A/N: There's one thing in this chapter will probably seem really shoehorned in, even though I tried my best for it not to be. I would really appreciate it if you guys could let me know if you felt that anything in this chapter felt forced.
Other than that, enjoy the final chapter of Hidden Power! This fic really ended up being a lot longer than expected, and I'm glad to finally be able to finish a multi-chapter fic. Enjoy.
Chapter 7: Stars
Leona was silent. Blue slowly glanced upwards, expecting a look of disappointment and disapproval on the old School Teacher's face, but instead found an expression of resigned understanding.
"We tried our best, Teacher Leona," Blue said sadly. "Shannon and I - we used our attacks the best way we could. But the two Lanturn we fought - their Discharge attacks were too strong. They knocked us out in two hits." He looked around the medicine den and spotted Shannon sleeping in the far corner. "Shannon will be okay, right?"
Leona nodded. "She just needs a bit of rest," she said. She sighed. "But this is bad, Blue. It looks like the Lanturn are simply too strong for us. And I doubt their power will decrease to manageable levels anytime soon, considering that the ocean is getting warmer and warmer."
Blue blinked. "I beg your pardon?" he asked, confused about the relationship between the warming ocean and the power of the Lanturn.
"I have been alive for many years, and in my youth the Southwest Sea School was thriving - a lot happier and more well-fed than we are right now," Leona explained. "We have always protected our young from the Lanturn's appetites, and we competed for food with the Lanturn as well. But as I grew older, the ocean got warmer and warmer - and it seems that the Chinchou and Lanturn thrive in warmer waters."
"Really?" Blue asked, a feeling of hopelessness spreading throughout his body.
Leona nodded. "Yes. When I was a young Finneon, our School had an advantage in numbers over the Chinchou and Lanturn. We may have been weak to their Electric-type attacks, but we were able to hold our own against them because there were simply more of us, and we hunted in groups while the Lanturn hunted individually."
"Go on," Blue said respectfully.
"But as the water became warmer, our enemies increased in number," Leona continued. "Their electric attacks increased in power, as well. Thanks to your arrival and the way you paired up with Shannon, we had a brief reprieve from our struggles, but then, well..." She took a deep breath. "You fought bravely, Blue. I commend you for that. However, I believe we can draw the conclusion that the Chinchou and Lanturn have generally gotten stronger thanks to the higher temperatures, and unless we come up with a new plan, we will go right back to struggling against the Lanturn for food."
I know, Blue thought sadly. He didn't have any idea of a new plan yet, but now that he knew about the correlation between the warmer temperatures and the Lanturns' power, he wanted to find out more.
"Uh, do you know what's been causing the ocean to get warmer?" Blue asked. "Is there a Fire-type at the shore who is responsible, or some other Pokemon?"
"We have done plenty of investigations into the causes of the warming ocean," Leona said, "but every time we were unable to find a clear cause. We searched our whole territory for Pokemon or human influence, but it seems as if absolutely nothing has changed in our environment."
Then there's really nothing we can do, Blue thought. But he figured he should tell Leona what he knew anyways.
"Uh, Leona?" Blue said after a short pause.
"Yes, Blue?" Leona said.
"I, uh, heard about something when I was a Trained Pokemon," Blue explained. "There's this thing that's happening to the world called, uh, global warming. I saw it on the TV my former trainer, Luna, liked to watch."
"What's a TV?" Leona asked. "A human device?"
"Yeah, humans watch it to learn stuff, I guess," Blue said, his tail twitching uncomfortably. "Anyways, the TV talked about how humans were pumping too many gases into the air, which was causing the world to heat up more quickly than it should. Luna told me that what the TV said was true, and Luna never lied to me." He tilted his body in confusion. "I know, Teacher Leona, I don't have any proof of this, but considering that you never found any clear cause of the ocean warming I think that's the only thing that could be happening to cause the ocean to be warmer and the Lanturn to be stronger."
Leona was silent for a while as she pondered everything Blue told her. Then she sighed and nodded.
"I believe you are right," she said, sighing. "But if that is true, then there is nothing we can do to stop the ocean from warming. We cannot communicate with the humans to get them to do something as large-scale as stop pumping so many gases into the air."
"Which means that the Lanturn will just continue to get stronger as the ocean warms," Blue said. "And even if the humans stopped pumping their gases into the air, it'll take a while for the ocean to cool down to the temperature it had when you were young. We need a more immediate solution to our starvation problem than that. So what would our solution be?"
"I do not know, Blue," Leona sighed. "Before you arrived, we tried everything. We tried negotiating with the Lanturn to split the food sources evenly with us, but the Lanturn maintained that they never ate more than they needed. They insisted that they were doing what they had always been doing, and that therefore we should be able to compete with them as always. We tried fighting against the Lanturn, but that just left us exhausted and prevented us from searching for food. We even tried expanding our diet to include Pokemon bigger than us. You can guess how taking on Tentacruel went down." She shuddered. "I don't want to talk about it."
"I'm so sorry, Leona," Blue said, hopelessness engulfing him. "I was supposed to be the School's savior. Some savior I am."
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Blue," Leona said gently, touching Blue's back gently with her fin. "You really did your best, and you were a great help. It's just that, thanks to the humans, our enemies have gotten stronger. Which isn't something that you can control."
"What can I control, then?" Blue asked. "I can control the moves I know, but we both know that my moves won't solve the problem anymore."
"You can control your own thoughts and actions," Leona pointed out. "So keep thinking. Don't give up. I'll brainstorm with you, if that helps."
"Maybe you can call a School Assembly?" Blue asked. "That way we can get the ideas of the whole School."
"That's a great idea," Leona said warmly. "You see, Blue? You've got plenty of wonderful thoughts."
oOo
The School Assembly took place in the early evening, after Shannon recovered. The fish of the Southwest Sea School didn't take too much time to settle down. Many already knew what was going on and were anxious to hear Leona address the issue. Blue settled down in the front of the crowd with Shannon by his side.
"We are gathered here today to discuss the School's survival for the first time in moons," Leona called. "As many of you know already, the Lanturn have increased in number and started hunting in groups, making their electric attacks too strong for any of us to handle. If this continues, we will go right back to how we were before Blue arrived. We need to brainstorm a solution so that we will not go hungry. Does anyone have any ideas?"
"Isn't Blue taking on the Lanturn with his attacks?" a young Finneon piped up.
"Yes," Leona said, "but the Lanturn are becoming too strong for even him. I assure all of you that Blue has been trying his very best. But the Southwest Sea has been getting warmer and warmer over the years with no signs of cooling, and Chinchou and Lanturn become healthier and stronger in warmer waters. As you all think about solutions, keep that in mind."
"Yeah, what's that about?" an older Finneon asked. "Can we do anything about the warming waters, so that the power of our rivals will become a more manageable level?"
"Unfortunately, Terry, no," Leona said. She then explained what Blue had told her about global warming. "Remember," Leona finished, "we could never find any clear cause of what was causing the water temperatures to rise, so this global warming Blue learned about from his time as a Trained Pokemon is probably what is causing the ocean to get warmer. Since the humans are the ones responsible for global warming, there isn't anything we can do about the rising ocean temperatures. So we'll have to find another solution." She scanned the cave and saw that Shannon was raising her fin. "Yes, Shannon?"
"Blue and I fought against a Lanturn named Joe, who said that the Lanturn weren't taking more food than they needed," Shannon said. "Do you think he's right? Because if he is, that just means that there simply isn't enough food Pokemon in the Southwest Sea for all the Finneon, Lumineon, Chinchou, and Lanturn living here. And if that's the case, one group of predator Pokemon is going to have to leave and find a new territory." Shannon sighed. "Since the Lanturn are stronger thanks to the warmer temperatures, looks like it's going to be us."
"Shannon, that's it!" Blue exclaimed, springing off the ground.
"What do you mean?" Shannon asked.
"I know how we're going to survive now," Blue said excitedly. "We'll just move to another territory!"
Murmurs erupted among the fish in the Southwest Sea School. Cerulean, who was next to Blue, turned to face Blue. His face bore an uncertain expression.
"Blue, are you sure?" Cerulean asked. "We've lived in the Southwest Sea for our whole lives. We can't just leave. We'd be surrendering to the Lanturn that way."
An older female Finneon named Bubbles, who was floating next to Cerulean, rolled her eyes. "Of course we're going to surrender to the Lanturn, Cerulean," she said. "There's no way we can fight against them. They're just too strong for us. That's been established already."
"But this is my home!" a third nearby Finneon exclaimed sadly. "I don't want to leave!"
"Excuse me, everyone!" Leona called over the ruckus. "Quiet, please."
The School quickly quieted down, and Leona continued, "Blue actually has a very good point. I'm amazed that we hadn't thought of it earlier." A few murmurs sounded, and Leona addressed them. "I understand your concerns about it. Moving to a new territory will be challenging for all of you. You will need to look out for each other during the process. However, I believe that it is your best option."
"W-w-wait a second," Blue stammered, looking Leona squarely in the eye. He was surprised to find a look of sadness and resignation in her gaze.
"Teacher Leona," Blue said, "why did you say 'you'? Are you saying that if we move to a new territory… you're not coming with us?"
"I'm afraid not," Leona said, in a voice that could barely be heard over the ensuing commotion. Leona looked up, called for order, and continued, "I am a very old fish, much older than many of you think. I am afraid that I may not be around for much longer, and I would like to spend the rest of my days in the place where I was born and lived throughout my life."
"Then I'm staying with you," Ripple, the Berry Fish, said. "You have been a wonderful School Teacher and I want to ensure that you spend the rest of your days in peace."
"I'm staying too!" an old male Lumineon named Indigo exclaimed. "I'm not risking the rest of my short life journeying through the unknown."
Blue listened in dismay as several fish expressed their wish to stay, and others stated that they wanted to find Trainers. He himself was having doubts as well. Teacher Leona had introduced him to his home with the School and saved his life once, even. She was such a big part of his life that he couldn't imagine how much things would be different without her. How was he going to just abandon her and leave for an unknown place?
"Quiet, please!" Leona called over the voices. When the fish piped down, she said, "Indigo, Rain, you two may stay here in the Southwest Sea. I understand your fears that you are too old to make the journey, and I would definitely appreciate some company. Those of you who wish to find Trainers, I will not discourage you. However, the rest of you - I urge you to make the journey, for the sake of the School's survival. Please - it is my final wish."
Blue nodded respectfully. He knew for sure that he was going to honor Teacher Leona's wish and carry out his idea. Glancing around him, his heart warmed when he noticed that every other fish in the School was nodding as well.
"Wait," Cerulean said. "Teacher Leona, I understand that most of the School needs to move to a new territory. But if you are not going with us, you will need to appoint a new School Teacher."
"That is correct," Leona said, smiling. "And I will."
She swam towards the uppermost reaches of the cave and looked down at the fish gathered below. When she spoke, she spoke loudly and clearly, with no hesitation.
"Southwest Sea School of Finneon and Lumineon, I, Teacher Leona, hereby step down as School Teacher. Your new School Teacher is Blue."
Blue's heart skipped a beat at Leona's words, and his mouth hung open slightly.
Me? he thought, surprised. Me, School Teacher?
He was expecting protests, but was amazed at the way his Schoolmates were bowing at him respectfully. So Blue held his head up and smiled at Leona, warmth flooding through him.
"Come here, Blue," Leona said, her voice full of warmth and pride.
Blue slowly swam up to the elderly female Lumineon, his eyes shining with happiness.
"Blue," Leona said clearly, "Do you solemnly swear to be the best leader you can be to the Southwest Sea School of Finneon and Lumineon, and do your very best to protect the School?"
"I do," Blue said. And he meant it. "Leona, I won't let you down."
"I know that you'll do great as School Teacher, Teacher Blue," Leona said confidently, touching Blue's forehead with her fin. With that, she swam towards the back of the crowd of fish, motioning for Blue to address his School.
Teacher Blue, Blue thought proudly, his heart still beating heavily. I'm Teacher Blue.
"Southwest Sea School!" Blue called. He scanned the crowd and smiled as he met Shannon, Light, and Cerulean's proud faces. "It is time to recognize that no matter what we do, the Lanturn are stronger than us. It is time to recognize that this is a battle that cannot be won, and put our survival first above anything else. The truth of the matter is that we will not survive for long if we stay here in the Southwest Sea. If we move to a new territory, we at least have the chance of finding a place with enough food for all of us, and fewer enemies. We will head north tomorrow night. Generally speaking, northern seas should have cooler temperatures, so we will start our search for territory in that direction. Does anyone have any questions?"
"I have a question for you, Blue," Leona spoke up. Blue glanced at the former School Teacher, surprised. Wasn't everything she needed to say, said?
"Yes, Leona?" Blue said.
"Teacher Blue," Leona said, "Why do you think I chose you to be the new School Teacher?"
This is a test, Blue realized. A test to prove that I'm really worthy of being School Teacher. And since Leona chose me, I won't let her down.
"I wasn't able to defeat the Lanturn groups," Blue said slowly. "I thought I was a failure because of that. But… even so, my moves are a great help to the School. Also, I have experience as a Trained Pokemon." Blue's voice steadily grew more confident as he realized that he was right. "I knew about global warming, which pointed us in the direction of the solution to our problems. And I think I have solved our Lanturn problem as well. It was me who proposed that we move to a new territory." He knew the answer now. "Because of that, I think I am worthy of being the Southwest Sea School's new Teacher."
"That is correct, Blue," Leona said warmly, though Blue knew on the inside that there was no way he had failed the test. "I am confident that you will lead the School to more prosperous waters."
"Thank you, Leona," Blue said, bowing at the former School Teacher. "I promise to serve you all well." He gazed happily at his School, which looked up at him, faith in their new School Teacher in their eyes. He glanced at Shannon, who was smiling broadly, and realized something.
"My first order of business is that I would like to appoint an Assistant Teacher," Blue said. "I believe this will be good for the School as a whole. Shannon, will you be my Assistant Teacher?"
"I will be honored, Teacher Blue," Shannon said, dipping her head respectfully.
"Now, does anyone have any objections to what has happened during this School Assembly?" Blue asked.
"I sure do not," Shannon said. Then she began a cheer: "Teacher Blue! Teacher Blue!"
"Teacher Blue! Teacher Blue! Teacher Blue!"
Blue felt warmth and amazement inside of him as, gradually, the entire School joined in cheering for their new Teacher. As the cheering of the fish reverberated in his ears, Blue felt the assurance of his Schoolmates sinking deep into him. He knew that he was not going to let them down.
"No objections? Good," Blue said happily. as the cheering died down. "This School Assembly is now adjourned. We shall all head north tomorrow night."
oOo
Blue's fins glowed as he led his School northward. The goodbyes had all been taken care of earlier in the day, and now that it was night, the several dozen fish illuminated their fins as they swam forward into new seas.
I'm going to miss Leona dearly, Blue thought, but I'm ready for the challenge of leading the School.
And as the School of Finneon and Lumineon swam northward in the darkness of the deep sea, their fins glowed, illuminating the expanse of blue ocean around them.
-END-
"LUMINEON swimming in the darkness of the deep sea look like stars shining in the night sky." - Lumineon's Pokedex entry from Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver
