It was slow season for Hoenn's Rangers. Too many Rangers and not enough tickets to work. Shalin liked it, though; it gave her a chance to catch up on paperwork her Captain position mandated her do. Though there was plenty of power she had as Rustboro's Ranger authority, many things, such as promotions, had to go through the Head Ranger.

Even that work could not keep her completely busy. It gave her time to do something she hadn't been able to do in a while, and that was go to Round One in Slateport. It was the largest arcade in Hoenn. Unfortunately for her, she misread the location's hours; she had arrived an hour before the place opened. With an hour to kill, she took to the beach and looked ready to get in the water alongside a Shiny Floatzel that was just as tall as she was.

As she took her first steps in, she leaped out, nearly crashing into the Type: Null behind her. Why was the water so cool this far south? Had Kyurem's appearance in the Silent Icelands disrupted weather patterns again?

The water temperature took Shalin by complete surprise; the air temperature was nowhere close to as low. Even Prower had been taken by surprise, scurrying out. With that knowledge, he was content to waddle along the beach. "That's so disappointing..." Shalin sighed, Prower giving her a pat on the shoulder. The Floatzel towered over her, over a foot taller than she was. While he could get on all fours and ferry Shalin across the beach, it wouldn't be the same as swimming.

He stepped away from Shalin to shake his fur dry, then started loudly TAIL SLAPPING the air to try her off. If the wind from the whirring, humming tails throwing drops of cold water everywhere didn't get Pierce's attention, then the insect-like noise they made might! Even Lathiel flinched as the cold mist struck her.

The sudden and threatening-sounding remark from a passerby prompted Prower to bring his tails to a stop. The column of air, and the humming noise that came with it, ceased as the Captain and her two Pokémon approached Pierce. "I'm so sorry - I didn't notice you behind me!" the green-dressed female apologized. Even Prower looked apologetic, the imposing Floatzel's tails subtly blown about by the light breeze. "Prower here didn't mean any harm."

In an effort to make rapport with the man, Shalin would introduce herself and her two Pokémon. "Captain Shalin Nariya of Rustboro, and these two are Prower and Lathiel. Wasn't expecting the water to be this cold; usually, Slateport's beachfront is warm enough to go for a swim year-round." Even the Type: Null was outfitted with a saddle. Just who was she?