Let's Get Going! (Pokémon)

Chapter 10: Steamship Anne

The interior of the ship was very nice, for a replica. The original was somewhere in the ocean. Of course, they had to make another. The S.S. Anne travels the world, but those who are traveling have to adhere to Kantonian laws about Pokémon. Not many Unovans go on the S.S. Anne for this reason. The hall down the way was full of people.

"Oh! There you are, Elaine!" Trace beamed. "Thanks again for the ticket. This ship is huge- and it's full of trainers!" He was interrupted before he could continue.

"Bonjour! If it isn't Elaine and Trace!" Blue waved at us with a hand full of flowers. He looked a little sad. "Didn't think I'd be seeing the two of you here!"

"Hey, Blue!" Trace greeted the veteran trainer. "Are you taking a cruise?"

"Not hardly," Blue said. Was I mistaken or did he shudder? "I got invited to the exclusive party for trainers, but I'm pretty much done with this scene. I got plenty of party favors, too. Here... I can even share one with you." He gave me a famous Kalosian shortbread. I looked at it with gratitude. Blue continued. "More importantly, though... you wanna know what I overheard at the party?"

Trace and I nodded vigorously.

"Do you guys know about those three new research teams?" Blue asked.

"Yeah, I've battled two of them," I said, wiping my nose with my fist. "They were nothing."

Blue looked surprised. "Seriously? You must be fearless or something, kid. Anyway, the point is this: I heard from an insider that they aren't what they seem. There's supposedly a plan to capture some very strong Pokémon. This is all a rumor from an unconfirmed source, but after all the villains in the world, I'd believe it. I might do some digging into what they're really after. You two'd better stay out of the way." Blue took his leave, probably off to try and find a team member to interrogate.

"Those teams, huh..." Trace said. "Elaine, if you get tangled up with them again, you should call me!"

"Why, so you'll be in trouble? I can handle things on my own," I said. "I'll see you around the ship." I went to an empty room to change into the outfit I got from the sailor. I was about to take my shirt off when someone barged into the room.

"Oh, my Arceus!" The guy yelled, covering his glasses wearing eyes. "I'm so sorry, I didn't think anyone was in here!"

"Um..." I said. The guy was a older than me, and he had short olive green hair. He was wearing a blue shirt that reminded me of something Bill would probably wear. "You should've knocked. Isn't it weird that they don't have locks on the doors here?"

"Yeah, it is," he scratched the back of his head. "My name is Celio, by the way. I'm from One Island in the Sevii Islands."

"Oh, I'm Elaine from Pallet Town. Are you on a cruise?" I asked.

"Not exactly. Just between you and me, the government destroyed my Pokémon Network Center and took the Ruby and Sapphire. I kind of stowaway here now." Celio seemed to be watching my face for my reaction.

"What where you doing?" I asked.

"Good question. It was the machine that could instantly trade Pokémon from Kanto and Hoenn. They couldn't have that because of the Pokémon laws," Celio said sadly. He was clearly upset. I didn't even know such a machine existed. "But I found some like-minded people and try to help them out. I was actually expecting to meet with one of them today, but I haven't seen him."

"Who are they?" I asked. "I want all Pokémon to be allowed everywhere. I think I'd like your friends."

"I'll introduce them next time we're all here, not here here, but here," Celio said. He marked a spot on my map. "I'm sorry again for barging in on you and dumping information."