It should come as no surprise to absolutely anyone that Captain Skyler Dross would choose to spend her evenings visiting the local seaside establishments. Following the call of the 'gulls to shore, Skyler would often shower and immediately head back out. 

This time, however, she stands utterly still on the docks. The breeze blows her wild curls this way and that as she looks down at the device that - miraculously - still held on to a minuscule amount of power. Even as she reads, a notification pops up.

'Low battery. Device powering off in 5...4...3...2...'

It takes her some time to recall the shed's existence, and even more to try and pinpoint its exact location. She hadn't been exactly sober at the time, and flashes of memory show her standing atop it, chest puffed out as she calls herself the greatest pirate in all the land. Oscar had been, of course, her right-hand man. 

Utterly unhelpful. But it pulls a chuckle from her. 

Oscar's cryptic message starts making sense when a low buzz fills her ears. Looking past the foliage to the rickety construction (which looked like it would fall apart any moment now), Skyler finally understands the reason for the panic.

Bees. Bees everywhere.

Combee. Vespiquen. Beedrill. Surrounding the structure with a thirst for blood in their mean, little bug eyes. 

Unfortunately, Skyler hadn't brought many pokemon with her. Atop her shoulder was her trusted Dorado. And on her belt, only two pokeballs rested.

Well, she thinks, time to improvise. 

"HEY, SUCKERS! HERE!" Her voice calls out as she steps out of her hiding spot and into full view of the murderous wasps. "COME GET A PIECE OF THIS!" As if to add insult to injury, she makes sure to pat her own backside.

To say that Skyler had a plan would be extremely generous. So when the bees focus their murderous intentions on her, she leaves all thoughts behind and acts on pure adrenaline-fueled instinct. 

She gives them the finger.

oscar clayton

☉

As it turns out, earning the ire of a hive's worth of bees isn't the smartest, or safest, thing to do. When Beedrill and Vespiquen alike focus their entire wrath on her, Skyler feels the cold finger of death running down her spine. Being far too acquainted with danger allows her, however, to try and do something about it.

On her shoulder, Dorado embraces the challenge with all the deranged glee of what could only be Captain Skyler's most trusted companion. When the first few bee pokemon buzz closer, they're met with a yowling Galarian Meowth, claws unsheated as he leaps at the closest enemy. Both crash down onto the grass in a furious heap, Dorado quickly emerging victorious. Yellow eyes glint malevolently as he throws himself at yet another Beedrill.

That's my Dorado, she thinks proudly.

"OSCAR!" The exclamation is a weird mix of happiness, alarm and relief. It's been far too long since they'd spent some time together. This wasn't exactly what she had in mind, but she'll take it. Meeting back to back, they face the murderous wasps. The dry thunk of a shovel hitting a flying body becomes their soundtrack as they inch along. "You owe me a drink after this, you beautiful bastard!"

Adrenaline is pumping and a wild grin blooms on her lips, despite everything. Or maybe because of it. Ah, she'd missed these crazy outings with Oscar. Maybe less bees next time though. "'Course, can't let my buddy die of bees. That's just embarrassing."

The farmhouse comes ever so slowly closer, but so do the Vespiqueen. They swarm around them, buzzing furiously. Skyler slams her shovel into one, two, three.

Beyond the mass of bees around them, an ominously low buzz rises. Something bigger than normal, maybe?

oscar clayton

☉