Chapter 42: The Crashing Wave

  The clangor of metal echoed in the dimly lit basement as Kadabra released its Telekinesis and Ian dropped a couple inches to the floor. He managed to catch his balance with his hand reaching for the wall, but he immediately turned around with an army of curses in his chest. "You stupid motherfuckers!" Ian shouted as he pushed against the bars of a jail cell that wasn't long or wide enough for him to lay down straight in.

  The taller of the two men on the other side of the bars just shook his head and laughed. "You ain't never getting out of here, 'Prince of Po Town," he teased with a bellowing laugh.

  "Ruckz, shut it," Rook said casually, his focus on the belt of Poke Balls in his hand. MY Poke Ball Belt. "Which one's Sawsbuck's ball?" Rook asked.

  "Like I'd tell you assholes," Ian spat.

  Rook smirked. "No point in hiding it, we'll figure it out." Rook paused before handing the belt to Ruckz. "You don't have to make things difficult for yourself Ian. Admit you betrayed us, swear loyalty to me, and I can have you out of here in a couple hours. Maybe sooner."

  "Go fuck yourself," Ian retorted, folding his arms and turning his back on his captors.

  Rook snickered. "Okay then. Have it your way."

  Ruckz tittered some more. "You know big bro, I got an idea. We should go see his little girlfriend and see what she knows. I doubt he could've pulled this off alone."

  Ian turned back around, an incomprehensible rage boiling in his veins. He had half a mind to tear through the bars and go at the two himself, but his sane half knew that wasn't happening. Especially without my Pokemon.

  "Heh," Ruckz taunted. "That shut him up." Ruckz continued before Rook waved his to tell his younger brother to stop.

  "Be quiet Ruckz, I'm serious,," Rook ordered coldly. "There's bigger fish to fry right now."

  "Oh yeah," Ruckz said, crossing his arms before following Rook to the stairs.

  "When I get out of here, you're fucked!" Ian roared.

  "Fat chance," Rook said. "Enjoy the stench!"

  Ian had been so blinded by rage the stench hadn't really hit him yet, but being reminded of its presence made him gag. The smell overwhelmed his senses, an unholy mix of body odor and unspeakables he didn't want to think about. Ian moved to wipe his wrist against his nose but met metal instead, only now realizing his Z-Ring hadn't been taken from him.

  When the door shut at the top of the stairs, a cacophony of laughter and manic giggling echoed in the basement jail from the almost thirty other prisoners as jeers and insults were flung.

  "Skull boy!"

  "Fuck you doin down here?"

  A double idiot! A Team Skull member and a prisoner!"

  One authoritative voice cut through the barrage of laughter. "Be quiet!" It took less than a moment for the jailroom to go so silent Ian could hear a pin drop. Ian stepped up to the bars and noticed most of the prisoners had stepped away, with one notable exception a few cells over. "Is that Ian Cougar in a cell down here with us?"

  Ian tensed before he realized the voice was rather familiar. The trainer with the Feraligatr I fought with at Adaman's Point. "Pete?"

  Pete chuckled lightly. "So you remember me."

  "Tough to forget the roughest fight I've had on this island," Ian said.

  "All the good it's done for me down here," he commented. "Any idea how long it's been since I got in here?"

  "Lemme think…" Ian pondered. "About three weeks."

  "Shit, it's felt like it's been three months," Pete grumbled. "So what happened? Why'd they put their main source of food down here?"

  Ian grimaced. "Someone framed me. Rook most likely. Plus they took Sawsbuck away from me, I don't know how he'll do without me," he said. Maybe Tupp can get him to cooperate a bit. I trust he'll look out for my blessed stag.

  "You get a beating for it?" Pete asked.

  "No," Ian said. "Not yet at least."

  Pete snorted. "You notice how the big guy kept taunting you and Rook kept telling him to stop?"

  "Sure," Ian said plainly.

  "Now that he's got you here, he's gonna try to win you over. Keep you down here a week or so, make you hate it, then try to reconcile," Pete said. "Since you're down here with us, you wouldn't mind me asking if Rook's making a play to take Guzma out, would you?"

  Ian sighed, a barrage of thoughts and memories flashing through his mind. "I think when you guys declared war, he saw his chance. Before Team Skull, this place was run by Keahi's Cinders-"

  "Yeah I know," Pete said. "They were around for years."

  "Rook was higher up," Ian said. "I guess when Guzma got put in charge, Rook asked to join again and wasn't too happy being number two."

  "Makes sense," Pete said.

  Ian tittered as a thought came to him. "But if Rook thinks I'm gonna just bow down to him in a week, he's dumber than I thought." Ian slumped in his cell, emitting a tired sigh. Moment I get my Pokemon back, I'm going to Outrigger and doing whatever I can to get a boat. Then Mina and I are going to Seafolk Village and never coming back.

  ***

  Hyde stood alone outside of the front gate with a contented smirk on his face, watching Plumeria and Guzma bickering back and forth as they had been for almost ten minutes now just a few dozen feet away on the road between crop field sections. Can't bail Ian out of this one, Plumeria. Rushed footsteps broke Hyde's gaze, and Hyde turned only to see Tupp charging at him. Hyde reflexively recoiled, only for Tupp to land a haymaker right against Hyde's unprotected cheek.

  Hyde woke up on the ground, dizzy and unsure of where he was and what had happened until he heard angry voices shouting back and forth over head. Hyde rolled over weakly, feeling his head pulsing with pain.

  "I'll fucking kill you piece of shit! I'll fucking kill you!" Tupp roared in anger as Hyde's vision began to reform into something coherent.

  Hyde groaned, clutching his now aching head as he tried to get up. Hyde blinked a few times and he looked around, seeing Guzma's Scizor holding Tupp back with one its pincers. Selene and Rapp watched on nervously, with Plumeria and Guzma now over him. "Fuck…" Hyde groaned once more.

  "Stay down motherfucker!" Tupp shouted as he struggled against Guzma's Scizor.

  "Tupp, calm the fuck down!" Guzma roared.

  "Boss, Ian saved our lives!" Tupp fired back. "Just dip and lemme handle this asshat, no one's gotta know."

  Guzma squatted down next to Hyde and cringed. "You got your ass whooped pretty good, Hyde."

  "Wha-?" Hyde said dumbly until he remembered Tupp had put him to sleep for who knew how long ago. "How long was I out, boss?"

  "Tupp was on top of you going to town for a good fifteen seconds," Guzma explained. "Rapp, come over and heal him up."

  "Boss, I ain't doin' shit to him," Rapp said.

  "What?" Guzma demanded, standing up as he did.

  "We'd all be dead if Ian and Blastoise weren't there, and this shit head stabs him in the back. I ain't healin' him again, not ever," Rapp replied.

  "That's an order," Guzma threatened.

  "Put me in a jail cell too then, this shit's gone too far," Rapp said defiantly.

  "Yeah!" Tupp shouted, still struggling to break free from Scizor's grip.

  "Boss…" Selene said meekly, trying to sound sweet. "We really think something's wrong here, and it's not Ian."

  Guzma scoffed. "I shouldn't even be entertaining this shit, but I'll bite," Guzma began. "Ian's been here what, two, two and a half months? Who do I fucking trust, him or one of my Bones who's been in Po Town since the Cinders formed? Not even a comparison."

  Plumeria stepped forward. "Guzma, I'm trying to be civil here, but I was just telling you Rook's been doing shady stuff-"

  "Classic misdirection, accuse your enemy of the exact thing you're doing," Guzma said angrily. "Don't tell me he's roped all of you into it too?"

  "Guzma, Ian could've left this town at any time and gone anywhere he wanted to go! Instead he's here keeping the whole fucking town fed, fighting for us, and saving lives!" Plumeria said, her voice rising again. "You could've at least heard him out!"

  Guzma shook his head. "Look, Rook's got the defector, the intel checks out, hearing Ian's side will just complicate things right now-"

  "Where is this fucking defector anyways?" Plumeria demanded. "I wanna question them myself!"

  "Even if they were still here-"

  "WHAT!?" Plumeria demanded.

  "We needed to keep them secret from any of the conspirators," Guzma fired back.

  "So you think I'm one?" Plumeria demanded. "Guzma if you really think that-"

  "WE'RE AT FUCKING WAR HERE!" Guzma roared. "Anything that happens behind these walls ends us, okay? I need to keep things as stable as possible!"

  "Then why did we lock up the person who literally grows our FOOD?" Plumeria demanded.

  "It's Sawsbuck, not Ian! We just need his deer to run around a bit and we're fine," Guzma said, completely exasperated. waving his hands dismissively before turning around and heading to the gate. "I'm the fucking boss here, none of you understand the bullshit I deal with okay? You don't like how I'm doing things, then kick rocks. Breon's not too far away." Guzma made his way to the gate with Scizor dragging Tupp away from the scene.

  Plumeria folded her arms, her demeanor venom incarnate, and Hyde finally felt like he was stable enough to stand before he began to speak. "Big Sis-"

  "Don't call me that again," Plumeria growled at him.

  "Why y'all so upset over a traitor-"

  "Shut the fuck up Hyde!" Plumeria shouted. "You're off my squad you little bitch. If it were up to me, you'd be outta this town too."

  Hyde scoffed. "Like I'd want to be on a squad that's gagging on a traitor's cock."

  Plumeria took a step toward Hyde with Rapp flanking her, barely suppressed rage in her face. "If that's how you really feel Hyde, then I think Ian should've let you die."

  Hyde opened his mouth to retort, but his vocal chords didn't work. Something about the pure, spite-filled sincerity in her voice made his chest lock up as Plumeria and Rapp marched to the gate. For minutes, Hyde stood in silence before stumbling to the side and catching his balance, his head still blaring with pain. While he couldn't think completely clearly, the pure unadulterated hatred in Plumeria's eyes made him tense with rage as a realization dawned on him. They'd rather have me dead than let a traitor take over the town. "If that's how they wanna be-" Hyde paused as he observed Rook and Ruckz exiting Po Town's gate holding a Poke Ball Belt.

  "Hyde!" Rook called out, waving him over. "Need you for something!"

  Hyde stumbled forward, walking gingerly to the two higher ups. "What's up?"

  "Which Poke Ball is Sawsbuck's?" Rook asked, displaying the belt of three Poke Balls, one Premier Ball, an Ultra Ball, and a Heal Ball.

  "The pink one," Hyde said.

  "Okay," Rook said, detaching the pink ball from the belt and turning to the crop fields.

  "And Hyde," Ruckz leaned in. "You really-"

  "Not right now," Rook whispered. "Plumeria's up on the wall."

  Ruckz withdrew his body and took a spot next to Rook, with Hyde staying his spot a good ten feet away.

  "Let's see how this Sawsbuck behaves without its trainer," Rook said as he tossed the Heal Ball in the air. Ian's blessed stag began manifesting, although something about it looked off to Hyde. Instead of facing the direction thrown, Sawsbuck materialized facing Rook and Ruckz.

  Sawsbuck gave a fierce battle cry, standing on its hind legs as its front legs kicked forward like he'd seen angry Mudsdale do. Suddenly Sawsbuck's front legs landed and the blessed stag turned to Hyde before letting out another fierce battle cry and charging him. Hyde gasped, falling backwards as he tripped over his feet as Sawsbuck lowered its head, its antlers beginning to grow green and sharp as blades. Hyde recoiled, letting out an involuntary cry of panic before the beast glowed red and dissipated in the Heal Ball's beam.

  Plumeria's harsh cackle was all Hyde heard for a couple moments, and he turned his head to see her looking down on him from atop the wall. "After all that tough talk you're still just a little bitch!" Plumeria shouted as her cackle continued.

  Hyde flipped her the bird and got up with some difficulty.

  "We need it though. Let's keep Sawsbuck in the gatehouse until it starts playing ball with us," Rook said as if in mid-conversation. "Plumeria was saying something about Tupp being able to ride it with no issue."

  "We just need him to cooperate then," Ruckz said.

  Hyde cleared his throat. "Tupp ain't gonna do that," he interjected.

  "With the right pressure-" Rook paused. "Hyde, what the fuck happened to your face?"

  "What?" Hyde asked, his hands exploring his face.

  Ruckz covered his mouth as he laughed. "Dude, you got the shit beat out of you."

  Underneath his left eye his skin had started to bulge with swelling. "Yeah, cuz Tupp sucker punched me when I wasn't looking."

  "He sucker punch you fifteen times or what?" Ruckz asked.

  "Gonna have a black eye real quick," Rook observed.

  "Yeah whatever," Hyde croaked. "If Sawsbuck ain't gonna play ball, isn't the food situation gonna be a problem?"

  Ruckz shook his head casually. "Shouldn't last too long, and we got stores anyways."

  The brothers left soon after, still deep in conversation. Plumeria's cackle reverberated in Hyde's aching head, and a hint of inspiration that had hit him earlier came back to the forefront of his mind. "Weak little bitch am I? Not for long," Hyde said, a mischievous smile coming across his face as he headed to the gate, eyes on The Spine.

  Thankfully no former squad members were milling about as he made his way up to Shady House. He did catch a few suspicious looks and curious whispers from Dirtbags and other Skull grunts he passed but he ignored them, his eyes on the real prize. Time to even the playing field, finally. Hyde casually made his way to one of the male bunkhouse rooms, passing his for Tupp and Ian's instead. Making sure the coast was clear, Hyde quickly snuck to the bunks he'd seen the two lounging on when he'd summoned them for an Ultra Storm a few weeks back.

  He paid the disheveled beds no mind, instead kneeling down on the lower bunk. He lifted the mattress, seeing a paper with a rudimentary drawing of some red lobster-like creature facing a brown deer, protecting a little stick figure with long hair. Must be a gift from the little girl him and Mina see at the school every now and then. Hyde checked underneath the drawing, finding nothing before dropping the mattress. He ran his hands across the blanket, feeling for a metal key he was sure was there. He then locked his eyes on the pillow and pulled the pillow from its case. He then shook the pillowcase out and after a couple shakes, a brown, slightly rusty key. "Paydirt."

  Hyde inconspicuously rearranged the bed like he'd seen it before and left the room like nothing happened. He mozied over to Tom's warehouse, and upon opening the door was met with Tom himself looking to the doorway. "Hyde?" Tom said expectantly. "That's a big black eye you got there. You should get an ice Pokemon to soothe that swelling."

  Hyde snorted. "Doesn't matter. Who's got an Ice Type around here anyways?" He asked rhetorically.

  "Ian does," Tom said casually.

  Hyde froze. "You uh… haven't heard, have you?"

  "Heard what?" Tom asked suspiciously.

  "Guzma locked him up in The Basement," Hyde grunted.

  "What? Why?" Tom demanded.

  "You ask him, you're a Bone after all," Hyde said, not wanting to prolong his acquisition any further.

  "Not good…" Tom said as he headed for the door.

  Hyde cracked a smirk and darted for the hallway where the lockers were, quickly finding the one next to his own. The key stuck fast but the lock opened and Hyde swung the door out softly. The first thing that drew Hyde's eye was the guitar case taking up most of the space, but he spied a sack of glittering dust underneath it. Is that Stardust? How the hell'd he get so much of it? Next to that was a cluttered assortment of shards he'd recognized Ian collecting in Ultra Storms. "Useless," Hyde muttered as he looked up to the top shelf.

  There he spied his prize. Piled in bags on half of the shelf were multiple blue forms, be they small pyramids, medium sized cubes, or large diamond shapes. We sure have been busy raiding Ultra Storms. "This sure is a lot of Alpha poop. If it makes a Pokemon evolve, why hasn't he used all of these already?" Hyde thought out loud. Hyde shook the doubt from his mind and began grabbing the bags of the so-called Alpha poop. Hyde took note of a couple Star Pieces hanging out next to a kind of Poke Ball he'd never seen before. Its base was a dark blue, with light blue circles going around it with four slightly yellow protrusions. That looks sick. Hyde grabbed the ball, minimizing it and putting it in his pocket and then followed that up with dropping the couple of Star Pieces into the bag with three cubic blue forms since it had more room.

  Hyde closed the locker and locked it back up, having pilfered it of its valuables and strolled out of the building casually, making for the nearest alley he could get to and wouldn't be found out. This put him on a small path with a ramshackle wooden fence and the back of some abandoned building on the other side. There he started laying out all of the bags' contents, dividing them in groups of five. Once accomplished, Hyde smirked with pride as he envisioned what was to come. Each pile featured a large, diamond shaped form and a small pyramid. Three medium cubes rested in piles, with two small pyramids added to the piles missing medium cubes. "So each Pokemon gets three…"

  Hyde sent out his Torracat first and pointed at the first pile. "Eat 'em all, Torracat."

  His fiery jungle cat appeared to step toward him but did as ordered, lowering its head and going to the first pile. The red and black striped Pokemon dug into the large diamond first, finishing a good three quarters of the blue form before looking to Hyde as if it were full. "Whole damn thing, Torracat," Hyde ordered coldly. "Gonna make you so strong no one will give us shit again."

  Torracat lowered its head once more, whimpering as it did and dutifully finished the blue form. Upon its last bite Torracat tensed uncomfortably before becoming engulfed in a white glow.

  "Yes!" Hyde cheered proudly, pumping his fist as he did. It took only a few seconds, but the white glow faded and out came his bipedal tiger with a belt of fire. Incineroar belted out a triumphant roar as it flexed. "Good shit Incineroar," Hyde congratulated. "Now finish the other blue things in that pile."

  Incineroar eyed Hyde with a hint of skepticism, but leaned over and picked up the small pyramid and medium cube, shoving the forms into its fanged mouth. It didn't take long before Incineroar's last gulp, but the bipedal beast roared monstrously, baring its claws and shaking, a frenzied look in its eyes.

  "Alright, you can stop now!" Hyde shouted.

  Incineroar's right arm began glowing with Dark Type Energy before it slammed its limb into the wall of the abandoned building, smashing through it completely. "Incineroar, what the fuck!?" Hyde demanded.

  Incineroar turned to Hyde, a euphoric rage in its eyes as its fiery belt grew to twice its size. "Incineroar, stand down!" Hyde commanded. Incineroar hissed at Hyde, pulling its arm from the wrecked wall and began prepping to leap at him. Hyde reflexively reached for Incineroar's Poke Ball, recalling his first partner in Alola. "What the fuck was that about?" Hyde said aloud as he shrank the ball to a smaller size to fit on his belt.

  This shit didn't happen with Ian that time with Pyroar, and sure Wartortle was yelling or something but it didn't get mad. Maybe he only fed 'em one… Hyde pondered the thought. Maybe it's like a steroid and sends the Pokemon into a frenzy and it's gotta be applied carefully… Hyde shook his head. But if I leave any leftovers, other people will start poking around. Guzma first, but then Rook, Ruckz, hell I bet Tupp knows what's up with these. Hyde felt the swelling underneath his eye and realized the bulge had started to block part of his left eye's vision. "Shit."

  Hyde readied a Great Ball, remembering this was one of his early Pokemon as well. "Go, Vigoroth!" Out came Hyde's hyperactive sloth with white fur and dangerously long claws. Vigoroth growled menacingly, immediately seeking out a challenger. "Vigoroth, eat that pile of blue shit."

  As before, once Vigoroth finished its serving of Alpha poop it evolved into Slaking. But just like Incineroar, the freshly evolved Pokemon got incredibly agitated and smashed into another section of the building's wall, prompting Hyde to recall his second newly evolved Pokemon. This pattern continued with Baltoy and Frillish, now having evolved into Claydol and Jellicent, leaving the fifth and final Pokemon for the last pile of Alpha poop. Hyde eyed his Net Ball with smug pride and brought it close to his lips.

  "Who knew fate would give me the perfect counter to that Sawsbuck before the traitor even showed up in Alola," Hyde whispered before throwing the Net Ball into the air.

  ***

  After stopping his fifth and final Pokemon from causing too much damage, Hyde got to the end of the alley and popped up on Shady Way. Guzma's voice hit his ears when he took a step onto the street. "Hyde, were those your Pokemon going nuts in the alley?" The boss demanded.

  "Y-yeah…" Hyde said sheepishly as he turned to face Guzma.

  Guzma's jaw dropped as he made eye contact with Hyde. "Damn, Tupp fucked you up real good."

  Hyde's shoulders drooped. "Yeah, stupid sucker punch."

  "Shoulda' watched your back, Hyde." Guzma then scowled. "And I got too much shit going on right now and I'm just trying to think and I can't even do that without those Pokemon of yours rampaging inside the walls!" Guzma shouted. "What gives?"

  Hyde tensed. "My Pokemon doesn't know its own strength, that's my bad."

  "Heh, dumbass. If you're gonna do that, don't burn down half my fucking town. We're still rebuilding from the damn hurricane," Guzma said.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  "Yeah…" Hyde said.

  Guzma eyed the lone bag Hyde now carried and pointed. "What's that about?"

  Hyde tensed for a moment before relaxing. "I went through Ian's locker, found a couple Star Pieces."

  "Star Pieces? He's real fond of those," Guzma observed, signaling Hyde to give the bag up. Hyde begrudgingly did so, thankful he'd gotten rid of all of the Alpha poop.

  "There you are boss," Hyde said as he let go of the bag.

  "You find any of that Alpha poop you were talking about earlier? Something that can induce evolution would go a long way with getting Larvesta to finally evolve," Guzma stated.

  "No, I think he used 'em all up," Hyde said. "Explains how he got so strong so fast."

  Guzma sighed with a light hint of annoyance. "Was it just Star Pieces in that thing then?"

  "Actually boss, there's one more thing I found in there," Hyde said with a hint of regret in his mind. Hyde reached into his pocket and pulled out the bizarre blue ball and tapped the center, expanding it to its normal size.

  "What kind of ball is that?" Guzma asked.

  "No clue, just found it in there," Hyde said as Guzma took hold of the peculiar Poke Ball and began investigating it. "He was probably saving it up for some extra special Pokemon."

  "Yeah…" Guzma paused, pondering something. "You know Hyde, I kinda wish you hadn't jumped in on the conversation earlier."

  "Which one?" Hyde asked blankly.

  "Where Rook and Plumeria were going at it. Rook seemed to be grasping at straws and you bailed him out," Guzma said.

  "Well Ian's a-"

  "I know, I know, he's a traitor and all that," Guzma talked over him. "But Plumeria was making some good points."

  Hyde shrugged. "Does it really matter though? Sounds like Rook's defector explained everything Ian was doing."

  Guzma sighed, a hint of uncertainty entering his voice. "Yeah…" Guzma paused, turning away from Hyde. "Well, get some ice on that black eye of yours. Likely gonna need everyone good to go for tomorrow."

  "Gotcha boss," Hyde said, trying to ignore the part of him that had become rather unsatisfied with Guzma's answer about the defector.

  As Hyde made his way down The Spine to the Pokemon Center to pick up an ice pack, he spied Rook and Ruckz looking rather elated and the brothers waved him on over. Hyde grunted, his head still in pain and the swelling under his left eye obstructing even more of his vision.

  "Yup, that shit's gonna be a hell of a black eye," Ruckz commented.

  "I know," Hyde grumbled. "What do you want?"

  Rook shifted his vision around to make sure no one was listening and grinned. "Plumeria kicked you out of her squad, right?"

  Hyde shrugged. "Yeah, about time if you ask me."

  Rook nodded. "Well tomorrow you should hang back in Po Town."

  "Okay… why? What's going on?" Hyde asked.

  Ruckz snickered mischievously. "War's ending tomorrow. And when we win, some things are gonna change around here."

  "Really?" Hyde asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice.

  "Oh yeah," Rook said with a wink. "I'll always remember who helped make it all happen."

  "See you tomorrow," Ruckz said with a bellowing laugh as the brothers took their leave once more.

  A sinking feeling stuck in Hyde's belly, getting worse with every thought. Something feel's way off about that all of the sudden… Hyde tensed as an uncomfortable realization hit him. I might've really fucked up.

  ***

  For Ian, trying to get much sleep in his cramped cell was an exercise in futility. The length of time he'd been exposed to the foul smell hadn't made breathing through his nose any easier, and when he left his mouth open he felt like he could taste the abhorrent smell in the jail. Every hour or so someone would come down and do a round of "upkeep" as it was called. Hours must've passed, and after the initial questioning from Pete, Ian stayed quiet, the reality of the situation sinking further into his mind. Why didn't I leave at Palmer's Ranch? Colress was sketchy as fuck but I could've gotten away from him pretty easily. I bet someone would've given me a tip about mushroom farming and me and Sawsbuck would be rolling in the money. Now there's a chance I'll never see Sawsbuck again. A lone tear fell from Ian's eye and onto the uncomfortable hardwood floor as the words crossed his mind.

  Hours drifted by on the hardwood floor, with the dim light going out for a while where Ian managed to get some sleep. When he awoke he had a terrible thirst, a ravenous hunger, and his whole body ached. And the Sinclair guys who've been in these cells have been in here for how long? A few minutes of inhaling the foul stench of The Basement made Ian lose his appetite, which coincidentally was just in time for one of two meals of the day. Along with a glass of questionably filtered water, Ian hardly felt sated.

  Not long after, a group of four Team Skull grunts descended the stairs with a pair of handcuffs. "Ian, boss wants to see you," one of the grunts announced.

  He's gonna make me beg or some shit, won't he? The surrounding Sinclair goons started hooting and hollering as the grunts unlocked his cell and made him get against the wall as they administered handcuffs. Ian was led up the stairs and through the hallway to Guzma's throne room. Guzma sat on his throne much more officially, with no sign of Larvesta around. No other squad leaders or Bones were present, just the escorting grunts he barely recognized. The grunts guided him to the elevated platform and pushed him forward a bit, making him kneel before Guzma's throne. Upon seeing Guzma again, Ian's whole body tensed rigidly and his blood began to boil.

  "Dude, you fucking wreak," Guzma said, letting the following silence linger for a while. "Anything to confess, 'Prince of Po Town?'" Guzma asked.

  Ian remained silent, staring daggers at the man he'd given up so many other possibilities for.

  "Silent treatment? Gonna be real hard to hear your side of things if you won't even speak," Guzma said, slouching in his seat.

  I saved ten of your subordinates' lives plus their Pokemon. That's my side. Ian kept his scowl fierce and his eyes full of hatred.

  Guzma sighed. "Look kid, we're at war. I can't have any whiff of rebellion behind these walls. Yesterday was a bit harsh, but I had to set an example, even if you're not a traitor."

  Ian's grimace curdled even more than he thought possible.

  Guzma got up from his throne with a grunt and raised his voice. "Would you just fucking speak? Plumeria won't stop fucking nagging me, and the Pearl Clan's up my ass now and refusing to help with the war or the harvests until you're freed. I want to hear your side."

  A light grin broke through Ian's scowl for a moment before he returned to his death-glare, with Guzma becoming less and less able to maintain direct eye contact with Ian. I wish I could just flip him off right now.

  "Fine! Be that way," Guzma spat, turning his back on Ian and suddenly throwing a punch at the wall. "FUCK!" Guzma roared.

  I think he just realized I didn't do it, and when he frees me I'm not coming back. Ian's light grin began to reappear.

  Guzma took a deep breath and slowly walked over to Ian before squatting down in front of him. "Tell you what, we have a chance to end the war today and I'm gonna take it. When I get back, we're gonna figure this shit out, alright? If it turns out Rook's full of it, he'll be punished."

  He's bargaining? Guzma's bargaining? Ian turned his head away from the boss, disdain in every muscle of his face. It's too late now, boss.

  "Well I said what I wanted to fucking say," Guzma sneered, getting up promptly from his squatted position and going behind Ian. "As a sign of good will, I got some visitors who want to see you. They don't got their Pokemon with them so don't get any bright ideas."

  Suddenly the throne room's door opened and Mina, Tupp, Plumeria, Selene, and Rapp surrounded him.

  "Ian!" Mina shouted as she nearly tackled him with a hug. Before he could respond, her lips were on his, nearly pushing him off balance with how forceful her kisses were.

  When Mina finally let up, Ian grinned. "Sorry about the smell."

  "I don't give a fuck," Mina said, kissing him once more. "I'm just glad you're okay."

  Ian sighed. "How are you holding up?"

  "I'm not in jail, so a lot better than you right now," Mina said, embracing him tightly.

  Tupp stepped forward. "Bro, they're asking me to try to convince Sawsbuck to bless the crops, but I ain't doin' that. Don't feel right at all." Tupp you are my fucking BRO.

  "I appreciate it," Ian said.

  Plumeria tittered. "After you got sent away, Tupp gave Hyde the biggest black eye I've ever seen."

  Ian turned to Tupp with a big smile.

  "Mothafucka' wouldn't be breathing if Guzma's Scizor wasn't holdin' me back," Tupp said.

  "Thanks," Ian said.

  "You should've seen when Rook and Hyde tried to get Sawsbuck to bless the crops. That blessed stag of yours got pissed and immediately charged Hyde. I bet he almost pissed himself," Plumeria said.

  "Serves him right," Ian said coldly. Ian turned his head as best he could, seeing the four grunts who'd escorted him in waiting silently. Watching, listening. "Guzma said he had a chance to end the war today, what'd he mean by that?"

  "No clue," Plumeria answered. "I'm not allowed near a strategy meeting since I'm 'too close' to a traitor."

  Ian sighed, remembering how warm Mina was pressed up against him. "He said he wanted to 'figure things out' when the war's over."

  "Too late now," Plumeria said lowly as she took a seat next to Ian and Mina. "Moment you're out of that cell and have your Pokemon, I take it you're gone?"

  Cognizant of the grunts listening in the background, Ian just mouthed "yeah."

  "Figures…" Plumeria said, leaning in close for a hug and whispering. "I promise I'll get you out, I don't know when though."

  "Thanks," Ian whispered back.

  One of the gruff voices from his escorting grunts cleared their throats. "That's enough whispering, time to go."

  "Plus Guzma' starting to call people for the rally," another gruff male voice said.

  "Yeah, yeah," Plumeria said, getting up from the platform with a crestfallen sigh. "And to think, we somehow got the loyalty of a guy who's kept the whole town fed and saved our lives more than once…" Plumeria hesitated as a wave of emotion overcame her. "...and we fucking arrested him."

  Ian felt a pang of guilt. I gave it a try Plumeria, I really did. Mina grabbed him one more time, giving him a long, passionate kiss.

  "I should've said this sooner, but I love you Ian," Mina said lowly.

  Ian felt his cheeks start to redden immediately as the grunts pulled him onto his feet. "Love you too Mina." Can't wait to see Seafolk Village with you when this is over.

  ***

  Almost every resident of Po Town was assembled in front of Shady House. Even though he was no longer in a squad, Hyde had been cajoled into attending. He stayed near the back, doing his best to hide his black eye, which now covered most of the vision in his left eye. All of the squad leaders were assembled, and a cheer erupted from the crowd as Guzma appeared in Shady House's front doorway.

  "Alright fuckers, we been at war for the past month, but I'm here to tell you: It ends TODAY!" Guzma roared into his microphone to an overwhelming roar of cheers. "Our radio network's saying Sinclair's goons are stuck on the beaches in Mahiki Bay. We haven't seen a single boat of theirs since the hurricane, so we're gonna move out in force and crush 'em!"

  Another roar of cheers.

  "Rook and a couple squads will hang back to make sure nothing stupid happens," Guzma explained. "Slash, you and Ruckz's squads will be staying back. Every other squad in this town? You're with me!" Another wave of cheers erupted, and Guzma put his ear up to the crowd as he gestured for more noise. "After today, I'm taking Sinclair down and pissing on his corpse myself!"

  The crowd grew into a frenzy, and Guzma pointed the group directly down The Spine, starting a parade of Team Skull members heading for the gate.

  Once the crowd had thinned, Hyde made his way to the squad leaders, where he noticed Guzma putting his hand up, dismissing a frustrated Plumeria. "We'll sort it out tonight!" Guzma bellowed before turning around.

  "Hey boss…" Hyde said nervously. "Who am I going with?"

  Guzma paused, but Hyde suddenly felt an arm around his shoulder and he realized Rook was leaning on him, an excited grin on his face. "Boss, any chance we can keep him around here? I got a skeleton crew and all that."

  "Fine by me. I'm sick of looking at this black eye of his," Guzma answered.

  "Thanks boss," Rook said, fist bumping Guzma before patting Hyde on the back and hurrying somewhere else.

  An unsettling feeling came over Hyde as he watched Guzma starting to head toward the gate as well. Do I tell him Rook's acting suspicious? Hyde tensed, weighing the options in front of him. Hyde shook his still aching head in frustration. What am I thinking, there's no way Guzma's calling off the operation now of all time. Hyde sighed uncomfortably. He'll be back before nightfall, Sinclair doesn't have boats. What's the worst that could happen? Hyde noticed Plumeria talking intensely with Slugg, who seemed to be getting skinnier every day and shook his head, wanting to be rid of the chaos in his mind.

  Hyde did his best to take his mind off of his newfound troubles, but he couldn't hang out with his Pokemon as Incineroar was still in a blind rage when he tried to feed the tiger this morning. Hyde took a stroll around town, ending up on Kai Avenue, the street running along the western wall facing the sea. On top of the wall, Mina was on patrol and Hyde immediately turned his head away, feeling shame's sting. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted one of Mina's murals and physically recoiled. It was Ian riding Sawsbuck with Po Town in the background, a stylized sun and moon in the sky overhead. Fuck off…

  It was nearing mid afternoon when he found himself in front of the now nearly deserted Shady House, pondering what to do next when he heard a frantic yelp. Hyde looked around in a panic, wondering where the source of the voice was coming from as a curse hit his ears.

  "Hyde, Hyde up here!" Slugg's voice shouted.

  Hyde looked up to the second story of Shady House and noticed Slugg waving at him. "What's going on?"

  "It's Sinclair! He's got a boat coming!" Slugg shouted in a panic. "No one in the radio network's responding!"

  "What?" Hyde retorted. "You're joking!"

  "I'm not!" Slugg pleaded desperately.

  Hyde set off into a sprint, pushing through Shady House's front doors and dashing up the stairs as fast as he could until he got into the radio room.

  "I'm not lying!" Slugg pleaded, pointing out the open window.

  Hyde's heart sank as he spotted a large yacht approaching within fifty yards of Po Town almost casually. Hyde then turned to the front gate, realizing it was still open. "Who's in charge of the front gate?"

  "It's Ruckz," Slugg said. "You gotta go and tell them to shut it."

  Oh fuck. "They're not gonna," Hyde admitted lowly.

  "What do you mean they're not gonna?" Slugg asked.

  "Rook's making his move. Guzma's not fucking here-" Dammit Guzma, you fucking idiot! Hyde tensed up as he realized exactly what had happened. Rook needed Ian confined here so they could keep the town fed… And Ian doesn't get imprisoned if I shut my big mouth. Hyde facepalmed, immediately regretting it as his black eye's swelling flared with pain, making him curse.

  "Slugg, where's The Basement key?" Hyde demanded.

  "Plumeria gave me one in case of emergency," Slugg said, shuffling through his pocket. Upon presenting it to Hyde, Slugg gasped. "Did they land?"

  Hyde looked to the southwest corner of the wall and couldn't see the yacht anymore. "Probably…" Did we just lose?

  "Fuck, fuuuuuuck!" Slugg shouted, slamming his fist against his desk.

  "Slugg, gimme the key," Hyde demanded as he reached for Slugg's hand. "And where are prisoners' Poke Ball Belts kept?"

  ***

  Ian had his eyes closed, facing the wall in the dimly lit jail cell as he remembered the soft warmth of Mina's lips against his own, her nails digging into his back as the scent of her hair filled his nostrils-

  A sudden crashing of The Basement door against a wall abruptly broke Ian from his daydream. "IAN!" The voice called out frantically.

  He turned his head, completely perplexed as to what was going on, only for a frantic Team Skull member to appear at the base of the stairs and charge his cell. "Ian, we need you!"

  Ian began getting up, only for him to notice the approaching figure was Hyde of all people, sporting the biggest black eye he'd ever seen. "Hyde, what the fuck are you doing here?"

  Hyde shoved a key in his cell's lock. "Sinclair's goons just landed, they're gonna take over the town if we don't do something."

  A wave of sound crashed over Ian's ears as the prisoners cheered and began rejoicing.

  "Is this some sick joke of yours, Hyde?" Ian asked, folding his arms.

  "No! Look, I have your belt with your Poke Balls on it."

  Ian noticed five balls attached to the belt. A very particular Heal Ball's missing. "Not my problem anymore," Ian spat as Hyde opened the cell's gate.

  "Uh…" Hyde paused. "Okay, I know I fucked up but Po Town's at stake here."

  "Fuck you," Ian growled. "Besides, Guzma's Scizor will take care of it."

  "Guzma took most of the squads and went to Mahiki Bay. It's just Rook with Ruckz's and Slash's squads here," Hyde said.

  Ian laughed in utter disbelief. "Serves that idiot right."

  Hyde held the belt with Ian's Poke Balls into his cell. "Here, it's not a joke."

  "Too late, asshat," Ian said, folding his arms and resting his back against the wall.

  "Really?" Hyde pleaded. "Do you really hate me more than you care about Po Town?"

  Ian cackled, a long, humiliating laugh that even made bystanding prisoners uneasy. Ian opened his eyes, still cackling. He then pointed at Hyde as another wave of hysterical laughter came over him.

  "What's so funny?" Hyde barked.

  "Ask that question again," Ian said between fits of laughter.

  "Do you really hate me more than you care-" Hyde froze as the meaning of the words hit him.

  "Fuck you! Have fun being Rook's bitch," Ian spat, making sure to launch his saliva as far as possible.

  "Hyyyyyyde!" Slugg's frantic, high pitched voice called out. "Where are you?"

  "I"m still in The Basement. Ian's not coming out," Hyde shouted back.

  "What? But they're going for the school!" Slugg shouted.

  Auntie Pula's? Hostages! Ian pushed himself off the wall and grabbed his belt from Hyde's grip. Ian glared at his adversary, venom in his veins as he did. "This doesn't change a thing, fuckhead."

  Hyde stepped back. "Yeah…"

  "Hurry! We gotta go!" Slugg shouted.

  The two bitter enemies dashed up the stairs, finding Slugg at Shady House's front door. "Okay, so the school right?" Slugg asked.

  Ian shook his head. "How many enemies are there?" Ian asked.

  "Twenty, I think?" Slugg said uncertainly.

  "Not counting Ruckz' squad, and Rook," Hyde added.

  Ian grimaced. "We got no chance… Wait, what about the Pearl Clan?"

  Hyde turned to Ian in surprise.

  "Did they go with Guzma?" Ian asked.

  "They didn't!" Slugg shouted, encouraged. "How do we tell them to help?"

  "Sound the alarm," Ian said. "That'll summon them."

  "But that's in the gatehouse," Slugg said.

  "We need someone to go there," Ian said.

  "Uh…" Slugg said, realizing Ian and Hyde were both eyeing him expectantly. "Won't you guys need help?"

  Hyde shook his head. "Slugg, you're easily the weakest trainer here, and Sawsbuck's Heal Ball's there too."

  "If we're fighting Sinclair's goons, I need Sawsbuck," Ian said definitively.

  Slugg nodded. "Okay, I got it…" Slugg turned to the left scurried off as fast his now just chubby body could carry him.

  Hyde turned to Ian. "Ian, thanks-"

  "Say another word to me and you'll have another black eye," Ian spat.

  Hyde shook his head and turned to dash up The Spine. Ian grunted but followed. Up ahead, Ian could tell there was a contingent of Sinclair's men standing guard near the central bridge. Holy shit it's real.

  Sinclair's goons didn't seem to be watching the straightforward approach, and Hyde pointed to the right. "Mina's probably at the school," Hyde uttered.

  "Yeah?" Ian asked, anger simmering in his voice.

  "I'll hit 'em here, you get in the alley and get the school from behind," Hyde said.

  Ian didn't respond, just broke to the right and found an opening through a dilapidated fence, leaping over it and continuing on foot with a quickness he'd forgotten he'd had. He navigated through another broken fence and got into an alley. Ian raced down it, realizing the concrete wall was ahead of him. Thankfully a janky wooden ladder rested just against the wall, ending just below the top of it.

  Ian climbed the ladder carefully before hopping down onto the canal-side street. To his left he heard the sounds of combat, notably an animalistic roar that made him shiver for a moment. Ian turned to his right, first seeing a great commotion around the school up ahead. Then his eyes lowered and just thirty feet from him stood a lone, familiar figure with a naval captain hat. Sinclair!

  Ian debated charging the enemy leader then noticed the top of the enormous blue serpent in the canal rising at least fifteen feet or more in the air, facing toward the school. Gyarados…

  Ian gulped, seeing Sinclair walking ahead slowly, his goons already with their Pokemon attacking the outside of the school. Fire burnt in his veins, and Ian reached for his Ultra Ball, hurling it forward. "SINCLAAAAIR!" Ian shouted.

  The captain turned around in complete surprise, quickly rebalancing himself as Alpha Tyrunt emerged from its Ultra Ball with a fierce roar as well. Sinclair's Gyarados then lowered its head, focusing on Tyrunt as its upper body moved in between Tyrunt and its own trainer.

  It's on.