The Palto Adventures

Part 5: The Tidal Island Water Wars

Kazuki stumbled over a hill of sand. He scanned the area and admired the islands beauty, despite the thick, black clouds that blanketed the sky. He thought that his sudden interest in the wonderful world around him had something to do with him almost dying the night before, but who knows. He walked into Lazuli Town.

“ Yeah, I think it’s dead. “ A child said.

Kazuki turned to see what was going on. Three children were on the beach, poking an enormous Gyarados. It was breathing heavily, and probabley injured.

“ Hey! “ Kazuki yelled.
“ That Gyarados is hurt. Get away from it. “

“ You think you can make us? “ One of the kids said.

Kazuki took a pokeball off of his belt and got ready to battle. All three children sent out their pokemon at once. They were a Mankey, Krabby, and a Bellsprout. Kazuki thought carefully and sent out Psyduck.

“ Mankey, Fury Swipes! “ One boy ordered.

“ Krabby, Bubble! “ Another boy ordered.

“ Bellsprout, Acid! “ The final boy ordered.

The attacks all came at Psyduck quickly, but he knew how to handle them. First, Psyduck used Disable to stop Mankey, the he used his Confusion, emphasis on the fusion, to combine the Bubble attack and Acid attack to make, Toxic! He fired it into Mankey’s eyes. Now he was in a literal blind Rage! He ran around, thrashing about, and K.O.ed the Krabby and Bellsprout. Kazuki only had one opponent now.

“ Psyduck, Body Slam! “ Kazuki ordered.

Psyduck bounced high into the air just as Mankey was wiping the Toxic from his eyes. All he saw before he was K.O.ed was a huge shadow blotting out the sunlight as Psyduck smashed him into the ground. The battle was over.

“ I can’t believe I lost! “ The children said in unison.

“ Don’t worry. “ One boy said.
“ I’ll borrow my big brothers pokemon. Then we’ll show this punk. “

“ You will? “ A young girl interrupted.

Kazuki turned to see her walking towards him and the group. She had short, khaki jeans on, a baby-blue tank top, and brilliant blue hair that came down to her shoulders. She came up to Kazuki.

“ Thank you. “ The girl said.

“ For what? “ Kazuki asked.

“ For saving my Gyarados. He was trying to defend the island from another one of our frequent tsunamis, but he just wasn’t powerful enough. I assumed that he’d make it back to shore, but I hoped that whoever found him would be responsible enough to tell me where he was. “

The group of boys looked at each other nervously. They started to make their way home.

“ Stop! “ The girl ordered.

The boys did.

“ I want all three of you to apologize to this handsome, young man. “

Kazuki blushed. He waited for the kids to say their apologies.

“ We’re sorry. “ The boys said.
“ We didn’t know that it was you Gyarados. “

“ That’s not the point. It was a living creature, and it was hurt. You made some really bad decisions. “
The kids all nodded and took off down the beach. Kazuki turned to the girl.

“ You know, I don’t even know your name. “ Kazuki said.

“ I don’t know yours either. “ She said.

“ Well, I’m Kazuki, from Sage Town. I’m a trainer. “ He said.

“ I’m very glad meet you, Kazuki. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Tempest, the Lazuli Town gymleader, and your new friend. “ Tempest said.

Kazuki was stunned. This was the first gymleader that he was to face, and he’d made the unfortunate mistake (in some aspects) of befriending her. This would make battling her harder.

Tempest walked over to her Gyarados. It was hard for him to believe that anyone could tame such a powerful beast. She petted it on the head and sprayed some Super Potion on it.

“ Dang, not enough. “ Tempest said, putting the empty bottle away.

“ Here. “ Kazuki said, handing her the rest of his potion.

Tempest thanked him and emptied out the bottle on the Gyarados. It got up and roared confidently. Tempest took out a Great Ball and recalled Gyarados.

“ Wow, you have to use a Great Ball to contain Gyarados? “ Kazuki said nervously.

“ Yes. “ Tempest said.
“ A regular Pokeball can’t contain it. “

Tempest stood back up and grabbed Kazuki by the arm. She led him down the beach.

“ Where are we going? “ Kazuki asked.

“ The pokemon center, then my gym. “ She said.

Kazuki would have to heal his pokemon if he ever hoped to beat this gymleader. A pokemon that had to be contained in a Great ball would make the battle a tough one. They went inside the sliding doors of the center, and as they did, Kazuki felt a wiggling in his backpack. He opened it up and saw his egg twitching.

“ Oh, I think that your pokemon is hatching. “ The Nurse Joy behind the counter said.

Kazuki watched as the shell broke away into tiny pieces and a small yellow pokemon popped out. It had a cheery smile.

“ Pichuuuuuuuuu! “ The pokemon cried.

< Pichu. > The pokedex said.
< This electric pokemon is the unevolved form of Pikachu. It has an unpredictable Spark attack that can cause damage to itself. >

Tempest looked at the Pichu and laughed.

“ I hope you don’t think that this little electric type is going to help you beat my water types. “ Tempest joked.

Kazuki hoped that he’d be able to use Pichu in the battle at some point. Besides Chikorita, Pichu would be the only pokemon capable of inflicting major damage on Tempest’s water pokemon. Kazuki healed his pokemon, and was then rushed off to a small dock on the shore. It had a shiny, blue speedboat on the end.

“ Come on! “ Tempest said.
“ I’ll take you to the gym, unless you want to swim. “

The boat started up and Tempest made her way out into the ocean. Kazuki know knew that the gym was at sea, so Tempest had an obvious advantage. He started to worry about the battle.

“ We’re here! “ Tempest yelled.

Kazuki stepped off onto a big, circular, wooden dock. There was a hole cut into the center of the dock. Kazuki assumed that this was the entrance area for the water types released into battle. Kazuki saw a referee standing at the end of the gym. He addressed the two as the got to their sides.

“ This will be a three on three pokemon battle. “ He said.
“ If the opponent releases a new pokemon, then the gymleader must do so as well. No time limit, may the battle begin. “

“ Go, Lanturn! “ Tempest yelled.

“ Go, Pichu! “ Kazuki yelled.

The battle had hardly started and Kazuki was already worried about Pichu’s battling abilities. He had never trained with him, so luck would be his greatest ally in this fight.

“ Lanturn, Watergun! “ Tempest ordered.

“ Pichu, try your Thundershock! “ Kazuki yelled.

Pichu scrunched his face and fired an electric blast. It hit the Watergun in mid-air and the current flowed down to Lanturn’s mouth.

“ Yes! Direct Hit! “ Kazuki cheered.

“ I don’t think so! “ Tempest retorted.

Kazuki noticed that the electricity had energized Lanturn. He took out his pokedex.

< Lanturn. >
< This pokemon is a water and electric type. It may seem like a strange combination, but it makes it invulnerable to electric attacks, which other water types are weak to. >

Kazuki frowned.

“ Lanturn, use the Thunderbolt! “ Tempest ordered.

“ Pichu, counter with your Thundershock! “

The two attacks clashed in the air. Pichu tried with all its might, but the Thunderbolt struck him with full force. He tumbled back into the water, and Kazuki recalled him.

“ Choose your next pokemon! “ The ref ordered.

“ Alright, go Psyduck! “ Kazuki yelled.

“ Fine, I choose Corsola! Tempest yelled.

Kazuki knew that Psyduck would come in handy. He was stronger than other water types, but his size made him an easy target.

“ Pokedex, analyze! “ Kazuki said.

< Corsola. > The pokedex said.
< This pokemon lives far out in the ocean and at the bottom of the sea. They have been around since prehistoric times, and can summon up rocks from their coral homes. It’s a rock/water type. >

“ Psyduck, Body Slam! “

Psyduck jumped up and slammed into Corsola. Corsola was thrown back and off the dock. Kazuki thought that his luck might be changing.

“ Don’t get cocky, Kazuki! The battle has only begun. “ Tempest said.
“ Corsola, Ancient Power attack! “

Kazuki felt the entire dry dock rumble. Huge barnacle-covered boulders rose up from the ocean floor and threw the hole in the center of the gym. They were followed by Corsola, levitating and exerting rainbow colored energy.

“ Fire! “ Tempest yelled.

The rocks barraged Psyduck. He blocked the boulders with his huge, muscular arms, and then began to push back forward. He was ready to fight back.

“ Psyduck, counter the Ancient Power with another Body Slam. “

Psyduck pushed threw the onslaught of pain and slammed into Corsola again. He fell back to the dock hard but got up easily! Kazuki activated the pokegear.

< Ancient Power. > The pokegear said.
< This attack is learned by pokemon that are very old. It raises the stats of the user to the level it was in primordial times. >

“ Dang, the body slam will do less and less damage as long as the Ancient Power is being used. “ Kazuki said.
“ I have to find away to stop it. “

“ I Know! Psyduck, Disable! “ Kazuki ordered.

Psyduck started going into a trance and focused his headache. Corsola and the rocks stopped rising and were suspended in air, covered in blue energy.

“ Now, a Watergun attack, at full power! “

Corsola was drenched by the attack. The amount of water hitting him was like getting sprayed down with a fire hose. Tempest made one last effort.

“ Mirror Coat! “ She ordered.

The attack reflected itself off of Corsola’s shiny, new coat. The jet of water bounced back at its user.

“ Psyduck, Confusion! “

The spray of water bounced back again, this time at Corsola, again. The jet blew Corsola out over the sea. Tempest recalled the pokemon before it touched down in the foamy waters below.

“ Yes! “ Kazuki yelled in triumph.

“ That was very good, Kazuki. You’re a great trainer, but the battle isn’t over
yet. “ Tempest said.

“ Go, Gyarados! “ Tempest yelled.

Kazuki watched as the huge, dragon-like pokemon materialized and loomed over the battlefield. It snarled and roared in anticipation to the battle. Kazuki felt a little embarrassed when he released his pokemon.

“ Go, Chikorita. “ Kazuki said with little enthusiasm.

Kazuki was afraid that the battle would end quickly.

“ This is the final battle between Tempest and Kazuki. ‘ the ref said.
“ Tempest won battle one with her Lanturn versus Kazuki’s Pichu. The second battle was won by Kazuki, who battled Tempest’s Corsola with his Psyduck. The winner of this battle will be the victor. Begin! “

“ Gyarados! “ Tempest commanded.
“ Start the battle off with your powerful Rage! “

Gyarados roared and lashed its long body in circles, smashing the planks of wood on the dock into splinters. Chikorita ran around in panic, trying to avoid the boards raining down from the sky. She stopped and waited for Kazuki’s order.

“ Chikorita, Razor Leaf! “ He commanded.

Chikorita threw dozens of foliage into the air, all heading for the rampaging Gyarados. He waited for the impact.

“ Counter with a Hydro Pump! “ Tempest ordered.

Gyarados stopped his violent spasms and fired a waterfall-sized stream of water down at Chikorita! The leaves that were flying through the air were totally blown away by the attack.

“ Absorb and Barrier! “ Kazuki said.

Chikorita watched as the water ran off her Barrier. The water that hit the floor became energy that transferred into Chikorita. She sneered as her stats rose.

“ I can’t use Chikorita’s Tackle, it’s just too weak. I have to do more damage. “
“ Chikorita, use the solar energy around you and create a Light Screen! “

Chikorita powered up and fired a wall of solar energy. It pushed through the Hydro Pump and smashed into Gyarados’s maw. He roared in pain, but an aura of red flashed around him. His Rage was rising.

“ Use that Rage and Tackle Chikorita! “ Tempest commanded quickly.

Chikorita just barely got out of the way of the Tackle. Gyarados flowed past in a blue haze and slithered into the water.

“ This battle is boring me. “ Tempest said.
“ Gyarados, finish off that shrimp with a Hyper Beam!!!!! “

Chikorita cringed down on all fours. She covered her tiny head and awaited the attack. Gyarados began to draw the Hyper Beams energy in its mouth.

“ Don’t give up. “ Kazuki pleaded.
“ You can defeat him! “

Kazuki sank down on to his knees. He too was giving up hope; he fiddled in his pocket and pulled out the Miracle Seed.

“ It increases the power of grass attacks. “ He thought.
“ Well, I need a miracle now. Chikorita, catch! “ Kazuki yelled.

Chikorita looked up long enough to see the seed racing towards her. She jumped up and swallowed it. Her body began to glow green.

“ Fire the Hyper Beam, Now!!!!! “ Tempest yelled.

“ Chikorita, you have to attack! “ Kazuki yelled.

The Hyper Beam fired. The energy flowed from his mouth like water. Chikorita was covered in green light. She opened her mouth, and light began to pour out, blasting towards Gyarados.

< Solarbeam. > The pokegear said.
< This is the most powerful grass attack. It’s made of pure solar energy. >

“ Chikorita! “

The beams clashed in the air. They sparked and crackled back and forth, energy showering the two pokemon. Gyarados began to weaken and withdraw.

“ Growth! “ Kazuki commanded.

Chikorita got slightly bigger. Her Solarbeam enveloped Gyarados’s Hyper Beam and totally K.O.ed him. He fell to the planks with a crash.

“ Yes, I won! “ Kazuki yelled.

“ You did? “ Tempest asked.
“ Gyarados, Bite! “

Kazuki’s eyes shot up. He watched as the cheery Chikorita was eaten by the downed Gyarados. He smiled as its head fell back to the ground. Kazuki cried out.

“ Nooooooooooooooooooooo! “

A rumble emanated from Gyarados’s belly. It had a horrified look on its face as he spit up Chikorita and a cloud of Poison Powder.

Kazuki had won.

“ Chikorita, Psyduck, Pichu, we did it. “

The pokemon popped out of their balls and hugged Kazuki. He’d won the battle, and proved it to himself that he could do this. He was ready to be a pokemon master.

“ I can’t believe you won. “ Tempest said.
“ But what’s even more unbelievable is that I lost. “

Kazuki and Tempest laughed. She gave him a dignified handshake and the Tsunami Badge. It looked like a blue, sideways wave that had white surf at the top. Kazuki thanked her and pinned in to his coat.

“ I want you to come back to Tidal Island and visit me sometime, Kazuki. “ Tempest said.

“ You mean you want a rematch? “ Kazuki asked.

“ Something like that. “

Kazuki walked Tempest back to the pokemon center and they both healed their pokemon. She said goodbye and Kazuki walked back down to the beach, but not before getting some items, including a Lureball. The clerk had talked him into it.

When Kazuki got down to the shore, he saw a dozen or more kids lashing together logs. He walked up to them and helped them out. After he did so, they asked his name.

“ Kazuki. “ He said.

“ Well Kazuki, we’re all going to take this raft across the sea to the Forgotten Archipelago. Would you like to come with us? “ A boy asked.

Kazuki checked his pokegear’s map function. According to the pokemon league, Kazuki would need sixteen badges in order to compete. He realized that the Forgotten Archipelago’s main island was home to Bacillus Town. That’s where the bug type gym was. He accepted the kid’s invitation, and stepped aboard.

As they pushed off, Kazuki accidentally bumped an older looking kid. He sneered at Kazuki and sat on the opposite side of the raft. Kazuki assumed that he’d had a bad day and sat down as well. As they got farther and farther out to sea, they sky got darker and darker. A storm was brewing.

“ Shouldn’t we have been there be now? “ Kazuki yelled over the wind.

“ Uh, yes actually, I think so. “ One of the boys said.
“ This storm is getting worse, and throwing us off course. I was getting ready to turn the raft around an hour ago, but I though it was clearing up. It’s too late now; we’ll just have to hope we get there. “

Kazuki looked at all the other kids. They were pretty scared.

“ Have you done this before? “ Kazuki asked.

“ Uh, not really. This is kinda my maiden voyage. “ He confessed.

“ How could you be that irresponsible? “ Kazuki asked.
“ These children put their lives in your hands. You can’t treat them like something disposable. “

Kazuki heard a little girl start to cry. Her sister tried to comfort her and she looked at Kazuki strangely. “

“ Are these kids here on their own will? “ Kazuki asked.

“ Of course. Do you think I could have made them get on? “ The boy laughed.

The wind picked up and blew Kazuki back. He saw the boy’s trench coat blow up and under it were three Rocket balls! He got back to his feat.

“ You’re with Neo Team rocket, aren’t you! “

The boy turned around and threw off is cloak. He was wearing a full NTR outfit.

“ No, these kids did not get on this raft by choice. I made some very persuasive threats. “

“ But why. Why do you people keep hurting innocents? “ Kazuki asked.

“ Because we can, why else? “ he laughed.

“ I’m going to teach you a lessen. “ Kazuki yelled.
“ Go, Psyduck. “

“ Oh, you will? “ The boy laughed.
“ Go, Squirtle. “

Kazuki’s Psyduck stared down Squirtle. That Squirtle had the same kind of glint in his eyes.

“ Psyduck, use your………..

An enormous tidal wave towered over the raft. It blocked out the little light around them. Kazuki was drenched in water.

“ You cannot battle and stay on the raft at the same time. “ The boy laughed.
“ What do you choose? “

Kazuki looked down at the wet Psyduck. It nodded.

“ I choose to battle. Psyduck, Watergun! “

“ Squirtle, counter with a Bubblebeam. “ the boy commanded.

The bubbles rushed out of the Squirtle’s mouth in a huge stream. The Watergun and Bubblebeam were equally matched. Then the boy pulled a syringe out of his pocket. It was full of blue liquid. He plunged the poker deep into the Squirtle’s shell, which then evolved into Wartortle.

“ Ah, I love science, don’t you? “ The boy cackled.

“ Psyduck, Confusion! “ Kazuki ordered.

Psyduck began to form a ball of purple energy in front of him. He charged it with pure mental power.

“ Wartortle, Rollout! “ The boy screamed.

Wartortle sank into its shell. It’s ripped across the groove in the logs and through the forming Confusion attack. He slammed right into Psyduck, knocking him into the raging waters.

“ Now, use the Whirlpool! “ The boy ordered again.

Wartortle began to rotate his arms in circles. The section of water that Psyduck was trapped in started to swirl, trapping Psyduck in the middle. He reached out for help.

“ Psyduck, get out! “ Kazuki pleaded.

“ Now, use the Waterfall! “ The boy ordered.

Wartortle threw his hands high into the air, and when he did an explosion of water shot up into the air. It crested at twenty-five feet up in the air, and then spilled over on to Psyduck, who was practically drowning. Kazuki didn’t see him surface.

“ You lose! “ The boy said.

All of a sudden, the raft began to rock back and forth. The air got heavy and turned bright blue. The water flashed white, and a beautiful, blue Golduck leaped out of the air. The water around it sparkled brilliantly.

< Golduck. > The pokedex said.
< This water pokemon is very agile, super-intelligent, and capable of summoning up psychic powers at will. They are often mistaken for sea monsters. >

“ Golduck? “ The boy said in awe.
“ How is that possible? “

“ Anything is possible, when you fight for good! “ Kazuki quipped.
“ Golduck, try a Psybeam. “

Golduck, still in the air, opened his webbed hands wide. Then he placed them at each side of his red jewel on his forehead. A HUGE rainbow beam fired from the gem, blasting the Wartortle out into the ocean. Golduck landed and Kazuki thanked him.

“ I can’t believe this. “ The boy said.

He jumped into the water, and tried following his distraught Wartortle. Kazuki helped the kids up and they thanked and congratulated him on defeating the NTR trainer. Then they all heard a rope snap. Below them the logs were separating, and the ropes were snapping from the pressure. Kazuki and the kids tried desperately to keep the raft together, but it split totally apart. Everyone washed away in different directions, and Kazuki felt the water rush around him. He’d slipped into unconsciousness.