A/N: Just a notice- I kind of read the Kalos map when planning out chapter plots; yet I've come to like this idea and I don't want to change it. In this chapter they are travelling on Route 5- and I changed it up a little to fit the plot's needs.
Thanks to a guest for reviewing!
Twenty Nine – Splash
Finally, they were leaving Santalune City. Sky trained with Ash that morning, and felt much better than she did yesterday- and tried to push the bad memory behind her. But sometimes she found herself remembering what she did to Meg, and it just made her upset every now and then. She was thankful that Clemont didn't notice- he didn't need to worry about her so much.
They had quickly cut through southern Lumiose City, and were now on the route to Coumarine City- then they would head west after a night's rest and continue towards Cyllage City.
They stopped at a pond to rest for lunch, and everyone released their Pokémon. Most of them went in the water to play; yet some like Eevee, Bunnelby and Braixen stayed behind.
Serena didn't really want to go swimming either- so she began preparing some lunch for everyone. Ash and Bonnie were quick to get in the water; dressing in some clothes good for swimming and jumping in with the other Pokémon.
Clemont came out of the small tent they had set up in a set of large swimming trunks, then sat down at the edge of the pond. Sky stayed right next to Serena, preferring to watch than to participate.
Clemont turned his head to look at her, a questioning look on his face. "Why don't you come swimming, Sky?"
Sky tensed up, and she stared down at the ground. "I-I don't know how… Remember?"
Clemont shook his head, then stopped. "When Team Rocket…" He didn't say the rest, not thinking that that event would need to be mentioned again. "But you were tied up. Of course you couldn't swim."
Sky sighed. "Y-yeah, but I still can't. I've always… Been afraid…" She got up and sat cross-legged from him, but made sure to stay away from the water's edge, even if the pond was shallow enough for her to stand in the area they were in.
He frowned. "Water's safe, really. How about I teach you how to swim?" He offered. "But only if you want to."
Sky considered it. 'Well… I am pretty afraid, but Clemont can help. I don't really have anything to lose; I can't exactly drown here…' She stood up and nodded, then went into the small tent to get changed into her warmer weather clothing: a pair of pink shorts and a black tank top, with her long black hair in a ponytail. She didn't carry a bathing suit with her for obvious reasons.
She sat at the edge with Clemont, and reluctantly dipped her legs into the water. IT was a perfect temperature- not quite warm or cold. She turned towards him, taking off her glasses and necklace, and laying them in the grass. "S-so… What do we do?"
Clemont hopped off the ledge, landing on the bottom of the pond lightly- it only went up to his waist, for now. He politely held out a hand to help her down.
Skylar blushed, and put her hand in his for a brief moment, and landed more softly than he did. She was deeper in the pond since she was much shorter, but was used to height difference. What really caused Sky to panic was the feeling like she would drown right away- even if her face wasn't near the water's surface.
Clemont noticed, and kept his hand around hers. Bonnie noticed and smiled, but left them for now. Clemont squeezed it reassuringly. "It'll be fine, Sky. Nothing will happen as long as you keep your balance- and if you fall, I'll catch you. I promise." He encouraged, and she nodded. "O-okay… I trust you."
Clemont smiled. "Alright, let's practise moving around a little." He kept holding her hand, but let his body float upwards after releasing his feet from the ground. "Like this."
Sky nodded, and kept holding his hand- slowly letting her legs float upwards towards the surface. He nodded. "Yeah, just like that! Now try kicking your legs a little, and your other arm if you like." He moved forwards a little after propelling himself by kicking.
Sky nodded and copied him, but got distracted and her face fell onto the water- she panicked again and began kicking rapidly.
Clemont quickly lifted her face out of the water. Her eyes were shit tight and water dribbled from out of her nose- she coughed for a minute then stopped.
Clemont asked softly: "Are you okay?"
Sky nodded. "S-sorry. I was being dumb…" She apologized, wiping water off her face.
"That's fine, you weren't being dumb. Stuff like that just happens." Clemont explained as she pushed some hair out of eyes.
Sky smiled. "Okay. C-can we keep trying?" Under normal circumstances from before she went on a journey, she would just give up. But after learning so much and developing some of the confidence she always wished she had, her newfound determination kicked in.
Clemont smiled back, nodding. "Yeah. Let's do that one more time…"
After some more work, Sky was swimming just fine- yet she had some trouble without Clemont holding her hand. She just felt safer near him.
Once they finished with floating practise, Sky got an idea. She smirked, then sent a wave of water towards Clemont- which got water all over his hair and glasses (he kept them on to see Sky more clearly). He sputtered out some water. "You're on, Sky!" He sent back playfully, splashing a much smaller amount over towards her.
She giggled, splashing him again. "We're just like Magikarp- or Goldeen!"
Soon enough everyone else, including Ash, Bonnie and the other Pokémon in the water joined in.
Water was flying around everywhere, so Clemont waded over towards Sky and acted as her water shield- until Sky splashed him lightly from behind.
After some more playing around, Serena called out that their lunch was ready- peanut butter sandwiches with fruit, and Pokémon food for the Pokémon.
Everyone ate together happily, and Sky never felt more at home.
Sometimes she felt just the slightest bit homesick- mostly from not seeing the Pokémon in the lab or her father. But this journey changed her life, and she would never drop out.
Her friends were by her side and that was all she wanted.
