After completely dispelling the rain, Politoed collapsed onto the ground, showing the side effects of the high-quality enhancement potion. The other Pokémon approached, giving him pats on the shoulder as a way of congratulating and encouraging him.
Cain then decided to return him to his Pokéball so he could rest.
The dilemma that had been lingering in Cain's mind resolved itself naturally, and he was satisfied with the outcome. It was then that he turned his attention to a small Pokémon that Slowking had caught using his psychic power.
It was a Horsea, a small and peculiar Pokémon that seemed out of place in that lake. Realizing that Cain was looking at her, Horsea, who had initially been a bit confused, began to show signs of panic.
She quickly spat a jet of black ink toward Cain, but, forgetting that she was trapped in Slowking's psychic field, she only managed to dirty the water in which she was suspended, turning it completely black. Horsea used the ink to surround herself, hiding within a kind of dark liquid mantle.
Cain let out a laugh. It was evident that this Horsea had a nervous and timid nature, and her first reactions made that clear. He activated his system's basic scanning function, which was still operational, and obtained data on this Pokémon:
Pokémon: Horsea (Light Blue)
Gender: Female
Level: 15
Type: Water
Ability: Swift Swim
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Dragon Rage, Dragon Breath, Water Pulse, Clear Smog
Basic Moves: Bubble, Smog, Leer, Water Gun
Learned Moves: Icy Wind, Bounce, Dragon Pulse
TM Moves: None
This Horsea had a light blue quality, a decent ranking. Cain didn't understand how a Pokémon like Horsea had ended up in that lake, but it was clear she was an unexpected gift.
He had been looking for a Pokémon with the Swift Swim ability for his rain team, and this Horsea had appeared as if sent from the heavens.
Cain observed the small Pokémon, who clearly had no companions of her species in the lake. It was evident that she had been living alone for a long time, probably having to fend for herself. Her timid nature allowed her to survive, but it didn't make life easy or enjoyable.
He ordered Slowking to clear the blackened water, leaving only Horsea. The little Pokémon looked at him with eyes full of fear and distrust. Her red eyes reflected a mix of fear and defiance.
Knowing that Horsea was female, Cain sighed, thinking that he would have to handle the situation with some delicacy.
"I'll give you two options," Cain said in a calm but firm tone. "First: you enter this Pokéball, and I promise to take good care of you. You'll eat the best food, train with other Pokémon like you, and live a life you could never imagine. Look, even Politoed, whom you saw evolve, is my Pokémon."
As he spoke, Cain took out Politoed's Luxury Ball and showed Horsea the Pokémon resting peacefully inside. Upon seeing Politoed, Horsea's eyes shone with envy. Clearly, she had been watching the evolution from afar and dreamed of being part of something similar.
"And the second option?" Horsea asked with her gaze, showing a mix of resignation and curiosity.
"Second option: I defeat you in battle, capture you anyway, and force you to come with me." Cain flashed a playful smile, clearly enjoying the little joke.
Horsea froze, feeling as if her intelligence was being underestimated. Was there really a choice in this? She felt insulted but knew she had no escape.
With tears of frustration in her eyes, the little Pokémon cast one last defiant look at Cain before tapping the Pokéball's button with her head. She was absorbed in a flash of red light.
Cain chuckled to himself. "So innocent and easy to convince. I guess this is what they call being young and naïve."
To make sure Horsea felt welcome, he released her again. Horsea, now on the ground, quickly spat out a bit of water to surround herself, watching Cain with a mix of resentment and vulnerability.
"Alright, alright, it was just a joke," Cain said, pulling a Pokéblock from his pocket and tossing it toward the water. "Consider it compensation. This should make you feel better."
Horsea sniffed the Pokéblock cautiously, clearly drawn to its scent. Though she tried to maintain a dignified facade, she didn't take long to devour the Pokéblock, savoring it as if it were the best thing she had ever tasted.
Cain knew that this Horsea had great potential. Although she was currently just a Water-type Pokémon, her final evolution, Kingdra, would gain the Dragon-type, along with versatility that would fit perfectly into his rain team.
Additionally, the Swift Swim ability would be invaluable in battles under rain.
Realizing that the little Pokémon had relaxed, Cain handed her another Pokéblock, gradually earning her trust. After feeding her, he decided to store her in her Pokéball so she could rest.
Looking toward the lake, Cain saw that several Poliwag and Poliwhirl had decided to follow Politoed. To preserve the Leadership item, Cain captured those who were willing and planned to send them to his gym.
With Politoed evolved and a new member added to his team, Cain was ready to face the challenges ahead. Although he knew his rain team wouldn't be fully functional for the next tournament, he was satisfied with his progress. His goal was to reach the top 8, and anything beyond that would be a bonus.
(End of chapter)