Hope in the Wake of War
Matthew Vixen stared out over the railing of the liner, watching the sun slowly rising from the water, all around him is water, water, and more water. He sighed; it had been a restless night, mainly due to the fact that they all had stayed up late into the night to discuss just what would happen, they were going to have to give the ship back to the authorities, as well as hide themselves from any prying eyes, the ocean might be big, but they were an unscheduled ship on the open waters, as such they were going to be careful not to draw any attention to themselves as their strange passengers.
Matthew only sighed, sure Ethan assured them that he was having some outside help in hiding them but still a few of the crew members and what passengers that did show up were not as believing in Ethan as were Matthew, Rebecca, Freda, Kirk, Dirk, and Robert.
Matthew blinked and shook his head clear of the cobwebs; he had come outside to gather his thoughts before heading back inside to try to find out what was going on. He was not too concerned about what would happen, with Celibi in charge somewhere, he was betting that he had changed a few things around most likely. Besides, he looked back, it was going to be stormy, the sky was turning red and red sky at morning, sailors take warning. He laughed silently as he remembered the last part of an old sea saying about the weather, with those words, he went back inside of the ship, heading to the main ballroom, and the small debate that was forming now.
"Look, I say we take this ship, find some sea base and deliver Team Rocket a blow that they won't soon forget." The speaker was Dei, a Skitty Morph that seemed a little eager for a fight.
"Now see here, I don't see why we should stand by and allow civilians in on something like this, they never seem to understand the gravity of a battle." The person that had spoken was wearing the uniform of a ship officer, along with the rank of First Officer, as well as being a Zigzagoon Pokemon Morph. He had the bandit like mask as well as the spiky tail, his hands were more like brown furry paws and his head's hair had turned a brownish color, as well as having Zigzagoon ears. He was opposed to letting any passengers in on this meeting, because they did not know a thing.
Dei only glared at the Pokemon that made some instinct in him kick in, he began to puff up his fur that was visible as well as his tail. "Don't you dare look at me like that?"
Dei only laughed. "You sound tough but are just as scared as we all are, so we are in the same boat." She then purred, "Ethan, any word from our engines?"
Ethan was looking at a stained glass art piece of Ho-oh surrounded by colors associated by day, and Lugia, with colors associated with night, and the white ship cruising between the two, above it, a brown wooden clock with a Celibi carved as if holding it above its head. "What?" Ethan asked as he turned around as if not hearing the conversation.
Matthew only laughed and shaking his head from where he was leaning against a white pillar, they had made the Libya II, a little more luxurious then the previous one hoping that they could get more tourists now that the Shadow Pokemon scares were finished. "I believe that someone called Lugia our Engine."
Ethan laughed as well, but it sounded strained. "I guess our humor is getting bad with all the stress, but be careful, disrespecting a Legendary can mean trouble if your not careful." Ethan then returned to looking at the stain glass picture. "But we are still moving, so he must be doing fine."
Becky was sitting at a table and only shook her head in amusement, "look, Dei, we shouldn't attack them, they already have rouges of theirs striking back, but they are out to enslave humanity, or destroy them utterly, something that we can't allow. So we would be fighting two fronts, not one." Becky looked back up to the ceiling where a solitary Zubat was swinging back and forth, a smirk crossing her face shortly.
Matthew smiled and returned to sit at an empty table, one that was more centered in the epicenter of the debate. "I agree with Becky, we cannot afford to have a two front war… we must try and use subtle tactics, mainly winning over the hearts and minds of Kanto, or better yet, Johto and Hoenn… Kanto will be a hot bed for war soon I fear, and if we can pull our support from other nations… we might be able to tear down Team Rocket once and for all."
At this moment, a Growlithe Hybrid, human mostly except for the hair and a slight muzzled noise and fangs spoke up. "I can't believe you are talking about war as if it is already here, we are safe, and if we set up somewhere, not harm anyone or bug anyone, we will be left alone, let those wishing for war destroy each other, I personally vote on grounding this ship somewhere uncharted and living out our lives in peace and harmony."
Ethan rounded from looking at the stain glass picture fury in his red eyes; he was in his Umbreon form and looked ready to attack at a moment's notice. "You have no idea what is coming… what the wind blows is the wind of change… a change that can spell ill or good for mankind depending on how we all react to it. If we do as you say and hide… we will never have a foot hold again, we will only run and run and run, always losing numbers and friends, or worse, friends turning into the enemy, so tell me, and think this clearly, Will it be good to hide when the entire region is at war? A war that if we lose here, will spread to the other regions and they will fall land by land, city by city, all because Kanto is their stronghold? The war will become bloody and long, and many tears will be spilt. But, if we make our stands here in Kanto, on the mainland to boot, we may drag it out a while but the end will come sooner and in the favor of a better society." Ethan looked now as if he had let a great burden off his chest, and the entire room was silent, for Ethan's voice had risen to the point of a near shout, and now… all that could be heard was the sound of Lugia singing once more.
Other then that the ship was completely silent for the moment as Ethan regained his breath. However the Growlithe Hybrid still wasn't convinced at all this talk of conflict, he was still about to talk when he stopped… something else was making a noise now… as if the ship was beginning to groan from extra weight. Suddenly the ship pitched a little to the port side… or in other words, the left side of the ship before righting it self. Everyone was thrown into a panic somewhat and raced to the hallway and some windows that would show the outside, and what they saw… blew away their breath. They were slowly rising into the air, and the water showed the outlines of some kind of building, as well as maybe some type of shipwrecks of some sort… and in the horizon, what looked to be whirlpools and an Island, completely surrounded by the Whirlpools.
They all were blinking because there was a strange pink glow to the outside of the ship, so their world was just that, colored pink. The crew and passengers, totaling seventy able bodies were all struck dumb at the sight… The ship was beginning to float above the Whirlpools, However behind them some of the Hybrids; mainly the canine species could hear the moving of blades, a Helicopter was coming up behind them.
Growlithe Hybrid only shook his head, "See I told you, we are being followed, we would never have pulled this off, they are going to capture us and throw us into the sea." He looked upset.
"Jon… stop you're complaining, besides, some of us would live and tell others." This must have been his wife, which was strangely, a Vaporeon Hybrid. She smiled s she looked around. "Don't you remember what the old stories said? I do believe I know what Pokemon is causing this glow." She looked excited.
Jon only rolled his eyes. "Martha, please, I have read those children book as well to our children when they weren't so grown up as well, and now… they read those same stories to their children.
Ethan only hushed them at that moment. "Will you stop your talking? I am trying to concentrate; I don't want to mess this song up." With those words, seeing how word had spread around the ship that Ethan seemed to have about three Songs from unknown sources and one of them was helping them escape, mainly due to it being Lugia's song. But still they all stopped and looked at him.
Ethan wasn't paying attention to anyone; instead he was looking inward as if listening to some inner voice. "Right… I'll try." Was all he said after ten minutes… without even explaining himself to anyone, he put the Ocarina to his lips and blew into the mouth piece. Suddenly the notes seemed to make the barrier around them glow brighter… but then it faded. Ethan only smiled and seemed to play a playful jig of some sort which reminded Matthew and Becky of some playful creature, yet, the underlying Theme was different, the layer was deeper then one, the second layer was in fact seemingly said a different story, a story of wisdom and knowledge, as well as… was that a note of sorrow or something? But still the entire piece was uplifting and enjoyable.
When the song was done, all just stood silent and quiet, Becky however wasn't just staying quiet in mind… no, instead her mind was fleeting back to another incident that she recalled seeing this almost same pigment of pink…. Almost a year ago in fact… it was after Halloween, and they had just gotten Matthew settled and she was about to go home. His mother was telling her that she had to go home… and she had thought she saw a pink form or…was it a streak…. Anyway, she had chalked it up to a bad night as well as having little sleep… but as her face was bathed in the pink light she realized that she wasn't imagining that glow in the first place, she had really seen a pink glow, and now she knew what it had been in the first place. It had been the legendary Pokemon Mew.
Matthew Vixen was also blinking in surprise and could barely contain his mind in shock… here was in one place, three legendaries that he knew about, Lugia, Mew, and Celibi… what was next, the Legendary Pokemon Ho-oh? His thoughts were disrupted from that train of thought by what happened next.
Behind him a laugh sounded. "So… I see that you are living up to your new Role Ethan, how it feel knowing the personal songs of four legendaries… not too much pressure I hope." Matthew right away knew whose voice it belonged too. I should have kept my mouth shut. He thought before turning around with a smile. "AH… how are you doing?"
Holly was in her human form and looked a little curious. "What are you doing here? I thought you would be… oh waiting a moment…" She then sighed. "I really dislike it when Clarence sends me back without me knowing it… his idea of a practical joke you see." She then laughed. "Anyway, as you can see. We are flying over some dangerous waters, water that once was land, but… do to Dark Tail's greed, was sunk. Welcome to what was once home to all the legendaries of the Pokemon World."
She then laughed and then stepped back as white vertical lines appeared before seconds later a new Pokemon was floating in front of the trainers. The first thing everyone noticed was the color, Pink…. As well as the feline appearance and how it was floating around and moving its head around almost non stop as if taking in everything, it also showed a curiosity that was unmatched.
Everyone just stared at the Pokemon, all of them could feel the power from the small Pokemon, even though it was small, they could tell that the Pokemon could probably beat everyone here right now. The Pokemon giggled before speaking telepathically, a kind small female voice was heard in everyone's mind. 'Why are you all so scared? I won't hurt anyone, Pokemon and Human's are friends. But it's those that don't understand this, they are the ones that need to be taught properly…' The Pokemon then hovered around Ethan. To everyone else, it only looked like she was looking at Ethan from every angle, but they had a feeling that she was talking to Ethan personally.
Ethan only laughed, and he just shook his head in amusement. He then turned around and threw his hands wide, "I am hereby asked to tell you, that Mew herself has invited us to stay at her small Castle while we short out our needs, after all, we do have a ship to return to, I do believe that the Helicopter is from Magma and they dearly want this ship, and guests back." Ethan then begin to laugh like the ten year old he should be, his laughter was somehow catchy and soon those that were in presence of the conference, around twenty total souls were laughing before realizing that they had changed and were now standing in a stone hallway with sputtering torches in metal wall holders. Around them were the other fifty passengers and Crew all looking baffled as to their scene change, but to the Twenty who had heard Ethan were awed by this Small Castle. For their was an open air archway that turned out to be a window over looking the ocean, Whirlpools were easily seen, as well as the ship before completely vanishing from view, most likely to some place or another.
The Magma operatives were stunned… "Wait what? But it was just their moment ago…." The pilot then seemed to press his head set against his ear. He then nods his head and turns to face his companions.
"It seems that the ship has come back to us… with six guards… we are unable to account for one of them, but six out of seven isn't bad now is it?" The way he asked the question was that he didn't want any talkback.
The operatives all nodded in agreement before settling down and the ride back to their base, wondering why they even came out in the first place, and their minds completely blank on seeing Mew or a flying ship. They just thought they were on routine patrol.
Back at the castle, Mew was flying around gleefully showing around her Castle. From her information, it had been built in a time when the Island was prosperous and great for living on… but due to natural disasters and changes in the climate, the original builders left and let it rot, Mew, wanting a place to hide, pick the castles for the remoteness, and in-assessable due to weathering and decay around it, but Mew had kept it up for in her own words, 'Lost sailors and her fellow rulers.'
Matthew was awe struck; he was just enjoying the building and architecture and hearing about the history. Ethan however was watching the other's reactions to Mew and acting like some kind of guard dog for her. Eve was only sighing; she felt a pang of jealousy due to him giving attention to another Pokemon but her. But she sighed; she knew that Mew was only trying to protect the human race.
Mew was talking using her voice but since everyone was a Hybrid and had learned the language of Pokemon, they all could understand her. "So… please, be quiet, you see, we are having a meeting behind these doors, and no trying to enter, we sealed the door and no sound can escape it."
Dei looked a little dejected, but so did Matthew, Becky, Kirk, Dirk, Robert, and Della. Ethan however looked a little like he wasn't going to like the next part.
The group moved on and no one stood around the door, which began to have smoke slowly curl from underneath the door. But it was gone a second later. It seemed that some of the arguments were getting a little intense.
After all was said, the group was shown their rooms, and the last group, the ones that had been around the longest, were taken higher up in the Castle, into a part that seemed more lavishly decorated and designed with higher class guests. Mew giggled at the show of discomfort on Matthew's face, as well as Robert's.
"Why would I allow you all to be so far from us? I mean, if either of us, Holly, or myself needed you, we could call down to you right?" Ethan at this sighed as if fearing what would happen next, but his ears perked up at the next sentence. "Besides, you have been so much on the road that you really do deserve one last break of comfort before the war breaks, besides, I don't use these rooms much anyway." She then came to a long Hallway with doors and giggled. She pointed to the left side of the hallway. "Females on that side if you don't mind, you can pick your rooms but stay on that side please." She then turned to the other side of the hallway but Kirk laughed, which made Mew smile, "I See that you thought you might guess what my decision was didn't you? Well, all human males on that side… but you two, Matthew and Ethan, I need to put you up in another apartment." Matthew and Ethan both looked at each other with wide eyes, they both were uneasy with this predicament. Matt and Firestorm, along with Eve all looked shocked, they were thinking that they were going up one floor, and there was only one floor left in the Castle.
As soon as Mew lead them up a side stair case she turned to face the two Trainers and their Pokemon, her voice was grave and her humor and good cheer was a few notices lowered. "I am sad to say that Dark Tail has joined with Shadow Moon. This is bad, as such, you two must stay on this floor, they will try to attack you and stop the forming of our forces, Ethan, be on your up-most guard, and we cannot loss you at this stage of the mission." Matthew smiled and wrapped his arm around his younger brother's shoulders.
"Don't worry, I will watch him when I can, but please, can we try and talk over this tomorrow? It is getting kind of late, and I assume that tomorrow will be a long, long day." Matthew however blinked at the look Mew gave him.
"One final thing to do, then I shall leave you for the night, but remember what I have said, we cannot afford to loss either one of you, none of you in this building cannot be stolen by Dark Tail." Mew then raced up and touched each Trainer on the head like some kind of game, she then giggled, and her old mood returned and zoomed away and around a corner.
When the two entered the room… the first thing they felt was awe due to the sight that greeted them. The room was lavishly decked out in drapes and fine silk pillows… then as they entered what they assumed to be some kind of living room, they just stared out the window, no glass was in it, but they felt that Physic Power was keeping the wind and cold from entering the room. But the view gave a grand view of the ocean and the setting sun. The beauty wasn't lost on the two Pokemon Morphs that were about to embark on a path that was destined to change the path and future of all the planet… but those thoughts were far from their minds as they settled down for slumber, ignoring the fact that their were bedrooms off the room, but still, they were tired and they feel asleep with that wonderful view in their minds.