Episode 25: The Heartbroken Lapras
Deep in the ocean, came swimming is a large sea Pokémon that resembles a plesiosaur. It has a blue hide with darker blue spots and a cream-colored underside. It has large brown eyes, a short horn on its forehead, and tightly curled ears. It has a long neck and four flippers. The foremost flippers are larger than the hind. On its back is a heavy, gray shell covered in blunt knobs. This Pokémon is known as a Lapras.
There was a school of Lapras swimming through the ocean surface. There were two Lapras in particular. One is female and one is male. The female Lapras nuzzles the male affectionately.
Out from the horizon, a pirate ship sailed right up to them. The lookout is up in the crow's nest, looking through a telescope. He spots the Lapras on the ocean's surface.
"Lapras, ho!" The pirate shouted.
The captain steps out, wearing a typical pirates outfit. Red trenchcoat and a pirate hat with a Pokéball and two cutlasses crossing it. Sitting on his shoulder is an avian Pokémon similar to a parakeet. Its head is black and resembles an eighth note, while its black tail resembles a metronome. Its plumage is brightly colored with blue wings, a yellow chest and feet, a green stomach, and a pink, hooked beak and eyelids. Additionally, there is a ruff of white feathers around its neck. This Pokémon is known as a Chatot.
Spear guns up!" the captain ordered.
"Spear guns up! Spear guns Up!" Chatot repeated.
The pirate crew drew out their spear guns getting ready to fire. The Lapras saw the ship and tried to make a break for it. As they started firing. The Lapras dove underwater. They swam as fast as they could. The female went up ahead. As she was swimming she figured she had lost the pirates by now, but she noticed her mate wasn't with her. She swam back looking for him. She saw that he had been impaled greatly by the spears. One of them is straight into his heart. He weakly opens his eyes while his mate nuzzled him to stay with her. The male took one last look and smiled before closing his eyes for the last time.
The female Lapras just swam blindly towards the shore. She started to grieve for the loss of her mate. She beached herself on the beach of Porta Vista and started crying.
Right on the beach, Kairi has learned that there are a group of Seel living on the beach, so she went to see for herself. Turns out that she heard right, because there were Seel there. Kairi took out her Pokédex and scanned them.
Seel, the Sea Lion Pokémon
Type: Water
This Pokémon lives on icebergs. It uses the sharp point on its head to break up ice as it swims in the sea.
Puts her Pokédex away and she looked around for the Seel that suites her. She saw one, and it is the cutest Seel she could find. Kairi threw the Pokéball and flows inside it. The Pokéball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Kairi's Pokémon Box goes off asking her if she wants to keep Seel with her. She chose to send Seel to Professor Oak's lab.
"I got myself a Seel!" Kairi cheered.
"Eevee, vee!" Angel said.
Over to Sora, Ventus, and Pikachu saw a bunch of Tentacool bunched together.
"Cool, Tentacool," Ventus attempts to touch one, but Sora pulls him back.
"Hold on, Ven! Don't get too close, because they all attack when they're provoked. Besides, I'll be in trouble with your mom and dad if you got hurt," Sora said.
"Aw," Ventus said. He looked around and he saw one that caught his eye. This Tentacool is bluish-purple. The crystals on the Tentacool are green.
"That one is a different color than the others," Sora said. He took out a Pokéball and threw it. The altered-colored Tentacool flowed inside and the Pokéball wobbles around and around when it hit the water. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Sora's Pokémon Box goes off asking him if he wants to keep Tentacool with him. He chose to send Tentacool to Professor Oak's lab. "Done."
"Good catch, Sora," Ventus said. "I thought you have to weaken a Pokémon in battle before catching it."
"You're right to point that out, Ven. But sometimes, you gotta catch a Pokémon when they're not looking," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
Over to Kairi and Angel, they spotted a Staryu resting on a rock. Kairi and Angel slowly approaches the Star Shape Pokémon, but Staryu has noticed her and attacked. Kairi ducked out of the way in time.
"Okay, let's do this thing!" Kairi said, taking out a Pokéball and threw it. "Go! Oddish!" Her Pokéball opened and Oddish came out. "Use Razor Leaf!" Oddish fired Razor Leaf at Staryu, but it dodged just by spinning out of the way. Staryu then lands a hit on the Weed Pokémon. "Oddish! Use Acid!" Oddish spews Acid and it struck Staryu right in the core. Use Mega Drain!" Oddish's leaves glows light green and energy leaves Staryu's body and heads into Oddish's body, healing her injuries. Staryu was low on energy, so Kairi took out a Pokéball and threw it. Staryu flowed inside and her Pokéball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Kairi's Pokémon Box goes off asking her if she wants to keep Staryu with her. She chose to send Staryu to Professor Oak's lab. "Good work, Oddish!"
"Eevee!" Angel said.
"Oddish, Oddish, Oddish, Oddish!" Oddish said, jumping up and down. Oddish then started to evolve. Kairi was stunned to see the sudden evolution. Oddish has evolved into a Gloom.
"Oddish, you evolved!" Kairi said.
"Gloom," Gloom said as she took out her Pokédex and scanned her.
Gloom, the Weed Pokémon
The evolved form of Oddish
Type: Grass/Poison
The nectar that comes out of Gloom's mouth smells absolutely atrocious. One whiff can make a human nose curl up from more than a mile away.
"Must be a strong odor," Kairi said. "That battle has made you evolve, so I'm very proud of you, Gloom!"
"Gloom, Gloom!" Gloom said.
Over to Sora, he has come across a pink Pokémon that resembles a cross between a salamander and a hippopotamus. It has vacant eyes that never seem focused, curled ears, and a rounded, tan muzzle. It has four legs, each of which ends in a single white claw. Its long, tapering tail has a white tip. Sora took out his Pokédex and scanned it.
Slowpoke, the Dopey Pokémon
Type: Water/Psychic
Slowpoke is a slow Pokémon in nature, but it is quite skilled when it comes to fishing with its tail. Slowpoke often forgets why it's doing it in the first place.
"No wonder it's called the Dopey Pokémon," Sora said. "Let's see." He took out a Pokéball and threw it at Slowpoke. It flowed inside and wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Sora's Pokémon Box goes off asking him if he wants to keep Slowpoke. He chose to send Slowpoke to Professor Oak's lab. "Looks like I got myself a Slowpoke."
"Pika, Pikachu!" Pikachu said.
Over to Kairi and Angel, they spotted a light blue, seahorse-like Pokémon. It has red eyes, a long, tubular mouth, and three spike-like fins on either side of its head. Its ridged belly and single dorsal fin are cream-colored. Kairi took out her Pokédex and scanned it.
Horsea, the Dragon Pokémon
Type: Dragon
If Horsea senses danger, it will reflexively spray a dense black ink from its mouth and try to escape. This Pokémon swims by cleverly flapping the fin on its back.
"How cute," Kairi said. She took out a Pokéball and threw it. Horsea flowed inside and the Pokéball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Kairi's Pokémon Box goes off asking her if she wants to keep Horsea with her. She chose to send Horsea to Professor Oak's lab. "A great catch."
"Eevee," Angel said.
"How about we meet up with Sora and Pikachu, Angel," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel nodded.
Sora, Ventus, and Pikachu met up with Kairi and Angel.
"How did it go for you, Sora?" Kairi asked.
"I caught about a Tentacool and a Slowpoke. How about you?" Sora asked.
"I caught a Seel, a Staryu, and a Horsea," Kairi said.
"Cool," Ventus said.
"This has turned into a great day," Sora said. Pikachu and Angel's ears perked up.
"Pika!" Pikachu said.
"Eevee!" Angel said.
"Angel, what's the matter?" Kairi asked.
"What do you hear, Pikachu?" Sora asked.
Pikachu and Angel ran ahead of them as Sora, Kairi, and Ventus followed them. They saw the Lapras on the beach.
"Is that a Lapras?" Ventus asked. Kairi took out her Pokédex and scanned her.
Lapras, the Transport Pokémon
Type: Water/Ice
Lapras is smart and kindhearted Pokémon, it glides across the surface of the sea while its beautiful song echoes around it.
"Something is wrong with her," Kairi said.
"Sure looks like it," Sora said.
"That Lapras is a girl?" Ventus asked.
"That's right. She doesn't look good," Kairi said.
Sora, Kairi, Ventus, Pikachu, and Angel stepped right on the beach and tended to her. Sora placed hand on Lapras, but she bats him off.
"Whoa!" Sora yelped.
"Sora, are you okay?" Kairi asked.
"I'm fine," Sora said. He got back up on his feet. "That was weird. I thought Lapras liked people."
"That's what I thought, too," Kairi said.
Just then, Ash came by and he saw them down with the Transport Pokémon.
"A Lapras!" Ash said, coming down. "Sora, Kairi!" Sora and Kairi turned to Ash. "I'm glad to see you're here!"
"Hey, Ash," Sora greeted.
"Haven't seen you since Lavender Town," Kairi said. Ash saw Ventus with them.
"Hey, Ven. How's it going?" Ash asked.
"Hi, Ash," Ventus greeted.
"You got taller than the last time I saw you," Ash said. He looked the Lapras. "Just how did this happen to this Lapras?"
"We don't know. Sora and I just found her right here," Kairi said.
"Man, this doesn't look good," Ash said.
"I tried to help her, but she batted me off like a baseball," Sora said.
"That doesn't sound right," Ash said. "You guys wait here and I'll go get Nurse Joy!"
"Right," Sora said. Sora, Kairi, Ventus, Pikachu, and Angel stayed with the Lapras, making sure no Heartless would come.
The good news is, no Heartless has shown up. The bad news is, Team Rocket has.
"Do you see what I see?" Jessie asked.
"A lapping Lapras!" Meowth said.
"Beached right here on Porta Vista!" James added.
"If I remember correctly, Lapras are considered to be rare Pokémon," Jessie said.
"That should be right, Jessie! With a rare Pokémon like that, the boss will be thrilled to the bone to see what we brought him!" James said.
"Knowing the twerps, they'll be sending that Lapras to the Pokémon Center to be healed!" Meowth said.
"Ooh, their big hearts will be the end of them," Jessie said.
Team Rocket chuckled evilly.
After waiting for several minutes, Ash has returned to Sora, Kairi, Ventus, Pikachu, and Angel with Nurse Joy. Helping her is her Chansey and a Pokémon that has a large, ovoid body with a pink upper body and white lower body. It has hair-like curls on either side of its head. White, wing-like tufts grow from its hips and shoulders, creating the impression of a dress. Its stubby arms and feet are pink and lack any digits. A small, pink pouch on its belly holds a single egg, which brings feelings of happiness and makes a person pleasant and caring if ingested. This Pokémon is known as Blissey.
It was difficult to load Lapras to the Pokémon Center since she has proven to be resistant. They eventually got her to the Pokémon Center. Terra, Aqua, and Karen have arrived to the Pokémon Center when they heard Sora, Kairi, Ash, and Ventus have helped bring her in.
"Sora, what's going on?" Karen asked.
"We heard that a Lapras was brought in the Pokémon Center," Aqua said.
"You heard right," Sora said. "When I tried to help, she just swatted me off. Not sure why."
"Is that right?" Karen asked.
"Something had to happen to make this Lapras like this," Terra said.
Nurse Joy stepped from the back, making thr group approach her.
"How is Lapras, Nurse Joy?" Sora asked.
"Is she okay?" Kairi asked.
"Physically, she is just fine, but I'm afraid it is something emotionally. I have tried to help her, but she is refusing to take the medications and eat," Nurse Joy said.
"This is really getting serious," Sora said.
"I'll make sure Lapras tries to eat to build up her strength, but until then, please wait out here," Nurse Joy said.
"Sure," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
They sat down in the lobby. Ash looked at Terra and Aqua.
"I don't think we were introduced. I'm Ash," Ash introduced himself.
"I'm Aqua," Aqua introduced herself.
"And I'm Terra," Terra introduced himself.
"Aqua and Terra. Ven has mentioned you two before," Ash said. "To be honest, I was expecting someone to be the same age as Ven."
"It's okay, Ash. In fact, Ven has told us about you and Sora know each other from way back," Aqua said.
"Along with a girl named Leaf," Terra said.
"And about Gary as well?" Ash asked, making Sora groan in annoyance.
"Yeah, unfortunately," Ventus said.
"Thought as much," Ash said. "Anyway, Sora. I heard about what happened with your uncle's restuarant."
"Yeah. The moron trio trashed it," Sora said.
"And thanks to aunt Cattleya, they were able to win the prize money to pay for the repairs," Karen said.
"Repairs for when that Stanley Silas caused," Kairi said.
"Oh, yeah. I heard about that. Just so you know, the trail came and went so fast, Silas is looking at a life sentence. The only time he's ever gonna see the light of day is in through the prison's windows," Ash said.
"After what he did, I say he deserves it," Aqua said.
Just outside, Team Rocket has put on their doctor disguises and walked in, undetected, or so they thought. Sora felt chilly of a sudden. Karen turned to her brother.
"What's wrong, big brother? You catching a cold all of a sudden?" Karen asked.
"No, I just felt a sharp tingle down my spine. I can't help but feel something is up," Sora said.
"A sharp tingle?" Kairi asked.
"Yeah, and it's the first one I have ever had," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
In the back of the Pokémon Center, Team Rocket has successfully sneaked pass the group and they chuckled.
"We've made it," Jessie said.
"We walked right under their noses," Meowth said.
"And that twerp calls us morons," James said, laughing.
"Time to put operation: Lapras Poaching in effect," Jessie said.
"Right," James and Meowth said. James took out a Pokéball and tossed it up in the air.
"Koffing! Go!" James called out. Koffing emerged from inside the Pokéball.
"Koffing!" Koffing said.
"Koffing! Use Poison Gas!" James ordered. Koffing spews Poison Gas from his pores, covering the whole room with smoke. Nurse Joy and her assistants coughed as Team Rocket puts on their gas masks and gotten hold of Lapras. They started to run out.
From the lobby, they heard the doors open from the back as Team Rocket strolls Lapras out. Smoke erupts from the room.
"Everybody, cover your mouths! Don't any of you breathe in the fumes!" Ash said. Everyone covered their mouths. Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel stepped out to see Team Rocket loading Lapras on a truck.
"I knew it! It's them!" Sora said.
"Who?" Aqua asked.
"Prepare for trouble! Be careful for what you ask!"
"And make it double! Stealing Pokémon is our task!"
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of 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 to fight!"
"Meowth! That's right!"
"Mime, Mime, Mime!"
"Team Rocket!" The group exclaimed all at once.
"Don't you idiots ever learn your lesson?" Sora asked.
"No, we never ever learn our lesson!" Jessie said.
"I rest my case," Sora said.
"Give back Lapras, dum-dums!" Ventus called out.
"Sorry, but we dum-dums have important work to do!" Meowth said.
"You realize you just insulted yourself, too, right?" James asked.
"Hey, I had to counter him," Meowth argued.
"Who cares? We're off with our catch!" Jessie said.
"I don't think so!" A voice called out. The tires are blasted by a barrage of stars. Team Rocket gasped when they saw the tires popped.
"Hey, who did that?" Meowth asked.
"Eevee!" A voice shouted. Team Rocket turned to reveal Riku, Naminé, and Eevee standing at the Pokémon Center.
"You again!" Jessie growled.
"You guys are the worst kind of idiots I have ever seen. And I do mean that literally," Riku said.
"How dare you foil our getaway!" Jessie said, taking out a Pokéball and threw it. "Go! Ekans!" James took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Koffing! Join in!" James called out.
Ekans and Koffing emerged from inside their Pokéballs to battle. Riku turned to Eevee.
"Go! Eevee!" Riku called out.
"Eevee!" Eevee nodded and stepped in. Riku took out a Pokéball and threw it. "Go! Charmander!" His Pokéball opened and a Charmander emerged ged from inside.
"Ekans! Use Bite!" Jessie ordered. Ekans charged right at Riku's Pokémon.
"Koffing! Use Gyro Ball!" James ordered. Koffing spins towards them.
"Eevee! Use Shadow Ball! Charmander! Use Metal Claw!" Riku ordered. Eevee fired Shadow Ball at Ekans while Charmander slashed at Koffing with Metal Claw.
"Koffing! Use Sludge!" James ordered. Koffing spews Sludge, hitting both Eevee and Charmander.
"Use Wrap!" Jessie ordered. Ekans wrapped around Eevee, holding him tight.
Unknown to any of them, Gastly makes its way to Lapras and undoes the restraints. Lapras then slips right out. Meowth sees Lapras leaving the truck.
"Hey, our cash cow is making a break for it!" Meowth exclaimed. Jessie and James were shocked.
"You twerps had something to do with this! I just know it!" Jessie said, accusingly pointing at Sora and Kairi.
"Don't look at us. We didn't do a thing," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"At least Lapras is safe," Kairi said. Lapras makes some sounds, sounding sad. Meowth understood that.
"So, that explains it," Meowth said.
"What did that Lapras just say, Meowth?" James asked.
"Lapras just said 'It doesn't even matter if I've been free or not, because the only Lapras I love is dead, and I'm all alone in the world. No other Lapras could fill up my life the way he did'," Meowth translated. Sora and Kairi were shocked to hear what Meowth had just said. They understood why she was being uncooperative. She wanted to be left alone to grieve.
"What could have happened?" Sora asked. Lapras made her sounds again.
"Lapras said that a band of humans fired spear guns at them for no reason and we managed to get away. She noticed her mate wasn't with her, and she went back to him, only to find him impaled by the spears, and he died right there and then, shattering her heart into millions of pieces," Meowth translated. This made Meowth cry. "If this doesn't take a huge stab in my heart, then nothing else would have!"
"Meowth, no time to get sentimental!" Jessie said.
"We're not letting you take her!" Sora said. "Pikachu! Quick Attack!"
"You use Quick Attack, too!" Kairi ordered.
Both Pikachu and Angel dashed at Ekans and Koffing, landing a hit, making Ekans let go of Eevee.
"Eevee, Charmander! Shadow Ball and Flamethrower!" Riku ordered.
Eevee and Charmander fired their chosen attacks. The flames merged with the ball of shadow, literally burning them up.
"Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!" Sora ordered.
"Angel! Use Swift!" Kairi ordered.
Pikachu and Angel fired their chosen attacks. The stars struck Team Rocket and the jolt of electricity struck Team Rocket and their Pokémon, sending them flying upwards.
"Shoot! We had a rare gem within our fingertips and it slips right through our fingers!" Jessie groaned.
"If it weren't for our flat tires, we could have made a grand getaway," James said.
"We would have won if you just sent Mime Jr out to battle, too!" Meowth said.
"Mime Jr is far too delicate for battle," James said.
"Mime, Mime, Mime," Mime Jr said.
"Team Rocket is blasting off again!" Team Rocket shouted as they flew straight up in the sky. A star twinkles in the distance.
"Good riddance," Sora said.
"You right about that Meowth talking, Ven," Aqua said.
"I knew he was right from the moment that Meowth opened its mouth," Terra said.
Sora walked up to Lapras. He placed his hand on her face. She opened her eyes and looked right at Sora.
"Lapras," Sora started. "I'm sorry about your mate. I can only imagine how happy he must have made you. But you can't shut your heart out from the world. I'm sure your mate doesn't want that for you. I know he'll want you to be happy even when he's not here. Living a life of misery isn't a life worth living. But whatever you decide is squarely up to you. So what do you say, Lapras?" Lapras looks over to Sora and let what he said sink in. She knew he was right. Her mate did make her happy. More than any other Lapras could imagine. She couldn't shut herself off because of his death because he didn't want that for her. Lapras swam over to Sora and nuzzled him. She made her sounds to him. "I'm going to think you're in, right?" Lapras nodded.
"Now you're getting yourself a Lapras!" Ventus beamed. "How cool is that?"
"I know Sora will take very good care of her," Aqua said.
"And just after he helped save her from that scientist," Terra added.
Sora took out a Pokéball and threw it at Lapras. Lapras flows inside the Pokéball and stars swirls around confirming the catch. Sora's Pokémon Box goes off asking him if he wants to keep Lapras with him. He chose to send Lapras in right to Professor Oak's lab.
With everything right again, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel got ready to continue on with their journey.
"Sorry that I can't stay a little while longer but, we need to get the show on the road," Sora said.
"Don't worry about it, Sora," Danny said. "Your journey is pretty important."
"And we wish you luck for your Gym battle," Cattleya said.
"I know that you'll win and have more Pokémon to catch!" Ventus said.
"Just don't get overconfident," Aqua said.
"The Gym Leader there is nothing to sneeze at," Terra said.
They said their goodbyes to Sora's family as they set off for Fushia City. Delia smiled as Sora and Kairi walked up. She knew she was right about Sora being in love with Kairi. Karen shared her mother's confidence for Sora and Kairi, hoping they would tell each other of their feelings. Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel took one last look at the beach before setting off to Fushia City. Who knows what else lies ahead? Only time holds the answer.