frustrating. she did have that easier trick to do still, if she couldn't nail the magikarp splash... but now that her competitive spirit had been awakened, she wanted to keep trying.

"let's try it again."

they attempted the magikarp splash.

_vzC2Fdh

total points previous round: 5350
^{( 100 + 1000 + 1750 + 2500 )}

she'd gone home and come back the next day, returning after walking around the festival for a little while. the joy that seemed to radiate from the event was refreshing. a dip in the water sounded refreshing now, too, as the day grew hotter.

she dove in. maybe her finds would be more interesting today.

8fjcwaX6

+ salac

”oh?”

an inter-region government was a big, and it surprised her that she hadn’t heard. had her father not heard either? had her mother not told him? was this as of this morning?

the strong urge hit to check her phone and scour her emails that she’d already viewed less than an hour ago. envy continued to rise uncomfortably at calcifet being so far ahead in the political realm—a competitiveness unlike her, but somehow still as natural as blood.

what stung in particular was his deep involvement while she had been left totally unaware. until now. thanks to him.

”an inter-region government sounds like a wonderful idea. i would be happy to give my thoughts, of course.”

Remiel Calcifet

focused on him as she was, it was easy to see the shifts in his body language. he’d caught himself. he knew. and it was fine. she wouldn’t mention the slip, just like she wouldn’t mention the explosion.

”he’s well. healthy. busy, as always.” he’s stressed. we’re in danger. it was a mess. but on the outside? there was nothing amiss.

at least, that’s what she figured. she didn’t know what gabriel knew.

”the barrier has, of course, been troubling. he does what he can in support of hoenn.”

GABRIEL BLACK

another pokeball. not very interesting. she kept it anyways, knowing she'd use it eventually. on she went then to find something hopefully a little more exciting. maybe after this next one, she'd call it a day.

gfogXtNX

+ egg tutor

again, she'd crashed almost painfully down into the wave, still with no luck on the magikarp splash. but her confidence was too high from her last success to give up on it so quickly this time.

she urged her mantine to try again.

"magikarp splash! we can do this."

VZDpL5Xh

total points previous round: 5350
^{( 100 + 100 + 1750 + 2500 )}

as the sun began to set, the colors in the water glowed at the top and darkened deeper towards the bottom. less treasures sparkled, and shadows stretched. it was time to go home, but one more thing caught her eye.

X_f3|_Sk

+ pokeball

the blue shard was pretty, and peculiar. not like glass, exactly. it was something else. she picked it out of the sand and turned it in a ray of sunlight, before putting it away and moving on.

3plMHbzU

+ pokeball

success! wonderful. was it time to try the hardest one again, then?

she took a deep breath, and then urged the mantine onward up the next wave.

"magikarp splash!"

rAVSfrUv

total points previous round: 5350
^{( 100 + 100 + 1750 + 2500 )}