"So how will we know it worked?" Evan surveys the ancient koi from above before crouching on the dock, bringing the subject into sharper focus. Hope for visible signs of a change quickly quash under the close inspection.
The Vermillion City Gym backdrops the pair, the shoreline visible beyond the waves. The other direction, a massive ship upon a great expanse of brine, rocks poking from the surf around it. Seagallop H-S1 stretches across the hull in professionally painted letters.
"We won't; not until she uses it for the first time. Modern Pokémon often know our language, so seeing the results is as simple as asking them to use the move. But with her, I doubt she will have the slightest idea of what you want. Not unless you say the word a couple times while she is already climbing a waterfall." Lifting the back of his Pokéball-themed hat, the water enthusiast scratches underneath in embarrassment, the bill lowering.
"I would bet that she did learn it, though, if her expression while listening was anything to go by," George jumps in, a hand clasping Evan on the shoulder. The lad's eyes follow the arm up to a heartening nod.
The guru ignores the reassurances, opting instead to flick eyelash-shielded glares at the sun. Not a single cloud masks the spiteful fireball as it bakes the very atmosphere around them. Vest flapping, the double-layered a-dolt vents heat out into the seaweed-scented air.
"Anything else either of you two want to ask while we wait for the ferry to finish loading cargo? We have another hour until boarding." The colossal vessel floats placidly in the harbor, nearly still from its weight, unmoving in the waves. Sailors swarm it like ants on a hill, a flurry of activity.
"I have a question." Surprisingly, it is George to pipe up. "On Friday, before the Pidgeotto fiasco. It looked like you were talking to Jewel at the beach. Like, actually talking. Do you speak fish?" The quizzical expression sparks a short chortle from the guru.
"Aquatic, actually. I'm not fluent, but I understand a lot more than I can say. Many of their...words...for lack of a better term, were just not made for human bodies." The fisherman rolls up dark brown sleeves, removing their full-length status in an attempt to release more heat. "Do you mind if we move this conversation though? This blasted sun is starting to get to me." He gestures over to a set of covered benches made for twiddling pre-passengers. Bending at the waist, the adult snatches up the duo's overnight backpack and duffel off the planks without waiting for a reply. Hefting the awkwardly weighted luggage, the male lurches off to the shade with the grace of a Spinda.
Collapsing into the elongated chair, a bag on either side, the individual uses a linen shirt to fan a barrelled chest, kicking up a small breeze with the fabric. Shortly after, his two companions settle nearby.
"So if you can understand Aquatic fairly well, that means you know what Jewel and that other carp were talking about, right?" a younger voice insists.
"Hm? Oh, yes. I got the gist." Seeing the wheat-topped lad biting at the bit from the next bench over, the man continues, "She asked the other Magikarp how it was doing, and tried to calm it. Keep in mind, I lost a lot of what Jewel said. I think she was speaking an archaic form of Aquatic. But she kept asking where something I couldn't translate was. She straightened and smacked both fins to her side at the same time, rocking her front half up. The posture suggested something proud? I think?" Hands raise and shoulders shrug in a subconscious 'I don't know' gesture.
"The other carp didn't seem to understand what she was asking for either, though. She gave an explanation, but it still seemed completely in the dark. The closest translation I can think of would be 'protector of the school'. Though that doesn't ring any bells for me in relation to her kind. Her demeanor changed after that, and she started using only the most basic of Aquatic to soothe and console it."
After a second of deliberation, he adds an afterthought.
"It was almost as if she found out she was talking to a simpleton, and changed her speech patterns to reflect that." The bilingual rubs the bridge of his nose as George stretches next to his son. The harsh shadow shed from the umbrella throws the flexing body into sharp contrast where it leans out of the darkened patch.
"The thing is, as far as I've met, all Magikarp speak and act like that wild one."
Author Note:
So the next chapter is gonna take me a bit longer. It was pointed out to me that I left a loose end that needs addressing. So I have to actually write a new scene rather than just edit and post.
Chapter Notes:
-The Sea-Gallop High-Speed (insert number here) is a set of cruise-liners that ferry the main character between Kanto and the Sevii Islands, and between the islands themselves. They leave Kanto from Vermillion and only cover ships 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 12.
-A-dolt. Adult. Ha. Punny. He was a dolt for wearing two layers.
-Aquatic is made-up.
-Spinda is a panda pokemon known for being unable to walk straight. It teeters back and forth as it moves like a dizzy person.
-The conversation is referencing the word "Champion" that Jewel used. He just doesn't know what that is.
-Basically, Jewel is under the impression that she just met a particularly stupid Magikarp. She has no idea yet that all of the Magikarp are like that now.