The Pantheon

Team Aqua

The shoreline outside Lilycove City had always been beautiful.

Golden sand stretched along the coast while the ocean rolled toward land in slow, patient waves. Sailboats moved calmly across the horizon and the harbor bustled with life. Wallace had spent many peaceful afternoons walking that same beach when he wished to escape the noise of the city.

That morning the coast was completely different.

Across the length of the beach, members of Team Aqua had assembled their forces with admirable enthusiasm and extremely questionable tactical planning. Several clusters of grunts moved along the sand while their Pokémon spread across the shallows, clearly hoping to use the water to their advantage.

Wallace stood a short distance up the beach and watched them prepare.

He had to admire the confidence.

The decision to stage an operation centered around water while confronting the region’s water specialist required boldness. Whether it also required stupidity remained an open question.

Behind him, the rest of the response force moved into position with the quiet efficiency of experienced trainers. Rangers secured the nearby streets while several Ace Trainers positioned their Pokémon along the upper ridge of the beach.

Wallace adjusted the cuff of his sleeve and stepped forward.

Beside Wallace, the elegant Milotic rested upon the sand, her long body coiled with quiet poise as she watched the formation of Team Aqua spreading across the shoreline. Several of the grunts laughed when they noticed her position, clearly assuming a Water-type stranded on land would present little threat.

Wallace almost pitied them.

Almost.

“Milotic,” he lifted one hand with casual grace, “Surf.”

Milotic answered the command with immediate elegance as a powerful surge of water burst outward from beneath her body, the attack forming instantly across the sand before racing forward with explosive force. The wave carried her with it as she surged across the beach like a living spear of water.

The front line of Aqua trainers had only enough time to shout in alarm.

The wave struck them a heartbeat later.

Bodies, equipment, and Pokémon scattered in every direction as the attack plowed straight through their formation. Several unfortunate grunts were knocked from their feet and rolled across the sand while others collided with their own partners in a chaotic tangle of limbs and Poké Balls.

For a brief moment the entire maneuver resembled an elaborate game of bowling.

Milotic burst through the collapsing formation with graceful momentum, the surge of water carrying her past the stunned trainers before the wave finally crashed into the open surf.

The instant she reached the ocean her power doubled.

The sea welcomed her with a rushing embrace as she slipped beneath the surface and reemerged several meters from the shore, her long body now moving with effortless speed through her natural element.

Wallace smiled faintly.

“Much better.”

Aqua’s once orderly formation had collapsed into complete disarray as grunts struggled to stand and recover their scattered Pokémon. Several of them stared toward the water with expressions that suggested they were reconsidering the wisdom of challenging a former Champion beside the ocean.

“Hydro Pump, if you please,” Wallace gestured lightly toward the surf.

Milotic answered with enthusiasm.