“It’s been awhile, Demetrius, or should I say Helium?” a boy wearing sunglasses 
and cargo pants with a blue top joked. They were playing a game of soccer.

“You’ve been spending way too much time on that web game. Don’t you know that 
you should limit your time? This past week it seems that all you’ve been doing 
is playing that game. You’ve missed all of our soccer games,” a short kid with 
silver hair and glasses gave him an accusing eye.

“I just found a party and I’ve been helping the admin to try and find more 
members so we can have a decent party to try and fix this glitch in the game. So 
far it’s just me, her, and a newer player.” Demetrius explained. He hit the ball 
off of his head and passed it lazily to the boy wearing cargo pants.

“An admin? What makes you so important all of a sudden? I was into that game 
once, but all of the gamer babes were already taken,” cargo pants kicked the 
ball back to Demetrius.

“Jason, it’s not all about cute gamers. There’s great story and depth as well,” 
Demetrius tried to explain.

“Sure, flower boy. So, who’s the girl?” the boy wearing glasses looked up at him 
from the book he was skimming through.

“Well, Ben, I’m in a party with two girls, Twilmer and Emily23. Twilmer’s the 
admin and she’s been turned into a Pichu because of the glitch.” Demetrius 
passed the ball back to Jason.

“Ah, Twilmer? She’s that snooty admin that no one can stand. I quit when she 
scolded me for speaking l33t to her.” Ben sniffed, turning a page in his book.

“I thought you quit because she beat you in battle and all the other players 
made fun of you,” Jason laughed, keeping the ball in the air by hitting it with 
his knee. The three of them were hanging out near their college dorm room. It 
was summer, but the three had decided to stay over the summer to get more study 
time in since they were all taking advanced classes the coming semester. “Is she 
hot?”

“I don’t know, her profile is set to private.” Demetrius sat down next to Ben 
when it became apparent that Jason had no intention of giving the ball back.

“I bet she is. She acts like she’s self confident and preppy. My kind of girl,” 
Jason grinned as he continued to show off his soccer skills in hopes that any 
passing girl students would notice, “but it sounds like you’ve got the hots for 
her.”

“How do you figure?” Demetrius asked inquiringly.

“Well, why else would you be glued to that game screen like you are? Plus you 
seem happier this week. All are likely signs of a crush,” Ben pointed out 
matter-of-factly.

“She’s got a great personality, but I just want to help her. I’ve got the 
sneaking suspicion that she’s been playing that game for eight months straight 
without logging out once,” Demetrius sighed. He really was worried about his new 
friend.

“Sure, whatever. You were always the sensitive one.” Jason finally succeeded in 
getting the attention of a group of girls. “Catch you guys later,” he called to 
them as he walked away.

“How does he do that?” Ben sighed, closing his book. “I’m going to the library. 
See you later, Demetrius.”

“I guess it’s time to log back on and help Twilmer,” Demetrius smiled as he 
headed to his and Ben’s dorm room.

ooo

Pokemon World Online

Login 4: On the defense

Disclaimer: Yo no owno. Well, I've become slightly obsessed with this story. The 
bit before this was to show that people (with the exception of Twilmer) have 
lives outside of the game.

ooo

Helium stepped put onto the path where Twilmer was sitting on a rock. "It's 
about time you showed up," she said without looking up at him. Her Sneasal was 
sunning it's self on the path opposite Twilmer. "I was forced to look at your 
profile because I was so bored. You know your charcter modle looks exactly like 
you do in real life, minus the robes, according to your profile pic."

"Yeah, I know. I couldn't think of anything special for my charcter, so I just 
went with how I look in real life. What about you?" Helium asked.

"I know it's based off of how I look in real life, but I don't remember exactly 
how I looked. I haven't looked at my profile picture in so long that I kinda 
forgot," Twilmer rubbed the back of her head and smiled in embaressment.

"You don't remember what you look like in real life? How's that possible?" 
Helium looked at her with that knowing look of his that Twilmer had grown to 
abhor.

"Err, I mean my charcter. I've been a Pichu so long I forgot what my..." Twilmer 
stopped knowing that she wasn't going anywhere in trying to convence Helium. "Oh 
yeah, the n00b, Em, sent me a PWO mail saying that she wouldn't be logging in 
today. She has band camp or something like that. She might be on later if she's 
not too tired. We may as well look for any team mates in the mountains."

Helium looked at her questioningly, but didn't say a word. They were walking 
through the Cordoroy mountains and mountains were a grace master's favorite 
landscape. There was no need to spoil this for Twilmer. "She's had it rough. I 
don't know that I'd do if my charcter was turned into a pokemon," Helium thought 
to himself. The landscape sure was beautiful and a sigh from Twilmer showed that 
she felt at home.

"I haven't practiced my grace master techniques since I became a Pichu. I'm 
going to be so rusty when I get changed back. I know, I should practice now!" 
Twilmer's cheeks sparked slightly as she looked at the rocks surrounding the 
mountain.

"Are you sure? I mean you're just a little Pichu..." Helium trailed off as 
Twilmer jumped form rock to rock, doing arial twists and turns as she jumped.

"Oh yeah! I'm glad I now agility now! If I could have a speed boost like this in 
my normal form, I'd definately be the greatest gracemaster to ever live!" 
Twilmer shouted in exhileration as she leaped back and forth, however she 
miscalculated a step and began to fall from a ledge.

"Twilmer!" Helium shouted, running to where she was falling, hoping that he 
could catch her, but he couldn't get there in time.

"Ahhh...huh?" Twilmer landed suddenly on something that felt like a balloon. She 
looked down and noticed a gamer below her using a Jigglypuff sheild.

"Good thing I didn't sell this shield back in Marygold. Are you okay little 
guy?" the gamer asked. He was obviously a defender. His partner, a Machop, 
leered at Twilmer.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm not a guy either and you'd do good to remember that when 
speaking to an admin," Twilmer humphed as she slid off of the sheild. Helium ran 
up to her, gloom and Victoria in tow.

"It talked!" the defender looked very confused.

"Why do I have to go through this with everyone?" Twilmer sighed, shruggung. 
"Yes I talked. I'm not really a pichu, I was just turned into one when I 
approached that strange glitch, yada yada blah blah. Do any gamers check the 
message boards? Surely the PWO suits have posted something about this on there."

"Is this true?" the defender asked Helium. Twilmer's cheeks began to spark and 
she did not look very happy that the defender did not believe her.

"Yes it is." Helium responded simply as he held back Twilmer, who looked about 
to tear the defender's face off. "Would you like to join our party? We don't 
have a defender."

"You always invite people along that are very annoying, you know that? I don't 
want him on our party. We don't need another useless non-attacking charcter. We 
already have a tamer and you, like we really need him. If it was up to me, it'd 
be just me and you so far." Twilmer complained as Helium held her so she 
wouldn't attack.

"Oh, I see. Is this one of those girlfriend and boyfriend teams?" the defender 
asked.

"WHAT?" Twilmer shreiked a squel that rivaled those of Emily23. "What makes you 
think I would like this weirdo? He's wearing a pink robe for crying out loud and 
he keeps asking questions that aren't any of his concern. Also he's a good 
friend and the only person who can put up with me and..." Twilmer looked up at 
Helium and blushed lsightly. Helium noticed but, as usual, said nothing. 
"Whatever, so do you want to join our team or not?"

"My name's shieldlover because it was the only name I liked that hadn't been 
taken yet when I joined. This is my Machop and we would be delighted to join 
your party, but we don't really want to make a party just yet. I was hoping to 
join the elite defender sqaud soon. If you'll give me your PWO mails, I can mail 
you if I change my mind."

"I won't, but I'm sure Helium will." Twilmer glared up at shiellover. Helium 
gave out his PWO mail address and the two walked away from the defender. Helium 
waved goodbye, but Twilmer ignored him as if he didn't exist. "How could he pass 
up the chance to join our team like that? I'm an admin for crying out loud! I've 
never had a party for sure, but you think people would be jumping at the chance 
to join me. So far all I have is a n00b and...well...you."

"Is that a bad thing?" Helium asked.

"No, not really. You're herbs helped reunite me with Victoria and I'm thankful 
for that. I admit, you've been a better party member then I thought you would 
be, but Emily23 is completely useless. All she does is prod me with that taming 
pole and squeal at my cuteness or whatever."

"That's the second person who seems to think that we're together," Helium 
commented, remembering thier encounter with Elra.

"I don't know why either. Relationships are all pointless. All they're filled 
with is pain and misery. In fact all of life is. It's much better in this 
world," Twilmer sighed, looking up at Helium.

"Not all relationships are pointless, and they certainly all aren't painful. 
I've only ever been in one and all the guys make fun of me because of it. It did 
hurt at first, but I eventually learned that life is bigger then such pains as 
that." Helium looked at Twilmer. "Not trying to imply anything by this, but I 
can't see why anyone would hurt you. I know I wouldn't."

Twilmer looked up at Helium and opened her mouth to say something, but stopped. 
"It's hard to explain and I really don't feel like explaining it right now 
anyways. Let's just say that not all guys are like you. Some are real jerks who 
build you up and act as if you mean as much to them as they do to you, and then 
they leave you for your best friend because you're of the 'abstinence until 
marraige' viewpoint. Then when you find out, they act like it's your fault and 
demand all the stuff that they gave you back without offering to return your 
stuff back to you." Twilmer stopped walking, still not facing Helium.

"When did this happen?" Helium looked at his little friend with concern.

"Eight months ago," Twilmer started walking forward again and tripped over a 
rock. She sat up and sighed, "Can I ride on your shoulder?" she asked.

Helium smiled and held his arm down to her. "Sure, anytime you need to." Twilmer 
climbed up and the two continued their way peacefully through the mountains, 
until Emily23 showed up from band practice and annoyed Twilmer once again.