Posted July 26th, 2024

Chapter Summary

Team Kirigiri has made it to Kuanalio Island to rescue the villagers, where ever they may be from the Ruinous Fog fire. But they need to understand what has transpired along the island in their absence and locate the village, all while avoiding the black fog. Will they figure out the growing mysteries or be lost amongst the smoke?

Along the frothy waves of Kuanalio Island, T'nuri took in a deep breath. Alejandrien was right by her side. We're back here once again, The Cubone thought. To finish what we started. Her breath filled with dread and worry.

"To free Pa'a Lepo from that wall I have to figure this out," T'nuri told herself in a whisper. Her gaze traced the flames and she clenched her slightly faded burn wounds. Thank Lunala and the sands of time for those Simisear and Seismitoad Apothecaries . But now that we're here, can I even save Kuanalio?

T'nuri, Alejandrien and their allies held firm onto the Zháo Mega Launcher as the winds jostled through the land. Flames rippled on the sand and shore alike across from the mighty the sand, and trees a black plume of Ruinous Fog churned. Inside the black fog, a burst of flaming orange energy brimmed, a flicker of heat on the teal waters below. A layer of almost crisp black, dark grey mist floated just above the perimeter of Kuanalio Island's waters.

The Clawitzer at the helm, Bao, eased the rudder to the side. "It's on you now, Team Kirigiri!" Her command echoed out through her loudspeaker. "We're just the Navigators, say the word when ready!"

"Say when!" A chorus of voices echoed out from the depths of the Zháo Launcher.

The Cubone jumped in her scales out of surprise. "We saw them earlier, but who are those guys again?"

"Our Fledgling Navigators!" Bao yelled. "Our Clearance Zero amigos friends."

"Ah, they're lower than me?"

"Clearance Zero," Alejandrien replied. "I see. Well we've got friends here too partner."

"Friends?" I don't know yet 'Adrian.

T'nuri and Alejandrien glanced behind them and found a Grookey and a Fuecoco. Emile and Kaliente, despite everything that had happened earlier, were right at their sides. Not unprepared either. With journals of different types in each of their backpacks alongside containers, with compasses, and other tools Kaliente and Emile were ready. Kirigiri, the Investigation Team, stood beside the port side of the Zháo Launcher, where the ramp sat bound by chains of a lever. Rowdy waves swayed them up and down, side to side, but their gazes remained firm. Still dizzying nonetheless.

"Do you think we can dock soon?!" T'nuri yelled, her voice barely louder than the crashing waves below.

"Yo no sé ! I don't know!" Atop the lookout nest, the Heliolisk, Luciano shook his head.

Towering right beside him, the tall necked Eggsecutor, Vicenta, sighed. "Luciano's right, I don't see it."

With a groan, Alejandrien placed their claws on the railing."How are we supposed ta clear the Ruinous Fog if we ain't even on the Island?"

The stairs from the Captain's Quarters creaked as an Indeedee made his way toward Team Kirigiri. "Even though it looks insurmountable, there's gotta be a way on shore," he said, his upward horns shining in the sun's light.

"I don't know Yawen, es un poco mal it's a little bad," the Eggsecutor groaned, her leaves shaking.

The Indeedee tapped a clawed hoove on his clipboard. "It's their first time dealing with Ruinous Fog this dangerous since they joined the Detective Agency… I can't help but get a bit nervous."

"They're Fogcutters!" Bao yelled once again. All eyes went to the Captain as she pointed her massive claw forward. She nodded before she continued. "I believe in them."

What? Tnuri wondered, as she traced over the sight of the Clawitzer at the rudder, a massive wave behind her in the distance. Captain Bao only just met me, saw me breakdown in front of the wall of fog over Pa'a Lepo and still believes in me? No way, it can't be. She just believes in the others.

Just after that, Luciano slid down the Murkrow nest and landed beside the ramp hatch.

"Huh?" T'nuri asked, her eyes widening. "It doesn't look much better."

With a mighty roar, the Heliolisk pulled down the switch. "It will be!"

"What is going on now!?" T'nuri nearly fell over as the ground shook.

"Show us what'cha got Team Kirigiri!"

"Now?" Emile gasped as the floorboards rumbled amidst the ramps movement.

Kaliente pointed at the sands far below. Quite the fall to reach the saltwater brushed dunes of their desire. "We're going now?"

Flames were few and far between in the shallow portion of water across from the galleon. As little as they could be for a burning beach. The shadow from the metal and wooden ramp engulfed the foamy current as it ebbed and flowed along the embers of the sands, no sanctuary in shade. It was time.

The Grookey took a step onto the slightly wobbly board and gazed at the fire.

"What are you doing?" T'nuri asked, her tail twitching.

"Calculations," Emile replied curtly. As if the query slightly shook off her focus.

"Really?" T'nuri huffed as she moved back. What can she even see?

"I have to get proficient at this."

"Why?"

"To get us down… And to sail. Alone." Emile nodded.

T'nuri chuckled a little."You? On your own?"

Kaliente flashed her a thumbs up."And I'd love ta set claw on every island, with our ship!"

"The both of you have some lofty goals for some Detectives!"

"I'm not only after Ruinous Fog here, so far from my home on Toujours Island," Emile sighed. "Opportunities abound here."

Kaliente almost placed a claw on the Cubone's shoulder but just opted to adjust his scarf. "We said we'd show yew what we can do. And now we're going ta prove it ta you."

T'nuri rolled her eyes. These stupid Detectives are gonna get me burnt for Giritina's sake.

"Maybe we ain't steady enough?" Alejandrien said, their tail swishing.

A torrent of sand and dirt shot into the air as the galleon lurched forward, a harpoon buried in the earth just before the flames reached. "That should help!" Vicenta called.

Eyes scoured the shore, watching and waiting: they searched for a break in formation, any possible openings. Was there hope instead of despair? Nevertheless, the flames continued their waves. One of the fiery walls shifted subtly. The black fog slightly swayed in the coastal winds, leaving just a few meters of untouched land.

"Now!" the Grookey yelled and took off down the ramp.

In a flash, the Fuecoco and the Jangmo-o hurried after her, leaving T'nuri behind. "Wait up!" the Cubone gasped and dashed after them. Her arms may have trained to swing to cut and carve wood but her legs weren't especially trained for running fast. In the front, Emile narrowed her eyes as the fire slowly parted to the side before them, leaving scorching hot sands in its wake. "Can we just cut it!?" T'nuri yelped as the embers stirred once again, nearly blocking the path. I don't wanna get burnt again!

The Jangmo-o beside her grimaced. "Let's try!" They tossed out a Scale Shot at the Black Fog while the Cubone threw her Bonemerang. Unlike last time, no bursts of green or purple flares of energy came off the mist. Thick blankets of fog remained undisturbed, undeterred and unbothered, even amidst the pressure from the Fogcutters.

"What!?" the Cubone's shout echoed across the beach, fire nearly licking her skull-helmet. How did I not just get burnt!?

Alejandrien snarled as their claws dug through the almost blazing sand."We cut it last time, what's happenin'?!"

Kaliente pulled Alejandrien forward, out of a flicker of fire. He puffed out his own Ember, a small concentration of elemental flames on the sand as they passed. "It don't matter!"

" Vamos ! Go ! Move!" Emile yelled. She waved her branch, now with more reach and emitting a slight dark green hue of grass energy. It hit behind them at the Fuecoco's attack but nothing happened. Ember and Branch Poke combined. The black gas wasn't blocked or cut off, although it shifted further away. Flames hot on their heels, the four young Pokémon hurried through the brief opening. The Ruinous Fog shifted around them but then immediately shot back, a wild back and forth that only lasted on the shoreline.

How are we gonna get outta this? T'nuri thought in a panic, fear etched onto her face. At least we aren't being chased or attacked by those pirates. But still, how are we fine?

"Keep going!" a staticy voice bellowed from behind. Bao floated on the ramp of the Zháo Launcher with her binoculars and megaphone in her grip. "You'll figure it out Team Kirigiri, for sure!" Four sets of eyes locked onward. Faith was placed on them once again. They had to succeed. Past the barrier of heat the air was free, just barred of smoke and fire. For a moment.

"Stay calm, mates," the Fuecoco urged. "We're almost through."

"Again now damnit!" The Jangmo-o shouted. Instead of firing off a Scale Shot they sliced a fiery burst with Shadow Claw. Looks like 'Adrian is getting pissed off, though it's not raining poison from the grey fog. Interesting. T'nuri swung her Bone Club at the same time, the attacks colliding. Once again their moves did nothing against the Ruinous Fog. She pulled her arm back once more.

"This way!" Emile pulled the Cubone out of the reaching maw of blaze. "Don't!"

T'nuri grunted as she stopped her attack. "But why!? We're supposed to be 'the great Fogcutters' who can save this island!"

"We are!"

"Such a sparking lie! We haven't!" T'nuri spat.

"Give it some time laddie!" Kaliente yelled. "The fog changed!"

"But our promise ta Head Hector!" Alejandrien growled.

Emile quickly weaved through the final stretch of fire and flames and held out her paws. "Here!" the Grookey's call echoed throughout the beach.

Kaliente dashed to the safety of the sands, with Alejandrien and T'nuri trailing close, barely dodging the whips of fire and flames as the cloud shifted once again. Finally, each member of Team Kirigiri was free from the black fogs grasp. Emile pulled out a notepad as she stared at the fiery plumes. Her gaze was firm on it for about a minute, while everyone caught their breath.

The Fuecoco cleared his throat before he spoke. "Seems like our fogcutting powers didn't work on that patch."

"Unfortunately," the Grookey beside him added, and closed her notepad. "Come with me."

"Come with you?" Alejandrien asked before they glanced back. Beyond the perimeter of burning infernal land rocked the ever changing waves of the ocean. Zháo Launcher's ramp rose back up, while Luciano held up a claw from the lookout nest before the ship sailed toward the southern shore. Navigation Team Zháo Launcher would regroup with them later. "Partner, what's yur plan?"

"To locate the village," Emile replied and slowly marched off. The Grookey headed to the west, toward the towering hills, and more stretches of land T'nuri and Alejandrien didn't run through.

"What!?" An angry shout came from T'nuri.

"What is it?"

"How are you not mad!? You said you'd do calculations or whatever." The Cubone stomped through a bit of sand.

"Oh believe me," Emile said as she narrowed her red eyes. "I'm furious."

"What about you?" Alejandrien's claw pointed at the Fuecoco.

The Cubone snarled, her eyes full of rage as she bit her bone-club. "Always talking about staying calm."

"Suppose yer right 'bout that load o' sparks," the Fuecoco groaned. "Sorry mate."

"See? You Detectives can't predict everything."

Emile shook her head before she walked away, leaving the three to themselves. A spark of hostility brewed between the remaining Pokémon as Kaliente folded his arms with a sigh.

"T'nuri!" Alejandrien practically shoved her to the side.

The Cubone stumbled but didn't fall to the ground, her brown eyes blazing behind her skull-helmet. "Who are you to fucking push me!?" T'nuri growled back. "You asked the sparking question!"

"Laddie," Kaliente coughed, his head crest low.

"Partner that was uncalled fer!"

"No, it's fine," Kaliente said. He pulled the two apart and grimaced. "Although, we're a team."

"Sorry," the Cubone said as she hung her head. I'm always the snuffing idiot.

The Jangmo-o stepped away before she spoke. "My bad too."

"Cheers. Now say it laddie."

"Say what?"

"What's bothering ya this time?" the Fuecoco placed a claw on T'nuri's shoulder.

"Well uh. Didn't you specifically join the DA to solve the fog? I just don't understand how you two manage."

Kaliente nodded. "I'ma fiery chap, okay laddie. 'Course I'd be mad. But I control my flames."

Controlling his emotions is how he's so calm despite this snuff. That sounds so simple. "Yeah," T'nuri said, her gaze low. "I suppose that is true."

The Fuecoco placed a claw on his chest."I don't go running around like a little tail-bittin' sparker trying to scare everyone with me fire or burnoff." He paused to puff off some steam. "We from Tiempo Niebla, we're always fightin' an uphill battle. I'm not gonna muck up my chances if I can."

"Your flames are pure," the Cubone gasped, watching the tiny burst of air dance in the breeze.

Kaliente's green eyes shone bright as he tightened his scarf. "I'm not like that thing, that damn Ruinous Fog. And we'll get through it together. No mon left behind."

"Damn straight."

Before them, just like earlier stood Kuanalio Island, a northern land partially barren, even before the weight of the Ruinous Fog. The weak flames that choked at the limited flora were replaced with powerful flares that spared, just marring all in a cesspool of unforgiving sweltering heat. Black fog could only be avoided for so long.

On this side of the island, closer to the southwest sat a few small contained batches of foliage and trees.

"Look over there!" Alejandrien shouted.

Buried in the soil of the foot of a hill sat a rather large wooden sign, covered in soot and ash. The Cubone walked over to the dingy posting, and the others quickly approached. "It's made of palm," T'nuri explained as she ran a claw across the planks. "Any idea of what it says?"

Alejandrien laughed as they dusted off the edge. "There's just a bit of char on it, Partner."

"I couldn't read it," Emile spoke up.

"Yeah, whatever."

Etched into the wood was a square with a triangle on top of it, an arrow with a "W" and the symbols "VI" below it. Kaliente knocked on the sign with a smirk."It doesn't have any words, but based on the fact that the majority of Domestics of Kuanalio hail from the Sax Isles, I can tell it says 'village west, six kilometers."

Sax Isles? That's a tiny collection of islets in the western heartwaters. "What?" T'nuri gasped. She waved her claw at the crude carving and went back to the Fuecoco. "I got the six from 'VI' but how can you tell the rest?"

"Well, a few days ago when we were told about the possible Ruinous Fog sightings I looked up a bit of information about Kuanalio, Greene's, and Calah Island. I didn't find the name of any villages besides one but I found out their general cultures. This Island is chalk full of surprises laddie!"

Emile nodded as she rummaged through her bag, and pulled out a brassy compass. "Alright, six kilometers west shouldn't take too long."

"Really Partner?"

"Not more than about one hour, forty two minutes, and fifty seconds at our rate and presumed terrain."

Alejandrien grinned as the Grookey headed off down a stony pathway. "Nice work Emile! That ain't long at all!"

"She's only wordy when it comes to math innit!" Kaliente laughed and followed after her.

"Again?" The Cubone's jaw dropped. "How?!"

Emile dug her feet through a sandier patch of bush on the road as she turned to answer. "I was counting earlier. I always."

"Really?" T'nuri sighed as she faced the path ahead. There were hillocks in the distance, dusted in the faint green of flora and grey of sediment, all without a speck of black fog. Worryingly, what was a storm cloud could have easily been a tenuous plume of grey mist. It was bound to rain again on Kuanalio eventually, poison or not.

As the four Detectives walked where they presumed the village would be, Alejandrien glanced at T'nuri a few times. While the Cubone wasn't looking they even managed to sniff her. But the Jangmo-o's snout accidentally pressed into her side.

"'Adrian?" T'nuri gasped.

"There's been a misunderstanding!"

"And I thought I was bad," Emile mumbled as she looked away.

"Really now, then what the snuff was that?"

"Just missed my footing."

"Missed your footing and sniffed me?"

"Just a little sniff."

"Mate," Kaliente placed a claw off their shoulder. "Yew are just a tad off your scales."

"I know I sometimes eat sand to taste the earth but… Why smell me?"

"Why well," the Jangmo-o studdered, their maw blushing a tad. "The- um, I was thinking maybe there was a chemical difference into why. Why you couldn't cut it."

"We."

"We couldn't cut it. Together," Alejandrien added.

Kaliente hummed. "Didnea Jangmo-o known for a puttin' snout to the periodic elemental types."

"Back in Sahra Town, I used to run around having ta sniff the difference between different elements so I wouldn't get hurt playing with them in the lab."

"Really now?"

"That's why I can tell most of them apart pretty well. Chemicals would be like that here too in the Archipelago Continent."

"That is interesting," Emile added.

Kaliente scratched his jaw before he asked a question."What were ye thinkin' last time when you cut it?"

"I was thinking about protecting them," T'nuri replied as she gestured to Alejandrien who grinned and wagged their tail.

"And when you did it?" Emile questioned the Jangmo-o.

Alejandrien nodded. "I was also thinking about that. but I was also thinking about those pirates gettin' on in our way."

"Getting rid of them?" Kaliente suggested, his maw sporting a big toothy grin.

T'nuri grumbled as she crossed her arms. "That Dieno and that Buizel pushed me into the fire!"

"Shite! Those bloody sparkers nearly stole the Scarviolet Map too right?!"

"Yeah and they knew what they were doing. But they didn't know I was the one who was gonna clear it out."

"They got burnt too?" Emile asked.

"Yep."

The Fuecoco clapped his claws together and laughed."Serves 'em right!" He then blew off a bit of steam. "So you both had an important goal in mind when you cut through the Ruinous Fog."

"Protecting and defending, yes?"

The Cubone nodded. "We were able to cut it."

"Yeah," Alejandrien replied.

"Well maybe that's the key," T'nuri said, her dejection evident.

"Regardless, I ain't giving up," the Jangmo-o said, their voice firm as they raised their head high. "Not when everyone of Kuanalio and everyone of Pa'a Lepo needs us."

"Thanks Alejandrien." Tnuri sighed before she wracked her mind. 'Adrian cares so much about these waters, despite not being from here. What the spark am I doing here? Woodwork or detective work for the masses? Both?

The four continued onward as more dark clouds slowly rolled in on the horizon. What was previously warm sunlight was now weak sparse rays of sunlight, chopped up by the cloak of fog and mist far below. While they walked, Emile held onto her compass and did count under her breath, her eyes latched into the small patch of black fog that floated in from the east and the towering hills behind. To the contrary, Kaliente had a small booklet in his claws, eyes buried in its pages. So deep that he tripped.

T'nuri pulled the Fuecoco upright after his claw nearly lodged into a tree root and he laughed. "What's so funny? You nearly fell?"

"Oh, laddie, I was just surprised at meself!" Kaliente chuckled and tabbed his book.

Alejandrien snickered while T'nuri shook her head. "He's done it before, just last week!"

"And Captain Marisa called you a book-Orthworm."

"She ain't seen this fellar in action!"

"Flickering embers, I haven't had a chance to sit down with a nice hardback myself."

The Fuecoco's eyes lit up."Based on what ye said earlier you'd love to do the same yeah?"

"Read?"

"Yeah, ya read a Detective oldie once, so I wonder what else!"

"I love Mystery, and like all sorts else, besides Romance-"

"Tell me more!"

"I wouldn't read on a walk in backwater country-" the Cubone sighed. "Why are you even reading anyway?"

"Can't you tell?" Emile asked.

"No," T'nuri said and looked away.

"'Twas a snippet from tha Ruinous Fog sightings of sixty years ago."

"Does this snippet have a black fog with flames?"

"No."

"Then why read it?"

Alejandrien turned toward her with a grin. "Well it's their first Ruinous Fog case so they've gotta be sharp."

"How sharp are we talking?" the Cubone questioned as she fiddled with her bone-club.

The Grookey nodded. "This black fog moves at approximately one kilometer per hour."

"Even sharper lass?" The Fuecoco asked.

"Three hundred and thirty three meters every twenty minutes."

"The old record, one with ice, measures eight hundred meters per hour."

"Really?" T'nuri gasped. "I guess you use the same method as earlier but this time you counted something else."

Kaliente sniffled before he threw his book into his bag. "And fer good reason too, look behind ya!"

Brewing equally foul and fresh, was a stray plume of black fog. Flames roasting through the path, blazing hot on the trail.

At the sight of the rogue fog, T'nuri's eyes widened with fear. "Oh what the?"

Alejandrien yelped as they bolted off. "It's worse than when we left!"

"Let's go over here!" T'nuri hobbled toward a sandier side, more open of the path.

"No!" Emile urged. "Por Aqui! This way!"

T'nuri gasped as she looked at a bumpy forest part of the trail, higher along a rough mound. "How do you know where it's going?"

"No sé ! I don't!"

"You don't!?"

"Hurry!"

"Fine," T'nuri groaned before she trudged up the hill.

As the four hobbled through the treed back route the fire sped through the beach, right on top of the way where T'nuri just stood. Holy spark! Her thoughts flew in a blur. That would have burnt us to a crisp! Everyone ran deeper inside the nearly barren patch of woods, where dead leaves concealed more holes of seawater.

Black fog thick with streaks of red and orange snuffed out the air in a circling swipe across the sands. Just as quickly, the mist turned back and weaved along a large chunk of beach. But not all of it, as she peered through the rows of withered trees, T'nuri glanced upon a small structure. One spared from the wrath of the mist.

"Woah! The dockside is free!" The Cubone called before she clamped out of a watery pit.

"Yeehaw, let's go!" Alejandrien cheered.

As the four headed toward that same dock through the trees, Alejandrien walked close to T'nuri's side. Emile followed the two, ruby red gaze searching, seeking safety and security. Kaliente stared at some of the plants and once again pulled out his booklet.

It was time for detective work.