When oceans rage

[Undyne]

Sabrina knew she had reached her destination without looking at the maps. Cinnibar Island looked exactly as it did in Kanto, except that it was larger in overall size. She surfaced her submarine so as to present herself clearly and not get the mistrust of anyone by appearing sneaky, and deployed the sails to do the last part of the trip. She also stretched her limbs through the hatch. This last part of her trip had been quite taxing to her as she had been in crunch mode, getting to Cinnibar as fast as she was able to to beat the Empire by as long as she could. As a result the inside of the submarine was damp and with stale air. She welcomed the opportunity to breathe fresh again.

Her arrival was surprisingly uneventful. She'd expected some sort of border control, but she could just enter the port without any issues and get directions to an empty dock from the harbormaster. Apparently though this wasn't the main settlement, she realized when she finished the docking and opened the front hatch to get her bike out. The real thing was located further uphill... just like the settlement on Kanto. Interesting. She closed and locked the hatches of her machine to prevent it from being stolen, then put on her helmet and got on the road. Sure she would have loved the fresh air on her face, but safety came first with a Magnet Bike. Asking for directions only took two tries, then she was on her way.

The landscape whizzed by her as she drove along the road for a while and eventually arrived at the main settlement. It was... interesting. Overpopulated, certainly, with many people lacking proper housing and roads being chaotic and difficult to navigate, but she spotted a multitude of beings - not even a majority of Pokemon, as she had expected, though there was a fair share of them too. Those Pokemon shot her glances, noticing her Ace trainer attire, but none spoke to her. Sabrina on the other hand asked for directions to a peacekeeper station, or someone who was in charge of Cinnibar and its inhabitants, and first was pointed to a police station. But as she had expected, they could not deal with a political matter and instead set up a call with one of the council members of Cinnibar Island, Alakazam. Sabrina stood in the lobby of the station, her bike outside, and tapped her feet on the ground waiting for a response.

Finally the phone was picked off and a robotic voice, apparently a translator, spoke. "Hello, Alakazam of Cinnibar speaking... is this Officier Arcan-"

"Pardon the interruption, but no. This is Sabrina, I'm calling from the officier's phone with his permission. It's an urgent matter."

For a moment there was silence. Then the robotic voice spoke again. "Explain yourself."

"While on my way to the island I have come across around three dozens of imperial ships outfitted for battle garrisoned at the fort on the island Ingareth, and I overheard that there is a diplomat on their way to Cinnibar Island there as well. From what I overheard the armada may be readying for a strike against Cinnibar Island if the diplomatic relationships fail."

"Those are some serious accusations, and they are coming from a stranger. How do you intend on proving that we can trust you?"

"I thought you were going to ask... listen, you're an Alakazam, yes? It just so happens that I know some about the Pokemon world. You or one of your associates should have the ability to read my mind and test the authenticity of my words by viewing my memories, right? I would be okay with that."

"True. You are at the station on Street Lindenberg? I will send someone to pick you up, please wait until they arrive." After confirming the adress the call was ended and Sabrina waited for some ten minutes before a Kadabra in a suit came walking in.

"You are Sabrina, I presume, ma'am? If you could please come with me?" Unlike Alakazam over the phone, this Pokemon spoke with telepathy as they were face to face.

"Coming." Sabrina got up and followed the Kadabra, who led her to an impeccable-looking car with darkened windows and a chauffeur holding the doors open for them. It was a short drive to a large building which Sabrina presumed as to be the council halls, and Kadabra led her to an office inside where Alakazam was sitting behind a massive desk.

"Ah, yes, welcome. Have a seat, please... now, Miss Sabrina, unfortunately I must ask that what I inform you of does not leave this room without my explicit permission." This time Alakazam used telepathy too.

"Of course, you have my word."

"We were already aware of the diplomat that you spoke to us of, from other sources. However we did not know of the armada of warships so close to our home. As such, I would like to sincerely thank you for the information - though it remains that you must have your mind checked by Kadabra."

"I didn't expect you to trust me. I would just like your word that I will not have my private memories dug through... the memories you are going to need are from the last two days."

Alakazam waved his hand dismissively. "We aren't interested in that. Kadabra is an experienced mind reader and you have my assurance that he shall not look at anything he is not supposed to. Kadabra, if you please would..."

Kadabra stepped forward and placed his hand on Sabrina's forehead. She closed her eyes and made an effort to bring her recent memories to the front, while Kadabra proceeded to go through them. It wasn't a nice process, Sabrina felt as if her mind was being turned inside out and couldn't help but to twitch and resist reflexively when Kadabra moved around. When he withdrew again, Sabrina felt as if hours had passed, but checking her watch revealed that it had only been three minutes.

"My lord, her information appears correct. The fort is indeed holding at least thirty ships and a brig with the insignia of the imperial diplomatic division of the Vasty Deep. The memories don't show signs of being forged. I should however note that I saw memories of... an attire in Miss Sabrina's vehicle, which would conform to her suspected identity."

"Is that so?" Alakazam turned to Sabrina, who was looking back at them with a puzzled look. "Your name and looks are identical to those of the Gym Leader of the Psychic Gym in Kanto. Could you explain yourself?"

"I told you already that my private life is unrelated and, frankly, not your business", Sabrina replied in a sharp tone. "If you have to know - yes, I once was Gym Leader, but in this place I have stranded in as of recently I don't see Saffron City, Pokemon Centers or anything else that belongs to my homeland, the Pokemon World. Cinnibar Island is the only place that I know from that life, and even that is not what it was there. Does that answer your question?"

"You react rather aggressively, Miss Sabrina. Is there something you are hiding from us?"

"We all have our secrets. But the questions about my identity go beyond the scope of what I am okay with - I allowed Kadabra to view my memories to confirm the truth of my words, not to dig through other matters. Plus, you are a Pokemon, a psychic Pokemon to be precise... and I was a trainer specializing in such." She shut up, Alakazam knew what she was getting at.

However, the Psychic Pokemon again made a dismissing wave with his hand. "That is all past, now. It is helpful to know that you really are Sabrina, the psychic master, because that would mean that you might aid us in this matter. I can assure you that I bear no personal agenda in this matter, least of all a revenge-trip against Pokemon trainers. If you could calm yourself a bit, I'll gladly explain the situation to you." He put his hand to his forehead, sending out a mental signal, and soon the door opened to let a Mr. Mime in. "The usual for me, please, and for the Lady..."

"... plain water with a shot of lemon juice and some ice cubes, please", Sabrina finished the sentence. Mr. Mime bowed and backed back out of the room.

"Miss Sabrina, allow me to explain the situation. Our leader, Mewtwo, is the one to speak with any imperial diplomats, whether or not they would come announced. We, the council, stand by and provide advice depending on our fields of expertise. As you can likely imagine, the diplomats come protected by psychic shields to prevent mind-reading, and conversely are unable to read the minds of the council and Lord Mewtwo as we are too strong. In an event such as this one where he would come unannounced I can say without doubt that he will be protected."

"Right." She didn't say much more as she was certain that Alakazam would to get to the point soon. Instead she hung back in her chair and eyed the psychic Pokemon expectingly.

"We are worried that their unannounced arrival means that they have an agenda up their sleeves. The imperial armada that you reported is... it's not proof, but certainly grounds to worry."

"You're thinking that they might launch an attack if diplomacy fails. I know."

"Indeed. However the problem lies deeper than that. We cannot outright refuse the diplomat when he shows at our doorstep if we don't want to worsen the relationships with the Empire, which are resting atop very fragile pillars already. On the other hand, we cannot afford to go in blind, on their terms. If they have a plan we must know about it, or we risk losing Cinnibar's independancy and possibly the lives of everyone on it."

"If the Empire attacks, the innocent cinnibarian blood that is spilled will be on their conscience, not mine. Don't try to guilt-trip me."

Alakazam chuckled. "Please, I am above such petty tactics. I merely intended on explaining to you what the potential magnitude is that we are facing."

"You haven't yet explained where I come into all that."

"Correct, I was getting to that." Alakazam paused when Mr. Mime returned with a tray on which he brought the requested drinks - a red liquid, probably wine, in a filigrane glass for Alakazam, and the cold water for Sabrina. He bowed and once again withdrew as soon as they had both recieved them and closed the door. Only now did Sabrina notice that Kadabra had left too. "You see, we would require someone to scout out the Empire Diplomat's plans by mindreading. The shields that they put up all have one major weakness: they are directional. Much like a brick wall, they only protect towards one side, which is the side that Lord Mewtwo and the council is sitting at. If someone could stand at such an angle that the shield is not in the way, the diplomat's mind would lay relatively unprotected."

"Aren't you underestimating him?" Sabrina interrupted Alakazam's monologue and took a sip of her drink, demonstratively looking at the Pokemon over the edge of her glass before proceeding. "Even someone unskilled in psychic arts can learn to put up a mental barrier. This should be elemental for an individual who visits an island full of psychic Pokemon."

"I said relatively. And indeed, our target has recieved substantial mental training, to the point that he can, if not keep out, at least notice the presence of all but the most skilled of our psychics if we prod his mind with our telepathic arms. I don't have to explain, I presume, that this is even less desirable than obtaining no information whatsoever?"

"You don't. Go on."

"Well, the issue at hand is that the most skilled psychics of our island, to which, with all humility, I count myself, are members of the council. Certainly we could slip into the mind of our target and leave without them ever noticing a thing, but our absence during the diplomatic meeting would be easily noticed and would put the bodyguards on high alert, especially considering that they are likely expecting some form of retaliation from our end if we get surprised by their arrival. Pretending that one of us is sick or absent and sending them to mindread from behind the shields would therefore not be a valid plan."

"And let me guess. You believe that I would be fit to the task?" It was a rhethoric question. With so much at stake and the risk being present that she was a spy for the Empire, Sabrina knew full well that they would not entrust a complete stranger with this mission. Not to mention, she doubted that she was as skilled, if not moreso, than Alakazam. She sipped her drink and enjoyed the discomfort of Alakazam as he searched for a polite way to explain it to her.

"Well... unfortunately, Miss Sabrina, while we have reason to trust you, the extent of your abilities is... humble in comparison to a Psychic Pokemon. We could not be certain that you would retrieve the information without compromising yourself. In truth, most of the council wouldn't even trust themselves with a task of this magnitude. Which is why Lord Mewtwo would take care of it personally."

Sabrina hid her surprise as she came to realize the devious plan Alakazam was revealing to her. "And you need someone to cover for him as he does the scouting in person. Someone with psychic powers large enough to make their presence noticeable, but not necessarily as large as Lord Mewtwo's, putting up the act that he is holding his powers in check."

Alakazam clapped his hands with a bright smile. "As expected from a Gym Leader, your mind is sharp as an Aegislash's blade. You are indeed correct, Miss Sabrina."

"I suppose then, that you have solutions thought up to how you would make me look like Mewtwo? How you would have me speak his words for him? How you would keep me from messing up the meeting on purpose, as I suppose that you cannot fully trust me?"

"We have solutions, Miss Sabrina. We are quite... resourceful in that regard."