After defeating the beast tamer A.J., Ash and his party continued their journey toward Vermilion City.
Along the way, they walked along the coastline. While training in flight, Brock's Zubat inadvertently discovered a striking lighthouse standing on a cape.
"That lighthouse is so special. It doesn't look like an ordinary navigational lighthouse," Brock said, pointing into the distance.
Ash's heart stirred, and he immediately remembered: "That's Bill's Lighthouse! He's the researcher behind the Pokémon Storage System!" (They had met briefly at a Pokémon Center in Chapter 4).
"Doctor Bill? The one we met in Viridian City last time?" Misty recalled.
"That's right. Let's pay him a visit. It's a good chance to ask him some questions about Pokémon," Ash suggested. He remembered that in the original story, there was an important plot point here.
The three arrived at the base of the lighthouse and knocked on the door.
The one who opened the door was indeed Bill. Seeing Ash, he looked delighted. "Oh! It's Ash from Pallet Town! And Misty, and this is...?"
"Hello, Doctor Bill. I'm Brock from Pewter City," Brock introduced himself politely.
"Welcome, welcome! Please, come in!" Bill warmly welcomed them into the lighthouse.
The interior of the lighthouse was cluttered with research equipment and computer screens, looking very busy.
"Doctor, are you still researching the Pokémon Storage System?" Ash asked.
"Yes, but lately I've been focusing on another phenomenon." Bill's expression turned serious as he pulled up a blurred audio signal. "For some time now, I've been receiving a very ancient, sad Pokémon cry late at night.
The source seems to be out at sea. I've tried to translate it, but I can only decipher fragments like 'waiting' and 'returning.' I suspect a very ancient and powerful Pokémon is wandering in the nearby waters, seemingly searching for something."
Bill looked out at the vast sea with the curiosity and concern of a researcher. "I've been trying to locate it, but its signal is intermittent. I have a request... if you are free tonight, could you help me observe from the top of the lighthouse? Many hands make light work."
Ash and the others looked at each other and nodded. They were naturally willing to help with such a mysterious event.
Night fell, and a thick fog rose over the sea. Ash, Misty, Brock, and Bill stood guard at the top of the lighthouse, staring intently at the pitch-black water.
Pikachu also pricked up his ears, sensing something.
Suddenly, Ash's Aura Power perceived a massive, ancient, and sorrow-filled presence slowly approaching!
"Doctor, something is coming! Over there!" He pointed in one direction.
Almost simultaneously, Bill's instruments issued a sharp alarm!
In the thick fog, an incredibly massive shadow slowly emerged. Its outline grew clearer it was a Dragonite as large as a mountain! (Note: It was translated as Giant Dragonite at the time, but it was actually a normal Dragonite, just of immense size.)
It let out a low, long cry, a sound filled with an indescribable loneliness and persistence, as if it had traveled through thousands of years. It seemed to be searching for a lost companion or home.
"Heavens... it's huge!" Misty gasped, covering her mouth.
"Is this... the owner of that ancient voice?" Brock was equally shocked.
Bill excitedly recorded data. "Incredible! Such a massive specimen is practically a living fossil!"
Ash, however, recalled that besides this Giant Dragonite, there would eventually be a Giant Ancient Gengar, Giant Ancient Alakazam, and Giant Ancient Jigglypuff. These four Pokémon all shared a distinct trait their enormous size.
In his past life, he had seen theories that the Giant Dragonite likely had some connection to those Giant Ancient Pokémon.
Returning to the present, Ash stared at the Giant Dragonite. His Aura Power allowed him to feel that deep sadness more than anyone else.
He tried to concentrate, extending his Aura like silk threads, attempting to establish a faint connection with that ancient being.
What he transmitted was not curiosity or investigation, but simple thoughts of understanding and comfort.
Furthermore, he shared clues regarding the Giant Ancient Pokémon, which piqued the Giant Dragonite's intense curiosity.
The Giant Dragonite seemed to notice this faint but pure goodwill. Its massive head turned slightly toward the lighthouse, and its deep gaze seemed to pierce the fog, locking eyes with Ash for a split second.
The sorrow in its eyes seemed to fade slightly, replaced by a trace of curiosity and... gratitude?
It didn't come any closer. It simply let out another long cry, though the sound no longer seemed quite so heavy. Then, it slowly turned around, its massive silhouette fading back into the thick fog until it disappeared into the vast ocean.
It took a long time for everyone to snap out of it.
"It's gone..." Misty murmured.
"Was it... looking at us just now?" Brock said uncertainly.
Bill looked at Ash with excitement. "Ash, did you do something just now? I felt a strange energy fluctuation... It seemed to have a very special reaction to you!"
Ash didn't explain the Aura Power in detail, only saying, "I just felt that it was very sad and tried to express some goodwill. It probably just hasn't felt a friendly signal from the outside world for too long."
He also kept the matter of the Giant Ancient Pokémon to himself. After all, those ruins hadn't been excavated yet, and speaking out would surely raise suspicion.
"Regardless, this was an amazing discovery!" Bill said excitedly. "Thank you, Ash, and everyone. This provides me with very important research leads! There must be an extraordinary story behind this Pokémon."
[Ding! The host assisted Doctor Bill in observing the Giant Dragonite and successfully made preliminary mental contact, uncovering a corner of an ancient legend. Reward: 800 World Origin Points.]
[Current World Origin Points: 5,800.]
The system provided a generous reward; clearly, this event had touched upon the deeper secrets of the Pokémon world.
The next day, the three said their goodbyes to the research-obsessed Bill and continued toward Vermilion City. This brief but shocking encounter with the Giant Dragonite left a deep impression on their hearts and made Ash even more aware of how mysterious and vast this world truly was.
As for the Giant Dragonite and the Giant Ancient Pokémon, I will find a way to fill that plot hole in the future.
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