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Hi all,

Here's the next chapter. Lucas plays the hero and discovers the location of a rare Pokemon.

Chapter 12

Lucas jumped over the railing that separated his platform from the one next to it. The girl had collapsed in shock after the Gyarados emerged from the water, and she was now completely helpless in the face of the colossal Pokemon. Gyarados opened its mouth, and a huge orb of water materialised directly in front of it.

Species: Gyarados

Level: 33

Condition: Perfect

Threat Level: High

"Max, Thundershock to distract it," Lucas yelled.

"Kid!" Max exclaimed. A surge of electricity briefly surrounded his body before an arc of lightning shot towards the Gyarados.

Gyarados roared as the electricity struck its body, cancelling its attack and redirecting its rage towards Max. Gyarados had a double weakness to electric-type, so it should have felt the impact despite being more than double Max's level. Its condition remained unchanged, but it must have taken some damage.

"We have to get out of here," Lucas yelled urgently, scooping the girl into his arms and turning to flee.

A nearby Staryu followed them, gracefully gliding a few feet above the ground.

"Stop engaging the Gyarados, Max. Get the hell out of there!"

"Kid!"

Max's tone was sarcastic as if Lucas had just said the most obvious thing in the world. He ran off in a direction to divert the Gyarados' attention and protect his trainer. Icarus had already taken flight and retreated, realising he could not help in this situation.

"Hey, let me go!" the girl yelled. "I need to grab my stuff."

"There is no time!" Lucas retorted as he ran. The rest of the crowd hurriedly made their way towards the bridge that linked the fishing area with the main harbour.

The sound of the Gyarados had drowned out every other noise, but now it was resurfacing, and the frantic screams from people on the dock were finally audible.

Jeremy stepped out of his store and fixed his gaze on the Gyarados as Lucas rushed by. A wave of unease washed over Lucas as he became aware of a massive shadow engulfing the ground around him. He turned around to see a massive wall of water suspended behind the Gyarados. Fear gripped him as it became clear what would happen next.

"We are going to die!" the girl exclaimed, clutching his neck tightly.

Lucas dashed behind the building, hoping it would protect them from the oncoming flood. He braced himself as he kneeled with the girl in his arms. The sound of water crashing against the dock echoed throughout the area. A massive flood of water rushed past the building in an instant. The water surged towards them, finding a new path free of impediments.

Even with Staryu in front of them, shielding them from the flood's force, Lucas and the girl were still in danger of being swept away. Lucas grabbed a chain attached to the building, gripping it tightly as the water fought furiously to carry them away. His arm muscles strained against the strong pull for what felt like an eternity until it abruptly stopped.

As the water slowly receded, he smiled down at the drenched girl in his arms. "Wasn't that exciting?"

"Did you hit your head, or are you just plain stupid?" She gave him a cold stare.

"What's your name?"

"Is this the right time to ask such a question? We still have a rampaging Gyarados to be concerned about."

Lucas cocked his head and listened as the sound of battle erupted behind him. Soon after, he heard the Gyarados let out a ferocious roar. "I believe Gyarados is being handled by someone else. Perhaps it's Jeremy?"

"The store owner?" The girl paused, briefly considering the situation, before nodding. "I have seen some of his Pokémon before, and there is no doubt they are incredibly powerful."

"Pidgey!"

Lucas spotted Icarus perched on the roof, peering down at him. "Hey, Icarus. I'm glad you made it out alright. Have you seen Max?"

Worry consumed him as he wondered if he had sacrificed his companion to save the girl.

"Kid!" Max appeared beside Icarus, energetically waving his arm, seemingly unfazed by the ordeal.

Lucas breathed a sigh of relief. "How did you get up there?"

When Max pointed to Icarus, Lucas realised he had returned and assisted his teammate in escaping the flood. What an impressive display of teamwork. "Well done, Icarus!" Lucas exclaimed.

Icarus preened, puffing out his chest and basking in the praise.

Lucas stood up and released the girl. She took a few shaky steps before regaining her footing. She turned around and smiled at him, seemingly unconcerned that she was completely drenched. "My name is Misty. May I know the name of my saviour?"

She might not be as grateful to him if she knew he was possibly to blame for the incident. "My name is Lucas. I'll take a look and see what's going on."

Lucas' eyes widened when he saw the situation in front of him. Gyarados was suspended in mid-air, surrounded by a radiant purple aura. Jeremy stood alongside Slowking on the washed-out dock below. The latter was facing the Gyarados with its arms raised.

Species: Slowking

Level: 51

Condition: Excellent

Threat Level: Zero

The Gyarados had no chance against the Slowking, whose level was eighteen levels higher than its own. He expected the difference to be even more pronounced because Slowking had a trainer.

"Woah, that's amazing," Misty remarked, standing beside him.

Jeremy threw a pokeball at the Gyarados, causing the Pokemon to vanish in a flash of red light. Skowking retrieved the captured creature's pokeball and handed it to his trainer. It was amazing how effortlessly Gyarados had been captured.

People began to emerge as the Gyrados vanished, observing the devastation caused by the powerful surge of water. Fortunately, the damage was limited to the fishing dock, which was separate from the main harbour. There was still significant damage. The railing had suffered damage in multiple areas, and the store itself had structural damage as well. Fortunately, it appeared that Jeremy had summoned Slowking in time to save himself and limit the damage to his store.

The dock was littered with seaweed and other debris, including a few stranded Pokemon caught in the attack. Gyrados used the sea rather than conjuring the water entirely by itself, which explained how it could cause so much destruction. Pokemon could use natural resources from the environment to strengthen their attacks. This made the sea an especially dangerous domain for people, as Pokemon had access to an infinite water supply.

"Are you two all right?" Jeremy inquired as he approached them.

"We are fine," Lucas assured them. "I thought there were no Pokemon with levels higher than twenty here?"

Jeremy grimaced. "I should have added a disclaimer stating it's not an absolute rule. Despite our best efforts, situations like this cannot be entirely prevented. There must have been something that triggered Gyarados's rage."

Lucas averted his gaze, overcome with remorse. Although it may have been a coincidence that the Gyarados appeared as he was grinding experience points from the Magikarp, a nagging suspicion insisted there was a correlation between the two events.

"Did you happen to see a backpack and a bicycle?" Misty asked, scanning her surroundings.

"I am sorry, kid," Jeremy apologised. "They were most likely washed out to sea. It will be nearly impossible to find them now."

"Dammit," Misty sighed. "I lost everything in my bag—my wallet, ID, phone, a spare change of clothes, and other personal belongings. Plus, I haven't checked into a hotel yet."

Staryu reached out one of its triangular arms and gently patted her leg, expressing sympathy.

"I am sorry to hear that," Lucas said. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I need to call my sisters and have them wire me some Pokedollars," Misty said, looking down at her wet clothes. "I will have to wait until I finish drying off."

"How about staying with me for the night?" Lucas suggested. "I know someone who might have some clothes that would fit you. We can have your clothes washed and dried for you."

"Yeah, right," Misty snorted as she crossed her arms defensively. "While I appreciate your help in rescuing me, it would not be wise for me to leave with someone I don't know. My sisters have taught me the importance of being cautious around strangers."

"I'm not living by myself," Lucas said, rolling his eyes. "I have a woman and her son staying with me. Why don't you go to the Pokemon Centre and contact your sisters? Meanwhile, I will bring Delia and Ash over to meet you."

"That sounds like a plan," Jeremy said, surveying the area. "The fishing spot will be closed until it can be cleaned up and repaired."

"I can help," Lucas offered. "If we combine our efforts, it shouldn't take long."

"Thank you for the offer, kid," Jeremy said, smiling, "but I have insurance that will cover the costs of the repairs, including a crew to do it. But I would appreciate it if you could assist me in returning these Pokémon to the sea."

Lucas accompanied Delia and Ash to the Pokémon Centre, bringing a spare set of Ash's clothes to lend to Misty. She was only slightly taller than Ash, so they should be fine.

"Hello, Misty," Delia said, handing her the change of clothes. "Lucas told me about your situation, so I brought these for you. My name is Delia."

Misty smiled and thanked her before taking the clothes. She noticed Ash staring at her, and she glared at him. What are you looking at, squirt?"

"Squirt?" Ash exclaimed, shaking his fist at her. "We are the same age."

"I am nearly eleven," Misty said, "but you don't look a day over eight."

"I am almost ten," Ash grumbled.

"Where are your parents, Misty?" Delia interjected. "How come you are allowed to travel alone?"

"My parents are no longer alive. "I left without telling my sisters where I was going," Misty explained, crossing her arms defensively. "I don't require any supervision."

Delia rubbed her temples. "What did your sisters have to say about it?"

"They were angry," Misty shrugged. "But they have transferred some Pokedollars to me so I can pay for a hotel room and other necessities."

"Are they not coming to get you?" Lucas asked, surprised.

"They are about to do a show," Misty explained. "They don't have time to leave the city at the moment."

"Who are your sisters?" Ash asked.

"The Sensational Sisters."

"The Cerulean Gym's leaders?" Ash exclaimed, his attitude doing a complete one-eighty.

Misty grimaced.

"Give me their phone number and go change," Delia instructed. "I will reassure your sisters that you have an adult looking out for you."

Misty looked ready to argue, but when Delia gave her a stern look, she quickly yielded. She turned and went to the bathroom.

"I will help Misty buy some new clothes," Delia said. "And convince her to come and live with us. At her age, she shouldn't be alone in a hotel room."

"Well, it appears that you have the situation under control," Lucas said quickly, not wanting to go shopping for girls' clothes. "I will leave it in your capable hands because I have other things to do."

Because his original plans for the rest of the day had fallen through, he decided to make the most of his time by doing something else. He considered venturing out of the city to explore Viridian Forest, but then a different idea occurred to him.

"That is fine," Delia said, "but I expect you to be home for dinner."

After leaving the Pokemon Centre, Lucas headed to another location that had piqued his interest earlier in the morning. The FightingDojo was primarily dedicated to the training of fighting-type Pokemon. Trainers could, however, teach other Pokemon fighting-type moves and improve their overall affinity with the type. He was interested in raising Max's fighting-type affinity, as he still had an egg move to unlock.

Furthermore, the dojo taught the trainers self-defence and discipline. While it may not be effective against Pokemon, there is still a chance that you can incapacitate someone who poses a threat to you before they can summon their Pokemon.

The Fighting Dojo was a well-known institution in Eastern Kanto, with branches in all major cities. Its origins can be traced back to Saffron City, where it was the Pokemon Gym before being replaced by the Psychic-type gym. Sabrina's predecessor had issued a challenge to the dojo to claim the official title of the Saffron City gym. Rather than becoming disheartened, the owner, a karate master named Koichi, took the risky decision to expand his venture beyond a Pokemon gym into a thriving business. The venture was a huge success, prompting him to open multiple branches in just a few years.

Lucas removed his shoes before entering the building. It appeared to be a traditional Japanese-style dojo, with a spacious two-level structure and an open floor plan. The second level was a walkway that encircled the area, allowing people to watch the students in the main area below.

"May I help you?" the young man asked, sitting behind the front desk. He was dressed in a traditional gi uniform.

"I would like to join up to train my Elekid," Lucas said.

"The trainer must also attend classes," the young man explained. "We believe that strengthening your body in tandem with your Pokemon fosters a stronger bond between you both."

"All right," Lucas said, nodding. "Where do I sign up?"

The young man handed Lucas some paperwork, which he completed before paying the joining fee. The fee made him wince, but he convinced himself it would be worth it in the long run.

He was then instructed to summon Max to assess his current abilities before being led to change into their uniform.

"Kid?" Max gave him a perplexed look as they were led onto the floor.,

"We are going to start training your fighting-type capabilities," Lucas told him.

Max nodded, clearly excited. He had a small affinity for fighting-type, although he lacked any fighting-type moves. He was either born with the affinity or his previous trainer had the same thought as Lucas and spent some time training the affinity.

The space was divided into areas to accommodate students of varying skill levels. Each area had a dedicated teacher, making it easy for students to join training sessions at any time.

Lucas was introduced to the first instructor, a man named Master Shichiro. The man led them through some preliminary exercises. After an hour of strenuous exercise, he was exhausted. He felt he should be paid to train rather than pay for it because the training was so demanding. Max spent the majority of his training time sparring with Hitmonlee. They relied on their physical bodies to inflict damage on their opponents, rather than moves that consumed energy.

Max stumbled over to him after the sparring session and collapsed onto the ground. Master Shichiro demonstrated how to massage Max's muscles and reduce his risk of injury.

"Kid!" Max grunted in pleasure as Lucas massaged his shoulders.

"This is the fundamental method for increasing a Pokemon's fighting-type affinity." Master Shichiro stated. "It also helps to train a Pokémon's speed and increase the power of their standard attacks."

"Standard attacks?"

"Attacks that don't rely on energy make fighting types effective in long battles," Master Shichiro explained. "They have mastered the discipline of using their bodies to inflict damage while conserving energy. It is known as "free-form fighting."

Lucas returned to the house and continued to train with Icarus, working on teaching him a new move. Whirlwind was an odd move because it made no sense when you stopped to think about it. According to the book, some moves resembled magic spells because their effects defied any logical explanation.

Whirlwind was useful because it could return a Pokemon to its pokeball. The mechanics weren't the same as in the games, where a Pokemon could be switched out with another. It was useful in an official match where there are specific rules prohibiting trainers from reusing Pokemon that have already participated in the match. The move had flaws, such as the fact that it took a long time to execute and might be ineffective against Pokemon with significantly higher levels than the user's.

Lucas had the opportunity to learn more about Misty as they sat down for dinner that evening. She considered herself a water-type master, and her knowledge of the specific type of Pokemon was impressive. Her affinity for water types was unsurprising given that her home was the Cerulean gym. Lucas was curious about the water-type Pokémon in the area, so he asked her for her thoughts. Misty informed him that there was more variety to be found outside the city limits. However, due to a lack of regulation, these encounters were far more dangerous. People could unintentionally come across extremely powerful Pokémon capable of ending their lives in an instant.

Lucas planned to use the opportunity to test out the new function he had acquired to see if he could find any good water-type Pokemon since he was leaving the city tomorrow to run an errand for Professor Oak.

The function had a major drawback when it came to using it in the sea—he would need a mode of travel to navigate to a specific destination within the sea to find a particular Pokemon. In addition, he had to depend on a fishing rod to try and catch the Pokemon on the line, a task that sounded impossible. But there were some water-type Pokemon that preferred to stay near the water's edge or surf across the water, so it wasn't completely out of the question.

The next morning, Lucas was out the door, heading for the northeast exit out of the city. He was dressed warmly because there was a noticeable chill in the air. Although he didn't expect the task to take long, he was well-prepared for any unexpected situations.

The main road to the northeast connects to Celadon City, which is only a few days' carriage ride away. He was on his way to a location just outside of town where one of Professor Oak's scientists was doing some research. His task was to deliver a package to the scientist and retrieve the report she had been assigned to write. The scientist had a reputation for failing to email her findings to the laboratory.

Lucas released Icarus and Max from their pokeballs and walked alongside the main road. He used his Itemfinder to see if he could find any new items along the way. So far, no hidden items have been discovered in populated areas such as Pallet Town or Viridian City.

"There is a turn-off just ahead," Lucas said, consulting the map Professor Oak had given him. "Remain vigilant, Icarus, as we may encounter some Pokemon on our way to the beach."

"Pidgey."

They turned south and followed a trail that cut through small rocky cliffs, which created a natural barrier between the beach and the main road above it. The beach was deserted at this hour of the morning, but there was a raised cabin close to the water's edge.

"That's our destination," Lucas said. "I just hope the scientist is awake."

Max yawned and glanced at Lucas' watch as if implying it was far too early for anyone to be awake.

Lucas shivered as a cold breeze swept over him, prompting him to bury his hands deep into the pockets of his coat. He knocked on the cabin's front door, and Icarus flew down from the sky and perched on his shoulder. He took the package from his backpack and held it carefully.

He heard a curse from within before the door opened. A dishevelled middle-aged woman emerged, her hair unkempt and dressed in pyjamas.

"Dr. Schofield?" Lucas inquired, and when she nodded, he continued. "I'm from Professor Oak's lab. I'm here to deliver this package and pick up the report you were supposed to submit."

"Such a pain," Dr. Scofield sighed as she accepted the package. "I haven't finished the report yet. You may as well come inside."

Lucas entered the cabin and immediately noticed the mess of clothes and discarded food containers on the floor. The computer setup in the corner, on the other hand, appeared to be relatively clean.

Dr. Schofield placed the package on the sofa and turned to face him. "Could you please give me a couple more days before I turn in my report?"

He didn't mind granting her request because he wouldn't return to Pallet Town for two weeks, but she did not need to know that.

"How about you tell me what you are doing here?" Lucas stated. "Then I will give you two days."

"Come and take a look."

Dr. Scofield led him over to the computer and tapped the keyboard, causing the screen to light up. She opened a map of southern Kanto with a few keystrokes. The emphasis was on the coastline as well as the islands located to the south of the main continent. Small images of various Pokémon, each representing a different species, were strewn about the sea.

"What am I looking at?" Lucas asked.

"This map depicts the migratory patterns of sea Pokemon as they seek new feeding grounds after their natural habitats are depleted of resources. This is the usual pattern that has persisted for several decades."

"Do you mean it has changed?" Lucas inquired, noticing the words she was not saying. "What do Sea Pokemon eat?"

"Mainly algae and water vegetation," Dr. Scofield explained. "Over time, as their food sources dwindled, these Pokemon adapted, but there are still carnivorous Pokemon that feed on other Pokemon."

"So, what has changed?"

Dr. Scofield brought up another map and displayed them side by side. The shift in migratory patterns was obvious, as new Pokemon appeared while others vanished.

"What's the cause of this?"

"That is what I am trying to figure out," Dr Scofield said, frustratedly running her hands through her hair. "Unfortunately, my field of study is severely underfunded, which makes it difficult to conduct my research when I require specialised equipment. They cost a lot of Pokedollars."

Lucas was drawn to an illustration of a specific Pokemon. "Are there Dratini appearing around here?"

"I figured that would pique your interest," Dr Scofield said, smiling. "Dratini are notoriously difficult to find in the wild these days. They are usually found in the Safari Zone, but they are subject to strict regulations that prohibit trainers from capturing them. The only other way to obtain one is through a Pokemon Egg, which is extremely expensive."

"I can imagine," Lucas grumbled. "I would like to have my own Dratini."

"I saw one not far from here two weeks ago," Dr. Scofield said. "Unfortunately, it escaped before I had the chance to catch it."

Lucas tried to keep his excitement in check. When such a temptation was in front of him, any thought of capturing a water-type Pokemon vanished.

"Can you tell me where the location is?"

She pointed to a map a few miles away that showed terrain that was noticeably different from its surroundings. "There are a series of caves here that you can explore when the tide is out. I returned there a few times but couldn't find the Dratini I had seen."

"Perhaps I can go take a look," Lucas said, resisting the urge to leave immediately. If there was still a Dratini in the area, he could use his new function to track it down.

"Be careful," Dr. Scofield cautioned. "When the high tide floods the caves, it may bring some high-level Pokemon with it who may choose to stick around."

"I promise to be careful," Lucas assured her as he walked to the door. "I'll be back in three days to collect the report."

"I thought you said it would be two days."

"That was before you gave me a lead on an amazing Pokémon," Lucas said as he waved goodbye.

Lucas made his way north along the beach, towards the caves. Max walked alongside him as Icarus flew above them.

He tried not to get too excited about the prospect of a Dratini. Imagine if he could evolve one of them into a Dragonite. Not all Pokémon are created equal, and this species is known for producing a large number of Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon. What if he found a pair of Dratini who were compatible? He would be able to create Pokémon Eggs worth hundreds of thousands of Pokedollars.

The sound of his Itemfinder going off jolted him out of his reverie and brought him back to reality. He dug up the hidden item after searching the area. He grinned as he opened the chest and discovered a large pearl nestled inside. It was a nice find, as it was almost as valuable as the nugget he had sold.

After about an hour, he arrived at the cave system. He carefully searched around for the entrance. He noticed a shallow cave peeking above the water line a few minutes later. Its depths extended far into the darkness. He retrieved a torch from his bag and directed its light down the tunnel. He couldn't see the end of the tunnel, so it had to be pretty long.

"This could be dangerous," Lucas warned his Pokemon. "We have to be cautious."

"Kid!" Max crossed his arms, looking extremely confident in his abilities.

"Pidgey!" Icarus, on the other hand, gave him a look that suggested he thought Lucas was insane.

Given Lucas' desire to explore a cave teeming with unknown dangers, this reaction could be considered reasonable.

He used his new function, Pokemon Search, before entering the cave. It worked like this: he would name a Pokemon species, and it would direct him to the nearest one within a five-square-mile radius. When it activated, an arrow appeared, indicating that a Dratini was nearby. Lucas took a deep breath before entering the cave with his companions.

From across the street, two suspicious-looking individuals were keeping a close eye on Professor Oak's residence. An hour had passed since their arrival, and they still had not seen their target.

"Why are we here again, Jessie?"

"Ugh, I have already explained this," Jessie muttered through clenched teeth, irritated at having to repeat herself to someone so clueless. "The boss told us to kidnap the man seen with Sabrina Kuroi."

"He doesn't appear to be home," James said, peering through a pair of binoculars at the house. "Although the Ketchum lady is home, and she is quite attractive. I will have fun with her while we try to find out where Lucas Walker has gone."

"We cannot afford to underestimate her," Jessie said. "She has three Pokemon with comparable strength to our own Pokemon."

"Then we will catch her off guard," James said with a smirk. "Perhaps we can use those two brats to get her to cooperate."

"You must stay focused," Jessie reminded him. "We don't have time to clean up after your perverse activities. I had to throw out my uniform after the last mess you made because it was stained with too much blood."

"It's not my fault the woman got me so riled up," James argued. "She should have been more cooperative."

"Let us just get this over with," Jessie sighed, disturbed by James' expression. Though she didn't care about his victims, his proclivities bothered her. She couldn't help but worry that he would one day come after her.

As they left the house, they crossed the street quietly. The Ketchum woman had no idea the nightmare that was about to descend on her doorstep.

Unbeknownst to them, a figure had silently appeared behind them, carefully following their every movement as they crossed the road. His red eyes glowed with a sinister gleam. He overheard their conversation and deduced their intentions for Delia Ketchum. This understanding liberated him from any restraint he may have felt.

He had expected to find no action after Sabrina had sent him here, but he was relieved to be proven wrong. Although he usually followed his own orders, the appearance of Lucas Walker caused him to act more cooperatively. There was something about the man that caught his attention.

He wasn't going to hold back since he was doing his job to protect the family. Blood would be shed today, but it wouldn't be Delia Ketchum's.

So, what do you think? Lucas is hunting a Dratini, while Salem is hunting a pair of unfortunate Team Rocket members.

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Thanks for reading.