#91 "Bye Bye Psyduck"

    Ash, Misty and Tracey are taking a rest on the beach when they notice that Psyduck is missing. They send out all of their water Pokémon to look for it, but Psyduck can't be found. Misty is really worried. Tracey notices this, and says that she probably does really care for Psyduck, but just won't admit it.
    Then, a girl named Marina comes up to the group in a boat, and a Psyduck comes up to the surface next to her boat, trying to swim. It seems that, because it can't swim, it's obviously Misty's Psyduck.
    Marina pulls Psyduck out of the water, and notices that its tail is glowing. It's going to evolve! Ash pulls out his Pokédex and it reads out information on Pysduck's evolution, Golduck. Misty is overjoyed that her Psyduck is finally going to evolve, so Marina says that she likes water Pokémon. Misty shares her point of view, and they get into a very long conversation about water Pokémon. Misty offers her Psyduck to Marina, but she refuses, recalling Psyduck's rather embarrassing moment in the water.
    Misty then suggests that maybe they could have a battle using their water Pokémon, to see who's the better trainer, and Marina agrees.

    Team Rocket are in their Mecha-Magikarp, looking for Ash and company. After a big argument, they finally spot "the twerps", and start heading in their direction.

    Meanwhile, Misty and Marina are starting their Pokémon battle on the rocky shore. Marina starts off by sending out a Tentacruel, and Misty sends out her Goldeen.
    Tentacruel tries to use a Wrap attack, but Goldeen avoids it by using Agility, and then uses Horn Attack on Tentacruel. Tentacruel then uses a Poison Sting, which knocks Goldeen out. Marina won!
    Marina mentions to Misty that she favors dual-type Pokémon, that is, Pokémon of more than one type. This, again, starts a big conversation. After she's finished talking, Misty finally sends out her next Pokémon, Staryu. Of course, Staryu just adds more life to the girls' discussion. Thankfully, their conversation eventually ends, and the battle continues. 
    Staryu uses a Swift attack, and Tentacruel is out like a light. Marina recalls Tentacruel, and sends out her Psyduck, bragging that it's better than Misty's. Misty's Staryu uses Water Gun, but Marina then proves her bragging about Psyduck by having it use Confusion. Psyduck is the winner!
    Marina suggests that the two girls should have a Psyduck match--Psyduck against Psyduck--to see which one really is the best. Misty agrees, and throws what she thinks is Psyduck's Pokéball into the water, but nothing comes out! Misty gets Ash to throw her the backpack which Psyduck's ball is in. Ash throws it, and misses, making the backpack land in the water. Misty isn't impressed, and sticks her hand in the water to pull her bag out. She finds it, and pulls it out, but when she does, something comes out of her backpack--Golduck!
    Misty is overjoyed that her Psyduck has finally evolved into Golduck, and she pampers Golduck like never before.

    Team Rocket are heading towards Ash and company when they notice Misty's Golduck. The Rockets go into their usual "rare Pokémon coming up" mode, and speed up the Mecha-Magikarp. They want that Golduck!

    Back on the shore, the battle is continuing, however, it's now Misty's Golduck against Marina's Psyduck. Psyduck uses Confusion, but Golduck goes out to a wave, and dodges the attack, as well as going on the offensive, knocking out Psyduck. Suddenly, the wave that Golduck is near turns into a whirlpool!
    After Golduck gets nice and dizzy from the whirlpool, Team Rocket's Mecha-Magikarp surfaces. Ash tries to get Pikachu to shock it, but the metal covering of the Mecha-Magikarp withstands Pikachu's thundershock easily. Team Rocket float away, and they managed to catch Tentacruel and Psyduck too! Misty offers to help Marina, but her offer is refused. Misty asks Golduck to help anyway, and it tries to free Tentacruel and Psyduck, with Marina's Starmie trying to free them as well.
    Team Rocket see Misty's Golduck trying to attack them, and they want it. Golduck is such a rare Pokémon! However, Golduck easily puts their Mecha-Magikarp "out of order" for a while, and it crashes on the shore.
    But, Team Rocket never seem to give up. They recite their motto, and Ash demands that they give Tentacruel and Psyduck back. Team Rocket are willing to follow his orders. Tentacruel and Psyduck are such pathetic Pokémon! However, Meowth has a great plan. It makes a deal with Ash-- Tentacruel and Psyduck will be given back, but only if Team Rocket are given Pikachu. Tentacruel and Psyduck try to get out of Team Rocket's net, but they can't, since they are so tired from the battle.
    Marina runs out to try and save the two trapped Pokémon, and Arbok tries to bite her, however, Golduck launches a Water Gun attack towards Arbok. Team Rocket aren't giving up, and continue trying to attack Golduck, but their efforts are hopeless. Golduck uses a Hyper Beam, and blows up the Mecha-Magikarp. It hurts Team Rocket pretty badly too, and there they go, blasting off again.
    Golduck rescues Tentacruel and Psyduck, and bring them back to the shore. Misty and Marina continue their battle, and Marina chooses Starmie as her next Pokémon. It is now Starmie against Golduck.
    Misty's Golduck uses Fury Swipes, which hits Starmie. However, Starmie still has enough energy to battle, and uses a Bubble attack. Golduck fights back with Hyper Beam, but Marina has Starmie use Light Screen, making a comment about how predictable that Hyper Beam was after the damage it had done to Team Rocket's Mecha-Magikarp. However, the Light Screen didn't stop Golduck, and Golduck won! The battle is over!
    Misty tries to get Golduck to return, but it won't go back into its Pokéball. Misty tries again, and this time, discovers that the Pokéball isn't empty--her Psyduck is in there! Misty is shocked. Psyduck never evolved, this was a wild Golduck! A group of girls walk past, and Golduck runs over to them, showing off. It's not Misty's Golduck, it's a wild one that likes showing off to girls! It's just a Pokémon version of Brock...
    Misty, however, isn't impressed with Psyduck. After all, it was in its Pokéball all the time! The one time it should've come out, it didn't. The usual "shouting at Psyduck" routine follows.

    So, Ash, Misty and Tracey continue through the Orange Islands on Lapras. Although Misty may not have a Golduck, she has shown that she can handle a wild Pokémon, and that makes her a talented Pokémon trainer.

- Blue Hiker