Chapter 5: The First Capture is…

"Daniel, come here for a second," Cerise started to say when Daniel came over with Umbreon. "It seems that there is an island full of Bagon and Shelgon in the Hoenn region."

"Whoa, really?" Daniel asked, looking for confirmation.

"Yes," Cerise said. "It seems to be something quite a rare sight for this island to be on the scanner. Would you be so kind as to go look and see it?"

"Come on, brother. It might be a good idea, and we would most likely be able to catch some Pokémon from the Hoenn region while we're there," Umbreon added in her excitement.

Daniel looked at her with a smile before turning to Professor Cerise. "Sure, professor. I will do it."

"Perfect! Thank you for accepting the request," Cerise smiled, pleased.

"Daniel," said Ren as he walked up to him. "This might be of help for you." He presented Daniel with a device detector.

"What's this?" Daniel wondered.

"It's a Pokémon detector," Ren explained. "With this, you will be able to find a rare Pokémon in an instant, even if you normally wouldn't be able to."

"All right, thanks, Ren," Daniel thanked him. "Let's go, sis," he added to Umbreon.

"Okay! Time for an adventure!" Umbreon cheered.

Daniel chuckled at her enthusiasm. He looked at Cerise and said: "We'll be back soon!"

~~...~~

In the Hoenn region, Daniel and Umbreon were going by boat as they soon landed in the town nearby the island where they should be at: Pacifidlog Town.

"We should be able to get someone to take us to the island of Bagon," started Umbreon. "What do you think, brother?"

"Well, I'd say that we should do that," Daniel replied. "And then we will be able to catch something in this region."

Umbreon nodded as they made their way through the town. She always thought that her previous family of the Pokémon that Daniel had obtained in his journey through Kanto was inseparable, but she knew that he needed a new team of five other Pokémon besides her in the World Battle Tournament championships. Whoever he planned to catch, she knew she would enjoy the Pokémon's company.

Daniel looked around, before he looked at his Rotom Phone. "Rotom Phone, which way is the closest ship?"

"I am not sure. Sorry."

Daniel sighed, feeling lost as he's never traveled in Hoenn before.

"Excuse me," said the voice of an old man. "But would you be lost, my young friend?"

"Yes, since this is my first time being in the region," answered Daniel.

"I see," the old man nodded understandingly. "In that case, follow me. I know what you might need."

Daniel looked at Umbreon, who stared back at him before they followed the man to his house at the edge of the town. "So, do you know what I need?" he asked, feeling unsure. "I need a boat to get to a specific island."

"The Bagon island, am I correct?"

Daniel blinked. "How'd you know?"

"Yeah, how?" Umbreon added, her telepathy reaching the old man.

"I had a hunch that you would need a boat as well as someone to guide you in this town beforehand," he smiled.

"Uh…okay," Daniel responded, unsure how to say the right words.

"So, you plan on participating in the World Battle Tournament, the one I hear a lot about?"

"...yes," Daniel admitted. "How do you know that much about me and my goal?"

"A hunch, and a guess," the old man replied.

Umbreon looked at her Trainer. "Do you think we should trust this old man, brother? I mean, he knows where we want to go and what our goal is. Do you really think we are going to trust this suspicious man?"

Daniel was uncertain about how to respond to her. He knew that he should be careful about going on and letting others know about what he needed help with or are going to do in his goal of becoming a Pokémon Master. Whatever this man was going on about, he should make his move cautiously.

"Suspicious of me, are we?" the man smiled innocently at them. "You don't need to be. I am in no affiliation with someone, and I only do what I feel is correct. You need help, and I will assist you in getting to Bagon island."

He seems to be fine… Daniel thought. But what if he is lying and trying to inform someone evil about what I am going to be doing? He should definitely be careful with revealing his true intention about getting to Bagon island. All he needed to do was research some of the Bagon and Shelgon for Professor Cerise, catch himself a Bagon, and have the day over with.

Umbreon noticed her Trainer's uncertainty in his expression when the old man opened the door to his house and let them inside.

"Please, feel yourself at home while I get the boat ready," the man said to them.

Daniel and Umbreon were now alone when the man turned and left for the moment.

"You're unsure about what to think about him, right, brother?" Umbreon asked.

"Yeah," Daniel nodded. "He seems like a normal person on the outside, but what about the inside? I'd say that we need to be cautious in case he is trying something."

"Agreed. I sensed something weird about him, but that's all I could sense from him," Umbreon shrugged in her reply. "But despite that, he seems to be a good man even if we don't see it. He lives here in Pacifidlog Town alone, but I guess you're right about his inner self. Let us just be reasonable and hide our intentions once we get to Bagon island."

Daniel nodded in agreement before the man returned. "There. Everything's ready," he told them. "The boat is in shape and ready to sail."

They followed him to the back of the house before going on the boat and they began sailing across the water of the town and headed for the island.

Later…

Daniel was on the boat with Umbreon and the old man, who was smiling to himself. "Ah," the man said. "It feels good to be back on the open sea. It had been a while since the last time I sailed."

"When was that?" Daniel asked.

"A few years ago," the man simply replied.

Daniel shrugged and looked at his Pokémon sister. Umbreon was looking out to sea and saw some Spheal, Wailmer, Mantyke, Wingull and Tentacool. She smiled at the Water-type Pokémon before turning her attention to her human brother.

"So, I heard you won the Indigo League sometime ago, is that right?" the man asked.

"Yes," Daniel nodded. "It was a tough road, but I managed to beat all the competitors and the Elite Four and my father in the League."

"That must have been some tough battles indeed."

"It was," Daniel admitted. "If it hadn't been for my sister Umbreon here, I would have lost against an old rival of mine."

"Oh? Who is this person that you were rivals with?"

"A person named Cross," answered Daniel. "He got on my nerves every time I ran into him in Kanto on my journey across the region. Luckily I beat him in the finals. And I haven't seen him since."

"Don't you wonder where he is?"

"Sometimes, I do," Daniel said. "But because of our rivalry, I was able to knock some sense into Cross for his own raw power, that it isn't just about power and strength that makes a Pokémon strong." He petted Umbreon's head. "It's about friendship and a strong bond that makes the winner."

"You certainly are right there," the man agreed.

Daniel looked out to sea while noticing some rocks around the boat.

"Looks like we're almost there," the man announced.

Daniel smiled as he and Umbreon were about to get ready for another research adventure. Once the boat stopped near the beach of the island, they got off and turned to the old man.

"I will be waiting for you until you're ready to go back."

Daniel nodded and began heading for the mountains of Bagon island.

A few minutes later…

Daniel and Umbreon were walking in the mountain range of the island while looking around in every direction to search for a Bagon or its evolved form. After about a few seconds, they took a stop and exhaled some air.

"Who would have thought that looking for a Bagon would be so hard?" Daniel grunted.

"I have no idea, dear brother," Umbreon admitted. "It just is hard to search for a Dragon type Pokémon. They are not easy to spot since most people think of them as impossible Pokémon to train."

"Well, have they had the chance?" Daniel asked. "Lance trained three Dragonite and some other Pokémon who reminded him of Dragon types."

"Like Gyarados, Charizard and Aerodactyl?"

"Exactly."

"Wouldn't Aerodactyl be a dinosaur instead of a dragon, though? I mean, it is a prehistoric fossil Pokémon," Umbreon said thoughtfully.

"I can see your point, sis," said Daniel. "But don't forget our reason for being here on this island."

"I know that, brother."

Daniel looked around to find anything, but he was unsuccessful.

Meanwhile…

Up in the air, a balloon with the letter "R" and the face of a Meowth was floating above Bagon island and there were two people and a Meowth who were looking down from the balloon to the ground.

"It seems that the rumor was true," said the woman with a red "R" on her skirt.

"Indeed," added the man with blue hair and a red "R" on his shirt. "The island of Bagon should be home to a powerful Salamence, which would be capable of destroying an entire town and we Team Rocket should need that power to control the whole world."

"Agreed," said Meowth. "And while we're searching, a brat is looking for it as well."

"Who?" Jessie asked.

"The one who defeated the boss in a battle, of course," Meowth reminded him.

"Don't think I've forgotten him," Jessie gritted her teeth in anger. "That boy gets on my nerves every time I hear his name."

"Daniel, correct?" James smiled. "That brat with the Eevee who almost stopped our organization by himself?"

"Yes, him," Jessie sighed in frustration. "How did he even manage that? We Team Rocket is an unstoppable force that is to be reckoned with."

"He had his friends by his side," James replied.

"Right. The twerps and that Cross brat," Jessie recalled.

"Still, we should be focusing on our task at hand," Meowth stated.

"Right!"

At the same time…

Daniel and Umbreon continued their search for the Bagon before stopping by a rock to rest for a moment. "Phew, this is harder than it looked like," he admitted.

"Yeah," Umbreon agreed. "It isn't like what we used to when looking for Pokémon in Kanto. Then again, we did have some help from her to capture some on our first journey."

"I wonder how Yellow is doing?" Daniel wondered.

"Probably fine," Umbreon replied. "We should focus on our task on finding the Bagon…" She was cut off at the sound of a Bagon close by.

"Well, that was unexpected," Daniel smiled at her. "Let's check it out."

"Right!" Umbreon agreed.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a net came and captured Umbreon, who cried out in surprise. Daniel gasped in shock.

"Who's there?!" he demanded.

"Prepare for trouble!"

"And make it double!"

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all people within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils from truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare for a fight!"

"Meowth! That's right!"

"Wobbuffet!"

Daniel growled. "Team Rocket…give me back my Umbreon!"

"Sorry, twerp," Jessie replied. "But this Umbreon is going to our boss. You cannot have it back."

"I'm not an 'it'! I am an her!" Umbreon growled angrily. "Release me, now or else…"

"Or else what?" Meowth smiled. "You're not gonna be going back to your Trainer. You're going to join Team Rocket, whether you like it or not."

"You said it, Meowth," James agreed.

Daniel growled, closing his hand to a fist. Then there came a roar of rage from the forest.

"Uh…" Daniel started.

"What was that?" Team Rocket finished.

"I think you three are better off handing me over to my brother," Umbreon smirked. "Or do you want a Salamence to bite your heads off?"

True to her words, a Salamence flew above Daniel and landed in front of him.

It must be protecting those within its territory, Daniel realized. Does that mean my sister is someone it would protect?

"Trainer," a voice started to speak. "If you are going to fight, you must command me so we can save that Umbreon."

Both Daniel and Meowth were confused as to who spoke. Then it came to Daniel as he looked at Salamence.

"Was that your voice?" he asked.

Salamence nodded. "Enough talking." He turned to Team Rocket in their balloon. "You three are trespassing my territory. It seems that I need to deal with you villains."

"Uh…I think he means it," Meowth said nervously.

"What does it say?" James asked.

"He says that we need to leave, or else we're into a fight," Meowth translated.

Jessie laughed out loud. "Nice try, Salamence. But Team Rocket does not take orders from anyone besides our boss. If you don't mind, we're going to take Umbreon with us now."

"Ta-ta!" James called out with a wave of his hand.

Daniel ran past Salamence, who stopped him with a wing. "They're getting away!" he said.

"No, they aren't. They are going straight for my trap," Salamence smiled at him.

Daniel blinked.

A little later…

In the air, the Team Rocket trio were laughing at their success. "That sure was fun!" James admitted truthfully. "I cannot believe that we actually managed to steal a Pokémon from the twerp."

"I know," Jessie laughed. "It looks like we have won at last!"

Meowth said nothing as he was sitting on the cage which held the trapped Umbreon, who tried headbutting on the bars. "Hey, knock it off. These bars are steel-hard, so it would not make you able to escape," he reminded her.

"Give me back to my Trainer!" she demanded. "Or else you'll be sorry."

"For what?" Meowth smiled. "You've done nothing but complain and demand us. But now it looks like you won't be able to return to your Trainer, so you can say bye-bye to him."

Umbreon growled angrily.

Then they were surprised when they heard a shout.

"Team Rocket! Give back my sister!"

They flinched at the voice of Daniel. They looked over the edge of the balloon they were riding in and noticed someone on the back of the Salamence. "What?!" Meowth gasped. "How did he tame the wild Salamence?"

"No idea," James replied, unsure.

"We mustn't give Umbreon back to him, or the boss will not be happy," Jessie told the two.

"We know, chief!" both of them said in unison.

Salamence roared loudly. "Now!" he called out.

A duo of two other Salamence came from the ground, surrounding the Team Rocket balloon, with the trio beginning to feel nervous at the three Salamence surrounding them.

"Uh…"

"Are we…"

"...in trouble?"

"Let's save Umbreon first," Daniel told the Salamence he was riding.

"Right, let's do it while they're stunned," Salamence agreed before he disappeared from the speed he flew and reappeared behind the trio. Daniel jumped on before taking the key from the stunned James and unlocked the cage.

"Hey!" James snapped out of his flinch. "That's mine!"

"Not any longer," Daniel replied as he held Umbreon and jumped back on the Salamence leader. "I think it's payback time for capturing my sister."

"Agreed," Salamence nodded. "Ready your attacks!" he told his two species members.

"Uh…I think we're in trouble," Meowth said nervously to his teammates.

"I think you're right, Meowth…" James added.

The three Salamence began charging up their Flamethrower and double Hyper Beam attacks. Then they fired the attacks at the balloon, causing it to explode and make Team Rocket fall down to the ground hard.

"Ow…" they groaned.

Daniel, on the leader Salamence's back, jumped down from him when he landed. "You three don't learn a thing, do you?"

"We're villains, it's our job to steal rare and powerful Pokémon," James replied.

"And that includes your Umbreon," Jessie added.

"Come on down!" they said in unison.

A Pelipper flew and dropped a machine down in front of the Team Rocket trio. Once they got the coin on Meowth's head in the machine, two Poké Balls came down, which Jessie and James took in their hands and sent out the Pokémon inside.

"Gyarados, a powerful Pokémon!" started Jessie.

"And Tyranitar, the strongest Rock type!" James added.

Daniel blinked in surprise at the two Team Rocket Pokémon.

"Don't worry, we'll handle this," said Salamence to Daniel. "Just make sure they don't get your Umbreon."

"No, we will fight," Daniel said. "No matter what they got in store for us, my sister and I will fight until we cannot battle."

Salamence smiled, pleased with the answer. "Then I'll allow you to command me in battle."

"All right," Daniel nodded.

"What are they saying to each other?" James wondered.

"Salamence wants Daniel to command it in battle," Meowth translated.

"Ha! A real fight it is, then!" Jessie grinned. "Gyarados, use Ice Fang!"

"Tyranitar, use Dark Pulse!" James added.

"Umbreon, use Buzzy Buzz on Gyarados, and Salamence, use Dragon Claw on Tyranitar!" Daniel ordered.

"Right!" Umbreon nodded.

"Understood!" Salamence added.

Salamence's claws glowed light green before he flew towards Tyranitar and slashed it, preventing it from firing its attack. At the same time, Umbreon fired electricity on Gyarados, shocking it with a super effective hit.

"Aqua Tail!" Jessie commanded.

Gyarados' tail became surrounded in swirling water before hitting Umbreon with a hard hit, and she cried out in pain before landing near Daniel's feet.

"Sis!" he gasped.

"I'm fine, brother," Umbreon grunted. "That was a hard hit."

"We need to attack simultaneously in order to defeat them," Salamence said. "If we can just get a direct hit on them, then we will win."

"I have an idea," Daniel began whispering to them.

"What's he doing?" James wondered in confusion.

"Ah, who cares?" Jessie said. "Let's just get them while we have the chance. Gyarados, Hyper Beam!"

Gyarados' back fins glowed golden before its wide mouth became surrounded with a yellowish orange energy, which it fired at Umbreon.

"Sister!" Daniel gasped in shock and horror.

Salamence flew in front of Umbreon and took the attack head-on. He roared painfully and landed on the ground, one of his wings aching.

"Why'd you do that?" Umbreon asked. "It was directed at me."

"I am protecting those who are in my territory, it's my job as a leader to defend them from villains," said Salamence.

Umbreon's eyes came to tears before she glared at the villainous trio. "You will pay for that! Brother, let's do this!"

Daniel nodded and he took his Z-Ring on his wrist before putting a Z-Crystal in the ring.

"Uh-oh…" James started. "I think we're in for it…"

"This is revenge for you hurting Salamence," Daniel said. He pressed a finger on the Buzzinium Z crystal, which began to light up. "Let's do this, sister!"

"All right!" Umbreon said.

"This is stronger than a normal Buzzy Buzz…ten million volts Buzzy Buzz," said Daniel. "This is much stronger. Umbreon, use 10,000,000 Volts Buzzy Buzz!"

Umbreon's body became surrounded in a yellowish light as she charged up her Z-Move attack before multiple colored electricity was fired from her body at Team Rocket and their Pokémon, with all of them screaming in fear before an explosion occurred and sent them flying in the sky.

Umbreon panted for a moment while Daniel turned to the hurt Salamence and walked up to him.

"That was some attack," Salamence commented. "If only I was able to stop those three from entering my territory sooner, this wouldn't have happened."

"What are you talking about?" Daniel smiled. "You saved Umbreon from Gyarados' Hyper Beam. I cannot thank you enough for that."

Salamence gave a small smile. "It's my duty as a leader to defend those who are harmless in my territory and haven't done anything to steal something."

Daniel noticed the tear in Salamence's eye. "Would you come with us?"

Both Salamence and Umbreon looked at him in surprise.

"If you come along with us on our journey, you will be able to become stronger and more capable of defending those who cannot protect themselves from villains such as Team Rocket," Daniel explained. "What do you say?"

Salamence was silent for a while. "I…would love to, young Trainer."

"Daniel, call me that," Daniel said.

"All right…Daniel, I would like to join you on your adventures," Salamence said.

Daniel stood and took an empty Poké Ball from his pocket. "Poké Ball, go!" He threw the Poké Ball at Salamence, with the red beam sucking him inside and land on the ground softly before shaking three times before a ding signaled his capture.

"Salamence has been registered to your Pokédex."

Daniel smiled and took Salamence's Poké Ball.

~~...~~

Inside the Pokémon Center of Vermilion City, Nurse Joy had healed Salamence, Daniel's newly captured friend. Daniel let him out of his Poké Ball.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"In Vermilion City Pokémon Center," Umbreon replied.

Salamence blinked. "How are you fairing, Umbroen?"

"Just fine. It was nothing fatal, that's for sure."

"Thanks again, Nurse Joy," Daniel thanked her.

"It was no problem, Champion," she said with a smile. "All I can do is heal everyone back to full health."

Daniel looked at Salamence and Umbreon. "Let's go to the lab."

"The lab?" Salamence wondered.

"It's where we are currently, away from our home as we research new Pokémon," Umbreon explained to him as they walked through the streets.

"Do you live in the forest?"

"No, we live in Pallet Town, a small town where a new beginning is made," she smiled at him.

Daniel smiled at his two Pokémon who were getting along nicely. He looked up in the sky and thought of his human friend Jake Kidoya. I wonder how he is doing?

~~...~~

Jake was standing in front of Hala, the Melemele Island's Kahuna, ready for a two-on-two Pokémon battle that determined his right to continue his Island Challenge. Beside him stood Lucario, the evolved form of Riolu.

"Are you ready, Jake?" Hala asked. "Because this is where the real battle begins."

"I am so ready," Jake responded with his answer. "Me and Lucario haven't come this far to lose."

Lucario nodded in agreement.

"Then let the battle begin!" Kukui said as the referee.

Jake had sent Lucario out on the field first, while Hala had sent his Crabominable out on the field.

This is it. My first Kahuna battle. Watch me, Daniel. I will win and return to Kanto once this Island Challenge is over. I promise you that.

Author's Note: The next chapter will be a six-parter about Jake's Island Challenge in Alola. I hope to make it as enjoyable as Daniel Platinum's POV. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, readers, because things are starting to take off. I've also made up my mind about which Pokémon Daniel Platinum should catch for the World Battle Tournament, which I am still accepting OCs for from the regions of Johto, Sinnoh, Kalos, Alola, Galar and Paldea before the beginning of the tournament.