From: "William Rendfeld" <WARendfeld@aol.com> Subject: [PW!] Return to Normalcy Date: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 12:25 PM Return to Normalcy Sunlight lightly poured into the small room, lightly hitting Nori's face and rousing her awake from her slumber. Her eyes slowly opened as she began to take in her surroundings; Big Time the Larvitar was still curled up in her arms, sleeping soundly, with Buddy the Ninetales curled up near her feet. She looked to one side to see the half-breeder Bob Raiser sitting cross-legged in an easy chair, either meditating or asleep. Behind him, one hand resting on the back of the chair, stood Alex Masters. "Welcome back to us." "What are you doing here?" Nori asked. "Checking up on you," Alex replied. "You've been asleep since yesterday afternoon. Besides, I figured you'd be hungry." The tall girl picked up a small breakfast tray, keeping it at such a level that Nori could survey its contents; sausages, bacon, pancakes with butter and maple syrup, a glass of orange juice, and a small plate of scrambled eggs were spread out in plain view, complete with cutlery. "Made it myself," Alex proudly said. Nori's glance shifted to Bob as she asked, "And why didn't he get it?" "Well, reason one, he's sleeping," Alex noted as Bob's head limply went to one side, his leaf dangling at an odd angle. "Reason two, I wanted to see how you were doing for myself. I kinda feel responsible for the whole mess to begin with." With a shrug, she finished, "Still, better you alive and complaining than dead." Nori looked at the girl, only to shake her head and say, "You really are crazy." "That's a very flexible term, Nori," Alex noted. "Then explain why you went and killed someone, then saved me," Nori asked as she shifted her position in bed. "Me with Canmore?" Alex asked. "If he'd remained alive, he would have continued hunting me with everything he had, and he wouldn't have held back because of an innocent life or two. Killing him protected me and this group. I traded one life for those of over a dozen people and countless Pokémon in this group, along with members of my family. As for saving you, well...I never liked losing the people I care about." Nori narrowed her eyes, then asked, "How do I know you're not lying?" "How do you know I am lying?" Alex asked in reply. Nori stared at Alex for a hard second, then changed the subject. "What was with those questions, anyway?" "I ask myself those questions every day," Alex answered. "The answers vary from person to person. I'm not really sure I've come up with good answers for the first two. But I can answer the third easily; it's what I did by stopping Canmore, and bringing you back to us." "Make yourself feel better?" Nori half-snorted. "Save lives," Alex answered. She motioned her head to the breakfast tray and asked, "So, you going to eat, or what?" "I'd do it, it smells great," came a familiar voice. Both Alex and Nori looked in surprise to Bob, who had one eye open and was watching the proceedings intently. With an irritated cry, Nori took the tray and said, "If this is poisoned and I die, I'm coming back and haunting you both." - The three emerged from Nori's room in the Pokémon Center to find the rest of their group waiting for them. Surtur the Blaziken and ShadowWarrior the Murkrow stood just outside the door, silently standing guard. Thyme the Medicham was meditating in a corner about six inches off the ground, Mimic having morphed into a similar form and remaining on the floor. Raffy was watching both with slight bemusement. Carol was lounging on the couch, gingerly eating a bag of potato chips, while Ben and Jeff were discussing something in a corner. Rubix, meanwhile, was slouching against a nearby wall, a small bag in one hand. "'Bout time you woke up," Rubix groaned. "I'd rather not deal with Set for the rest of my life." "Hello to you too," Nori dryly noted. #You sure you made the right decision keeping her breathing?# Raffy telepathically asked Alex. Alex smirked at the half-Psychic and said, #What do you think?# TBC? [NS: You know, I think I'll get to like college. Whoever wants to start up the Gym Battles, feel free.]