Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.

Pokémon: Sinnoh no Isekai

Chapter Seventy-eight: An honorable end

Dawn and Kenny had just stepped foot upon the sandy shores at Cianwood City, having gone to the beach near the port where they got off from after catching a boat to Cianwood City from Olivine City. The two reborn trainers were hoping that, by the time that they were done in Cianwood City, that Jasmine the Olivine City gym leader would be ready to take them on so that they could both try to earn the badge from her gym.

Until then, they were going to look into challenging Chuck at the gym here in Cianwood City.

"So we go to the local Pokémon Center," Kenny began as he and Dawn walked from the beach, "Rotate our respective parties to best prep us for challenging the Cianwood City gym, rest for the night, then go see if the gym leader can face either of us first thing in the morning."

Dawn nodded in confirmation to Kenny's plan. Dawn was going to go in with at least Nobunaga and Pigeon; she vaguely recalled that the Cianwood City gym used two Pokémon per trainer, both gym leader and challenger. She may be off as it's been a while, but to be on the safe side Dawn was also planning on bringing Cyrus and Chi-Chi, while keeping Holger and Vegeta in her party so that they could gain experience passively.

After talking the matter over with Kenny, he said, "Oh! Well in addition to Hisoka and Hoodini, I'm going to have Godzilla in the party, but I won't consider using him. He's just there to passively gain experience while everyone else does the heavy lifting. As for the rest of what I plan to bring, I think I'll round things off with Zarbon, Spider-Frog, and Wigglytuff."

"Your own fighting Pokémon," Dawn remarked, "Plus a Pokémon that resists fighting, and a partial fairy type. Not too bad all around." She nodded in approval. "Yes, that'll probably be your best bet in going up against Chuck."

Looking up into the skies above, Kenny said, "I hope that Jasmine is done with helping with all of those repairs to the Shining Lighthouse by the time you and I are done here in Cianwood City, my main man. Not only because I want to challenge and beat Jasmine at her gym so that I can earn the badge there, but also because I actually kind of wanted to check out the Shining Lighthouse."

Dawn nodded in agreement. "Well one can only hope that we'll be able to continue the Johto portion of our gym challenge tour without issue by the time we get back to Olivine City. We'll also have to be ready for the steel type Pokémon that Jasmine will be using."

Kenny gave an affirmative nod about that. "Yes, steel type Pokémon. I plan to use Godzilla there, although it will be risky. Oh!" Turning to look at Dawn, Kenny said, "You mind taking the first shot at both Chuck and Jasmine? I want the extra time to have some of our Pokémon show Godzilla how to use Earthquake before I face Jasmine."

"I have no problem with that," Dawn replied, "I can tell that it means a lot to you to get Godzilla as much experience as possible and as quickly as possible so that he'll be able to evolve into Tyranitar as soon as poss-"

"Hitmonchan, you need to take it easy, old boy!"

"Chan-chan!"

Dawn and Kenny were both distracted when they heard that bit of talking just now. Looking over in the appropriate direction, the two reborn trainers saw that the source of the arguing was a man who was looking to be in his late sixties to early seventies, and his Hitmonchan who very clearly was elderly for its species. The man, meanwhile, despite his age was in fairly good physical shape, and obviously was a practitioner of some form of unarmed fighting.

Curious, Dawn leading Kenny along went right over to the old man and his old Hitmonchan. "Umm, pardon the intrusion, but what's going on here?" Dawn asked, getting both the old man and his old Hitmonchan to turn to face her and Kenny.

The old man sighed. Gesturing to his Hitmonchan, the old man explained, "The Nurse Joy at the local Pokémon Center had given my Hitmonchan here a full examination." A hint of melancholy sadness entered the old man's expression. "She said that Hitmonchan here won't live to see the end of this year." Hitmonchan, upon hearing that his time left alive was limited, scowled bitterly.

"Oh snap, your Hitmonchan here is dying?!" Kenny asked, "What happened? Did some jerk nozzle in need of being humbled so he can get a redemption arc go way too far in a battle and had his Pokémon brutalize Hitmonchan here?!"

Both the old man and his old Hitmonchan looked at Kenny in confusion. "...What?! I have no idea where you got that from, but that's not why my Hitmonchan has a time limit," the old man said. He gestured to his Hitmonchan as he gave a resigned sigh. "The reason why my Hitmonchan here is dying is solely due to old age. I've had him for longer than most citizens currently living here in Cianwood City have been alive. I'm probably the only living being residing here Cianwood City who's older than my Hitmonchan."

Dawn and Kenny, although still concerned about how they met a Pokémon who's dying, relaxed a bit when it was confirmed that the dying Pokémon in question is dying due solely to having gotten rather old. "I think that I heard you say to your Hitmonchan here that you want him to take it easy?" Dawn asked.

The old man nodded in confirmation. "Yes. Given that Nurse Joy estimates that he's got until sometime right before the end of this year left to live, I want Hitmonchan here to relax and take it easy so he doesn't over-"

"Chan-chan!"

The elderly Hitmonchan cried out in clear unamusement, vigorously shaking his head, before turning around to run off as fast as his aging body would let him. The old man called out for his aging Hitmonchan to stop and relax as he proceeded to give chase, prompting Dawn and Kenny to do the same.

A short while later, Dawn and Kenny followed the old man and his old Hitmonchan to an open area set up as a sparring grounds of sorts. The elderly Hitmonchan was calmly catching his breath, although he still looked conflicted. "...Is he going to be alright?" Dawn asked, sounding concerned as she alerted the old man and his old Hitmonchan to her and Kenny's presence.

The two older beings turned to look at the reborn trainers. "...Hitmonchan here obviously isn't happy that he's got a time limit left on his life," the old man remarked, "But then again most living being when their life draws to a close aren't entirely happy that-"

"Chan-chan!"

The aging Hitmonchan cried out, vigorously shaking his head again. He pointed one of his fists at his trainer and, with a firm expression on his face, cried out a bit as if he were arguing. "I... I'm afraid that I don't quite understand what you're saying, old boy," the old man said, "But you still ought to take it easy. There's no shame in one's life coming to an end, so you need not-"

"I... I don't think that your Hitmonchan here has a problem with the fact he's going to die before the year is over."

The old man, his old Hitmonchan, and Kenny all turned to look at Dawn, who was focusing on the Hitmonchan. "...I think that what he has a problem with is the fact that he's going to die of old age," Dawn went on, eliciting surprised looks out of Kenny and the old man, "Would this be accurate to say, Hitmonchan?" To the surprise of the old man, his Hitmonchan nodded in agreement with what Dawn was saying.

"But wait a minute," Kenny began, "If Hitmonchan here doesn't want to die of old age, then how does he want to-"

"Ah, Dawn! Figures you'd come to Cianwood City!" a familiar male voice called out, making Dawn and the others all turn to see Lance, the Indigo League champion, come walking up to the scene.

"Oh! Champion Lance!" the old man said as he bowed his head respectfully to Lance, "I had no idea that I'd get to meet you in person!"

Lance acknowledged the old man. "I actually have business with Dawn here, given that I wanted to ask her for what details she and her friend Kenny here may have on the event in Ecruteak City where every bell from the Tin Tower was stolen."

The old man nodded in understanding. "Yes, yes. I heard about that terrible business. I believe that this newly rising villainous organization calling themselves Team Scorn is behind the theft of the bells from the Tin Tower, if the news I heard is correct."

Lance nodded in the affirmative. "Yes. Given how prolific they've been since their debut during the siege on Azalea Town, it was inevitable that Team Scorn would make the news. But that's not here nor there." Lance then looked at everyone as a whole. "...What's going on here?"

"The man's Hitmonchan here is really old and is going to die of old age before the year is over," Dawn began to explain, "The man thinks that his Hitmonchan is afraid to die at all, but I've figured out just before you showed up that Hitmonchan doesn't have a problem with the fact he's dying. He just has a problem with possibly dying of old age."

The champion of the Indigo League closed his eyes as he thought about the matter a bit. "...I've seen cases like this before, so I can probably guess what Hitmonchan wants." Turning right to face the old man, Lance said, "I believe that your Hitmonchan would much prefer to die in battle, to be vanquished by a final opponent, rather than simply let old age claim him."

"What?!" the old man practically exclaimed. Turning to look at his Hitmonchan, the old man was further surprised to see Hitmonchan nod in agreement vigorously with what Lance had just said. "...Hitmonchan, old boy," the old man said, a mildly somber look of understanding on his face, "You want to go out doing what you love, huh?"

"It's not as rare as you'd think, sir," Lance began to explain to the old man, "It's in fact a fairly common occurrence for Pokémon sensing the end of their lives, especially if they have enough advance warning, to seek having their lives end in battle. It's especially common among fighting type Pokémon, such as Hitmonchan here."

"So..." Kenny began, holding a hand to his chin, "...We need to find a Pokémon not only willing to fight a Hitmonchan who's dying of old age, but be willing to kill said Hitmonchan in battle, in order for Hitmonchan to be at peace when he dies."

Turning to look at Kenny, Lance said, "Said Pokémon also has to be willing to risk being killed in battle itself, as battles involving a Pokémon seeking its end in combat tend to be to the death. I will see if my Dragonite is willing to take the risk to grant Hitmonchan here his desire, but-"

"Actually, Lance," Dawn began, taking out the Master Ball that held one of her on-hand Pokémon, "I have an idea on how to make Hitmonchan's end as epic as possible, assuming his trainer here is okay with it, and assuming that Tsukune here has no problem taking the risks involved."

The old man nodded along in understanding. "...I can see why my Hitmonchan wants to go out with a bang rather than let old age claim him. If your Pokémon there is willing to take the risk, then by all means." At the request of the old man, the battle would be held over on the sandy shores of Cianwood City, saying that he would like it if, assuming Hitmonchan does indeed meet his end in battle, he gets to see the sun set for one last time as he moves on.

An idea that everyone, Hitmonchan included, agreed to.

The old man and his Hitmonchan faced down at the other end of the makeshift battlefield on the sandy shores of Cianwood City. They were staring down at where Dawn had just walked to after having a private meeting with one of her Pokémon. "Tsukune has agreed to the battle despite the risks," Dawn said, "And there's a specific reason that I chose Tsukune to be the final opponent of your Hitmonchan."

"Oh?" the old man said, sounding intrigued.

Dawn nodded in confirmation. "Given what Pokémon Tsukune is, I figured that it could serve as some sort of bragging rights for your Hitmonchan in the afterlife, given that it took a Pokémon like Tsukune to bring Hitmonchan to his end." Dawn tossed up the Master Ball, calling out her named Palkia in the process and surprising the old man and his Hitmonchan in the process.

Kenny was a bit intrigued that Dawn was using Palkia, and Lance was amazed to see such a magnificent dragon Pokémon in person. "The legendary Pokémon Palkia," Lance said, "Regarded as a deity in Sinnoh mythology." Looking over at the old man's Hitmonchan, Lance saw that the elderly Pokémon was clearly elated to have so grand of an opponent to see if said opponent can grant him the end that he desires. "...Yeah," Lance said, "That does make for an epic end."

Both the old man and Dawn knew that there was no need for formalities here. There was only the battle. The old man gestured forward. "Hitmonchan, use Bullet Punch!"

"Tsukune, push it back with Power Gem!" Dawn called out.

Even with the fact he used a priority move, Hitmonchan barely hit Tsukune before he was pushed back along the sand by a barrage of colored light shots from the named Palkia. "Tsukune, use Flamethrower!" Dawn ordered.

"Hitmonchan, try blocking it with Fire Punch!" the old man called out.

The elderly Hitmonchan raised both of his fists and ignited them, having them cloaked in flames, and raised them up to intercept Tsukune's Flamethrower as best as possible. However, a good bit of the Flamethrower got through, the flames licking Hitmonchan before passing. "Tsukune, use Surf!" Dawn commanded.

"Hitmonchan, block as much as you can with Ice Punch!" the old man ordered.

Hitmonchan this time raised fists radiating icy cold energy to block the large wave of water that Tsukune conjured up and rode at Hitmonchan. A wall of ice formed where Hitmonchan was blocking as much of Tsukune's Surf as possible, but some water did get through and slammed into the aging Pokémon hard. Additionally, the partial ice wall collapsed, and when it did Dawn saw that Hitmonchan was going to go down soon.

From what Dawn was able to tell, Tsukune needed to land one solid hit in order to vanquish Hitmonchan in battle. Luckily for Dawn, Tsukune had just the move needed to put Hitmonchan at peace in the hereafter. Dawn raised her hand up, then lowered it so that her extended index finger was pointing right at Hitmonchan.

The champion of Sinnoh calmed her nerves, steeled her resolve, as she got ready to give an order that could potentially claim a life as a result. Dawn, allowing a single tear to run down the side of her face, gave (for the first time as well as hoping it'd be the only time) an order that she hoped would have fatal results.

"Tsukune, use Spacial Rend!"

"Hitmonchan, use Focus Punch!"

Hitmonchan pulled his right fist back and began to charge every bit of power he could focus to it, right as Tsukune pulled its right hand back, its right shoulder pad's large pearl thing glowing as it did so, right before slashing the air before it with its right hand to conjure and cast the Spacial Rend, having it fly right at Hitmonchan. He was standing still so as to focus on his Focus Punch attack, so he was unable to dodge as he was struck hard by the signature move of a legendary Pokémon.

The elderly Hitmonchan was struck with such a potent force. He clearly lost focus on Focus Punch, all his health being beaten out by that final attack. Slowly, as if time was slowing down, the elderly Pokémon fell to his knees before falling over face first onto the sandy shores of Cianwood City, his head turned when he landed so that he could look over the ocean as the sun set over the horizon.

By the time any other person at that area at the time reached him, Hitmonchan had already passed on, the last light of his life having faded from his eyes, but a smile on his face as he had seen one final sunset at the sandy shores of Cianwood City after falling in battle to his final opponent.

And what a finish it was! For what mortal Pokémon at the end of its long life can claim that it took a Pokémon of the divine to bring him to his end? As the old man and Lance proceeded to take care of arrangements while Kenny volunteered to assist with transporting the body, Tsukune gave a single, respectful nod to its opponent it had brought to an end. Similarly, Dawn also nodded respectfully to the fallen Hitmonchan.

"Odin be with you, old warrior."

Later on over at the local Pokémon Center, right after the starry night sky had just settled over Cianwood City, Dawn and Kenny were in the lobby, looking on as Nurse Joy talked to the old man and Lance. "I still wish that the practice would be outlawed here in Johto," Nurse Joy said, a grim look on her face, "There are less violent methods to end the suffering of a Pokémon dying of old age or incurable ailement, namely euthanasia."

Nurse Joy turned her head to look at where a stretcher sat; a white sheet covering a body laid on the stretcher. She then turned to look back at Lance and the old man. "...But I can't fault anyone who finds themselves in the same spot Hitmonchan was in for wanting to end things on their own terms. All other parties were in agreement, and no further damage had been caused. That all having been said, I suppose that I can't be upset."

As Nurse Joy made arrangements with the old man concerning his Hitmonchan's body, Dawn and Kenny turned to look at one another. "...I actually phoned Maylene over in Sinnoh using the video phone," Dawn said to Kenny, "Told her what happened and explained everything. She agreed that it wouldn't be fair to make a Pokémon dying of old age like Hitmonchan suffer from the ravages that come with old age in his final days."

"I bet that being told of the very old Hitmonchan seeking to go out in battle had in some way reminded Maylene of how she had nearly lost her Lucario," Kenny remarked, his expression showing a somber tone; a rare thing for Kenny.

Dawn nodded in confirmation. "Yes. And before you ask Kenny, Maylene is nowhere close to even considering forgiving Paul. At this rate, I don't think that Maylene will ever forgive Paul for what his actions prior to him being set straight by Ash had made her go through."

Kenny nodded grimly in understanding before his and Dawn's attention was drawn by Lance coming over with the old man. "The Pokémon Center will handle the business of cremating Hitmonchan's remains," the old man said, "I'll be able to come by here in the morning to pick up an urn containing Hitmonchan's ashes."

"Meanwhile," Lance said to Dawn and Kenny, "I can only assume that you two both intend to issue challenges to the Cianwood City gym tomorrow. Although I have to ask you two something."

"What's up, Lance?" Dawn asked.

Gesturing to the reborn trainers, Lance asked, "Why did you two skip over the gym in Olivine City? It's located between here and Ecruteak City, so you should have been by it first."

"Oh, Jasmine told us she couldn't take any challengers at the time we arrived," Kenny proceeded to explain, "She said something about being needed to help with repairs to the Shining Lighthouse."

Kenny's explanation caught Lance's attention. The Indigo League champion held a hand to his chin as he wore a look of contemplation on his face. "...Odd that," Lance said, "Considering that Jasmine normally wouldn't have been asked to assist with repairs to the Shining Lighthouse. At most, the only way that Jasmine would be involved would be to grant certain permissions that she in her capacity as the Olivine City gym leader can grant to the repair crews, like using certain Pokémon to do actual helping out with repairs."

Shrugging, Kenny replied, "Well that's what she told me and Dawn."

"Hmm..." Lance hummed, still looking suspicious, "...I guess that it can't be helped. And at least Jasmine has a noble reason for having to turn you two away when you had first arrived."

...

Meanwhile, over in Olivine City, Jasmine stood at the docks in the dead of night, the only lights visible coming from the stars above which were partly obscured by clouds. Standing next to the leader of the Olivine City gym was Team Scorn Admin Brother, with Akari the specially dressed Team Scorn grunt standing behind her admin. The three of them stood in silence up until Brother spotted a dark shape on the horizon, one that caught his attention as he knew the shape well.

Brother held up a lantern and turned it on and off, clearly signaling to the shape that he saw. Within short order, the shape got close enough so that Jasmine, Brother, and Akari could tell even with the limited illumination available that it was a ship big enough to carry a good number of passengers. When the ship got even closer, Jasmine was able to make out the Team Scorn insignia plastered on the side of the ship's hull.

Brother stopped fiddling with the lantern and kept it off when the Team Scorn ship got close enough that it could dock without issue. When the ship firmly docked, what few lights it had on were turned off. A ramp came out and landed on the pier next to the ship, allowing the Team Scorn members on board to get off and finally make land. There were a lot more than what Jasmine would have ended up guessing; she estimated a total of forty members of Team Scorn had gotten off of the ship.

They were all Team Scorn grunts, save for one who was clearly a Team Scorn officer; he wore a pair of dark blue military style boots with yellow laces, dark blue military dress pants, and a yellow long sleeved shirt with dark blue trim; the dark blue heater shield shaped patch with a yellow Team Scorn 'S' was located over this Team Scorn officer's left pec. He was fair skinned and had dark hair that was combed back.

Upon all of the Team Scorn members getting off of the ship, the obvious Team Scorn officer stood at attention before Admin Brother before saluting him. "Captain Quaid of Team Scorn's Katana Sector reporting for duty, sir!" the now identified Captain Quaid said as he addressed Brother in an official and respectful manner.

"Geez Quaid," a female Team Scorn grunt who was among the grunts that got off the ship with Quaid said, "You don't gotta be a suck-up to the Admin." This female grunt wasn't wearing her baret hat and her mask wasn't worn up, allowing her light cocoa skin and dark hair held back in a ponytail, bound with a red scrunchy, to be seen more easily.

That female Team Scorn grunt speaking up caught Brother's attention. "You're out of uniform, Tawny," Brother said in a firm tone, "You aren't wearing your baret, and your mask isn't up."

Gesturing to Akari, the now identified Tawny said, "But she's hardly wearing anything from the Team Scorn rank and file members' uniform!"

"Tawny, you're a Captain's Assistant," Quaid pointed out, "Mine specifically. Captain's Assistants still have to wear the standard uniform for Team Scorn rank and file. Admin's Assistants like miss Akari here are allowed to vary their outfits with permission from the admin they serve. I'm going to have to ask that you put your baret back on and your mask back up."

"Given that her hair is long enough to warrant it," Brother began pointing out, "She ought to be permitted a scrunchy, which might help her stand out from the other rank and file in Team Scorn since she's your Captain's Assistant, Quaid. But she can't use that solid red one. She'll have to replace it with one that's solid dark blue or solid yellow."

As Tawny, while grumbling in mild annoyance, proceeded to put her mask back up before taking out her uniform's baret to put it on, Quaid said to Brother, "Sorry about the lack of decorum from one of my men, sir."

"It's no big deal for now, although I hope you'll remember to stress the importance of maintaining uniform regulation to Tawny here later," Brother replied, "Well anyway, now that you and your men here are all in Johto now, I hope you're ready for our big job."

"The one in Mahogany Town or the one in Blackthorn City?" Tawny spoke up.

Quaid groaned in annoyance. Gesturing to Jasmine, Quaid said to Tawny, "One, we'll cover that in private later. Two, you weren't supposed to mention either of those in front of someone who's not a part of Team Scorn!"

Brother looked firmly at Tawny. "...You have quite a bit that you need to stress to your assistant it would seem, Captain Quaid," Brother remarked. Turning to look at Jasmine, Brother said, "Team Scorn's business here in Olivine City is done. What men who are still at the Shining Lighthouse will be withdrawn before we leave in a few moments. You will also find that your Ampharos, as per my word that I gave, is unharmed."

Jasmine nodded in understanding. "Oh, and you're probably not going to wanna tell anyone what all went on here," Tawny said as she and the rest of Team Scorn left, "Given that telling people about that will give proof of how you worked with Team Scorn. I'm willing to bet that the government here in Johto won't be happy with you being complicit in illegal activities." Team Scorn then took off from the Olivine City port, leaving only a guilty Jasmine behind as the Team Scorn ship proceeded to pull out of port and set sail away from Johto.

Jasmine, as soon as she was wholly alone, broke down in tears.

END, CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT

Author's notes;

This chapter covers Dawn and Kenny arriving in Cianwood City, arriving too late to issue a challenge to the local gym but they were able to help an elderly Hitmonchan dying of old age go out on his own terms. But back in Olivine City, Team Scorn just welcomed a load of their members to Johto in the dead of night, with stated plans for Mahogany Town and Blackthorn City. What said plans could be will have to be waited for, but they will show how far Team Scorn is willing to go. Later.

Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Leni (female Lucario), Lucy (female Mismagius), Vegeta (male Aipom), Akiza (female Roserade), Tsukune (Palkia)

Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Goofy (male Houndoom), Godzilla (male Pupitar), Shallot (male Glaceon), Roshi (male Torterra), Elay (male Sandslash; shiny), Black (Giratina)