For pirates sailing on the open sea, time was always a vague thing. If not for the alarm bells and old calendars kept aboard, they might have long forgotten the passing of days.
"Fatty, is it really necessary? Money's filthy, and you're sniffing it all day long." Silas looked at Julian Hart speechlessly.
Instead of stopping, the boy shoved the stack of Pokédollars even closer to his nose, inhaling deeply like it was perfume.
Silas sighed. "That cash was stripped off a corpse. Careful you don't pick up some disease and keel over one day."
Julian grinned smugly. "Heh, forget worrying about me. Why don't you just hand me a big payout instead?"
Silas rolled his eyes. "Isn't five percent commission enough? You're just running errands." Still, he didn't mind too much because Julian's silver tongue managed to sell goods for far above their actual worth. The extra commission was a small price to pay, considering how much profit he'd made.
"Boss, when's the next batch of Pokéblocks coming?" Julian's chubby face lit up with eagerness.
"You think I'm some tireless machine? At least half a month. Don't rush it," Silas muttered, turning to leave. Unlike Julian, who only thought about eating, Silas had more serious matters on his mind.
Out on the deck, Silas spread his arms, letting the sea breeze whip against him. The salty air filled his lungs ,this was the true scent of the ocean.
"Go, Spearow!"
Fweeehh!
The small bird burst from its Poké Ball in a flash of white, its crimson wings spread wide as it circled above before settling neatly on the railing.
"Good. You've gotten used to flying over open seas." Silas gave a faint smile. "Now, just like before - hunt for Pokémon!"
Spearow locked its keen eyes on the waves. Its ability, Keen Eye, wasn't just about preventing accuracy drops; years of research proved Pokémon with this trait often had sharper vision than average.
Suddenly, the little bird tucked its wings and dove.
"Speeearow! Use Fury Attack!"
Skeeaaah!
It darted like an arrow, wings flaring as its beak stabbed, claws raked, and feathers slashed in a flurry of blows.
Splash!
The sea rippled, and moments later, a limp red body floated up with long whiskers trailing.
"Magikarp…"
The sight was so familiar even a child could name it.
Silas chuckled. "Well done, Spearow. A little snack for you."
Magikarp's body was mostly scales and bones, hardly any meat. Still, it was enough to nibble on.
Hours passed. Dozens of wild encounters most of them Magikarp but Spearow also snagged one Goldeen, a welcome surprise. Cute and popular, but of little use to Silas. He passed it to Julian to sell off among the crew.
Just as Silas turned back toward the mess hall, a sudden glow erupted from Spearow's body. Brilliant white light engulfed it, blazing against the evening sky.
"Evolution?!" Silas' eyes widened.
The radiance sharpened into form- larger wings, a massive hooked beak, and a red cockscomb gleaming atop its head.
"Feeeaaaarow!!"
Fearow, the Beak Pokémon, had emerged.
Silas whipped out his Pokédex.
Beep! Beep!
___________________________
Fearow — the Beak Pokémon. Normal/Flying-type.
Ability: Keen Eye
Level: 20
Height: 1.3 m (above average)
Weight: 40 kg (well-developed)
Known moves: Leer, Growl, Peck, Pursuit, Fury Attack, Drill Run, Aerial Ace, Mimic.
__________________________
Silas's eyes shone. "It even learned Drill Peck right after evolving! That's one of Fearow's signature techniques."
"Fearooow!!"
Silas grinned wide. "Perfect! Fearow, you can finally carry me into the skies!"
The great bird lowered a wing in invitation. Silas climbed onto its back, gripping warm feathers.
"Alright, let's go!"
FWOOOSH!
Fearow shot upward, wind shrieking past Silas' ears. Below, the Great Shark shrank smaller and smaller until the ship looked like a toy drifting on the waves.
Silas laughed aloud, exhilarated. "Wooohooo!"
At last-true freedom. For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt weightless, unburdened, soaring among clouds that shifted like gauze one moment and rolling waves the next. Other Flying-types darted through sunlight, their wings glittering like jewels against the endless blue.
On the deck below, Madam Mira watched from her cabin window, her expression distant.
"…Perhaps you shouldn't be trapped at sea like me. The land's freedom is yours.Chairman Goodshow's reforms in the League are stirring… With your talent, Silas, maybe you really can soar to the skies." Her eyes shimmered faintly, voice trembling.
The reason Mrs. Mira had accepted Silas as her apprentice was not only because of his rare talent, but also because his sharp wit reminded her so much of her own son who had passed away at a young age.
She had taken him in for his talent, but after a year together day and night, teaching and watching him grow he was no longer just an apprentice.
He was family.
Mira let out a soft, self-mocking smile. "To think… a ruthless pirate like me, showing feelings. Hah…I must be slipping."
<><><><><><>
(End of chapter)