Saving Spirit

~Oh yes, my dear, a swim would be very nice!~ Hanekko moved about in the space that he had.

Blueberry walked to the water's edge, smiling to herself. She did not know why, but it felt right to be sharing her body with the spirit of Hanekko. And she did love him, at least as much as Blueberry could love anyone.

The water was deliciously cool and send shivers through her dense fur. She shuddered happily and made a few little dives under the water, using her buoy like tail to provide flotation.

~~ Oh Hanekko, I hope it can be like this forever!~~

Then she heard a voice, somewhere in the distance, calling to her.

She scrambled ashore, shaking moisture from her fur. "Goldy's funeral!" She exclaimed, "I forgot all about it! We must go Hanekko."

Hanekko was just getting used to the cool feeling of water washing over Blueberry. It was a very wonderful feeeling he had never experienced as a Hoppip.

Blueberry's sudden turn to the shore made him sigh.

"Goldy was your friend. Wasn't she a golduck?" Hanekko tried to remember what he might know of Blueberry's late companion.

Blueberry found herself speaking the above aloud, although the accent was different. It was a weird feeling, not having control of one's own voice.

~ Yeh, ~ she replied, ~ my bestest friend in the whole world, until you of course. But she dead now, of course, you dead now too, kinda...~ She appeared to get a little confused. Suddenly something occurred to her.

~ If you can take my voice, can you take my body too? Can I pass it over to you? ~ It was a scary thought, but the Marril was ever curious and willing to try. Was is possible for the two to share a body and also share control of it? Like a Girafarig or Doduo?

Hanekko felt strange. Blueberry had let her body go limp and ready for him to control.

Hanekko concentrated hard on what the merril could feel. With a bit of focusing , he felt the grass beneath them, then a breeze from the north.

Hanekko felt a buzzing from a little nat on Blueberry's nose. Without much thought, Hanekko scratched it .

"Ahh bettter" Hanekko sighed through Blueberry's feminine voice.

"Hey," Hanekko jumped up, "I did it! .. we can do it!"

~ Weird, ~ Blueberry said, ~ but kinda cool. Well, we better find Spirit.~

Hanekko nodded Blueberry's head in agreement. "Uh.. might be better if you lead. I'm not sure how to get to the lake" Hanekko sweatdropped.

Blueberry took over control of her body and began to head back to the water. "We swim," she said, "and we find Spirit, and say bye-bye to Goldy."

She dived in the water and began to swim back around the lake. It was a long journey and would take some time.

Hanekko felt as if he was an admiral on a ship. The view wasn't bad, and the gentle rocking and bobbing of the round pokemon's body was relaxing.

He looked below them, (I'm sure this is weird for Blueberry to suddenly have her face shoved in the water 0.0) and smiled at the site of a school of magikarp passing by.

Surfacing again, he had a wonderful idea. "Hey, Blueberry, how far underwater can we go? I've never been beneath the surface of the lake and I'm a little curious about what lives and grows here."

*

Spirit awoke from his restless sleep. His old bones were stiff and sore from the odd position and the fact that he had over-exerted himself the day before. He smiled at the Sandshrew.

"Looks like I'm getting old," he said, easing himself down to the ground. "I think I need a cool refreshing bathe and something to eat."

"I getta lettle buggies for you!" The Sandshrew exclaimed.

"No, that's alright," Spirit replied, "I'll pick myself some delicious fruit. Imagine that, we met a baby Suicuine."

"What, thatta doggie thing? Whatta so special bout that?"

"That, my little friend, was one of the legendary dogs, they purify water, and their presence here has saved our lake."

"Really?"

"Really." He wandered down to the lake front and splashed water on his muzzle, laying his spoon aside to do so. And he did not notice as something large and white flicked a flipper from the water and flicked the spoon into the air. Not until it was too late....

"Hey, give me back my spoon!" Spirit shouted at the Dewgong, which frisked in the water, flicking it through the air. The Sandshrew made to run into the water, but Spirit threw it back, knowing that water weas not good for ground types. He could not swim, and his power was invoked by that spoon...

*

Suddenly a white shape swam in front of the Marril, the current from its tail sending her a little of course. It bounced her into the air with its snout. She shrieked, partly in exhilliration, partly in fear. She could feel Hanekko shaking inside her.

A second Dewgong approached the first , balancing a strange spoon on its nose.

"Lookit this!" the first said to the other.

"Wassa' dat?" the original asked.

"Fromma' kadabra onna shor!" the first one grinned.

Hanekko and Blueberry had the same thought at the same time. ~SPIRIT!~

~Oh no if they have mister spirits' spoon , he can't give my poor Goldy friend her send away~ Blueberry worried.

~Don't worry, we'll get it back somehow~ Hanekko tried to reassure her.

They approached the two Dewgong.

"Excuse, me please" Blueberry started off politely , "but that spoon belongs to a friend who needs it. Can I take it to him?"

The two dewgong looked at each other, then smiled.

"KEEPPA WAYY!" they laughed and passed the spoon between them, over the poor marril's head.

~Oh, now what we do?~ Blueberry sighed unhappy.

*

Mark walked in the river edge and he saw something awesome... A Kadabra, standing in front of him

"You come with me my friend..." Mark threw a pokeball, but it was blocked by a sandshrew.

"Prometheus! go!"the marrowak popped out of his enclosure, the sandshrew used a fury swipe attack, but Prometheus blocked each blow with his bone, just to finish off the sandshrew with a headbutt, Spirit looked at Mark angrily but helpless without his spoon, he couldn�t do anything at all, and he was too old as to fight with his strength, Spirit growled and threw himself at Prometheus, the two of them rolled out in the floor but Prometheus ended it smashing Spirit with his bone.

Spirit flinched as Mark took his pokeball out, then, a red flash.. and Darkness for Spirit.. Mark grinned, A Kadabra, how convenient, that sandshrew was useless, he just kicked it and recalled Prometheus.

"Well well well, now what should I get?" he spoke to himself proud of his new capture *

Hanekko smiled with Blueberry's mouth.

~I have an idea. Don't look at the spoon.... act like you don't care. ~

Blueberry put on a face of disinterest, the best that she could. The two dewgong looked at her briefly, then splashed more to make her look at them.

~Great, now, let's go to the bottom of the lake again, and find a nice shiny rock~

Blueberry ducked under the waters and swam down deep as she could. She and Hanekko spotted nice long flat red rock. It had marbled stripes and grey-black flecks though-out.

The two dewgong looked curiously at Blueberry when she resurfaced. Maybe she had food, they were thinking.

~Now, pretend you love that rock..... love it more than anything in the world.~

Blueberry tossed the stone around and made a great fuss over it. The two dewgong were bursting with curiosity. One of the approached with the spoon. "Trade?" it asked

Blueberry was about answer for them , but Hanekko stopped them. ~Let me speak to them a few moments~

"I'm not intresed in your boring spoon" Hanekko snorted.

The dewgongs seemed at a loss.

Hanekko held the rock even tighter, making cooing sounds. Blueberry wondered how funny she must look, holding a rock as if it were a baby.

One of the dewgong nudged the marril. "Please, trade, yes?"

The other joined in begging. "Yes yes , trade .. trade!"

"Why would I want a dirty old spoon when I have this pretty shiny rock" Hanekko answered in Blueberry's voice.

"Spoon iss Magic! Yes!" the Dewgong tried to make the spoon dance on the end of her nose.

"Trade, yes! " the other one pleaded again.

"Oh... a magic spoon?" Hanekko acted like he didn't believe them.

"Yes, please trade, magic spoon for pretty rock?" the dewgong looked as if she would go mad if they didn't trade.

Hanekko sighed, as if he really didn't want to trade, but had been pestered into it, "Well, ok"

The two dewgong flipped and splashed their fins on the water's surface.

"Trade yes! Trade Yes! Trade yes!!! " they cheered.

The dewgong held out the spoon for Blueberry to take. Blueberry took the spoon and replaced it with the shiny red rock.

"Gotta rock gotta rock!!" the dewgong teased and swam away. The other dewgong gave chase. "Share rock, Yes !!!"

Blueberry held the spoon. "Mister Spirit be happy to have this back!"

The marril gripped the spoon in her mouth and swam in the direction of the shore, where she hoped she would find the Kadabra.

*

~Oh Blueberry is it bad?~ Hanekko asked.

"We have to hurry!" Blueberry shouted, and swam off in the direction of where the spoon seemed to want her to go.

Hyron flapped his wings to get airborne and glided on the warm currents rising from the surface of the lake.

The pokemon soon got to the shore , where they found a very unhappy Sandshrew.

"You not Mister Spirit!" Blueberry spoke with surprise.

"Hee hees got caught by nasty human!" the Sandshrew wailed.

Hyron gently set Dandy and Stone-na Fleck down, nesting the cubone on a rotting log covered in moss that had been washed up on shore. He had a bad feeling something was going to happen!

Evin stepped forward, there was something strange in this place.

Hyron looked out to the distance and saw an Eevee and rattata approching. "Hello... are you friends to pay your respects to Goldy?"

Evin looked amazed at the Sandshrew only being half distracted by Hyron, turning his gaze sligthly still puzzled he looked at him "Yes... we are" Suddently Evin reacted, if the sandshrew was hurt.. then Hyron did it? but why?! Evin turned fully at Hyron "What happend here?"

Blueberry stepped up to explain in her own fashion, "I founded mister Spirits spoon taken by a couple of nasty dewygongs and my friend Mister Hanekko helped me get it back cause he's so smart! Then the spoon makes weird sparkly things and tells me Mister Spirit is in bad trouble, but when we get here all we find is a hurted sandyshrew and he says Mister Spirit's in trouble bad from a human!"

Hyron nodded, "Me and my love Dandy and this Cubone kid followed to help Spirit and to pay our respects to Goldy. "

Evin sweatdropped "So.. you say that this sandshrew was like this when you got here.... by a human?!"

Hyron nodded, "yes, "

Evin trotted nervous towards Hyron "Then, we must find Spirit! where is he?!"

The sandshrew made an effort to speak, " the human, took Spirit... he has a marrawak with him. Very powerful"

"Very powerful.." Evin's eyes filled in anger and he ran with the sandshrew "How was the man dressed?"

The sandshrew tried to think through his muddled mind, "Black... big red symbol"

Evin growled lowly it was a TR for sure.. he turned to his group "Be careful, stay together you all" and then turning to Hyron he nodded "We got to be careful, the baby must be protected at all cost"

"Baby? " Hyron puzzled, " I know the lad's young , but hardly a baby!" he looked at Stone-na Fleck , who still snoozed against the moss ridden log

The bushes moved slightly and a figure dressed in black came in front of the two groups grinning "So... now I have more prizes to catch"

Hyron gasped, jumped back and shielded Dandy and Stone-na Fleck. "what... is that thing?!"

Evin growled "Everyone! get ready! he will try to catch you!!!"

Mark got his pokeball in hand while he readied the gun in his belt while hearing the squawking of the huge bird. "You are a rare bird my friend, I think you are going with me first"

Hyron couldn't understand the humans words , but he sure as heck understood his intentions. The psychic bird struck out his feathers on end, gathering sunlight into their iridescent tint. "Cover your eyes everyone!" he warned the pokemon who were his friends

Mark saw the intentions of the Pokemon to attack and grinned as he threw his pokeball to the air making Prometheus appear in front of Hyron. Hyron jumped up and flapped into the air in surprise. He was not expecting this at all. Hyron unleashed his Blinding FLASH attack, turning everything bright white.

Both Mark and Prometheus fell over dazed by the Flash but Prometheus recovered faster and glared at Hyron throwing his bonemerang at him really angry for the insult .

Blueberry hid, and watched, frightened by all the action, she was prepared to let Hanekko control her body.

Twirl got close to Choru "Are we going to be ok?, Twirl is afraid, twirl doesn�t knows how to fight"

Choru blinked, not quite sure how to react. "Twirl..." he steeled his nerves and decided that now was NOT the time to back down. "You'll be okay, Twirl. No one's going to hurt you if I can help it."

Autumn fell back and got really blinded by the flash. She stumbled over to protect the Sandshrew

Hyron was knocked over mid air, injuring his foot. He nearly hit the ground but recovered, regaining altitude.

"Don't you attack him!" Dandy fumed and tossed a sludge ball at the enemy marrowak.

Evin Closes his eyes trying to remain calmed and think coldly, but this was too much he hated Rockets too much

Stone-na Fleck , awakened by all the noise , dived behind the mossy log, peering back over to get a bearing on things.

Prometheus caught his boneclub and grinned, just to be slapped in the face by a muddy ball, Prometheus coughed and absorbed some of the poison, not enough to poison him badly but enough for weaken him a bit, glaring at the walking chia pet he, kicked the ground sending mud at him in a MUDSLAP attack.

Hanekko was frightened. ~Blueberry, I've never battled before. If I was still alive , I could fight him with Vine whips or something... but I'm not in any position to fight them now... what will we do?~

~ Watergun,~ Blueberry thought. ~we can use watergun. Bone pokemon no like water!~

Dandy rolled back on impact of the muddy attack. He shook his head to wipe the dirt from his eyes. Hyron shook with anger and dived at the ground type , beak first. He was going for Drill Peck!

Prometheus noticed the marill, it was indeed a threat to him. Making no second thought he threw himself in a body slam towards the Possessed Marril "You rat! you will not beat me!"

Hanekko did the only thing he could think of , he made himself n' Blueberry duck!

Mark got up really angry, drawing out his gun he started picking a target... one that wasnt worth catching... and he eyed at Twirl....

Choru crouched, scared, but ready to fight if necessary. 'what am i DOING..' he thought. 'i don't fight... but it's only to save my friends. i have to try!!' weak though he was, and despite how small he felt, he started running with all his might. blinded by fury, he... *sigh* rammed into a tree.

Choru fell to the ground, head pounding. he groaned, looking around at Twirl. 'okay, so you wanna know how to fight, eh?... well, you don't do it like that.'

Prometheus got hit by Hyron's beak just before hitting Blueberry, the pain of the Peck in his flesh was forgotten for the fact that such weakling was doing this to him, with the beak digging in his side, he made an effort and swinged the Bone club directly at the bird's head in an effort to knock it out.

Mark glared at the marril, she was a threat for Prometheus. Carefully raising his firearm, he shot aiming for her. Hyron fell down from the strike of the bone club, bowling into the marrawak. Something else then struck him ..... it felt like fire . Blueberry took over her body to send a watergun attack straight at the Marrowak.

Autumn lowered her head, the loud bang really scared her, but she had to protect the sandshrew, she coudnt move from her place at all.

Prometheus felt relief when he heard the bone crushing sound, he winced trying to recover just to be hit straigth in the face by a powerful stream of water, the water gun weakened him, and he accidentaly left go his bone club wich went a few feet away.

Evin nooded at Choru trying to ask him to go and place himself behind Mark, a combined attack migth bring him down...

Dandy had just cleared his vision to see the Man do something to his love. In angered retalliation unlike anything he'd felt before, he launched a Toxic sludge attack at the human , aiming for his face. Mark saw th attack comming, he fired at Dandy but no bullet had any effect, the toxic mass got into his face, he dropped his gun away and fell in pain of the poison burning his eyes.

Evin yeled at Choru "NOW!!"

Choru nodded back, gaining a muddled understanding and shaking off his headache. he crept into the bushes, motioning Twirl to follow him. "Stay in these bushes... i'm going to try to help the others with a sneak attack. Don't worry, i'll be back." Choru smashed out of the bushes, hearing Evin's command. He put all his strength into his strongest attack. Flamethrower.

Hyron was a sorry mass of feathers tryng to untangle himself from the bulk of the wet Marrowak. He squawlked out in pain, trying to move on an injured leg and a broken wing. Unaware of how close to disaster she had been, Blueberry whirled and sent another watergun at the Marrowak.

Evin rammed dirrectly against Mark's scomach and then he bit his jacket ripping it off furiously searching for Spirit's pokeball, once he had found it he rolled it in the ground towhards Autumn "Autumn, take that and protect it!"

The water had weakened prometheus so much, in a final effort he grabbed Hyron's wing and prepared to break it, only to be stopped by Evin's tackle, while the flamethrower of Choru got lit with more intensity with the poison all over Mark

Angry for the attack, Prometheus smashed his bone in Evin's back, there was a crushing sound, and Evin fell, unable to move, with a expresion of fear.

Mark, desesperated rolled on the ground trying to extinguish the flames.

Choru stood, in awe of the flames. 'i... i did... that??'

Dandy launched a few more sludge attacks at Mark , seeing how the fire ignited his first one.

Autumn grabbed the ball, uncertain of what to do, she covered it with her body trying to hide it away. Blueberry desperately hung onto the spoon.

Stone-na Fleck took action. His heart quivered with fear, but he had to help. He grabbed the Marrawak's club and whacked the mean pokemon over the head. "Leave my twinkle-flappy freind alone, bigga' meany!"

Hyron made a weak attempt to peck at the eyes of the Marrowak. His strength was fading , as he was allready tired from all the flying he had done in the past couple of days.

Evin breathed heavily, what happend to him? he was councious, but the pain in his back was so intense he coudnt move properly.

Prometheus growled as the peck did its job being half blinded, and already weakened by the water attacks and the strong drill peck of Hyron. Prometheus tried to kick back at Hyron, but he fainted before he could do anything. Blueberry sent another watergun at the Marrowak, trying to push it back and into the lake.

Fainted, and now unable to move, Prometheus rolled away thrown by the water attack staying a few inches from the lake shore. Hyron , satisfied he was safe, passed out from the pain of shattered limbs.

Evin tryed to cry out for help, but his pain was too much, perhaps he had recived a damage in his lungs.. or worst.. Evin just whimpered beging for help, but there was only Hyron near him and he was allready out...

"Where Mr Spirit?" Blueberry asked.

Autumn scared yelped at Blueberry "Its here! I have it here!" she moved and revealed the pokeball "but i dont know how to get him out"

Blueberry tapped on the ball "Spirit?" She asked ,the pokeball oppened with a red flash!

Spirit sprang out, looking somewhat disorientated. He saw the carnage around him and tears began to roll down his cheeks. He approached the two fallen fighters - Evin and Hyron, and placed his hand on their heads. And staring at the heavens, and then at the lake, he called forth her power to help him.

Dandy moved to Hyron's side. He sobbed, as he stroked his love's feather and felt the sad slow breath rise and fall. There was nothing he could do for him. Dandy lay across Hyron's body, and cried.

Evin heard the familiar sound, he cold only whisper "s... s... spirit..." then he closed his eyes, trying to hold the pain without fainting .

As best he could the Kadabra drained the pain from the injured soldiers, sending it into the earth, where it belonged.

Evin was so glad, so glad that they could save him

Choru was bewildered. He'd never seen so many people hurting before. he dashed aroung in desperation, looking for Twirl. He dashed into the bushes.

'Twirl?--' then he saw Evin. '--Evin! are you okay?!'

Hyron shuddered. He was alived. He felt the weight of Dandy on him, and rolled over to comfort his mate, wrapping his good wing around the grassy pokemon. "It's ok Dandy... I'm ok"

Evin had felt Spirit's healing running across his body he coughed and rolled over, wincing he looked at Choru "i.. i i am ok" he coughed and rolled over again, still wincing in the pain

Choru nodded, staring at his friend. 'you sure?' 'you don't look so good.'

Twirl ran out of the bushes "Evin, Evin ok?" and she dashed at Choru's side.

Dandy gave a squeak of delight, hugging the bid tightly. Hyron winced, "Gently, please. I think, something is still broken." Hyron slowly righted himself, and checked. His leg was still severely sprained with a gaping hole where the bullet had entered. His wing , though free of pain , was no use for flying.

Evin sligthly opened an eye and half grinned at Choru "I have been worst, for now -ouch- Spirit is the one that matters"

'I think he'll be okay, my little friend,' Choru said to Twirl, 'but we'd better let him rest.'

'Spirit...' Choru gazed at Spirit. 'i have been wondering about Spirit...'

"My friends you did great, specially you Choru, that flamethrower was unique -ouch-"

Stone-na Fleck ambled over to Hyron, "Twinkle-Flappy no fly anymore?" Hyron shok his head,

" I'm afraid not for a long time, kid. I'm sorry I couldn't get you back to your parents."

Spirit bowed to them. "I thank you for saving me," he replied. "I lost my spoon, and therefore, some of my power. I must find it again." The Sandshrea ran forward and hugged his leg furiously.

Autumn nodded at Spirit "Spirit sir, its great to have you back here with us"

Choru sat, tail swishing from side to side. he sighed, and fell over. it was strange how just a little flamethrower can tire you out, he thought. what i need is a good nap...

Stone-na Fleck took a deep breath. He was sad he could not see his Twinkle-momma or Bigga-poppa, but his time away from them made him feel older. " Dassa' kay. Stay'a here with Twinkle-Flappy anna' helpa' him get better-fast!"

Blueberry ran forward and presented him with the spoon.

Dandy seemed suddenly delighted. He was going to be able to play daddy, if only for a short time.

Evin moved his paws slowly, the feeling was returning, his back still hurted but at least he could feel again. Sighing loudly he closed his eyes relaxed for a moment, and then rolled over to try to get up.

"Spirit, thank you for healing me. " Hyron looked over to the Kadabra. " I will be more than honnored to help you burry the golduck" Hyron tried to stand on two legs, but could only manage to stand up like on one leg. He looked like a hybrid flamingo and peacock!

Spirit placed his spoon against the Hyron's leg. Hyron could feel the bone piecing together again, and beginning to heal. He would still be lame though, for a time at least.

Evin slowly stood up directing a look to Spirit "I...I I am here too, to pay respects to all of our fallen friends"

Evin glanced at Hyron while Spirit was healing him "Thanks for your help, whitout you we would never done it.... what -cough- what is yoru name?"

Hyron tenderly set his foot to the ground , but would bear no weight to it. His injured wing was folded tightly against his body. He knew he would fly one day, but it was a long time off. Stone-na Fleck looked in awe at the power of the Kadabra. "You helpa' freind Twinkle-Flappy! How'a you maka'him heala' quick-fast?"

Choru snored softly.

Hyron looked over to Evin, " I'm called Hyron.... it's what I am, you see."

Spirit patted the Cubone on the head. "I am blessed bt the lake," he said, "It gives me power."

Evin nooded "I thank you for your help Hyron" then he turned his gaze at Spirit "Spirit, sir, its good to see you again, and to see that you are ok"

"Ohhhh" Stone-na Fleck gaped in awe. The lake was huge , so the Kadabra must have been very powerful indeed!

"I am fine, thank you to you lot. It was terrible in there, I could not breathe properly and I was defenceless without my spoon."

"Can we do something for you?" Evin asked, he tougth unfair to just ask for the funneral, he had to repay at least with something.

Evin lost control of a leg and stumbled softly in his place, then winced again by the pain in his back

Dandy stayed close to Hyron. Helping the bird support his weight on his lame leg.

-Blueberry, do you think your friend Spirit can help you and I... somehow? After we burry Goldy that is- Hanekko asked the marill he so adored.

~somehow, what?~ Blueberry was puzzled.

~Well , do you want us to be .... stuck.. like this, for the rest of your life? I don't mind it , but I don't want to make you uncomfortable~ Hanekko remembered how they ha almost lost the Kadabra's spoon when he had greeted Hyron.

"But what will happen to you?" Blueberry asked outloud.

Hyron looked back at the Merill answering her question, "I'll be ok.... "

~I will most likely become a gastly again, my dear... I don't know what else could happen~ Hanneko answered from inside.

~ Don't you like it here? ~ She asked, sounding a little bit hurt. ~ I thought you liked having a body again.~

~I do , I love the feeling of being alive, but I don't want to intrude or mess things up by accident. Maybe, we could find another body for me... then we could be together again. alive~ Hanekko tried to explain thing in the most caring way. He truely loved the Merill and had only her best intrests in mind.

~ But how you get another body? Most people not like to give up body! ~

~ We'll have to find someone who doesn't want their body, I guess.~ Hanekko shrugged.