Chapter 74:
The Missing Ones
"This is SBC news with a special report."
"It has been one month since Cyrus and Team Galactic almost destroyed the Universe in order to create a new one. But thanks to the action of now Champion Lucas Pratt, life continues normal in the Sinnoh region. The only thing that is different is the lack of Team Galactic's threat, at least for the most part. Cyrus disappeared into his new Universe and Saturn has been arrested by Looker after a raid at Eterna's Galactic Building. But three of Team Galactic's higher ups are still at large. Commander Mars, Commander Jupiter and the 2nd in command, Scientist Charon. If you any information regarding the whereabouts of any of them, do not hesitate to contact the Police."
I turned off the TV, finally back home. Being a Champion was hard, but more fun than I could ever imagine. Well, maybe not the paparazzies.
"Lucas dear" Mum said through my door. "Dawn is here to see you."
I jumped off my bed and ran down the stairs to see my black dressed friend.
"Hiya Champ!" she said.
"Hi!" I said. You know, I had been so busy with Champion work that I didn't have time to see Dawn.
Now I wasn't sure why she was here. Dawn had sent me numerous congratulations; I'm guessing about 493 on Pokébook messages from her were sent. Would this make 494? I didn't know, but she led me outside.
"I want to show you something" she said, pulling out her pink Pokédex. Opening it, she stuck the screen up to my face, which was now in a state of panic. "Empty spots. Three to be exact. Now, we were given these to scan all the Pokémon of Sinnoh, so it would make sense to finish the job then show Professor Rowan."
Dawn had a point. We were given a job and, in the excitement with just about everything that could happen, we hadn't completed it.
"So who we missing?" I asked, though I figured opening mine would be a good idea. The only missing spaces were #181, #183 and #210. "I think I know someone who would know. Come to my room, let's make a call."
When we went in my room (usually I don't allow girls inside, but Dawn was an exception just this once), I turned on my laptop and opened up the video call feature. I scrolled down the contacts and went down to Ethan. Then, I clicked it.
It took about a minute of the loading Pokéball swirling round on the screen before he picked up.
"Yo champ!" Ethan replied.
"Hi!" I said. Within the month that I had last written, Ethan had gone back to Johto. However, we kept in contact and made a call every week. Today was this weeks call, so great timing.
"We need your help" Dawn said as we got out our Pokédex's. On my screen I put up Yanmega. On Dawn's she put up Tangrowth. "Would these Pokémon be evolved from anything?"
From the other side of the screen, Ethan flipped open his Dex. Whilst we couldn't see his screen, he was clearly flipping through all the Pokémon he had seen on his adventures.
"These should be it" he said. First, he showed up a green squiggly Pokémon with what looked like red wellington boots. The other was red and green with clear wings. "They are called Tangela and Yanma respectively. Lyra told me she saw some in the Great Marsh."
"Then that's our next stop!" I said. "Dawn, grab Honchkrow from the PC at Sandgem Town. I'll grab Staraptor."
Dawn nodded. "Thanks Ethan" she said.
"No prob!" Ethan replied before signing off.
To Pastoria City!
Pastoria has always been one of my favourites. I mean the memory of Luxio getting poisoned and the Galactic quarantine will never leave my mind, but at the same time it's a relaxing city, a nice place to take a walk in.
"It's been a while" Dawn said, looking at the Pastoria City sign.
"Larry! Deborah!" called a familiar voice. Lyra came along, her newly evolved Azumarill beside her.
"Oh hey!" I said. I hadn't seen Lyra since I left Sunyshore City, so this was a heartfelt reunion.
"We're off to the Great Marsh!" Dawn told her. "Our Pokédex is almost full."
"Great!" Lyra said, though she was a lot more distracted than normal. "So… do you have a minute?"
Dawn had literally JUST told her our plans. Why she needed us now, I didn't know.
"It's… serious."
I assured Lyra that we would meet her at the Pokemon Center later that evening, but we had Pokémon to look for now.
To the Great Marsh!
Going through the doors, I ran upstairs with Dawn to look through the binoculars.
"I can see one!" I said. I pointed down my binoculars to a tree where I saw Tangela swinging on a tree having the time of its life.
"Me to!" Dawn said, pointing down to a lake where a Yanma was hovering about wildly. "That's who were aiming for."
With that, we went downstairs, payed our money, got our Safari Balls and went in.
Me and Dawn got on the red, rusty, bumpy tram that took us to the other side of the marshlands. After about 5 minutes, the tram came to a stop, the doors opened, and we stepped out.
The two of us looked about. It wasn't any nicer going through the marsh now than it was back then. I didn't like mud, but this was for the Dex.
I saw the tree that I looked at through the binoculars to see Tangela continuing to swing from the tree branches, having the time of its life.
Tangela
181
Grass Type
Vine Pokémon
Region of origin: Kanto
3'03" (1 m)
77.2 lbs (35 kg)
The blue vines surrounding its body are covered in a growth of fine hair. It is known to be ticklish.
I threw some Bait at Tangela and it ate it happily. "Go Safari Ball!" I yelled. Now whilst I didn't need to catch it (all I needed to do was scan it), it would be cool to catch it regardless.
And I did! Tangela stayed in.
"I'll head to the lake where I saw Yanma" Dawn told me. "I spotted it, so its only fair that I catch it.
She was right. I needed to find my own. Did I?
No. No I didn't. I trudged through the Marsh and found ones I didn't see on my first time round such as Tropius and Drapion. But no luck with Yanma sadly.
"Well we blew it" I said after our time was up and we walked out the Great Marsh gate. My clothes were all covered in mud, but at least I had caught Tangela. 2 more Pokémon to go. The Great Marsh was starting to close, so we couldn't go back in to catch Yanma. "So close, but we'll have to wait till tomorrow."
Dawn however had a grin on her face. "Or will we?" she asked. "How about we trade? My Yanma for your Tangela! Then we will have them both scanned!"
Great idea, but I hadn't traded before. Well, okay there was that ONE TIME where I did trade, but I hated that moment so much that I choose not to count it. Thankfully, Dawn knew just what to do. "Let's go to the Pokémon Center!" she said.
That night, we saw Lyra waiting for us on one of the red chairs in the lobby.
"Guys, this is important" she shouted immediately upon eye contact.
"Give us 10 minutes" Dawn said. Lyra sat there grumpily but also stressed. Something was up, and it seemed urgent.
"We won't be long, we promise" I assured her.
Dawn took me to the upstairs section of the Pokémon Center. There were multiple rooms here. "Okay" she said. "To the Communication Room!"
We were allowed through the doors and into a large blue room.
"So… do we just trade?" I asked.
Dawn nodded. "Yep! I've done it a lot this journey! Reminder that I'm studying evolution, I want to be Professor Rowan's successor. So, I know all about trading and the secies that evolve It's how I got Pokémon like Electivire. Now. Select your Pokemon."
A holographic screen appeared in front of us with our Party Pokémon and boxed ones on it. I scrolled through the pages; well okay I didn't need to do that because Tangela was on the first page. I clicked it and Dawn clicked on Tangela. It asked if we wanted to Trade.
"Yes!" we both shouted, clicking the button.
Sending Tangela to Dawn.
"Goodbye Tangela!"
Tangela's Pokéball went into the sky along with Dawn's Yanma. They then came back down, but now with different owners.
Yanma
183
Bug/Flying Type
Clear Wing Pokémon
Region of origin: Johto
3'11" (1.2 m)
83.8 lbs (38 kg)
It can hover in one spot by flapping its wings at high speed. It flits about to guard its territory.
"It's easy as pie!" Dawn told me as we walked downstairs. "Okay, next plan. Who is #210?"
"No time for that!" Lyra said. "Okay. You promised, now you're gonna listen to me. We have an issue."
I didn't know what Lyra was talking about, but the appearance of two friends was going to give some clues.
"Stig, Florence. Hello" I said. "Ah, Dawn. These are my friends. I met them in Floaroma Town, they own a flower shop."
Stig got out a photo. "Look at this" he said. "You're friend Ronan apparently stumbled across it to, so gave us this photo for reference."
Upon closer inspection, it was… the same lake from the Tangrowth incident.
"We know what this is now" Florence said, getting out a book from her Bag. "I got this out from Canalave Library."
The book was titled 'Opposite Dimensions.' Opening the book, the first picture was the same lake, but simply drawn, likely because this was done before cameras were invented. Under it was written "Sendoff Spring."
"This is a big discovery!" Lyra said excited. "We're gonna be rich!"
Stig gave her a glance. "Lyra, this is serious. We can't exploit this place."
I read some of the text out loud. There was no one here aside from Nurse Joy, who was attending to some team members after a match at the Pastoria Gym.
"Contrary to what many may think, there are not three Lakes in Sinnoh. As a matter of fact, there is a 4th one that has been hidden for years. Even Sinnoh experts deny its existence. Sendoff Spring is said to be the gateway to another world entirely, but no one should dare go seek it out. It should be hidden forever, lest the world be thrown into darkness."
I thought this could be a coincidence. Who could possibly go looking for Sendoff Spring and why did it matter now?
"Tangrowth" Lyra said.
She had a point. It was killing off the forest to look for the entrance. It clearly belonged to someone, because Stig couldn't catch it.
"We need to go there" I told everyone. "We need Rock Climb to get up that cliff. Does everyone have one they can use?"
Everyone but Dawn shook their head.
"We will accompany you though!" Lyra said.
Just when I had saved the Universe, looks like I might need to take a step back, and save the world.
