The harbor was quieter at dawn.
Ash stood at the edge of the pier, shoes just short of the wet boards, watching the water rise and fall against the posts. The tide moved in slow, steady patterns, pulling back only to return again. It wasn't chaotic. It had rhythm.
Poliwag sat beside him, eyes fixed on the surface. Its tail swayed in time with the waves, body relaxed in a way Ash hadn't seen before.
"Alright," Ash said after a moment. "Just a little."
Poliwag slipped into the water with a soft splash, staying close to the pier. No commands followed. Ash watched instead, counting the movement, the timing.
Maya crouched nearby, notebook open but untouched. "Harbor water is different," she said. "It's busy. Pokémon here learn patience before power."
Poliwag swam in slow circles, letting the current nudge it instead of fighting back. When a small wave pushed harder, it adjusted naturally, not panicked.
Ash nodded to himself.
Pidgey launched from a nearby post, circling high once before gliding down and landing again. The wing held strong. No hesitation.
"That's good," Ash murmured.
Behind them, Charizard stood near a stack of cargo crates, watching the ships move in and out. Its tail flame flickered lower in the morning air, reacting to the damp breeze. Every time a ship's horn sounded, its head lifted slightly, alert but calm.
A group of dock workers passed by with their Pokémon. No battles. Just work. A Machop strained under a crate, paused, then tried again with better footing.
Ash watched, thoughtful.
"This place teaches effort," Maya said, following his gaze. "Not speed."
The water shifted suddenly as a larger wave rolled in. Poliwag bobbed, corrected, and swam back to the pier without instruction.
Ash smiled faintly. "Good call bringing you here."
Poliwag chirped, clearly pleased.
Clouds gathered far out at sea, dark lines against the horizon. Not a storm yet. Just a warning.
Ash recalled Poliwag gently and slung his pack over his shoulder. "That's enough for today."
They moved away from the pier, the sounds of the harbor fading behind them. As they walked, Charizard fell into step beside Ash, claws clicking softly against stone.
Ash didn't slow.
Neither did Charizard.
Behind them, the tide continued its quiet work, shaping the shore one moment at a time.
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T/N:
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