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Chapter 27Seeing her jump, Drew let out a strangled cry. Suppressing images of her damaged body hitting the water below them, he ran forward to see May angle her body in the air, placing her hands before her. He was shocked to see how deep the water was growing as her body broke the water, causing a ripple effect throughout it.
'May!' Drew growled as he placed his hands on the balustrade. Suppressing his anxiety for himself, he clambered onto the railing and jumped after her. Arceus, how he'd left Flygon behind on that tiny island was beyond him, but it had been done.
'Pokéball, go!' Drew called, releasing the pokémon Forrest had just given him. He had no idea what kind of pokémon it was, but Samiya was underwater. For it to be a pokémon on which they could escape the underwater temple, it would have to be a water type.
In a red flash, a tattered water type, its light brown body covered in irregular spots was revealed, her tail and fins were a dull blue which helped her move as she swam into the water below Drew.
'Get May! The girl, help her up!' Drew yelled at it, hoping it would recognise him as her new Trainer. Honestly, the way he'd received the pokémon was a complete and utter shambles and he just hoped that the Feebas would help him.
The pokémon blinked up at him once before swimming to May as her head broke the surface of the water, gasping for air.
Deciding to follow her example, Drew hurriedly scrambled into his jacket before jumping. Feeling his heart lurch in his throat, he streamlined his body as best as possible, hoping he didn't break his neck in the process. He'd never had to dive from such a high place before, and frantically sent a prayer up to whichever legendary pokémon was listening.
Feeling the water crash around his hands and head, Drew felt the cold fluid move around him, separating and forming around him as his hair moved out of his face. Glancing around, it took the young man a moment to register which direction up was before he turned up to reach the air above.
'Drew, what were you thinking?' May gasped as she struggled to reach him, clinging reluctantly onto the Feebas who looked momentarily confused.
'What was I thinking? May, what on earth were you thinking? You can't go jumping off balustrades like that! Are you crazy? You could have died!' Drew yelled at her as he swam towards her, furious that she could have done something so illogical and with such little regard for her health or those who cared about her.
Biting back a retort of her own, May puffed out her cheeks before she released the unfamiliar pokémon. Taking in a deep breath, she sent the man one last reproachful glance before she swam underwater, heading for the glowing blue gem near the floor.
'May!' Drew growled as Manaphy swam after her, calling for her to slow down.
'She's definitely going to kill me,' Drew grimaced as Feebas stared at him, apparently having understood that he was to be her new Trainer.
'What? Don't look at me like that! Oh Arceus, she's already made me lose my sanity,' Drew murmured as tentatively petted the pokémon. To his surprise, it leaned in to his touch as he watched her grab a hold of the gem and struggle to swim back up.
The Feebas glanced at him once before Drew grimaced, 'Forrest gave you to me, apparently you didn't want to help a Ranger. I'm hoping you like Coordinating as much as I do.'
The pokémon blinked at him, causing Drew to almost roll his eyes. Just what he needed, him being stuck with an unresponsive partner whilst May was acting out of a bravado that was almost stupid. Just the fact that he hadn't expected to gain a pokémon so strangely almost made him want to release it, but that would be callous. Besides, he'd always wanted a Feebas, though had never managed to find one in the wild.
As May's head broke the surface, a loud voice boomed a cheerful laugh at them, pulling Drew out of his thoughts.
'So you've collected the gem for me, good job! It would be a shame if I left with the six in my bag, then I suppose?' Phantom chuckled, appearing out from behind a column as another part of the ceiling collapsed.
'No!' May gasped as Manaphy lurched forward, calling his name angrily.
'I wouldn't think to be leaving so soon if I were you, Phantom,' Jack Walker's voice scowled as he, too, appeared from behind another column, appearing to have followed the man back into the temple. Without hesitation, he picked up Manaphy to prevent him from trying, and probably failing, to hurt the burly pirate before them.
'Feebas, try tackling that bag away from him!' Drew whispered as the pokémon blinked up at him, taking a moment to digest his request. Once it had understood his command, she swam forward, her eyes focused intently upon the Phantom.
The brawny figure of the Phantom hunched over as he began to laugh at the water type's feeble attack, which was slow and lacking effort.
'Don't you underestimate Feebas,' Drew growled, once again wishing he'd brought Flygon. He silently vowed never to be so reckless as to leave his pokémon anywhere again. Whilst Feebas was clearly trying, Drew was as unfamiliar with her as she was with him, and he wasn't sure what she could do.
'Or what will it do, flail?' The man laughed as even Jack Walker frowned at the pokémon's move base, understanding the predicament Drew found himself in.
Grimacing, Drew clenched his fist as May whispered, 'we can't let him get away!'
'Feebas, tackle again!' Drew growled, an edge filling his voice as he swam forward with his newly attained pokémon. Whilst she was trying, he could see the desperation and embarrassment filling her eyes, and he did not appreciate the Phantom making a mockery of his newest pokémon.
The Feebas grimaced as it continued to charge forward, eager to follow her new Trainer's instructions.
'Don't make me laugh, kid,' the man laughed as May swam forward.
'Drew, cover for me,' she whispered at the chartreuse haired man, whose eyes narrowed at her request.
'No, I'm doing it. Tell me what it is and I'll do it,' Drew scowled, taking her wrist in his hand. He saw the uncertainty flicker through her eyes before she nodded and hurriedly whispered a plan into his ear.
'Hey Phantom, where are the rest of your sailors?' May questioned loudly as Drew let the flow of the water distance himself from the young woman. For this plan to work, he needed to be subtle.
'What's that got to do with you?' Phantom glowered at her as Drew went underwater, keeping a close eye on Jack Walker whose eyes were intent upon him. Apparently, the Top Ranger was aware that he and May had concocted a plan and judging from his narrowed eyes, the older man did not approve.
The floor rumbled again as May quickly thought of the first thing that came to her mind. Instantly, she responded, 'I can't help but notice that I've only seen you and that khaki haired man. Where are the others, or haven't you got anyone?'
'They're on the island. Do you think I'd let them come here with me? They'd steal all of my prized jewels from me,' the man snapped as May felt her eyes widen. There was only one island they could be referring to, and they had left one person alone to face a crew of bored sailors?
'You mean they were in the submarine?' She squeaked, not noticing as Drew climbed out of the water further away. Her thoughts were consumed with worry for Brendan, who, whilst strong with his pokémon, was a one man team against what could be an army of people and countless pokémon.
'Yes, got a problem with that?' The Phantom questioned her, revealing his pearly whites in a menacing grin. Clearly he relished her fear, not noticing as Drew crept closer, sending a brief glance at Jackie to silence him.
'Brendan's on that island!' May gasped as she began to swim forward, not seeing Drew lunge forward to take the bag off of the man as Jackie lurched onto the man's other side.
'We've got to hurry! Brendan and the pokémon are in trouble!' May yelled as she climbed out of the water and ran out of the room, leaving Jackie to tackle the Phantom to the ground, lifting the jewel she'd taken from inside the water.
Trying to keep her balance as the floor shook, May bound up the stairs two at a time, rushing past Drew who glanced back to see the two men struggling on the ground, the water rising around their knees.
Reaching the crown room, May glanced back to see Drew hefting the bag into the room, placing it on the ground before the depleted crown. Without even pausing for a breath, he began to pull the jewels out of the bag to return them to their rightful places, his gaze intent on his work.
'Blaziken, Munchlax and Elgyem, come on out!' May called as she released her pokémon who would be able to lift the gems.
Watching them stare at her, she continued, 'everyone take a gem and place it in the empty slots!'
As one, everyone took a gem as May struggled with the gem she'd carried from underwater, into a slot, her arms aching with the weight.
Sinking to the floor in a heap, May barely registered her pokémon as they surrounded her, not noticing Drew curse as he left the room, rushing down the stairs as the water receded.
'Feebas, great job; return!' Drew called as he fumbled with a pokéball, recalling the pokémon before it was pushed into the ocean.
Taking a leaf out of her rival's book, May tiredly recalled her pokémon and walked down the stairs to find Jack Walker looming over the Phantom, glowering, 'care to tell me how you escaped?'
'That's for me to know and you never to find out,' the man retorted childishly, turning his nose into the air.
'Drew! Brendan's up there all by himself!' May squeaked as her eyes widened, recalling how alone her friend would be.
'Then we have to get over there,' Drew growled, appearing to sense her worry as Jackie lifted his captor and shepherded him to the edge of the dock.
'I'll be back in a moment. Keep our friend here,' Jackie instructed before jumping into the water.
Glancing back, Drew gasped at how the buildings seemed to fix themselves, returning to their once pristine condition.
'How is it possible?' He whispered as the Phantom sat on the soaked ground, appearing disinterested in the miracle going on around him.
In response, May beamed, 'I'm not sure, but I'm happy Manaphy's home will be safe.'
'Mana?' The young pokémon questioned as he jumped up at her from the water, soaking her in a hug as she caught him.
'I'll miss you,' May whispered as her eyes brimmed with tears as she nuzzled his forehead.
'Mana love you,' Manaphy responded as Drew grimaced, appearing to want to remain oblivious to the intimate discussion between the two.
Phantom, upon hearing this, snorted wordlessly, scorning their clear affection for each other.
'Is there something I can help you with?' May questioned the man coolly, arching an eyebrow at him as Drew scowled at him for ruining their moment.
'No, nothing's wrong at all,' the man retorted with a sarcastic smile, something which made Drew's eyes narrow further at the man.
Just as he was about to retort, Jack Walker's head broke the surface of the water as he rode in on a school of Mantine, the large aquatic pokémon with enlarged fins which acted almost like wings stayed silent as they moved through the water.
'Come on, we're going,' Jackie grinned as May hesitated a moment.
'I'll wait for you,' Drew murmured as he gently squeezed May's shoulder. Rougher than need be, he pushed the Phantom into the water and onto a Mantine. With a moody glower, he climbed onto another, who was waiting patiently in the water.
Letting out a shaky breath, May turned to the Prince of the Sea, 'Manaphy, it was so good to see you. I didn't know how much I was missing you until I saw you jumping through the waves. Please take care of yourself, I love you.'
Nuzzling his cheek softly, May enjoyed the softness of his skin once more before placing him on the floor, her hands shaking as she turned to hop on a Mantine, unable to meet the concerned gazes of Jackie or Drew.
'Let's go,' May whispered as tears fell from her eyes.
Clambering awkwardly onto the wild pokémon, May didn't look back as she hid her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking.
Anxiously, Manaphy called out to her, crying, 'Mama!'
'Show him you're ok, or he'll follow!' Jackie scowled through a nozzle as he placed another on the Phantom.
Shaking her head, May's voice shook as she called, 'I'll see you soon, Manaphy; I love you!'
As they went through the water, May ignored her friends' questioning glances as she let the ocean wash away her tears, trying not to remember Manaphy's concerned gaze, nor the young prince's happiness at seeing her as they all fumbled to place their mouth pieces on.
As she struggled to come to terms with her separation from the young prince, Drew grimaced at her, wishing he could say something to appease her pain.