Pokemon Conclave Episode 27: Stowaways © 1999-2000 Willow McCall    “So, Dratini girl,” Ferio said, as the group stood with their new addition Ruari at the Fuchsia City port, “how do you plan to get us to Chartreuse?”  “I’m thinking, I’m thinking!” Ruari said.  “Gimme a minute.”  She fumbled in her pocket and came up with a wallet.  “Be right back, okay?  I need brain food.”  “Brain food?  What’s she talking about?” Aoife wondered.  Ruari dashed over to the nearest newsagent, leaving the group standing puzzled outside, and came out with an armload of newly bought things.  The group facefaulted.  “Might I ask what that stuff is?” Sora asked.  “Yes, you may ask,” Ruari replied, grinning.  “Then what is it?” Ferio asked impatiently.  “Stuff for our journey,” Ruari said.  “I have a plan, see?”  She pointed over to a large, grand ship waiting in the harbor.  A diminishing stack of crates was on the side, and workers were carrying it up into the ship.  “The St. Margaret,” Petra said, awestruck.  “Hey, Aoife?  Did your dad ever tell you about the time they went on board the St. Anne, St. Margaret’s sister ship?”  “Yup,” Aoife nodded.  “Several times.  Which is why I don’t want to get on this boat.”  She backed away from it and Ruari.  “So if that was your plan, Ro, count me out.”  “Well, that was my plan, actually,” Ruari said.  “Come on, Aoife!  I saw the boat schedule”—she waved a piece of paper around—“and this one goes straight to the Chartreuse Port!”  “Well, I for one think this might be a good idea,” Ferio offered.  “I’ve heard the legendary bird Articuno lives somewhere in the Seafoam Archipelago too, so if we go you might have a chance to catch it, Aoife.”  “Really?” said the rest of the group, everyone except Ferio and Ruari that is.  “How do you know?” Aoife asked.  “I’ve heard rumors,” Ferio said, as though the fact that a legendary bird living on the islands was no big deal.  Sora’s eyes were shining.  “Articuno…and I’ve already met Zapdos…oh, come on, Aoife, let’s go!”  “I’ve heard about Articuno too, and I’d like to see it,” Ruari confirmed.  “Now do you want to get on the big scary boat, Aoife?”  “Oh…all right,” Aoife agreed.  “Fine.  As long as there are life preservers.”  “Don’t worry about that,” Ruari said.  “I have some aquatic Pokemon.  If push comes to shove they can save us.”  “And we certainly hope push won’t come to shove,” Aidan added, as they crept over to the stack of crates.  “Wait!” Ruari held up a hand.  “First I have to transform.”  She handed a Pokeball to Petra.  “My Pokeball.  You put me in there once I’m in Pokemon form, okay?  And don’t lose me.”  “Well, Chu-Chu, I’m afraid it’s Pokeball time for you too,” Aoife said.  “Pii,” Chu-Chu said resignedly, as Aoife entrapped it for one of the only times during her Pokemon journey.  “Okay, here goes,” Ruari said.  She began to shrink and mutate into a Dratini again, and once she was fully transformed, she nodded to Petra.  “Tini.”  Petra held out the red and white ball and Ruari was drawn inside.  “Right,” Aoife said to the group, “now what should we do?”  “There’s an open box here,” Sora said, noticing one box with its top loosely fastened on.  “How fortuitous,” Ferio said.  “And it looks big enough for us too, I suppose.”  Aoife stepped inside and squatted down, and she was followed by the others, who fit themselves inside as best they can.  Aidan was the last, and he placed the cover of the box on top.  “Not the most comfortable arrangement in the world,” Petra, who was squashed in a corner next to Aoife and Aidan, muttered.  “But can’t complain.”  “Whoa!” Aoife yelled as the box shook and tilted, making them all slide to one side.  “Um, I’m getting kinda squashed here…” Sora said, who happened to be the unlucky one on the side that they had all slid towards.  Ferio, who was also squashed, would have made a remark if she hadn’t been too squished to breathe.  “Hey, Al, c’mere and help me with this box!” they heard a voice outside the box say.  “It’s pretty heavy.”  The box tilted once more as Al tried to lift the box.  “Waaaah!” Aoife yelled.  “Shh!” Ferio hissed.  “Shut up, all of you.  If they hear us we’re in deep…well, just shut up.”  “But I’m the one getting squashed now!” Aoife gasped.  “Man, I hope there are air holes in this box…”  “There are,” Aidan said, pointing to the top of the box.  “Looks like they planned to carry Pokemon in here, but they escaped.  Lucky us, huh?”  “Yeah,” Petra agreed, still holding on tight to Ruari’s Pokeball as though it was the Hope Diamond.  “We’ll need to push this one up in a wheelbarrow,” Al said, from the outside of the box.  “Here’s one,” the other man said.  “Ready?  One, two, three, heave!”  Strained groaning sounds came from outside the box as the group was once more turned on its side.  This time, Aoife resisted the urge to cry out.  They felt their box moving, then being carried up an incline, before they were finally dropped rather harshly on the floor of the boat.  “Is that the last of ‘em?” they heard one of the workers asking.  “Yep,” the other replied.  A creaking sound was heard, probably the door to the cargo room, and suddenly the room went dark.  “No windows,” Sora observed.  “Um, guys?  I guess now is not the time to tell you I’m a little claustrophobic, right?”  Petra looked worried.  “You’re not going to be sick, are you?”  “No, I’ll be fine as soon as we can get out of this box,” Sora reassured her.  “We can probably get out now,” Ferio said, cautiously pushing up the top of the box and peering around.  “Yep, coast is clear.”  “Good,” Aidan said, throwing the lid off the box and getting out, the others quickly following.  “Here, Ruari,” Petra said to the Pokeball, “you can come out now.”  Ruari was released from her confinement through a red beam, and she turned back into a human as soon as she could.  “Hey, that was quick.”  She looked around.  “Where are we?”  “On the St. Margaret,” Petra said.  “I guess it’s safe to be out of the box now, but don’t get too comfortable, guys.  If anyone comes in here, we have to either hide or get back in the box.”  “Hey,” Aidan said, backing away from a box that he had been standing near.  “Uh, what’s that?”  The box had begun to shake from side to side, as though something inside of it were struggling to get out.  “More stowaways?” Aoife asked.  “Or a Pokemon trying to get out,” Ferio said, her hand on one of the Pokeballs on her belt.  The top of the box burst open, and two familiar figures tumbled out.  One was Bonnie, and the other was Clyde.  “See,” Clyde cried, pointing to Aoife and the group, “I told you it was them!”  “Which means it’s time to prepare for trouble!” Bonnie announced, standing at her full height (which wasn’t very tall).  “And make it double!” Clyde added.    “To rule the world with greatest power!”  “Stalking around at the midnight hour!”  “To denounce the greatness of evil and sin!”  “With our Pokemon we’re sure to win!”  “Bonnie!”  “Clyde!”  “Team Rocket, flying in the night!”  “Surrender now, or you’ll lose the fight!” Clyde finished, then remembered, a little too late, about Sundance.  “Oh, Sundance!  I better let her out.”  He let out his Vulpix, who quickly turned into human form.  “Oh, so you just do the motto without me, is that it?” Sundance yelled at her cowering trainers.  “We’re sorry!” they both squeaked.  “Another Pokemorph!” Ruari cried, dashing over to Sundance.  “Oh, wow!  I’ve never met another Pokemon/human hybrid before, except for my sister.  What lab are you from?  Oh, this is so cool!”  “Uh, Ruari?” Aoife interrupted.  “Sundance isn’t a hybrid.  She’s a Pokemon by birth, but she’s learned Humanize.”  “Oh?” Ruari asked, glancing back at Sundance.  “Oh, right.  Sorry about that.”  “Wait,” Bonnie said, taking a step towards Ruari.  “You said you’re a what?”  “I’m a Pokemon,” Ruari said proudly.  “I’m a Dratini, see?  This is just my human form.”  She began to transform back into Pokemon form.  “Ruari, wait, don’t!” Petra yelled.  “They’ll steal you!  They’re from Team Rocket!”  “Ooh, a Dratini!” Clyde said.  “The boss would love one of those, wouldn’t he, Bon?”  “He certainly would,” Bonnie agreed, as she and Clyde approached Ruari.  “Dra,” Ruari glared at them, then whipped her tail around, knocking the three of them against the wall.  “Tiniiiiii!”  A minute passed before Sora edged forward and poked the trio.  “Think they’re gonna be out for a while,” she announced.  “So, how about getting out and exploring the ship, eh?  We’re gonna be here for a while so we might as well do something about it.”  “I’m not sure if we should go…” Aidan began, but the girls had already left.  “Fine, then, let’s all go get arrested for sneaking on board the ship without tickets.”   ***    “So you’re saying you don’t have ANY kiwi juice?” Ruari was asking the waitress, as she, Petra, and Aidan sat in the onboard restaurant.  “I’m sorry, miss, but I’m afraid we don’t,” the meek waiter said, bowing slightly.  “Well, you better be afraid!” Ruari yelled, rolling up her sleeves.  “I’ll go crazy if I don’t have any!  It’s part of my daily routine, you know?”  “Ruari, it’s okay,” Petra said, taking the infuriated girl by the elbow and steering her back into her seat.  “Let’s get something else, all right?  How about a pineapple juice instead?”  Ruari stuck her tongue out in disgust at this suggestion.  “Er, do you at least have any kiwis?” Petra pleaded with the waiter.  “I, ehm, think so,” the waiter said, hurrying away from the table as fast as possible.  “I’ll go get some for you, miss!”  “Ruari,” Petra said, “I mean this in the nicest possible way, but…what is your problem?”  Ruari looked sheepish.  “Sorry.  There are just certain things I have to do every day, otherwise I don’t feel complete, and it bothers me all day…I feel like I have to do them, or else…I dunno, the sky’s gonna fall on us or something.  It’s called obsessive-compulsive disorder.”  “Oh,” Petra said, not quite knowing what to say to this.  “I’m…uh, sorry?”  Ruari waved the apology away.  “Don’t be.”  The waiter raced back and practically prostrated himself before Ruari, offering up a tray with Aidan’s café mocha, Petra’s cherry coke, and a glass full of ice and four kiwis for Ruari.  “Here you go, miss, uh…I hope that’s all right?”  “I suppose,” Ruari sighed, slicing one of her kiwis in half with a knife.  “I really shouldn’t have yelled at that guy…I think I scared him a bit,” she laughed, watching him dash off to the kitchens.  “He probably thinks I’m spoiled, but he doesn’t understand.  I better give him a big tip.”  “What are you guys going to order?” Aidan asked the girls.  “Something cheap,” Petra answered.  “Let’s see, what can I get for a dollar…”  “You can get fries,” Ruari offered helpfully.  “Oh, wait…that’s only if you order the soup and sandwich combination.  Fries are on the side.”  “Okay, two dollars,” Petra said, inching her price up an increment.  “The soup of the day,” Aidan said, wrinkling his nose.  “And that’s clam chowder, so I don’t think you’ll be wanting that…”  “Two-fifty?” Petra asked.  “For two-fifty you can get soup AND garlic bread!” Ruari said brightly.  “What a deal, hey?”  “Yeah, real bargain there,” Petra grumbled.  “Tell ya what, Saph,” Ruari said, “I’m getting lasagna and I’ll split it with you, okay?  They usually serve real big pieces anyway, and I can’t eat it all.  We’ll split the price too.  How’s that?”  “Sounds okay,” Petra said mildly.  “Oh, by the way…Saph?”  Ruari shrugged.  “I wanted to use a nickname, and I’ve heard Ferio refer to you as Sappho, so…”  “That’s okay,” Petra said.  “I don’t mind if you call me that.”  Ruari smiled.  Her smile widened as she saw Aidan reading a magazine across the table.  “Is that the Poke-Gazette?”  “Yeah,” Aidan said, holding the magazine up so she could see the cover.  “Oh, wow!” Ruari cried, running around to the other side of the table to read over Aidan’s shoulder.  “I love that magazine!”  Her eyes turned to hearts as she saw what column Aidan was reading.  “BILL!  Billbillbillbillbillbiiiiiiiiiill…”  “Great,” Petra muttered.  “Another Bill-maniac in our midst.”  “You’re a fan of Bill’s too?” Aidan asked, brightening up at finding common ground to talk about with the new girl.  “I’m his number one fan!” Ruari said proudly.  “I always read his column, and I always take his advice…that is, if I think it’s a good idea.  Which it always is, of course.  Oh!”  She jumped across the table and confronted Petra.  “Did you say you’re from the Pewter City Gym?”  “Yeah…” Petra said hesitantly, worried what Ruari might do if she found out.  “Seriously?  So you’re Brock’s daughter?” Ruari asked.  Petra nodded.  “Oh!  I loooooove him too!  I always watch his show, even though I’m a terrible cook.  And he’s so cute too!”  “Erm, Ruari?” Petra interrupted.  “He’s also 37.  You’re what, 14?  I think it’d actually be illegal…oh yeah, and he’s married.  Obviously.”  “I know,” Ruari said, blushing.  “But that doesn’t mean I don’t have a right to my opinion, does it?”  Now it was Petra’s turn to blush.  “Ruari, he’s my dad!  He could be YOUR dad.”  “If I had one,” Ruari said.  “Oh well, I have an older sister and that’s quite enough.”  She set about the task of squeezing the juice from her kiwis into the glass, and Petra and Aidan had a mutual sweatdrop moment.  It was certainly going to be something traveling with Ruari.   ***    “HAH!  Gotcha!” Aoife yelled to the pixels on the video game screen, furiously pressing buttons.  “Take that, communist scum!”  Ferio, who was watching Aoife’s progress against the “communist scum” with Sora, sweatdropped.  “A political video game?  There’s a new concept.”  “It’s called Red Massacre, apparently,” Sora said, also sweatdropping.  “It’s not so much political as it is ‘shoot everyone who appears in your line of vision.’”  “Ah,” Ferio nodded.  “Are you sure this is healthy for her?  That it’s not giving her any…ideas?”  “Of course it is!” said Sora.  “I personally wouldn’t play it myself, but maybe it’s good for Aoife to let off a little steam.”  “Maybe,” Ferio said, still watching as Aoife pounded on the screen with her fists.  “YOU STUPID MACHINE!” she yelled, beating up on the glass.  “I was almost to the Chernobyl level and the button stopped working!  ARGH!”  “Chernobyl?” Ferio repeated.  “Um, Aoife?  Maybe you better take a break from the game for a while before you have some sort of stress reaction, like, say…rupturing your spleen.”  Aoife gave the video game some relief from her pounding and looked at Ferio.  “Rupturing my spleen?  Could that really happen?”  “You never know,” Ferio shrugged.  “Why don’t you try a different game like…”  “Slot machines!” Sora cried out.  “They have slot machines here!  Cool!”  “Oh, nifty!” Aoife joined in, as she and Sora dashed over to admire the machines.  “Can we play one, pleeeeeeease?”  “I think you guys are forgetting,” Ferio broke in, “that no one in our, ehm, party, is old enough for these yet.”  “So what,” Aoife replied, already putting a quarter in.  “I’m just going to try it out, okay?  Just once.”  As she pulled the lever, a voice came on over the announcement system of the ship.  “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please.  We have reason to believe that there are stowaways on board”—Aoife, Sora, and Ferio froze at these words—“and we would like to ask you to please return to your cabins.  A routine boarding pass check will commence in 15 minutes.  I repeat, please return to your cabins and have your boarding passes ready.”  “That sucks,” Aoife said.  “Yeah,” Sora agreed.  “What are we going to do?”  “No,” Aoife said, “I mean, I put my quarter in and I didn’t get any money out!”  The two older girls facefaulted.  “Aoife!” Ferio snapped.  “We’re in big trouble!  They’ve found us out, and now they’re gonna check our tickets!  What are we going to do?”  “First,” Sora said, “we round up Aidan, Petra, and Ruari.  Then we’ll put our heads together and see what we can do to evade the ticket checkers.  We’ll think of something…”     Author's Notes I like episodes where we get to see a lot of one-on-one character interaction with every character doing their own thing better than episodes with just battles.  Which is what the next couple episodes are going to be too.  Ruari's character was brought out pretty well in this episode, what with her obsessive-compulsiveness (is that a word, compulsiveness?).  Even her tastes in guys are the same as mine.  Dontcha like how I make Aoife play these violent video games and then she goes on about how using violence to solve problems is a Bad Thing?  Hehe.  And then Ferio starts acting like Lieberman and saying that the games might be a bad influence on Aoife, when she's Little Miss I'm-a-black-belt-and-I-can-and-will-kick-your-arse.  Weird group, this.   back