Note: Sorry for the change in format... As I'm not using Microsoft word... I typed up all of this in my iPad, as I am currently at my vacation abroad... Nevertheless, please bear with me as you read this chapter...
Umi's POV:
Things didn't seem to look good. Arashi was panting, sitting on the floor after being weakened from the battle with Gamma.
He stood back up, groaning in pain.
"Arashi! Don't push yourself!" I cried out to him.
"I-I have to!" he grunted, "I can't let Armik just take you like this!"
I gently kissed him, tears streaming down my face.
"Hahaha! Such a mushy scene! It makes me want to just destroy them both!" a voice echoed.
"Hmph! I'll make sure this 'Princess Umi' is retrieved," a second voice echoed, "Shall we now finish what Gamma had started?"
Arashi growled.
"Stay back, Umi! Whatever happens, I want you to be safe... Run away and leave me if you have to!" he warned.
"L-leave you?" I exclaimed in a shocked manner, "Listen, if we lose, we lose... But I'm not leaving you! I'm not leaving you even if staying with you means leaving this world!"
He looked back at me and I clearly saw tears streaming down his face.
At that moment, two more Sharpedo emerged from the opening on the ceiling.
"With my strength, I will pound you to oblivion!" the first one growled.
"With my mind, I will lead your thoughts astray!" the second one chanted.
"One who leads with force, Alpha's the name," the first one, presumably Alpha continued.
"One who resides with tactics, Beta. Pleased to meet you," the second one replied, presumably Beta.
They swam before Arashi, cornering him by swimming around him.
"We are but one in skill... We are but one in title... We are the right and left hands of Armik himself!" they said in unison, cornering Arashi.
I swam forward to help Arashi, but Arashi gestured for me to stay back. I could do nothing but obey and step back.
"Listen," Arashi started, "I'll fight both of you! Just leave Umi out of this!"
"Hmph! You're in no position to give commands," Beta grunted.
"Ahahaha! Take both of us on? With that kind of body? Are you... mocking my strength?" Alpha teased.
"Please don't harm her... That is all I ask of you..." Arashi pleaded.
They both looked at each other and winked.
"Hmph! Sure, but we'll still kidnap her when you lose," Beta sternly stated.
"Oh ho ho! I guess that's enough consideration," Alpha mocked, "Let the battle... commence!"
They began by circling Arashi. Beta began to use Double Team to make an illusion of a whole swarm of Sharpedo circling Arashi. Alpha occasionally darted in and out of the circle to use Slash at Arashi.
Arashi could do nothing to combat that technique. He kept firing Stone Edge but it just kept missing.
I closed my eyes. I didn't want to see Arashi in so much pain.
"Stop! Please! Make it stop!" I cried out.
The two Sharpedo just grinned sadistically and whirled around Arashi even faster. I could hear Arashi's cries of pain even as I closed my eyes.
"What's the matter? Still feeling tough, 'Arashi'?" Alpha teased, mocking my voice as he called his name.
"Hmph! He's merely a pushover... He certainly has no right to become the Princess's mate!" Beta taunted.
I couldn't take it anymore. I had to do something! But what? What could I honestly have done?
I had no other choice. I slammed into the whirling formation Alpha and Beta were using. It knocked me away, of course. My tender skin was scarred from the Rough Skin Alpha and Beta both sported.
"Hmph! Foolish girl! If I were you, I'd preserve my beauty to present to Master Armik... If he doesn't find you attractive... Who knows what he would do to you?" Beta spat.
I could do nothing but feel the burn of the open wound. If I felt that much pain, I wondered how Arashi made it through his ordeal with Gamma.
Eventually, Arashi got defeated after being hit one too many times. He fell to the floor, panting heavily.
"It's time! Let's finish this and cut his throat open!" Alpha sadistically screamed.
"NO! STOP!" I groaned, "Don't hurt him any more! I'll come quietly... Just don't hurt him any more!" They both glanced at each other and nodded. Arashi just stared at me with a horrified expression stuck on his face.
"Hmph! A wise choice," Beta grunted.
Alpha swam over to me, "Fine then, we won't harm him if you eat this!"
He stuck out his fin and I noticed a small grimy leaf on it.
"No!" Arashi yelled, before being hit again.
"Go! Do it!" Alpha yelled, "Do it for his life!"
I gulped it down without thinking... All that I thought about was Arashi... I didn't care what happened as long as he was safe.
"Umi! That leaf is an herb that induces sleep-" Arashi yelled before his voice faded.
I will never see him again... Never... I can't believe I even denied that I wanted to be his Queen... his mate... Now, I will never get the chance to tell him that I wanted him... as my King... My kind and loving King!
I opened my eyes. My head was still spinning from everything I've been through. I quickly shook it off though and surveyed the room... I found it to be quite familiar.
Then I remembered... I was in the throne room! The one Mom and Dad had resided in for a long time.
"Well, well, well," a familiar voice greeted, "My beautiful little Umi is finally waking up!"
"Armik..." I hissed.
"You did quite well to avoid me for such a long time, Princess," he snapped, "I just can't believe you chose that sniveling Gyarados over me! Now, tell me... Did you think about the consequences?"
"Shut up!" I angrily snapped, "I chose him, because he understands me, unlike you!"
"Oh, but I do understand you," he continued, "Which is why I love you!"
"Love?" I choked, "Don't make me laugh. I can smell only lust. Arashi treats me like someone with emotions... You treat me like a thing... You want to have a beautiful Queen... Arashi loves me for who I am... There's a big difference there!"
"Now, now," he smiled, edging closer to me, "You know that I can give you practically anything you want, assuring that you please me..."
"I don't care! Where's Arashi? What have you done to him?" I growled impatiently.
He looked back at me with disgust.
"Yeah, the pathetic fool is having some quality time with your father and mother in the dungeon!" he spat.
He leaned in closer to me.
"Oh, but I insist that you forget about him now!" he lustfully grinned, "You have room for only me man now, and that man is none other than me!"
"Never!" I aggressively hissed.
He ignored me though and began to wrap his body around mine. He began to coil around me slowly, like a snake would've done to its prey. He smiled and looked at me with his eyes... And slowly began to use Hypnosis at me.
H-hypnosis? I thought, surprised, How did he- It's not common for our species... I guess I underestimated him...
"Get off me!" I yelled back at him, disrupting the attack.
He just smiled and continued to inch upward, his face almost meeting mine.
"Oh, is that how you treat your King?" he softly taunted.
"Whoever said that you were my King? I don't even want to know who the unlucky Queen is!" I snapped back, not liking where this was going.
He just chuckled as he inched towards my face. I began to think of a way to turn things around. What could I do at a time like that? I couldn't muster any effort to launch an offensive attack at a time like that. Wait, offensive attacks... That was when I thought about it... Armik took me by surprise... So I should've also took him by surprise with an attack that he had never seen me use before. But did I really dare to use my last attack? I was originally against the idea until I recalled the way Ikari had used the attack... I decided to use my last resort: Attract.
As Armik inched closer to my face, I released the gentle rays at him. He seemed stunned at first, but his facial expression soon changed to a more sleepy, or dazed I must say, expression.
"Umm... Armik, dear? Can you please get off me?" I asked him, unsure that it would work.
He obeyed me immediately, still chuckling to himself... I honestly did not want to know what was going on in his head...
"Armik, dear?" I continued to feign.
"Yes, my Queen?" he replied, still wearing that silly grin.
"Can you lead me down to the dungeon and unlock it for me?" I asked rather bluntly, not expecting such a stupid plan to work.
"Of course!" he smiled, "Anything for you!"
I just kept my mouth shut and followed him downwards to the dungeon. I was just happy that it worked. He went down and unlocked the dungeon door.
"Armik! What have you done to Umi!" an angry voice hissed from inside as Arashi angrily charged out the dungeon and tackled Armik... Armik could do nothing but fall down unconscious.
Arashi looked up and saw me. He was puzzled at first but his face soon changed to that of a smile.
"Umi!" he happily said, "You're safe! What about Armik? D-did he-"
"No," I answered, "he didn't hurt me or anything..."
"U-umi?" two more familiar voices echoed from within the dungeon door. Arashi politely stepped aside to let them come out. Mom and Dad swam out from the dungeon door and were overjoyed to see me.
"Umi! I-I'm so happy to see you again!" Dad hugged me, crying.
"I've been so worried about you, my child!especially after the frightening news this kind Gyarados told us!" Mom cried.
Dad stopped hugging me and turned to Arashi.
"Oh yeah," he suddenly said, "How come you seem quite close to my daughter...?"
"We've... err... met before," Arashi explained as I winked at him.
"Oof! What a headache... That sniveling rat, Umi, tricked me again," Armik complained as he came to. He stopped talking when he saw all of us outside the dungeon.
"Err... I'll explain everything later," Arashi quickly told my Dad.
"How in the world... Agh! I'll just defeat you all then! You've left me no choice! Alpha! Beta! Come here right now!" Armik scowled, breaking the silence.
Alpha and Beta obediently backed him up. I guess even Armik wouldn't go down without a fight. However, I was also ready to fight... With everyone here with me!
"Hey Umi!" Arashi nudged, "We we can take them this time..."
"I'm sorry for my mistake earlier, Umi! It's time we put a stop to Armik!" Dad encouraged, smiling.
"I won't allow any more of this abuse to happen! Armik, we'll take you on!" Mom replied.
I smiled, I was beginning to think that things were finally. Ding turned around. Now I know I can finally face Armik fairly!
"Ready, Arashi? Let's go!" I yelled as we began our final battle.
After everything we've been through... I'm now convinced... That we CANNOT lose!
Arashi's POV:
I lay down on the ground panting. The battle with Gamma really tore me up. All my wounds burned heavily. I tried to stand up but the pain magnified itself.
"Arashi! Don't push yourself!" Umi cried out, concerned.
"I-I have to!" I replied, "I can't let Armik take you like this!"
She gently swam over to me and kissed me, crying a bit.
"Hahaha! Such a mushy scene! It makes me just want to destroy them both!" a voice echoed.
"Hmph! I'll make sure this 'Princess Umi' is retrieved," a second voice continued, "Shall we now finish what Gamma had started?"
I growled at them. I didn't like the situation we were stuck in at all.
"Stay back, Umi! Whatever happens, I want you to be safe... Run away and leave me if you have to!" I ordered.
"L-leave you?" she choked, "Listen, if we lose, we lose... But I'm not leaving you! I'm not leaving you even if staying with you means leaving this world!"
I looked back at her and tried to smile, but tears came out instead. I was ready to risk everything for her.
Before I could tell her my final wish, two more Sharpedo arrived to ruin the moment.
"With my strength, I will pound you to oblivion!" the first one proudly growled.
"With my mind, I will lead your thoughts astray," the second one quoted.
"One who leads with force, Alpha's the name," Alpha proudly said.
"One who resides with tactics, Beta. Pleased to meet you," his companion continued.
They began to swim in circles around me before they finally ended their introduction.
"We are but one in skill... We are but one in title... We are the left and right hands of Armik himself!" they shouted in unison.
Umi wanted to help me, but I shook my head, telling her to get away. She got the message and unwillingly stepped back.
"Listen," I proposed, "I'll fight both of you! Just leave Umi out of this!"
"Hmph! You're in no position to make commands," Beta grunted.
"Ahahaha! Take both of us on? With that kind of body? Are you... mocking my strength?" Alpha growled.
"Please don't harm her... That is all I ask of you..." I begged, not caring for myself.
They both winked at each other.
"Hmph! Sure, but we'll still kidnap her when you lose," Beta confidently stated.
"Oh ho ho! I guess that's enough consideration," Alpha laughed before turning serious again, "Let the battle... commence!"
The twosome immediately began circling me as Beta used Double Team to keep me in the enclosed circle. I tried to hit any of them but I kept missing.
"A little bit of this, and a little bit of that!" Alpha grinned as he entered and exited the circle to Slash at me. I could do nothing in defense to such a technique,
"Stop! Please! Make it stop!" I could hear Umi cry out.
Alpha and Beta merely grinned. They whirled around me faster, causing me more pain.
"What's the matter? Still feeling tough, 'Arashi'?" Alpha mocked me.
"Hmph! He's merely a pushover... He certainly has no right to become the Princess's mate!" Beta growled.
Umi looked hurt and all upon seeing me like this... It hurt me even more to see her sorrowful face.
Umi did something very unexpected, she charged straight into the circle, getting knocked back in the process.
That honestly made me angry... But all of my attacks still couldn't hit even one of them. Before I knew it, it was over.
I had lost.
I lay down on the floor, immobile from all the pain.
"It's time! Let's finish this and cut his throat open!" Alpha screamed maniacally.
I knew it was over. I wanted to spend more time with Umi, but over all... I wanted her to be safe more than anything else.
"NO! STOP!" she screamed, "Don't hurt him any more! I'll come quietly... Just don't hurt him any more!"
The two Sharpedo shared a sadistic grin and nodded. I was just horrified that she was going to surrender herself to Armik because of me. I felt that it was all my fault.
"Hmph!" a wise choice," Beta remarked.
Alpha then gave her some leaf which I recognized as an herb that induces sleeping. He told her to eat it, at which I tried to warn her before getting attacked again.
"Umi! That leaf is an herb that induces sleep-" I tried to warn her a second time.
She had already swallowed it, however. She soon dropped down sleeping, the look on her face reflected her peaceful personality when she was sleeping. I just hoped that it would stay that way.
"As for you, I suggest you do the same if you want to live..." Alpha snickered , stuffing one down my throat.
I soon felt dizzy... Dizzy until everything went black. I don't know what happened but I remember waking up waking up when I was thrown into a dungeon of some sort.
"Ungh... It still hurts!" I groaned in pain,
"W-who's there?" a voice suddenly called out from the dark.
"Don't be alarmed, Takashi... He doesn't sound like Armik," another voice, probably a female's, answered.
Two Milotic approached me. The male one was practically identical to most of their species, albeit having shorter hair, while the female one had a golden tail with some sky blue hair. What I found unusual is that both shared an uncanny resemblance to Umi.
"It's a Gyarados?" the first Milotic, presumably Takashi, gasped.
"He seems hurt," his female partner continued, "Let me try to treat his wounds."
"Be careful, Aurelia," Takashi warily said, "Remember... He's a Gyarados, and we are Milotic... He might choose to attack us when we let our guard down."
"I-I won't," I tried to speak, "I'm here to help... But Armik's army was too strong."
"He's awake!" Takashi gasped, suddenly turning all apologetic, "Gyarados, I'm so terribly sorry about the war... Armik's the main cause of it!"
"I know," I answered.
Aurelia tended to my wounds and gently caressed my skin. She cared for me like a mother would do to a child... I found such kindness out of place... Especially in the midst of a war.
"Why'd you help me?" I wondered.
"Oh," Aurelia gently said, "I know that you mean no harm... And besides, I know this is the kind of thing that m-my daughter would do... B-before she ran away..."
It then dawned upon me that these two Milotic were actually Umi's parents.
"Oh, then you must be the King and Queen of thid tribe! Pleased to meet you," I humbly bowed.
They looked at each other, puzzled at what I had said.
"H-how did you know?" they both asked.
"That's not important! I have something urgent to tell you!" I exclaimed.
I told them my whole story and what happened to Umi. I told it in a matter that hid the fact that I knew Umi personally.
"Armik? My daughter is with Armik?" Takashi exclaimed, horrified.
I gravely nodded.
"I'm so sorry to have dragged you into this mess... By the way, what is your name?" Takashi kindly asked.
"No, I'm part of this mess in the first place anyway... My name is Arashi, Prince of the Gyarados Tribe," I introduced myself.
Upon hearing my title, Takashi paled.
"P-prince? If your father hears about this, our tribe is really going to be eradicated!" Takashi anxiously remarked.
"Don't worry... He won't! This whole war is just a misunderstanding... The Milotic and Gyarados shouldn't have been enemies in the first place... There's someone else behind all this... Which is why we need to set aside the feud," I explained.
"Set aside the feud? But you know that are two species despise each other!" he exclaimed.
"Now, now, dear," Aurelia chimed in, "Don't be like that! Remember how Umi would've acted."
"Fine," Takashi replied, "I'm so sorry to take some of your time, Arashi."
"No problem..." I replied.
At that moment, the dungeon door opened and I could see Armik's figure in the light.
"Armik! What have you done to Umi!" I angrily hissed and tackled him, knocking him unconscious.
My foul mood cleared up when I saw Umi though...
"Umi!" I happily exclaimed, "You're safe! What about Armik? D-did he-"
"No," she answered with a wink, "he didn't hurt melt anything..."
I saw Armik on the ground. He wore a goofy grin on his face and seemed like he was infatuated. I now understood that Umi had played the same trick Ikari had done.
"U-umi?" her parents wondered aloud, hearing her voice. I stepped back to allow them to have a happy reunion.
"Umi! I-I'm so happy to see you again!" Takashi cried as he hugged her.
"I've been so worried about you, my child! Especially after the frightening news this kind Gyarados told us," Aurelia explained,
Takashi turned towards me in surprise though. His expression was me of those 'how did you know my daughter' expressions. I gulped, I would have some explaining to do.
"Oh yeah," he suspiciously inquired, " How come you see, quite close to my daughter?"
"We've... err... met before," I struggled for words. Umi looked at me and winked, but I hope her dad didn't notice it.
"Oof! What a headache... That sniveling rat, Umi, tricked me again," Armik complained before a moment of silence when he noticed us.
"Err... I'll explain everything later," I told Takashi.
"How in the world... Agh! I'll just defeat you all then! You've left me no choice! Alpha! Beta! Come here right now!" he scowled.
His two followers obediently showed up. I remembered my previous defeat and despite the previous situation, I smiled. This time, things were different from last time.
"Hey Umi," I nudged her, "We can take them this time!"
"I'm sorry for my mistake earlier, Umi! It's time we put a stop to Armik!" Takashi joined in, smiling.
"I won't allow any more of this abuse to happen! Armik, we'll take you on!" Aurelia encouraged, joining our fight.
Umi smiled back at me.
"Ready, Arashi? Let's go!" she cried out as we started our battle.
This was our final ordeal, yet I smile instead of frowning. I just know now that we can't lose... Not when we're finally fighting on even grounds!
Note: Whew! I hope you guys don't mind the absence of spaces between paragraphs... I merely copied it out of my Documents app and pasted it on an older document here... Well, for those of you who didn't know... Hypnosis is an egg move for Feebas... I hope you guys would find time to review... It would really make me happy as I am going out of my way to update my fic. Once again, I'm sorry for the format... But this is only temporary, it'll go back to the usual format when I get home. Please leave a review then... I'll be happy to check it up when I arrive on another Internet hotspot.