Ariel sat cross-legged on the wooden floor of her father's lab, her eyes fixed on the small tank where Feebas floated weakly. The Pokémon’s scales, dull and marred with scars, reflected the faint light filtering in from the open window. Outside, the sound of waves crashing against the shore created a peaceful ambiance, but Ariel's focus was solely on her new companion.

Her father, Aron, was bustling about the lab, busy mixing herbal remedies for the recovering Pokémon. "Feebas is going to need a lot of care, Ariel. It’s injured, and it's clearly been through some tough battles in the wild," he explained, his voice calm and soothing. "But I think it’s tough. It'll pull through."

Ariel nodded, her small hand reaching out to gently tap the glass of the tank. Feebas responded with a weak ripple of its fins, the water barely stirring around it. To anyone else, Feebas looked like just another ugly Pokémon—plain, battered, and far from impressive. But to Ariel, it was beautiful, like a jewel from the depths of the ocean.

"You're going to be okay," Ariel whispered softly, leaning closer to the tank. "I’ll take care of you."

Aron watched his daughter, a small smile tugging at his lips. He hadn’t expected her to form such a bond with Feebas so quickly. Usually, people avoided Pokémon like it because of their unremarkable appearance. But Ariel had a gentle heart—one that saw past the surface.

"I have to head out for some more supplies," Aron said, gathering his things. "Will you be alright watching Feebas for a bit?"

Ariel nodded eagerly. "I’ll make sure it doesn’t get lonely."

As soon as her father left the room, Ariel felt a sense of responsibility wash over her. She had saved Feebas from the Tentacruel, but that wasn’t enough. She wanted to help it heal, to make sure it felt safe and cared for. Feebas deserved that.

She spent hours sitting beside the tank, watching the Pokémon float, its movements slow and labored. It was clear to her that Feebas was in pain, but it didn’t seem to want her help. Each time she reached out, it shied away. But Ariel wasn’t discouraged. She remembered feeling lost and helpless in her previous life—trapped after the earthquake, unable to swim, unable to escape the rubble. In a way, Feebas reminded her of herself. She had been given a second chance, and she wanted to give Feebas the same.

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Later that afternoon, Ariel decided to take Feebas for some fresh sea air. Carefully, she scooped the Pokémon into a large bucket filled with seawater, her arms trembling under the weight. The bucket sloshed as she carried it, spilling water over her small hands and feet. Feebas, still weak, didn’t resist.

The beach wasn’t far from the house, but the journey felt longer with each step. By the time she reached the shore, she was panting, her legs aching from the effort. She set the bucket down on the sand and sat beside it, catching her breath.

As Ariel settled down, a few of the village fishermen wandered by, hauling in their daily catch. They noticed the little girl sitting with her bucket and ambled over, curious as ever.

"Hey there, Ariel! What’ve you got in that bucket?" one of the men asked, his voice rough but kind. His skin was leathery and tanned from years spent at sea, and he always smelled faintly of saltwater and fish.

Ariel looked up at them, a proud smile on her face. "I found a Feebas! I’m helping it get better."

The fishermen exchanged glances. One of them, a burly man with a thick beard, leaned down to peer into the bucket. Feebas gave a feeble flick of its fin, and he chuckled softly. "Well, now… that’s one homely fish, if I ever saw one."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Ugly little thing, isn’t it?" another chimed in, though his tone was lighthearted. "But I guess it’s tough if it’s still hanging on after what it's been through."

Ariel frowned at their words but didn’t let it show. She stood up, her small hands on her hips. "Feebas isn’t ugly," she said firmly, her voice carrying a surprising amount of conviction for a six-year-old. "It’s a beautiful creature of the sea."

The men blinked, taken aback by her declaration. Then, as if on cue, they all burst into laughter. It wasn’t mean-spirited, but it was the laughter of adults amused by a child’s innocent perspective.

"Beautiful, huh?" the bearded man said, wiping a tear from his eye. "I like your spirit, Ariel."

Ariel pouted, her cheeks flushing pink. She didn’t like that they were laughing. Feebas was beautiful, at least to her. It had survived something terrible, just like she had in her past life. That kind of strength mattered more than how it looked.

As the laughter died down, Ariel noticed her brother, Kai, standing off to the side. He had been watching the whole exchange quietly. His dark hair was tousled by the sea breeze, and his blue eyes, sharp and thoughtful, lingered on her and the bucket.

Without a word, Kai walked over to stand beside her, his presence a quiet form of support. He didn’t laugh, didn’t tease her like the others. He just gave her a small nod.

That simple gesture made Ariel feel better. Kai always seemed to know what she was thinking, even if he didn’t say much. She smiled at him, grateful for his silent encouragement.

"Feebas will get better," she said confidently, looking down at the Pokémon in the bucket. "And one day, everyone will see how amazing it is."

Kai raised an eyebrow, but his lips twitched as if controlling something. "Maybe they will," he said softly, ruffling her hair.

The fishermen chuckled again, but this time there was a sense of respect in their eyes. "Well, if anyone can make that Feebas shine, it’s you, Ariel," one of them said before they headed off, back to their boats.

That evening, Ariel sat on the dock with her best friend Isla, both of them staring into the bucket where Feebas floated quietly. The sky was turning dark, the last bits of sunlight reflecting on the water. Their legs dangled off the dock, just barely touching the tips of the gentle waves.

Isla, a girl the same age as Ariel, with short, messy black hair and a face full of freckles, leaned over and scrunched her nose at the fish. "Eww, Ariel! That’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen!" she said, poking at the bucket. "Why did you bring that home?"

Ariel frowned and hugged the bucket closer, protectively shielding Feebas from Isla's stare. "It’s not ugly!" she insisted, her voice rising. "It’s a beautiful sea creature. You just can’t see it!"

Isla blinked, tilting her head like she couldn’t understand. "Beautiful?" she repeated, her tone dripping with doubt. "Are you sure your eyes are working? It looks like a squishy rock."

Ariel pouted and crossed her arms. "Feebas is special, okay? I found it, and it was all alone! I’m gonna take care of it. Just 'cause it’s not all shiny doesn’t mean it’s not good."

Isla sighed loudly, shaking her head. "I don’t know, Ariel. It’s all… weird and bumpy. What if it gets even uglier? Are you gonna keep it then?"

"Of course!" Ariel’s voice was firm. She looked at Feebas in the bucket, feeling a little bad for it. "It’s not Feebas’ fault it looks different. I think it’s amazing."

Isla huffed, clearly not convinced but giving up the argument. "Well… okay, I guess. If you say so." She glanced at Ariel, then back at Feebas, her face showing that she still wasn’t too sure. "But if someone else says it’s ugly, don’t blame me!"

Ariel smiled, happy enough that Isla didn’t keep arguing. "I don’t care what anyone says," she replied, more cheerfully now. "Feebas is mine, and I’m gonna make sure it’s happy. That’s what matters."

Isla gave the fish one last look before standing up and stretching her arms. "You’re so weird sometimes, Ariel," she said, though there was a small smile on her lips. "But I guess that’s why you’re my friend."

Ariel giggled, hugging her knees. "Maybe."

As Isla brushed the sand from her shorts and turned to leave, she paused and looked back over her shoulder. "Hey, Ariel," she called. "If anyone else makes fun of your fish, I'll... um... say something. Maybe." She gave a sheepish grin. "But don’t make me touch it, okay?"

Ariel laughed out loud. "Deal! And thanks, Isla."

With a wave, Isla ran off into the village, her bare feet kicking up little clouds of sand as she disappeared into the twilight. Ariel watched her go, still smiling, and then looked back down at Feebas, who was swimming lazily in the bucket.

The soft sounds of the ocean and the distant calls of Wingulls filled the air as the stars began to twinkle in the darkening sky. Ariel’s hand hovered over the water, careful not to disturb Feebas. "You’re beautiful," she whispered, like she was telling a secret only the fish could hear. "And I’m going to show everyone."