the heat haze of summer was enough to drive up the demand for water pokemon that cassidy took heed. money was a cruel mistress; she needed to put food onto the table, and so she had made her way out to pacifidlog town, knowing that many water pokemon swarmed these waters.

only, she had no mount to speak of.

she'd consulted captain nariya through the grapevines, one of the few people available at the time. she was a contrast to cassidy's solemn demeanor, bursting with energy and with plenty of questions to ask. cassidy had regarded her with indifference, though not disinterest.

she did not know why the girl was apologizing to her, but she nods anyways, accepting it without a second thought. "i appreciate your assistance, captain nariya. my name is cassidy, and i am looking to capture water pokemon today. please, let me know how i much i need to pay you for your time." she says formally. she'd expected a fee for someone to come out here like this, and she was ready to pay.

she stands on the edge of the dock, with the sea salt winds blowing east and white foam gathering against the town's floating wood, and shivers against the slight chill on bare skin. she'd pulled on a simple black swimsuit, shrouded underneath a white cover-up, but the ocean's water had always been so cold to her despite growing up around its coasts.

she eyes the dragalge that the girl had begun to climb on, noting its poisonous spikes and fickle nature.

"is it not venomous, captain?"

Shalin Nariya

Shalin looked confused when asked for a fee. Did Cass not recognize the yellow Ranger uniform the Captain was wearing? "No need! I don't need anything extra from you. I was going to head out onto the waves anyway. I don't mind; it's what Rangers do! If anything, you'll be helping my Pokémon get some exercise." Her generosity shined as bright as her hair in the sunny skies above.

"Great to meet you, Cassidy!" the Ranger waved from the back of her Dragalge. "Long as I sit in her saddle, it's not!" she insisted, though she continued to shiver, not from fear of being poked by one of her mount's spikes, but from anticipation of going out on the sea on a companion she had once seen die with her own eyes. Rielle walked to the dock's edge, a Sharpedo surfacing from beneath the waves. She wasn't as large as the males, but the dark-type was still a big girl. "You want to go out to sea and catch Pokémon, I've got Rielle and Shabraz here; you're welcome to whichever one's more comfortable for you while we're together!"

it's what rangers do was a strange phrase to hear. of course, if the captain was to head to the sea anyways, and it being a mutually beneficial agreement, then it would make sense that they would not seek any repayment for their services. but even for cassidy, she still feels as if she owed a favour to the girl.

"thank you then, captain. if you need my assistance for anything else, you only need ask. i offer many services in my free time." she says, the cryptic tone of her voice implying that some services may not be entirely legal, though she lets the girl make her own judgement as to what that would be.

now out at sea, she looks at both the pokemon. the sharpedo was a pokemon she'd be inclined to, but its rough skin makes her think differently, and she motions to the vaporeon instead.

"i'd like to ride rielle, please." she nods, a wisp of a smile on her lips. now into the water, she sees that the sea is as bountiful as she'd expected; the colony of PALAFIN, their bodies leaping out of the water and doing trips, while SQUAKABILLY flew above, unrestrained by the water. it was a peaceful occasion, one that she focuses on without the need to catch them.

she looks to the bright skies and the various pokemon in the sea before asking shalin a question.

"so shalin, what made you become a ranger?"

SKIPPING PALAFIN + SQUAKABILLY

Shalin Nariya

"Alright, Rielle!" Shalin called out for the Shiny Vaporeon, who paddled next to Cassidy and awaited her to hop on. "Just drop into her saddle from the dock, hold her reins, and steer her like you would any land Pokémon!" she encouraged the guest. "I found I'm good at befriending wild Pokémon in unusual ways, and that's a really valuable skill to have as a Ranger. Plus, it let me go on expeditions to the ends of Hoenn in a more official capacity." She was an explorer at heart, and had already unearthed several tidbits of Hoennian history that helped the League understand its position better.

Once they were both out at sea, several members of the Palafin colony, including the largest one, felt threatened by the swimming Sharpedo's presence. The performing Pokémon scattered, Pharika knocked out from beneath Shalin by the swift charge behind a JET PUNCH. Thinking fast before it could get away, the Captain grabbed onto the water-type's fin and planted her legs around its back. Palming a Poké Ball beneath one of her hands, she was ready to ride!

Much to Shalin's surprise, the Palafin didn't immediately try to buck her off; instead, it rapidly leaped above and below the waves, much like it was performing before her Sharpedo scared the rest off. Every leap, twist, and sharp turn made Shalin whoop. Was this the water-type's way of trying to dislodge her? This was a lot of fun!

Shalin inhaled deeply when she felt the Palafin submerging, the speedy water-type swimming underwater before shooting toward the surface with a potent JET PUNCH, twirling through the air much like a professional diver or figure skater. A bit too fast for her comfort, the girl let go of her palmed Poké Ball, dropping it onto the wild water-type and falling toward the sea. Her Dragalge was quick to scoop her up, the Captain now astride a much more stable Pokémon.

Phew! What a ride!