Chapter 30: A Cool plan

That night...

"I'm so sorry, baby! I never wanted to leave you like that!"

-"Laaaap!" The tiny Lapras swims right into her father's tentacles. (don't do this at home!)

"Thanks so much for taking care of her, really. You're a lifesaver."

-"Gol gol~" Spring and his mate look upon the tender meeting, hint of tears in their eyes. It hasn't been easy on anyone out here, but these little scenes really do make it all worth the sacrifice.

"Aw, I bet she was a little angel! Yes you are! And I have some good news, daddy is going to hang out around here for a little while!"

-"Lap lap laaap!" Squeaking and flapping in the river basin, the tiny child excitedly pads right on top of her pop, as eager for uppies as any toddler.

The Goldeen pair however, they seem to understand the coded language better.

[I need to stay here, where the real danger is.]

Earlier...

"Alright everyone, according to this data, The Warband is purposefully avoiding us and is planning an attack on the river's side."

-"Seaking?"

"My guess is they want to use their superior numbers to do a pincer attack. Turtles are amphibious, remember?"

-"Magikar?"

-"Octi! Oct-Octillery."

"Yeah, kinda. Not amphibian though, amphibious. Think of a Poliwhirl. They can go on land and sea. If The Warband attacks us from both the beach and from the ocean, we'll be caught with no real way of fighting back. Even our crew in town can't fight off against those numbers without our help!"

-"Kar..."

-"King."

"Agreed. I need you all to fight against the ocean threat. If you leave to handle the danger approaching from the land, we have no hope of holding what ground we have here."

-"Kar. Magikarp? Magi-Magikarp."

"Yeah, I know. Riley basically told me to lie low until we could get the data we need, but that's not possible here. I'll... I'll try to convince him I want to go visit my kid. That's something any good parent would do!"

-"Sea-king."

"...My apologies. I meant any good parent that doesn't need to juggle literally hundreds of spawn. You're a good dad just being able to keep in touch with sixty of them."

-"King."

"Hopefully this'll work and he won't look too hard at the data... that he... gave me... This'll work! No worries! I have to go see my kid now so hold down the fort while I'm gone! Bye!"

-"...Kar kar?"

*poking their head back in*

"No, Aurum, they're reptiles."

'Back in the now, I need to get started. I can't make any obvious moves like building battlements or digging channels... not even sure what channels would do in this case. Make more river?'

'But one thing I can do is warn the people we sent up here about the danger incoming. They seem, quite reasonably, stressed that danger will be coming their way. But thankfully seeing me here, playing with my daughter without a care, convinces most of their number that I plan on sticking around and protecting them. What better can they ask for than the leader of The Cooler Crew himself showing up?'

'Baby Lapras is also very good for morale. Its after spawning season and most pokemon here are looking forward to their own eggs hatching. Having a little bundle of cuteness nearby gives them something to focus their attention on. And more importantly, it gives my baby lots and lots of attention! Who would think such a tiny thing could be so spoiled? Makes me want to... spoil her lots more! Muahaha!'

'Eventually though, she does tire out, which gives us adults time to talk.'

-"Gold-Goldeen deen?"

"Don't worry about Riley, I managed to convince him not to worry about me... at least I hope I have. Part of me suspects he already knows what I'm planning, but isn't going to stop me. But for now, let's talk about the main threat."

"We expect them to come from that direction, if the report is to be believed. I'm expecting high numbers, but not high levels. Mostly Squirtle with a few other species thrown into the mix. Maybe a Wartortle, if The Warband has any sense at all."

-"Goldeen? Gol gol!"

"Not to worry, your eggs are too far up river for them to reach easily. The currents here are lazy, but they get faster the closer you get to your spawning grounds, remember?"

-"Gold." Spring comforts their mate as best they can given the situation.

"Besides, their goal isn't your eggs, it's the beach. If I'm right, they'll cut through here following the stream up until the treeline opens up over there. Then they'll follow the break back to the main road and down to town."

"And even if they do plan to go that far North, I'm here to cut off their main force!"

-"Goldeen!"

"And you to, of course. Just take out any stragglers that try to rush past me until I can get there. Er, I say 'take out' figuratively. Their last dispatch was full of hatchlings just a few weeks old."

-"G-" Spring chokes on a bubble, their mate patting their back with a fin.

"Yes, they're sending children to fight their battles... it's going to be a hard fight, but not for the reason you're suspecting. I don't want to hurt those poor kids any more than they already have been."

Jessie looks to their own child, napping peacefully.

"I don't want to see any more tragedy."

Nearby, unseen, a Pichu peeks through a bush with a worried expression.