Our heroes continue to make their way through the Galore Islands, on their way to Starli Island for Davis' fourth challenge.
"What island are we heading for next?" Davis questioned as they were all riding on a boat to the next island.
"The 1-2-3 Islands." Cletus said.
"That's a weird name. Why are they called that?" Tetsu questioned.
"See for yourself. They're coming up." Cletus said. They took a look and couldn't believe it. The three islands up ahead had giant rock formations that look just like numbers.
"Unbelievable! The islands are actually numbered!" Tetsu said with amazement. "How the heck did they get like that?!"
"No clue, but it's certainly interesting." Cletus said. "We'll have to go to Island 2 since it's the only one with a Pokemon Center."
"Hold on. It looks like there's something going on at the water." Imperialdramon said. They all took a closer look and saw a large group of people arguing and fighting with each other.
"What could that be about?" Davis questioned as it seemed like they are about to get into another adventure.
So you want to be Master of Pokemon
Do you have the skills to be Number One
I wanna take the ultimate step
Find the courage to be bold
To risk it all and not forget the lessons that I hold
I wanna go where no one's been
Far beyond the crowd
Learn the way to take command
Use the power that's in my hand
Hey
We all live in a pokemon world
I wanna be the greatest master of them all
We all live in a pokemon world
Put myself to the test
Be better than all the rest
So you wanna be a Master of Pokemon
Do you have the skills to be Number One
We all live in a pokemon world
I wanna be the greatest master of them all
Got the power right in your hands
Po-ke-mon
(Davis' voice) Art of Strife
"Hello, and welcome to the Pokemon Center." Nurse Joy said once Davis and the others came in.
"Hi, Nurse Joy. Would you mind taking a quick look at our pokemon and make sure they're doing okay?" Davis asked.
"Sure. Just leave them to me and..." Nurse Joy was trying to explain what they should do, but they heard some arguing going on. "Not again. Please excuse me." Nurse Joy said as she went to the back, but they followed her to see what was going on. She went inside and saw the classroom was filled with students arguing with each other. "Quiet down! This is suppose to be silent study!"
"Sorry, Nurse Joy." They all said and went back to studying.
"Hold on. Aren't those all the people we saw arguing out in the water?" Tetsu questioned.
"They are. So is this a school too?" Cletus questioned.
"That's right. People form Islands 1 and 3 come here, but I wish they would all learn to get along." Nurse Joy said as she had her students get back to their studying.
"What do you mean?" Davis questioned.
"Island 1 and Island 3 have been at each other's throats for a long time. They have a strong rivalry that I fear might be getting a little too out of hand." Nurse Joy said. "Island 2 acts a spot where they can get along, but that doesn't seem to stop them from fighting."
"How come the other two islands don't get along?" Tetsu questioned.
"I'm not sure. It's been like this for years and I do wish it would stop." Nurse Joy said as she's rather tired of all of it. This seems to have caught the interests of them. After seeing Nurse Joy about this, they all stepped out and tried to figure this out.
"So, Island 1 and Island 3 don't get along. I wonder why that is." Davis said. "I think we should check out the other islands and figure this out. It's a good excuse to explore the other two."
"I agree. They wouldn't be acting like this without a reason." Cletus said. "I'm rather curious myself as to what that reason is."
"I don't know about this one." Tetsu said as it seemed like he didn't want to get involved. The others didn't expect this. "I know how this is going to turn out. We're going to end up getting involved and I'm not sure about this one. Nurse Joy says this has been going on for years. I don't think we can just settle something like this."
"But we could set in motion the right way to peace." Cletus said.
"I'm not so sure about this one." Tetsu said as he took a seat against the Pokemon Center's wall and just tried to relax as he thinks they might be over their heads this time. "You two go if you want. I'm just going to hang here."
"Fine. Have it your way." Cletus agreed. "Davis, you head for Island 1. I'll head for Island 3." Davis agreed to that and they were going to set out to find the cause of this strife between the islands.
...
Island 1
Davis and Imperialdramon flew over to Island 1. When they got there, it looked like a mere simple island with a small town on it. Imperialdramon landed down and they had a look around the place.
"This place doesn't seem so bad." Davis said.
"So, who do we talk to about Island 3?" Imperialdramon questioned.
"Hey. That guy looks like he's important." Davis said as he pointed to a lean man in a suit with brown hair. He was in the middle of talking to some people, but Davis went on over once they cleared away. "Excuse me. Are you someone important?"
"You could say that. I happen to the mayor of this town. I'm Mayor Brady." He said as the two of them shook hands. "I don't think I've ever seen you around here before."
"I just got here. My name is Davis."
"And I'm his partner, Imperialdramon."
"I came to this island because I was hoping you could tell me about the fighting going on between this island and Island 3." Davis said. When he said that, Mayor Brady was doing what he could to keep his composure. "Uh... Hello?"
"Sorry, but our two islands have had problems with each other for years." Brady said. "It all started nearly a hundred years ago."
"A hundred?!" Davis and Imperialdramon said as they couldn't believe it was that long.
"The mayor at the time was a kind and benevolent mayor." Brady explained. "You see, there was a sick patient on Island 2 at the time, but the medicine needed was on our island. So, our mayor back then decided that he would bring the medicine himself. He sailed all the way to the island, but what he didn't expect was that he would be attacked. The mayor from Island 3 was there as well and he stole the medicine."
"Stole it?!" Davis said.
"Yes. Our mayor fell and twisted his ankle on the way. When that happened, the scoundrel form Island 3 made his move and took off with the medicine. We never forgave them for that as everyone on that island are nothing but thugs and criminals." Brady said. This certainly was an interesting tale, but Davis and Imperialdramon can't see that things would be like they are now if that was the case.
"If that's the case, why do you all go to Island 2 for school or whatever?" Davis questioned.
"Neither side has the resources to actually fight each other, so the best we can do is try to deal with each other." Brady said. "However, we will never bow or surrender to them." This certainly explains why Island 1 can't stand them, but what about Island 3's story?
...
Cletus
Cletus got himself a boat and was on his way to Island 3 to hear their story. He docked the boat and saw that Island 3 didn't really look that much different from Island 1. It had it's own town and it looked like a normal and decent place. Cletus had the same idea as Davis and tried to find someone important that could tell him the story.
"Yes. Right there is good."
"Yes, Mayor Peyton." Cletus looked and spotted someone who is the mayor as he was working on some plans with people. Mayor Peyton looked the opposite of Mayor Brady. Peyton was short and stocky in an orange suit and had a balding head with traces of brunette on it.
"Excuse me! Hello?!" Cletus called as he hurried over to him. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to bother you, but are you the mayor?"
"Yes. Who are you?" Peyton asked.
"My name is Cletus and I just arrived at the 1-2-3 Islands today. I saw that your island and Island 1 don't get along."
"You better believe that. Those snobby, arrogant, jerks." Peyton said with frustration. "You made the right choice by coming to our island instead of them." He said, but Cletus was more confused. Peyton saw this and straightened themselves out. "I'm sorry. What can I do to help you?"
"I was just wondering if you could tell me why your islands can't seem to get along." Cletus said.
"That's easy. It all happened nearly a hundred years ago." Peyton said as he was telling their story.
"A hundred?!" Cletus said as he too was shocked that it happened that long ago.
"You see, the mayor of Island 3 at the time was down at Island 2." Peyton said as he started explaining the story. "He was only there for a small vacation, but he saw there was a problem. He saw the mayor from Island 1 at the time was hurt and had medicine with him. The medicine was for a patient on the island. He saw that the mayor form Island 1 twisted his ankle, but that patient needed the medicine. That was when our kindhearted mayor back then took the medicine and delivered it himself."
"Sounds like he did a good thing." Cletus said.
"He certainly did, but those jerks form Island 1 accused our mayor of being a thief! They made lies about how he stole the medicine!" Peyton said. "We were outraged and refused to let such accusations stand! We've been claiming his innocence and we will never give up on that! Those people from Island 1 on the real enemies!" That certainly sounds different than how it goes on Island 1. If that's the case, who is right?
...
Island 2
"Let me see if I got this right." Tetsu said. Both Davis and Cletus returned to the island and they both shared what they heard. "The people of Island 1 think those on Island 3 are crooks and thieves."
"Yeah because the mayor of Island 3 from a long time ago stole some medicine from the mayor of Island 1." Davis said.
"But the people of Island 3 think the people of Island 1 are liars who accused an innocent man?" Tetsu asked.
"That's right. According to them, their mayor was just trying to help." Cletus confirmed.
"But that all happened almost a hundred years ago. It's got nothing to do with today." Tetsu said. "Besides, I still don't see why both sides would think that way about each other. It sounds like no one knows what really happened. There's a piece of the story missing."
"Tetsu's right. What about the patient they kept talking about?" Imperialdramon said. "Whatever happened to that person since that the was the one who needed the medicine."
"That's right. Whatever happened between the two sides happened on this island." Cletus said. "We need to know what happened after the medicine was taken. It could clear up this whole thing and they could finally put their differences aside."
"Maybe we should bring the two mayors together so they can talk it over." Davis said.
"Yes, but we would need a third person involved to help balance this whole thing out." Cletus said. "Someone from this island that must know what happened."
"What about Nurse Joy? She's from this island, and is in charge of some of the kids educations." Davis said. "Maybe she really knows what happened."
"It's worth a try. That might actually work." Cletus said. "If we can get the two mayors talking and fill in the holes of the story, we might be able to end this whole thing."
"I have a feeling it won't be that easy." Tetsu said as he had his doubts.
...
Later
Davis and the others were able to call and convince both Mayor Brady and Mayor Peyton to come to Island 2. Hopefully, they can settle this whole thing and the islands can get along. All of them waited for the two to show at the center. To their surprise, they saw both of them coming.
"That's them!" Davis said.
"They actually came!" Imperialdramon said. It seemed like it was going good until the two spotted each other and got all angry.
"What are you doing here, you mayor of thieves?!" Brady said.
"I'm here because I was called here! What's your excuse?! Finally see your island for the trash heap it is?!" Peyton said.
"At least my island is being run by a man! Not by some dwarf!" Brady said.
"At least I have some modesty, you king of the obnoxious!" Peyton said. This was not off to a great start. Davis and the others knew they had to do something, but they were starting to think this was a bad idea.
"What is going on out here?" Nurse Joy questioned as she came outside.
"Nurse Joy! Perfect!" Davis said as they could not get to work. Davis let out a loud whistle and got the two to stop arguing with each other. "Listen, we called you here so we could settle things between your two islands once and for all. It sounds like there are two different stories from what we heard, and a key piece is missing."
"What are you talking about? They were the ones that stole." Brady said.
"No we didn't. You were the liars." Peyton said.
"Listen! Maybe there's a way to fix this!" Imperialdramon claimed.
"Mayor Brady, you told us that a hundred years ago that the mayor of Island 1 back then was delivering medicine for a sick patient, but the mayor from Island 3 stole it." Davis said.
"But Mayor Peyton told me that the mayor back then was really trying to help." Cletus said.
"Is that all true?" Nurse Joy questioned.
"Because that's what happened. No it didn't! Stop copying me! Stop copying me!" Both of them shouted.
"But there seems to be a piece missing." Davis said. "You see, we don't know what happened with the patient and the medicine. Knowing that could be the key to ending all of this once and for all. That's where you come in Nurse Joy." He said as they all turned to her. "It all happened right on this island. Perhaps you can fill in the missing pieces. Could you tell us what happened to the patient? Whatever happened to them could help in this matter."
"I don't know." Nurse Joy said just like that. Not what they needed. "That all happened a long time ago. I wasn't even born yet. How could I have known what happened?"
"Seriously?! There's not a file or anything?! You could have at least made something up!" Davis said as that didn't go the way they expected.
"I don't see why this is up for debate. The people from Island 3 are just thieves." Brady claimed.
"No we're not! You're all liars!" Peyton claimed. That was when the two of them started arguing again and it seemed like it was a lot worse.
"I knew this would happen." Tetsu claimed as it seems like there's really nothing they can do.
"That's enough!" Nurse Joy shouted and got them all to settle down. "The bottom line is that it all happened such a long time ago. It has nothing to do with today. Aren't you all tired of the fighting and arguing? Look at where all this fighting and arguing has gotten us: nowhere. Do you really want this to continue? We might never know what really happened, but someone has to stop the fighting, especially when we don't know the truth. There's practically no point in going on. As mayors, you both need to think of what's best for all the islands so we, our people, and children can live peacefully." Nurse Joy brought up some good points and it did get them to behave and think about their actions.
"Perhaps you're right." Brady said.
"Maybe it is time we put an end to our differences." Peyton said as they both agreed as mayors that they want what is best for their islands. All of them were glad to hear that because it seemed like this century long feud was over.
"Nurse Joy, why don't you and I talk more about it over dinner." Brady offered.
"What?! Hold on! She's having dinner with me, not you!" Peyton said. Just like that, the two of them started arguing again. The others were all dumbfounded about this.
"They say "Never give up, never surrender", but I think these two are just stubborn and pigheaded." Tetsu claimed.
It can be tough to bury that hatchet and set aside rivalries, feuds, and such. Our heroes have witnessed that it's not that easy. Maybe next time, they won't get caught in the middle of a feud again. You'll just have to keep watching.
To Be Continued...