A/N: This is everything chapter four wanted to be but fell short of 50% of it. x3 Enjoy and R &R!

Poke Splice

Chapter Six

The rain cascaded down on them without mercy and took no prisoners from its wrath. Darren's hand trembled and his pupils were dilated. He was useless, he couldn't even save his friend fro- His eyebrows came together and he clenched his out stretched into a fist and eyed the monstrous waves below him with steeled features.

"What the hell are you trying to do?" Matthew cried from the wheel. Darren blocked him out and jumped in the animated waters. Matthew let got of the wheel and ran to the side of the boat. "Are you crazy? You're a fire Pokemon; you don't do well in water! Hey frea- Darren, Darren can you hear me?" But, his voice wasn't heard underneath the gray and angry waters.

The water felt like a thousand needles pricking into his skin. The current was strong and pushed against him as he struggled to move forward. In the distance he could see Norman struggling against the strong waves. Darren strained his legs go forward to meet with him, held out his palm, and this time he didn't miss.

"D-Darren wha-what the hell are you doing? You're a fire Pokemon hybrid aren't you?" Norman shouted.

"I couldn't save my other friend," A large wave fell upon the both of them sending the both of them under water. They bobbed back up to the surface breathing deeply. "S-s-so I thought I could at least save you." Darren said coughing up some water. Norman softened his features and gripped Darren's hand in comfort.

"Darren-"

"Let's not get sappy right now. There's a storm going on and we need to get our asses back on the boat." Norman laughed out loud above the thunder, nodded, and hooked their arms together.

"Hang on to me, alright?" Norman commanded. Darren smiled softly and promptly fainted.

"Darren? Darren!"

When he awoke he came face to face with the worried faces of Norman and Slakoth and the indifferent face of Matthew. The storm had finally passed and the wondrous blazing sun was up and heating up his freezing body.

"Wha-what happened? Norman are you okay?" Darren asked frantically. Norman stroked a pose and showed off his nonexistent biceps.

"Good as new!" He told him grinning. Matthew rolled his eyes at the both of them and Slakoth sighed with relief.

"Just typical, you're out for three days and ask how everyone else is doing." Matthew said frowning.

"Three days? Are we still not close to Slateport?" Daren asked.

"We're heading to Dewford Town. That last storm ripped us a new one so we gotta get some more supplies." He stood up and walked away from them to the wheel. Norman stared sympathetically at his back.

"I never got to ask this but…why does he hate hybrids so much?" Norman instantly seemed to be older than his seventy years.

"That's his story to tell, not mine." And he left it at that. Darren didn't ask again after that and in a day they were at Dewford. At the harbor Matthew slung the cloak at him and he let out oof! as he caught it.

"Put that on. We don't want anyone to know that we're harboring a fugitive." Daren opened his mouth to retort but Matthew was already off the ship. He shoved on his cloak with angry vigor and glared at the spot Matthew once was. Norman put a calming hand on his shoulder and Slakoth sluggishly moved next to him.

"Give him some time. He'll be used to you soon enough." Then he followed him off the ship.

"After a week you'd think he'd have already done that." Darren muttered under his breath.

"Come on Slakoth," The Pokemon went up his cloak and clung tightly to him. "We've got a city to see."

Dewford Town had since been renamed Dewford City in the past forty years. There was now over thirty houses and there was shops in almost every corner of the island. The only thing that hadn't changed was the towering Dewford Gym, the extended Dewford Hall, and Granite Cave, which everyone seemed to ignore and stay as far away from as possible. Darren thought of this as peculiar and went to Dewford Hall to investigate. As it was forty years ago, it was packed with people of all ages who were interested in the next big thing. Darren moved back his hood a little to show just his face and smiled at everyone who looked his way. He stayed as close to the wall as possible and listened to the town gossip.

"There's been more trouble at that cave again!"

"What happened this time?"

"A couple of kids played near the entrance and heard growling noises! Why, there hasn't been Pokemon in that cave for thirty years!"

"How do we know those kids aren't making it up? They could be over exaggerating to kick up a fuss."

"Are you calling my child a liar?"

"Well he certainly isn't good to look at! It would make his lies more believable but unfortunately he has the town ugly contest first prize winners as his parents!"

"Why you son of a-"

Darren took that as his cue to leave and snuck out the front door as the woman and man started to fight. He headed towards the cave with piqued interest and shuffled through the throngs of people to get to the mouth of the cave.

"Well Slakoth time for another small adventure. You ready?" Slakoth groaned from underneath the cloak and Darren walked into the cave.