The Gentleman steps in

5:14 PM - 1 hour and 18 minutes before complete submersion

At the same time, Magikarp was swimming around, seemingly being pulled by something in a direction. So he started swimming and Just kept swimming, just kept swimming, just kept swimming, swimming, swimming.

After moving a good distance he found something, a ship, but instead of the metallic S.S. Anne, it was made of wood, and much smaller, there was also a black flag that looked blank but clearly used to have something on it, just from the wood it looked at least 50-70 years old, but Magikarp didn't notice or care.

Around the area there were a bunch of Magikarp swimming around, he tried asking one about the ship but they ignored him.

Magikarp tried with a few more but the same happened, so he decided to move into the ship, once he was inside the ship looked like a Pirate ship design, the first thing that stood out was that a few skeletons around, and looking at the captain's quarters he saw a skeletons with a coat on with a notebook.

Clearly, the captain had recorded his adventures, what was in that notebook you may ask? The story of a lifetime, the crew's adventures, a tale lost to time, a map to find the greatest treasure that would give money, fame, power, the map to the one p- *cough*. Well, it didn't matter because Magikarp completely ignored it and kept swimming.

Moving down deeper into the Ship he saw something, there was a pile of Gold coins made into a bed, and sleeping on top of them was a Gyarados, and the Gyarados was coiled around a single small chest.

Magikarp didn't know why but he was interested in whatever was in the chest, he quietly swimmed over and tried to open it, but it seemed to have a lock, so Magikarp decided on something else he used his teeth and grabbed the chest then moved it out of the coiled water serpent.

Gyarados moved a bit but didn't wake up so Magikarp started trying to swim out, he did manage to get out of the ship until a Magikarp bumped into him and he dropped the chest that landed on the wooden ship, there wasn't a lot of noise but it was enough.

Gyarados burst through the ship and started looking around and saw that Magikarp had taken his treasure and he got mad.

Gyarados pulled his tail and launched an Aqua Tail aiming at Magikarp, Magikarp swam out of the way quickly but the random Magikarp that bumped into him got hit and blasted away.

Magikarp stared at the Gyarados and realized why all the Magikarp didn't say anything about the ship, this Gyarados had been ruling over this area uncontested with an Iron fist, needless to say, Magikarp was not happy.

Magikarp swam quickly to the Gyarados and tackled it, then when Gyarados went down to try to bite him he quickly moved out of the way and slapped him on the back of the head.

Gyarados got staggered but it got back up and launched a headbutt aiming at the Fish, Magikarp dodged and sent a slam on the Gyarados' head and used that momentum to bounce up and started swimming back down.

Gyarados got mad and charged a ​​Dragon Pulse and shot it in the air aiming to hit Magikarp on his way down.

Magikarp saw what Gyarados was doing so first he used splash to make him spin then Hydro pump creating a whirlpool drill, when they collided Magikarp immediately started dispersing the blue beam and some even joined the drill as it collided into the Gyarados sending him face first into the floor of the ship and breaking through the wood until they broke through the other side and Gyarados slammed into the ground.

Gyarados was still up, in its time ruling over this area; it had never had a challenge, much less felt pain. The thing was that Magikarp wasn't overly strong, he was strong but not stronger than Gyarados. But Magikarp trained with actual fighters, meanwhile Gyarados wasn't a fighter, he was a bully, it never had to learn to fight, it just dominated since it was the largest thing in the area.

Gyarados looked up and saw Magikarp look down at it, then he turned his back and started swimming away.

Gyarados felt humiliated a Magikarp was looking down on him, he used his anger and shot one final Dragon Pulse, Magikarp turned around in time to see the Dragon beam approaching, he moved out of the way but his stomach was still hit a bit also tearing off some of his scales.

Magikarp looked mad and stared at Gyarados, then a pulse was released from him as the area he was shot revealed a few golden scales. When the pulse hit Gyarados it was shocked and froze, before lowering his head and swimming away with its tail between its legs.

Magikarp looked at the fleeing serpent and ignored it, he went back to the chest and picked it back up to find Ash.

—

6:50 PM - 54 minutes before complete submersion

Back on the S.S. Anne, there was an entire battle, By this time most of Team Rocket was taken out, the only ones left were the admins and Proton.

On their side they weren't doing too good either, the 5 random trainers were defeated after a few minutes, Darwin was already tired and with him making a B-line to get revenge on Sierra, he was beaten shortly after. Tempest was borrowing Surge's Pokemon and letting Raichu out to take care of Surge. Yellow ran out of her Pokemon so she had to rely on Pikachu.

But other than that they were battling with everything they could muster, Damian and Tempest vs Proton and the Admins vs everyone else.

And they weren't doing as good as you would think, this isn't a game with level-appropriate challenges that gradually get stronger so you can grow, the Admins had one team which were all powerful.

They were going to continue until all of Team Rocket heard something from their earpieces.

The voice of Archer resonated in their heads, "Attention everyone our plan has succeeded we have spread our influence in Kanto, new bases are being constructed as we speak, Executive Proton is to report back, Admin Cliff is to report back, Admin Sierra is to report back, Admin Arlo is to report back."

"The rest of you all may continue to work on the S.S. Anne, or you may get out, it makes no difference, Executive Archer out."

Proton smiled, "Well it seems like we have to cut our battle short, shame maybe next time we can have a rematch, but for now I suppose we should leave one more gift, Cliff if you don't mind."

Cliff smiled and released his Tyranitar who was still injured but could still do one move.

(Earthquake)

Tyranitar punched the ground of the ship causing the ship to violently shake and a crack to appear through the ship separating them and speeding the process.

54 → 34 minutes before complete submersion

As everyone fell over from the vibrations Proton released a Kadabra that had what appeared to be a collar on and had a blank expression.

"Let's go" Proton, Cliff, Sierra, and Arlo put their hands on the fox thing, and then it started gathering energy in its spoon, but a second before they teleported a red blur went past and the spoon was gone.

"You all have done well, leave the rest to me." a voice called out, when everyone looked at where it came from there was a well-dressed old man holding a cane, and an equally old-looking Arcanine holding the spoon in his mouth, the Arcanine also had a beautiful collar with a gem on it.

The old man went into his pocket and pulled out a badge, "Team Rocket Under the orders of the international Police you're under arrest,"

A random grunt spoke up, "So what if there is one of you and we have an army, how dare you interfere with Boss Proton, let's get him."

The remaining grunts yelled in unison and used the little strength their Pokemon could muster and moved forward when Arcanine Disappeared and a second red blur moved through all of them.

"I am simply called 'The Gentleman', and you all need to respect your elders," Arcanine reappeared by his side and all the Pokemon fell.

Everyone looked surprised, and Yellow realized something, "So that's what he meant when Ash said never mess with Old men,"

Cliff stared at the old man, "So what, do you think you can tell us what to do, don't take us as those weak grunts?"

The Gentleman looked at Cliff, "Well it seems like even the old generation is disrespectful to their elders, what a shame."

"I am in my 30s, Machamp show him what happens." Cliff sent out out his last Pokemon being his Machamp and he ran forward aiming to punch the old man.

"*Sigh* Arcanine"

Arcanine appeared in front of the punch and took it without a trace, then hit the Machamp with a Skull Bash slamming a headbutt into it and sending the Machamp back while holding its head.

"Fine then seems like you are worth more than these so-called elites, I suppose we can spare some time," Proton said.

Facing Arcanine was Proton's Golbat, Sierra's Houndoom, Arlo's Blastoise, and Cliff's Machamp.

But The Gentleman and Arcanine looked unamused and ready to continue as both sides rushed to each other to clash.

From the side the group were talking with each other, "We need to get off this ship," Darwin said.

"No we are still missing Ash, we can't leave without him," Brock said.

"We don't need to leave, we just need to start getting people off the ship starting with Surge and our random trainers," Damian said.

Everyone looked at the group of trainers who were panicking again and Surge who was still stunned.

"Yeah the fewer People we have here the less we have to worry, let's get them out," Gary said as everyone looked at Yellow who panicked and quickly released Abra from her Pokeball.

Tempest picked up the small fox thing and put her on Surge, "Come on if you want to get out of here touch the Abra."

The 5 trainers immediately rushed over to touch Abra, when she received the signal she went ahead and teleported, after a few seconds she came back but it looked like she was sweating and Breathing heavily.

Of course, she was faking it to buy time, and as soon as she came back Yellow grabbed her, "I think she needs some rest, but I don't know for how long."

"Should we go downstairs to find Ash?" Misty suggested.

"Maybe earlier but after that, Tyranitar broke the entrance and collapsed half the ship so we can't go down," Janine said.

"Does that mean he is trapped in the ship," Yellow asked worriedly, holding onto Pikachu.

"Very likely, for now, our best choice is to wait for Abra to get enough energy to go to him and then back"

They all had to bite their tongue as in the background Arcanine was holding his own against the four Pokemon.

But when Arcanine and The Gentleman were far enough Sierra took advantage, Houndoom now.

Arcanine was expecting a sneak attack on his back so he focused all his focus to counter attack, what he didn't expect was for Houndoom to send a Headbutt at The Gentleman himself sending him back into a wall, which pulled his attention for enough time for Blastoise and Machamp to restrain him.

Sierra took a step forward, "I must admit I am Impressed, I can imagine you must have been a pretty decent trainer back in your day, unfortunately for you that time has come and gone"

The Gentleman struggled to get up and reached for his cane.

Arlo saw this and scoffed, "You're still trying to get back up, quit embarrassing yourself just accept your limitations and go into retirement while we still give you the chance."

The Gentleman managed to reach his cane and struggled to get back on his feet, "My limitations *pant* can go straight to hell, stronger people than you have tried and failed to do the same so what right do you have to tell me anything!"

The Gentleman looked at his Partner Arcanine and pulled something on his cane, "What do you say partner one last time."

Arcanine heard this and released one loud Bark.

"Well then it's time I show you the difference in our experience," The Gentleman said as he took off the top of his cane, and in the cane was a gem, or more commonly known as a Keystone, "Let's do this Mega evolve."

From the collar, the gem released energy as Arcanine broke free and was enveloped in a white light catching everyone's attention.

The energy started releasing a powerful presence and when it dispersed Arcanine's coat took a darker color, there were clouds of smoke coming from his back creating a nimbus shape as a cape, and from his nose and head came streams of fire.

And standing in front of everyone was Mega Arcanine.