Chapter 13: The Playboy of the River and the Path of Power
Chapter 13: The Playboy of the River and the Path to Power
The sound of rushing water filled the air, crashing against the jagged rocks below as a powerful waterfall roared in defiance. Holly perched on a boulder by the riverbank, camera in hand, lens focused on one of the most ridiculous yet oddly impressive sights she had ever seen.
A massive, round-bodied Magikarp—easily twice the size of an average one—was furiously flopping his way up the waterfall.
A herd of smaller, sleeker Magikarp—exclusively female—watched him from below, their large eyes shimmering in what Holly could only describe as admiration.
Oh my God, he has a harem.
She adjusted the zoom on her camera, snapping several golden-hour-lit shots of the chonky king of the river, mid-air, mouth wide open in intense determination.
Click.
Click.
Click.
"Pidgeotto, look at this guy," she muttered to her new Flying-type companion, who was perched beside her.
Pidgeotto tilted his head, his sharp golden eyes scanning the alpha Magikarp before letting out a scoffing chirp, as if unimpressed.
Holly grinned. "I know, right? But give him credit—he's got spirit."
The Magikarp flopped higher and higher, reaching the midpoint of the waterfall, before…
SPLASH.
Back down he went.
Holly had to bite her lip to keep from laughing as she snapped a few action shots of him being carried down by the current, his female entourage rushing to meet him like concerned fangirls.
"Oh, buddy," Holly chuckled, reviewing the shots. "You poor, lovesick fool."
She had been tracking potential teammates for two days, hoping to find a Magikarp with strong survival instincts—one that could evolve into a formidable Gyarados. But she hadn't expected to find an alpha specimen like this one.
The sheer determination, endurance, and sheer stubbornness this Magikarp displayed was absurdly admirable.
And the more she watched, the more she knew.
This was the one.
The Catch
She didn't go in guns blazing—not for this one.
No, she needed to talk to him.
Using Pidgeotto, she soared up the waterfall, landing on a rock ledge near the Magikarp's starting point.
Magikarp flopped dramatically, chest heaving, utterly exhausted but still determined.
Holly crouched, offering him a Pokéblock infused with nutrients. "That was a good try."
Magikarp huffed, eyeing the treat suspiciously.
"You've got some serious drive," she continued, keeping her tone casual. "But you're never gonna make it up that waterfall like this."
The big fish gave a low, grumbling croak.
Pidgeotto snorted.
Holly smirked. "Look, I know why you're trying so hard. You wanna be a Gyarados."
Magikarp's large eyes locked onto hers, surprise flashing across his face.
"And I'm guessing it's because one of your girls evolved first and left you in the dust?"
Silence.
Then… a dramatic splash, as Magikarp flopped angrily.
Holly laughed. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Let me guess—she rejected you?"
Another angry flop.
"Oh man," she wheezed. "You're really salty about it, huh?"
Pidgeotto cackled, his head thrown back as he fluffed his feathers in amusement.
Magikarp turned, scowling (as much as a fish could scowl).
"I'll make you a deal," Holly said, regaining her composure. "You train with me, and I'll make sure you evolve into the strongest, baddest Gyarados this river has ever seen."
Magikarp eyed her, his ego and pride at war with his frustration.
Then he turned to the waterfall, glaring at it like it personally insulted him.
A long silence stretched between them.
Finally, he huffed, nudging the Pokéblock toward himself with his fin.
Holly grinned. "We got a deal?"
A firm nod.
She tapped a Poké Ball against his head—a flash of red, a few wiggles—
Ding.
Training Begins
If Holly thought Magikarp was determined before, it was nothing compared to training week.
The team dynamic took some adjusting:
Pidgeotto: Aloof, proud, and constantly rolling his eyes at Magikarp's dramatic antics.
Sakumo: The serious big brother figure, patient but not above tackling Magikarp if he got too cocky.
Magikarp: The stubborn, angry underdog with revenge motivation levels through the roof.
They trained morning to night, refining their strengths and learning combination attacks.
Combo Tactics
1. Firestorm Gale (Pidgeotto & Sakumo)
Pidgeotto kicked up massive winds with Gust and Wing Attack.
Sakumo launched Flamethrower into the currents, turning it into a flaming storm.
The first time they pulled it off, they set part of the riverbank on fire.
"…Okay, maybe let's aim higher next time," Holly muttered, snapping a photo of Pidgeotto looking incredibly pleased with himself.
2. Tidal Vortex (Future Magikarp/Gyarados & Pidgeotto)
Once Magikarp evolved, the plan was to combine water attacks with wind for massive cyclones.
Until then, Magikarp was… flailing aggressively.
It was hilariously ineffective, but Holly documented every moment.
Candid #1: Magikarp dramatically flopping onto Pidgeotto.
Candid #2: Pidgeotto retaliating by trying to carry Magikarp mid-air (unsuccessfully).
Candid #3: Sakumo burying his face in his paws in the background.
3. Impact Blitz (Magikarp & Sakumo)
Sakumo used Agility to propel Magikarp at high speeds.
Magikarp became a living cannonball.
…It worked.
Too well.
One miscalculation later, and Magikarp knocked a boulder clean off the cliff.
"…We should probably move," Holly muttered, watching the rock roll down.
The Bond Strengthens
By the end of the week, the team was stronger, more synchronized, and Holly had enough ridiculous photos to make an album.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the trees, she sat beside the river, flipping through her photo collection on her camera.
Magikarp swam near the shore, watching her curiously.
"You're getting better," she murmured.
Magikarp blinked.
She smirked, holding up a photo of him halfway up the waterfall. "Bet she wouldn't reject you now."
His fins flared dramatically.
Pidgeotto, perched nearby, rolled his eyes so hard he nearly fell off his branch.
Sakumo barked a laugh.
Holly grinned, closing the camera.
Her team was coming together.
They weren't just Pokémon.
They were family.