From: "William Rendfeld" <warendfeld@aol.com> Subject: [PW!] Siren Calls in Meteor Falls Date: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 9:38 PM >"Okay, let's do it!" Aerie pumped her fist, gesturing to the northern >path with her other hand. > >"You sure you're okay?" Derek wondered. "I mean, I'm pretty confident >in my skills, but I wouldn't go around just accepting random >challenges." > >"Cham," Chan corrected. > >"Okay, I would, but this sounded serious!" > >"Which is exactly why I have to take it," Aerie firmly responded, >bringing her open palm around to smack into her fist for emphasis. >"Anyone who dares challenge the daughter of Doppler and Minax probably >has a very good reason!" > >"Who and who?" Derek gave her a blank look. > >"..." > >"Come on, you can remind him on the way." Kitsu ran a furless hand >through her hair, still luxuriating in her new form's sensations. "The >longer we wait, the further away Smasher could get, if he's there." > >Shaking her head, Cass tossed out a pokeball. "Come on, Hot Shot. >We've got work to do." > >One red flash later, a dragonite appeared. > >One red flash later, a dragonite appeared. > >Cass blinked. > >"You said he could take two or three, so that leaves one for me," the >psuedo-Dragonite explained. > >"You're willing to be ridden?" Keaton queried with a smile, then >flinched from the glare his sister gave him. "What?" > >Kitsu shook her head. "We'll ride the real deal with Cass." > >"Awwww!" Aerie pouted, almost too quickly. > >"That way, you can explain everything to Derek and keep up with us." > >Hot Shot was looking his new twin over, one eyelid raised. > >"You mean a race?" Aerie queried. > >Both of Hot Shot's eyes opened wide, gleaming in anticipation. > Cass gave a small glance towards Aerie-Hot Shot and thought aloud, "I don't know, the fact that it's not too far away really doesn't justify flying..." Hot Shot's wings drooped at the suggestion, as he was eager to see if he'd have a real challenge after so long. Cass grinned. "But why the hell not?" A manic grin growing on his face, Hot Shot knelt to allow his three passengers to board and stretched out his wings, giving Aerie a glance that all but said "Bring it on." - "Y'know, if Smasher were here right now, he'd be getting one hell of an adrenaline rush!" Keaton yelled as he held on to Hot Shot's tail for dear life. The massive Dragonite in question, carrying Cass and Keaton in addition to Kitsu, swiftly zoomed through the air, his competition keeping pace with him quite easily. Despite a few false starts with her wings, Aerie quickly adjusted to flight as a Dragonite and was swiftly pulling off aerial maneuvers equal to Hot Shot's practiced moves. "Me di me cham me me medi," Chan the Medicham noted to his trainer as he clung to Aerie's ribcage. "You and me both!" Derek replied. "Cass, are you sure this is safe?" Kitsu asked. "'Course it's safe!" Cass called back. "And it's great for the pores!" "Wonderful! You girls can relax over acne, and I get to die when this guy crashes!" Keaton exclaimed. "Hot Shot doesn't crash!" Cass cried back in reply. Her eyes quickly darted to the ground before she continued, "Hold it, Hot Shot! We're where we wanna be!" Hot Shot pouted for a minute, then swooped down into a circular landing pattern, Aerie following shortly thereafter. After slowing down, the large Dragonite came in for a smooth landing just in front of the entrance to the caves housing Meteor Falls. "See?" Cass asked, pride in her voice. "Hot Shot does not crash." She blinked as she looked down at Keaton, "You okay?" "Ask me that again when my heart decides to stay in my ribcage," Keaton replied, slowly loosening his grip on Hot Shot's tail. As Cass and Kitsu dismounted, Aerie came in for a landing and allowed Derek and Chan to climb off. With a light flash, the young girl shifted back to her default form and said, "That, as Smasher would say, was extreme." Hot Shot smiled with pride, and silently hoped that he'd get another chance to race Aerie without passengers. Noticing the glimmer in the Dragonite's eye, Aerie grinned and said, "Don't worry, big guy, you'll get a chance, promise." The large Dragonite pumped an arm in triumph even as Cass recalled him to his Poké Ball. "There are plenty of low ceilings in the caves," Cass explained as she clipped Hot Shot's Poké Ball back to her belt. "Any idea about this guy you're supposed to meet, Aerie?" "I'll know him when I see him," Aerie assured the elder girl. TBC? William Rendfeld Creator of Echowarrior and Alex Masters 178,000 Excellent Author Points 1 'I knew odd pokefacts that confused a bread crumb' point. 20 Y2Tech Points