Ryn was fighting hard, the ship's deck shaking under his feet. Soldiers were screaming, and the air was filled with Pokémon roars. He held his spear tight, battling.
Arrows came flying down from the sky.
*Fweee!*
One hit his leg.
"Argh!" he shouted, pain tearing through him. He dropped to the bloody deck, his spear falling out of his hands.
Everything was chaotic. A soldier nearby screamed as a Fearow ripped into him with its claws, blood splashing across the wood. Pidgeotto dove from above, picking off soldiers left and right.
Ryn crawled behind a broken crate, breathing hard. More arrows rained down. His hands shook as he grabbed the arrow stuck in his leg.
"God… damn it," he muttered, biting his lip as he pulled it out. Blood poured out fast. He ripped a piece of his shirt and tied it around the wound.
The deck shook again. A Dragonite roared. A Gyarados came out from the water next to the ship.
Gyarados twisted its body and shot a Hydro Pump at Dragonite. The Dragonite dodged, and the water slammed into the sea, sending a wave crashing over the deck. Soldiers slipped and fell, and Ryn got a face full of saltwater as the ship shook.
*I gotta move,* he thought.
"He limped to the ship's edge and stared down at the cold water below and two Pokémon battling. There was no time to think, he jumped."
*Splash!*
The sea swallowed him. The salt burned his leg wound like fire.
"AHH!" he screamed, kicking weakly, trying to stay up.
Waves tossed him around. Broken pieces of the ship floated nearby. Soldiers' screams faded as they sank beneath the water.
Dragonite and Gyarados were still fighting. Dragonite fired a Hyper Beam. Gyarados shot back with a Hydro Pump.
*BOOM!*
The explosion shook the sea. A huge wave smashed into the ship, shattering the wood. The deck burst apart.
Burning debris fell everywhere. A flaming wood splashed down next to Ryn. Another piece hit him in the head. He screamed, swallowing saltwater.
*I… I can't keep going…* he thought, his strength fading.
A wave pulled him under. Darkness closed in. His lungs burned.
In the blur, he saw Meowscarada's face.
*Meow…scarada…*
Her soft voice echoed in his head.
*Ryn…*
His heartbeat slowed.
*Thump… thump…*
Bubbles drifted from his mouth. His eyes closed.
---
Meanwhile, Meowscarada stood by a small wooden boat she'd built. She smiled, proud of her work, and pushed it toward the water.
Her little brother ran up from behind. "Sis, where are you going?" he called out.
Meowscarada climbed into the boat, grabbing a stick to paddle. "Mewo~ I'm going to find Ryn," she said softly.
The boy's eyes got watery. "But… What about Mom and Dad?"
"Take care of them…," she said, her voice shaky. "Tell them I went to find Ryn."
The boy wiped his eyes. He knew how much his sister loved Ryn. He could only hope they'd find each other again. "Okay… but please come back safe," he said quietly.
She gave him a small smile and waved. "Goodbye, Taro…"
He waved back, watching her go.
---
The boat rocked on the waves. The wind pushed her farther from shore. Meowscarada held the wooden paddle and rowed slowly, surrounded by endless blue water.
Sometimes a Wingull flew by. Sometimes a Tentacool swims by. She called out to them:
"Have you seen a human… like this?"
She held up a small wooden board where she made a picture of Ryn's face with her claws.
Most Pokémon shook their heads.
Meowscarada sighed and kept rowing.
Days went by. She ate the berries she'd brought and drank rainwater. At night, she stars at the stars wondering is Ryn safe?
---
Three days later, she reached the place where the battle had happened. Broken ship pieces and bodies of humans and Pokémon floated in the water. Some were burned black. Her heart felt heavy.
"Mewo… Ryn…" she whispered.
No one answered. Just the sound of waves and far-off Wingull cries.
She didn't give up. Deep down, she felt Ryn was still alive. She kept searching, asking every Pokémon she met. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months.
She stopped at small islands. Some had food and places to rest. Others were just sand and rocks. Every time, she asked the local Pokémon if they'd seen Ryn.
"Please… he's this tall… black hair… kind eyes," she said, pointing at her scratched drawing.
Most shook their heads.
---
One evening, sitting on a rock by the sea, a Lapras swam up.
"Mewo?" Meowscarada said, jumping to her feet. She held up the wooden board with Ryn's image and asked, "Have you seen him?"
Lapras studied the image and nodded slowly, as if it recognized Ryn. It let out a soft cry and tilted its head toward the horizon.
"You've seen him?" Meowscarada asked, hope rising in her chest.
Lapras made another sound and waved its flipper, telling her to follow.
She climbed onto Lapras's back, holding the wooden board with Ryn's face close.
"Please… take me to him," she whispered.
Lapras swam through the waves. Soon, an island appeared in the distance.
They reached the island, trees lined the sandy shore, and waves lapped gently at the beach. In the distance, green hills rose above the forest, with pokemon flying above.
Lapras told her the man was here as Meowscarada slid off its back.
"Thank you," she said, waving goodbye.
Lapras gave a soft cry and lifted one flipper, waving back before turning toward the sea.
Meowscarada looked at the island. She could feel Lapras hadn't lied, Ryn was close.
After asking a few island Pokémon for directions, she finally found him.
But when she finally saw him, she froze, her smile slowly faded…
He was holding an egg, standing next to a Gardevoir. From far away, they looked happy, like a couple.
Meowscarada stopped…
Her chest tightened, and the wind felt heavy against her fur. She'd searched for him for so long, crossing oceans, dreaming of the day they'd be together again.
And now… he was with someone else.
She had been okay with Ryn's harem before, but with the Maiden's memories inside her, this felt different. A sharp pain twisted in her heart.