A massive white cruise ship sailed slowly across the azure ocean...
The melodious sound of a ship's horn suddenly rang out, startling a few Wingull near the vessel and sending them screeching into the distance.
It had already been two days since their departure from Oldale Town.
Under Morris' guidance, Caleb and Lily traveled through Petalburg City and boarded a large ship at Rustboro City... The ship they boarded was bound for Slateport City.
Caleb lay on a red beach chair in his swim trunks, sipping juice through a long straw while eavesdropping on nearby tourists.
"Hey! See that little island over there? That's Dewford Town."
"Dewford Town? The place with the Knuckle Badge?"
"That's right. They say the gym leader there, Brawly, is an incredibly strong trainer. Countless challengers lose to him every year."
'Dewford Town…'
Hearing this, Caleb took off his sunglasses and half-sat up, gazing toward the distant sea.
Just then, Morris returned with Lily, carrying two ice cream cones...
Lily held one out to Caleb's mouth. "Onii-chan, here! It's Moomoo Milk flavor!"
A rich, creamy aroma mixed with a chilly sweetness wafted toward him.
Caleb leaned forward and took a big bite of the ice cream scoop right from Lily's hand.
Lily stared in stunned silence...
Morris laughed heartily, then followed Caleb's earlier line of sight and asked, "Want to check out Dewford Town?"
Caleb didn't deny it, "I heard the Granite Cave there is a great spot for adventure."
"That's too bad!" Morris shrugged helplessly, "I bought direct tickets... So we won't be stopping at Dewford Town."
"No worries. I can come back on my own when school is out," Caleb said nonchalantly.
Morris sat down beside him and changed the subject, "There's a Pokémon battle arena on the lower deck. Trainers from all over gather there. Want to check it out?"
Caleb glanced at his Dragonite and Mimikyu who were both lazily sunbathing on the deck, and shook his head.
"Nah. Since we're out on a trip, let them rest for a few days." he said.
Morris didn't press further and took Lily to explore other parts of the ship...
After they left, Caleb got up, bought two cartons of Moomoo Milk from a vending machine, and walked over to Dragonite and Mimikyu.
"Here, drink up!" He inserted a straw into one carton and placed it in front of Mimikyu.
The Pokémon extended a claw from beneath its Disguise, pulling the milk under its rag to sip quietly.
Dragonite lay sprawled lazily on the deck, barely even lifting an eyelid when Caleb approached. It rolled onto its side, scratched its belly with a claw, and rested its head on its arm, dozing off again.
Caleb suddenly felt like he was waiting on a boss...
He placed the other milk carton in front of Dragonite's face, positioning the straw so Dragonite could drink without moving.
The chonky Dragon opened its eyes, let out a pleased cry...
"Wuuu~"
...Then gently took the straw in its mouth and began sipping leisurely.
'So. Darn. Cute...' Caleb felt his heart melt at the sight.
Unable to resist, he reached out and squished Dragonite's soft, chubby cheeks.
Dragonite blinked its lake-green eyes, staring at him with innocent confusion...
Just then... the entire ship lurched violently. An alarm blared, and a panicked voice came over the intercom:
<...Attention all passengers! Please return to your cabins immediately! Do not remain outside! We are experiencing an emergency situation, and our crew is working to resolve it!..>
The announcement repeated three times.
The passengers on deck stood frozen in confusion... but before they could react, a massive shadow emerged from beneath the waves.
A towering wall of water surged upward, crashing onto the deck like a sudden downpour, drenching everything in salty seawater.
From within the waves, an enormous figure burst forth, blotting out the sun. Its shadow engulfed the entire ship.
A group of uniformed crew members rushed out, their eyes widening in shock.
"Why is there a Wailord here?!"
"Damn it! It rammed a hole in the hull! Water is flooding in below!"
"Send an emergency team! Bring Ice-type Pokémon! Do whatever it takes to plug the breach!"
"We don't have enough hands!"
As they spoke, the crew sent out their Pokémon...
As sailors who spent their lives at sea, Water-types were their most reliable partners. But their small-fry Pokémon; Whiscash, Luvdisc, Staryu, were nothing compared to the colossal Wailord.
The moment they hit the water, they vanished beneath the churning waves, leaving their trainers helpless on deck... Forget giving commands... staying upright was already a struggle...
The Wailord showed no sign of leaving, periodically breaching the surface with deafening roars.
Seeing his crew in chaos, the captain hurried to the broadcast room and made an urgent announcement:
<...Any trainers who can still command their Pokémon, we need your help! Please drive off the Wailord! We're begging you!..>
By now, Caleb had regrouped with Lily and Morris...
Morris had sent out his Psyduck, using its Confusion to steady several passengers from falling amid the ship's violent rocking.
Lily clutched her Plusle and Minun close, watching the chaos unfold with worry.
"Wuu!"
Dragonite turned to Caleb with a serious expression.
Understanding, Caleb nodded, then he helding Mimikyu in his arms, and commanded Dragonite:
"Thunder Punch. Drive it away!"
"Wuuu!"
With a powerful flap of its wings, Dragonite shot into the sky, its fist crackling with yellow electricity....
Like an arrow loosed from a bow, it streaked toward the Wailord.
*Bam!*
Amplified by the seawater, the Thunder Punch struck with devastating force.
*Bzzzt!*
The Wailord let out a pained cry as its body became engulfed in crackling currents.
*Splash!*
Its massive form crashed back into the sea like a collapsing mountain.
But the next moment, a vast expanse of the ocean turned crimson.
"No… Something's wrong!" Frowning, Caleb gripped the ship's railing and looked down.
Dozens of dark shapes were speeding toward them from the depths... Razor-sharp fins which glinted like blades broke the surface.
They were Sharpedos!
The largest one at the front locked eyes with the ship, its gaze ruthless. In an instant, the entire pack changed course and charged straight for the cruise ship...