In a Black World —
Ash looked curiously at the Lugia Flute in Melody's hand.
This thing already saved the seriously injured Lugia once before.
I originally thought it would only work for Lugia, but I didn't expect it to affect the Legendary Birds, too!
After regaining their composure and recovering from their injuries, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres finally stopped attacking each other.
Although… they were all looking at Mewtwo with resentment and a little fear.
It seemed they resented and feared Mewtwo for beating them!
Then, Lugia whispered to the three Legendary Birds, and they obediently returned to their respective islands.
By the way, they didn't forget to take their islands' treasures with them.
Before parting, the three birds each gave Ash a feather.
The feathers of the Legendary Birds were similar to the Silver Wing.
They were quite useful for improving Fire-, Electric-, and Ice-type Pokémon,
But… in terms of boosting effect, they definitely weren't as good as the Silver Wing or the Rainbow Wing.
Still, they were minor power-ups,
And Ash naturally accepted them with a smile.
This world was really worth saving!
Look at all the good things we got from this trip!
The ending was a happy one for everyone!
"Huh? What about Team Rocket?"
Ash looked around and realized the Team Rocket trio hadn't appeared on Shamouti Island.
Weren't those three with them when they first came down?
"They… seemed to want to help, but couldn't really do anything in the end… Still, having that intention shows they weren't completely shameless after following us for so long~"
Misty spread her hands, a helpless expression on her face.
Not just Team Rocket—others wanted to help, too, but there was no way to intervene.
Against a world-class battle like that, even Sabrina's power seemed insignificant…
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Just then, an earthquake-like rumbling approached.
Everyone turned to see a gigantic Slowking robot striding toward them!
Slowking: ?!
What was this? Could there really be a Slowking this big in the world?
Its body was at least twenty times larger than a normal one!
"Huh? Brat, you're back! And where are those three birds?! We'll knock them down for you!"
Ash: "…"
"Team Rocket?"
"Yes!"
"…You went and built a robot?"
"Yes!"
"How long did it take?"
"Oh… about ten minutes after you left to get the treasure from the ice island!"
Everyone: ????
What kind of geniuses were these three?!
They built a giant Slowking robot in just ten minutes?!
...
[Lance: Is there a possibility that Team Rocket are actually geniuses?]
[Professor Oak: Hmm… The White World used a crashed plane to make a storm boat, and the Black World directly built a giant robot from who-knows-what parts. They really do have a talent for manufacturing!]
[Lorelei: I'm telling you, Giovanni, that kind of talent—if you don't want it, just send them to the League!]
[Chairman: Yes, Giovanni, what a waste to keep them with you!]
[Giovanni: Shut up! James, Jessie, and Meowth are my people for life!]
[Jessie: Boss!!]
[James: Boss!!]
Meowth couldn't speak at the moment, or he'd probably be moved to tears in the live broadcast room!
They never expected Giovanni valued them so much!
Well… he valued them, yes,
But Giovanni still felt these three were like a surprise blind box—
you never knew what they were going to do.
But no matter what, he couldn't let them go to the League!
Otherwise, after all the trouble they'd caused Team Rocket, they'd probably end up destroying the League instead!
...
In a Black World —
After Ash and the others explained—with twitching faces—that the world crisis was over,
the Team Rocket trio finally understood… and regretted not getting to show off.
Immediately afterward, they returned to their old business: catching Pikachu!!
And the tool for the job… wasn't there a ready-made robot right there?
"You guys really… never forget your original mission!"
"Then we won't forget our original mission! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Pika—!"
Pikachu grinned eerily at the mechanical Slowking, then leaped from Ash's shoulder.
Dense, terrifying electricity gathered around its small body—
and then it blasted the entire robot to scrap!
With a tremendous crash, Team Rocket was officially blasting off again!
"Didn't they just say… they had 'awesome feelings' or something?"
Misty wondered if she'd misheard.
"Maybe they're addicted to being sent flying?"
Sabrina suggested their masochistic tendencies had been activated.
Only Ash watched the trio vanish into stars with a relieved smile.
He knew what that "awesome feeling" the Rockets referred to really meant.
These three were troublemakers, but not wholly evil.
They were scoundrels with a conscience.
He hoped they'd become proper good guys one day!
"It's time to say goodbye, Lugia, Mewtwo."
Ash turned to the two Legendary Pokémon.
Now that the incident was resolved, the Sea Guardian should return to the seabed to recuperate,
and Mewtwo would probably continue journeying the world!
But after exchanging a glance with Lugia, Mewtwo spoke solemnly to Ash.
Ash, from today on, I will follow Lugia.
"Huh?"
A black question mark popped over Ash's head.
What was this about?
Wasn't Mewtwo all about yearning for freedom, traveling the world, and seeking strong opponents?
Why suddenly follow the Sea Guardian?
Lugia also addressed Ash.
Mewtwo says it wishes to learn from me—how to use and develop its Psychic powers.
Although Psychic is not my primary type, I have cultivated in this area for many years and can offer Mewtwo some guidance. So, for now, Mewtwo will stay with me. You need not worry.
The next time it appears before you, it will surely surprise you.
Hearing this, Ash nodded in understanding.
Got it!
They were both Psychic-types, so they could exchange insights, right?
Though Ash guessed Mewtwo was still wondering internally:
Why does Lugia, the Sea Guardian, have the Psychic typing?
Also, next time, call me earlier. If I had been a step later, Ash and your Pokémon might have been badly hurt.
Mewtwo added coolly.
It had wondered during the fight if it kept arriving too slowly every time.
But on second thought… that was its max speed!
The real issue was that Ash was too slow at calling it!
It wasn't that Mewtwo wanted to show off…
though showing off was pretty cool…
Ash scratched his head awkwardly and nodded.
Next time, for sure!
Then we'll take our leave. Mewtwo and I will go to the seabed beneath the Orange Archipelago. The water pressure there will help Mewtwo master and improve its Psychic powers more rapidly.
But… please don't spread word of my location.
Lugia finally advised everyone.
It wasn't that Lugia doubted their character—
everyone standing here was trustworthy.
But sometimes information leaked without malicious intent.
So Lugia felt it necessary to remind them.
Everyone nodded,
and then watched as Lugia and Mewtwo vanished beneath the waves.
...
The image on the black screen slowly faded.
The tale of the Sea Guardian had concluded,
but from here, the paths taken by Black Ash and White Ash seemed to diverge more and more.
White Ash held a place in the hearts of Mew, Mewtwo, Lugia, and even shared bonds of friendship.
But Black Ash… was more of a collector of Legendary items!
The three Legendary Birds, Lugia, and Ho-Oh—each had given him a feather.
Though just a feather, it was a feather from a Legendary Pokémon,
and its effect on boosting Pokémon of corresponding types was undeniable.
Coupled with Black Ash's intense training regimen, his future growth was almost unimaginable!
And… Mewtwo was actually going to train under Lugia?!
[Mewtwo: Lugia's Psychic power is indeed formidable. Even I wish to learn from it.]
[Lugia: Heh, feel free to visit. You should be able to sense me in the Orange Archipelago… But I must warn those watching: if you dare come to the seabed, I cannot guarantee you will leave alive.]
It had been living peacefully in the depths,
and now this broadcast had exposed its location.
To avoid being pestered to death, a warning was necessary.
There were always a few self-important "wise ones" who thought they could capture it.
[Professor Oak: By the way, Ash, your Pidgeot has returned. Shall I teleport it to you now, along with Infernape?]
[Ash: What?! Pidgeot's back?! Great! I'll go outside and swap them with Sawk and Pignite!]
Pidgeot was back!
Really back!
Ash excitedly dashed out to the Pokémon Center's transfer system.
Brock and Misty exchanged a knowing, helpless smile.
When a long-absent partner returned, it was only natural to be impatient.
While Ash and Pikachu ran to make the exchange,
the image on the white screen slowly began to play.
...
In the White World —
After the Lugia incident, Ash and his friends continued to their final destination: Kumquat Island!
Along the way, they came to a small island
and accidentally walked into a Vileplume's Stun Spore!
Ash, known for his insane stamina, actually collapsed immediately from the spore
and even developed a high fever—
same with Ritchie.
In desperation, Misty had to search for medicinal herbs to treat them.
Meanwhile, Jessie had also been paralyzed by the Vileplume's Stun Spore,
so Team Rocket needed the same herbs!
After a series of events,
Misty successfully found the healing herbs and shared some with Team Rocket.
In Misty's words:
"They're Team Rocket, but after traveling with us for so long, we should still help each other in a pinch~"
Later, with Misty's help, Ash and Ritchie recovered,
drove off Jessie (who recovered and immediately came to cause trouble),
and Ash even caught a Poliwag!
...
[James: Waaa! The little lady is so kind! I knew she left those herbs on purpose!]
[Jessie: Well… thank you, thank you, thank you! But we still won't give up on Pikachu!]
[Misty: I can see that. James at least seems grateful and might leave us alone for a day, but you!! Recover and come make trouble right away!]
[Jessie: I'm the bad guy!!!]
[Caitlin: Small detail—Misty blew on the medicine when feeding Ash, but not for Ritchie!]
[Cynthia: You really pay close attention…]
Outside the Pokémon Center, Ash—reunited with Pidgeot and Infernape—
fell silent for a moment after reading Caitlin's comment.
Now that he thought about it, Misty had been much gentler than usual that day.
And the Misty on Black Ash's side was gentle all the time, too.
Maybe… Misty was actually a gentle girl at heart?
It was just that he always butted heads with her, which made her seem grumpy all the time…
...
In the White World —
After leaving the unnamed island, Ash and the others finally reached their final destination: Kumquat Island!
After registering, Ash would face the Orange Crew Supreme Gym Leader, Drake, the very next day at the Kumquat Stadium!
Because Ash's Snorlax couldn't be awakened,
he had to call in Tauros for the battle.
The next day, the match began.
To everyone's surprise, Ash was dominating Drake!
He defeated five of Drake's Pokémon, losing only two of his own!
Aside from suspicions that Bulbasaur might have gone a little easy,
everyone fought to their absolute limit!
However, Drake's final Pokémon—Dragonite—posed serious trouble for Ash!
Charizard, Tauros, and Squirtle fell one by one!
In the end, Ash was left with only Pikachu!
After an intense struggle, Pikachu unleashed its most powerful Thunder,
finally defeating Drake's monstrous Dragonite!
With that, Ash won his first League championship!
It wasn't a major regional conference, but… this title still held significant value!
After all, Drake's final Dragonite had clearly reached Elite Four–level strength!
And so, Ash had claimed his first official victory!
...
The white image slowly faded.
[Lance: Drake's Dragonite… is indeed powerful!]
[Drake: Thank you. It's an honor to be praised by the Dragon Master.]
When it came to understanding Dragonite, Lance was second to none.
Though often joked about as the "Flying-type Master,"
he still had Dragonite on his team!
So for Drake to earn Lance's praise meant his Dragonite was genuinely formidable.
[Lorelei: Though it's only at the lower end… it does have Elite Four–level power. Our Ash isn't bad either! Took down an Elite Four–level Dragonite in about half a year.]
[Ash: Winning 4-to-1, and with Team Rocket interfering… feels like a bit of a Pyrrhic victory.]
[Misty: A win is a win! Come on, Drake is the strongest Supreme Gym Leader ever! No one but you has ever beaten him!]
[Drake: Indeed, Ash, don't downplay it. Strong is strong. Your victory was earned through your and your Pokémon's efforts, so just enjoy it.]
[Ash: Thank you, Drake! Hey, Gary! Gary! See that! Even an Elite Four member and Drake say I'm strong!]
[Misty: ?!]
Now he's getting cocky. Typical Ash!
[Gary: People can improve, but they can also regress. At least after you returned from the Orange League, I didn't see you maintaining the strength to beat Drake, Ash. Pride makes people stagnant!]
[Ash: ...]
[Ash: I never thought I'd be called 'arrogant' by Mr. Arrogance himself… Just you wait!]
[Gary: Ha! I'm not the same as I used to be! Just wait—when the white footage goes back, it'll be the part where I beat you!]
Oof!
Gary's words instantly brought back painful memories for Ash.
Back then, he did return to Pallet Town proudly with the winner's trophy,
only to get utterly crushed by Gary.
That was a sore spot!
Amid the chatter, the image on the black screen slowly began to play.
...
In a Black World —
The story continued. Ash had bid farewell to Lugia, but he didn't leave immediately.
Instead, he spent some more time on Shamouti Island.
This time was also for Ash to fully experience… what a true修罗场 (harem conflict) felt like!
...
Author's Note: About those two earlier settings—that Drake is from the Dragon Clan (or that he's a relative of Lance). I never saw any canon evidence that Drake's surname is "Dragon" or that he's related to Lance. Just because he has a Dragonite doesn't mean he gets automatically assigned to the Dragon Clan. I can't even…
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