Though not as spacious as the room he'd gotten back at Rustboro Press, the cabin Vincent currently resided in still had its own perks. It had its own bathroom, and a desk with a lamp.

At this point in time, Vincent had already taken the opportunity to go over and analyze the Pokémon battles contained on the disks handed to him previously by Roxanne.

Sitting at that desk, making use of lamp clamped onto the side, he brought his notebook into the light and began to write things down.

Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town, Brock of Pewter City, May and Max of Petalburg City, and finally…there's me…what am I doing here? Why is my home supposedly Littleroot Town?

I remember a long time ago I was obsessed with Pokémon. It was very poignant during Season 8 AKA 'Advanced Battle' to the point where I wanted to be apart of its world since I guess I wasn't satisfied with my own. That was long before I even knew the term 'fanfiction'.

Based on everyone's outfits, I'd say potentially my placement within this world's timeline fits in around that era I loved: Generation 3. It's not exactly what I want since I left behind that wish years ago after maturing and growing up a bit.

On these disks, besides Ash's battle with Roxanne as he used Treecko and Pikachu, I saw myself battling with a Marshtomp and only Marshtomp, just like Roxanne said. It only took a few Mud Shots and Water Guns to take out her Geodude and Nosepass.

He… or is it 'I' (I don't know…) was quicker than Ash, but a win's a win.

'Be careful what you wish for.'

I think I jinxed my own fate when writing those words about 2020 thus far that night back before going to bed in the real world. Thinking back to Route 101 for a second…maybe this is a blessing or curse in disguise: a new opportunity.

Whatever opportunity I may have here in this world, be it interacting with those four characters I remember, younger me, or this new job, I just hope I don't jinx this one too.

Neatly closing the notebook and shoving it off to the side of the desk, Vincent groaned as he spread his arms open, and bounced back up on the bed. Hearing the mattress' springs below squeaking momentarily, he brought his arm up to his face as his eyes focused on the watch that was on his wrist.

He sighed, noting that it was now half past twelve.

"Alley-oop!"

Springing his legs upward as he relied on the mattress' springs to bounce him up onto his feet, he kneeled and reached into his suitcase as he felt around for a tiny piece of equipment that Elizabeth provided him with.

"Ah…here it is."

Taking hold of the camcorder he pulled out of his bag, he opened the adjustable panel to reveal a tiny screen that automatically booted itself up. Pressing the red 'Record' button, he started to film.

Getting a feel of his newly borrowed camera, he stood at his desk and carefully dialed his fingers on the 'Zoom' button, as he zoomed into and focused on his notebook and Press pass sitting on the desk.

Zooming back out, he quickly panned around and recorded the room, mentally noting a small piece on the inclusion of the writing he'd conjure up later for Nathaniel.

Giving a nod of approval to himself, he stopped filming and placed the camera on the desk. Taking up his trench coat and putting it on without buttoning it up, he gathered his sunglasses, backpack, Press pass, room key, ship pamphlet, wallet, notebook, cellphone, and camera.

He trusted that the rest of his belongings that he didn't need would stay in the room.

He put the strap attached to his pass over his neck, put his sunglasses on, and stuffed the rest into one of his jacket pocket's as he pushed the door open. Taking out his camcorder from the pocket, he stood a good distance away from the door as he focused on and zoomed in on the '211' marked above the door.

Stiffening himself to remain planted firmly in the position he was in, he kept his feet together and twisted his body left and right to create a type of panning shot in the recording. After he took a few still shots of the hallways in both directions, he stuffed the camera away in the pocket and slowly started off down the hallway.

"Alright Ash…where are you?"

Within the perimeter of the ship's center, the courtyard served as not only an additional resting area, but it served as a hub to connect every single part of the ship.

There were floors and rails visible above, each connected and designed to loop within one another for guests' easy access to navigating the ship and its respective facilities.

Pokémon Coordinators and other personnel with valid clearance to contributing to the Grand Festival, all share a fair amount of excitement when it came to such an exclusive, luxury experience…an excitement that Pokémon trainer, May, shared enthusiastically as she walked with her four friends, imitating a narration as though on a show of sorts.

"Attention folks out there in TV land! May's expedition is proud to bring you scenes from the Luxury Line S.S St. Flower! We find a fabulous restaurant on board, along with a shopping gallery, a game room, and even a movie theater! It's like an entire city has been crammed onto one ocean liner!"

"It's so cool!" Max marvelled.

"Yep! And if it weren't for me, we wouldn't even be on this ship!" May exclaimed.

"We heard you the first time…" Ash groaned.

"It's true though." Brock chimed in. "If May didn't make it to the Grand Festival, we wouldn't be here!"

"Bingo, Brock! But it's really cool that contestants are allowed to invite all their friends to come along! Don't you think?" May inquired.

"May has a point! Thanks…th-th-th-thanks so much, May!" Vincent jittered.

"You, see? All that work winning five ribbons really payed off!" Ash affirmed.

"Yeah! We're proud of you May!" Max exclaimed.

"You're gonna be even more proud of me when I win the Grand Festival!" May proclaimed, clenching her fists tightly.

"I know you'll kick their butts, May!" Vincent roared.

"That's so sweet, Vincent! Thank you!" May smiled, as Vincent's cheeks glowed red in response.

Vincent was…more than ecstatic to team up with and travel with Ash Ketchum and the rest of his friends during their Hoenn region excursions. In his mind, it was a dream come true. He felt very attached to these four.

He shared the same age as Ash and May at ten years old but despite living the dream as a great Pokémon trainer, something held him back…feelings he wishes he could express yet couldn't completely grasp why.

Max, thankfully, snapped him back to reality as he tapped him on his shoulder. Vincent was a lot more focused and attuned with his Pokémon training and pushed that to the forefront of his brain.

"Vincent…? Are you okay?" May asked concernedly.

"I'm okay." Vincent responded.

"Eh." Max shrugged. "He's just nervous he can't tell you that he-"

"SHUT UP, MAX! NO, I'M NOT!" Vincent gritted his teeth, as he put his hand over his mouth.

While May and Ash expressed their slight confusion at the discourse, Brock stood there crossing his arms as he smirked and shook his head, letting out small chuckles.

"You know, what?" Brock spoke up. "We should head on over to the Pokémon Center on this ship. I BET THE NURSE JOY THERE IS AS GORGEOUS AS EVER." He fluttered.

Infiltrating the ecstatic thread of emotions that surrounded the group as Brock fell into his typical episodes of day dreaming, Pikachu's ears perked up as Ash took notice of his beloved friend and partner's sudden alarm.

"Pika…?"

"Pikachu? What is it?" Ash asked.

"Pika! Pika, Pi!" Pikachu pointed to an upper floor balcony.

"Well I don't see anything…" Ash said.

"Team Rocket?" Vincent asked.

"Pika Pi!" The Pokémon shook its head in response. "Pi…" It then shrugged and urged the group to move on.

"Right. To the Pokémon Center!" Brock exclaimed.

Vincent was very close.

The task of finding those five was a lot easier that he'd initially thought. It was a lucky find as well, considering all he was doing in that moment was skimming the area, above and below, with his camcorder while filming, being able to spot them after zooming in down into the courtyard.

But to process what he'd just seen…? Vincent felt very eager and willing to scold that younger version of himself.

"…Un-" Vincent croaked as he cleared his throat, continuing to lean on the balcony looking down at the central courtyard as he covered his eyes with his hand that he placed over his face. "Un-be-fucking-lievable."

Clarity is what he desired most in that moment. Through the strokes of his pencil across a fresh notebook page, he began to realize and remember a thing or two.

I think it's fair to say that we all have a childhood crush or two we think of fondly, in a retrospective way, from time to time as an adult. It's something that we can remember from "The Good Old Days", especially cartoon childhood crushes.

I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit it, but if my own retrospective thoughts upon myself are correct, then yes, I think back in the day, back when I was still a kid passing time in a carefree matter in elementary school, I had a small crush on May.

I can't say I was ever great with girls/women…not then, and hell, I wouldn't consider myself great now but...all I can say for certain is that little me has made his fantasy become a reality. The roots, without a doubt, have buried their thorns deep within his mind…I pray for both our sakes that in time, I'll began to excavate said roots and bring him back to his senses so that one day I'll be able to see my real home again.

Putting the notebook back in his pocket, he leaned once more on the balcony's railing as he scoped out for the direction in which Ash and his party went to. Though he overheard Brock being excited about seeing Nurse Joy, he had to sit on some thoughts for a moment.

"Do I…REALLY want to go back?" Vincent asked himself. "I go back, then what? Slump around without a payed job at home? Wait for 2020 to fuck up even more than it already has…? But…what about Mom and Dad? The rest of my family? My long-time and current friends? I can't leave them behind because I decided to selfishly stay in a fictional world."

Groaning and thinking hard on the questions he cognitively and verbally expressed, he pushed himself up again and stood upright as he started to walk again.

"I'll think about this later."

Gently jogging down the steps towards the courtyard as he politely passed by an occasional passerby with an "excuse me" from time to time.

He wanted to focus on the potential he had for the job by potentially filming more angles from within the courtyard itself…but instinct pulled him as the thought snapped within his mind that the Pokémon Center was his next destination. There was no changing his mind in that moment…he couldn't ignore the itching feeling, so he decided to take it.

"Hmm?" Vincent stopped in his tracks, eying a trio of workers. "Is that…? No, wait." Chuckles escaped from his mouth as he anxiously reached for his camera as he pressed the record button.

The trio stood out to Vincent.

A man who had visible blue streaks of hair seeping through his head covering, and a woman with hair also being visible despite the head covering, has small hints of a magenta-like color. The standout of the three was a Meowth...but not just any Meowth.

Team Rocket's Meowth.

"How did they put it?" Vincent whispered to himself as he put down the camera. "'Prepare for trouble and make it double?' 'I'm Jessie. I'm James? Blah, blah, blah?' Yeah seems about right. Oh ho," He smirked as he anxiously marched in their direction as they seemed to tracing Ash's steps. "This should be fun."

For as long as the trio could remember, ever since their first encounter with a boy they first encountered in Viridian City's Pokémon Center as they attempted to rob the facility of its Pokémon, they've been on the hunt for his Pikachu after an electrifying and impressive display they believed would impress their boss, Giovanni.

Despite many efforts throughout their travels throughout Kanto, Johto, and now Hoenn, their plans were always thwarted as Ash Ketchum, along with whoever was with him throughout their encounters, would always send them blasting off into the sky.

Despite hundreds of failed schemes throughout these three regions, their persistence knew no bounds as they continued to follow Ash. Today was yet another day…they'd observe from afar, typically disguised in order to draw attention away from them.

Disguised as maintenance workers this time around, they strayed close behind Ash and his friends after May dropped her Pokémon off at the Pokémon Center.

Now eavesdropping on a conversation between them and an Officer Jenny accompanied by her Growlithe, they were ecstatic to hear the news that Officer Jenny relayed to the kids as they all took off in their own direction.

"Did you guys hear that great news?!" Meowth chanted.

"I sure did!" James exclaimed. "We're going to meet Brodie the Phantom Thief!"

"No, not that!" Jessie scorned. "We're talking about something really big!"

"Huh?"

"YEAH!" Meowth shouted. "Didn't you hear that Team Aqua and Team Magma have bit the dust?"

"The best part is the sole reason for their demise and all of that dust biting was us! Get it?" Jessie mentioned.

"It was…?" James thought aloud confused. "But all we did was get blown away like we always do."

"Don't get hung up on minor details." Jessie groaned. "What counts is that Aqua and Magma have dissolved and we're still here."

"Get it?" Meowth continued on for Jessie. "Which means Team Rocket takes the credit. Right?"

"Yes, of course!" James exclaimed. 'And once the boss gets wind of our success, I know exactly what he'll say! 'Thanks to James, and the other two, for destroying Team Aqua and Magma. I believe I'll let Team Rocket run the entire Hoenn region.'"

As per tradition with the three, whenever a part of the trio thought about or fantasized about what Giovanni would say about their potential successes, they began to chant together as became excited for yet another opportunity that they think could pay off well down the road.

"Promotions and bonuses! We'll be at the top of the heap!" They all exclaimed.

"WOBBUFFET." A Pokemon chimed in as it popped out of Jessie's Poke Ball, as usual. "Wobbu-?"

"Huh…? Who's this creep?" Meowth pointed out.

Perplexed at the man standing there as he wore a dark trench coat and sunglasses, the man stood still only for a moment, only to stiffly turn as he walked in the direction that Ash and the others went, but not before shooting them a wide smirk.

"Did Giovanni send somebody else?" Jessie wondered.

"No, he can't be one of ours…" James shook his head, but then grew worried. "But Giovanni said he'd leave it to us to take care of things in Hoenn!"

"Well either way, we are NOT going to be outplayed!" Meowth exclaimed. "We'll get that Pikachu before he or anyone else does! Come on gang! Let's go show 'em what we're worth!"