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A little after 6 p.m., at the Vermilion City dock, the distant sunset glowed red over the sea.
Amid the blaring sounds of departure horns, a grand, ornate cruise ship slowly set sail. Under the watchful gaze of passengers and sailors still waiting on the dock, it left the harbor, heading toward the sunset on the horizon.
About ten minutes later, the massive ship, the S.S. Anne, shrank to a small speck, eventually disappearing beyond the horizon along with the sun.
"Phew, it's finally gone. Guess it's time for me to set sail too."
Watching the S.S. Anne disappear, Sato, standing at the pier with his gaze on the sea, nodded and turned his attention to another cruise ship preparing to depart, with a long boarding ramp set up.
This ship was the St. Louis. Before the S.S. Anne was built, it was the best, fastest, and most luxurious cruise liner. But after the successful debut of the Anne, all those honors shifted to it.
That didn't matter, though; the St. Louis was still one of the finest cruise ships in Vermilion City and was now preparing to depart.
Based on what Sato had learned, the St. Louis was also bound for Slateport City in the Hoenn region, and it generally set sail shortly after the S.S. Anne, making it Sato's ideal choice.
The boarding process went smoothly. After presenting his Golden Ticket, the attendant quickly provided him with a beautifully crafted key, explaining that it granted him complimentary access to all ship services.
Then, with the help of a friendly sailor, Sato was led to the luxury residential area on the St. Louis and guided to a room matching his key number.
"Thank you, sailor. Here's a tip for you."
Once inside the room, Sato handed over a crisp 1,000-PokeDollar bill to the tall, thin sailor, whose face lit up with a smile.
"Thank you for your generosity, sir. Wishing you a pleasant journey."
Gratefully accepting the tip, the sailor kept smiling and thanked Sato profusely as he left.
With a "click," the door shut behind him.
"All right, everyone, come on out. We're on board—let's take a look at the sea together."
Satisfied with the spacious room, Sato smiled as he opened all five PokeBalls on his belt, releasing his Pokémon.
Sato's room was on the upper levels of the ship and offered a spectacular view of the sea. Through a large, clear glass wall, he had an unobstructed view of the sunset sinking over the water.
Golbat, Nidoran, Bellossom, Growlithe, and Ditto were all visibly thrilled, both with being on a ship for the first time and with the breathtaking sea view. They chatted excitedly as they watched the distant sunset descend into the horizon.
After watching for a while, Sato turned his focus to preparing dinner for his Pokémon.
By around 7 p.m., the sun had fully set over the ocean, and night had fallen completely over the sea.
By this time, Sato's five Pokémon had finished their dinner and were playfully causing chaos in the living room. Growlithe, Nidoran, and Ditto—who had transformed into an Aipom—were the main instigators, turning the previously tidy room into a mess.
Meanwhile, Golbat quietly hung upside down from the ceiling, using ultrasonic waves to monitor everything around them, a responsibility he had naturally assumed as the team's lead Pokémon.
Bellossom, on the other hand, lay serenely on the couch like a sleeping beauty, cradling a vibrant green seed in her arms, a peaceful glow surrounding her as she rested, undisturbed by Growlithe and the others' antics.
Since Sato had obtained the Miracle Seed, a prized item for Grass-types, he had given it to Bellossom, and its effect on her had been even better than he'd anticipated.
Even as a regular human, Sato could sense the strong, life-filled energy radiating from the seed when he held it.
When Bellossom first touched the Miracle Seed, something incredible happened: there was a resonating release of potent Grass-type energy. Bellossom absorbed this energy like a bottomless well, in a process that resembled her evolution.
This fascinating exchange lasted a full five to six minutes. When it ended, Bellossom's colors seemed to have brightened, a gentle green light occasionally shimmering over her skin.
Under the lighting in the room, Bellossom's vibrant, glossy appearance made her shine, increasing her charm dramatically.
Moreover, with the Miracle Seed in her possession, Bellossom seemed to have awakened an ability to accelerate plant growth and reached a new level in her control over Grass-type energy.
In a quick demonstration with Sato and the other Pokémon watching, Bellossom sprouted a seed, accelerated its growth, and completed its entire life cycle in mere seconds.
Witnessing this miracle, Sato immediately thought to have her try ripening a berry. Bellossom didn't disappoint. With only a small amount of soil and a berry seed, Bellossom carefully channeled the energy from the Miracle Seed into the berry seed, causing it to sprout in no time.
Due to limited soil nutrients, this berry seed only grew into a mini version of an Oran berry tree, producing three undersized Oran berries.
There was no doubt—Bellossom had gained something extraordinary from the Miracle Seed, and the benefits were ongoing. Even now, she continued to absorb its Grass-type energy, enriching her body with it.
Sato had tried researching the transformation Bellossom experienced after touching the Miracle Seed, but found no records online about Grass-type Pokémon having such reactions.
While he didn't fully understand why this was happening, Sato believed Bellossom was undergoing a beneficial transformation. Once complete, she would likely gain even more remarkable abilities.
"All right, break time's over. Let's get started on tonight's training."
After enjoying his own dinner, Sato turned to his five Pokémon in the living room, ready to begin the evening training session.
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