Let the plotbunny live a long, long life please!

Disclaimer: See earlier chapter. I don’t own pokemon.

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks.

Chapter 7: Changing wind’s face

Misty stared at the ocean, feeling a sense of awe. Sure, she had lived next to a small stream, but this… this was completely different.

The sea was so alive!
A vast arena of blueness rolled on into the horizon.

Marina smiled, kicking off her walking shoes and replacing them with a pair of flip-flops, as she dipped her feet in the surf.

Strange, how the ocean was clean while most of the lakes were polluted.

It was probably the bacteria that did it. Some species thrived off the murky sludge that pumped out of factories and purified the water that way.

The sun shimmered over the foamy waves.

Misty quickly joined her mother’s example, glad she had worn shorts as she ran out into the water.

“Careful! The current might drag you out!” Marina warned.

Misty giggled. “I will be!”

The salt air brought one a rapacious appetite. Marina unwrapped the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches she had made, and all four dug in with a will.

“It’s so pretty.” Ash said a tad wistfully.

“Isn’t it? We can’t stay long, though.” Marina explained. “Bruno said to be back in less than a month and a half. It’ll take us a day or two to get to whirl islands also.”

“Oh…”

“But we’ll enjoy it while we can.”

< As long as they do not enter Lugia’s cavern, it will be okay if they catch a few pokemon. >

< That’s what Lugia-san said, aniki? >

< Yes. If they do enter the sanctuary or, god forbid, try to capture him… >

< Then we act. >

< Perfect. >

Lance peeled the skin off an orange and tossed half to Ash.

Ash began chewing on the segments meditatively, as he watched Misty splashing around in the water.

Was it real?

Did that mean she had been using illusion while they had stayed with her?

< No. >

< EEK! >

< Try not to broadcast your thoughts, otouto. >

<G-gomen nasai… >

< I think she was just oppressed there. A child of water should be near the sea, after all. >

< ? >

< You’ll understand later. This should be good for her. If she changes, then she’ll have a chance at keeping her pokemon. >

< Oh. >

Misty danced, high on euphoria.

That night, they surfed across the ocean to the first island and set up camp there. The next morning, the pokemon hunt started.

Misty caught a Seel, to her extreme delight.

She fussed over it, petted its downy fur, and cheered.

So much affection…

< How interesting. You could call it an experiment in environmental studies. >

< Hai, Lugia-san. >

Lugia grinned. < Do not worry… you do well, my Chosen. >

Lance hid a smirk, as Dragonite stirred inside its poke ball. < Oh yes. >

In two week’s time, the personality shift was becoming apparent.

Marina groomed her Psyduck as she watched Misty frolic and gambol in the water. * If only she was this happy at home… she seems so glad, here. I guess I am too. Having to give up boating and traveling the islands after the Great Disaster… *

It was like she had lost part of herself.

Bruno was a kind man, but he didn’t understand her completely. He was a fighting-type, she a water-type.

Their types didn’t conflict, but it wasn’t perfect harmony either.

All marriages had ups and downs, theirs was mostly smooth, luckily.

If only there was a way for Misty to accept that she could not leave her family this early…

A roar sounded deep inside the cavern.

Lance spun around, Larvitar jumping onto his shoulder as Ash released his Marill to track for the source of the disturbance.

A dewgong, coal-black with red eyes, swam towards them.

“Shadow pokemon.” Lance said, almost idly. * A test, Lugia? *

He felt the smile in his mind.

Without a word, Dewgong leapt out of the water at Marina.

“MOM!” Misty screamed, as her Goldeen and Lapras tried to restrain the black beast. Marina’s Tentacruel appeared, keeping it at bay with stinging tentacles.

A few minutes of fierce fighting ensued, before the Dewgong swam away, having lost.

Marina took deep breaths, willing her heartbeat to go back to normal.

Her pokemon all smiled, glad she was all right. What was a team for?

They were teammates.

You didn’t drop one on the road because she was in trouble.

Misty’s own pokemon even smiled.

They were… happy, oddly enough.

Why happy? They were captured.

Pride? Maybe it was pride, having defeated a forbidden one. Maybe it was something else.

But in any case, it was enough.

It was enough.

< She keeps them. The test is over for both. And Chosen? Come home soon. >

Ash hugged Lance tightly as Lance smiled. <Yes.>

< Kirei… >

End Chapter

Complete 4/15/04