That's the Spirit! - Chapter 20

[Melemele Sea]

Kukui’s Empoleon looked over the wrecked tugboat with a frown. “Hard to believe he just did that.”

“Honorless cur,” Hala’s Poliwrath agreed. He placed a hand on the wounded coral supporting the boat and sighed. A few bubbles drifted to the surface. “Such pointless violence.” 

He chopped a large piece in half with the flat of his hand and passed it over to Empoleon, who cut it smaller with his wings. From there, the penguin handed it to one of the other Water-types joining them. This one was a Sharpedo, wearing a riding harness modified for carrying cargo.

The ghost attack had, in the end, not caused too much property damage. Of the boats Rebreather had possessed, six had been completely scuttled. The tour boat and a sailboat were washed up on the public beach, and three more had run into the rocky outcroppings that protected the majority of the reef. 

And then there was this tugboat. It was the only one posing an active threat to the environment, so it was being prioritized. Kukui and Hala had volunteered their Pokémon to the effort, and they found the sight grim.

“Look, the coral’s already turned white, right there,” Empoleon pointed out. “Do you know what kind of coral this is?”

“I’m a freshwater Pokémon. I’m lucky to know what coral is at all,” Poliwrath said blandly, passing along another bit of debris.

“Oh.” Empoleon worked in silence for a moment. “...Are you okay working in the sea, then? I think I remember hearing the Poli family has semi-permeable skin, and--”

The old frog waved him off irritably. “I’ll be fine to do the job, and I’ll take a bath in the pond later. Mind your work, I think that’s the engine poking out there.”

Empoleon, by virtue of being a Steel-type and therefore immune to most poisons, had the highly important goal of dealing with any potential fuel leak in the water. How exactly Kukui had intended for him to do this was unclear to Empoleon, but he had a perfectly serviceable method regardless.

Empoleon dug the engine out a little more, then used Ice Beam. It was tricky to only freeze what you wanted, underwater, but he managed, and soon the entire mechanism was trapped inside a block of ice.

Of course, ice wasn’t great for the coral either, so they focused on excavating it and getting it away as soon as possible. At Poliwrath’s direction, a team of Tentacool wrapped their tendrils around it and heaved. The ice tore some more of the ship away with it, which was fine.

The coral underneath was chalk white. It was sad to see, truly. White, and white, and white, and--

“Hm? Poliwrath, help me get this up, I think I see--”

Empoleon had been there at the end of the battle, and had seen the brave Corsola directing the other Pokémon in stopping the tidal wave. He knew she was shiny, and was almost certainly the same shiny that washed up on Kukui’s beach the other day.

Before him now, as they pulled away the wreckage, was a small, sad, ash-gray chunk of coral. Her branches snapped off, her color lost.

Empoleon lifted up the dead Corsola, melancholy. “You did good, little one.”

The rock in his hands didn’t respond, but he didn’t really expect it to.

“The kid would probably…” Empoleon hesitated. “Do you think he’d want to see her? After he wasn’t able to save her?”

Poliwrath shrugged, turning back to his work. Not unkindly, he said, “Maybe, maybe not. But that’s for him to decide, ain’t it?”

Empoleon considered that and nodded. He set the poor creature aside for now; there was still wreckage to clean.

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[Hau’oli City]

Hala pointed over his shoulder. “If anyone here has a Sandygast, have them start cleaning the glass off the beach! Machamp, get these people to the Center.”

“I’m fine, old man,” the tourist protested. He was clearly favoring his right leg, and his Pachirisu looked concerned. Thankfully he didn’t do more than grumble when Machamp picked him up. A woman, presumably the man’s wife, followed after them.

“You two, quit standing around! I know you, you have that truck, don’t you? Go get it, we’ll use it to haul the debris off to the shipyard.”

The sunburned young man saluted and hurried off.

The beach was going to be closed for a while. A few days at the very least. All that glass was going to be a pain to clean up, not to mention the wrecks themselves. Hala hoped everyone at the docks had their insurance up to date…

“Hmmm,” Hala murmured, rubbing his chin. “Would this qualify as a natural disaster or an act of Arceus?” He might need to flex some of his authority as Kahuna to make sure everything gets paid for. He hated doing that, but the faster things got fixed the faster they could go back to normal.

“Excuse me, Kahuna Hala?”

The old man turned and hid a grimace at the stark white uniforms arrayed before him. Two women and a man walked over while half a dozen others stood back.

“You must be from that Aether Foundation?” he surmised.

The woman in the lead nodded, smiling just a little too cheerfully. “That’s right, sir. As soon as we heard something happened, we were dispatched to lend assistance.”

Hala sighed. “Well, the main event is over but we could still use some help. You’re probably best suited splitting up between the two Pokémon Centers. A lot of Pokémon from the reef got hurt, not to mention the trained ones. The Joys might need extra hands.” As he spoke he gestured towards the beach, where a pair of Ride Sharpedo were dropping off a pair of injured Staryu and a cracked Clamperl.

Three of the Aether workers broke off to retrieve the Pokémon right away, while the rest made their way towards one of the other Centers.

The lead woman bowed. “We’re happy to be of assistance, Kahuna.” She paused. “Before I go, there have been conflicting reports about what happened; I’ve heard rumors of a flying boy going around, and someone said that it was a human who did all this, without any Pokémon! I don’t suppose you can answer any questions?”

Hala grunted. “I wouldn’t pay any attention to rumors if I were you. I’ll make a statement to the local news once we’ve got this cleaned up, don’t worry.”

She accepted that and followed after the others.

Part of Hala felt bad, but he brushed it away. The Aether Foundation rubbed him the wrong way sometimes. He didn’t have a good reason to distrust them, really. They did good work, he would never dispute that, but he didn’t appreciate their all-white, squeaky clean persona. Hala had quietly denied any attempt for them to build a base on Melemele because he felt that anything they made would clash harshly with the natural beauty of Alola.

At least he could take solace in the fact that Tapu Koko shared his opinion. Otherwise he’d think himself foolish for it.

Hala frowned, and turned towards the center of the island. Thinking about it, where was Tapu Koko?

The island’s guardian was the deity of conflict, and always up for a scrap. Surely a foe like that Rebreather character would have been too good to pass up?

“Kahuna, sir!” Officer Jenny approached, looking annoyed. “The owner of the building the ghost crashed into wants to speak to you about reparations.”

“I’m working on it,” he promised, turning to look at her. “I wanted to talk to them myself; it’s their glass all over the sidewalk, after all.”

Jenny fidgeted. “He primarily wished to know who he should be sending the bill to, I believe.”

It took him a moment to parse that. The moment he understood, he stared at her, aghast. “Are you telling me he’s trying to assign blame? Is he going to sue the ghost?”

“I believe he intends to press charges against the boy, actually, for knocking him into the building,” she said apologetically.

That explained why she looked annoyed. “I see. I guess I should move them up the priority list, before they get any more bright ideas,” Hala said. He rolled his sleeves up and made to enter the building. “You take over the cleanup efforts for now, Officer. I won’t be long.”

He’d have to question the Tapu later. There was still work to be done.

-----------------------------

[Kukui’s Lab]

Robin opened and refolded her wings, settling into her perch on the railing of Kukui’s loft. She carefully watched her Trainer from above as the Professors fretted over him.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t take him to a hospital?” Burnet asked for the third time, resting a hand on Danny’s forehead.

“You can see as well as I do, dear,” Kukui insisted. “Physically, he’s fine. Whatever happened to him with… all that, we’re better equipped to deal with it than they are.”

“He’s freezing,” Burnet muttered, pulling her hand away and rubbing some warmth into it. “As in, actually freezing.”

Zorua jumped up onto Danny’s chest and curled up, trying to warm him.

Kukui snapped his fingers. “I think I still have some hot chocolate from last Christmas; it should still be good.” He stood and walked to the kitchenette.

Burnet made a face. “Not that powdered garbage?” she asked. dismayed.

“It’s what we have, dear. The warmth is more important than the taste right now.”

“Says you.”

Robin ignored their mild bickering and focused on Danny now that Kukui wasn’t partially blocking her view.

He looked normal. If she didn’t know any better she’d think he was asleep. Burnet had removed his shirts to better examine him, and he was thinner than his baggy clothes suggested, but aside from that he seemed fine.

She still didn’t know what to think. She had been useless during that fight. Rick’s stupid bomb attack had saved Professor Kukui, and Zorua’s bite had distracted the ghost long enough for that attack to land, but Robin? She hadn’t done anything. She hesitated.

It was disgraceful, but… she was scared. And she didn’t understand how the others weren’t. Robin never thought having a trainer would involve anything like this…

While Kukui prepared the hot cocoa, he leaned on the counter and kept an eye on Danny. “...So, that impromptu experiment--”

“With the ectoplasm?” Burnet finished. “It was interesting. Cutiefly’s Fairy Wind turned it pink for a moment. It sparkled, too. Fascinating reaction.”

Kukui rubbed his chin. “I wonder…”

The fridge behind him opened and closed itself. A spray can of whipped cream floated out.

“What?” Kukui stared.

The can floated over to Danny and pointed itself at Danny’s resting hand.

Burnet suddenly scowled and snatched the can out of the air. “Rick!”

The Gastly faded into visibility, smiling smugly. “Gahaha.”

“Are you seriously trying to prank him, now?”

“It’ll be funny,” Rick said, for Robin and Zorua to hear and the humans not to understand. More seriously, he continued, “And whether it makes him angry or makes him laugh, it might keep from waking up scared.”

Burnet couldn’t understand what he said, but she still softened at his tone. “I know you’re worried, and it’s nice that you care. But this isn’t the way to express it.”

Rick grumbled, but accepted the admonishment. Burnet tossed the can back to Kukui, who replaced it.

Zorua opened one eye, regarded Rick, and sat up on Danny’s chest.

Kukui sighed. “...What a mess.”

“There was no way we could have known about any of this,” Burnet reminded him. She judged Danny’s temperature. “...He’s warming up on his own, but slowly.”

“Cocoa will be another minute, yeah.”

Burnet hummed. “Well, at least some good came of all this. I got more data than I ever expected out of Rebreather coming through the mirror. I don’t know where to begin analyzing it, though.”

“That’s good at least,” Kukui agreed. “...I hope I can get some footage of Danny’s… transformation. You should have seen it, Burnet, it was like a human Forme Change. I’ve never heard of anything like it.” He grabbed the ready cocoa and set it on the counter. “I’m certain he counts as Ghost-type now. Do you remember that creeping feeling that went up the spine when Rebreather appeared?”

Burnet shuddered. She was sure she wouldn’t forget it any time soon.

“Danny felt just the same before he reverted. Whatever he was, he was the same kind of thing as that ghost.” He walked around the counter and sat back down, handing the cocoa off to Burnet, who put it next to Danny’s hand.

“I don’t like the implications of that,” Burnet said dryly.

“He sure feels alive to me,” Kukui pointed out. “He’s got a pulse…” He paused and checked Danny’s wrist. “Yeah.” He shook his head. “I don’t understand it. Which is exciting! But also worrying.”

“Maybe his parents will be able to help figure it out once we get in contact with them again. They’re supposed to be the experts, after all.” Burnet picked up Danny’s hand and placed it around the hot mug.

Danny grimaced, and his eyes cracked open. “Ungh…”

Burnet’s eyebrows rose up. “Oh, that worked.”

“Danny!” Kukui helped him up. “How are you feeling?”

“Like…” Danny yawned. “...I got hit by…” He blinked rapidly, and if his eyes flickered between blue and green, neither of them commented on it. “...Huh. I feel… pretty okay actually. I usually wake up groggy. Why am I not in my roo--”

Danny’s eyes widened. He tensed, looking around. His hand jerked, and some of the cocoa splashed out of his mug, and Danny yelped as the hot liquid got on his bare chest.

“AAGH?! Why?!”

Zorua yipped in Danny’s lap, having gotten some on him too.

Kukui ran to the counter and came back with paper towels. “Sorry, sorry… You can relax, kid, it’s all over.”

“What… happened?” Danny asked, confused.

Kukui and Burnet shared a look. “What’s the last thing you remember?”

Danny opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

It opened without waiting for an answer, and Kukui’s Empoleon walked in, looking a little scuffed. He was holding something in his wings.

“Oh hey, is the salvage work done already?” Kukui asked.

Empoleon shook his head, hesitantly. He glanced at Danny. “Pol, leon…”

Rick hovered over to see what the penguin was holding. When he saw it, his expression flattened. The gas ball looked at Danny, then nodded solemnly.

Danny, feeling nervous all of a sudden, swung his legs off the cot. “What is it?”

Empoleon opened his flippers, revealing a dull gray rock.

One with a face.

Kukui sucked in air through his teeth as Danny took in the sight. It was strangely smooth, had a number of holes across it, and had four little… legs.

“Oh.”

Danny accepted the dead Corsola numbly.

“Emp, poleo,” the penguin said softly.

“Danny, you did your best,” Kukui said.

“...What happened to Rebreather?”

“Hah. You kicked his tail and then… well,” the Professor rubbed the back of his neck. “Giratina showed up.”

“And dragged him back through the mirror. Windows. Whatever,” Danny finished, nodding. “...Good.” He cradled the rock to his chest, and hiccuped.

Burnet lowered her head. “Oh, Danny.”

“Zor…” Zorua’s ears folded back as he hopped off of Danny’s lap to rub against his side. Then Danny hiccuped again. “Zor?”

Danny coughed, and a thin stream of mist seeped out of his mouth. “What?”

The rock in his arms twitched, and he nearly dropped it. Sitting in his lap, a white glow built up in the coral’s holes before emerging as translucent branches.

Corsola opened her eyes. “Sola…?”

Danny gasped. “You! You’re--well, you’re not okay, but you’re ali--well, you’re… uh?”

Corsola looked up blearily at him. When she recognized him, she smiled sadly and nuzzled closer.

“I don’t blame you,” she whispered.

Danny pulled her close and Rick cheered, while Burnet leaned back with a small smile. Kukui untensed in something like relief while Zorua tried to play it cool despite his wagging tail.

And up above in the loft, Robin watched with a stoic expression. She was scared that things were going to keep going like this, that more monsters would show up, that she’d have to keep dealing with monsters and ghosts. But through all of that, she had a trainer who cared, about her and others.

And maybe that was worth putting up with the rest for.

She nodded to herself, and felt a resolve settle in her chest. Something unlocked…

…and Robin set it aside, content to let Danny and Corsola have their moment. She’d have her own time, later.

For now, things were good.

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[Ghost Zone]

When Rebreather came to, he was drifting--

--In the ocean?!?!--

--No, just in the Zone. Feh.

How did he get here? He oriented himself and took his bearings. Where was he anyhow?

He looked ‘down.’ When he saw nothing, he picked another direction to be ‘down,’ and saw the Dead World, far ‘below’ him.

In the ocean, it was easy to get disoriented and lose track of what direction was up or down, and so Rebreather was uniquely experienced in navigating the Zone, where the same thing was even easier.

The castle mocked him. He hated it. He remembered… He remembered barging through a portal. He made it! But how did he return?

Red eyes glowered at him through the darkness, from far below. He could barely see the dragon from this distance, but he felt its glare all the same, and he fled.

Later, on a floating rock, he sat and struggled to get his thoughts in check. The gap in his memories disturbed him; trying to trawl through what happened was like trying to reel in a monster fish, liable to slip away and break his line of thought if he wasn’t focused.

“Hey, I know you!”

Rebreather grumbled as his thoughts were interrupted, but he lightened up as he saw who it was. Youngblood, in his pirate outfit, was always a welcome sight for the old diver. Here was a young man who appreciated the sea.

“Ahoy, Captain,” Rebreather greeted, standing with a grunt.

Youngblood responded with a sloppy salute that made him chuckle, and then the boy was hovering about him like a mosquito. “Did you make it? Didja? You went to the castle with Ember and were gone for a long time! Why’d you come back?”

“Yes, I think we’d all like some intel,” a much deeper voice intoned.

Rebreather sneered at his second guest. He never liked Skulker. Both of them were naturalists in life, but very different kinds. “I don’t have anything to say to you, poacher.”

Skulker, damn him, just smirked and held up a brand new fishing pole. “Are you sure? I’ve been working on a new gadget for you, but if you don’t want it--”

Rebreather snatched the pole out of his hand and examined it. Annoyingly, it was very high quality. “...What are the features on this one?”

“The pole itself is recycled from my last hunting bow. I didn’t need it anymore, with my new weaponry, and it was taking up space on a shelf that could be used for more trophies. The line is a new invention: a diamond filament, as close to unbreakable as I’m capable of making.” Skulker leaned in close. “You could fish up a whale with this baby.”

Rebreather imagined that, and swore. “Damn you, fine.”

Youngblood gasped. “You said--!”

“Sorry, smallfry.” Rebreather considered for a long moment. “...the other side is a tropical paradise. I was this close to destroying it,” he said wistfully, holding his index finger and thumb barely apart. “The ocean was beautiful, and it jumped at my command.”

Skulker’s fiery eyebrows rose in interest, while Youngblood bounced in place.

“Really? I could have a real pirate adventure?!” He paused, looking down at the castle. “But first, I’d have to lay siege to the castle and defeat the dragon guarding the treasure at the center… hmm.” As he spoke, his outfit shimmered, briefly resembling a suit of armor before settling back on his typical overcoat.

“Those annoying teenagers must be miserable,” Skulker said, rubbing his chin. “Not many roads to ride in such a place.”

Rebreather didn’t bother to correct him. “It was… incredible. Tantalizing. I felt… full.” He struggled to describe the feeling. “I can’t… quite recall. But there was so much, it almost hurt.”

“That doesn’t sound so fun,” Youngblood said, disappointed.

“It was fantastic,” the diver insisted. “I almost felt alive again.”

Youngblood’s expression flattened. “What’s so great about that?”

“If it’s so great, why did you return?” Skulker asked, floating closer than Rebreather liked. “You, the delinquents, and Ember are the only ones to breach the castle so far, but only you’ve returned. Why? It sounds like heaven for you.”

He pushed the hunter away. “I didn’t leave by choice, nimrod! That dragon caught me and pulled me back! And it wouldn’t have had the chance if it hadn’t been for that--”

He cut himself off, eye widening as a memory returned.

“Hadn’t been for what?” Skulker demanded.

“...There was another ghost there,” Rebreather said, voice distant as he struggled to reel the memory in. “Except… he wasn’t. I could have sworn he was a normal human, but then he was different…”

“Really?” Skulker asked, and Rebreather hated the tone of his voice. “How interesting…”s