Chapter 8: It's so Cool

"Well, you were a tough fight. Your trainer really did suck at behavior training, but they did pretty good at battling. Don't go around picking fights anymore, kay?"

The injured crab picks itself up, scuttling off with it's head hung low.

"And for you all, thanks. I really couldn't have done it without you all. This is as much your victory as it is mine. We really- *cough* really work well tog- *cough hack* w-water."

As the rain dries up in the morning sun, so to does Tentacool's body. They were holding up pretty well since they were getting blasted with so many Bubble attacks, ironically keeping them afloat while battling on land, but now things were getting a bit too hot.

The fish were faring significantly better, seeing as they had tougher bodies to keep the water inside instead of being 90% jelly, but all of them had basically beached themselves by recklessly flinging up onto dry land… emphasis on dry.

"Guys, we gotta- gotta get back. Do w- *cough* what karps do best. Struggle!" The party inch their way closer to the river, their salvation and escape. A few lucky fish were close enough that it only takes a few splashes to get into the water, others struggle to make it a few feet. All of them fare better than their brave leader.

"Don't- don't look back. Keep going! Right- right behind…" Tentacool drags itself along, digging it's wounded tentacles into the faltering mud puddles and pulling itself painfully closer. It's a grueling fight, managing to get just a short hop away from puddles only for them to evaporate before his very eyes.

'Somebody used Sunny day, didn't they? Stupid selfish trainers battling at the crack of dawn. What kind of madman uses Sunny day at 5:45 A.M.? It's too goddamn early!'

A shadow looms overhead, merciful shade.

-"Poli?"

"…Ye."

-"Poliwag!" Poliwag used Water gun! A whole group of them in fact! Each one waddles up to a fish in need and makes a little waterslide, helping their neighbors get back to the river.

"Oh thank fuck, thank you so so much! But why did you-"

-"Poli poliwag!"

"Really? No kidding? Geez, that crab just picks on everyone, doesn't he? Well, you're welcome. Hopefully it sticks closer to it's trainer instead of bothering you fine folk." *splash*

'Ah, salt water. I had no idea it would taste so good~ The lake was a breath of fresh air… kinda, but I really needed this. No wonder I could never catch a Tentacool fishing in those lakes up there.' They stop for a moment, lost in thought

'…Fishing huh? It's been a while since I thought about my former life.'

The current slowly pulls our heroes closer to their destination, the ocean. But rather than swim off at top speed, the group stays close to their injured members, especially Tentacool. Drifting along, cradled in the safety of the group, he thinks on life as a human and the things he'll be leaving behind.

'My name was… Jessie.'