By throw number five Locke was starting to get embarrassed. There were children nailing this target, and half his tosses weren't even making it the short distance.

Maybe if he just believes in himself-like in those sports anime…

---

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

Locke stepped back to stand beside Latias as their friend replace them in front of the stone, pulling out their Rotom phone while the conversation continued. "Oh she is," they replied, snapping a quick photo of Angelo crouched within the garden. Sure they didn't technically grow all of them themselves, but Nana will still like hearing about it later.

"That sounds like Eva Morales visiting me after that tree mess on the route outside of Fallarbor," they shared with a fond smile. "She's kind of a big hero back home, so it was real a surprise she'd-oh!"

The wind picked up suddenly, sending the marker tumbling away as it was passed between them and threatening to take the precious Gracidea with it. Locke hurriedly scooped their hard-earned bloom into their free hand and shield it from rising gales.

The second they did the garden exploded with life, rapidly blooming out-and-upwards before settling into bridge of pink and green leading high into the clouds.

Locke reflexively snapped another picture as he stared.

"…Ya know what? As far as weird things that've happened lately-I'm fine with this." Still, his eyes flicked nervously back to Latias and Latios, gauging the Eon duo's reactions. "And I guess if it was something dangerous these two'd be more worried, right?"

He could already see a few of the flowers at the foot of the bridge fading away-whatever was on the other side wouldn't wait long. A quick flash of red summoned his Fearow, which Locke wasted no time in mounting. "De-De!" The Delibird perked up, leaping from Latias' back and into her trainer's lap before they took off into the air with an extra burst of Agility.

---

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

Up and down and up and down-Locke's body was starting to feel like one giant bruise. He wasn't sure he could take any more of these Magikarp Crashes. But there was no stopping the Mantine, so if you can't beat em-join em.

"Okay, okay! We do this trick once-and then we do something else! Deal?"

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

Chou-Chou's light was certainly helping them make progress-but they'd yet to find anything of real value. Once more into the deep! Dinner depended on it!

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

There's another scary-looking guy in the tank this time-Locke wasn't sure if he wanted to dunk somebody who could scowl like that…

Though with his current streak, he doesn't have much to worry about.

---

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

His trainer really might die trying.

Locke was no longer even trying to stand at this point-instead clinging to the back of Manta-Manta like a bodyboard while begging for the Mantine to listen. "It's not gonna happen! Please let's just-"

His cries were ignored as they launched into air again, arching over the sea like Icarus reaching for the sun.

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

Locke dove beneath the water again, this time following the light of their Lanturn while Cramo-Cramo took a little break. Maybe now that they could see what they were grabbing they'd find something a little shinier.

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

"Third time's the charm?" Locke said uncertainly, as if the saying alone would bulk up his noodly arms enough to dunk the stranger in front of him.

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[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

Their expression transitioned into a light pout. "I've got plenty of Pokémon other'n Delibird ya know. Doro-Doro here helps move packages too big for me or the Delibird to carry for instance." The Mudsdale leaned into her trainer's touch as Locke gave her an appreciative pat.

"Today, though, she's helping me garden!" They raised the small cup for Matias to see, carefully lifting some of the newspaper wrapping away to reveal the tiniest green sprout inside. "I got the seed from a florist in Oldale, and I'd already planted it over by Verdanturf-but I found a nice plot out in the woods here I'd rather put it," they explained, leading their friend off the regular path.

Doro-Doro huffed beside him, clearly annoyed at having to do all that work again. "Doro-Doro thinks I'm just being indecisive."

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

It didn't take very long for Shika-Shika to get tired of posing for the camera, ending the photoshoot by stomping over to his trainer and nosing at their curry bowl. Locke placed the half-empty dish on the ground for the Stantler and reached over to replace it with a fresh serving as the conversation picked back up.

"Kind've an understatement really," he hummed, offering a bowl to Eva before settling back down to continue their own meal. "I ran into those white-haired guys a couple more times after that actually."

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

"I warned you not to go so fast!"

The scolding was tinged with worry as hoisted Cramo-Cramo again, trying to dislodge whatever the poor bird had tried to Swallow. The Heimlich wasn't exactly made for performing in the water, so it took a few more increasingly-panicked attempts before the object finally flew out of their Cramorant's beak-dropping back into the water with a splash before bobbing back to the surface.

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

Locke hadn't even fully reboarded the rowdy Mantine when Manta-Manta surged forward again. The courier's shouts of protest were quickly lost beneath the roaring swells, as the manta ray seemed hell-bent on riding only the dopest of waves with the sickest of tricks.

Or his trainer would die trying.

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

"Incoming!"

Locke called out the warning as he winded back, giving Hideo Kino ample time to hold his breath in case of a lucky shot. There were no scary-looking thugs inside to hold him back this time!

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[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz