"James are you sure that this is a good idea?" Jessie asked.
"Oh, don't be silly Jessie according to my calculations the current should sweep the Gacha Machine right by this island about now so keep that fishing rod moving"
"I think Jessie's got a point can't we just tell the boss we lost it," Meowth asked. "Even Glimmet and Bramblin think this is a stupid idea"
"Bramble, Glimmer" Bramblin and Glimmet cried seeming to show their support for Meowth.
"Hold on I got it something!" James shouted "See guys I told you that my plan was a masterful one"
"Um, James not to rain on your parade but are you sure that's the Gacha Machine"
"Oh, don't be silly Jessie, of course, it's the Gacha Machine"
"Really because it looks like it's swimming a lot faster than a giant hunk of metal"
"Va! Va! Va! Va! Va! Veluza!" A wild Veluza leaped from the water leaping toward Jessie with her teeth barred.
"Ahh, Oh my god James get this thing off of me!" Jessie screamed trying to trash the Veluza off her arm.
"Ok, ok go Pokeball" James threw a Pokeball at Veluza, trying to get her off Jessie. To his surprise with three shakes the Veluza was caught.
"James!"
"What you said you wanted it off of you"
"I didn't mean for you to catch the thing"
"Well, what did you want me to do let the thing bit your arm off?"
"Well no matter she's your problem now"
"Hey ug guys you might want to see this" Meowth pointed out to see where a strange-looking helicopter was flying overhead.
"Hu, strange you know James I could have sworn I'd seen that helicopter before"
"Ya me too but I just can't put my finger on where"
"Alright Tulio, Salvador you two ready for the battle"
"Quack!"
"Woop!" Quaxly and Wooper gave Juliana a cheer showing their readiness.
"Remember Salvador it's important that when battling you have to look as well put together as possible" Tulio padded down Salvador's gills.
"Here let me style your hair for you I think purple goes so well on you"
"Um, Tulio I appreciate the effort but that's not hair like in mammals they are external gill stalks called rami. So you are playing with my lungs right now so if you could stop doing that it be great"
"Oh, don't be self-conscious Salvador lungs hair what's the difference"
"Quite a bit. Your hair isn't even hair it's specialized feathers "
"Ya, ya Salvador big deal hair feathers same thing"
"They're not even remotely close birds and mammals split off from their last common ancestor about 300 million years ago"
"Silencio Ahora Salvador I think that Nemona girl and her weird cat are nearby" Juliana returned her Pokémon to their Pokeballs when she saw Nemona coming.
"Hey, hey, hey, Juliana how's my favorite battle partner doing"
"Doing good how about you"
"How do you think I've been doing I get to battle my rival my day's been great"
"Rival?"
"Oh, did I let that slip dammit I was hoping to ask you after the battle but"
"Juliana would you please be my rival?"
"Of course Nemona I'm flattered"
"Thank you, thank you, thank, you thank you, Juliana that means the world to me"
"Why don't we start battling right now Ve a por ello Pawmi!"
"Paw-Mi!" the mouse Pokémon stared down at Juliana.
"Wooper Vamos!" Salvador popped out of her Pokeball with a smile.
"Wooper start things off with Poison Tail!" Salvador's tail glowed bright purple swinging it at Pawmi.
"Dodge it then use Metal Claw!"
"Mi!" Pawmi leaped over Wooper's tail. Then with a sharp glowing claw struck Wooper across the face.
"Mud Shot!" Salvador fired off a ball of mud from her mouth.
"Use Dig!" Pawmi dug into the ground avoiding the Mud Shot attack.
"Poison Tail on the ground" as Pawmi emerged from the ground Salvador struck her with a Poison Tail sending both of them tumbling.
Pawmi got up and staggered a faint purple glow on her muzzle she had been poisoned by the attack.
"Poison Sting!" Salvador fired needle-shaped Poison energy from her gills.
"Use Quick Attack!" Pawmi shot forward dodging the Poison Sting hitting Wooper in the stomach.
"Knock them well there down with Metal Claw!" Pawmi's claws began to glow with sharp metallic energy.
"Mud Shot!" Wooper charged up a ball of mud and hurled it at Pawmi as she struck Wooper with Metal Claw.
"Paw-Mi" Pawmi landed on the ground shakily.
"Woop-a" Salvador lay belly up on the ground and fainted.
"Good going Salvador you thought amazing" Juliana returned Salvador to her Pokeball.
"Quaxly Vamos!" Tulio landed on the ground stroking his head feathers.
"Pawmi use Quick Attack!" Pawmi sprung forward hitting Tulio before he could dodge it.
"Use Thunder Shock!" Pawmi let off a jolt of electricity aimed at Quaxly.
"Quaxly Water Gun on the Thunder Shock!" Tulio fired a Water Gun neutralizing the Thunder Shock.
"Pound!" Quaxly flew upwards to hit Pawmi as he flew he gathered bits of water from the Water Gun.
"Pawmi use Metal Claw!" the two attacks collided Tulio's pound gained power from the bits of water.
"Use Thunder Shock!"
"Water Gun!" instead of going for Water Gun Tulio surrounded his body with water shooting forward straight through the Thunder Shock smacking Pawmi and knocking her out.
"Wow, that's incredible you're Quaxly learned Aqua Jet mid-battle!" Nemona sounded like she was going to faint she sounded so excited.
"Ve a por ello Sprigatito!" the grass cat Pokémon stared down Quaxly.
"Sprigatito Bullet Seed!" Sprigatito launched a flurry of seeds at Quaxly.
"Dodge it with Aqua Jet!" Quaxly shot forward dodging the Bullet Seed hitting Sprigatito in the head.
"Pound"
"Use Leafage!" the two attacks met sending both Pokémon flying back.
"Use Scratch!" Sprigatito ran forward slicing Tulio with her claws.
"Water Gun!" Quaxly fired off a Water Gun getting Srigatito's fur wet.
"Sprigatito finish it off with Magical Leaf!" Sprigatito scattered a flurry of magical leaves at blinding speed before Quaxly could dodge the attack.
"Quack" Tulio sat on the ground and fainted.
"Good job Quaxly" Juliana returned Tulio to his Pokeball she had expected to lose the battle Nemona had been battling for years she was already champion ranked and this was her first official battle with the Pokémon she had just caught.
"Oh my god thank you so much, Juliana you have no idea how much fun I was having. It just makes me feel so alive when I'm battling someone like you someone who can fight me on equal footing. I can't wait to battle you again Juliana"
"I look forward to battling you again Nemona"
"Oh ya before I go there's something that I wanted to give you.
Nemona reached into her bag and pulled out a sparkling Terra Orb.
"I want you to have this normally you have to take special battling classes to get one but I put in a good word for you"
"Oh dios mio muchas gracias Nemona"
"Your welcome I just wanted to make sure that my friend was on the same footing as me"
"He hated it didn't he" Goh was kicking himself why was he so stupid?
He should never have given Ash Wattrel Ash would never want another Electric Type he had Pikachu and that was enough for him it took him years to have another Pokémon that even had an electric move why would he want another one?
"Alright Wattrel let's see if you can hit all the targets in 1 minute"
"Watt, Watt!" Wattrel took off well ash started the timer.
"Ash was only trying to be nice to me he probably doesn't even want Wattrel" Goh's inner thoughts kept telling him.
Wattrel easily completed the race in time although she seemed to be really out of breath from it.
Suddenly Ash's phone started ringing Ash answered it "Hello this is Ash Ketchum how may I help you" Ash's face became extremely concerned he returned Wattrel to her Pokeball and sent out Dragonite.
"I gotta go"
"What why!"
"It was from Iris she said there was a mysterious group harassing people and Pokémon off the southern coast"
"Wait what do you mean mysterious group Ash talk to me"
"I've got to go she said it was urgent" Ash hooped onto the back of Dragonite and flew into the sky.
Goh stood there in shock he had to know what was going on.
Using his Pokedex Goh called up Flygon from the Lab sending her out of her Pokeball.
"Alright, Flygon let's go" Goh hopped onto Flygon taking off after Ash.
"Dragonite there!" Ash spotted Iris down on the ground Goh and Flygon followed them down carefully to make sure he wasn't spotted.
"Mothim use Air Slash! Dustox use Psybeam!" the two moth Pokémon launched their attacks at Haxorus.
"Haxorus Psycho Cut!" Haxorus cut through the air with a blade of psychic energy easily fainting both Pokémon.
Ash landed Dragonite on the ground to see who Iris had been battling.
Ash recognized who Iris was fighting from the pale greenish-cyan hair to the sleek gray suits Ash could recognize them from a mile away.
They were Team Galactic Grunts.
"Team Galactic!" Ash shouted "What are you doing here"
"Wouldn't you like to know" one of the grunts responded.
"Don't make me fight you" Dragonite and Haxorus glared at the two grunts.
"Now!" the grunts suddenly threw up a cloud of smoke by the time Goh was able to see them again the two grunts were running back to the helicopter they came from.
"After those two" Ash hooped onto Dragonite Iris sent out her Dragonite to give chase.
Goh sat with Flygon not sure if he should give chase.
"I have to do it," Goh thought he couldn't just let Ash do it on his own and risk getting hurt.
Goh hopped onto Flygon's back and took off into the sky after them.
"Wattrel I choose you!"
"Emolga go!"
"Emolga, Wattrel get to the helicopter" the two Flying Electric types raced ahead trying to catch the helicopter.
Emolga made it to the helicopter without a problem Wattrel seemed to be tiring out fast the Storm Petrel Pokémon tried her hardest but couldn't reach the helicopter before she became too tired to fly.
"Wattrel return!" Ash shouted returning Wattrel to her Pokeball.
"Alright, Emolga uses Discharge!" Iris commanded.
"Emol!" Emolga fired a flare of electricity short-circuiting the Helicopter and causing it to fall.
"Dragonite Ice Beam!" Iris's Dragonite fired a beam of cold energy from his mouth keeping the helicopter from crashing onto the ground.
"Alright so now do you want to tell us what you're doing halfway across the world from Sinnoh harassing citizens and wildlife"
"Fine, you can take all these stupid Pokémon one of the grunts tossed a net full of aquatic Pokémon out of the helicopter landing in Ash's arms.
"But we're not going to give up information that easily" with another sudden smokeball the grunts were gone leaving nothing but a ruined helicopter and Ash and Iris with a net full of Pokémon.
"Ash! Ash! Are you okay" Goh landed Flygon beside Ash.
"Goh, what are you doing here?"
"Sorry I just couldn't stay back at the academy I had to see what's going on"
"Forget what's going on we need to get these Pokémon to a Pokémon center and fast" Iris yelled holding up an injured Skrelp in her arms.
"Your right we need to get these guys we're banged up during that helicopter ride" Ash picked up an unconscious Finizen in his arms.
Goh started picking up injured fish Pokémon and started loading them onto Flygon he couldn't let anything bad happen to them.
Ash had been at the Pokémon Center for what felt like hours.
The Centers staff were doing the best they could Ash, Goh and Iris had volunteered to help but the center was still overrun with injured Pokémon.
Of all of them, he was most concerned about Finizen.
The Dolphin Pokémon had been unconscious since he had found it Nurse Joy said that he probably suffered too much stress on his sensitive Melon the round spot on the head used for echolocation.
Right now Finizen was sitting in a small kiddy pool still knocked out.
"Do you think he'll be alright?" Ash asked.
"We can only hope marine mammals are a lot more complicated than fish" Nurse Joy replied.
"Hey Ash someone's on the phone they want to talk to you" Iris walked into the room with the Pokémon centers phone.
"Hola is this Ash Ketchum"
"Yes hello this is Ash Ketchum how can I help you"
"My name is Geeta as you know I'm the chairwoman of Paldea's Pokémon league" Ash had to meet Geeta a few times at formal events with the other regions' champions but they had always been short.
"I heard from Mr. Clavell how you handled those thugs down on our southern coast"
"Yes it wasn't problem trainers like that just want to cause trouble me and Iris took care of the problem"
"As a thank you for your service I would like to invite you, Iris and Goh, to our formal dinner at the academy tomorrow to celebrate the start of the school's yearly treasure hunt"
"Yes that sounds like a great idea will make sure to be there tomorrow"
"Sounds good all see you three next Friday"
It was finally time for the treasure hunt.
Florian had gathered with the rest of the students in the courtyard with the rest of the student population.
"Excellent it seems like everyone is here," Clavell began
"Well then, it's time that I explain your independent study assignment"
"As usual, the theme will be a Treasure hunt."
"I ask each of you to travel the world in search of your own treasure"
"In the short time you have been here you have learned so much within the walls of our fine academy"
"But now is the time for you to turn your eyes upon the wider world to deepen your understanding"
Florian just kind of tuned out to the rest of Clavell's speech he had never really been good at listening to long speeches it was too easy for him to get distracted.
Once Clavell was done all the students began to disperse some heading into the streets of Mesagoza others going out into the wilderness on Cyclizar's.
"Oh hey Florian" Juliana and Nemona appeared behind Florian.
"You excited about the treasure hunt?" Nemona asked.
"Ya, I think I'm going to just go straight to Cortondo there's a Pokémon contest happening there to celebrate the Olive harvest and I don't want to miss that"
"What about you Juliana?"
"Oh, well I don't know I was planning on going home for the night I'm sure that my mom has been missing me she's probably gotten into the wine and telenovelas already"
"But what about after that do you think your gonna take on the gym challenge?"
"Probably I'll just need to go find another Pokémon since Katy uses three"
"That's so great Juliana I can't wait to see you and your Pokémon get stronger we're definitely gonna have to battle again if we run into each other"
"Oh ya, battling can wait I had something I wanted to tell you two"
"Did you know your phone's map app lets you set your destinations"
"You should both set your destination to Cortondo. That'd get you on your guys way easier"
"Tch. How's that for a student council president? Giving your own friends an insider advantage?" Arven appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
"Ay-Arven!"
"Insider Advantage sheesh you make it sound likes it cheating or something"
"Ya, Arven I think it's just public knowledge not anything to hide" Juliana added.
"Ya, it was just a suggestion it's up to Juliana and Florian if they go or not"
"Juliana and Florian will have their hands full hunting titans with me we're gonna be visiting the titans' lairs and nabbing their Herba Mystica. They don't have time to be completing the gym challenge" Florian was starting to get mad at Arven who was he to be dictating his choices.
"En Serio? Don't go filling their heads with weird stories"
"Hey all I did was invite them along it's up to them if they go or not"
Nemona gave Arven a death stair curling her hands into fists. Thankfully before she could come through on her promise to "Wring him out" Juliana's phone started ringing.
"Hey Juliana Florian Cassiopia here"
"It's about operation Starfall. Remember what I told you before?" Florian sighed this was the last thing he needed right now.
"Team Star is made up of five different squads and each one's got its own base"
"I need you two to go to each base-all five of 'em and beat the squad boss there"
"Team Star's grunts might try to get in your way but I'll be helping you out. From a distance"
"Still no need to worry with trainers as skilled as you I'm sure your up to the task"
"I'll just go ahead and add the base's locations to your phones for you"
Florian's phone gave him a notification showing him where each Team Star base was located.
"Good luck with those bases. I'll hook you up with some sweet rewards every time you beat one"
"Wait one second" Nemona interjected "Who are you supposed to be and Team Star-those punks are a serious hazard.
"They're not Juliana and Florian's problem!"
"Ya because they have better things to do like searching for awesome ingredients with me"
"I thought it was up to them whether they go or not. Wasn't that what you said?"
"Wait how did you know my name?"
"I'm looking forward to seeing you two bye now"
"Juliana, Florian I'm clade your making lots of new friends but don't get dragged into anything dangerous"
"Anyway, no more weird vibes we've got a big adventure to start!"
"I'm gonna battle every trainer I meet. If I just keep trying to become the strongest I bet that experience will be the thing I treasure the most" Nemona exclaimed.
"Guess I should start by hitting up a gym should go see who's available"
"And I know we've been running our mouths but it's up to you two where you want to go"
"Ya for me it's um, my dream of tracking down the Herba Mystica making the best sandwiches in all of Paldea"
At the mention of the word sandwich, Don burst out of his Pokeball.
"Oh my gosh did he come out just because you said sandwich" Nemona started laughing.
"Well your not getting one" Arven huffed.
"Gias! Gias!" Don pointed to his back as if telling Florian and Juliana to get on.
"It seems like he's telling you to get on it" Florian and Juliana carefully climbed onto Don's back.
"Agias!" Don curled his tail and let out a happy cry.
"Wow, it transformed now it really looks like a weird Cyclizar"
"Now that you can ride Don you can go anywhere Paldea is your Cloyster"
"If you want to go searching for titans I would set out from the east gate"
"But since there actually going to be challenging the first gym and contests you should go out the west gate plus it's way too easy to get lost"
"Tch man this is why I can't get along with you All see you around little guys" Arven ran off presumably to go looking for more cooking ingredients.
"I'll hit up one of the gyms. See you two around"
"Well, where do you want to go?" Florian asked Juliana since he was "driving" Don
"Well I'm going to see my mom in Cabo Poco so you can just drop me off there"
"Okay well I'm going to Cortondo so all drop you off and head there all make sure to transfer you Don's Pokeball when I get there"
"Sounds like a plan" Florian turned Don using his feather tufts and ran towards the exit of Mesagoza.
Que end credit song Life Is A Highway by Rascal Flatts I think it fits with riding Koraidon.
So Team Galactic is here what do think that's about what's that have to do with Espathra?
So now is where the real gameplay of SV begins so look forward to that in the next chapters.
Where also going to see the gym leaders and teachers in the next chapter so look forward to that :)