From: Roberto Perez-Vila <RobfromVoid@prodigy.net> Subject: [PW!] Late Birds Miss the Caterpie (Whew!) Date: Thursday, May 27, 1999 8:35 PM Robert and Mithril-rama cautiously work their way into the canopy of trees that is the Viridian Forest. The sun is almost directly above the forest, since it is noon time, and its rays of light pour through the canopy in patches, which dance around on the fertile soil that makes up the natural floor of the area. Everything remains tranquil, and the re-united friends are enjoying the silence... That is, until a low rumbling is heard. The noise amplifies until a flood of green is seen approaching from the west in the distance. It is a swarm of Caterpie. The moment Robert notices, he leaps into the bushes, tugging Mithril-rama in with him, since they are linked by their hands! The wave of Caterpie gushes into the area, then makes a sharp turn northward towards Pewter City. Robert blinks when he sees a rather frightened Persian riding on a purple surfboard on top of the green wave of Bug Pokemon. Once the chirping of Caterpie dies down, Robert walks out of the bushes with Rilli. "That was weird." Robert furrows his brow and stares at the wave in the distance flowing northward. Mithril-rama indifferently shrugs at the observation, "We've seen weirder." "Yeah... I know. We. That's the whole point. Usually, the strange stuff happens to us." Robert explains his theory, gesturing the whole time, "That wave of Caterpie didn't even hit us. It just passed by, ignoring us completely. In fact, its as if it's part of someone else's adventure... and not ours. But who's? I mean, there must be a reason why there was a Persian on a surf board. It *had* to have been someone else's adventure. Yet, it would seem ironic that I would not be the one to be attacked by a swarm of Caterpie, what with my fear of bugs and such." "Um..." Mithril-rama makes a face, trying to figure out what he is rambling, "I guess I see what you mean." "Well, still, it's just a little strange. I mean, how can... we... do... the... oh my..." Robert's stare becomes blank as he spots a Caterpie crawling out of the bushes, "Now this is more like it! ...Wait, I mean, AHHHHHH!" Mithril-rama turns her attention to the Caterpie that Robert had just spotted, "Want me to take care of it?" "No." Robert places his hand on his fourth Pokeball, "While you were away, Farfetch'd lost a battle against Jeremy's Parasect. I've realized that I've gotten away from my goal of evolving him. He needs experience to evolve, and I just haven't been giving him any lately. Flying beats Bug. I'll take care of this one!" Mithril-rama smiles and pats him on the back, "That's the spirit! Face your fears!" "Go Farfet..." Just as Robert's about to pull Farfetch'd Pokeball off his belt, the fifth Pokeball on Robert's belt pops open without warning and releases red energy! In fact, it isn't a Pokeball... It's a Safari Ball! Tauros stands in front of the tiny Caterpie, stomping its front hoof. "Taoooo! Taoooorus! Rus!" Robert scratches his head, "I don't remember switching Slowbro with Tauros..." He tries to recall that morning's events, and suddenly sweatdrops, "Ooops! I must've made a mistake while using the Pokedex to get Rilli's Haunter!" He looks down at the Pokedex strapped onto his belt and sighs. "Okay, Tauros, Stomp that Caterpie!" Tauros raises one hoof up high in the air... but before it crashes down, the Caterpie begins to glow. The glow distracts the three tailed bull, who misses the Caterpie completely when his hoof hits the ground! Robert backs away, surprised, "It's going to become one of those ugly green cocoon things?" "A Metapod." Rilli explains, watching as the Caterpie changes shape... The Bug changes shape... and settles on the form of a Tauros... a female Tauros. A female Tauros in heat... Mithril-rama sweatdrops, "Nooooo! It's that Ditto again!" Robert grins, removes his backpack, and begins to rummage within it for his Ultra Ball, "Now's my chance to catch it! Alright, Tauros... Weak... en... it..." As Robert looks up from his backpack, he sees his own Tauros mount the impostor female Tauros. "AHHHHH! Rilli, turn away!" He runs over to Mithril-rama and shields her eyes from the two Tauros. Loud noises ensue, including, but not limited to, snorting, squealing, and hoof stomping. About three minutes after the noise starts, it dies down, and Robert looks back at the Tauros. They both look very exhausted. Robert contorts his face to display his disgust, "Eeeewww! Have you ever heard of anything more disgusting, Rilli? A Ditto mating with a creature outside of its species... pretending to be the species its mating with? That's... just... wrong!" Mithril-rama suddenly shivers, "Ditto... are disturbing." The female Tauros transforms into a Pidgey and flies away! Robert's Tauros gazes upwards as the Pidgey soars into the sky. He snorts a farewell and turns to Robert. All of the Pokemon's excess testosterone is gone, so he looks like a much gentler beast. His breathing rate has decreased, and his three tails don't whip around as much as they used to. Robert nudges Mithril-rama, "I think this proves another theory of mine. When a guy has too much..." Mithril-rama places a single finger on Robert's lips, and Robert gets the hint. "Okay, okay." Robert grabs his Safari Ball and recalls Tauros into it. "I guess he won't be bursting out of his balls... er, the ball...uhh, the Pokeball... for a while. So, anyhow, let's keep going... The Diglett Cave awaits!" -Robert