CHAPTER 7

“Sheesh, what’s all the commotion about?” asked Gianna, lowering her phone. “How’s Giadude99, expert Pokémon Trainer, supposed to get anything done around here?”

By the annoyed look on her face, Ethan could tell that she had lost the battle against Team Instinct, too.

Then she caught sight of the map. “Is that what I think it is?”

Devin nodded—and finally managed to coax the map out of Mystic’s mouth. “She found it stuck into the bridge rail. I think it has codes on it!”

When a tan, teenage boy with a fishing pole glanced over, Devin lowered her voice. “Should we take it somewhere else?”

“This way,” said Carlo, gesturing toward shore.

They met by the rocks below the bridge, the same place where Carlo had caught a whole school of Poliwag yesterday. Then they spread out the map on a wide, flat rock.

This map was coded a lot like the old one, Ethan noticed. There were three fish by the reeds. Three fish by the dog-swimming pier. One fish drawn by the beach, and one more by the picnic area.

“But look what’s new,” said Carlo. “Here are two fish, right by the rocks.”

“These rocks?” asked Ethan, looking down at the ones they were sitting on.

Carlo spun the map around. “Yeah,” he said. “These rocks. Weird.”

Ethan glanced around to see if there were any fishermen nearby. The teen boy was still fishing from the bridge, but he was the closest one. “This doesn’t exactly seem like a hot spot for fishing,” said Ethan.

“How about for Pokémon hunting?” asked Gianna, sliding Devin’s phone out of her pocket.

Ethan checked his own phone. The first thing he saw was that the gym on the bridge was still yellow. So Carlozard14 didn’t beat Magikarp Kid either, he realized. But Carlo was much better at hiding his disappointment than Ethan and Gianna had been.

The next thing Ethan saw was a round, blue-and-white Pokémon.

“Poliwag alert,” he said, nudging Carlo’s arm.

“Again?” said Carlo.

“Okay, so there are at least some Pokémon here,” said Gianna, checking the phone in her hand. “But we already proved that the symbols on the map aren’t Pokémon, right?”

Devin nodded. “Right.”

Mystic barked up at her, as if to add her two cents. The puppy had been sticking to Devin like glue all day. Ethan could barely take it anymore.

He’d been planning to ask Gianna for some Poké Ball throwing tips today. And there was a Poliwag bobbing right there on his screen, ripe for the picking. But Ethan just didn’t have the heart to play.

He dropped his phone in his pocket and slumped down on the rock. “So now what?” he grumbled. “Team Mystic lost the battle against Team Instinct, and we’re pretty much blowing the Case of the Magikarp Code, too.”

“Wow,” said Gianna, leaning away from him. “Complain much?”

Ethan knew he was being a downer, but he couldn’t help it. He really, really needed something to go his way today. He avoided Gianna’s eyes and picked at the rubbery tip of his shoe.

“Maybe you’re just thirsty, like Mystic,” said Devin. She tugged on the puppy’s leash, trying to keep her from lapping up the lake water. “C’mon. Let’s go get something to drink from Dad.”

I’m not thirsty, Ethan wanted to whine. I’m not your puppy, something you can just lead around. Maybe Mystic is, but I’m not.

So when the other three hopped up and headed toward Dad and the cooler, Ethan stayed behind.

Until he realized just how hot and thirsty he really was.

Then he reluctantly pushed himself up and headed toward the shade of the willow tree.

“Crispy little fish!” Dad announced at dinner that night. “Bluegill, Sunfish, and Pumpkinseed—Devin’s new favorite.” He winked at Devin as he slid a crispy filet onto her plate.

Mystic whined from beneath the table, her nose sniffing like crazy.

Ethan thought about sneaking her a piece of fish. Maybe then she’ll finally acknowledge me, he thought. But Mom had eagle eyes. She’d spot the handout for sure, and that would take this day from bad to worse—fast.

“So, did you catch the big one today?” Mom asked, smiling at Dad as she spread a paper napkin across her lap.

Obviously, he didn’t! thought Ethan. Or we wouldn’t be eating crispy little fish. Why even bring it up?

But Dad just grinned. His sunburned face was starting to peel, and his eyes looked puffy from getting up early to fish so many mornings this week. But somehow he still had enough energy to make up a story about the one that got away.

“It was this big, right, Ethan?” said Dad, spreading his arms out as far as they would go. “And it put up quite a fight. Fought like a carp, that Northern did. Yep. So you know what I decided? I decided to let it go. I’m going to let it live another year and get even bigger. Maybe next year, I’ll reel it in.”

Ethan couldn’t believe how happy Dad seemed. And he’d been having worse luck than anyone this week! First the nasty sunburn. Then the falling-off-the-boat incident, and ruining his cell phone. And he hadn’t even come close to catching the big one. But here he was, eating crispy little fish and cracking jokes, as usual.

Complain much? Ethan heard Gianna’s words in his head again. And he suddenly felt like a grumpy old Voltorb.

When Mystic licked his hand beneath the table, he felt his frustration start to melt away.

“Pass the crispy little fish, please,” he said to his dad. “I’m suddenly starving.”

After dinner, he asked Mom if he could brush Mystic, whose fluffy coat needed daily grooming.

“You know she doesn’t sit very well for that,” Mom warned. “You’ll have to hold her tight.”

“I know,” said Ethan. “I just want to try.”

Mom was right—Mystic was a squirmy worm during the brushing, but Ethan stayed patient and calm. He collected a whole ball of orange fur in the brush before he finally let her run away. When she headed straight for Devin’s room, he tried not to let it get him down.

Later, while he was lying on the living room rug sorting through the Pokémon he’d caught, he felt her wet nose nudge his arm. Play it cool, he told himself. Don’t act too excited.

He reached his hand down casually and started scratching her back. When she rolled over, the back scratch turned into a belly rub. And pretty soon the puppy was rolling from side to side on her back, snorting and grunting.

“Does that mean she likes her belly rubbed?” he asked his mom, who was reading a book in the rocking chair nearby.

“I think it means she loves it,” said Mom, laughing. “Take your hand away and see what she does.”

As soon as Ethan stopped rubbing, Mystic nudged his hand again. So he kept at it, rubbing her little tummy while she grunted and rolled from side to side. It was so cute, Ethan laughed out loud.

Even Devin came into the living room to see what all the fuss was about. “Wow,” she said, “Misty likes a good belly rub, huh?” She sank down into a chair.

Ethan expected the puppy to jump up and take off toward Devin, but she didn’t. She chewed at her tail for a little bit, and then she curled up in a little ball and went to sleep. Right beside Ethan.

A few minutes later, she started to squirm. Her legs jerked, as if she were running in her sleep. “Devin,” he whispered, “I think she’s dreaming!”

Devin clamped her hand over her mouth. “So cute! I’ll bet she’s dreaming about catching fish.”

“Or rolling in them,” said Ethan. He tried not to laugh each time a squeaky little bark or growl escaped from the sleeping pup.

And right then and there, he forgave her.

It’s okay if you don’t love me best, he decided. I’m going to love you anyway. And I’m going to train you, too, even if it takes a really long time. You’ll see.