From: Time Lady (sailrgal@swbell.net) Subject: [PW!] Family Secrets [was Re: [PW!] Body Shopping] Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2000-10-14 20:05:29 PST Continue wrote: <snip> > A message hit Night Shade?s mind before she could sort this out. > <They?re too organized now. I won?t be able to take much more of this. > I?m getting out of here.> > > Night Shade quickly processed this and her face became a neutral mask. > "I have what I came for, I can settle up later." After pronouncing this, > she disappeared. > > After watching the Charizard retreat into the woods surrounding Rosetta, > Sarah Jane turned her attention back to the others. "They?re gone, is > everyone alright?" > > Jon was the first to speak up. "I?ll be fine, after that Charizard comes > back so I can kick his butt!" > Sarah Jane sat on the ground, her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around her knees. "That.... wasn't Kirsty.... I... I don't even know if her mind is still alive.... all I could sense were the thoughts of that one.... just evil...." Runt, Jon, and Damian exchanged worried glances. <She's right boss,> Runt heard Kreskin say. "Ni?" asked Cuddles as she peeked out of her hiding place. The little Nidoran saw several other pokemon lying unconcious or injured. "We better get help for these pokemon," said Jon. --- Hours later, about 10 o'clock pm---- Sarah Jane huddled in her bed. Shields was in the pokemon center nearby, along with the other pokemon who had been injured. Cuddles and Spunky curled up on the Mr. Mime's bed, sound asleep. Pteryx slept in a nest made from blankets arranged in Sarah Jane's bedside table. While the pokemon were sound asleep, Sarah Jane was too upset to relax. She jumped at a tap at her door. "Come in," she said softly. Her grandparents peeked through the door. "Did we wake you sweetie?" asked Lillian. "No." Lillian sat down on the bed next to Sarah Jane, while Xavier pulled over the chair from the desk. "We heard what happened today," said Dr. Eckert. "This is rare, but not unheard of. There have been instances in the Pokemon Tower where mediums and channellers have been taken over by Gastleys and Haunters." "I know," returned Sarah Jane softly. "But the way.... the way I could.... almost see into her mind.... and a few weeks ago when Bombadier was killed.... and what I did.... scared me..." Lillian glanced at her husband, who nodded. "I spoke to him earlier," said Xavier. "He agreed." With a nod of assent, Lillian put her arm around Sarah Jane's shoulder, then sighed. "I never thought it would happen. We hoped it wouldn't, but it's time you know and understood." At Sarah Jane's confused look, Xavier reached over to the bedstand and picked up a picture, the last picture taken of Sarah Jane and her parents before their deaths. It was a last happy family vacation. Little Sarah Jane, her brown hair in braids, stood on a bench between her seated parents. "I know your parents hoped this would never happen too." "Grandma, what are you talking about?" "Your parents met while your father was interning in Saffron. Her family was in charge of the Saffron Gym," continued Lillian. "Mom never talked about her family. I thought they had died." "No," said Dr. Eckert. "Your mother felt like an outcast. She was the only one in her family who didn't seem to have some degree of psychic ability. Even so, at the time, her family wasn't happy with her choice for a husband. Your mother packed up her life in Saffron and returned here with your father." "When you were born, your parents were hoping you would not develop psychic abilities. Since neither of your parents had them, there was a strong possibility you wouldn't develop any," said Lillian. "After you had told us what happened with Team Rocket, I contacted your mother's family in Saffron. I spoke with your mother's brother. Your uncle. He said that often abilities develop as you mature, though sometimes they are evident from early on, like your cousin's were. He also said you should know everything, including that you have an uncle, a cousin, and other relatives living in Saffron. And he said, when you feel like you're ready, he and your cousin will welcome you at the Saffron Gym, where you can learn about your abilities." "Wait a minute..." said Sarah Jane, her eyes widening. "You mean my cousin is.... Sabrina?" "Yes," said Dr. Eckert. "Though her father says she still doesn't know. She was a baby when your mother left Saffron." "When you went to Saffron, all Sabrina knew was that you were a young girl first developing your psychic abilities. She didn't know you were related, since her father never told her she had an aunt, or a cousin," explained Lillian. Sarah Jane pulled her knees to her chest tighter. The ramifications of the relationship were startling. She stared at the cot, where the Nidorans were sleeping. "I... I guess.... I have to stop.... my pokemon journey... and go to Saffron..." "No," said Xavier. "Your abilities are still developing. Your uncle said that you have time, and you can wait until you are ready. But you will have to learn how to control your abilities at some point." "Perhaps after your pokemon journey is over, _then_ you can go to Saffron for a while to learn," said Lillian. "You don't have to make any decisions now." For a moment, Sarah Jane stared at the picture of her parents silently. If you looked closely and knew the relationship, you could see the resemblence between Sabrina and her mother. Sarah Jane's head swam. With what happened to Kirsty, and now this.... "Maybe we should have waited until morning..." said Lillian. "I'll be fine Grandma." "It's getting late. You should try and get some sleep," said Xavier. Like when she was little, her grandparents tucked her into bed and kissed her forehead. They closed the door behind them. "I wonder if she was ready to hear all of this," said Lillian softly. "She had to know sooner or later. We couldn't keep putting it off. Not the way her abilities are developing." "I suppose you're right." Sarah Jane heard her grandparents as they walked down the hall. It was nearly 3 in the morning before sleep claimed her, though it wasn't for long. She was up with the sun. Blearily Sarah Jane opened her window and sat on the window seat. She saw graduate students staggering towards the house after a long night of observing Pokemon nocturnal behavior. Several Doduos and Dodrios, including her own Sybil, began a cacophany of crowing. Suddenly, a pink Butterfree flew in through the window and hid behind Sarah Jane. "Fwee..." said Ariel softly. A moment later, Sarah Jane saw Kreskin flutter past the window. <TBC>