The team watched the enraged Ditto with a mixture of awe and trepidation, silently offering their "prayers" for Scyther.
Corvisquire:Big Brother Ditto is usually all smiles, but if you mess with him while he's eating, he flips a switch into total berserker mode.
Litten:Ditto is the strongest among us. Battling him is like staring into an abyss—you never know where the bottom is.
Froakie:So strong... truly an idol to chase. That aura is overwhelming!
Ivysaur:That Scyther is a goner. Don't worry, buddy, I won't watch you die. I'll just close my eyes.
Though Ivysaur had only recently joined the team, it had already seen Ditto in action. In its eyes, no matter how powerful an enemy seemed, they rarely survived a single serious exchange with the pink blob.
Scyther:What's with everyone? Why are you looking at me like that? It's just a pile of pink sludge with dot-eyes. Look at it, it looks pretty mad. I'm going to teach you a lesson you'll never—
Before Scyther could finish its thought, the sludge shifted. In an instant, it transformed into a massive, predatory Yanmega.
Feng Che only had time to shout "Stop the attack!" before Scyther was sent into total darkness.
"Of all the Pokémon to provoke, you chose my ace," Feng Che sighed, looking at the bruised and swollen Scyther before recalling it into a Poké Ball. "A battle-hungry Scyther who wants to be the boss... why is my team full of such weirdos?"
He picked up the Poké Ball. "Still, that fighting spirit is a good foundation. Once nurtured, he'll be a mainstay."
Feng Che checked his inventory. Aside from two eggs, he had Kleavor and Magneton in storage. "The Vulpix egg is shaking more frequently; it'll hatch soon. I need to get to Cinnabar Island for that Fire Crystal."
The next morning, as the sun filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the grass, Feng Che reached the edge of the forest. Below lay a bustling harbor and a massive luxury resort cruise ship capable of carrying two thousand passengers.
"Luck is on my side. But let's see if there are any tickets left."
At the ticket booth, the clerk shook her head. "I'm sorry, sir. It's peak tourist season. Tickets must be booked a month in advance. If you're in a hurry, you could hire a private speedboat, but that's expensive."
She leaned in closer. "Or, you could challenge a boat owner to a duel. Many are powerful trainers who respect strength. But be warned: it's Gyarados breeding season."
Feng Che walked to the docks and found only a few speedboats. Most owners refused to sail. The waters between the harbor and Cinnabar were currently infested with Gyarados, making it a death trap for small craft. Only large liners could afford the heavy-duty escort trainers needed to navigate the region.
"You look like a capable trainer," an old captain named Mande said. Feng Che had just helped heal the man's injured Azumarill. "If you're desperate to get to Cinnabar, try applying for a 'Escort Specialist' position on that liner. They're short-handed. I'm friends with Captain Kasha; I'll write you a recommendation."
Mande scribbled a note. "Just tell the sailors Mande sent you. They won't give you trouble."
Feng Che boarded the ship and was led to the Captain's quarters. The room was decorated with the spoils of the sea: jagged Sharpedo teeth, Walrein tusks, and shimmering Gyarados scales.
The Captain is a Sea Hunter, Feng Che noted. It was an ancient profession of trainers who specialized in oceanic predators and could identify a Pokémon just by the bubbles it breathed.
"Mande sent a little kid?" a booming voice rang out.
Captain Kasha was in his sixties, his hair half-white but his frame powerful and commanding. He looked Feng Che over with eyes sharp as a hawk's. "Kid, an Escort Specialist isn't a game. Five or six people vanish in Gyarados territory every year. You're young; don't throw your life away."
He turned to a sailor named Nakata. "Test him. Use your strongest Pokémon. If he wins and still wants the job, we'll sign the contract."
"Understood, Captain," Nakata said. He led Feng Che to a reinforced battle platform on the lower deck. "Don't take it personally, kid. The sea is cruel. Even we get dragged under if we aren't careful."
Nakata was a battle enthusiast. "Let's do a 3v3. If you can beat my ace, you pass."
"Fine by me," Feng Che nodded. "I could use the practice."
Nakata released his first partner: Poliwhirl.
Pokémon: Poliwhirl Gender: Male Potential: Outstanding (Yellow) Ability: Water Absorb Level: 28 Skills: Hypnosis, Water Pulse, Mud Shot, Rain Dance, Belly Drum, Ice Punch, Icy Wind, Brick Break, Ice Beam. Evaluation: Highly diligent. It has mastered a vast array of Ice-type moves. Using a Grass-type against it is risky. Its Water Absorb makes it immune to Water moves; only Electric-types are truly effective.
The Poliwhirl looked lean and muscular, its spiral-patterned belly slightly curved. Nakata grinned. "I hatched him myself. I can't afford a Water Stone or a King's Rock for evolution yet, but he's never let me down."
Feng Che looked at the frog, then back at Nakata. "Mr. Nakata, do you happen to have any Ice-type Technical Machines (TMs) on you?"
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