[attr="class","ihead"]

[attr="class","ipad"]
[break][break]

while the pikachu is entranced by the endless sea, fondue gives the crashing waves a longing look. he's itching to go in, taste the waves and the water, but he knows this is no place for it and so he waits. his time would come soon, but it would not be today.

[break][break]

vera follows both her pokémon's gazes. "it is beautiful, isn't it?"

[break][break]

she takes a step forward, to where the dying waves can lick at her toes. kneeling down, she prompts, "come, strudel, put your paw here." vera places her hand on the wet sand, warmed up by the sun and later cooled down by the sea.

[break][break]

strudel does as requested, a wary yet curious look on his face. he places his paw on top of vera's hand, and squeals when a new wave comes crashing against them. vera is quick to grab the pikachu's body protectively. "it's alright, strudel. see?" she soothes.

[break][break]

the pikachu does see it. the two sets of rocks placed before them halts the bigger, scarier waves, allowing only withered down versions to reach the shore. he relaxes. a floatzel stops in its tracks for a second a few feet in to watch them, before moving on.

[attr="class","hashtext"]

[attr="class","ihead"]

[attr="class","ipad"]
[break][break]

strudel's introduction to the sea is nothing like fondue's, though their trainer has a feeling their relationship might be very similar after this little lesson. the pikachu has lost any fear he may have had of the sea, and the splish splash of his feet on the water puts her on alert. the next step would be to warn him of its dangers.

[break][break]

the emolga comes from behind them. an unexpected strike of

acrobatics

leaves a small depression on the sand next to strudel, which sends him jumping to vera's arms.

[break][break]

fondue circles around his young apprentice—at least that's the discourse vera has convinced herself of, that all the pichus and pikachus that have joined her team after him are all his apprentices. the alolan raichu's tail sinks into the sand, making him halt right next to the emolga. the smaller rodent's exit is thus blocked.

[break][break]

"that was a close one," vera starts, her hand petting the pikachu in a way that would hopefully soothe him. the poor thing. "you really gave strudel a fright, you know."

[break][break]

the ginger turns to the emolga. her emerald eyes bore into the flying squirrel's. "if you wanted to play with us, you should have said so. introduced yourself, extended a paw. getting into fights is no way to make new friends, darling."

[break][break]

a finger is brought to her chin, pensive, as she closes one eye. "but i guess it might just have worked for you. were you lonely out there?" vera smiles, shrugging the offense off. after the reprimanding the it had gotten, the emolga seemed to be willing to behave, and that was enough for vera to work with.

[attr="class","hashtext"]