To Far-Away Skies

This depicts an early scene when “Captain” Gilltoren the Wingull met the strange creature he called “Sea Foam,” an Anorith. These are the humble beginnings of the Pokémon exploration team Hurricane Rush. The following is an excerpt from a fan-made story based on their back-story.

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The day was late. He didn’t know how far he would fly, or if he would even return any time soon. Perhaps he would regret it at some point, leaving his flock so abruptly, but for now it didn’t matter. He was too caught up in the moment—and this moment called for him to fly free. Fly where? Who knew?

Still... Perhaps he should have thought things through a little, bringing the tiny creature to the attention of his friends. After all, they had never seen such a strange bug-fish-thing before, and neither had he. Of course the flock would have been intrigued, and of course they would have expected him to share...

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"Whatcha got there, Captain?" Stubbs, the fatter of the flock, skipped forward.

"Foun' it in a cofe," Gilly said gently, careful not to damage the creature in his mouth. "Strangeth fishth I'ff effeh theen!"

"Aye? Fish, Captain?" Stubbs perked up, and so did about a dozen others in the flock. "Well, give some here! We're starving!"

All at once the flock swarmed towards Gilly, who, with quick reflexes, jumped back, keeping some distance. The flock had always been a little hasty, but Gilly wasn't quite ready to give up his discovery.

"Wait a bloody moment!" Herring, the leaner and meaner of the flock, skipped forward and peered closely at the "fish." He grumbled. "You pudged-up Pidgey - this isn't a fish!"

At this, most of the flock retreated, quite disappointed.

"Ah-ha-ha-ha!" A fellow Wingull named Starbuck laughed heartily. "'Course it’d be you, Captain, to be silly enough to confuse a fish with a… with a…" He paused, and looked once more at the "fish," now tilting his head inquisitively. "Eh, if not a fish, what is it exactly?"

"Lemme see here!" Herring unceremoniously leaned in and snatched the creature from Gilly's beak. He dropped it roughly on the rocks, where the creature squirmed sluggishly. "Hmph, it's like a bug, but..." He prodded it gingerly with his beak. Its squirming became more frantic. "Tch, well, it's nothing I've ever seen before."

"Neither have I!" said Gilly. He puffed out his chest proudly. "I found it in a tide pool near the cove. Well, not really a tide pool; it was mostly dried up. All that was left was sea foam, and this thing was practically dying and stuff!"

"Aye! Well, Captain," Herring suddenly scoffed. "Bloody well done, then! We’re all short on foodstuffs—gonna be starving something nasty—and all you’ve got to show for it is a silly—little—bug-fish-thing!"

Starbuck chuckled and leaned in for a closer look. "Silly Gilly!"

Stubbs, on the other hand, looked interested.

"Say, is it tasty?"

Gilly perked up just in time to see Starbuck turn the fish on its back.

"Dunno," Starbuck mused. He lightly pecked at the fish’s underbelly. In turn, it flailed its limbs and waved its pincers, uselessly. “We could try. It's no Mudkip, but I suppose it could tide us over 'til after the migration…”

"Well, then!" Stubbs quipped. "Break off a piece for me!" He skipped forward.

"Har-har!" Herring quickly snatched up the creature and leaped back. "Blothy likely, Thtubth! Ya greethy gull!"

"Herring, give the other gulls a chance!" Starbuck pecked at the creature, but Herring remained just out of reach.

"Surfifal of d' fiteth!" Herring declared.

Stubbs screeched loudly. "But I'm starved, Herrs!" Stubbs approached again, and this time, he caught the creature by one of its pincers. Stubbs pulled, and Herring, not to be one deprived of a potential meal, pulled back.

The two gulls struggled, and the creature clicked frantically. Over the din, Gilly could hear it emitting faint cries. In a moment or more, its pincer would be separated from the rest of its body.

"Excuse me," interjected Gilly, rather indignantly, "but seeing as I found it—" He hopped over to Herring and snatched the creature from his beak. "—I think I should be the one who keeps it!"

The gulls all stopped fighting at once. They each in turn gave Gilly incredulous looks.

"Keep it, Captain?" Starbuck piqued. "Completely ridiculous! I think you're missing a few tailfeathers."

"That’s right," chirped Stubbs. "We don’t keep things we eat!"

Gilly puffed out his chest and tried to look dignified, which was proving extremely difficult since he was still carrying the creature in his beak. “Ith no’ fer eatin’!”

Silence. Even nearby members of the flock stopped to listen. They couldn't quite believe it. Potential prey not for eating? Nonsense. That was violation of the Wingull way - for prey always went to predator. What was Gilltoren talking about?

Finally, Starbuck shook his head, rather sadly. "Silly Gilly..." He sighed.

Herring, meanwhile, was having none of it. He threw his head back and screeched. "Idiot! Fool!" He spread his wings and shook them, violently. "You know squat about survival! You die if you don't eat! Now give it here!"

"No!"

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No...

Even remembering it now his eyes narrowed, and he beat his wings a little harder. Not a chance! It was his discovery, after all! His alone—something he wanted for himself. Not to eat.

After a short while, Gilly spotted a nearby cliffside. It was here he decided to rest, but only for a time. He wanted to have a closer look at this creature.

Gilly gently placed the bug on the rocks, careful not to damage it. The creature clicked and muttered something incomprehensible, regaining its composure.

It was really quite unusual. For a few moments, all that could be heard was the late-afternoon sea breeze and the waves crashing on the rocks down below—and Gilly said nothing. Quiet observation was never Gilly’s strong suit, and yet here he was, standing stock-still with the wind in his feathers, admiring his discovery, completely silent.

It did look a bit like a fish, didn't it? The way its tail curved and forked at the end. Yet, along its body, eight little flipper-like limbs reminded him much like a bug. Each limb shone off-white, giving each an opaque look, gracing down to red-swept tips. The creature had two pincers, each with sharp-looking barbs at the end, and it had primal markings like eyes impressed into its dark forehead.

Slowly propping itself on its pincers, the creature looked up at Gilly, and Gilly returned the creature's gaze. He noticed that its eyes were a deep shade of red, much like his own.

Yes—it was his discovery, and his alone. Not to eat.

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This is a fan-made team, courtesy of *Srarlight



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Characters © Game Freak, Pokemon Inc., Creatures Inc., Nintendo
Artwork © Mewscaper, on Paint Tool SAI