Chapter nine
Swimming isn't all that bad.
"I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with this Professor." Shadow announced nervously as he was on the edge of a low diving board of the ARK's swimming pool.
"It will be alright…instinct should take over." Gerald replied as he sat on a long wooden bench beside the large pool.
"But Grandpa Shadow wasn't born like other mammals…what if he drowns." Maria looked with worry as she spoke to the scientist next to her.
"Drown!" Shadow cried out in slight fear, shaking a little as he looked at the sterile waters below.
"Maria please…now Shadow you have nothing to fear…and in the event that something does go wrong I'm an excellent swimmer and I will dive right in after you." Gerald reassured his hedgehog son.
"That's really reassuring Professor." Shadow rolled his eyes, sarcasm laced every word that came out.
"Its alright Shadow you can do it." Maria encouraged brightly as she looked over to her little brother.
Shadow drew a deep breath and exhaled to calm his nerves then stepped back do a small run up so he could jump. Taking a breath in, Shadow sprinted lightly then jumped off the board, ungracefully that was. He flapped his arms and fell into the water head first swallowing a mouth full of water when he accidentally opened it on impacted.
"Shadow!" Maria shouted out in a panic as she watched him sink further down to the bottom of the pool.
Gerald quickly removed his lab coat and dived into the water after Shadow, reaching out and grabbing his small arm. He turned and swam back up to the surface with Shadow in his grasp as fast as his old legs could kick. Maria watched the scene with a worried expression, even when her grandfather re-surfaced with an unconscious Shadow in his arms. She rushed over the edge to help drag Shadow out of the water, as best as she could, then laid him on his back. Gerald pulled himself out of the pool and crawled over to Shadow. He checked for a pulse and panicked when he couldn't find one. Gerald started to do CPR on his son and just before he could give him the kiss of life Shadow coughed up some water and breathed in deeply, groaning as he opened his eyes slowly.
"Oh thank God he's alright…maybe we need to take baby steps." Gerald breathed a sigh of relief as Shadow opened his eyes.
"Shadow are you alright?" Maria asked as she helped him to sit up.
"Considering I practically drowned…yeah I'm fine." Shadow gave the human girl a weak smile.
"Maybe we should get you used to the water first." Gerald nervously said as both children stared at him dryly.
"Yeah you think." Shadow sarcastically announced dripping wet and feeling uncomfortable, shivering a little.
"Come on Shadow lets get you dried off and your gloves & skates back on." Maria sweetly announced getting up.
"I think we should try again…not on the diving board, that was a bad idea." Shadow said as he got up and looked over at his creator for approval.
"If you are sure Shadow…we can go in the shallow end." Gerald suggested then got up himself and guided his son to the said end of the pool.
Gerald got into the pool, the water only came up to his waist line but for Shadow it would come just above his neck. Maria had disappeared to get her swimming clothes so she could help Shadow to learn, she returned to see Shadow sitting on the edge with his legs into the water and her grandfather in the pool, trying to get Shadow in.
"I'm back and ready to help…don't worry grandpa I'll stay in the shallow end, I also picked up some dry clothes for you grandpa." Maria announced her return then walked into the changing room.
"Thank you my dear." Gerald called out to Maria then added with a smile as he held out his hands, "so ready to enter the pool again?"
Shadow looked at Gerald's hands and hesitated in taking them but did so slowly. Gerald tightened his grip on Shadow reassuringly and gently helped the hedgehog into the water. With a small splash Shadow hit the water, panic filled his eyes a little until his feet touched the bottom. Shadow was neck deep in the water, holding his human fathers hands a little more tighter now as the water moved a little over his face as Maria entered the pool and walked up to them.
"Maybe swimming is a little over rated…I feel like a drowned rat." Shadow complained as he had no choice but to move his head back slightly, drenching his quills in the process.
"Come on Shadow its not that bad and what if in the future you come across a time when you need to enter water." Maria smiled triumphantly to the sighing hedgehog.
"Yes that is true it will benefit you in the long run." Gerald added matter-of-factly.
"Fine what do we do now…my fur and quills are starting to get a little waterlogged and heavy." Shadow said feeling that uncomfortable feeling again but it was a little stronger.
"Right yes…I suppose hedgehogs weren't designed for water but your no normal earth hedgehog Shadow…we'll start with floating." Gerald replied with a grin, making Shadow's uncomfortableness rise that bit more.
Well within half an hour of trying to float on his back, it turns out that Shadow wasn't a floater and would sink every time. Gerald had put it down to his quills being waterlogged and too heave, causing Shadow to sink down to the swimming pool floor. Maria and Shadow had agreed with that theory so now Shadow was holding onto the edge of the pool with his legs out and kicking them out.
"That's it Shadow keep it up…your doing very well." Gerald encouraged then turned to his granddaughter sitting on the bench wrapped in a towel adding, "how are you doing Maria?"
"Yes I'm feeling much better but I think I'll stay out of the pool for now." Maria answered with slightly tired eyes and smile.
Maria had to take a break due to her illness, she cant do physical activities for long periods of time without getting tired to quickly, but that doesn't stop her from trying new things or helping out her hedgehog brother either.
"I think your ready to try and swim now Shadow." Gerald announced with glee.
"If you say so…I do hope it doesn't involve the diving board again." Shadow replied nervously as he stopped kicking but continued to hold onto the edge.
"No…I want you to swim along the shallow end. I will be right here if you need me." Gerald once again reassured Shadow who slowly let go of his hold.
"Just how do I do that?" Shadow questioned then added, "I'm sure just kicking will lead me under the water rather then swimming above it or through it."
"You need to use you arms to guide you through the water." Maria shouted from the bench as she got up to change out of her wet swimwear.
"Maria is right, use your arms to guide you and push you through the water as you kick out." Gerald agreed then added, "just push yourself off the ground and start kicking and move your arms to propel you forward…the more you practice the better you will become."
"Here goes nothing…" Shadow whispered to himself as he did what his creator instructed.
Shadow pushed himself off the ground but didn't kick his legs in time and fell face first into the water. Gerald helped Shadow back to his feet and gave Shadow a light smile. Now he knew he needed to be quicker in his actions he nodded for the professor to let him go and repeated his actions but with perfect timing.
"That's it Shadow keep going." Maria cheered as she watched Shadow swim when she returned from the changing rooms, rubbing her hair dry with a towel.
"That's my boy…use your hands to stop by placing them on the side of the pool then turn around and swim back towards me." Gerald instructed with a proud tone.
Shadow stopped himself and took a small breather before turning around and going back to where he started. A look of joy was in his eyes as he looked at his creator, he inwardly challenged himself to speed up to see how fast he could go. Shadow playfully smirked and pushed forward towards a now panicked professor, reading that smirk he knew what Shadow was planning to do, go as fast as he could.
"Shadow slow down your still only a…Ahhhh…." Gerald tried to shout out but a small wave of water and a soaked hedgehog hit him at such a speed they collided and he feel backwards holding Shadow close against his chest.
Grandpa, Shadow…are you both alright." Maria stood up and walked over to the pool in concern.
Gerald held onto Shadow as he steadied himself onto his knees, making the water reached just above his chest then looked down at the heavily breathing hedgehog in his arms. The excitement and joy was clear in his face at the new ability he could do.
"I take back everything I said about swimming…this is so much fun." Shadow exclaimed with an amused grin up at his father.
"Shall we try the diving board again…thought not, next time you want to pull a stunt like that warn me be before hand…and a playful smirk doesn't count." Gerald stated in a semi serious tone.
"Killjoy." Shadow muttered with a frown as he looked down at the slightly steady water they were in.
"What was that…killjoy am I, well I'll show you what a killjoy can do…" Gerald grinned deviously then moved his fingers along Shadow's sides and started to tickle him.
"Ahhhha…hahahaha, n-no more…Hahaha haha p-please…O-k, ok I take it back…haha hahaha, y-your no killjoy." Shadow laughed as he was attacked by his dad's skilled fingers on his wet pelt.
Shadow breathed heavily even more so as he clutched a hold of the professors shoulders gently and resting his head under Gerald's neck smiling lightly as he suddenly felt tiredness creep up on him.
"And don't you forget it son." Gerald replied as he held Shadow in a hug like manner.
"Yeah, yeah I wont dad." Shadow whispered as he felt totally relaxed and at ease.
"Grandpa…maybe we should call it a day before Shadow falls asleep." Maria suggested as she noticed Shadow starting to close his eyes.
"Quite right my dear…come on Shadow lets get you dried." Gerald agreed then moved himself and Shadow out of the pool and into the changing rooms.
Maria waited patiently for her grandfather and Shadow to come out, hopefully Shadow looking less like a drenched cat and more like himself. Maria looked as Shadow was dragged out of the changing rooms by Gerald and she tried hard not to laugh at the poor hedgehog. Shadow was all fluffy from the driers and not having a brush he was unable to brush his fur down. Shadow glared over at Maria with a warning that said 'don't you dare', as he was pulled by the hand.
"Come on my dear lets go." Gerald smiled with amusement as he dragged an unwilling Ultimate LifeForm out of the swimming pool area and into the hallways of the ARK.
"This is so degrading." Shadow muttered as other residents stopped and looked at him.
"Come on Shadow its not that bad." Maria smiled at him as they could here muttered voices and low snickering form those who walked passed.
"Easy for you to say your not all fluffy and have the title Ultimate LifeForm." Shadow resorted with a deep frown, still being dragged by his creator.
Gerald rolled his eyes at their conversation as he pulled Shadow lightly towards his destination. Stopping suddenly as they approached the room he was looking for, making Shadow to bump lightly into him.
"Why did we stop…what the hell. I am not going in there." Shadow looked at the room and eyes went wide as he was dragged inside.
"The hairdressers, yes Shadow…your fur needs grooming after being in that pool for over an hour…the chlorine needs a proper rinse, your fur brushed and maybe a little trim to tidy you up a bit." Gerald announced with a grin.
"No please this is torture…you can't do this…this is payback for asking you what gay means isn't it?" Shadow protested then was forced to sit in a black leather chair.
"Not at all my son…although seeing you in an equally uncomfortable situation is somewhat enjoyable." Gerald teased his creation with a playful grin.
"I will have my revenge." Shadow vowed darkly as the hairdresser stood behind him.
"So what will it be for Project Shadow Professor Gerald?" The female hairdresser asked as she fingered through Shadow's fluffy head fur between his ears.
Gerald explained what he desired Shadow to have done to the hairdresser and she got to work pronto. During the shampooing Shadow couldn't deny that this did in a strange way feel nice but he would never openly admit this. The brushing was a little relaxing to and again Shadow found it quite enjoyable but it didn't show on his face, he wouldn't allow it for he would never live it down. When it came to trimming his chest fur Shadow didn't like it that much, partly because he was ticklish there and partly because he liked the way it looked. After an hour Gerald, Maria and a now pampered Shadow walked out after thanking the hairdresser.
"See not that bad." Maria smiled then sniffed his fur adding, "and you smell nice, like bubble gum."
"Cheer up Shadow its nice to be pampered once in a while." Gerald added as they walked to the lunch hall.
"Humph…I guess it wasn't that bad." Shadow muttered under his breath with a faint smile that went unnoticed as they walked.