Chapter 22: The Journey Home
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Now, on to the (hopefully regularly scheduled) story!
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The white stone plains behind Meteor Falls were our battlefield one last time today. One of the many steel types I had become familiar with over the last three days stared back at me from across the field. Aggron's horns were shining in the bright sunlight and its blue eyes sparkling as it stared down Typhlosion. The fire type was standing its ground as it faced down Steven's partner for the battles.
"Earthquake!" Steven's voice was loud and clear across the field, a stark difference from his behavior with Metagross. Aggron slammed raised its massive foot into the air as Typhlosion tensed and leaped, avoiding the shockwave as Aggron's tail shattered the ground. The foot wasn't a distraction, but a backup as it too came down on the ground, doubling the earthquake's waves as they rippled through the ground.
"Counter!"
Typhlosion fell to the ground with all its weight, and then some, sending a not-quite as massive earthquake right back at Aggron. The bulky steel type stood and weathered it, unable to jump and avoid it like the fire type.
Most certainly it could have met the attack midway with another earthquake, but a beast of Aggron's strength didn't really need to.
"Delta!" I called out, much swifter than I had been in weeks past to react.
Typhlosion's ears twitched – just barely – as it heard me, and it dove into action. A glowing rust colored ball of energy formed in front of its open maw and fired immediately, followed by two shorter, smaller bursts.
Aggron stared directly at the oncoming focus blasts, firing off a Flash Cannon to obliterate the attack entirely, but only taking out two of the three. One of the smaller blasts struck the steel type in its steely grey belly as Typhlosion charged up under the cover of the attacks, its entire body alight with flames. Following through with the strategy we had prepared, the fire type launched into Aggron's body, striking it hard and immediately grabbing hold with its jaws and paws to hold onto the angry steel type.
Magma burst out of Typhlosion's volcanic pores and mouth, spewing all over Aggron. The steel type bucked and nearly flung Typhlosion off. Its long tail swung around with a silvery sheen and smacked Typhlosion off just as Eruption triggered beneath it. A shower of earth and flames engulfed the tiring Aggron as Typhlosion tried to whittle it down to failure.
"Typhlosion, phi two!" Aggron charged headfirst at Typhlosion. Its horns were reflecting the sunlight almost as much as the silvery glow of the Iron Head attack it was wielding. If there was one word to describe Typhlosion in battle, it would have to be stubborn. My partner opened its mouth as Aggron charged, and roared.
Expecting an attack, Aggron had veered slightly. It hadn't stumbled or slowed down as we'd hoped, but it was something. Following its roar, Typhlosion opened its maw once again and this time sent flames spewing all over the charging steel type. Aggron had neglected to try and avoid it this time after Typhlosion's false start, taking the brunt of the fire type attack. Typhlosion ducked under the cover of the veritable inferno burning around it and slammed a brick break into Aggron's belly, followed by another, and another before getting aggressively Iron Tailed off with an amazing show of flexibility from Steven's Pokemon.
Getting Iron Tailed off into the air is never a situation you really want to be in, but if anything, there's at least one thing you can do to take advantage of it, and we had established that at this point, it was worth it. Hurtling through the air in a parabolic arc, Typhlosion let the solar radiation pouring from above sink in and tensed its muscles as it charged the Solar Beam, firing it straight at Aggron almost at the bottom of its arc and landing on its feet.
"Rain Dance!" Aggron…. Didn't really dance, but nonetheless clouds swirled in the sky, drowning out the sun as droplets started to fall from above.
"Focus Blast!" Typhlosion took the instruction to heart and fired off blast after blast, a few of them striking Aggron, a few missing or getting tossed back as Steven waited for the downpour to strengthen before moving.
"Surf!" Aggron roared into the sky as massive pockets of air began to fill with water, the whole area around the steel type soon containing more water than your average water tower, before the tidal wave came crashing down and swept Typhlosion up against the flashing psychic barrier. It was one of many moments recently I had been glad that Metagross was silently keeping watch from behind Steven.
"Earthquake!"
"Flash Cannon!"
Typhlosion slammed everything it had into the ground as the shining white beam of energy blasted it into the barriers once again, this time knocking it out as the Earthquake knocked Aggron over. The steel type however, stood up.
I recalled Typhlosion, holding my pokeball out and then clipping it back to my belt as the rain dispersed and Steven walked over to Aggron. He looked over at me as he ran a hand down the steel type's flank. A few seconds passed as he simply gazed at me, before he nodded firmly.
"I think it's a good thing we're done right about now, because it is the last day we've got."
"This has been crazy." I walked over to the healing machine, slotting four of my six pokeballs in as Steven put Aggron's next to them.
"You've come a long way from when we showed up here. I am genuinely proud. Let's get some lunch ready and then we'll sit down for today's debrief."
I followed him over to the cooking station wordlessly and helped mix a spread for the sandwiches he was putting together for the day's lunch. A few minutes later we had dragged set up the chairs and a small table. We'd packed up everything else in the morning and cleaned up the fireplace, putting everything we brought away in the same crate it had come in.
"Your technique and ability to chain together attacks has improved drastically. You're thinking on your feet, which is good, but you're also saving some effort by having a good spread of options prepared like I told you to. You're simply stronger. Aggron was more tired than it looked. Truly. There's a lot more clarity on your end about the legendary Pokemon, and now there's more to be looked into. Your tactical thinking has improved vastly. I would imagine you're trying to walk the line between Alexander van Essen's style and Ben Day's. Cassian would have shown you both."
"Yes. I've been trying to learn and make my own process for reacting rather than relying on everything prebuilt, but it's too much to leave everything to reactions. There needs to be some preparation."
"Good. Both of them are quite well respected amongst the circles that know of them." Steven looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "What's your plan when you return to Johto?"
"I need two more badges to qualify for the Silver Conference. I don't think I'll be heading for the smaller countryside gyms. I intend to go to Mahogany and take on Pryce, then move on to Blackthorn and challenge Clair. I want the Rising Badge."
"I can understand that. It is one of the most difficult to acquire. Indigo and the other regions are interesting to me in their allowance of more than eight gyms whose badges qualify for the conferences. Hoenn simply doesn't. Granted we have far fewer towns tucked away that need managing by gyms, but still. I'd said before that I expect you to catch Lance's attention, and I believe it may come from your battle with Clair."
"You keep talking about my catching Lance's attention. Why? With this much effort on your part and on mine, it would be an insult to both of us not to acknowledge that I'm a good trainer, but why would the Champion of the Indigo League care?"
"Lance told you he didn't know your father didn't he…" Steven sighed.
"How did you-" Steven held up his palm at me to cut me off and put his head in his other hand.
"Lance knew him, but we had very different relationships with Nicholas. I trained under him. Lance was briefly in our squad, having already done his year of service abroad. He knew your father more so as a colleague. In truth, while he dislikes the fact that he effectively passed through the vacant spot in the Indigo Guard that was your father's. It's the simplest explanation I can give, but I don't think he had it in him to talk about Nicholas at the farmhouse when tensions were running high abroad."
"I think I get it…" Silently I thought back to the encounter with Lance out by the farmhouse with the Miltank on my way to Olivine.
"Alright, moving on then. There's an open position on Drake's crew right now, and he's setting out for Indigo amidst a longer voyage tomorrow. I'd talked to him about the idea of your serving as a crew member under him. Not training so much as naval service credited on your record. It's a journey of around four weeks. Of course, you can just go commercial. We can get you back easily."
"Oh. Wow. Drake as in Hoenn Elite Four Drake?" I asked, looking at Steven with both eyebrows raised. "He was at Winona's gym when I was training there."
"Yes. Drake, former Champion of the Hoenn Pokemon League, Elite Four member, and I believe the only non-native the Blackthorn Clan recognize with the title of Dragon Master. None of the Elite Four of any other region have the same recognition."
"Of course, I accept." I nodded as Steven sent of a quick message. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a white envelope with gold decorations and lettering, addressed to me. Reaching out hesitantly, I opened it and pulled out the card on the inside. It was written in the same gold lettering on white paper with the letterhead of the Ever Grande League.
Dear Ethan,
You are cordially invited to the wedding of Steven Grant Stone (Champion Serving, Ever Grand City) and Clara René Wilson. We request the pleasure of your company on April the 2nd of the year 2016 at the League Pavilion in Ever Grand City. We await your reply with in the addressed envelope.
Steven Stone and Clara Wilson
"Steven, I'd be honored to be there." I looked back at him.
"The invitation is just a formality at this point, but do respond. Dining preferences and all that." The man was grinning. "I was hoping that would be the case, so I'll also extend the previous matter. You'll sail back with Drake as well after registering for the Silver Conference and again with him to Indigo later. Three months of service to the Ever-Grand League and the Hoenn Navy to go with the rest of your credentials. You should be plenty in time. You might event get some stories about Lance out of Drake."
"Where do I report?"
"You'll head to the Lilycove City Harbor tomorrow morning at seven. Fly to the city after this. Explore it a little. It's a nice place to visit. Also, I've arranged for whatever moving of stuff your mother wants to do, and for them to fly back to Johto with some reinforcements to your house. Nothing you'll notice much. They should be back and settled in before you get home."
"Understood." I nodded at Steven. "And thank you."
"It's the least I could do. Keep up with your training. Drake's crew is great company. Reflect on your learning otherwise as well. You'll learn a lot of lore and history from Drake aside from the stories. He may talk to you about the research we've discussed as well." Steven stood up and extended a hand towards me. "You've worked hard with discipline Ethan. You've been as close to perfect of a student as I could ask for in your habits, your focus and your commitment. You'll go far. It's been a pleasure to do this, and who know, maybe we'll have another short training stint in the future."
"Thank you, Steven, for everything. You've given me more than I can ever repay you for. In skill, knowledge, and for explaining everything about my father." I reached out and grasped his hand firmly, locking eyes with him and shaking it.
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Blake and I walked down the streets of Lilycove amid the few people about early in the morning. Lanterns were strung everywhere albeit unlit. The city had been alive last night, with people in the streets, musicians making merry around the roads and cheer all around. It reminded me of the Olivine harbor strip with how festive it was. I looked off towards the lighthouse where we had gone to sit by the beach after dinner the previous night. Blake was finishing off the remains of a cup of coffee from our quick breakfast in the morning.
The harbor itself was in view, and bustling with activity as sailors loaded containers onto freight ships and checked riggings. A host of passenger cruises and smaller boats were going about their preparations for later departures, and many smaller boats had already set out into the waters out of Lilycove. Standing tall at the very end of the docks was a wooden sailing ship looking like an antique out of place amongst the cruises and tankers.
Grand masts stood tall and proud atop the ship's deck. Dark wood paneling made up the hull of the ships, curving. Plenty of portholes were visible with brass seals around them, and a small row of oar locks barely caught the sunlight as they glinted. The sprawling sails were untied and caught some of the wind. A lone sailor in the Murkrow's nest atop the mast stood watch, keeping an eye on the seas with a telescope. The prow of the ship was adorned by a glittering figurehead Kingdra made out of brass. It seemed almost real, with its fins splayed along the two sides of the ship and its body following the curve of the prow. Its snout pointed straight out, as did its eyes. A massive steering wheel stood mounted near the helm of the ship, at a station full of controls atop the upper deck. A large Hoennian flag was unfurled from one of the masts as we watched, spreading out in the breeze and fluttering. Gold lettering decorated the side of the ship, the H.S. Katherine.
"I think this is where I'll head off. See you for the wedding. I'll send you a picture of what I'm wearing ahead of time so you can match your colors to mine." Blake smiled and hugged me. "Talk to me when you have signal." She kissed me lightly on the cheek, before walking off with a wave.
"See you soon Blake." I waved after her, one hand lingering on my cheek.
I turned back towards the ship after watching her walk away and continued down the path to the end of the docks. A sturdy gangplank had been lowered down to the docks, and a few sailors ran up and down it, carrying small items or larger pieces of cargo as they readied the ship to depart. I walked up to the ship and climbed the gangplank, noting the captain standing by the steering wheel, overseeing everything onboard.
"Admiral, sir." I addressed him as I stepped on board, standing straight with my back straight. "Ethan Photon, reporting for duty."
Drake turned around to face me. He looked just as he had at Winona's gym. His large black coat covered most of his upper body, revealing only a bit of his muscled chest. Navy trousers with a thick black belt holding them tight went down to his black boots. His hair was hidden under his sailor's hat and his mustache was thick, but trimmed.
"Welcome aboard Marine Photon. I understand you'll be with us for three month-long stints. Lieutenant Brown will show you around and give you your uniform sets. Brown!"
A tall man in his late twenties with auburn hair and green eyes came striding over. He wore a simple white uniform; shirt and trousers were the same shade of white, complemented by a heavy black belt, a white sailor's hat and heavy black boots.
"This is the temporary recruit. Show the lad the ropes and get him kitted." Drake instructed the sailor, putting a hand up to his chin. "We'll set off as soon as the crew is ready to go, and we'll have the voyage address at dinner tonight.
"Yes sir. All crew members have checked in as ready to depart sir. The ship is fueled, cargo is loaded, and testing equipment is ready sir. The engineering report shows us to be in good condition to sail uninterrupted to Cianwood City sir."
"Understood. Notify Commodore Lockwood and get moving Lieutenant." Drake turned on his heel and walked off towards the upper cabin.
Brown reached up to an earpiece and pressed a finger to it, waiting for a moment before speaking.
"Commodore Lockwood, prepare for departure in five minutes. Admiral is en route to Bridge Command. Over." Brown let go of his earpiece and turned back towards me, looking me up and down before gesturing towards the entrance to the lower cabin. "Come on kid."
"Welcome aboard the H.S. Katherine. This is the Admiral's ship. We lead the Hoenn Naval Fleet."
I raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything as Brown kept walking towards the rear deck, to one of the entrances to the lower levels.
"Don't be fooled by the wood paneling. This ship is a military destroyer. It just looks more diplomatic. The sails have their purposes, but for propulsion they're pretty much useless. L-3 houses the engine room, engineering, and storage. L-2 is Medical, Bridge Command Central and Bunks. L-1 is the kitchens, the mess, more bunks, and recreation. Kitting is on L-2. Almost everyone on board is in quartet bunking, or in doubles, except for the Admiral, Commodore Lockwood, and the captains. They have their own spaces on L-1. Deck-1 is Bridge Control Upper."
I followed Brown down a staircase two flights as we emerged into a corridor just wide enough for three people to walk side by side, running down the middle of the ship. To either side of us, doors opened into medical treatment and examination rooms, both for humans and Pokemon. A little further down, Brown turned in to the right down a corridor and then into an open door. I followed him in, reading the sign on the door. Kit.
"Oh good. You're here. Midshipman Johnson, this is Marine Photon. He needs kit. He'll be in your quartet."
"Welcome aboard Photon. You can call me Johnson." The man couldn't have been older than twenty-five. He was two inches shorter than I was, freckled, and had short brown hair and an easy grin.
"Nice to meet you Johnson." It clicked inwardly that I was going to be Photon the rest of the journey, although I wasn't sure what Drake himself – the Admiral –would say. Johnson had pulled four uniform sets off a rack and handed them to me. Four sets of heavy khaki trousers and white shirts, along with a thick belt, three pairs of black boots and a white sailors cap were all added to the pile before he pulled out a bag and neatly fit everything inside it. A cloak and a heavy white jacket followed in, as did four shirts with the Hoenn Navy logo on them; two were light grey with navy, two navy with white.
"You'll be wearing uniform anytime you're on duty. The shirts are for casual wear when you're off duty. Only civilians wear civilian clothes aboard one of our ships. You're crew. That's about everything for now. The heavy weather gear was in there. I tossed a set of overalls in as well for when you're working engineering duty. There's an earpiece in there as well. The default setting is open crew radio. There's a watch and datalogger in there somewhere as well. You can tune which receivers you're targeting from the watch. Catch you later."
"Thank you." Johnson waved me off and it occurred to me from watching Brown to salute him as my ranking officer. He smiled approvingly and waved us off as an announcement ran through the PA system.
"Systems check complete. Crew prepare for departure in five minutes, Oh-Seven fifteen, December 16th, 2015, Lilycove City."
"Let's get you to your bunk." Brown went back out into the main corridor, and I followed him, hefting my pack and the new bag I'd gotten full of naval equipment. "The crew is 52 strong, including you."
We went down the corridors to rooms which were obviously bunks from the open doors. Brown stopped at one with the door open and my name on it, along with three others. There were two bunk beds inside, one set in the left, and one on the right. Cabinets were set against the ends of the bunks, sized to fit the naval kit. The door was opposite the one porthole in the room, sided by two desks just big enough for laptops protruding from the wall. The lower bunk on the right was waiting with a schedule sitting on it. It was quite low, with just enough space under it for me to fit my stuff. I quickly put it all away and pulled out a uniform from my bag, setting on the bed to look at the schedule.
"Everyone here works in three shifts. There's the early shift from four in the morning to twelve, then twelve to eight, and eight to four. Lunch and breakfast are in two blocks, and dinner is one larger one because we try to get most of the crew together for dinner. You'll be moving between a few of the shifts since you're new. The days are marked for you. We'll have you work across just about everything we can try on the ship so that for the next two stints we know where to put you. You start today with duty on the deck. Get changed and we'll keep moving around. Over the course of your service you may have the chance to be promoted in rank."
Brown stepped out and I closed the door, quickly changing out of my clothes and into one of the uniform sets. The ship moved beneath my feet as we set sail, upsetting my balance slightly before I managed to open the door. Stabilizing myself, I grabbed a hold of the handle and stepped out. Brown looked me up and down before nodding and handing me a card.
"This is your ID on this ship. It's also your key. Don't lose it."
"Yes sir." I tucked it into my pocket and followed him down to the end of the corridor where there was a set of glass double doors marked "Bridge Command Central". He swiftly turned and headed for a staircase, going downstairs. I followed him into a room full to the brim with scientific equipment, tables covered in charts and chalkboards. A few engineers were working something out on one of the boards.
"That was engineering." Brown gestured back towards them we passed down a corridor through storage rooms and to a massive open bay with two monstrously large engines churning away in them. Titanic fuel tanks contained the ships supply. Countless pipes ran across the room in every direction, steam hissing out of valves and pressure gauges flickering as three men oversaw the goings on.
"Andreas. This is the new kid. Marine Photon." Brown called out to one of the three men standing by the engines, watching them as the ship covered the first few miles of the journey coming. "Photon, this is Captain Andreas, chief engineering officer on board the ship."
Andreas was a tall, stocky man with just a thin layer of brown hair over his scalp and hard brown eyes.
"Welcome aboard Photon. You'll be serving down here for some time soon. I look forward to seeing what you can do."
"Yes sir." I saluted Andreas, before following Brown out the door and up to flights of stairs to what would be L-1. The open space we emerged into was mostly empty at the moment, decorated with couches and a few TVs. A pool table seemed to be standing on a gyroscopic rig. Two full card tables sat on their own. Brown kept walking until we had passed through the doors into another large room, this one dominated by tables and benches, with a serving station along the side.
"That was rec, this is the mess, the kitchens are that way," he gestured at another door into the serving area, "and there's more bunks back behind where we came through. Let's get you up to the deck now."
We emerged into the bright sunlight through another staircase, and I was thankful immediately for the large hat keeping the light out of my eyes as I strode purposefully behind Brown to the middle of the deck – or at least tried to. I figured I'd learn to move with the swaying of the ship in time. Until then I would just have to try and not fall over.
"There are eight lieutenants on board including myself. There are forty or so sailors including you now. Most people rotate between two or three duties on board to break the monotony. Most do it by the week. Right now, you're on deck duty. For now, you'll stick with one of the Midshipmen and help them, learn the ropes. Hm…. Hernandez! Get over here!"
Another sailor, who had been half walking half running down the deck to one of the masts, skidded to a halt and turned on his heel, marching towards us.
"Midshipman Hernandez, you're in charge of Marine Photon. Keep him with you, and teach him deck duty."
"Sir, yes sir!" Hernandez saluted as Brown walked off before turning to me and letting out a breath which I hadn't realized he was holding in. He was short compared to most of the crew I'd seen, a good couple of inches shorter than I was, with thick black hair cut short and tan skin. His arms were absolutely massive in comparison, rippling with muscles like a Machoke's.
"Alright kid. Welcome to deck duty. It's actually pretty fun, but it's hard work. We'll get you started with the ropes and the masts. The breeze is changing and picking up speed, so we'll be folding them away for now. Do you have any Pokemon that have strength?" Hernandez stopped for a moment before adding "And can hold a rope in their hands."
I nodded and Hernandez looked me up and down before gesturing towards one of the masts. "Get it out and let's go."
I grabbed one of my pokeballs and released Lucario, the bipedal Pokemon picking the information about our current state of affairs out of my mind and following quietly. A lone Machoke was waiting near the mast, holding on to one rope in each hand.
"Copy us."
Lucario deftly grabbed one of the two ropes from the Machoke and began hauling it in, mimicking the other fighting type perfectly from. Hernandez climbed up one of the short ladders fixed to the side of the mast and grabbed some of the slack in the rope as Machoke had it almost all the way down and wrapped it around a thick ball ended peg sticking out of the mast. I climbed up and copied him, watching each coil of the rope in an effort to try and get it right. The knot on my side of the mast took longer to tie, but seemed to hold tight when I pulled it.
Hernandez had climbed down, and looked at my handiwork while I finished up.
"Not bad, not bad. Definitely you'll get better at this with time. Alright. Let's keep moving upwards."
Hernandez recalled his Machoke and I turned towards Lucario. The aura Pokemon shook its head, crouching then bounding up to grab ahold of one of the beams on the mast. It swung itself up to the next level as I climbed the ladder beneath Hernandez, waiting for us there.
We continued moving up the mast and tying up the sails as we progressed, finally tying all the sails on the mast. I stopped for a moment to look out from the topmost beam of the mast. Lilycove was shrinking away in the distance, a memory already long forgotten.
"Alright back down we go!" Hernandez grinned and climbed down the ladder rapidly, faster than I would be able to make it down for a while. I followed as quickly as I could, making it to the bottom where he was whistling. I recalled Lucario as he gestured towards a mop and bucket.
"We'll all be cleaning up the deck floor for a while. Let's get going!"
"Alright." I grabbed my mop and bucket, mindlessly getting to work amidst the few others who were also cleaning, and the sailors running across the deck for various other reasons. As we swept, I let my mind drift back to the last three weeks with Steven.
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Two weeks earlier…
I climbed up the side of the hills, using my hands to get a good grip on the white rock face. All I knew was that I had to make it to the other side of this hill before the last part of today's training would start. The sun had set over the hilltop as I just managed to get a handhold and pull myself up and over the narrow edge. I gasped as I saw the sun setting over the ocean ahead of me. Gold-white sands spread across the land in front of the hillside, small waves lapping on the beach shore.
Steven was standing by the water, watching the sun set calmly as I scaled the backside of the hill and walked down the sand towards him. He was holding a pocket watch in his hands. The timepiece was old and silvery, reflecting the pinkish orange hue of the sunset.
"There's room for improvement. I imagine you had some difficulties getting away from my team in the hunt."
"Lucario and Claydol were particularly tricky to avoid. Between the psychic abilities and the aura vision, it was messy." I replied, catching my breath as I watched the sunset. I hadn't had such an intense chase since the workout with Ben Day and Cassian Byrne out by the Weather Institute.
"Well, you're improving. Fly back to camp and clean up. We'll pick up after dinner with more notes from the book." Steven whistled and Skarmory came flying in, picking him up with its talons and tossing him onto its back with practiced ease.
I called Knight out and followed back to the campsite, slotting my team in to heal and recover from our exercises as we prepared dinner. A quick shower followed and then I found myself in Steven's tent, sitting around a small table inside it. The leather journal was lying open in front of us.
"We've covered the Hoenn entries, so let's start with the Johto ones. After all, you saw three of them in the Burnt Tower already."
"Actually, Raikou was in New Mauville as well. In the underground power plant."
Steven's head jerked towards me and his eyes narrowed as he focused, taking in what I had just said.
"Elaborate. Raikou and New Mauville. Both."
"I was on the cycling road when there was an attack by some organization calling themselves Team Magma. Long story short, the confrontation ended with my sinking in the channel below through a hole and into a cave. I was stuck on the inside of New Mauville, without a key to open the gates. I explored, probed about, and eventually I found the main control room and generator switch. With no signal and no attacks seeming to work on opening the door, I tried to hit the kill switch on the generator after I figured out what it was. I thought it would grab someone's attention, so we did it and ran up to the main gate. Watson came and found us. We headed back down to turn the system back on again, and we were about to leave when Raikou just… showed up…. It disappeared after a moment as well, and a ring of silver sparks formed a kind of illusion or gateway of some kind to some place I don't know, sucking in the air before closing."
"Why haven't I gotten a report from Watson yet?" Steven opened his phone, typing away furiously for a moment. "Have you seen any other instances of similar phenomena?"
"Just once. When I found Samurott. He was a Dewott, right when we landed in Mossdeep back from Johto. I was in a training room in the Pokemon center, and one of those silvery rings formed, spilling out Dewott and a ton of water."
"Vanished just like that?" Steven raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"You should have told me earlier, but let's just move on. This is something we'll have to research. Anyhow. The Johtan Legendary Pokemon. Let's take a look at them." Steven pulled the book up and opened it, looking for the right pages before setting it down on the table again.
"Lugia. Class S. What we know of it is limited. It's been historically called the diving Pokemon." Steven gestured at the notebook, with its vague drawings of a massive, sleek avian with white feather and blue highlights. I recognized the image from the similar likenesses used in stories for children, and for its frightening familiarity to a Pokemon I'd seen in dreams before.
"Said to be almost twenty feet tall, and that's not including its tail. We believe it lives in the oceans, despite being an avian, deep in the trenches of the Johtan waters. There is little to suggest it lives anywhere. Johtan Lore had it as living atop what's now the Burnt Tower in Ecruteak, with Ho-oh roosting atop the opposite tower. Claims of sightings are very rare. Maybe once every fifty years or so. Always at sea. Always in the middle of storms. Some claim to see its form swimming, a few have said they've seen it flying in the epicenter of disastrous storms. We believe it is a flying type and a water type. Lore claims it watches of the birds of Kanto, Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos."
"Ho-Oh. Class S. We have more information about it than we do its counterpart Lugia. Historically called the rainbow Pokemon. Trainers claim to see it more often than anything else. You'll get a claim every few years or so. It's old lore that Ho-Oh appears before those of pure heart." Steven ran a finger across the depiction of Ho-Oh. It was much more detailed than that of Lugia, and included an attached copy of a blurry picture of a massive red avian flying along a rainbow.
"Supposedly in the range of fourteen feet tall, and said to roost atop the Tin Tower. Ho-Oh is purported in the old Johtan tales to have given life to Entei Raikou and Suicune after the fire in the old Brass tower where their weaker forms originally died. The story is one that's told all over Johto. I'd be surprised if you didn't know it. It's said to be capable of summoning flames that could burn all of Johto in a day. We classify it as a fire flying type. One of the things that lends the most credence to it, is that this photo was taken by Samuel J. Oak himself."
"Kanto's Professor Oak? The leading researcher on Pokemon and Human relationships?"
"That's the man." Steven smiled lightly. "He was a trainer himself for quite in his youth. Quite the trainer in fact. If you ever get to know him, you may get on his good side and get some of those stories out of him. He works quite closely with the Indigo League. Anyhow, back to Ho-Oh."
"Ho-Oh can reportedly be summoned by one with a Rainbow wing and a clear bell, and only then will the bells atop the Tin Tower toll again. They've been silent longer than anyone remembers now. The monks guard entry to the tower and continue the old Johtan practices of ritual and gifts for Ho-Oh."
"The monks in the Whirl Islands." I looked up sharply, gears spinning in my mind. "Is it possible Lugia is roosting there?"
"The Whirl Islands… You say there's a monastery similar to the Tin Tower Monks there?"
"Yes. It might be worth talking to them. If they follow the traditions of a counterpart monastery to the Tin Tower, they may know something we don't."
"Thank you, Ethan. Thank you." Steven scribbled a note in the book with a fountain pen as he looked at the book. "There's a lot to be found out about these Pokemon, and we're doing everything we can to prepare ourselves. You've already helped that immensely."
|\/|~^-_-_-^-_-_-^~|\/|
16th December 2015, 20:25….
Chatter and laughter rang from across every table in the mess hall. I was sat with a group of six or so others, including Johnson, Hernandez, two more Midshipmen called Weir and Jackson who I shared the quadruple with. It wasn't quite chaotic but it was pleasant. Almost everyone on the ship was having dinner, with the exception of four or so people manning the vital stations at the moment.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Drake stood up, raising his mug to his lips and rapping the table with a short stick. The room immediately quietened down as everyone's attention jumped to the Admiral. "Tonight marks the first night of our latest journey, and the first time in two years that we've had a new recruit onboard. While I hope each of you read the debrief before we embarked in the morning, I will be running over the next couple of months briefly. We set sail for Johto, first to Cianwood city, then Olivine. We will be conducting research along the way past the Whirl Islands. We join our companions in Johto in a display of solidarity for what they have been through recently, and to show the world that Hoenn stands with Indigo. We have much research to conduct in Johto, thanks to very generous permissions from the Indigo League. We will be spending five weeks researching and on shore in Indigo. From there we depart once again to Hoenn, returning briefly before embarking on the third leg of this research voyage. Most likely we will be returning to Hoenn again, but we may go further as well."
Drake scanned the room silently, letting the overview of the coming months settle in for his sailors. I cast a glance around the room. Most of them seemed fine with it, apparently used to these kinds of trips as Drake's crew.
"You have been loyal members of my crew, often rising beyond the expectations set for you. We will complete this journey successful in our goals, and return to Hoenn with much to bring back for our region. Thank you!" Applause and shouts of affirmation rang out as Drake smiled lightly walking out of the mess hall.
I finished my meal and headed over to the rec room, where most of the crew had spilled over into. People were laughing, talking, playing pool, watching reruns of old battles and having a good time. I was making for a couch with the same group from dinner when a small blip in my ear caught my attention.
"Photon, do you copy? Lieutenant Brown here. Tune your radio. Over."
"Copy, Lieutenant Brown. Over." I replied down the line, having tuned the line from my watch as fast as I could.
"Report to the Admiral's office on L-1. Over." The buzz in my ear died out as the line went silent. I turned and headed out of the room, following the corridor down to the very end, to a set of heavy wooden doors with an anchor and chain embossed across them in gold. I waited for a moment before knocking sharply twice. Drake's gruff voice sounded through the thick double doors from the other side.
"Enter."
I placed on hand on the heavy brass handle on the door, swinging it open and stepping inside. I closed the door behind me and looked around briefly as I stepped forward. There were two portholes along each side wall near the very rear front of the ship. Small violet curtains hung from rods over them, tied back and ready to be closed at any moment. A heavy mahogany desk sat towards the back of the room, facing the door. A massive map of the oceans decorated the wall behind him. To my right was a small seating area with bookshelves on the walls, comfortable chairs, and a small table with an ashtray. To my left was an empty Pokemon bed.
"Sit." Drake gestured at one of the empty chairs at his desk, straightening a sheaf of papers and putting them away. I stepped forward and pulled up one of the chairs, sitting down in it and facing Drake.
"So. Ethan Photon. Steven's trainee. You have a solid record. Only eight gym challenges listed yet but you've won seven of them."
"Eight? I only have six badges." I frowned slightly; a little bit hazy on the numbers for a moment.
"You beat Norman, didn't you?" It clicked in my head as I looked at Drake. "I understand your battle with Wallace was off the books."
"Yes, yes it was."
"Smart. Wallace is a tricky man to battle. Worse than Agatha in some regards." Drake shook his head. "We'll be investigating the Whirl Islands while we're in Johto. You're free to disembark at Cianwood and continue your journey yourself from there. You're not contracted for service during our research in the Johto Region."
"Yes sir."
"A word of advice for your inevitable battle with Clair. Don't rely on the traditional weaknesses of dragon types. It'll get you nowhere with her. There is a reason the Blackthorn clan produces dragon masters, and it's not out of obligation."
"Thank you."
"Some of the crew like to hold battles up on the deck. I check in on it every night. You might find it interesting to go take a look. Dismissed."
"Thank you, sir." I saluted briefly, although Drake was once again looking at his papers, and made my way out of the office and to my room briefly. I rifled about in my bag. I happened to find my badge case in the mix while I was looking and I stopped, taking it out for a moment to look at it.
The zephyr badge, two pale blue wings folded into a hexagon. The hive badge, the back of a Ledyba. The plain badge, a simple cream-colored diamond shape. The fog badge, a vague representation of a ghost. The storm badge, a rounded out, rust colored fist. The mineral badge, a gleaming silver octagon. Only the glacier badge and rising badge were missing.
"Almost there". I put the case away and went to the bathrooms quickly to wash my face. My eyes fell on the mirror as I splashed water over my visage, making me look. The grey Hoenn Navy t shirt was stretched just a bit over my shoulders, and the thermal weave in it was visible. The lines of my face looked harsher than they had when I'd left Newbark town, and my hair was a little messier, but there was a sparkle in my eyes that I hadn't seen in a while.
"I'm going home." Realization hit me as I toweled off and headed to the deck, grinning like an idiot. I bounded up the stairs and out onto the deck, where sure enough, around two dozen of the crew members were mingling. A hat had been put on the ground, and I could just see the slips of paper sticking out of it.
"Photon! Hey everyone, Photon's here!" Hernandez roared merrily, raising a mug of what I assumed was some light ale. A generally positive uproar sounded as the smiling and joking crew waved me over to where they we all hanging around. "We're just going to have some friendly battles. It's a bit of a tradition over here. You want in?"
"What are the rules?" I asked, looking at him.
"One on one. The ship's fireproof, but try to avoid things that have a chance of breaking stuff. No barriers either, so nothing like Earthquake. Other than that, pretty much it."
"Sure, why not." I looked out as one of the sailors at the far end gave me an odd look. He had short cropped blonde hair and a hulking frame. In some ways he reminded me of pictures of Lieutenant Surge I'd seen.
"That's the spirit!" Hernandez crowed, scribbling my name on a slip and stuffing it in the hat.
"Think you can keep up kid?" Fake Surge looked over at me with a leering grin. My eyes immediately flicked over to him as I sized him up. He didn't seem to be saying it somewhat good humoredly, or at least he was just trash talking. I stopped for a moment and crossed my arms, looking over at him.
"The real question is how long you think you'll hold out before I wipe the floor with you." I replied, ready to hold my ground if I had in fact offended someone.
Fake Surge stared at me for a second. It looked like a vein was about to burst in his forehead before he gave up and burst out laughing uproariously.
"I like this kid. Let's draw."
Hernandez took the sailor's hat and sidled over to a chalkboard up on the main level wall by the doors to Bridge Command Upper. A table full of names had been put up.
"Alright, we've got ten people in it tonight, so one battle each first. Bets for a minute before each round! First round is… Johnson and Weir! Everybody place your bets, Johnson and Weir!"
I watched for a moment as a few odd people went to place bets on the battle before Johnson and Weir stepped forward, each of them releasing a Pokemon. Johnson had sent out a Machoke, and Weir had a Pelipper flying in the air near him.
"Go!"
The battle picked up quickly. For the most part it was entertainment, but neither of these two were quite strong. I wasn't sure exactly what I expected of them as they traded blows for about fifteen minutes. I walked over to Hernandez, one eye on the battle. Pelipper was giving Machoke a tricky time. Weir wasn't being so boring as to simply stay out of range, having Pelipper dive in and out as it attacked Machoke.
"What exactly is the composition of the crew… skill wise?" I asked with a small frown as Hernandez looked over at me, taking his eyes off the battle.
"Mostly sailors. We're in good shape. You have to have five Hoenn gym badges to qualify for navy service. There's a few Ace Trainers scattered around. Keep your eyes open for Henderson." Hernandez gestured with his head to the big guy from earlier. He was sitting on and anchor winch, watching the battle. "He's a rank two, I think. All the Lieutenants are Rank twos, so probably. The midshipmen vary. Johnson and Weir stopped after the minimum requirement. Most don't." Hernandez hummed as he looked around the group scattered everywhere.
"The other tricky bit is that most everyone's stronger Pokemon are either aerial battlers or water types, and quite a lot of them are kind of pointless to have in a small deck battle. It keeps this casual. Landlocked Pokemon aren't much good in a sea battle unless they're helping out with work like the fighting types do with maintenance and with the winches and the masts."
"Gotcha." Weir's Pelipper fired a water gun at Machoke and pushed it back, diving in to try and take the fighting type out, only to get caught up by two strong punches throwing it onto the ground and knocking it out.
"Johnson wins! Get your money and give it right back to me, because the next round is… Stern and… Photon!"
A young woman in her mid-twenties with red hair tied into a bun stepped forward, looking at me. I weighed my options as I looked at her. My eyes flicked for a moment to Henderson. The big man was watching me as I toyed with the pokeballs on my belt. I looked back over to Stern, who had a pokeball ready in her hand and picked, tossing it up in the air to release Samurott.
The water type stepped close to me and looked around, noting Stern's Swellow flapping about in the air near her.
"She could either be very strong, or not a match for us. If it's the latter, play it down. Don't want to show off just yet." I murmured to Samurott as most of the people there placed their bets.
Samurott growled in response, looking at its adversary with a keen eye. Swellow made the first move, diving in with a Steel Wing. Samurott slid backwards, firing a water gun at it and missing narrowly. As the flying type diverted up, Samurott sprayed water around the deck, letting itself slide around easier and on its belly. Swellow dove in once more with a wing attack. From above.
"Razor Shell!" I called out, making sure my instructions were audible. Samurott weathered the weak hit and parried back with a strong Razor shell that knocked Swellow far back. Stern was evidently one of the trainers who wasn't quite the strongest, but still interested in battles.
"Fury Cutter." Samurott leaped forward and jabbed the fluttering Swellow a few times with the bug type attack as it fluttered to the sky.
"Aqua Jet!" I called out the moment I recognized the Aerial Ace attack coming in from above. Aerial Ace never missed, which meant attacking back at it was easy.
Samurott slammed head on into Swellow, taking the Aerial Ace hit, but at the same time, knocking the avian out.
"Alright! New kid wins, barely by the looks of it!" Hernandez called out as Samurott feigned more injury and fatigue than it actually bore as it slid back over to me. I smiled and scratched its head, recalling the water type.
I snuck in a quick glance at the betting board before it was cleared. An even split of people had bet between the two of us, and if they bought into the idea that I wasn't much stronger than Stern, all the better. The next couple of battles blurred by, and before I knew it, we were almost done.
"Alright alright! One last battle everyone!" Hernandez called out, cupping his hands to form a cone. "In the red corner we have, Photon! And in the green corner, its… Henderson! Place your bets everybody, place your bets!"
"Alright! This is going to be fun kid." Henderson stepped down from the winch he was sitting on and clapped his hands as a wide, disjointed circle formed around the two of us. I snuck a quick glance at the bets before putting a hand on my belt. Almost everyone's bets were on Henderson. Their loss.
"Swampert!" A familiar water type formed on the ships deck in front of Henderson as I released Scizor, immediately happy with my choice.
"Go!"
"Delta one!"
Scizor wasted no time blasting a signal beam out of one pincer at Swampert. The water type blasted right back into it with a water gun and Scizor dropped the attack, ducking under and bolting at Swampert with a Bullet Punch it delivered straight to the gut.
A blast of earth hit Scizor and sent it skidding backwards as Swampert picked up steam and went on the offensive. Scizor took one look at the charging Swampert and fired off a Vacuum wave at it, the whirling cone of high-pressure air slamming into the ground type as it tried to approach and cutting of its best avenue of approach.
Swampert was an experience fighter evidently. A blast of water fired at Scizor, hitting it and knocking it into the air. Shaking of its wings, the bug type floated up, hovering three feet above the ground as it eyed up Swampert.
I whipped my arm down in a similar manner to the battle with Blake. Taking advantage of Scizor's ability to detect even the slightest changes in the air nearby thanks to its high frequency fluttering of its wings, and whatever bug senses it had, we had devised most of a framework for working wordlessly. The steel type blast forward with an X Scissor, ready to cut at Swampert.
The muscled water type grabbed a hold of Scizor's arms with deadly precision, using glowing orange fists to hold it back as a massive blast of water slowly charged in its mouth. Scizor's eyes narrowed, focusing on Swampert before it slammed an Iron Head straight into the Hoenn Pokémon's gut, releasing its arms from the water types grip and knocking it back.
Immediately Scizor leapt forward with another X Scissor, slashing at Swampert before a Focus Blast caught it in the abdomen and hurled it backwards.
Swampert blasted forward with a glowing Hammer Arm and I swung an arm across, snapping as I did so. Scizor ducked and wove around Swampert's Hammer Arm, parrying the next with a Bullet Punch impossibly fast. A Metal Claw raked into Swampert's thick hide from the other side before Scizor straight up kicked Swampert and used the momentum to float ten feet into the air.
One more snap and signal beam rained down onto Swampert, knocking it back into the floor as Scizor divebombed it with another Iron Head. Hammer Arm met the glowing iron of Scizor's head, the two attacks holding strong against each other as Swampert threatened to hurtle Scizor back. A bullet punch barely caught the second hammer arm in time before Scizor finally relented, taking the hit and landing an Aerial Ace on Swampert from the side.
Scizor fell to the ground near my side, slowly standing up as Swampert got up from its knees. I snapped one more time. Taking in the state of its opponent briefly, Scizor fired off one last Signal Beam, knocking the water type out. Silence reigned for a few moments before I recalled Scizor and crossed my arms.
"Hot. Damn." Henderson had a fiery grin as he recalled Swampert, looking over at me. "Kid's a real fighter." More than a dozen people simply seemed unable to believe that Henderson had lost to me, and more so that they'd all lost money to two betters.
"Good show." Clapping came from behind me and I turned around to see Drake standing on the deck. His Salamence stood by his side, the mighty dragon awe inspiring. The dragon's brutal glare focused on me for a moment, its yellow eyes focusing on me as it breathed. In, then out… in, then out… it's abdomen – because it couldn't really be called a belly – sank and rose ever so slightly as it breathed, staring into my soul. After a moment its eyes turned away from me, seemingly indifferent.
"So, Lieutenant. You got your ass handed to you on a plate by an eighteen-year-old. What do you have to say for yourself?" Drake asked him gruffly, arms folded behind his back. Henderson looked carefully at me, and then back at Drake, a confident smirk on his face.
"I'd say the kid's going places sir. Reminds me of when Lockwood had that Unovan kid he was supervising aboard. Day, was it, sir?"
"Good answer." Drake looked around at the half of his crew that was assembled on deck before heading out.
"If this is how the battles are going to be, your time here's going to be fun." Henderson walked over once Drake had left, extending his hand. "Good battle Photon."
"That was great. I was afraid I wouldn't get any real training in while I was onboard." I shook Henderson's hand, grasping it firmly. "You know Ben Day?"
"Know him? Kid served on the ship for half a year! Let me tell you, he was out of line in such stupid ways sometimes that it was hilarious!" Henderson clapped me on the back as we walked towards the betting board. "Once, he managed to get a bunch of dancers to hold a luau on deck while we were in the harbor. Drake didn't even know where to start!"
"Oh, Ben Day was legendary for pulling stunts like that." Hernandez had sauntered over, joining us.
"Let me tell you about the time he accidentally got an Octillery stuck to the back of the Admiral's coat…"
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Golden sands beckoned the H.S. Katherine from afar. I was standing up in the Murkrow's nest, watching the horizon when the call went over the P.A. system.
"Docking in Cianwood City in 10 minutes. Prepare to drop anchor. Crew members are advised to gather their identification and present themselves to Johtan Immigration in Cianwood in order to disembark."
My heartrate picked up as the familiar cliffs above the city proper came into view. I activated my earpiece on the open radio channel, calming myself and summoning my best 'radio voice' before speaking.
"Nest report: Port in sight. Repeat, port in sight. All crew members report to your stations immediately. Over."
The ship slowly moved into the docks, and a heavy thud was felt across the ship and up the mast as the anchor was dropped, securing the ships position. We had radioed in to the Johtan Port Authority to inform them of our arrival so nobody would panic and think this was a repeat of the last time. The P.A. system buzzed to life once again as I began my climb down the ladder.
"The H.S. Katherine has landed in Cianwood City. Crew members are requested to report to the main deck with identification documents to complete entry procedures into Johto. Thank you."
I reached the bottom of the ladder to see three Indigo League officials on board, checking off the IDs and documents of the sailors lining up on deck. I pulled up to the back of one of the lines, waiting patiently until I reached the front of the line.
The man waiting with the scanner and small laptop at the front of the deck held out his hand for my ID and I obliged, handing him my Johtan trainer ID. He paused for a moment and looked at the card, before looking back up at me. A moment's scrutiny quickly ended and he scanned the card, logging my entry to the region and handing it back to me.
"Welcome back to Johto Mr. Photon." He waved me off and handed me back my card as the next person in line stepped up.
"Thank you." I took the card and quickly moved away, looking to see Drake standing off to one side.
"Photon. We'll be disembarking from Cianwood in a few hours to head out for Olivine. Take some time off of the ship and then we'll go."
"Understood sir. Is there any particular reason we aren't heading there immediately sir?" I asked.
"Lance will be escorting us into the Olivine Harbor with his Dragonite." Drake looked off into the horizon. "He'll be here in three hours' time. You're officially off duty. Go change into plain clothes. You can leave your kit aboard the ship until the next stint. Probably not the best idea to be roaming around Johto in Naval Uniform."
"Understood sir. Thank you." I saluted Drake off, heading to get changed quickly. He was right. I wasn't in the mood to walk onto shore in a Hoenn Navy Uniform. Not when I was home. I tossed on a pair of jeans and a red hoodie for the cold weather, fixing a cap atop my head. I left my pack in the room for now, figuring I'd take it out in Olivine, and headed out and off the gangplank. A few more crew members were taking the opportunity to stretch their legs on land.
I quickly made it into the city before I realized I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't quite want to sit around, not after I'd been at sea for a month. I looked around, utterly confused, before a bright blue billboard caught my eye.
Come explore the new Johto Safari zone! Thrills and excitement for trainers and tourists alike! Visit us off Route 48! The Johto Safari Zone, where the wildlife flourishes!
A large yellow arrow pointed into the cliffside gate. I raised an eyebrow before shrugging and walking up and into the gate. Stairs hewn into the cave led up through it and onto the top of the cliffside, emerging onto what appeared to be Route 47, from the signpost outside the exit. Stopping to take a breath, I looked around to see the scenery. To my left was the vast expanse of the Ocean, spreading out like a brilliant blue blanket. To my right was the cliffside, with multiple bridges spanning the gaps over rivers and waterfalls.
I reached for my belt and released Typhlosion onto the cliffside next to me. The fire type Pokemon stopped for a moment shook its head as it excitedly took stock of surroundings that were for once on dry land. It bounded over and rubbed its head against my leg, growling happily as I reached down to scratch its head.
"Yeah buddy. We're home. Let's enjoy the walk." Typhlosion happily bounded along as I walked down the mostly empty route. It kept a careful eye on the cliff edges and the ends of the log bridges, even bravely peering off the edge of one into the sheer drop to the ocean below at one point.
It had jumped back animatedly, hackles raised on the back of its neck as it growled. I laughed, petting its head once more as we continued on our way. Very quickly we made our way to the marked end of Route 48, finding ourselves at an arched wooden gate with totem poles at either end. The words 'Safari Zone' were engraved on the arch top, painted in in bright red and pale green.
"Looks like this will be fun." I walked through and up to the entrance to the gate building, wiping my feet on the mat outside. Typhlosion followed up, rubbing all four of its paws across the mat before scampering in behind me.
The main gate building was comprised of a long narrow hall. Reception desks lined either side of the hall, and turnstile barriers blocked the pathway halfway down the middle. A set of sliding glass doors were visible at the end. I walked up to one of the receptionists and the counter.
"Hi, would you like to enter the safari zone?"
"Could you explain how it works to me first?"
"Certainly! For 500 P you gain entry into the Safari Zone and access to the rail system connecting the six zones. You get thirty Safari Balls which you may use to capture Pokemon while inside. We do not recommend permit battling in the Safari Zone unless your safety is on the line. Rangers keep watch from hidden outposts and will help in any events getting out of control. Pokemon that are not larger than yours may roam about with you, but far fewer Pokemon in the zone will engage you, if any. You are required to provide pokeballs upon exit to transfer any Pokemon your capture into. Wasted safari balls are collected by staff. There's no time limit during your visit, unlike our counterpart facilities in other locales."
"Can I just ask how you guys actually preserve Pokemon if trainers are allowed to catch up to thirty?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. The blue haired woman behind the counter smiled enthusiastically, apparently excited that someone had asked the question.
"We only keep open six of our ten zones at a time. Four will remain closed on a seasonal rotation to facilitate breeding and maintain populations densities. Additionally, the necessity to provide your own pokeballs at the end of a visit tends to curb how many Pokemon trainers catch, and it brings our costs down in producing endless Safari Balls."
"Interesting. I'd like to enter." I pulled the money out of my wallet and handed it over to the woman who handed me backpack with thirty camouflage colored pokeballs to use inside the zone.
I recalled Typhlosion and crossed the turnstile, stepping through into a marshland. No Pokemon were immediately visible as I traversed the paths that were clearly marked and made of solid ground. I made it to the middle of the marsh and cast a glance around. a light mist had settled over the muddy area, and I wasn't sure I wanted to be wading into the mud in the haze to try and look for Pokemon. I kind of just wanted to explore. Making up my mind.
I proceeded to cross out of the marshland through the next exit in the trees after another two kilometers of trekking, crossing a rail car station along the way. I followed the path down to another part of the Safari Zone, this time a grassy plain. Little caught my attention as a few Rattata chased each other around the nearby area. I continued on for another two kilometers, passing by the occasional Pokemon and stopping to feed a few with some of the feed provided in the bag with the Safari Balls.
Deep into the next zone, a dense forest, I stopped to take a breather. Looking around, little light was penetrating the thick three cover. In a way, it was reminiscent of Ilex Forest. I took a breath and sighed. That was quite a while ago now. A flickering in the corner of my vision caught my eye. I turned carefully and looked to see what was going on. A lone Misdreavus was floating around the trees, picking at a few berries. I slowly pulled a Safari Ball out of my bag and approached it carefully, moving on my toes so as to not catch its attention.
I readied the Safari Ball in my hand, priming it and preparing to throw when a rattling sound began ringing through the forest. I whipped my head around as a rail car rumbled through the forest to my right, tourists sticking their heads and cameras out. Misdreavus turned around at the noise, noticing everything going on, and disappeared into the trees.
"Ugh. So that's how they keep the trainers from over catching." I grumbled, making my way onwards and out of the forest eventually. I stumbled onto the beginning of a mountain peak rising up atop the cliffs, and made up my mind. At this point there was no reason not to have one of my Pokemon roaming about with me, so I released Typhlosion again.
"Don't attack another Pokemon unless we have no other options." Typhlosion merely scampered up ahead of me and looked ahead as we started to trek op the hillside. A ranger outpost towered blending into an outcropping of rocks caught my eye. A lone man with blond hair down to the nape of his neck, sitting in a red uniform, was watching through binoculars. I gave him a passing wave and he nodded back as we continued our trek, making it up to a large plateau with a few outcroppings of rock nearby.
I sat down on one of the smaller boulders in the area, taking in the scene devoid of Pokemon. A lone Geodude was pottering about some rocks, pulling small bits and pieces out of a pile of broken shards.
"Well Typhlosion, we're almost home. Once we get to Olivine, I guess we just pick up where we left off. It's kind of surreal."
Typhlosion growled in response, laying down on the cool rock beside me. The vast expanse was empty, devoid of tourists, rail car tracks, and Pokemon. I sat there for a few moments, taking in the day and checking my watch. Between the entire run so far, I had spent about an hour and a half of the three I had off the ship. I stretched my legs out and slipped off the rock as the ground vibrated a bit. Immediately Typhlosion was on its feet, growling as the aftershock of an Earthquake rippled through the mountainside. A massive roar sounded over the horizon and I tensed, grabbing a Safari Ball from my bag and getting ready to run.
An Electabuzz came running over the other side of the mountain, spinning its arms like windmills in a frenzy as it crossed into my line of sight. I frowned, holding a hand up. Electabuzz didn't make that kind of a roar, and nor could they learn Earthquake. It had missing patches of fur, and visible bruises down its side as it ran across the plateau. Then the Rhydon appeared.
It was a monster of a rock type, climbing over the edge of the mountain side with another roar as it hurled a boulder at Electabuzz. The electric type narrowly dodged it, turning around to face the rock type. The average Rhydon was somewhere between six foot three inches, and six foot nine. This one was easily over seven feet, by how much I didn't want to guess. Its stony hide was grey and weathered, but the toughness in its rock like armor was visible. The cream belly stripes bore numerous faded scars, and its horn was spinning aggressively as it charged Electabuzz.
Readying myself, I tossed the Safari Ball at the gargantuan beast, only for Electabuzz to jump into the way as it avoided another boulder and get sucked into the rock. The Safari Ball dropped to the ground and pinged twice, before clicking and vanishing away to the Safari Zone PC. Rhydon slowed its charge and stopped, turning its head to stare at me with narrowing red eyes. I had just taken away its prey. Bad move.
"Get Solar Beam ready, fire on my mark!" I instructed Typhlosion as I grabbed another two safari balls.
I hurtled the first one immediately as the fire type began charging up the attack. The ball sucked up the Rhydon, dropping to the ground and pinging once before it shattered. Shards of the ruined ball flew everywhere, laying on the ground in a mess as Rhydon charged straight into another ball. Once again it pinged only once, but this time the ball didn't shatter, instead simply releasing Rhydon and rolling away.
"One last try, and then fire." I hurtled the last ball I had pulled out at Rhydon, watching Typhlosion focus its aim right where the ball would release the rock type. It fell to the ground, bouncing once and pinging. Then another ping… and a click. The Safari Ball vanished as it went to the PC. I let out a baited breath and Typhlosion released Solar Beam into the sky, turning back to me and nuzzling my leg.
"Arceus that was risky." I let out a breath and pet the fire type, looking around and then at my watch. Two hours gone.
"Boy you've got guts!"
"Huh?" I whirled around to see the ranger from the tower, standing twenty feet behind me.
"Staring down that Rhydon. You've got guts. Good luck with it. It's a brute. I guess that's probably a good thing if you're the kind of trainer out here catching a seven-foot Rhydon." He raised a hand to wave and turned around.
"Thanks." I replied as he started to walk off. "Hey wait, where's the nearest rail car stop?"
"Down the hill and west!" He hollered back, sauntering back to his outpost.
"Alright Typhlosion, time to get out of here and get back to the ship." I sighed, starting down to the station with Typhlosion by my side.
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A few hours later…
This time I stood at the prow of the ship with Drake, watching Olivine draw nearer and nearer. My pack and gear were all with me as I waited to make land in Olivine City. Lance hadn't even stopped on the ground, but signaled from the air, and we had set off from Cianwood. Flying ahead of us, the Champion sat atop his massive Dragonite, black cape fluttering in the wind and red hair clearly visible to those of us behind him. The ship pulled into the Olivine Harbor slowly, letting the anchor down and tying up the masts immediately. Before I knew it, the gangplank was lowered.
"Alright kid. See you in a few weeks." Drake clapped me on the back, and I saluted back with a grin, walking off the gangplank with a wave to the crew.
Lance was standing on the docks, his Dragonite by his side. The massive Dragon looked older than Knight, and much stronger. Its hide wasn't arrayed with as many marks as Drake's Salamence was but, you could tell it was a fighting Pokemon. Yet it was smiling like there was no tomorrow. It waved at me, and I couldn't help but wave back joyfully. In an inspired moment, I reached for my own belt and released Knight.
The older Dragonite looked at the younger with surprise for a second before it cheerfully extended a paw. Knight looked at it for a second before reaching out with its own paw, and before I knew it, the two had engaged in a light headbutt greeting that ended with a wave and lots of rumbling noises between the two of them.
For all his grandeur, Lance started laughing, looking at the two dragons and putting a hand on his Dragonite's flank.
"Oh, it's not often Mel makes a new friend." Lance smiled. "I think we both needed that."
"It's nice for Knight to meet another Dragonite too."
"Ethan Photon… I'll have to sit down and talk to you at some point. Anyhow, I have to head out, but good luck." Lance raised an arm in a half wave before leaping onto Mel and taking to the air.
"Thanks!" I waved halfheartedly as Lance disappeared to the East, watching Mel turn into nothing more than an orange dot before disappearing.
"Well that's that. It's kind of crazy Knight. You weren't with us at the time, but this is where everything left off before I met you. Right in this harbor." I frowned and scratched my head as Knight made a low rumbling noise.
"I guess we just pick up where we left off then. Onwards to Mahogany Town." I patted Knight's flank and got the saddle out, strapping myself in, and with that, we were off.