After bidding farewell to Porta Vista, Ash and his friends continued their journey along the coastline, arriving at a bustling port city known as Porta Vista Harbor. Compared to Porta Vista, this place looked even more industrialized. Numerous cargo ships and ferries were docked along the piers, and the harbor was alive with activity.
Their goal was to board a communications ship bound for the next city with a Gym.
However, when they reached the docks, they could only watch helplessly as the very ship they had planned to take had just departed, leaving behind a fading trail across the water.
"Ah! We're too late!" Misty cried in frustration.
"Looks like we'll have to wait for the next one," Brock said, checking the timetable with a resigned sigh.
Since they were already there, the three decided to explore the harbor.
Before long, they noticed that the city seemed to be shrouded in a tense atmosphere. Near the bay, a massive construction project was underway. Enormous resort hotels and a water park were being built, the roar of machinery echoing without pause. In stark contrast, the nearby seawater looked murky, and there was even a faint unpleasant odor lingering in the air.
Ash's Aura once again sensed that familiar surge of anger and unrest from the ocean. This time, it was even stronger and more chaotic than what he had felt in Porta Vista.
"This place feels… really wrong," Ash muttered, frowning as he stared at the construction site. "Are they reclaiming land from the sea again? It feels even worse than what Brutella was doing."
An old fisherman repairing his net nearby overheard them and let out a heavy sigh. "That's Nastina's project. She's Brutella's cousin sister. Even more… profit driven than her sister. To meet her deadlines, her construction site barely cares about environmental protection. Wastewater and debris are dumped straight into the sea. It's nearly ruined what used to be a good fishing ground. At this rate, forget the fish. Even Tentacool won't be able to stay."
"Nastina?" The three exchanged glances. They had just dealt with Brutella, and now her sister had appeared.
At that moment, the sea erupted.
The harbor waters suddenly churned as if boiling. Countless Tentacool surfaced in dense clusters. At their center emerged a gigantic Tentacruel, even larger than the one they had encountered before, its eyes blazing with far more violent fury.
One massive tentacle slammed down, effortlessly smashing a section of the wooden pier with a deafening crash.
"Rooaaar—!!"
Unlike last time, this Tentacruel seemed smarter. Or perhaps simply angrier.
Instead of launching an immediate full scale assault, it used a powerful Psychic attack to seize Meowth from the Team Rocket trio, who had just sneaked out from a corner and were about to begin their usual motto. Meowth was lifted helplessly into the air.
"Meow?! What's goin' on, meow?! Let me go, meow!" Meowth struggled in terror but could not break free.
Then, through Meowth's uncontrollable mouth, a bizarre broadcast rang across the entire harbor, blending Tentacruel's furious will with Meowth's voice:
"Stop, humans! Cease your destruction! (Meow~!) Our home! Polluted! Destroyed! (It hurts, meow!) If you do not stop! We will reduce this place! To ruins! (Spare me, meow!)"
The surreal sight left everyone stunned.
The giant Tentacruel was using Meowth as a loudspeaker, clearly expressing its demands.
"It… it's talking through Meowth!" Misty exclaimed in shock.
"It's warning us. It wants the construction to stop," Ash immediately understood. His Aura could feel the pain and desperate resolve within those words.
Panic spread throughout the harbor.
Nastina appeared surrounded by bodyguards. Upon seeing the chaos, instead of remorse, she shouted furiously, "This is outrageous! Those wretched jellyfish! Call security! Drive them away at once!"
With conflict imminent, Tentacruel's patience seemed to snap. It issued a command, and the Tentacool army began attacking the dock facilities even more fiercely.
Amid the turmoil, Misty's attention was drawn elsewhere. From behind some seaside rocks, she sensed a faint, pained, anxious Aura. As a Water type specialist, she had a heightened sensitivity to the emotions of Water Pokémon.
Quietly slipping away from the main battleground, she ran behind the rocks and found a small Horsea lying weakly in the shallows. One of its fins had been cut by construction debris discarded into the sea, leaving it unable to swim quickly. The surrounding waters were becoming increasingly dangerous as Tentacool churned violently nearby.
Horsea looked up at Misty and let out a soft, anxious cry, its eyes filled with a plea for help.
"Don't be afraid. I'll help you," Misty said at once, kneeling down to carefully examine its injury. She applied medicine from her kit with gentle hands. Feeling her kindness, Horsea nuzzled against her fingers affectionately.
Suddenly, a wooden plank knocked loose by Tentacruel's sweeping tentacle hurtled toward them. Misty instinctively shielded Horsea.
"Watch out! Staryu, Water Gun!"
Staryu appeared just in time, blasting the plank to pieces.
Misty looked at the Horsea in her arms, now leaning against her trustingly. Then she glanced at the raging Tentacruel in the distance and the chaotic harbor beyond. Her heart settled on a decision.
Taking out a Poké Ball, she spoke gently. "It's too dangerous here. Will you come with me for now? Once your injury heals, if you want to return to the ocean, I won't stop you."
Horsea looked at Misty, then at its devastated home. After a moment, it nodded and lightly touched the Poké Ball. Misty successfully caught Horsea.
Meanwhile, at the main dock, the situation was spiraling out of control.
Nastina's security team clashed directly with the Tentacool, only enraging the giant Tentacruel further. It began attacking indiscriminately, causing severe damage to the harbor.
Ash tried to communicate through Aura as he had done before, but this time Tentacruel's fury ran too deep. It nearly refused all contact.
Just then, the next communications ship they had intended to board, which had been docked nearby, sounded its horn prematurely. Fearing collateral damage, it was preparing to force its departure.
"The ship's leaving!" Brock shouted.
"We have no choice! We need to get out of here first!" Ash decided instantly. The giant Tentacruel had lost control. Staying would be far too dangerous. "We've got to get on that ship!"
Seizing a gap in Tentacruel's attacks, the three dashed toward the departing vessel.
Ash sent out Scyther to slice through debris blocking their path. Brock had Onix temporarily shield them from splashing blasts. Misty clutched the Poké Ball containing Horsea and sprinted forward under Staryu's cover.
At the critical moment, the three of them leapt onto the deck of the communications ship just as it was slowly pulling away from the dock. Almost at the same instant they landed, the giant Tentacruel unleashed a powerful Hydro Pump at the very spot where they had been standing, completely obliterating the pier.
The communications ship accelerated, leaving Porta Vista Harbor, now transformed into a battlefield.
Standing by the railing, Ash, Misty, and Brock watched the massive figure still raging in the distance, towering water columns surging into the sky. Their hearts felt unbearably heavy. Nastina's greed and irresponsibility had provoked nature's furious retaliation, and innocent Pokémon and civilians were paying the price.
"Isn't there any other way?" Misty clenched the Poké Ball containing Horsea, staring at the sea that had once nurtured it but was now filled with pain. A powerful impulse welled up inside her. "They just want their home back!"
At that moment, she saw the giant Tentacruel grow even more frenzied as humans fled and resistance continued. A massive Hydro Pump shot toward a seaside watchtower where several workers, unable to evacuate in time, were trapped.
"Oh no!" Misty's pupils shrank. Without hesitation, she made a shocking decision. She shoved Horsea's Poké Ball into Ash's hands and turned, sprinting toward the stern of the ship.
"Misty! What are you doing?!" Ash shouted.
"Come back! It's too dangerous!" Brock yelled urgently.
But it was as if she could not hear them. She ran to the highest point at the stern, took a deep breath, and with every ounce of strength she had, shouted toward the harbor, toward the giant Tentacruel:
"Stop! Please, stop—!!"
Her voice seemed so small amid the sea wind and explosions, yet it rang out clearly, filled with undeniable sincerity and courage.
Tentacruel paused. Its raging, multifaceted eyes shifted toward the ship moving away, and toward the tiny human girl who dared to call out to it.
For safety reasons, the captain intended to speed up and leave, but Ash suddenly stopped him. "Captain, please wait! Trust her!" His Aura could sense the purity and unshakable resolve in Misty's heart.
Seeing that Tentacruel had noticed her, Misty climbed onto the stern railing without hesitation, making herself even more visible. The sea breeze whipped through her short orange hair. There was no fear on her face, only earnestness and plea.
"Tentacruel! And all the Tentacool! Please listen to me!" she cried with all her strength, her voice trembling with emotion. "I know! I know your home was destroyed. I know your pain and your anger! Humans were wrong!"
Her words carried across the sea wind and echoed through the harbor. For a brief instant, the chaos seemed to stall. Even Nastina stared at the sea in stunned disbelief.
"But please look at this city! Look at the innocent people who are suffering just like you! Destruction won't solve anything. It will only bring more hatred and more sorrow!"
Tears welled in Misty's eyes. She thought of the Horsea she had just caught, and of the ocean that should have been beautiful. "I promise you! Humans have learned their lesson! We've seen your anger. We've heard your voices!" She pointed toward Meowth, still suspended in midair. "We understand the price of destroying the environment!"
She spread her arms wide, as if embracing the sea and all its inhabitants. "Please trust us just once! Please lead everyone back to the ocean! I promise someone will stand up and stop this construction, and restore peace to these waters! From now on, humans will learn how to live in harmony with you, with the sea! Please give us a chance. And give yourselves a chance to make your home beautiful again!"
The girl's sincere and courageous plea flowed like the purest water, washing over the fury and violence hanging in the air. She did not rely on any Pokémon's power. She was speaking from her heart.
Tentacruel's blazing eyes fixed tightly on the small yet radiant figure aboard the ship.
It could feel there was no deceit in her words. Only shared sorrow and an unwavering promise. Her courage, risking her own safety for others, including Pokémon like them, gradually soothed its raging heart.
The psychic grip on Meowth loosened. With a splash, Meowth fell into the sea and swam clumsily toward shore.
A long moment passed as everyone held their breath.
Then the giant Tentacruel released a deep cry. It was no longer filled with aggression.
It looked at Misty one last time. The anger in its gaze slowly faded, replaced by something complex. Scrutiny. Hesitation. And finally, a choice to believe in this rare sincerity from a human.
With a wave of its tentacles, it gave the command. The Tentacool stopped attacking. Like a receding tide, they followed their king, gradually sinking back into the deep blue sea until they disappeared.
The ocean grew calm once more, as though the previous chaos had been nothing but a nightmare. Sunlight broke through the dispersing dust, illuminating the battered yet finally peaceful harbor.
Aboard the communications ship, everyone exhaled in relief, then erupted into cheers of survival.
Ash and Brock hurried to help the nearly exhausted Misty down from the railing.
"Misty, that was reckless!" Brock scolded, though his voice trembled with lingering fear and immense admiration.
"But you did it!" Ash looked at her, pride shining in his eyes. "You convinced it with your heart!"
A pale yet deeply relieved smile appeared on Misty's face. She took back Horsea's Poké Ball from Ash and held it gently to her chest. "I just… didn't want to see them, or this city, get hurt anymore."
The communications ship adjusted its course and slowly sailed away from Porta Vista Harbor.
Standing on deck and looking back at the city gradually returning to calm, the three of them knew Nastina's project would likely never continue. The League would surely intervene.
Misty's promise would have to be fulfilled by the people of that city together.
As for them, they continued their journey with a deeper understanding of life and nature. Misty's courage and kindness had not only resolved a crisis, but also built a bridge of the heart between her and Pokémon.
[ Ding! Misty relied on extraordinary courage and sincerity to calm the giant Tentacruel's fury and resolve the destruction crisis at Porta Vista Harbor. Reward: 1500 World Points. Team shared. ]
[ Misty's affinity with Water type Pokémon has greatly increased. ]
[ Current World Points: 11000 ]
A/N: Next chapter, they will attempt to catch the thousand year old Gastly. There are two possible methods. One is through battle and persuasion. The other, far bolder option is to promise to restore the girl's body and revive her, allowing the thousand year old Gastly to follow willingly.
Which idea do you think is better?