"So, what is this teaching me?" Brendan asked, as he set some gear down.
"Nothing, but you wanted to wait for your dad to show up before we trained Seedot, or you took another shot at the gym, so for now we're fishing." Ash said, pulling out a fishing rod.
"Do you think we'll find any powerful Pokemon doing this?" Brendan asked hopefully.
"It's not unheard of. But with you already having Mudkip, and me with Surskit, we don't need too many more water types unless you want to be a specialist." Ash said, leaning back in his chair.
"So you're telling me that if you reeled in a Gyarados, you wouldn't catch it." Brendan commented.
"When you reel in a Gyarados with that, let me know." Ash said. "For now we wait and relax."
"I'm going to find somewhere with deeper waters then." Brendan said. "See you back at the Pokemon Center?"
"Yep, I'm going to stick here." Ash said, as even Pikachu had found a spot to relax.
A while had passed with nothing eventful happening. Ash had expected as such, his lure only in a few feet of water, but it gave him time to reflect. Things had been happening so quickly since he arrived in Hoenn. He had begun training Brendan, made rivals with Drew and Robert, and even won his first ribbon. On top of that there was Team Aqua and Team Magma, they seemed as dangerous as Team Rocket at times, but at others they were actually threatening. Add to that, that Team Sky Brendan had brought up, Ash still wasn't sure what to make of them.
"Bass bass bass." A cry was heard.
Ash sat up to see a purple fish flopping on the beach.
"Hold on." Ash said, getting up. After a bit of squirming he managed to pick up the fish, and set it back into the water.
"Bass." The Pokemon said with a smile.
"Glad to help." Ash said. "I wonder what you are though."
'Feebas, the Fish Pokemon. Feebas lives in ponds that are heavily infested with weeds. Because of its hopelessly shabby appearance, it seems as if few trainers raise it.' The Pokédex explained.
"A little harsh." Ash commented.
"Bass Bass." The Feebas said happily unaware of what had been said about it.
"Pika!" Pikachu said, running over to it, splashing the fish with a bit of water.
"Bass." Feebas said, splashing back at Pikachu.
"I guess it can't hurt for everyone to enjoy some time outside." Ash said, grabbing his two other Pokeballs. "Come on out guys."
Surskit took quickly to the water, joining Pikachu and the Feebas while Treecko stood off to the side.
"You know you can go play with them too." Ash commented. "You don't have to act cool around them, they're friends."
"Treecko." Treecko said, pulling out his twig, and leaping high onto the cliffs.
"Suit yourself I guess." Ash said, running into the water with his other Pokemon.
With Brendan
"We'll show Ashton, the best fishing is where the water is deeper. Come on Mudkip." Brendan said, eventually reaching a fairly secluded beach.
Brendan tossed out his line and waited for all of five seconds.
"Why is this taking so long! Shouldn't something have happened by now!?" Brendan exclaimed in frustration. "Why'd he even recommend this? He even admitted we have water types of our own, what good for a team would more be?!"
A while later back with Ash
Ash had returned to the beach proper to grab a water, and hadn't noticed the three Pokemon having moved elsewhere while his back was turned.
"Alright Pikachu, and Surskit, how about we take a break for…!" Ash paused in shock seeing his Pokemon and the Feebas were missing. "Treecko!" Ash shouted.
"Tree?" Treecko said hopping down.
"Did you see where Pikachu and the others ran off too?" Ash asked.
"Treecko tree." Treecko said, rushing off.
"Hey, wait up." Ash said, following the grass type.
Ash raced after Treecko, unsure of even where he was leading him too, when he saw it, a boat pulling a net filled with all sorts of water type Pokemon.
"Hey! What are you doing!?" Ash shouted running after the boat.
"It's just business kid. We relocate the water types away from the beaches for a nice price, and then continue on." A man said.
"My Pokemon are in there!" Ash argued, seeing Pikachu's tail.
"Kid, my job is just about done. You can pick them up from the relocation site if you want." The man said. "About 10 miles that way." The man said pointing to the open water.
"They won't survive out there, you have to let them go!" Ash plead.
"Thems the breaks, if you don't like it, to bad." The man said, starting up his boat
"I normally don't do this, but you leave me no choice. Treecko use Pound!"
Treecko leapt into the air, slamming his tail onto the lock mechanism that was holding the net together, releasing all the Pokemon in the process.
"Why you! You'll pay for that!" The man said angrily.
Ash was relieved as Pikachu and Surskit made their way back to him, seemingly unharmed.
"Ursaring teach him some manners." The man said.
"Bass bass Feebas!" The Feebas from before exclaimed, leaping at the Ursaring and man, quickly followed by seemingly countless Magikarp.
By the time the Magikarp had stopped, the man and his Pokemon were long gone.
"Well, that was probably the weirdest battle I've ever had." Ash said, watching the water Pokemon leave except for Feebas. "And you, you were pretty brave, but don't you have friends to get back too?"
"Bass." The Feebas said, saddened.
"Oh." Ash said. "Well, how about you come with us until we find your friends."
"Bass?" Feebas said, seemingly happier.
"Yeah, come on, I'm sure we'll find your friends on our journey." Ash said, holding out a Pokeball.
"Bass!" Feebas exclaimed, going into the Pokeball.
Later back at the Pokemon Center
"Hey Brendan, how'd your fishing go?" Ash asked, as Brendan finally came back.
"Pretty uneventful, how about yours?" Brendan asked.
"About the same." Ash said. "Hopefully tomorrow will be better."
Ash's Current Team and their moves
Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Agility - Thunder - Quick Attack
Surskit: Bubble - Quick Attack
Treecko: Pound - Quick Attack - Dig
Feebas: Splash - Tackle
