Frost soon covered the captain's beard. Even out at sea, the temperature was dropping rapidly. That thing was supposed to save the world? The titan of ice seemed to only have one goal: freeze it all.

Walter wouldn't dare interfere. Not only for the safety of his crew, but he couldn't risk the ship being trapped in ice or even destroyed. No ship. No get away.

He heard the faint shout of Isaac Merlo in the distance. If this were any other situation, he'd take the challenge. But with that golem on shore it was too risky to sail in just yet. The captain had to bide time. He grabbed the loudspeaker and jokingly roared into it.

"Perhaps another day, matey. Why don't you go focus on the giant snowman?"

Then, he turned to his trusty Empoleon. He had just the right trick for this situation. Thanks, Howard.

"Empoleon, cover us with Mist!" Walter whispered to the royal Pokemon.

A plume of white mist rushed out of Empoleon's beak and dribbled over the side of the ship. Soon, the sea around them was covered in a thick white fog. Walter grabbed the helm and repositioned the ship while still remaining in the mist. This wouldn't be a perfect solution but it would buy them some time.

"Howard, old mate, what the hell have you done?"

tldr: Walter is trying to keep the ship away from shore and danger for as long as possible. No ship. No get away.He uses Empoleon's mist to hide the ship for the time being.

---

Isaac Merlo howard slayte Eduardo Hisakawa

Omanyte squelched onto the ground with an exhausted gurgle. He gave that Claydol his all and even so it still stood mighty. They needed to hide again, as much as it pained Walter's eyes and beard.

"Excellent work, Omanyte! Now let's lose 'em in a Sandstorm!"

The fossil Pokemon spun and flailed its tentacles like a mini whirlpool. Sand kicked up into the air and soon created a screen of dust that obscured the party.

Walter's eyes teared up from the sand. His beard was coated in dust and pebbles. This, again, was not his element.

"Nice work, matey! Now let's leave it to the others.

---

howard slayte Grigori Sokolov Shred Zeppelin
Shell Smash/Sandstorm/Protect/Stone Edge/Rock Tomb/Stealth Rock
SHIFT: +10 modifier to moves of the same type for the next three rounds. 
pqjE1N|M +10 due to sand 

Even offshore, the frigid power of Regice was felt. Ice cold wind howled and scratched a chilling slice over the sea. Waves moved restlessly from the sheer power. Crew mates shivered looking out towards Granite Cave. The captain gave orders with a cautious tone.

"Cease fire! Stay ready by the cannons!"

Bombardment was no longer necessary. He had done it. That crazy rock nerd had finally done it. The golem was complete. The titan of winter was restored. howard slayte had achieved his goal. Raid Dewford. Save the world.


"What a mighty storm."


The Thundercloud rocked onward as the waves churned. He just had to bide time. That's all they had to do. Just wait until the raiders needed their trusty get away driver and sail faster than the wind.

The captain commanded his crew once more.

"Keep her steady now, mateys. Fight the cold! We need to make sure the raiders make it on board for our get away."


Sails folded in as crew mates pulled ropes. They couldn't let the wind drag them out to sea. Not yet anyways. Walter gripped the helm firmly, keeping the ship as steady as possible.

The sandstorm continued to rage, buffeting Walter's beard.

This type of storm wasn't familiar to the ship captain. He was far more familiar to the tropical storms that now felt like a distant memory, in this vast display of sand. It was just sand, sand, and more sand. It was almost impossible to see the Claydol in the distance, rising up like a crashing wave.

"All right, Omanyte! Let's blind them with Rock Tomb!"

Boulders fell from the sky, crashing into the Claydol. This Omanyte was beginning to pay dividends! It would be a great ally on the open sea, and it'd be an excellent way to keep those pesky Wingulls at bay!

Assuming they survived, that is.

---

howard slayte Shred Zeppelin Grigori Sokolov
Shell Smash/Sandstorm/Protect/Stone Edge/Rock Tomb/Stealth Rock
CRUSH: Moves that deal damage receive a +10 modifier.
jH7SbbKJ

The sandstorm continued to rage on.

"Omanyte, Stone Edge full throttle!"


Omanyte burst forth from the sand and gathered its geomantic energy. Jagged blades of stone rose from the ground as Omanyte released a small but somewhat menacing gurgle.

Sand swirled more aggressively in the crew's faces yet for a moment, Walter was able to see one of the blades stab the mighty Claydol. He could barely make out the jagged rock piercing through the hardened clay like a Wattrel diving into the sea. Before he could examine the rest of the damage, sand blew right into the captain's eyes.


Walter scrambled for a moment to clean the debris. This wasn't his element. He was a Magikarp out of water, a sea captain in a sandstorm. All he could do was hope the other blades landed with Omanyte's full power.

The storm raged on.

---

howard slayte Shred Zeppelin Grigori Sokolov
OMANYTE MOVES: Shell Smash/Sandstorm/Protect/Stone Edge/Rock Tomb/Stealth Rock
Crush- Moves that deal damage and have 100 base power or higher and one-hit knockout moves receive a +20 modifier.
6AMrrjEY +10 from the Sandstorm +20 from Shell Smash +20 for Crush

Golden sand blew like a storm. They had barely managed to land a blow on the mighty beast. Time to unfurl the sails and ride the desert wind to victory. The captain bellowed an order.


"We got em on the rocks now, Omanyte. Let's set sail with a Shell Smash!"

Now was the moment for Omanyte to prove his worth as a crewmate of Team Cove. The ancient Pokemon's shell shook and cracks soon formed. Water burst out of the cracks like geysers shooting bits of rocky shell onto the ground.

Yo ho! If Omanyte proved anything to Walter before this journey, it was gusto. Never had he seen a more daring Pokemon. Hopefully by the end of this adventure, they'd wind down on the sunny beach reveling in their new treasures.

---

howard slayte Shred Zeppelin Grigori Sokolov
OMANYTE MOVES: Shell Smash/Sandstorm/Protect/Stone Edge/Rock Tomb/Stealth Rock
BOOST - Moves that raise the user's attack, special attack, or speed add a +20 modifier to the user's next attack in the following round.
4cRIzTp8

A pirate knows treasure when he sees it. And this was certainly one massive treasure emanating with hatred. Sand whirled around the battlefield, obscuring the vision of both the Rockets and the gigantic Claydol.

It was finally time to work with Omanyte. The two barely knew each other yet here they were, fighting against one of the greatest foes Walter has ever faced...on land.

"Omanyte! Stealth Rock port side!" The captain barked with bravado.

Lucky for Omanyte, the captain went over ship directions before the journey for future reference. Omanyte lept off of Walter's shoulder and scattered jagged rocks around the tomb guardian. The slightest movement would trigger the stone blades to pierce the Claydol.

"Great work, Omanyte! Let's see if this beast can sail past the jetty, aye?"

Omanyte plopped onto the ground awaiting for its captain's next orders. They may be smaller than everyone else, but they had a gusto to rival the Sea Basin Pokemon itself.

---

howard slayte Shred Zeppelin Grigori Sokolov
OMANYTE MOVES: Shell Smash/Sandstorm/Protect/Stone Edge/Rock Tomb/Stealth Rock
AFFLICT- Apply a damage-over-time effect that removes 10 HP from the boss each round for the rest of the thread. This effect can only be used once per team for the entire thread.
0NP7iqbO

Through the veil of sweat on his face, Walter attempted to keep a brave smile. Paldea's bright and sunny shores couldn't prepare him for this kind of heat. Not even the Asado Desert near Cascarrafa could do it. A pirate in the desert was about as useful as a...well as a pirate in a desert.

Walter stared at the strange ancient Pokemon on his shoulder. Howard had given it to him for the expedition since most of Walter's Pokemon were poorly built for the environment. What was it called again? Omanyte. He couldn't believe this Pokemon over millions of years old was on his very shoulder.

The captain perked up and inquired the group with a dry voice and gestured to the cooler on his back.

"So, anyone need water? You know I brought some sea breeze lemonade if anyone needs some wind in their sails. Brought it straight from Paldea too."

He didn't dare drink first. A brave captain would never. Though...that lemonade wouldn't stay cold for long.

---

Shred Zeppelin Grigori Sokolov howard slayte

The Rocket Thundercloud's dark hull moved through the sea like a terrible storm. The mechanic did great work. She was almost a completely different ship than the Indigo Wind. Her sails were changed from Walter's typical blue, white, and indigo to a simple black. Her symbol, once a happy Wattrel in flight, was now a red R with a thunderbolt piercing through it.

Even her captain was now unidentifiable. His eyes were wrapped in a dark black mask and his head was adorned with a large pirate hat. Long gone was his beach shirt or old jacket and bare chest. Now he wore a larger, more intimidating black jacket with a simple blue shirt.


This was no longer Walter and the Indigo Wind. The jolly pirates of Team Cove were gone and replaced with a dark reflection.

"Man the zap cannons! Fire at the sands!" the captain barked to his crew. He did not want anyone hurt. Howard asked for no serious damage or injured people.

The stun cannons would not be strong enough to kill someone. All they did was stun. They were designed for quick engagements but they were perfect for sewing panic in Dewford. Booms ran out from the Thundercloud's hull. Balls of lightning screamed as they dove into the shore.

Golden explosions were met with cries and screams of panicked townspeople. Hordes of innocent lives rushed away from the shore, scrambling to find safety.

Walter turned on the ship's sound system and voice distorter. He yelled "Avast! I am Captain Storm Grin of the Rocket Thundercloud. Terror of the Seas, the Lightning Raider, and here to plunder your shores. Yo ho ho!"

He was now a villain. A no good pirate. Yet he reveled in it. Infamy and honor. Two rivers flowing parallel to one another. Walter was as free as the ocean itself.

He sailed between the rivers.

---

Eduardo Hisakawa

"No need to worry about the mess. The boat can't fit in here anyways."

This job had to be discreet, quick, and low key. A cruel grin unfurled over Walter's face.

"Legally held accountable for? Now you're speaking my language." the captain laughed even louder.

"There's nothing illegal about this job...yet. Nothing to worry about. My ship has been having some engine troubles lately on the mechanical side. In terms of her hull, I need to change it enough to where she won't be recognizable by most folk."

Not a single soul on the shores of Dewford could recognize this ship or Walter. In the best case scenario, he would have to lay low in Sootopolis for a few months, maybe even a year. At worst, he would be forced to leave Hoenn and never return, less he face the consequences for his crimes.

"Listen, matey. This job may not be your usual, but I can make it worth your while. If you sail with me to Sootopolis to fix my engine and disguise my ship, I'll give you an in with Rocket. Whatever the cost of the job is, Rocket will cover it. How does that sound?"

It was a deal any shady individual would dream about. An in with Rocket meant protection from the law. With the war going on, Rocket was your best bet at safety from the law.

---

vee loxley

The captain stooped in from the busy street and gave the metallic walls a good knock. A thunderous bellow rung from the container. He hoped this was the right place. Shady business called for shady spots. You can't just ask anyone to disguise a ship. This next job was gonna be brutal. There would be no risks taken with this job. Not after the tracker incident and certainly not for this job. He had to get everything right or his freedom would be gone. He would be a wanted criminal.

Connections were easy to find in Rocket. A bit of asking around led the captain to this scrappy Rustboro garage. The scattered tools and ramshackle equipment all controlled by a single mechanic and her was exactly what Walter expected and needed. Despite its appearance, those motorcycles looked to be in excellent condition.

This was the right place. The captain walked forward into the garage with a grin.

"Ahoy there, lass. Any of these bikes you got would be the prized possession of any lucky Paldean. I have a project I need a sharp mechanic for. You any good with boats?"

The answer was most likely no but if she can put this together by herself, she could figure out how to fix a ship's motor and remodel its exterior a bit.

---

vee loxley

What had happened to this Empoleon? Who could abuse such a majestic creature? Walter was sick to his core just thinking about it.The pirate always had a soft spot for Pokemon. His ship was equipped with stun cannons to ensure any wild Pokemon or human crew wouldn't be killed by a bombardment.

Yet that was a task for later, one where he would treat Empoleon to a nice dinner and games with the crew. Now, he had to think about the job. Sail in, land, let the grunts off, and keep the Indigo Wind running. It sounded almost simple when Howard said it.

On one hand, if Walter did this job, he would be an active war criminal. He could attempt to hide his identity but even so his ship was specific to him. Marcos was good with machines but not good enough to transform an entire ship.

But if he could pull this off, he'd be the most infamous sailor in all of Hoenn. It was in his grasp, the treasure he sought after all along. Greater than money, adventure, or even the sea basin Pokemon. Walter wanted to be a legend. A sailor both infamous and beloved who lived for generations through tales and shanties. Bottles clink and voices cheer in toast to him, his legend. Some may even fear him, don't dare speak his name in the hopes of not drawing his thunderous crew. It didn't matter how. Walter would become the legend of the seas.

This was his ticket. This was his in. One simple mission. Sail, land, leave.

"Alright, Howard. I'll do it. The Indigo Wind will sail in to Dewford. I'll land on shore with the crew and bombard anyone that gives us trouble with stun shot. Once the grunts are on shore, I'll stay close and continue my bombardment. We aim for the sand. No one gets hurt. Only panicked."

Walter gave Howard a toothy pirate's grin.

"But before we go, I'll need some help repainting the ship and remodeling her. Team Cove and I are still independent contractors after all. My crew and I will need disguises as to avoid conviction. If you can do that for me, then we have a perfect deal."

The captain put out his hand still smiling ear to ear. He was no longer Walter.

This was Captain Storm Grin.

---

howard slayte

"Aye, matey, did you say 'legendary'?" The captain asked with wide eyes.

Were legendary Pokemon not those detailed in ancient stories? Those powerful few, as mighty as the forces of nature. Nay, they were forces of nature. Beings not many in their life would even dream to see. Yet here were two of them on the pirate's ship.

Astounding.

Walter left the wheel with Aipom. He jumped down onto the deck and stared at those wonderous Pokemon. Calyrex and Marshadow. Living treasures. He turned to the ghostly elite.

"You must be one strong trainer to have legendary Pokemon in your midst. I feel lucky to be the boatman you hired for this trip. Not every day you see a legendary. Or even a life time. How did you meet them, if you don't mind me asking?" The captain inquired. He was amazed and baffled at the sight.

Then she mentioned it. That dreaded beast. Kyogre. The captain's body froze with a ghostly chill. Walter's eyes grew dark like storm clouds.

"Aye, I had a run in with Kyogre. That leviathan nearly rammed itself into my ship. I've seen how it reacts to ships. I can't imagine what that beast would do to anything smaller."

Walter barely managed to break out a smile. "Bastard couldn't get us though. Damn thing gave us plenty of wind to escape on."

The captain let out a hearty chuckle once more.

The Sea Basin Pokemon may not have gotten his ship, but he did take something.

The Leviathan took Walter's nerve.

---

Elise Calcifet