I had to think of a way to get across Route 20 to the Seaform Islands and onward to Fuchsia City. I don't have any water Pokemon to ride the waves with and I can't afford to fly there with a plane or Pokemon. No one I know has a Pokemon that can fly that far or the time to take me there. So that leaves one option: a boat. I can't afford one of the nice and secure cruiseliners that cross the sea so I have to take my chances with a charter boat. It won't be as safe. Ever since the Monster War between the regions Kanto has fallen into fiefdoms, with cities ruled by gym leaders and routes under the control of Pokemon teams. Combat trainers and rangers from the Kanto and Johto government died by the thousands fighting off Hoenn and Sinnoh forces. My father was a famous Kanto commander in the war and my mom was a great Johto scientist. That's why my family was so close to Blaine. She helped him developed the Pokemon weapon that "won" the war for the Continental forces. But all that is in the past, now I have to focus on crossing Route 20.

Flash went down to the eastern harbor and was looking around, he saw Cameron who he battled a few times with Argos. Cameron beat him once then, after training for three months, never did again. "Hey Cameron, how's it going? Do you know anyone going to Fuchsia City?"

"Hey Flash. Well, there's old man Bothan, but I don't think he's under Fuchsia or Team Cool protection. Actually, I think he might actually be a smuggler."

"I have to take my chances. Thanks for the help."

"No problem, just look for the man with the grey yacht with black stripes," said Cameron. "Flash, Team Cool's Pokemon are stronger than mine, you should be careful."

"Thanks, I will."

Vulcan was outside of his pokeball sitting on Flash's shoulder. He was constantly drawing stares from everyone who saw him and Charmander would just smile back. After about an hour of searching Flash found the boat he was looking for. He called out and no one responded. Must be gone. "That's fine, Argos will find him."

Argos came out of his pokeball and immediately began sniffing the area. Sparks began to fly once he found the scent. Flash followed Argos' lead until they reached a shadowy alleyway filled with shopping stands peddling the most curious items. A few hooded and cloaked figures were quietly murmuring to the vendors and suspiciously looking back and forth. At the end of the alley Flash could see that the pavilion led into a tunnel leading underground. That's where Argos was leading them. Several people were casting interested glances at Argos and Vulcan, no doubt due to Vulcan's color and the constant charge in the air around Argos. A man leaning against the alley between stalls had been watching Flash since he arrived. The man approached Flash and revealed his scarred eye and blue hair.

"Hey kid, what's with the Charmander? That's a pretty nice color, where'd you get it?"

"It was a gift from someone."

"Oh, playing coy, huh? How's say you gift that to me? 'What comes around goes around' isn't that what people say? I know some people who would be very interested in a unique Charmander like that."

"Sorry, but he's very important to me."

"Hey, kid, I wasn't asking," said the man growing irritated. He reached in to grab Flash but was shocked as soon as his arm was within Argos' aura. "Ouch, what the fuck?"

"Sorry, Argos tends to shock anything near him when he's excited. Or angry."

"You think you're real smooth don't you? I'll take your Growlithe too, you little shit!" He threw out a pokeball. "Go Persian!"

The other patrons moved to the side in hushed murmurs, clearly interested in the unfolding events.

"Argos go!"

"Persian Scratch that freak!" Persian jumped in and drew first blood with his sharp claws. Argos yelped and back stepped to the side of the ally to try and create some distance between the two, but Persian followed quickly and cornered Argos against the wall.

"Nowhere to go," taunted the man.

"That's right, nowhere to run either. Argos, Close Combat!" Argos went from focused to vicious instantly, he bared his fangs and charged into Persian head first into its chest, then a flip into the wall behind him. The Persian who was still reeling from hitting the wall, was defenseless when Argo followed up with a chain of bites and tosses. The crowd was clearly intrigued by that move, most Growlithe can't perform such a fighting based attack, but Flash's father taught it to him. Flash's father was the best there was at fighting Pokemon.

"Talk about super effective. How the hell, does a Growlithe know Close Combat?" Flash heard one of the spectators ask another. Persian crawled to its feet and glanced for help from his master. Clearly wounded, but still fight left in him. Vulcan was cheering Argos on from Flash's shoulders.

"Persian, Fury Swipes!" Before Argos could even react he was slashed again and again, following Argos wherever he tried to maneuver. Flash needed to finish this now. "Growlithe Spark!"

Electricity charged around Argos and then a wave of electricity burst out and slammed into Persian, sending it searing into the opposite side of the alley. Persian was near the verge of collapse. To retreat from a trainer battle meant defeat but to keep going meant possible death. Humiliation in front of a crowd is a small price to pay for your Pokemon's life. The man stared at Flash for some time, clearly weighing his hatred for this boy against his love for his Persian. "Persian, Scratch his face off!"

Persian complied unwaveringly, but was slow, was hurt. Argos sidestepped the attack easily and went for a counter with Firefang. Argos bit down on Persian's exposed attacking arm and engulfed it in flame. The small bonfire lasted a few seconds until Persian's eyes went blank and Argos tossed the limp body over in a smoldering, smoking heap. "PERSIAN. NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"

This was the first time Flash had ever fought a battle to the death. I heard trainers do it all the time now since the war. I had to learn eventually. Why not start with this asshole? My burning desire for vengeance is beginning to make me ruthless, careless. No, I must stop. That flame is compassion.

"Why would you push him like that?" asked Flash.

"Because your Pokemon are worth twenty, thirty of my Persian!"

Hatred began to swell up into Flash's throat, he had never been so angry. I could have Argos kill you, right now, Flash thought. No one would care in this thieves den. As Flash was about to give the command the man pulled out a gun. Apparently he had the same idea, except Flash knew that Argos would take that bullet for him, and Argos' life was far more precious than his own.

"If I can't have it, I'll take it, from you."

"Stop! This battle is over," said one of the hooded men watching. He had a gun drawn to the back of the blue-haired man's head. "Watch what you're doing, man. I'm a member of Team Darkstar! We have a Darkrai! We will own you!"

"Yes, but you don't have a Darkrai. Now leave before your leaders can claim another life to sacrifice to it."

The blue-haired man grumbled some kind of insult and put away the gun, walking away with a look of madness upon his face. Flash's savior turned to him and the crowd dispersed, as if nothing happened.

"You always show off like this?" questioned the hooded man.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you have a rare Charmander and a Delta Specie Growlithe and you're walking around with both of them out of their pokeballs. Have some god damn tact."

"Oh," the thought never occurred to Flash. He always showed them off at the gym and in turn always received praise instead of envy. This must be what the real world is like. More greed than admiration.

"That's all you can say? I'm Captain Keith Steele, formerly of the 306th Johto Ranger Battalion. Captain Steele had two blades on his back strapped in an "X" fashion, there was a sword leaning to his left and the standard issue extended bayonet over his right shoulder—most soldiers kept their bayonets as a souvenirs, it was the length of a wakizashi sword (about two feet) so was often used as such. Around his waist beneath the cloak Flash could see his combat trainer belt with a holster and pokeballs. What's your name, kid?"

"Flash Blackburn."

"Wait, are you Commander Blackburn's son? I heard he was living in Cinnabar now."

"Yes, he was my father and he's missing."

"Missing? What do you mean?"

"I mean I was attacked when I went home to meet him and now my parents are gone."

"This is the third attack on a Kanto commanding officer this month. Did you see them?"

"No, it was all dark and I could only see the attacking Pokemon."

"What were they?"

"Pokemon I've never seen before. According to my Pokedex it was a 'Mushara' and a 'Dewott'."

"Musharna," Keith corrected. "You have a Pokedex? You're sponsored by one of the professors then."

"Yeah, Professor Oak."

"There must be potential in you. Still, you aren't trying to find your parents alone, are you?"

"I have to, my best friend is crippled and my mentor has an island to run."

"Where are you headed?"

"Saffron, I have to see Lady Sabrina. She will be able to read my psychic aura and tell me what happened. There were strong psychic Pokemon there, Blaine told me."

"Well, you would definitely need to bring strong psychic Pokemon if you're going to attack your father. Strange though, Unova Pokemon in Kanto…" Keith trailed off. "Alright, I'm going to help you kid, my investigation was a dead end anyways. Plus, you're going to need my military clearance to see Lady Sabrina, everyone knows she's his Majesty's mistress after all. There's going to be a hell of a lot of protection around her I can promise you that. So what was your plan?"

"I'm looking for a man named Bothan, he's supposedly got a boat that can take me over to Fuschia."

"Oh, Bothan?" laughed Keith, "that old coot owes me from the war. Yeah, I know where he is. Follow me. Oh, and from now on, don't go telling your story to every person you meet."

Keith led Flash into the tunnel network that opened up to an underground antechamber filled with more people and shops. This must be the Cinnabar underground built during the war. First, Keith had Argos healed then they continued their search for Bothan. They found him drinking himself numb in one of the bars. He was in his late fifties with a scraggy, overgrown brown beard and matching hair. He was wearing sunglasses despite there being little light in the bar. Keith tapped him on the shoulder.

"Bothan, I knew I could find you here. Long time no see," greeted Keith.

"Seeeergeant Steele?" grumbled Bothan. "Wait, I think it was Cap-tin Steele the last time I saw you. People rise fast when everyone's dying. Hey, how's that Donphan of yours doing?"

Keith punched Bothan in the face, sending the geezer to the floor. "You know my Donphan is dead, that's why they promoted me to Captain. You know all this already you idiot."

"Sorry Cap-tin, that was a long, long time ago," blurted Bothan.

"Four years is hardly that long you fucking drunk. Now clean yourself up, I have a job for you."

"Who's the kid? Not yours I hope," laughed Bothan.

Flash looked to Keith for permission and he nodded. "My name's Flash."

"Flash? What kind of name is that? Your parents named you after a battle move?"

"They named me Flash because I'm the source of light in the darkness."

"Poetic," spat Bothan. "Poetic stuff."

Bothan paid his tab and had to be partially carried by Keith back to the boat. After a few hours of Bothan sobering up, he finally asked about the job.

"So I guess I'll be smuggling you two past Team Cool and Team Sealine, huh? That two teams and double the price!"

"I'm not worried about Team Sealine, you just get us to the Seaform Islands and I'll get us the rest of the way," answered Keith.

"Always been a self-made man, Captain Steele, I like that," noted Bothan. "Standard fare for the two of you."

"Half off the kid, just because you're desperate doesn't mean we are."

"Fine, half for the kid. Now let us set off before I'm too old!"