As their journey continued, Ash and his friends entered a vast and lush area known as the Eterna Forest.
This forest was so immense that it practically surrounded the entire Eterna City. The moment one stepped out of Eterna City, they would find themselves within the dense greenery of this ancient woodland.
The forest was teeming with Bug-type and Grass-type Pokémon, making it a popular destination for both adventurers and trainers looking to catch new Pokémon.
A long and winding river also ran through the heart of the forest. While the forest belonged to Bug- and Grass-types, this river was undoubtedly a battleground for Water-type Pokémon.
Ash's excitement grew as he walked.
— If the timing is right, then that prideful Buizel should still be around here somewhere…
In the original storyline, Dawn was the one who captured Buizel. But after some time, realizing that Buizel loved battling while Aipom had a passion for Pokémon Contests, Dawn and Ash decided to trade.
— A tough and competitive Pokémon like that… I definitely can't miss this chance!
As the trio continued deeper into the forest, they suddenly spotted someone standing under a large tree.
It was a young man, holding two Poké Balls, his expression troubled.
Dawn, always polite and kind, stepped forward.
"Excuse me, is something wrong?" she asked.
The young man looked up, seemingly surprised by their approach. Noticing that all three of them carried fishing rods, he quickly understood their purpose.
"Ah… You guys are heading to the river to fish, right?" he sighed, shaking his head. "If that's the case, I'd strongly advise against it."
His words caught their attention.
"Why?" asked Ash, intrigued.
The young man let out another sigh before explaining.
"There's a particularly powerful Buizel in that section of the river. Every trainer who fishes it up and battles it has lost. No exceptions."
Ash's eyes gleamed with interest.
"And that's not all," the young man continued. "Whenever Buizel wins, it takes the losing trainer's fishing rod! It treats them like Gym Badges or Contest Ribbons—a trophy for its victories."
The young man shook his head again, clearly frustrated.
"I battled it twice. Even my Magneton—a Pokémon with an advantage over Water-types—stood no chance. That Buizel is a monster."
With that, he turned and walked away. "Anyway, I need to get to the Pokémon Center. You guys should really reconsider."
Ash, however, smiled.
— This is it. That's the Buizel I'm looking for.
This Buizel wasn't just strong—it was also incredibly determined. It trained itself rigorously, constantly pushing its own limits.
But there was something else.
— It has pride. It won't listen to a weak trainer… but with the right bond, it'll become an unstoppable force.
Anabel's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"A strong and undefeated Buizel? This sounds fun! Ash, Dawn, shall we check it out?"
The answer was obvious.
They pressed forward, eventually arriving at the Eterna Forest River.
The water was deep and still, reflecting the sky like a mirror. Ash picked up a stone and tossed it in. It barely made a splash.
"This river is deep…" Ash noted.
Dawn, already holding her fishing rod, grinned.
"Alright, let's make this a contest! Let's see who can fish up Buizel first!"
"Piplup!" her partner chirped in agreement, its determination mirroring its trainer's.
As Dawn and Anabel cast their lines, Ash pulled out something unusual.
A custom lure—shaped like a tiny girl.
Anabel tilted her head. "Huh? Ash, what is that?"
Dawn's curiosity was piqued as well. "It looks like… a doll?"
Ash chuckled, rubbing his nose. "It's a special lure… a keepsake from an old friend. I thought I'd try it out."
Dawn smirked teasingly. "Oh~? An old friend, huh?"
She didn't press further, but Ash could tell she was amused.
Just then—
"Oh! You guys are here too? What a coincidence!"
A familiar voice rang out.
They turned to see a girl wearing sunglasses, a fishing rod in hand.
Zoey.
Dawn beamed. "Zoey! It's been a while! I'm so happy to see you again!"
Then, her expression turned competitive.
"Wait, don't tell me—you're here for Buizel too?"
Zoey blinked. "…Buizel?"
She had simply come over after spotting them, unaware of the infamous Buizel's reputation.
But before anyone could say more—
Dawn's fishing rod twitched.
Zoey pointed at it. "Hey, Dawn—your rod's caught something."
Dawn gasped. "Yes! We did it! We're the first ones to fish it up!"
With all her strength, she pulled—
SPLASH!
Water erupted from the river as a sleek, orange Water-type Pokémon burst out.
"Bui! Bui!"
Buizel.
Dawn's eyes widened. "This is it! That's the one!"
The Buizel looked at Dawn—then smirked.
It lifted its hands and gestured toward Piplup, signaling a challenge.
Zoey's eyes lit up. "Ooooh, a confident one! It wants to battle!"
Ash chuckled. "Dawn, looks like it's your turn first."
Dawn didn't hesitate.
"Piplup! Let's go! Use Peck!"
"Pipluppp!"
Piplup charged forward, its beak glowing as it aimed for Buizel.
But Buizel's eyes flashed with annoyance.
— Too slow.
It fired a Water Gun—hitting Piplup head-on.
"Piplup!" Dawn gasped as her Pokémon was blasted backward.
Buizel landed gracefully on the river's edge, stomping the ground. Water gathered around it, swirling and rising.
"That's—Aqua Jet?!" Anabel exclaimed.
A powerful stream of water wrapped around Buizel's body. Then—
"Bui!"
Buizel shot forward at incredible speed.
"Piplup, Bubble Beam!" Dawn commanded.
But the Aqua Jet tore straight through the bubbles, smashing into Piplup with brutal force.
BOOM!
Piplup was launched into the air.
Before it could recover—
"Bui!"
Buizel's tails flicked, unleashing two Sonic Booms in quick succession.
The first strike hit. The second one finished the job.
"Piplup!"
Dawn rushed forward, catching her partner as it fell, fainted.
A flawless victory.
Buizel crossed its arms, nodding in satisfaction.
Ash smirked.
— A tough one, alright.
But he wasn't about to let it end there.
This battle had only just begun.
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