Chapter 28: Third Pokémon

[No match found in the database. Catch the Pokémon to get access to its information].

"..."

Aeron was surprised, but not too much. His Pokedex only had the Regional Dex in it and would not scan Pokémon from different regions. However, if he does catch a Pokémon not from Kanto, the information about the said Pokémon would unlock on his dex.

But even though he could not scan the Pokémon, it did not mean he hadn't recognized the ace Pokémon of the Unova Champion. Not wasting any moment, Aeron shot his shot.

"Would you like to join my team?" He took out a Luxury Ball and held it before the Pokémon that was said to be a descendant of the Sun. "I have more berries." The black-haired boy added.

"Lar?" The Torch Pokémon tilted its small head covered in white hair before tapping the Pokeball with its nose. It was immediately sucked inside.

*Wiggle*

*Wiggle*

~Ding~

"I caught my third Pokémon." Aeron pumped his fist into the air before coughing embarrassingly. He always wanted to do this and did the same secretly from Nessa when he captured Growlithe. Psychic or not, no trainer can escape the lure of celebration when they catch a new Pokémon.

His lips curved in a smile as he immediately called back the newly caught Pokémon.

"Lar." The little Pokémon nudged its head into Aeron's leg before it climbed to his shoulders. He once again scanned the Pokémon with his dex, looking through the now unlocked information.

-0-

[Larvesta, the Torch Pokémon. This Pokémon was believed to have been born from the sun. When it evolves, its entire body is engulfed in flames. When battling opponents, it sprays fire from its five horns. The max temperature of the flames can reach nearly 5,500 degrees Fahrenheit]

-

Larvesta

Gender: Male

Type: Bug/Fire

Ability: Flame Heart

Innate Moves: Quiver Dance, Fiery Dance, Flamethrower, Heat Wave

Moves: String Shot (B), Bug Bite (B), Ember (B), Harden (B), Flame Charge (B)

TMs: None]

-0-

"..."

Aeron was left speechless as he looked at the information about the Larvesta, innocently munching on the berry. "Welcome to the team." He took out another berry and handed it to his third Pokémon, giving it a head pat. 'Time to leave this forest.'

They only stayed in Viridian Forest because he wanted to catch a Bug-type Pokémon. Now that his quest was complete, there was no longer a reason to stay here. So, with Larvesta on his shoulders, Aeron walked back toward the tent. He hadn't gone too far so he reached there very soon.

'It's ironic how I wanted to catch a Bug-type since they grow fast, but Larvesta takes a lot of time to evolve.' Aeron sighed as he thought about it; however, he could not give up on such a rare and strong Pokémon either. 'It is what it is.'

Larvesta's body tensed up when they entered the campsite, and Aeron knew why.

Grrr

Aeron looked at the massive sea serpent looking at them with a ferocious glare. "Return for now." He called back Larvesta and walked toward Misty's Gyarados. "You are strong."

"Gyarados."

The sea serpent raised its head in pride before giving a warning glare to the black-haired boy who was inching closer. A frown appeared on its face before its red eyes lit up; a warning [Leer]. However, the boy shrugged it off and now stood at the lake's edge with his right hand toward her.

"Ra..."

"No need to be grumpy." Aeron chuckled at the sea serpent's fierce look and expressed his emotions to it with his Psychic Powers.

"Gyara..." It hesitated for a moment but leaned down into Aeron's embrace soon after.

Aeron rubbed its scales before giving it a few head pats. "I am Aeron Duskborn."

"Gyarados."

"Nice to meet you."

"Dos."

The twenty-one feet long sea serpent pressed its forehead with Aeron's before turning around.

"Ra."

"You want me to climb up?"

"Dos."

Aeron smiled before he jumped onto Gyarados's back. "Let's go." As soon as he said those words, Gyarados dived into the lake. He tried to keep his eyes open and looked at the Water-type Pokemon living within.

'The lake...it's huge.' At first, he had thought the 'lake' they camped beside was pretty small, but he could not be further from the truth. It was deep, with different Pokémon living in harmony.

Poliwag, Slowpoke, Staryu, Goldeen, Magikarp and many more Pokémon were just there...chilling without a care about the world. They remained at peace even when the massive sea serpent swam through the lake.

'Should I?' He contemplated before jumping off Gyarados's back and sending out Psychic waves. Suddenly, all the Pokémon were now looking at him before they started swimming over.

In a matter of seconds, Aeron was surrounded by wild Water-type Pokémon. However, they all started floating around and playing with him rather than attacking.

Watching these Pokemon having fun and playing around, he felt at peace. For some unknown reason, he could feel a small connection with all of them. He started giving them head pats one by one, and the Pokémon just accepted them with smiles.

After a while, Aeron felt the air in his lungs running out. He looked at these Pokémon and waved them goodbye before Gyarados swam toward him. He held onto its scales, and the sea serpent returned him to the surface.

"That was so cool." Aeron could not help but exclaim before patting the Gyarados. "Thank you so much."

"Dos." The sea serpent nodded its head before it swam to the edge of the lake, and Aeron jumped off.

"What's going on here?"

Aeron and Gyarados looked at Misty, who was looking at them with wide eyes. She could not believe her Nayla had let another human ride on its back, and they seemed very...close? Nothing wrong with that, but she found it unbelievable; even her sisters could not get so close to Nayla, let alone someone the sea serpent met for the first time.

"Nayla and I went for a dip." Aeron opened his arms, and the sea serpent came into his embrace. He gave it a few head pats before looking at the shocked Misty. "Now I want a Gyarados myself."

"Ra!"

The sea serpent roared to the sky in pride as its trainer looked at Aeron dumbfounded.

"Your Nayla is not the first Pokémon that has done something like this." Nessa walked out of her tent and patted Misty's shoulder. "For some reason, Pokémon just love him."

"Good morning, ladies." Aeron walked toward the two girls; his clothes drenched in water. "I guess I have my bath for the day."

"You should dry yourself before you catch a cold." Nessa shook her head and brought a towel from her tent before wiping off the water on Aeron's face. "We will be using the lake too."

"Let me change, and then I will go get some wood. You will be done by the time I come back." He said, letting her wipe his face and hair. "I will make the breakfast."

"You seem exceptionally happy?" Nessa immediately noticed the slight smile on Aeron's lips.

"I just got my third Pokémon." He shrugged and then looked at Misty. "You will love it."

"Is it a Water-type?" The orange-haired girl's eyes brightened up.

"See for yourself."

"..."

"..."

~Kyaaaaaaaaaa

-0-

The group walked through the Viridian Forest with Aeron in the lead.

"You still mad?" The black-haired boy looked at Misty, who was pouting in anger.

"Of course I am." Misty gritted her teeth and then shivered when she remembered the green worm climbing on her leg. "I almost thought I would die."

"Git gud!"

"You!"

Nessa chuckled as she remembered Misty's scream. "You know, some Water-type Pokémon are partially Bug-type."

Misty shivered at the thought before a conflicted look appeared on her face. "We will see when the time comes."

"Golispod is really cute," Aeron said before adding. "It is one of the Pokémon I really want."

"No, it's not." The two girls said at the same time, and the boy just shrugged.

"So, what are your plans once we reach Pewter City?" Misty asked. "Would you go to Florian Town to visit your parents?"

A smile appeared on his face when Aeron thought about his parents, but he shook his head. "I am not going home so soon. I am going to challenge the Bug-type Gym leader in Greenwich Town." A shiver ran through Misty's spine at the mention of Bug-types.

"I would forgive you for scaring me with the Larvesta if you apologize."

"No...not happening."

"You!"

"Woof."

"Hmm?" Aeron raised an eyebrow as Growlithe sensed someone. The orange puppy could smell things from a very long distance.

"It's a Pokémon Battle."

The group kept walking, and soon they saw a trainer fighting a Weedle with his Pikachu.

"It's Ash." Misty immediately noticed the boy she was travelling with before Aeron and Nessa.

"Misty?" A boy with spiky brown hair looked at Misty with shock. "I finally found you!"

"No, you dumbass. You are busy catching Pokémon, and we are the ones who found you." Misty retorted, and Ash just gave an embarrassing smile while rubbing the back of his head. "But at least you are fine."

"After those Beedrills stopped chasing me, I tried to look for you, but I had no clue where to go." Ash looked at the two trainers standing beside Misty. "They are?"

"They are Aeron and Nessa," Misty said while pointing at her two new friends. "And guys, this is Ash, the boy I told you about and his partner Pikachu."

"Pika Pi."

The former two nodded while Ash was excited about seeing the orange puppy.

"Is that a Growlithe?" The brown-haired boy had stars in his eyes and immediately scanned the orange puppy with his Pokedex. "Let's have a Pokémon battle."

"Hold that thought!"

"Hmm?"

The group turned toward the newcomer who was walking toward them. He wore warrior armour with a katana strapped to his waist.

"You who come to this forest, I shall challenge you and...Huh? Agent Dusk?"

"Long time no see, Samurai."

Aeron smiled as he looked at the boy he had met while he was kidnapped.

"Miss Nessa!"

"I see you are doing good." The Galarian girl was happy to see the boy again. "I thought you would not come to Viridian Forest again."

"I am a Samurai, a warrior; how can I be afraid?" The boy puffed his chest in pride before he pointed his sword at Aeron. "I would like to challenge you to an official Pokémon Battle."

"Hey! Not fair." Ash immediately protested. "I was the first one to ask."

"This..." The Samurai rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Don't worry; I will fight you both." Aeron looked at Ash before asking. "Two vs two sounds good to you?"

"Let's go." The spiky-haired boy pumped his fist in excitement before he sent Aeron a battle request which was immediately accepted.

"I will be the referee." Misty walked forward while Nessa and Samurai stood behind her, spectating the battle.

"This is an official battle between Ash from Pallet Town and Aeron from Florian Town." Misty looked at the two challenges, who nodded their heads. "Both are allowed to use only two Pokémon, and none of the trainers can make a switch. Ready?"

"Yes."

"Let's go."

"Let the battle begin."