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-three: Roxanne's school of hard knocks (or is it?)

Dawn and Kenny woke up at their campsite early the next morning, just a little bit after five. They got up, went about gathering their stuff, then when everything was packed they left Route 116 in order to head on back to Rustboro City. They had to meet with Roxanne, the gym leader of Rustboro City, in a bit, and not only because she's the gym leader thus they had to see her anyway so as to further carry out their Gym Challenge tour.

But first, they went to the local Pokémon Center in Rustboro City, taking quick showers to freshen up, and also used the opportunity to rotate their respective parties to better prep them against their respective inevitable battles with Roxanne. "So now we just go straight to the gym so that we can tell Roxanne we wanna dance?" Kenny asked.

"You're forgetting that we have to meet her at the local Pokémon trainer school," Dawn pointed out, "As per what Steven said."

Kenny nodded along in understanding, saying, "Fair enough. I guess we'll have to take a detour back to the trappings of the educational system."

"Kenny, it won't be that bad," Dawn replied, "Give it a chance."

...

After a short walk, Dawn and Kenny found the local Pokémon trainer school in Rustboro City. "...It's just a smidge past eight," Dawn remarked as she checked the time, "I know we were given between eight and nine, but I like to be as timely as possible."

Kenny hummed in amusement. "I guess that means no being fashionably late for you, then." The two reborn trainers then walked into the school, arriving in a front lobby area inside.

As Dawn and Kenny looked around, they heard a female voice call out to them, "Can I help you two with anything?" The reborn trainers turned to see Roxanne, the lady that they were looking for, come walking up to them. She was dressed as she was in the ORAS games.

Turning to face Roxanne, Dawn explained, "Yes. We're looking for Roxanne." She and Kenny already knew that Roxanne was... well, Roxanne, but she didn't know that they knew, so they both had to play dumb.

"Well you found her," Roxanne said, "I'm Roxanne. I take it you two are Dawn and Kenny?"

"So Steven did tell you about us," Kenny said.

Roxanne nodded in the affirmative. "He told me you both intended to challenge me at my gym, and I will accept your challenges. However, I believe he also told you about how I need help in trying to get the students here to calm down. They're still worked up by the news that's been coming out of Blackthorn City in the Johto region, not to mention how an incident involving an employee of Devon Corporation being harassed by two members of Team Scorn yesterday had made the news here in Rustboro City."

The two reborn trainers nodded along. "Yes," Dawn said, "Kenny and I were involved in stopping that accident from getting any worse."

"That's yet another reason I'd like you two to do some work with the students," Roxanne said, "You are both heroes who have fought off Team Scorn multiple times, especially over in Johto. I hope you two can help to make the students feel more at ease, maybe even tell them some stories about your fights against Team Scorn thus far."

Holding up a hand, Kenny said, "Uhh, question teach. The story about how Dawn and I were part of the group that found the body of a teacher who was killed in the terrorist attack on Blackthorn City. Would that story be appropriate to tell the students, yes or no?"

Looking at Kenny in disbelief, Dawn said, "Kenny, that teacher was killed because the Team Scorn admin running the attack decapitated her with his katana. Of course it's not an appropriate story to tell to a bunch of students, especially since most of them are most likely younger than us."

"...Yeah," Roxanne said, a hint of dry knowing in her tone, "I'm going to have to ask that you guys try not to say anything that could upset the students."

A short while later, Dawn and Kenny were led to an outdoor practice area by Roxanne, where a bunch of school age children were waiting. True to Dawn's theory, they were younger than her and Kenny. There was a roughly equal mix of boys and girls, although a closer count will reveal that there are two more girls than boys. Once she had the students settled down, Roxanne gestured to where Dawn and Kenny stood side by side.

"Students," Roxanne said, "These are the guests that the school was able to arrange to meet with you all today, Dawn Berlitz and Kenny Harris. They both have confronted and fought against Team Scorn multiple times, ever since those villains had first shown up in Johto. They're here to speak with you, as well as to help you feel more at ease."

"Huh, then it's a good thing I brought some Pokémon that I'm pretty sure pass as child appropriate," Kenny spoke up, tossing up some balls to call out Husky and Jibanyan, his Mudkip and shiny Skitty. As the children cried out in delight upon seeing the Pokémon, Kenny said to Roxanne, "I figure that it would help the kids feel more calm if they got to interact with some Pokémon."

Roxanne smiled gently. "Yes, that ought to work wonders."

Turning to look at Dawn, Kenny said, "What about you, dude? Care to have some of your Pokémon make the kids feel better?"

Dawn let out a breath, sounding slightly resigned, before tossing up two balls to call out Pakura and Jessie, her Torchic and Cascoon. The children cried out in further delight as there were more Pokémon out for them to play with. As such, the two reborn trainers and Roxanne permitted some time for the children to play with Pakura, Jessie, Husky, and Jibanyan.

...

"...Leading to us defeating those two Team Scorn grunts who were chasing the Devon Corporation employee over in Petalburg Woods," Dawn said as she and Kenny were wrapping up a story that they were telling the students, who were all sitting on the ground cross legged, "And then he led us to the place he worked at, but I can't say anything else about what happened there as it's company secrets that are on a need to know basis."

The students looked on in wonder as the reborn trainers had wrapped up their tales. They had just finished telling the students stories about all of the Team Scorn schemes that they had a hand in fighting against up to this point, leaving out certain details that Dawn and Kenny (Roxanne as well when they asked her and she agreed) felt weren't all that appropriate for children their age to be hearing about. As the students listened, the Pokémon that Dawn and Kenny had out wandered around and through the group of students; Jibanyan even fell asleep on the lap of a shy looking boy.

Turning to look at the students, Roxanne said, "Now kids, do any of you have any questions for our guests here?" A sea of hands went up, so Roxanne picked the first one, that being the shy boy who had Jibanyan laying asleep in his lap.

"Umm..." the shy boy began, "...Isn't it scary to confront bad guys like that?"

One of the girls in the group let out a laugh. "What are you talking about? They're awesome, butt kicking heroes! What makes you think that they'd be scared to confront bad guys like that? There's no way they'd be scared of having to con-"

"What are you talking about, young lady?" Dawn interrupted, "The question that your classmate who has Kenny's Skitty sleeping in his lap is not only a perfectly valid question to ask given the situation, but it's also a lot more accurate than what you and maybe a few of your other classmates might be thinking it would be." With all eyes on her, Dawn told the students something very important that is related to what she and Kenny are up to against Team Scorn.

"Of course Kenny and I are always scared when confronting bad guys like members of Team Scorn," Dawn began, "Keep in mind that Kenny and I are only a few years older than you all. The two of us are still technically kids, and we're now regularly confronting members of a criminal organization which we have confirmed is responsible for taking at least one human life so far. Even grown ups would be scared of having to confront dangers like that."

Gesturing to the kids, Dawn went on, "Heroic people don't lack fear. A person who lacks fear isn't a hero, they're a reckless idiot. A hero is someone who goes through something that they're scared to take on regardless of their fear of it because they know that not going through it will only lead to an overall worse situation. The reason Kenny and I have taken to confronting Team Scorn despite how it's scary is because we know that if they aren't stopped, then Team Scorn will only make everything worse for everyone else."

Roxanne smiled in mild amusement, before slowly applauding Dawn. "Yes, Dawn," Roxanne said in a tone of approval, "That is very much how to describe what it means to be a hero." Turning to look at the students, Roxanne went on, "Team Scorn is still a rising threat, and it's understandable that you kids would be afraid of them. But you can help with dealing with them by telling those who can take them on about anything you know, like if you see a member of Team Scorn and you report it. It may be scary, but doing that anyway despite being scared will make you heroic."

A few more hands went up, and Roxanne called on the next one. "Miss Roxanne," said another boy, "Are either of the two trainers here planning to challenge you at your gym at all?"

"Actually yes," Kenny spoke up, "Both Dawn and I intend to issue challenges to the Rustboro City gym, so we will be facing down against Roxanne here."

Hearing that Roxanne was set to face both Dawn and Kenny got the students all excited all of a sudden. "You're going to battle Miss Roxanne?" said the girl who questioned the shy boy earlier, "Can we watch?"

"I feel that's ultimately up to Roxanne," Dawn replied, looking a bit embarrassed due to having so many pairs of expectant eyes looking right at her.

Shrugging, Kenny said, "I got no problem with you all watching my battle against Roxanne at least, but I agree with Dawn that the matter is ultimately Roxanne's decision."

Roxanne nodded once in agreement with the reborn trainers. "Since Kenny has no issue with you kids watching it when he battles me, I'll permit it. But until Dawn gives a definite answer one way or the other, I'm going to act on the assumption that she'd rather you children not watch her battle she'll have against me."

The children, although happy they'll get to watch the Roxanne vs. Kenny battle, weren't all that amused that they may end up not being allowed to see it when Dawn has her go at the Rustboro City gym. They tried pestering Dawn into letting them see her battle Roxanne, but Roxanne quickly told the children off, even threatening to revoke letting them watch her battle with Kenny if they keep it up with bothering Dawn.

Seeing that they weren't going to win, the children decided to cut their losses and resign themselves to the fact that they'll most likely miss out on getting to see Dawn battle Roxanne, taking solace in how they at least get to see one gym battle. After the matter with the children was settled, Roxanne had Dawn and Kenny determine between them who would take her on first. Using their preferred method of rock paper scissors best two out of three, Dawn got the first shot, which meant that the kids were going to have to wait to see Roxanne battle a challenger.

Even IF she had been okay with letting the students watch her battle against Roxanne, Dawn in her opinion wouldn't have given them too much of a show; using her named Rampardos Souji, Dawn took out Roxanne's Geodude and Nosepass in quick order, earning the Stone Badge as a result. Roxanne was surprised that her Geodude went down in one hit, citing that Geodude has the ability Sturdy which, along with granting immunity to OHKO attacks, protects Geodude from being taken out by other attacks in one hit while at full health.

Roxanne, however, relaxed when Dawn explained that Souji's own ability, Mold Breaker, makes it so that his attacks ignore the abilities of opposing Pokémon. Roxanne took a note on that, saying that she needed material to use to teach the students about how Pokémon abilities can interact with one another, then expressed a mild wish that the students were permitted to watch the battle after all, so they could see it live how Mold Breaker can overcome Sturdy. Dawn pointed out how, at the very least, the students will get to see how Kenny fares later.

...

After Roxanne's Geodude and Nosepass were permitted sufficient time to be rested, Roxanne was able to have her battle with Kenny, which was attended by Dawn and the students from the class earlier. "This is an official Rustboro City gym challenge," the referee began, "Between the gym leader, Roxanne, and the challenger, Kenny Harris from Twinleaf Town, Sinnoh! Each trainer can use up to two Pokémon, and the battle is over when all of one trainer's Pokémon are unable to battle! Also, only Kenny can substitute Pokémon out at any time. Now then... BEGIN!"

"Geodude, I choose you!" Roxanne said as she sent out her Geodude as her first Pokémon.

Tossing up a pokéball himself, Kenny said, "Okay, Zarbon, let's make it cringe!" Kenny's first Pokémon in the battle was his named Machamp. Pointing forward dramatically, Kenny called out, "Zarbon, use Dynamic Punch!"

"Geodude, use Defense Curl!" Roxanne ordered.

Zarbon rushed in and slugged Geodude right in the face with a powerful punch so staggering, it left Geodude confused, enduring the attack only due to Sturdy. Geodude looked for a moment to be struggling on what to do, before ultimately curling up to use Defense Curl in order to raise up its defense one stage. Pointing forward, Roxanne called out, "Geodude, use Tackle!"

"Zarbon, use Cross Chop!" Kenny commanded.

Both Pokémon rushed at one another, but Zarbon was quicker and, intercepting Geodude, struck it with a Cross Chop that struck Geodude so hard it ended up being thrown into the wall behind Roxanne, where it not only was clearly defeated, but also stuck a bit. "Geodude is unable to battle!" the referee announced, "The winner is Machamp!"

Roxanne recalled her fainted Geodude before turning to look back at Kenny. "...Your Machamp is really lucky with being able to land a number of attacks with low accuracy in a row like that."

"Zarbon's No Guard ability," Kenny explained, "It ensures that attacks used by and against Zarbon will always land."

Roxanne nodded once in understanding before tossing up another pokéball while saying, "Nosepass, I choose you!" Roxanne's second and final Pokémon in the battle was her Nosepass. Pointing forward, Roxanne said, "Nosepass, use Tackle!"

"Zarbon, use Cross Chop again!" Kenny called out.

The two Pokémon rushed one another, but the named Machamp was still quicker and, with a strong chopping strike, slammed right into Nosepass before sending it flying back, until it hit the floor and tumbled for a bit before coming to a stop, landing face up where it was clearly knocked out. Raising up a hand, the referee announced, "Nosepass is unable to battle! The winner is Machamp!" Gesturing over to Kenny, the referee declared, "Victory of this battle goes to the challenger, Kenny!"

Roxanne, although she lost, smiled despite herself. "Yeah, you really are a tough trainer, Kenny," Roxanne admitted, "I see, both from your and Dawn's respective goes at me, that there's more to being a skilled trainer than simply possessing book smarts. Real experience can be just as effective of a teacher, if not more so." Roxanne then approached Kenny and awarded him the Stone Badge that he had rightfully earned.

...

With Dawn and Kenny now each possessing a Stone Badge each, their next destination would be Dewford Town. The cheat sheet provided by Max told Dawn and Kenny that the gym leader in Dewford Town, Brawly, used fighting type Pokémon, and that they could expect a Machop and a Hariyama out of him. Dawn already knew of that due to her knowledge from her previous life, but she still referenced the list so as to play along with how no one (aside from possibly Kenny) knew that she knew.

"See you later," Roxanne said to Dawn and Kenny as she waved them off, the students also waving off the reborn trainers.

Dawn smiled, waved back with Kenny. "Thanks for your time," Dawn said, "Here's hoping that-"

"STOP! THIEVES!"

Dawn and Kenny, along with Roxanne and the students, all turned and saw it as two Team Scorn grunts, one carrying a briefcase, ran past the gym. Upon seeing the Team Scorn grunts, Roxanne immediately had all of the students go right back into the gym for safety. As Roxanne did that, Dawn and Kenny saw it as the Devon Corporation employee they recused in Petalburg Woods tried to catch up to the Team Scorn grunts, but stopped and put his hands on his knees as he hunched over slightly to catch his breath.

"What happened?" Dawn said as she and Kenny ran over to the Devon Corporation employee, right as Roxanne came back out of the gym and caught up to them.

"Those Team Scorn men who you and your friend rescued me from," the employee said, "They ambushed me and made off with my briefcase! It contains the notes on the fossil revival machine and the flashdrive containing info on the fossils awaiting transport to Devon Corporation!" Without even waiting, Kenny immediately ran off in the direction the Team Scorn grunts took off in, with Dawn following in pursuit.

The pair of Team Scorn grunts were running through Route 116 as they attempted to get away with the briefcase that they stole from the employee. "That was easier than I thought it was going to be," the first grunt admitted as he and his fellow ran.

"I know," replied the second grunt, "You'd figure that we'd meet at least some-"

"Zarbon, stop them from running away!"

The two Team Scorn grunts stopped short in their running when someone behind them sent out a Pokémon, with said Pokémon appearing in front of them after coming out of its pokéball, and it ended up being a Machamp. Turning around, they saw Kenny, who was looking at the grunts with a look of unamusement. "You best be turning that suitcase over to me," Kenny warned as he called out Priestess, "You aren't going to like what I'll do if you don't comply!"

Seeing that they had no other choice, they tried fighting their way out again, sending out their Poochyenas again. Same as before, both Poochyenas were knocked out in one hit each, although this time Kenny beat them without teaming up with Dawn. Speaking of, when the Team Scorn grunts tried to bail with the suitcase anyway, Dawn cut their escape off, having shown up just in time to round on them with Souji and Chi-Chi.

After Dawn took the briefcase away from the grunt who had it, both grunts took the chance to try to flee again, which ultimately was allowed since Dawn and Kenny got the briefcase back. "We're taking this back to Devon Corporation," Dawn said, "Although since you were the one who battled the grunts, I'll make sure you get the credit for the success here in case they try giving all credit to me for some reason."

Kenny nodded in agreement. "I better be thanked for my efforts here."

Late that afternoon, almost evening time, Dawn and Kenny once more found themselves meeting with Mr. Stone and his employee in the former's office at Devon Corporation. However, unlike with last time, Steven wasn't there. "Ah yes," Mr. Stone said when Kenny asked about it, "He's already flown to Dewford Town, taking a Devon Corporation helicopter to get there."

Dawn and Kenny both looked surprised at that. "Why is Steven at Dewford Town?" Dawn asked.

"There's a mining effort being done in Granite Cave, which is located on the same island as Dewford Town," Mr. Stone explained, "But there was a report that the mining is being disturbed. Steven fears that Team Scorn may be behind the disturbance, so he's going there to investigate." With a look of consideration on his face, Mr. Stone added while holding a hand to his chin, "Or maybe he's hoping to find some rare stones to add to his collection..."

Gesturing to Dawn and Kenny, the employee said, "These two once again saved me, sir. More importantly, they also saved my suitcase which has the notes on our fossil revival machine, as well as the flashdrive containing the info on when Devon Corporation is expected to receive those fossils being kept in Lavaridge Town."

"I guess we'll have to keep the goods here at Devon Corporation," Mr. Stone said, "Where they'll be safe, from here on out." Looking to Dawn and Kenny, Mr. Stone went on, "But we still cannot forget how you once again came to the aid of not just Devon Corporation, but perhaps all of Hoenn. As such, I have arranged a reward for both of you."

Shrugging, Kenny guessed, "Transport to Dewford Town because Dawn and I intend to challenge the Pokémon gym there?"

Mr. Stone let out a good natured laugh. "Oh yeah, that!" Calming down, Mr. Stone replied, "That's not exactly what I had in mind, but I'd be more than glad to send you kids over on a company helicopter. Anyway, this is what I had in mind." Mr. Stone then took out two drawstring pouches and gave one each to Dawn and Kenny. Opening the drawstring pouches, Dawn and Kenny saw that they each got a number of Luxury Balls.

Gesturing to the pouches, Mr. Stone said, "As a reward for your continued help to Devon Corporation and to Hoenn as a whole, I've prepared a complement of ten Luxury Balls for each of you. The neat little drawstring pouches are pretty nice too, they came from standard sized bottles of whiskey from the Galar region's Crown Tundra area. I'm rather fond of the drink occasionally, but for kids like you, you'll only be allowed the drawstring pouches if you want them."

"I can understand why Kenny and I wouldn't be permitted to drink whiskey," Dawn replied, "And I do rather like the drawstring pouch, as well as the Luxury Balls that came in it." The reborn trainers thanked Mr. Stone for the gift, then within moments transport to Dewford Town was arranged for them. It was the first time that Dawn and Kenny, in either life, had ever ridden in a helicopter, even though they've flown before.

...

Dawn and Kenny had reached Dewford Town just before nightfall, where they landed outside of a moderately high end hotel that the helicopter pilot told them Steven was staying at while on the island. Given the late time, it was obvious that neither Dawn nor Kenny could attempt to challenge Brawly at his gym. Just as well, as both of the reborn trainers wanted to rotate their parties some before taking on the fighting type Pokémon user.

Heading into the hotel, Dawn and Kenny were met up by Steven, who had been briefed over the video phone by his father on what had happened. Steven thanked Dawn and Kenny for how they had come through once again, before they went about the business of getting Dawn and Kenny a room to use while they were on the island. Steven said to the reborn trainers about how he had wanted to head to Granite Cave straight away, but that was shot down due to the time he had arrived.

"Thus we'll have to wait until morning to go to Granite Cave to investigate the mining effort going on over there," Steven said, "I hope you two won't mind waiting to try to challenge the Dewford Town gym until after you've helped me with checking for any possible Team Scorn activity going on over at Granite Cave."

"I got no problem," Dawn replied, with Kenny nodding in agreement, "This is possible Team Scorn activity that we're talking about here. We ought to prioritize dealing with that before we handle any personal business we may have." Steven smiled in relief, glad that he had Dawn and Kenny on his side on this one. As such, the three of them spent the rest of the night resting, making sure that they were ready for whatever trials may lay ahead of them tomorrow.

END, CHAPTER NINETY-THREE

Author's notes;

This chapter sees Dawn and Kenny talk with some students at the trainer school in Rustboro City, earn Stone Badges from Roxanne, defeat Team Scorn grunts who stole a briefcase from the Devon Corporation employee, and be thanked for it by Mr. Stone before he got them transport to Dewford Town where they will, among other things, help Steven investigate Granite Cave for possible signs of Team Scorn activity there. It'll be a rich, full chapter.

Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Leni (female Lucario), Froppy (female Toxicroak), Pakura (female Torchic), Souji (male Rampardos), Jessie (male Cascoon)

Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Zarbon (male Machamp), Godzilla (male Tyraniar), Priestess (female Liligant; Hisuian; alpha), Jibanyan (male Skitty; shiny), Husky (male Mudkip), Endive (male Chikorita)