The divine beast of wind and water.

Chapters

Prolouge: The Before
The Search Part 1
The Search Part 2
The Search Part 3

Prolouge: The Before

The search for a pure, untainted water source once again left the Vaporeon feeling frustrated, and questioning if all of this had been a waste.

His search this time had taken the water Pokémon to a mysterious set of islands located off the coast of the neighboring region next to Johto. The hope was that somewhere on these isolated patches of dirt would be the untainted pool he had long search for, and like before it led to further disappointment.

The journey for this pure water source would had taken many more moons, and even greater heartache if it weren't for 'the call'. One night after another angry sulk, the urge to return home became too much.

The water Pokémon had been gone for awhile, years at the least, and during that time the Vaporeon had grown not only in size, and power, but wisdom as well. His personal journey had taken him farther than he had previously expected, evolving early on just to have the power and abilities needed to make it past the treacherous Mt. Silver.

Something was summoning him back to Johto, and the thought only stirred the calm waters within his mind. He wanted to ignore it so badly to continue on with this self destined journey, but his time away had altered him on a core level. Vaporeon left Johto for a reason, and this quest for a pure water source was his excuse to never go back, and against his wishes was going to answer the call from his mysterious benefactor.

With the urge too great to ignore, Vaporeon found himself returning to the sea to begin the long trek home under the watchful light of the moon. With his journey put on hold for the foreseeable feature, his only concern now was how his brothers would react when they saw him. Would they welcome back with open paws, or do grudges go both ways?

Many nights passed since heading to the call, but Vaporeon finally found the clump of forest he could scarcely recall playing in. Even under the darkness of the forest canopy, he could faintly make out subtle glow of eyes watching him with interest, wondering why a water Pokémon was out this late in their forest.

As if asking the Vaporeon this very question, a few sets of these eyes began drawing nearer, chirping and buzzing their way from the concealing shadows into the sparse moonlight revealed three Hoothoots and a single Spinarak walking along a faint web it must have laid some time before.

"Hoo are you?" the Hoothoot on the right asked, the other two tilted their heads to the side.

Vaporeon came to a stop, turning back to look up at the four Pokémon.

"I'm Vaporeon, who else would I be?"

"A Vaporeon out of water." the Hoothoot on the left stated, causing his companions bob up and down in agreement.

The Spinarak didn't 'bob' in agreement, but instead moved to the end of the branch before descending slowly to the ground via a single thread. Reaching the ground, the bug Pokémon cautiously approached the much larger Pokémon before stopping just outside its possible range of attack.

"EEEvvolllleed. Raaaarre." It hissed in the unsettling way most bug Pokémon talked. "Enviiious."

Vaporeon not wanting to encourage the jesting nature of the three Hoothoots, gave his time to the small bug.

"For this forest it is, I was just returning home just beyond this forest."

The Spinarak seemed to sense his desire to continue and thus gave him a small nod before grabbing the thin thread with one of its many legs to climb back up. The three Hoothoots didn't understand this and continued their questioning, only this time asking at the same time.

"The Human nest? Never have we seen you , so where have you hide?"

"I was one of the three eevee brothers that used to play in this forest, the Terror Trio?"

"Terror Trio?"
"Never heard of them."
"No eevees live here."

The three Hoothoots responded in their very strange way, but what they said left Vaporeon feeling a little less complete.

How was it possible they never heard of him and his brothers? When the brothers played it was a day to be remembered (for better or worst) and for them not to recall any of those days left the water Pokémon a little bothered.

Had he really been gone for so long?

Vaporeon said nothing deciding to silently sulk for a moment before finding his voice to address the four nocturnal Pokémon.

"Now that I'm thinking about it, this is the wrong forest. Sorry for wasting your time." He apologized, pausing to hear what they might have to say.

When the four Pokémon kept their peace, Vaporeon departed.

The last time Vaporeon seen his home he was no bigger than a newly hatched Togepi, but now he was evolved. And so had his home.

At the end of these the sparse paw full of huts clustered near the recently completed tower were no more, now these huts spread out like a sleeping Snorelax from forest's edge to the other. The scent of the land was gone, having been replaced with the musty remains of cooked meat and charred wood as the excitable daily calls of their inhabitants crowded the narrow pathways.

The early morning sun was hidden behind the lingeringly clouds of yesterday's storm, but even the threat of another down pour couldn't keep the inhabitants indoors. Where the pressed dirt and bits of rock had once marked a path, crudely laid stones worn flat by the vigorous daily motions of human and Pokémon channeled locals, and travelers toward a plethora of destinations.

Ignoring the odd looks from the people out, Vaporeon continued his trek down this new road noting some of the stones where already starting to crack under the constant use. Just how long had he been gone?

Before there was only a single tower and a small town (camp really) around its base to watch and maintain it, and that to was gone. Having grown to a full human nest with a second tower having been fully constructed in his absence! Everywhere he turned Vaporeon was met with more surprises as the humans and Pokémon eyed him with distrust, unfamiliar with the water Pokémon.

Vaporeon's pace slowedas he kept eye contact with each passing Pokémon as he fought the urge to battle them here and now. A crackle of thunder broke the tension, the Pokémon and their owners scurrying off with a fire under their heels, leaving the water Pokémon alone once more.

Vaporeon looked to the sky where the storm clouds lingered when a wicked thought crossed his mind- a hip and a hop here, a tail shake there, and a small howl finished the dance off. It didn't start right away, taking maybe 15 minutes or so before the first trickle of rain began its descent leaving the water Pokémon feeling a tad smug as the people began seeking cover.

By no means was it a rain storm but the mere thought of it progressing into something more than a trickle was enough to send the people and Pokémon running.

The excitement was short lived and Vaporeon found himself feeling no better than before. A fish out of water he had been told, and was founding out it might hold some truth. The whole town had become different to the point Vaporeon assumed he had stumbled into a different town all together, but that tower confirmed he was indeed home.

But why did he feel so un-welcomed, like he was the intruder?

Even using his Rain Dance did little change his mood, and this realization made the water Pokémon acknowledged that besides the first tower still present, his memories of home were just that, memories.

The Rain Dance had cleared the streets in all directions, leaving the water Pokémon alone with this thoughts as he traveled in the general direction of the tower he once called home.

The second tower was a bit smaller, and hid behind the first like his brothers hid behind him when they were scared. The first tower had taken a tremendous effort to construct, or his parents had told the three of them, explaining it was being built even before they themselves had hatched. It's how they first met they mentioned, both being tasked with patrolling the very ground itself; this duty was very important his father told them, so important that when the time came, his siblings and himself would have to continue the task in their place.

At first, he was thrilled to follow in his father and mother's path, but that faded once he realized 'for life' meant.

Their life among the tower's gardens wasn't for their own enjoyment, but as a duty to protect the grounds in the human's stead. To accomplish this meant many hours a day dedicated to training to meant the human's standards (which were very strict), but for a young eevee it was just a game to see which one of them was the best.

He would be lying if the results of these 'games' weren't a big factor for leaving in the first place. How could they choose the youngest of the three when they had two better candidates to choose from? If it was his older brother, than Vaporeon could respect their choice given how closely matched the two were, but choosing the youngest?

It infuriated him to lose such a covenant position to the youngest (and weakest), and it would be that same brother he would have see again. To come crawling back after a vast span of time not only left a foul taste in his mouth, but even fueled some ill thoughts toward his own kin.

He need to stop, clear his mind.

Vaporeon ceased walking to fully weigh the consequence of his malice, understanding the unspoken law of harming one's own blood, and what it meant to be deemed 'rouge'. The thought of hurting his own brother didn't so much matter more than the stain it would bring to his legacy.

'No female in their right mind would want a rouge for a mate.' he thought.

Perhaps he would quell this anger for now in the name of the good faith. Not because the Vaporeon was worried or anything, but because it wouldn't be proper to bring such baggage home after all.

More time passed and the rain continued its down pour, evolving far passed its initial purpose as a joke. He began reveling in the solidary of his actions, now that he had found some measure of mental comfort as he walked down the street. The tower, or towers now, had always been the single biggest attraction in the whole forest, and to return to not only discover a sprawling human settlement around the base, but a second tower had been built next to it?

It confused, but mostly saddened the Vaporeon at first to find a second tower erected right next to the original, but ultimately found it charming; it was almost like they were paying homage to his siblings and himself, and forgiving some minor details they were a near match. Same amount of windows on each side, same design, same wall, same color, same imposing presence, same... everything.

For some reason, he found it comforting- he liked the second tower.

The water Pokémon made a few more turns onto more streets and between a few of the human homes, keeping the two towers in his view the entire time. The surging rain had turned the partial cobblestone roads into a mess of mud with a grip strong enough to drag a pokemon to Giratina himself!

Being attune to water and making use of these scattered stones still visible kept him mostly out of the mud, slowing his progress down slightly, but not enough to fully impede the return home. Upon reaching the wall that separated the temple from the world, Vaporeon began remembering everything from his eevee years, and where he needed to go. Relocating down closer to the tower, he found same tree, nearly double in height, and with a mild use of rock climb scurried up the trunk and onto the over hanging branches.

A simple leap of faith found him in the court yard next to the original tower he had once called home many years ago, the rain was unable to burry all the sensations a memory could inflict upon a creature. He shook those thoughts away and pressed on.

Using the secret entrance under the tower's base, Vaporeon entered the into a small cave system the tower..towers were built over, one where the three of them could escape to when wanting to get away. Were they could sleep in peace, and be the Terror Trio, brothers, for a short time.

Everything was coming back, where he needed to go, what turns and jumps he needed to make, everything was how he remembered it! His excitement was short lived, for the cave opened up to an expansive space that no other creature save for the three brothers knew about, and after a brief look around found the objects of his trepidation.

On this roughly carved plateau carved into the very rock itself, a Jolteon and Flareon were nestled into this outcrop asleep in their favorite spots. He stood motionless, listening and watching them for sounds of movement, but as he observed them the understanding they were indeed asleep eased the Pokemon into action once more. Another rock climb allowed him to reach their resting spot, and after quick noting of their features felt the smallest of smiles grace his muzzle.

Vaporeon took his spot at the front of the group, giving each of his brothers a one last glance before using the move REST to join them.

Perhaps a few days..a week or two back wouldn't be so bad.

Vaporeon couldn't feel his paws but knew they would be trembling right now.

The more he thought, recalled, and pondered the more he became aware he wasn't right. His other senses were nonexistent: sight, taste, sound were nothing when compared to smell, and touch as each battled the other trying to express their pain. The inability to do nothing made him angry. Angry at situation. Angry at the unknown. Angry at the endless cycle of feeling and smelling death, but most of all anger at the world itself.

Vaporeon felt overwhelmed by this searing hatred to the point he almost thought he had switch types when a calming warmth swept over him, subduing the anger for the time being. It came faintly at first, but the warming sound quickly grew to fully erase the pain and smell of death to replace it with the radiant fragrance he so longed to find. And by some merciful grace, he could actually feel the cooling liquid creeping into his fur and even over his previously unfeeling skin.

This soothing water consumed Vaporeon, lifting his body into the motionlessness ease that would allow the healing to begin. In this state, the water Pokemon found himself becoming whole again.

Wasn't he already whole before? Yet, why was he feeling less?

"Calm yourself and be still, you are not healed." the echoing voice commanded.

Vaporeon tried to located the voice but found himself still unable to move let alone see, so he tried to speak and it work.

"Ho-oh? Where am I?" The feeling of warmth dimmed slightly, but quickly regained its lost warmth.

"You are home..."

"WHY IS IT SO DARK?" Vaporeon demanded an answer.

"You ARE home, but.." The voice went quit "something terrible has happened. There was a fire..."

The smell of singed fur began to pepper his nostrils as quick bouts of pain racked his body.

"A fire?" Vaporeon wondered.

Why was there so much anger?

"Curve the hostility Vaporeon, and I will explain all."

The anger remained-only dulled for the moment by the voice's request.

"Explain. Please." he asked, desperate to take his mind off the anger, and pain.

The Legendary Pokemon granted his request, and told him everything- fire included.

***********************************************

The fire had spread fast, faster than anyone could have anticipated.

The storm had been anticipated by their seers nearly two days early, and so many of the towns residents had taken proper steps to prepare, or so they thought. The seers had 'seen' the storm, but had failed to see just how monstrous it would be. The clouds arrived on the eve of yesterday with a few here and there to mark the storm's arrival, and sometime during the night the storm arrived in full force.

The town was asleep, listening the waning rain and growing whispers of the wind when the first sound of thunder awoke them.

The roar was load and deadly, striking fear into those that heard it and scaring the rest awake before hitting the tallest (and oldest) building the town supported. The Brass Tower, despite its age withstood the initial sparks with some ease, but that changed once the whispering wind flamed the sparks with a fevered anger. The flames engulfed the tower with a ferocity that left the very rain incapable of stopping it.

The fire that spawned from this storm would never be matched again.

By now the residents were up and moving, panic having forced them from their beds and into action. The first step was to check on family and their neighbors, the second was to grab what anything that could hold water and run to the burning tower in the hopes being able to quell the inferno.

By the time any sort of manpower was mustered, the tower had lost nearly half of its height to the flames with the fire racing down to claim the rest. The townsfolk gave it their all with two separate lines trailing from the nearest well to the tower's base but fight was lost before it ever began. With tower unstable to even enter, there wasn't any real way to fight the fire directly; with the wind spreading the flames faster than the water could travel from the well, most could only watch with some fascination as the fire consumed the tower in its entirety with others praying to their gods for whatever wrong doings they had committed.

Many residents accepted the tower's fate, and sought shelter from the storm by returning their homes, leaving only a handful of volunteers behind to make sure the flames were contained. The fire burned all night, and by the next morning the clouds had calmed allowing the sleepy sun to seep through, exposing the true extent of the devastation.

What had once been a symbol of majesty, and grandeur had been reduced to a smoldering ruin, yet even in this devastating state the embers still burned. Not hot enough to reignite the fire but maybe to show it took very could if it so desired.

A few daring souls summoned the courage to leave the gathering crowd to approach the tower ruins, careful avoid much of the still cooling debris. The crowd watched with mild trepidation as these 'brave' people began spreading out to personally survey the devastation; careful not to directly touch the charred beams or few pieces of cosmetics to miraculously survive the fire.

Everyone present were too adsorbed in the tragedy of the storm to notice the increasing intensity of the sun.

When the townsfolk did finally notice, it brought with it a great concern, and pointing at the sky. The brave people exploring the tower ruins loss their courage, and quickly sough the safety of their peers just as the few clouds parted to reveal the source of this new light as it descended from the sky on the back of a golden rainbow.

A giant bird colored in crimson red and gold 'fell' from the clouds to the world below, the suns rays scattering in all directions as its host drifted closer to the townspeople and the ruined tower. The people unsure what they were witnessing instinctively began moving further back from the tower as they kept their eyes solely on this mysterious Pokemon.

Silence was the spoken language, and it was spoken very well as the two parties did nothing but gape or flap its wings.

Soon, the silence was broken, and the mighty Pokemon gave a godly cry. The sunlight shun so bright the rays consumed the whole town for almost ten seconds before receding entirely from the sky, leaving no trace of the godly Pokemon.

The Search Part 1

Overwhelmed by what happened, Vaporeon, now a freak, knew he couldn't stay in the region anymore.

Before he might have been tolerated as a nuisance, and even forgiven due to his relation to the tower guardians, but no longer. Without giving his siblings a goodbye, he took off with amazing speed, not even waiting for the stones the humans threw a chance to pelt his fur. He’d left home before, and leaving a second time wouldn't matter for who would miss him? His Brothers, Jolteon and Flareon maybe, but they were used to his extended absences to the point his return seemed to bother them.

No creature would care if he just up and left, and so that’s what he did.

It was this flurry of frustration, and anger that propelled him forward yet again back to Kanto's neighbor, The Orange Islands, or as the ‘many islands’ as he knew of them. With his new body looking and feeling different than anything he had ever encountered before, he needed this escape more now than ever until he could properly understand his new strength.

With animosity coursing through his veins, the changed Vaporeon reached speeds he could only dream of, and even then that was still too slow. Faster than the very wind it seemed, the Pokémon weaved through the forests of his native land with an ease only achieved by the Furret, and their un-evolved forms, but even they paled before his new abilities. He felt..alive.

As he effortlessly ran through the trees, he could hear, smell, and feel the entirety of the forest as easily as one could breathe. What a sensation! Vaporeon wanted to prance, and revel in the unbridled assault on his senses for as long as he could.

It was thoughts like these that fueled the Pokémon's need to travel, to run away in search of something new and exciting.

Only by the grace of the setting sun did he finally come to stop, forcing the newly changed Pokémon to collapse mid run. The momentum propelled him many more yards before finally coming to a complete stop, and even as he laid there exhausted, and unsure where he even was, the Vaporeon turned freak felt himself smiling. An excitement was building, one he couldn't recall if he had ever felt before as he laid there looking up at the fading sunlight, and he knew immediately he was going to enjoy his newfound blessings.

"Thanks Ho-oh." He told the sky, content with himself for the first time in many years.

When traveling, one could expect to see wonders and sights never seen before as part of the deal, but to have an undiscovered island chain rise from the very bottom of the ocean before his very eyes? Nope, that's once in a lifetime.

He’d never visited these islands before, let alone knew where they were located, so it was upon chance he was even here now. Running across the ocean was the only plan today when a school of whirlpools manifested under his very paws, and what a shock! The King of the Vaporeon, was sucked into its foamy grasp for nearly ten minutes before the Pokémon managed to fight his way up and out of its hold; he dashed away just the very ocean parted to reveal several masses of rock and sand rising from the depths below.

As soon as the whirlpools appeared the islands were already rising, and the self proclaimed King of the Vaporeons marveled at the sight, watching the whole process from a safe distance away on the water's surface. If there were any trainers out today, he hadn't seen them during his run, but that didn't stop him from checking just to make sure. A quick glance around every few minutes eased his worries and allowed him to watch this event mostly in peace.

For four, distinct islands of impressive size fully emerging from the ocean took no time at all, and it was this speed that intrigued the large water Pokémon the most.

"What do we have here?" He asked himself as he cautiously trotted up the closest island.

You either were crazy or an adventurer to approach a mysterious set of islands randomly bursting from the bosom of the ocean, and he certainly was one of the two. Which one remained undecided…

The deeper he explored the cave system the dimmer the lighting became, but the drier it became in contrast. He began noticing this change when the pads on his paws began to split, and crack from the rough stone beneath him; he ignored this mild discomfort for the most part since he discovered his new healing speed, and this amazing feat allowed the Pokémon to take even greater chances than before. A broken leg before would have meant the end for a Pokémon unless they could make it to a human settlement, or had the support of a family pack to watch over until the limb healed.

His exploration led him through many paths that led nowhere, forcing the Pokémon to turn around and try another path over, and over until he found a drop off that took him further down. The large Pokémon did this another three times until he could smell than hear the sound of rushing water. This familiar, but strange noise graced his ears with a tune he almost loved more than anything else, but it's sounded so foreign- fake.

Water is an element he knew intimately to its very core, but this source was all wrong; for any other creature this water sounded and might even look like normal water, but this freak of a Pokémon knew the difference. It didn't belong to him, but to a Pokémon far stronger than he could ever become.

His steps quicken with a new found haste.

The discomfort of his injured paws were forgotten as he hurried toward the rushing water to confirm his suspicion who the Pokémon might be. He never met the Pokémon before, but knew of it from the stories his benefactor would share on a very rare occasion atop the tower under the setting sun before his departure. Until now, he always assumed the stories were fake, but who could explain the sudden appearance of four islands in the middle of the ocean, or the unfamiliar power radiating in the air the closer he got to the water?

"By Arceus, I'm going to find out."

All of the water in the world belonged to every living creature, yet the private ocean of whirlpools he was looking down at had a master, and one of great power.

"A private ocean all the way down here?" he marveled, feeling a bit jealous he would never have his own equivalent.

Standing at the edge of a cliff, the Pokémon marveled at how big this ocean..no.. this lake really was.

Never had he traveled this far below the water's surface, and while thrilling to explore a mystery such as this, the lingering thought of what could lurk further below nipped at the heels of his mind. The whole caving exploring venture left him forgetful of his surroundings to the fault that even when he heard the rushing of running water, the large Pokémon didn't even register he was under water already- it did now.

Standing at the edge of this cliff where the concoction of emotions beret him like a passing storm, did the pressure to push forward become greater. There was no other way to prove his courage, and certainly no Pokémon would question his story if he embellished it here or there would they? How would they even know he turned tail after reaching this far? That's further than any Pokémon save the ones of the ocean could claim, and none would ever know but himself.

And that was the problem. He would forever know, and live with the knowledge the fear proved too great for the King of the Vaporeons, and his pride couldn't allow that stain to blemish his legacy. Peering further over the edge revealed a series of small ledges he might be able to jump onto if he was careful, but that looked unlikely the more he stared at the narrow ledges.

He backed up while shaking his head to rid himself of that urge to jump down using the little ledges as stepping stones. There was no way down now that didn't involve jumping down either into the unknown water below, or risk tripping off the ledge onto the lone patch of rock below. So far, the risks he had taken were greater than he’d taken before, and suffering some painful injuries as a result. That all healed eventually, but even he wasn't about to risk potentially falling to his death.

The confused Pokémon moved back to the edge, and peered over it as before, noting how the whirlpools were starting to merge together to form fewer, but larger whirlpools of greater force. His fear was still nipping at the back of his mind, but now the urge to move was consuming him the longer he stood there unable to decide.

'Run or jump?'

He began backing up to put some distance between himself, and the worrying sight below while trying to calm his beating heart.

'Run or jump?'

The fear was now fighting for control.

'Run or jump?'

He stopped his retreat once he reached the exit to this large space, and with fervor began flexing his paws, tapping each claw against the course floor. The twin ribbon tails danced excitedly to his left and right in preparation for what their master was about to do, and after a simple countdown declared which group he belonged to- crazy or adventure?

"BOTH!" The self proclaimed King of the Vaporeons howled as he bolted toward the edge, his empowered limbs rocketing him there in seconds.

The fear he had felt was left behind as he threw himself off the edge toward the raging lake of whirlpools below. As the Pokémon plummeted to the waters below, he began drawing power from the air around for a powerful attack, one he had been wanting to try since learning it months ago. Just as the power build up reached its peak, the King of the Vaporeons released it at the water below; the force backing this attack was stronger than expected, but did its job as a torrent of water half the size of the burnt tower punched through one of the whirlpools.

The pillar of water raced into the sky with enough power to punch holes into the cave if it wanted to, but as it neared its summoner began to slow down enough to allow the Pokémon to land right on the surface. Spurred on by this feat, he proceeded to do this four more times using less power to achieve the desired height until jumping off the final pillar and onto the patch of rock.

"I AM THE KING!" he roared in triumph at the lake of whirlpools, noting how the whirlpools affected by his hydro pump were already taking shape again. He ignored that in favor of bolstering some more.

He kept this up for another few minutes until only his echoes were gracious enough to answer him back. With the rush of his victory firmly behind, he turned around to greet the single cave entrance before moving forward to see what lay ahead.

No sooner had he entered the new cave did the smell of water hit his nostrils, and this wasn't the same water from earlier either. For one so closely tied to this sacred element of the world, he knew things about the precious liquid others simply couldn't, and that was each source had a distinct smell.

The whirlpools were heavier on the salt, noting their creation from the ocean while the source up ahead smelled like spring water from the mountains. How could there be fresh water in an underwater cave in the middle of the ocean? He couldn't give an answer how, but if his assumption is correct then the owner of these caves is behind the discrepancy.

He will find out soon enough.

Unlike the descent below, he wasn't met with a winding maze of tunnels and dead ends that made the trek below time consuming, but a straight path that went on indefinitely. He was beginning to miss the maze above if only because of the mystery it offered. There was only much mystery when compared to the current excitement of walking straight, and wondering if the end was up ahead.

The moisture in the air had increased the further he explored these mysterious islands, but the quality and purity of the water surprised him enough he thought about challenging the owner for control of this hidden sanctuary. He shot that down very quickly the moment he realized who the owner might be, but having never seen the Legendary Pokémon before decided it would be a wasted opportunity not to meet him. There wasn’t much he could do than to scheme his schemes of grander, and conjure up imaginary praise when the rush of cooling air tickled his senses.

The source of the fresh water was finally found, and the King of the Vaporeons was completely speechless.

Before him was a final chamber, and likely the end to this maze of mysterious set of islands, but what a worthy end to experience in the flesh. He found himself standing on an identical ledge that gave way to a large pool of fresh water,, the water Pokémon found his ability to stand firm as he gazed in awe at what end of the pool.

Directly in front of him was a frozen waterfall spanning from end to end, being flanked by two smaller stone pillars to create a sense of grander to a common creature, but he was no common creature. The otherworldly throne had left him feeling woefully unprepared to be in the presence of greatness, yet looking up at the ceiling and evening daring to lean over to peer into the pool revealed nothing, but the cleanest water he had ever seen. His twin tails danced like the ribbons in the wind at having found what might be the purest water in all of Johto, but the thrill was short lived when he looked up toward the two stone pillars.

Two massive brass bells were tied to them using a ship's rope to keep the two instruments anchored next to the frozen waterfall, and it wasn't the choice in decoration that offended the self proclaimed King of the Vaporeons to any extent, but the fact he recognized them. Each tower back home had a bell like the ones here that would be rang three times every so often, drawing out the monks out of the tower to fully witness the ritual before resuming their duties.

The strange act always left the Pokémon confused, but never condescendingly since his siblings and himself had their own rituals passed down from mother and father.

Rituals aside, the actual process to perform the summoning required a dance accompanied with human music, but outside of that he knew nothing else. The only step he did know by heart was at the very end of the entire process, there would be a person on each side of the bell ready to strike it the moment the dance stopped. Vaporeon, having not cared for this never bothered paying attention, but had always wondered if everything was necessary when the bell was likely the sound Ho-Oh heard anyway; that begged the question his brothers never wanted to answer or even consider asking why even perform the dance instead of hitting the bell?

A wicked thought brighten Vaporeon’s mood, one born from lingering animosity, and simple pettiness.

He began marking two spots on ground that aligned with each bell where he positioned a single stone upon the mark. Once satisfied, the pokemon retreated just enough to give himself a running start that quickly morphed into a sprint, ending right before he trampled the stone. A swift turn on his front legs, Vaporeon spun around to aim his rear legs before delivering a powerful kick that sent the stone flying toward the immobile bell. His aim was true, and began howling once he heard the dull chime. Inspired by the success and surprised by how fun it was repeated the process with the other bell to be rewarded with another identical chime.

Lost in the euphoria of success, the pokemon began running in circles that grew to encompass the freshwater pool in his victory lap. Leaps and bounds. Howls, and cries. The mutant Vaporeon celebrated his petty achievement without the judgment of others looking down upon him, nor the scalding remarks of some legacy many would happily remove him from.

Freedom from the tower, and any sense of its responsibilities guided his actions up until it all came crashing down. Unbeknownst to the dancing pokemon, the ocean outside the roaming islands groaned at its guardian’s awakening.

"You're one of his children, are you not?" The voice called out, echoing throughout the chamber, and down the hall.

He turned around in near panic trying to find the source of the voice, yet as his eyes scanned the inner sanctum, the large Vaporeon found nothing. Cautiously taking a step forward, he scanned every part of the opening looking for any signs of the intruder when it spoke again.

"His work covers you like feathers on a wing, and yet..." The voice died off revealing the loneliness of the cave as droplets of water ran from their kin over the stalagmites above to the pond below "... act more as a lost pup, looking for a new master."

"WHAT!?" Vaporeon lost his nerve as the hair along his back bristled in rage at the remark, while the ribbon-like tails whipped at the surface of the pond.

But to his displeasure the voice began to laugh, not threatened by the display of power.

“So quick to lash out, you’ll do well to control yourself lest you anger something... STRONGER!!!” The voice roared with the might of a hurricane.

Vaporeon took three steps back trying to fight the sudden gust of wind as the very cave shook. He was losing ground, having to crouch closer to the slippery rock else he would be swept away, but by Arceus’s mercy it stopped before that could happen. He remained prone in case another outburst suddenly came his way, and when that didn't happen did Vaporeon resume standing. The anger he had felt was no more, but the animosity of being reminded of his place made the rest of the conversation all the more frustrating to the water pokemon.

The king in that moment literally had to bite his tongue as the frozen ice began glowing with a power he faintly recognized as his benefactor...

The ice fall began melting as the light became brighter until it became unbearable to even look at, forcing the freak pokemon to avert his eyes. To have, and so easily wield such power made him crave it with a hunger he had only felt once before, but knew such power would forever remain a dream. Engrossed with desire for such power, Vaporeon failed to notice the side effect of the strange light.

The water was melting at an alarming rate. The old waterfall was being freed, and it seized the opportunity to run wild as it had before, and when it came, it came in an explosion of ice and water.

"Who are you?" The King of the Vaporeons asked as he took another couple of steps back as the reality of the pokemon he was about to meet kicked in. Suspicions were one thing, but facing reality was another.

From behind the waterfall he could make out the massive shadow moving closer toward him, the cerulean voids he guessed were eyes kept him from moving anymore- Mean Look!

Unable to move, Vaporeon could only watch with trepidation as the eyes drew nearer until his heart nearly gave out when something penetrated the waterfall and grasped each bell laden rock. The flipper-like appendages were careful not to disturb the bells as their grip tightened around the rocks; the immobile king didn't understand this action until those cerulean eyes finally emerged from behind the running water.

As the head crest became more visible, Vaporeon couldn't help but stare in awe as the legendary pokemon revealed himself. Being bred to guard the tower that HO-OH occupied had left him familiar with the elusive legendary, and while impressive on its own merit meant nothing when standing face to face with another legendary of similar stature and power.

It was only when its mighty neck was exposed when it released the king from Mean Look, and spoke.

"Little one born of my brother's fire, why do you come here?"

What could a pokemon like him say to a god?

Vaporeon had been called arrogant, and selfish before his exploration of the world, but never took the words of jealous pokemon seriously. Boastful most certainly, but what pokemon wouldn't be when they had the power to back it up? Yet, knowing your capabilities, and actually using them are two very different matters when put in front of a divinity that would wash away your existence for daring to claim superiority over them.

The self proclaimed King of the Vaporeons was no fool, and held himself back to prevent a shortening of his life, but it didn't mean the pokemon would shy away from Lugia's gaze deciding to match it with his own, hoping the legendary didn't take offense.

"I seek something..." he started, gauging the reaction before continuing "... something I hold dear to my very aura, a purity missing."

Lugia pondered the words of his brother's child as he hummed a tune with many high and low pitches, its sound reminding the large Vaporeon of water running down moon stones in mountains between Johto and Kanto. With a simple flex of the appendages at the end of his wings, Lugia nodded he was finished, and ready to answer.

"You seek a fool's errand..." the legendary pokemon started, but then decided to lower his neck to better see the water pokemon. "...but you might find something more important."

"More important?" Vaporeon took a step back just as Lugia withdrew his neck back, head tilting with curiosity at the outburst.

Rarely had a pokemon willingly entered his dominion, and fewer than that ever voiced their displeasure directly at him before making this situation more difficult. He would remain calm for now, but will not hide his frustration of this sacrilege. Truely Lugia was generous.

"Perfection only leads to ruin. Any creature, but our Allfather, Arceus, who shaped the very world you stand on may claim purity. What you seek is foolishness.”

“What I seek is purity in a world. A meaning to the lack of purpose in our lives, and key to the chains that bind us to itself."

The 'King' of the Vaporeon professed to the legendary pokemon with an unflinching pride in his words enough to make the pokemon inflate his ego. In his mind, the speech would be the turning point he so desperately sought in his life, and hoped would finally gain him the recognition from his fellow pokemon. This expectation came crashing down when Lugia's deep voice began creating a tempo strong enough to reverberate over the water's surface, and onto the very ground itself, like a drop of water constantly hitting the still water blew to cause the ripple effects.

It was after he collected himself did the large Vaporeon realize the legendary pokemon was laughing..at him!

"Your words hold no greater meaning than an empty promise. Listen well, for I will only say this once, abandon your foolish quest, and return to your kin. Only among them will you find what you truly seek."

It took what little control the King of the Vaporeons had not to shout or attack the legendary pokemon the moment he finished, but it didn't mean he was expressionless. No, far from it. He could feel his claws digging into the rock floor he stood on as his new ribbon appendages were whipped into a frenzy behind him; he looked the legendary pokemon in its large eyes and nearly snarled when a small part of reality came back to him, instead he huffed in frustration and turned around.

The large Vaporeon didn't even turn to see Lugia's reaction (if he had one) and walked away wanting to be done with this place and return to his hunt for a pure, and untainted water source.

“What did a shut-in legendary pokemon know about the world anyway?” Vaporeon thought to himself as his anger steadily grew, and with it a need to vent it.

With nothing left to ask, he bolted down the hall with little regard how it made him look. His only concern now was to leave this vile place and resume his quest for an untainted water source free of the world’s influence. No matter how unrealistic this goal was, the water pokemon clung to it out of a desperation for purpose in life.

For the legendary pokemon Lugia, he huffed. Annoyed by the encounter, but did little to correct the pup then to chastise his behavior. For him, it matters not. He tried, and won’t force the correction. Instead, the legendary slowly sank back behind the waterfall to ponder his brother’s choices. There were better uses of his power, yet Ho-Oh chose to waste it on that mutt.

“Your heart is too soft, brother.” Lugia thought as the waterfall once more began to freeze.

The Search Part 2

Author's Note

I felt it warranted to say the reason certain pokemon are capitalized is a reflection of Suicune's mindset. He still considers himself an evolved Vaporeon, and why he refers to himself as the King of the Vaporeons because of this perceived evolution.

This thought process and respect goes to other pokemon as well. Meaning any name with a lowercase is his belief where they stand when compared to himself.

Example: Eevee is the base form of Vaporeon, and as the King of the Vaporeons he'll view them as subservient to his status and power. His brothers Jolteon and Flareon received the same evolution as himself making them his equals.

The Search Part 2

“Time was slower than a slowpoke.” Vaporeon once told his brothers while waiting for their evening meal when he lived almost exclusively at the tower.

Yet everywhere he traveled now whispered another tale, and it said he’s slowpoke.

Former settlements he’d seen in his youth either lay devoid of human life save the plants desperate attempts to reclaim the stolen land, or had grown so massive it made the two towers back home look unassuming. Vaporeon had chanced another look of his former home what felt like months ago(not understanding years had gone by) only to discover the monks of the two towers and their eevee guardians missing - the old training grounds and living quarters abandoned.

Risking his life further, he foolishly asked a passing stantler herd about the expanding town only to discover they knew nothing of it save what he’d asked of them. His second attempt yielded better results when he came upon one of an eevee wandering along the forest’s edge. A skittish pup in nature, but warmed up after learning of his King’s return; the young pup lacked manners, but served his purpose all the same.

“No true eevee lives here, my king. Only the traitors do.” The little pup said with more venom than a seviper.

The large Vaporeon found the statement more troublingly than comforting, but pressed the eevee for more information. This need grew long until the sun began setting, yet he learned so much from the young pup, who he eventually escorted to their home after offering them a blessing of strength.

There was no more order.

The monks and their eevee guards had long disappeared from this region leaving only a few stubborn pups trying to befriend the very humans that drove them away. If believed, the pack had eventually split to become what the pup had called traitors, and his group simply known as The Wilds. Vaporeon could only guess, but the order had been the only eevees he’d ever seen in this region because of their adaptability of evolutions, yet with its scattering, and the lack of sightings, the self proclaimed King predicted his entire species would eventually die off…

“Another reason to leave.” Vaporeon concluded as he dashed off into the forest once again, in search of a new purpose rather than an endless search for some Arceus blessed water.

Unfulfillment antagonized the poor pokemon for a good while after that, leading him down a more destructive path. Partly inspired by the stray eevee’s words, the self proclaimed king began stalking human settlements and their pokemon slaves simply to scuff at their servitude before the act gradually became more violent. The simple tricks, or taunts of his youth took on a more sinister nature the Vaporeon started to realish; his taunts became more personal toward the pokemon evolving to promises of violence to them and the humans they served, while the tricks grew to become destructive in nature.

The king didn’t care as his name became more infamous over time as he enjoyed the thrill of his actions. It became the air needed to sustain his new life, and almost became his pseudo purpose until it all came to a violent end. He grew too careless and provoked an over eager houndour with too much to prove, and so little to give…

That much he would admit to himself. One of its companion pokemon stumbled across him with its friend limp in his jaws.

The scent of death had alerted the other pokemon, and their humans before Vaporeon could fully process the life he’d taken, yet his inaction was swiftly taken advantage of when an ember from the Quilava struck his side just above the ribs. The shock hurt more than the attack, yet unwilling to take another life so soon, the unsure King of the Vaporeons did the only thing he could comprehend in that moment, and ran away.

It was the only choice he told himself, yet the world knew of his transgression, and wanted repayment immediately.

Everywhere he went the humans and their pokemon were there waiting for him. Searching the forests, waiting along traveled paths, using their flying types to scout, and at one point set a trap for him. The latest fight had taken more out of the water pokemon than he cared to admit, and he certainly didn't want to acknowledge how close of a fight it had been.

He’d been distracted.

Ambushed by a group of humans and their traitor pokemon. Their markings and clothes all looked the same to the large Vaporeon, but it was very likely they were from one of the villages he visited some time before looking for revenge. He was angry more at himself than the ambush, and strangely respected them more for it.

Their ferocity both surprised, and excited him, having to fight with such ferocity as he feared for his life as he realized why they had chosen this place for the attack. There were no lakes, rivers, or even a puddle for him to escape from. Like a common furret trying to avoid detection, the self proclaimed King of the Vaporeons found himself hiding in some hole in the ground trying to licking his wounds. By the hairs of his ribbon-like tail he managed to avoid the humans and pokemon, but dared not move until he was completely sure…

The sun was finally setting when the injured pokemon crawled out of his hiding spot, eager to retreat as the stalking shadows of the coming night skittered through the forest underbrush. Between the blades of grass, and toward the sky toward the thinning clouds the shadows grew prominent in mass before welcoming the flickering stars for the night; Vaporeon did nothing as he held his breath trying to hear the people, and their pokemon, yet the flickering lights above called to him with an soothing melody loud enough for him along to hear it.

The self proclaimed King of the Vaporeons found his mind slipping quietly into the welcoming night the longer he stared into the abyss like sky above, and it terrified him. More so than his crazy uncle Lugia’s statement, or the many moments he found himself encountering pokemon he could never imagine or dare to see ever again; the desire for battle had been beaten out of him, and Vaporeon felt an uncontrollable urge to whisper to the stars like godly promise to change his ways.

“Star light, Star bright,
First star I see…”

The words were all he could hear in this fleeting moment leaving the pokemon little choice to do anything, but listen as the strange collection of words he was being fed escaped into the night sky. Even as Vaporeon slipped into and out of the darkness of sleep, he kept repeating that strange saying over and over trying to make some intent known to the wider world.

Even as his consciousness continued to wane, the strange phrase kept falling off his tongue with an increased desperation until the words only bore their desired effect.

The abyss known as the night sky flared brightly in a dazzling display that would be told across the next few generations of humans, and burned into the memories of every pokemon in the region till the end of their bloodlines; every star flashed at once before going dim for a single count of two prior to giving away to the intensity of the words spoken, the night transitioned into the day in that moment, and then stopped.

The night returned without its sparkling diamonds, or even the pale moon to set the mood, and Vaporeon welcomed its embrace. HIs wounds were washed away during the display leaving only the dried blood, and his own exhaustion the only indication of any altercation. No human would find him that night, especially the hunters with their pokemon caught out in the forest when this terrifying display befell them. They didn’t even need their eyes to know this vaporeon wasn’t normal, and in their world that almost certainly meant trouble would forever follow close behind.

To the self proclaimed King of the Vaporeons?

The tribal allegiances of the pokemon race escaped his thoughts or concerns as he slept in his literal hole in the ground, free of the pain. For this one night, the freak pokemon slumbered away without a care in the world.

Vaporeon spent the next several days limping back to the cave he’d been calling home after being forcibly relocated by the humans. He passed the time reflecting on his life till now, and the words of the deranged eevee.

He himself knew little of their family’s reasoning for allowing the humans at the tower to use them, that was more his brothers Flareon and Jolteon’s thing. Their betrayal only made it more hurtful, having the surviving humans living in the tower do anything to prevent the town and their pokemon from attacking them that night, and Vaporeon rightly despised them.

His brothers did not, and it drove him crazy. Exposure to the outside world had always faded his perceptions of humans and pokemon, and to finally have proof meant little if his own brothers refused to accept their lot in life.

How could they not see the curse they’d been given? The power meant as a reward was the chain that held them back as the world around them moved on without them? Vast swaths of forests one day, and the next a human habitat in the throes of life.

This creeping revolt finally came to when he discovered on his favorite lakes had been diverted, and drained of its precious water to further this unnecessary expansion into the wilds; these very woods he slinked from tree to tree were once part of a greater forest he used to explore as a young eevee, but now as a King of Vaporeons, he felt even less connected to this once majestic place. None of the smells were the same: looks, trees, and the very tastes.

Many long days have graced his life, yet as the weight of it slows him down, the lonelier he becomes.

Flareon and Jolteon themselves scattered to the winds leaving this single cave where the stone separates itself from the trees, their only recluse from the changing world, and even that seems to be fading. None of the pokemon encountered could recall seeing his brothers, or a pokemon that so much looked like him in generations. But they’ve seen humans. None could recall a time without seeing a human.

“If broth..ther Jolt was there… we might ha…have showed them…” Vaporeon coughed as the exertion to carry his violated body consumed his already depleted energy. Occasionally his rear left leg would give, forcing him to drag the limb some distance before he could regain control long enough to pick it u. Sometimes his eyes would lead him astray, and off course until an urge compelled him to stop only to realize his mistake.

All of those distractions had taken nearly three days of his time, but Vaporeon didn’t so much as growl. He vowed to never tell a soul what happened in the hole he’d laid dying in, if it meant burying the memory of Giratina’s voidless eyes staring back with anticipation. Though he somehow survived that night, he would never shake the feeling some creature was lurking in between the space where the shadows touch the very ground.

Since then, the limping pokemon couldn’t help but flinch with each rustle of the wind against the branches, the taunting pokemon, or his least favorite, the Misdreavus lapping the very air around him.

“You do taste ever so wonderful, have I ever told you that?”

“Many..tim..mes.” Vaporeon grumbled, having little energy to barely limp along, let alone use one of his split tails to whip the ghost away. The only true benefit of having the annoyance following him would be the constant draining of his very fear, and that was it.

There’s no honor among pokemon save for family, especially none for pokemon once raised by humans. He had nothing.

Vaporeon could see the little spirit on the very edges of his vision, appearing as the vanishing shadow the pokemon would see in that moment before losing it. It’s how they all worked, emissaries of Giratina. Toying with its meal before moving in to whisper the final words a pokemon on the cusps of fainting would ever hear, and that was if it was feeling benevolent.

Sometimes, like this one, they would go a bit further by laying a curse in the hopes of prolonging the fear of the target, hoping the urgency to be rid of the curse would spur its emotions into running wild. Unlucky for this one, Vaporeon is the King of the Vaporeons and wouldn’t succumb to his instincts that easily.

“Wha..ere.. are we?”

“Where? Home! All my life I’ve lived here, and you’re the strangest Vaporeon I’ve seen, and I’ve tasted some strange fears.”

“I’m scary?” the large Vaporeon felt the edges of his lips curling up at the thought.

‘ME! THE POWERFUL KING!’ he thought at that moment, before having all of it come crashing down.

The Misdreavus hummed a haughty tune that jumped from tree to tree not unlike the rare Aipom of the southern forests.

“Scary? No. Strage? Of course. You are nothing more than a curious meal that’s close to getting cold.” The humming resumed, but this sounded further ahead of him. “Beware little king, for Giratina will find you…”

Vaporeon didn’t see the Misdreavus after that, yet his fur remained bristled for the rest of his excursion through the forest looking for that lonesome cave.

‘Home.’

The journey to this literal hole in the mountain wasn’t anything Vaporeon would boast about, and even then calling it home was a stretch given how little time any of them spend living here. His brothers weren’t here, but their stale scent lingered strongly amongst the dried leaves used for bedding. It’d been too long since he dropped by as the faint ocean scent of water and salt were missing, and the only indication he even been here was the old claw marks gracing the wall toward the back.

Before the tower burned down, and he’d been passed up as a Tower Guardian, his brothers would actively train with the monks and their parents. Vaporeon’s desire to roam the earth untethered from any duty or choice imposed upon them save his own was only a questioning thought by then, and nothing else. Or so he thought. These brazzen thoughts were seen as disrespectful for the family tradition that earned him a few choice words. Over time that evolved into a deep rooted destain as the black mareep of the family began drifting further away from his duties before disregarding them completely.

Jolteon and Flareon were more forgiving, yet they couldn’t avoid the call of the selfless duty as they called it, and chose to remain.

There were only so many times one could attempt to challenge a river before they’re swept away by the current, and for vaporeon that boundary had been crossed the moment Flareon chose the humans over his fellow pokemon!

After everything that they went through growing up, and endured after receiving Ho-Oh’s blessing, Flareon still chose them. At the very least Jolteon had enough sense to question his their eldest’s blind loyalty, but that teamwork broke down nearly the same day when his lightning spewing younger brother deserted him right after the battle.

The Terror Trio became the Lone Fright.

Lugia’s words had struck a nerve with the water pokemon, and that festered long enough to riddle him with doubt. The possibility he’d been too brash with his attacks were finally gnawing upon his very soul, leaving the supposed king with lingering doubts. Yet with no brothers to keep him in check, Vaporeon used his new powers to great effect with every battle, or by raiding human settlements with some twisted hope it would bare some great purpose in life. Nothing was ever revealed of course and this spiral had led him here to the cave they’d claimed before each one picked a direction and never looked back.

Vaporeon was lost as to what to do. Everything he’d ever known or loved was gone or dying, and it felt as if the world itself was trying to force him into some ultimatum.

The once thick forest was thinning on all sides the closer he’d neared the base of the mountain, yet only now was he aware of the cold silence that surrounded him. For the pokemon of his near secluded region, they’d welcomed three brothers like kings; the praise and admiration inspired not only them, but himself as they sought his wisdom when it came to the outside world, or the transgressions of humans.

Flareon and Jolteon were less enthusiastic.

Flareon, the eldest, had grown less social the older they got, especially after evolving leaving Vaporeon and Jolteon alone during their occasional adventures into the surrounding woods when training permitted the down time, but eventually he managed to sway Jolteon to abandon his ‘immature’ outings. Certain webs of speculation were being strung all over his mind, and for the already hateful, and injured water pokemon it ran wild.

“They’re trying to send me to Giratina.” The injured pokemon concluded with this great fear clouding his limited judgment.

Suddenly everything was conspiring to get him. The trees had been cut to expose him to the very sky full of traitors ready to turn him in. The forest pokemon were silent to allow his labored breathing, and unsteady steps to echo across the valley, making it easier to hear of his approach.

Everything was against him. Every Pokemon was against him.

The speculation grew too powerful, and carried by the fear of an early meeting with the dark one Vaporeon turned tail. Unwilling to chance an encounter with his brothers, and in his current condition the injured pokemon left this hole in the wall, weaving himself through the dense forest with intent to abandon this forest forever. It became clear why the local pokemon preferred to fly or traverse his path if given the chance, for the isolated nature of this forest finally hit him with each branch or unwavering clump of bushes hindering his progress. Desperation prevented him from using any moves unless he wanted his brothers to set the whole forest on fire.

Instead, he practically threw himself into the vegetation trying to brute force his way in between at the expense of opening some more wounds.

The sun above had dove beyond the other side of the mountain when he finally reached a lone lake he’d learned about, thanks to some friendly Tangela pointing the way. Collapsing along the bank, Vaporeon laid panting as he hungrily began absorbing the water from his throbbing paws; under the last rays of the dying sun, the injured pokemon found measured solace knowing he finally had nothing binding him to this land anymore.

He was finally free to leave for good.

Purpose provided Vaporeon the motivation to continue waking up, but it was anger that drove him to travel further south, beyond the Mountains toward the sea in his effort to escape his homeland.

“Who needs family, or this region! Arceus curse them all for their sins, pokemon and humans alike!” His vocal declaration scared off what few pokemon had been following him. Their morbid curiosity hoping to learn of this proclaimed Vaporeon’s secrets to his evolution were forgotten.

‘Bottom feeders.’ He grumbled to himself as he dragged his right rear leg through the thick brush of trees, maneuvering through the mass to the best of his abilities.

Providing a brief thanks to father Ho-Oh for the lack of human settlements near this forest, the injured water pokemon made little effort to conceal his presence. The pokemon here were sparse, and it created that lingering impression of isolation the large vaporeon was growing to notice with each passing day.

He belonged nowhere.

It was why he’d sought out this mysterious forest for within its unexplored center was a lake unlike anything the large Vaporeon had ever seen, nor experienced elsewhere. For it not only shone with a purity that reminded the pokemon of that cave he’d discovered in some mountain to the far east, but even taking a simple drink left him feeling refreshed, and almost happy. Enamored would be a word if the pokemon knew what it meant, but what Vaporeon did know was that this lake contained a certain power unknown to any pokemon or human.

‘Save myself…” he said aloud, almost happy to be returning to this secret place of his. One he was sure his brothers knew nothing about let alone could find even if they burnt every forest down trying to find it.

Reiterating his point, the Vaporeon’s eyes scanned the ground and hanging branches above him looking for any signs of habitation, and his eyes saw nothing but the numerous undisturbed limbs of depressed trees. The usual array of pokemon living in a forest were practically nonexistent here, and the very few that did call this forest home appeared more than skittish to the point of nearly discarding the very world around them for the safety of their sheltered nests.

It was this reasoning the injured pokemon sought this strange pool of water in the mysterious forest- hope.

Hope he’ll find a new path and reasoning to drag himself over the world instead of some fools quest with no end in sight. Hope it would provide the answer to a question he hadn’t asked, nor understood needed answering. Hope for the sake of having something to cling to…

Instantly all the tension in his body vanished as the feeling of isolation vanished from his entire being, to be replaced with a serenity never before felt. The air was thick with it. The moment his eyes could gleam the mysterious lake through the thinning trees was the moment Vaporeon knew he’d found it.

The lake in true display of its mysterious power was alight with a strange blue haze that shined like the stars in the night, with the exception this light would fade in and out without warning.

It was this very reason Vaporeon took his first steps toward the lake until his front paws were resting firmly on the edge where the land and water met. The strange ribbon-like appendages began to move erratically leaving him mostly unable to control their movements, yet it was the pressure building in his head that scared him the most. The large crest he’d taken as his right to be called a king pulsed in sync with the lake until both grew with an intensity that forced the water pokemon to shut his eyes. The lake shone so bright Vaporeon could see it trying to slip in between his eyelids for an unknown span of time before it vanished, plunging him into darkness.

Bravery betook him. Encouraged by this display of power, Vaporeon opened his and peering into the lake revealed no reflection staring back. The King recoiled when he felt a pull, as if he was being dragged by an unseen rope, like the ones humans would use to tie pokemon with, and while the idea enraged him he found himself unable to move so freely as before. Instead, he was having to fight the call of the lake itself as it pulled him into this blackened pit.

“What is thi..this place!”

With only sheer reluctance keeping him back he fought its influence for a moment, but the call was winning.

Soon the shockingly cold water continued to claim more of his body as he reluctantly walked further into its depths, the mystical light from before returned, and was now consistently pulsing that strange light as he slowly shifted to swimming once his paws couldn’t touch the ground anymore. It wasn’t until he’d reached the very center did the large crest on his head shine the brightest when an imposing thought pushed its way to the forefront of his very mind with a single demanding requirement: DIVE.

For a water pokemon the act isn’t uncommon, and often a fundamental foundation of their life- this wasn’t.

The King of the Vaporeons struggled to combat this thought with a greater sense of respect for the world around him now that the very world seemed intent on ridding itself of his presence for good. Still, his body began obeying the command. With little time to capture a full breath, the Vaporeon submerged into the lake that shouldn’t be so deep.

The further he sank into the void, the more the darkness fought him, and soon the great light emitting from his large crest faltered, but never faded. Before the fear could root itself for good, the darkness retracted its efforts, transitioning from the crushing void of isolation to the in between where surface and depth met. From here the large Vaporeon experienced one of the strangest moments of his life when his rear broke though the surface, meaning he’d somehow gotten turned upside down during the strange calling…

“It’s gone…”

Spurred by this realization, he quickly righted himself so he could indulge in that much needed breath of air, but quickly knew something was wrong with that first gulp. Nowhere in his travels had he tasted anything quite like this. Yet before he could further comprehend the differences in the air, the rest of his senses caught up with him: the water drops echoing all around told him he was in a cave. Quickly moving his head to check the rest of the cavern only reinforced he’d somehow stumbled into a network under the lake similar to the ones Lugia called his home, only smaller. Very small in fact, almost suffocating for a free roaming spirit like himself.

With no option than to tread water in this little pool, the King of the Vaporeons made his way to the ledge where he quickly pulled himself out of the water, gave himself a single shake to rid his coat of the water, and took his first steps up the literal stairway carved in stone to see where in the forest it would lead him. To his surprise it took no more than a few trots up the winding path to deposit him into the side of a cliff nestled near the edge of a forest vastly different from one he’d been in.

He sampled the air, smelling the strange assortment of scents he’d never encountered before with an unusual glee; everything in his immediate vision was different, the grass more pronounced with color, the air seemed more pure, the sun above more inviting, and above all no pokemon or humans could be heard or smelt.

He caught the scents of creatures, but pokemon carried a distinct scent with them that made it nearly impossible for a pokemon to disappear if they wanted to, so to find a strange forest without no pokemon?

“Incredible.”

Hesitation was a feeling Vaporeon was acquainted with, and this time he did it with a genuine smile gracing his muzzle as he dropped his paw onto the strange grass, marveling how it didn’t crunch under the pressure, but parted to allow his paw to touch the bare ground between. He tried this again with a second paw to actually observe the grass sensing his paw for them to catch an invisible wind long enough to be pulled out of his path.

“Remarkable. Father Ho-oH thank you.” Encouraged by this, the large Vaporeon took his first steps with unrestrained glee, even adding a few skips and hops into his routine for good measure.

That calming feeling came back in force, and nearly forced the pokemon to sit. He couldn’t explain it, but he welcomed the feeling of reliving his youth a little longer; laughter filled his emptying mind as the immature voices of his brothers beckoned him to join, and in that moment Vaporeon felt like an eevee again playing in the forest with his two brothers.

The Search Part 3

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.