Chapter 42: Golden Splendor

"ROARRR!", A powerful voice of a Pokemon yelled out once it got fished out of the water. The trio's shadows were engulfed by a large shadow that overtook the sun overhanging them. Ricky's eyes turned wide, seeing Lillie fish up a gigantic Pokemon.

"Holy, is that really a Gyarados?", Ricky questioned, seeing the giant shrimp-like Pokemon.

"Are we going to catch it?", Serena asked, seeing the large fish before her.

"Normally I'd say yes, but I don't want to raise a Gyarados this early. They'd just scare our other Pokemon. Your Amber might be able to keep one in check, but I don't want to place that pressure on you.", Lillie answered.

"Well, I'd probably manage, but that'd be a lot of ground to cover. I didn't think we'd fish up Gyarados this early. You can put it back in. Once we start evolving our Pokemon, I might consider catching one.", Ricky decided.

"Very well.", Lillie said, releasing her lure. The Gyarados realized this and quickly flapped its fin around while middair. Let out another roar, causing the nearby Pokemon to flee in terror, especially the smaller ones. Not many dared to go up against a powerful Pokemon like a Gyarados.

"It's a shame, but I see where you two are coming from. Even I don't have the confidence to raise a Gyarados this early on. THey'd go on a rampage in the Pokemon Gyms, I bet.", Serena nodded, seeing the decision the trio made. Seeing the Gyarados fall back inside the water, Lillie sighed.

"That still wasn't a Shiny Buizel...", Lillie sighed in defeat. It has been quite some time since the trio arrived here on Route 22. It was Saturday now, and the weekend began. They departed early after inquiring about some good fishing spots, and arrived at the large pond here. It wasn't big enough to be a lake, but it did stretch on for a few miles. It was fairly large.

On top of that, Lillie somehow managed to acquire a Super Rod. One couldn't get a Super Rod this early in the games, but that's life. Lillie used her connections to acquire that Super Rod. Ricky did not forget to buy the All-Purpose Fishing Rod either. Most regions use this type of Fishing Rod, as there are a lot more Pokemon available in other regions. But with the Super Rod in hand, that was why the trio suddenly encountered such a powerful Pokemon this early.

As Serena said, it was a shame, but they didn't catch the Gyarados. They could only continue fishing. Lillie had a determined look in her eyes to catch a Shiny Buizel. They've come across several water-type Pokemon.

"Slow...", A voice suddenly called out to them while Lillie cast her line again. Coming from the nearby grass, Ricky cocked his head to the left. Out came a very pink Pokmeon. There was one immediate difference between this Pokemon compared to its counterpart. Its head was entirely yellow!

"The hell? Am I seeing this right?", Ricky questioned, seeing this weird-looking Slowpoke.

"Well isn't he a cutie? But I think I see where you're looking at. Normal Slowpoke don't usually have yellow heads, do they?", Serena questioned, prompting her to take out her Pokedex. To her surprise, once it started displaying the Slowpoke's information, it went to the Galar page. Not the Kanto page!

And further surprising them, this Slowpoke's body was entirely yellow. It wasn't just their head. Once the Slowpoke popped out of the grass near them, its body did a few sparkle animations!

"Seriously. A shiny Slowpoke...", Ricky uttered. His eyes landed on Serena's Pokedex. It wasn't just a normal Slowpoke either. It was a regional variant. Somehow, a Galarian Slowpoke made its way here into the Kanto Region!

Normal Slowpoke do like to wander around wet areas like this, so they can dip their tails into the water. Ricky didn't think he'd encounter a different form of Slowpoke like this. The Pokedex didn't state this as a common or uncommon encounter, so encountering a Galarian Slowpoke must have been pretty rare. Perhaps even more rare than the several Buizel Lillie had already fished up in vain.

"Slowpoke, Galarian Variant. Most of the time, Galarian Slowpoke is zoned out, unaware of what happens around it. Very rarely, Galarian Slowpoke will abruptly sharpen its expression, and dart around the place. Just like its counterpart, Galarian Slowpoke also frequently dips its tail in water to fish, but because of the spice its tail emanates, Galarian Slowpoke never becomes satisfied with their catches.", The Pokedex said.

"I'm going for this one. Step aside you two. It isn't often you find different regional Pokemon here. I think I can train it well.", Ricky said.

"Alright. Then if you're going to catch this cutie, I'll focus on trying to catch a shiny Nidoran Female!", Serena happily responded.

"I'll continue fishing. I am determined to get that golden Buizel!", Lillie said, casting her fishing lure yet again. She has fished up tens of Pokemon by now, but not a single one was her target. The Shiny Buizel. Before that happened, a Shiny Galarian Slowpoke encountered them!

"Slow?", Galarian Slowpoke said, slowly tilting its head at Ricky. It simply observed Ricky, curious to the three humans standing near the pond.

"Galarian form or not, Slowpoke's reaction times are very slow. As long as I don't trigger its spice within it, catching one should be a breeze. And I got just the thing.", Ricky uttered to himself, reaching into his Item Pouch. Among other items the trio stocked up on back in Viridian City, Pokeballs were one of them. And not just the regular red Pokeball. They bought quite a variety of them! One example was the new Pokeball in his hand. It was the Lure Ball!

"Lure Ball, go!", Ricky exclaimed, tossing the Lure Ball right at Shiny Galarian Slowpoke.

"Slow?", Slowpoke questioned again, only tilting its head at the unknown sight before it. It was moving very slow, and didn't even react in time before the Lure Ball suddenly opened up, enveloping it in a red glow. It sucked the Pokemon right into it!

Wiggle. Wiggle. Wiggle. Ding!

"Easy. Welcome to the team, Slowpoke.", Ricky happily said. Regional form or not, Slowpokes were very easy to catch. They rarely ran away, if even at all. The Shiny Galarian Slowpoke's information was registered, filling in Ricky's first spot in the Galar section!

Ricky immediately went to its details. He already had the reading from before, so he continued on, reviewing its moves. It left him pretty surprised.

Galarian Slowpoke

Shiny Variant

Nature: Quiet

Gender: Male

Ability: Regenerator

Known Moves: Acid, Confusion, Belch, Block, Psychic Terrain, Surf.

"It isn't a lot, but you have a couple of egg moves. Belch is situational, but we are about to tread through Viridian Forest. We can pick up a lot of berries from its trees. And surprisingly, you're carrying Psychic Terrain, and Surf!", Ricky uttered, being content with his new capture. He was going to have to introduce this rare Pokemon to his other Pokemon.

Sure, Galarian Slowpoke might be a much more common sighting in the Galar Region, but they were in Kanto! How could he skip on securing such a Pokemon for his team? He already had quite a few powerful Pokemon once he trained them further. This Slowpoke will fulfill a different role. It was slow. Very slow. But also tanky, and knew how to hit back hard. Later on, it got moves like Trick Room, allowing the battlefield to change into unpredictable ways. It was definitely an interesting Pokemon for Ricky to consider how to train!

"Got you!", Lillie suddenly said, doing a big yoink of her fishing rod. After Ricky was satisfied with his catch, he saw Lillie pull up her fishing rod. Splash! Sparkle! Sparkle!

Lillie's eyes turned wide in shock the moment a much smaller figure popped out of the water. It wasn't a giant shrimp this time. it seemed to be a little water weasel! And more importantly, it was pure golden!

Seeing Lillie's prize now before her, she didn't hesitate. She had Bulbasaur around for a reason next to her.

"Quick Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip and reel in that Shiny Buizel. We mustn't let it run away!", Lillie shouted, drawing the duo's gaze to her.

"Bulba!", Bulbasaur responded, acknowledging Lillie's command. The two buds around each side of Bulbasaur's body swiftly extended out toward the large pond.

"Bui!", Buizel tried to say back at the attack now being launched at it. Buizel didn't seem it was going to go down without a fight! Bright blue energy began to form in its mouth, and suddenly shot a blast of frigid air right at Bulbasaur. It used Icy Wind!

"Keep at it Bulbasaur, grab Buizel at all cost!", Lillie said, pushing her attack forward. Bulbasaur listened and its Vine Whip successfully dodged the incoming Icy Wind. Bulbasaur was blasted by the cold air, but he didn't give up. He maneuvered around the attack, and latched onto the Shiny Buizel. Grabbing hard, Bulbasaur's whips quickly receded back after tossing Shiny Buizel hard into the grass. BANG!

The trio was struck by a loud bang. Shiny Buizel struck the ground, and its body bounced back upward.

"Bui!", Shiny Buizel yelled in anger. All of a sudden, a glow appeared around its claws. Powering Buizel's tiny claws began to extend outward with a white glow!

"That's a Slash, Lillie!", Ricky exclaimed to her. Lillie stayed focused and nodded.

"Got it. Bulbasaur, use Grassy Glide. Strike it before Buizel can finish using its Slash!", Lillie declared.

Seeing the Shiny Buizel not run away and instead challenge the Bulbasaur next to Lillie into a Pokemon Battle, the Shiny Buizel wasn't going to go down without a fight. Ricky lucked out by just catching his Shiny Galarian Slowpoke, but Lillie's battle had just begun!

As for Serena, her attention soon turned elsewhere once she spotted some small movements within the tall grass further beyond the left side of the pond...