Chapter 11: Cool kid
-"Wow, a Tentacool!"
"Oh joy, a preschooler. Okay kid- let's get this over with... I'm not giving the fish back."
-"I've never caught a pokemon before!"
"Still haven't! I'm not in a pokeball."
-"I can tell, we're gonna be best friends! Hey, what's your name?"
"Jessie Cooledge. Do you not understnd me speaking Johtonian? Should I start saying things in pokemon? Tentacool Tentacool?"
The chubby Remoraid from before chortles at my awesome one-liner.
-"You're really excited, huh? You must really wanna go on an adventure with me!"
"I mean... you're half right? I wanna be a Trainer. I mean, I'll settle for being Human at this point, but I don't wanna be your pokemon."
-"As soon as I get old enough, I'll capture you for real. Then you'll actually be my pokemon and we can go on a real adventure! Promise you'll wait for me?"
"No."
-"It's a deal! I'll come back tomorrow and we can play again! See you!"
The child runs off, leaving Jessie feeling perplexed and slightly annoyed.
'Wow, is that what all trainers are like? Were the Unknown trying to teach me a lesson about how trainers are dumb and need to learn to speak pokemon? Or at least learn about consent? ...I wonder if Bellsprout wanted...'
'Okay, let's not get existential here! I still need to solve my immediate problem of being a Tentacool! Maybe if I play along with that kid, I can find a way to get a message out? Or get them to bring me to the prof? Can I teach them enough poke-language to translate for me?'
'...Probably not. But it's worth a try! Ah, but next time, grab the fish with your tentacles, not your mouth. Very important.'
Swimming back to the group, Jessie finds a number of new fish swimming about. New Magikarp and plenty of Goldeen, even a Seaking or two in the mix!
'Looks like they've got some new friends to introduce me to!' "Hey guys, I'm back! What's up?"
The old lake pals all light up and excitedly swim near, but the new faces keep their distance or swim in front of smaller members of their school, taking up a defensive stance.
-"Seaking!"
"Eh? What do- OH! Oh, I get it. Right. Natural predator and all, I get it. Yeah no, I don't plan to do anything to these guys."
-"King? Seaking!"
"I mean, you've got a point. They wouldn't have many natural predators up in that lake. Still! I don't know how things are here but I was... well not 'born' in that lake, but I did start my life as a Tentacool there! I don't plan to betray my friends like that!"
'Doesn't look like they believe me. They're making my crew upset to, just putting off all kinds of bad energy... Those ones in the back look so scared.'
"Okay, you win. I get the picture. I'll leave."
-"Karp! Magikarp karp."
"No worries, I'm not going too far. I'll be right over there by those docks if you need me. But having me around isn't making your new friends any happier."
-"Magi..."
"Me too pal. Hey! Maybe they'll warm up to me? I'm sure a handsome guy like you can help out with that? Those gold whiskers look pretty persuasive~"
-"Kar-karp!" *blush* -"Magikarp!" With renewed vigor, the lake crew rejoin their school. Our Tentacool slinks off, a bittersweet look in their eyes, and nestles in underneath the nearby dock as the sun sets once more.