Chapter 28

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="14800640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="mim27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 27"><U>Chapter 27</U></A>   |   <B>Chapter 28</B>   |   <A HREF="mim29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 29"><U>Chapter 29</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 30"><U>Chapter 30</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 31"><U>Chapter 31</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 32"><U>Chapter 32</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 33"><U>Chapter 33</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 34"><U>Chapter 34</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 35"><U>Chapter 35</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 36"><U>Chapter 36</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 37"><U>Chapter 37</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 38"><U>Chapter 38</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 39"><U>Chapter 39</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 40"><U>Chapter 40</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/oldnews.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Old News</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/zrfic/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>My Fanfics</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/zrart/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>My Fanart</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/a-j/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Authors A-J</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/k-z/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Authors K-Z</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/art/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Fanart List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/ffsubmit.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Submit a Fanfic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/fanart_submit.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Submit Fanart</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://pub46.ezboard.com/beeveesmb" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://pub46.ezboard.com/beeveesmb"><U><B>Message Board</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Chapter 28</I></div> <div> <B>A Master in the Making: Chapter 28: Runaway Rattata!</B></div> <bR> <div>     "This isn't exactly the way I wanted to start out in Amethyst City," Zeth complained as Destiny handed him a bowl of hot soup.  He had come down with a cold after his gym battle in Sapphire City, which only got worse during the trip to Amethyst.  Now he was stuck in bed at the Amethyst Pokémon Center, while Destiny and the pokémon took care of him.</div> <bR> <div>     "It's not that bad, Zeth," Destiny told him.  "It's not like you have any rush to get another badge here, since you already have eight."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth ate a spoonful of his soup, "The delay's not so bad.  It's the cold that's driving me crazy."  Setting the bowl down on a stool that he was using as a table, Zeth grabbed another tissue.</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, just tell me if you need anything else, okay?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Like more tissues?"  Zeth motioned to the nearly-full box sitting on his stool.  "You don't need to worry about me.  You should go out and find something fun to do instead of being stuck in here with a sick trainer."</div> <bR> <div>     "I couldn't do that!" Destiny objected.  "I'd feel bad if I did something like that while you were stuck in bed here at the center!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Why?  I'm just going to get comfortable and go to sleep.  You won't have anything to do, then!"  Zeth spotted his Ivysaur walking past the door to the dorm and called to him, "Hey, Florio!  Come over here a minute!"</div> <bR> <div>     The Ivysaur walked over, {Yeah?  Do you need something?}</div> <bR> <div>     "I'm trying to convince Destiny that she doesn't have to stick around and take care of me if there's something more interesting for her to do." Zeth explained.  "Tell Destiny what you're going to do to keep busy."</div> <bR> <div>     The Ivysaur glanced at Destiny, {Uh, well, I was just about to get Sting to send me back to Valencia Island, actually.  I have a whole stash of those Gligarman DVDs at home, and I figured that I'd go watch them.}</div> <bR> <div>     "See, Dest?  It wouldn't be so bad if you went out to a movie or something.  At least I won't have to get Professor Ivy to drag you back when I'm better."</div> <bR> <div>     Florio grinned, {No need for that!  I've arranged a replacement for myself while I'm gone!}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth coughed, then gave his pokémon a questioning glance, "Huh?  What do you mean?"</div> <bR> <div>     {I'm sending Talon back.  He said he wanted to come over and beat up Sting, or something like that.  I think he's as bored as we are.  This way, everyone's happy.}</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny shook her head, "You think Sting's going to enjoy getting beat up?"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth chuckled, "Yeah, she will.  She and Talon are good friends.  They used to spar all the time back when Talon was around.  She loves strategy, while he's more into speed and power.  It can be pretty interesting watching them."</div> <bR> <div>     {Not as interesting as watching Gligarman, though,} Florio insisted, {so I'm out of here!  I'll see you both later!}  The Ivysaur hurried out of the room, obviously impatient to start his vacation.</div> <bR> <div>     "So anyway, as I was saying," Zeth continued, picking up his soup bowl again.  "Go have some fun.  See if you can find something interesting to do."</div> <bR> <div>     "I'll think about it, okay?" Leaving Zeth in the dorm, Destiny walked back to the waiting room, where Sting had just released Zeth's Spearow from his pokéball.  </div> <bR> <div>     She was about to go over and say hello when Nurse Joy hurried past her and sat down in front of her computer, which doubled as a vid-phone.  Destiny would have ignored that, but she noticed that the person on the screen was another Nurse Joy, which gave her the strange impression that Joy was talking to herself.  "I have some here," the Amethyst City Joy explained, "but it'll take me a while to drive over with it.  I hope you don't need it too urgently."</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, I'm completely out of it, and I have two more patients who came down with the disease.  Just get here as fast as you can."</div> <bR> <div>     "Is there a problem, Nurse Joy?" Destiny asked, as the nurse on the other end hung up.</div> <bR> <div>     "Oh, well, yes, I suppose there is.  There's a bit of an epidemic going around in Onyx Town, where my sister works.  It's easy to treat, but my sister ran out of medicine.  I'm going to have to take her some more, but it's a two-hour trip both ways."</div> <bR> <div>     "I'll take it!" Destiny exclaimed, following Joy back to the examination room, where the nurse took a small white box from a shelf.  "I can get it there in half the time!"</div> <bR> <div>     Joy turned around to face Destiny, "You can?  But how can you do that?"</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny shrugged, "We came in an airship.  It's faster than a car, so I can get to Onyx and back in no time!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Then by all means," Joy told her, "please do it!"  The nurse handed Destiny the box, "This is the medicine for my sister.  Just get it to her as soon as you can!"</div> <bR> <div>     "I will.  You can count on me!" Destiny rushed back through the examination room doors, back into the waiting room.  On her way out the door, she took the time to call to Zeth's Beedrill, "Hey, Sting, if Zeth asks where I am, tell him I took the <I>Skylark</I> to Onyx Town to deliver some medicine.  I'll be back in a couple hours."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     The flight to Onyx Town was uneventful, and also rather boring without Zeth around.  As she came down for a landing, Destiny suddenly realized that she could have had Starlight or Snow in the passenger seat to keep her company during the trip.  Feeling slightly annoyed at herself, Destiny shoved open the <I>Skylark</I>'s door and stepped out.  Onyx Town was small enough that she had no trouble finding the Pokémon Center, which turned out to be just a short walk away.</div> <bR> <div>     Taking the little white box from her backpack, Destiny handed it to the Onyx Town Nurse Joy, "Here, nurse, this is from your sister in Amethyst."</div> <bR> <div>     "Oh!  I didn't expect to get this for another hour or so!" Joy exclaimed.</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny nodded, "Yeah, I was able to get it here faster than your sister could, so she stayed back in Amethyst City and let me bring this medicine to you."</div> <bR> <div>     The nurse smiled, "Thank you very much for helping us out like this!  My sister would have had to leave her center for hours if you hadn't done this for us!  Who knows, you may have saved a pokémon's life by letting her continue her work!"</div> <bR> <div>     "It was no problem," Destiny assured the nurse.  "I didn't have anything else to do, anyway."</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, I really do appreciate it.  I'm sorry I can't do anything for you, though."</div> <bR> <div>     "Sure you can!" Destiny told her.  "Just go give those sick pokémon some of that medicine and tell them that I hope they all get well soon.  Knowing that they're all going to get better is good enough for me!"</div> <bR> <div>     "I'm glad you feel that way.  I'll go do that right now!"</div> <bR> <div>     "I guess I'll get going too," Pushing open the center's glass doors, Destiny waved goodbye to Joy.  "See you later, Nurse Joy!"  Feeling pleased with herself for making someone's day go a bit smoother, Destiny walked back to the airship, taking her time now that her delivery was completed.  As she walked down one street, she was surprised to find a pokémon battle in progress.  Deciding to watch, she leaned against the side of the building she had been walking past.  Two trainers, both younger than she was, were calling instructions to their pokémon, which looked worn out from the battle.  </div> <bR> <div>     One pokémon, a Butterfree, dusted its opponent, a Rattata, with a cloud of Stun Spore, paralyzing the little rat pokémon.  The Butterfree's trainer laughed, and held out a hand to the Rattata's trainer, saying something that Destiny couldn't hear.  The Rattata's trainer cursed and handed over a handful of money, glaring at the Butterfree trainer as he walked off with his winnings.  Destiny shook her head as she watched the trainer disappear around the corner.  She knew that trainers would occasionally challenge each other for money, but she personally felt it was foolhardy to gamble with your pokémon.</div> <bR> <div>     Then, Destiny saw something that shocked her.  The moment the other trainer was out of sight, the Rattata's trainer started shouting at his pokémon.  When the stunned pokémon didn't respond, the trainer kicked it, sending it bouncing across the road.  He was just about to give it another kick when Destiny ran toward him, "Hey, you!  Don't you dare kick that pokémon again!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Stay out of this!" The trainer yelled back.  "This is my pokémon and I can do as I like with him!"</div> <bR> <div>     "If you so much as touch that Rattata again, I'll break your arms!" Destiny snarled.  "How could you treat your pokémon like that?!"</div> <bR> <div>     "He's a weakling!" The trainer insisted, "He's always costing me money in battles because he never wins!  The only thing he's good at is getting beat up!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Then let me have him," Destiny suggested.  "I'll take better care of him than you ever will, and then you won't have to worry about him loosing any of your precious money ever again!"</div> <bR> <div>     "I don't think so.  He may be pathetic, but I'll whip him into shape sooner or later."  Taking out a pokéball, the trainer returned the Rattata.</div> <bR> <div>     "And I bet you'll use a real whip, too," Fingering her pokéballs, Destiny shook her head, "How about a two-on-two pokémon battle?  If I win, you give me the Rattata."</div> <bR> <div>     The trainer considered that, "I might be willing to do that.  What's in it for me if I win?"</div> <bR> <div>     "The thing that you consider to be so valuable -- all the money I have."  Reaching into her pack, Destiny pulled out all the money that she had brought with her when she had left home.  "Would that be good enough for you?"</div> <bR> <div>     "It's a deal!  Get ready to hand over the cash!  I'll start out with Tyrogue!"  The trainer released a small humanoid pokémon that Destiny had never seen before.</div> <bR> <div>     "I'll go with Snow!"  Destiny sent out her Pidgey, hoping that the bird could beat his opponent.  "Use your Quick Attack!"  The Pidgey shot at the Tyrogue, knocking it back before it could counter the move.</div> <bR> <div>     "My Tyrogue can take that easily!" The trainer taunted, "Tyrogue, turn that Pidgey into a feather duster!"  In response, the fighting-type tried to attack Snow, but the Pidgey flew up out of reach before diving down and slamming the Tyrogue with a Wing Attack.  The Tyrogue looked confused.  Destiny thought that it was probably badly trained.  Not surprising, considering the trainer's attitude.</div> <bR> <div>     Snow finished off the Tyrogue, as its trainer turned red with anger.  "I'm going to get you for that!  You'll never beat my Smoochum!"</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny almost felt sorry for the trainer as his second pokémon was battered by Snow.  The Smoochum was as easy to beat as the Tyrogue was.  There was even a time when the Smoochum used Powder Snow, but Destiny's Pidgey dove straight through the center of the attack to pummel her with a Swift attack.  The Pidgey didn't even seem to mind the weak ice attack.  By the time the Smoochum was defeated, the trainer looked like he was about to explode with fury.</div> <bR> <div>     "You know, you should take better care of your pokémon," Destiny said as he recalled his Smoochum.  "They'd get a lot stronger if you treated them nicely instead of beating up on them all the time."</div> <bR> <div>     "What do you know!" The trainer screamed at her.</div> <bR> <div>     "More than you, it seems," Destiny retorted.  "I'm the one who won the battle with a pokémon that I've had for less than a week!  You have to be the single most pathetic excuse for a trainer that I've ever seen!  Now give me my Rattata!"</div> <bR> <div>     Seething, her opponent handed over the Rattata's pokéball.  "I'm not going to forget this!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Good, I'm glad you'll remember how stupid you've been." Destiny clipped the Rattata's pokéball to her belt.  "If I were you, I'd rethink the way you train your pokémon.  Maybe you'll actually get some talent when you do!"  Spinning around, Destiny marched away, leaving the trainer alone, with one less pokémon to mistreat.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Destiny decided that she should head back to the Onyx Town Pokémon Center to have Nurse Joy take care of the injuries that the Rattata had received.  Joy was horrified when she opened up the pokéball and found the battered rodent inside.  She quickly rushed him to the emergency room to treat his wounds.</div> <bR> <div>     "I think he'll be okay," Joy told Destiny, after spending more than an hour checking over the Rattata.  "He has cracked ribs, a lot of cuts and bruises, and he's badly malnourished, but I'm pretty sure that he'll be fine now that I've bandaged him up.  There's no way he's going to battle for quite a while, though."</div> <bR> <div>     "That's okay, nurse.  I think he's had more than enough battling.  Just tell me when you think he's well enough for me to take him with me."</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, I want to keep him here overnight, but after that, if he seems like he's going to be fine, you can take him.  He'll also need a few more days rest before he's up to doing just about anything."</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny nodded, "Yeah, I kind of expected that."</div> <bR> <div>     A Chansey peeked out of the recovery room and called to them anxiously, "Chansey chanse chansey!"</div> <bR> <div>     "What?  Something's happened to the Rattata?" Destiny asked, trying to figure out what the nurse's pokémon was saying.</div> <bR> <div>     "Chansey!"</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny and Joy ran to the Chansey, who pointed back into the corner of the recovery room, where the Rattata was cowering amidst a jumble of wires from one of the monitoring machines.  Another Chansey was trying to coax the little rodent out, but the Rattata just snapped at her, almost managing to bite her.</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny hurried to the Chansey's side, "Wait, let me try."  Leaning down, she tried to calm the Rattata down by talking kindly to it.  "It's okay, little fellow.  We're not going to hurt you.  Actually, this Chansey here was trying to help you get better.  I saw what that boy did to you, and I took you away from him so he couldn't do that anymore.  Come on out.  Please?"  Destiny slowly reached for the Rattata, stopping as it started to growl.</div> <bR> <div>     "I don't think you should try to touch him," Joy told her.  "He seems to be quite frightened, and it would only worry him more.  He would probably bite you."</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah, you're right."  Withdrawing her hand, Destiny chose a pokéball from her belt, "Star, I could use your help here."  As the Clefairy appeared, Destiny pointed toward the terrified Rattata.  "Could you sing him a nice song, Star?  We can't get him to listen to us."</div> <bR> <div>     The Clefairy nodded and started to sing a beautiful soothing song for them.  Destiny quickly stepped back and covered her ears so she wouldn't fall asleep.  It didn't help, though, as she could still hear Starlight's song.  However, she managed to fight off sleep longer than the weakened Rattata, and that was all that mattered.  "Okay, Star," she said, yawning, "you can stop now."</div> <bR> <div>     Star grinned cheerfully as Destiny scooped up the Rattata and placed it back on the bed Joy had originally had it on.  "Good work.  I guess I'm going to have you stay here and keep an eye on him, okay?  You can sing him another lullabye if he wakes up and won't stay in bed.  I'll go call Zeth and tell him that we won't be back until tomorrow."</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Destiny awoke with a start as one of the Chanseys switched on the light to the center's dorm.  "Huh?  Wha?" She mumbled, sitting up in bed.  Glancing at the clock, she was surprised to see that it was only two in the morning.  "Chansey, why'd you wake me up?"</div> <bR> <div>     The egg pokémon said something in response, but Destiny couldn't understand her.  "Hold on," she told the Chansey, climbing out of bed, "I'm coming."</div> <bR> <div>     Leading her back to the recovery room, the Chansey pointed at the open door, "Chanse chansey!"</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny stared at the door for a minure, not comprehending, "I don't get it...  What do you...  Oh, no, you don't mean?"  The Chansey nodded, "Oh, no!"  Destiny ran into the open room, but the Rattata was nowhere in sight.  Starlight was gone too.  Destiny hoped that the Clefairy was still with the Rattata.  The injured pokémon would have no chance of survival on his own.</div> <bR> <div>     "Chansey, if you can, tell Nurse Joy that I've gone to find Star and the Rattata.  I have to get them back before something happens to them!"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Starlight chased after the Rattata, almost loosing him as he darted behind a garbage can to throw her off.  Just before she ran past, however, she saw the tip of his purple tail sticking out and grabbed it.  The Rattata spun around and bit her paw, making her yelp and let go of him.  He would have escaped then, but as he tried to jump past Star, a wave of pain from his cracked ribs sent him falling to the ground.  Moving quickly, the Clefairy grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and clamped her other paw around his mouth.</div> <bR> <div>     The Rattata tried to squirm out of her grasp, then squeeked in pain.  {Stop wiggling before you hurt yourself!} Star told him.  When the rodent didn't stop his struggling, she added, {I'm not kidding.  If you don't stop fighting I'll sing again!}  That calmed the Rattata down.  Scared as he might be, he still could tell when he couldn't escape.  {There, that's better.  I'll let go of your mouth, but don't try to bite me again or I might get angry and Doublesmack you or something.}</div> <bR> <div>     She took her hand from the Rattata's mouth, making sure to keep a good grip on him with her other hand.  She had no idea whether or not he would try to escape again.  At least, for the moment, the Rattata seemed to be passive.  Hopefully he would stay that way.  {Come on,} Star ordered, giving him a light push, {we have to get back before everyone worries about us.}</div> <bR> <div>     {No way!} The Rattata pulled back, trying to get out of Star's grip again, but not having the energy to put up a decent struggle.  {I'm not going back there!  I can't go back there!}</div> <bR> <div>     Star grabbed him with her other hand and dragged him toward her.  {You can and you will.  You're in no condition to go running around out in the streets!  You won't be able to hunt for food or get away from danger because of your injuries.  You need to come back to the center, where Nurse Joy can make sure that you get better!}</div> <bR> <div>     {No!  It because of those humans that I'm hurt like this, and I'm not going back to let them finish me off!}</div> <bR> <div>     Starlight released the Rattata in surprise, {What?!  What do you mean?}</div> <bR> <div>     The Rattata looked like he was going to immediately dash away, but he stopped and stared in confusion at Star.  {You mean, you didn't know?}</div> <bR> <div>     The Clefairy shook her head, {Know what?}</div> <bR> <div>     The Rattata sat down, {Well, I guess you shold know, so you don't keep trying to take me back.  I didn't get hurt like this in a battle with another pokémon or by some accident.  See, my trainer used to hit us when we didn't win a battle, and since I always lost, he'd beat me up the most.  Anyway, yesterday -- at least, I think it was yesterday -- I was battling a Butterfree and I lost.  My trainer got so mad that he kicked me, and that's the last thing I remember before I woke up on that table with all these wrappers all over me.}  The Rattata indicated the bandages covering various parts of his body.</div> <bR> <div>     {That's horrible!} Star exclaimed.  {No wonder you tried to run away!}</div> <bR> <div>     {Yeah, so if you'll just let me go now, I'll be on my way.  Maybe you can get away too.}</div> <bR> <div>     Star shook her head, {But you don't understand!  You don't need to run away!  You're my trainer's pokémon now, and she's really nice!  She never hits us!}</div> <bR> <div>     {So far...} the Rattata said ominously.  {Just wait until she really gets mad at you, then see what happens!}  </div> <bR> <div>     {Destiny would never do that!  She's a good trainer!  You haven't even given her a chance!}</div> <bR> <div>     The rodent turned and started to walk away.  {No, and I'm not going to.  I'm leaving.  You can come with me if you want, but if you'd rather stay with your trainer, then you might as well go back now!}</div> <bR> <div>     Starlight glanced back at the pokémon center, then at the Rattata, who was still heading away from her.  Torn between running back to tell Destiny what happened and staying with the nearly helpless Rattata, Star finally shook her head, {I know I'm going to regret this, but wait for me!}</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     "I don't get it," Destiny grumbled as she and Snow entered the pokémon center.  They had been searching throughout the rest of the night, with no success.  "Where could they have gone?"</div> <bR> <div>     "Destiny!"  Nurse Joy looked up from the front desk in surprise.  "I thought you'd left by now!"</div> <bR> <div>     "I guess you must not have heard, then.  That Rattata escaped last night, and my Clefairy went with it.  I've been trying to find both of them since two o'clock and I still haven't seen any sign of them.  I asked one of the Chanseys to tell you."</div> <bR> <div>     Joy frowned, "Well, she did try to tell me something, but I couldn't understand her.  This is terrible!  We've got to find them both at once, or that Rattata might not survive!"</div> <bR> <div>     "I'm hoping that Star's still with him," Destiny said.  "I know she'll take care of him as well as she can, even if she can't get him to come back.  I just hope something hasn't happened to them by now."</div> <bR> <div>     "I'll help you look for them!  Maybe we'll have better luck with two of us out there searching!"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>      Star reached out and grabbed the Rattata by the tail, pulling him off the road just seconds before a truck shot over the place he had been.  {You're lucky that I didn't leave you!} the Clefairy scolded her stubborn companion.  {You would have been roadkill by now if it wasn't for me!  You shouldn't be out on these streets; they're far too dangerous!}</div> <bR> <div>     {I told you, I'm not going back,} the Rattata reminded her.  {Getting run over would be preferable to going back to a life of slavery!  At least then I wouldn't hurt all over anymore!}</div> <bR> <div>     Star examined his bandages, which were tattered and grimy after all that they had been through since the night before, {You've been moving around too much.  You're really going to hurt if you don't stop soon.}</div> <bR> <div>     {I'm fine,} the Rattata lied.  He actually felt as if there were steel bands wrapped around his chest to keep him from being able to breathe.  He was getting dizzy all the time and was trying to keep from limping so Star wouldn't keep trying to get him to go back to the pokémon center.  {I just ache a little bit.}</div> <bR> <div>     {Oh, really?} Star placed a paw on the Rattata's side, prompting a pained yelp from the rodent.  {You don't sound like you're fine.  You definitely don't look fine.  I think you're killing yourself and are just too stubborn to listen to me!}</div> <bR> <div>     {I'm not being stubborn,} the rat pokémon claimed.  {I'm being sensible!}</div> <bR> <div>     {You're being stubborn,} the Clefairy repeated.  {A sensible pokémon would have listened to me.}</div> <bR> <div>     The Rattata ignored Star, continuing on his way to wherever he thought he was going.  As Star followed unhappily, she suddenly noticed a shadow dart along the ground around them.  The Rattata didn't seem to see it, probably becasue he was in too much pain to pay much attention to anything.  Glancing up, Star saw Snow the Pidgey circling above them.  Snow obviously saw them, which meant that Destiny wouldn't be far behind.  Running back to the Rattata, who just turned into an alley, Star decided that she could no longer allow the rodent to be loose on the streets.</div> <bR> <div>     {Hey, Rattata, we're stopping here,} she informed him.</div> <bR> <div>     The rat looked at her strangely, {Huh?  Why here?}</div> <bR> <div>     {Because, I want to,} she told him.  {And I want you to take a break too.  You need rest, and I'm going to make sure you get it!}</div> <bR> <div>     The Rattata groaned, knowing he was too weak to get away from what was coming.  {You're going to sing again, aren't you?}</div> <bR> <div>     {You got it!  Better get comfortable!}</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     The Rattata awoke inside some kind of metal machine that felt like it was gently moving.  Sitting up slowly, he was horrified to find that he had once again been captured by Star's trainer, who was on a seat next to him.  The Clefairy was standing beside him, looking out a window, but when she felt him move, she turned around.  {So you're finally waking up, huh?}</div> <bR> <div>     The Rattata glanced at Destiny, then the Clefairy, {You traitor!  I told you I wasn't going back!}</div> <bR> <div>     {And I said that you were.  Looks like I was right.}</div> <bR> <div>     The Rattata tried to stand, stumbled, and then managed to regain his balance.  {I'm not staying here!  Let me go!}</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny, who was watching the two pokémon, spoke up.  "Unless you can fly, there's no way for you to escape this time.  Go on, look out the window and see where we are."</div> <bR> <div>     Curiosity overcame anger, so the Rattata decided to do as Destiny suggested.  He stared out the window for a long moment, shocked by what he saw.  They were flying through the air, and the ground was far, far below.  "See what I mean?" Destiny said.  "I thought that this would be a good time to go over a couple rules.  I know you don't want to come with me, and under any other circumstances, I'd be happy to let you go.  This time, though, I'm going to keep you until you get better, whether you like it or not.  I don't care what you may think about me -- go ahead and hate my guts if you want  -- but you're not going anywhere until I say you can.  Understand?"</div> <bR> <div>     The Rattata was silent, so Destiny continued, "I'll take that as a yes.  So let's move on to the next part.  I don't mind if you just want to stay in your pokéball all the time and only come out for meals.  If you want to avoid us, that's your own choice.  However, if you decide you'd like some company, I will allow you outside your pokéball, but you can be certain that I'll be making sure that the doors and windows are shut and that there's no way for you to escape.  I don't want to have to search for you in every city we come to."  Destiny paused for a moment, "Well?  Anything you'd like to say, or shall I just put you back in your pokéball?"</div> <bR> <div>     {Go ahead!} The Rattata growled.  {You're just as bad as my last trainer!}</div> <bR> <div>     "It's called tough love.  Get used to it."</div> <bR> <div>     Star gently placed a paw on the Rattata's shoulder, {Just give Destiny a chance.  She's not as bad as you think.}</div> <bR> <div>     {You stay out of this,} the Rattata snapped, pulling away from the Clefairy's friendly touch.  {It's your fault that I'm here, and don't think that I'll forget that!}</div> <bR> <div>     Destiny shook her head, "Just leave him alone, Star.  He's too upset to listen to reason."  Taking the Rattata's pokéball from her belt, she aimed it at the rodent.  "We're getting close to our destination, so I'm putting you back in your ball."  As the pokéball drew the Rattata back inside, Destiny sighed.  "I have a feeling that taking care of this Rattata's not going to be easy or fun, Star..."</div> <bR> <div>     Looking glum, the Clefairy nodded in agreement.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>