CHAPTER THREE
The day was bright and sunny in Vermilion City, with flocks of tourists waiting at the dock to board the luxury cruise liner, gleaming in the sunlight. Porters bustled forth with baggage and sailors guarded the entry point, checking each boarding pass as passengers filed through. Amy waited in the line of bustling citizens, holding a parasol in her hand to defend her skin from the harsh rays. She was bored and irritated, but kept her expression neutral as she waited until her turn came in the queue.
"Welcome to the S.S. Anne, miss. May I see your ticket?"
Handing over her ticket, the sailor checked it over before returning it to her, his smile broad.
"The first-class cabin, I see. I will have a steward escort you there."
"Thank you." she said, glancing askance at the crowd of tourists who clambered to get on board, despite being told that bookings were to be made months in advance. She pursed her lips and followed the steward up the bridge which connected with the dock.
Amy was filled with blessed relief as she entered the cool, air-conditioned interior of the ship and detached her parasol, tying its band around the base. She followed the steward up a series of staircases which led to the first-class cabin. The corridors were lined with plush velvet settees, tall potted plants in vases and a brass handrail all the way around.
"Is the room set up for my Pokemon?" asked Amy, adjusting her white gloves.
The steward glanced at his escort. She wore her blonde hair in a plait, tied with a blue ribbon and wore a wide brimmed sun hat. She looked distinctly uncomfortable chatting in the corridor and had no Pokeballs to be seen near her immaculate dress.
"How many do you have?" asked the steward.
She sighed impatiently. "I was informed that there would be a separate bed for my Pokemon."
"I'm sure there is, miss," the steward said, sweating despite the cool air. He wasn't in charge of setting up the rooms; only escorting the passengers to their cabins.
The steward unlocked the door with a key card. "Here we are; room 105."
He walked through and held the door open for her. She strode in, cast her gaze across the room and nodded wordlessly.
"This will do." Amy said, curtly. She noticed he had not been dismissed and added, "Thank you."
He felt slightly ridiculous bowing to her as he left, but he had no choice as was his station.
When the door closed with a snap, Amy unclasped her purse, retrieving two Pokeballs. Two bursts of red light shot out from the Pokeballs as two Pokemon materialized; one was a quadruped with a canine appearance and red fur with black stripes, while the other was a small purple-hued quadruped that looked like a mix between a porcupine and a rodent, with a horn on its forehead; the female Nidoran.
"Growlithe, Nidoran." Amy called, walking over to the corner of the room which had been set up for Pokemon. There was a circular bed made with several cushions and pillows, as well as two food and water bowls at the foot of it. "Lunch time."
Amy knelt carefully, pouring bottled spring water into each bowl, then picking up a packet of Pokefood and pouring an equal mix for Growlithe and Nidoran's. When it came to her Pokemon, she took it upon herself to take care of them. She wasn't entirely dependent on servants.
While her Pokemon ate, Amy surveyed the rest of the cabin. There was a queen-sized bed made with ample pillows and flanked by two tables supporting elegant lamps; a lit vanity table set with her hair brushes and cosmetics, overlooking a window view of the ocean; a chest of drawers with her clothing folded neatly inside; a club chair adjacent to a bookcase filled with information and references on Pokemon; and an adjoining bathroom with heated rails, scented soap and soft towels.
Amy knew that anyone else would've felt comforted by such regal surroundings, but she felt oddly distant in such a sterile environment. She had long grown tired of an expensive lifestyle, certainly not for the convenience but for the obligations of coming from a rich family; especially being the only daughter to her parents. She was dictated to by her elegant mother, who instructed Amy to act and speak and dress like a lady. Her mother's reaction came as no surprise when Amy had tentatively announced her decision to become a Pokemon Trainer.
"Amy, I have a headache," her mother had replied, after what had been hours of lecturing. "You will attend next month's débutante ball. Why don't you write a letter to that young man who recently became a vice-president at Silph?"
Vice-president or not, Amy had no interest in the matter whatsoever. She did not want to transfer ownership of her opinions and her decisions from her father to a fiancée, and most certainly did not want to give up her Pokemon. When she'd pitched the idea that the point of becoming Pokemon Champion was glory and riches, Amy had been on the receiving end of her mother's withering stare.
"You don't need money, Amy. Besides, Pokemon are house pets and to be treated as such."
Amy had looked down at the lazy Persian which was their family's house pet and held her tongue. She wasn't unaware of the reality of money. If she was to make her way as a Pokemon Trainer, she'd need plenty to stay in hotels and afford food for herself and her Pokemon.
Most Pokemon Trainers won money by battling, using their Pokemon to win fights so they could afford food and accommodation in the next city they visited. Amy respected this honored tradition of building up a Pokemon's levels and the endurance which would be required of them, but she felt a little unsure of herself. Even now, with all the resolve in her heart telling her to go against her mother's wishes and embark on her journey, her ties to her family were holding her back. It was new territory for her.
Later in the evening, Amy joined the rest of the first-class passengers on the deck, glad to see that many of them were properly attired in resort wear. Her Pokemon were by her side; Growlithe was already at the ship's edge, recoiling slightly from the view of the sea, while Nidoran took in the view of the sea as the ship began to disembark.
Amy ignored the clamour of citizens who waved from the dock, closing her eyes and breathing in and out. As the S.S. Anne picked up speed, leaving Vermilion City behind, Amy gasped as she saw Goldeen and Seel splashing in the ocean alongside the ship.
"Look at them!" Amy's face lit up in a rare smile. The moment was spoiled, however, when she saw that her excited exclamation had caused the adults around her to mutter things like "this is no place for a young lady to be" or "young women should be seen and not heard".
Amy looked down at her feet, her face flaming. She was above criticism from ordinary folk, but certainly not her peers. Unwilling to make a scene, she turned and headed for her room, Growlithe and Nidoran in tow.
She sat on her bed, fiddling with the lace on the pillowcase as she stared out at the view. She could hear Nidoran noisily crunching Pokefood, while Growlithe looked earnestly at her as she turned to her favourite Pokemon.
"Join me, Growlithe," Amy said, patting the spot beside her.
Growlithe was unwilling to break the number one house rule, so instead sat at her feet and wagged his tail. She felt as reclusive as ever. She needed to breathe life into her soul and experience what it was like to be a Pokemon Trainer.
Amy walked over to the phone and dialled room service.
"Are there any events held on board the ship for Pokemon battles?" she asked, fiddling with the cord.
"Yes there are, ma'am, but they're all in economy class. The first-class cabin is holding host to a Pokemon beauty contest. Are you interested in signing up?"
"No, thank you," Amy hung up.
She wanted to feel the thrill of a real fight. Besides the occasional play fight, Growlithe had never been in a serious battle before. Nidoran was used to Pokemon battles, but only because Amy's younger brother, Liam, was a fanatic for battling, and Amy had recently adopted the wild Nidoran from a shelter after becoming convinced she could give it a warm, happy home.
"Growlithe, Nidoran, would you two like to enter a Pokemon battle?" Amy asked.
Nidoran turned from its food bowl and happily jumped straight into her arms, to her delight. Growlithe, who by nature was more restrained, simply wagged its tail.
"It's settled, then," Amy said. "We'll find a Trainer to battle."
The economy class cabin was not at all bad, thought Amy, as she descended the stairs which connected the first-class cabin to the rest of the ship and descended further into the cabins which constituted those who slept four to a room and who likely did not get a good night's sleep.
Amy kept the two Pokeballs which held her Pokemon close, as she had changed from her resort wear into something more casual; a cashmere jumper and a skirt that reached below the knee. Upon entering the deck, she was surprised to find that several of the Trainers were battling already; she could spy a Poliwhirl and a Raticate duking it out in one corner and a Geodude and an Arbok fighting in another. Amy crept by, trying not to grab anyone's attention when she bumped into someone larger than her and stumbled a little.
"Hey, are you a Pokemon Trainer?" asked the male sailor.
Unlike the red-faced, pipe-smoking vulgarians she had been brought up to believe of sailors, this young man was only a few years older than her. He must be a new recruit on board the ship.
"Yes," replied Amy, after a moment's hesitation. "I am a Pokemon Trainer."
"Well, do you wanna battle?" he asked, a grin spreading across his face. "Three Pokemon each?"
"I have two Pokemon with me." replied Amy stiffly.
"Oh." he said, not mollified a bit. "Well, how about two on two, then?"
Amy nodded curtly. "Lead the way."
The sailor led Amy over to an empty space on the deck with enough room for a Pokemon battle. The sailor began to back away from her as Amy realised he was making enough room for the Pokemon to fight. Amy took a few steps back, her Pokeballs held tightly in her hand.
"My name's Jack." he said, selecting two of his Pokeballs.
"I'm Amy." she said, selecting a Pokeball.
"Well, Amy, you're in for a fight! Go, Shellder!"
Jack threw his Pokeball onto the deck, releasing a burst of red light to form a Pokemon. Shellder was a bivalve with a hard purple shell and a set of eyes with a tongue sticking out from inside its shell.
"Go, Nidoran!" Amy called.
The red light which shot out from her Pokeball formed Nidoran, eager to fight and lowering its head in anticipation to use its horn.
"Nidoran, Tackle!" Amy cried.
Nidoran headed off at a pace towards Shellder, lowering its head to charge with its horn.
"Shellder, use Withdraw!" Jack shouted.
Shellder retreated into its shell, hardening it in the process. Nidoran tackled Shellder, but Nidoran was knocked back by the force of Shellder's defence.
"Shellder, Tackle it now!"
"Nidoran, dodge its attack and use Double Kick!"
As Shellder emerged from its shell and launched itself at Nidoran, Nidoran dodged the attack by jumping backwards, then sped forwards to launch two precise kicks at the fleshy innards inside Shellder's shell. Shellder spun on the deck from the force, dazed from the impact.
"Shellder, get up and use Supersonic!" Jack roared.
"Nidoran, finish it! Use Poison Sting!"
Before Shellder could spin back to its normal posture, Nidoran lowered its head and pierced Shellder in the same spot again with its horn. Limp and weak, Shellder ceased to move as Nidoran returned to Amy's side.
"Shellder!" Jack cried. "Get up!"
Shellder remained immobile. Amy felt a thrill of adrenaline new to her. It was one thing to battle her brother - who trained more than she did and won more often than she did - but to battle on an unknown frontier against a stranger, with no way to know what Pokemon he had - it was thrilling.
Amy was surprised to see that a small crowd had gathered to watch, mostly Trainers who had finished their battles.
Furious to be bested by a girl, Jack returned Shellder to its Pokeball.
"Nice fluke," he said, mopping his brow with his hand.
Amy paused, wondering if she should continue using Nidoran. Growlithe had never been in a fight before - was this an opportune time to introduce him to Pokemon battling?
"Wait," Amy said, noticing that Jack was reaching for his second Pokeball. Amy returned Nidoran to its Pokeball with a flash of red light and selected the Pokeball which contained Growlithe.
"Ready?" she asked.
"Yeah." he said. He tossed his next Pokeball into the fray. "Go, Machop!"
Machop appeared in a burst of red light, as a bipedal creature with a humanoid build and a tail. The crowd oohed and aahed as they watched. Amy held her Pokeball in her hand as she called,
"Go, Growlithe!"
Growlithe appeared in a burst of red light, happily wagging its tail, its exuberance slightly dampened when it spotted Machop's determined gaze.
For lack of knowing one of Growlithe's moves, Amy cried, "Growlithe, attack Machop!"
Growlithe turned to Amy and wagged its tail, bounding back towards her. The crowd tittered as Amy ignored Growlithe's attempts to bond.
"Growlithe, attack Machop!" she repeated.
As Growlithe turned towards Machop, Jack shouted,
"Machop, Leer Attack!"
Machop's eyes glowed and Growlithe was stunned by the attack, tottering over on its feet and howling as it tried to regain sight.
"Growlithe!" Amy cried, a hand flying to her mouth. "Are you OK?"
"Machop, use Low Kick!" Jack roared.
Machop sprinted towards Growlithe despite Amy's protestations and kicked it right in the chest, sending it flying across the deck, past where Amy stood. Growlithe lay limp at the crowd's feet, to their astonishment and shock.
"Growlithe!" Amy refrained from approaching, unless Machop attacked her. "Growlithe!"
Growlithe lay still, fainted. Amy let out a sob and blinked rapidly to hide her tears. Some of the spectators clapped for Jack's Machop.
"Are you sure you can win this?" Jack taunted. "Your Growlithe is pitiful."
Amy balled her fist in a fit of rage. How dare he mock her? She pointed her Pokeball at Growlithe and the red light engulfed her fallen Pokemon. She turned to Jack with a fierce expression.
"Go, Nidoran!"
Nidoran appeared in a burst of red light, its anger palpable.
"Very well, then." Jack said. "Machop, Karate Chop!"
"Nidoran, Growl Attack!"
Nidoran let out a fierce growl as Machop headed towards it, but it was unfazed by the maneuver.
"Dodge its attack!" Amy cried, as Nidoran managed to leap out of the way just in time. "Use Poison Sting!"
Nidoran landed on its feet to avoid Machop's Karate Chop, then reared its head and launched itself at Machop. Its attack made contact, piercing Machop's shoulder. Nidoran backed off to allow some room, then the crowd gasped as it noticed that Machop began rubbing its eyes and coughing violently.
"It's Poisoned!" shouted one passenger.
"Nidoran, use Double Kick!"
"Machop, Low Kick!"
Nidoran ran towards Machop, avoiding the kick that Machop sent its way, leaping up into the air and landing two kicks straight in Machop's face.
"Finish it, Nidoran! Tackle!" Amy cried.
As Machop fell to the ground, Nidoran landed on the deck, launching at Machop and landing a hit with its head into Machop's midriff. There was a silence, as Machop, groaning, refused to move.
"I win!" Amy screamed, ecstatic in her victory. She jumped up and down like a crazed fan at a rally.
The silence was filled with cheers and applause, all chanting 'Amy! Amy! Amy!'
As Jack slumped off to head inside, Amy called out to him. "Wait!"
The crowd watched as Jack turned morosely towards Amy. Her hand was outstretched.
"I believe it's custom in the aftermath of Pokemon battles for the loser to provide cash to the winner."
Jack paused. "You don't look like you need it," he noted sourly.
You would've done the same thing to me."
Jack noticed that everyone was watching and retrieved a wad of cash from his pocket, stuffing it in her hand and left. Unperturbed by the grime of manhandled cash, Amy viewed it as a symbol of her first win and tucked it inside her purse. It was close to two hundred dollars, spare change at best. But if she was to make it her own, she would need a lot more money than this.