Chapter 29: Seafoam Islands

  I woke up before the sun had fully risen, with excitement and nerves churning in my stomach, reminding me that today we were setting off for the Seafoam Islands with Class B. As I boarded the massive boat prepared for us, I felt a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of people: there were fifty students in total, and although I didn’t know most of them, I could see that everyone was moving with enthusiasm, as if this “research” mission were the greatest adventure of our lives.

  I glanced around and was surprised at how quickly I recognized the silhouettes of Kara and Vera among the crowd. It was ironic—the two people I trusted the most were also the ones who made me the most nervous every time I approached them. Vera, on one hand, had once tried to kill me in the library when she mistook me for an assassin from the Poison Clan. And Kara, with her loud and extroverted personality, got on my nerves half the time. Yet, there I was, making my way toward them with more ease than I would with any other Class B student.

  They both greeted me in their own way: Kara with a friendly punch on the shoulder that nearly knocked me off balance, and Vera with a slight tilt of her head, her magenta eyes watching me with curiosity, as if trying to decipher something in my expression. Shortly after, I noticed that Ethan and his entourage were also on board, settling just a few steps away from us. That detail made me tense. I figured, in a way, they were keeping an eye on us—he was aware of our deal, and now he intended to make sure we followed his plan to the letter.

  As the boat moved through the sea, the salty wind whipped against my oversized hoodie, which made me look even chubbier than I already was. But I liked the garment—it made me feel protected, as if I could hide within the excess fabric. Several classmates commented that I was crazy for wearing something so warm to the Seafoam Islands, but the truth was that I wasn’t entirely sure what the climate there would be like. At first, we had all imagined a frozen place, especially given its reputation for icy currents and glacier-filled caves.

  As I gazed at the horizon, Kara approached me with her usual energy, resting an arm on my shoulder with a confidence that made me shrink slightly.

  —Hey, Aspen, nervous? —she asked, swaying slightly with the movement of the waves.

  —A little —I admitted—. Mostly because I have no idea what to expect.

  —Don’t worry about it —she said, flashing me a huge grin—. Just make sure you don’t fall into the water!

  I chuckled. The real danger wasn’t falling into the water, but getting caught up in Ethan’s shady plans—his scheme to capture an Ice-affinity Squirtle in order to overthrow Class A. I also remembered that we were there to help Vera find a Shellder. Professor Blaine, who was in charge of leading Class B, tended to trust the top ten students and didn’t supervise them too closely, which gave us the freedom to move around without too many excuses.

  Finally, after a couple of hours of travel, the boat neared the shore. I felt an unexpected wave of heat that caught me off guard—I had pictured the typical scene of the Seafoam Islands with floating icebergs and freezing currents, but the part we arrived at was a sunny beach, with soft, scorching sand beneath the sun. I jumped onto solid ground, my sneakers sinking into the warm sand.

  —Wow… —I murmured—, this is way hotter than I expected.

  Kara, who had stepped down behind me, wore a white and blue gym-style outfit—more suited for training than for the beach, but perfectly adapted to her athletic figure. Her toned muscles, noticeable in her arms and legs, glistened with a light sheen of sweat; she looked completely comfortable. Vera, on the other hand, wore a single-piece black dress. It had a loose, breezy summer cut, but the dark color and the mysterious aura that always surrounded her gave her an elegant, almost gothic look that didn’t go unnoticed. Her deep burgundy hair shimmered slightly in the sunlight, and her pink eyes seemed to analyze everything with almost scientific precision.

  —You guys… look really nice.

  I regretted the comment the second I said it, fearing they would take it the wrong way.

  Luckily, Kara didn’t even register it, and Vera merely tilted her head slightly, keeping her gaze fixed on the distant rock formations. Even so, I nearly sighed in relief—if I had spoken more enthusiastically about their appearance, Kara probably would have mocked me, and Vera might have sent me flying with a psychic push.

  Professor Blaine gave some general instructions, pointing out which areas we should explore. As part of the Top 10 of the class, we were allowed to move with considerable independence. Split into smaller groups, most students headed toward nearby groves or stayed on the beach examining Water-type Pokémon. But we, along with Ethan and his team, preferred to venture further into a cave complex visible in the distance.

  We walked under the blazing sun, and I deeply regretted not choosing lighter clothing. Sweat trickled down my forehead, and with every step, my feet sank deeper into the hot sand. However, I soon began to feel a much colder, almost glacial breeze as we neared the rocky area.

  The openings in the rocks yawned like massive mouths, and the temperature inside dropped drastically. Tunnels stretched into unknown directions, with walls covered in a thin layer of ice and glistening stalagmites hanging from the ceiling and rising from the floor. This explained Seafoam’s wintry reputation—it wasn’t a single frozen island, but a network of almost arctic caves, shielded by natural formations that blocked the outside heat.

  Beside us, several members of Ethan’s entourage began to shiver. They had dressed for summer, assuming everything would be warmth and beaches, so they pulled out makeshift jackets from their backpacks. However, Vera and Kara walked on unfazed. I couldn’t help but ask:

  —Hey… aren’t you guys cold?

  Only then did I notice a faint glow surrounding their bodies: in Vera, it was a soft pink aura, while Kara’s had a bluish tint. Sensing my curiosity, they both stopped and looked at me.

  —It’s a method to protect ourselves from the temperature —Vera explained softly—. A technique that uses energy as a protective layer, allowing us to endure extreme environments without getting sick.

  —Exactly —Kara added, resting her fists on her hips—. And we’re also testing whether it can help us resist poisons, at least temporarily.

  —Resist poisons? —I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

  I felt a strange twinge in my stomach. Maybe a part of me felt… prideful. I had worked so hard on my poison affinity that it was hard to believe others could develop resistance so quickly. Suddenly, something dark stirred within me: What would happen if I tried to test it myself?

  Without realizing it, one of the nails on my right hand became coated with a small, toxic crystal—shiny and menacing. My plan, which was pretty stupid, was to lightly prick them to see if they truly resisted poison. However, before I could act, I felt two piercing gazes drilling into my skull.

  I turned and found Vera’s face completely serious, her pink eyes cold and sharp, while Kara’s expression, usually warm, had taken on a fierce, almost wild intensity that scared me.

  —Don’t even think about it —they both warned in unison, their voices soft but through clenched teeth.

  I immediately withdrew my hand. A chill ran down my spine, and I faked a cough to cover up my failed attempt.

  —It wasn’t that serious… —I muttered, looking away—. I just wanted to…

  —You wanted nothing —Vera interrupted, relaxing her stance.

  —And you better not try it —Kara added with a mocking growl, but one that carried enough weight to make the consequences clear.

  We walked a few more meters. Ethan’s group had stayed behind, probably intrigued by our behavior but unwilling to interfere. I decided to stick with the girls to avoid Ethan’s prying eyes.

  —Why did you develop that technique? —I asked, trying to ease the tension.

  Kara shot me an amused look.

  —Because if we want to use our weapons freely, we need poison resistance. Don’t you remember how you made them?

  —Weapons? —I repeated, blinking.

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  Vera clicked her tongue in exasperation and looked at me as if I were the biggest idiot in the world.

  —The crystal weapons you made for us in the Cerulean Caves.

  The memory hit me like a brick. Indeed, during the battles in the Cerulean Caves, I had crafted weapons from my own poisonous energy to help Kara and Vera defend themselves. Afterward, I lost consciousness, and when I woke up, I never asked what had happened to those weapons.

  —Why didn’t you return them to me? —I muttered, feeling slightly offended—. They were supposed to be temporary.

  Kara simply smirked.

  —They turned out to be too useful. Besides, it’s not like you complained before.

  A twinge of indignation stirred in my chest. I was about to demand some kind of compensation, but at that moment, something unexpected happened—Ethan appeared from behind a cluster of rocks. Somehow, he had approached us in silence, without us noticing.

  —What weapons are you talking about? —he inquired, raising an eyebrow.

  I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could, something odd happened—Vera flicked her wrist, and suddenly, my vocal cords were blocked. It felt as if an invisible hand had covered my mouth, leaving my voice reduced to an inaudible whimper. At the same time, Kara hoisted me over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes, carrying me with surprising ease.

  —None of your business —Kara replied as she confidently walked away from Ethan—. We have… another mission to take care of first.

  —Yeah —Vera added—. If you need us, you already have our number in the Pokédex.

  Ethan’s gaze darkened for a moment, but he smiled kindly, as if he didn’t want to raise suspicion.

  —Alright, go on. I’ll take care of other parts of the cave. Just don’t wander too far.

  I flailed on Kara’s shoulder, trying to get her to put me down, until Vera finally released her psychic grip on my voice. After some coughing and flailing, I managed to take a breath. I felt the rough gravel and sand scratch my stomach since my hoodie had rolled up around my waist while Kara carried me. Vera followed behind with her usual stoic expression, not saying a word.

  We moved far enough away from Ethan’s group, going deeper into the icy cave. Here, there was no noise from the other students, just silence interrupted by the sound of water dripping from the walls. Finally, Kara put me down, and I let out an annoyed huff.

  —Was that really necessary? —I exclaimed, adjusting my hoodie—. You scared me half to death.

  Vera shrugged.

  —We didn’t want Ethan snooping into our weapons or how we got them.

  —Yeah, less talking, more moving —Kara added, looking ahead.

  She raised her Poké Ball, releasing her Machop, while Vera sent out her Abra. I did the same, letting out my Alolan Grimer, Dozy. The place was dimly lit, and I watched as Kara’s Machop—whom she called “Karate”—stretched eagerly. He was a sturdy Pokémon, with grayish skin and an intense gaze. Vera’s Abra, named Sage, floated a few inches above the ground, his eyes half-closed, exuding an air of mystery that mirrored his trainer.

  Dozy, meanwhile, emerged from his Poké Ball with his usual sleepy demeanor, his half-lidded eyes and slow, sluggish movement. Since he was shiny, his coloration differed from a normal Alolan Grimer—his body was a deep purple, with a bright yellow band around his mouth. I noticed Kara and Vera exchanging curious glances, probably impressed by my partner’s unusual color.

  —This is the first time you’ve seen him outside of battle, isn’t it? —I commented, stroking the slimy surface of Dozy’s head—. He’s pretty lazy, but… I trust him.

  Dozy, realizing that he was being stared at so intently, seemed to blush (as much as a Grimer could) and slid away from me, approaching Abra and Machop. Sage observed him with something resembling a nod of acknowledgment, while Karate grinned with childlike enthusiasm.

  —Do you think they’ll get along? —I murmured, shrugging.

  At that moment, Vera raised her hand, and I felt a light tingling sensation on my scalp, as if an electric comb were brushing through my hair.

  —What… what are you doing? —I blurted out, alarmed.

  —I’m trying to establish a mental link —Vera explained in her usual tone—. I want all three of us to “hear” what our Pokémon are saying. I can transmit telepathy, and I can amplify it so that Kara and you can perceive it as well.

  Before I could object, the tingling intensified, and suddenly, a series of incomprehensible murmurs turned into words—or something close to it. I felt my mind open up, and Kara let out a surprised gasp:

  —Whoa! I can hear their voices!

  —Technically, they don’t have voices —Vera clarified—. But their thoughts are being translated into a form we can understand.

  —Wait… does that mean they can hear what I’m thinking? —I asked, sweating a little.

  —Not your Pokémon, but Kara and I can. Almost everything. —Vera smirked—. So be careful.

  A shiver ran down my spine as I imagined all my private thoughts being exposed. Out of pure reflex, I thought: I hope Vera isn’t a pervert snooping into my fantasies, and immediately, I felt a psychic slap across my face.

  —Ouch! —I yelped, holding my cheek.

  Vera glared at me, her expression unreadable. It was clear she had heard that. I felt my face flush as Kara burst into laughter, sending mental messages of mockery: Aspen is hilarious… I could feel her amusement echoing through my brain.

  —Enough —I muttered, gritting my teeth—. This isn’t fair.

  —Then control your thoughts —Vera retorted, sending another mild psychic shock.

  Kara just kept laughing, thinking: Vera looks adorable when she’s mad. That phrase echoed in my mind, and I noticed Vera rolling her eyes. At least we were all in the same mess of mental eavesdropping.

  While we were struggling with our own intrusive thoughts, our Pokémon’s conversation deepened. I heard Dozy’s tired voice speaking in some form: Do you guys feel how cold this place is?

  Sage, the Abra, responded eloquently: I only sense a slight chill, but my psychic energy keeps me balanced. Lady Vera taught me that. And you, Karate?

  Machop answered with childlike enthusiasm: Master Kara trains me enough to withstand any temperature! I could hear the admiration in his voice for his trainer, while Dozy mused: Your trainers are really strong, huh?

  —Wow… so they really are talking —I murmured, surprised.

  —Let’s listen a bit more —Kara suggested, grinning.

  We focused back on the Pokémon’s conversation. Sage said something that left me stunned: My trainer, Vera, has immense power, but sometimes I feel she’s unstable… I suppose it’s only a matter of time before she improves.

  Machop, or Karate, as Kara preferred to call him, exclaimed with admiration: My master Kara is incredible! Her strength has no limits, and once she refines her control, she’ll be the greatest fighter in the world!

  I saw Vera and Kara exchange looks of both pride and embarrassment. It was unexpected to hear their own Pokémon praise them like that. Then, Dozy chimed in: Aspen is very kind. He lets me slack off all day… well, not as much anymore… but he’s getting stronger too. His crystallized poison has grown since he absorbed mine.

  Abra and Machop turned their gazes toward me, as if evaluating me. Sage declared: I don’t know if he’s worthy of Lady Vera. Karate nodded: Nor of Master Kara. Then, as if dropping a bomb, Sage added: Normally, they should mate with someone of their own level to maintain the strength of the lineage.

  —What…? —I stammered, feeling my face turn beet red.

  That comment, especially the word “mate,” left me in shock. The mental images that followed were catastrophic, and apparently, Kara and Vera felt the same embarrassment or rage, because, instantly, the connection snapped with a harsh pull.

  I looked at both girls to confirm their reaction: they had their eyebrows furrowed, their cheeks slightly tinted red (it was barely noticeable on Vera, while on Kara, it was more obvious). Both turned toward their Pokémon with furious expressions.

  —What the hell are you two talking about, you idiots?! —Vera’s voice echoed sharply in our minds.

  —Don’t talk about me like I’m some kind of breeding Pokémon! —Kara roared, making the whole situation even more chaotic.

  Abra instantly teleported away, disappearing from the cave, while Machop took off running so fast that he left a streak in the ice-covered floor.

  —Get back here! —Vera and Kara shouted simultaneously, each charging after their Pokémon.

  The first vanished in a flash of psychic energy, the same teleportation Abra used, while the second sprinted after Machop, her powerful footsteps reverberating through the cave. Within seconds, I was left alone, with Dozy at my side, watching the trail of destruction Kara had left in her wake. Maybe I should be just as afraid of her as I was of Vera—it seemed that, if she got mad enough, she could be even more destructive.

  I sighed and turned to my Grimer, who gazed at me with his glossy eyes and a small trail of bubbling sludge at his mouth. He had an expression somewhere between regret and confusion.

  —Really…? —I groaned, kneeling so he could hear me better—. You couldn’t think of anything better to say about me besides “he’s kind” and “he lets me slack off”? Do you want everyone to think I’m just a lazy bum?

  Dozy tilted his head, letting out a soft blorp…. That was his way of apologizing, I suppose. I looked at him with resignation.

  —Seriously, buddy. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you. —I stroked the gooey surface of his head with two fingers—. And for your information, I am strong… it’s just that I’m surrounded by a bunch of monsters.

  Dozy responded with another sad bubbling sound, as if admitting he might not have chosen his words wisely in front of Sage and Karate. At least seeing his crystal-clear, remorseful eyes made me feel a little better.

  A few moments later, I heard a pop in the air and turned, startled. Vera had returned, holding Abra tightly in her arms. She seemed to be mentally scolding the poor Pokémon, who had buried his head against her dress, trying to avoid her piercing gaze.

  —I suppose Kara found Machop, didn’t she? —I murmured.

  —She did. And she disciplined him—with a punch. —Vera rolled her eyes—. Sometimes I think it’s an effective method, though a bit crude. She also found something ahead and asked me to bring you.

  —Something? What?

  —I don’t know, but I do know she’s impatient. Ready?

  —Ready for what—?

  I didn’t get to finish my sentence. Vera placed a hand on my shoulder, and the cave spun around me. A sudden wave of dizziness hit me—a sharp psychic pull yanked me from where I was and transported me somewhere else in an instant. I landed face-first on the ground, while Dozy made a soft splosh upon landing next to me.

  I sat up, feeling slightly dizzy, and blinked to recognize my new surroundings: a larger chamber within the cave, with a clear, icy underground lake. In the distance, I spotted Machop, looking grumpy, with a massive lump on his head. Beside him, Kara smiled at me, hands on her hips, and behind her, a large crater in the wall bore the exact shape of her body, deeply embedded.

  —Did you… crash into that? —I asked, pointing at the crater.

  Kara scratched the back of her neck with a hint of embarrassment.

  —Let’s just say… I tripped while running. But that’s not important. Look over there!

  She pointed toward the crystal-clear depths of the lake. I squinted and saw violet shapes moving beneath the water’s surface. As I focused, I realized they were multiple Shellder, floating near the gravelly lakebed, opening and closing their shells. Some released bubbles, others slowly spun in place. The place was full of them—a peaceful colony in their natural habitat.

  Vera stood beside me, still holding her Abra. The dim light reflected off her black dress and deep red hair, making her look almost unreal.

  —Jackpot.