"Tentacool and Tentacruel migration."
"W-What!?" I looked back down at the deep blue water. "You're saying that water is infested with Tentacool!? I thought those things lived out in the ocean only!"
"Ahah. You know nothing about water Pokémon, do ya?"
"How am I gonna save Azura?!"
"Its too late." The first man turned away, arms folded. "Your Pokémon is squid bait."
I almost screamed at him, but held back. No, I've wasted too much time with this unnecessary chatter. Without thinking, I dived straight into the water.
"Oi!" The second man cringed a little, before stepping forward. "Idiot!"
Underwater things were a distinct tinge of red. That's when I noticed a huge school of Tentacool. I frantically looked around for Azura, and eventually spotted her. I began to swim towards her, and the Tentacool holding her above its head in a tight bind. The other Tentacool seemed to be cautiously watching me, and they did, in fact, move out of the way when I came near.
'This is easier than I thought.' I thought. I reached out to that Tentacool, when I couldn't hold my breath any longer. I had to surface. 'Sorry Azura!' I surfaced and took the biggest breath of my life.
"Yep, she's still alive." The second man said. The first one groaned and gave him some money. I took a few heavy breaths, staring at them.
"But wait, it ain't over. She ain't got it."
"Ugh." The second man returned the money.
'Are they betting money on me?!' I shook my head fiercely before diving back down again, holding a big breath. The Tentacool were slowly retreating, and so I didn't have much trouble keeping up. At least, until I saw something I did not want to see. Tentacruel. Those huge eyes stared down at me and I froze in fear. Normally Tentacruel wouldn't bother me, but given the situation I am in, defenceless and underwater, things weren't looking too good in my favour.
It reached out one of its tentacles, towards me, this Tentacruel looked hostile. I sort of raised my hands innocently, trying to show that I was no harm, however the Tentacruel misread my gesture, and attacked. It smacked its tentacle right across me, I was pushed back quite a way, and with the hard pressure of the water against my body in the fast movement, I felt like my insides were being crushed. I opened my mouth in a soundless 'Ahh!' and accidentally swallowed some water and lost my breath. I made the mistake of trying to gasp for air, and copped more water gushing down my throat. I slapped my hands over my mouth, choking. The Tentacruel attacked again, this time hitting me upwards, as if trying to fling me away. I almost felt like my back snapped in half.
'I am.. an idiot.'
I cringed. I was actually shaking. This pain was beyond anything I'd experienced before. I saw something swimming at me from above.
"Poliwhirl." I heard before it grabbed me and pulled me to the surface. Once above the water, the Pokémon threw me on the bridge, where I continued to choke violently.
"Ooh. Close. But she's still alive, so I win. Again."
"Ugh!"
The Pokémon stood beside me, and hit my back pretty hard, which caused even more pain. I chucked up water, and gasped desperately for air.
"Poli..? Poliwhirl." The Pokémon looked more concerned than the two fishermen. It became annoyed, and used a water-type move to spray its trainer. The first man narrowed his eyes at his Pokémon.
"That was uncalled for, Poliwhirl." He said.
I was still shaking, and my back was screaming in pain. Something was definitely not right, I had to be injured somewhere.
Suddenly the bridge started to vibrate, we all looked up to see that same Tentacruel surfacing, glaring down at the bridge with utter distaste.
"Oh great! She upset the leader, great one, stupid girl." The second man said.
"Well! Poliwhirl! Now's our chance, I'm gonna catch me a Tentacruel! A strong one by the looks of it!" The first man grinned.
"Poliwhirl!" The Poliwhirl stood in front of it's trainer obediently, ready to battle.
"Watch, and learn how to really be a trainer, you silly girl. Poliwhirl! Body Slam!"
I narrowed my eyes. The Poliwhirl obeyed it's trainer's command, and fought with the Tentacruel.
'Great, while it's distracted, I have to get Azura back.' I thought. I was already half sitting up, now I had to actually get up. The moment I tried to get up, a sudden jolt of pain tore through my back, and I let out a whimper before falling face down on the bridge. From the corner of my eye, I could see the Tentacool retreating, which meant Azura was getting further away from me. She must be so frightened.
Next thing I heard was a loud crashing noise, followed by some shouting. I moved my head slowly, and saw the Tentacruel destroying the bridge. This was bad. I could barely move a muscle, and now I'm gonna end up back in the water again. I clenched a fist.
'This isn't fair!'
"Pikachu! Thunder attack!"
"Pika-chuuu!"
'What!?' The enormous Tentacruel lit up in sparks, and cried out as the electricity penetrated it.
The Tentacruel looked toasted, and its eyes spun around. "T.. Te.. kruuul.." It made these low noises.
"One more, Pikachu!"
"Pika!" This Pikachu attacked once more, which was enough to almost defeat the Tentacruel. It suddenly shook itself, and fled, along with the school of Tentacool.
"No..!" I slowly lifted myself off the ground. "Dammit..!" I watched helplessly as they got away.
"Hey are you alright?" I looked up, it was that girl from Vermilion City. What was her name again? Milly?
"Uh.. I'm.. okay.." I lied.
"Huh? Hey..! What happened to that adorable little water Pokémon you had with you?"
"Nothin' more than squid bait now." The fisherman said.
"Poliwhirl." The Pokémon nodded. That kid with the Pikachu ran over with that man with his eyes closed.
"You don't mean.."
"That's right. Those Tentacool took it."
"Oh no!" She shrieked.
"Hey wait you guys. There's something odd floating in the water."
"What is it, Brock?" Milly asked. Brock leaned down in the broken area of the bridge, and picked up something from the water.
"Its an Azurill!"
"Azura!" I spat. I tried to get up quickly, but cringed again.
"Hey! You're hurt!" Milly said.
"Yeah, she got knocked around by that Tentacruel." The fisherman said.
Milly gasped. "It's.. okay Milly. This isn't the first time, I was up against a Pokémon.. on my own.." I said.
"My name's Misty. And really? You look in pretty bad shape!"
"Oh.. my bad."
"The nearest town is probably Lavender Town up North." Brock said, scratching his chin.
"Then we just gotta get there!" Ash exclaimed.
"Mhm! We'll take you there, okay? Um.. Florence, was it?" Misty asked.
"Yeah.." I felt guilty that I forgot her name, yet she remembered mine. But then again, I didn't really care too much. So, Lavender Town was my next destination? 'I wonder what that place is like...'