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 thirty-nine: Rocket's Rebirth
Over in the Team Scorn base located somewhere in the Hoenn region, James did a turn around spin to show Jessie and Meowth the new outfit he was in; it looked like the standard outfit he had worn when he and they were members of the now defunct Team Rocket, but the white was replaced with yellow, the dark colored parts were all replaced with dark blue, and the large red capital 'R' was replaced with a dark blue heater shield shape with a large capital 'S' that was yellow. James also wore the vest that was standard for Team Scorn grunts, but it was fully unzipped.
"So Jessie, Meowth," James began, "What do you guys think?"
"Looks pretty spiffy, James," Meowth said, "So giving that shiny Buneary you caught to the Boss's Assistant is what led to you getting promoted to Captain in Team Scorn?"
James nodded once in the affirmative. "That's right. I can now be trusted to lead missions where I'm commanding a good number of rank and file."
"And it was nice of you to make me your Captain's Assistant," Jessie said, "Although what I'd like to know is why I wasn't allowed to alter my outfit."
James, in response, pulled out a handbook and flipped it open. "...Ah, here it is," James said, "It says here under the Dress Code guidelines that standard rank and file level members of Team Scorn aren't allowed to make alterations to their outfits, although the Admin most directly responsible may allow an exception if it proves necessary." Lowering the handbook, James said, "I believe that Admin Ninja said something about how Admin Brother over in the Katana Sector allowing a Captain's Assistant to wear a scrunchy in her hair as said Captain's Asistant's hair proved long enough to warrant it, but the scrunchy that was being worn was solid red, so it had to be replaced with one that's either solid dark blue or solid yellow."
Nodding once, Meowth remarked, "I guess that Team Scorn uniforms have to use the team colors."
James gave an affirmative nod to Meowth before lifting the handbook back up to continue reading it. "Captain's Assistants, despite serving an Officer ranked member of Team Scorn directly, aren't allowed to alter their uniforms, although the Admin of their sector may still permit slight changes if said changes end up proving to be necessary. Admin's Asistants are allowed to make alterations to their outfits if they so wish, but only if said alterations are first approved by their Admin and if the outfit afterwards is still yellow and dark blue."
Jessie let out a breath. "Well, I guess that, barring you one day becoming an Admin, I'm stuck wearing the standard outfit for the rank and file in Team Scorn. At least I have a little more pull than the average rank and file member, however."
"Always good to see the good side of things," the voice of Goemon called out, "Captain's Assistant Jessie." Jessie, James, and Meowth all turned to see Goemon, the Admin's Assistant to Admin Ninja, head of the Kunai Sector of Team Scorn which is the sector that Jessie, James, and Meowth all belong to now. Goemon was standing there in the doorway to the somewhat wide open dressing room.
James immediately saluted Goemon, which promted Jessie and Meowth to both do the same. "Glad to see you, Goemon," James said, "So what's the good news?"
"I got it from Admin Ninja that Boss's Assistant Ayane is delighting over having a shiny Pokémon of her own now, thanks you to giving her the shiny Buneary you had caught while we were catching those Ekans and Koffing over in the area of Petalburg Woods," Goemon said, "Thanks to your luck, the Kunai Sector was the first sector of Team Scorn to complete that open mission, which is closed now since we've completed it. It's even earned Admin Ninja praise straight from the big man himself, given that Ninja is the Admin responsible for you."
James nodded once in understanding. "I'm just glad I was able to start proving my worth to the new team that Jessie, Meowth, and I have joined."
"It also helps them that Admin Ninja allowed them to keep their Arbok and Weezing who they reunited with during the mission," Meowth added.
Goemon nodded in understanding. "Ninja also got it that Weezing and Arbok apparently picked up some new tricks since you guys last saw them."
"Oh my, yes," Jessie said, "Arbok came back knowing Poison Jab, Crunch, and Glare in addition to Headbutt that I remember it using."
"And Weezing came back knowing Sludge Bomb, Dark Pulse, Flamethrower, and Thunderbolt surprisingly enough," James said.
Meowth and Jessie both did a double take. "Wait a minute, Weezing knows Thunderbolt?" Meowth said, "As in 'twerp's Pikachu using Thunderbolt to make us blast off again' Thunderbolt?"
Nodding once in the affirmative, James said, "Yes, it took me by surprise too."
"Anyway," Goemon spoke up, getting James, Jessie, and Meowth to all turn to look at him, "Admin Ninja is going to be gearing up to loan you guys to the Shield Sector soon, as Admin Hero of the Shield Sector needs backup. Admin Ninja thinks it'll be a great chance for you all to gain some experience."
"Wait, isn't the Kunai Sector a bit understaffed?" Meowth asked, "And we're being loaned out anyway?"
Shrugging, Goemon said, "Ninja is similarly as concerned as you guys. But Admin Hero needs the backup."
Holding up a hand, James said, "Question, Goemon. Where will this assignment take James, Meowth, and I?"
"You guys will be heading out to the Kalos region for this mission," Goemon said, "It's the region that Admin Hero and his Shield Sector are based out of." Shrugging, Goemon said, "Mind you, you won't be leaving just yet, as you've still got some exercises to do to get used to the feel of being a Team Scorn Captain. But you'll be the first Captain in Team Scorn's Kunai Sector to do a mission outside of Hoenn without Admin Ninja also being there. A lot of trust is being placed into you, especially since you've joined Team Scorn and already made Captain within the span of roughly half a week."
James nodded once in the affirmative. "I swear to not let Admin Ninja down."
Goemon nodded in the affirmative, before turning to look at Jessie. "Ninja got it that you have some contest experience, Captain's Assistant Jessie. He heard that there will be events in Kalos that are similar to contests."
"Really?" Jessie said, her interest piqued.
Goemon gave an affirmative nod. "Boss's Assistant Ayane has expressed interest in that business. That being said, if asked to do so, would you look into the matter during the mission in Kalos and take down what all you learn before submitting the info to Ayane?"
Giving Goemon a salute, Jessie said, "You can count on me, Goemon!"
"Good," Goemon replied, a mildly amused look on his face, "Oh, and do that business only if asked. Until then, don't touch it." Jessie understood, despite how she also had personal interest in that business and would have looked into it on her own otherwise. James was then given info on the first mission he'd lead as a Captain of Team Scorn, although it was just a simple mission of retrieving the valuable precious stones and other high value earthen material dug up over in Granite Cave. James got the idea and with a final salute to Goemon, proceeded to get ready for the mission.
Normally, the mission would see James bring a dozen rank and file with him, including Jessie who's his Captain's Assistant. But due to the fact that the Kunai Sector is understaffed, James could only bring up to eight rank and file, including Jessie. Telling Jessie and Meowth to follow along, James went out to go see who all in the rank and file were available for him to take since that's what Goemon said he should do to get the manpower needed for the mission. After finding four guys and three girls, James had the manpower for the mission. He got a copter, and took off.
The new chapter in the lives of James, Jessie, and Meowth had just begun.
Meanwhile over in the Unova region, the heroes just stepped foot into the Village of Dragons, on their way to Opelucid City. Trip inhaled through his nose before letting out a breath. "Ah, Village of Dragons. Pearl of Unova."
Looking around, Dawn spotted two statues of Reshiram and Zekrom. "I can see why you'd be fretting over the idea of Team Scorn getting their hands on either Reshiram or Zekrom," Dawn said to Iris, pointing out the two statues.
Iris nodded in the affirmative. "Yes. Here in the Village of Dragons, we-"
"Iris? Is that you?"
Iris got cut off when a girl who looked to be roughly her age came running over. "It is! It is you, Iris!" the girl exclaimed happily before throwing her arms around Iris in a big friendly hug."
"Yo yo yo, who that bez?" Kenny said, pointing at the girl who was randomly hugging Iris.
After the girl let go, Iris introduced her to the rest of the heroes. "Everyone, this is my friend Shannon," Iris said, "Shannon, these are my friends Ash, Cilan, Bianca, Dawn, Kenny, and Trip."
Pointing at Dawn, Shannon said, "You're Dawn Berlitz, the Champion of Sinnoh! I actually watched the title match between you and Cynthia on TV where you beat her and took her title! You have both a Garchomp and a legendary dragon Pokémon!"
"My main man Dawn ain't the only one packing a legendary dragon, you know," Kenny said, "For I-"
Kenny was cut off when two Zweilous came wandering over to the group. "Oh, these are a pair of Zweilous that I'm looking after," Shannon explained, "I've made some decent progress with them. Oh, you ought to have the Village Elder judge the progress you've made with the Axew you got!"
"That's a good idea!" Iris said. Turning to look at the rest of the group, Iris said, "Come on, guys!" At Iris's insistence, the group all went to see the Village Elder with Iris, letting her lead the way.
...
A short while later, Iris stood before the Village Elder as she judged how Axew had been raised. "My oh my, this little one has made far more progress than what I had anticipated it would of had by this point," the Village Elder said in a kindly, impressed tone while examining Iris's Axew. Turning to look at Iris, the Village Elder said, "I'm very impressed with you, Iris. You really have done the Village of Dragons as a whole quite proud."
Iris, unable to hide her elation, immediately bowed her head. "Thank you, Elder!"
As the rest of the heroes watched Iris be praised for her work in raising Axew, two other villagers came over. "Hey Iris," the first villager said, "We wanna see the Dragonite that you got."
Obliging, Iris tossed up a pokéball while calling out, "Come on out, Dragonite!" Iris's Dragonite came out with a triumphant roar, but before Iris could tell Dragonite to do something, it saw a random Haxorus and immediately moved to pick a fight with it.
"Dragonite," Dawn began, her tone stern and warning, "You need to behave yourself. I can call out Tsukune if need be." Iris's Dragonite, knowing full well who Dawn was talking about, immediately simmered back down, resigned to the idea of not getting to try its strength against other powerful-looking opponents. After the people who had asked for it got to see and check out Iris's Dragonite, the heroes decided to go back to seeing how Iris's friend Shannon was doing, an act that they proceeded to do after Iris called back her Dragonite.
Later, the heroes see Shannon tending to her pair of Zweilous, although one looked unwell. As the group had lunch with her, Shannon let out a troubled sigh. "I'm not so sure if I'm cut out to live in the Village of Dragons constantly," Shannon said, "I mean, I'm not sure that I have what it takes to be a competent trainer, especially when compared to you and your friends here, Iris."
"Dude, you're working with and taming a pair of Zweilous," Kenny pointed out, "Those buggers can be a handful with just one on their own, but you're corralling two at once like it's no biggie. You saying that you're not sure of yourself is selling yourself short."
Dawn nodded in agreement. "Kenny has a point. You're a lot better than you think you are."
Iris nodded in agreement. "Totally. Why, I say that you ought start a jo-"
"ZWEI!"
Iris was cut off when she and the others heard one of Shannon's Zweilous cry out, prompting all of them to go investigate. They soon came to a lake where both of the Zweilous were at, with one crying out in alarm and the other hunched over. Then, to their shock, the heroes and Shannon see the hunched over Zweilous glow a bright white, growing in size and changing shape. The glowing faded when the growing and form shifting ended, revealing that the Zweilous had evolved into a Hydreigon.
"Wow, Shannon!" Iris cheered as the now Hydreigon looked at its reflection in the lake, "Your Zweilous evolved into a Hy-"
"DREIGON!"
The Hydreigon cried out in a tone of startled surprise before firing a Draco Meteor attack into the air, sending shots that rained down all over the village and causing some degree of damage to a few buildings. "Shannon's Hydreigon has gone berserk-o freak-o!" Kenny exclaimed, "We need to bring it down!" The Hydreigon then fired an attack that ended up hitting both Shannon and the still Zweilous, causing them some degree of hurt.
"Hydriegon, please!" Iris called out, "You need to calm down! We want to help you, but we can't if-"
"Gardevoir, use Moonblast!"
Iris was cut off when she heard Ash shout out a command, followed by a Moonblast attack rushing past her and going on to blast right into Hydreigon, causing significant damage that sent it sinking right back down to the ground. Turning around, Iris saw that Ash had his Gardevoir out, as well as his own Hydreigon. "Ash, what the heck was that for?!" Iris yelled, "Attacking Shannon's Hydreigon while it's obviously freaked out isn't going to help!"
"It fired off an attack that damaged buildings in the Village of Dragons!" Ash pointed out, "It also fired an attack that hit Shannon herself and her Zweilous!" Gesturing to where Shannon's Hydreigon laid on the the ground, Ash said, "Also, it did help calm Hydreigon back down!"
Gesturing to Shannon's Hydreigon, Iris said, "But subduing it by force is still wrong!"
"So what I did back during the Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup," Dawn began, "In order to keep your then rampaging Dragonite from continuing its rampage even though one of its attacks had hit an audience member, is also wrong?"
Iris took pause at that, stunned by what Dawn had said. Iris still feels ashamed over how her Dragonite had lost control of itself back then, and not mainly due to how it got her disqualified as a result although that still does play a part. No, it was a sign to Iris that she had failed as a Dragon Master. Shannon, as she got up after how she was hit by her Hydreigon's attack, turned to look at Iris.
"...They..." Shannon said, breathing hard due to injury, "...Your friends... do have a point. It was the quickest, easiest, and overall safest way to end Hydreigon's rampage. And hey, it's settled down now. Maybe now we can try reasoning with Hydreigon."
Iris, still looking unsure about the idea of using force to subdue Hydreigon and make it behave, went over to it and gently laid her hand on its forehead. Iris focused on her special connection with dragon Pokémon, and learned that Hydreigon had freaked out over both its new appearance and its new great power it had. Iris gently gave Hydreigon reassurance that there was nothing wrong with either factor, so Hydreigon, after it felt better about its predicament now, soon passed out. With all trouble now settled, the heroes were able to help out with seeing what needed to be done to repair the damage done.
...
"Actually, your friend Ash had made a sound call, Iris."
To the surprise of the heroes, Iris especially so, the Village Elder agreed with how Ash had resolved the matter of Shannon's Hydreigon freaking out. "Hydreigon is a very strong Pokémon," the Village Elder went on, "So when one freaks out and begins rampaging, subduing it by force until it calms back down and will willingly listen to reason, although a bit on the crude side, is still one of the more valid options to resolve such a problem." Turning to look at Ash, the Village Elder asked, "So how did you bring Shannon's Hydreigon to reason? A powerful ice Pokémon, maybe?"
Holding up a pokéball, Ash explained, "Actually, I had used my Gardevoir. She knows Moonblast."
The Village Elder nodded in understanding. "Ah, a fairy type Pokémon. You came prepared to the Village of Dragons, I see."
As the Village Elder talked to the heroes, Shannon came running back in. "Elder!" Shannon called out, her tone sounding urgent.
"What is it, Shannon?" the Village Elder asked.
"Drayden was supposed to come to the Village of Dragons but hasn't been seen for the last few days!" Shannon called out.
Immediately, everyone became alarmed. "Do you have any idea where Drayden was last seen?" asked the Village Elder.
Shannon nodded in the affirmative. "Yes, one of the village boys got it. Drayden was last seen in the area of Challenger's Cave, which is located along Unovan Route 9."
"Hey, I actually want to check Challenger's Cave out anyway," Kenny spoke up.
"Then would you, Iris, and the rest of your friends here go check out Challenger's Cave and see if you can find any signs of where Drayden may be?" asked the Village Elder.
Before any of the other heroes could say anything, Iris said, "You can count on us!" Turning to face the rest of the group, Iris said, "Come on! We've got to go find where Drayden may have gone off to!" Surprised by the sudden shift in Iris's tone, the heroes nonetheless decided to go to Challenger's Cave along Unovan Route 9 to see what might have happened to Drayden. Shannon waved them goodbye as they took off on a trip they would have taken anyway, but now there was a greater sense of urgency to it. They could only hope that Drayden was fine.
After traveling for the rest of the day, camping out for the night, and getting an early start the next day, the heroes made it to Unovan Route 9. "Guys, you don't think that something might have happened to Drayden, do you?" Bianca asked, sounding mildly worried.
Iris, despite being just as (if not slightly more) concerned as Bianca, said, "Drayden is the strongest man I know. There's no way something bad happened."
"And yet you also sound worried," Trip remarked as they found the only cave entrance along Unovan Route 9.
Shrugging, Iris said, "Well he's a prominent figure in Opelucid City! I can't help it!" With that last exclamation, the heroes all made their way into Challenger's Cave.
...
The heroes got out lanterns that they turned on to illuminate the cave so that they could see what all was around them. "Hello?" Iris called out, "Drayden? It's me, Iris! I was sent here to look for you!"
Holding his free hand to the side of his mouth, Kenny called out, "Olley-olley oxen-free!" After a few moments passed in silence, Kenny shrugged. "Well, I there goes my best shot," Kenny said, drawing a smack to the side of his head from Dawn's free hand. "Ow!" Kenny said, "Oh come on, dude! I was only trying to-"
"Riolu!"
Kenny was cut off when he and the others heard a Riolu call out. Turning to look, the heroes all saw a Riolu standing on a meter-tall boulder, looking over at them with a challenging look on its face. Also, there was a dry and crusty-looking yellow smear on the side of its face. "It's a wild Riolu!" Kenny said, "Sweetness! Now I can catch it and that'll complete my personal goal for Challenger's Cave!"
Gesturing to the heroes, Riolu talked to them in Pokémon-talk, as if it were a serious fighter aiming to challenge them. The heroes had no idea what Riolu was saying. "Hey Dawn," Trip began, "You have Leni on hand, right?"
"Yeah, why?" Dawn replied.
Gesturing to the wild Riolu, Trip went on, "Well maybe she can help with figuring out what this Riolu's deal is. I mean, we need-"
"Glace glace Glaceon?"
Trip stopped short when he heard a Glaceon call out; looking over, he and the rest of the heroes saw that Kenny had Shallot, his Glaceon, out and talking to the wild Riolu. The wild Riolu, its expression an annoyed scowl, barked back at Shallot, to which the named Glaceon merely rolled his eyes dryly before seemingly snarking right back at the wild Riolu. Shallot's apparent snarking evidently ticked the wild Riolu off, as it leapt off of the boulder it was on and flew right at Shallot. However, the wild Riolu never got the chance to strike Shallot with what looked to be Force Palm.
Pointing at the wild Riolu while it was still in the air, Kenny said, "Shallot, use Shadow Ball!" Shallot conjured and cast a Shadow Ball that blasted right into the wild Riolu, knocking it out of the air and sending it crashing straight down into the ground. As Riolu laid there, Kenny took the opportunity to take out and expand an extra pokéball before throwing it at the wild Riolu while going, "Go, pokéball!" The pokéball flew into the Riolu, took it inside, then landed with a light clink on the ground and shook for a bit before making a ping sound, indicating capture.
"Sweetness!" Kenny said as he went over to retrieve the pokéball that held his newly caught Riolu, "I caught a Riolu!" After scanning the pokéball with his pokédex, Kenny said, "Ah, it's a boy. I'm feeling that... Giblet will be the perfect name for him."
Dawn, with a dry look on her face, said, "Oh, I see what you did there, Kenny." As the pokéball containing Giblet the Riolu was sent off, Dawn said, "Now can we please focus on the task at hand? We need to find Drayden so we-"
"That... little troublemaker..." a tired and exhausted but still firm sounding older male voice called out, "...That Riolu. Where did it run off to with my lunchbox?"
"That voice!" Iris said. Immediately after that, Iris called out, "Drayden! It's me! Iris! Where are you?!"
"Iris?" the male voice called back, apparently belonging to Drayden, "Is that really you, child?"
The heroes followed the sound of Drayden's voice, and eventually found the man himself; his clothes seemed a bit dirty and he had some scuff marks on his skin, showing that he had a tumble. But he was still for the most part alright. "I'm sorry that you have to find me in such poor condition," Drayden said to Iris, "But I'm glad to see a familiar face."
Iris, looking concerned, said, "We were told yesterday that you haven't been seen for a few days in a row! What happened?"
Surprisingly, Drayden let out a bit of an ironic chuckle. "Ah yes. You see, I came to Challenger's Cave to investigate rumors of precious and semi-precious stones being found here. Yesterday, while I was searching a deeper part of Challenger's Cave, I took a break to eat one of the sandwiches I had brought along. It was one of my few remaining sandwiches, so I would of had to leave eventually. Anyway, after I took a bite from my sandwich and set it back into the lunchbox to take a swig from my canteen, I was attacked by a wild Riolu."
"A wild..." Dawn said, beginning to see where this could lead, "...Riolu, you say."
"I do say," Drayden replied with a nod, "It struck me rather hard in my... coin purse... with a Force Palm attack, then took my lunchbox while I was kneeling over in pain and ran off with it."
Kenny, remembering something about Giblet, asked, "Did one of your remaining sandwiches have mustard in it?"
Arching a wry eyebrow, Drayden replied, "Why actually, yes. How did you guess?"
"I caught a wild Riolu a few moments ago," Kenny explained, "And it had a crusty looking yellow smear on the side of its face. I must had caught the very same Riolu who had attacked you and stole your lunch, given that the stain must have been a mustard stain."
"I see," Drayden said, "Very well." Turning to look at Iris, Drayden said, "I had planned to meet up with you in the Village of Dragons, Iris, as I got it you'd be crossing through there on the way to Opelucid City. I was wanting to invite you to Opelucid City so that I could challenge you to a battle at my gym to gauge your growth. But that will have to wait, as I ought to get back to Opelucid City and let people know I'm fine. I could also do with a bath and some clean clothes, as I probably reek enough to make a Garbordor blush with jealousy."
Iris, glad that Drayden was alright, nodded in agreement. "You also ought to call folks over in the Village of Dragons and let them know you're alright as well." Drayden gave an amused bark of laughter as he agreed, then together with the heroes he made way out of Challenger's Cave. With Drayden found and rescued and Kenny having caught the Pokémon he wanted to find at Challenger's Cave, the heroes felt accomplished as they proceeded to make their way over to Opelucid City where Iris would be tested by Drayden. There would also be other business in Opelucid City as well.
...Some not so friendly, not that any of the heroes knew that at the moment.
END, CHAPTER ONE-HUNDRED AND THIRTY-NINE
Author's notes;
This chapter sees the wrap-up of the Team Rocket trio having joined Team Scorn, seeing James as a Captain and getting prepped for some business that will go down over in the Kalos region, where he, Jessie, and Meowth will report to Admin Hero, head of the Shield Sector which is the sector of Team Scorn based in Kalos. After that, it cuts back to the heroes visiting the Village of Dragons, where the problem with Shannon's Hydreigon is resolved much quicker but more forcefully. The heroes are then sent to Challenger's Cave to find Drayden, who lost track of time and was ambushed by a wild Riolu who Kenny caught prior to the heroes finding Drayden. Together, the lot of them leave Challenger's Cave so that they can make their way to Opelucid City, where the heroes will get more than what they were bargaining for.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Argent (male Arcanine; alpha; Hisuian), Rapparata (Porygon-Z), Zancrow (male Volcarona), Leni (female Lucario), Tsukune (Palkia)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Godzilla (male Tyranitar), Giyu (male Samurott; Hisuian), Juan (male Pikachu; Libre), Black (Giratina; Origin Form), Cell (male Scizor; shiny), Shallot (male Glaceon)
Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Mr. Popo (male Magmortar), HedonismBot (Magnezone), Myde (male Empoleon), Veda (female Abomasnow), Deelia (Dialga), Fourze (male Electivire)
Ash's Pokémon: (on hand) Pikachu (male), Krookodile (male; Sunglasses), Gardevoir (female), Meloetta (gender unknown), Hydreigon (female), Steelix (male; shiny)