Pokémon Tails: A Journey to the East
DISCLAIMER: I don't own DBZ or Pokémon.
CHAPTER 21: Battle on the High Seas
It was a sailor.
Tall, hulking, and with an immense girth, he towered over them, straining at the fabric of his clothing, though he looked to be clear-eyed so Gohan instantly dismissed any notions this man may be drunk, and looking for trouble.
"Who are you?" Gohan wondered, remembering at the last second to keep his manners and to stay polite like his mother had drilled into him from a young age. "Sir?"
And with that the sailor laughed, and not a little one either, but a big old boisterous belly laugh that curled the hair on Brock's chest and left the Saiyan/human hybrid with a faint whiff of seaweed rankling in his nostrils like some terrible aftershave.
"Avast, me mateys!" He rumbled with a hearty tone. "You there, young lad!"
Gohan pointed at himself. "Who, you mean me?"
"Aye, who else?" The sailor pressed. "You be looking like a mighty powerful Trainer, with muscles like that! And so, I, Yeoman Erickson, hereby do challenge you, young lad, to a Pokémon brawl here and now!"
Cabba glanced between the Ash and Gohan.
"Oh, you mean a battle?" Ash asked, seeking clarification.
"Pika Pika, Pikachu?" the Electric Pokémon murmured.
The sailor laughed again. "But of course, young lad! What else?"
"Oh, I don't know..." Gohan replied, rubbing at the back of his head. "I mean, I don't even know you! Sure you wanna battle with me... sir?"
"Oh, but that be no fun!" the sailor scoffed. "Come on, brawl with me, and I be showing you some of the rare and unusual Pokémon I be encountering in me journeys overseas!"
"RARE AND UNUSUAL POKÉMON?!" Ash burst out, sounding excited.
"Pi?" the yellow rodent said, predicting its Trainer's enthusiasm.
The sailor nodded, that wide smirk still in place on his face.
"Hey, Gohan..." Cabba piped up with a grin. "Why don't you battle with this older man? I have yet to see what kind of magical creatures you have to battle with you on your team?"
"Well... what do you guys think?" Gohan asked of the other two.
"I say go for it," Brock said reasonably. "I mean, how else are going to grow stronger as a Trainer if you don't keep battling and battling...?"
"Yeah..." Misty said, a soft blush resting on her cheeks as she looked away from him. "Go get him, Gohan... and kick his butt for us all!"
Gohan observed Misty with abject surprise. What's up with Misty? She seemed so happy a few minutes ago... is it something I did?
With a frown and shake of his head, Gohan turned back to the sailor.
"All right, Mr. Erickson, you have a deal!" Gohan answered back.
The sailor chuckled, as though nothing in the world could've pleased him but to hear that. "Splendid! Avast, me matey, do prepare yourself for an awesome brawl, for me and my Pokémon are not going down easy!"
Pretty soon, another impromptu arena had been sought up.
"This will be a three-on-three battle between Gohan from Mt. Paozu, and Yeoman Erickson," Brock announced, having once again taken on the role of referee. "This battle will conclude when the other Trainer runs out of Pokémon. Let the battle commence!"
I've been using Mew way too much in recent fights, Gohan realized. Let's see what the other Pokémon on my team are capable of!
"Go, Staryu, I choose you!" Gohan called out.
"Come out, Wingull!" Erickson ordered.
Just like that, Gohan's Staryu emerged with a flash, while on the other side, a Pokémon which looked very much like a seagull popped out.
"Whoa, what's that Pokémon?" Ash asked, pointing Dexter at it.
"No data," Dexter repeated with another red question mark.
"Not again..." Ash whimpered, with an exaggerated expression.
"Pika Pi, Pikachu," Pikachu said. "Pika Pika, Pi Pikachu. Pika."
"I've read about that Pokémon," Gohan responded simply. "Wingull, one of the Pokémon indigenous to Hoenn — it looks very strong."
"Quite, matey!" the sailor boomed. "And now, go, Wingull! Wing Attack!"
"Staryu, dodge it!" Gohan insisted.
The Wingull flew up to the top of the ship and then dropped down in a blaze of energy, divebombing Staryu, who spun away rather quickly.
"Wow, Gohan's Staryu is looking pretty agile," Ash commented. "It might be able to give your Staryu a good challenge sometime!"
"Maybe," Misty admitted, still blushing deeply.
"Okay, good!" Gohan stated. "Now use Spinning Tackle!"
"Hiyah!" Staryu replied, swooping around towards the Wingull.
"Not likely!" Yeoman Erickson said with a smirk. "Wingull, dodge too!"
"Wingull, Gull Gull!" the little Seagull Pokémon said, obeying the command as Staryu flew right past it.
"Now use Supersonic!" the sailor said confidently.
"Oh no!" Gohan groaned, holding his hands up to his ears.
Like that, the smoke cleared, and there stood Staryu wobbling about in one position, dancing like a puppet on strings in its confusion.
"No, it's confused!" Ash gasped, recognizing the signs. "Cabba, did you see that move... er, Cabba?"
For when he glanced at the Saiyan/Tuffle hybrid, he found the youth sprawled on the floor, eyes swirling as he murmured vaguely in a disoriented way.
"What's with him?" Misty queried.
"No... Daddy... please don't make me weight the lifts," he slurred. "I'm only supposed to do that on the second purple of the third hot day..."
"Did something happen to Cabba?" Ash ventured.
And in a flash, Cabba had returned to normal, and he was making his way up to his feet again. "Oh wow, talk about embarrassing..."
"What happened to you?" Misty put forth.
"Pi, Pika, Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Oh well, Saiyans can hear in higher frequencies than you humans do," Cabba admitted bashfully. "It's be a pain sometimes, but it also has advantages."
"So you were confused!" Misty realized. "I had no idea..."
Cabba shrugged his shoulders, indifferent. "You get used to it."
Back with the battle, the Wingull had risen high in the sky.
"Good, Wingull!" Erickson commanded. "Now use Quick Attack!"
And, with that, the Wingull zoomed in, accelerating rapidly.
"Who would have thought something so small could be so quick?" Cabba noted, sounding impressed with the opposing Wingull.
"Staryu, please, snap out of it!" Gohan cried.
"Hiyah... Hiyah..." Staryu mumbled, clearly too out of it to hear.
And like that, the Wingull slammed the Staryu into the wall.
"This battle be ours!" Yeoman Erickson gloated.
However, before anyone could say anything, the smoke had cleared, revealing Staryu, who had caught the little Wingull in what looked like a field of glowing energy surrounding its small body, as it seemed to be confused no more.
"WINGULL!" Erickson shouted, now worried.
"What attack is that?" Cabba wondered, glancing over at Misty.
"Huh?" the orange-haired girl said, seemingly distracted. "Oh, that's Staryu's Psywave attack. I-I guess it's something Gohan's Staryu knows..."
With that she went back to her brooding thoughts. Oh, I should be supporting Gohan in his battle, but I... And here she shook her head as Cabba shot her a concerned look. Is this the time to be thinking about something so personal?
"Good, Staryu!" Gohan praised. "Now, Psywave!"
"HIYAH!" Staryu said, tossing the Wingull to the side.
"Wingull, shake it off!" the sailor pleaded with it.
"Now, Staryu, SPINNING TACKLE!" Gohan roared passionately.
The Star Shape Pokémon took off spinning, ramming directly into the Wingull and careening down into the floor, where it appeared a few seconds later, twirling Xs in its eyes.
Brock raised his hand. "Wingull is down, making this one-to-zero!"
"All right, go, Gohan!" Ash declared, raising his arms cheerfully.
"Pika Pika, Pikachu!" Pikachu said, bobbing its head up and down.
"You fought well, me matey." Erickson now recalled Wingull, pulling out another Poké Ball. "But that just be making this brawl here all the more important! And now, emerge forth... I choose you, Wurmple!"
And like that, a tiny Pokémon with pink skin and a rough, spiky body came out, wiggling its many legs where it stood with a excited cry.
"Wurmple!" it giggled, squirming about with its feelers.
"Whoa, what is that Pokémon?" Cabba inquired curiously.
"It looks like my Caterpie!" Ash said with a sharp gasp.
And with that, Misty had taken a step back.
"It's a bug, I can see it right now!" she said, sweating bullets where she stood. "Not another bug, I can't stand it. Please go away..."
"WURMPLE!" the Bug Pokémon screeched, and with that, it was off and running towards Misty, suddenly rubbing up against her quivering leg.
"Oh wow, his Wurmple really likes you, Misty!" Gohan said happily.
"Bugs, bugs, bugs..." Misty whimpered, her face going white, and she took off running, screaming the whole way. "I CAN'T STAND BUGS!"
"What's up with her?" Gohan asked, sounding very hurt.
"Oh, hahah, didn't you know?" Ash said, rubbing his neck sheepishly. "Misty can't stand Bug Pokémon! I think it's rather silly, honestly."
"Pika Pi, Pikachu," Pikachu said, holding up both of its arms.
"I see..." Gohan said, staring after the spot she had departed. Is that the real reason you left, Misty, or is it something more?
"Wurmple, return, me loyal bug!" Yeoman Ericksan ordered.
In an instant the Worm Pokémon made its way back to its Trainer.
"Ready, lad?" Erickson said, smirking across the field at Gohan.
"Yeah," Gohan said, nodding his head once.
"You've given me quite the challenge, me lad!" the sailor said with another of his hearty laughs. "But this be where the brawl ends! Now go, Wurmple, and use your String Shot on that infernal Pokémon!"
"Staryu, dodge!" Gohan insisted, pointing his finger outwards.
And Staryu took off careening around the room, easily evading the gunky web that the tiny Bug type had shot toward his Pokémon.
"Don't give up now, Wurmple!" Erickson stated determinedly.
"WURMPLE!" the pink Pokémon said, shooting off another String Shot.
"Dodge, Staryu, and use Psywave!" Gohan commanded readily.
"Gohan's got this in the bag!" Ash said, sounding assured.
"HIYAH!" Staryu cried, spinning around as a light sheen surrounded Wurmple, and it lifted off the ground as Staryu came flying at it.
"Good, Staryu!" the raven-haired boy said. "GO!"
"Ah, me matey, now you be falling into me trap!" Erickson chortled.
Gohan gasped. Had he been reckless sending Staryu in so close?
"POISON STING!" Erickson shouted with a knowing smirk.
"That does not sound good..." Cabba said with a huge sweatdrop.
"Wurmple!" the spiky Pokémon chirped in response, shooting out a spray of poison barbs directly towards the incoming Pokémon!
"Staryu!" Gohan yelled concernedly.
With that the barbs impacted before Staryu could even attack it and sending the Water type falling to the floor, looking weary with its limbs drooping, and the effects of Psywave faded as Wurmple was let back down to the ground.
"Oh no!" Ash said, blinking in confusion. "What's wrong with Staryu?"
"I don't know..." Cabba said, shrugging his shoulders helplessly.
"It's poisoned!" Gohan gasped. "Staryu, are you okay?"
"Yah... hiyah..." the jeweled Pokémon groaned, obviously weak from the effects of the status affliction that Wurmple had infected it with.
"Now go, String Shot!" Erickson burst out.
And without any delays Wurmple got off a spray of a light, white-colored mist that within seconds had completely enveloped the larger Pokémon in a cocoon of web strands, leaving it utterly powerless.
"Staryu!" Gohan cried, feeling even more worried for it.
"Go, Wurmple, Tackle!" Erickson told the creature.
With that, Wurmple reared up and was soon off and rushing across the floor, where it smashed into Staryu and sent it flying into the wall, as it fell to the floor, obviously beaten.
Brock raised an arm. "Staryu goes down, therefore the victory goes to Yeoman Erickson of the St. Anne, bringing the score up to one-to-one."
"Wow, this sailor's good!" Ash noted. "He beat Gohan's Staryu!"
Gohan held out his Poké Ball. "Good work, Staryu. Take a long rest."
And he turned his gaze on Erickson, who was smiling confidently.
"Aye, you be feeling like throwing in the towel, me lad?" he inquired.
"Not a chance!" Gohan replied back. "I'll make sure Staryu's loss won't be in vain!" He held up another Poké Ball. "Now this gets serious! Go, Charmander!"
And out popped the fire lizard, smiling cheerfully.
"Char Char, Mander!" Charmander sang.
"Woo-hoo, way to go, Gohan!" Ash responded. "Fire types are super effective against Bug types! You go show that sailor who's boss!"
Yeoman Erickson looked more than a little unnerved by this.
"Aye, lad, I didn't know that you had a Fire type," he said worriedly. "This could get messy. Wurmple, keep your guard up, me boy!"
"Go, Charmander!" Gohan called. "Use Ember!"
"Wurmple, dodge and counter with Poison Sting!" Erickson ordered.
Wurmple did as told and managed to — just barely — scoot away from the jet stream of flames barreling down upon it, and then opened its mouth and let off another spray of poison barbs.
"Charmander, dodge!" Gohan shouted.
Charmander did as told, jumping to the side easily.
"I know what you're trying to do," Gohan said with a coy smirk. "Poisoning Charmander increases your chances of winning."
"I must admit, lad, you've caught me with my hand in the cookie jar," the sailor admitted with another of his loud boisterous belly laughs.
"But I won't give you the time you need to do that!" Gohan vowed. "Now go, use Ember!"
"Mander, Char, Charmander!" the small Pokémon declared, shooting off another stream of flames heading directly for the Wurmple!
"Wurmple, get out of the way!" Erickson pleaded.
But it was no good, for despite Wurmple's efforts to dodge, some of the flames managed to catch the Wurmple, rendering it helpless.
"Wow... that looked like it did a lot of damage," Cabba noted.
"Wurmple, no!" the yeoman gasped, sweeping his arm to the side in a slashing gesture born of the man's pure desperation. "Just get up!"
"Now go, Charmander!" Gohan stated. "Use Skull Bash on it!"
"Char, Char, Char!" the orange-skinned Pokémon cried, running up and smashing its head up against the little Wurmple. "MANDER!"
"Now, strongest fire attack!" Gohan said. "FLAMETHROWER!"
A dark look crossed Erickson's face as if he knew the fate which was coming, for Charmander opened its mouth and let out a huge barrage of flames that slammed straight into the Wurmple, and once the fire had died down, there it lay, with Xs in its eyes.
"Wurmple is unable to battle, making Gohan the winner!" Brock announced.
"You did a good job, matey!" Erickson said. "Now take a good rest!"
"Charmander, great job!" Gohan complimented it, smiling widely.
"Char, Char, Charmander, Char!" the Fire Pokémon replied.
"That Charmander fights so well, I wonder what it'd be like as a member of my team," Ash mused, putting a hand to his chin.
"Pika Pika, Pikachu," the Electric type remarked cheerfully.
"This battle ain't over yet!" Yeoman Erickson promised. "Go, Rattata!"
And out popped the Pokémon, though unlike usual Rattata that the others had seen...
"Wow, what's up with that Rattata?" Gohan wondered.
"It's black!" Ash stated. "But I thought Rattata were usually purple."
"Pika Pika, Pi Pikachu," Pikachu said, sounding very interested.
"Ahoy, me mateys!" the sailor boomed. "I be spending some time in Alola, and while traveling there, I caught and befriended this here Rattata!"
"So that Rattata is actually from the Alola Region?" Gohan inquired.
"Correct, my lad!" the overweight man laughed, pointing forward. "Now go, Rattata! Take down that Charmander!"
"Rattata!" the Dark Pokémon cried, assuming a battle stance.
"Charmander, go!" Gohan commanded. "Use Ember!"
"Charmander, Char!" the baby lizard cried, gushing forth a torrent of crackling flames towards the smaller, dark-skinned Rat Pokémon.
"Rattata, dodge!" Erickson stated.
"Rattata!" the Dark Pokémon howled, evading the flames easily.
"Now, use Quick Attack!" Erickson added with a cool confident smirk.
"RATTATA!" Rattata said, leaped forward as it crashed right into Charmander.
BAM! Rattata smashed into Charmander's stomach.
"Mander, Char Char!" the Fire type groaned.
"Don't give up, Charmander!" Gohan insisted. "Now use Skull Bash!"
Charmander's eyes flashed open, and it brought its head down.
"Dodge, Rattata!" Erickson countered, already prepared.
The Mouse Pokémon nimbly leapt to the side, avoiding the attack.
"Now use Quick Attack, again!" Erickson told his faithful Pokémon.
"Charmander, protect yourself with Fire Spin!" the Saiyan Trainer ordered.
"Char, Char, Char!" Charmander shouted. "MANDER!"
And like that, it let out a gush of orange-yellow flames surrounding its body with a circular inferno, making it impossible for Rattata to pass through in order to get to it.
"Wow, that was quite a creative defense," Cabba praised.
"Maybe Gohan could me a thing or two once he gets done with this battle," Ash realized, laughing with his typical carefree manner.
"Now, counter with Leer!" Gohan added.
"CHARMANDER!" Charmander said, giving the Rattata a scary glance.
"Ha, like that's gonna work on Rattata's defense!" Erickson replied. "Now go, Rattata, use Hyper Fang!"
"Rattata, Ta, Ta, Rattata!" the Dark type said, rushing forward as it bit down on Charmander, who cried out from the raw pain of the attack, which had both Cabba and Ash wincing where they stood.
"Charmander!" Gohan yelled in concern.
"Now use Quick Attack!" Erickson commanded.
There was no stopping the Rat Pokémon from slamming headlong into Charmander, pushing it back into the wall, where it collided with a rather violent thud, and slipped down, Xs swirling in its eyes.
"Wow, that Rattata is pretty powerful," Cabba remarked.
"No, Charmander, are you okay?" Gohan asked.
"Charmander goes down, bringing the count up from two-to-two," Brock announced, holding up his hand to add to what he said.
Gohan recalled the little Fire type, smiling down at the Poké Ball.
"You did your best, and that's all that matters," he said to the object, then turned to face Erickson. "Well, since you're using your Rattata, why not up the stakes a little bit?"
"Aye, me lad?" the sailor questioned, crossing his arms at the statement. "And what do you mean by that, me matey?"
Gohan pulled out another Poké Ball. "Go, Rattata!"
And out popped Gohan's own Rattata in a flash of light.
"Rattata!" the purple-skinned Mouse Pokémon cried.
"So it's Rattata vs. Rattata!" Ash said, pointing out the obvious.
"Ahoy, me matey!" the sailor said with a smile. "I had no idea you had a Kanto Rattata on your team — this here promises to be quite the brawl indeed!"
"The Trainer, Gohan, chooses Rattata," Brock said dispassionately. "With both sides down to the last Pokémon, this is for the win!"
"Go, Rattata!" Erickson said. "Use Bite!"
"Rattata, dodge!" Gohan told the Mouse Pokémon.
Gohan's Rattata tried to follow these instructions, however, halfway through, it seemed to trip, falling flat on its face where it stood.
"What's wrong with Rattata?" Ash asked no one in particular.
"Rattata, what are you doing?" Gohan wondered. "Get up please!"
"Rattata!" the Kanto Pokémon stated, working its way back up to its feet, where it glanced down the oncoming Rattata with a nervous expression on its face.
"Now dodge!" Gohan insisted.
The Rattata did as Gohan had told it, however, it spun on the floor briefly, having once again gotten tangled up in its own two legs.
"Rattata, are you okay?" Gohan queried. "Are you scared?"
The Rattata made its way back up to its feet and nodded towards Gohan.
"Rattata, Tata, Ta, Rattata," it said simply.
"Well, that's alright," Gohan responded. "Being afraid is natural."
"Gohan, look out!" Ash shouted with a warning, far too late.
And just then, that other Rattata bit down hard upon it and Gohan's Rattata started running around on the deck, trailing the other Rattata after it and yipping wildly from the agony of the Bite from Erickson's Rattata.
"Rattata!" Gohan said. "Just shake him off, please!"
"Rattata, Rattata, Rattata!" the purple Rattata cried, running around.
"Rattata, go!" Erickson yelled eagerly. "Use Hyper Fang on it!"
The sailor's Rattata removed its fangs, but before it could bite down again...
"Go, Rattata, dodge!" Gohan ordered, pointing his finger outward.
Rattata obeyed, evading the blow as best as it could but nicking the other Rattata, which fell to its knees even as Gohan's Rattata had gone spinning towards the wall and slammed facefirst into it from its own clumsiness.
"Rattata, are you okay?" Gohan called. "Rattata!"
And it seemed the Rattata was okay, for it popped up a minute later, trembling but otherwise seemingly unharmed, even as Erickson's Rattata loped forward, shaking itself of the disorientation.
"Are you able to battle?" Gohan said. "I'll understand if you don't want to. There's no shame in giving up if the battle is too much for you to handle."
"Rattata, Rattata, Tata, Ta, Rattata, Ta, Tata!" the Kanto Pokémon pressed, shaking its head and bounding up and down. "Rattata!"
Erickson, who had been watching the exchange intently, now frowned.
"I see, you wanna keep going," Gohan answered. "Then let's give it everything you've got, Rattata!"
"Rattata!" the Rat Pokémon said, facing down its counterpart.
But then...
"Hold up, me lads!" Erickson said, walking forward onto the battlefield.
Gohan watched in surprise, feeling confused by the sailor's sudden move.
"Huh, what's that sailor doing?" Cabba asked Ash.
Ash shrugged helplessly where he stood, just as confused.
"Pi, Pika Pika?" Pikachu said, blinking in puzzlement.
"What's wrong?" Gohan demanded. "Did we do something to upset you, Mr. Erickson?"
"Oh no, you battled finely, me lad," Yeoman Erickson commented. "In fact, that be why I interrupted this here brawl now, to remark on the fine spirit of your Pokémon!"
"So you're giving up the battle?" Brock asked.
"Aye!" the sailor stated with another big belly laugh. "There be more to life than simply brawling on the high seas and having fun during your day! This here Pokémon of yours, this Rattata, has a ton of fighting spirit and passion for such a small and timid creature! Why, even though it's obviously afraid, it still fights on, determined to face its opponent with aplomb and dignity! Such a valorous spirit warms me sailor's heart, and so I propose a trade, lad!"
"A trade?" Gohan said, blinking rapidly to take this in.
"Excuse me, but... what do you mean by that, sir?" Cabba asked.
"Just what I said, lads!" Erickson boomed. "How about we trade our Rattata? I vow to you, I will change your Pokémon into a world-class brawler, and then return it to you when it's sharpened its skills a bit more!"
"Oh, I don't know, Mr. Erickson..." Gohan said, rubbing at the back of his head. "I mean, are you truly certain about trading Pokémon?"
"Aye, I'm always certain in what I say, lad!" the sailor replied.
Gohan turned to look back at Ash, Brock, and Cabba, who shrugged their shoulders, telling Gohan that they didn't know what to say.
"Pika Pika," Pikachu said, sounding equally torn on the topic.
"It's a very generous offer..." Gohan started, deciding to buy a little time so he didn't have to make the decision now, "but can you please give me some time to think it over? I... I need to talk this over with my friends."
"Of course, lad!" the sailor answered. "Take all the time you need, and I'll be waiting here to make a trade with you whenever you want to!"
And with that the sailor walked off, leaving Gohan with his now deeply conflicted and very penitent thoughts...
In a darkly lit room, the beak-snouted scientist was hard at work, scribbling down notes on his computer console — but a second later, he jumped thinking he had heard something, and he stood up from his chair, eyes scanning the room to look for intruders, fingers hovering close to a big red button.
"Hello?" he wondered. "Is anyone there?"
No one answered him, and he wiped some sweat off his brow.
"You're getting jumpy in your old age, Dr. Komada."
With that said, Dr. Komada returned to his work, his fingers flying over the keyboard to take down the new information, but before he could continue, a loud shatter filled the room, and he leapt up again.
"Hey, who's there?!" he demanded, reaching out to press the big red button.
However, before he could do that, a pair of rough hands grabbed at him and pulled him close before a dark, very angry-looking face.
"Who are you?!" Dr. Komada said. "Unhand me, you brute!"
"Shut up," the voice growled in a harsh undertone, and Dr. Komada finally got a good look at his attacker, with his pupils going wide.
"YOU!" Komada said. "What are you doing here?"
"Where is Lord Frost's secret project?" the other man inquired.
"What secret project?" Dr. Komada retorted. "Lord Frost will hear of this atrocity, you crude barbarian, even if you're his pet general!"
"I think not..." the Saiyan General said, tightening his hold on the alien, who paled further under the grip. "Now I'll ask you once again and one time only: Where is Lord Frost's secret project — the one Captain Argo is privy to?"
"How do you know...?" Komada began.
"Never mind how I know about Captain Argo," The Saiyan grunted. "This is your last and final warning: Where is Frost's project?"
"What makes you think he would let a low-level scientist like me in on it?" Dr. Komada uttered fearfully, kicking his legs uselessly where he flailed in the General's grip.
"Please," the Saiyan scoffed darkly. "Don't insult my intelligence. A low-level scientist? Yeah, right! You were the secret brains behind the Gorenja Genocide on Yumat 7, the one which all of the galactic news thought Lord Baroma was responsible for! Lord Frost trusted you with his most valuable secrets, so there is no way you would not remain unaware of something so important!"
"How do you know all this?" Dr. Komada said weakly.
"I have my ways," the General said, cocking his fist. "Now tell me, or die."
"Lord Frost will make your death painful, you brainless monkey!"
WHAM!
And like that, the wet thud of fist exploding against flesh resonated throughout the room, and the Saiyan General removed his hand from the alien's head, flecks of brain matter and liquids still clinging to it.
"Useless to the end..." the General muttered, making his way over to the computer console. "Let's see... Lord Frost wouldn't have given him the information on his project unless he thought he could hide it very well..."
The General scrolled down past screens flashing with information.
"Where is it?" he snarled, banging his hands on the table.
Two minutes later, though, his search yielded results.
"Aha, found it!" the Saiyan said, copying the information down to a disc, and then stepping over the lifeless body towards the door.
And now... we shall see how well Frost made sure to take care of his 'secret project...'
And with that, Turles exited the room, leaving the dead alien in his wake.
Night had fallen aboard the St. Anne, with the ship slicing through the dark waters beneath the white glow of a half-moon and hundreds of tiny stars guiding the way towards the closest port.
"I see..." Misty said, turning her head away. "So, what do you intend to do, Gohan? Trade Rattata or keep it?"
"Um, truthfully, I'm not sure," Gohan said honestly. "What do you guys think?"
"I don't know, trading away the Pokémon you've spent so much time with?" Ash said skeptically. "I don't think I could do it."
"Pika Pika," Pikachu said, nodding in agreement.
"On the other hand, there is a certain benefit to trading away your Pokémon," Brock added.
"What benefit?" Gohan wondered, turning to him.
"Your Pokémon will get to see more of the world," Brock stated confidently. "And that will help it more than anything else."
"If you say so..." Ash said, still sounding dubious.
"So, what do you want to do?" Cabba asked Gohan curiously.
"Cabba-kun, I'm not so sure..." Gohan admitted. "I don't know. Maybe sleeping on it for the rest of the night will help me make a decision."
"Yes, there's no problem that can't be fixed with a little rest!" Misty piped up cheerfully.
And for a moment, it was such an abrupt return to her old personality that Gohan mused if maybe he had been imagining that there was a problem with her earlier.
"Well, whatever you decide, young man at least you know you have the support of your friends backing you up," Delia intoned brightly.
Gohan laughed. "True. There's always that to fall back on."
Yes, it's the right thing to do, the brown-haired woman told herself. This boy, whoever he is, wherever he came from, is a Saiyan just like he was. I can't tell Ash. I made a promise not to tell him until he came back. But... I can tell this young man, and maybe ask him to keep an eye on Ash until I can tell him the truth.
Delia stood up, now looking no longer quite so pleased.
"So, it's been a long day, and tomorrow we put in to Porta Vista," the Ketchum matron stated. "So I think we should all get a little sleep."
"Aw, Mom, do we have to?" Ash whined hopelessly.
"Ash Ketchum, you should be ashamed of yourself," Delia said sternly. "Don't you know that rest means a healthy mind and healthy body? And you know what they say."
"I know, I know..." Ash sighed. "The early Pidgey catches the Caterpie."
Brock got up as well.
"Well, on that note, I think I'll turn in," the Pewter Gym Leader said simply. "Come on, Cabba, looks like we're roommates tonight."
"Sure thing, Brock!" Cabba said, trailing along with him like a lost puppy, or perhaps a younger brother following a much-admired brother.
"I guess that means it's off to bed with Mom, Pikachu," Ash replied, holding his head in exasperation.
"Pika Pi, Pikachu," the yellow rat said with a nod.
Gohan hesitated on his way towards the stairs, noticing that Misty was hanging around on the couch, still unsure if she was going to come.
"Misty, are you coming?" Gohan asked her with a soft tone.
"Huh? Oh, um..." the redheaded girl responded quietly. "You go ahead, Gohan. I-I just feel like spending time alone with myself. That's all."
With a shrug, Gohan walked up the stairs, his heart still heavy.
Something is wrong with Misty, I just know it, he mused.
Once the room had vacated, Misty sighed, releasing her Feebas from its Poké Ball.
"Chlchklkchk!" the Hoenn Pokémon said, gaping up at Misty.
Misty grabbed the Pokémon and pulled it close to her body, sighing as she hugged it tightly even while the Water type relaxed limply in her arms.
"Oh Feebas..." she uttered. "What am I going to do? I still care about Son Gohan, more than ever, but was it a mistake to start things so soon?"
"Chlcklckchlk!" Feebas muttered, tickling her with its fins.
Misty sighed again. I'm sorry, Gohan. Sorry that I can't be there for you now the way you always have been for me. But I promise you, I don't care what it takes, I will find the way to be close to you again, and you can count on that!
Up in their shared bedroom, Gohan was busy looking at the small Rattata as he climbed into his bed, still thinking about the trade.
"What do you think, Rattata?" Gohan said softly. "Do you you want to leave me and go traveling around the world with Yeoman Erickson?"
"Rattata, Tata, Ta, Rattata, Tata," the Mouse Pokémon said.
Gohan chuckled. "Sure, I understand. You need to think about it."
"Rattata!" Rattata said, hopping up onto bed with its Trainer.
"Well, whatever happens, we'll always be friends, right, Rattata?" Gohan told it, stroking its head in a very comforting manner.
"Rattata..." the Normal type purred, relaxing in his grip.
Soon, with the lights turned off, just sitting there and listening to the breeze blowing in off the open seas Gohan remained awake for several hours, unsure on how long he was conscious, or how many hours had passed, but it was long after the door had opened and a certain young redhead made her way back into the room...
The next morning found the St. Anne pulling into port, and a voice announcement telling the others that it was time for them all to disembark.
"So Axew, you ready for another day?" a certain black-skinned girl told her Pokémon, smiling off in the direction of her mane of purple hair.
And just like that, the tiny Pokémon popped out of it.
"Axew, Axew, Ew!" the Dragon type said, holding out its tiny arms.
Iris smirked, and pointed straight ahead dramatically.
"Well, here we go!" she declared.
And she made her way forward, leaving behind a very spartan cabin...
Meanwhile, Yeoman Erickson was smiling down at the raven-haired boy who had approached him from the day before.
"Ahoy, what changed your mind, me matey?" Erickson inquired.
"Well, Rattata and I talked about it last night..." Gohan said simply, staring down at the Pokémon next to him.
"Rattata, Ta, Tata, Rattata," the purple Pokémon said, nodding its head, as if to reassure Gohan of the choice it had made.
Gohan turned back to face the sailor. "Truthfully, I think it would do Rattata a lot of good to see much more of the whole wide world."
Erickson laughed in his typical way. "That it would, lad. That it would."
"But, I want you to keep your promise," Gohan told him severely. "I don't want to trade away Rattata for good. Just for a little bit."
"Aha, you have me word as a sailor, boy!" Erickson promised, bowing his head low.
Gohan nodded. "Then how do we do this?"
"Just recall your Pokémon into its ball, me lad, and we'll fire up this here machine to do so!" Yeoman Erickson told Gohan reasonably.
Gohan nodded again. "Whatever you say, Mr. Erickson."
After recalling Rattata into its Poké Ball, Gohan placed the small object in the indent in the machine where it was soon converted into energy particles, and a picture of double Rattatas, one black with the other purple, scrawled across the screen, depositing it where Gohan's Poké Ball had been not a moment before.
"And that be it, lad!" the sailor boomed. "Your Rattata is in good hands with me, rest assured!"
Gohan nodded a third time, and looking down at the ball in his hands, left the room with a soft mutter.
"Goodbye, Rattata. I hope to see you again someday..."
Gohan and the others made their way down the stairwell and hit the dock at a port town filled with the facade of towering buildings.
"Ahhh, I always love the smell of the ocean when coming to port," Delia commented with her leg popping up from sheer delight.
"Pika Pika," Pikachu breathed, smiling happily.
"So where are we now?" Ash inquired, turning his head around.
"Good question," Gohan agreed, taking in all of the sights.
"According to the map, we should be in, er... Acapulco," Brock stated knowledgeably. "According to this, Porta Vista is divided into two separate cities, Acapulco and and Hutber Port."
"So where are we heading?" Cabba said, turning to Brock.
"The St. Anne will be sailing to a place called Slateport in Hoenn next, so our destination is going to be Hutber Port, where we can take a ferry back to the mainland," the dark-skinned boy answered.
"Awesome!" Ash said, pumping his fists. "And then it's off to get my next badge!"
"Nothing ever fazes you, does it?" Misty asked, shrugging carelessly. "We've just been on the most romantic cruise in the world, and all you can think about is your next Gym battle... you are never gonna grow up, are you, Ash?"
Ash just laughed awkwardly.
"Well, it looks like here is where we part ways," Brock said, turning to Mrs. Ketchum.
"Hm-hmm," Delia responded. "But before we go our separate ways, Gohan, there's something I've been meaning to say to you."
"Hmm, with me?" Gohan said, pointing at himself.
"Oh yes, indeed!" Delia commented.
"Well, okay, sure," the tailed boy replied with a shrug. "What is it you wanna talk to my about, Mrs. Ketchum?"
"Oh, you see, I was hoping we could discuss that in private," Delia added, rubbing at her hair in a similar awkward way as her son.
"Hey, what gives?" Ash wondered. "What can you talk about with him and not me?"
"Pika Pi, Pikachu," the Electric Rat remarked, glancing between the two.
"Oh don't worry, Ash," Gohan said. "I'm sure it's nothing bad."
"Well, go ahead then," Brock said, scratching at his head.
"That's the spirit!" Delia said. "Now please, let's go over here."
"Right," Gohan said, following the Ketchum matron off.
"Wonder what he's gonna talk to my mother about..." Ash said, still sounding slightly put out.
"Well, wouldn't we all like to know..." a sly voice stated, and the group jumped back as they caught sight of a black-skinned girl standing in their midst.
"Ahhh!" Misty cried. "Who are you?"
"Hey, I recognize you!" Cabba chimed in. "You're that girl who said you're from some place called, um... I think it was Unova, yes?"
"That's right!" Iris said, pleased to see that Cabba had remembered what she'd said. "I'm Iris, and it's my number one mission to become the greatest Dragon type Pokémon Master in the whole wide world!"
"A Dragon Master?" Brock repeated thoughtfully. "You mean like Lance, the most renowned Champion of the Kanto Elite Four?"
Iris laughed haughtily. "Nah, more like Cynthia, that super-cool woman who knows just the way to handle her Pokémon, with such grace, such style, it simply takes your breath away watching it!"
"Oh I see..." Cabba said awkwardly, even though he really didn't.
"Pi, Pika Pika," Pikachu said, with its ears dropping. "Cha..."
"Well, if that's the case, then why are you following us, miss?" Ash questioned, now curious to the reason she had sought them out.
"YOU!" Iris said, pointing her finger at Ash dramatically.
"Me?" Ash said, blinking rapidly at this statement.
"Imagine how surprised I was to find that you, a little kid, managed to beat me, the Dragon Trainer!" Iris wept helplessly. "So until I defeat you, I'm not letting you out of my sight for a minute, believe it!"
"Wait, you're coming along with us?" Brock demanded.
"Pika Pi, Pika Pikachu," Pikachu cried out, shocked.
"Well, of course!" Iris said. "How else am I ever going to grow stronger and become a Dragon Master? A Dragon Master shouldn't ever lose to little kids like this rookie Trainer here, no way, no sir, no how!"
And Iris shook her head, causing everyone to sweatdrop.
"Well, well, well..." Misty said, eyes going narrow towards Ash. "Looks like she knows everything there already is to know about you, Ash."
"Hey, what do you mean by that?" Ash demanded heatedly.
Cabba sighed, hanging his head in embarrassment.
"Did I miss something here?" a voice suddenly interrupted them.
The group turned to find Delia and Gohan standing there, apparently having finished with their conversation and come back to the gang.
"Oh, Gohan!" Misty said breathlessly, and then smirked in a very superior way. "Say hello to Iris! Dragon Master in training!"
Gohan spared a glance at the black girl.
"She's going to be joining us on our journeys!" Misty commented enthusiastically.
Brock did a double take, while Cabba just looked confused.
Iris blinked, and then twirled around, arms hung loosely by her sides. "Looks like this girl knows something or two, unlike this little kid!"
"Wait, are you really okay with this, Misty?" Ash said.
"Well, of course I am!" the fiery tomboy laughed. "It's going to be refreshing traveling around with someone who knows what a little kid you really are! Iris, I can see you and I are gonna get along well."
"Seems like it!" Iris muttered contentedly.
Ash folded his arms, apparently not impressed with all that Misty had just said. "Hey, if I'm such a little kid, then how come I beat you?"
And Misty now pawed at the air, obviously embarrassed.
"Well, I have no problems with it," Gohan said with a huge smile, and he raised up his left arm eagerly. "The more the merrier, after all!"
And just like that, all dissent was crushed with what he'd said.
"Guess that answers that," Brock said smartly. "If Gohan says she's coming along, well, then I suppose that's good enough for me."
"Works for me," Cabba said amiably, nodding his head.
"Pika, Pika, Pikachu," Pikachu said, eyes squeezed shut in happiness.
Ash sighed, feeling very exhausted. "Even you too, huh, Pikachu?"
"So, how about it, Ash?" Iris said, planting her hands on her hips. "I hope you don't have any objections with this?"
Ash rubbed at the back of his head.
"Nah, nah, it's fine. I guess it's no big deal if you come with us on our journey," Ash said, pumping a fist with determination. "After all, it's my dream to become the number one Pokémon Master!"
"Now you got it!" Iris giggled, stifling her laughter with her hands.
Just like that the group had made their way into the city, still talking easily among themselves, until soon they found themselves at the edge of the city leading off a distance towards the next town.
"I guess this is where we say goodbye, Mom," Ash said.
"You'll always be my brave little boy, Ash," Delia said, her voice thick with emotion.
"Mom..." Ash said, blushing deeply at the way she described him.
"I know, I know," Delia said simply. "You wanna go and be a big and strong Pokémon Trainer."
"That's right!" Ash announced. "And I won't stop until I catch every Pokémon in the world, you can bet on that!"
"Pi, Pika Pi, Pika Pika, Pi Pikachu," Pikachu uttered.
"That may be easier said than done, Ash," Gohan remarked.
"Yeah, what a little kid!" Iris teased. "Don't you know how many Pokémon there are in the world?"
Ash just mumbled, annoyed, under his breath.
"Go on, Ash," Delia said softly. "Follow your dreams and become the best Pokémon Master that ever lived, but every once in a while, please call your mother, okay? I already have my phone number registered with Gohan, so it shouldn't be that hard."
Ash nodded as Gohan stood there, face grim and resolute.
I promise, Ash, to keep an eye on you and your developing powers, the Saiyan hybrid promised in his head. I won't let you down, Mrs. Ketchum.
And soon the group was off and waving goodbye to Delia.
"Keep in touch, Mom!" Ash shouted.
"I'm sorry again for all the problems we caused," Cabba said.
"It was really nice meeting you, Mrs. Ketchum!" Misty called back.
"Good luck on your journeys!" Delia yelled. "Take care, Ash!"
And with that, they left her behind, a distant figure upon the raging coastline.
"Cheer up, Ash," Gohan said, spotting how down he looked. "I'm certain you'll see her again soon."
"Yeah, you're right," Ash said, perking himself up.
"So what's your story?" Iris wondered, turning her head in Gohan's direction from what he'd said.
Gohan laughed, rubbing at his neck. "Well, that's kind of a long story..."
The girl twirled about in the mirror, examining every inch of herself, from her black blouse, to her red skirt, her knee-high black stockings and pink hat — satisfied with her appearance, the girl proceeded to barge out of the room and down the stairs two at a time.
"Mom, I'm ready!" the girl announced brightly.
Her mother, a woman with dark burgundy hair and a wrap around her waist, turned to face the young girl with a sad, wistful expression.
"Well, you certainly got ready in record time..." the woman offered, before her look went more somber, solemn, like she was prepared to fight an old battle. "Serena, are you sure I can't talk you out of this reckless decision?"
"Not a chance, Mom!" the girl known as Serena said, running her hands down her plait of honey-brown hair in an apparently dignified way. "I've made up my mind, and that's final — I am doing this."
"But still, going to Kanto..." And here the woman, Serena's mother, sighed. "It's still so dangerous after what happened over there. Exact numbers remain unclear, but so far, preliminary reports have the body count in the tens of thousands, and that's including Pokémon, too..."
"But that's precisely why I have to go, Mom!" Serena protested, eyeing the purple-haired woman very seriously. "Ash could have been hurt, or worse, maybe he was one of those victims! I... I know it might not make much sense, but I... I just have to go, to find out for myself what happened to him..."
And here Serena turned her head down, not wanting her mother to see the tears that had started welling in her eyes as happy memories from the past intruded upon her thoughts. Ash... you mean so much to me... I don't think I would ever forgive myself if something awful had happened to you...
"What are the chances Ash was in Vermilion City when whatever force tore apart the city ripped through it?" her mother said reasonably.
"Around this time, Ash would be ten years old..." Serena whispered. "Right now he'd be starting on his Pokémon journey, like he always dreamed about. I-I know the chances are slim, but still, I-I just have to find out, to see for myself with my own two eyes that he's alive and still breathing... that the death and destruction that visited Vermilion City spared him..."
And Serena winced, struggling not to give in to her emotions.
Her mother shook her head. "Well, if you are really so set on this, I guess I can't convince you."
Right then, a tiny, wedge-tailed Pokémon with an orange head and a black-and-gray body set down on Serena, chirping energetically.
"Fletch, Fletchling! Ling! Fletchling!" the Bird Pokémon cried.
"Hey, Fletchling!" Serena replied, reaching up to pet the Flying type, her mood lightening up somewhat. "Gonna miss me as I'm gone?"
"Fletchling, Fletchling!" the Tiny Robin Pokémon said sadly.
"Awww, I'll miss you as well!" Serena reassured it, lightly stroking it across its plume of feathers of orange-colored feathers. "But I promise I'll come back to see you someday, okay? Just as soon as I get back from Kanto, that is!"
Pretty soon Serena was outside the house, where a Rhyhorn was standing nearby, pawing at the ground uncomfortably.
"Where will you go?" Serena's mother asked her.
"To Lumiose City, of course!" the tan-haired girl exclaimed. "I'm going to see Professor Sycamore to get my very own Starter Pokémon and then it's off to Kanto to find Ash!"
"I see..." Serena's mother said with a second sigh. "But be careful, Serena — if you make it to Kanto, please take great care. Whatever destroyed Vermilion City might still be around, and I... I just don't wanna see you get hurt."
"Aw, shucks, don't worry about me!" Serena said cheerfully. "I promise I'll be all right, Mom, and I'll be back shortly!"
And with that, she turned and raced out of the front gate.
"Bye, Mom!" she told her helpfully. "See ya later!"
Serena's mother watched her daughter receding into the distance until, after minutes, she had disappeared, and she sighed again.
"That's what I was afraid you'd say..."
As Serena made her way past trees and bushes down the winding path, only one thought went through her head, shoving out all others in her pursuit of the only thing that really mattered to her in her young life — to seek out Ash, and to discover the truth about what had truly happened in Vermilion City.
I'm coming, Ash. Just hold on, and soon we'll be together again!
Woo-hoo, another update in less than a year! Boy, once these new edits were finished, that freed me up to actually get back to work on Pokémon Tails! With that being said, let me give you my thoughts.
To everyone commenting to CascadeMoonShipping kickstarting so early, I give more detailed thoughts below, but like I said before, I do see this as coming from the previous day pushing them together. I still think you brought up some interesting points, though, so this chapter better reflects Misty's confusion and awkwardness once the high has burned out and this will have a better payoff in my next chapter, rest assured. I thank you for your patience and hope you will continue to enjoy my story.
Imagine the Sailor here having the voice of Gavin Capacitor from ReBoot. :D
Not much that happened with this chapter. Just wrapping up the St. Anne arc and moving forward with the plot. Also, Gohan traded away his Rattata, but this will NOT be like Primeape and Pidgeot in the show where Ash promised to return, and then he never did. Rattata will be coming back someday.
For those wondering why Team Rocket didn't attack the St. Anne, I edited Chapter 19 a little to reflect that — getting spooked by all the power being thrown around, Team Rocket decided to lay low when so much attention was being drawn straight to the tragedy in Vermilion City. I hope that cleared things up.
Dr. Komada, for those not aware, was meant to be the U6 equivalent of Malaka, who tended to Frieza's wounds after Goku beat him.
Now, onto the reviews!
thedarkpokemaster: Rest assured that this is just a slow-burner that was instantly turned hot by trauma, and kids are sadly having sex much younger today in our real world. For the other ships, rest assured, this will not happen as quickly as it does here.
Dat-Story: Well, cool! I can only hope you enjoy his portrayal here!
dsonic 10: I call it CascadeMoonShipping. Also we will see with future installments, but if I do decide to go with that idea, full credit to you, of course.
victor0606: So glad you appreciate the work it took to write that!
Author - Jack Andrews: Well, thank you for overlooking it. Rest assured this is not something that will happen frequently. XD
jonathonne: They will meet, don't worry. Just give it time.
Paulo Arnoldi: May will be coming soon, rest assured.
Guest: As I keep stressing, Vados, Champa, and all the rest of the Universe 6 and Dragon Ball Super cast will be appearing soon; give it time! And of course, just imagine the Pokémon crew's faces when they finally get to see something as grandly majestic as the Super Dragon Balls, eh?
blukmage19r2: Thanks for the advice. The rating has gone up.
kitsunelover300: Yeah, that's my feeling too. I mean, this is a world where the so-called "responsible" adults let ten-year-olds go roaming the land armed with dangerous magical animals. So, obviously, with DBZ's more gritty and violent tone, this kind of stuff should not be surprising. And EXACTLY! She fits much better here. And oh, jeez, I completely forgot she had a Magikarp too. I edited the last chapter to better reflect that, but I still see it as her being angry that a grifting con man is trying to take them for all their money, so she said something thoughtless. It's not the first time for Misty.
Jawisian: Thank you for your thoughts, as always! Trust me, this moment will have consequences as I hope this chapter proved, and believe me when I say Gohan and Misty will be the ONLY ship to leap into things so quick. For the other ones like Ash and May as well as Dawn and Zoey, they will go more slow.
TheGodfather93: Wow. I am very grateful at the level of detail you've put into your review. Let me address each point individually down below.
1) I am so happy to have gotten you so invested in the Gohan/Misty ship! If you ever use it with other people, I'd like to please ask you to refer to it as CascadeMoonShipping — I'm trying to get it to become the official name for the ship, and maybe it'll catch online.
2) Ah well, I was working fast to get Chapter 18 finished because it had been more than a year since it was last updated so I guess some things got missed. Well, I can always go back and edit Chapter 19 at a later time like having Misty going outside at midnight to check on the damage or something.
3) It's funny you should bring that up now, since while writing this chapter, I was thinking the same thing! And I hope the battle above was satisfying to see because it should have addressed some of your concerns, though I am curious to what you think about Gohan trading away Rattata for an Alolan Rattata. Also, be on the lookout for edits to earlier chapters, as some of his other Pokemon might get a chance to shine there too, though I will of course be sure to let my faithful readers know whenever I've made huge changes. :)
Something I feel I should go over from the last chapter; I've re-ordered the multiverse so that there are now 150 universes (paying homage to the original Pokémon game), and every universe that adds up to 151 is a twin universe, meaning that both Universe 6 has been changed to Universe 75 and Universe 7 has been changed to Universe 76. I hope that clears up some of the confusion in later chapters. :8
Please review!
KoS
EDIT (6/20/2017): Added Serena at the end. Trust me, she will have a role to play later on.