Chapter 29- Where the Real Fun Starts

No human was to ever leave this land untouched- and Julia was right. Hunter was back, now energised and smarter. He saw their amazing abilities and as much as he hated to admit it, they really were amazing at battle. After all, seeing a psychic Grovyle and a young mermaid was too much temptation.

"I'm back, angel. You miss me?" he spat out sardonically. Evelyn looked shocked. "You know this guy?" she blurted. Julia nodded. "I was captured by his psychotic executive after all. She told me all about him." Starling was rather impressed by the technique, but was absolutely disgusted by Hunter's disposition. As classy and glittery he looked, he had all charm and manners, but a filthy heart.

Hunter smirked "Look at you so called powerful young ones. You looked this close to dying there- but you persevered and won. Sounds so cliché. Well, no time to lose. Time for me to do my real attacking. Siege the lands! Bring out the weapons! Do it, now!" He was barking orders, thinking that the Pokémon would be clueless as to what those things are, but Julia was much more than a pretty face. She was blessed with brains and she figured out what was going on.

"Guys!" she barked as they got together. "This guy is clearly intent on destroying Paraiosa- we have to protect the people at all costs. Question is how?" They both looked wistfully. This wasn't the easiest question on the planet. All the society was unaware of Hunter's presence, let alone the war. They had to get a backup, but how? "I don't know Jules. If there is anything I know, there is a person who could help us. Rather, people." Starling had an odd grin on his face. He then flew away. "Where are you going?" she yelled. "Going to catch up on some old pals." He answered while he flew away, winking at the girls who immediately got the point. They both smiled. A spontaneous plan was probably the best idea, not like the humans had a clue on what they're saying.

Paraiosa was a very uniquely blessed country for all the Pokémon knew English along with nine of their own dialects. It was not their ancestors' cries alone, but another language which nobody in this entire world knew of or could decode yet. Even if Hunter tried, he would never be able to understand a word of what they said. Smart move.

Starling, mid-air blushed and face palmed. "The more I do this, the lesser control I feel I have." He muttered as he went to call his friends.

Julia and Evelyn were left alone and had to think of something fast until Starling got relief. They snuck away into one of the lagoon plants and discussed a strategy but not without arguments. "Eve, I haven't any idea what we are doing, but whatever it is, we have to do it now!" Julia admitted. "Will they have Pokémon?" she asked. "Yes. I have seen their Pokémon while captive. They are strong and powerful and even have majestic appearances. We will have to find a way without involving battling them- I doubt we have the energy." Answered Julia. "Do they get anything?" Evelyn asked. Julia shook her head. "Now, whatever you do, no English. Only people who know we talk will understand. They should be the last ones. Now speak to me in Asvadia alone." She instructed. Evelyn agreed. For reader's sake, their words are translated to English.

In seconds, Evelyn was floating on Julia's back as she levitated into the palm trees. She then told her "Now, try and divert their attention." Evelyn nodded and then sighed for she had no idea what sense Julia had at the moment. She then jumped off Julia's back and ran off to the grasslands while Julia got to the lagoon just to watch the Sharders' movements. They really were hell bent on destruction and Julia had to oppose that at all costs. While watching what they were doing, Hunter was too busy barking orders to notice her keen observation and almost died seeing all the weapons they had loaded. Guns, grenades, explosives, swords and the worst of them all- biological weapons. These would guarantee their extinction for sure. Julia flamed in anger. These guys had no idea what they were doing and she had to stop these twits and fast.

Evelyn on the other hand, raced like a marathon ostrich. Having the ability Run Away was a blessing at this hour, after all she wasn't very powerful even otherwise. In about half an hour, she reached the grasslands where some other Pokémon were just playing- a Bayleef, Simisear and Combusken. "Guys!" she yelled. They all turned from a game of tag. "Aren't you guys a little old for this?" Evelyn wondered. Then she told them the real trouble and all were dumbfounded.

"Is this true?" Asked Bayleef. "Confound that Julia!" Simisear cursed. Combusken sighed and kept listening. "Please, Evelyn- forget them. They have a very warped vision of reality. Go on." She beckoned. Evelyn told her everything and she listened intently in shock and horror. That unimaginable abomination came true. At the end, all three were charged and determined with eyes blazing. Country first, vendetta later.

Julia on the other hand was waiting impatiently for relief. That weapon artillery just grew and grew. This was danger and if no one stepped in, this would be the end. "Where could they be?" she wondered. At that very moment, a sharp fox-like cry reverberated and Julia's ears pricked. And she smiled- Evelyn and returned. But no help in sight? Okay, distressing. "Eve, why?" she inquired. Evelyn nudged her. "They're waiting." She replied. "In case you were wondering, our country is in stake here!" Julia yelled. Evelyn was to answer, but those two shrill cries were enough for Hunter and his cronies to figure out what was going on- they wanted to attack. "Oh please, you disgusting creatures! We have no time for your petty issues." One grunt grunted, but Hunter pushed him away. "I can't resist seeing a good fight." He smirked. Evelyn smiled- they were ready. Following which, Evelyn jumped onto the decks of the Sanguis Cruor and braced herself for a battle. "Sounds fair." Hunter muttered. "Go, Chimecho, I choose you!" In a flash, a Chimecho popped out of the pokeball. Evelyn braced herself- she was dealing with a seemingly tough opponent.

Julia face palmed. "Evelyn, are you insane?! You have no idea how strong this girl is!" she screamed. Starling was taking forever in relief and she had to destroy the biological weapons as soon as possible, but how? They were the largest threats to Paraiosa and could cause its extinction but she had little time to make a plan, least of all now when Evelyn was inviting death personally. "Evy! Get down from there now!" she ordered. Evelyn turned round and winked at Julia. "I'm trying to stall her. Now go and run away. Just run, no questions asked."

"I hope you know what you are doing." Muttered Julia before she ran away, hoping to be seen by none and still wondering if Starling was anthrophobic- he never backed away from a fight, the brave soul he was. She just ran without thinking that no one would see her.

Evelyn then growled ferally at the Chimecho who seemed to be devoid of emotion which did scare her a bit- after all this was a captive versus a wild Pokémon the odds were pretty high. "Grunt!" barked Hunter "Co-ordinate. No arguments, else those will be your last words." The grunt meekly agreed. He then got to Chimecho and started calling out "Chimecho, use Psywave!" She did, but Evelyn successfully dodged it rather gracefully. "Don't underestimate me. I'm al lot smarter than you think." She smirked. The Chimecho was just as arrogant. "We'll see about that, won't we, Underclasswoman?" she smirked as she then used yet another Psywave with higher intensity. Evelyn was hit by it which made her yowl in pain. "Are you honestly that pampered?" Chimecho taunted as she got close to her and prepared to use double-edge. Evelyn got back up and muttered. "Surprise" as she used echoed voice rather loudly. Chimecho grimaced as she was deflected by those sound waves. Evelyn would've died laughing seeing this, but this was just the beginning. "I wonder where Jules is?" she thought.

Julia was somewhere in the forest, longer than Evelyn's timing, but there for relief. "Why did she ask me to go here?" she thought irritated. She just shrugged and got on top of a tree and waited for her arrival- it wasn't like she'd do anything at the moment, completely out of ideas.

Evelyn was having the time of her life battling Chimecho. "I never expected this to be so awesome!" she expressed as she nimbly dodged another Psywave. "This is getting boring, bud. Hit me with something worth it!" she mocked. Little did she know that Chimecho took this seriously? She just smiled and closed her eyes. Evelyn was used to seeing Julia's extent of power, but what was this Chimecho doing? Suddenly, she opened her eyes and smiled "Face my wrath, sweets." Then she belted out a throaty Uproar. Evelyn hated the sound- it was a combination of hoarse, shrill and nasal; nothing like a wind chime. She closed her ears as she was constantly being attacked by this. "Stop this torture, please!" she pleaded. Not like she was being listened to.

The Uproar grew in intensity and even frequency- this was dangerous as this could actually put her through harsh migraines or even deafness. Evelyn was struggling not to hear that horrendous song. It was driving her insane. Chimecho was smiling all the way "Hillbilly. You wild ones really lack ability you know." She smirked. Evelyn grew furious. Finally, after being tortured enough, the Uproar calmed. Evelyn was still sore and seemed to get a headache and earache. This was weakening enough as the Chimecho then prepared to use double-edge. Evelyn gulped. This was so not good. Where was Starling?

At that minute, Hunter's eyes were suddenly taken to the empty lagoon. He noticed Julia's absence. Bewildered and angry he yelled "Grunts! Where is that confounded Grovyle?!" The grunts were shocked to see that Julia had gone. She would've either levitated away, but they'd have seen her shadow. She couldn't run away, everyone could see if she did. They were surprised to see her gone. Furious Hunter yelled "You tardy careless morons! You can't even do one simple task of blackmailing them! The Grovyle has escaped. It's valuable, I need it! Now get off your lazy stupors and find her! Don't rest until you even see a remote glimpse of it!" They immediately obeyed as a pair of grunts- male and female rushed off to look for her. "How far could you hide, my dear? And how long?" he muttered smirking.

Evelyn gulped. She had to finish off the Chimecho; else they'd find Julia in her vulnerable state unprotected. After all she couldn't back away from a battle, feeling which she then got up staggering. The Chimecho finally used her double edge which sent Evelyn flying across. She then hit her head on the other side of the deck. She passed out with a trail of blood behind her, but before that, she yelled "Julia! I'll be there, mark my words!" and fainted. "Eevee is unable to battle. Chimecho wins!" Hunter commented before walking up to Evelyn. "Commendable battle darling, commendable. Now to say the last goodbye." Saying which he lifted her and dropped her in the sea. And brought his Chimecho inside the pokeball. "Anybody would be insane to think of stopping me." He muttered as he walked away nonchalantly.

Julia meanwhile was at the tree still twiddling her thumbs in worry. At that very minute, she smelled blood- her sharp senses overtaking. Shocked, Julia almost fainted and then burst into tears. "What was she thinking?!" was all that came to her mind. She cried a lot- she just lost her best friend at the humans' hands. "I have to find her! She mustn't die!" she vowed as she went running to locate her, jumping down the tree. At that very minute, she noticed the grunts and gulped. They found her here. She panicked- how was she going to make it? Thinking fast, she then camouflaged herself and kept jumping from tree to tree, hoping to remain undetected until she accidentally stepped onto a dry branch.

Crack! And the grunts looked upward to find Julia falling. "Great job, kid! Let's get you!" they muttered as they rushed to catch her with ropes and other equipment. She was about to be their prisoner when she impulsively used a Leaf Blade on both, scathing their faces. While moaning in pain, she dashed away and levitated. "Grrrr! Let's get her." One grunt muttered as they ran to follow her. Julia was absolutely petrified. Nobody was to ever catch her and leave her alive, but Evelyn?

Fortunately, Saphira had caught Evelyn undersea and treated her using mermaid's medicine. She then pushed Evelyn upwards and brought her to a desolate area. Reviving Evelyn using herbs, she then woke up. "Wha..What happened to me?" she mumbled. "Do not panic, it's me." Saphira replied. Evelyn jumped out of her skin seeing this. "Julia! Oh no, Saphira- she's being tracked by the humans! We have to get her, please!" she begged frantically. Saphira was worried "Oh no! Heaven knows what'll happen to her! I'll tell you what, follow me and do as I say. She'll be saved." She instructed, following which Evelyn got onto her back.

Saphira swam like a jet- as quickly as she could. Evelyn was frantic and praying for Julia's survival which was exactly what she was doing. Julia was levitating and flying as far as she could- those humans were pretty sharp and she couldn't afford to take chances. "Any possible way to get her?" one grunt asked. "The same thing we did last time. Shoot 'em." He answered as he got out a loaded pistol and kept firing like a maniac. Julia shuddered seeing this- if even one bullet got to her, she was done for.

She kept flying away dodging bullets and hoping for ultimate survival. She hated adventure and couldn't stand this anymore. At that very minute, a message flashed in her head. "Jules! It's me, Saphira! I'm speaking to you telepathically, are you okay?" "Just dandy." Julia replied sarcastically aloud. "Okay, you aren't. I have a message from Evelyn." Saphira replied. Julia was in shock "She's alive?!" she inquired. Saphira replied "Yes. She also has to tell you this message that I'm going to convey to you. Firstly where are you right now?" "The forest." She answered.

"Okay, that's great. Now when you are flying, go to the grasslands and land downwards."

"You cracked or something? I'll die!"

"No, she's serious. When you land, land in a plane's style that is lower yourself a little, then incline downwards to land like a real one. At that minute, you'll see three pokemon, two fires and one grass type. They'll block those grunts and then once that's over, get back to the lagoon."

Julia agreed. "So you finally did get backup, Eve! Good choice!" she mumbled as she flew into the grasslands, this time elevating herself to avoid detection. "Damn! I can't see anything!" one grunt cursed. "Give it to me." The other replied. He then pressed a few buttons on the gun and then took aim, everything now in high definition. "Goodbye, little one. We'll miss ya." Saying which he shot Julia straight in the thigh. She yelled out in pain and started an abrupt landing. "Guys!" she yelled "Mayday! I'm hit!" Saphira then replied "Oh crap! This is bad. How far are you from there?" "I'm in there, but there is not a soul in sight!" she said weakly, now heavily weakened by the bullet. "Okay, backup plan A, just land normally after a minutes' flying. Think you can take that?" Saphira asked. Julia just nodded, now in too much pain and no possible way to dislodge the bullet from her thigh.

Julia just did that and then started landing downwards, before crashing onto the surface. She felt really tired and weakened as she dragged herself to a flower, clinging onto it for strength. The grunts finally caught up to her as they stared at her in contempt. "Well, what d'ya know? The Grovyle is a lowly lady!" one taunted. "Ain't stopping me from my doing. Say goodbye, woman! Your work here is done." The other teased while aiming at her heart. "Please...please don't kill me." Julia pleaded now crying- she dreaded guns and humans. "Your pretty looks ain't saving ya, lady!" the first grunt taunted. Just as she was about to lay his hands on the trigger though, he felt a sharp searing pain in his back and turned around to see that Bayleef had used Razor Leaf straight into him, following which he tumbled and died.

"Hi, there miss! Sorry we're late." Said he as he beckoned Combusken to nurse her. Then he went and used a Vine Whip on the second grunt, stealing his gun. "Do it, Simisear!" he barked. Simisear's eyes gleamed as he let out Falme Burst onto the gun, melting it and all the bullets. Then hey joined paws as they then let out a Razor Leaf and Incinerate, finishing the stunned grunt in seconds. Combusken closed Julia's eyes- this was a disturbing sight. Following which, she carefully held her wing onto the bullet. "Guys! Need help!" she requested as they all pitched in to remove the bullet. "It may bleed, so don't look." Warned Simisear as they carefully and skilfully dislodged the bullet from Julia's thigh in as painless a way possible. She then screamed in pain, now crying as Combusken looked at her tenderly "Being a psychic has its falls. Let's get you back to your friends." She said as she quickly bound Julia's wound with leaves in a tourniquet- like thing to stop excess bleeding. Then she put Julia in Simisear's arms. "Think you can take that?" she asked. He nodded as the trio then rushed to the lagoon as fast as they could take her. "Did you do it?" Evelyn asked telepathically. "Yes darling, we did. She's very weak now, so tell us everything. We'll tell you the stats." Combusken answered as they ran towards the lagoon's more desolate side.

At long last, they reached and Simisear was stunned to see Saphira. "Give her to me." She ordered. He did so still shocked. "Time for some real healing." She said as she thanked them profusely. She then swam away to safety and Evelyn looked at Julia's dishevelled state and cried. Saphira felt terrible seeing this and swam faster to save Julia. After getting to the lagoon, she beckoned Evelyn to get off her. "Stay here, I'll heal her and get back. Keep the Sharders away from here. Any longer stalling I do, Julia will die." She ordered. Still crying, Evelyn agreed.

"Come on Jules, I know you'll make it." Saphira assured as she was getting close to the depths of the sea when she found something sharp pierce her tail. It was Hunter and another female grunt as they lifted Saphira out of the water. "Goodness! Mermaid saves the psychic! How touching!" he mocked as he brought them into the deck, Saphira moaning as the sharp thing was still in her tail. "H...how?" Julia mumbled. "He saw the battle, didn't he? That's how." Saphira answered. At that minute, she could kick herself as she realised something- she spoke in English at this minute! Now Hunter could understand what she said. He then glared at the two "You are both lovely- how nice! Pity you aren't going to live this glory for long." He smirked as he pulled out the spear from Saphira's tail. "Kill them." He ordered as the grunt lifted that spear. Frightened, Julia then lowered her head as she tried using Psychic, but Hunter figured this out and grabbed Julia's throat. "One more stupid trick and I'll kill all of your little friends." He threatened. Julia was at a loss. What was she going to do? "Awkward, Starling would never be so tardy." She mumbled while bracing herself. "Who said tardy?!" a voice came as she looked up and her eyes brightened.

"Missed me?" Starling asked playfully as he hovered over the two. "Allow me to introduce my pals." The girls were stunned- there were a huge flock of Swellows and even some Staraptors! Now there was a huge hope of being saved. "Alright guys, let's get 'em!" he ordered as all of them got to work. They then attacked the sip profusely and even he grunts who attempted to oppose them using Sky Drop, Brave Bird and Acrobatics. All of the grunts present were goners; they were attacked so quickly that there was no time for using their Pokémon. In minutes, all was complete, while Starling fought on like a soldier. One Swellow freed the girls and brought them to shore while Julia's health was deteriorating.

"Go get her." Said she as she flew away to help Starling. She then dragged Julia to the sea and rushed to heal her with mermaid's medicine. Hunter apparently escaped and quickly took command of the ship and steered it away to safety, while swerving to rid the ship of those dead grunts. Starling quickly closed Evelyn's eyes as he watched it go. "Grr! He escaped! Let's follow him!" one adventurous Staraptor said. "No let's not. It's too late and our mission for now is complete." Said Starling as he beckoned them to leave after thanking them a lot, they flew away.

Now it was twilight when this ended with Evelyn and Starling praying frantically to all the gods to save Julia for this was her worst injury till date. "Dear Arceus, please save my best friend." Evelyn pleaded. Starling wasn't as expressive, but still prayed.

"Jules... please stay. We need you. I need you." He prayed wistfully as Saphira kept working on Julia.

Hunter meanwhile was somewhere at sea, but no he wasn't retreating. He was going back- that attack only rid him of these incompetent pests. "Paraiosa will be mine! No one will stop me!" he proclaimed. "As much as I have an interest in that beautiful mermaid and that psychic Grovyle, they're no hindrance to my nefarious plans. They'll be my prizes, but for now I'll forget it. It's getting late as it is. For now is war... real war!"