A light flashed in the distance, just over the horizon. Cashe first thought it was some artifact of the setting sun, but a few seconds later it happened again. The question of what it was was answered a few minutes later as the ship continued forward, the obelisk-like spire of the Olivine City lighthouse taking shape over the horizon.
“Is that really an Ampharos in there?” Cashe said. He, Emilia, and Lindon were in a small restaurant at the front of the cruise ship. It was on the eighth deck, and somehow managed a cozy feel despite the fact the overly busy rock climbing wall was just beyond the entrance.
“It used to be,” Lindon answered, “But they switched it out for a normal light a long time ago, I think.”
“They still keep Ampharos on standby, just in case anything goes wrong,” Emilia said. “But it was too difficult to manage with a pokemon, even though Ampharos’s light is more powerful.”
“Pokemon get sick,” Cashe said, remembering the games.
“Occasionally, but the real problem is they get grumpy, or bored, or just don’t want to do it anymore.” Emilia shrugged.
“So we’ll arrive today?” Lindon said. “Do you think we will get to go into the city? I want to see Jasmine.”
“Is she still Gym Leader?” Cashe said, “I thought she would have retired by now.”
“She’s still hanging on,” Emilia said. She turned to Lindon, “But Lindon, you can’t just walk into a gym and expect to meet the Gym Leader.”
“You did that in Viridian,” Cashe pointed out.
“Yes, but she’s my sister,” Emilia said, “That’s different, I know her.”
“I know Jasmine!” Lindon said, crossing his arms, “She gave me Magnemite, so she’ll want to see how I’m doing.”
Cashe and Emilia turned to look at Lindon. Emilia raised her eyebrows, “How does a twelve year old kid know Jasmine well enough to get a pokemon from her?” She said. Cashe could see the amusement in her eyes, but Lindon missed it.
Lindon blanched, eyes going wide as he realized his mistake, “I just kind of do.”
“Interesting,” Emilia said, “I meet all kinds of people because of my family.”
Lindon visibly gulped, glancing over to Cashe for help.
“You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to,” Cashe said, “But just so you know, we aren’t going to care either way. Emilia is an Oak and I got a lot of support from her family as well. We aren’t going to judge you for who your relatives are.”
Lindon nodded, but didn’t say anything else, not looking either of them in the eye.
“What do you say we greet the new arrivals from Johto?” Cashe said, changing the subject, “Then we can see if we will have enough time to explore the city.”
***
Cashe watched from the deck just above the main port of entry as the ship pulled into the Olivine City dock. He was not alone, the small balcony filled with a crowd of people, mostly non-trainers. Luckily, Cashe was not recognizable enough to garner attention from the crowd and they left him alone.
At night, Olivine City was a marvel. The City of Lights may be Paris back on Earth, but Olivine definitely took that title here. Set at the base of a steep, grassy hill, Olivine glowed with light, both artificial and natural. Pokemon in the hills behind the city flashed with repeating lights as they communicated and hunted, causing the air above the city to glow and sparkle, all the while the city glittered from a million lights, winking in and out as people passed in front of them. The effect was dazzling, and Cashe couldn’t take his eyes off of it. He had seen the northern lights when camping once, and he thought he would never see something more breathtaking, but the luster of an entire city dancing with ethereal light might be just as impressive.
The crowd at the dock was even bigger than it had been in Vermillion City, and they looked like they were in the midst of a party. Music blared up to Cashe's ears from the dock below and people shouted in celebration as the cruise came into dock. Cashe could even see camera crews and reporters set up, interviewing a small group of people at the edge of the party.
“I keep hearing interesting things about you, Mr Cashe.”
Cashe turned as a figure rested on the railing beside him. He took a relaxed pose, a casual summer suit draping over a light green shirt.
“Mr Maple,” Cashe said, “That’s twice you’ve called me that, but I don’t recall telling you my name.”
“Like I said at our last meeting, you travel with auspicious company. I think you will find many people wondering who the mysterious trainer is that is traveling with an Oak daughter and a Gym Leader’s son.”
“Perhaps, but you’re the only one talking to me,” Cashe said, turning back to the dazzling display of lights, “I don’t see your entourage with you today.”
“It is a cruise for all of us,” Mr Maple smiled, “My employees may be working during the day, but I do not require them to put in overtime.” He frowned, “Usually.”
“Not going to answer my question?”
“Did you ask one?” Mr Maple said. Cashe gave him a side glance and Mr Maple grinned, “Fine. Most people think you a hanger on, lucky in your friends and making the most of it.”
“But not you.”
“I know Blue Oak better than most, and the whole world knows his daughters. I do not think any would allow you to travel with Miss Oak if you were just ‘some guy’. I recall something similar becoming a minor drama a few years ago.”
“I kind of am just some guy,” Cashe shrugged, “Maybe the Oak’s have mellowed out. Misty might be influencing them.”
Mr Maple burst out laughing, “You have a dry wit, Mr Cashe.”
Cashe didn’t know what was so funny, he was being serious. “I don’t feel like anything special.”
Mr Maple gave him a steady look once his chuckling died down, “I cannot tell if you are simply being humble, or if you truly do not know.”
Cashe shrugged, looking down at the crowd below as the first people began wandering onto the ship, “I could be feigning ignorance to find out what you think. Who can tell?”
Mr Maple smirked, “Fine. If that’s the way you want it, I will play your game. What would you say your chances are in the tournament, Mr Cashe?”
“Emilia thinks we can both get into the top eight,” Cashe said, “I don’t know about Lindon though, he only has one pokemon.”
“The top eight,” Mr Maple rubbed his chin, “You say that as if it were simple. It makes me wonder if I am wrong about you.”
“What’s the big deal with that,” Cashe said, “I didn’t say I would win.”
“Shrewd with your game, I see,” Mr Maple said approvingly, “Naturally you must not know your competition, to be so bold.”
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“Ignorance is something I am familiar with more and more,” Cashe said honestly.
“Most have a handful of top contenders,” Mr Maple mused, turning to face Cashe directly, “There is Miss Oak, of course, one of the young Stones from Hoenn, Marcus Daye and Lisa Summers from Johto, and three or four trainers who have got their hands on exceptionally rare and powerful pokemon already. Damian Dart, Felicia Harrow, and Ashley Werner, if I recall correctly. In a single elimination tournament, it is the consistent and the powerful that will come out on top, yet you casually mention one of those contenders puts you right there among the best of them.”
"I've never heard of any of them," Cashe turned to meet Mr Maple’s eyes, giving him a thin smile, “I don’t like to lose.”
“Blood Money indeed,” Mr Maple’s grin was predatory, filled with eager delight, “I wonder if what they say about you is true. Do you really take payments to beat up children’s pets and make women cry?”
Cashe felt his face go flat, “Why, are you looking to hire?”
“Yes.”
Cashe blinked as a chill ran down his spine. “I have to meet my friends. A pleasure seeing you again, Mr Maple.”
“Until next time, Mr Cashe,” Mr Maple watched him go with calculating eyes.
***
“Ready to go?” Emilia asked. She was in full tourist mode, wearing a sundress, a big floppy hat, and sunglasses, even though the sun had long since set.
“We’ve been waiting,” Lindon said. He was chomping at the bit, standing on his tip toes and trying to see a path through the crowd, “What took you so long?”
“Someone was talking to me,” Cashe said, frowning as he approached his friends. They were in the main atrium of the ship, on the lowest deck. The atrium was crowded with people, the Kanto trainers and non-trainers alike waiting to greet the arrivals from Johto, “I had to wait to leave the conversation.”
“Oh, more advice for the young trainer?” Emilia grinned.
“Uh, no, they wanted to know about my chances of winning,” Cashe said evasively.
“They were going for the gambling prize? Typical. I heard the top prizes are really good.”
“Something like that,” Cashe said, shaking his head slightly in response to Emilia’s questioning look.
“Let’s go!” Lindon whined, “Jasmine might not be at her gym if we take too long.”
“Yeah, let’s get away from here.” Cashe said, taking the lead and pushing through the crowd. Several people called out to Emilia as he did, recognizing her as she moved through the atrium. Emilia ignored them, following Cashe closely with a serious expression on her face. Mr Maple’s words were already on Cashe’s mind, but seeing the attention Emilia garnered from simply walking through a group of people made them feel even more significant.
They descended the gangway, moving against the small group of people entering the cruise from the party below. Music grew louder and soon it was blaring in their ears. They moved through the celebration as quickly as possible, soon leaving the docks and arriving on a long boardwalk.
The boardwalk ran the length of the beach. It was well lit, and people walked along it even in the cool evening wind. Signs and notices were planted in the sand, advertising volleyball tournaments and minor pokemon competitions. Cashe saw the enormous dome of the Olivine City Gym to the north, shining with bright lights of its own.
“That’s where you want to head, right?” Emilia said, pointing to the gym, “Do you want to head there on your own?”
“You don’t want to come?” Lindon said, looking disappointed.
“I do,” Emilia said, “But you didn’t want to tell us how you knew Jasmine. If we go, we are probably going to find out.”
Lindon frowned, face taking on a guilty expression, “Actually, I think I might want to go by myself.”
“That’s fine, see you later!” Emilia said, hooking her arm through Cashe’s and all but dragging him in the opposite direction of the gym, leaving a befuddled Lindon to watch them leave.
Cashe stumbled, trying to keep up with Emilia’s pace, “I take it you didn’t really want to go to the gym?”
“You’re acting weird,” Emilia said, not letting go of Cashe’s arm, “Why?”
“I’m not acting weird,” Cashe said.
“You’ve been frowning at me since you met up with us.”
“No I haven’t,” Cashe said, forcing himself to smile, “See, I’m happy.”
“Don’t do that, you look like you’re in pain,” Emilia scoffed, “If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine, but it feels like you’re mad at me.”
“I’m not mad at you.”
“You’ve been mad a lot, recently.”
Cashe sighed, “Can you tell me something?”
“Sure.”
“Who are your other sisters?”
Emilia bit her lip, “You’re asking me now, just like that?” She ran her hands through her hair, pulling a lock over her shoulder and tugging at it nervously, “I thought you were okay not knowing.”
“You don’t want to tell me.”
“Why are you asking now?”
“It came up.” Cashe said flatly, “Are you going to tell me or not?”
“I’ll tell you. It’s just-” Emilia sighed, looking away, “People treat me differently when they know who I am.”
“But I already know who you are,” Cashe said, giving Emilia a look. Was Emilia shy?
“You know who I am but you don’t know what it means,” Emilia said, “You never really asked before.”
“I was kind of dealing with some stuff.” Cashe said, “It made it hard to look outwards.”
“But now you want to know.” Emilia clenched his arm tightly.
“Do you really think I would treat you differently?” Cashe said.
“I don’t know. I’m starting to realize that I don’t really know you. I thought I did, but now I think I just knew your shell. In the last couple of days it’s been like you’re poking through. The real you.”
“And you think the real me might, what, be scared away by your family?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. You were too distracted to care before.” Emilia said, her voice quiet. She tugged on her hair some more with her free hand, still not looking at Cashe.
“You don’t have to tell me, then,” Cashe said, “Can you answer some other questions?”
“No, I’ll tell you-”
“It’s fine. Can you answer me other things?”
“Yeah. And thanks.”
“Are your sisters really that big of a deal?”
Emilia nodded, “Selena is the youngest besides me, so she’s accomplished the least.”
Cashe blinked. That said a lot about her other sisters.
“How many sisters do you have?”
“There are four of us, total. Me, Selena, Maggie, and Elise. Are all your questions going to be about my sisters?”
“No. How big of a deal is it that I am just some guy and traveling with you?”
“You’re not just some guy.”
“Assume that I am.”
“It’s kind of a big deal.” Emilia admitted.
“Kind of?”
“People tried to bribe their way into being my training partner for my journey. Important people.”
Jesus. “Have you heard of a guy called Mr Maple? Apparently he knows your dad.”
Emilia gave him a confused look, “No? Is this related?”
“Kind of,” Cashe said. He scratched the back of his head, “He’s someone I met when we departed. You and Lindon were being swarmed by people and I saw someone all alone, hiding behind a wall of employees. I went and hid with him.”
“What?” Emilia shouted, turning to stare at him, “Are you sure?”
“Is it a problem?” Cashe said.
“Absolutely it is! You found a place to hide from all those casuals and you didn’t tell me? How could you do that?”
Cashe grinned, “If you were there no one would be able to hide at all.”
“I guess,” Emilia grumbled, “Why are you asking about this Mr Maple?”
“He approached me while I was watching the ship dock. He gave me some weird vibes.”
“Weird vibes?” Emilia said, tone teasing, “How suspicious. We’d better call an Officer Jenny, Cashe is feeling weird vibes.”
“I’m serious,” Cashe said, but he smiled, despite himself, “He was digging for info on me trying to figure out if I was really ‘Blood Money’, I think.”
“No one would believe the stuff they say about you.”
“I think he was hoping it was true. He said he wanted to hire me.”
Emilia’s face twisted, “Huh. Those are bad vibes.”
“See! I told you. It’s weird right?”
Emilia nodded and they walked in silence together, listening to the waves lap at the shore. Before long, they came to the end of the beach and the boardwalk.
“Do you want to head into the city, or back along the boardwalk?” Emilia said.
“Actually we should probably try and find Lindon before it’s too late.”
“He didn’t want us to come, remember? Besides, it’s not that late.” Emilia said, “Wouldn’t you rather enjoy the night?”
Cashe shook his head, “No, I mean we have to find Lindon, he’s definitely lost. We have to find him before he ends up sleeping in a dumpster somewhere.”
“Crap, you’re right.” Emilia swore, “Can’t believe I forgot how bad that kid is with directions.”
*****