"Attention all passengers. This is the captain speaking. Due to an emergency situation, everyone must report immediately to the Grand Atrium for a mandatory safety briefing. Bring your Pokémon in their Poké Balls to avoid overcrowding. Repeat: return all Pokémon to their balls and proceed to the Grand Atrium at once."
The words hung in the air like frost. I froze. My Pokémon tensed beside me.
My mind raced. Was the ship sinking?
But there were no alarms. No tilting deck. No crashing sound. What's going on?
I looked down at Kirlia. "Kirlia, can you use your psychic power? See what's going on out there?"
She gave a quick nod. A soft "Kir!" escaped her.
Her crimson horns ignited with gentle pink light. She closed her eyes. A faint shimmer rippled outward, invisible threads weaving through the ship.
I watched her face.
At first, curiosity flickered across her delicate features. Then confusion creased her brow. And then, terror seized her.
Her whole body went rigid. Tiny hands clenched into small fists. A low, trembling "Kir... lia..." slipped out, barely audible.
Her red eyes snapped open wide. Pupils shrunk to pinpricks, glowing with raw fear.
She stared straight at me. Her chest rose and fell in fast, shallow breaths.
I dropped to my knees. "Kirlia? Hey... look at me. What did you see? What happened?"
She shook her head once, frantic and small. Tears welled in her red eyes. They spilled silently down her cheeks.
I pulled her close. My arms wrapped around her trembling form. I cradled her against my chest.
She was so small. So fragile. Her face pressed lightly against my shirt.
"It's okay," I murmured. "I've got you. You're safe with me."
She buried her face deeper. Tiny hands clutched my shirt like a lifeline. Quiet sobs shook her shoulders.
Lopunny and Meowscarada crowded in. Lopunny let out a worried "Lopuuun~?" and stroked Kirlia's back gently. Meowscarada hugged us both. A low "Nyaaa~" rumbled from her chest.
Minutes passed...
The ship's gentle sway felt distant now.
Finally, her trembling eased. Her grip stayed tight. She pulled back just enough to look up at me. Eyes still shining with tears.
Slowly, she explained. Her voice came in broken whispers.
"Kir... lia... kirliaaa..."
First, she saw people moving. Walking fast toward the Grand Atrium.
There... many people gathered. Staff asked everyone to hand over Poké Balls.
Some people collected them. Piled high in boxes.
Pokémon stood at every entrance. Blocking doors. No one could leave.
Then deeper. Toward the room. Captain's room.
Doors sealed tight.
Inside... captain and crew on the floor. Slumped. Unconscious.
And there... in the room... same purple hair woman. Black eyes. Cold smile.
Her old trainer. Viper.
Beside her... Nova.
Team Rocket members. Watching everything. Controlling the ship.
Viper and Nova. How were they still free? I'd reported them to the police weeks ago… yet here they were.
Lopunny let out a low, worried "Lopuuun~", ears drooping as she pulled Kirlia closer into the hug. Meowscarada gave a soft "Nyaaa~" rumbling from her chest like a promise to protect.
I held Kirlia tighter. "Don't worry, Kirlia," I whispered. "Nothing will happen to you. I promise."
I reached into my pocket and pulled out her Dream Ball.
"Why don't you rest in your ball for now? Let me, Lopunny, and Meowscarada handle Team Rocket."
Kirlia shook her head fast. Her tiny hands clutched my shirt harder. "Kir... kirliaaa..." she whimpered, voice cracking with panic.
Her red eyes met mine, wide and pleading, like she didn't want to go inside the ball.
Over these weeks, Kirlia had grown so close to Ryan and his Pokémon. Sleeping curled against his side every night. Holding his hand on long walks. Watching sunsets together. Learning to trust again after the fear Viper and Team Rocket left in her.
The ball felt like being alone. Like being sent away. Like the old days when she was just a tool, not family.
She pressed her forehead to his chest. "Kirlia..." A soft, desperate sound.
Like saying, Please don't make me go.
I sighed and put the ball away. "Okay. You stay right here with us."
I stroked her head gently. "You're not going anywhere. We're in this together."
Meowscarada gave a firm "Nyaaa~♡", paw resting on Kirlia's back. Lopunny nuzzled her cheek with a gentle "Lopun~♡".
Kirlia relaxed just a fraction. Her breathing slowed.
I knew we couldn't walk into the atrium with my Pokémon. The announcement had been clear. So…
Ten minutes later, I had my plan. It was simple: an all-out fight. There was no other choice. Though I could not do it alone, so I had to go where everyone was gathered.
Grand Atrium.
Two Team Rocket members dressed as ship staff stood guard at the main doors.
"Drop your Poké Balls here," one said.
"Why?" I asked, keeping my voice calm.
"Captain's orders. No Pokémon out during the briefing. Put them here…" the person said, pointing to a long metal table beside the entrance.
It had numbered slots and clear plastic dividers, each section labeled with a unique number, keeping every ball separate and easy to track.
I nodded slowly, pretending to be concerned. I reached to my belt, unclipped three blank Poké Balls, and placed them carefully into slot number 47.
The man barely glanced at them. "Move along."
My real ones were hidden under my shirt, pressed against my chest.
I passed through.
As I stepped inside, two large Pokémon guards flanked the entrance: one Rhydon with cracked armor plating and a low growl, the other a Machamp, eyes locked on the crowd.
Inside the Grand Atrium, the air felt thick. Hundreds of passengers crowded the multi-level space. Faces pale with confusion. Some whispered. Others stared at the floor.
A mother clutched her child closer. A young trainer's hand hovered over an empty belt, eyes darting to the blocked exits.
An old man near the center, the same one Ryan had chatted with in the hallway, finally cracked.
"What's going on? We've been waiting here for far too long!"
From above, a Rocket member answered with a smile too smooth, too calm.
"Captain will come soon. Just wait a while."
Soon, two women stepped into the light.
One with long pink hair spilling like poisoned cotton candy. Dark uniform. Cold eyes. A Nidoking rumbled low at her side.
Beside her stood the purple-haired woman, short hair flowing like spilled ink. A Gengar floated near her, grinning far too wide.
Both wore dark uniforms with the red "R". They scanned the crowd with cold, measured smiles.
The atrium fell silent.