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"The art of fishing," Misty said dramatically, holding up the fishing rod like it was a sacred relic. The wooden handle was smooth, worn just enough to fit perfectly into her grip. The reel gleamed under the light, and the line shimmered as she lightly tugged on it. "It's not just a skill—it's a test of patience, heart, and intuition. The rod becomes an extension of your soul, and the sea... the sea will reward those who respect its mystery."
Pikachu sat on a nearby crate, wide-eyed, completely enraptured by her words. His tail twitched with excitement, as if he were already imagining himself reeling in a giant water-type Pokémon.
"When you cast that line, you're not just throwing a hook into the water. You're starting an epic battle between man—or Pokémon—and nature itself. You need focus, precision, and most importantly, you need to listen to the water."
Austin, standing a few feet away, leaned over the counter of the fishing shop and said to the clerk, "So, how much for a Super Rod?"
The shop, known as Fin and Feather Fishing Supplies, was cozy but cluttered, filled with racks of tackle boxes, shelves of shiny lures, and posters of famous anglers posing with their Pokémon catches. A Poliwag scurried past behind the counter, its tail wagging as it helped restock supplies.
The clerk, a guy named Derek with scruffy brown hair and a fishing vest covered in pins, smiled. "Super Rod's going for 2,000 Pokédollars," he said. He pulled one out and placed it on the counter. The rod was sleek and polished, with a graphite body that shimmered like the ocean under the sun. The grip was wrapped in waterproof leather, and the reel was built with a high-tech mechanism designed for precision casting and smooth reeling.
"Austin, I'm telling you, it's not about the rod or the equipment. It's about the heart of the sea. You have to feel the water, let it guide you to your perfect catch."
Austin snorted. "Yeah, I'm sure the sea's just itching to hand me a Magikarp," he muttered before turning to Derek. "Is there a discount for first-time customers?"
Misty huffed, crossing her arms and turning away. Pikachu gently patted her arm, as if to say, Don't let him get to you.
"Reon!"
Everyone turned to see Umbreon trotting toward them from one of the aisles, wearing a small fishing hat tilted jauntily to one side. The brim had a decorative feather sticking out, and the soft canvas material gave it a rugged, outdoorsy charm. Umbreon's red eyes gleamed with pride as it gave Austin a hopeful look.
Austin licked the inside of his cheek, considering. "How much for the hat?"
"Pika?!" Pikachu squeaked, pointing to another nearby rack with hats just like it.
"How much for two hats?"
Misty turned, her cheeks flushing as she stammered, "Misty!"
Austin looked at her, confused. "Yes?"
"No, I—uh—I thought you'd get me one too if I say my name just like these two. Since, you know, Pikachu and Umbreon are getting one, and I would love to get one." She mumbled the last part, clearly embarrassed.
"Alright. How much for the Super Rod and three hats?"
Derek rang them up, and a few minutes later, they were outside. Misty walked a few steps behind, her arms crossed and a frown on her face, while Austin, Pikachu, and Umbreon happily strutted down the street, each sporting their new hats.
"I think these hats look pretty nice."
She took the bait immediately. "Well, I think they look ugly."
"Is that so?" Austin asked, barely containing his laughter. He reached over and plopped his hat on Misty's head.
"You... you... you!" she sputtered, her eyes wide with disbelief as she reached up to touch the brim.
Austin laughed and gave her a playful bow. "Oh, most beautiful master of the sea, please, please teach me the sacred ways of fishing."
"Flattery will get you nowhere."
"You can also keep my hat, if it helps."
Misty rolled her eyes but adjusted the hat slightly. "Come on, students," she said, motioning for them to follow.
"Pika, pika!"
"Reon!"
"No, you two aren't fishing," Austin said, pointing at them sternly.
"No, they are," Misty said and grabbed Austin by the arm, dragging him down the stone path toward her favorite fishing spot.
Austin chuckled, letting himself be pulled along. "Can't wait to see how much patience this 'art of fishing' is gonna require."
"You'll need more than patience," Misty said with a smirk. "You'll need to listen to me."
Austin glanced at her, then at Pikachu and Umbreon trailing behind. "Pretty sure that's the hard part."
Misty just laughed.
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An hour later, Austin, Misty, and their Pokémon found themselves sitting by the side of a quiet stone road, their fishing lines cast lazily into the water. Well, Misty and Austin's fishing rods were properly set up, while Pikachu and Umbreon had wires tied to their tails, "fishing" in their own ridiculous way.
Austin glanced around, taking in the scene. "So, this is your favorite fishing spot?" he asked, looking down the peaceful street. It was quiet, the cobblestone road winding through a sleepy neighborhood toward the edge of a giant lake. Only the occasional breeze disturbed the stillness.
"Yeah," Misty said, her voice soft with nostalgia. "My mother used to bring me here all the time. I actually caught my starter, Staryu, right here."
Austin smiled. "That's awesome. I got my buddy from Professor Oak." He chuckled, glancing at Pikachu. "He shocked me when we first met."
Pikachu's ears drooped, and he gave Austin a pointed glare, as if silently pleading, Don't tell that story. It's embarrassing.
"Well, I'm glad you two worked it out. I remember how things were at first."
Austin grinned, reaching over to rub Pikachu's head. "Yeah, we've come a long way."
Suddenly, the boy and his Pokémon fell silent as they gazed out at the lake. The water was so calm it looked like glass, perfectly reflecting the moon above. Its silver light bathed the surface, casting gentle ripples of light that shimmered as if the stars themselves had fallen into the water.
"It's hard not to believe in a bit of magic when you see something like this," Austin said quietly, as if speaking too loudly might disturb the beauty of the moment.
"If you think this is impressive, I could show you something even better."
"I'll hold you to that," Austin replied with a nod. After a moment, he glanced back at her. "So, since this is my first time fishing, what do you think I could do better?"
Misty brightened and launched into a detailed explanation, offering tips about how to feel for subtle tugs on the line, how to read the water, and how to stay patient.
"Where'd you learn all this?"
"Oh, I picked up a lot from a fisherman hermit I met during my travels in Johto," Misty said. "I actually went to the Lake of Rage planning to catch a Gyarados."
Austin's eyes widened. "You went to the Lake of Rage? So, did you catch one?"
Misty nodded. "Yeah, but... there's a reason it's called the Lake of Rage. Most of the Gyarados there are completely out of control. They're angry, violent, and not exactly ideal partners unless you're ready to deal with all that aggression. At the time, I wasn't."
Austin leaned back on his elbows, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, I guess this is going to be your redemption arc."
Misty chuckled, but it was short-lived. She sighed, casting her line again and watching the ripples break the moon's reflection. "I still don't get how I'm supposed to get a Gyarados by the end of the week. Look, I trust you, but you have to understand where I'm coming from. A Magikarp normally takes months, sometimes years, of proper training, dieting, and swimming exercises to evolve. You can't just rush it."
"We're not going to rely on time—we're going to evolve it through battles."
Misty frowned. "That's a bad idea." She sat up straighter, recalling the old fisherman's warning. "The hermit told me about that. He said trainers who try to evolve a Magikarp through battles often end up pushing them too hard. Magikarp only knows Splash at first, and it's practically useless. When they're forced into battles, they resort to using Struggle just to survive, and it leaves them severely injured. And the worst part? A Pokémon will do anything for its trainer—even endure pain—if they think it'll make their trainer proud."
Austin nodded as Misty continued. "But what happens when that trainer doesn't care about the pain they're causing?"
"They rampage," Austin said softly.
"Yeah, and that's how you end up with an angry Gyarados."
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation settling between them.
Austin finally broke it. "So, can a Magikarp really only learn Splash?"
Misty shrugged. "That's what common sense says. But then again, you're not exactly someone who follows common sense."
Austin chuckled, leaning closer. "What if I told you that a Magikarp can learn Dragon Rage?"
This was Austin's plan. It had to work.
Back on Earth, there was this event-exclusive Dragon Rage Magikarp card that he'd stumbled across at a collector's fair. One of his most precious finds, and now, here he was, trying to recreate something just as special in this world. His theory had started forming the moment he learned about the differences between the Fairy-type Clefairy and the older Normal-type Clefairy here. If both versions could exist, then why not unique or event-exclusive Pokémon? He didn't see why not.
Misty's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "I'm shocked," she said, her wide eyes still processing what he'd told her about Magikarp learning Dragon Rage.
He nodded, trying to play it cool. "To tell you the truth," he said, half-lying through his teeth, "I'm planning to submit this as a research paper to Professor Oak."
She blinked, and then, without a hint of doubt, said, "I know you'll succeed."
The sincerity in her voice caught him off guard, but he smiled. "Thanks. I'm planning to buy a TM for Dragon Rage and use it on the Magikarp. Once it works, I'll get help from Professor Oak and publish my findings."
That was a lie, but only halfway. The truth was, he just wanted to test his theory and see if he could give Pokémon event-exclusive moves. If this worked, he'd be one step closer to giving his team some crazy hidden potential. And Pikachu—well, the little guy was already a walking event in himself. Pikachu had access to so many exclusive moves, thanks to Nintendo's obsession with him. If Magikarp worked, Pikachu was next on his list.
But now that he'd mentioned the research paper, the idea of a bonus from Professor Oak didn't sound bad either. Oh, Oak's going to give me a raise for sure… 30k stipend, here I come.
Suddenly, Austin's fishing line jerked hard. Misty's line tugged too.
"We've got something!" he shouted, his grip tightening on the rod.
Misty grinned, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "I've got this!"
He watched in awe as she expertly reeled in her line. Her hands moved smoothly, with just the right balance between pulling and letting the line slack. The reel spun rapidly, but she controlled it with ease, her movements steady and confident. The fishing rod bent under the weight of her catch, but she kept her balance like she'd done this a thousand times before.
"Almost there…" she murmured, eyes focused on the water.
With one final tug, a large orange fish burst through the surface, flapping wildly as water splashed everywhere.
"Magikarp!" Misty exclaimed, a proud grin on her face. She didn't hesitate—she pulled out a Poké Ball and punted it straight at the poor Magikarp's head. It hit with a loud thunk before sucking the flailing fish inside. The ball shook once, twice, and then locked with a satisfying ding.
"Got it!" Misty said, holding the ball up triumphantly.
"Show-off," Austin teased, still struggling with his own line.
"Focus, Austin! Don't let it get away," she said, moving beside him. "Keep the tension on the line, but don't pull too hard, or it'll snap!"
He gritted his teeth as the line tugged wildly, nearly pulling him off balance. His hands were sweating as he adjusted his grip. "It's putting up a fight," he muttered.
"That's a good thing! Keep reeling it in, slow and steady," Misty said, guiding him through the process.
Pikachu and Umbreon were on the sidelines, bouncing excitedly and cheering him on.
"Pika pika!" "Reon!"
With a final heave, Austin yanked the rod back, and the catch broke through the surface of the water. The Pokémon dangled from the end of his line, glistening in the moonlight. His breath hitched as he recognized the light blue, seahorse-like creature.
Its red eyes blinked at him, and the cream-colored ridges along its belly glimmered as it squirmed. Its fins twitched, giving it a delicate but powerful look.
"A Horsea," Austin whispered, barely able to contain the rush of emotions hitting him.
Horsea.
He stared at the little seahorse, his heart pounding. Back on Earth, his first competitive Pokémon tournament had been won thanks to his Kingdra—a rain-dance sweeper that had carried him through some of the toughest matches of his life. This wasn't just any Pokémon to him; this was a piece of home, a connection to the version of himself that used to stay up all night grinding through battles, dreaming of victory.
He could hear Misty's voice in the background, but his mind was racing.
"Do you want to catch it?" she asked. "If not, just let go of the handle."
Let go of the handle? No way. I could use a dragon on my team.
Without another thought, he jerked the rod forward, bringing Horsea closer. He carefully removed the bait from its mouth and crouched by the water's edge. The Horsea eyed him warily, its fins twitching as if it was ready to spray him with water at any moment.
"Hey, do you want to join my team, little dragon?"
Horsea's eyes narrowed slightly, and it let out a tiny warning puff of water. He didn't flinch. Instead, he placed it gently back in the water. "How about I prove it to you? Let's battle. If I win, you join my team."
Horsea paused, the tension in the air thick. Its body floated back a few feet before it swam into position, its gaze locked on him. It had accepted the challenge.
Austin grinned and motioned for Pikachu to step forward.
"Pika?" Pikachu tilted his head and pointed to his cheeks. Should I use my electricity or not?
Austin raised an eyebrow. "Pikachu, we're fighting a dragon. Show it some respect. Go all out."
Misty laughed from the side. "Austin, Horsea's a water-type, not a dragon."
He shrugged, still smiling. "Doesn't matter. It will be a dragon one day, under my care."
Austin locked eyes with Horsea, feeling the familiar surge of excitement that came before every battle. "Let's do this."
"Thunder Wave!" Austin shouted.
Pikachu's cheeks sparked before releasing a wave of crackling electricity that surged toward Horsea. The seahorse Pokémon didn't flinch—it took the hit head-on. But just as Austin was about to follow up, Horsea's red eyes glowed, and Pikachu stiffened mid-step.
"Disable!" Misty gasped.
Austin smiled, impressed. A cunning fighter, huh? He liked this little guy—or, girl, maybe. Either way, Horsea wasn't just quick; it was smart. This was exactly the type of Pokémon he wanted on his team.
"Sword strike the water!" Austin called.
Pikachu responded instantly, dashing forward with Quick Attack and spinning mid-air as his tail hardened with Iron Tail. The strike hit the water hard, sending a massive splash upward.
The wave was beautiful—fading moonlight reflecting off the droplets as they arced high, a shimmering curtain of water cascading down toward the canal. For a moment, it was like the world had slowed down, but Austin snapped back to reality.
"Thunder Shock!"
Electricity crackled through the splash, heading straight for Horsea. Austin figured the disorienting splash would throw it off, but he underestimated just how crafty this Pokémon really was.
Horsea's body spun in the water, and suddenly, a swirling vortex of water rose around it. The tornado twisted rapidly, deflecting the Thunder Shock with ease.
"Twister," Misty murmured in awe.
Austin couldn't help but grin. "Amazing." His excitement was practically bubbling over. I'm so going to catch this Horsea.
"Pikachu, use Double Team and Quick Attack!"
The twister spun toward them, churning up the water with dangerous force. But Pikachu didn't hesitate. He bolted forward in a blur of yellow light, leaving behind glowing clones as he activated Double Team. The illusions darted around the canal, confusing Horsea as the twister tore through the fake Pikachus.
Horsea made the wrong choice.
The real Pikachu emerged from the side, breaking through the chaos, and slammed into Horsea with a clean hit. The force sent the seahorse flying out of the canal and crashing into the stone wall with a splash. The Twister collapsed, sending water raining down on Austin, Misty, and Umbreon.
Austin wiped his soaked bangs out of his face and rushed over. "Horsea!"
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[ A few hours later ]
The seahorse stirred on his jacket, water dripping off its sleek blue body as it blinked up at him. Its gaze darted to Pikachu, then to Misty, and finally back to Austin. He could see the gears turning in its head, replaying the battle and analyzing where it went wrong.
"That was amazing," Austin said, crouching next to it.
Horsea tilted its head, giving him a look that seemed to say, Yeah, but I still lost.
"You were holding your own against Pikachu," Austin added quickly, trying to soften the blow. "That Twister move? Brilliant. Most Pokémon would've been thrown off by the splash and panicked. But you stayed calm."
Horsea puffed a small stream of bubbles, as if considering whether to accept the compliment.
"I know what you're thinking," Austin said. "You're wondering if I'm worth following, aren't you?"
Horsea narrowed its eyes. Maybe.
"Well," Austin said, holding up a Poké Ball, "how about you give me a chance to prove myself?"
Horsea huffed, releasing another tiny spray of bubbles. It was definitely testing him, seeing how far he'd go to convince it.
"I'm serious," Austin said with a grin. "Join my team, and I'll make sure you evolve into a Kingdra. You'll be a dragon that no one will mess with. But you've got to trust me."
Horsea stared at the ball, then at Austin. For a moment, he thought it might blow him off, but instead, it gave the ball a playful tap with its snout.
"It's happening," Misty whispered from behind him, her eyes wide with excitement.
The Poké Ball opened, and with a flash of light, Horsea disappeared inside. The ball shook once, twice, and then clicked shut with a satisfying ding.
Austin let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
They sat there for a moment, watching the sun peek over the horizon. This street, Misty's favorite fishing spot, had a kind of magic to it. The road was perfectly aligned so that the first rays of the morning sun poured directly down its center, bathing everything in gold. The lake sparkled like liquid fire, the reflection of the rising sun stretching across its surface.
No cars. No noise. Just the peaceful hum of the morning and the sound of water lapping gently against the stone. It felt like the world had come to a standstill, just for them.
It's moments like this that make life feel... amazing.
Austin glanced down at the Poké Ball in his hand and smiled. "Welcome to this Pokémon Odyssey, little dragon."
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[ Author Note: Haha, gotcha! I know y'all thought Austin was gonna catch a Magikarp and get a Gyarados, didn't you? Some of you even threw Feebas into the mix. But nah, here's the deal: Austin's in Kanto right now, and I'm keeping each region's team specific to its local Pokémon. So, no Hoenn Pokémon in Kanto. Evolutions from later gens are fair game, though, so don't worry about that.
Now, why Horsea instead of Magikarp? Honestly, Gyarados has been done to death in fanfics. Horsea and its evolutions? Criminally underused. I figured I'd switch things up and give Austin something unique to work with.
So yeah, let me know what you think of this little twist! ]