The four watched it emerge from the middle of the lake like an elegant swan. The Dratini’s white body shone as bright as the moon itself. Shimmering specks of light drifted from its radiant body. It shook the water off itself and started to swim around the lake a bit. “Dratini, Dratini, tini-tini,” It sang. The secret cameras Simus and Zeru planted took flashless pictures of the Poke’mon from the stealth. “Wow, this is so cool!” Professor Simus said as he and May sketched Dratini quite accurately. Landon selected the “Diary” icon on his Poke’dex and aimed the little transceiver at the Poke’mon. Immediately, a recording started on the screen, taking in all of Dratini’s movements. “Professor Birch would love to see footage like this.” Landon said to himself. “You guys can sit here and take pictures, but I’m going to take action.” Zeru grabbed the poke’ball from his belt and pressed the button in the middle. “What’re you going to do?” May asked him. “What’s it look like? I’m gonna’ catch it—” “Oh, no you’re not!” Landon, May, and Professor Simus hissed, grasped him by the arm, and kept him from getting up. “Zeru, if you go out and catch it, you’ll ruin Professor Simus’s research. Not to mention scare off Dratini.” Landon told him. Zeru folded his arms and frowned.
KABBOOOOOM!!! A booming noise cut hotly through the air. A black net went soaring through the air like a knife. “Huh?” Landon, May, Zeru, Simus, and Toya looked up and gasped. Dratini glanced just in time to see the net spiral at it and wrap around its body. “Dratiniii!” It struggled and tried to wiggle free. “Oh-no, Dratini!” Professor Simus cried and they stood up from out of the bushes. There was an echo of laughter that bounced around the trees. “Oh-no; not them again.” “Mudkip,” Landon and Toya massaged their heads in annoyance. “Yup, it’s us again!” From above the treetops, Yoshimari and Tsubimi leapt to the ground, their cloaks swaying in the wind of their jump. “Who’s there?” Professor Simus reached onto the ground and lifted a black stick-like object with a button at the top; he pressed it and the lights he had set up snapped on. (Background turns into a vast night jungle scene) “A stealth like dark, we’re shadows of the night.” “Blanketing over those who do things right.” –Yoshimari and Tsubimi performed a series of back flips—“Where treasure glitters, we’re there to claim.” “To higher riches, we’ll surely aim.” (Background turns to the picture of a triceratops in its Jurassic environment) Yoshimari and Tsubimi came to a stop, back to back, with their arms folded. “Tsubimi!” “Yoshimari!” “We’re Team Darkhorn, the pirate thieves.” “Don’t mess with us; you’re out of your league!” Team Darkhorn recited.
Yoshimari pulled on a rope that connected to the net around Dratini; he slung it over his shoulder and grinned. “Dratini! Dra, Dra-tini!” Dratini cried and struggled even more. “You put that Poke’mon down; it took me ages to finally find that Dratini and I won’t let you take it.” Professor Simus shouted, still clutching his sketchbook. “And what’re you gonna’ do about it, nerd?” Tsubimi asked. Judging by the way the professor looked, he wouldn’t pose much of a threat. “Go, Loudred!” “Tailow, I call you!” Team Darkhorn sent out their partner Poke’mon. “Loudred-dred!” Loudred flexed its muscles as Tailow hovered beside it. Professor Simus pulled his own Poke’ball from his belt, pressed the button in the middle, and hurled it out in front of him. “Shroomish, go!” The poke’ball burst open with a bright light and a Shroomish popped out. “Shroomish!” It cried. Dratini’s body glared a bit from the light as it relentlessly kicked and twisted. “It’s another Shroomish.” May said. “Go, Toya!” Landon stepped up and Toya leapt onto the grass. “Mudkip-mud!” She kicked at the ground with her front right paw. “Tailow, take that puny mushroom out with your Wing Attack!” Tsubimi ordered. “Tail-low!” Tailow screeched and swooped towards Shroomish like an arrow. “Shroomish, evasion tactic and then use Stun Spore.” Simus ordered and Shroomish quickly jumped to the side to avoid being struck by Tailow’s powerful wings; its body vibrated as a mist of yellow spores drifted from its top. “Tailow, blow it away with your Gust attack!” Tailow turned in mid-air and gave its wings a might flap. From it, a swirl of wind blew and pushed the yellow cloud away. “Louded, use your Uproar to get us out of here.” Yoshimari shouted. Loudred’s speaker-like ears started to vibrate with increasing volume. “Quickly, Toya, drive into the lake and use Mud-slap!” “Mudkip!” Toya nodded to her trainer and dashed off towards the edge of the bank; she leapt into the pool and resurfaced only to kick up some mud at Loudred. “Lou—?” SPLAT!! The soft mud slapped it in the face and the Poke’mon fell backwards.
Meanwhile, Tailow streaked at Shroomish repeatedly in a mad attempt to strike its evasive target. “Yoshimari, this isn’t working.” Tsubimi whispered to her brother. “If we keep on like this, they’ll beat us like they always do.” “That’s why we have to move to plan ‘B’.” Yoshimari said and she nodded. Team Darkhorn reached under their cloaks and pulled out a group of shiny black rings. “Let’s hula with the Poke’loops!” They threw them across the air, aiming for the kids and their Poke’mon. CLANG!! “Huh?!” Landon fell back as the loop surprisingly got bigger, opened, and wrapped around his body. He hit the grass with a thud and winced a little at the pain. There were four more clangs that let him know his friends were caught as well. “Mud-mudkip!” Toya made a gurgling sound as she sprayed a jet stream of water and blasted the Poke’loop away. “Kip!” “That little fish!” Tsubimi growled. “Forget it; let’s go while we still can.” Yoshimari told her. “Dratini, can you hear me?” Zeru blurted out. The struggling Dratini looked up at him to show he had its attention. “What’s he doing?” Team Darkhorn blinked. “Dratini, if you use your Dragon Rage, you can break free.” Zeru shouted, “You have to listen to me. We want to help you—” “Be quiet!” Tsubimi reached under her cloak and pulled out a black remote with a big red button in the middle; she pressed it and a sudden shock pulsated through the Poke’loops. “Aaack!” The kids jumped. “Dratini-tini!” Dratini closed its eyes as if thinking on Zeru’s suggestion. “Dratini, they’ll take you away if you don’t break free now.” Zeru told it. “Loudred, shut him up.” Yoshimari pointed to Zeru. Loudred got up and wiped the mud from its face before charging at Zeru. “Toya, use Water Gun!” Landon exclaimed and Toya jumped up in front of Loudred. “Mudkip!” She said and sprayed it with a blast of H2O. “Now, Dratini; Dragon Rage attack!” Zeru shouted. “Dratiniiiii!” A flame burned deep within Dratini’s eyes and its shining color blinked from dull to bright. Its body slowly became enshrouded by tiny orbs of blue lights. “Hey, what’s going on in there?” Yoshimari pulled the bag out in front of his face. Dratini radiated with warmth that turned the swirling orbs into bursting flames. “Ack! Watch it!” He cried and dropped the now burning net.
“Go, Vulpix!” Landon stood up and thrust his hip to the side; the poke’ball leapt off his sash and burst open in a flash of light. “Vull!” Vulpix smiled. “Vulpix, use your Flamethrower attack!” Landon exclaimed. “Vul-vulpix!” Vulpix cried and sprayed a stream of scorching red flames towards Team Darkhorn and their Poke’mon. “Oh-no!” Tsubimi and Yoshimari cried as they were struck into the air. There was a loud snap—the remote that activated the Poke’loops shattered into pieces. The poke’loops became limp and dropped lifelessly from their captives. “It’s time like this that burns me up!” “I wanna’ know when we’ll make better exits than this?” “Tailow!” “Loudred!” Team Darkhorn disappeared in the black night sky. “Nice job, Vulpix.” Landon smiled to his Poke’mon and she leaped into his arms. “And don’t think I’d ever forget about you, Toya.” He walked over, picked up Toya, and rubbed his cheek against hers. “Mudkip….”Toya blushed. “Dra, Dra, Dra, Dra!” Dratini grunted as it tried to work itself out of the net. “Here; let me help you with that.” Zeru ran up to it and started to help it out, shortly followed by Professor Simus. “Wow! This is magnificent,” “Shroo-oomish!” He and Shroomish marveled at it. “There, now that’s better.” Zeru tossed the torn net aside. With a smile of gratitude, Dratini turned-tail and started to slither back towards the lake.
“Dratini, wait,” He got to his feet and pointed to it. Dratini turned to him with a questioned look. “Dratini, I challenge you to a Poke’mon battle.” Zeru stated. “Zeru—” May started, but Landon shook his head. “Dratini-tini,” Dratini nodded, then leapt into the water to face its challenger. “Alright, Treecko, let’s do it!” Zeru tossed the green poke’ball and Treecko burst out. “Treecko!” “Treecko!” “Treecko, use Razor Leaf attack!” Treecko spun around once and two razor-sharp leaves spiraled from its tail. “Dratini!” Dratini penned its small mouth and launched a thin line of fire to burn down the attack. “Fine; Treecko, I want you to give Dratini a good punch.” Zeru ordered. “Ko!” Treecko rushed towards the lake’s edge with its fist drawn back behind it; it swung, but the dragon Poke’mon ducked. “Dra—” WHOOSH!! Dratini wrapped its snake-like body around Treecko and started to constrict it. “A Wrap attack!” Zeru growled. “Dratini is really draining Treecko’s energy fast.” May said. “Indeed; I’ve never seen such a powerful Wrap attack.” Simus stated as he watched Treecko’s body start to go limp. “Quick, Treecko; it’s time for a Leech Seed.” Zeru thought quickly. “Treecko!” Between the split at the edge of Treecko’s tail, an amber-colored seed poked out. It jumped out and onto Dratini’s forehead. “Dra?” Dratini blinked at it, not breaking its grip. The seed opened up at the tip and a swarm of vines wrapped all around it; Dratini’s body pulsed with a red-colored shock as the Leach Seed sucked its energy away. “Draa-aa-aa!” Its grip weakened and Treko leapt from its clutches. “Now,” Zeru pulled out an empty poke’ball and hurled it through the air. It spiraled rapidly, smacked Dratini in the head, and sucked it up in a red light. The poke’ball dropped onto the ground and started to wobble. Everyone watched in dead silence, holding their breaths. “C’mon…C’mon…just a little bit more…” Zeru thought to himself. The poke’ball jumped a bit before it became dormantly still and the button flashed with a red light. “…I did it..” A smile spread on Zeru’s face, then he thrust his fist into the air, “OH YEAH! Shining Dratini is mine!” “Good job on your first Poke’mon capture, Zeru.” Landon, May, Sumus, and their Poke’mon clapped for them. (As our adventures continue, new friends begin to grow. What kind of friendships will our heroes meet in the future and what kind of plots from Team Darkhorn await them? Find out next time on “Poke’mon X”)
Fast Fact answer: The name of the gang Zeru hung out with before he met Landon is called the Dragon Fangs. Stay tuned for more Fast facts.
“Shine the Sky” (Ending Theme)
Shine the sky!
Crystal power hit the high—
Flying current to my victory
Try and Try!
Never give the fight away
I’ll take every challenge that I can get in my hands
Des—tiny!
Prophecy I can’t ignore
Know what surprises that it has in store
Shine the sky!
A knew adventure I will face
Another chance at victory with Poke’mon!
THIS IS THE END OF EPISODE 9 PERIOD. SEE YA' IN EPISODE 10!