Early the next morning, the sea breeze, carrying a faintly salty dampness, brushed across the docks of Cinnabar Island.
The massive luxury liner, the S.S. Anne, lay quietly moored in the harbor. Its snow-white hull cut across the sea, while its layered decks and smokestacks gleamed beneath the morning sun.
The docks teemed with people as Trainers from all over, accompanied by their Pokémon, eagerly lined up to board.
Dongshu carried a backpack, with Wartortle and Raikou following behind him, Gastly floating in midair, and a bouncing Happiny nestled in his arms.
"Let's go. We're boarding," Dongshu said.
"Wartortle!"
"Happiny~"
"Gastly!"
They boarded, had their tickets checked, and entered the ship's cabin.
There were still the wide corridors, bright halls, Trainer exchange areas, battlefields, restaurants, and observation decks—
Every time Dongshu saw all this, he could not help but marvel. The S.S. Anne was practically a small town floating on the sea!
Unfortunately, by the time Ash and the others boarded the S.S. Anne later on, this famous Pokémon-world liner would sink to the bottom of the sea like the Titanic.
Before long, the captain's voice rang throughout the ship over the intercom. "Attention, passengers. The S.S. Anne is about to set sail. Our destination—Vermilion Harbor!"
Bzzz—
The engines rumbled deeply.
The enormous anchor slowly rose, its chains clanking heavily.
The propellers churned up white foam across the sea as the cruise ship slowly departed the harbor and headed toward the open ocean.
Cinnabar Island's coastline gradually shrank, eventually becoming a faint line.
All that remained around them was an endless expanse of azure sea, shimmering under the sunlight, with several bird Pokémon circling and calling overhead.
Dongshu brought his Pokémon to the observation deck on the top floor.
The sea breeze blew against them, cool and refreshing.
Wartortle leaned