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 seventy-two: Go-Go Grumpig Rangers
After their time in Coumarine City had mixed results for them, the heroes decided to head straight back to Lumiose City, so that Ash and the reborn trainers can have their respective battles with Clemont to earn their respective fifth Kalos gym badges. To save time, the heroes at Clemont's suggestion decided to shortcut through the Lumiose Badlands. "Question," Kenny said, "Why is it called the Lumiose Badlands?"
"Because it's near Lumiose City," Bonnie said, "And this area is... well, you know, bad lands."
"Why are these lands bad?" Kenny asked.
"Because they aren't suitable for human habitation," Dawn scowled, "Now drop it."
As the group traveled, Goomy let out a cough. "Hey, is Goomy alright?" Serena asked, sounding concerned.
"Goomy's fine," Clemont said, "I say that it's just a sign that Goomy is learning a new move is all."
Turning to look at Clemont, Kenny said, "Explain how Goomy having a bit of a cough is a sign it's learning a new move."
"I say we stop for some practice, maybe have a bit of lunch as well," Ash said, "See what kind of move Goomy is learning." Clemont was a bit relieved that Ash was taking the attention from him as everyone got ready to take a break to unwind. Ash even had Pikachu get ready to spar with Goomy, and the two of them faced off, both of them ready to put up their dukes.
...However, they were cut off when a Pokémon's cry sounded out, drawing the attention of the heroes. Looking over, they saw a wild Grumpig, carrying something under its arm, stumbling around but its path would take it towards them, before it fell over onto the ground face first. "That Grumpig is in trouble!" Bonnie said as the heroes all rushed to go help the tired and hurt Grumpig.
After treating some injuries on Grumpig as well as giving it some food, the heroes looked to Grumpig who was looking at what it was carrying under its arm with a somber and tear-filled look in its eyes. Dawn took a look at the item in question and saw that it was, to her surprise, a white colored biker helmet, the kind that is worn by motorcycle riders typically. Well the helmet can't be worn now, given it was flattened into a helmet pancake.
"I'm... guessing it found an abandoned biker helmet," Clemont said upon Dawn giving her assessment of the situation, "And grew fond of it after finding that it fit and was able to wear it."
"Hey Grumpig," Kenny said, "If it's a helmet you need, I got something that may fill the void." Kenny then took out the Rocky Helmet that he bought during the festival back in Coumarine City and placed it on Grumpig's head. The Grumpig sat there for a moment before it realized there was a helmet on its head, and its face lit up with the excitement of a young child on Christmas morning. The Grumpig then leapt up and hugged Kenny out of appreciation.
"Aww, Kenny made Grumpig feel better," Bonnie said.
Gesturing to Grumpig, Serena asked, "But the question remains. How did Grumpig end up like this?"
Nodding once, Ash said, "Well now, Grumpig will have to lead us to what happened, provided it's willing." Grumpig, now wearing the Rocky Helmet, nodded along in enthusiasm, gesturing for the heroes to follow it.
...
Later, the Grumpig led the heroes to an oasis, but stopped from getting too close. The Grumpig pointed down at the oasis, where another Grumpig was lounging about while forcing Spoinks to bring it food. The lording Grumpig even used Shadow Ball on a Spoink that tripped and fell over on accident. "Wow, that second Grumpig down there is a real jerk," Bonnie scowled.
Turning to look at the helmet-ed Grumpig, Kenny said, "I'm guessing that mean Grumpig down there had something to do with breaking your previous helmet?" Nodding in the affirmative, the friendly Grumpig turned around and uncurled its tail to pound the ground with. "...So the mean Grumpig used some manner of tail attack to bust your previous helmet," Kenny surmised, drawing an affirmative nod out of the friendly Grumpig.
Ash as a serious look of consideration on his face. "...We need to stop that mean Grumpig." Goomy gave an agreeing cry, not liking how the Spoink were being mistreated by the mean Grumpig. It reminded Goomy of when its homeland was attacked by bug Pokémon, and that didn't sit right with Goomy at all. Deciding to act, Goomy tried going forward, only to be stopped by Kenny.
"...A plan like this will require a certain level of..." Kenny began to explain, "...Finesse."
...
Over at the oasis, the mean Grumpig was still lounging and having the Spoinks bring it food when they all looked up upon hearing something roar out before stomping right towards their location. To their surprise, it was a Tyranitar, with a Garchomp and a bigger than normal and different from normal Goodra following the Tyranitar, coming right for them. Grumpig, genuinely alarmed, ordered its Spoink followers to fend off the pseudo-legends, hypnotizing them into doing do. However, they all used Psybeam on Tyranitar which led the charge, and for all the good it did they might as well have been throwing mini marshmallows at an army tank.
Along the side, the heroes ran in, with the friendly Grumpig following along behind. "How is this finesse?" Dawn asked dryly, "You're having Godzilla, Germany, and Todoroki just charge in at them in a full frontal assault!"
"And we're coming in on the side to confront the mean Grumpig while its Spoink followers are distracted," Kenny said.
"I'm not sure that harming the Spoinks is exactly a good idea," Clemont said with some reservations in his tone, "I mean, aren't they sort of victims in this whole mess as well?"
"True, they aren't at fault," Kenny said, "But it doesn't change how they're still there, meaning that we have to deal with them, although I did tell Godzilla and the others to focus on harmlessly incapacitating the Spoinks if they can do it."
Eventually, the heroes cut off the mean Grumpig's escape, surprising it. "Mean Grumpig!" Kenny said while pointing at the mean Grumpig, "Today is the day that you shall be paying for your discount dastardly deed-doing! Both your unwarranted attack on the good Grumpig here that resulted in the wrecking of its previous helmet and your giving the deep south treatment to the Spoinks shall not go unpunished for long!"
"Dedenne!" Dedenne cried out as it charged at the mean Grumpig, only to get whacked back with an Iron Tail from the mean Grumpig, resulting in Dedenne getting knocked out.
"Oh no! Dedenne!" Bonnie cried out, rushing in to grab Dedenne and pull it out of there, only for the mean Grumpig to try taking aim at Bonnie with another Iron Tail. The mean Grumpig tried because Goomy, freaking out upon seeing Bonnie in danger, cried out loudly, distracting the mean Grumpig. Suddenly, Goomy began glowing brightly in white, its form shifting and growing, and the glowing then faded, revealing that Goomy had evolved into Sliggoo.
The now Sliggoo then fired a Dragon Breath at the mean Grumpig, pushing it back considerably. "Ash's Goomy had evolved into Sliggoo!" Trip said, "And it just used Dragon Breath!"
The mean Grumpig got up, but wasn't able to move as effectively due to being paralyzed, a side effect from being hit by Sliggoo's Dragon Breath. Wanting to take advantage of the situation, Ash said, "Sliggoo, use Dragon Breath on the mean Grumpig again!" Acting as told, Sliggoo charged up and fired another Dragon Breath at the mean Grumpig, striking it in the face and knocking it out.
When the mean Grumpig was defeated, the Spoinks all attacking the pseudo-legends to varying degrees of ineffective, either due to low power or the target they chose was straight up immune as some of them were STILL trying to use psychic type moves on Godzilla, suddenly stopped short and looked around in confusion. To their credit, the pseudo-legends stopped fighting the Spoinks off when they noticed that they ceased all hostility.
...
The situation with the mean Grumpig and the Spoinks was settled, resulting in the mean Grumpig changing its ways and becoming honest friends with the Spoinks. Additionally, the heroes were permitted to take a share of the gathered food. Clemont brought out an invention to gather up their promised share of the food, but before Clemont could turn his invention on, Godzilla grabbed it and threw it straight up into the air where it exploded about fifty feet above the heads of everyone. Clemont was surprised that his invention exploded, especially considering how he hadn't even turned it on yet.
Additionally, the friendly Grumpig, who Kenny had given the Rocky Helmet to earlier, had indicated a desire to join Kenny and go with him. "Sweetness," Kenny said as he used a spare pokéball to capture the friendly Grumpig, successfully doing so. Scanning Grumpig's pokéball with his pokédex, Kenny saw that Grumpig is a male. "I shall be naming him Wildcat," Kenny declared as the now dubbed Wildcat's pokéball was sent to Oak's ranch in Pallet town, Kanto.
Turning to look at Sliggoo, Ash said, "Well alright, Sliggoo! You evolved!" Ash's Sliggoo gave an embarrassed cry of thanks while Serena, Dawn, and Trip finished tending to the injuries of the Spoinks.
Later, while still going through the Lumiose Badlands in order to reach Lumiose City, the heroes had to take a break again. While Kenny and Trip were working on lunch, Clemont was lost in thought. As Clemont was thinking, he was approached by Bonnie and Serena, who both seemed concerned for him. "Hey Clemont, what's wrong?" Bonnie asked, "You seemed concerned over something."
Clemont let out a troubled sigh. "It's... it's just that I feel like I got a lot on my plate though, you know? I'm going to be having a lot of tough battles when we all get to Lumiose City."
"Oh," Serena said, "You mean how you'll have to battle Ash, Dawn, Kenny, and Trip."
"What if I don't do a good job as a gym leader?" Clemont asked, "What if I come off as lackluster compared to the other gym leaders that Ash the others have faced before? What if I'm not as flashy as the ones after me?"
Shrugging, Bonnie said, "I can always hype you to the others, tell them that you're an invincible gym leader who had to build Clembot so that challengers could face a gym leader they actually had a chance to beat. I can even say that you did the impossible and defeated Cynthia of the Sinnoh League."
"Dawn did that, Bonnie," Serena pointed out dryly, "It's why Dawn's now the Champion of Sinnoh."
Shrugging, Bonnie said to Serena, "I can say that Clemont owns six legendary Pokémon and that he'll use all of them."
"Bonnie, don't lie," Clemont said, "I'll... look, I'll deal with it when the time comes." The girls were still concerned for Clemont, but decided to leave things as is for the time being, hoping to get on the road again.
...
Later, the heroes were traveling again when they spotted a building in the distance. "Ooh! That's the Kalos Power Plant!" Bonnie said, "Clemont built it, you know!"
"Bonnie, at most all I did was help with the programming," Clemont pointed out. Turning to face the rest of the heroes, Clemont explained, "The Kalos Power Plant there generates solar energy in space before sending it here."
"Are you some kind of wizard?" Kenny asked, "Because that sounds like sorcery to me. Generating energy among the stars above to send down here to power our own ends." Pointing at Clemont, Kenny said, "Witchcraft, I say!"
Clemont, with the driest of looks on his face, said, "It's science, not magic."
"I say we go check it out," Ash suggested, "If it's related to something great that Clemont has done, then it's gotta be worth something."
As the heroes got closer to the plant, something caught Clemont's attention. "...That's odd. The parabolic antennae are facing down. They're supposed to be facing up."
Tapping a fist onto his open left palm, Kenny said, "Looks like your sorcery has fai-"
*THOOM*
Kenny was cut off when an explosion from within the plant went off, blowing a portion of wall away from within. "The plant's under attack!" Bonnie cried out, "And since the plant provides power for all of Lumiose City, things could get really bad really quick!"
"I'm sorry," Trip said, "But did you just say that the plant provides power for ALL of Lumiose City?"
"That gives us all the more reason to stop whatever the hell's going on!" Dawn said as she ran on ahead, leading the rest of the heroes on to confront whatever, or more likely WHOever, it was that was attacking the plant.
When the heroes got close enough to the plant, they saw a group of three workers outside, tied up and sitting on the ground, as an equal number of Team Scorn grunts stood guard over them; all of the grunts were male. "Hey! It's Team Scorn!" Ash called out as he and others ran closer to the plant. The grunts, seeing the heroes come running up towards them, got scared and ran into the plant, leaving the workers unguarded.
The heroes first went to the workers, where Kenny undid the rope on them by cutting it with his (oversized) pocket knife. "What's Team Scorn doing here?" Clemont asked, "What are those criminals planning to do?"
"There's going to be a public appearance by Grand Duchess Sabine and her daughters in Lumiose City later today," the first worker began to explain, "Team Scorn plans to cut all of the power to Lumiose City when the public appearance starts. After that, Team Scorn plans to send word to Lumiose City, threatening to not only withhold all power from the city but also take all of the plant workers hostage."
Trip grimaced bitterly at the idea. "Team Scorn plans to effective hold all of Lumiose City hostage."
"Did Team Scorn say what they were going to demand?" Serena asked.
Shrugging, the second worker said, "All that the Team Scorn member who I get is leading the attack on the plant here said on the matter was that he was going to demand that Sabine's first born daughter Sarah return what she had stolen from him after ruining his life."
Dawn went wide eyed as the pieces quickly fell together in her head. "...Kaito." Dawn's tone was barely above a whisper.
"What?" Bonnie asked, "What did you say, Dawn?"
Gently shaking her head, Dawn said, "...Kaito Fu is here at the plant. He's Admin Hero, the head of the sector of Team Scorn based here in the Kalos region."
The other heroes, aside from Kenny and Trip who still looked surprised, took steps back out of shock. "A Team Scorn Admin is here?!" Serena exclaimed.
"And from the sounds of it," Trip began, "He's planning to take all of Lumiose City hostage in order to force that jerk Sarah who ruined his life to return his shiny Chesnaught to him."
Folding her arms over chest, Bonnie said, "Kind of excessive, don't you think? Effectively taking an entire city hostage just to coerce someone into coughing up a Pokémon that they have."
"Bonnie, the Chesnaught originally belong to Kaito," Ash pointed out, "He just wants what is his back." Turning to look at the plant, Ash added, "Doesn't change the fact that he's posing a major threat right now, though."
Turning to look at the workers, Dawn asked, "Can any of you send word for help?"
The third worker shook his head. "Sorry, no. Team Scorn when they started taking hostages took all electronic devices away. We have no way of sending word for help."
Kenny sighed as he turned to look at the plant. "Then we're gonna have to delve deep into this liar of sorcery to fight the evil that lays within."
Clemont struggled to withhold the urge to smack Kenny in the back of the head. Letting out a frustrated sigh, Clemont said, "It's not magic, it's science."
"Do you know how many Team Scorn members are inside?" Dawn asked.
"Enough to overwhelm all of the workers, the three of us included," the second worker replied, "So maybe close to two-dozen, and that's counting both the Team Scorn officer with the heater shield AND the little girl dressed in a unique Team Scorn member outfit who was with the guy with the shield."
Trip scowled. "That must be Kaito's assistant. He's got a little girl as well, just like Captain Xander."
Thinking for a moment, Kenny said, "If all seven of us go in, and assuming that the proposed two-dozen is the actual total number of Team Scorn members, we'll be outnumbered a little over three to one."
"Wait a minute, all SEVEN of us?" Serena said, "You're counting Bonnie as well?!"
"As much as I don't want to for fear for Bonnie's safety," Kenny began to explain, "We more or less have to include her because leaving her alone while Team Scorn is afoot isn't safe. Besides, she's got the Dedenne that Clemont caught and is letting her take care of, so Bonnie can fight back in a pinch. Also, Team Scorn isn't above bringing little girls to the battle field, so I say we show them that two can play at that game!"
"I'll beat the little girl with the Team Scorn Officer!" Bonnie declared, "Lemme at her, I'll mess her up good!" Dedenne poked out from Bonnie's bag and cried out in a tone of agreement.
The others, Clemont especially so, seemed hesitant like Serena to include Bonnie. But Kenny (who was also hesitant about it) had a good point; leaving Bonnie alone right now would be more dangerous, and Bonnie can technically fight back as she's got Dedenne. As such, it was agreed that the whole of the heroes' group would go into the plant to liberate it from Team Scorn control, with Clemont keeping Bonnie with him the whole time.
Inside of the plant, the heroes began fighting off the Team Scorn grunts they came across. Ash's Pikachu made quick work of what Team Scorn owned Pokémon he attacked, as did Kenny's shiny Scizor Cell, Dawn's Infernape Chi-Chi, and Trip's Magmortar Mr. Popo. Serena was able to defeat a few grunts with Fennekin and Pancham, and even Bonnie defeated a grunt, who said something about how Admin's Assistant Asami wasn't the only tough little girl.
A sudden though struck Clemont as his Bunnelby took out a grunt's Numel. "Where's your leader?"
"You mean Admin Hero?" the defeated grunt replied, "He and Admin's Assistant Asami are trying to get some major control panel set to go down when some fancy public appearance by some Kalosioan nobles starts, saying it'll screw over all of Lumiose City."
Clemont's eyes widened in shocked surprise. "I know where the Admin is!" Clemont, taking Bonnie with him, ran around the defeated grunt. Another grunt tried to stop Clemont and Bonnie from going on, but Dawn was able to occupy that grunt, letting the siblings from Lumiose City go on to save their city.
...
Meanwhile in a control room, Admin Hero and Admin's Assistant Asami were keeping an eye on a control panel and a cell phone respectively. "There's about two minutes left before the public appearance in Lumiose City," Asami said, "Our agent we got keeping an eye on things will send me a text telling me when the perfect time to kick things into action will be."
Hero nodded once in understanding. "A brilliant agent, that one." In truth, all that the head of Team Scorn's Shield Sector had to do was press an emergency shutdown button; he just wanted to wait to do it until the timing was right. He also disabled various fail-safes to ensure that Lumiose City will be without power; the biggest city in Kalos will be crippled, and there's-
"Kaito!"
Hero perked up when he heard someone shout his true name, making him turn around and making Asami look up from her phone to see Clemont and Bonnie having just arrived in the control room. It had been Clemont who called out to the Team Scorn Admin. Hero narrowed his eyes as he beheld Clemont. "...Aren't you the gym leader based in Lumiose City?" Hero asked, "And I've dropped my old identity. It died the day a spoiled brat ruined my life because she refused to take no for an answer." Hero gave Clemont a narrow gaze, cold and serious. "...I am Admin Hero, head of Team Scorn's Shield Sector."
"You aren't being much of a hero right now!" Bonnie snapped, "What with joining Team Scorn and threatening the very region you used to stand for!"
"You mean Kalos?" Hero said, "The region that I had given everything for, had on one occasion almost lost my life for, only for it to turn its back on me without a second thought or bothering to properly investigate manners, solely because of a greedy noble's whims?"
Gesturing to Hero, Clemont said, "You can turn your life around! Simply turn yourself in and you can begin your road to redemption! People know you're innocent of what Duchess Sarah had falsely accused you of, so you'll be trusted again!"
Hero's shoulders shook for a bit, before he threw his head back and laughed. "I don't think they will, gym leader," Hero said, "I ended up being a criminal anyway, just not the one I was accused of being! And will justice truly be served? Will that lying quim who ruined my life because I didn't give her what she wanted when she wanted it ever face true consequences for her actions?" Straightening himself out, Hero went on, "I don't think so. I'll be made to spill what all I know about Team Scorn's inner workings, forced to serve considerable jail time anyway, be untrusted by the people even if I live long enough to see release, and have to constantly be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life in case Team Scorn wants to have a chat with me."
Gesturing to Clemont, Hero went on, "And as for Duchess Sarah, all she suffered was a dent and some dirt on her reputation, which she can manipulatively buff out. She is also set to marry into the Kalosian royal family, which will further see her reputation go back up. And she still wouldn't have returned my Chesnaught. THAT is what all will happen if I do as you say, gym leader. My life still won't be fixed back to what it used to be, I'll still be a black Mareep as far that the Kalosian people are concerned, I'll have a target on my back the rest of my life, and Sarah STILL gets away with her vile petty cruelty scot free. No, I'm fully intending to stick with Team Scorn, at least they don't assume the worst in people without evidence and properly investigating things first."
Asami perked up, looked at her phone. "I got the text! We can shut down power to Lumiose City now!"
"Well we won't let you!" Bonnie declared, "Go Dedenne!" Dedenne leapt out of Bonnie's bag and scampered out to fight whatever Pokémon Hero and Asami sent out.
Tossing up a pokéball, Clemont said, "Go Bunnelby!"
"Go Zigzagoon!" Asami said as she sent out a Hoennian Zigzagoon.
"Go Linoone!" Hero said, sending out a Hoennian Linoone. The head of Team Scorn's Shield Sector could tell full well that he and his Assistant wouldn't be able to act unless they cleared the challengers before them first. Pointing forward, Hero said, "Linoone, use Slash on Bunnelby!"
"Zigzagoon, use Headbutt on Dedenne!" Asami called out.
"Dedenne,use Nuzzle on Zigzagoon!" Bonnie ordered.
"Bunnelby, use Double Slap on Linoone!" Clemont commanded.
The melee began, seeing Clemont's and Hero's Pokémon rushing each other and Bonnie's and Asami's Pokémon rushing each other. Zigzagoon and Dedenne were more or less even, with Dedenne taking a heavy hit from Headbutt but enduring, and Zizagoon taking a moderate hit from Nuzzle and enduring but getting paralyzed. But as for the contest between Bunnelby and Linoone, Bunnelby was barely able to hang in there after dealing a somewhat minor hit to Linoone, who used Slash on it to terrible effect, showing that Clemont and Bonnie had to work double time here.
The same dance number was repeated again, the same Pokémon using the same moves on the same targets. Only this time, Dedenne was able to defeat Zigzagoon with a critical hit Nuzzle, but Bunnelby fell to Linoone. Asami recalled her fainted Zigzagoon and sent out another Zigzagoon, but this one was black and white and had its tongue hanging out as if imitating a certain kind of music fan. As for Clemont, he sent out his Chespin. The punk looking Zigzagoon caught the attention of both Clemont and Bonnie, the latter asking, "What's with the weird Zigzagoon?"
"It's a Galarian Zigzagoon," Asami explained, "Anyway, Zigzagoon, use Headbutt on Dedenne!"
"Linoone, use Slash on Chespin!" Hero called out.
"Dedenne, use Nuzzle on the weird looking Zigzagoon!" Bonnie ordered.
"It's not 'weird looking', it's Galarian!" Asami snapped, "You're a jerk!"
"Chespin, use Pin Missile on Linoone!" Clemont ordered.
The Pokémon attacked one another again, with Dedenne and the Galarian Zigzagoon striking one another with their attacks; Zigzagoon was paralyzed, but Dedenne took another heavy hit and didn't look like it could take much more. As for Chespin and Linoone, Chespin barely hung in after taking a Slash from Linoone before firing its Pin Missile attack, starting to pile some damage up on Linoone. The dance was repeated again in the following round, but this time all four Pokémon had knocked each other out as a result of their continuing clash.
Clemont, Hero, and Asami recalled their defeated Pokémon while Bonnie scooped Dedenne up and put it away into her bag. Clemont sent out his last Pokémon, his Luxio, while Hero sent out an Altaria. Both Bonne and Asami were out of Pokémon, so the battle to determine the fate of Lumiose City in the hands of the guys. "Luxio, use Discharge!" Clemont ordered.
"Altaria, use Dragon Breath!" Hero commanded.
The two Pokémon fired their attacks at one another, both countering one another. Even though things seemed even for now, Clemont could tell that if things continued, Altaria would eventually overwhelm Luxio, leading to Clemont's defeat and Hero being unopposed as he proceeded to take Lumiose City hostage. Clemont needed to think of something to stop Hero from proceeding. "Why are you doing this?!" Clemont cried out at Hero, getting his attention, "You used to be a hero to the Kalos region! And now you're trying to bring it to its knees?!"
"I was forced to bear a sin I had in no way actually committed," Hero scowled, "Solely because of the spoiled, selfish whims of a noble. That's the sad truth of the world in which we live, that no matter what all you're able to accomplish in life, no matter what you give and what you earn, you'll only ever be as valuable to society as the ranking of your station at birth will allow, unless you're able to marry into a higher social rank. A person born even one rung on the social ladder above the one you were born into can easily and effectively ruin your life, for little or even no reason, and there's nothing that you can do about it."
"The world isn't as bleak of a place as you claim!" Clemont exclaimed, "Times change! New developments are made! Things progress! Society CAN improve for the better if you let it, and I'm going to prove that to you!" Luxio then let out a loud, prideful cry in agreement with Clemont's words, right before it proceeded to evolve. It's form shifted and grew while glowing brightly, and when the form shifting and growing was done, the glowing faded, revealing that Luxio had evolved into Luxray.
Hero's eyes narrowed. "Altaria, use Dragon Breath!"
Clemont, although amazed his Luxio had evolved into Luxray, had no time to marvel at and celebrate the fact. "Luxray, use Wild Charge!"
Luxray was cloaked in violently surging electricity as it charged right at Altaria, who fired its Dragon Breath attack. Some of the Dragon Breath got through and hit Luxray hard, but the violently surging cloak of electricity held out so Luxray could ram right into Altaria, dealing a strong hit. Luxray, as a Luxio, was able to further its refinement of Wild Charge by practicing the move with Dawn's alpha Hisuian Arcanine Argent, who picked the move up after an Ability Patch turned its ability to Rock Head. But whereas Argent had no STAB and took no recoil damage from using Wild Charge, Luxray DID get STAB as well as take recoil damage from using Wild Charge.
Clemont knew he had to be careful, lest too much damage stacks upon Luxray before Hero's Altaria goes down. However, Clemont was relieved when he heard Trip's voice call out, "Myde, use Ice Beam on Altaria!" An Ice Beam attack flew in and struck Hero's Altaria, knocking it out and sealing Hero's defeat at the plant. Turning to see, Clemont and Bonnie saw that Trip and his Empoleon were standing right there.
Hero scowled bitterly at the heroes as he recalled his fainted Altaria "...I suppose this means my men and I will have to bail."
"You're out of Pokémon?" Clemont asked, curious, "Wouldn't a person of your station have at least three?"
"The whole purpose of this mission was to get my third Pokémon back," Hero snarled, "But you guys had to go and ruin it." Hero and Asami then bailed through a side door, and word reached Clemont, Trip, and Bonnie that the rest of Team Scorn had pulled out from the plant, meaning that both the day and Lumiose City had just been saved, allowing the boys to breathe a sigh of relief.
...
Outside of the plant, the heroes all met with the workers. "Thanks to you guys," the lead worker said, "Both the plant and the power supply for Lumiose City have been saved!"
"The only reason folks over in Lumiose City know that something happened at the plant now is because word was sent to them after you all had sent Team Scorn heading for the hills," said the first worker who was saved after being left outside.
As the heroes were about to speak up, they were cut off when a helicopter landed nearby. "That's odd," the head worker said, "That helicopter is bigger and fancier than what would normally be used." To the surprise of the heroes, a few guys in black suits and wearing sunglasses and ear pieces came out, and coming out after them was a girl who seemed to be about Bonnie's age if not a year or so older; she was still younger than the rest of the heroes, that's for sure. The girl was fair skinned, had long dark hair of a sort of purple-ish hue with bangs framing her face and pigtails on the sides of her head, and she wore a well made fancy dress, purple and white, with the sleeves ending halfway down her forearms.
She also wore white sleeves coming out from the sleeves of her dress, with the white sleeves reaching her wrists and ending with gold colored bands, white stockings that disappeared under and into her dress, and dark navy shoes. The well dressed young girl bowed graciously in thanks to the heroes, saying, "I got it from word sent to my mother that you and your companions here had helped to resolve the crisis here, Champion Dawn."
"You know me," Dawn said, her attention drawn to the young girl.
"Indeed I do, although I only know of you and your companions through what makes the news and from what my mother has told me," the girl went on, "And as I got your name, it's only fitting you get mine. I am Maaya, second daughter of Grand Duchess Sabine."
"So you're Maaya!" Trip said, "Yeah, we heard of you through your mom."
The now identified Maaya nodded once in the affirmative. "Yes. My mother sent me here to see you guys, as well as check to see if there was anything that can be done to fix things here." A look of concern appeared on her face. "I got it that Kaito Fu was here."
"He was doing all that he did here just to get his shiny Chesnaught back from your mean older sister," Kenny said.
Maaya gave a single nod. "Yes. Sarah still has Kaito's Chesnaught. She's also coerced other shiny Pokémon from their original owners. Sarah is totally unfit to lead the family when mother inevitably has to stand down, but she's going to marry into the royal family soon. But that's not here nor there." To the heroes, Maaya asked, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"We could use some extra hands to help speed up fixing the plant," the head worker said, "Team Scorn did do a number here, after all."
"Also," Clemont spoke up, "I don't suppose you can give me a lift to Lumiose City, could you?"
The rest of the heroes looked surprised. "You're leaving us?" Serena asked.
"I'm the gym leader that Ash, Dawn, Kenny, and Trip will be coming to face in Lumiose City," Celmont began, "I need to train and ready myself so I can give them as proper of a challenge as I can. Also, I need time alone to reflect on a few things."
"You aren't taking Bonnie with you?" Kenny asked.
Gently shaking his head, Clemont said, "No, you guys need to watch her for me. I need to focus alone."
"Fair enough, I'll be her disciplinary officer until you regroup with us," Kenny said. With the arrangements made, Clemont eventually took off for Lumiose City with Maaya in her helicopter, leaving the rest of the heroes to have to continue the journey to Lumiose City on foot. Ash and the reborn trainers will be training as well for when they have their respective battles with Clemont, who has all the more reason to train and grow stronger.
END, CHAPTER ONE-HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-TWO
Author's notes;
This chapter sees Ash's Goomy evolve into Sliggoo, while also netting Kenny a Grumpig with an obsession with durable head wear. After that, the heroes have to resolve a Team Scorn attack at a plant responsible for more or less all of Lumiose City's power, and said attack is led by Kaito Fu aka Admin Hero. Clemont and Bonnie face off against Hero and Asami, and although Clemont's Luxio evolves into Luxray, the battle is won when Trip comes in and ends it. The heroes then meet Grand Duchess Sabine's daughter Maaya, the daughter who is actually a good person, and Clemont goes with her in the helicopter to Lumiose City, so he could get himself ready for the challengers he knows are coming for him.
Anyway, the next chapter will see some more development in Serena's efforts to do well in the Pokémon Showcase scene, as well as more developments for Ash and his now Sliggoo. Don't change the channel, things will get interesting.
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), Cell (male Scizor; shiny), 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), Sliggoo (male), Frogadier (male), Fletchling (male), Braviary (male; alpha; Hisuian)