Necessity… The more she heard that frustrating word being thrown around by both sides of the conflict, the more it sounded like an excuse to absolve themselves of any guilt. As long as something was ‘necessary’, it could never be evil.

They had hit a moral brick wall. Perhaps, then, it was best to focus on something else. “You want electricity? You got it! Mecha-Chomper, hit that terminal with a Charge Beam!” The eccentric trainer ordered.

Like an obedient machine, the Iron Jugulis followed her order to the letter, shooting three electrical streams from its three mouths.

Lulu Flint

☉

"An Ability Capsule?!" This was getting ridiculous. Who kept throwing perfectly usable items into the sea? Those things did not come cheap. Well, it was hers now.

"I guess, in a way, we're helping with keeping our oceans clean, while also getting to keep anything that we find. Everyone wins!" Andrea jovially mused, before going for another dive, hoping to find more.

//CLAMPERL DIVING - AUG 4

☉

Aww dangit! Next time, next time for sure. Andrea could practically smell the sweet, alluring scent of victory. Or maybe that was just the salty air.

"If we try again, and again, and again, surely we'll get it right eventually!" Thought the young PokéManiac as she, Whiskers, and the unnamed Mantine went for another Splash.

//MANTINE SURFING - AUG 4

☉

Lulu’s response wasn’t wholly unexpected, but it left a sore spot on Andrea’s own mind. If even someone as bright as her believed that peace was impossible, then maybe it truly was.

“I see…” The dragon maiden let out an exasperated sigh of her own. “The League claims that you’re the dangerous ones.” She, of course, knew that wasn’t entirely true either. Things were not black and white, as THEO BECKETT had told her long ago.

Likewise, the invitation to join the syndicate was turned down. “I can’t. Some of my closest friends have been hurt by Rocket. People like Elise Calcifet and Elinor Anderson. What would they think of me if I joined you?” The girl said.

“There’s another reason…” She continued, while working on the panel. “I could never join an organization that abuses Pokémon. And you do abuse them. I’ve seen what Pokémon that were rescued from the black market look like. Their eyes are full of pain and fear…”

Things may not have been black and white, but that was no excuse to turn a blind eye to Rocket’s sins. They were just as corrupt, if not more so, than those they protested against.

Lulu Flint

☉

Andrea had a sudden urge to gamble, but it could wait. Diving blindly for sunken treasure was its own kind of gamble. At least they got something out of it each time.

"I can feel it! This time we're gonna find something really valuable. Let's go, Whiskers!" The dragon rider took another breath as her Gyarados submerged itself.

//CLAMPERL DIVING - AUG 3

☉

Aww dangit, another miss, and a bad one at that. She should not have switched to Mantine--a Pokémon she was unfamiliar with riding--but those were the rules.

"We won't give up! One more time from the top! SPLASH!!" The dragon maiden yelled resolutely, her Gyarados roaring with her. This time for sure.

//MANTINE SURFING - AUG 3

☉

"A Technical Machine?!" Who would throw such a thing into the water? Humans always polluted the ocean to the detriment of the Pokémon living there. It made Andrea sad.

But not sad enough to stop treasure hunting. "Let's dive again, Whiskers!" She said, taking another long breath.

//CLAMPERL DIVING - AUG 2

☉

Aww dangit, they missed! And now Angus, the surfing instructor was yelling at the PokéManiac for not using one of the designated Mantine. He was only trying to keep everyone safe, which was the sole reason the girl complied with the rules.

"Let's try this one more time! Feel free to Splash with us, Whiskers!" Andrea beamed, still confident that she could pull this off.

//MANTINE SURFING - AUG 2

☉

Andrea took the screwdriver and went to work, carefully removing the front part. She didn’t know what the purpose of any of this was, but she was helping.

“Thanks for teaching me this stuff, Lulu.” The young woman said, dropping her use of honorifics. “If you ever need me to teach you about Sygna Suits, making sandwiches, or raising dragons, let me know!”

Now that, after much friction between the two of them, they’d finally learned to coexist, Andrea thought to ask a more poignant question. “What do you think it would take for the League and Team Rocket to stop fighting and work together like we’re doing right now?”

Lulu Flint

☉