victory_road | GET YOUR TOWELS READY, IT'S ABOUT TO GO DOWN

GET YOUR TOWELS READY, IT'S ABOUT TO GO DOWN

Wingulls wheel and dive in the salty springtime air of Olivine City's harbor, as white as the gleaming sides of the ship moored directly below. The S.S. Aqua isn't an infrequent visitor in the slightest, but this time it's for a very special occasion! Colorful banners stream from the sides, each one proudly declaring the word PROM in glittery font.

The boarding starts around noon on Friday, and the sight of the huge ship alone is enough to get many people and Pokemon swept up in the party atmosphere. The captain is even there when the ramp is rolled out, wanting to welcome each otherworlder onto the boat personally with a hearty handshake and (mentioning he's a renowned 'people reader'), a recommendation on what part of the cruise he thinks they'll like best based solely on a glance. Weirdly enough, guests might find that he's usually right!

Unsurprisingly, it takes a good long while for everyone to get on board and accounted for, which leaves each guest with plenty of time to find their rooms, dump their luggage, let their Pokemon out to stretch their legs a little, and finally head back to the deck to wave goodbye to the harbor as the SS Aqua heads out onto the open water.

IT'S FINALLY HERE, THE BEST TIME OF YEAR!

For the next three days until it makes its way back to shore on Monday, the lucky cruisegoers can live it up as much as they want. And, as the captain boasts over the announcement system once things are underway, the S.S. Aqua and its staff truly are the hosts with the most-- not even Gorgeous Resort has as much variety as this!

THE ATTRACTIONS

FIRST OF ALL, THE ROOMS!

Each room is fitted with either one or two king-sized beds, making them perfect to share with partners or friends, along with a wide-screen TV, dimmable lights, and fancy bathrooms. With little soaps that have "Please Steal Us!" printed into them.

Depending on whether they're exterior or interior rooms, they may or may not have porthole windows and balconies on the outside.

Check out the "Mood" channel on your TVs, you won't be disappointed.

GET YOUR SWIM ON @ THE WATER PARK

Possibly the first thing about the ship that most people notice (because it's noticeable from a mile away) are the set of pools and waterslides (proudly titled the Winged Mirage Pools) on the very top deck. It's about as wild as it gets while staying within the acceptable safety level for being pools on top of a huge boat. Each pool has its own set of waterslides that turn and twist to your heart’s content, so be mindful of your fellow guests rushing out to drop in on the fun!

Lifeguards are stationed and well-equipped to keep watch over patrons, and will do their best to keep the pools’ populations separated according to the ship’s rules. It would be unsafe, after all, for a small Pokemon to be bowled over by a group of rowdy folks playing water volleyball, or some similar incident.

The Articuno Pool is limited to human swimmers only! It has a small cold-water jaccuzi on the side, and the mosaic tile laid down looks quite similar to deep arctic ice. Pokemon are allowed in the vicinity of the pool but not within the pool itself.

The Zapdos Pool is special pool just for small to medium sized Pokemon to enjoy! It is staggered in two “tiers” and features greenery and water properly calibrated to suit even the pickiest sea Pokemon’s taste. Humans are allowed to supervise their Pokemon, but are asked to not interfere with the many Lifeguard Starmie on duty.

The Moltres Pool, flanked by two warm jacuzzis, is where people and small Pokemon are allowed to swim together! The water is calibrated carefully to be safe for all swimmers, and while it is expected for swimmers to get a little rowdy, Pokemon larger than their trainers are asked to refrain from cannon-balling, for the safety of everyone around them.

IT'S NOT PROM WITHOUT DANCING!

For the main dancing action, you’ll want to go to the Nido-King and Queen Ballroom. There, you can get down and funky with friends and your roster alike in your nicest prom duds to tunes spun out by a live DJ, who will happily and eagerly take your song requests. Don’t be shy, bust out those moves you’ve been holding onto all year!

For those of you who might prefer an all-night techno thump to your dancing, the Porygon2 Discotheque will keep you up and about long into the wee hours of the morning. Featuring actual Porygon2 assisting their DJ trainer, you’ll have their ill mixes and projected lights guiding you into perpetual party heaven.

AND IT'S NOT A PARTY WITHOUT FOOD AND DRINK!

Food is plentiful on board, nowhere more so than Wailord’s Bounty, a buffet operating round the clock to make sure all guests have the chance to fill their plates with delicious morsels whenever they want. While there’s plenty to go around for people and Pokemon, cruise staff do ask that Munchlax and Snorlax are not brought into the buffet. There have been... incidents.

For those looking for fine dining in the evening, look no further than The Mother-of-Clamperl. Slightly fancier than the other areas of the cruise, guests are expected to be dressed somewhat nicely. No showing up in flip-flops! Wear a dress shirt and have some champagne!

Somewhere in between on the fanciness spectrum, The Shiny Corsola may look like a gaudy bar, but lurking in that sparkly, shimmery haven is a smooth nightlife scene with all of the fancy liquor and exquisite jazz you could ever want. The jazz is live, by the way - the Jazzypuffs play an ever-rotating set for your listening pleasure, setting the mood for a sweet, sexy, relaxing night away from the hustle and bustle of cruise life.

AS FOR NON-AQUATIC RECREATION...

The Radical Croconaw Cove is the dope place to chill for preteen and teen promgoers, ya dig? Chock full of tubular snacks and stocked with retro video games that are the bomb-diggety, this is the off-the-hook zone to get your chill on! There’s also some board games too, for you tabletop nerds who want to squeeze a session in.

If you’re after live entertainment, Sudowoodo Centerstage has all your needs covered. Live comedy? Check. Sketches and skits performed by an ever-rotating cast of human and Pokemon actors fresh from Unova’s Pokemon Musical stage? Check! Opportunities for open mic performances by guests? Oh, honey, that box is done CHECKED! That’s right, guests of all species are encouraged to come on up and belt out that Lady Gardevoir cover that’s been stuck in their head, or perform in any other way! the only limitation is that guests are asked to keep Pokemon moves involved to non-destructive ones. After all, this is a cruise ship, not a Contest! And renovating a ship stage can be pricey.

While Goldenrod and Celadon have their Game Corners, the SS Aqua has the Mystery Egg Arcade, welcoming all ages to come and earn technicolor tickets via timing, chance, sharp eyes, and steady hands! Your first twenty tokens are complimentary, the rest shockingly reasonable in price (the equivalent of twenty-five cents per token), and the prizes you can glean are, while not the usual battle items or rare Pokemon, still very nice! Everything from well-made toys to good quality candies to the usual arcade bits and bobs like whoopie cushions and harmonicas, tiny parachute plastic figurines and paper finger traps...it’s all here, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg in tickets to win it, either!

For those looking for more intellectually stimulating pursuits, the Mantine Maritime Library offers a decent selection of reading materials, all seafaring in nature. From glossy photo spreads of underwater expeditions to reproductions of nautical journals from early sailors in Johto and Kanto history, this place has...well, not everything, but enough to whet your academic appetite.

What cruise ship is complete without an awesome rock wall to climb? Shuckle’s Challenge is specifically for humans, and any Pokemon that can’t learn Rock Climb or similar moves. It’s a test of ability and will, and the top of the rock wall offers a grand prize - the most spectacular view of the open sea on the entire ship.

Colorful and cheerful, Phanpy’s Putting Green is exactly the kind of kid friendly minigolf experience you could come to expect from the Pokemon world. Springy green turf adorned with figurines and obstacles depicting various baby Pokemon in play, it’s a hit with little children as much as it’s amusing for all ages to play a round or two together.

No ship is complete without a place to get in some rigorous physical activity, and The Rink is the perfect place to do so! Fitted with colored spotlights, this arena is fitted with all sorts of sports stuff that shifts throughout the day. For a few hours, it’s a basketball court, then, poof! It shifts to tennis, or racketball, or even a roller skating rink! And in the evening, it is of course open to Pokemon battles! Feel like hosting an impromptu tourney in your friend group with your best partners? This is the place to do it!

...And oh, don’t worry. We didn’t forget the most essential cruise amenity of all. Shuffle board courts can be found where you least expect them, and are always maintained by at least one friendly-looking elderly staff member willing to show you or your Pokemon the ropes. It’d be criminal not to make sure everyone has access to this timeless and treasured activity!

AND ONCE YOU'RE DONE PARTYING HARD...

Rejuvination is the core to the SS Aqua’s Max Revive Spa Center. Equipped with saunas, mineral soaks, and fancy mud masks, you’ll feel like a new ‘Mon once you emerge from their pampering. There’s even a special Trainer and Pokemon massage package for those of you who would like to try and improve your bond with one of your partners. Does it work? Only one way to find out...

While they may not have a specific name, the outdoor deck lounges can be found most everywhere on the outer decks, offering peaceful views of the ocean and any land in the distance that the ship might pass. These decks are awesome places to work on your tan or read a book or chat with a friend without disturbing others or being disturbed, and hold wonderfully atmospheric aesthetics for anyone looking to spot breaching sea Pokemon or take pictures.

[Feel free to toplevel to your heart's content! For more information about the event, check the infopost over here!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Is it one of the Water-Types? They're super shy, and it doesn't help that they can turn kind-of-invisible. There's plenty of water in the Pokemon habitat, so they disappeared all the time it they weren't feeling totally safe."

"I guess how they showed up was kind of a surprise," Kazuki quirked his head in thought. "After those monsters showed up last year. But other than that, I don't think they've done anything deliberately bad."

"No, it's the rabbit. I think Matt found the water one. It was up on top of the observatory." And then Matt fell off the darn thing, but that's a story for another time. "I didn't know they could vanish, though."

A nod. That was why Ford didn't trust the Foundation, he was pretty sure. "Maybe the timing is why people are so wary of them. Last prom wasn't... it ended pretty badly."

"Yeah, they can turn clear, like water. They're even better at disappearing than any of the Keckleon I've met! You really have to watch your feet at the rescue, or else you'll trip over one."

"The Prom has a bad history in general, doesn't it? I heard that Team Rocket crashed the place once," Kazuki wondered aloud, and his expression turned slightly nervous. "I wonder what sort of bad luck could happen on cruise ship..."

Storms at sea... Ice burgs...

"That's incredible... I've seen a lot of things, but I haven't seen one just go invisible. Unless it's a ghost."

Haunter can, from what he's seen. At least when it wants to. But not a water type.

"It really does." There's no argument there. Not after the last time. "The Team Rocket thing wasn't as bad as last prom. They were human. We could handle them."

Those things from last time? Completely different.

"Yeah, that's something that Ghost-Types do, isn't it? But since these new guys look like chameleons too, it's not that farfetched for them to be able to blend in like that."

"It was pretty crazy..." Kazuki leaned an elbow on the table and set his chin in his hand. "And then, almost exactly a year later, these Pokemon nobody's seen before all show up out of nowhere, just like those jellyfish things did. Armin and I talked about it once. I wonder if they're connected somehow."

"That, phasing through walls, making faces at you in the mirror... the list goes on."

But for Haunter, at least, nothing seems too malicious. It's always been pranks. Harmless things that usually made people laugh more than they did terrify.

"They might be. But these guys are pokemon. Those things weren't. We tried to catch them, and the balls just bounced off. The ones that they didn't smack back at us."

One of them hit him right in the face.

"Oh yeah, those jellyfish definitely weren't Pokemon," and you didn't have to have spent much time with Pokemon to see that. There was something incredibly eerie and otherworldly about those things, and they were distinctly unfriendly too. "I'm just saying how they appeared... Maybe they came out of the same... portal, or something."

"Ah, yeah. I get you."

It's a valid point, for sure. They did sort of appear out of nowhere. Even though one was far less threatening than the other -- unless you were afraid of rabbits and frightened lizards.

"That's an idea. I know I spoke with someone about trying to find the craft's remains. Maybe that would have been able to tell us more about their origin."

"No one's really been able to find anyone that was responsible for the crashed plane, right? All that was left was the Pokemon?" Kazuki hadn't really kept up with the news when it happened, since they made it pretty clear that no one was hurt. "There's gotta be some way to figure out where it came from. Do you ever go through portals, or... wormholes, or something like that, during your space travels?"

"Right. I heard there wasn't a pilot to be found. But there should have been a recording device in the craft... There always is."

Always a black box of some kind. At least in his experience.

"We do, yeah. That's how the castle ship always moved around." He pushes a hand through his hair thoughtfully. "And... those jellyfish. They came through some kind of portal too."

"Do you think it's too late to try and find that thing? I'm sure whoever found the plane looked for it, or maybe the Jennies when they came later..."

Kazuki took another thoughtful sip of his drink. Well, they'd certainly distracted from Shiro's awkward night by diverting into talking shop.

"I wonder if anyone looked into that too... Like if anyone flew out there to the exact spot they were coming out of. The portal is probably closed, since they aren't still here, but..."

"I don't know. I wasn't... really able to pay a lot of attention at the time." Because of the timing. He'd woken to find his friends missing, about the same time of the plane crash. "Maybe someone who was at the site could tell us that for sure."

He's definitely distracted. Way to go, Kazuki.

"Even if it wasn't nearby, it might have been along the same line -- longitude or latitude. Maybe even something in the general area is similar."

Hey, when it came to Shiro, whatever worked to cheer him up was fine. Talking about stuff like this in a dark bar playing smooth jazz made him feel like he was part of the mafia or something.

"I don't think I could do that, but... There's gotta be somebody for the job. The worst that could happen is that they just don't find anything, right? Or... Maybe getting sucked into another dimension..."

"They could run into those things again."

Run into those jellyfish. Without a convenient giant legendary bird to bail them out again. Or even without their pokemon to back them up. The thought of it makes his skin crawl. Makes him reach for the glass on the table.

"Asking can't hurt anything though, can it?"

"Right," Kazuki agreed with Shiro's sentiment; he wouldn't want to be near one of those things without proper protection from his, or some other Pokemon. He reached for his drink too, "I think just asking would be the best place to start"

"Maybe law enforcement, for sure. But from there... I'm not totally sure."

If the Jennies don't know, then, they're at a dead end. He frowns, thoughtfully, and gives Kazuki a long look.

"The Foundation you're volunteering with. They helped recover pokemon from the site, didn't they?"

"Yeah, they're the one that set up the care center near Pallet town to help take care of them all..."

After a moment of pondering, Kazuki picks up on what Shiro is inferring.

"You think they might know something, since they were on the scene so fast?"

"I thought so."

He might not have been involved, not as much as he'd have liked to be, but he remembers reading something about that.

"I think they're our best bet. Even if it's just where the debris went, that would be helpful."

"Well, they are kind of secretive. I'm only allowed in certain areas of the main location. But... I do think they're doing something good. Even if they've got ulterior motives, all of those Pokemon would be without a home if they weren't there to take care of them."

"I believe you."

He emphasizes the last word. It's not Kazuki he doesn't trust.

"And you could be absolutely right. But they still might be the best source of information. Either way."

"Oh, I know. I'm just... You know, I want to believe the best in everybody."

Even possibly shady foundations that might be ripping holes into spacetime or whatever. At least their front seemed legit!

"I see Director Lusamine around sometimes, but I don't think I could talk to her."

"Yeah -- yeah I can understand. I hope you're right, and there's nothing nefarious at all happening."

So many people have suspicions about it. He trusts Kazuki a lot, trusts his opinion here. And hopes he's right.

"Why not?"

"I don't really know. It's hard to put into words," Kazuki sighed a bit, and took another sip of his drink. "She's got this aura around her, like she's something you can't get too close to. Like... a an exhibit at a museum! It's beautiful and you respect it, but you can't interact with it."

"Mmm. I've known people like that."

Not recently, but in general. He leans back in his chair, thoughtfully.

"If there anyone you know who might be able to talk to her for you?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

GET YOUR TOWELS READY, IT'S ABOUT TO GO DOWN

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