L: Somewhere out in the ocean, there's a bit of an oddity: A tribe of land-based air breathers that live underwater together. Today in particular, a treecko and a helioptile are preparing themselves to go through a rite of passage for the tribe together, hoping it'll end up going well.
G: The challenge is a long swim in a cave... then drowning at a shrine placed at the end of it. A terrifying thought, especially since their long training doesn't push them to drown... And they're going alone.
The Helioptile swims near the Treecko and smiles, wanting to keep them calm on the way there. The only breath they'll have is at the air pocket near the start.
L: The treecko tries to give the helioptile a smile as well, though it's plain to see that he's nervous. Having a relatively fresh breath, and knowing about the air pocket early on, he does feel ready to go into the cave... But he certainly doesn't feel the same about the way he knows it has to end.
G: The Helioptile smiles, as he heads to the mouth. His own breath is good, too, and they had plenty of practice... but drowning... It's a feeling that just seems super scary. Even if they did see others do it.
At the start, they find a Flygon, the one who handles the rite. "Hmblm... Tblreeblkblo anbld Heblioblptible... Yblou're thble onbles fblor toblday, riblght?" She asked, with the Helioptile nodding.
L: The treecko nods as well. "Abls scblarebld abls Ibl ablm, Ibl thblink Ibl'm reblady foblr thblis. Thblat drblownbling wble hblave tblo dblo ibls goblnna ble awblful... Ibl jublst hblope itbl'll ble woblrth iblt."
G: The Flygon nods and brings them inside near the air pocket. "Tblakble yblour lblablst blreablths. Yblour neblxt onble wiblbl bebl wablterbl." She lets out a tiny grunt and covers her mouth, though doesn't breathe.
The helioptile quickly swims up and gasps. "Gah! Hah... hah..."
L: Just a moment later, the treecko joins the helioptile in the air pocket, gasping some himself. "Huff, huff... Man, why did she have to say it like that... Just getting me even more nervous..."
G: "Hah... N-Not sure... Maybe just wants... to make sure we're fully prepared..." She paddles a little more to fill her lungs enough before diving down, seeing the Flygon.
L: The treecko gets a few last breaths and dives back down with the helioptile, ready to get started. "Webll, seble yoblu whblen wble geblt bablck...", he bubbles to the flygon.
G: The Flygon watches the two enter the cave. As soon as they enter, the Flygon pulls out a wall, preventing them from leaving. The trial has started, and the Helioptile seems worried...
L: Seeing the way out close off, the treecko gets even more nervous... "Wbl-webl'd bebltteblr geblt gobling, Ibl dobln't wablnt tblo drblown foblr noblthiblng..." He starts swimming deeper into the cave.
G: The Helioptile puts a paw against the Treecko's mouth. "Dobln't. Keeblp aiblr ibln."
L: The treecko nods. "Mmmh..." He keeps quiet, and motions for the helioptile to follow him as he resumes swimming.
G: They've had practice, sure, but is it still long enough? They don't even know how long this path is... Still, the Helioptile continues, paddling all four legs.
L: As the swim goes on, the treecko does his best to stay calm and keep his oxygen usage down. He stays close to the helioptile, his cheeks puffed out a little.
G: It was a little fun to puff them out, but the Helioptile's own cheeks puffed out inadvertently as air left his lungs. It's a long way through, but eventually he could feel his lungs burning. "mm... Mgbl..."
L: Over time, the treecko's chest starts to occasionally contract, each of those forcing out a few tiny bubbles. "Mmblbl...Blrpl..." He worries whether he and the helioptile will make it, but he doesn't intend on giving up, even if he could.
G: The Helioptile starts wondering if they can even make it. This cave is straightforward, but... Well, there's no signs of it ending! The Helioptile grabbed one of the Treecko's hands with a cute whine and need for air... "Mgbl... Mmm..."
L: The treecko worriedly looks over at the helioptile, whining a little himself as he has a similar breath hold to them. He pinches his nostrils shut with his other hand, trying to keep as much of his air in as possible.
G: It's hard to see in the darkness, but his cheeks are getting red as his lungs continue to heave harder. Still no signs of an end... Or...
...wait... what is that light?
L: The treecko's eyes go wide as he notices the light. "Mmm!" Hoping the swimming part is just about done, he eagerly swims toward the light, blushing from the strain of needing to breathe.
G: He looks worried, closing his eyes and letting go to use all four legs to swim fast! "GBABLBLBLBL!" But now there's no seal over his mouth, causing his lungs to release a lot of precious breath! But the light is getting closer...
L: "Kbl-keblep yoblur aiblr ibln!" The treecko tries to cover the helioptile's mouth for them as the two swim together, a tingly burning now just beginning to form in the treecko's lungs.
G: "MGBL!!!" His eyes widened in surprise, but thankfully the Treecko's hand helped keep air in! But the light did show a rather purple breathless blush, and his kicks are becoming uncoordinated and panicked...
L: The treecko's swimming is becoming a bit frantic as well, and he knows he doesn't have a whole lot of time left before he's going to just start gasping... He fights to keep holding his breath, whimpering and whining, knowing that drowning now would be too soon and he'd fail.
G: "Mmg... Mmgh... Mmf..."
The Helioptile cries out in pain... and eventually runs into something...
...opening his eyes... he can see he hit a statue of... Lugia and Azelf...? This must be the goal...
L: The treecko just barely manages to see the statue before he'd hit it himself. "MMM!" He smiles a little, recognizing this as what he and the helioptile have been looking for... But the smile fades as he remembers what has to come next.
"Mmrgh...MMGK!" He covers his mouth, nervously looking over at the helioptile as he begins getting a blue blush.
G: The Helioptile looks worried... He needs to take a gasp of water, but it hurts so much, already! He swims to the Treecko and lightly hugs him, his own cheeks blue and puffed! Each heave threatens a breath of cold water...
L: As much as he wants to just get it over with, the treecko can't make himself inhale. He fights with everything he has, desperate to keep holding on as he hugs the helioptile back.
Bursts of bubbles keep leaving him even as he tries his best to cover his mouth, and he shivers all over, trying to rebreathe by puffing his cheeks out and in.
G: The Helioptile bubbles out the last of his air in a sudden cough! And soon... he takes a watery gasp, gulping in and shaking while still holding the Treecko closely, choking heavily!
L: Just a couple seconds after, the treecko finally can't hold his breath any more either, exhaling a cloud of bubbles before gasping water himself! He coughs it back out before inhaling again, choking and grabbing his neck with one hand while still holding the helioptile with the other, hoping for at least SOME amount of comfort.
G: The Helioptile kicks and struggles, holding struggling and gripping his neck! Though the Treecko's own hold on the Helioptile helped keep comfort despite the pain! "Gblblk... Glk... Blblk..." His breaths began to slow, and it no longer hurt as much. Everything feels calmer, now, as he grew very heavy and tired...
L: The treecko gradually calms as his body weakens, still fitfully gulping water, but less and less painfully over time... "Gh... Ghic!... Mmrgl..." His blue blush slowly spreads across his face as the very last of his air trickles from his mouth.
G: The last few bubbles left the Helioptile, weakly kicking desperately. Soon, his eyes closed as he fell asleep, deep in the cave with his Treecko partner...
L: With one last deep breath, the treecko doesn't have the energy to stay awake any more. His eyes slowly close, and he sinks down to the cave floor next to the helioptile, fully drowned...
G: Who knows how long they've been out for...
The two wake up in a familiar place... a giant air pocket in the plaza they frequent for breaths.
L: The treecko gasps heavily as he awakens, finding that his lungs are nearly empty of water, so it doesn't take a whole lot of coughing to clear them out. "D-did... D-did we do it...?"
G: The Flygon from earlier is there with them, swimming over. "You did. Good job, you two."
The gasping Helioptile smiles. "Gah... hah... That... hurt a lot..."
L: "N-never letting myself drown again... That was awful..." The treecko lays on his back, still breathing heavily as he slowly recovers.
G: "Then you'll need a lot of practice... But now you can go off on your own swims outside the village." The Flygon said with a smile. "But don't worry about drowning, either way."
L: The treecko smiles as it fully sets in that he and the helioptile succeeded at the rite. "Can't wait to finally go out and explore... But I need some time to rest my lungs first..."
G: The Helioptile swims over and smiles. "We do need a bit of a break..."
Admittedly, they still do need to hold their breaths again if they want to go elsewhere. But a bit longer wouldn't hurt.
"Alright, then. Good luck on your journeys." The Flygon said, taking a deep gasp before diving under for her own swim.
L: The treecko smiles over at the helioptile. "Well, I'm glad it's finally done with... I'm sure it'll end up having been worth it once we get out there."
G: The Helioptile smiles and nods. "Admittedly... Despite everything, I... do want to go out there to explore..."
L: "So do I! I've always wanted to see what places outside of the tribe are like, and now we finally can!"
G: Although... Yeah, it's time to relax after all that...
Though it's a nice place to relax... Plus, it's rather fun to see other divers surface and gasp heavily for breath...
L: The treecko continues resting for a while, watching people come and go from the air pocket. Gradually, the ache in his chest from his earlier drowning fades away.
G: The Helioptile looks to the Treecko once his own lungs feel recovered from such a beating, nuzzling his chest with his head.
L: The treecko pets the helioptile's head some. "I think I'm ready to get going now, if you are."
G: The Helioptile smiles and nuzzles before swimming again. "Heh... I am. Let's go." With a few deep gasps, he sinks down and lands on the floor with all four feet.
L: Smiling back, the treecko quickly prepares and dives into the water, landing next to the helioptile and starting to think about where the two should go first.
G: The Helioptile smiles, swimming out for the edge of the village, alongside other groups. though they're going as just a pair, ready to see what the vast ocean contains...
![[RP LOG] Underwater City Part 2](https://qc.ib.metapix.net/images80/overlays/writing.png "[RP LOG] Underwater City Part 2"){kind=small}
