The line at the harbor stretched out like a long dragon, with no end in sight. Everyone was either holding or leading their Pokémon, their faces filled with anticipation.
Theo absentmindedly stroked the little Fire Vulpix while looking at the massive crowd, unable to help but click his tongue in surprise.
Before setting out, he had asked the hotel front desk, and they said there usually were not many people buying last-minute tickets for this ferry. So why had so many suddenly appeared today?
Looking at the trainer in front of him, who was holding an Eevee in his arms, Theo could not help but lean closer and ask, "Excuse me, why are there so many people heading to Mossdeep City today?"
"You don't know?" The young trainer looked surprised, then immediately launched into an enthusiastic explanation.
"Mossdeep City is about to host the final stop of the Marina Group, a famous touring troupe! They have already performed in several cities across the Hoenn region, and their reputation is incredible. This last show is the finale, so no one wants to miss it."
"The Marina Group?" Theo was momentarily stunned.
"That's right," a girl in a cap beside them chimed in, her eyes sparkling.
"Their star performer, Miss Lizabeth, is an even more impressive Water-type performance trainer than the Cerulean Gym's three sisters from Kanto! She wears a specially designed mermaid costume and performs a 'Waltz Underwater' together with Water-type Pokémon. The scene is absolutely breathtaking."
The young trainer eagerly added, "And it's not just water performances. There are also all kinds of Pokémon-assisted acrobatics and magic acts. Every show is packed. This time is the final stop of their Hoenn tour, so if you miss it, that's it."
Only then did Theo understand. No wonder so many people were rushing to board the ferry. It was all for this performance.
The names "Marina Group" and "Lizabeth" felt oddly familiar to him. He took out his phone, opened the search engine, and entered the keywords.
Instantly, countless results related to the troupe and Lizabeth appeared.
In the photos, Lizabeth wore a shimmering fish-tail costume, dancing gracefully among floating water spheres controlled by Medicham and Gorebyss, surrounded by Goldeen, Seel, and other Pokémon. Her smile was radiant and captivating.
The moment Theo saw her slightly exotic-looking face and the emerald necklace around her neck, a realization struck him.
Wasn't this the same character from the movie Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea from his previous life?
In that film, Lizabeth was a descendant of the People of the Water, and the People of the Water were closely connected to the mythical Pokémon Manaphy.
"People of the Water… Manaphy…" Theo murmured, a trace of curiosity flashing in his eyes.
It seemed that this trip to Mossdeep City had gained another objective besides challenging the Gym. He would have to watch this performance and get to know the Marina Group.
Perhaps he might even uncover some clues related to Manaphy. The journey was becoming more and more interesting.
The line slowly moved forward, and soon it was Theo's turn.
He stepped up to the ticket window, but just as he was about to speak, he remembered the special VIP card from Devon Corporation that Steven had given him earlier.
Steven had mentioned it could be useful for transportation and accommodations within Hoenn. With a try-it-and-see mindset, Theo handed the card over.
The ticket clerk's eyes lit up the moment she saw the emblem.
"So you are a distinguished guest of Devon Corporation!"
Her tone immediately became respectful.
"You are eligible to book a top-floor five-star luxury suite. It comes with a private viewing balcony and a Pokémon activity area, which is very suitable for you and your Pokémon."
"I'll take it," Theo replied without hesitation, pleasantly surprised.
This way, his Pokémon could stay comfortably by his side instead of being confined to their Poké Balls.
After receiving the room card, Theo boarded the ferry with the two little Vulpix on his shoulders.
The ship truly lived up to its name as a "giant."
The deck was as spacious as a small plaza, with many passengers strolling around with their Pokémon.
Inside, the ferry was luxuriously decorated. Paintings of various landscapes hung along the corridors, and the air carried a faint scent of the sea breeze.
Following the room number on his card, Theo made his way upward. When he reached the top floor, he finally found his suite.
As he opened the door, his eyes lit up.
The room was spacious and bright, elegantly furnished. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows stretched an endless view of the ocean, and the balcony was equipped with comfortable lounge chairs and a small table.
Most importantly, there was plenty of space for Pokémon to move around freely.
"Wow…"
Fire Vulpix leaped down from Theo's shoulder and ran to the window, pressing its paws against the glass as it looked at the shimmering sea outside, letting out excited cries.
Ice Vulpix followed, lightly tapping the glass with the tip of its tail, its eyes filled with curiosity.
Smiling, Theo released the rest of his Pokémon.
Milotic moved closer to the two little Vulpix, gazing at the glistening ocean with them, clearly drawn to the vast waters.
Metagross stepped onto the balcony, its red eyes fixed on the distant horizon, as if silently sensing the rhythm of the sea.
Larvesta was the most excited. In this new environment, it ran around touching everything before finally settling on the balcony, chirping loudly toward the ocean as if announcing its arrival.
Deino, on the other hand, was a bit cautious. It first carefully scanned its surroundings, then moved closer to Theo, rubbing its head against his pant leg while sniffing curiously, taking in all the unfamiliar scents in the air.
Theo walked out onto the balcony and leaned against the railing, watching as the ferry slowly departed from Pacifidlog Town. The distant town gradually shrank into a small blur.
The ship moved steadily across the vast ocean, its engines humming deeply as it cut through the waves.
Not long after departure, Theo asked his Pokémon for their preferences and decided to take Larvesta and the two Vulpix to the deck for some fresh air.
Milotic remained in the room, focused on practicing the fine control of its Water-type moves, showing little interest in the outside bustle.
Metagross was absorbed in watching the television, where a highlight reel of Pokémon battles was playing. It clearly did not want to be disturbed.
At some point, Deino had become quite familiar with Metagross and was now sitting beside it, tilting its head so its eyes peeked out from under its bangs, watching the screen intently. From time to time, it would tap Metagross's metallic arm, both of them engrossed in the battles.
"You three stay here and don't cause trouble," Theo reminded them.
Seeing no objections, he closed the door with peace of mind and followed the excited Larvesta toward the deck.
The deck was even livelier than he had imagined.
There were sun umbrellas and lounge chairs for resting, stalls selling snacks and drinks, and even an open-air barbecue area. The sizzling aroma of grilled meat mixed with the sea breeze, making one's appetite surge.
The most eye-catching area was a specially designed fishing platform on one side of the deck.
More than a dozen high-end silver-gray fishing rods were neatly arranged along the railing, their metallic surfaces gleaming faintly under the light.
…
(End of Chapter)