From: "Lady Timedramon" <sailrgal@swbell.net> Subject: [PW!]Return to Action Date: Monday, June 28, 2004 12:17 AM 8 months ago: Saffron Gym - Sabrina sat in her office, going over battle tapes, then she glanced at the pile of complaints. As much as she didn't want to, this was an issue that would have to be addressed immediately. She closed her eyes and sent the message. "Haunt haunt haunter," said Sabrina's Haunter. "Yes, I know she won't like it. It still has to be done." "Haunter haunt haunter." Ten minutes later, Sabrina's cousin and top gym trainer arrived, followed as usual by a very large Nidoking. "Haunter, why don't you take Spunky outside to play?" "Haunt. Haunter haunt!" "Nido!" The Nidoking looked to his trainer. "Go ahead," said Sarah Jane Eckert. Spunky happily bounded after Haunter, for which Sabrina was relieved. Of all of Sarah Jane's pokemon, Spunky reacted the most abruptly to Sarah Jane's upset. And after what Sabrina was going to say, there would be no doubt her cousin would be upset. Sabrina carefully controlled her emotions. She knew that if she betrayed any feelings, Sarah Jane would know. While her cousin wasn't adept at reading minds, she easily sensed others feelings. "Sarah Jane, sit down," she said. "What's up Sabrina?" Quickly Sabrina sized up her cousin. Sarah Jane had come quite a long way since she'd first come to be a trainer at the gym. "You know that I do not like to beat around the bush, so I will get right to it. I have been receiving some complaints. Not only the kind that my trainers are too hard for general trainers to defeat." Sarah Jane's eyes narrowed. "Then what?" "People come to my gym to fight psychic pokemon, and the occasional ghost. They do not come to fight other types, unless it is a dual type psychic or ghost." Sabrina turned to her papers. "You are the only trainer in my gym who consistantly uses other pokemon." She handed Sarah Jane some of the papers. After a few long moments reading the messages, Sarah Jane looked up. "I'll try to use just my psychic pokemon from now on," she said in a low voice. "Spunky and Pteryx can not stay at the gym," Sabrina said a bit sharply. Sarah Jane paled. "You can't mean that!" "They are not psychic type. You have a Hypno, an Alakazam, an Eggecute that should have evolved by now, if you were using it, a Starmie, a Gengar, and a Natu..." "Xatu," corrected Sarah Jane. "Cassandra evolved last week." "It's nice to know you're using at least one psychic pokemon. But from now on, the only pokemon that are to be in this gym belonging to gym trainers will be psychic and ghost. Is that clear?" --- 7 months ago Saffron Gym: Sarah Jane sat on the bench in her battle room, waiting for the next trainer to come through. A Xatu stood a on the other side of the room telepathically talking to a Hypno, an Alakazam, and a Gengar. <<Sigfreid, I do not know what to do,>> Cassandra said to the Alakazam. <<You and Svengali have known Sarah Jane longer than I have.>> <<You know her just as well as we do,>> interjected the Hypno. <<You've spent most of the time with her over the last month.>> <<Sarah Jane likes doing what is needed to accomplish the results. By forcing her to use only psychic pokemon, she is unable to do that. She does not like when trainers come in expecting to have one pokemon defeat all psychics,>> added Sigfreid. <<Oh come on,>> interjected Fantasma, glaring at the psychic pokemon. <<She wouldn't care a bit about that if she could still have Spunky and Pteryx here. They're her BABIES. She's had Spunky since he was a few weeks old, and she hatched Pteryx from the egg.>> <<Can we not convince Sabrina to let them come, even if they do not battle?>> asked Cassandra. <<I've already tried to that idiot Haunter of Sabrina's. He says once she's made up her mind, there's no changing it.>> The Gengar shook her head. <<All I see is Sarah Jane becoming more and more depressed, and I don't like it.>> <<This is true. I have been with her almost constantly since she sent Spunky and Pteryx to Rosetta,>> said Cassandra. <<She does not sleep well, does not join in with her fellow trainers.>> <<What of her friend Damien?>> asked Svengali. <<Perhaps he might be able to help?>> <<You really don't pay attention to human interaction, do you?>> returned Fantasma with a roll of her eyes. <<They broke up just before he went off on another trip for Silph Co.>> <<This is neither here nor there,>> stated Cassandra. <<Something must be done now.>> Meanwhile, in Rosetta... "Dr. Eckert! Come quick!" shouted a research assitant as he ran into the room. "A Nidoking is on the rampage!" Dr. Xavier Eckert looked across the desk at his wife Lillian. With a sigh they both shook their heads and said "Spunky." "I'll try to settle him down," said Dr. Eckert to his wife. "You see if you can find Cuddles." "This is just ridiculous," said Lillian. "None of this would be happening if Sabrina wasn't being so Tauros-headed." "Agreed. Let's get Spunky calmed down, then see what we do next." Dr. Eckert followed the assistant while his wife went in search of the irate Nidoking's sister. This was unnecessary, as apparently the current fight was brewing between Spunky and a pink Nidoking, Regis by name. A young Aerodactyl flapped between the two Nidokings while a Nidoqueen tried to hold Regis back. A Nidoran and Nidorina and a few small Nidoran were trying to block Spunky. "All right, that does it! Stop it right now!" shouted Dr. Eckert through a megaphone. The battling Pokemon paused, then began yelling at each other. "I have no idea how my granddaughter deals with this," he said to his assistant. "She's probably the only one who will be able to get them calmed down." He picked up the megaphone again. "Spunky, Pteryx, Cuddles, Regis, follow me right now!!!!" The arguing pokemon followed the doctor over to a video phone stationed nearby for emergencies and continued to argue while Dr. Eckert placed a call. "Saffron City Gym Main Desk," said the receptionist. "Sarah Jane Eckert please," said Dr. Eckert, trying to ignore the bedlam behind him "One moment." "Training room 6." Spunky heard the voice and whirled around, his argument with Regis forgotten. "NIIIIDDDDOOOOO!!!!!!!" "Grandpa?" said Sarah Jane, her face appearing on the screen. "Hello Dear," said Dr. Eckert. "I'm sorry to bother you right now, but this is rather urgent..." He tried to explain what was happening while Spunky and Pteryx tried to make their presence known in the background. "Thanks Grandpa. Put them on and let me talk to them." Dr. Eckert stepped aside and listened as the group of Pokemon struggled to be heard over each other. He watched his granddaughter's responses and facial expressions with the distinct feeling that something was wrong - but it wasn't with the pokemon. Ten minutes later, Regis and the younger Nidos left, his part of the issue apparently resolved. Cuddles hung behind as Spunky and Pteryx continued to talk to Sarah Jane. She appeared near tears. Finally Dr. Eckert managed to get back to the video phone. "Sarah Jane, is everything okay out there?" he asked. She burst out crying. --- 6 months, 2 weeks ago Saffron Gym: Lillian and Xavier Eckert waited for Sabrina. The gym leader soon entered her office. She knew why they were there. Secretly she was relieved. In her current state of depression, Sarah Jane was having trouble shielding her feelings, which were broadcasting to humans and Pokemon both. The whole gym appeared to be depressed. Either letting Spunky and Pteryx return or sending Sarah Jane away would resolve the situation, but letting Sarah Jane's grandparents take the intiative would allow Sabrina to save face. "You've come about Sarah Jane," she said to them. "We've come to take her back to Rosetta," said Lillian. "It's in her best interest." "It would be in her best interest for her to remain here learning to use her psychic abilities," returned Sabrina in a token argument. "Sarah Jane is still underaged. As her legal guardians, I believe we currently have the right to say what is Sarah Jane's best interest," replied Dr. Eckert. "Then discussing the situation further would waste time." Sabrina sent a telepathic message, summoning Sarah Jane to her office. Sarah Jane approached the office with much trepidation. The last time she was called there, she had to send away her babies. What did Sabrina have in mind now? She was totally surprised to find her grandparents sitting in the office. "Grandma? Grandpa? What...?" "We've come to take you home, dear." Lillian smiled at her. Confused, Sarah Jane looked at Sabrina. "Your grandparents are still your guardians until you are eighteen. It is their decision." "We've decided that it's in your best interest to come back to Rosetta," added Dr. Eckert. "When... when do we leave?" stammered Sarah Jane. "As soon as you're packed. We have three Pidgeot waiting," said Lillian. "Go ahead," said Sabrina. She could feel Sarah Jane's happiness and excitement growing as she dashed out of the office. An hour later, Sarah Jane was saying goodbye to her fellow trainers. All of her pokemon were in their pokeballs, and all of her belongings were in suitcases. Sabrina approached. "I hope one day you will consider returning to the gym as a trainer." Sarah Jane met her cousin's gaze. "Not without Spunky and Pteryx." She handed Sabrina a pokeball. "What's this?" "The Eggecute that you gave me. I think it should stay with you." "You keep it." "No. I never really got along well with it." Sarah Jane hugged Sabrina and Haunter, then with a last wave to the other trainers, ran outside to her waiting grandparents. "Let's go home," she said. --- One month ago Rosetta: Sarah Jane was restless. Of course, returning home had been the best thing. She was happy, her pokemon were happy. But she missed the days of traveling and battling. Sure she kept in practice battling college students and visiting trainers. It still didn't feel the same. "Sarah Jane, Mr. Worth is here to see you," said Lillian. "Isn't that Candy's father?" "Yes. He asked to talk to you." Mr. Worth was seated in the living room talking to Dr. Eckert. "Ah, there you are Sarah Jane. It's been a while since I last saw you." He stood and shook hands with Sarah Jane. "Well, I had been very busy in Saffron, then I was taking courses here in Rosetta. How is Candy?" "Candy is why I've come to see you." Sarah Jane sat down on the sofa while Mr. Worth returned to the chair. "Candy still insists on being a Pokemon trainer. The first time was a fiasco. Her Pokemon ran away, and poor Jeeves had a nervous breakdown. I tried sending her to one of the academies, but she was kicked out." "I'm sorry Mr. Worth, but what does this have to do with me?" "I had just been talking to your grandfather about the idea of hiring you to go with Candy." "Me? I'm not going to drive her around or chase Pokemon for her..." "I don't want you to. Candy needs an experienced trainer with her who isn't going to treat her differently because of her status. I want her to experience a pokemon journey just like any other trainer. This is going to be her absolute last chance. You'll go with her, teach her, evaluate her, and keep her out of trouble. I'll pay for first class tickets to the Houenn region, where she'll start out a normal Pokemon journey from Littleroot town with a starter Pokemon. No limos, no motorhomes, just a typical journey. I will, however, give both of you an allowence, with an extra stipend for your troubles." "What does Candy say about this?" "Candy will do anything to try to become an accomplished trainer. She knows this is the last chance I'm giving her." Sarah Jane looked at her grandfather, who simply said "It's your decision." "You don't have to answer me right now," added Mr. Worth. "Take a few days to think about it." --- Two weeks ago Rosetta: "You're not starting fresh at Littleroot?" asked one of the research assistants as Sarah Jane was deciding which Pokemon to take with her to Hoenn. "I'm not going to start my journey experience over - I'm going to supervise Candy. Besides, leaving Spunky and Pteryx alone is not a good thing." The assistant cringed, remembering what happened with Spunky and Regis while Sarah Jane was in Saffron. "Are you taking any others?" "Yeah. I'll take Nipper and Cassandra. I don't know about any others though." "I DON'T WANNA TALK TO ANY FLUNKIES!!!! I WANNA TALK TO THE BOSS!!!!!" came the shout from outside. Sarah Jane and the assistant dashed outside just as Dr. Eckert came around the corner. A rather harried young research assistant was trying to fend off an apparently irate trainer with a Flareon. "I am in charge here," said Dr. Eckert calmly to the young man. "How can I help you?" "I come by to see how my pokemon are doing here in storage while I'm passing through, I check on my Flareon, and I find THIS!" He shoved a basket at Dr. Eckert. Sarah Jane came over and looked inside. "Ohhhh... how cute!" she exclaimed. In the basket slept two tiny Eevees. One had sort of a pinkish-lavender fur, while the other was dark grey. The Flareon didn't appear interested in what was apparently her offspring. She just yawned and looked bored. "I wanna know what pokemon's responsible for this!" snarled the trainer. "Well, I could take DNA tests and compare it to the male pokemon who have been in residence for the last couple of months, but that may take a while," said Dr. Eckert. "Hey, I'm not stickin' around! You gotta know a faster way of findin' out." "If you weren't shouting so much, I could just ask your Flareon," returned Sarah Jane. "Oh come on... you speak Pokemon?" scoffed the trainer. "You'd be surprised," said one of the assistants. Sarah Jane knelt down to the Flareon's height. The conversation seemed a bit one-sided, but Sarah Jane's face paled from what the Flareon told her. "Oh no.... you're not serious...." "Flare flare..." the flareon looked very smug and self-satisfied. "Goddish no.... I don't believe this...." muttered Sarah Jane. "What?" asked the others in unison. Sarah Jane stood, walked to the door, and yelled into the house. "Spunky, get your rear end out here this minute!" "SPUNKY?!?" The expresson on Dr. Eckert's and the assistants' faces left the trainer confused, until a Nidoking bounded happily out of the house. He noticed the Flareon and howled gleefully. The Flareon acted disinterested. "Nido?" He looked confused and rejected. "Th-that... monster... and my little Flareon....?" The trainer stood there agape. "Spunky, how could you?" asked Sarah Jane, an angry tone. "Ni? Ni ni do?" Spunky appeared clueless. "This!" Sarah Jane lifted the baby Eevees out of the basket. "Nido?" He looked at the babies, then the Flareon, then the babies, then Sarah Jane, then he scratched his head. "Nidoni ni nido do?" "Apparently Spunky thought it was some some sort of game," she explained. "Oh Goddish.... Grandpa, how do you explain the facts of life to a Nidoking?" Everyone else's jaws dropped. "So what do I do with these?" the trainer gestured to the Eevees. "Flareon doesn't want them, and I'm not going to haul around a couple of pokemon that can't fight." Sarah Jane sighed. "Well, since my pokemon is responsible, I guess I'll take them." "You're going to go to Hoenn with a pair of baby pokemon?" asked one of the assistants. "I guess it wouldn't be a Pokemon Journey for me without a baby Pokemon," said Sarah Jane with a smile. TBC -- --- Lady Timedramon, aka Time Lady It's Not Easy Being Green-the Unofficial Beast Boy/Changeling Fansite http://MysticManor.tripod.com/garfieldlogan The Titans Together Webring http://n.webring.com/hub?ring=titanstogether The Mystic Manor Gateway http://MysticManor.tripod.com