Pokemon Regression

Chapter 34: Swimming Lessons

Author Note:

Sorry for the wait. Turns out I sometimes get really stuck writing battle scenes, but I'll try not to let it happen next time.

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"It's been a while since any kids took my course. I'm surprised you went for it!" Misty chirped cheerfully at me as we walked to her designated pool. "The last one was... Oh when was it... A year ago? A kid with a funny hat. That was a terrifying battle..." She shook her head. "We haven't had many challengers in general lately, and none of them want to try the 'crazy-hard' course."

"The Gym Challenge is about getting as strong as possible." I answered cautiously, tugging gently at the swim trunks I'd borrowed to make sure they were going to stay in place. "If I can't beat the hard version of the second gym, how can I hope to clear the entire challenge?"

My trusty partner Yeller walked on his hind legs behind me, his cute little feet tapping almost silently against the tiles of the floor with each step.

"That's it! That's the attitude! Oh, I miss when I was the only Gym Leader..." Misty chirped in response, coming to a stop as we reached the side of her pool. "But before that, I need to see how well you can swim."

With a single fluid movement, Misty slid from the edge of the pool into the water, almost as if she had merged with the liquid. I blinked a few times in surprise, trying to make sure I'd seen the movement correctly. Even though she was now fully immersed in the shallow end of the pool, I could barely even spot ripples flowing from her entrance.

"Don't be shy, the water won't hurt you." She spoke with a soothing tone. "Even if you slip or struggle, I'll be here to catch you."

I realised in that moment that I'd been staring anxiously into the water. "Ah, no. I'm not scared." I sheepishly replied.

Quietly, I dropped into the water myself, a large splash signalling my entry. The pool was shallow and cool, and I could feel a shiver running up my spine from the sudden change in temperature.

"Cold, isn't it?" Misty hummed. "But if you have to swim in a lake, or the ocean, it will be much colder than this. Don't let the temperature slow you down, and-"

Without waiting for her to finish speaking, I dove down beneath the surface of the water, letting it flow over my head as I swum a few feet forwards, rolling one arm over the other before resurfacing and treading water in a deeper part of the pool.

"Alright. I'm over it." I shook my head, flinging the wet hair out of my eyes. "What next."

The orange-haired woman blinked vacantly at me a few times, before putting her hands on her hips again. "You're already used to swimming, aren't you? Kids from out in the country like you aren't normally good swimmers."

I shrugged lightly as I continued to tread water. "I'm passable. A bit out of practice maybe."

She nodded softly. "Alright, show me what you can do."

I spent the next ten or so minutes proving that I was a capable and reliable swimmer. After I'd swum the length of the pool, through rings, floated on my back and more, she finally acknowledged that my swimming was up to par. I'd had to learn to be quite a good swimmer while in the army, although I'd fortunately never had to do any naval missions. 

As Misty led me to the other end of the pool where various floating pads were placed, I almost jumped in surprise as an enormous crash reached my ears. Both Misty and I turned in surprise to see a large forest of vines rising from one of the swimming pools-The one furthest from ours. 

"I guess Chee is having her Gym Battle." I laughed. "We should get to it too."

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