The Mystical Mermaid

Chapter 1: Friend at Sea

"I've heard many different legends about mermaids and sirens, how they trick sailors and even pirates by singing peaceful, graceful music." Starts off the older and more experienced sailor Brock Slate. "Do you believe in mermaids Brock?" The young and new sailor Ash Ketchum, who has just begun his first voyage out to sea. He is able to refer to him by his first name because they're close friends, but others would have to call him Captain Slate. "I- Believe in such nonsense, how barbaric. Why search the ocean for mythical creatures when we got real young, gorgeous lasses on shore?" Brock exclaimed with a large grin. Ash simply nodded agreeably. "What kind of tricks do mermaids and sirens pull?" He asked. "I told you there are no such—" "I know, but if they did. How do they trick them what happens after?" He questioned. Brock sighed and sat down letting Ash's Lapras take over the steering. "I may as well tell you. If they truly do exist I don't want to end up losing you." Brock began. Ash raised an eyebrow as Pikachu, Ash's loyal electric mouse friend and Pokémon, sat up on his shoulder ready to hear the tale.

Brock cleared his throat and began. "Those creatures out there sing songs that attract male sailors. Once a sailor hears one of their songs, he is placed under some enchantment and can't help but to follow it, but once a sailor is out tracking that sound that will be the last time you will ever hear of him." He stated. "Pika… (woah)" "Yeah." Ash agreed. "Has anyone ever seen one and live to tell the tale?" "Well, there was a Greek mythological legend about a famous sailor, Odysseus…" "Oh yeah, I've heard about him." Ash interrupted. "I hope so; every sailor should have learnt or heard 'bout 'em. Anyway, Odysseus was curious as to know what the Sirens sounded like so taken the advice by Circe, he made all his sailors plug their ears with beeswax and tie him to the mast. He ordered his men to leave him tied to the mast, no matter how much he begged and pleaded. Finally, the sound he's been looking for, he heard their beautiful singing and demanded to be set freed to follow after it but they followed his first command and kept him tied, or they just couldn't hear him because of the wax." Brock shrugged. "That would make more sense, if they heard him begging to be freed they would be able to hear the singing too." Ash snorted. "Yea, soon after, out of earshot distance Odysseus was released and described the sound from the Sirens." "Wow." Ash commented. "They say once sailors have escaped their singing they are fated to perish." He added. "Well that's too bad, but this is the story about Sirens, what are mermaids like?"

"Ash, you ask too many questions." Brock stated scratching his head in thought. He had no clue about mermaids all he knew was that they were supposedly beautiful and mysterious. "Of course, if I want to be the greatest sailor, I need to know everything about the sea." He grinned widely. "I guess." "So if mermaids do the same thing, let's say, why would they want to drown sailors what's their motivation?" He wondered. "I wouldn't know, that's just what they do I guess." Brock grumbled becoming annoyed. "Then I don't believe in those tales." Ash declared laying his back down arms crossed behind his head. "Why not?" "It makes no sense. Mermaids wouldn't waste their time drowning men for no apparent reason. They would have more important things to do like keeping their existence a secret." He snorted. "Ash, you're starting to sound like you believe in them." Brock mentioned. Ash jolted sitting up but crossed his arms huffing away. "Of course I don't believe in them, I'm not that naïve." "If you say so." Sailor Brock shrugged. "Pi?" Pikachu's left ear twitched toward the sea and he looked out. "What's up, Pikachu?"

Pikachu scurried to the front of the ship and continued to listen. Lapras began to moan restlessly. "Why are all the Pokémon acting up?" Ash wondered aloud. "Pika, pika, Pikachu-pi…" (I'm sensing something strong coming). "What kind of something?" Ash asked. Brock looked out the sea trying to sense the same way the Pokémon do. Lapras felt the waves' vibe and began to swerve the large boat. "Lapras, stop rocking the boat you're gonna make us—" "Ash, a huge storm's heading this way." Brock announced. "How can you tell?" "Once you become one with Pokémon you will see and feel what they see and feel. And it's a storm. If you can't tell by the Pokémon you have to inspect your surroundings. Take a look at the ocean's currents, they're not running as smoothly as they usually do and feel the difference of the wind." He explained standing straight up and letting the wind flow through him. Ash stood and followed suit. "Do you sense it?" Ash focused some more and suddenly felt a strange vibe flowing through his body. He opened his eyes and said, "It's a thunderstorm." "Good job, you learn pretty quickly." Brock remarked. "Yeah, my mind's not that slow." He snorted. Brock smirked. "But Captain Slate, what are we going to do, our boat won't be able to handle a large storm?" Ash reminded. "I know, but all we can do now is hope we'll survive this." Brock replied with a weak smile. "Oh gees, thanks."

The wind hit much harder making Pikachu blow back in the mast. Afraid to lose his grip he punctured holes through the sail to hold on. "Pikachu!" The boat rocked sending Pikachu falling but Ash easily caught him in arms and held his friend close to his chest. "Oh no, Pikachu, punctured holes in the sail. Those sails are the only option we have left of surviving now we're—" He began frustrated but was cut off when lightening struck then soon after a loud and rough rumble of thunder rolled in. Brock knew what that meant. "Oh no." Was all he could say. "What?" Before he could answer a huge wave erupted heading toward them. "That." Everyone gasped at its large size Pikachu hid deeper in Ash's chest. "Ash, you need to tame Lapras, she's our only option left. I'll do what I can with the sails." Ash nodded and turned to her. "Lapras, calm down, now!" He shouted. Lapras could hear him, but was too panicked to obey and gave out crying sounds. "Lapras!" He shouted again. Time was ticking and the wave was closing in on them so the only thing Ash could think of was run.

Ash backed up and ran to the front of the boat and leaped in the air. "Ash!" Brock called dealing with steering as well as he could. Ash struggled a bit but landed safely on Lapras' back as well as Pikachu. He scooted to the frightened Pokémon's head. "Lapras…I know you're scared, but you have to listen to me if you want to survive this, okay?" Ash soothed stroking her head. Lapras listened intently to his words and slightly turned her head to him. "You are our only hope, you can do it Lapras." He reassured with a smile. Lapras stared for a moment longer and relaxed with a nod. She faced the wave with a frown waiting for Ash's directions. "Lapras, I need you to go left, quickly." He started. "Mm…" Lapras obeyed and moved just avoiding part of the wave. "Good, now go right, right!" He repeated as they got partially hit by the large wave. Ash and Pikachu held their ground trying not to fly off. "You're doing great Lapras, keep it up." He encouraged making his Pokémon feel stronger inside. Brock silently watched and listened to the young sailor in training, direct kindly yet firmly to the water Pokémon. "He will become a great sailor one day, I can tell." He thought with a smile. The moment ended when a surprising wave hit them straight on. Ash nearly fell off but Lapras caught him and placed him back on her back as Pikachu held on to him making sure he won't fall off again. The young sailor looked back to his friend. "Are you alright, Brock?" Brock waved his hand in reassurance, but what the sailors didn't know, the chord that attached both Lapras and the boat began to de-attach. Another hard wave just skinned them but made the chord weaken. "Pikapi!" Pikachu called as he just noticed the cable. "Pikachu, I'm a little busy right now." Ash replied making Pikachu frown. "Pika, Pikapi…" (But Ash…) as he tugged his shirt. "I told you to knock it off!" Pikachu had had enough and shocked only him. "Ahh! Pikachu, what's your…" Ash started angrily but noticed Pikachu jumping up and down pointing at the chord. Finally, in realization Ash tried to grab it, but it was too late another wave hit disconnecting both Brock and himself.

Brock, with the boat, was sent back from them. "Brock!" Ash alarmed but Brock kept calm and tried steering the boat toward them. Ash reached out a hand and so did he, they nearly connected, but one last huge wave knocked his boat separating them from each other. "Brock!" He shouted. "I'll be fine Ash, you and Lapras keep going." Brock shouted back. "No, there is no way I'm leaving you out there." Ash knew the boat won't get around where he wants it to go because the sails were torn. Brock also knew he was in trouble but continued to assure that everything would be fine. Ash didn't have much of a choice to go after him. The current was too strong for Lapras to go against it so they were getting pushed away leaving Ash calling out his name. Brock tightened his eyes shut (if he did have eyes)looking away but yelled. "I told you I'll be fine Ash. You become the greatest sailor and captain, you hear?!" He supported loudly looking back to him with a smile. "You're the greatest sailor, Captain!" Ash corrected but Brock didn't comment. "Pi-ka-chu!" The little yellow critter cried. Ash too began to shed tears as his friend got further and further away. "Take care Pikachu, and Lapras you find a safe place for you and your friends, alright!" Brock stated. Lapras moaned a cry out to him saying, "But you're my friend too, Brock!" Brock waved as happily as he could but felt faint tears form around his eyes (once again, if he did have eyes, lol). As his friends faded out to sea he lastly shouted. "Captain Ash Ketchum, I humbly bow to you!" Ash let all his tears fall when Brock was out of eye range and spoke softly. "Goodbye…my brother." (Not in blood just state of familiarity)

…

"And that was the last time I heard of Captain Brock Slate." Ash finished. He was set near the sea sitting on a bench telling the tragic story between him and his best friend, Brock. Ash was older and more matured now. He had his own ship and crew, of course he was the captain along with his trusty companion Pikachu. Many children, villagers and sailors looked up to him as the best sailor around. "That was such a sad story, do you think you will ever see Captain Slate again?" A young attractive lady wondered. She had long brown hair tied with a red bandana, a small hour glass figure and bright blue eyes. May was indeed beautiful but Ash didn't have means of dating her or other women who have asked. He got up dusting off his clothes. "Of course he won't see him again." A man snorted, showing up out of nowhere. "The Cap' is most likely dead. To survive such a storm on a boat like that is impossible." He continued. Ash winced from his comment but spoke. "Actually, I believe he is still alive out there somewhere. I just haven't found him yet." The man turned back to him stunned. "Don't tell me ye still believe he's out there, alive." "But I do…" Ash nodded looking out to the sea with Pikachu on his shoulder sharing his feelings. "I know he's out there I can feel it. Don't you Pikachu?" Ash exposed. "Pika…" He nodded. The man sighed. "Captain Ketchum, I know it's hard ta accept the fact, but ye have to come back to reality now."

This made Ash angry and he turned to him with a frown. "Don't tell me what's real or what's not, I know he's out there dammit don't make me repeat myself!" He bellowed. "He promised he would be fine and promised that we'd see each other again!" He ended ready to turn and walk away. "Ya, in Davy Jones' Locker." Another man whispered not wanting him to hear him but Ash did. He turned back to the other man and grabbed him up by his collar. "What'd you just say?!" "Pika!" Pikachu had leapt off Ash's shoulder and grimaced at the man as sparks flooded his cheeks in anger. The young man gulped and stuttered. "N-nothing, I-I didn't mean t-that, I'm s-sorry." Ash boar deep in the lad's eyes and dropped him with a huff and turned away. The man was glad he wasn't punished then Ash added. "Pikachu… it's not good to hold in your electricity, it's better to let it out." Pikachu nodded catching on and let out a shock attack. Ash continued walking only hearing the young man's loud shrieks and he smirked.

End of first Chapter

Yay! Finished the first chapter. Liked how I ended it there. So what do you guys think of it so far. Yes, it was a short chapter, but usually chapters get longer and more detailed. The first chapter is usually to let you readers get the gist of the story. Second chapter will be posted soon. Take care.

Character Analysis

May Maple: Ash's friend and islander. She prefers to stay on dry land than to go out to sea, but if Ash is in need of help she is the first to go along with him. She was the one who found him after he was washed up on shore the day he was separated from Brock.

Age: 16

Family: Little brother Max

Location: Houen Island

Goals: None as of yet.