From: Adrian Tymes <wingcat@pacbell.net> Subject: Re: [PW!] Maria of the Island Date: Tuesday, November 09, 1999 9:20 PM Maria Rocket wrote: > Down below, the threesome blinked. Seth turned to Slasher. "Did you hear...?" > They all looked up in time to see a large darkness descend. "HEY!" > > Next thing Slasher knew, there was a boot in his gut, and he was down on the > ground gasping. When he looked up, he could only see a fleeing figure beyond > the trees. As he pulled himself up, he could hear her laughing loudly. Seth > and Aerie were gone. A few minutes later, Maria finally looked back. No sign of pursuit. "Looks like we lost 'em." "Or maybe he just knows better than to give chase." "Or maybe..." Maria blinked. Her voice, and yet she had not spoken. "Hello, Maria. It's been awhile." She slowly turned around to see... [1] ...herself. "..." "..." "..." "Yes, I am you. Kind of. We need to talk." Maria pulled her bag closer, preparing to flee, when she noticed the bag felt much lighter. A moment's inspection revealed the hole that Persian had slashed. The feline was currently curled around "Maria's" feet, and the bird was long gone. The feline... "Oh, yes. This is Slasher, too. Well, post-evolution Slasher." "MEOW?!?!?!?" "Purr..." Slit-eyes persian stared down wide-eyed Meowth. Even though some might not recognize a pokemon after it evolved, Slasher definitely knew himself on sight. There was something odd about him, but Slasher could not quite place it. "Now, Maria: you've got a ruby box somewhere on your person, that you stole from Sabrina's gym. The fact that you have it is causing Sabrina great troubles. That's why I'm here." 'Maria' put forth a hand. "If I may see it, please?" Aerie stood ready to restrain Maria if she freaked out and ran...and hoped that Seth could keep up his act without going for a probably ruinous reunion with someone who was not yet his mother. TBC? [1] Ok, who already knows the upcoming "dramatic" twist here, without even seeing it? ^_^