Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Sinnoh no Isekai
Chapter Ninety: Discussions on dealing with Team Scorn in Hoenn
Dawn and Kenny sat on a sofa together in a lounge room in Professor Birch's lab in Littleroot Town, Hoenn. Sitting with them were Birch himself as well as Steven, the Hoenn region champion. Dawn and Kenny also respectively had a Torchic and a Mudkip, each Pokémon having fallen asleep in the respective laps of their new trainers. "Okay, now that things have been settled," Steven said, "We can get cracking on discussing how to deal with Team Scorn's presence here in Hoenn."
"First off," Dawn began, "Have there been any activities done by Team Scorn since they were first noticed here in Hoenn? Any at all."
Steven had a look of consideration on his face. "I did hear and had confirmed that Team Scorn was looking to acquire some old assets that had previously been under the ownership of Teams Aqua and Magma, criminal groups native to Hoenn. But that's all I got. I'm not even sure if Team Scorn had been successful in acquiring any of said assets."
"Is there anything you know about Team Scorn that might help Hoenn at large deal with Team Scorn's presence on Hoenn soil?" Birch asked.
Dawn nodded in the affirmative. "I was able to get it that a sector of Team Scorn, called the Kunai Sector, is the sector that's operating here in the Hoenn region. I was also able to get it that, although each Team Scorn sector is supposed to have four Captains, the Kunai Sector only has two of its four captaincy spots filled up. This means that we have only got two Team Scorn captains and the Admin of the Kunai Sector to worry about when it comes to Team Scorn officers here in Hoenn."
"Each officer of Team Scorn also has an assistant each," Kenny added, "So we can basically double the number of big names from Team Scorn that we ought to keep our eyes and ears out for."
Both Steven and Birch nodded in understanding. "Can you think of any places here in Hoenn that might be a lucrative target for Team Scorn to go after?" Dawn asked.
Steven and Birch began wracking their minds. "...Well there's my father's company, Devon Corporation," Steven began, "Located in Rustboro City. The shipyard, harbor, and oceanic museum all over in Slateport City might be targeted as well. Professor Cozmo who researches meteorites in Fallarbor Town might be targeted too. Lilycove City has another harbor plus an art museum. Then there's the Space Center in Mossdeep City." Steven shrugged. "That's all I can think of off of the top of my head right now. Sorry that I couldn't think of more."
"No no, it's plenty," Dawn assured Steven, "At the very least, it gives us a list of targets to focus on protecting until we learn more about what Team Scorn is up to here in Hoenn."
"And since Team Scorn's officer personnel here in Hoenn is stretched thin," Kenny said, "We'll have an easier time dealing with them."
Steven, and to a lesser extent Birch, smiled in relief. "...Well that is reassuring to hear," Steven replied, "I've only recently stepped into the position of Hoenn's champion, so I'm still trying to find my footing, as it were."
To Steven, Dawn said, "If I were you, I'd write down that list of all possible targets for Team Scorn, then have security arranged for all targets on said list. It's best that we nip Team Scorn's activities in the Hoenn region in the bud."
"Oh!" Kenny said, "Write a copy of said list for my main man here and I to take! That way, when we reach the towns and cities with said possible targets, we can help out with preventing Team Scorn from getting to them. Assuming that they do go after said targets, of course."
Birch looked confused. "Wait, I thought that you guys came here to Hoenn solely to help with dealing with Team Scorn's presence here."
Steven, with an amused smile, gave a calm hum of a laugh. "Lance had told me about how Dawn and Kenny are on something of a tour across the regions to challenge gyms and earn badges there. They'll help out against Team Scorn when and where they pop up I am sure, but Dawn and Kenny also have their own personal goals."
"Oh ho," Birch replied in understanding, "So they'll be going after the gyms too! Here's hoping that the gym leaders of Hoenn can prove to be exciting for Dawn and Kenny, then!"
"If it helps," Steven said, "The closest gym ought to be the one located over in Petalburg City. The gym leader there is Norman, a user of normal type Pokémon."
Steven mentioning Norman gave Dawn an excuse to dig at something she wanted to dig at. "Didn't Professor Birch here say that Norman has a daughter who got a Torchic from him?" Dawn asked.
"Oh, I did," Birch replied, "Yeah, Norman's daughter May. Last I heard, she's doing quite well as Pokémon coordinator."
"Hang on, hang on, hang on," Kenny said, "This May girl is a Pokémon coordinator?" Looking to Birch, Kenny went on, "She wouldn't happen to be the same May the Pokémon coordinator who knows an Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, Kanto, would she?"
Both Birch and Steven looked curious at that. "...Now that I think about it," Steven said, "She might very well be."
"I think that she's in Hoenn right now," Birch said, "Resting at home in Petalburg City. You can ask her if she knows this Ash Ketchum boy."
Getting up from where he sat while holding Husky with one arm, Kenny pointed with his free hand as he declared, "Onward! To further adventure!"
Dawn gave a subdued but amused chuckle before recalling Pakura, then getting up after Kenny. "We still need that list of possible Team Scorn targets from Steven, remember?" Kenny looked shocked, while Dawn, Birch, and Steven all laughed. Despite how Hoenn now had to try to root out any and all Team Scorn activity on its native soil, the mood was, for the time being, light and friendly. And with two league champions, one new and native and one more experienced and foreign, currently going around, Hoenn need not fear too much about the rising threat of Team Scorn.
...'Too much' being a key part here.
(FLASHBACK, UNKNOWN LENGTH OF TIME AGO)
Two girls in their mid to late teens were working at a high end public pool. The girls were both fair skinned and cute enough, one having shoulder length pinkish hair and the other having a very long blonde ponytail. The pink haired girl wore a cute red two piece bikini outfit, while the blonde girl wore a purple palette swap of the pink haired girl's outfit. The two were talking while the pink haired one manned a concession stand.
"Feh," the pink haired girl scoffed bitterly to the blonde girl, "I can't believe most of us have to work straight through the summer. Meanwhile those greedy upper crust types who run everything here in town get to walk around like the whole town is their personal resort city."
"Especially those fancy pants pennybags the Senbon family," the blonde girl went on, clearly agreeing with the pink haired girl, "A whole lot of people here in town aren't happy with those rich jerks, with how they're always so rich and what not. It's like they don't care about us lower class folks! Who do they think toils away in every working class position here in town while they get to live it up with their wads upon wads of mo-"
"Hey ladies!" a male voice called out suddenly in a happy and mildly flirtatious tone, making the pink haired girl and the blonde girl turn to see the source. As such, they saw a boy their age looking at them. He was fair skinned and notably handsome, and he had dark hair that went up in the back, save for bangs he allowed to frame his face. He wore only a pair of dark blue swimming trunks. "The name's Goemon Sarutobi," the boy said while he gave his name, "I don't suppose either of you would appreciate some company?"
"A... generous offer," the pink haired girl began, "But I don't think that-"
"Hey," the blonde girl said suddenly, pulling the pink haired girl in for a huddle. "That's really Goemon Sarutobi," the blonde girl harshly whispered to the pink haired girl, "He's best friends with Sasuke Hanzo, you know!"
The pink haired girl lit up at the name that the blonde girl mentioned. "He's really friends with Sas-"
"Oi, Goemon!" a male voice called out, cutting the pink haired girl off unknowingly and making both girls and Goemon turn to see a fourth mid to late teen person come over. A boy like Goemon, this second boy was fair skinned, had long spiky yellow blonde hair, wore only a pair of orange swimming trunks, and had a look of mild indifference on his face. "Flirting with the girls while they're trying to work?" the second boy asked.
Before Goemon could speak to the boy who just showed up, the blonde girl and the pink haired girl, the latter leaping over the counter of her work station to do so, went right on over to the boy who had just showed up. "Hey Sasuke," the pink haired girl said, both she and the blonde girl clearly trying to flirt with the now identified Sasuke, "What brings you here to the pool?"
"I... was looking for Goemon because I have something for him," Sasuke said, sounding a bit surprised by the girls suddenly coming up to him. Turning to face Goemon, Sasuke took out a pokéball and tossed it up, calling out a Shedinja. "My Nincada evolved into a Ninjask," Sasuke began, "But then this Shedinja suddenly appeared in a spare pokéball that I had. I already have Ninjask, Frogadier, and Vulpix, and I can't afford to care for more than three Pokémon. Would you like to take Shedinja here off my hands for me?"
"Sweet, it's a ghost Pokémon just like Sableye and Shuppet!" Goemon said, "I'll take it!"
Seeing Sasuke gift his Shedinja to Goemon, the girls looked sympathetic. "I'm sorry you had to give one of your Pokémon away because you can't afford to care for more than three, Sasuke," the pink haired girl said, "It must be tough for you."
"It's all the fault of the Senbon family!" the blonde girl declared, "Not doing anything to help out the lower class folk living in town! How dare they!"
Sasuke looked to the girls, both of them clearly hating the wealthy Senbon family. They were far from the only persons in their part of town who hated the Senbons and other wealthy folk, but then again most people living in their part of town were lower class folk who struggle to make ends meat regardless of what all effort they give. Sasuke himself, as well as Goemon, were part of the lower class in town, but that didn't stop them from trying to roll with the punches.
Sasuke actually pitied the many folks in his neighborhood, given that no matter how hard they worked, at the end of the day many of them return home to cheap apartments in the projects, or to trailer homes over at the local trailer park like where Sasuke and Goemon both lived. What Sasuke did not pity, however, was how many of said lower class folk, like the girls before him, had taken to blaming rich families like the Senbons for their lot in life. It actually annoyed him.
...
(FLASHBACK OVER)
In an undisclosed location in Hoenn in the present day, Sasuke was looking down at a personal journal he was writing in. He sat in an office room with no windows, at the only desk in the room, a large but simple wooden desk. Sasuke ran his fingers through the long golden spikes that he had for hair, let out a tired sigh. He put the journal away, got up from the desk and stretched a bit, even popping his back a little, in order to limber up after sitting for so long.
Sasuke, now that he was standing, could now be seen in his full form, thus showing off the unique Team Scorn outfit that he wore. He wore a long sleeved dark blue shirt under his Team Scorn vest which was zipped up, his pants ended an inch or so above his ankles, he wore dark blue sandals, and a sleeveless haori long coat over the rest of his outfit.
The haori was dark blue, save for the yellow flame pattern rising up from the bottom hem. Sasuke also wore a steel plated headband, with a dark blue cloth. The Team Scorn insignia was engraved into the middle of the plate. He also had a sheath that held a large kunai, one clearly made to be a melee weapon like a dagger, on the left side of his waist, but it was currently concealed under his haori long coat.
After he was done stretching, Sasuke heard a knock at the door. "Come in," Sasuke called out.
A second later, the door opened and in walked Goemon, dressed the same as Sasuke save for not having haori coat of any kind or a steel plated headband; the Team Scorn insignia patch was on his vest over the left pec, as is normal. "I just wanted to see if you were ready to discuss how to lead Team Scorn's missions here in Hoenn," said Goemon. Shooting Sasuke a knowing look, Goemon added in a likewise tone, "Admin Ninja."
Sasuke, now revealed to be Admin Ninja, head of Team Scorn's Kunai Sector, gave a single nod. "...Yeah. Go gather First Captain Katou, Second Captain Ayumu, and their respective assistants. We will have the meeting within five minutes." Goemon nodded in understanding before he took off, closing the door behind him. Alone once again, Admin Ninja looked up at the ceiling of his office and let out a long, resigned sigh.
The look on his face was likewise resigned. "...Sakura..."
After they had left Littleroot Town, Dawn and Kenny made their way up Route 101. "Hey Dawn," Kenny began, "Didn't you say you wanted to catch a Dustox?"
"Yeah, why?" Dawn replied.
Kenny pointed out a wild Wurmple who was crawling along on a branch on a nearby tree. "Why not catch that Wurmple and evolve it?"
"Wurmple can evolve into either Cascoon which evolves into Dustox," Dawn began, "Or Silcoon which evolves into Beautifly. It'll be easier to guarantee a Dustox if I catch a Cascoon, which I heard can be found in the wild in Petalburg Woods. I'll just wait until we go through there."
Kenny nodded in understanding. "So how long do you think it'll take before we reach the next town?"
"Our destination ahead is Oldale Town," Dawn answered, "And we should get there by mid afternoon." Dawn had a mildly concerned look on her face. "...I say we rest at the local Pokémon Center in Oldale Town, then in the middle of the night leave for Petalburg City by zooming there on Tsukune and Black."
Kenny nodded in understanding. "You wanna try to get on over to Rustboro City as soon as possible because the Devon Corporation is located there, and it's one of the possible targets that Team Scorn may try to attack."
Dawn nodded in confirmation. "We'll hit up Petalburg City first, see if we can challenge the gym there right away, then after we take care of that we'll go through Petalburg Woods so I can find and catch a Cascoon, then we zoom right on over to Rustboro City."
"Man, it sucks that Team Scorn playing hardball is forcing us to try and speedrun things," Kenny said, "Remember how we were able to take our time in the other regions we've been through so far? Even Johto where we first encountered Team Scorn let us travel and get some training in."
"Yes," Dawn replied, "But then Team Scorn launched a terrorist attack on Blackthorn City that ravaged a good portion of the place, especially Blackthorn City Academy. That Admin Brother guy even straight up killed a person." Dawn gently shook her head. "As much as I too would like to take it at our own pace, the threat Team Scorn poses requires us to speed things along so we can hit up the places they're likely to target as soon as possible."
Shrugging, Kenny replied, "Silver lining to all of this. Us getting through the Hoenn part of our gym challenge tour as quickly as possible will let us get on over to Unova as quick as possible, letting us catch up to wherever Ash is at sooner."
Dawn gave a relaxed, yet still mildly concerned, smile. "...Yeah, it would be nice to get caught up to where Ash is and travel with him again. I have no doubt that Ash will be more than willing to join us the fight against Team Scorn." The reborn trainers decided to speed up heading on over to Oldale Town, arriving sometime shortly before five in the afternoon. They rested their Pokémon, then got some rest themselves, sleeping until their alarm got them up in the middle of the night.
They left the Oldale Town Pokémon Center, called out Tsukune and Black, got on, and zoomed off for Petalburg City. Arriving within good time, they landed outside of the Petalburg City Pokémon Center, recalled Tsukune and Black, went inside, and got use of the bunk room where they slept for the rest of the night. Given the time, even Dawn's worry about Team Scorn was only able to keep her up for so long before she passed out for the night.
The following morning, Dawn and Kenny woke up in the bunk room of the Petalburg City Pokémon Center. After cleaning up and getting dressed, the two of them had a small breakfast before going about the business of rotating their respective parties to give them the best odds of winning against Norman at his gym. ...That's assuming, of course, that Dawn and Kenny wouldn't be forced to have to earn four other Hoenn badges first; it happened in the anime in their previous lives, and the Hoenn games back in their previous lives forced that matter as well.
"So a normal type gym," Kenny said as he and Dawn walked out of the Pokémon Center and went about looking for the gym, "Same as Whitney back in Johto. That being said, I got Zarbon and Priestess as fighting types, Godzilla because he's a beast tank hybrid and he resists normal attacks, Cermit and Endive in the party to passively gain experience, and finally to round things off, I added Husky because he's fresh to the cringe posse and needs to travel with me more."
Dawn nodded in understanding. "I brought Chi-Chi, Leni, Froppy, and Jack as fighting types, Pakura in the party to passively gain experience, and finally Germany." Clenching a fist, Dawn went on, "Assuming that we can challenge the gym here right away, I'm confident that we'll be able to do we-"
"Nya-nya!"
Dawn was cut off when she and Kenny heard a random Pokémon cry out excitedly. Suddenly, a Skitty came scampering up to them quickly. It stood up somewhat on its hind legs as it waved its front paws at the reborn trainers, obviously wanting to get their attention. After the Skitty stood back down, Dawn gave a relaxed smile. "Oh, it's just a Skitty," Dawn remarked, "There's no need to worry about anything that thi-"
Dawn was cut off again, this time by Kenny himself who knelt down before the Skitty. He seemed enraptured by the presence of the Skitty who, seeing that one of the two people it ran up to had knelt down and was focusing on it, turned to focus on Kenny more. Kenny reached out slowly, with the clear aim to pet Skitty. But Skitty met Kenny's hand halfway, walking up and shoving its head into Kenny's outheld hand, meowing as it rub its head into Kenny's hand.
"...This Pokémon..." Kenny said, "...It is perfection in Pokémon form..." Kenny looked up at Dawn. "...What did you identify this marvelous Pokémon as again?"
Dawn was about to speak up, but a female voice cut Dawn off before she could get one word out. "Skitty!" the female voice called out, "You aren't bothering random strangers again, are you?" Dawn and Kenny looked over in the direction that the female voice came from, and as such they came face to face with May, one of Ash's former traveling companions. May here was dressed as she was in her normal outfit from the Diamond and Pearl anime. She was also carrying some shopping bags from a grocery store.
"Sorry if my Skitty here bothered you guys," May apologized, "I hope there hasn't been too much trouble here."
Dawn gave May a mildly serious look as Kenny, ignored by both girls, was still petting Skitty. "...You're May, aren't you?" Dawn asked.
May instantly looked surprised. "You know me?"
The reborn trainer nodded in the affirmative. "Professor Birch told Kenny and I about you. We also heard you mentioned at least once while we were traveling in Sinnoh with Ash and Brock."
May instantly lit up when Dawn mentioned their mutual friends. "Oh! You guys know Ash and Brock?" Gesturing to Dawn, May went on, "And you say Professor Birch mentioned things as well. I take it that you all are traveling through Hoenn?"
"To challenge gyms to collect badges, yes," Dawn replied in the affirmative, "That being said, we'll want to be seeing your dad, who we were told is the gym leader here in Petalburg City."
Nodding in understanding, May said, "Fair enough. I was actually on my way over to my dad's gym right now, but got sidetracked because Skitty got excited about something and ran off to see what it was." Smiling a bit, May went on, "I guess it was you guys. Sorry again if Skitty bothered you two."
Dawn then turned to look at Kenny, who was now standing up while holding May's Skitty. "I shall find and catch my own Skitty," Kenny declared to Dawn and May as he stroked Skitty's head, his tone and expression showing that he saw his self-given mission as serious business, "No matter how long it will end up taking me."
May couldn't help but chuckle. "Well luckily for you, Skitty as a species is native to the Hoenn region. In fact, I heard rumor that Skitty can be found in the wild over on Route 116, which is located east of Rustboro City." Giving Dawn and Kenny a knowing look, May went on, "Rustboro City is also the location of another Pokémon gym that you can challenge. Back when I was traveling through Hoenn with Ash and Brock, Ash was challenging the gyms. I was there for it, so I can give you some helpful tips on what to expect."
"That would be very helpful, thanks," Dawn replied, then she and Kenny, the latter still carrying May's Skitty, proceeded to follow May over to Norman's gym there in Petalburg City. Dawn and Kenny were hoping that they would be able to challenge the gym, win, and earn badges from there right away, partly because they didn't want to have to backtrack if they could help it, but mostly because they still had to root out what Team Scorn activity is going on in Hoenn.
A short while later, Dawn and Kenny were led by May into the Petalburg City gym. Upon entering, the two reborn trainers looked around. "...So this is your dad's gym," Kenny, who was still holding May's Skitty, remarked as he looked around. Turning his attention to May, Kenny went on, "Pretty sweet, if I do say so myse-"
"May, who are these guys and why is the one holding your Skitty?"
Dawn and Kenny were surprised to hear a young male voice call out. They turned their attention to the direction the voice came from, and as a result they spotted Max, May's younger brother. Aside from how he now wore a baggy, long sleeved version of his shirt from the anime, as well as how his face looked a bit thin, Max looked as he did from the anime. To the surprise of Dawn and Kenny, Max was being loyally followed by, of all things, a shiny Mightyena.
Before Dawn or Kenny could say anything, May walked up to Max and half handed half shoved the grocery bag she was carrying to him. "Make sure you eat these Max," May said, sounding a mix of firm with and rather concerned for her younger brother.
Leaning to her side a bit, Dawn was able to see that the grocery bag contained a variety of snack food items. "You... got a bunch of snacks for who I am assuming is your little brother?"
"Oh, I need to make introductions," May said. Gesturing to Max, May said to the reborn trainers, "This is my little brother Max, and that's his Mightyena that's with him. And before you ask, yes I got a bunch of snacks for him." Looking a bit worried, May went on, "As you can see, he's rather thin, to the point our mom and I are both worried about him and are trying to get him to gain some weight."
"Huh, weird," Kenny said, "When my main man here and I were traveling with Ash and Brock through Sinnoh, Ash caught a fat Gardevoir who he put on a diet and exercise regimen to lose weight. That's the opposite of what needs to be done for Max here."
"You guys traveled with Ash and Brock?" Max spoke up, looking surprised at Dawn and Kenny.
Gesturing to herself, Dawn replied, "Yes we did. I'm Dawn, and my friend carrying your sister's Skitty is Kenny. He apparently wants to track down and catch his own Skitty now."
Turning to Max, May said, "They're traveling trainers looking to challenge the gyms in Hoenn. As such, they're here to see dad."
"We should tell them about Ash's challenging of the gyms in Hoenn," Max said, "Give them some ideas on where to go and what to expect."
"I already offered them that," May replied, "But that's beside the point." Turning to Dawn and Kenny, May said, "Well anyway, give Max and I a moment to get our dad, then we can see about getting one of you to battle him."
Dawn and Kenny nodded in agreement, then after she recalled her Skitty (to Kenny's disappointment because he had wanted to continue holding and petting Skitty), May went into the gym to go find Norman, leaving Max and his shiny Mightyena to keep the reborn trainers company. "...So, you want to catch your own Skitty, huh?" Max said to Kenny.
END, CHAPTER NINTY
Author's notes;
This chapter sees Dawn and Kenny discuss possible targets for Team Scorn that ought to be protected, with Steven and Birch agreed with. It then sees Dawn and Kenny barely spend time in Oldale Town before zooming off to Petalburg City, where they soon meet May who leads them to the Petalburg City gym so that one of them can battle her dad Norman. They also meet Max who, in addition to having a Pokémon of his own, apparently also has an issue with being underweight, but May and her mom are determined to make sure Max eats.
It's not all fun and games, however, as some scenes are shown from the perspective of new character Sasuke Hanzo, who in the present day goes by Ninja, the admin in charge of Team Scorn's Kunai Sector. He'll be in the role of 'main antagonist' during Dawn and Kenny's time in Hoenn, but more about Ninja's past, plus some of his motivation, will be revealed as time goes on. Things will be picking up in the next few chapters, so don't turn that dial.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Leni (female Lucario), Froppy (female Toxicroak), Pakura (female Torchic), Jack (male Gallade), Germany (male Garchomp)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Zarbon (male Machamp), Godzilla (male Tyraniar), Priestess (female Liligant; Hisuian; alpha), Cermit (male Bulbasaur), Husky (male Mudkip), Endive (male Chikorita)