Only if that lazy guard let them through to Saffron city but for some odd reason, because he was thirsty, he refused to let them through at all. That just didn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense, but because this man refused the trio had to find another path to get around that lead the discovery of the Underground Path 5-6. The walk to the other end took about two hours and once the trio exited they were blinded by the afternoon sunlight.

“Aghhhhh!! I’m dyiiiiiing!!!” Steel cried out and flailed her arms in an exaggerated manor. Her two friends looked at her oddly before walking down the dirt road to the town; she shortly blushed and followed after them. Just up ahead was Vermilion City, the biggest, and most likely the only, port town in Kanto. The salty sea air crashed against the people, waves nipped at the docks and the loud howling whistle of the SS Anne’s blew as it pulled into port.

“Wow! Just look that that ship!”

“Holy crap! It’s so huge; I bet it can hold hundreds of trainers! Maybe thousands!”

“Take a good look at it for now” Galvin frowned as he marched to the Poké Center. “We won’t be able to board until tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?! Why tomorrow?!”

“Ship boards tomorrow and since they’re cleaning it today, no one is allowed into port.” Steel and Brass frowned and crossed their arms, seems like getting a closer look at the ship was a high hope on their list of things to do.

Besides a gym battle.

Steel pouted as she looked around. To the east she noticed something; some old man was plowing away at some plot of land with the help of a Machop.

To the west was an interesting little building with a sign. She went in for a closer look, the outside shape of it made it look like it was a shrine or a church but to her surprise it turned out to be a Pokémon Fan Club. Steel grinned, maybe it would be a good way to spend some time she entered the building. She was immediately greeted with loud music, the cries of pokémon and the chatter of people.

Steel eagerly walked around the room and looked at all the pokémon. She was in awe of all the different types; there were even ones from Hoenn! She rushed up to the tank, clapping her hands. Water pokémon! Oh the glorious water types!

“A Corsola!! Oh!!! Even a Cloyster!! How so cool!!” Steel did a happy little dance and sighed in joy. Oh yes, this was a perfect day. A laugh came from behind and she reeled around in surprise, the owner of the laugh turned out to be an old man, short and stubby but dressed up nicely in a black suit.

“Was I being loud sir?” She blushed “I’m sorry…” 

“Not at all,” he smiled “this is a place where pokémon lovers of all types come to gather, a squeal of joy is quite normal.” Steel giggled sheepishly and smiled.

“Okay sir, was there something you wanted?” she took a step aside “did you come over to see the tank?” he chuckled and shook his head.

“No, no my dear, I’m the owner of this fine establishment!”

“Oh!! Really?”

“Why indeed I am and I’ve come here to show you something, since you my dear… you are special.”

“Huh?” Steel blinked. “Like… a special member or something?”

“No, no, no…” the man shook his head. “I can’t quite put it into words but… I have this feeling, so let’s get going.” The man turned his back and walked away. Steel wasn’t sure what to do, follow some weird old man to some secluded area or… stay here and stare at the pokémon. Honestly, she liked the idea of the pokémon, but for whatever reason, she followed the old man.

The two of them walked to a set of double doors to the back of the club house. The doors were chained and locked tightly with a heavy duty lock; the man pulled a key from his pocket. From the looks of it, it was once brass but now black and green with age. Despite its old age it easily fit into the lock and turned, the locks and chains clattered to the ground loudly but the party goers and club members did not notice at all.

Steel took a cautionary glance over her shoulder, still no one noticed, and followed in after the man. Plunged into darkness, she nervously clutched her backpack strap but thankfully the blackness did not last long as another set of doors opened up into another room.

Steel’s mouth went agape and arms fell to her side.

She was in a church? Walking down the aisles of pews Steel looked around herself, the maroon carpet and the white pained pews with red velvet cushions were clean as a whistle, not a thread out of place and the paint wasn’t chipped, and in fact it looked like it was recently redone.

Steel’s gaze rose to the windows all were made of stain glass, all so colorful and beautiful, two tall ones to the left and right of the room.

Birds of ice, thunder and fire.

Dogs of thunder, fire and water.

Sadly that was all she was able to identify but still something was off. It seemed to be missing the trio of Unova, but if she paid better attention she would have noticed between the tips of the two tall windows was a single circle show casing a single member of the trio.

And that there was one below the alter’s magnificent stain glass window, unlike the others, four pokémon were depicted here, still none that Steel could identify.

“What is this place…?” Steel finally asked “Where are we?”

“A long abandoned shrine, maybe a chapel.” Came the old man’s voice, Steel looked to her left to find the man seated in a pew. “My family has watched over it for years but we don’t know what for but… we felt something important from it. At least, no one knew until recently.”

“Recently, you know?” Steel pondered. “What was it used for?”

“For the people to give thanks to their savors, by judging by which region it stands on, most people came to leave offerings for the savors of Kanto.”

“Who were these savors mister?”

“They say the savors of Kanto were called Aricuno, Zapdos and Moltres.” Steel blinked, ancient saviors were once named after pokémon?

“Oh…” the girl looked to the windows once more, but this time with the framed photo of a young boy. “I see, I thank you very much for inviting me sir!” the man smiled and reached into his pocket to pull out four slips of paper.

“Take these with you, you will help you more than they could help me.” Steel took the papers an looked at them. Much to her surprise they were bike vouchers! With enough for Brass and Galvin, they all could get a bike now! She smiled brightly and waved a goodbye to the man, she placed the slips of paper into her backpack along with the frame and she rushed out of the room.

She had to tell Galvin and Brass about this!

“Thank you Sir!!! Bye!!”

The doors closed behind her and the old man smiled. Suddenly there was a pop and in his place was a Gastly.

“Nice girl, she’ll make a fine Articuno…” the little Gastly floated to the alter with its ghostly body leaning downwards, as if it was bowing. “O savors of our kingdom, let us live forever more. Let our young heroes be just like the ones before them…”