Chapter 27: Team Rocket and the Mechanical Dragonite
Dragonite Island, on the beach…
"Dragonair, listen carefully, okay? Taking off is actually pretty simple. Pidgeotto—show an example."
Ash crouched patiently on the ground, teaching Dragonair step by step.
"Pidgeooo~" Pidgeotto flapped its wings and deliberately performed a slow-motion demonstration.
Flap, lift, whoosh!
Dragonair: (?⊿?)?
Ash's face darkened.
"Ahem, Pidgeotto… your method is harder than me trying to take off."
"Pika pika~" Pikachu nodded in agreement.
Dragonair tried flapping its tiny ear-wings with all its strength—
THUD! It dove headfirst into the sand…
Ash and Pikachu:
(??w???) … oh dear…
"(╥﹏╥)…."
Dragonair was on the verge of tears. Flying was way too difficult!
"This method is wrong. Let me think…"
Ash sat directly on the sand, pressing his fingers to his temples and spinning them in circles.
Ding!
Got it!
Ash's eyes lit up.
"They say Dragonair's flight principle relies on Dragon Dance. Dragonair, can you use Dragon Dance?"
Dragonair nodded adorably… then shook its head.
It could, theoretically…
Its brain knew how…
Its body didn't.
"Pika…" Pikachu fell straight over.
How could such a big pokemon be so clueless?
"Well, Dragon Dance is basically springing upward, then spinning, leaping, closing your eyes…"
Ash rubbed his chin. "I get it. You have to learn Dragon Dance first."
"Eeeehh…"
Dragonair lay on the ground in defeat, completely channelling the spirit of a salted fish.
"Pidgeoooo…"
Pidgeotto patted Dragonair gently, as if comforting it.
Ash stared at Pidgeotto—
and suddenly inspiration struck.
"You just need spinning and leaping, right? Easy! Since Pidgeotto's way doesn't suit you… I'll demonstrate personally!"
Ash puffed out his chest confidently.
Pikachu tilted its head. "Pika?"
Pidgeotto covered its face. "Pidg??"
"Eeeeh?"
Dragonair gazed at Ash pitifully.
All three Pokémon stared blankly at Ash.
Ash arrogantly raised his chin:
"Don't underestimate me. Things like Agility, Bullet Seed, Cut… I can imitate them all pretty well, okay?"
Truthfully, taking off from flat ground was simple enough.
Ash leaned close to Pidgeotto's ear and whispered instructions.
"Pidgeooo… (??w???) …"
Cold sweat trickled down Pidgeotto's feathers.
Ash… are you serious?
"Relax. Watch me perform."
Ash turned to Dragonair with full confidence.
"Dragonair! Watch closely and learn!"
"Eeeeh!"
Dragonair nodded vigorously.
Ash waved his hand.
"Pidgeotto—Gust!"
"Pidge!"
Pidgeotto whipped up a gust, and a small tornado formed on the beach instantly.
Ash raised his brows.
"Alright, you three! Watch carefully! I'm going to fly!"
Two steps to build momentum—
A jump—
WHUMP!
Ash was smacked right into the ground by the tornado, face-first into the sand…
"Pika!!"
"Eeeeh!!"
Dragonair and Pikachu rushed over as Ash stood up awkwardly.
"Puh! Puh! I got a mouthful of sand…"
Ash scratched the back of his head with embarrassment.
"Haha… wrong angle. Wait there, I'll do it again!"
Ash stomped the ground, braced himself—
and charged back into the tornado.
Whoosh!
Facing the wind, he spun with all his strength.
His whole body twisted upward like laundry in a washing machine, shooting into the air—
THUD!
He dropped out of the tornado's upper edge.
"Haha! I did it! I actually did it!"
Ash lay spread-eagle on the beach, laughing and clapping.
"Dragonair! Did you understand?"
Ash looked at Dragonair expectantly.
"Eeeeh…"
Dragonair nodded, eyes full of determination.
"Good! Go, Dragonair! Pidgeotto—Gust!"
Ash commanded.
"Eeeeh!"
Dragonair flicked its tail and hurled itself into the whirlwind.
POOM!
It flew farther than Ash did—but horizontally.
Straight into the distance…
"Keep it up, Dragonair! Don't give up!"
Ash cheered.
"Ride the wind! Break the waves! If not now—when!?"
"Eeeeh!!"
Dragonair was extremely obedient.
If the training required falling—then fall it would.
Again and again.
Finally—after 99 crashes—
Dragonair sensed it.
The power of Dragon Dance.
Ding—!
The blue orb on its neck glowed with a turquoise shine.
Its ear-fins burst outward like angelic wings!
"It did it!!"
Ash and Pikachu raised their hands in celebration.
"Eeeeh!!"
Dragonair guided the newly mastered wind, lifting itself softly into the air and gliding along the breeze.
BOOM!
Suddenly, an explosion erupted on the far side of the coast.
Dragonair, just mastering flight, panicked and nearly fell.
"Careful!"
Ash dashed forward, sliding across the sand to catch Dragonair in his arms.
"Eeeehhh~"
Dragonair nuzzled Ash's cheek, eyes watery with gratitude.
"Haha, it's okay. I'm sturdy."
Ash patted Dragonair gently.
"Ash!!"
Bill's voice echoed from afar.
"Something's wrong! Hurry!"
Ash stood immediately.
He knew it—
That explosion was trouble.
"Pikachu! Dragonair! Pidgeotto! Let's go!"
With the three Pokémon behind him, Ash sprinted toward the blast site.
"Wahahahaha! All the Dragonite on this island belong to us now! Mechanical Dragonite No.1—activate!!"
A loud, arrogant, and slightly stupid voice boomed from a massive machine.
Ash's scalp tingled.
"Holy—Team Rocket brought out a full-sized mecha? They really spent money this time!"
"Meowth! Look there! A bunch of Dratini! Catch them all!"
Jessie shrieked excitedly.
"Roger, meow! Capture missiles—launch!"
Meowth slapped the control button.
BOOM!
Two rockets trailed smoke as they shot toward the Dratini on the island.
"Always causing trouble…"
Ash frowned.
"Pikachu—Electroweb!"
"Pika!!"
Electricity crackled as Pikachu leapt, launching a golden web through the sky.
Pop!
BOOM!
One rocket exploded instantly.
But the second—
kept flying toward the Dratini.
"Eeeeh!!"
Dragonair whipped up a sudden gust and charged toward the missile without hesitation.
Bang!
The rocket burst open, releasing a metal net that wrapped tightly around Dragonair—
and began pulling it toward the mechanical Dragonite's gaping mouth!
"Dragonair! Use Dragon Dance!!"
Ash shouted.
"Eeeehh—!! (?`д´)?"
Dragonair spun violently midair.
A surge of power burst outward—
and it tore the net apart!
"What!? How!?"
James yelped.
"Meowth! Your net is too weak!"
"Meow-hahaha…"
Meowth laughed awkwardly.
"I can't help it! Most of the budget went into building this storm-crossing mecha Dragonite! We had to use the cheap wire-nets…"
"Whatever! Fire ALL missiles!"
Jessie yelled.
"Got it, meow!"
Meowth leaped onto the console and smashed the button with both paws.
"You're still trying?"
Ash's voice rang out.
Team Rocket looked toward the beach—
Ash stood there, arms crossed, radiating fury.
Behind him—
seven or eight full-grown Dragonite formed a solid line.
Dragonair soared in with its new wings, carrying Pikachu on its head.
"Pikachu—Thunderbolt! Dragonair—Dragon Rush!!"
Ash roared.
"Eeeeh!!"
"Pika!!"
Pikachu crouched low, lightning bursting all over its body.
"ROAR!!"
Dragonair raised its head to the sky, the phantom of a great azure dragon forming around it—
armor of thunder plating its body.
Together—
they dove.
Like a living beam of lightning—
Dragonair and Pikachu pierced straight through the mechanical Dragonite's metal belly.
BOOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion rocked the island.
Sparks burst from the control room.
Meowth felt a very bad feeling rise in his heart.
BOOM!!
Flames shot up beneath the trio.
Team Rocket, still strapped to the chairs, were blasted out of the cockpit.
SMACK!!
They crash-landed onto the sand.
Groaning, they looked up—
and saw an entire row of Dragonite silhouettes.
"Waaaugh…"
The Dragonite clan leader stood at the front, leading a group of furious Dragonite.
They cracked their knuckles menacingly.
Ash stood beside them and waved sweetly:
"Bye-bye~"
"WAAAAHH!!"
Fists the size of cooking pots came crashing down as the Dragonite clan unleashed their fury—
Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Focus Punch, Brick Break, Dragon Claw, Dragon Tail…
BOOOOOM!!!
The trio exploded on the spot—
spiraling up into the sky!
"Wow~ They flew higher than me."
Ash shielded his eyes, looking up in awe.
"WHAT A TERRIBLE FEELING!!!"
To be continued…
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〔TL〕
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