Subject: [PW!] Favoritism For Fierce Females Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 12:17:52 GMT From: Rob <robfrompw@yahoo.com> Organization: AT&T Worldnet Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Belle, the blonde girl Chuck convinced to train at his Gym, is seated at a large table in Cianwood City's Morty Rocket's restaurant, a 50s themed diner. The rest of the chairs at the table are occupied by Chuck's six other students, all male, a few male Pokemon, Chuck himself, and his wife, who's sitting next to her husband. Burgers, fries, and drinks have been served to everyone by now, and most of the food has been gobbled down by the hungry trainers. In fact, Chuck's got two dirty plates in front of him instead of one, much to his wife's dismay. Every person and Pokemon seated at the table are talking amongst themselves except for three. Belle, having finished her burger, is eating her remaining fries in silence. Her Tyrogue, who's seated to her right, is silently staring at his female Trainer with his eyes narrowed. John, the young man who bumped into Belle earlier, is seated to her left along with his Mankey, who's resting on his shoulder after having eaten some Pokemon Power Food Chuck's wife had made for all the Pokemon. John's barely touched his burger and fries and he's currently just staring off into the distance. "What are you lookin' at?" Belle breaks the silence. She can't stand that every single student of Chuck's has been ignoring her all night. Even Frankie, the little kid who had been nice to her earlier, hasn't spoken to her since he doesn't want to be ostracized by socializing with her in front of the other students. John doesn't face Belle when he replies, "Nothing. I'm just thinking." Belle pops a french fry into her mouth before asking, "About what?" "How to beat Master in a Pokemon battle." John glances over at Belle for a moment, then stares down at his plate of food as he explains, "I was going to challenge him to a Pokemon battle after he was done battling that guy you said was stalking you, but I got caught up in my training and didn't get the chance to. It's why I bumped into you on my way out - I was training until the last minute and I thought I was going to be late. Master hates it when his students aren't punctual." "Oh." Belle swirls one of her fries around in a small puddle of ketchup as she says, "I'm sorry I was so mean. I just hate bein' pushed around." "It's okay..." John shrugs, "With the way the other kids have been treating you, I imagine you're a bit stressed out." Belle eats her ketchup-soaked fry, then looks over at John, who's still staring out into the distance, "How come the other kids haven't been talkin' with you all night? I know why they don't talk with me, but how come they don't talk with you? Unless you're a really manly lookin' girl or somethin'..." John sniffs out a chuckle - any of the other students would be insulted by what Belle just said, but he's so jaded after eight years of training at Chuck's Gym with little success that he doesn't bother keeping up some ultra-macho persona. He explains his situation, "Well, tonight they've been ignoring me more than usual - I think it's because I told them that I don't think it's a big deal that you're a girl and that's what they're all talking about. But they don't talk to me very much usually anyway since they think I'm a failure because I haven't been able to beat Master in a Fighting Pokemon battle after eight years of training." "That's harsh." Belle pats John on the back, "Maybe if those kids helped you train your Mankey instead of givin' up on you, you'd be ready to beat Ch- uh, Master." "Attention, students!" Chuck shouts, standing up to address all the kids seated at the table, interrupting Belle's conversation with John. "As you probably know, the big Whirl Cup Competition on Red Rock Isle is starting soon. Every three years, the competition has come and gone and we haven't so much as attended. But this year's gonna be different! This year, we're gonna go and I'm selecting one student to represent the Cianwood City Gym in competition." Once Chuck makes this announcement, the boys and Pokemon sitting at the table all start talking amongst themselves at once, wondering who's going to be picked to represent the Gym. Timmy, the oldest of Chuck's student at twenty years of age, has a confident smile on his face. He says out loud to himself so that those around him can hear his boast, "I knew catching and training that Chinchou would pay off. My Lanturn's going to Electrify all of the Water Pokemon he faces!" Chuck walks up to the twenty year-old student, places a hand on his shoulder, and asks, "Timmy?" Timmy nods and replies, "Yes, Master, I'll-" "Can Belle borrow your Lanturn?" Chuck asks. "-be glad to... What?" Timmy blinks twice and hops out of his seat, "What do you mean can Belle borrow my Lanturn?!" Chuck frowns when he hears the defiant tone in Timmy's voice, "I was just being polite. That's an order, not a question, sport. I want Belle to borrow your Lanturn for the Whirl Cup Competition I'm having her enter. She only has one Water Pokemon, a Slowpoke, and could use another." "Why can't *I* borrow *her* Water Pokemon, then?" Timmy asks, outraged by the fact that some girl with a white belt who's been training at Chuck's Gym for one day has been selected over him, a Fighting Pokemon Apprentice with a Black Belt who's been training at the Gym for ten straight years by choice. Chuck shakes his head and explains, "You can't borrow her Pokemon 'cuz I'm asking Belle to represent the Gym, not you. Women make better Water Pokemon Trainers than men, Timmy. Kanto's Water Gym Leaders are four women. Maya, the Priestess who coordinates the Whirl Cup Competition, is female. I met my wife at a Whirl Cup Competition years ago, where I was amazed by how gracefully she commanded her Water Pokemon. Belle, with her raw spunk and fierce charisma, will do a better job of commanding your Lanturn than you ever could." Ever since Chuck has said her name, Belle has been speechless and grinning since she knows how much all the rude male students must be bothered right now. She stands up and gives her acceptance speech, "I'm honored to be selected as the representative of the Cianwood City Gym! I won't let you down, Ch- uh, Master." -Belle