Challenge Lana: Part 1

Attention, sync pairs!

We're about to start our treasure-hunting event! The rules are simple!

All you have to do is find the treasure I hid somewhere on or around this beach!

The first sync pair to find the treasure wins!

The winning pair will also receive a VERY generous reward from yours truly!

Now then, off you go! Have fun hunting for treasure on Pasio!

Wow! A treasure hunt? How fun! This is gonna be great!

All this talk about treasure, so close to the sea... It makes me feel like a pirate!

Ooh! You look raring to go!

So do you, Acerola!

But I'M the one who's gonna find that treasure!

Wow, she's gone already...

Hey, Lana, how are you gonna look for the treasure?

I figured I'd fish on the beach and search the ocean for it with my Pokémon.

Oh, OK! Guess we'll be working separately, then!

I think I'll search along the shore with Jellicent and Palossand.

You and Jellicent seem to be getting along great.

Yeah! We've become really close!

Heh heh... Looks like I was right to entrust you with Jellicent.

Why don't we compete to see which of us can find the treasure first?

Sure, but I won't lose, you know!

Treasure, huh...

I'm sure it's something incredible if Lear prepared it...

I'm curious about that "generous reward" he's promised the winners, too!

At any rate, I've got to find the treasure before anyone else does!

Oh! I didn't know there was a cave over there!

It looks awfully suspicious... My treasure sense is tingling!

I need to search that cave before any other Trainers find it!

Oh, no...

It's darker than I expected... I'm not going to run into any ghosts in here, am I?

Oof... Just thinking about ghosts is freaking me out...

Eep!

What was that noise? Is someone there?

Is something really back there?!

Don't tell me it's a gh...

What...are...you...do...ing?

EEEYAAAHHH!

Whoa!

Oh, it's just you, Acerola. Phew! You scared me...

You scared me speechless...

I saw you go into this cave, Gardenia, so I followed you out of curiosity...

I don't suppose you found the treasure already, did you?

No, not yet. But I still haven't checked out the deeper parts of the cave yet.

I kept hearing this creepy sound...

That one! Did you hear it?!

I thought it might be a ghost...

You mean a ghost Pokémon? Then let's go check it out!

Knowing Lear, he might have gotten a Pokémon to guard the treasure.

Uhh... Well...

Are you scared?

N-No way!

As a Gym Leader, I couldn't possibly let you put yourself in danger...

I've got Jellicent with me, and Palossand is inside her Poké Ball, so I'll be OK!

If you don't want to go any further, I can go on ahead!

W-wait! Don't leave me alooone!

Hurry up, Gardenia!

W-Wait, Acerola... You walk too fast!

No, you're just slow!

Are you sure you're not scared of ghosts?

O-Of course! I'm not the least bit scared!

Huh? You suuure?

Sure I'm sure! Just watch me!

Eek!

... ... ...

It's OK! I won't tell anyone!

*sniffle* Thanks, Acerola...

Well, here we are, the depths of the cave...

Now, to find that treasure...

Wait a minute... Who's that Pokémon?

It's Dhelmise!

So that's what was making those noises!

You mean those were just Pokémon cries all along? Thank goodness...

I thought for sure it was a ghost...

Huh? But Dhelmise IS a ghost Pokémon!

Huh? Really?!

Still, though...

I'm not sure why, but unlike other ghost Pokémon, it's not that scary to me...

That must be because Dhelmise is ALSO a Grass-type Pokémon!

Oh, I see! If it's a Grass-type Pokémon, then even I...

A-actually, it is kinda scary...

Well, now we know what was making that noise, but I don't see any treasure here. Do you?

No. So, what's Dhelmise doing here?

I don't see a Trainer anywhere, and it doesn't seem like Lear put it here to guard the treasure...

Hmm... Maybe it's a wild Pokémon that got lost and somehow ended up on Pasio.

I know, Gardenia! Why don't you become a sync pair with Dhelmise?

Whaaa, ?! Me?!

It's not a bad idea to have some Ghost-type Pokémon on your team!

Me with a ghost Pokémon... Could I really become a sync pair with Dhelmise?

... ... ...

Eep!

Oh! Wait, Dhelmise!

I think I might have hurt Dhelmise's feelings...

You didn't want Dhelmise as your partner?

That's not it, I want to get to know Dhelmise better.

It's just...I really do have hang-ups about ghosts...

...You know what? I want to find Dhelmise again so I can set things straight!

Yeah, let's go find it and apologize!

Go, Jellicent! Follow that Dhelmise!

Let's go, Gardenia!

Right!

Jellicent led us out of the cave...

But all I see out here are sync pairs caught up in the treasure hunt!

Maybe Dhelmise is hiding underwater.

Oh, of course! It must be in the sea!

How do you think we could get Dhelmise to come out?

Easy! We go fishing!

Huh?! Fishing?

I mean, I understand the logic...but where are we going to get a fishing rod?

Let's see... She should be fishing around here somewhere...

There she is! Hey! Lanaaa!

Oh my. What's going on here?

Listen, Lana! We've got a favor to ask...

Ah, so that's what you're after.

In that case, please, go right ahead and use my fishing rod.

Are you sure, Lana? Weren't you using your fishing rod to look for the treasure?

Oh, I've got plenty of fishing rods, all handmade Lana originals!

I always carry a few around to share with anyone who's interested in fishing.

I hope you land a big catch and reel in that Dhelmise!

Thank you, Lana!

Just watch, I'll fish up Dhelmise for sure!

... ... ...

Hey, Lana, is it hard to fish up a Dhelmise?

I certainly wouldn't expect it to be easy.

But in this case, you know where Dhelmise is, right?

Yes! Jellicent showed us!

Then I don't think it should take too long.

I...I think something's tugging the line!

You've got it! Now pull with all your strength!

Nnngh!

...No good! I can't pull it any closer!

Acerola! Let's help her!

Right!

Three, two, one...

Nnngh!

No use. I don't think we're making any headway...

I didn't realize Dhelmise was so heavy...

Then let's get more people to help us!

Hold on, Gardenia! We're going to get help!

Got it!

B-but...please hurry!

Sorry to keep you waiting, Gardenia! We brought some people we found nearby!

Sounds like you're up to something pretty interesting!

Let me lend you a hand!

We want to help, too!

My brother and I are perfectly in sync, so I think we could be of assistance!

I may not be much help, but I'll do whatever I can!

Thank you, everyone! With all of us working together, we'll definitely be able to do this!

All right, everyone! On three!

One...

Two...

Three!

Nnnnnnggghhh!

But the line refused to budge...

No way... Even THAT wasn't enough?

Looks like we need to find some stronger Trainers...

Gardenia! I'm back!

And I brought help, including a strapping young swimmer!

I hear you could use some help from me and my massive pecs!

And I've come to lend you the strength I've honed through pro wrestling!

You're trying to fish up Dhelmise, yeah? Then we're the right ones for the job!

Wow... Such paragons of strength!

This time, I think we can really do this!

Everybody ready?

OK, then... Here we go!

One...

Two...

Three!

Nnnnnnggghhh!

...We're doing it! We're pulling up Dhelmise, little by little!

Come on, everyone... We're almost there! Hang in there just a little longer!

Yeah!

Grrrrrr!

Raaahhh!

Please!

Let's gooooooooo!

And then...

Dhelmise...

Umm... I want to apologize about before!

It's not that I don't like you! I was just a little startled...

I really am sorry!

Looks like Dhelmise wants to be friends with you too, Gardenia!

Oh, Dhelmise!

I think Dhelmise was lonely because it didn't have any friends.

But it was too scared to make the first move on its own, so it waited for someone to find it.

I see... So you get scared just like me, huh?

So, um, Dhelmise...

If you like, would you become a sync pair with me?

I'm still a little scared of ghost Pokémon...

But I've got a feeling that you and I can get along!

Thank you! Great to make your acquaintance, Dhelmise!

Hahahahaha!

I see you've found the treasure! Well done!

Huh? Treasure?

This sparkling golden statue is the very treasure I hid!

Oh, right... We fished that up along with Dhelmise, didn't we?

Yeah. Seems like it got tangled up with Dhelmise.

I've been observing your activities this entire time!

And I have decided, the winners of this treasure hunt are Gardenia and Acerola!

I take it there are no objections?

Are you sure it's OK?

We were only able to fish up that treasure in the first place thanks to everyone's help...

But you two were the first to find it.

All we did was help!

More importantly, though, what about that "generous reward," Lear?!

Heh heh... You've been curious about that, have you?

The prize for this event is...

this golden statue!

...Huh?

Can you even THINK of a more prestigious prize than a statue of me, the owner of Pasio?!

I feel like something similar to this has happened before...

Which means, !

I was right! There are rare stones being used as embellishments here!

Hey, what do you say we give this statue to Steven?

I don't think the two of us would get much use out of it anyway...

Yeah! Great idea!

Steven, you can have that statue if you like.

Huh? Are you sure?!

Yes, of course! After all...

we already found an even more precious treasure!

Right, Dhelmise?