PokeWild

Once the convoy started moving again David was forced to admit that Gleem’s old pillow cushion was needed. Aaron’s wagon had nothing even remotely resembling suspension. Every hole and bump in the road they passed over felt like a mini earthquake. The sliver of comfort didn’t make the stains on the Tauros' cushion any less disgusting, but as the sun came up it became easier to stop looking at the cushion. There was just so much else to look at.

And what a sight it was.

Jagged black rock tore through crashing waves below, stabbing at the sky. They weren’t islands as much as mountain tips brutally torn from their perch and cast into the deep ocean.

If there were just one it would be a wonder - a unique feature disconnected from anything that David had seen before, but it didn't end there. Tens of these mountain tips lay scattered across the ocean and above them, a bridge had been built, winding between each spike. The peaks had been conquered. The tips tamed. Jagged had been made smooth and then refined further until it was a foundation. Great columns rose from these foundations to support the modern bridge above. The abrupt change from the wild violence of the rock to the monotone bridge, all at an unbelievable scale, was captivating. David had never seen the like, but something else was able to drag his gaze away.

Trainers bobbed atop of Pokemon in the water around these mountains. Standing guard around the base of the bridge and fending off any Pokemon that dared approach.

And yet, they weren’t what David or Aaron watched.

Between and beyond the mountain tips where the waves crashed like clouds, were rocks. Caltrop-like islands. Short hazards as smooth as a pebble or as sharp as knife - rubble and splinters from the nearby mountains. Around these small perches above the deep water, kingdoms were formed, expanded and destroyed.

A Krabby, orange exoskeleton pulling the attention amongst the blue water, black rock and white waves, skittered atop one of the caltrops. It held its red prize with both claws and raised it high to the sky in triumph. Once at the top of the small hill, it lowered the Magikarp to its mouth, ready to celebrate victory.

The Krabby didn’t notice the red glow in the water behind it, nor the tentacles encircling its legs. It got two bites of the red fish before both its prize and itself were yanked off the caltrop and dragged back into the depths below.

It was only one of the many battles that were taking place all around them. Bodies were starting to litter the sea, and more continued to come.

“It's too active,” Aaron shouted, shifting the reins on his lap anxiously. It was a small movement, unnoticed by the four Tauros thundering along the bridge. “They should have postponed the group until it calmed down.”

“It’s like this all the time?” David shouted back, unable to take his eyes off the chaos below. Chaos that had only grown in intensity as the convoy grew further from land.

Aaron shook his head and leaned in to make his words clearer. “No, this is about the worst I’ve seen. They must have already been hungry and we’re ringing the dinner bells.”

As if to echo his words, a giant column of water rose into the air ahead with a rush of sound that drowned out even the thunder of hooves.

David tensed, hand going to Pidgey’s pokeball. It buckled underneath his fingers.

Aaron lifted the reins and whipped them.

Gleem bellowed. The Pokemon had been working hard. Clouds of steam rising off its chunky body, but at the whip these clouds took on a beige tint. The other Tauros took up the call, bellowing themselves and the clouds spread, growing larger and larger. Aaron's wagon wasn't alone. The Pokemon pulling the wagons ahead and behind let out roars of their own. There was no dust on the road, but the convoy was covered in a thick cloud.

As one the wagons sped up.

“We’re breaking through,” Aaron declared grimly. “It must be bad below.”

David let go of Pidgey’s pokeball and gripped the bench. He leaned to the side of the wagon to get a better view of the water below, and the watersprout's source.

Trainers were retreating from one of the bridge’s columns ahead. They fled to the boats hovering towards the shore in the distance, away from the bridge, the rocks and the chaos. Only a handful of trainers were left behind to face the incoming rush.

Perched on the side of the wagon as he was, David was perfectly positioned to watch as they released the remainder of their Pokemon.

Small flashes signalled the first arrivals. A Golduck appeared in a perfect dive, its blue form quickly lost amongst the waves. A giant white seal crashed down, soaking everything with a mini tidal wave. A series of purple shells dropped into the water like bombs. Tentacruel and Poliwrath formed a guard around their trainers.

The flashes stopped, but Pokemon still continued to appear. Fewer and slower than before, but they still arrived. Two trainers and their Pokemon in particular commanded attention.

A dark heavy shell dropped like a stone into the water before a Kingler and the man atop it. The shell suddenly stopped sinking a metre down. The water around it calmed. All Pokemon, wild or trained, twitched and turned, sensing a disturbance in the force of the waves.

Slowly, six blue limbs emerged from the shell. Two metallic tubes rose up to the Pokemon's shoulders. A reptilian head scanned the surroundings and seemed to scoff.

Besides the man, a woman holding onto a giant glimmering fish's horn raised her hand. The released Pokemon didn’t appear from the air, instead it rose from the water like it'd been there all along. A short sky-blue horn breached the water first, clearing the way for its head and long neck. A grey shell followed soon after, craggy like the surrounding rock. The Pokemon towered above all others, looking down regally.

“Blastoise and Lapras,” David whispered, barely feeling the shaking of the wagon.

For a moment the sea relaxed. The waves slowed. The Pokemon froze - even those mid battle, as they all felt the presence of monsters.

But the sea wasn’t calmed so easily.

It started as a thrum. A low vibration that David felt in his bones. It grew, until the wagon, the bridge itself began to vibrate.

Pidgey’s ball began to shake.

Then the Pokemon breached the surface and the Roar was heard as well as felt.

Long spines stretched from a face distorted in rage. David could see the air shimmer as sound waves left the Pokemon’s wide, open mouth. Thick, long blue scales surfaced after the furious head, and every two metres white fins stretched out from the body. The Pokemon reared back, its serpentine body twisting and its pale cream underbelly exposed. Jaws closed.

Everything went quiet, cowed by the rage present in that single sound.

“BLAS-TOISE.”

“PRAS.”

All calm vanished. The sea churned, more so than before. Creature fell upon creature, monster ate monster. Called by the Gyrados and the chaos, ever more began to emerge from the depths.

Aaron whipped the reins again. Gleem bellowed.

The last thing David saw before he was pulled back onto the bench, was the man and woman arguing.

The convoy ran.

-.-

David heaved the harness on top of the Tauros again.

It was easier to work with the harnesses now that they weren’t slick with sweat from the run, but harder now that the general ‘glad to be back on dry land’ feeling had passed its course.

Once more the Tauros tossed its head, shaking its shoulders and slipping free of the thick leather. She had run flat out for several hours and it was in no mood to get moving again. Especially not for David.

David sighed and bent to pick up the harness again.

“I got it,” Aaron said with a poorly disguised grin, ducking down.

Gleem huffed behind the old wagoneer and David got the impression that the Pokemon was enjoying his lack of success too.

David passed it over and watched with narrowed eyes as the offending Tauros remained perfectly still for Aaron. She even dipped down a little to make it easier for him. In the time it had taken David to hook up one Tauros, Aaron had finished packing up the wagon and hooked up the rest of the Tauros before helping David out.

Aaron ran his fingers through the Tauros’ hair and gave it a friendly pat before turning to David.

“This is it then. We’ll do another easy two hours or so before settling in for the night.” Aaron eyed some of the wagons around them, who were already settling in with distaste. “I recommend you do the same. It’s not unheard of for scavengers to come onto the land - Krabby in particular. Given how riled up they were..”

David nodded and stepped back from the Tauros and the wagon. He'd been planning on leaving anyway. There was less of a queue for the bridge on this side and while everyone recovered from the sprint across, he’d gotten a chance to check out the League office for this route. It looked like he had another good two days of hiking to Fuchsia. Better to get started sooner rather than later.

“Thanks for the tip. We’ll try make some ground tonight.”

Aaron nodded and gave Gleem a slap as the Pokemon snuck up to bunt him, before hopping up onto the wagon’s bench.

“Good luck on your journey then. And remember, if you’re shopping for berries..” Aaron gestured at the wagon behind him.

“Look for the Snorlax,” David smiled. “I’ll spread the word.”

Aaron cracked the reins and the four Tauros began to pull. The wagon quickly accelerated away. David didn’t watch them long before heading for the ‘official’ Route 18 trail.

A quick click and one bright flash of light later..

“PIIid-geY!” She appeared and with a quick flap of her wings, took to the air to circle around David.

David held still as Cloudburst inspected him to her satisfaction. He smoothed down her crest feathers when she landed before setting off.

“You won’t believe the Pokemon I saw today.”

-.-

David set his backpack down with a groan. For once he wasn’t complaining about the weight of the pack. It was his ankles and calves that were the issue today.

Pidgey eyed their surroundings carefully before giving up and flying up to the branches of one of the nearly white trees. Vines hung around the branches, but Pidgey cut those loose with a swipe of her talons.

It was a sad, twisted tree, but anything was better than the ground below. David watched her settle in jealously.

Route 18 was marshy, boggy, swampy and all things wet. The ground ranged between spongy and downright soggy. After four hours of hiking, and with the setting sun burning towards the ground, David was done. He was exhausted. The trip across the bridge had mentally drained him and now he was ready to sleep.

Pidgey chirped.

After food. Sleep after food.

He quickly set up the tent, rushing through the process a little, and got the cooking pot ready. After carefully considering the still water in a nearby pool, David decided not to risk it and used up some of the precious remaining millilitres in his flask instead. It was difficult to get a fire going. Finding dry wood for the fire was a chore, and only with Pidgey's access to the higher branches was he able to get enough.

David tiredly counted their supplies as he cooked. Aaron was happy to share some food, but all the packed berries were off limit. After this meal they would be down to two and a half Cheri berries and three of Pidgey sachets. It was enough. They could make it Fuchsia with this.

He packed everything away just as quickly as he set it up, and recalling Pidgey, retreated into the tent to sleep. It was dusk now, and after only a few exhales he was asleep.

Dark fell over the camp, and all movement ceased. Wind did not disturb the pool. The white tree’s leaves drooped listlessly. Nothing squelched as it made its way across the marsh.

In the black of night, two gleaming red eyes inspected the orange interloper.