Chapter 25: Dragonite, Here I Come
In the lighthouse's long dining hall, Ash's special "Mom-Style Fried Noodles" received unanimous praise.
Skipping over Dr. Bill's long-winded lecture on Human–Pokémon coexistence, Ash simply stuffed the man's mouth with noodles.
"It's so good… I can't stop myself from crying…"
Bill ate while sobbing.
While feeding Pikachu noodles, Ash explained,
"I added a lot of white pepper to yours."
"Huh? Is this what a mother's cooking tastes like?"
Bill said emotionally.
"No… this is what my mom's cooking tastes like…"
Ash muttered under his breath.
Sorrel and Verity praised Ash's cooking again.
"Even though Sorrel can cook, Ash's is still way better!"
Verity gave a thumbs up.
"Mhm. I agree."
Sorrel nodded.
"Haha, maybe because I had a great teacher."
Ash smiled with squinted eyes.
After the meal, unable to wait any longer, Bill dragged Ash up to the lighthouse's lookout platform.
Sorrel and Verity had nothing better to do, so they followed as well.
"Now you can tell me, right? That giant Pokémon—what exactly is it?! Do you know how much I've wanted to see it again? I literally dream about it!"
Bill flailed excitedly.
"It's actually connected to a mysterious place in Kanto."
Ash's gaze turned distant, fixed on the horizon.
"In Kanto, there's an island surrounded by whirlpools. It's home to the Dragonite clan.
Almost no one knows about it—not even the Dragon-tamer families.
That's because the whirlpools there are created by Pokémon."
"There's something like that?!"
Sorrel's eyes widened in amazement.
"Subarashii! I'd love to see it with my own eyes!"
"You're saying… that mysterious Pokémon… was a Dragonite?"
Bill was stunned.
"No, wait—the height, the sheer size—it was far beyond what a Dragonite should be capable of growing into!"
"Have you ever seen an ancient Pokémon?"
Ash suddenly asked.
"That… I haven't."
Bill shook his head.
"Except for long-lived legendary Pokémon, most species can't survive that long.
But there are exceptions. I remember that some ruins once revealed giant ancient Jigglypuff, Alakazam, and Gengar."
Ash said calmly.
"Most ancient Pokémon were enormous. I think modern Pokémon evolved into smaller forms for survival reasons."
"This is incredible information… As expected of someone from Professor Oak's hometown!"
Sorrel said with emotional admiration.
Verity twitched her lips:
How does he connect literally anything back to that…?
"So that silhouette was probably an ancient giant Dragonite!"
Bill guessed.
"Exactly."
Ash nodded.
"My guess is it swims along the coastline, searching for lost or isolated Dragonite to bring them back to the Dragonite sanctuary.
If you keep waiting, you might get to see it again very soon."
Bill's eyes welled up.
"Really? I… I'm so excited…"
Below the lighthouse, three buffoons grinned maliciously.
"Hehehe… We're excited too."
Jessie said, stroking her chin.
"Nyahaha! If Team Rocket catches a whole bunch of Dragonite and gives them to the boss, we'll definitely get promoted!"
Meowth snickered.
Below them, James clung to Jessie and Meowth's legs.
"Can you two not discuss plans while hanging off a cliff?! I can't hold on…!"
"Hey! Don't pull me!"
"Help, meow!"
The three lost balance and fell straight into the ocean.
"What a terrible feeling—!"
Splash—
…
After Ash cleared up Bill's confusion, Sorrel and Verity returned to their rooms to sleep.
Ash wrapped himself in a blanket and stayed on the lookout, lost in thought.
"Pika? Pikachu pika?"
Pikachu patted his shoulder, unsure what Ash was thinking.
"Pikachu… do you think Dragonite misses me?"
Ash suddenly asked with no context.
"Pika?"
Pikachu tilted its head. We don't have a Dragonite, do we???
"Well… think of it as me sleep-talking.
Imagine there's a Dragonite who loves cuddling with you, with a big goofy smile.
A coward, but brave enough to soar into the sky for our sake and fight fierce enemies.
If we never go find him… wouldn't that be kind of sad?"
Ash tightened the blanket and pulled Pikachu into his arms.
"Pika! Pika pika chu!!"
Pikachu waved its arms, saying something passionately.
Ash looked down as a soft blue glow appeared beside him—Aura energy awakening.
"Of course we should go find him! I miss cuddling with him too!"
Pikachu's voice entered Ash's mind.
"You're right!"
Ash nodded firmly.
No pokemon likes wandering alone.
The one they missed, and the one they will reunite with—they were all his pokemon. He shouldn't favor one over another.
"Then let's wait here. When that giant Dragonite arrives, we'll ask it to take us to the island."
Ash said with resolve.
"Pika!"
Pikachu nodded seriously, eyes shining with anticipation.
No one knew how much time had passed…
Leaning on each other, Ash and Pikachu fell asleep on the lookout.
A long, resonant cry echoed from afar—
A massive silhouette appeared through the white fog spreading across the sea.
BAM!
The lookout door burst open.
Bill, wearing a sleeping cap, rushed in.
"It's here! Is it here?!"
He stared toward the horizon anxiously.
Ash nodded.
"That silhouette—no doubt. It's the giant Dragonite."
"I knew it would return!!"
Bill spun around and dashed back into the lighthouse's broadcast room.
He found the speaker system and slammed the button—
"Oooooh—!"
A call identical to the giant Dragonite's voice rang out.
Ash closed his eyes, lifting his head on the lookout.
"It's saying: 'I want to see you—I miss you so much.'"
"Great minds think alike! I thought so too!"
Bill ran back, trembling with excitement.
Waves crashed against the shore as the giant shadow drew closer and closer.
"Hey… I'm getting a little nervous."
Bill whispered.
"No worries. I'll handle communication."
Ash smiled.
Two and a half years of Aura training—time to show his stuff.
With a soft whoosh, the giant head cut through the fog—
A Dragonite's enormous face appeared before them.
Bill's breath practically stopped. He didn't dare make a sound.
Ash placed his right hand over his heart and bowed his head.
Aura… be with me…
Hum—
A gentle blue glow expanded around him, radiating out toward the Dragonite's eyes.
"Hm?"
The Dragonite froze.
Because memories—Ash's memories—appeared inside its mind.
Aura could project one's memories from a first-person perspective.
The images showed Ash and a mosaic blob nearly drowning at sea…
Then arriving at the Dragonite sanctuary.
A goofy, flightless Dragonair who evolved into Dragonite just to save Ash.
Then—
Them lifting the World Champion trophy together.
The ancient Dragonite couldn't help nodding slightly.
There is light in this child's eyes… he is happy.
When the aura faded, the giant Dragonite's eyes were sparkling.
Despite everything it had been through—its gaze was still pure.
Two enormous claws gently lowered before Ash and Bill.
"What's it doing?"
Bill asked, confused.
Holding Pikachu, Ash jumped onto Dragonite's palm with a smile.
"It's inviting us to its home. Dr. Bill, are you coming?"
Bill's eyes lit up.
"I'm going!!"—
He immediately vaulted over the railing.
His foot slipped—
And he fell straight toward the base of the tower.
"Holy—!!"
Ash broke into a cold sweat—
Thank goodness Dragonite caught him midair.
Letting out two joyful roars—like a distant ship horn calling its fleet home—
The giant Dragonite carried Ash and Bill, turning toward the deep sea.
To be continued…
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〔TL〕
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