Twenty-second Day/ Battle At Sea pt. 1

It's been several days since Eric defeated Lt.Surge, and he decided to spend that time with the trio. He thought it was nice to be around people for a while as he tried to figure out his next plan of action.

Currently, The four of them were at a Training Gym watching Ash battle as Eric looked at a map of Kanto borrowed from Brock. "I want to train on an island, maybe?"

"Why are you so fixated on an island?" Brock asked.

"Something is telling me that it had to be an island, and I need to find it soon..." Eric sighed as he continued to look at the map. The Kanto Region is way bigger than he previously imagined. 'I wonder about the other regions?'

Having barely won the fight against Lt.Surge made him want to train, and not just fight battle after battle with his Pokemon. He wanted to know them better, teach them better ways to use their moves, and make them so strong that they would be practically unbeatable.

"Ash, you need to understand that you can't just rely on typing. Think outside the box!" Misty shouted.

"I know... I know! Now, will you just shut up already!" Ash shouted back before focusing on his battle. He already lost to Lt.Surge three times, so he wanted to get a few more battles under his belt to come up with his own strategy as he didn't want any help from Eric.

"Hmph! I'm just trying to help you to keep you from losing!"

"...I think this is the one," Eric said, jumping out of his seat to show Brock the map as despite being a complete idiot for beautiful girls, he was quite reliable. He decided on one particular island not far off from Celadon city, probably three days worth of travel.

"That place is? Oh, Maxima Island?... That place is interesting. Not many people visit there, but I heard they have a famous cook that often visits for their festivals. Are you sure about going there?" Brock said after looking at Eric's map.

"Yeah, I think it's the one."

"But why go to an island? You could easily find a place outside of the city to train." Misty said.

"Yeah, you're right, but I think it needs to be an island? Besides, maybe I'll end up finding another Pokemon to add to my team. What do you think, Pikachu?"

[Pika!~] Eric's Pikachu nodded its head as it was in a better mood since its loss against Raichu. It then climbed its trainer's shoulder to get a better look at the map.

Misty suddenly smiled and walked over to Eric to look at the map as well, "Well, maybe we should join you. It sounds interesting, and it could be really-"

"I would like to go alone if its all the same to you."

"O-Oh ok... I totally get it! It's nice to be a loner!"Misty said with a warm smile. 'You idiot!.'

"W-well, I think Ash is doing a better job at battling." Brock pointed out as he witnessed Ash's battle.

"Yeah, his Butterfree is doing pretty good out of there." Eric nodded as he watched Ash's Butterfree fight against a Sandshrew.

"Hard to believe something like that came from a creepy, slimy bug like Caterpie!" Misty frowned, shivering at the mere thought of bug Pokemon.

"Hahaha, you'll never get rid of your dislike of bug Pokemon?" Eric asked while he gently patted Misty's hair.

"Absolutely not! Never!... I mean, I can't..." Misty said, shaking her head as a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

Several hours went by in a flash, and Eric was ready for his trip to Maxima Island after buying his ticket for a cruise ship. However, two of the trio were making a huge fuss at the dock.

"Come on, you guys, my ship is about to leave." Eric sighed as he watched several people climb aboard the ship, the S.S.Anne, which was another cruise ship like the St. Anne.

(A/N: Fun fact these are actually the same ship! But I decided to make them separate.)

"B-but you have to watch my battle! I know this time I'll beat Lt.Surge, and then you'll have to battle me!" Ash shouted, holding onto Eric's right arm.

"You need to stay with us! You're the only one that doesn't give me a headache! And...Just Because!" Misty shouted, holding onto Eric's left arm.

"You guys Eric already decided to go and paid for a ticket, remember? You were there." Brock said.

"B-but I didn't think it would be now! I thought it would be several days later." Misty pouted as she stomped her feet.

"All aboard! The S.S.Anne is about to set sail!" One of the sailors shouted.

"Guys look, we'll meet again soon, I promise. But right now, I need to get on the boat." Eric started to use his superior strength to pry both Ash and Misty off of him. "Besides, I know you'll win Ash. I've been watching your battles you've been getting better. Also, Misty..."

"Last call for all ticket holders!"

"I gotta go!" Eric quickly ran over to ship and showed his ticket to the sailor before boarding the ship.

Soon the ship started to set sail from Vermillion City. The first stop was, of course, Maxima Island.

"Why does it always feel like he's pushing us away?" Ash sighed, hanging his head down.

[Pikaa..] Ash's Pikachu patted its trainer's leg to console him

'Eric, you jerk! Just wait till I see you again. I'll give you a piece of my mind!' Misty thought as she stormed away.

"Come on, Ash, let's not stay here anymore. You have to fight Lt.Surge soon again." Brock said.

"Right! I'll win, and the next time I meet Eric, I'll have more badges than him!!"

--------

Eric quickly found his cabin after boarding the ship and immediately jumped on the soft bed as Pikachu hopped off his shoulder. "...I could have waited, but I feel like something is about to happen... And I need to be stronger for it."

[Pikachu? Pika!] Pikachu didn't quite understand what its trainer was worried about, but it wanted its trainer to know that it was here for him all the way.

"Thanks, Pikachu...Let's go explore the ship. Maybe something will keep me occupied until we reach Maxima Island."

----------

Far away in another region, a man with golden hair was hard at work in his office, shuffling through hundreds of papers. The man was looking through reports about a boy with crimson hair, but each of them was utterly useless.

"AAAAH! DAMN IT!" The man exploded in anger from frustration, slamming his fist into a desk that probably costed a fortune and smashing it into pieces like it was a mere twig.

*Creak*

The door to his office suddenly opened, and a woman with purple hair tied into a ponytail walked in. She was wearing a black suit and tie as it was the uniform used for people working directly under the man. One could tell that the woman was a beauty even with the sunglasses that hid her eyes. "Sir I-"

"I hope this is good news, or I'll snap your neck for not knocking Serena!" The man said as his green eyes glowed with a fierce light.

"Forgive me, Sir," The woman known as Serena didn't let the threat bother her and simply bowed before continuing to speak. "It is excellent news, so I forgot my manners."

"What is it?!"

Serena suddenly pulled out pictures that seemed to come out of nowhere and immediately handed them over.

"These?-" The man couldn't even finish his sentence as the pictures showed him what he was looking for.

It was his son!

All three of these pictures showed a handsome boy with crimson hair, and they were in such incredible quality that he couldn't deny that this was his son!

"W-where were these taken?" The man who would kill someone for merely offending him started to break down as a single tear fell from his eye.

"We are unable to figure it out as these pictures were sent to us by the International Police. I pressed for more information but-"

Suddenly a beautiful woman with long crimson hair walked into the room. She noticed the noise and immediately came to check on her husband. "Alan? What's wrong...?" She asked as she quickly dashed over to him after noticing that he was crying.

"Alicia..." Alan looked at his wife, and even more, tears would stain his face. "The pictures.."

"What pictures you-" Alicia finally noticed the pictures, and each of them showed a young crimson-haired boy with beautiful yellow eyes that reminded her of the bright sun. She immediately remembered holding the boy after his birth and showering him with so much love that it even caused her husband to become jealous.

"Is...My-" Alicia snatched the pictures away from her husband just as tears started to fall from her face. Soon a beautiful smile that has only been witnessed by a select few formed. "My baby...He's alive... Alan our son is alive...Hic..."

Alan immediately embraced his wife and stroked her back lovingly before he focused his gaze again on Serena.

Serena took this as a sign and continued, "He wished to speak to you face to face before he gives you any more information. We tried to track his location, but it was immediately blocked. I apologize..."

Alan shook his head, "No, it's fine, Serena, I want you to continue to search for our son, and I'll wait to meet this man. Please tell him to come as fast as he can." He said with a scowl.

Serena understood what her master meant and bowed before leaving the room to continue her duties.

"Alan...Have y-you found our son?" Alicia asked while looking into the eyes of Alan.

Alan smiled and gently wiped the tears that continuously fell from Alicia's face, "I believe that I have, and soon we will have him back. I swear to you." 'That man better cough up everything about my son, or I'll crush him. I don't care even if he is from the International Police!'

----------

It's been an entire day since Eric set sailed on the S.S. Anne, and he was enjoying his time as it was his first time ever being on a cruise. However, each time he left his cabin, he was hounded by several women varying from all ages, with even some that could pass as his mother.

He still didn't know how to deal with so many at once. So, that's why Pikachu was such a great help whenever he was surrounded.

[Pikaachuuuuu] Pikachu was simply annoyed by all the women surrounding its trainer and gave them a Thundershock.

"Haha...Thank you so much, Pikachu." Eric said as he stepped over the electrocuted women and ran to the bow of the ship to get a better view of the ocean.

"Wow..." Eric said as he glanced at the vast body of water that stretched on for miles and miles with no end. The warm rays of the sun made the water look absolutely breathtaking with how it reflected light.

"It still looks so good after seeing it already."

[Pikaa~] Pikachu nodded its head in agreement.

"Hey, you!" A voice said just as a large hand grabbed hold of Eric's shoulder.

"Yes?" Eric answered as he turned around and saw one of the sailors that worked on the ship.

"We got several complaints saying that you were causing a disturbance?" At first, the sailor was trying to scare the boy into confessing, but even with his strength, he couldn't turn the boy around. 'Strong...'

"Who is making the complaints?"

The sailor simply pointed behind him, where all the women who hounded Eric earlier were standing.

"Ah..."

"I'm going to have to take you with me... If that's alright?" The sailor said.

"Looks like I have no choice," Eric said as he followed the sailor.

"Wait a minute! He didn't do anything wrong!" A familiar voice said.

Eric turned to see a dark blue-haired girl with a gigantic lime green bow in her hair, and immediately he knew who it was!

It was Melanie!

"Those people were simply too close to his Pikachu, and it electrocuted everyone. I'm sure that we don't need to take it this far..." Melanie said.

The women complaining about Eric were used to getting what they want, and they planned on forgiving Eric if he agreed to hang out with them. However, the plan didn't go quite like the way they wanted.

"I'm sorry, ma'am b-but."

"What's going on, granddaughter? I thought we were going to play shuffleboard." An older man built like a bear said as he walked next to Melanie. The man had dark brown hair and a beard that covered his aged face. He was wearing a white uniform that was slightly similar to the sailors on the ship. However, one significant difference is that he had on a hat.

"A-ah! Captain!" The sailor immediately recognized the old man wearing a Captain's hat and saluted him.

The plan the women cooked up was now spiraling more out of control, and they quickly apologized before escaping the scene.

"What was all that about?" Melanie's grandfather asked his subordinate.

"I'm not completely sure, sir...I was just following protocol."

"Well, you are dismissed, and you may continue your duties."

"Y-yes, sir!" The sailor quickly left the scene.

"Melanie, I can't believe that I get to see you so soon." Eric chuckled lightly as he tried his best not to think about that time in the forest.

"Yeah... It's a wonderful surprise. I thought I wouldn't see you for a while as I'm on my way to the Fiore region to start training as a Pokemon Ranger. This ship stops by there," Melanie said as she unconsciously leaned forward. "What are you doing here?" She asked while looking directly in his eyes.

"That's great! I'm headed to a place called Maxima Island... For training purposes..." Eric said, quickly avoiding Melanie's gaze. 'Wait, why do I feel incredibly awkward?...'

"Now now~ Who-is-this-Melanie?" Melanie's grandfather stepped in between the two and crossed his arms. He noticed how his granddaughter was acting.

She was in love!

His precious granddaughter! The one that finally contacted him after going off the grid to help injured Pokemon!

'No! I won't allow it! Never!'

"Er...Grandfather, this is Eric that I told you about, remember?" Melanie warmly smiled as her eyes never left Eric's even when her grandfather stepped in front. "Hey, have you played shuffleboard before?" She asked, moving beside Eric.

"No, I haven't. This is my first time on a cruise, actually..." Eric said, rubbing the nape of his neck.

"It's pretty fun! Come on!" Melanie giggled as she grabbed Eric's hand and started to pull him to the game area.

"Hold on just a minute! You were supposed to play with me!"

And the day went on with Melanie entertaining Eric on the cruise ship. However, her grandfather didn't like it, but seeing her smile with Eric around made him soften quite a bit.

---------

Several miles away from the sailing S.S was a submarine in the shape of a giant Magikarp.

"Pedal faster, James! We need to catch up to the ship!" Jessie said while looking out the

"I'm pedaling as fast as I can, but my legs are killing me! Why couldn't we get a submarine with an actual motor!" James complained as he gasped for air.

"Because we blew our money on our last project trying to catch that twerp's Pikachu in the forest! Now quit your yapping and keep pedaling!" Meowth said.