Event 4: Snowflake Gifts

PMD-Explorers E4 Prologue

First official battle

It was a morning like the day before; the snow, Sorbet, the different teams walking around... They all seemed less tense now that the missions were over and enjoying a little of that time to stroll. Mike hasn't woken up it seemed, for no sounds could be heard from the little tree house which served as the Rescuers' HQ. Maple was outside though, with an Ampharos who was skilfully playing a small guitar. She was listening intently to the electric Pokémon, her gaze never leaving the musician's instrument. Spinda Café was rustling with teams of all sorts and Vertigo was rushing from table to table taking the orders, delivering them and working out the bills...

Peter and Marston had spent some time in Tao Village - 2 nights now - and it hasn't been bad at all. Sure their current house was quite old and it looked like it would be crumbling down anytime but they could completely rebuild it. This morning, they were going to Tao Lake. After all, Tanith and Kiefer had told them about it, about how they found it really beautiful and how they got a bad time trying to flee the ghosts. Marston immediately picked up that information and wished to have a look.

As of Team Thunderhead, they didn't quite want to explore those woods, not so soon anyway, so they told Team Tankers. And so, they found themselves in front of the still water. The snow had covered the banks of the lake, the three islets in the middle of the lake was covered with the white blanket of snow that was over Tao Village. A chilly breeze blew, hardly disturbing the surface of the lake, passing through their bodies, carrying the sweet scent of the mountain through their nostrils. The reflection of the tall peak (Mt. Bolero) in the distance seemed to dance on the surface of the water. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, no shouts, no strange occurrence, nothing which could hint at any ghost. But they had assumed too quickly...

"COME BACK!!!!"

"Huh? That wasn't anything like a ghost?" remarked the Mudkip turning round his head towards the woods.
"I don't think it was a ghost Mars..." the Pikachu replied. "It seems more like someone's having trouble to me."
"Well... let's have a look Pete."

Indeed, not far away in the woods, among the trees, two suspicious figures were moving swiftly along the grassy path.

"Darn it!" cursed a Swablu, her feet touching the ground noiselessly.

Not long afterwards a loud whistle resounded. Behind the Swablu came a second Pokémon; a Sunkern.
"Did you hear that Remi?" the Swablu asked, her eyes expressing how lost she was.
"Hear what Raven?" the Sunkern replied, frowning in confusion.
"I must be hearing things..." Raven replied, no more sure about herself.
"Did you mean that?" Remi queried, his gaze turning upwards.

Before Raven could answer or Remi move, a small sturdy rock came flying onto the Sunkern violently, nailing poor Remi on the noggin who immediately passed out.

Ears twitching to the sounds they picked, Peter was the first one to stop.
"Did... did you hear that too?" Marston asked, his eyes now getting more anxious.

"REMI!!!!"
"GEH HEH HA! Direct hit! Didja see that Hugh?" a Sandile cackled with a nasty grin.
"GUHUHUH! Yeah, nice shot Krocky!" a Hippopotas bellowed, followed a blood-chilling laugh.

Raven looked back towards the two Rogues, a growl starting to be heard coming from the little body of hers out of anger. On the other side, the sight of Peter and Marston finally picked up the two rascals among some bushes and trees, with something in their arms. Ignoring their laughter, Marston stepped forward.

"HEY YOU! What do you think you are doing?" he demanded them defiantly, before once more opening his mouth, a small bubble of water forming in the cavity.

However, it was not long before a strange enticing melody was heard. It was Raven using Sing! While their attention left her, she had taken a deep breath and had been preparing her move. There was no time to lose and Peter knew what was happening. Marston was about to unleash his attack when Peter immediately interrupted him.

"Mars! That move is Sing! We've got to do something or we'll fall asl-" Peter told his partner with anxiety in his voice, before falling into slumber.

Marston just had time to stop his attack and envelop himself into a protective bubble; Protect. Further, the Sandile had dug a hole and had pulled the Hippopotas inside as fast as possible and it did not appear like they were affected by the song.

As the Swablu stopped to take her breath and hovered to her partner. She tilted her head, not quite knowing what to do. She could not leave him there like a forgotten rag, and she had to make it quick to get the thieves in time. She would make sure that they wouldn't be getting away with the goods they snatched. Letting out a deep sigh, her tiny feet managed to move the chunk of rock off Remi and plop him out of the hole he was pushed into. Her feet grabbed the grass Pokémon and with a lot of effort, her cotton-like wings flapped hard to carry the Sunkern, setting her direction towards the thieves.

As for the thieves, they waited until they decided it was safe to come out again. Their heads popped out from the earth with large grins on their face.
"Ha! Now we can make a real getaway!" the Sandile blurted out.

"Pete! Pete? Are you okay?" Marston urged anxiously nudging his partner.

Getting frustrated, Marston turned towards the woods to see if there was anything which could have helped him, until he spotted a Chesto shrub where a couple of Chesto berry hang. Quickly, his paw picked one of the berries and shoved in into Peter's mouth. The latter woke up grumpily.
"At last you're awake! Those two Pokémon were trying to thieve a couple of other Pokémon and they're getting away!" Marston yelped, shaking the groggy Peter.

The two hurried forward in the direction the thieves went, with Peter trying to overcome his drowsiness. Ahead of the four Pokémon, Krocko, the Sandile, and Hugo, the Hippopotas, were plotting a sneaky strategy. They had covered quite some distance but somehow, they haven't said their last word.
"You sure this is gonna work, boss?" Hugo questioned hesitantly.
"OF COURSE!" Krocko retorted. "Those four morons would never understand what hit'em!" he added with a confident gleam in his eyes.

After some suspicious activity among some bush, the two rogues walked backwards, away from the aforementioned bushes and after a while, stopped. Another whistle was heard...

Raven began to lose altitude; the load she was holding was having its toll on her and she was slowly losing her energy. Not being able to take it anymore, she landed with a 'thud' on the ground, breathing hard.
"Remi, when you wake up, you're going on a diet!" she grumbled.

Remi pulled the Sunkern on her back and with some difficulty carried the unconscious Remi. She then stopped one instant, her nostrils picking up a scent she was familiar with; it was her favourite berry. Being more than tired of carrying around the Sunkern, Remi put him down and slapped him to wake him up.
"What!" mumbled the Sunkern still sleepy.

Raven was about to reply when suddenly, the same whistle from earlier was heard. To their surprise though, there was no rock whatsoever in sight, but instead a loud scream could be heard.

"Remi, you stay here while I check out something," Raven ordered.
"Fine"

Raven followed the footsteps the thieves left behind on the bare ground and peeked over a bush. Two Pokémon were in front of her; a Sandile and a Hippopotas.

"GRRR! You idiot! Now they will know where we are!" Krocko barked at the Hippopotas, his paws furiously rubbing his head.
"S-s-sorry boss... I miscalculated the trajectory and it went up..." Hugo apologised getting red in the process, an unnoticeable chuckle under his big snout, before continuing, "and what goes up..."

Hugo was interrupted by Remi, who leapt out from the bushes.
"Finally I got you!" she called triumphantly.

Soon after, Peter and Marston arrived in the area too. They found the two ground Pokémon with the Swablu a little further ahead.
"Give back what you stole, thieves!" thundered Marston stepping forward.

The two thieves turned round to realise that they were surrounded. In the meanwhile, Raven took the opportunity that they had their attention elsewhere to take to the air towards Remi and brought him too. By the time they turned back to get a better grasp of their position, a Sunkern was besides the Swablu.

"Ack!" snorted Krocko. "Heh! We aint' got nuttin' you want!" lied the Sandile.
"What!? You're lying!" argued Raven.
"Give them back!" screamed Remi.
"D'ya see any items on us?" quizzed Krocko.
"We ain't got nuttin'!" Hugo added.
"Enough of your playing games! We saw you with the berries!" Peter burst out, his right foot taking a step forward, getting in position for battle.
"And you have probably hidden them by the time we found you!" continued Marston.
"Now, there's no need to get angry! I can work out a deal for ya?" suggested Krocko in a way neither Peter nor Marston expected. "And besides, what evidence ya got, accusing us, honest Pokémon, like that?"

The Swablu hopped towards the two rogues and sniffed them at a wing's length distance.
"My sense of smell tells me that you have handled some berries, including my favourite Pecha berry and the rare items what were with us!" accused Raven.
"H-h-hey! Back off shorty!" snapped the Sandile.
"And there are your footprints which will most surely lead us to the place you hid them anyway," Marston went on defiantly, preparing a Hydropump. "Don't you dare get away that easily!"

Raven didn't even flinch at the remark.
"Did. You. Call. Me. Shorty?" Raven asked articulating each word threateningly, her little eyes now squinting at Krocko.

Raven took a few steps backwards and took to the air, reading Fury Attack. Her anger now showing in her eyes, she lunged forward ignoring the rogue's answer only to be stopped by Remi.
"Ah ok, so y'caught me and m' mate red-handed..." Krocko acted submissively. "Hugo, grab the goods."
"Raven stop!" Remi pleaded the Swablu, who held back.
"B-but boss!" stammered the baffled Hugo.
"Just do it already!" screeched the Sandile.

Hugo gave a frown, but pulled out two items which was with him: a Shiny Stone and a rare berry.
"Hand them to me," commanded Raven with a fluffy wing extending towards the Hippopotas.

The drops of sweat were running down the forehead of the Hippopotas and his limbs were shaking a little. His eyes were shifting from his boss to the Swablu. Marston on the other side wasn't sure whether the thieves were really giving up that easily and he kept a close eye on them. Hugo motioned towards the Swablu and held out the two items, when suddenly, he was interrupted.

"NOW HUGO!" Krocko yelled. "SANDSTORM!"

This confirmed the suspicions of Marston. Hugo's nostrils and hole on its back began spitting out huge amounts of sand with tremendous force. The sand whirled in circles, quickly filling up the area decreasing the visibility. Bushes and trees swayed sideways under the strength of the gusts. Behind the rogues, Marston had dug a hole and pulled his partner in to take shelter. Raven was propelled back quite violently as she screamed from the blow while Remi tried to hover upwards to avoid the raging sands.
"RAVEN!!!" called out Remi with an unsure tone.
"GEH! Heh hahaha! What? D'y'think I was givin' up that easily?" Krocko's voice echoed.