Fairy 6.6: False Dragons
Cuicatl
June 27, 2020
The lure falls into the sea with a satisfying plop. Noci remains over it, ready to pull it out when something bites. If it's not a skrelp, you'll pull it back, add more bait and another ball, and try again. At least skrelp bait is just small chunks of fish or crustaceans. Cheap to buy and Pixie could keep it frozen solid without problems. There's no line and Noci pushed it into the weeds. Won't look like a standard fisherman's trap.
Lyra came along to help with thesis defense prep. You don't mind. It's nice to be around her again. Mitsuru flew in after the two of you. You've only heard gentle, wordless coos and the ruffle of feathers from her since she landed. Probably sunning on a rock while preening herself.
Lyra clears her throat.
"First question: even with all of the steps you've outlined, hydreigon still sound extremely dangerous to own. Is it safe?"
"No."
She pauses. "Excuse me?"
"They're man-eating dragons. You'll be fine if they bond with you. You can take steps to encourage a bond. Can't force them to like you anymore than you can force anyone else." A flurry of activity rushes through Lyra's mind but you can't make out the words without actively trying. You respect her privacy and don't pry. "If you try to force it they'll probably eat you. If you keep them captive without a bond they'll eat you. Same as any other predatory dragon."
"You're not making a strong case for adding one to my team."
"Good. It's usually a bad idea. They don't like people. But people are going to try because hydreigon are—awesome." You managed to keep the swear from slipping in. Not your fault they're fucking awesome. "If they follow my advice they might not get killed."
[Alarm Lvl 11: Object_ Bait Consumed;
Consumer =/= Class_Skrelp;
Returning Lure For Repairs]
"Noci's coming back. Can you load the hook again?" You could. You did. Just poked yourself a lot. Lyra insisted that she help after that.
"Sure." You hear her slide something on and feel Noci's mindprint retreating. She's taken to sending out little radar signals to let you know where she is. It's adorable and appreciated. "You know you'll turn people off if you're that blunt to them."
"I'm telling the truth."
"Yes, but it's not the truth they want to hear. Powerful people don't like being told no, especially by people they see as beneath them. And many will see you as beneath them. Because you're a child, because you're blind, because you're female, because you're not white—take your pick."
You bristle. They would really deny you something you earned because of things beyond your control?
"Yeah. The game sucks. But we all have to play it."
Very depressing. "I think I hate your country."
She barks out a laugh. You've learned she has two. A controlled, normal, one when she's around people and being self-conscious. And a single, short noise. It was a few months before you heard that one.
"Yeah, speaking of that—another question you will be asked, because half the internet is asking it." You brace yourself. That doesn't sound good. "You're a citizen of Anahuac, right?"
"Yes."
"And they have mandatory military service for citizens?"
"Only for boys." Basic information. They could learn that in any search engine. "Women aren't allowed to serve as soldiers. Only medics, cooks, and other support roles. The ones that won't die or take captives in battle."
"But if a girl came back with a metagross and tyrantrum, they'd draft you, right?"
"That was never discussed when I had a hydreigon." Probably because your brother was going to use Alice. Maybe. That was your father's plan. Alice never liked either of them very much.
You hate it, but you're starting to understand why.
"And even if you weren't on the front lines, metagross can still be used in other capacities like downing satellites or hacking computer networks. Would they conscript you in those roles?"
They might already make you do some spy stuff since you're a psychic who apparently hasn't hidden it well. But all of that depends on you even being able to go back to Anahuac. Or wanting to. You might be able to stay here or go to Japan. You don't want to impose. You also don't really want to go back to your birthplace. You cared about your brother and Alice. He's dead and ellas can move.
"I think I might stay here. Or go to Japan."
"Wait, really?" Her pitch shifts up. It's Lyra honestly asking. Not just her being in character.
"Dr. Karashina offered to take me with her. Kahuna Rodriguez and…" You still don't know the proper honorific. You don't like using first names for adults, but it'll have to do. "Lila Takeda have also offered. I just don't know if they're serious. Or if they're supposed to offer but I'm not actually supposed to accept or—"
"—okay, good. You're staying with one of them and not going back to your abusive father."
You look down and away from her.
"For ash and water, this is why I came back. Look. You don't like yourself. Don't think you deserve good things. I get it. But if you keep talking about going back I'm telling Genesis you have other options and are ignoring them. Let her deal with this. See how long you last."
…you'd give it a week before she changes your mind.
"So, have you accepted that you're not going back to your father?"
You don't answer her. She draws her own conclusions from your head slumping forward. "Good. Now, then, let's talk about the three options. You already know some of what staying with Shirona would be like."
Mitsuru warbles out a question at the familiar name coming up twice in a minute. You try and loop her in on some of it while listening to Lyra.
"And you're probably closest to her, right? Emotionally. Not physically. That's actually one the biggest cons I can think of."
"It's cold in Sinnoh. I don't think Coco or Leo would like it." Mitsuru shudders and you can hear all her feathers ruffle. She doesn't like the cold. You don't think you'd like it either. You grew up low enough in the foothills that it almost never snowed. Not sure how you would like a place so close to the Arctic.
"Right. And you might have to travel a lot. Shirona has professional obligations around the world. You'd either have to stay at her place alone or go with her. And say goodbye to your privacy."
And maybe your girlfriend. You didn't think to ask Dr. Karashina if Genesis could come with you. She's already offering far more than she has to. Far more than she should. You don't want to be unreasonable.
"I don't know how well you actually know the other two."
"They seem nice. The kahuna likes dinosaurs a lot. She would get along with Coco. And I guess Lila Takeda could help me with psychic problems."
Lyra hums noncommittally. "I'd go with Olivia if you're indifferent between them. Her life seems more stable right now."
It still feels impossible that any of them are serious about this. It was either just polite or a joke where you're the punchline.
"If this is a real offer."
Lyra groans in frustration. "Mitsuru can hear your half of the conversation, right?"
"And I've been telling her yours."
"Hey, Mitsuru, is your—I don't know, boss?—serious about taking Cuicatl in?"
"Yes! It's fun having you in the nest."
In the nest. That sounds a lot like family rather than just letting you live with her. That's a bad idea. For her. For you. Family… doesn't work out. They die or hurt you. Or both. Not a good idea to try again. But nests are also homes so maybe that's what the bird meant.
Lyra doesn't even wait for you to translate. Probably got the answer from the tone. Or just guessed. Correctly.
"At least one offer's serious. Betting the others are, too. Basically a question of staying with someone you know and like or seeking something more stable. You don't have to decide today, but I think you should have it worked out by the time the defense rolls around. Nips some loyalty questions in the bud."
You want to argue. Yet. She makes sense. You think she's right, even if it still feels impossible. And you're increasingly aware of how close she is. How nice it is to have someone fighting for you. The tenacity in her voice and the scheming intelligence behind her words. The floral scents of the lilac perfume and roselia shampoo she uses.
Maybe mixed with salandit pheromones.
"Did you start using imorin again?"
"I—what?"
"Salandit perfume. You using it?" Dr. Karashina asked her to stop. But the champion's gone now.
[Alarm Lvl 11: Object_ Bait Consumed;
Consumer =/= Class_Skrelp;
Returning Lure For Repairs]
"Thank you, Noci."
Lyra silently loads more bait and another ball without being asked. When you hear the lure 'plop' down she finally speaks. "Didn't think you'd have a problem with it."
You bristle. You thought she was over this. That she didn't think you were peppering her or Genesis or something.
She must notice. "I'm not saying you're altering thoughts or anything. Neither am I. You can hear thoughts and tell people what they want you to say. It's not changing people, just easing them to the point you want them to reach. You can do that with a million social tricks. Makeup, clothes, posture and, yeah, perfume. All smells change emotions. Read a book."
"I can't."
"I—sorry."
"I have heard about all this. I know how smells affect people. I have to pay more attention to them than you. This, imorin, it's not like the others. A field of flowers can't literally hypnotize you."
Well, some flowers can. Lyra met one of those flowers. Told you about it. Didn't sound like she liked it very much.
"You're still trying to make Genesis change her mind?" you ask. "Because you—you!— literally told me to go for it. And now you want to use hypnotizing perfume to get her back?" You huff and look away from her. "If you want her, fine. I just wish you hadn't toyed with me like this."
[Alarm Lvl 11: Object_ Bait Consumed;
Consumer =/= Class_Skrelp;
Returning Lure For Repairs]
{Not the time.}
[Pausing task until new orders received.]
"This wasn't about you or Genesis," Lyra finally says. "I accepted that she wants to date you. I even think that you're good for each other. You make her feel safe. She's vocal enough about her feelings that maybe you'll get it through your skull that people care about you."
"Then why wear it if it's not about us?"
"People suck. I want an advantage in dealing with them. Make sure they don't try things. I don't wear it on the trail when it's just us. But we're staying—"
"—at an old woman's house. Are you afraid of her?" It's one of the stops on the trail that isn't a Pokémon Center. Just a few spare bedrooms and a willingness to host teenagers for a few days. She seems a little lonely, even if her granddaughter usually lives there with her."
"It's not always the people you expect to be a threat who prove themselves dangerous."
She's smarter than this. Has to know better. You call Noci over and start to prepare a new ball and hook. Lyra doesn't step in to help.
"Is this fair to Genesis, then? Twisting her emotions without telling her? And is it fair to you? Do you want the kind of attention salazzle draw?" You know you wouldn't. You're happy your girlfriend sees you that way. And it's nice to be seen as attractive. Very, very weird but not unpleasant. But you overhear people's thoughts about you. That's… tolerable from Genesis. Barely. Strangers? No.
Lyra remains stubbornly silent.
"Fine. But you need to tell Genesis or I will."
"I'll stop for now," Lyra finally concedes. "And tell Genesis before we leave."
"I'll make sure you do."
If it was just you, honestly, you don't think you'd care. You can resist it well enough. You have a lot of experience denying your body the things it wants. Genesis deserves better. Her parents tried to bend her sexuality to what they wanted, she shouldn't get that from someone who is supposed to be safe.
[Alert! Priority 110. Skrelp Captured.]
You rise to your feet and send out Leo. "Caught one," you tell him and Lyra. "Going to talk by the water."
You'd been sitting away from it to avoid getting attacked. On top of dragalge there are sharpedo and gyarados in the bay. They don't hunt on land, but they also won't pass up tasty prey sitting right at the water's edge. As you settle into place Leo goes into the water to cut off the skrelp's easiest escape option. Noci levitates the ball to your hand and you release the baby dragon.
They immediately try to run. Leo cuts them off. There's not too much splashing so they must not have tried too hard to run after seeing the golisopod.
"Hello," you greet the skrelp in Upper Draconic. "I wish to negotiate."
You hope it gets the intent. Skrelp aren't really dragon-types and dragalge are only elemental dragons. It might not know the language at all. Wakumi said she only learned it when she evolved. If all else fails your gift should still work.
"Am I bargaining for my life?" the skrelp asks. Ah, good. It knows some dragon etiquette. It's very bad form to ambush an enemy and make an offer with their life on the line. Those agreements are usually ignored by other dragons and can be broken without consequence. Half the point of the laws is to prevent ambushes. If there are fights, they need to be fair and follow the rules.
"No. I just needed you close to talk."
There's a splash in the water in front of you. No other comment.
"I want to offer you a life where all your needs are met. No predators, no storms, no hunger, no disease." Really no untreated disease. But there's not a good way to word that in Upper Draconic. "Friends, if you want them."
"What do you want in return?"
They're a very smart little skrelp. Maybe you want them on your team. They could help with the last few trials.
"For that deal, you would have to leave home and never come back."
"No." They barely even pause to consider it. What a shame.
"I can make another. You could travel with me. I would feed you, help you grow stronger, help you reach your final form. You could come back once every two or three moons." Probably more but you don't want to make a promise to a dragon you can't keep. "In exchange I need you to fight battles for me. Not hunts. They won't kill you. Just test you."
"No. I like my home."
Then there's not much point arguing. Not with this one, anyway.
"Can you pass on my offers to your brethren? See if any wish to accept. I will return at the end of the next day."
"I will."
"Good. Leo, Noci, stand aside."
You can hear the giant bug move. The skrelp dives beneath the water with a splash and leaves silently under the surface. Oh well. Nothing to do but wait.
And take care of another thing.
"Lyra."
"Yes?"
"Let's get away from the water. Then we need to talk about your salandit."
"I've told you, I'll talk to Genesis about it."
"Not the perfume. The pokémon."
"Oh?"
You stop as your fit hits the ground at an odd angle. Not hard enough to cause lasting pain. Just threw you off balance. Noci swoops down to help pull you up.
"Everything alright?" Lyra asks. She sounds genuinely concerned despite everything. Hard to follow what she wants, who she's mad at, who she likes. Just hope she likes you despite everything.
"Yes. Just. You haven't been talking to your pokémon as much. Want to make sure Subarashī's going to behave when she evolves."
"I've been meaning to fix that. Talk more to my team. Just."
Just. You. She doesn't trust you because she thinks you shouldn't trust her and you've had an entire conversation about why that's bullshit but she still won't change her mind.
"You look out for me, I'll look out for you."
"Right. Thank you."
There are no more words until you're far enough away from the coast that the waves are just a whisper in the back of your ear, only there if you pay attention. The soft slope of the dunes and sea cliffs gives way to the hard, flat rock of Poni Island.
"Anything around?" you ask.
"No. Coast is clear."
"Cool. Send her out." You're already crouching as you say it. Salazzle stand as a form of aggression. Don't want to start on a bad note, even if you'll probably end there.
You know the second the pokémon is out. A slight jolt in your thoughts. Something you probably wouldn't notice if you weren't used to little mental touches from… it doesn't matter.
"Did you want to talk to me?" Subarashī asks. She sounds perfectly innocent and for a moment you regret wanting to interrogate her. But only for a moment.
"You're evolving, right?"
"Yes," she practically purrs. "Imagine how beautiful I will be then."
You don't acknowledge her. Even as your mind gets a little bit foggier with every word she speaks.
"You're trying to control the other pokémon." And probably the humans, too.
"They see my beauty. I can't be blamed."
Still denying things, then? You're not sure what you were expecting. "Do you think you should be in charge of everyone?"
"If that's what they decide."
"And what does being in charge mean?"
"What it does to you. I decide who gets what, where we go, what we do. You defend me and do everything I tell you to and I make sure you eat enough."
She isn't… wrong about the relationship most trainers have with their pokémon. That makes things harder.
"And why do you think the totem approved of Lyra. Does that mean nothing?"
Subarashī sneezes in contempt. You're pretty sure it's contempt. Your feelings shift towards contempt. Probably what she meant.
"Mother gave me a new toy."
Lyra's thoughts freeze up for a moment when you translate that. She still stays silent. Trusts you enough to finish this.
A strategy occurs to you. After a minute of thinking it over, it still sounds decent enough. You send your orders to Noci. A moment later the salandit screeches in surprise and your heart drops. No. Perfume. This is what you wanted.
"Cuicatl." Lyra's tone is harsh. Almost angry. You thought she knew how to defend against this kind of attack. "What are you doing?"
{Helping you in the long run.}
A swarm of comebacks buzzes in her head. She doesn't say any of them aloud.
"You can't charm Noci like that. Or Coco." Probably. You'll need to have The Talk with her once she evolves. You think Pixie said something once about most ninetales being bisexual so you'll leave her out of this. Besides, you're pretty sure she's too young to mate. Boys are gross. Not eevee gross, but still bad. "I can have them attack you when you're charming me. How do you deal with that?"
The air heats up. Fire. Right. She didn't try to burn you, though. It's warm, not hot. Just a scare tactic.
"Sometimes you'll meet people you can't charm and can't beat. What then? Humans are smart. Social. We deal with this all the time. Lyra can teach you her tricks. But you will have to agree to some rules."
The air stays warm and you hear the salandit's tail swish through the air. Weighing her options. Is this the first time she saw humans as anything close to an equal?
"What rules?" she finally hisses.
"You'll have chances to practice your charming. But only against enemies. Or at least pokémon not on our teams. No humans."
She hisses in displeasure. "Why?"
"You can practice social tricks with allies. Make them feel how you want them to without charming them. Learn how to do that with pokémon that won't attack you if you fail."
"Fine." The salandit barks. "I want to make my own rules."
You look towards where you think Lyra is standing. {Think it's your turn,} you add at the end of your translation.
"Okay," she says. "What rules?"
You let them work out the details, content to serve as a simple translator. Hopefully this agreement lasts. You don't really want to hurt Subarashī. Not her fault her species is like… that.
You have a block of time set aside in the afternoon for nothing at all. Dr. Livens wants you to only use it on yourself. But that's hard with so many things to do! Noci's been in the sea spray all day. She deserves a polish. Pixie has been sulking in the corner of your bedroom and you haven't had time to properly brush her yet. Coco… sweet Coco always needs more playtime than you can really give her. Lyra took her away for some training so you can have alone time, but it feels like you should be doing that yourself. Otherwise, well, you've been pretending to be her mother. Badly. You've been too busy with your own issues and Pixie's issues and Gen's issues and she isn't getting enough of your attention because she's fine. Enough. You know she was lashing out at Pixie for a while. Probably jealous of the attention she's been taking away.
You feel like you should be doing more for her than you are. For everyone. They're kinder to you than you deserve and you can never seem to pull enough weight to justify it. And now you have to sit and do nothing. On the trail it was easy enough. Just sit down and rest. Maybe talk to Genesis. But now there's so much more you could be doing.
Preparations! You could be precooking meals, making sure your pokémon know all about every threat they could come across, finalizing plans for the totem… the totem. An adult kommo-o that won't be holding back. It's no hydreigon, but still a very large dragon. A very loud dragon. You won't be able to hear well enough to give orders. Even if it didn't have help it would be a struggle to wear it down without Pixie. And Pixie still isn't ready to battle something like that. She probably never will be. And that's fine. Girl's been through a lot and deserves some love. Her fur is soft and she gives good cuddles so she more than pulls her weight.
You fall back onto the bed. Onto Gen's side by accident. She stole all the pillows and filled them with the scent of her hair. Leppa now. Back on Ula'Ula she was just using the generic one that Dr. Karashina bought. She bought her own when you shopping for supplies. This is better. Smells more like her.
A yawn escapes your lips. Are you tired? You thought you'd been getting enough sleep.
Oh well.
At least that's something to do with your you time.
Pixie hops up on the bed after you. That's fine. You like her here. Aren't doing this for her.
June 22, 2020
You count your breaths after knocking on Lyra's door. She opens it after five.
"Come in." You take a few steps forward and the door closes behind you. "So. What's up?"
"I…" you taper off before steeling your resolve. Genesis loves the beach. This must happen. However you feel about it. "I need a swimsuit."
She's quiet. Probably wants you to continue.
"I've put on weight, a lot of weight, and my old one is getting too tight. With the skrelp catch, I think I need a new one. And I can't see so I need someone else to help."
"Okay." Lyra takes a deep breath. "And why me?"
"Um. I like Dr. Karashina but she has better things to do. Genesis might get. Distracted." And she likes trying to broadcast her thoughts to you. When you're already self-conscious that's the last thing you need. "You're good at fashion. I mean, people say you are. And." You cut yourself off and breathe. You were almost hyperventilating there, words coming so fast that they might not get through without your gift. Half of that was in Nahuatl. You find yourself slipping back into it when you're stressed since it doesn't actually matter what language you're speaking.
You hear Lyra the springs scrunch down when Lyra sits on the bed. "I meant that this is clearly difficult for you. Why do you trust me?"
What? "Should I not?"
"Just." You can hear the air move as she flails her arms. "You know I had a crush on Genesis. I have every reason to be bitter and sabotage you. Get you an ugly suit, prod you about your weight, anything. Why come to me?"
You knew that, yes. She didn't hide it well. And she also told you it was fine to date Genesis despite everything.
"Would you do that?" you ask. You know she can be… bitchy is a word that might fit sometimes. She's just never done anything like that. To you.
"No," she says. "But a lot of people would, okay? You can't just trust everyone who hasn't literally stabbed you."
"Then it's fine if you aren't going to hurt me?" Your breathing has slowed. Now you're more confused than upset.
"And you're just taking my word for that." She sighs and the springs creek beneath her as she moves. "People will hurt you someday. People you think are friends, even family. You—well, I guess you do know that."
Yes. You do. You can't tell if you would rather talk about the flab on your stomach or your family. Neither, if you could.
"Didn't learn your lesson, though. Still putting your trust in people you shouldn't."
Did you learn a lesson? If you could do things differently you think you would still be there for Achi every step of the way. You would have questions. Why he lied to you. What else he was hiding. But if he had gone further, if he'd hurt you himself… no. You think you would still love him. Even let him hurt you if that's what he needed. You endure you must for the people you love.
"Fine. Are you ready to go now?" Lyra asks. "We're close enough to the mall."
Now? You. Now? There's not much time. You aren't sure what you expected to happen here. Your teeth press into each other hard enough that your cracked one burns in pain before you make yourself relax. Now. You can do this now. It's no worse than any other time.
There are things you remember.
The sun on your back and the heat radiating up from the pavement.
The man at the door. There was a ranger demonstration. Pokémon weren't allowed. Not even service pokémon. Lyra fought. You just withdrew Coco without a word. You think Lyra said something to you after that. You can't remember. The quiet music and the loud murmur of people building to a roar. A new overpowering scent every twenty steps. Butter, sugar, fruit, grease. And then there's strange, synthetic fabric against your body. Again. And again. This is the part you remember the least.
You can't remember who paid in the end.
The next complete memories are of sitting on a bench with someone rubbing circles on your back. Through your t-shirt. You've taken to wearing more American clothes in the cities. Don't want more attention than you're already drawing with a vulpix, tyrunt, or metang by your side.
Someone's whispering things to you. The day. The time. The place. The weather. You don't understand why.
The circles on your back slow.
"Are you there?"
You take a moment. Feel the hard bench beneath you. The overly cool air on your skin. The faint music. You're indoors. The mall. Still in the mall. You know Lyra's voice and scent. That's her. You were…shopping. You were shopping and you stopped being you for a while.
{I'm sorry,} you tell her. Mentally. Mouth words will be a while. You know she hates it. But. You'll apologize later.
"For what?" Her voice is still even. Low. Kind. Good. You're not sure you could handle her yelling at you right now.
{Being like. This. Over a swimsuit.}
She snorts. "You do thinks everyday that I never could. No forgiveness is needed."
Her hand resumes its circles and you relax into the touch.
"Can you tell me more about ghosts?" she asks. "I was thinking about catching a dhelmise on Poni."
Ghosts? {I don't know much,} you confess. {Mom never had one. I've never had one. I think I've heard that they usually have problems. Emotional problems. From being dead.}
She hums in response. "Good thing I know a translator."
Yes. You can be useful when the time comes. Just not right now.
At some point you get back to the hotel and you're lying on your side on a soft bed. Genesis is cradling you from behind and Coco is curled up in front of you while Pixie finds a way to balance on top.
It isn't until the next day that you find out how many swimsuits you even got.
June 28, 2020
"Oh. Wow. You look. Really good."
You blush and look down. Genesis means it. You know that much. It's just hard to believe. Even if you could mentally accept it, and you can't, emotionally? Never.
It's just a one-piece suit. Must have told Lyra you wanted almost everything covered. Again, can't remember.
"Um. Come on, then. Let's go." Genesis reaches out and touches your arm and suddenly her thoughts snap into focus. About you. They shift rapidly as you walk down the hall. Your hair. She likes the length, color, luster. Probably the part she thinks about most when she's touching you. The rest is scattered. The hand holding onto her. Your legs. Your voice. Your butt, today. A lot. The suit must hug it.
If you're going to get fat, at least some of it goes there.
You aren't exactly sure what to say to get her out of those thoughts. She certainly has… other concerns. And you don't mind your girlfriend being into you, really, just. What do you even do with it? Would a kiss calm her down? Make it worse?
You want a kiss. You'll ask for one when you're outside.
"Going out?" Ms. Lepo calls once you make it downstairs.
Genesis runs a hand against your side. Right. She's still a little nervous about your host for. Some reason? She didn't tell you. Just that it was irrational and she'd rather not deal with her. "Yes. Beach day."
"Alright. Just stay in the tidal pool. The open ocean is dangerous." You know. She's given you this talk at least three times.
"We will."
Stepping outside feels like walking into a wall of heat and humidity that slides over every centimeter of your body. Summer. You've always hated summer. Trapped indoors when you didn't have summer school. Even that was always terrible. Pity or contempt, your teachers always looked down on you. It was never even your fault that you failed the class. How are you supposed to do the reading when you can't? How is your writing supposed to be legible when it took you days of practice just to sign your name? How are you supposed to do homework at all between taking care of the house and the pokémon? The last thing on your mind when you were done with work was doing more. You'd rather go on a quick flight with Alice or listen to whatever new audiobook the library had or knit on the couch while Achi watched his dumb telenovelas. Not do math problems in your head and then try to scribble down the steps and answer.
And even if it weren't for summer school you still would've hated it for the weather. Cold rain isn't fun but at least you can eventually go inside and hover near the hearth or stove. Heat? Wear as little as modesty allows and hope your father got fed up and turned on the air conditioning, cost be damned.
You stop and tug on Gen's arm.
"Hmm? What is it?"
Sometimes you hate being short and blind. You can't really kiss her first because you can't reach and don't know where to aim. Would be awkward if you got on your tiptoes, leaned into her wrong, and kissed the ground. "Kiss?" you ask.
"Oh. Oh! Yes." She shifts around and holds your back as you lift up. The lip contact itself is electric and also weird. Still don't know what to do with your tongue. Don't know what to ask. But the best part? How still Gen's thoughts go. There are a few seconds when there's nothing in her mind and then a torrent so fast you couldn't dream of keeping up. It's fun to know that you did that.
Afterwards she pulls you in tight as you settle against her, head resting just over her chest. It's soft against your sternum and for once you really don't regret your height. And being held like this? It's like a warm drink on a cold night, stoking the fire in your heart and then spreading warmth to the tips of your fingers and toes.
But it's not a winter's night. You have to pull away before the sweat makes it too gross.
You call Coco with a mental nudge. Her reply is more feelings brushing against your link than words. Probably still waking up from her nap. You hate the heat but she loves it enough to curl up for a nap outside in the summer. She catches up to you a few minutes later. Presses into your side and then steps away when you don't put a hand on her. You're letting Gen guide you for now. She's not as good at it but it's an excuse to hold onto your girlfriend.
Coco's been okay with her "third mom." You were expecting her to be jealous or confused. But she's been supportive whenever you talked to her about it. Just not nearly as close to her as she is to you.
Noci's off with Lyra today. She went hunting for her sixth pokémon early this morning. There's a wrecked ship half-submerged in the bay. Ms. Lepo said that there was a dhelmise out there and Lyra went looking. She needed a way to get to the ship and her very, very loud noibat isn't big enough to take her yet so you let her borrow Noci.
Leo and Pixie are still in their balls. Pixie won't be joining you. She thought you were crazy for going to swim in the water in the heat, two of her least favorite things.
You let Leo out when you get off the boardwalk over the dune and onto the soft sand. He instantly bolts for the water. Gen also lets her pokémon out. You can hear Sir Bubbles (such a cute name) bellowing as Oliver runs to the water with his weird footstep pattern. Webbed feet. So strange. You can't hear what Ferny does. Probably not into swimming, but will take a nap in the sun. Never sure what to expect from that fox. If his mind is more like Spike or Pixie.
You let Gen lead you into the tide pool. The water is cool against your ankles. Right between refreshing and unpleasant. Gen keeps on going without waiting for you to get used to it. You let your hand slip out of hers while you walk slowly in. She crashes into the water and sends a wave lapping into your stomach before your hips are even fully underwater.
"Come on! You'll be fine. I'm still touching the bottom."
She also has a lot of height on you. Gen's boy height. You're not.
Water hits your face as you get deeper in and you freeze up.
"It's a game," Gen calls. "Splash me back."
A game where you have no idea where she is. You huff and let yourself sink down, bracing against the chill. Fine. You can do this. You hear the surface of the water break and you flick your arm towards that direction. Gen laughs and picks up the pace until waves are hitting you twice a second. You have to turn around to keep the water out of your nose.
Suddenly, the water current shift. There's a giant splash and Genesis shrieks as you turn around. Fuck. What's in here? Too shallow at the entrance for sharpedo. Gyarados? No, one of the pokémon would have seen it. Then Genesis starts laughing. Not in danger? "What happened?"
"Your—Leo got me." She says between laughs. "I think he wins."
"Quitting the moment you're down?" You probably shouldn't be challenging her. But you played when you were outmatched. Let's see how she likes it.
"Oh. We can keep going. Oliver, get her!"
You give your orders to Leo and feel the currents move. Oliver surfaces across the pool but Leo's already halfway there, leaping out of the water to take the water gun like it was a bullet meant for you. The splash when he falls back into the tide pool gets you more soaked than the attack would have but, hey, it was fun.
{Hyacinth. Make sure she can breathe.}
He's really taken to tactics after the laser tag game. You've taught him what you learned in school. Now you're going to have to learn about military history. Hyacinth's a basic plan, named after a battle where the Americans captured a tlatoani. Target the commander. Hold them hostage. It's a last resort for when another trainer isn't going to play by the rules.
It's also good for splash wars.
Gen shrieks again. "Bubbles!"
The frog croaks and the air shifts around you. A drop of rain hits your forehead. You didn't think you'd care since, wet, but it's upsetting, somehow. As more fall you duck your head below the surface since all wet is better than some wet. Or something. When you raise your head up to breathe someone snipes you with a water gun. Okay. Fine. You're guessing neither you nor Gen is going to have fun now. Probably should've sent the pokémon after each other. Time to call this off—
The water moves in a big way. Coco shouts about a wave and you don't have time to process it before your legs are over your arms and you have no idea which way is up. {Get Gen to shore!} you ask Leo. You hope he can. Suddenely your back crashes into wet sand and you try to reach in to plant yourself. The wave pulls back out and almost takes you with it before finally leaving you in dry air. You gasp down breaths and hope that Gen and the pokémon are okay.
What was that? Probably a predator. Which one?
{What are we dealing with?} you ask all of your pokémon at once. Can't be picky.
{Floating. The dragon yesterday, but bigger.}
Oh.
Shit.
A mother dragon isn't happy with you.
You rise up and try to cough out the last water in your lungs. Thankfully there isn't a second wave. You can hear Gen gasping for air shortly after. "W—" You stop and cough again. Draconic is hard. Impossible when you can barely breathe. "What drives you?" you finally ask.
"You sought to take my children with you. I came to give their message."
At least she doesn't sound aggressive. You think. Her voice is wrong. The words are right but she can't quite make the sounds. Like you. Dragalge aren't physically dragons any more than the exeggutor here. They follow the rules, speak the language, and can use the energy. But their throats are all different.
"I saw your game and wished to join."
That…that's plausible. Your mother passed down memories of Alice after she'd reached her final form. Wanted to play with her trainer and teammates, was way too strong for it. Maybe she was playing. If so, she was probably giving you a reminder at the same time. You're a lot weaker than she is and you're on her turf. Or surf. Best to play nice.
"What was the message of your children?"
"They wish to stay. They would not trade the open sea for a human cage."
It was always a long shot. Dragons are hard to bribe with food and safety since they're motherfucking dragons. What's a human doing for them?
"I would take one on my travels if I could. They would not know a cage."
"Your travels are on land. That is not their home."
In hindsight you should have expected that. Maybe Wakumi is just weird for a water dragon. Most of her kin probably want to stay in the sea.
"I understand. Thank you for the message."
You can feel the power radiating off of her as she approaches. "Will you not press, human?"
"It would be against the laws." Hunting dragons, targeting children: take your pick.
"Humans recognize no laws but their own."
"I do."
"And who taught you these laws, human?"
"Alice, a twice-split spirit from the lands to the east."
She breaks into a series of hisses that aren't Upper Draconic. Probably whatever dragalge have instead of Lower Draconic. Your gift translates it as a lot of profanity.
"Is there another twice-split here?"
"No. She remains in the east."
"Praise be to the Queen of the Skies and the Creator Below, may she never grace our shores."
You take a step forward and clench your first, danger forgotten. "Excuse me?" Not even bothering with draconic. She isn't, either.
"Pretentious. All of them. Act like they're smarter than all of us. Civilized. Lasts until you see them hunt. Then you see the truth. They need the rules because without them they'd be no better than the lowest beast."
You run through strategies in your head. Coco probably can't advance in time through the water. Leo gets one shot. Would it be enough? Maybe. But Genesis is here. You can't risk it. "If that is your view I would not want to travel with your children."
The dragalge breaks back into their primitive language. Probably doesn't think you can understand. "Feeling's mutual, human. Fuck off."
What a fool. Can't believe you almost wanted a skrelp on the team.
"Is everything okay?" Gen asks.
"Yes." She might have asked you to leave your territory. Your gift can be… limited with profanity. "We should probably go."
Stupid hydreigon-hater ruined your beach trip. Even Gen pulling you in for another, much saltier, kiss and telling you how brave you were does almost nothing to improve your mood.
You really hope the totem kommo-o is more reasonable.