"Aye, matey. She could sail much faster than this. But every sailor, no matter how adventurous, knows when to listen to the sea." The captain gave a nod towards the clouds behind him.

Storm clouds rolled over them in a vicious squall. Drizzle turned to downpour, gusts turned to gales, and waves turned into foes. "Storm's rolling in, lads! Aipom and Gino, port side! Afonso and Marcos, starboard side! Furl the sails half way! Not a single Pokemon is allowed in the air!"

He looked back at the swordsman. "Save me one of those cigarettes. I'll need one after we get through this."

Waves crashed onto the deck, drenching the crew at their stations. Gale winds rattled the hull with a resounding creek. Cold hands cut by wind and dashed with salt tugged hard at the lines. With the sails unfurled, the ship would be blown away by the storm or even capsize.

The hearty sailors pulled tighter and tighter in attempt to reduce the sails. With all their might, they gave one big "Yo ho!" and the sails shrunk.

Yet the sea was not satisfied. More waves towered over the ship, ending with a violent thud onto the deck. Once hearty sailors were now flat on their backs coughing up water. The captain shouted with a stern fear. "Everyone off the main deck!"

He turned to Hitoshi. "If my hands come off the wheel, we're all lost to the sea. We need to get them off the deck and fast. Any ideas, matey?"

---

Hitoshi Inoue

"Get us through this and I'll buy ya a whole pack." The dog yaps, enjoying his tobacco before the storm snuffs out the cherry red tip. A captain's word on a ship at sea is law. It's an ironclad rule that even an animal can understand. All the same, given what was asked of him, the dog fears he'll have to defy orders.[break]
"'Course I do. I've got some friends." A sharp, whip-like whistle cuts above the squall. Each of the Kartana picks a sailor. They fly like petals through the air, on a collision course with the fallen. Each stops just short of soft human meat. If they pressed against the sailors with any momentum, the men would surely die. Instead, each one lifts them gingerly. Some are taken by their necklaces, choking them as they are delivered to safety. Others have their shirts pierced, lifting them into the air. With how small their saviors are, the men look to be floating down to safety. His blades rise up, rescuing anyone else. Ringed fingers direct the blades about as if he is conducting a symphony.[break]
"They're not really Pokemon, y'know." He says by way of justification, returning to the captain's side. "Think I got everybody!" He speaks with childlike excitement, as if they're not fighting for their lives.[break]
Something rises from the sea behind them, crying in pain, lament, and fury.[break]
"Oh, man. Captain, you really don't wanna turn around right now!

"Well now I have to turn around, Hitoshi!" The captain barked.

He should NOT have turned around.

Fields of dark waves crashed and scattered into white wash spurned on by a Pokemon that rivaled vessels. The leviathan's head rose above the waves and released a mighty boom. Its eyes yellow like lightning crackling with malice and rage. The clouds answered their masters call, drenching the ocean in more rainfall, more wind, and more dread.

As the beast charged towards the Indigo Wind, Walter was paralyzed. A concoction of fear mixed with amazement bubbled in his veins. He had never seen any Pokemon like it. Nothing across the seas of Paldea, Galar, or Unova had ever rivaled this beast in size, let alone mastery of the ocean. This was no mere mortal Pokemon.

This was a legend. The Sea Basin Pokemon:

Kyogre

Quickly, he snapped back and barked his orders on the loud speaker. "All crew remain below deck and await my orders! Move towards the bow and stay away from the stern! The Sea Basin Pokemon...is hunting us!"

On one hand, they needed the sails half furled to reduce being swept up by the storm. On the other, the Sea Basin Pokemon was rushing towards them and would easily crash the hull if she isn't sailing at full speed. Walter steered and contemplated his options.

"Hitoshi, matey, be ready to get your "not Pokemon" to cut the lines if this beast gets within 100 feet of this vessel. I'd the beast is currently 220 feet from ramming the Indigo Wind. With the sails free, we're more likely to capsize but we're also more likely to make it to poker."

Walter hid morbid fear behind a wide grin. The captain always had to keep cool and remain in control.

---

Hitoshi Inoue