Summer and Blaze finished their special training, which meant it was time for her to challenge Brawly, the Dewford Town Gym Leader. It was a very hard-fought battle on both ends, but the pair was able to defeat the surfer and his Hariyama and obtain the Knuckle Badge. After the match, Summer was surprised to find Weldon, who apologized for his earlier outburst. The two Trainers reconciled and are now heading towards the next city. Unfortunately, their ferry tickets allowed them to visit the famed New Mauville Research Station on Route 107. Will this detour be worthwhile or a waste of time?
Chapter 16- The Diving Detour
The next day, Weldon and I headed to the Dewford Island Pier.
Once I got a breath of the salty morning air, I asked Weldon, "So, ready to head to the next place?"
He smiled. "Yeah. Though I'll miss this island."
"Me too. We've both been through a lot here."
"Hey, Summer!" We turned around and saw Jayden, Harry, and Marisa running over.
When they arrived, everyone except Jayden bent over to catch their breath.
"Good thing we made it before you left!" Jayden exclaimed.
"Thanks for coming to see us off." I bowed to my temporary coach. "And thanks again for training me and Blaze, Jayden."
"No problem, Summer! It was fun, and I hope you two keep on improving together."
Marisa stood up first. "Good luck, Summer! Let's battle the next time we meet!"
I beamed. "Sure, I'd love to. Good luck with your journey too, Marisa."
Harry brushed his hair back. "I'm sure I'll see you guys around the region, now that Dad's fine with me traveling again."
"Sounds good to me," I replied. "We should exchange numbers first."
"Oh yeah. I almost forgot."
After Weldon and I did that, the former turned to the older martial artist. "Sorry if we got on the wrong foot, Jayden."
"Hey, it's water under the bridge. Don't worry about it."
I looked at my Pokégear. "Oh, our boat's leaving soon. Bye, everyone!"
We ran over to a large white boat at the east end, where they were boarding the last passengers. Once our tickets were scanned and we boarded, we waved goodbye to our friends until they disappeared from view.
After getting settled on the top deck, Weldon asked, "How long until we reach Slateport City?"
"Maybe an hour? It's not a super long ferry ride."
He smirked. "Maybe I'll enjoy the cruise this time around."
I laughed. "You have been getting the short end of the stick since we've been traveling by sea. But the weather report said it'll be sunny today, so we shouldn't run into any problems."
"That's a relief." Weldon then gazed into my eyes, making my heart skip a little. "Summer… I never got a chance to thank you."
"For what?" I asked with a small smile.
"You...You didn't abandon me. Even though I said I wouldn't train you anymore."
"How could I? You're not just my coach, Weldon. You're...You're my friend…"
He blushed and glanced at the waves. "You're…my friend too."
Then, the boat began to slow down, and we became nervous.
The PA system said, {We are now getting close to the Sea Mauville Research Station. Please remain seated until the ship makes a full and complete stop.}
"Sea Mauville Research Station? I thought this is a direct ferry to Slateport City." I whipped out my ticket and scanned it. "Oh...this ticket includes a four-hour stop at the research station."
Weldon read his ticket and slumped into this seat. "I should've read the ticket details more closely. Sorry, Summer."
I chuckled as I leaned back. "No, it's fine, Weldon. I haven't been to the research station since Trainer School. Besides, it'll be another thing to add to your vacation checklist."
He relented, "Well, if you put it that way. What is it anyway?"
I sat back up and stroked my chin. "As I recall, it's a place where shipwrecks are preserved and studied. For some reason, that particular location has been the source of multiple naval accidents. Researchers and divers have been analyzing and exploring the ships to find the cause. It's also a place where Water type Pokémon frequent for food and shelter, so it also serves as a marine Pokémon refuge."
"Wow, I never knew such a place existed. Guess it'll be worth the detour after all."
We settled in and enjoyed some more sun as the boat slowly docked at a large concrete pier. We disembarked with the passengers and were herded to a large rectangular building called the "Sea Mauville Research Station Visitor Center", located on the second level of the docks. The room was lined with chestnut brown walls and dark green wooden flooring. A woman at the reception desk stood up and greeted us with a warm smile. She wore khaki pants and a blue T-shirt showing the Slateport City Museum logo, a rectangle with a wave inset, on the front with large white letters of the research station name surrounding the image.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Sea Mauville Research Station, part of the Slateport City Museum. My name is Marina, and I'll be your tour guide today. For the first half of your tour package, I'll show you around the visitor center and some of our most popular shipwrecks outside. The second half allows you to explore freely around the visitor center and all the shipwrecks that are open today. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask at any time. Now, let's begin with the first floor."
Marina showed us the various displays, mostly showing the history of the area. I marveled at the recovered artifacts from the various shipwrecks as Weldon just glanced at them. But when we passed by a gold-rimmed mirror, I thought I saw an image of an elderly man in the reflection. His face was pale and gaunt, and his beard was almost the same color as his skin. But what struck me most were his piercing blue eyes, which matched the color of his hat. I paused and looked behind me, only to find no one there. When I looked back to the mirror, it only showed my reflection.
That was weird… I'm sure I saw someone. I wonder whose mirror this belonged to.
"Summer!" Weldon hissed. "We're going to the second floor."
"O-Oh, thanks for letting me know."
We followed the rest of the tour, but I couldn't help but wonder who I saw in the mirror. He seemed sad, almost pained.
Weldon noticed my pensive expression. "Everything okay? I thought you'd be interested in the exhibits about the local ecology."
I sighed. "Yeah, it's just…" It should be fine to tell him; he knows I can see spirits. "I...I think I saw a ghost."
"A ghost? Where?"
"Downstairs. I saw his reflection in a mirror. He looked like a captain, but that's all I could tell."
"Huh. Maybe we should ask Marina about that mirror when the tour's over. She should have more information about it and the person you saw."
"That's a pretty good idea, Weldon. Hope it doesn't turn out like the events in Pokémon Tower."
"Totally. No more possessions for me."
I chuckled, feeling a little better.
About an hour later, Marina guided us outside and showed us several shipwrecks that were accessible from the wooden docks. I tried to listen to her explanations, but I felt like I was being watched. Then, when we passed by a large ship bleached by the intense sunlight, something caught my eye. When I looked at the bridge room, I saw a silhouette, but it was partially blocked by the broken windows. I tried to make out more of its features, but Marina bringing the group back to the visitor center broke my concentration.
"All right, everyone. Thank you for coming to the Sea Mauville Research Station. Feel free to explore the visitor center and the accessible ships. You can also visit our café on the third floor and the gift shop here on the first floor. As a reminder, your ferry to Slateport City will leave in two hours. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day here."
We gave our guide a round of applause. Everyone in our group dispersed, allowing Weldon and I to get Marina's attention.
I asked, "Excuse me, Marina? Can you tell me more about this mirror I saw?"
"Sure. Can you please take me to which one you saw?"
I led her over to the recovered relic. With one quick glance, she replied cheerfully, "This antique gold-leaf mirror belonged to Captain Trevor Smith, who was in charge of the S.S. Cactus, which is now called the Abandoned Ship. The S.S. Cactus was a cargo ship that sank in the early 1960s during an unusual storm. Although a lot of the crew was able to make it out to safety, Captain Smith perished while trying to grab one of the first Scanners used on the ocean. It's rumored that the Scanner is still within the remains of the Abandoned Ship, but the Captain's Quarters on the first floor has been inaccessible due to where the rocks struck the hull. It's also rumored that Captain Smith haunts the Abandoned Ship, looking for the Scanner."
So there are known ghost sightings. Then I must've seen Captain Smith's spirit. Interesting... "I see. Is that ship accessible today?"
"Yes, but only the top deck and the third floor. Usually the second floor's also accessible, but there have been reports of more violent paranormal events there, so it's currently closed off to the public. The diving spot is on the first floor, which is the main inaccessible floor. So, you can only go to both the second and first floors if one of the divers is available. Which is...one inconsistent day a week."
"Um… I'd actually like to explore the first floor. Where are the divers?"
She was a little confused by my request, but she answered, "They're usually at the cafe around this time. You can recognize them by their dark blue T-shirts and black wet pants."
"Great, thanks so much, Marina."
"You're welcome. I hope you enjoy your time in the Abandoned Ship."
Weldon and I walked to the top floor, not only to find the divers, but to also buy lunch. We sat around a small round table, eating our sandwiches.
I scanned the room. "Do you see any divers, Weldon?"
"Well, I only see one person that looks like what Marina described to us."
I turned my head to the direction he was pointing at and saw a young man pouring over a set of plans. Though he was a few tables away, I could hear his muttering. "But if I use that technique, it could cause another break in the hull and capsize the whole ship! Ugh...I knew I should've caught a Remoraid when I had the chance!"
"What on earth is he talking about?" Weldon asked.
"I don't know. I can try asking him."
"Works for me."
I took a deep breath and head towards the diver. The man turned to me, his blue eyes sparkling like the sea. They looked familiar, but I couldn't figure out from where. "Oh, I'm sorry. Was I disturbing you?"
"Oh, no," I replied politely, a little taken back by his soft-spoken voice. "I was just wondering what you were talking about."
"Oh!" He showed me a large blueprint labeled "S.S. Cactus, 1965". "This is a copy of the original blueprints from the S.S. Cactus, or what the Abandoned Ship used to be called."
"Why are you interested in the blueprints? Are you looking for something?"
"Actually, yes, I am." He offered his hand. "Olly Smith, diver and researcher."
"Summer Scorcher, Trainer and...former researcher."
After we shook hands, he saw Weldon eyeing us.
"Oh, is that young man with you?"
"Yeah, he's traveling with me."
"I see. Well then. To answer your question, yes, I'm looking for a way to enter the Captain's Quarters."
I stroked my chin. "Are you also after the Scanner rumored to be found there?"
He wistfully smiled. "Well, it would be nice to find that, but I'm actually interested in finding Captain Trevor Smith's compass."
I pursed my lips. "His compass?"
"Yes. You see, Captain Smith was my grandfather. People say that he perished trying to get the Scanner, but I think it was also because he was trying to get the compass, a family heirloom. The room would've been sealed off from the water due to its watertight construction and because the ship is resting on a shoal, so everything should more or less be in the same place as when the ship sank. If I find the compass in that room, then it'll support my theory."
"Actually, I was hoping you'd be available to guide me through the submerged portions of the Abandoned Ship."
"Sure, I'm free to help. But, I have to ask, why do you want to explore them?"
I wish I could tell him the truth, but I'd doubt he'd believe I saw his grandfather's ghost. "I just...want to explore the portions where few people have been before. Plus, since Marina told me about the paranormal events becoming more violent, the only way to go further down is with a diver."
Olly was a little puzzled with the pause in my sentence, but he replied, "I can guide you, but you'll have to help me break the rocks that are blocking the path. Do you have a Water type that knows Signal Beam?"
I crossed my arms and glanced at the floor. "I have a Dewgong, but she doesn't know Signal Beam."
"That's actually perfect! Dewgong naturally learn Signal Beam, so it shouldn't take her too long to learn the move."
"Okay, then I'm in."
"Excellent! I need to get the diving supplies, then I'll meet you at the entrance of the ship."
"Sounds good, see you later, Olly."
He ran out of the cafe, his excitement uncontainable.
I returned to our table, and Weldon was impressed. "That went smoother than I imagined."
"Yeah, but I hope we can make it to our ferry in time."
"Hm… I know we want to make sure we leave at 2, but let me see if I can get a later ferry time with our tickets. Plus, you'll need someone here at the research station just in case something bad happens."
"That's true. Thanks for doing all of this for me, Weldon."
"I-It's the least I can do. Anyway, you should wait for Olly. I'll be at the visitor center if you need me. Be careful down there, Summer. It may be just as dangerous as Pokémon Tower."
I nodded, and we split up. I headed outside and when I got to the Abandoned Ship, that feeling of being watched returned. I looked at the broken windows but saw no one.
About ten minutes later, Olly scrambled over with some diving equipment. "S-Sorry for the wait, Summer. A researcher kept hounding me for some pointless errands."
"That's okay. I wasn't here too long." I looked over his items with confusion. "Do we need all of this for the diving exploration?"
"Well, we won't know what we'll encounter down there. Plus, there is increased underwater pressure due to the confined space. So I got the main essentials: breathing devices, air tanks, and scuba masks. I also have some portable decompressors just in case we run into those pressurized areas."
"Wow, you're really prepared."
"Just like what my dad learned from my grandfather," he said with a chuckle. After he explained to me how to put on and use the diving equipment, he asked, "Any questions?"
"Well, why do you need another Pokémon who knows Signal Beam to come with you?"
Olly replied, "Well, the rocks below are hard to break using most means. Machinery will rust and erode due to the salinity, and the corridors are narrow for large equipment to transport through. Not only that, if a strong physical move or an attack that smashes rocks instantly is used, the resulting vibrations could cause irreparable damage to the ship. Because of this, Signal Beam is the best option. It's a Bug type move, so I anticipate the explosion would be less severe. However, it would take at least two Pokémon to completely break it due to the rocks' size."
"I see. Then what Pokémon do you have?"
He smirked. "Unfortunately, she's not a fan of being above water. We'll have to wait until we reach the diving spot. Then, we'll teach you and your Dewgong the move."
"Sounds good to me."
After texting Weldon we were heading inside, Olly and I entered the wreckage. Despite the eroding red carpet and the cabin doors fractured from natural decay, the vessel was still able to accommodate the small groups of tourists safely. But as we entered the second floor, the sounds of excited tourists faded. This floor was eerie, and I again felt like we were being watched.
As I glanced around, Olly asked, "You're not afraid of ghosts, are you?"
"Well, I wouldn't say that," I replied with a nervous chuckle.
"Don't worry. Most of the noises made inside the shipwrecks are either from things dropping due to gravity or occasional gusts of wind."
"Then what about those reports of more violent attacks?"
"I do admit, that is unsettling. Especially since that's not normal for this ship. Still, we should be okay as long as we don't make any detours."
Then I glanced behind him and saw something dark dart down the corridor.
That was...weird... But I didn't feel any cold air.
I followed Olly as he weaved through the second floor, but I was still on edge. My senses were playing tricks on me. It was either unknown items dropping, blasts of cold air, things from the corner of my eye, amongst other things. All of this made me more confused. It was as if someone real and ghostly were causing all of this.
Suddenly, I bumped into Olly, who was standing in front of a door labeled "205". "Oh, sorry, Olly."
"No worries. This is where the diving spot is."
"S-Sounds good."
"Hey, are you okay?"
I didn't know how to respond at first, but eventually I said, "Yeah, it's just that I keep hearing and seeing things around."
Thankfully, he responded with, "Don't worry, I've been experiencing these things too. But we shouldn't run into any trouble from here on out."
We entered the room, where a large gap in the floor revealed the saltwater lapping at the edge. Before we could put on the equipment, a sharp blast of cold air whipped around us.
That's not good...
I glanced behind the diver and a saw the white, translucent figure of the man I saw in the mirror. "Um, Olly? Can you look behind you?"
Curious, he did so. He dropped the equipment in shock, and stuttered, "G-G-Grandfather…."
The apparition floated closer to us. But it was more out of curiosity instead of malice.
His gravelly voice echoed, "That is the first time someone has said that in front of me." Captain Smith's ghost analyzed the man's stunned expression. "Those cheekbones, that slim figure, and those eyes… It appears you really are my grandson…"
"Uhhh… Thank you…?"
The spirit turned to me. "So, you're not only able to see me, but you are also able to show myself in front of my grandson. I thank you for this rare opportunity."
"O-Oh, sure. My name's Summer, Captain Smith."
"A-And my name's Olly, Grandfather."
The spirit stroked his beard. "Olly, what a wonderful name. So, what brings you to this room?"
After he calmed down some more, the diver explained, "Grandfather...I want to find your compass."
"My compass? Whatever for?"
"W-Well. I wanted to prove you passed away because you were getting that as well as the Scanner."
"Ugh, that blasted Scanner. It caused so much trouble for me and my crew. That very device was the reason we were caught in that storm. But never mind that, it's all in the past. You are correct though, I was trying to retrieve the heirloom compass, but I perished when seawater burst through that hole and trapped me below." He stared at the hole with despair before returning his gaze to us. "Well, you are welcome to take both the compass and Scanner, my grandson. But I do have to warn you about something."
"What, Grandfather?"
His brows furrowed. "Apparently, you are not the only one searching for that Scanner. A suspicious person has been scouring the ship for a way to enter my quarters."
I gasped. "So that's why I've been getting mixed paranormal messages. It's because both you and this person are doing them."
Captain Smith sighed. "I'm afraid so, young lady. I enjoy seeing visitors exploring my ship, but I never cause any harm whenever I appear. But this person appears to be driving the visitors away to avoid detection."
"Then we better move fast." Olly put on his gear, and I did the same.
The ghost nodded. "Good luck, you two. And please be careful."
"We will," his grandson reassured.
We descended into the chilly water and waved for a few minutes to acclimate to the temperature.
"All right then," Olly said as he took out a Net Ball. "Come on out, Brittany."
A blue anglerfish-like Pokémon emerged from a net-shaped light. She had a yellow mask over her eyes, round dorsal fins, and two yellows circular orbs on her antenna.
[Lanturn, the Light Pokémon and the evolved form of Chinchou. The light-emitting orbs on its back are very bright. They are formed from a part of its dorsal fin. This Pokémon illuminates the inky darkness of deep seas.]
I marveled at the Water type. "Oh, wow, I've never seen a Lanturn before."
Olly chuckled. "They are pretty rare to find."
I let out Aurora, who happily spun around in the familiar seawater. "So, Aurora, are you ready to learn a new move?"
She beamed. "Of course, Summer!"
"Very true." We turned to the experienced divers. "So, what's the first step?"
"Well, like most beam moves, the goal of Signal Beam is to for your Pokémon to focus their energy into their main source of power. This should result in a rainbow-colored beam that can occasionally cause confusion. Let me show you a demonstration." Olly pointed to a small rock. "Brittany, Signal Beam!"
The Light Pokémon raised her head then quickly lowered it, causing the aforementioned beam of light to shoot from her orbs. The attack shattered the rock into small pieces.
Aurora was impressed. "That was so cool..."
I nodded. "I agree. Plus, it'll be useful against other Water types and Grass types."
Olly pointed to another rock. "All right, Aurora. Focus the energy into your horn, then when the time's right, unleash the attack."
The Sea Lion Pokémon got close to her target and closed her eyes. An orb of rainbow-colored light formed above her horn, but when she opened her eyes and aimed at the rock, the beam went sideways and hit the wall next to it. The ship rattled slightly, but it became still after a few minutes.
Aurora frowned. "I'm sorry, Summer."
"No, it's okay," I reassured. "You're still new to the move, so your aim will be off."
"Summer's right, Aurora," Olly added. "Let's head over to where the rocks are blocking the Captain's Quarters. Summer, have Aurora practice the move in her head. That should help her improve her aim."
"Sounds good, Olly."
We then swam further down to the bottom of the ship. The water got colder, but thanks to the wetsuits, the temperature shift wasn't as bad. After about ten minutes, we arrived at a fork in the submerged corridor.
Olly motioned to the right. "Once we turn here, the boulders should be about 50 feet."
"Sounds good."
But before we could swim in that direction, a medium sized red octopus-like Pokémon blocked our way. He flexed his eight tentacles covered with large yellow suction cups and glared at us with his large white eyes.
[Octillery, the Jet Pokémon and the evolved form of Remoraid. It ensnares its foe with its suction-cupped tentacles before delivering the finishing blow. If the foe turns out to be too strong, it spews ink to escape.]
"What's an Octillery doing here?" Olly cautiously wondered. "They and Remoraid are not native to Hoenn."
The Water type angrily sprayed jet-black ink, obscuring our vision.
"That Octillery must belong to that intruder!" I shouted.
"Split up!" Olly shouted. "We'll meet at the rocks!"
"Got it!"
Aurora and I swam down the corridor, hoping to outspeed our attacker. But as we continued fleeing, memories of the sinking flashed past me. I maintained my focus on Aurora, but I could hear the panicked screaming, footsteps thundering in the corridor, and Captain Smith's voice commanding his crew to abandon ship. The distress and fear everyone felt from the sinking almost brought me to tears. After a few minutes, the ink dissipated, but the surroundings looked drastically different.
"It's so…depressing here," I noted.
Aurora swam to a large hole in the hull. "Hey, Summer. This must be where the ship hit the rocks."
I joined her. "You're right. So those boulders must be close by." I then glanced around. "Olly's not here yet. I hope he's okay."
"Then we better get going," the Dewgong advised. "After all, we don't know if that Octillery's still around."
"That's true. Come on, then. We can also practice your Signal Beam in the meantime."
She beamed. "Yay! I can't wait until I master it! Errol will be so pleased!"
I chuckled, and we swam past the hole. About a minute later, we encountered the very objects we were looking for.
"Okay, Aurora. Focus the energy into your horn."
She followed my direction, and a rainbow-colored orb appeared over her horn.
"That's it," I encouraged. "Now, fire at the rocks!"
She tried, but the rainbow beam strayed to the left, hitting a cabin door. The ship shuttered slightly, then returned to normal.
Uh oh… I hope it didn't attract that Octillery…
Unfortunately, my thoughts came true as the Jet Pokémon blocked our only exit.
He shouted in a nasally voice, "Get away from there!" Then, he shot a Signal Beam of his own from his snout.
I braced myself and commanded, "Aurora, counter with Water Pulse!"
She threw a swirling orb at the beam, and the force of the collision, threw us back. I struck the rocks first but was able to protect Aurora from a potentially dangerous situation.
"Summer!" she cried.
"D-Don't worry, Aurora. I'm just…returning the gesture from earlier."
We regained our position, and I waved my arm. "Ice Beam!"
The Sea Lion Pokémon fired the icy blue beam at our attacker. To our surprise, the Octillery threw several rocks at us with his tentacles. Though the Ice Beam hit its target, the four rocks that hit Aurora did more damage.
I gritted my teeth. This isn't good. Aurora's moves don't work as well against another Water type. And she's still learning the only move that can save us.
She knew this too, and she prepared herself for a proper Signal Beam. She turned to me; her eyes filled with determination. "Let me try again, Summer. I know I can do it."
I nodded and smiled. "All right. Aurora, Signal Beam!"
She closed her eyes, focusing all her power into her horn. As Octillery shot another Signal Beam at us, Aurora did the same. This time, the move didn't veer off-course and struck the opposite rainbow beam head-on. Both Pokémon struggled to maintain their attacks, but the Dewgong unleashed a second wave of strength. Her Signal Beam pushed back the Jet Pokémon's, and the latter crumpled from the Bug type move.
"I…I did it…" she murmured.
"Congratulations, Aurora!" I praised.
But the joy didn't last too long as the Octillery got up and charged at us. We braced ourselves, but a large green orb struck him from behind. He shuddered and sprayed more ink at us. When it dissipated, its user was gone.
I was stunned. "That was…surprising…" Wait, that move looked familiar…
A small blue Pokémon left the ship, its shape looking familiar to me.
Wait, let me see if it registered it. I checked my Pokédex, but it just said, {Pokémon unknown. Please refer to the Sinnoh Pokédex}.
Sinnoh Pokédex? So it can't tell what it is, but now I know it's from that region.
"Summer!" Olly and his Lanturn frantically swam over. "Thank Arceus you're okay! Where did that Octillery go?"
"I'm…not sure, actually. We were cornered by him here, but a small blue Pokémon saved us with a large green orb."
"Huh…a large green orb… Interesting… But that's not important right now."
"Oh, right! Aurora should be able to help; she was able to use Signal Beam correctly."
"Oh, excellent!"
Brittany joined Aurora, and they faced the rocky obstructions.
Olly and I shouted, "Signal Beam!"
Both Pokémon shot the rainbow beams at the rocks, and they shattered into little pieces.
The diver was ecstatic. "W-We did it… We're almost there!"
I beamed. "Then we better get going."
We swam past the rubble and found an exposed door frame. On the floor were wood fragments and a rusted nameplate. Olly entered first, then motioned us to follow.
We swam upwards until we emerged from another open hole. The room was pitch black, but with Brittney's orbs, she was able to illuminate our surroundings. Broken furniture was strewn around the room, and there was a strong musty smell. Olly and I got out of the water and our Pokémon waited in the water.
Captain Smith's ghost materialized by the remnants of his bed. "You finally made it. I was starting to get concerned."
Olly nervously chuckled. "S-Sorry, Grandfather. We ran into some trouble along the way here."
"Oh, don't worry, my grandson! I figured you would have due to that intruder. Now, for your reward." He pointed to where his bed used to be.
The diver rummaged around the area and found the treasure he spent his lifetime looking for. The compass was ornately designed, with the north arrow fashioned into the shape of a ship.
He moved the device around and trembled. "I-It still works…"
"Oh, thank Arceus it does," the spirit replied. "Please take it as a symbol of our heritage. Oh, and take that infernal device with you."
He floated towards a shattered bookcase and pointed to a square device. I picked it up and saw it had a cracked screen. Other than that, it was still in relatively good shape. I handed the Scanner to Olly, who pocketed both items securely.
The diver looked at his ancestor. "What will you do now, Grandfather?"
He sighed. "Oh, stay around here, I believe. Although the compass is one of the reasons I am still here on this ship, I still perished on my vessel. My soul is forever tied here."
"I see…"
Seeing his grandson's crestfallen face, Captain Smith reassured, "Do not fret, my grandson. Though I may not be able to truly leave, I am still content with the upkeep of my vessel and my infrequent interactions with visitors. Know that I will always be here if you require it."
"Th-Thank you, Grandfather."
"My pleasure, Olly."
The two exchanged hugs, though the pressure was one-sided. Olly and I returned to the hole, and we waved goodbye to the last captain of the S.S. Cactus.
Thirty minutes later…
Olly and I made it out of the Abandoned Ship, and we were temporarily blinded by the sunlight. We made our way back to the visitor center, only to see an altercation at the dock. We ran over and saw someone in a lab coat being arrested. The Octillery we encountered earlier was also being restrained.
Olly asked a nearby officer, "What's going on?"
He replied, "This man and his Octillery are being accused of causing unauthorized damages to several shipwrecks here looking for rare treasures."
The diver took a closer look at the suspect and gasped. "That's the man who hounded me earlier!"
"Oh? If you know anything about this, can I get your statement?"
"Yes, of course, officer. Just one moment." He turned to me. "Thanks for helping me, Summer. Not only did I prove my theory correct, but we also found the Scanner everyone's been looking for."
"I'm glad I could help, Olly."
"To repay you, I'll add you as one of the discoverers for the Scanner."
"Oh, thanks. You don't have to."
"You don't have to be so modest. You deserve it! And, I'll look into that Pokémon you saw earlier. What can you tell me about it?"
"Well, it was small and blue… And my Pokédex said it was from the Sinnoh Region."
"Sinnoh Region… That'll help narrow things down. I'll send you any information the first chance I get."
We exchanged numbers and separated. After meeting Weldon at the docks, we boarded our ferry to Slateport City.
Summer's Pokémon:
Blaze (Blaziken, male): Brave Nature, Blaze Ability, moves: Fire Punch, Flamethrower, Blaze Kick, Sky Uppercut
Errol (Noctowl, male): Rash Nature, Keen Eye Ability, moves: Psychic, Confusion, Hypnosis, Air Slash
Aurora (Dewgong, female): Calm Nature, Thick Fat Ability, moves: Water Pulse, Ice Beam, Aqua Tail, Signal Beam
Lightning (Raichu, female): Adamant Nature, Static Ability, moves: Thunderbolt, Quick Attack, Iron Tail, Thunder Punch
Rocky (Steelix, male): Lonely Nature, Rock Head Ability, moves: Stone Edge, Crunch, Dragonbreath, Iron Tail
Olive (Treecko, female): Timid Nature, Overgrow Ability, moves: Pound, Growl, Absorb
Weldon's Pokémon:
Venusaur (male): Serious Nature, Overgrow Ability, moves: Solarbeam, Body Slam, Sludge Bomb, Vine Whip
Fearow (male): Adamant Nature, Keen Eye Ability, moves: Drill Peck, Steel Wing, Fury Attack, Aerial Ace
Golem (male): Bold Nature, Rock Head Ability, moves: Rock Slide, Earthquake, Rollout, Double Edge
Gyarados (male): Sassy Nature, Intimidate Ability, moves: Surf, Ice Fang, Payback, Waterfall
Arcanine (male): Naughty Nature, Flash Fire Ability, moves: Hyper Beam, Extremespeed, Flare Blitz, Fire Blast
Electabuzz (male): Rash Nature, Static Ability, moves: Thunder, Mega Kick, Thunder Punch, Shock Wave
Questions for the Chapter:
What did you think of the Sea Mauville Research Center?
What did you think of Aurora's new move?
What awaits Summer and Weldon in Slateport City?
