Chapter 97: Emergency on St Anne

The hallway was quiet, eerily so, with only the faint hum of the St. Anne's engine beneath my feet. My boots tapped softly against the polished wooden floors as I made my way towards My room. I paused in front of My door, rapping my knuckles gently. "Erin, open the door. It's me."

I heard the faint shuffle of footsteps on the other side before the door creaked open. Raichu shot out from inside, practically leaping into my arms. I caught him, feeling the familiar weight of his jolly form, his fur crackling with residual electricity. Erin stood in the doorway, her face as calm and unreadable as ever, though her arms wrapped around me in a quick, stiff hug.

"Let's get to the deck," I said, my voice steady despite the urgency in the air. "The ship is going to sink."

Erin blinked once, no trace of panic in her hazel eyes. "Okay."

We didn't waste time. As we moved through the narrow corridors, the vibrations of distant battles echoed through the ship. Raichu nestled in my arms, but I could feel the tension in his muscles, ready to fight if needed. Reaching the open deck, the chaos was immediate—shouts from trainers, the violent hiss of energy beams, and Team Rocket grunts locking horns with trainers in a desperate struggle for control.

People were crowding the emergency boats, shoving and pushing in a frantic race to escape. I veered us to the side, staying clear of the fights. There was no point in getting tangled up in unnecessary battles. Not now.

"Raichu, get in the Pokéball," I whispered.

His ears twitched, and he gave a small nod, understanding the gravity of the situation. I pulled out the Pokéball, the red beam swallowing him up in a flash. I switched it for Pidgeot's ball, tossing it into the air.

In seconds, Pidgeot materialized before us, his wings outstretched, catching the storm's wind like a natural force. The rain lashed down harder, and Erin trembled beside me, though not from the cold. I could sense her nerves, but her face remained impassive.

Without a word, I swept her into my arms. She wrapped her arms around my neck, holding on tightly as I climbed onto Pidgeot's back.

"Let's go!" I shouted over the roaring storm.

Pidgeot launched us into the air, wings beating against the wind as we climbed higher, the rain streaking against us like sharp needles. Below, the ship was slowly tilting, water pouring over the edges as it began its inevitable descent.

I glanced at Erin, feeling her grip tighten. "You don't fear right now?" I asked, half expecting her usual calm reply.

"I fear," she said, her voice steady despite the chaos around us, "but you're with me, so it's fine."

I nodded, focusing ahead as the ship disappeared beneath the waves, leaving only debris and scattered emergency boats in its wake. "They'll be fine," I muttered to her unspoken question about Misty, Ash, and Brock. There was no point in dwelling on it now. They knew how to take care of themselves.

The rain didn't let up, and the storm showed no signs of calming. I took out my Pokégear, wiping the wet screen with my sleeve. "Pidgeot, head northwest. We'll reach Hutber Port soon."

Pidgeot let out a soft caw in acknowledgment, adjusting his course. The wind whipped harder, but he was steady—always steady.

Hours passed. The tension eased into something more manageable as the sky slowly began to clear. Erin, sitting in my lap as Pidgeot flew steadily beneath us, broke the silence. "I'm hungry."

I reached into my bag, pulling out a few apples. "Here," I said, handing her one. She bit into it, her expression unchanged, but I noticed the slight relaxation in her shoulders.

"You don't fear Pidgeot now?" I asked casually.

Erin glanced down at the majestic bird carrying us through the sky. "He's very brave," she said between bites, "and cute."

A small chuckle escaped me. "Every Pokémon is unique and cute in their own way," I said. "We just need to fix your fear."

She looked up at me, her eyes meeting mine.

I felt compelled to say something that wasn't calculated, something raw. "Erin," I started, my voice softer, "I love you."

Her head tilted slightly, her calm expression never wavering. "Why suddenly?" she asked, her tone as even as ever. "You don't have to say that."

"Maybe I feel like I should," I admitted, the words surprising even me. "You're special to me."

Erin's gaze didn't falter, but she rested her head against my chest, the silence between us felt comfortable. We continued flying, the sun peeking out from behind the clouds as the storm subsided.

After what felt like hours, the port finally came into view, its lights glowing faintly in the approaching dusk. "Pidgeot, land there," I directed, pointing toward the road just outside the town.

Pidgeot descended smoothly, his talons gripping the ground as he landed. I jumped down, helping Erin off before recalling Pidgeot into his Pokéball.

"Let's find a place to stay," I said, brushing the damp hair out of my face as the crowd around us stared. "We'll figure out what to do tomorrow."

Erin didn't say anything, but I caught the small, almost imperceptible nod.