CHAPTER 5

“Was it the big one, Dad?” Ethan asked. He tried not to smile as Dad wrung out his T-shirt and hung it over tree branch.

“Yes,” said Dad. “At least, that’s what we’re going to tell your mother. It was the biggest fish I’ve ever seen.”

“Or the cutest little Horsea,” said Devin, giggling.

“You fell overboard trying to capture a Horsea?” asked Ethan. “I was hoping it was something tough, like a Gyarados.”

“One of those dragonlike Pokémon?” asked Devin. “Nope. Just a Horsea. Dad got bored when he couldn’t find the big fish, so he started going after the little Pokémon.”

“And I think he wrecked his phone,” said Gianna.

Ethan watched his Dad shake the phone and then hold it to his ear, as if he hoped to hear it ticking, like a watch.

“Now two of us are without phones,” said Gianna. She seemed pretty disappointed about that.

“How did Mystic behave?” asked Devin, changing the subject, as usual.

At the sound of her name, the puppy raced toward Devin and licked her ankle.

Ethan shrugged. “She was trying to eat a dead worm. We really have to teach her not to go after certain things—for her own good.”

As he watched Dad drain the water out of his shoe, he thought, And we’re going to have to teach Dad not to go after certain things, too. At least while he’s in a boat!

“So we were wrong about the Magikarp Code,” Gianna announced. “Three fish on the map does not equal lots of big fish in the area. That stinks.”

“Right,” said Ethan. “But this Diglett chocolate cake pop? This definitely does not stink.” He slid the cake pop off the stick and ate it in one bite. Then he settled back into the bench. “I’ve missed Dottie’s Doughnuts.”

“It’s not a Diglett. It’s a Dugtrio,” said Devin. “We got three of them for the price of two, remember? Good thing Carlo had to work, or we would have been one cake pop short.” She licked chocolate frosting off her fingers before Mystic could do it for her. Then she gently tapped the whining puppy’s nose. “No, Misty. Chocolate isn’t good for dogs.”

Ethan peered through the glass window into the doughnut shop, wondering what he should have next. A Clefairy with pink frosting and whipped cream filling? Or his favorite—the Mankey with banana cream filling? Dottie sure got creative when it came to making doughnuts!

As if she read his mind, Dottie hurried out the front door. “How are my favorite Team Mystic players today?” she asked. “I’ve missed your faces around here!” She held a bowl of water in her hand, which she set down on the sidewalk for Mystic. “I wish I could invite you inside, but puppies aren’t allowed in bakeries. Health code rules.”

Devin smiled as she slid the water bowl closer to Mystic. “We understand,” she said. “Mystic still smells a little bit like Magikarp, anyway. It wouldn’t be good for business.”

Dottie cocked her head, setting her gold earrings jingling. “A magic harp? What on earth is that?”

Devin started laughing so hard that she couldn’t explain.

“It’s a Magi-karp,” said Ethan, emphasizing the second part of the word. “It’s a fishlike Pokémon. Mystic rolls in dead fish when we go to the lake. She likes worms, too.” He made a face.

“Hmm,” said Dottie, tapping her chin. “That gives this baker an idea. How about if my next Pokémon concoction is a Magikarp doughnut? Picture it now: a gummy tail, candy eyes …”

“No,” said Devin, scrunching up her freckled nose. “No, no, no. Gross. I’m sorry, Dottie, but that’s a bad idea.”

But Mystic wagged her tail and licked her chops.

Dottie laughed. “I think that furry teddy bear of yours disagrees. Maybe I should open up a second shop and call it Dottie’s Doggie Doughnuts.” She winked at the kids before disappearing back into the shop.

“I think she’s kidding, but that’s actually a pretty good idea!” said Ethan. “I wish I had as many good ideas as Dottie when it came to cracking the Magikarp Code.”

“Speaking of that, do you have the map with you?” asked Gianna. “I want to study the code again.”

Ethan slid the map out of the lower pocket of his shorts and handed it to her, holding it up high so that Mystic couldn’t reach it with her sharp little teeth.

“Why do you call it the Magikarp Code, anyway?” asked Devin. “We didn’t catch any carp when we were using it.”

Ethan shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess because the fish symbols look like they’re lying on their sides, like a Magikarp.”

Devin leaned over the map. “You’re right!” she said. “But they’re a lot less floppy.”

“Hmm …” said Gianna. “I wonder …”

“What?” asked Ethan.

“I wonder if you’re on to something with this Magikarp thing,” she said, sitting up straight. “What if the fish symbols on the map don’t show where real fish are? What if they show where Pokémon are hidden, instead?”

Ethan almost shot down the idea. It was a fishing map, after all, not a Pokémon GO map.

Then he remembered something: the image of Dad going after that Horsea in the boat, right before toppling over the edge. “It’s true!” he said, jumping up. “Dad didn’t catch the big fish in that spot by the reeds, but he did catch a Pokémon!”

“Actually, he never did catch the Horsea,” said Devin, giggling. “But he sure tried to. It’s hard to catch a Pokémon when you’re splashing around in the lake with a soaking-wet phone.”

“True,” said Ethan. “Speaking of Dad’s drowned phone, he should be back home any minute now with his new one. Should we ask him if we can go back to the lake? I want to test out Gia’s theory.”

“Me, too!” said Gianna. “Maybe Carlo and I can ride our bikes there when he’s done with work. Will you bring the map?”

“Yes!” said Ethan. “And the dog with the nose for dead fish. C’mon, Mystic. Let’s go home and see if Dad’s there.”

Mystic was lying down by the water bowl. When Ethan patted his leg, she just yawned and wagged her tail.

“Seriously?” said Ethan. “C’mon, Mystic, let’s go!” He tried to use a firm voice. And he started to jog down the sidewalk, hoping she’d follow. But she just rested her head on Devin’s foot, as if Ethan were the most boring thing around.

“I’ll bring the dog,” said Devin, laughing. She stood up, and Mystic instantly sprang to attention. Her little ears perked up, and she cocked her head at Devin as if to say, “Where to now, boss?”

Whatever, thought Ethan, swallowing his jealousy. I don’t need a dog to catch Pokémon—not with a coded map in my pocket.

He patted that pocket and started walking toward home. He could hardly wait to get back to the lake and start searching!