Everyone was busy with their own activities, and the restaurant was bustling.
With a loud clang, the restaurant doors slammed shut.
A moment later, every light went out, plunging the room into darkness.
“What’s going on?” the confused passengers called out.
While everyone was still trying to understand what was happening, a spotlight came on over the center of the restaurant.
As the familiar motto ended, Jessie, James, and Meowth appeared with a large group of Team Rocket Grunts.
The Grunts wore Team Rocket’s black uniforms and smiled smugly, as if victory were already theirs.
Team Rocket’s threat immediately put the restaurant on edge.
The passengers cried out in alarm while their Pokémon called uneasily.
Ash reacted at once.
“Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!”
“Pika-chu!”
Pikachu’s fur stood on end as electricity crackled around its body, filling the restaurant with a sharp buzzing sound.
Bolts of electricity shot toward the Team Rocket Grunts.
The Grunts had not expected Ash to attack so quickly, and they panicked.
Jessie’s eyes widened.
“Dodge!” she screamed.
Jessie, James, and Meowth jumped out of the way.
Several Grunts failed to dodge and were struck by the electricity.
They screamed and collapsed one after another.
“Damn that twerp!” Jessie said through clenched teeth.
Still directing Pikachu, Ash shouted to the passengers, “Don’t be afraid! Send out your Pokémon and teach them a lesson!”
Misty and Brock reacted quickly and sent out their Pokémon.
“Milotic, use Hydro Pump!” Misty shouted.
“Geodude, use Mega Punch!” Brock ordered.
Following Ash, Misty, and Brock’s lead, the passengers sent out their Pokémon and joined the battle against Team Rocket.
For a while, Pokémon attacks filled the restaurant as Trainers shouted commands and Pokémon cried out.
Unable to overcome the resistance, the Team Rocket members abandoned their plan to steal the Pokémon.
They fled toward the restaurant doors in a panic, covering their heads as they ran.
Misty let out a relieved breath.
“We finally drove them off. Seriously, they’re always causing trouble.”
Brock smiled.
“Yes, but everyone was brave. We defeated them by working together.”
The passengers cheered and celebrated their victory.
Their Pokémon cried happily with them.
While everyone was still celebrating Team Rocket’s retreat, the calm sea began to churn.
Dark clouds quickly covered the sky, and fierce winds howled as the S.S.
Anne rocked violently.
Ash sensed the danger.
“This is bad! A storm’s coming!” he shouted.
The raging wind nearly drowned out his voice, but everyone still heard the warning.
The passengers looked terrified, and their joy over defeating Team Rocket vanished.
“Quick! Find the lifeboats!”
Everyone rushed toward the lifeboats in a panic.
Pounding footsteps and frightened cries echoed around them.
“Misty! Brock! Hurry! Follow me!” Ash shouted.
Misty and Brock hurried after him.
“Stay calm! Move toward the lifeboats in an orderly line!” the crew shouted, trying to control the crowd.
But the storm had come so suddenly that the frightened passengers struggled to stay calm.
The waves rose higher and slammed into the hull, making the S.S.
Anne sway dangerously in the wind and waves. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Ash, Misty, and Brock finally reached the lifeboats and found the area in chaos.
Under the crew’s guidance, the passengers gradually calmed down and began boarding the lifeboats in an orderly line.
The storm kept growing stronger.
Wave after wave struck the S.S.
Anne, and it seemed the ship could go under at any moment.
Ash watched the passengers who had not yet boarded the lifeboats and grew more anxious.
He knew they were running out of time and had to move faster.
Just then, a massive wave rose beside the S.S.
Anne.
The ship lurched violently.
The first jolt knocked Misty off balance.
“Misty!” Ash lunged toward her.
The wind howled as the massive wave towered over the ship.
The wave struck with a thunderous boom.
The ship jolted and shook so hard that it seemed ready to break apart.
The impact lifted Misty off the deck and flung her through the air.
Misty tumbled helplessly through the air, terror on her face.
“Ah!”
Ash’s eyes widened.
“Misty!” he shouted, his heart pounding.
Without hesitation, he jumped after her.
The wind roared past Ash as he focused entirely on Misty.
Only one thought remained in his mind.
He had to catch her!
At the last moment, Ash caught Misty in midair and held on tight.
Misty kept her eyes shut until she realized Ash was holding her.
She opened them and saw the worry on his face.
“Ash…” Misty whispered, her voice trembling.
“Don’t be scared. I’m here.” Ash held on to her as he landed back on the deck.
The ship kept shaking while the passengers around them fled in panic.
“We need to get to the lifeboats now!” Ash shouted.
Brock let out a relieved breath when he saw they were safe.
“Ash! Misty! This way!”
Then another huge wave crashed down on the ship.
The S.S.
Anne was about to sink.
Would Ash, Misty, and Brock be able to escape in time?
The wind roared as the massive wave slammed into the S.S.
Anne.
The ship shook violently under the impact, more than its hull could withstand.
It gave a chilling groan as the S.S.
Anne slowly tilted and began sinking toward the ocean floor.
Seawater surged across the deck, flooding it within seconds.
Trapped aboard the sinking ship, Ash, Misty, and Brock were caught off guard.
They rushed back inside and locked the door behind them.
Fortunately, the room was sealed well enough that no water seeped inside.
…
Outside the sealed room, icy seawater rushed through the dark ship.
Inside, the only sounds were the water and the three of them breathing hard.
As the S.S.
Anne sank toward the ocean floor, the hull creaked under the immense water pressure, making the room feel even more suffocating.
Misty clutched Ash’s arm, terrified.
“Ash, what do we do?”
“Don’t panic. We’ll get out of here!” Ash looked around, thinking as fast as he could.
“The whole ship has flipped upside down, so the bottom of the hull is above us. We need to climb up to it, open a hole, and escape through there,” Ash explained, trying to reassure them.
Misty suddenly remembered something.
“I can help. I played with a model of the S.S. Anne when I was little, so I know the way to the bottom of the ship.”
“Good. Misty, lead the way,” Ash said.
Misty took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.
“Follow me,” she said, then turned and walked in one direction.
Ash and Brock followed her.
…
Ash, Misty, and Brock carefully moved through the dark corridors toward the bottom of the overturned ship.
Misty released Goldeen into the water that had entered the corridors and sent it ahead to scout.
Before long, Goldeen came racing back, somehow carrying Jessie, James, and Meowth on its head.
The three were soaked from head to toe, pale, and unconscious.
If Goldeen had found them any later, they might have died.
Ash, Misty, and Brock continued toward the bottom of the ship with Jessie, James, and Meowth in tow.
No one spoke along the way, making the situation awkward.
Deep beneath the sea, they all understood that they had to put their grudges aside and work together if they wanted to escape alive.
…
After a difficult journey, everyone finally reached the bottom of the S.S.
Anne.
The area was dim, and icy seawater continued to surge around them.
The cold was intense, and the hull strained under the pressure outside.
Ash took out a Poké Ball.
Red light flashed, and Charmeleon appeared in front of them.
“Charmeleon, use Flamethrower to open a hole above us.”
Charmeleon opened its mouth and fired a stream of flames at the steel plating in the hull above them.
Under the intense heat, the steel slowly turned red and began to sizzle.
Ash turned to the others.
“Get your Water-type Pokémon ready. Once the hole is open, have them carry us outside.”
“Okay, no problem,” Misty replied.
All of Misty’s Pokémon were Water types, so she had no problem.
Misty lent Brock her Starmie, giving him a way out as well.
Ash had Wartortle, so he was ready too.
Misty planned to use Milotic.
The three of them tied themselves to their Pokémon with ropes and prepared to leave.
Then everyone turned to Jessie, James, and Meowth.
Jessie, James, and Meowth exchanged embarrassed looks.
What about their Pokémon?
Would they really have to rely on the Magikarp James had paid so much for?
Well, this was awkward…
Charmeleon’s flames kept burning through the steel plating above them.
Everyone watched the steel, tense but hopeful as they waited for it to give way.
With a bang, Charmeleon finally burned a large hole through the steel.
Icy seawater rushed inside.
Ash recalled Charmeleon at once.
“Quick! Have the Pokémon take us out!”
Wartortle, Starmie, and Milotic sprang into action.
Wartortle carried Ash, Starmie carried Brock, and Milotic carried Misty toward the opening, one behind the other.
Before leaving, Misty turned back.
“Team Rocket, hurry up and follow us!”
Misty held on as Milotic carried her through the hole.
Jessie, James, and Meowth panicked as they watched Ash, Misty, and Brock make it through the hole.
The three of them pulled on the rope tied to Magikarp.
Magikarp only flopped in place, swinging its tail and splashing water everywhere.
It did not move toward the hole at all…
An awkward silence fell over Jessie, James, and Meowth…