Chapter 26: Cloak and Dragon
From the plains of Lele Island, far in the distance, the islands of Bulu, Koko and Fini could be seen. Koko and Bulu both had forests, with the former having nothing but that and an extended beach, and the latter having a large plateau, the sides littered with dozens of holes. Fini was a massive desert, with deep shoals in the water around it, and the twin peaks of Lune and Sol, taking the north and south sides of the island. Several miles of ocean stood between each of the islands, making it no easy task with the deep-dwelling Pokemon seen below.
Cosma sighed longingly, gazing at the distant Bulu Island, to the right of her view. "I wish I could see Chief Kernus and the others…" She sat on the edge of a sheer cliff, with Sion and Ren heading toward the hiding spot of the Tsareena Tribe, leaving Cosma to watch for anyone that may come near.
She sniffed, looking toward Fini Island, the most distant of the Forgotten Isles. "We have to go all the way there? What am I supposed to do? I can't do anything except run away." She turned away, moping to herself. She gazed at the trees in the middle of the field, swaying in the wind, trying to distract her feelings for her lost Kommo-o Tribe.
The three Steenee sisters rushed past a grassy tunnel, leaving a trail of sweet scents for Sion and Ren to follow. Barsi looked back with Borsha in her hands, staring crossly at her two companions. "Come on, hurry up! You have to meet Chieftess Balla!" Sion slid slightly as he turned the corner, ducking his head thanks to the low ceiling, while Ren banged into the wall, moaning and rubbing his nose.
The young Lucario growled, restarting his pace and hastily catching up to the Zoroark. "How are you able to run through here so well? I can't turn around with sliding into a wall!"
Sion shrugged, turning once more, Ren slowing down and narrowly avoiding collision. "I guess it's because I have claws. Maybe the real question we should be asking is why we have to go through these tunnels?"
Ren growled once more, looking down at his paws. "Claws shouldn't make any difference! And anyways, I'm supposed to be the faster one here. Remember that Lucario can run for days without getting tired?" he boasted. He turned the corner once more, Sion's bushy fur and billowing cloak blocking his visual of the Steenee.
Sion adjusted the cloak on his shoulders, feeling a tingling feeling. "I've heard plenty about that thanks to your 'research' in Pokemon Study back at Lucario Guild." Ren always bragged about the superiority of Lucario in both combat and exploration, all the while playing pranks on Sion in class.
Ren nodded haughtily, kicking against another corner of the tunnels. "Well, all that's true. So why is it that a lanky Zoroark like you can outspeed me down here?" Before Sion could reply, the three Steenee suddenly stopped, causing Sion to skid to a halt, with Ren thudding into his back as he did.
Binnie turned back, setting her hand on her lips. "Ssh, Chieftess Balla doesn't like too much sound. These are our secret tunnels to get across the plains while the Exeggutor are about, so they don't find us."
Ren pushed in front of Sion, cross. "Hold up. Why do we have to go up to deal with the Exeggutor if we could just go past them from here?" he demanded.
Barsi rolled her eyes, as if it was obvious. "Because the tunnels don't go that far. We only ever made them go through the central part because that's where we live. We don't want to go where the Exeggutor are supposed to be, and we certainly don't want to get in trouble with the Mudsdale, so we didn't bother," she hissed. Clacking footsteps could be heard farther down the tunnel, muffled voices echoing within.
The three motioned for Sion and Ren to follow them, and they steadily entered the next section. The two followed, the voices growing louder, and the footsteps growing more pronounced. Soon, they could hear the conversation within the central room.
One distinctly feminine voice shouted, "How many times have I told you, the Exeggutor are simply too strong! Why don't we just move in to where we determined they should be?
"Because, Bara, there isn't enough food! Being this close to the Gumshoos jungle allows us to easily get berries for ourselves, but if we go to the other side of the plains, we end up being too far to make that practical!"
"Well, what should we do then? We can't very well talk with them; they're wild."
"We've driven them out many times before, and we can do it again."
"Ha! Good luck with that! Have you seen how many Exeggcute they have under their heads? They won't be moving out till those guys are Exeggutor, then they'll just spread again. We need a more permanent solution."
"What about a fence? There's plenty of wood in the jungle."
"That will take away some of our food source too. We can't rely on what's in the jungle."
"Then why not drive them in there? There's plenty of food."
"They'll refuse because their skinny little necks won't fit. "
"Well what do you expect us to do then!"
Barsi jumped up and exclaimed, "I have a solution!" Three fancier and larger versions of the many Steenee and Bounsweet in the central cavern stood in the center, all glowering at the younger residents and the two newcomers. Several holes littered the ceiling, bringing the cavern light, and there was bedding in the corners made from leaves and twigs. A ladder to the side extended to a hole covered with a slab of wood, leading to the outside.
The largest of the three larger Steenee, which Sion could only assume were Tsareena, came closer on her sharp legs and inspected him and Ren. "Who are these two and why did you bring them here?" She demanded. The three Steenee curtsied slightly, setting Borsha on the ground. She bounced back with the other Bounsweet, cheering happily.
Binnie gestured to Sion and Ren and said, "Chieftess, these are two Pokemon from a faraway land. They say they can drive out the Exeggutor!" A clamor arose among the Steenee, with some giggling, some shouts, and some cheers.
The smaller Tsareena came next to the Chieftess, inspecting alongside her. "I don't like the looks of them. Look at that dark one there. He doesn't seem very trustworthy."
The third Tsareena came up, jabbing a finger at Ren's chest. "And look at this one! He's cockier than a Toucannon, I can see it in the way he holds himself."
Ren breathed in sharply, clenching his paws. He jabbed his own paw at the Tsareena and roared, "I'll have you know that I'm a future Guildmaster of Lucario Guild! I have every right to look cocky!"
The Tsareena took a step forward, causing the Steenee to shrink in fear. "Well, you're not at this Lucario Guild, are you? This is the Tsareena tribe, and I'm sister to the Chieftess, Bara, second in command. You better back down, furball, or you're going to get a kick to the gut," she threatened.
Ren refused, drawing closer. "Oh yeah? You'll have to do that before I get a punch into your pretty little—"
"Enough!" Sion exclaimed, pushing Ren away from Bara. He whirled him around and clutched his shoulders, glaring at him. "What are you thinking! We only just got here, and already you're asking for a fight!" he whispered.
Ren pushed him away, making a move toward the Tsareena. "She deserves it, because no one will treat me like that. I'm the son of Lukas Lucario, someone who means something…unlike you." He venomously replied. He pushed past him, leaving Sion to stand and bear another insult to his name.
Ren went up to Bara and said, "Oh, how I'm going to—"
"Stop, please!"
He turned around, seeing Cosma rushing through the tunnels toward them. The Tsareena blinked in surprise, causing Cosma to look around warily. "Um…I got a little bored waiting up there, so I came down here. What's going on?"
Bara pushed past Ren and Sion, getting a closer look at Cosma. "Hmm…you look like what our mother, Beril, described to save us from a group of invaders, the Ultra Beasts. They've come here frequently, demanding for our allegiance. We Tsareena would never follow such malicious Pokemon, especially after what they caused with their gates. It's thanks to them that we even have to worry about the Exeggutor; we had to keep pushing them back to ensure that they didn't constantly attack us." She turned back to Sion and Ren and said, "Do you two travel with her?"
Before Ren could reply, Sion cut in. "Yes, yes we are. We came from past the Mist Wall to bring her here." He asserted. This started a new slew of discussion among the Steenee, leaving the three Tsareena speechless.
Chieftess Balla, after much deliberation, finally said, "If you can drive out the Exeggutor, by all means do so. To bring the child of the sun and moon to the peaks of Fini, that will be your only way." She motioned to the ladder, where thumping could be heard above. "Your duty awaits."
"Why did we ever agree to this?" Ren stammered, gazing at the towering Exeggutor several feet in front of him. Scattered throughout the plains were over two dozen Exeggutor, resting blissfully as their extended necks stayed suspended in the air. Under several were bunches of Exeggcute, resting alongside their parents as they grew. Behind them, their tails swayed, the heads on them keeping watch for attackers.
Sion nudged him playfully, despite his own fear. "You're the guy who said we can do this. It can't be that hard…right?"
Ren frowned, studying the shaking head on one Exeggutor's tail. "Yeah, that was before I saw them! How was I supposed to know they were taller than a tree and had a tail to keep watch for them, huh?" He snapped. One of the Exeggutor's heads snorted, and Ren swiftly ducked beneath the hill they hid behind, not wishing to suffer its wrath.
Cosma hovered in front of them and said, "Well we have to at least get past them, right? Any ideas?" They all pondered, looking over to the far side of the plains, where the distant shapes of Mudsdale could be seen grazing.
Sion suddenly beamed, giving a grin. "Alright, I have an idea, but we'll need both of you to make it work." He relayed his idea, receiving both praises and groans.
"This is not going to work," Ren grumbled under his breath, holding one side of a large tree trunk, with Sion on the other. They now stood right in front of the Exeggutor, the giant still sleeping blissfully, as Cosma swayed in front of the tail's head, making it drowsy.
"You are growing very sleepy…sleepy…" she swooned, the head rocking side-to-side with a dopey grin. It finally shut its eyes, and Cosma gave a nod. The log-holders ran straight into the legs of the Exeggutor, knocking them away from under it. The Exeggutor snapped awake, roaring in surprise as its faces met with the ground.
Dropping the log, Ren stared in amazement. "Wow, I guess it did." He admitted.
Sion nodded, studying the elongated form. "Yep, I thought so. You know, the Tsareena won't have to constantly push them away if they do this. They could have a Bounsweet distract the head, then…" Sion explained, trailing off. Ren was turned away from the Exeggutor, and Cosma towards the heads, as it began to slowly rise, with the Lucario taking no notice of the fluid motion.
He wanted to say something, the anger evident in the smiling Exeggutor's faces, but something stopped him. "Let him suffer his fate. He called you worthless, when you are so much more…" The hoarse voice explained. Cosma shivered with fear, speechless at the sight.
Ren looked curiously at Sion, the heads of the Exeggutor rearing back. "What's going on? Mewoth got your tongue?" he asked. The heads began to glow with bluish-light, and began to swing forward, right towards Ren.
"Look out!" Sion cried, dodging to the left.
Ren looked behind him and swore, rolling to the side just before the heads fell. The Exeggutor rose up and gave a malicious chuckle, stomping toward its assailants. From behind, other Exeggutor began to advance.
All three blanched at the sight, unmoving. "We need to run, now!" Ren yelled. Sion and Cosma complied, scrambling through the plains toward the herd of Mudsdale.
From the exit of the jungle, Ekon squinted at the sudden daylight, studying the environment he was now in. "Well well, looks like there is a grassland just after the jungle. Who knew?"
Frederick pushed past him, taking a deep sniff. "Hmm, I smell Cosma. She's near here, probably not more than a couple hundred yards," he stated, turning to the right.
Gaiden emerged, tilting his head to the left. "I hear…laughing."
Three sets of heads emerged from the nearby hill, all chuckling maliciously, stomping forward with their tails wagging behind them. Their full bodies could be seen soon after, causing Ekon and Frederick to gape in surprise.
"By Kyogre's rains…that's one tall Exeggutor!" Frederick gasped. One of the three turned to them and laughed louder, his companions turning as well. They began to stomp toward them, their heads beginning to glow with blue light.
Ekon took to the air and shrieked, "Fly for your life!"
Frederick shrugged, dashing to the right with all his might. "And run if you can't!" he added. Gaiden soon followed, narrowly dodging the swinging neck of the Exeggutor. All three pursued them, with one spewing sizzling black seeds from its mouths at Ekon, the others doing the same toward Frederick and Gaiden.
Ren jumped down the hill, narrowly dodging a falling Seed Bomb from an Exeggutor. "Why did we ever do that!" he exclaimed. The Mudsdale grew closer, their herds now becoming a more distinct shape. Sion beamed, eager to finally be free of the Exeggutor threat.
The pursuing Exeggutor launched another seed, this time right in front of Ren. He staggered backward, narrowly dodging the explosion, landing on his back and banging his head on the ground. He saw the upside-down Exeggutor, stomping forward, paying no attention to Ren as he recuperated from the blast.
Sion slowed, feeling somewhat aware of his ally's trouble. He looked back, seeing the Exeggutor continue to advance, while Ren struggled to his feet, holding his head. Sion gasped, beginning to run toward him to help.
"Leave him to his demise…you will do better without the descendant of Laryon." The voice demanded, causing Sion to halt. He felt compelled to listen, but the thought of leaving another Pokemon, even one like Ren, to the Exeggutor felt too much.
He pulled back his claws and threw a shade at the Exeggutor, red wisps of mist trailing from them. The shade grew larger, landing at Ren's feet. The Exeggutor stopped, its laugh faltering as the shade grew to its height. The shadow took on a lanky upright shape, its arms near the ground as its deep red eyes stared into the Exeggutor's.
It reared back and roared, slashing the air with shadowy claws. The Exeggutor screamed in fright, turning tail and running the other way, bringing other Exeggutor with it.
Ren stood up, holding his head and moaning. "What was that horrible sound?" he mumbled, staggering toward Sion. The Zoroark ran forward and supported Ren with his shoulder, looking behind his head.
"Good thing I was here, right?" Sion asked, a nagging thought in his mind.
Ren looked over and nodded weakly shutting his eyes. "Yes…thanks for saving my life…" he slurred before resting his head on Sion's arm.
Cosma appeared over the hill, gasping at the sight of Ren.
"What happened? Did an Exeggutor get him?" she inquired. She floated on the other side of him and took his other arm, weakly pulling him up.
Sion looked back, seeing the entire herd of Exeggutor flee to their own side of the grassland. "Not exactly…" The voice dwelled in his mind once more, and he began to wonder why it began to haunt him, specifically to let Ren die.
"Look, there a little patch of forest, right here!" Ekon yelled. He had begun to fly low, only several feet above Gaiden and Frederick as they fled. Behind them, a single Exeggutor now tromped, sending out more Seed Bombs to assail.
Frederick gave a wheeze of relief. "Thank the Legends, I'm not near as spry on the ground as I am in the ocean! Let's get in there!" The three rushed into the circular formation of trees, the structure too tight for the Exeggutor to enter, and the top too dense to fire seeds.
It chuckled sadly, seeing its invaders impossible to attack. It began to trudge back to its former home, then began to stomp as fast as it could once a deathly roar echoed from a distant point in the plains.
Ekon shivered, looking up toward the leaves of the still wood. "I heard that before, in the Woods. Sion must be close."
Frederick spluttered, gaping. "Yer sayin' that that shifty little Zoroark did that? It sounded more frightenin' than an angry Wailord, I'll tell ya!" Frederick shouted. Gaiden said nothing, knowing that Sion had finally driven away the Exeggutor, just as he did with the wild Pokemon in the Elusive Woods.
Binnie hopped in joy at the Exeggutor, seeing them retreat to their designated home. "Look, they did it! They got rid of the Exeggutor!" She picked up her little Bounsweet sister, Borsha, and exclaimed, "We can play outside again!" She nearly rushed off, but stopped at the sight of Chieftess Balla's stern look.
She crossed her arms, looking out on the surface of the plains. "If that distant roar I heard drove away the Exeggutor in sheer fear, I fear for what may happen to our home if those foreigners remain."