"Oh god that's cold"

The freezing lake water stung Rygone's legs with a chilly flash which immediately set his goosebumps to rise and his teeth to chatter. He knew the water would eventually warm up so long as he kept moving, but it was hard to be convinced of that in the present frosty moment.

"H...hey Luke. Where did you say we were a...again?" Rygone stammered out, trying to take his mind off of the cold lake water. The blonde-haired young man with the fishhook necklace had driven them out into the mountains with a barely concealed smile and despite Rygone's prodding the young man had not been willing to give up his secret. It was when they arrived at an untouched mountain lake that Rygone finally got an idea of what the secret was. Their own swimming grounds that were guaranteed not to have been touched by others, and it was the perfect day for a dip.

"It's called Vaporeon's Basin." Luke said with a grin as he got down on all fours in the cold water.

Rygone raised an eyebrow at his friend's curious behavior but his surprise at the lake's name took priority "W...wait. Like the Pokemon?"

"Just like the Pok-eon!"

Luke's voice took on a higher-pitched almost bark-like tone as he shouted out, taking Rygone by surprise. An emotion that increased twice fold as soon as he saw the tail arching up behind his friend. Blue, finned, and covered in a wavy pattern of ridges, the rather aquatic appendage swayed out from a burst hole in Luke's swimming shorts like an ancient seafaring mast gracefully waiting for a burst of sea sprayed wind.

"L...Luke...you have a tai-" Rygone gasped as he felt a shiver run up his own body, his hands feeling sticky. Looking down, a meep of surprise escaped the man's lips as he saw webbing spreading between his fingers, his digits turning blue and clawed as pads formed underneath. Luke, for his part, seemed to not be minding the changes. His new tail wagged in the air as his legs began to take on a far more feral configuration. Aquatic blue spread up his white skin with a voracious appetite, but he did not seem to care. Little barks of "Vap Vaporeon" echoed out from his growing muzzle showing his simplifying state of mind. He was happy. A happiness that matched Rygone's surprise at the situation.

A wriggling broke Rygone's attention as something squirmed behind him, begging to be let out from the entrapment of nylon that surrounded it. With a cry and a tear his own finned tail burst free to snake down his leg with a solid thump. As the transforming young man raised his hand to reach back and touch the new and sensitive appendage, Luke took the opportunity to touch the top of his head into Rygone's webbed palm. Without even realizing it, Rygone began to pet the head of his friend, the movement seeming natural. Luke's finned ears perked up as Rygone scratched behind them and he nuzzled further into his owner's paw. Rygone was still dumbfounded but somehow this seemed...okay. He could feel his feet raising up into digitigrade paws, his new webbing brushing against both the chilly water and smooth river rocks in a way that left him feeling excited. Luke, for his part, had lost the use of his thumbs and now stood on all fours, the only real hint as to his former humanity being his yellow hair and the swinging fishhook necklace that rested underneath his white webbed collar.

Maybe this would not be so bad. They had the entire lake to themselves and it seemed he had a new pet that had chosen him to take care of it. Luke, sensing his master's thoughts, raced out into the lake with splashes and yips of happiness. Rygone grinned, his muzzle stretching wide in the familiar manner he was used to as a human. Picking up a river rock, he tossed it out before chasing after his fetching pet.

---

One of the things I always enjoy seeing from my friends is their progress. To me, it's a joy to see their first few steps as an artist or writer and then getting the privilege to see them improve over the course of years. It's amazing to watch and this piece demonstrates that dynamic process. A gift by a friend, this picture may only be a random piece done years ago by them on a whim, but for me, it represents an important stepping stone towards their progress as an artist and something to always treasure.

Have a Happy Vappy Day!

Art by and Luke belongs to  TransformationAnonymous

Rygone and Story belong to  Umbreon07