As promised, here's the next part, which is short as well, but hey I posted it rather quickly :D
To Ri2 (thanks!), Skip talks about his father in chapter 6, "Captain of the Seatunder" Thanks for the response FoxyJosh! This is my own story I know, but Skip's my fav. too : ) And thanks to Steben too I guess, though it had nothing to do with my story (I fixed my DA link but you can PM me about stuff like that next time ; D)
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The Cook's Den was exactly what it sounded like. Here in this rather large mud hut, the greatest cooks of Ayon gathered to prepare the big feast. It was a crudely built structure with many holes dug out of the roof. Steam billowed from these makeshift chimneys like smoke from a Torkoal. Never mind the fact that the head chef was a Torkoal himself. A raised straw platform stood above the Den, keeping rain and debris from falling in.
Skipper and Flint entered and found themselves amid the clatter of pots and pans, the thick aroma of different foods, and the intense heat flaring off the stoves. Buso was standing on the side, scrutinizing the head chef and his work. Under the Torkoal's claws fish flipped and vegetables sizzled. He was controlling many stations with adept speed. Lesser cooks hustled and bustled about with spices and ingredients, taking care to keep out of the tortoise's way.
"They call'im Blake, and they say he's the best cook anywhere," Flint whispered.
The Buizel inhaled deeply, "Mmm, smells like he knows what he's doing. I don't suppose he can best our Buso though," he commented.
Perhaps the sea weasel spoke too loudly, for the moment those words left his lips, there followed a loud clang!
Blake had slammed his pot roughly, and turned to face them, angrily puffing smoke from his nostrils. "Buso, eh? Lard belly over there?" He jabbed a thumb in the Slowpoke's direction, "Haha, naught but a salad burner from the sea! No salty seadog can out-cook the Great Blake!"
Clang! Buso's frying pan came down hard next to the Torkoal's pot, his head high and chest out.
The tortoise smirked, "A contest, eh? Heh, I guess I have time for a few appetizers." He rubbed his claws together in anticipation.
Flint snickered, "This should be interes…ack!"
Before he could finish his sentence he was roughly pulled forward by the ship's cook. In a trice the gator was stuffed in a frilly apron and his claws scrubbed clean. Buso pointed hastily at a variety of ingredients.
The Totodile scowled, "What?! You don't expect me to…"
But the Slowpoke dealt Flint such a blow to his tail that the poor gator slunk off to chop cabbages, muttering murderously under his breath.
Blake laughed cruelly and gave out orders to helpers of his own.
Skipper saluted to his friend and gave him a wink, "Have fun, matey. Call me when dinner's ready!" and disappeared faster than Flint could throw an onion at him.
The sea weasel chuckled as he stepped outside. There was still a bit of time before the feast, and Skipper was already bored. Then, he spotted a group of youngsters sparring with wooden swords.
"Ah, the memories," he sighed, and approached them.
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Tottle dangled his legs carelessly over a swing hanging from a tree. Everybeast had gone to do his or her own thing and the tiny turtle felt very out of place. He rocked back and forth, trying to get the swing to budge, but to no avail. The Squirtle sighed and hung his head dejectedly.
"Tot!"
Suddenly, the swing lurched and the turtle flew forward into the dirt. He turned and saw Bell kneeling next to him.
"Oh! I'm sorry! You're supposed to hold on tight, you know?"
The Squirtle blushed fiercely, "Er, no, I'm alright… I mean, thanks for, um…"
The Eevee maid giggled, "Heehee, you talk funny too!" She paused. "Wanna play with me?"
"Uh…"
"Yay! K, you go on the swing! Hold on tight this time, okay?"
The turtle gave her a small smile, "Er, okay."
"Ready?"
"I think so…"
Whoosh! In an instant he was up in the air. Tottle held onto the ropes tightly, unused to the motion of rising and falling.
"Heehee, you scared?" Bell chirped.
Tot blushed again, "Kinda…"
"It's okay, everyone's afraid of something!" said the fox maid, "I'm not scared of swings though, even when Mommy and Daddy push me really high! How high do you go?"
"Er, this is my first time…"
The Eevee gasped, "What?! Your Mommy and Daddy never pushed you on a swing before?"
"Um, no. My Mom and Dad are… busy." The Squirtle nearly sighed with relief; he had almost said "dead."
"Oh, ok." The fox maid quieted for a moment, before piping up again in her usual cheery voice, "Let's go play something else!"
"Ok!" Tottle grinned, happy to get off the swing.
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The youngsters stopped their play as they saw the stranger approach.
Skipper waved at them. "Ahoy there! Mind if I join you lot?"
They exchanged uneasy looks. Then, a bold Riolu said in a confident voice, "Mother said we're not allowed to play with you."
The Buizel looked perplexed, "Hm, and why would that be?"
"Because you have sea germs."
Skip thought for a while before replying, "Ah, your mother be a wise beast. As a matter of fact, I ain't allowed to play with youse either."
Now it was the Riolu's turn to be confused. "Why not?"
"Land germs."
The group looked insulted and advanced on the sea Captain. "Hey! We don't have any germs!"
Skipper backed away, a look of mock horror on his face, "Argh! Get away from me you little savages! You'll infect me with land germs!"
The youngsters laughed as they caught on to his game. "Get him! Land germs! Land germs!"
They grabbed the Buizel and dragged him down by his arms and tail.
The Riolu sat triumphantly on his back. "Haha! Now you have land germs!"
"Ah, no… now I be a landlubber like you beasts!" Skip moaned.
"Now you have to play with us!"
The sea weasel's eyes grew wide with fear. "No! Anything but that!"
They laughed at the sea weasel's antics and Skipper couldn't help but laugh along with them.
"You know how to sword fight?" the Riolu asked.
The Buizel winked, "You bet yer paws I do."
The young beasts jumped up and down with excitement. "Can you show us?"
Skip laughed, "Of course I can, mates! Now, what be your names?"
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From a distance away, the Jolteon watched, twitching his ears in annoyance. "How easily he gained their trust…" he thought, "What does any beast… what does Torq see in him?"
Skipper playfully bonked the Riolu on the head with a wooden sword, and was instantly set upon by a barrage of attacks from the youngsters.
"Fool," Kito muttered, turning away.
"You are the fool if you think that." A voice spoke.
The thunder dog spun around and found Dorian lying casually beneath a tree.
"I was not following you," the Golduck said, seeing the accusing look on the Jolteon's face, "I was merely taking a nap when those young'uns woke me up."
"Hm." Kito glanced back at Skipper with narrowed eyes. The sea weasel was now parrying the onslaught.
Dorian looked in that direction as well, his face expressionless. "The Captain is… childish, at times, but he is certainly not a fool," he said coolly.
"What makes you say that?" asked the Jolteon, unconvinced.
The helmsbeast closed his eyes and leaned his head back. "It's something you'd know if you've sailed alongside him. Your judgment is clouded by To…" he paused, and chose not to finish his sentence. "Your judgment is clouded," the Golduck concluded.
The thunder dog stood stoically, arms crossed and a faraway look in his eyes. "I'll see you at the feast," he said finally, and walked away.
Dorian's gaze followed him for a while, before he pulled the bandanna down over his eyes and settled back for a nap.
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Well, not much to be said about this one, gotta go study for a test tomorrow (urg…)
Reviews are appreciated, gonna try to get the next one up soon but no promises (things won't stay peaceful for long, I'll give you that much ; D)