At the Marsh Path

Some of the Pokémon around look confused.

Bibarel #4: <...The humans? What about them?>

Gyarados #2 -swings tail: <We're here taking care of our own thing. Such as not getting our eggs nomed.>

Gyarados #1: <Yeah, screw the humans.>

Bibarel #5: <Oh, so says Mister "oh please lemme beg for a challenge"…>

The aforementioned Gyarados roars and swings down to bite the Bibarel's head off, thankfully missing by an ear and change. The now scared Bibarel hops away screeching while a couple of other Bibarel start tackling the Gyarados.

The Drapion above are watching the scene with somewhat diminishing interest.

Drapion Mother: <Okay, I think the show is over. Wanna take our little cluster back to the trees while I scout for the moron one for food?>

Drapion Father -does the equivalent to a shrug: <Sure, just be careful to not announce yourself. We only have some minutes before the friggin' birds notice the confusion and reveal it was the Arbok all along.>

The male then calls the cluster of Skorupi up his back and walks away as stealthily as his size allows.

Further Back

Random Gyarados Spy -pops out from nowhere. <Yup. Ol'Nayer we called him. Those were good times.> -- nods nonchalantly.

Not where the Arbok are...

At the mention of the eggs, many Pokémon turn towards Maggie, not all of them with amicable faces. There are some hints of confusion among the crowd.

Bibarel #4: <...Huh? What do ou know about the eggs?>

Bibarel #6: <I knew it! The human did it! See? See?>

The Bibarel looks around gesturing to the human, but no one pays attention to him.

Gyarados #3 -slithers around Maggie: <Come on, we haven't seen an Arbok in... well, moons. There's too few of them and they're so weak...>

Bibarel #1: <It'd require many Arbok to take this many eggs. My uncle's den lost an entire cluster one night.>

Gyarados #1: <And there can't be that many Arboks.> -- stands up looking unconcerned -- <That'd be ridiculous.>

Where the Arbok are...

While Maggie is holding off the scuffle, Silent is tied to some ropes, hanging upside down from a tree right above a pit of Arbok that don't look very friendly.

"Uh... Python? Would you mind some help here? I think something went wrong in that diplomacy you tried..."

Python -rattles nervously coiled on Silent's head: <self→locale()->facet (new facet ('negotiation_colors') ) != $ENV->ArbokColony->locale()->facet('negotiation_colors); Core dumped!>

Python throws up!

Where Maggie is

The Pokémon there start arguing about how the Arbok can't be the ones stealing the eggs because they, well, have no arms or pincers; when one of the Bibarel mutters something about armless creatures being stupid, a certain Gyarados takes offense at him (again) and tail-whips him.

Gyarados #1: <Serves him well.> -- turns back to Maggie -- <Well if that's true then where are the Arbok?>

Bibarel #4 -points to a dam: <Not in our territory, we keep guards stationed there.>

Bibarel Guard #2: <Yeah, we do a very good job!> -- pounds chest.

Bibarel #4: <…Eh, what are you doing here?>

Bibarel Guard #2 -shudders: <Uhm... came here to fight?>

Gyarados #3 -looking annoyed: <...Then who is guarding your dam?>

At the Dam

A group of Arbok is making a run slither towards the hills, using vines and leaves they found around to drag some Bibarel eggs out of the nest. However they are too bulky and push against the ground too hard, and as a side effect the structure of the dam is weakening. The Arbok ignore the sounds of cracking wood because it provides them with some cover.

Back at Maggie's

Some of the Bibarel in the group facepalm.

Gyarados #2: <Well, uhm.. that was weird... I guess we owe you an apology, if this about the Arbok is any true.>

Gyarados #1: <I wonder why did we even take advice from a Drapion to begin with... ¬¬> -- slithers away towards the dam.

At Pastoria

People are having a nice day in this city that is absolutely not going to have an apocalypse today.

Great Marsh Path Numero Uno

Ichtacya listens to Maggie, woofs a nod and then departs as quickly as her legs allow her to. The Bibarel watch her go away then relax a little.

Bibarel #4: <Not you, moron!> -- tail-slaps Bibarel #2 -- <You and the others return to the damn dam and get things in order. We take care of the Gyarados here.>

Bibarel #2 -grunts: <...'Kay. But this is SO not my fault.>

The Bibarel calls in two colleagues then swims upstream to where the dam is.

Gyarados #1 -coils and speaks to Maggie: <The Drapion let us know. She came around a couple of days ago. Says she saw the Arbok plotting.>

Bibarel #5 -smiles: <Awww, so nice of her. Good thing they don't steal our eggs anymore.>

The Gyarados in the group all turn to the Bibarel.

Gyarados #3 -growls unamused: <Drapion steal Bibarel eggs?>

Bibarel #3 -points to Maggie, nervous: <I blame the human!>

Further Back

The Gyarados spy watches the situation as well then turns to Chum and slithers around him.

Gyarados Spy: <I am a Gyarados with no name. Watching stuff and living peacefully here in the marsh. Had many many siblings, like fourty, but they died very young.> -- sobs quietly.

Further Back

The Gyarados listens with some interest but at the same time it is clear he doesn't understand much.

Gyarados Spy: <..Sing? No, I don't think so… should I try?>

Great Marsh Path #1

Gyarados #3 -somewhat out of his stupor: <Well, they do nom the eggs of other Pokémon sometimes. But rarely. I mean, if you're klutz or forget to care for your own egg...> -- does the equivalent of a shudder -- <But they never hunted for eggs specifically before.>

Bibarel #5: <They're not really very smart, and there's only a few of them.>

Where Silent is

Python has climbed down from Silent's rope and is now plotting with some of the Arbok.

Wild Arbok #3 -rattles with Python: <For a little hatchling you are well nurtured.>

Wild Arbok #5 -examines Python: <So you're saying if we leave the other leader and stick around here pretending we're mean, we'll get some of this thing called "screentime"?> -- forks tongue -- <That's... [Interesting]...>

Wild Arbok #2 -puzzled: <What is a "screentime" anyway?>

The Arbok continue debating.

Great Marsh Path #1

The Gyarados are about to answer but they are left a bit (more) openmouthed when they think about the question.

Gyarados #2: <Well, it was the Drapion but…>

Gyarados #1: <Oh now I get it. Now we are in trouble because of you.> -- snarls at one of the Bibarel -- <No wonder the other creatures go for your eggs.>

Bibarel #2 -crosses his arms: <Ahem... how many eggs do your mothers lose a year?>

Gyarados #1 -frowns: <Come talk to me closer, meatpiece.>

Bibarel #4 -nervous: <Guys? Guys? Are we going to do something about, you know, the Arbok?>

The Gyarados and Bibarel start glaring and roaring at each other, sparks flying (figuratively, nomon's using Thunder yet).

Meanwhile, upstream, the Drapion mother stays hidden and lets some Bibarel pass all the way up while looking, very fast, for a prey she can sic her pincers on, as an observation of the situation down the river cleary indicates her time is over.

Drapion Mom: <I'll have to go for the derpiest one before the Gyarados decide to come upstream~>

And she wades after one of the Bibarel...

Meanwhile at Silent's…

Ichtacya is now hanging down from a rope besides Silent, her hindlegs and forelegs tied, and looking nervous as she watches the pit of Arbok the way down.

Python: <^.^>

All the Arbok start rattling at unison.

Ichtacya -sweating: <Awww come on, this is ridiculous! First Sol disappears and now this? >_> >

Great Marsh Path #1

Bibarel #4: <Yeah, we're mostly nice…>

One of the Gyarados (guess which one :p ) rolls his eyes while the others eye Maggie with a hint of suspicion.

Gyarados #1: <What is all this. First they say the Arbok are the trouble. I tire of this mess.> -- swings tail.

Gyarados #3: <We should take care of this on our own. Let's go nom the Drapion.>

Bibarel #2 -frowns: <Uhm, the Drapion live [upstream]. You can't go there. You might damage the dam!>

Bibarel #5: <You mean the one that is leaking?> -- points up.

In effect, the pressure over the dam is too much and it starts breaking apart. The Arbok make a run for their lives leaving some of the eggs behind (to float safely, except for the part where strong stream of water, you know).

At that moment one of the Staravia decides to chirp.

Staravia #3: <Sucks to be non-flying, eh? Anyway, this is not our business. Flock, let's go to the cathedral thingie. Humans always give us food there!>

Staravia #5: <Yeah, let's ditch all of this.>

Gyarados #1: <I should've ditched all of you. ¬¬>

Staravia #1 -gives one of the Bibarel a "bird": <And don't bother us again.>

The flock departs singing while the sound of water comes from upstream.

Further Back

The Gyarados frowns as he watches the dam above leaking.

Gyarados Spy: <Now that you mention it… this probably merits a song.>

Starts humming something, still nervous about trying to sing.

Great Marsh Parth #1

A certain Gyarados turns to Maggie.

Gyarados #1: <We? What do you mean we? It's their screwup!>

Bibarel #2 -paces around: <I told those morons to not leave the dam!> -- to the others -- <Come on peoplemons, we have to fetch wood!>

Gyarados #3: <That's gonna take a while. Any way we->

The first Gyarados glares at the third.

Gyarados #3: <-you can [clog] the thing in the meanwhile?>

Great Marsh Path #1

Gyarados #1: <…I hope you're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting, human.>

Gyarados #4 -swallows: <Oh dear…>

The first Gyarados definitively doesn't look happy; some of the Bibarel decide to step in looking as friendly as they can.

Bibarel #3: <Well, that would help us a lot, while we collect wood and all.>

Bibarel #5: <Pretty please? Or else>

Gyarados #1 -frowns: <I heard that!>

One of the Bibarel in the group facepalms.

The first Gyarados menacingly slithers around Maggie.

Gyarados #1: <Fine, I'll play your little game, but you better give me something good in return. Or I'll nom you whole.>

Gyarados #4 -to another of the Gyarados, in a very low voice: <Well at least that's friendlier than our last dealings with a Roselia...>

Gyarados #2 -shrugs: <You can't say all Grass-types are not nice...>

Meanwhile at Silent's

A still tied Ichtacya shudders as the Arbok mothers have their hatchlings play around on her back and chew on her head leaf. The mothers veiledly threaten the Leafeon with painful Poison Stings if she doesn't play nice.

Ichtacya -shudders: <:I-I'm nice, you see? :3>

Meanwhile a still tied and hanging Silent tries to reach his Pokégear and takes a look down at Python, who is arguing bracing styles with other Ekans.

"Python, are you done with the diplomacy yet? I could use some blood circulation away from my head..."

Wild Ekans #2: <K&R is just better.>

Python: <Can't care. I don't need bracing. ^.^> -- rattles happily.

Some of the other Ekans rattle in envy.

The Gyarados pretends to look unamused; however his friends quickly catch on his act.

Gyarados #4: <We can read you like a book :p> -- avoids a Bite.

Gyarados #3: <Come on you know you're going to say yes. Why delay this any further?>

Gyarados #1: <I despise you. ¬¬> -- turns to Maggie -- <Fine, but as I'm humilliating myself here you better make sure it'll be a glorious challenge.>

The Gyarados snarls at the others and departs upstreams, followed by two or three other Gyarados. Meanwhile up above the Bibarel are trying to contain the water flow with their tails as some others try to gather what little wood they can in short notice.

Further Back

Gyarados spy: <Well...> -- sniffs -- <in this world so troubled, perhaps my sorrows do merit a song.>

The Gyarados then stands up an inhales; after a moment of making up his mind, he sings at a sad tune, the story of his life as a Magikarp and the loss of much of his birth clutch, the wandering across the waters in search of a new land, and the settling with others of his kind in a land where he one day grew into a Gyarados who decided to remain with no name.

Great Marsh Upstream

Three Gyarados fight againnt the growing current to tr and block the leak in the dam, being observed by some mons above. The Bibarel are swimming and wading below, trying to collect whatever they can at the moment.

Random Bibarel #2: <Guys guys, I got a tree!> -- wades in.

Random Sudowoodo: <Uhm… I-i- don't know how to swim ._.>

Random Bibarel #4: <Drop that and bring [boulders], those will block this well until we get the wood!>

Gyarados #1 -peeks out of the water to breath for a mo: <This is so disgusting... is the human still there?> -- eyes around looking for Maggie.

Further Back

The Gyarados finishes his song and looks at the situation unfolding upstream.

Gyarados -sighs: <I'm too old to lose another home…>

He turns to the side to hide his tears something-in-his-eye, then notices something. Namely, the tail of a Drapion sticking out from the rocks near the area where some Bibarel are way too bus moving rocks and bramches to notice.

Gyarados Spy: <...Uh? Why is a Drapion hiding behind those rocks?>