Dazzling Gleam (Happy New Year!)

Dian studied the Luvdisc in the lake, but he could not spot a single scale. To his eyes, its entire body was pink, smooth and flawless. It did not look as though it had scales at all.

"Well, let's rescue a poor single fish and free it from this endless parade of happy couples."

Dian signaled to Misdreavus, who hovered beside his face.

"Misdreavus."

Misdreavus rolled her eyes, giggled, then pointed at his backpack.

Dian's face twitched. So this was what taking advantage of someone looked like. She had not even done the job yet, and she was already demanding a reward. Who had taught her that? Shameless.

"Fine..."

Worse still, he had no choice but to agree.

"Misdreavus, Misdreavus."

Misdreavus pointed at a dejected Luvdisc in the lake. Apparently, she thought that silly fish would do.

Dian took one look. His instincts told him it was male.

He shook his head. A male fish would not fetch much. He looked over the others, then pointed at a Luvdisc swimming with its head held high.

This Luvdisc was clearly the beauty of the bunch. Whenever she swam past, plenty of other Luvdisc cried out in admiration.

"Misdreavus..."

Misdreavus looked her over and nodded reluctantly.

The fish was in the middle of the group, which made things harder.

She took a deep breath, focused, and guided a shadow slowly into the lake before her.

Suddenly, every Luvdisc in the lake began to glow pink. Streams of bright moonlight seeped into their bodies.

Crack, crack, crack... Tiny snapping sounds rang out as heart-shaped scales peeled away from the Luvdisc and sank toward the lakebed.

Boom!

The raised surface of the lake exploded, sending water surging in every direction.

The force of a ten-foot-high wave knocked several small trees on the shore flat.