From: TheRunt411 <therunt411@aol.com> Subject: [PW!][Repost] Encounters in Celadon Date: Saturday, May 15, 1999 5:13 PM (This is a compilation repost of the "Encounter in Celadon" thread. For your convenience, a summary of this episode appears at the bottom.) While walking aimlessly around Celadon with Rolly and Tiny, Runt spots a young woman (Christy) with a Dratini around her waist. In a flash, he remembers seeing her at the recent auction. He walks up to her, "Excuse me, Miss?" he says tapping her lightly on the shoulder. She turns around, her brilliant blue eyes derailing his train of thought. "Yes?" Runt stands there like an idiot, still trying gather his thoughts. "Can I help you?" a touch of annoyance creeps into her voice. "Uh..Yah, Sorry. I'd seen you at the auction and I..um.. wanted to ask where you'd gotten that adorable Dratini..." The young Dratini around her waist looks between its master and the new trainer in front of it. It tilts its head to the side and squeaks, "'tini?" Christy glances down at the Dratini, running a hand over its glossy head as the pokémon continues to gaze at Runt, a curious glint within it's opal eyes. "This guy here?" she interrogates, a smile broadening on her face, "I got it from a friend. It's originally from the Safari Zone, I think." Her eyes return to the boy, whose expression is one of utter interest. Christy, sensing he had more manners than the majority of the guys she had met previously on her journey, smiles a pearly white grin. "You seem like a sweet guy!" she chirps the compliment, taking pleasure in the reddish hue that begins at Runt's cheeks and gradually spreads across the remainder of his face. "Dratini must think so, too!" The young woman's Dratini unwinds itself from her waist and lowers itself to the ground. 'Hmm...' thinks Runt as it slithers across the ground towards him, 'Wild Dratini move more like snakes, whereas domesticated ones move more like worms - Interesting' After getting a closer look at the new trainer; the Dratini, peeping like a newborn chick, coils itself around Runt's leg. He smiles, remembering when Tiny used to do that as pup. The deep blue wurm's eyes closing to crescents of contentment. "Dratini ii!" it states in a matter-of-fact tone. "I never did catch your name," adds Christy as they watch the Dratini's antics with amusement. Meanwhile Rolly is cautiously investigating the rather bold newcomer, while Tiny is busy getting acquainted. "You wouldn't mind me asking what it is, exactly?" "Oh...I s'pose not," says Runt with a hint of sarcasm. "Name's Runt," he says extending his hand. Christy takes his hand and shakes it slowly. "Runt Cloverwood. And these are my pals Rolly and Tiny." "Shwew," says Rolly bowing. Tiny merely scans her face with his obsidian eyes and nods. Both pokémon return their attention to the Dratini still wrapped around their owner's leg. "And who do I have the honor of addressing?" asks Runt. Before she can respond, they hear a somebody yell suddenly behind them. Startled, they turn around to see a male Nidoran racing towards them, with a female on in hot pursuit. Over the clacking of the Nidorans' leashes, they could make out a girl in overalls (Sarah Jane) yelling, "Someone stop those Nidoran!" Runt and Christy exchange confused glances until the situation sinks in (which doesn't take long). "You heard the girl - Stop 'em, Rolly!" Runt commands. With a nod of acknowledgment and an obedient "San Shwew," the Sandshrew gets on all fours and begins sprinting towards the impending couple. Runt is temporarily shocked at Rolly's speed, but then recovers and the small group readies themselves to assist Rolly should they need to. "Please don't hurt them!" cries the panicked trainer as the armadillo pokémon bounds closer to the Nidorans, still very intent on their chase. Suddenly losing her footing, Sarah Jane crashes to ground. The Mr. Mime that's following her halts and rushes about its master in concern. Meanwhile, Rolly had skids to a stop a few feet in front of the Nidoran, sending up a billowy cloud of dust. As the dust settles, Rolly plants his feet firmly on the ground, readying himself should he have to act as a living roadblock. The two poison pokémon, completely involved in their chase, don't even notice the Sandshrew in front of them, and thus collide full force into him. Panting, and glowering at each other, the two Nidoran pick themselves up, and decide to end their mad dash. Runt and the Christy rush to the fallen trainer as she gingerly touches a red scrape upon her elbow. "Are you all right?" they ask the girl in unison. "Yeah....I guess," she replies hesitantly. Sarah Jane looks around, "Where are they?" she asks in panic. As if in answer to her, Rolly and the Mr. Mime walk up, each holding a leash. At the end of those leashes were two very sorry looking Nidoran. "Cuddles! Spunky! What have I told you two about fighting each other like that?" "Ni ran do!" says Spunky. {She started it!} "RAN!" returns Cuddles. {Did not!} "If you two don't stop that, you're both going in your pokéballs," Sarah Jane states sternly. Cuddles and Spunky looked down at the ground. "And the next time you two take off like that, you are_definitely_ going into your pokéballs." "Ran nidoran, ni ni do," reply the two, apologetically. {We're sorry Sarah-momma.} "I'm sorry if we inconvenienced you," she says to Runt and the young woman next to him. "These two can be a real handful." "That's okay, no harm done," replies Runt. He looks at the scrape on the trainers arm. "Uh, I mean - Hi, I'm Runt and this is...," he turns and looks at his companion, "...is - I didn't get your name did I?" asks Runt "No, you didn't," Christy replies with an affable grin "I'm Christina, but you can call me Christy." Runt smiles and nods in response. Before he can turn his attention back to the trainer, he feels something squeeze his leg. Surprise, surprise - it's Christy's Dratini, still staring at him trustingly. Runt stifles a laugh. "I don't think we got your name either, miss..." he comments to the trainer. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's Sarah Jane." She points to her Mr. Mime. "This is Shields, and the two troublemakers are Cuddles and Spunky. They're still pretty young and excitable, but usually they're better mannered than this," she ends, giving the two a scolding look. "I'm here in Celadon with a few friends to challenge the gym leader. The two of them wanted to go to that horrible Game Corner, where the owner's keep poor Pokémon trapped - simply for use as prizes. I didn't want anything to do with that, so I had decided to go shopping when these two decided to take off." "So, where are you staying?" asks Runt. "The Pokémon Center," replies Sarah. "Are you, too?" "Nah, I'm staying with my Uncle Joe." Christy says something but, is drowned out by her Dratini's peeping. "I'm sorry, what'd you say Christy?" "Oh, just that I'm staying at a hotel here for a few more days," Christy explains to her comrades. Dratini, for no apparent reason, continues peeping with all the subtlety of a fire alarm. Christy puts a finger to her lips, gesturing for the dragon to quiet down. The pokémon obliges with a guilt-laden cheep: "Tini Dra..!" "You know," said Sarah Jane, "It's getting close to lunch time. Do you guys want to come back to the Pokémon Center with me? I'm supposed to meet a couple of friends, then we're going to lunch. It'd be great if you'd join us." "I'd love that!" Christy hastily replies. "I'd be glad to come! You too, Runt?" "Hmm...I don't know...I guess so..." he replies, a grin creeps onto his face. "Christy, could you get your Dratini off my leg first - makes it kinda hard to walk..." <To Be Continued...> Summary: Runt meets Christy. Then, after a little 'nidoran chase,' they meet Sarah Jane. _______________________________________________________________________ "Slow and steady wins the race."