" Pokemon Live! "Miniseries Synopsis

Issue 1

The issue starts off with a mysterious Gym Leader inviting Pokemon trainers to battle him for a one-of-a-kind Diamond Badge. The Gym Leader walks off and the reader discovers it is actually Giovanni, the Head of Team Rocket. He is seen activating his new weapon, the mysterious MechaMewtwo, which he boasts will be his chance to finally dominate the world. As he says this, Mecha's eyes eerily flicker on. MechaMewtwo is not yet fully revealed to the reader, so as to create suspense.

The scene changes to Pallet Town, where trainer Ash Ketchum is lazing around in bed. He is awakened by Mimey, his mum's Mr Mime, when the Pokemon tries to wash Ash's bedsheets when Ash is still in them… Ash's mum, Delilah Ketchum, is going off with Professor Oak to attend a lecture on Pokemon sleeping habits. Ash declines, since he wants to enter the Diamond Badge competition.

As Ash says that the competition is meant to be the toughest around, the scene changes to the Diamond Gym. The current opponent for Giovanni is AJ, a one-shot trainer from the anime. Giovanni sends out MechaMewtwo; it is now fully revealed, hopefully in a splash page. AJ objects, saying that a machine shouldn't fight in a Pokemon battle. Giovanni taunts him until the boy sends out his Sandshrew. MechaMewtwo now utilises its only attack: Learn. This runs a psychic scan on Sandshrew so it learns all the Pokemon's attacks and skills. It then unleashes a Fissure attack, successfully knocking out Sandshrew. As AJ sends out another Pokemon, Giovanni smirks; he WANTS Pokemon to attack Mecha, so it will learn all the Pokemon attacks in the world, making it invincible.

Back at Pallet, Misty is angry at Ash because he promised to take her to see the movie "Clefairy from Space" for her birthday…which was 3 week ago. He replies that he will when he gets the chance.  She starts to get angry since he said that about her bike when he broke it. And to prove her point, she pulls out the mangled remains of her bike. Ash then says that his friends are important but so is being a Pokemon Master. He and Brock set off for the Gym, whilst Misty goes off to sulk for a bit. She runs into Gary Oak, Ash's main rival. He's been eavesdropping and wants to know why she follows Ash around if he treats her like that. Misty says that he maybe forgetful but he's a good person… and nearly lets slip the fact that she fancies him. Gary, however, has a crush on Misty! This sets up a love triangle which should interest fans and provide good plot points if a sequel is ever done. Gary then gives her HIS bike, as a late birthday present; before he can give his reasons why, she thanks him and cycles off so she can run over Caterpies and Weedles.

Back at the Diamond Gym, three more trainers battle the MechaMewtwo. Jeanette Fisher from Indigo League episodes sends out her Bellsprout and Beedrill; Mecha uses Learn and then returns their attacks. A Psychic Trainer uses Misdreavus and Alakazam; Learn is used once more. Then an Electrician Trainer uses a Voltorb; the Pokemon uses Self Destruct on Mecha but the machine survives. Giovanni now gloats that it knows half of the world's Pokemon attacks now; however, he wants the attacks Thunder and Agility, which Ash's Pikachu has. He calls up agents Jessie, James and Meowth…or rather, wakes them up. They are commanded to capture a Pikachu for the last time, and that if they fail then they shouldn't bother coming back. The trio gets his drift and zooms off to their Meowth balloon…which has puncture marks from Pokemon attacks. They then go to their Gyarados submarine…which has been broken to pieces from Pokemon attacks. Exasperated, they go to their car, only to find it's been clamped. They now steel themselves for a long hike.

Meanwhile, in Viridian Forest, Ash, Pikachu and Brock have been rejoined by Misty, who's showing off her new bike. Ash breathes a sigh of relief, since he no longer has to buy one for her. Misty is NOT pleased with that response. Brock leaves so he can chat up all the female trainer in the forest. As Ash and Misty walk on, Jessie and James are digging one of their patented pit traps, under Meowth's supervision (actually he just sits their reading Playmon magazine). They then cover it and hide so they can watch Ash, Pikachu and Misty fall in. It doesn't work. After the two trainers are gone, Jessie and James try to see what went wrong; James discovers that one of the supports is too firm and kicks at it; the two Rockets, predictably, fall in the trap. Meowth sighs and goes off to get a rope.

Misty is thinking about Ash; she loves him but she doesn't know if he feels the same way. She wonders how he thinks; the reader finds out that he's thinking about finding a toilet. He asks Brock for the map and is told that Brock threw it away so he could ask a pretty girl for directions. The others in the group fall over, anime style.

The first issue should give the reader the impression that both the Pokemon and the Rocket trios are friends and have known each other for a while, yet still have the ability to annoy the others. It should also give Giovanni and his scheme a sinister edge, since the MechaMewtwo is an extremely dangerous war machine.

Issue 2

This issue starts off with Mewtwo meditating. He senses that there is something wrong and teleports away. On the very next page, MechaMewtwo is seen standing over the unconscious bodies of a Jynx and a Milktank. Mecha now knows nearly every attack and strategy/skill. Giovanni receives a report telling him that their other plan is working. Giovanni decides to deal with the other plan personally, and so commands MechaMewtwo to teleport them both away.

Ash and the others are lost in the forest when they come across a Pokemon Trainer. Ash challenges him to a battle. The Trainer accepts and sends out Jigglypuff. Jiglypuff's Sing attack sends the team to sleep, and it is then that the trainer nicks their wallets and runs off with Jigglypuff.

Back at the pit, Jessie and James are being rescued by Meowth. Meowth comments about how incompetent they are. The teens are angry at him until they realise he's right. Meowth then cheers them up by telling them that they may be failures but they're PERFECT failures. Team Rocket then breaks into a song and tango (" Best at Being the Worst " from the play), with Arbok and Weezing dancing in the background. Meowth phones up HQ and asks to be placed on a less embarrassing team.

Professor Oak and Delilah Ketchum arrive at the building where the Pokemon lecture is meant to take place. They meet Gary, who is there to learn more so he can catch Pokemon better. They enter the darkened building; Zubat and Weedle infest the place. Delilah mentions to Oak that she's concerned that Ash is growing up too quickly; Oak tells her that in time everyone changes. He sings about it until Gary tells him (politely) to stop scaring the Zubat. Suddenly Team Rocket agents surround the trio! It's a trap to kidnap Professor Oak and use his Pokemon knowledge for evil! Gary goes into arrogant-fighter mode and releases Jolteon, Umbreon and Nidoking. Giovanni steps out of the shadows, much to Gary's relief; he thinks that he's here to help as a Gym Leader. Giovanni smirks and says that he is Boss of TR, and then unleashes the wrath of his MechaMewtwo. Gary's Pokemon attack, only to have their attacks/skills Learnt; they are then overwhelmed by a wave of TR Pokemon. Gary is sent to sleep by MechaMewtwo's Lovely Kiss attack (much to his disgust) and Delilah + Oak are captured. Before the scene changes, Giovanni remarks to Delilah that it's been a while since he last saw her. Delilah is VERY uncomfortable about this…

Back at the forest, Misty awakens to find Ash, Brock and Pikachu still asleep, and with Jigglypuff's scribbles all over their faces. Misty thinks how cute Ash looks when asleep (and with " I'm A Twerp! " written on his head in black pen). She wants to tell him that she feels deeply for him but is afraid of rejection. She begins to sing " Misty's Song " but wakes up Ash. He wonders who was singing so beautifully but Misty says nothing. At that moment, Gary appears. He looks scared, and tells Ash that Team Rocket has captured his mother. Ash is upset and immediately blames Gary for it. Gary becomes angry and the two of them nearly come to blows until Brock seperates them. Misty gets Gary to calmly explain what happened. He tells them that Giovanni is the TR Boss and that he's using a deadly robot (MechaMewtwo) which can copy any Pokemon attack. Ash suddenly has a brainwave; Giovanni could be the one behind the Diamond Gym competition and so the group heads out to the Gym. Ash is confident that Pikachu can beat the robot…and then he notices that Pikachu isn't with them.

Team Rocket pop up, holding an angry Pikachu in a cage. Meowth explains to the reader that while " the twerps " were talking with Gary, the Rockets just sneaked up and grabbed Pikachu. Jessie and James have a quick kiss to congratulate themselves whilst Meowth calls up the Boss to inform him that they FINALLY have Pikachu.

Ash and the others are combing the forest for Pikachu. Ash is convinced he was stolen by Team Rocket. Misty suggests that maybe Pikachu left willingly; Ash does have a habit of ignoring his friends. This is just said to be spiteful but Ash believes it. He runs off in tears. He's lost his mother and now his Pokemon; maybe it WAS because he didn't deserve them…

This issue builds up on the MechaMewtwo plot and also introduces the idea that Delilah Ketchum and Giovanni have secret pasts together. Fans who know the plot of the musical will know what it is, but I've made some adjustments so it fits with the actual continuity. The reader should also feel sorry for Ash, as he is going through a tragic crisis; he's lost some of his loved ones and is questioning his own worth because of it.

Issue 3

This issue starts off with Oak and Delilah in a giant cage, with Giovanni gloating about his plan to them. Oak declares that evil will never win, and that Ash and Gary will turn up to rescue them. Giovanni smirks and shows them the caged Pikachu; Ash will now be too busy looking for Pikachu to oppose Giovanni's plan. He exits, leaving Jessie, James and Meowth to guard the prisoners.

Back in Viridian Forest, Ash is still looking for Pikachu but he doesn't believe he'll ever see him again. Brock, Misty and Gary are looking as well. Brock berates Misty for being mean to Ash like that; she replies that she wants him to realise he's alienating his friends by being so obsessed with being a Pokemon Master. Gary stays silent, but he's thinking that they should drop the Pikachu search and find the Diamond Badge Gym; he's worried about his grandfather and won't forgive Ash if anything happens to him while they're searching.

Back at the Gym, Oak is quizzing Delilah about her past with Giovanni. She agrees to talk about it and so Meowth goes off to get some popcorn. It turns out that when she was a teenager, she used to hang around with a bad crowd. She was also attracted to the group's leader, a young Pokemon trainer called Giovanni (though he was about 4 years older than her). The two grew closer together and she was soon expecting his child, but she noticed he was growing away from her and becoming more evil. For Giovanni was the son of Madame Boss, who was the leader of TR at the time; Giovanni was expected to follow in her footsteps. Delilah forced him to choose between TR and her. He chose TR. Delilah slid into a depression and was rescued by the man who would one day be her husband. By the end of this, the Rockets are bawling their eyes out. Oak asks her why she's never told Ash about this. Delilah replies that she's afraid he'll drift away from her if she does.

Meanwhile, Gary is asking Brock about HOW to ask a girl he fancies (Misty) out. Brock says he doesn't know yet, since he's always trying to ask Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny out. As he starts singing about it, Gary edges away. Ash turns up, saying that he can't wait for Pikachu anymore. His friend is important but so is his mother, and Gary's grandfather is in danger too; and then there is the big problem of how to stop Giovanni. The group heads on to the Diamond Gym. Misty feels she doesn't deserve Ash after what she said to him.

Back at TR's Gym, Jessie and James narrowly avoid Pikachu; he's escaped and he's ready to shock anyone who gets in his way! They prepare to set their Pokemon on him but Giovanni announces that he's gained all the info he needs from Pikachu, and no longer needs it. Now MechaMewtwo is ready to be deployed on Viridian City! The Rockets are shocked; they helped MechaMewtwo learn all the attacks and now it's going to be used to kill people! They do NOT want people dead by their hands, so they release Oak and Delilah, telling them to get " the twerps " over here quick!

Ash's gang runs into Pikachu, Oak and Delilah. Ash is glad that his friend and his mother are safe. Delilah now takes him to one side and explains to him about her past; she's decided he deserves to know. Instead of rejecting her, this just makes him more determined to beat Giovanni. He heads into the Gym and challenges the Rocket Boss to a Pokemon match. Giovanni, of course, sends out MechaMewtwo. Ash sends out Charizard, Bulbasaur and Pikachu all at once! They are blasted back by the machine's attacks. All seems lost when Mewtwo turns up! Mewtwo declares that he can't let Giovanni wield that sort of power, and so attacks. The attack, however, seem to be drawn from ASH. The attack does nothing and MechaMewtwo Learns it. Now, however, the machine won't attack; it just seem to stare at itself, as if only now finding out that it exists. Mewtwo explains that the attack was a collection of Ash's memories, along with determination, friendship and The Right Thing To Do. Mecha now speaks; he cannot allow Giovanni to use him for evil and so activates his Self Destruct attack. The Gym, Mecha and the lab where more MechaMewtwo's can be created are destroyed. Giovanni is " blasted off " and Mewtwo teleports Ash out.

Mewtwo vanishes, saying that if Ash sticks to the virtues that Mecha learnt, then he will not only be a Pokemon Master but much more. The gang turns up, and congratulates Ash on victory. Ash sees a Diamond badge amid the rubble of the Gym and hands it over to Misty as a late birthday present. All is right on Indigo Island. All is right for Jessie, James and Meowth too; the explosion blasted them off and they've landed at a tropical beach. As they remark, things could've been worse.

The issue will also end with a caption telling those who liked this comic to write in if they want to see a sequel.