From: "William Rendfeld" <warendfeld@aol.com> Subject: [PW!] Rescue's Aftermath Date: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 7:49 PM >Most of those on the surface gathered around the hole, watching as the >lava climbed higher and higher. > >"Don't worry, I got-" > >"NO!" Bob's vine redirected Rubix's blast at the last second. > >"Huh? If I don't cap it, it's going to boil over and light up this >whole forest. I don't know about you, but I don't feel like trying to >outrace a forest fire." > >"Kitsu and Aerie are still in there!" > >Rubix blinked. "And you think they can survive THAT?!?" > >With irony's timing, a ninetails pawed her way out of the lava just >then, eyes firmly shut. Heat wafted from her fur in waves, and smoke >marked her footsteps upon the ground. But the loudest sound she made >was the quietest in decibels: a soft whimper that persisted even as she >shifted to a more humanoid form. > >"Kitsu...?" Keaton knew the answer, but knew his sister would need to >say something. > >"She...she wasn't there. There was nothing left to save." She stumbled >towards Mimic. "I'm sorry." > >Alex's eyes were wide with horror. Bob's and Cass's reactions were more >restrained, but still easily read. Even Carol pouted a bit. > >"Kitsu did what Kitsu could. Aerie sacrficed self to save us." Mimic >stepped forwads to embrace the would-be savior. > >"Not." The wereninetails lunged both her fists into Mimic to pull out >the W and I shiny unown and began bashing them against the ground hard >four times then tossed them into the air and called, "Someone ball 'em!" > >Alex and Bob responded fastest, chucking empty pokeballs at the two >unown. Three dings later, the balls were still, just as Kitsu emerged >from the lava. "He just dissolved. Did you...?" > >Aerie blurred back to her normal form and gave an enthusiastic O.K. >handsign. > >Carol blinked. "Would one of you care to explain?" > >Aerie grinned. "We figured Mimic's twin might know what Mimic knew, so >we had to catch him by surprise. He must've had some kind of control >over Mimic to keep him from figuring out the unowns were behind it and >doing something about it - he probably split out the part of Mimic's >personality that would." She tossed back a lock of hair, heat still >blurring her image which was now sillhouetted against the steam from >Rubix chilling the lava in the tunnel into an impermeable cap. "Sorry >'bout that, uncle." > >Mimic had been still since being assaulted, and only now started to >regenerate the holes Aerie had dug in him. "Is...okay..." He frowned. >"Team Magma...know something about Smasher. Mimic think. Is very hard; >memories blurred. But saw...something...going deep. Maybe Aquas have >Smasher?" > "Maybe," Alex replied as she walked over and picked up the Poké Ball containing Eye. Clipping it to the sixth slot on her belt, she turned to the still healing Mimic and asked, "You don't mind if I keep tabs on this one, right?" "No mind," Mimic replied before shifting into his more human guise; James in civilian garb. "So, who you? Aerie no get much chance to explain all the goings on." With a slight smile, Alex extended a hand and replied, "Alexandria Masters. I ran across your brother and niece at Mount Silver just before the Conference. He gave me a few pointers on mastering a few gifts of mine." "Gifts?" Mimic asked with a raised eyebrow before taking Alex's hand. "Oh. Gifts." Their greeting ending, Alex then asked, "So, I'm guessing that you'll be keeping with us for a little while." "No reason otherwise," Mimic replied. Bob shrugged himself. "At least 'till the next town. Speaking of, what is the next town?" "Rustboro City," Cass replied. "Home of the easiest Gym to beat in Hoenn, and a day's journey as the Swellow flies." "We'd better get moving, assuming there are still some Magmas left," Alex noted. Motioning to the last Poké Ball, she asked, "Anyone want to keep an eye on this guy?" TBC? [NS: So, on to Rustboro or what?] William Rendfeld Creator of Echowarrior, the Pokémon Resistance, and Alex Masters 178,000 Excellent Author Points 1 'I knew odd pokefacts that confused a bread crumb' point. 20 Y2Tech Points