Jasper let out a raw hiss, fiercer than Floragato's voice should allow. His paws shook as they spread wide, trembling over his wounded friend. Green fur quivered like needles, every hair screaming alarm. His short tail whipped. The feline planted himself in front of the injured, wild terror surging as he guarded him. Every muscle braced as if the whole world was closing in.
Talons slashed the air, keeping onlookers back. Unfamiliar faces seemed hostile; every glance burned.
"Let me have-"
A low grumble escaped the cat, silencing Lopunny before she could finish. He arched his back as if about to lunge at whoever took one step too close.
She retreated, maintaining a respectful distance. "It's okay. I know a few things about-"
Her words broke against a wall of panic. Jasper hissed again, his eyes like shards of glass, pupils shrunk to slits. Claws unsheathed with a trembling screech.
"GO AWAY!" he spat, voice so raw it nearly broke.
His mind blanked. He could not separate words from sounds. Paranoia and distrust crashed down at once. Floragato folded over. Arms nearly to the floor. Spine raised in tense protective rage. He checked his friend's breathing, then resumed his guard.
A familiar scent snapped him out of it. He turned, saw their trainer rushing from the cabin. Her sight softened him—a hiss turned into a desperate, child-like meow. He stepped aside and let her through.
There was no answer. The bunny's half-closed eyes didn't react. The only sign that he was still alive was a string of foaming water streaming down his mouth.
Slings of a hiking backpack snapped free. Hazel turned it upside down, piling all of the contents on the drenched floor.
The cat backed down. Slowly, step by little step, pink eyes still glaring at the others like his friend's life depended on it.
It took effort to pull his gaze away. An itch in his mind warned that something might happen if he looked elsewhere.
His wild, unblinking eyes gleamed. Chest pounded. Cold palms sweated. But the trainer's touch pulled him back. He turned, limbs stiff as iron.
It took him a few moments to process her words. Far longer than it usually did. But common sense finally won. He lowered himself down next to his friend, still shooting glances at everyone gathered around.
"Is he dead?" Stunky muttered under his breath.
Lopunny shared advice, but she was quickly interrupted by the rest. "I would apply pressure on-"
"I've heard two of these creepshows," Meowth cut in, pressing her paw into a bump on her head. "Where's the second?"
All three began talking over each other, turning words into an indistinguishable cacophony.
The sudden noise snapped through the air, halting the discord with an enthralling precision. Inteleon stood poised, one arm elegantly extended, a thin stream of water raining down from a solitary finger raised high, capturing all eyes.
"Show's over," she chimed in, effectively herding the gawkers away. "Get back downstairs."
"What happened?" The skunk, fur covered in bleeding scrapes, frantically looked around. The battle barely took more than a couple of minutes, all passing in a storm of chaos and confusion. "I was sitting one moment and then-"
Half the crew remained at a loss. Events moved too fast, and pointless assumptions emerged.
"Downstairs. Now." Opal didn't take that for an answer. "Make space."
Jasper's paws shook, holding Garnet too tight. Every foaming cough made him shudder. His claws clung harder by instinct as if that could keep his friend here.
She picked a roll of waxed paper and bit off the knot. A matte yellow crystal went under the coney's tongue, dissolving fast. The pungent odor hit Floragato's nose like smelling salts, sharp and overwhelming.
Garnet opened his eyes once again. Dazed. Not fully here. But the remedy stirred him back awake. Jasper leaned a little closer, seeking that glint of recognition in his gaze.
He blinked, head tilting. His stare was lost and muddled, but he clung to life.
"Garnet." The feline stroked his shoulder, softly rubbing gray fur. "Please?"
Raboot shared a little nod, half-delirious but conscious enough to follow.
The bunny's exhale trailed off into a wheeze as he coughed up pink foam again.
Hazel's words earned her a glance of concern and doubt.
Jasper tensed, paw hovering with uncertainty. Following the trainer's request, he pressed on Garnet's chest. But as a sharp yelp escaped his friend, the feline stopped, concern overtaking his determination. He looked up at the trainer, silently pleading for reassurance.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, pressing down a little bit harder. His friend's chest made a crackling sound, followed by a gut-wrenching whimper.
"I'm so sorry," his voice turned into a wretched whisper. Floragato's arm quivered, but he drove it further, trying not to look Garnet in the eyes. It hurt to watch him suffer.
Another little crunch, making him buck. The feline clenched his friend as hard as he could, barely holding himself in one piece. "You're going to be okay. Don't you dare leave me."
Their trainer pulled out a flask and tore off the cap. Red liquid swished inside. The nozzle aimed at the bunny's chest right as he thrashed, slamming his foot into the cat in pain.
Hazel whispered, spraying it over the Raboot's pelt. A whiff of strong spirits filled the air, mixed with something chemically floral. The unnatural concoction made her helper grit his teeth.
Jasper had seen potions work before, but never like this. Another buck left a scorchmark on his pelt, making him flinch. But he didn't make a single sound, pressing down on Garnet harder.
The pungent brew seeped into gray fur, quickly taking effect. A sound unlike a trill of an old clock rang through the air. Tic-tic-tic. The fractures snapped back together, each click drawing a yelp from the injured bunny, much like the way time meticulously resets itself.
Each tick seemed a whisper of something once broken being set right, twisting the feline's heart with the realization of his own fragility. It was uncanny watching the broken bones rearrange themselves, as if they were moved by an outside force, a reminder that healing often comes with its own kind of pain.
The last one made Garnet's head drift. This time, not from pain, but from the fact that it has ended.
Their trainer let out a sigh of relief, lifting him as if he were a small child.
Rhetorical question as far as Floragato was concerned.
"Upon my life." Jasper's paw perched on Raboot's shoulder as he spaced in and out of sleep, gently stroking his fur.
Pink eyes looked at the serpent for one last time. There was no anger in them. No blind fury or vengeful spite. Just disappointment that things had to turn out this way. He exhaled, quickly shuffling away. The feline could feel the others looking at him. But he did not return the gesture, averting his gaze. Too many gapers. Too little trust in them.
***
The rain worsened. Cold beads drummed the hull like hail. Hours passed, spent in waiting for the weather to clear and repairs to begin. Darkness fell as the ship drifted in the gloom. A lone, swaying lantern bobbed with the heaving deck, its flickering light casting wavering shadows. Signal lights flickered, faintly glowing. Clouds stretched for miles: as above, so below.
The growl of the engine softened into a faint trill. The crewmen dashed across the battered deck, a swarm of busy little ants. All but one.
Jasper stared out of a shattered porthole.
The captain, decked in a thick rubber coat, shouted orders to his Pokémon, scrambling to pass him tools and help fix the damage. Whatever could be mended on the go.
A string of curses left his lips as he tried to rearrange what was left of the wrecked awning with nothing but a salt-dusted rope and sailors' know-how.
The helmsman snapped at two girls covering under the slanted roof protruding from the dented cabin. The metal was left blackened by the fire, and the old paint peeled off.
"He's gone," Floragato whispered under his breath. But he didn't want to be the bringer of bad news. There was enough weight on his shoulders as it was.
He motioned to the serpent's body, now chained tightly to the stern.
The researcher shrugged, raising a brow.
She clearly wasn't in the mood. The price of wild game wasn't on the list of her priorities.
The researcher paused. But before she could reply, Mae interjected,
It ended in awkward silence. The rivals simply looked the other way and resumed their work. Hazel, with a deadpanned expression, the sailor grumbling under his nose.
Jasper slipped off the sill, barely catching himself as his knees buckled for a brief second. It would seem there was no escape from dealing with the aftermath. But at the very least, the hold was empty, leaving him to his own devices while the others tried to make themselves look busy. He blinked slowly, fatigue causing his eyes to shut halfway before they snapped back open in a vain attempt to stay alert.
He kneeled down by the bedside, watching over his unconscious friend. He seemed so peaceful, perched on a heap of musty pillows. The feline pedantically tucked the blanket in, unfolding the corners and puffing them up, though his paw fumbled with the edge, dropping it once before smoothing it over Garnet's resting form. Scorbunny plush, nestled on the cot like a silent guardian, was relieved of its duties.
The cat leaned closer, watching his friend sleep. His paw instinctively went for Garnet's wrist, claws softly brushing gray fur dusted in white salt. He purred a little melody, gently moving his fingers up and down his arm. "You're going to be okay. You hear me?"
"Don't you dare scare me like that." His voice trailed off into a whisper.
The feline's nose twitched, an old force of habit. Raboot's earthy scent of char had an unpleasant tinge to it that stood out like a sore thumb. A note of copper made Floragato feel uneasy. He inched near, nit-pickingly licking the loose strands of hair, ruffling them up to get the brine out.
Jasper almost got carried away, kneading the pillow beside his injured friend. It has been a long day. Perhaps just a few minutes of tranquility was what he truly needed to pull his mind back together. But just as the cat was about to find a spot for himself, a soft tap on the stairs made him wince like a splash of boiling water. He jerked back, hiding his paws. A naughty child who was about to get caught stealing sugar.
The feline leaned on the opposite wall, heart pounding like a drum, palms damp and cold.
Lopunny peeked over the corner, staring both of them down. Her posture was confident, and Floragato felt her eyes linger. Even though he didn't turn, he was aware of her presence. Not in the mood for talking, especially with someone he barely knew.
"How's your friend?" she asked, her voice bubbling with an upbeat energy that felt out of place.
Jasper's tail flicked. He closed his eyes for a couple of seconds to ground himself. One part of him understood the gesture. But the other just didn't want to be bothered.
"He's okay," he replied after an awkwardly long pause, pointlessly sifting through rags and medicinal flasks left by their trainer. He didn't know what any of them were meant for. But they helped him look occupied enough.
"Can I help you with anything?" the hare persisted, standing by the door like a statue.
Yes. You can help us by giving me space, Floragato thought.
Jasper softly shook his head, fiddling with a bottle containing the leftover potion, shooting cautious side glances at the stranger. His tongue anxiously peeked out of cracked lips. "Thank you, but... We'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" she pressed on.
I am. Just leave me be. Please. I need a moment; the cat internally deflected.
He shared a nod, blankly staring at the label. He couldn't understand any of it. Just tried to seem busy enough to be left alone.
Silence fell on the hold, long enough to start feeling embarrassing. Lopunny took a step forth, breaking the ice with casual chatter. "You did a great job. I thought we were all goners until I saw that thing drop face-first on the deck."
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I'm not proud of that, Jasper thought, getting tired of the conversation.
"Thanks," his response was as dry as the rest. But he was too polite to brush her off outright.
"You fight in the league, don't you?" She hopped onto a crate, choosing to stay for just a little longer. The sound of planks creaking made the cat roll his eyes.
Floragato groaned internally, Do I look like I'm in the mood to have a conversation right now?
"Used to," Jasper murmured in spite of his thoughts, tapping the bottle back on the floor. "I'm sorry, but... Why are you asking?"
"Just curious," she jabbered, crossing her legs and flicking her long ear out of the way. "I can tell by the way you moved. Too precise to pass for an amateur."
"Is it that obvious?" the feline pried, finally sharing a glance. His shoulders went a little stiff.
"I fought there, too. It takes one to know one." Lopunny kept going. "My name's Flops, by the way. I don't think we had a chance to talk."
"No, we haven't," Floragato remarked. Chatter wasn't his strongest suit.
"Who are you? If you don't mind me asking," the hare queried, curiously looking over the cat.
"Myself?" His brow went up as he lisped.
Lopunny chuckled, propping her chin. "No, as in... I've never met Pokémon like you before."
"Ah," Jasper huffed. "I hear that a lot."
Comes with catching stray looks all the time. That's the worst part, he thought.
"So..." Flops coaxed, pryingly scratching her chin.
He shrugged, unsure of how to answer. "I don't know. I'm just me."
"You don't know?" She blinked, taken off guard. "How come?"
"Our trainer calls me by my name. She says I come from a place called Paldea. But I have no idea where that is." Floragato spread his arms. "Neither have I seen anyone like me. Not for a very long time."
"Makes sense," Lopunny finally relented. "Sorry if I sound nosy. You see so many new Pokémon in Hulbury with all the people coming from abroad. Still getting used to it."
"I take it you aren't from here either?" Jasper deduced, fixing Garnet's blanket yet again to calm his nerves.
"Not Hulbury, no. My friends have lived here for their whole lives, but as for myself... I came from up south. The Isle of the Armor. Still new to the big city," she replied, idly staring into the window. The rest of her crew still ran about, passing their owner wrenches and screwdrivers. "New to the team, too."
"Is that why they don't want you to help?" the cat guessed, throwing an idle glance at the busybodies outside, running circles across the deck.
"Our master doesn't trust me with tools," Lopunny confessed, sharing a shrug. But the smile didn't flee from her face.
"Master?" The feline turned around, stung by the way she called him. She wouldn't be unique. But he never understood folding so low. "That's... A bit strong a word."
She waved it off, trying to jump the topic. "It's nothing, really. I don't know anything about ships. My friends got it covered. I just stick to what I'm used to."
"I see." Jasper's eyes lingered on her for a second too long before they returned to his friend. "And that is..."
Talking to strangers wasn't his strongest suit. It wasn't about being shy, if only. He didn't know what he was supposed to speak about. Maintaining a conversation felt like a genuine challenge. Long and jarring. Every word came with a rusty screech. It was as if the universe had decided that every attempt at small talk should feel like wrestling with feral Tauros.
"I know a lot about first aid," she yapped, swiping her ear again. "That's why I offered. If you need any help..."
"First aid?" He blinked, taken off guard. "That's not something they teach our kind often."
"No, they don't." A giggle escaped her. Flops sounded awfully bubbly, a little misplaced, given the circumstances. "My old trainer, the one before this, needed a lot of care."
"And so... I was trained as therapy Pokémon!" she babbled, most of her words making little sense to the cat.
"Therapy? Treating wounds, you mean?" he replied, making a wild guess. His ears angled. "Like a healer?"
"Kind of. It's for the different kinds of wounds, but I do know quite a bit about medicine, too. And I have the papers to prove it," Lopunny chattered. "With a big red stamp on them!"
"What do papers have to..." Jasper's brow creased up his forehead. "Sorry, I... Don't understand."
Another awkward thought shot through his head: How do incomprehensible scribbles make you a healer?
"When you're taught something special, they give your trainer a certificate," she tried to explain, but it flew over the feline's head.
"Certificate? How does a sheet prove that you can heal someone?" Floragato turned around, batting his eyes in genuine bemusement. "Paper is... Wood pulp. I don't get it... I'm sorry."
"That's okay!" Flops chose not to dwell on it. "It may be a tiny bit confusing."
"Are you from the wilds?" she wondered aloud. "If you don't mind me asking."
Jasper scoffed, thinking to himself, What's with all these questions?
"No?" He stirred up, a bit startled by the inquiry. His ears flattened, tail slightly flicking up and down. "I mean... Yeah? It's complicated."
"How so?" Lopunny quizzed.
"I used to live in the wilds. But it was a long time ago." His answer barely satisfied the hare's curiosity. "So... A bit of both, I guess."
"Ah, I always wonder what life's like out there." She just wouldn't stop. "How did you get caught?"
The feline paused, giving her a long look. Less frustrated or angry and more disturbed. "I..."
His eye twitched. The potion bottle almost slipped out of his paws. Jasper bit his tongue, staying silent for uncomfortably long. "I don't want to talk about that."
"Sorry I asked." Flops shook her head, earning another long pause.
"It's fine." He switched his attention back to his friend. The corners of his lips curled down, brows slipping lower, as heavy as lead. If he didn't feel like talking before, now his mood sank for good. "Just..."
"No, you don't have to explain. I understand," she muttered before he could finish. "I grew up around people. And I don't know how it feels to be... Captured. You know? Sorry for being insensitive."
Jasper didn't respond, trying to get back to whatever he was doing. Even if it was simply trying to look busy. The conversation fizzled out. They sat there silent for a couple of moments. Floragato, unwilling to talk, and Lopunny, unsure of what else to tell him.
But the unbearably awkward pause was broken up by the captain's call. His voice echoed from somewhere above.
She sprang up from the crate like a soldier, whispering under her breath. "I'm so sorry. I'll be right back."
The hare flew up the stairs like her life depended on it. The door swung so fast that a gush of cold air washed over the feline nestled by the bedside.
He shot her a parting glance, whispering to himself. "Bye..."
She turned around, sprinting toward the cabin with a little too much enthusiasm. "Yes, master!"
The cat cringed. The hopeless fawning left an unpleasant taste on his tongue. He knew his place in the social ladder well, but there was enough self-respect left not to call someone such. That last little drop of clarity dividing partnership and servitude.
"What an ass..." His voice was barely above a gentle whisper as if the feline was afraid that anyone else might eavesdrop.
The bunny let out a snort, woken up by the sound of the door slamming. He tried to turn, capriciously fidgeting under the prickly blanket. But simply moving was enough to draw a moan of dull pain out of him. The growl of the engines deep within the boat's bowels muffled his growls of discomfort.
Seeing him stir took a weight off Floragato's shoulders. At last.
Garnet stretched, furiously bucking the quilt. His fingers reached out for the bandage.
"Don't..." Jasper's paw moved on top of his. "You need it to heal."
Red eyes popped open. For a few seconds, Raboot simply blinked, still trying to piece things together. Still half-asleep. Until his snout turned to face the feline. The cat licked his palm, pedantically wiping a red splotch off his friend's chin.
Garnet coughed, each little rasp trailing off into a groan. "Aw..."
"Wha..." He pushed himself up, trying to scale the pillow and frantically looking around. "What happened? Where's..."
For the first time in a while, the feline let out a sigh of relief, inching a little closer. He pulled a capricious pout, batting his eyes like a child with a vendetta.
"Am I in trouble?" Garnet tittered, finally coming back to his senses.
"Big time." Jasper shook his head. His paw sprang up, seeking a safe spot to slap. He softly tapped his friend on the ear.
"OUCH!" Raboot overdramatized. The smack was barely enough to register. Just an affectionate reminder to stay in line.
"Don't you ever scare me like that." Floragato let out a discontented meow.
"But I was so close! If only it wasn't for the slippery deck and-"
The cat's tail flicked, his amusement subtly flaring as he listened to the dreamy retelling of the mishap. A grumbling sound of his complaint cut it off.
He conceded, yielding under that puppy-like gaze. "Fiiine."
"I'm sorry. I just thought that I could take it on," Garnet explained. "It's uh..."
It's what Medio would do, he thought to himself. But voicing it out loud felt too embarrassing to admit.
"It's okay." Jasper closed his eyes. The corners of his mouth curled up. "Just... Don't do it again. You rushed it without a plan."
Garnet slapped his head onto the pillow, announcing his surrender. His ears flattened, resting on the soft pillow. It still stung. But the pain was somewhat manageable if he didn't move.
The ship shook, sending tremors through the rusted-out bulkheads. The engines roared like injured beasts of burden, stirring the vessel back awake. The tub awoke to resume the journey. Raboot's fingers gripped the pillow a little tighter, bracing for another wave of nausea. Seasickness never left.
The cat didn't move away. He grabbed the edge of the blanket, pedantically throwing it over the bunny's chest. Careful not to disturb the tightly wrapped bandage. A little too careful. His paw stayed longer than necessary to feel it rise and fall. As if to make sure everything's healing smoothly. Only when his friend's breaths evened out did he pull away.
Red eyes fell on plush Scorbunny sitting on the bedside. A dumb grin spread through the coney's snout. It was old. White fur became gray over the years. One button was missing, leaving a dot for a peeper. The toy was covered in patches of different colors, each one telling a story. Green hair and spools dusted it, head to toe. A wide smile stitched onto the fabric looked oddly uneven, tamboured by an inexperienced hand. Yet oddly warm and precious.
"Ah." Garnet let out a chuckle. "I didn't know that Snips was coming with us."
"That's Mister Snips to you!" Floragato capriciously corrected him, lifting his nose a fraction. "He was watching over you the whole time."
Raboot snorted, stretching his paw to touch the toy. Carefully. Almost reverently. "My apologies! I didn't realize that I was in the presence of such a distinguished gentleman."
"Oh boy," he noted, seeing a new patch added to the growing collection. "Did he have another washing machine incident? Where does this scar come from?"
"Your Scorbunny has seen better days," the coney jabbered, legs stimming under the blanket.
"So have you," the feline hissed, softly and childishly.
"Ouch," his friend responded.
"The washing machine tried to eat him. But he fought bravely!" The feline chuckled, reaching out to pick his plush up and wipe the spools off its fur.
"And lost an eye in the process..." Garnet yapped away, playing along.
"Oh, that's old. It was loose for a while. I just can't find quite the right color for the button to have Hazel sew it on." The cat smacked his lips, gently shaking his head, "They have to be matching."
"Is that why you have been eying the captain's jacket?" The bunny smirked.
Jasper paused. A smile spread on his snout. Shy and devious in equal measure. His eyes peered into the floor. "No comment."
"Oh, come on. I won't tell anyone!" Garnet shared a wink. "I want to be in on the plan. Wouldn't want to leave Mister Snips hanging."
The cat went silent yet again. A conniving grin grew in size. His paws ruffled up the toy's ears, tongue going for a few licks to brush the wool up. "Mmm..."
"You think he'll notice if..." Floragato thought aloud. "Some of those buttons went missing."
Raboot rose up, propping his chin. "So you plan on snatching them?"
"Oh, please!" Jasper murmured, twirling his whiskers. "I'd never steal anything! Think of it as... Borrowing things he doesn't need."
"Really? Perhaps we're better off getting a new one instead..." Garnet let out a snicker, watching the cat glare daggers at him. "Just kidding. Since it's you who's asking... I guess I can make an exception. Besides, we will return it, right?"
"Of course! I'll give it back. Eventually. Some time..." Floragato nudged the plushie's missing eye with his claw. "Things get misplaced on the ship, you know?"
The bunny's gaze lingered on the toy for just a little longer. He reached out of its scruff and softly pulled it out of the feline's paws, tucking Scorbunny between them and hiding it under the blanket.
The cat's brow sprang up. "What are you doing?"
He tried to sound casual, but there was genuine concern in his voice.
Raboot played along. "Little buddy looked cold."
"That's a pass. He's sleeping with you, then," the feline folded.
"Just like that, huh?" Garnet glanced at him. "You don't let anyone touch the rascal."
"You are not anyone." Jasper's tail curled. "Hold him tight. He's good for morale."
"You bet. No harm will come to Mister Snips on my watch!" the bunny proudly announced, lifting his nose up high. He kicked back, merrily sliding his paw under the pillow, "Don't tell anyone. But I think he likes me."
"Well..." Floragato looked at the plush, then at his friend again. His expression softened. "He has good taste."
Raboot's lips twitched like he was about to say something. But the sudden compliment shut him up, leaving him staring at the toy in silence. Quiet, but content.
The engines growled, rocking the boat back and forth. Garnet went limp, sinking into the mattress, fingers idly stroking Snip's head. Floragato leaned a little closer, pink nose twitching as he sniffed the bunny up and down, looking for any offensive scents that belonged to someone else. A force of habit to reaffirm his safe space.
"You smell like salt," the feline complained. But the smile on his face gave him away.
Red eyes popped open, innocently batting at Jasper. "Maybe I'm just salty I lost."
The cat pulled another pout, shaking his head in chagrin. "You're salty because you ignored my warning, mister."
"Pfft. I bravely ignore all warnings! And courageously disregard the danger." He let out a chuckle. When the heat of the moment settled down, self-awareness hit like a truck. "Part of my charm."
"That you do." A quiet groan escaped Jasper’s mouth.
Garnet shared a devious grin. "See? You'd miss it if I stopped."
The feline clicked his tongue. But he didn't deny it, lowering down and perching on the very edge of the bed like a grumpy yet protective gargoyle.
"You know. For someone who complains so much, you always stick around. Even when I embarrass myself," Raboot sighed, his voice softening up.
"Someone has to." The cat playfully slapped his friend. "Lest you wake up planning to wrestle the ocean again."
"I almost won!" The bunny puffed up his cheeks.
"You fell overboard," Jasper deadpanned at him. "Bum."
"That's different! I STRATEGICALLY fell overboard," Garnet defended himself, crossing his arms. But the sudden movement drew a little yelp. "Aw..."
"Mhm." The feline grimaced, letting out a theatrically long groan. His paw tapped on the bunny's chest, reminding him to stay still. A task much easier said than actually done, with how much he loved to thrash around. "Whatever you say, Magikarp."
"HEY!" The bunny squinted at him. "Magikarp is secretly awesome! Have you seen how high it can jump?"
"It doesn't jump. It just... Flops." The cat wiped stains of salt off the gray coat.
"It TACTICALLY flops. You just don't get it!" Raboot cackled, legs already starting to get restless. Keeping him in one place was quite a challenge. "It's called initiative!"
"It's called being stupid," the feline giggled, getting a little carried away.
"Oh, WOW! Look at you. Being mean to fish for no reason," the bunny gibed, ears perking up. "You know what?"
"Would we still be best friends if I turned into Magikarp?" Garnet shared a devious smile, catching him off guard.
"This is illegal to ask," Jasper joshed, childishly waving him off.
"Nu-Huh," Raboot pressed on. "Would we, though? Imagine. Me, but it's fish."
"A fish with a fuse..." Floragato poked, parrying back. "Flopping around with twice the enthusiasm."
"So?" The bunny wouldn't let go. His smirk grew in size.
"You're terrible." A deep sigh escaped the cat's lips.
"Fine. I'd make an exception for you," he conceded. "I'll have to be a fish, too, then. So we can do no good."
"See? We're both..." Garnet's cackle trailed off into a snort. "On the same wave..."
Jasper rolled his eyes in astonishment, his paw going for a soft bonk on the bunny's nose.
"OUCH!" Raboot caviled, still laughing like a maniac.
"Deserved," Jasper groaned. More so to play along.
"Don't like my fish puns? I don't know about you, but I'm kind of hooked..." He pressed on.
Floragato let out a discontent meow and lunged forth, softly munching his friend's arm.
"AW!" Garnet yelped. "What is that for?"
The cat's ears flicked when he released the rascal. "Warning bite. Next one's for real if you keep going."
The bunny blinked, eyes wide and innocent. "You'd never!"
"Don't test me." The feline showed his fangs.
"Should I be scared?" Raboot pressed his paws into his cheeks, seeping sarcasm.
"You better be." Jasper scrawled at him. "You know what you should do? Get some rest. You heal faster when you're not being... You."
"WOW!" Garnet grumbled, slumping over his pillow. "You really know how to make me feel cherished."
"You are cherished." Floragato took the bait. "It's just unfortunate that you're also... Annoying sometimes."
"Forever a thorn in your side. Shamelessly, by the way." His friend grinned, craftily leering at him. "Giving you a hard time, nerd."
"Says the bunny who tells me fun facts about his favorite show. Day in and day out." A sly smirk spread on the cat's snout.
"Wait... Really?" Garnet was taken off guard. For a moment, he sounded genuinely embarrassed. "I can stop if you'd like..."
"No." Jasper stroked his shoulder. "I love it when you get carried away. Even if I want to bite you for it. Sometimes."
"Promise?" The coney sounded like a child, his eyes round and glossy.
"Promise. You can tell me all about Medio," Floragato folded. He'd lie if he said that he didn't enjoy it. The sheer enthusiasm always swayed him over. "After you rest."
"Deal." Raboot's face melted into a smile. "Okay, so... The episode where he rescued Princess Astral. THE BOWS! Did you see how he used the momentum?"
"Oh, it was super effective. You nearly fell off the couch," the cat giggled, shaking his head.
"Worth it," he chuckled, talking into a pillow. "Man... I wish I were Sylveon."
"You'd trip over the ribbons..." Jasper nudged him, seizing the moment.
"Mean," Garnet puffed up a sleepy pout.
"But accurate," Floragato teased, bobbing his head.
The bunny laughed, this time quietly. It trailed off into a wide-mouthed yawn. His ears slowly drooped, exhaustion finally getting the best of him. The potion might have mended all the wounds, but it didn't help with the less severe consequences. Floragato watched him for a moment, fondness painting a smile on his face before he could realize it.
"You can share the rest tomorrow." He cautiously tucked Raboot in.
"Stay?" His friend asked with only one eye open.
"I was planning to..." Jasper hesitated, voice shifting into a soft whisper. "Sleep tight. I'll be here."
A snore escaped Garnet as he drifted off. Quick and tight like he's been through a marathon. A well-deserved rest.
The feline looked outside, ears angled. As if expecting footsteps that never came. Not yet. He had some time. Only when his friend was fast asleep did he allow himself to lean a little closer. His head rested on the very edge of the same pillow. Just for a moment. Just for a couple of seconds. Just to feel that he was there with him. Steady. Peaceful. Well. Alive. It meant more than words could ever tell.
Floragato took off, settling to keep watch nearby. No single mouse would make its way through. Pink eyes drilled the musty old ceiling, finally allowing his troubled mind to daydream. To think about things that could never be. Wishing that this moment could last for just a little longer. The blanket looked awfully cozy, inviting him to crawl under for a snooze. The warmth felt intoxicating, tingling his coat like a promise. But he resisted the iniquitous temptation. Some lines were never meant to be crossed. Not like that.
The whole world shrank around them. Pressing close. Holding its breath.
***
Perpetual rain filled the void, drumming against the metal. Cold northern wind howled outside, raking through the battered hull. Each gush howled between the rusty bulkheads. The crowd dissolved, whether hiding from incessant deluge or trying to get back to work. Cigarette lights flickered inside the cabin, choking the air with a pungent stench of soaked tobacco. Meowth and Stunky, both drenched like wet rags, pulled a bag full of salt towards the fallen serpent. The sheer bulk of the haul made them pause, unsure of what they were supposed to do with it. Preserving a fish in brine sounded easy on paper. But not when it was the size of a whole truck.
Inteleon kneeled by the dead beast, hand swiping the slime away.
Tinker turned around, raising his brow. He stood there for a few moments, watching Opal meddling with the serpent. "What are you doing?"
"Indulging my curiosity," she half-heartedly responded. Her palm revealed a faint brand carved onto the scales. Wear and tear of time almost washed it away, hiding the mark under dozens of scratches and scars.
"It's nothing special," Flint brushed it off, tossing a whole bucket of salt into the snake's mouth. "You see a lot of tagged Pokémon in these parts."
She recoiled, ears flicking. As if expecting the beast to stir back to life. Its open maw loomed over them like a bottomless pit. Monstrously large and unnerving to look at, the white fangs were as long as the feline's head.
"Really?" Inteleon muttered, cleaning the serpent's skin. "Tell me more."
She spoke so casually that the skunk chimed in on autopilot, "Not much to tell. Sometimes people fish for fun. Catch one, tag it, let it go."
"Sometimes they are owned. And the brand is just a way to find out who they belong to," Tinker mumbled through clenched teeth, dragging another bucket across the deck. Old rusty metal scraped against the floor. "Like a label on a collar. That sort of thing. That's what the boss says anyway."
"Fish for fun? Must be downright hilarious having a hook shoved through your jaw. I suppose the brand is just a little bonus to remember the prank by," she scoffed, seeping sarcasm. "No wonder it chose to attack."
"Don't wild Pokémon hunt and kill each other?" Stunky shot back, idly mumbling between pants and wheezes.
"Hunt, yes. To eat when they're starving," the amphibian explained, snatching a piece of torn canvas and wiping the beast's scales clean. "They don't do it for giggles."
"What's the difference?" Tinker replied, biting a loose knot and pulling it back as hard as he could to raise whatever remained of the ripped awning.
"You wouldn't understand," Opal surmised, raising up from her knees to look at the tag.
"Would you?" Stunky glanced over at her.
Inteleon stretched her hand, lining it up with the serpent and turning it around. It looked so casual that no one cared to pay attention. The back of her wrist bore a scar embedded in black scales. Match.
The corners of her lips curled up, arm sliding back down. Like nothing happened. "No. I suppose not."
"My thoughts exactly." Tinker got back to the task, shaking the water off his drenched coat. "I'm just happy that I'm not the one on the table. Lucky people don't eat skunks."
"Pfft. Are you sure about that?" Meowth jabbed him. She made it sound like a joke, but her tone left her friend wanting.
"They don't... Right?" Stunky clenched his teeth, swallowing a little too hard. "RIGHT?"
"I don't know. You can go and ask in one of those fancy restaurants." Flint didn't make it any easier. "Or one of those beauty shops that sell handbags made of fur and leather."
"On second thought... The less I learn, the better," Tinker cautiously concluded, distracting himself with cleaning the stern. Black paws shoved broken planks off the edge of the ship.
"Good thing there are Pokémon who choose to learn what the others don't want to." Inteleon pedantically dusted her hands. Her half-closed golden eyes moved away towards the bleak horizon. "For our sake. But we wouldn't know anything about it, I am sure."
"Whatever. Look, we have a safe place to live and food in our bowls. What more to wish for?" Stunky mumbled, tucking under the canopy to dry himself up.
"Absolutely nothing." Opal turned away, allowing the venomous smirk to spread just a little bit wider. "Why would anyone think big when they are so small? Ambitions... Ridiculous."
"Well said," Tinker agreed, wiping his coat with a piece of torn fabric.
The amphibian walked back to the cabin, rain tapping on blue scales that kept on changing hues, becoming almost translucent. The amphibian's tail traced the handrails, elegantly following her.
Sucker, she thought to herself with a grin.
Far beyond the fallen sun, distant stars pierced the turbulent black skies. Surfing Bird pressed on into the gloom, headlamps carving a path through the dark ocean.
Come storm, come thunder, come endless rain, the vessel took off toward the final frontier. To boldly go.