What's the Big Seal

They watched from a distance, glaring at him with uncertain eyes, hidden as their bodies remained submerged under the blue pond. He laid sleeping on a rock which rested in the middle of the otherwise vacant pool, his belly facing up as the sun gleamed from his rubbery body. His fins dabbed casually along the water, stirring the liquid as he filled his lungs with the humid air which he then breathed out in one fell sigh.

Totodile scratched his head at the sight of it. Licking his lips, he grinned dimwittedly to himself as he imagined his sharpened teeth sinking into the rubbery meal, the awful squeaking that rang into his ears only fueling his sharpened smile. Mudkip slapped his tail to and fro behind him, splashing the water brutally as he muttered and guttered at the sight of it all. While not as immediately equipped as his scaly associate, the vivid violence in his head was just as drastic as he imagined slapping him to a pulp with his rounded tail. Piplup crossed his arms and clicked his pointed beak in frustration. Pecking a hole into the little balloon freak was as satisfying an idea as anything ever before.

The mere thought of it made them all gag as a group. Forever they’d have to be associated with the abominable creation. Being revered as one of the starter Pokémon, they all knew nothing but fame and fortune. Millions of fans picking and admiring them for years, the seemingly eternal love being near endless. The free food people tossed to them. The chance to show off as they effortlessly escaped the
greedy trainers who wished to own them. It was bliss.

They thought they’d never recover from the otter, and thankfully for the frog he became as beloved as he did in the end. But the seal, they simply couldn’t find it in their hearts to forgive. Another close call was one to many. They simply could not allow it. Something had to be done. Something humiliating, something embarrassing, something that would allow even a starter to become forgotten in the merciful pits of sub-par obscurity. The gang exchanged glances. It was agreed. Such a thing could not be allowed to just wonder about.
From the rock, Popplio rubbed his belly as the sun warmed his body. The dopey grin that lined his face was one that spelled peace with the self. His nose snorted as he giggled at seemingly nothing, his mind reeling over the incidents that had occurred shortly thereafter. Within his own personal mental theater, he replayed his proudest feature presentation, over and over. The enthusiastic clapping, the dimples that dotted their grins, the joyous screams and squeals of sheer amusement. He juggled and jumped, balancing himself and posing from atop his bubble barricade. The younger ones would chase after any spare bubbles that drifted away from him while he performed. They’d reach out a curious hand and pop the floating puffs, splattering themselves and causing laughs of hysteria as his contagious optimism spread across the world, trapped within the tiny liquid spheres.

Some scowled. Others booed. Why they felt the need to do so no one could say. But the show carried on. Popplio didn’t offer so much as a glance at them. And neither did the ones that were able to enjoy themselves. They were welcome to heckle and pout. If that is the attitude they wished to spread, then Popplio only felt his desire to preform strengthen as he took it upon himself to double up the stunts and out preform the humorously vapid vibes. He finished by bouncing atop the biggest bubble of the show, bursting it as he slammed his tail against it. Water sprayed the roaring crowed as it popped, and from it, Popplio launched himself into the air. Spins and twirls, flips and dips, he did it all. With a feather like landing, he spread his front flippers apart as he finished the show, bending over with a final bow before taking his leave. Popplio rolled in place as he recalled it all, with a fin put up to his mouth to ensure his endless laughter wasn’t too disruptive. But if smiling was contagious, then frowning certainly couldn’t be much different.

A tiny tidal wave crashed over him, ramming his noggin as his slippery body was swept from the rock. Receding from the once peaceful but now rippling waters, Popplio plopped his fins onto the rock as he coughed out the water that had slipped down his throat. Shaking his head and sniffling nosily, he bounded his arms and reared his body back up and onto the marble podium. With his upper half rising gracefully from the stone platform, he bent his neck down as he peered over the wavering wave makers. The three troublesome characters, a Totodile, a Piplup, and a Mudkip he saw, all looked about, their eyes gazing emptily at everything besides Popplio. They twiddled their thumbs while their cheeks swelled from the whistling air that flew by their lips. Popplio raised an eyebrow as they all played dumb with him. At least, he figured they were playing.

Popplio tilted his head. Why would they do something like that? What was their motive? His eyes brightened when the bulb in his head turned on. Of course, what else could it have been? It was all just a game. Some silly lighthearted heckling. As a performer, Popplio was all too familiar with such a crowd. Rearing his upper body up, he slapped his fins together, smacking the rubbery appendages in applause. Laughing heartedly, he crouched down, and from there shot himself upwards. Holding his tail fin against his body, he rolled into a ball as he came crashing down, sinking the opposing sea dwelling forces with his unstoppable cannonball. The pond water rose up into a mighty foamy pillar, and came roaring back down like a suspended waterfall.

The trio thrashed and flailed under the water. Looking up to the dancing beams of light above, they scampered back up to sun dotted surface. Breaking from the waters’ top they all splashed and struggled out of frustration, like a Magickarp who had run out of PP. From the center of them the water suddenly swelled. Splitting the liquid apart like the red sea, Popplio rose from the deep, tail fin first, as his dripping body gravitated towards the sky, a singular fin supporting his frame as he showed off with a hand, uh, flipper stand. With his eyes closed as he carelessly ascended, he bent his fin and pushed himself away from the bubble that carried him, launching back down and into the water. A moment passed as he altered his directory from below. No sooner than a devoured chicken leg at the local buffet, his head came poking back out from the surface. Popplio turned himself around, grinning as he sought to witness the amazed reaction of his dear viewers.

Through their flailing, they saw the dopey seal’s head starting at them, the lingering smile on his face being able to bring their blood to a boil. They ceased their efforts and all stared at him in silence. Totodile scowled, his sharpened teeth glimmering as he frowned. Mudkip shook his head, sighing with disgust at the display. Piplup put a flipper to his mouth, his cheeks swelling as he forced the upchuck back down. Averting away from Popplio, they all looked back at each other. With a nod they simultaneously brought their arms up and flung them down across the water, summoning another large wave to slap Popplio clean across the face. Before he could even gasp, Popplio was swept up under the water in a swishing furry. With the waves’ power receding, he shook his head as he threw his senses back into place. Looking up to the surface, Popplio’s eyes saddened. Did he miss a beat? Was his performance not perfect? What could he be doing wrong to warrant such a reaction?

He wearily kicked his tail fin and brought himself back up to the surface. No splash or spray greeted his return. The only visible part of him was the top half of his head, the remainder of his body he kept hidden below the clear waters. With his cheeks flaming red with shame, he had hoped the water that covered him would have hidden the tears that had started to form in his eyes. The three bullies exchanged smirks at the pitiful sight. Piplup and Totodile receded under the water while Mudkip positioned himself in front of Popplio. Having closed his watering eyes, Popplio took no notice, figuring the splashing he heard was just the three of them swimming away from the depressing picture. He squeaked out a light pitched gasp when his two side flippers were suddenly seized. Frantically turning his head back and forth, he watched with wide eyes as Piplup and Totodile dragged him through the water, their hands clasping tightly onto his slippery skin. He kicked and twisted his tail, desperately splashing the water in hopes of detouring his captures. The water he flung about pelted Mudkip from behind him, but through the feeble water droplets, Mudkip could only smile at the helpless goon.

With a heave and a hoe, Piplup and Totodile threw him against the rock platform. Securing his fins to the side of the stone, they nodded at Mudkip to partake in his role of their brilliant scheme. The mud fish bounded from the water, climbing onto the solid rock. With his feet secured on the solid structure, he laid himself on top of Popplio’s slim stomach.

Popplio’s pupils dilated. His body thrashed and pulled but from the grips of the two at his side, as well as the weight of the one on top of him, there was no escape. Mudkip took his mouth and linked their lips together, his head tilting awkwardly as he positioned himself around the ludicrous nose of the seal. His cheeks swelled as he blew. From inside his gullet, water flowed forth forcefully, and thus back into the gullet of Popplio.  Popplio tried to protest, but through the endless stream, only sad “mphs” could be said. His throat swelled with each audible gulp. Slowly, his belly began to distend, pushing itself up against the Mudkip. Piplup and Totodile laughed from the side, their horrid sneers rearing like a monster from a bad dream. Becoming comparable to a latex water balloon, Popplio filled with water, his swollen gut glunking as the liquid swirled from inside him. Mudkip continued on with the forced watering. His legs no longer connected with the platform below him, from atop Popplio, his body began to rise like a messiah.

Popplio continued to grow, his expanding frame now reaching out for the sky while the water forced his skin to fill and widen. Becoming taught to the touch, the liquid stretched his body to its absolute limit. Popplio was unable to see anything above him, only his ever growing belly, and the Mudkip that sunk into his self-made water bed. His swollen body soon overlapped his fins, trapping them under the water logged flabs. Totodile and Piplup released their grasp from his fins, giggling maniacally as their job was thus being done for them. Swimming backwards to admire their giant play thing, they both hi-fived the other in success. Finally, Mudkip stopped. Riding atop Popplio, his body had risen up to a height that prevented him from being able to reach his down and continue with the performance. However, all great actors know that a show must always be able to go on. Instinctively, the three seemed to know immediately how to proceed with the game. Mudkip jumped down, splashing Popplio’s extended belly when he pierced through the water.

Joining up with Piplup and Totodile the three swam up to the same side of Popplio. Nodding amongst themselves, they sunk their hands into the rubbery flesh and together they all pushed into the sloshing frame before them. Heave and hoe they cried out. Timing their pushes with each other, their combined force added up and was soon enough to topple the ballooned seal.

Popplio cried out helplessly as his body toppled over. Like a rolling boulder of mush his skin jittered and shook as the water inside him jumped all about upon splashing into the water. The tall waves forced out by his enormous mass sent the three reeling up and down. Together they all threw their hands up, laughing as they enjoyed the free ride. When the waters calmed down, all that was left was the troublesome trio and their large round ball to play with.

Popplio was left to rock atop the water aimlessly. Straining his neck, he threw himself back and forth, a vein attempt at movement. His head and flippers had yet to have become completely submerged within himself, and so seeing the opportunity for more growth, Totodile gleefully paddled over to the sniveling nozzle of Popplio’s nose.

Popplio’s blood ran cold when he heard the sounds of approaching splashes. With a shiver across his body, he scrunched his face as he prepared for their next round of “fun.” Totodile shot up in front of him from below the water, soaking his face with foam and spray. He rubbed his hands together, smiling at the sight of the defeatist seal. Licking his lips, he pried open his jaws with a loud “ahh.” Popplio winced as the putrid breath of the gator slathered against his face, his eye beginning to water on account of the horrid scent.
With a loud snap, Totodile clamped his lips around Popplio’s nose. Yelping at the sudden snatch of his muzzle, Popplio’s eyes shut tightly as his body trembled in response the pointed intrusions latching onto him. Totodile’s chest swelled slightly from a brief intake of air, and then all at once, he let out yet another stream of water through Popplio’s nose. Surging through his nose and into his body, once again, Popplio began to swell as he filled with more water.

Creaking from the building pressure, Popplio’s back arched outwards, his body becoming more rounded as it swelled. From inside his strained gut, groans of discomfort emitted forth, but the protest was far from enough to deter the croc’s desire to burst him. Slowly, his head began to sink within his inflating body, his neck thus disappearing behind the protruding flesh. Flailing his flippers in dissent, his last remaining bits of possible movement left him when they became trapped within the ever encompassing growth. Then, only the top halves were visible. Together they fluttered helplessly up and down like a bug caught in a flytrap. Then, only the very tips were all that could be seen. No movement was at all possible at this point. Then, shortly thereafter, all that remained of his limps were tiny divots, two black holes along the side of his body, the only signs of any control or mobility having now since completely disappeared.
Popplio’s head withdrew like a turtle to its shell.  Whimpering loudly, his vision soon failed him when his inflating frame engulfed the upper portion of his skull, obscuring both his eyes and ears. All that was left protruding was his long nose, which was still trapped between the iron maw of Totodile.

Unnerving creaks continued to radiate across the pond. The seal had transformed into a perfect rubber ball. Yet still, Totodile was not content, nor were the others. They cheered him on from the side. Placing their hands up to their mouths, they called out encouraging chants. Hand in hand they hopped and spun about, twirling with each other as they danced around in celebration of Popplio’s demise. Totodile’s face had turned completely white. With his feigning breath, he forced out every last drop that he could possibly manage. The stream weakened considerably, but still, the show had yet to reach its grand finale.

Popplio’s body began to shake. The water inside rumbled around as his skin tried desperately to contain the indescribable pressure. His massive frame rumbled and sloshed, its last vein attempt at begging for mercy. With one final stomach churning grumble, Totodile stopped. With his breath completely depleted, the water he spewed ceased all at once. The immense pressure built up from within no longer had any sort of force to contain it. Seizing the opportunity, Popplio forced out the water that he had since retained. It erupted out through his nose and back into the clumsily clenched maw of Totodile.

Totodile ballooned in a rapid succession. His arms shot up as they bulged with water. His stomach filled and rounded like a firework had been set off inside him. His white face went red at the prospect of being duped so badly in front of his peers. In a groaning frenzy of sloshing water, Totodile filled out into a giant water ball, all within the blink of an eye.

Piplup and Mudkip watched silently with gapping mouths. Seeing the sudden swelling, they wrapped their arms around each other and huddled tightly, turning their head away in fear of another large wave coming close to sweeping them away.

Popplio was left suspended as he hung by his nose which was still trapped inside Totodile’s mouth. Looking down, he saw the gator’s sad hands as they waved helplessly, the only remnants of his arms which had completely disappeared inside his rounded body. Totodile’s head poked out from his torso like a gopher from its hole, his fat cheeks cushioning his neck along his body. With cold lifeless eyes, he stared at the seal who returned the gaze, his furrowed brow being peppered with annoyance.
With a tiny blow of his nose, Popplio’s eyes clenched shut as he forced out a bubble through the water that filled Totodile. His body waved back and forth like a rag doll as Totodile shook his head, his pupils becoming dilated as he saw the seal’s trick. But little mercy could be found in Popplio’s conscious. Heckling he knew by heart, but that game quickly ended. Such a poor audience like this could only be dealt with in one way.

Popplio’s cheeks puffed as he blew, his face turning red from exhaustion. Totodile could feel the tightness within him constricting his insides more and more. Centimeter by centimeter, his skin began to push even further. Only a few more were all it would take to finish the job. Totodile shut his eyes tightly, his brain scrambling for a way out of this. Unfortunately, his kind was not exactly known for being quick thinkers.

Popplio shot across the sky. The raucous sounds of rushing water gushed below him. The shockwave sent from the explosion shot across the water and smacked against the motionless bodies that were Piplup and Mudkip. The color drained from their faces as they drifted backwards. Watching about with dreamy eyes at the racing world around him, Popplio gasped when he saw the force had sent him hurdling head first towards a large oak tree which sat at the edge of the pond. His chest swelled as he took in a large breath of air. Acting quickly, he began to blow another bubble from his nose, huffing through his winded chest to make it as big as he could before cracking his skull against the thick wood.

The bubble pushed against the tree, Popplio’s head sinking nose first into the cushioned sphere as his body rammed into it. It seemed as though he was about to pierce through the orb until it finally burst from beside him, the considerably smaller and almost cutesy pop pushing his body away from the tree where he fell with a plop back into the water. Sinking below the surface, a few moments passed before he finally jumped up from the glittering pond. Flipping through the air, he clapped his hands as he bounded back into the water. Yet another brilliant performance had come to a close.

Piplup and Mudkip slowly turned their stiff necks until they made eye contact, the both of them staring at the other through teary blurs along their pupils. Popplio dived below the water, taking advantage of their lack of interest in his celebration.
From below their feet, Piplup and Mudkip jumped from where they drifted as they felt a sudden brush along their legs. Piplup splashed his flippers in an ecstatic frenzy, but like a diver to a shark, the unseen menace caught up to him. His body rose from the water, a large bubble beginning to ascend from the surface, sinking into him from below as it carried his shivering frame upwards. Wrapping his flippers around the bubble, Piplup’s body shook like a freezing dog desperate to warm up. From beneath the bubble, Popplio rose up, his head tilting back and forth lightly while he balanced the two of them from atop his nose. Rearing himself up and down, he began to bounce them both, dribbling them upwards along his muzzle. Piplup chirped bloody murder before landing atop the surface and slipping through the hollow sphere. Having conjoined within the bubble, he slammed his fists against the sides, his face now completely red as he punched and kicked like a tireless turbine. Popplio could only giggle to himself.

With Piplup trapped over his nose, Popplio drew his head back and launched his body forward, sending the bubble upwards. Piplup screeched as his weight dragged the bubble back down, intercepting with Popplio who had jumped up from the water to meet him mid fall.  Twirling his tail around, Popplio slammed his hind fins against the bubble, and before Piplup could even gasp a word in response, both him and the bubble were sent flying. They shot over the tress and into the sky, becoming lost in the vast wilderness that waited beyond the pond’s bank, disappearing clean out of sight.

Popplio clapped to himself, his uncontrollable laughter echoing through the thick foliage that surrounded him. Wiping the tears in his eyes away, he turned his head and gazed about, wondering where the last of the three had gone to. The pool was as peaceful as he had found it. In his head he had not a single doubt that the Mudkip fled the scene with his fin between his legs. Popplio sighed to himself, his mouth still snickering as the last bits of laughter escaped his lungs.

Suddenly from behind him, a thunderous applause shook Popplio to his core. Quickly turning around in the water, his whole face brightened when he saw the audience that had accumulated under his nose while he performed his latest show stopper. Pokemon of all kinds thrashed their hands together, their entire demeanors becoming alive and animated as they roared and cheered. How he had missed their entrance to the show he didn’t know, but his giant shinning smile was proof enough that it didn’t matter how, only that they did.

Popplio swam up to the rock and jumped up from the water, landing on the marble stage with the utmost of elegance. Holding his hind fins apart, he balanced atop his tail. From there her swiftly brought one of his arms down over his midsection. Closing his eyes, he basked in their approving applause, his bow thus closing off a truly record breaking performance.