From: Tharag (tharag@aol.com) Subject: [PW!] Before the Beginning Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2000/07/08 TITLE: "Before the Beginning" AUTHOR: Tharag@aol.com I yawned and reached up to rub my eyes as I sat up. Looking over at the TV I noticed that there was some lame talkshow on so I picked up the remote and turned it off. I started to lay back down then I noticed the VCR clock, "Eleven'o'clock?, shaz I must have fallen asleep!" I had been trying to stay up all night so I could get to the Pokémon center right when it opened but I ran out of thing to do around five so I decided to watch TV on the couch, I must have gotten a little to comfortable. At least I hadn't slept for more then six hours. I hopped off the couch and went into the kitchen to grab a quick bite to eat. Nobody else was home, Dad was at work and Mom had probably gone to her office after dropping Lela off at a dance lesson or a friends house or something or other like that. As I was getting a Pop Tart out of the cabinet Sestica came over and sat beside me. As I took a bite out of my Pop Tart I leaned down and scratched her behind the ears. "So are you going to be a good Pokémon and ride around in a Pokéball or are we going to have to drag you around on a leash?" I said jokingly. "Vulpix!" she replied. I chuckled then turned her head and gave her a little push to signal for her to get moving. She scampered off to her Poké-house in the corner of the kitchen. As I stood up and continued eating my Pop Tart I thought about my comment. I'd meant it as a joke but as I thought I couldn't recall ever once seeing Sestica in a Pokéball, not even on the day we got her. "Oh well, I guess we'll find out soon enough won't we." I walked to the garage as I finished my Pop Tart grabbing my jacket and backpack on the way, no need to get dressed I'd fallen asleep in my clothes. I hopped on my bike and road to the Pokémon Center. ---------------------------------------------------------------- When I got to the Pokémon center I chained my bike to the rack outside. After walking in the door I pulled the two Pokéballs off my belt and released Screwy and Blade, they followed me as I walked up to the counter. "Oh, hi Willis. Loopy is doing just fine. She had a minor digestive infection but we've managed to clear it up and she's feeling much better. Just make sure she takes one of these a day, starting tomorrow, to help prevent any reinfection." "Thanks," I said as Nurse Joy handed me Loopy's Pokéball and a small bottle of medicinal pellets. I flipped the release switch and Loopy materialized infront of me. I leaned down and scratched her be hind the ears. "Glad to hear your feeling better. We were all worried about you, especially Screwy." Screw glared at me for a moment then looked to Loopy, "Cate!" he said in a huff as he turned his head away from Loopy, as if to say 'I wasn't that worried.' Blade welcomed Loopy back, "Raticate icate rat." Then Loopy walked towards him and nuzzled lightly against his side. This caught Screwy's attention and he stared irritated at Blade. It was pretty typical realy, Screwy realy cares for Loopy but he's never willing to admit it so she makes him jelious by giving special atention to Blade. It's all pretty harmless, and sometimes rather amusing. "All right you three enough clowning around, let's get moving." My three Raticate quickly lined up and followed me out the door. As I unchained my bike I talked to my team, "All right let's head to the Poké-Mart." Then turning my focus to Loopy, "Think your up for the race today?" She nodded enthusiastically. As I got on my bike the three lined up next to each other waiting for my signal. "GO!," and with that the three raced off as I pedaled after them. Screwy took the early lead, he always does, Loopy and Blade were both pacing themselves with Blade just a little bit faster. Screwy turned his head to check how big his lead was and as he did he caught his left front paw in a crack and tripped tumbled and crashed into to a telephone pole. He shook the dizziness out of his head and noticed that Loopy and Blade had passed him then sprinted to catch up. As we approached the Poké-Mart Blade's hind right leg cramped slowing him down and Loopy took the lead. She bounded toward the finish and came to a quick stop infront of the drink machine outside the Poké-Mart pressing a front paw against. Blade was right behind her and he was the second to press a paw against the machine. Then Screwy came racing towards them and too late realized he couldn't slow down quickly enough, as he tried to stop he ended up rolling slamming sideways into the machine as Blade and Loopy quickly jumped out of the way. I came to a stop and put the kickstand down as I got off my bike and walked over to the machine. "Nice try Screwy, but bowling the competition out of the way doesn't mean you win," I said with a small grin. Screwy looked a little embarrassed as he got up but quickly glared defensively at my remark. I put some change in the machine and got two waters, a lemonade, and a soda. Pulling three bowls out of my backpack I pored the waters into the Blade's and Screwy's bowls then pored the lemonade, her reward for first place, into Loopy's bowl. The three of them all quickly began drinking as I opened the soda for myself. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Later that night I was sitting on the edge of my bottom bunk. I called Blade out of his Pokéball, "so are you ready to explain why you lost on purpose." "Rat?" he answered, feigning ignorance. "You can't fool me, I know you could have one." Blade stared at the ground in a disappointed manner seeing that he'd been found out. "It's OK, don't get depressed or any thing. I think what you did was very kind," with that he perked up and smiled. "Just be careful or you'll end up giving Screwy a real reason to act jealous," and with that we both laughed. I recalled Blade and got up off my bunk. I walked over to my dresser and flipped open the badge book sitting there and looked at my Thunder and Boulder Badges. I'd had them for a few months now and had almost started my journey right after winning my second badge in Pewter, but with my sister's tenth birth day so near we'd decided that it might be more fun to travel together. Closing the badge book, I picked up the collar sitting next to it and looked at the Fire Stone attached to it, the name Grotlox engraved into it. "Sorry old friend, but it's time I move on." Then after a long pause "Maybe someday..."