Song of the Lapras
"It's good to be able to relax," I said to Kameron. The two of us were stretched out on towels, by the ocean side. We had finally made it to Mandarin Island. I had received attention for my injury, my Pokemon had received treatment for theirs and the police force had collected the people that had been stranded on the island. All in all, I was quite relieved to not have to worry about anything.
Maki and Kiki finished building a sandcastle at my feet and proceeded to play tag up and down the beach whilst Azriel bounced along behind, trying to catch them. Other times, he would illustriously stalk Chiko's head plume (which still had a nice hole straight through it, although she no longer seemed to mind), until she snapped at him to leave it alone. Shadeon lay stretched out beside Kameron, under the shelter of a sun umbrella, for the bright sun hurt her, and watched sleepily as the little Eevee romped. Ozmos scavenged up and down the beach, and I suspected she must have been begging food from other beach goers like myself for she was certainly getting plumper. Florion followed her, a dedicated partner. I rolled over and smiled at Kameron, but he had fallen asleep, Shadeon snoring beside him. Well, if that was the way it was, I might as well go for a walk. I hadn't seen my Makimurs for a while after all.
I kissed Kameron on the forehead and wandered off, trusting Shadeon to guard my stuff. She had very sharp hearing even when she was asleep. Further out in the waters I could make out the shape of Nessie, and I knew Marrill would be out there with her too. So who was missing? Shrubslash was sleeping in his Pokeball, Dragosi had gone off on some personal errand, possibly fishing, and Dancer sat on the sun umbrella, bathing her wings under the sunlight. Yes, everyone seemed happy.
Suddenly I realised there was laughter and a small crowd up ahead. Azriel immediately bounded over and begged to be picked up, so I caught him, he lay across my shoulder and breathed heavily in my ear. "Ee vee!"
"What's going on, Az?" I asked him. But I didn't need his answer – because now I could see. Maki and Kiki were doing tricks. Kiki had found three seashells and clambered on Maki's shoulders, and here she was, juggling. Juggling extremely badly, but noone seemed to mind. Chiko darted back and forth, scooping up the shells when she dropped them and flicking them back to her.
"Aren't they great?" Somebody asked me. "I wonder what they are."
"They're Makimurs," I replied, "they're my friends."
The person chuckled, "yeah right."
Azriel glared at them. "Ee VEE!" He said, agreeing with me.
Kiki looked up and saw me. "Maki MURR!" She shrieked delightedly, pushing herself off Maki's shoulders (which sent him sprawling in the sand), she made an enormous leap at me, and missed of course, falling short by several metres. Not that she minded for she simply leapt off the onlooker she had landed on, leaping onto the next and then into me. The force almost sent me sprawling into the sand and when Azriel decided to worm around and greet her enthusiastically I was more than ready to drop them both!
"Now do you believe me?" I asked, chuckling.
Maki had recovered and also bounded over to me, in the same fashion. And suddenly I had my arms filled with Pokemon. I put them all on the ground. "Okay guys, that's enough."
More reserved, Chiko trotted over. "Chi?" She said, grinning.
Now, of course, the attention turned to me and I found myself surrounded by quite a few young folk, all assaulting me with questions about my Pokemon.
"No," I said, "I did not train them that, I am not with a zoo and I am not selling them. Nor can I tell you where they came from! All I can tell you is that they are Makimurs, a psychic grass type Pokemon and they are my friends!"
"Maki ki!"
Eventually the crowds dispersed and I heard a voice behind me.
"Excuse me, are you the Trainer of these Pokemon?"
I found myself facing a rather attractive woman with an impressive cleavage.
"I am, kind of, my name is Kataryna Lemusu. I'm more a Watcher and Researcher then a Trainer though."
She proferred her hand to me. "My name is Lorrelei, I am a Trainer of Ice Pokemon. You may have heard of me."
Something in my memory clicked. "You're one of the Elite Four!" Even though I did not agree with battling Pokemon and all, I was still somewhat in awe of it.
She smiled, unsurprised by my reaction and unoffended. "Indeed I am, this is where I come for my vacation." She grinned, "it is a good break away from the rigours of being a Pokemon Master."
"I know," I replied, "and I'm not a Master."
"Oh, I have heard of you," she said, which surprised me. "You're the one that saved the Lapras, which is another reason I'm here. To study them, for they are Ice Type Pokemon."
"That's why I was here," I said, "but we seem to have lost them."
Lorrelei nodded. "Nobody knows where the Lapras go to breed, except that it is somewhere in this area. It does not appear to be an island, for there has never been one found, so it is a complete mystery."
"Maki ki."
"Murr."
"Oh, sorry guys! Lorrelei, this is Maki and Kiki, my Makimur, Azriel and Chiko."
"Chiko!"
"Ee vee."
Lorrelei smiled at each of them. "Pleased to meet you all," she said to each of them. "So you have done some Lapras study too, I take it?" She asked me.
"Umm, not really," and I explained to her, in brief, the nature of my trip so far and how since arriving in Mandarin Island I had been recouperating from my injury. As we talked we were gradually moving closer to where Kameron and I had been sunbathing.
"You certainly do have disturbing adventures," she said when I had finished, "you're very lucky to have survived that one, many Lapras did not." She stared out to sea, sadly.
"I know," I replied, "I'm just glad I helped. Anyway, this is my friend Kameron and these are out Pokemon. We thought they'd like some sun too. Kameron, this is Lorrelei."
Kameron, now awake, sputtered a little, seeming to become aware that he was wearing just his shorts and in the presence of one of the true Pokemon Masters. He seemed rather embarrassed. "Um, well hi there," he said brightly. I could see his eyes straying to her assets. I scowled at him.
At that moment, I realised that Lorrelei was paying no attention to either of us, because she had seen Ozmos and Florion, who were coming leaping over the driftwood to see what the excitement was about. Suddenly I felt very self-conscious about my Vaporeon.
"As I said," I told her, "I'm not really a Trainer, so, well, some of my Pokemon are not exactly in the best of fitness."
"Flori!"
"No offense Florion," I replied, knowing he was very protective of his Vaporeon love.
"Hrmm," Lorrelei pondered, "Vaporeon's are such pretty creatures aren't they?" I wondered if she had even heard me. Ozmos bounded over to her and began sniffing her hands.
"Por?"
"Flor!"
"She is a fine specimen," the Ice Master said to me, surprising me. "But somewhat unusual, with the fins."
"Oh," I replied, "Ozmos is special, she came from Lake Eerie. But she is just a tad overweight."
Lorrelei frowned and stroked Ozmos. "I think you are mistaken there," she turned and looked at me, "it appears your Vaporeon is, as we say, in the family way!"
My jaw must have dropped and suddenly all eyes turned and stared at Florion, who much to his credit, sat there and held his head up proudly.
"Flori!"
"You mean Ozmos is going to have pups?" I asked, somewhat stupidly, but I had to confirm things.
"Oh yes," she replied, "in about six weeks, by my guess."
Well, that explained a lot – Florion's over protectiveness, how she suddenly seemed to be getting fatter. I felt most embarrassed. How come I hadn't put two and two together. More to the point, how hadn't Kameron? I glanced at him, he shuffled his feet.
"You knew?"
"Um, no!" He quickly defended himself, "but I did suspect."
"And you never told me?" I must have been shooting daggers at him with my gaze.
"Va POR!" Ozmos interrupted.
"I'm sorry," I replied, "I'm just so excited and… a little embarrassed."
Lorrelei smiled at me, "don't be embarrassed," she said, "it's hard for Trainers to realise, and most Pokemon do not breed whilst in the hands of Trainers, I think your Pokemon must trust you very much indeed."
"Maki mur!"
"I think they do too. Is there anything special I shall have to do for Ozmos?"
"She'll do most of the hard work herself," she replied, smiling, "all you'll have to do is keep her out of battles and get her somewhere safe when she's due. And feed her lots of nutritious food!"
"Por!"
"Florion will look after her too, won't you?" I roughed up the fur on his back. "You're going to be a Dad!"
"Ion!" He licked me, then licked Ozmos.
Kameron smiled and put his arm around me. "Isn't this fantastic?"
Lorrelei chuckled, "there was something I wanted to ask of you two," she said. "I understand you have quite a reputation and that you, Kataryna, have a Lapras. Yes?"
"We have a reputation!" Kameron exclaimed, "really? Wow!"
I tried to keep serious. "Yes, I have Nessie."
"It has been something of a mystery to us why the Lapras come here to breed and where they do it," she said. "Now, it is also known that Lapras are extremely rare, and the best way to save something is to understand it better. So…"
"You want us to find where they breed," I finished for her. "I'd be glad to! But what about Ozmos, should she travel in her state?"
The Ice Elite smiled. "I shall look after Ozmos and Florion in my estate, they shall be in good hands."
"Thanks!" I exclaimed, "I would love to study the Lapras." I walked down to the water's edge and whistled, calling Nessie in from the water. Marrill bounced in first, the sand sticking to her and making her look a little like the world's weirdest lamington. Nessie followed behind, looking much more dignified.
"Preeeeas!" She trilled in greeting. I walked up and hugged her an Lorrelei came up beside me.
"Greetings," she said, and then she turned to me. "There are many mysteries that surround the Lapras, not just there Breeding Grounds, but other such things. For example, all Lapras that have been captured and studied are female, and although there are few of these, it makes you wonder it, perhaps, that is why the species is so rare." She patted Nessie on the nose. Strangely enough the huge Pokemon seemed to take an instant trust in her, as though it knew she was not dangerous. "Secondly, some Lapras are known to be able to talk telepathically, but not all. At what age do they learn this skill and why? They are not a psychic Pokemon."
"La preee!" Nessie seemed to enjoy the attention.
"You know," she pondered onwards. "This Lapras seems familiar. I think perhaps I met one like it some years ago, with a boy named…" She snapped her fingers trying to remember. "Ash! Yes, it was Ash."
"My second cousin," I replied. "Really, you were his Lapras?"
"Praaa!" Nessie nodded.
"Coincedences never cease," I muttered. "Nessie, would you be willing to take us with you to your breeding grounds?"
"Prass." She seemed doubtful.
"She will want to breed," Lorrelei said, "before, when Ash found her, she was just a baby, leaving the Breeding Grounds, for the first time. Now she has spent four or five years out in the open sea and she is ready to breed herself. Perhaps. I do not know exactly!"
"I do," I replied, "and that is as much as I can guess too."
Lorrelei looked startled, "you're able to understand them at your age? You're doing better than I managed!"
I shrugged, "let's say I had help."
"And you still didn't realise your Vaporeon was pregnant," she chuckled. "You're an enigma, child!"
"Well, she didn't tell me!" I said, a little irritated. And a lot embarrassed. "Look Nessie, if we go with you to your Breeding Grounds we can learn more about you, and then it might be harder for people to kill you and your kin. If we understand you, we can save you!"
The Lapras stared at the skies for a moment, as though pondering. "Prasss!" She finally agreed.
I jumped up and gave her a big hug. "Thank you, you're wonderful! Now, rest a while whilst we go and get supplies, we might be away a long while!"
Lorrelei smiled at me. "Don't worry about Ozmos and Florion, they'll be safe in my Holiday Estate."
"I know, maybe they'll learn something too."
"You never know." And she smiled slyly.
* * *
The skies was a gorgeous sheen of blue that melded almost perfectly into the green of the ocean. Kameron and I sat astride Nessie's broad back, Azriel in his lap, Chiko in mine. It seemed oddly quiet without Florion and Ozmos, even though Azriel's antics were a source of much amusement. Kiki and Maki sat on Nessie's head and shrieked in excitement everytime a bird flew over. Suddenly a pod of Dolfins seemed to materialise around us, diving and frolicking through the water, trilling
"Dolllll ololol!" at Lapras.
Nessie trilled back.
"They're such pretty beasts," Kameron remarked. "Don't you ever wonder why Trainers don't catch them?"
I shrugged, "I think they're too smart to allow themselves to be caught. And besides, who would want an Orka?"
"Who would want a Gyrados, yet people catch Magikarps all the time."
"I guess they're just not as well known," I concluded.
"Ol olol finnnn!" One trilled, racing Nessie.
Our other Pokemon rested in their Pokeballs. They had no love of the water. Except Marrill, who sat above the Lapras's tail and kept bouncing off into the ocean.
Suddenly a thick mist filled the air, like rain, very gentle rain. Remembering my fear of high waves (gee, I wonder where that fear came from?!) Kameron held me close to him, although the waves did not reach any great height anyways. The Dolfins dipped and dived away from view. Everything became still and quiet. Suddenly, Nessie stopped and lifting her head up, she began singing.
"Praaaaasss prasss!" It was eerie, melodic, beautiful… I felt my heart soar with longing. Kameron grasped my hand in his as we listened to her song. Even Azriel and Maki were silent, in awe.
And the clouds seemed to roll apart, the light shimmering through, radiating through the water droplets in a gorgeous, fantastic rainbow of colours. And Nessie lowered her head, and swam into in.
Suddenly, there was an explosion of colour around us, bright reds and golds and blues. And Lapras was swimming across a strange sea. The water seemed almost golden and the land that materialised up above, was hued with reds. The sky above, seemed particularly, unnaturally blue, almost too bright. It was like stepping into a story book. Strange birds, with bright plumage, whirled above us.
"Where are we?" I asked.
In the place that time forgot, the sacred breeding grounds of the Lapras.
"Who said that?" I looked around wildly, although the voice was in my head.
I did, Nessie turned to look at me. Or turned her head anyway. This is our Breeding Ground, you are greatly privileged to be here.
"I know," I replied, "thank you for giving us the honour. But how is it that here you can talk?"
You saved my people and I thank you. And I have always been able to talk, you have just not been able to listen.
With that, the large Pokemon lowered her head and swam swiftly across the golden waters to shore. Something came out of the water in front of her. It was serpentine, with a pair of tufted ears, dark eyes and a stone at the base of its neck. It lowered its head and made a strange, almost cooing, noise.
"What is that?" Kameron whispered to me.
"I don't know, don't you have a Pokedex?"
"Oh yeah." Kameron fetched the dented and water damaged Pokedex from his pocket and pointed it at the creature.
"Dragonaire," the voice said, "this Pokemon has not been seen for many centuries."
"I don't think that's quite right!" Kameron exclaimed.
"Shh, look!" I pointed. Nessie was lowering her head and cooing back at the Dragonaire. "It's some sort of greeting ritual."
Introduce yourself, Nessie said to us.
"I'm Kataryna Lemusu," I said, "and this is Kameron Khristensen."
Welcome to our breeding grounds, came another, different mental voice. This one was deeper, masculine. You are priveliged to be here.
"I know," I replied.
Very well, come with me. The Dragonaire dived beneath the water and swam towards the shore, occasionally darting back to nudge Nessie. The place was so still and calm and oddly beautiful.
"Why do you think there are Dragonaire here?" I asked Kameron. "Do you think this is perhaps where they might be hiding?"
I was to find out that the truth was even stranger.
Nessie swam ashore and we clambered off. Maki and Kiki immediately leapt onto my shoulders. The Isle was marvellous – huge trees with bright flowers surrounded us, and on some grew tasty looking fruits not unlike pineapples. Azriel darted off, chasing some sort of small insect.
"Well," I said, "we're here."
I must leave you now, Nessie sent to us, I must go and seek a mate, I am here late and only a few may be left.
"Lorrelei said they'd never found a male Lapras, is this where they hide?"
Nessie seemed to ponder this. Yes, and no, she replied, there are no male Lapras, but this is where they hide.
Well, I was confused!
"Chiko chikorita!" Chiko chimed to me as she trotted around in the sand, sniffing at something. A Lapras was near her, digging a hole with her front flippers. It breathed cold air at her, scaring her away.
"I guess we go and make camp," Kameron ventured. We watched Nessie slide into the water and away. I glanced at Kameron.
He recognised immediately the look in my eyes. "You aren't?" He said.
"Of course not," I replied, "I'm just going to find some food, you go make camp!"
The young man gave me a long look. "If you say so my friend," he said softly. "Come on guys!"
So Kameron ducked off and I followed Nessie. As they say, curiousity killed the Kat and I wanted to know what exactly was going on. Nobody had even seen a male Lapras and Nessie's comment had befuddled me. I had seen the way she had left, so carefully picked my way along the seashore, through the undergrowth which seemed to actually reach into the water.
Everything here was a tad unusual, the undergrowth was brightly coloured, and in occasion, barbed, and snared in my clothing. Strange creatures, the likes of which I had never seen before scurried through the undergrowth, startled by my passage.
Suddenly a high trilling call which my ears. It was beautiful, eerie and had an etheral quality. My heart caught in my throat with the sheer melody of it.
And then another voice joined in, lower, but no less etheral, no less beautiful.
The sound brought tears of joy to my eyes, I walked closer.
Peering through the undergrowth I saw a lake, calm, serene, the sunlight reflecting off the golden waters in a glorious sheen.
Nessie sat in the middle of the golden waters, her head raised high to the sky, singing beautifully. Occasionally she would dip her long neck so that her head entered the water and then bring it up, spraying droplets like molten gold through the air. But who was her singing companion? I had not seen it yet.
Suddenly a head with a pair of tufted ears rose from the water. Dark eyes gazed longingly at my Lapras friend. The newcomer rose its head, his head and sang the next part. The jewel on his throat bobbed as his haunting, deep call rolled out across the estuary.
Nessie swam closer to him, singing her part, her voice almost ghost-like. As she neared him he dipped his head in the water, bringing his serpentine body around to bathe her in a shower of golden droplets that clung to her head like molten gold.
She lowered her head, touching the Dragonaire on the nose, and they suddenly began singing together, in duet.
Suddenly I felt an arm around my waist and Kameron was standing there beside me. I had missed him coming, so enraptured was I by the scene. He flashed a smile at me, but we were both unable to tear our eyes away from the spectacle.
Suddenly something happened. There was a sudden shake and I tumbled over, sprawling into Kameron. The Lapras and the Dragonaire trilled in alarm, diving beneath the water in fear. The bright sky seemed to turn a dark purple.
"There is much danger here," I heard something say, "you must hide whilst you can."
Kameron turned to stare at me. "There is a great danger coming," he said, his voice steady but sounding disturbed. "We must hide."
"What sort of danger?" What was up, were we some kind of threat beacon? I picked myself off Kameron. Suddenly the ground shook again and the trees dropped their blossoms, bright red, like blood.
"Quickly!" Kameron grabbed my hand, "get out of the forest, to the sea shore!" He grabbed me by the arm and almost dragged me to the lagoon. The golden water was bubbling. Behind us, the trees shed their red flowers and also came the crashing as some toppled.
"What's going on?" I shouted above the racket.
"The great bird of the sea has awoken." Someone told me. "It's wings are disturbing the waters and the island. Soon all but the mountain will be underwater."
"Who are you?" I asked. "What are you?"
"A friend." But still there was nothing to be seen.
"We must go up the mountain," I shouted.
"But first we must find our Pokemon and tell the Lapras!"
"I know, Kameron, you go find our Pokemon, I'll go to the shore and tell the Lapras." Suddenly something dawned to me. "Their eggs will be destroyed!"
"It is the price that must be paid," the voice informed me. "Go!"
"Can you hear something?" I asked Kameron.
He shook his head.
"Strange and stranger. Anyway, we've got to get to the hills! Send Dragosi to pick me up."
We parted ways with a quick hug, knowing that once again, a routine(?) venture had turned into an adventure.
I made my way to the sea shore and saw that it was unnecessary to warn the Lapras and Dragonaire, for they were already there. The Lapras were straddling their burrows whilst the Dragonaire stared at the encroaching wall of gold. It flowed very slowly, as though it were not water but something thicker, like syrup or treacle.
"We must move the eggs!" I shouted at them.
We are built to protect the eggs, but not move them, a Lapras replied. Although we thank you for your concern.
"There must be something we can do! We have to force that wave outwards!"
There is nothing, I was informed, when the great bird awakens, the water rises and out efforts are destroyed, it is the Way.
"Not if I have anything to say about it! I want to save your eggs. All of you Lapras, Ice Beam the wave, slow it down! Dragonaires, I want you to dig up the eggs and move them."
We cannot dig, the more masculine mental voice of a Dragonaire informed me. They are built for digging, we protect with our Hyper Beams and train the young.
"Well, time to learn! Use your tails and Hyper Beams if you can, to dig up the eggs."
We shall try, but your efforts are believed to be futile.
At least they were trying.
The Lapras arranged themselves along the seashore, facing the oncoming wave. They closed their eyes and began trilling. "Prassssss!"
Most of the Dragonaires began digging with their tails and heads, sending sand spraying in all directions. But it was not a lot of good. Suddenly I recognised something fluttering around nearby.
"Dancer, go and get Shrubslash, now!"
"Freeee!" The Butterfree flapped around in the circle and darted away. A moment later she returned, carrying a Pokeball which she deposited at my feet.
"Okay, Shrubslash, you've got to dig like you've never dug before!"
The ground/grass type Pokemon began slashing at the sand with its long talons. More sand joined the selection in the air. Soon nothing could be seen but flying dust. And nothing could be heard but the chime of the Lapras, freezing the golden tidal wave.
I got on my hands and knees, and began digging in the sand too, hoping that the salvation of the eggs could be made in time. One hand found something hard and smooth and I drew out my first Lapras egg. It was huge, about the size of an ostrich egg and the shell was more rubbery like that of a turtles or snakes, then a birds egg. I drew it out and clasped it to my chest. But I could carry no more than one.
We cannot hold it off much longer, one of the Lapras informed me, human child, you must flee now or your life shall be in great danger!
"I must help!" I insisted.
"SIIII!" Through the dust and fragments of golden rain and red flower dust, something large and purple came soaring towards me.
"Jump on!" Kameron shouted, "the Pokemon are headed for safety, although I have some here!" He patted his belt. I stared up at him.
"I didn't ask you to come too!" I replied.
"I couldn't leave you alone!" He shouted back at me. "Now hop up and let's go."
I stared around at the Dragonaires, some had already disappeared into the water, carrying their precious burdens carefully in their mouths. I took Kameron's proffered hand and he lifted me up onto Dragosi's back.
"What about Shrubslash?" I asked, "and Dancer?" Dancer flapped past carrying an egg clasped to her chest.
"She'll be fine," Kameron said, "but we better get Shrubslash. Where is he?"
We looked but could not see the ground-grass type Pokemon the dust was just too thick.
We're losing it! One of the Lapras sent. All of you who can, flee, all the rest, duck and brace yourself!
"Shrubslash!" Kameron cried as Dragosi circled upwards and into the air. Suddenly we saw the mutant Pokemon, he was running for the trees. Kameron immediately drew out his Pokeball, "Shrubslash return!" He shouted.
At that moment the first golden droplets rained heavily down, Dragosi swerved to avoid something rising from the dust in front of him, a tree, and Kameron slipped, as he was leaning over too far to recall his Pokemon. He lurched over the side of the Dragon-fly, grabbing Dragosi's barbs with both hands and dropping the ball in the process. I grabbed one of his hands with my hand, but had to hold the egg with the other.
"Quickly, Dragosi, land!" I shouted, aware that I could not hold Kameron for long. The Dragonfly lurched downwards, landing by the forest's edge in a maelstorm of dust and golden rain.
"Shrubslash, come here!" Kameron yelled and the strange Pokemon hurried over. In each vine whip he held an egg.
"Come on!" I shouted, "we have to get on Dragosi, or the wave's going to hit us!"
But it was too late. All we could see was a wave of gold, rippling across the sand sending it spraying up in all directions, causing huge sandclouds. Near us, the ground rippled and trees toppled and fell, crashing into each other like dominoes.
"Get yourself out of here!" I shouted at Dragosi, but his wings were too sodden with the golden rain. He could not get airborne.
"I guess this is it then," Kameron said sadly. "For real this time." I wrapped my arms around him as we stood and watched the wave come closer, so quickly that running would have no effect. The first golden droplets became larger, like someone was throwing paint at us. They stung when they hit. And then the tidal wave washed over us…
Suddenly everything went purple and we seemed to be floating, as though trapped in a
balloon. Dragosi trilled in fear as we found ourselves carried up in what could only be described as a bubble. It bobbed to the surface of the water, like a craft and then was flung several meters, tossed upside down and rightside up as the wave carried it with us. We tumbled against each other, a mass of legs, arms, claws, wings and spines, some of which were extremely painful!
And then, as suddenly as it had begun, everything was calm. I picked myself off Kameron (I'd fallen into him a lot it seemed…) and stared at Dragosi.
"Did you do that?"
The Dragonfly shook his head. He'd been as surprised as we.
"Then who?"
"It was I," that voice came again and we looked up to see something jumping up and down on the bubble. Something pink that superficially resembled Mewtwo.
"Who are you?" Kameron asked. He had plainly heard it this time!
Suddenly the bubble lifted into the air, so that we were floating, up the side of the mountain it floated, until we reached a plateau. Here it drifted to a rest, then promptly disappeared so that we all fell over.
The pink Pokemon laughed, doing little flips in the air. It then landed before us.
"Do you not know me?" It asked.
"I think I do," I replied, placing the egg carefully on the ground. "You're one of the seven sisters!"
"Indeed, I am Fenrill, the Sister of the marshes, waterways and ponds, and who might you be?" She closed her eyes then continued without waiting for a reply, "you are Kataryna Lemusu, a runaway; you are Kameron Khristensen, a renagade from Team Rocket; you are Dragosi, a genetically created fossil and you," she blinked her huge blue eyes at Shrubslash in disbelief, "are the funniest looking Sandslash I ever did see!"
"Slasssh!" Shrubslash did not seem happy at this. He placed the eggs aside and glared at the Mew. Fenrill created another bubble above his head and leapt up onto it, bouncing in the air and doing a little somersault. The Porcupine Pokemon crouched low and rattled his quills.
"Calm down Shrubslash," Kameron said, stepping forward and patting him on the nose. It seemed to work.
"Okay, Fenrill," I said, "you helped us, and thank you very much, but please don't tease my companions!"
Fenrill did a little flip in the air and bounced away, the bubble breaking with a pop and dousing Shrubslash in little pink gobules. She bounced on the ground to stand in front of me.
"You helped my brother," she said, you helped the Lapras, I sense that you are a Pokemon Friend and now I find myself asking you for help." She chased her tail briefly.
I sighed, "how do you want us to help?"
"My six sisters and I slept for many years but some time ago we awoke, just as Lugia is awakening again now, but the great bird merely rolls over and goes back to sleep, we however are now wild and free."
I knew what was coming here. "You want me to help find your siblings?"
"Yes." Fenrill did a backflip, landing on her tail and floating before us. "That is right. Some have fallen into the hands of trainers, others into even more terrible places. I can sense them but not reach them, I need your help for that."
I glanced at Kameron, still comforting his distraught Shrubslash. He shrugged and nodded.
"Do we have a choice?" I asked.
"There is always the choice," Fenrill bounced, landing on both feet in front of me. "However, if you chose not to, you shall have the doom of the sisters in your hands." She looked downcast, "please, you helped my brother, please help us! We can't offer you much but we need all the help we can get."
I glanced at Kameron. "Very well then."
* * *
And so ends "The Lapras Legacy", but keep waiting because soon "The Mew Chronicles" will begin and they will be most interesting indeed!