Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Sinnoh no Isekai
Chapter One-hundred and thirteen: Through the forest and over the bridge to Castelia City we go!
The morning following Trip's victory against Lenora, the reborn trainers were all up and at 'em, getting ready for what the day had in store for them. This meant that Dawn and Kenny would be taking on Lenora in turns in their respective bids to earn the Basic Badge. For this, they rotated their respective parties so that they were best equipped for taking on the normal type Pokémon user Lenora. Dawn would be going in with a party of Chi-Chi, Zatch, Argent, Phoebe, Sluggo, and Tsukune; as for Kenny, he was heading in with a party of Zarbon, Priestess, Giyu, Lin, Kyo, and Black. Trip, given that he already had earned the Basic Badge, would be able to sit back and enjoy the show.
As Dawn and Kenny got their parties ready, Trip said, "Hey guys, how do you think you'll fare?"
"Oh, I intend to bring the hurt," Kenny replied, an amused and confident smirk on his face as he pounded a fist into his hand.
Dawn, although still confident, kept herself calmer. "I'm sure that Chi-Chi and Zatch will fair well."
Trip had a curious look on his face. "...Who's Zatch?" In response, Dawn tossed up the Luxury Ball that held Zatch, calling him out to show to her sister-brother. "A shiny Hariyama!" Trip said, "Oh man, that's cool!"
"He didn't get much chance to have fun in the gyms in the Hoenn region, which is where I caught him," Dawn said, "But I'm going to get Zatch in on some gym challenge fun here in Unova."
"Speaking of," Trip said as he walked forward. Pulling out what looked to be a guide book, Trip went on, "The Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center here in Unova supplied me with this guide on Unova's gyms and their leaders. I explained to her how you, me, and Kenny are fighting against Team Scorn, and that you're Sinnoh's champion, then told her that we're going to be having to talk to the various gym leaders in order to see what can be done with upping security against Team Scorn." It went unsaid that the reborn trainers, due to their knowledge from their previous lives, didn't actually need the guide, but it was a good cover.
Something Dawn nodded in agreement with. "Yeah, that'll prove useful."
Kenny, holding his hands behind his head with his fingers locked into each other, said, "So when are we gonna head on over to the gym so that Dawn can give Lenora the business?"
Dawn turned her attention to the wall to her right, saw the time. "We can actually head on over now. Lenora should be ready to see us." With nothing else holding them back, the reborn trainers proceeded to make their way on over to the museum, where the Nacrene City gym was located, so that Dawn could get a shot at earning her second Unova gym badge.
A short while later, Dawn and the boys made their way into the Nacrene City Museum. The museum was actually closed to normal visitors, due to how Team Scorn the previous day had attacked. The attack caused some physical damage to the museum, albeit mildly and some simple repair jobs could be done. A few displays had to be repaired, thus they were taken down and moved to the back. There was also how the Hisuian period exhibit was ravaged, with a suit of armor stolen, and the fact that the skeletal remains of an alpha Hisuian Typhlosion were put into the fossil revival machine and restored to life as a living breathing Pokémon.
Indeed, the museum was now currently closed to normal visitors. But to Pokémon trainers seeking to challenge Lenora to a gym battle, the museum was still open to them provided that they could prove that they wanted to challenge Lenora. In those cases, challengers were collected by Lenora and led straight to the gym's battlefield, Lenora not wanting to take anymore risk to the museum if it could be helped. Hence why the reborn trainers waited with Hawes who greeted them at the entrance of the museum while he called Lenora who's his wife to let her know that challengers where there to see her.
Soon enough, Lenora showed up to greet the reborn trainers, then led them straight to the gym's stadium. There, Lenora and Dawn took to opposite ends of the battlefield from one another, right before the referee began to officiate the match. "This Nacrene City gym battle will be between the gym leader, Lenora, and the challenger, Dawn!" the referee declared, "Each trainer may use two Pokémon, and the battle is over when all of one trainer's Pokémon are unable to battle. Additionally, only the challenger Dawn may substitute Pokémon out at any time. Now then, BEGIN!"
Lenora tossed up a pokéball while calling out, "Go, Watchog!" Soon enough, Lenora's Watchog appeared on the battlefield.
"Alright, Zatch!" Dawn said as she sent out her shiny Hariyama, "Let's get goin'!" Once both Pokémon were out in battle, Dawn pointed forward while calling out, "Zatch, use Low Sweep!"
"Watchog, use Low Kick!" Lenora ordered. Both opposing Pokémon rushed at one another, with both of them aiming a foot towards one another while aiming it to go in low. The two kicking attacks actually connected, but Low Sweep overpowered Low Kick, allowing the named shiny Hariyama to strike Watchog with a powerful strike to the gut that sent it reeling back until it hit the ground and slid for a bit before coming to a stop, clearly out of it.
Holding up a hand, the referee announced, "Watchog is unable to battle! The winner is Hariyama!"
Lenora recalled her fainted Watchog, the tone she gave off a bit cautious given that she was staring down a powerful opposing Pokémon, and one that held a type advantage over her normal type Pokémon. "Not bad, young lady," Lenora said, "You came well prepared to face me, given that you got a fighting type Pokémon. But the battle isn't over yet." Tossing up a second pokéball, Lenora called out, "Go, Herdier!"
"Zatch that's enough, fall back!" Dawn said as she swapped her Pokémon around, "Alright, Chi-Chi! Let's get goin'!" Within short order, the next part of the battle was set up to see Lenora's Herdier take on Dawn's named Infernape.
Seeing the Infernape before her made Lenora's eyes widen just a little bit, as if out of surprise. "...Ash Ketchum used an Infernape when I had battled him," Lenora remarked.
Hearing that caught the attention of Dawn, as well as Kenny and Trip who were both watching. "So you know Ash," Dawn said.
"His Infernape alone defeated all of my Pokémon when he challenged me to a battle to earn a Badge from my gym," Lenora said, "A very powerful species of Pokémon, Infernape. Let's see how yours stacks up!" Gesturing forward, Lenora called out, "Herdier, use Shadow Ball!"
"Chi-Chi, use Brick Break!" Dawn ordered.
Herdier began conjuring up a Shadow Ball to cast at Chi-Chi, but the named Infernape rushed in and struck Herdier with a devastating chopping attack, taking it out and dropping it to the ground of the battlefield. "Herdier is unable to battle!" the referee announced, "The winner is Infernape!" Gesturing to Dawn, the referee declared, "Victory of this battle goes to the challenger, Dawn!"
Lenora let out a sigh as she recalled her fainted Herdier. Rather than be upset, Lenora looked a little bit on the amused side of things. "...I'd say that yours might actually surpass the one Ash has," Lenora remarked as she approached Dawn. Handing Dawn a Basic Badge, Lenora went on, "Maybe the two of you, you and Ash, can one day get together and pit your Infernapes against each other to determine which one is better."
Accepting the badge from Lenora, Dawn replied, "That would be an interesting idea, yeah."
Later in the day, after Lenora's Pokémon have had sufficient time to be treated, she had the battle against Kenny. Kenny, using the combined efforts of Priestess and Zarbon, was able to defeat Lenora and earn a Basic Badge. With all three of the reborn trainers now at two Unova gym badges each, they were ready to continue on their trek through Unova. Given that all of their Pokémon that they respectively had on hand were all well enough to continue traveling, Dawn and the boys all decided to continue their journey right away, heading off for Pinwheel Forest as soon as they left the gym located in the museum.
...
"Not that I'm complaining that Ash turned out to have won on his first go at Lenora here," Trip said as he, Dawn, and Kenny walked alone through Pinwheel Forest in order to reach Skyarrow Bridge, "Because believe you me, Ash is a totally awesome trainer who totally kicks all the butt, but what was he doing with his Infernape here in Unova? Not to mention how I remember hearing that he has a Gardevoir apparently."
"When Kenny, Ash, and I were in Kanto," Dawn said, "Me and Kenny breaking away to challenge the gyms in Kanto while Ash went to Unova, he took Infernape and Gardevoir with him in addition to Pikachu. As for how he got Gardevoir, she was originally an obese Kirlia who was trying to lose weight, so Ash decided to work with her, even catching her so as to continue monitoring her diet and exercise regimen. Having a good Pokémon like Gardevoir was probably icing on the cake."
Turning to look at Trip, Kenny said, "Ash has done some things he normally didn't do. We can catch you up on what all-" Kenny stopped short when he and the others heard a rustling coming from some bushes. On instinct, Kenny sent out Giyu, his named Oshawott. The reborn trainer was ready to do whatever it took to fend off what manner of potential danger was coming towards him and his group of friends. As such, everyone was relieved when a Swadloon popped out of the bushes, landing on the ground with a very light flump before making its way up to Giyu.
Dawn was unsure about the wild Swadloon facing the named Oshawott. "...Giyu is at a type disadvantage here, Kenny," Dawn advised, "You may wanna recall him and send out something that can deal with it more effectively."
Kenny nodded in agreement as the wild Swadloon continued to approach Giyu. "Yeah, I was just thinking the exacxt same thing."
Over where Giyu was preparing to face off against the approaching Swadloon, he held his scalchop in a way showing he was ready to slash at the Swadloon with it. He even growled at Swadloon in Pokémon-talk, clearly warning it to not try anything funny. Swadloon, who looked surprisingly happy and cheerful for its species, said something back to Giyu in Pokémon-talk, its happy and cheerful expression never fading. Giyu growled another responce at the Swadloon in Pokémon-talk, bracing his feet as he assumed a stance for battle.
Swadloon, with a hint of piqued interest and curiosity entering its expression, then said something else in Pokémon-talk, and whatever it said apparently prompted Giyu to become shocked, his eyes widening as such as he was trying to process... whatever it was... that the Swadloon had said to him. To the worry of the reborn trainers, the named Oshawott fell to his hands and knees, still shaken to his core by what the Swadloon had said to him. As for the Swadloon itself, it merely patted Giyu on the back as he was on his hands and knees in moral defeat.
As the reborn trainers bore witness to the display before them, Dawn said, "What... what the hell is happening?"
Kenny, his eyes widening with realization, said, "...That Swadloon is pulling a Shinobu on Giyu."
"A what now?" Trip said, looking confused.
Not wanting to waste any time, Kenny sent Priestess out to battle the wild Swadloon. "Priestess, use Aerial Ace!" Kenny declared. Seeing her target, Priestess rushed forward and struck at the Swadloon, making it cry out and stumble back until it came to a stop laying face up on the ground, clearly out of it. Kenny then threw a pokéball at the Swadloon, who went into the pokéball before it fell to the ground. It then shook for a bit before making a ping sound, indicating capture. "Sweetness, I caught the Swadloon!" Kenny cheered.
As Kenny walked over to pick the pokéball that held his new Swadloon, Dawn remarked, "Wow Kenny, you've been making some rather notab-"
"And it's a girl!" Kenny said while scanning the pokéball that held his new Swadloon with his pokédex, "I'm totally naming her Shinobu!" Turning to look at his named Oshawott, Kenny said, "I hope you get along well with your new comrade here, Giyu!" The named Oshawott could only look up at Kenny with a shocked look that made it clear he couldn't comprehend his trainer, or why said trainer would actually want to catch that bothersome Swadloon.
Looking up through the canopy of leaves that covered virtually all of Pinwheel Forest in an ever-present shade, Dawn saw that it was getting close to time to pack it in for the day. "...There's too little light to proceed," Dawn remarked, "I say that we set up camp for the night and get an early crack on heading to Skyarrow Bridge in the morning. What do you guys think?"
"Yeah, I say we pack it in for the night as well," Trip agreed. Kenny also agreed, and so the reborn trainers proceeded to find a good spot to set up camp so they could rest for the night and get an early start on the morning. Kenny said that he sent one of his Pokémon he already had on hand to Professor Oak's lab in order to make room to add Shinobu to his party right away, saying that he needed to treat her injuries.
Giyu the Oshawott still wanted to know what the hell his trainer was thinking exactly when he decided to catch that bothersome Swadloon.
Later that evening, as Dawn and the boys had camp out curry for dinner, Kenny said, "So guys, I think that we ought to try to map out the game-plan that Team Scorn has for Unova here."
"Well according to Ideku," Dawn began, "There's a chance that Team Scorn may be interested in chasing down the rumors of Zekrom being sighted in Unova, and if said rumors turn out to have merit to them, capture Zekrom so that they can use it to meet any of the three of us on equal footing. They'll probably have Ayane set up to be the one to capture it, given that they tried something similar to have her try to catch Dialga."
Trip traced his fingers over where the Master Ball that held Deelia was kept on his person. "...Yeah, they failed big time there." Moving to rest both elbows on the table as he laid his right hand on top of his left then rested his chin on top of that, Trip went on, "Probably because of how we learned that Ayane figured a standard red and white pokéball would be sufficient."
Dawn nodded the point to her sister-brother. "Yeah. But chances are that Ayane, that Team Scorn, will learn from that mistake, and use a stronger fare of pokéball if and when they go after Zekrom." Looking to both of the boys, Dawn went on, "There's also how Team Scorn apparently is now in the business of trying to track down a shiny Pokémon, with emphasis on how it has to be wild at the time."
"They... don't want to just steal a shiny Pokémon that already belongs to a trainer?" Trip said, sounding mildly confused.
Kenny let out a troubled sigh. "There could be all manner of reasons as to why Team Scorn is looking to snatch up a wild shiny Pokémon as opposed to one that's already owned by a trainer. Maybe a shiny Pokémon that's still wild will be easier to convince to side with whoever its sold to in the black market. Or maybe a Team Scorn officer wants a shiny Pokémon of their own to show off in front of the rank and file."
"Maybe the boss of Team Scorn himself wants a shiny Pokémon," Dawn commented wryly, "He's still probably going to use Ayane as his proxy in capturing and using a major legendary Pokémon in order to meet the three of us on as equal footing as possible, but a shiny of a more commonly existing species of Pokémon would still be seen as fair game to personally have."
"Wait, quick question," Trip began. Turning to look at Kenny, Trip asked, "How many shiny Pokémon do you own?"
"Five," Kenny replied, "My Scizor Cell, my Sandslash Elay-"
"I'm assuming it's Kantonian and not Alolan," Trip said.
Nodding once, Kenny said, "...Yeah. Anyway, there's also my Ariados Spider-Frog, my Weavile Android 21, and most recently my Skitty Jibanyan."
Turning to look at Dawn, Trip said, "And I know that you have that shiny Hariyama of yours, Dawn. Do you have any other shiny Pokémon?"
Dawn gave a gentle shake of her head in the negative. "No, Zatch is my only shiny." Arching a wry eyebrow, Dawn went on, "Do you own any shiny Pokémon, Trip?"
"I do, actually," Trip confirmed, "A Tangrowth who I named Bashir. He could come in handy against at least one of the gyms here in Unova."
"Clay who uses grounds types," Dawn said, "Because Tangrowth being a grass type will be at an advantage. He can also be used against Elesa who uses electric types, which grass resists."
Looking to Dawn and Kenny, Trip said, "So between the three of us, we got a combined seven shiny Pokémon. That being said, you think that Team Scorn may try to keep focus on us?"
"Beyond the fact that you, me, and Kenny have Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina respectively?" Dawn pointed out dryly.
"They're looking to get their hands on a shiny Pokémon," Trip pointed out, "And the three of us, Kenny especially so, tend to attract them more or less. Team Scorn will probably think us to be shiny Pokémon magnets, and thus lie in wait for us to randomly stumble upon a shiny Pokémon in the wild so they can leap in and snatch it up for their own use."
Dawn wore a contemplative look on her face as she considered what her sister-brother had just proposed. "That... might actually be a valid theory to keep in mind, Trip."
"Heh," Kenny laughed, "I'd like to see Team Scorn try to pull a fast one on us when it comes to catching a random wild shiny Pokémon that we come across."
"Team Scorn isn't the lone villainous organization here in Unova that we have to contend with," Dawn said, "Keep in mind that Team Plasma is the team that's native to Unova, although we haven't come across them. ...Yet." Dawn then scowled, remembering a certain memory that made her feel bitter. "...There's also the fact that we'll also have to deal with Team Rocket eventually."
"I'm actually kind of sort of looking forward to my first go as whumping Team Rocket," Trip remarked casually, "You two think I can do it?"
Shrugging casually, Kenny replied, "We can probably make Team Rocket collectively shit themselves out of fright if we send out our respective legendary dragons all at once against them."
Dawn let out an amused hum of a chuckle. "Yeah, that would be a start on the right track to making Team Rocket pay. Anyway, as soon as we're done eating here, we ought to pack it in. We'll need to get an early start on tomorrow if we're to reach Castelia City within a reasonable time."
The boys both agreed, and soon after the reborn trainers and their Pokémon were all done eating, they packed it in and went to sleep for the night, wondering what the morning would have in store for them aside from having to traverse across Skyarrow Bridge in order to reach Castelia City. All that they knew was that, soon enough, the three of them would be earning their respective third Unovan gym badges.
The following morning, the reborn trainers got up early, packed up their stuff, then took off to finish getting through Pinwheel Forest. Eventually coming out of the end, they stepped out into a paved area that led into the one end of Skyarrow Bridge. Dawn and the boys looked at the large, expansive bridge, starting from their end and following it along towards the direction that Castelia City laid in. They couldn't see the other end of Skyarrow Bridge from where they stood; the bridge was that large.
"...There's just something about seeing it in real life that sets it apart from seeing it in a video game..." Trip remarked, his subdued tone showing the awe that he felt upon seeing Skyarrow Bridge. A feeling that was shared by both Dawn and Kenny.
Kenny nodded in agreement. "And we have to get from this end to the other in order to reach Castelia City, where the third gym in the Unovan portion of the gym challenge tour await us."
Taking the first step forward, Dawn said, "Well come on, boys. Skyarrow Bridge won't be crossing itself." With Dawn leading the group, the three reborn trainers proceeded to head up the stairs to take them to the part of Skyarrow Bridge for foot traffic, then proceeded to make the long walk from just outside Pinwheel Forest to Castelia City, where another gym awaited the three of them.
...
After what seemed like ages, the three reborn trainers made their way across Skyarrow Bridge, and finally set foot into Castelia City, arriving around the point of where Skyarrow Bridge foot traffic gets off from the bridge. "Hoo boy!" Kenny cheered, "We finally made it! Let's go straight to the gym and cringe up a storm!"
"Kenny," Dawn began, "We first ought to head on over to the local Pokémon Center to have our Pokémon checked out."
"Also, Castelia City is one of the most attraction-loaded places in Unova," Trip pointed out, "I think that we can afford to do at least a little bit of sight seeing before we make our way over to pound on the gym leader's door."
"A door that I can't really be answering right now, I'm afraid," a male voice called out, making the reborn trainers turn to see Burgh, the gym leader in Castelia City, come walking up to greet them. Arriving about a meter from Dawn and the boys, Burgh said, "A pleasure to meet you all. I'm Burgh, the man that you three are going to be looking for when you come to the Castelia City gym, given that I'm the gym leader."
Dawn gave Burgh a look of consideration. "...You were expecting us to come."
"I got a call from Lenora over in Nacrene City," Burgh explained, "And I also got word of your arrival from that Ideku fellow. He's a fierce trainer, defeating my team and earning the Insect Badge using only one Pokémon, albeit a larger than normal and different looking than normal Typhlosion."
"So Ideku defeated you," Trip said, "That's why you can't take challengers right now."
"...Well that too," Burgh admitted, "And also today is the day that one of my brilliant works of art will finally go on display over at Studio Castelia, the local art studio here in Castelia City. The studio staff finally convinced me to let them display one of my works, which I otherwise tend to hang in my gym."
"Ah, an artist," Kenny remarked.
Burgh nodded in agreement. "That's the idea. There's also one other reason why I came out here to greet your group." Turning to focus more on Dawn, Burgh went on, "And that would be you, Sinnoh Champion Dawn."
"You wanted to roll out the red carpet for me," Dawn said.
"Given that you're a person of importance from a foreign region," Burgh began, "And you've already had a hand in helping Unova deal with the threat that is Team Scorn, can you blame me?" To the reborn trainers as a whole, Burgh said, "Anyway, follow me to Studio Castelia. The exhibit won't open until later today, but it would be prudent to get some spots reserved ahead of time."
"Can we get our Pokémon checked out at the Pokémon Center first?" Dawn asked, "I mean, we did just literally get here."
Burgh nodded in understanding. "But of course." Making a slight detour for the local Pokémon Center first, the reborn trainers and Burgh would soon after that head on over to see some works of fine art by some of Castelia City's premier artists, including Brugh himself now. And going to see some are first before challenging Burgh's gym does play into Trip's idea of doing some tourist stuff first.
END, CHAPTER ONE-HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN
Author's notes;
The end of this chapter originally had a flashback scene to flesh out some Team Scorn members, but I moved it to the beginning of next chapter, which will let it better lead into a Team Scorn scheme that will take place in the next chapter. But for this chapter, the reborn trainers all get their second Unovan gym badges each, and Kenny also catches a new member for the cringe posse. And who knows? It may expand yet again in the near future. Until then, ciao.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Zatch (male Hriyama; shiny), Argent (male Arcanine; Hisuian; alpha), Phoebe (female Tepig), Sluggo (male Snubbull), Tsukune (Palkia)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Zarbon (male Machamp), Priestess (female Liligant; Hisuian; alpha), Giyu (male Oshawott), Shinobu (female Swadloon), Kyo (female Zorua), Black (Giratina)
Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Myde (male Empoleon), Loki (male Snivy), Fourze (male Electivire), Sinclair (male Blitzel), Deelia (Dialga), AkiBot 966 (Golett)