Subject: Re: [PW!] Marcia's Wish Is Dee's Command Date: Tue, 01 Apr 2003 03:44:45 GMT From: Adrian Tymes <wingcat@pacbell.net> Organization: Prodigy Internet http://www.prodigy.com Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Rob wrote: > "I told you when you wanted me to go with you three months ago and I'll > tell you again..." Marcia stands up and puts her hands on her hips, "I > care about Aerie deeply, but it's not my fault she's in trouble. Being > her mother, I want her to be safe and sound, but since you're the one > who was ridiculously negligent, you're the one who should drop > everything you're doing to find her. I didn't leave her alone with the > shiny Unown. In fact, I didn't even actively will her birth. I love my > career and I will not leave it for you or for a daughter I didn't ask > for." > > "If that's the case, you can still go to Goldenrod with me then come > back to work." Dee points out, "You wouldn't be looking for Aerie or > leaving your career - you'd just be taking a brief vacation to help a > friend." > > "No, Doppler, I'm staying here." Marcia declares, "I've got sick Pokemon > to care for. The last time I left the Center, Nurse Joy almost lost a > Mareep. If you really loved me, you'd understand why staying here and > caring for hurt Pokemon is so important to me. Protecting the world from > shiny Unown is also important to me, but I can't do both at once and I > think you're more qualified than I am to do the latter task. You say > you've changed, but if the only reason you'd be willing to collect shiny > Unown is to spend time with me or win my affection, then you really > haven't changed. You'd still be a lovesick Ditto who will do anything, > whether good or bad, to get what he wants. Is that who you are?" "Yes he is," a familiar voice interrupts. "But who are *you*?" "Aerie?" Marcia blinks. "Dee, why didn't you tell me you-" "Shut up. He didn't know I was here." Marcia gapes for a moment at the iron in Aerie's voice, then frowns. "Young lady. I will *not* be addressed in that tone!" "You have been and you will be." Aerie fades into view, though Dee's immediate attempted grab shows it to be an illusion. "Forget it, old timer. Anything you see of me is just a Double Team." Indeed, multiple Aeries pop into view all around the center. Dee manages to tag them all in three point two seconds, but as promised, all disappear as he touches them. "Come out this instant!" "Why, so you can leave me alone? You care more about the pokemon here than you ever did about me. How DARE you say you care one bit about your own daughter?" "Aerie, enough!" Dee commands. "If you want to talk, come out here so we can talk face to face!" "So you can grab me? No way. If you really cared about me, papa, you'd listen to what mama's been telling you! But you haven't really heard one word, have you?" "What do you mean? I've-" "YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN!!!" Aerie's shout vibrates in Marcia's and Dee's chests. Dee looks up and grabs into an open vent, but comes up empty handed. "I have your memories, remember?" "My alternate self's. Not mine." "Close enough. If you didn't know, you could've figured it out by now. And why? BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T CARE! Not about me, and CERTAINLY not about mama!" Marcia frowns. "Aerie...what is this about? We've been looking for you-" "HE'S been looking for me! You sent him out alone!" "Well, I have responsibilities-" "EXACTLY! I was going to come and tell you about the eight shiny unown I found, just like you asked me to, and how do you repay me? By fighting!" Dee blinks. "Eight...?" "And I'm pretty sure who's got most of the rest. Even uncle Mimic's probably got at least one - if he's been able to hold on to it. But you never got a single one without me, even for just a moment, did you?" "Aerie! Listen very closely. The shiny unown can take over your mind. They're what's making you mad at us." "I KNOW THEY CAN! That's why I'm not carrying them! I fought 'em off already! What, do you think you're so weak that even a single one would totally dominate you? They're not mad at you; *I* AM!" "Aerie!" Marcia barks. "Stop this at once!" "What, or you'll tell me to go to my room? I already am!" Marcia and Dee share a glance, then run to Marcia's room. "Oh, please." Aerie's voice follows them. "I'm in the same 'room' I'm usually in. That we all travel in. The big one you don't let yourself experience anymore, mooom!" She snickers. "You could say I'm already grounded." "Aerie..." "ENOUGH! If you want me back, make up with each other first. I'm not coming back so long as you keep fighting!" "Aerie! ... AEEERRRIIIEEEE!!!" Dee shakes his head. "Damn it." Marcia whirls on him. "This is all your-" "-OUR fault," Dee concludes. "Don't deny that you had some part in it." Marcia holds up a finger, almost biting her tongue for a moment, then turns her back on him and stalks back to her desk. "Well. If nothing else, at least you've got enough of a backbone to stand up to me. But do you have enough to go find her?" "It's not an issue of backbone." Dee's back is to Marcia as well. "She's gotten a lot better. I'm not sure there's any way I could track her down now. And even if I could, what could I do? Bring her home?" "It'd be a start." "Marcia, you heard what she said. She may seem like just a child to you, with typical childish views of the future, but-" "But you don't," Marcia concludes. "Did it ever occur to you that you might be wrong?" "Of course. But the evidence suggests otherwise." "What evidence?" "For starters, that she *has* my memories, or at least those of someone very much like me." "And you're so very far-sighted? Yeah, right." "Marcia, you wound me." "If it'll help get you back out there and finding her, good." Dee closes his eyes. "I'll at least need some time to see if there are any traces. But I wouldn't turn a blind eye to what you're not doing either, Marcia." Marcia sighs. "Look, Dee, I *explained* that. I'd hope at least you understand me." "This isn't about me." "For once." "Does Aerie care?" "..." "You choose this place over her, in her eyes. I recognize and respect your decision for what it is, Marcia, no matter how much you may want to believe otherwise. But if you're right, and Aerie's mind is but a child's, would she be able to place your wishes above her own?" Dee closes his eyes and sighs, beginning a trance to try to find any trace of where Aerie had teleported to. "I will have to fight that in her too, when I find her. *If* I find her." TBC?