xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Hau'oli Beachfront, Melemele Island, 5:19 p.m. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I don't even know if he can swim..." Rotom thought as it waited for Keats to finally come back up from the ocean after he dove in to find the Pokéball that was used to catch a Dragalge.
Suddenly, as the phone Pokémon looked on, Keats had surfaced from the ocean as his head was now sticking out of the water.
"Ahhh! Uhhh!" Keats grunted as he started to swim over to the sand. "Okay... Don't make me swim for anything... Ever again." He said as he walked over to Rotom, next to his stuff.
"Did you find the ball, zzzzt?" Rotom questioned as Keats lifted up his hand to show he had found the Pokéball.
"Pain in the ass..." Keats thought as he looked at the ball before opening it up.
Emerging from the light was Keats' new sea dragon-like Pokémon that he inadvertently captured. Laying on the ground on his stomach, Keats and Rotom looked down at the long creature and noticed he was covered in a myriad of bruises and marks from head to tailfin.
"Whoa..." Keats muttered as he looked up and down the body of Dragalge.
"It'zzzz in a rough state..." Rotom said with a concerned tone.
"How'd this happen?" Keats said towards Rotom.
"I don't know. Did you zzzzee anything down there?" Rotom questioned.
"Nothing that could have explained this. I found the ball hidden in some seaweed, picked it up and came back up." Keats explained.
"Draaaaagg..." Dragalge muttered with a tone of pain as Rotom and Keats turned their attention back to the severely damaged Poison and Dragon type Pokémon.
"Was that anything you could translate?" Keats asked as he bent down further to check on Dragalge.
"That wazzzz just a moan. We need to go to the Pokémon Center." Rotom said as Keats nodded.
"Return." Keats said as he recalled Dragalge to his ball and then walking over to his bags to pull out a towel to clean himself off. "Seriously, never ask me to go in the water again." He said as he pointed at Rotom while cleaning behind his ears.
"Well, you've had zzzzome decent luck in water, all things considered." Rotom stated as Keats rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm the guy who finds Dragon types in water... Heck of a lot of "decent luck."' Keats thought as he dried himself off enough to put his shirt and fisherman's jacket back on before grabbing his bags. "Come on, let's get everyone healed up." He said as he walked towards the stairs with Rotom following behind.
As they left, unbeknownst to the pair, was a Bruxish emerging from the ocean, watching them. Unlike the normal pink, blue and yellow colors, however, this one had a red body with green and white spots. Descending back into the water, the fish-like Pokémon turned around and swam over to three of its pink, blue and yellow colored kind.
"Brux-bruxish." One of the pink Bruxish said to the red Bruxish.
"Bruxish..." The red Bruxish said with a malicious smile on its face.
'"Bruxishishish."' The three pink Bruxish laughed as the red Bruxish turned back in the direction of the beach before swimming away as the three pink Bruxish followed after the red one.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Hau'oli Pokémon Center, Melemele Island, 6:54 p.m. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Here are your Pokémon." Nurse Joy said as she handed over a slotted tray with all of Keats' Pokéballs in them with a smile on her face.
"Thank you... Uhhhh, quick question?" Keats said towards Nurse Joy. "Do you have any idea what happened to my Dragalge?" He asked.
"I'm sorry but I don't know what happened with it. All I know is that it was hit in a variety of places." Nurse Joy said in an apologetic tone.
"Guess I have to find out for myself." Keats thought as he scratched his neck and proceeded to walk over to a booth in the Pokémon Center. "Rotom, come on out." He said as Rotom popped out of his pocket.
"What are you going to do now, zzzzt?" Rotom questioned as Keats put away his Pokéballs into his pockets.
"Going to see how this guy's doing..." Keats said as he pulled out Dragalge's ball.
Opening up the ball so he was facing the opposite side of the booths table, out came the purple and brown sea dragon-like Pokémon. Sitting up in the seat, Dragalge looked around in surprise and confusion as he struggled to stay upright before his long fins flailed wildly.
"Dragag-ale!" Dragalge exclaimed as the legless Pokémon accidentally leaned to the side and fell out of the chair and onto the floor.
"Agh..." Keats said with an embarrassed expression as he got out of his seat and walked over to the on-the-floor Pokémon.
"You probably zzzzhouldn't have opened him up in a chair..." Rotom said with a confused expression on its screen.
"Yeah, well I know that now..." Keats said as he lifted up Dragalge and put the long Poison and Dragon type back in the seat.
"Dragagale!" Dragalge screamed as he flailed his fins once more.
"Hey! Hey!" Keats shouted as other trainers in the Pokémon Center looked on at Keats holding his Dragalge to keep it from thrashing about. "Listen to me! Calm down!" He said with an annoyed tone.
"Keatzzzz, this isn't working." Rotom said towards the husky trainer.
"Just hold on!" Keats said angrily as he grabbed the sea dragon-like Pokémon by the head with both hands. "Knock it off!" He screamed as Dragalge locked his red eyes with the unknown human.
"Drag-drag..." Dragalge panted as he lowered his long fins before looking around at the people looking at him, Keats and Rotom.
"We good?" Keats questioned as Rotom floated over to Keats.
"Keatzzzz, call out Pineco. She's good at talking to others." Rotom suggested.
"Huh? Oh, I know what you're saying." Keat mumbled until he realized what Rotom meant as he reached into his pocket and called out Pineco from her ball.
"Pineco!" Pineco said as she appeared on the table as Dragalge turned his head to look at her. "Co-co?" She said towards Keats.
"This is Dragalge, a ball of mine that Oranguru chucked at the water caught him and we found him battered all over. Think you can talk to him?" Keats asked of his Bug type Pokémon.
"Pineco." Pineco said with a nod of her body. "Pineco-coco." She said towards Dragalge.
Silent, Dragalge just looked at the floor, not muttering a thing as Keats bent down to lock eyes with the Poison and Dragon type Pokémon. Tilting his eyes away, Dragalge refused to speak or look at the man who technically caught him or at his Bug type Pokémon trying to conversate with the sea dragon-like creature.
"Hey..." Keats said with a somewhat stern tone as Dragalge still didn't look at him or Pineco. "Come on, we want to know what happened." He said. "And why you went into my ball?" Keats thought.
"Pinecococo." Pineco said as Dragalge turned towards her.
"Dragalge..." Dragalge said with half closed eyes.
"And he can speak!" Keats said with a smirk on his face.
"Don't ruin it, zzzzt..." Rotom said with a bothered expression.
"Pineco?" Pineco said with a raised eyebrow.
"Dragalge-alge. Algedrag-drag." Dragalge said as he looked at Pineco and then at Keats.
"Pineco-cococo." Pineco said as she turned towards Rotom.
"Pineco zzzzayzzzz that Dragalge was still a Skrelp only just a moment before being captured in your ball." Rotom said.
"A "Skrelp?"' Keats said as Rotom floated over to him, showing him its screen.
'"Skrelp, the Mock Kelp Pokémon, a Poison and Water type. Camouflaged as rotten kelp, they spray liquid poison on prey that approaches unawares and then finishes it off. It hides from foes while storing up power for its evolution."' Rotom said as it read off the PokéDex entry for Dragalge's previous form.
'"Hides from foes?"' Keats said as he looked at Dragalge. "So, you were attacked by something?" He asked as Dragalge turned his head away again. "Pineco... Ask Dragalge why he won't look at me, please?" Keats said as he turned towards Pineco, not noticing Dragalge shifted his eyes at him.
"Pineco-co." Pineco said towards Dragalge as the Poison and Dragon type turned its head towards her.
"Dragalge-ge." Dragalge said.
"Pinecococo-copine." Pineco said towards Rotom.
"Translation?" Keats asked.
"The Pokémon that attacked him wazzzz in a group and they were stronger than him when he was a Skrelp." Rotom explained.
"Dragalge-dragdrag." Dragalge said as he shifted his head to look at Rotom.
"And he evolved himself by force to try and fight back and couldn't handle it, zzzzt." Rotom said as Keats looked at Dragalge.
"He was attacked by a group of Pokémon that were stronger than him... What's stronger than a Poison and Dragon type?" Keats thought with a head scratch. "Mind if you looked at me?" He asked towards Dragalge.
"...Dragalge..." Dragalge said with a tired tone.
"He zzzzaid he doesn't want to talk anymore..." Rotom said as Keats bit his lip before crossing his legs and sat down on the floor in front of Dragalge as the sea dragon-like Pokémon looked down at him.
"Well, I am sitting here until you answer..." Keats said with his arms folded. "...Please?" He said with a concerned tone as Dragalge looked at him and then at Rotom and Pineco.
"...Dragalge... Dragle-agle." Dragalge said towards Keats.
"He said that he saw the ball sinking into the water and ran inside it, knowing he wouldn't be zzzzpotted from within. Didn't even care if he was found either..." Rotom explained.
"Whomever they were, they beat you pretty badly..." Keats said as he stood back up. "Rotom, does Skrelp and Dragalge tend to live in groups?" He asked.
"Bazzzzed on my data, that is correct." Rotom replied.
"Where's your posse? Maybe we can bring-" Keats said towards Dragalge until the Poison and Dragon type flailed his fins again.
"Dragalge!" Dragalge exclaimed while thrashing about, causing a scene in the Pokémon Center.
"Whoa! Easy! Easy!" Keats shouted as he held back Dragalge once again.
"Excuse me!" Nurse Joy said as she approached. "Please lower your volume and do not disturb the other trainers." She said with a stern voice.
"Ye-yes, ma'am..." Keats said, embarrassed. "Listen to me. No one is going to bother you." He said as he grabbed Dragalge's head to look at him as Nurse Joy walked away. "A part of me wants to smack you but now is not the time!" Keats thought.
"...Drag... Drag..." Dragalge muttered in a tired tone.
"Pineco..." Pineco said towards Rotom.
"Zzzzhe said that he's been alone for a long time. Entire school left it behind and never went back for him, so he had to learn to fend for himself." Rotom said as Keats' eyes widened.
"Got some "abandonment issues," huh?" Keats said. "Well, that's nothing I haven't seen before." He commented.
"What doezzzz that mean?" Rotom asked as Pineco and Dragalge looked at Keats.
"People abandon Pokémon all the time back home at my sister's ranch." Keats said as he looked at everyone. "Pokémon they felt were too weak, zero compatibility with the trainer, any little thing really. Though... I'm used to seeing a trainer abandoning a Pokémon, this is an entire grouping never coming back for one of their own." He said as he scratched the back of his head.
"Pineco." Pineco said towards Dragalge as the sea dragon-like Pokémon looked at the Bug type Pokémon. "Cococo-pine?" She said towards Dragalge.
"Dragalge-drag." Dragalge said with a headshake.
"What she say?" Keats asked.
"She's asking if he'zzzz alright." Rotom translated.
"And the headshake is saying "no."' Keats thought as he looked at the Pokémon. "Let me ask you something..." He said as Dragalge turned to look at him. "You've been alone this whole time, right? You alright with the solitude?" Keats questioned.
"...Dragalge..." Dragalge said as the Poison and Dragon typed nodded.
"That's probably why he'zzzz having trouble talking with us." Rotom said as Keats raised an eyebrow.
"Great, I caught a recluse..." Keats thought as he put both hands on his head. "Okay, Dragalge..." He said as he bent down to look at him again. "...You hungry?" Keats asked as Dragalge looked at him, confused.
"He probably izzzz." Rotom said as Pineco nodded.
"I made some Berry stew earlier if you-... Wait... Oh damn it..." Keats said until he came to a realization. "I left my cooking pot with that stupid Oranguru..." He whined.
"You don't have any more Poison or Dragon type food, zzzzt?" Rotom said.
"Uhhh..." Keats mumbled as he turned to his bags and started to check them. "Hmmmmm... Looks like I have some left of Druddigon's food from last night. Here." He said as he pulled out a half-eaten container of Dragon type Pokémon food. "I'll just buy more now that I have a second Dragon type Pokémon... Which was something I never personally planned for, so the oddity of it all is still racking my brain..." Keats thought.
"Drag?" Dragalge said with a questioning tone.
"Pineco. Pineco." Pineco said with an encouraging tone as Dragalge turned to look at her as he looked down at the Pokémon food container.
Shifting his eyes, Dragalge proceeded to stick his thin mouth into the container and began to eat the food out of it. After licking the container clean, the Poison and Dragon type locked eyes with Keats as the husky framed trainer smiled.
"Great. Progress." Keats said with smirk as patted Dragalge on the head.
"Dragalge..." Dragalge said towards Keats.
"He said, "please, don't do that."' Rotom translated as Keats pulled his hand away.
"Sorry." Keats said towards Dragalge. "But you know, you wound up in my ball. You're technically my responsibility now..." He said as Dragalge looked up at him.
"Pineco." Pineco said as she got Dragalge's attention. "Pineco-coco. Pineco-copine." She said.
"Dragalge... Dragdrag-alge." Dragalge said with a headshake.
"Pineco-copine." Pineco continued.
"Dragalge?" Dragalge said with a confused tone.
"What's she saying now?" Keats asked towards Rotom.
"Hold on, zzzzt." Rotom said.
"Pineco." Pineco said.
"Dragalge..." Dragalge said as he moved his right fin towards his chin in a contemplative manner. "...Dragalge..." He said with a nod.
"Pineco!" Pineco said with a happy expression towards Keats.
"...Translation?" Keats said towards Rotom once again.
"Pineco negotiated with Dragalge. Zzzzhe asked him if he'll be willing to join the group. He's hesitant because he'd prefer to be alone... but then she said something that convinced him to give it a shot." Rotom translated as Keats raised an eyebrow.
"What?" Keats questioned.
"He can be "alone" with all of uzzzz." Rotom said as Keats raised an eyebrow.
"Huh... Bit dramatic, don'tcha think?" Keats said towards Pineco as she made a happy expression towards him.
"Pineco." Pineco said.
"Dragalge... Dragdrag-alge." Dragalge said as he raised his right fin towards Keats.
"Hmmm?" Keats mumbled.
"He said he wantzzzz some sleep. Call him out when you need him but keep him safe from the things that attacked him." Rotom said.
"...I'll do my best... Dragalge, return. Pineco, return." Keats said as he pulled out Dragalge's Pokéball. "Don't even know what attacked him though..." He thought as he recalled his new Pokémon before recalling Pineco as well.
"I'm glad the team you got izzzz all on the same page." Rotom said as Keats put away his Pokéballs.
"It'd be better if we had a Psychic type to fill in that last spot..." Keats said as he scratched his forehead before sitting in the booth in the same seat where Dragalge was originally.
"I'm all out of ideas as well... And it'zzzz getting late." Rotom said.
"Maybe I can sleep on a park bench or something..." Keats said as he looked at the phone Pokémon.
"...You do know Pokémon Centers have places for trainerzzzz to sleep, right?" Rotom said.
"...They do?" Keats replied in a confused manner.
"Keatzzzz, how are you-" Rotom said until the phone Pokémon was cut off by the sound of the doors to the Pokémon Center opening up, prompting Keats to turn around in his seat.
"Hello, welcome to- oh?" Nurse Joy said as she looked up and noticed something peculiar.
Looking over towards the door, Keats and Rotom's eyes widened as they saw a familiar face had entered the building. Holding a cooking pot in its hands, the Normal and Psychic type Pokémon known as Oranguru had casually walked into the Pokémon Center, looking around until locking eyes with the two people it was looking for.
"Oranguru." Oranguru said with a smile on its face as it approached a visibly angry Keats.
"Oh, what do you want now?" Keats said with an annoyed tone as he stood up from the booth.
"Uru." Oranguru said as it approached the table and put Keats' pot on it. "Rang-rang." It continued.
"Oranguru zzzzaid that it enjoyed the Berry strew." Rotom translated.
"...Good for you..." Keats said with a glare at the hyperintelligent orangutan-like Pokémon.
"Rangurang." Oranguru said towards Keats.
"Oranguru said it could have used less zzzzalt." Rotom said.
"What's "zzzzalt?"' Keats said, confused.
"Uru." Oranguru said as it raised its right hand and rubbed its index finger and thumb together.
"...Oh, you meant "salt."' Keats said.
"Rangrang-ru." Oranguru said with a nod.
"He zzzzaid he came to return your cookware." Rotom translated.
"...Well... My dignity is missing but at least I got my Pokéball and stock pot back..." Keats thought with a bothered expression on his face.
"Rangrang." Oranguru said as it proceeded to walk away, towards the door of the Pokémon Center.
"Well, that was nice of- Keatzzzz?!" Rotom said until the phone Pokémon noticed Keats reaching into his pocket and pulled out a Pokéball.
"Third time's the charm!" Keats thought as he looked at the backside of Oranguru.
Pitching the ball at Oranguru, Keats tried to catch the powerful and smart Pokémon while it was off-guard. Sensing the presence of Keats' actions, Oranguru glowed with a blue aura once again as Oranguru used "Psychic" to prevent the ball from touching it as it hung in midair. Ripping off a piece of its purple cloak from its shoulder, Oranguru stretched the piece into a thin string-like line and then grabbed Keats' Pokéball.
"Huh?" Keats mumbled as Oranguru was doing something with the ball.
Making a loop with the string, Oranguru had made a necklace out of a piece of its cloak-like fur and Keats' Pokéball. After completing its piece of decorative art, Oranguru took the Pokéball necklace and wrapped it around its neck.
"Oranguru." Oranguru said with a smug expression.
"What the- hey!?" Keats exclaimed as Oranguru had taken his ball.
"Rangururu-rangrang." Oranguru said towards Keats.
"Now what?" Keats said with an annoyed tone.
"Oranguru said that you're still not worthy." Rotom said towards Keats, the husky framed trainer putting his hands on his face in frustration.
"Rangrang." Oranguru said as it pointed at the Pokéball necklace it made.
"And if you want to catch me, you're going to have to uzzzze this ball when you become a better trainer." Rotom translated for Oranguru as it swung the ball necklace around its neck in a taunting manner.
"What, am I being tested now?!" Keats exclaimed in anger. "It crushes my spine with its powers, makes me run a trainer gauntlet and eats our leftovers and now it's messing with my Pokéballs a second damn time!" He ranted.
"And you failed three timezzzz to catch it." Rotom commented.
"Did you have to bring that up too?!" Keats shouted.
"Sir!" Nurse Joy shouted from across the room, behind her desk. "I'll say it again, please don't make a ruckus in the Pokémon Center." She said with an aggravated tone.
"Sorry!" Keats exclaimed, apologetically. "Ugh, this is so frustrating..." He complained as he sat back in the booth.
"Rangrang-ru?" Oranguru said towards Rotom.
"And now it's starting a conversation with the phone..." Keats thought with a roll of his eyes.
"He'zzzz been trying to find a Psychic type Pokémon." Rotom explained. "We're looking for someone who stole a Pokémon, and we think a Psychic type will help uzzzz." The phone Pokémon said towards Rotom as the orangutan-like creature rubbed its chin and hair in a contemplative manner.
"You're telling it our plan?" Keats said towards Rotom.
"Orangururu-rang." Oranguru said towards Keats before turning to Rotom as they continued to talk.
"...Why do I feel like it just said; "be quiet, adults are talking" at me?'" Keats thought with annoyance.
"Would you be willing to help uzzzz?" Rotom asked towards Oranguru.
"Raaaang..." Oranguru said as it continued to think about helping Keats and Rotom or not.
"Who knew Psychic types were so hard to bargain with...?" Keats thought as he looked at Oranguru.
"Oranguru." Oranguru said with a nod.
"Keatzzzz! Oranguru said he will help!" Rotom exclaimed with a delighted tone.
"Told you it wouldn't- wait, really?!" Keats shouted loudly.
"Oranguru-rangruru." Oranguru said calmly.
"Oranguru will help us once it'zzzz morning." Rotom translated.
"Sweet! That's-" Keats exclaimed until he felt someone poking him on the shoulder.
Turning around, Keats was startled as he noticed an incredibly agitated Nurse Joy looking at him with her arms crossed. Floating next to her was her Comfey, making a similarly angry expression as it radiated a whitish-pink energy from its tiny round body.
"...Hehe..." Keats chuckled embarrassingly as he scratched his face.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Hau'oli Pokémon Center, Melemele Island, 8:03 a.m. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Inside a room with bunkbeds in the Pokémon Center was Oranguru, sleeping on a bed with a blanket over its body. On the top bunk was Keats' bags and Rotom attached via cable to a power bank. On the floor, with his head on a pillow and a blanket over his upper body but his legs uncovered, was Keats.
"Uuggggghhhh..." Keats grumbled as he sat up, clutching his back from strain as Rotom turned on.
"Morning, zzzzt." Rotom said as it floated off the top bunk slightly.
"I can sleep in a Unovan dumpster or on a park bench, but the floor of the Pokémon Center is murder..." Keats complained as he got off the floor. "Another reason to hate Alola; the Nurse Joy's make you sleep on the floor for being too loud..." He mentally grumbled.
"Uru." Oranguru said as the orangutan-like Pokemon sat up and got off the bed, grabbing its fan that was under the sheets. "Orangururu-rang." It said towards Keats and then Rotom.
"What did it say?" Keats said with his arms folded.
"Oranguru thanked you for not trying another catch attempt while it was azzzzleep." Rotom said as Keats' eyes widened.
"...Son of a- I didn't think to do that!" Keats screamed in frustration as he grabbed his pillow off the floor and threw it in a fit of anger against the wall.
"Hey!" Nurse Joy said as she opened the door to the room Keats was in. "What did I say?!" She said with her hands on her hips.
"So-sorry..." Keats said towards the agitated Nurse Joy, embarrassed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Hau'oli City Beachfront, Melemele Island, 9:21 a.m. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Following behind Oranguru was Keats and Rotom as the husky trainer and floating phone Pokémon walked down the beach with the hyperintelligent orangutan-like creature. As he stepped on the sand, Keats looked down at the ground to avoid falling over like he did several times prior.
"Try not to fall, zzzzt." Rotom said next to Keats.
"Maybe I'll get lucky and find another Water Stone." Keats whispered as he walked carefully.
"Rangrang." Oranguru said as it stopped walking. "Oranguru." It said towards Keats and Rotom.
"What it say?" Keats asked.
"It's going to search here for Imani Snagem and Sableye." Rotom translated.
"...How?" Keats questioned.
Upon hearing Keats' skepticism, Oranguru proceeded to sit down on the ground and closed its eyes. Glowing a blue tinted aura once again, the orangutan-like Pokémon's eyes glowed as a wave of energy was emitted from its body.
"Whoa..." Keats said as he suddenly felt off balance.
"It'zzzz using its Psychic energy to scan the island." Rotom said in response.
"It's so powerful, it can scan the whole island and find one singular person with just a thought..." Keats thought as he looked on in amazement.
"Raaaang..." Oranguru said as it turned its head slowly to the left and then shifted it to the right. "Raaaaang..." It said again as it searched.
"...Sableye is a Dark type so it might be harder to find than we thought." Keats whispered towards Rotom.
"It could be trying to look for trainerzzzz who are close to one. With a Mega Stone?" Rotom said as Keats shrugged.
"Raaaang... Orangururu." Oranguru said as it stopped glowing, stood up from the sand and then turned towards Keats and Rotom.
"Anything?" Keats asked.
"Oranguru. Orangururururu-rangranguru." Oranguru said with a headshake.
"Oranguru zzzzcanned the whole of Melemele Island and found nothing. Not a zzzzingle trainer with a Sableye." Rotom said.
"...Damn it..." Keats said as he scratched his head with both hands.
"Oranguru." Oranguru said as Keats and Rotom looked at the Normal and Psychic type.
"It said that it did feel energy coming from that direction though, zzzzt." Rotom said as Keats looked at Oranguru.
"Huh?" Keats questioned.
"Orangururu-rang." Oranguru continued as it turned around and pointed its fan out towards the ocean. "Rang-rang." It said.
"What's it pointing at?" Keats said as he reached into one of his twin messenger bags and pulled out an old spyglass. "All I see is a houseboat on the water and- oh!" He said as he spotted what he thinks Oranguru is pointing towards.
Looking through the lens, Keats adjusted his view in the same direction as where Oranguru was pointing. Far off, Keats saw a massive island opposite of Melemele Island that had a large mountain in the center that had snow on the peak.
"Which island is that?" Keats said as Rotom floated over and looked through the spyglass after Keats gave the phone Pokémon some space to look through.
"That's Ula'Ula Island, zzzzt." Rotom said.
"So... You're saying you felt a Mega Stone and a Sableye specifically in that direction?" Keats said towards Oranguru as the hyperintelligent Pokémon nodded. "...At this point, I'll take whatever lead I can get..." He thought.
"Zzzzo we have to leave Melemele and head to Ula'Ula. We're going to have to charter a boat-" Rotom said until Keats interrupted.
"Ugggghhhh..." Keats groaned in frustration from not wanting to go on a boat.
"You promizzzzed not to do that again!" Rotom exclaimed as Oranguru looked on.
"No, I promised not to complain about the tropics, this is me whining about how awful boats are..." Keats said with a bothered expression.
"Rurururu." Oranguru laughed as it watched Keats and Rotom go back and forth.
"Glad to know you're enjoying my pain..." Keats thought as he glared at Oranguru.
"Oranguru-rurang." Oranguru said with a calm demeanor.
"He said he wizzzzhezzzz us luck on our quest." Rotom translated as Keats sighed.
"You were a pain in my neck, but you helped give us a point to go so we wouldn't just walk around in circles so... Thanks." Keats said towards Oranguru.
"Oranguru." Oranguru said with a nod as it walked past Keats. "Rangrang-ruru." It said as Rotom looked at Keats.
"It zzzzayzzzz to not forget, it has your Pokéball." Rotom said as Keats turned around and began to glare angrily at the hyperintelligent orangutan-like creature, walking towards Hau'oli City and then back home.
"Asshole!" Keats screamed.
"Don't be mad, Oranguru helped uzzzz more than anyone else on the island did." Rotom said in an effort to stop Keats' fit.
"Doesn't matter! He turned my Pokéball into an accessory and made me feel inadequate!" Keats complained. "Ugh, let's just go find a ship that can take us across the water." He said as he walked away with Rotom following after him. "And lose six pounds from my breakfast..." Keats thought.
"Right, zzzzt." Rotom said as Keats and the phone Pokémon proceeded to head towards the nearby harbor.
Similar to the day prior, emerging from the water was the red and green Bruxish, its eyes locked on Keats and Rotom as it proceeded to go back into the water and swam in the same direction the pair went.
After an hour of looking around and Keats grimacing at the prospect of getting on another boat, the husky framed trainer and his floating phone companion had found a captain willing to get them across the ocean on his small motorboat. With Keats sitting in the back, the old ship owner with his tropical yellow button-up shirt, tan cargo shorts, brown shoes and a white captain's hat was at the wheel.
"Shouldn't take too long to get to Ula'Ula from here." The captain said as Keats sat behind him in a seat.
"Please make it quick... Ugh..." Keats grumbled as he held a brown paper bag in his hands as Rotom popped out from his pocket.
"Once we get to Ula'Ula, we're going to need a new zzzztrategy on how to locate Imani and Sableye." Rotom said as Keats stuffed his face into the bag.
"Blarhghgahgh!" Keats exclaimed, vomiting.
"...Maybe I'll zzzzave the conversation until we dock..." Rotom said.
"Hahaha!" The captain behind the wheel laughed. "Going to need to find your sea legs boy!" He said as he steered.
"I'll find them after my own stop feeling like pudding..." Keats said in a sickly tone as his legs wobbled in his seat. "Ugh... I'm so dizzy and nauseous, why can't we just- whoa!" He thought until the boat suddenly jerked forward in an effort to stop.
"Ahh!" The captain exclaimed as he pulled down on the brake, pulling over from the sight of a massive creature blocking the way.
Looking up, Keats, the ship captain and Rotom were shocked by the sight of an enormous blue and white whale-like creature, blocking the way forward with its colossal frame and its eyes closed like if it was asleep.
"What in the world?!" The captain exclaimed.
"It's a Wailord, zzzzt!" Rotom said.
"Thank you for stopping us!" Keats screamed in a happy tone as he stood up from his seat as the captain and Rotom looked at him. "...Sorry... Anyway, a Wailord?" He said in an embarrassed tone before looking at Rotom, who checked the PokéDex.
'"Wailord, the Float Whale Pokémon, a Water type. Wailord is the largest of all identified Pokémon up to now. When chasing prey, they herd them by leaping out of the water and making a humongous splash. It can dive to a depth of almost a ten thousand feet on only one breath."' Rotom said, reading off the Dex for Wailord.
"My word, never thought one would stop my vessel!" The captain said.
"I can." Keats muttered as he approached the boat captain.
"What do you mean, zzzzt?" Rotom said as the captain and phone Pokémon looked at him.
"I saw a Wailord stopping some cargo ships the other day when we first arrived in Alola- herk!" Keats said, recalling something he saw as the boat swayed a little, prompting Keats' face to turn green for a half second before running over to a side of the boat to puke again.
"Not the best time..." Rotom thought as the captain looked up at the Wailord.
"Never heard of a wild Wailord doing that- huh?" The captain said as someone approached on a jet ski.
Riding the jet ski was a familiar young man to Rotom and Keats, sporting green hair that was parted completely to one side and wearing a pair of black pants and boots along with a brown vest that had an image of a Mantine on the back with no shirt underneath and piercings in his nose, ears and mouth.
"Hello!" The pierced man said as he waved his PokéFlute in his arm. "I couldn't help but notice this little issue you're having with this massive Pokémon!" He said as the captain looked over at him.
"Aye! We're having a bit of trouble." The captain said as Rotom floated over.
"It'zzzz you from the intersection with the Turtonator!" Rotom exclaimed, recognizing the flutist.
"Huh?" The pierced man muttered.
"Ugh..." Keats mumbled as he wiped his face with his arms and approached the side of the boat and noticed the familiar person on the jet ski. "Hey!" He exclaimed as he pointed at the pierced guy.
"Guh! This guy again..." The pierced man thought. "Hi..." He said with an annoyed tone.
"You owe me a trip to a music shop, "Flute Man!"' Keats shouted angrily while pointing at the flutist, who rolled his eyes in response.
"My name is Bevin, you obnoxious- durgh..." Bevin said, finally revealing his name. "Can't let this moron bother me..." He thought. "I can help with moving this massive creature." Bevin said as he rubbed his chin and raised his arm holding the PokéFlute.
"Keatzzzz?" Rotom whispered.
"...Why does this sound familiar?" Keats thought with a raised eyebrow as the captain looked at Bevin on his jet ski as four unknown creatures in the water was approaching the boat from behind.
"Using my PokéFlute, I can move a giant slumbering Pokémon like this without it waking up and attacking." Bevin explained as he pointed at his flute.
"Oh really?" The captain said in intrigue. "Why that's-" He continued until Rotom spoke up.
"But lazzzzt time, Turtonator left without even being awoken by the flute." Rotom replied.
"Guh... Well... That was pure chance..." Bevin said with a drop of sweat beading down the side of his head. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I can remove this Pokémon for you with my flute." He said. "And then get a bit of coin in exchange for my "services." Hehe." Bevin thought as he readied himself to play.
"Oh, maybe I can help." Keats said as the captain and Rotom looked at him reaching into his messenger bag. "I know how to play the harmonica!" He exclaimed in a chipper tone.
"No, no. You don't have to-" Bevin said, trying to halt Keats until Keats started to loudly breathe into the harmonica, causing a loud high-pitched wail to emit from it.
"I thought you zzzzaid you could play the harmonica?" Rotom questioned as Keats stopped.
"I did, but I didn't mean I could do it well..." Keats replied as everyone looked at him as the boat started to shake.
"This guy is such a pain in the- oh?" Bevin thought until he looked down and noticed a trio of fish-like Pokémon had started to bite into the side of the captain's boat.
"Whaahah!" The captain exclaimed as the boat shook more violently. "What's going on- hey!?" He said as he walked over to notice something rocking his vessel.
With their sharp teeth, three Bruxish had begun to bite into the boat and tear into the hull. In an attempt to stop this, the captain ran over to a supply chest on the boat and had taken out a small wooden rod.
"Stop that! What are you doing!?" The captain bellowed as he attempted to push off the Bruxish with the rod.
"Brux!" One of the Bruxish exclaimed as it used its sharp teeth to rip the rod to shreds and out of the captain's hands.
"Ahh!" The captain screamed in shock as he fell backwards. "You!" He said as he got back to his feet and pointed at Bevin. "Help us! You said your flute can calm Pokémon, right?!" The captain said, pleading for help.
Not even answering, Bevin proceeded to turn on his jet ski and proceeded to turn around, propelling away from the attacked vessel.
"What the hell?!" Keats exclaimed as he watched Bevin leave on his watercraft.
Turning around to the other side of the boat where the Bruxish weren't attacking, Keats and Rotom overheard something jump out of the water. Mid-air, Keats locked eyes with another Bruxish but one of a different color than the three biting into the motorboat. As opposed to the normally pink, yellow and blue coloration that Bruxish are known for, this one that descended back into the water was red, green and white.
"Xishxishish." The different colored Bruxish laughed as Keats and Rotom shifted to looking at it in the ocean.
"Whoa, what's up with that one?!" Keats said as he looked at the different colored Bruxish.
"It'zzzz a Shiny one!" Rotom exclaimed.
'"Shiny?" It's not sparkling?" Keats questioned as he looked at the lack of a glow on the Bruxish.
"No! It's just a classification term! It meanzzzz that the Pokémon sports a different color scheme than the ones typically found in the wild!" Rotom explained.
"Ahhh! Stop!" The captain said as Keats turned around to notice him trying to stop the Bruxish tearing into his boat to no avail.
"At thizzzz rate, we're going to sink!" Rotom screamed.
"...The tropics suck..." Keats thought as the Shiny Bruxish looked on with a malicious smile as its regularly colored counterparts continued to bite and tear into the motorboat.
Meanwhile, propelling away on his jet ski, was Bevin, disgruntled. Stopping far enough away from where Keats, Rotom and the ship captain were, the pierced man proceeded to take out a cell phone and typed in a number.
"Hello?" A female voice said on the other end said.
"Hola." Bevin said.
"What's up Bevin?" The female voice said.
"I was about to get a new mark for the day but then I saw some Bruxish tearing into the side of my targets boat and then I noticed a particularly familiar looking one nearby..." Bevin said as he scratched his head.
"Good. Must've found him." The female voice said.
"What the hell Imani!?" Bevin exclaimed in annoyance. "You could've told me you were doing something with your Bruxish!" He continued in frustration. "I'm not that angry though, least she's getting rid of one annoyance I've been dealing with." Bevin thought.
"I'm not doing anything special... Just letting my Bruxish play." The female voice on the other end said, revealed to be Imani. "Keep your Wailord blocking the way and then head to Ula'Ula Island in case the Bruxish fail to sink that boat. And don't forget my cut." She continued before hanging up.
Dun-dun-dunnna-dundun... The plot thickens... After Keats had grabbed his Dragalge from out of the sea, he brought it to a Pokémon Center to get healed up. After talking with the reclusive Pokémon with help from his Pineco, Dragalge was convinced to accept Keats as his trainer, albeit with the Poison and Dragon types lack of social skills being noted. With help from Oranguru once more, the husky trainer has a new location to search: Ula'Ula Island. But the pierced flutist Bevin has caused a new roadblock, attempting to extort from the unsuspecting Alolan population once again, and halting Keats from progressing in his quest. Now he has to fight to survive against a posse of Bruxish. Will Keats make it? Find out next time on Wannabe!
Keats' Pokémon:
1. Pineco.
2. Timburr.
3. Druddigon.
4. Stunky.
5. Cloyster.
6. Dragalge.
