Chapter 32: Into the Blue
Roku's P.O.V.
Route 40
I had never traveled across the sea before, and I was kinda nervous. Apparently, the others could sense my nervousness, because they were looking at me as we shoved off into the water.
"Are you OK, Roku?" Reia asked. "You seem a little...scared."
"Me? Scared?" I said with slight shakiness. "Uh, n-nope. I'm good."
"Someone's afraid of sea travel," Calem said, a smile on his face.
"I'm not afraid," I said. "I'm...just a little nervous."
"Don't worry, Roku," I heard Lapras say. He turned his head to look at me and said, "If you're afraid of being lost at sea, there's no need to worry. Just relax and enjoy the gentle caress of the waves."
"Easy for you to say..." I replied, adjusting myself. "You're actually in the water. And besides...with the three of us on your back, it's kinda cramped."
"Hey, it's not my fault," Calem said. "This was the best alternative we had. It's better than having to grab onto my Greninja as we swam with him."
Calem had a good point. Compared to Lapras, Greninja was actually kinda short. And I wasn't exactly the best swimmer.
"Yeah, you should know by now that I prefer land travel over sea travel," I said.
Just then, I heard a slight rumbling off in the distance. I looked ahead and saw a fleet of dark clouds swirling off in the horizon.
"Looks like we'll be heading into a storm," Calem said.
"Can't we just find somewhere to rest until it blows over?" Reia asked.
"I'm afraid not," Calem said, looking at the map on his P*DA. "There doesn't seem to be any caves or shelter around here for miles. We'll have to tackle it head on and hope we can make it out in one piece."
"That's not a very reassuring thought..." I said nervously.
The rumbling grew louder as we drew ever closer to the massive storm, and before long, we were getting smashed with a torrential downpour so fierce, you'd think you were in the presence of Kyogre. I even looked down a couple of times to see if I could find his shadow in the sea, but no such luck. Lapras was doing all he could to fight the huge waves we were trying to break through, but even he was struggling.
"Hold on, everybody!" Lapras shouted, still trying to break through the waves that were nearly cascading him.
I turned to Latias' shadow and said, "Latias! Can you see anything?! Any sign of land?!"
I heard a slight whoosh as Latias took off to scout the area ahead. After a few seconds, she came back, shouting, "I found an island up ahead! It doesn't have any kind of shelter, but we can rest there until the storm is over!"
"Lapras, you heard the lady!" Calem shouted. "Let's get to that island!"
Lapras nodded and steeled himself, pushing through the walls of water as hard as he could. Latias guided him to the island, and as soon as we got there, we collapsed on the sand.
"Calem! Any ideas on how we can make this storm blow away quickly?!" I shouted. "We're gonna die if this keeps up!"
"And how do you suggest we do that?!" Calem shouted back. "Unless we have a Pokemon that can change the weather conditions, we don't have a choice!"
I thought for a moment, then a light bulb popped up in my head.
"Charizard!"
Calem looked at me. "Charizard...?! Are you insane?! Charizard is a Fire-type! He won't last very long in these conditions!"
"That's why you Mega Evolve him!" I explained. "I remember that battle you had with Zuki back at the National Park! When you Mega Evolved Charizard into Mega Charizard Y, it cancelled the effects of her Raikou's Rain Dance!"
"Of course...the Drought ability...That's it!"
Calem jumped up and pulled Charizard's Poke Ball from his belt, sending out the Fire- and Flying-type starter and touching his Key Stone. After two explosions of light, the thunderheads parted to reveal the sun, which was shining brightly onto the island.
"Ha! It worked!" I shouted with joy. I always hated the rain.
"Ugh, glad that's over with," Reia said, pulling her hat off and giving it a slight shake. "I just hope my outfit doesn't get ruined."
"Seriously?" Calem said. "I remember you bought that combination over at the boutique in Snowbelle City. You've worn it ever since."
"And I wanna keep it that way!" Reia shot back. "I like this outfit!"
Just then, Lyra had released herself from her Poke Ball and shouted, "Finally! I HATE Poke Balls!"
Luna released herself as well, giving me a dirty look saying that she agreed.
I shook my head and looked around the island. There were a few palm trees scattered here and there, and it was a pretty decent size. But then, I saw something lying on the coast. I walked over to the object and gasped.
"Guys! You have to check this out!" I shouted.
The group dashed over to me, and all of them gasped at once.
It was a Pokemon, who I'd assume was washed away by the storm and drifted ashore. It was a small one, green in color, with a yellow stripe running down its back. Its tail had a leaf-like pattern to it, and it had short arms and legs. It almost looked like a snake, but snakes didn't normally have appendages.
"It's a Pokemon, but I don't know what it is," I said, pulling up the Pokedex.
"Snivy, the Grass Snake Pokemon. Snivy are intelligent and calm Pokemon. They use photosynthesis by bathing their tails in sunlight, which makes their movements swifter. Their tails droop when they're not feeling well."
Soon enough, the Snivy's eyes shot open. It jumped up onto its feet and flipped, whooping and laughing.
"Haha! Finally!" he shouted. "The storm's finally over!" He stopped for a moment to look at his surroundings.
"Wait...where am I?"
Snivy looked around vigorously, looking like he was panicking.
"Oh, no...oh no! I'm lost at sea!" he shouted. He dropped to his...knees? I couldn't really tell if he had knees or not.
"So this is how it is...marooned on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere..." he said in a sad tone. "Is this the end for me...? Is this how I am to die...?"
Sheesh, talk about dramatic, I thought. I stepped up to him and cleared my throat. The Snivy looked up at me and said, "What do you want?"
As soon as he realized there were others with him, he jumped up and said, "Oh! So perhaps this island isn't deserted!"
"Well, not exactly," I said. "You see, we're in the same predicament you are. We're just trying to get to Cianwood."
"Cianwood? Never heard of it," the Snivy said, looking off into the distance. He pointed in the direction of Olivine and said, "I was just relaxing on the beach there when the tide carried me out to sea. Then the storm kicked in, and I passed out from exhaustion. Next thing I know, I'm here with you guys."
He looked at us, then his eyes locked onto Luna and Lyra. He dashed over to them and bowed.
"Well, well, I never knew I was in the presence of such beauty," the Snivy said in a very suave tone. "May I ask your names?"
Luna and Lyra looked at each other, cocking their eyebrows. I could tell they didn't know what to think.
"Uh, I'm Luna, " Luna said, speaking up first. "My friend here is Lyra."
"Ah, such lovely names," Snivy said. "My name is Snivy, and I am at your service."
Just then, I saw a flash of yellow and orange, and before I knew it, Braixen was standing between Lyra and Snivy, pointing his twig at Snivy.
"Back off, runt!" Braixen shouted. "She's taken!"
Lyra cocked an eyebrow and said, "Uh...Braixen, what are you talking about?"
Right as Braixen knew what he said, he blushed, and I mean blushed. Almost his entire face was red, and that wasn't from the heat.
"Hmm...I don't think Lyra seems to think so," Snivy said before slapping Braixen's twig away with a swipe from his tail. "As far as I can see, she's perfectly open. You were just too chicken to make the first move, isn't that right, fox boy?"
"Uh, oh..." Luna said.
BOOM! Snivy was launched back by a vicious Ember attack straight from Braixen's twig. He flew at least 10 feet before crashing down on the beach and sending up a plume of sand. He got back up, coughing up sand as Braixen advanced on him with Flame Charge.
"Whoa!" Snivy shouted, dodging as fast as he could. However, Braixen was too fast, and Snivy was bulldozed and slammed into a palm tree.
Braixen wasn't done yet, though, and he walked up to Snivy, his twig on fire.
"Any last words before I fry you up for dinner?" Braixen said, reeling back for the final blow.
"Yeah, I got a couple," Snivy said before blasting Braixen with a massive flurry of leaves. The force of the attack was enough to drop Braixen onto the ground.
"Leaf Storm!" Snivy shouted. "Now, if you care so much for her, then let's fight for her! How does that sound?!"
Whoa...his attitude suddenly changed, I thought. Who is this Pokemon?
"Roku..."
I looked at Braixen, who was slowly getting up.
"Permission to give this insolent little runt the dirtnap he deserves," he said, his voice ripe with rage.
I was kinda nervous. Braixen never had a reason to fight other than to defeat those who stood in our way. I knew that Braixen had feelings for Lyra, ever since the incident in the Ilex Forest. I guess Braixen felt like he needed to do this.
"Permission granted, old friend."
Braixen smiled, a glimmer of his own personality showing through.
"Braixen, Flame Charge!"
Braixen lit himself on fire and blasted off towards Snivy, who leaped over him with amazing agility. Then he whirled around just as Braixen had stopped and sent vines out of his collar and grabbed onto him, leeching massive amounts of energy from him in an attack I recognized as Giga Drain. However, this attack was far stronger than it should've been, and I know that Reia and Calem noticed too.
"He used a Leaf Storm attack before, right?" I said. "That should've dropped the power of his special attacks."
"Yet, it's more powerful than before..." Calem said, looking at his Pokedex. "Wait...That's it!"
"What is?" Reia asked.
"That Snivy has the Hidden Ability 'Contrary'!" Calem shouted. "It reverses the effects of stat changes. So instead of Leaf Storm dropping power..."
"It increased his power instead!" I finished.
"Gyaaaaaaahh!" he screamed as Snivy took his life force as his own.
"Braixen! You have to get out of there!" I shouted.
Braixen clenched his twig in his hand and lit himself on fire, frying the vines that were constricting him. Snivy screamed out in pain, and both Pokemon fell to the ground, breathing heavily.
"Haff...heff...I'm not out of this yet!" Snivy shouted, getting back up.
"Oh, you're about to be," Braixen said, looking at Snivy.
I flinched slightly, seeing that Braixen's eyes had a purple glow to them. He held up his twig and let his energy flow outward, picking up rocks and other debris from the ground with his own mind.
"What the...?" was all Snivy could say before he was slammed with all of those objects all at once. Snivy dropped to the ground, unconscious.
"Whoa! That was Psyshock!" Reia shouted. "That's amazing, Braixen!"
Braixen stood up, walking over to the fainted Pokemon and lighting his twig on fire, pointing it at Snivy.
"Wait...Braixen, what are you doing?!" I shouted.
"Ending the battle," he said. Just as he was about to launch the attack, a voice pierced the air.
"Braixen, stop!"
Braixen looked up, looking for the source of the voice that broke his concentration. He saw Lyra running up to him, fear and sadness in her eyes.
"Braixen...this isn't like you!" Lyra said. "The Braixen I know wouldn't go this far!"
"Lyra..." Braixen said. He closed his eyes as the memories flooded his head. I knew what he was flashing back to, and I joined him in the trip down memory lane.
Ilex Forest
The remaining Galvantula shot their Electro Web attacks at Braixen, trapping him and dropping him to the ground.
"Nngh! Help me!" Braixen said, struggling. "I'm wrapped up like a Christmas present!"
"Use Flame Charge!" I said, knowing that Braixen could light himself on fire.
"If I could reach my twig, I could!" Braixen said desperately, reaching for his twig, which was just out of his reach. The Galvantula were closing in.
"Lyra, use Ember and get him out of there!" Reia shouted, sending her partner into the fray.
The Vulpix fired off many embers at the spider Pokémon, sending them scuttling back far enough to burn the web off of Braixen.
"Thanks," Braixen said, rolling over and retrieving his twig.
"No problem," Lyra said.
"Oh, no. Take cover!" Braixen said, tackling Lyra out of the way of a deadly Thunderbolt attack. They rolled away from the Galvantula, eventually stopping with Braixen on top of Lyra.
For a few seconds, Lyra and Braixen were staring at each other.
"Thanks…" Lyra said quietly, a starstruck look in her eyes.
"No problem," Braixen replied. "Just repaying the favor."
I rolled my eyes and said, "Hey, Braixen! Get your head in the game! We've got spiders to roast!"
"'Scuse me," Braixen said cockily, rolling off of Lyra and blasting off with a Flame Charge, bowling through the remaining Galvantula and sending them scurrying back to their hidey holes.
Ecruteak City Pokemon Gym
"Go, Braixen! Psybeam!" I ordered.
"Haunter, Shadow Ball!" Morty shouted.
The two attacks connected and caused an explosion, giving Braixen a cover as he prepared his next attack. He burst through the cloud with Flame Charge, but Haunter was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Lyra had her hands full, for Lucia's Haunter was moving quick and attacking with Shadow Claw.
"Lyra, get out of there!" Reia said frantically.
"Braixen! Switch targets!" I shouted. "Cover Lyra!"
Braixen nodded and dashed to the side just as Morty's Haunter fired off another Shadow Ball, and tackled Lyra out of the way before Lucia's Haunter's attack connected. Braixen stood up and helped Lyra to her feet.
"Thanks…again," Lyra said, blushing.
"No problem," Braixen said.
Braixen looked at his twig, noticing it was on fire. He quickly doused it and put it back into his tail, a look of disbelief in his eyes.
"I...I was about to do that?" he said, eyes wide. "Lyra, I...I'm sorry, I..."
He looked deep into Lyra's red eyes, then looked away.
"I...I nearly did something terrible," he said. "I can understand if you don't...want to be friends anymore."
"Braixen, why would I do such a thing?" Lyra said, turning Braixen's head to look him in the eye. "Nothing you do would ever stop me from being your friend. I like you for who you are...a brave and funny Pokemon."
A tear formed up in Braixen's eye. He sniffled a little and said, "Thanks, Lyra."
The two hugged, causing Reia to have an "awwww" moment. I just smiled, knowing that Braixen was back to normal, and he and Lyra were in good terms with each other.
"Ugh..."
Braixen and Lyra looked down to see Snivy trying to get back up. Braixen knelt down and said, "Here, let me give you a hand."
Braixen helped Snivy get to his feet. Snivy looked up at Braixen and said, "I...I guess I lost."
"Look, I'm sorry for, you know, almost killing you back there," Braixen said nervously. "It was unprofessional."
"You know what?" Snivy said, holding out a hand. "Water under the bridge."
Braixen smiled and shook his hand.
"And I'm sorry too," Snivy said. "As you can see, I'm a bit of a...how you say...'womanizer'."
"No crap..." Luna said.
"And I guess I should be apologizing to you too, Lyra," Snivy said, bowing his head. "I didn't know you and him were involved with each other."
Snivy's last sentence caused both Pokemon to blush hard, and I couldn't help but laugh. Everything was OK, and as I looked off into the distance, it appeared that the storm had blown over.
"Looks like we have a clear shot at Cianwood now," I said, looking at Reia. "We should get going."
"Uh, wait."
I looked down to see Snivy looking at me.
"Roku, is it?" he asked.
"Uh, yeah," I replied.
"Um...if it's not too much to ask," he began, "I would like to accompany you on your quest. I'm a Pokemon without a cause, and I would like that cause to be to help you in any way possible."
"Well, I can't argue with that," I said, pulling out an empty Poke Ball and holding it out to Snivy. "You're welcome to join us, if you want."
Snivy's eyes lit up, and he said, "Thank you, Roku! I won't let you down!" Then he touched the button on the Poke Ball with his nose, and it opened up, welcoming him into the virtual area. It wiggled three times in my hand and clicked.
"Welcome to the team, Snivy," I said before shrinking it and putting it on my belt. I pulled out Luna's and Braixen's Poke Balls and said, "OK, you two, it's time to get moving."
I returned Luna and Braixen to their respective Poke Balls. Reia and Calem did the same with Lyra and Charizard, after Charizard had devolved, and we all climbed back onto Lapras, starting our journey across the sea once again.
Author's Note: And another Pokemon joins the lineup. The Contrary Serperior combo is a pretty good competitive Pokemon depending on how you train it. I'm looking to breed it and try and get better IVs to really make a badass Pokemon.
And with that, I take my leave. Please read and review. Strato Abyss signing out.
