The S.S. Tree was halfway to its destination, which meant the Pokémon Battles were about to begin. As Cade and Emily rushed through their breakfast, the announcement came on the ship's intercom.
"All right young trainers! It's time for what you've all been waiting for! The S.S. Tree is now hosting the Buckmeadow Pokémon Training Competition!" Cheers erupted from all over the ship, and Emily quickly got up from her seat.
"Come on! I don't wanna be late!" She took Cade's hand in her own, her clean nails barely scratching the white surface of his skin. She led him into the elevator that led up to the very top of the S.S. Tree, and to the Pokémon Arena. They were greeted by two menacing guards dressed all in black. It wasn't a light, flirty black like Emily's skirt's, but rather a dark black that makes sends shivers down your spine
"I.D.?" They asked simultaneously. Emily shuddered. She and Cade both took out their Buckmeadow I.D.s, which the guards promptly scanned. "Go in" they growled. It was Cade's turn to pull Emily, who seemed frozen in her own fear. The glass doors whirred open, allowing the pair to walk into the world's biggest Pokémon Arena on the sea.
"Whoa..." Emily whispered. They had entered into a chamber filled with weights, treadmills, and pull-up bars. There was a tubular doorway that led to the arena, from which the shuffling of thousands of feet could be heard echoing against the walls. In the gym, 14 other trainers were training with their own Pokémon. Eeves, Staraptors, Bulbasaurs, the usual slew of Pokémon. Cade's grin turned into a smile, as did Emily's. An official looking woman in a black suit and medium length brown hair walked over to them carrying a clipboard.
"You must be Cade." She said, her British accent coming out in between her brilliantly white teeth. Her scarlet lips shown even more spectacularly against them. Cade simply nodded in reply. "No need to be shy! Come on, you and Emily will be up in a minute. You're in the second round, Cade! Feel free to let your Pokémon out now, and get to know the rest of the trainers. By the way, my name's Sarah." She started walking away. "Let me know if there's anything you need." She was a little shorter than Cade, though about 20 years older. She leaned into Cade's ear, "Anything at all." Cade's eyebrows furrowed, and he tilted his head at Sarah. She was already out the door. Cade shook his head, and pulled out a single Pokeball from his belt, and his smile widened.
"Go" he whispered, and threw his Pokeball up in the air, bouncing it off of his hand and released the first Pokémon he had ever caught.