Chapter 7: Lesson

A/N: The independent lesson is from wiki how. I didn't copy the whole thing, just part of it.

Sandrastar1: Thank you. :)

"Dory," Gill said gently, shaking the young forgetful fish, "time to get up."

The blue tang opened her magenta eyes. She yawned. "Morning, Gilly."

"Morning. Are you ready for your lesson?"

"What lesson?" Dory asked.

"I'm going to teach you how to be independent," Gill told her.

"Oh, okay! Yeah, I'm ready."

"Okay, good. First and foremost, you have to accept yourself for who you are. Make an effort to be a better you and love yourself. It will keep you from trying to act like someone else."

"Okay. Seems like good advice. Anything else?"

"You have to believe in yourself. We are all different. Nobody's the same. If you don't have faith in yourself, you will always second guess yourself. So, step away from that."

Dory nodded, catching all of the information. She then saw a sea worm. "Hey, little fella." She giggled and chased it.

Gill sighed. "I'll teach her more later."

"Dory," he then said.

She stopped what she was doing. "Oh no. Did I forget again?"

"Yes, you did. But don't worry, I'll teach you it later."

"Huh? What did you teach me?" she asked.

"How to be independent," he answered.

"Oh, right!"

The Moorish idol chuckled a bit.

"Gilly, can I have a snack? My tummy's getting growly."

"Sure."

"Okay. Thanks!" The young tang swam off.

Gill watched her and sighed. "I hope she'll be alright living by herself."

Dory swam, humming to herself. She saw some juicy kelp coming to her path. She licked her lips.

The forgetful fish sunk her teeth into the kelp. She ate it.

As she ate, she heard something on the surface. She noticed fishes swimming away. Her magenta eyes cast on the boat. With curiosity, she swam towards it.

Gill saw her and gasped. "Dory, no!" He swam to her and grabbed her.

"Gilly? What's wrong?" Dory asked.

"You were heading towards the boat!" he exclaimed.

"So? Is that dangerous?"

"Of course it's dangerous! Did your parents ever told you?"

"Uh... I don't remember."

Gill sighed. He didn't want to upset her, but he knew that going to a boat is dangerous, and he cared about her.

"Dory," he began to say, "boats are really dangerous. They can kill you. It's worse if there are humans on boats."

Dory's eyes widened, listening.

"If there are humans, then they are most likely to catch you. And most of them are more likely to eat fishes. Some of them take pictures of sea life."

"So, you're telling me that humans are dangerous?" Dory asked.

"Well, not all of them are. Just be careful next time, okay?"

"Okay, Gilly."

Gill smiled. "Are you ready to continue the lesson about how to be independent?"

"Yep!"

"Alright."

Gill loved teaching Dory lessons, even if she forgets. He just hoped that the young fish would survive on her own without him.