SAMUROTT

Today was yet another quiet day in the cove area. Now with Darkrai dealt with, there isn't much to do. My ward seems to be infatuated with my colleague's daughter, which worries me. If he's distracted by the throes of romance, how will he be able to watch the Cove Area for any impending threats? Not like there are any, but my Samurott bones can't exactly do it all alone.

Still, the boy's pursuit of romance reminds me again that I am still without a mate, even after all these years. I still consider Oshawott a sort of son, but this desire is not one for the passing of bloodlines and whatnot. Queen Serperior keeps hassling me about that kind of thing, sending emissaries from the Arbor Area with invitations to "meet". I know that her own mate had passed a few years ago, but to seek me as a replacement seems off to me. With her own daughter in love with mine, I feel like the Queen sees me as a political connection more than anything else. As pretty as Queen Serperior is, I want my mate to share in the deep romantic love that I so deeply desire. A 'Mon can dream, I guess.

"Dad? Are you writing your love letters again?" Samurott jerked his head towards the door of his room, noticing his son, Oshawott, in the doorway. "You know you talk to yourself when you write."

"I do?" Samurott coughed. "How much did you hear?"

"The thing about you looking over my dates with Snivy, and something about not liking the Queen."

"… Don't tell her. And keep it down, please."

"Dad, I haven't. Oh, right, I came here to tell you that you have a visitor. It's about that cool cape I said you should get." Oshawott gleamed at the thought of being even by the hypothetical cape, as his father looked at him crossly.

"Can you tell her to wait? I want to keep this writing thing of mine a secret, y'know, with me being the Area Keeper and all that," said Samurott, quite sheepishly.

"I'm just gonna do the tea thing we always do with guests, Dad."

"And don't call me Dad in front of her! It's 'Sir'"

"Yes, sir!" said Oshawott as he bounded down out of the room to the main table.

Samurott sighed. Ever since his mate passed away a few years back, Samurott had been pretty lonely, especially after gaining the position of Area Keeper in addition to being a single dad. The last things his wife said before passing on was to find someone new, but as of yet nobody he found seemed to be the one. So, the sea lion mostly spent his time wishing for someone new to drop in his life, his options in the Cove Area long exhausted.

His fellow Area Keeper, Queen Serperior, had tried on several occasions to set herself up with him, but the idea of getting involved with the complicated politics of the Arbor Area would certainly overwhelm him.

As he hid away the rest of his writing materials, he made himself into the main room of his house. It was here he met the visitor, Leavanny, who was currently occupying herself with a conversation with Oshawott and Snivy, who his son failed to mention was here.

"Oh, Dad, I mean, Sir, can I go out to the Crag Area with Snivy? Not like on a date or anything, but Tepig apparently wants to show us something," said the otter, making baby-doll eyes at his superior.

Samurott grunted. "Yes. Yes, you can."

Oshawott and Snivy excused themselves as Samurott sat down across from the remaining guest.

"You must be Leavanny, I assume?"

"Y-yes," replied the bug. If Samurott didn't know any better he'd say she was blushing.

"What, um, were they talking about?" said Samurott. Normally he'd be more confident, but after Oshawott, who he knew wasn't exactly subtle, so loudly revealed that Samurott, the fierce and brave Cove Area Keeper, had been writing sappy love letters gossiping about the Queen. Especially considering that he'd seen Leavanny by the Queen during the inter-Area meetings.

Leavanny hesitated slightly, as if in a haze. "They were talking about you, I guess. How you're single, and how Snivy's mother wants you to find someone." The bug seemed shy for some reason.

"I see." There was an awkward silence as he realized that the Leavanny had said that remark as if she had been experiencing the same thing. Was she also without a mate? No, he thought. Too coincidental, and most definitely a setup of some kind. The silence continued.

The ice was broken by Leavanny. "So, about the cape…"

"YES!" Samurott was yelling, which startled the bug. He quickly toned it down. "Sorry. So the cape? Did you like the design, or is it too ostentatious?"

"No, it's really good, actually! I just came here to maybe meet you, and possibly get some help with the shells," said Leavanny. She seemed to be more focused than before. Something seemed to be distracting her from what the two kids said. "I don't really live in a place where I can find these really nice shells I need for the pauldrons."

"The what?" Samurott cocked his head quizzically.

"The shoulder things. I just thought maybe I could have you help me find the shells, since y'know, I could fit them with you there, and you would have more experience than finding shells than I certainly would. It's the last thing I need for this cape of yours."

"Well, shells are kind of the thing of Samurotts, so I guess I can help you. We can do it right now if you want." Samurott stopped himself, before going red in the face. "GETTING SHELLS. That's what I meant."

He shook his head. What was going on with him today? Just because there was a female Pokemon in his house? This was just business, he told himself. But inside, he secretly hoped that maybe, just maybe, that this job's reward may be more than what he expected.

#########

Samurott and Leavanny made themselves to a small beach cave on the fringes of the Cove Area and the sea. It was picturesque already, but Samurott knew that the real reason why this place was semi-famous was for the abundance of shells of many sizes. He'd hoped that nobody had already taken all the big, shoulder-sized shells already, but then again, it was already evening, and there weren't many footprints. It would be a quiet, mostly uninterrupted excursion.

He turned his head to face his companion. She was visibly impressed at the sight, though something else seemed to be on her mind. Samurott decided to break the ice this time.

"So… See any shells you think would work?" he said. Leavanny snapped out her mental haze to reply.

"Yeah… I think I already know which ones I want to use from here," Leavanny said, walking towards a pair of large conch-like shells by the sea line. "Um, Area Keeper?"

"You can call me Samurott."

"How did you find out about this place?"

Well, I guess it wasn't a secret to her. "My… mate showed me this place. It was her father's secret spot. She told me to keep an eye on it before she passed away." That, and to find someone new.

"I-I'm sorry I asked…" Leavanny looked down dejectedly.

"No, it's fine. I just don't normally talk about my history about this place. It's hard to look back fondly if everything's all uncomfortable and stuff." He was becoming awfully casual for someone he just met. The two found themselves at another silence.

"Can we just talk for a while?" said Samurott.

"What?"

"It's just so hard to find someone to talk to who isn't a kid and also not groveling in awe and fear of the big strong Area Keeper. You, you already know me past my image, even just a little bit. I just thought I should capitalize on that."

Leavanny's eyes lit up at the request. "S-sure."

The two sat down on a clear spot by the beach, given shade by the cave and a view of seashells reflecting the afternoon sun into the Cove Area. Leavanny was still carrying the two conches, so she put them down in a safe place, though there was nobody to even steal them.

"Samurott, you seem to be kind individual. I'm sure your mate would be proud of who you are now."

"Yeah. I miss her, quite a bit, but it's hard to mourn when you have to break up a fight between two Pokemon over a Big Berry every 30 minutes." He chuckled before continuing. "I just hope my kid can take up the reins."

Samurott stared into the distance. "So what's your story, miss?"

"I'm not that interesting-"

"I'm here. I'm kind of detective. I can read your face, and you've been acting as if you've got something you want to say."

"I'm just a humble servant of Queen Serperior. Nothing much to say there. I have Swadloon, but she's my ward/apprentice if anything. Most of the time I do commissions like yours for other Pokemon. Lately though, the Queen's been trying to set me up with someone."

That piqued Samurott's interest. "Hmm?"

"I'm single. Always have been. Haven't found the right 'Mon yet, and I was fine with it. But Serperior kept setting me up with Pokemon I didn't really care for. She's been doing this ever since the Wish Park Incident was settled. It's just that sometimes, I think she may be right, that I do need a mate in my life…"

Leavanny let out a deep sigh before snapping up, her face red upon realizing what she had said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ramble on there. I-I think I should go."

She picked up her things. "T-Thank you, though, Samurott," Leavanny said, hurriedly before quickly running back towards the main Cove Area.

"Wait!" shouted Samurott. But it was too late. Leavanny was already out of sight. He wanted to tell her that she had forgotten to do the fittings, but his mind wanted him to say something else.

If he didn't know any better he was…

Falling in love again.

Was Leavanny the one for him?