can't we just go back? | pokémon

nineteen | your ocean eyes

"you don't have to be afraid of the ocean, winona,"

"i'll teach you how to float!"

"you should swim like a mermaid! haha!"

"don't swim too far off, winona. the waves are too high and the sea isn't calm today. be careful!"

"teacher juan! help me, please! we have to find winona! i couldn't find her—and she's.. she's.."

winona slowly opened her eyes.
she could see the sunlight glistening above her as her body continued to sink underwater. she feels so light and heavy at the same time. no amount of effort could make her move her limbs as she accepted the fact that it's her final moments.

she isn't afraid of the water.
she's more afraid of its deepness and openness. it feels so infinite and terrifying that there was nothing she could hold onto and the only way was to sink and die or float and survive.

winona tried her best to keep herself awake as she continued to look at the sunlight illuminating her sinking body.

it feels comforting yet terrifying to be dying underwater.

winona was about to close her eyes and accept her fate when she felt something hard push her upwards. she opened her eyes and was met with a pair of ocean eyes.

merman?

maybe she was delirious but she was sure she's seeing a merman in front of her. she's never seen someone with as blue eyes as pretty like his. winona tried to stay awake as she slowly raised her hand and held the man's face, looking directly at his eyes.

the man held her firmly yet softly as they swam upwards. her vision is quickly blacking out as she tried her best to open her eyes.

before they could reach the water's surface, winona's vision blacked out.

-------

marlon carried winona until they reached the shoreline. his carracosta remained beside him as he tried to force the seawater out of winona. it didn't take long before winona started coughing out seawater as she slowly looked around her surroundings.

"are you okay? here let me help you get up," marlon said, a little more kinder than he was minutes ago. winona sat up and looked at him.

"sorry. i only know how to swim in shallow waters,"

marlon sighed as he made carracosta return to his pokeball.
"be careful next time," he said and stood up, motioning to walk away.

"will you help me, marlon?" winona spoke, a question she badly want an answer to. they were running out of time. she needs his help.

marlon sighed yet again as he turned around to look at her who was sitting down, looking up at his blue, ocean eyes. for a moment there, winona was so sure it glistened like water under the pale moonlight.

"what do you need me for?"

an answer. to help me find the truth. to help me help the pokemon here.

"help me find answers. we are here for a reason. a filthy organization wants to abuse the pokemon here and we both know we wouldn't want that to happen. we're not mere leaders that other people battle to get badges. we are also protectors of the pokemon on our town and region. we need your help, marlon. the pokemon need your help," she said, serious and desperate for him to say yes.