Late into the night, while most were lost in deep sleep, desperate cries for help drifted across the dark waves.
"Help! Can anyone hear us?! Help!"
Ash—who was currently serving as a biological space heater with Kirlia in his left arm, Squirtle in his right, Pikachu draped across his face, and Growlithe curled up on his stomach—snapped awake. His Pokémon stirred as well, but Ash whispered gently, "Go back to sleep, guys. I'll go check it out."
His Pokémon shook their heads in unison. If the Boss was going, they were going.
Ash threw on a robe and stepped out into the hall, where he ran into Misty, Giselle, and Yellow, who had also been awoken by the commotion.
"Misty, Giselle, Yellow—go back to bed," Ash said firmly. "The staff here can handle this. Sleep deprivation is a girl's worst enemy, you know."
"Are you sure? Yawn..." Misty's eyes were half-closed.
"You're literally sleep-walking, Misty. Get some rest. Look at Yellow; she's swaying like a Bellsprout in the wind."
True to his word, Yellow was practically nodding off on her feet. Under Ash's persuasion, the girls retreated to their suite. Ash then turned toward his deck crew, his expression shifting into CEO mode.
"Status of the guests?"
"Don't worry, Boss. We've communicated with everyone on board; they're staying in their rooms. We've got this."
"Good. Rescue Team, deploy the Water-types. Contact the Hoenn branch of the Continental Hotel and have them tele-transport a few Wailords over to act as temporary platforms. Prepare cold-weather gear and hot drinks. I shouldn't have to teach you the rest. I'm going back to sleep."
Ash had mapped out the entire rescue operation in seconds. His subordinates saluted. "Understood, sir!"
By the time the sun rose, the passengers of the Thousand Sunny looked out their windows to find several massive Wailords floating alongside the ship, carrying a small army of exhausted, shivering people.
"Last night, the SS. Anne was raided by Rocket personnel in black uniforms," A staff member reported to Ash over breakfast. "A battle broke out, and the ship went down. These are the survivors."
Ash nodded, sipping his milk. "Rough. That's what happens when you don't pay attention to security. We're heading to Porta Vista anyway; consider them hitchhikers. Bring them along."
"Yes, sir. However, some survivors are asking to come aboard the Thousand Sunny proper to rest. How should we handle the rooming?"
"If there's space, let them in. If not, too bad," Ash said bluntly. "As for who gets the open spots? Tell them to play Rock-Paper-Scissors. Simplest way to keep it fair."
Misty, sitting across from him, deadpanned, "That is an incredibly 'you' way of solving a crisis."
The Thousand Sunny and its Wailord escorts eventually pulled into the harbor at Porta Vista. Medical teams were already waiting to receive the survivors, but Ash's group was focused on something else.
"Man, that was a hell of a cruise!" Giselle stretched, enjoying the sea breeze.
"I'm just glad we were on the Thousand Sunny," Yellow whispered, hugging Chuchu. "Otherwise, we would've been the ones out there in the cold."
Brock, however, was currently a puddle of tears. "I spent the whole night with the Muscle Squad... the biceps... the sweat... the horror!"
As Brock wailed, his eyes suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure standing on the pier. His heart skipped a beat. A tall, blonde goddess with striking blue eyes and an aura of pure electricity was standing there.
"It's... it's Elesa! Miss Elesa! I'm your number one fan! I— OOF!"
Before Brock could finish his proposal, Chansey's palm met his face with a loud thwack.
"Don't scream like that, you idiot! You'll cause a scene!" Misty hissed.
But Brock's despair turned into sudden, delirious hope. He saw Elesa look toward their group, her face lighting up with a brilliant smile. She started waving and—could it be?—she was running toward them!
"She's coming for me! She knows I'm her biggest fan! I—"
Elesa blurred past Brock as if he were a piece of driftwood. She didn't even look at him. Instead, she leaped forward and threw her arms around Ash, nearly knocking him over.
"Long time no see, Ash!"
"Long time no see, Elesa."
Crr-ack! The sound of Brock's soul shattering was audible to everyone nearby. He turned, stone-faced and trembling, toward the hugging pair.
"Ash... don't tell me she's..."
"Oh, right," Ash said, untangling himself slightly to make introductions. "This is Elesa, the Nimbasa Gym Leader and a supermodel from Unova. And, well, she's one of my fiancées."
"That's right~ I'm his official fiancée, Elesa," She added with a wink.
Brock turned into a literal statue of grey stone.
Before the group could process Elesa's arrival, Ash felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck from behind. A scent of elegant perfume and a hint of something sweet filled the air. A blonde woman in a black coat leaned her head against Ash's shoulder.
"Ash... make me a Sundae."
"CYNTHIA!" Giselle shrieked, looking at her best friend. "My name is Seidai, not 'Sundae'! Stop calling me that!"
Cynthia ignored Giselle entirely, looking at Ash with a sleepy, spoiled expression. "Because the name Sundae sounds delicious. Come on, Ash... I'm hungry. Make me a Sundae."
Elesa's eyes narrowed as she looked at the Sinnoh Champion clinging to her fiancé. "Cynthia, let go of him. He's not your personal chef!"
"No," Cynthia replied, her grip tightening. "I'm here to steal him for a few days."
"Let go!"
"No."
As the two most powerful and beautiful women in their respective regions began a tug-of-war over him, Ash wiped a small trickle of blood from his nose.
Brock, meanwhile, was currently being carried away by the medical team. He had officially died of envy.
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