It takes two full days to sail from Melbourne City to Akiye Town.
Although this passenger ship isn't as grand as the San Annuo from the anime, its internal facilities are still well-equipped. There are cabins for passengers to rest, a commercial area selling various specialties and souvenirs, and even a wine bar for relaxation.
Interestingly, this ship explicitly prohibits trainers from engaging in Pokémon battles on board. Perhaps the captain is worried that a battle could damage the ship or, worse, sink it altogether.
With battles off the table, Albus could only stand idly on the deck, staring at the endless ocean with Lorcan by his side.
Meanwhile, Magical Leaf had evolved into Poison Rose, and its final evolution would be Rose Redo. However, to reach that stage, it required a Stone of Light. Unlike common Fire or Thunder Stones, the Stone of Light was much rarer and more expensive, making it nearly impossible for Albus to afford. Even if he sold himself, it wouldn't be enough to buy one.
The sky was an endless blue, with white clouds floating lazily above. Below, the ocean rippled gently as the ship sailed forward.
With a deep sigh, Albus muttered, "Poor!"
A Stormy Night
That night, a fierce storm hit the sea.
A lightning strike damaged the ship's power generator, plunging the entire vessel into darkness. To maintain calm among the passengers, the ship's crew went from room to room, handing out temporary candles and assuring everyone that emergency repairs were underway.
A small, flickering candle illuminated Albus's cabin. Compared to the raging storm outside, however, the warm glow seemed fragile and insignificant.
Through the porthole, he could see the sea, now pitch-black under the night sky, with powerful waves crashing violently against the ship's hull. The entire vessel rocked with the turbulence, making the candlelight tremble unsteadily.
A sense of unease crept into Albus's heart.
Holding onto Will Young and Poison Rose, he gazed at the dark, chaotic world outside. The candle's feeble flame seemed as if it could be swallowed by the night at any moment.
"Gah."
Sensing his trainer's uneasiness, Will Young did something unexpected—it spread its wings and gently wrapped them around Albus, shielding him.
"Rollili!"
Poison Rose was scared as well, but it bravely clung to Albus's arm for comfort.
For a moment, Albus was taken aback. He suddenly felt like one of those poor widows from medieval literature, relying on her children to survive.
"...Well, that's an odd comparison," he muttered to himself.
Outside, the rain continued to pour.
As he held onto Will Young and Poison Rose, he noticed Lorcan carefully guarding the candle, as if afraid it would go out.
"Lorcan."
The Gengar looked up. "What?"
Albus smiled. "Nothing. I just felt like calling your name."
Lorcan stared at him for a moment before sighing. "..."
Albus chuckled. "I wish I could meet you in real life, you know?"
Hearing that, Lorcan glanced down at its ghostly body, an unreadable expression flashing across its face.
A New Dawn & A Legendary Encounter
The storm Albus had feared never resulted in disaster.
By the time morning arrived, the rain had stopped, and the sea had returned to its peaceful state. The sun shone brightly, reflecting off the calm ocean surface.
Power was restored, and the ship's chefs got to work preparing breakfast. The exhausted crew, who had worked tirelessly through the night, finally headed below deck for some much-needed rest.
Just as Albus was about to relax, he heard an excited commotion from outside.
"Look over there!"
"Oh my God, what a beautiful rainbow!"
Turning his head, Albus caught sight of a majestic creature soaring across the sky.
It resembled a phoenix, its wings shimmering with vibrant colors. Wherever it flew, a radiant rainbow trailed behind it.
That was... Phoenix King!
Albus's heart pounded with excitement—especially after the terrifying night he had just endured.
Phoenix King exuded an unmatched aura of sanctity. Simply seeing it filled Albus with a deep sense of peace and enlightenment. It was as if all his worries had been swept away in an instant.
"This must be a sign," Albus thought. "Just like how Sammy saw it at the start of his journey in the anime."
"Gah?"
Suddenly, Will Young, standing beside him, lifted its head and stared intently at the rainbow's path.
Then, without warning, it flapped its wings and took off in pursuit of Phoenix King.
"Wait—Will Young!" Albus reached out, but he was a second too late. He could only watch helplessly as his Pokémon disappeared into the sky.
"Damn it," he muttered. "That bird better not get itself in trouble."
But Will Young was already gone, flying at an astonishing speed. Within minutes, it had become nothing more than a black dot in the distance.
Lorcan blinked. "What's it doing?"
"Rao Lili…" Poison Rose sounded worried.
The other passengers had also noticed the spectacle and were staring at Albus in shock.
Covering his face in frustration, Albus sighed. "Don't look at me. I have no clue either."
A Long Wait
Noon arrived, yet Will Young had not returned.
Anxiety settled deep in Albus's chest. What if it got lost? What if it couldn't find its way back?
For the rest of the day, he remained on the deck, eyes fixed on the sky, waiting.
As the sun set, his worry only deepened.
"...It should come back, right?" Lorcan asked hesitantly.
Albus, near tears, groaned, "I'd like to think so."
If he had known this would happen, he would have kept Will Young in its Poké Ball.
The night was calm—no storm this time. But the emptiness left by Will Young's absence made it feel just as heavy.
Standing alone on the deck, Albus kept his vigil.
Even Lorcan and Poison Rose had stayed to wait with him.
"...You're not actually lost, are you?" Albus muttered to himself, anxiety twisting in his stomach.
Just then, a familiar cry pierced the silence.
"Gah?"
Turning around, Albus saw a familiar figure descending from the sky—soaking wet, but safe.
It was Will Young!
The bird Pokémon landed in front of them, tilting its head curiously as if confused by their expressions.
Most importantly, it was holding something in its beak—a rainbow-colored feather.
For a moment, Albus was filled with pure relief. Then, his frustration returned.
"You reckless bird," he scolded, but seeing Will Young's blank expression drained all his energy.
Sighing, he picked up the feather.
The Rainbow Feather
[Rainbow Feather: A magical feather that radiates a rainbow-like glow. According to legend, those guided by the Rainbow Feather who complete the trials of Phoenix King can become the Hero of the Rainbow.]
[Function: Place this feather on the Rainbow-Colored Rock at the summit of Tianqing Mountain to summon Phoenix King.]
Albus looked at the feather in his hands, a sense of wonder washing over him.
Maybe... just maybe, this was only the beginning of something much greater.
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