From: Dryad <dryad48@aol.commoner> Subject: [PW!] Christmas: A Dry Ad of Greed Date: Saturday, December 25, 1999 12:01 AM "Marowak, use your Bonemerang!" The trainer's pokemon grinned inside it's shell mask as it swung it's arm back, then flung the bone club in it's hands with great force and precision. Luckily, Derrick's Weepinbell dodged the flying barrage in time and lunged towards the unprotected Marowak. "Stun Spore," Derrick commanded from the sides. Marowak was aware of the attack and guarded it's body. However, before Weepinbell could launch the attack, the sound of the bone drew near again. It made a hollow sound as it swirled freely in the cool morning air of December. "Look out!" Weepinbell turned around and just in time to see it coming towards him. The downside was, Weepinbell wasn't fast enought to evade it. As the bone smacked into Weepinbell's face, he flung from his spot onto an ice slicked pathway and started sliding, then crashing right into Marowak. "No!" The boy knew that his Marowak was weak to water and both pokemon were skidding right towards thin ice. It was now a game of chicken. Whoever would return their pokemon first would be the loser of the match and both had pokeballs out, ready to return, though no one was moving. Finally, at the last second, both trainers returned their pokemon inside their pokeballs. There was no arguement about who had won the match, so they had no choice but to have one more. "I choose, Hitmonlee!" "Ouch," Derrick mumbled to himself. What pokemon did he have that could stand up to a pokemon as powerful as that? "Then I'll use Beedrill!" Derrick tossed a pokeball just after realizing that his was still missing since the kidnapping. Pokemon Detective Agency was no help either, for their search brought up no results as well. Instead, substituting for the lost pokemon was Caterpie, the rabid beast. Before Derrick could utter an order, Caterpie immediately charged forward towards Hitmonlee at high speeds. Surprised by the quick assault, Hitmonlee quickly set out a volley of kicks against it, but each kick he made only hit air and soft, pewter snow. Hitmonlee slowed down as he tired out from the rapid kicks and eventually, Caterpie easily crawled up on his leg and began bitting at it with it's fangs that were unusually sharp for a Caterpie. Even more surprised by the pain, Hitmonlee began holding his leg and suirming around and rolling in the snow as Caterpie relentlessy chewed away Hitmonlee's flesh. "Your Caterpie is an insane cannibal!" the boy shouted out. He quickly took out his pokeball and shot the red beam at Hitmonlee. the scarred and bruised fighting pokemon became a faint, red blur, then shrunk down to size as it went back inside the pokeball. "That is one seriously messed up Caterpie," both trainers proclaimed at the same time. Caterpie followed where the light had went and charged towards the trainer, who screamed at the top of his lungs as he wet his Jigglypuff underwear. Derrick quickly returned Caterpie just before it took a bite out of the boy's stout red nose. "Good match?" Derrick asked. The boy said nothing for a second, then ran in the opposite direction crying. Derrick sighed and decided it would be best to head back to the apartment since the air was getting too cold. He wrapped his green scarf around his neck. As he passed the park he saw Mr. Werlitze talking with the bird lady, who was surrounded by Pidgeys pecking at the bird crumbs falling out of a hole in her pouch. They saw Derrick and waved, Derrick smiled back and moved on. When no one was around, he opened his wallet and looked at the money he had made from the crazed mom who didn't know anything about cards and her selfish son who was dersperate to get every single kind. He felt he took advantage of them, but they seemed to be rich enough to support themselves. Derrick looked at the money again. He couldn't really support himself in the way he wanted. He could afford what he needed, a good apartment, decent food and clothing, pokemon care products. Derrick remembered his room the way he left it that morning. It was very plain and had nothing much on it's walls decorated. There were no posters to conceal the cracks among the barren grey walls and the tiny hole in the window made too much difference in the temperature of the room. Even worse, there was nothing else but the lumpy bed sleeping in the corner to provide any amount of comfort that was at least decent. As he walked he thought of what he could buy for himself with all the money earned from the sell. He thought nothing would stop his greed from getting him to spend it. Just then, Derrick stopped and looked up. A building stood there, but it didn't stand tall. It was two stories, but it appeared to slump to the bottom like all the energy had been drained from it. Windows were stained of sadness and blind dreams. And there was a tree visible through the largest window. It had no decorations, nothing that added the color of the Christmas spirit to the plain halls. It was the orphanage, the one Derrick could betray by keeping the money for himself. Derrick thought what Christmas for him would be like. A sad, quiet day to himself and maybe a light chat on the video phone. All that would be given to him would be nothing, and he had given so much already. It was his turn to have something to smile about. "No... I have suffered enough... I... derserve this.." he shivered. All the way, Derrick ran back towards the apartment, not looking back, not thinking about anyone else but himself. When he arrived at the building, he let out a sigh of relief and slowly opened the door, walking in calmly. Derrick smiled as he stared at the number on his apartment door. At least he had a place to stay, that could be enough. But as Derrick unlocked the door and opened it, he saw how plain it looked. It was Christmas Eve, and there was no tree. With the money in his hands, Derrick knew he could afford many decorations and actual presents. The only ones around who he could give gifts to were the people of the streets and his pokemon. Derrick was afraid. The decision he would make wasn't life threatening, but he didn't want to be selfish. He wanted more money though. So tired, Derrick had fallen asleep while contemplating his issues. <'Such a peacful, serene, perfect time of year this is,' I said to myself as I walked along the streets newly littered with fallen snow and frozen dew of the morning. The grass had a dull, grey shine on it and when I crushed the frozen water with my shoe, the green emerged along with the sparkling crystal-like waters under the sunlight trying to break throught the thick barrier of clouds. 'Well, good morning!' Smiths shouted to me from the store. It was crowded full and kids were chatting over what toy to buy. The business was probably the best ever. 'How's my favorite customer?' 'Everything's great!' I smiled. He smiled as well and handed me another Charizard card. On the front, it looked pretty much the same. On the back was the face of a check for an undoubtly high sum of money adressed to Derrick Tamarack. 'Thanks!' I was glad to receive another and gave it to the bird lady nearby, who sprouted wings and carried the check up to the heavens. Then, I found myself in a large mansion unlike any other with a countless amount of starways leading to all sorts of crazy, but fun rooms. Butlers, and maids were on my side dusting everything and serving my every need while I lazily sat in a huge comfy red chair wearing a bathrobe with my name laced on it with pure gold. Lightes emanated throughout the room and guest for the party arrived in their fancy suits and dresses. The cook just rolled in a turky twice as large as a Fearow and a sauted Farfetch'd. We drank wine and laughed as we told of how much money our stocks made. Then, I handed all the men a cigar and all the women a diamond ring. We celebrated and had a ballroom dance with all the women wearing elegant dresses. I offered a dance with the most gorgeous looking girl there and she eagerly accepted. In the end, the lights grew dim to a romantic mood and just as we kissed, I was interupted by the mail man riding a red sleigh guided by flying Tauros. He gave me my mail and dissapeared into the dark brightness. I opened on and it was an invitation to a rich person's party. I laughed at the insignificance of them. Then, the next one was junk. I read it and found out it was mail from the poorhouse begging me for money to fund them. It said that if they didn't collect enough money, then they'd shut down for good and the children would have to live in the streets. All the shelters were full. My heart snapped like a twig and I tossed the letters to the ground after finding all were charity mail. 'I don't have enough for myself,' I grumbled 'bah humbaugh.' I looked up and found I was outside now, it was morning again and the sun had just risen above the horizon. The stampering of childish feet ran down the stairs of the orphanage. These feet were of childre excited for the holidays. The screeches of delight halted when all had reached the bottom. I peered through the window and saw the horror they saw. The tree was there, but there were no ornaments hanging. There were no stockings stuffed. There were no colors under the tree. It was as barren as the deserts of charity in me. The children were phased, but they walked to the kitchen for something to eat. There was nothing there either. Then, one by one, all began to cry. They cried because they had no presents. They cried because they had no food. They cried because Santa had forgotten them. They cried because everyone forgot them. A shiver ran down my spine as the children, already thin shivered too. I wore a thick fur coat to protect me, but they had rags. I couldn't bare the pain they suffered. I needed to turn away. But when I looked in the sky, the earth shook with anger upon me. The clouds stripped me of light. I had no one now. Everything faded black fast. And everything that faded had left me behind. The night wind was chasing me now, and I couldn't hide. I couldn't run either. The only thought I had was too keep away. I then noticed the man without a name lying by the same tree as usual, only the tree was dead. I trembled as I tapped him on the shoulder. No response. I turned him over and had a heart attack as I fell to the ground slowly. His face was as cold as clay. His eyes remained open. the cold had killed him, MY cold had killed him.> "No!" Derrick startled as he fell out of bed. He got up sweating like a pig. It was eight o' clock on Christmas Eeve still. Derrick saw a slip under his door. He slowly got up and picked it up. It was a note from the landlord. Derrick had to leave tonight, he was kicked out of the building for having pokemon in the rooms. He had to spend the Christmas day out in the cold, no, freezing temperatures. There was now no way he could ever be happy again. Even if it was just a dream, it was too much. Derrick looked at the money in his hands. Then he gathered his things which could easily fit in his backpack. Derrick left that old apartment building, a sweetly bitter man. - - - - - "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! It's CHRISTMAS!" the children of the orphanage screamed in delight and quickly stampered down the stairs. They laughed and cheered even more as they came down to the tree. "What's going on?" Mr. Werlitze rubbed his eyes as he entered the room. He gasped and grabbed his heart in joy at the sight. The tree was fully decorated and emanated the holiday spirit. There were gifts under the tree, enough for every child gathered in that room. The star on top of the tree sined brightly. Suddenly, Mrs. Werlitze ran into the room as well and screamed happily like the children. "There is food in the fridge!" The kids all cheered even more and danced around the tree, hand in hand. "There's jello, duck, turkey, cookies, cupcakes, you name it!" Mr. Werlitze was stunned and he fell back in his small, dusty red chair. He smiled as the kids opened their gifts and gave each other a gift that wasn't open yet. He turned his head and saw the facade of a figure looking through the window. The dark shadow dashed away when it saw him watching it. Mr. Werlitze ran outside and looked around. There was no one in sight. He walked by the window and picked up a green scarf and smiled. "God bless you, child." To Be Continued Merry Christmas to all of AGNP and God bless us, everyone. I have been here for a long time and I'd like to say that you all rock! Write kickass stories, make me enjoy myself in the chats, and give me excellent advice on raising pokemon. In other words, keep up the excellent work, AGNP! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ~Dryad48: Weekly Quote: "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "Hide people from bad things, and you've made them weaker." -Me