With their Pokémon swimming as hard as they could, Ash, Misty, and Brock finally reached the surface.
Sunlight fell across them, and for the first time in what felt like forever, they were warm again.
Ash wiped the seawater from his face and took a deep breath.
He looked across the sparkling sea, relieved that they had survived.
“We finally made it out!” he shouted.
Misty and Brock smiled with relief.
Then Ash, Misty, and Brock searched the area for anything they could use.
They found pieces of driftwood floating nearby and worked together to build a simple raft.
Once the raft was finished, they sat on it as it rocked gently with the waves.
Misty looked around and frowned when she saw no sign of Team Rocket.
“Team Rocket didn’t make it out.”
“Let’s not worry about them right now. We don’t even know where we are,” Ash said.
Then he took out Pidgeotto’s Poké Ball.
“Pidgeotto, search for any sign of land.”
With a flash of white light, Pidgeotto appeared in front of them.
Pidgeotto flapped its wings, soared into the sky, and flew off into the distance.
Pidgeotto flew over the sea, scanning the water below with its sharp eyes.
Pidgeotto soon spotted three figures struggling in the water nearby.
When it flew closer, it recognized the Team Rocket trio: Jessie, James, and Meowth.
The trio had lost all of their usual arrogance.
Their faces were pale, their lips had turned purple, and they could barely keep themselves afloat in the icy water.
Pidgeotto hesitated.
Remembering Ash’s kindness and what he had taught it, Pidgeotto decided to help the trio before continuing its search and carried them toward the raft.
…
Before long, Pidgeotto brought them back to the raft.
Ash, Misty, and Brock were surprised to see that Pidgeotto had rescued Jessie, James, and Meowth.
“You’re actually still alive,” Misty said.
Jessie looked conflicted.
“It’s all thanks to Pidgeotto.”
Ash gave Pidgeotto a satisfied smile and stroked its head.
“Good job, Pidgeotto.”
Jessie, James, and Meowth climbed onto the raft, collapsed, and gasped for breath.
Meanwhile, James’s Magikarp was still flopping around.
…
The makeshift raft drifted unsteadily across the open sea.
After a long time without food, everyone’s stomach began to growl, one after another. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
Grumble…
The sound carried clearly across the quiet sea.
Everyone looked at one another helplessly.
Meowth’s eyes turned red with hunger.
“Ah! I can’t take it anymore!” he shouted, then pounced on James’s Magikarp.
He opened his mouth and bit down on Magikarp.
A sharp crack rang out.
Magikarp’s scales were so hard that they knocked out Meowth’s teeth.
“Meow!”
Meowth let go and screamed as he jumped around the raft in pain.
“Give it up. Magikarp is nothing but scales and bones,” Misty told him.
“This fish can’t do anything but flop around, and we can’t even eat it! I don’t want you anymore! Get out of here!” James had finally lost patience, overwhelmed by hunger and disappointment.
He raised his foot to kick Magikarp away.
“I hate you!”
“Wait!” Ash shouted.
James stopped.
“What?” he asked impatiently.
“If you don’t want it, then release it without hurting it,” Ash said.
“You don’t have to like Magikarp, but be gentle with it.”
Ash was afraid James would kick Magikarp and trigger its evolution, just as he had in the original story.
If that happened, everyone on the raft would be in trouble.
A Gyarados was extremely fierce.
It might be manageable on land, but fighting one in the middle of the sea would be far more dangerous.
James froze when he heard Ash.
Much of his anger faded.
James looked at Magikarp flopping on the raft and felt guilty.
After hesitating, James followed Ash’s advice and gently pushed Magikarp into the sea with both hands.
Magikarp stayed still for a moment after entering the water.
Then it swished its tail and happily swam away, gradually disappearing from sight.
“Phew. Disaster avoided,” Ash thought as the tension left his face.
They quickly returned to the raft and circled overhead.
Ash’s face lit up when he saw them.
“Looks like they found land!”
“Quick, let’s row toward the island!” Ash shouted.
He picked up a crude paddle from the raft and began rowing.
The others followed his example.
Working together, they quickly rowed the raft toward the island.
As the raft drew closer, the island’s dense vegetation and towering mountains came into view.
“We can finally go ashore. I can’t stand being stuck on this raft any longer,” Jessie said as she stretched.
James nodded.
“Yeah. I hope there’s something good to eat on the island. I’m starving.”
Ash sat on the raft and watched as they approached the island.
Ash closed his eyes, focused, and used his Aura to sense the island.
As his Aura spread across the island, images began forming in his mind.
Now he was certain.
This was the island with the giant mechanical Pokémon.
They had come to the right place.
…
As soon as everyone reached the island, Jessie, James, and Meowth bolted.
Jessie looked back as she ran and shouted, “Twerp, we’ll thank you just this once!”
James shouted, “Next time, we’re definitely stealing Pikachu!”
Meowth yelled as he ran beside them, “That’s right!”
Ash watched them run away and shook his head.
Misty planted her hands on her hips and scowled after them.
“Hmph. Who needs their thanks? If I catch them causing trouble again, I won’t let them get away with it.”
Brock said, “For now, we need to take care of ourselves and find food and water.”
Ash nodded.
“Exactly. Let’s go.”