Subject: [PW!][WC] After the matches Date: Sat, 14 Dec 2002 03:55:53 GMT From: Worry <Not@acceping.today> Organization: RoadRunner - Triad Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon As Travis left the battling area, Becky arrived. "How did it go?" Becky asked, since Travis would look the same win or lose. "I lost." Travis answered. "Robert's pokemon put up a great battle. Still it was close. Tendril and Rapid gave a great accounting." "Oh man." Becky replied "I really wish you had won. I'm afraid I did something bad." "Oh?" Travis asked "Yeah. I went to rent that Poliwrath..." Becky explained about the complications and having to take money out of their account. "One twenty five isn't that big a hit." Travis stated understanding. "But unless you win the tournament, we wont be able to afford to buy Poliwrath. Still, you had to rent him, it would have been worse losing the money you had already deposited for him." "Maybe we can find one of the pokemon on the list and trade straight for him." Becky replied. She was really impressed with Poliwrath, and the longer she had him the more she wanted him. "Maybe you me and Rapid could go to the beach tonight and hunt for one. Rapid is good at figuring out what moves wild pokemon know." "Let's see the list." Travis said. Taking the list from Becky, he looked it over. "Going to be tough finding wilds with these moves bred on." He said after a while. A pokemon on the list caught his eye and he said in disbelief: "Do they really think it would be possible to find a young Lugia? Or a baby Zapdos? Heck if we could find those, they would be worth more than a single Poliwrath!" "But some of the others on the list might be more available." Becky pointed out. "After all, My opponent Bob Riser found a Mantine bred with Dragon's blood right off shore!" "We can go and look." Travis stated, "But, if you really want that Poliwrath, I think you should plan on winning the Whirl Cup." "We really do need that cash prize." Becky conceded. "And winning the pendant could be very helpful too. But how realistic is it to hope for that? After all, this is the first tournament I have been in." "You have as good a chance as anyone else." Travis assured her. "After all, most of the real heavy hitters have already been eliminated. The Sensational sisters are all out, and the only other two gym leaders to advance is Rudy of the Orange Islands and the man who beat me, Robert of the Diversity Gym. Both will be tough, but I am thinking that you could take either one!" "You...you really think so?" Becky asked suddenly and unaccountable shy. She wasn't used to Travis talking her up like that. Becky didn't know quite how to react. But she found herself gaining confidence as he spoke. "I really do." Travis assured her with a hand on her shoulder. "Now we need to get Rapid and Tendril to the pokecenter and get them treated. They have had a hard day. On the way out of the Coliseum, Travis noticed Belle, who has sat in one spot since losing her battle. "Hey Sarah, You had a great match today. No need to feel down." He told the Gi-clad girl. "You really shouldn't sit in one place like that. You'll get stiff!" But Belle paid him no heed. After a moment, Travis shrugged and joined Becky. * * * It was a few hours later before Travis got his pokemon back. Both Joys at the center were having some sort of difficulty with the computer system. Becky decided to ride Traveler down to the beach and get some training in with her rental Poliwrath rather than wait. She told Travis that she would catch the late supper, and to not wait up. Entering the dining area of the pokecenter, Travis saw that the place was almost packed. Chuck and his students claimed two tables, holding a chair open. Only one empty table remained, So Travis quickly placed his food order and took a seat there. Before he could take a bite, a shadow fell over him. It was Robert, the trainer that defeated him earlier. "Mind if I sit here?" Robert asked. "Go ahead." Travis replied indicating the other chair. "Thanks. Place is packed!" Robert said making room for his tray. "Quite a day, wasn't it?" "Yeah, not many tournaments result in people getting shot." Travis answered deadpan. "This is the first one I have ever been in. I hope all of them aren't this...exciting." "Still, despite that bad business, the crowd, what was left of it anyway, were really into our match." Robert stated. "Yeah, all things considered, we put on a good show." Travis returned. "Say, you never did answer my question." Robert said around a mouthful of food. "What question was that?" "About becoming a member of the Slow Pokemon Appreciation Society." "Ahh, that one." Travis said. "I didn't really have time to think about it, with us being in the middle of a battle and all. Truth is, though, I like all pokemon. Each one has it's own strengths and weaknesses. Some benefit from not being as quick. Like your Slowbro being faster than Rapid giving me the chance to use her Disable on Slowbro's confusion. I really wish that had lasted longer than it did. Tendril might have been able to take your Horsea, had she not had so much taken out of her by that confusion attack." "I don't know." Robert returned. "Horsea is a plucky little one. Gained some great experience out there today." "Indeed." A very small voice sounded in Travis's mind. "That Horsea was a more worthy foe than I thought when I first saw it." "Who said that?" Robert asked. "I heard a faint voice say something about my horsea." "That was my Slowpoke, Rapid." Travis answered surprised. "She must of really wanted you to hear that, most of the time she speaks to my mind alone." With that, Travis selected a pokeball off of his belt and released Rapid to the floor beside their table. "Oh you are a cute Slowpoke." Robert gushed turning his attention to her. "But how is it you know human speak?" "I don't 'speak' human." Rapid replied telepathically, Her mental voice sounding much clearer to the two humans "I use a side effect of my Psychic attack to communicate. And I thank you for the compliment." "Amazing.' Robert breathed. Pulling a pokeball of his own, he released his Slowbro to stand beside Rapid. "Slowbro, can you do that?" Slowbro just stood where he was grinning. "It takes a great deal of effort and practice." Rapid explained. "And as Slowbro knows only Confusion, any attempt he made would be painful to you. To communicate the way I do would require the power and control afforded by Psychic." "I see." Robert replied sadly. But he brightened up at once. "Still, it's something to consider when he actually does learn Psychic. "Bro." Slowbro agreed just before Robert recalled him into his ball. Travis did the same with Rapid. "You are an interesting guy." Robert stated. "I think I could learn more from you. Would you like to trade numbers? Mine is 555-3344. We could call one another now and then and exchange information." "Ok," Travis replied pulling out his pokegear and entering Robert's number into the memory. "Mine is 555-1427. This is the first number I've put in here other than home." "So let me pick your brain." Robert said to his new phone friend. "The Joys have had trouble entering the next round match-ups into the computer, but what do you think of the ones that are posted?" "I don't know. I haven't seen them." Travis replied. "I am matched up against the Karate Gi wearing girl Becky." Robert confided. "Know anything about her?" "As a matter of fact, I do." Travis replied. "She is my traveling companion. She and I have known each other for years." "Woops!' Robert said brightly. "Probably not going to get anything out of you about her then." "Probably not." Travis replied. "Beter not." A female voice interrupted. Both males looked up to find Becky, a tray of food in her hands, staring down at them. She set the tray down on the table, pushing the remnants of Travis and Robert's meals to make room. "So you are the person I battle tomorrow?" "Apparantly so." Robert answered extending a hand. "Glad to meet you. I am Robert." Becky returned the handshake firmly and said "Likewise." "Robert is the person I lost to today." Travis informed his traveling companion. "Oh really?" Becky asked. "Then I will have to beat him tomorrow to get your revenge." She added with a challenging note in her voice. "Or I will have to defeat the second member of the team." Robert returned gamely, smiling. "I saw your battle against the sensational sister Violet. Your Lapras is a tough customer!" "Thanks." Becky replied, her voice filled with pride on behalf of her pokemon. "Perhaps you will find out how tough tomorrow." Becky added slyly. "Just don't have her evolve before the match." Robert stated, drawing blank stares from Travis and Becky. "At any rate, I believe I will turn in for the night. I'll need to rest up to be at my best tomorrow! Nice to meet you both." He went on shaking both trainer's hands once more. Gathering up his tray, he added "And please let me know if either of you want to join the Slow Pokemon Appreciation Society. You get a very nice golden Slowpoke- shaped lapel pin to wear and other great members benefits as well!" "Become a member of S.P.A..." Becky began derisively before Travis broke in with "Maybe. we will let you know." "Good good." Robert said as he left the table. "Goodnight. and see you in the arena tomorrow!" After the genial trainer had departed. Travis asked, "How did it go with Poliwrath?" "Very well." Becky stated. "It is kind of surprising how his Fissure attack worked in the water. I don't know if I will be able to use it, though. Robert seems on the ball enough to withdraw his pokemon if I use Mind Reader." "I don't think he realizes that you have a Poliwrath, though." Travis replied. "The joys are having some kind of trouble with the computer system. They may not have updated your line-up yet. Robert could be expecting Waverider and Marill again." Becky shrugged and started in on her meal. Travis nursed a soda while she ate. After Becky finished her meal, the two gathered up their trays then left the dining area to rest up for the next day. Becky found it hard to go to sleep thinking about how and what pokemon she should use for the next days events. Another battle against a Gym leader! She wondered if the Diversity Gym also specialised in water types. She was still considering it when sleep finally overcame her. -- Worry's first SIG sig file ------------------------------------------------------------------ *"It takes a Worried man to sing a Worried song..." Kingston Trio* *And the award for the funniest line in a cartoon goes to Superman who remarked "Don't look at me, I just catch 'em!" after stopping a crane thrown by Bizzaro from crushing a wedding party.* Proud owner of 300 fake code points