Chapter 66:

Little Mantyke

Today would be the day of training to beat Volkner. Not only to get my 8th and final Badge, but also to convince him not to step down as Gym Leader of Sunyshore City. It will prove him that there are Trainers that WILL give him the challenge he wants, not that Trainers before hand wasn't doing it. Today I started with some training on the beach, with Jasmine watching.

"Okay guys. Let's start off by turning our arms round and round. Come on." I put both arms up and started spinning them slowly, with everyone following. Mamoswine and Luxray are quadruped, so they just sort of spun their tusks and head respectively. "We need to work up our muscles to beat Volkner; more than a high level and great moves are needed." Empoleon was circling its flippers faster and faster. "Empoleon, keep in time! Rushing will only make you tired. Slow down." Empoleon didn't though. In fact, it then started spinning its whole body. "Empoleon listen to me!" Empoleon then jumped, still spinning. "EMPOLEON, STOP THI- Wait, is that a new move? Okay, Luxray! Be the target!"

Luxray stood its ground as Empoleon charged its spinning body beak first into the Electric Type. It was a Flying Type move, so Luxray didn't take much damage. Both backed away afterwards. "Empoleon that was Drill Peck! It won't be effective at the Gym, but it's a powerful Flying Type move nonetheless!" Empoleon gave a bow as if the new move was a stage performance; glad to see its pride was still intact.

"Congratulations!" said Jasmine. "Not many Pokémon can learn Drill Peck, I'd keep it on Empoleon. It's weak to Fighting Types so it will be a great counter!"

I looked out to sea, once again spotting the large waterfall. "Once we've done warm ups, I'm going to do some training on Route 223, which is a sea route."

Jasmine wished me luck, but let us get back to our exercises.


After we had finished our warm ups, I got Empoleon ready to Surf. "We have strong Trainers ahead of us, but that's why we are here! We are gonna beat Volkner!" With that, we started Surfing.

I slowly went along the waves. The sun was beating down harder than anywhere else in the otherwise cool Sinnoh region; it gave me happiness. But I wasn't there to relax; I was there to train.

I got the Vs. Seeker and pushed it, getting the attention of a Swimmer; she quickly looked over to me; my first opponent.

"I'd usually come out here to catch some rays in the middle of the sea, but you know what; I can battle to!"


"I choose Luxray!" I shouted.

"Go Vaporeon!" yelled Swimmer Tina. She sent out a blue Pokémon with gills and feet, along with a tail that looked perfect for swimming.


Vaporeon

164

Water Type

Bubble Jet Pokémon

Region of origin: Kanto

3'03" (1 m)

63.9 lbs (29 kg)

Its cell composition is similar to water molecules. As a result, it can melt away into water.

Eevee -Water Stone- Vaporeon


"Luxray, use Thunder Fang!" Luxray's jaws started sparking. It then bit Vaporeon and took it's health down by a 1/3.

"Vaporeon, Aurora Beam!" Vaporeon shot a colourful beam at Luxray. Luxray was caught in it, but recovered quickly.

"Another Thunder Fang!" This Thunder Fang didn't do as much however; Aurora Beam had lowered Luxray's Attack.

"Vaporeon, Aurora Beam!" Another colourful shot was dealt to Luxray but thankfully no stats were lowered. Luxray was getting weaker.

"Another Thunder Fang!" One more Thunder Fang, mainly because this one was a Critical Hit. Vaporeon was down and I had won!


"Congrats" Tina said sadly. I know she had lost, but she seemed very down; a lot more down than someone would usually be.

"You'll win the next one" I told her.

"That's not it" she said. "The Mantyke migration was supposed to happen a week ago."

I did question what she meant by this.

"Every year, multiple Mantyke who have just become independent form their parents, which are the evolved form called Mantine, head to the Sinnoh region in order to evolve. To do that, they need Remoraid who will swim by them and give them the mysterious power needed to achieve it. Scientists have been wondering for years what this power is, but it explains why many Mantine swim alongside Remoraid. However, this year there has been a shortage of Remoraid because everyone keeps catching them. Therefore, the Mantyke can't evolve so they have left early."

Catching Pokémon has been part of human culture for so many years that we often forget what it does to the environment. Here though, people were doing it just to compare sizes.

"Looks like they'll have to wait another year" I mentioned, just as I noticed something in the water. Tina noticed to.

"That must be Stray" Tina said. "The Mantyke arrived but then left quickly. However, an optimistic one stayed behind to find any left ovwe Remoraid. It has been searching for the week since the others left, I'm starting to get concerned. I named it Stray because, well, is strayed from its friends."

It surfaced, a blue Pokémon with two flats fins and two blue antennae. On its back were two red dots and a white curvy line.


Mantyke

140

Water/Flying Type

Kite Pokémon

Region of origin: Sinnoh

3'03" (1 m)

143.3 lbs (65 kg)

A friendly Pokémon that captures the subtle flows of seawater using its two antennae.

Baby Pokémon


Mantyke was jumping up and down in the water, making small splashes. It seemed both excited but also in a hurry, as if was late for its own Birthday party.

"What's up Stray?" Tina asked it. Mantyke pointed one of its fins underwater at another shadow.

"That might be a Remoraid!" I yelled. "Go on Mantyke, we'll watch!" I gave Tina a Max Revive to use on Vaporeon and the two of us dove underwater with breathing devices.


There wasn't a coral reef or anything underwater; it was just rocks which still radiated an odd beauty to it. Mantyke continued to swim down towards the shadow which, sure enough, was a Remoraid!

The two of us cheered as Mantyke went to meet the Remoraid. The two shook fins and were about to get down to business, when all of a sudden a Tentacruel appeared from behind ones of the rocks. It started a battle with the Remoraid.


Remoraid used Psybeam on the Tentacruel. Tentacruel was confused. It tried to go for a Water Pulse, but it hit itself instead. Remoraid used another Psybeam. It was a Critical Hit! Another Water Pulse from Tentacruel made it hit itself again. One more Psybeam from Remoraid knocked out the Tentacruel.

Mantyke swam about happily, hoping it found its Remoraid. However, it quickly learned that it hadn't. A light started to surround Remoraid. When it had finished glowing, it was red, had 8 tentacles with yellow suckers on it and a thin funnel like mouth.


Octillery

133

Water Type

Jet Pokémon

Region of origin: Johto

2'11" (0.9 m)

62.8 lbs (28.5 kg)

It obscures its foe's vision by spitting a cloud of murky ink. It makes its nest among boulders.

Remoraid -Lv 25- Octillery


"Well that went well" Tina said as she surfaced with me and Mantyke, who was really sad by what just happened. The two of us sat on a sandbar, pondering. "Mantyke can't evolve with Octillery. It has to be a Remoraid."

I looked back to shore, where Sunyshore City stood proud. To think humans can be so careless sometimes. Or could they? "I have an idea. However, it means catching Mantyke. Is that alright?"

Mantyke started splashing about happily. It clearly wanted to go with me.

"Okay. Go Net Ball!" I threw the Net Ball at Mantyke and watched it shake. Sure enough, it stayed in. I caught a Mantyke!

"I'll be back in a minute Tina" I said.


I rushed back to Sunyshore, grabbed Remoraid and Mantyke from the PC and then came back. "Okay Mantyke, let's get you evolved." I put the EXP. Share on Mantyke and readied my battle skills. "I need someone to battle."

I pushed the Vs. Seeker to see if anyone was willing to face me. The attention of a male Swimmer on a Gyarados was caught. He saw me, then had Gyarados come over to us. He slid off Gyarados's tail onto the sandbar that Tina was on.

"Sup, my Beach Bum!" he told her. I was… very confused. I don't do beach slang.

"Lucas, this is my partner Troy. Troy, Lucas caught Stray and is willing to evolve it! I think he should battle your Gyarados!"

Seemed like a challenge, but I've fought Gyarados before. I'd say it wouldn't be a piece of cake, but I had Luxray; I think it would be.

"Thanks for your help, it's time to show you the ferocious power of the sea!"


"Go Gyarados!" Troy shouted.

"I choose Luxray!" I shouted back. "Use Thunder Fang!" Luxray bit Gyarados with sparking jaws.

"Gyarados, Dargon Dance!" Gyarados started dancing wildly. It seemed to get stronger from this. "Dragon Dance raises Attack and Speed. Let me show you what I mean. Gyarados, Aqua Tail!" Gyarados hit Luxray with a water covered tail.

"Luxray!" I yelled. It was hit hard. How could we attack it if it was moving this hard? What was I to do? Well, Luxray knew. Luxray ran back up and started making a face. A Scary Face. A face so scary that Gyarados's speed fell. "Luxray, a new move! Scary Face is a move that lowers Speed! Let's use this to our advantage! Thunder Fang!" Luxray chomped down shockingly onto Gyarados who fell forward into the ocean, fainting.

"Congrats dude" Troy told me. "Okay, let's see if our good friend is ready."

Sure enough, it was. As I sent out Mantyke, it started to glow and got bigger and bigger, to reveal a darker large Pokémon with a long tail.


Mantine

141

Water/Flying Type

Kite Pokémon

Region of origin: Johto

6'11" (220 kg)

485 lbs (220 kg)

It swims elegantly, mindless of Remoraid hitching on to its broad fins. It has a docile* nature.

Mantyke (Baby Pokémon) -Lv up with Remoraid- Mantine

*This does not mean Nature which affects Pokémon stat growth. This is relating to Mantine's behaviour.


"Congratulations Mantine! You have a partner to!" Tina replied.

"I need you to use Waterfall when we get over there" I told it, pointing once again to the large waterfall. In the mist, I could see the building I could see through the binoculars yesterday.

The Pokémon League.

That's when I realised. "I didn't get in as much training as I wanted to! Now I know that Volkner is going to quit."

Tina grabbed both my shoulders. "Lucas, listen. Don't sweat. I haven't seen much of your strength, but you are strong. You helped take down an evil organization. You've won 7 Badges. You have a strong heart to help Stray."

I gulped. "Will I win?"

"98 ¾ % guaranteed" Troy said. "You better get some rest. You can't be tired for your biggest battle yet."


That night, I sat on a bench taking in the night air and everyday life. Whilst Sunyshore is a solar powered city, they have a grid that they work off of at night-time, cloudy weather and eclipses. It was just a fuse that blew when there was a power outage.

I loved night air, though the light pollution prevented any stars from being seen. But I was still worried that I wouldn't be strong enough to beat Volkner.

"Lucas!" shouted a familiar voice.

"Barry!" I yelled as I saw him and Dawn running up to me. "You guys made it here quick!"

"Well, we did get tied up along the way" Dawn said. "Come to the Pokémon Center, we have a surprise for you."


In the Center, the lights were off, savour for the lights in the main nursing room. I didn't even notice Barry and Dawn run off, aside from maybe the sound of shoes hitting the ground fast and get quieter.

The lights turned on suddenly to reveal Gym Leaders and multiple other companions I had met on my adventure.

"SURPRISE!" they all shouted, popping party poppers. The whole Center was decorated in balloons and other decorations.

Mum came over. "We thought since this would be the biggest match of your journey yet (well, aside from maybe Cyrus), you would want a good lot of support."

"It was Johanna's idea" Candice said.

"You are far from a noob!"

"Thanks again for your help at the Windworks!"

"I SWEAR THAT RED GYARADOS WAS REAL!"

We all looked at Crazy Craig.

"We… didn't invite you" Ethan said.

Crazy Craig just scuttled out as we all laughed. Among the giggles though, I noticed one crucial name in my journey was absent.

"Where's Cynthia?" I asked.

"She'll be waiting" Flint just said. "We hope that you enjoy tonight though. Not too much though; you need to get to bed early."

But we all had a good chat as I got ready to hit the hay for my big match tomorrow. It was a lovely surprise.

Speaking of surprises...


A journey of truth and ideals…

Pokémon The Journey: BW!

Coming soon!