Subject: [PW!] The Storm Before the Calm Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 01:10:37 -0400 From: "Clayton" <redneckdadd@yahoo.com> Organization: Bell Sympatico Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon (First of all, I apologize for taking so long. The idea's in my head but it didn't want to come out. Also, with 39 hours of classes a week, I lose writing time fast.) It was a moment that seemed to last forever, but yet it was only one minute. There were no shiny Unown messing with the temporal fabric, no psychics (or half-psychics) causing mischief, Just one young breeder and the Cianwood Gym's leader. At this critical moment, random thoughts were swirling around in the young breeder's head. 'Now I KNOW which of my pokemon to use, but how did I even get into this mess ...' Bob's thoughts were interrupted by a very irate Chuck. "Get a MOVE on. Me and Poliwrath are getting ANGRY OVER HERE!" "I'm HURRYING" Bob yelled back, before returning to his thoughts. 'Well, I had an errand to run ... then there was Sarah ... and Belle ... and Belle is Sarah ... and...' Bob thought, the connection FINALLY clicking. 'She's still the same girl on the inside ... and what I did ... I'm an ass. She'll be fine ... maybe even better.' He autonomously chunked a pokeball out into the arena, the light fading to reveal a Sandslash. "Oh damn!" Bob grumbled, realizing his folly just a wee bit too late. (Note: Anything the Sandslash says that's not translated is most likely cursing. He's got a dirty mouth.) "SLASH!" The hapless Sandslash cried, he turned to Bob. "SLASH! <What the> SAND <are you> SLASH SAND <doing>?" Bob had this glazed look in his eyes and dodn't know when the Poliwrath decided to start with it's Mega Punch, knocking the mouse for a loop. "Huh, wha? Whoa! Sandslash, Defense Curl and Rollout." Bob said in a normal voice. As if almost expecting the move, the Sandslash curled up into a ball and started spinning. When it hit the gorund, he was spinning in the right direction to come right at the Poliwrath with surprising force. The water type flew back a few feet before flipping and gracefully landing on its feet "Sand SLASH!" Sandslash cursed "Finish that puny little rodent with your Water Gun" Chuck almost demanded. With ruthless power and accuracy, the Poliwrath let loose with a powerful Water Gun that Bob's Sandslash dodged. The second one was also dodged, but the third one seemed to speak of a challenge. The rolling Sandslash and Poliwrath's water gun colllided, slowing the Sandslash to a near halt. However, ever so slowly it regained its speed, eventually plowing right into the Poliwrath. The problem is that even when rolling at an insane speed, a Sandslash is still weak to water. Although the Poliwrath was severly weakened, it was still able enough to Mega Punch the Sandslash right into the side of the gym, leaving both an interesting hole in the wall (that strong folks) and Bob down 1 pokemon. "Well, I'm in trouble." "Damn straight kid." "Well, I guess I have to use my old favourite. Get 'im Raffy." Bob said, chunking out another pokeball, and returning the Sandslash to his. A Girafarig came out and without any instruction, executed a swift Take Down on the already weakened Poliwrath, making the match even at 1 pokemon down and left apiece. Chuch looked visibly frustrated at losing even one of his pokemon to what he viewed as a no-good troublemaker. But a fight's a fight and he threw out his next pokeball. "Hitmonchan'll be able to clean that Normal-type's clock." The Hitmonchan appeared and was gone in an impressinve display of speed. "That's the Mach Punch. Now show that wimpy runt how much it can hurt." The Hitmonchan punched Raffy a couple of times, each from a totally fifferent spot. Before Hitmonchan could connect with a third Mach Punch, Raffy seemingly vanished, gone in an impressive display of Agility. "I'll admit that speed is impressive, but you can't run if you're paralyzed." Chuck yelled to Bob. "Thunder Punch!" Chuck called out. Bob's eyes were still half glazed over, and practically autonomous. "Psybeam 'em Raffy." Bob said in a barely audible tone. But Raffy, being half-psychic, as well as Bob's starter pokemon, knew what he was going to say and promptly did it. The Psybeam collided in technicolour light against Hitmonchan, giving him quite the headache. When the attack subsided, Hitminchan dropped to one knee in a heap, trying to regain his bearings. Raffy capitalized on this opportunity to take him down with a Take Down attack. However, Hitmonchan was not completely out as he swung his Thunder Punch at the seemingly 3 Raffys that were barrelling towards him. But in a confused and injured state, he managed to hit Raffy's front left leg. While this wasn't enough to stop the attack from making impact, it was enough to make Chuck proud of him for going down fighting. The Girafarig looked down at the fallen Hitmonchan and using his psychic powers and body for support, lifted the fallen Hitmonchan and aided him over to Chuck, despite the oncoming paralysis from the last attack. Chuck nooded somewhat repectfully to the Girafarig before returning Hitmonchan to his ball and walking over towards Bob. Bob just stood there, frozen almost like a Stantler caught in the headlights. He was only brought back to reality when Chuck's big hands were slammed on Bob's shoulders. "You know kid, as much as I hate to admit it, you won. I'm obligated to give you the Storm Badge." Chuck said, before handing the badge to Bob. Bob looked down at the new Storm Badge now in his hands, but never looked back up. You'd swear that a lone tear fell on the badge. "I'm sorry ... what that old crone at the store told me didn't sink in until the battle started. Her backyard remedies, they're placebos right? Only work if you believe they work." Chuck nodded almost angrily. "Here, take this." Bob said solemly as he handed Chuck a few bills. "I may have won the battle, but you definitely won in the honour department. Take the gym out for dinner, buy your wife flowers, get Belle a more fitting outfit. You've earned it. Sorry it couldn't be more." Chuck looks at the money in his hands, in a sort of shock. "I'm not as strong in body as you or strong in will as others. When I want to help someone, I do it. When things keep failing, I get more desparate. I guess some part of me hoped that a cliched trick like a thwack upside the head would work. But in a way, I expected Belle to beat the snot out me and not you." Bob said solemnly. "Hey, I'm the leader of this place." Chuck boasted. "I got to protect my students. But I still owe you this." Chuck said, smacking Bob upside the head hard. Anyone still watching would swear there was a resonant noise after that one. "Now, we're even." Chuck said, with a gruff chuckle. Bob whislted, calling for Raffy to come which he did with a limp. Turning around, he headed towards the Pokemon Center to heal up and go home. After leaving a note at the Center's front desk for Mimic, Bob called his mother to rig a way to come home. Just as he was about to hang the phone up, the Pokemon Center's front door opened. TBC (If I did Chuck wrong, sorry. I figured that after a long and happy marriage, he'd know about stupid moves and realizing them too late. And I'm more relieved to get this idea written down and stopped at the right point.) ------- Clayton "Okay, who stopped the payment on my reality check?"