Chapter 4: A cool trip
'Ocean man, take me by the- No wait, I don't have those anymore... Tentacool, take me by the- tentacle? No, that's barely even a rhyme. Damn, I'm losing it.'
They toss another mud ball into the ever elongating mud pathways. It's looking like the world's most depressing slip and slide for all the effort he's put in. But at least these noodle arms are getting better at throwing. Almost made it to the next pond over.
'I'm so bored, the prof noticed those things finally, but he's not even bothering to look into it. Where's your sense of curiosity? Aren't you a scientist?' *splat*
A full month came and went and still no closer to returning to normal. There wasn't even a search party, let alone an investigation into where he went. One would think the police at least would've gotten involved, asked some questions. But much to his disappointment, nothing could have been farther from the truth. Most likely it was written off as him finally deciding to leave home after failing to get a starter pokemon after so many years.
Fixed deep in a depressive episode, the jellyfish was practicing his moves again. Although it's less practicing in battle and more using "Constrict" over and over again on the mud.
'The local pokemon have been getting more active lately, sometimes joining in making a few balls and setting them near the shore. A handful of talented Magikarp have even made a game of trying to get their mud balls farther than the others, making those two lines even farther than I had intended. So much for spelling out "Help!", but it is a fun distraction from the crushing dread of being forgotten by everyone I know and love, so I join in whenever I'm not fishing or sleeping. Almost makes me feel... normal, having these guys around.'
'They're good folk, once you get to know them. And all of them want to leave as much as I do. Or at least the ones "helping" me do anyway. This lake is too small for all of us, and getting more shallow since it hasn't been raining lately. Though it looks like that might change soon, it's too little for the number of pokemon living here. Those irresponsible trainers releasing their pokemon wherever they feel like it. This is too much!'
'Speaking of irresponsible people, I haven't seen that Krabby around lately, thankfully. It's trainer must be keeping it close after one too many complaints or something. A crustacean like that is bound to get into more trouble than it's worth.'
drip*
'Hm? Oh, the rain must've started. Bit late in the day, but better late than never.' The pokemon all stop their game and look up. Soon, the drizzle becomes a full rainstorm. Most of them dive deeper and I'm about to join them when I notice a faint trail of mud streaming into the lake.
Looking to the two long mounds, I see a small stream of rainwater flowing in the direction of the lake. Curiously, I swim over and carve a small groove into the softening dirt, allowing some lakewater to push between the walls we've been making over this past month...!
"All of you! Come out! It's time!" Hearing the Tentacool's words, a group of fish float up and watch intently.
"You're all tired of being in this tiny lake, same as me. Well the rain has given us a chance, we're gonna make our own path!"
As he flexes his jelly body, water pumps up and into the groove. Dirt flies away and Tentacool pushes more and more into the walls. Soon, he's managed to get enough water into this channel that he's able to swim… kinda, and the others are beginning to take notice. Following his lead lines of pokemon begin joining in the effort, giving him a strong push from behind and forcing the trench deeper as they swim, allowing more lake water to flow into makeshift channel.
"Yes, that's it! All together now! If I remember anything from walking to these damn ruins every day, there's a stream right by here! If we can just dig in a little farther, just a few meters, we'll be able to hop from pond to pond and reach it! And once we hit the stream, all that's left is-"
"the ocean!"