The morning mist clung to the grass like a thin veil as Grant knelt by the riverbank, skipping a flat stone across the water.
Oshawatt stood beside him, shell strapped tight to its belly, eyes bright and eager.
"Today's the day," Grant said. "We start Razor Shell."
"Osha!" Oshawatt chirped, striking a heroic pose.
Grant smiled. "It's not about looking cool. It's about control."
Sewaddle peeked out from a leaf hammock between two reeds. Venipede zipped lazy circles above the river's edge. Pignite lay stretched out near the fire pit, eyes half-closed.
Nyra crossed her arms. "Razor Shell isn't just swinging the shell. It's timing, angle, and momentum."
Grant nodded. "We build it from the ground up."
He walked to the shallow water and planted a row of wooden stakes into the mud.
"Targets," he said. "First step: Shell Block."
Oshawatt raised its shell defensively.
Grant demonstrated with his own arms. "Block. Redirect. Then strike."
Oshawatt charged the first stake.
It blocked.
Then tripped.
Face-first into the mud.
"Osha—!" It popped up, covered in sludge.
Nyra snorted. "Ten out of ten entrance."
Oshawatt shook itself off and glared at the stake.
"Again," Grant said calmly.
The second attempt was better. The third—worse. The fourth ended with Oshawatt spinning in a circle and falling into the river.
By midday, Oshawatt flopped onto its back, panting.
Grant crouched. "We stop."
Oshawatt tried to stand again.
"Hey," Grant said gently. "Not today."
Oshawatt hesitated, then nodded.
Day Two — The Wall
They moved to a rocky outcrop upriver.
Grant tied a rope between two boulders. "Aqua Jet through the gap. Then Shell Block on landing."
Oshawatt sprinted.
Missed the gap.
Smashed into the rock.
"Pause!" Grant shouted, heart jumping.
Oshawatt shook its head and stood.
"Osha!"
Grant knelt. "You okay?"
Oshawatt nodded—but its hands trembled.
Nyra softened. "You're pushing too hard."
Grant exhaled. "I know. We slow it down."
They broke the move into parts.
Shell Block only.
Aqua Jet only.
Then together.
By sunset, Oshawatt still hadn't landed a clean combo.
It sat by the fire, shell in its lap, staring at the water.
Sewaddle climbed onto its head and patted it.
Venipede buzzed encouragement.
Grant sat beside it. "You're not failing. You're learning."
Oshawatt looked up.
Grant smiled. "Tomorrow we change the approach."
Day Three — The Breakthrough That Wasn't
Grant set up a moving target: a floating log tethered to a rope.
"Razor Shell needs motion," he said. "So we train with motion."
Oshawatt sprinted.
Aqua Jet hit the log.
Shell swung.
Missed.
The log spun and smacked Oshawatt into the water.
"Osha—!"
Oshawatt resurfaced, coughing.
Grant waded in. "That's it. We're done for today."
Oshawatt shook its head violently.
"Osha! Oshawatt!"
It tried again.
Slipped.
Fell.
Tried again.
Grant grabbed its arm. "Stop!"
Oshawatt froze.
Grant knelt in the water. "You don't have to break yourself to get stronger."
Oshawatt stared at him, eyes wide.
Grant softened. "We build power the right way."
Nyra approached. "What's the new plan?"
Grant thought for a moment.
"Shell Block into Aqua Jet. Not the other way around."
Nyra blinked. "You reverse it?"
Grant nodded. "Defense creates the opening."
Oshawatt tilted its head.
Grant demonstrated. "Block. Push off. Jet forward. Then swing."
Oshawatt straightened.
"Osha…"
They moved to a shallow rapid.
Grant stood on a rock. "Current gives momentum."
Oshawatt stepped into the water.
"Shell Block!"
Oshawatt braced.
"Aqua Jet!"
The current launched it forward.
"Swing!"
The shell flashed—
—and clipped the floating log.
The impact sent a spray of water into the air.
Oshawatt landed on its feet.
Silence.
Then—
"Osha!!!"
It jumped in circles.
Nyra clapped. "That was it."
Grant's chest loosened. "Again."
They ran it five more times.
Each cleaner.
Each sharper.
On the final run, Oshawatt sliced clean through the log.
It split in half and drifted downstream.
Oshawatt stared at the pieces.
Then looked at Grant.
Grant raised a fist. "Razor Shell."
Oshawatt bumped it.
The Notebook
That evening, Grant sat by the fire with his notebook open.
Nyra leaned over his shoulder.
"Alright," he said. "Status check."
He wrote:
Oshawatt
Water Gun — solid
Aqua Jet — fast, needs tighter turns
Shell Block — reliable
Razor Shell — new, needs stamina
Focus Energy — timing work
Sewaddle
String Shot — accurate
Razor Leaf — controlled
Bug Bite — strong, needs restraint
Web construction — excellent
Grant tapped the page. "Weak points."
Nyra read. "Oshawatt overexerts. Sewaddle hesitates."
Grant nodded. "And me?"
Nyra smirked. "You blame yourself too much."
He smiled faintly.
"Tomorrow," Grant said, "we train restraint."
Nyra nodded. "And recovery."
Oshawatt curled into his lap.
Sewaddle tucked into his hood.
Venipede coiled beside the fire.
Grant closed the notebook.
For the first time, Razor Shell wasn't just a move.
It was proof.
They were getting stronger—
not by breaking themselves,
but by learning how to move together.