Chapter 40: A Cool... (what is that thing?)

-"Good news, we found out what went wrong during the pokeball transfer! It's actually something that multiple centers have been experiencing lately. You just got sent here instead of your intended destination. But, we've contacted your trainer and they're making preparations to come here and pick you up personally!"

Nurse Joy cheerily reports to the two pokemon in the outdoor waiting area. Cyan the Primarina rests on a ramp leading up to the dry area, giving a deep sigh of relief as she hears the good news.

-"You'll be able to stay here or with your new friend, Jessie for now! Not to worry, he's a very dependable pokemon who all of us trust. Whatever you choose, I'll be sure to let you know when your trainer arrives."

"Thanks Joy! See, what did I tell you? We have this whole, wonky teleporting thing, completely under control."

-"Prim!"

-"Actually Jessie, while I have you here."

"Shoot."

-"Do you think you could go upstream a bit and check things out for me? I've gotten complaints about a rather aggressive pokemon sighted in the area. A psychic type that keeps attacking trainers who wander too close to it's habitat."

"Well, sure. I guess I could go check on things, just to be safe."

-"Oh, you're a doll. Thank you so much!"

"Sure thing, Joy. Anything to help out... Well, I'd love to show you the area, but it looks like I have my plate full today. So, I'm going to let my personal assistant show you around instead. Sound good?"

-"Primarina?"

"Oh you'll love her, she's my pride and joy. And the cutest little bundle of fluff under the waves! Oh Roma!"

A tiny Lapras calf swims up to the floating nurse's station and onto the ramp beside the smiling mermaid. Squeaking brightly, the room immediately feels warmer.

-"Pri! Primariiina~"

"Yeah, she's a real cutie, isn't she? Roma, would you mind showing our new friend around? She's a bit lost and could use a helping fin to bring her up to speed."

-"Lap-ras!" The tiny thing waves a fin over her head, like she had seen Aunt Dexter doing many times before. Cyan, completely spellbound by her new escort, follows behind, positively glowing with happiness.

"She's come a long way from the broken little egg I found. *sniffle* I'm so proud of her!"

-"Ahem."

"Oh! Right right, off I go. Won't take but a minute!"

'Been a while since I last came up this way. The current feels kinda nice this time of year. I can see why the Goldeen like to lay their eggs up ahead... Brings back memories though.'

Jessie idly swims up the river's slow moving current, thinking about Krabbies and who- er, I mean "what" he can throw at them if the need comes. Unfortunately, he is swimming alone today. No 'stalwart companions' to be seen.

'I wonder how everyone back in my old life is doing...?' They stop, peeking out of the water and up the hill leading to the ruins. Floating there, surrounded by floating water droplets and fainted Poliwags is a strange looking pokemon.

'Is that some kind of Abra? Or a Wobbufet seen from behind maybe?' The black furred creature drops it's spindly arms, throwing all the fainted pokemon back in their pond. Menacingly, it spins around in the air, peering directly at Jessie with it's one piercing eye.

"Oh shi-"

-"?" The strange pokemon attacks!

The ? rushes toward the water, shouting some kind of piercing cry! Raising a hand, the water around Jessie begins to glow. They jet backwards avoiding the attack as the river explodes upwards, rapidly condensing and rupturing into a mass of steam which blankets the area.

"Jeez, you don't pull any punches! Okay so you're a Psychic type... whatever you are. Let's try this then." Sneaking over using the steam, Jessie uses Fling, sending a stick toward the strange creature. ? reacts slowly, the projectile striking it in it's midsection. It reels in pain, rolling on the ground in obvious distress.

"Alright! You aren't so tough, are you?" Returning fire, the ? sends out a wave of purple orbs, blasting the river and surrounding area with psychic energy. By the time the steam clears, the river is little more than a shallow stream and the treeline reduced to splinters.

"Yikes, okay. Not tough, but pretty strong." He moves further upstream, attempting to reach the deeper waters, but the ? is quicker, appearing where they had hoped to go an delivers a stunning shock to his temple. The Disable attack seals away Jessie's knowledge of how to use Fling!

"Oh come on, that's like, my second favorite move! Fine, we'll do this the old fashioned way." Jessie Wraps up the ? who struggles to move it's arms, easily being brought down to the shallow waters.

A splash of Acid quickly covers the creature, leaving them thrashing around in a panic.

"Come on, you're starting to make me feel bad. It's almost like you've never fought a real battle before."

-"?"

"Uuuh... repeat that for me?" 'I can't understand it? Is this thing not a pokemon?'

? uses Protect, the shimmering wall forcing Jessie to release his hold and allowing it to escape high into the air. A number of spheres appear around it in a ring which rapidly begin spinning around it and shooting down in a hail of psychic attacks!

Jessie throws himself to and fro, desperately avoiding each blast and being flung painfully each time one of those orbs so much as clips him! Seeing no hope for dodging, he shoots out a Bubblebeam to counter as many of the attacks as possible until the ? begins slowing down. It seems confused when no more orbs come out.

"Used all your PP up? Yeah, that'll happen if you spam all your best attacks from the start. You've got to hold back a little and wait for-" Jessie lets out a focused shot at the distracted not-pokemon. ? screams as it's one eye is struck.

"An opportunity!"

Falling rapidly, whisps of ominous light peel off of the creature. Landing in a heap are a very tired looking "?" Unown, the rapidly fading remnants of a glitchy Wartortle, and a familiar old man.

"No way... Professor?!"