The sun was high in the sky over Vermillion City that summer morning, and not a single cloud could be seen. The bright rays above shone down on the community like an omnipresent spotlight. Which seemed fitting, seeing as what was about to happen there would soon become the gossip of the world.
Sabrina stood on the boardwalk of the city's pier, leaning on the rugged and splintered railing which was the only thing separating her from the crashing waves below. She hardly ever ventured this far south, despite having her gym just a hop, skip, and jump down the road, but when she was, she couldn't help but go to that place. Gazing out to the seemingly endless ocean, she couldn't help but realize how much more in the world there was for her to see.
She enjoyed it right then, being by her lonesome, staring out to the sea. No one there to get in her way, to frustrate her existence, to make her contemplate breaking her pact. For that one, perhaps brief, moment, Sabrina was at peace.
It was for this reason, and this reason alone, that she had come early.
"Sabrina!"
She stood frozen in time, recognizing the voice in an instant, as she realized that her moment was over. She turned to face the girl that had called out her name, forcing a smile onto her face as she waved her hand. "Hello, Erika."
She was of average height, with neck-length black hair being held back by an auburn coloured headband. She was wearing a furisode kimono, with sleeves stretching nearly the whole way to the ground at her feet. It was a magnificent dusky yellow, seeming to perfectly match the fallen leaves of the autumn season. This assumption was confirmed when one noticed the imprints of several leaves, each unique to itself, spread across the lower half of the kimono, in a softer orange.
She raised her arms, revealing the full design on her sleeves, allowing Sabrina to notice a small number of Poke Ball imprints in amongst the leaves. She then performed a full pirouette, a wave of glee spreading across her face. She was obviously ecstatic about the upcoming event.
"I was wondering where you had gotten to!" Erika said, leaning against the railing as her fellow gym leader had been doing earlier. "For I moment I thought you had run back to Saffron through the night!"
I almost did, Sabrina thought to herself. I hate these kinds of things.
Instead she laughed, flashing her smile for the second time in as many minutes. "Of course not, Erika. I just wanted to be sure I was here to watch the ship's arrival. I wouldn't dream of it running off!"
"Oh, calm down," Erika said to her. "I know all that-after all that's why I'm here too! And what girl in her right mind would turn this up, especially after all the work we've done to get you to look the part. Hehe..."
"Don't remind me..." Sabrina muttered under her breath, once again realizing just how she was dolled up. She was in a sleeveless and backless white gown, swaying all the way down to her ankles. There was a V-shaped neckline that was a little wide for her liking, ending with a ring of black lace around her waist. And to top it off, thanks to Erika, she also had her nails and make-up done. When she had first seen herself like that, with the white dress and whatnot, she couldn't help but remember her doll, stashed away in her closet with her other skeletons. Its dress and the one were drastically different, but still, they shared the same colour, and that was enough to irk her. At least her hair had remained untampered with.
"What was that?" Erika asked, still her cheerful self, innocently wondering what her friend had just said.
"Oh, I said that that reminds me..." Sabrina began, saving herself. "You look amazing. That kimono is so...elegant, and...umm, lady-like."
Erika's smile then seemingly doubled in diametre, as she managed to shine even brighter than the sun at that moment. "Thanks! Now, if only the boys would agree with you..."
Just as the words were out of her mouth, the ever lessening tranquility of the harbour grew more muffled, as the sounds of footsteps on the aging wood began to reverberate throughout Sabrina's mind.
There were two individuals, a man and a woman, both about the same age as Erika. The woman wore a small, sleek red dress with a long slit along her left leg. And on the right side, there were many golden stars in a variety of shapes and sizes, traveling right along to her shoulders. She was a redhead, with long, somewhat messed up shoulder-length hair.
The man was in a midnight blue dinner jacket and trousers, with a white dress shirt underneath. He also had a bow tie that was hanging to the side, indicating that he had little experience with the thing. His hair was short and spiked, and his left ear seemed to be slightly larger than his right, but what one noticed more than anything else was the fact that his eyes seemed as though they were constantly closed.
But, if one happened to be female, there was yet another aspect of this man which would be become even more evident.
"Why, hello there, young maidens!" he said, rushing to Erika and Sabrina's side. For a moment Sabrina could feel a tinge of anxiety coming from him, supposedly as he decided which woman to hit on. Sabrina brushed him aside, allowing Erika to-
"Oh my," Brock said, taking Sabrina's palm in his own, a small stream of blood running down his right nostril. "Your beauty defies earthly logic, my sweet, sweet enchantress. If only we could...."
Sabrina could hardly keep herself from feeling the wheels turning in his brain, as he looked up to her face-further up than he had been looking previously-as an aura of revelation, and of remembrance, embraced him.
She couldn't help but laugh at the thought: this man had been one of her last victims before her going clean.
Sabrina was about to respond, but Brock had other ideas, taking Erika's hand in her stead. "You remind me of a ray of sunlight in a field of darkness, bringing warmth-."
"We aren't even on the ship yet, lover boy!" Misty said with an annoyed tone of voice, grabbing Brock by the ear, dragging him off towards the shore.
"I should say the same of you, Sabrina," Erika said once they were out of ear's reach, giggling at the thought.
Sabrina turned her face away, hiding the blush line that had developed across her face. And in doing so, she caught the first glimpses of the oncoming ship.
It was bigger than she expected, almost on par with a Wailord in terms of length, towering above the pier where Sabrina and the others stood, its reflection dancing on the water like a thousand tiny diamonds in the morning sun. It was a snow-white colour from bow to stern, with a streak of red along the side. She could see four levels of decks, mostly devoid of people, but there were a few faces poking out from over the balconies. Along the sides of these decks were the string of lifeboats, covered in navy blue tarps, as well as the hope that said tarps would never have to be removed. And near the rear, there stood a funnel, designed almost like the lower portion of a Sharpedo's fin, with a large imprint of a poke ball directly in the centre.
Looking to the bow of the ship, she could make out a lone man, looking out at the ever-closening city. His attire definitely brought him attention, from the Tyrian purple dinner jacket and trousers, to the red rose acting as a boutonniere, and finally to the masquerade mask, making him look like some wannabe apprentice to Bruce Wayne. Though, Sabrina had to admit that it suited him. And more than that, his presence alone revealed that he did not mind standing out in a crowd, something she definitely related to. Yes, this man was definitely quite intriguing to her.
She then came back down to reality, as the ship finally aligned with the pier, and the ramps made their way to the ground. There was now a much bigger gathering of people situated around her, much to her surprise. It was time to get started.
Then, almost as though timed perfectly to coincide with her boarding, she heard a familiar crackling noise resounding from her left ear. "Zoroa, come in."
Sabrina cringed at hearing the Dark-type's name, but didn't say anything on the subject. "I'm in position," she said in the faintest whisper manageable. "And ready to go."
Erika then turned, grabbing Sabrina's hand in a moment of pure excitement. "Come on, Sabrina! Time to board!"
