The sun shimmered above the clear blue waters, casting golden ripples across the surface as Ariel swam lazily, her limbs moving in a practiced rhythm. Each stroke brought her peace, a familiarity that took her back to her previous life. Even though she was now living in a world she had once only dreamed of, the simple act of swimming still made her feel connected to who she had been. Magikarp swam beside her, its wide eyes darting about curiously as it trailed in her wake.

Ariel smiled as she watched her Magikarp's awkward movements. He wasn’t fast, but he kept up, and that was all that mattered. In these moments, everything felt perfect—just her and the water, a place where she could lose herself completely. The cool embrace of the ocean, the rhythmic pull of the waves, the world falling away behind her… it was bliss.

She had wandered further out than she intended, though, drawn by the sheer joy of swimming. Ariel kicked out with more energy, her excitement bubbling up as Magikarp splashed playfully beside her. For a moment, she let herself drift on her back, staring up at the sky with nothing but the sound of the water and the distant cries of Wingull filling the air.

Then, something caught her eye beneath the waves—a flash of movement. Ariel turned over and peered down, her breath catching as she spotted two Pokémon darting through the water. One was massive, its purple tentacles trailing behind it menacingly. A Tentacruel, its dark body sleek as it pursued a smaller, much uglier Pokémon. Ariel blinked, squinting to get a better look.

It was a Feebas.

To most people, Feebas was an eyesore. A Pokémon known more for its reputation of being unattractive than for its potential. But not to Ariel. She didn't care about its scraggly fins or the scar that marred its already rough scales. To her, Feebas was special. It reminded her of one of her favorite plushies from her previous life. She remembered its worn-out, beat-up appearance, and how she had loved it just the same.

Her heart swelled with excitement. She had never seen a Feebas in real life—only in the games, the show, and as her cherished plush. Now, there was one right in front of her. It didn’t matter that it had a scar or that most people would turn away in disgust. To Ariel, it was beautiful.

But in her awe, she hadn’t realized how close the Tentacruel had gotten. It was chasing the Feebas relentlessly, its poisonous tentacles slashing through the water as it closed in on the poor creature. Feebas was swimming in frantic circles, clearly terrified, and Ariel was only now becoming aware of the danger.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Before she could process it, she was right in the middle of the chase. Her body froze as she saw the Tentacruel charging straight at her—completely ignoring her presence in its single-minded pursuit of the scarred Feebas. Ariel could see the malice in its dark eyes, its poisonous tentacles lashing wildly.

Panic surged through her. She had never experienced anything like this. Not in her old life, not in her dreams of being in the Pokémon world. Was this it? Was this where she was going to die?

Ariel squeezed her eyes shut, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She could hear the water thrashing around her, feel the current of the Tentacruel's powerful movements. Her thoughts raced, fear overwhelming her as the monstrous Pokémon drew closer. She braced herself for the impact.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

Is this where I die? she thought, her body trembling.

But the hit never came.

Suddenly, there was a burst of speed from below, a shockwave that tore through the water and sent ripples surging in every direction. Ariel opened her eyes just in time to see a blur of blue and black shooting past her. Sharpedo. Her mother’s Pokémon.

“Grouchy!” Ariel gasped, relief flooding through her.

The Sharpedo’s Aqua Jet slammed into the Tentacruel with incredible force, sending the jellyfish Pokémon reeling backward. Grouch, as she liked to call him—mostly because of his perpetually grumpy expression—glared down the Tentacruel with savage intensity. His rows of razor-sharp teeth were bared, daring the Tentacruel to make another move.

The Tentacruel, dazed and confused, hesitated for only a moment before it tried to retaliate. But Grouch was faster. He circled the Tentacruel, a whirlwind of speed and power, before launching himself into another Aqua Jet, this time catching the Tentacruel right in the center of its body. The impact sent the jellyfish flying backward, crashing into the water with a heavy splash.

It didn’t take long for the Tentacruel to realize it had lost. With one final, furious glare, it sank beneath the waves and disappeared into the depths.

Ariel let out a shaky breath, her body relaxing as the danger passed. She was still floating in the water, with Magikarp hovering near her as if unsure of what had just happened. She glanced back at Grouchy, who was now circling protectively around her, and a deep wave of gratitude washed over her.

I still have my guardians, she thought, feeling a sense of safety she hadn’t expected.

But her attention quickly shifted. Feebas.

Ariel turned, her eyes searching the water until she found it—still swimming in circles, terrified and confused. Now that the threat was gone, she noticed the extent of the little Pokémon’s injuries. Its scarred body looked even more pitiful up close, with several fresh wounds from the Tentacruel’s attack. Her heart ached for it.

Slowly, carefully, Ariel swam toward the Feebas, trying not to startle it any further. She reached out, her fingers gently brushing its side as she whispered soothingly. “It’s okay… You’re safe now.”

Feebas flinched at her touch, its large eyes wide with fear, but it didn’t swim away. Ariel could tell it was still panicked, still frightened from the chase, but it seemed to understand that she wasn’t a threat. She kept talking to it, her voice soft and comforting, trying to calm the poor creature as best she could.

Grouchy, meanwhile, was prowling around the perimeter of their little area, clearly still on edge after dealing with the Tentacruel. He had made quick work of the other Pokémon, as if it had been no more than a nuisance. After all, that "stupid beast" had dared to attack his trainer’s child and invade his territory. That was enough reason for the Sharpedo to be in a foul mood.

Feebas, however, wasn’t so easily reassured. As Ariel continued to pet the small Pokémon, it glanced nervously at Grouchy, clearly unsettled by the larger predator’s presence. Its body trembled, and Ariel could see it was barely holding itself together.

“It’s okay,” Ariel whispered again, this time moving to shield the Feebas from Grouch’s intimidating presence. “He’s not going to hurt you.”

Feebas looked uncertain but didn’t resist as Ariel continued to gently stroke its rough, scarred scales. She didn’t know how to heal Pokémon yet—not like her parents could—but she wasn’t about to leave this little Feebas behind. It needed help, and she was determined to get it.

“I’ll take care of you,” she promised, her voice soft but firm.

With that, Ariel made her decision. She would take the Feebas back to the village, back to someone who could treat its wounds properly. It might not trust her completely yet, but she wasn’t going to leave it alone.

She began swimming toward the shore, with Magikarp following behind and Grouch keeping a watchful eye on them all. Feebas, still nervous but too tired to resist, allowed itself to be guided.

Ariel didn’t care what others thought of this “ugly” Pokémon. To her, it was beautiful.

And she was going to make sure it got the help it needed.