Uh, just yes.
I do prefer this ship over Cleril. Again, I love the couple that banters, and they have so many cute and funny interactions. Not to mention, Turtle has invulnerable scales now, so no one can make Peril's firescales as an excuse why Pertle won't work.
Still, the most frequent excuse I see, is that this ship is pedophilic.
...
Guys, they're three years apart.
My parents are four years apart.
It's not a very alarming age difference, since Peril is considered a young adult, and Turtle isn't a freaking hatchling. Also, I don't think it's a problem, because addressing their personalities, they both act like teenagers or young adults, so a age gap isn't the end of the world for me.
In fact, Peril acts less mature than Turtle. So, she doesn't really fall into the cougar type, more like the rebellious teenager.
Also, I heard many say 7 is when dragons go into adulthood. I don't know if Tui confirmed this, but someone let me know. Still, I don't think it's a problem... Because they're technically still dragonets.
Why is there more hate for Pertle, while ships like Moonwatcher x Darkstalker, and Smolder x Sunny are treated lightly?
And why is the age gap the only problem people find in Pertle? Sure, some say that it is platonic, and it is platonic, I'll admit that. But, others are allowed to ship things if they enjoy it, whether it's canon or not.
For example, I ship it because it's heartwarming to read, seeing Peril make a friend. Also, Clay was always cautious around Peril, but Turtle trusted her on the spot and didn't care about her firescales. Why wouldn't I ship it?
Sure, unlike Clay, Turtle didn't see Peril kill a dragon in front of him. But, that's just one more reason why I think Pertle is healthier.
Pros: It is a joy to read, and the two have a genuine and unforced bond between them. That's all I have to say really.
Cons: Sadly, they can't go anywhere beyond platonic. Still, that's my only complaint, since I can't find anything wrong with this ship.