Chapter 13 Fishing
The lake surface rippled slightly, and the fishing rod in Ash's hand immediately bent into a bow shape under the strain.
Without hesitation, he pulled hard, flinging a Magikarp onto the shore.
This Magikarp was a full size larger than the one Misty had caught, and even out of the water, it was full of vitality, constantly flopping around.
Pokemon: Magikarp
Gender: Male
Level: 16
Ability: Swift Swim
Aptitude: Excellent
Skills: Hydro Pump, Tackle
Ash used his Aura to soothe the Magikarp, and after feeding it a water-type energy cube, he released it back into the lake.
"Aren't you going to catch it?" Misty asked curiously.
Ash shook his head and explained, "No, I want to challenge the Indigo League. The Pewter Gym in Pewter City is Rock type, so I want to see if I can catch a suitable Water-type Pokemon for the Gym battle."
"I see, but you should be mentally prepared. There aren't many types of wild Pokemon in this lake, so you might need some patience to find one suitable for a Gym challenge."
Misty had been fishing in this lake for several days, and her catches were mostly Magikarp.
"It's fine if it's meant to be. Pikachu and Kirlia, their strength is more than enough for a Gym challenge."
"Kirlia, huh, that's a truly rare Pokemon. Ash, are you traveling from another region?"
As one of the Gym Leaders of the Cerulean Gym, Misty's knowledge of Pokemon was quite extensive.
Wild Kirlia are almost non-existent in the Kanto region, so she thought Ash was a Trainer from another region traveling in Kanto.
"No, I'm from Pallet Town. I'm currently traveling to become a Pokémon Master."
"Then let's formally introduce ourselves. My name is Misty, and I'm a world-class beauty! I'm from Cerulean City, and my goal is to become the world's strongest Water-type Pokémon Master." Misty's words were filled with confidence.
"Ash, you must have just started your journey, right?"
"That's right. I'm planning to go to the Pokemon Center in Viridian City first."
Ash didn't plan to challenge the Viridian Gym so early. Giovanni, that big Boss, his strength could definitely contend for Champion, and most importantly, Mewtwo had already been created by Team Rockets.
Challenging him now, there was a chance to get the gym badge, but it was more likely to become Mewtwo's experience pack.
Ash could bully weaker opponents, but he couldn't accept being actively sent to be bullied.
Ash was going to the Pokemon Center to register for the Indigo League.
"I remember there's also a Gym in Viridian City, Ash, aren't you going to challenge it?"
"The Viridian Gym is the strongest Gym in the Kanto region. I plan to save it for last."
"Ash, our goals are quite similar, and I haven't decided how to proceed yet. How about we travel together so we can look out for each other on the way..." Misty looked at Ash expectantly.
"Traveling together is fine, but you're riding a bicycle. Will I interfere with your plans?"
Ash saw the bicycle parked behind Misty. That was Pikachu's lifelong enemy.
In the original work, three bicycles were destroyed by Pikachu, making him a bicycle-destroying maniac.
Sometimes Ash really didn't understand. In this world, a motorcycle only cost tens of thousands of Alliance coins, and a small car only cost a little over a hundred thousand Alliance coins.
But bicycles, which have a fuel consumption of a few bowls of rice per hundred kilometers, started at millions of Alliance coins. This price was just absurd.
"No, it won't. Traveling on foot is actually quite good. Slowing down allows you to see many sights you can't see when riding a bicycle.
Once we reach the Pokemon Center in Viridian City, I'll ask Nurse Joy to help send the bicycle back to Cerulean City."
Since the other party had already made her arrangements, Ash couldn't say much, "Alright."
Over the next hour, Ash kept catching fish, but unfortunately, out of more than thirty he caught, not one was the Feebas Ash wanted, not even one that caught his eye.
However, Misty, at Ash's persuasion, caught a Magikarp with Elite aptitude.
"Ash, what kind of Water-type Pokemon are you looking for exactly?" Misty asked curiously.
She saw that many of the Pokemon Ash caught were quite good, but without exception, they were all released.
"Misty, do you know Milotic?"
Ash looked calmly at the bobber in the lake, asking softly.
"Milotic, that's the most beautiful Pokemon, and it's Water-type.
Two years ago, that genius doctor who discovered and defined the Fairy type summarized two methods for Feebas to evolve into Milotic.
However, both methods are quite difficult.
When that genius doctor's paper was first published, the value of Prism Scale almost quadrupled, and now it's priceless.
The other method, the training difficulty is too great.
That 'beauty' thing, it's too hard to understand.
Currently, only that doctor has successfully trained two Milotic..."
The genius doctor Misty mentioned was, of course, Ash himself.
At that time, when Ash was pretending to be clueless while researching Feebas's evolution into Milotic, he was just trying it out.
Every day, he would trick the few Feebas he had applied for from the Alliance, and also feed them bitter Poffins and energy cubes.
In the end, he really did successfully verify this special evolution method.
Feebas evolving through 'beauty' was a setting that appeared in the game.
Without using the Prism Scale for trade evolution, if its beauty stat reached over 170, it would evolve directly upon leveling up.
"Ash, are you trying to catch Feebas?"
Misty also fantasized about owning a Milotic, but wild Milotic were extremely rare, and she wasn't confident in raising a Feebas to evolve it.
Ash nodded, "Mhm, Misty, aren't you going to become a Water-type Pokémon Master? Aren't you planning to train a Milotic as your main force?"
"I do want to, but Prism Scale has been hyped up to be priceless, so I guess I'll just forget about it.
Besides, the Magikarp you just told me to catch also needs time to train."
"Misty, if you want a Milotic, just find an opportunity to catch a Feebas.
If you're worried about not being able to train it well enough to evolve, I can teach you."
In Ash's opinion, since he had extra Prism Scale on hand and Misty wasn't an outsider, what did one more Feebas matter?
Just kidding, the first generation female lead who followed Ash for almost three hundred episodes, even if she's flat-chested now, what about the future?
Misty is at most fifteen or sixteen years old now, in another world, she's still an underage girl, with plenty of room for development!
"Maybe another time."
Misty pointed at the lake and shouted, "Ash, you've got another fish!"
"Oh!"
Ash grabbed the fishing rod, and after a series of smooth actions, he caught another Magikarp.
"Misty, could you please wait for me here?"
After releasing the Magikarp, Ash first packed up his fishing gear, then stretched his limbs.
Leaving a remark, he plunged into the lake.
This action stunned Misty. She turned to look at Pikachu and Kirlia in disbelief, her innocent eyes seemingly asking: Is this person really your Trainer?