With their battles in Dewford done, the group turned their sights on Slateport City, their next destination. This time, instead of relying on a private ferry, they opted for a regular passenger ship, which was far cheaper but much larger.
"This ship has everything we need," Brock commented as they walked up the boarding ramp. "It's got sleeping quarters, a food court, even a Pokémon battling facility."
"It'll take three days to reach Slateport," Ash groaned. "That's too long!"
"Better than swimming," May teased. "Or paying double the price for a private ferry."
As they entered the ship, room assignments were settled quickly. May and Max shared a cabin, Ash and Brock took another, while Noah opted to book a small room for himself.
Noah didn't mind the solitude. He had gotten used to traveling alone before meeting the group, and he preferred having his own space to think and plan.
However, there was one problem weighing on his mind—his money was running low.
After settling into his cabin, Noah roamed the ship and quickly found a Trainer Battle Facility set up for passengers.
It was a large, open space, with a few makeshift battlefields marked on the floor. Trainers stood around watching two battlers face off in a heated match.
Curious, Noah leaned against the railing, observing the battle.
A young man with a Machoke had just won, flexing confidently as his opponent sighed and recalled their fallen Pokémon.
"Winner stays," an announcer called out. "Next challenger, step forward!"
Noah's lips curled slightly. This is perfect.
With a battle facility like this, he could win matches, earn prize money, and not have to worry about food expenses.
Stepping onto the battlefield, Noah eyed his opponent—the Machoke trainer.
"Another challenger already?" the trainer smirked. "Fine, let's go, Machoke!"
The muscular Fighting-type stomped forward, flexing its arms.
Noah flicked a Poké Ball forward. "Grimm, you're up."
His Impidimp materialized onto the battlefield, grinning mischievously.
A few spectators chuckled. "That tiny thing against Machoke? This will be over quick."
Noah ignored them.
"Machoke, use Karate Chop!"
"Dodge and hit with Low Kick!"
Machoke's arm came down hard, but Grimm ducked at the last second, slipping between its legs before striking with Low Kick right at its knee.
Machoke staggered backward, caught off guard by the impact.
Noah didn't waste time.
"Start the show"
Grimm's eyes suddenly welled up, and he let out a fake, pitiful sob.
Machoke hesitated, looking confused.
"Don't fall for it!" the trainer barked. "Seismic Toss, now!"
Machoke snapped out of it and lunged, grabbing Grimm.
But Noah had already planned ahead.
"Bite!"
Grimm sank his sharp teeth into Machoke's arm, making the larger Pokémon flinch and release him.
"Now, hit Low Kick again!"
Grimm spun around, landing another Low Kick, tripping Machoke completely.
With a loud thud, Machoke hit the ground.
Noah gave his final command.
"Assurance."
Grimm grinned and lunged forward, slamming his small body into the fallen Machoke with extra force.
Machoke groaned and stopped moving.
"Machoke is unable to battle! The winner is Noah!"
After the battle, Noah collected his prize money and waited for the next challenger.
As the day progressed, he continued to battle, swapping between Sage, Aeris, and Grimm to keep his team balanced and unpredictable.
Sage's Confusion and Sticky Web became valuable for slowing down opponents, while Aeris's newfound Wing Attack gave her an offensive edge.
By the time evening rolled around, Noah had won several matches, earning a decent amount of money—enough to restock his supplies when they reached Slateport.
Feeling satisfied, he returned to his room, ready to rest up for another round tomorrow.
The next morning, Noah made his way to the ship's dining hall. The sun was barely up, but the place was already bustling with passengers and trainers.
He spotted Ash, May, Max, and Brock sitting at a table near the large windows that overlooked the ocean.
"Noah, over here!" May called, waving.
Noah walked over and took a seat beside her. A tray of food was already waiting for him—probably Brock's doing.
"I saw your matches yesterday," Brock said, sipping his tea. "You were really on point."
"Yeah! You took down so many trainers," Ash added with a grin. "I was gonna challenge you, but you were already busy."
Noah simply nodded, cutting into his food. "Had to make some money. I'm running low on supplies."
May sighed. "You seriously just fought the whole day for money? You could've relaxed."
"Relaxing doesn't get me food for my team," Noah replied.
Max adjusted his glasses. "It makes sense. Pokémon food isn't cheap."
Brock chuckled. "Still, it's good to take a break every once in a while. Speaking of which, what's your plan today?"
"Same as yesterday," Noah said, finishing his meal. "More battles."
Ash perked up. "Then I challenge you! One-on-one."
Noah looked at him for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. After I finish some more battles."
Ash grinned. "Awesome! Don't hold back!"
More Battles at the Trainer Facility
After breakfast, Noah returned to the battle facility and picked up where he left off. The crowd was a bit larger today, with more trainers eager to test their skills.
His first battle of the day was against a trainer using a Kadabra.
"Go, Sage."
His Dottler appeared, its hard shell gleaming under the ship's lights.
Kadabra's speed was its advantage, but Sage's Sticky Web slowed it down, allowing Confusion and Struggle Bug to overwhelm it.
Victory.
The next challenger used a Gloom, but Aeris countered it with powerful Wing Attacks and secured another win.
After four straight victories, Noah finally stepped back, catching his breath. His Pokémon had been performing well, but he knew his real challenge was yet to come.
Ash had been watching from the side, grinning in anticipation.
"You ready now?" Ash asked, stepping forward.
Noah adjusted his gloves. "Yeah."
Both trainers walked to their respective sides of the battlefield as the crowd gathered.s
This wasn't just a regular battle—it was a clash between two strong-willed trainers.