From: Tree Spirit <dryad48@aol.commoner> Subject: [PW!] The Early Mourning Date: Sunday, October 24, 1999 2:45 AM "A long time ago, someone came up to this well, dropped the penny in the water, and made a faithful wish," Derrick thought to himself. "Did it come true?" He didn't care and took out spare change from his pockets. There were a few dimes and a nickle. The nickle would do. He dropped it in and made his wish privately in his mind so the wind and trees couldn't overhear it. The untraditional nickle was placed in the pond, not a penny. Could this alter the wish? Hopefully not. This one time, Derrick had decided to not make himself too cautious. He didn't want to hinder himself from everything. He didn't want to shot down all that was great because of his petty fears and doubts of all that was bad this time, even if it costed him. The shiny, bent nickle sunk ever so slowly into the well. It seemed to edge closer to the penny, seeking company. And when it hit the cringy bottom, the whole well glistened sharply in Derrick's direction for a second as if it were praising it's thanks to Derrick, for keeping it company in the sorrowful state of affairs these days. Derrick sunk slowly beside the well and wrapped his arms around his crouched legs. Looking through the mists, he seemed to feel lonely. All the world was silent in their deepest dreams, hoping that they wouldn't awaken, ever. Even if it was never real, most would have been too afraid to awaken and follow them. Derrick didn't want to awaken as well. He didn't want to be left out of the greatest of slumber parties. He wanted to sleep, but he couldn't. He tried closing his eyes, but his senses knocked him into his senses to just have an awe inspiring perspective of the night. This time, the night was feared by no one. Even the sun wanted the state to remain itself, never changing for whatever reason. Only the night itself wanted to be left out. It wanted to move on and rest it's brittle self, only remembering that the night and the day must always remain awake and undisturbed. An occassional cricket might awaken from it's slumber grumpily and play it's instrument to get itself back to sleep. This somewhat relaxed Derrick, but so rarely it occured. Soon, the sunlight was already attempting to break itself free through the clouds which caged it and from the night's grasp. The dew seemed to smell cold, not feel, but thus far, nothing was awake... yet. Derrick's baggy eyes finally shut themselves. Rigel woke up in her comfortable cott and looked around the darkened room. The tiny night light in the corner was still emanating a faint, malleable glow and Neo was lying on a few spare pillows with little fluff stuck inside them. She smiled to see the comfort gift Neo bought her resting on the dresser. She opened the small music box and the humming tune replayed it self. A small, fragile Jigglypuff sat in the center on a pond rock, spinning itself around slowly as the song drained out of it. To the left, Vileplume's holding violins and flutes wobbled left and right rapidly as if they actually were playing. To the right, a few still Pikachu were looking at their reflections with inspiring thoughts. Rigel sighed to the squeaky humming and went back to the dream sleep. *Wake up!* Six jumped on top of Dernam, then hopped to Luke, who yawned and swung his arms out, knocking away Six, who got flung slightly into the screen door. Joy got startled, then took out a paper towel to whipe the wet counter top. Luke jumped to his feet, half asleep, then fell over. He got on his knees and crawled slowly to Six. "Are you alright?" The furry creature stood up on it's feet and looked about the green on the other side of the glass. His eyes shimmered as he observed and gawked at the natural world of nature. The dew and rain of the night shimmered under the now clear skies. Each speck shined itself into the drooling Eevee. It looked as if the richest of sultans had flown by from their magic carpets and dropped their greatest treasures. The ground was really littered by it and beyond the shade, a dark figure lay on the ground beside an old well, both sleeping soundly. *I'm alright now! Shiny!* Six jumped to the door, which slid open and he pranced around outside, rolling in all the shiny things called water. Dernam scratched his hair, yawning. "What's going on?" he asked when he saw Six dancing to the splashing water puddles. He knew it was alright, but it was a natural reflex for him. Six always seemed to caused too much hassle, especially in the mornings when everyone didn't want to hear about how shiny everything is. Neo slowly walked out of the hallways and looked about. "Hi, is it Neo?" "Yes," he nodded. He eyed everything carefully again. "Where's Derrick?" "Hm? He's not with you two?" Dernam shook his head to the side lazily. The three decided to go outside in the freshness which Six had discovered. Dernam sniffed everything in reach. "It smells pretty cold outside." Derrick woke up to the rustling and crunching of moist, yet dry, dead leaves. He turned his head to come face to face with an Eevee. *Shiny!* Derrick covered his ears naturally to it's squeaks. It picked up the two dimes on the ground in his mouth and trotted off towards the center. Derrick turned around to hear more shuffling but ignored it. Suddenly, a twig snapped awful close and Derrick was grabbed and shaken repeatedly. "What! What?" He twisted around to see Neo. He jumped to his feet and wiped the dust, dew drops, and leave crumbs off his clothes. His pants felt awful wet. "Neo, I'm not dead!" "Last time I checked, you were. How the fuck did all this happen?" "I can't explain, nows not the time to..." "Ugh, right." Neo eyed him carefully as if he were a zombie lurching out to have a meal of flesh. Neo flesh. He backed away slowly. "Let's.. go back to the center." "Good idea." Rigel awoke to the commotions about the place. The music box was still playing, but Neo wasn't around. She turned to the window, but the blinds were shut tight. She sat up and slowly placed her feet on the icy floor. She stood up, but felt a slight pain in her stomache. Laughter was heard beyond the window, but she could witness none of it, not in her state. Rigel sighed and lay back in her bed. How long would there be pain flowing within and around her body? She wanted answers. She wanted to know why everyone, but her seemed to be so happy behind the shut out window. She could reach nothing close enough to the window to even take a glance. 'If only the blinds were open. . .' was all she could think of. She faced her head towards the window. A bunch of running is heard, then there is a squeal, followed by laughter. Rigel just stared at the blinds hoping the would magically lift themselves up. They didn't. "Ahahahahaha!" Everyone seemed happy. Rigel began to sob and picked up a pillow by her side and stuffed it into her face. She sniffled for a few minutes and then, just burst into flooding tears. But, why? Why mourn over something so small and timid? When all the small pebbles add up, they become just as heavy as a large rock, just as heavy as the Arcanine... Inside, everyone was gathered around a coffee table in the center of the room. Dernam and Joy were fixing up a special brunch for the special guests, or the only guests. The creatures squealed with delight while exploring the joys of a cardboard box. Luke, Derrick, and Neo sat on one end playing a friendly game of cards. Neo stared at Derrick questionably. 'When will he tell me what's going on?' he thought to himself. 'When should I tell him what's going on?' Derrick thought to himself. 'Today? No, some other day, but not today.' This day seemed perfect enough to be ruined by anything. "I don't care what you think Dernam," Luke argued. "You cannot smell the cold!" "Yes I can!" Dernam pouted. "I can smell it in my nose! I know it's cold by sniffing the air!" "Actually," Joy butted in, "you FEEL the cold on your nose." ". . . . . . . . . ." "Exactly! Couldn't have said it better myself," Luke smiled. "I..." "Food's ready," Dernam interrupted. "He tossed pancakes into everyone's plate, then the bacon, then the eggs." Derrick didn't accept any eggs when he noticed Exeggcute glaring at them. By now, Paras, Venonat, and Gloom were putting on a magic show with their cardboard boxes for Six and the others. "Can I have another plate?" Neo asked. Dernam handed him another plate with less food. He put down the second plate, and took up the first. he carried it over to the hallways. Rigel stopped sobbing when she overheard the hollow footsteps of whatever was outside her room. She tossed the other pillow to the side and closed her eyes pretending to be asleep. This was easy due to the fact that the room was fairly dark. Neo turned the corner and walked down the corridor whistling. He entered the room to see Rigel still asleep in the same position when he left. He noticed that the music box was still playing and turned back to Rigel who still appeared to be sleeping. Neo stopped and took the box carefully in his hands and placed it on a smaller counter. He slid the plate it's place. "I'm responsible for you..." He slowly stepped out of the room. Rigel opened her eyes and wondered why she even did that. Why did she force herself to be all alone in this dreadful room with a dreadful view, a view of nothing. She took her plate and slowly fingered through the warm eggs and greasy bacon. Slowly, she took the first bacon piece and and nibbled on it like a full rabit, though her stomache was empty and craved food to replace the pain. The bacon tasted great, but she placed it back on the plate and the plate back on the desk. She grabbed the music box and twisted the handle. Once again, the lonely Jigglypuff sang. Once again, the sad Vilplumes played. Once again, the courageless Pikachus looked. Once again, Rigel weeped. To Be Continued _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ~Dryad48: Weekly Quote: "Be yourself, who else is better qualified?" -Frank J. Giblin II "Hide people from bad things, and you've made them weaker." -Me