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Nomi hovered by the gunwale, looking out across the sea with blank white eyes. Further away, above the open expanse of churning waves, Kallistatus popped into existence. Through the shiny Unown-K's singular eye Nomi watched as a rather intense-looking man on the back of a fierce Sharpedo sped towards her ship, unmasked and undeterred.[break][break]
"Not good," Nomi murmured. She blinked, and her eyee returned to their normal shade of crimson. She hurried over to the captain - a grunt experienced at sailing - and warned him that a League operative was fast approaching. "I'll see if I can distract him. Just get us to shore as quickly as you can."[break][break]
After all, their main objective was to reach the island.[break][break]
Nomi took out a Pokeball and released Lilac into the sea. The red gem in the center of the Starmie's body began to glow as it gathered power, ready for a fight.[break][break]
"Kal will cover you," she called down to it. "See if you can slow that Sharpedo."[break][break]
Lilac twirled in response then zoomed away; as soon as the Sharpedo was in range, a THUNDER WAVE burst forth, crackling towards it.

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Lilac's THUNDER WAVE just missed, mere inches from hitting the nimble Sharpedo. The Starmie spun in the water, its red gem glowing like an underwater beacon, blinking with frustration. There wasn't much time to regroup, however, as a MEGAHORN blasted up from the depths below, crashing into Lilac and knocking the Starmie off balance. With a hasty RECOVER, Lilac was able to avoid too much damage - though if the Seaking's goal had been to delay the Starmie's pursuit of the Sharpedo, it had certainly succeeded.[break][break]
Luckily for Lilac, there was support from above. Kallistatus the shiny Unown-K glowed white hot, then sent a beam of HIDDEN POWER at the man on the Sharpedo. From the boat, Nomi watched water spray as various energies clashed. The man had not yet gained on her, but if he continued to evade her Pokemon, he would eventually arrive...[break][break]
"Need more speed," she decided, taking out another Pokeball. She released her Python, the Iron Jugulis's three heads regarding her with eager eyes.[break][break]
"We cannot let that man catch us," she told the paradox. Sensing the urgency, the Iron Jugulis roared, then summoned a TAILWIND behind the boat, vigorously pushing it forward.

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Lilac, distraught due to the escaping Sharpedo, took the SUPERSONIC head-on and was soon overcome by confusion. Instead of pursue the Seaking or the man on the Sharpedo, the Starmie retreated towards the boat, thoroughly disoriented.[break][break]
Kallistatus was also forced to retreat, in order to avoid getting blasted by the WATER PULSE. The shiny Unown-K blinked away, reappearing next to Nomi. She sighed, frustration growing. This man was relentless and a talented trainer. She might not be able to defeat him, so escape seemed to be her best option.[break][break]
Doubling down on her efforts to make it to the island, she recalled Lilac to its Pokeball, then focused her mind on the approaching man and his Pokemon. "Python, attack them," she commanded the Iron Jugulis. Its heads regarded her curiously - it knew that if it ended the TAILWIND then the ship would slow again.[break][break]
"Don't worry, I have a plan."[break][break]
The mechanical dragon switched gears, the gusts of wind dying down as it summoned a TRI-ATTACK. Electricity crackled as energy rocketed towards the Seaking and the Sharpedo. In the meantime, Nomi held out a hand, focusing on the expanse of ocean separating her from her pursuer.[break][break]
And then she willed reality to change.[break][break]
Waves transformed and the water behind the ship solidified into blocks of towering crystals. Glimmering spires jutted out of the sea, cutting off the man's path to the ship. Nomi smiled, satisfied, even as sweat beaded across her forehead. She felt suddenly fatigued, but at least now, she ought to be able to escape.

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Her plan was effective. Perhaps too effective.[break][break]
Nomi watched as the man's Seaking courageously - and perhaps foolishly - took the full force of Python's attack, mortally wounding itself. A pang of regret: Nomi did not necessarily want Pokemon to die. This conflict is a waste, she thought, not for the first time. Needless deaths on both sides.[break][break]
All the same, she had a mission to accomplish. As she turned her attention back to the ship's progress towards the island, an ICE BEAM collided with her Iron Jugulis, freezing it in place and knocking it unconscious. Nomi returned it to its Pokeball with hasty flick of her wrist, unbothered. With the rising crystal barrier, that should be the last attack she would need to endure from her pursuer.[break][break]
All around Thomas Benoit, a wall of Tera crystal-like material would cut off his Sharpedo. If he looked closely at the reflective surface of the barrier, he would see a myriad of otherworldly eyes staring back at him...

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Once Nomi reached the island, she recalled Lilac. She then collapsed onto the deck of her ship, chest heaving. One last look through Kallistatus's eye confirmed that her pursuer had been bested and was turning back; she breathed a sigh of relief, then allowed herself to give into her exhaustion.[break][break]
Nomi's eyes fluttered closed, and she telepathically reached out to Kallistatus to request that it watch over her for a few minutes. She'd won that particular battle, but she'd used up quite a bit of energy in the process. She was still getting used to her powers, and did not yet know her limits.[break][break]
I will need to be careful on the island, she resolved. Things would only get more dangerous from here. Better to rest now while she could, rather than rush ahead. She had a feeling she would never every ounce of power she could muster for what lay ahead.

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