New Battles
Chapter 11: S.S. Anne
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any of the characters involved except Brice, Julia, and Hector
A bright morning shone in Vermillion City as Brice and Julia stirred. They had spent the night in the pokemon center's public dorms. As they finished up their preparations for the day, Brice noticed the S.S. Anne ticket in his bag.
"Oh yeah, Bill gave us these tickets… I wonder if the ship is still in port," Brice said to himself as he turned the item over in his hand.
He pocketed the ticket and went to meet Julia outside. As the doors slid open he saw his friend looking into the distance, where a large ship could be seen moored to the docks.
"Do you think that's the S.S. Anne Bill gave us those tickets to?" Julia asked.
Brice looked at the ship and squinted his eyes, trying to see any discernable signs on the ship, but signed as he realized they were too far away.
"I can't tell, but we can find out."
Julia nodded and followed him as they made their way to the docks. They walked down the wooden pathways, eventually arriving at the massive ship.
"Hold it kids, you aren't allowed to be here unless you have a ticket," a man said to them as he appeared from beside the walkway.
Brice and Julia both fished their tickets out and showed them to the man. His moon immediately changed.
"Welcome aboard!"
The two nodded their thanks before embarking up the plank and onto the ship. Once inside they found themselves in a long hallway arrayed with doors on one side. On both ends the hallway took a sharp turn, but to their right was a staircase leading up to another level.
"Which way should we go first?" Julia asked.
"I suppose up to the decks might be a good starting point."
He led the way up the stairs, and once they reached the second level they spotted another set of stairs at the far end of the hallway. Brice sighed as they made their way down the hall and mounted to the next set of steps.
"So many stairs," he muttered to himself.
"What was that?" Julia asked from behind him.
"Nothing, just theorizing for the next gym."
"That's the one here in Vermillion City right?"
"It is. The leader is Lieutenant Surge. He specializes in electric-type Pokemon."
"Is that why you've been training Sandshrew?"
"It is, Sandshrew has an immunity to electric-type attacks, so I'm hoping it'll give me an advantage."
"What if he uses other moves?"
"That's why I've been training Sandshrew. I can't rely on typing to win. I have to account for other factors like moves and strategies."
Julia thought about it as they reached the top of the stairs, "You're a forward thinker aren't you?"
Brice shrugged indifferently. "I just try to be as prepared as I can. Nothing note-worthy about that I would think."
They continued down another long hallway before they emerged on deck. A trio of crewmen were standing in a group talking amongst themselves while a fourth moved back and forth across the deck sweeping. A guest was lounging beside the doorway under a large umbrella.
"Doesn't look like anyone's here," Julia said.
"Are you two trainers?" The Guest asked as he looked up at them and lifted his sunglasses.
"Yes," Brice and Julia answered together.
"You missed the trainer party, that was last night and it was the last event before the ship was set to leave port. We should've left an hour ago according to the itinerary. Though I'd heard the captain wasn't feeling well."
Brice and Julia looked at each other before returning their gaze to the guest.
"Would he be on the bridge do you think?"
"Oh certainly. Head back down the hall and back down the stairs, and keep going straight until you have to take a left. The captain loves to talk to trainers when we're docked at port. Maybe you two showing up might help him feel better."
The man smiled before lowering his sunglasses again and leaning back in his chair. The pair watched him reach over to his left and retrieve a small glass and sip some of the drink through a straw.
Brice tugged lightly on Julia's sleeve, as a subtle sign to go. The two turned and followed the man's directions, arriving at the foot of another set of stairs.
"Make way down there!" A familiar voice called to them.
The two stepped back and gasped as they saw Hector descend the steps. He had been watching his footing as he descended, but once he was on the decking he looked up and his eyes widened as they settled on Brice.
"You again!?" The two boys asked each other, pointing.
"Are you following me now? One victory wasn't enough?" Hector asked.
"As if! We were just trying to find the captain!" Brice retorted.
"Well, you've found him. He's up there alright, but he's nothing more than a seasick old man. A complete waste of my time," Hector said with a huff.
As his eyes slid away from Brice they alighted on Julia.
"Well hello there, where have you been hiding?" He asked.
Julia took a half step back from him, "I was getting our bags checked last time. We haven't officially met."
Hector smirked as he noticed the pokeballs on Julia's bag strap.
"You're a trainer?"
She nodded.
"Well, you know the rules when trainers' eyes meet right?" He asked as he produced one of his pokeballs.
Brice threw an arm out in front of Julia.
"She doesn't have to accept a challenge from you," he said.
"I mean, you're technically right. If she's too afraid to battle little old me then I suppose there's just no helping it," Hector said with a sigh as he put his Pokeball back.
Julia stepped past Brice's arm.
"Let's have a match then. If you're so keen on it," she said, her confidence returning.
"That's more like it!" Hector said as he drew his Pokeball back out.
"Brice, if you wouldn't mind officiating?" She asked as she unclipped her bag from the strap and handed it to him.
"Are you sure about this? He gave me a hard time when we fought and you're only just getting a proper start as a trainer," Brice whispered to her.
"I'm sure, your match didn't drive home what happens when he runs his mouth. I'll just have to reinforce that lesson."
She stepped away from Brice and drew her first Pokeball.
"Before we start, I never got your name," Hector told her.
"Julia."
"Alright then Julia, let's see what you've got! Go Sandslash!"
Brice's eyes widened in shock as he heard the name.
"He's leading with it this time. He's not messing around. He must still be cautious after losing to me."
Julia nodded as she switched pokeballs.
"Go Squirtle!"
Julia tossed her Pokeball into the air, and it released her Squirtle in a burst of white light. The ball fell back into her palm as Squirtle shook its head to wake itself up. It looked up and saw Hector's Sandslash. In an instant, it understood the situation and a serious look crossed its face as it crouched in preparation for the battle.
Brice nodded as he set Julia's bag down at his feet.
"Good, she's using a Pokemon to give her the type advantage. Hopefully, that'll give her the win. She'll just have to be careful not to get hit."
"Both trainers ready?" Brice asked.
The two nodded, both intensely focused on the other, waiting for the go-ahead.
Brice lifted his hand, and silently counted to three before swiping it down, "Begin!"
"Sandslash, use Slash!"
Hector's Sandslash wasted no time as it darted forward. It was on top of Squirtle before It and Julia could react.
"Squirtle, Withdraw!"
At her command, Squirtle quickly pulled its head and limbs into its shell as Sandslash streaked by, a powerful clash of its talons sent Squirtle's shell spinning across the floor, only to crash into the wall. It leaped back to Hector as it waited to see if it had knocked Squirtle out.
"Squirtle?" Julia asked.
Squirtle emerged, its eyes were spinning as it was disoriented from the spinning, but it managed to extricate its limbs and stagger to its feet.
"Good job Squirtle! Now, use Water Gun!"
Squirtle shook its head to dispel the last of the dizziness before inhaling deeply.
"Sandslash! Finish it with another Slash attack!" Hector shouted.
Sandslash darted forward again, crouched low as it sprinted toward Squirtle. But it was too late as Squirtle unleashed a torrent of water from its mouth. The attack made contact with Sandslash who stumbled. It dropped into a roll and then regained its footing before leaping high into the air and slashing down on Squirtle.
"What?" Julia asked as Squirtle was sent flying. It landed next to her, out cold.
Julia lifted Squirtle's Pokeball, having it return in a red beam. She switched to another Pokeball on her sash.
"Go! Bulbasaur!"
Her Bulbasaur appeared on the field, instantly raising its hind legs as it spotted Sandslash.
"Use Razor Leaf!"
Bulbasaur tossed its head as a swarm of leaves emerged from its body before it sent them at Sandslash. The attack was effective as it shredded Sandslash's body. It dropped to a knee, obviously on its last legs.
"We're not finished yet! Slash!" Hector shouted.
Sandslash launched up from its knee and started sprinting toward Bulbasaur.
"Razer Leaf again! Finish it!" Julia shouted.
Bulbasaur went to launch another barrage and just managed to get the attack off as Sandslash closed the distance and struck it. The two both dropped to the floor unconscious.
Brice shook his head, "Bulbasaur was Julia's most recent addition. I'm surprised it managed to do any damage to Sandslash at all."
The two trainers returned their Pokemon. Hector grinned as he tossed up a Pokeball, releasing his Oddish.
Julia's eyes widened "That's not good…"
Reluctantly, she tossed her last Pokeball, releasing her Pikachu.
"Looks like I'm the one with the type advantage this time!" Hector called "Oddish, Absorb!"
Oddish began to breathe in, as green light began to drain out of Pikachu into its body.
"Pikachu! Quick Attack! Knock it off balance!"
Pikachu darted forward, rushing through the pain as Oddish continued to drain away at it.
Hector waited until they were about to collide then shouted "Oddish spin dodge!"
Oddish stopped using Absorb as it spun to its right in a perfectly executed maneuver, leaving Pikachu to screech to a stop behind it after missing the Quick Attack.
"Finish it off!" Hector shouted.
Oddish began inhaling once again, and as the green energy resumed leaving Pikachu its vision began to swim before it dropped to the floor unconscious.
Julia groaned as she returned Pikachu to its Pokeball.
"Not bad," Brice told her as he picked up her bag and handed it back to her, "You managed to take out his strongest Pokemon."
"But that doesn't cut it in a match," Hector taunted as he approached.
Brice sighed before rifling through his bag and pulling out the card Hector had given him. He tossed it at the other boy who wasn't ready and almost dropped it.
"I kept forgetting to withdraw funds from it, so you can have it back," he said.
Hector scowled as he leaned down to pick up the card. He then stormed past the two, and as he disappeared down the hall they both heard him muttering to himself.
"C'mon, let's go see if the captain is receiving visitors," Brice said as he nodded upstairs.
The two ascended the steps, finding themselves on the bridge of the ship. The form of a man was leaning over in the captain's chair, a waste bin between his knees.
"Captain? Are you ok?" Julia asked hesitantly.
Violent noises were torn from the Captain which startled the pair. Brice looked to Julia, unsure how to proceed. Julia rolled her eyes before smiling to herself and approaching the captain. She gently rubbed his back, for a few minutes.
After she was done the Captain sat up.
"Oh! Thank you, young lady! I feel good as new after that!"
He put the basket beside his desk and stood up to greet them both, offering his hand to shake theirs.
"What brings you here today trainers?" he asked.
"We were just curious about the ship was all. When we heard you weren't feeling well we decided to stop by and see if we could help," Julia explained.
"Ah! Well, you've certainly done that. Here, I want you two to have this as a way of thanks."
He reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a silver disk, which he handed to Brice.
"What is it, sir?" Brice asked.
"Ah, I suppose you haven't seen one of these before. This is a Hidden Machine or an HM for short. They contain rare and powerful moves that can be used outside of battles. This particular machine contains the move Cut. You can use it to trim tall grass and cut down small trees. I feel it might better suit you two than sitting in my desk drawer."
The two nodded their thanks, and after bidding the Captain farewell, disembarked. As they set foot back on the docks, they heard the horn of the ship blow behind them. Turning around they watched as the ship began to slowly pull out of port. The guest on the deck leaned over the railing and waved to them as the ship pulled away. The two waved back and watched as the ship shrank to a small dot on the horizon before disappearing entirely.
"Well, now that that's out of the way, where next?" Julia asked.
Brice looked across the docks toward a large building in the city. Pointing to it he said;
"There."
"Is that?"
"It is. Lieutenant Surge's Pokemon gym. Where I'll get my third gym badge."