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 sixty-nine: Goo and Grace

The heroes, after some traveling, made it over to the Baa de Mer Ranch, which according to Clemont is famous for delicious cheese and ice cream. As the heroes saw the sign for the ranch as they got closer, Kenny whispered to Dawn and Trip, "Baa de Mer? The fuck kind of name is that?"

"Kenny, watch your language," Dawn muttered back as the heroes entered the Baa de Mer Ranch.

...

While the heroes ate ice cream, they watched it as others at the Baa de Mer Ranch were riding around on Skidoo. "So what's with the little goat Pokémon running around all over while people ride them?" Kenny asked aloud.

"Riding around on Skidoo is something of a regional pastime here in Kalos," the familiar voice of Serena's mom Grace spoke up, making the heroes turn around and see Grace herself walk up. "Racing around on Skidoo is also good practice for helping one become good at Rhyhorn racing," Grace went on, "Even though Rhyhorn racing events here in Kalos are on hold for the foreseeable future due to the phoned in threats made by Team Scorn."

"Mom?" Serena said, "What are you doing here?"

Gesturing to Serena and the other heroes, Grace explained, "I'm here to help run a special Skidoo racing event to help beginners prep for Rhyhorn racing. Granted, we can't have any actual events, but racing around on Skidoos is still a fun activity."

"Ooh, ooh, I wanna join in!" Bonnie cried out, holding a hand up.

Jerking a thumb at Dawn, Trip said, "Dawn here has experience riding around on four-legged Pokémon already, but she usually favors Argent." To show Grace what Trip was talking about since Grace had asked, Dawn called out her named alpha Hisuian Arcanine Argent; the reborn trainers had previously rotated their parties to help prep for the Coumarine City gym challenge.

Pointing at Argent, Grace said, "...Big."

Later, the reborn trainers and Serena watched as Ash and Clemont were riding around on Skidoos because Bonnie dragged them into it; Ash was somewhat more willing to go along than Clemont was. Argent was still out and gently sniffing at a mildly nostalgic looking Serena who was reminiscing on her past growing up with a mom who was obsessed with Rhyhorn racing; Serena had her own reasons for not taking part in riding on the Skiddos, Kenny and Trip weren't interested, and Dawn would have given it a go but Argent showed he was insistent that if Dawn was going to ride on a four-legged Pokémon, it was going to be Argent himself.

Dawn turned her attention to Serena when Argent walked over to her, prodded his node against the sideof her head, then turned to point his nose at Serena. The named alpha Hisuian Arcanine whined a bit in a concerned tone, his ears pinning back as much as they could. Dawn could tell that Argent was concerned about Serena, given the look on Serena's face, and it was an issue that Dawn was going to tackle anyway. "...Argent has a point, Serena," Dawn said, making Serena perk up and turn her attention to her, "Something seems to be eating away at you. Care to share with the rest of the class what's on your mind?"

Serena let out a troubled sigh. "...I haven't told my mom that I want to pursue being a Pokémon Performer yet."

Shrugging, Kenny said, "So? What's the big deal?"

"I'm kind of worried that my mom will tell me no," Serena replied, "That I have to follow in her footsteps as a Rhyhorn racer, and forbid me from wanting to do something that I wanna do."

"You're worried that your mom will be one of those fantasy-forbidding parents," Trip reasoned, drawing an affirmative nod from Serena. "Well, your mom will find out eventually, so it's best to rip the bandage off now and just tell her what you wanna do."

"And your chance to do so is coming up now," Kenny pointed out, making Serena turn to see that Grace was coming up to her and the reborn trainers.

Before Serena could even get one word out, Grace said, "Hey Serena, what's all of this business that Bonnie had told me about concerning you wanting to be a Pokémon Performer?"

"Bonnie told you?!" Serena exclaimed, "Before I could do so?! Uhhg, I was going to do it!"

Shrugging, Grace said, "Yeah, little kids tend not to know better. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that if you think you can stick with it, I say go for it."

Serena, as well as the reborn trainers, all looked surprised by Grace being so accepting of Serena's dreams. "...Really?" Kenny said, "You're actually going to let Serena pursue her dreams of being a Pokémon Performer?"

Grace nodded in the affirmative. "Under normal circumstances, I'd of tried pushing for Serena to follow in my footsteps and become a Rhyhorn racer." Grace let out a troubled sigh, had a worried look on her face. "...But with the current climate that Rhyhorn racing is facing right now due to the threats being made by the Kalos region's native group of Team Scorn members, I actually want Serena to stay away from Rhyhorn racing, for her own safety."

That explained a lot for the reborn trainers and Serena; Grace is worried that, if Serena competed in Rhyhorn racing while Team Scorn was putting heat on it, then she could get seriously hurt. "...Don't worry, ma'am," Trip said, "Team Scorn will be thinking twice about trying to pull off any funny business here in Kalos, given how many butt-kicking trainers of heroic intent are here."

"Speaking of butt-kicking," Kenny said, "Bonnie needs a verbal one for spilling something Serena wanted kept secret even-"

"Everyone run!" a random trainer visiting Baa de Mer Ranch screamed as she and a few other trainersran off, some riding Skidoos, "Team Scorn's here!"

Not wasting any time, Dawn climbed up onto Argent and said to the others, "I'm going in to check things out!" Where as civilian trainers were riding away from Team Scorn on Skidoo, Dawn rode towards Team Scorn on her alpha Hisuian Arcanine, leaving the others with her to run to keep up.

Kenny and Trip immediately ran to catch up to Dawn, but Serena was kept from going by Grace. "Serena, no!" Grace said, her firm tone sounding understandably freaked, "Let the others handle Team Scorn! It's too much for you!"

"Mom, I've helped fought off Team Scorn before!" Serena said, drawing a shocked look from Grace, "And all of those time I've helped fight Team Scorn off has taught me that the fewer there are opposing them, the more likely Team Scorn is going to succeed! As many people as possible have to be willing to do their part to fend off those villainous criminals!" Running on in anyway, Serena shouted, "And I'm fully intending to do my part!"

Seeing her daughter run right into danger, knowingly running into it to help confront it, drew a surprised look out of Grace. Never had she seen such fierce determination out of Serena, and her clear drive to do what's right is also very commendable. Grace, although she was still looking worried, couldn't help but crack a small but sincere smile that denoting feeling a great sense of pride in others. "...Oh Serena, when did you grow up so much...?"

...

A number of Team Scorn members were raiding a nearby storehouse of the various dairy foods made at Baa de Mer Ranch. The rank and file grunts were supervised by a uniquely dressed Team Scorn member and a female grunt standing next to him; obviously a Captain and a Captain's Assistant. The (probable) Captain was male, and he had dark dishwater blonde hair that was tussled about his head, fair skin, and he wore a yellow long sleeved tunic under a dark blue slender poncho-like garment, pants that matched his long-sleeved shirt, finger less dark blue gloves that reached near the crook of his elbows and the gloves had yellow cuffs around the bases, and boots that reached near to his knees, and said boots matched his gloves. His Team Scorn insignia patch, dark blue heater shield with yellow Team Scorn 'S', was worn on his left sleeve, right below the shoulder.

As for the female grunt with the captain, she was dressed the same as other female Team Scorn grunts; the only standout thing about her was her long green hair in twin braided low pigtails. "That's it, men," the Captain said, "Just keep raiding the food storage like that. Once we're done here, we can-"

"-Hold it right where you are!" Dawn called out, cutting the Captain off and making him and the Team Scorn grunts stop what they're doing. Dawn rode up on Argent and got off just as Kenny and Trip caught up to her. "Judging by your outfit," Dawn said as she eyed the Captain, "You're either an Officer or an Admin's Assistant in Team Scorn. Am I right?"

The Captain arched a wry eyebrow. "You are indeed correct. I am Captain Erik, Second Captain of Team Scorn's Shield Sector." Gesturing to Dawn, the now identified Erik went on, "And I know who you are. You're Dawn Berlitz, the Champion of Sinnoh. Your companions here are Kenny Harris and Trip Barley."

Gesturing to what Team Scorn was up to right when Ash came running up with Clemont and Bonnie, Kenny asked, "So what is it that you guys are doing here with the raiding of this food storage place?"

"Actually, Admin Hero told me that this is a distraction-type mission as he got it your party was in the area," Erik confessed, "He's got the Fourth Captain leading a mission of actual importance."

"So you're doing this just to keep out attention occupied," Ash growled bitterly, "And who is this Fourth Captain that's doing the real mission? Also, what's the real mission?"

Shrugging, Erik said, "To be honest, I have no clue who the Fourth Captain of the Shield Sector is. No one aside from Admin Hero knows. All I know about the Fourth Captain is that she's a girl, and even then that's speculation on my part as it's from a vibe I got from Admin's Assistant Asami and Captain Xander's Assistant Rina. I also got the vibe that the Fourth Captain may be in the same general age group as Asami and Rina, but again I'm just speculating."

The heroes were concerned that the Fourth Captain was supposedly a girl estimated to be in the same age group as that Rina girl who Xander took a blunt blow to the back to protect, and Rina didn't look too much older than Bonnie. And the Admin's Assistant serving Admin Hero is also a girl of comparable age. There was something up with Team Scorn recruiting even children like that as members. But that is something that they would have to settle later; for now, they had to fight off the Team Scorn members that were here, even though their presence here was meant to be a distraction.

The normal Team Scorn grunts all sent out Pokémon that were common fare for villainous team members is Kalos. The girl with long green pigtails sent out a Pidgey, and Erik sent out a Snover. Ash had Pikachu go in, Dawn had Argent go in, Celmont sent out Luxio, Kenny sent out his named Houndoom Goofy, and Trip sent out his named Magmortar Mr. Popo. The reason why the reborn trainers were all fielding fire Pokémon is because they were prepping for the Coumarine City gym; their plan would see them essentially set the place on fire multiple times (metaphorically of course).

Pointing forward, Erik said, "Snover, use Ice Shard on Pikachu!"

"Pidgey, use Quick Attack on Luxio!" the girl with Erik called out.

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt on Pidgey!" Ash ordered.

"Argent, use Flare Blitz on Snover!" Dawn commanded.

"Luxio, use Spark on Pidgey!" Clemont called out.

The other Pokémon being commanded by the other members of both sides were ordered to attack each other, and the melee started. Argent got right into Snover's line of attack and, cloaked in blazingly brutal flames, charged right at and into Snover, plowing through its Ice Shard and saving Pikachu from taking a hit. Snover was knocked out, and Argent merely panted as a shine came off from his head. Thanks to being covered by Argent, Pikachu was able to blast the Pidgey with Thunderbolt without problem, after Pidgey had struck Luxio with Quick Attack.

After Pidgey fell in defeat, Luxio went on to use Spark on a random grunt's Pokémon, knocking it out. The battle went on for a bit longer, but in the end one one of the male grunts wasn't totally out of it. Argent was able to further show off having Rock Head by using a consequence free Wild Charge on a grunt's Wingull. "It looks like we failed to do much here other than stall for time," the female grunt with Erik said, her tone regretful and bitter.

"We gotta get out of here, sir!" the lone grunt who wasn't straight up defeated yet said, trying to turn around and run. However, he was stopped when Serena came running in and cutting off his path.

Giving the grunt a firm look, Serena said, "You aren't going anywhere."

Taking up a pokéball, the grunt said, "Oh yeah? Well how would you like it if I-"

*THOOM*

The grunt was cut off when he was rammed off to the side and back to the main group of Team Scorn members by a Skidoo who came running in randomly. It baa'ed at the Team Scorn grunt it headbutted away. "Hopefully we stalled for enough time," Erik said when, after the knocked over grunt recovered, he and a few others took out some smoke grenades and used them to cover their escape.

"Yeah," Grace said to the heroes as she saw them off later that day, although she was focusing mainly on Serena. "You kids are more than able to handle yourselves," Grace said, "And as for you Serena, although it will still bother me on some level knowing that you're confronting members of Team Scorn, I saw in you a fierce will to stick through whatever challenges thrown your way until everything is done. I'm confident you'll be able to handle what all will be thrown your way when you get into doing those Pokémon Showcases."

Serena nodded once in thanks to her mom. "Thanks for understanding, mom."

"Oh, speaking of," Kenny said, "Bonnie, you really shouldn't have told Serena's mom that Serena wanted to get into Pokémon Showcases. That was something that you should have let Serena herself do."

"No one told me I couldn't say anything!" Bonnie complained.

"Given it was something of importance to Serena, you should have let her handle it," Clemont remarked. With all issues at the Baa de Mer Ranch settled, the heroes went on with their journey to Coumarine City, although they were seen off with some food items by the thankful Baa de Mer Ranch staff, including a tub of ice cream for each of them and a big ol' wheel of cheese.

Bonnie, as punishment for blabbing about something Serena should have been able to inform Grace of first, wasn't allowed to have any of her ice cream until tomorrow.

Sometime later, as the heroes continued their journey, they were going up a mountainous route that was tiring most of them; only Trip and Kenny, the latter snacking on a wedge of cheese, didn't seem tired. "...Thus brings me to the villain of this tale," Kenny said as he was telling a story to try to entertain the rest of the group, "Smaus the Terrible. Air-borne fire Combee. Teeth like razors, claws like cheese-knife."

"That..." Serena said, not quite sure what to make of Kenny's story, "...does sound like a terrifying Pokémon. Granted, I'm not sure why its claws would be like cheese-knifes, but-"

"Hey look, a bunch of Swanna are flying overhead," Trip said, making everyone turn their heads to look up at the passing flock of Swanna. A few seconds afterwards, something fell from the flock of Swanna and plopped right into Ash's face, making him cry out in surprise.

As Ash pulled the slimy object away from his face, Trip said, "Ooh, it's a Goomy."

Clemont nodded in agreement. "I heard that Goomy are considered to be the weakest dragon-type Pokémon." Seeing how weak and flattened Goomy looked, Clemont went on, "I bet its dehydrated. Goomy's bodies are mostly made up of water." Serena and Dawn both pulled out water bottles, Serena pouring her water on Goomy while Dawn had Goomy drink from hers. Soon, Goomy perked up enough to see all of the people around it.

"I think that we ought to help Goomy hydrate a bit more," Ash said, then after looking around for a bit spotted a river down the hill. Seeing how steep the hill was, Ash called out his alpha Hisuian Braviary and hopped on, having it fly him to the river for safety. The other heroes soon got down to where Ash, Braviary, and Goomy were at the river, with Ash setting Goomy down gently into the river and gently splashed water onto its sides. Goomy gave a happy cry while looking up at Ash as the rest of the heroes arrived to were Ash was kneeling down next to the river.

"Aww, I think Goomy is trying to say thank you to Ash," Bonnie remarked, right when Dedenne popped out of the bag Bonnie was carrying. Seeing Dedenne suddenly appear startled Goomy, making it leap onto Ash's head for safety. "...What's up with Goomy now?" Bonnie asked, confused.

Pointing to Dedenne, Dawn said, "My guess is that Goomy is scared of Dedenne. Goomy is a dragon-type and Dedenne is part fairy-type, so it's understandable."

Bonnie proceeded to look even more confused. "...No it's not. Goomy being weird is all, I mean there's no reason to be scared of a cute Pokémon like Dedenne."

Goomy scowled and made an annoyed cry at Bonnie. "...I think Goomy's saying that you're rude, Bonnie," Trip said, "And I kind of have to agree. You weren't being all that considerate of Goomy's feelings at all." Goomy turned to Trip, gave him a happy cry, then hopped over onto Trip's shoulder and began affectionately nibbling on Trip's right earlobe. "Heh, you're welcome," Trip replied, "And it kind of tickles when a gooey little fellow like you nibbles on an ear like that. You're gonna make me laugh at this rate."

"Really, it tickles?" Ash said, making Goomy turn to look at him before hopping from Trip's shoulder to Ash's so it could nibble affectionately on Ash's ear. "Ah ha ha ha, it does tickle!" Ash laughed, drawing a happy cry from Goomy, but then Goomy stopped suddenly and looked upset, making grumbling noises while slowly opening and closing its mouth. "...I think Goomy's hungry," Ash remarked. Goomy then got off from Ash's shoulder and went up along the river, making the heroes follow it.

...

The heroes stopped for a picnic lunch where Goomy found some bushes it was eating leaves from. As Ash, Dawn, and Serena observed Goomy enjoying its meal, Clemont's Chespin came over and, getting Goomy's attention, used Pin Missle to shoot some apples down from a tree. After the apples fell, however, a wild Ariados came up to Chespin and Goomy, clearly annoyed with the apples being taken down. Goomy, seeing Ariados, instantly jumped to hide behind Pikachu who came over. The wild Ariados raised a leg up as the leg glowed purple, indicating it was going to use Poison Jab.

However, a Flamethrower attack from behind the heroes' Pokémon blasted into the Ariados, knocking it back and sending it scurrying away in defeat. Pikachu, Chespin, and the Goomy all breathed sighs of relief and turned around, but Goomy gave a frightened yelp and his behind Pikachu again when it saw Dawn's named Volcarona Zancrow greeting the group in return; Dawn was planning to use Chi-Chi, Zancrow, and Argent in her attempt at the gym in Coumarine City. Goomy was so scared, it was starting to excrete water.

"What's wrong with Goomy now?" Bonnie asked.

"Maybe my newest invention can help," Clemont said as he got out a television like device with a helmet attached, "The Pokémon Translator Mark 2! The future is now, thanks to science!"

"This one isn't gonna blow up too, is it?" Kenny asked, while Godzilla who looked suspicious of Clemont's device stood behind Kenny.

Putting the helmet on Goomy, Clemont said, "Not all of my inventions blow up." After the device was turned on, the screen began showing a grassy marshland that was presumably Goomy's homeland being attacked by a swarm of bug Pokémon. Goomy hitched a ride on a fleeing flock of Swanna, "That might explain Goomy's fear of Ariados," Ash said, "A bunch of bug Pokémon attacked its homeland." Dawn, knowing bug Pokémon made Goomy feel scared, recalled Zancrow immediately.

The screen on Clemont's device ceased to function, drawing an annoyed look out of Clemont who took the helmet off of Goomy first. Clemont tried getting the device to work by smacking it, but it soon began to make noises while glowing suddenly. Godzilla took that as his cue to run in, grab Clemont's invention, and throw it straight up into the air, where it exploded about fifty feet above the heads of everyone. "...Not a total failure," Kenny remarked, "I mean it did work as intended for a bit, I will admit to that. But it still blew up in the end."

As Clemont sighed in defeat, Ash walked over to Goomy and knelt down to try be more level with it. "...That was your homeland, wasn't it?" Ash asked, "And you had to flee when it was attacked." Goomy nodded in confirmation and slid up Ash until it was sitting on his shoulder again, and nibbled affectionately on Ash's ear. That earned a ticked chuckle out of Ash, figuring that his guess was right on the money.

"Aww, Goomy lost its homeland because bug Pokémon attacked it?" Bonnie said, "That sounds terrible. Bug Pokémon have got to be the absolute worst if they're bullies like that!" Turning around to look at the reborn trainers, Bonnie asked, "What do you guys think?"

"...The wild ones who attacked Goomy's homeland, maybe," Dawn said, "But not ALL bug Pokémon are bad. I'd like to think that, at the very least, the bug Pokémon that we all own are good and won't drive other Pokémon off."

Shrugging, Kenny said, "I'm pretty sure that Cell won't bother Goomy so long as Goomy keeps it in mind to never take any of Cell's food, sweets especially." Clemont said that he still hasn't gotten an apology from Kenny over Cell having drop-kicked his (Clemont's) Chespin away after a lost food grievance-related scuffle broke out a short while ago.

"So what will Goomy do now?" Serena asked.

Goomy made come cries before nudging against Ash's head, then nibbled affectionately on his earlobe again. "...I think Goomy wants to come along with me," Ash said, drawing an agreeing cry out of Goomy. Setting Goomy down, Ash then took out a spare pokéball, expanded it, then used on Goomy, successfully capturing it.

"Congrats Ash," Trip said, "Oh, I wonder how Goomy will get along with Todoroki."

Ash gave Trip a curious look. "...That's your special Goodra, right?"

Trip nodded once in the affirmative. "I read about it after I had gotten Todoroki," Trip began to explain, "Goodra is the fully evolved form of Goomy. Although Todoroki is the variety of Goodra from the Hisuian period of Sinnoh's history, and we're in modern times Kalos. That being said, should your Goomy reach its final stage and become a Goodra, it'll be the modern Kalosian variety."

"And all of this talk about Goomy and its evolutionary family reminds me," Kenny said, "Did Professor Oak ever manage to undo the shenanigans his assiatants did with your Goodra, Trip?"

...

The heroes soon reached the nearest Pokémon Center where, using the video phone to call Professor Oak over in Pallet Town, Kanto, they firts told him of how Ash had caught Goomy before Trip asked about his alpha Hisuian Goodra. "As a matter of fact, yes," Oak said, "I was able to undo the work my assistants had done as I got an extra Ability Patch. Trip's Goodra's ability is back to being Sap Sipper."

"Well alright," Trip said, "And since the next gym the gang and I will be going us uses grass Pokémon, I can take Todoroki there for some fun." Oak also asked Dawn and Kenny if they wanted to get their respective alpha Hisuian Pokémons' abilities back to normal as well, but Kenny said he was fine with how Priestess is now, and Dawn said she actually wanted Argent to keep Rock Head. Dawn was fond of having a fire Pokémon that can use consequence free Flare Blitzes.

Clapping his hands together, Oak said, "Oh! I'm actually wanting to see how one of the Pokémon from the Hisuian period would interact with a member of its species from the modern times of today. That being said, Ash, if you can get your Goomy to reach becoming a Goodra, would you and Trip be okay if I study your respective Goodras while they're together?"

Shrugging, Ash said, "If Goomy eventually becomes a Goodra, then sure."

"If you can leave Todoroki's ability and the moves he knows alone, you got yourself a deal," Trip said.

Wincing a bit, Oak said, "Oh, umm, about your Goodra's moves, Trip."

Instantly, Trip's expression went flat. "...What happened?"

"Your Goodra actually forgot how to use Thunderbolt," Oak said, "But he picked up how to use Flash Cannon as a result."

Although Trip was annoyed at first, he perked up a bit. "...Todoroki can use Flash Cannon now?" Trip asked, sounding pleasantly surprised with this development. All in all, things were looking up for the heroes. Trip especially, as his named alpha Hisuian Goodra could now use Flash Cannon, giving it a reliable steel-type STAB move that worked off of his good special attack stat. Todoroki also got the Sap Sipper ability back, which made Trip more happy. With good humor restored and a new Pokémon in Ash's corner, the heroes were feeling better about their journey to Coumarine City.

END, CHAPTER ONE-HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINE

Author's notes;

This chapter covers Serena telling Grace she wants to be a Pokémon Performer, a goal that Grace actually agrees to let Serena pursue and right off the bat no less, as it'll help keep Serena away from Rhyhorn racing which is being targeted by Team Scorn. Grace then sees Serena grow up even more by seeing her fierce determination to help the others fight off a Team Scorn attack at the Baa de Mer Ranch, with said attack introducing Second Captain Erik and his Captain's Assistant who I haven't named yet but will at some point.

After that, the heroes encounter a Goomy who they help, and Ash eventually catches it. Trip also gets word that his Goodra's ability was returned to being Sap Sipper, and that it also picked up how to use Flash Cannon (a move that Hisuian Goodra gets in gen nine). The next chapter will see some efforts done to help Ash's new Goomy get over some of its fears, then the heroes will be at last reaching Coumarine City.

Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Zancrow (male Volcarona), Argent (male Arcanine; alpha; Hisuian), Ieyasu (male Aerodactyl), Leni (female Lucario), Tsukune (Palkia)

Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Roshi (male Torterra), Nogla (male Chesnaught), Hovernyan (male Meowstic), Goofy (male Houndoom), Godzilla (male Tyranitar), Black (Giratina; Origin Form)

Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Mr. Popo (male Magmortar), Dovahgex (male Sceptile), Myde (male Empoleon), Kululu (male Greninja), Deelia (Dialga), Mitsu (male Helioptile)

Ash's Pokémon: (on hand) Pikachu (male), Charizard (male), Goomy (male), Frogadier (male), Fletchling (male), Braviary (male; alpha; Hisuian)