Chapter 4 – Kecleon

Chapter 4 – Kecleon

I found some edible plants growing in and around the lake, and since I was hungry I quickly consumed them. Then I submerged, resting on the bottom of the lake, and went to sleep. Though there were other Pokemon living in the sizeable lake, I didn't think that any of them were a threat, so I felt that it was safe to do this.

.

I opened my eyes and glanced around the lake. It wasn't deep, so I could tell that the sun was still shining. I spotted a Buizel, a small furry Pokemon that lived around freshwater, swimming by in the distance. The water was clear, and I could see almost from one side of the lake to the next. To tell the truth, that made me a little uneasy, since it made the lake feel smaller than it actually was, and I was used to the expanse of the ocean.

Inflating the sac on my head, I rose to the surface again. As soon as my head emerged from the water, I switched from my gills to my lungs and took a look around.

I was then immediately hit by a beam of rainbow-colored light that blasted me across the lake. I cried out as I was smashed into the mud of the shallows.

I laid there, dazed, for several moments before regaining my senses. Pulling myself out of the mud, I stuck my head out of the water and coughed, having inhaled some water because I hadn't had time to switch to my gills. Then I shook the mud off and glanced around for the source of the beam.

There was no one else there. Frowning, I listened carefully for several moments. I continued to look around, trying to find anything out of the ordinary. All I heard were the normal noises from the forest, and occasional splashes from across the lake. But still I had an uneasy feeling, like I was being watched.

Then a green object appeared to one side, almost right in front of me, and lunged. I was caught off guard as it crashed into me, scratching with sharp claws. I cried out in pain and was knocked back into the mud.

I flailed for several seconds as the mud clouded the water, obscuring my vision. Finally I realized that I was no longer being attacked, and I stopped, rising back up. Once my head broke through the surface of the water, I coughed up more freshwater and glanced around wildly.

I spotted something a few feet away. It appeared to be a small black rock, attached to a string, floating above a red stripe. They were moving toward the forest.

After a moment of initial shock, I realized that the rock was my rock. Glancing down, I realized that it was gone. I looked back up, seeing it somehow floating away, and wondered how this was happening and what had attacked me.

"Come back!" I shouted angrily. It kept moving.

I stared numbly, knowing that it was as good as gone already, since I couldn't go out of the water and it was already out of range of my attacks. Flopping back into the water resignedly, I sighed. It was only a rock, after all.

.

I glanced up in some surprise as I heard a familiar telepathic voice. "Um, hello?"

Emerging from the water, I looked in the direction of its source, seeing Avari floating a few feet away. To my surprise, there was someone else with her.

It was a yellow and white Pokemon, with what appeared to be a three-pointed hat. Small blue strips of what looked like paper hung from two of the points, the ones on each side. Its body was shaped vaguely like a human's, with long yellow streamer-like protrusions coming from its back.

"Takumi, this is Jirachi. I told him about you on the way here." I glanced at Avari, and realized that she was holding my rock.

"Where did you get that?!"

She glanced at it. "I saw a Kecleon run by a while ago, and it was holding it. I recognized it and thought you might want it back, so I took it." She floated over and gave it to me. "Here."

I took it, realizing that the string was gone. "Thanks. But I can't wear it anymore." I put it on the shoreline, then glanced at Jirachi and smiled. "Nice to meet you."

He smiled back. "Nice to meet you too."

After a moment, I asked inquisitively, "Who are you? Are you Avari's boyfriend or something?"

Both of them reddened at this, and I wondered if I'd said something wrong. After another moment, Jirachi answered hesitantly. "Well, um, we're friends…"

"…Oh."

"Um, anyway, how did the Kecleon get this?" Avari gestured at my black rock.

I sighed. "I got hit by some sort of beam, then something jumped on me, and by the time I realized what was going on, it was floating away. A Kecleon, you said? What's that?"

"Um, a Kecleon is a Pokemon that can blend into its surroundings. Except for the stripe on its stomach, I think," Avari explained. "You mean you don't know what it is?"

"No… I've only been on land once before, so I don't know very much about the things that live on it. But in any case, that explains why I didn't see it." I shrugged. "Thanks for getting it back, anyway. And for saving me." Blushing embarrassedly, I smiled.

"You're welcome. I couldn't very well let you be eaten, could I?"

"Still, thanks. I'm in your debt, I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't shown up…" I shuddered, then changed the subject. "Anyway, um, it's not like it isn't fun around here, but um, could you take me back to the ocean?"

Avari looked slightly surprised. "Oh, okay. You're feeling better now?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Alright, then." I was surrounded by purple light again, and lifted out of the water. I was happy that I would soon be going back home, but also a little sad that I wouldn't likely see my new friends again.