Part 10: My Old Friend
I wandered out of the center the next day, walking slowly down the white streets of Rustboro. I kept everyone in their Poke Balls for now. I wanted to be alone.
Despite that, I heard the familiar sound of a Poke Ball opening. The small increase in temperature told me it was Daniel walking next to me. I looked down at him and saw his big black eyes staring pleadingly back at me. I knelt down and picked him up.
"You!" a voice said. I slowly turned to look as the scientist from Petalburg Woods came running towards me.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Matt, right?" he said. "I need your help. That Team Aqua jerk from the forest stole some goods from me and then ran towards the caves. Can you help?"
I sighed. "Yeah."
He smiled at me. "Thank you."
I walked, still clutching Daniel, over to Route 116. We waded through the tall, cool grass, avoiding the eyesights of Trainers and wild Pokemon.
As we entered the cave, we saw and old man sitting next to the entrance, slowly playing a flute. The high-pitched sound echoed into the dark cave.
The pale stones of the cave glowed with a dim light. A misty fog made things hard to make out as they moved around silently.
My footsteps resonated in the cave, echoing in the pale mist. It felt as if I was entering a newly excavated ruin or ancient tomb. I felt like I was disturbing something old and forgotten.
Suddenly, I heard a low growling noise. I looked further into the cave and saw a Poochyena shoot at me from the mist.
It sunk its claws into my jacket and tried to take a bite out of my throat. I fell backwards and let go of Daniel.
Daniel scratched the Poochyena off of me and blew a mass of embers at it. It fell over, unconscious.
"Arceus damn it!" the grunt said, running up to get his partner. He had a briefcase and a Wingull under his arm. The pain and the poor bird brought tears to my eyes.
"Take the stupid things!" he said, throwing the bird and briefcase to the ground and grabbing his Pokemon, running past me to the exit. I scooped up the injured bird and briefcase.
"Excuse me?" a voice said. I turned around and saw a small pink ball of a Pokemon walking toward me.
"I saw how you rescued that Wingull. Would you mind if I came with you?" he asked.
I smiled. "Sure. What's your name?"
"Bryan." he said as we walked out of the cave.
Pokémon: 6 Badges: 1 Deaths: 1 Current Location: Rusturf Tunnel
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
The Reading List: A Separate Peace
Welcome to The Reading List, where I review books an English teacher forced you to read. This is a new series where I review books I read for English class, and tell you my thoughts on them. Today, we are going to look at the first book I read for Accelerated English 3-4, A Separate Peace by John Knowles.
Spoiler Warning: The following contains spoilers for A Separate Peace.
A Separate Peace is a novel about friendship during the Second World War. Gene Forrester, our narrator, is a quiet, studious teenage boy going to New Hampshire's Devon School in 1942. During the summer session, he befriends his roommate, an energetic and incredibly charismatic boy named Finny. Throughout the summer, Gene and Finny become great friends and form a secret society, the focal point of which is jumping out of a tall tree into a river.
As the summer progresses, Gene begins to suspect that Finny secretly wants to beat him in academics, as Gene is better academically and Finny is better in sports. Although Finny begins to soothe Gene's paranoia, it still causes Gene, during one tree jump, to shake the branch, causing Finny to crash to the ground below and break his leg.
In my mind, the book can be divided into four parts, each following the seasons. The above-mentioned plot takes place during summer, the carefree days where boys can and will be boys, and everything is more laid back. The war is far enough away to be a distant dream, like the heat on a pleasant summer day. Gene's paranoia, like annoying insects buzzing around a picnic, is the biggest conflict in this part of the novel, an issue at the time, but not very important.
Finny's leg breaking marks the beginning of fall. As everyone returns to class, something about the chill in the air suggests that things are about to change. War, like the coming New England winter, is more present, and several of the boys talk about enlisting. Leper, a kind-hearted, gentle classmate, is the first to enlist and leaves school. Meanwhile, Finny actively denies the existence of the war, claiming it's all a conspiracy by old men to keep them down. As fall changes into winter, Finny seeks to train Gene, sheltered by the thought that the war is far away.
Winter, like in real life, can be described as brief celebrations in the middle of frozen hardship. Finny organizes a winter carnival, complete with games, music, and alcohol. As the carnival progresses, though, Gene gets a letter from Leper, saying that he "escaped" from the army. Gene meets him and finds out that Leper has been driven to some form of madness by his stay in the army. This makes Gene afraid of the army which he and his friends are so close to being drafted to. Meanwhile, some of the other boys have been investigating what happened to Finny's leg. During the "trial" they conduct, Finny loses patience and runs out of the hall, breaking his leg again. A few days later, Finny is dead, as cold as the New England snow.
After winter comes spring. New life does indeed bloom at Devon, but it is not new life for the numbed students. Instead, a group of military workers set up shop at Devon. The novel ends with the boys leaving school and enlisting in the military while Gene reflects on the events that transpired over the past year.
Gene and Finny's relationship is the main focus, and while it is interesting, both characters are very juvenile. Finny's delusions about the war may have been important at the time, but they come across as incredibly naive to a modern audience all too familiar with the horrors of World War 2. Finny, however, is the personality of the duo, as Gene's quiet smarts give him a bad case of blank slate. The other secondary characters are more interesting, but don't get as much text space when they're not actively contributing to the plot.
In the beginning, the story is incredibly light and carefree. The various machinations of Finny's mind take precedence over really good characterization of Gene, who doesn't get good depth until after Finny's leg breaks, which comes about a third of the way through the book. Unfortunately, this is the climax of the book, and everything after that matches the "falling action" archetype well. There are few stakes in this book and the position of the climax so early kills off any stakes it might have had.
I am not a huge fan of A Separate Peace. Of all the books I've read for English, this one was the most dated, with the purposeful omission of Shakespeare. While not a bad book and certainly one whose setting we don't see discussed much in literature, it's a rather dull and easy read. It feels like it wanted to reach for some big message and let that come at the expense of proper pacing and plot construction. Not a terrible book by any means, but not the best either.
I hope you enjoyed this first installment of The Reading List. As I finish up my second year in high school, look forward to more and more reviews of books I have to read, and maybe you did too. Thank you for reading, and I'll see you next time.
Spoiler Warning: The following contains spoilers for A Separate Peace.
A Separate Peace is a novel about friendship during the Second World War. Gene Forrester, our narrator, is a quiet, studious teenage boy going to New Hampshire's Devon School in 1942. During the summer session, he befriends his roommate, an energetic and incredibly charismatic boy named Finny. Throughout the summer, Gene and Finny become great friends and form a secret society, the focal point of which is jumping out of a tall tree into a river.
As the summer progresses, Gene begins to suspect that Finny secretly wants to beat him in academics, as Gene is better academically and Finny is better in sports. Although Finny begins to soothe Gene's paranoia, it still causes Gene, during one tree jump, to shake the branch, causing Finny to crash to the ground below and break his leg.
In my mind, the book can be divided into four parts, each following the seasons. The above-mentioned plot takes place during summer, the carefree days where boys can and will be boys, and everything is more laid back. The war is far enough away to be a distant dream, like the heat on a pleasant summer day. Gene's paranoia, like annoying insects buzzing around a picnic, is the biggest conflict in this part of the novel, an issue at the time, but not very important.
Finny's leg breaking marks the beginning of fall. As everyone returns to class, something about the chill in the air suggests that things are about to change. War, like the coming New England winter, is more present, and several of the boys talk about enlisting. Leper, a kind-hearted, gentle classmate, is the first to enlist and leaves school. Meanwhile, Finny actively denies the existence of the war, claiming it's all a conspiracy by old men to keep them down. As fall changes into winter, Finny seeks to train Gene, sheltered by the thought that the war is far away.
Winter, like in real life, can be described as brief celebrations in the middle of frozen hardship. Finny organizes a winter carnival, complete with games, music, and alcohol. As the carnival progresses, though, Gene gets a letter from Leper, saying that he "escaped" from the army. Gene meets him and finds out that Leper has been driven to some form of madness by his stay in the army. This makes Gene afraid of the army which he and his friends are so close to being drafted to. Meanwhile, some of the other boys have been investigating what happened to Finny's leg. During the "trial" they conduct, Finny loses patience and runs out of the hall, breaking his leg again. A few days later, Finny is dead, as cold as the New England snow.
After winter comes spring. New life does indeed bloom at Devon, but it is not new life for the numbed students. Instead, a group of military workers set up shop at Devon. The novel ends with the boys leaving school and enlisting in the military while Gene reflects on the events that transpired over the past year.
Gene and Finny's relationship is the main focus, and while it is interesting, both characters are very juvenile. Finny's delusions about the war may have been important at the time, but they come across as incredibly naive to a modern audience all too familiar with the horrors of World War 2. Finny, however, is the personality of the duo, as Gene's quiet smarts give him a bad case of blank slate. The other secondary characters are more interesting, but don't get as much text space when they're not actively contributing to the plot.
In the beginning, the story is incredibly light and carefree. The various machinations of Finny's mind take precedence over really good characterization of Gene, who doesn't get good depth until after Finny's leg breaks, which comes about a third of the way through the book. Unfortunately, this is the climax of the book, and everything after that matches the "falling action" archetype well. There are few stakes in this book and the position of the climax so early kills off any stakes it might have had.
I am not a huge fan of A Separate Peace. Of all the books I've read for English, this one was the most dated, with the purposeful omission of Shakespeare. While not a bad book and certainly one whose setting we don't see discussed much in literature, it's a rather dull and easy read. It feels like it wanted to reach for some big message and let that come at the expense of proper pacing and plot construction. Not a terrible book by any means, but not the best either.
I hope you enjoyed this first installment of The Reading List. As I finish up my second year in high school, look forward to more and more reviews of books I have to read, and maybe you did too. Thank you for reading, and I'll see you next time.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Beryl Dreams: Part 8
Part 8: Prepare for Trouble
I lobbed the Poke Ball at the small bug. It wriggled for a few seconds before clicking with a bright red burst of light. I picked it up and let out our newest member, Brandon.
"Welcome to the team, Brandon!" I said. "This is Daniel, John, Tyler, Heather and Tiffany."
"Hello, teammates." he said. "I look forward to battling alongside you."
"Let's get back to training, Matt." Daniel said, tugging at my pant leg.
"Alright, let's go!"
We trained on that route for the rest of the day. Everyone grew much, much stronger as we fought all of the trainers there.
"Great job, Heather!" I said as the fainted Marill was returned to its trainer.
"Thanks." she said. Suddenly, she started to glow. Her round form elongated into a thin body, and two massive wings sprouted from its back.
"You have a Beautifly?" the girl I just beat said. "I'm so jealous!"
"That was great work, Heather!" I said, giving her a hug.
"You look great!" Daniel said.
"Thanks." she said, smiling somehow.
The sun was going down fast, so we left the route and went back to the Center. As I handed over the Poke Balls to the nurse, she looked me straight in the eye.
"You're Norman's child, aren't you?" she asked.
"Yes, I am." I said.
"Well, welcome to Hoenn!" she said.
"Thank you!" I replied, smiling back.
"Are you aware of how the Gym system works for a Trainer?"
"I think so. Could you explain it to me, though? It might be different than in Johto."
"Sure thing!" she said, smiling and handing me back the Poke Balls. "You see, Hoenn, like most regions, is divided into eight prefectures, each headed by a daimyo. If you defeat them and their Gym, you win their Badge. Collect all eight, then head to Ever Grande City and challenge the Elite Four!"
"Wow, sounds like fun!" I said.
"So, are you going to take on Rustboro's daimyo?" she asked.
"You bet I am!"
I lobbed the Poke Ball at the small bug. It wriggled for a few seconds before clicking with a bright red burst of light. I picked it up and let out our newest member, Brandon.
"Welcome to the team, Brandon!" I said. "This is Daniel, John, Tyler, Heather and Tiffany."
"Hello, teammates." he said. "I look forward to battling alongside you."
"Let's get back to training, Matt." Daniel said, tugging at my pant leg.
"Alright, let's go!"
We trained on that route for the rest of the day. Everyone grew much, much stronger as we fought all of the trainers there.
"Great job, Heather!" I said as the fainted Marill was returned to its trainer.
"Thanks." she said. Suddenly, she started to glow. Her round form elongated into a thin body, and two massive wings sprouted from its back.
"You have a Beautifly?" the girl I just beat said. "I'm so jealous!"
"That was great work, Heather!" I said, giving her a hug.
"You look great!" Daniel said.
"Thanks." she said, smiling somehow.
The sun was going down fast, so we left the route and went back to the Center. As I handed over the Poke Balls to the nurse, she looked me straight in the eye.
"You're Norman's child, aren't you?" she asked.
"Yes, I am." I said.
"Well, welcome to Hoenn!" she said.
"Thank you!" I replied, smiling back.
"Are you aware of how the Gym system works for a Trainer?"
"I think so. Could you explain it to me, though? It might be different than in Johto."
"Sure thing!" she said, smiling and handing me back the Poke Balls. "You see, Hoenn, like most regions, is divided into eight prefectures, each headed by a daimyo. If you defeat them and their Gym, you win their Badge. Collect all eight, then head to Ever Grande City and challenge the Elite Four!"
"Wow, sounds like fun!" I said.
"So, are you going to take on Rustboro's daimyo?" she asked.
"You bet I am!"
Pokémon: 6 Badges: 0 Deaths: 0 Current Location: Rustboro
City
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Beryl Dreams: Part 6
Let's post two things out of order as well!
Part 6: Afforest and Deforest
The team crept into the forest. The trees turned sunlight into a broken patchwork of light and shadow. The air smelt damp and musty, the scent of decaying leaves in the air. Our footsteps squelched on the wet, fallen leaves as we walked deeper into the woods.
"Hey, you!" a Bug Catcher shouted, running at us as we entered the forest. "Let's fight!"
I sighed a little bit. "Alright. John, let's go." I said as he jumped off my shoulder.
"Go, Wurmple!" He said, throwing out the bug Heather had just evolved from.
"Tackle, John." I said as he knocked out the Wurmple. The Bug Catcher recalled it and sent out a second Wurmple. John then knocked it out, as he did with the third, fourth and fifth ones.
"Alright, John. Let's wrap this up."
"Not yet! Wurmple, Poison Sting!"
The worm shot a long purple barb that embedded itself in John's side as he knocked it into the nearest tree, unconscious.
"John!" Tyler said, running out to him. John rolled over onto its back, turning a sickly shade of lavender. I picked him up and started to run out of the forest.
"Matt!" Daniel screamed as he ran beside me. "I don't think he'll make it!"
"We'll make it!" I yelled back. I saw the edge of Petalburg. My heart leaped a bit.
"Matt..." John weakly murmured.
I shoved a Potion into his mouth. "J-just shush, okay, John? Y-y-you'll be ok-kay..."
A few hours later, John jumped into my lap. I hugged him close to my chest, a few stray tears falling down my cheeks. Everyone else crowded around, ecstatic.
"You ready to get going?" John asked, smiling.
"Yeah, let's go." I said.
We walked back into the forest, a couple Antidotes in my backpack. We strolled through the tall grass as the sun began to set, some of the wild Pokemon settling down to sleep.
As we rounded one of the bends, I heard a fight breaking out.
"Hand over the goddamn goods!" someone yelled.
"Please, don't hurt me!" someone else responded.
I heard a loud smack, followed by a thud onto the wet ground. I ran out of my hiding place, team behind me, to help.
A young man in a black and white striped shirt with a blue bandana and blue pants was standing over another man in a lab coat. His glasses were askew, and his nose was bloody. The thug's hands were covered in the sticky red liquid, and it looked like his Poochyena was about to draw some more.
"Hey, you!" I yelled. He looked at me and snarled. His Poochyena leaped towards me. Tiffany swooped down in front and spat a Water Gun at it.
The small dog blinked at her, one of its eyes with a massive pink scar across it. It rammed into her, knocking her onto the ground and pinning her.
"Tiffany, Water Gun!" I yelled. She spat water into its face, knocking it off of her. I ran up to her with a Potion. She sprang back up into the air and began again spraying water into the opponent's face.
Eventually, it fell down, knocked out. The goon looked up at us, panic across his face. He recalled his Pokemon and ran back the way he came.
I ran to the scientist, who was just putting his papers back into his briefcase, and helped him up.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yes." he said, wiping a red streak on his coat. "Thank you for getting rid of him. I'd be swamped if I'd lost these goods."
"Well, I just didn't want to let someone get hurt and not help them."
He pulled a small blue and red Poke Ball out of his coat. "This is a Great Ball. It's significantly better than a normal Poke Ball. I'd like you to have this as a reward."
I took it. "Thank you so much, sir."
"Don't mention it." he said, smiling. "Now, I need to get back to Rustboro. Goodbye!"
He walked off the way the goon went. I started to walk that way as well when a small bird flew directly at my face.
Daniel jumped in front of me and Scratched it out of the air. It fell, unconscious, to the ground.
"What was that?" John asked.
"I think that was our catch." I said, dejected.
Daniel winced. "Sorry." he said.
"Good going, Foghorn." Tyler muttered.
"Don't worry, I didn't really want a Taillow, that would have evolved into an awesome Swellow..."
"We should get going." Tiffany said.
"Right." I said, sighing a bit. "Let's go."
Pokémon: 5 Badges: 0 Deaths: 0 Current Location: Petalburg Woods
Part 6: Afforest and Deforest
The team crept into the forest. The trees turned sunlight into a broken patchwork of light and shadow. The air smelt damp and musty, the scent of decaying leaves in the air. Our footsteps squelched on the wet, fallen leaves as we walked deeper into the woods.
"Hey, you!" a Bug Catcher shouted, running at us as we entered the forest. "Let's fight!"
I sighed a little bit. "Alright. John, let's go." I said as he jumped off my shoulder.
"Go, Wurmple!" He said, throwing out the bug Heather had just evolved from.
"Tackle, John." I said as he knocked out the Wurmple. The Bug Catcher recalled it and sent out a second Wurmple. John then knocked it out, as he did with the third, fourth and fifth ones.
"Alright, John. Let's wrap this up."
"Not yet! Wurmple, Poison Sting!"
The worm shot a long purple barb that embedded itself in John's side as he knocked it into the nearest tree, unconscious.
"John!" Tyler said, running out to him. John rolled over onto its back, turning a sickly shade of lavender. I picked him up and started to run out of the forest.
"Matt!" Daniel screamed as he ran beside me. "I don't think he'll make it!"
"We'll make it!" I yelled back. I saw the edge of Petalburg. My heart leaped a bit.
"Matt..." John weakly murmured.
I shoved a Potion into his mouth. "J-just shush, okay, John? Y-y-you'll be ok-kay..."
A few hours later, John jumped into my lap. I hugged him close to my chest, a few stray tears falling down my cheeks. Everyone else crowded around, ecstatic.
"You ready to get going?" John asked, smiling.
"Yeah, let's go." I said.
We walked back into the forest, a couple Antidotes in my backpack. We strolled through the tall grass as the sun began to set, some of the wild Pokemon settling down to sleep.
As we rounded one of the bends, I heard a fight breaking out.
"Hand over the goddamn goods!" someone yelled.
"Please, don't hurt me!" someone else responded.
I heard a loud smack, followed by a thud onto the wet ground. I ran out of my hiding place, team behind me, to help.
A young man in a black and white striped shirt with a blue bandana and blue pants was standing over another man in a lab coat. His glasses were askew, and his nose was bloody. The thug's hands were covered in the sticky red liquid, and it looked like his Poochyena was about to draw some more.
"Hey, you!" I yelled. He looked at me and snarled. His Poochyena leaped towards me. Tiffany swooped down in front and spat a Water Gun at it.
The small dog blinked at her, one of its eyes with a massive pink scar across it. It rammed into her, knocking her onto the ground and pinning her.
"Tiffany, Water Gun!" I yelled. She spat water into its face, knocking it off of her. I ran up to her with a Potion. She sprang back up into the air and began again spraying water into the opponent's face.
Eventually, it fell down, knocked out. The goon looked up at us, panic across his face. He recalled his Pokemon and ran back the way he came.
I ran to the scientist, who was just putting his papers back into his briefcase, and helped him up.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yes." he said, wiping a red streak on his coat. "Thank you for getting rid of him. I'd be swamped if I'd lost these goods."
"Well, I just didn't want to let someone get hurt and not help them."
He pulled a small blue and red Poke Ball out of his coat. "This is a Great Ball. It's significantly better than a normal Poke Ball. I'd like you to have this as a reward."
I took it. "Thank you so much, sir."
"Don't mention it." he said, smiling. "Now, I need to get back to Rustboro. Goodbye!"
He walked off the way the goon went. I started to walk that way as well when a small bird flew directly at my face.
Daniel jumped in front of me and Scratched it out of the air. It fell, unconscious, to the ground.
"What was that?" John asked.
"I think that was our catch." I said, dejected.
Daniel winced. "Sorry." he said.
"Good going, Foghorn." Tyler muttered.
"Don't worry, I didn't really want a Taillow, that would have evolved into an awesome Swellow..."
"We should get going." Tiffany said.
"Right." I said, sighing a bit. "Let's go."
Pokémon: 5 Badges: 0 Deaths: 0 Current Location: Petalburg Woods
Beryl Dreams: Part 7
It's been roughly five billion years, let's post something!
Part 7: Preparations
We finally made it out of the forest. The sunlight made me squint, but the cool spray of the lake made the heat bearable. We fought a couple of battles with the Trainers n the shore.
"Zagu, use Tackle!" a young Lady said.
"Scratch, Daniel!" I said. Daniel dodged the Tackle and knocked the Zigzagoon out with a hard Scratch.
"Great job, Daniel!" I said.
"Thanks." he replied, burning sparks flying from his mouth. They landed near Heather and almost singed her silk.
"AAH!" she screamed, jumping back.
"Sorry!" Daniel said, wincing.
"That's okay." I said, wrapping Heather in my jacket. "Looks like we finally have a Fire-type attack. That's good!"
Daniel's cheeks turned an even darker orange. "Thanks."
"No problem. Maybe we should let the others take a turn."
"Can I try?" John said, jumping onto the ground.
I looked across the lake. On the bridge were two little girls, twins, battling each other. I walked over to them and asked for a battle.
"Okay!" they said in unison. They stepped back together and sent out their Pokemon: a Seedot and a Lotad.
"John, Tyler, let's go!" I said as they leaped into the fray.
"Dot, use Bide!" one of the girls said. The little acorn started to glow a dull red.
"Lot, use Astonish!" The Lotad's eyes glowed red. Suddenly, Tyler cried out in pain.
"Enough! John, Tail Whip! Tyler, keep Tackling the Lotad!"
John's tail started furiously shaking back and forth as Tyler knocked the Lotad around. It soon fainted and was recalled.
The Seedot continued glowing until a burst of white light shot out from around it. We closed our eyes as the brilliant display...
...fizzled out into nothing. We stood, staring at the Seedot.
"Tyler." I said. Tyler knocked the seed out with one Tackle.
"You guys worked great out there." I told John and Tyler as we walked to the end of the route.
"Yeah. I guess once this guy got some experience, he could mess around with me." Tyler said, nudging John.
"Thanks!" John said, smiling a giant smile.
We walked into Rustboro together: a boy, two birds, a cocoon, a raccoon, a dog, and a dream.
Pokémon: 5 Badges: 0 Deaths: 0 Current Location: Rustboro City
Part 7: Preparations
We finally made it out of the forest. The sunlight made me squint, but the cool spray of the lake made the heat bearable. We fought a couple of battles with the Trainers n the shore.
"Zagu, use Tackle!" a young Lady said.
"Scratch, Daniel!" I said. Daniel dodged the Tackle and knocked the Zigzagoon out with a hard Scratch.
"Great job, Daniel!" I said.
"Thanks." he replied, burning sparks flying from his mouth. They landed near Heather and almost singed her silk.
"AAH!" she screamed, jumping back.
"Sorry!" Daniel said, wincing.
"That's okay." I said, wrapping Heather in my jacket. "Looks like we finally have a Fire-type attack. That's good!"
Daniel's cheeks turned an even darker orange. "Thanks."
"No problem. Maybe we should let the others take a turn."
"Can I try?" John said, jumping onto the ground.
I looked across the lake. On the bridge were two little girls, twins, battling each other. I walked over to them and asked for a battle.
"Okay!" they said in unison. They stepped back together and sent out their Pokemon: a Seedot and a Lotad.
"John, Tyler, let's go!" I said as they leaped into the fray.
"Dot, use Bide!" one of the girls said. The little acorn started to glow a dull red.
"Lot, use Astonish!" The Lotad's eyes glowed red. Suddenly, Tyler cried out in pain.
"Enough! John, Tail Whip! Tyler, keep Tackling the Lotad!"
John's tail started furiously shaking back and forth as Tyler knocked the Lotad around. It soon fainted and was recalled.
The Seedot continued glowing until a burst of white light shot out from around it. We closed our eyes as the brilliant display...
...fizzled out into nothing. We stood, staring at the Seedot.
"Tyler." I said. Tyler knocked the seed out with one Tackle.
"You guys worked great out there." I told John and Tyler as we walked to the end of the route.
"Yeah. I guess once this guy got some experience, he could mess around with me." Tyler said, nudging John.
"Thanks!" John said, smiling a giant smile.
We walked into Rustboro together: a boy, two birds, a cocoon, a raccoon, a dog, and a dream.
Pokémon: 5 Badges: 0 Deaths: 0 Current Location: Rustboro City
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Beryl Dreams: Part 5
Author's Note: I know I've been posting this on the official Nuzlocke forum. Sadly, you might get spoiled if you read it there before here. That said, I will keep posting here.
Part 5: Sparkling Twilight
Daniel pecked me slightly on the cheek. "Matt?" he said, a concerned tone in his voice.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Are you okay?" he asked. "We've been getting kind of worried."
I sat up in the bed and ran my hand through my hair. "Yeah, let's go."
In a few minutes, the whole team and I had left Petalburg. Daniel, Tyler and Heather were walking next to me, while John rode on my shoulder.
The sound of the ocean calmed me down somewhat. I took a deep breath of the salty air. It made me miss my old hometown of Olivine. I remembered the last day we were there.
"Matt!" she said.
I turned around. "Mara!"
She ran up to me and threw her arms around me. "I'm going to miss you."
"Me too." I said, leaning in to give her a kiss.
"Promise me you'll write."
"I promise. And as soon as we get settled and the war clears up, we'll probably come back and visit."
"I'll be counting the days..."
"Matt!" Daniel screamed. I snapped back to reality.
"What?" I said. John was on the ground with everyone, looking up at me.
"You just spaced out and stopped. Are you feeling okay?" Heather asked.
"I'm fine. Really. Let's just get moving."
"You were thinking about someone, weren't you?" a voice said.
I turned around. A small blue and white bird, a Wingull, was hovering behind me.
"Yeah, I was." I said, tentatively. "How did you know?"
"You walked out here looking a little nervous and tired, like you hadn't gotten a lot of sleep. When you smelled the ocean, you looked like you relaxed. There's no ocean where you could have come from, so you must have thought about another place, probably with another person."
I nodded slightly. "Impressive."
"And I can't help but notice you guys have a bit of a Rock-type problem. I could come with you if you want."
I smiled. "Welcome aboard, Miss..."
"Tiffany." she said. John hopped back onto my shoulder and the team, now five strong walked into the grass.
"Now, Heather." I said, kneeling down next to her. "We're going to do a lot of training with you today. Are you ready?"
"Alright." she said, quietly.
We started to train. Training involved a lot of training of the others as well, especially in the beginning. As she grew in power and gained new attacks, she began to take on opponents by herself. Eventually we fought a youngster on the beach, with Heather taking a prominent role.
After walking him back to Petalburg and healing, we decided to head to the forest.
"Hey." A boy called as we walked toward the entrance. He walked toward us slowly. He was abut my height, though a bit younger, with light blonde hair and a well-tailored blue suit.
"My name is Winston." he said. "Would you like to battle?"
"Sure." I said.
He smirked. "Very well. Jigu, show this peasant how it's done."
His Zigzagoon popped out of its Poke Ball, its ginger fur glistening in the pale sunlight. I sent Heather out.
"Poison Sting!" I cried, watching the purple barb dig into the prim Pokemon's side.
"Tackle, Jigu dear." Winston said. Jigu slammed into Heather, sending her flying. She slithered back to the field, slowly and launched another couple of barbs at it.
"Oh, dear, Jigu, you're poisoned. That won't do." Winston said, spraying a yellow-green liquid on it.
"Was that a Full Restore?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Dude, that's just cheap."
"So what? I'm rich. I can do whatever I want, like knock out your Wurmple here. Jigu, Tackle, please."
Jigu slammed into Heather again, this time sending her flying straight into Tiffany. She caught her in her beak and set her down gently.
"Easy there. I'll take it from here." She sprayed him with a Water Gun while I looked at Heather.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yeah." She said, weakly. "Maybe healing?"
I smiled. "After Tiffany beats the snot out of this jerk, we will."
"Matt?" John said. "Tiffany and Tyler both got pretty hurt, so I'm gonna fight. Is that okay?"
"Wait, what?" I said, looking back up. Tiffany and Tyler were both on the ground. Tyler was licking his wounds and Tiffany was struggling along on her minuscule legs.
"How-"
"The power of good breeding, my friend." Winston said, looking smug as ever. "Jigu, be a dear and show this common Zigzagoon how a real Pokemon battles."
Daniel stepped in front of John. "You did not just insult John. You're going to pay for that." he growled.
Jigu lunged at Daniel. Daniel slid underneath, raking a claw on his belly. Jigu landed in a dazed heap on the ground.
"Tell your bird to stand down!" Winston commanded.
"Leave the pet alone, Daniel." I said. Daniel sighed then walked back to me. Winston walked over, picked up Jigu, and thrust some cash at me.
"Look, do-"
"Don't say anything. Just shut up and take the money, you uncouth slob." He said before marching off to heal his precious pet.
"What a jerk." I said.
"I'll say." Tyler growled. "His primped up pet sure hits like a-"
Suddenly, Heather began to glow slightly. We all backed up and stared at her as she glowed a bright white. After a few seconds, the Wurmple was gone, and in its place was a white oval with spikes sticking out of it.
"She just evolved!" Tiffany cried weakly.
"Awesome!" I said, picking Heather up and hugging her. "I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks." she said. "Now, can we get some healing done?"
We laughed as we started walking back to Petalburg.
Pokémon: 5 Badges: 0 Deaths: 0 Current Location: Route 104
Part 5: Sparkling Twilight
Daniel pecked me slightly on the cheek. "Matt?" he said, a concerned tone in his voice.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Are you okay?" he asked. "We've been getting kind of worried."
I sat up in the bed and ran my hand through my hair. "Yeah, let's go."
In a few minutes, the whole team and I had left Petalburg. Daniel, Tyler and Heather were walking next to me, while John rode on my shoulder.
The sound of the ocean calmed me down somewhat. I took a deep breath of the salty air. It made me miss my old hometown of Olivine. I remembered the last day we were there.
"Matt!" she said.
I turned around. "Mara!"
She ran up to me and threw her arms around me. "I'm going to miss you."
"Me too." I said, leaning in to give her a kiss.
"Promise me you'll write."
"I promise. And as soon as we get settled and the war clears up, we'll probably come back and visit."
"I'll be counting the days..."
"Matt!" Daniel screamed. I snapped back to reality.
"What?" I said. John was on the ground with everyone, looking up at me.
"You just spaced out and stopped. Are you feeling okay?" Heather asked.
"I'm fine. Really. Let's just get moving."
"You were thinking about someone, weren't you?" a voice said.
I turned around. A small blue and white bird, a Wingull, was hovering behind me.
"Yeah, I was." I said, tentatively. "How did you know?"
"You walked out here looking a little nervous and tired, like you hadn't gotten a lot of sleep. When you smelled the ocean, you looked like you relaxed. There's no ocean where you could have come from, so you must have thought about another place, probably with another person."
I nodded slightly. "Impressive."
"And I can't help but notice you guys have a bit of a Rock-type problem. I could come with you if you want."
I smiled. "Welcome aboard, Miss..."
"Tiffany." she said. John hopped back onto my shoulder and the team, now five strong walked into the grass.
"Now, Heather." I said, kneeling down next to her. "We're going to do a lot of training with you today. Are you ready?"
"Alright." she said, quietly.
We started to train. Training involved a lot of training of the others as well, especially in the beginning. As she grew in power and gained new attacks, she began to take on opponents by herself. Eventually we fought a youngster on the beach, with Heather taking a prominent role.
After walking him back to Petalburg and healing, we decided to head to the forest.
"Hey." A boy called as we walked toward the entrance. He walked toward us slowly. He was abut my height, though a bit younger, with light blonde hair and a well-tailored blue suit.
"My name is Winston." he said. "Would you like to battle?"
"Sure." I said.
He smirked. "Very well. Jigu, show this peasant how it's done."
His Zigzagoon popped out of its Poke Ball, its ginger fur glistening in the pale sunlight. I sent Heather out.
"Poison Sting!" I cried, watching the purple barb dig into the prim Pokemon's side.
"Tackle, Jigu dear." Winston said. Jigu slammed into Heather, sending her flying. She slithered back to the field, slowly and launched another couple of barbs at it.
"Oh, dear, Jigu, you're poisoned. That won't do." Winston said, spraying a yellow-green liquid on it.
"Was that a Full Restore?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Dude, that's just cheap."
"So what? I'm rich. I can do whatever I want, like knock out your Wurmple here. Jigu, Tackle, please."
Jigu slammed into Heather again, this time sending her flying straight into Tiffany. She caught her in her beak and set her down gently.
"Easy there. I'll take it from here." She sprayed him with a Water Gun while I looked at Heather.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yeah." She said, weakly. "Maybe healing?"
I smiled. "After Tiffany beats the snot out of this jerk, we will."
"Matt?" John said. "Tiffany and Tyler both got pretty hurt, so I'm gonna fight. Is that okay?"
"Wait, what?" I said, looking back up. Tiffany and Tyler were both on the ground. Tyler was licking his wounds and Tiffany was struggling along on her minuscule legs.
"How-"
"The power of good breeding, my friend." Winston said, looking smug as ever. "Jigu, be a dear and show this common Zigzagoon how a real Pokemon battles."
Daniel stepped in front of John. "You did not just insult John. You're going to pay for that." he growled.
Jigu lunged at Daniel. Daniel slid underneath, raking a claw on his belly. Jigu landed in a dazed heap on the ground.
"Tell your bird to stand down!" Winston commanded.
"Leave the pet alone, Daniel." I said. Daniel sighed then walked back to me. Winston walked over, picked up Jigu, and thrust some cash at me.
"Look, do-"
"Don't say anything. Just shut up and take the money, you uncouth slob." He said before marching off to heal his precious pet.
"What a jerk." I said.
"I'll say." Tyler growled. "His primped up pet sure hits like a-"
Suddenly, Heather began to glow slightly. We all backed up and stared at her as she glowed a bright white. After a few seconds, the Wurmple was gone, and in its place was a white oval with spikes sticking out of it.
"She just evolved!" Tiffany cried weakly.
"Awesome!" I said, picking Heather up and hugging her. "I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks." she said. "Now, can we get some healing done?"
We laughed as we started walking back to Petalburg.
Pokémon: 5 Badges: 0 Deaths: 0 Current Location: Route 104
Thursday, February 20, 2014
El Amor es de Oro: Day 8
February 20, 2014
Lena and I walked into the atrium together. It had been a couple of days since we last hung out together. I'd been too focused on curling to give her a thought. But, Max had changed my mind.
"Dude, you have to go out with her." he said three nights ago when we got back to the room.
"Lena?"
"Yeah, man. She totally digs you."
"But we have-"
"A game that we're going to lose tomorrow? Dude, have some fun. The games are over soon anyway. You gotta get some digits."
"Alright." I said before turning out the lights.
Now, we were walking together, talking in the main hallway. The sun was just setting over the Black Sea, turning the sky and water a beautiful orange. People were hanging out, but it felt less busy than before. It was as if everyone had taken this moment to watch the sunset and enjoy their time here.
"I'm sorry you guys aren't in the finals." she said.
"We never really thought we'd get there. It's fine."
She grabbed my hand gently as we walked. "It's so beautiful out here tonight."
"Not as beautiful as you."
Even in the orange light, her dark skin blushed. I'm sure mine did too. God, that was stupid. Who was I, Max?
"Thank you." she said.
Well, it worked. Thank God.
"You want something to eat?" I asked.
"Sure." she said. We walked over to a small cafe, got two plates of pierogis, and sat down in front of a window.
"This has been the best time of my life." I said.
"Same here." she said.
"What's been your favorite part?" I asked.
She looked at me, her dark eyes bright in the low light. "You."
I scooted over to her and put my arm around her. She leaned in close to me and put her feet up on a third chair. We sat there, watching the sun sink lower and lower until it disappeared below the Black Sea.
"I can't remember the last time I saw a sunset." I said.
"Me neither."
We untangled ourselves and threw away our food. Then, I walked her back to her room.
"Buenas noches." I said.
"Buenas noches, mi carino." she said. She leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek, then closed the door.
I walked in a daze back to the room. Max and Matt were talking. I walked in and flopped on the bed.
"So, the date went well?" Max asked, smiling.
I smiled back. "You could say that."
Lena and I walked into the atrium together. It had been a couple of days since we last hung out together. I'd been too focused on curling to give her a thought. But, Max had changed my mind.
"Dude, you have to go out with her." he said three nights ago when we got back to the room.
"Lena?"
"Yeah, man. She totally digs you."
"But we have-"
"A game that we're going to lose tomorrow? Dude, have some fun. The games are over soon anyway. You gotta get some digits."
"Alright." I said before turning out the lights.
Now, we were walking together, talking in the main hallway. The sun was just setting over the Black Sea, turning the sky and water a beautiful orange. People were hanging out, but it felt less busy than before. It was as if everyone had taken this moment to watch the sunset and enjoy their time here.
"I'm sorry you guys aren't in the finals." she said.
"We never really thought we'd get there. It's fine."
She grabbed my hand gently as we walked. "It's so beautiful out here tonight."
"Not as beautiful as you."
Even in the orange light, her dark skin blushed. I'm sure mine did too. God, that was stupid. Who was I, Max?
"Thank you." she said.
Well, it worked. Thank God.
"You want something to eat?" I asked.
"Sure." she said. We walked over to a small cafe, got two plates of pierogis, and sat down in front of a window.
"This has been the best time of my life." I said.
"Same here." she said.
"What's been your favorite part?" I asked.
She looked at me, her dark eyes bright in the low light. "You."
I scooted over to her and put my arm around her. She leaned in close to me and put her feet up on a third chair. We sat there, watching the sun sink lower and lower until it disappeared below the Black Sea.
"I can't remember the last time I saw a sunset." I said.
"Me neither."
We untangled ourselves and threw away our food. Then, I walked her back to her room.
"Buenas noches." I said.
"Buenas noches, mi carino." she said. She leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek, then closed the door.
I walked in a daze back to the room. Max and Matt were talking. I walked in and flopped on the bed.
"So, the date went well?" Max asked, smiling.
I smiled back. "You could say that."
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