The trip took a whole day, but was without issues. As the sun was setting, you pass what looks like a lighthouse on the coast. Joe is at the wheel, and call out on the radio. "This is Sunken Treasure to West Herenport Watch. We're thirty miles from the protected area, ten miles off the coast. Request permission to head into port. Over."

The radio crackles, before an answer is heard. "This is Herenport Watch, we have you in sight. Area is cleared. You are free to approach, no challenge in progress. Over and out."

"Copy, over and out." He sets his radio back down."Look out, me mateys! We're about to pass the battlefield of the seas. Off our starboard bow is where the proud members of Cadien's navy practice their maneuvers, as well as where brave trainers challenges them to earn the anchor badge. If ye be brave, perhaps you'll sail these stretches yourselves!"

For all of Joe's promotion, the area looks far from impressive in the dying light of the day. Just a collection of small bare rocks, jutting out of the sea to serve as obstacles, or as perch for the local flying pokémons.

Seymour had enjoyed the boat ride from Windzall to Herenport, and it turned out his worries about riding with a smuggler were thus far unfounded. He let his pokemon out for a bit too, one at a time, so that they could experience a bit of the boat ride themselves. He thought that Malley, his malleable new Ditto, would like the boat too, but he would have to wait until port to retrieve the cute little gum-wad pokemon from the computer to add to his team.

As they neared port, he listened with interest to what Joe had to say. "I just might have to stop back here in Herenport after we defeat the gym in Roarac," Seymour mused to Joe. "An anchor badge sounds cool. Do you know what people need to do to earn it?" He figured now was as good of a time as any to get some more information.

And to Jakey, he asked, "So were you able to handle the waves? Was it better or worse than surfing on the back of a Mantine?"

"They often change the challenge to keep it fresh, but one that popular is a marine hide-and-seek, where ya need to find you're foe's ship before he can sink ya. But..." He leans close and speak in faux whisper "I've seen they were working on an old style schooner for a while now. Maybe you'll get lucky and they'll use it for a challenge!"

As a "bip" comes from the ship's console, Joe focuses on his sonar once more. "Oops, sorry kid, I got to focus here. We're comming in through the graveyard, and there's a lot to hit in here."

Jake looked a bit green for the first leg of the journey, but he seemed to be in better health and spirits as they made it near to Herenport. Roach and Many, on the other hand, was having significantly more fun swimming next to the boat. He replied candidly to Seymour,
"With a mantine, I can choose when to get off and it is so fast and close to the water. Here, I just wobble back and forth for ages and if I want to get off, I drown. Mantine surfing is WAY better. Still, it sure beats getting stuck in a swamp. It was a good idea to boat here."

As they got into more dangerous waters, Jake pulled his pokemon back into their pokeballs and kept and eye out for any debris as he listened to the description of the anchor badge. He was getting a bit more acclimated to the water, so the idea of roaming the waves in a game of hide-and-seek wasn't too alien to him,
"Hide-and-Seek in a place like this sounds really cool! There is so much to hide behind and explore. If the whole thing wasn't water, I could spend a week here looking through all of the junk!"

Jake seemed sincere in his desire to look through junk. He had a storied past of finding curious odds and ends while dumpster diving. Something he had not yet had to resort to in Cadien.

"I know what ya mean... well, it's getting a bit dark, but maybe you can get a bit of a look..." He flips a switch, and a light comes from the bottom of the boat.

You watched through the boat's glass bottom during the trip, but as you moved away from Windzaal, the sea got too deep to really see the bottom. Now with the setting sun, it's still pretty dark, but Joe seems to have a few lights installed under the boat, giving you a glimpse at a collection of sunken vessel, draped in a coat of silt.

As the bottom of the sea floor lit up, Jake quickly became entranced by what he could manage to see through the glass. He let Joe navigate in peace as Jake scanned the bottom for any skeletons or signs of buried treasure. He was not specifically looking for Pokemon, but if he saw one, he would try to get a picture of it with his Pokedex.

Seymour was similarly entranced by the view underneath the boat. But instead of looking for treasure or bodies, Seymour was enjoying catching a glimpse of a future battlefield, so to speak. A part of his brain was already formulating plans and strategies for winning a gym badge down there. Of course he probably wouldn't remember the layout or even be in the same area of the water when he finally tried for the anchor badge, but it was still a fun exercise for his mind regardless. And also like Jakey, he was interested to see what sorts of pokemon were in the water too.

When they reached shore Seymour said to Joe, "Thank your for the ride. And the information. I really appreciate it. I hope everything works out alright for you in the end. It will be interesting to see how that election turns out in Windzall. Hopefully things don't get too much more crazy there..."

A school of Finneon passes under the ship, passing between the sunken vessels.

Only for a humanoid shape to appear out of the wreak, diverting them in another direction. As you pass, the light gives you a brief look, just long enough for the Pokédex to identify it.


"Nommlin, the Helpful Fish pokémon
Some groups of Nommlin live in their own underwater villages, near human towns. Humans sometimes visit by wearing SCUBA gear.

The Nommlin vanishes in the shadows once more, as the boat continues on it's course. "It should be fine... I'll just keep my head low, and not make any waves. Once the elections are over, I'm sure it'll all sort itself out. Heck, maybe I can mail you a the result once they're in!" He looks back at the glowing lights of the very large port, were multiple warships are docked. "For here... keep in mind that the Navi is considered the 'elite' of the army... and they like to remind everyone of it. They're usually not too bad, but they love to challenge new trainers in town."

Joe settles his ship in a small section of the port, apparently dedicated to the maintenance of civilian ships. After a brief discussion with the watchman, Joe grabs a bag, and says "I'll show you to a good hotel. It's not fancy, but it's affordable and comfortable."

Jake was enthusiastic seeing the Nommlin, checking to see if there was a favorite button on his pokedex so he would remember to come back to try and catch one later. He was a bit uncertain about SCUBA gear, so he didn't pay much mind to it. Jake also expressed an eagerness to hear the results of the election,
"Yeah! And if you figure out who made the pokemon go crazy, let us know too! And being challenged by another person could be fun! I don't think I have any pokemon ready to beat up some water-types, but I think I could hold my own in a real battle!"

With that, he gave a thumbs up to both of them and got ready to get off the boat and head towards the hotel.

Seymour was impressed by the few pokemon they saw and wondered if they were friendly or not. At the very least, they weren't attacking the boat, so that was a good sign. Granted, with a harbor this big, boats had to pass overhead constantly.

Content to follow Joe to his recommended hotel, Seymour disembarked and followed along. He was ready to get some rest and start fresh the next day, after switching a few pokemon on his team. Unless, of course, there was a good opportunity for some evening leisurely activities. Like Jakey, he wouldn't mind facing one of the local challengers either. "Does the hotel have a pokemon center nearby?" he asked Joe.

"Sorry, this hotel is caters more to civilian sailors, like me. The trainers don't often come to this side, they prefer to stick to downtown, or the gym itself."

Despite the lack of trainer facilities, they do have a few flyers advertising a charity tournament. It takes place over the whole week-end, with tomorrow's event being focused on team battle. A quick call to the phone number at the bottom confirms you can still sign up if you want.

Jake didn't mind being in a hotel without a pokestop. Being in a place for a working man suited him just fine. It would probably have fewer amenities, but so long as the stay was cheap and provided shelter from crime, he figured it would be OK.

Seeing the flyers, Jake turned to Seymour,
"Do you think they mean team battle like two trainers working together or just more than one V one with pokemon. I'd be down for it either way!"

Asking the hotline, they confirm that it's teams of two trainers facing off, each with three pokémons. "Also, it's a chance to see none other than Colonel Kenya Corina, the communication expert!"

Joe's eyes grow wide when he hears that. "That's one of the Elite Four! She loves to promote up-and-coming trainers that could have a bright future!"

After finding out more about the event, Seymour still just as excited to enter the tournament. "I would be happy to try the challenge, if you're up for it," he said to Jakey. "I need to figure out my team though. Hmm. But regardless, it will be cool to see one of the region's elite four too! I am suddenly extra glad you convinced us to come to town the fast way. Otherwise we may have missed our chance to enter."

"I'm thinking that Glumpy is an obvious choice for my half of the team, since there is a high likelihood of facing water pokemon. And Farrah is a strong choice too. Not sure about my third choice yet though. Which pokemon do you want to use, Falkner?"

---

As of now, I plan to switch my team to Lotad, Shroomish, Farfetch'd, Laconney, Mantyke, and Ditto. I will send/leave Dunsparce, Roggenrola, Magikarp, and Magikarp back home.

Jake was effusive at the idea of the tournament,
"Heck yeah! I don't know if we would just be battling water pokemon, so you can handle countering them, I'll just make sure my new catches get a chance to have some fun. Since we have been on the water so much, Duder and Growler haven't had a chance to get out and about. I'll also put Skipper in, after all, Skipper is my first pokemon! Gotta represent!"

While two of his pokemon were weak to water, they were also strong to potential counters for water. Either Jake was attempting some 3d chess or he just happened to not have his pokemon that were weak to water out on the various boat trips they had been taking.


In terms of pokemon management, Manty will go back in the PC. I had one too many pokemon for the boat ride.