"We feel so out of place here..."
"We sure do, Aerisy-boy."
The interior of the S.S. Anne was magnificent. There were huge chandeliers on the roof lighting up the place, and the smell of food and perfume wafted through the air.
All around Aeris and Gary were rich and famous people. Men wore suit and tie while the women were wearing dresses.
And amongst them, there's Gary and Aeris in their usual travelling clothes.
"But well, it's not like we can afford those fancy suits now, can we?"
Aeris glances at Gary from the corner of his eyes.
He was right, though. There's no way a bunch of recently graduated middle-schoolers would be able to afford something as expensive as a suit. Heck, even just the blazer would cost them 10 times the amount of money they have right now combined.
"But well, since we're here anyways, let's get some food."
The food corner was filled with foreign and exquisite dishes. Since it was a buffet, you could eat all you want. Gary and Aeris made sure to fill their plates. There was also a separate corner filled with rich and tasty pokemon food. Pikachu's eyes were practically sparkling when it saw those.
The three of them, including Pikachu, grabbed their plates and took their seats on an empty table.
While they were eating, the light went off and a soap opera started playing on an uplifted stage inside the S.S. Anne.
"Amazing. This ship must have taken crazy amount of money to make?"
"It took around a few million to build this."
Hearing Gary's words, Aeris choke on his food.
"What the actual heck!"
His voice was a bit loud and the people around him hears him, so he quietly whispers a sorry before going back to his food.
"Ladies and gentlemen," said an announcer on the stage. "Thank you all for gathering here on this very special night. Today, we welcome you aboard the very fantastic S.S. Anne. I hope you all have enjoyed the various entertainments we've set up for you today."
Aeris thought that he must be talking about the soap opera and the mini-arcade set up. Some rich young people were playing poker and pool inside the arcade still.
"But now, it's time today for the special event."
"Whoa. An event. What's that?"
Gary quietly voiced his thoughts so that only Aeris could hear him.
"When you entered aboard the ship today, we exchanged your tickets with a special token. I assume you still have it with you."
Aeris's token number was 13 while Gary's was 57. After they entered, an official of the ship had taken their tickets and exchanged it with random coupons picked out from a vase.
"For this special event, we have decided to select two lucky guests from amongst all of you and have a pokemon battle. The winner of the battle will receive a rare gift from us. Then, without further ado, let's select the trainers."
Behind the announcer, there was a huge monitor screen. The screen lit up before two number '0's were placed on each side.
After the announcer turned back, the numbers started to increase and decrease in a blinding rate. After a few seconds, the numbers stopped changing and two numbers were displayed on the screen.
One was 32, while the other was 57.
"He-he. Lucky me, Aerisy-boy," Gary smirks at an annoyed Aeris and proudly walks to the stage.
The person he would be battling was Evelyn, a lady in a red dress and fashionable accessories on her. It was easy to ascertain that she was a woman from a rich family.
"I'll be the judge for this battle," the announcer said and centered himself on the side of the stage as Gary and Evelyn stood on each other's side. "The battle will be a one-on-one. The first pokemon to faint loses. Then, trainers, let's begin."
"Here we go, my sweetheart," Evelyn twirled on her heels before gently throwing a pokeball. The red light flashed brightly before a cat pokemon with whiskers and a gold amulet stuck on its head camd out.
"Meowth!!!"
From the other side, Gary also released his own pokemon. His pokemon was a fire-type puppy pokemon with red fur and black stripes all over its body.
"Growww!"
Aeris took out his pokedex and lowered the volume so that only he and Pikachu could hear the information.
He pointed the Pokedex at Gary's pokemon first, and then at Evelyn's.
"Growlithe, the Puppy Pokemon. A Fire type.
While it's quite friendly toward humans once it's grown used to them, in the wild it must be quite fierce to defend its territory from other pokemons."
"Meowth, the Scratch Cat Pokemon. A Normal type.
Meowth withdraws its sharp claws into its paws to slinkily sneak about without making any incriminating footsteps. For some reason, this Pokémon loves shiny coins that glitter with light."
"Growlithe, and Meowth, huh...?"
The announcer on stage waved his hands, "Battle Begin," to start the battle.
"Growlithe, start with Leer."
Growlithe glares at its opponent and its pupils disappear momentarily before coming back. The adjacent Meowth takes a step back due to fear.
"Don't fret Meowth, Scratch!"
Meowth raises its hands in the air and its claws glow white. Afterwards, it start running towards Growlithe.
Growlithe starts repeatedly running on all four paws. It surrounds the opposing Meowth and forms circles around it, vanishing and reappearing from time to time. The Meowth becomes confused and unable to attack Growlithe.
"Now use Flame Wheel!"
Growlithe stops running. It takes a step back before running at Meowth in full speed. While running, heat and flames start to build up in its body before the pokemon was completely covered in flames.
"Meowth, move away!"
The Meowth attempted to jump, but it was useless. Before it could, Growlithe raised its speed in an instant and headbutted Meowth while being covered in flames.
"Meowwww!"
Meowth is thrown in the air before it falls to the ground on its back. Slowly, it starts to pick itself up.
Meowth opens one of its paws and points it at its opponent. Multiple gold coins that look like its charm appear and shoot at the opponent.
"Use Agility to dodge them, Growlithe."
"Groww!"
Growlithe once again picks up its speed. Its legs become faster and it repeatedly runs at an accelerating speed. Leaping left and right, it dodges a the coins hurled at it.
"Now finish it with another Flame Wheel."
Growlithe continues to run before the familiar flame returns to its body. It headbutts Meowth once again. The latter pokemon is now flung back before landing on the edge of the stage with its eyes in swirls.
"Meowth is unable to battle. Growlithe is the winner. Let's all give a round of applause to the trainers and their pokemons, everyone."
The guests start to clap as Gary and Evelyn recall their pokemons. Gary remains on stage while Evelyn bows politely before returning to her seat.
"Amazing," Aeris was forced to acknowledge his rival. "He's so calm when battling. There wasn't a single wasted movement from his Growlithe and every attack was so precise."
"Pika pika..."
Pikachu understood its trainer's words.
After seeing Gary battle, the both of them realized how far behind they are. The way they are now, it would be near impossible for them to beat Gary.
"Now then, for the special prize, we present to the winning trainer this special item- The King's Rock!"
A waiter carried a big box in his arms before opening it and presenting it to Gary. Everyone was able to see the item. It was a sandy rock that was shaped like a crown.
"A King's Rock, cool."
Gary said before the receiving the item, but not before giving a thanks to the waiter and the announcer.
"And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. With this, we end today's special event that we've arranged for you. I hope everyone liked it."
Judging from the guests' satisfied faces, the announcer could assume that they indeed liked the event.
It was sometime around midnight and Aeris and Pikachu were on the deck of the ship. They were standing near the railing and enjoying the night sea breeze when Gary called out to them.
"Hey, Ar, you just disappeared."
In Gary's hands, there was a drum stick and he was stuffing his mouth with it.
"Eat or talk. Don't do it together, idiot."
"Ha-ha, you're as serious as ever."
Gary decided to copy what Aeris was doimg and finished his food before resting his body on the railing and enjoying the night breeze.
"But that being said, it's already been 2 months, huh? I'm starting to miss Pallet, already."
"Yeah, I feel you," Aeris agreed with Gary. Despite there being not much in Pallet Town for him, it was still Aeris's home and birth place. And to be honest, he was starting to miss being in his hometown.
After a moment of silence, Gary asked Aeris a peculiar question.
"Hey, Ar, do you miss Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood?"
"I..."
He was talking about his parents. They died in a car crash a few years ago. Since then, Aeris has lived in. There was quite a bit amount left in their will, so he never had to worry about money.
"Of course, you do, they're you're parents, after all," Gary gave the answer himself when Aeris was unable to. "You know, my folks aren't around that much, and I've been with gramps most of the time but... There's nobody in the world I would change for them. And gramps too, I'm always grateful for them."
"What's the meaning of saying all this?" Aeris asked. He wasn't angry, just a bit confused.
"When was the last time you visited them, Ar?"
Aeris avoided eye contact and faced elsewhere. When was the last time he visited his parents' grave? It was two years ago. At first, he would go there once every week, but suddenly, he stopped going there at all and it's been two years since then.
"Look, I know you're angry that they left you so early but... At least, visit their graves next time, alright? Me and gramps always go there at least once every month. You should too, you know..."
"I-I'll try..."
Gary sighed. There was no getting around his friend. He was a quite boy since childhood, and his feelings are a lot more complicated.
"Ha-ha, you don't change, huh...? Anyways, let's head back. The night's still young my friend."
"Look at you talking like an adult."
"Ha-ha. Guess age's catching up to me," Gary joked. Afterwards, the two of them headed back inside.