Pokémon ABC - Episode 6

Episode 6: Someone has evolved!

By 'Whisper Shadowhunter'/ Kitty Ocean
© Nintendo (their characters) and Kitty Ocean (my characters)

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Gary parked his car. Chris jumped out and walked inside the store. Gary locked his car and followed his niece inside. What were they doing here at the Poké Mart? And why did Chris want him to go with his car? He thought she hated cars.

Gary received from Nurse Joy his second clue. If they were looking for the Ocean Gym, where should they look? Gary thought it was an easy clue and suggested some places it might be. The Pokémon Aquarium, near the Pokémon Centre, but the only thing Chris answered was: "The OCEAN Gym." After she repeated it 6 times he finally knew what she meant.

"Good morning Mr. Cram." Gary greeted politely.

"Good morning youngsters. One moment." Mr. Cram placed a little plate before the little Eevee.

"Eevee!" it said happily.

Chris walked to the little Eevee and patted him. "Are you going to let Marcia evolve someday?"

Mr. Cram shook his head. "I like Marcia like she is. What is the point of evolving if she is just my friend? I don't fight with her anymore; I'm too old. But you aren't, so what can I do for you two?"

"We would like to hire something from you." Chris said. "We want to dive today."

"Why do you want that for?" He asked.

"We are going to look for the Ocean Gym." Gary said. "So we need scuba equipment."

Mr. Cram led the youngsters to the back and showed his diving equipment. "You know how to dive?" He asked Gary. Gary said he had done it once, a long time ago, but he still remembered it. Wow, Chris thought, he is admitting something. "In that case, choose your stuff. A whole equipment will cost you 75 bucks."

Chris took her wallet and handed over 150 dollar. Then she started to take all the things she needed. An oxygen bottle, fins, some lead, and a set so they could talk underwater. Mr. Cram started to pack it inside the car.

"I'll hope you have fun." Mr. Cram said.

"Thanks for all." Chris said. She leaped into the car. "Gary, are you ready finally?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming." He answered annoyed. "I forget my necklace. I won't dive without it."

"Than you have to be carefully. The Magikarp here don't like shiny things. They might attack you." Mr. Cram advised. Gary nodded.

"I won't dive without it. It has a special meaning to me. It goes where I go. But thanks for the advice."

Gary stepped into his car. Mr. Crams Eevee jumped into his arms. While Gary drove away, Chris waved to Mr. Cram.



"So." He asked. "What will we do now? Are we going to the beach?"

"No." She answered. "We have to pick up Mayla. Someone has to know we are underwater and if we stay away too long somebody has to warn the police."

"Wow, you have a positive mind." He said sarcastically.

"It's security. Just go to Mayla." She replied annoyed.

Gary stopped before the Pokémon Aquarium. He waited a few minutes and after that Mayla finally came. She wore a bathing suit with a skirt and jacket. She also carried a parasol and a bag.

"What were you planning to do?" Gary asked. "Are we going on a holiday or something like that?"

"He, I don't want to sit on that boat and be bored all the time." She said angry. "I've brought some food and drinks for on the boat."

"We are going with a boat?" Gary asked at Chris. She nodded.

"What did you think else?" she asked. "Did you want to swim until you reach the deepest place?"

Gary didn't answer. He was figuring out how his niece knew where to look.

"I know what you are thinking." She suddenly said. "But there is no use hiding a gym at 10 meters. You can see that from the surface. If you want to hide a gym decently, you have to search from 30 meters and further. And that's a few miles from the coast from here."

Gary drove until they reached the Pokémon Centre. He stopped and stepped out of the car.

"What are you doing?" Chris asked.

"I'm going to call Gramps. I'll tell him we'll dive today. He might have some suggestions where to look. If you can stop for Mayla, I can stop for Gramps."



"Hi Gary, how nice of you to call. You didn't call for a week." He said a bit angry. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. We are going to dive today so do you have some suggestions?"

"Yes." He said yawning. "Don't call again at 8 o'clock in the morning!"

Gary lost his patience. "He, I'm tired too, but do you hear me whining?"

"No." Professor Oak shook his head. "Use your Pokémon so they can help you look. But don't fight with them in anyway. Avoid Gyarados."

Chris interrupted. "There are no Gyarados here." She said. "Only Magikarp."

"Than there's a problem less. But don't let them fight with anyone else than Moonshadow. They'll be tired before you know it. And there is no Pokémon Centre underwater."

"If we pick up some of my Pokémon…." Chris suggested. "They can help us looking and IF needed, they can fight for us."

Professor Oak said it was a great idea and Gary said goodbye. He hung up with his: "Smell ya later Gramps!" and stood up. Nurse Joy and Chansey came to Gary, Chris and Mayla.

"I wanted to wish you good luck and be careful."

"Chansey!"

"And Chansey hopes you look out." Nurse Joy said. Chris smiled.

"No sweat. We'll be fine." Gary said. "Thanks for the help Nurse Joy."

"Don't thank me yet Gary, you haven't defeated Moonshadow yet. He, you even haven't found him yet. Thank me when you come back. Have fun."

The children thanked Nurse Joy and Gary drove them to the harbour, where Mayla had reserved a boat. They transferred the equipment to the boat.

"Be back before dark." The owner said. "It might storm tonight and if you are at sea then…, well, be back before the dark okay?" they nodded. The man waved to them and untied the boat. He pushed them a bit away. After that, he waved again and walked away.



"Eh, what are we doing now? Who's driving?" Gary asked.

Chris pointed to Mayla who stepped behind the rudder. She started the engine and 'drove' the boat backwards. Carefully, she 'drove' the boat out of the harbour. When they were out of the harbour, Mayla turned to Chris' island



"I can't go any further, or the boat will get stuck into the sand." Mayla said.

"No sweat." Chris said. "I'll swim home. I'll get my Pokémon." She climbed from the boat and dove into the water.

Gary looked at her until he saw she had reached the island. He saw her waving and he waved back. He looked at Mayla, who put on her sunglasses and lay down at the deck.

"What are you going to do?" He asked.

"She has to select her Pokémon. It will take a while. Why do you think we left so early?"

Gary didn't answer and decided he could sit down too.



"Who did you choose?" Gary asked while Chris dried herself a bit off. Mayla started the engine again and the boat started to move again. Chris sat down and laid 10 Poké Balls at the deck.

"I choose Wartortle, Starmie, Staryu, Seel, Goldeen, Kingler, Horsea, Lapras, Vaporeon and Poliwrath." She said proudly. "Guess that will be enough. Don't you think?"

Gary nodded. "They only have to look. You didn't have to choose your strongest Pokémon, just your fastest. I think even your Poliwag could defeat Magikarp."

"You never know. Maybe Team Rocket will show up. I don't think we are free from them yet."

Gary agreed with his niece and he put his three Poké Balls at the deck too. "I hope we'll find him finally. Blastoise and the rest are getting inpatient."

"You are sure you're ready?" Mayla shouted from behind the wheel.

"Yes. If I made it to the Pokémon League I can defeat Moonshadow. Hardly anyone has been invited there so he didn't get a lot of exercise."

"You never know." Chris said. "You can't depend on the fragile hope he hadn't exercised. He might not be rusty you know."

"If I loose, I can come back again when Seadra and the rest are stronger. Than I know where to look for him." He answered. "And at least I have positive hope." He said sarcastically to his cousin.

But Chris didn't react and climbed onto the stairs and walked to Mayla. She gave her some directions where the best spot would be. Mayla listened, and didn't wonder how Chris knew so much. But Gary started to wonder more and more. He knew she was hiding something, and he would hear it when the time was there. Gary hated it that she hid something for him, her nephew. He felt sad about the fact she didn't trust him anymore. If she only knew she could trust him.

He looked at Chris. He saw she was untying her skirt. Suddenly he saw her necklace, the little Poké Ball and the mysterious moon. Weird, he thought, she is diving with her necklace? I thought security was the main thing today. Than why is she diving with sparkling things? She walked down the stairs and went to the cabin. She must be changing clothes, he thought and stood up.

"When are we there?" Gary asked to Mayla.

"Within a few minutes. You'd better change clothes too. After I put the anchor out, we'll eat something and after that we'll plan the dive."

Gary accepted Mayla's advice and went below deck. He also changed his clothes. He looked into the mirror. I must be the best looking diver in history, he thought. He looked at his necklace. He decided if he should take it with him. No, he thought, security first. It won't hurt me to leave my necklace once.



"It's delicious again." Chris complimented Mayla.

"Try chewing." She said to Chris. "Maybe it will taste better than." She stood up and got the Pokémon food from her bag. "Here you are guys, I guess you are hungry too."
Gary's Seadra ate the food very fast, like Gary's other Pokémon, but Chris' Pokémon took time to swallow. It seemed they knew what was coming and how much food they needed. Gary looked at the Pokémon. They are not nervous or something like that, he thought. Why?

Chris drank her glass empty. "Why don't you start a restaurant?"

"Thank you for the compliment, but I think I'll stick to the aquarium. Though I like cooking, I like the aquarium more. But maybe I'll make a little cafe in the building. Than I can do both. But I might need some help than. Would you help?"

Chris didn't answer and took some pen and paper. It's that time again, Mayla thought.

"Well." Chris started. "We'll dive from here. In what direction shall we look first Gary?"

Gary looked at the map. "Ehm, what is over here?" He asked and pointed it at the map.

"That's the reef. No gym can be hidden there." Mayla answered.

"And here, in the north?" He pointed at it again. Chris looked at the map. "Well?"

"It's a clear area there…." She finally answered.

"Great, we'll look down there first." He decided. He wanted to stand up.

"He!" Mayla yelled. "Where did you think you were going?" Gary said he wanted to dive immediately. "No way! You'll have to wait about an hour before you can dive. Relax, try your equipment, talk to your Pokémon, whatever."

Gary didn't like to wait, but he knew Mayla knew better. Instead of diving, he walked to his Pokémon.

"Okay Krabby, Blastoise, Seadra, this is the moment."

"Blastoise…."

"Yeah." Gary said. "I know you are nervous, but there is no need to be it. We are just looking today. We might not even find it. It's a great ocean ya know?" he patted his Pokémon. "But I'm tiered of waiting, I want to find it now! And nothing can stop me!"

"Jiggly…?"

"Oh my God!" Chris shouted. "Who led that creature come aboard?"

"Not me!" Gary and Mayla yelled at once, trying to hide behind the other. "Don't let it sing!"

"Jig-gelypu-u-u-uf… Jig-gelypu-u-u-uf… Jig-gelypuff… Jig-gelypuff." And after a moment of silence: "Puff!"



"What time is it?" Mayla asked. And after that: "My God, I'll kill the one who led that creature come along!"

"No need to shout." Chris said, washing her face. "The marker lines will not vanish as long as you cry, ya know?"

Gary wiped the Pokémon clean who slowly waked up. "Well, I think we can dive now, can't we?"

"Guess so." Chris answered and she got her equipment. Gary did the same.

"When do you think you will be back?" Mayla asked.

Chris sent her Pokémon into the water. "We'll sent a Pokémon if we get into trouble. Vaporeon will be the best choice."

Gary sent his Pokémon too into the water. "We won't come back before we find that Gym and before we find Moonshadow."

"Than I'm glad I packed my bag with lots of food. If I'll make a timetable of what you expect I'll sit here until tomorrow."

Gary and Chris jumped into the water. Gary noticed Chris was still wearing her necklace. Well, he thought, she is the experienced one. She'll know what she does.

Chris made an okay signal to Mayla and than dove with Gary underwater. The Pokémon followed enthusiastically.



"Are the microphones working?" Chris asked and Gary said they did. "Great, so now we can talk."

They dove deeper and deeper. Gary looked a lot of times to the Pokémon, but they seemed okay. Chris seemed fine too. He looked at his depth meter. They were just at 10 meters; the bottom would be 20 meters further. He turned around and looked to the surface. He saw the shadow of the boat and the sun shining. It looked wonderful.

"He Gary, stop dreaming and move on."

Gary looked around. He saw his niece already at a further depth. He hurried to her.

"We don't have much time. The pressure is high at 30 meters." She took him by the arm and together they swam deeper.

At 20 meter she let him go again and decided to swim with her Staryu. She grabbed the little creature and let it pull her. Gary grabbed Starmie and was pulled too.

"This is fun." He said.

"I know!" Chris giggled. "It has been a long while since I did this the last time!"

Forgotten why they were there, they started to play like young Seel. They had fun and forgot the time. They laughed; they played and didn't look where they were swimming. Chris played tag with her Pokémon and Gary loved it too. They swam across a cave….

"What was that?" Gary suddenly held still. Chris swam to him.

"What?"

Gary pointed to the cave. "I thought I heard something out of the cave."

"Oh, that must be the Magikarp." Chris answered and wanted to swim further.

Gary grabbed her arm. "Didn't you notice one thing?" He asked. She shook her head. "I haven't seen a Magikarp yet. You said the ocean was full of them, didn't you?" Chris nodded. "Then were are they?"

As an answer to his question, a roar sounded again. Everybody hold still, looking into the cave. Don't tell me it's Team Rocket, Chris thought.

The sound came closer and all the Pokémon got nervous. What was the nature of this sound?

"Only Magikarp eh?" Gary whispered afraid.
Chris swallowed. "Eh, I guess someone has evolved! Swim!" The roar sounded again and its owner appeared too. A large Gyarados looked very pissed off. This was his territory and no-one was allowed in it!

Chris, Gary and the Pokémon swam for their lives. The Gyarados followed them, roaring, biting, chasing them away. Chris' Pokémon tried to chase it too, but the Gyarados was obviously too strong! Wartortle's bite and Seel's aurora beam, it just didn't affect the huge Pokémon. It continued with his attack.

All the Pokémon swam away, while Chris pulled Gary in a little cave.

"We'll be safe here." She said. "He can't come in here."

"But what about the Pokémon?" Gary asked.

"They'll be fine too."

"How can you be so sure of that?"

"Because Gyarados is waiting before the cave until we come out!"



Gary looked at his watch. They had been down there for 30 minutes already and the Gyarados didn't move a muscle. He looked at his oxygen meter.

"I don't have to much air left…." He sighed.

Chris looked at her meter, seeing she hadn't had left much air too. She touched her necklace, the little moon. It began to shine….

Gary went to the beginning of the cave. The Gyarados hadn't move yet. It still roared angry; saying it wouldn't give up yet. "How do we ever get out of this? And where are the rest? I hope they are all right." Chris didn't answer. Gary noticed something in the cave was glowing and spreading a great light. "Chris? What is that?" He asked while he turned around.

Gary was astounded. He saw his niece putting off her diving equipment. "What are you? Crazy?" But she didn't seem to care. He saw the little moon glowing like never before.

"Don't worry." She said careless. "You can have my air. I can without…."

To be continued…