Chapter 4: Lucas Catches a Pokemon
In all of Lucas's dreams of being a Trainer, he had not expected his journey to start quite as badly as it had. He understood why, of course. Most trainers start out in small towns where the Pokemon were low level and training was easier. Lucas seriously considered backtracking to Jubilife City or starting with the easiest gym in Oreburgh as Professor Oak had suggested. But the boy's funds were too low, and backtracking through the forest without the Cut Hidden Machine was not something Lucas was willing to do. It was just too far. This decision had consequences of course. Around the Eterna Forest and patches of grass on the route between the forest and the city, the Pokemon were already over level 13. Gizmo was level 12, but poor Hotrod was only level 5. That first morning was nothing but an exercise in frustration.
"Go Hotrod!" Lucas throw the Pokeball as a wild Bidoof stumbled across him in the tall grass.
"Char!" Hotrod snarled. The fire-type prepared for battle as the normal-type stared back blankly.
"Hotrod! Use Scratch!" Lucas commanded. Hotrod lunged forward and collided with the Bidoof, drawing his tiny nails against the fluffy Pokemon's face. While he clearly caused some damage to the fluffy creature with giant teeth, the attack did little. The Bidoof retaliated with a fierce Headbutt, just about knocking Hotrod out in one hit, "Okay Hotrod, that's good, now it's time for Gizmo!" The teen called his Charmander back and sent out the Eevee, "Okay Gizmo, you give a Tackle. Really give it to him!"
"Vi vi!" Gizmo nodded and hurled himself against the other normal-type. This knock did significantly more damage than Hotrod's attack. The Bidoof slide across the grass, wobbling as it picked itself back up. In an act of self-preservation it did a Defense Curl to try to improve its defenses. Lucas motioned for another attack and Gizmo tackled again. The Bidoof was now clearly very weak. The teen reached into his pocket and pulled out a Pokeball. He clicked the button once to enlarge it and heaved the ball towards the Bidoof with all his might. The ball bounced of the Pokemon and popped open, pulling the creature inside. It closed with a snap and landed on the ground. Lucas held his breath as the device glowed and shook. Once. Twice. Three times. Four times. His heart began to race as the Pokeball seemed to stop moving. Then suddenly, the device exploded open, with the Bidoof once again standing, blankly staring at the trainer, with the now useless Pokeball in pieces beside him.
"SONUVABITCH!" Lucas roared and clutched his skull in frustration. This scenario had happened roughly the same almost a half dozens times already. Earlier in the morning Hotrod was knocked out by a Bidoof. Then the team knocked out a Wurmple accidentally. A Budew was their next victim and then four subsequent trips to the Pokemon Center after running into the same foul-tempered Dustox. The nurse had said she would like to see Lucas again, though he doubted under those circumstances. Then Lucas's luck changed, and instead of knocking out the Pokemon, a series of Bidoof merely escaped their Pokeballs after being carefully weakened. Lucas was down to his last Pokeball, with no more money to buy any more. Reluctantly, he called Gizmo back and walked away from the Pokemon. As the boy glanced back, he could see the Bidoof had already wandered back into the grass.
Disheartened, the teen walked to the pond covered by the bridge and sat down on a post. He slumped his shoulders as he dwelt on the day's progress. The sun was now high in the sky, signaling it was past noon. The boy closed his eyes and let the day's heat and the slight breezes pass over his body. He could hear a thunking on the planks beside him and opened his eyes to see a Fisherman trainer smiling back at him, "Hi there! It is you. You're the fellow who ran past here yesterday with the Pokemon under his vest. I knew I recognized you because of all those silly bits of metal you having sticking out of your face. Thought to myself 'wow, that boy looks like a hooked Qwilfish, he does.' So if your Pokemon okay?"
The Fisherman's comment made Lucas bristle. He debated on answering the man's question or hurling something large and heavy at the man's head for being so rude. He decided he was too tired and too annoyed to look for something heavy, "He's fine. It was a little scary yesterday, but the people at the Pokemon Centers are superstars at what they do,"
"That's for sure. You gave us Fisherman quite a surprise when you can runnin' down the dock like that. Made me lose my catch. Think it was a Goldeen this time, too. Been wanting one for a while," The Fisherman carried on cheerfully.
"Sorry about that," Lucas said without any ounce of sincerity.
"Not a big deal. Being a Fisherman is all about patience. I'll get another one eventually. I just wanted to see how your Pokemon was doing. Don't see too many kids these days that would run that fast for their critters. Nice to see a kiddo that cares," the Fisherman carried on, "So what'cha doing here anyway, young fella,?
Lucas smirked. He decided the Fisherman wasn't such a jerk after all, "Nursing my wounds. I've been training since earlier this morning and it's been a disaster. I've got only one Pokeball left and there's no way I can buy more,"
"Ah, been there, been there," The fisherman sat down on the bridge and pulled out a rod, "Sometimes when you're unlucky on land you're more lucky with water. Why don't you try fishing?"
"Don't got a rod,"
"Well, you can have one of mine," The Fisherman reached into his things and pulled out a fishing rod that had clearly seen better days. It was bent, slightly rusted and held together with duct tape, "My wife wanted me to throw this one out. Might not be the newest or the shiniest, but it can still hook a water-type when needed to,"
"Sure," Lucas shrugged and slid off the post to sit next to the Fisherman. He took the rod and cast it into the water. Fishing was definitely more relaxing than chasing Bidoof through the grass, but it was also incredibly boring to sit and stare at the waterline. The Fisherman recast his rod several times, pulling back to see there were no bits on his hook. Lucas copied the motion with about as much success as the Fisherman. Just when Lucas was about to give up and move on, he felt a tug on the line, "Hey, I think I got a bite!"
"Pull back carefully kiddo, you don't want it to get away!"
Lucas obeyed his new teacher and carefully reeled in his catch. At the other end of the line was a flopping orange fish with wide eyes, "Oh awesome! It's a Magikarp!"
"Ah, you like Magikarp, aye? Usually, almost no one but Fisherman catch them. And other trainers make fun of us for using them," The Fisherman mused as he watched Lucas struggle with the fish.
"Nah, I think Magikarp are cool. Everyone underestimates them and thinks they are useless, just like they do me," Lucas finally yanked the Pokemon onto the dock, "They are way tougher than anyone realizes," Lucas yanked the Pokeball off of his necklace and tossed it towards the Magikarp, "Go Gizmo!"
Gizmo popped out of his Pokeball ready for battle. The Magikarp just seemed desperate to go back into the water. Lucas commanded his Eevee to use Tackle over and over again. The Magikarp just flopped in place, using Splash in retaliation, doing nothing to defend itself. Lucas's attitude towards the battle was like any other, he took it seriously and planned his attacks carefully.
The Fisherman watched admiringly, "Good job boy, Magikarp might not be strong fighters, but take more work than just a one-hit wonder,"
When the fish's flopping became more sluggish and weaker, Lucas reached into his pocket and pulled out the final Pokeball. He looked down at the object and grimaced, "Please let this work," He looked towards the Magikarp and called out as a last act of desperation, "Listen Magikarp, I'm a good guy, and I really want to be your Trainer. Please let me catch you,"
The Magikarp showed no sign whether it heard Lucas or not. The boy took a deep breath and chucked the Pokeball. The ball collided dully with the fish and sucked it inside. The ball once again snapped closed and landed on the docks, rolling around slightly and threatening to fall into the water. Lucas chewed on his bottom lip as he waited for the process to finish. One shake. Two. A third. A fourth. Then one fifth violent jerk and a loud 'click'. Lucas exhaled. He waited just a little bit more, still sure the Magikarp would pop out somehow, wasting his last Pokeball.
"What are you waiting for kid, that Magikarp is yours!" The Fisherman nudged Lucas forward with his elbow, almost causing the teen to fall over.
The man's actions brought him back to reality, "I-it's mine? It worked?" Lucas ran over to pick up the Pokeball and held it triumphantly above his head, "Whoooo! Hell yeah! I've got a Magikarp and I caught it! Look out world, 'cause I'm going to be the best!"
The Fisherman laughed as Lucas did a victory dance, "I remember when I caught my first Pokemon. It was so many years ago but I'll never forget it. I think I was just as happy as you are, even did the same stupid dance,"
"I'm going to call him Franky," Lucas announced as he held the Pokeball in both hands. He released Hotrod and let the Magikarp out of its ball, "Franky, welcome to the team,"
Gizmo and Hotrod curiously greeted their new teammate and chirped happily at the floppy orange fish. Lucas picked up the heavy water Pokemon and gave him a loving squeeze. And though Magikarp are almost expressionless, Franky almost looked like he was smiling.