"Idiots who daydream in broad daylight—did you really think the S.S. Anne was a place for you to eat, drink, and have fun for free?"
Far away in Viridian City, Giovanni was watching the S.S. Anne's surveillance feed. Seeing that the "prey" had gathered in the main hall, he prepared to order his subordinates to carry out the plan.
"Strange? I didn't expect this kid to be on the S.S. Anne too. Looks like the situation has changed~"
On the screen before Giovanni, Red was shown controlling the gentleman. Knowing Red's strength, Giovanni guessed that this plan would likely end in failure.
"Well, whatever. I never expected much from those three anyway." Giovanni said indifferently. Just the taxes collected from the vendors at the event were enough to recover the costs. He never really expected Jessie, James, and Meowth to accomplish anything major.
After Red finished teaching the gentleman a lesson, Team Rocket's plan proceeded as intended. The hall's exits were sealed off under control. Numerous Team Rocket members disguised as waiters tore off their disguises, carrying devices on their backs that could absorb Poké Balls, intimidating the confused trainers.
"Hey~ old man! Where are you?! Give my money back!"
A dejected voice echoed out. James wandered around the hall gloomily, trying to find the Magikarp salesman who had scammed him, completely unaware that Team Rocket's evil plan was already underway.
"Get to work already!" Jessie angrily dragged James away and changed into her Team Rocket uniform.
Just as everyone was still confused, the lights in the hall suddenly went out. A spotlight shone down on Jessie and James standing atop a high platform, both carrying Poké Ball-absorbing devices.
"To protect the world from devastation!
To unite all peoples within our nation...
To denounce the evils of truth and love!
To extend our reach to the stars above
Cute and charming villains…
Jessie!
James…
We are Team Rocket, blasting off across the galaxy!
A white tomorrow awaits us…
That's right! Meowth, that's right!"
Unlike their usual enthusiastic opening, James was clearly deflated this time. Having just been tricked out of all his money by the Magikarp salesman, his mood had completely collapsed.
It was almost comical—this party was originally organized to loot the property of Pokémon trainers, yet James, a member of Team Rocket, ended up being scammed himself. No wonder he looked so dejected.
"So, every Pokémon here, we Team Rocket will take them all!" Jessie shouted.
Before the trainers could react, Team Rocket members activated the absorption devices on their backs, sucking away most of the Poké Balls. Outside, the weather suddenly turned dark, heralding an approaching terrifying storm.
They tried to take Ash's Poké Balls too, but Pikachu knocked them flat with a single Thunder Shock.
"If you want to take our Pokémon, then we'll battle to the end!" Ash shouted, his fiery words igniting the fighting spirit of everyone present. Each trainer had their own pride—they wouldn't allow Team Rocket to belittle them.
"He's absolutely right!"
"Yeah, I agree!"
"Fight!"
All the trainers threw out their Poké Balls. Though some were taken by the absorption devices, the lucky ones that remained were sent out. A flood of Pokémon of all shapes and sizes appeared, making Team Rocket realize they were in trouble.
Seeing that this Team Rocket wasn't very strong, Red let Ash act freely.
In an instant, Ash's Pokémon, together with the other trainers' Pokémon, unleashed combination attacks. The relentless assault defeated Team Rocket before they could even react, leaving them no chance to draw Poké Balls. They never expected Ash and the others would outright counterattack without fear of Team Rocket's reputation.
Seeing Team Rocket defeated, everyone raised their hands in victory, cheering.
"These are our most prized Pokémon! We won't let Team Rocket take them, no way!" Ash shouted passionately, becoming the de facto leader of the group's morale. Red watched silently, nodding—Ash's enthusiasm could ignite the courage of those around him, one of his unique charms.
The three Team Rocket members, seeing the situation lost, slipped away quietly. Just as Jessie considered how to report to Giovanni, a powerful wave slammed against the S.S. Anne, tilting the ship. James's paint-colored Poké Balls rolled off—Poké Balls that had cost tens of thousands to obtain. Panicked, James rushed forward,
"My advanced salary!"
Then, countless waves violently struck the S.S. Anne, tipping the already unstable ship further. Everyone crowded in front of the captain, criticizing the navigation plan.
"Sorry, sorry! By the time I noticed, the ship had already been pushed off course by the waves!" the captain explained with a forced smile, shifting responsibility onto the storm outside.
"Why didn't you notice earlier?!" everyone pressed, unwilling to let the matter slide.
"Calm down, everyone! Though there's a storm outside, rest assured—the S.S. Anne is heading toward the port, and I promise this ship will absolutely not sink!"
The captain's determined tone sounded genuine, but only he knew the ship was beyond saving. The previous battle had damaged its ability to sail. His words were just to calm everyone so he could board the lifeboat quickly.
Another powerful wave hit the S.S. Anne. While everyone struggled to keep their balance, the missing captain had already boarded the lifeboat, demonstrating an utterly shocking maneuver. He silently lowered the lifeboat, his expression resolute, and assured the crowd,
"Everyone, rest easy! This ship will absolutely not sink!"
The survivors were first stunned, then erupted into chaos, rushing desperately to the lifeboats. At a life-threatening moment like this, they forgot the camaraderie from fighting Team Rocket together, trampling over one another to get on board.
"This is bad! We need to get on the lifeboat quickly, or we won't have a chance!" Leaf said nervously. The fight for the last lifeboat spots had already begun. Though the S.S. Anne carried enough lifeboats, those fearing a sinking ship refused to yield.
"These people have lost all reason. It's a waste of time to rush up!" Red planned to have everyone use Water-type Pokémon to float to the surface when the waves hit, but plans never keep up with sudden changes.
"Oh no, my Ivysaur!" Leaf shouted as a wave tilted the ship, causing her Poké Ball to roll away. Panic-stricken, she ran after it, not thinking, desperate to retrieve the Poké Ball.
"Leaf!"
Red and the others didn't expect this, but they weren't the type to abandon their companions. The only priority now was to follow Leaf and help recover the lost Poké Ball.
"Don't these people fear death?" one trainer on the lifeboat exclaimed, bewildered by Red and the others' actions.
"Who cares? Let's get out of here!" another impatiently responded, wanting to leave immediately. Red and the others were strangers to him—his life mattered more than anyone else.
Leaf chased the rolling Poké Ball desperately. Fortunately, Red used his psychic powers to control it, returning Ivysaur's Poké Ball to her hand. Before she could thank him, another massive wave hit the S.S. Anne, this time tilting the entire ship and flipping it at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The lucky survivors looked at the overturning S.S. Anne with mixed feelings—relief at surviving, but fear of what could have happened. Red and the others' safety had already faded from their minds, even though they had recently fought side by side.
At that moment, the shameless captain appeared again. Sweating, he ignored the sinking S.S. Anne behind him and, with a tone of concern for the people, asked,
"Everyone, please answer! Those not here, respond!" Three seconds passed, and he exhaled in relief,
"Everyone is safe, that's great!"
The survivors once again witnessed the captain's superhuman maneuvers.
The S.S. Anne flipping caused everyone to feel weightless for a moment. Red quickly used his psychic powers to stabilize them midair; otherwise, hitting their heads on the hard surfaces could have caused anything from temporary unconsciousness to death.
"Sorry, everyone! It's all my fault for being reckless!" Leaf blamed herself, knowing Red and the others could have boarded the lifeboats safely but stayed behind to help her.
"It's fine, Leaf. Do you really think we're the type to abandon our friends?" Red said calmly.
"Exactly, Leaf! As long as Brother is here, we'll be safe!" Ash said cheerfully, completely unconcerned about the current danger.
"Ash really is so naïve…" Misty muttered.
"Luckily, we're still at the sinking stage and haven't fully submerged. If Red hadn't protected us with his psychic powers, the ship might already be completely underwater by now!" Brock said, still shaken.
"Our only option is to leave using Water-type Pokémon. We need to find a proper escape route!" Red said, beginning to plan the evacuation from the S.S. Anne.