Subject: [PW!][WC] Becky rents a pokemon Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 12:44:08 GMT From: Worry <Not@acceping.today> Organization: RoadRunner - Triad Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon "Oh come on." Travis said consolingly. "It was a great match!" "But I can't believe I left Waverider out there, especially after she battled so hard for me." Becky stated dejectedly. "I deserved to be laughed at. I am a horrible trainer!" She added, her tone reflecting the misery she was feeling. "Nonsense!" Travis replied stoutly. "You took a low level Marill and nearly defeated a decently leveled Mantine. Horrible trainers couldn't have pulled that off. Especially with a Marill seeing it's first battle!" "I was just lucky." Becky said, though her tone was growing lighter. "I was lucky Marill knew Double team, and lucky the Mantine was hurting itself with takedown." Before Travis could respond, nurse Joy interrupted. "Your pokemon have been checked out and are ready for action." She told Becky. Becky accepted the pokeballs back, once more apologising to the one that held Waverider the Lapras. "I've got to get back to the stadium." Travis stated. "I don't know when my match is coming up. I'd hate to forfeit! You coming?" "Not just yet." Becky replied. "I have a Poliwrath waiting for me at Oldman's rentals. I hope he was able to find one with the moveset I requested.." As the pair left the pokecenter Travis said, "Good thing you planned it out. Requesting a pokemon ahead of time in anticipation of advancing was a good idea." Before Becky could reply, an Ambulance moving at high speed with siren wailing drove by. It had come from the direction of the coliseum! "Wonder what is going on up there?" Becky asked. "I'll go find out." Travis answered. "I hope it is nothing serious." And with that he set off at a run towards the stadium. Becky watched him go, then crossed the street to Oldman's Pokemon rentals. The old man behind the counter smiled and said "Welcome! What can I do for you today?" "I have a pokemon reserved." Becky answered "Ah! You must be Becky." The old fellow responded. "Please, come on back!" He added indicating a set of double doors. Coming around the counter he supplied, "It was very difficult finding a fully evolved pokemon with your specific moveset. I had to send all the way to Kanto to find him!" "I'm glad you were able to." Becky replied as they entered the back area of the store. The back area held more of the large aquariums. Most were empty, but one was filled with water, and inside a deep blue Poliwrath swam around. "Oh! Is that him?" Becky asked, impressed. "Indeed." The gentleman replied. "But there is something we must discuss. I'm afraid I will have to place a surcharge before I can let you have him. Both for the expense in getting him here, and because he is at a higher level then most of my rentals." "How much of a 'surcharge?'" Becky asked suspiciously. She was in no mood to be taken to the cleaners. "I should think a hundred should cover it." The old man answered dissmissivly. "I don't know if I can cover that!" Becky stated sounding irritable. "I don't know if we have that much left in the bank!" "I'm sorry, young lady, but the price is set. Because this Poliwrath is two levels higher than my other rentals, the tournament officials insisted that it should cost more to rent. Plus, I do have the expense of finding and getting him here." "But you already charged me a surcharge for that." Becky pointed out. "Maybe I should pay a bit more for his higher level, but I already paid you to find him." "It cost more than I estimated." The older man replied trying to sound reasonable. "And it is stated in your contract that additional charges may be included." "I guess I will just have to do without him." Becky stated sadly. "If you will just return my deposit... "Oh, my. I am sorry." The old man interrupted. "Your contract specifically states no refunds." Becky winced at that. She had forgotten about that clause. Still, she hated the thought of parting with more money. But if she didn't, the would be out what she already paid. "He does have the moves I wanted?" "Oh yes," The old man responded. Ticking them off on his fingers, he listed, "Mind Reader, Hydro Pump, Submission, and Fissure. It was the Fissure that added the expense. Mind Reader is hard enough to find bred on, But Fissure is a fairly rare move!" "Very well then." Becky said bitterly. "You have me over a barrel. I guess I have no choice. I'll take him." "I am sorry." The older gentleman said sounding sincere. "I'll tell you what. For twenty-five extra, I will throw in an option package. If he does well for you in the tournament, and you wish to buy or trade for him. This is not an offer we often make. If you do decide to buy, you will get a very reasonable price break, or a straight up trade for one of the approved pokemon on our want list." "And if I decide I don't want him?" Becky asked "Then that twenty-five will be promptly refunded when you return him. But I must tell you. While we can't, of course, make promises to any particular pokemon's performance, I do believe you will want this one. I've rented out plenty of pokemon in my day, but this big guy has spirit that I have rarely seen. I think he will do very well for you." "Ok then, let me make sure I can cover it, and I will take the option package." Becky replied. It was to good a deal to pass up. She just hoped Travis would understand. Their money was getting tight. As it turned out, their was more than enough money in their account to cover the cost. Travis had spoken to his parents the night before, and he must have asked them to float him a loan. Still, she hated taking the money out without discussing it first. Once the money had been transferred, everything progressed quickly. The old man handed her the pokeball with the Poliwrath, then went over the paper work with her to make sure she understood everything. She also got a 'want list' of pokemon the rental center was looking for. If she could find one of them, she would be able to trade it straight across for the Poliwrath. As Becky left the store to stop by the pokecenter to update her line-up, she didn't notice the smile on the old man's face. If she had, she might not have called it a smile. She might have gone so far to call it a sneer. Still, it could have been a trick of the light. She might have been very interested, though, in the call he made as soon as the door closed behind 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