Ash, Misty, and Brock continued their journey.
That evening, they reached the coast at sunset.
Ash was battling a Krabby.
The salty sea breeze swept sand across the beach in the light of the setting sun.
The sturdy Krabby waved its large pincers, clicking them threateningly as the sunset reflected off its red shell.
“Butterfree, use Sleep Powder!” Ash called.
Butterfree immediately flapped its wings, scattering pale blue powder over Krabby.
Krabby’s eyes closed, and it collapsed onto the beach, fast asleep.
“Go, Poké Ball!”
The Poké Ball struck Krabby’s shell.
Krabby was pulled inside, and the Poké Ball shook violently as its red light flashed.
After the third shake, the Poké Ball clicked and fell still.
Ash picked up the Poké Ball and brushed the salt crystals from its surface with his thumb.
“Krabby, welcome aboard. From now on, we’re partners!”
The setting sun turned the waves orange as Misty brushed sand from her hair.
“Ash, it’s getting late. We should find a place to rest.”
Misty looked across the darkening horizon, where a few fishing lights glowed in the distance.
Ash looked toward a faint light at the top of a distant cliff and smiled.
He raised his hand and pointed to the white lighthouse standing against the twilight.
“Look at that lighthouse.”
“A lighthouse? What about it?” Misty followed his gesture.
A light flickered at the top of the tower.
Ash put his hands in his pockets.
“A Pokémon researcher named Bill lives there. I helped him deal with some strange incidents at Mt. Moon, and we did some research together, so we know each other pretty well. We can ask to stay for the night.”
They continued toward the lighthouse as the last light faded.
Night fell, swallowing the last light on the horizon.
Ash, Misty, and Brock finally reached Bill’s lighthouse as the sea wind howled against the walls.
Ash pressed the doorbell, and its ring echoed through the quiet night.
“Who is it?” A man’s voice came through the intercom.
Ash leaned toward the intercom.
“Mr. Bill, it’s me, Ash!”
“Oh, Ash!” Bill said in surprise.
“We’re passing through. Would it be all right if we stayed for the night?” Ash asked.
“Of course. Come in.” The door creaked open.
Ash, Misty, and Brock entered.
The lighthouse was pitch-black, and they could only make out a figure sitting in the distance.
Remembering where it was, Ash felt around until he found the light switch.
The lights came on with a click.
When they saw what was in front of them, everyone gasped.
A huge figure stood before them.
It looked like a giant Kabuto.
Misty’s eyes widened, and her mouth fell open.
“That’s…”
“That looks like Kabuto, an extinct Fossil Pokémon,” Brock said uncertainly.
Ash shook his head.
“No, that’s one of Mr. Bill’s Pokémon costumes.”
“Ash, stop explaining and help me! Kabuto’s arms are too short, so I can’t reach the release switch. It’s right here!” Bill shouted from inside the costume.
Ash stepped forward, found the button on the Kabuto costume, and pressed it.
The costume opened with a click, revealing Bill inside.
“Ah, I’m saved.” Bill let out a long breath, sweat still beading on his forehead.
“Mr. Bill, why does this always happen to you?” Ash asked, spreading his hands.
Bill rubbed his sore shoulders and led everyone to the round table.
Before Bill could speak, his stomach growled.
Ash and Pikachu looked at each other and laughed.
“Now that you mention it, we haven’t eaten dinner yet,” Misty said, rubbing her stomach.
“Leave it to me!” Brock tied on an apron and headed for the kitchen.
“Wow! Seafood curry!” Misty leaned over the pot as shrimp, scallops, and potatoes simmered in the thick sauce.
Bill brought out his shell cups and filled them with cold coconut milk.
“Ash, your friends are amazing! The last time I tried cooking, I blew up the kitchen…”
A timer rang before Bill could finish.
Brock lifted the lid, and the smell of curry filled the lighthouse.
Everyone sat down and enjoyed the meal together.
…
After dinner, Misty rested her chin on her hand.
“Dr. Bill, Ash told me you’re staying at this lighthouse because of a mysterious Pokémon. What kind of Pokémon is it?”
Bill set down his shell cup, and his spoon clinked against the plate.
He looked out the window at the mist rolling over the sea.
“Hmm. To be honest, I don’t know what kind of Pokémon it is either.”
“It happened one night when the fog was so thick I couldn’t see five meters ahead. I was returning to the lighthouse by speedboat when I heard a long cry in the distance.” Bill rubbed the rim of his cup.
“At first, I thought it was the sea, but after that, the same voice returned whenever the fog rolled in.”
Brock adjusted his glasses.
“A regular pattern like that really is unusual.”
“Exactly.” Bill nodded.
“Then, one stormy night, I saw a shape through the telescope. It looked like a Pokémon, but it disappeared as soon as the lightning faded.”
Bill lowered his voice. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“After that, I began recording the frequency of its cries and analyzing the sound-wave patterns…”
Bill stood, took a notebook from the shelf, and opened it to pages filled with formulas and rough sketches.
“Every time I heard that sound, I could feel…”
He traced one of the wave patterns with his finger.
“A deep loneliness. It sounds trapped in this part of the sea, unable to find its own kind or a way out.”
“So that’s why you stayed here?” Misty asked.
“You want to find it?”
“Yes.” Bill looked out at the stormy sea.
Ash nodded.
“Even if the chance is only one in ten thousand, Mr. Bill wants it to know that somewhere in this vast sea, someone is willing to listen.”
…
At midnight, a strong sea wind swept over the lighthouse.
When reached the top of the lighthouse, thick fog had already covered the sea.
Moonlight shone faintly through the fog.
Pikachu and Eevee huddled uneasily on Ash’s shoulders.
“The fog is already here? Good. Time to get to work!” Bill shouted as the wind whipped around him.
Bill rushed into the control room.
Through the window, they watched him move between the controls and flashing displays.
Bzzzt!
A harsh electrical buzz filled the air, and all six giant speakers on the deck began to vibrate.
Bill watched the flashing data screen while humming off-key.
Every so often, he grabbed the intercom.
“Ash! Check the angle of speaker number three!”
Misty stood on tiptoe and saw that the speaker pointed toward the thickest fog.
Silver ripples appeared there from time to time.
“Is this simulating the mysterious Pokémon’s cry?” Brock asked as he watched the spectrogram change.
Without turning around, Bill gave him a thumbs-up.
“Exactly! My analysis showed that it is most active in foggy weather!”
Bill pressed a red button, and a deafening cry blasted from the speakers.
The cry was deep and distant, similar to a whale’s call.
The simulated cry echoed through the night.
It stirred the waves, but nothing else happened.
Bill frowned as sweat formed on his forehead, his fingers tapping against the control panel.
Misty and Brock kept watching the sea, hopeful but disappointed by the lack of a response.
Ash focused on the fog as a faint blue light appeared around him.
He had kept his Aura active the entire time.
He sensed a powerful, unfamiliar Aura approaching through the fog.
He also sensed three familiar Aura signatures near the cliff.
It was the Team Rocket trio.
“Of course they’re here to cause trouble again.” Ash gritted his teeth.
Ash took out a Poké Ball.
A flash of white light released Pidgeotto, whose cry rang through the night.
“Pidgeotto, go over there and drive away those troublemakers.” Ash pointed toward the cliff.
“Pidgeotto!”
Pidgeotto cried out, beat its wings, and raced toward Team Rocket.
Pidgeotto flew over Team Rocket and beat its wings, using Hurricane.
The attack swept sand, stones, and seawater into a powerful wind that slammed into the trio.
“Ah!” Jessie screamed as the wind caught her and sent her tumbling through the air before she could react.
James spun through the air and nearly lost his grip on his Poké Ball.
Meowth’s fur stood on end as the wind lifted him into the air.
“Meow! Meow!”
“We’re finished before we even got our entrance!” Jessie shouted as she flew through the air.
James spun until he was dizzy.
Just as he steadied himself, sand and pebbles flew into his eyes.
“That rotten little twerp, meow!” Meowth could no longer tell which way was which.
“Looks like Team Rocket’s blasting off again!” the trio shouted together.
The Hurricane sent them flying into the distance until they disappeared into the night.
With Team Rocket gone, Ash recalled Pidgeotto and looked back toward the sea.
The fog churned as the approaching Aura pressed down on the lighthouse, making the air tremble.
Ash felt his Aura shake.
He looked up in shock.
A massive shadow emerged from the fog over the sea.
Its body blocked the moonlight, and the waves calmed as it passed.
“Rooooar!”
Its mournful cry echoed through the night.
Misty clutched her chest at the sound.
Bill gripped the railing until his knuckles turned white, keeping the telescope trained on the shadow.
“That’s it! That voice perfectly matches the frequency I recorded!”
At that moment, the Poké Ball at Ash’s waist began shaking violently.
White light flashed as Dratini came out of its Poké Ball.
The blue scales around its neck glowed, and an unusual light appeared in its eyes.
“Dratini!”
Dratini raised its head and cried out, answering the mysterious call.
Misty covered her mouth in surprise.
“Why is it…”
“It’s resonance. Dratini may have a connection to that Pokémon.” Before Ash could say more, the shadow drew closer.
Ash spread his arms and formed an Aura shield around everyone.
The shadow broke through the water, sending towering waves and a blast of sea wind toward them.
The waves crashed against the shield and receded, scattering water through the air.
The enormous figure finally emerged before them.
Everyone gasped.
A Dragonite as tall as a mountain stood before them.
One flap of its wings sent a strong gust over the deck, making everyone’s clothes whip in the wind.
Its thick tail was as large as a pillar, and a single sweep sent ripples across the sea.
Despite its size, Dragonite looked both kind and imposing.
Dragonite lowered its head to look at them.
Its sheer size made the air feel heavy.
Dratini looked tiny beside it, but still raised its head and called out.
Bill stared at Dragonite, his voice trembling with excitement.
“This… this is a miracle! There has never been any record of a Dragonite this enormous!”
Misty gripped Ash’s arm, shocked and amazed by what she was seeing.
“Ash, it…”
Ash took a deep breath, controlled his shock, and stepped forward.
He used his Aura to show Dragonite that he meant no harm.
Dragonite sensed his goodwill, tilted its head, and answered with a low rumble.
Ash closed his eyes and extended his Aura toward Dragonite, trying to form a deeper connection.
A powerful emotion suddenly flooded Ash’s mind.
It was overwhelming loneliness.
Dragonite had wandered the vast ocean alone for years, with no companions and no home.
Ash could clearly feel Dragonite’s pain and longing, and his chest tightened.
“I understand how you feel,” Ash said silently through Aura, trying to comfort Dragonite.
Ash focused and sent Dragonite the coordinates of Dragonite Island through Aura.
It was an island filled with Dragonite, where it could find its own kind, warmth, and companionship.
Dragonite trembled.
At first it seemed confused, then surprised and hopeful.
It had never imagined that a home for it existed somewhere in the vast sea.
Dragonite raised its head and roared, making the lighthouse tremble.
The roar released the emotions Dragonite had suppressed for so long.
Misty and Brock stared at Ash.
They did not know what had passed between him and Dragonite, but Dragonite’s reaction told them something extraordinary had happened.
“Ash, what did you do?” Misty asked.
Ash opened his eyes.
He looked tired, but relieved.
“I told it where Dragonite Island is. I think it’ll go there to be with its own kind.”
Dragonite lowered its head and looked at Ash with gratitude.
Then Dragonite turned to Dratini and opened its mouth.
A multicolored ball of energy shot from Dragonite’s mouth and entered Dratini’s body.
“Dratini!”
Dratini cried out excitedly.
Dratini’s body was surrounded by a brilliant light that forced everyone to look away.
Everyone raised their hands to shield their eyes.
Within the light, Dratini’s body began to change.
Its small body lengthened into a slender form.
When the light faded, everyone saw that Dratini had evolved.
Small feather-like wings had grown on both sides of its head.
They fluttered and stirred a light breeze.
Its body was covered in blue scales except for its white belly, and they reflected the moonlight.
Three blue orbs, one beneath its neck and two at the end of its tail, gleamed in the moonlight.
“That’s Dragonair!” Brock said in wonder.
“Dratini evolved! The energy from Dragonite must have awakened its potential!”
Misty clasped her hands and cheered.
“This is incredible!”
Ash activated the Pokémon Data Scouter.
[Pokémon: Dragonair]
[Gender: Female]
[Type: Dragon]
[Introduction: The Dragon Pokémon and the evolved form of Dratini.
It is said to be a sacred creature surrounded by an aura.
According to legend, it has the power to change the weather.]
[Base Stat Total: 420]
[Ability: Shed Skin.
By shedding its skin, it may sometimes heal status conditions.]
[Hidden Ability: Marvel Scale.
If Dragonair has a status condition, its Defense increases.]
[Current Strength: Late Gym Level]
[Potential: Champion Level]
[Moves: Wrap; Leer; Twister; Thunder Wave; Dragon Tail; Agility; Slam; Aqua Tail; Safeguard; Rest; Sleep Talk; Protect; Rain Dance; Dragon Dance; Extreme Speed; Outrage; Hyper Beam; Ice Beam; Blizzard; Breaking Swipe; Scale Shot; Dragon Pulse; Draco Meteor; Fire Blast; Flamethrower; Fire Spin; Giga Impact; Water Pulse; Surf; Hydro Pump; Sunny Day; Thunderbolt; Thunder]
[Status: Healthy]
Ash felt relieved as he looked at Dragonair.
Ash stepped forward and stroked Dragonair’s head.
“Dragonair!”
Dragonair rubbed its head against his palm and gave a happy cry.
Dragonite nodded to them once more, then turned and flew into the night sky.
Dragonite grew smaller in the distance until it disappeared into the night.
…
By the time dawn spread across the sea, Dragonite had disappeared beyond the horizon.
Ash watched the horizon and hoped Dragonite would find peace and happiness on Dragonite Island.
Bill stood beneath the lighthouse, sad to see them go but hopeful about what lay ahead for Ash, Misty, and Brock.
Bill smiled.
“Thank you, Ash. You and your friends let me witness so many incredible things.”
Ash scratched his head and smiled.
“We should be thanking you, Mr. Bill. Thanks for letting us stay.”
After saying goodbye to Bill, Ash, Misty, and Brock continued their journey.
The morning sunlight stretched their shadows across the ground.
They followed the winding coastline, leaving a trail of footprints in the sand.
Dragonair flew beside them, occasionally lowering its head to nuzzle Ash’s shoulder.
The sea breeze lifted their hair.
Ash, Misty, and Brock gradually disappeared into the distance beneath the rising sun.
Their journey continued.