Lapras, firing on all cylinders, quickly caught up to Dragonair.
"Dragonair, did something happen?"
Ash immediately asked when he drew alongside it.
""Dragonair""
"I see. I understand now!" Ash's face grew serious after hearing Dragonair's explanation.
Koharu was utterly lost.
Wait—Dragonair said something? And you actually understood it?!
[Jessie: Meowth says Dragonair's friend is in danger—it's rushing to help.]
[Bruno: Ah, that explains why Ash looked so grim.]
[Lorelei: Grim? Out on the stormy sea, what else kind of face would you expect him to make?]
[Lance: Lorelei, what's wrong with you? With that temper, you'll never get married.]
CRACK!
The cup in Lorelei's hand shattered.
"Lance… just you wait! Saying I'll never get married? Fine! Then you'll never win another Championship! I'll nail your name onto the pillar of shame for Flying-type Trainers forever!"
[Lucian: Hold on… how can Ash understand Dragonair anyway? Don't tell me he's secretly psychic.]
[Sabrina: Ash is not a psychic.]
[Lucian: Strange. Then what, he was just born able to understand Pokémon?]
[Koga: There is another way—Aura. But aside from the legendary Aura Guardians, I've never heard of a human who could wield it.]
The audience: Hisss~
For real?!
Don't tell me Ash not only knows Dragon Dance but also Aura?
Confirmed! Ash must actually be… a Pokémon!
On screen—
Led by Dragonair, Lapras sped across the waves.
Soon, four figures appeared on the sea, draped in ragged blankets, looking like shipwreck survivors.
But after years of dealing with Team Rocket, Ash recognized them instantly.
This time, though, Team Rocket didn't look very bright.
Beside them was a Dragonite, lured and captured.
"Team Rocket—it's you again!" Ash demanded, soul-deep in exasperation.
As always, the moment he called them out, the trio switched on like machines:
"If you insist on asking sincerely…"
"…Then we'll gladly tell you…"
And so on.
After their passionate motto, the three stared at each other awkwardly.
They had spotted Ash at the harbor earlier and tailed him, planning to snatch Pikachu. But the storm had cut them off from Dragonite Island. By chance, Dragonite mistook them for castaways—and of course, they tried to capture it.
Now exposed, Team Rocket brought out their capsule machine and summoned Wailord.
The battle broke out instantly. Under Ash's command, Pikachu freed Dragonite.
But disaster struck—Wailord's thrashing created a massive tsunami.
Ash and Koharu were blasted high into the air.
"Dragonite, forget about me—save Koharu first!"
Dragonite dove and caught Koharu.
Dragonair tried desperately to hold onto Ash—but its body was too slick, and he slipped away.
Dragonair could only watch in horror as Ash plummeted toward the sea.
At that moment, Dragonair understood something.
Even though Milotic resembled its evolution far more, Dragonair still evolved into Dragonite.
Because… it needed arms—arms strong enough to protect the most important person!
Brilliant light enveloped Dragonair.
It evolved!
The newly born Dragonite swooped down, orange wings beating powerfully, and caught Ash tightly in its embrace.
A bond was forged. Ash and Dragonite—destined partners!
Meanwhile, the other Dragonite safely set Koharu back on Lapras, then blasted Team Rocket skyward with a Hyper Beam.
And just like that, Dragonair, now Dragonite, rightfully became Ash's Pokémon.
It was his third pseudo-legendary, after Garchomp and Goodra!
[Domino: You three… are you sure you're not double agents? Instead of completing the mission, you wasted funds, triggered Dragonair's evolution, and handed Ash a Dragonite?]
[James: Admin, let us explain! We'd never betray Team Rocket!]
[Lance: Fascinating. I didn't expect traitors in Team Rocket. Interested in joining the League? Full benefits, weekends off, year-end bonuses.]
[Jessie: Really?!]
[Domino: ???]
Wait… are you seriously considering treason?
Team Rocket's trio was… tempted.
Benefits. Weekends off. Bonuses.
How could anyone say no?
"Should we… actually switch sides?" Jessie murmured.
"Don't joke! Think about Boss Giovanni!" James snapped.
The three imagined Giovanni's face.
They shuddered in unison.
Nope—life mattered more. They'd never betray Team Rocket!
On screen—
After happily blasting off Team Rocket, Ash and Koharu returned to Vermilion City.
At the harbor, Ash pulled out a Poké Ball he had long treasured and recalled Lapras into it.
"From now on, we'll never be apart again."
As if it felt Ash's emotions, the Poké Ball trembled gently in response.
Back at Professor Cerise's lab, Koharu uploaded her collected data.
Cerise was thrilled—Dragonite Island was real!
But once he finished reading… he quietly destroyed all the files.
Human greed would doom the Dragonite. If the island's location were exposed, schemes like Team Rocket's would repeat endlessly. Worse might even follow.
Better to let Dragonite live freely, untouched.
So he erased all traces of Dragonite Island—except for one photograph: Ash, Koharu, and Pikachu smiling together on the island.
[Professor Kukui: I fully agree. It's best the Dragonite live in peace.]
[Lance: Don't worry. The Dragon Masters will guard Dragonite Island forever.]
[Gary: Gramps! I want a Dragonite too!]
[Professor Oak: Want one? Then go catch it yourself!]
[Gary: But I'm your actual grandson!]
On screen—
Ash released Dragonite and introduced it to Scorbunny, his new partner from Galar.
Facing a pseudo-legendary, Scorbunny showed not a trace of fear.
'So you're the new disciple of our master?' Dragonite asked.
'What's a disciple?'
'Doesn't matter. From now on, call me Senior Sister!'
'What's a Senior Sister?'
'Also it doesn't matter. Stick with me—you'll eat the best food, live the good life!'
'But… I prefer sweets~'
Watching the new recruits chatter away, Pikachu sighed and shrugged.
They still didn't get it.
He was Ash's one and only true partner.
As long as Pikachu was here, the others would always be juniors.
Ash x Pikachu—eternal.
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