"I wanted to see Pacifidlog town, honestly." Nico responded, his eyes focused ahead as his Milotic continued her swim to the town. Buildings and pathways came into view as they got closer, and though he really didn't mind the water, the break in a horizon of nothingness was very welcome. "It's not that long a trip, all things considered. That might've taken... an hour?" Nico mused aloud, "Hard to tell..."

"You have a point, though." Nico had to admit, shrugging as he tore his eyes away from the town to meet his boyfriends gaze, "A flying type to carry us around would be nice... But I just can't find a bird that seems to agree with me." It wasn't just Nico's decision; his gaggle of Pokemon all stuck beside him by choice. "Every time I think I made a friend- I somehow insult it and get bitten." Even when a flying-type didn't intend to cause damage, their beaks could hurt.

Suddenly, the Milotic shifted beneath them. Nico heard a soft cry, frowning at the distress he detected. "Uhh, are you okay...?" The serpent cried out louder, this time in fury... "...Matt... Hang on tight."

Matt Vice

☉

Despite Matthew's protests, the Milotic sang to announce her descent, treacherously diving head first into the water, her slender body initially lifting Nico and Matthew up, before they would be dragged down with her. "Fuck- Hang on!" Nico warned once again, hoping to feel Matthew cling tighter to him as his own arms squeezed tighter around the Milotic's neck. A world of blue assaulted both the trainer's senses, and down below, Nico was surprised to see that the ocean wasn't very deep at all. Rows of coral had built up, forming a reef that was a mere 20 feet away from the surface. They could see schools of fish passing by in the distance, assortments of different, smaller fish of varying sizes slipping through tiny cracks in the coral.

Of course, where there was coral, there would be Corsolas, which were among the wildlife populating the underwater world that Matthew and Nico were dragged into. He swore he could feel his boyfriend bristling with discontent behind him, and Nico was ready to let go if his Milotic decided to dive too far down. Their brief tour of the underwater world was interrupted when the cause of her agitation came into view. Panicked corsola were struggling to flee or fight off predators that easily preyed upon them. Mareanie were gathered in disturbing numbers- Nico could easily count more than 10 in the area!

The blond didn't know much about the ocean ecosystem... Even less about the Mareanie. But seeing so many predators feasting upon the same Pokemon didn't look natural to him. Even more so when he realized what this reef was- it was connected to Pacifilog town!!

Nico grunted, pulling at his Milotic fruitlessly as the serpent charged forward, ignoring his mute commands. Letting go of the serpent, he and Matthew floated freely as they watched the Milotic wrap her long body around one of the Mareanie's, loud, bubbly-sounding cries cutting through the water. Hurriedly, Nico swam toward the surface, aware that both he and Matthew needed a breath of air. But after gasping in his mouthful of air... Nico dove back down, determined to rejoin his Pokemon in the fray and obviously communicating to Matthew that he was sticking by his Pokemon's side in this.

Matt Vice

☉

Nico didn't need to hear Matt to know he was incredulous at him, maybe even outraged. The second Milotic had dove down, he knew there would be anger from his boyfriend, but he also knew that they could deal with it later. Nico only had one thing on his mind, and that was the task at hand. Helping his Pokemon, and by extension, the corsola... apparently.

Eyes glinting with steely resolve, Nico used his webbed gloves to his advantage, swimming back down to reach the coiling, writhing mass that was his Milotic, and an unfortunate Mareanie trapped between her scales. The wild Pokemon's appearance alone told Nico that poison was involved, and he winced at the thorns stabbing into his water-type's body. Though they were close to the town, riding a poisoned pokemon would be near-perilous. Hastily, he fetched her pokeball to return her, only to see Matthew swimming forward and physically ripping the two Pokemon apart. Impressive!

Nico quickly swam in her way, the Milotic turned her anger on her trainer, until seeing the motions he was making. Using his arm to draw a ring in the water, fixing her with a stern expression from his eyes. She let out a hesitant call, eyes shimmering and muscles tensing as a ring of water formed around her. Aqua Ring to keep herself healthy, as Nico knew for certain she was poisoned. Then, he nodded, pointing at the next predating Mareanie. Instantly, the Milotic surged forward, coiling around her next victim as he trainer was forced to swim up to the surface for air, gesturing for Matthew to follow.

"Thanks." Nico gasped out once they breached the water, "I think she's just angry." He breathed, "I think if we chase a few more predators off, we can get to town..."

Matt Vice

☉

"Eheheheh... I figured as much." Nico relented, laughing breathlessly. Another deep breath, and they both dove once more. Matt took care of a different attacker, while Nico beelined it straight for his Milotic, just in time to see her shooing off a fleeing Mareanie. She seemed calmer now, though he could spot a few pained grimaces in her face. He reached forward to pat her neck, and pointed to the surface, silently convincing his water-type to listen as she begrudgingly swam toward the surface.

Their work hadn't gone unnoticed. Many other Mareanie began fleeing the area, avoiding the giant, easily annoyed Milotic and even baffled at Matthew's intervention. Nico saw the area looked relatively cleared, and signaled to Matthew once he could catch the other's eye, swimming to the surface once more.

"Hang in there, girl!" He called out after a breath of water, swimming to his dejected Milotic's side. The pair waited for Matthew's return, before he began to explain. "I think she just got irritated by them... But she may also be poisoned. Town isn't too far! Let's get to the docks and I'll make it up to you with some dinner, okay?"

Matt Vice

☉