Episode 15: Krakannon Fodder

With all of their action-filled adventures in Horizoport City behind them, we find our heroes in a very familiar situation: they're late for the ferry!

Ash, Brock, and Brenda are running with all their effort towards the Horizoport Wharf. The ocean can be seen just coming into view. Brock shouts, "No, we're not going to make it!"

Ash tries to run faster, "We have to, Crate said that that's the last boat to Kanaveral City until tomorrow! I don't want to have to wait here for another day!"

Brenda looks upset with herself. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I didn't think the boat was leaving for another hour."

Ash comes to a sudden stop. Brock and Brenda catch up. Just ahead, the ferry can be seen leaving port. "Darn, I was really excited to get to Kanaveral City too."

Brenda hangs her head as well. "So was I."

Brock looks at his guide book. "Yeah, it looks like Crate was right, I don't see any other ferries listed until tomorrow. Sorry Ash."

A nearby voice says, "Ahoy landlubbers, if I heard ye correct, ye be seeking passage to Kanaveral City."

They turn to the side to see an older man walking towards them. He has the appearance of a sailor, wearing tattered clothes, a captain's hat, and sporting a white beard. Ash replies, "Yeah, I'm going to challenge the Kanaveral Gym."

The man nods. "I can get ye there. I have a ship docked nearby, and plan to take a voyage towards Kanaveral City soon. If ye want, I could bring ye along."

Ash nods and exclaims, "That would be great sir!"

"Call me Ahab. And who might ye scallywags be?"

"I'm Ash, from Pallet Town, and this my partner Pikachu." He looks back to his friends. "And this is Brock and Brenda."

Ahab looks to the skies. "I must warn ye though. There be a squall coming, I can tell. It might not be in yer best interest to leave immediately."

Brock looks up to the sky. "That's odd. The weather seems perfectly fine."

Brenda adds, "And the weather report didn't say anything about a storm either."

Ash decides, "Who cares about the weather? I want my Gym Badge. Let's go.

Ahab affirms with an "Argh."

"There she be, me pride and joy." The group approaches an old fashioned sailing ship, suited for someone like Ahab.

Brenda states, "Oh…it's a…sail boat…"

Ahab seems to almost take offense, "Why I'll have ye know, she be more than just a sail boat. She be a Man-o'-War, one o' the finest vessels to ever sail the seven seas." He beckons towards the boarding ramp. "Let's cast off." They all board.

Who's that Pokémon!?

These Pokémon live on beaches, burrowed inside holes dug into the sand. On sandy beaches with little in the way of food, they can be seen squabbling with each other over territory.

They've casted off. The ship is well on its way, leaving the Horizoport Wharf. At the helm is Captain Ahab. Ash, Brock, and Brenda are at the front of the boat looking forward. Ahead of them, a large landmass can be seen. It is distant, but the silhouette of several skyscrapers can be seen. Brenda points out and declares, "That's it, Kanaveral City, the largest city in all of Tenno!"

Ash asks, "What's so important about Kanaveral City anyways?"

Brenda answers, "There are so many reasons. Actually, look back just 100 years ago, and it was but a small fishing village. That changed when Tenno entered its Space Age. Back 60 years ago, when the Tenno Aeronautics and Space Administration, or TASA, was just beginning to fire rockets into space, they needed an ideal place to launch them. They searched all around the world. Some of the most encouraging spots were Kanto's Fuchsia City, Hoenn's Mossdeep Island, and Kanaveral Village. In the end, they decided that Tenno's own Kanaveral Village was the most ideal location. It was a cape, extending into the ocean, located almost exactly on the equator, both of which were very important factors when launching a space ship. Within another 20 years, Kanaveral City was the site of every major rocket launch, including the one that carried the first men to the Moon. Due to the importance that the Tenno Region has placed on space travel since then, Kanaveral City grew by the year, until it became one of the largest cities in the world, comparable even to Castelia, Lumiose, and Mauville.

Brock adds, "I've heard that the Space Center in Mossdeep City is based on the designs used for the Cape Space Center of Kanaveral City."

Ahab shouts to them, "Ahoy, if all goes well, we be docking in Kanaveral City within the hour."

Behind the boat, a periscope rises above the water. The periscope is connected to what seems to be a giant Magikarp, just below the surface. It's not a Magikarp at all, but rather Team Rocket's submarine. Inside, Jessie, James, and Meowth are pedaling away in order to power it. James comments, "After being cooped up in our balloon for so long, it's nice to get some exercise."

Mime Jr., who is sitting on James' shoulder, and appears to be pretending to pedal, agrees, "Mime mime!"

Meowth, who seems to disagree, responds, "Oy, at least the balloon has a handsome face. I can't stand all this pedaling."

Jessie looks back and commands, "I don't care if your leg muscles get disproportionately huge, we need to catch up with the Twerps, and right now this is our best method."

As if to agree with her, Wobbuffet appears. "Wobbuffet!"

Jessie pulls out her Pokéball and returns it. "Either you pedal, or you stay silent. No free rides." She looks back to Meowth and threatens, "Now I can't shove you back in a Pokéball, so if you don't stop complaining and start pedaling, I'll shove you somewhere else."

Meowth instantly starts pedaling faster. "Yes ma'am!"

Back above the surface on the ship, Ahab looks up towards the sky. A gust of wind ruffles his hair. "Arr, the storm I warned ye about, it be coming in from the west."

Ash looks up. "How's that possible? There's still not a cloud in the sky."

"When ye sail the seas for as long as I've been, ye begin to pick up on the subtleties of the weather. We should not have departed."

Just as he's saying this, storm clouds roll in out of nowhere. It begins to rain a heavy downpour. A howling wind also begins to blow.

Brock shouts over the wind, "I can't believe it, this storm came out of nowhere!"

Ahab shouts, "All hands on deck, batten down the hatches! In all me years of sailing, I've never seen a squall so powerful!" He starts to spin the steering wheel. "We need to get this boat turned around and fast."

The boat begins a 180 degree turn, but is interrupted as a massive wave crashes into it. The wave pushes them out of the Kanaveral Straight and into open sea. Ahab shouts, "Brace yer selves!"

Under water, Team Rocket's sub is being tossed around by the storm. Jessie and Meowth have been forced off of their seats by the force of the storm and are being thrown around in the tumbling submarine. Jessie shouts, "Who turned on the storm!?"

Meowth shouts, "The weather report sure didn't say anything about this!"

James, who is still clinging onto to his seat and pedaling with all his might, declares, "Come on you wimps, don't let a little rain get you down, we've got a Pikachu to catch!"

Mime Jr. agrees, "Mime mime!"

The submarine is sent away in the same direction as Ahab's ship by another wave. Jessie and Meowth shout, "Team Rocket's being washed away again!"

James shouts, "Wimps!"

It's Krabby!

The storm has subsided. The sky is still cloudy, but the rain, wind, and waves have stopped. Ahab's ship floats there in the open water. Brenda asks, "Is it over?"

Ahab nods. "Aye, the storm has ran its course. It be safe for us to finish the trip to Kanaveral City."

Ash shouts, "Then what are we waiting for!? Let's get moving!"

Pikachu agrees, "Pika!"

Suddenly a flock of Wingull fly over. They seem to be flying away from something. Ahab looks up at them intently. He murmurs to himself, "Argh, it can't be…"

Brock asks, "What is it?"

"I've only seen Wingull behave like that once before. It was the last time I encountered…it…"

Ash asks, "What, what's it?"

Ahab suddenly shouts, "We may be out of the storm, but we're not out of danger yet! Brace for impact!"

As soon as he says that, the boat suddenly begins to rock. A massive red tentacle with yellow suction cups slams into the deck of the boat. It almost hits Ash, who leaps out of the way just in time.

Ahab throws a Pokéball. "Crawdaunt, all hands on deck!" A Crawdaunt comes out of the Pokéball. He adds, "If ye be Pokémon Trainers, let out yer Pokémon and fight by me side!"

Without hesitation Pikachu jumps off of Ash's shoulders, Brenda sends out Kappaqua, and Brock sends out Blissey. Several more tentacles come slamming down across the boat's deck. Everyone jumps out of the way. Ahab commands, "Crawdaunt, Crab Hammer!" With glowing claws, Crawdaunt smacks away one of the incoming tentacles.

Brenda shouts, "Kappaqua, Aqua Bomb!"

"Kappaapapaqa!" Kappaqua sends several orbs of water at the tentacles around the boat.

Brock adds, "And Blissey, clear off the tentacles with Strength!" Blissey goes from tentacle to tentacle, throwing them off the boat.

Ash shouts, "Now Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

"Pikaaa chuuuuuuu!" Pikachu's electric attack hits all of the remaining tentacles.

A shrill shriek is suddenly heard echoing across the water. Out of the water rises a massive Pokémon. It primarily red with some yellow accents. It look reminiscent to the Pokémon Octillery, but has a wedge-shaped head, closer to a squid's. Its mouth is opened, and emerging from its face, giving it the appearance of a cannon. The Pokémon is easily large enough to wrap its tentacles around the entire ship. It shrieks, "Krak!"

Ahab shouts, "So ye took me first ship, and now ye have come back to finish the job! Hear this, I'm ready for ye this time! Stay away from me ship!"

The Pokémon shrieks again before lowering itself into the water and swimming away. Ash asks, "What kind of Pokémon was that?" He pulls out his Pokédex.

"Krakannon, the Cannon Pokémon, and a Water-Type. Krakannon's cannon-like mouth grants it the ability to fire pulses of water at high velocities. Although Krakannon rarely grow to be larger than seven feet tall, legends speak of a giant Krakannon, at least ten times larger. Krakannon evolves from Octillery by leveling up while knowing the move Aqua Cannon."

Brenda exclaims, "That must have been one of those giant ones!"

Brock claims, "I've heard the myth, but I never thought it was possible."

Ahab steps forward and states, "Well ye better be a believer now. That Pokémon be known as Colossus. She got that name over 200 years ago, back when vessels like mine still sailed the seas of Tenno. She would latch onto boats with her massive tentacles and squeeze them until they cracked apart. I had an encounter with her nearly 30 years ago, when she nearly dragged me down to Davy Jones' Locker. She ended up taking me ship, but couldn't take me with it. Since that day, I have spent me life in pursuit of her, and this be the first time I've seen her since."

Brenda asks, "Why have you been hunting Colossus?"

Ahab hangs his head. "It is believed that when Colossus sinks a boat, she takes anything o' any value that that ship be containing. Back when she sunk me first ship, I had some very special and irreplaceable loot aboard. I need to find the monster's horde. Now that we have the location of the beast, I'm certain her lair must not be far from here."

Ash declares, "Then what are we waiting her for!? Let's follow Colossus, and find that horde!"

Ahab perks up. "Ye be willing to help me, even though ye barely know me?"

Ash nods. "You offered to help us, so now we'll help you out in return. I can tell that this is important to you, we can spare the time."

"Why, I not be knowing what to say."

Brock says, "You don't have to say anything. Let's get started."

"Aye aye." Ahab returns his Crawdaunt and throws a separate Pokéball. In the water next to the boat, a Sharpedo appears. "Sharpedo, I need you to follow Colossus' trail. This may be the time we've been waiting for."

"Pedo!" Sharpedo sinks into the water.

Brenda turns to Kappaqua. "Why don't you go search under water as well?"

"Kappa!" Kappaqua jumps into the water and swims off.

Ash thinks for a second and says, "Hey, I've got an idea." He throws a Pokéball, and lets out Apprentichick. "Apprentichick, I need you to go fly around the ocean, look for any signs of Wingull behaving oddly."

"Apprentttiiiichick!" Apprentichick flies off.

Team Rocket's sub is in some sort of cave. It would appear to be an air pocket in an underwater cave. The hatch on top opens up and Meowth, Jessie, and James all push their way out at once. Meowth declares, "Air, fresh air!"

Jessie adds, "Not to mention solid ground!" They jump off the sub and onto the cave floor.

James observes the cavern. "Hmm…it would appear that the storm forced us into an undersea cavern." He turns around and his eyes go wide. "Oh my, what do we have here!?"

Jessie and Meowth turn around to look as well. Sprawled out before them is a massive pile of treasure. It's mostly gold, but there are other valuables as well. Meowth exclaims, "We've hit the mother lode!" He runs towards it.

Jessie pushes him back and gets ahead of him. "It must be full of gold, silver, and crystals!"

Meowth gets back ahead of her and adds, "Don't forget rubies, sapphires, and emeralds!"

James joins in the race. "I'm betting on diamonds, pearls, and platinum!" The three jump into the pile of treasure as if it were a swimming pool. They frolic around in it for several moments. James states, "With all this treasure, I could by all of the rare bottle caps in the world!"

Jessie fantasizes, "I could buy the most expensive of dresses!"

Meowth adds, "And I could buy my way right to The Boss' lap!"

They all shout at once, "It's a dream come true, we're rich!"

Back on the boat, Ahab is on the crow's nest, looking out to sea with a telescope. Ash climbs up and joins him. Ash asks, "So what do you plan to do once you find Colossus?"

Ahab lowers his telescope and answers, "I've put a lot o' me thoughts into that over the years." He pulls out a Dive Ball. "I need to catch it, put an end to all of the destruction it has caused. I've done the research; Colossus has taken anywhere up to 200 ships over the years. It's taken untold fortunes of treasure. It has to be stopped."

Ash nods. "Do you really think you can capture it?"

"I can't be certain, but I have to try. These Dive Balls are specially designed to catch Pokémon underwater, so they offer me the best chance I've got." He raises his telescope back to his eye. He spots something off in the distance. It's Sharpedo, Kappaqua, and Apprentichick. Ahab shouts, "Pokémon, ho!" He jumps out of the crow's nest and slides down the rope ladder, making it back to the deck. Ash follows. Brock and Brenda are waiting for them.

The Pokémon approach the boat, Apprentichick lands on Ash's arm. Ash asks, "Did you guys find anything?"

Apprentichick nods proudly. "Apprenti!"

Ahab shouts, "Then, what are we waiting for, lead the way!" Ahab takes his place behind the wheel. Sharpedo, Kappaqua, and Apprentichick lead the boat off in the direction they came from.

After sailing for short while, the Pokémon stop and so does the boat. Several Wingull are flying in circles overhead. Ahab nods. "Yo ho, this must be it. I have some diving gear in the hold, I'll go get it."

A little later, the group is all dressed in wetsuits and wearing breathing apparatuses in their mouths. One by one they jump into the water. They dive down, following Sharpedo and Kappaqua. Colossus' shriek is heard. "Kraaaak!" Ash and Ahab look at each other and nod. They continue descending.

After a little more, they reach the seafloor. At little bit ahead of them, they see a cave. Ahab points to it and the rest of them nod. They swim in. once inside, Ahab points up, and they all swim in that direction. They come up in an air pocket. Ahab says, "This must be one o' those seafloor cavern systems, I've heard that they can go on and on like a maze for quite a while. It be the perfect hideout for Colossus."

Brock asks, "So we've got to keep on swimming until we find it?"

Ahab nods. "I know she be here. I can sense her." They put their breathers back on and dive back under. They swim forward, navigating the labyrinth of tunnels.

Out of nowhere, a giant tentacle materializes behind them. It is whipped towards Ahab. Sharpedo notices just in time, and pushes Ahab out of the way. Ahab, realizing what happened, beckons for the rest to go up. They do.

They surface in another air pocket, and climb up onto a cave ledge. They don't notice, but nearby them is Team Rocket's submarine. Ahab shouts, "Alright Sharpedo, prepare for battle!"

Ash looks to Pikachu. "Are you ready Pikachu?"

Pikachu nods. "Pika."

Ahab shakes his head. "No, this be my fight. Leave it to me."

Colossus surfaces. "Kraaaaaak!"

"Sharpedo, Crunch!"

Sharpedo charges at Colossus and bites down on one of its tentacles. Colossus whips the bitten tentacle up in to the air, and then into the water, smacking Sharpedo off. Sharpedo is knocked out by the force of the attack.

Ahab returns Sharpedo and throws another Pokéball, releasing Crawdaunt again. "Go in for the Crabhammer!"

Crawdaunt jumps into the air and slams its claw down on top of Colossus' head. Colossus swings another tentacle in and knocks Crawdaunt away. Ahab grunts. "Alright Crawdaunt, we only have one hope! Use Guillotine!"

Crawdaunt leaps into the air again, and its claw begins to glow. "Crawdaunt!" Crawdaunt avoids several tentacles that are sent flying its way; it then closes its claw around Colossus' head. The force of the attack sends the giant Krakannon flying backwards. It's knocked out.

Ahab grins. "At long last." He pulls out his Dive Ball and prepares to throw it.

Before he can though, four large shadows appear under the water. They come to the surface. They are four giant Remoraid.

Brenda takes out her Pokédex. "Remoraid, the Jet Pokémon, and a Water-Type. Remoraid are renowned for their ability to accurately hit any target with bursts of water. They undergo one of the most drastic changes when evolving. Evolves into Octillery at level 25."

Brenda realizes, "Wait, if those things evolve into Octillery, which evolves into Krakannon, they must be…"

Ahab finishes, "They must be Colossus' brood."

The four Remoraid swim in circles around the feinted Krakannon, appearing worried. Ahab drops his Dive Ball.

Brock surmises, "That must mean that Colossus isn't one giant Krakannon, but a family of them. And whenever it attacks a ship it's only trying to protect its family!"

Ahab nods. "They weren't unprovoked attacks after all. Colossus just be protecting her own."

Colossus starts to wake up. It slowly comes to its senses. As it realizes that its babies and the intruders are in the same room, it prepares to continue fighting."

Ahab walks up to the edge of the ledge and announces, "Colossus, I don't want to fight ye anymore. I had no idea what ye be protecting down here. I'd be a monster to try to pull ye away from yer family."

Colossus looks back at Ahab, as if understanding his sentiment.

Ahab continues, "Look at me Colossus, do ye remember me? Ye took something when ye sunk me ship years ago. It be very important to me to get it back."

Colossus nods. Slowly one of its tentacles reaches out of the water. It stretches it out and reaches behind the group, into the treasure trove. Team Rocket, who are still swimming about in the treasure, don't even notice as they are too caught up in their greed. The tentacle picks up a single small, wooden treasure chest. It pulls it out and gently places it in front of Ahab.

A tear comes to Ahab's eye. "Could it really be?"

Brenda asks excitedly, "What is it? Is it some sort of pirate treasure?"

Ahab shakes his head. "No, it be much more valuable than any mere treasure ever could be." He opens it up to reveal a single gold ring, with a pearl attached. "This be the ring I was going to propose to me wife with. I was on me last journey before I was to propose to her. I eventually proposed with a different ring, but I swore to her that I would get this one back someday. After all these years, I finally have." He closes the box and looks back at Krakannon. "Thank you friend. May I call ye friend?" Krakannon nods. "I promise ye that ye will never be disturbed again."

"Krak!"

He looks to the others. "Come on, it be about time for use to leave here."

The group has made it back to the boat. It is now sunset and Kanaveral City can be seen not far away. Ahab announces, "We be reaching Kanaveral City soon."

Ash approaches Ahab, "So what are you going to do now? You've spent the last thirty years hunting for Colossus, what comes next?"

Ahab looks up into the sunset. "I can't be sure. Me life will always be out at sea, that much is for sure. Once we arrive in Kanaveral, I'll be sure to meet up with some one official about Colossus. I think I may be able to have them create an off-limits zone around Colossus' nest, that way there's never a misunderstanding again."

Ash nods. "I wish you luck with that, and any future voyages."

Ahab nods back, "Aye, and I wish that the wind be in ye sails for yer fight at the Kanaveral Gym."

After an adventure of mythic proportion, Ash is ready to move on to his next gym battle in Kanaveral City. Certainly our heroes have learned from this experience that the outrageous can be just as real as anything else…hold on, I can't help but feel like we've forgotten something…

Team Rocket's submarine is stuck at the bottom of the cave underwater, it won't budge. The four giant Remoraid are swimming around it in circles. Inside, it is apparent that it sunk due to the fact that it is loaded to the brim with treasure. Jessie cries, "Come on you two, pedal harder, if don't we're fish food!"

Meowth, who looks exhausted, states, "I can't, I'm too tired."

Even James looks worn out. "It's just too much."

Outside, one Remoraid slams into the sub. Team Rocket screams. The other Remoraid bump into it as well. They scream even louder.