Disaster

The days at sea were quite boring, and Mr. Drake himself was a serious person, so there weren't many entertainment activities on the ship.

The most common activity among the crew was training with their Pokémon on board, and Yuga would sometimes join them.

Since the crew spent most of their time at sea, their Pokémon were mostly Water-types, including Gyarados and Pelipper.

Mr. Drake's disciples had standard Pokémon like Altaria and Kingdra, fitting their identities as Dragon-type disciples.

Speaking of which, Altaria, as a Pokémon, wasn't well-suited for flying over the sea because its cotton-like wings were prone to getting wet from the moisture in the air.

And the sea surface is usually the place with the highest humidity, and sometimes, in special weather conditions, the situation becomes even worse.

Once the wings of the Altaria get wet from the humidity, they become exceptionally heavy, and their flight is greatly affected, sometimes even resulting in a crash.

So, the Altarias that can serve as escort Pokémon in Mr. Drake's fleet have very high-flying skills and strong control over the wind.

The wind can help them disperse the humidity, almost unaffected by it, ensuring their free flight at sea.

Yuga had the opportunity to have a friendly match with Yoshimitsu's Altaria.

This Altaria its not only only skilled on controlling flying-type energy, but its also use of the Refresh move to the perfection.

At the time of the battle, Yuga used his Roserade, a Pokémon proficient in poison-type moves. Due to Yuga's extensive efforts in feeding Roserade various toxins, its poison-type abilities had reached a formidable level, making it challenging for most Pokémon to withstand its poison attacks.

However, Yoshimitsu's Altaria seemed unfazed by Roserade's poison. It effortlessly used "Refresh" in any situation, purging all toxins from its system.

If Yoshimitsu's Altaria had been closer in level to Roserade, which was at the peak of Elite level Pokémon, Roserade might not have stood a chance.

In this battle, it became evident that Yoshimitsu's Altaria's unique abilities and the bond between Trainer and Pokémon played a crucial role in its victory.

Altaria had accompanied Yoshimitsu to various sea regions since its birth, and the maritime conditions had posed significant challenges to the young Swablu.

Until the blue cotton bird learns the Refresh move itself in order to cope with the heavy moisture vapor, the green cotton bird will be much better.

It can instantly remove the moisture attached to the feathers by refreshing them.

As this move becomes more and more practiced, the Altaria is no longer affected by water vapor.

In battle, Refresh is a control move that eliminates abnormal conditions, but when it comes to Yoshimitsu, it has become a powerful helper in the life and work of him and Altaria.

Sure enough, life is the best way to hone one's skills.

Yuga has been on Mr. Drake's ship for two days. According to Yoshimitsu, they will arrive in Sinnoh in two days.

Because they did not take the standard sea route, but took a shortcut, they were able to reach Sinnoh so quickly.

Otherwise, with the speed of Mr. Drake's ancient sailboat, they would be much slower than an airplane, and it would be impossible to reach the Sinnoh Region so quickly.

This remote route had been opened up by Mr. Drake and his crew, thanks to their extensive seafaring experience.

Naturally, this route was riskier than the official routes provided by the Pokémon League.

But Mr. Drake was an adventurer at heart and enjoyed the thrill of the unpredictable sea. He preferred the excitement of the untamed path over the calmness of official routes.

After all, what fun was there in sailing without a sense of adventure?

On this day, Yuga stood at the ship's bow with Rowlet, looking at the gradually thickening clouds gathering in the distance. The ominous atmosphere gave him an uneasy feeling.

The weather wasn't good today, with the sky overcast and even the flying-type Pokémon accompanying them appearing somewhat gloomy.

Rowlet had just visited them, but this time, it received a less enthusiastic response from the flying-type Pokémon compared to the past few days. It returned to Yuga with a somewhat downcast demeanor.

"It looks like there might be a storm coming," Yoshimitsu said, walking over to Yuga with a concerned expression.

As an experienced sailor, he couldn't ignore the signs of impending bad weather.

Yuga asked, "Will it be troublesome?"

Yoshimitsu replied, "If it's an ordinary storm, it won't pose a significant threat to us. But the way things are looking, it doesn't seem like an ordinary storm."

The crew on the ship quickly took measures to prepare for the approaching storm. They were experienced and efficient, showing no signs of panic.

The accompanying Altaria were replaced by an increased number of Pelipper and Wingull. Usually, the crew members' Pokémon took turns accompanying the ship, but when facing a storm, all Altaria would be replaced by Pelipper and Wingull.

Altaria, despite its flying skills, was better suited for clear skies. During a storm, it would be a burden and wouldn't provide the necessary assistance.

In contrast, Pelipper and Wingull were well-suited for such situations. Pelipper was a Water and Flying-type Pokémon, while Wingull was a pure Water-type. Both species were used to flying over the sea and dealing with various adverse weather conditions.

This race flies over the sea all year round and encounters all kinds of special weather, which they can handle with ease.

Even in the center of the storm, they could safely navigate their way out.

The Hoenn region was abundant in seas, making maritime transportation highly developed. Every fleet would raise a large number of Pelipper and Wingull as they were the guarantee of safe sea travel.

Even on a small fishing boat, the owner would find ways to acquire a Wingull.

Wingull were sensitive to weather changes and sometimes served as early warning indicators.

In the Hoenn region, both Pelipper and Wingull, just like Taillow and Swellow on land, were common and easy to capture.

Mr. Drake's ship not only had the Pelipper and Wingull belonging to the crew but also a separate group.

Compared to modern steamships, this sailboat, which relied on wind power, had higher demands for Pelipper and Wingull.

The sky above the sailboat was filled with numerous Pelipper and Wingull, creating a beautiful sight.

Guided by these flying Pokémon, the sailboat gradually deviated from its original course, intending to steer clear of the thick dark clouds and stay as far away from the center of the storm as possible.

This might cause a slight delay, but safety was the top priority.

At this moment, Yuga and Yoshimitsu both stood by Mr. Drake's side, observing the dark clouds that could potentially trigger the storm.

"Captain, we're about to get close to that fog. What should we do? Should we avoid it?" a young crew member hurriedly approached Mr. Drake and asked.

Mr. Drake remained silent for a few seconds before replying, "It's too late now. We'll go straight through."

The crew member acknowledged the order and hurriedly went back to his duties.

Fog?

Yuga leaned forward to look ahead and indeed saw the ship approaching an area shrouded in dense mist.

This area was enveloped in a thick, mysterious mist, making it impossible to see what lay inside.

It was hard to imagine that such a dense fog could persist on the open sea without dissipating.

From the words of the crew member earlier, it could be inferred that this misty area had been around for quite some time.

Yuga asked Yoshimitsu, "Is there anything unusual about that foggy area?"

Yoshimitsu explained, "This foggy area has always existed in this sea region, and it has never dissipated. Our ship has been to the outer edges of it, but there are many whirlpools there that make navigation difficult, so we didn't venture further. We don't know what's inside."

Yuga nodded in understanding. The size of this misty area looked substantial, and while it was easy to sail around it under normal circumstances, they didn't have that luxury now.

He glanced back at the dark clouds behind them, feeling that they were inching closer.

Had those dark clouds taken an interest in them?

The ship's speed was swift, and it didn't take long for them to reach the edge of the foggy area and plunge right into it.

Just as Yoshimitsu had described, there were indeed many whirlpools here, and the currents were turbulent, making navigation difficult.

Pelipper and Wingull worked tirelessly to keep the sailboat steady and prevent it from being sucked into the whirlpools.

However, these whirlpools were numerous but not very large in scale. Even if the ship got caught in one, the danger was relatively minor, mainly resulting in instability.

During such moments, the Pelipper and Wingull had to put in extra effort, emitting urgent and high-pitched cries, as if they were giving birth.

The only Altaria outside that hasn't being pulled back was Mr. Drake's Altaria. It sat quietly perched at the top of the mast, extending its neck to calmly observe the distant sea, its two graceful feathers on its head swaying in the wind.

The Altaria seemed to be the anchor of reassurance for the Pelipper and Wingull. As long as it was there, it felt like nothing unexpected would happen.

In theory, the Misty Zone should be filled with water vapor everywhere, making it quite uncomfortable for the Altaria. However, Mr. Drake's Altaria seemed unaffected.

Not long after that, the same young crew member hurriedly ran over again.

"Captain, it's not good! There's a massive vortex up ahead! We're about to be swept into it!"

This time, with Yoshimitsu's introduction, Yuga learned that this young crew member was Mr. Drake's junior disciple, Yoshitai.

Today, Yoshitai was assisting the vice-captain in steering, which was why he kept running back and forth.

"Why so flustered? I'll take a look!"

Mr. Drake scolded Yoshitai, then hurriedly walked from the side of the ship to the bow, with Yoshitai silently following behind him.

As expected, just as Yoshitai had described, a massive vortex had appeared ahead. The ship was gradually being pulled into the vortex, and the vice-captain at the helm was sweating profusely.

At this moment, Yuga also noticed that the Pelipper and Wingull, which controlled the wind, were becoming frantic. The orderly formation they had maintained was slowly falling apart.

"Altaria!"

Mr. Drake called out to the Altaria perched on the mast.

"Altaria..."

The Altaria responded.

The Altaria spread its wings and let out a long cry. Immediately, around the sailboat, the mist dissipated.

Of course, it was only a small area that cleared, and once you moved away from the sailboat, the surrounding water mist would start to drift again.

The Altaria's hidden ability is Cloud Nine, under the influence of Altaria ability, it played a role in reducing the mist formed by water vapor.

That's why it wasn't afraid of the water vapor.

However, what surprised Yuga was that the hidden ability of an Elite level Altaria should have been capable of dispersing more than just this small area of mist.

Mr. Drake was also somewhat surprised!

But he didn't dwell on it and continued to say to the Altaria, "Altaria, use Ice Beam!"

"Altaria..."

The Altaria let out another long cry, flew towards the bow of the ship, opened its mouth, and shot out a beam of icy blue light towards the center of the giant vortex.

However, just as the center of the whirlpool was frozen for barely two minutes, the ice shattered with a deafening roar, and the sailboat was once again pulled by the currents towards the whirlpool's center.

"Captain!!!"

The vice-captin, helpless, struggled to control the direction of the ship's rudder. The Pelippers and Wingulls in the sky panicked, squawking loudly, adding to the chaos.

Losing control of the Pelippers and Wingulls worsened the ship's situation.

The crew members tried to calm the terrified Pelippers and Wingulls, but their efforts didn't yield significant results.

The immense suction force of the whirlpool had left the Pelippers and Wingulls utterly exhausted.

Seeing this, Mr. Drake, took out a Poké Ball and released a Kingdra again.

Yoshimitsu, Yoshitai, and other disciples of Mr. Drake also released their Pokémon. They joined forces with Mr. Drake's Kingdra and Altaria, using Ice Beam together.

Yuga released his Dragonite and Lapras.

With the concerted effort of all the Pokémon, the entire whirlpool was frozen.

Seeing the crisis averted, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

However, their joy lasted for only a brief moment. A massive and sturdy tail emerged from the sea, creating enormous waves.

The frozen whirlpools shattered instantly upon being struck by that tail, turning into mere fragments.

If Yuga had to describe that tail with a word, it would be: thick! And then another word: long!

The part that Yuga saw was at least hundreds of meters long.

What kind of Pokémon could possibly have such a tail? The waves it generated caused Yuga and the others to lose control of their ship, turning their massive sailing vessel into a small fishing boat amidst the tsunami.

Countless seawater poured into the ship, and Yuga held onto the edge of the ship, keeping Rowlet hidden in his clothes, without even having time to recall it into its Poké Ball.

Dragonite and Lapras struggled in the stormy seas and soon disappeared from sight, swept away by the waves.

Wingull and Pelipper had long been carried off by the waves, and they were nowhere to be seen.

The Kingdra belonging to Mr. Drake was submerged in seawater, and Altaria, because of the giant waves, plummeted into the sea, its wings thoroughly soaked, rendering it unable to fly.

Yoshimitsu, who was with Yuga, fell into the water due to the violently rocking ship. Yuga tried to grab him but couldn't make it in time, watching him get swept away by the waves.

It wasn't just Yoshimitsu; many crew members and their Pokémon were swept into the sea.

As for Mr. Drake and his companion Yoshitai, Yuga had no time to consider them, nor did he notice them.

Another wave struck, and Yuga couldn't hold his balance anymore, being thrown into the air.

In the Shadow Space, Gengar and Mismagius emerged just in the nick of time, catching Yuga in mid-air. Yuga was saved from falling into the sea.

However, the waves not only carried water but also wind. Gengar and Mismagius held onto Yuga and Rowlet, swaying in the storm as if they would be submerged by the seawater in the next second.

During this time, a crew member was swept towards them by the waves and was caught by Gengar, but he had already lost consciousness.

At this moment, a blue figure suddenly emerged from the stormy seas, arriving by Yuga's side. The water around its body shifted, dispelling the waves around Yuga.

Seeing the blue figure, Yuga exclaimed with excitement:

"Lapras!"

However, his voice was quickly drowned out by the surging waves, and Lapras couldn't hear a thing.

Lapras arrived beside Yuga, lifting him onto its back. Yuga hugged its neck tightly, finally feeling alive again.

Lapras isolated all the water around them, making Yuga feel much better.

After placing the unconscious crew member on Lapras's back, Yuga shouted to Gengar and Mismagius:

"You don't need to worry about me. Go and save the others!"

Gengar and Mismagius, knowing that Yuga was protected by Lapras, understood the urgency of the situation. They nodded and disappeared into the stormy waters.

Due to the raging waves, they couldn't hear Yuga's voice, but they could understand his intentions through their special abilities.

Not long after, Gengar and Mismagius used their psychic powers to control several unconscious crew members, bringing them to Yuga and Kingdra's side.

"Me..."

At that moment, a massive head emerged from the waves, emitting a melodious song.

This gigantic head, larger than a mountain, appeared right in front of Yuga. It observed Yuga and Lapras with curious eyes, seemingly unaware of what had happened, and oblivious to the chaos it had caused.

It seemed utterly clueless about the situation, and it didn't realize that its tail had caused so much trouble.

Yuga could even feel the airflow from its nostrils when it breathed.

The air had a strong sea breeze with a refreshing coolness.

When this enormous head emerged from the sea, the turbulent waves ceased, countless whirlpools stopped spinning, and even the perpetual mist on the sea's surface dissipated.

Seeing this situation, Yuga had no trouble guessing that the cause of the mist in the area was the presence of this gigantic Pokémon.

The whirlpools in the mist were just a result of the Pokémon's movements, and even the enormous whirlpool that nearly sucked in their ship was caused by its tail.

Mr. Drake probably never imagined that he was just trying to take a shortcut and ended up in such a disaster.

And the main culprit behind this disaster was completely ignorant of it.

How should one put it? The Ice Beams from the Pokémon had caused a change in the water temperature, which subsequently awakened this sleeping sea monster.