The events played out in slow motion. Xerneas smashed the orb in his hand, and Giratina made to move, but it was already too late. A massive burst of light forced Kaze to avert his gaze, and when he returned to looking at the scene, a shimmering tree stood where Tantalus’ body had been only moments ago, and where the monster had loomed, now lay a bloodied Germaine.

Kaze rushed over, trying to wrap his mind around what had happened. “Tantalus!” he cried out, trying to find a way to somehow open the tree and free his friend. Yet, in the midst of his toils, a voice stopped him.

[i][color=7ea7d8]“It is too late, Kaze.”[/color][/i]

[i][color=6ecff6]“Suicune? You have to help me get to Tantalus! He’s--”[/color][/i]

[i][color=7ea7d8]“It is too late. He is gone.”[/color][/i]

[i][color=6ecff6]“What do you mean?”[/color][/i]

[color=7ea7d8][i]“The tree which stands before you [/i]is[i] Tantalus. The power of Xerneas has allowed him to take this form rather than experience true death. However, this comes with a great cost.”[/i][/color]

[i][color=6ecff6]“A cost?”[/color][/i]

[i][color=7ea7d8]“Xerneas, and therefore Tantalus, will be trapped within this tree, almost as in a prison. The duration of his stay will be for as long as he needs to recover. In the past, this has lasted as much as a thousand years. Sometimes more. However, this tree will serve to give life to the people around it. Mauville may consider itself blessed to have such a power within itself, despite the destruction wrought in its coming about.”[/color][/i]

[i][color=6ecff6]“And what about Germaine?”[/color][/i]

[i][color=7ea7d8]“Though his wounds are terrible, being so close to the Tree of Life will ensure he survives until someone who can heal him can arrive. There is nothing you can do for them that Xerneas has not done himself. It would be best for you to leave here and allow those who are more capable do their jobs.”[/color][/i]

[i][color=6ecff6]“Suicune?”[/color][/i] Kaze asked as he began moving mournfully away from the scene of the battle.

[i][color=7ea7d8]“Yes?”[/color][/i]

[i][color=6ecff6]“I don’t want any more of my friends to be hurt like this. I’m going to become stronger like you. I’m going to protect them.”[/color][/i]

[i][color=7ea7d8]“You have a good heart, young Kaze. You may be able to achieve what you desire, but for now, I must return to my slumber. If you are in need of anything, you need only ask.”[/color][/i]

[i][color=6ecff6]“Thanks, Suicune. Good night,”[/color][/i] Kaze wished.

Suicune gave a low chuckle before replying, [i][color=7ea7d8]“Good night, young Kaze.”[/color][/i]

[hr]

Needing some time to think alone, Kaze stepped out of Mauville onto Route 117. Various triathletes and Pokemon Trainers filled the landscape, all training for their individual goals. Kaze, however, made his way to the edge of a small pond on the southern edge of the Route, where he kicked off his shoes and socks before dipping his feet in the water, the chill that followed sending shivers up Kaze’s spine.

He hadn’t been in his spot long before a mobile red silhouette became visible beneath the water’s surface. And it was moving toward him.

Jumping up and getting out of the water, Kaze took a couple of steps backward. As soon as he did, a small red and white Pokemon resembling a crawdad scuttled up onto the grass near him. [color=f7976a][i]“What do you think you’re doing, stinking up my pond with your feet like that! Just because I [/i]can[i] survive in dirty water doesn’t mean I [/i]enjoy[i] the filth,”[/i][/color] the Pokemon scolded, snapping its claws violently at him, not noticing that the area Kaze had touched the water was now slightly purer than before.

“I-I’m sorry,” Kaze stammered, not knowing how to react to being yelled at by a Pokemon. “I didn’t mean to make you upset.”

[color=f7976a][i]“Wait,”[/i][/color] the Pokemon wondered. [color=f7976a][i]“Did you actually understand me?”[/i][/color]

[color=6ecff6][i]“Yeah,”[/i][/color] Kaze responded, mentally this time. [color=6ecff6][i]“It’s a gift my friends and I all share. I can talk to Water-Type Pokemon.”[/i][/color]

[color=f7976a][i]“Hold on, those markings on your arms, and you can talk to me. . . . You wouldn’t happen to be . . . one of those Avatars, would you?”[/i][/color]

[color=6ecff6][i]“I am. Kaze, Avatar of Suicune. What kind of Pokemon are you?”[/i][/color]

[color=f7976a][i]“Last I checked, I was still a Corphish. But . . . Suicune, you say? Can he hear me through you as well?”[/i][/color]

[color=6ecff6][i]“I don’t know. He seems to like sleeping, though.”[/i][/color]

[color=f7976a][i]“Hmm . . . mind if I tag along with you? Less because of you and more because any Pokemon would be a fool to pass up a chance to be near Suicune.”[/i][/color]

Kaze wasn’t sure what to do. [color=6ecff6][i]“I’d love to have you, but I don’t have any Pokeballs with me.”[/i][/color]

[color=f7976a][i]“Don’t have any--! Well, looks like you’re lucky today. Do you know how many people have lost spare balls in this pond? Just a moment . . .”[/i][/color] The Corphish disappeared under the water for a moment again before resurfacing with a seaweed-wrapped Pokeball that it dropped at Kaze’s feet. [color=f7976a][i]“Might be a bit rusty,”[/i][/color] it explained, [color=f7976a][i]“but it should still work.”[/i][/color]

But Kaze had begun to stare off into space. [color=f7976a][i]“Hey! Earth to Kaze! You gonna catch me or what?”[/i][/color] the Corphish yelled again.

[color=6ecff6][i]“Sorry,”[/i][/color] Kaze apologized. [color=6ecff6][i]“Trying to think of a nickname for you.”[/i][/color]

[color=f7976a][i]“Oh, so you’re one of[/i] those [i]trainers. Well? Whaddya got?”[/i][/color]

[color=6ecff6][i]“How do you like the name ‘Sushi’?”[/i][/color]

No words could truly describe the Corphish’s reaction. It bellowed a single syllable of its name more than loudly enough to disturb many of the triathletes in the vicinity; its already baseball-sized eyes seemed to get even wider (if that was even possible); and its mouth dropped open as far as one could imagine possible, plus one or two inches.

[color=f7976a][i]“DO YOU HAVE NO CREATIVITY?!”[/i][/color] the Corphish finally screamed after a few moments of awkward silence.

[color=6ecff6][i]“I take it you don’t like the name.”[/i][/color]

[color=f7976a][i]“That’s a massive understatement! You named me after FOOD! Would you like me calling you ‘Steak’?”[/i][/color]

[color=6ecff6][i]“Okay. Then I’ll try again.”[/i][/color]

[color=f7976a][i]“Arceus help me . . .”[/i][/color]

[color=6ecff6][i]“Is ‘Sir Crabsalot’ any better”[/i][/color]

[color=f7976a][i]“What kind of game are you playing?!”[/i][/color]

[color=6ecff6][i]“So not that one either. . . . Then maybe ‘Clabber’?”[/i][/color]

The Corphish was silent for a moment before it responded, [color=f7976a][i]“Will you stop if I agree to it?”[/i][/color]

[color=6ecff6][i]“Yes.”[/i][/color]

[color=f7976a][i]“Then yes, let’s go with that. Now let’s battle and have you catch me before I decide being around Suicune isn’t worth this.”[/i][/color]

[color=6ecff6][i]“Alright. I’ll be battling you myself, rather than using Jingle,”[/i][/color] Kaze explained. [color=6ecff6][i]“It’ll be a Water versus Water battle!”[/i][/color]

[color=f7976a][i]“I’m getting [/i]permission[i] to beat the tar out of my future trainer? Not to often that happens! I’m in!”[/i][/color]

Kaze started the battle with Tailwind, using it to his advantage to move around Corphish at an incredible speed. And it worked exactly as he planned. He was able to outmaneuver the entirety of Corphish’s Bubble Beam. Knowing that it would be best to counteract a Water-Type Pokemon with something other than more Water, he directed the airflow into a small spiraling Gust attack which struck Corphish directly.

Corphish wasn’t easily dazed, though, and simply used his aerial position to put extra force behind a falling Double-Edge attack. Kaze waited until last minute to dodge, but to no avail. Clabber anticipated the trick and whirled midair and struck Kaze in the gut. However, in ensuring it hit, the Pokemon tumbled to the ground as Kaze doubled over. Then, before Kaze could regain his wits, Clabber’s claw opened and unleashed another Bubble Beam. But rather than feeling pain when they collided with him like he expected, Kaze actually felt refreshed, and the pain in his stomach began to subside.

The Corphish realized its mistake too late. Kaze, with a smirk, fired an invisible force of mental energy through his Extrasensory attack, sending Clabber reeling. By the time it managed to get its feet back underneath it and began throwing a wall of Protect in front of itself to avoid further damage, Kaze’s Hydro Pump was already barreling its way to weaken Corphish the rest of the way.

The Ruffian Pokemon was barely upright when Kaze shouted, “Pokeball, go!” and sent the small red and white ball whizzing through the air. The sphere collided with the Corphish’s forehead before snapping open and absorbing its target. As soon as Clabber was within, the mechanical orb locked itself shut again with a small spark, shook once, then fell still, signaling the capture of its target.

Walking over to the Pokeball, Kaze grabbed it tight and held it up to the light of the sun, admiring the reflection off of the water-polished sphere. [i]I did it,[/i] Kaze thought before pocketing his catch and marching triumphantly back toward Mauville.