In this chapter, Team Valor and Team Majesta begin the return to the Kingdom of Laxos, thanks to the help of a few old allies. Of course, there is also a huge tragedy.
"What are we going to do? We're far out here in the middle of nowhere, have basically no way of getting back to Laxos fast, and on the last of our supplies." Machamp said for about the fourth time.
"Machamp, stop stating the obvious. It's beginning to get very annoying." Drapion growled.
"Both of you stop it! We are getting nowhere fast with your stupid arguing!" Lopunny commanded.
The situation was beginning to get dangerous. After Team Majesta had told Team Valor about Dusknoir's plans, it was obvious to all of them that the entire kidnapping was a trap and they had to get back to Laxos as quickly as possible. Instead of going back the way they came, they were hoping to get to the Kingdom of Zarton, find the port, and catch a ship back to Laxos as soon as possible.
However, the port was blocked by a pack of Sharpedo, which had begun devastating the ships with their deadly teeth. Zarton's navy wasn't exactly known for its battle prowess, and it was merely luck that they were able to hold off Walrein's attack for so long. The Sharpedo were wild, and decided to finish the job. Unfortunately for Team Valor, their job was a trifle bit overdone, and most of the ships were completely impossible to repair, and the ones that could be repaired would take months to finish. In other words, Team Valor and Team Majesta was basically stranded in an enemy country, and it was quite surprising how no one really noticed them yet.
Infernape lay down on the bed of the inn room that they were in. As it was with all the inns in the famous countries, each bed had enough room for about three Pokémon. They were also comfortable and springy. As Infernape laid and began to relax, he heard the sound of beating wings. It was Swellow and Staraptor, who had gone out for a morning flight. They landed on the balcony, and they hurriedly beckoned the rest of the Pokémon over. Needless to say, the Pokémon rushed over.
"You will not believe what we just heard. A ship is on its way to the harbor as we speak. The Sharpedo are beginning to prepare for the attack on the ship. The slight problem is, the Zarton navy will not help them." Staraptor said.
"OK, so what does that have to do with us?" Medicham asked.
"I flew to look at the ship with all speed after Staraptor and I heard. That's when I saw something. It had the Laxos flag flying from the mast. After seeing this, I immediately flew back to where Staraptor was and we both came back to tell you all." Swellow explained.
"So, we should probably help whoever this is?" Luxray asked.
"Why shouldn't we?" Kricketune asked.
"Good point." Roserade said. In a unanimous and silent agreement, both teams raced out of the room. Infernape left the key on the front desk, and they ran as quickly as they could to the port. There, they witnessed an astonishing sight. It was true that the Sharpedo were attacking the ship, but they seemed to be getting beaten back by something. Luxray and Staraptor, with some strain, were able to see what it was.
"Guys, it's an army of Seaking!" Luxray said.
"What? If that's true, then-" Abomasnow trailed off. The ship pushed right through the Sharpedo with the Seaking beating them back and headed right for the two teams. As it neared, they could eventually see who was at the front, and they brightened considerably. It was Walrein!
"Aye! Team Valor! It looks like you managed to save your ladyloves!" Walrein laughed as he neared. Although the two teams were very well aware of what they felt for each other, a crimson blush crept onto their faces as Walrein said this. The blushes did not go unnoticed by Walrein, and he laughed. Then he threw down a rope ladder for the two teams to climb on. After they did so, Walrein immediately called for the driver to turn around and go right through the Sharpedo. The Sharpedo would not give up, however, and a few particularly athletic Sharpedo leapt up and began using Aqua Jet with incredible speed.
Luxray began to counter with Discharge when a Discharge from another source behind the teams struck all the Sharpedo, including the ones down below in the ocean. The two teams turned around in surprise to see Manectric, grinning and with stray electricity circulating around his body.
"It's good to see you, Team Valor. And hello to you, Team Majesta." Manectric greeted with a bow.
"Is that Manectric? You all told us that he went back to Laxos with his mate, Absol, after you encountered him in Thunderous Plains." Medicham said.
"He did. I have no idea what he's doing here." Luxray said.
"He's not the only old friend that you'll meet on this ship, Medicham." Another voice said. Machamp, recognizing the voice, turned around, and as he expected, but was still surprised to see, the Hitmon Brothers were standing a few feet away, fighting off Sharpedo that were attacking from their end. Somehow, they were still able to fight while looking behind them at Team Valor and waving at the same time.
"Huh? Who are they?" Medicham asked, confused.
Absol, who seemingly came out of nowhere, leapt in front of the Hitmon Brothers. "I'll take over. You can do your stupid introduction to them." she said.
"Stupid? How dare you!" the brothers cried indignantly. A vicious glare from Absol silenced all of them, and they meekly nodded. Absol began fighting with Night Slashes and Razor Winds, while the Hitmon Brothers began their introduction.
"Hitmonlee!" Hitmonlee yelled.
"Hitmonchan!" Hitmonchan yelled.
"Hitmontop!" Hitmontop yelled.
"Together we are… the Hitmon Brothers!" all three yelled. Medicham looked at Machamp quizzically.
"Tyrogue Brothers?" she asked.
"Yeah." He answered.
"Same stupid introduction?" she pressed, earning a few anime-style falls form the Hitmon Brothers.
"Yeah." Machamp repeated. Then, all present, except for the Hitmon Brothers, burst out laughing, even Manectric and Absol, who were still fighting.
Unfortunately, Absol failed to see an exceptionally large Sharpedo come up behind her and prepare a Crunch. Kricketune, on the other hand, did. With a cry, she ran forward. "Fury Cutter!" she cried. The attack was super effective, and as Kricketune landed gracefully back on the deck, the Sharpedo, with a roar, fell back into the ocean.
Kricketune dropped into a crouch with a grunt of pain. Instantly, Drapion was at her side. "Is there something wrong?" he asked in concern. Kricketune shook her head, though, she was holding the arm she used to hit the Sharpedo with Fury Cutter. Drapion shook his head. "I should have known. You're a bad liar, you know that?" he said affectionately.
Luxray walked up to them with his medical kit. "It's nothing, Drapion. It's only Sharpedo's ability, Rough Skin. It causes damage when you connect physically with it. A quick bandage and she'll be fine." He said, applying the said tool.
"Lads, I hate to interrupt this reunion, but we have a slight problem." Walrein said. Everyone looked at him. "Look off the starboard side, I mean, the right side, of the ship." They did so, and found the entire hoard of Sharpedo preparing a full-charge, all-out Aqua Jet attack, no holds barred.
"Nothing Luxray and I can't handle." Manectric said confidently. With a nod, Luxray ordered everyone to clear away. Absol and Ninetales licked their respective boyfriends on the cheek before joining the others.
Simultaneously, the two mighty Electric-Type rivals began charging up ferocious electricity. The electric power connected, and with a roar, they shot a synchronized lightning bolt up to the sky, where lightning clouds had already begun to gather.
"THUNDER!" Luxray and Manectric roared. The wicked lightning bolt struck back down into the water. It was common knowledge that water conducted electricity, and the electricity traveled through the water at the speed of light and struck all the Sharpedo. The impact was made worse by the Aqua Jets, which coated the Sharpedo in water. Needless to say, a bunch of fainted and fried Sharpedo was floating in the water. Unfortunately, the Seaking soldiers that were not killed by the Sharpedo were also fried.
"Don't you guys think you overdid it a little?" Hitmonlee asked. Luxray and Manectric looked at the Sharpedo, then back at the others sheepishly.
"Whoops…" Luxray mumbled.
"Ah, well. Nothing to be worried about. My soldiers will be fine. Right now, we have to get you all back to Laxos. The situation is at its worst." Walrein said grimly. He ordered Hitmonlee to begin steering the ship.
"First of all, why don't we tell them how we met up in the first place?" Hitmonchan asked, as the ship began to move.
"Good idea. Who are you guys, anyway? Your introduction was stupid and it didn't help anyway." Ninetales said. Lopunny snickered. Machamp and Medicham quickly explained whom the Hitmon Brothers were, considering how they were the ones to know the Hitmon Brothers since early childhood.
"Anyway," Hitmontop said after Machamp and Medicham were done, "after Team Valor left us at Mt. Dynamo, we made our way to Laxos, where we were let in and were treated with honor. Metagross was put into the dungeon along with some other Pokémon called Mr. Mime. For a while, we lived with the citizens of Laxos in harmony, doing the duties that you couldn't do while you were away, Team Valor." Hitmontop said.
"But, it was too good to last. One day, that blasted Kingdom of Zarton ruler attacked." Hitmonchan growled. Team Valor and Team Majesta's eyes widened with the realization that they were too late to stop the attack.
"I assure you, we fought with all our might. Walrein did, too. But in the end, Laxos fell, and all your guards were put under the command of Team Valor's rivals- Magmortar, Electivire, Yanmega, Rhyperior, Ursaring, and Tangrowth, now known as Team Demonic. In the end, we had no choice but to abandon the kingdom and find you guys." Hitmonlee said with despair, while steering the ship.
"Walrein recognized me as I ran back to Laxos with Absol. He explained the situation, and we had no choice but to join up with them. Luckily, we were only up to Mt. Dynamo, so it didn't take all that long to get here and find you guys."
Lopunny had begun quivering when Hitmonlee said that they had to abandon the kingdom. "Wait… if Laxos has fallen…" she stammered.
"What happened to King Lucario, Queen Lopunny, Master Gallade, and Mistress Gardevoir?" Roserade demanded.
Manectric looked at them with high distress. "Well…you see…" He broke off, looking away from everyone else. Lopunny bounced up to him.
"Tell me, Manectric! Tell me!" she screeched, shaking him.
"I think you'd better come with me, Team Valor, Team Majesta." Walrein said, opening a door that led to the ship's lower levels. They complied, the males and females holding onto their respective significant others. Walrein led them down to a sealed room, which he unlocked with a key shaped like a crown.
Upon opening the door, Team Valor and Team Majesta discovered a horrendous sight.
Coffins. Four long, golden coffins, all richly adorned with flowers. When they were opened, Lopunny screamed out loud at the ones inside them. Team Valor and the rest of Team Majesta gasped. Two of them held King Lucario and Queen Lopunny, while the other two held Gallade and Gardevoir. They all had their hands crossed over their chests, and their faces held a peaceful expression.
Not one of their chests moved. Lopunny's face was ashen with grief. Walrein looked at her sadly. "I…wanted to give them a burial at sea, but…I wanted to wait until we met up with you guys. They died fighting Dusknoir and Team Demonic. Their last words were that when their daughter came home, she had to inherit the kingdom, with a chosen king. They meant for you and Infernape to take up those roles, Lopunny." Walrein murmured solemnly.
Infernape put a hand on Lopunny's shoulder, earning a grateful glance from her. "Thank you for waiting, Walrein. I'll be fine. Please, begin the burial." Lopunny said. Walrein nodded, and Machamp brought the coffins back up seeing how he was the only one strong enough to do so. Manectric, Absol, and the Hitmon Brothers looked up as the two teams and the navy general came back through the door, and solemnly joined them as Machamp threw the coffins into the sea.
After paying their respects, Manectric and Absol said that they would prepare dinner, both of them with a sad aura as they padded off. One by one, Team Valor and Team Majesta dispersed, Infernape and Lopunny being the last.
During dinner, the Pokémon were quiet. They ate slowly, and without a word. Walrein tried in vain to make friendly conversation, but Team Valor and Team Majesta were irresponsive. Once they were finished with dinner, the Pokémon headed straight to bed, without a word.
I know that I promised both the romance and the tragedy in this chapter, but it got out of hand. The next chapter, which will be posted later today, or maybe tomorrow, will have the sweet, sweet romance.
And please review. The fact that I have not gotten any reviews for the last two chapters is very disappointing.