AUTHOR NOTE: Remember when I said these stories will allude to the Zelda universe? Yeah, here comes the real obvious stuff. I only write this disclaimer as a precaution given that crossover stories only feature two selection boxes for franchises, so I don't want to have this story removed because I missed a citation or something, otherwise I'd leave it out. Thanks!
It didn't take the five friends long to get to the river, its proper name being Ko River, as it was only a fifteen-minute walk from the park. After a momentary trek through a dirt path arced by several lush trees, they happened upon a picturesque landscape of a grassy riverbank dotted with flowers of several colors that gently sloped down into the river itself; some folks sat near the edge of the river either fishing or picnicking. The water itself looked as blue as the sky it reflected, the liquid surface only disturbed by its own small, wavy movement.
"Wow! This place is beautiful!" Brock remarked as they walked along, taking one of the fronds of the plants in his hand."
"You can say that again," Misty said. "I'd love to get a float and just see where the river takes me."
Lia chuckled a little and hitched up her magenta running jacket. "We hear that a lot from people who've never been to Ko River before. People do just go out there and go with the flow; some of them end up on the outskirts of the city and to Kau Cove."
"Ha. Sounds like a good idea," Ash sighed, breathing in the fresh air.
"Yeah," Lia said as they came up to a table near a little dock, opening and putting Amalei's Hidden Treasures on it. "But we have a little work to do."
Tracey looked over at the current pages, his eyes growing wide. "'Magic and Music?' The instruments are here?"
"That's what the chapter is called, isn't it?" Ash jested. Tracey raised an eyebrow and flipped the red bill of Ash's cap over his eyes.
"According to the legend, they're in this region," Lia replied, smiling at them. As she flipped through the pages that showcased drawings of ancient-looking flutes and rays of golden light to Ash, Misty, and Brock, who were obviously unfamiliar with what she and Tracey were talking about.
The girl shook her head. "You guys seem confused." The other three shrugged. Lia flipped the pages back to a previous chapter and continued. "Then you should take a look at this."
The Great Legend
The world as we know it was a much different place, alive with people and beings of a fantastic origin. Magic existed. Power existed. And life existed that cherished that power and magic, used those forces, coveted those forces, and abused those forces.
Many tales tell of three legendary figures that fought to claim, use, and keep an ultimate golden power safe that can grant the wishes of whoever possesses it: a hero, a maiden, and an evil sorcerer. For centuries, they and their descendents stopped at nothing in the struggle for the golden power and the universe. All experienced victory and defeat and peace and turmoil. Until the darkest time…
An even greater magical evil arrived to lay waste to all of humanity in the sacred lands, all of the fantastical creatures were either destroyed or spread to unknown places in the world, and the evil warlock that had terrorized the world for millennia had been cast away, his power sapped by the invading sorceress, reduced to nothing and killed. But as for the other two figures, they could not be found.
Though the sorceress and her court of minions had caused so much strife, a good wizard emerged with a plan to rid Earth of her evil. He had found the two children of destiny and with their help, harnessed their link to the golden power to seal her and the monsters away, casting them out of the world. But this came at a price. The wizard was sealed away, and the treasure was lost yet again. What became of him, the great power, and the children of destiny is unclear.
"No…way…" Misty gasped as she read the story, realizing who it was talking about.
"Rita and Zordon? Really?" Ash uttered, wiping his eyes to make sure he wasn't just seeing things.
"You think you don't believe it?" Lia asked, Tracey nodding in agreement. "This legend is a staple of the islands around here and I just now got it when I checked this book out again." She shook her head. "Should've picked up on it last time."
"Well, then Zordon has to know where the treasure is!" Brock exclaimed, jumping out of his seat and nearly out of his athletic shorts. "It has to be enough to get rid of Rita once and for all!"
Tracey put his hand on Brock's shoulder. "We can call him later."
"Yes," Misty urged." "He said he would be taking some time to meditate today, remember? This isn't an emergency."
"Check this out," Tracey interjected excitedly, flipping back to the "Magic and Music" chapter. "It must be connected!" He pointed to one of the flutes that sat opposite a drawing of a powder-blue ocarina. This flute looked like an average recorder, but an image of a three-toed claw in the center of a circle sat behind it.
"Of all of the musical artifacts, this flute has a most dubious rumored past," Lia read. "Tales talk of a warrior being able to summon a gargantuan beast from the depths of the ocean capable of laying waste to entire cities. However, this creature also has the potential to be one of life's greatest protectors if it is awakened by those with noble hearts. But this powerful object has been lost in the tides of time, perhaps hidden in the world's oceans, lakes, or rivers."
"That image…" Brock pondered. "It looks just like our Power Coins…"
"Mhm," Lia agreed. "So we should try and find the flute. With everything that's been going on around here, I wouldn't be surprised if it were close by."
"Then that's what we'll do," Ash said, turning his cap back. He turned his head to look at the little wooden rowboat that sat right next to the dock. "But I think a first look will take a little more than the time we have…"
"Not really," Lia said, reaching into her backpack and withdrawing four red and white spheres. "We could use some help, and I told you guys I had a surprise for you!" She tossed the Pokeballs into the air, which opened and revealed four old friends.
"Squirtle!" Ash exclaimed as the tiny blue turtle leapt in the air and gave his trainer a big hug. "I can't believe it!"
"Starmie!" Misty shouted, running up to the huge purple starfish and taking it in her arms. "I haven't seen you in so long!"
"This is so cool!" Brock said as his Marshtomp jumped onto his shoulders and croaked happily.
"Morphinominal, Lia. Thank you." Tracey added as he ran his hand over his Azumarill's large, bunny-like ears.
"You bet," Lia said, going over to pet the creature as well. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's set sail!"
Behind the mass of trees on the other side of the Ko River, a pair of eyes watched the happy reunion; several pairs of red eyes in fact. As the teens and their Pokémon prepared to take off, the gaggle of Putty Patrollers mumbled to each other in their alien garble, eager to attack anyone in sight.
"Hold on…" a lilting feminine voice cut in. The group of gray goons turned to see a slender figure standing behind them, tightening a spiny golden fist.
"Wait for them to set off," Scorpina ordered, licking her blood-red lips. "These sailors deserve a watery grave."