According to the Hoenn Weather Institute’s forecast, the torrential rain and blazing sunlight affecting parts of the Hoenn region would gradually disappear within twelve hours. However, despite lasting only twelve hours, the disasters had already caused incalculable losses.
When the torrential rain struck, several passenger ships had already departed from Lilycove City’s harbor for Mossdeep City. Two passenger ships had lost contact when the storm first descended, and search operations were still underway.
In addition, several passenger ships that had not yet been affected by the rainstorm were currently in danger as well, because they could face the same disaster at any moment.
“Captain, we’ve searched the entire ship twice, but we still can’t find those four people.”
“B*stards! Didn’t I tell you to get all the passengers into the emergency cabins immediately?!!! And now you’re telling me four people are missing?!!”
“We really did use every second we had to direct the passengers somewhere safe, but we never saw those four people from beginning to end.” The sailor-uniformed crew member looked miserable as he faced the bearded captain. Even though this had been caused by a natural disaster, losing four passengers from a passenger ship was still something they could not escape responsibility for. If this was handled badly, every one of them could lose their jobs.
And that was not even the most important issue. If those people really had gone missing from their ship, none of the passenger ship’s employees would be able to rest easy. After all, those were four living human lives.
“Damn it! Have you identified the missing passengers?” The bearded captain’s furious expression did not last long before it sank. His face became uglier than if he were crying. This was not the time to be angry. There were too many things they needed to do.
“The missing passengers are three males and one female, all fairly young. Their names are Ash, Brock, May, and Max…”
During Ash and the others’ voyage by ship to Mossdeep City, Team Rocket suddenly appeared, and Ash’s Pikachu was nearly stolen by Team Rocket. During the battle, Pikachu’s Thunder Shock move caused an explosion, sending Ash and the others, as well as Team Rocket, flying into the sea.
Immediately afterward, the rainstorm descended. The passenger ship traveled farther and farther away, and Ash and the others completely lost contact with it.
…
…
“W-Where are we?”
By the time Ash’s group and Team Rocket’s group groggily woke up, they had no idea how much time had passed. All of them had been swept by the waves stirred up by the rainstorm onto an uninhabited island.
The torrential rain had not affected this place too severely. As time passed, the downpour had already weakened into a light drizzle. However, the cold rainwater still made several of them sneeze.
“Brats!!”
“This is all your fault!”
Waking up alongside Ash, Brock, May, Max, and Pikachu were Team Rocket’s James, Jessie, and Meowth. As consciousness gradually returned to them, they quickly scrambled to their feet and angrily confronted each other.
“Team Rocket, you really are persistent as ghosts.” May said angrily.
“We should be saying that, meow! If you’d just obediently handed Pikachu over, none of this would have happened.” Meowth waved a paw.
Neither side was willing to back down, but at that moment, a sudden commotion caused all of them to look over.
What appeared was a troop dressed in dark blue uniforms. Forcefully clearing a path ahead of them, several armored vehicles converted from submarines came crushing through. Seeing the uniformly armed force and the familiar symbol emblazoned on them, both Ash’s group and Team Rocket’s group visibly froze. They immediately tried to leave in different directions, but they were already a step too slow and were quickly discovered.
One minute later, Ash’s group and Team Rocket’s group had been tightly bound by Team Aqua.
“What a fateful encounter…”
Matt, one of Team Aqua’s highest-ranking admin, stepped forward. He possessed a powerful physique and presence resembling that of a wrestler, and his appearance alone gave off an oppressive feeling. However, he was extremely respectful toward Archie behind him.
“Who are they? Why are they at our trading location?”
The leader of Team Aqua was a middle-aged man with a full beard. Under his cold gaze, the surrounding Team Aqua members all began to grow nervous.
“Boss Archie, these brats have sabotaged our plans before. I originally thought they had died in that incident, but what I never expected was that not only did they survive, they even appeared here on Monsu Island…” Matt said.
“Team Aqua! You bad guys, let us go!”
Seeing the situation becoming increasingly unfavorable, Ash shouted.
However, upon hearing the words “bad guys,” Archie’s expression visibly changed.
“You sabotaged our plans, and you still dare call us the bad guys?”
“Don’t think I don’t know. Just like those people from Team Magma, you’re trying to capture Super-ancient Pokémon and use them to do bad things,” Ash said.
“Hey, Ash, please stop provoking them,” Brock and the others hurriedly said nervously when they saw the expressions of the Team Aqua members becoming increasingly unfriendly.
“We’re not bad guys. Since you’re all just kids, I’ll explain it to you.” Archie glanced at the time, then at the temple altar opposite them. Smiling, he spread his arms and said, “The purpose for which Team Aqua was founded is to uncover the mysteries of this world and create a new and beautiful world. We’re nothing like those fools from Team Magma.”
“I might as well tell you. The Super-ancient Pokémon Kyogre has already fallen into our hands. We’re only one final step away from achieving our goal.” Archie glanced at Ash and the others, whose faces were filled with shock, and laughed smugly. However, most of his attention was focused on James and the others.
“How is that possible!” As Ash and the others stared in shock, Archie continued, “I’ve noticed it since just now. Judging from your uniform, you’re from the Kanto Region organization Team Rocket, aren’t you?”
“Well… well… well…” James, Jessie, and Meowth huddled together nervously. But after thinking about it, they suddenly became bolder and said, “That’s right! I advise you to let us go immediately, or Team Rocket won’t let you off!”
Team Rocket…
Archie narrowed his eyes. Once they successfully gained control of Kyogre, Team Aqua would possess the power to contend with the Hoenn League. With Hoenn’s oceans as their main battlefield, Team Aqua would have no reason to fear any organization.
However… before that, they still had to deal with Team Magma here on Monsu Island.
“There’s no way these brats could have had either the ability or the courage to sabotage our plans. In that case, it seems the true culprits secretly interfering with Team Aqua’s plans really were you Team Rocket. I’ll remember this grudge…”
James, Jessie, and Meowth: “???”
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