From: Susan <dragon0313@aol.commies> Subject: [PW!] Secrets and badges Date: Saturday, December 18, 1999 12:08 PM Susan, the writer: Okay, no more narrators. I got sick of them, so I'll recap for you myself. Mandy and Ron are in Viridian forest. That's it. Short and simple. No more narrator's union to contend with. : - D Ron woke with the first light of dawn. Careful not to disturb Mandy or the two pokemon curled up around her, he tiptoed from the tent. Looking to the pond he saw Flipper dozing lightly and smiled at Hurricane resting against it. He also took in the dark figure lounging against a beech tree, and the smile faded. Ron shook the lightly dozing woman. She woke up and glared at him. "I was wondering when you'd acknowlege me." "Why are you following me?" responded Ron, in a pissed off tone, "This is my assignment!" "Heh. As if you could pull it off. Boss sent me to keep an eye on you." The woman moved from the shadow to reveal a traditional Rocket uniform. "Not a bad plan, playing a starting trainer and using the guise to steal Pokemon. I'm surprised you thought of it." "Yeah, and it won't work out unless you leave NOW." The rocket woman smiled in an intigrating fasion. "So, how's it working out? You haven't screwed up yet, I see. It was a stroke of genius to pretend to be kicked out, then offering that girl a ride. You didn't think of that part yourself I'll bet." Ron simmered quietly. The truth was that he was begining to like Mandy and the whole honesty thing. "Oh yeah, I have to give you this," the woman said, handing him a rocket card. "Use it to transfer stolen pokemon." With that, the woman stood and walked away. Turning her head to face him once more she said, "Don't forget, I'll be watching." Ron groaned. Inside the tent Mandy was awake and brushing her hair. She gave Ember a quick currycombing and a dish of oats and giving Amaranth some miracle grow. (Kidding! Yeeesh.) Leaving the tent she gave Hurricane some special pokemix. She then noticed Ron, looking sullen, sitting by his Lapras. She held off from asking what was wrong when she saw the sad look in his eyes that wouldn't allow questions. "Ready to get out of here and beat Brock?" "Yeah, I guess." Ron gave Flipper a pat as he finished his food, then put him into the ball. Mandy mimicked the action with Hurricane. They packed up the comfortable campsite and walked the path, silently. "Hey, look! Bugs!" Ron yelled, breaking the silence. "Oh, look, a caterpie! It's mine!" and he threw a pokeball. It hit the caterpie, but was head butted away by a weedle who seemed to be protecting the caterpie. "Huh? What in the world was that?" "Looks like they don't want to be caught. Try laying some food down," suggested Mandy. Ron put a nutrition bar on the grass, attracting the two over. Even with the easy target Ron decided not to use Flipper. Instead he knelt down and scratched the two bugs on the heads, careful to avoid the weedle's stinger. Then he called out flipper to translate for him to the two bugs. "Why don't you want to be caught? I'm a pretty good trainer." "Caterpie, pie er cat cater..." "Weedle dle dle." "Lapras. Ras. pras." Ron turned to Mandy and smiled. "They've been together since they were born. They want to stay together." Turning back to the two bugs, "You can stay together then. I'd like to have two bugs on my team." The two bugs nodded to each other as Ron pulled a second pokeball from his pack. He caught the two bugs and recalled Flipper. Later that day they left the forest. They'd beaten a few bug catchers and gotten a nice walk. They got directions to Brock's gym from some kid. They arrived at around noon. Mandy walked into the gym, followed by Ember, with a chirping Amaranth on her back. Ron parked his bike and followed. They were met imeadiately by Brock. "Great. Which of you am I supposed to lose to?" "Both of us, if you don't mind," Mandy replied, grinning. "Okay. You go first," Brock said, indicating Mandy. He lead the two out to the gym floor. "Three on three match. Onix, go!" Mandy stopped Ember from running out, and yelled, "Amaranth, go!" Amaranth scuttled out to the middle of the gym floor, looking extremely tiny next to Brock's Onix. "Amaranth, vine whip!" The lashing vines only phased the Onix a little. "Onix, bind!" The rock snake moved to curl around Amaranth. "Quick, jump out of the way Amaranth!" Amaranth barely made it out. "Get on top of it, Amie! Sit on its head!" Amaranth used the Onix's surprise to climb onto its head. "Shake it off Onix!" As the Onix dipped its head, Amaranth grabbed onto it by her vines. "Great idea Amie! Tangle it in your vines so it can't move!" The move worked. It was so entangled that it couldn't move. "Onix, return! Vulpix, go! Flamethrower now!" The vulpix's fire chased the little oddish 'round the floor. "Amaranth, return." Amaranth ran back to Mandy and huddled behind the friendly fire she'd gotten used to. "Ember, go!" The ponyta galloped up to the vulpix, and Amaranth lept into Mandy's shoulder. "Ember, stomp!" The powerful hooves stomped in circles around the little fox, flustering it. "Vulpix, return. Geodude, go!" "Stay out there, Ember. Try your stomp attack!" The flying rock managed to avoid the well placed hooves. "Rock throw!" Geodude surrounded the horse with rocks, each nearly hitting her. "Ember, rear back and kick!" One kick connected with the hovering rock, sending it flying. "You win. Here's your badge and Bide TM. Next!" Mandy grinned as she watched Ron earn his badge. -Susan, Jedi Hamster Official WDTSF Spontaneous Vocalization Specialist; Director of Unexpected Screaming. Defender of truth, justice, freedom and hamsters. Contact my hamster at Dinsdale@rinkworks.com.