Posted April 29th, 2025
Chapter Summary
Team Kirigiri and Team Zhao can’t have an easy trek the whole way back from Kuanalio Island back to Iaijutsukage Island can they?
In the depths of midnight whilst navigating the rocky straits off the coast of Iaijutsukage sailing from the north east in Kuanalio the Zháo Mega Launcher bumped into something once again. The Pokémon of Navigation Team Zháo had worked tirelessly throughout the night, while everyone else on board rested, though their rest would soon come to an end. The Clawitzer at the helm tightened her massive claw on her wheel as she scanned the calm ocean below.
“Damn, shouldn't have been able to hit anything here,” Bao said as she narrowed her eyes. “We are on route just east of ‘Kage, only less than two kilometers west of little old Xīnxiān Bay, fresh sands, fresh seas.”
“Stay fresh Bao, we can’t go home just yet,” Yawen sighed.
“Yeah, I know. Vicenta, how was our speed?”
The Exeggcutor sitting by the mainsail, closed each of her eyes before answering. “We were going just under half a knot, extremely slow for Zháo around these waters.”
“Interesting.” The Indeedee beside Bao hummed as he scrolled through the glossy board to the right of the helm.“The Wonder Map lists this route as clear,” Yawen explained.
“This route was also clear two days ago,” Vicenta said, eyes now wide.
Bao groaned. “Luciano, more lights please?”
The Heliolisk by the mainmast shook his frilled neck open. “Got it!” Luciano walked over to one of the deck lanterns and filled it with a jolt of electricity; Electric Terrain.
Yellow and white sparks barreled into the bulbs, and then spread to each of the other lights connected to it on the galleon. Slowly their visible range increased, the navy blue waters surrounding the ship illuminated, but not without a flare of white. And a dazzle of red. Red? Like a chain reaction, shimmering hues of blue, green, and red sparkled within a tiny plume. Not a saltwater spray, not foamy currents, but so close to home: fog.
The Clawitzer switched on her loudspeaker before she shouted. “
Kirigiri! Zero Clearance! All mon on deck!”
“Yes Captain!” the Panpour and the others Zero Clearance Navigators called.
The staticy voice traveled throughout the galleon, as waves crashed into the hull. Laying in a pile of their scarves and bags, the Jangmo-o, Fuecoco, and Grookey of Investigation Team Kirigiri shot up, grimaces on their maws. Each of the four Pokémon were still covered in bandages from the care of the Aenivland village church.
“Bloody water lassies, ” Kaliente coughed.
Emile wiped her red eyes. “Only a,” she paused to look at her compass and then the moon, “Only four hours, ten minutes and twenty-one seconds of sleep.”
“Yep.”
Can’t get full sleep ‘round on a ship. Alejandrien thought.
Figured. Not that the amplified speaker stirred all the Pokémon it fell across. Barely roused from slumber, a certain Cubone still laid on her stomach. After putting on their equipment, the Jangmo-o rubbed their golden eyes. “T'nuri, wake up!” they then blinked as they gazed into the sea.
“What, huh?” T'nuri mumbled, eyes still closed.
“T’nuri, do you see that!?” Alejandrien yelped, as they shook her.
The Cubone gasped as her brown eyes shot open, claws gripping onto the ship's fencing for dear life. “Giratina's wings! I'm up, I'm up!” she cried. Tear stains dottled her upper cheeks before T'nuri wiped them away. She turned to the Fuecoco and Grookey beside the Jangmo-o, her tail twitching.
“Don't want ta scare you now laddie,” Kaliente added, helping T’nuri to her feet as the ship swayed.
“What?”
“W-we’ve got fog,” Emile explained, hurriedly pointing over the railing. “Ruinous Fog.”
The Cubone groaned.“You can’t be real!”
Just like on Kuanalio, this fog brewed off the tiniest spark, but unlike it, there was no island to speak of. Light pink sparkling mists rose off the dusts of a solid piece of earth, stuck in the rolling tides of the ocean; not brine covered stone, but clay colored canyon, chalky bits dusting the air as the land slowly morphed.
T’nuri glanced at the new oceanside attraction, the railing, and then back into the waters, jaw dropping further with each glance. “What’s it doing here?” she yelled.
“It just happened,” Alejandrien explained, tensing as Zháo Launcher once again lurched.
“Hang on!” the Clawizter at the helm cried, just as a rogue wave battered the ship toward another ledge of red stones.
Hang on to what?! the Jangmo-o thought, just as their claws skidded across the deck.
Emile grunted as her hands nearly lost their hold, whilst Kaliente tumbled to the side. Red flakes of dust and soil, illuminated by torchlight were the only warning signs before the galleon crashed into a new shelf of arid canyon, this one brimming with stalks of wheat and flax. Obviously not a regular seaside rock. “There’s more!” the Grookey gasped.
“Could you four Fogcutters give us a quick demonstration of your abilities!?” Yawen begged. “We, or well I didn't see you in action on Kuanalio!”
“Come on!” T’nuri patted her scarf, and pulled out the bone-club she had shoved inside, from its spot tucked on her neck.
Kaliente hurried ahead, toward the portside of the galleon, where a small, but visible puff of glittering Ruinous Fog hung in the air. “We’ll go first!” he said before shooting out an Ember. The small fire burned the specks of dust away upon contact.
At the same time, Emile shot out Razor Leaves toward the tiny burst of flame, the two moves were consumed inside the sparkling fog. Inside the pink mist the combined grass-type and fire-type attacks did little. Matter of fact they both whirled back at the two Pokémon.
“No!” the Grookey cried, stepping away from the railing.
Kaliente clenched his claws. “We're protectin’ everyone on board, aren't we!?” As the ship continued closer to the main part of the island, faint orange-yellow hues of light from a shack brimmed over the horizon, next to a small mountain in the distance.
“There’s probably Pokémon on the little islands over there!” Alejandrien yelled, hurrying toward the fog. That should definitely count as protecting other Pokémon!
T'nuri took after her in a much slower gait, and yelped. “Wait up!” She huffed as she caught her breath. Still far behind the Jangmo-o, the Cubone tossed out a yellow and brown blur, Bonemerang.
Alejandrien waited for the ground-type attack to reach the sparkling fog before they fired out a round of Scale Shots. The four draconian blades and the bone connected into the twinkling pink mist before they disappeared into the night.“Didn’t work! Again dammit!” the Jangmo-o growled.
A second after they made that remark T'nuri's bone-club returned to her grip, the crown marred with a visible crack. Then the top shattered. Tiny pieces of white bone, falling to the deck, into the air and ocean.“WAH!” the Cubone screamed. She stepped to the side as another crackle, this one from the wooden fence in front of her tumbled.
Emile pulled T'nuri away from the rumbling railing, it fell away with the rest of the damaged ship below.“Get back!” Alejandrien and Kaliente hopped back just in time. More dry dusty land scraped, and tore into Zháo Launchers massive hull, the wood splintering and plastic tearing, falling like anchors into the sea. The damage slowed the ship even more. Chunks of debris crashed into the waves, sinking to the depths below the galleon, spraying brine every which way.
“Thanks for that!” Alejandrien said before they pulled T'nuri by her scarf.
"De nada!"
“Thanks?” the Cubone cried, barely paying attention. “My bone-club!”
“Worry later mate!” Kaliente chided, helping her stand once again.
T’nuri's eyes turned to daggers, her fangs bared as sand whipped up off her scales. “It's my sparking bone-club,” she spat, “it's like losing your-”
“Focus!” Alejandrien yelled.
“But it's over?” The Cubone groaned.
Emile shook her head, red eyes locked onto the rowdy waves.“Though we're not done!”
“Not done?” the Fuecoco followed her gaze.
“Of course not.” Once T'nuri was in view of the sands of the tiny bit of land, the light pink fog slowly faded through the wind, twinkling red, blue, and yellow blips gone with the ocean scent.
And with that the canyon's red stone and dust also swept into thin air, vanishing without a trace, sans the damage to the Zháo Launcher and gritty soil.
“Didcha see that?” the Fuecoco was the first to speak, glancing back and forth.
“It disappeared?” T'nuri yelped. “But we didn't do anything!”
Alejandrien hurrumped. “And we ain’t get a second chance or nothin’!”
“Wait a muddy minute, that fog seemed familiar ta something,” Kaliente murmured.
“B-but,” the Cubone cried as she traced a claw along the missing chunk. It was at the crown of her bone-club. “My, my bone-club broke!”
“That don't matter!” the Jangmo-o yelled, stamping their claws.
T'nuri whined. “It does!”
The Fuecoco tapped his scarf.“Wasn't there sparkling fog on another island, just a wee bit but enough ta report on?”
“Didn’t you see it Kal’?” Alejandrien reminded.
“Right, I did, it was Greene’s yeah.”
"Ai mi dios," Emile padded across the floor, cradling her wooden stick all the while. “How ridiculous!”
Before they had a chance to mull on it anymore Luciano waved them over from the center of the ship. “Kirigiri, come here!” The four fogcutting Detectives ran back to the main sail or middle sail, just beside the towering Exeggutor’s claws, and swaying tail. “We're almost at the east dock!” Vicenta called.
“Come on,” T’nuri held onto the starboard railing, her breathing slowly speeding up.
The cruel fate of La Llovizna must be on her mind. Alejandrien took in a breath. “We'll be alright, pardner.”
The Cubone whimpered.“Easy for you to say. Your cruise didn’t sink from an attack.”
“Like earlier, steady sands,” Kaliente urged. “We're right here mate.”
T'nuri closed her eyes as the ship rocked less and less, holding her trembling bone-club. “But you weren’t there, when I, no we all could have needed you.”
The Fuecoco closed his green eyes and sighed. “I'm sorry T'nuri, try ta feel better?”
“Try pard’,” Alejandrien begged as the Cubone ruminated.
“Here's something to feel good about,” Luciano cheered, pointing to the sky. Though dark, and scattered with stars with the crescent moon a bright beacon, it was free. Clear, only full of rain.
Bao nodded as she adjusted the helm. “Nothing like a nice little shower huh?”
Raindrops gently piddled and paddled atop the water. Despite the clear skies, refreshing drizzles soon coated the scales, feathers, fur, and anything in between all ‘mon along the southeast ‘Kage area, not just in the sea.
“Yep, I can't wait to rinse off later.” The Indeedee scrolled through the Wonder Map on the fence before a call echoed out from above.
“Disturbance in the waters!” Panpour called from the Murkrow nest. “Less than one kilometer east! On our starboard.”
“What type!” Yawen yelled, flipping through his clipboard.
Panpour sighed. “Cannonfire from a decently large ship, not sure if it's a brigantine or a galleon though.”
Vicenta squinted.“Who's commanding the vessel?”
“An Emolga is at the helm, while a Shiinotic is beside them.”
“Any other ‘mon aboard?”
Panpour peered into his telescope.“A Buizel is at the mizzen sail, while a Deino is at the starboard cannons.”
It can't be a coincidence! Alejandrien's eyes widened.
“What!?” T'nuri gasped.
Yawen jotted the description down. “You recognize them or something?”
Alejandrien nodded. “What’re they wearing, pardner?”
“Each of the four are wearing a bandanna with yellow, pink, and orange stripes. It also has a Sharpedo design, they're-”
“
PIRATES!” T'nuri and Alejandrien yelled, rushing over to the port side. “Those are the pirates who attacked us on Kuanalio!”
Slowly but surely, graced with the oncoming breeze, the dark blue accented white-washed ship neared Zháo Launcher, in range of communication, or combat. Whichever happened first.“Can't even read the designation number from here,” Luciano said, his tail curling. “don't see a vessel name either.”
“What are you going to do?” T'nuri asked.
The Clawitzer clacked her claws. “Standard procedure.”
Alejandrien blinked. “What?!”
“
Bao Clawitzer, Designation Number 693,” Bao called into her loudspeaker, pointing at the white ship.
“Why'd she say that?” T'nuri whispered.
Emile sniffled for a second, before she replied. “When you list a name, that's who the Captain is.”
“Really?” the Cubone asked.
“Whenever you do that to another vessel she means,” Kaliente added. “Whoever the name is, even if it's yours or someone else's.”
Alejandrien blinked before she leaned in too.“What about the numbers?”
Emile continued the nautical lesson, grinning. “The designation number is supplemental.”
There was a bit of a delay as the four pirates communicated, shouted and jeered amongst themselves but eventually Shiinotic turned on their ships loudspeaker and Emolga held it up to his maw.“
Oh, ya want an introduction huh? Emolga of the Aeroblast Buccaneers!” Emolga called back, his voice shockingly low.
“
Buccaneers huh,” the Clawizter replied. “
Is that a team name?”
Shiinotic pulled Emolga's loudspeaker toward her. “
No, Aeroblast Buccaneers of the Fei Lung Tatsugiri Family.”
“Fei Lung?” Luciano questioned.
Bao sighed. “Tatsugiri, but none of them are one?”
“That's probably what those three colors represent,” Yawen explained.
To this Alejandrien wondered.
What kinda Pokémon is light pink, orange, and yellow? Tatsugiri?
“Either way, why did you fire your cannons?” the Clawizter questioned the other captain.
“
We fire at enemies of our friend!” Emolga explained.
“
Friend?”
Shiinotic pointed toward the Zháo Launcher before patting her vest. “
‘Certain Sharpedo's the friendo numbah one!”
“
If you ain't friends with Sharpedo you get a taste of metal!” Emolga yelled. Deino and Buizel ran over to him, and whispered something inaudible. “
AND IT LOOKS LIKE YA AIN'T!”
“What?” Both Team Zháo and Team Kirigiri gasped.
A cannonball careened through the air. It battered against the portside hull, just under Team Kirigiri.“Woah!” the four yelped.
Seconds later a giant wave bashed into the same side, nearly tossing all Pokémon overboard as the vessel tilted and was nearly consumed by the ebb.
“Holy Miraidon's warning!” Both Bao and Yawen screamed.
Vicenta shuffled to the starboard as a counterweight, Grassy Terrain holding her and everything on deck steady.
"Mier, Miercoles!” the Exeggutor strained.The Zháo Launcher thankfully leaned back with a mighty crash, the waves beneath calming.
T'nuri glanced between her still chipped bone-club and the Aeroblast Buccaneers vessel. “What should we do?”
“Go help Panpour with the cannons,” Bao ordered. “You deal with the portside with him, Clearance Zero’ll deal with the starboard cannons, all sails, and the harpoon.”
Luciano rolled out the first barrel of ammunition and powder alongside Panpour and the other Navigators while Yawen unfurled the rear sails. Stationed beside the five cannons of the portside, Team Kirigiri barely saw above each bulk of a beast, but thankfully they turned with a two claw push.
“How do you even use this?” T'nuri questioned, holding a cannonball in her claws.
Panpour gritted his teeth. “It's a three or more ‘mon job. We cleaned each of these out earlier so all you have to do is pour spark powder into a cannon through that ember cartridge.” Each Pokémon poured the thin black dust into the armaments in front of them.
“Next someone has to ram in the shot in the muzzle of the cannon, and put a cloth to keep it from rolling out.” Working in pairs,Team Kirigiri got to the task, T'nuri and Alejandrien on two, Emile and Kaliente on the other, and Emile helped out Panpour.
“Aim at the target, then prime the breech or the back of the cannon with more spark powder. Finally pull on the lanyard by the breech when Team Zháo calls out ‘fire’.”
“All mon on deck, engaging the enemy!” Tied to the bow of the galleon, Luciano watched as the pirate ship bobbed for a bit. He pointed with a shout. “Starboard fire!”
One by one, the Clearance Zero mon launched their cannons at the Aeroblast Buccaneers, the recoil knocking them back. The first shot hit their forecastle, the second tore part of the mast, third flew above the captain's quarters, fourth nicked the bowsprit, and the fifth soared beside the mizzenmast. Eventually as a strong wave rolled by, the Zháo Launcher and the Fei Lung changed positions, with the former's portside now facing the latter's starboard, but of course a massive wave pushed them apart. Not that this would stop the pirates.
In that break Team Kirigiri deflated. The Jangmo-o shivered as the breeze picked up. “Ya said you worked with Adventurers right T'nuri?” Alejandrien asked.
“Yeah,” the Cubone replied. “What about it?”
The Jangmo-o pointed at the slowly yet surely approaching ship.“Don't ya have any tricks against bandits?”
T'nuri shook her head.“These are pirates, and no.”
“Why not?” Kaliente asked.
The Cubone looked away.“I stopped before we learned about that stuff.”
“
Hey!” Far behind the four detectives, Bao slammed her big claw into a railing. “Less talking! More working!”
“Y-yes Captain!” Team Kirigiri yelped, scattering away from each other. T'nuri stared across the length of her cannon and into the sea. The enemy wasn't even in reach.
“Prep the cannons a bit more and maybe you'll get to chat,” Luciano offered, wheeling over more supplies.
“Got it,” Kaliente said as he patted his chest.
Another cannonball blasted through the air with a mighty crash, tearing part of the middle sail as it crashed to the other side of the Zháo Launcher. Cries echoed into the night as the crew scrambled to steady the ship. The Clawitzer narrowed her eyes. “
Last warning, disengage and stop firing at my ship.”
Buizel turned on his own shoddy loudspeakers. “
No can do! We’d like those treasures you've got on board. You’re big shots so ya gotta have loads of booty!”
“
All right!” Bao yelled before she darted away from the helm. “Yawen come here!”
“Understood,” the Indeedee took her place at the wheel with a wide grin. He grabbed the loudspeaker. “Now check this out!”
“Check what?” Emolga yelped.
A light purple aura emanated from Yawen's body, Psychic Terrain. This energy flooded the deck and hull of the galleon, and concentrated on the Clawitzer, the cannons, and the harpoon. “Wow!” T'nuri gasped, her cannon and everyone’s now shining a light purple hue. “An all out attack eh?”
Bao rested on the railing beside her loudspeaker and closed her left eye. Her massive claw opened, brightened with growing power.“
I gave you pirates one last warning! ow you'll understand why I'm a Head Navigator of the Fogcutters Detective Agency!”
Buizel tilted his head.“What's that supposed to be about?”
An eleventh cannon slowly rose from the floorboards behind the helm, a tether of psychic energy guiding it from wherever Bao pointed her smaller claw.
“
A cannon huh,” Emolga sneered.“
What sort of cannon ball are ya going to-”
“
My ability is Mega Launcher,” the Clawitzer explained, opening her claws, purple energy rushing inside. “
Which means,” she paused, chuckling. “
Ha! What? You'd thought I'd tell!? Fire!”
Two blurs shot out into the air. Emolga leapt. The purple and black one tore through the forecastle’s hull of the Aeroblast Buccaneers ship, while the blue and purple one took out two of their masts in one clean blow. Psychic, water, and pure cannonball might, at work.
“Way to go Bao!” Luciano cheered, slapping her shoulder. “That’s my Captain!”
“
What in waters below!?” Shiinotic screamed.
The Clawitzer aimed her claws toward the remaining mast with a chuckle.“
Take this!” Two more shots, arched through the air from her cannon, water, metal and psychic energy tore through the pirates ship like butter.
“
What?” Emolga screamed, gliding away from his lost perch and onto the floorboards. “We can't deal with that!”
Shiinotic turned her ship's helm to the east. “
Hurry up with the repairs! Another one of those and we'll capsize!”
“Let's get out of here!” Deino pulled the left over rear sails to portside as well. In a flash of sky blue light, a Tailwind pushed behind them, the sails flowing in the new burst of wind.
“Oh no you don't!” Bao yelled. “Luciano!” The Heliolisk shook his neck frills before he shot out an Electric Terrain through the entirety of Zháo Launcher, yellow energy pooling into Bao's claws and cannon.
“They're getting away!” Vicenta cried, her roots strengthening the damaged pieces of the vessel as far as she could trail them. “Portside, get ready!”
“Kirigiri let’s go!” Panpour called, feeding ember powder into his cannon, and quickly passing the barrel along.
Finished, Kaliente fired an Ember across his team's cannons. “We can't have them mucking everything up,” he yelled, aiming at the pirates.
T'nuri growled. “Those mudders nearly burnt us earlier too!”
“They really are getting away!” Alejandrien spat. “Damnit!”
“How can we even sparking hit them?” the Cubone turned to her team.
“Listen up,” Emile held her own weapon firm as her eyes scanned the horizon. “I’ll move thirty seven degrees to the portside, Kaliente thirty four, Alejandrien twenty nine, T’nuri twenty six, Panpour twenty two!”
“Got it!” The four others replied, quickly pushing their cannons directly at the Fei Lung. But there was one problem.
“Hold it portside!” Luciano called.
"Puta!" the Grookey yelled, slamming her branch at the railing.
“What’s wrong now?” Kaliente gasped.
The Heliolisk practically flew down the Murkrow Nest.“Portside’s out of reach! Steady, past sands, Holy Koraidon has willed it. But stay ready.”
Alejandrien hung their head. “Fer Rayquaza’s will, damn gits got a mighty lucky chance!”
“Our cannons can’t hit ‘em this far!?” T’nuri groaned. “Boufshit!”
Kaliente stamped his claws across the deck.“Bloody sands, all that aimin’ fer fucking nothin’!”
The Grookey slammed her fist into the bulwark before she took in a breath. “The pirates will pay. Don’t move your cannons yet!”
“Yep!” Luciano called. “We’ll get back in.”
“Looks like you landlubbers can't even catch us!” Buizel cackled, waving his arms.
Deino laughed as well. “What are detectives really good for anyway?!”
“Hold again!” Vicenta urged. “We’re closer, portside fire!” Reignited,Team Kirigiri and Panpour yanked their cannon’s lanyards one by one, each pair staying just in line as Emile instructed. Explosions lit up the night sky, the cannon’s might tumbling the pairs to the ground each round.
Battered by even more cannonballs, and grepa-shots, the Fei Lung ship darted through the new opening in the waves, an eastward wind taking them who knows where. But not before something unexpected happened.
New cannon fire rang out. This time a shot full of hooks and netting, pinning Buizel to the deck, and tearing off chunks of the bulwark.
“
Who goes there?” Yawen asked, tapping his hoof.
“
Looks like yew mates need us to pick up your slack again,” a voice rang out, slightly familiar, and condescending.
“What?” nearly everyone yelled.
Out of the mists of seawater parted a dark brown galleon, one decorated with the Island Guild oval badge decalled sails. In it Bombiader at the helm, sporting a loudspeaker and Psyduck at the starboard cannons.
“
W-who's that?” Emolga cried. “Fire!”
“Oh no,” Psyduck groaned, his eyes wide.
“Watch out!” Bao swung the wheel of her helm before the Zháo Launcher swerved to the side as the Aeroblast Buccaneers fired scatter shots, grepa-shaped cannon fragments. The Island Guild also pulled away. Both galleons managed to avoid the majority of the fire, a chunk of metal flying just over T'nuri's skull-helmet, on the bow of the Zháo Launcher, and the last below Bombiader's wing. Just as quickly the Fei Lung’s bulwark, where the cannons sat, practically collapsed, a few of the dangerous weapons rolling into the sea with mighty splashes all around.
Psyduck waddled over to the loudspeaker before he pointed a shaky wing at the pirates.“
Looks like yu're not going anywhere!”
“
Yew shoddy DA grunts owe us quite a favor!” Bombiader squawked, landing on her deck for a moment, her left metallic talons digging into the wood. She eased closer to Zháo Launcher, finally close enough to yap.
“
Yeah I'll admit we weren't faster but you did not need to do that,” Bao groaned.
Psyduck crossed his wings.“
Well we might as well take a look at what you have on board and make sure it's not dangerous. I've gotta map it out!”
“What? We don't have time for that!” T'nuri gasped.
Bombiader wore a shit-eating grin.“
Yew know we're part of the Island Guild. We're just better than ya two-bit Detective bad-mon blokes.”
What’s that mean? Alejandrien pondered.
She’s like a more intense Kaliente!
Luciano carefully maneuvered toward the plank high above the sea and pointed at the Guildies. “Okay first of all; you're not better than anybody except those pirates, second of all; you can't just search our vessel.”
“
Really now, mate?” Bombiader spat, flapping her wings.
From at the helm Yawen crossed his arms. “
Oh and third of all,” he then stumbled backwards. “
The pirates, they're getting away!”
“What!?” the Heliolisk screamed, practically leaping back on deck. “Go and get them!”
The Aeroblast Buccaneers' good fortune with a spur of the moment Tailwind from Emolga could only get them so far. “Suck on that!” He gestured a paw ‘rudely’.
Once again more cannonfire rang out, this time a loud clunk following.
“
No need to worry.” A massive harpoon plunged into the depths of the Aeroblast Buccaneers ship, white wood splintering like snowflakes in the tide. Parting through the waves a silver vessel finally stopped the chaos. Everyone looked at Ralts standing at the wheel of the ship, while Mankey worked the incredible harpoon, huge compared to what was on the other ships, nearly double the length. On deck by the cannons was a multitude of other Pokémon , all wearing black badges.
“Now what?” Alejandrien groaned.
“
Oh,” Bao said, letting go of her cannon. “It's the Archipelago Expedition Society.”
The Society ship pulled the Fei Lung straight in, stopping just shy of their cannons mashing into each other. Once steady, a ramp rolled out, slamming into the Aeroblast Buccaneers deck. A Beedril, and a Klefki led an assortment of Pokémon onto the pirates ship, rounding up the crew. Emolga, Shiinotic, Buizel, and Deino, had collapsed onto the scarred and wreckage-filled deck; the final rounds of cannonfire knocked them out.
“Why hello there Nav’ Team Zháo, Inve’ Team Kirigiri, we're Team Psy-kido,” Ralts paused as he shook his head. His eyes bore holes into Bombiader, and then softened at Psyduck.“ G-Team
Dawnbreakers, we've got these pirates secured and we're going to haul ‘em to port.”
Mankey waved at T'nuri when she caught his eye. “Glad to see ya all safe, especially the Cubone.”
“Huh?” T’nuri questioned.
“The Psy-kidos and the Dawnbreakers were there when we went to the dock by Pa’a Lepo’s, er, compromised waters,” Bao explained.
“Ah right, thanks for sending my letter to my parents for me!” the Cubone called.
Ralts grinned as he gave a salute with an open hand. “No problem, we're doing everything for Pa’a Lepo’s Pokémon !”
“Ya, muchos gracias! We're ever grateful for your assistance,” Luciano called. “Team Kirigiri will have to stop by tomorrow.”
“We’ll help you with anything ya need pardner!” Alejandrien called.
“We will?” Kaliente whispered. “Lass?”
“If we don’t, we’ll look bad!” the Jangmo-o urged.
“Right,” the Fuecoco said softly, before putting on his biggest grin. “That is a Fogcutter’s Detective Agency guarantee, my friend!”
Mankey pumped his fist.“Cheers for that! Our Team and others of the Archipelago Society look forward to this!”
So that's the name again, Archipelago Society instead of Expedition, and Island Guild instead of Exploration. Interesting Team names too, Alejandrien mused, peering alongside their own team.
“Oh, thank you so much!” Psyduck cheered.
“Wow, the Society just locked them up!” T'nuri said.
Yawen gently adjusted the Zháo Launcher back toward Iaijutsukage and nodded. “Well done Team Psy-kido, you took their ship too.”
“Nice and efficient,” Bao mused, clacking her claws on her cannon. “Not annoying, whining and bragging.”
“Ya heard that, Dawnbreakers?” Mankey chided, typing something into his Connection Orb.
“M-my apologies Team Psy-kido, we had to show them our Guild's glory,” Bombiader squawked.
The Guild just folded to the Society like that? Alejandrien mused, wagging their tail.
I could get used to seeing that!
All four ships reached the docks just after midnight. Quite a few Pokémon waited by the water, dollies and carts at the ready. The pitiful white pirate ship damn near slammed into the dock, while the silver Society vessel gracefully docked beside it. Next to them the Zháo Launcher, the battered light yellow ship basically trudged to port, and the brown ship of the Guild followed alongside it, the two marred and damaged by the Aeroblast Buccaneers attacks. Compared to the nearby cargo ships, cruises, and yachts, the vessels had seen better days.
“Is it over?” T'nuri asked, wiping off the salt, smoke, and spark powder, each stuck to either her skull-helmet, or scales.
Alejandrien shivered through a whole body shake, her jangly scales clattering. “For real this time?”
“Yes,” Yawen. “Harpoons to dock!”
“Fire!” Vicenta ordered.
Slowly Zháo Launcher shifted a little, the ropes guiding toward the eastern dockside of Iaijutsukage.
The Clawitzer groaned. “Too close for comfort there.”
“Comfort?” Luciano questioned. He pulled the lever on the starboard side, just behind the cannons, and finally the ramp lowered toward the island.
“With all that damage, I was worried we'd capsize again.” Bao finally rested her body on the deck, no longer jetting up in the air.
Captain Bao’s capsized a vessel before? “Again?” Alejandrien gasped.
Yawen cleared his throat, blushing. “Don’t worry about it, you're free to go, Investigation Team Kirigiri. Good night.”
“Good night. Let's hurry to the DA,” Kaliente said, clicking his tongue.
“Farewell Team Kirigiri!” Bao called. “Stay fresh amidst the sands!”
“Stay fresh!” the Indeedee called back.
“Bye
"mis chicos!" Vicenta’s airy voice barely carried about the noise.
“See you later Team Zháo!” the four Pokémon replied.
“Not done yet though,” Luciano gestured across the drop before Team Kirigiri. Emile got down on all fours and raced down the ramp, while Alejandrien slowly jogged to the dock behind.
Only the Cubone and the Fuecoco remained at the top. “Ugh,” T'nuri sighed, trembling down the galleon's ramp to the dock, despite the fact that Luciano held her and Kaliente’s claws the entire way.
The Jangmo-o watched the three, and pondered.
Scared of heights huh? Well she is ground-type, but him? It wasn't exactly solid ground but Team Kirigiri made it back to Iaijutsukage. Not entirely in one piece, as part of T'nuri's bone-club broke.
The Heliolisk let go as the five tapped on the dock’s wooden floorboards. “We’ll have to catch up later, gotta help the Society deal with those Aeroblast Buccaneers.”
“Alright, uh thanks again,” the Cubone wiped down her scales.
“Yeah thanks.” Kaliente coughed as Deino, Buizel, Shiinotic, and Emolga, tied up, were dragged down the ramp of the silver galleon, by Mankey and Ralts flanked by Bombadier, and Psyduck. “Glad we don’t have to deal with those blokes any longer,” the Fuecoco said. “I am bloody tired.”
Emile pointed toward the sleeping city of Phantismo Vista. “Vamanos, let's go together.”
“Got everything?” Luciano questioned, patting the younger Pokémon on their heads.
“Obsidian hourglass?” Alejandrien asked.
“Check,” Kaliente answered as he peered inside his bag. “T'nuri ya got yur book?”
“My book? Ah my carving!” the Cubone threw open her own bag. “There! Thank the past and future sands.”
“Let them grace you,” the Heliolisk said as he closed his eyes. “Now buenos noches mi amors.”
The Fuecoco, Grookey, Jangmo-o, and Cubone finally headed off the docks, and up the boardwalk, following the lighthouse. In high places throughout Phantismo Vista the stone and wooden hourglass statues gleamed around the candles at their bases, while the red, violet, and green triangular banners sparkled in the moonlight. Muted but enchanting, the warm colors of the buildings in the mixed-use district brought ease to those traveling the seashell lined streets, no matter the time. Each sight glistened in the dead of night.
“What a trek. I became a woodworker not an Adventurer,” the Cubone sighed. “And look where it got me.”
“Can ya tell us more about Adventurers T'nuri?”Kaliente begged.
“Adventurers sound mighty swell,” Alejandrien added.
T'nuri groaned. “Why do you want to know so bad?”
“Well yew mentioned something about yourself and I wanted ta know more,” the Fuecoco explained. “We're an Investigation Team laddie.”
“This was only temporary,” T'nuri shot.
“Was?” the Jangmo-o questioned.
Kaliente carefully placed a claw on T'nuri's shoulder.“We’re named ‘Kirigiri’, after a book only ya know the contents of. Please.”
Alejandrien hummed in thought. Head Hector said he also read the book as well. It also has the name for the DA in it too, so his and Lead Esperanza's teacher probably read it first.
The Grookey held her hands together and blushed. “We are with you T’nuri. I want a relationship with you, er a new one!”
“Fine,” the Cubone acquiesced. “I was never good at adventuring like that green jerk, the others, or even Sachalla.”
Kaliente grimaced.“Wow. We know Sachalla’s yur Cyndaquil little brother but-”
“Green…jerk?” Emile questioned in a whimper, ears lowered.
“T'nuri?” the Jangmo-o narrowed their eyes, tapping their claws on the stone.
“Oh uh, Lau,” T'nuri said. “my older sister.”
Older sister? Green? Ah she must be a Shiny Cubone! “You never mentioned-”
A Plusle passing by cleared his throat. “Excuse me.”
Alejandrien grimaced. “My apologies, let's shimmer down.”
After a few short minutes, Team Kirigiri shuffled toward the brick wall that surrounded a particular courtyard, tall purple and green arcs guiding to the entrance. In the moonlight even the flowers shined bright. The seaside fortress bottom held up the wooden palace top and interior of an idealistic building, named after the metaphorical and physical realm of mysteries on the Archipelago: the Fogcutter’s Detective Agency.
Sighing, Alejandrien dragged their claws over to the entrance. “Actually, do you wanna do it T'nuri?” they questioned, gesturing to the incredibly tall doors and large pressure plate below. Each eye slit locked and ready, even without the morning sun.
The Cubone glanced back and forth. Begrudgingly she stepped onto the plate. The wood blocks beat expectantly. “Uh do they need my Archipelago name or just a second layer?”
“Whadda ya mean?” the Jangmo-o asked.
“It's just like 4 Heal Seeds or 2 Sitrus Berries,” Emile ‘explained’.
T’nuri squinted as her tired eyes nearly shut. “What?”
Kaliente gently pushed the Grookey and Jangmo-o away. “Second layer mate, time's a ticking.”
“T'nuri Cubone, Clearance Three… Detective,” the Cubone sighed.
Mighty long pause before Detective there. Alejandrien mused.
Suppose there's no use trying to force a job change. Let's just be glad she wants to clear the fog.
Just as the clicking sound grew to a fever pitch the towering doors opened. Slowly the four Pokémon ventured through the ajar doors, unfortunately heading past their bedroom, and instead toward the Lead and Head Detectives Office. With each tired, heavy step the wood floorboards creaked, the dim lamp light almost haunting.
“Now what was that about names pardner?” the Jangmo-o asked as she walked, her tone hushed.
“Oh right, Adrian here's probably never heard how we really do full names,” Kaliente chuckled, his usual boisterous voice petering down above a whisper.
Alejandrien blinked.“Now yur calling me Adrian too?”
The Fuecoco's eyes widened and he stepped back.“Want me ta stop?”
Huh? “Nah.”
Did he think it was my forgotten name?
“Anyway,” Kaliente started. “What I mean by Archipelago Name, Emile was actually close.”
The Grookey grinned. “Thank you.”
Her weird item and numbers shtick was right? Alejandrien tilted their head.“How so?”
T'nuri nodded. “Well at the bare minimum it has four names: the name of the parent who's species you inherited, the name of the other parent, your given name, and then your species.”
“Really now?”
Kaliente cleared his throat. “Now if you don't know one or both of your parents name's then you have to use another family member or use your island's and or village name.”
“You may also add in another name,” Emile said.
“An extra name? Like what?” the Jangmo-o asked.
Kaliente began his mini lesson. “Many scholars say around 283 Before Miraidon, after the Great Heartwaters Quake, Islands started to practice a tradition of having an extra given name and or have a family name.”
“Woowee,” the Jangmo-o muttered. “Let’s see we’re in uh 592 A.K After Koraidon, so that’s quite a while. An example?”
T'nuri raised her claw. “Like this, I am ‘Ricardo Amiya, T'nuri, Akua Lapu, Cubone’.”
“What?” Alejandrien gasped.
The Fuecoco smirked.“And that ain’t even what’s on your certificate ain’t it?”
“There’s more?”
Emile rapped her stick against one of the doors they passed in the hallway. “Always more.”
The Cubone then listed.“Ricardo Amiya, T'nuri, Akua Lapu, Cubone, hatched Hau Beach, of Pa'a Lepo, Imperial Grains 574.”
“Wow!” the Jangmo-o’s jaw dropped. “That's so specific.”
T'nuri grinned. “And that's how we do it down in the waters of the Archipelago.”
“Certainly unique, not all simple like in the Sand Continent.”
“Simplicity is nice,” Emile added.
“‘Course lass ‘oh few words except numbers over here would like it!” Kaliente softly laughed.
“Wish ya had digits instead of letters in yer name Emile?” Alejandrien chuckled.
The Grookey blushed. “No!”
T’nuri couldn’t resist. “Are you sure?”
Emile’s eyes turned away.“M-maybe.”
“You’re a piece of work!” The Fuecoco next to her slapped her on the shoulder. “But hey, we all are!”
Finally rounding the slope to the Lead and Head Detectives Office the four stopped. Alejandrien nearly tripped forward, wincing, as if they were literally pulled.
No doubt about it, those three are there. The Jangmo-o glanced at the Cubone beside her and shivered.
“We’re all Pokémon with fogcutting power,” T’nuri reminded herself, outloud.
Alejandrien nodded.“Yep, they don’t bite or nothin’, especially since we did good.”
“I sure hope so.”
Kaliente yawned. “It'll be quick mates.”
“Ready?” Emile asked, hands on the massive sliding door.
T'nuri once again traced her broken bone-club. “Yep.”
“Likewise,” Alejandrien murmured. With a squeak of protest the paper and wood door wheeled open.
“Praised be time! We've been expecting you, Investigation Team Kirigiri,” Head Hector's deep voice rang out. The Kingambit sat at his desk, while Lead Esperanza stood just behind him and Detective Ichigo knelt on the floor. Compared to their last appearance the three Pokémon had on curious grey scarves atop their cloaks, adorned with thin black, purple, green, and red stripes.
“Thank the individual grains that lined your paths, Holy Koraidon and Holy Miraidon's grace, your own tenacity and indomitable will,” the Iron Valiant cried, slowly standing upright, an array of flower lei in their cold hands.
What's that all about? Alejandrien pondered.
A prayer of some kind?
The Ceruledge nodded. “I'm glad to see you, Investigation Team Kirigiri. It is very late so I wouldn't mind a brief report of your findings and any other samples you'd wish for us to analyze.”
“Brief eh?” Kaliente sleepily chuckled. “T’nuri you're up first.”
“Me?” the Cubone asked, eyes wide. “Well,” she paused, gripping her arm. “Pa'a Lepo Island was unreachable, a tower of fog blocked all mon’d ships.”
“My sands!” Lead Esperanza gasped, her flames dwindling. “I wish it wasn’t so.”
“T’nuri, I am truly sorry,” Head Hector lowered his head in a kotow, the entire blade atop pressing into the wooden floorboards once again.
With a scoff, T'nuri wiped away her tears. “Just don't forget to help me alright, I learned all about the Ruinous Fog for you.”
The Ceruledge flicked her flames.“Save the details for later, if anything do you four have any of that fog?”
Kaliente and Emile helped Alejandrien pull out each jar, and container of material from their bags, each gently clinking on the floor. “Here's all of the samples of Ruinous Fog,” the Fuecoco listed.
The Grookey continued.“The first are from the precipice between Pa’a Lepo, and the ‘Kage ocean.” In total there were eight samples, four jars, and four metal containers.
“How fascinating, they are a white in color, unlike the myriad of colors listed by the meteorologists,” Detective Ichigo said as they scanned the few jars, their pixelated eyes literally scanning each particle.
Alejandrien gestured to the large collection of containers beside them.“Next we have the Ruinous Fog from the black fog, and light grey fog from Kuanalio.”
Lead Esperanza hummed. “It appears to be darker, and mayhaps even denser than the previous samples. I can’t wait to calculate the-”
“Now, now, let our young Detectives explain their findings,” the Kingambit beside the two yawned. “Before sunrise por favor.”
The Iron Valiant grumbled. “It's not that close, idiot.” Then Detective Ichigo flashed light pink, and held out a spear toward Head Hector.
The Kingambit waved his hands. “Brief Kirigiri, brief!”
“Right on, Kuanalio progressed ta about ninety percent of its sands covered, which was Category 6,” the Fuecoco said. Kaliente nodded toward Emile.
“The source of the Ruinous Fog were two oddly-typed Pokémon we dubbed Fogbringers,” the Grookey explained.
Alejandrien nodded. “Most importantly there were no casualties from tha villagers on Kuanalio Island, though many areas sustained partial or total damage.”
“What’s that sticking out of your bag?” Detective Ichigo pointed to the black crystalline shimmering inside the cloth.
“It’s from the village Elder, a Rapidash, for you three to study. An Obsidian Hourglass, it feels important,” T’nuri said.
“It is quite important,” the Ceruledge held up the hourglass with her sheathed hands. “But not more than you four,” Lead Esperanza murmured as she gently placed it on her desk.
“I'm so glad you and Navigation Team Zháo returned to our shores safely,” Head Hector said as he stood up on both legs. The Kingambit reached into his desk and pulled out four swaths of cloth, mainly black with patches of green, purple, and grey.
The Cubone glanced up and down as the fabric unfurled, now matching the cloaks on each of the DA staff before her. “What are these?”
“We want you to have a cloak as a job well done, for your first mission as a fully fledged Investigation Team,” the Iron Valiant explained, pointing to their own cloak, and cape, both snug under their scarf.
“This ornate cloth was a style of cloak popular about seventy two years ago,” Kaliente said, reaching forward. “Seems almost like looking in a recent history book!”
Lead Esperanza's flowing head crest slowly dimmed.“They aren’t just for looks as they are imbued with the same fabric as Twist Scarves, they strengthen your attacks and resistances.”
Team Kirigiri wrapped themselves in their cloaks, covering just above their ankles. “Thanks!” the four said.
“Now as it is already past morning, and you went on a harrowing investigation you may sleep in.
"Buenas noches,”Head Hector called, his yellow eyes smiling.
“I didn't forget my end of the bargain Team Kirigiri,” the Ceruledge said, winking.
“W-what?” Alejandrien groggily pondered.
“Don't worry, buenas noches.”
Detective Ichigo's mechanical body made a whirring noise as they walked toward the door, and slid it open. “Once I det-, er know, know you four are up I'll come get you .
"Aloha a me Mahalo’oukou."
De- what now? Whatever. “G’night,” Alejandrien was the only one of Team Kirigiri to reply, the three others dragging themselves out the sliding door, yawning. While the Jangmo-o, Cubone, Fuecoco, and Grookey had bandages on from what Elder Rapidash’s fairy healing and a few Orans could offer them, they still clambered with pained steps, all the way to their beds in the barracks.
Kaliente spewed out a gentle flame as Emile shut the door to the room, and didn't stop his ember until every bag was put somewhere and every Pokémon was snuggled up tight in their sheets, finally drifting off to sleep, after a hard day's work.
“W-what?” T'nuri gently groaned. The soft rows of light behind her dared to leak into the barrack from the late morning outside. The Cubone lifted her head up for a moment before it crashed back into her pillow. She blinked. T'nuri picked up her head, skull-helmet shifting slightly. Tearstains ran down her cheek once again.
Huh? Alejandrien's pitch black thought slowly dripped in their mind. The hours added up. Awakening always brought about such an odd state of mind. Light too entered the Jangmo-o’s shut eyelids. They also blinked. “Pard’?”
While the Cubone and Jangmo-o stirred and carefully stretched, Fuecoco and Grookey next to them simply watched. Emile's eyes lazily acknowledged the two, her tail twitching. Kaliente's head crest, which appeared larger,somehow only pulsed a dull hue as one of his eyes peered over at the pair. Finally, T'nuri groaned and took the first step. The first step off her bed that is. Once her claw hit the floor the Cubone tensed, a shiver coursing through her entirety. Stunned, T'nuri reached over to her pillow and cradled her chipped bone-club. The Jangmo-o next to her shook their cymbal scales softly and licked their maw. Ugh, so sore. With a wince, Alejandrien climbed out of bed, her legs and claws shaky.
Just before the silence got tense a knock resounded from the barracks door. “Really, mate,” Kaliente moaned as he rolled out of bed.
Emile's ears twitched as she pushed herself out of her own bed, staggering to a knee.
"Mierda!"the Grookey's head fur patches also seemed larger, especially when they dropped her stick onto the floor.
“You alight lass?” the Fuecoco asked, not before he stumbled backwards himself. “Spark!”
Emile sighed as she picked up her stick, stretching her arms.“Are you?”
Both of them seem like they've been put through the wringer. Alejandrien mused. Something up or?
Another knock. “Team Kirigiri?” a muffled voice called.
T'nuri sighed as she once again wiped away her tears, and opened the door.
Standing high above her was an Iron Valiant, their white frame framed by the even warmer candles, and now sunlight from above. “Aloha,” they greeted.
“Aloha,” the Cubone replied back.
“H-howdy Detective Ichigo,” Alejandrien said, before they coughed and tried to clear their throat. Everyone in the little room exchanged glances. They all slept but were painted in exhaustion.
“Are you all up for a little chat?” Detective Ichigo asked, hands on their hips.
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(Banner Art, Done by me Kiba Makkuro)