Chapter 36: The Islands
Lucky for us, a ferry ran from Pallet to Hamlin, the northernmost of the Orange Islands.
"So… what now?" I asked. Thirty seconds off the ferry and we were already at a loss. Richard looked around, scratching his head. The Islands where pretty far out in the boonies, I must say, but already, they seemed like a nice place. I mean, who doesn't love tropical Cities and never-ending beaches?
"Pummelo Island is where the League Central is located. I bet it's swarming with trainers…" he added with a demented grin.
"Sounds alright to me." I looked out across the city that spread from the port. Yeah, I guess this could be fun.
(-o-)
Charizard carried us across the water toward Pummelo, flying low… but as we grew close to the island, we became aware of something else flying with us: coming towards us, flying parallel to the beach and at the same altitude as us was… some sort of Pokemon. Whatever it was, it was moving fast enough kick up a wake in the water, even though it was flying.
The Pokemon passed behind us, moving in a wide circle around the island, but for some reason, turned and followed us toward Pummelo. I turned on Charizard's back to try and figure out what it was, and when I realized it, I turned back and told Richard to turn his Pokemon around.
Flying behind us was a big, golden Dragonite. It was gaining fast… and there was something about it…
Charizard turned, kicking up a spray, and stayed, flapping, a few feet above the water. The other dragon Pokemon came to a sudden stop as well, staring intently at me… and then I realized something else: it was Matt's Dragonite! I don't know how I knew, but it definitely was. I could just tell. It was too familiar to be otherwise.
After a moment of staring, the Dragonite nodded and turned away from us. Seconds later, it was speeding off in its circumnavigation of the island. I stared after it until it was long out of sight. In the meantime, Charizard brought us safely to the beach on Pummelo.
"I think," I told Richard once we had landed, "That that was my brother's Dragonite."
"No way!" said Richard, smiling. "How'd you think he got here?"
"I don't know. Flew, I guess. But why?"
There was a moment of thoughtful silence as we continued up the beach. The city rose up on the hills of the island in front of us, and on the highest crest was the huge coliseum. I was reminded, sadly, of the destroyed Kanto League Building. It would take a long time to undo the damage Rook did… I felt a little bad I wasn't helping, but the Hermes were capable. And I needed a break.
"Well," Richard commented finally, "I told you it was a good idea to come here."
I smiled and punched him in the arm. "Yeah, I guess you were right. For once."
(-o-)
Starme's gem pulsed, releasing a burst of blue-gold gold stars that tore across the beach. My opponent, a shaggy Primape, leapt over the attack, only to find that the stars had curved upward and caught him from below. It's virtually impossible to dodge Swift…
Something small and blue slammed into Starme's side and sent it crashing into the sand: Marill, our other foe. Richard's Rhyhorn caught the little water Pokemon by surprise and hurled it into the air on its horn. He would have caught with another attack on its way down if the Marill hadn't been smart; it cleared a landing spot by stunning Rhyhorn with a Bubblebeam.
There was a brief pause. All four Pokemon stared at each other… and then the battle resumed.
We had gone on like that for most of the morning, and into the afternoon. I'd lost a few matches when I fought alone, but when I teemed up with Richard, we always won.
Starme caught Marill with the tips of its spinning arms and sent it flying. It followed up with a Power Gem that ended the match.
"Not bad, either of you," said a voice from behind us. I turned slowly to see Ryoku walking towards us across the sand. The strange orange and black robes he had worn before were gone, and now he was clad in black board shorts, patterned with big cartoon flowers. A string of pokeballs hung around his neck.
"Thanks," Richard and I said at once.
"So what are you two doing here? Didn't we just leave you off a few days ago in Pallet?"
"We're on vacation for a while," Richard said before I could speak.
"Don't suppose either of you would care for an informal battle on your vacation, would you?"
"Sure!" we both said, again, at the same time.
"I've always found battling is a great way to relax, especially with friends. Matt and I had our share of crazy fights, both as partners and opponents. I don't suppose he ever mentioned me?" the champion asked.
"He did, actually," I told him. "I never really believed any of the stories he told me about you though; I never thought Matt was associated with someone as high-ranking as a champion."
Ryoku laughed. "You know, we're not as high and mighty as people think. And speaking of champions, with Wallace gone, the competition in Hoenn this coming year is going to be fierce with a championship title on the line. But anyways… where were we?"
"Me first!" Richard said jumping forward, but Ryoku shook his head, pointing at me.
"I'd like a battle with my old friend's kin first, if that's alright." He continued, speaking to me this time, "Let's see if you got any of Matt's battle skills. Go Eggsegutor!"
I looked around the beach. Where had that Pokemon gotten to… I saw a pair of stubby pink legs wiggling out of the top of a picnic basket. The picnickers to which the basket belonged looked dumbstruck. I called Lickitung's name, and he pulled out of the basket quickly, a roll of sausages hanging out of his mouth. He scampered over to my side, oblivious to the trouble he'd caused and the angry stairs of the people behind us.
"That's a good specimen you've got there," Ryoku said, nodding at my Pokemon. "Let's see if he's got the moves to match the looks… Eggsegutor, start out with Confusion!"
The sand in front of Lickitung exploded upward as my foe unleashed his psychic-type attack. Lickitung somehow avoided behind hit, but wound up on his toes. He wobbled for a moment, then fell on his back in the sand, tongue lolling toward the sky.
"Stomp!" Ryoku ordered. His Pokemon leapt into the air and came down at Lickitung, foot outstretched… only to have the limb inhaled by Lickitung. My Pokemon's tongue was wrapped around Eggsegutor's foot, and seemed to be lodged partially down its throat… the grass Pokemon was looking down, its multiple faces displaying a variety of emotions, disgust chief among them.
"Cast him out, Lickitung!" I called. My Pokemon jumped to his feet, forcing Eggsegutor into an awkward position. With a gurgle, Lickitung let his tongue uncoil like a spring, tossing Eggsegutor onto his back in the sand. And without arms, it would be nearly impossible for it to get up.
"Confusion to lift," Ryoku said calmly. Eggsegutor focused briefly, and then, miraculously, levitated back to its feet. It had used Confusion on itself… that was a good idea. No wonder Ryoku was the champion of two countries. "Now Egg Bomb."
A barrage of glowing-green eggs sailed out of Eggsegutor's leaves, crashing into the sand Lickitung dodged the first volley, but was hit in the second, and rolled to my feet.
Rolling.
Casey had used a move involving rolling… it had looked like a steel-type cross between Rollout and Rapid Spin… Gyro Ball, that was it.
"Lickitung?" I called. "There's a move I think you know… I'm sure you can do it, it's just rolling and spinning. It's called Gyro Ball."
Immediately, Lickitung was on his feet and nodding. Did he know what I was talking about? It was hard to say, but worth a shot nonetheless. Eggsegutor seemed to be taking a quick break… it had stopped firing egg grenades for the moment, but would no doubt start again as soon as Lickitung started moving.
"Go, with Gyro Ball!"
Lickitung popped into his usual Rollout shape and barreled toward Eggsegutor. The grass Pokemon saw it coming and fired an Egg Bomb directly into Lickitung's path… the explosion sent my Pokemon up in the air, but he came down and bounced off of Eggsegutor's head before rolling to safety.
"I don't think that was a Gyro Ball attack," Ryoku said sincerely. "Are you sure your Pokemon understands you?"
I said noting but looked at Lickitung, who was resting just out of Eggsegutor's range…
"Again!" I called out.
Lickitung began rolling again, but this time… there was something different about the attack. He seemed to rotate sideways as well as forward, spinning like a gyroscope on his vertical axis. Was this Gyro Ball?
It looked like Lickitung's attack was going to go wide of his target. He spun across the sand, staying just ahead of the attacks Eggsegutor was using in an attempt to intersect him. Then I realized something else: Lickitung was curving in his path. And if he kept turning like he was, then he would come right around and into…
Ryoku realized Lickitung's path was curved too… but he realized it a few seconds too late. Lickitung slammed in Eggsegutor knocking it into the air… and there was a white flash and a blast of light from Lickitung. Was that an Explosion attack? I didn't think Lickitung could learn that technique naturally…
Lickitung kept going, traveling under Eggsegutor as it fell through the air. He came to a stop behind the grass Pokemon, before it hit the ground, and uncurled from his ball form.
Wait a second: that wasn't Lickitung. The Pokemon standing there now was bigger, rounder, and with an even huger tongue. A full grown Lickilicki stood on the beach. Wow, two evolutions in four days. If I kept up like this, I would have a full team of super-Pokemon by the end of the week!
As Eggsegutor thudded to the ground, I began to wonder it looked as surprised as Ryoku. Probably, but it was about to get a little worse for him.
"Lickilicki, Flamethrower!"
My Pokemon's cheeks puffed out as he quickly built the flames, then released them, sending a thick jet of fire straight at Eggsegutor. But somehow, Ryoku seemed to have prepared his Pokemon for even something like this: Eggsegutor used Confusion on itself once more, flipping into the air acrobatically and shielding itself from the flames with a Protect bubble. It landed behind Lickilicki and blasted him away with a quick Egg Bomb…
My Pokemon fell to the ground, fainted.
"That was a good move," Ryoku said, watching to make sure Lickilicki didn't get back up this time. "Really, really good. You almost had me… I have a feeling next time I won't be so lucky."
(-o-)
"So Ryoku," I said afterwards. The three of us were sitting in the surf, most of Richard's and my Pokemon with us. Venusaur's orange flower shaded us, and Starme and Kingler chased each other in the deeper water. Jolteon, Tangela, and Rhyhorn seemed to be attempted to entertain Eggsegutor, and Charizard and Fearow slumped in the sand behind us. Lickilicki was sprawled out under the umbrella of the picnickers he had eaten with (or from, really) earlier; the aforementioned couple seemed to have abandoned their spot.
"Yes?"
"What was Matt really like? Sometimes, I feel like I hardly knew him… the real him, anyways. I mean, did you know he was member of the Hermes? I didn't, and I was his brother!"
Ryoku seemed to think about this for a minute before answering.
"Matt was, first and foremost, a friend. He never let me down, especially when I needed him, and he always stood up for what he believed in. He was always a person you didn't want as your enemy, but when we did fight, he always respected me whether he won or lost. As for the Hermes, I knew that at one point he became a member, but I don't know what kind of work he did for them. I don't want to know. And maybe he didn't tell you because… well, there are some things you just can't tell your family, no matter how much you love them."
I nodded. Richard seemed to be twitching impatiently on Ryoku's other side.
"Um, Ryoku…" He started, but there was one more thing I had to know.
"Did you know my brother's Dragonite was here, on Pummelo Island?"
Ryoku smiled and laughed. "I didn't know that, but I'm not surprised. Pummelo is the ancestral home of the Dragonite and one of only two places in the world where you can find them wild. The other is the Dragon's Den, in Johto. The Orange League Master, Drake –whose grandfather is the Elite Four Drake, in Hoenn- enlists them as guardians for the whole island… so your brother's Pokemon has been doing good work."
A guardian… that seemed right for Dragonite, somehow. Matt would have wanted it, I think.
"Ok, Ryoku," Richard said impatiently. "Are you ready to battle me now? Please?"
Ryoku sighed, but he was smiling. "Alright kid. You're pretty feisty… if you're this hasty with your Pokemon, you won't stand a chance against me."
Richard and Ryoku splashed to their feet and padded back over the sand. I climbed up onto Venusaur's back and he turned slowly to face my friends, to give me a better view of the battle.
Richard whistled loudly and Charizard flapped over to his side. Ryoku squinted at the Pokemon, his smile going wider.
"Your starter Pokemon, I take it? That's one of the tougher Charizards I've seen…" He paused, taking the pokeball from the center of his necklace. "Do you mind if I use my starter as well?"
"Go ahead," called Richard confidently.
Ryoku tossed his ball up in the air, caught it, spinning, on the tip of his finger before pressing the button. There was a burst of red light, and suddenly, a Pikachu was standing cutely on the beach. Its eyes blazed a brilliant ocean blue. It scratched its ear with one of its hind legs like a puppy… but this Pokemon was far more dangerous than any puppy in history.
Charizard looked down its nose (or snout, really) at the little electric Pokemon… it didn't seem to think much of its foe. That could be a mistake.
"Luc, Volt Tackle!"
Luc… I guess Ryoku named his Pokemon; or at least his Pikachu.
The electric Pokemon's body lit up with blue and gold sparks and he flew like a firework at Charizard's head. Their skulls connected, and Richard's Pokemon was jarred both by the force and the voltage. Charizard fell onto its butt, the flame on its tail creating a puddle of molten sand.
"Fight back!" Richard called frantically. "Slash!"
With a single wing beat, Charizard was back on its feet. The fire Pokemon lumbered after its agile foe, taking swipes with its claws. Luc skipped back, ducking under and leaping over Charizard's attacks.
After a few minutes, Charizard began growing tired. Its shoulders were already starting to sag, and the flame on its tail was going low…
"Flamethrower!" Richard ordered.
"Light Screen!" Ryoku countered.
Luc scrunched up its bright blue eyes and a collection of shimmering screens appeared in the air before him. The flames were deflected off the Light Screens, and Charizard looked even more deflated than before.
"Try Iron tail," suggested Richard… his confidence was almost completely gone. I would have sorry for him if he hadn't gotten himself into this situation in the first place.
"Same thing, Luc."
Both Pokemon's tails glinted metallically, and they clashed together, sending up sparks. Despite the fact that his opponent was several times than him, Luc's attack dealt a lot more damage. Charizard was pushed even further back. Luc didn't even seem to be tiring yet.
"Ok, let's end this Luc." Ryoku nodded at me, but spook to Richard. "Your friend there isn't the only one with a few surprises. Luc, use Surf!"
The Pikachu's eyes shimmered blue, and it moved its little yellow arms like a maestro commanding a symphony. Before Charizard or Richard knew what was going on, a ten-foot-high wave crashed in from the sea, directed by Luc, and struck the fire Pokemon down.
Richard returned his Pokemon, shocked, and gave Ryoku a questioning look. The champion just shrugged, inviting his Pokemon to sit on his shoulders. Luc found a place on Ryoku's bushy hair.
"Some Pikachu are born with the ability to control more than just one type. I've heard of Pikachu that could maneuver in the air, using balloons for lift, or even use fire-type attacks… but water is much more common. Luc isn't the world's only Pikachu to know Surf, but he's definitely the strongest."
(-o-)
That evening we made plans to move on to the next island, leaving the champion to his vacation. Before he left, Ryoku worked with me a little bit on Lickilicki's fire technique… and we developed a few new surprises for my Pokemon as well.
In the morning, Richard and I would head on to South Mandarin Island, though we hadn't decided whether to fly or take the ferry yet. Charizard was still injured, and rather disgruntled, from his loss against Ryoku, so we would probably take the latter… that night I looked out the window of our hotel room at the dark sea that rolled away to the horizon. I was thinking about Casey.
I knew she must've come to her beach house while we were there… how else had Sebastian gotten there? I wondered if she had left me some kind of message or keepsake back at the house, but doubted it. She had had enough trouble saying goodbye already.
I didn't want to admit that I probably wouldn't see her again. I just had a feeling… no, I had two conflicting feelings, one insisting she would come back, and the other knowing she was gone for good.
(-o-)
Dragonite pointed a golden claw at the harbor, at the man standing next to it peered through a brass telescope to see what the Pokemon was indicating.
The man wore black jeans a red sleeveless shirt, which was unbuttoned down the front, showing off his chiseled muscles. His long black hair ruffled in the wind.
Through the spyglass he could see two boys, one with short dark hair and the other with long blonde, boarding a ferry. They were the last two to get on, and were a few meters behind everyone else. It was clear that Dragonite was pointing to them.
"Do you mean to follow them?" the man, whose name was Drake, asked. The Dragonite nodded intelligently and flapped its wings in excitement. "I see nothing wrong with it. I have lots of other Pokemon that will defend the island, but you've done a good job, my friend. I hope someday you will return to see us."
The Dragonite bowed low, its tendrils sweeping the floor, before rushing toward one of the arched windows of the coliseum and leaping into the light. Drake watched from the shade as the dragon Pokemon spiraled into the air and almost out of sight, soaring high above the ferry bound for South Mandarin Island.