It was a hot summer day in Dream Valley. A small group
of ponies was having a picnic under the shade of a
leafy maple tree near a pond and chatting about
Pokèèmon, the shapes of the clouds, and all the other
things that it was usual to talk about on long lazy
summer days.

""You know, I already have all one hundred and
fifty-one Pokèèmon,"" an orange flutter pony bragged
with a yawn, stretching his hoofs out toward the sky.

""Oh, Alchemy, stop saying that already!"" Gusty
groaned. ""Sheesh, if I had a jangle for every time
you said...""

""Yes, I think we''d all be rich, Gusty!"" said Cotton
Candy, laughing.

""Well, I think you''re telling the truth,
Alchemy-honey..."" said Cloud Puff, nuzzling him.

""Thanks, ''Puff..."" Alchemy mumbled, nearly asleep.

Cloud Puff waved a hoof in front of his sleeping face
and turned to the others. ""Sad. I think he must be
delusional or something. I mean, yesterday he said
he''d caught Mew!"" The other ponies nodded in
sympathy.

""Hey, look over there!"" Starry Wings shouted from a
little way off where she and Baby Cotton Candy were
playing.

""What in the world...?"" gasped Cotton Candy.

""Speaking of delusional ponies, Cloud Puff, here
comes another one..."" said Gusty with a smirk.

Marching slowing though the tall glass of the outer
meadow was a sky blue flutter pony. Her moon and stars
symbol was barely visible though a thick coat of mud;
and her white hair was dripping wet, covered with
burs. The Squirtle riding on top of her head and the
Pikachu scampering along beside her looked about the
same, their pride more ruined than their bodies.

""WHA-OH, looks like Moonstar has been out on her
great Dratini search again!"" said Alchemy, seeming to
wake from a dead sleep.

""I HEARD THAT, ALCHEMY!"" said Moonstar, trotting
over.

Alchemy put his hooves over his head protectively, but
to his surprise Moonstar didn''t hit him like she
usually did for making fun of her (which was nearly
every hour of the day).

""Alchemy, for your information, it is no longer a
search,"" she said, flying up in the air and extending
a hoof (with those little glittery sparks her wings
always made when she was excited). ""For at long last
after all my years of hunting, I HAVE FOUND A
DRATINI!""

The Squirtle that sat on her head stood up and
peace-signed, ""Squirtle! Squirt!""

""Oh ? So where is it?"" asked Gusty.

Moonstar dropped back earth with a groan, so fast that
the Squirtle had to hang onto her ears.
""Sqqquuirtllle!""

Moonstar sweatdropped. ""Well, I haven''t actually
CAUGHT it yet..."" She noticed her Squirtle climbing
down her leg. The creature took a few dizzy steps on
solid ground and fell over. Her Pikachu rushed over to
look at it.

""Pika, pika?""

""Oops. Sorry, Ryo."" Ryo was her Squirtle''s
nickname. ""Anyway, I didn''t actually catch it, but I
did see one...""

""Moonstar, be honest now, there''s no way you could
have seen it,"" said Cotton Candy.

Moonstar stomped a hoof. ""Why does everyone always
say that?! I''m not crazy! The Dratini are real!
Pokèèmon number one hundred forty six! Just because
they''re really, really, really rare...""

""I have one,"" Alchemy said, munching on an apple.
Gusty and Cloud Puff mysteriously pulled out huge
cartoony mallets and bopped him over the head.

In the background, Ryo was laying backwards on its
shell and Pikachu was poking a tender spot on the
little turtle''s exposed underbelly.

""Pika?""

""Squirt!""

""Chu?""

""Squirt!""

""Pika?""

""Squirt!""

""Chu?""

""Sqqquuuirtle!!!""

""Why do you wait a Dratini so much, anyway?"" asked
Starry Wings, trotting over.

""Yeah, why?"" mimicked Baby Cotton Candy, picking up
Ryo.

""Because I want to be...""

""Uh-oh, here it comes..."" said Alchemy, bracing
himself and holding an umbrella.

""...THE BEST WATER POKÈÈMON TRAINER IN ALL PONYLAND!!
A-HA-HA-HA!"" A tide crashed dramatically behind
Moonstar at her last words, making her clean and
sparkly.

""Swell,"" said Gusty from under her dripping wet
mane; the rest of the ponies were soaked through, too
(except for Alchemy and his little umbrella).

""Well, water Pokèèmon ARE the best,"" said Moonstar.

""Squirtle!"" said Ryo, hopping down from Baby Cotton
Candy''s hooves and hugging Moonstar''s leg.
""Squir... tle!""

""Pika? Chuuuu..."" said Pikachu, its eyes getting
teary and ears drooping. But Moonstar didn''t seem to
notice.

""The only reason I couldn''t catch the Dratini is
there''s a really HUGE Gyarados lurking around in
Sunfire Lake... I was hoping maybe you guys could help
me.""

""Ah, so you want the help of Alchemy, the Pokèèmon
Master, huh?"" said Alchemy. Cloud Puff and Gusty
malleted him over the head again.

""Actually, I was hoping to ask Gusty and Cotton
Candy. Got any Pokèèmon with ya?""

""Well, no,"" said Cotton Candy. ""All I brought today
was my daughter''s pet Jigglypuff, and it''s never
really fought...""

""Mama! I wanta help!"" Baby Cotton Candy piped up.
""WOKÈÈBALL, GO!"" she said, tossing the ball. Pink
light blasted out and took shape as a little puff of
pink fur with huge eyes and short little arms and legs
appeared.

""Jigglypuff, jigglypuff, jiggly!"" it shouted for
joy.

""Guess what, Wigglywuff? You get ta fight taday!""
said Baby Cotton Candy.

""Jigglypuff? Puff! JiiigglyyyPUFF!"" it said, trying
to do a mini megakick and falling over.

Moonstar sweatdropped. ""I see we''ve got a lot to
work on...""

""Not to worry; I brought my plant Pokèèmon with me!
And we all know about water versus plant; it wouldn''t
have a chance!"" said Gusty.

""Okay then, let''s fly!"" said Moonstar, taking to
the air. Alchemy and Cloud Puff followed, having
nothing better to do that day.

""Um, Moonstar, aren''t you forgetting something?""
Gusty shouted up.

""Oh, silly me! Come on! Ryo! Pikachu! It''s time to
go!"" she called down.

""Squirtle!"" said Ryo, starting to go, but then saw
that Pikachu wasn''t following. ""Tle? Sqi?"" he
asked, pulling on Pikachu''s paw; but the little
Pokèèmon just stood with its arms crossed, looking
mad.

""Chu!""

""No, Moonstar, that not what Gusty mean. We can''t
FLY!"" Baby Cotton Candy yelled, leaping up and
falling back down to prove her point.

""Oh... yeah... hee-hee... I forgot..."" mumbled
Moonstar. Everyone sweatdropped.

""I don''t know the place well enough to wink there;
we might end up at the bottom of the lake!"" Gusty
added.

""No problem,"" Moonstar said, pulling out a little
silver whistle. Even before she stopped blowing it, a
yellow pegasus with rainbow hair flew in at super
sonic speed and rammed into Alchemy. The pegasus
hovered in the air catching her breath and Alchemy
spun wildly off into a cloud.

""Skydancer''s Pokèèmon Air, we can fly you most
anywhere!"" she huffed.

* * *

About twenty minutes later, three flutters, two earth
ponies, a Jigglypuff, a Squirtle, a Pikachu
(reluctantly being dragged along by the Squirtle), and
one very charred unicorn arrived at Sunfire Lake.

""Boy, that was some ride!"" Cotton Candy said,
smoothing out her mane.

""Yeah, I never got ta ride Fearow before!"" Baby
Cotton Candy said, frazzled.

""You guys should be grateful,"" Gusty grumbled. ""At
least you didn''t have to ride Moltres!"" She stomped
out the last spark in her mane.

""How were we supposed to know she also used the
''Legendary Bird of Fire'' Pokèèmon?"" Cloud Puff
giggled.

""Still, if it wasn''t for my unicorn magic to control
winds taking some of the oxygen away from the flames
where I was riding..."" Gusty whimpered at the
thought.

""Hey! Aren''t those Water Stones?"" Cloud Puff said,
pointing to some pebbles that Ryo was about to walk
on.

""Eek!"" Moonstar yelped, pulling Ryo away in a flying
version of a running tackle before the Squirtle could
touch the stones. ""Whew, that was close.""

""Why''d you do that? Don''t you want a Wartortle?""
Baby Cotton Candy asked.

Moonstar put Ryo on her back with Pikachu again, and
started to pick up the Water Stones in a hoof. ""I do
want to have Ryo evolve someday, Baby Cotton Candy,
but only when it''s ready. Squirtles evolve naturally
at level sixteen. A stone too soon would make a
Pokèèmon never learn some special attacks it needs.
That''s why I never use stones on Pokèèmon that evolve
by themselves..."" Moonstar said, starting to throw
the stones into the lake.

Alchemy saw his chance and piped in as he was throwing
one of the stones. His song sounded like the PokèèRap
gone terribly wrong. ""The Pokèèmon that only evolve
with an Elemental Stone are Jigglypuff, Pikachu,
Nidorina, Nidorino, Clefairy, Vulpix, Gloom,
Growlithe, Poliwhirl, Weepinbell, Shellder, Exeggcute,
Staryu, and Eevee.""

There was a CLUNK in the water and a giant roar
thundered from where Alchemy''s water stone had
landed. Cloud Puff gulped. ""Um, Alchemy-honey... can
water/dragon types be evolved with the Water Stone?""

Alchemy looked at her, puzzled. ""No, I don''t think
so. The radiation won''t affect it... it would just be
a rock to that type... why do you ask?"" High, rough
waves suddenly broke out across the lake and crashed
against the shore.

""Because,"" Could Puff said shouting to be heard,
""Gyarados IS that type and in its eyes, honey-dear, a
certain dumb pony just hit it with a big rock!""

""Eep!"" Alchemy whimpered in fright. A fearsome head
rose out of the water, mouth open and roaring, with a
big red bump on its face. Coil after coil of glinting
scales and stone crushing muscle rose up, topped with
a razor sharp dorsal fin. Baby Cotton Candy''s eyes
grew wider and wider, brimming with tears, at the
sight of the monster.

Gusty leaned over to Moonstar and whispered, trying
not to make any sudden moves, ""Okay... the good news
is we found the Gyarados; the bad news is I don''t
think we''ll be around long enough to celebrate.""

""Shhh..."" Moonstar hissed. ""I have a plan that just
might work. When I give the signal, wink us up to that
cliff to the right... over the water... see it?""

Gusty looked. ""Yeah, I see it. But how...""

Unfortunately, Gusty''s movement had attracted the
Gyarados'' attention and now it spotted the ponies. It
roared while drawing its head back and then forward
like a whip, jaws open.

""It''s using it''s Bite Attack on us!"" Alchemy
screamed.

""Yeah, a really BIG bite!"" Cloud Puff whimpered.

""No, I don''t LET YOU!"" Cotton Candy said, stepping
in front of her baby.

""NOW!"" Moonstar yelled.

There was a brilliant flash of light and the Gyarados
found its mouth full of nothing but grass and dirt.

""Yahoo! You did it, Gusty! We didn''t get eaten!""
Cloud Puff whooped, doing a little loopdey-loop in the
air.

""Don''t thank me just yet, Cloud Puff,"" Gusty said,
looking out over the cliff cautiously. The Gyarados''
head was just below the cliff''s overhang. ""We''ve
still got to battle this thing, which means we need
time to get out Pokèèmon. We need... a...
distraction."" Gusty suddenly grinned evilly at Cloud
Puff.

Cloud Puff gulped. ""Who, me? Be a distraction?"" The
rest of the group grinned and nodded.

""But I''m a TERRIBLE singer!"" the purple flutter
whined, stomping a hoof.

""That''s why you''re perfect!"" Moonstar said as she
and Gusty started getting out PokèèBalls. ""You''re
bound to attract its attention, and with you
controlling the cloud cover, we can attack it by
surprise!""

Cloud Puff grumbled, calling down some clouds in front
and around the group of ponies with her magic wing
flutter. Sighing, she said, ""I can''t believe I''m
doing this... okay, what should I sing?""

""Anything, but make sure it''s loud!"" Gusty said.

Just before Cloud Puff was about to step out
completely from the protection of the cloud to the
edge of the cliff, she felt a head on her shoulder for
a moment. ""Hey, ''Puff,"" Alchemy said quietly.

""Hmm?""

""I believe in you.""

Cloud Puff smiled and stepped out alone, with renewed
confidence, right above the Gyarados, and started to
sing:

""Briiight lights, how I love briiight lights!

Pretty to see, shine one on meeeee!

Briiight lights, how I love briiight lights!

All in a row, look how they glow!

It''s so much fun, I like it a lot!

Singiiiiing and daaaancing up here in the spot!...""

The horrible off-key singing made the Gyarados look
up, a growl growing in its throat. ""Now, everyone!
Start calling out your Pokèèmon!"" Moonstar said,
throwing two PokèèBalls. ""BUTTERFREE! PSYDUCK! AND
RYO! GO!""

""Psyduck?"" Gusty asked, face-fainting.

Moonstar''s eyes filled with fire. ""And what''s wrong
with Psyduck? It''s at level forty-eight; it can
handle this!""

The duck Pokèèmon ran behind her leg and practically
had to be booted into the water. ""PsyyyyyyyyDUCK!""
came its fading cry as it splashed down.

Gusty backed away. ""Okay, okay, whatever you say...
GO, VICTREEBEL, ODDISH, AND VINEY!""

""Victreebel, bel,"" the fierce flycatcher Pokèèmon
said calmly.

""Oddish!"" its lively leaf -headed companion added.

""Tangela! Tang, tangela!"" the last Pokèèmon, looking
like a bush of vines with legs and eyes, blinked.

Now it was Moonstar''s turn to sweatdrop. ""Viney?
What kind of name is ''VINEY'' to call a Tangela?""

Gusty reared up with a grin. ""My kind of name!
Victreebel, RAZOR LEAF! VINEY, tie it up with your
VINE WHIP!""

Gusty''s Victreebel started whirling like a top on its
side, spinning out razor-sharp leaves at the Gyarados
while the Tangela, Viney, whipped out two lines of its
vine body around the huge dragon Pokèèmon at the same
time.

""Alright!"" Moonstar grinned, giving Gusty a
high-five with a hoof. ""Now I''ll get ''em!
Butterfree, get around it''s back and STUN SPORE!""

""Free!"" the little blue butterfly nodded cheerfully.

""Ryo! Dive underwater and headbutt its stomach!""

""Squirtle!"" the tiny turtle saluted Moonstar and
dived, ducking into its shell to keep from hitting the
surface of the water too hard.

""AND PSYDUCK..."" Moonstar called down to the yellow
duck that was floating in the water. ""UM... JUST TRY
TO SCRATCH IT OR SOMETHING!""

""Psyduck?"" the duck remarked blankly. Moonstar
sweatdropped.

* * *

Everything seemed to be going well; the ponies''
Pokèèmon were starting to wear the Gyarados down. ""Oh
boy, now it MY turn!"" Baby Cotton Candy grinned and
ran out in front of the group.

""WOKÈÈBALL, GO! GET ''EM, Wigglywuff!"" the baby
shouted and threw the PokèèBall at Gyarados. The shiny
red and white ball hit the dragon Pokèèmon right on
the nose, but her Jigglypuff didn''t come out. ""AAW!
Why didn''t my Pokèèmon come out?"" Baby Cotton Candy
whimpered.

""Hate to say this, but it might have just been
scared, Baby Cotton Candy; this thing is very
powerful,"" Cloud Puff said, putting a wing around the
baby''s back in sympathy.

There was a sudden humbling growl from the Gyarados
and it began to whip its long body in the water
slowly, and then faster and faster. Baby Cotton
Candy''s PokèèBall had been the last straw to its
patience.

""Uh-oh. This is not good. I''ve heard about this
attack before..."" Alchemy whispered in the quiet
horror of the moment.

Moonstar nodded. ""Yeah, looks like you guys are about
to get the same sort of welcome I got from this thing
the FIRST time I tried battling it...""

""What?"" Cotton Candy asked, standing protectively
over her baby.

""Dragon Rage,"" Alchemy said simply and put his head
against Cloud Puff''s. The lake was starting to rise
in crashing waves, lapping against their hooves.
That''s when the Gyarados'' eyes started to glow.

""No, not just Dragon Rage, Alchemy..."" Moonstar said
so softly she could barely be heard. ""It''s powering
up for HYPER BEAM...""

Alchemy looked Moonstar''s way, a glint of something
she had never seen before in his purple eyes. ""We''ve
got one chance left, but it''s risky; we''ve only have
about seven minutes tops before it charges up all the
way... Moonstar, I need your Pikachu''s help,""
Alchemy said quickly and seriously.

""Pikachu?"" Moonstar asked blankly and blinked. She
had forgot all about the little lightening Pokèèmon!
""Pikachu?! Where are you ?"" she called and turned
around to see just the Pokèèmon she was looking for.

The furry yellow lightening bolt-shaped-tailed mouse
was siting down, looking quite comfortable, wearing a
pair of sunglasses and warming himself in the late
afternoon sun. Next to him lay a pile of eight
PokèèBalls; in all the chaos, the little Pokèèmon had
somehow been able to call all of their attacking
Pokèèmon back and keep them out of harm''s way!

""Pikachu, you have to help us,"" Moonstar said,
kneeling down.

""Chu chu pika ka? Pikachu chu ii pika pikachu,""
Pikachu said flatly.

Moonstar frowned, trying to get back in touch with her
inborn (and rather rusty) power that all flutters
possessed to communicate with all living things...
then the translated words hit her suddenly: Why should
I help? You said I was useless.

Moonstar gasped, a little hurt. ""No, Pikachu, I never
said anything like that. Why...?""

""Pika pikachu chu chu, chu ika pi ii pikachu pikachu
pika PIKA!"" Pikachu said madly, tears flowing down
his red-cheeked face. Yes, you did; you said water
Pokèèmon were the best; I guess then that makes me the
worst in your eyes!

""Oh Pikachu, I''m so sorry. I didn''t mean for you to
take it that way,"" Moonstar murmured, starting to cry
a little herself. ""I just want to be the best at
water Pokèèmon so badly that sometimes I say things I
don''t really mean... I forget and overlooked my other
Pokèèmon''s feelings.""

Pikachu''s face softened slowly and he stepped
forward, rubbing its warm furry cheek against her
muzzle. ""I''m truly sorry..."" Moonstar whispered.

""Pika pika,"" Pikachu said softly. I believe you.

""I hate to break up the warm fuzzy moments, Moonstar,
but we have about three minutes ''till this thing uses
its ''burn everything within two miles to a crisp''
attack!"" Gusty said earnestly.

Alchemy was already up in the air zipping around snaps
of the Gyarados''s jaws as he flew just out of reach.
""Where''s that Pikachu of yours already?! I can''t
keep this up forever!"" he hollered down.

Pikachu scampered over to where Alchemy had just
alighted on the ground and half turned for a quick
moment, smiling. ""Pikachu?"" Friends?

Moonstar nodded. ""Best friends. Now GO GET ''EM,
PIKACHU!""

""Pika!"" Pikachu yelled, giving her a little bow as
he and Alchemy rose up and up and up to the Gyarados''
eye level. The great dragon Pokèèmon growled deep in
its throat and Alchemy grinned at it.

""Get your power from the sun, huh?"" the orange
flutter asked as the sun suddenly broke out full force
thorough the passing clouds. ""...well, so do I!! NOW,
PIKACHU!"" Alchemy ordered as the light hit his wings
and his whole body glowed golden, shooting out a pure
beam of magic energy at the monster.

""Pika... CHU!"" the little Pokèèmon on his back
whooped, sending forth his most powerful electric
attack in a wave of crackling energy.

""GYARA...!"" The Gyarados reared up from the water,
ready to let loose its final deadly attack upon the
helpless ponies below... and froze.

A moment later Alchemy fell limp from the sky, his
energy spent. ""Oh, no! ALCHEMY!"" Cloud Puff gasped
in horror and flew up, catching the unconscious
flutter''s mane in her mouth and with great effort
brought his body down to rest softly on the ground.

""PIKACHU!"" Moonstar gasped in unison and scooped the
little electric mouse up in midair before he landed on
the sharp rocks by the side of the lake. ""Are you
okay?""

""Pika pi?"" Pikachu murmured dimly, his eyes dizzy
swirls.

""Well, would you look at that!"" Gusty breathed,
looking upward.

""Have you ever seen anything like it?"" Cotton Candy
agreed.

Towering over the group casting a shadow over them was
a gigantic life-size golden statue of a Gyarados,
roaring mightily in the stance of its greatest attack.

""Your Pikachu''s power amplified Alchemy''s own magic
talent,"" Cloud Puff smiled wisely. ""That way, he was
able to take on something that big. He turned the
whole monster into gold!""

Moonstar murmured something to herself and looked out
across the water of the lake, now turning purple and
rose in the sunset. Baby Cotton Candy trotted over and
tugged on one of her hooves. ""What wrong, Moonstar?
Aren''t you happy we beat ''em?""

Moonstar smiled and tousled the little foal''s mane.
""Of course I am, Baby Cotton Candy. It''s just... I
was hoping I''d at least see another Dratini here
today...""

""Ready to give up on your impossible dream?"" Cotton
Candy asked.

""Not by a long shot. It''s not impossible!"" Moonstar
grinned. ""Because I want to be...""

""UH-OH!"" the four other ponies yelled collectively.

""...THE BEST WATER POKÈÈMON TRAINER IN ALL
PONYLAND!!"" A tidal wave crashed dramatically in the
back of Moonstar at her last words, but this time
everyone was ready for it: Cloud Puff flew upwards,
Gusty winked herself elsewhere, and Cotton Candy and
her baby hung onto a tree limb.

""Urg..."" The sound of a groan made the group turn.

""So, did we win?"" Alchemy asked weakly.

Everyone laughed at the sight of the dripping and
soggy flutter, his long mane hanging down over his
eyes and wings heavy with water...

* * *

Unknown to them...

A little blue and white dragon''s head broke the
surface of the water just behind the ponies, blinking
curious midnight blue eyes. Not finding ponies all
that interesting, it jumped out of the water and
leaped back into the depths from where it had come,
with a flick of its jeweled tail.

""Dratini!"" it giggled.