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Kyogre.
The Sea Basin Pokémon.
The title had always struck him as inadequate. Hardly a name that instilled the awe the creature rightfully deserved. In times long past, it had arisen from the depths of the sea to wage unending battle against its adversary. With its sonorous tones, it had commanded the waters of the heavens to pour forth; with its outstretched wings, it had stirred up the eddying rage of the oceans. The flood tides had swept away all who opposed it, and the insatiable destruction knew no end.
...In times long past...
"Daddy?"
He glances away from the window at the sound of the voice and fixes a tight smile on his face. The child in the doorway hugs her companion, a Marill, close to her as she runs forward a few steps, her gaze falling briefly on the object in the corner.
"Is it time?"
"...Just about."
He reaches towards her, arms outstretched. The Marill bounces away as she jumps into his arms.
"Maru, can you fetch those crackers there?" The smile widens as he returns his attention to his daughter, bouncing her up and down a few times in his arms as he steps away from the window. "...You ready to play?"
She giggles as he taps a finger lightly to her nose, then shyly nods.
"Do you remember what we're going to do?"
Her glance returns to the object: a large basket she used as a makeshift boat when she wanted to splash around in the lake. Sometimes, he would watch her from the shore as she paddled about, declaring her intent to befriend every Water type in the world while gleefully chasing after a discomforted family of Poliwag.
...She nods once more.
"I'm going to get in the boat, and I'm going to play a game where I go on an adventure. ...Like a trainer."
"And?"
"...And. ...Um."
"...And Daddy has to do some work, so he has to stay home. So you're going to have to be really brave, OK? It will be just you and Maru. For a little bit."
"...Oh."
"Just like a real trainer." He pauses for a moment before speaking again, his voice light. "And remember - Maru will sing for you so you'll be fully rested before you start on your adventure."
There is a short pause before she nods, her expression creased by a worried frown. She steps hesitantly into the basket as Maru returns, dragging along the crackers. The last of the supplies are placed inside before he picks up the small creature. ...They exchange a brief glance.
"Hold on tight."
The Marill is lowered. She clutches at it, holding it tight to her chest and for a moment, she is silent, eyes wide with anxiety. ...There comes a soft shake of the head - firm and emphatic.
"... Can't I play with you first, Daddy? I don't want to play alone..."
"You have Maru with you. You're not alone."
A slight pause before she bursts forth with - "...I don't want Maru to sing. It's not bedtime."
"You love Maru's singing. ...If she doesn't sing, you'll be tired when you start."
"I don't want to start! I don't want to play! Daddy -- !"
She bursts into tears, and when he reaches down and tries to calm her, his voice breaks as his own tears rush forth. She knows. She must know. She has always been too clever. He kneels down as she calls for her Daddy over and over again, and he wraps his arms around her - around the both of them. When he whispers, he can hardly form words.
"Daddy... Daddy has to stay home this time -- OK? It's... your turn to have an adventure. You have to be good or you won't get to be a trainer when you're older. ...You have to be good."
She is far from satisfied, but he has to pull away, desperately mouthing the words 'sing, sing', over and over again. He can barely see Maru through his tears. It, too, can only utter the softest of squeaks as it struggles to vocalize song through its choked cries.
5
He thrusts the lid down against the struggles inside, clamping it shut, binding it with rope, refusing to hear the screaming coming from inside. ...It is only a few moments before they stop.
4
He can hear the song, faintly, through the basket. He had desperately recoated it with sealant barely an hour ago - purchased from Kanto, fast-drying, made from pure insect wings, so effective that no Water attack would ever harm you again, so on and on like that. It was all he could think to do on such short notice. Ostensibly, it would be impenetrable to water now. ...But not, of course, to sound.
If he presses his ear against the lid, he can still hear her light breaths in between the melody of the song.
3
The song wavers, at first, before it steadies out. The melody is soothing... Relaxing, as it always has been, ever since she was an infant. For a brief moment, he feels his own muscles begin to slack before he clamps his hands to his ears, shaking his head. He backs away a few paces and casts a tear-stained gaze towards the window.
2
He hears it first before he can see it - a dull hum, like the sound of millions of insects; it is only moments before he can spot it approaching, far in the distance.
...It is impossible not to see. Ten stories high - no, twenty. ...Unimaginable. He can scarcely comprehend it, and the sight is enough to paralyze him, body frozen in place, breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. He is afraid. He has never been so afraid. It comes faster than it has any right to, and he watches in commingled horror and despair as it destroys his island, his city, everything he has ever known in his life in the blink of an eye.
Mere moments left, he finally shakes free, throws his arms around the basket and cradles it tightly to his body.
1
When everything is settled, open the top and find help. Keep her calm - asleep the whole time if you must. I'm depending on you.
If... If it doesn't look good. If she's... suffering. Sing the other song.
Don't let go of her.
Don't let go.
The Sea Basin Pokémon.
The title had always struck him as inadequate. Hardly a name that instilled the awe the creature rightfully deserved. In times long past, it had arisen from the depths of the sea to wage unending battle against its adversary. With its sonorous tones, it had commanded the waters of the heavens to pour forth; with its outstretched wings, it had stirred up the eddying rage of the oceans. The flood tides had swept away all who opposed it, and the insatiable destruction knew no end.
...In times long past...
"Daddy?"
He glances away from the window at the sound of the voice and fixes a tight smile on his face. The child in the doorway hugs her companion, a Marill, close to her as she runs forward a few steps, her gaze falling briefly on the object in the corner.
"Is it time?"
"...Just about."
He reaches towards her, arms outstretched. The Marill bounces away as she jumps into his arms.
"Maru, can you fetch those crackers there?" The smile widens as he returns his attention to his daughter, bouncing her up and down a few times in his arms as he steps away from the window. "...You ready to play?"
She giggles as he taps a finger lightly to her nose, then shyly nods.
"Do you remember what we're going to do?"
Her glance returns to the object: a large basket she used as a makeshift boat when she wanted to splash around in the lake. Sometimes, he would watch her from the shore as she paddled about, declaring her intent to befriend every Water type in the world while gleefully chasing after a discomforted family of Poliwag.
...She nods once more.
"I'm going to get in the boat, and I'm going to play a game where I go on an adventure. ...Like a trainer."
"And?"
"...And. ...Um."
"...And Daddy has to do some work, so he has to stay home. So you're going to have to be really brave, OK? It will be just you and Maru. For a little bit."
"...Oh."
"Just like a real trainer." He pauses for a moment before speaking again, his voice light. "And remember - Maru will sing for you so you'll be fully rested before you start on your adventure."
There is a short pause before she nods, her expression creased by a worried frown. She steps hesitantly into the basket as Maru returns, dragging along the crackers. The last of the supplies are placed inside before he picks up the small creature. ...They exchange a brief glance.
"Hold on tight."
The Marill is lowered. She clutches at it, holding it tight to her chest and for a moment, she is silent, eyes wide with anxiety. ...There comes a soft shake of the head - firm and emphatic.
"... Can't I play with you first, Daddy? I don't want to play alone..."
"You have Maru with you. You're not alone."
A slight pause before she bursts forth with - "...I don't want Maru to sing. It's not bedtime."
"You love Maru's singing. ...If she doesn't sing, you'll be tired when you start."
"I don't want to start! I don't want to play! Daddy -- !"
She bursts into tears, and when he reaches down and tries to calm her, his voice breaks as his own tears rush forth. She knows. She must know. She has always been too clever. He kneels down as she calls for her Daddy over and over again, and he wraps his arms around her - around the both of them. When he whispers, he can hardly form words.
"Daddy... Daddy has to stay home this time -- OK? It's... your turn to have an adventure. You have to be good or you won't get to be a trainer when you're older. ...You have to be good."
She is far from satisfied, but he has to pull away, desperately mouthing the words 'sing, sing', over and over again. He can barely see Maru through his tears. It, too, can only utter the softest of squeaks as it struggles to vocalize song through its choked cries.
5
He thrusts the lid down against the struggles inside, clamping it shut, binding it with rope, refusing to hear the screaming coming from inside. ...It is only a few moments before they stop.
4
He can hear the song, faintly, through the basket. He had desperately recoated it with sealant barely an hour ago - purchased from Kanto, fast-drying, made from pure insect wings, so effective that no Water attack would ever harm you again, so on and on like that. It was all he could think to do on such short notice. Ostensibly, it would be impenetrable to water now. ...But not, of course, to sound.
If he presses his ear against the lid, he can still hear her light breaths in between the melody of the song.
3
The song wavers, at first, before it steadies out. The melody is soothing... Relaxing, as it always has been, ever since she was an infant. For a brief moment, he feels his own muscles begin to slack before he clamps his hands to his ears, shaking his head. He backs away a few paces and casts a tear-stained gaze towards the window.
2
He hears it first before he can see it - a dull hum, like the sound of millions of insects; it is only moments before he can spot it approaching, far in the distance.
...It is impossible not to see. Ten stories high - no, twenty. ...Unimaginable. He can scarcely comprehend it, and the sight is enough to paralyze him, body frozen in place, breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. He is afraid. He has never been so afraid. It comes faster than it has any right to, and he watches in commingled horror and despair as it destroys his island, his city, everything he has ever known in his life in the blink of an eye.
Mere moments left, he finally shakes free, throws his arms around the basket and cradles it tightly to his body.
1
When everything is settled, open the top and find help. Keep her calm - asleep the whole time if you must. I'm depending on you.
If... If it doesn't look good. If she's... suffering. Sing the other song.
Don't let go of her.
Don't let go.
