"Ash, what kind of bait is that? It looks really special — I've never even seen the Pokémon it's modeled after."
The lure looked like a Pokémon, carefully made in the proper shape.
But it was definitely a strange one.
Hearing Chloe's question, Ash smiled.
"This is a fishing lure my friend Lana from the Alola region gave me!
She once used it to fish up Kyogre!"
Lana!
Just hearing the name, Chloe instantly knew it was a girl!
She secretly made another note in her little mental notebook.
She didn't even pay attention to the important part —
That lure could catch a Kyogre!
[Archie: What nonsense! Our great sea god Kyogre would never be hooked by a human fishing rod!]
[Steven: Actually… that's not impossible. Kyogre is a species, after all. The one who holds the divine power is still asleep, but maybe he meant a normal member of the species.]
[Archie: How dare you insult the sea god, you snobbish rich boy! When Lord Kyogre awakens, the first thing he'll flood is Hoenn!]
[Acerola: …Was he always this bold?]
[Archie: My boss is the sea god Kyogre! Of course I'm bold!]
[Madame Boss (Rocket Admin): Our boss says if you go against Steven, Team Rocket's happy to help. We're a legitimate organization that supports League development.]
[Gold: …That almost sounds believable!]
Meanwhile, in Hoenn's Team Aqua base,
Archie suddenly shivered.
It felt like something was staring at him.
Could it be Groudon?
No—that thing can't fly!
Then came a knock.
"Knock knock knock!"
"Hey, open up! Community welfare check!"
Archie: "You think I'm stupid?!"
On-screen scene:
Ash cast his line gracefully, the lure shaped like Kyogre flying through the air before splashing into the lake.
Compared to Ash's practiced movements, Chloe was clumsy.
It took her several tries before she managed to cast properly.
Seeing her line land, she sighed with relief.
"Ash, you're amazing at fishing!"
Ash chuckled.
"I had to be! During my island trials in Alola, one challenge was to fish up a Totem Pokémon."
"That's awesome! Then I can definitely catch one too!"
"Haha, it's mostly thanks to Lana. She's the real fishing expert — I just learned from her."
Lana again.
Another name that made Chloe's heart tighten.
"She sounds impressive."
"She is! She even made me this lure. Misty also gave me a lure once, but that one's too special, so I keep it at home."
Misty?
No doubt another girl.
In Kanto, Cerulean City.
When Misty saw the broadcast, her eyes curved like crescent moons.
He actually kept the lure she gave him safely!
Happily holding Togepi, she rushed out, wanting to surprise Ash.
She even brought her custom Misty-exclusive lure.
But as she arrived—
A blonde older woman gently wiped ice cream off Ash's lips with her hand.
Misty: "…"
So the loser… was me?!
Back in the broadcast—
As they waited for bites, Ash and Chloe chatted.
Ash did most of the talking; Chloe was a perfect listener.
Through his stories, she learned more about Misty and Lana—
one was his first travel companion,
the other his classmate and teacher.
Danger alert.
Romantic crisis!
Suddenly—
"Chloe! Your line's moving! Pull!"
"O-okay!"
She reeled hard — but something powerful was on the other end.
The line almost dragged her into the water.
"Careful! Looks like there are two Totem Pokémon in this lake, not one!"
Ash steadied her just in time, saving her from falling.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket had shown up.
They'd heard about a "Totem Water-type Pokémon" and couldn't resist.
But by the time they arrived, the whole lake shore was packed with anglers.
They ended up setting up right behind Ash.
Elsewhere, in a quiet corner, a woman in a professional skirt and purple hair was giving orders—Madame Boss, Admin Matori.
"We spread the rumor about the Totem Pokémon to draw strong Trainers here. Their Pokémon will serve Team Rocket's dream of a new world order!"
"And don't worry—those three idiots are on vacation. There's no way this mission can fail!"
Her subordinates: "Team Rocket, victory!"
Matori smiled.
This time, with elite Rocket agents from Sinnoh, there was no way to lose.
Her deck was full of Jokers.
[Jessie: ???]
[Looker: Didn't know evil organizations had office politics too.]
[Lance: You could always defect—uh, I mean, join the League!]
[Bruno: Weren't you a Rocket spy once, Lance?]
[Lance: Ancient history!]
[Diantha: Come to Kalos! I'll make you as famous as I am!]
[James: We'll never betray Team Rocket!]
[Jessie: Right! This must be that witch Matori's doing! Wait till the company meeting—she's dead!]
[Flint: Wait… Rocket has annual meetings? Are they really a business??]
Kanto, Viridian Gym.
Matori stood frozen.
"Ugh… five years later, I was that dumb?"
Wait, she thought—she was that person.
Self-insults hurt double.
"Matori, how long have you been my secretary?"
Boardroom silence.
"Two and a half years, sir."
"Two and a half years, hm…"
"Y-yes, Boss Giovanni."
"This time, I'll let it slide. But next time, maybe you need some field experience again."
Giovanni stroked Persian calmly.
Matori was drenched in cold sweat.
Apparently, Jessie and James held more favor than she thought.
(After all, one was the son of a major investor, the other a founding partner's orphan…)
Back to the lake.
Pull, reel, splash—Magikarp!
Chloe had caught her first Pokémon!
She gently unhooked it, ready to capture—
But the Magikarp splashed itself back into the water.
Seeing her disappointment, Ash encouraged her.
"Don't worry! It's just a Magikarp. Maybe the next one'll be a Totem Pokémon!"
They kept fishing, catching more common Water-types like Goldeen.
Chloe even thought about keeping a Magikarp,
but after Ash's advice, she decided to wait for something stronger.
Another cast—
Suddenly, Ash's rod bent hard, nearly into a crescent.
Big catch!
The lake's Totem Pokémon!
But before Chloe could even admire it—
Her own rod jerked violently too!
The pull nearly threw her in.
"Looks like the lake has two Totem Pokémon!"
Even Ash was straining to keep hold.
Chloe was losing grip—
until three familiar figures rushed over.
"Hold on tight, girl! Don't you dare let go!" Jessie barked.
"Yeah! It's a big one, nya!" Meowth added.
"Th-thank you!" Chloe gasped.
As they pulled together, the trio whispered among themselves.
"Why are we helping her again?"
"Because James wants to see the Totem Pokémon!"
"We're supposed to be on vacation!"
"Ah well, we're here—might as well help."
And so, together, the four of them matched the monster's power.
[Flint: MVPs of the day—Team Rocket on vacation! Who knew they were this wholesome?]
[Erika: Jessie and James are the good Rockets. Matori's group are the real villains.]
[Steven: To stay that pure in such a corrupt organization… admirable.]
[Diantha: Like they said—'Cute yet charming villains!']
[Jessie & James: Even so, we'll never betray Team Rocket! Long live Giovanni!]
[Lance: We'll see. You'll join the League eventually.]
[Lana: Even Ash couldn't hook this one easily. It's gotta be a Totem Pokémon.]
[[RECURRING] Professor Oak: Fascinating! Two Totem Pokémon in one area? I'm eager to see them!]
[ Professor Oak: I checked—Sinnoh's scenic lake doesn't have any Totem shadows yet. Maybe this is years in the future!]
[[RECURRING] Professor Oak: So this Magikarp could be a future Totem Pokémon.]
[Gary: Interesting. Ash, you go to the Silver Conference—I'm heading to Sinnoh!]
[Bruno: That's called "cutting in line."]
[Ash: You're so immature!]
Kanto, Pallet Town.
Seeing Gary's message, Ash fumed.
Gary was still so annoying—always stealing his thunder!
But then—
A hand rested gently on his head.
Even through his hat, Ash could feel the chill of her palm.
"Don't worry, Ash. What's yours will always be yours."
Cynthia, licking her ice cream, smiled at the screen confidently.
"Yeah…"
Meanwhile, Misty, watching from afar—her heart shattered again.
Teacher, this problem's too hard… I give up!
Back to the scene—
Ash was locked in battle with the lake's Totem Pokémon.
Chloe and Team Rocket matched another one.
Time passed, and soon all the fishermen stopped to watch.
If they couldn't catch the Totems themselves,
at least they could get a selfie with whoever did!
Cheers erupted:
"Come on, kid! You're the world's No.1 fisherman! Don't give up!"
With one final pull—
Two massive shadows burst from the water!
The sky darkened.
The crowd screamed and scattered.
With a thunderous crash, the shadows hit the ground beside the lake.
Ash and Chloe barely dodged in time.
"Ash, look!"
She pointed—
Two enormous figures thrashed on the shore.
One was a gigantic red Magikarp, the other a huge Feebas—both using Splash, over and over.
Exhausted but majestic, they were unmistakably Totem Pokémon.
The crowd gathered again, snapping photos furiously.
Sinnoh's newest tourist hotspot had just been born.
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