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The two swam back quickly, and by now, the mechanical Gyarados on the beach was causing chaos. Tourists were fleeing in panic, running in all directions.
"What is going on here?!"
Misty and the others, who were close to the shore, had already gathered with Professor Oak and the rest. As they watched the scene unfold, worry filled their faces.
They had just dealt with something similar in the forest, and now it was happening again. Though this mechanical Gyarados wasn't as big as the ones they encountered earlier, it was still causing plenty of trouble.
"Hmph! With this mechanical Gyarados, we can trap these wealthy tourists and force them to pay off our debts!"
Inside the mechanical Gyarados, Team Rocket was pedaling furiously on bicycles, working hard to control their machine. Ever since their plan on the St. Anne failed, not only did they lose their chance at a new job, but they were also buried in debt.
Now, instead of chasing Pikachu, they were focused on paying off what they owed, and they'd created this amphibious mechanical Gyarados just for that purpose.
As the mechanical Gyarados wreaked havoc, the tourists had nowhere to hide. The beach was mostly open, with only a few small ice cream stands. In desperation, people were ducking behind them for cover.
"What's happening?" asked an elderly man wearing a straw hat as he stepped out of a shabby ice cream stand. The moment he emerged, he saw the mechanical Gyarados barreling toward him.
"Ahhh!!!" The old man froze in fear, unable to move.
"Look out!!!"
Misty and Brock rushed over, with Brock diving forward just in time to push the old man out of the way. Fortunately, the ground was soft, so neither of them was hurt, while the mechanical Gyarados continued on its path of destruction.
Boom!!!
With a deafening crash, it plowed into the fragile ice cream stand, completely demolishing it. Wooden debris flew everywhere as the little shop crumbled under the force of the Gyarados' rampage.
The old man's expression shifted instantly, devastated as he looked at the remains of his shop. But the mechanical Gyarados wasn't stopping—it kept charging around the beach even after destroying the stand.
"Brock, Grandpa, are you okay?" Misty asked worriedly as she rushed over.
"I'm fine," Brock said with a nod.
"My... my ice cream stand!" The old man fell to his knees, staring at the wreckage in distress.
Brock and Misty shared a look, unsure of how to comfort him. At that moment, Professor Oak, Delia, and the others arrived, quickly urging them all to move to safety.
"Let's get to a safer place first," Professor Oak suggested urgently.
"But what about Ash and the others?" Misty asked, clearly concerned.
"Don't worry," Delia reassured her, "Ash can handle this."
Though she usually worried about him, Delia had confidence in her son when it truly mattered.
Reluctantly, everyone agreed and began looking for a safer place. Brock and Misty helped the old man to his feet, but as they moved, the mechanical Gyarados trampled over more of the beach and started heading toward the sea.
The old man's eyes widened as he watched the Gyarados approach the water. He suddenly broke free from Brock and Misty's support, rushing toward the sea without thinking.
"Grandpa, no! It's too dangerous!" Misty shouted in panic, exchanging a worried glance with Brock before the two of them chased after him.
Many tourists, terrified and panicked, ran into the sea, desperate for safety. At that moment, the mechanical Gyarados barreled toward them, and a white yacht parked nearby became the focal point for those seeking shelter.
In a frenzy, people rushed toward the yacht, hoping it would provide some refuge. The old man watched helplessly, his eyes filled with despair as more and more people climbed aboard. Inside the mechanical Gyarados, Jessie and James sneered at the scene.
"Hmph! There's no point in running! Just surrender! Now, taste the missile we bought for a fortune!" James declared with a smirk, pressing a red button in front of him. A flash of Ember shot from the mechanical Gyarados' mouth, followed by a missile aimed directly at the yacht.
"No! That's my livelihood—please, don't!" the old man cried out as he threw himself in front of the yacht, trying to shield it with his body. The sight of the missile closing in left Brock horrified, and Misty was too scared to watch.
"Charmander, use Flamethrower!!"
Suddenly, two figures appeared. Ash, holding his backpack in one hand, hurled a Poké Ball with the other.
"Charmander, go!"
With a cry, Charmander emerged from the ball, immediately responding to Ash's command. It unleashed a stream of flames, intercepting the missile mid-air.
Boom!!!
The missile exploded under the intense heat of Charmander's Flamethrower, producing a powerful blast. Ash and Gary shielded themselves from the shockwave, while the old man, overwhelmed, collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
"Ash, I didn't bring any of my Pokémon. I'll have to rely on yours!" Gary said, glancing at Ash as the smoke and flames slowly dissipated.
"You don't need to tell me that!" Ash retorted. He wasn't concerned about needing help for something like this.
Gary, however, was curious to see how much Ash had improved since their departure from Pallet Town.
As the flames subsided, Jessie and James, inside the mechanical Gyarados, noticed the familiar figures standing in their way. Their anger flared up immediately.
"Ugh! It's that twerp again, ruining everything! This time, we won't let you off the hook! Charge!" Jessie barked.
"Wait, isn't our goal to capture the rich tourists and extort money?" James asked, realizing Jessie was getting carried away again.
"Forget that for now! We'll handle the brat first and capture Pikachu!" Jessie snapped, ignoring James as she steered the mechanical Gyarados straight toward Ash and Gary.
"Pikachu, use Thunder Shock!" Ash ordered as the mechanical Gyarados charged at them.
"Pika—CHUUUU!!!" Pikachu cried as it unleashed a powerful Thunder Shock, sending sparks flying directly at the incoming mechanical Gyarados.