Chapter 26: Safari Zone
Lyra and the gang soon arrived at the Safari Zone. "I can't wait to catch new Pokémon," Lyra said excitedly, imagining the wild Pokémon in the Safari.
"Yeah, me too," Misty added. She couldn't wait to catch new Water Pokémon. Brock was interested in catching some new Pokémon as well.
"What Pokémon are you going to catch, Big Sister?" Tomo asked.
"I don't know," Lyra replied. "I'll just catch whatever Pokémon is there."
They reached the log cabin where they had to get their supplies for the Safari Zone. Suddenly, a gun was pointed at Lyra's face. Pichu and Pikachu were about to shock the person, but Lyra petted them to keep them calm.
"What are you brats doing here?" a man asked, who was the owner of the gun.
"Hey, watch where you point that, would you?" Lyra said, still petting the heads of Pichu and Pikachu. "You can really hurt someone like that." Or you could get hurt because of overprotective Pokémon, she thought.
The man put his gun down. "I am Kaiser, the caretaker of the Safari Zone."
Kaiser gave the gang two Super Rods and a bucket that contained 35 Safari Balls. He then explained that they could not use any Pokémon to catch the wild Pokémon and could not use their normal PokéBalls—only Safari Balls were allowed.
"If any of you break the rules," said Kaiser, "you will have my gun to talk to."
Misty saw a picture of Kaiser as a young man with a Dratini beside him.
"Rumor has it that Dratini live here," Brock said, looking at the picture.
"Well, even if there are Dratini here," Lyra said, "I won't be catching one because I already have one."
"What?!" Kaiser shouted, pointing his gun at Lyra's face again. "How did you get your Dratini?!" he demanded to know.
Lyra was getting really annoyed by the gun and sighed. She explained about finding Dratini as an egg on the S.S. Anne. Kaiser put his gun down and let Lyra off the hook. The gang left Kaiser's log cabin and entered the Safari Zone.
"Okay, seriously," Misty said. "What was that guy's problem? I mean, he went crazy as soon as we entered the cabin. Then, as soon as Ly said she had a Dratini, Kaiser looked like he would explode. I'm surprised that Pichu or Pikachu hasn't shocked the old guy yet."
Lyra chuckled. "I think I know why. Professor Oak told me that after Kaiser met a Dratini in the Safari Zone, trainers flocked here to capture one for themselves. In the process, they captured many of the wild Pokémon and the Safari Zone was nearly destroyed. That's probably why Kaiser is upset most of the time. He doesn't want the destruction of the Safari Zone to happen again," she finished explaining.
Misty, Brock, and Tomo understood.
"So, what shall we do now that we are in the Safari Zone?" Misty asked.
"How about we split up? It's easier to cover more ground," Brock suggested.
The gang agreed with the idea. Lyra grabbed 12 Safari Balls, Misty grabbed 6, Brock grabbed 6, and Tomo grabbed 7. He wanted some more Pokémon too, apart from Growlithe.
"Ready to catch some new friends, Growlithe?" he asked. Growlithe barked, eager to have some new friends as well.
Lyra and Tomo decided to go together. She grabbed a Super Rod, while Misty grabbed the other and headed toward the lakes. Brock went his own way.
Lyra and Tomo entered a field and soon saw a herd of bull Pokémon. "It's Tauros," Lyra said. "Now's my chance to capture my own Tauros." Not only did Lyra capture a Tauros, but Tomo did as well.
They kept walking around looking for Pokémon to catch and spotted a bipedal, rosebud-like Pokémon. Its face was yellow with small, slit-like eyes. It appeared to be wearing a green bib and had triangular, stubby yellow feet. When the two vines on top of its head opened, a big spot could be seen on each. One vine had a blue spot, while the other had a red spot.
"Budew?" it tilted its head. Tomo looked at the bud Pokémon curiously. "What Pokémon is that?" he asked.
"It's a Budew, a Grass and Poison-type, Tomo," Lyra replied.
Budew, the Bud Pokémon.
In winter, it keeps its bud closed to survive the cold, but then opens it again in the spring.
Located in the Hoenn Region.
"I'm catching it for Mum," Lyra said. She threw the Safari Ball, hitting Budew. It was sucked inside and didn't shake; she had caught it.
Ralts is a bipedal Pokémon with a white body. Its body and legs seem to resemble a nightgown or an oversized dress. Its light sky blue hair resembles a bowl cut, which covers most of its face. Its hair is split by two flat moccasin horns, a large one toward the front and a smaller one at the back. A view from below shows that it has a pair of orangish eyes.
Ralts, the Feeling Pokémon.
Ralts is the pre-evolved form of Kirlia. It can use the horns on its head to read human emotions. Ralts rarely shows itself to humans, but may occasionally approach when it senses positive or happy feelings.
Located in the Hoenn Region.
This Pokémon is a Shiny Pokémon.
Gible is a small, bipedal dragon-like Pokémon that is primarily blue. It has a big mouth filled with sharp teeth, no neck, and arms that start at the outer edges of its jaws. A red underbelly stretches from its abdomen to the bottom of its jaw. Gible has two horns that resemble jet or plane engines, each with a light blue stripe in the middle. It has a single light blue stripe wrapping around its back. The fin on its head and has tremendously strong jaws that it uses to bite enemies.
Gible, the Land Shark Pokémon.
Gible once lived in the tropics, and to avoid cold it lives in caves warmed by geothermal heat.
Located in the Sinnoh Region.
Swablu is an avian Pokémon with a round, blue body. Since it has no discernible neck, its body appears to be all head. There are two long feathers on top of its head, and it has a short, rounded white beak and beady, black eyes. Its wings are fluffy and white, resembling cotton or clouds. It has tiny, white feet and two pointed tail feathers.
Swablu, the Cotton Bird Pokémon.
Swablu loves cleanliness and is quick to wipe off any unclean surface with its cotton-like wings.
Located in the Hoenn Region.
Absol is a quadruped, mammalian Pokémon with a dark blue to gray body covered in white fur. It has a ruff around its neck and chest and a tuft on the top of its head adorned with a single blue-black oval. It has a feline face with almond-shaped, red eyes, a scythe-like tail, and a sickle-shaped horn on the side of its head. Its broad feet are equipped with three claws each, and spikes protrude from the heels of its hind legs and the elbows of its front legs.
Absol, the Disaster Pokémon.
Absol live in steep mountainous regions, and rarely venture down into areas inhabited by humans, but should an Absol be seen by humans, it is said that catastrophe is soon to follow.
Located in the Hoenn Region.
Chimecho is a small, round Pokémon with a mainly bluish white body shaped like a fūrin wind chime. It has beady, yellow eyes and three stubby limbs. Its body has a horizontal amaranth-colored pattern. Underneath its body extends a long, tag-like tail that has amaranth patterning at the bottom. A yellow, globular growth, referred to as a suction cup or a sucker, is connected to the top of its body.
Chimecho, the Wind Chime Pokémon.
The evolved form of Chingling. Chimecho has a voice that reverberates from deep within its body. When angry, the sound waves can be powerful enough to blow opponents away.
Located in the Hoenn Region.
Bagon is a bipedal, blue, reptilian Pokémon vaguely resembling Pachycephalosaurus. It possesses a large, round snout, triangular eyes, yellow, circular ears similar to reptiles, and a yellow lower jaw with two teeth protruding upwards. Three thick, gray ridges cover the top of its head, and continue downwards to cover its neck as well. There is a triangular patch of yellow on its underside. It has stubby, digitless arms and short legs with two toes on each foot.
Bagon, the Rock Head Pokémon.
Bagon dreams of being able to fly through the air. When frustrated from not flying, Bagon bashes itself against large rocks until its head eventually grows as hard as steel.
Located in the Hoenn Region.
Zorua is a slate gray, fox-like Pokémon with red and black accents. Its ears are triangular with dark insides, and it has a large tuft of fur tipped with red on top of its head. It has greenish blue eyes with red eyelids. There are circular, red markings above the eyes that resemble eyebrows. Its muzzle is short and tapered with two small fangs seen in the upper jaw when its mouth is open. Zorua possesses a ruff of black fur around its neck and four short limbs tipped with red. Its tail is short and bushy.
Zorua, the Tricky Fox Pokémon.
Zorua hides its true form by changing its shape into people and Pokémon, and loves to surprise people.
Located near the Unova Region.
Zorua are extremely rare, where its impossible for them to find or meet.
Zorua can change its physical appearance, though this transformation is merely an illusion as it keeps its own type and moves.
Gyarados is a serpentine Chinese dragon-like Pokémon. It is mostly red, with a yellow underbelly and yellow spots along its body. It has a three-pointed, dark red crest on its head and four white fins down its back. Its mouth is very large and gaping, bearing four canine teeth. It has one barbel on each side of its face.
Gyarados, the Atrocious Pokémon.
The evolved form of Magikarp. This Pokémon has a vicious temperament, so use extreme caution. Its fangs can crush stones and its scales are harder than steel.
This Pokémon is a Shiny Pokémon.
Mantyke resembles a manta ray. It has a round body with wide, flat fins. Its back is dark blue, while its underside is light blue. There are two red spots with white outlines and a light blue, curved line on its back. These markings give the overall impression of a smiling face and vary slightly in each region. It has two long, curving antennae on top of its head and black eyes with eyelash-like markings underneath. The antennae are used to sense ocean currents.
Mantyke, the Kite Pokémon.
Mantyke is a friendly Pokémon that can be found swimming near the ocean's surface with schools of Remoraid.
Located near the Sinnoh Region.
Tomo had captured a Tauros, a Nidoran couple, a Poliwag, a Cubone, Doduo, and Venonat.
Misty was fishing with the Super Rod at the lakes. She had captured two Krabbys, two Slowpokes, and a Psyduck. She had one more Safari Ball left. Brock met up with Misty at the lake. He had captured a Tauros, two Chanseys, a Marowak, and a Rhyhorn. Lyra and Tomo eventually met up with Misty and Brock as well. Everyone exchanged stories of their captures.
"So, we have all caught cool new Pokémon," Lyra said.
"Yeah, Lyra, you caught mostly Pokémon from other regions," Brock said. "Lucky you." Tomo and Misty agreed.
"But how in the world did you catch a Shiny Ralts and Shiny Gyarados!" the Breeder asked in shock.
Lyra shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I just do." Tomo explained how they had met the Pokémon and captured them after playing for a bit. Brock sulked. "I should've known."
Just then, Misty's rod started to tug. "Hey, I got a bite!" she said excitedly.
The Pokémon she caught turned out to be a giant crab-like Pokémon. A strong shell covered the outside of its body, featuring a red upper-half and a light tan lower-half. Its upper half was topped with six tall, thin spikes, resembling the top of a crown. Its lower half doubled as its jaw, with six fangs overlapping its upper body. Its two outer fangs were much larger than the inner two, roughly half as tall as its entire body. Its hips were visibly protruding, connecting its long, thin legs with claw-like feet. Its main feature was its red claws; the left claw was roughly twice as large as the other and hard as steel.
Kingler, the Pincer Pokemon.
The evolved form of Krabby. The larger pincer has 10,000-horsepower strength. However, it is so heavy, it is difficult to aim.
Misty caught the Kingler in delight. "There are four Safari Balls left," Brock said. "What shall we do with them?"
Just as they were thinking about what to do, Kaiser ran up to them. "I... need... your help," he panted.
"What's wrong?" Lyra asked.
"Team Rocket is in the Safari Zone," Kaiser said, "and they are after the Dratini in the lake at Dragon Valley."
"Let's hurry! There's no telling what those three will do."
Team Rocket was smirking at the lake in Dragon Valley. "So this is where all the Dratini live," Jessie said.
"It sure took our time to get that warden to tell us about it," James added.
"But thanks to this baby," Meowth said, holding a gadget that shocks you if you touch the top, "we are here at the lake."
"Have you got our new weapon?" Jessie asked.
"Yes, I do," Meowth said. Team Rocket's new weapon was some sort of bomb.
"So what will this electric bomb do?" James asked. Meowth explained that when the bomb goes off in the water, it would electrocute all the Pokémon and bring them to the surface.
"Then, once the Pokémon surface," Jessie said, "we'll nab them all."
Team Rocket was just about to toss the bomb into the lake when Kaiser and the gang showed up. "Don't even think about that!" Lyra shouted.
"Too late, twerp!" Meowth smirked and tossed the bomb into the lake.
Kaiser was horrified and jumped into the lake to get the bomb. Lyra quickly took off her vest, long-sleeved shirt, and belt, then released Vaporeon and Milotic. "I'm going in!" she said.
"You can't, Mew!" Misty said in worry. "You might not make it."
"But if I don't do something, the bomb will go off! Then what would we do?" Lyra asked. Tomo didn't want his sister to jump into the lake and held onto her legs. Lyra ruffled Tomo's hair and kissed his forehead. "It will be okay. Trust me," she said.
Then Lyra jumped into the lake with Vaporeon and Milotic. Lyra had Vaporeon get Kaiser out of the water while she went for the bomb. She found it at the bottom and began swimming back to the surface with Milotic.
Back on land, Kaiser and Vaporeon made it up. "Where's Mew?" Misty asked with a worried expression.
"She's still down there," Kaiser replied. The gang looked at the lake in horror.
Lyra was still swimming to the surface with Milotic. She had the bomb in her hand when she felt something, but she didn't have time to worry. A shadowy figure in the lake was watching Lyra and swam toward her.
On land, Kaiser, Misty, Brock, and Tomo saw the blue sky turn blackish-grey with rain, thunder, and lightning. The lake became rough with waves and a big whirlpool. Tomo was scared and hoped Lyra was alright.
Suddenly, from out of the whirlpool came a long, serpentine Pokémon with sky-blue scales and a white underside. Its violet eyes were dark and glossy. It had a smooth, rounded snout and a small, white horn on its forehead with an 'X' mark on it. Its head was flanked by two small, stylized white wings. Three blue crystal orbs—one on its neck and two on its tail—adorned its body.
Lyra popped out of the water with Milotic. "It's Dragonair!" Kaiser gasped, staring at the Pokémon.
Dragonair, the Dragon Pokémon.
The evolved form of Dratini. This Legendary Pokémon can make rain or snow fall at its will. It can even fly without wings.
Misty, Brock, and Tomo were relieved that Lyra was okay, as were Pichu, Pikachu, and Vaporeon.
"Hey, Team Rocket," Lyra smirked, "I think this belongs to you." Lyra tossed the bomb toward them, and Jessie caught it. Just then, the timer went off and it exploded, sending Team Rocket flying.
When Dragonair and Kaiser met face-to-face, Kaiser recognized it as the Dratini he had befriended years ago. It had carried that 'X' mark ever since it was a Dratini. Kaiser and Dragonair hugged each other with tears in their eyes. Dragonair then introduced Kaiser to its baby, a Dratini.
Lyra, Tomo, Misty, and Brock were happy for Kaiser and promised never to reveal this secret to anyone. That way, the Dragonair, Dratini, and the Safari Zone would all be safe.
Suddenly, four figures watched them from the forest. Lyra felt shivers, sensing Pokémon watching her specifically.
"Big Sis, what's wrong?" Tomo asked.
"I don't know, but I feel like someone or a Pokémon is watching us," Lyra answered.
"Really?" Misty said, looking around.
"Yeah, in the forest. Come on out, please! I don't want to make Pichu and Pikachu force you out," Lyra said as the mice got their cheeks ready.
The four figures stepped out of the forest and walked directly to her. Lyra was shocked to see they were all fully evolved.
The first was a brown, quadruped Pokémon with sloth-like qualities. It had shaggy fur with dark brown stripes on its back, a scruff of fur on its head, and a large pink nose.
The second was a white, sloth-like, bipedal Pokémon with a teardrop-shaped tuft of red fur on its forehead and large eyes encircled by brown rings.
The third was a large, bulky, ape-like bipedal Pokémon with brown fur, thick brows, and a white collar of fur around its neck.
The last was a green, bipedal, frog-like Pokémon with yellow markings, a curled hair on its head, and pink cheek spots.
"Slakoth," the first Pokémon said.
"Vigoroth," the second one with white fur said.
"Slaking," the largest one said.
"Politoed," the green frog said happily.
Slakoth, the Slacker Pokémon.
Slakoth is generally found sleeping and very few ever witness it in motion.
Located in the Hoenn Region.
Vigoroth, the Wild Monkey Pokémon.
The evolved form of Slakoth. Vigoroth is only comfortable going berserk. It will destroy anything in its path by spinning both arms and goes more berserk when done.
Located in the Hoenn Region.
Slaking, the Lazy Pokémon.
The final evolved form of Slakoth. Slaking lives most of its life asleep, eating only grasses that grow within its reach.
Located in the Hoenn Region.
Politoed, the Frog Pokémon.
The evolved form of Poliwhirl. Politoed likes to expand its throat and sing out, drawing in Poliwag and Poliwhirl from all around.
"Oh, wow," Lyra said. "But what are you doing in this part of the region? More importantly, how are you in the Safari Zone?"
They told their stories, and Lyra understood them somehow. "I see. So, you guys want to come with me?" she asked, pointing to herself. They all nodded. "Sure! You're all welcome to come!" Lyra said loudly, and they cheered.
Kaiser, Misty, Tomo, and Brock smiled at her. Lyra used the four remaining Safari Balls to capture them all. Wow, today is an awesome day! she thought happily.
Back at Kaiser's lodge, Lyra sent all the Pokémon she captured to Professor Oak's lab, except for Zorua, who wanted to stay with her. Tomo kept his new Poliwag and Cubone and sent the others to the lab. Brock kept one of his Chanseys and sent his other new Pokémon to Pewter Gym. Misty sent her new Water Pokémon to Cerulean Gym.
They waved goodbye to Kaiser and left the Safari Zone, heading toward Lyra's next Gym.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
Thank you for reading this chapter!
See you in the next episode of Pika Ball Z! ⚡
Power Stones