"Wailmer?"
Kai's eyes widened in understanding. While many Pokémon could learn Whirlpool, few trainers bothered to cultivate it. The move's area of effect was directly related to the Pokémon's size. For a colossal Pokémon like Wailmer, temporarily calming a patch of the vortex-filled sea was not impossible. Due to the vast distance and opposing ocean currents between Hoenn and the Orange Archipelago, Pokémon from the Hoenn region were a rare sight. It was a possibility Kai had never considered.
"Was the break-in at the Onami Island Weather Station your doing?" Kai stared sharply at the pilot.
The man nodded repeatedly. "Yes, that was us. The boss originally planned to break in from above using an aircraft, aiming for a quick resolution. But the data from the weather station showed that was impossible, so we had to proceed by sea."
"How many people landed on the island?"
"Three squads, fifteen men each."
Upon hearing this, Kai turned decisively to the Skarmory at his side. "Go! Tell Uncle Fujii he can bring his boat in."
No sooner had he spoken than the majestic Skarmory ascended like an arrow leaving the bowstring, disappearing into the night. It quickly located Fujii's boat patrolling the nearby waters, landed steadily on the deck, and let out a clear cry.
"Skaaar!"
Fujii was initially startled but quickly recognized Kai's Pokémon.
"Skaaar!" Skarmory flapped its wings toward the large ship with its searchlight shining, then soared into the air and flew towards it.
Fujii roughly understood its meaning and quickly increased the engine power, following it.
Back on the poacher's ship, Poliwrath was at the helm, Ursaring was assisting Kai in pulling the poachers onto the deck, and Octillery stood guard. Skarmory soon returned, and with its help, Kai spotted Fujii's approaching boat.
"Uncle! This is the poachers' ship, and I've already subdued all of them. I'll have to trouble you to take these guys to the nearest police station."
"Alright! Bring them up."
Ursaring wasted no time, grabbing the poachers one by one and unceremoniously tossing them onto Fujii's boat. The bearded man had the worst of it. He was the first to be thrown, landing with a painful thud on the hard deck. The seven others followed, landing directly on top of him, turning him into a living cushion that had to endure the crushing weight seven times over.
"Ivy!" Kai stood on the deck and shouted down. "Have Skarmory bring you over to this ship! Uncle, you can head straight for Pummelo Island from here, it's closer! Just hand these poachers over to Officer Jenny when you arrive. I'll get a message to her!"
Skarmory skillfully landed on Fujii's boat, and Ivy stumbled out of the cabin, climbing onto its back with some effort.
Fujii emerged from the cockpit and began securing the poachers with another rope. "Are you still going to the island?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.
"The main force of these poachers has already landed," Kai said, his tone heavy with resolve.
"Kai! You're a good man," Uncle Fujii said, looking at Kai's determined eyes. "Go, then. Challenge the storm of Tangelo Island. They say Lugia watches over every true child of the ocean."
Lugia? Kai was momentarily stunned. The reasons he decided to land on the island were complex: a desire to see the rare Pokémon, fulfilling Ivy's well-reimbursed request, helping the researchers at the weather station, and stopping the poachers. But now, hearing Fujii's words, a simpler truth felt heavier. He had changed. Before, he was just an insignificant soul in a vast world. Now… he was still just one person, but he carried the weight of so many people's trust and expectations.
As the thought settled, he felt a strange, inexplicable wind rise from nowhere, swirling around him for a brief moment before vanishing as quickly as it came.
Fujii took a deep look at Kai, whose clothes were flapping in the wind, then turned and entered the cockpit, steering his boat towards Pummelo Island.
Kai took a strangely designed machine from his backpack. It looked like a radio, but its complex buttons and dense wiring spoke of its uniqueness.
"This looks like a prototype. What's it for?" Ivy asked, having dismounted from Skarmory. The large ship was much more stable, and her seasickness was subsiding.
"Wood's invention. A miniature signal transmitter," Kai explained. "It converts our voices into special frequency radio waves that the base can receive. We've tested the range; it can at least reach from here to Pummelo Island."
Ivy nodded. The current distance was definitely within its usable range.
"Wood! Wood! This is Kai. Please contact Officer Jenny on Pummelo Island as soon as possible. Uncle Fujii is bringing some of the poacher gang to her. Have her receive them." Kai pressed a button to record the audio, then pressed another. A green light flashed a few times. After sending the signal repeatedly, he put the machine away.
"We need to find a position to take off and fly directly through the storm," Kai said to Ivy, his tone grave. "I need to bring all my Pokémon, so we're abandoning this boat." He recalled Poliwrath, Ursaring, and Octillery. "You don't look so good. Do you need to rest?"
Ivy shook her head. She understood the situation.
Kai put on his windproof goggles and handed a pair to Ivy. "Get on. Let's go." He sat in front, and Ivy sat behind him.
"Skaaar!" Skarmory let out a long cry, cheering itself on. Its wings stirred the air, lifting it from the deck and flying straight towards Tangelo Island.
The storm, a phenomenon recorded by the League Headquarters, was a living barrier separating the island from the outside world. To be caught within it was to be torn from your path. It was a force far greater than the storm Zapdos had commanded. There, Skarmory could use the wind. Here, the wind used it, battering it, trying to rip it from the sky.
"Use Brave Bird! Maximum power, straight ahead!" Kai shouted over the roar, he and Ivy lying as flat as possible against Skarmory's back.
A brilliant, sky-blue aura exploded around Skarmory. A violently swirling vortex of Flying-type energy tore through the surrounding air, transforming the armored bird into an ethereal, divine projectile blazing a trail through the chaos.
"SKAAAAR!" Skarmory roared, a cry of defiance against the storm itself. It struggled to maintain the immense output of energy. In battle, Brave Bird was a fleeting charge, over in an instant. Now, it had to sustain that power, using it as a shield and a battering ram to carve a path through several kilometers of relentless, gale-force winds.
***
(End of Chapter)
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