From: William Rendfeld (nklplt@aol.com) Subject: Re: [PW!] [SC] [SFM2] Unorthodox Methods Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2003-12-22 16:16:23 PST >Derek looked up at the menagerie of pokemon and people that had gathered. >He looked at the Ninetales. Derek remembered fighting a few while on his >journeys >up Mt. Pyre, looking for some answers. This one felt different, somehow. It >was >just a little voice in the back of his head, one that he learned long ago was >usually >right but caused more trouble than it was worth. He made a note to have a >nice >chat with them later. Besides, some of those moves the girl had used at the >match >were interesting, and probably had some unconventional training to it. > >Just maybe it would be useful to learn how she did it. [NS: Whew. Forgive me for using the backup account, but my other account lost this message. And if anyone's wondering where Alex's sister has gotten to, she's Christmas shopping] Alex, meanwhile, was approaching the Pokémon Center from outside, Kitsu's Scyther standing at the side of the door. "They're inside, right?" Alex asked. "Scy," the Scyther replied with a nod. The Scyther then proceeded to lead Alex, Surtur and ShadowWarrior inside, wherein Aerie was unsteadily getting to her feet, aided by Dee and Keaton, who remained in his Tauros form. Alex noticed Derek and Chan in one corner of the room, and gave a polite nod in greeting. Derek responded in turn. "I'm fine," Aerie said to both her father and Alex, who by that time had reached the gathering. "I'll be the judge of that," Dee noted. "Aerie, do you realize what may have happened back there?" "Dad, I couldn't let Kitsu face the battle alone," Aerie said in her defense. "I didn't want her to get hurt out there." "Aerie, I understand that," Dee replied, "but Kitsu is more than capable of taking care of herself from what you've told me. You didn't need to link." "I wanted to, Dad!" Aerie cried back. "I care about her!" Dee sighed, himself uncertain on how to proceed with witnesses and uncertain of whether Derek could sense their telepathic conversation. "Dee?" Alex asked, gaining his attention. "May I?" Dee thought for a few seconds, then motioned for Alex to proceed. She stepped forward, then knelt down on one knee and said as calmly and sweetly as possible, "Aerie. I realize you care about Kitsu a lot. That much is obvious. But, I think your father is right. You took an awful risk back there, and we're lucky you aren't in worse condition." Attempting to continue without rousing anyone's ire, Alex then said as diplomatically as possible, "You were concerned for her, there's nothing wrong with that. But I don't think you need to cling that closely." With a sigh, Alex thought to herself, _I hope I haven't made things worse._ TBC? [Adrian, I think you'd better take it from here. I just hope for Alex's sake that Aerie isn't too mad about all this.]