PokeFable: Paras and Kricketot

From the time they had both hatched from their eggs, Kricki and Paras had been the bestest of buddies. Together they romped through the meadows, teasing trainers and having a right royal romp of a time. But as spring turned to summer, and summer to autumn, Paras began to set upon preparations. No longer did she play carelessly and happily, but she began to collect together leaves and mould and began to make a small compost heap beneath the roots of her favourite tree.

"What re you doing?" Kricki whined. "You've gotten so boh-ring."

"I'm building a larder." Paras replied. "Harvesting and growing the mushrooms so that when winter falls we shall be warm and snug and safe from the snow."

Now you have to realise, Kricki had never seen snow, he did not even know what it was. All he knew was that his favourite playmate had turned into an industrious worker.

"Oh come on," he moaned, "the sun is shining and the ground is covered in a blanket of golden-red. There's a Trainer down by the river. Let's go lure her into a Pokebattle."

But no matter how persuasive he tried to be, Paras refused to be drawn from her task. "Why don't you help me?" She suggested

Curious, Kricki tried to help, but he soon found that shoveling dirt and dragging rotten leaves into the den was not much fun at all. "Well, if you won't play," said he, "I'll play by myself."

And so he did, for all those short days until winter finally claimed the land.

Shivering, he and Paras huddled in the little den she had created. They told tales, snacked on mushrooms and he sung her songs. They got a little grouchy at each other's close company, to be sure, but all-in-all, the winter was not too bad and spring finally came.

With spring, Paras returned to her fun and frivalous self, and she and Kricki once more rejoiced in the warmth and lengthening days.

All too soon, autumn rolled around again, and once more, Kricki refused to help Paras with her preparations. They had survived last season, after all. So what if he could help gather more fertilizer to feed the mushrooms? He'd rather sing and play and flirt with the young Illumise.

Too soon the first snows came and once more they took shelter from the chilly wasteland and told tales.

But this year was different. The winter was colder and harsher and more bitter than ever it had been before. They were bigger too, and the food Paras had gathered was enough for one, not two. Still the spring would not come. The two friends grew thinner and thinner, living off slim pickings. There was just not enough food collected for the two of them. They huddled together, hungry and cold, hugging each other for the little warmth and comfort they could provide for each other.

And so they waited...

And waited...

Spring finally came, the first green sprouts bursting through the earth. But it came too late for the friends, who remained - stiff and starved, in their lair beneath the tree. Two frozen corpses, clutched in each other's arms.

(Based on "Aesop's Fable" - "The Ants and the Grasshopper")