Chapter 10: Cool beach episode
'The group wastes no time exploring the ocean. Well, the bay anyway. Most of us injured ones stick close to the shore and build up our strength. It's amazing how many fish there are, even this close to land! Amazing what a little conservation and NOT having trainers dump their pets in a random lake with no care in the world does for the ecological health of our wetlands and estuaries!'

'...ahem.'

'The locals are surprised to see so many pokemon swimming down from the river, especially when it's nowhere near hatching season. Even more so when they're led by a Tentacool! A few of us regale the audience of seabirds and seadogs and sea... rocks? Corsola's typing never really made sense to me. But they sure do look entertained! It's kinda nice being looked at with admiration like this, I could get used to this feeling.'

'There's no random, convenient Chansey around here to heal our wounds, but the locals are nice enough to share some berries with us. Where do water dwelling pokemon get access to tree growing berries, you ask? Hydroponics! I mean, if berries can grow in potted plants, on bushes that die immediately after harvesting, on trees that grow exactly one and only one berry per day, and on tropical trees alongside other berries that ought to have no reason or rhyme to what type of species of fruit they drop other than slight statistical variation based on location but are wholly considered to be the same tree species, then by all means they can grow underwater!'

'Sorry about the mini-rant, theoretical diary, I didn't do well in science at trainer school. Apparently there's some big reason as to why this all works, but I just never got it.'

'But hey, everyone is coming together again!'

"Hey all, enjoy your swim?"

-"Karp!"

-"Gol!"

"Haha, yeah it's been wild here to. Lots of new pokemon I've never seen in person before! And none of which have tried to eat us! So polite. A real nice change of pace, yeah?"

Everyone seems glad, not just for the lack of annoying crabs snipping at their fins, but for all the space. The wide open waters full of food and places to hide. Tall sea grasses and dense coral reefs. A new life.

"Well don't let me hold you back. I'm feeling up for a little exploration myself now that I'm rested, so go on. Make some friends! Pick out a little slice of heaven for yourselves. Eat a- what's that thing called? Not a grass, but that other thing? With the fluff?"

-"Goldeen?"

"Algae! Yes, that. Gosh, so embarrassing!" 'They seem to get a laugh out of that. It feels... it feels like a real adventure with friends. I hope I get to have lots of memories just like this now. Strange, I've never felt so- so free! This whole place, the sights, the sounds, the food! I've never seen such a beautiful-'

Tentacool is unceremoniously ripped into the air and held aloft on the end of a string.

"..."

-"..."

"Hello sir, my name is-"

-"Too small."

"Hey, fuck you t-" *splash* "RUDE!"

Jessie swims a bit farther down the shoreline, nursing a sore mouth.

'The nerve of some people. I mean, I got a free meal out of it, but still! Ooow!' "Hey guy, is it always like this?"

A chubby looking Remoraid bobs in the current. -"Rem... raid."

"I mean, I guess. But if it hurts in the first place, why would they use hooks shaped like that?"

-"Raid?"

"Like a cute chibi version of themselves or something! I don't know!"

-"Rem?"

"Oh, it means small and exaggerated proportions to elicit a feeling of wanting to adore or cherish."

-"Rem... raid."

"Yeah, it's pretty cute. Nothing like those metal hooks. Anyways, good talk. Not everyone would take the time to chat with the new guy in the pond, ya know? It's really making me feel more at home."

*slow, precious smile*

'Yep, unless I'm starving or feel like battling against trainers, it's probably better for me to stick my jelly butt FAR away from any fishermen. If that dumb crab tried to make a meal out of me, I don't wanna know what a dumb human would wanna do with me!'
'But it's about time I met back up with the gang. Don't wanna keep them too long. No telling what trouble that lot would get into without their wise leader there to guide-' *yank*

"NOT AGAIN!"