The night view along the beach was mesmerizing. The lighthouse's beam danced across the waves, glimmering against the endless sea, accompanied by the rhythmic crash of surf and the cool, salty breeze—it was a sight that could make anyone lose themselves in its beauty.
At the top of the lighthouse, Hayato and Bill sat side by side, enjoying seafood while waiting for "Big Fatty" to appear. Between bites, they laughed and chatted, basking in the serene night.
"Brother Bill, do you think that Pokémon will really show up tonight?" Hayato asked curiously.
Bill gazed toward the horizon, where sea met sky, and smiled brightly. "I see it almost every night. But that fellow doesn't seem too interested in me yet. All I can do is watch quietly. Still, if I keep this up, maybe—just maybe—it'll start to trust me one day."
Compared to the more straightforward approach of trying to capture it outright, Bill's method was certainly slower and far more patient. But with a Pokémon like that, perhaps patience wasn't a waste—if he could gain its approval, the reward would be immense.
The moonlit night was beautiful, but the weather over the sea was fickle. Moments ago, the moon had shone brightly; now, thick clouds had swallowed it whole.
"What a shame! Looks like it's going to rain. I guess it won't come tonight," Hayato sighed.
Bill shook his head confidently. "No, it'll come. Rain is common around here—and that creature seems to love the rain."
Far out on a dark reef, Team Rocket lay in wait.
James peered through binoculars, his eyes gleaming. "They say it's an incredibly powerful Pokémon! If we catch it and present it to Boss Giovanni, we'll be swimming in glory in no time!"
Jessie grinned widely. "And when that happens, we'll have our own underlings! Imagine it, James—an army of followers chanting our names! Meowth, are you sure this machine of yours is reliable? I'm not in the mood to become shark food tonight."
Meowth puffed out his chest proudly. "Relax! My machine works both on land and sea. As long as we don't get zapped by an Electric-type like Pikachu, nothing can go wrong! Once we offer that Pokémon to Boss Giovanni, he'll keep me by his side for sure! Jessie, James—let's do our best!"
James frowned slightly. "Come on, Meowth. Isn't sticking with us good enough? You'd better forget about that idea. That big cat by Giovanni's side won't ever let you near him."
Just the mention of that powerful Persian made Meowth wilt instantly. "You're right… that guy is terrifying. But if the Boss is willing, he could send it away anytime!"
Suddenly, a massive shadow appeared in James's binoculars. He rubbed his eyes, then looked again.
"There it is! But it's… huge! Maybe we should, uh, forget about this whole thing…"
Jessie snatched the binoculars, squinting. "You're kidding me—that's enormous! Meowth, I suddenly don't trust your machine at all!"
"What's there to be scared of? Worst case, we get blasted into the sky again—it's not like it's our first time!"
Jessie and James exchanged a resigned look. She sighed, "He's got a point…"
As the enormous figure moved closer, the sea began to churn. The waves rose and fell violently, rolling toward the shore. Then, suddenly, the creature stopped—hovering just offshore, gazing silently at the lighthouse as though hesitant to approach.
Inside the lighthouse, Hayato's eyes widened. At last, he saw the Pokémon Bill had described. Compared to his imagination, the real thing was far more awe-inspiring.
"That's a Dragonite, isn't it? Wait, are they really that big? Or am I just seeing things because of the light?"
Bill frowned thoughtfully. "Dragonite? You're saying that just from its outline? You can't even see its face clearly."
"I'm pretty sure of it. Didn't Professor Oak have one when he was younger?"
Bill adjusted his glasses and nodded slightly. "Now that you mention it, yes. That was back during the first Pokémon League Conference, wasn't it? He won the championship with it! But this one… this one's far bigger than any Dragonite I've ever heard of."
Out at sea, Team Rocket's machine roared across the waves—it was time to strike.
Jessie pumped her fist. "Let's go, Meowth! Once we pull this off, we'll be living the high life!"
James grinned eagerly. "Jessie's right! A brighter tomorrow awaits! I can already see us defeating that thing and basking in glory!"
Catching such a Pokémon with ordinary methods was impossible—but with Meowth's invention, perhaps technology could make up the difference. The contraption was packed with weapons, including a powerful electric generator designed specifically to deal with Water-types.
Meowth smirked. "This'll be easy! My high-voltage system can take down any Water-type in a single hit! Get ready, big guy—time to meet your doom!"
The machine closed in fast. Brilliant arcs of electricity surged from its mechanical arms, lashing out toward the towering figure above the sea.
Dragonite didn't even flinch. With a contemptuous flick of its massive tail, it sent Team Rocket's entire machine hurtling skyward. The contraption exploded midair, launching the trio into the stars.
"What a shocking feeling!" Jessie cried.
"Why doesn't a Water-type fear electricity?! Somebody explain this to me!" James wailed.
Of course, none of them realized Dragonite wasn't a Water-type at all—it was Dragon and Flying type, immune to their so-called "super effective" plan.
"Wait… did someone just attack Dragonite?" Hayato exclaimed.
Bill's expression hardened. "Quickly! Let's take the motorboat and check it out—we can't let those villains succeed!"
Hayato shook his head helplessly. Bill was clearly jealous—calling anyone who tried to catch Dragonite a 'villain'? He was obviously just upset he couldn't do it himself.
"The waves are too rough! I'm not going out there. It's way too dangerous!"
And truth be told, Meowth's machine—before it exploded—was far more seaworthy than a tiny boat. One bad wave and they'd both be swimming with the Tentacool. No thanks!
Under Bill's astonished gaze, Hayato suddenly cupped his hands and shouted toward the sea.
"Hey! You over there! Wanna battle me?!"
Dragonite turned its massive head, confused. "???"
"Dragonite, my friend! Don't you want to know what happened to the Dratini and Dragonair?"
Dragonite's eyes sharpened instantly. With a piercing roar, it soared straight toward the lighthouse.
"Haha! Hook, line, and sinker! Umbreon, let's go!"
The dream was beautiful—but reality was cruel. Before Umbreon could even react, Dragonite swatted it aside effortlessly. The power gap was astronomical—like a level 70 Pokémon crushing a level 30 rookie.
"Whoa—what the heck?! It's that strong?!" Hayato gawked.
Bill rushed out, waving frantically. "Hayato! Stop it! Don't provoke it! This Pokémon's been watching me for weeks—I've finally earned its trust! If you scare it off now, all my effort will be wasted!"
Upon seeing Bill, Dragonite tilted its head curiously, then flapped its enormous wings and disappeared into the night sky.
"I saw its face clearly this time," Bill murmured in awe. "It really does look like a Dragonite… but it's gigantic. I have to study this more closely."
Hayato scratched his head awkwardly. If he could've caught it, he would've—but given the difference in power, he couldn't even touch its tail!
"Heh… heh-heh! Umbreon, return!"
He sighed. Some things had to be taken step by step. With his current strength, capturing Dragonite was impossible.
"Forget it. If you're still here the next time I come back… I'll make sure to capture you then, Big Fatty."
(End of Chapter)