Chapter 29
Bully
Dorin's purple horn tracked the Salamence as it soared toward him at the center of Karprest. At his side, Stolt was now watching too. The discussion of the shipwright's work ethic would have to wait. Evidently this Salamence was about to interrupt them, and as a general rule, ignoring a Salamence was a bad idea.
"What's this now?" Stolt muttered, and Dorin could hear the irritation in his voice at the arrival. "A carrier by the looks of it."
Now Dorin could see at least two small Pokémon atop the Salamence's back, each reaching down to clutch something tightly and then standing up tall. A Quilava and a Squirtle. What was it about that pairing that reminded Dorin of some incident a week or two ago? He remembered feeling angry, tricked by some simple ruse.
"Stolt, it's that Cyndaquil and Squirtle, the ones you zapped on your first day as mayor!"
"Yes Dorin, I remember." His preoccupied tone suggested he'd already experienced that realization. "Why have they returned? Those two don't live here, and they certainly wouldn't want to face me again if they had any choice."
Dorin barely gave half an attempt to actually thinking up a possible reason, since Stolt or Karprest's other higher-ups usually caught onto things before he did. Stolt was being rhetorical anyway. He gave his usual response.
"Not sure."
The Salamence roared as it passed overhead. Dorin cringed and rotated his large ears to face the dirt in order to avoid the brunt of the blast of sound. When he looked back up, the Salamence was in the middle of an easy roll, putting its passengers standing upside-down on its back. At the same time, each one of them let go of the ropes they were holding and dropped. Dorin could see that every eye in the clearing was fixed on the scene as a Quilava, Squirtle, Riolu, Tranquill, and Cubone fell through the twenty feet of air to the ground in front of the mayor's house.
The Riolu slowly flipped in mid-air to land on its feet just in time. It gazed up at him and Stolt with a placid expression. The Cubone had placed its feet below it as soon as it dropped from the Salamence. It shuddered once it landed, dug its hands into the dirt, and hugged the ground. A pack hugged its back thanks to straps wrapped around its chest. Dorin narrowed his eyes and peered closely. That was Bein! Why had Bein come back, and why was he with all these other 'mon?
The Tranquill pierced the air beak-first as it descended. It spun and spun, finally stopping an instant before the ground by flaring its wings wide open with an audible crack of wind. It settled its pink talons lightly onto the ground before looking up at Stolt with curious eyes. The Quilava twisted through the air like an Ekans, showing off the two colors of his body. Once he landed on all fours, his head shot up with his eyes locked onto Stolt's. The spots on his body sizzled and ignited with a whoosh of air.
The Squirtle performed a single flip like the Riolu and landed on two feet. Immediately, he strode to the front of the group and threw out his arm with one finger pointing up the wooden steps to where Dorin and Stolt stood watching the arrival of the five Pokémon from the porch.
"Stolt! Your reign over Karprest has come to an end."
The Quilava darted up to the Squirtle's side, fires blazing. "We're Team Equalize, and we're here on behalf of the Pokémon in Karprest as well as those who have fled!"
Dorin had moved to stand in front of Stolt. As an enforcer of the new law and one of Stolt's attendants, he was responsible for the Luxio's safety. Not that Dorin's protection was required. Or even helpful. Stolt, like all Zappers, was monstrously powerful now. Still, Dorin would not stand by while all these 'mon prepared to attack Stolt. If their strength in battle matched the competence displayed in their arrival, these Pokémon were no Metapod to simply shove aside.
"Thank you, but no," Stolt murmured into one of his ears. Dorin stepped aside but pointed his horn at the Quilava. That Pokémon had spirit. But enough spirit to beat Stolt in a battle? Not a chance.
"Team Equalize, was it?" asked Stolt as he padded down the staircase. He placed each paw with measured care as if he were worried he might trip. His eyes, in contrast, were roaming leisurely over the team. Stolt was drawing out the moment. More Pokémon were gathering at the outskirts of the clearing, no doubt drawn by their sightings of Magon. A Lotad, Swanna from the lodge, a Mightyena, a pair of Marill. The Salamence hadn't been subtle, which Squirtle actually appreciated in this case. He wondered if Stolt wanted a crowd of spectators as much as he did.
Assuming Stolt's pride has only grown since the day he discovered his Electric boost, it's fair to say he wants a crowd simply because he loves having eyes on him, thought Squirtle.
He didn't lower his voice during his argument with Mayor Biba, he was extremely smug after knocking out Quil, and now he's drinking in the drama of the scene we've caused. Maybe I can use that pride against him somehow.
"A team of five 'mon dedicated to ousting me from my position as mayor? I'm flattered."
Squirtle stepped closer to Quil without taking his eyes off of Stolt or changing his steely expression. With any luck, the move would look like a tactical change of position in response to Stolt's advance. And with any luck, his heart would stop racing.
No, he can't come any closer, I don't want him to come any closer. If he uses that Electric technique again we won't have time to respond! Please, stay back. Stay back!
"Stay back!" he shouted, fighting to bring his voice under control. He had to cover his weakness with reason, or all their intimidation would have been for nothing. Quickly, he followed up.
"One step closer and we'll interpret that as an attack!"
When Stolt finally, mercifully, thankfully stopped coming toward him, Squirtle caught a faint sigh from Quil. His friend's belly sank an inch lower to the ground as his four legs lost some of their rigidity.
"Very well, Team Equalize," said Stolt with an apparently fearless voice that could easily be heard by all. His tail swayed behind him. "You've caused quite a distraction to the good residents of Karprest. We all have projects to attend to, and we would hate to see them fall behind our schedule. Tell me why you have come."
Squirtle nodded to Quil, but he'd already begun his address. As he spoke, Squirtle recognized echoes of the words said in Blindhollow. "Stolt, we've come because what you're doing here in Karprest is wrong. The Pokémon of Karprest collectively chose Mayor Biba to make the big decisions, and you unfairly stole that position. That's not even why we're here though. You've forced 'mon to leave their homes in Karprest because they don't agree with you being in charge, and worse, the 'mon that are still here have to be cooperative and pretend they're happy, or they'll have to leave too!"
Quil stood on his hind legs, sending his voice farther. "Pokémon shouldn't have to live in fear that a Zapper or his followers will knock them out and deny them their homes if they raise any objections. Pokémon shouldn't have to pretend everything's fine when a Zapper is ruining something they love. They shouldn't be forced to do things they don't want to do just because a Zapper says they have to!"
"If you have any respect for the 'mon around you, the 'mon who share this beautiful town with you, you'll leave Karprest right now and never come back. Karprest never wanted you to bully them and twist Karprest to your own personal liking! So go!" He pointed at a path out of the clearing with a forepaw.
No, thought Squirtle with dismay as Quil finished. No, this approach will never work. I'm sure every Electric-type is feeling proud after the boost, but Stolt takes it to an extreme. He would never let humiliation or authority get the best of him. He's not going to budge.
Stolt wore a thoughtful frown. One by one, the Pokémon watching the proceedings switched their gazes from Quil to Stolt. Many seconds passed in silence before the Luxio replied. When he did, his voice was quieter, though certainly still loud enough for all to hear.
"I see. You five believe that I am a villain. A villain who has stolen away Karprest's freedom and devastated the town in the process. I've mired Karprest in ruin and sadness, right? You probably think I have them writing songs about me and carving a statue in my likeness, don't you?"
Stolt's head rolled back and his eyelids squeezed shut as he laughed. Squirtle's eyes were drawn to the Luxio's white fangs before he snapped his head away to follow a sound in the crowd. It had sounded like laughter, but why would any Pokémon of Karprest find humor in Stolt's joke? Yet he could see the laughter was coming from none other than Brao, the energetic Growlithe who served as brazier-lighter at nightfall. Her laughter appeared to be good-natured and honest. Among other Pokémon, too, Squirtle could see and hear warm smiles and chuckles of amusement. Had they grown to become such skilled actors that they could fake a companionable laugh to avoid suspicion, or were they truly laughing along with Stolt?
"You've come here under the illusion that Karprest needs saviors, that I am selfish, feared, and hated. You are mistaken, I'm afraid." His tail-tip rose and jabbed at Squirtle and Quil. "You two were interlopers that day, and you are interlopers now. You don't understand what's happening here. It is you who need to leave now, should you have any respect for the 'mon of Karprest!"
Quil drew himself up once again, but this time he didn't stand as tall. "I don't see what's so funny about what you're doing here. You've said Karprest doesn't need saving, but Team Equalize isn't going to walk away from the 'mon of Karprest when they need help. Listen, everyone! Now's the time to stop pretending, and to join us! If you want Stolt and his followers gone, then tell us-"
"No!" Squirtle hissed as he stepped in front of Quil to cut off his words. Despite the height differential, Quil instantly complied, though not without looking at Squirtle with surprise and alarm.
"No," Squirtle repeated for Quil's ears alone. "If you ask them to show their true colors, we aren't going to be happy with the response. Don't ask me why. They...they won't join us."
Stolt, Loria, Peroo, Bein, and everyone else were watching their private exchange with curiosity. The pair had to say something, anything. What could Squirtle say though? He really didn't understand the situation. This wasn't what Karprest was supposed to be like. This wasn't what he expected. His plans were moot, his resolve undermined. He needed time to observe and think.
Squirtle turned to face Stolt. "Like Quil said, Team Equalize isn't leaving." What he didn't say was why. Confidence and bravado was what he needed to project, not an admission that he needed time to reevaluate the situation.
"You're not?" Stolt asked with false sincerity. He stalked forward. "That leaves us with fewer options then, does it not? What shall we do?"
"No," Quil breathed as he stepped back. Squirtle was not far behind. His shell bumped into something solid behind him, and Squirtle spun to face the threat. Bein stood with his bone at the ready, attention fixed on Stolt.
"I'll absorb all of his electricity if I can," he muttered. "Get ready."
Team Equalize drew together and faced Stolt. Squirtle could feel the readiness of Loria and Peroo, and found himself wishing he could share their innocent and naive outlook of the problem at hand.
Then Stolt stopped. His face lowered while he smiled. When he looked up again, the longing was gone from his eyes though the coldness remained.
"Come. Let me prove my words are true. I'll show you the new Karprest. It's glorious, wonderful, and it's only just beginning! Won't you come with me, Team Equalize?"
Squirtle could have heard the smug smile in his words with his eyes closed. Stolt was offering exactly what he wanted: time to think, and more information about the state of Karprest. He'd be a fool to refuse, even if they were being led into some trap or deception. He turned to look at the faces of his companions. Peroo and Loria were nonplussed, Bein unreadable, and Quil relieved. Good enough for him.
"Yes. We'll come."
Stolt led the way out of the clearing as he called for Pokémon to make way and get back to work. Squirtle followed at a cautious distance and kept near his team. Nearly all Pokémon dispersed, but some fell into the tour group along with Team Equalize. The Nidorino was among them, as were a similarly familiar Nuzleaf and Elekid with expressions of restrained aggression. Squirtle concluded that these Pokémon were part of Stolt's retinue. He might have complained about becoming outnumbered and flanked by Pokémon loyal to Stolt if there were any chance that Stolt would make Team Equalize feel more comfortable in response. There was no choice but to accept what was happening until his team made their move. Whatever that might be.
Stolt led them through organic streets and pathways toward western Karprest, the side closest to Root Forest. Here and there was a sight that Squirtle recognized thanks to the tour that Bein had offered him and Quil on their first arrival at Karprest. Wherever there had previously been room for a new building, construction was now underway. Pokémon were working on foundations, walls, framework, roofs, finishing touches – every stage of construction. Some waved or greeted the tour as it passed.
Squirtle glanced at Bein for his professional reaction to the work being done. The Cubone was shaking his head. Stolt noticed, too.
"Bein, I must say it's good to see you. We could use your expert direction for all this construction we're doing."
"You could," Bein grunted in agreement. "It's all wrong. Your superintendent is inexperienced."
"Join us. Help make Karprest greater."
"Don't listen to him," said Squirtle. "We don't know what's really going on here yet."
Bein decided not to reply, and Stolt let the matter drop. As they reached the previous edge of Karprest, Squirtle could see that there was even more construction occurring at the edge of the town. More than likely, the western edge wasn't the only area seeing expansion.
"Karprest," Stolt began, "is undergoing renovation, expansion, beautification, and every other sort of improvement you might think of. As I said before, this is only the beginning. The new buildings you have seen will primarily serve as housing. The population of Karprest will soon be dramatically increasing, so we will be prepared."
"Why's that?" asked Quil while he looked about the busy construction sites.
"Karprest shall become a hub of activity. A prime location to live, a town above all others. You'll soon see some of the other projects we have underway, and you'll begin to understand why Karprest will be great. These will drive population growth and result in Karprest flourishing as it well should. We want new housing so Karprest doesn't become messy and loud from being too crowded."
His face took on a pensive cast. "There will of course be a screening process for foreigners coming into Karprest. I haven't worried about the details yet. We won't allow just any 'mon walking along the Karp or coming in by boat to establish their lives here. We don't want any interlopers living here unless they can contribute."
"You mean you don't want any interlopers," Squirtle corrected.
Stolt sighed tragically. "Squirtle, Squirtle. Most Pokémon don't know what they want, and that principle holds true in Karprest. That's why leaders exist – to show them what they want. When I say 'we', I truly mean 'we'. The others just don't know it yet." His lips stretched into a thin smile. "You seem to be in a leadership role yourself, Squirtle. Don't you agree with me?"
Squirtle broke eye contact. The Luxio was perfectly correct. The struggle he faced with getting his team members to contribute to discussions was fresh in his mind. He remembered the blank stares, the frowns of puzzlement. If Squirtle had not pushed his boost-fighting movement into being, it would never have been started. The Pokémon around him had wanted to resist. They just hadn't known it yet.
He couldn't look at Quil or the others behind him and meet their eyes, either. They were the ones who didn't know what they wanted, the ones who needed to be led. Squirtle couldn't face them with that naked truth hanging in the air.
"Let's move on," Stolt suggested. Satisfaction dripped from his voice. "I want you all to see the larger buildings in progress."
Squirtle followed Stolt with his mind in turmoil. Was he any better than Stolt, the proud dictator who'd shocked him and Quil to unconsciousness merely as an experiment? How could he lead a team to take down Stolt when he himself forced others unto his bidding? He'd never really, thoroughly assessed the desires of his team members. Maybe deep down, they weren't as sure about 'saving' places like Blindhollow and Karprest as he was. In fact, Squirtle was sure they weren't. To some degree, he must have bullied them into joining, into obeying the plans he'd laid out for them. Squirtle had no right. He'd never threatened them with violence, and never would, but perhaps his conviction and quick intellect were equally threatening.
"This is the arena," said Stolt. Even unfinished, Squirtle was impressed at the size.
"Circular, so that any competitors will start with equal advantage. No longer will 'mon have to walk half a mile out of Karprest for an unrestrained battle. The potent moves from very practiced 'mon will be unable to damage our heavily reinforced arena walls. Even Hyper Beam, or my Spark technique won't ruin them. I can't say I'm absolutely sure about that last one though." A smug smile.
"We can do other competitions there, too," said the Nidorino from the tour group's left. "Like Quickball and Sky Wrestling. Or our weight-pushing contests."
"Yes," agreed Stolt. "The arena will be highly entertaining. A famous attraction of the new Karprest. Onto the next stop."
Next, the tour was shown to Swanna's lodge. The building was being lengthened while maintaining its unique architecture, all under Swanna's supervision. Squirtle and his team were shown up close the new boats being built from equally new docks and scaffolding. A small, primitive shipyard. Stolt bragged about the Sandshrew boat-builder he'd had 'brought in', and the planned expansion of the ferry service.
"My family has lived here for generations, and I myself have lived here for a long time. Karprest used to be a simple village. Idyllic, you might have called it. A fine place to live, but nothing significant happening, nothing remarkable. And small. Karprest has seen some development in my lifetime, but it needed more, it always needed more. Now, with my leadership, we're finally seeing it."
"Biba was chosen to lead," said Quil as they looked out at the predominantly Water-type Pokémon working on the docks and in the water. "The 'mon of Karprest wanted her, not you. How can you say 'we' when it's obvious that it's only your desire?"
Stolt's brow creased momentarily, and Squirtle thought he could hear a growl in the Luxio's throat for a moment. "Biba. She was only elected because she possesses a certain charm. She's straightforward and honest, a stern mother for the 'mon of Karprest. Under her, what needed to be done, got done. But no real progress was made. What I'm doing today is what my father would have wanted, and his father before him."
He swept the water and then the buildings of Karprest behind him with a blue forepaw. "Look at the results! You're still convinced that what I'm doing isn't good for Karprest, my home? You want to depose me because it was Biba that was chosen? Pokémon do notknow what they want! They thought they wanted Biba, but look at what could have been accomplished so much earlier if they chose me!"
"At what cost?" Squirtle questioned. "Are the Pokémon here truly happy? Do they enjoy carrying out your radical plans for Karprest?"
"Oh, there were rebellions, I admit. Our local Electabuzz was particularly...troublesome. That one happened shortly after you two left so spectacularly." His tail-tip jabbed at Squirtle and Quil again.
"You made me look like a newly-hatched Seedot again," said the Nuzleaf under his breath from the other side of Quil. In other circumstances, Squirtle might have smiled at the triumph he remembered after besting the Elekid and Nuzleaf during their escape.
Stolt was still addressing Squirtle's questions. "After those little rebellions were squashed, and some time passed, the early results of my new policies and public works projects became self-evident. The 'mon of Karprest began to see the improvement, the benevolence behind my enforcement. Now, there are very few who haven't surrendered their foolish belief that my leadership isn't the greatest thing to happen to Karprest in years."
Again, a few Pokémon of the tour or in the shallows of the Karp river snickered or smiled at Stolt's words. And again, it all seemed like genuine good humor at Stolt's ego. They liked Stolt. Why then were there so many complaints posted on the board in Cavetown?
Most of those are the Pokémon who fled before or during the rebellions, like Quil and I, said a little voice in Squirtle's head. They don't know any better. They never saw what Stolt has done for Karprest. All they saw was a Pokémon intoxicated by power knock out a poor little Cyndaquil and Squirtle, then usurp power and put everyone to work. Even if a few remain who disapprove of Stolt, there are probably far more who support him.
"Does that answer your questions, my Squirtle?"
"Yes," he forced out.
"Then on with the grand tour!" The fifteen odd Pokémon of the tour walked in Stolt's wake as the Luxio made for the deeper parts of Karprest. Squirtle noticed Quil's strides slowly bringing him closer to Squirtle.
"What do we do when the tour's over?" asked Quil under all the noise of movement.
"I don't know. I really don't know. Let's...let's regroup in private after the tour and discuss our next move, if Stolt lets us. If he doesn't, we fight our way out. Can you get the others on the same page while I keep thinking?"
"You mean tell them the plan? Alright," said Quil without a hint of doubt from Squirtle's response. He veered away, subtly falling further back into the crowd to whisper into the ears of Bein, Peroo, and Loria one at a time. To the best of his perception, the other Pokémon of the tour didn't notice Team Equalize's covert strategizing. Or, some noticed but chose not to act on their observations. Like they didn't care. That attitude indicated great trust in Stolt to keep them safe and the situation in hand, trust that Squirtle wasn't sure anyone could have for a Pokémon like Stolt. What was really going on?
The tour next came upon a partially-completed stage for performances. Stolt mentioned an Azumarill who could tell an enthralling story, and called for Loria to grace Karprest with one of her songs once the stage was complete. The Riolu stared at the stage for a long moment, before glancing at Squirtle and refusing to comment. Once they passed the stage, Stolt elaborated on the improvements to Karprest beyond the construction. Squirtle, against his will, found one of Stolt's policies especially commendable and forward-thinking.
"Pokémon of Karprest will be required to serve rotations on an emergency force that will respond to outside threats. Ones such as hostile Zappers or natural disasters like that incredible storm. Training and drills for our first batch are well underway, and all in Karprest are well-assured that their leader will be responding to every incident as well no matter the threat or the time of day."
"Mm, that's a right marvelous idea, isn't it?" Peroo chirped.
Stolt nodded. "All is done for the good of Karprest." After turning around the corner of a backyard garden, the central clearing came into sight. The time for a big decision was about to arrive.
We can't attack Stolt. Not only because it may no longer be the right thing to do, but also because we'd be overwhelmed by the strength of Karprest's Pokémon. They appear to support him for whatever reason. We'd be starting a fight we're destined to lose.
Squirtle's fingers rolled into fists. We can't do nothing! Something's not quite right here; there must be something amiss that I'm not seeing. Karprest looksto be prospering under Stolt. Everyone appearsto be doing well and everything appearsto be going great, even if Stolt's methods are questionable. So he must be keeping something from us. There's something he's swept under the rug. Karprest can't honestly be thriving when Stolt is in charge.
The moment of Stolt's sudden Electric attack on Squirtle flashed in his mind. No. Not Stolt. He's hiding something.
"The tour is at its end!" Stolt proclaimed as they stopped where they'd first started, in front of the steps up to the porch of the mayor's house. "I am delighted Team Equalize decided to stop by, actually. Being able to show off Karprest's progress has only excited me further! Can't you feel it too? Or do you still think Karprest needs saving?"
His eyes moved and his expressive tail made some gesture lost on Squirtle. Every Pokémon not part of Team Equalize fell away to regroup at Stolt's side. Team Equalize stood alone. All eyes turned to Squirtle.
Squirtle had something to say, certainly. However the tour and Stolt's words had given him a new outlook. He had something to say, but did he need to say it? His opinion really shouldn't be prized above anyone else's. Was his leadership needed, or even truly wanted?
He walked a few paces to the side and held his hand out with his tiny palm facing up. A gesture for his teammates to speak instead of him.
Quil's eyes shone with concern at the motion. "Squirtle?" he asked softly, to which Squirtle only shook his head and held his hand out farther.
Peroo, Loria, and Bein held their peace. Quil spoke on all of their behalves with obvious reluctance. "We appreciate the tour. Right now, I think we...would like to speak to some of the 'mon we saw. Erm, alone, of course. We'd like to hear what they say about Karprest and about you, Stolt."
Good call, thought Squirtle, impressed.
"Absolutely not," said Stolt.
"What?" Quil and Peroo spurted together. Any semblance of nonchalance left Stolt's expression and bearing. Now his face was like stone.
"Do you think this is a negotiation? I was magnanimous enough to show you Karprest and reveal to you the errors in your assumptions and beliefs. I've spent enough of my time trying to change you. If you've stubbornly resisted that change, like fools, then you're leaving now. You won't be distracting the good residents of Karprest any further, especially not to inspire more rebellious thoughts."
"Should we fight?" Quil whispered to Squirtle. "Like in your plan?"
Squirtle hesitated, then relented. "No," he whispered back with a slight shake of his head. "If there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that battling would be a mistake. Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine. Better, even. Your head thinks, but your gut knows, right?" He gave Quil a bitter smile that his friend didn't deserve, before leaning away and watching Stolt carefully for any sign of electricity.
Squirtle could hear Quil whispering to the other members of Team Equalize. Stolt and his band did nothing to prevent the conference. Squirtle stared into the Luxio's eyes, who returned the gaze impassively.
I'm not like you. I'm not. I can't be.
Whatever his team decided, Squirtle was prepared to follow their lead. His head was not in the right place to make any sort of decision regarding the fate of Karprest. For the first time in a long while, he unquestionably let the others around him decide his course of action. Squirtle would stand down and let the desires in the hearts of his teammates come forth instead of imposing his own suggestions. By surrendering his free will, he dearly hoped that it would help to prove that Stolt was wrong. That Squirtle's leadership did not exist to dominate the ones he led. If Squirtle had ever inadvertently been a bully, this once he refused to behave like one.
Peroo made a noise of protest and disbelief. Squirtle heard Quil murmur, "No other options, are there?" Bein grunted in a tone of agreement. Quil pulled away from the rest of Team Equalize, and glanced at Squirtle. He refused to return the look. He would not offer any opinion or influence. Quil stood on his hind legs once more and raised his voice to Stolt.
"Team Equalize would like to leave Karprest."
"Good, good," said Stolt. His stony demeanor fractured, and he was once again suave and genial. "I saw you fly in on that Salamence from the northeast, so you must have come from the other side of the Karp. Correct?"
Quil nodded slowly, tentatively. Squirtle could see where his train of thought had taken him, and it was somewhere wet and terrifying.
"Unfortunately for you," Stolt continued, "Karprest's ferry crew never returned since that day. Perhaps you can contact them for their service? You'd know where they are better than I."
"No!" shouted Squirtle as Stolt turned tail. Quil would lose his mind if he were forced to cross the Karp river again on Squirtle's back, especially as the larger Quilava. Bein and Loria probably weren't strong swimmers either, though Peroo would be fine. If Stolt didn't give them a way across, then they simply weren't going back to Cavetown.
Thinking quickly, he shouted at Stolt as he padded up the steps. "That's not fair! It's your fault that the ferry is gone Stolt. You caused all of the initial chaos here, and that's what chased off the ferry crew. You're responsible for us getting back across that river!"
Stolt turned and leaped back down the steps with a loud growl. "I owe you nothing, interlopers! Get out of my town before I make you."
Quil shrank back. Squirtle focused on the image of Quil as a Cyndaquil huddled and shivering on the Karprest ferry, and drew strength enough from that to stand his ground against Stolt's frightening aggression. If Squirtle didn't make a compelling counter-argument, he doubted Stolt would hesitate to make good on his threat.
"Is this what you want Karprest to be, Stolt? A place where Pokémon can expect neither hospitality nor service? A town of hostility?"
Stolt chose a menacing growl in favor of further words. With nothing further to say, Squirtle allowed his fear to drive him back to the safety of his team. He made an effort to not show his emotions on his face, but doubted he was successful.
At long last, Stolt silenced himself. His chest heaved as he drew a great, steadying breath. When he spoke his voice was chillingly calm. "If I ever see any of you five here in Karprest again, I will shock you with such a high voltage that it will be days before you awaken. If you do at all."
The Luxio muttered into one of the Nidorino's ears before he stalked back up the staircase without a backward glance. The Nidorino ambled up to Team Equalize and grumbled out four words.
"We know a Lapras."
