//------------------------------// // Chapter 4-2: Learning to Swim // Story: Yo-Kai Watch: The mystery of Springdale // by Tythen //------------------------------// In the library of Springdale Elementary, the two siblings endorsed themselves into reading about their newly caught beetles as well as Yo-Kai. "The Sawtooth Stag and the Rhino Beetle seem to have Neighponese names for themselves..." Scootaloo read from a beetle encyclopedia, "Kuwagata and Kabuto respectively." "Then why don't we just name them by the half of their Neighponese names?" First suggested, "Kuwa and Kabu?" "Fair enough, the names do sound rather cool." Scootaloo agreed, "Take a look at this though..." First showed Scootaloo a book on Neighponese creatures "and to think the manticore and dragons were dangerous enough..." "Woah!" Scootaloo looked at a mix up of a dragon with a terrifying face, deer antlers, fish scales and an ox tail. " A Kirin?" "Not only that," First pointed to a set of half-lion half-dog creatures "that there is a Komainu!" "Nine-tailed fox?" Scootaloo continued reading, "A large, pony-eating centipede?" "Possessed Paper Umbrellas!?" "Wow... Just looking at the pictures and lore of these creatures give me the shivers!" First shuddered, "What about Yo-Kai?" Scootaloo asked, "Hmm... It's in the Spirits and ghosts section of the book..." First flipped the pages. "Here it is!" "Woah!" The two jumped as they looked at a sharp tooth like cat creature with two tails that seem to puppeteer the skeletons of dead ponies. "What is that!?" Scootaloo gasped, "Nekomata." First read, "it's a cat spirit with two split flaming tails that originates from either the mountains or domesticated cats that died of old age or mistreated by owners. These cats have the ability to grow big, walk on hind legs, learn to talk, and control fire and... The dead... They also like to eat ponies in order to satiate their vengeance." "Does that description remind you of anypony?" Scootaloo asked, First was confused too, until they looked at one of the sofa chairs, where Jibanyan was peacefully sleeping, the two gulped in fear. "I-I doubt Jibanyan would be like that. He said that his owner loved him very much, despite calling him 'lame' at his death." First grew nervous and scared, "perhaps we should move on," "Hello there!" Whisper greeted as he floated down, "a very nice day to read no?" "Yeah," Scootaloo replied, "hey Whisper, what type of Yo-Kai are you?" "Me???" Whisper asked, "why, I'm Whisper!!!" "Whisper..." First skimmed through the pages to find his butler's description. "Nope, I'm afraid you're not in the book." "Wh-What!?!?" Whisper floated back in horror, "how can this be!?" "Perhaps this book was written when you were still imprisoned during those 190 years..." Scootaloo suggested, "By the way," First continued reading, "do you know what a Kappa is?" "Oh yes!!!" Whisper shot up in exclamation, "a kappa is a--- It's a Yo-Kai that's..." "Yep, thought so." Scootaloo chuckled as Whisper ended up using his Yo-Kai Pad. "A Kappa is a Yo-Kai that is normally found swimming in rivers or any body of water. They can be easily distinguished by their bald spots on their heads, which is actually a plate." "Right... Did the Yo-Kai Wiki also mention that Kappas are known to pull ponies into the water to drown them and eat them limb by limb?" First asked, "Uhh..." Whisper gulped "I'm not sure the local Kappa Yo-Kai here would be that uh... Carnivorous." "Look!" Scootaloo pointed, "they like to eat the pony liver!" "Oh enough already!!!" Whisper roared, "everypony is different alright!? What if the Kappa swimming in the school pool right now heard you!?" "Wait what???" First and Scoots stopped reading to clarify what Whisper said, "did you say there was a Kappa in the School pool?" "Yes there is..." Whisper nodded, "why don't you take a look with your Yo-Kai Watch?" "Might as well give it a shot!" Scootaloo replied, "let's go First. Hey Jibanyan? We're going." "Choco bars..." Jibanyan yawned. Without any time to waste, First picked the cat up and plopped him on his back as they made their way to the pool. "I do recall the teachers saying that entering the pool is prohibited if the Physical Educational Teacher isn't supervising..." Scootaloo remembered, "You're not going in the pool," Whisper reminded, "just inspecting it. Although you may not see the Yo-Kai in question, you can see the splashes right?" As the siblings inspected the pool, they did indeed see a few waves letting loose some weak currents from a particular spot as well as the occasional splashing of water that seems to follow a pattern of going with the currents and waves. "It's impossible for an earthquake to come from just a small pool..." First noted. Without a word, Scootaloo pulled out her Yo-Kai Watch and scanned the mysterious force causing the splashes. A blue turned-over bowl surrounded by a leaf pad was casually floating in the pool, not minding the things around him. "Is this the Kappa you were talking about?" Scootaloo asked, Whisper nodded in reply, "C-Can we at least have some cucumbers with our names and birth dates etched on it or something?" First replied, "I don't want him to eat us..." "Did somepony say cucumbers!?" A sound warbled by water came from the pool. The siblings turned in fear as floating leaf pad bowl made it's way to the corner of the pool. Out came a blue bipedal figure with webbed hands and feet, with the leaf pad and bowl on the top of his head. The figure also has a small red water bottle worn around his neck. "Aaah!!!" Scootaloo cried in fear, "please don't eat us!!!" "Eat you?" The Kappa Yo-Kai tiled his head in confusion, "why would I do that? I'm not hungry right now. Otherwise, I wouldn't be swimming back and forth. Although, I don't mind having a cucumber in-between!" "W-Well..." First explained, "it's just that... We heard that Kappas are carnivorous and likes cucumbers..." "Dude!" The Kappa replied offended, "stop the stereotypes! You think ALL Kappas like to eat ponies? Why, the majority of Kappakind are friendly and honourable, and we are very beneficial to ponies too!" He put his hand to his chest as a symbol of honour. "Besides, I prefer Pizza or Sushi." "Uh, what's with the surfer accent???" Scootaloo asked, "I come from one of the beaches in Neighpon. As most of the Yo-Kai decided to migrate to Equestria, I came along. I hoped that there would be more beaches and water so I can enjoy myself, turns out I spoke too soon. On the other hand, I mostly spent time walking around on land than stay in the water. That's why I'm called Walkappa." "So Walkappa is your name, definitely fits your personality." First replied, "which reminds me, what are you doing in the pool?" "I've been swimming in the river for quite some time now, I wanted to swim in another body of water. This water smells rather funny, but it feels so fresh and there's no fish in there." "That's because this water is chlorinated." First replied, "It's what kills diseases and germs in water, but if it's on your body for a long time, it will start eating up your flesh." "Yikes!" Walkappa quickly dashed away from the water, "is there a shower around here?" "Dunno, this is my first time entering this area of the school." Scootaloo shrugged, "but it's really tempting..." "To what?" First asked, "To swim!" Scootaloo replied, "It feels like fun!" "Well you've got good news!" Whisper read from the Yo-Kai Pad, "It seems you've got swimming PE lessons right after your recess!" "Great!" Scootaloo jumped with glee, "I can't wait to swim!!! And not a cloud in the sky!" "You're more interested in swimming Sis? I'm more concerned how in Celestia you got our timetables on your Yo-Kai Pad Whisper!" First added By the time their Physical Education class came, the entire area of Springdale received a sudden downpour of heavy rain. As such, the swimming lesson was cancelled and a relief lesson in the Gym was given instead. Scootaloo and First stared out of the window where the pool was receiving sharp bombs of rain water from the skies. "You jinxed it..." First sighed, "Shut it!" Scootaloo growled, "how am I supposed to know that it was going to rain today?" "It seems both of you didn't check the weather forecast..." Whisper sighed as he scrolled through the Yo-Kai Pad, "but neither did I..." "Yawn..." Jibanyan kept on sleeping on the gym floor. "Guess we can't do anything else..." First sighed in response. "Hey you two!" Nate called from the middle of the court. "Aren't you going to come along and join us? We're playing Dodgeball!" "Oh, coming!" Scootaloo waved back, "let's go First..." Once the gym session is over, First, Nate, Bear, Eddie and the other foals in the same class retreated to their changing room. Everypony was worn out from all the activities of throwing dodge balls and the pain of getting hit by one. The endless droplets of rain racked at the windows and the roof, creating an endless and tuneless sound. "Goodness me First, you and your sister throw hard!" Eddie moaned as he rubbed his face, "Well, I do play baseball," First replied "I thought my cutie mark was a given." "I didn't get to see your cutie mark until during the match." Bear replied, "Which reminds me, what cutie marks do you have?" "My cutie mark is a computer, it represents intelligence." Eddie showed his cutie mark of a wide-screen desktop with the computer machine to the side." "Mine is a bear, represents how strong and tough I am, as well as the ability to catch most insects and fish." Bear replied, his cutie mark was the face of an adorable brown bear. "What about yours Nate?" "Nate's so average, he doesn't have any talent." Eddie replied and both him and Bear burst into fits of laughter. "Do you mind!?" Nate replied with an offended tone, "Some ponies are sensitive about it!" "Oh dear..." First eyed Nate's flank, where was was no picture or Cutie Mark present. "You're like big sis..." His train of thought suddenly was suddenly interrupted by the sound of dripping. "What the heck?" First eyed at a wet spot in the corner of the room, increasing in it's area of effect. "I..." Nate started looking around, "I don't see any open holes or dripping on the roof." First immediately sprang into action as he used the chairs and lockers to vault himself up to the ceiling. "You're right, there is nothing here..." First replied "Don't tell me it's a ghost..." Bear shivered, "Bear, stop thinking that it's the supernatural. There is a scientific explanation to it." Eddie comforted. The moment Eddie mentioned the supernatural, it hit First. "Walkappa?" First called out of the window towards the pouring rain. "First, what are you doing?" Nate asked as he realised his friend was calling out a random name for no reason. "N-Nothing!!!" First replied. The door to the pool opened as Walkappa strode into the changing room wiping himself off (but his head) with a towel. "You wanted something dude?" Walkappa asked, "Do you know anything about this mysterious drippy area?" First whispered, "Why! Your sister asked the exact same thing!" Walkappa replied. "Turns out the same occurrence is happening on the other side!" "I see..." "However, she saw nothing there with the Yo-Kai Watch, and she called me to give this watch to you." And Walkappa handed him the Yo-Kai Watch. "Hey First?" Eddie asked, "are you alright?" "Uhh..." First turned around, hiding the Watch from plain sight, "nothing's wrong!" "Well then," Nate replied, "we'll meet you back at the homeroom. Don't be late!" First sighed in relief as the foals departed from the locker, meaning the coast is clear. "Righty-o..." First worked the Yo-Kai Watch and scanned the wet spot. Unlike what happened in the fillies changing room, a Yo-Kai was floating on top of the wet spot: A large floating drop of water with two holes for eyes and a mouth. "Oh! You found me, glub..." The Yo-Kai spoke, a voice that seemed to be muffled by water. "So this is the guy..." First Base replied, "can I help you? Before that, may I know your name?" "My name is Droplette." The Yo-Kai introduced, "as for me being here, I was here because Drizzle was around making the rain today. I've been a big fan of him, and I wanted to see him in action! One day, I would like to be him, glub!" "Wait what?" First jumped, "a Yo-Kai is making the rain?" "Where ever he goes, the big heavy clouds do too!" Droplette explained, "it's what you ponies have the weather forecast for no?" "Is that so?" First asked, "well then, is it okay if you can tell him to stop making the rain?" "I wish I could but..." Droplette sighed, "that's quite a big favor you're asking me, glub... First off, we just met, and you're giving me orders already???" "Pretty please?" "And it's not only that, I'm also a bit too shy to meet the Drizzle in question..." Droplette continued, "I always ending up hiding somewhere concealed whenever he's around!" "Deary me..." Walkappa replied, First just stood in thought and an idea popped in his head. "Hey Droplette, how about when Drizzle comes around again, I can go as your wingstallion? Perhaps you wouldn't be too shy then," "A-Are you sure???" Droplette asked, "All I'm asking you to do is trust me." First replied, offering out a hoof. "If you need anypony to help you, you can count on me and my sister. We can see Yo-Kai after all. If you are feeling shy, you can always call on your friends or to help overcome your fears!" "You will???" Droplette asked, "You bet we will!" A sharp booming voice came from the door leading to the gym, frightening everypony in the room. There Scootaloo was standing at the door with a large beam on her face. "Sorry about that, I overheard." "S-She can see me too?" Droplette asked, "That's my sister Scootaloo." First replied, "and yes, she can see you. Once she sees you with the watch that is..." "Don't worry," Scootaloo replied as she took back the watch and uncovered Droplette for her eyes. "The next time that we see him, we'll be with you!" "What? Why?" Droplette "why can't we do it now???" "Look outside... Is it raining?" As Droplette looked outside, a look of surprise spread on his face as he saw the clouds parting and the rain ceasing. The sun peeked from behind the clouds as the numerous pools of water began to stay still and receive rain drops that only causes the smallest of ripples. "It seems that through our conversation that the rain has finally stopped." Walkappa noted, "sorry that we took your time dude." "Oh..." Droplette hung his head in shame, "don't worry, this isn't the first time that has happened to me. By that, I mean procrastinating." "So this is your first time talking to other Yo-Kai?" First asked, "Not only that, even ponies too!" Droplette asked, "and for a pony, you guys really do look trusting!" "We're friends!" Scootaloo replied, "we'll help you with any problem you have." "Friends?" Droplette repeated "I do like the sound of that!" And he formed a very slippery and out-of-place hand to shake hands or hooves with First. As they let go, First noticed that a medal of Droplette was lying wet in his hoof, the back of the medal was Purple like Buhu's. "You sneaky Yo-Kai..." First chuckled, "but thanks for trusting in us." "Your spirits tell me that both of you are genuine and true to your word, I will trust you." Droplette replied, "Have my medal too dudes!" Walkappa offered, "You foals are cool to hang around with! Perhaps I can teach you swimming when we have the chance!" "Thanks!" Scootaloo replied, "we greatly appreciate it!" As school comes to an end and everypony retreated to their homes, Scootaloo, First, Whisper and Jibanyan wanted to discuss what happened today. "So this rain was caused by a Yo-Kai?" Scootaloo arched her eyebrow, "I'm not doubting it, I'm just wondering why in the world would this Drizzle decide to rain on our parade?" "I know you're still pretty mad about it, but that's what Droplette said," First replied. "Now second on the agenda, I've taken a look at Nate's Cutie Mark. You know what happened? He doesn't have one." "Really?" Scootaloo jumped, "because that's the same with Katie! Even though she's very intelligent and athletic, I can't fathom to see why she lacks one!" "Their talent, hmm... Do you think our friends bear some coincidence with the Yo-Kai Watch?" First asked, "just my two cents." "That sounds a bit ridiculous though. But your cutie mark could be anything as long as it's your talent, so that isn't out of the question. What do you think Jibanyan?" "..." Jibanyan continued on sleeping. "Helpful," the siblings sighed then First continued, "I think we're just going too far on this, there's no way something will happen like that." "On the positive side," Whisper continued, "you've gained two new Yo-Kai friends!!!" "But we didn't get to swim..." Scootaloo sighed, "Don't get your hopes up." Whisper continued looking at his Yo-Kai Pad "your teachers have decided to replace one of tomorrow's lesson with your swim lesson! And it's also going to be sunny!" "Really!" Scootaloo lightened up, "yes! Brilliant!!!" "I still don't know how you got our school timetables Whisper..." First sighed,