recopied.
>"If you fight Zenretsu, then the chance of
>the Demon and Demoness coming alive are greater.
>
>"The Demon and Demoness Zenretsu?" asked Chris.
MARK <Eric>: No, Etrigan and Purgatory.
>"Dann is the Key of Youth," said Eric Mana. "That is the source of all his psychic power.
>He was trained by someone you know very well: That's how come he can defeat anyone with
>ease."
TBS <Dann>: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE--
[TIFF, clutching her ears, chops off TBS's head.]
>"Who else has the psychic powers he does?" asked Chris.
TBS: Miss Cleo?
MARK: Jean Grey and Professor X?
MMK: M. Bison?
>"That belongs to someone you also know very well," said Eric.
ALL: *coughcoughJamescoughcough*
>"I don't know," said Chris.
>
>"I won't tell you because it'll scare you, but you will find out soon enough."
GAVOK <Eric>: It's almost chapter 13.
>"Eric, please tell me who this person is."
>
>"Dann Zenretsu will tell you,"
MARK: Well, that's awfully nice of him.
> said Eric. "That is, after you face him in battle."
MARK: But he just said Dann should be faced and not fought! I--
[MARK is doused by water from a fire bucket.]
MARK: Wha--
MMK: [Putting the bucket away] Smoke was coming out of your ears.
>"I can't fight Dann. I'll get killed!" yelled Chris.
GAVOK: Much as we'd like to believe you, Chris, we know who booked this crap...
>"With your training, his psychic powers will be useless on you,"
TIFF: Wow. What an unexpected plot twist. I didn't see that coming, no siree.
VID: Either that or the vial of Orbo he carries with him may have something to do with it.
> said Eric. "You can stand
>a chance because he'll have to fight you physically; however, do not underestimate his
>athletic talent, or you will lose."
>
>"Do you know who trained him?" asked Chris.
GAVOK: Just A Man Extremely Sneaky.
>"I'm not exactly sure, but I have a good clue on it," said Eric.
MARK <Eric>: It's not Miss Scarlett or Mr. Green. And I'm pretty sure it's not in the Library with an axe.
>"The fiend," said Chris. "Using the Master Sema fighting style for evil: He should not be
>allowed to live."
MMK: EVIL CAN NOT BE TOLERATED! HA!
>"He was brought up in Master So's school, not Master Sema's. His root beliefs are fixed and
>must be changed for us to have any success," said Eric.
MMK <Chris>: Therefore, you're saying that Dann must be reformed.
GAVOK <Eric>: That sounds about right, yeah.
MMK <Chris>: But, isn't it true that reforming SIs can be tricky?
>"But HOW do I beat Dann?"
VID <Eric>: Well, you'll want to stay out of range of his Gadokens, for one...
[I'm surprised no one has made a Dann Hibiki joke before this. -Zem]
> asked Chris. "He's already killed agents better than me!"
TIFF: We appreciate the effort, but this false modesty is not really you, Chris.
>"Not with physical skill, with psychic power," said Eric. "He can't use psychic power on
>you because your relation to some person will deflect it."
MMK <Eric>: I am being mysterious and vague!
>"Still doesn't answer my question," asked Chris.
>
>"You have to move in-and-out, keep your eyes open for nasty kicks, and bang him as hard as
>you can," said Eric.
TBS: I'll be good.
VID: Wha--?
[VID turns to see TIFF holding up a sack.]
>"He's really strong, so you have to watch the hits you take."
MARK <generic hippie>: Don't take the brown acid, man!
>"I know, but if I fail, who fights him?" asked Chris.
>
>"I know who can, but he'd be really hard-pressed to do so," said Eric.
>
>"Any information on Dann Zenretsu's next strike?" asked Chris.
VID: It's a fight for the future, I think.
>
>"Well, he'll be after the Armor of Dragons next," said Eric.
VID: But it won't fit him, being made for a dragon.
> "That is located deep in the
>depths of Aktemto Mine.
>
>"AKTEMTO MINE? The poison gas is killer!" yelled Chris. "Dann would be nuts to go in
>there!"
GAVOK: Or simply have them.
[TIFF thinks about this, then thwaps GAVOK.]
>"Ol' Necro will protect him," said Eric.
MARK <Eric>: Good ol' dependable Necro. He's such a good buddy.
>"You should be able to use that protection to your
>advantage."
>
>"But how do I get into Necro's army?" asked Chris.
VID <Eric>: He's put up recruitment posters all over the place.
>"Use your hockey stick," said Eric smiling. "Remember what James did, and act like you're a
>monster!" Then, secretly change back after Necro and company enters, and then confront
>Zenretsu."
>
>"But he's got three friends," said Chris.
>
>"They're push-overs," said Eric. "One's a strongman, one's a wrestler, and the other can't
>take a hit.
TBS: Non sequitur! Fifteen-love!
>Dann's your real worry."
>
>"That Emmanuel can take out anyone!" yelled Chris.
TBS: Yay Emmanuel!
MMK: Uh, no.
>"Emmanuel, strike and stay middle,"
TBS <Emmanuel>: Okay, boss!
> said Eric. "He won't expect you to go full force with
>that stick."
MARK: So, walk in with the stick, drop it to catch his force lightning, then force-pull your lightsaber to your hand and go ballistic.
>"You're so smart," said Chris. "I never even thought of that!"
GAVOK <Eric>: You have much to learn, young grasshopper.
>"You don't have much time," said Eric. "You have to go, while I find out the location of
>the Sword of Truth.
MARK <Eric>: And no matter how often you check in, I'll say "No, I'm still looking" until
you fulfill the necessary plot points.
> Also, go back to base after your fight with Zenretsu. You'll find out
>who the real killer is behind the Heroes Committee."
>
>"WHAT?" asked Chris.
>
>"It's all I know, now go before Zenretsu gets away with the Armor of Dragons and you don't
>get a clue at all!" yelled Eric.
VID: I'm saying he never had a clue in the first place.
>"OK, OK!" said Chris as he transported to Aktemto.