Chapter 51: Sinking to the Seabed
Ash watched the man walk away with a gloomy face, then continued eating. Suddenly, the lights inside the ship went out. The trainers on the ship looked around, not understanding what was happening.
Just then, the lights inside the ship came back on. Many people dressed in black clothes appeared, with a large 'R' emblazoned on their clothing. Seeing this, Ash shouted loudly, "Who are you people?!"
The men in black didn't answer Ash's question. They took out a machine and turned it on. A powerful inward suction came from the machine, pulling the trainers' Poké Balls into the device. Then, the men in black announced to the trainers, "Hand over all your Pokémon to us, Team Rocket!"
Hearing this, Ash retorted, "Dream on! If you want my Pokémon, come and get them yourselves!" After speaking, he commanded Pikachu beside him, "Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt to attack these guys!" Hearing Ash, Pikachu launched a Thunderbolt towards the men in black. Seeing this, the other trainers also released their Pokémon one after another and started battling Team Rocket.
Meanwhile, our protagonist, Brock. Seeing a large-scale brawl erupt inside the ship, he thought, Sigh! Better not go help out! After all, I'm not exactly a righteous hero. If their Pokémon get taken, they get taken. None of my damn business. This is actually a good opportunity! Everything on this ship will be useless soon anyway; might as well let it benefit me! Having thought this, Brock started roaming through every corner of the ship.
As Brock watched the trainers battling Team Rocket, he simultaneously exchanged items for points using his system. Just then, Meowth walked up beside Brock and said, "Brock! I'm back!"
Hearing someone call him, Brock turned around and saw Meowth standing there. He asked, "Meowth? Good that you're back. Get inside the Poké Ball first!" After speaking, Brock took out a Poké Ball and recalled Meowth. Then he continued his points-exchanging journey.
Just then, a sudden explosion occurred inside the ship! Everyone looked towards the source of the massive blast. It turned out that Pokémon moves had collided, causing the huge explosion. At the same time, a storm appeared outside the ship, causing the ocean to churn with many large waves. The waves crashed against the S.S. Anne, making it rock violently.
Seeing this, everyone inside the ship stopped battling. They all looked outside, then asked the Captain, "Captain! Is this ship going to sink?!"
Hearing the passengers' concerns, the Captain looked outside, then addressed everyone, "Rest assured! This ship absolutely will not sink!" After saying this, the Captain walked away.
Hearing the Captain's words, the people relaxed and watched the scene outside. Just then, the Captain reappeared! He was sitting in a lifeboat, holding a megaphone, and shouted to everyone, "Everyone, please rest assured! This ship definitely won't sink! Please believe me!" After saying this, he launched the lifeboat into the sea.
After witnessing this scene, everyone frantically started looking for lifeboats to escape. Seeing this, Brock also wanted to find a lifeboat and leave. Just as he started heading towards the deck, he suddenly thought, If I just leave like this, will Ash and the others look for me and miss the best time to escape? If they don't look for me and choose to leave, and then I go looking for them but can't find them, I'll be trapped on the ship! That would be really awkward... Should I go find them or not?!
Having thought this through, Brock saw that most people had already left. He looked towards the lifeboats in the water but didn't see Ash or the others. Subsequently, he went back inside the ship to look for them. As Brock walked deeper into the ship's interior, he called out, "Ash! Misty! Melanie! Daisy! Pikachu! Where are you?!"
Meanwhile, with Ash and the others. They were also searching everywhere for Brock. Just then, Misty said, "Still haven't found Brock! Could he have left already?"
Melanie, nearby, heard Misty and insisted, "No way! Brock isn't that kind of person! He's probably looking for us right now too!"
Hearing Melanie, Misty said uncertainly, "Not necessarily! When facing life-threatening danger, people's choices are often the opposite [of what you'd expect]." Hearing Misty's words, Melanie lowered her head and pondered this.
Just then, Brock, who was searching for Ash's group, spotted them! He walked towards them and said, "Ash! Misty! Melanie! Daisy! And you, Pikachu! I finally found you all! Let's escape quickly! This ship is sinking fast!"
Just as Brock finished speaking, intending to escape immediately, a massive wave crashed against the ship, overturning it! The ship then sank into the ocean depths. And Brock and the others inside? As the ship capsized, their bodies were thrown upside down, then slammed hard against the wooden planks (walls/floors). They all fainted from the impact.
By now, many lifeboats were floating on the sea surface. The Captain, sitting in one of the lifeboats, held a megaphone and announced, "Excellent! Everyone is accounted for and safe!"
Hearing the Captain's words, the survivors didn't say anything more. After all, they had just escaped a near-death experience. Hearing the Captain say everyone was safe, they didn't dwell on anything else.
An unknown amount of time passed before Ash and the others regained consciousness. Brock looked around their surroundings (inside the sunken ship) and said, "Ash! Misty! Melanie! Daisy! We're trapped on the ship, and it's already sunk to the bottom of the sea! While the seawater hasn't completely flooded in yet, let's quickly think of a way to escape!"
Hearing Brock, Ash and the others also looked around their surroundings, then started trying to figure out a plan.
Meanwhile, Melanie, nearby, thought, If we don't think of a way to leave... then we'll have to die here... Also! I still don't believe Brock likes men! I should take this chance to ask him clearly!
Having decided this, Melanie asked Brock beside her, "Brock... do you really like men? We're all trapped here now. When the seawater completely floods the ship, we'll all have to die together... Brock, before I die, I want to hear your true answer."
Hearing Melanie's question, Ash and the others nearby stared intently at Brock, anticipating his answer.
Seeing this, Brock knew he absolutely had to give an answer now. He walked over in front of Melanie, embraced her, and then kissed her. After the kiss, he simply replied, "That is my answer."
Witnessing this scene, Ash and the others were utterly stunned! They never expected to see something like this!
Meanwhile, Melanie, just snapping back to her senses, said, "Brock... I understand your answer now... I'd be content to die here together with you..."
Hearing Melanie's words, Brock replied, "Silly girl, don't say that. We will definitely think of a way to leave this place. Please believe me." After speaking, Brock started thinking of escape plans again.
Just then, Ash exclaimed from the side, "I've thought of a way to get out of here! Let's first go to the very bottom of the ship! Then, we can have Charmander burn a hole through the ship's bottom! After that, we can use Water-type Pokémon to take us away from here!"
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