Tia and Aidan test out an ancient Poke Ball and investigate reports about a flying Gyarados...
“When Grandfather told us that Gyarados could fly,” Aidan said, “my sister and I used to laugh at him. What water Pokemon could fly without wings?” He stared up at the sky, shaking his head. “Well, he was right.”
“I’ll say,” Tia answered, eyeing the airborne Gyarados with a Jet Ball poised in her hand. “This is too weird. We’re at the top of Mt. Coronet, during the coldest time of the year, and I’m slingshotting Poke Balls at a flying Gyarados.” Her eyes narrowed, and she threw the Jet Ball at the Gyarados. The Ball whistled through the cold air and missed.
“You know,” Aidan pointed out, “I would have been satisfied with just a snapshot of the Gyarados…”
“No,” Tia readied another Jet Ball. “It’s more professional if you get living proof, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for me to test out these Jet Balls…” She threw the Jet Ball and missed again.
“If you’re still trying to impress Grandfather,” Aidan said carefully, “you can stop. I assure you, he’s plenty impressed with you already!”
Tia let out a huff, her breath forming clouds in the icy air. “You’re not helping, Aidan.” She threw another Jet Ball and missed. “Really not.”
“Just don’t get too close to the edge,” Aidan said, resigned. “I don’t want to have to explain to your parents that you fell off a mountain trying to catch a flying Gyarados!”
Tia launched another Jet Ball at the Gyarados, and this time, it hit home. The Gyarados disappeared into the Ball, and Tia immediately pressed a button on the Pokedex, teleporting the Ball back to the mountain before it was lost over the ridge.
The Ball wobbled once, then broke open, bringing Tia and Aidan face-to-face with a very angry Gyarados.
Tia screamed and threw another Jet Ball on reflex, right before Aidan yanked her away from the Gyarados’ mouth. The Ball bonked the Gyarados in the face, which only made it angrier. It flew higher in the air, preparing to dive down.
Aidan quickly pulled out two Sticky Globs from Tia’s pack and threw them at the Gyarados in quick succession. The Globs hit the Gyarados in the face and stunned it. “Throw a Ball now!” he called out.
Tia hastily pulled out another Jet Ball, only to fumble and drop it. Her hands were shaking.
“Hurry up!”
She grabbed the Jet Ball again and threw it hard. It zoomed through the air and slammed into the Gyarados, capturing it inside. The Ball wobbled, then fired a flash of steam and a firework from the top.
Tia shivered and looked at her hands. They were still shaking. From the cold, or from the fear, she couldn’t tell.
Aidan sighed in relief. “That’s enough adrenaline for today, you think?”
“Yeah,” Tia said softly. “Yeah.” She picked up the Jet Ball, removed the Capture Sensor, and plugged it in to the research station to collect the capture data.
Gyarados
Level 50
Gender: Female
Capture Rate: 2.73
Tia smiled shakily and handed the Ball over to Aidan. “I wasn’t trying to impress your grandfather, you know.”
“I know.”