Episode 117: Tracey Gets Bugged
A couple of days have gone and went since the whole Wooper preschool incident. Sora, Kairi, Tracey, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi ends up laughing about the Wooper being so mischievous, except for the part where Sora, Kairi, Naminé, Pikachu, and Angel almost fell when the bridge collapsed and the Nobodies launching their attack.
Sora, Kairi, Tracey, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi continued on their way towards Goldenrod City. Unaware of a lone Houndor in the area, Sora, Kairi, Tracey, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi made a stop to catch a break. Sora polishes his Pokéballs and the eight crystals.
"Nice and shiny," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
Kairi is brushing Angel's fur as Togepi is taking a nap.
"Does that feel good, Angel?" Kairi asked.
"Vee," Angel cooed.
"I thought so," Kairi said.
"Think we should he staying in one place for too long? After your latest run with the Nobodies, I feel like something will happen to us at any moment," Tracey said.
"Tracey's right, Sora. We gotta get going soon," Kairi said.
"Yeah, Trickster's not going to let us walk away that easily," Sora said. As he stood up, the lone Houndour leapt at Sora and growled.
"Wath out! A Houndour!" Tracey exclaimed. Sora took out his Pokédex and scanned it.
Houndour, the Dark Pokémon
Type: Dark/Fire
Houndour hunt as a coordinated pack. They communicate with each other using a variety of cries to corner their prey. This Pokémon's remarkable teamwork is unparalleled.
"Funny, this is the only one," Sora said.
"It's very unusual to see a lone Houndour. It must have been kicked out of the pack," Tracey said. Sora took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Totodile!" Sora called out. Totodile came on out to battle. "Totodile! Use Water Gun!" Totodile fired Water Gun at the Dark Pokémon, but it jumped out of the way. Then it came at Totodile and lands a strong bite.
"Totodile! Use Bite!" Sora ordered. Totodile bit Houndour, making it let go of him. Houndour growled some more. "Use Water Gun!" Totodile fired Water Gun at Houndour, but dodges just by running and its fangs emitting fire.
"He's using Fire Fang!" Kairi gasped. Houndour lands a burning bite onto Totodile. Houndour then gave Totodile a toss. Totodile is taken down. Sora calls Totodile back and he took out another Pokéball and threw it.
"You're up next, Wooper!" Sora called out. Wooper came out to battle. Houndour came at Wooper with another Fire Fang.
"Use Mud-Slap!" Sora ordered. Wooper whipped up some mud and it blinds Houndour. "Use Water Gun!" Wooper lets out a huge blast of Water Gun, sending Houndour back. "Good work! Now, use Slam!" Wooper came at Houndour and grabbed the Dark Pokémon with his tail. Wooper slams Houndour down to the ground hard. "One more Slam!" Wopper grabbed Houndour with his tail again and slammed Houndour down on the ground. Houndour got up and growled. Sora took out his Friend Ball. "Okay, Houndour could use a personality change! Here we go!" Sora threw the Friend Ball and flows inside. The Friend Ball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Friend Ball to confirm the catch. Sora's Pokémon Box goes off asking him if he wants to keep Houndour with him. He chose to keep Houndour in exchange for Wynaut. "I got myself a Houndour." He threw the Friend Ball into the air and Houndour came on out. Houndour looked at Sora. "Hey there, Houndour. Let's be friends?" Houndor leapt at Sora, tackling him.
"Sora!" Kairi exclaimed. Much to Kairi's surprise, Houndour was actually licking his face repeatedly. Sora was laughing between licks.
"Stop it, Houndour! That tickles!" Sora laughed between the licks.
"Maizie did say that a Pokémon caught with a Friend Ball becomes a whole lot friendlier," Tracey said.
"I'll say," Kairi said, giggling.
"Wooper, Wooper, Wooper, Wooper!" Wooper said as he started to evolve, much to everyone's surprise.
"Wooper is evolving!" Tracey said. Wooper has now become a Quagsire.
"Hey, now you're a Quagsire," Sora said.
"Quagsire," the newly evolved Quagsire said with a smile.
"Pika, Pika," Pikachu said.
"Eevee, vee," Angel said.
Almost a whole day has passed since Sora caught a Houndour and Wooper evolved into a Quagsire, so Sora, Kairi, Tracey, and the Pokémon continued onward towards Goldenrod City. Tracey looked around and he smiled. Sora was quick to notice it.
"Tracey, what are you smiling about?" Sora asked.
"You noticed how this area is full of Bug-type Pokémon?" Tracey asked. Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi looked around and saw there were Bug-type Pokémon in every corner, almost like the Azalea Town Gym.
"I can see why you're so happy, Tracey. A whole lot of Bug-types," Sora said.
"Almost like the Azelea Town Gym," Kairi said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
"Scyther!" A voice weakly yelled out.
"Did you say something?" Kairi asked.
"No," Sora replied.
"It sounded awfully close," Tracey said.
"Scyther," the voice weakly repeated.
"There!" Tracey said. They followed where the voice came from. They stopped and gasped at what they saw. It was a Scyther. But it's an elderly Scyther. It had what looks like sideburns on both sides of its head.
"A Scyther," Sora said.
"He's hurt," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"We'll have to heal Scyther," Sora said, taking out a potion. Sora slowly approaches the injured Mantis Pokémon, but it bats the potion out of his hand. "Hey!"
"Scyther!" Scyther yelled swinging his arms.
"Take it easy, Scyther! I was only trying to help you out!" Sora said. Scyther pants as Sora backs off. "What's that Scyther's deal?!"
"It looks like he wants to keep fighting, but he's too weak from his injuries to keep going," Kairi said.
"What do you suggest we do, Kairi?" Sora asked.
"I think one of us should catch him and take him to the nearby Pokémon Center," Kairi suggested.
"Is there one nearby?" Sora asked. Kairi checked the map on her PokéGear and she saw there's a Pokémon Center near them.
"There is. And not far from here," Kairi said.
"Okay, let's do it," Sora said, taking out a Pokéball and threw it. Scyther slices it in half. "Scyther doesn't want to be caught."
"Sora, why don't you let me handle it," Tracey spoke up. Sora looked at the Pokémon Watcher.
"You sure, Tracey?" Sora asked.
"I'm sure. Venonat has the right move to use," Tracey said, taking out a Pokéball and threw it. "Venonat! Go!" His Pokéball opened and Venonat came on out.
"Venonat!" Venonat said upon entry.
"Scyther!" Scyther hissed. Venonat flinched.
"Don't back down, Venonat! Use Sleep Powder!" Tracey ordered. Venonat sprinkles Sleep Powder onto Scyther and fell right to sleep. "Here we go!" Tracey threw the Pokéball, making Scyther flow inside. The Pokéball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. "Now, let's get him to a Pokémon Center!" With that said, Sora, Kairi, Tracey, and the Pokémon ran off to the nearby Pokémon Center.
Meanwhile, a man is driving in a jeep as another Pokémon is sitting in the passengers seat. It is a red arachnid Pokémon that resembles a spider. It has purple eyes, a pair of white mandibles, and a white horn on its forehead. Around its abdomen are two black stripes and there are two black spots and a yellow spinneret on its rear. The spots and spinneret together form a pattern similar to a face. It has four yellow legs with two purple bands each; on its back are yellow structures similar to its legs with a single purple stripe each. Its feet are tipped with tiny hooks that allow it to climb ceilings and vertical walls. This Pokémon is known as Ariados.
"Just think of it, Ariados. We catch us a swarm of them Scyther and we'd be selling them like pancakes," the man said with a southern accent. "Just gotta find them Scyther first!" Ariados agreed.
Sora, Kairi, Tracey, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi found the Pokémon Center and got Scyther in. As Nurse Joy was treating his injuries, Scyther was glaring at Tracey.
"I can't help but think maybe he's mad at us for bringing him here," Sora said.
"I know. I can tell just by the way he was staring at Tracey. All we wanted to do was to help him out," Kairi said.
"Yeah. Your heart was in the right place, Kairi," Sora said. Nurse Joy got done with the treatment. She and her Blissey got done with the treatment.
"Nurse Joy, how's Scyther doing?" Tracey asked.
"Scyther will be fine. He just needs to rest for a few days to rest just so he can recover properly," Nurse Joy said.
"That's good," Tracey said. Scyther tried to get back up.
"Scyther, please, you need to rest or else you won't heal properly," Tracey said.
"Listen to him, Scyther," Nurse Joy said.
"Scyther," Scyther said, feeling fatigue.
"Blissey, place Scyther to recovery," Nurse Joy said.
"Blissey," Blissey said, taking Scyther to recovery.
"It would seem that the old warrior has finally lost the battle for leadership of his swarm," Nurse Joy said.
"Leadership of his swarm?" Sora asked.
"How did you know that Scyther used to be leader of a swarm?" Tracey asked.
"There's a swarm of Scyther that live in the area. Only a Scyther as old as him could have gotten these kinds of injuries by battling another Scyther," Nurse Joy explained.
"It must be because he wanted to stay the leader," Kairi said.
"The Scyther that did the deed must be the new leader of the swarm," Sora said.
"It's usually a younger and faster Scyther that challenges the leader to gain leadership. Once the old leader is defeated, then the defeated Scyther is kicked out of the swarm and forced to live on its own," Nurse Joy said. Tracey said nothing and he thought about Scyther.
A little later, Sora, Kairi, and Tracey made contact with Professor Oak about the capture he made.
"I must say, you made quite a good catch, Tracey," Professor Oak said.
"Yeah, it was," Tracey said, unsure.
"But you don't seem too happy," Professor Oak pointed out.
"What's eating you, Tracey?" Sora asked.
"Well, the reason I'm feeling unhappy is because Scyther's unhappy," Tracey said. Professor Oak stroked his chin.
"Hm, perhaps it might be because his sense of pride has been injured," Professor Oak said. Sora, Kairi, and Tracey looked at the Pokémon professor.
"What do you mean, professor?" Kairi asked.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"If Scyther was defeated by another Scyther and then captured by you, then he must be feeling really down," Professor Oak said.
"Then, what should I do?" Tracey asked.
"You should keep in mind that Pokémon are like human beings. They each have their own traits and personalities. So, you must find ways to help Scyther find confidence in his own strength and himself," Professor Oak said. Tracey smiled.
"Right. That's exactly I will do, professor. Thank you," Tracey said.
"You always did know what to say, professor. I'm glad that we called you for advice," Sora said.
"I'm flattered, Sora. Good luck on your way, you three," Professor Oak said.
"We will, professor," Sora, Kairi, and Tracey said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Togepi," Togepi chirped.
Meanwhile, the Pokémon Hunter and his Ariados made a stop. The Pokémon Hunter stepped out and he got on his knees and licked the soil.
"Them Scyther were here. And very recently, too. They're close," the Pokémon Hunter said. He gets back in his vehicle and drove off to find them.
Back to the Pokémon Center, Tracey is in recovery with Scyther.
"I know you're feeling down about me catching you the way I did, but you gotta understand, I couldn't just leave you out there, all alone and injured. It wouldn't feel right to leave you to die," Tracey said.
Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi were listening in them. They knew they felt the same way. Sora took Kairi by the hand.
Scyther was quiet. He had the memories of him being the leader of his whole swarm on his mind. He remembered that fight well. It was against a younger Scyther with a scar across its face. It was assumed that the elderly Scyther gave it that scar, but who knows. Scyther was defeated and left to die. The new leader led the swarm into the woods and the former leader of the swarm was laying there, injured and helpless right until Sora, Kairi, Tracey, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi arrived.
Back with the Pokémon Hunter and his Ariados, they finally found the Scyther swarm and he grinned.
"There they are. Ya know what to do, Ariados," the Pokémon Hunter said. Ariados nodded and got into position. "Okay, Ariados! Use use Toxic Thread!" Ariados fired purple threads at the Scyther swarm. The swarm of Mantis Pokémon ends up being poisoned. "That's great! Now use Spider Web!" Ariados fired some additional threads at the Scyther swarm, making a huge spider web. "Yee-haw! I got them Scyther! I got them good!"
"SCYTHER!" The Scyther all yelled.
Back the Pokémon Center, Scyther hears the cries of the other Scyther. Nurse Joy removed some of the bandages.
"There you go, Scyther. You're healing up nicely," Nurse Joy said. Scyther started to flutter up. "Wait, you're not fully healed! You need to rest!" Scyther flew out the window.
"Scyther, wait! Come back!" Tracey called out. Scyther didn't fly too far. He fell on the ground due to his fatigue. Tracey rushes over to Scyther's side. "Scyther, you gotta come back and rest!" Scyther brushes Tracey aside and flew again.
The couple and their Pokémon ran up to the Pokémon Watcher with concern on their faces.
"You don't think he's heading to challenge the new leader to another fight, do you?" Sora asked.
"I think he is," Tracey said.
"But he can't win it, because he's still too injured to fight," Kairi said.
"Kairi's right, Tracey. You better go make sure Scyther doesn't overdo it," Sora said.
"Okay," Tracey said.
They take off just when Nurse Joy stepped out.
"Be careful out there!" Nurse Joy called out to them.
The Pokémon Hunter laughed as he placed the the Scyther swarm in a huge cage at the back of his vehicle.
"Great job as always, Ariados. The whole swarm will be making us a whole lot of money. Some blueblood will have to be buying the whole swarm," the Pokémon Hunter said. Just then, something fast cuts the cage and the threads. "What in the samhill?!" He saw it was the former leader of the swarm. His old swarm were surprised to see him. "Looks like we missed one! Ariados! Use Toxic Thread!" Ariados prepared to use Toxic Thread, but Scyther slashes at the spider-like Pokémon.
Sora, Kairi, Tracey, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi have arrived and saw what was really going on.
"A Pokémon Hunter!" Sora said.
"I get it! It wasn't to challenge the new leader like we thought! He only came here because he heard his old comrades were in danger!" Kairi said. Sora saw the Ariados with the Pokémon Hunter.
"Who's that Pokémon?" Sora asked, taking out his Pokédex.
Ariados, the Long Leg Pokémon
The evolved form of Spinarak
Type: Bug/Poison
Ariados's feet are tipped with tiny hooked claws that enable it to scuttle on ceilings and vertical walls. This Pokémon constricts the foe with thin and strong silk webbing.
"I'm guessing he's using that Ariados to poach Pokémon," Sora said, putting his Pokédex away.
"That'll be a good guess, Sora," Tracey said. The Pokémon Hunter saw the kids and Pokémon.
"So, you were the ones responsible!" The Pokémon Hunter exclaimed.
"Just what do you think you're doing?!" Tracey asked.
"Taking this here swarm with me, and sell them all to the highest bidder!" The Pokémon Hunter said.
"You think you can poach Pokémon like that, then you're mistaken!" Kairi said.
"Ya'll are the ones who are mistaken if ya think ya can take me on! I'm taking the swarm and that one, too!" The Pokémon Hunter stated.
"That's what you think!" Tracey said.
"Ariados! Use Toxic Thread on them!" The Pokémon Hunter ordered. Ariados spews Toxic Thread at them. Scyther slashes through the poisonous thread. The Hunter just growled. He saw that Scyther was panting, so he arrogantly saw it as an opportunity to grab him. "It's weak. But still valuable! Ariados! Use Spider Web!" Ariados fired Spider Web at Scyther, but he uses Swords Dance to cut through the thread, also increase his attack power. "Ariados! Use Bug Bite!" Ariados came running at Scyther with a Bug Bite.
"Use Double Team!" Tracey ordered. Scyther made several copies of himself, so Adiados misses its mark.
"That was great! That Ariados just missed!" Sora said.
"Keep it up, Scyther!" Kairi said.
"Ariados! Use Spider Web!" The Pokémon Hunter ordered. Ariados spews some more silk from its mouth and spinnerets.
"Scyther! Use Slash!" Tracey ordered. Scyther slashes through the webs. "Use Quick Attack!" Scyther lands a hit with his speed attack.
"Ariados! Use Smart Strike!" The Pokémon Hunter ordered. Ariados's horn glow white and charges at Scyther with it.
"Scyther! Use Cut!" Tracey ordered. Scyther came at Ariados and cuts Ariados on the mark. The Hunter started to get frustrated.
"How is it possible that I'm losing this battle?!" The Pokémon Hunter asked.
"That's because you were quick to underestimate Scyther's abilities. Looks like you bet on the wrong Ponyta!" Sora said.
"Oh, shut up, ya little punk! I'm not going to let that stop me! Ariados! Bug Bite again!" The Pokémon Hunter ordered. Ariados came running at Scyther again.
"Use Slash!" Tracey ordered. Scyther gave Ariados another Slash. "Great! Use Cut!" Scyther gave Ariados a swipe of his arms. Ariados fell to the ground, beaten.
"Oh no!" The Pokémon Hunter yelled.
"Way to go, Scyther!" Tracey said.
"Ooh, I'm going to get that Scyther, one way or the other!" The Pokémon Hunter said, taking out a net and threw it. Scyther slashes through the net, much to his dismay. "Uh-oh."
Sora summoned his Kingdom Key and he raised it.
"Stop!" Sora shouted, freezing the Hunter in his tracks. He dismisses it. Running quickly, he managed to get the rope and used it to tie him up. He held his Kingdom Key again and he raises it. "Zero Gravity!" He levitates in the air as the stop spell wore off.
"WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?!" The Pokémon Hunter exclaimed.
"What did you just do, Sora?" Tracey asked.
"Just used my Stop spell and used Zero Gravity on him. He'll be up there for a while. But let's send him off!" Sora said. "Wind!" He casts his aero spell and a wind blew the Pokémon Hunter away. He fell right in front of Officer Jenny's booth and she stepped out and she smiled as she recognized him.
As for the Scyther swarm, they were healed of their poisoning by eating some Pecha Berries. The new leader looked at the former leader and nodded at him. The former leader nodded back, so the swarm took off into the forest. Scyther raised his arms.
"Scyther!" Scyther shouted out to the heavens.
"That battle with Ariados did a whole lot more to help him out than any Pokémon Center ever could," Sora said.
"You're right, Sora. He's a whole lot stronger now. We both are," Tracey said. His new Scyther turned and they nod at each other. Tracey calls Scyther back inside and he smiled. "I got myself a Scyther."
Scyther's confidence have been built back up, and he joins Tracey's team. They continued their way towards Goldenrod City towards adventure.