It hurts. Something is up. Wasn't I…
Ah, where am I?
I'm awake, everything is blurry and hazy.
Almost like I'm barely here. A film of something stabs me gently with every passing moment.
I feel odd, what is covering my body?
On instinct, I open my maw. Cold fluid immediately rushes inside, prompting me to desist. Blub, blub, erg, salty.
What is this strange saltine taste in my mouth?
Was the air always this thick? I can chew it and spit it out. Well, it flies through my teeth, kinda like a liquid.
Why could it be so dark in this room?
I could not see much either, my eyelids feel incredibly heavy for some reason.
Why? What happened to me?
I know one thing, I am alive; as I can hear the droning thump of my heartbeat.
How peculiar, it is unnaturally clear, as if… My ears are clogged?
Snap out of it Angel!
I will have my alertness back up and running!
'A Pokemon should not rest in just any environment. We have to be sure of our surroundings first!'
I finally flip open my eyes and am faced with sand. Endless grains of pale green-yellow sand, like a colored ocean floor.
Soon I notice numerous minuscule blinking lights of red, blue, green, yellow, purple, and orange. All in a thin cloud of bubbly wispy pink foam. Seafoam perhaps?
Tendrils and tangles in rich shades of dark juniper, fern, and pine of seaweed dared to entrap me. Pieces of seashells are scattered in the hills whilst the something odd laps overhead and I remember.
I am not alone.
My friends. They were with me.
Quickly looking to the side, I can make out some murky yet oddly familiar visages of Pokemon. Despite our haunting, terrifying, and outright awful lack of proximity I know them.
They were with me.
No, they are with me.
Ow. The back of my head has an ache, right below my flame vents. Why? It feels like a damp, warm heat. Am I losing something? It stings as if I'm being smothered. I see a rich thin cloud of crimson from the corner of my vision and my reasoning takes in.
Blood.
It floats up.
I'm not on board the ship anymore.
I'm underwater.
Completely submerged from my ears to my paws.
In the ocean. As a fire-type.
For how long? I'm not sure. All I know is one thing.
I could drown.
My wound bleeds. I have an injury.
All in the sea.
I'm a Quilava. What in the world is wrong with me?
Why am I still here?!
I yearn up at the bright light of the sun, flapping my limbs frantically. As much as I struggle, I don't go anywhere. Only seeming to remain stagnant amongst a plume of wispy seafoam.
Wait! I won't make it to the surface by doing this! Thoughts flood my mind.
Think.
How to climb up through the water.
Think of her.
How to swim properly.
Think of the one I treasure.
One who is best suited for this environment.
One who knows how to swim.
Her.
Where is she?
After only a few seconds after I awoke I begin to methodically swim. Past the seaweed, past the seafoam, and the surface.
I paddle desperately, vomiting and spitting up seawater; my eyes blurry and burning. In my ragged attempt at swimming my body collides with something. My paws latch immediately onto the top, I curl my stomach onto the side and press my rear paws against the bottom.
Now I sway gently in the ocean's odd light-pink waves. Adrenaline pumps in my veins and my vents roar to life. My mohawk of flames blazes into the air. Then my rear coattails jet out, sizzling and bubbling under the current.
My heartbeat thumps rapidly in my chest as if it was rounds of bullet seeds.
It's too fast.
I can't concentrate.
Okay, calm down. Take it slow.
Trying to collect myself, I gaze off into the distance only to be met with a shocking sight.
An enormous ship that has sections of metal plated along the body is aflame. The deck, the mills, and the portholes are torn apart in a dark blue magenta cascade. My nose takes in the smell of ash, smoke, and the intoxicating scent of fire. Stripes of pink waves start to flow below me, the seafoam plumes a rich shade of blue now.
How strange.
Back when I was in the Defense Branch with Master Bisharp and the others I lived on the Air Continent. I was not privy or aware of it having such oceans. Neither should the Twin-Star Continent, although I wasn't born there I know it well.
I previously traveled that land with the Expedition Society for over half a decade now. We ventured and worked coast to coast with all sorts of squads. But the whole Society was run by Cuora Torterra. She gave us a new chance at life.
Cuora Torterra.
The Head of the Society. Now I can recall it.
She sent us off the Continent for our safety. We are the only ones who can bypass the restrictions… Which restrictions?
Of what land?
For what reason?
Where am I again?
I was traveling somewhere. Somewhere far up north from the Twin-Star Continent.
My intrepid discovery of this ocean waterscape and landscape; has not been documented anywhere else I researched in the Celestial Hemisphere. Not the Constellation Continent, nor the Nebula Continent, nor the Jovian Continent.
This must be a coast of the Uncharted Galactic Zone Region. Probably the Southern shoreline considering how warm the water is and the type of vegetation present.
I look further into the ocean and then spot something peculiar. A light blue and black blur, of something, is in the water across from me.
That blur must be a Pokemon. This could be one of my friends. With a reignited desire in my heart, I let my hind legs go limp. I need to let my shock dull down a bit. My paws bury themselves against the metal hull, I need to let go.
Then I began to paddle forward, still desperately clinging on to whatever this piece of scrap metal is until I got closer. The thick endless waves attempt and nearly prevail in causing me to drift away from my target. I almost flirt dangerously close to the riptide.
I quickly glance over to the dark navy blue waters mere yards away from the large ship again. This overturned metal vessel has capsized even further. I can see the starwell and expansive deck along with one section of the engine barely managing to be above the waves.
Due to my affinity with fire; as it is my elemental typing I can tell what type of flames devours this ship. A huge, raging electrical fire ravages the wooden pieces of the boat while more massive titanium or whatever sections of paneling fall apart into the ocean, creating a horrendous site.
What could have caused such a disaster?
"Ange-!" I hear a Pokemon, probably the blue and black one yell out. Believing them to be requesting me, I ignite my vents to the strongest pressure possible and paddle further.
I believe in my effort and now should have the attention of Pokemon. There should be one over there, the waves are just making it a bit difficult to tell who.
Hopefully noticing my splashing, and my fiery mohawk, the figure decided to call out again. "You're- a-igt. Then there was a louder "Kai- er- o!" That I hear amidst the crashing waves. Hmm, my ears must still have something in them, as I couldn't make out the specific words. Maybe I should just get closer to them, I can sense the urgency from their noises.
I then spot one Pokemon in particular, unable to miss their features. The shades of blue on his fur, rich matte black mane, bright orange almost glowing eyes, and round four-pointed star of a tail. "Enrique!" I shout, understanding the Luxio's location.
Straight ahead, above those calmer bright aquamarine waves was the spark Pokemon. He is doing the same thing I am- the Luxio is holding onto another piece of metal scrap. Something is causing a large ruckus in the water some distance away across from him; maybe more debris? A Pokemon maybe?
Looking even closer I am beginning to notice something interesting about Enrique as I paddle harder. Was his pelt always this way? It has all these rich textures and vibrant colors. Or are my eyes playing tricks on me?
Before I can think anymore a swell of a giant wave pushes me backward, the water underneath me dragging all around my body. Not good. This can only mean one thing.
I think I'm going to be tossed around like a ragdoll.
Managing to get a quick glance behind me I see the rush of a massive approaching wave and take in a deep breath. The ebb and flow of a wave bring me high into the air. Gripping the piece of ship tight I lean my head down gaining a lengthy but dangerous amount of airtime.
Can't say this hasn't been the first time I've been this high in the sky, it certainly won't be the last.
The horizon above seems to be even more magnificent. This new rich and bright skyline; the high latitude of the celestial pole bends the altostratus and sky backdrop in a wondrous arc.
All of these new shades, saturation, and hues and overloading my brain. It is directly inside of my eyes, frying my nerves. This pressure of a new optic sensation is off the charts, I'm having such an interesting new feeling, one I've never had before.
Soon I dunk deep into the water, the salty ocean surrounding and covering my body. Then the buoyancy of the scrap metal blasts me upwards, causing me to splash and rock back and forth on the water's surface. Ugh, now my head feels a bit dizzy. I keel over and clench my eyes shut.
After my spell is gone I open my eyes to see the crying and sniffing face of a Luxio next to mine. "Angel!" I hear Enrique loud and clear. He buries his muzzle onto my shoulder, clinging to me. "I miss- ou so much," he begins to blubber and sob uncontrollably.
Oh yes, now I remember. Enrique has always been a crybaby since his evolution. When he was a Shinx he was such a jolly guy. He always gave out rough housings, hugs, and held no sense of personal space. Now as a Luxio he just holds us in his much stronger grasp and with bristly mane, whilst he teared up about something.
Us? I tilt my head up as there is a loud round of familiar paddling. New splashing of the ocean above the torrent of the waves. My chin gently rubs against Enrique's head. "There, there," I say, wrapping my forepaws on the Luxio's shoulders and patting his back.
Before he replies a different voice cries out. "There you are!" Then Enrique lets go of me and turns his head to the side. The voice returns but in a low set of barks. Unfortunately, I fail to make out this distant muttering.
I gaze at the pink and blue waters as the Luxio at my side whispers something to me and swims away.
The motions of his limbs remind me of something; where is the one who would be best-
Slap!
A white forepaw is smacked into my shoulder. "Angel!" My ears perk up. I could never forget this voice.
I look down and see her. It's Kairiharu.
An Oshawott. One with thick scruffy fur, a cute face, big bright blue eyes. She has strong firm limbs, a wide tail, and a long beautiful body.
I feel my cheeks blush before I distance myself from the other Pokemon. Kairi hit me again, my eyes drifting down. A tinge of fuzzy warm feeling fill my head and I can't help but smile. I love this Oshawott so much.
Her triangular maw flaps frantically and so did Enrique's. "Look at her!" I somehow hear a segment of Luxio's words.
"Yeah, I know!" Haru responds. I guess those two must have been talking about me.
I notice Kairiharu's fluffy dark blue ears fall as her muzzle scrunches down. The Oshawott's other forepaw caresses my neck. Enrique suddenly looks worried.
He paddles back over to his junk metal. The Luxio then calls out in a low roar. Afterward, Enrique looks off into the distance. Almost as if he is desperately searching for something. Or someone. The spark Pokemon then dives into the water.
Water. This murky seawater reflects light. I notice something unusual about my pitch-black right eye and bright crimson left eyes after I stare at my wavering reflection. Heterochromia. I was born with this condition, nothing new. However, it seems like my irises have deeper, more vibrant shades hidden within them. Well, when was the last time I-
"Angel!" I hear Kairiharu shout, garnering my full attention.
"Yes?" I ask, ears lowering. How could I forget? She was still here, wanting something from me.
Haru simply begins to swim behind me, her commotion rocking me to and fro. I can't make out any of the words the Sea Otter says. Kairi returns to my front, burying her head into my chest.
What did I do?
What didn't I do?
Oh goodness, I feel it coming.
"Kairiharu," I say, reaching down to hold her. "I'm sorry."
Then the Oshawott looks me straight in the eyes, beckoning down with her paw. I bend down to get eye level with her. She then murmured something, despite being directly in front of her I can't understand a single word.
We gaze over each other's facial features before Haru pushes her body out of my grasp, treading backward. She barks something and then points her scalchop at me.
Shit.
I can't fathom what in the world she said, and I am not fond of lying to her. "Sorry, what was that?" I ask, a dumb smile plastering my muzzle.
"I said pull your ass together! How many times do I have to fucking repeat myself you dumb badger!?"
Without a chance for me to respond the Sea Otter knocks me in the head with her signature Razor Shell, sending me flying down into the ocean once more.
I wouldn't have it any other way.