Heal and stock up well in France – you're going to need all the help you can get to journey all the way through Victory Road. The first part of Victory Road is still covered with water, but at least now, it's a crystal clear blue. You submerge yourself and find that it's quite colorful under the sea. Fish and merpeople swim around you.
The first merperson you encounter is a spunky mermaid with a violet tail, her short blonde hair pulled into a pink shell on the top of her head. "Can't you take a joke, Adella?" she calls over her shoulder.
Her name is Andrina, and when she sees you, she enters battle with a Corsola. The Water/Rock coral Pokémon's Ability is Hustle, which boosts its Attack at the expense of his accuracy. You take it down, and she sends out Luvdisc. This heart-shaped Water fish goes down easily, to be replaced with Delcatty. You've dealt with the Normal cat before, and you knock it out of your way. Next up is Bruxish, who is a colorful Water/Psychic fish with the Strong Jaw Ability, which boosts its biting moves. Finally, she's left with her female Jellicent. The Water/Ghost pink balloon jellyfish knows Water Spout, Destiny Bond, Shadow Ball, and Giga Drain. You take it down, claiming the victory, and Andrina swims off.
"Get back here!" shouts the next mermaid you see. She has her brown hair pulled up in a ponytail, held together with yellow pearls. Her tail is a greenish yellow, and her shells are green.
Adella sends out the Water/Grass dancing pineapple-duck, Ludicolo, who can regain health in rain thanks to its Rain Dance Attack and Rain Dish Ability. You take it down, and she replaces it with a Luvdisc, then a Kricketune. You faint them both, and she summons the pure Water eeveelution, Vaporeon. Its move set is Hydro Pump, Acid Armor, Aurora Beam, and Bite. You take it down, and she's left with Dragalge. The Poison/Dragon goes down, and you defeat Adella, who swims off to catch up with Andrina.
The next mermaid you come across is dancing, her platinum blonde hair pulled into a pony tail with bangs hiding one of her big baby blue eyes. Her shells and tail are a matching and vibrant red. "Hiya!"
Arista sends out the pure Water eel Gorebyss. If you hit it with a Grass or Electric type move, it should go down easily. Next up are Tentacruel and Luvdisc, with which you've had plenty of experience. Arista sends out Milotic, also pure Water, but its Special Attack is its highest stat! It will annoy you greatly with its recovery moves, but of course, you take it down. Arista is left with her last Pokémon – a shiny Water/Fairy Primarina! She's immune to Dragon attacks, and only weak to Grass, Poison, and Electric. Ultimately, you defeat it and Arista. She too swims off, disgruntled at losing.
The next mermaid you run into has brown hair styled similarly to Adella, but with white pearls and matching blue shells and tail. "Arista, did you take Mr. Fuzzyfinkle again?"
Without missing a beat, Aquata sends out Clamperl. The pure Water oyster does down easily, to be replaced with Vaporeon, who also faints. Aquata summons the Water/Fairy Azumarill. Its Huge Power Ability boosts its Attack. Nevertheless, you defeat it, and she calls for Seadra. It may also be a pure Water type, but it knows Dragon Pulse and Agility to give it an extra edge. When you finally take it down, she's left with the Water/Ice Dewgong. It knows Ice Beam, Take Down, Waterfall, and Rest. Ultimately, you defeat Aquata.
That's all the merpeople hanging out in the open. If you head toward the palace of Atlantica, you will find more merpeople, as well as helpful healing items like Potions and Antidotes.
Staring at herself in a mirror (one of a long line) is another mermaid. She doesn't see you at first, as she examines what she thinks is a pimple. She's wearing a small pink crown and purple seashells to match her fin. Her black hair falls in ringlets down her shoulders.
As soon as she sees you in the reflection, Alana sends out Delcatty. You take down her cat, and she sends out Cloyster. The Water/Ice clam has the Ability Shell Armor, which blocks critical hits from landing. You faint it, and she replaces it with Malamar. The Dark/Psychic squid has an interesting Ability – Contrary. Any time you try to change its stats, it will have the opposite effect! Despite this, you fry that squid, and she calls out her Water/Rock turtle. Carracosta has the Solid Rock Ability, which powers down super effective moves. Before you can crush it, Alana sends out the Water/Psychic starfish, Starmie. It has Natural Cure, like Shaymin did. Alana switches her last two Pokémon until you defeat her once and for all.
You continue exploring and run into a mermaid with orange shells and tail. Matching orange spikes adorn her auburn hair, and she narrows her green eyes at you. "What are you doing here?"
Attina sends out Corsola, who knows Power Gem, Recover, Earth Power, and Bubble Beam. You crush it, and she sends out her Water weasel, Floatzel. Its 115 base Speed is boosted by its Agility Attack, as well as its Swim Swift Ability once it sets up Rain Dance. You manage to take it down, and Attina sends out her Water Seaking. Its Water Veil Ability prevents burns, but is ultimately no match for you. Next up is the Water octopus, Octillery. Its critical hits are boosted by his Sniper Ability. Avoid its devastating blows, and Attina will be left with Kingler. Because of his Hyper Cutter Ability, his Attack cannot be lowered. If you can evade those claws, you can win the match!
You can find King Triton in the throne room, where he has the same team you just fought. You take down Sebastian the Kingler and the big blue Water/Ghost Jellicent easy enough. Triton summons Kingdra, which can be taken out with either a Fairy or Dragon type move. He calls upon his Water/Steel Empoleon. This emperor penguin traded in Scald for Hydro Pump. You take it down once more, and you think it's all over – but he has one more Pokémon this time! Kyogre immediately activates Rain with its Drizzle Ability, which boosts its Water moves and cuts Fire power. This legendary Water whale has a base stat total of 670, so it'll be a challenge. Ultimately, you take down the weather titan and win the match!
"If you're looking for Ariel," he says after accepting defeat, "she's not here. She came to say goodbye." He looks very sad. "She's probably somewhere on the surface...enjoying her new legs." He gives you a melancholy smile and hands over the Waterfall TM for your troubles.
You exit the palace and continue further along until you can see the shallows. Finally, you reach dry land. You can take the time to heal up with your items on the beach before you continue on to Agrabah.