Episode 222: The Lotad Lowdown
A few days later, Sora, Kairi, Brendan, May, and Max took their leave of the nature preserve and they kept on going forward. Sora stopped when he heard a low cry coming from close by.
"You hear that?" Sora asked.
"Pika," Pikachu said, confirming that he did.
"It sounds very close to us," Kairi said.
"We better see what it is," Brendan suggested.
"Good idea," Sora agreed. "Let's go." They followed the cries and they saw it was is a small, serpentine Pokémon that resembles a loach. The main body is a soft gray with a jagged black line running its length. Its eyes are very small, and it has a round, blue nose. It has several blue barbels that are used as a superb radar in murky water and can be used for taste as well. These whiskers are left exposed when it hides in the mud to wait for prey. There are two rounded, blue pectoral fins and a single dorsal fin, all of which have black spots. Its tail fin is also rounded and blue but possesses no spots. It was splashing around in the middle of the road, next to a smashed Pokéball.
"It's a Barboach!" Max said.
"Barboach, huh," Sora said, taking out his Rotom Phone and scanned it.
Barboach, the Whiskers Pokémon
Type: Water/Ground
Barboach's body is covered with a slimy film. If a foe grabs it, this Pokémon just slips out of the enemy's grip. This Pokémon grows weak if the slimy coating dries up.
"That explains a lot," Sora said.
"The poor thing," Kairi said. Sora took out Mudkip's Pokéball and threw it.
"Mudkip! Come out!" Sora called out. Mudkip emerged from inside. "Okay, Mudkip, use a gentle Water Gun to moisten Barboach." Mudkip complied with his Trainer and used his Water Gun to help, not attack. "Good job, Mudkip." While Mudkip moistens Barboach, Sora took out a bucket and summoned his Keyblade. "Water!" Sora casts a water spell and fills the bucket with it. "Okay, Mudkip, you can stop now." Sora picked up Mudkip and placed it in the bucket. "There you go. Does that feel better?"
"Boach," Barboach said.
"Barboach normally lives in water, and we're not near any river," Max said.
"I think I got an idea on that, Max. Someone must have abandoned Barboach and left him here to die," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Abandoned?" May asked.
"There are Pokémon Trainers who are very insensitive. So insensitive, they only care about winning, and they abandon them without even caring about what happens to the Pokémon," Kairi explained.
"That's just cruel," May said.
"That explains why that Pokéball was smashed up," Max said.
"Well, fortunately, whoever abandoned Barboach will be disappointed to know we were at the right place at the right time," Sora said. Barboach looked at Sora and just smiled. Barboach remembered just being abandoned by his previous Trainer.
(Flashback)
Barboach was up against a Magnemite. He lost against the Magnet Pokémon when it used Magnet Bomb on him to finish him off. The Trainer let out Barboach in the middle of the road shortly after that.
"You're useless! What good are you of you can't even beat an Electric-type Pokémon like a Magnemite? I'm just going to catch a stronger Barboach or maybe a Whiscash!" The Trainer said, taking off. And that was when Barboach started crying, alerting Sora and his friends.
(Flashback ends)
"What do you think, Sora? We can't leave Barboach in the middle of the road, can we?" Brendan asked.
"No, we're not. I think I should take this Barboach under my wing," Sora said as he looked in the bucket and Barboach looked back at Sora. "Barboach, I don't know what happened with your last Trainer, but I promise I won't do what he did to you. I can make you stronger." Barboach heard a hint of kindness in Sora's voice. Sora took out a Pokéball and held it. Barboach pressed the button and flows inside. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Sora's Pokémon Box goes off, asking him if he wants to keep Barboach with him. He chose to send Barboach to Professor Oak's lab for now. "Welcome to the team, Barboach."
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
Later that day, Sora, Kairi, Brendan, May, Max, Pikachu, and Angel finds a clean lake and decided to take a small break to go swimming. Sora is wearing a new pair of swimming trunks, being red-orange as Kairi has worn a new pink bikini with white flowers and golden hearts in the center of the flowers. Brendan wore a pair of black swim trunks. May wore yellow hearts two-piece swimsuit with shorts. Max wore green swim trunks.
"Surf's up!" Sora shouted as he jumped in the water.
"Pi, Pikachu!" Pikachu said.
"Right behind you, Sora!" Kairi called out from behind as she jumped in.
"Eevee!" Angel said.
"Cowabunga!" Brendan shouted as he jumped in.
"Alright!" May shouted as she jumped in.
"Wait for me!" May shouted as he jumped in.
The the group played in the water. Sora and Kairi ended up splashing each other.
"Got ya, Sora!" Kairi said.
"In your dreams, Kairi!" Sora said, splashing her back. The couple laughed as they had fun. Pikachu even joined in the splashing, byt splashing the both of them. Unknown to Sora, Kairi, Brendan, May, Max, Pikachu, and Angel, something was watching them from underwater. It was a whole bunch of them as they were watching them with their eyes glowing red. It turns out to be a small, blue Pokémon with six stubby legs. It has large eyes and a wide, yellow mouth similar to a bill. A large leaf that resembles a lilypad covers its back. These Pokémon are all known as Lotad.
They didn't even notice the Lotad as they kept splashing around in the water.
"Got ya!" Brendan said, splashing May.
"Yeah, so what?" May asked. Pikachu and Angel then noticed the lilypads coming out of the water.
"Pika!" Pikachu said.
"Eevee!" Angel said.
"Pikachu, what's wrong?" Sora asked.
"What do you sense, Angel?" Kairi asked. She then sees the lilypads. "Huh?" Sora catches on.
"What is it?" May asked. The lilypads came closer and closer to them. May flinched as she clinged onto Brendan. She then screamed at the top of her lungs.
"What are they? Heartless, Nobodies, or Unversed?" Brendan asked, feeling scared.
"I don't know," Sora said.
"There's a lot of them," Max said.
"Let's get back to shore!" Kairi said.
"I don't need to be told twice!" May said.
They all started to swim back to shore, but Max gets pulled down.
"Max!" Kairi gasped as she and Angel gets pulled down.
"Kairi!" Sora exclaimed as he, Pikachu, Brendan, and May get pulled down. Sora was about ready to summon his Keyblade, but then a Lotad appeared in front of his face. A whole bunch of Lotad appeared all around them. Sora was relieved that they weren't Heartless, Nobodies, or Unversed. The Lotad went underneath them and fired Water Gun, shooting them out of the water. They land right on one another.
"Ow, what was that?" May asked in pain.
"Those were Lotad!" Max exclaimed.
"Better look this up," Sora said, taking out his Rotom Phone and scanned them.
Lotad, the Water Weed Pokémon
Type: Water/Grass
Lotad live in ponds and lakes, where they float on the surface. It grows weak if its broad leaf dies. On rare occasions, this Pokémon travels on land in search of clean water.
"Water and Grass. I had a hunch that's what they were," Sora said.
"Oh, they are so very cute," Kairi gushed at the sight of the Lotad.
"You're right, they are cute," May agreed.
"This must be their lake," Max said. The Lotad all jumped out of the water, making May hide behind Brendan.
"What are they doing?" May asked.
"I think they were just playing with us," Max said.
"I think you're right, Max. Lotad are harmless Pokémon from what I heard," Brendan said.
All of the Lotad stood on their hind legs and fired Water Gun straight into the air, making look like something from one of those fountains.
"Oh, that's amazing," Kairi said.
"Yeah," Sora said.
"Look at that one," Brendan said.
"He doesn't seem to be catching up with the other Lotad," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
The Lotad all stopped firing Water Gun. Sora walked over to the one Lotad just as they all stopped, but this one just kept going. "Hey there, little dude. Your friends had just finished with their-" the Lotad increased the power of its Water Gun and sends him back. Brendan, May, and Max laughed as Kairi ran up to her boyfriend.
"Sora! Are you okay?" Kairi asked.
"I'm fine," Sora assured her.
"Hey you!" A new voice called out. The voice belonged to a girl that appears to be a few years younger than they are, wearing a white shirt, an orange skirt, purple shoes, and pink socks. She has red hair tied in pigtails and purple eyes. "This lake belongs to the Lotad and you can't swim here. Now, you will come with me, at once!"
"Such a bossy little girl," Kairi said.
"Someone who you can relate with. Maybe enough to be your girlfriend," May teased.
"Shut up!" Max said.
"And why should we be coming with you, kid?" Sora asked.
"Because I'll tell you why," the girl paused, "FOR A LECTURE!" The group all winced as they knew how much trouble.
"Kairi, have I told you lately, that I love you?" Sora asked, feeling scared.
"More than I can count, Sora. Why?" Kairi asked.
"Just checking," Sora said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Eevee, vee," Angel said.
Unknown to anyone, we see a Heartless slithering into the lake. It is a giant reddish brown snake with a tan underside and a spotted, maroon pattern running across its back. It has glaring yellow Heartless eyes and pale yellow markings running along its long tail. It also has a red forked tongue and four sharp hook-like fangs. The Heartless symbol is on its forehead. This Heartless shall be called the Heavy Anaconda.
Over to what appears to be a flower shop, a young woman wearing an apron under a pink shirt and a dark teal skirt. She has blue hair and blue hair. She saw the little girl walking in with Sora, Kairi, Brendan, May, Max, Pikachu, and Angel to give them a scolding, but she was not happy about this.
"For heaven's sake, not again, Natalie! How many times must I tell you? You must be more kinder to travelers!" The young woman scolded her.
"I'm sorry, sis. It's just I saw them swimming in the Lotad's lake and I was just protecting it, Nicole," Natlie said.
"That is no excuse for your rude behavior. You might end up making someone mad if you are not careful. And they won't be so understanding. Besides, there was no way they could possibly know about the Lotad," Nicole said.
"Well, well, she brought us here to give us an earful, but it's her who ends up being lectured," May joked.
"You're right," Max agreed.
"That's what she gets for being so bossy," Sora joked.
"Be nice, Sora," Kairi said.
"I'm just saying," Sora said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
Nicole turns Natalie around to face the travelers.
"I am so very sorry about my little sister's rude behavior," Nicole apologized.
"Don't worry about it. And you were right to point out we didn't know about the Lotad in the lake. We were just passing by and they just showed up," Sora said.
"So we should be apologizing to you for the inconvenience," Kairi added.
"Pika, Pika," Pikachu said.
"Eevee, vee," Angel said.
"I am so glad you are not angry. My name is Nicole is this is my little sister Natalie. We both run this little flower shop," Nicole said.
"My name is Sora," Sora said.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said.
"I'm Kairi, and this is Angel," Kairi introduced.
"Eevee!" Angel introduced.
"I'm Brendan," Brendan introduced himself.
"My name's May," May introduced herself.
"And I'm Max," Max finished.
Natalie looked right at Sora, blushing. She then looks over to Kairi and has taken a dislike for her.
"It's nice to meet you," Kairi said.
"It's nice to meet all of you," Nicole said. "Anyway, I have a fresh pie and it's cooling at the windowsill, so would you two like to have a slice?"
"Yes, we would," Kairi said.
"It would be rude to turn down a pie generously offered to you," Sora added.
"Pika, Pika," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
Another young woman came in, wearing a lime green jumpsuit and she has short green hair and blue eyes.
"Nicole, out watering pipe in the garden has sprang a leak again! This Wailmer pail is not going to do the job," the young woman said as she noticed they had guests. "Huh? Company? Natalie! Not again! Do you like it when we scold you?"
"It's okay, Rita. They've forgiven her. Sora, Kairi, May, Max, Brendan, this is our other sister Rita. Rita, this is Sora, Kairi, Brendan, May, and Max," Nicole introduced.
"Hi there," Rita greeted.
"Hi yourself," Sora said.
"I hope our sister hasn't caused any trouble for you," Rita said.
"Not at all," Sora said.
"We're just didn't know about the Lotad," Kairi said. Sora places his arm around Kairi's shoulder, making Natalie's cheeks puff up.
"At least no harm was done; not any permanent damage, anyway," Sora said as Natalie grabs Sora by his other arm, while holding Kairi's shoulder.
"Hey! How come you never put your arm around my shoulder? That is very rude!" Natalie pouted.
"Um, that's becuase we have just met today, and Kairi's my girlfriend" Sora said, trying not to hurt her feelings. Sora said in his thoughts, "Man, I get how Kairi's dad would deal with these sort of things, but I wonder how my dad handled all the ladies chasing after him." Rita stroked her chin.
"Don't tell me it's the love at first sight again," Rita teased.
"Wha?" Sora asked.
"Love at first sight?" May exclaimed, getting bubbly.
"Oh, brother," Sora groaned, knowing May wasn't helping.
The group had joined the sisters for the pie presented to their guests. Natalie ends up giving Sora way more slices than he can eat.
"Mmm! I never tasted anything like this!" May exclaimed.
"Wow, this is delicious. Is this an Oran Berry pie?" Kairi asked.
"Yes it is, Kairi. So glad you like it," Rita said.
"The berries here are grown and picked fresh and mixed in to make all sorts of Pokémon food and pasties just like the pie you're eating," Nicole said. Sora just stared at his plate, unsure if he could eat all of it before he threw up.
"I made all those from scratch, Sora. I hope you enjoy every last bite," Natalie said.
"Uh, thanks," Sora said as he took a bite of the first slice. As he finished, he rubbed his belly, feeling a stomachahe. "Uh, I don't think I could move."
"You didn't have to eat all that much, Sora," Kairi said.
"A little late for a warning, isn't it?" Sora asked.
"Fair point," Kairi said. She looked around in the garden. "Wow. It's such a beautiful garden. And the air is so clean. I wonder if our Pokémon would enjoy this." Kairi took out her Pokéballs and threw them. "Plusle, Minun, Budew, Wurmple, Swablu! Come on out!"
"Good idea!" Sora said as he took out his Pokéballs and threw them. Taillow, Treecko, Mudkip, Torchic, Zigzagoon, Slakoth, Nincada, Poochyena, Seedot, Wurmple, Whismur! Come out!"
Their Pokéballs opened and they all came out. Brendan took out his Pokéballs and threw them.
"Your turn, Treecko, Zigzagoon, Taillow!" Brendan called out. His Pokémon came right out as well. May took her Pokéball out and threw it.
"Go! Torchic!" May called out. Her Torchic came right out.
The Pokémon didn't take long to get acquainted with the garden. Sora's Zigzagoon looked around a bit. Sora's Treecko climbed up a tree to relax in it.
"The Pokémon seems so happy. Now, shall we go take a look?" Nicole said.
"Sure," Sora said. Just before he could take a step, Natalie clinged Sora by the arm. He then said in his thoughts, "I must have a magnet for this little girl."
"Now don't be shy," Natalie said, dragging him with her.
The sisters took their guests to the rest of the garden and they were amazed by how it looked.
"Oh, so beautiful," Kairi said.
"Thank you, Kairi. We don't just grow flowers here, but we also grow all kinds of berries. Look over there," Nicole said as the couple to turned to see the berries.
"Whoa. An Oran Berry. And that one is a Pecha Berry. And that's a Tamato Berry," Sora pointed out.
"Yes. I see you have your experience with these berries?" Nicolce asked.
"Kairi uses them to mix in the berries to make the best Pokémon food they've ever eaten. She learned it from the Pewter City Gym Leader way back," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"My dad taught me a lot about berries when I was little, and what effects it has on a Pokémon when they eat one," Kairi said.
"Then you'll be happy to know about our Sitrus Berries. They're growing in that tree right here," Nicole said. Sora with Nicole still clinging on his arm went over to have a look.
"These don't look ripe yet," Kairi said.
"I wonder if there are some fresh ones out here," Sora said.
"We can go and look for some ripe berries if you want," Natalie said.
"That'll be useful since you know the way," Sora said.
"Anything for my boyfriend," Natalie said with Sora, hanging his head as he groaned. Rita comes to the group, carrying her toolbox.
"Nicole, we're going have to put in all new pipes. Those joints are so old, we'll be much better off replacing the whole thing once and for all," Rita said.
"I guess so, but that's a really big job," Nicole said. The Lotad from the lake all arrive to pitch in and they're all carrying water in their leaves.
"The Lotad?" Sora asked.
"Yep. Thanks for your help, guys," Rita said. Some of the Lotad pours the water into the soil to help the trees stay hydrated. And there are some Lotad firing Water Gun to water the flowers.
"Why are they helping you out?" Sora asked.
"It's just their way of thanking us for growing all these berries for them," Natalie said.
"How about we lend a hand?" Sora suggested.
"Good idea," Kairi agreed to the idea.
Meanwhile, a man is out and he's picking some berries and humming a happy tune, unaware of the Heavy Anaconda crawling by him. But the sound is heard by him, so he turned around.
"Hello? Is anybody there?" The man asked, looking around. "Natalie, if this a prank to scare me, you better believe I'm going to give your sisters a good talking to about this!" He heard the same kind of sound and he turned around and he saw nothing. "Natalie? This isn't funny." The sound grew louder and he then turned and saw the snake-like Heartless and he gasped in horror when he saw it. "You're not Natalie!" The Heavy Anaconda rose up to strike him. He screamed at the top of his lungs.
Back in the garden, Sora, Kairi, Brendan, May, Max and their Pokémon help the sisters and the Lotad in the to the best of their abilities.
"You're better gardener than you thought you were," Kairi said.
"I didn't think I was at first. At least there aren't any weeds around here, or I'd be needing some rubbing alcohol," Sora said. "Not like that one time." Sora remembered that one incident when a Blissey tried to be as helpful as she could possibly be, but ends up making one incident after another.
"Don't worry about that. I'm sure you'll be able to laugh about it in the future," Kairi said. Sora smiled as he knew how right his girlfriend was.
"You're right, because you gotta admit, it is kinda funny when you think about it. I mean the Nurse Joy of that Pokémon Center thought I was a mummy," Sora said, laughing. Kairi joined in the laughing. Natalie looked at the couple and puffed up her cheeks in jealousy. Pikachu and Torchic were carrying a leaf big enough for the both of them to hold. They had the right amount of water to use. Pikachu, Mudkip, and the Lotad made a stop.
"Pika?" Pikachu asked.
"Mudkip?" Mudkip also asked.
Sora and Kairi also stopped without knowing why.
"Why did you stop, Pikachu?" Kairi asked.
"Pika!" Pikachu said, pointing to the source. It was the Lotad that didn't fire Water Gun quite as well as the others when they first met.
"I recognize that Lotad. He's the one who couldn't keep up before," Kairi pointed out.
"You're right. I think they're getting mighty impatient. I should see if I could help move things along since they don't wanna wait," Sora said as he went up in front. "Hey there, buddy. What's wrong?" Lotad looked right at him. "Hi. Is everything okay?"
"Lotad," Lotad said.
"How about you lower your head like this," Sora said as he demonstrated lowing his head. "See? Just like that. You can do it. Try it. Don't rush it." Lotad kept looking at him and then he lowers his head as the water pours down. "That's it, Lotad." Lotad looked right at Sora and lowered his head again and again.
"Looks like this Lotad must like you, Sora," Rita said.
"Has he always been like this?" Sora asked.
"Fraid so. This Lotad is a bit of a unique character. But it's okay, since this Lotad can't seem to help it," Rita said.
They worked for hours and then the new pipes were put in and sprinkled all over the flowers. Sora wiped off some sweat.
"What a workout," Sora said.
"Thanks for the help today, Lotad. Now you go on back to the lake," Rita said.
"Lotad, Lotad," the Lotad said as they rturned to the lake; all but one. The one Lotad kept looking at Sora.
"Left behind again?" Sora asked. He bends down to Lotad. "The rest of your buddies have gone on home and you should too."
"Rita!" Nicole called out as she ran out with a note in her hand.
"Nicole? What's wrong?" Rita asked.
"It's Natalie! She's gone! She left this!" Nicole said, handing Rita the note.
"Looking for Sitrus Berries?" Rita asked. Sora and Kairi were worried now.
"You don't think she's out there looking for those for me, is she?" Sora asked.
"Seems like it, Sora. We should find her before something bad could happen," Kairi said.
"I'm going to look for her with you. You don't know the area like Nicole and I do," Rita said.
"And I'll stay here just in case she comes back," Nicole said.
"We'll meet you back in the flower shop," Rita said.
"Brendan, May, Max, you three will have to stay here just in case," Sora said.
"Sure. You can handle, whatever's out there," Brendan said.
With that said, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel went with Rita to find Natalie and bring her back safely.
"Be careful; it's going to be dark soon, so hurry back!" Nicole called out to them.
"Somehow it's not the dark that's worrying me. It's what's lurking in the dark I'm worried about," Brendan said.
In the woods, Natalie is wearing a purple backpack.
"Just wait, Sora. I'll find those Sitrus Berries for you. You'll see. And I'll do a much better job than that girl," Natalie said in her thoughts.
As the sun has completely set, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Rita search for Natalie, and calls out for her.
"Natalie!" Sora called out.
"Where are you, Natalie?" Kairi also called out.
"Natalie!" Rita called out.
"Eevee, vee!" Angel called out.
"Pika, Pika!" Pikachu called out. Pikachu hears rustling in the bushes behind him. "Pika?!" Sora, Kairi, and Rita noticed.
"Pikachu, what's wrong?" Sora asked.
"Pika, Pika," Pikachu said, pointing to the bushes.
"Did you hear something?" Sora asked.
"Natalie?" Rita asked.
The rustling became louder as the mysterious figure was getting closer and closer. The mysterious figure turns out to be Lotad.
"It was just Lotad," Sora said.
"He must have been following us the whole way," Kairi said. Lotad walked up to Sora and he picks him up.
"You must be worried about Natalie too. That's probably why you followed us here," Sora said.
Back to Natalie, she goes through the bushes and she spots a single Sitrus Berry growing on a tree.
"A Sitrus Berry!" Natalie beamed. She walked over to the tree and picked the berry off the tree. "Oh good! Sora is gonna be so happy!" She suddenly hears rustling in the bushes behind her ad she turns to see what was the noise was. "Huh? Hey, who's there?" The rustling became more violent as the creature in the bushes turns out to be angry Beedrill. Natalie screams loud and the group hears her.
"Natalie!" Rita exclaimed.
"Where is she?" Kairi asked.
Rita turned to her right and pointed.
"This way!" Rita said as the couple had followed her to where it came from. The Beedrill was about to attack. Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Rita got to her just in time.
"Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Sora ordered. Pikachu rushed over to Beedrill and uses Thunderbolt and shocks Beedrill. The poison bee Pokémon flies away. "Natalie!"
"Thank goodness we got here just in time," Kairi said.
"Hi Sora! You saved me!" Natalie said.
"Natalie! Why did you run off like that?!" Rita scolded her younger sister. Natalie looked at her, feeling saddened. "Do you have any idea how worried you made us? You scared us half to death!"
"I'm sorry, RIta. I didn't mean to make you worry. I just wanted to find a Sitrus Berry for Sora," Natalie said.
"I do appreciate it, but your sister is right. You shouldn't run off like that, because that Beedrill would have hurt you bad if we hadn't shown up in time," Sora said.
"And you shouldn't have tried to outshine me either," Kairi added. Natalie scowled at her.
"What is your relationship with my Sora?" Natalie asked.
"Sora is my boyfriend. That's my relationship with him," Kairi answered.
"Your infatuation with him is no excuse, young lady. We'll have a talk with Nicole when we get home," Rita said. Pikachu's ears perked up.
"Pika?" Pikachu asked.
"What's wrong, Pikachu? What do you hear?" Sora asked. Pikachu ran off and they all followed the Mouse Pokémon. Pikachu saw the man from earlier and he was scared out of his wits.
"Pika!" Pikachu said.
Sora, Kairi, Rita, Natalie, Pikachu, Angel, and Lotad found the man, shaking like a rattle. Rita gasped when she saw him.
"Richard? What happened to you? You look like you've seen a ghost," Rita said.
"Rita, Natalie, you're safe. But the woods aren't," Richard said.
"What's wrong? Why do you look so scared?" Rita asked.
"I was attacked by a monster!" Ricahrd exclaimed.
"A monster?" Natalie asked.
"What kind was it?" Sora asked.
"It was a giant snake. I was out picking berries out here in the forest, but I heard it. I thought it was Natalie trying to pull a prank on me until I saw it. It just looked at me with those blank yellow eyes. I started to run for my life. I think lost it after a while. I was scared it would come back," Richard said.
Sora and Kairi it has to be a Heartless that attacked him.
"We better get to the flower shop," Sora said.
"Right," Kairi agreed.
They started to head back for the flower shop as Rita helps Richard up. Brendan ran towards them.
"Good, you found Natalie and just in time, too!" Brendan said.
"What's wrong, Brendan?" Sora asked.
"It's the Lotad! As soon as you left, all of the Lotad started to come to the shore, and they were all scared by something," Brendan said.
"I'm sure it has to be what scared this guy," Sora said, pointing to Richard.
"Max assumed it was a Crawdaunt moving in the lake, but I don't think it was," Brendan said.
"I think you're right, Brendan. Glad you told us," Sora said.
"What could be in the lake if not a Crawdaunt?" Rita asked.
"Something scarier than a Crawdaunt," Kairi said.
"Rita, you take Richard and Natalie back to the flower shop. Brendan, you make sure they get there safely," Sora said.
"On it," Brendan said. He turned to the two sisters. "Let's go!"
"What about them?" Rita asked, concerned.
"They can handle it," Brendan said.
With that, the couple headed for the lake along with the Pokémon. They waited for a bit and the Heavy Anaconda emerged from the water and hissed at them.
"A Heartless!" Kairi said.
"Just as we thought!" Sora said, summoning his Keyblade. Kairi summoned her Keyblade as well. Pikachu and Angel got ready to fight it as well, but Xipak and Celeste appeared and joined the fight. Pikachu and Angel saw the other Pikachu and Eevee and then the Heavy Anaconda lunged at them. It snapped its jaws at the couple and the Pokémon. Pikachu and Xipak fired Thunderbolt at it, hitting the snake-like Heartless. It unleashed a green beam of energy from its eyes, but they blocked with their Keyblades. Lotad jumped and fired a giant Water Gun at the Heartless, doing some heavy damage on it. Sora and Kairi came at the giant Heartless and smacked it with their Keyblades. The Heavy Anaconda came at her, but she casts her fire spell, setting the Heartless on fire. Flames quickly engulfs the Heavy Anaconda, so Sora, Kairi, and the Pokémon all finished the Heavy Anaconda off. Xipak and Celeste took off as the Heavy Anaconda fell forward as a heart floats up into the air. The heart then vanished with the Heartless itself.
"That takes care of that Heartless," Kairi said, dismissing her Keyblade.
"Yeah, let's head back inside and tell them that the danger's over," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu agreed.
"Eevee," Angel added.
With that said, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and Lotad head for the flower shop, and found Brendan, May, Max, Richard, and the sisters waiting for them.
"You're okay. What happened?" Nicole asked with concern.
"The monster's gone. It won't be bothering you again," Sora said.
"Glad it's gone. I wouldn't know what I'd do if it was still there," Ricahrd said.
Nicole agreed. She turned to Natalie as she knew what was coming.
"I'm just happy you're okay, Natalie. No more berry hunting by yourself, young lady," Nicole said.
"Promise," Natalie said.
"And you're grounded for a whole week for making us worry like that," Nicole said. Natalie looked down to the ground saddened by the punishment.
On the next morning, the sisters were seeing the couple and Pikachu off.
"The road to Rustboro City is down this way. There should be a town just before that," Nicole said.
"Good luck in your Gym battle," Rita added.
"Thanks," Sora said. Natalie walked up to the couple. She looked up to Kairi.
"Sorry for trying to show you up, Kairi. Just take good care of him, okay?" Natalie asked. Kairi smiled.
"Don't worry about him. Just as long I'm around, he'll be in good hands," Kairi said. Natalie smiled and Lotad walked up to Sora. He bends down to the Water Weed Pokémon.
"Hey there, Lotad. Come to say goodbye to us?" Sora asked.
"I think Lotad wants to be with you, Sora," Kairi said.
"Is that it? You want to be with me?" Sora asked.
"Lotad," Lotad nodded. He looked over to the sisters.
"Is that okay with you three?" Sora asked.
"It's fine with me," Nicole said.
"It's obvious Lotad likes you, Sora," Natalie said.
"You got to take good care of him," Rita said.
"Don't worry about that. Lotad is going to be in very good hands," Sora said. He takes out a Pokéball and tosses it in the air. Lotad also jumps up and the Pokéball has bumped onto Lotad, making him flow inside. The Pokéball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around it to confirm the catch. Sora's Pokédex starts buzzing, asking him if he wants to keep Lotad with or send him to Professor Oak's lab. He sends Lotad to Professor Oak's lab. "Welcome to the team, Lotad."
Now Sora has added another new Pokémon to their team. The next town is just one more stop to make to reach Rustboro City. What adventure is waiting for them? Just wait and see.