Ash and the other two, who had successfully escaped, used the remaining wooden planks to build a crude raft. At this moment, they were searching for the separated Red and Leaf.
"Don't worry, Ash. Red will absolutely be fine!" Brock comforted the uneasy Ash. Although Ash knew that with his brother's strength nothing bad would happen, being separated in such a dire situation inevitably gave rise to a trace of dark thoughts.
"So where should we go now?" Ash looked around. There was nothing but open sea in every direction, not even a hint of an island within sight.
"In ancient times, there was a man named Noah. He found land because he saw a dove bring back a branch!" Brock suggested.
"That's a great idea! I'll do the same!" Ash took out Pidgeotto's Poké Ball. "I'm counting on you, Pidgeotto!"
Hearing Ash's command, Pidgeotto quickly flew into the sky to search for signs of nearby islands. During the search, it unexpectedly caught sight of a Magikarp flopping on the sea's surface, with the Team Rocket trio tied behind it.
Pidgeotto broke out in a cold sweat, secretly lamenting Team Rocket's fate, believing the trio had already passed away.
Moments later, Ash and the others hauled Team Rocket and Magikarp onto the raft. Seeing them completely motionless, they too mistakenly believed Team Rocket had left this world. Though their relationship had never been harmonious, they had, after all, fought their way out together.
Just as Ash and the others pushed Team Rocket toward the sea, preparing to give them a burial at sea, the previously motionless trio suddenly sprang up, glaring furiously at Ash and his friends. Meowth, who had been leaning on James's back, fell straight into the sea when James shot up.
"Zombies!" Ash and the others cried in fear.
"We're not dead yet!" Jessie snapped angrily.
"Water! Water! I'm afraid of water! Help!" Meowth flailed desperately on the surface. Pikachu stared at the "lively and energetic" Meowth with a look of curiosity. Fortunately, Meowth's will to survive overrode his instincts, and he managed to scramble back onto the raft.
...
Meanwhile, on Red's side.
"Achoo!"
Leaf couldn't help sneezing, her body trembling. Although Red used his psychic power to shield them from the seawater, Leaf had unfortunately fallen off the crimson Gyarados and been soaked again. Coupled with the panic during their escape, it was no surprise she caught a slight cold.
"Caught a cold? I'll get you some medicine." Red turned and rummaged through his backpack. Leaf stood quietly beside him, head lowered, her mind drifting elsewhere.
(What do I do… not only is my first kiss gone… I even… with Red… that's too embarrassing!)
The more she thought about it, the redder her face became, even the tips of her ears flushing. Red mistook it for her cold worsening.
"Um… Red, was that your first… first kiss just now?" Leaf asked softly. If not for Red's sharp hearing, he might not have caught her words.
"No." Red replied calmly.
Leaf felt as if her defenses shattered on the spot. She hadn't expected that Red's first kiss was already gone.
"Then who did you give your first kiss to?!" Leaf demanded, suddenly brimming with energy as she anxiously tugged at his clothes.
"Some idiot stole it." Red answered indifferently, as if it were nothing. But Leaf noticed a trace of awkwardness on his face, as though it hadn't been voluntary.
Feeling uncomfortable with his soaked gloves, Red simply removed them, wrung them dry, and carefully tucked them into his pocket. Leaf caught every detail.
"Red, were those gloves a gift from her?" Leaf probed.
"Yeah. That idiot thought my daily training was too rough on my hands, so she gave me this pair. To keep them from wearing out, she sends me a new pair every year. Over time, I just got used to wearing them."
The corner of Red's lips curved upward slightly, his eyes carrying a faint trace of nostalgia. Though he called her an idiot, there was a subtle smile lingering there.
"I'll test the water temperature first…"
After taking a small sip from the cup and deciding the temperature was about right, Red handed the cup and cold medicine to Leaf, signaling her to take it quickly. Leaf quietly turned her back to him. Though disappointed that Red's first kiss wasn't his anymore, her gaze lingered on the spot where his lips had touched the cup.
(No, no! Leaf, how can you betray Red's concern like this!)
She struggled inwardly. If she deliberately drank from the same spot, Red might misunderstand. But such a rare opportunity… she didn't want to let it slip away.
"What's wrong? Is it still too hot?" Red asked, puzzled, reaching to take the cup.
"No!" Leaf blurted, clutching it as if he were trying to snatch her treasure. The sudden reaction left Red stunned for a moment before he urged her again to take the medicine.
With a solemn expression, Leaf swallowed the cold medicine. She "carefully" rotated the rim of the cup to the exact spot Red had just used and lowered her head, as if savoring something precious.
(Leaf, you really have no shame!)
Unbeknownst to Red, she shared an indirect kiss with him. Her face flushed instantly, leaving Red bewildered. He even thought she might have a fever, but before he could ask, she firmly refused his help, afraid he would notice anything strange.
The next day
Waking from their sleep, the exhausting escape left Ash and the others utterly drained. If not for the pangs of hunger forcing them awake, they might have slept until afternoon.
On the raft were not only Ash and his companions, but also Team Rocket and Magikarp.
Aside from Magikarp still flopping energetically, both Ash's group and Team Rocket looked utterly famished and dejected, pondering how to find food.
"I'm so hungry…" Ash groaned.
"Yeah, I don't know how long it's been since we ate…" Brock echoed.
"If I'd known this would happen, I would've stuffed myself at the S.S. Anne party!" Misty complained regretfully.
Team Rocket also regretted acting too soon without filling their stomachs first. Not only had their plan failed and nearly left them unable to escape, but now they couldn't even secure a simple full meal.
At this moment, the Magikarp flopping on the plank became everyone's potential food source. Except for Misty, who understood Water-type Pokémon well, the rest saw Magikarp as food. They didn't know that Magikarp's body was nothing but scales and bones, with barely any edible flesh.
Unable to endure hunger any longer, Meowth rushed forward, clamping down on Magikarp with his sharp teeth—only to have them shattered by its hard scales. He retreated to a corner in tears.
"This fish can't even serve the purpose of being eaten!" James grumbled.
"That's because you were fooled!" Jessie mocked.
"I don't want you anymore! Get lost!" Furious, James kicked Magikarp into the sea and added one final blow, "I hate you!"
"I think it's kind of pitiful…" Misty murmured sympathetically.
James's actions seared into Magikarp's heart. It didn't understand why it had struggled with all its strength to save them, only to receive no praise—just to be treated as food and then kicked away by the one who despised it.
Its grievance quickly turned into fury. Magikarp's eyes grew fierce as it shook violently, trying to unleash the violence within.
Before everyone's astonished gaze, Magikarp's body burst into white light. Then its form expanded dramatically, and a ferocious Gyarados with savage eyes appeared before them, murderous intent locking onto James.
"It evolved!" Brock exclaimed in shock.
"It must've evolved out of anger!" Misty explained.
"I—I'm your Trainer! You have to obey me!" James shouted, only to be knocked flat by Gyarados's roar. He tried to take out a Poké Ball to recall it, but realized the sea had already washed it away.
"Goldeen! Staryu! Starmie!"
Misty sent out three Water-type Pokémon at once. Just as Brock thought she was about to battle Gyarados head-on, she shouted, "Run!" The three Pokémon tied the raft's ropes to themselves and raced against Gyarados in speed, while everyone on board paddled desperately.
After several minutes of pursuit, Gyarados suddenly "gave up." The exhausted group stopped to observe what it intended to do.
Ash and Brock guessed it might be because Gyarados had just evolved and lacked stamina. Only Misty looked grave, staring at the roaring Gyarados as if foreseeing something terrible.
Gyarados's roar summoned four wild Gyarados nearby. The five Gyarados locked their furious gazes onto Ash and the others, circling together to stir the waters.
Together, the five Gyarados unleashed Dragon Rage, creating a massive waterspout so tall it blocked their vision.
Before Ash and the others could react, the terrifying waterspout swallowed them whole.