G: It's an interesting time in the ocean, as a sort of track has been laid out for two rivals to race through.
One of them, a Buizel, makes sure his tails are nice and limber for the race... and making sure his lungs could hold enough air to go without breathing. There's air pockets scattered on the course, but neither racer is allowed to resurface until the end.
L: The other, a Popplio, does some stretches and an occasional brief practice breath hold. "Don't start crying when you lose, alright? I don't want to hear any of that."
G: The bui smiles as he looks to the Popplio. "I'd say don't hold your breath, but we're already gonna have to do that. I'm sure you can't stay long enough, anyway." He teases, surfacing for another breath.
L: The Popplio swims up with them. "Please, I've been practicing every day since we first planned this. Bet I'd even be able to skip one of the air pockets and still do just fine~"
G: A Ducklett surfaces next to the two. "Take your lasts breaths. The race will start soon."
"I won't stop to give you an air kiss." The Buizel takes a few last deep gasps before diving down and heading to the starting line.
L: "Finally, here we go..." The Popplio does the same, packing a little extra air into his cheeks as well, and waits next to the Buizel for the race to start.
G: The Ducklett swims down with a small breath. Once they're all ready, he lets out a wing and starts counting down. "3... 2... 1... GO!"
As the Ducklett swims back up, the Buizel pushes off the ground and quickly spins his tails into high gear, swimming down the track.
L: The Popplio takes off at the same time, rapidly pumping his tail up and down and even stroking with his arms, doing everything he can to try to outpace the Buizel.
G: And he's easily taking off down the pathways of the race. The downside, admittedly, is it can be a bit difficult to control, despite being an otter-adjacent Pokemon. Not to mention this takes a good amount of energy and air to do.
Maybe if the Buizel keeps going like this, a heave will stop him in his tracks! But it'll be difficult, as he's focused, and is used to going without air for a while.
L: This is certainly using quite a bit more of the Popplio's oxygen than normal as well, but he pays that no mind. Winning is all he's currently concerned about, and he keeps a tight hold of his air for now, even trying not to let any bubbles out through his nostrils.
G: Eventually, the Buizel could feel his chest start to tighten. As much as he wants to keep going, his body can't go on full blast while holding his breath for so long. Thankfully, he can see an archway with a decently sized air pocket inside. He slows down, stopping his tails and inflating his floatation sac to coast him above the water and take a breath. "Gah... hah..."
L: The Popplio looks up at the air pocket as he approaches, his chest heaving some... And, without hesitation, he simply keeps going, confident his lungs will hold out until he reaches the next one, especially since he'd fully prepared before this first dive.
G: The Buizel took a bit to refill his lungs... eventually realizing the Popplio never came up! "Oh, you little..." He takes a deep gasp before swimming down, pushing himself to catch up as fast as he could!
L: Being quite far ahead by now, the Popplio looks back and teasingly waves at the Buizel before focusing back on swimming. He's blushing from strain at this point, but it doesn't seem to be slowing him down.
G: It's difficult for the Buizel to catch up, now. But he knows the Popplio needs to breathe eventually, and that will be a good time to overtake him! He slows down a bit to around where Popplio's speed is so he can conserve his breath. That way, he should be able to skip an air pocket.
L: As the race continues, the Popplio starts to have some trouble holding his breath, eventually needing to cover his mouth with a paw, slowing him down a little. He still looks determined despite that, and even in spite of starting to occasionally lose some bubbles.
G: Buizel could see the signs start to pile up. He kept his pace as the Popplio slows down, preparing to kick it up to high speed...
L: Gradually, the Popplio struggles more and more, his lungs starting to burn. By now, he's finally starting to question whether skipping the air pocket had been a good idea, but going back for it would lose way too much time now.
G: Eventually, the Buizel looks over to the Popplio... and actually starts to worry about him. He knows the Ducklett is still close by, ready to help if need be... Eventually, he puts his fears aside and swims onward, past the Popplio.
L: As they pass, the Buizel would be able to see that the Popplio's blush has turned purple. He looks at the Buizel with wide eyes, and tries to pick up his pace some, now pressing both paws to his mouth and hoping the next air pocket will come soon enough for him to keep his lungs dry.
G: Eventually, the next air pocket would slowly come into view. Although it's still quite a ways away...
The Buizel could feel his lungs burn, again. While he originally planned to skip it, Popplio's condition made him reconsider.
...unfortunately, him looking back to the Popplio made Buizel miss a small patch of small plants he swam into. "Mgbl!" As he does, he could feel his body get wrapped up! "Mmgb!!"
L: The Popplio smiles a little as he sees the Buizel get stuck, and passes them as his blush turns blue, before his lungs decide they've had enough. He curls up some as bursts of bubbles erupt past his paws, and he arches his back as he takes a loud, desperate gasp of water!
G: The Buizel would let out some air in worry... It's still a race, though, and he tries to get out of the plants using his tails.
But they're surprisingly resilient... "mmmgh... Let me go..." He said, gritting his teeth as bubbles sneak by.
L: With the Buizel's situation being the last thing on his mind, the drowning Popplio frantically keeps swimming toward the air pocket, choking and gurgling as he can't stop himself from sucking in more water.
G: Buizel didn't even care that he got past! If he doesn't break free... he isn't even gonna finish! "Mmgbl!" He spins his tails faster and faster, and even faster than he ever spun them before! But it's draining more air, and he can't guide them as easily when they're so fast!
Meanwhile, the Ducklett swims down to the two, ready to help when needed... But moves closer to the Popplio.
L: Thankfully, the Popplio does manage to reach the air pocket before he'd pass out, and he hacks up the water from his flooded lungs as he starts to slowly catch his breath.
G: The Ducklett surfaces in the pocket to make sure Popplio could fully recover before going back down and heading for the Buizel.
He's almost broken free, but he's been bubbling a lot and is already turning blue! His chest is heaving so much, causing small clouds of air to escape him!
L: "I-I'm okay..." The Popplio coughs a few more times, getting the rest of the water out of him. "Y-you should check on the Buizel, I-I don't want him drowning... D-don't tell him I said that."
G: "I-I got it..." The Ducklett said as he approached the drowning Buizel. "Oh no..." He said to himself, seeing just how desperate the bui is for air...
eventually, he broke free from the grasp, but not before taking in a breath of water, causing him to choke and struggle! There isn't even any air in his lungs to fill his floaty! "Nngh... Gblbl... hlk..." But the air pocket is within reach. He doesn't need the Ducklett's help, he though... He can make it...
L: The Popplio is still catching his breath, but is just about ready to go back under, his face's colors back to normal and his lungs having dried off.
G: His vision is fading... The Buizel's body is slowly weakening on his way to the air pocket... He worried about Popplio so much he didn't even realize how low on air he was until the sea lion finally breathed, after all... His vision faded...
...before he finally breached the surface, coughing heavily and paddling against the water long enough to get enough air to fill his floaty.
L: "Okay, good, there you are... I-I mean, um... How'd those plants treat you? Guess I'm not the only one to have breathed water today~" The Popplio gets one more gasp before diving under, leaving the Buizel behind.
G: The Buizel looks over to the Popplio as he spoke, smiling after he submerged. "I... I'm glad you're also alright, at least." He takes the opportunity to dry his lungs, having had them flooded for a longer time, before heading under and chasing the sea lion.
The Ducklett sighs a few bubbles in relief before swimming back to the surface, feeling his own chest tighten.
L: While the Popplio's lungs are still sore from the breaths of water, he can hold his breath fine for now, speeding along like before and deciding he won't be skipping any more air pockets in the future.
G: The Buizel would eventually come back down, ready to finish the race. And hopefully he doesn't end up stuck in any plants...
L: The Popplio is happy he's ended up getting such a lead again, and doesn't quite push his speed as hard as before, but certainly still doesn't intend on letting the Buizel pass him.
G: The Buizel chases after the Popplio, going quickly but not extremely enough that he burns oxygen.
L: Starting to feel a need to breathe again, the Popplio speeds up some, wondering whether there'll be another air pocket before the end of the race.
G: The Buizel chases after, just behind the Popplio as his own lungs begin to complain... Last he checked, the air pockets were spaced out enough... Hopefully?
L: As he realizes how close the Buizel has gotten, the Popplio goes back to full speed, even though it'll make him use up his limited oxygen faster.
G: "No you don- mmgh..." The Buizel feels a light heave... but he ignores it and swims onward, trying to chase the Popplio as he burns through more of the air in his chest.
L: "W-what's wrong, can't keep up?", the Popplio teases as he tries to hide his growing need for air. Still, he's blushing again, and the Buizel would likely be able to see his chest starting to heave again.
G: "I-I can catch up... You need air, after a-all..." The Buizel's also feeling the need for air grow. His cheeks are a similar color to the sea lion's, and his chest is heaving a little more.
L: "Ah, we'll see~" Occasional grunts are starting to be audible from the Popplio, and he's bubbling some, but he refuses to cover his mouth again for now, wanting to stay ahead of the Buizel.
G: The Buizel is now practically behind the Popplio's tail, more bubbles leaving his mouth as he catches up...
Where that air pocket, though...? It has to he soon...
L: The Popplio is starting to be glad he doesn't intend to push his breath holding any more, and especially that he hadn't decided to skip the previous air pocket instead of the first, as he'd likely be drowning by now if he had. Still, he's starting to get a bit low on breath now...
G: How much further was the next pocket, anyway? Did they miscalculate the distance? The Buizel held a paw against his mouth to prevent himself from breathing... "mm... mm..."
L: The Popplio is somewhat jealous at the Buizel being able to cover their mouth without slowing down. Eventually, he feels he has no choice but to do that himself, pressing a paw to his mouth like before.
G: It adds drag, and it means he loses focus because of his need for air... His spinning tails started to slow as his body quivers for breath. "Mmf... Mmfh..."
L: With his blush going purple again, the Popplio worries that, for the second time in a row, he won't be surfacing with dry lungs. Still, he presses on, both paws on his mouth now.
G: And the Buizel is worried about it, too... And worse, they're both probably gonna drown simultaneously...
Almost as if knowing how close they are to drowning, the Ducklett comes back down and swims just far enough away to avoid being noticed by the drowning water types
L: "MMM!" Still not seeing an air pocket, the Popplio starts to wonder if he should just surface... But, remembering that means he'd lose the race, he holds on as best as he can, trailing bubbles behind him as his swimming slowly becomes frantic.
G: The Buizel thought about it, too... The further they go, the more he doesn't seem to worry about winning the race. He doesn't give up, though, pushing for finding that precious air pocket. "Mmgbl... mmf..."
L: The Popplio manages to hold his breath a little longer than last time, even as his blush turns blue again, but he really doesn't have much time left before he's going to breathe anyway...
G: ...the Buizel swims up to the Popplio, eventually offering a paw to comfort the sea lion! Especially since air is so far away and there's no pocket in sight...
L: Knowing there's no way either of them will reach the next air pocket in time - if it even exists - the Popplio squeezes the Buizel's paw and gives them an extremely strained smile, but it's clear he's just about to breathe.
G: The Buizel does his best to comfort him... But it's clear it's time to give up on this stupid race.
He closed his eyes and inflated his floatation sac, his cheeks turning blue as he drained air from his lungs into it...
L: Just barely able to tell what he thinks the Buizel is doing, the Popplio hugs them as his lungs give out again, once again beginning to choke on seawater.
G: The Buizel hugs back as his emptied lungs forced him to gasp with the sea lion, kicking his paws in pain and struggling. He only hopes they'll surface before they drown...
L: While continuing to hold the Buizel with one paw, the Popplio grabs at his neck with the other while trying to help swim with his tail. He coughs up the last bubbles in him as he fearfully looks at the Buizel sucking in water as well.
G: The Buizel weakly looks down, pulling the Popplio in for a hug as he feels his strength slowly drain away...
...then he could feel his head breach the surface.
L: The Popplio had been losing his strength as well, and fairly weakly gasps before starting to cough up water, trying not to get any on the Buizel.
G: The Buizel didn't care... He just coughed out water heavily as he hugs the Popplio, emptying out his flooded lungs. "K-koff... kah.. hah... hah..."
L: The Popplio gets the water out of him a little quicker than last time at least, and as his blush goes back to red, he looks at the Buizel. "A-are you... O-okay?"
G: The Buizel nods, his own blush also back to red. "I... I am... G-Glad you are, too..."
The Ducklett frantically swims over to the two to check in on them... although he kept his distance as he watched them recover.
L: Finally noticing the Ducklett, the Popplio glares at them. "S-so, the air pockets are... R-reasonably spaced, huh? What, did you forget one!?"
G: "I-I'm sorry, I didn't realize! I... I thought there was one here... I-I think it must've drained... Like, I've tested the pathway myself with my own lung capacity..."
L: "Whatever... At least we're gonna be okay." The Popplio looks at the Buizel again. "Honestly, I was sort of worried about you..."
G: The Buizel did look a bit angry at the Ducklett... but he would look back and hug the Popplio lightly. "M-Me, too... I... I might've teased you, but seeing you gasp water just... felt scary... Before I even got tangled up, too..."
L: "Okay, good, it's not just me... Back when you got caught in those plants, I actually felt kind of bad for leaving you. I told Ducklett to check on you while I was in the air pocket."
G: "...I appreciate it... Heh... Guess we were too focused on the race to remember that we all need air..."
He did wonder how the Ducklett managed to lose track of an air pocket... At this rate, it doesn't really matter much...
L: "I don't really think I want to keep going with the race any more, my lungs hurt. Do you want to just head back to shore and relax?"
G: "We both lost, already... Heh... But yeah... I just want to rest. We can always swim later... Though maybe not another race."
L: "Technically lost, yeah, but it was either that or drown. Let's go to shore for now." The Popplio starts swimming back to the shore.
G: The Bui follows.
The Ducklett doesn't. Instead, he's underwater looking for the air pocket... then he finds a collapsed archway... Something must have shaken it loose... He's just glad that the two survived such a situation, at least, and swims off...
![[RP LOG] A squirtle's birthday](https://va.ib.metapix.net/images80/overlays/writing.png "[RP LOG] A squirtle's birthday"){kind=small}
