From: BBD127 (bbd127@aol.com) Subject: [PW!] How much for that Diglett in the window? Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2000/05/16 "Why are we out here again?" Suikuaktu asked for the millionth time. "We're looking for Pokemon," replied Procyon. "I need to fill up my Pro-dex, and it's not going to happen by sitting around watching TV in our hotel room all day. Not to mention I need something to fight Surge with. My two strongest Pokemon are both weak to electric types, and that's just about all Surge uses. Maybe I'll find a ground type..." The three of them were wandering around together like usual, Taron leading the way with Procyon just behind, Suikuaktu following at a short distance. They were out in a wide open field on their way to the forest, looking for wild Pokemon to capture. Bulletwing and Blueberry had been released from their Pokeballs and were following along behind Procyon, searching for signs of anything moving, while Pleiades preferred to stay in its Pokeball, resting. Suddenly Taron's foot caught in something and he tripped, knocking over Procyon just behind him. Procyon got up and fixed a glare on Taron. "Watch where you're going!" Taron turned around and gave Procyon an odd stare. "Oh, right. Sorry." Taron shook his head and got up. "It's this hole I tripped on... how did a hole get here, right in the middle of the path?" His question was quickly answered as something small and brown popped up out of the hole. "Diglett!" "A Diglett!" said Procyon. "Just what I need. That would be perfect for my battle with Surge. Electric attacks wouldn't even scratch him!" He pointed at it. "Bulletwing, go!" The bird shrieked and launched itself into the creature with a powerful Drill Peck. However, the Diglett went underground at the last second, and Bulletwing missed it by an inch or so. Furiously it got back up and tried another Drill Peck, only to find it equally unsuccessful. Once again the Diglett popped up and looked at Procyon, a mocking smile of challenge on its face. "Hm..." said Procyon. "I can't attack it, it'll just go underground again. What can I... I've got it!!" He grinned and reached for a Pokeball at his waist. "Pleiades, GO!" The Staryu popped out and turned to stare at him expectantly. He pointed at the Diglett again. "Pleiades, you're a water type and ground types hate water. I want you to use your Water Gun to make all the land around that Diglett soaking wet. Don't touch the Diglett itself, just spread water all around." This was a somewhat unusual order, but Pleiades complied obediently. "Star.. star... yu... staryu... star," it sang, spraying water in a ring around the tiny Pokemon in the middle. When it was done, Procyon smiled at it. "Good job. Return." He turned to stare at the little Diglett, which was starting to look very nervous as the surrounding water seeped into its tiny hiding place. "Well, Diglett," he said. "You're a ground type, and from what I've heard, ground types... do not like water." The frantic look in the Diglett's eyes, mixed with pain as droplets of moisture began soaking into its body, was all the encouragement he needed to continue. "You're stuck here. If I don't do something, you'll die.... or wish you were dead. There's only one way out." He set a Pokeball down on the ground next to the Diglett. "It's safe and waterproof in here. Your choice. The water, or the ball." It needed no encouragement to hop into the ball. Procyon grinned as he held it aloft. "Quite possibly the easiest capture in the history of Pokemon," he said. Taron laughed. "Not bad," he said. "C'mon, let's take it over here, where it's dry, so you can release it. I want to have a look at that thing anyway." They followed him over to a spot a few feet ahead and Procyon triggered a button on the ball, revealing the Diglett on the ground below, staring at him oddly. "Dig?" "No, I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to see you. I think I'll call you...." He thought for a moment. "Avalanche." The Diglett seemed indifferent to his choice, so he took it as an affirmative. Smiling, he pulled out his blue encyclopedia and pointed it at Avalanche. "Let's see. About eight inches tall... playful demeanor... ground type... evolves into Dugtrio... lives most of its life underground... very fast... does not like water." He closed it up and grinned. "A Diglett entry. Cool, now Tumbleweed will have another ground type to talk to." Ignoring his comment, Taron pointed his own Pokedex at the creature. "Diglett," it chirped. "Attacks: Scratch, Dig, Sand-Attack." "You did pretty good," commented Suikuaktu. "Dig's a powerful attack." Taron nodded, and the three of them began the trip back to the hotel to begin the preparations for their battle against Lieutenant Surge. By the time they finally reached the hotel, it was after dark, and they found a man guarding the door. Wearily Procyon approached him and showed his ID; his two companions did likewise. The man just shook his head. "No can do," he said. "You'll have to wait. Nobody gets in here at night. The hotel's closed." "What?!" said Taron. "What kind of stupid rule is that? Just let us in, we have our IDs!" "Nope." "Look," said Suikuaktu. "It's a dumb rule anyway. Just let us in, we're not going to tell anybody! We could arrange to give you an extra... tip... if you helped us out." The guard gave Suikuaktu a mean look, but didn't respond to his attempt at bribery. "No means no," he said. "Scram. Come back when it's daylight." Procyon shook his head and walked up to the man with an intent look in his eyes. "Now you listen, and you listen good," he said. "We are tired, and hungry, and sleepy, and we have no place to stay but this hotel, and you are going to let us in here RIGHT NOW or..." He sneered. "Or what?" "Or what? Do you really want to know?" Procyon took a step closer. "I'll tell you what. Listen close. Taron, Suikuaktu and I are all PCs. We all have our own WGs. YOU, sir, are an NPC. Do you know what that means?" He nodded to emphasize the point. "Uh-huh. Expendable. Way, way, expendable." "Now, just a minute. If you're trying to-" "An NPC is a made up character. Nobody will miss you if you're gone. Your life hangs on a very thin thread. Your fate is subject to the wrath of the Author. All kinds of unfortunate.... accidents can happen to NPCs. If you don't want an accident like that to happen to you, I suggest you let us through, NOW." "Look, kid, I don't-" CRACK! A lighting bolt seared through the sky, splitting the night in a brilliant flash, striking just inches from the man's face. He stepped back uncomfortably. "Uh... go on through," he said. Procyon gave him a wide smile. "Thank you," he said sweetly and they walked in. TBC