Want to read ahead. You know where
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"Luka!"
Sam's voice cut through the crashing waves.
His Mega Lucario glowed with a fierce aura, the aura surging like fire in his veins.
With a burst of speed, he shot forward like a meteor, fist cloaked in shining aura, slamming straight into the nearest Tentacruel.
"Lili!"
Above them, the little Silver spread its silver wings, eyes blazing.
Even young, the legendary bird carried the majesty of the sea.
Its wings folded for an instant, then snapped open as it dove, channeling its energy into a brilliant Sky Attack that split the air.
A chilling hiss echoed.
Darkrai emerged from the shadows, cloaked in darkness.
Nightmares poured from its form as a pitch-black beam cut through the battlefield, carrying the weight of unending terror.
And then came the roar.
Dragonite, towering at nearly thirty meters, clenched its massive fists.
Electricity danced along its scales, thunder gathering in its grip.
In a single devastating strike, the titan unleashed a barrage of thunder-charged punches, each blow shaking the sea.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The ocean erupted.
Four Tentacruel shrieked as they were struck down in unison, crashing into the waves below.
Explosions sent towering sprays of seawater into the sky before the battlefield went silent.
Without their leaders, the remaining Tentacool froze.
For a heartbeat, they trembled at the overwhelming power that filled the air.
Then, like minnows before a predator, they scattered, vanishing beneath the surface one after another.
Moments ago, Cerulean City had been on the brink of disaster.
Now, the danger was gone, swept away in seconds.
And all of it, because of Sam.
Standing tall atop Dragonite's shoulders, he cut a figure both awe-inspiring and surreal, the sea breeze whipping at his clothes as his Pokémon hovered at his side.
"Sam!"
The familiar voice reached him, clear and sharp.
He turned just in time to see a flash of silver hair.
Cynthia.
She soared toward him on the back of her Garchomp, her expression a mix of shock and relief.
"Why are you here?" she called, her eyes locked on him.
Sam blinked.
"I should be asking you that. Weren't you in Sinnoh?"
She waved the question off, brushing her hair back with a quick gesture.
"That doesn't matter right now!"
But her eyes soon drifted upward, widening as they finally took in the massive creature beneath him.
Dragonite's gigantic form loomed over the city, its body humming with restrained power.
Even for someone who had seen countless legendaries, the sight left her speechless.
Swallowing hard, she pointed at the giant.
"Wait. Don't tell me this… this colossal Dragonite is yours?"
Sam's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Didn't I mention it before? I came to Kanto to tame a Dragonite."
"You did say that," Cynthia muttered, exasperated, "but I didn't expect you to bring back something this ridiculous!"
He chuckled, patting Dragonite's warm scales.
The titan rumbled happily beneath his hand, lowering its head slightly.
"Too big? Maybe. But come on… a partner like this? Doesn't it just feel like the kind of main character energy I deserve?"
Cynthia rolled her eyes, though the corner of her mouth betrayed a reluctant smile.
Later that day, the crisis had settled, and the Cerulean City Search Department called for a debriefing.
In the meeting room, Sam sat at the head of the table, calm and collected.
Cynthia sat close by, while Officer Jenny and Misty took seats along the side.
The air was heavy with the scent of sea salt carried in from outside, the aftermath of the battle still lingering.
Tap. Tap.
The sound of footsteps echoed as an officer entered the room.
A young man in uniform, one of Jenny's subordinates, saluted before addressing Sam directly.
"Sir, the handover has been completed. Just like you instructed."
Sam gave a curt nod.
"Good. Who was it?"
"Carr," the officer replied, his tone steady but tense.
Jenny's eyes widened, and even Misty's face drained of color.
"Carr?" Jenny repeated, stunned.
"You mean that Carr? One of the Rocket Trio?!"
Jenny stood, voice bright with barely contained excitement.
"This is huge," she said, pacing once in front of the table.
"The Rocket Beast Trio aren't just any grunts. They were among Giovanni's first enforcers, handpicked. Their word carries weight inside Team Rocket. If one of them talks, it could tear open whatever secrets Giovanni wanted hidden."
Sam watched her, expression neutral.
The capture of Carr, one of those long-feared enforcers, had been quick, almost anticlimactic.
He'd expected more drama.
Still, Jenny's reaction made the victory feel heavier, more important.
"It's done," Sam said simply.
"I ran into him near the docks. He was moving alone, bad choice. He never stood a chance."
"Carr?" Misty echoed from her chair, incredulous.
"One of the Beast Trio? How did you manage to, "
Sam shrugged, letting the faintest smile slip free.
"Luck, timing, and a little help from a few friends."
Jenny's eyes sharpened.
"Who handled the transport?"
"One of my team captured him," Sam replied.
"He's in custody now and will be transferred to the regional holding for questioning."
He folded his hands on the table, making the whole thing sound tidy and finished.
Across from him, Cynthia didn't move.
She watched Sam as if she were measuring him anew, part admiration, part curiosity.
The afternoon light slanted across her face, and for a moment the room felt smaller, concentrated on those two.
"I planned to return to Sinnoh, but the world doesn't follow plans. I came to Kanto to find a Dragonite. Taming one wasn't on my to-do list… until I found the right one."
Cynthia let out a low whistle.
"A Dragonite that large… I've read reports, but seeing one in person, " She swallowed.
"You were lucky to tame it. And very brave."
Dragonite's faint rumble vibrated through the room as a distant reminder of the scale of their recent fight.
Sam's hand tightened around the rim of his cup, thoughtful.
He could have talked about the battle, the moves, the strategy, but that wasn't what Cynthia wanted to hear.
She leaned forward, elbows on the table.
"You risk yourself so much, Sam. Why? Is it because taming powerful Pokémon helps your cause, or is there more to it?"
The question held more than curiosity. It had an edge, affection folded into concern.
Sam felt it and met her gaze without flinching.
"Both," he said simply.
"I'm trying to build bonds with Pokémon I trust. And... I suppose I like doing things no one expects me to do."
Cynthia's lips tugged into a small, satisfied smile.
She reached across the table and, almost on impulse, squeezed his shoulder.
The touch was brief but certain, as if to anchor the moment in reality.
"Ow!" Sam protested theatrically, rubbing the spot.
"Careful. Don't ruin my posture."
Cynthia rolled her eyes but didn't let go.
"Be serious. You need to be careful. If you stick your neck out like this, you'll be a target."
Her voice softened.
"And I, don't want that for you."
Misty, who'd hovered awkwardly by the doorway since the handover, cleared her throat.
"If there's nothing I can help with here… I'll check on the docks and make sure everything is secure."
She gave Cynthia a meaningful look and stepped back out the door.
When the door clicked closed, Cynthia's attention returned fully to Sam.
"Promise me you'll be careful," she said, not smiling.
"And promise you'll tell me if you're heading into trouble."
"Promise," Sam answered, and it felt like something he meant.
The mood in the room eased as the officers began to talk logistics.
Jenny moved to the map on the wall, pointing out where Carr had been active and which
Rocket cells might respond now that one of their key members was gone.
The facts started to replace the tension, routes, escorts, secure rooms, the chain of custody.
Sam listened, adding a suggestion when it would help, staying quiet when it wouldn't.
He knew how necessary the details were: small things, timing, the number of guards, the route for transfer, made the difference between a clean interrogation and another jailbreak.
Outside, the city exhaled.
The sea settled back into its regular rhythm.
Even with Carr in custody and Team Rocket's web beginning to fray at one seam, Sam understood nothing here would be truly safe for long.
Giovanni didn't forgive easily.
Before the meeting broke up, Cynthia stood and walked to the window.
For a second she looked like someone lost in thought, trainer, champion, and friend all at once.
"You should rest," she said without turning.
"You look like you haven't slept for days."
"I'll be fine," Sam said. Then, with a quiet grin:
"Besides, Dragonite is good company."
She laughed softly, the sound warm enough to push at the edges of the tiredness in him.
"Come by the Gym tomorrow. We'll figure out a plan, together."
Sam nodded.
"I'll be there."
As the officers filed out, papers were signed and new orders issued.
The weight of what they'd done hung between them: Carr's capture might change things, but it also meant moving forward would be more dangerous.
Yet in the same quiet space, the promise of allies, of Cynthia, Jenny, Misty, and those who would stand with them, felt like something he could trust.
And for Sam, that was often more powerful than luck.