Raised by dragons

“I guess not,“ Kristal answered, though she seemed a little unsure this time, “Really? Well, I’m glad, then. You’re fun. Mom, can Dae come back up to the hotel with us later?“

“If they want to,” Serebii replied, “They’ll need a bath and some new clothes if you’re going to be showing them what it’s like to be a human.”

Kristal’s eyes glittered. Dress up!

“Fun?” They knew what it meant, but they weren’t sure what they’re done to make them fun.

Kristal watched the waiter head back to the kitchen, then turned and smiled at Dae, “Have you lived in the mountain your whole life? Do your parents live up there with you and Ingeir?”

“All my life yes....”

“Well!” Kristal replied, looking quite determined, “I’ll teach you how to be human and once you know everything, maybe you could go back up to the mountain and tell Ingeir you don’t want to be a human. That you learned what you could and learned that you still like being a dragon more!”

The waiter returned and Kristal’s mother ordered them a round of Pinap juice, then ordered a appetizer sampler for everyone to share. She then looked to Kristal, who quickly glanced down at the menu.

“I want… an Alolan kabob plate, please,” she said, looking back up at Dae, “Did you see anything you liked on the menu?”

Serebii looked between her daughter and the little ragamuffin she’d found. Kristal seemed genuinely enraptured by what Dae was saying.

“Sounds like you have quite a life up there in the mountain, Dae,” the older woman said, “Why are you down here learning about humans?”

“Ingeir told me I need to because I am one, gao. That I ‘need to learn about and live among other humans now that I am old enough to come down here on my own’. It’s dumb. I liked ourar lair!” They made a good dragon too they thought. They figured out how to hunt and fly, and could use dragon type moves, and they had a decent horde for never pillaging or anything.

        “ Yeah! I’d love to show you! “ Mun takes a moment to worry about how gullible and trusting Dae is being. Fortunately Yoshi was an especially harmless person.

        “ Daerev? It’s lovely to meet you. My name is Yoshiya. “ And then Dae asked a dangerous question. One that got the boat enthusiastic to brighten even more. “ Sailing is when you take a boat out on the ocean! You just let the wind move you along… It’s so peaceful, and the water is so clear and undisturbed… It’s an amazing experience! “

Berri is not the only Mun worried about Dae’s gullible nature.

Kristal was about to answer that people don’t keep hordes. However, she remembered her few trips to the castle, see Aura’s hordes of plushies and Chi’s… room.

“Yes, it is.” She answered, her mom giggling beside her, “What else do you horde?”

Kristal hummed for a second, “I don’t think restaurants are ‘lairs’, Dae. No one lives here, we just get food here. Humans live in homes. Usually houses. My house is big, but not like a mountain. Living in a mountain sounds cool, though.”

A waiter arrived and handed each of them a thickly laminated menu.

“We do live near a mountain,” Serebii interjected, “Our friends live on it.”

“Aaaaah,”They said as if they understood. They were starting to get it though. “I lived in a mountain growning up! It had plenty of room for both Ingeir’s and my hordes. Tesla liked sleeping on my horde of interesting leaves though.” Said Emolga squeaked happily.

           No one wants his Lugia hoard. Even Yoshiya knew that.

        “ Maybe…? It would depend on the person whose hoard it is, right? “ He slowly led Dae onto the boat, specifically to the side facing the ocean. To Yoshiya, that sight was as much of a treasure as his Lugia collection. Stretching his arms, he elaborated, “ I collect Lugia stuff, because Lugia makes me happy! Sharing that happiness with other people makes it even more valuable! “

           Okay, shut in, you pure thing.

        “ That might make me unusual… But that’s okay. Oh, hey! Have you ever gone sailing before? “ Slow your topic changes, the marina has a 6 knots rule. 

“Hehe, yes, people have special clothes for a lot of things.” Kristal nodded as the carefully raked and patted walkways became the beach front proper.

“As for the food… burgers, probably, maybe some tenders or fish sticks?” She continued, “What do you like to eat?”

             Oops. Now Yoshiya worried that he had been too rudely transparent. This cute stranger was kind of offering to stay off of the boat too, which would be fine by Yoshiya!

             … But he shook his head and stepped aside, offering a clear path for Dae to board the boat with. As much as he wanted to take Dae up on that ‘offer,’ he didn’t want to leave Dae with a negative impression of anyone. It struck Yoshiya as sad that Dae was worried about backstabbing in the first place… So he’d do his part to prove not everyone was rude! 1/5 of people were okay.

          “ It’s okay… Sometimes, you just have to trust people. “ He giggled, “ And I don’t think I have anything worth stealing. Come aboard! Boats are so much more amazing up close, I promise! “

Trust people, yes. But trust them with your horde? Never. “Okay?”They followed Yoshi on to the boat. They stumbled when they were on.