(Author's note: I don't give a damn about any of y'all's personal squabbles. Hybrid: leave me out of your vendettas against the world. Everyone else: I simply do not care. Unless a review is relevant to the story it will be ignored completely, this includes nitpicking grammar corrections, errors in dialog are intentional as that is how people speak. In fact, reviews attacking me or another user will result in the reviewer being blocked and reported for harassment. Thank you and have a nice day.)
Ch. 2
Ed, Dan, and Kyle sat at their assigned table for the nightly 'fancy' meal in the ship's five Staryu restaurant. Joining them were an elderly couple from Lavender Town, and a teen from the Orange Islands, Jonesy, who tended to refer to himself in the third person.
The elderly couple, Steve and Roberta, were enjoying their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. Jonesy made it painfully obvious that he was on board for one reason, to battle as many other trainers as he could until he got to Cinnabar to win his next gym badge.
He was also a hothead and how to keep his mouth shut, "Where is this supposed 'high class' food at?' He said as the waiters started to exit the kitchen, 'Jonesy is getting hungry and can't wait much longer."
Ed wished seats weren't assigned otherwise he would try to find somewhere else to sit. He didn't want to get caught with over splash when a waiter "accidently" spilled something on the young man. How he managed to make it to dessert with a clean shirt, he would never know, but the lava cake was divine, and he enjoyed every bite of it.
The next morning, the three stayed on the boat while some of the younger trainers got off to go explore the Seafoam Islands. A small part of Ed wanted to see the room where the giant bird used to live, but not enough to go hiking through ice caves. Instead, they used the time to hang out on the Lido Deck and soak up the sun.
Ed tried to keep an eye out for the waitress he had a bit of a crush on, but she was nowhere to be seen and he didn't want to look like a creeper by searching the boat for her. Instead, he saw someone else he knew. The Rocket actress Billi was sitting at a poolside bar. with large sunglasses, a sunhat pulled low over her face, and her green hair mostly covered up, it was difficult but not impossible to recognize her out of uniform.
He waited until Kyle wasn't paying attention then casually strolled over to sit next to her. "So, no preparing for trouble today?' He asked, trying to be funny, 'Or is that at a set time? I just want to make sure I don't miss any trouble preparations."
Billi chuckled slightly as she sipped her drink, "You're slightly more cute in the daylight than in the dim light of the Mag Bar.' When Ed raised an eyebrow at this statement, she went on, 'Don't worry, that's a compliment. I'm trying to say you look better not in the dark." She seemed nervous and kept brushing her hair back over her ear.
Ed smiled broadly, he was not used to his flirting being reciprocated. He said, "You still never answered my question. Scale of one to ten, where should my trouble prep be?"
She made a production of finishing the fruit drink in her hand then answered, "Tell you what, if you buy me a mimosa, it'll lower from a seven to a four. I don't have a show until later this afternoon. So your trouble level should be fine for now."
He obliged and ordered one for himself as well. He held out his hand and said, "I'm going to guess that Billi is not your real name?"
She smiled and shook his hand, "I'm Wilhelmina, but nobody outside of my grandmother can call me that. Most of my friends and family call me Mina, except when I'm working. When I'm on the boat, I'm only supposed to go by Billi. You know, to keep up the illusion for the kiddies and whatnot."
Ed couldn't help but to chuckle before he said, "Wow! That's a lot of names. I'm just Ed, short for Eddie, short for Edvard, short for Edvard Alejandro Shaefer. See, I can do it too."
The two were having a pleasant conversation going back and fourth telling stories of their childhoods. Ed learned that Billi grew up in the bad part of Cerulean City before getting her big break as a bicycle model. She got the job on the cruise after the last 'Rocket Girl' had a nervous breakdown in the middle of a show. She happened to be on the boat at the time and stepped in to take her place. The rest, as they say, is history.
He was thoroughly enjoying his time speaking with her and was considering asking her out for drinks that night when a wild Kyle suddenly appeared. He was very drunk and was hell-bent on making a ruckus. He intentionally knocked over glasses and used the spilled ice as a projectile on Ed and Billi. Ed quietly apologized for his friend as Billi gathered her things and slipped away.
A few hours later, Ed and Dan were eating lunch at the buffet when Kyle stumbled in looking worse than before. The two friends tried to stay as inconspicuous as possible, but they were unfortunately noticed. "Hey, Guys!' He shouted from across the room, 'Did you know this place had a casino?"
Resigned that they would have to deal with their intoxicated companion, Dan and Ed waved Kyle over so he would no longer yell and cause a scene. Ed said, "Yes, I knew there was a casino. I think everyone knew that. Or if they didn't, they do now." In typical Dan fashion, he simply nodded in silent agreement.
"I won so much money, Miss Anne will be paying for our booze for the rest of the trip." Kyle laughed like he told the funniest joke in the world.
"Guess that's why you've been drinking like a Goldeen, huh?' Asked Ed after a bite of his sandwich, 'You'd better slow down, dude, or once the boat starts moving here in about an hour your tum-tum will regret it."
Kyle shrugged the good advice off and sauntered off to continue his binge. Ed looked at Dan and said, "Someone should go with him. You know, to make sure he doesn't die." Dan shrugged his own shoulders and Ed nodded in agreement that Kyle should most likely be fine.
A little over an hour later the horns on the ship blew signaling the imminent take off from The Seafoam Islands. The boat began to move causing Ed's stomach to lurch slightly. "I bet wherever Kyle is, he's having a bad time." He joked with Dan. Dan nodded and added a smirk for emphasis.
With a heavy sigh, Ed said, "Ok, you're right, let's go find him before he winds up in the water."
The two started their mission on the top deck and worked their way down. They checked the room, the casino, and were on their way to the Mag Bar when a very distinct voice got Ed's attention. He turned and saw a dining area had been roped off and set up with speakers and a sign that read "Blast-Noise Karaoke Competition". The plump waitress was holding a microphone and acting as the hostess, "Alright, next up in our karaoke competition,' She said with a broad smile, 'is Frank Monoene. Everyone give a hand to Frank."
A large man took the stage and the mic. He said, "Thank you very much, Vera. Give it up for Vera everybody. Ain't she lovely?" Ed clapped mostly because now he knew her name. While Frank sang his song, Dan nudged Ed and pointed to Kyle sitting in the front row. Ed was furious that they had spent all that time looking and he was right there, but they snuck over to quietly pull him away.
Once out of range of the music, Ed said, "Dude, we thought we lost you. Like for goodsies."
Still clearly intoxicated, Kyle hugged both his friends at the same time and said, "You guys couldn't get rid of me that easily."
Ed and Dan dragged him to the room to get him to bed and shortly thereafter turned in themselves. The next morning the ship's horn blew to signal the arrival at Cinnabar Island.
