Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Sinnoh no Isekai
Chapter thirty-seven: Dawn of a debut in contests
Given the late time of day that Freesia had found the heroes, she decided to stay the night at a local hotel. After the formally dressed woman retired to her rented room for the evening, the heroes took to resting for the night as well, although Kenny said that he wanted to rotate his party a bit first before getting settled in for the night. As such, Dawn, Ash, and Brock were all dressed for bed in the bunk room at the Pokémon Center when Kenny came in.
"Well my party's rotated and ready for our trip to Arrowroot Town tomorrow," Kenny said as he climbed into the bottom bunk of the bunkbed where Dawn laid on the top bunk.
"I'm not sure why you made a big deal of needing to rotate your party before we went to see Princess Salvia tomorrow, Kenny," Dawn began, remembering from her and Kenny's previous life what was going to be going down soon, "Especially since I'm the one Princess Salvia wants to see mainly." Looking bemused for the sake of Ash and Brock, Dawn added, "Although I'm not too sure what that Freesia lady was on about when it came to quote 'making me a princess' unquote."
Gesturing to Dawn, Kenny went on, "And that's just it. We're about to meet royalty. I gotta have the best of my cringe posse on hand when we meet her. We gotta be in top form when we meet with this Princess Salvia chick tomorrow."
"Kenny, though putting it in his own way, raises a valid point," Brock remarked, "We need to look and be our best when we meet with the princess tomorrow."
"What surprises me is how Dawn's mom so quickly agreed to let Dawn do whatever to help Princess Salvia when that Freesia lady confirmed that they were the real deal," Ash said.
Shrugging, Dawn said, "It turns out that my mom really admires the culture of Princess Salvia's country. In fact, my mom told me some of the outfits she wore for contests in the past were based off of the style commonly sported on special occasions by the nobility and royalty of Princess Salvia's homeland."
Dawn then told the boys a story that Johanna had told her about the contests that Johanna had been in during the past, capping it with what Johanna said about her not wearing a dress based off of the style of Princess Salvia's homeland during the contest where Johanna lost to Lila. "Which is what my mom says is partly why her win streak was broken," Dawn said as she finished up telling the story to the boys.
"Sounds legit," Kenny replied, "Well anywho, I'm gonna clock out." Kenny then rolled over in his bunk and promptly went to sleep. Brock went to sleep in his bunk after getting back in from turning the lights off, and Ash was out of it right away. As for Dawn, she stared up at the ceiling for a bit as she wondered how tomorrow would go.
She vaguely recalled most of the events of the episode from the anime in her and Kenny's previous life where Salvia took anime!Dawn's place to enter a contest, ultimately win said contest, gave the ribbon to a disguised Jessie, then gave her Togekiss to anime!Dawn. However, here there were a few things that would interfere with that, mainly how Dawn abstained from contests in favor of the Sinnoh league challenge, and the fact Dawn already owned a Togekiss.
Shrugging as she willed herself to sleep, Dawn figured she'd see how things played out.
The next day, Freesia driving a limo took the heroes to Arrowroot Town, and right to Arrowroot Palace. As the heroes were led to the double doors leading into a parlor room, Freesia said, "Her highness is actually rather excited to meet you. Given what she hopes to ask, I hope you'll be willing to hear her out."
"Something about making my main man Dawn here a princess," Kenny remarked.
Nodding once, Freesia replied, "That's part of it, yes." Freesia then opened the door and led the heroes in. What they, aside from Dawn and to a lesser extent Kenny, didn't expect was the fact that Princess Salvia, by all rights, was the spitting image of Dawn herself.
Salvia clapped her hands together. "Oh, you were able to find Dawn and her friends!" Salvia said, her voice sounding refined like the royalty she is, "Good show, Freesia!"
"Dude, it's like seeing two Dawns," Kenny said as he looked back and forth between Dawn and Salvia, "Robot, clone, or long lost twin? Taking all bets!"
Silvia laughed in amusement at Kenny's surprise at the similarities between her and Dawn. "The similarities between Dawn and I are part of why I've taken such a keen interest in her, Kenny."
"Wait, you know his name?" Ash asked, looking mildly surprised.
Turning to face Ash, Salvia nodded once in the affirmative. "Of course I do, Ash. I know all of your names, given that you were all involved in the efforts to protect the Adamant and then Lustrous Orbs, not to mention how all of you were entered in the Hearthome Tag battle competition. But that is besides the point." Turning to look at Dawn, Salvia said, "Dawn, I'd like to discuss the favor I'd like to ask of you."
Dawn gave the princess a knowing look. "The one that Freesia mentioned to me about how you want to make me a princess."
"Her highness, as part of her goodwill tour, is visiting Sinnoh," Freesia began to explain, "She came here to Arrowroot Town hoping to enter the upcoming Pokémon contest that will be happening here in short order."
"Wait a minute," Ash began, "Wouldn't a royal like you have duties to do that would prevent you from entering the contest?"
Nodding once to Ash, Salvia said, "Exactly. Hence where Dawn comes in." Turning to look at Dawn, Salvia asked, "I would like it if the two of us could switch places for the day."
Ash and Brock, as well as Kenny to a lesser extent, were surprised that Salvia asked Dawn to switch places with her for a day. "...So while I'm disguised as you doing princess work," Dawn began, "You disguised as me will enter the upcoming Pokémon contest."
Nodding once, Salvia said, "I know it's a really huge favor to ask, but I implore you to agree."
...
A short while later, Dawn was dressed up like a princess; pink dress that reached her ankles, white silken gloves that reached halfway up her biceps, lovely heels, a silvery tiara, and a pearl necklace. Dawn was thankful that she's a preteen girl now, and not the early twenties guy that she was in her previous life. Meanwhile, Salvia was dressed up in Dawn's normal outfit; the resemblance really was rather uncanny.
"You really do got the look of my main man Dawn going pretty well," Kenny said as he looked at Salvia dressed as Dawn, "You're primed to enter the contest now."
Nodding once to Kenny in appreciation, Salvia replied, "Thank you for the vote of confidence, Kenny."
"Hey princess," Ash began, "What Pokémon do you plan to enter the contest with?"
At that cue, Salvia took out and tossed up a pokéball, calling a Togekiss out in the process. "Oh, so you have a Togekiss too," Brock said.
Looking mildly curious, Salvia said, "Too? What do you mean?"
"Brock's talking about how I own a Togekiss as well," Dawn explained, "And that reminds me." Turning to directly face the princess, Dawn said, "I've been known to name all of my Pokémon, so if someone who knows me sees you dressed as me use a Pokémon that doesn't go by a nickname, it might break the illusion."
"Oh! I wouldn't want to risk being exposed!" Salvia said, "You said you also own a Togekiss, and that all of your Pokémon are given names. What's the name you gave to your Togekiss?'
"I named him Nobunaga," Dawn explained.
Salvia nodded once in understanding. "Nobunaga. Got it." Looking to her Togekiss, Salvia asked, "You don't mind having to use Nobunaga as a stage name, do you Togekiss?" Salvia's Togekiss gave a gentle shake of her head as she agreed she was fine using a stage name. Turning to look at the heroes, Salvia said, "Well, it looks like me and 'Nobunaga' here are ready for our contest debut."
As the others cheered, there was a knock at the doors leading into the room. Salvia quickly recalled her Togekiss, right before a butler entered. "Apologies for the intrusion," the butler said, "But the princess has some meetings to attend."
"Understandable," Freesia said as she led Ash, Brock, Kenny, and the disguised Salvia out of the room, leaving the disguised Dawn with the butler.
After the boys and Salvia were gone, the butler turned to look at Dawn. "I wasn't aware that you were meeting with some local commoners at this time, your highness," the butler said.
Dawn nodded once to the butler. "Apologies. They actually had done me a considerable favor, and I had wanted to personally thank them for it."
"Ah, understandable," the butler replied, "Showing thanks to locals who go above and beyond for your sake is a good trait. Well anyway Princess Salvia, we must get going. There are a number of meetings we must cover." Dawn nodded in understanding as, playing her role, she proceeded to follow the butler out of the room and off for the meetings.
Later outside of the Arrowroot Town contest hall, the boys led Salvia up to get registered. "My first Pokémon contest," Salvia said, "I must admit, I'm a little nervous."
"No need to sweat the deets," Kenny said casually, "You got the aura of my main man going here."
Nodding in agreement, Ash said, "He's right. You got this."
Salvia, with a small smile, said, "Thank you, boys." The group then went up to get Salvia registered for the Pokémon contest. However, unbeknownst to the boys and Salvia, Team Rocket was spying on them from a bush.
James and Meowth both looked confused. "Wait, why are the twerps going to the contest hall?" James asked, "None of them are into contests."
"They're probably going there to simply watch," Meowth reasoned, "Just like they did when there was that contest in Celestic Town."
"Which I aced!" Jessie said, stepping out to show she was in her Jessilina disguise. "But I only got four ribbons," Jessie went on, "I need the fifth one from the Arrowroot contest if I am to enter into the Sinnoh Grand Festival!" James and Meowth both wished Jessie the best of luck as she went to go get registered for the Arrowroot contest.
Inside the contest hall, Ash, Brock, and Kenny were watching as the contest host, Marian, was getting everyone pumped for the Arrowroot contest. As Marian introduced the judges, Ash said to the other guys, "Hey, do you think Salvia can do this?"
"Ash, you need to have faith," Brock said, "I'm sure she'll do well."
"Yeah, Brock's got a point," Kenny agreed, "After all, she's wearing the outfit of my main man Dawn, so she's got some Dawn mojo working for her." After giving the notion a bit of thought, Kenny said, "But I suppose a quick pep talk wouldn't hurt." Getting up, Kenny said to the others, "Imma go see how she's doing. Be back soon." Kenny then took off to go see Salvia before the contest actually started.
...
Backstage, Salvia is watching on a TV screen as the pre contest formalities were taken care of. As that was going on, Jessie spotted 'Dawn' watching the TV. "Oh, so the gyms in Sinnoh aren't enough for her," Jessie hissed under her breath, "She's gotta go and try to ruin my odds of getting the last ribbon I need to enter the Sinnoh Grand Festival!" Wanting to give 'Dawn' a piece of her mind, Jessie marched right over.
"Hey! You're a new face entering the contest scene, but what's with the cool and calm air you're giving off?" Jessie said when she got right in front of 'Dawn'.
Salvia recognized the girl who approached her as Jessilina, having seen the other Pokémon contests on TV before. She also knew that this was the first contest that 'Dawn' was entering, so she knew she had to make a good impression. Smiling gently, Salvia said, "It's lovely to meet your acquaintance in person. My name is Dawn."
Jessie immediately looked confused. She never knew Dawn to act so refined, and it was clear to her that Dawn here failed to recognize who she was; Dawn had always seen through the disguises that Team Rocket wore all the time. Just as Jessie was about to finally revel in having pulled the wool over 'the Sinnoh twerp girl's eyes, both Jessie and Salvia heard Kenny's voice call out, "Oi, what are you up to, messing with my main man Dawn?"
The two girls then saw Kenny come over. Giving Jessie a curious look, Kenny asked, "Who are you supposed to be?"
"Oh, Kenny," Salvia said as she made the introductions, "This here is Jessilina. She's made quite a mark in contests here in Sinnoh."
Kenny gave Jessie a serious look. "...You don't say, dude." Reaching for one of the pokéballs on his belt, Kenny went on, "Well maybe an up and coming contest star like 'Jessilina' here would delight to see a cool Pokémon like Elay. Given that he's a-"
"Oh, look at the time!" Jessie said, recognizing that Kenny, who could tell who she really was, was about to bring out his annoying shiny Sandslash, which would be bound to blow her cover; if her Jessilina persona was blown, then she could kiss her dreams of getting to compete in the Sinnoh Grand Festival goodbye. Turning around to hurry away, Jessie said, "I need to go iron the bathroom!"
After Jessie was gone, Salvia turned to Kenny. "Kenny, why did you scare her away?" Salvia harshly whispered, "I was talking to one of the notable coordinators known to compete in contests here in the Sinnoh region."
"That was actually a member of Team Rocket in disguise," Kenny harshly whispered back, taking Salvia by surprise, "Don't worry, I got a plan to deal with her. I just need you to act as if nothing is afoot."
Salvia had a base knowledge of who and what Team Rocket is; she knows they're terrible criminals, and her country had recently dealt with an underground crime ring run by a Team Rocket branch found operating within their borders. "...I hope you know what you're doing, Kenny," Salvia harshly whispered to Dawn's friend, "My country recently dealt with a Team Rocket branch operating a crime ring within our land. They are heinous criminals."
Looking curious, Kenny asked, "Would that Freesia lady and the servant staff know this?"
"My butler who you, Ash, and Brock saw earlier has a nephew recovering in the hospital due to being assaulted by a member of Team Rocket," Salvia whispered.
"Good, that might help me get in to see Dawn," Kenny whispered back, "Trust me on this one!" Kenny then took off and left, leaving Salvia to only have to worry about how well she would do in her first Pokémon contest.
Meanwhile, back at Arrowroot Palace, Dawn disguised as Salvia was greeting a gentleman who arrived to give his respects to 'Princess Salvia'. Dawn remembered, from the anime in her previous life, that anime!Dawn wasn't entirely up to the task. But Dawn herself here had more will and self-cotnrol. Dawn supposed that came from how, in her previous life, she was an early twenties guy, and those tend to be more able to hold out than preteen girls who lack both formal education and training for situations like this.
"Thank Odin for all of the RP experience I got in my previous life playing 5th ed. D&D," Dawn thought after she got through greeting the gentleman, who took his leave afterwards. After the gentleman left, Dawn turned to look at Freesia. "How many are left to see me, Freesia?" Dawn asked, "If there are any left, that is."
"Only eighty left at this point, Princess Salvia," Freesia said, playing along with the charade that she was helping with. Dawn nodded in understanding. Dawn was ready to see the next visitor, but a servant came in, with a concerned look on his face.
"Pardon the intrusion, Princess Salvia," the servant said to Dawn, "But one of the heroic commoners who the butler said saw you earlier claims to have urgent need to see you."
Dawn, looking curious, said, "Oh, umm, well, this is a bit unprecedented, but if the need is urgent enough, then I suppose I'd be a fool to not hear the concerns of one of the heroic commoners who had helped out earlier."
...
A few moments later, Dawn and Freesia were meeting with Kenny alone in a separate room for privacy. "Umm, how do I put this..." Kenny said, "...Oh yeah. I caught Jessie in her Jessilina get up harassing the princess at the contest hall backstage."
Although Dawn instantly recognized what Kenny was talking about, Freesia looked a little bit lost. "Jessie? Who's Jessie?" Freesia asked, "And how does she pertain to that Jessilina girl who Princess Salvia had seen in contests on TV before? Also, why was she harassing the princess?"
Sighing, Dawn said, "Long story short, Jessie is a member of Team Rocket, who-"
"She's a member of Team Rocket?!" Freesia nearly exclaimed, "This is terrible! How did Team Rocket find out Princess Salvia is here?! Are they planning to kidnap her?! We need to-"
Cutting Freesia off, Kenny said, "Yeah, her highness gave me a rough idea that your country has had a brush with Team Rocket before. Luckily, the guys, Dawn, and I have all dealt with Team Rocket plenty of times. We know what makes them tick." Turning to look at Freesia, Kenny asked, "Is there a chance that Dawn here while dressed as the princess could go see the contest?"
"Under normal circumstances, yes actually," Freesia said, "The princess is scheduled to appear to watch the finals of the contest. But-"
"But nothing," Kenny said, cutting Freesia off, "We can easily resolve this." Turning to look at Dawn, Kenny went on, "I just need a disguise of my own, and assistance from the royal Lucario."
Freesia looked confused again. "Royal Lucario?" Freesia asked, "What do you talking about? There's no royal Luca-"
"I think I know what Kenny is up to, Freesia," Dawn said, "And so long as Kenny doesn't do anything too stupid, then I'm all for it."
Later, back at the contest hall, everything had moved to the finals. "Where's Kenny?" Ash asked in a mildly concerned tone, "He's been taking an awfully long time."
"Maybe he got sidetracked?" Brock said, "I mean, with all due respect to Kenny, he does seem to be a little bit on the-"
"Attention, audience!" Marian announced, getting everyone in the audience to turn to look at her, "For the finals of the Arrowroot contest today, we have a special guest!" Everyone then turned their eyes to a balcony, where the curtains were drawn to reveal Dawn still disguised as Princess Salvia. Dawn was accompanied by Freesia and the butler. "Here to grace the contest with her royal presence is Princess Slavia!" Marian announced, drawing cheers from the whole audience m
Over where they sat, Ash said to Brock, "Hey, they got Dawn to make an appearance here!"
"Yeah, but they still think she's Princess Salvia," Brock pointed out as the rest of the audience cheered.
Up on stage, Jessie in her Jessilina get up was getting ready to face off against Salvia who was dressed as Dawn. Salvia, remembering what Kenny had told her, knew that she had to keep her cool while facing who she was told is a member of Team Rocket in disguise. "Alright, contestants Jessilina and Dawn!" Marian said, "Are you all ready to put on a show? Because we've got a special guest here today to-"
"LUUUU!"
Mirian was cut off, and the audience looked on in confusion, as they heard a Lucario cry out from nowhere. Suddenly, a Lucario came running out and got onto the stage, glaring at Jessilina as its aura sensors on the back of its head flared up. Lucario growled angrily at Jessilina all the while it was confronting her. This turn of events took everyone watching by surprise.
"...Umm," Mirian said, looking on in mild confusion, "It would appear that a Lucario has wandered onto the stage to harass contestant Jessilina for some odd-"
"Obviously you aren't familiar with how a Lucario can learn what a person is truly like thanks to their ability to work with aura!" the voice of Kenny called out, making everyone look around. Ash and Brock especially, as they were both wondering what Kenny was up to with this. Suddenly, Kenny came walking out, dressed in a variation of the outfit that anime!Kenny wore for contests, but the version that Kenny here wore was a pastel dark burgundy color. Also Kenny wore sunglasses that had a style to them that Dawn up where she sat recognized as MLG shades.
Holding up a hand, Kenny announced to everyone, "Apologies for the intrusion! I am known as Sir Artemis the Cringy, royal knight escort, defender of the realm, thane slave, and war hero who wields the Holy Sandal in service to her royal highness Princess Salvia! There is good reason for why I and the royal Lucario here had seen fit to interrupt the finals here!"
Up in the balcony, Dawn gently face palmed. "...Thane slave? Really?" Dawn muttered under her breath, too quietly for Freesia and the butler to hear.
"As many of those here ought to know," the disguised Kenny went on, "Lucario as a species are able to tell the true intentions of others thanks to having the ability to read aura! Through that, the royal Lucario here has discovered that contestant Jessilina here isn't who she claims she really is!"
Jessie, realizing that her identity had somehow been uncovered, took a nervous step back. "I, umm, surely you jest, Sir Artemis. I am simply-" Jessie was cut off when the royal Lucario, actually Dawn's Lucario Leni, used Psychic to blast away the ribbons in Jessies hair and the glasses she wore, which not only showed her face unobscured, but allowed her hair to fall back into its long curved form in the process.
Pointing dramatically at the now exposed Jessie, the disguised Kenny loudly declared, "You are Jessie of the criminal organization Team Rocket!"
The audience all gasped out of shock, with Ash and Brock both standing up. "That Jessilina girl was really Jessie from Team Rocket this whole time?!" Ash exclaimed, "I can't believe it! This is a total and complete surprise!"
"Guards!" Dawn yelled as she stood up from the throne in the balcony she was watching everything in, "Seize that criminal!"
Jessie, although shocked that her cover was blown, was actually more crushed than anything else; due to how she had been exposed here, her dreams of getting to compete in the Sinnoh Grand Festival have been crushed. There was no way that she would be able to compete in the the Sinnoh Grand Festival, given that her being part of Team Rocket was now public knowledge.
Jessie tried to turn tail and run, but stopped short when she saw a number of guards rush out to surround where she stood. The disguised Kenny put his left hand on Jessie's right shoulder as he said, "You're under arrest!" He then socked Jessie in the face with a staggering punch, knocking her out cold and allowing the guards to seize her without trouble.
While the knocked out Jessie was being dealt with, Salvia who was still disguised as Dawn was awarded the Arrowroot ribbon by default, given that her opponent in the finals was revealed to be a criminal who had been going about the contest scene in Sinnoh this year in disguise. Additionally, Jessie's Sinnoh contest ribbons that she had earned so far had been found and revoked from her, being rendered void in the process.
As it turned out, the Sinnoh Pokémon contest committee has firm rules against criminals taking part in contests; gee, imagine that, the committee doesn't want criminals taking part in contests. There's also the fact that there's a firm rule against entering a contest under an assumed identity, so that helped seal Jessie's fate even more.
Salvia, having heard that part about assumed identities being a big no-no, was a bit disheartened given that, although she was able to have her dream of competing in a Pokémon contest (and she won, no less!), she had to break the rules set up by the committee in order to do so, although no one aside from her, the heroes, and Freesia knew that the princess had used and assumed identity. It'd be a secret that by Salvia's rule the heroes and Freesia would have to keep.
Even so, she was glad to be finally able to live her dream. As such, she wanted to properly thank Dawn and the boys.
...
Back at Arrowroot Palace, the heroes had been gathered by Salvia and Freesia after Jessie had been brought in following her arrest. Dawn and Salvia had long switched back to using their normal outfits, so the now formally dressed Salvia was handing the Arrowroot contest ribbon to Dawn. "You're giving me the ribbon?" Dawn asked, mildly surprised.
Salvia nodded in the affirmative. "Well, it was you who won the contest, not me," Salvia replied, "And I did hear what the judges said about entering contests under an assumed identity. I think it's best if you took the ribbon, Dawn."
"But you're the one who wanted to compete in a contest," Ash pointed out.
"Yes, I wanted to compete in a contest," Salvia said, "Which I did. The experience is a memory that I will cherish forever, especially since it saw Team Rocket getting punished in the process."
Brock nodded along. "Yeah, I got the lowdown on how your country was harassed by Team Rocket in the past. I'm very sorry that-"
"Curse you, Sir Artemis!"
Everyone stopped short when they heard Jessie shout out in vengeful anguish, prompting all of them to run out and see Team Rocket fly away in their balloon. "Thanks to James and Meowth busting me out, I'll be able to get my revenge on Sir Artemis for ruining my dreams of getting to compete in the Sinnoh Grand Festival!" Jessie yelled down at everyone coming out of Arrowroot Palace as Team Rocket flew away, "I'll be coming for you soon, Sir Artemis!"
As the Team Rocket balloon flew away, Kenny chuckled under his breath, "Jessie has no idea that the guy she's swearing revenge upon doesn't actually exist. Heh."
"We must take measures to ensure the safety of Princess Salvia!" the butler said in a panic, "She's in danger while Team Rocket is here in Sinnoh!" The butler and Freesia then rushed everyone inside, while the butler had security measures taken for the safety of Princess Salvia. It was looking like the heroes were not done yet with helping out foreign royalty. Nope, not by a long shot.
END, CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Author's notes;
What ended up covering a filler episode that I had wanted to cover ended up becoming so much more, it would seem. This will continue into the next chapter, which will see some fallout from the fact that it was revealed that a criminal in disguise had been competing in Sinnoh contests this whole time, not to mention how a foreign country is bound to be upset that the Sinnoh region had allowed said criminal to get into such close proximity to their princess. Take care.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Cyrus (male Staraptor), Akiza (female Roserade), Leni (female Lucario), Germany (male Garchomp), Tsukune (Palkia)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Roshi (male Torterra), Kermit (male Politoed), Cell (male Scizor; shiny), Shallot (male Glaceon), Elay (male Sandslash; shiny), Black (Giratina)
Ash's Pokémon: Pikachu (male), Staraptor (male), Swampert (female), Infernape (male), Torterra (male), Gliscor (male)