Chapter 15: Fight or Flight

When Ash returned to the clearing, he had a new Pokeball in his hand and a massive grin on his face.

"Ash, what are you planning?"

"Relax, I just called Professor Oak to see if he could send an old friend. Go, Salamance!"

Goh gasped as Ash's Dragon Type from Alola fluttered about, roaring proudly as he stretched his wings.

"Y-you caught a Salamance?!"

"Well, not like this. He was a Bagon when I caught him. It took a heck of a lot of time to get him this far, but it was worth it!"

Salamance, seeing his old friend, swooped in and nuzzled Ash, who chuckled.

"Good to see you two, old buddy. Listen, Dragonair here wants to learn Dragon Dance so she can fly. Think you can help her out?"

Salamance nodded, and flew over to the younger dragon. Motioning for her to watch him closely, he began twisting his body round and round, going through the motions slowly so that she could keep up. After Salamance finished, Dragonair tried to replicate the motions, only to fall on her face. At this point, she was on the verge of tears. But Salamance nudged her forward, and showed her the routine again. This time, although she didn't quite get it, she got a lot closer and even managed to get a few feet off the ground. This continued on for a while, with Salamance encouraging her the entire way until, at last, she followed his instructions exactly and managed to stay afloat.

"Alright Dragonair, you did it!"

Dragonair chirped happily, flying around the small space without a care in the world. Still though, she couldn't help but look up wistfully at her companions higher up in the sky. Seeing this, Salamance smiled and hoisted her onto his back, taking her by surprise. After securing her on his back, he took off into the air, giving the little dragon the ride of her life. After recovering from her shock, Dragonair chirped happily as the wind whooshed past her face. Ash smiled at seeing the display.

"Looks like they're having fun."

"Great idea bringing in Salamance, Ash! How'd you come up with it?"

"Meh, just came to me."

Later that day, the trio were having lunch among the Dragon types. The other Dragonairs and Dragonites had seen what Ash had done for the youngling, and were more than happy to let them stay. Goh, who had been silently contemplating the events, spoke up.

"You know, there's something I've always been wondering."

"What's that, Goh?"

"Well, you know how Dragonair have this slender, serpentine shape?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, then how come they evolve into Dragonite, a Pokemon considerably bulkier? Wouldn't it make more sense for them to evolve into something more like Milotic?"

Ash and Lillie went quiet. It was a good question, but not one either of them had an answer for. Eventually, they just shrugged in defeat.

"Just one of life's great mysteries, I suppose."

Their musings, were cut short, however, when a huge net dropped down from the sky, trapping a lot of the Dragon types within. Before anyone could react, the net was hoised into the air by a blimp, with a very familiar looking R logo on it. Ash groaned in annoyance.

"Team Rocket. Not again!"

"Wait, you've deal with Team Rocket before?"

"Long story, no time to explain. Salamance, can you get us up there?"

Salamance nodded, and bowed down so that Ash, Lillie, and Dragonair could climb aboard. Not wanting to be left out, Goh took out a Pokeball and unleashed his Scyther. Before Scyther could respond, Goh had already jumped onto his back.

"Alright Scyther, after that blimp!"

But Scyther just stayed where he was, obviously straining from the weight of a teenager.

"Um, Goh? Scyther can't fly."

"What? But its part flying type."

"Here, you can borrow Pidgeot."

Goh grumbled, but returned Scyther to his Pokeball and climbed onto Pidgeot's back. Ash, Lillie, and Dragonair climbed onto Salamance's back, and the group flew after the blimp. They caught up to it, landing on a platform on the top.

"Alright Team Rocket, show yourselves!"

An evil laugh could be heard from within, and a panel opened up to reveal a rising platform. As it neared the top, a chant rang out:

"Prepare for trouble..."

"And make it double!"

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all people within our nation."

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jesse!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket Blasts off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth, that's right!"

Goh blinked, not sure how to react. Ash couldn't blame him, it had taken him a while to get used to the trio's antics.

"Did...did that Meowth just talk? I'm not going crazy, am I?"

"No, you're not. Goh, meet Team Rocket. Team Rocket, Goh."

"Who cares what he's called? You're spoiling our fun!"

"Yeah, so scram!"

"Did you really think we'd just sit by and let you take a whole island full of Dragonite?"

"Did you think we'd give you a choice? Go, Seviper!"

"Carnevine, I choose you! No, not me, them!"

Team Rocket's Pokemon stood firm and proud, but Ash and his friends were determined to stand their ground.

"Pidgeot, use Aerial Ace! Salamance, use Dragon Breath!"

"Powder Snow, Snowy!"

"Scyther, use Furry Cutter!"

"Poison Sting, Seviper!"

"Carnevine, Bullet Seed!"

The small platform what full of fierce attacks, Pokemon dodging and weaving around them to get in close. Poof Dragonair was so scared she couldn't think properly. Suddenly, Carnevine fired off a massive Solar Beam right at her. In her panicked state, she froze completely.

"Look out!"

Without a second thought, Ash lunged at her, knocking her out of the way...

Only to send them both flying off the edge, and plummeting towards the ground.

"ASH!"

Ash tried to grab onto Dragonair, but her slender body made it hard to keep a good grasp. Once he got as good of a grip as he could, Dragonair tried to fly them back to the ship, but she wasn't strong enough. Fearing the worse, Ash closed his eyes and waited for the end...

Only to feel a bright glow, as well as the body he had his arms around expanding. Opening his eyes, he saw Dragonair evolve into a Dragonite right before his eyes.

"DRAGONITE!"

"Woah, that's so cool!"

Placing Ash on her back, Dragonite flew up back up to the ship, stopping briefly to cut her friends free.

"Hey, what're you doing?!"

"We stole those fair and square!"

The trio stopped dead in their tracks when they came face to face with an army of really strong, really angry Dragon Types.

"Um...no hard feelings?"

Their response was an entire barrage of Hyper Beams, utterly destroying their aircraft and sending them flying. Luckily, Goh, Lillie, and the Pokemon managed to escape.

"LOOKS LIKE TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"

Ash smiled, and gently rubbed Dragonite's head.

"Congratulations, Dragonite."

"Nite."

Later, as evening was beginning to set in, Ash, Goh, and Lillie were preparing to head back to the mainland.

"Alright, do we have everything?"

"Yep. And I made sure to get lots of pictures to show the professor!"

"Great, then let's get moving!"

But just as Ash was about to step onto the ship, the Dragonite from before reached out and grabbed him, pulling him into a big hug.

"Huh? Is something wrong, Dragonite?"

"Dragonite!"

"Ash, I think she wants to travel with you."

"Really? Is that true, Dragonite?"

Dragonite nodded her head enthusiastically. Ash smiled, and took out a Pokeball.

"Alright then, welcome to the team!"

He gently tapped the ball to the forehead, absorbing her into it and capturing her with a click.

"Alright, I just caught a Dragonite!"

"Pika Pika!"

They arrived back in Vermilion City by nightfall. As soon as they got back to the lab, they handed their pictures into the professor.

"Incredible! And there's a whole island of them, you say?"

"Yep! Ash even caught one!"

"Well, she let me catch her, but yeah."

Professor Cerise smiled, and tore up each and every picture.

"Well, if its so sacred, best let it remain a secret. After all, the Dragonite don't need more people like Team Rocket invading their home, do they?'

Ash and co. couldn't agree more.