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-one: Battling for Balance
Dawn and Kenny waited with May's younger brother Max as May went into the Petalburg City gym to find Norman, her dad and the Petalburg City gym leader. While waiting, Dawn took note of how Max, as per how May was worried, really is visibly underweight. The reborn trainer wasn't sure how it had happened, but she did agree that Max ought to put on a few pounds, at least until he isn't underweight anymore.
Dawn was also intrigued by how Max not only now clearly had his own Pokémon, but that said Pokémon is a shiny Mightyena. "...So Max," Dawn began, getting the lean boy's attention, "You have your own Pokémon, I see."
Max gave a friendly smile. "Oh yeah, Mightyena is my first Pokémon. I caught him north of Littleroot Town as a Poochyena." Max then took out three more pokéballs, expanded them, and tossed them out, calling out a Growlithe, a Granbull, and a Houndoom in the process. "I was also able to catch all of these guys," Max added, "I'm also looking forward to when May heads off to Unova because she wants to look into the Pokémon contests that are going to be there. She says she's going to take me with her."
Kenny arched a wry eyebrow at the younger boy. "...Maybe she's hoping you'll wanna try Unovan cooking? Fill your thin face out a little bit, mmm?"
Max blushed a bit in embarrassment. "...Well she did mention that she was going to make me eat more while I was with her in Unova." Max then recalled all of his Pokémon aside from Mightyena. "Anyway, there's a Pokémon in Unova called Lillipup that I wanna catch. That's my main goal for when I go to Unova with May."
Dawn was a bit amused with how Max already has his sights set on catching a certain Pokémon in the Unova region. And said Pokémon is Lillipup of all things; given the other four Pokémon Max has right now all are either dog Pokémon or seem very dog like, Dawn can clearly see that Max has a bit of a theme for what Pokémon he uses, and that a Lillipup would fit right on in. Dawn also noted that Max's only unevolved Pokémon was his Growlithe.
Gesturing to Max, Dawn asked, "I don't suppose you'd be interested in evolving your Growlithe into Arcanine soon, would you?"
"I would like to evolve my Growlithe, yes," Max began, "But not as soon as I can. I want to make sure Growlithe has a good moveset under his belt before I consider evolving him."
"What does Growlithe know right now?" Kenny asked.
Listing off of his fingers, Max replied, "Growlithe knows Flame Wheel, Crunch, and Close Combat." Looking to the reborn trainers, the lean boy asked, "What do you think?"
Dawn, with a mildly surprised look on her face, replied, "...That's actually pretty good, Max. At this point for Growlithe, I'd recommend that you do evolve him into Arcanine when you can, because the three moves he's got right now are solid, and other moves I'd recommend such as Iron Head and Bulldoze can only be learned after he evolves into Arcanine."
"You think he's ready to evolve now?" Max asked, looking genuinely surprised.
Dawn was about to speak up, but she got cut off before she could get a word out when May came back into the area she left everyone in. She came followed by her and Max's dad Norman, who was dressed as he was from the anime. "Ah, I see you've been keeping my son company," Norman said to Dawn and Kenny, "Having fun, I presume?"
Pointing to Dawn, Kenny explained, "Dawn was just telling Max, after he told us what moves his Growlithe knows, that it's ready to evolve in her opinion."
"Max had been holding off on evolving his Growlithe until he felt it knew a good selection of moves," May remarked, "But you say it's ready now?"
Dawn nodded in confirmation. "At this point, the only moves I'd recommend to be taught to Max's Growlithe can't be learned until after evolving into Arcanine." Turning to Max, Dawn asked, "Do you have a Fire Stone to use?"
Max looked a bit stunned. "...No..." replied Max, hanging his head.
"I can give you one after Kenny and I finish business with your dad," Dawn said, making Max perk up, "But you shouldn't use it right away. You ought to be absolutely sure that evolving Growlithe is what you wanna do."
The lean boy nodded in agreement. "I wanted to see if Growlithe can pick up another decent move before I evolved him. But I will keep your recommendations of Iron Head and Bulldoze in mind after I use the Fire Stone you offered me to evolve him into Arcanine."
May couldn't help but smile. "...You really are maturing, Max. Now if we can just get you to eat more so you're no longer bone thin."
"I have to agree with what your sister here, as well as your mother, are saying Max," Norman said, sounding mildly concerned, "You really need to gain some weight."
"I know, I know," Max replied, sounding mildly irritated, "You all have been telling me that everyday ever since mom took me to see the doctor to try to figure out why I've been having trouble keeping enough weight on to not look kind of gaunt."
Clapping his hands together, Kenny said, "Well anyway, I say we get down to business." Looking to Norman, Kenny went on, "Dawn and I are aiming to challenge you so we can try to earn the badge you offer here."
Norman nodded in understanding. "I can only battle one of you at a time, so the other will have to wait until later after all of my Pokémon have rested from the first battle, regardless of who between me and the first among you I face off against wins." Norman then wore a look of contemplation on his face. "...But I have an idea that ought to let you two both get your challenges in one right after the other, assuming all parties are in agreement."
"What do you mean, dad?" May asked.
Turning to look at his first born child, Norman replied, "You battle the challenger here who I don't face."
May looked surprised by what her dad was saying. "You want me to fight one of the challengers to the gym as a gym leader?!"
"You have strong Pokémon, May," Norman assured his daughter, "And I can officiate things so that it'll be legal."
May still looked a bit surprised, but she eventually nodded in agreement after a few moments of consideration. "...Alright, I'll do it."
Turning to look at Dawn and Kenny, Norman said, "Are you both fine with that?"
"I... actually would like to be the one to face May," Dawn spoke up, getting May to turn to look at her. Returning the surprised look May was giving her with a mildly amused look of her own, Dawn went on, "I wanna see how someone who had also traveled around with Ash measures up in battle."
"Oh! You're friends with Ash Ketchum as well?" Norman said in mildly surprised amusement, "Well now, I can certainly expect the both of you to put up some tough fights!" After settling down, Norman had everyone follow him to a spacious sparring room, where he would have his official gym battle against Kenny.
A short while later in the spacious sparring room, Kenny stood off in opposition against Norman. Meanwhile, Dawn, May, and Max all sat off to the side, with Max having recalled his Mightyena before everyone went in to watch the battle between Kenny and Norman. "The referee is on holiday, so we'll have to go without one here," Norman said, "But the rules are simple. We each use up to three Pokémon, last one with any Pokémon that can still battle wins, and only you are allowed to substitute Pokémon out at any time."
Kenny nodded in understanding. "Fair enough."
Norman gave an amused smirk. "I hope you're ready for this young man. Slakoth, I choose you!" The first Pokémon that Norman sent out into battle was his Slakoth, who seemed both tired and eager to fight at the same time.
Kenny took note of his opponent's Pokémon before calling out, "Okay, Priestess! Let's make it cringe!" The first Pokémon that Kenny sent out was his alpha Hisuian Lilligant.
"Oh ho, that's an exotic Pokémon," Norman said, "This battle ought to be interesting! Slakoth, use Shadow Ball!"
"Priestess, use Drain Punch!" Kenny called out.
As Slakoth tried to conjure its Shadow Ball attack, Priestess rushed in with a glowing fist before slugging said fist right into Slakoth's gut, lifting it up and making it cough up some bile. Priestess then kind of shook Slakoth off of her fist after it had drained all of Slakoth's health with Drain Punch, allowing Slakoth to drop to the floor, defeated.
"...Exotic and powerful," Norman commented as he recalled his fainted Slakoth, "It looks like I'm going to have to pick up the pace!" Norman then tossed up another pokéball while saying, "Vigoroth, I choose you!" Norman's second Pokémon turned out to be his Vigoroth.
Kenny, however, decided to keep Priestess in. "Priestess, use Drain Punch again!"
"Vigoroth, use Scratch!" Norman called out.
The two Pokémon both rushed one another, but Priestess was faster, slugging Vigoroth right in the face with a glowing fist that drained it of all of its health, allowing Vigoroth to stumble back before falling over, clearly knocked out. "...Very powerful," Norman said, a hint of mild surprise tempered with some disbelief right before recalling his fainted Vigoroth.
From where they were watching, Dawn, May, and Max saw the battle unfold. "Kenny... he's wicked powerful," May remarked.
"Kenny had the potential to win the last battle that he had against Ash," Dawn said, "Losing because he, with all due respect, had underestimated Ash. Kenny could have very easily won if he had brought his strongest Pokémon to the battle with him." Indeed, Dawn believes that Kenny could have won against Ash in their battle in the Lily of the Valley Conference had Kenny decided to bring Black with him to that battle.
Max turned to look at Dawn, as if in disbelief. "He's really that strong?"
"Stronger than you know," Dawn confirmed.
Over where Kenny and Norman were facing off, Norman said, "This is a tough spot you got me in, I have to admit. I better turn things around quick." Tossing up a pokéball, Norman said, "Slaking, I choose you!" Norman's last Pokémon turned out to be his Slaking.
"Priestess, return!" Kenny said as he swapped his Pokémon out, "Okay, Zarbon! Let's make it cringe!" After the swap, Kenny had his named Machamp out to battle Norman's Slaking.
"A Machamp now," Norman remarked, "You're really pulling out all of the stops here!" Gesturing forward, Norman called out, "Slaking, use Focus Punch!"
"Zarbon, use Dynamic Punch!" Kenny commanded.
As Slaking was charging up its attack while focusing on it, Zarbon rushed in with his upper right fist drawn back, ready to throw it forward with all of his might. Before Slaking was able to move out of the way, Zarbon slugged it right in the face, breaking its focus on its Focus Punch attack before sending it flying back, slamming into the wall behind Norman. Everyone turned to see, and as such they saw that Slaking was clearly out of it.
Norman recalled his fainted Slaking before his shoulders shook, then he threw his head back and laughed. "You really wanted to make sure you were ready for me, huh?" Norman said, "You sure have got a lot of talent as a trainer, Kenny!"
"But that begs the question," Kenny began. Turning to look at Dawn and May, Kenny asked, "How will Dawn compare to May?"
"...Heh," May remarked, "I guess we'll find out."
...
Do to the minor damage inside of the room where Kenny and Norman battled (Zarbon DID send Slaking flying into a wall), the battle between Dawn and May took place outside in a grassy field that was located behind the gym. "I'll referee this battle," Norman said, "But the rules used in my battle with Kenny will be the same rules here. Since Dawn is the challenger, only she's allowed to substitute Pokémon out at any time. Alright girls." Throwing up a hand, Norman called out, "BEGIN!"
"Wartortle, I choose you!" May called out, sending out her first Pokémon for the battle which was her Wartortle.
Dawn, despite having seen the Hoenn anime episodes in her previous life, actually forgot that May had a Wartortle, but it didn't matter to her. Tossing up a pokéball, Dawn called out, "Alright, Chi-Chi! Let's get goin'!" Dawn's first Pokémon for the battle against May was her named Infernape, who was wearing the Expert Belt held item tied around her waist.
"...What sort of Pokémon is that?" May asked, looking curious.
"Chi-Chi is an Infernape," Dawn explained, "I've had her ever since she was a Chimchar I got as my first ever Pokémon."
May looked on at Chi-Chi. "Hmm. Looks like she's at least part fire type."
Dawn nodded in confirmation. "Dual fire fighting, yes."
"This ought to be a cinch for Wartortle, then!" May said, "Wartortle, use Aqua Tail!"
"Chi-Chi, use Thunder Punch!" Dawn called out, eliciting a surprised look out of May.
Both Pokémon rushed forward towards one another, but Chi-Chi was faster, leaping up before soaring down to slug Wartortle in the face with an electrified fist. The shocking socking sent May's Wartortle reeling, falling over and rolling for a bit before landing face up, clearly out of it. "Wartortle is unable to battle!" Norman announced, "The winner is Infernape!"
May recalled her fainted Wartortle, a worried look on her face. "This'll be tough for me if this one goes down to that Infernape thing," May muttered to herself. Tossing up the pokéball that held her second Pokémon for the battle, May called out, "Blaziken, I choose you!" Coming out into battle was May's Blaziken.
"...Professor Birch gave you this Blaziken when it was a Torchic," Dawn said, "Didn't he?"
May looked surprised. "How did you guess that?"
"Birch told me about it when he gave me a Torchic when Kenny and I met with him and Steven Stone," Dawn said, "Birch had also given Kenny a Mudkip at the time. I'm aware that Blaziken is Torchic's fully evolved form."
"You guys had met with Professor Birch and Champion Steven?" May asked, looking surprised.
"We... can talk more about it after the battle," Dawn replied.
May nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and I'm not going to go down easy! Blaziken, use Sky Uppercut!"
"Chi-Chi, use Earthquake!" Dawn called out, once again drawing a look of surprise out of May.
Blaziken rushed in to strike at Chi-Chi with Sky Uppercut, but the named Infernape triggered an earthquake that shook the battlefield, slamming Blaziken with seismic waves before it fell back and collapsed on the ground, having been defeated. "Blaziken is unable to battle!" Norman called out, "The winner is Infernape!"
Recalling her defeated Blaziken, May said, "Okay, I did not see it coming that your Infernape knows Earthquake of all things." May could tell she was in trouble, as all of her remaining Pokémon she had on hand were weak to fire and or fighting; she hadn't seen Dawn's Infernape use moves of either of those types yet, but she was willing to bet it knew a fire move and a fighting move. Tossing up a pokéball, May said, "Beautifly, I choose you!"
May's last Pokémon in the battle was her Beautifly; despite how it's a bug type weak to fire, it's also a flying type strong against fighting, and that's what May was banking on. Gesturing forward, May called out, "Beautifly, use Gust!"
"Chi-Chi, use Fire Punch!" Dawn commanded.
As Beautifly tried to whip up a Gust attack to cast at Chi-Chi, the named Infernape rushed in with a blazing fist on fire, slugging that fist right into Beautifly's gut and making it cry out in pain, right before falling down to the battlefield, defeated. "Beautifly is unable to battle," Norman announced, "The winner is Infernape! Victory of this battle goes to the challenger, Dawn!"
May let out a resigned sigh as she recalled her fainted Beautifly. "...Yeah, the Pokémon I own don't give me a lot of options on dealing with a powerful Pokémon like Infernape."
"Ash owns one as well," Dawn explained, "I actually sort of helped introduce it to him, actually."
Max looked a bit rattled upon hearing what Dawn said. "Ash also owns one of those monsters capable of utterly destroying May in a battle?!"
"We... have some stories to share with you all, it would seem," Dawn remarked.
"Too true," Norman replied, "But first, allow me to award you and Kenny one Balance Badge each." Dawn, and Kenny who came over to join her, were then each presented with their own Balance Badge each by Norman. "Now then," Norman said, "Let's go inside so we can hear what all you have to tell us."
"And Max can get started on eating the snacks I got for him," May said, "Because I don't think that I saw him eat any of them." Max grumbled in mild annoyance at May mothering him, but put up with it as he followed everyone else back into the gym after Dawn recalled Chi-Chi.
A short while later, everyone was seated in a dining room area, with Dawn and Kenny telling Norman, May, and Max all about their travels with Ash and Brock, combined with tales of their journeys in Kanto and Johto. "Well that certainly explains why you're so strong," Max said to Dawn, "You're the champion of the Sinnoh region."
"And you and Kenny each own a legendary Pokémon," May said in wonder, "I bet those would be fantastic to use in Pokémon contests!"
Norman had a grim look of consideration on his face. "...What really worries me is what all you two had said about Team Scorn. I heard talk of them before in side bits on the news, but I thought they were just some manner of fad cult." Closing his eyes as his expression became somber, Norman went on, "...But that was before Team Scorn had launched that terrorist attack on Blackthorn City in the Johto region. They're a very much real threat, it would seem."
"And we've confirmed that they have presence here in Hoenn," Dawn said, the look on her face very serious, "Granted, we've also confirmed that the sector of Team Scorn that's active in Hoenn is short a few officers, but regardless we can't afford to take them lightly."
The leader of the Petalburg City gym inhaled and exhaled through his nose. "...I think it's safe to say that no criminals ought to be taken lightly. But in regards to what you say, yes, I agree that we ought to keep an eye out for Team Scorn."
"Steven, Professor Birch, Kenny, and I have already discussed a list of possible targets here in the Hoenn region that we believe that Team Scorn are likely to target," Dawn said, "Security will be arranged for said targets to better protect them."
Max had a worried look on his face. "You don't think that Team Scorn will try to go after any Pokémon contest halls, do you? I mean May loves Pokémon contests and competes in them often, so I'm afraid that something might happen to her if Team Scorn gets the idea to go after one."
"Aww Max," May said, her tone showing she was touched, right before she leaned to her side to hug her little brother.
"We don't have any reason to believe that Team Scorn is interested in Pokémon Contests," Dawn assured May and her family, "So there's no need to worry on that front." Dawn let out a sigh. "As a matter of fact, the closest possible target is Devon Corporation over in Rustboro City."
"Rustboro City also is the location of a Pokémon gym," May pointed out, "I remember when Ash had challenged it when Max and I were traveling with him and Brock." As May talked, Max took out a small spiral pad and a pen and began writing something down.
Kenny nodded in understanding. "Didn't you also mention that Rustboro City is close to a route where I can find Skitty in the wild?"
May nodded in confirmation. "Route 116, yes." May smirked a bit in amusement. "You really want your own Skitty, huh?"
"There's actually a Pokémon I wanna catch here in Hoenn as well," Dawn said, "And I heard talk that they can be found in the wild in Petalburg Woods. A Cascoon so I can evolve it into a Dustox."
"You want a Dustox?" May asked questioningly.
Shrugging, Dawn replied, "I kind of have a thing for moth Pokémon, what can I say? I already own a Mothim and a Venomoth." There was also one other Hoenn Pokémon that Dawn was also considering, a shiny of a specific Hoenn native species that she had raised in the video games in her previous life. But given that Dawn specifically wanted the shiny form, she highly doubted that she was going to find it. It's not like she has Kenny's luck with finding shinies.
May hummed. "I'm surprised that you'd want a Dustox. Since you traveled with Ash and Brock, that means you've encountered Team Rocket, and Jessie of Team Rocket owns a Dustox."
Dawn scowled mildly, remembering how Team Rocket back in Sinnoh had succeeded in a scheme even though they were confronted by Bertha of the Sinnoh elite four. "...Yeah, Kenny and I have run into Team Rocket a few times," Dawn said, "But they're literally jokes compared to Team Scorn."
"Considering the fact that I saw the news report with dad," Max began, "Where they talked about the terrorist attack on Blackthorn City, and how one woman was killed by a Team Scorn member, I have to agree with you on that."
May looked rattled. "Someone in Team Scorn actually took a life?! Why would he order his Pokémon to commit such a-"
"Actually, that woman was killed because the Team Scorn admin leading the attack cut her head off with the katana he carried," Dawn said, her tone grim, "There was no evidence that he had used any of his Pokémon to kill the woman." There was considerable evidence, however, that Admin Brother had killed Akeno due to her enraging him with her hatred towards persons on the spectrum. But that wasn't a can that Dawn wanted to open right now.
Stretching his arms up, Kenny said, "Well anywho, Dawn and I ought to get going soon. The sooner we get to Rustboro City to scope out any possible Team Scorn activity, the better."
May nodded in understanding. "Max and I also have to pack for our trip to Unova, since I heard that they're going to be introducing Pokémon contests there."
Dawn hummed in amusement. "Actually May, you have my mom Johanna and two of her friends to thank for that. They plan to bring Pokémon contests to regions that don't have them. Oh, and speaking of Unova." Turning to look at May and Max, Dawn added, "Ash is in Unova right now. Brock isn't with him due to staying back home in Kanto to study to become a Pokémon Doctor, but I'm sure Ash has made new friends that are bound to be great to get along with."
"Heh, getting to see an old friend again?" May said, "Now I have two reasons to wanna head on over to Unova." Dawn and Kenny said their goodbyes, wished May and Max luck in Unova ("If you guys see Ash, tell him we said hi," Kenny said), then took off from the gym, then from Petalburg City as a whole, soon hitting Route 104. They would have to cross through Route 104, which had Petalburg Woods cutting it in half, in order to reach Rustboro City.
But given how far they traveled through the lower half of Route 104 by the time it was getting late, they realized that they would have to camp out for the night. They would be able to get started on the trek through Petalburg Woods in the morning, then after crossing through there after Dawn tracks down and catches that Cascoon she wants, they would exit into Route 104's upper half, then it'd be but a hop, skip, and a jump to reach Rustboro City.
The location of the next gym they can challenge (Max had written up and supplied Dawn and Kenny with something of a cheat sheet to help them prep for the other Hoenn gyms), as well as where they can find Devon Corporation, the closest place that's a possible target for Team Scorn.
END, CHAPTER NINETY-ONE
Author's notes;
This chapter sees Dawn and Kenny both earn the Balance Badge in quick succession, with Norman having May act as in a gym leader role. Normally in Hoenn, the Petalburg City gym is the fifth one challenged, but due to how Dawn and Kenny brought heavy hitters from past regions with them to challenge Norman's gym, they were each able to claim the Balance Badge first.
Kenny also has his eyes on catching his own Skitty, and Dawn plans to collect a Cascoon to evolve into Dustox (given that Wurmple can evolve into either Cascoon OR Silcoon, Dawn figures it'd be easier to catch a Cascoon to guarantee her third moth Pokémon). But with Team Scorn's presence in the Hoenn region, it won't be all fun and games. You'll see more of this as things progress.
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)