AUTHOR'S NOTE: Greetings, readers! I know it's been awhile, but I've had a lot going on. Here is chapter 22 of the continuing adventures of Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu as they continue their journey through the Hoenn region. You may recall Tommy and his Swampert from the Pokémon: Advanced episode "Abandon Ship." They make appearance in this chapter, though it will be a little shorter than most. Still, there are a lot of longer chapters in this story, so this should help balance it out. I always enjoy the fact that there are always adventures, big or small. And of course, Taz will try to do something as usual. Please feel free to read and review responsibly at your leisure.
TEASER: Our friends and Mr. Briney run into engine trouble and are stranded next to the Abandoned Ship. Now they must find someone to help them out while trying to outwit Taz!
Chapter 22: A SHIP OUT OF SHAPE
(Music Cue: Arriving at Pokémon Park (as heard at the beginning of "Hour of the Houndour"))
After earning his second badge on Dewford Island, Tristan and his sister Hillary continue their sailing journey to Slateport City under the escort of their friend Mr. Briney. But little do they know that they're about to run into trouble out at sea.
"So, Mr. Briney, how much further until we get to Slateport City?" asked Tristan the next morning.
Pikachu was just as curious.
"If everything goes as planned, we should be there by tonight," answered Mr. Briney.
"All right!" said Hillary excitedly. "I can't wait till we get there. I want to start working on some of my techniques for the Second-Chance Pokémon Contest."
Togepi was about to trill in agreement when suddenly, the S.S. Wingull began to shake and sputter.
"What was that sound?" wondered Tristan nervously.
Mr. Briney was troubled by the sound too, so he went to investigate. Then he gasped, for he saw smoke begin to hiss out of one of the motor blades in the back in an alarming way. "Looks like the S.S. Wingull's engine conked out on us."
Hillary trembled. "Wait, does that mean...?"
"Yes, I'm afraid it means we're all stranded at sea."
"What?!" exclaimed Tristan and Hillary.
"We don't have many tools with us, but I'll see if I can dock somewhere close by," said Mr. Briney. "Then I'll call for a repairman to get the engine fixed."
"That's just great," groaned Hillary. "Now I'll never get to the Contest."
"You know, sis," suggested Tristan, "you could use that time to practice your techniques for the contest on whatever island we land on."
"Good idea," agreed Hillary, who had to let off a chuckle. "I didn't even think of it."
Suddenly, everyone felt the ship drifting even further out to sea.
"Now what's up, Mr. Briney?" asked Hillary nervously.
"The wind's changing direction, causing the current to drag us out wherever it goes," explained Mr. Briney. "There's no telling where it'll take us."
Presently, Pikachu pricked up its ears and pointed out even further.
Sure enough, things started getting foggy in a hurry.
Even Tristan began to get nervous. "This is bad. The fog's closing in fast. We won't even be able to see where the current's going to take us."
The current, though calm, kept dragging the S.S. Wingull more and more off course in the fog until suddenly, Pikachu pointed out and alerted everyone.
"What's up, Pikachu?" asked Tristan.
(Music Cue: Abandoned Ship (full version))
To everyone's surprise, they saw what appeared to be a big ship in the distance through the thick fog.
"A ship!" said Hillary. "But what is it?"
"It looks like an abandoned ship," added Tristan.
"You got the name right," replied Mr. Briney. "The Abandoned Ship, sometimes known as the Forsaken Ship, was said to have capsized in a storm many years ago. It was one of the most luxurious cruising ships to sail in all the seas in the entire Hoenn region. Fortunately, all the passengers managed to make it to safety before the ship sank. But who knows if it's the same ship or not?"
Tristan was amazed. "That's...awesome."
"Maybe we'll find someone on board who can help us with the S.S. Wingull," suggested Hillary.
"I doubt there'll be anyone on board this ship," replied Mr. Briney, "but I've been wrong before."
"Well, let's try anyway," said Tristan. "We won't know unless we look around."
"Then ready or not, we're sailing on course to the Abandoned Ship!" agreed Mr. Briney excitedly.
Peeko agreed just as excitedly.
"We're already doing that anyway," grumbled Hillary.
Mr. Briney chuckled. "Oh, yes, so we are."
Then everyone laughed along with him.
Meanwhile, 1000 feet above, Taz was readying another fiendish plan from his Electabuzz balloon. "So, those kids'll be stuck here on that ship, eh? Well, as long as they're here, they'll be sitting Psyducks. I'll steal all their Pokémon."
The S.S. Wingull ran aground near the Abandoned Ship a few minutes later.
"I'll see about fixing my ship," said Mr. Briney. "In the meantime, why not have a look around on the big boat while you wait?"
"Sure," agreed Tristan and Hillary together as they and Pikachu climbed off the S.S. Wingull and started climbing aboard the Abandoned Ship.
"This place is gigantic!" remarked Hillary. "Not to mention rough and super old-looking."
"You're right," agreed Tristan. "I'm amazed this ship didn't sink."
Just then, a small blue slimy Pokémon ran by, surprising Tristan and Hillary.
"Hey, look, a Wooper!" said Hillary.
Then suddenly, a small green arachnid Pokémon also made its appearance.
"And a Spinarak, too!" added Tristan.
Then a flock of flying Pokémon looking like seagulls landed on the rails of the ship.
"Those are Wingull!" said Hillary excitedly.
"These Pokémon must've all made this place their home after the ship capsized," replied Tristan.
Pikachu and Togepi had to agree, for they knew the wild Pokémon that lived on the ship were leading happy lives.
"We'd better go search for someone who can take us to Slateport City," suggested Tristan. "If we don't, we could miss your Contest."
"And I'll never get a Contest Ribbon," put in Hillary. "Well, let's go!"
And they hurried inside the ship, but not before almost falling in one of the holes in the floor.
"We need to be careful here," Hillary advised. "We could've fallen through the floor to the bottom of the ocean."
"They could've put up warning signs, too," grumbled Tristan.
"Did I hear someone?" said a voice.
"Shh!" whispered Hillary. "Someone's here." And she and Tristan quieted themselves as they prepared for whomever was going to meet them.
Pikachu stood in front of Togepi, ready to protect it as well as Tristan and Hillary from whatever danger came at them.
But to their relief, it was a friendly boy with dark blue hair.
"I thought I heard somebody out here," said the boy. "Can I help you?"
"Our boat ran into engine trouble," explained Tristan.
"And we're trying to get to Slateport City so I can compete in the Pokémon Contest," added Hillary. "I mean, the Second-Chance kind."
"Oh, I see," replied the boy. "If that's the case, I'd be happy to take a look at it. Then I'll take you to Slateport City myself. My name's Tommy."
"Hi, I'm Tristan," smiled Tristan.
"And I'm his sister, Hillary," added Hillary.
Pikachu and Togepi introduced themselves to Tommy.
It was then that Tommy thought of something. "Come to think of it, a Trainer named Ash and all his friends wound up here exactly the same way you guys did."
"That Trainer seems to be everywhere we go," remarked Tristan. "When was he here?"
"It was when I was trying to figure out what had happened to my Marshtomp."
"Marshtomp?" wondered Hillary as she looked up its entry in her Pokédex.
"Marshtomp, the Mud Fish Pokémon. Marshtomp is the evolved form of Mudkip. It is able to move and swim more quickly through mud than through water."
"So how come you and your Marshtomp were separated, Tommy?" asked Tristan.
"I had apparently lost it by accident when the ship capsized," continued Tommy. "I thought I'd put it safely back in its Poké Ball. But little did I know that I was in for a big surprise when it evolved into a Swampert. It was causing trouble for everybody when it snuck up from behind and kidnapped them all one by one. Fortunately, we were able to straighten things out, and we've been good friends ever since. To tell you the truth, I've had this Swampert ever since it was just a baby Mudkip."
Tristan checked out Swampert's entry in his Pokédex.
"Swampert, the Mud Fish Pokémon. Swampert is the evolved form of Marshtomp. It is able to easily drag large stones weighing over one ton. It is also able to see through cloudy waters and detect approaching storms with its fin."
"Wow," said Tristan to himself. "Swampert seems like a really cool Pokémon." He suddenly got an idea and took out Mudkip's Poké Ball. "Come on out, Mudkip."
Mudkip emerged from the white light that shot out of it.
"That's a very cool Mudkip," commended Tommy.
Hillary was confused. "Why'd you bring it out, Tristan?"
"We're gonna try and work on Mudkip's radar," explained Tristan. "I haven't had a chance to work with it outside of battle very much."
"You know, that's a very good idea," smiled Tommy. "Besides battling, I'm sure Mudkip will be even more well-trained if it uses the sensitive fin on its head."
"Are you ready for this, Mudkip?" asked Tristan.
Mudkip nodded in agreement.
But suddenly, a mechanical arm swooped in from the air and grabbed it.
"Hey, you! Who do you think you are?!" demanded Tommy.
(Music Cue: Team Aqua & Magma Grunt Battle (full version))
A familiar cackle was heard from a familiar bearded man in his flying Electabuzz balloon in the sky as he shouted triumphantly, "That Mudkip is mine! Thanks so much, kiddies!"
"It's Taz again!" exclaimed Tristan.
"Who's Taz?" asked Tommy.
"He follows us everywhere trying to steal Pokémon," answered Hillary.
"Uh, correction," snorted Taz. "Succeeding in stealing Pokémon, if you don't mind."
"We DO mind, so give me back my Mudkip!" ordered Tristan.
"Pika, Pika!" added Pikachu.
"Nope," smirked Taz. "I've got a delivery to make, so I've gotta go." And he increased his balloon's flying speed and started to leave as Mudkip struggled to break itself free to no avail.
"You're not going anywhere! I choose you, Swampert!" shouted Tommy as he threw his Poké Ball.
His Swampert emerged from the white light that shot out of it. It looked like a blue, bulky amphibious Pokémon with two large black fan-like fins extending from its orange eyes and a black fan-like tail fin extending from its hindquarters.
"That Swampert looks strong," remarked Hillary.
"Swampert, use Mud Shot!" ordered Tommy.
Swampert opened its mouth and unleashed a giant ball of mud at Taz's balloon, scoring a direct hit on it and sending it along with Mudkip splashing down into the sea with Taz screaming as he fell.
"Mudkip, are you okay?" shouted Tristan as he and Pikachu frantically looked out over the deck for any sign of it.
"Swampert, hurry and rescue Tristan's Mudkip!" instructed Tommy.
Swampert nodded and jumped into the water to find it. Fortunately for its efforts, it was easy to find, for it used its fins as radar to find it.
Mudkip was a greatly relieved Pokémon to see Swampert as it jumped onto its head.
Then Swampert jumped as high as it could back onto the Abandoned Ship's deck and safely handed Mudkip back to Tristan.
"You're safe now, Mudkip. How are you doing?" asked Tristan as he embraced it.
Mudkip smiled and gave a happy reply.
Just then, Taz made an incredible jump out of the water onto the ship's deck and faced Tristan, Hillary, and Tommy. "Hey, what's the idea of making me land in the sea like that? I could've drowned down there, you know!" he fumed.
"What's the idea of stealing my Mudkip!" retorted Tristan.
"You've got some nerve! Go get 'em, Electabuzz!" shouted Taz as he threw his Poké Ball.
Electabuzz emerged from the white light that shot out of it.
"You go, too, Swampert," instructed Tommy.
Swampert charged into battle to face Taz's Electabuzz.
"All right, Electabuzz, since Water-types are weak against Electric attacks, let's give it a Thunderbolt!" ordered Taz.
Electabuzz unleashed a powerful yellow bolt of electricity from its body and seemingly scored a hit on Swampert.
"Swampert's in big trouble!" gasped Hillary.
But Tommy just smiled. "No, it isn't. Just watch."
And sure enough, just as Electabuzz's Thunderbolt stopped, Swampert just stood there and smiled.
Taz gasped. "That's...impossible! How did that Pokémon absorb that Thunderbolt attack?"
"This may come as a shock to you, but Swampert's a Ground-type, too, which makes it immune to any Electric attack any Pokémon dishes out," explained Tommy confidently.
"No way!" exclaimed Taz.
"Swampert, hit it with Mud Shot!" ordered Tommy.
Swampert opened its mouth and unleashed another big ball of mud at Electabuzz, scoring a direct hit on it and knocking it out instantly.
"That Mud Shot attack was awesome!" said Tristan excitedly.
"Hey, Tristan, what do you say we finish this one up?" suggested Tommy.
"You got it," agreed Tristan. "Mudkip, blast 'em with your Water Gun attack!"
"Swampert, use Hydro Pump!" commanded Tommy.
Mudkip and Swampert unleashed powerful streams of water from their mouths at Taz and Electabuzz, scoring direct hits on them and sending them skyward.
"Hey! No fair!" yelled Taz as he and Electabuzz rose higher and higher in the sky until he disappeared from sight.
DING!
"That Swampert of yours is amazingly strong," remarked Hillary. "And Mudkip gets stronger every day, too, Tristan."
"Thanks a lot," replied Tristan and Tommy.
"So tell me, Tommy, does Swampert gain its Ground-type traits just by evolving?" asked Hillary.
Tommy nodded. "All Mudkip begin as pure Water-types. But once Mudkip evolves into Marshtomp, it gains the traits of a Ground-type. So that'd be perfect to use against any Electric-type Pokémon like your Pikachu or Taz's Electabuzz, for instance. Of course, it'll be twice as vulnerable to Grass-type attacks, since that's basically Swampert's only weakness."
Swampert nodded in agreement.
"And now I'm feeling more confident in Mudkip's abilities," added Tristan. "So, as soon as we get to Slateport City, we'll train some more."
Pikachu and Mudkip eagerly agreed.
"Right, but first, let's see if we can help Mr. Briney with his ship," suggested Tommy. "I think I have some tools he'll need to get it up and running just enough to get us there."
"Great!" smiled Tristan and Hillary together.
Late that evening, Tristan, Hillary, and Tommy all climbed down the Abandoned Ship and helped Mr. Briney get the S.S. Wingull's engine working again.
Then Tommy tied the front end of the S.S. Wingull to the back of his speedboat with Swampert assisting them.
"Ready, guys?" asked Tommy.
"Ready!" answered Tristan, Hillary, and Mr. Briney.
And with Tommy's speedboat firing on all cylinders, he easily pulled the S.S. Wingull along and got everyone to Slateport City in jigsaw time.
"There's Slateport City!" announced Tommy.
"All right, we made it! Finally!" said Hillary excitedly. "Well, Tristan, the next part of our journey begins right here."
"Yeah," agreed Tristan. "And we're ready, aren't we, Pikachu?"
Pikachu agreed.
"I want to thank you, Tommy, for helping my ship along," said Mr. Briney. "It's going to need some more repair work done, but fortunately, Slateport City has a professional repair shop for me to try and get it fully operational again."
"I'm just glad we could help," replied Tommy. "And once your ship is completely fixed, I hope you have even more fun adventures."
"You can count on it, my young friend," smiled Mr. Briney.
Tristan and Pikachu looked at each other, then Hillary looked at them. All gave big smiles.
Sometimes, things go wrong, but at the end of the day, anything and everything is an adventure, big or small. And so, after finally arriving in Slateport City, our heroes can begin their training while Hillary looks forward to her first Second-Chance Pokémon Contest.
TO BE CONTINUED...