Early the next morning, just as the sky was starting to brighten, Ethan was already up.
After a quick wash and the breakfast his mom had prepared, he slung on his backpack, brought Pikachu, and headed to the port in Pallet Town.
Delia stood by the dock, looking at Ethan with reluctance. "Be careful on the road, Ethan. When you get to Hoenn, call Mom and let me know you are safe. Pikachu, you have to protect Ethan, okay?"
"Got it, Mom! Don't worry!" Ethan waved. "We're heading out!"
"Pika pi!" Pikachu waved a little paw too.
Ethan boarded the passenger ship bound for Hoenn. The ship was huge, with two levels. The upper deck had open air space and lounges, and the lower deck had cabins and a dining area. Standing on the deck, Ethan watched Pallet Town fade into the distance, a complicated feeling rising in his chest. This was his first time leaving Kanto and going somewhere completely new. He knew countless challenges and surprises were waiting for him.
The ship slowly left the harbor and sailed toward Hoenn. Ethan found a window seat on the deck, set Pikachu on his lap, and admired the sea outside. The blue ocean stretched endlessly. The sea breeze tousled his hair and carried a faint salty scent. Seagulls circled in the sky with crisp cries, and some Water type Pokémon leapt across the waves as if welcoming him.
"Come out, Eevee. Come out, Phanpy." Ethan took out two Poké Balls and released them.
"Eevee!" The moment Eevee appeared, it hopped excitedly onto Ethan's other shoulder and claimed the spot, craning its little head around in curiosity. With Bayleef not around, no one was going to get jealous and chase it off.
"Phan phan!" Phanpy was even more lively, running around the deck and spraying seawater into the air with its trunk, having the time of its life.
Ethan smiled at the two energetic little troublemakers. He did not release Pidgeot. The deck was not that spacious, and Pidgeot was too big to move around comfortably here. Besides, it needed rest so it could be in top shape for the adventure ahead.
Over the next few days, Ethan enjoyed the calm voyage. Every day, he trained Pikachu, Eevee, and Phanpy on the deck, teaching them new skills and improving their strength. He also used the time to study the Hoenn information Professor Oak had given him, learning about the Pokémon found there, their habits, and where they lived.
Even with the system helping him check Pokémon data at any time, Professor Oak's materials were still useful. They could serve as proof of identity and could record the new Pokémon he met in Hoenn, making it easy to review whenever he needed.
That afternoon, Ethan was on deck training Pikachu to improve Iron Tail. He had Pidgeot assist from above, using its wings to create gusts that disrupted Pikachu's balance so it could practice precision under pressure.
"Pikachu, focus! Gather Steel type energy in your tail, and aim at the stones Pidgeot drops!" Ethan shouted.
Pikachu nodded, took a breath, and its tail gleamed with a metallic shine. Pidgeot dropped a rock from above. Pikachu timed it perfectly and snapped its tail forward. Iron Tail struck cleanly and shattered the rock into powder.
"That's it! Pikachu, you did it!" Ethan cheered. "Keep going. Let's make Iron Tail even stronger!"
"Pika pika!" Pikachu was thrilled and kept swinging its tail with even more enthusiasm.
Eevee and Phanpy watched nearby, both eager to join. Eevee trotted up and barked twice as if saying it wanted training too. Phanpy nudged Ethan's leg with its trunk, clearly agreeing.
Ethan grinned. "Alright, you're up next. Eevee, practice Tackle and build speed and power. Phanpy, try lifting stones with your trunk and work on control."
"Eevee!" "Phan phan!" The two immediately got to work. Eevee sprinted along the deck and slammed into wooden posts now and then. Phanpy lifted stone after stone with its trunk, then carefully set them down, practicing accuracy.
While Ethan and his Pokémon trained hard, a small boat trailed the passenger ship from behind. Two people and a cat were pressed against the railing, watching Ethan and Pikachu with binoculars.
"Meowth, that Pikachu! If we catch it and present it to Boss Giovanni, we'll get promoted for sure!" Meowth rubbed its paws together, eyes gleaming.
Jessie crossed her arms with confidence. "Hmph. It's just a Pikachu. Team Rocket can handle that."
James nodded, pulling out a device. "I invented a shockproof capture rig just for Pikachu's Thunderbolt. This time we'll grab it for real."
The three shared a nasty grin and began plotting their move for later.
Night fell, and the ship entered a calm stretch of ocean.
Ethan brought Pikachu, Eevee, and Phanpy back to his cabin. After washing up, he fell asleep. Eevee curled near his pillow, Phanpy lay at the foot of the bed, and Pikachu rested against Ethan's chest, breathing softly.
Deep into the night, the ship was silent, with only the hallway lights glowing faintly.
The cabin door cracked open. A silver mechanical arm slipped inside without a sound and precisely grabbed the sleeping Pikachu.
"Pika, pika!" Pikachu jolted awake, startled, electricity flaring as it tried to break free. But the arm was insulated. Thunderbolt did nothing.
"Pikachu, what is it?" Ethan snapped awake and sat up. Seeing the arm dragging Pikachu toward the door, his heart sank.
Outside, he heard voices he knew all too well. Team Rocket had arrived, launching into their usual dramatic entrance.
"Team Rocket!" Ethan's face hardened. He cursed himself for forgetting about them. They had followed him onto the ship.
He sprang out of bed, grabbed a Poké Ball from the bedside, and charged into the hallway. "Give Pikachu back!"
Ethan burst out to see Jessie, James, and Meowth in the corridor. Pikachu was trapped inside a transparent shockproof dome, pounding at the surface and calling toward Ethan. Jessie held a remote and smirked.
"Team Rocket, let Pikachu go!" Ethan shouted.
Jessie laughed. "Not a chance! Pikachu is ours. Once we deliver it to Boss Giovanni, we'll become high ranking agents! James, Meowth, move out!"
"Roger! Meowth!" Meowth yelped.
James tossed a Poké Ball. "Weezing, use Smokescreen!"
Weezing appeared and blasted thick black smoke that swallowed the corridor. Using the cover, the trio hugged the dome and ran for the deck.
"Don't you dare!" Ethan's eyes sharpened as he threw another Poké Ball. "Pidgeot, come out! Use Gust to clear the smoke, then use Steel Wing to break the dome and rescue Pikachu!"
"Pidgeot!" A red light flashed, and Pidgeot's massive body filled the hallway. With one powerful flap, it unleashed a fierce gust that tore the smoke apart. Spotting Team Rocket's escape route, Pidgeot surged forward, its wings shining with metallic light.
Team Rocket reached the deck and saw Pidgeot barreling in. Panic hit immediately.
Jessie yelled, "Wobbuffet, use Counter! Arbok, use Poison Sting!"
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet popped out and struck its stance. Arbok opened its jaws and fired a spray of Poison Sting needles toward Pidgeot.
Ethan checked their strength through the system in an instant.
[Meowth: Normal mid tier]
[Arbok: Elite peak]
[Weezing: Elite peak]
[Wobbuffet: Gym mid tier]
"That's all you've got?" Ethan sneered. "Pidgeot, dodge the needles and hit the dome with Steel Wing!"
Pidgeot's speed was beyond what Team Rocket expected. It slipped past the barrage, Steel Wing blazing like twin blades as it chopped down.
Crack.
The shockproof dome shattered instantly. Pikachu leapt out, landed on Pidgeot's back, and rushed back toward Ethan.
"Yes! Pikachu!" Ethan exhaled hard, then his gaze turned cold. "Now, Pikachu, Thunderbolt. Pidgeot, Hurricane!"
"Pika CHU!" Electricity erupted, blasting toward Team Rocket. At the same time, Pidgeot's Hurricane roared across the deck, whipping sea spray into a raging windstorm that swallowed Jessie, James, and Meowth whole.
"Aaaah, this is the worst!" Team Rocket screamed as they were launched off the ship and vanished into the dark ocean beyond.
Pidgeot flew back to Ethan with Pikachu. Pikachu jumped into Ethan's arms, rubbing its head against his cheek like it needed to confirm Ethan was really there.
"You're okay. That's what matters." Ethan hugged Pikachu tight, then looked up. "And thank you, Pidgeot."
"Pidgeot." Pidgeot gave a firm nod, as if saying it was nothing.
Right then, the system chimed in Ethan's mind.
[ Ding. Achievement completed: First defeat of Team Rocket (Hoenn arc). Reward: 5000 points. ]
Ethan's eyes lit up. He opened the shop in his mind and thought quickly about what his team needed.
Pikachu had learned Iron Tail, but it still needed more power. Pidgeot was already strong, but the right item and move would push it even further. Eevee and Phanpy were still growing, and they needed help to improve faster.
Ethan made his decision.
He exchanged points for a Sharp Beak to boost Flying type moves, a Heat Wave TM for Pidgeot, and two Macho Braces to accelerate training.
After the exchange, Ethan fitted the Sharp Beak onto Pidgeot, then used the Heat Wave TM. Pidgeot felt the new power immediately and let out a loud, excited cry.
Next, Ethan put the two Macho Braces on Eevee and Phanpy. The braces would make training more exhausting, but the efficiency boost was worth it, especially for Pokémon still in their growth phase.
"Alright. Back to training." Ethan looked at his Pokémon, determination burning in his eyes. "Before we reach Hoenn, we're going to level up again."
"Pika!" "Eevee!" "Phan phan!" "Pidgeot!" The Pokémon answered together and threw themselves into the next round of practice.
With Team Rocket gone, the voyage returned to its usual calm. Ethan trained his Pokémon hard each day. Pikachu's Iron Tail grew stronger and stronger until it could smash hard rocks with ease. Pidgeot's Heat Wave became more refined, and combined with Steel Wing and Hurricane, its battle strength rose another tier. With the Macho Brace, Eevee's speed and power improved noticeably, pushing it from early normal tier to late normal tier. Phanpy's progress was even faster. Its control sharpened, and during one training session it even learned Headbutt on its own. After watching Pikachu practice Iron Tail, it somehow figured it out through imitation, and Ethan could hardly believe it.
"Phanpy, you're amazing." Ethan patted its head, laughing. "With Headbutt, you'll have a better answer for Ice types and Rock types."
"Phan phan!" Phanpy proudly swung its trunk and rubbed against Ethan's hand.
As time passed, the ship drew closer to Hoenn. Standing on the deck, Ethan could already make out the coastline. In the distance, green land spread under rolling mountain ranges, and several tall volcanoes rose into the sky, one of them releasing a faint plume of smoke.
(End of Chapter)
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