Chapter 34 - Departure on SS Anne!

Intro-Kun: Zane has finally completed the training of his young students. Now, he must journey to the next gym and acquire his next gym badge! Which gym will it be!? How will he get there!? Find out now!

Morning came and I had a rude awakening. "Get up already! No time for slacking! We are heading to the next city right this instant!" Me and my pokemon fell down the bed hitting our heads. I complained, "Misty, it's barely 6 in the morning. Give us more time to sleep." Misty ignored me and grabbing my arm she began to drag me saying, "If we don't leave early then we might miss it."

I sighed as I said, "Fine… let me brush up first." Misty puffed her cheeks and said, "Alright, but make it quick." I quickly brushed my teeth and followed Misty to wherever she was wanting to drag me to. It did not take long before we reached a harbor. Confused I asked, "Are we buying fish?"

Misty grinned and said, "Nope! We are going to the next city." I pouted and said, "I'm not paying for it." Misty rolled her eyes and said, "I know, but luckily you don't have to! Yesterday while I was training I met two people who gave me a ticket to travel on the Saint Anne!"

My eyes widened as I remembered a scene of a ship underwater. I felt my heart sinking imagining myself stuck in some sunken ship. Honestly, I did not believe I could survive that. Ash was a protagonist with insane luck. Events happened that naturally favored him.

What about me? I did not get my first pokemon handed to me. I had to endure burns when going through the fire. I had to suffer blisters and ache when training too hard. I couldn't save my pokemon from team rocket during the flying pokemon race. It was… troubling to imagine my fate if I got aboard the Saint Anne.

There was also another issue. I had no water pokemon to save my life underwater. The scenarios that Ash encountered in the ship were also beyond my ability. He had the right team for each situation. What about me?

I had a Butterfree, Beedrill, Pidgeotto, Dratini and, a Zubat. Maybe Psychic can make up for my lack of variety… It is not likely though. Finally, the show was an anime. The amount of water pressure should have been too immense for a human child to survive without getting crushed.

I felt shivers running down my spine imagining suddenly swimming through the crushing weight of the water. Stop Misty I said, "Ah, Misty! I decided to actually buy tickets on another luxury cruise ship." Misty complained, "Then what would we do about these tickets? I don't just want to throw them away?"

I suggested, "What about selling them?" Misty looked thoughtfully at the tickets before saying firmly, "No way! I won these tickets and we are boarding the Saint Anne!" I sighed and said, "Can we please not?" Misty grabbed my collar and began shaking me shouting, "What's wrong with the cruise huh!? I'm sick and tired of cycling at full speed just to keep up with you! I swear if we don't take this cruise right this instant I'm going to drown you!"

I gulped and said, "Calm down Misty. It is already bad I'm going to drown in one scenario please don't make it two." Misty stopped shaking me and just dragged me towards the Saint Anne shouting, "Then you better quiet down! I don't what you're talking about, but we are boarding the Saint Anne no matter what!"

Internally, I was crying while outside I just let my soul escape my body through my mouth. I knew I should have stayed in bed this morning. Ah, I still remember the nice cushions on it. What I wouldn't give to get back on there.

Shaking my head, I removed those thoughts from my head and began planning to preserve my life. There were various things I could do in order to survive, but I just hoped the ship did not sink into the ravine shown in the show or land in that very unstable position pillar at the center of the underwater ravine.

Thus, we came aboard the Saint Anne and began to sail. I frowned knowing my bleak future before gritting my teeth and shouting, "Damn it all! If I only have so long to live then I might as well make the best out of it!"

Misty shouted, "Quiet down over there! Can't you see I'm trying to relax over here!?" I looked at Misty before smiling. She was sunbathing. 2 minutes later, there were 6 more seats next to her with more people sunbathing.

Of course, the people sunbathing now were me and my pokemon. Sipping some iced tea, I said, "I knew I could use a break. Thankfully, I always have some sun cream with me." Misty sipped her iced tea and said, "Now this is the life. Just sailing across the sea on a luxury cruise ship and enjoying the sun." I nodded and said, "Yeah, I could get used to this."

For the next 14 hours, Misty and I enjoyed the cruise. Sure, she avoided my bug pokemon that were taking enjoying the trip with us, but it was fun overall. I grinned and said, "Ha! I won this Uno game!" Misty complained, "You're cheating! How can you win over 10 times in a roll!" I shouted back while pointing my finger at her, "I'm not cheating! You're just a sore loser!" Suddenly, several cards fell down from my sleeve.

We both looked at them. My face became cramped as I said, "Oh, look at that. I still have a few cards left. Nevermind, I didn't win." I walked out with a bruise on my head. I sighed and said, "Darn it, I knew I should have hidden them in my pocket. Thankfully, I didn't cheat while my pokemon were playing or I wouldn't have gotten away without a few scratches."

I sighed and said, "At least she doesn't hit that hard." I rubbed my head feeling the ache beginning to disappear." Suddenly, the ship's speakers blared, "All trainers please head to the main hall. All trainers please head to the main hall for an important announcement."

I frowned and said, "This is bad. It's about to begin."

Somewhere else in the ship…

"I can't find him anywhere! Where is that Magikarp salesman! Once I find him I will make him pay for tricking me!" James grinded his teeth before sighing and saying weakly, "If only I knew. I should really catch up on pokemon flashcards."

Jessie shouted angrily, "We don't have time to look for the Salesman! We are about to begin our operation, James! Now go and get ready!" She kicked James sending me falling down. Meowth sighed and said, "I knew I should have kept a closer eye on our money."

Jessie grinned and said, "After not being allowed steal that Dratini thanks to the constant surveillance in the Pokemon Training Field! I am not missing this chance! I cleverly gave that twerp two tickets for the Saint Anne just for this day!"

Meowth complained, "I was the one who thought of it since you didn't stop pestering me!" Jessie said smugly, "Yeah yeah, it doesn't matter who thought of it since I was the one who executed it." James complained, "What about my brilliant disguise skills!? You wouldn't have fooled her if it wasn't for my skills!"

Jessie becoming annoyed hit both of them and said, "Now then, shall we begin?" Both Meowth and James said in pain, "Yes mam."

At the main hall, I was wondering what the best decision would be to escape the tragic fate of drowning. The weather was beginning to look stormy and the winds were becoming stronger. Honestly, I already had Plan A and B ready.

Plan A would be joining the rest of the civilians in the lifeboat and get saved. Plan B would be relying on Butterfree Psychic to save me. I doubt Butterfree is that strong yet, but I was seriously hoping right now. Hopefully, nothing goes wrong that forces me to not have time to get on the lifeboat.

Misty and I got together in the hall. Misty asked, "Hey Zane, what do you think they are going to announce?" I shrugged and said, "Not too sure. I just hope that it's nothing bad." Misty nodded and said, "Same here, I was hoping to see the sunseton the cruise ship, but it doesn't seem like I will be able to."

I smiled bitterly and mumbled, "You have no idea." Misty asked, "What was that?" I shook my head and said, "Nothing." Suddenly, a group of people entered the hall and began talking to trainers with a threatening tone. One of them headed towards us and said, "Hand over your pokemon and we won't hurt you." Misty shouted in fury, "What!? There is no way we will had you our pokemon!"

I nodded and said, "Yep, now then. Butterfree use Psychic and send him flying." Butterfree came out of its Pokeball and used Psychic sending the team rocketeer flying. Ah, a hole in the ceiling. We will have a bunch of holes on this ship soon…" Misty shouted defiantly, "Everyone! Let's fight back! There is no way we will hand over our pokemon without a fight!"

I shouted too, "Yeah! Send them all flying!" Soon, the hall became a battlefield where pokemon attacked together to send each rocketeer flying. Charmanders used Ember, Squirtles used Water Gun, Bulbasaurs used Vine Whip.

Dodging an attack that went wild I sighed in relief thinking, "This is more intense than in the show. I frowned as I knew my attacks were also limited. Area of attacks were a no-go since I did not want to incapacitate anyone and let them drown when the ship sinks. Misty was taking quite an initiative protecting other trainers she noticed who were in danger.

Misty shouted, "Starmie use Rapid Spin and push back that man!" Starmie spun quickly before impacting a rocketeer that was trying to use a little kid as a hostage. What she did not notice was a female Rocketeer approaching from behind her.

Taking out Dratini I shouted, "Dratini use agility and bind against them!" Dratini let out a cry before slithering at fast speed towards the Rocketeer and binding them. Misty was surprised as she turned around and said, "Starmie use Water Gun!"

Starmie shot over a blast of water against the female Rocketeer sending them flying. Misty smiled and said, "Thanks, Zane." I nodded and said, "No problem." Misty eyes widened as she shouted, "Starmie use Psybeam!" A psychic beam shot right next to my head causing a team rocketeer to shout in pain as he got blown away.

I turned around to see the team rocketeer lying on the ground unconscious. I smiled and said, "I guess we are even." Misty nodded and said, "We should go around and help others." I nodded and said, "Yeah, I will protect you and you protect me." I took out two more pokeballs and send them out before giving instructions. "Pidgeotto you go around and help us find people that need help. Zubat, you provide support to others by using supersonic on the Team Rocket Pokemon."

Nodding at their orders they both flew away. Together, Misty and I began taking out Team Rocket groups that were overwhelming weaker trainers. Zubat did excellent work in providing support on the overall battlefield. Eventually, all the Team Rocketeers were sent flying. We all cheered while me and Misty high fived each other. I grinned and said, "Great work!" She laughed and said, "You didn��t do too bad."

Suddenly, the whole ship shifted causing us to nearly lose our balance. People began to panic as they headed towards the captain's cabin. I frowned as I said, "Let's go! We need to get onto a lifeboat." Misty asked surprised, "But the ship hasn't started sinking or overturned." I said firmly, "So are we supposed to wait until that happens before trying to get on a lifeboat?" Misty realizing what I meant nodded and said, "You're right. Let's get going."

We withdrew our pokemon into our pokeballs before rushing towards the lifeboat rea. Thankfully, we arrived in time as the captain suddenly jumped on. I grinned thinking of how lucky I was. I won't die! Just as we were about to get on misty shouted, "My bag! I left it in my room! I need to get it!" My face paled as I shouted, "No Misty! We don't have time!" People began rushing towards the lifeboat and getting on it."

Misty said with determination, "Sorry Zane, but I can't leave it behind. It has something precious to me. You go ahead. I will catch up to you." She suddenly sprinted towards her room. I gritted my teeth as I looked at the lifeboat that was already half full in mere seconds. Turning to the direction Misty headed and back at the lifeboat I sighed and said, "Damn it. She would eventually get me killed."

I rushed towards the direction Misty took trying to find her. Hopefully, we can still jump off the ship before it capsizes. Walking down the stairs towards the room while trying to not fall from the rocking of the ship. I finally saw Misty entering a room.

I ran over to see her getting her back. She turned to me and said worriedly, "Let's hurry and go." I nodded and just as she was about to move the ship suddenly tilted heavily. I grabbed the side of the door frame as Misty fell towards the wall screaming. The scream was cut short after a bang.

Scared silly, I let go and slid towards the wall. I landed on a shelf cabinet. Moving towards Misty I shook her asking worriedly, "Misty! Misty are you alright?" No, respond. Checking her breath by placing the side of my index finger on her throat I sighed in relief. She was breathing, but unconscious.

Maybe if I rushed I could still get us out. My hope was soon crushed as we began sliding towards the ceiling. Grabbing Misty, I made sure she did not hurt herself again while I complained, "How did Misty get the tickets to this cursed ship? Ah, if only I had prepared better then we would be here."

I looked around. The room was a mess and getting through the door was going to be hard now. I could use the help of my pokemon but with this descending feeling. It would be best if I just stayed put until we stopped sinking. Hopefully, we don't get crushed to death or drown from water leaking in.

Cliff-Kun: Our Young Zane attempted to escape destiny, but destiny had other plans! What will our young Zane do now!? Will he finally meet his tragic end!? Or will he be able to get out!? Find out on the next chapter of Hunte- I mean, System in Pokemon World!