Seatunder Chapter 24: Wrought by Gods, a pokémon fanfic

Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait. I must warn you that updates have been and will be fairly sporadic. I hope you'll bear with me though! Thanks Foxyjosh, DarthMeanie, and Jarkes (YES! I did hear about Doomwyte but no, I haven't had the chance to read it yet ::excited:!!!)

Here is the next chapter:

"Wuzzat noise?" Flint muttered drowsily, tumbling out of the tarp and tripping into the empty pot.

Torq stuck her head out as well, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she recognized the descending creature. "Rei!" she called out gleefully, and ran out to hug the dragon's huge belly. The Dragonite crooned happily at the sight of his friends and his tail swayed slowly, causing the nearby trees to creak.

"My friends, it is good to see you again," he said in his methodical voice, "And Skipper, it is good to see your soul back inside you."

"It's good to have it back," Skipper replied as he put a paw in Rei's blunt talons in thanks. But the dragon's eyes soon grew stormy, and as he rested uneasily down onto his haunches the crew could tell he brought bad news.

"The horizon is dark," he started, "Every day the cursed ship sails faster over the waters. One by one islands fall as its anchor lands on their shores…"

"Ayon is safe, for now," he added, sensing the nervousness in the water maid.

"Blast it all!" Flint suddenly called out, flinging a knife down between his footpaws, "Rei, yer a strong beast, why don't you or some other creature just blast that chum bucket to smithereens?" Tottle and the others nodded in approval, but Dorian shook his head dismally.

"Eh? Why not, Dori? Because yer 'friend's' on that boat?" the Totodile growled. Skipper gave him a look that silenced him, as the Golduck shot him a venomous glare and replied, "You must have forgotten the army Borius has at his disposal. Did you not see the eyes glowing in the waters that day? Too many to count! The seas hold greater power than the land…"

Reingard nodded and added to this statement. "He is correct. Borius has incredible control over that which he sails over. And there is more to defeating an enemy than simply shedding his blood. It is never that easy."

Flint scowled, but Skipper paced back and forth. Something wasn't right, something about all this 'power' was too… too unbelievable. "Why? Why are all these creatures following him? What's in it for them?" He met Rei's eyes and saw that they were focused and intense. The brilliant blue irises were cold, and with such a creature it was definitely fearsome sight.

"That is the right question, my friend."

He looked up to the sky, contemplating.

"Borius is… a great beast. He commands others with his might, but also with his words. When he speaks, creatures listen, and a fire lights up within them. When he raises his blade others are made to bow. He is seeking something nobeast has ever fathomed to try before…"

The others listened, awe-struck and tingling with excitement. What treasure could be so great that entire hordes of creatures obeyed this one seabeast? Skip's chest prickled as he realized how close he was him, by blood. My father… Zephora's words from long ago echoed in his mind: "How very much like your father you are."

"What is he searching for, Rei?"

"A God."

There came a silence that lasted a full minute. Gully bobbed his head up and down intermittently, looking as if he was about to laugh, but deciding it was not the appropriate time to do so. It was Flint who spoke first, "Ha! Gods?! Dragons I can believe… Me dad told used to tell me stories of how he met a few in his seafarin' days… but there's no such thing as Gods!"

Skipper and Torq seemed inclined to agree, but Dorian, and even Buso looked very serious all of a sudden. Gully was stock still, for once, and Tottle's eyes were wide with fright. "You… don't know the story?" he whispered.

"What story?" Torq asked.

"Kyogre…"

He gasped in amazement as the three exchanged indifferent glances. Flint muttered, "Some big whale, that's all…"

Rei nodded knowingly as he said, "I see… Lainaria and Ayon are both isolated villages with distinct cultures, though I am surprised that such a legend has not reached all shores by now. However, if you were raised in a larger city, this tale would be the foundation of how you viewed the oceans."

"I grew up with it," Dorian said, "Buso's got a good number of years under his belt, and all birds carry these stories on their wings… Tot, how do you know?"

The turtle shifted uncomfortably under everyone's gaze as he tried to recall. "I'm not sure… I heard it from lots of different creatures, I guess."

Torq looked between them, confused. "What's this story then?"

"Umm… Kyogre… something about all oceans…"

The Golduck sighed and explained, "They say Kyogre is the Embodiment of All Oceans, not just 'some whale,' but a God. Every version of this has its own twist to it: Some say it controls the waters, some say it maintains peace, or balance within them… Rei, do dragons tell it differently?"

The Dragonite shook his head. "Even legends cannot tell. Kyogre has power one cannot even imagine, but he is also flesh and blood, like the rest of us."

Flint scowled as he tried to make sense of it all. "Alright alright… so Borius is after this 'God'?"

"He is. No one creature dares challenge a God, but Borius has ways… He is convincing many creatures that good will come out of his plans. Entire underwater colonies have joined his side and balance has been broken. Kyogre is hidden in the wide expanses of the ocean, but because of this impending war between sea and land, he is being called to the surface…"

"And then he'll stop them, right? Surely a God can defeat the blackheart?" Skipper asked. To him it was a simple matter, one side overpowering the other. But of course, things were never that simple. Rei bowed his head, unable to answer the question. "I do not know."

A roaring wind blew in their ears as the dragon towed the Seatunder. Skipper had to admit, it was good to be out on the sea again. The heaviness of sorrow was lifted and he felt quite ashamed of his attitude in the past few days. Now a new feeling dwelled in his mind. It was peculiar, a mix of dread and excitement. They did not know where they were headed, though Rei seemed to know the way, but with such turmoil at hand and no clear solution, Skip had to wonder why they were bothering to do anything at all. He did know, from his own heart and from the resolute faces of his crewmates, that they had to try.

Coward. You are a coward.

Restless thoughts pounded within her head, not helped by the raucous chatter of the crew. For the past few days, a single image haunted her in her sleep: a defenseless Squirtle, innocent eyes, torn to pieces by shapeless creatures of the abyss. But then a Dewgong had leapt out of the waters, and passed a short message to the Captain before diving over the railing. She had only caught whispers of the conversation, but it was enough. Dragon… saved… Seatunder. They were alive. Something fluttered in her chest and a great relief washed over her. Then, suddenly worried, she stole a glance at her Captain, and was surprised to see him smiling carelessly. Borius' sharp eyes turned to her, causing her to jolt and look away.

"Don't worry Carakl," he said scathingly, "We're not going after your little friends… Besides, we have more pressing matters to deal with." He nodded towards the prow.

The Lucario looked to the horizon and saw creatures flying towards the Aurora Borealis, at least a score of them. As they drew closer she could tell that that were Pigdeots. Their shrill, beautiful war cries rang through the air as they approached, and their plumage of red and golden feathers glinted in the sunlight.

The leader, a large and tawny male, circled the craft with his flock and addressed the Floatzel in a piercing voice. "Scourge of the Seas, you have brought great calamity upon my tribe! The waters have risen and flooded our roosts, no doubt to your foolish schemes, and because of that none of our chicks have survived this year! With me are the mourning mothers of our lost kinbeasts, and we will see to it that they are avenged!"

Like arrows they dived and swooped at the ship at amazing speed. There would have been twenty dead beasts on the deck that moment, if it weren't for the equally fast jets of water that knocked the birds out of the sky. The ocean surged around the vessel and great waves lapped up two of the raptors who had drifted to close. More hose-like streams shot out at the Pidgeots, causing them to cry angrily and swerve about disheveled. The leader faltered as a stray burst hit his shoulder. They were unavoidable, as numerous as rain. The creatures on the ship laughed at the plight of the once-proud birds. One by one, they fell out of the sky, as if hit my bullets, and were snapped up by the sea.

There was no choice but to retreat. But even then, there was no chance. The tawny leader was virtually trapped in a minefield of water columns. Stray feathers whirled about him as he looked for an escape. His sharp eyes met those of another Pidgeot, rugged and dull-colored, roosting on the top most mast and watching the scene with an expression of boredom. "Brother, help me…" the leader crooned.

The darker one clicked his beak in disdain. "I am a servant of Captain Borius… Kreee!" With a scream, it took to the air and lunged at the tawny one. Talons slashed and locked as the two tumbled out of the skies. It would have been the end for the leader bird had Borius not called out, "Leave him, Quent! He's mine!"

The bird called Quent gave a victorious cry and returned to his roost, while his adversary lied defeated on the deck. Borius stepped roughly on the Pigeot's wing and pointed his scimitar at the creature's throat. "Any final words, bird?"

A hawk eye glared back at him and a voice shouted proudly, "I am ready to die, blackheart! And when we meet again in the Next World, I will show you how a true warrior fights, when you are brave enough to face me alone!"

Borius smiled sickly. "Brave words from a worthy foe, my friend. But you won't die just yet." Everybeast on deck heard him roar, "Let the world know why nobeast dare challenge the Aurora Borealis!"

It was then that Carakl ran to the lower decks, covering her ears with her paws, a voice chiming in her head: Coward…

Still, her sensors could pick up the pain and the cries, and she could nearly feel the razor-like teeth pierce her own body. It was three days before she could bring herself to come up again, but by then there was nothing but a rotting skeleton, dragged on a weighted rope in the wake of the Aurora Borealis.

The dreams came back, more horrific than ever, and she hated herself for her cowardice, and she hated the Captain from the bottom of her gut. She feared him, though.

But one day, that will change. One day when I find the courage…

Her thoughts were always cut short, for then Borius would stroll past her, laughing loudly, "Feeling brave, my vixen? You know what happens to the brave!"

And she would be left helpless once more.

"We are approaching our destination," Rei called out.

Everybeast craned their heads for a better look. Before them towered an enormous volcano, its crater opening hundreds of meters above the ocean floor, hidden amongst the clouds. Its thick rock walls were impervious to the waves pounding around it, and the whirlpools ringed the mountain's edges. Still, the ship raced towards the heavily inclined slope without any sign of slowing, soaring over the whirlpools with ease thanks to the dragon.

"How in blazes do we get in?!" Flint shouted.

The Dragonite chuckled and turned to look at the horrified crew, mirth dancing in his eyes. "My friends, there is only one way in to a volcano, and one way out."

"B…but…" they stuttured.

"Hold on tight!"

With a flap of his wings, Rei shot up the slope, perfectly parallel to its surface. The Seatunder was cruising on rock before anyone could register what happened, and the slapping of water was soon replaced with the grating of wood on stone.

"Rei! My ship!" Skipper moaned, hugging the mast as if it were crying in pain, "You'll scrape it bare!"

The dragon paid no heed and continued going, if not faster.

"We… need… to breathe…" the water maid gasped. The air was thinning quickly and they were not used to such altitudes. Well, Gully was. And the parrot was acting as if this were the best sail of his life, wings outstretched and feathers blown into a ruffled mess.

"Just a bit farther," said the dragon, though he was now completely serious and intent on getting them to the top as fast as he could, "Inside is much lower than this…"

And just as they thought they couldn't hold on any longer, the ship stopped. The crew was wide eyed… They were soaring, floating in the clouds. And then they were falling, deep into the crater, their shouts bouncing off the rocky walls. They clung to dear life as their hearts leapt into their throats. Surely Rei would not let them die like this…

Then finally, it was over. Trembling, they opened their eyes, and were blown away by what they saw.

They were floating on what seemed to be a lake, crystal clear and shining. Around it, lush grass grew in abundance, creating a meadow. The inner wall of the volcano was smooth, with some ledges carved into statues and others occupied by enormous creatures. High canopied trees ringed the perimeter, and up above a wide circle of blue allowed light to shine down upon the land. Everything was huge, and gave off a reminiscence of something ancient…

And there were dragons, on the ledges, in the meadows, hovering lazily over tree and lake… They took great interest in the visitors, coming close enough so that their breaths warmed the air. But then they would fly off, causing ripples to shimmer across the water. All around there was bird song and the beating of leathery wings. It was like living in a legend.

"Rei," Torq said breathlessly, "What is this place?"

Rei cast a proud gaze over his home before replying, "We call this, the Dragon's Holy Land."

Man, I was really torn as to how to go about this. At first I didn't want to drag PokeGods into this because then it becomes twisted and messy, and some 'higher power' settles everything in the end. But I assure you guys that Kyogre is here for plot's sake only, and the story's ending will be made by the characters you've come to known (along with more character development, yay!), and not some god flying in and saving the world and creating peace or anything like that.

Sorry for the darkness of the whole Pigeot fiasco, if you understood it… I made it very vile but not graphic. Borius must be EVIL though, and I hope this really brings it through. I also thought it would be a nice little insert between all the 'happy' sailing that's going on. I ALSO needed it to remind me not to forget Carakl…

And for those of you who caught it, yes, the Dragon's Holy Land is that place in the anime where Ash, Claire and co. went, where the Dragon Fang was held. I love that episode. Couldn't resist.

As to the title of this chapter, it should go without saying that I don't mean anything religious or offensive by it. It's just a title.

Lastly, I know the laws of altitude and physics are whack in my story, but its called 'fanfic' for a reason ; D

Thanks for reading! Reviews are appreciated, as usual!

-Canyx