Pokemon : Rewind

To protect the camp from wandering Pokémon that might venture from the island or emerge from the sea, Ash decided to leave Charizard and Blastoise behind to stand guard.

With Pikachu and Togepi accompanying them, Ash, Misty, and Tracey set out to follow the mysterious footprints they had discovered, hoping to find whoever might still be on the island.

As they trailed the footprints, the sky darkened, forcing the group to use their lighting tools to navigate safely. 

Along the way, they encountered several Pokémon—some from the forest and others from the sea. However, none of the Pokémon seemed startled by their presence, as if they were used to seeing humans.

While Ash and Misty didn't think much of this, Tracey's keen observation skills caught the unusual behaviour. 

After some discussion, they theorised that someone likely visited this island frequently, explaining why the Pokémon appeared so familiar with humans.

"The footprints stop here..." Tracey said, halting as they arrived at a rocky area near the shoreline. The terrain consisted of hard stone, making it impossible for footprints to leave an impression.

The location was unique. A large puddle resembling a small pond lay in a natural depression near the reef, likely formed by seawater left behind during low tide.

"Look at that!" Misty exclaimed, pointing toward a long, shadowy object lying near the puddle. It was difficult to identify in the dim light, but it was clearly man-made.

The group hurried over, shining their lights to investigate. It turned out to be a small, shuttle-like boat with a paddle resting beside it.

"A boat, but no sign of anyone," Ash said, scanning the area for clues.

"Could they have gone into the forest to rest?" Misty suggested, glancing at the dense vegetation.

"That's possible," Tracey replied thoughtfully. "If this person visits the island often, they might have a shelter hidden somewhere in the forest."

"Pika!" Pikachu suddenly leapt from Ash's shoulder and crouched low to the ground, his body tense and his gaze fixed on the puddle. His sharp senses had detected something unusual.

Ash also felt a strange sensation, a faint but distinct instinctual warning that had grown stronger since he first came into contact with the GS Ball.

"What's wrong?!" Misty and Tracey stepped back cautiously, their eyes following Pikachu's line of sight toward the puddle.

Without warning, a massive spray of water erupted from the puddle, and an enormous shape burst forth, hurtling toward the rocky shore.

"Get back!" Ash shouted, shielding Misty as they retreated. Tracey quickly moved to a safer distance while Pikachu stood his ground, unflinching in the face of the towering figure.

The shape crashed onto the rocks, flopping violently. As the light illuminated it, the group gasped in unison. It was a Magikarp, but one unlike any they had ever seen before.

This Magikarp was colossal, measuring at least three meters in length—easily five times the size of an average Magikarp. Its immense body glistened under the light, each flop sending shockwaves through the ground.

"Is that really a Magikarp?!" Tracey exclaimed, fumbling instinctively for his sketchpad only to realize he had left it at the campsite.

"It's incredible..." Misty murmured in awe. Although she had encountered giant Pokémon like Dragonite, Tentacruel, and even the ancient Alakazam and Gengar, none had left her as astounded as this massive Magikarp.

Magikarp was universally recognized as the weakest Pokémon, a creature so feeble that most others could defeat it effortlessly. But the sheer size and power of this Magikarp made it anything but weak.

"What should we do?" Misty asked, her gaze shifting to Ash, who was already deep in thought.

"If it stays out of the water, it'll dry out and die in the sun by morning," Ash said decisively.

Magikarp, being a water-type Pokémon, couldn't survive long out of water unless it had already evolved into Gyarados. Prolonged exposure to sunlight would quickly dehydrate it.

"Should we push it back into the sea?" Misty suggested, pulling out a Poké Ball. Her own Gyarados could help move the giant Magikarp, though its size was nearly half that of this enormous creature.

"That's the only option," Ash agreed. Just as he turned to give Misty the signal, a sudden intuition struck him. He looked sharply toward the forest, his senses alert.

Ash's sudden movement startled Misty and Tracey, who turned to follow his gaze. Emerging from the shadows of the dense forest were two figures moving quickly toward them.

Using his flashlight, Tracey illuminated the newcomers, revealing Nurse Joy and her assistant, Chansey.

"You! What are you doing here?!" Nurse Joy demanded, rushing past the group to reach the struggling Magikarp. 

Her stern expression softened as she placed a calming hand on the giant Pokémon, which immediately began to relax.

"We mean no harm," Tracey explained quickly, sensing Nurse Joy's suspicion. "We found footprints on the beach and followed them here. We didn't realize that Magikarp was with you."

Nurse Joy gave the group a scrutinizing look before turning her attention back to Magikarp. Once she confirmed it was uninjured, her demeanour became slightly less guarded.

Now that they were closer, Ash and the others could see that this Nurse Joy was quite different from the ones they had met before. 

Her skin was tanned, and her muscular arms hinted at great physical strength. Instead of the traditional nurse's uniform, she wore a sleek, full-body swimsuit, exuding both confidence and capability.

What happened next left everyone stunned. With ease, Nurse Joy lifted the giant Magikarp upright, holding it steady with one hand while gently stroking its head with the other.

"Are you okay? How are you feeling?" she asked the Magikarp, her voice soothing.

"Carp—Magikarp!" the Pokémon responded happily, clearly comforted by her touch.

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