Pokemon: The Legacy of Dragons

Caitlin had finally calmed her mind. Sitting quietly on the chair, she truly looked every bit the noble lady she was born to be, her lips curved into a gentle smile that seemed to lighten the air around her.

Her quick temper, as Logan had explained, was so deeply entwined with her psychic powers that it was nearly impossible to separate the two. Yet now, with Logan temporarily suppressing and sealing those powers, bringing her emotions and gifts under full control had at last become something within her reach.

It was a peace she had never known before. Almost unconsciously, she found herself sitting closer to Logan—so close that she nearly leaned into him, as though simply being near him might help her keep her powers under control.

Pressed lightly against him through the thin fabric of their clothes, her delicate form carried a soft scent of roses, elegant and faint yet utterly captivating.

Logan said nothing to correct her, though he knew being close wouldn't really help. But seeing this refined heiress so willing to cling to him, Logan decided it wasn't worth interrupting her fragile calm.

After all, what man could refuse when such a graceful young lady leaned so trustingly against him?

"What's on your mind, Red?" Logan asked at last, noticing the distracted look on Red's face.

Red let out an awkward laugh, shifting on the spot, even giving Logan an apologetic glance—almost as though he regretted interrupting something intimate.

"I'm not the type of person you're imagining!" Logan said each word slowly and seriously.

You think I don't read the news? Red thought silently.

The papers were always filled with gossip: rumors of Logan's private ties to two Gym Leaders, or whispers of romantic drama on the streets of Cerulean City. While Red never trusted everything he read, knowing Logan's ticket for the cruise had come from Misty, and now seeing him beside a noble heiress… it all suddenly felt more believable.

And really, Red was only fifteen; it would be impossible for him to feel nothing but indifference. But Red's passion burned brightest for Pokémon battles, and romance had never captured his heart.

"Forget that. Didn't you ask me to help look into this ship? Let's get started," Logan finally said, realizing the more he explained, the less sense it would make.

"Right! We need to investigate the ship!" Red's face lit up as he remembered their goal, tugging his gloves tighter with renewed determination.

"Investigate the ship? What's wrong with it?" Caitlin asked, her eyes shining with excitement. For someone her age, the thrill of adventure had always been there. But in the past, the fear of losing control over her psychic powers kept her from traveling like other trainers. All she could do was watch from afar, her heart full of envy.

But now? Now she was free, at least for a while, and the spark of adventure blossomed inside her.

Red, without thinking, quickly explained: in Vermilion City, the "Pokémon Enthusiast Society" had asked him to look into suspected Pokémon theft tied to this very cruise. The moment she heard, Caitlin grew even more animated.

"Lord Logan, please let me come with you both! Trainers everywhere despise those who steal Pokémon. As a trainer from Sinnoh, it's my duty to join in the investigation and help stop them!"

"…Please, I won't slow you down. I can now control my temper, and I'll do everything to keep it from showing. Just as you said—to bloom beautifully, like an elegant white rose."

She took a step back in her pale pink heels, lowered her head slightly, and delicately lifted the hem of her dress as she bent into a graceful, formal bow.

Truly a noble heiress—every movement polished beyond reproach, every word carrying quiet conviction. Even her respectful "Lord Logan" felt as natural as breathing.

Faced with her hopeful, shining eyes, Logan couldn't bring himself to say no.

In his memories, the name "Caitlin" felt oddly familiar. Though he hadn't watched much of the anime and barely remembered the games, he thought she might become someone strong in Unova—maybe even part of the Elite Four?

But that was the future. The Caitlin before him now had fought battles, yes—but had never traveled, never tasted the danger and thrill of life-and-death struggles. She was the classic academy-trained type: perhaps not overwhelmingly strong, but surely able to protect herself.

Thinking that, Logan finally nodded. "…Change your shoes. We'll all go together."

"Yes! Lord Logan, Red, wait just a moment!" she called out cheerfully. With a faint swirl of rose-scented perfume, she hurried out of the room. Her own cabin was nearby, also in first class.

Logan rubbed his temple, a trace of amusement and exasperation mixing together. He had clearly picked up a companion who wasn't just clingy—but someone who looked at him with deep admiration.

"Red, give me a moment too. I need to grab some things," Logan said.

Red waited as Logan changed into casual clothes better suited for sneaking about, packing the tools and items they might need. Soon enough, Caitlin returned. And so the three of them—Logan, Red, and Caitlin—became an unlikely team, setting out together to investigate the secrets of the S.S. Anne.

The first-class cabins lay at the very top of the great ship. But their destination was far below—in the lower cargo hold. Thanks to Logan's psychic senses, they easily avoided the watchful eyes of the ship's sailors, slipping quietly into the vast, shadowed storage decks.

As a huge cruise liner, the S.S. Anne didn't just carry wealthy travelers across regions. It also transported goods and cargo bound for other lands. After all, no ship owner would turn away extra profit.

The hold was almost completely dark. Since they had snuck in, turning on the main lights wasn't an option. Logan moved carefully along the walls and crates, feeling his way forward, while Caitlin and Red shone flashlights under tarps, checking each stack of cargo.

Caitlin didn't mind the dust at all. For her, this was likely the first real adventure of her life.

A first adventure—something no one ever forgets.

"All I see here are local products, electronics, raw materials… nothing even close to Pokémon," Red finally said, sounding frustrated as he returned to Logan's side.

"This isn't the very bottom of the ship," Logan explained. "If this theft ring really is linked to the S.S. Anne, the criminals wouldn't be stupid enough to stash Pokémon in a place anyone could check. Instead, they'd use something like—"

He stepped to one corner, pressing his foot on a section of the wooden floor. A hollow sound echoed beneath them.

"…This spot is empty underneath! A hidden room, built right into the ship's floor. It feels so familiar…"

Just like the research lab where he had first awoken in this world.

Recalling that place, Logan felt his certainty harden.

There was more to this ship than met the eye.

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T/N:

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