Chapter 24: The Lighthouse and Bill
After capturing Krabby, Ash no longer felt like fishing.
He put away his rod, found Verity in the crowd with Sorrel, and the three continued walking along the coastline.
The warm sunset spilled across the golden beach, the seashore glowing beautifully in the fading light.
However… none of the three were in the mood to appreciate it.
Standing before the lighthouse—which looked more like an ancient castle—Verity and Sorrel hesitated.
"Dr. Bill is one of the brightest young researchers… Going to him so suddenly like this… will he really let us in?"
Sorrel asked nervously.
"Yeah… Ash, are you sure about this?"
Verity shrank back, whispering.
Ash smiled confidently.
"Relax. I've brought him a gift he won't be able to refuse."
He swaggered forward and rang the lighthouse's doorbell.
"Hello? Who is it?"
After a brief moment, Bill's voice sounded through the intercom speaker.
Ash cleared his throat.
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town—"
"Don't know you. *Click*"
He hung up.
Sorrel and Verity stared at Ash like they were watching a comedy show.
Ash's cheeks flushed red.
BANG BANG BANG!
He slapped the doorbell furiously.
"Can you at least let me finish talking, you jerk?!"
"…What else do you want?"
Thankfully, Bill picked up again.
Ash didn't waste breath this time.
Straight to the point:
"We want to stay for the night. In return, I'll cook your favorite fried noodles.
And besides that… I can tell you information about the mysterious giant Pokémon."
"What?!"
A loud series of noises erupted on the other end.
"Ah shoot—this costume won't come off—can't reach the button—this is bad—!"
[TL: Lmao that's from the game.]
Fortunately, Bill didn't make them wait too long.
The door finally opened.
"Let's go. Sounds like Dr. Bill might need a little help."
Ash shrugged, smiling, and walked in.
Sorrel and Verity nodded obediently and followed him through the doorway.
"Excuse me! I'll be borrowing the kitchen and the phone."
Ash called out the moment he entered.
"The kitchen's in the living room corner, and the phone's on the table to the right."
Bill shouted back from somewhere far inside.
"Oh—okay."
Ash nodded casually.
"Come on, let's call first."
"But, Dr. Bill is still waiting for us…"
Sorrel hesitated for three seconds.
"I need to call Professor Oak first."
Ash replied calmly.
Instant attitude change—
"Actually… Dr. Bill can wait a little."
Sorrel immediately agreed.
Verity nodded.
"Looks like Professor Oak really is more important in Sorrel's heart."
Ash chuckled softly and led them to the table on the right.
On it sat a telephone shaped like a Bellsprout.
Ash didn't even bother commenting on Bill's bizarre tastes—he simply picked it up and dialed Professor Oak.
Ring… Ring… Ring… Beep!
The call connected—
Gururururu——
A bubbling hotpot sat over an alcohol burner.
Ash and the others all broke into cold sweat.
"Professor Oak… my Krabby… you didn't boil it, right?"
Ash asked with a strained tone.
"Hoho~"
After eating a piece of tofu, Professor Oak exhaled with satisfaction.
"Haaah, delicious… Ash, how are you?"
"Oh? And these two are…?"
He turned the camera and finally noticed Ash wasn't alone.
"This is Verity, and this is Sorrel—my new travel companions."
Ash introduced warmly.
"Professor, Sorrel is your little fanboy. He admires you a lot."
"Ah uh—P-Professor—hello! It's—it's such an honor to meet you!"
Sorrel blushed bright red, stumbling over his words.
"Oh hoho, friends of Ash, hm? Nice to meet you."
Professor Oak nodded pleasantly, then recited lightly:
"For tomorrow—charging straight ahead—give it your all, Krabby~"
"Wow! That's a senryu poem, right?"
Verity's eyes sparkled.
"I didn't know Professor Oak was a poet!"
[TL: A senryū is a Japanese poetic form similar to a haiku, but it focuses on human nature and everyday life, often with a cynical, ironic, or darkly humorous tone.
That's what she said..I mean google.]
Ash had a black line on his forehead.
"Just how obsessed is Sinnoh with senryu…?"
In other regions, Professor Oak = legendary scholar.
In Sinnoh, Professor Oak = senryu poet.
Unbelievable…
"Right, Professor Oak, about my Krabby… please raise it well for me.
It's a bit small, and kind of cranky, but it's a good kid."
Ash brought the topic back to the important part.
"Oh, your Krabby?"
Oak smiled and pulled a small water tank into view—inside was Krabby, bubbling peacefully.
"See? I'm raising it just fine. I added calcium powder and protein supplements.
It's a bit malnourished, but nothing I can't handle.
Watch me fatten it up nicely."
He said proudly.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Professor~"
Ash nodded, relieved.
Sorrel rushed to flatter him:
"So reliable! As expected of Professor Oak!"
Meanwhile… Dr. Bill was lying motionless inside a big Kabuto cosplay suit, muttering desperately:
"Someone help me… anyone… please…"
After updating Professor Oak on his progress, Ash finally hung up.
Bill's eyes lit up—thinking they'd finally come to rescue him—
But Ash picked up the phone again.
"Next, I'll call my mom."
Bill: (／_＼) Ultimate suffering…
After introducing his new travel partners to his mother and listening to a long lecture about taking care of himself, thirty minutes had passed by the time Ash hung up.
"Alright, time to cook."
Ash clapped his hands.
"Um… Aren't we forgetting something?"
Verity scratched her head.
"ME! You forgot ME!!"
Bill screamed miserably through the surveillance speaker.
"Oh right! We haven't greeted the host yet."
Sorrel slapped his forehead.
"Dr. Bill, where are you? Please show yourself."
Ash called out cheerfully.
"You three, walk forward!"
Bill commanded helplessly.
They reached the innermost chamber of the lighthouse—
A spotlight switched on high above.
"Everyone, welcome to my lighthouse!"
A giant Kabuto spoke.
"HOLY— Dr. Bill mutated?!"
Sorrel jumped back in shock.
"No! It's a cosplay suit!"
Bill protested.
"I transform into Pokémon to understand their thoughts and feelings.
It's a very serious research method—NOT playing around!"
[TL: Considering he became a LITERAL pokemon in the manga and the games..well idk what to say about that.]
"Ohh~"
The three nodded in unison—but their expressions clearly said "We don't believe you at all."
"Ahem… anyway, please help me out—I'm stuck!"
Bill said helplessly.
"Man… just that? Should've said so earlier…"
Ash chuckled and stepped forward, reaching under the Kabuto suit's ribs and pressing a button.
Psshh—
Hydraulics hissed as the suit opened.
Bill emerged—dressed in elaborate clothes, young and handsome.
"Everyone, welcome to my lighthouse.
Allow me to reintroduce myself—I am Dr. Bill."
He spread his arms elegantly and bowed.
To be continued…
<><><><>
〔TL〕
Every 100 powerstones = 2 bonus ch.
Every 2 review after 100 ps = 1 bonus ch.