"Pidgeotto, I choose you!"
Ash sent out his Flying-type, hoping to gain an advantage. The moment Scyther saw the bird Pokémon, it instinctively thought of its golden-feathered teammate. But as it registered the ordinary coloring and "underdeveloped" physique of Ash's Pidgeotto, a flicker of contempt crossed its features.
"Pidgeot! Pidgeot!" Ash's Pidgeotto puffed out its chest, infuriated by the azure warrior's dismissive gesture.
(All temper, no talent,) Scyther seemed to mock.
Ignoring Ash's command, Pidgeotto shot forward in a reckless Quick Attack. Scyther met it with its own, and with the boost from its Technician ability, it easily overpowered the bird, sending it tumbling back.
"Pidgeotto, use Hurricane!" Ash yelled, his gaze fearless.
"Razor Wind."
Scyther gathered the air currents around its blades, then swung forward with incredible force. A single, giant blade of wind shot out, slicing through the Hurricane and striking Pidgeotto from the sky.
"Pidgeotto is unable to battle!"
Now only Bulbasaur and Charmander remained. "Bulbasaur, I choose you!"
The Seed Pokémon appeared, its expression grim. "Use Vine Whip!"
This time, Red gave no command. Scyther didn't even move, allowing the two vines to wrap around its scythe-like arms. Ecstatic, Ash commanded Bulbasaur to follow up with Razor Leaf, and for the first time, Scyther took a direct hit.
"Oh no! It let itself be caught!" Brock guessed. "It's going to pull Bulbasaur in!"
He was right. After giving Ash that single, pitying hit, Scyther yanked hard on the vines, pulling the terrified Bulbasaur directly in front of it. It didn't even have a chance to react before a single Fury Cutter ended the match.
"Bulbasaur is unable to battle!"
"Do you want to give up, Ash?" Red asked calmly.
"No! I won't give up until the very end!" Ash declared, spinning his hat around. "That's what you taught me, big bro! That's my belief! I'm counting on you, Charmander!" He hurled his last Poké Ball.
"Scyther, you can rest." Red recalled his partner and sent out Charmeleon. Ash's Charmander stared up at its powerful, evolved form, its eyes full of longing.
"Is that Charmeleon?!" Ash exclaimed, reaching for his Pokédex.
"Charmeleon, the Flame Pokémon," Red recited from memory, putting away his own device. "It mercilessly defeats opponents with its sharp claws. When it encounters a strong foe, its tail burns with a bluish-white flame. Ash, you should really brush up on your Pokémon knowledge."
"It's just convenient..." Ash mumbled shyly, snapping back into a battle stance.
Charmeleon chuckled, then its expression hardened, locking onto its smaller counterpart. Its powerful aura washed over Ash's Charmander, freezing it in place.
"Charmander, use Flamethrower, quick!" Ash urged.
"Dragon Claw."
Red's Charmeleon opened its mouth and simply inhaled the weak flames. Its claws glowed with a verdant light, and with a single strike, it knocked the smaller Pokémon to the ground.
The match was over. Misty and Brock rushed to comfort Ash, but he just recalled his fainted partner with a weary sigh.
"I'm actually used to this," Ash said, scratching his head. "It's only natural for Big bro to wipe the floor with me."
"Your Pokémon only come out to battle or eat," Red lectured gently. "Strength isn't just gained through combat; proper, daily training is crucial. If you had trained them consistently, you wouldn't have lost so badly."
Ash listened intently, though Red suspected the lesson would be forgotten in a few days. Still, he had to try.
"Alright, let's get you to Bill's place to rest." Red used Teleport, bringing the trio to the lighthouse in an instant.
Worried about his new Krabby, Ash immediately ran to a phone and called Professor Oak's lab. The Professor's face appeared on screen, a large pot of stew simmering behind him. Ash saw the crab-colored broth and fell to his knees in despair, certain his Pokémon had been turned into dinner.
"What are you talking about?! How could I eat a Pokémon!" Oak laughed. "I've taken good care of your Krabby. Besides, it's all skin and bones! Now, the Krabby Gary sent over... that one looks much tastier!"
He angled the camera. In a large tank, Ash's tiny Krabby scuttled next to a colossal one, easily the size of a Kingler. The comparison was crushing. When the Professor added that Gary had already caught forty-five Pokémon, Ash was too flustered to speak.
"Don't worry," Oak consoled him, though his words were little comfort. "Red has only caught six. At least you've sent back one malnourished Krabby!"
"What are you talking about? Red is on the elite route!" Misty interjected venomously. "Ash is just weak and doesn't like to catch Pokémon!"
Later, Brock called everyone to dinner. Seeing the delicious spread, Bill drooled; as a researcher, he mostly survived on instant noodles. The conversation quickly turned to the mysterious giant creature he longed to see. His mythic descriptions fascinated the group, and Ash, full of romantic fantasy, grew even more excited than Bill himself.
Red, however, was quiet. He knew what was coming. His entire training regimen had been in preparation for this: a battle with the Ancient Dragonite.
After dinner, a thick fog enveloped the lighthouse, its light struggling to pierce the gloom. Just as Bill lamented that they wouldn't see it tonight, a solitary, echoing cry came from across the water. Bill excitedly pressed a switch, and the lighthouse responded with the same mournful call.
A colossal shape appeared in the mist, gradually approaching the shore.
To prevent any interruptions, Red had already instructed Scyther to patrol the area. It had found and dealt with Team Rocket, sending them flying with a single Brick Break before they could even launch their attack. Ash heard a faint cry of "What a disgusting feeling!" but dismissed it as his imagination.
"Bill," Red said suddenly, "how do you think a creature that's been alone for centuries will feel when it arrives and finds that the one responding to it isn't one of its own?"
The question made Bill tremble. In his selfish excitement, he hadn't considered the consequences. If he angered this creature, they would not survive.
"Don't worry," Red said, his expression hardening with resolve. "I've been training for this very moment."
"Ancient Dragonite?" Brock asked, confused.
"Dragonite? Indeed, the silhouette is the same," Bill breathed, "but its size..." He looked at Red with dawning comprehension.
Red took out his Pokédex and scanned the creature. A robotic voice filled the room.
"Dragonite, the Sea Guardian Pokémon. Though it is sometimes called the incarnation of destruction, it is a kind-hearted Pokémon that will guide lost ships and drowning people to land."
***********
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