"So you'll be touring a reef? That sounds awesome." Hope said.
"Yup. It's not all the way underwater yet, but it's a start." Mahiru said.
"So who's gonna go with you as your travel buddy this time?" Hiyoko asked.
"Hm. I thought it would be cool to go with Mermista." Mahiru answered. "I mean, Salenias is...er, was… built on a foundation of Coral."
"Is this a literal guilt trip? Cause it kinda sounds like it." Mermista said.
"No, that's not it at all!" Mahiru defended. "Let's just go." she said as Mermista slipped in as they teleported to the reef. "Whoa!"
She looked upon a large school of Finneon as they swam close to one another.
"Yeah...think I'll treat them." Mermista said tossing a fruit to them as they each jumped. "See...did a good…" she said before a Wingull snatched one of them in midair.
Mahiru giggled a bit. "Guess that Wingull wanted a treat too."
"What is it with me and birds?" Mermista asked.
"I'm not gonna answer that." Mahiru said, snapping a picture of the Wingull with its catch.
"Probably just a stream of bad luck." Revali said.
"Haha." Mermista said. "Least I'm not the only one." she said watching a Squirtle as it was swimming away from a Sharpedo.
"Wow." Mahiru said snapping some pictures. "How do you deal with that aggressiveness of your Sharpedo, David?"
"Sharpedo are very high-maintenance, and are very sensitive to the scent of blood. Best trick against these buggers is to show that you're not afraid of them." David said.
"Uh...looks like we won't need to." Mahiru said as a Lapras came to the Squirtle's defense and scared off Sharpedo.
"Saved by the Lapras." Tsumugi said.
"Yeah." Leilani said. "The Sharpedo kinda reminds me of the aumakua in a way."
"Well...we should see any…" Mahiru said clearing over a whirlpool. "Well...that should be the last...wait...what is...Oh my!" she said before a Wailord went and rose out of the water right in front of them.
"...Okay, that's big." Mermista said. "Never seen a big guy like this up close before."
"It's a Wailord. It's currently the largest Pokémon species ever discovered so far." Twilight said.
"Seriously? That is actually pretty incredible. Anything else I should know about this mother of all whales?" Mermista asked.
"Look...we'll just go around it to continue our...oh wow." Mahiru said as they saw a Pikachu riding on a Mantine.
"That looks really neat." Francisca said.
"Didn't we just see a Pikachu surfing on a Stunfisk last night?" Mermista asked. "That could be the same one."
"Seems like kind of a stretch." Mahiru said as they got closer to the end as they saw a Corsola being chased by a pack of Mareanie.
"Oh, that poor Corsola!" Fluttershy gasped.
"Well, Mareanie does hunt Corsola." Hope said. "Mostly for their branches."
After that, they soon returned to the lab.
"Okay...got some good photos but...I think I'll get better ones if I return this evening." Mahiru said.
"No debate on that." Mermista said. "I have to admit, that was a pretty fun ride."
"Glad you enjoyed it." Ajna smiled.
It was soon evening as Ochako went with Mahiru to a sunset lit reef.
"Wow...it looks even more beautiful when the sun is setting." Ochako said as they saw the Inkay frolic in the sea.
"Yeah...oh...we're coming up at the whirlpool." Mahiru said before rising from it was a Blastoise. "So that's what was at the bottom." she said taking a picture of it as it rocketed away.
"...y'know when there are things you wish could happen but never actually expect they will?" Eddy asked. "Well, that was one of them."
"Looks like Blastoise was a Gamera fan, eh?" ZS asked.
"It was just using its water to rocket away." Dan said.
"Wow...not sure...wait! Look...over there!" Nami said.
"Where?" Mahiru asked.
"By the two Wailord." Nami said as Mahiru zoomed in as they saw a small blue creature playing with a few Inkay. "It's...a Manaphy!"
'Manaphy? Isn't that the Pokémon they call the Prince of the Sea?" Ace asked.
"That's right. Say, I heard that the Straw Hats have experience with Manaphy before." Zacian said.
"That's right. We raised one during our first adventure." Usopp said. "Of course eventually...we had to let him experience life on his own."
"I'm sure that he's happy, wherever he ends up." Zacian said.
"Yeah…" Luffy said.
"This is still a perfect photo op." Mahiru said snapping pictures of Manaphy playing along with a few pics of a nearby Primarina singing.
"Such a joyous melody…" Kabuki said as she was listening.
"Yeah...just as calming as the Lapras calls." Mahiru said she and Ochako saw the Lapras far away calling out happily. "Nearing the end again."
"Well...no worries...because tomorrow...you will definitely be exploring under the waves. The upgrade to allow undersea exploration is complete." Mirror said.
"Under the waves, huh?" Mark repeated. "Sounds like an expedition alright."
"In a way. It is where some of the Illumina readings are coming from." Mirror said. "Hopefully we find the source."
"Same…" Mahiru said, a little excited to photograph another new Illumina Pokemon.