From: TheRunt <therunt411@aol.com> Subject: [PW!][Repost] Big P: To the Ranch Date: Thursday, September 16, 1999 6:51 PM (This is a compilation repost of the "On towards the Ranch" thread. For your convenience, a summary of this episode appears at the bottom.) Light creeps through a window of the Boys' Sleeping Quarters and falls on Runt's eyes. He turns over, trying to escape the beam, but only manages to get hit by another patch of sunlight. Eventually, he surrenders to morning and decides to wake up. Sitting up, he rubs his eyes and notices that Jon's Vulpix is sleeping on his head and his Ninetales was draped over his legs. An evil smile creeps onto Runts face. Quietly, He sneaks over to Jon and carefully tucks a few tails into his companion's ear. Jon coughs in his sleep, and Runt takes the chance to stick a couple tails in Jon's mouth. Runt quietly laughs to himself and makes his way back to his sleeping bag. "Skhahhhn," Roo yawns as he wakes up and stretches. "Mornin' spud," whispers Runt as he starts getting dressed. "Kanga! Kanga!" peeps the infant Kangaskhan, its arms up in the air. "Shhh...I'll pick you up in a moment - I have to get ready first." After a couple minutes, Runt gathers his stuff together and picks up the baby Pokémon. He starts tiptoeing his way to the door, but is quickly reminded of his injured toe. When he reaches the door, he looks back at Jon. "I know I shouldn't have done that...but I couldn't resist," he comments, shaking his head. "Kan-ga?" asks the tiny orphan. "Nevermind," Runt replies as he digs into his fanny. Finding the ball he was looking for he tosses it to the ground, "Go Rolly..." "San-shwew," Rolly greets as he materializes. "Okay guys, we're gonna go to breakfast," begins Runt, "but first I gotta go ask Nurse Joy a question." --- A few moments later --- "Uh, Nurse Joy?" "Oh - Hello, did you sleep well?" "Yes, Thank-you..." answers Runt, "I was wondering, is there something I can use so I don't have to hold Roo all the time -- other than a pokéball, I mean?" "Hmm...well, your Kangaskhan is still a little too young to be walking around much on its own... Let me go get you a Poké-pouch," Nurse Joy responds. She walks off into the backroom and soon returns with an odd item. "What is this thing?" asks Runt. "A Poké-pouch. Usually, they're just used by Trainers that have a Pokémon with injured leg(s); but it'll work just fine for your little friend. Just wear it like you would a backpack - but with the pouch on your chest instead of your back." "Thanks," says Runt as he gets himself situated in the device. "Have any of my companions woken up yet?" "Yes, the young lady with the Nidorans is in the cafeteria." As Runt enters the cafeteria, a Chansey walks up to him and takes his order. Soon it returns with his German Pancake and OJ. "So Sarah, how's the ankle?" "It's a little better," she replies. "How's Mr. Mom doing?" asks Christy as she enters. "Fine...and you?" says Runt. --- Meanwhile, back in the Boys' Room --- Jon wakes up to find himself in an interesting condition: two of his pokémons' tails shoved in his mouth, and another three in his ear; his Vulpix sleeping curled on his head, and his Ninetales over his legs. After extricating himself from his Pokémon, he throws on some clothes, packs up his stuff and heads down for breakfast. Between bites of breakfast, the group begins discussing where to go next. "Well," says Sarah Jane, "my relatives asked me to stop by the Laramie Ranch on my way. So I definitely need to go there." "Sounds good," Runt cuts in. "I heard they have lots of great Pokémon there..." "They have a great reputation." Damian adds. "So, I guess that settles it," comments Jon. "The only thing is, are Robert and Rilli heading our way, or not?" "Rilli and I will be going to this Laramie Ranch, but after we're done there, we'll separate," replies Robert as he enters the cafeteria with his girlfriend. "I'm not ready for Cinnabar. Didn't we decide this last night?" Jon finishes chewing a bite of pancake and says, "Oh, I guess I was so sleepy that I wasn't paying attention!" "Yesterday wasn't the best of days," yawns Sarah Jane. After taking their seats, a Chansey wobbles over to Robert and Mithril-rama and takes their orders. Within mere seconds, the egg Pokémon returns. As Robert starts to gobble up his meal he says, "So, Sarah Jane, what were those two Pokémon that woke me up this morning?" Sarah Jane pushes up her glasses and replies, "They're Cuddles and Spunky, my two Nidoran. I'm real sorry that they woke you up. They're kind of unruly..." "Kind of?!" Damian exclaims They latch on to Drake's tail every chance they get!" "Remember, technically they're still babies," Sarah Jane reminds him "Nidorans don't leave the Nidoqueen usually until they're at least a year old. Cuddles and Spunky, in my estimation, aren't even 6 months old." "That's pretty young," comments Rilli. "You didn't take them away from their mother, did you?" "Of course not, Kat and I ... found them near Viridian Forest...their mother had been killed..." the happiness drains from Sarah Jane's face, "by Team Rocket." She becomes visibly more depressed because of the recent loss of her friend. Robert quickly tries to think of something to distract Sarah Jane from the sad memory. "Nidoran? I've never even heard of that kind of Pokémon." "Well, I try to train Pokémon that other trainers overlook," Sarah Jane smiles at Robert. "Of course, these two tend to think of me more as their adoptive mother than their trainer." Mithril-rama's eyes light up as she bites into a peach, "Really? I try to do that, too! Robert was very surprised to see my Electabuzz when we first met. He'd never seen one before in his life!" Robert shifts his eyes to Rilli, "Speaking of Electabuzz, it's been a while since you've let him roam free! Maybe you can release him on the way to the Ranch? He was always good at finding things on the floor and scaring away strangers!" "Maybe." Mithril-rama chuckles slightly, knowing how unruly her large yellow Pokémon is. "My grandmother breeds Pokémon in Rosetta Town," interjects Sarah Jane. "If you're interested in studying Pokémon, and you're heading out towards Pallet or Viridian, you might swing by the University of Rosetta." "I've vaguely heard of that," responds Rilli. "Isn't that the university that a lot of Pokémon researchers, breeders, and doctors attend?" Sarah Jane nods as she takes a bite of her waffle. "My grandfather is one of the deans. The university and Rosetta Town are a few miles northwest of Pallet. If you go there, try to find Lillian or Xavier Eckert. Be sure to tell my grandparents that you know me." "Xavier Eckert...I think that's who my dad was named after," comments Runt. Robert looks back towards Sarah Jane and sees her crutches leaning against the chair, "It must be hard to walk around with a sprained ankle. Rilli's ankle got sprained when a Raticate bit her near Celadon. Fortunately, she didn't have to do much walking, since RK's Machamp carried her around with his four huge arms!" he digressed, "His name was Muscle Hug, I think -- So, does it hurt a whole lot?" "Well, my foot hurts a bit, but I should be okay," she replies, looking at her ankle. "It might be a little awkward for Stallone, my little Machop, to carry me," she adds with a smile, "If I need to, I can probably ride Ferdinand, my new Tauros." "Hmm..." Robert takes a large bite out of one of his sausages, "When we get to the Ranch, I could give you a foot massage. Just ask Rilli how great I am at it!" Mithril-rama looks up and swallows some toast, "Yeah, but I dunno if a massage will help a sprained ankle." Robert raises an eyebrow at his girlfriend, "Are you jealous?" "Jealous?" Mithril-rama asks, surprised at her boyfriend, "What are you talking about?" Robert smirks, "Don't pretend you don't know!" "Don't know what?" Mithril-rama asks, genuinely confused. Sarah Jane interrupts, "I can just take some medicine after eating. I'll be fine!" Robert finishes his breakfast, "I'm done! Who else is ready to go?" "Meeh..." Felix answers, looking up from his plate, still chewing on some food. He slides out of his chair and stretches, "I'm going to go wake up Dustin." He heads out of the cafeteria. Robert reclines in his chair, "Okay, I don't mind waiting for everyone. Just let me know when we'll be heading out!" Nodding her agreement, Sarah Jane pulls out her Pokédex and a small notebook. Spunky, having finished his breakfast, becomes restless again. Cuddles wants no part of her brother's mischief making but instead she walks over to Rilli and paws her leg. "Niiii..." whimpers Cuddles, looking up at Rilli. "Wha?" asks Rilli in surprise. Sarah Jane looked up from her notebook. "Oh, she wants to climb into your lap and be petted," says Sarah Jane. She glances over at Spunky, who's stalking Jon's baby Vulpix. "Spunky, don't even THINK about it." Looking like a child caught trying to sneak into the cookie jar, Spunky sits down. The Ninetales glares at him, then moves over to her baby protectively. Rilli pats her lap. Happily Cuddles jumps up and makes herself comfortable. Spunky eyes the Vulpix and Ninetales for a few moments, glances at the baby Kangaskhan that Runt is feeding, then decides to stalk his favorite prey. Drake the Dragonite lets out a long suffering sigh as the Nidoran pounces on his tail. "What are you going to do when they evolve?" asks Christy. "Nidorinas and Nidorinos are pretty large." "Well, no more crawling into laps," says Sarah Jane. "But I don't know what I'll do about them being out of their Pokéballs. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it." She returns her attention to her notebook. "What're you doing?" Robert asks, looking over her shoulder. "Trying to figure out what Pokémon I'm going to use against the Elite Four," she replies. "I have the kind of Pokédex that I don't need to switch my Pokémon at a PC. But I think you have to go against the Elite Four with a set team of 6. I need to have a team ready, just in case. Basically I'm going over a list of Pokémon that the Elite Four use, and trying to base my team on that. Then I need to train the team, so that they're a high enough level to be able to compete." "All that to get ready for the Elite Four?" he asks examining her intensive notes. Rilli also glances over her notes, "Not a bad idea really. The sooner you choose a team, the sooner you can have them ready." "So which Pokémon are you going to go with?" Runt inquires. "Definitely Shields and my Krabby, Nipper." Sarah answers, "I'm hoping Nipper evolves soon. My next choices would be my Tangela and my Dugtrio. After that, I'm not too sure. I want my most skilled Pokémon on the team, but they need to be effective against the Elite Four's teams." "Oh my head..." complains Jon, "You're doing all that planning now?" "Mmm hmm," she replies. "Well, as soon as Felix comes back with Dustin, we can head out," says Damian as he tries to detach Spunky from Drake's tail. Dustin soon reappears with Felix. "Ready to go?" Damian asks. The group nods. The large group, now consisting of Robert, Rilli, Sarah Jane, Damian, Jon, Runt, Christy, Felix, Kirsty, and Dustin sets out of the Pokémon Center. Sarah Jane, conferring with Robert on the map, finally points down a road. "Shouldn't take too long to walk there..." Jon's Vulpix sits upon his head, chewing on his ears or necklace when he can. The proud Ninetales walks alongside. As Jon digs around in his shorts, he feels a bulge in one pocket. "Hey, I haven't worn these shorts since the SS Anne...What's this?" Jon pulls out a small plastic bag. "Set of 6 Pokémon League Official Pins. Great as a gift for friends or family!" Jon's eyes begin to tear up. "On the Anne - Kat's pin should still be here... Six ... one for me, Sarah Jane, Damian, Runt, and Christy, leaving one left." He begins to dig furiously through the bag, but comes up empty. Jon begins to cry steadily now. "It's the last representation, and I lost it. God damn myself!" His Ninetales jogs up alongside him, using a tail to wipe the tears from his eyes. Then, with a paw, his Vulpix points toward the sky. Jon follows the point and finds a bright star, shimmering in daylight. It grows strong, then winks and disappears. A smile crosses Jon's face. "Closure..." he whispers and then jogs back up to the group. Over the roads from Fuschia, the topic in the ten-person group range from issues of "Pokémon Friend," to the cheapest place to find Pokéballs these days, to Pokédex layout. Noting the dirt road ahead, as they left town, Robert calls back. "It's time to get dirty! Watch out, it's dusty up here." The group continues on, into the hills and greenness of the Southern border of the Safari Zone. "Heh.. Tauros..." someone mutters. The serenity of the grassy hills help the group relax while traveling. Sarah Jane continues to plan for the E4, sparking Jon to do the same. Eventually, the trail is cut by a fence which reads: Laramie Ranch. Team Rocket, keep out. Sarah Jane gestures with her head, "C'mon in, guys." As they crest a hill, the expanse of the Ranch lays out before them - the house, 5 minutes away. On the way there, everyone's attention is drawn to a stampede which crosses their path. "Woooohoo!" is heard as someone riding a Rapidash streaks by. "That's Lara... you'll meet her later..." comments Sarah, now laughing. The ten finally pull up to the farm house, a little scared but smiling all the while. Robert knocks on the door, but there is no answer. "No one's here?" "This is probably Lara's house..." Sarah Jane looks around for a sign which would say so, but finds none. The question is soon answered, not by a sign, but by the arrival of Lara Laramie herself, still on her Rapidash! She pulls on her Rapidash's reigns and the Pokémon neighs. "Howdy, all! What are y'all doin' down round these here parts? Why Sarah Jane Eckert, ya'll must've grown a foot since I last saw ya'll!" With a big smile, Sarah Jane explains, "We're on a Pokémon Journey. Grandpa said since we were out this way, we should stop by and visit. These are my friends!" The twelve year old takes a deep breath, "Damian, Jon, Runt, Christy, Robert, Rilli, Felix, Kirsty, and Dustin!" Robert watches Lara as she leaps off her fire horse, "Ouch! Don't those flames burn your butt?" Lara giggles at Robert's comment, "Oh, I get that a lot, just never put quite that way. Since Rapidash trusts me, it doesn't try to set me on fire, but I don't suggest that any of y'all try to get on top a' her! Apparently heedless of the warning, Sarah Jane walks over and pets the Rapidash, which whinnies happily. "Well, except maybe Sarah Jane. Rapidash still remembers our stay in Rosetta," "Lara gave some lectures at the University of Rosetta about Pokémon breeding a couple of years ago," explains Sarah Jane. "She, Rapidash, and Growlithe stayed with my grandparents." "Anyhoo, welcome to the Laramie Big P Ranch! I'm Lara Laramie an' you're welcome to stay as long as ya don't catch any Pokémon y'see here!" Lara opens up the door to her house and, within seconds, a Growlithe leaps out of nowhere, "Grrrrowl!" Robert's eyes light up when he sees the Puppy Pokémon, "Oooh, I've *always* wanted a Growlithe!" When Lara gives him a funny look, Robert backs away, "Not that I'd try to catch this one or anything! I just think they're all so cute!" The Growlithe runs around Sarah Jane several times, settling down only after she pets it. Spunky's eyes twinkle as he contemplates the idea of another new playmate. As Lara's house isn't very large, the place is becomes rather crowded with everyone in it. Robert tries to stay close to Mithril-rama, so he holds hands with her as long as they're inside. Lara sits down on a stool and kicks her feet up onto the table, "Y'all gonna be stayin' long? Hey, if ya are, ya could all be in the big Race tomorrow! There hasn't been much competition lately, an' my Rapidash has been winnin' three years straight! Not that I'm complainin', but I think it'd be fun to have more Pokémon trainers racin'! Sound good?" Robert nods his head eagerly, "Hey, a Pokémon Race sounds fun!" He then looks around to the other members of the large group, "But if there's no time, then I guess we can just skip on it... What do you think, Sarah Jane? Damian?" "I'd love to, but I don't know if I'd be able to manage a real race right now," said Sarah Jane. "My Tauros is pretty fast, but racing can be rough with a sprained ankle. By the way Lara, what happened to Rapidash's foal? The one that was born while you were visiting Rosetta." "That little filly's growin' up into a right pretty Ponyta," Lara replies. "She's out in the corral. Want to say hi?" "A little Ponyta?" asks Christy. "How cute!" Everyone agrees, and follows Lara out of the house to a fenced corral. Rapidash neighs happily as a Ponyta trots up to her. The Ponyta is white, with a fiery orange star on its forehead, and a few smaller markings dappling its flank. "Oh cool!" says Jon. Forgetting Lara's earlier warning, he tries to pet the Ponyta, "YYYEEEEEOOOOOWWWWW!!!!!" His friends shake their heads in disbelief. "Glad I didn't do that," Felix comments. Lara takes Jon over to a water pump and cools the burn. "We'll get that fixed up shortly." "LARA!!!" comes a shout from the distance. "LARA!!!" A male breeder wearing a plaid cotton shirt, jeans, and boots comes running up to her. "My prizewinning Tauros is missing!" <To Be Continued...> Summary: After a breakfast discussion, the currently large group goes to the Big P Ranch. There they meet Lara Laramie and some of her Pokémon. _______________________________________________________________ "Slow and steady wins the race."