A Fish Out Of Water

[Seth "Redcap" Morley]

Redcap sighed forlornly, which he didn't normally do. Forlorn just wasn't his sort of thing. As a matter of fact, it was probably the first time he ever felt forlorn. As another matter of fact, he probably didn't know what forlorn meant, anyway. There were low educational standards among pirates, you see.

Redcap was indeed, to put it quite plainly, stuck between a rock and a hard place. Quite literally, actually. His ship, the Scarlet Gyarados, had been confiscated by the notoriously obnoxious King Belian II of Bravaria a week earlier. Redcap and several loyal crewmen, including Francisco, Jeb, Samuel, Liam, and the young Benjamin, had narrowly escaped in a very cramped longboat and fled into the Metallic Mountains to plot their revenge. Note to self: still plotting.

However, it wasn't entirely ALL bad. Well, actually, it was, but that was besides the point. The point was that Redcap knew the way through the Metallic Mountains like the back of his hand. In other words, he didn't. That's why he picked up a freebooting guide that knew the way through the Metallic Mountains AND the back of his hand.

"Guide, how far are we from Bravaria?" Redcap asked. The sheer cliffs weren't exactly an enjoyable vacation destination.

[Maddock Maccaulay]

Maddock had washed ashore with three of his other crew mates after slowly drifting out at sea for days, due to a certain greedy king who fancied stealing any pirate ship that came within twenty miles of the Bravarian borders. Maddock's ship, however, was closer to Honcho's island than is was to King Belian's, and to his knowledge, he wasn't the only victim of the royal fat ass' vicious hijackings.

His hands were pruned beyond belief and he was so dehydrated and hungry that he was considering eating the sand he was lying on. Beyond the beach was a range of beautiful mountains that lead straight into the lands of Bravaria, which Maddock would need to traverse in order to retrieve his stolen ship, the SS Feral Gator, quite the original name for a ship belonging to Maddock "Hook" Maccaulay himself.

"So we lost more than half the crew and we have no idea where the hell we are... I say this 's been a productive week, don't you guys?" Maddock's voice was brimming with sarcasm. He was going to show king Belian a thing or two, yes he was, and they were going to be his fists... or maybe a cutlass or two.
"S'there a map or somethin' I can use around here? As much s' I like wanderin' around for ages, I don't. I just want my ship back so I can go pillage more shit-worthless villages."

Well, at least he was honest. That was one of Maddy's few positive perks. Most sea pirates usually aren't honest one bit, but Madds would tell it to ya' straight, no matter what.
"Hey look, you see that? I think someone else s' comin' up the mountain. Get yer cutlasses ready, boys, n' case it's one of Belian's cronies."

Old 'Hook' wasn't afraid of anything. He certainly wasn't afraid of some stupid Bravarians, no siree. He could take them with his arms tied behind his back and a blindfold on.

"Who's up there!"

[Seth "Redcap" Morley]

"Stay where you are, and don't move a muscle or your as good as dead!" a voice called out from the bluffs above.

"Yeah, and dead isn't good, so I suggest-!"

"Shut up," the first voice snarled.

Redcap, the crew, and the guide all glanced upward and spotted a patrol from the nearby Forge Town. It was said that the locsls were so wary of pirates and the like that they patrolled the entire Metallic Mountains in an attempt to purge them. Sadly, Redcap and his crew in blatant violation of this well-established policy.

A group of ten or so Forgers descended from the heights via a narrow path. A few were trainers, a few were morphs, and some were plain warriors. A variety of Pokemon, including a Mawile, a Muk, a Lunatone, and Roselia, were among them.

Redcap was faced with no alternative than to surrender. The men were tired, hungry, thirsty, and had no bearing of where they were in the slightest. That night, the Forgers carried the survivors of the Scarlet Gyarados towards Forge Town. It would be a five-day trip. However, the 'prisoners' were never destined to arrive there due to a completely unexpected breakout the following night. Unexpected on the Forgers' part, that is.

[Maddock Maccaulay]

Maddock could make out shouting from the overhead bluff. It seemed as if the natives were taking care of a few trespassers- much to his disappointment, they weren't Bravarians, but sea pirates as well. As the natives of the nearby Forge Town were extremely terrified of sea pirates, they would go even to extreme lengths as to scale the mountains in search for any scalawags who planned on attacking via an ambush assault. There were a bunch of Forgers in this group, too; about ten of them. A mixture of both pokemorph and human working together to bring down the invading pirates.

Now, Maddock was a naturally curious individual. He couldn't just let this random strain of events pass through and not say a word about it. Of course he would follow them into Forge town, they had captured fellow pirates! Even though sea pirates usually worked alone and wouldn't be bothered to assist a fellow sailor, Maddock had a strong sense of justice, and being captured by a bunch of scrawny, poverty-stricken lame-brains would certainly bring down Hocho's reputation.
"All right, you three. Follow me. We're gonna take a little vacation from findin' the ship for a while. Looks like we got ourselves a search n' rescue mission on our hands."

The hike to Forge Town would be a long and perilous one, but for some reason Maddock was actually looking forward to it. Maybe he'd get something out of it.

[Seth "Redcap" Morley]

It was nighttime, and the Forgers were circled around a campfire. Several tents were erected around the area. Redcap and his shipwrecked crew were tied together, back to back, with one insanely long rope. Redcap's mind was reeling with possible escapades to freedom until he noticed huddled shadows watching atop some rugged hills a mere thirty feet away. Their eyes glinted in the fire's light. Redcap glanced at the Forgers. They were none the smarter, apparently. Then, Redcap had a plan.

"Ahem, you there!" Redcap exclaimed.

"Me here?" a Forger replied.

"Yes, you there!" Redcap replied, "I am quite thirsty for a poor soul, ya know. Is there any chance ya can spare a little water?"

"Cap'n, wahat are ya doing?" Francisco hissed under his breath.

"Get ready," Redcap muttered back.

The Forger looked at his superior captain, who gave a nod. The ignorant Forger brought a cup of water over to Redcap, who remarked, "Could ya put it to my lips, fine sir? My hands are a little occupied."

The Forger reluctantly knelt down and set the cup to Redcap's lips. He drank the water slowly until none was left... then swiftly spat it out at the Forger's astonished face and headbutted him with a violent smack.

"Up! Up! Turn!" Redcap roared.

The bound pirates, with a united effort, got onto their feet, whirled around, and kicked the Forger. By now, the camp was roused to the uprising captives. Redcap just hoped the onlookers up in the hills were friendly.