CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN
Inside the small fishing shack off the coast of Cinnabar Island, Daniel paced up and down while the others sat nearby, shivering cold with blankets wrapped around them. The sailor in charge of his vessel, quite damaged from the Tentacool's assault, refused to back down from Daniel's insistence.
"Are you crazy?" Daniel shouted, restraint lost in the face of grief. "She's still out there! My friend is lost out to sea and - "
The red-faced sailor stared back, equally vehement and astonished at this youngster's lack of respect. "You listen here, young man! We escaped from those Tentacruel - Tentacool - things, with barely our lives! I warned you all that the seas were rough and you were to be on your guard!"
"Yes, but you can't just abandon her!" Daniel raged, voice hoarse from repeated use.
"Take a look!" the sailor grabbed Daniel by the scruff of his shirt, ignoring his protestations and showed him the half-wrecked boat. "Take a damn good look at my boat! There isn't a chance in Kanto we can get out to sea in that. Your Water Pokemon fought bravely, but they too were overwhelmed by those... things."
"We need to find another sailor, another ship. We can't just - "
The sailor turned puce. "There isn't another option without endangering yourself and your Pokemon! I don't like the idea of leaving your friend out there any more than you do - but it was either our lives or hers!"
Bitterly, Daniel kicked a chair in frustration and stubbed his toe through his waterlogged sneakers. Stumbling about though he tried to hide his pain, Daniel collapsed with his back against the wall, face in his hands. Seel waddled forth to comfort Daniel, but he was in no mood, so he kept his distance. Getting to his feet, Daniel headed for the door.
"I'm going for a walk," said Daniel, hands deep in his pockets.
"I'll come, too," said the raven-haired girl, whose name was Hannah. "Wait for me."
Together, the two of them exited the shack and walked along the coastline. Brooding, Daniel said little while Hannah watched the skies for her Pidgeotto. So far, no luck.
"She still has her Butterfree, right?" asked Hannah, shivering in the night cold, watching Krabby scuttle in the shallows.
"Yeah," Daniel lightened, dawning with comprehension. "But then - Butterfree can't exactly hold people, can she - "
"No," Hannah added, regretting the idea at once. "You're right. I'm stupid - "
"You're not stupid," said Daniel, on autopilot. "We're all stressed. I didn't think it would get this bad. I thought our Water Pokemon would - "
"It's not the Pokemon's fault, either," spoke Hannah harshly, as Daniel kicked at the sand, while the waves sighed alongside. "They tried their best."
Nodding to cover his guilt, Daniel replied "I know. I just hate that I can't do anything. I had to put Squirtle and the others into Pokeballs; they were so insistent on swimming back. But I mean, she could be anywhere! The ocean stretches for miles!"
Hannah tried not to roll her eyes at this absolutely obvious conclusion and walked silently by Daniel's side. Hearing the flapping of wings, she glanced up.
"Wait!" she placed a hand on his arm. "Look!"
Soaring through the sky towards them was Pidgeotto, tired but determined.
"Pidgeotto, over here!" Hannah waved her arms wildly. Pidgeotto settled on Hannah's arm, breathing rapidly having flown so fast.
"Did you see Natalie?" asked Hannah. Pidgeotto shook its head. "Well... wait, did you see Butterfree?" A nod. "Where are they - I mean, are they safe?" A nod. "Are they in the ocean?" A shake of the head. "On land?" A nod. "Fuchsia City?" A shake of the head.
Hannah turned to Daniel. "Is there an island between Cinnabar and Fuchsia City?"
Hurriedly, he unrolled the Town Map and spread it out, trying to catch the angle of moonlight to read better. He pointed a coarse fingernail to the small grouping of islands that were labelled 'Seafoam Islands'.
"The Seafoam Islands!" cried Daniel, glancing up to Pidgeotto who rested on Hannah's shoulders, claws tight with exertion. "Can you rescue Natalie from there?"
Pidgeotto shook its head.
"What - " Daniel began to get furious. "What do you mean - "
"Hey, hey, calm down!" shouted Hannah, backing off from Daniel as Pidgeotto flapped its wings uneasily on her shoulder, wincing as the talons dug in deep. "Pidgeotto isn't used to carrying people. If she failed, they'd both be in the deep blue and we wouldn't know it."
"She's a bird, isn't she?" Daniel glanced at Pidgeotto. "Can't all bird Pokemon carry humans?"
"Certainly not with your tone!" Hannah shot back. "If Pidgeotto took the time to search out Natalie, she probably has a good reason why she can't carry her back to safety. We'll need to find another way."
Rolling his eyes, Daniel headed in the direction of town as Hannah hid her look of disgust, patting Pidgeotto on the feathers.
"There, there," Hannah soothed her gentle bird Pokemon. "You've done a great job - don't take any notice of him; he's just upset."
Daniel walked alone through the small town which comprised the populace of Cinnabar Island, his regret and grief overwhelming him. One second everything had been fine, the next they were overwhelmed by Tentacool, then Natalie had gone overboard and there was nothing he could do. He felt useless, unable to do anything while Natalie in peril out at sea.
Open at all hours, Daniel entered the Pokemon Center and found somewhere quiet to sit, the overnight nurse on duty glancing up over her paperwork while the Chansey beside her folded laundered sheets used for the operating tables for patients to lie on.
"Can I help you, young man?" she asked, not unkindly, pen poised.
"No, I'm fine, thanks," said Daniel, making it clear he was to stay. The nurse went back to her paperwork and the Chansey smiled, sensing his dour mood.
Not a few minutes later, the door opened and in stepped a stylish woman, her red hair in a ponytail and wearing glasses. Her high heels clicked across the tiled floor as she sighed, handing over her five Pokeballs.
"Lorelei!" the nurse beamed, at attention as was the Chansey beside her. "How nice to see you again! Training late, I see?"
"As always," the woman said with a laugh, running a hand through her hair. "I've got to make sure Dewgong and Jynx are fighting fit for the next Pokemon League tournament. That Gary Oak was stronger than he looked."
The nurse nodded seriously while Daniel rose from his chair, approaching the slim woman. "Excuse me - are you Lorelei, of the Elite Four?"
Accustomed to fans wanting autographs, Lorelei shot him a quick smile. "That I am, young man. I'm afraid I can't stay - I have to get back to training. It seems Trainers are collecting Badges faster than usual - "
"I need some help," blurted out Daniel, once again afraid that his overshare of information might result in the person backing away. Instead, Lorelei fixed him with an intent gaze.
"What sort of help?"
"My friend Natalie is stuck in the Seafoam Islands. We were travelling by ship, you see, and we were attacked by Tentacool and Natalie was thrown overboard - "
"How do you know she's in the Seafoam Islands?" asked Lorelai, grabbing the urgency of the situation at once.
"One of the other girls onboard, she had a Pidgeotto who flew out to confirm it. I have my Seel, and all of Natalie's Water Pokemon, but none of them are big or strong enough to tackle the dangerous seas."
"You were taken to Cinnabar by that sailor, weren't you?" asked the nurse, interrupting. "With all the money passengers give him, he should invest in a stronger boat."
"I'll tell him that," said Daniel darkly, turning to Lorelei. "Will you help me?"
"That depends," said Lorelei, turning to the nurse. "Have you ridden on the back of a Water Pokemon before?"
Stomach growling, Natalie glanced up at the night sky, adjusting her backpack so that it formed a better pillow. Sleeping underneath the stars with only the possessions on her back - truly, she had envisioned such a premise when first she left Viridian City, and now she was living it for real. Whether she'd make it home or not in the end was beyond her control.
Closing her eyes, she tried to concentrate on the soothing vision of that legendary ice bird, Articuno. Trapped in the cave, they had been attacked by the defiant explorer and his Electabuzz, trained well to take on the dual Ice/Flying Pokemon. If Natalie hadn't been there, would Articuno have fallen victim to that man's Ultra Ball in the end?
She hoped her interference had helped the Articuno to understand how dangerous some Trainers could be, what lengths they would go to in search of prized Pokemon. Still, that didn't leave the Articuno with a substantial lifestyle. Always cautious, one eye open for the threat that lurked beneath the edges... some Pokemon would always have to be on the move, never able to settle.
She glanced up when she heard the flutter of wings, her heart racing as she saw Butterfree fly back, hovering nearby.
"Butterfree! Did you find help?"
Butterfree nodded frantically and flew beyond Natalie's reach as she rose, peering into the distance at the dark shapes which came into focus. Indistinct though they were, she could hear voices shouting what sounded like encouragement -
"NATALIE!"
Blood racing in her ears, she jumped up and down, waving madly as they came into view. Natalie gasped as she saw the enormity of the contingent speeding forth. Daniel rode atop a Lapras, beside a tall woman visible from this distance only as wearing her hair in a ponytail. Both she and Daniel wore lifejackets.
Flying high above, Butterfree surrounded the seaborne retinue, additionally comprised of a Dewgong who broke the water's surface and a Slowbro, lugging the Shellder clamped onto its tail as it swam breaststroke with ease. Dewgong was the evolved form of Seel, larger and more graceful while Slowbro was the evolved form of Slowpoke.
Beaming, Natalie ran over to Daniel as he disembarked and hugged him tightly, the life jacket preventing most contact.
"I thought Butterfree was lost!" Natalie glanced to the tall woman who climbed off Lapras with practised grace. She looked stylish in a fitted power suit and pencil skirt, but had replaced her high heels to borrow a pair of functional flat shoes from the nurse in the Pokemon Center.
"Thank you all so much for rescuing me," said Natalie, getting emotional. "I'm Natalie."
"I'm Lorelei," smiled the tall woman, shaking her hand. "It was my pleasure."
"Don't you know who this is?" Daniel turned to Natalie, excited. "Lorelei of the Elite Four!"
"Whoever she is, Daniel, I'm grateful all the same!" Natalie ran to hug Lorelai, who awkwardly hesitated then laughed, gently patting her back in response.
Glancing around at Lorelei's Water Pokemon, Natalie turned to Daniel. "Are my Pokemon OK? How did you guys get out of that battle?"
"The sailor managed to get us the rest of the way to Cinnabar, not that his attitude helped," Daniel tried to collect his building fury. "Anyway, we were pretty worse for wear when we arrived. The ship was in disrepair and it was clear we couldn't send any of your Water Pokemon or my Seel to help, not against hordes of those Tentacool. One of the girls onboard, Hannah, with the Pidgeotto - remember? - flew out to scout and came back telling us she'd seen your Butterfree. Well, after a lengthy questioning ritual."
Lorelei turned to Natalie. "How long have you been stuck here? It must've been hours."
Nodding, Natalie replied, "The current washed me ashore inside the cave. I couldn't see it was so dark - I was afraid, so afraid. Then I remembered I had Butterfree in my Pokeball belt, so with her help we navigated the cavern, but we got separated a while in and I had to go it alone. Then - "
Natalie's face lit up, not at all what Daniel was expecting from a tale of woe.
"Unless you found a buried pirate's treasure, I can't think of why you're smiling," said Daniel, apprehensive.
Contentedly, Natalie turned to them both. "I saw a Pokemon. A rare Pokemon. I saw the legendary Articuno. It saved me and flew me to safety."
Silence, but for the waves washing upon the shore. Daniel and Lorelai glanced at each other, disbelief written all over their faces.
"Hey! I-I'm serious!" said Natalie, feeling like a loser. "I saw Articuno, we were about to fly away, then a Trainer came to try and capture it. His Electabuzz used all sorts of Thunder attacks, he almost caught Articuno - then I climbed on board and we flew away."
Even to her ears, it sounded like a story invented by someone stranded on an island with no food or water.
"I'm serious, guys! Articuno! Here, look - " Natalie glanced around for her backpack, rifling through it until her hands clasped upon the icy, shimmering feather. "This belonged to Articuno! It's one of its feathers!"
As a member of the Elite Four and in possession of powerful Ice Pokemon, Lorelei stepped forward to examine the feather, turning it over in her slim hands. Her face registered surprise, then further disbelief as she shook her head.
"It's not possible. Articuno is one of the legendary - "
"I know!" said Natalie gleefully. "And - "
"And you're saying a legendary Pokemon permitted you to ride it like a mount across the skies?" Daniel asked.
"OK, fine," huffed Natalie, snatching the feather out of Lorelei's hands and holding it close to her chest. "I don't care if you believe me. I know this feather proves nothing - for all you guys know, Articuno could've flown overhead and it fell out of the sky - "
"Well, that does sound more likely," replied Daniel placidly. "If this Trainer was trying to capture Articuno, you could've had your chance to capture it yourself!"
"Articuno only trusted me because I saved it from being captured by that man," Natalie spat out the last word. "I used one of my Paralyz Heals on it when Electabuzz paralysed it, and it gained my trust."
"So where is it now?" asked Lorelei.
"It, um, flew off," smiled Natalie, sounding guilty though inside she knew she was right. "It had to find somewhere to recuperate. It was badly injured after the battle."
"But not too badly injured to carry you to safety, first?" interrupted Daniel.
Natalie's expression became closed and she shook her head, unable to believe her friend wouldn't take her word seriously. The sight of a lifetime - the legendary Pokemon, Articuno and nobody believed her. But she had her word, and that was all she needed to hold the memory dear.
"Come on," said Daniel, collecting Natalie's backpack for her. "We all need a good sleep. Lorelei's probably got a lot of training to do."
"I have to say, Natalie," smiled Lorelei. "If the Articuno had allowed itself to be captured by you, just think! You'd sure give Lance a run for his money."
"Lance?" Daniel was quick to retort, mind honed by constant repetition of notable Pokemon figures. "Oh! You mean against Aerodactyl! Yeah, I see what you mean. As a dual-type Rock/Flying, Articuno's Ice attacks would be especially effective against Aerodactyl. Nice thinking."
Lorelai smiled to herself, saying nothing.