Keran sighed, having found Dorris on her way out. The kind woman told her to speak with the gentleman on Route 104, just outside of Petalburg. Apparently she'd skipped right past the guy's home while she was rushing through. At least there was a chance she'd know the guy. Dorris spoke of him having a wingull named Peeko. The name sounded vaguely familiar, which was a good sign. After thanking the sweet woman, Keran departed the building and was promptly assaulted by her faux rival.
"Hey, Keran! How's your Pokédex? Completed any entries yet? Mine pretty much rules. I went on a Pokémon-catching frenzy in Petalburg Woods until I ran out of Poké Balls! Oh, yeah. I passed by Mr. Briney in Petalburg Woods. I bet he was on his way home to his cottage on Route 104 I guess you wouldn't know, since you just moved here and all, but they say that old guy used to be an amazing sailor!" He gushed, thrilled to see her again. "Did you catch a ton of pokemon too?" Brendan asked, eyes alight with the excitement of the competition.
"Oh, hey Brendan." She was distracted, not really paying attention to the overly exuberant boy. "Mmm? My dex is full." Keran said offhandedly, biting back a yawn. She needed to get Blaze checked out and off on this trip to Dewford and Slateport. The sooner that happened, the sooner she could get her league team back, and deal with the Team Magma situation.
"Is something wrong? Keran, are you okay?" He asked, suddenly worried about her. It barely registered with him that she'd said her dex was full. There was only 5 trainers with a full dex in any region, minus the pokemon professors. No way Keran could be one of them. She was just starting out on a journey, just like him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just busy. Mr. Stone just sent me out on a task, and I've got le-" Keran suddenly realized who she was talking to. "I've got business to worry about." She offered him a fake smile, certain that he'd see right through her.
"Mr. Stone? The CEO of Devon Corp? How do you know Mr. Stone?" He asked, not touching on the business she'd mentioned.
"I recovered some stolen parts for him, he wanted to meet me in person." Ker shrugged, starting to walk again. She really did need to get on her way. There was no way she was going to be forced to accept such an extravagant gift and not get the task done quickly. "He asked me to deliver a letter for him, and take the pilfered goods to Slateport."
"That sounds important! Why would he ask a new trainer to do something so important for him?" Brendan wondered aloud, walking along with her. They'd only just met up again, he wanted to keep in touch.
"Mmm.." She avoided the question, "I need to get Blaze checked out before I go. We were just at the gym before the incident." Keran was making a beeline for the Pokecenter at the start of the town.
"You're avoiding it. Why did he ask you to deliver a letter?" He pestered, grinning from ear to ear. This was his friend, of course he wanted to know everything!
"I can't really tell you Brendan." She frowned a little, completely honest in the statement. His father had asked her not to burst his bubble, and of course there was the matter of her league business. For some reason, she'd wanted to keep it quiet.
"Aww, why not? I promise I won't think any different of you!" That'd already been established when he'd walked in on her and her father talking back in Petalburg. She'd made it very clear he had no chance with her. So much for that little crush.
"I can't tell you Brendan for many reasons. The first of which, would be that your father asked me not to." She looked at him, raising a single eyebrow. "Of course, there's also the fact that my employer and Mr. Stone asked me to keep quiet about most of what I'm doing." It was cold, rude, and not very nice. Avoidance didn't seem to be working, so shutting it down must have been the only logical course of action.
Brendan frowned, worried about his friend. "Dad asked you not to tell me something?" That was the worst of it all. How could his dad keep stuff from him when it came to other people? "Wait, you said your pokedex was full. How is that possible? And what business are you doing?" He decided to try another line of questioning.
"He asked me not to tell you about my business. Yes, my pokedex is full. It contains entries for every type of pokemon known in all regions." Keran continued to attempt to shut it down. "I'm a pokemon breeder, not a pokemon trainer. I'm allowed up to two ditto when I choose my location to settle down and create a village." That was technically true. But she did have quite a few other things to get done before she got around to choosing a location. She'd most likely settle down near a Pokemon Daycare, or a trainer's school. Most likely. Anything was possible when it came to location. So many ideal spots…
"Wow… So you aren't a new trainer at all?" He looked up at her in awe. He'd been thinking she was just starting out like he was. "Is that why Dad asked you not to tell me? Because we're the same age?" He sounded a little defeated. Here was Keran, an accomplished trainer and registered breeder. And she was apparently good enough that she was allowed more than one ditto for her work. And then, there he was. Just starting out and not an accomplishment to his name. Boy, that was disappointing.
"Pretty much. We didn't want to discourage you. You've got potential to be great. Where I'm at, it's very rare for anyone to get there this young. If I can do it, so can you." Gah! Why was she encouraging him? Was it because he looked so dejected? Or was it because she didn't want to hurt Professor Birch's feelings? "Look, you can't possibly compare the two of us. I grew up in a completely different region with an entirely different set of goal than you." Keran continued, entirely sincere in the act. "The only reason, and I mean it, the only reason, that I'm where I'm at now." A pause for wording. "Is because I got swept up into some nonsense, and managed to hold my own against it, with the help of my pokemon. That's it. If I hadn't been discovered the way I was, I'd still be struggling to make a name for myself. I'd probably be back in Johto still rather than here in Hoenn."
"You're not kidding.." He was still in awe. She was being completely honest with him. Well, not completely, just as honest as she could be. That was still something though. "What did you get caught up in that was so big?" Brendan asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Thaaat I can't answer." She smiled again, back to the fake ones. "On official orders of the Johto Pokemon League." And it was still true. Again with all the honesty. This was just odd. Keran reached to grab the handle of the Pokecenter's doors, only to be stopped by Brendan having reached it first. "Thank you." She nodded, proceeding through at his offer.
"Nurse Jo-" She blinked, that wasn't Nurse Joy. What was going on?
"Hello!" She called cheerfully, "Nurse Joy is my mother, I'm filling in for her." She smiled, just as friendly as her mother. "I'm Nurse Cerene. Or Nurse Joy for ease~" Jocelyne giggled, her smile growing wider. "Please, allow me to take care of you and your pokemon" Her fairly tan hands were holding out a tray, waiting for the two trainers to deposit their pokemon onto it.
"Well, okay then." Ker shrugged, taking the three balls on her belt loop off to rest gently in the tray. Somewhere in the back of her mind something was hinting at catching a few more pokemon. Having a well rounded team was probably a really good idea. "Brendan, if you need anything, Nurse Cerene seems more than able to help you with it. I need to go make a few calls." She pointed a thumb over her shoulder to the areas reserved for businessmen and women. Her League clearance level also enabled her to use the more secluded ones.
Reading the registry on her screen, Cerene piped up, "We'll have your pokemon back to you in no time Elite Four Keran." This was her first day, she wanted to get everything right!
Keran winced, visibly flinching when her official title was called out. Shoot. She was ratted out. "Shhhh. Don't call me that. I'm supposed to be under cover!" She responded, trying her very best not to panic. That was the real reason she was allowed two ditto. One was her title as a registered breeder, the other was for league fights, though she was allowed to use both however she saw fit.
"Elite Four?" He whispered, dumbfounded. She'd just gotten through telling him she wasn't that big a deal, but she was a member of the elite four?! "You're an Elite Four member? You… So that's who your boss is.." He sighed, a little defeated again. Maybe she was right, this was just because she'd gotten swept up in something way bigger than herself. Maybe, if he was lucky, something similar would happen to him too!
"Y-yeah" She winced again, not really willing to admit it. "Newest member of the Johto League. I'm here on official business, though it turns out that was just a coincidence. My Champion seems to be a little air headed." She frowned, shaking her head. "And that's it. I can't, and won't say any more." Keran turned around, promptly walking away from Brendan. He was good at getting her to say things she shouldn't.
She was busily ignoring those caught in the wake of her departure, yanking open doors to private areas that required very high clearance levels, when she collided with another body. "Excuse me" She blurted, not really seeing who she'd bumped into. It only took her a moment to realize, she'd wound her way into the league only rooms. She had the clearance to be here, but that also meant that the person she'd run herself into did too.
"Pardon me Ma'am." A soothing voice returned, holding the door for her. "After you?" He offered, smiling.
"Thank you." She nodded her head in concession, taking the three steps it took to get them into the room. "I'm really sorry about running into you like that. Please, forgive me." Ker blushed a little, finally getting a good look at the guy she'd run into. Tall, pale, ice blue hair. Strikingly similar to the hottie she's spotted just outside of Petalburg, and even more so to Mr. Stone. Probably the same guy she'd been staring at on route 104.
"No need. It was my fault for not saying something earlier. I saw you rushing back here, and said nothing." He chuckled a little, looking at her. Silvery hair, brilliantly green eyes, and just as pasty as he was. This must be the member of the Johto League that Lance had been speaking of. "You must be Keran. It's a pleasure to meet you." Steven smiled, holding out his hand.
He knew who she was? Then Lance was actually doing his job. Ker tried to keep her face from puckering in irritation. She should've known Lance would do this to her. Or was it her own fault for not checking her emails more often? "The pleasure's all mine." She took his hand, noting how smooth his skin was. An odd trait for a trainer. "I'm sorry I don't know who you are though." She continued, having shook and released his hand. He was wearing an interesting amount of jewelry, and most of it looked to be metals or rare stones.
"Forgive me, I forgot my manners. I'm Steven Stone, current Champion of Hoenn." He smiled, bowing as he introduced himself. "I stopped in town for a bit of a break before returning to Dewford and its delightful cave." Steven righted himself, nothing but smiles.