Bill and Dragonite

After walking for quite some time, Ash, Misty and Brock arrived at a beach. Misty was lying on the sand, complaining about exhaustion and Brock was looking at the map. Ash stood by the ocean thinking about everything he had gone through since leaving Pallet Town. He closed his eyes and remembered encountering Pikachu for the first time, setting off on their journey together, meeting a lot of new Pokemon and people, challenged the Pewter and Cerulean gym, met Misty and Brock and captured new Pokemon.

Misty saw Ash lost in thought and walked over to him.

"What are you daydreaming about?" She asked.

"Oh I'm just thinking about everything that happened to me so far during my journey." Ash said. "The truth is, ever since I began this journey I've felt a little more grown up even though I'm only 10 years old."

"That's what being on a Pokemon journey means." Brock said. "You see, not only is it about getting stronger and working together with Pokemon or giving you the chance to meet new Pokemon and give you the chance to see new places. It also allows a kid like you to grow up in the real world without a parent to hold your hand."

"How do you feel Misty?" Ash asked.

"I have to admit." She answered. "It's nice to be traveling on a journey. And I'm finally no longer in my sister's shadows."

"That reminds me." Ash suddenly said. "Do you intend to assume responsibility as the Cerulean Gym leader in the near future?"

"Actually I do." Misty replied. "My sisters would rather perform water ballets than battle, so I feel like I should do it. But at the moment I enjoy traveling."

"And you Brock?" Ash asked.

"I feel the same as you two." Brock answered. "Since I come from a big family, I couldn't really go anywhere. Since my mom always felt exhausted and weak after giving birth to me and my siblings, I stayed home to help her out. But now that my parents are feeling better and my siblings are more grown up, it feels good to be out and about. To tell you the truth my goal is to become a great Pokemon doctor, so this journey is helping me learn the stuff I need for that job."

"So we're all in agreement that we enjoy traveling on this journey." Ash said.

Misty and Brock smile in agreement.

"The one thing I want now is a place to sleep." Misty said. "And I would prefer to sleep in a building, not on the ground."

Ash then spotted a building in the distance. It was a lighthouse.

"We can probably rest there." He said.

They were about to run to the lighthouse when Ash felt something rub against his leg. It was a small red crab.

"Hey, a Krabby." Misty said.

Ash took a look on the Pokedex.

"Krabby, the River Crab Pokemon. It's pincers are not only powerful weapons, they are used for balance when walking sideways."

"I'm going to catch it." Ash said.

He took out a Poke Ball and tapped Krabby with it. It caught Krabby and was then teleported to Prof. Oak's lab.

The gang then ran to the lighthouse as fast as they could, before they encountered any more interruptions. Ash rang the doorbell.

"Who is it?" A male voice asked from inside the lighthouse.

"Excuse us." Ash said. "We're travelers that got lost. So would it be alright for us to rest here for the night?"

"And can I use your kitchen to make us something to eat?" Brock asked.

"Certainly." The male voice said. "But I would appreciate you making me something to eat as well. My cook's on vacation and I'm not the best cook."

"I'll gladly do so." Brock agreed to the request.

The gang then entered the lighthouse. It looked like a research lab inside; there were three computer desks shelved with Pokemon research books and other things scientists use.

"Can I use your phone please?" Ash asked.

"Go ahead." The male voice nodded.

Ash called Prof. Oak who was in the middle of cooking.

"Ah hello Ash." Prof. Oak said. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm calling to see how my Pokemon are doing." Ash informed the professor.

"Your Pokemon are great." Prof. Oak said. "Your Clefable, Butterfree, Beedrill, Nidoran couple, Sandshrew, Gyarados, Raichu, Vulpix, Gengar and Rapidash are wonderful."

(His party was Pikachu, Buizel, Corviknight, Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle)

"Did you receive my Krabby?" Ash asked.

"Yes I did." Prof. Oak said. "It's smaller than Gary's Krabby, though."

He showed Ash his Krabby and Gary's Krabby.

"Anyway Gary has captured 45 Pokemon."

"I really don't care." Ash muttered. He had no desire to capture Pokemon like crazy. He would do it at his own pace.

"Anyway I need to go Ash." Prof. Oak said. "Otherwise my dinner is going to get cold."

Prof. Oak then hung up.

Suddenly Ash heard some yipping from a cardboard box on a table.

*'What was that?'* He thought.

He walked over to the box and was surprised to see five Eevees.

"No way." Ash gasped. He opened his Pokedex.

"Eevee, the Evolution Pokemon. It's genetic code is irregular. It may mutate if exposed to radiation from Evolution stones."

"Hello Eevee." He tickled the Eevee under their chins. The Eevees cooed, meaning they liked it.

"That's amazing." The male voice said. "Those Eevees are typically shy."

Brock heard the voice coming from the stairs and he couldn't believe his eyes.

"It's a Kabuto." He gasped. "An extinct Pokemon."

"Sure." Ash sarcastically replied. "Since when do Kabuto have the ability to speak. It's probably someone in a costume."

"Yeah." The Kabuto agreed. "I'm really a human, but I can't remove this costume. Could one of you press the button on the chest please?"

Ash stepped forward and pressed the button.

The Kabuto costume fell off of a brown-haired man.

"Oh thank goodness." The man said. "Thanks for that. I've been stuck in that costume for hours. I'm Bill by the way."

"Why were you wearing that costume?" Ash asked.

"I'm a Pokemon researcher." Bill explained. "And I like to dress up as Pokemon to look at them in their natural habitat without scaring them away."

"That's a good idea." Brock said.

"So these five Eevee's belong to you?" Ash asked Bill.

"No they don't." Bill told him. "I found these Eevee's in a box on a stormy night. I'm looking for someone that can take care of these Eevee's."

Ash felt sorry for the Eevee's.

After Brock made some double bacon cheeseburgers for everyone, Bill led them to a room containing pictures of lots of Pokemon.

"I've seen every Pokemon in the Kanto region." Bill said. "And there are 150."

"150." Ash's eyes widened in shock. "I have 17 Pokemon from the Kanto region."

"That's a good amount." Bill said. "I've also learned that those aren't the only Pokemon in the world."

"I know. I have Pokemon from the Sinnoh and Galar regions." Ash informed Bill. "I actually plan to visit those regions in the future."

"Yeah, me too." Misty said. "I'd like to catch some water type Pokemon from those regions."

"Traveling through different regions might help me become a Pokemon doctor." Brock said.

Bill could tell that Ash, Brock and Misty had a real passion for adventure and dreams of their own. He took a deep breath.

"I have a secret to share with you three."

"What is it?" Misty asked.

"Come with me." Bill said.

He led the gang to the top of the lighthouse.

"The thing is, there's a Pokemon that I'm anxious to meet. I have no idea what it is, but it's alone."

"Does it have friends or family?" Ash asked.

"No it's been alone at sea for quite some time." Bill said. "It's a one of a kind Pokemon."

"I seriously doubt that." Ash rolled his eyes. "It's more likely a Pokemon that looks different from others in it's own species."

Bill and Brock looked at Ash in surprise.

*'He seems to be a lot smarter than he looks.'* They thought together.

Bill took out a device.

"This is why I know the Pokemon is alone." He said.

He pressed a button and the device played a roaring melody.

"I heard this from the Pokemon nine nights ago. It says 'I want to be your friend and I want to meet you'. I played a roaring melody back to it saying; 'I want to meet you too and I also want to be your friend'. And last night it replied saying; 'Let's be friends'."

"Do you think it will come here tonight?" Brock asked.

"I don't know." Bill admitted. "But I'd be happy if it does."

"What do you intend to do if it shows up?" Ash asked. "Will you capture it?"

"No." Bill said. "Just meeting it and studying it is enough for me. I always want to be friends with it forever."

Ash then heard a roar in the distance.

"It's here." He said.

The mysterious Pokemon was walking towards the lighthouse, roaring softly. Bill, Ash, Misty and Brock looked straight ahead at the ocean. The Pokemon was obscured by the fog, so they couldn't see it and it's form was enormous. Bill was playing the roaring melody from the device again to communicate with the Pokemon. And the Pokemon roared in response.

"It's like it's singing." Misty said.

"Would you care to dance?" Brock asked. Misty accepted Brock's offer.

The Pokemon walked and walked until it finally reached the lighthouse. It was so big and tall it reached the bottom of the sea floor to the top of the lighthouse.

"That's a..." Ash seemed to recognize the Pokemon.

"You know what that is?" Misty asked.

"Yeah. A Dragonite. Lance of the Elite Four uses one. But I've never seen a Dragonite this big before."

Ash took out the Pokedex.

"Dragonite, the Dragon Pokemon and the evolved form of Dragonair. An extremely rarely seen marine Pokemon. It's intelligence is said to match that of humans."

The Dragonite showed itself to the group and lowered it's head to Bill.

"So, you're a Dragonite." Bill said to Dragonite, rubbing it's head. "Let's be friends forever."

Dragonite happily roared. Ash, Misty and Brock were happy for Bill to finally meet the giant Pokemon.

"Looks like this Dragonite was different from it's own species." Ash whispered to Brock and Misty. They nodded in agreement.

The next morning Bill and Dragonite said goodbye to Ash, Misty and Brock.

"I cannot thank you three enough for being here with me when I finally met Dragonite." Bill said.

"I hope you and Dragonite are friends forever." Ash said.

"If you're looking for Vermilion City, it's not far away." Bill told them. "Oh Ash, there's something I want to ask you."

He held the five Poke Balls out to Ash.

"These five Poke Balls contain the five Eevee. I would like to give them to you."

"Me?" Ash said in surprise.

"Yes." Bill said. "After seeing the Eevee bond with you very quickly and your passion for Pokemon last night, I decided you're the perfect person to raise them."

"Wow thank you." Ash said. "I promise I will take good care of them."

After obtaining the five Eevee, Ash, Misty and Brock said goodbye to Bill and Dragonite and set off for Vermilion City once again.