From: Tom, Darth Psyduck (laughing@you.com) Subject: [PW] Why, why ? Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2000-10-14 13:03:44 PST [PW!] Why, why ? (OOC : Heh, I was trying to do a little inner drama, but probably failed... anyway, I'm plotting it so that I can possibly meet with Chet's character in Lavender in the next story :) *** It was getting dark, because of the rain clouds that gathered above Tom's head like a swarm of black sheeps. The light breeze soon turned into a more stronger wind as he was walking along in the forest that was situated between Celadon and Saffron. Quiet sounds could be heard as small raindrops started to fall on the ground. "Come Psyduck, take a little rest in your Pokeball before you catch a cold," said the young Jedi while he took the ball in his hand. "Psy," noded the trustworthy companion when been beamed back into his little portable home. The wind started to get more stronger and stronger and the rain heavier and heavier. Thunders, as if like sent by Zapdos, travelled in the sky, lighting the sky for a few seconds and then fading again. This storm was one of the toughest that Tom ever saw and was in, but he didn't make much out of it. He was somewhere else in his thoughts... [Poor Raine...if only I could do something at that moment to protect her...] *** flashback *** The other claw, unfortunately, was left free to scoop her up and hold her, struggling in abject terror, before the monster's face. Raine could barely breathe thanks to Spaceghost's grip. She felt a pang of immense guilt despite her situation as she let Meche's unconscious body fall to the floor. Below, Tom's Psyduck was blasting confusion beams towards the immense Gengar, only to have them disappear into his huge bulk. Spaceghost didn't even bother to turn around. Struggling, Raine stared deep into the Pokemon's monstrous face, barely able to draw breath now. "Why?" she managed, not quite having enough energy for the string of horrific expletives she had intended to follow this with. In a disturbingly humanesque gesture, the ghost shrugged, then produced a long sword from somewhere deep within its body. Raine's eyes widened. ===Slow motion. With one hand, Spaceghost tosses Raine into the air, skewering her through the chest with the sword as he flings it into the depths of the store. Surprisingly little blood is shed as the hapless young woman is carried by the blade's momentum, finally stopped by one of the few computers still on its display stand. The sword drives into the monitor, producing a few pyrotechnic sparks as Raine's lifeless body sags in a generally gratuitous way. Tom runs towards the ghost, fury in his eyes. Meche raises her head.=== *** end of flashback *** [I should have trained more as a young Jedi, so I could have helped her...] he tormented himself [...or possibly, I should have offered my life instead or her's...] [I shouldn't have went to that crime-filled city... but if I didn't go there, I wouldn't meet her...] [There was so much I wanted to tell you my dear friend... to tell you how your beautiful eyes, your soft voice and your caring smile took me away from the bad sides of this world. To tell you that when you talked to me, you made my heart crazy, but still making me so serene inside. To tell you that I would be there for you always and forever...] *** another flashback *** Childhood panic set in, and almost without engaging her brain, Raine opened her mouth and screamed Cooper's name, the sound dying into a series of wet sobs, Raine's body shaking with each outburst. Tom turned, surprised, and placed his arm around her shoulder, displaying an unexpected amount of compassion. Seemingly unsure of exactly what to say to the distraught young woman, Tom just edged a little closer, allowing the sobbing Raine to rest her head on his shoulder and offered her the end of his robe to dry her eyes. Making indistinct soothing noises, he wondered just how attached he could get to the young fugitive. Certainly, she seemed pleasant enough, although the two had only met a few hours before, and Tom could clearly see that she didn't deserve the attention the police seemed to be heaping on her. Nevertheless, his Jedi-attuned senses had been screaming at him since the two had met, and he was finding it difficult to shake off a sense of approaching danger. "Uh...I'm...um..." began Raine, tears still dribbling off her chin. It was at times like this that she was thankful she didn't wear much makeup. Tom just patted her shoulder. Meche, too, hadn't failed to notice her best friend's trauma, and was attempting to be comforting while watching out for ghost attacks. "Uhm... I'm...uh...sorry..." spluttered the young trainer, between breaths. "You don't need to apologise," said Tom gently. "Fate has been particularly cruel. I assure you, things will get better." Raine looked up, more surprised that anyone was actually bothering to comfort her than anything else. Still, she almost trusted the Jedi's words, an unusual enough feeling in itself. *** end of another flashback *** [To tell you...to tell you that I...that I love you...] While traveling in his mind, Tom came to a cliff with a deep fall. Below was the first city he got to know - he was almost back in Saffron...almost... [Raine...] "why God, tell my why ?" he cried out to the darkened heaven. He then looked down from the cliff...it was a long way down. But he didn't care anymore. He took Psyduck's Pokeball and put it on the ground, covered in his robe so his fellow wouldn't be left in the cold. Turning back to the canyon, he murmured. "There is nothing left to live for... I hope that we will meet once again..." Tom closed his eyes and took a little step further. He could feel the edge of the rock he was standing on, but he moved his other leg forward, like if he could still step on the ground...but suddenly only seconds before he could step into the air and thus fall, he heard a soft voice. A voice that made him stop his foolish action and saved him. A voice he knew very good. It was the voice of Raine... "Tom, what are you doing ?" He turned around, but didn't notice anyone. "Who is there ?" With these words a silhoutte of Raine appeared in front of him. It was a bit different than the last time - she had strange clothes and a ring-shape above her head. She repeated. "Why do you want to end like this ?" " Raine !" Tom almost shouted excited and happy as a little kid. She was now in front of him. Her long hair was loosened on the white robes she wore and she had a halo. She didn't wear any makeup, and still looked better than all movie stars together. She was so beautiful, he almost forgot the question she gave him. But soon he came to him. He fighted the tears that wanted to come out and looked into her eyes. "Because...because...you aren't here anymore..." "But isn't true, you should know it. I'm always and forever with you, what ever happens..." she added "...and I don't have to be physically there, do I ?" with the last words, he saw that she smiled with the smile he adored so much. He couldn't take it on anymore...he started to sob and cry, which is unusual for a man his age, and especially for a Jedi. "Raine, do you... do you know of all that I thought ? Do you know that I..." he asked through all the tears and sobs. "Yes, I know." she said as she smiled. "Don't worry Tom, we will meet again and until then, I'll be waiting for you..." and with these words she faded away. "Raine." he whispered with a light smile on his face. The young Jedi picked up Psyduck's ball and the robes and put them back on. As he looked around, he noticed that it stopped to rain. The cooling breeze whistled quietly and many flowers could be seen. [I can't wait until I'll see you again...] First he though a bit about the past few minutes, then with a deep breath, he smiled and released his companion once again. "Psy, psyduck ?" "Nothing my friend, nothing happened...I only realized how much I like this world" "Psyie. Duck psyie psy." "Yes, you're right, let's go and visit Mr.Psychic," he said as he started to wonder towards Saffron. <TBC...>