Episode 115: Got Meltan?
Shortly after getting off the phone with Professor Oak, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Togepi, the Alolan nine, Tai, Kari, Matt, TK, Sara, Izzy, Mimi, Joe, Davis, Ken, Yolei, Cody, and Jun all waited to hear back from Professor at any moment. In the meantime, they all kept a watch over Meltan making sure it didn't just go wondering off or causing trouble by eating anything made of metal; especially Sora's necklace.
"So, what did the professor say?" Kairi asked.
"He said he'll let us know as soon as he finds out about Meltan," Sora said.
"So, what do we do in the meantime?" Yolei asked.
"The best bet is to make sure Meltan dosen't get anywhere," Kiawe said.
"I agree. But, the hard part would be keeping it fed," Illima said.
"Well, it eats metal right? We could tell people we're starting recycling program," Davis suggested.
Everyone just looked at Davis that just said "are you serious?" Sora facepalmed at the very thought.
"Pika," Pikachu deadpanned.
"Toge," Togepi also deadpanned.
"How are we gonna carry all that metal? And especially all the heavy stuff?" Sora asked.
"Sora is right. You think we should come up to some random stranger and say 'excuse me, do you think you can spare some scrap metal for us?'" TK asked. "Do you think anyone would anyone will be willing to give some to us?"
"TK does have a point. We can't just go around the trash like a Diglett looking for some food," Acerola said.
"Maybe Sora could ask Professor Oak do deliver some scrap metal when we hear from him," Cody suggested.
"That's a great idea, Cody. We could just do that," Sora said. Meltan looked at his necklace quite hungrily and he places his hand on the necklace. "But, I hope he doesn't take long to do it."
"Don't worry so much. I got Magnemite to help out just in case Meltan tries anything," Sophocles said.
"I guess," Sora said. It was true Sophocles's Magnemite can use its magnetism to keep Meltan from trying to eat his necklace, but Sora was still worried about his necklace being on Magnemite's magnet as well.
Not too long after, the man from before had entered the Pokémon Center and walked up to Nurse Joy at the counter.
"Excuse me, nurse. You think you can direct me to the phones?" The man asked.
"The phones are located on the right," Nurse Joy said.
"Thanks. Also, I was wondering if you could give my Elekid and Electabuzz a checkup?" He asked taking out his two Pokéballs.
"Of course sir. Your Pokémon will be fighting fit when we're done with them," Nurse Joy said handing them to her Blissey. "Blissey, give these two proper treatment."
"Blissey!" The Blissey said taking the two Pokéballs with her. The man walked over to the phones and saw that most of them were busy. He sighs.
"I guess some guys just can't catch a break," the man said. He went over to a bench to sit down. "I really need a vacation."
"So, what do we do for lunch?" Mallow asked.
"We could just hit the mess hall," TK suggested. The man's ears perked up when he recognizes one of them. He turns to see Matt and TK with their friends and some other kids with them.
"Great idea, TK. There isn't a pizza parlor in miles of here," Matt said.
"Matt? TK?" The man called out making the group freeze in place.
"Dad?" Matt and TK both asked.
Sora, Kairi, and the Alolan nine all had already met their mom, but now they're meeting their dad for the first time.
"I didn't expect to run into you and your friends here," Matt and TK's father said.
"You too dad," TK said.
"Just what are you doing here anyway? Did mom tell you we were down here?" Matt asked.
"No. I didn't bump into your mother," The bother's father said. "Tai, Kari, and the rest. I had a feeling I would see you as well."
"It's very good to see you again, sir," Kari said. The brother's father noticed the other kids with them.
"So, who are they?" He asked.
"Dad, these are some friends we made on our travels," Matt said. "The one with the spiky brown hair is Sora and the girl next to him is his girlfriend Kairi. They're from Pallet Town."
"The rest of our new friends came from the Alola region," TK said.
"My name's Lillie."
"I am Illima."
"My name's Mallow.
"I'm Kiawe."
"My name is Lana."
"I'm Sophocles."
"I'm Acerola."
"Mina."
"And my name's Hapu."
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Toge, Togepi," Togepi chirped.
"Pikachu? Togepi?" The brother's father asked. He looked over to the couple and their two Pokémon. He looked around to the nine other kids and that's where it hit him. "So you kids have something to do with the strange Pokémon sightings I've been hearing about?"
"Strange Pokémon sightings?" Sora asked.
"Something about strange Pokémon coming in and then just vanishing just as they appeared. The strange part of it is there are rumors about a bunch of kids being seen battling those Pokémon. One kid had brown spiky hair, wearing baggy clothes and is wearing a crown necklace and has a Pikachu with him. Also, another kid is a girl with a Togepi," Matt and TK's father said. Sora, Kairi, and the Alolan nine all knew they had some things to explain.
"Yeah, about that," Sora said. "I think we should talk it over at lunch." Sora, Kairi, and the Alolan nine all explained to him about the Ultra Beasts showing up and Sora and Riku had been tasked by Lusamine to capturing them and send them off to Professor Oak just so as he can transfer them to the Aether Foundation's base in Alola. When he asked about Silvally, Sora had explained that he, Riku, and Gladion each have one. They even told them about how his ex-wife had helped out when Blacephalon and Xurkitree were competing with each other. Sora told him that they met up with his sons and their friends shortly after. "And that's about it."
Matt and TK's father took a moment to let it all sink in. He remembered hearing about it from Nancy at one point and he thought it was a fairytale along with just about any legendary Pokémon he heard stories about.
"I just don't belive it. You to tell me that those things are actually Ultra Beasts coming in our world?" Matt and TK's father asked.
"That pretty much sums it up," Kiawe said.
"Sora caught one of those Poipole back at the Indigo Plateau and he was going to let it go, but it just refused to go back and stated it wantes to stay with him," Kairi said.
"So, we've been keeping an eye out for them ever since we came her in Johto," Sora said.
"You know something, I remember one kid mentioning something about Ultra Beasts about some other kind of Pokémon I saw," Matt and TK's father said.
"What do you mean?" Mallow asked.
"I came in to make a phone call, and heal up Elekid and Electabuzz about the strangest Pokémon I have ever seen," he said. Meltan came out of Sora's left pocket and climbed up to reach Sora's necklace. "Small with a hex nut shaped head." He looked to Sora and saw Meltan climb up. "Just like that one!" He pointed to Meltan on his shoulder. Sora took off his necklace and held it in his right hand.
"No! No! I told you, Meltan! You don't eat my necklace! That's not for you to eat!" Sora exclaimed. Kairi took Meltan off his shoulder.
"I got it, Sora," Kairi said. She did gently so as Meltan wouldn't use Flash Cannon again.
"Meltan?" Matt and TK's father asked.
"That's what we decided to call it since we discovered it," TK said.
"How did you kids do that?" He asked.
"Funny you should ask," Sora said. "I kinda found it in my backpack by accident. I have no idea how or when it got into my backpack."
"We also heard about someone with some missing tools, and we found out that this new Pokémon was the one who ate them," Ken said.
"But the question is how do you know about Meltan?" Lana asked.
"Like I said, I was doing my job getting the story about the Ultra Beasts as you call them, when my I started to have some engine problems. That was when a bunch of kids came along and one of them had an Eevee. I thought it was trying to play with me, but it bashed my truck and those things came out. I was shocked when I saw what they did," Matt and TK's father explained.
"Eevee?" Kairi asked.
"Yes. This Eevee had the same hairstyle as the kid," he described. Sora had to ask this.
"Did this kid have long silver hair? And was there a girl with blonde hair wearing a white dress carrying an Azurill?" Sora asked.
"Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?" Matt and TK's father asked.
"Riku and Naminé!" Sora and Kairi said at once.
"You know them?" Matt and TK's father asked.
"Yes we do," Illima said.
"Nine of us are his old classmates," Mallow said.
"Yeah," Mina nodded.
"So we all go way back," Hapu said.
Matt and TK's father put two and two together and guessed the kid with the silver hair was the Riku Sora had mentioned. He turned to his sons.
"Have you two ever met him before?" He asked.
"We did a few times," Matt said.
"Riku is a pretty good Pokémon trainer by the way he battles," TK said.
"I don't doubt it. I've seen him go at it," Matt and TK's father said. "And those little Pokémon all fired Flash Cannon at some weirdos who wanted to catch them," Matt and TK's father said. "And after that, they just ran away."
"Well, at least we now know that this one isn't the only one," Joe said.
"Just the only one we've seen," Acerola said.
"And it's a good thing we're not using any metal utensils because, Meltan might just end up eating them," Sara said.
"And we would be in a lot of trouble and have to pay for the eaten spoons, forks, and knives," Kari said.
"But is metal is all they eat?" Matt and TK's father asked.
"Kairi tried to feed it with some Pokémon food she made, but it just sneered and refused to eat it," Mallow said.
"And that has never failed before," Hapu said.
"No," Mina said.
"But we collected some interesting data about its behavior," Izzy said.
"And I took some notes on the matter," Lillie said taking out her notebook. She handed him the notebook and he read through what she wrote down.
"So Professor Oak is probably doing some research on Meltan right now," Cody said.
"And if anybody would know if it's a new species of Pokémon, he would," Yolei said.
"If Professor Oak is surprised by this, Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet will be just as surprised," Sophocles said.
"The same for Professor Elm when he catches wind of it," Illima said.
"But, how long would it take for Professor Oak to contact us?" Jun asked. Before Sora could answer Davis's sister, his Pokédex starts buzzing. He checks it and it's from Professor Oak.
"He must have found something out!" Sora said. "I better go have a word with him." He and everyone else got off to hear what Professor Oak has to say about Meltan.
Sora dialed Professor Oak's number and waited for him to answer it. Professor Oak answered the phone with a smile on his face.
"Ah! Sora my boy! I am exited to give you the excellent news!" Professor Oak said. "But before we get to that. Kari, Matt, TK, Sara, Izzy, Mimi, Joe, Yolei, Ken, Cody; I just want to say it's good to see all of you again." The Pokémon professor smiled.
"You too, Professor," Kari said.
"I can't believe that my little brother actually knows Professor Oak, the famous Pokémon researcher," Jun said.
"And who are you?" Professor Oak asked.
"My name is Jun; I'm Davis's sister," Jun introduced herself.
"And my name's Hiroaki; I'm Matt and TK's father," he introduced himself as well.
"A pleasure to meet you both," Professor Oak said. "But before I get sidetracked, I have news regarding this 'Meltan' as you call it. I have done some general research and compared to the data of all the Pokémon you have encountered during your travels; but, at first I thought it may have been an Ultra Beast, but it doesn't show any ultra power to it and there no such records of this particular Pokémon which only confirms to be a brand new species. And just as you suspected, it is a Steel Type. Also, it has the ability Magnet Pull which traps Steel Type Pokémon during battle."
"I knew you would confirm it, professor," Sora said. "We weren't the only ones who have actually seen it. Infact, Hiroaki along with Riku and Naminé have seen more of them."
"I know, Sora. He had contacted me not too long ago describing what you have shown me. But, he surprised to hear that you have come across one of them," Professor Oak said. "In fact, Takato, Rika, Henry, Jeri, Kazu, Kenta, Takuya, Koji, Kouichi, Tommy, Zoe, and JP have made this discovery along with them. So I have made sure that they have been accredited for this astounding discovery." Sora had wondered when they met up with Riku, Naminé, Eevee, and Azurill, but he decided to save it for later.
"Did you find anything else about Meltan yet?" Sora asked.
"Well, according to the data I have recieved from Izzy, the one you have with you knows the attacks, Headbutt, Flash Cannon, Harden, and Thunder Shock; but it turns out it can also use other attacks as well. Those attacks happens to be Thunder Wave, Acid Armor, and Tail Whip."
"Do you think it's capable of evolution?" Sora asked.
"I'm afraid I do not have an answer for that. Additional research is required; but I shall inform you if I happen to find the answer," Professor Oak said. "But, I can provide the data I have onto your Pokédex." Sora nodded as he took out his Pokédex and placed it into the slot for the upgrade. Once the upgrade was finished, he saw Meltan's data had been added. "Give it a whirl."
"Okay, Meltan. Let's see what Dexter has to say about you," Sora said using his Pokédex to scan the Pokémon.
Meltan, the Hex Nut Pokémon
Type: Steel
It melts particles of iron and other metals found in the subsoil, so it can absorb them into its body of molten steel.
"Professor Oak must have compared some data he had about Meltan," Sora said in his thoughts.
"Once again, I do appreciate you bringing this to my attention," Professor Oak said. "Lea and Isa were pretty surprised to hear the discovery you made. I also passed the news to Professors Elm, Birch, Rowan, Juniper, Sycamore, Magnolia, and Kukui. They were pretty amazed by this discovery."
"Figured as much," Sora said. "I know Lea is going to have this memorized for the rest of his days."
"Also, I would like to add your father would be so very proud of you if he was alive to this day," Professor Oak said. "Of course if your mother hasn't gone grocery shopping today, she would agree with me."
Sora sighed heavily as he wished his father was around as well. He only wish that he knew his father as he placed his hand on his crown necklace. Meltan looked up at the spikey-headed human and understood why it meant so much to him. Kairi then spoke up for Sora.
"Has my grandma received the last letter I sent?" Kairi asked.
"Why yes she did, infact she recieved it just yeaterday," Professor Oak said. "In fact, I have been hearing how well you have been doing as a Pokémon trainer since you began raising Togepi." He turned to Sora. "So Sora, don't forget to make contact with mother when you get the chance."
"I'll try not to, professor," Sora said.
"And by the way. Have you thought of catching Meltan?" Professor Oak asked. "I mean since you have a brand new species, it's only appropriate to have a new addition to your team." Sora looked over to the Steel Type Pokémon for a moment.
"I think you're right, professor. Catching Meltan would be a good idea," Sora agreed. He took out a Pokéball and held in front of Meltan. "How about it, Meltan? You wanna be my Pokémon from now on?" Meltan looked at him. It looked over to Pikachu and nodded. Pikachu gestured for Meltan to press the button on the Pokéball. Meltan did exactly that as Meltan flows inside the Pokéball. Stars swirls around the Pokéball confirming the catch. Sora's Pokédex starts buzzing asking him if he wants to keep Meltan or send it to Professor Oak's lab. He decided to keep Meltan with him in exchange for Marill. "As of right now, Meltan; you are my Pokémon."
Sora now had one of every Type, except for Psychic. Time will tell if he should ever come across one, but for now he has to settle for the Types he has. Kairi, the Alolan nine, Tai, Kari, Matt, TK, Sara, Izzy, Mimi, Joe, Davis, Ken, Yolei, Cody, Jun, and Hiroaki couldn't believe that he caught a newly discovered Pokémon.
"Well, since you decided to keep Meltan with you, I'll be sure you would like to test its battling skills," Professor Oak said. "I don't have any doubts it'll be the best Pokémon it can be." Professor Oak smiled once again. Poipole, Lycanroc, Silvally, and Muk all waved to Sora. "The rest of your Pokémon will be thrilled about the newest addition as well. It was wonderful talking to you, though."
"You too, professor," Sora said hanging up the phone. He looked around to Kairi and the Alolan nine. "Which one of you wants the honor of battling Meltan?" Before anyone could answer.
"I can take you on that offer, kid," Hiroaki said. "I did some Pokémon training in my younger days, so I figured someone with some experience under his belt can prove its metal."
"You're not just saying that because it's a Steel Type, right?" Sora asked.
"Don't think he's going to pull any punches with you, Sora," TK said. "Our dad is pretty good."
"In other words, you won't find it easy just like when you battled Tai and won," Matt said.
"I don't expect it," Sora said. "I accept your challenge. I just wanna see how sharp is this old dog's teeth." Hiroaki smiled. He and his younger opponent shook hands.
Nancy had just entered the Pokémon Center and spotted her ex-husband and her sons.
"Matt? TK? Hiroaki?" Nancy asked.
"Mom?" Matt and TK said at once.
"Nancy?" Hiroaki asked. "Heard you were here in Johto."
"I didn't know you were here," Nancy said. "Why are you here?"
"Working," Hiroaki said. "You still look good though."
"Thanks. You too," Nancy said.
Both Sora and Hiroaki got ready for their upcoming battle. Hiroaki's family were standing along the rest of the group as the battle was about to start. Sora held out Meltan's Pokéball and threw it.
"Go for it, Meltan!" Sora said throwing his Pokéball letting out his newest Pokémon. Meltan spins its head around like a top. Nancy was stunned to see this new kind of Pokémon for the first time.
"Then I'm going with Electabuzz!" Hiroaki threw his Pokéball. His Electabuzz starts sparkling static electricity from its body. It had a few scars indicating some battle experience. But it was a little on the chubby side.
"Dad's Electabuzz is a chubbier than I remember," TK said.
"His Electabuzz always did eat between meals," Nancy said. "But, even when over weight he looks still looks fit to battle."
"I don't doubt it," Illima said.
"Sora isn't going to find it easy," Matt said.
"Don't think you'll win so easily just because it's small," Hiroaki said. "A bunch of those things are tough working together." He remembered the power of their combined Flash Cannon attack they threw at Team Rocket. He wondered how tough they are when by themselves. "Show me what you've got, kid!"
"Okay, but you asked for it!" Sora said. "Meltan! Start things with Headbutt!" Meltan jumped towards the larger Pokémon to bash Electabuzz.
"Dodge it!" Hiroaki called out. Despite being so chubby his Electabuzz manages to be a fast runner. Kairi and the Alolan nine were surprised by the sudden speed.
"Whoa! That Electabuzz is fast!" Sophocles said.
"I guess not even being fat can slow down an Electabuzz," Mallow said.
"Okay Electabuzz! Use Thunder Punch!" Hiroaki ordered. Electabuzz's fist emitted electricity and threw a punch on the small Steel Type. Meltan goes flying in the air.
"Meltan! Thunder Shock!" Sora ordered. Meltan sends out Thunder Shock at the fat Electabuzz barley even making him flinch. "Now use Headbutt again!" Meltan launched itself like a rocket and beaned Electabuzz in the gut. Nancy was amazed by how tough can one little Pokémon could be.
"Hiroaki is a tad rusty, but that kid is better than I remember. After the way he handled those Ultra Beasts, I have wondered how tough Sora was," Nancy said in her thoughts. She remembered just how good a trainer her ex-husband was since their younger days. His Electabuzz at the appropriate weight, but as she said ate between meals.
"Electabuzz! Brick Break!" Hiroaki ordered as Electabuzz got ready to use a chop attack.
"Meltan! Harden!" Sora ordered. Meltan's body became stiff raising its defense. The attack did hit, but it did a little damage. Meltan darted to the ground like a bullet, getting stuck in the soil.
"Good, it's trapped! Move in now! Another Dynamic Punch now!" Hiroaki ordered. Electabuzz ran towards Meltan. The hex nut Pokémon spinned its head again making its sound.
"Meltan! Get out of there!" Sora called out. Meltan manages to get out of the soil as Electabuzz was fastly approaching to deliver a powerful punch. "Use Flash Cannon!" Meltan creates a white ball of energy in front of its eye and then fires a white and light blue beam from it at Electabuzz. Flash Cannon makes contact and hits Electabuzz resulting in an explosion. Everyone watching the battle braced themselves as the attack had hit and created a cloud of smoke. Once the smoke had cleared, Electabuzz is seen laying on the ground knocked out. Nancy, Matt, and TK were surprised to see that Hiroaki had lost. Tai, Kari, Sara, Izzy, Mimi, Joe, Davis, Ken, Yolei, Cody, and Jun were just as shocked.
"I don't belive it. Dad lost," Matt said in disbelief.
"I don't believe it either," TK said sharing his brother's disbelief. "Meltan is much stronger than any of us thought."
Nancy just stood there in shock seeing her ex-husband had lost the battle to a Pokémon she had never seen before.
"Just who is he?" Nancy asked herself in her thoughts. Meltan went up to Sora as he smiled.
"Not bad for your first battle, Meltan. Your Flash Cannon was pretty awesome," Sora said smiling. He picked Meltan in his hand. "As long as you're with me, we can be a real team."
Hiroaki helped his Electabuzz on his feet.
"You okay, Electabuzz?" Hiroaki asked. Electabuzz nodded. "It was nice getting back on the saddle. You did your best. You always do."
"Dad's right," TK said. "You're always a winner to me," TK said. That made Electabuzz smile hearing him smile as he remembered how he always liked to see TK so cheerful.
In Electabuzz's memory, a younger TK is seen wearing a green vest over a light green shirt with long sleeves, khaki shorts, yellow socks, green and white strapped tennis shoes, and an odd green hat with a blue gem stone.
"You're always a winner to me, Electabuzz; win or lose," young TK said laughing.
Back to the present, Electabuzz is smiling warmly at the memory. Nancy smiled knowing how Electabuzz was always so fond of TK. Hiroaki walked over to Sora.
"You're better than I thought, Sora. You handled your new Pokémon pretty good, but I had a little rust on me," Hiroaki said.
"Thanks Hiroaki. Rust or no rust, you're no slouch either," Sora said.
Joe healed up Hiroaki's Electabuzz since training to become a Pokémon doctor wrapping his arms with some bandages.
"Just let your Electabuzz rest up for a couple of days to heal faster," Joe said taking out some pills. "And give it some pills after each meal."
"I will, Joe," Hiroaki said taking the pills. "So where are you kids heading?"
"Down to Goldenrod City for my very next Gym battle," Sora said.
"I was heading down there myself," Hiroaki said to the group.
"Same here," Nancy said. "I was going to catch the Magnet Train there."
"Since we're heading there anyway, we might as well head there together," Kairi offered.
Matt and TK's parents didn't wait to take them on that offer and obliged them. Everyone headed towards Goldenrod City since it was not too far away from them. Just when they got close, the group had encountered a wild Aipom swinging in the woods. This Aipom had a longer cowlick than that one Aipom he battled. Sora took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Gligar! Go!" Sora said letting out Gligar. "Gligar! Wing Attack!" Gligar flew towards the squirrel monkey Pokémon hitting her on the mark. Aipom fired with Swift hitting Gligar hard. "Move in with Slash!" Gligar swung his pincer at Aipom hitting her hard. "Now use X-Scissor!" Gligar swiped his pincers into an X and hit Aipom on the spot. Once she was at her weakest, Sora took out the Fast Ball and threw it at her. Aipom flows inside and the Fast Ball starts to wobble around and around. Stars swirls around the Fast Ball confirming the catch. Sora's Pokédex starts buzzing asking him if he wants to keep Aipom or send her to Professor Oak's lab. He decides to send her to Professor Oak. "Another successful capture."
After a few hours, the group had finally made it to Goldenrod City, the sight of Sora's very next Gym battle. The city had even more wonders there. But, will the Gym Leader there give Sora a run for his money or will he emerge on top and win his third Johto Gym battle? Just wait and see.