Into the Unown (Pokemon Fanfiction OC)
Chapter 171.5: Romance Dawn

Author's note:

This chapter was released alongside chapter 171, so go back and read that if you haven't yet.

The events depicted in this chapter is a "What if?" scenario. What if Nina chose to take a fishing boat like she initially planned instead of flying to Pallet Town?

So although I wouldn't say that it's not canon, it's not exactly relevant to the main story. Just a fun little idea I had one day.

***

“Are you sure about this, Nina…?”

The girl smiled and gave her companion a reassuring pat on the arm.

“It’s okay, Kerr… These sailors may look scary but they’re all softies on the inside.” Nina had been around enough of them to know that by now.

The Cinnabar Port was bustling despite the cold winter chill; fishermen and sailors hustling about and shouting at one another, their rubber boots squeaking at every step.

“Gotta be tough to survive out at sea with how perilous it is…” Nina mused. The seafaring business had always been risky even in her old world, but with the existence of Pokemon, such risks were further compounded. The likes of Tentacruel and Gyarados might as well be mythical sea monsters for all intents and purposes. 

“But the mermaids in your Gym aren’t like that…” Kerry whined.

“Ha! Try saying that again after you get into an arm wrestling match with one of those bitches. Don’t let the bikinis and the makeup fool you, Kerry — they’re all secretly Slakings in disguise.”

Kerry laughed but commented no further as she stuck close to Nina’s back. The two girls were currently on a quest to find a boat that would be willing to ferry them to Pallet Town.

However, in consideration of Kerry’s seasickness, Nina’s plan was to have Nitey Fly their friend over to Professor Oak’s ranch first while Nina took the sea route. But Kerry, ever the matronly Joy, wanted to make sure that her friend was in good hands before leaving and insisted on tagging along in Nina’s search.

“Oi, Usopp! Hurry it up will you! You’re burning daylight here!”

“Oh shut it, Nami! Easy for you to say you bossy litt— ack!”

“What about those guys? They seem… friendly?” Kerry remarked, voice tinged with uncertainty. And by friendly, she meant that the youths looked the least intimidating out of everyone she could see in port.

“Hmm… They do have a cute boat.” Nina shrugged and approached the two bickering young sailors, one of whom was locked in a chokehold by the other with a whole bunch of wooden crates scattered around the vicinity.

The moment that Nami — an orange-haired girl who reminded Nina strongly of a younger Misty — saw the two girls approaching, she unceremoniously tossed her colleague to the concrete floor and began rubbing her palms together in a servile posture.

“Customers!” Nami exclaimed. “How may the Straw Hat crew be of service to you today?” All the while, the older teen’s eyes morphed into Pokedollar signs as she carefully eyed the expensive looking attire being worn by the pair as well as the Espeon trailing Nina’s side and the Happiny in Kerry’s arms.

Nina chuckled. “Hi there, we were wondering if it was possible to charter a ride over to Pallet Town on your lovely ship?”

The ship in question was a quaint little wooden construct with an imposing mast, a tree planted atop the cabin for some reason, and a figurehead in the shape of… “Is that a Lapras head?”

Nina’s words seemed to have triggered Usopp, the moaning, afro-haired guy sprawled on the docks. Because he promptly recovered in a huff and yelled; “It’s a Mareep’s head, you stupid—”

However, the guy did not manage to finish his tirade because he was promptly sent flying into the sea by a flourishing roundhouse kick from Nami, right in his uncannily long nose.

“Is he going to be alright?” Kerry muttered, already regretting her decision to approach the pair of eccentric youths.

“Oh don’t you worry about that moron, Usopp’s a decent swimmer — gotta be if you wanna sail the seas.” Nami laughed, brushing off the girl’s concerns with a casual wave. 

“Now then, about your commission, we would be happy to make a stop in Pallet Town. But well… we would need to take a detour from our originally planned route you see… which means a delay to our schedule and the need for extra fuel and supplies…” The girl shot Nina a knowing look and rubbed her palms with an intensity that was liable to set them aflame

Nina glanced at the ship’s sails at the mention of fuel, but otherwise just returned the older girl’s sentiment with a genial smile. “I’ll be happy to reimburse the extra cost so long as it’s reasonable. And I’m not in too much of a rush either, so if there are more pressing issues you need to tend to in the vicinity, I’d be more than happy to come along for the ride.”

“Excellent! Please, allow me to give you a grand tour of our proud vessel — the Going Merry!”

“Are you really sure about this, Nina?” Kerry asked once more, merely eliciting an amused smirk from the other girl in return as she gingerly stepped atop the flimsy boarding ramp.

***

“And here you will find our magnificent deck area!” Nami exclaimed as she gestured towards the rustic wooden surface with a few deck chairs strewn about haphazardly. Nina could even spot some crude mendwork of mismatched wood along the guardrails and the creaky floor board.

“Customers are free to roam around at their own leisure, breath in the soothing sea breeze and bath in the warm and radiant sun of Kanto!” The girl boasted, amidst a freezing cold tempest and the cloudy grey skies of winter.

Nina held back her laughter. “Is this ship normally used for cargo?” She asked as she wandered off to examine the scarred exterior of the ship, revelling in the history hidden behind every scuff and splinter.

“Cargo and passenger transport, fishing and general shipping. The Straw Hat crew is the premiere privateering company in the Eastern Ocean! If you ever need a ship, just give us a call. And you need not worry about your safety either, dear customers. Because our captain is a highly competent battler, having finished top ten in the Ever Grande conference!”

“Privateers eh…” Nina mused. “I would like to meet your captain if you wouldn’t mind.”

“Of course, of course… LUFFY!!!” The girl hollered before stomping into the cabin after receiving no response.

“Ow! Hey, schtowp wit! What’s the big deal, Nami! I was napping!”

After a round of raucous commotion, Nami reappeared from the cabin with a resentful looking youth nursing a swollen cheek in tow — a black haired boy wearing a simple red vest and a tattered straw hat frayed to the brim.

“We got customers, you idiot! Get yourself together and say hi!” Nami rebuked as she slammed a karate chop onto the boy’s head.

“Ow! Cut it out! I get it already!” The boy yelled. But just as quickly, blossomed into a sunny, toothsome smile and turned to greet Nina with a jovial laugh.

“Hihihihihi… Hi there, my name is Luffy! Captain of the Straw Hats and the man who’s gonna become the King of the Seas! Nice to meetcha!”

***

“Wow… Is that a Dragonite?!”

Nina laughed at the two boys, Luffy and Usopp, who were gawking at Nitey with sparkling eyes. “Yup, this is Nitey, my starter.” Nina reached up and gave her partner a little kiss. “Take good care of Kerry for me, you hear?” The girl instructed with loving pats to Nitey’s belly.

“Are you really sure about this Nina?” Kerry asked for what felt like the umpteenth time now. The nurse girl’s complexion was already taking on a sickly parlour just by standing on this rickety ship.

Nina pulled her friend in for a gentle hug. “Don’t worry, Kerr. Espy’s got my back. Isn’t that right, girl?”

“Es.”

“And besides, if I need to Fly then I’ve still got Brucey as well, even if it isn’t entirely ideal.” That part was said in a quiet whisper, eliciting nods from Kerry.

“Alright… Stay safe, okay? I’ll send Nitey back your way as soon as we reach Pallet Town.”

Nina smiled and exchanged a few more words of encouragement with Kerry before commanding Nitey to take her away, the wooden ship lurching from the shockwave of the Dragonite’s powerful launch.

“That’s so cool!!!” Luffy exclaimed once more.

“Alright, that’s enough gawking from the two of you! Go get those crates loaded up so we can get going already. We’re burning daylight here!” Nami yelled. “And where’s Sanji? Tell him to prepare some refreshments for our guest!”

***

“Here you go, mademoiselle. A drink made using the freshest of Oran Berries sourced straight from the Going Merry herself.”

Nina smiled and grabbed hold of the colorful drink that was presented to her. “Thanks Sanji, but I gotta ask… Why the suit? It’s not exactly the best outfit for a ship like this.”

The blonde boy let out a dashing smile and did a comical little twirl in front of her. “A gentleman must always dress to impress a lady.” He proclaimed with a rose in hand, eliciting giggles from the girl.

“Well, if anything, I do appreciate the effort.”

“Ack!” Sanji clenched his chest and performed another, more exaggerated flourish. “Your smile means the world to me, my lady! I, Sanji, swear to devote my heart and — ack!” Another cry, but this time because an irate Nami snuck up behind him with a clenched fist.

“Stop bothering our guest and go back down into the kitchen, you pervert! Aren’t you supposed to be preparing lunch?!”

Nina laughed at the duo’s shenanigans, eliciting a fiery blush from the older girl.

“I’m so sorry about him Miss Jones, the boys aren’t the smartest of Psyducks, but they don’t mean you any harm.”

Nina chuckled and dismissed Nami’s concern with a casual wave. “Don’t worry about it Nami, I like how close knit your crew is — almost like you guys are one big dysfunctional family. And please, just call me Nina. There’s no need to treat me special or anything. I’m just a journeying Pokemon Trainer like anyone else.”

Nami nodded with a friendly grin. “Well don’t mind if I do, Nina. Lunch will be ready as soon as those idiots fish something up — doesn’t get any fresher than that! Are there any dietary preferences we should be aware of? That stupid Sanji was supposed to ask earlier but well…”

“No worries. I don’t eat Pokemon but everything else is just fine with me. I look forward to whatever the boys fish up.” Nami was right, eating fish caught straight from the source was quintessential to any trip aboard a fishing vessel.

“No Pokemon, gotcha! I’ll head into the kitchen and let Sanji know. Despite how frivolous he is, the guy’s a top notch cook so nothing to worry about!”

And so Nina continued to lay stretched atop the deck chair with Espy by her side. With a casual barrier set up to block the worst of the winds, the trip aboard the raucous Going Merry was surprisingly pleasant.

In the distance, atop the, supposed, Mareep head of the Going Merry was Luffy, balanced precariously with a fishing rod in hand, swaying back and forth amidst the winter tempest.

Nina was pretty sure the boy had dozed off, judging by the massive bubble pulsating from his nose. But just as the girl was about to call out to him in concern, the fishing rod shook and the bubble burst, jolting Luffy awake.

“Huh? Wha?” The young captain drawled, then abruptly shot upright and began frantically reeling in his catch. “Hihihi! We got ourselves a biggie! Oi, Usopp! Help me out here will ya!”

Usopp yelled back at his captain’s call and rushed over to hold onto Luffy’s waist as the boy wrestled with his catch. The fishing rod bent at a steep angle as it jerked violently to the side, line stretched taut.

Nina frowned at the sight and hovered her hand over Sir Clodington’s Pokeball. Luffy’s catch was clearly some sort of Pokemon and she wanted to be ready in case she got roped into a sudden battle.

“Dammit, Luffy! I can’t… hold on… much longer!” Usopp groaned as he struggled to keep hold of the other boy.

“Just… a little… more…!” However, the red faced Luffy was adamant as he sucked in a deep breath for one last heave. Then, with a forceful jerk, the line snapped and the two boys were sent tumbling ass backwards onto the deck.

The Going Merry lurched as the waters churned, surface bulging as a pair of angry red glows suffused the air. What emerged was a gargantuan Tentacruel — one almost half the size of the ship they were on.

Nina’s frown deepened. “Not an Alpha. But that size is clearly irregular…”

However, before Nina could spring into action, Luffy jumped up onto his feet and eyed the Tentacruel with a hungry expression, licking his lips as he did. “Sweet catch! I’m gonna have you for lunch!” The boy declared before expanding a Pokeball in his hand.

Then, with a cartoony winding motion, Luffy threw his Pokeball onto the deck. “I choose you, Zoro!”

The Pokemon that emerged was a sleek little green lizard with a lithe build and long sharp blades of grass growing from his arms and head.

“Oooohhh… A Grovyle!!!” Nina swooned in excitement at the sight of the rare Hoennese starter. Treecko had always been her favorite Grass Type and to be able to see a member of the species in person was like a dream come true to her.

Zoro the Grovyle emerged with a lazy yawn, but quickly took on a sharp glint in his eyes when he caught sight of the mass of writhing tentacles looming menacingly over the ship.

“Gro.” With a sharp flick, Zoro’s wrist blades elongated and bent forwards to rest in his palms, the sharp foliage hardening with a flash to function as swords in the wood gecko’s hands. Even the single strand of lengthy leaf extending from the back of Grovyle’s head straightened and took on a sharp glint as well.

“Hihi! Alright, Zoro. Let’s catch that thing and get Sanji to cook it up!”

“Were Tentacruels even edible?” Nina mused.

“Gro.”

Nina’s concern was evidently not one that Zoro shared, because the Grovyle simply shifted between a few strong poses to empower his blades with Swords Dance before dashing forth to meet the Tentacruel head on.

“Santoryu — Tatsumaki!” Luffy yelled as his Grovyle turned into a tornado of blades, one that sliced apart the tide of Poison being spewed by the Tentacruel before it even had a chance to touch the Going Merry.

But regardless, Nina still asked Espy to be on standby, to shield the vessel and her occupants from harm if it came down to it.

“Nigiri — Toro Salmon!”

After slicing a number of the Tentacruel’s tentacles into bite size pieces, Zoro’s pose shifted into a diagonal one with two of his Leaf Blade held parallel to one another.

“Gro. Grovyle!” And with a determined cry, Pokemon swordmaster ascended like a salmon against the stream, cutting the front of the Tentacrual open with a flash.

“CRUEEELL!!!” The Tentacruel howled in pain and attempted to retreat back into the water after realizing that this was a fight it couldn’t win. But neither Luffy, nor his Pokemon were having any of it.

“Don’t let it get away, Zoro!”

“Gro.”

The Grovyle landed on the Going Merry’s figurehead and reeled in his posture, ‘sheathing’ a singular Leaf Blade to the side while simultaneously flaring his killing intent — in the form of a deadly aura that paralyzed the Tentacruel in fear.

“Itouryu — Shishi Sonson!” 

The water exploded and for just a brief moment in time, Nina could have sworn that the sea was parted in half as the bisected halves of the Tentacruel floated onto the surface, alongside a very wet and annoyed looking Grovyle who was now submerged in a pool of Poison.

“Hihihihi! Lunch get!” Luffy cheered. But his celebration was soon cut short by a fist to the head from a very displeased Nami.

“You idiot! Who in their right mind would eat a Tentacruel! And didn’t Nina say no Pokemon! What were you thinking?!”

Nina laughed at their shenanigans and sent out Sir Clodington to go rescue the stranded Grovyle. She was hoping that she would get to play with him later.

Although, as it turned out, it was possible to eat Tentacruel, thanks to the masterful preparation of a chef of Sanji’s caliber.

Nina abstained from partaking in the Tentacruel of course, no matter how enticing the jellyfish salad looked.

Thankfully, the crew was able to pull in another haul once they got away from the sea of Poison they found themselves in.

And so the seafaring adventures of Nina and the Straw Hat crew continued as they slowly made their way to Pallet Town.