Chapter 221 - 10 Departure

Today, the entire Gordon's family once again arrived at the Cerulean gym building and met with the Waterflower who bade farewell to their eldest daughter.

Misty who now understands what was happening most probably cried before their arrival since her eyes were red and her face had tear marks.

When the Waterflowers saw alex, Mathew came forward and said," take care of my daughter. I don't expect you to help her with everything. Just join in to help her when things go out of her hands. She needs to know how the world works on her own." He said all this with grave expression making Alex understand what he wants him to do.

He wants Alex to have her experience hardship as well as some dangerous situations so she deal with them herself as a way of training and he would help if she is in too much trouble and cannot protect herself.

In short, he had to deal with her similar to how Alex planned to do with his cousin Jim. It was showing some tough love.

He handed over a box to Alex and said," Your reward is in here, you can check it out now if you want. "

Alex looked at the box wanting to see what he got. He restrained his d_e_s_i_r_e for a couple of seconds and then opened the box because his strong curiousity overwhelmed him.

His action only made Mathew and the other elders smile. In their heart, they thought that no matter how m_a_t_u_r_e he is he still had some attics of a child. This made them feel gratified that he hadn't lost his childhood entirely.

Alex opened the box to see two things in the box. One was a pokeball and another was a tough and inflexible scale. It was a dragon scale.

Alex practically ignored the pokeball placed at the side and focused entirely on the dragon scale. He mumbled in amazement, " This ... This is a dragon scale."

A dragon scale is very precious thing in the Pokemon world. A usuable dragon scale is something that a fully evolved dragon pokemon voluntarily shed off. Doing so makes the dragon leave behind some portion of their energy.

If this scale is in the possession of a dragon type, then there is a good boost in strength, defense and speed of the Pokemon. The energy of the fully evolved dragon Pokemon serves as the power enhancer.

The reason why it is so yearned by people is because of it's role as a growth accelerator of the dragon. The growth time of a dragon is very long. Some of these Pokemon stay in their initial state for a decade and in their second form for almost half a century before they completely evolve.

This growth is shortened sharply by this scale so this is a precious item, especially for the dragon trainers.

Even with so many advantages, there is also a big defect related to the dragon scale. The dragon who shed off the scale had to undergo a week of completely sleep or hibernation and he had to spend at least six months to completely recover his strength.

" Yes. It is a dragon scale. Since, the tournament is a few month away, yet we are asking you to look after our daughter when you can train, so I thought this payment will be good for you. " He said proudly.

" But it is too precious" Alex stuttered out.

Alex's stuttering and protest made his family curious what he had got and what was in this box.

" Alex, what is a dragon scale and how precious is it?"the curious retired civilian James asked.

" At least a hundred times more than Houndour's monthly expenses on his diet. That expensive" Alex explained them in the words that his family could understand.

Their mouth was stunned open on hearing this.

Mathew rolled his eyes at his words and said," You are saying as if it is expensive for you. You don't make more than that every month from the honey you sell. And there is still the berry you are starting to sell. "

Alex looked at Mathew surprised that he knew do much and Mathew just smiled and said," I am a veteran gym leader, Alex. I make sure that I know every big happening around my city.

The scale of purchase you did near your hometown along with mass purchase of berry and sale of honey. I wouldn't miss something like that. "

Alex scratched his head embarrassment for forgetting something like this.

Daphne by her husband, Mathew side said, "Don't forget the Pokemon along with that. That pokemon may need that gift we gave you."

The Pokemon that appeared was a light blue, seahorse-like Pokémon. It has red eyes, a long, tubular mouth, and three spike-like fins on either side of its head. Its ridged belly and single dorsal fin are cream-colored. It had a tightly curled tail that it can use to balance or anchor the strong current in the ocean.

It was a Horsea.

The seahorse pokemon looked around at the people curiously until his eyes fell on the one who had his pokeball.

His red eyes were fixed on Alex and Alex looked back at the pokemon. Swablu and Pikachu who had been quiet for so long jumped off Alex and went to greet their newest team member.

The trio easily mingled with each other and started to chat with the near recruit.

" What pokemon is this, dad? " Daisy asked. The daughters of Waterflower were looking at the blue scaled Horsea with curiousity. Same was with the family of Alex.

Mathew turned to Alex and asked," Do you know what type of Pokemon this is, Alex?"

Alex turned and everyone looked at him for answer or wanted to know what he knew about it. Even the trio stop their chat. Horsea looked at him probably wanting to know what he knew about their species.

He mumbled loud enough for Mathew to hear," is this a he or she?" Mathew replied back" She. This Pokemon is a female."

This quiet muttering made them confused and Daisy said loudly," No cheating, Alex. "

This made him blink his eyes in confusion about why she felt he was cheating until he remembered what he was doing.

Alex hid the embarrassment he felt and said," I was asking whether to give a small version or a big version about her kind. I don't want to bore you all."

" Give us a long version. I want to learn more about pokemons unlike a certain idiot." Jim jumped forward and gave a not do secret glance at Daisy.

This miffed her and she was about to unleash her feminine wrath if not for her mother's arm stopping her.

She just glared amd then herself said," I can too understand a long version "

Alex took a deep breath and underwent a psychological transformation into what his siblings and cousin say a " professor mode."

He started," She is called a Horsea. Their kind are water Pokemon who belong to a dub category of dragons. They too possess what most call the dragon blood in them similar to Gyarados and unlike Gyarados who are called idiot in magikarp state and aggressive and intimidating in Gyarados, they had been considered as cute in Horsea stage by most, when they evolve their dragon nature is slowly revealed like it does in case of Charmeleon where they are proud and borderline arrogant.

At this state, they don't follow trainers who are incompetent according to them and often escape from their trainer.

And finally, their last state Kingdra are majestic. They are powerful. As for how powerful, they can create giant whirlpool as easily as yawning .They are considered the kings of the ocean."

Hearing her future trainer tell others how powerful she was, she huffed her c_h_e_s_t and stood proudly.

Pikachu and Swablu praised her strength while the young ones look at her in awe.

" She is so strong. But she is so small.' Jim said unknowingly angering her and was awarded with the ink spray on his face.

Although most of the people smiled at Jim's expense none more than Daisy, Alex didn't do so. He had a serious expression and said,"Jim, Daisy, Always remember that no Pokemon is weak. It is the trainer who makes them weak or strong.

I myself have a butterfree. She is normally considered a weak pokemon but neither Gyarados, poliwhirl nor tentacruel could defeat her one on one. So if you work hard to raise them well, the result will be satisfying. You understand this didn't you?"

Daisy and Jim said in unison," Yes"

Then he turned to the others and said," I think we should get going now. " And he picked up Horsea in his hand while the other two position themselves on their respective position and he head out towards the city gate.

His two young protege followed him after saying farewell to their family.

The Gordon family looked at them until they weren't visible and left for their house after saying farewell to the Waterflower.

Daphne pilled her youngest daughter in a tight hug and asked her husband weakly," Mathew , will she be alright?"

Mathew knew of the league strategy to train the top rankers through the anti league association yet he said," she will be fine. She had Alex by her side. Don't forget, every trainer from the Oak laboratory is a monster and our daughter learning under him will do her good. " He not only consoled her but also himself and then headed inside his gym.