Pookamon

Conflict in Sereniti (Brooke and Azrael)

The bet up station wagon sped through the mountain pass. It was not the car they’d left in – James had picked this one up from a dealer in Ceruleon, using money borrowed from Kameron.

In the backseat, Cassandra lay curled up with Buttons, both of them asleep. In the front seat, Brooke watched what the driver and his technique with an unfaltering, unerring gaze.

"So you make it faster by pushing on that foot pedal," she stated, "and you slow it down by slamming the other foot down real hard on that one. I don’t see what’s so hard about that." She was wearing a long shirt with a couple of Nidorans drawn on it. She’d chosen it from Kataryna’s wardrobe when the four of them had stopped by CAIP. James had been much relieved to see that they were unhurt, although shaken and they were likewise amazed to see him in more or less one piece.

"Don’t you think it was odd how she said, ‘you’re alive!’ to you?" Brooke asked, "I mean, what happens if you weren’t alive, what happens if you were dead and just thought you were alive. Isn’t that a bit, you know, stating the obvious?"

"I think she was just surprised to see me, that’s all," James replied, figetting in his borrowed clothing. It appeared that Kameron was somewhat skinnier then he and to Brooke he looked as though he were trying to dance a jig in his clothing.

"I was surprised to see them too," she said, "I never expected they’d be where I left them."

James let that one lie, it was easier that way.

Snow spiralled down and bounced against the window, little flakes like the dandruff of the gods. That thought amused Brooke, as though gods would have dandruff. She idly stroked her tail. "Every little snowflake looks different from the others," she informed James, "or that’s what they say, but, I mean, how do they know? I think there’s a little pixie sitting up there in the clouds, busily taking pieces of cloud and making it into shapes. And every once in a while he, you know, gets a little bit clumsy and knocks his tray and they all fall down to the ground. They’re pretty. I’d like to keep one." She grinned, then looked sad, "I had a pet snowflake once, but I forgot to feed it and when I came back it had run away, leaving nothing behind but a puddle. I guess I should have house trained it. Say, are we nearly there yet?"

The question startled the blue-haired man, he’d become drawn into Brooke’s bizarre tale and to hear something so common place (And common sense) as "are we there yet" threw him.

"Nearly," he replied, pointing to a sign. "See, that tells us how far we’ve got to go."

Brooke peered at the sign. "It’s not saying anything," she replied.

"Oh, I forgot you can’t read," he replied, "its about ten more minutes okay?"

"Yay, we’re nearly there, and I can go and count the snowflakes and see if I can find one that looks like another one!"

"If you really want to," James replied, doubting she would have the patience, "but we’re not going to be here long, just long enough to visit the Gym, grab some supplies, fill up the car and move on into the next town."

"Why do we want to fill up the car, and with what?"

"Petrol," he replied, half-expecting the question. "Cars get thirsty too you know!"

"I knew that!" She scolded him. "And why are we going to the gym? Are you going to win a badge, with us as your Pokemon?"

He laughed at the sheer thought. "No, the Sereniti Gym specialises in flying Pokemon, and none of you three would do very well there! I have to visit the Gym Leader."

"I’m good against birds," Brooke pouted, "I just spray a fountain and the bird becomes a wet chicken and plummets, wheeee!" She mimed with her hand.