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Meloetta observed the rushing waters to the north.
The great Northern River overflowed with abundance.
Water could be taken from its depths.
With effort, it could be guided south.
Subarbore would no longer thirst.
A vast network of canals would be built,
the likes of which Pokévrth had never seen.
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Cinccino Vii dashed ahead, glancing back at Mienfoo and Scraggy. "Hurry up! We need to find you a boat before it starts!"
The reservoir's shoreline teemed with energy. Some playful laughter still lingered, but tension crept in as the tournament's start loomed. Mienfoo and Scraggy had fallen behind, delayed by the process of receiving their floaties. Scraggy sported a pair of inflated shoulder pads. Mienfoo had chosen a single armband which was wrapped tightly against his bicep.
By the time they were ready, the rest of Cinccino V's class had already boarded their boats. Every vessel along the shore seemed full.
Vii pushed through the crowd, scanning the docked boats. "Full. Full. Full." Her frustration grew with every boat they passed. "Didn't the organizers supply enough of these thin- WAIT! There's one!"
She darted forward, only to freeze as a group of young mun reached it first. "DARN!"
Turning back, she forced a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, we'll find something."
Mienfoo swallowed hard. Would they be disqualified before the challenge even began? Surely, the organizers would give them some leeway?
Then, he spotted a familiar face.
A Krokorok sat alone in a mid-sized rowboat, the frayed brim of a straw hat shading his eyes. Slouched back, he lazily dragged a single sharp claw through the water. He looked indifferent to the world around him, but Mienfoo caught the subtle shift in his posture. He had noticed him. And he remembered.
Mienfoo's mind raced. The last time he had seen this Krokorok, he had accidentally blasted a hole in the wall of his home. No wonder the croc showed no reaction. If their roles were reversed, Mienfoo wouldn't want anything to do with him either.
But he and Scraggy needed a boat. And there were open seats.
Taking a deep breath, Mienfoo stepped forward. His heart pounded in his chest. Krokorok hadn't been unreasonable before. Maybe he would listen.
"E-excuse me…"
Krokorok let out a long sigh. He didn't even bother looking up. "What do you want?"
He swallowed hard. "My friend and I… we need - "
"No." The croc's response was short and to the point.
"B-but-" Mienfoo waved his hands in front of him, grasping at words that weren't there.
"I said no."
Silence. Mienfoo fell still for a moment, his breath hitching. Then, his fingers curled into fists. He grit his teeth in determination. "Hold on."
Krokorok lifted the brim of his hat as the mustelid grabbed the side of the boat and shook it. "If this is about your house…" Mienfoo said, meeting the crocodile's gaze with resolve, "then let me make it up to you. Let me work for you. I'll help you through the Keldeo Path, ok?"
Krokorok's eyes narrowed slightly, his interest finally piqued.
"And in exchange… just let me and my friend ride with you."
The crocodile's lip curled into a half snarl, his eyes flickering with internal debate. He scratched his chin with his claw, exhaling through his nostrils.
"I see…" His voice was deliberately slow, letting the silence hang. "Well… I guess I can agree to that…" He sighed, twitching a finger inwards to motion for Mienfoo to climb aboard. "Just don't break anything this time."
Mienfoo broke into a relieved smile. "Of course!" He extended his hand without hesitation, offering a handshake. "The name is Mienfoo Gregorian."
The crocodile stared at his paw for a moment before reluctantly grabbing it. "Krokorok V…" he started to reply, only to break into a slow drawl partway through. "Junior. Krokorok Junior."
Mienfoo grinned, climbing aboard. The boat rocked gently beneath him.
"This better not be a mistake," Krokorok muttered, adjusting his hat.
Scraggy weaved through the dense crowd, the bright blue floaties on his shoulders bobbing as he stumbled between taller Pokémon. He had been trying to keep up with Cinccino and Mienfoo but, somewhere along the way, he'd lost them both.
He spun in circles, nearly swallowed by the chaos. "H'ULLO?!" he called, voice cracking. "GREGGY?!"
"Hu'llo brudder."
Scraggy stiffened. The voice was deep. Slow. Deliberate. He turned.
A Scrafty stood there. Taller, older - maybe two or three years his senior. His skin was dark gray, his mohawk a dark brown ridge that curled slightly at the ends. A long wooden staff was attached to his back with a simple strap.
But it was the tattoo on his chest that held Scraggy's gaze.
A tree with twin helixes hanging like vines from its branches. He had seen the symbol before… it was the same symbol that Auntie Olga often wore. She had provided a stamp bearing it to him. His mother had taught him of the symbol's importance – how it could make all their financial problems go away.
"Who yu…?" Scraggy asked, tilting his head in confusion.
The Scrafty stared blankly for a moment. Then he stepped past without another glance. "Fellow beast."
Scraggy watched him disappear into the bustling crowd, confused. A familiar voice cut through the noise:
"ARDI!"
His gaze shifted towards the nearby shoreline, where Mienfoo stood aboard a boat – waving excitedly. Scraggy blinked, hesitating for a moment. He quickly shook off the strange encounter, however, and bolted toward his friend.
Still slouched at the far end of the boat, Krokorok opened a single lazy eye as Scraggy came running. His lip curled into an irate snarl just as the young lizard leapt aboard, rocking the raft violently. It was already feeling crowded.
Mienfoo, unfazed, met Scraggy with an eager grin. They exchanged playful fist bumps as their teacher approached the boat from the shoreline. She watched their moment of camaraderie with a soft smile.
"Well - that settles that, I suppose," she said, hands on her hips.
The harbor teemed with energy. All around them, children chattered excitedly from their boats. Their laughter and cheers mingled with the lapping waves. Along the shoreline, proud parents and mentors waved and shouted words of encouragement through the cacophony.
Cinccino looked down at her students. "Listen," she said with a teacherly tone, "you're on your own from here, so you two better behave yourselves, alright?"
Mienfoo and Scraggy snapped to attention, nodding back at her.
"Follow the rules," she continued, "and don't get hurt."
Mienfoo met her gaze, eyes gleaming with gratitude and excitement. "Miss Vii… thank you."
Cincinno paused before chuckling warmly. "Of cou-"
*SWOOOOSH!*
A deafening roar cut through the harbor.
A colossal jet of water erupted from the shoreline like a tidal wave, shooting high into the sky. It tore across the lake like a speeding serpent, a wall of rushing water that sent ripples racing outward. Mist sprayed across the crowd. Sunlight pierced through the droplets, scattering tiny rainbows in every direction.
Gasps and excited murmurs filled the air as all eyes followed the water's path. It surged toward the lake's center, rising higher, higher. With a thunderousboom, it erupted into a geyser.
The cascade rained down, revealing a shadow within the falling curtain of water.
A figure.
A turtle.
As numerous droplets splashed into the water, Sir Carracosta stood in the center of the fading geyser. His booming voice carried across the entire reservoir:
"Welcome, one and all… to the Queen's Tournament!"
A wave of cheers erupted from the harbor, excitement surging like the tide.
Sir Carracosta stood in the middle of the reservoir, perched atop a stone column that sat perfectly level with the water's surface. He was hunched forward, balancing his weight on the cane grasped in his fins. Feeling thousands of eyes upon him, the elderly knight took a deep breath.
A flurry of excited voices responded to his telepathic message.
Carracosta extended a single fin towards the water near him, as if grasping it from afar. The water trembled. With slow, deliberate motions, he swept his arms in wide circles above his head.
The lake stirred. Slowly at first, but it quickly picked up speed until it formed a raging whirlpool. Water spiraled upward in a rising column, spinning faster and faster. Its surface gleamed in the sunlight. Miniature rainbows flickered across the harbor as the swirling torrent climbed higher, towering above the crowd. Then the transformation began.
The twisting waters took shape - long, slender legs and a flowing silhouette. The outline of a regal figure emerged from the spiral, sculpted by unseen hands. A sleek body with an elegant posture. A large round head with flowing hair, crowned by a diadem encrusted with gems.
The reservoir erupted with cheers as the queen's likeness loomed over them, her waterborne majesty casting a shimmering shadow across the harbor. The towering Queen's eyes opened, a warm smile spreading across her lips.
"I welcome thee, children of Aurumus," the Queen said with a graceful bow. Her kind voice echoed mystically through the harbor, much to the awe of those below. "I welcome thee to the Keldeo Path."
"My Goddess 3 ~~~~!"
Hearts pounded in Pawniard's eyes as she stared up at the Queen's magnificent form. "You're even more beautiful in the flesh~~~! Sort of…"
Perched on the side of the small boat, Joltik rolled her eyes.
"Has it been ten years already?" the Queen spoke, bringing a hand to her mouth. She chuckled softly. "My, time sure does fly by."
"It warms my heart to see all of you gathered here, ready to embark on your new journey." The crowd roared. "When Aurumus was in its infancy, there was no lake here. Nor the vast fields around our capital. The land was as barren as the deserts to the east."
"This land was barren…?" Timburr muttered, raising an eyebrow. "But everything around Subarbore is farmland now…"
Pansage sighed. "You really should pay attention in school, my friend."
"Your ancestors feared hunger and thirst as much as they feared war." She placed a hand over her heart, her eyes closing as she spoke with a solemn tone."But we persevered. Many years of hard work led to the creation of a mighty canal, bringing water from the Great Northern River directly to Subarbore. Now - a vast network of waterways spreads throughout our nation's heartland, delivering life-giving water to the mun of Aurumus."
The crowd cheered, bringing a smile to Her Majesty's face. "Today, these waterways serve a new purpose - "
"– the conduit of your adventure!"
Mienfoo smiled at the towering Queen, trembling with excitement. He grasped the oars of their boat tightly. The adventure he had long waited for was about to begin! Beside him, Scraggy pumped his own oar over his head as he roared with passion.
The Queen gestured towards the far end of the reservoir, where the lake branched into several gated paths. "These canals stretch not only through Subarbore itself but also through the surrounding region. They even connect to our neighboring towns."
"The goal of the Keldeo Path is a very simple one – reach the town of Weston within twenty-four hours. Do that and you will have passed the first round of the tournament."
"Weston, huh?" Joltik muttered, flipping through the atlas that she found within the boat. "I've been there before… it's east of here."
Pawniard looked down at her, her fangirl persona instantly evaporating as her gaze became cold and calculating. "Can you guide us there?"
She tapped her foreleg on a certain page as she found Weston amongst the maps. "No sweat. I'll find the optimal path. Easy-peasy!"
"You'll find everything you need for your journey in your boats," the Queen added. "Parents, rest assured that the Observation and Security Committees are on high alert to ensure the safety of all participants."
Krokorok tried to ignore the crowd's uproar as he flipped through his own atlas with a claw. "Weston..." he muttered, frowning. "That's one of the five ghost towns." He shut the book with a snap and tossed it into the water behind him. "I thought Meloetta wanted to cover up those old scars after the Day of Demolition."
Mienfoo paused. He had heard that phrase before from his aunt, but what did it mean? He turned to Krokorok curiously. "The Day of Demolition?" he repeated. "What is that?"
The crocodile glared back at him. "It was the day I - "
A pillar of killing intent dropped down on him like an anvil. The croc stumbled.
He would have dropped unconscious right then and there had he not already been exposed to this sensation before. Even then… he was pretty sure thatdamned foreignerwas holding back. Sweat rolled off his scaly brown hide as he glanced into the crowd, where he caught the briefest glimpse of a single piercing red eye along with a flash of red feathers.
"A-are you ok!?" Mienfoo shouted, leaping to his feet to help keep Krokorok from collapsing. His fur was standing on end, glancing towards the crowd as well. "What was that!?"
Krokorok raised a brow at the young mustelid. "You felt that too?" He snickered. "That jerk must be getting sloppy."
"Jerk?" Mienfoo repeated in confusion. "Who are you talking about!?"
Krokorok wiped the sweat from his brow and sat upright. "I'm fine," he replied simply, before moving his gaze back towards the Queen. He sighed. That dumbass. The committees will obviously take notice if you throw around pressure that powerful. You're going to get us caught before we even cross the starting line!
Hidden amongst the crowd, Weavile snarled as he read the teen's expression from afar – this nation's pathetic queen droning on in the background. What kind of amateur do you think I am?
"As you embark on this journey,"the Queen continued, her melodious voice rising above the excited murmurs that flowed through the massive crowd, "Remember the spirit of Aurumus. Remember the perseverance of your ancestors. Their courage. Their unity. The very bonds which brought prosperity to our land."
She raised her arms, her appearance radiant."Remember this and know – you are not alone!"
A wave of excitement swept through the harbor. The murmurs of the crowd swelled into a deafening roar. Queen Meloetta continued, her voice dripping with both grace and strength."May your paths be rich with discovery, your hearts bold with bravery, and your minds keen with wisdom."
"Set sail, children of Aurumus - let the waterways guide you to your destiny!"
The illusion of the queen collapsed into a shimmering cascade of water, crashing down in a dazzling display. Mist sprayed through the harbor as a great ripple shot through the lake, rocking the line of boats still parked along the shoreline. The children aboard these boats roared with vigor as they worked their oars and powered through this wave.
At the far end of the reservoir, the gates groaned open. The grinding of winches was drowned out by the deafening cheers of the crowd. The water of the lake rushed outward, pulling the boats into its current and sweeping them swiftly toward the challenge ahead.
"Hah… hah…"
Sir Carracosta breathed heavily, relieved that the speech was finally over and that he no longer had to hold that mass of water in the sky. A soft smile crept upon his beak as he watched the determined faces of the children, roaring with the flowing currents as they passed him by. He adjusted his cane in his flipper.
A telepathic voice echoed in his head, followed by several murmurs of agreement.
The turtle's eyes narrowed slightly, shining with experience and wisdom.
Don't celebrate too early. Our job is only just beginning.
Weavile sat cross-legged atop a towering building, glaring down at the harbor far below with sharp eyes. After years of preparation, the DLST's plans were finally coming to fruition. But…
His gaze zoomed in on one teenage crocodile in particular.
To think everything depended on that one greenhorn. What was Bisharp even thinking – putting so much responsibility on the shoulders of an inexperienced child?
Krokorok was barking orders from the back of his boat as his two new companions – a Scraggy and a Mienfoo, worked the oars to propel them forward. The foreigner's eyes switched from the crocodile to the Mienfoo. He thought back to the incident from moments before, when he had attempted to silence Krokorok with a spike of killing intent.
Weavile had targeted the crocodilian with extreme precision. Even standing beside him, the fact that the little mustelid had managed to also pick up on it was… alarming. Even if the boy was exceptionally sensitive, no one so young should be able to detect his pressure unless he specifically wanted them to. The fact that the young Mienfoo had sensed his presence meant that he already knew too much.
He needed to be eliminated.
Weavile grumbled angrily, his claws twitching at his side as they hungered for blood. Even from this distance, he could off the boy in the blink of an eye… but there were too many observers. The committees would notice a child dropping dead even if they couldn't perceive who was responsible. That would be a real mess.
Well, whatever.
He smirked cruelly as he rose to his feet. Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished.
There would be other opportunities.