Afterwards, the huge palm slowly released Ash and Pikachu back onto the land beneath the lighthouse. Ash and Pikachu landed safely, and the Pokémon around them rushed over in concern.
Jessie and James were furious, seeing Ash and Pikachu freed.
Though the huge Pokémon was also their target, Jessie and James had planned to capture Pikachu first. Now that Ash and Pikachu had escaped, they shifted their attention to the towering figure before them.
Jessie and James angrily pulled out a bazooka and fired directly at the massive Pokémon.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Explosions echoed as the rockets struck the enormous Pokémon, engulfing it in smoke.
"Raaaargh!!!" The huge creature wailed from within the smoke. Up at the lighthouse, the expressions on the faces of the three Bill Professors changed drastically. But Team Rocket wasn't finished; they prepared for another attack.
"Pikachu, use Electro Ball! Charmander, Flamethrower!" Ash ordered, his eyes flashing with determination.
"Charrr!!!"
"Pikaaaa!!!"
A glowing Electro Ball and searing flames shot toward Team Rocket. Distracted by their attack, Jessie and James didn't notice. Only Meowth saw the light from behind and turned around.
"Uh-oh, Meowth!" Meowth yelped in panic.
"What is it?" Jessie and James paused, turning to see the incoming attacks. Their faces twisted in horror.
Boom! Boom!
It was too late—the Electro Ball and Flamethrower hit their hot air balloon, causing a massive explosion that sent them flying into the sky like fireworks.
"That little brat ambushed us! No fair!" Jessie shouted as they were flung into the air, forgetting they had tried to sneak up on Pikachu first.
"Finally met a huge Pokémon, and now... Ugh!"
"It's such a disgusting feeling!!" they groaned, vanishing into the night sky, sparkling like stars.
As the smoke cleared, the huge Pokémon appeared mostly unharmed. Its massive body had withstood the attack—an ordinary Pokémon would have been gravely injured. The giant creature glanced down at Ash.
"Raaaargh!" it let out a low sound, as if thanking Ash for his help. Ash looked back at the creature but remained silent, offering only a small wave in return.
"Raaaargh!!!" The mysterious Pokémon let out another growl, its massive body beginning to retreat slowly.
After everything that had happened, it was clear the creature had no intention of staying any longer.
Up at the lighthouse, Professor Bill rushed to the edge of the guardrail, gripping it tightly, almost leaning over as he shouted, "Wait! Mysterious Pokémon, please show me your true face! Please!" His voice was filled with desperation.
After waiting for so many years, this was the closest he had ever been to it. He thought he might finally glimpse its true form, but with all that had transpired, his hopes were fading fast. Deep down, he feared this might never happen again, that he might never see the creature's face. Despite his yearning, the giant Pokémon continued moving away, disappearing into the sea of clouds.
As the figure vanished, Bill's face fell, his hands slipping down the guardrail in disappointment. Misty and Brock exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of how to comfort him. They could see how devastated he was, having waited for so long without fulfilling his dream. But since they hadn't endured the same wait, they couldn't truly understand his pain, leaving them unsure of what to say.
After a while, Professor Bill regained his composure, his gaze still fixed on the distant horizon. "I hope you find your companion," he murmured softly, his words filled with genuine hope. Though deeply disappointed, it wasn't enough to break his spirit. He understood the Pokémon's cry—it was full of love, yet tinged with loneliness. With such an enormous body, it must have found it difficult to fit in with other creatures, leading to its isolation.
Even though their encounter had ended, Bill still wished the Pokémon well from afar. It was a long night, and as Ash returned the Pokémon to the lighthouse, Misty and Brock followed. They quietly asked Ash about Professor Bill's condition, whispering that he had gone to rest. Ash simply nodded and headed to his room without a word.
The next morning, everyone woke up early. Ash resumed his training, and surprisingly, Misty and Brock were up as well. Professor Bill, however, had not yet stirred. Misty and Brock decided to prepare a hearty breakfast, thinking that Bill might still be feeling down. Though he wasn't completely crushed by his disappointment, it clearly had affected him, which explained why he hadn't woken up until late.
"Do you think Professor Bill will be okay? Should we wake him up?" Misty asked, as she set out bowls and chopsticks.
"For someone like Professor Bill, this must have been a tough blow," Brock replied, "but he's just like Professor Oak—he won't be defeated that easily."
Ash remained silent throughout breakfast. After eating quietly, he left the lighthouse to continue his training. Only three days remained, and he was determined. Pikachu had made progress the previous day, managing to stay on the water without the Surf board for a bit longer, but it still wasn't enough. Watching Ash so focused and driven, Misty and Brock couldn't help but feel a little helpless. They wished he would take a moment to comfort Professor Bill, but all Ash could think about was his training.