Several days had passed since we had chased after the Diamond of three. We had lost track of the Apostle that had fled the Day Care and had stolen Meowth on Route five. As soon as Penny had escaped on the path towards Route six. We had arrived at Saffron's gate and were told by the guard to turn around and that, quote:

'He was thirsty.'

Which was rather irritating, because this idiot would never let us in to see if she had escaped inside the city. Nor would he even inform us as to her whereabouts.

How unfortunate.

Even for me, this girl could have easily lost herself inside that massive metropolis. And we would have never have been able to find her.

And since we had encountered said guard he informed us on our town map that there is a way to go passed the city through a shortcut via tunnel. So we did as instructed by the authorities and diverted our path toward the underground passageway.

To our surprise, there was one clue that was left behind that kept us on her trail. A row of coins had scattered on the ground toward the staircase. These coins that the Meowth had made were left behind as a breadcrumb for us to follow while Penny stayed on the run. Confirming to all of us that she was not in Saffron City.

They were stadium shaped with several lines etched across them, they were golden in color. Discovering them in a line, like crackers for a hungry Snorlax. We had stumbled upon the first one like out of the story of Hansel and Gretel followed their tracks.

Blue was the first to locate these items in the underground passageway using a device with several rods protruding from it. He called it an Itemfinder. Used to find missing or hard to find items within the underground we resided.

We used this passageway to divert our trek as instructed by Saffron's guard to exit underneath Saffron City towards Route six. We followed the trail which lead us to the main entrance of Vermillion City. Which was our main destination.

This city glistened from the setting sun had glimmering across multiple markets and tall buildings that nestled along the coastline. As was stated before, it was certainly beautiful and unsettlingly dark as there were alleyways which proved difficult for us to even spot her visually.

"There is no way the trail ends here does it?" I asked with a disquieted face.

"There is only a few of them left over by the Meowth in question. A lot of bystanders pick up these coins so whatever this Pokémon leaves behind is worth a lot of money to them." Said Blue with a nod.

"We are near the seaport, do you think it has something to do with that big ship over there?" Gestured Yellow toward the massive cruiser above the tall golden buildings before us.

"That is the S.S. Anne, a tourist luxury liner that comes into port every year. We are lucky enough to even be in the presence of this behemoth." Said Blue.

No doubt about it, the ship was indeed the largest cruiser I've ever seen in my life. Standing upwards of at least two hundred and thirty-eight feet in height. This large boat seemed to stretch with exquisite majesty past the firmament. I'd estimate the bow to be at an outstanding seventy feet in length.

"We were given tickets to go aboard the cruiser from Bill. Did you obtain yours Blue?" I asked.

The boy nodded with a sly grin. Tauntingly waving his golden ticket as if to prove how supreme and awesome he was.

"Sure do, looks like you all obtained yours as well I presume?"

I nodded back in answer to his question.

"Yes, Bill has given us these tickets as thanks for helping him with reversing his experiment."

There was, however, a strange old man in a black suite and black top hat with a white mustache. This was rather odd to me because his proper dress and demeanor were easily picked out from the crowd. I scowled at his appearance; he certainly didn't look like everyone else in town who were all informally dressed during a big festival inside the city's district. But I figured now was a good time to maybe, just try and pop the question.

"Excuse me sir, have you seen a Meowth come this way?" I Inquired with a curious face.

The man looked like he was sweating bullets. His breathing rather nervous and erratic.

"Are you four trainers also looking for a Pokémon?" Conducted the formally dressed gentleman.

"We were wondering if you could tell us the same thing?" Interjected Blue.

"............" Said Red.

"I really wish that I could be of further help but I'm not used to losing a Pokémon. I'm sure you all aren't either."

This didn't make sense to me at all.

Even Vermillion City's citizens themselves had lost their Pokémon? Could Team Rocket and Team Love be behind these Pokémon's disappearances?

There was no doubt in my mind that Pokémon can be taken by either of them. But once again I needed to know. Are they still cooperating with each other? Just like Solress and Hanz has been plotting to create a machine in exchange for some form of collateral?

This is a seaport and before us is a huge ship that ferries passengers across the ocean to distant regions of the world. It would not surprise me that they are still working together and are still trafficking rare Pokémon for profit.

"What does your Pokémon look like?" I analyzed to the old man with interest.

"Well he looks like your two Pikachu that you guys own." Pointed the old man towards Red's and Yellow's with retrospection.

"So your Pokémon is a Pikachu—

"And yours is a Meowth?" Asked the old man.

"All very rare Pokémon indeed. Especially for those who are worth a lot of money to the organization, Team Rocket." Stroked Blue in deep contemplation.

"But where would be best the place to hide them?" Asked Yellow with curiousness in his eyes as he held fast to his straw-hat. Wind had carried our eyes towards the massive three pillar'd cruiser ship before us.

"If they aren't in the city, chances are, they are on that boat." I gestured to the graceful sight while the ship howled from the intense blast from its foghorn in the distance.

"I think that we can all agree, there is something very strange and very peculiar about that ship being here." Eyed Blue with coincidence.

"Especially with the timing of Team Love. There has to be a reason for this ship being here? Smuggling Pokémon would be the way to covertly avoid being caught by the authorities." I said while the old man nodded in unison with our agreement.

"If Bill mentioned that we have to find Team Love and if the Meowth is somewhere near this area. Then there is a reason why we all have these golden tickets." I assured to everyone in concern.

I turned toward the old man, suspiciously raising a brow with curious direct observation.
There was something I wanted to know.

"Who are you?" I asked.

The man raised his brow in astounding surmise from my tone. I would certainly feel dejected too if I was suspected from everyone else.

The man shook his head and with a whimper responded.

"Ah-please! I'm not your enemy. I'm looking for one like all of you, honest!—

"A man well cleanly dressed in a big dirty city like this. Not like many fishermen in these parts. I don't know if we should trust you—

"Hey, maybe there is a reason, let's just hear him out. I know we are all on edge. But we need to focus. We are all looking for Pokémon." Assured Blue.

"Precisely, if I was one of any member of Team Rocket. I certainly wouldn't share concern for my own." Croaked the old man as he graciously dusted off his top hat and placing it gently back on his bald misshapen head.

"I am the Chairman, I lead a club locally in town. That's why you see me here in this 'ere geddup." He continued.

"I'm one of the main Leaders of the Pokémon fan club and had learned that my mascot had disappeared.

"Oh—this pathetic fanboy—

"Hush!" I stifled to Blue for his ill mannered behavior.

If he's not one of them, then maybe we can trust him.

"Where did you last see your Pikachu?" I dug with investigative nuance.

"He was in the club with me and my partners' club members. She too lost a Pokémon that's very dear to her as well. She owned a Poliwag, a blue tadpole looking Pokémon. We were just in the middle of the meeting when one new club member joined in. At first she seemed nice but, continued to make fun of our appearances like we were some costumed heroes at a comic convention."

Club member?

"What did she look like?" I asked.

"She had a brown robe with a pink diamond etched along the front—

No way!

"She also had blue shiny hair and with her hood off she looked quite young and sported a heart tattoo on her face cheek. As soon as we shunned her for her behavior, she had left our headquarters. Minutes later, I noticed that many of our Pokémon had disappeared." Finished the Chairman.

Penny stole the Pokémon right under their nose.

"We'll find your Pikachu Mr. Chairman." I assured.

"Ugh guys?"

I turned to face Blue among the group. He looked astonished and bewildered. Yellow was just with us moments ago and without warning, he was gone.

Something is not quite right about any of this.

"............."

"Where is Yellow?"

We each turned to face the ship before us. A chilling fear began settling within our hearts. Not only were Pokémon disappearing left and right within town but Yellow was nowhere to be found.

My eyes scattered with anxious intent toward the cruiser. Lights both red and white in color started phasing in and out of several cabins below deck.

"Yellow!?" I cried out.

Something... is inside the S. S. Anne.