The sky was pale and moody the next morning when Ayan stepped out of his apartment. After getting the egg, everyone would be given a week off from school. Thus Ayan was happy about it. It was given mostly so that the youngsters could take care of their child. Meanwhile, his incubator sat safely at home under Leavanny's careful supervision.
"Hmm.. I should definitely get Mom a Chansey or Wigglytuff. Will make things easier." Ayan thought as he came out. And soon vanished. But this time it wasn't his usual place.
Viridian Forest could wait. Ayan had made his mind up. He was going to Tohjo Falls. Instead of taking Route 29 in Johto region, he would take the other route. It was the river trail that led down the edge of New Bark Town and twisted east toward the forested cliffside where the famed twin waterfalls met. It was a rugged path, one that required a bit of creativity to navigate.
"Gyarados, come on out."
With a metallic snap, the massive Water-Flying type materialized in the stream-fed lake near the cliff base, the water around him churning with force. He roared, sending a few nearby Wingull flapping off in a panic.
"I need your help," Ayan said simply. "We're heading to the mouth of Tohjo Falls. Can you carry me upriver?"
Gyarados let out a low growl and dipped his head. Ayan stepped onto his back carefully, gripping the side fins and crouching low as the beast surged forward.
The ride was anything but smooth.
The river curved and sloshed with resistance. Ayan's legs were soaked within minutes. The mist from the falls grew stronger the closer they approached, and soon the roar of water was deafening. But through the spray, the towering dual falls emerged—majestic, fierce, and ancient.
Tohjo Falls.
Gyarados paused in the deeper pool at the base of the left waterfall. Here, the current was calmer, but the water darkened to a mysterious depth.
"This is good. Stay nearby," Ayan instructed. He soon took out his super rod.
Ayan gripped the Super Rod with practiced precision, casting the bait into the swirling depths. The surface rippled gently at first, and then violently as something tugged from below.
"Already?" he muttered, bracing.
The line jerked hard, and Ayan reeled fast, letting the drag do the work. Up burst a flailing Magikarp, eyes wide and useless.
"Of course it's you," Ayan sighed. And didn't bother to catch it at all.
This time it was a level 11 Goldeen, its vibrant horn flashing under the light. Slightly better, but still not what he was hoping for. One decisive bite later and the Goldeen was gone and experience gained. He fished for nearly an hour like this—reeling in Magikarp, Goldeen, even a stubborn Seaking that tried to drag the line under before Ayan whistled for Gyarados to strike with a precise Bite attack.
Then the water fell still. Too still. Gyarados raised its head slightly, sensing something different beneath the surface. The line dipped once. Twice. Then pulled taut.
"Whoa," Ayan muttered, digging his heels into the gravel. "That's not a Magikarp."
He yanked the rod back just as something heavy broke the surface with a lazy plop—a rounded, pinkish figure with vacant eyes and stubby limbs.
"...Slowpoke," Ayan whispered. Then he blinked. "Wait—"
The sunlight shimmered off the Pokémon's wet hide, revealing a faint, glimmering hue—subtly different. The usual pink was tinged with an unusual silvery-blue tint.
"No way… a shiny?"
There was no way he was going to let go of a shiny Slowpoke. This was already a huge luck. He was thanking the stars for this. Meanwhile, the Slowpoke blinked up at him slowly, as if unaware of its own rarity.
"Gyarados, this one's different. Be careful!" The reason why he said this was because of the notification he saw in his PokeDex.
Wild Slowpoke (Lv. 20) appeared!
And Gyarados was Level 16. Only one level had progressed.
"Use Tackle!"
Gyarados surged forward, his body glowing as he lunged. His body hit Slowpoke's and the Slowpoke was flanged out but it seemed that Slowpoke wasn't hurt much. Then, after an awkward pause, Slowpoke used Confusion. A pulse of psychic energy rippled outward. Gyarados roared in pain, staggering back into the water, momentarily dazed.
"Dammit. That did more than I expected," Ayan hissed as he checked his PokeDex. "Use Dragon Tail!"
Gyarados responded with a glowing swirl of his tail, dragging himself out of the confusion and hitting at Slowpoke . Thankfully the Slowpoke was slow ( as expected), the attack struck more effectively, causing the Slowpoke to wobble and fall on its side.
But just as Ayan thought it was over, Slowpoke used Water Pulse. A sphere of spiraling water slammed into Gyarados's face, sending him hurtling backward. Ayan could feel the battle tipping.
"Hold on, buddy. Use Leer! Drop its defenses!"
Gyarados's eyes flared with intensity, the piercing glare washing over Slowpoke, who—once again—barely reacted. It simply stared into space as if it had forgotten what it was doing here.
"Tackle again, now!"
Gyarados lunged. The attack connected hard, and this time the Slowpoke cried out, falling back into the water, limp but not unconscious. Ayan narrowed his eyes. This was his shot.
"Bite again, now!"
Gyarados lunged. The attack connected hard, and this time the Slowpoke cried out, falling back into the water, limp but not unconscious.
Ayan narrowed his eyes. This was his shot. He pulled out a Heal Ball, kissed the top for luck—a dumb ritual he'd seen some streamers do—and hurled it with force.
It struck Slowpoke's rounded head and popped open.
The red light enveloped the Pokémon.
Shake.Shake...Shake...…
Click.
Wild Shiny Slowpoke was caught!
Ayan slumped to the ground, soaked and panting. Gyarados huffed beside him, clearly exhausted.
"Well, that was… way more than I signed up for," Ayan muttered.
He held the ball up, watching the shimmer of the slow but rare Pokémon inside. It had been a gamble coming to Tohjo Falls—but it had paid off in the most unexpected way.