WARNING: At the last third of this chapter, there're a short moment where a charcater makes dark descriptions that mention blood and death. Some readers may find it unsettling, but it was kept in for backstory reasons, so I hope you understand. You can just skip over it if you'd like, as the rest of the chapter doesn't have moments like that. Please enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 13: The Root of It All.

It was a beautiful sunny fall day as the sky was a clear blue and the leaves were beginning to change color, and an Aggron was right outside his home enjoying the view from right outside his door.

"Hello Mr. Aggron!" A young voice called out. The Steel-Type turned his head to the caller, and smiled seeing the small Shinx in front of him standing on the road.

"Oh, hello Bolt! How was school today?" He asked as he walked toward the lion.

"Oh, the schoolwork was okay, but the fighting was where it was at! I'll have you know that I won almost all my fights!" The Electric-Type boosted.

"Almost?"

Bolt looked down and sighed. "I lost only one fight, and it was against Corey! But that's not that fair because he just evolved into a Monferno! So it really shouldn't count." Bolt looked away from the Aggron. "...And all of those dumb rules made the battle end faster than it should have, because I could still fight! I wasn't done yet! But, oh no, apparently we HAD to stop fighting, and he just HAD to win, and he just had to rub it in my face!"

"I see, so I guess you're going to have to evolve too, right?" The Iron Armor Pokémon told the Shinx.

"Ya, but Mom and Dad said that that might happen sometime next year." The small Shinx answered.

His eyes then widened as he realized something. "Oh no! Mom and Dad! I forgot! They wanted to tell me something after school!" Bolt then Quick Attacked away as fast as he could down the dirt road and towards home.

"Bye Mr. Aggron!" He called back to him, to which the Steel-Type smiled and waved back, before he returned to his porch.

Bolt ran as fast as he could, his heart was beating! It felt like the school day went by in only moments because he forgot about the surprise, which was the best thing that could have happened, as that meant that the day didn't drag on.

Bolt couldn't help but smile at the thought of what it could be. His dad looked very excited when he told Bolt that they'd tell him after school back in the morning, so it had to be good, like, really good. But what is it?

Bolt's mind suddenly became very flooded with ideas. Could it be something from that one clothing store they went by last week? Bolt remembered him staring at all the cool things he could wear, from scarfs, bandanas, to those cool sunglasses!

Maybe it's something to help him fight? Maybe that one small book on ways to fight? Bolt wasn't really into books, but after today he might change that. Or maybe even a Thunder Stone to evolve?

Bolt let out a small chuckle at that thought. "Ya right, like that'll ever happen." Bolt thought.

Although it would be cool, even he was smart enough to know that would never happen, they were way too rare, which meant they were hard to find, and even more expensive to get! And besides, Dad would always tell him that those stones were a 'cheap way to look stronger.'

To which Bolt didn't fully understand why he said that. Something like that would have to make you stronger...right?

The lion was nearing his home, which made him do a final sprint. "Alright, I'm here!" He coughed out when he reached the doorstep.

Bolt blasted through the door and called out, "Mom? Dad? I'm home!" Wanting to know what the surprise was as soon as he could.

...

But nomon answered him. Bolt groaned and tried again, though this time, louder. "MOM! DAD! HELLO!?" He roared.

*Crash!* Suddenly, he heard something, followed by some chatter from his parents in his dad's small office room.

That was weird, his dad told the family that he wanted to change up the room, so what are they doing in there?

The Shinx walked though the doorway and past the family room to go closer to the room where he had heard the noise come from. He walked up to the door, which was closed, and also locked from what he could tell. Bolt curiously knocked on the door. "Mom? Dad? Are you in there?"

Bolt then heard his parents talk to each other. He let out a small groan and put his ear on the door to listen in on the conversation. He heard his dad first. "Well, it seems our little bolt of lighting just got back from school."

He then heard his mother ask, "So, which one of us will talk to him then?"

His dad followed. "I'll talk to him first, then get him hyped up for the surprise, and then, we'll show him the room!" He said probably smiling.

"H-hyped up?" The Luxray gasped. "Can't we just wait a little? It's not done yet."

"I think the Meowth's out of the bag hon'." The Raichu said. "Besides, even if we told him to not go into this room, he'd try any way he could to get here. You know how stubborn he can get."

Bolt's entire body them started to shake from all of his excitement. They hid his surprise in the one room where he'd never go into. That was so sneaky to do, but now he knew.

"But...do you think he'll not like the surprise as much? What if he-"

Dad cuts in. "Look, I won't hype him up THAT much." He started. "And besides, what's better than this? He'll love it just as much as I do, I'm sure of it."

Bolt would have rolled his eyes at the way Dad talked to Mom, but he didn't because he still had no idea what was in there! His tail was turning into a wind turbine, as Bolt's heart started beating in excitement, as he waited for his dad to open the door.

He heard the footsteps coming, Bolt looked at the corner of the door, he then got an idea. He bent down on his two front paws in a pouncing position, ready for his dad to greet him, but he wasn't planning on saying hello just yet.

"Bolt? You still out there?" His dad asked.

"Yep!" Bolt grinned preparing to jump past his dad.

"Alright, I'm going to open this door, and you're going to stay there. Alright?"

Dang it! His dad was on to him! Well, that wasn't going to work anyway, he was going to do it no matter what!

"A...Okay!" Bolt fibbed. He saw the door crack slightly. "Okay, now me and your mo-"

NOW!

Bolt pounced at the corner, hoping to get a small peek at the surprise. But Dad was one step ahead, literally, as Bolt was met with his dad's left foot.

"Hey, hey, hey! What did I just say to you, Kido?!" Dad said as Bolt's face slammed into his leg. Bolt tried to move around it, or at least peek to his left to see something, but unfortunately he could only see his dad's leg, and the door. So he tried harder.

"Agh! Come on! What is it! What is it!" Bolt cried out. "Whaw!"

Devin pushed his son, using his leg, across the hall, and quickly moved himself around the door, and closed it. "Don't lie like that son! I keep telling you that, and you always say 'yes sir' or 'okay', but from the voice of your voice, I knew you were going to try and sneak in." He told Bolt, who stated to get up.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, but I really wanna see the surprise!" Bolt said as he beamed with positivity.

"Well, can you at least wait a few more seconds?" His dad said, to which Bolt groaned and said, "Fine! But I'm dying out here! Can you at least give me a hint? A small one? Please!"

His dad let out a small chuckle. "Alright, alright, sense you are looking very excited today, I guess I'll let you in on it."

The Shinx then formed a smile that was larger than life. This is the moment he was waiting for.

"So." His father began. "You know how I told you and your mom that I wanted to change up the office room?"

"Ya." Bolt said as he quickly nodded, wanting his dad to get right to the point.

"Well, it's not finished yet, but I'm sure you'll still love it! You ready?"

Bolt couldn't hold back his huge smile. "Yes! Show me show me show me!"

"Alright, slowly this time, alright?" Dad said as he opened the door.

Despite what his dad said, Bolt dashed past his father the same way he had planned and went into the small room, only to have his face once again hit something, although this time, it was his mom's paw.

"Bolt. Slowly." She said as she put her paw in front of herself to catch the small cub.

She then lifted her paw off of him, and Bolt saw his surprise...at least, that's what he thought. He looked around himself to see that most of the furniture, like most of the desks and cabinets, except for one of each, were gone. And it was replaced by a new small safety nest, and a huge rug in the middle. He also looked to his side to see some boxes in the corner of the room, which was a mix of old stuff and some new stuff that he had never seen before. They mostly redid the entire room? But why?

Bolt had never wanted a new room, he was perfectly fine with his own awesome room, so, what was this for?

"Do you like it?" His dad asked, but Bolt didn't really know what his answer was.

"I uhh...you redid the whole room, it...looks nice." Bolt turned to his parents. "But why? Who is this room for? I don't want to move out of my room. All my stuff's in there!"

His parents looked at each other, and his dad motioned for his mother to speak, who took in a breath.

"Well, this room isn't for you. In fact, it's not for any of us really." She said.

Bolt tilted his head. "Huh? What do you mean? Then why change it up? We don't have Pokemon here that often, so we don't need more room."

Bolt's dad laughed, but put his paw over his mouth. Bolt was confused. Was there something he was missing?

Lina then sat down and touched her belly. "Bolt, somemon's going to be joining this family."

Bolt looked at his Mom's belly, he was starting to put together what was going on, but he didn't say anything, just to be sure.

His mom smiled and looked at his dad. "We're having another baby." She said.

Bolt stopped for a moment as it all hit him. He felt so weird, but then his excitement came back in full force. "I'm-...I'm going to be a big brother?!" Bolt screamed in realization.

His father laughed. "Yep!"

"Oh my gosh! That's so cool!" Bolt said as he started running around the room.

Devin looked at Lina. "I told you he'd like it." He said with a wink, to which the Luxray sighed in relief.

"So what's it gonna be?" Bolt asked. "A Boy? Girl? A Pichu? Another Shinx?"

"All we know is that it's going to come out this spring, dear. Nothing else." His mom answered.

"Oh, well. I hope it's a Shinx like me and you!" Bolt told his mom.

"Hey, what about a Pichu? I'd like to have somemon in the family to be just like me, you know." Dad said.

He then said, "Come here you!" And picked up Bolt, who started laughing. He then looked at his mom. Although he didn't know too much about his younger sibling, he knew that he was going to have a great time teaching whatever it was everything he knew.

He was so happy and excited for the day he'd meet him.

Bolt's vison started going black. He couldn't really move or think at all as if he was in some sort of dream. What was going on?

He then started to hear voices. "Is he waking up? Quick! Use it! Use it!" A young female voice cried out.

Suddenly, Bolt's world went white. The lion groaned as his body failed to move, it hurt so much for some reason.

What in the world did he do to himself? Bolt turned his head and opened his mouth, before suddenly, water rushed into it! Bolt let out a huge cough to clear the water, but more just came back. Bolt slowly opened his eyes, and then he continued coughing.

But finally, his skin started to tingle as the water left him, and he started to breath again. Bolt tried to move his body, but all he got from it was pain all around him, which made him let out a groan of pain.

"Don't worry! Eat this!" The same female voice told Bolt. And he didn't question anything, he just opened his mouth like a baby bird waiting for its mother to put food in it. After a second or two, a berry was placed into his mouth, although, quite faster than Bolt expected. Bolt coughed out the food as soon as it hit the back of his mouth.

"AH! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to do that!" She said as she started panicking.

Bolt suddenly felt the strength to open his eyes. "It's fine I guess, just don't-"

The lion cut himself off as soon as he realized who he was talking to. It was a Pokemon he had never met before, but he remembered seeing it in school. He recognized the blue color, seal-like body, and clone nose.

"Don't what?" The Pokémon asked.

Shoot! It's name was a...what was it again. Pablo, Poppla...Popplio!

"Um...nothing." Bolt bushed off. "You're a...Popplio, right?"

"Yep!" She said as she quickly nodded. Bolt looked around him a bit more, it was very dark but he could still tell that he was somewhere rocky by the walls. Bolt looked to the ground.

"And someplace sandy too?" He wondered as he carefully moved his leg across the ground to see the sand come up.

And everything seemed...blueish? Where was he? This didn't look like anywhere Bolt had been to or seen before.

"What are you doing?" The Popplio asked Bolt. Bolt looked toward his new helper and answered. "A... do you know where-"

But then the Luxio let out a small gasp as he saw the Popplio flying right above his face, going back and forth, without a care in the world! Bolt was already a bit confused about everything going on ever since he woke up, but now he sees a Popplio flying? Bolt's sure that he's now being flat out bamboozled!

Bolt slowly tilts his head to the side as he asks the mysterious Pokémon a question. "How are you flying above my face?"

The Water-Type looked confused for a moment, but then looked at herself and let out a small chuckle. "Oh, heheh. I'm not flying, silly, I'm just swimming. We're just underwater." She said.

"OH! Underwater, thank goodness." Bolt sighed. "Because for a moment I thought..."

It suddenly hit him. "Wait, I'M UNDERWATER?!" Bolt immediately began to move his body to kick himself back to the surface, but then he was met with a huge amount of pain.

"Agh!" He cried out. The Popplio realized what Bolt was doing and swam right to him. "Hey, hey, hey, HEY! It's okay! Wally just used Soak on you! You're okay. You changed to a part Water-Type now!" She said as she placed herself in front of Bolt.

"Part Water-Type!?" Bolt exclaimed. He then stopped moving, and took the moment to put together everything. He then looked around himself again and resaw and rethought everything. The surroundings started to make sense, as it really did look like he was underwater, but he seemed fine, he could breathe perfectly! Maybe, he was part Water-Type?

"Wait," Bolt questioned. "'changed to part Water-Type?' Are you some sort of Mew? Because if you are, sure why not!" Bolt groaned as he closed his eyes. "The things that have happened today." Bolt thought.

The small seal laughed a little, not reading Bolt's stress. "Haha! I'm not a Mew! And neither is Wally! He just used the move 'Soak' on you. It's a move that changes your typing to Water for one hour."

"Soak..." Bolt's eyes widened. "Wait, who's Wally?"

"That'll be me, young mon'" An old male voice answered. Suddenly, a bright light started shining in his face.

"Hey! What gives?!" The Luxio exclaimed.

"Sorry Son." The male voice said as the light started to die down, revealing a light purplish fish with a bit of like yellow across its eyes and tail. But Bolt could right away tell what Pokémon that was right when he saw a glimpse at his lantern.

It was a Lanturn.

"Yes, I'm the one who used Soak on you, learned it from my dad." He said.

Soak. Bolt suddenly remembered being taught that move back at school, or rather, being annoyed by that move. Memories of Sparks endlessly talking about that move, and exclaiming how it would be so cool if he could be a Water-Type for a little bit. It's not that Bolt thought the ability of swimming as deep as you wanted without having to worry about air, that stuff is cool. But Sparks just going on and on about it? No.

Wait...Sparks! "Sparks! Agh!" Bolt cried out. "Can you just give me the berry already?" Bolt told the seal.

"Oh, of course!" She then looked up and saw it floating at the surface of the water above them. "Whoops, I'll be right back." She said as she swam to get it. The Lanturn, however, gave a slight mean glare towards Bolt.

Bolt couldn't help but worry. But before he could get a question out, the Light Pokémon shot his own out. "What's your name Luxio?" He firmly asked.

Bolt blinked. "Great," He thought. "he's sounding like Dad when he gets mad at me." Bolt looked toward him and answered. "Umm, my name's Bolt, sir."

"Wally, just as you've heard, and the way-" Wally said.

"Oh! And I'm Karah! Wally gave me that name!" The Popplio said with style. "Here's your berry!"

Bolt looked at her, then over to Wally. "You gave her a name?" He asked as he wiped off the berry a little, and then put it in her mouth.

Wally sighed. "Look, you see. Karah's not from here, she's a wild Pokémon."

"Wild!?" Bolt exclaimed as he coughed out the berry...again. Karah then spoke up. "I know it may seem impossible, but Wally's taught me so much of your hard and difficult language! I understand you mons need a language, but you didn't have to make it so hard to understand."

"Well, I'll give you that one." Bolt chuckled as he once more put the berry in his mouth, third time's the charm. "It's not so hard to believe actually." He said with his mouth full, he then swallowed it. "My little brother just ran into a talking Wild Lapras."

Bolt started to feel his strength come back as he pushed himself from the ground, it felt so good to finally stand...or swim in this strange case. He turned his head toward the two Pokémon, only to see surprised looks across their faces, as if he had just spit in their food. Bolt would've been sweating if it wasn't for him being underwater.

"...Are you guys-"

Karah swam right up to him and put her fins on the sides of his head. "LAPRAS WAS HERE!? WHERE IS SHE!? CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US!?"

Bolt pushed her away from his face. "Woah, woah, woah! You guys know Melody?"

Karah floated upside down. "Depends, does she know the song, 'Changing Currents?'"

Bolt blinked. "I-I don't even know what that is. But, Sparks did tell me that she could sing. So, maybe?"

"Aww...you guys gave her a name? That's a good one." Karah asked, only to have Wally look at her.

"Let's not get our hopes up just yet." He then swam over towards Bolt. "Tell me, where did the Lapras come from?" He asked.

Bolt rubbed his head. "The Lapras was being held at Gator's ship..." Suddenly, a part of Bolt wanted to scream out Sparks and Gator at the same time, but he just stopped himself. "One thing at a time." He thought. "And then my little Pichu brother just broke her out last night and...that's all I know really."

Wally turned to Karah and they started talking to each other, Bolt couldn't help but feel annoyed. Karah then turned back, followed by Wally who spoke up. "You see, Karah's best friend who's a Lapras was captured by a group of sailors lead by a Feraligatr." Wally looked at the Popplio. "Karah wanted to go save her, so she tried to go after them. However, as fast as us Water-Types are, ships like those are always faster it seems."

Karah spoke up. "To make a long, LONG story short. I swam into Wally, and he helped me talk like you guys, and we looked for Lapras together. But we were never able to find her, and after two months of looking...we kind of just gave up." She said as she looked down to the sand. "I didn't want to do it, but at the same time, we were just tried, and I missed my home."

"Two monthes?!" Bolt yelled in his head. Karah looked up with a look of pride in her. "But then, earlier today, we heard from a Butterfre that there was this Pichu who broke out a Lapras from a ship. So we came over here as fast as we could to see if we could find her!"

"Then, that is her. I'd think." Bolt said astonished.

The Popplio then looked thrilled, and then went to Bolt face again. "YOU MEAN YOU DID FIND HER! WHERE IS SHE! WHERE IS SHE!?"

Not this again. At least she wasn't shaking his head, though judging by the energy she had, she might end up doing that to him.

"Look, I'm sorry! But just..." Bolt looked up towards the sky and saw that it was night. "A while ago Gator came back and captured her and my brother! And then he froze me! Now get off my face!" He said as he put his paw into her nose.

She then turned white. "You mean...we MISSED HER."

Bolt started to feel bad. "Look, I don't know how long I've been frozen for, but ya...you guys probably did." Bolt said.

Wally came forward. "Quick, do you at least know where they went?!" He asked.

"Aaa..." Bolt started as he began to get used to swimming. But then he remembered something. "He said that he needed to make an order at Red Currents. So I guess we go there." He answered.

Wally then looked down and grunted, he then looked back up to Bolt. "Alright then... I guess we're going there, Karah."

"Alright!" Karah said as she shot her fin up towards the sky. "Then let's get going!"

Bolt only looked at the two Water-Types, caring so much for their long long friend as they started to get ready for the long swim, he looked away from them. He never really cared so much for his brother, but knowing that Gator had him, he was starting to think-

"Bolt, are you coming along with us?" Wally called out towards him. The lion turned back to them and blinked. "You said your little bother was captured by Gator! So you're going to come and help him, right? We can even help each other!" Karah stated.

They were going to Gator too, maybe he could go with them. Sure, it would be throughout the night after a whole day of him fighting and literally running after Sparks. But as long as they were the ones swimming there.

Sure, he won't mind having a free ride.

"Alright. But, I need a little sleep on the way there." Bolt said as he began swimming towards them. Oh, this felt so weird. He wasn't the best swimmer, but the fact he could breathe just felt very off.

"Alrighty then." Wally said as he nodded, but Karah groaned. "Sleep? Aww...But I want to talk to you Bolt! I want to ask you about Melody, about Sparks, and-"

Bolt cut her off. "No, please! You will never understand how much stress and work I had to do today! And if I'm going to fight Gator at like...3:00am, then I'm sleeping as much as I can."

The seals fins went down. "But... I'm gonna be swimming there too, so-"

"Karah," Wally called. "It's best to let him sleep, at least for most of the trip."

Bolt chuckled and whispered. "Where have you been all the times Sparks talked to me in my life."

Wally noticed Bolt's smile, and then made a crossed face. "What's with the smile, young man?"

Bolt shook off the thoughts, and went onto Wally. "Nothing, it's just that Karah's reminding me of Sparks."

Wally looked at Bolt. "Uh-huh. Well Bolt, just hold on tight until we reach the surface. Once we do, you can sleep for a while."

"Alright." Bolt said as he hugged onto Wally, which Bolt found, very weird. "I'm good."

Wally looked forward. "Alright, let's-"

"Get going!" Karah yelled as she darted away from them. Bolt suddenly felt water push at his face as Wally started moving.

"Karah! Don't go too fast! I'm carrying somemon!" Wally grunted, as he struggled to keep up with her. Bolt almost fell off as he started to hold on tight as he quickly was heading toward the surface and Karah. The two of them then burst out of the water and made a small splash. Bolt started to weaken his grip on the purple Pokemon, and let out a sigh.

He really couldn't believe anything that was going on right now, but he knew that he needed Sparks back. And besides, he needed a little payback on Gator anyways.

Sparks' ears twitched, then it did it again. The Pichu then rolled over onto his belly, when something pinched his leg.

"Ow!" Sparks cried out in pain. He then looked down to see what did it, and was horrified to find out what it was. In the dark, and through the hay, Sparks was just able to recognize the chain that hurt him. As it was locked onto his leg.

"Nononononononononononono." He said as Sparks' world started to crash and burn. He quickly began looking around for Melody in the dark room. "Melody? MELODY?"

"Sparks?" A voice called out to him.

Sparks looked toward the voice, and saw a barred opening, and through it, he saw Melody's face.

Sparks let out a small sigh. "Melody!" He then started running towards him "Melody, hold on. I'll try- Woah! Oof!"

Sparks' face and rest of the body slammed into the floor. Sparks turned himself over and saw that the chain had strapped him to a wall, only giving him a few feet of running space. He then looked at his chained leg again. And both his ears went down.

"Sparks?" Melody called.

"Y-ya?" Sparks said.

There was a pause in her words. "What...What do we do?"

Tears started to come up the mouse's eyes. He didn't know. He had done so much to make sure something like this wouldn't happen. And after he escaped, he didn't even think Gator could come back. But then Bolt... just had to throw away all of his hard work! His work that was supposed to prevent this from happening!

"I...*sniff* I don't know." He coughed out as he started to break up into tears. He lost, and now it was up to Gator for what happened to them next. Sparks' ear went up, as he started to hear somemon at a door.

Suddenly, a towering Pokemon opened the door, and entered the room.

"Gator." Sparks grunted.

"It's a little dark in here, isn't it?" He said as he lit up the room. Sparks closed his eyes from the brightness, then opened them and got a good look at the room in front of his metal bars.

It was a pretty small wooden room, which could maybe fit three Gators, and a jail cell that was almost the same size, a desk, with some papers on it, on the right side of the door and one light source that was able to light up almost the whole room. And then Gator.

The captain took one step forward as he put his huge claw around two of the bars, and bent down to look at Sparks. Sparks wiped away his tears and looked at the Water-Type eye-to-eye.

"What are you going to do to her?" Sparks told Gator, with barely any whining from just a second ago.

"Sparks, I'd go over all of the troubles you've done, but I already have, and I'm tried, so I'm going to get straight to the point. I'm down here to make a deal with you."

"Don't do it!" Melody cried out.

"Shut up!" Gator roared back at the Wild Pokemon, he then turned back to Sparks.

Sparks looked down at his chain, he really didn't have much of a choice here, it's not like he could just leave and go home. The only way to move forward from here, was to hear Gator's deal.

Besides, it felt like he was being asked a rhetorical question.

"What's the deal?" Sparks asked. Knowing full well that it still wasn't going to be good.

"Deals are what this business is all about, it's what makes the world go round. What I have in mind is for you guys to help me with my order." He then stopped for a moment. "You may over heard about my, 'Red Currents' order coming up. So, I need you guys to help us out by grabbing something for us."

"Why do you want us?" Sparks asked firmly as he walked to Gator.

Gator sighed. "Red Currents is a dangerous current that leads into an even more dangerous cave, an underground cave, but that's where the treasure lies." He began. "So, I need that Lapras-"

"Melody." Sparks corrected. Gator gave Sparks a death stare for a moment. "Don't try and correct me, Pichu."

He then went on. "The Lapras to traverse through the currents and get through the Wild Pokemon and come back with as much of the treasure we need. I'd send in my Wingulls, but the cave is underwater, it's pitch black in there, filled with other Wild Pokemon, and they wouldn't even make it back with much of the treasure to begin with."

"So why do you also need me?" Sparks asked as he put his two paws up against the bars.

"Melody has never really done anything without us making her do it. And while we were planning on having one of us go with her, that all changed when I thought of you."

Sparks didn't understand, so Gator explained. "You see, the Lapras seems to care for you, just as much as you do for her. She likes you, she trusts you, and she'll listen to you while you join her down there." He then stood up straight. "Besides, you have to pay us back one way or another for what you did to us."

"And what do we get out of this if we do it and get you what you need?" Sparks stated, hoping his best for a good answer this time.

"For starters, you'll be dropped off back at home. I'll tell your parents the same thing I told them for your brother: That you helped us deliver something for us while we were fixing the ship. Hopefully they'll take the bait and you'll be free from any more punishment. Back to your old life."

"But what about Melody?" Sparks wondered.

Gator bent down again and put his face up against the bars. "Kid, if you think I'm willing to cut ties with your friend, you're very wrong."

Sparks snapped. "H-how can you sleep at night?! Knowing that your business is going well because you're treating somemon like the way she is! She can be just like us, and you're-"

"They took EVERYTHING FROM ME!" Gator roared as his claws started to bend the bars. "It was never really because of how valuable that is, it's mostly about setting the score right with them."

He then moved back and turned around. "I think you'll find this entertaining." He scoffed as he grabbed the bottom of his cloak, he then lifted it up, revealing a huge, deep scar on his back. Sparks' eyes widened in fear. "Ten years ago, I had a wife, two eggs that were ready to hatch at any day, and this ship. I couldn't be any happier" He started to shake.

"But then...those Wild Laprases came, AND KILLED THEM ALL!" He yelled. "This mark came from those Pokemon, those blood thirsty, wild Pokemon! As they stopped me from saving my screaming wife as she tried to protect our future kids as we all swam through blood!" Gator's death stare came back towards Sparks.

"We were just having a wonderful time together, not hurting anymon! And then those monsters appeared out of nowhere and attacked us!" He then turned back and walked toward the Pichu, with a look of terror all over his now soulless eyes.

"You're smart, your dad is the mayor of your small little town. Did he ever tell you what Wild Pokemon do to their prey?" Gator asked as he leaned against the bars. Sparks was horrified by the look Gator gave him, and was too scared to respond.

Gator took that as a no. "They ATE them." He creaked out. Sparks heart suddenly stop beating as he heard those words. But Gator wasn't satisficed. "They ate them in front of my own eyes!" He roared as he started to go crazy. "THEY TOOK AWAY THE ONLY THINGS THAT MATTERED TO ME, AND THEN THEY PUT ME IN THIS LIFE OF DEBT! YOU HEAR ME!"

He then slightly calmed down, and had some water dripping from his eyes. "I was barley alive after that, but I was saved by another ship. I was able to walk after a few days, but my family? Dead! All of them, gone forever!"

He then started to walk around the room. "I was suddenly deep in debt, and I had to work my way back to get out of it! Those tiring days I had working to rebuild the only thing I had so I could to sail back home, and those sleepless nights I had of my wife screaming for my help!"

He then slammed his claws against the bars, bending them even more. And showed his furious, yet, tearful face, and Sparks could see a small purple aura in his eyes. "It's Pokemon like that, like HER! That put me into this mess! And if you are going to stand in the way, of my only way of getting back at them! You have another thing coming!" He said.

Sparks wanted to say something against him, telling him that he was wrong about Melody. To tell him that she changed, and isn't like those other Pokemon. But...he couldn't. He didn't want to. Even though he still knew that what Gator was doing was wrong, he doubt that he'd ever listen to him. And from the look on the jaw Pokemon's face, he knew that Gator could throw him out of the ship if he said anything against him.

Sparks looked back towards Melody, and saw the same scared look on her face, this was probably the first time she had heard, or at least understood Gator's reason for keeping her. Gator looked the bended bars, shook his head, then let go of them. "I'm...sorry for the burst of anger, I bet you may not get your much needed rest now." He said as he brushed himself off. "But I'm just...not over what they did to me. So let's just just get back to our deal, okay?"

Sparks looked at his feet and thought about it. Sparks didn't like the idea of doing this, but he couldn't see him doing anything else. He could try to get Melody freed if they did it, but even still, that would be a long shot. But, a better one then trying right now.

"Alright, but please, think about it at least?" Sparks asked hopefully.

Gator sighed at the attempt. "...I'll see." He fibbed. "But for now, I'll leave you guys to get your shut eye." He said as he turned of the light and grabbed the door.

He opened the door, and was about to close it, but then stopped. "Oh, and if you try anything while you're here, you'll end up like your brother." He grunted as he slammed the door leaving the room dark and empty.

Sparks just let out a sigh of relief as he fell down onto his back. As he thought about those words. Bolt. Where was he? What did Gator do to him!? Was he here? Or did he just run away, and Gator's just bluffing? Was he okay? Was he-

"I did not do it." Melody said.

"Huh?" Sparks said as his one eye went open. "I did not eat them. He's got the wrong Lapras."

Sparks sighed. "I know you didn't eat them, you're too kind for something like that but..." He stopped. "Are there Wild Pokemon who eat others?" He asked.

The turtle went silent. But then answered. "I have heard of Pokemon who eat others, yes."

"Then Gator's going to keep you as long as he can."

"No!" She cried out. "Gator can not do this! I want to go home! I don't want his life! I don't want to go to Red Currents!"

"Melody, please!" Sparks yelled. "I don't want to do this either, but if there's any shot of getting you home now, it's listening to Gator." He sighed.

"But...you could...get hurt, or even worse-"

Sparks stood up. "Anything to help you!" He said. "I'm going to help you, because right now, you can't help yourself! Now please! We need to sleep!" Sparks said as he sat down.

Melody looked down, and didn't have anything else to say against her friend. But she knew one thing.

"I hate Bolt." She grunted. Sparks looked towards her one last time, and then sighed. It really was Bolt's fault that he was in this mess, she was right.

"I guess I do too." He said, not sure if he meant it or not. He then leaned onto his side and tried to get comfortable.

This was going to be one long night.