As Ma En stepped onto the grand staircase leading into the luxurious S.S. Anne, two young women in neatly pressed uniforms approached him with warm smiles.
"Excuse me, sir, would you like a brief introduction to the S.S. Anne?" one of them asked politely.
"Thank you, but no need. Just hand me a manual," Ma En responded.
The young woman maintained her professional demeanor, nodding respectfully as she handed over a small booklet. "Of course, sir. Here's the manual. We hope you have a pleasant journey aboard the S.S. Anne."
Taking the manual, Ma En walked toward the main hall while flipping through its pages. It contained a detailed map of the ship, listing all the areas accessible to passengers. Locations marked in red indicated restricted areas, strictly off-limits to guests. The manual also outlined the ship's planned route, listing the cities where it would dock and its scheduled departure times.
Just as Ma En finished scanning the key details, an announcement echoed through the ship.
"Dear passengers, the S.S. Anne will set sail in approximately one hour. We hope you enjoy your journey. A Pokémon battle tournament will be held after dinner for any interested Trainers. Registration is available in the main lobby."
Ma En glanced around as he entered the main hall, which was already bustling with passengers. The lively atmosphere filled the air with excited chatter. Shops lined both sides of the hall, selling souvenirs, snacks, and high-end goods. In the center, ship staff attended to passengers, answering questions and offering assistance.
As he walked through the crowd, Ma En noticed several passengers interacting with their Pokémon. Some Trainers eagerly compared their partners, discussing their strengths and weaknesses. Two children, each holding a Charmander, playfully debated which was stronger.
The ship allowed passengers to release Pokémon freely, though with size restrictions. Pokémon known for strong odors, such as Grimer and Gloom, were strictly prohibited.
Ma En observed many Trainers carrying Pokémon from the three starter families, a clear indication that this was a high-class cruise. Only the wealthy or well-connected could afford such a trip.
One section of the hall, however, stood out the most—it was packed with eager spectators, and cheers erupted from time to time. Upon closer inspection, Ma En saw that it was a Pokémon battle arena, specially designed for friendly matches. The flooring was made of reinforced metal, ensuring that even strong attacks wouldn't cause damage.
Curious, Ma En paused to watch a few matches, but most battles were between rookie Trainers fumbling through their first real fights. Their strategies were clumsy, their commands vague—"Dodge!" "Hang in there!" "Attack now!"—with little tactical planning.
Bored, Ma En decided to return to his room.
The first-class cabins were located on the ship's top deck, offering a stunning view of the open sea. As soon as he stepped inside, Gengar emerged from his shadow, eagerly floating toward the window to stare at the vast ocean.
With a smile, Ma En released Deino from its Poké Ball. Before the little dragon could react, Gengar grabbed it and pulled it toward the window, both of them gazing in awe at the sea.
Seeing their excitement, Ma En chuckled and let them enjoy themselves. It was their first time seeing the ocean, after all.
Lying down on the soft bed, he continued reading the manual, noting some of the ship's precautionary rules.
Then, a thought crossed his mind.
"Wait a minute. Isn't this ship the same one that Team Rocket hijacks in a few years? And didn't it eventually sink due to a hurricane?"
His brows furrowed slightly. That event was set to happen much later, so he doubted there would be any issues on this particular voyage. Besides, Team Rocket had been keeping a low profile recently, and there had been no weather warnings at the ticket counter.
"Even if something happens, Gengar can carry me away. That little fatty isn't just for show."
As if sensing something, Gengar shivered slightly before glancing back at Ma En. Seeing that his Trainer was simply flipping through the manual, Gengar shrugged and resumed staring at the ocean.
---
S.S. Anne Sets Sail
A loud whistle rang out, signaling the ship's imminent departure. Moments later, an announcement played over the intercom.
"Dear passengers, the S.S. Anne is now departing. We hope you enjoy the journey. A Pokémon battle tournament will take place after dinner. Interested Trainers may register in the main lobby."
Ma En sat up from the bed, stretched, and decided to head toward the lobby to see if anything interesting was happening before dinner.
As Gengar disappeared back into Ma En's shadow, Deino returned to its Poké Ball. Deino was comfortable inside since the Poké Ball allowed it to observe the outside world while resting. Gengar, however, preferred staying outside, always ready to protect Ma En from surprise attacks.
Instead of taking the crowded main staircase, Ma En headed toward the second-floor balcony, where he could overlook the bustling hall from a quieter vantage point.
Below, the arena battles continued, and Ma En couldn't help but smirk at the hilarious commands rookie Trainers shouted at their Pokémon.
"Dodge it!" "Stand up!" "Hold on!"
It was like watching a comedy show.
As he watched, a calm and steady voice spoke from beside him.
"If you find battles interesting, why not sign up to participate?"
Ma En didn't flinch. Gengar, his constant shadow, would have warned him if the stranger had any malicious intent. He turned his head slowly—only to be surprised by the person standing next to him.
The man wore a navy-style coat with a high collar, his black hat sitting atop neatly combed hair. Despite his snow-white beard, his posture was straight, exuding strength and authority.
Ma En recognized him instantly.
This was Captain Bill, the man in charge of the S.S. Anne. He had seen a photo of him in the ship's manual.
Although a bit surprised that the captain had approached him, Ma En responded calmly.
"Not really. I enjoy watching battles, but I'm not that interested in fighting myself."
To his surprise, the captain burst into hearty laughter. His voice was deep and full of amusement, attracting a few glances from nearby passengers.
Ma En raised an eyebrow. What was so funny?
-------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:
patreon.com/Johnwick007