Vermilion City – Vermilion Gym
"Clink! Ha!"
Lt. Surge sat back in his chair, taking a big swig from his beer bottle before slamming it onto the table with satisfaction.
These past few days had been the most relaxing for him since the disaster of the Zapdos plan. The Pokémon League had eased their surveillance on him, and, more importantly, he had finally gotten rid of that walking disaster, Launce.
Now, life was back to normal—eating, drinking, and putting rookie trainers in their place. That was what real life was supposed to be!
Just as he was enjoying his moment of peace, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in!"
One of his gym trainers entered hesitantly. "Boss, someone's looking for you."
"Oh? Another rookie challenger? I'll be right there."
The gym trainer looked even more nervous. "Uh… it's not about the gym. It's that Haunter trainer from last time. He said his name is Launce, and he wants to discuss something with you."
"What?!"
The beer bottle in Surge's hand slipped and crashed onto the floor, spilling liquid and shards everywhere. But he didn't care. Instead, he grabbed the collar of the trainer in front of him.
"Who did you say?!"
The gym trainer gulped. Surge's reaction was far more intense than he expected. But with no choice, he repeated, "Launce, sir."
Surge let go, rubbing his temples in frustration. He felt a headache coming on. Why was this kid back again?!
For a moment, he considered ignoring him, but that would only make people suspicious. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and see what Launce wanted.
---
At the Gym Lobby
Launce sat in one of the chairs, absentmindedly looking around as he waited.
A moment later, Lt. Surge walked in, forcing a smile. He approached Launce and said in an exaggeratedly friendly tone, "Well, well, if it isn't our young prodigy. That was quite a battle you gave us last time. Your Haunter is something special!"
Launce stood up, meeting Surge's forced enthusiasm with a polite smile. "Thank you, Master Surge. I appreciate you tolerating Haunter's… antics and awarding me the badge."
Surge laughed awkwardly, waving a dismissive hand. "No problem, kid! So, what brings you here today?"
"It's simple," Launce said casually. "I'm looking for an S.S. Ticket for the S.S. Anne. I was wondering if you had one to spare. Of course, I'm willing to pay a high price."
Surge sighed in relief. He had been worried Launce was here for something far worse. If it was just an S.S. Ticket, that was no problem at all.
Before Launce could say another word, Surge reached into his pocket and pulled out a ticket. He shoved it into Launce's hand as if it were burning him.
"Here! No need for money—just take it. As the Gym Leader of Vermilion City, I get a few of these every year. This one's on me. The ship sets sail this afternoon, so you'd better get ready."
Launce blinked, a little taken aback by how fast and eagerly Surge handed over the ticket. It was almost as if he couldn't wait to get rid of him.
Surge patted him on the shoulder in a very please leave immediately kind of way and quickly turned back toward his office.
As Surge walked away, Launce called out, "Thanks, Master Surge! I'll be sure to visit you again after my trip!"
Surge visibly stumbled mid-step before quickly picking up his pace and disappearing into his office.
---
Vermilion City Harbor
As Launce arrived at the bustling harbor, he was immediately struck by its sheer scale.
Even before reaching the docks, he could see countless ships of various sizes in the distance. The salty ocean breeze carried the distinct scent of the sea, and everywhere he looked, there were ships coming and going.
The harbor was filled with merchants, sailors, and travelers, all moving in different directions, creating a lively and chaotic atmosphere.
Launce made his way to the ticket center, where all ships' schedules, routes, and prices were displayed on large electronic boards.
At the very top of the list, in the most prominent position, was the famous S.S. Anne.
He scanned the harbor map to locate where the cruise ship was docked. Once he had the location, he began making his way there.
---
Boarding the S.S. Anne
When Launce finally reached the pier, he saw the massive, luxurious cruise ship. The S.S. Anne truly lived up to its reputation. The sheer size of the ship, combined with its elegant design, made it stand out from every other vessel in the harbor.
Passengers were lining up to board, some dressed in extravagant clothing, others simply eager travelers looking for an adventure.
What made the S.S. Anne special wasn't just its luxury—it was also one of the few cruise ships that traveled around the world.
Starting from Kanto, the ship would journey through Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and finally Kalos before looping back.
The ship didn't sail nonstop but would make several stops at key cities in each region, allowing passengers to explore and experience new cultures before continuing their voyage.
For Launce, the plan was simple:
Take the ship to Hoenn.
Get off at Mossdeep City.
From there, hire a small boat to reach the uninhabited island marked on his treasure map.
The price of an S.S. Anne ticket wasn't cheap. Even the most basic third-class ticket cost tens of thousands of Poké Dollars.
And the first-class cabins? Those were only available to the wealthy or those with special connections.
The ticket Surge had given him? A first-class ticket.
It made sense. As a Gym Leader, Surge wouldn't be caught dead in a third-class cabin.
---
Boarding the Ship
Launce approached the boarding gate, where a well-dressed sailor greeted passengers with a professional smile.
"Welcome to the S.S. Anne. May I see your ticket?"
Launce handed it over.
The sailor examined it, then his eyes widened slightly when he saw the first-class cabin number.
His smile became even more respectful as he returned the ticket.
"Welcome aboard, dear guest. I wish you a pleasant journey on the S.S. Anne!"
With that, Launce stepped onto the ship, ready for his next adventure.
(To be continued…)
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