As the ferry came to a smooth stop at the dock, Ace, May, Dawn, and Serena stepped onto the sunlit shore of Cinnabar Island. The salty sea breeze blew through their hair, and the cries of Wingull echoed faintly in the background. The island was bustling with life — tourists milled about, shops were open with colorful signs, and even local performers could be seen entertaining crowds.
"Wow! This place is amazing!" May said with sparkling eyes as she looked around at the crowds, souvenir stalls, and beach stands.
"There are so many people," Dawn added with a surprised look. "I didn't expect Cinnabar to be this... festive."
"It has a resort vibe to it," Serena smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I kinda want to take a break already."
But Ace wasn't paying attention to any of that.
"Is that an Incineroar!?" he exclaimed, dashing forward.
In front of him, a man was walking his large, fire/dark type Pokémon with calm pride. Behind him, another trainer had a Beartic, and a third had a Solosis floating beside them.
Ace's eyes lit up as he reached for one of his Poké Balls. "Let's go, Smeargle!"
The Poké Ball popped open, and in a flash of light, his quirky Smeargle emerged, wagging its tail with a curious bark.
Ace turned to the Incineroar trainer and said, "Hey! Would you mind letting my Smeargle sketch one of Incineroar's moves? I'm training it to learn techniques from all kinds of Pokémon!"
The man chuckled. "Sure, kid. Just don't get burnt by it."
Behind him, the three girls sweat-dropped at once, watching as Ace eagerly moved from trainer to trainer.
"There he goes again…" Dawn sighed with a hand on her hip.
"It's like he's more excited about Sketching than battling," May mumbled with a half-smile.
Serena let out a soft laugh. "Well… that's Ace."
As the three girls stood side by side, a faint blush crept up on each of their cheeks — unspoken, yet synchronized. There was a brief pause as they glanced at one another, noticing the blushes.
'Why is she blushing too?' May thought, eyes darting toward Serena.
'Wait… does May also like him?' Dawn's heart skipped.
'Is it… not just me?' Serena realized.
They quickly looked away, trying to act normal, but the moment lingered awkwardly — and meaningfully.
Far away from the cheerful buzz of the island's port, a different atmosphere loomed.
In a secluded corner of Cinnabar, where the trees grew dense and the air grew still, there stood a large, abandoned mansion. Its paint was peeling, windows were cracked, and ivy had overtaken the structure. Inside, however, was not emptiness — but a hidden lab beneath the mansion.
The lab was dim, lit only by the eerie green glow of a fluid chamber in the center. Strange machines buzzed quietly. Shelves were lined with old books, research notes, and scattered vials. The scent of chemicals lingered heavily in the air.
An old man stood near the tank. His face was lined with age and burden. One of his arms was completely wrapped in thick, stained bandages, and he moved stiffly.
His remaining hand rested against the chamber glass as he muttered in a low, grave voice, "If I want to cure myself… then maybe… creating another one of that monster is really the only way."
His eyes, hollow and shadowed, focused on the floating figure inside the chamber.
It was a Pokémon — or at least the start of one.
The being inside had a feline shape, but only half of its body was formed. The other half was still tissue, barely connected, still developing — a clone, suspended in the midst of incompletion.
The chamber hissed softly.
The old man narrowed his eyes. "Forgive me, Mewtwo… but I must finish what we started."
Later that evening.
The soft hum of the Pokémon Center filled the air, mingling with the occasional chatter of trainers and the distant ding of a bell. Inside one of the center's cozy inn rooms — thankfully prebooked by Ace in advance — the group sat around a low table. Outside, the setting sun painted the sky orange, but inside, the warm glow of the room's lights made it feel even more peaceful.
"Man, that prebooking was a lifesaver," Dawn muttered, stretching her arms. "Every hotel and inn we passed was full to the brim."
Serena nodded as she looked out the window. "Cinnabar Island really is packed with tourists."
Their Pokémon had been handed over to Nurse Joy for routine checkups, leaving the four with some free time. Around the table were scattered a bunch of colorful pamphlets and leaflets advertising local attractions, souvenir ideas, and boutique shops.
May picked up a sleek, glossy pamphlet displaying shimmering necklaces and bracelets. "Hey, what about this?" she asked, pointing at a delicate pendant shaped like a heart. "Chloe gave you a pendant for your birthday, Ace. Don't you think she might like something like this too?"
Ace glanced up briefly from his Pokédex, where he was furiously tapping away. "Hmm… not bad…"
Serena, flipping through another set of pages, chimed in, "Or how about clothes? She's going to start her journey soon, right?" She turned the pamphlet around, showing some trendy yet practical outfits. "We could get her a cool starter trainer outfit or something comfy for traveling."
Dawn leaned forward, frowning a little. "That's kinda dull, don't you think? It doesn't feel special enough for a birthday."
As the three girls chatted and debated, Ace's focus remained fixed on his Pokédex. He was exchanging messages with Professor Cerise, his eyes darting quickly across the screen. Then suddenly, he jumped to his feet.
"I got it! I know what to get Chloe!" he exclaimed loudly.
The three girls immediately looked up, eyes wide.
"What is it?" May asked curiously.
Ace grinned, eyes sparkling. "Chloe's going to start her Pokémon journey soon, right? So what she really needs… is a starter Pokémon. And ever since we were kids, she's loved Eevee!"
He held up the Pokédex, flipping to a saved message. "She used to watch all those shows and contests that had Eevee or its evolutions in them — she'd never miss a single one! She's been obsessed with them since forever."
Serena's eyes softened. "That's… actually really sweet."
"And here's the thing," Ace continued. "Professor Cerise said he tried to find an Eevee but couldn't get one in time. So… what if we catch one for her?"
The girls paused, considering the idea.
"Hmm… a live, hand-caught Eevee as a birthday present?" Dawn said, tapping her chin. "That could actually work."
"It would be the perfect gift," Serena agreed. "Personal, meaningful, and helpful for her journey."
May smiled. "And since it's from all of us… it can be our group gift!"
Ace nodded, feeling excitement stir in his chest. "Talia already got her a new bike as her present. And Professor Cerise built her a custom Pokédex — it's pink with Eevee designs all over it."
"That seals it then," May said, grinning. "The Eevee gift is the best choice for us."
Serena quickly opened her own Pokédex and began a search. After a moment, she held it up. "Eevee are very rarely found in the jungle near Celadon City. But they're also sometimes spotted occasionally in the Safari Zone of Fuchsia City."
"Though they're really rare in both places," Dawn added.
Ace's expression grew serious. "Then here's the plan — after the Cinnabar Island gym battle, we'll head back to Fuchsia City. The Safari Zone will be our best bet."
The girls all nodded in agreement.
"Alright!" Ace said, his fists clenched in excitement. "Let's catch an Eevee for Chloe — and make her birthday unforgettable!"