******* Pokemon, Asylum of the Damned Chapter LV Saga XII- Exodus Saga Chapter II- Welcome to Exodus Island ******* Mantine drifted onto the shore of the island, just far enough for Tom to hop off, splashing in the ankle-deep water. Lifting Porygon Two onto the sandy beach, Tom took out a Pokeball and zapped Mantine inside again. "Where to now?" Porygon Two asked. Tom looked around the island shore. "You think that story you told me, those Pokemon that should have been in the water, and this island are connected?" Tom asked. "Well, the story might explain why we only saw a Sharpedo when we should have seen tons of Goldeen and Remoraid," said Porygon Two, "And that Sharpedo seemed to be in quite a hurry." "Come to think of it," Tom mused, rubbing his chin, "that Sharpedo was headed to this island, wasn't he?" Porygon Two scanned the calm water in the distance. "Seems like it," it replied. "Why? You're thinking there could be a legendary bird in trouble here?" "No," Tom gleamed, "There could be a legendary bird here!" He exclaimed joyfully as he dashed into the green mainland. Porygon Two muttered to itself as it relunctantly followed Tom. "I may as well make sure he doesn't kill himself again..." ***** The island was so lush that Tom almost forgot for a second that he was on just a small body of land. Bright green blades of long grass filled the wide-open meadow in front of him, stretching for all Tom and Porygon Two could see. In the distance, they saw two large mountains, the summits surrounded by clouds of smoke. "Volcanos?" Tom asked Porygon Two. "I don't think so," Porygon Two replied. "My database of geothermic patterns doesn't indicate any volcanic activity." "When was it programmed?" Tom asked. Porygon Two paused. "Twenty years out of date," Porygon Two muttered. Tom suddenly laughed. "Oh shut up." "I say we take a look," Tom said. "You're not going to even listen to me if I say no, right?" Porygon Two asked. "I'll listen," Tom said, "But you don't have to come with me." Porygon Two groaned. "Why do I stay with you?" "Because I'm the guy who's going to be the best trainer in the world," Tom replied, "And besides, we're friends, remember?" Porygon Two sighed. "If I could only hate you, I would." Tom shrugged with a grin. "Join the club." Suddenly, a large, plump Pokemon waddled across the field in front of them, halting Tom and Porygon Two immediately. The Pokemon only glanced at them once before turning his head in front of him again and waddling off again. Tom pulled out his Pokedex. "Hariyama, the Arm Thrust Pokemon," The Pokedex spat out, "the evolved form of Makuhita. Hariyamas are extremely strong Pokemon, and can shatter sheet rock with a well-angled Arm Thrust. Just like Makuhitas, Hariyamas are primarily found in Hoenn." "There's no way we sailed all the way to Hoenn," Tom muttered, stuffing his Pokedex back into his pocket. "Something is definetly awry here." "And I suppose you're going to find out what, huh?" Porygon Two asked. "Yes," Tom replied, looking at the Hariyama in the distance, "but first things first. Porygon, sic 'em." "Oh, all right," Porygon Two sighed, speeding after the Hariyama. Seconds later, following three bone-shattering crunches echoing in the air that made Tom shiver, Porygon Two weakly limped to Tom's side again, covered in dents. "Screw him," Porygon Two muttered. "He's a fighting-type, huh?" "No shit," Porygon Two grumbled. Tom detached a Pokeball from his belt and let it open. Skarmory soon stood in front of Tom, stretching his steel wings. "Skarmory, attack that Hariyama with a Drill Peck!" That was all Skarmory needed to send him speeding through the air at the Hariyama. Just as Skarmory was about to plunge his beak into Hariyama's back, the Hariyama quickly whipped around, grasped Skarmory by the beak, and smashed him into the ground. Irritated at the Pokemon suddenly attacking him, the Hariyama wound back his arm and drove the heel of his massive hand into Skarmory's ribs. The blow was so fierce that it sent Skarmory tumbling over and over on his side, leaving the steel bird weezing for breath. The Hariyama trudged over to Skarmory as the bird began to rise to his feet, readying another Arm Thrust. Suddenly, Skarmory lunged out at Hariyama, burying his beak into Hariyama's ample gut. Hariyama weezed as the air was knocked out of his lungs, collapsing to one knee. And with a sharp twist of his hips, Skarmory sent his steel wing smashing into Hariyama's chin. A wide, bloody cut exploded open on Hariyama's jaw as the massive Pokemon fell to the ground. Seconds later, Tom had a Pokeball in hand and threw it at the downed Hariyama. Hariyama was zapped inside, leaving the Pokeball rocking violently on the ground. After ten seconds of unbearable anxiety, the Pokeball fell still. "Gotcha!" Tom cheered as Hariyama's Pokeball vanished into thin air. "Sure hope the professor likes him." "Bravo, young man." A voice from behind Tom made him and Porygon Two whirl around. An old man with a worn, soft grin greeted his eyes. "You've got quite an ability with Pokemon." "Who are you?" Tom asked. "Sensai," replied the old man. "And you?" "Tom." "You've got a lot of skill," said Sensai again, "Those Hariyamas are tough to defeat." "So I noticed," Porygon Two grumbled. as Skarmory hopped to Tom's side. "Your Pokemon look a little tired," said Sensai, looking at Skarmory and Porygon Two, "Why don't you come with me?" Tom was still a little stunned over seeing another person on the seemingly deserted island. "How did you get on this island?" "Shipwrecked," Sensai replied, "And I couldn't be happier." Tom blinked, confused. "What is this island, anyway?" "It doesn't have a name," Sensai said, "But if it would have one, then welcome to Exodus Island." -End.... ********