Subject: [PW!] Trouble at Bill's Date: 10 Jul 1999 23:16:09 GMT From: saxarooj@aol.com (Saxarooj) Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Tomman took a deep breath and, bidding his parents farewell one last time, stepped outside. "Ahh," he sighed, sniffing the air. He walked toward the river, children young and old swarming around him. Tomman shuffled around in his pouch, adjusted his belt, and did whatever else he could to look professional. Still, as he turned around at the city gate, he could not help but shed a few tears looking back at Chakipp, the town he loved, the town he grew up in, the town... he would probably never see again. He could barely make out his parents watching outside of his house. They were crying. He wanted to go back, he wanted to stay with them forever, but he couldn't. He had a destiny. So giving the town one final salute, he stepped through the gate. His Pokémon journey had officially begun. True, he had already caught three Pokémon of his own and had already had a wild adventure involving Team Rocket and Mew - which he hadn't told anyone about yet - but he was on his way to the legendary Bill's lighthouse to get his official Pokémon trainers license and duel other trainers. His best friend Lucy had left three years earlier on her Pokémon journey, and he had dropped her a line to meet him at Bill's - he just hoped she received the message. By now he had reached the dock and he waved at the boat keeper. "'Ello, Tomman, how's it goin'?" sang the little man with a thick accent. "Fine," Tomman replied. "Just fine, Mr. Dokker." "Please call me Larry," said the man with a smile. "Ok, Larry. I need a boat to go down river to Bill's." Tomman said observing the boats. "A paddle boat should do fine." "Take this one, then. She's all prepped 'n' ready to go," offered Larry. "Free o' charge, by the way." Tomman's eyes widened. "Now, Mr. D-... Larry, you don't have to do that," he objected. "Y, it's th' least I could do for a future Pokémon Master." "Poké-... How'd you know that?" "Come on, Tomman. It's all over th' town. You're th' only trainer besides Lucy and that other guy to ever leave th' town. Besides, why else would a fella' like you be goin' to Bill's house?" "Well, I appreciate the help, Lenny. I guess I'll be seeing you," Tomman said jumping into the boat. "Maybe. G'bye... and Good Luck!!" yelled Lenny waving goodbye. "This is great, eh Tang?" "Farfetch'd. Farfar Farfetch'd," replied the duck. Paddling down the river, Tomman and his Farfetch'd watched a beautiful sunset. Suddenly some dark clouds rolled in and blocked their view. It began to rain. "Looks like we're going to have to beat the storm," said Tomman. "Paddle faster, Tang." It began to thunder and lightning. "Fetch'd. Far far," Tang squeaked timidly. "I know, things don't look good. But look, you can see the lighthouse from here, so-" Tomman was cut off when a thunder bolt hit near the boat. Tomman was thrown from the boat into the raging water. Tang flew safely above the water. "TANG!!" screamed Tomman. "Go get help!!" Tang barked a short reply and flew for Bill's house, while Tomman struggled to stay afloat and grab on to something. TBC... Any relatively new trainers in the area are welcome to join me at Bill's (you don't have to save me though).