Lucas didn't find any islands, but he did spot several figures churning the water's surface.
Curious, Lucas patted Dragonite's back, prompting it to descend. Now he could see clearly.
He frowned. "Finizen and Sharpedo?"
Three Sharpedo—just a small pack—were gulping seawater, then jetting it out their tails to speed across the surface, chasing down a Finizen.
Sharpedo weren't native to Paldea's waters, but the oceans of this world were one interconnected whole. Pokémon could travel anywhere.
The sea's ecology was just as vibrant as the land's, with countless Water-types living and migrating throughout.
This group was only three Sharpedo, not a full migration, so their impact on Paldea's ecosystem was minimal.
Sharpedo were called the bullies of the sea, their vicious reputation well-earned. Their jaws could bite through steel, and most Pokémon they targeted met a grim fate.
"Drago~?"
Dragonite's call snapped Lucas from his thoughts. It looked worriedly at the Finizen, whose swimming was clearly slowing down, as if asking Lucas whether to intervene.
Lucas hesitated to interfere in wild Pokémon affairs, but when he saw where Dragonite was pointing, he understood why the Finizen was being chased.
Floating helplessly on the surface was an injured Wailmer, covered in Sharpedo bite marks.
Clearly, this cute, small Wailmer had been attacked and badly hurt by the Sharpedo.
So what about the Finizen?
Was it deliberately luring the Sharpedo away to save the Wailmer?
Lucas's mind weighed the options.
After a moment's silence, he decided to help.
He released Swampert from its Poké Ball and pointed. "Go help Finizen. Just drive the Sharpedo off—I'll stay and heal Wailmer."
Lucas dug out a bunch of medicine from his backpack—a habit from playing games, always carrying enough to be a walking Pokémon Center. With Comfey staying at the farm, these medicines finally had a use.
Swampert nodded. The ocean was its second home; despite being part Ground-type, it was even stronger in water, with energy all around.
Sensing the water's movement, Swampert quickly locked onto its targets and rocketed across the waves, moving even faster than Surf.
Knowing Swampert would be fine, Lucas focused on treating Wailmer.
Dragonite hovered nearby as Lucas tended to the unconscious Wailmer.
Meanwhile, Swampert soon spotted the Sharpedo and Finizen.
Finizen had already been caught up to. Though it dodged desperately, the cunning Sharpedo—famous for their smarts—didn't rush in all at once. Instead, they formed a triangle, taking turns attacking and wearing Finizen down, toying with it.
Finizen realized their plan, growing more and more anxious. Its usual slip away in the chaos tactics were useless here.
These guys were tough!
Still, Finizen had no regrets about risking itself to save Wailmer.
After all, Finizen believed this was the path to becoming the legendary hero of its pod. Only by overcoming challenges and helping bullied Pokémon in the sea could it become the Palafin Hero!
It was... the hero of the future!
Swampert narrowed its eyes, considering the best move.
Surf was out—too wide an area, might hit Finizen too. Close combat was better.
Decision made, Swampert cloaked itself in water and burst into the fray, smashing one Sharpedo aside before it could attack.
With three shocked Pokémon staring, Swampert grinned, dove underwater, then erupted upward, landing a left-right punch combo on the remaining Sharpedo and sending them all flying in the same direction—so they wouldn't get lost looking for each other.
It all happened in seconds. Finizen was stunned—the ferocious Sharpedo had been swept aside like weeds.
Finizen was still dazed, even though Swampert hadn't touched it.
Swampert waved a hand in front of Finizen's face.
The flicker of movement snapped Finizen back to reality. In a flash of insight, it reached an astonishing conclusion.
This mysterious Pokémon must be the masked avenger of the seas—the Palafin Hero!
"Finizen!" (Thank you for saving me, Palafin Hero!)
With a melodious cry, Finizen looked at Swampert with sparkling eyes.
Swampert: ???
Completely baffled, Swampert wondered why this Finizen was calling it the Palafin Hero.
Noticing Swampert's confusion, Finizen began comparing the two of them.
It had fins; so did its savior.
Its blue was lighter; the hero's blue was darker.
Most importantly, both were Water-types, and the hero had punched out the bullies!
Legend said the Palafin Hero fought evil with unmatched strength!
Finizen was convinced.
This was its evolved form—the Palafin Hero!
Swampert was left with a single thought.
Did this kid get its brain bitten by Sharpedo?