The fifth day on the SS Dragonair had settled into comfortable routine. Sasuke had just finished his morning training session in one of the ship's battle practice rooms, Zekrom running through power control drills while Victini cheered from the sidelines. The ocean outside the reinforced windows had been calm, the ship's movement barely noticeable.
That changed without warning.
The ship lurched violently to starboard. Sasuke caught himself against the wall as Zekrom stumbled mid-drill. Victini chirped in alarm and immediately flew to his shoulder. The practice room's emergency lighting activated, harsh red illumination replacing the normal white.
Then the alarm system screamed to life.
"All passengers, this is an emergency alert. We are experiencing an attack from wild Pokemon. Please remain in your cabins or move to designated safe zones immediately. Repeat: remain calm and proceed to safe zones. Ship security is responding to the threat."
The automated message looped while Sasuke recalled Zekrom and sprinted for the door. Victini clung tightly to his shoulder, little body tense with readiness. Whatever was attacking the ship was strong enough to shake a vessel this size, that meant dangerous Pokemon in large numbers.
The corridors were chaos. Passengers ran in multiple directions, some heading for their cabins while others sought the safe zones marked on emergency maps. A few trainers had released their Pokemon and were trying to maintain order, but most people were too panicked to listen.
Sasuke pushed through the crowd toward the main deck. If the ship was under attack, that's where the real fighting would be happening. He could help more effectively there than hiding in a safe zone.
He emerged onto the deck and immediately understood the severity of the situation.
The ocean boiled with activity. Dozens of Sharpedo circled the ship in coordinated patterns, their distinctive dorsal fins cutting through the water. Smaller Carvanha darted between the larger sharks, working themselves into feeding frenzy patterns. Every few seconds, one of the Sharpedo would launch itself from the water and slam into the ship's hull with incredible force, the impacts strong enough to shake the entire vessel.
Ship security had mobilized. Three officers stood at the railing with their Pokemon, a Machamp, a Starmie, and a Tentacruel, all attempting to drive back the attacking pack. But they were overwhelmed. For every Sharpedo they repelled, two more would attack from different angles.
Passengers who'd ignored the evacuation order crowded near the exits, watching in horrified fascination. Several were filming on their phones. A few had released their own Pokemon but seemed unsure whether to help or retreat.
"Get back inside!" one security officer shouted at the civilians. "This area is not safe-"
A Sharpedo breached directly beside her, jaws open wide enough to fit a person. The officer's Machamp intercepted with Close Combat, four arms delivering rapid strikes that drove the Water-Dark type back into the ocean. But another Sharpedo was already rising from the opposite side.
Sasuke didn't hesitate. "Mega Blastoise, go!"
His Pokeball released the Water-type in a flash of light. Blastoise materialized already in battle stance, the twin cannons on its back rotating to track targets. The Pokemon took in the situation instantly, dozens of hostile Water-Dark types attacking a large vessel with overwhelmed defenders.
"Hydro Cannon, area suppression! Don't let them breach!"
Blastoise's cannons roared. Two massive water jets erupted with pressure strong enough to punch through steel, sweeping across the section where Sharpedo were clustered. The attack caught three mid-leap and drove them back underwater with bone-crushing force. The Carvanha scattered in panic, their school mentality disrupted by the overwhelming power.
"Thank you!" the security officer called. "We need to drive them away from the ship entirely or they'll keep attacking!"
"Working on it!" Sasuke moved to the railing to get a better view. The Sharpedo pack had reorganized after Blastoise's initial assault. They were circling wider now, preparing for another coordinated strike.
"Sasuke!"
He turned to find Miyuki, Kasumi, and Kiyomi emerging from one of the interior stairwells. All three had their Pokemon already out, Shaymin hovering near Miyuki's shoulder, Gardevoir standing tall beside Kasumi, and Ninetales padding silently at Kiyomi's side.
"You're supposed to be in the safe zones," Sasuke said.
"So are you," Miyuki countered. "If you're fighting, we're helping."
"We have Pokemon too," Kasumi added. "And Gardevoir's Psychic attacks work on Water-types."
Kiyomi just moved to the railing and assessed the situation with clinical detachment. "Thirty to forty Sharpedo, maybe twice that many Carvanha. Pack behavior suggests they've been artificially agitated, natural Sharpedo don't organize this efficiently for prolonged attacks."
"Someone lured them here?" Sasuke asked.
"That would be my guess. But we can investigate after we stop them from sinking the ship." She glanced at her Ninetales. "Ice Beam patterns. Make the water harder to navigate."
The Alolan Ninetales moved to the railing and unleashed Ice Beam in a sweeping arc. The ocean's surface flash-froze in jagged patterns, creating obstacles that disrupted the Sharpedo's circling patterns. Several crashed into the ice barriers and had to adjust their approach.
"Gardevoir, Psychic on the ones breaking through!" Kasumi commanded.
The elegant Psychic-Fairy type raised both arms. Purple energy enveloped three Sharpedo that had evaded the ice barriers. Gardevoir lifted them from the water entirely and held them suspended in mid-air, completely neutralizing their threat.
"Shaymin, Aromatherapy to calm them down!" Miyuki called.
The Gratitude Pokemon began emitting soothing fragrance from its flower. The scent spread across the water, affecting the Carvanha more than the Sharpedo, the smaller Pokemon's frenzy visibly decreased. Some of the Carvanha broke off from the pack entirely, fleeing to deeper water.
Sasuke watched the coordinated response and felt something click. They'd never trained together, never discussed battle strategies. But somehow they were working in sync, each person targeting different aspects of the threat, complementary tactics combining into effective defense.
"Blastoise, Rapid Spin! Create a barrier!"
His Pokemon withdrew into its shell and began spinning at incredible speed. The rotation created a waterspout that encircled a section of the ship, physically blocking approaching Sharpedo. Combined with Ninetales's ice barriers and Gardevoir's psychic holds, the defensive perimeter was holding.
The ship's security took advantage of the improved situation. Their Pokemon focused on driving back the remaining aggressive Sharpedo while the four companions maintained the defensive screen.
Gradually, the attack intensity decreased. The Sharpedo pack's coordination broke down as more individuals fled or were repelled. The Carvanha had mostly dispersed already, following their survival instincts away from the dangerous area. Within ten minutes of the coordinated defense, only a handful of Sharpedo remained, and those few were retreating rather than attacking.
"They're falling back!" one security officer confirmed. "Maintain pressure until they're fully clear of the ship!"
Sasuke's group kept up their respective barriers for another five minutes until the last Sharpedo had disappeared into deeper water. Only then did they recall their Pokemon or allow them to relax their stances.
The main deck had taken damage. Scorch marks from fire attacks, ice coating several sections of railing, small craters where particularly powerful strikes had connected with the reinforced flooring. But the ship itself remained intact, no hull breaches, no critical systems compromised.
Victini chirped triumphantly from Sasuke's shoulder, apparently proud of everyone's performance despite not participating directly.
"Well fought," the lead security officer said, approaching their group. Her Machamp stood behind her, still alert for threats. "I'm Officer Mizuki. You four just saved this ship from severe damage. The Captain will want to thank you personally."
"What caused the attack?" Kiyomi asked immediately. "Sharpedo packs don't organize coordinated assaults on ships without provocation."
"We're investigating that now." Officer Mizuki's expression hardened. "But you're right, this wasn't natural behavior. Someone or something drew them here deliberately."
"Why would anyone do that?" Kasumi asked.
"Distraction, perhaps. Or testing ship defenses." Mizuki gestured to one of her subordinates. "Rodriguez, take these four to the Captain's bridge. I need to coordinate damage assessment and ensure all passengers are accounted for."
The subordinate officer, Rodriguez, nodded. "Follow me, please."
As they walked through the corridors toward the bridge, Sasuke's mind worked through possibilities. Deliberate attack meant planning. Planning meant motivation. What could someone gain from attacking a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean?
"This isn't random," he said quietly to his companions.
"Agreed," Miyuki replied. "The timing is too convenient. We're five days into a week-long journey, far enough from ports that rescue would take time, but not so far that the ship couldn't limp back if necessary."
"Someone wanted chaos but not actual casualties," Kiyomi added. "A properly motivated Sharpedo pack could have breached the hull in multiple places. This attack was controlled."
"Controlled chaos," Kasumi said. "Create enough panic to distract from something else."
They reached the bridge, a large room filled with navigation equipment, communication stations, and wide windows providing a 180-degree view of the ocean ahead. The Captain stood at the central console, a stern-looking woman in her fifties reviewing damage reports with her staff.
She looked up as they entered. "The trainers who helped repel the attack. I'm Captain Himura. You have my sincere gratitude, without your assistance, we'd be dealing with casualties right now."
"We were just helping where we could," Sasuke said.
"Modest. I appreciate that." Captain Himura pulled up a display showing ship schematics. "The good news is we sustained minimal damage. The bad news is Officer Mizuki was correct, this attack was artificially induced. We found bait containers deployed in the water around our route. Specialized pheromone lures that drive Water-types into aggressive feeding behavior."
"Who deployed them?" Kiyomi asked.
"Unknown. The containers have no identifying markings." Captain Himura's expression darkened. "But security is now conducting a full sweep of passenger areas and cargo holds. If someone aboard is responsible, we'll find them."
As if summoned by the statement, Officer Mizuki's voice crackled over the Captain's radio. "Captain, we have a situation in cargo hold three. You need to see this."
Captain Himura exchanged a glance with her first officer. "All of you, come with me. You helped defend the ship, you've earned the right to see what we're dealing with."
They followed the Captain and several security officers down into the ship's lower levels. The cargo holds occupied the bottom two decks, normally restricted to crew access only. The temperature dropped as they descended, the air taking on the metallic smell of machinery and stored goods.
Cargo hold three was massive, a space easily a hundred feet long and fifty wide, filled with shipping containers and secured cargo. Security officers had set up portable lights near one specific section where several containers had been opened for inspection.
Sasuke felt Victini tense on his shoulder as they approached. The Victory Pokemon sensed something wrong before the humans could see it clearly.
Officer Mizuki stood beside one opened container, her Machamp keeping watch. "Captain, look at this."
Inside the container, illuminated by harsh portable lights, sat dozens of specialized cages. And inside those cages, Pokemon.
Sasuke moved closer, recognizing the species even in poor lighting. Dratini, three of them, each in individual cages barely large enough for them to move. Larvitar, two specimens, looking malnourished and frightened. Beldum, four of them, their metallic bodies showing signs of improper care. Other rare species he couldn't immediately identify in the dim lighting.
All of them captured. All of them being transported illegally.
"This is a smuggling operation," Captain Himura said, her voice tight with controlled anger. "These cages are designed for transporting Pokemon without triggering standard detection equipment. Someone loaded these containers at Blackthorn Port."
"Can we trace them?" Kiyomi asked. She'd moved to examine the cages more closely, her researcher instincts overriding any squeamishness.
"The cargo manifest lists this container as medical supplies for a company called 'Aether Medical Research.' Legitimate paperwork, proper permits. But the actual contents..." Captain Himura gestured at the imprisoned Pokemon. "This is highly illegal. Multiple violations of international Pokemon protection laws."
Miyuki had crouched beside one of the Dratini's cages. The Dragon-type pressed against the bars, clearly seeking comfort. "They're dehydrated and stressed. Some of them have injuries that haven't been treated properly."
"We'll get them to the ship's Pokemon Center immediately," Captain Himura assured her. "But first, I need to understand the full scope of this operation."
Sasuke's mind flashed back to the Tree of Beginning's warning. Darkness gathering. Forces older than human civilization. And then Itachi's more concrete warning.
Danzo Shimura is moving.
The Aether Foundation.
"Captain," he said carefully. "Do you know anything about the Aether Foundation?"
Himura's eyes narrowed. "They're a research organization. Publicly focused on Pokemon welfare and conservation, though there have been rumors of questionable practices. Why?"
"Because Aether Medical Research sounds like a subsidiary name." Sasuke pulled out his phone and showed her the information Itachi had sent him days ago, documented instances of Aether Foundation operations that had raised League concerns.
"My brother is the Indigo League Champion. He warned me the Foundation was active in Kanto and Johto."
The Captain reviewed the information, her expression growing grimmer. "If the Aether Foundation is involved, this goes far beyond simple smuggling. They have resources and political connections that make investigation difficult."
"They also have motivation to create chaos," Kiyomi added. She pointed at the container's manifest documentation. "If someone wanted to move illegal cargo while security was distracted, a Sharpedo attack would be perfect cover. Everyone focused on the immediate threat while they accessed the cargo hold."
"Except we stopped the attack faster than they expected," Miyuki said. "So they didn't have time to retrieve whatever they were after."
"Or they already got what they needed." Kasumi had been examining other nearby containers. "Captain, this container over here is also labeled as Aether Medical Research. But it's been opened, recently. See the seal? It's broken but someone tried to make it look intact."
Security officers immediately moved to investigate. They pulled open the container door to reveal mostly empty space, a few medical supply boxes remained, but clear gaps showed where other items had been stored.
"Whatever was in here is gone," Officer Rodriguez confirmed. "Taken during the attack while everyone was focused on the Sharpedo."
"Can we check security footage?" Sasuke asked.
"Cargo holds don't have active camera surveillance during transit," Captain Himura said. "Privacy regulations for commercial cargo. But we can review access logs for who entered this area during the attack window."
She pulled out her radio and issued orders to her security team. Within minutes, they had preliminary access logs showing that two individuals with crew credentials had entered the cargo hold during the Sharpedo attack. But when security pulled up the crew roster, those credentials didn't match any actual employees.
"Fake IDs," Officer Mizuki said. "Whoever they were, they had enough information to create convincing access cards."
"Which means someone with inside knowledge," Captain Himura concluded. "Either a crew member is compromised, or someone thoroughly researched our security systems before boarding."
She looked at Sasuke and his companions. "This is now a criminal investigation. I'll be contacting League authorities at our next port. In the meantime, I need you four to be careful. If the people behind this realize you helped disrupt their operation, you could become targets."
"We can handle ourselves," Kiyomi said.
"I don't doubt that based on what I saw during the attack. But handling yourself and being cautious aren't mutually exclusive." The Captain's tone softened slightly. "You're all nineteen. You shouldn't have to deal with criminal conspiracies during what should be a normal journey."
"Normal stopped being an option the moment they attacked the ship," Sasuke replied. "We'll be careful. But we're not hiding."
Captain Himura studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Fair enough. Officer Mizuki will escort you back to the passenger areas. I'm restricting cargo hold access to essential crew only until we reach port."
As they left the cargo hold, Sasuke noticed Victini trembling slightly on his shoulder. The little Pokemon's usual cheerfulness had disappeared, replaced by uncharacteristic tension.
"What's wrong?" he asked quietly.
Victini chirped softly, a sound that conveyed unease. Through their bond, Sasuke felt echoes of the Victory Pokemon's instincts.
Danger, darkness, wrong.
Whatever the Aether Foundation was planning, Victini sensed it went beyond simple Pokemon smuggling.
That evening, Sasuke called an emergency meeting in his cabin. The four of them sat in the small sitting area, Miyuki and Kasumi on the couch, Kiyomi in the desk chair, Sasuke on the edge of his bed. Their Pokemon were out. Victini pacing anxiously on the coffee table, Shaymin nestled in Miyuki's lap, Gardevoir standing beside Kasumi like a protective guardian, and Ninetales lying at Kiyomi's feet with her nine tails wrapped around her body.
"Okay," Kasumi said. "We need to talk about what we found. Because that was not normal cruise ship drama."
"Agreed." Kiyomi had her tablet out, already compiling information. "Let's review what we know. One: someone deliberately lured a Sharpedo pack to attack the ship. Two: during that attack, individuals with fake crew credentials accessed the cargo hold. Three: they retrieved something from an Aether Foundation container while leaving behind Pokemon that were being smuggled illegally."
"Which means whatever they took was more valuable than rare Pokemon specimens," Miyuki added. "What could be worth more than Dratini and Larvitar?"
Sasuke pulled out his phone and reviewed the information Itachi had sent him. "My brother said the Aether Foundation is searching for something in Kanto and Johto. Sites with historical significance. The League believes they're targeting ancient artifacts."
"Artifacts from ruins," Kiyomi said, her eyes widening. "That's my specialty. If they're after archaeological specimens..." She started typing rapidly on her tablet. "The cargo manifest said the containers came from Blackthorn Port. What's historically significant near Blackthorn?"
"The Tree of Beginning," Sasuke said immediately. "And the ruins beneath it. There are sealed sections that even the Uchiha clan doesn't access."
"The Tree of Beginning." Kiyomi pulled up research files. "Ancient mystical tree that's existed for thousands of years. Supposed to be a focal point for Pokemon energy in the region. There are legends about-" She stopped, reading something on her screen. "Oh. Oh no."
"What?" Kasumi leaned over to look at the tablet.
"There are historical records describing artifacts stored beneath the Tree. Fragments from an ancient civilization that tried to harness the Tree's power for their own use. The civilization collapsed when their experiments went wrong, and the survivors sealed everything underground." Kiyomi looked up at Sasuke. "If the Aether Foundation stole fragments from those ruins..."
"They have pieces of ancient technology designed to manipulate Pokemon energy," Sasuke finished. "Technology dangerous enough that it's been sealed for thousands of years."
The implications settled over the group like a weight. This wasn't just smuggling or theft, this was potentially catastrophic.
"We need to inform someone," Miyuki said. "League authorities, Itachi, someone with power to investigate."
"Captain Himura is already contacting League authorities," Sasuke replied. "But they won't arrive until we reach port in two days. And by then, whoever took those artifacts will be long gone."
"So what do we do?" Kasumi asked. "We're not equipped to take on a criminal organization."
"No. But we can stay alert and document anything suspicious we observe." Kiyomi saved her files and closed her tablet. "If Aether Foundation operatives are still on this ship, which they probably are since we're in the middle of the ocean, they might make other moves. We watch, we record, and we report everything to the authorities."
"Agreed," Miyuki said. "No heroics, no confrontations. Just observation."
Sasuke nodded. It was the smart approach. But something about the situation bothered him. The Tree of Beginning had warned him about darkness gathering, about threats to the bonds he'd form. The Aether Foundation stealing artifacts from his hometown felt personal in ways he couldn't fully articulate.
"I'm going to call my brother," he said. "Update him on what we found. He should know the Foundation made a move this close to Blackthorn."
"Good idea." Kiyomi stood, stretching. "I'm going to compile a full report of everything we observed. Detailed documentation will help the League investigators."
"I'll help," Miyuki offered. "My medical observations about the captured Pokemon might be relevant."
"And I'll..." Kasumi paused. "Actually, I'll stay here with Sasuke. Make sure he doesn't spiral into overthinking mode after his brother's call."
"I don't spiral," Sasuke protested.
"You absolutely spiral. You've been spiraling since we left the cargo hold." She settled back into the couch. "Gardevoir and I will keep you company while Miyuki and Kiyomi do the documentation."
Kiyomi and Miyuki exchanged a glance, silent communication that Sasuke couldn't quite interpret. Then they gathered their Pokemon and left, closing the door behind them.
Alone with Kasumi (and their Pokemon), Sasuke pulled up Itachi's contact and initiated a secure video call. His brother answered within three rings, his face appearing on screen with that characteristic calm expression.
"Sasuke? I wasn't expecting to hear from you until you reached Pallet Town."
"We have a situation." Sasuke quickly summarized the Sharpedo attack, the smuggled Pokemon, and the stolen artifacts from the Aether Foundation container. He sent over the photos Kiyomi had taken of the cargo documentation.
Itachi's expression didn't change, but his eyes sharpened. "The Tree of Beginning. I'll inform Father immediately, he needs to check the sealed sections for evidence of theft. And I'll alert the Elite Four. If Aether operatives are moving this boldly, it suggests they're accelerating their timeline."
"Timeline for what?"
"We don't know yet. But the fragments you mentioned, if they're from the ancient civilization I think they are, they're components for something catastrophically dangerous." Itachi leaned forward slightly. "Are you and your companions safe?"
"For now. Captain Himura has increased security and restricted cargo access. We're being careful."
"Good. Keep being careful. The Aether Foundation doesn't leave witnesses when it matters." His expression softened slightly. "How are you otherwise? How's the journey going?"
Sasuke glanced at Kasumi, who was pretending not to listen while obviously listening. "It's going well. My companions are skilled and intelligent. We work together effectively."
"I'm glad. You'll need that unity in the months ahead." Itachi paused. "Sasuke, if you encounter Aether operatives again, don't engage unless absolutely necessary. Report to authorities and maintain distance. Promise me."
"I promise."
"Good." His brother's slight smile returned. "Take care of yourself and your companions. And call me if anything else happens."
The call ended. Sasuke set down his phone and found Kasumi watching him with concern.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Frustrated. The Aether Foundation stole from my home, used my family's port for their operation, and we can't do anything except watch and report."
"Sometimes watching and reporting is the most useful thing." Kasumi shifted on the couch to face him directly. "You can't solve every problem through battle strength, Sasuke. Some situations require patience and trust in systems designed to handle them."
"I know that logically."
"But emotionally you want to punch something."
"...Yes."
She giggled. "At least you're honest about it. Look, we did good today. We saved the ship, we found the smuggling operation, and we're providing information to people who can actually investigate properly. That's a win, even if it doesn't feel satisfying."
Sasuke knew she was right. But knowing didn't ease the frustration.
Victini had finally stopped pacing and climbed onto his lap, curling up in a small ball. The Victory Pokemon was exhausted, probably from the stress of sensing danger all day. Sasuke stroked its ears gently, feeling it relax under the attention.
"Your Victini is special," Kasumi observed. "I've read about Victory Pokemon. They're supposed to bring good fortune to trainers they bond with."
"Sometimes the fortune is just surviving bad situations," Sasuke shrugged.
"That's still fortune." She smiled. "We've been traveling together for five days and already faced a crisis. But we handled it. All of us working together, complementing each other's strengths. That's not nothing."
"It's not nothing," he agreed.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, Victini snoring softly, Gardevoir standing watch by the door. Outside the porthole, the ocean stretched into evening darkness.
Tomorrow they'd reach another port. The day after, they'd arrive in Pallet Town and officially begin their journey through Kanto and Johto. And somewhere out there, the Aether Foundation was planning something with stolen artifacts that had been sealed for thousands of years.
But tonight, Sasuke sat with a companion who'd chosen to stay and make sure he was okay. Who understood the frustration of wanting to do more but having to accept limitations.