Pokemon Moonlight Silver (COMPLETE!!!)

[EmeraldSky]

@Scytherwolf; @Soups;

Episode 76b: The Dunsparce Deception

Ash and the group walked with Buck, who looked down at the exhausted Caterpie in his arms. "Don't worry, Tsubasa...you did well. Have a good rest."

Misty watched Buck recall Tsubasa. "Would you like us to help you find a Dunsparce so that he can play with the other kids?"

"Yeah--no one deserves to be left out!" Ash agreed.

[That boy had no right to tease you like that!] Tintri agreed, sparking a little.

"I'm not sure...you may have no better luck than I did..." Buck sighed.

"How will you know if nobody tries?" Brock asked. "Besides, multiple eyes looking have better odds of finding something than just one..."

Ash, meanwhile, heaved three Poke Balls to the sky. "Luce, River, Mina, let's kelp a child out!"

"Come lend a hand, Michelle!" Misty heaved a Poke Ball skyward.

"Hitomi, I need your help!" Brock heaved a Poke Ball skyward.

Buck smiled at the group's Pokemon. "If you really want to look, I'll take you to the dunes where the swarm came through."

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[If I were a Dunsparce, where would I want to hide...] Tintri mused as he studied the swirling sand for any sign of movement. Hitomi hovered overhead, firing echo bursts at the sand in hopes a Dunsparce would be hidden in the dunes.

[Okay, Ami...if you see any movement in the sand, let me know.] Michelle explained to Ami.

[Okay!] Ami smiled. [Heeeere, Dunsparce, Dunsparce, Dunsparce...] she called as she watched the sand for any sign of movement.

Just then, she noticed some soil popping out of the ground. [Huh?] Ami wondered as the stream of soil veered off to the right. [That could be a Dunsparce...'

[You find something?] Tintri asked as he watched the soil stream and Ami pass by.

[Yeah--I think I found a Dunsparce!] Ami whispered back, careful not to frighten the possible Dunscarce.

Tintri curiously patted the soil, only to gasp in surprise as a Dunsparce popped out of it.

Buck happened to pass by as the Dunsparce appeared before Tintri. "Hey, you guys finally found a Dunsparce!" he cried as he hurried towards the spot where the Dunsparce had surfaced.

"Don't let it get away--this could be our only chance." Ash cautioned.

He winced as the Dunsparce burrowed back into the ground. "NOW what?" Misty grumbled as everyone gathered around the spot where the Dunsparce hid.

"I guess we'll just have to dig it back out." Brock sighed.

"But how? We don't even have shovels." Ash protested.

"A shovel would probably startle it." Misty interjected. "There's nothing wrong with digging with your hands, is there? The only other alternative is to wait."

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Everyone sighed as they contemplated their next move as to how to capture the Dunsparce. Ash kept a half-hearted eye on Tintri, Misty had pulled out a novel to read, and Brock had spread out a blanket on the sand and started a game of Solitaire to pass the time. "Interesting adventure, isn't it?" Misty mused as she looked over at Ami.

[I'll say...] Ami sighed as she, River, Luce, and Tintri studied the spot of sand the Dunsparce had hidden in.

[I wish something...ANYTHING...interesting would happen.] Luce grumbled.

She gasped as a net appeared out of nowhere and captured all four Pokemon in a single swoop. "Hey!" Buck gasped.

"Team Rocket!" Ash gasped, expecting Jessie and James to come over the hill and say their motto for the umpteenth time.

"Team Rocket are this gang of troublemakers who love stealing Pokemon and doing Arceus knows what to them." Brock explained as he quickly put away his cards and his blanket. Buck nodded to show he understood.

No one expected, however, to see Kamon come over the hill in full pirate costume, complete with a prop sword, an eyepatch, and a skull and crossbones hat. "Did you get lost trying to find the Black Pearl, Cap'n Jack Spearow?" Ash taunted.

"Going to a costume party, Kamon?" Misty smiled--Kamon DID make a fairly handsome looking pirate.

"I believe One Piece is that way." Brock taunted, pointing off in another direction.

"Actually, the treasure I'm looking for's right here, matey." Kamon grinned as he approached the net. "I plan to plunder the Dunsparce!"

"What???" Buck gasped.

Kamon, meanwhile. was interested in the net. "Well...look at this nice selection of Pokémon. I'm sure I could use one of them..."

"Luce, use Shockwave!" Ash commanded.

Brock gasped as the Flaaffy's massive thunderbolt arced across a dune and fizzled out. "It didn't even cut the net...the net has a steel coating." he explained, pointing out the net's silvery sheen in the sun.

"Okay..." Ash heaved his fourth Poke Ball skyward. "Cyndy, try Flamethrower to cut everyone free!"

[HAAAAAH!!!!!!] Cyndy cried as she heaved a massive fire wave, breaking off the net and freeing the Pokémon.

Misty spotted Kamon trying to run away. "Michelle, use Water Gun!"

"GAH!" Kamon yelped as Michelle's attack sent him tumbling to the ground.

"Cyndy, fire a Flamethrower into the sky!" Ash called. He smiled as the resulting explosion startled Kamon.

"And don't come back!" Brock cautioned as Kamon fled over the dunes.

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"Aw, man...we almost had that Dunsparce." Buck sighed as he slumped down on a rock. "I couldn't catch that Dunsparce even after you guys helped."

"It's okay...we can just find another Dunsparce." Misty assured Buck.

"Besides, there has to be more Dunsparce where that one came from." Brock agreed.

"You're right..." Buck smiled. "I can't give up yet."

He smiled "Let's get back to the dunes."

"I hope you have some ideas for finding Buck a Dunsparce..." Misty cautioned as the group followed Buck into the sands....

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"Okay..." Brock mused before tying some rope to an arrow and firing it into a palm tree, creating a trip wire low enough to prevent a Dunsparce from going forward or flying away. "If a Dunsparce comes through here, the wire will send it backwards a little ways--this should buy enough time for Buck to throw a Poke Ball at it and catch it."

"Sounds easy enough..." Misty mused. "It's better than tying a rope to a single tree and whacking the Dunsparce on the sand..."

"That only works in cartoons, Misty." Ash smiled before digging out his whistle from earlier. "Now to pull the old Pied Piper of Hamelin ploy to lure a Dunsparce here..."

With that, he started the tune "The Meowth's Call", making a swirl of sand perk up and move towards the wire. [It's working!] Tintri smiled as the sand swirl seemed to dance to the tiny whistle.

"Keep playing!" Misty urged. She watched as the sand swirl inched closer and closer to the wire, and was gently bounced backwards just as Ash played the last note of the tune.

Brock smiled as a Dunsparce emerged from the sand, confused as to what it had hit. "Here's your chance." he smiled at Buck.

Buck nodded. "Poke Ball, go!"

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A whistle pierced the evening sky as the Dunsparces raced through the obstacle course in the park, this time with Buck's Dunsparce Suna included. "Come on, Suna!" Buck cheered as Suna easily hovered over the staircase that Tsubasa had struggled on the day before.

[Go, Suna!] Tsubasa cheered as Suna passed a Dunsparce for second place as the field of Dunsparces rounded a turn leading to an A frame.

At the park entrance of the park, Ash, Misty, and Brock watched the race unfold, with Brock keeping the times of each Dunsparce with the stopwatch app on TimeNav.

"Buck's turned around since we got him a Dunsparce..." Ash smiled as the Dunsparces weaved around a bunch of tires before the finish line.

"I think he and Suna will be great friends and partners." Misty agreed, moments before Suna edged the Dunsparce in second place to win the race!

Brock's whistle alerted the children that a Dunsparce had crossed the line. "The winner is Suna, with a time of 1:30.15!" he announced as he draped a gold medal around Suna, to thunderous cheers.

After Brock had awarded medals to the second and third place Dunsparces, buck turned to the group as Brock rejoined Ash and Misty. "Bye, you guys! Thanks for all you've done!" More "byes" went up in agreement as the other children waved goodbye.

"Anytime, Buck!" Ash called back as he waved goodbye to the children. "Anytime!"

To Be Continued...