Oceanside Lowlife
Bug Catcher
Chapter 41 The Plunge
The waters of Mahiki Bay were unusually dark thanks to the mid-morning sun coming in from the east, which made Ian grimace in his prone position. Of course we're possibly going into a trap the one time of day the water isn't almost completely clear. Next to him was the rest of Plumeria's squad staying as low to the ground as possible on the short incline above the sands of Mahiki Bay's beach as Wingull and Pelipper glided lazily overhead..
The static of a walkie-talkie being activated drew Ian's attention a dozen feet over, where Trickz and his squad of Team Skull members mimicked Plumeria's, staying low and keeping their eyes locked on the various sized rocks and islands in the bay. "This is Tiny Bladder. Got a status update for me, Concerned Parent?" Trickz spoke into his walkie-talkie.
Tupp covered his mouth as he chuckled at the code names.
Another static-y screech hit their ears. "Yeah, all Perverts in the bathroom. You're free to pee, Tiny Bladder."
"Heard. Operation 'Pee in the Pool' is a go," Trickz said confidently into the walkie-talkie before standing up from his position and waving his hands up the paved road where behind some brush, their two boats with trailers waited, connected to harnesses where Trickz's Mudsdale and Tauros pulled one each. "It's time! Tauros, Mudsdale, move it!"
The two towing Pokemon lurched into motion with some difficulty at first, but once the trailers' wheels got moving began trotting forward smoothly. Ian noticed some of the Pearl Clan escorts, led by Gaeric and Irida, waited not too far away from the boats' initial hiding place. The rather small, worn, but apparently functional motorboats rolled along on their trailers as Tauros and Mudsdale built up momentum.
"Not too fast! We got this downhill coming up," Trickz warned the Pokemon. The Team Skull grunts waited at the top of the dirt road leading down an incline to the beach. Tauros and Mudsdale charged forward, taking the trailers down the dirt road. The two towing Pokemon picked up quite a bit of speed as the trailers' momentum pushed them forward, but as they reached the bottom the two were able to slow as they pulled the trailers across the beach's pale sands.
"Alright, good stuff!" Trickz called out as he charged down the dirt path with the other five trainers following close behind. "Pull 'em to the water!"
Plumeria urged her squad up and they followed hastily. Just like he'd seen them practicing earlier by Fort Acuity, Mudsdale and Tauros pulled the trailers perpendicularly into thigh-deep water, just deep enough for the trailers to be submerged. Ian followed along as Plumeria's squad got in right next to the boats, which made Ian grimace as he felt his feet become completely doused in water. I should've brought another pair of socks for later. Oh well.
It didn't take long before the motorboats drifted off their trailers and Tauros and Mudsdale dragged them out of the water. Tupp climbed onto their speed boat first and began pulling up the rest of the squad, with Ian coming last. His soaked feet were a mild annoyance compared to the daggers Hyde glared at him as he took a seat.
"He's not supposed to be here," Hyde said.
"And I don't give a fuck, Hyde," Plumeria dismissed simply.
Hyde folded his arms angrily and turned around, looking out to the bay. Plumeria gave Ian a quick eyeroll but quickly got in the driver's seat near the back of the motorboat. Ian turned his gaze to Mahiki Bay as the engine protested for a couple seconds before roaring to life. Trickz's boat was ready to go as well, and Tauros and Mudsdale had long returned to their respective Poke Balls with the boat trailers sitting idly a dozen feet from the water.
"You ready?" Trickz called out.
"Yeah!" Plumeria fired back before lowering her voice. "Alright everyone, get your Water Pokemon out."
Ian quickly released Wartortle from his ball, and his turtle with a bad attitude gave an annoyed croak before taking in its surroundings, appearing to be less upset than normal. Selene got her Primarina out, and Tupp his Drizzile. Plumeria got her Toxapex out, and Rapp released her Comfey. Oh yeah, she doesn't have any Water Types. A healer wouldn't hurt though. Ian caught an angry glare from Hyde, which quickly moved to Plumeria before grabbing one of his Poke Balls and releasing a light blue, floating Pokemon tentacle-like appendages, what appeared to be a poofy collar, and dark eyes with hauntingly red pupils. So Hyde has a Frillish. Interesting.
"Keep 'em all on the boat unless we get attacked," Plumeria barked. "We don't need to draw any attention from the Pokemon in the water unless we have to." With that, the boat lurched into motion, following closely behind Trickz as they motored along the water's surface.
Speaking of the surface, the Wingull and Pelipper kept their distance from the water's surface. In most coastal areas in Alola, Wingulls often floated on the water's surface with regularity, but they were conspicuously absent in this place. The line of thinking gave Ian an unsettling shiver through his body that had nothing to do with his drenched feet. The twenty foot tall cliff that was Cape Pupuhi, leading to Adaman's Point, was dotted with Wingull and Pelipper, be they nesting or resting on crevices or near the very top of the cliff. Even the nearest dark rock sticking out of the water had no Wingull near the water's surface, just a few perched on the very top. They know something… "I got a bad feeling about this," Ian said aloud.
"Pussy," Hyde chimed in.
"It shouldn't take long," Plumeria said with frustration. "We might not even attack 'em so chill the fuck out. Both of you."
Ian returned his focus to the waters of Mahiki Bay as the boats motored past the first rock, with a small island looming up ahead. On this island like the rock before it, Wingulls and Pelipper congregated near the highest points of the flatter landmass. Another red flag, but so far so good though. A high pitched, eerily melodic call hit Ian's ears and he tensed and turned to its source. A long, lithe, bright pink Pokemon slithered back underneath the water's surface a few dozen feet from the boat. A Gorebyss by the looks of it…
Suddenly the nearby Wingull and Pelipper elicited frantic cries and took to the air in earnest, even the ones at the highest points of their respective roosts got airborne. Wartortle immediately lowered its head, prepping for a fight. Even Drizzile and Frillish tensed. "Well that's not a good sign," Ian quipped under his breath. By the time the seabird Pokemon had mostly cleared out, the metallic hum of the motor boats' engines was the only sound he could hear with the water's surface being so unsettlingly tranquil.
Ian continued scouring the water's surface as they neared the first island when another high pitched, eery song just like the first hit his ears, his back shivering once more. This time he got to see the Gorebyss' full body as it pierced the surface before disappearing underneath as the other had before. Another melodic cry, twenty to thirty feet in the opposite direction from the prior one made Ian tense even more. "Plumeria, I really think we need to turn back," Ian said gravely.
"Scared of some Gorebyss? Some prince you are," Hyde mocked.
Plumeria sighed. "Guys-"
Two red orbs glowed underneath the water's surface for just a moment before a massive open mouth erupted from the depths with a gurgling shriek. Ian stood in shock as the beast's mouth launched itself upwards and snapped shut around Hyde's Frillish. Ian gasped in horror as he watched the titanic blue eel with orange fins snagged Frillish from the air. An Alpha HUNTAIL? Holy shit!
A tremendous splash from the Alpha Huntail retreating under the surface knocked sense back into Ian and he tensed viscerally. Selene and Rapp both shrieked in terror
"What the FUCK? Frillish!" Hyde shouted desperately. Moments later, the Ghost-Water Type rematerialized above the water in a panic, desperately rushing to Hyde. "Frillish, you're okay?" Hyde shouted in relief. There were multiple wounds on Frillish where Alpha Huntail's fangs had grabbed it before it'd dematerialized inside Huntail's mouth. The relief was not to last.
Something smacked into the motorboat from underwater, rocking the rather cramped motorboat. Ian was seated too closely to the edge and nearly fell off with his momentum, with Wartortle falling into the side with an annoyed croak. Ian's heart skipped a beat before he was able to keep his balance although his Team Skull hat fell in the water, the headwear being snapped up in a smaller Huntail's jaws. The eel Pokemon gurgled a hiss before retreating below the surface with its prize. "Plumeria-"
"I know!" Plumeria fired back as the boat veered to the right, turning around the best it could.
Multiple smacks hit the boat now, much smaller and less forceful than the others, and Ian saw multiple Huntail just underneath the surface of the water scurrying around. Looking over to Trickz's boat which had also begun to U-turn, their boat was dealing with the same rocking issue as numerous figures underneath the water swarmed around their vessel.
Suddenly Trickz's boat stopped rocking and the Huntail near the surface cleared out and a terrifying dread came over Ian. "Trickz, keep away-"
Trickz's boat was smacked into once more, this time sending a male Team Skull member off the side and in the water with a light splash. The person quickly came up for air, shouting desperately for a moment before being swiftly pulled under the surface in a hauntingly silent maneuver.
Shrieks of horror erupted around Ian as he watched on in stunned silence. Small pockets of red liquid were the only evidence of the horror that had occurred. "Starmie!" Trickz shouted desperately, sending his purple starfish Pokemon into the water. Trickz's whole boat turned into a frenzy of freaked out, disoriented members as they sent their water Pokemon, namely a Poliwhirl, Seel, and a Golduck.
Numerous shadows underneath converged on the location as more bits of red liquid reached the surface "Primarina, save them!" Selene screamed desperately, urging her fully evolved start into the water as well.
"Wartortle-" Ian's words stopped as Wartortle stood completely stunned, its eyes on the surface.
"Toxapex!" Plumeria shouted hysterically as her poisonous starfish Pokemon crawled overboard and into the eel infested waters.
"Drizzile-"
"Everyone stop!" Hyde shouted. "He's fucking dead! We need to go!"
Ian realized just how hard his heart was pounding in his chest and remembered to breathe. "Wartortle, help them out," Ian said with an almost resigned quiet. The turtle Pokemon stayed still as a statue. "Wartortle!" Ian shouted more fiercely, causing the Pokemon to open its mouth and let out a gurgling, horrified scream.
Ian moved his head closer to Wartortle, seeing the Pokemon's eyes wide open as its horrified scream rang in his ears. "Wartortle, c'mon!"
"Primarina, Moonblast!" Selene's voice managed to shout over Wartortle's scream, and Ian looked to the water, seeing Primarina being bitten and assaulted on all sides by half a dozen Huntail. Primarina tried to manifest pink energy near its mouth, but another painful bite from a Huntail ended the energy channeling. Hyde's Frillish remained cowering by floating over the boat as the vessel continued moving, still being bumped by underwater assailants.
Trickz was already maneuvering his boat back around to the place one of their squad members had been dragged under, but suddenly the massive Huntail head with glowing red eyes breached the surface behind the boat and an ear-splitting, gurgling hiss of a sound erupted from the Alpha Huntail. In just a couple moments, one end of Trickz's boat flipped over from the Alpha Roar, dumping the five remaining squad members out, bluntly splashing into the water.
"No!" Ian shouted, part of him feeling compelled to jump in to do something, but the adrenaline pumping in veins gave way to his mind forcing him to stay in the only safe place available to him.
"Toxapex, get over there!" Plumeria shouted desperately, although her poisonous starfish Pokemon had yet to come back to the surface. Their boat approached the now helpless Team Skull members splashing in a frenzy as more shadowy underwater figures closed in.
"Wartortle, we need you!" Ian said, putting his hand on Wartortle's shell, urging his Pokemon to jump in. Wartortle turned to Ian, having stopped its horrified gurgling, but now with tears on its face and eyes full of terror. He must've seen something like this before…
Panicked pleas from the Team Skull members brought Ian back to the situation at hand as their boat sped as best it could through the water and commotion of the underwater assailants. Ian would occasionally see bolts of various colored Type Energy underneath the surface as they closed in on Trickz's squad position. Trickz's Starmie must be doing everything it can down there.
The massive Alpha Huntail's head shot out of the water and latched its mouth onto their motorboat's side. Ian looked into the glowing red eyes of the beast, his body paralyzed by fear for a moment before the monstrous Huntail pulled the front of the boat down with such force the back of the float shot up, flinging the whole squad and still boat-ridden Pokemon into the air before Ian landed helplessly in the water. He quickly got his head above water, trying to find the nearest island to swim to, which had to be a good hundred feet away at least from them and the opposite direction of the shore. He dipped his head underwater to see how many Huntail and Gorebyss were around and while huge numbers of them swarmed around the perimeter, he zeroed in on Alpha Huntail wrestling fiercely with the motor boat and cursed. Why that way of all ways? Looking to the cliffs they weren't too far away from, he saw dozens of Gorebyss and Huntail scurrying around the water in a frenzy. Suddenly things went dark again and Ian brought his head above water, desperately trying to stay afloat. We might be royally fucked here.
Selene's high pitched shriek of terror hit his eyes first, then Hyde's voice drew Ian's attention. "We're all gonna die!" He shouted in panic, splashing frantically.
Something bumped into his back and recoiled in fright before realizing it was Wartortle, who just floated, completely wide-eyed. "Wartortle, we gotta get outta here, I need you," Ian pleaded.
Wartortle's face remained still, a blank expression in his eyes as if he wasn't present at all. Did he just give up? A sharp pain hit Ian's leg and his heart skipped another beat before he flailed desperately, cursing as he did. The force behind the bite left, but pain still remained. There are DOZENS of these eels, not including the alpha.
A huge gush of water erupted a good fifteen away from him in the direction of the island and he turned desperately, seeing a portion of a boat floating helplessly before Alpha Huntail's head latched on and dragged it under again. Wartortle, come the fuck on!
Ian turned to his Wartortle in desperate anger and realized his turtle was no longer at his side. "Wartortle, where the fuck are you?" Ian said angrily as the reality of the situation sank in. Ian looked around, watching Plumeria and Rapp get close to each other. Toxapex floated nearby as if standing guard, although it had been clearly roughed up and bloodied by the horde of eel Pokemon.
Close by, Hyde treaded water, almost peacefully with his eyes closed. Pussy. Ian then heard a slight commotion behind him and figured the worst was coming for him, but actually it was Tupp and Selene holding onto Drizzile, the duo's lips locked. Seems they've resigned themselves too.
"Dammit Wartortle…" Ian cursed, looking up to the Alolan sky one last time, expecting more searing pain to hit him any moment now.
"Ian! What the fuck is going on?" Plumeria's voice brought his vision back to the doomed situation at hand. Plumeria's hand pointed in his direction, but slightly down. "Beneath you!"
Ian looked down, noticing a bright white glow illuminating the waters below as all of the shadowy masses that were the eels bolted away. Is that what I think it is?
The light disappeared in an instant and Ian saw a dark figure rapidly expanding underneath him until a hard surface hit his legs and bumped his whole body up. Suddenly he was no longer treading water, but kneeling on a hard, slick surface. He looked to his pained leg and noticed bite marks with blood dripping onto the brown surface beneath him. Two gray cannon barrels stuck out of the floating platform or more accurately, shell. "Blastoise!" Ian shouted in surprise. "We need to save everyone!"
Between the two cannons sprouted a small head from the water and a deep, affirmative croak answered him before lurching forward to Selene and Tupp, still kissing each other. "Sorry to interrupt!" Ian shouted as Blastoise closed in on them. Drizzle separated them, but they both gasped as Ian reached out from on top of Blastoise's shell.
"Oh fuck yo!" Tupp shouted in amazement. Ian reached out, pulling Tupp and Selene out of the water as Drizzile climbed on. Blastoise began swimming to Hyde, and Ian took a deep breath as the frazzled thinking of the prior events gave way to a clearer head. Blastoise's shell had to be seven or eight feet long and was decently wide. We got room for three or four more on here. We'll probably need a second trip…
"Primarina, return!" Selene called out, voice quivering with emotion as a red beam recalled the severely wounded, floating sea lion Pokemon. Ian panicked for a moment, reaching for his Poke Ball belt but heaved a sigh of relief as all five of his other Poke Balls were still there. Blastoise closed in on Hyde and Ian smirked.
"Hey pussy, open your eyes!" Ian shouted as he extended his hand to Hyde, who looked absolutely befuddled. Ian pulled his number one hater from water with a grunt, and Blastoise immediately surged forward to Plumeria and Rapp.
"It's a miracle," Plumeria shouted as they approached.
"Don't think we got room for Trickz's squad," Ian said worriedly.
"Get us to the island then!" Plumeria ordered as he pulled Rapp from the water first.
"But the Alpha-" Ian stopped as he looked, noticing another section of their motorboat now floating forty-ish feet away with the Alpha's tail wrapped around it. "I see."
After helping Plumeria from the water, Ian saw one of Trickz's squad waving at him frantically. "Help us!"
Ian grimaced. "Do we have room?" Ian asked his squadmates aloud.
"We'll hold onto its side! We don't give a fuck! We need to get out of here!" Trickz shouted.
Ian turned to Plumeria, who grimaced as well. "Up to you," she said.
Ian turned his head down to Blastoise's. "Think you can do it buddy?"
A gurgling croak answered quickly and the newly evolved Blastoise surged forward to Trickz's squad. Rapp hadn't been ready for the motion and fell backwards, with Hyde grabbing her by the ankle to keep her on Blastoise's back. "Toxapex, cover us!" Plumeria ordered, and her battered poison starfish nodded obediently, staying close but not too close to their savior's shell.
Ian released his grip on one of the water cannons that kept him steady, keeping one in his grip and motioned for Tupp to grab hold of the now free one. Selene held onto Tupp, and Hyde held onto Selene to keep everyone steady, while Plumeria held onto Ian with Rapp holding onto the squad leader, completing the other chain.
"Ian, you're bleeding yo!" Rapp pointed out.
"It's nothing. Save Comfey's energy for Trickz's squad," Ian dismissed. "They're probably doing a lot worse."
As Blastoise closed in on Trickz's group, Ian noticed the Poliwhirl, Golduck, and Starmie from the group were pretty roughed up but still circling the group of water treading Team Skull members, with one member being supported by two other members.
"Got room for one up there? Spool ain't doin' too hot," Trickz said. "He took a lot of bites early."
"We should," Ian said as Plumeria released his arm that kept the chain together. Ian and Tupp pulled the dazed Team Skull member from the water and settled them between the two human chains. Ian caught a glimpse of multiple bleeding wounds and shook his head, cursing whoever planned the damn operation in the first place.
"Comfey, that's the worst wound, start there with Floral Healing," Rapp ordered.
"Grab hold of where the limbs come out, best place on the shell to grip!" Trickz ordered as the other three squad members made their way around Blastoise. "Keep covering us Starmie, hopefully not too long from safety," Trickz said aloud. "And guys, the island's further back. Maybe we just head for the shore? The smaller eels are keeping their distance from Blastoise, just gotta worry about the Alpha."
"Sounds like a good idea," Plumeria said. "If Blastoise can hold."
"How's it going buddy?" Ian asked.
A loud, annoyed croak gurgled from the water's surface, but Blastoise nodded. If you say so bud.
Once all four Team Skull members had secured positions around openings in Blastoise's shell, Blastoise began moving once more, this time much more slowly as it turned back to the shore. I hope we didn't overburden you buddy. The island was only a hundred and fifty feet or so from us, but the shores's like four to five hundred feet. A pang of regret hit him as the unkind sentiments he'd had toward Blastoise popped back up in his mind. If we get out of this, we're all gonna owe you big time, buddy.
"Look!" Plumeria said to the group. "Alpha Huntail's on the move."
Dammit.
"That's what the cover's for," Trickz said. "Starmie, get a Confuse Ray ready to go if it comes at us again." Starmie dove underneath the surface quickly. "Make sure your Blastoise keeps his head above water so he can't hear it, okay Ian?"
Ian nodded. "Got it. Keep your head above the water bud!" From Ian's angle, Blastoise's small head popped up from the water and gave an annoyed croak, but did as ordered.
Ian's heavily burdened Blastoise moved rather slowly, but the other Huntail and Gorebyss continued keeping their distance. Well, the covering Pokemon help too. As the shore got closer and closer, Ian began daring to hope they were about to make it out. His leg still kept bleeding, but it was nowhere near the level Spool, the grunt who had regained consciousness thanks to quick treatment from Comfey, had endured. Trickz did lose that one member though…
"Wasn't there a Seel with you guys?" Ian asked lowly.
"Yeah," Trickz said hoarsely. "I think she went down with Jayjay… ain't seen it since."
"That was Jayjay that got…" Plumeria paused, not wanting to say the word.
"Yeah…" Trickz said with a light nod.
"Look, Starmie's glowing!" One of Trickz's squad members called out. "Golduck, keep your head above water a bit longer then start hitting that Huntail with all you got left! We're almost to safety." Golduck nodded and gave a gurgling, affirmative quack. The other Water Pokemon steeled themselves. After five seconds passed, Golduck's trainer re-opened his mouth. "Okay GO!"
"Follow 'em!" Plumeria ordered Toxapex. Golduck and Toxapex disappeared underneath the surface quickly, and Ian watched anxiously as Blastoise further separated the group from the murderous alpha.
A couple minutes of eerie calm passed, and they were now floating by the first rock they'd passed on their way in when Ian heard a huge splash behind them. Ian watched in terrified awe as Golduck's body flew through the air, with Alpha Huntail's glowing red eyes briefly flashing above the surface before retreating below the surface. "Well, they gave us a shot," Ian muttered.
Toxapex emerged from the water a few dozen feet behind them completely spent, and Plumeria recalled her battered Pokemon. "Thank you for helping save our lives," Plumeria whispered to her valiant defender.
"Not out of the woods yet," Hyde said.
"How about you and your pussy ass Frillish shut up?" Plumeria fired back. "Where is your Pokemon anyways?"
The floating blue jellyfish re-manifested right above them, still cowering in fear. "Fuck off," Hyde said, recalling his Pokemon.
Poliwhirl and Drizzile were the last two Pokemon keeping watch as defenders, Drizzile doing it from the back of Blastoise's shell. Poliwhirl raised one of its hands and began waving it frantically.
"Brace yourselves!" Ian called out.
Starmie appeared above the water first, then the gigantic head of Alpha Huntail emerged just a couple dozen feet behind them. Drizzile fired off a Dark Pulse almost instantly, which Alpha Huntail swung its head out of the way of. Trickz's Starmie fired off a Thunderbolt, connecting with the murderous monster and making it cry out in pain. From behind the beast, Golduck surfaced weakly and fired a red beam, connecting another blow on the beast's head, stunning it temporarily before it regained its purpose, roaring its bone-chilling shriek and charging ahead in the water. Dammit.
"Blastoise…" Ian said. "I know you're going as fast as you can…"
Blastoise groaned as he pushed forward a little faster. Less than a hundred feet from safety, just gotta hold out a little longer.
Huntail surged forward like a speedboat, creating its own current in its wake. It didn't take long before it was within twenty feet, and Poliwhirl launched itself at the surging Alpha. Huntail's head left the water, lunging forward, but Poliwhirl smacked into the side of its jaws with a Body Slam before it opened its mouth. Drizzile fired a Dark Pulse at the momentarily stunned opponent. The black mass of energy collided and exploded right on one of Huntail's eyes, making it roar its blood-curdling shriek once more.
"Guys!" Trickz called out. "I can feel sand!"
"Should we get off Blastoise and have it help defend?" Ian asked.
"Yeah," Trickz said. "Give us another ten feet so we can all stand though."
"Are you sure?" Rapp squealed.
"We can get Spool from here," Trickz said.
"I'm good enough," the patient said weakly.
Fifteen seconds later, Ian gave Blastoise's head a good pat. "Buddy, we owe you so much."
Blastoise croaked, rubbing its head up against Ian's hand before stopping. "Guys, off Blastoise!" Plumeria barked.
Ian leapt as far forward as he could, hitting the water with a splash. His feet hit sand and he was chest level deep in water when he began wading forward. It didn't take long for the rest of Blastoise's shell's passengers to dismount, and their savior shook off some of its fatigue, turning its body around.
"Blastoise, give that fucker hell!" Ian roared.
Blastoise's croak sounded more like a battle cry than ever, and it stood in the water, lowering its head and starting to lean forward as its body became engulfed in white energy. Tupp's Drizzile grabbed hold of one of Blastoise's water cannons, lowering its body as well. Ian cracked a proud grin, seeing his and Tupp's Pokemon not even needing directions to work together.
Ian's moment of pride dissipated as he saw Starmie being flung like a ragdoll into the air. Huntail got back on its pursuit and surged forward once more. This fucker doesn't quit. Blastoise gave one more battle cry and launched itself like a speed boat across the surface of the water. Skull Bash! Ian saw only one glowing red eye above the water before Blastoise collided with the monster. From there the battle became difficult to track as it largely took place underwater, but every few seconds some massive splash or beam of Type Energy would shoot up from the water.
"Ian, hurry up!" Plumeria shouted from a distance behind him.
"Shit,' Ian said with a relieved laugh, noticing most of the squads had made it to knee deep water or even the sand itself. Ian stepped backwards, still wanting to watch his Blastoise in action. It took him half a minute, but when his feet felt the rush of a wave falling back into the sea, he sighed. "Holy shit…"
Poliwhirl and Golduck limped out of the water as well, and he recognized Starmie's legs sticking out of the water as it swam haphazardly back as well.
"Ian, you're wounded!" Irida called from behind him.
Ian shook his head, not wanting to acknowledge Irida's concern as Blastoise and Alpha Huntail were still locked in a wrestling match in the bay. Blastoise you're already such a badass.
"Ian!" Irida's voice called out, dripping with concern as she got beside him. "I need a caregiver over here!" Irida shouted authoritatively.
Ian sighed, shaking his head. "The adrenaline's still pumping so it doesn't hurt too bad."
"But infection," Irida replied. "It shall not take long."
"Fine," Ian said.
A couple minutes passed and his bleeding quickly ceased with a Pearl Clan caregiver's Kirlia's Heal Pulse. Only a light itchiness in the bite wound's place remained. With the wounded getting treatment, Ian had the healthy members joining him, watching their savior battle it out with the murderous assailant.
"That's one tough turtle," Trickz observed. "Carries us all to safety surrounded by enemies, then launches into a battle like that with no rest."
"Yeah…" Ian said. "I'm lucky to have him." The group watched on in silence as the splashing stopped for a time, and Ian got a sinking feeling in his stomach. He shifted uneasily in his soggy shoes, noticing others started looking a bit concerned.
"Are Blastoise and Drizzile gonna be alright?" Selene asked meekly.
"They ain't done, ain't no way!" Tupp shouted.
"Yeah!" Cheered a number of onlookers.
Ian narrowed his vision, focusing on where the battle had last taken place, looking for a bit of evidence of how Blastoise was doing. Suddenly a huge splash erupted fifty feet from the shore, and Blastoise floated forward with Drizzile on his back. Both Pokemon had been seriously roughed up, but moved at an unthreatened pace.
"They did it!" Someone declared.
The spectators cheered with all of their hearts, hollering, crowing, screaming, and beating their chests in a frenzy as Blastoise and Drizzile continued their approach. Ian ran in as Blastoise neared, with Tupp catching up quickly.
"Blastoise! Fuck yeah!" Ian said, tears coming into his eyes as Blastoise began to stand up. Having a closer look at his freshly evolved turtle, there were numerous scrapes and scuffs on his shell, along with blood and bruises on his exposed limbs, but Blastoise gave a proud croak. Ian put his arms around Blastoise as best he could, barely reaching the edges of his shell. "That was amazing buddy. I owe you, we all owe you…"
Blastoise gave a lighter gurgling croak.
"Hell yeah, you da best homie, Drizzile!" Tupp exclaimed as Drizzile jumped into his arms.
With that, Ian turned around, his arm on Blastoise's shell as they got out of the water. The crowd mobbed Blastoise, all giving their savior hugs, praise, and thanks. Ian noticed a slight grin on Blastoise's face, only the tears falling from his eyes didn't appear to match. What's up with that? A jolt of memories flooded his brain, remembering the first day he'd met Wartortle when Doc pointed out the deep puncture wounds in the shell. Not a regular Gyarados, but an Alpha… Ian gasped as it hit him all at once. Wartortle froze up there not because he was afraid. Wartortle froze up because he'd seen something like this before! Suddenly a vision of a massive Gyarados with glowing red eyes taking bites out of helpless Squirtles all around flooded his vision. Ian gasped when he was suddenly back at the beach, watching Blastoise surrounded by the rejoicing victims he'd saved.
Ian's eyes immediately began to water, and Blastoise seemed to be watching Ian as well, his expression a little more stoic save for the fresh tears on his face.
"Oh no, he's crying!" A concerned feminine voice shouted. "Get him some help, he's wounded!"
The crowd spread out immediately with a special reverence. Blastoise walked forward slowly with Rapp and Comfey charging to the scene. Blastoise spun with a surprising finesse and fell on his back, letting out a long, gurgling sigh. "Give him some space!" Ian called out as he knelt beside his tough turtle. Rapp and Comfey quickly began treatment, with pink Type Energy in the form of tiny flowers flowing into the gashes and bruises in Blastoise's exposed limbs. Seeing Blastoise so wounded compelled Ian to speak.
"Blastoise, I'm sorry I was mad at you earlier. I didn't realize the trauma you were re-living," Ian said as a tear fell from his face. Blastoise groaned, shaking his head dismissively. Ian chuckled lightly, smiling. "Thanks buddy… We all owe you our lives."
Blastoise gurgled some more, this time in a way Ian figured was more of a laugh.
"Yeah, you earned it bud, you earned everything," Ian whispered. "But I'm realizing now how much this meant to you too."
Blastoise sniffled, a fresh tear coming down his cheek.
The healing process didn't take long, but Comfey was rather exhausted when it was done. More Team Skull members came up to give their thanks to Blastoise, which Ian noticed was starting to make his tough turtle a bit uncomfortable. After Tupp and Selene finished giving a heartfelt combo hug, Ian stepped forward. "You want a rest, buddy?" Ian whispered.
Blastoise nodded.
"Makes sense," Ian said, pulling Blastoise's Poke Ball out. "Okay everyone!" Ian announced. "Blastoise is tired, he wants a rest and he's earned it more than anyone."
The assembled Team Skull members gave a round of applause for Ian's Blastoise, and he couldn't help but smile proudly as he recalled Blastoise back into its Poke Ball. "Thanks again bud," Ian whispered before re-attaching the Poke Ball to his belt.
Noticing Tupp and Selene hand in hand, Ian's curiosity got the better of him and he approached. "So uh… I see something's happened."
Tupp's cheeks went red. "Yeah…" He said nervously.
Selene nodded. "Well… when we got dumped out of the boat, Tupp was right next to me, and I told him that since we were gonna be dead soon that I was sorry for being dumb and not understanding who he was sooner," she explained before turning to Tupp with a grin. "What'd you say after that?"
Tupp nodded. "I basically said 'if we gon' die, fuck it.' Swam right over and kissed her."
Ian chuckled. "Well that's one way to do it."
Plumeria and Trickz started making their way to Ian, with Trickz giving a nod of respect. "Thanks again man."
Ian sighed. "That was all Blastoise. I'm sorry we couldn't get your squad mate."
"It couldn't be helped," Trickz said, trying to suppress the emotion in his voice. "But now we know why Sinclair's boats are never sighted within the bay."
Ian grimaced. "Yeah…"
Plumeria stepped forward. "This was the setup, it just didn't involve Sinclair."
"Yeah," Trickz grunted.
"Excuse me, Skull Team!" Gaeric's voice bellowed from behind the group. "We must get to higher ground immediately!"
Trickz shook his head. "We gotta pay our respects to Jayjay first!"
"No! There are figures approaching!" Gaeric shouted as he pointed to the southern coast of the bay. Sure enough, numerous dark figures approached. Half a mile away, maybe closer.
"Rook set us up, that fucker!" Trickz shouted with heated passion.
"Help the wounded out of here!" Plumeria barked.
A frenzy came over the assembled Team Skull and Pearl Clan members as they began rushing for the incline leading up the cliffs. Ian followed Plumeria, who immediately gave support to Spool as the still unsteady Team Skull member walked slowly to the incline. "Plumeria, we both have significant numbers. Could we maybe take a defensive position and fight?"
"After what we just went through? Hell no," Plumeria fired back.
"Yeah…" Ian said, pondering their options. "We're gonna need to stall them then."
Plumeria grunted. "I'm not leaving anyone back to sacrifice themselves, most of all you."
Ian grimaced. "I can always get away on Sawsbuck."
"We can't. End of story," Plumeria ordered authoritatively.
Ian pondered their options, not wanting to leave Spool behind but needing to acknowledge something was going to have to give as the first members of their party reached the dirt road leading up the cliffs. Wait, that's it! Ian surveyed all of the surrounding cliffs, noticing there were no other paths up them for as far as his eyes could see. "Plumeria, I got an idea," Ian announced.
"What?" She spat.
"I'll wait for them to get here and use Snowscape on the dirt road up the cliff," Ian explained.
"Why not Z-Snowscape?" Plumeria asked, indicating his Z-Ring. "Wait, never mind. That would take too long. But the moment you get it off you gotta get right back to us."
Ian nodded. "I'll just need Sawsbuck and I'm good."
Plumeria sighed, Ian reading her dislike for the plan in her eyes. "It's too risky but it's all we got. Do not get captured by them."
Ian grinned mockingly before holding his pinky finger up. "I promise."
Plumeria held up her pinky finger as well. "Good. Remember-"
"Yeah, yeah," Ian croaked as they reached the top of the incline and he opted to stay behind. He tried not to draw too much attention to himself just so no one would think to stay with him. A good five minutes passed from his position as the figures got closer and closer. He kept checking the cliffs to see if there were any flankers coming, but none were to be had.
He turned behind him to see if any Team Skull members were in sight, and sighed with relief when he saw none. "Good." Ian readied Alolan Sandslash's Premier Ball and sent it out. "We got company heading our way, a lot of them," Ian said, pointing to the sand. Sandslash squeaked in alarm, pointing Ian up the road.
Ian shook his head. "We're just using Snowscape to stall 'em and get out of here, nothing more," Ian said. Sandslash tensed, sharpening her claws as she watched the approaching shadows become more and more human. Ian watched on, his heart thumping in his chest. He was curious as to why it had taken Sinclair's men so long then remembered they were running across soft sand. "Idiots," Ian said with a snicker as the group of twenty-ish figures closed in.
"There's one!" A man called out, and dozens of battle cries erupted from the approaching mass. A few figures began running up the incline before a voice Ian could tell held authority called them back with a single "hey!"
Ian focused his eyes on the commander. Besides the standard navy blue shirt and pants, the man had a captain's hat on, sort of like Ingo's. Ian couldn't make out too much detail from the man, but he had light skin and a scruffy black beard. The figure then stepped forward, his eager subordinates falling back in the group behind him. Yeah, that's gotta be Sinclair.
"Are you here to surrender?" Sinclair shouted from the bottom.
"Hell no!" Ian fired back. "Sandslash, Snowscape!"
Sandslash jumped down the ramp as much as it could before sending out a radius of ice, slush, and snow from its body.
"Neat little trick!" Sinclair fired back as he reached for his own belt. Out came a dark ball which opened, manifesting a hulking monstrosity at the bottom of the hill. Alpha Barbaracle. Ian caught one glimpse of the beast and remembered he needed to boogie. Standing at least ten feet tall, salmon and brown striped limbs shot out of the two different rocks that made up its torso. The upper rock had four limbs sprouted out of it with razor sharp ends. A pink head with glowing red eyes nestled inside a protective helmet made of rock. "Barbaracle, Shell Smash and climb up the side wall!" Sinclair roared as Ian finished recalling Sandslash and turned to run, swapping the Premier Ball for Sawsbuck's Heal Ball.
"Sawsbuck, we need to dip!" Ian called out as he continued rushing forward. Sawsbuck manifested mid-stride and its vines immediately grabbed a hold of Ian and helped lift him up as he pushed himself up and onto Sawsbuck's saddle. Sawsbuck picked up speed as Ian settled on the saddle of vines and moss. He turned back with a contented sigh that quickly contorted into panic.
Alpha Barbaracle had already made it to the top of the incline and had its arms glowing with brown energy, manifesting a small boulder between its two right arms. You've gotta be kidding me. Ian watched as Barbaracle finished manifesting the small boulder and began winding up. "Sawsbuck-"
Alpha Barbaracle launched the projectile with unbelievable force, sending the boulder at him stupendously fast. "Hard right!" Ian shouted in a panic as he tightened his grip on the vine reins. Sawsbuck whined as it leapt diagonally. Ian held on for dear life as his body contorted to gravity's force on him, but as Sawsbuck landed from its leap, a helpful Sawsbuck vine stabilized him. Ian's head fell forward, bashing against Sawsbuck's neck as the blessed stag slowed temporarily from the leap.
A sudden boom to Ian's left caught his attention, and all he saw was the small boulder splitting in two as it collided with the ground at breakneck speed. Speaking of breaking necks, that's probably what would have happened to me if we got hit with that. Ian turned back around, grinning as he noticed Barbaracle had not continued to launch boulders or pursue them. "Alright Sawsbuck, you can slow down," Ian said, scratching the fuzzy back of his blessed stag's neck.
Sawsbuck mewled happily, slowing the pace gradually. "Sawsbuck, It'll never be enough praise, but you're fucking amazing, thank you," Ian said with the utmost sincerity.
Sawsbuck gave a loud, cheerful bleat that put a little pep in his step.
***
Ian caught back up a little before the group got to the Ula'Ula Meadow, and Ian stayed on Sawsbuck when they actually got to it. He took the lead up the steps, and the meadow's Oricorio broke into a jubilant song as the tall grasses rose and their special flowers expanded and bloomed. Soon, little red birds began floating overhead, dancing as little sparkling flames fluttered around them as they danced, dropping berries on the walkway. "Thank you friends," Ian muttered under his breath.
The trek to Fort Acuity didn't take long, but Gaeric did leave behind scouts in case Sinclair's group decided to push through the Akua Jungle, which seemed a foolhardy move. As the group got settled in Fort Acuity's main tent, Plumeria took Ian aside.
"Lex mentioned the radio network didn't see Sinclair's group going after us. Good job," Plumeria said, offering her hand.
Ian took it, smiling proudly. "It wasn't smooth. I got a glimpse of Sinclair's Alpha Barbaracle."
Plumeria's eyes widened. "Well damn. How was it?"
"Crazy," Ian said. At least ten feet tall, and it apparently climbed the cliff's walls as quickly as it took for me to get on Sawsbuck. Threw a pretty huge rock at me that would've probably paralyzed me if Sawsbuck didn't dodge it."
Plumeria sighed. "You lucky fucker." Plumeria paused before something made her smirk. "You know, I think you're gonna have to owe me some thanks at some point."
"Okay?" Ian questioned.
"I'm just fucking with you," Plumeria said. "I figured if me wishing upon a star could bring you to a whole new universe, imagine what a pinky promise could do."
Ian rolled his eyes. "Ah yes, the universe runs on wishes and pinky promises," Ian said sarcastically.
Plumeria shrugged. "It's worked well enough for me. You remember the last pinky promise I made you?"
"Uh… remind me," Ian croaked back.
"It was after you didn't use Sawsbuck against Suzy-Marie. I saw you put Team Skull's well-being over your own happiness. From there on, I promised to trust you."
Ian nodded. "Oh yeah, that…"
"Plumeria!" Lex's voice harshly yelled as she entered Fort Acuity's main tent. "Just got a call from Guzma, it's urgent."
"I'll get right on," Plumeria said, dropping the conversation.
"It wasn't for a conversation, he just ordered your squad to get back to Po Town as soon as possible," Lex said.
"Really?" Plumeria asked, completely perplexed. "We could have Sinclair's goons on our asses any minute and he's pulling a squad out? Did he at least say why?"
Lex shook her head. "He didn't give a reason, just said he needed you and your squad there now."
Plumeria grunted with frustration. "I take it he wants to hear a detailed recap of what happened?"
Lex shrugged. "I told them the basics of it."
"Plumeria," Trickz said, a hint of concern in his voice. "Something doesn't sound right here."
"I know," Plumeria fired back.
"Should I go with you?" Trickz asked.
"And leave the fort undermanned right now?" Plumeria said dismissively. "Not an option."
"Well, just be careful what you say to Guzma," Trickz said. "Rook may pull something if he suspects you're trying to get him."
Plumeria grimaced. "Yeah I know. If I see my chance I'm taking it though."
Trickz nodded. "Just make sure you got a crew behind you. I don't think Rook goes down without a fight."
***
The bike ride back to Po Town had a rather ominous feeling. Plumeria and Rapp stayed mostly silent, Rapp from exhaustion and Plumeria likely feeling anxious. Hyde drifted near the back of the group, sometimes falling so far behind Plumeria had to signal him to come forward again. Ian wanted to give Tupp and Selene some space, as he could see the happiness Tupp was feeling already. Most of the way they held hands riding side-by-side. They haven't been together for more than two hours and I'm already cringing. Ian shook the thought from his head as he remembered how big a deal this was for his best bro. If she makes you happy, bro, I'm happy for you.
As Po Town came into view, Plumeria signaled Ian up to her position at the head of the formation. "I didn't get time to say it earlier, but thanks for saving all of our asses."
"No problem," Ian said, bowing his head respectfully.
"And to show my thanks, I'm gonna transfer Hyde out of the squad," Plumeria said. "I should've done it a while ago, but I was hoping he could grow beyond it."
Ian sighed, already feeling a weight lifting from his shoulders. "I tried Plumeria, I really did."
"I know," Plumeria said. "You don't seem too stoked about it?"
Ian shrugged. "I am, just… Nervous about what's coming. If Rook sent Sinclair a message to ambush us and they snuck past our surveillance, what does that mean?"
"Yeah, been bugging me too," Plumeria grunted. "Guzma's gonna hear it. I'm gonna heap a ton of praise on you, try to bait Rook into trying to trashtalk you. Once he's angry I can get him."
Ian nodded. "Good luck."
A couple minutes later, Ian was surprised to see Guzma, Rook, and his giant of a little brother, Ruckz standing at the gate, smiling.
"There's the Prince of Po Town, there's our hero!" Guzma shouted loudly.
"Yeeeeah!" Rook shouted as the group brought their bikes to a halt.
"Ian, bring it in," Guzma said, signaling him forward. Ian dismounted from his bike, leaving its kickstand up as Guzma dapped him up, embracing him. "Saved a lot of lives, didn't you?"
"Blastoise did," Ian corrected. "But everyone was a part of it."
"Nice!" Guzma said, disengaging from Ian as Rook made his way over, mimicking what Guzma had done, bumping shoulders then embracing.
"Saved the whole operation," Rook added before disengaging.
"Uh, yeah…" Ian said, a gut feeling telling him something wasn't right.
"Even I heard about it. Impressive stuff," Ruckz said, doing as the prior two, with Ian only bumping Ruckz's elbow due to the taller man's sheer size. Ruckz embraced Ian, who hesitated slightly. Suddenly Ruckz's leg hooked around Ian's and he was no longer standing. Ruckz stayed on top of Ian as he slammed him to the ground, Ian feeling a sudden pain all over as he scrambled to get Ruckz off.
"The fuck?" Plumeria demanded, dismounting from her bike.
"Stay right there Plumeria!" Guzma ordered, deathly serious. Ruckz's elbow suddenly found its way under Ian's chin and the realization he could easily be choked unconscious dawned on him.
"What the fuck is going on here?" Ian demanded. Ruckz answered by tightening his elbow's hold against his neck.
"Shut up, traitor," Guzma spat menacingly.
"Traitor? What?" Plumeria demanded.
"No way! No fucking way!" Tupp interjected.
"Tupp, this doesn't concern you," Guzma said before turning back to Plumeria. "Remember how I told you not to take Ian with you on the thing today?"
Plumeria tensed. "Yeah. What about it?"
"There was a reason for that," Guzma said.
Rook stepped forward. "We got a Sinclair defector yesterday. I didn't want anyone to know cuz I was suspecting a mole," Rook explained. "Guy told us everything. Ian's been sending messages to 'em since the early days of the war. So after Ian told me of his ambitious plan to 'end the war,' Guzma greenlit it but I had my doubts about it."
"What the fuck are you talking about, Rook?" Ian demanded, only to be met with a tighter squeeze from Ruckz's elbow against his neck.
Guzma shook his head. "Except Pizza Boy here didn't want Rook telling me it was actually from him. He was gonna be the big hero who saved everyone."
"And that's where it got really interesting," Rook said. "The plan all along was to bait me and Guzma outside the walls. There, Sinclair and the Pearl Clan would take us out. Ian would marry Irida and get to keep his side bitch, running the town like a king. Basically like Breon."
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard, and that's saying a lot Rook considering how long I've known you!" Plumeria fired back.
Rook shook his head, laughing knowingly. "He even got you under his spell, Plumeria. Damn," Rook said before changing the tone of his voice to sheer mockery. "'Oh Big Sis, if you let me run Po Town I'll bring your daddy back to you!' How pathetic."
Plumeria charged Rook with a fury. "Don't you dare use my father-"
"PLUMERIA!" Guzma bellowed, holding his hand up to halt the charging squad leader. "We got all of the info from the defector. Don't do anything you'll end up regretting."
"I don't think you realize how fucked we were out there off of Rook's plan," Plumeria said. "Ian saved eleven lives today."
"Plumeria, we already went over this, it was Ian's plan," Guzma said dismissively.
"That's bullshit and you know it Rook!" Ian roared with the little air he could spare.
Rook shook his head with a wicked titter. "That was his plan though, the boats and the ambush. Alpha Huntail will attack, Ian will lead some miraculous escape, and upon his return he'd actually be the Prince of Po Town."
Plumeria growled under her breath, then turned to Guzma. "Considering none of you are listening to any fucking sense, I'll play this stupid fucking game of yours. Just answer me this: Ian's Wartortle evolved when we were all fucked. If this was all planned out so perfectly, tell me how Ian timed that fucking evolution for that exact moment?"
Guzma hesitated, turning to Rook in apparent confusion. "Yeah, you said the defector wasn't too specific on how he'd do it," Guzma said uncertainly.
"Well, you know…" Rook said, fumbling his words.
"There!" Plumeria pointed at Rook. "Rook's up his own ass with bullshit right now boss! Just wait until I tell you what else he's been doing!"
"Shut up bitch!" Rook fired back.
Plumeria tittered victoriously. "Couldn't have been a Water Stone, wasn't a King's Rock. How'd he evolve Wartortle at that exact moment?" Plumeria taunted Rook.
Rook started waving his hands angrily. "You didn't hear the whole thing-"
"I was fucking there! I figured we were completely done for," Plumeria fired back. "Guzma, unless Rook can provide evidence of how Ian supposedly induces evolution at will, you gotta release him now!" Plumeria demanded.
Guzma turned to Rook, who had completely frozen up. "Got anything to say, Rook?" Guzma said.
"B-boss, uh…" Rook stammered.
"What, Meowth got your tongue Rook?" Plumeria taunted. "What a surprise, Ian can't induce evolution. Case closed."
Hyde cleared his throat, and Ian watched the Team Skull member step forward. "Actually he can."
Ian gasped as he remembered the Ultra Storm before they climbed Mt. Lanakila when Hyde had demanded to have the EXP Candy. Oh shit.
"Really?" Guzma asked.
"Hyde, what the fuck are you talking about?" Plumeria demanded.
"Been under our nose the whole time," Hyde explained. "The blue 'alpha poop' he takes from beating Alphas in Ultra Storms? I saw him feed one of them to his Litleo and it evolved into Pyroar before it even finished eating the damn thing."
Hyde you motherfucker!
Guzma wheezed. "Well, that's good enough for me. Take this asshole to The Basement!"
"Guzma, you're making a huge mistake!" Plumeria explained.
"This is the second time you've questioned me, Plumeria. I know you're everyone's Big Sis, but no one does it a third time," Guzma said grimly.
Ian felt a slight weight lift from the man pinning him down, only to be met with a Kadabra materializing from a Poke Ball. "Kadabra, Telekinesis on this traitor right here!" Ruckz ordered. Suddenly a sensation of tight pressure engulfed his whole body, and he couldn't move. Ruckz got up, pulling Ian up still in the pinned position, now just floating midair. "Kadabra, loosen him up a bit."
Ian felt his feet hit the ground and he turned to face his nemesis. "Hyde!" Ian roared before Ruckz got a hold of Ian's arms. "I saved your life! I saved your fucking life!"
Hyde smirked wickedly. "Sure you did," he said, holding up a middle finger. "Have fun in The Basement."
"Hy-" Ian's mouth suddenly stopped working as Kadabra's Telekinesis took hold of him once more, turning him away from Plumeria's squad.
"Ian!" Plumeria shouted desperately, eyes full of furious anger.
"Plumeria, watch yourself," Guzma said coldly.
"I know he's your prisoner now, just give me a few seconds with him," Plumeria said coolly.
"But we all gotta hear," Guzma said.
"Fine," Plumeria said, stepping forward. Ian was flipped around by Kadabra's Telekinesis so he could look at Plumeria face to face.
"I'm gonna get to the bottom of this," Plumeria said, her eyes lowering repeatedly like she was trying to lead his vision somewhere. Ian looked down, noticing Plumeria's fingers mostly curled up, except for a lone pinky sticking out.
"Alright, get him out of here!" Guzma shouted.
With that, Ian was helplessly flipped back around, feeling like he was being paraded for any potential onlookers.
Blastoise and I saved LIVES today and this is how I'm getting treated? Fuck these guys. The fire in Ian's veins pulsed even harder. But most of all, fuck Rook and Hyde.
The waters of Mahiki Bay were unusually dark thanks to the mid-morning sun coming in from the east, which made Ian grimace in his prone position. Of course we're possibly going into a trap the one time of day the water isn't almost completely clear. Next to him was the rest of Plumeria's squad staying as low to the ground as possible on the short incline above the sands of Mahiki Bay's beach as Wingull and Pelipper glided lazily overhead..
The static of a walkie-talkie being activated drew Ian's attention a dozen feet over, where Trickz and his squad of Team Skull members mimicked Plumeria's, staying low and keeping their eyes locked on the various sized rocks and islands in the bay. "This is Tiny Bladder. Got a status update for me, Concerned Parent?" Trickz spoke into his walkie-talkie.
Tupp covered his mouth as he chuckled at the code names.
Another static-y screech hit their ears. "Yeah, all Perverts in the bathroom. You're free to pee, Tiny Bladder."
"Heard. Operation 'Pee in the Pool' is a go," Trickz said confidently into the walkie-talkie before standing up from his position and waving his hands up the paved road where behind some brush, their two boats with trailers waited, connected to harnesses where Trickz's Mudsdale and Tauros pulled one each. "It's time! Tauros, Mudsdale, move it!"
The two towing Pokemon lurched into motion with some difficulty at first, but once the trailers' wheels got moving began trotting forward smoothly. Ian noticed some of the Pearl Clan escorts, led by Gaeric and Irida, waited not too far away from the boats' initial hiding place. The rather small, worn, but apparently functional motorboats rolled along on their trailers as Tauros and Mudsdale built up momentum.
"Not too fast! We got this downhill coming up," Trickz warned the Pokemon. The Team Skull grunts waited at the top of the dirt road leading down an incline to the beach. Tauros and Mudsdale charged forward, taking the trailers down the dirt road. The two towing Pokemon picked up quite a bit of speed as the trailers' momentum pushed them forward, but as they reached the bottom the two were able to slow as they pulled the trailers across the beach's pale sands.
"Alright, good stuff!" Trickz called out as he charged down the dirt path with the other five trainers following close behind. "Pull 'em to the water!"
Plumeria urged her squad up and they followed hastily. Just like he'd seen them practicing earlier by Fort Acuity, Mudsdale and Tauros pulled the trailers perpendicularly into thigh-deep water, just deep enough for the trailers to be submerged. Ian followed along as Plumeria's squad got in right next to the boats, which made Ian grimace as he felt his feet become completely doused in water. I should've brought another pair of socks for later. Oh well.
It didn't take long before the motorboats drifted off their trailers and Tauros and Mudsdale dragged them out of the water. Tupp climbed onto their speed boat first and began pulling up the rest of the squad, with Ian coming last. His soaked feet were a mild annoyance compared to the daggers Hyde glared at him as he took a seat.
"He's not supposed to be here," Hyde said.
"And I don't give a fuck, Hyde," Plumeria dismissed simply.
Hyde folded his arms angrily and turned around, looking out to the bay. Plumeria gave Ian a quick eyeroll but quickly got in the driver's seat near the back of the motorboat. Ian turned his gaze to Mahiki Bay as the engine protested for a couple seconds before roaring to life. Trickz's boat was ready to go as well, and Tauros and Mudsdale had long returned to their respective Poke Balls with the boat trailers sitting idly a dozen feet from the water.
"You ready?" Trickz called out.
"Yeah!" Plumeria fired back before lowering her voice. "Alright everyone, get your Water Pokemon out."
Ian quickly released Wartortle from his ball, and his turtle with a bad attitude gave an annoyed croak before taking in its surroundings, appearing to be less upset than normal. Selene got her Primarina out, and Tupp his Drizzile. Plumeria got her Toxapex out, and Rapp released her Comfey. Oh yeah, she doesn't have any Water Types. A healer wouldn't hurt though. Ian caught an angry glare from Hyde, which quickly moved to Plumeria before grabbing one of his Poke Balls and releasing a light blue, floating Pokemon tentacle-like appendages, what appeared to be a poofy collar, and dark eyes with hauntingly red pupils. So Hyde has a Frillish. Interesting.
"Keep 'em all on the boat unless we get attacked," Plumeria barked. "We don't need to draw any attention from the Pokemon in the water unless we have to." With that, the boat lurched into motion, following closely behind Trickz as they motored along the water's surface.
Speaking of the surface, the Wingull and Pelipper kept their distance from the water's surface. In most coastal areas in Alola, Wingulls often floated on the water's surface with regularity, but they were conspicuously absent in this place. The line of thinking gave Ian an unsettling shiver through his body that had nothing to do with his drenched feet. The twenty foot tall cliff that was Cape Pupuhi, leading to Adaman's Point, was dotted with Wingull and Pelipper, be they nesting or resting on crevices or near the very top of the cliff. Even the nearest dark rock sticking out of the water had no Wingull near the water's surface, just a few perched on the very top. They know something… "I got a bad feeling about this," Ian said aloud.
"Pussy," Hyde chimed in.
"It shouldn't take long," Plumeria said with frustration. "We might not even attack 'em so chill the fuck out. Both of you."
Ian returned his focus to the waters of Mahiki Bay as the boats motored past the first rock, with a small island looming up ahead. On this island like the rock before it, Wingulls and Pelipper congregated near the highest points of the flatter landmass. Another red flag, but so far so good though. A high pitched, eerily melodic call hit Ian's ears and he tensed and turned to its source. A long, lithe, bright pink Pokemon slithered back underneath the water's surface a few dozen feet from the boat. A Gorebyss by the looks of it…
Suddenly the nearby Wingull and Pelipper elicited frantic cries and took to the air in earnest, even the ones at the highest points of their respective roosts got airborne. Wartortle immediately lowered its head, prepping for a fight. Even Drizzile and Frillish tensed. "Well that's not a good sign," Ian quipped under his breath. By the time the seabird Pokemon had mostly cleared out, the metallic hum of the motor boats' engines was the only sound he could hear with the water's surface being so unsettlingly tranquil.
Ian continued scouring the water's surface as they neared the first island when another high pitched, eery song just like the first hit his ears, his back shivering once more. This time he got to see the Gorebyss' full body as it pierced the surface before disappearing underneath as the other had before. Another melodic cry, twenty to thirty feet in the opposite direction from the prior one made Ian tense even more. "Plumeria, I really think we need to turn back," Ian said gravely.
"Scared of some Gorebyss? Some prince you are," Hyde mocked.
Plumeria sighed. "Guys-"
Two red orbs glowed underneath the water's surface for just a moment before a massive open mouth erupted from the depths with a gurgling shriek. Ian stood in shock as the beast's mouth launched itself upwards and snapped shut around Hyde's Frillish. Ian gasped in horror as he watched the titanic blue eel with orange fins snagged Frillish from the air. An Alpha HUNTAIL? Holy shit!
A tremendous splash from the Alpha Huntail retreating under the surface knocked sense back into Ian and he tensed viscerally. Selene and Rapp both shrieked in terror
"What the FUCK? Frillish!" Hyde shouted desperately. Moments later, the Ghost-Water Type rematerialized above the water in a panic, desperately rushing to Hyde. "Frillish, you're okay?" Hyde shouted in relief. There were multiple wounds on Frillish where Alpha Huntail's fangs had grabbed it before it'd dematerialized inside Huntail's mouth. The relief was not to last.
Something smacked into the motorboat from underwater, rocking the rather cramped motorboat. Ian was seated too closely to the edge and nearly fell off with his momentum, with Wartortle falling into the side with an annoyed croak. Ian's heart skipped a beat before he was able to keep his balance although his Team Skull hat fell in the water, the headwear being snapped up in a smaller Huntail's jaws. The eel Pokemon gurgled a hiss before retreating below the surface with its prize. "Plumeria-"
"I know!" Plumeria fired back as the boat veered to the right, turning around the best it could.
Multiple smacks hit the boat now, much smaller and less forceful than the others, and Ian saw multiple Huntail just underneath the surface of the water scurrying around. Looking over to Trickz's boat which had also begun to U-turn, their boat was dealing with the same rocking issue as numerous figures underneath the water swarmed around their vessel.
Suddenly Trickz's boat stopped rocking and the Huntail near the surface cleared out and a terrifying dread came over Ian. "Trickz, keep away-"
Trickz's boat was smacked into once more, this time sending a male Team Skull member off the side and in the water with a light splash. The person quickly came up for air, shouting desperately for a moment before being swiftly pulled under the surface in a hauntingly silent maneuver.
Shrieks of horror erupted around Ian as he watched on in stunned silence. Small pockets of red liquid were the only evidence of the horror that had occurred. "Starmie!" Trickz shouted desperately, sending his purple starfish Pokemon into the water. Trickz's whole boat turned into a frenzy of freaked out, disoriented members as they sent their water Pokemon, namely a Poliwhirl, Seel, and a Golduck.
Numerous shadows underneath converged on the location as more bits of red liquid reached the surface "Primarina, save them!" Selene screamed desperately, urging her fully evolved start into the water as well.
"Wartortle-" Ian's words stopped as Wartortle stood completely stunned, its eyes on the surface.
"Toxapex!" Plumeria shouted hysterically as her poisonous starfish Pokemon crawled overboard and into the eel infested waters.
"Drizzile-"
"Everyone stop!" Hyde shouted. "He's fucking dead! We need to go!"
Ian realized just how hard his heart was pounding in his chest and remembered to breathe. "Wartortle, help them out," Ian said with an almost resigned quiet. The turtle Pokemon stayed still as a statue. "Wartortle!" Ian shouted more fiercely, causing the Pokemon to open its mouth and let out a gurgling, horrified scream.
Ian moved his head closer to Wartortle, seeing the Pokemon's eyes wide open as its horrified scream rang in his ears. "Wartortle, c'mon!"
"Primarina, Moonblast!" Selene's voice managed to shout over Wartortle's scream, and Ian looked to the water, seeing Primarina being bitten and assaulted on all sides by half a dozen Huntail. Primarina tried to manifest pink energy near its mouth, but another painful bite from a Huntail ended the energy channeling. Hyde's Frillish remained cowering by floating over the boat as the vessel continued moving, still being bumped by underwater assailants.
Trickz was already maneuvering his boat back around to the place one of their squad members had been dragged under, but suddenly the massive Huntail head with glowing red eyes breached the surface behind the boat and an ear-splitting, gurgling hiss of a sound erupted from the Alpha Huntail. In just a couple moments, one end of Trickz's boat flipped over from the Alpha Roar, dumping the five remaining squad members out, bluntly splashing into the water.
"No!" Ian shouted, part of him feeling compelled to jump in to do something, but the adrenaline pumping in veins gave way to his mind forcing him to stay in the only safe place available to him.
"Toxapex, get over there!" Plumeria shouted desperately, although her poisonous starfish Pokemon had yet to come back to the surface. Their boat approached the now helpless Team Skull members splashing in a frenzy as more shadowy underwater figures closed in.
"Wartortle, we need you!" Ian said, putting his hand on Wartortle's shell, urging his Pokemon to jump in. Wartortle turned to Ian, having stopped its horrified gurgling, but now with tears on its face and eyes full of terror. He must've seen something like this before…
Panicked pleas from the Team Skull members brought Ian back to the situation at hand as their boat sped as best it could through the water and commotion of the underwater assailants. Ian would occasionally see bolts of various colored Type Energy underneath the surface as they closed in on Trickz's squad position. Trickz's Starmie must be doing everything it can down there.
The massive Alpha Huntail's head shot out of the water and latched its mouth onto their motorboat's side. Ian looked into the glowing red eyes of the beast, his body paralyzed by fear for a moment before the monstrous Huntail pulled the front of the boat down with such force the back of the float shot up, flinging the whole squad and still boat-ridden Pokemon into the air before Ian landed helplessly in the water. He quickly got his head above water, trying to find the nearest island to swim to, which had to be a good hundred feet away at least from them and the opposite direction of the shore. He dipped his head underwater to see how many Huntail and Gorebyss were around and while huge numbers of them swarmed around the perimeter, he zeroed in on Alpha Huntail wrestling fiercely with the motor boat and cursed. Why that way of all ways? Looking to the cliffs they weren't too far away from, he saw dozens of Gorebyss and Huntail scurrying around the water in a frenzy. Suddenly things went dark again and Ian brought his head above water, desperately trying to stay afloat. We might be royally fucked here.
Selene's high pitched shriek of terror hit his eyes first, then Hyde's voice drew Ian's attention. "We're all gonna die!" He shouted in panic, splashing frantically.
Something bumped into his back and recoiled in fright before realizing it was Wartortle, who just floated, completely wide-eyed. "Wartortle, we gotta get outta here, I need you," Ian pleaded.
Wartortle's face remained still, a blank expression in his eyes as if he wasn't present at all. Did he just give up? A sharp pain hit Ian's leg and his heart skipped another beat before he flailed desperately, cursing as he did. The force behind the bite left, but pain still remained. There are DOZENS of these eels, not including the alpha.
A huge gush of water erupted a good fifteen away from him in the direction of the island and he turned desperately, seeing a portion of a boat floating helplessly before Alpha Huntail's head latched on and dragged it under again. Wartortle, come the fuck on!
Ian turned to his Wartortle in desperate anger and realized his turtle was no longer at his side. "Wartortle, where the fuck are you?" Ian said angrily as the reality of the situation sank in. Ian looked around, watching Plumeria and Rapp get close to each other. Toxapex floated nearby as if standing guard, although it had been clearly roughed up and bloodied by the horde of eel Pokemon.
Close by, Hyde treaded water, almost peacefully with his eyes closed. Pussy. Ian then heard a slight commotion behind him and figured the worst was coming for him, but actually it was Tupp and Selene holding onto Drizzile, the duo's lips locked. Seems they've resigned themselves too.
"Dammit Wartortle…" Ian cursed, looking up to the Alolan sky one last time, expecting more searing pain to hit him any moment now.
"Ian! What the fuck is going on?" Plumeria's voice brought his vision back to the doomed situation at hand. Plumeria's hand pointed in his direction, but slightly down. "Beneath you!"
Ian looked down, noticing a bright white glow illuminating the waters below as all of the shadowy masses that were the eels bolted away. Is that what I think it is?
The light disappeared in an instant and Ian saw a dark figure rapidly expanding underneath him until a hard surface hit his legs and bumped his whole body up. Suddenly he was no longer treading water, but kneeling on a hard, slick surface. He looked to his pained leg and noticed bite marks with blood dripping onto the brown surface beneath him. Two gray cannon barrels stuck out of the floating platform or more accurately, shell. "Blastoise!" Ian shouted in surprise. "We need to save everyone!"
Between the two cannons sprouted a small head from the water and a deep, affirmative croak answered him before lurching forward to Selene and Tupp, still kissing each other. "Sorry to interrupt!" Ian shouted as Blastoise closed in on them. Drizzle separated them, but they both gasped as Ian reached out from on top of Blastoise's shell.
"Oh fuck yo!" Tupp shouted in amazement. Ian reached out, pulling Tupp and Selene out of the water as Drizzile climbed on. Blastoise began swimming to Hyde, and Ian took a deep breath as the frazzled thinking of the prior events gave way to a clearer head. Blastoise's shell had to be seven or eight feet long and was decently wide. We got room for three or four more on here. We'll probably need a second trip…
"Primarina, return!" Selene called out, voice quivering with emotion as a red beam recalled the severely wounded, floating sea lion Pokemon. Ian panicked for a moment, reaching for his Poke Ball belt but heaved a sigh of relief as all five of his other Poke Balls were still there. Blastoise closed in on Hyde and Ian smirked.
"Hey pussy, open your eyes!" Ian shouted as he extended his hand to Hyde, who looked absolutely befuddled. Ian pulled his number one hater from water with a grunt, and Blastoise immediately surged forward to Plumeria and Rapp.
"It's a miracle," Plumeria shouted as they approached.
"Don't think we got room for Trickz's squad," Ian said worriedly.
"Get us to the island then!" Plumeria ordered as he pulled Rapp from the water first.
"But the Alpha-" Ian stopped as he looked, noticing another section of their motorboat now floating forty-ish feet away with the Alpha's tail wrapped around it. "I see."
After helping Plumeria from the water, Ian saw one of Trickz's squad waving at him frantically. "Help us!"
Ian grimaced. "Do we have room?" Ian asked his squadmates aloud.
"We'll hold onto its side! We don't give a fuck! We need to get out of here!" Trickz shouted.
Ian turned to Plumeria, who grimaced as well. "Up to you," she said.
Ian turned his head down to Blastoise's. "Think you can do it buddy?"
A gurgling croak answered quickly and the newly evolved Blastoise surged forward to Trickz's squad. Rapp hadn't been ready for the motion and fell backwards, with Hyde grabbing her by the ankle to keep her on Blastoise's back. "Toxapex, cover us!" Plumeria ordered, and her battered poison starfish nodded obediently, staying close but not too close to their savior's shell.
Ian released his grip on one of the water cannons that kept him steady, keeping one in his grip and motioned for Tupp to grab hold of the now free one. Selene held onto Tupp, and Hyde held onto Selene to keep everyone steady, while Plumeria held onto Ian with Rapp holding onto the squad leader, completing the other chain.
"Ian, you're bleeding yo!" Rapp pointed out.
"It's nothing. Save Comfey's energy for Trickz's squad," Ian dismissed. "They're probably doing a lot worse."
As Blastoise closed in on Trickz's group, Ian noticed the Poliwhirl, Golduck, and Starmie from the group were pretty roughed up but still circling the group of water treading Team Skull members, with one member being supported by two other members.
"Got room for one up there? Spool ain't doin' too hot," Trickz said. "He took a lot of bites early."
"We should," Ian said as Plumeria released his arm that kept the chain together. Ian and Tupp pulled the dazed Team Skull member from the water and settled them between the two human chains. Ian caught a glimpse of multiple bleeding wounds and shook his head, cursing whoever planned the damn operation in the first place.
"Comfey, that's the worst wound, start there with Floral Healing," Rapp ordered.
"Grab hold of where the limbs come out, best place on the shell to grip!" Trickz ordered as the other three squad members made their way around Blastoise. "Keep covering us Starmie, hopefully not too long from safety," Trickz said aloud. "And guys, the island's further back. Maybe we just head for the shore? The smaller eels are keeping their distance from Blastoise, just gotta worry about the Alpha."
"Sounds like a good idea," Plumeria said. "If Blastoise can hold."
"How's it going buddy?" Ian asked.
A loud, annoyed croak gurgled from the water's surface, but Blastoise nodded. If you say so bud.
Once all four Team Skull members had secured positions around openings in Blastoise's shell, Blastoise began moving once more, this time much more slowly as it turned back to the shore. I hope we didn't overburden you buddy. The island was only a hundred and fifty feet or so from us, but the shores's like four to five hundred feet. A pang of regret hit him as the unkind sentiments he'd had toward Blastoise popped back up in his mind. If we get out of this, we're all gonna owe you big time, buddy.
"Look!" Plumeria said to the group. "Alpha Huntail's on the move."
Dammit.
"That's what the cover's for," Trickz said. "Starmie, get a Confuse Ray ready to go if it comes at us again." Starmie dove underneath the surface quickly. "Make sure your Blastoise keeps his head above water so he can't hear it, okay Ian?"
Ian nodded. "Got it. Keep your head above the water bud!" From Ian's angle, Blastoise's small head popped up from the water and gave an annoyed croak, but did as ordered.
Ian's heavily burdened Blastoise moved rather slowly, but the other Huntail and Gorebyss continued keeping their distance. Well, the covering Pokemon help too. As the shore got closer and closer, Ian began daring to hope they were about to make it out. His leg still kept bleeding, but it was nowhere near the level Spool, the grunt who had regained consciousness thanks to quick treatment from Comfey, had endured. Trickz did lose that one member though…
"Wasn't there a Seel with you guys?" Ian asked lowly.
"Yeah," Trickz said hoarsely. "I think she went down with Jayjay… ain't seen it since."
"That was Jayjay that got…" Plumeria paused, not wanting to say the word.
"Yeah…" Trickz said with a light nod.
"Look, Starmie's glowing!" One of Trickz's squad members called out. "Golduck, keep your head above water a bit longer then start hitting that Huntail with all you got left! We're almost to safety." Golduck nodded and gave a gurgling, affirmative quack. The other Water Pokemon steeled themselves. After five seconds passed, Golduck's trainer re-opened his mouth. "Okay GO!"
"Follow 'em!" Plumeria ordered Toxapex. Golduck and Toxapex disappeared underneath the surface quickly, and Ian watched anxiously as Blastoise further separated the group from the murderous alpha.
A couple minutes of eerie calm passed, and they were now floating by the first rock they'd passed on their way in when Ian heard a huge splash behind them. Ian watched in terrified awe as Golduck's body flew through the air, with Alpha Huntail's glowing red eyes briefly flashing above the surface before retreating below the surface. "Well, they gave us a shot," Ian muttered.
Toxapex emerged from the water a few dozen feet behind them completely spent, and Plumeria recalled her battered Pokemon. "Thank you for helping save our lives," Plumeria whispered to her valiant defender.
"Not out of the woods yet," Hyde said.
"How about you and your pussy ass Frillish shut up?" Plumeria fired back. "Where is your Pokemon anyways?"
The floating blue jellyfish re-manifested right above them, still cowering in fear. "Fuck off," Hyde said, recalling his Pokemon.
Poliwhirl and Drizzile were the last two Pokemon keeping watch as defenders, Drizzile doing it from the back of Blastoise's shell. Poliwhirl raised one of its hands and began waving it frantically.
"Brace yourselves!" Ian called out.
Starmie appeared above the water first, then the gigantic head of Alpha Huntail emerged just a couple dozen feet behind them. Drizzile fired off a Dark Pulse almost instantly, which Alpha Huntail swung its head out of the way of. Trickz's Starmie fired off a Thunderbolt, connecting with the murderous monster and making it cry out in pain. From behind the beast, Golduck surfaced weakly and fired a red beam, connecting another blow on the beast's head, stunning it temporarily before it regained its purpose, roaring its bone-chilling shriek and charging ahead in the water. Dammit.
"Blastoise…" Ian said. "I know you're going as fast as you can…"
Blastoise groaned as he pushed forward a little faster. Less than a hundred feet from safety, just gotta hold out a little longer.
Huntail surged forward like a speedboat, creating its own current in its wake. It didn't take long before it was within twenty feet, and Poliwhirl launched itself at the surging Alpha. Huntail's head left the water, lunging forward, but Poliwhirl smacked into the side of its jaws with a Body Slam before it opened its mouth. Drizzile fired a Dark Pulse at the momentarily stunned opponent. The black mass of energy collided and exploded right on one of Huntail's eyes, making it roar its blood-curdling shriek once more.
"Guys!" Trickz called out. "I can feel sand!"
"Should we get off Blastoise and have it help defend?" Ian asked.
"Yeah," Trickz said. "Give us another ten feet so we can all stand though."
"Are you sure?" Rapp squealed.
"We can get Spool from here," Trickz said.
"I'm good enough," the patient said weakly.
Fifteen seconds later, Ian gave Blastoise's head a good pat. "Buddy, we owe you so much."
Blastoise croaked, rubbing its head up against Ian's hand before stopping. "Guys, off Blastoise!" Plumeria barked.
Ian leapt as far forward as he could, hitting the water with a splash. His feet hit sand and he was chest level deep in water when he began wading forward. It didn't take long for the rest of Blastoise's shell's passengers to dismount, and their savior shook off some of its fatigue, turning its body around.
"Blastoise, give that fucker hell!" Ian roared.
Blastoise's croak sounded more like a battle cry than ever, and it stood in the water, lowering its head and starting to lean forward as its body became engulfed in white energy. Tupp's Drizzile grabbed hold of one of Blastoise's water cannons, lowering its body as well. Ian cracked a proud grin, seeing his and Tupp's Pokemon not even needing directions to work together.
Ian's moment of pride dissipated as he saw Starmie being flung like a ragdoll into the air. Huntail got back on its pursuit and surged forward once more. This fucker doesn't quit. Blastoise gave one more battle cry and launched itself like a speed boat across the surface of the water. Skull Bash! Ian saw only one glowing red eye above the water before Blastoise collided with the monster. From there the battle became difficult to track as it largely took place underwater, but every few seconds some massive splash or beam of Type Energy would shoot up from the water.
"Ian, hurry up!" Plumeria shouted from a distance behind him.
"Shit,' Ian said with a relieved laugh, noticing most of the squads had made it to knee deep water or even the sand itself. Ian stepped backwards, still wanting to watch his Blastoise in action. It took him half a minute, but when his feet felt the rush of a wave falling back into the sea, he sighed. "Holy shit…"
Poliwhirl and Golduck limped out of the water as well, and he recognized Starmie's legs sticking out of the water as it swam haphazardly back as well.
"Ian, you're wounded!" Irida called from behind him.
Ian shook his head, not wanting to acknowledge Irida's concern as Blastoise and Alpha Huntail were still locked in a wrestling match in the bay. Blastoise you're already such a badass.
"Ian!" Irida's voice called out, dripping with concern as she got beside him. "I need a caregiver over here!" Irida shouted authoritatively.
Ian sighed, shaking his head. "The adrenaline's still pumping so it doesn't hurt too bad."
"But infection," Irida replied. "It shall not take long."
"Fine," Ian said.
A couple minutes passed and his bleeding quickly ceased with a Pearl Clan caregiver's Kirlia's Heal Pulse. Only a light itchiness in the bite wound's place remained. With the wounded getting treatment, Ian had the healthy members joining him, watching their savior battle it out with the murderous assailant.
"That's one tough turtle," Trickz observed. "Carries us all to safety surrounded by enemies, then launches into a battle like that with no rest."
"Yeah…" Ian said. "I'm lucky to have him." The group watched on in silence as the splashing stopped for a time, and Ian got a sinking feeling in his stomach. He shifted uneasily in his soggy shoes, noticing others started looking a bit concerned.
"Are Blastoise and Drizzile gonna be alright?" Selene asked meekly.
"They ain't done, ain't no way!" Tupp shouted.
"Yeah!" Cheered a number of onlookers.
Ian narrowed his vision, focusing on where the battle had last taken place, looking for a bit of evidence of how Blastoise was doing. Suddenly a huge splash erupted fifty feet from the shore, and Blastoise floated forward with Drizzile on his back. Both Pokemon had been seriously roughed up, but moved at an unthreatened pace.
"They did it!" Someone declared.
The spectators cheered with all of their hearts, hollering, crowing, screaming, and beating their chests in a frenzy as Blastoise and Drizzile continued their approach. Ian ran in as Blastoise neared, with Tupp catching up quickly.
"Blastoise! Fuck yeah!" Ian said, tears coming into his eyes as Blastoise began to stand up. Having a closer look at his freshly evolved turtle, there were numerous scrapes and scuffs on his shell, along with blood and bruises on his exposed limbs, but Blastoise gave a proud croak. Ian put his arms around Blastoise as best he could, barely reaching the edges of his shell. "That was amazing buddy. I owe you, we all owe you…"
Blastoise gave a lighter gurgling croak.
"Hell yeah, you da best homie, Drizzile!" Tupp exclaimed as Drizzile jumped into his arms.
With that, Ian turned around, his arm on Blastoise's shell as they got out of the water. The crowd mobbed Blastoise, all giving their savior hugs, praise, and thanks. Ian noticed a slight grin on Blastoise's face, only the tears falling from his eyes didn't appear to match. What's up with that? A jolt of memories flooded his brain, remembering the first day he'd met Wartortle when Doc pointed out the deep puncture wounds in the shell. Not a regular Gyarados, but an Alpha… Ian gasped as it hit him all at once. Wartortle froze up there not because he was afraid. Wartortle froze up because he'd seen something like this before! Suddenly a vision of a massive Gyarados with glowing red eyes taking bites out of helpless Squirtles all around flooded his vision. Ian gasped when he was suddenly back at the beach, watching Blastoise surrounded by the rejoicing victims he'd saved.
Ian's eyes immediately began to water, and Blastoise seemed to be watching Ian as well, his expression a little more stoic save for the fresh tears on his face.
"Oh no, he's crying!" A concerned feminine voice shouted. "Get him some help, he's wounded!"
The crowd spread out immediately with a special reverence. Blastoise walked forward slowly with Rapp and Comfey charging to the scene. Blastoise spun with a surprising finesse and fell on his back, letting out a long, gurgling sigh. "Give him some space!" Ian called out as he knelt beside his tough turtle. Rapp and Comfey quickly began treatment, with pink Type Energy in the form of tiny flowers flowing into the gashes and bruises in Blastoise's exposed limbs. Seeing Blastoise so wounded compelled Ian to speak.
"Blastoise, I'm sorry I was mad at you earlier. I didn't realize the trauma you were re-living," Ian said as a tear fell from his face. Blastoise groaned, shaking his head dismissively. Ian chuckled lightly, smiling. "Thanks buddy… We all owe you our lives."
Blastoise gurgled some more, this time in a way Ian figured was more of a laugh.
"Yeah, you earned it bud, you earned everything," Ian whispered. "But I'm realizing now how much this meant to you too."
Blastoise sniffled, a fresh tear coming down his cheek.
The healing process didn't take long, but Comfey was rather exhausted when it was done. More Team Skull members came up to give their thanks to Blastoise, which Ian noticed was starting to make his tough turtle a bit uncomfortable. After Tupp and Selene finished giving a heartfelt combo hug, Ian stepped forward. "You want a rest, buddy?" Ian whispered.
Blastoise nodded.
"Makes sense," Ian said, pulling Blastoise's Poke Ball out. "Okay everyone!" Ian announced. "Blastoise is tired, he wants a rest and he's earned it more than anyone."
The assembled Team Skull members gave a round of applause for Ian's Blastoise, and he couldn't help but smile proudly as he recalled Blastoise back into its Poke Ball. "Thanks again bud," Ian whispered before re-attaching the Poke Ball to his belt.
Noticing Tupp and Selene hand in hand, Ian's curiosity got the better of him and he approached. "So uh… I see something's happened."
Tupp's cheeks went red. "Yeah…" He said nervously.
Selene nodded. "Well… when we got dumped out of the boat, Tupp was right next to me, and I told him that since we were gonna be dead soon that I was sorry for being dumb and not understanding who he was sooner," she explained before turning to Tupp with a grin. "What'd you say after that?"
Tupp nodded. "I basically said 'if we gon' die, fuck it.' Swam right over and kissed her."
Ian chuckled. "Well that's one way to do it."
Plumeria and Trickz started making their way to Ian, with Trickz giving a nod of respect. "Thanks again man."
Ian sighed. "That was all Blastoise. I'm sorry we couldn't get your squad mate."
"It couldn't be helped," Trickz said, trying to suppress the emotion in his voice. "But now we know why Sinclair's boats are never sighted within the bay."
Ian grimaced. "Yeah…"
Plumeria stepped forward. "This was the setup, it just didn't involve Sinclair."
"Yeah," Trickz grunted.
"Excuse me, Skull Team!" Gaeric's voice bellowed from behind the group. "We must get to higher ground immediately!"
Trickz shook his head. "We gotta pay our respects to Jayjay first!"
"No! There are figures approaching!" Gaeric shouted as he pointed to the southern coast of the bay. Sure enough, numerous dark figures approached. Half a mile away, maybe closer.
"Rook set us up, that fucker!" Trickz shouted with heated passion.
"Help the wounded out of here!" Plumeria barked.
A frenzy came over the assembled Team Skull and Pearl Clan members as they began rushing for the incline leading up the cliffs. Ian followed Plumeria, who immediately gave support to Spool as the still unsteady Team Skull member walked slowly to the incline. "Plumeria, we both have significant numbers. Could we maybe take a defensive position and fight?"
"After what we just went through? Hell no," Plumeria fired back.
"Yeah…" Ian said, pondering their options. "We're gonna need to stall them then."
Plumeria grunted. "I'm not leaving anyone back to sacrifice themselves, most of all you."
Ian grimaced. "I can always get away on Sawsbuck."
"We can't. End of story," Plumeria ordered authoritatively.
Ian pondered their options, not wanting to leave Spool behind but needing to acknowledge something was going to have to give as the first members of their party reached the dirt road leading up the cliffs. Wait, that's it! Ian surveyed all of the surrounding cliffs, noticing there were no other paths up them for as far as his eyes could see. "Plumeria, I got an idea," Ian announced.
"What?" She spat.
"I'll wait for them to get here and use Snowscape on the dirt road up the cliff," Ian explained.
"Why not Z-Snowscape?" Plumeria asked, indicating his Z-Ring. "Wait, never mind. That would take too long. But the moment you get it off you gotta get right back to us."
Ian nodded. "I'll just need Sawsbuck and I'm good."
Plumeria sighed, Ian reading her dislike for the plan in her eyes. "It's too risky but it's all we got. Do not get captured by them."
Ian grinned mockingly before holding his pinky finger up. "I promise."
Plumeria held up her pinky finger as well. "Good. Remember-"
"Yeah, yeah," Ian croaked as they reached the top of the incline and he opted to stay behind. He tried not to draw too much attention to himself just so no one would think to stay with him. A good five minutes passed from his position as the figures got closer and closer. He kept checking the cliffs to see if there were any flankers coming, but none were to be had.
He turned behind him to see if any Team Skull members were in sight, and sighed with relief when he saw none. "Good." Ian readied Alolan Sandslash's Premier Ball and sent it out. "We got company heading our way, a lot of them," Ian said, pointing to the sand. Sandslash squeaked in alarm, pointing Ian up the road.
Ian shook his head. "We're just using Snowscape to stall 'em and get out of here, nothing more," Ian said. Sandslash tensed, sharpening her claws as she watched the approaching shadows become more and more human. Ian watched on, his heart thumping in his chest. He was curious as to why it had taken Sinclair's men so long then remembered they were running across soft sand. "Idiots," Ian said with a snicker as the group of twenty-ish figures closed in.
"There's one!" A man called out, and dozens of battle cries erupted from the approaching mass. A few figures began running up the incline before a voice Ian could tell held authority called them back with a single "hey!"
Ian focused his eyes on the commander. Besides the standard navy blue shirt and pants, the man had a captain's hat on, sort of like Ingo's. Ian couldn't make out too much detail from the man, but he had light skin and a scruffy black beard. The figure then stepped forward, his eager subordinates falling back in the group behind him. Yeah, that's gotta be Sinclair.
"Are you here to surrender?" Sinclair shouted from the bottom.
"Hell no!" Ian fired back. "Sandslash, Snowscape!"
Sandslash jumped down the ramp as much as it could before sending out a radius of ice, slush, and snow from its body.
"Neat little trick!" Sinclair fired back as he reached for his own belt. Out came a dark ball which opened, manifesting a hulking monstrosity at the bottom of the hill. Alpha Barbaracle. Ian caught one glimpse of the beast and remembered he needed to boogie. Standing at least ten feet tall, salmon and brown striped limbs shot out of the two different rocks that made up its torso. The upper rock had four limbs sprouted out of it with razor sharp ends. A pink head with glowing red eyes nestled inside a protective helmet made of rock. "Barbaracle, Shell Smash and climb up the side wall!" Sinclair roared as Ian finished recalling Sandslash and turned to run, swapping the Premier Ball for Sawsbuck's Heal Ball.
"Sawsbuck, we need to dip!" Ian called out as he continued rushing forward. Sawsbuck manifested mid-stride and its vines immediately grabbed a hold of Ian and helped lift him up as he pushed himself up and onto Sawsbuck's saddle. Sawsbuck picked up speed as Ian settled on the saddle of vines and moss. He turned back with a contented sigh that quickly contorted into panic.
Alpha Barbaracle had already made it to the top of the incline and had its arms glowing with brown energy, manifesting a small boulder between its two right arms. You've gotta be kidding me. Ian watched as Barbaracle finished manifesting the small boulder and began winding up. "Sawsbuck-"
Alpha Barbaracle launched the projectile with unbelievable force, sending the boulder at him stupendously fast. "Hard right!" Ian shouted in a panic as he tightened his grip on the vine reins. Sawsbuck whined as it leapt diagonally. Ian held on for dear life as his body contorted to gravity's force on him, but as Sawsbuck landed from its leap, a helpful Sawsbuck vine stabilized him. Ian's head fell forward, bashing against Sawsbuck's neck as the blessed stag slowed temporarily from the leap.
A sudden boom to Ian's left caught his attention, and all he saw was the small boulder splitting in two as it collided with the ground at breakneck speed. Speaking of breaking necks, that's probably what would have happened to me if we got hit with that. Ian turned back around, grinning as he noticed Barbaracle had not continued to launch boulders or pursue them. "Alright Sawsbuck, you can slow down," Ian said, scratching the fuzzy back of his blessed stag's neck.
Sawsbuck mewled happily, slowing the pace gradually. "Sawsbuck, It'll never be enough praise, but you're fucking amazing, thank you," Ian said with the utmost sincerity.
Sawsbuck gave a loud, cheerful bleat that put a little pep in his step.
***
Ian caught back up a little before the group got to the Ula'Ula Meadow, and Ian stayed on Sawsbuck when they actually got to it. He took the lead up the steps, and the meadow's Oricorio broke into a jubilant song as the tall grasses rose and their special flowers expanded and bloomed. Soon, little red birds began floating overhead, dancing as little sparkling flames fluttered around them as they danced, dropping berries on the walkway. "Thank you friends," Ian muttered under his breath.
The trek to Fort Acuity didn't take long, but Gaeric did leave behind scouts in case Sinclair's group decided to push through the Akua Jungle, which seemed a foolhardy move. As the group got settled in Fort Acuity's main tent, Plumeria took Ian aside.
"Lex mentioned the radio network didn't see Sinclair's group going after us. Good job," Plumeria said, offering her hand.
Ian took it, smiling proudly. "It wasn't smooth. I got a glimpse of Sinclair's Alpha Barbaracle."
Plumeria's eyes widened. "Well damn. How was it?"
"Crazy," Ian said. At least ten feet tall, and it apparently climbed the cliff's walls as quickly as it took for me to get on Sawsbuck. Threw a pretty huge rock at me that would've probably paralyzed me if Sawsbuck didn't dodge it."
Plumeria sighed. "You lucky fucker." Plumeria paused before something made her smirk. "You know, I think you're gonna have to owe me some thanks at some point."
"Okay?" Ian questioned.
"I'm just fucking with you," Plumeria said. "I figured if me wishing upon a star could bring you to a whole new universe, imagine what a pinky promise could do."
Ian rolled his eyes. "Ah yes, the universe runs on wishes and pinky promises," Ian said sarcastically.
Plumeria shrugged. "It's worked well enough for me. You remember the last pinky promise I made you?"
"Uh… remind me," Ian croaked back.
"It was after you didn't use Sawsbuck against Suzy-Marie. I saw you put Team Skull's well-being over your own happiness. From there on, I promised to trust you."
Ian nodded. "Oh yeah, that…"
"Plumeria!" Lex's voice harshly yelled as she entered Fort Acuity's main tent. "Just got a call from Guzma, it's urgent."
"I'll get right on," Plumeria said, dropping the conversation.
"It wasn't for a conversation, he just ordered your squad to get back to Po Town as soon as possible," Lex said.
"Really?" Plumeria asked, completely perplexed. "We could have Sinclair's goons on our asses any minute and he's pulling a squad out? Did he at least say why?"
Lex shook her head. "He didn't give a reason, just said he needed you and your squad there now."
Plumeria grunted with frustration. "I take it he wants to hear a detailed recap of what happened?"
Lex shrugged. "I told them the basics of it."
"Plumeria," Trickz said, a hint of concern in his voice. "Something doesn't sound right here."
"I know," Plumeria fired back.
"Should I go with you?" Trickz asked.
"And leave the fort undermanned right now?" Plumeria said dismissively. "Not an option."
"Well, just be careful what you say to Guzma," Trickz said. "Rook may pull something if he suspects you're trying to get him."
Plumeria grimaced. "Yeah I know. If I see my chance I'm taking it though."
Trickz nodded. "Just make sure you got a crew behind you. I don't think Rook goes down without a fight."
***
The bike ride back to Po Town had a rather ominous feeling. Plumeria and Rapp stayed mostly silent, Rapp from exhaustion and Plumeria likely feeling anxious. Hyde drifted near the back of the group, sometimes falling so far behind Plumeria had to signal him to come forward again. Ian wanted to give Tupp and Selene some space, as he could see the happiness Tupp was feeling already. Most of the way they held hands riding side-by-side. They haven't been together for more than two hours and I'm already cringing. Ian shook the thought from his head as he remembered how big a deal this was for his best bro. If she makes you happy, bro, I'm happy for you.
As Po Town came into view, Plumeria signaled Ian up to her position at the head of the formation. "I didn't get time to say it earlier, but thanks for saving all of our asses."
"No problem," Ian said, bowing his head respectfully.
"And to show my thanks, I'm gonna transfer Hyde out of the squad," Plumeria said. "I should've done it a while ago, but I was hoping he could grow beyond it."
Ian sighed, already feeling a weight lifting from his shoulders. "I tried Plumeria, I really did."
"I know," Plumeria said. "You don't seem too stoked about it?"
Ian shrugged. "I am, just… Nervous about what's coming. If Rook sent Sinclair a message to ambush us and they snuck past our surveillance, what does that mean?"
"Yeah, been bugging me too," Plumeria grunted. "Guzma's gonna hear it. I'm gonna heap a ton of praise on you, try to bait Rook into trying to trashtalk you. Once he's angry I can get him."
Ian nodded. "Good luck."
A couple minutes later, Ian was surprised to see Guzma, Rook, and his giant of a little brother, Ruckz standing at the gate, smiling.
"There's the Prince of Po Town, there's our hero!" Guzma shouted loudly.
"Yeeeeah!" Rook shouted as the group brought their bikes to a halt.
"Ian, bring it in," Guzma said, signaling him forward. Ian dismounted from his bike, leaving its kickstand up as Guzma dapped him up, embracing him. "Saved a lot of lives, didn't you?"
"Blastoise did," Ian corrected. "But everyone was a part of it."
"Nice!" Guzma said, disengaging from Ian as Rook made his way over, mimicking what Guzma had done, bumping shoulders then embracing.
"Saved the whole operation," Rook added before disengaging.
"Uh, yeah…" Ian said, a gut feeling telling him something wasn't right.
"Even I heard about it. Impressive stuff," Ruckz said, doing as the prior two, with Ian only bumping Ruckz's elbow due to the taller man's sheer size. Ruckz embraced Ian, who hesitated slightly. Suddenly Ruckz's leg hooked around Ian's and he was no longer standing. Ruckz stayed on top of Ian as he slammed him to the ground, Ian feeling a sudden pain all over as he scrambled to get Ruckz off.
"The fuck?" Plumeria demanded, dismounting from her bike.
"Stay right there Plumeria!" Guzma ordered, deathly serious. Ruckz's elbow suddenly found its way under Ian's chin and the realization he could easily be choked unconscious dawned on him.
"What the fuck is going on here?" Ian demanded. Ruckz answered by tightening his elbow's hold against his neck.
"Shut up, traitor," Guzma spat menacingly.
"Traitor? What?" Plumeria demanded.
"No way! No fucking way!" Tupp interjected.
"Tupp, this doesn't concern you," Guzma said before turning back to Plumeria. "Remember how I told you not to take Ian with you on the thing today?"
Plumeria tensed. "Yeah. What about it?"
"There was a reason for that," Guzma said.
Rook stepped forward. "We got a Sinclair defector yesterday. I didn't want anyone to know cuz I was suspecting a mole," Rook explained. "Guy told us everything. Ian's been sending messages to 'em since the early days of the war. So after Ian told me of his ambitious plan to 'end the war,' Guzma greenlit it but I had my doubts about it."
"What the fuck are you talking about, Rook?" Ian demanded, only to be met with a tighter squeeze from Ruckz's elbow against his neck.
Guzma shook his head. "Except Pizza Boy here didn't want Rook telling me it was actually from him. He was gonna be the big hero who saved everyone."
"And that's where it got really interesting," Rook said. "The plan all along was to bait me and Guzma outside the walls. There, Sinclair and the Pearl Clan would take us out. Ian would marry Irida and get to keep his side bitch, running the town like a king. Basically like Breon."
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard, and that's saying a lot Rook considering how long I've known you!" Plumeria fired back.
Rook shook his head, laughing knowingly. "He even got you under his spell, Plumeria. Damn," Rook said before changing the tone of his voice to sheer mockery. "'Oh Big Sis, if you let me run Po Town I'll bring your daddy back to you!' How pathetic."
Plumeria charged Rook with a fury. "Don't you dare use my father-"
"PLUMERIA!" Guzma bellowed, holding his hand up to halt the charging squad leader. "We got all of the info from the defector. Don't do anything you'll end up regretting."
"I don't think you realize how fucked we were out there off of Rook's plan," Plumeria said. "Ian saved eleven lives today."
"Plumeria, we already went over this, it was Ian's plan," Guzma said dismissively.
"That's bullshit and you know it Rook!" Ian roared with the little air he could spare.
Rook shook his head with a wicked titter. "That was his plan though, the boats and the ambush. Alpha Huntail will attack, Ian will lead some miraculous escape, and upon his return he'd actually be the Prince of Po Town."
Plumeria growled under her breath, then turned to Guzma. "Considering none of you are listening to any fucking sense, I'll play this stupid fucking game of yours. Just answer me this: Ian's Wartortle evolved when we were all fucked. If this was all planned out so perfectly, tell me how Ian timed that fucking evolution for that exact moment?"
Guzma hesitated, turning to Rook in apparent confusion. "Yeah, you said the defector wasn't too specific on how he'd do it," Guzma said uncertainly.
"Well, you know…" Rook said, fumbling his words.
"There!" Plumeria pointed at Rook. "Rook's up his own ass with bullshit right now boss! Just wait until I tell you what else he's been doing!"
"Shut up bitch!" Rook fired back.
Plumeria tittered victoriously. "Couldn't have been a Water Stone, wasn't a King's Rock. How'd he evolve Wartortle at that exact moment?" Plumeria taunted Rook.
Rook started waving his hands angrily. "You didn't hear the whole thing-"
"I was fucking there! I figured we were completely done for," Plumeria fired back. "Guzma, unless Rook can provide evidence of how Ian supposedly induces evolution at will, you gotta release him now!" Plumeria demanded.
Guzma turned to Rook, who had completely frozen up. "Got anything to say, Rook?" Guzma said.
"B-boss, uh…" Rook stammered.
"What, Meowth got your tongue Rook?" Plumeria taunted. "What a surprise, Ian can't induce evolution. Case closed."
Hyde cleared his throat, and Ian watched the Team Skull member step forward. "Actually he can."
Ian gasped as he remembered the Ultra Storm before they climbed Mt. Lanakila when Hyde had demanded to have the EXP Candy. Oh shit.
"Really?" Guzma asked.
"Hyde, what the fuck are you talking about?" Plumeria demanded.
"Been under our nose the whole time," Hyde explained. "The blue 'alpha poop' he takes from beating Alphas in Ultra Storms? I saw him feed one of them to his Litleo and it evolved into Pyroar before it even finished eating the damn thing."
Hyde you motherfucker!
Guzma wheezed. "Well, that's good enough for me. Take this asshole to The Basement!"
"Guzma, you're making a huge mistake!" Plumeria explained.
"This is the second time you've questioned me, Plumeria. I know you're everyone's Big Sis, but no one does it a third time," Guzma said grimly.
Ian felt a slight weight lift from the man pinning him down, only to be met with a Kadabra materializing from a Poke Ball. "Kadabra, Telekinesis on this traitor right here!" Ruckz ordered. Suddenly a sensation of tight pressure engulfed his whole body, and he couldn't move. Ruckz got up, pulling Ian up still in the pinned position, now just floating midair. "Kadabra, loosen him up a bit."
Ian felt his feet hit the ground and he turned to face his nemesis. "Hyde!" Ian roared before Ruckz got a hold of Ian's arms. "I saved your life! I saved your fucking life!"
Hyde smirked wickedly. "Sure you did," he said, holding up a middle finger. "Have fun in The Basement."
"Hy-" Ian's mouth suddenly stopped working as Kadabra's Telekinesis took hold of him once more, turning him away from Plumeria's squad.
"Ian!" Plumeria shouted desperately, eyes full of furious anger.
"Plumeria, watch yourself," Guzma said coldly.
"I know he's your prisoner now, just give me a few seconds with him," Plumeria said coolly.
"But we all gotta hear," Guzma said.
"Fine," Plumeria said, stepping forward. Ian was flipped around by Kadabra's Telekinesis so he could look at Plumeria face to face.
"I'm gonna get to the bottom of this," Plumeria said, her eyes lowering repeatedly like she was trying to lead his vision somewhere. Ian looked down, noticing Plumeria's fingers mostly curled up, except for a lone pinky sticking out.
"Alright, get him out of here!" Guzma shouted.
With that, Ian was helplessly flipped back around, feeling like he was being paraded for any potential onlookers.
Blastoise and I saved LIVES today and this is how I'm getting treated? Fuck these guys. The fire in Ian's veins pulsed even harder. But most of all, fuck Rook and Hyde.