Chapter 4

A dragon in the deep

I shifted slightly causing Masa to grumble in my arms. We were currently looking for the lake that was said to be in deep Viridian. Apparently you could find some rare Pokémon and sometimes even Pokémon from other regions.

But I was only after Horsea, Kingdra it's last evolution was my goal. When it reached its last evolution the Pokémon would become a water and dragon type.

Getting a Horsea soon was pretty important considering our first gym, yes I do have confidence in Masa but I just couldn't see him beating two Pokémon by himself at his current level.

Masa was level 12 and if I remember correctly Brocks Pokémon was fourteen. I could probably get Masa up a level or two if I battled something other than Weedle and Caterpie and the occasional Carp, here I'd battle a few things hopefully before we head to Pewter city.

A soft grumble drew me out of my thoughts and I looked down at Masa. He wasn't looking at me though so I followed his gaze and smiled, there it was. The lake was absolutely stunning and I could see lots of Pokémon in and around it.

I could see a school of Poliwag near the surface, a Slowpoke at the water's edge with his tail dangling in the water. A Golden was jumping and playing, her orange scales glistening in the sunlight.

Then I saw it, a single Horsea in the water. It was bobbing in the water happily. With a smile I walked around the edge of the water, some of The Pokémon dived while some stayed, seeing no threat from me. I easily made it over to where the water type was and she watched me carefully as I approached.

Now most Pokémon in the dragon evolution line didn't back down from a challenge so I had confidence she wouldn't run and luckily she didn't. She watched me with her deep crimson eyes as I stopped at the shore a few feet away from her.

She seemed to look me up in down as if assessing my and then her eyes locked onto Masa's and the ant Pokémon stared back. Masa feeling my eagerness for battle made his way out of my arms and onto the beach.

"All or nothing buddy, if she runs that's it but if she stays it'll be our chance. Now Masa, start with mud-slap!"

Masa immediately complied and shot a ball of mud at the water type but she swiftly swam to the side avoiding the attack before shooting a water gun at the ant Pokémon. Masa backed up as the water hit him and he gave an angry growl.

"Now Masa Astonish!" I called out. Masa shouted in a startling fashion causing the Horsea to flinch. "Alright now once more use mud-slap." Once again he shot a ball of mud at the water type hitting her this time.

The Horsea glared as she shook herself before she pointed her snout in the air and a small twister formed. When she was ready she whipped it at us.

"Masa! Quickly use dig!" I called out. The ant Pokémon could hear my urgency and quickly dig into the ground just barely dodging the attack. After a few moments he reappeared and snapped his jaws angrily. I could tell he was frustrated, the Horse wouldn't come ashore so the Trapinch didn't have much to work with. Trapinch liked to fight with their jaws but he couldn't so he had to use the only two attacks that had at least a bit of distance to them.

I could tell after this battle I'd have to let him get his frustrations out, I could see it building rapidly as he struggled with the water type and any dark or dragon trainer knew you never want a dragon or dark type to get too frustrated or they would burst and attack everything in sight.

I gave a growl of my own as I stared at Horsea. She was starting to look a little tired, her chest heaved a bit more which was good.

I bit my lip and glanced at Masa, he was also getting tired to but the thought of beating the water type would probably give him the push he needed.

"Masa you can do this, that water type is getting tired so she'll be slower we just need to get her to attack a bit more and then we'll have the battle." I said drawing his attention. Be looked back at me and gave a nod before turning his attention back on the Horsea.

"Alrighty Masa Laser Focus and then wait for her next attack."

The ant pit Pokémon gave a nod then began to focus on the water type. The Horsea sat there and waited for a moment before she shot a water gun at Masa.

"Masa! Tuck and roll then use Astonish!"

Masa was smarter than your average Trapinch so thankful he understood and he actually managed to push with his legs and he rolled to the side a few times before he was back on his feet and he immediately shouted in the air and the attack was a critical and hit the water type.

I took that moment then to toss my pokeball at the water type and I watched as the Horsea disappeared in a flash of red and the ball fell into the water where it floated. My anxiety rose as the ball flashed once, then twice and finally a third time before it gave a ding.

I smiled brightly before I waded into the water and grabbed my Pokémon with the Horsea in it. I quickly made it to the dry shore where I scooped Masa into my arms and hugged him tightly. "You did it Masa! You beat her!"

Masa gave a happy chuff and I placed him down. "Alright let's meet our new teammate." I said as I pressed the release button on the pokeball in my hands. In a red flash the water type formed with a small trumpet.

"Ok Dexter I need info." I said as I pulled out my Pokédex.

Name: Horsea

Gender: Female

Level: 10

Info: They swim with dance-like motions and cause whirlpools to form. Horsea compete to see which of them can generate the biggest whirlpool.

Moves: Water Gun, Smokescreen, Twister, Rain Dance.

Egg moves: Aurora Beam

Note: Egg moves have yet to be learned.

Ability: Sniper

"That's pretty good, well it's nice to meet you Horsea and welcome to the team." I said as I put my Pokédex away. The water type gave a small trumpet.

"Ok Horsea would you like a nickname?" I asked. The water type jumped forward and nodded excitedly.

"Ok I'll list a few names and when I say one you like tell me ok." Once again she gave a nod and I smiled. "Ok, Arroyo, Briny, Fen, Mira, Darya" the water type gave a trumpet.

"I'm glad to have you on the team Darya. Here your probably still a little hurt and tired, let me heal you up." I took off my bag and I reached into it then pulled out two potions. I quickly sprayed Darya before turning to Masa and I gave him a quick spray.

"Alright Darya you'll have to return for now, you need to rest." I said as I recalled her. With her safe in her pokeball I turned to Masa. "Alright Masa you have free time now but I want you back in an hour, you got that?" The ant pit Pokémon gave me a quick nod before he burrowed into the ground.

With Gary still gone I decided to quickly set up my tent, we probably wouldn't leave till the morning. When I got my tent set up I quickly rummaged through my bad before I pulled out a small can of cream soup. I placed the can to the side along with all of my cooking gear before I left to look for Barriers.

I managed to find some apples along with two Pecha berries for sweetness, Aspear berry for a bit of sourness and lastly a Salac Berry which is both sweet and sour. Happy with my selection I went back to camp where I cut up the berries then I went to put the cream in the pot and started a fire to cook with.

By the time I had everything In the small pot Masa had returned and I had let Darya out so she could swim and enjoy herself.

"Hey Saber the food smells good."

I turned and smiled as Gary approached with his Squirtle by his side along with a female Nidoran following after him.

"You caught one, congratulations!" I said as I stood up.

"Yea she was pretty impressive and put up quite a fight but we managed to get her. So what about you, did you ever find a Horsea?"

I glanced over at the water and glimpsed Darya in the water. "Sure did, it was a bit of a chalange but me and Masa managed and now Darya is part of the team." I explained.

"Nice! I know it's been a bit frustrating for you the past few day." He looked towards the water and smiled. "She's a pretty good size too."

"Yep, she's young but already level ten and I know she'll grow fast. She was an amazing battler and she's got good speed."

"That's good, that means she can cover Masa's flaws until he evolves."

"Agreed, that was our main problem with the battle. I'm thinking I'll see if I can't teach him a new move in pewter if they have any available that is." I said with a sigh, Technical Machines and Technical Records were expensive, more money out of my pockets.

"Don't worry, there famous for rock and ground types so they should have something that should work with him." Gary said as he started to set up his own tent.

"Hey you know there might be a move I can teach him myself!" I said as shot up and ran to my bag. I dug through it for a moment before I pulled out a small booklet.

"Your move tutor book Gramps gave you? Aren't those supposed to be extremely hard to teach?"

I gave a shrug, "kind of, it all depends on what you know. Anyway there's this move called Scorching sand and the idea of it is pretty simple. The user throws scorching sand at the target to attack. It does a ton of damage and it also has a chance to leave the target with a burn." I explained as I read the page.

"It sounds simple yes but Trapinch aren't fire types" Gary said as he thought about it.

"True but you're forgetting something, Trapinch can learn sunny day which intensifies the sun's heat in the area, and the hot power that intensifies the sun's heat has to come from the Pokémon so that means Masa can do it, he just has to learn to collect that powerful heat into his body."

"I think I understand but your Trapinch doesn't know sunny day."

I smiled at that, "but he does know laser focus, laser Focus draws you Pokémon's focus on a target and while it focuses it gathers extra power for a critical. I think with this we can do it. it will be work but it'll pay off."

"I see so you'll have him focus on the energy he needs and then build it up and after you have the hot energy all you really need is to add Sand attack to it and it'll be complete." Gary said, looking thoughtful.

"Exactly, that's the gist of it." I said as I closed the book with a snap and placed it in my bag. "If I have him use Laser Focus every time he's out and have him focus on gathering energy we'll have it down in no time."

"Speaking of time, isn't it about time for food to be done." Gary said, causing me to shoot towards the pit that was starting to bubble over.

"Shoot I totally got carried away!" I said as I splashed water over the fire. With it now only steaming ash I took the pot lid off and slipped a spoon in for a taste.

"It's a little more done than I would like but otherwise it's still good!" I said. With that I gave a sharp whistle and my Pokémon came to me and I fed them while Gary let our his own Pokémon.

We all enjoyed our supper before going to bed with our Pokémon at our sides. Both Masa and Darya had made their way to my sleeping bag but sadly Darya beat him to it making him sleep against my back with Darya in my arms.

--

Saber's team

Masa - Trapinch

Darya - Horsea

Gary's on hand Pokémon

Squirtle

Pidgey

Kakuna

Nidoran - Female

That's another chapter done! Thank you guys so much for reading this far, it's really given me a lot more confidence and drive into writing. I've found myself all last night thinking far ahead into the plot and I'm getting very excited and I think you guys will like my next big even. Mount Moon is going to be very interesting and and I hope to make it a couple of chapters Long. Warning there will be death and violence involved once we reach Mt.Moon.

Anyway I still don't own Pokémon sadly, I cried las night at the realization of this fact!