From: "Steffan Alun" <sha3@aber.ac.uk> Subject: Re: [PW!] Noise Pollution Date: Sunday, June 13, 2004 3:12 PM "Rob" <robfrompw@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:hnfxc.17859$Yd3.10657@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net... > Shortly after Loudred arrives in front of the shoe store, Mithril-rama walks > up to where Robert is petting his Houndour. She leans down and taps her > boyfriend on the shoulder, asking, "What's keeping you so long, Robert? And > what's making that awful noise?" > > "LOUD!!" > > "To answer both of your questions... THAT is," Robert remarks, pointing at > the Loudred standing next to Mike. "This man here's called Mike Smith, and > this is his Loudred." Hearing his name spoken out loud by the Gym Leader, > Mike realizes he should've given a fake name instead and makes it a point to > better educate himself in fugitive etiquette. Robert stops petting his > Houndour, stands up straight, and continues his explanation, "Mike's Loudred > makes a lot of noise, but he tends to stop making noise whenever he battles. > I'm going to help Mike by having a Pokemon battle with him. My new Houndour > versus his Loudred!" > > "LOUD LOUD LOUD LOUD LOUD!" > > "Don't you think you should use one of your other, higher-level Pokemon?" > Mithril-rama asks, taking the opportunity to speak the moment Loudred > momentarily stops shouting. "Maybe Piloswine? Or Hitmonchan? That Houndour's > just a puppy. I don't think she should be battling yet." > > "LOUD! LOUD LOUD!! LOUD LOUD LOUD!!!" > > "You worry too much, Rilli. Zafiro told me to have fun with it, and battles > are fun!" Noticing that Rilli's not convinced by his argument, Robert > assures her, "I'll recall Houndour before she gets hurt. I'm not battling to > win, just to help Mike and test out some of my new Houndour's abilities > while I'm at it." Still a bit worried, but trusting her boyfriend's ability > to recall the Fire Pokemon if she's in danger, Mithril-rama shrugs and sits > down on the sidewalk to watch the battle, crossing her legs and plugging her > ears with her fingers. Once Rilli's sitting, Robert turns his attention to > Mike and says, "All right, Mike, it's time to reduce big city noise > pollution!" "This is quite a strange experience," said Mike as he pocketed a Poké Ball he'd received at the Fighting Dojo. "I had heard that challenging Gyms was a bigger deal here than back in Johto, but this will be my third battle against a Leader in a week!" "Rilli," said Robert, calling his girlfriend. "Yes, really!" said Mike. "I was hoping to battle Sabrina here when I first-" Both Robert and Mithril-rama flinched upon hearing the Saffron Gym Leader's name, but Mike didn't notice this. "LOUD LOUD LOUD!" "Alright, Loudred - GO!" commanded Mike, pointing at his opponent like the professional trainers on TV. Robert sent his new Houndour into battle. She ran towards Loudred and jumped up on him, placing her paws on his chest. "LOUD LOUD LOUD LOUD *LOUD*!" Houndour jumped back, and for a moment, Mike was afraid Loudred had scared her. However, she didn't seem at all nervous - in fact, she was grinning at Loudred. "She's too young to do any severe damage," said Robert to himself. "On the other hand, Loudred isn't really paying attention. If I have her use Leer, she might be in with a better chance, especially if she can get in a few quick moves before Loudred calms down enough to battle." Mike wondered how a man who discussed his tactics out loud could possibly have become a Gym Leader. He watched as Loudred started Howling, and decided to leave him to his own devices. "Use Leer, Houndour!" shouted Robert, excitedly anticipating his new Pokémon's first move under his command. Houndour ran towards Loudred and started Biting his leg. Evidently, she wasn't used to her new trainer yet. "Pound it, Loudred!" shouted Mike, trying to mimic Robert's authoritative tone. "LOUD!" exclaimed Loudred, using its cry to punctuate the Pounding it gave Houndour. "Return, Houndour!" called Robert, satisfied with what he'd seen, but not wanting to risk harming such a well-bred creature. Houndour, however, ignored his command, and spat a few Embers into Loudred's face. "LOUD LOUD LOUD! LOUD LOUD! LOUDLOUDLOUDLOUDLOUDLOUDLOUD!" "It's worse than before," muttered Mike. "Start an Uproar, Loudred." Loudred obeyed the command, and as Mike had hoped, Houndour backed away. She still had an evil, playful gleam in her eye, but Robert managed to grab her before she pounced back into the fray. "Good battle!" grinned Robert. "It's nice to have a friendly match once in a while." "Yes," said Mike. "No losers that way!" Robert glanced back at Mithril-rama, who didn't appear to share his enthusiasm for the spontaneous battle. "Are you okay, Rilli?" he asked her. "Just a bit hungry," replied Mithril-rama. Robert suddenly remembered how long it had been since lunch. "Would you like to join us for dinner, Mike?" he asked. "I'm not so sure..." said Mike uneasily. He was quite uncertain about the idea of spending too much time with someone who knew his name in these parts. "Oh, come on! Everyone's gotta eat, right?" Robert laughed. "Right," muttered Mike. "Oh, but I can't. Just remembered. I'm fasting." "Really?" Mike didn't respond. "Are you really fasting?" "Oh, right. Yes, I am. It's a new diet." "Your diet is to not eat anything?" questioned Robert, frowning. "Yes," said Mike, trying to think quickly. "We all pick an ideal weight and try to reach it. At the end, we all attend a ball, wearing suits and dresses that we can now fit into. We call it the Fast Ball." "Isn't a Fast Ball an organic Poké Ball that captures speedy Pokémon?" asked Robert, who was still wondering why Mike - who seemed dangerously underweight - would want to lose more weight. "Erm, I think that's the pun," said Mike. He quickly tried to remember some other details about organic Poké Balls to cover his tracks further. "The ones that don't reach their ideal weight attend a Heavy Ball the following week." He mentally commended himself on his quick wit. "Maybe I'll see you again, then," said Robert. "If you're ever in Lavender Town, pop into the gym and we can have an official battle!" "Yes, maybe," said Mike softly. Suddenly, he was filled with much more excitement, as he said, "You don't have any MENIAL PAPERWORK to fill in, do you?" "Uhh, maybe," said Robert. "Why do you ask?" Mike was already lost in a world of his own. Robert bid him farewell, unsure whether the businessman even realised he was still there, and left to get something to eat, carrying his Houndour in his arms. Meanwhile, Mike was filled with a renewed dedication to clear his name. He promised himself that one day, he'd show up in Lavender Town, and he'd fight the most impressive Pokémon battle the town had ever seen, and he'd make a name for himself as the man who established ComComCom as the most organised communication company on the continent. -- Steffan Alun http://iceduck.pkmn.co.uk/ - my site http://www.pkmn.co.uk/ - want Pokeyman? http://iceduck.pkmn.co.uk/mcw/ - Milk Cap Wars!