Episode #40: Surskit's Storm!

With six badges in tow, Blade and the others decided to head off to Lilycove City to have Sam participate in her next contest. Blade knew exactly where the next Gym was and he was excited to see the two again. However, they were sidetracked. Sam had her Poochyena out and now, she was running off somewhere, leaving Sam to chase after her.

"Poochyena!" Sam said. "Poochyena, stop!"

Poochyena suddenly reached a lake where it was sniffing the ground. Sam picked Poochyena up as she wondered what she was doing.

"Poochyena," Sam said. "You know better than to run off like that!"

Poochyena whimpered in sadness. She might have had to go, but why not do it close by. What was so special about this place?

"If you have to go, do it quick!" Sam said.

Poochyena walked around and sniffed the ground for a good spot. Sam looked out at the lake and noticed something whizzing by. It was a blue Pokémon resembling a pond skater with pink markings under its cute, beady eyes and yellow with a part pointing up and back behind its head, or body. It was happily skating along the pond as it sang a happy tune, whatever that tune may be.

"That's a Surskit," Sam said.

Poochyena finally came back, telling her that she was done. She lifted her up and showed her the Surskit. Surskit noticed them and went over to the two happily.

"Hello, little guy," she said.

"Surskit!" he replied, showing her his strand that he skated on.

Sam shook it with a smile as Surskit went across the water soon after. Sam stood up and smiled, feeling happy that she met a new friend. Suddenly, Surskit was bombarded by a BubbleBeam attack, making it go into the water. It floated back up and skated off, leaving multiple other Surskit to chase after it.

"Poochyena, Shadow Ball!" Sam ordered.

Poochyena fired a Shadow Ball, striking the Surskit group as they fell into the water, unable to battle. The lone Surskit then skated off, leaving Sam to wonder what that was all about.

"Let's go," Sam said.

She decided to head back to Blade and the others, leaving the remaining Surskit to split up and search the one Surskit that got away. Sam took a while, but she finally got back with her friends, who were wondering why she took so long.

"You sure took your time," Blade said.

"I was a little distracted by the Surskit," Sam said.

"By the what?"

"Surskit! You have to see him, he's so cute!"

"Let me guess, you want to capture it."

"Right! You're so good at this."

"The last time you made that face was when you captured Poochyena. Speaking of..."

He squatted down as he looked at Poochyena, who's already whimpering since it was her fault that they waited so long.

"Okay, can we get back on track?" Joseph said. "We'll find it on the way. If not, we can always come across a different one."

They decided to head of. Sam was still worried about that weird group of Surskit, who attacked the lone Pokémon. She just hoped that he was alright. Speaking of which, that poor little thing was moving on the land as fast as he can. He fell down as he wondered what to do. He suddenly remembered Sam and decided that he had no choice but to go after her for help.

---

Night soon came as the gang rested up. Poochyena was out once more, sleeping with Sam, peacefully. Marshtomp and Castform were also out, sleeping with Blade and Joseph, respectively. It was unusually quiet, until something made Marshtomp wake up. He looked to see a Surskit, looking at them from a bush. Marshtomp woke up as he went over to the nervous Surskit. It tried to run, but it fell to the ground.

"Marshtomp!" he said to him.

Sam and Poochyena suddenly woke up as they wondered what Marshtomp was doing. She suddenly saw Surskit and wondered if it was the same one from before.

"Hold on," Sam said. She got up and approached him. "Surskit?"

Surskit noticed Sam and cheered happily, going over to her and jumping onto her, leaving Sam to catch him.

"Surskit, what are you doing here?" Sam asked.

Surskit tried to tell her something, but she didn't know what it was.

"Sam, what's up?" Blade asked, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

"It's Surskit," Sam said. "The same one I told you about earlier!"

"So that's what delayed you. Remind me to beat that thing later."

"Blade, he's scared out if his nerves already!"

Blade wondered what she meant by that. She explained about the group of Surskit who attacked it earlier. Blade wondered if they were coming back again.

"Well, what do you think?" Blade asked. "Do you want to take it with you? I'm not sure if it's interested in contests at all."

Sam looked at Surskit, who didn't seem to mind tagging along.

"Very well," Sam said. "You're coming with me!"

Surskit cheered happily, leaving Blade to feel happy as well. Joseph and Castform finally opened their eyes as they yawned and stretched.

"Is it morning yet?" Joseph asked.

"Castform," Castform said tiredly.

The gang soon decided to go off into a deep sleep, ready to continue onward the next day. Hopefully, the wild Surskit that attacked them wouldn't find Sam's Surskit out here. As the night went by, all Sam could think about was her fourth contest.


The gang finally set off as they headed to Lilycove City. Sam wasn't too interested, however. She was excited about her contest, but it was the location that got to her. Suddenly, rain began pouring in as the gang wondered why the sudden downpour.

"This is strange," Hameida said.

Joseph sent out his Castform as he floated by Joseph's side.

"Castform, use Sunny Day," Joseph said.

Castform released an orange ball into the sky as the rain cleared and the sun came out. Blade and the others smiled, however, the rain immediately came back.

"Something's using Rain Dance," Blade said. "What could it be?"

They soon heard something approach them as they turned to see three Surskit approaching them. Sam wondered if they were the same Surskit who had been harassing them before.

"It's them!" Sam said. She took out Poochyena's Poké Ball as she prepared to send her out. "Poochyena, use Shadow Ball!"

Poochyena fired a Shadow Ball as it struck the Surskit, knocking them back. They soon got up as they fired numerous Water Pulse attacks, striking Poochyena hard, knocking her back.

"Poochyena!" Sam said.

Suddenly, Surskit popped out of his Poké Ball and prepared to battle.

"Surskit, what are you doing?" Sam asked.

"Sur, surskit!" he replied.

"I wonder if it wants to battle?" Joseph asked.

"Might as well!" Hameida replied.

Sam liked the idea and prepared to fight the Surskit with her Surskit.

"Surskit, use Quick Attack!" Sam ordered. "Poochyena, use Bite!"

The two Pokémon charged after the enemy Surskit as they fired Bubblebeam attacks, which both of them dodged easily. Poochyena bit on one while Surskit slammed into the other. The remaining Surskit struck the other Surskit with its Quick Attack.

"Poochyena, use Shadow Ball!" Sam ordered.

Poochyena used a Shadow Ball to strike the Surskit, but once all three of them went up, they wondered if they're strong enough.

"Don't give up!" Sam said. "Surskit, use BubbleBeam and Poochyena use Shadow Ball!"

Both Pokémon fired their attacks, leaving them to take the hits, however, it was not over yet. The rain really started pouring as the Surskit moved at blinding speeds, striking Sam's Surskit and Poochyena.

"They got fast all of a sudden!" Hamieda said.

"That's Surskit's Swift Swim," Joseph said. "It's an ability that increases their speed in the rain. I've never seen Surskit that fast before!"

The two Pokémon were overwhelmed. Sam was wondering what to do now. She suddenly got an idea, as preparation for the contest.

"Jump back, both of you!" Sam said.

The two jumped back, wondering what to do now.

"Surskit, jump on Poochyena's back!" Sam ordered.

Surskit wondered why, but he did so anyway.

"Poochyena, think of this as your appeal!" Sam said.

Poochyena suddenly knew what she was trying to do and jumped, firing a Shadow Ball underneath her, sending her flying up.

"Their bond is impressive," Blade said. "She didn't even have to tell Poochyena what to do and she still did it!"

"Surskit, Poochyena!" Sam said. "BubbleBeam and Shadow Ball!"

The two fired their attacks as it rained down on the Surskit. The power overwhelmed them as they decided to flee. The two Pokémon landed as they finished the battle.

"That's just awesome!" Sam said.

Poochyena went over to Sam, feeling proud of herself. Suddenly, she began to glow, leaving the others to know what was going on.

"Evolution!" Sam said.

"Well done!" Blade said.

Poochyena transformed as the glowing soon faded. She was now a proud and strong Mightyena. She howled proudly, leaving Sam to feel happy for her.

"Welcome to the team, Mightyena!" Sam said. "You too, Surskit!"

Surskit went over to Sam, feeling happy that he won, as well as being happy for Mightyena's evolution.

"So what's the deal with those three anyway?" Blade asked.

"Beats me," Sam replied. "They were attacking Surskit earlier."

Hameida transformed into a Raichu, surprising Surskit a little. He went over to him to get some answers.

"So what's going on between you and the other Surskit," Hameida replied.

"Sur, surskit. Surskit surskit sur, surskit sur."

"It's saying that they're bullies, harassing the poor guy into submission almost daily."

"Bullies, huh?" Blade replied. "I know what that feels like."

"School problems?" Joseph asked.

"Yeah. This one boy used to beat me up every hour or so. Just one of the reasons why I moved to Hoenn. I refuse to see his mug again."

Sam went down and picked Surskit up, who was feeling happy that Sam was taking such good care of her.

"Well, now that this is all over," Sam began, "we'll make sure that they won't harm you again!"

Surskit smiled happily, knowing that he'll get the care and hospitality that any Pokémon should get from a trainer.

"Okay, let's get back on the road," Blade said.

"Yeah, I've had enough problems for one day," Joseph replied.

The gang decided to head off to Lilycove City, where the fourth contest was taking place. Sam hoped to win, but she had a bad feeling about that place, for a different reason.

"I just need to be brave, that's all," Sam said to herself softly.

"What's that?" Blade asked.

"Oh, it's nothing."

Perhaps it was not the right time to explain why Sam was so nervous about this. After what she was going to go through again, who wouldn't?


To Be Continued!