New characters appear here, and some old ones make reappearances. Nothing else particularly special.
Oh, yes! Check my Deviantart account for drawings of some of the Fakemon that appear in this chapter! My DA account name is Cm25, of course short for Cottonmouth25.
-.-.-.-.-.
"Hmm…" Nursey murmured, examining the Tirtouga's head and occasionally tapping it with her feelers. Celosia had taken Gaby, Tortuga, Luke, and Cobalt to the Audino's hut in order to check up on Pteryx, as well as see what the problem was with Tortuga's memory.
Upon seeing the unconscious form of Pteryx lying on Nursey's examination rug, Luke and Gaby had instantly relaxed as they saw their friend safe and sound. They were indeed worried about his condition, but at least he was in the care of the Audino, whom Celosia informed them was the best healer she knew of. If anyone could heal Pteryx, it was Nursey.
But now, the Audino brightened and snapped her fingers as she seemed to reach a conclusion. Tortuga looked up at her expectantly. She informed them cheerfully, "It's nothing but a bad case of amnesia. Nothing more~!"
Everyone shared nervous glances. No one was sure whether or not that a "bad case of amnesia" was worth worrying over or not. Nursey noted their concerned and sang, "It isn't anything to worry about! I can have your friend healed in a jiffy~!"
Now was the time everyone relaxed. "You can? Oh, thank goodness!" Tortuga said with pure relief. Nursey gave him a kind smile and walked over to her cabinet. After rummaging around in it for a while, she pulled out a large coconut.
Before Tortuga, or indeed anyone else, could ask what the coconut was for, Nursey held it over her head and then smashed it down on Tortuga's skull. His eyes rolled back in his head, and he collapsed.
"There!" Nursey said with satisfaction. "When he wakes up, his memory will come back. Works every time~!" She put the coconut back in her cabinet, humming a sprightly tune.
Everyone was completely speechless. Due to the lack of noise, a faint thrumming sound was able to be heard from outside. "What is that?" Luke asked, finding his voice. "Only one way to find out, I guess," Cobalt said, before rushing out of the hut.
Except for Tortuga and Pteryx, everyone followed them and immediately saw the immense flying figure already coming in for a landing. But as it landed, they could see that it was actually one flying figure carrying two others – one on its back, and another was gripped in its legs.
The three strange Pokemon separated from each other, and Gaby, Luke, and Cobalt all regarded them curiously. One was like a long, thin centipede, another looked like a much bigger version of a Galvantula, and the last (who seemed to be the leader) was like a giant mosquito, bigger than both of his comrades.
"Oh, it's Team Bloodsucker!" Nursey sang, waving at the trio of bugs. The mosquito-thing nodded in a friendly way at her and buzzed, "Greetings once again! We just wanted to give you a final farewell and thank-you before we set off on our next adventure."
Nursey blushed and became flustered. The Galvantula-like Pokemon noticed Gaby, Luke, and Cobalt staring at them questioningly and clicked her mandibles together. "I do not recognize the three of you," she observed. "Are you three newcomers to Fire Isle?"
Gaby nodded silently. "Who are you?" Cobalt asked curiously. "I've never seen Pokemon like you before, and all kinds came to Diamond Island all the time."
At these words, the bugs exchanged grim looks. "Oh, so you're from Diamond Island then," the centipede creature hissed. "I'm glad to see that there were some survivors, at least."
The leader of Team Bloodsucker flexed his wings and bowed graciously. "Well, allow us to introduce ourselves. I am Burner, leader of Team Bloodsucker. I understand your confusion as to our species – the three of us come from far away. I am a Fire-and-Flying type called Moskeeteor." As he said this, the glowing red bottom portion of his abdomen briefly burst into flames before extinguishing again.
"Greetings," the centipede said with a much more elaborate bow. "I am Drain, Poison-and-Dark-type and known as Pendrula where we come from."
Finally, the Galvantula-like Pokemon stepped forward. "My name is Tesla, a Bug-and-Electric type known as Conductula. I am the rarely-seen evolved form of Galvantula."
Burner, Drain, and Tesla all bowed once more in unison. Gaby, Luke, and Cobalt responded with similar bows (it was only polite, after all) and introduced themselves in turn.
But just then, there was a shrill caw that split the peaceful sunset atmosphere. Simultaneously, everyone looked up to see the rosy sky become dotted with the silhouettes of bird Pokemon.
"No, it can't be," murmured Burner. "It is the Darkfeather gang!"
The quartet paled, but none as much as Gaby. The Shard… they're after me again, she thought grimly.
"Come," Drain hissed suspiciously. "We must find out what they are up to. The Darkfeathers almost never come here, and when they do, it is never with good intentions." Team Bloodsucker began to make their way down to the town square.
Cobalt turned to Nursey, who was looking frightened at the sight of the advancing gang. "You stay here and look after the two fossils," he told her heatedly. "My friends and I are going to follow the Bloodsuckers and find out what the birds want."
The Audino nodded nervously and ducked back into her hut as Cobalt, Luke, and Gaby followed behind the trio of insects toward the town square.
The journey didn't take long – it was a small village, after all. Coincidentally, the Darkfeather gang decided to land there as well. The forty or so bird Pokemon met Team Bloodsucker, the three young friends, and a few villagers there, and the two teams squared off against each other.
In the front of the feathered gang, Gaby and Luke noticed, was Clawface, but he was flanked by two others. One was a Skarmory whose eyes carried even more of a blazing fury than the Fearow's and the other was a Pidgeot who wore some kind of metal claws over his talons.
"That is Iron Talon," Tesla whispered to Gaby and the others. "He is the second-in-command of the Darkfeathers. They say he encountered a Fire-type that welded his metal claws to his feet during their battle. The Skarmory is Herra, and her partner is Clawface the murderer."
Gaby's face didn't show any emotion, but her eyes were alight with anger. "Yes, I know all about Clawface," she hissed back. "We've met."
Clawface and Burner both stepped forth. "It's been too long, old friend," Clawface sneered to the Moskeeteor. "You lost the right to call me 'friend' long ago," he shot back, buzzing angrily.
"If you must," Clawface replied evenly. "But please do not get in our way. We are here to find the Shard that we know to be here."
Luke instinctively looked at Gaby. Clawface said something about a Shard when he first attacked Gaby, he thought. Does she have it? Is she in possession of this item that the murderer wants?
Herra stepped forward with that same fiery glare in her eyes. "Better yet," she squawked harshly, "we'll just take it!"
And with that, the small army of Flying-types attacked.
-.-.-.-.-.
"Extrasensory!" cried Barn.
"Twister!" shrieked Evelyn.
"Thunderbolt!" yelled Adrianna.
"Toxic Spikes!" roared Alphonse.
The attacks battered the Noivern, but didn't incapacitate it for long. It recovered astonishingly quickly and dove at them once more for a Dragon Claw attack.
Alphonse moved to the front of the group and yelled, "Screech!" The gems on his head blasted out an ultrasonic tone that pushed the Noivern away. It responded with its own Screech that struck him like a physical blow and sent the Tentacruel flying a fair distance.
"It's too powerful!" Barn panted, trying to summon enough energy for an Extrasensory attack, but getting blasted by a stray Air Slash in the process. "Maybe if we flee deeper into the tunnel, its size will work against it," suggested Evelyn, using a Thunder Wave attack but missing.
"We can take it down if we work together," insisted Adrianna. "If we combine our attacks as one, then we can defeat it in one blast." Barn nodded, still crouching over the sleeping Elf. He understood the value of teamwork more than anything – it had only been from the combined efforts of him and Elf that they had escaped the Darkfeather gang. "Alright everyone!" the Noctowl announced. "We have to combine our most powerful attacks! Only united we can take down this Noivern!"
Evelyn and Alphonse understood immediately. The group of four clustered together, readying their attacks. The Noivern soared upward and came at them again, ready to take them down with one last Dragon Claw. As it got closer, it spread its wings and prepared itself for the kill.
"Wait for it…" Barn cautioned, mentally counting down the seconds. Everyone started charging power as they waited for the Noivern to get as close as possible.
It streaked directly for them, claws outstretched and glowing with energy. The Flying-and-Dragon-type was almost on top of them.
"NOW!" Barn shrieked, and they released their attacks.
"Dragon Rage! Extrasensory! Thunderbolt! Ice Beam!" they shouted as one, and each attack blended into a blinding white beam of pure power that smashed into the Noivern. The combined energy was so powerful that it sent the Noivern spinning away across the vast chasm. It hit the far wall, just past the gorge, and was instantly knocked out on impact.
"We did it…" murmured Alphonse, slumping to the ground and allowing himself to rest. "That's a relief…" Barn said exhaustedly, sitting down on his tail feathers.
"Thank goodness we're all alright," Adrianna said, snuggling Topaz (who had been asleep the entire time). "But… who are you two?" she added, pointing at the two Pokemon that had come in at the last minute to save their skins.
The Dragonair nodded her head elegantly and said, "My name is Evelyn. Pleased to meet you." Her companion got to his tentacles tiredly, brushed himself off, and said gruffly, "Alphonse."
Barn eyed the two of them. "What are you doing down here, and how did you know we needed help?" he asked suspiciously. Alphonse shrugged, clearly not willing to answer. Evelyn sighed and explained briefly, "We washed up on the shore during the storm and came into this cave for shelter. We decided to explore and… well, here we are."
Adrianna bowed her head to them. "Thank you so much," she said honestly. "We are here looking for a treasure that we think might be deep in this cave."
Alphonse suddenly became interested. "Treasure, you say?" he asked curiously. "Mind if we tag along? You could use all the help you can get after that Noivern attack." Evelyn shot him a sharp look, to which he carelessly shrugged.
"Of course you can," Adrianna said with a smile. "We do owe you for saving us, after all. A share of the treasure seems about fair. Right, Barn dear?" The Noctowl nodded and shook his wing with Evelyn's tail. "Glad to have you on board," he said politely.
"So what does the map say next?" asked Elf, unexpectedly sitting up and wide awake. Adrianna and Barn both blinked in astonishment. "I thought you were fast asleep?" Barn said, bewildered.
Elf grinned and hopped to her feet. "I got hit with my own Hypnosis," she replied snidely. "A Fire-type wouldn't be affected much if he was hit with his own Flamethrower, would he?"
The Gardevoir raised her eyebrows and took a look at the map, which was handed to her by Barn. "We don't have very far to go," she murmured, "so let's make haste. I don't want to have to risk our lives for any longer than I have to."
-.-.-.-.-.
An hour passed since the gang had left the chasm, and another hour had passed by the time they fought their way past the Drilbur dens. Those Ground-types had been more aggressive than they had expected, and it had taken quite a while before enough were beaten and the others decided to flee.
Barn led the way, following the map as usual. Elf hopped beside him, and Adrianna and Topaz followed close behind. Evelyn and Alphonse brought up the rear. After the Drilbur dens had been passed, Barn had told them, it was only a lengthy, twisty tunnel from there on out according to the map.
Then, all of a sudden, they turned a corner and there it was.
Each Pokemon entered the cavern with an expression of wonder on his or her face. The cavern wasn't particularly large – much smaller than the cave in which they had initially taken shelter within – but the walls were lined with piles of gold and gemstones. Despite the lack of sunlight, Adrianna's newly improvised torch gave off enough light to make the piles of treasure sparkle dimly. It was a magnificent sight that they simply couldn't take in all at once. Even Topaz, who had woken up sleepily just minutes before, gaped at it all.
"This is amazing," Evelyn breathed, slithering over to pick up and examine a particularly large amethyst. "That doesn't even begin to cover it," Alphonse replied, examining a jewel as well.
Adrianna gently set Topaz down on the floor, and he gingerly picked up a piece of gold that was already lying at his feet. The Ralts held it up in wonder, then tossed it up into the air joyfully, allowing it to make a tiny *plink* when it hit the ground. His mother knelt down beside him and gave him another piece, only for him to laugh and toss it as well. She smiled and kept handing him gold pieces for him to throw into the air.
Barn and Elf were at the back of the cavern, examining a perfectly cut, rectangular blue stone. It didn't seem to be a sapphire or even another jewel – instead it seemed almost metallic. As they looked at it, their reflections seemed to swirl and distort before their very eyes.
"What could this be?" Elf asked in wonder. "I don't know," replied Barn, "but it's mighty pretty, isn't it?" She nodded and picked it up with a wing. It fit on her wing almost exactly.
But there was a clear problem about all of this. "How in Arceus' name will we take this all back with us?" Alphonse asked. "We don't have any treasure bags or containers or anything like that!"
Everyone, who had gathered in a circle after examining all the treasure, frowned slightly and tried to think of a solution. But before they could, a black shape melted out of the tunnel from which they had entered.
"If you can't carry any of it, I'd be delighted to take it off of your hands!" the Honchkrow said happily, landing gracefully on the cave floor. She was followed by a contingent of ten Murkrow. Barn and Elf gasped. "Mara!" the Hoothoot said, shocked.
Mara nodded in their direction. "It's so nice to see the two of you again," she said with a grin. "Especially since you've led us right to the place we needed you to find! Ever wonder why I tried so hard to capture and imprison the two of you? Clawface and I made a deal – we get you so he can find this treasure, and he finds the Shard for me! A win-win situation in my opinion, but in this case, my Murkrow and I can lug all this back to our lair and trade Clawface for the Shard. Again, I'm very glad you were kind enough to lead me here!" The Murkrow cawed and clacked their beaks in agreement.
"Hey!" Alphonse said loudly, holding up a tentacle threateningly. "This is ours, because we found it fair and square! We aren't about to give it up to you lot of mangy feather dusters!"
Mara took a step back, offended. "We'll just have to fight it for you, then," she said in a deadly voice. "Any day of the week!" Evelyn challenged, moving to stand beside her friend.
Adrianna shuddered. Dark-types again… she thought as she picked Topaz up and held him defensively.
The two owl Pokemon exchanged glances. Could they really fight off the Pokemon that had captured and locked them away this time? Especially because there was no escaping her this time?
And then the battle begun as Mara ordered her Murkrow to attack, and she swept off the ground to meet her foes at their head.
-.-.-.-.-.
Herra belongs to Megadracosaurus. All members of Team Bloodsucker (including their species) as well as Iron Talon belong to me. If you must know, Iron Talon is a reference to Metal Beak from Guardians of Ga'Hoole.
Any ideas about how Barn and Co. are going to carry back that treasure? 'Cause I don't have any...
Review, send me a character or two, and see you soon!
Chapter Question #3: Which Fakemon of Team Bloodsucker do you like the most? Is it because of the design, concept, typing, etc? (Remember, you can check my Deviantart account for the drawings!)