After parting with Sebastian, Cole returned to his room. Once there, he released all his Pokémon and prepared Pokéblocks for each of them, saving Kricketune for last.
When Kricketune emerged, it shrank back at the sight of unfamiliar faces and strange Pokémon. This was yet another change of trainer — it had lost count of how many times this had happened — and it felt fearful facing its new master.
Kricketune was a Pokémon specifically bred for wealthy young masters' entertainment. Its talent for playing various types of music had led to it being traded countless times between owners. It had only been with Danny for a few short weeks.
With each transfer to a new trainer, Kricketune grew more dispirited. Its music gradually lost its soul, making it increasingly unwanted.
So here it was again, traded to yet another master?
Lost in these thoughts, Kricketune lowered its head, unable to meet Cole's gaze.
"Kricketune." Cole observed the timid creature before him with concern, understanding the likely cause of its behavior.
His teachers had explained this — Pokémon's emotions are delicate, and frequent trainer changes can leave them insecure and distrustful of humans.
"Don't worry, I won't trade you away carelessly like Danny did. Of course, if you want to leave, you can tell me directly, and I'll let you go."
Kricketune quickly shook its head. Having been raised by humans since birth and lacking strength, it had been used mainly for entertainment. Without a trainer, it would likely starve.
Cole sighed, "Then stay here without worry. Don't concern yourself with anything else."
His reassurance did little to comfort Kricketune — its trust in humans had long since withered away.
After everyone finished eating, Cole told them all to get some rest early.
In the pitch-black room that night, Kricketune lay among the other Pokémon but couldn't sleep. It quietly rose and walked to the window, gazing silently at the moon.
Brione, hearing movement, opened its eyes. In the bright moonlight, it spotted Kricketune by the window.
"Hey? Why aren't you sleeping?" Brione asked curiously.
"Can't sleep." Kricketune replied.
"I see!" Brione instantly understood.
New Pokémon often joined their group, and they all felt uneasy at first — Kricketune must be feeling the same way.
Brione rubbed its sleepy eyes and walked over, "Since you can't sleep, want to go for a walk outside?"
Kricketune hesitated, "Is that okay? What if we get caught?"
It had never disobeyed its master's wishes, much less snuck out at night without permission.
"It's fine, it's fine. Even if we're discovered, Cole won't scold us." Brione said cheerfully.
Then it climbed out the window and waved back at Kricketune. Having no other choice, Kricketune followed — though unlike Brione, it could simply fly!
Soon the two Pokémon made their way to the deck. What they didn't know was that Cole had opened his eyes as soon as they left, but after a moment's thought, he simply lay back down.
✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲
Although Cole and the others had gone to bed early, the cruise ship was still lively with late-night revelers walking about the deck.
Brione and Kricketune's presence went unnoticed — many trainers here let their Pokémon roam freely while they enjoyed themselves, so the sight of wandering Pokémon was common.
Suddenly, Kricketune's expression changed as it spotted someone. Brione noticed its reaction.
Following Kricketune's gaze, it saw an older man in a tuxedo attempting to convince a young lady to spend the night with him. The lady promptly refused.
"Is he the one who gambled you away?" Brione guessed immediately.
Kricketune nodded awkwardly, fearful of Danny spotting it.
"Come with me." Brione suddenly thought of something and grinned mischievously, pulling Kricketune into hiding nearby.
After being rejected by the lady, Danny was grumbling as he walked away when the hidden Brione spat water at his feet. He immediately slipped and fell flat on his face.
"Ahhh!!!"
The fall was harsh on Danny's old bones. As he struggled to get up, he heard a beautiful song — like the voice of a lovely young maiden — stirring his imagination.
A moment later, his head tilted to one side and he collapsed into sleep.
"Hee hee hee~~"
Brione covered its mouth and giggled, having just used its Sing ability.
"Come help!" it called to Kricketune.
Kricketune hesitated, knowing Brione wanted to play a prank on Danny.
Brione patted it reassuringly, "What are you afraid of? He's not your master anymore — he can't hurt you."
It had heard about Kricketune's situation from Cole and Daisy. It despised people like Danny the most, having experienced similar treatment.
Understanding that Brione was trying to help it get revenge, Kricketune finally gathered its courage and stepped forward. The two Pokémon moved Danny to a corner. When Kricketune asked what to do next, Brione suggested finding a rope to hang Danny up for the night, letting Kricketune vent its anger.
After hearing the plan, Kricketune told Brione they didn't need rope — it knew String Shot and could stick Danny directly to the wall.
Soon the two Pokémon found a hidden spot and secured Danny to the wall with String Shot, making sure he couldn't escape even if someone tried to rescue him.
After they finished, they quietly slipped away. Unknown to them, their actions had been captured by security cameras and reported to Sebastian.
✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲
"What should we do, boss? Should we rescue Mr. Danny?" An employee asked.
Sebastian chuckled, "No... let my dear uncle stay up there and clear his head. Maybe he'll stop doing foolish things."
"Yes!" The subordinate bowed.
Sebastian turned to leave the security room but paused, turning back, "Oh, and delete that footage we just saw."
"Yes."
"Hahaha..." Sebastian laughed as he returned to his room.
✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲
After their mischievous deed, Brione pulled Kricketune along as they ran from bow to stern, losing track of time.
There were no lights here in the shadows of the moonlight — just complete darkness.
"Hahaha!!!" Brione laughed joyfully.
Since birth, Kricketune had been taught only to follow rules and obey its master. It served its master, not its trainer, and had never stepped out of line.
After what they'd done today, its heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from its chest.
Looking at the laughing Brione, somehow Kricketune found itself laughing too. As it laughed, it discovered its cheeks had become wet without notice.
In the darkness, Brione couldn't see its tears — it only heard Kricketune laughing with complete abandon.
When they couldn't laugh anymore, Brione suddenly said, "Let me sing you a song."
"Okay." Kricketune nodded.
Brione leaned against the railing and began singing a gentle song — a nursery rhyme it had learned from television. The melody drifted into the night, carrying Kricketune's thoughts to distant places.
As Brione sang, it suddenly heard accompaniment beside it. The music was so melodious that it made Brione sing even more cheerfully.
In that moment, Kricketune found itself transported back to when it had first evolved from Kricketot — back when it was full of hope, eagerly anticipating creating beautiful songs with its trainer. The music it played now sounded just as beautiful as it had then.
The two Pokémon stayed outside until very late before returning to the room.
✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲
The next morning, everyone woke up early except for Brione and Kricketune, who were still sound asleep. Cole told everyone not to disturb them and let them continue sleeping.
Leaving the two Pokémon in the room, he took the others to have breakfast, planning to head to the training room afterward.
Just then, he heard people talking nearby. When he went to listen, he learned that Mr. Danny had been stuck to the wall all night and was now furiously searching for the culprit.
Cole couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Without a doubt, this had to be Brione's doing — it was exactly the kind of thing it would do.
Just as he was about to leave, Danny spotted him.
"Stop right there!"
Cole turned around, pointing to himself, "Are you talking to me, Mr. Danny?"
Danny came charging over as if he had wheels on his feet, practically flying. He angrily confronted Cole, jabbing a finger at him, "Who else could it be? Was it you last night? Was it you?"
He demanded with absolute certainty in his anger.
"You mean about you being stuck up there all night?" Cole asked, trying to suppress his amusement.
"Still playing dumb?" Danny was practically hopping with rage.
"Mr. Danny, please don't make accusations without evidence." Cole said.
"Who else could it be? We just had a conflict during the day, and then this happens to me at night - who else but you?" Danny stared intently at him, trying to read something from his face.
But he was disappointed.
Cole shrugged, "I told you it wasn't me. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do."
Danny was about to say something else when Sebastian came over.
"Uncle, haven't you made enough of a scene!"
Danny was about to explode with anger, "I was hung up all night, and you're saying I'm making a scene? Are you really my nephew?"
Sebastian said sternly, "You didn't see who did it, so who can you blame?"
Danny: (╬◣д◢)
He pointed at Cole and shouted, "It must be him!"
Sebastian asked, "Where's your proof? Where's your proof?"
Danny: o(*≧д≦)o!!
He was speechless.
"Ahhhhh!"
After a few seconds of silence, Danny ran away screaming.
Seeing this, Sebastian walked up to Cole and said, "My unreliable uncle is causing trouble again. Don't mind him, Cole. I hope you have a pleasant day on the ship."
With that, he left humming a tune.
Danny's unreasonable behavior was just a minor incident to Cole, who didn't take it to heart.
At the training room, he instructed the Pokémon to begin their training while he started teaching Daisy how to use Double Team and Teleport.
Cole had long admired Diantha's Gardevoir's Teleport ability, so before parting ways, he had specifically asked her Gardevoir to teach him this move. He had learned Double Team during the same session.
If there had been more time, he would have wanted to learn even more moves!
To prevent forgetting, Cole had written down the patterns of energy flow that Gardevoir used when performing these moves. Now, with nothing else to do on the ship, it was the perfect time to teach Daisy these moves.
"Mom, let's learn Double Team first — this move is relatively simpler."
"Garde~ Garde~" — Whatever you say, sweetie!
"Alright, carefully feel my guidance in a moment."
Saying this, Cole placed his hand on Daisy's back and input his Special Ability energy, guiding it to feel how to circulate its source energy when using Double Team.
Daisy closed its eyes, focusing intently. Being much smarter than Brione and Heliolisk, it quickly memorized everything perfectly.
This was likely due to the natural intelligence of Psychic-type Pokémon compared to other types. Though Daisy could be silly at times, it was far from unintelligent.
Meanwhile, Brione and Kricketune finally woke up from their satisfying sleep.
Brione saw the empty room, looked around calmly, and spotted the Pokéblocks Cole had prepared for them. It happily ran over to eat.
Kricketune, however, was anxious about oversleeping and paced back and forth in the room.
Brione looked at it, puzzled, "What's wrong? Come eat."
It pointed to the plate of Pokéblocks beside it, clearly prepared for Kricketune.
"We woke up so late, will Master be angry with us?" Kricketune asked, still habitually referring to Cole as Master.
Brione patted it reassuringly, "No way. You're with Cole now — forget all those unpleasant things from the past and start fresh."
Though still uneasy, Kricketune stopped pacing and managed to finish its Pokéblocks, even if worry still gnawed at its heart.
Soon after, Cole returned with everyone else.
Seeing Brione and Kricketune had just finished eating, he teased, "Oh, you two finally woke up! What were you up to last night?"
Hearing his words, Kricketune grew anxious again, wringing its hands, unsure whether to sit or stand.
But when Brione saw him return, it immediately bounded over happily, hugging his leg affectionately.
Cole patted its head with a helpless smile, "You just love acting cute."
True to Brione's words, he never mentioned their late rising again, and gradually, Kricketune began to believe what its friend had said.
✲✲✲
T/N: Hey! Liked what you read? Support your friendly neighborhood translator on Patreon! Think of it as buying me a coffee... or ten!
For just $1.50 (that's less than your daily meme budget), get extra chapters! Want more? $2 gets you bonus content, $5 unlocks premium stories, and $10 makes you my hero (and gets you everything I have, including earlier acess to new books)!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)
https://www.patreon.com/collection/1305384