From: Maria Rocket <mobius101@aol.compactpika> Subject: Re: [PW!] Road to Terracotta Town Date: Monday, June 14, 1999 4:47 AM >"Meowth! MEOWW!!!" Slasher jumped out beside her, his claws bared, hissing up >at something above them. Maria followed his eyes up to a ledge a few feet up >on the side of the cliff. There, a young woman a few years older than >herself >stood grinning down at her. The look on her face wasn't hostile, but there >was >a dangerous look to her. She had a panicking Psyduck in a tight armlock >around >the neck. > >"James!" Glaring, Maria drew her laser gun out and aimed right for the >girl's >head. "Let him go now, or I WILL blow your head off!!" She just wasn't in >the >mood to deal with amateur Pokemon theives. > >The girl crouched down and narrowed her brown eyes at Maria. The dirt and >pebbles under her feet crunched, bits falling down the wall. "Now, now, I >know >it's been a long time, but is that any way to greet a sister?" > >Maria's own eyes widened briefly in recognition and her grip tightened on the >gun. "Maggie." She *knew* this had been a bad idea... > "Maria." Disregarding the weapon, Maggie, leapt down from her perch and slid down the rocks until she was facing her sister eye to eye. "I never thought I'd see you back here again." She glanced at Maria's uniform. "Team Rocket, eh? My my, bet you think you're hot stuff, don'tcha?" Her teeth gleamed defiantly, ignoring the fact that Maria still hadn't dropped the laser. "I wouldn't have come back if I'd had a choice," Maria growled. "Now put my Psyduck down and beat it...I'm not interested in some kinda family reunion." She aimed between Maggie's eyes. Maggie just shifted the frightened James under her arm and smiled narrowly. "You don't got the guts. You've always been weak....that's why they took you away, an' I'm still on my own." She regarded the 'R' on Maria's chest in disgust. "Team Rocket...feh. There's no opportunity to be had as a thug." Taking Maria by surprise, she snatched her laser right from her hands. "If you want to be anything in this world, you've gotta take it by your own means!" Maria clenched her fists. But Maggie dropped James to the ground as she pocketed the weapon. The Psyduck scrambled to his webbed feet and scurried behind Maria, hiding under her trenchcoat. "Psy! Psyduck!" "Big talk.....but then what are you still doing hanging around Terracotta while I've been out in the world?" Maria's eyes never left the veiled brown eyes of her sister. Though she was constantly aware of what her hands were up to. "Shut up!" Maggie snapped. "Rome wasn't built in a day y'know! I've been biding my time....and building up my resources." "Whatever.....so what do you want already? I certainly don't want to see your face." Maggie tucked her short red hair back behind her ears. "And I don't want to see yours, you insolent little runt! But the Old Man said you were coming, and he wants to see you." She turned her head, put two fingers in her mouth, whistling loudly. "The Old Man?" Maria blinked. "How... How did he know I was coming?" "How the hell should I know? But he offered me a cool sum just to make sure I brought you to him. I don't question the crazy old coot." She turned back just as a flash of orange came bounding across the rocks. Slasher, atop Maria's shoulders, suddenly hissed loudly, digging his claws into her. "OW!" Maria flinched and looked over at what was getting him so upset. The orange blur stopped just behind Maggie. It looked up at Slasher and barked. "Growlithe! Growl Growlithe!" The Growlithe bristled at the strangers. "Not yet Flamer," Maggie snickered. "We've gotta take 'er to see the Old Man first." Maria glared at her. "I'm not as gullible as I used to be. You try anything, you'll regret the day you dared to underestimate me." Still feeling an uneasiness in the pit of her stomach, she followed Maggie warily. *** The sky was turning an orange color as the two sisters and their Pokemon entered Terracotta Town. The tiny village was surrounded by reddish rock walls, which reflected their color along with that of the orange sky onto the buildings. There were a few fields around the cliffs, but no other roads in or out. Maria gave it all a sweeping glance as they walked down into the rocky valley. Just as she remembered it. And she wanted to run away...... For the millionth time she wondered exactly what she was doing there. Soon they were standing before an old warehouse. It'd been in Terracotta Town for as long as anyone could remember. Long ago it belonged to an old furniture store for storage, but the lack of business in the small town had destroyed it, and left the warehouse abandoned. Maria recognized it as a place she used to call home. Maggie swung the door wide open with a loud creak. "Hey Old Man, we're back!" Back in the darkness, something stirred. "Maria?" Called a dusty old voice. "Is that really you? Maggie, let her come in!" Maria just stared into the darkness. "You heard the man!" Maggie placed a hand on her back and shoved her inside. "Go on in! I've got better things to do, so I'll see ya later to collect my dues, Old Man." With a loud echoing bang, Maggie slammed the door on her way out, leaving Maria in dust and darkness. Beneath her coat, James peered out. "Psy?" He'd been hiding there since escaping Maggie's clutches. Maria waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, squinting out into the emptiness. The only light seeped in faintly through the rows of frosted windows high above. "Old Man?" "I really wish you girls would call me by my proper name...." There was a sigh. "No matter....come closer so that I can see you." Curious as to what had become of him after all this time, Maria stepped closer. As her eyes adjusted, she finally made out the shape sitting on a rocking chair in the corner. She was surprised to see that he didn't look much different than the last time she'd seen him, about eleven years before. The 'Old Man' didn't look older than thirty. He had frosty blue eyes and jet black hair that came together in a ponytail that reached to the small of his back. He wore tattered jeans and an old grey t-shirt, along with some battered old black sneakers. It was dark, but she noticed that he kept himself clean shaven. He rocked ever so slowly, back and forth, holding tightly to the armrests as he looked her over with those bright blue eyes. "You've grown much...." His eyes settled on her shirt. Even in the dark, the red 'R' seemed to blaze forth. "But I'm saddened to see you've fared no better than your sister." Despite his appearance, his voice spoke of age and of having experienced more suffering than anyone ever should. "Why Goddish has willed that you girls should turn to darkness, I shall never know....I'm only glad your parents will never know of my failure. You two were no more than babies when they died....I promised them...." He stopped rocking and closed his eyes. "Even as I watched your sister turn into a little thief, I'd always hoped that you'd had a better life wherever you'd been taken to....but I would suppose my failure is now complete." Maria held her hands behind her back and averted her eyes. "Is this what you wanted to speak to me about?" "Yes....and no." Maria looked back at him. "I want to talk to you about....'Fluffy.'" She flinched visibly under his words. "What?" "I know that's why you're here. He's called you back. He told me he'd bring you back...." "You're telling me that that 'THING' is what has been giving me dreams and driving me crazy lately!? 'It's' responsible for dragging me all the way back here!?" Old Man nodded. "Fluffy was very hurt when you left. And he's been watching you for a very long time.....I had no idea, until he contacted me recently." Maria shook her head. "Oh c'mon.....as if that stupid Mew wasn't enough!" Somewhere in another corner of the warehouse, glowing blue eyes flared momentarily. She frowned over at Old Man. "Why can't it just leave me alone? What does it want?" "I don't know. But he still cares about you.....and he says you're going to need his help very shortly." "Why? The only help I need is to get him outta my head!" Slowly, Old Man rose to his feet. "I understand the pain you went through....but you must rise above it and heal. You never understood....nothing changed except for what you perceived. I trust him, and I think it's very important you go and hear what he has to say." "Why don't you just tell me?" He shook his head. "I know nothing more. What he has to say is for your ears only. If only you are willing to put aside your fears and open your mind to him." Suddenly shaking with terror, rage, grief, and confusion, Maria backed up a step. "NO! I won't see him! I WON'T!" Then it finally happened. As if someone had pulled a switch, her whole body gave out from under her. She could hear Slasher screeching as she collapsed to the floor. *** ".....she know?" "I'll find out. Thank you doctor." There was the sound of a door closing. "Psy....Psyduck." Maria opened her eyes tiredly at the familiar voice. "James?" "Psy." At first all she could see was the white blur of light above her. As she turned her head to the side, she could see something yellow. And two ping pong-like eyes with a big beak. "James." She reached out and patted his head. Doing so, she noticed the IV in her arm. "Huh?" She reached to pull at the tube, but her hand was caught by a larger one. "Don't do that....you're too weak." Old Man was standing beside the hospital bed. Up across from her , Slasher was hanging from a shelf. She looked around. A hospital room!? She tried to sit up, but Old Man quickly held her down. "Don't try anything, you're not leaving here yet." "I'm a Rocket!" She hissed. "If anyone here reports me...!" "No one will," Old Man reassured her. "Not too many people around here know much about Team Rocket. They seem to consider them an outside problem." He looked down at her in a strange way. "Wha...what am I doing here anyway?" Maria put a hand to her head in confusion. "Did that rat Maggie do something?" "No. She just came by to collect her money a few hours ago and left. Still around I dare say, but she's not responsible for this. If what the doctor told me is right, you haven't been taking very good care of yourself. When's the last time you ate, anyway?" Maria blinked. She honestly didn't remember....in her hectic life, she didn't make much time to think of such things. "I don't know....I didn't have time, I guess. No big deal, I can go long periods at a time without food....it's helped me survive on occasion." "Almost got you killed this time...." Old Man frowned. Maria could see he was trying to say something. He looked troubled though. "Look, thanks, but I've just been stressed lately. And 'things' like we were discussing earlier don't really help." A wave of weakness and nausea going through her again, she lay back and put a hand over her eyes. "I just want peace so I can get on with my life." "Maria....." Old Man fidgeted. "How long have you been in your....condition?" Maria opened one eye and looked out at him. "What condition?" He stared back at her. "You know...." Maria stared back. "No.....care to enlighten me?" "You mean you really don't know?" Suddenly Old Man was the one who looked ill. "What?" Maria forced herself up on her elbows, her long black hair falling back behind her. "What are you talking about!?" She waited as he seemed to gather his courage. "The doctors told me..." He sighed. "You're pregnant." For the longest time, Maria just stared at him. TBC! ~Maria R "Psy yie yie..." ----- Tha webber: http://hamstergirl.cjb.net/ ----- "Taking Pokemon straight from your pockets, With the power of the stars, it's Maria Rocket!" -My corny PW! motto ^.^; --- Rocketshipper Forever! --- TEOTWAWKI