Chapter 36: Pokémon Test!
After the mock battle, the gang were tucking into Brock's rice balls. Just then, Pichu and Pikachu heard a rustling from the bushes.
"Is something there?" Lyra said. "Hey, who's there?"
There was no reply, only more rustling from the bushes. Lyra had her Blastoise soak the bush with Water Gun.
When the Water Gun hit the bush, a teenager jumped out.
"What are you trying to do!?" the boy shouted. "Drown me?"
Lyra raised her eyebrow. "Well, that was your fault for spying on us. What were you doing anyway?" she asked.
"Trying to take pictures of your Pokémon," the boy said, revealing his camera. "I'm Todd, a Pokémon photographer."
"That's impressive," Lyra said, "but it would be better if you asked us to take pictures instead of spying on us."
"Ahh, but I like taking pictures while hiding," Todd said. "It makes my photos more exciting that way."
Lyra sweat-dropped.
Todd and the gang had pancakes for a snack. Apart from bragging about being a great photographer, Todd showed off all the pictures he had taken.
"Wow, these are very good pictures," Lyra said, looking at each of them.
"Yeah," Todd said, "but this one is my best shot yet."
Todd showed them a photo of a fossil Pokémon—Aerodactyl.
"Isn't that your Aerodactyl, Big Sister?" Tomo asked, looking at the picture.
"Yeah, it is," Lyra said.
Todd was shocked by that and asked for an explanation.
Lyra explained about the incident at Grampa Canyon.
"Wow, you're lucky," Todd said.
After finishing lunch, the gang continued on their way.
Todd joined them too; he wanted to take more pictures of their Pokémon. What they didn't know was that they were heading straight into trouble.
Team Rocket's Trap
Team Rocket was on their tail and had set up a pitfall trap for them.
Todd and the gang fell straight into it.
"Hahahaha!" Team Rocket laughed.
"Seriously! What do you three want?" Lyra demanded in annoyance.
"We want Todd's Pokémon," Jessie replied.
Meowth explained that he had seen an article about Todd. "It even says that you have captured hundreds of Pokémon, so we want all your Pokémon."
"That's right," Jessie said. "So hand them over."
"But I don't own any Pokémon," Todd told them. "I do capture Pokémon, but only on my camera."
"What?!" Jessie exclaimed.
Meowth still had the article with him.
James took a good look at it. "He's right," he said. "It says that Todd is a photographer and captures Pokémon on film."
"I must have missed that bit," Meowth said sheepishly.
"Idiots," Lyra mumbled. "Real smart."
Pichu, Pikachu, Tomo, and Todd laughed because they were the only ones who heard it.
Jessie whacked Meowth on the head because of his stupidity. "Oh, never mind," she said. "We'll just grab the twerp's Pokémon instead."
Lyra wasn't going to let that happen. She called out her Dragonair and Triton.
"Dragonair, Triton, blast Team Rocket away with Twister," she said.
Dragonair's and Triton's Twister sent them flying off in a hurry.
Todd's Photos
Todd was amazed by Lyra's Dragonair and red Gyarados. He begged her to let him take pictures.
Lyra agreed.
Todd took a beautiful photograph of Dragonair and the red Gyarados, and finally, he took a photo of himself with the gang.
The Pokémon League Exam
The gang were relaxing in a park.
Todd wanted to stay with them a bit longer to see more of their Pokémon—especially Lyra's, since some were from different regions.
Lyra was training her Growlithe, Cubone, Ninetales, Magnemite, Marill, Arbok, Scyther, and Absol with the help of Pichu and Pikachu.
Todd was amazed that she was allowed to carry ten Pokémon with her from the start of her journey.
"Hey, Lyra," Todd said, "I think you should take the Pokémon League Admissions Exam."
Lyra blinked. "What's that?" she asked.
"It's an exam you take," Todd explained. "If you pass it, you will be admitted into the Pokémon League."
Lyra wasn't so sure. She liked traveling and collecting Gym Badges, as it helped her gain experience for herself and her Pokémon. But she thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to check it out.
"Okay, I'll try it."
They went to the building where the exam was taking place. Lyra walked in and signed herself in. After filling out the papers, she was ready.
The instructor told her to leave her PokéBalls at the counter.
So Lyra did, leaving Pichu and Pikachu in Tomo's care.
She noticed Nurse Joy in the building. Nurse Joy explained that she wanted to become a Pokémon Master. Team Rocket was there as well—they planned to enter the Pokémon League and become Champions.
The Test Begins
The first test was about knowledge of Pokémon—true or false questions.
Lyra found it easy because she had studied Pokémon, and traveling had helped her learn a lot.
The next test was about identifying Pokémon.
Lyra enjoyed this part, recognizing many from her journey.
Jessie lost her temper and called the test a joke. The head instructor expelled her immediately.
James felt sorry for Jessie and said he would try harder for her.
After the tests, the scoreboards appeared.
Lyra made it onto the high-score board.
"I thought the visual part would be impossible," she said.
James got the lowest score and hung his head in shame.
Final Battle Test
The final test was Pokémon battles.
Each participant was given a belt with three Pokémon. They couldn't see which Pokémon they had until the battle began.
James went first—and failed quickly after using the wrong strategies.
Then it was Lyra's turn.
Her first Pokémon was Weezing, while the instructor used Flareon.
"Dodge it," Lyra commanded calmly.
"Now, Smog!"
The Smog exploded when hit by Flamethrower, sending Flareon backward.
"Smokescreen… now Tackle!"
Flareon fainted.
"One down…" Lyra thought.
Next was Arbok vs Jolteon.
"Use Glare!"
Jolteon was paralyzed.
"Poison Sting… now Headbutt!"
Jolteon fainted.
Finally—Meowth vs Vaporeon.
"Screech!"
Vaporeon winced.
"Pay Day!"
Coins struck it.
"Now Scratch!"
Vaporeon fainted.
Victory
Lyra had passed.
The instructor congratulated her and gave her a League badge.
"You may now enter the Pokémon League."
Lyra smiled slightly.
"I prefer collecting Gym Badges," she said, "but I'll keep this as a memento."
The instructor agreed.
As the group left the building, they continued their journey toward Cinnabar Island.
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Thank you for reading!
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