Chapter Text
Route 110 glittered before you; a ribbon of glass, winding its way over sapphire sea. The Cycling Road leading you towards Slateport City; and the new ice cream cart your friends had recommended.
Your bike tktktktktktkted as you peddled, and the wind howled in your ears. Comfortable as you were on a bike, your heart still leapt with every steep descent of the lane. A pair of Wingull cawed overhead as you took a downwards ramp at speed, and nearly shot over the railing at the bottom. Wheels wobbled dangerously beneath you as you corrected, and the Wingull cawed anew; barking caws, like laughter, as you wobbled your way towards yet another slope.
You couldn't help but join in. The three of you laughing as you sailed down the final stretch of the Cycling Road, and finally, finally, touched down on pebbled land.
Your legs were only kind of shaking as you locked your bike up, and made your way through the cobbled streets of Slateport City. A rainbow of vendors tents seemed to beacon you towards Slateport’s marketplace; the canvas tops of stalls fluttering in the salty breeze. People and Pokémon milled in and out of the open-air market carrying armfuls of shopping, or chatting excitedly with each other. Their excitement was catching. When you made your way between the stalls, it was with a smile.
Your friends had described a pink cart with blue accents- and your friends had been right. A small crowd had formed around such a cart, with a sign reading
“World Famous Paldaeish Ice Creams!”
The crowd was loosely formed in two scraggly lines, as customers waited to meet with one of the two ice cream vendors. You joined one line at the back; standing on tip toe, occasionally, to try and see what flavours you had to choose from.
A smiling woman beaconed you forwards when your turn finally came. Her pink paper hat perched fetchingly atop dark curls; it matched the cart, and her pinstriped dress.
”What can I get you today?”
"I think I'd like to try... the...”
The cart was a pastel pallet of choices. They all looked good.
“the… Nacli salt, please."
The attendant nodded, and turned her scoop on the tub of Nacli Salt ice cream. Just as her fellow vendor nodded to his own customer, and went to do the same.
They both paused, their scoops meeting over the same tub.
There was only enough left for one scoopful.
"Bwahaha! I see you also have good taste!" Said the other customer. He had a bark a voice, like a pirate- and you had to do a double take when you saw him.
You’d seen this man before, you were sure; a handsome face with high cheekbones, kissed with a broad sweeping scar, like an ‘X’, across his nose. Sharp eyes peaked beneath blue bandana like a tiger shark peeking through the shade of a grotto, and the longtime love of the sun lent a leathery quality to his skin.
Yes, you’d seen this man before. You’d seen his face on the front page of newspapers.
And never for good reasons.
“Goodday.” Aqua LeaderArchie said, catching you staring. You averted your gaze hastily- matching the other ice cream vendor; a middle aged man, who was visibly intimidated.
“Would one of you, ah, like to select a different flavour?” Asked this other vendor. Mostly at you.
”Ah, but where’s the fun in that? You remember how we liked to settle these things in our day, don’t you?”
The other vendor swallowed, as Archie’s fists went to his hips. A Pokeball glinted beneath the -the half skirt thing, made of netting, around his waist. The Pokeball glittered with menace; it, and it’s fellows… which may be, if the stories were true, an array of vicious sea monsters…
Archie seemed to notice the attendant’s concern. The smile was a leer, briefly, before he seemed to decide to take pity on him.
"Ah, but I suppose it’s not very sporting to have a Pokemon Battle in the Marketplace, so, I'll make you a deal, instead, lassie!”
He was addressing you, now.
”You can have part of my ice cream, and I’ll have a part of yours. That way we can both try the Nacli Salt! Two spoons in each, please!"
"Uh- I'm not sure-"
"Ah, and they're wooden spoons!" Praised Archie, of the vendor; as he was handed the last scoop of Nacli ice cream. "No single-use plastics here! Good man! I'll pay for girlie’s as well; and you keep the change!"
"It's just that-"
“What’s your name?”
You gave it, still startled.
"I'm headed this way, Y/N. You’re more then welcome to take me up on my offer, and follow along.”
Sharp teeth, like a Sharpedo's, bared at you in a grin.
"Not that you have too, of course. Not everyone's brave enough to tangle with Team Aqua, and I can always find someone else who'd like a piece of this..."
He gestured to his ice cream with his spoon, as if that could make his statement wholly innocent. Scooped up a gob of latte coloured ice cream, and popped it in his mouth as he turned his back on you. Strutted his away up slate grey cobbled street; the broad back of his wetsuit shimmering like fish scale in the sun…
Your ice cream vendor tried to prompt you to order. Once. Twice. As you stared after Archie, almost lost from view in the crowd...
You'd be silly to follow him!
Right?
Right!
Of course!
Duh!
~*~
"Well, I certainly could have done worse for company!” Declared Archie, as you finished your tale.
The both of you were leaning against the railing on the balcony of Slateport's lighthouse, and the sun was setting into the ocean. Pelipper cleaved their way through mango coloured sky above, as the tree tops below rustled in the cooling breeze of dusk. And the rest of the world turned, serene, between the two.
The ice creams were mostly mush, now; the paper cups damp in your hands. They had been delicious. You couldn't remember not finishing something so delicious before; but then again, you couldn’t remember the last time you’d killed an entire afternoon with a stranger. Your companion was a very fun conversationalist, full of interesting stories. Stories of a... dubious nature. But interesting all the same!
"I'm glad you came along. The Strawberry was almost better then the Nacli Salt!"
You hip checked him- hardly believing your own daring. And he hip checked you back; golden belt loops clinking along with his pirate's laugh as he did!
He dipped his spoon into your paper cup for one last taste of strawberry ice-soup; offered you a last bite of the Nacli. Tipped the paper cup in his wrist, to help you catch as much ice-soup as you could on your spoon.
"No, no, you're decent company for a land lubber. Finish your tale! Was that the last you and your mates saw of Mr. Mime, or did he pop up to torment you again?”
"No, no, he didn't show up again. We never saw him again after that."
"Now, that's not a very satisfying ending!”
"I mean, real life doesn’t have many satisfying endings!”
"Aye." He agreed.
It was a short word, but the mood changed before he'd finished saying it.
"That's true."
He still smiled, but the smile was quieter. Muted. Two kids with balloons ran along the cobble beneath the lighthouse, laughing, with what looked like their parents, hand in hand, paces behind. And Archie watched them pass, like you did, before turning his gaze to the ocean beyond.
The dramatic oranges of the sky were fading now, to a colour closer to a coffee stain. The windows of the Slateport City skyline glowed along her stone-grey hills; apartment blocks becoming glittering grids, like Lite Brites, with houses thrown in to muddle the pattern.
Buoys, out in the water, bobbed gracefully like Slowbro, beside the hulking boulders of anchored ships. And Archie seemed to watch these ships as he gazed over the water; watched Wingull, faces tucked beneath their wings, sleep in rows along their metal railings.
He had crows feet, though they weren’t deep, along the mahogany skin by his eyes. They deepened as he gazed. Lost, in thought…
"I used to think of every sign of human life as a blight upon the shore.” He said, suddenly. And you turned towards him, surprised…
“An… unnaturalness. It’s easier that way. But standing here like this, and seeing it all mixed together… it reminds me that humans are a part of nature, too.”
His frown deepened.
He noticed you staring.
Wiped the wistful expression off his face, to swap it for something more 'on brand'. Removed his elbows from the railing to stand at his full height, with his sharks’ teeth bared in a grin.
"If only they would act like it!" He laughed. "Team Aqua wouldn't be so busy! Say; it's just gone 7:45- how about a selfie?"
You couldn't understand why 7:45 was ‘selfie time’- Couldn't compose your face in time for his to come beside yours, and for your Rotom Phone to snap a photo at his request. He made a 'peace sign' for the photo- a motion so unexpected that you had to laugh, even as he offered his explanation. Even as the meaning of his words sunk in, and your blood turned slowly to ice-
"We -Team Aqua- needed to steal the Devon Parts from a one Cpt. Stern at the Oceanic Museum this evening! I wanted to take them personally, but my lawyer thought it'd be best if I had an alibi this time. Just in case the lads go a little overboard again..."
Seemingly on cue, a BANG cut through the quiet- a bang like the Pokémon move 'Self Destruct'. And Archie’s grin split wider as you spun on your heel, in horror, to watch a plume of smoke rising from just out of your sight. You ran to the opposite side of the Lighthouse Balcony, to get a better view- and see the newly formed blast hole in the roof of the Oceanic Museum.
Team Aqua Grunts -you could tell by their bandanas- were pouring from the main entrance of the museum in a run, with what looked like security hot on their heels. As if they'd just stolen something.
"I still wanted to be on hand, of course, and I think I’d’ve gone a bit stir crazy without company!” He said, with cheer over the blare of a security alarm, and the cries of startled pedestrians. “So thanks for that! That photo will be time stamped won’t it?”
"Aye, good lass!” He said, as you nodded “Well, if you could tag me in that when you post it on socials, I'd very much appreciate it!"
"But- But but they’ll still know you were the mastermind behind the theft!” You argued, aghast. “You’re Archie, and- and you admitted it! You admitted to it to me just now!"
"Argh, I suppose I have. But you won't tell on me. Will you?”
You didn't have a chance to reply- he turned, and faced away from you. And you followed his gaze- and then took a step back, startled-
An Aqua Grunt was sailing towards the Lighthouse through the rapidly darkening sky; sat astride a magnificent Kilowattrel. Archie turned back to you, briefly-
“See you lassie.”
“I-“
But he’d already stuck one arm into the air-
And the arm was grasped between talons, like blackthorns-
and Archie was lifted up-
lifted-
borne away-
Pulled up, and away, into the sky-
"Farewell!” called Archie.
You stared after Kilowattrel, rocketing over the mulberry sea. The three of them becoming a little flash far out on the horizon; like a star. Before they’d vanished.
A shallow puddle of Nacli-Salt Ice Cream still clung to the basin of your spoon. You stared at it for a moment, as if in a dream. And then you were sticking the spoon in your mouth, before it could drip on your shoes. Savouring the taste of salt as you stared out over the ocean…
Hot smoke carried on the breeze from the wreckage of the Oceanic Museum. Cinders wound about your wrists in the growing dark, like chains of fireflies.