Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Sinnoh no Isekai
Chapter Two-hundred and ninety-one: Vaultin' Veluza! Vile villains venturing villainously!
After it flew from the flat lands where Zapapico used to be located, The Jelly-Filled Donut finally reached the Paldean city of Cascarrafa. After the flying ship made land just outside of the entrance to the city that was not located near the Asado Desert, Dawn and her usual group that ventures from the ship (everyone who wasn't a regular adult male) went into Cascaraffa so they would be able to inquire about Kofu and his gym.
Kofu being the gym leader aside, the reborn trainers also wanted to learn more about the history of Rimu, the strongest Champion-ranked trainer that Paldea has to offer. Rimu first appeared back in Kalos, for the Champion's Favor Showcase where he was an invited VIP. It was actually Geeta, the Top Champion of Paldea, who was invited, but she was busy and had Rimu go in her place so that she could focus on work in Paldea.
Rimu showed up again periodically during the most recent season of the World Coronation Series, where he got into the Masters Eight, only to lose in the first round to Ideku Badorigo. Rimu oddly enough didn't seem the least bit bothered by his early elimination from the tournament that would determine the officially ranked strongest trainer in the world. Rimu was being as much of a mystery to Dawn as her own friend Kenny.
The heroes got it that, during Rimu's first Treasure Hunt out of Naranja Academy, in addition to challenging the gyms, he sought out persons who were noted big names in the culinary arts in the Paldea region. Two of said names, Katy and Kofu, just so happened to be gym leaders, giving Rimu even more of an excuse to seek the gyms of Paldea out. Dawn was going to ask Kofu if he recalled meeting Rimu during his first Treasure Hunt.
"Wait a minute here," Kenny began, "Where even is the Cascarrafa gym? We can't challenge the gym leader if we can't find his gym."
"We can just ask locals for directions to where we can find Kofu," Trip pointed out.
Folding his arms over his chest, Kenny said, "But what are the odds we'll find someone who can show us the way to-"
"Excuse me!" a random male voice called out, making Dawn's group all turn to see someone who was dressed like they worked at a seafood restaurant come jogging up to them.
Remembering that Kofu is a cook, not to mention he's a water type Pokémon user, Dawn from all of that figured that Kofu worked a seafood restaurant, and suspected that this seafood restaurant worker may be able to help her and the others out. "Yes, what can we help you with?" Dawn asked when the seafood restaurant worker reached her group.
Pointing to where The Jelly-Filled Donut was parked, the seafood restaurant worker began, "Me and a few of the lads working at Kofu's restaurant saw that flying ship come in. And from the looks of it you all seem to have come from the flying ship. My co-workers and I are just wondering what all this is about."
"We're actually doing work in the Paldea region at the behest of a few parties," Dawn explained, "As well as do some work for ourselves which includes finding and challenging the gym leaders of the Paldea region. We got it that Kofu, who you mentioned, is one of the gym leaders we're looking for."
"Oh, well if it's Kofu you're looking for, then you just missed him," the seafood restaurant worker began to explain, "He went on down to Porto Marinada because he heard that the auction houses down there got some prime goods. He's figuring that said goods are premium ingredients that he could use to make exclusive off menu dishes at his restaurant, so of course he had to head on over to try and scoop up the goods."
"So if we wanna challenge Kofu to battles at his gym," Trip began, "We have to go on down to Porto Marinada and challenge him there."
Shrugging, Leona said, "Or we can simply wait for him to get back."
The seafood restaurant worker reached into a pocket on the apron he wore and fished out a cutesy looking Venonat themed wallet. "Actually, you guys going down to Porto Marinada to meet Kofu is a good idea. This here is Kofu's wallet which, in Kofu's haste to leave for the auction houses down in Porto Marinada, he forgot back at the restaurant."
"Ooh, that's a really cute wallet!" Omiyo said, gushing just a little bit.
Offering the wallet to Dawn's group, the seafood restaurant worker asked, "Could I ask you guys to take Kofu's wallet to him? He'll probably freak when he realizes that he forgot it."
Dawn received Kofu's wallet from the seafood restaurant worker as she said, "Yeah, my crew and I can simply take The Jelly-Filled Donut down to Porto Marinada and meet Kofu there. Hell, we can probably pick Kofu up and bring him back to Cascarrafa."
"That's great!" the seafood restaurant worker remarked, "Also, The Jelly-Filled Donut?"
Jerking a thumb at Kenny, Sho explained, "Dawn let Kenny here name the flying ship, and 'The Jelly-Filled Donut' is what Kenny came up with. Kenny here is the same guy who caught a Jigglypuff and named it Wigglytuff."
"It's a name that represents his destiny!" Kenny declared.
Nodding once, Dawn said, "Anyway, my crew and I will get going to Porto Marinada now. Hopefully we can find Kofu, and we got what he looks like from Top Champion Geeta so we know who to look out for."
As the group prepared to leave, Omiyo stopped them short. Looking to the seafood restaurant worker, Omiyo asked, "Where did Mr. Kofu buy his cute wallet at? I want to know because it looks really cute and I want to get one just like it for myself."
Shrugging, the seafood restaurant worker replied, "Sorry but I have no idea where Kofu bought his wallet at. You'll have to ask him."
"Actually, now that I think about it," Trip began, "Misty may like one of those Venonat wallets herself, given she loves bug Pokémon now."
"We'll ask Kofu about it when we find him in Porto Marinada," Dawn said as she led the group back to The Jelly-Filled Donut so that they could set course for Porto Marinada and find the man himself and bring him back to Cascarrafa maybe.
After a short flight, The Jelly-Filled Donut landed outside of Porto Marinada, just around the point of entrance closest to Asado Desert. "Wow, it's a good thing that we were able to simply fly over the Asado Desert," Sho remarked as he walked with the rest of the usual group from The Jelly-Filled Donut into Porto Marinada, "Because it looks like there was a sandstorm down in the desert at the time we crossed over it."
"I know," Rhyanna went on, "Getting sand in my hair is not something I'd-"
"Oh, Champion Dawn!" a familiar female voice called out, making Dawn and her group take pause, only to see Freesia come walking up to meet them. Freesia was dressed as she usually is, also she was in the company of a few butlers. Judging by the quality of uniforms, Dawn figured that Freesia had at least a little ranking above the butlers.
"Oh, Freesia," Dawn began, "Before you ask, the permissions for the countrymen from your nation to go to Casseroya Lake to capture some Dodonzos and Tatsugiris has been granted, but a few things need to be finalized."
Gesturing to Freesia, Omiyo asked, "You know this pretty lady in the pretty outfit?"
Chuckling in sincere good humor, Freesia said, "Yes, young miss. It was my lady Princess Salvia who had bestowed upon Champion Dawn and her companions the flying ship they have."
"I take it you saw us come in and rushed over to greet us," Leona said, "But how did you know that we'd be coming here to Porto Marinada?"
"Yes I did see you all come in," Freesia began, "But I didn't know you'd be here. A number of others and I, acting at the behest of Princess Salvia, came here because word of sacred treasures that are connected to Lords Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina are in the ownership of someone who is working in the auction houses located in Porto Marinada."
Dawn arched a wry eyebrow at that. "Additional treasures for Palkia and the others in its trio?"
...
Dawn's group later was having a lunch meeting in the food court with Freesia and the two butlers with her. "Her Highness Princess Salvia is also in Paldea," one of the butlers began, "But is staying at the top hotel in the region. She is also in the company of a number of security guards, so her safety is by no means in any danger."
"Princess Salvia is waiting for us to officially get the permissions we need to go to Casseroya Lake to capture some Dodonzos and Tatsugiris," Freesia explained, "Her presence here in Paldea is not even known to the public at large. We'd rather it stay that way, especially as we got it that there is a bunch of Team Scorn activity here in Paldea."
"Yeah, the others and I have dealt with two Team Scorn attacks thus far," Dawn said. She then went into detail about the two attacks, as well as share some info about the now defunct Team Star, and how there's evidence members of the now defunct Team Star had jumped ship and joined Team Scorn. "It's rather tragic," Dawn said, "Especially considering the fact that Team Star consisted of a bunch of Naranja Academy students disenfranchised with the region's educational system."
Freesia looked concerned. "...It's not the first time that members of a villainous team that became defunct ended up joining Team Scorn after their old team went down the tubes. The trio of Team Rocket members Jessie, James, and their talking Meowth are such an example. But it is a bit of a stretch to give the label of straight up villains to mere school delinquents."
"Anyone can go from minor nuisance at best to full blown bona fied villain with just one bad day," Kenny said.
A look of contemplation appeared on Freesia's face. ""... I can bring it up with Princess Salvia, tell her that an inter-regional inquiry into how Paldea's regional school system operates is necessary. She has enough pull politically speaking with the various regions, we can various regions to look into how Paldea seems to let its wealthy students walk all over their less affluent peers scot free."
Gesturing to Freesia, Dawn explained, "Evidence will still need to be gathered first. But let's just say that it's something that I've been working on since before my crew and I met you here."
"And you were here because you got it that Black, Tsukune, and Deelia have other treasures that are up for grabs here," Kenny added.
Nodding once, Freesia said, "Yes. The Adamant Crystal, the Lustrous Globe, and the Griseous Core."
Trip had a hint in his eyes that suggested that he knew what Freesia was going on about. But it was a hint that only Dawn picked up on. "Sounds like these new treasures have the same naming theme as the respective Orbs of Deelia, Tsukune, and Black," remarked Trip.
"Indeed," Freesia began, "The Adamant Crystal, the Lustrous Globe, and the Griseous Core are very much similar to the three Orbs. The only difference is that, when they are held by the Lords that they are respectively connected to, they allow the Lord in question to assume its Origin Forme."
"Wait a minute here," Kenny began, "Black already has the Griseous Orb which allows it to turn into its Origin Forme."
"From what we have been able to figure," Freesia began to explain, "The three Orbs were once in the same area as the Crystal, Globe, and Core. In very close proximity to each other. Like, directly next to one another. That close proximity allowed the Orbs to gain some trace amounts of the ability to let the Lords assume their Origin Formes, although the trace amounts of this power will wear off as it is the Crystal, Globe, and Core who are the true source of the Origin Forme power."
"So you suspect that Black will soon lose the ability to be transformed into its ultimate form while it is holding the Griseous Orb," Kenny said.
Freesia nodded once in confirmation. "Indeed, although Lord Giratina will still be able to draw the usual amount of increased power to its ghost and dragon attacks from the Griseous Orb."
"But the Griseous Core," Dawn began, "Along with the Lustrous Globe and the Adamant Crystal, in addition to powering up the type matching attacks of the Creation Trio, allow for them to transform into their Origin Formes."
"Yes, that is indeed the case," Freesia said, nodding once in confirmation.
Looking curious, Kenny began, "I wasn't aware that Dialga and Palkia also had Origin Formes. I had it down that it was exclusively Black's hat."
Gently shaking her head, Freesia replied, "No, all three of the lords have the ability to assume Origin Formes. It's just that the means for Lords Dialga and Palkia to do so have been lost for quite some time. At least until now."
"Have you gotten them yet?" Dawn asked.
"Sadly, no," Freesia replied, "The person who has them won't part with them to anyone save the highest bidder."
Arching a wry eyebrow, Mina asked, "You can't pull the 'important relics to the faith of our nation' card to make the person who has them cough them up more easily?"
Freesia shook her head in the negative. "That treasure hoarder, being the greedy fellow that he is, has naught but money signs in his eyes."
"Well of it's money that's the only thing that can make the guy sing," Trip began, "Then the princess ought to have a really easy time there. Aren't members of the royalty usually loaded with money?"
"That is a point," Freesia began, "And I could inform Princess Salvia of the situation. No doubt she would be more than willing to make bids at auction to get the Adamant Crystal, the Lustrous Globe, and the Griseous Core. But our country shouldn't have to pay to get relics that are important to the main religion of our people."
Shrugging, Dawn said, "Well maybe we can inform government authorities here in Paldea about it. I'm getting vibes they'll wanna refrain from getting into an international incident, so if your country makes its case then I'm betting that Paldea will make the guy with the items give them up or, barring getting them for free, the Paldean government will cover the cost."
Freesia was about to speak up, but she was cut off when an older man's voice called out, "Vaultin' Veluza! So the word that I heard of Champion Dawn being in Paldea was true!" Dawn and the others all turned in the direction that the call came from and saw Kofu come walking up to them. Dawn wad able to identify the man as Kofu because Geeta, when telling Dawn about the gyms of Paldea, included photos of all of the gym leaders. Kofu, when he came up, was carrying a large bag that was holding something
Looking at Kofu, Freesia said, "Umm, excuse me, sir, but we are with all due respect trying to have a conversation here concerning some rather important matters of state for my nation. Would you at least be so kind as to explain who you are?"
"Freesia, this is Kofu, the leader of the gym in Cascarrafa," Dawn said, "Top Champion Geeta told me about him."
"Ah, so Geeta gave you the heads up about me, ehh?" Kofu remarked, "And you mentioning that I'm the gym leader in Cascarrafa tells me that you're aiming to challenge me at my gym in a bid to earn the badge that my gym awards to victorious trainers."
"There's also something else we'd like to ask you about," Dawn began as she took out and handed Kofu's wallet over to him, "By the way you forgot this. Someone working at a restaurant you run gave this to my group and I when I mentioned we're looking for you."
Kofu went wide-eyed with surprise when he saw his wallet. "Vaultin' Veluza!" Kofu exclaimed, "There's my wallet!" Taking his wallet back from Dawn, Kofu said, "Thanks a million there, Champion Dawn! I had to rely on the money in my pockets to win at the auctions here!" Putting his wallet away, Kofu asked, "So what was it you wanted to ask?"
Before Dawn could speak up, Omiyo said, "Where did you get your wallet from? It's really cute and I want to get one like it for myself."
"We also have a friend who'd also like such a wallet," Mina added.
"Oh, I actually bought my cute lil' Venonat wallet here in Porto Marinada," Kofu said, "I passed by the store I got it from on the way to the auction houses, and the Venonat wallets are still in stock." With a wry look, Kofu added, "But I don't think that's your main question you wanna ask me."
Gently shaking her head, Dawn replied, "No, I want to ask you if you remember Rimu."
"The strongest Champion ranked trainer in Paldea?" Kofu replied, "How could I forget him? I still remember the day I first met him, it was when he challenged my gym. Beat me on his first try, Rimu did. He's one heck of a skilled trainer let me tell you. After he defeated me and got a badge from me, he took out a copy of one of my best selling cookbooks and asked if I could autograph it for him. He said he was acting there on behalf of someone who wanted it but couldn't get it themselves."
"Did you autograph it?" Trip asked.
Nodding once in the affirmative, Kofu replied, "Darn tootin' I did, I can never turn a fan of mine down! Although before I could autograph the cookbook, Rimu called his Quaquaval out and explained that it had to bear witness to me autographing the cookbook, saying Quaquaval was also acting on the behalf of the person who's a fan of mine but couldn't seek me out themselves. My guess is that it's a sick relative of Rimu's."
Dawn was surprised by how close Kofu was to the truth. "That's... pretty accurate, if what my crew and I got on the matter is true," Dawn said, "The thing is that-"
*CRASH*
Dawn was cut off when she and the others heard a big crashing noise, followed by a lot of people beginning to scream in frightened panic. Omiyo began to hunch up out of discomfort as she covered her ears with her hands, clearly overwhelmed with the noise. "What in blazes is going on?!" Freesia exclaimed as she and everyone else began seeing panicked persons running around.
The moment Dawn spotted a group of four Team Scorn grunts enter her field of view, she said, "It's a Team Scorn attack!"
Kofu's eyes widened with surprised shock by what he and everyone else was seeing. "Valutin' Veluza! Vile villains venturing villainously!"
"Freesia," Dawn began, "Can you and the butlers with you take Omiyo here with you and go find somewhere to hide? We'll come get you after the Team Scorn attack has been dealt with!"
Freesia nodded in understanding. "Hopefully those vile villains won't get it that the men and I are here in Paldea. It could lead to Princess Salvia being here being learned by Team Scorn, and that'd put the safety of Her Highness in danger."
Dawn nodded once in agreement before she and the others ran off to go confront Team Scorn, with Kofu even leaving his bag of auction house purchases with Omiyo for safe keeping. "I could have gotten more, but like I said I had to rely on the change in my pocket because I left my wallet," Kofu said before he took off.
In the main area of where the Team Scorn attack was happening, Dawn and the others saw that there were a number of Team Scorn members milling about, with the attack being led by that Captain Ichimichi lady and her Captain's Assistant Eri. "It's the big tittied Team Scorn Captain and her tall schoolgirl Assistant!" Mina declared while pointing at Ichimichi and Eri.
"Oi!" Ichimichi shouted at Mina, her tone and expression showing that she was annoyed, "There's no need to mention how large breasted I am!"
"And it's been a long time since I was a schoolgirl!" Eri snapped, "The sheer incompetence of the Naranja Academy staff, pushed onward by the self-centered whims of Paldea's wealthy elite, had seen to that!"
Pointing at Ichimichi and Eri, Kenny said, "What are you doing here, Team Scorn? We won't let you get away with pushing your discount dastardly deed doing here!"
Ichimichi scowled in annoyance at the heroes. "I'll have you would-be heroes know that Team Scorn is here to steal some goods that we got word had been brought in to one of the auction houses here in Porto Marinada. The higher ups in Team Scorn wants those goods!"
Dawn, hearing that Team Scorn was after goods brought in to the auction houses, feared that they got word of the Adamant Crystal, the Lustrous Globe, and the Griseous Core, thus they planned to steal the lot and keep them from being obtained by Salvia's countrymen. Given the connection to the Creation Trio, who are worshipped in the main religion of Salvia's nation, that the three treasures have, it would be a morale blow to Salvia and her people if the treasures are stolen by Team Scorn.
Reaffirming her stance, Dawn said, "There's no way we'll let you get away with stealing anything from the auction houses, Team Scorn." It was decided that Dawn and Trip would battle Ichimichi and Eri while everyone else kept the nameless Scorn peons occupied. Ichimichi and Eri started the battle by respectively sending out Espartha and Toxicroak.
"Alright, Benimaru!" Dawn said as she sent out her named Skeledirge, "Let's get goin'!"
"Alright, Launchpad!" Trip said as he sent out his named Quaquaval, "Let's rock it!"
Pointing forward, Ichimichi said, "Espartha, use Luminia Crash on Quaquaval!"
"Toxicroak, use Poison Jab on Skeledirge!" Eri ordered.
"Benimaru, use Torch Song on Espartha!" Dawn commanded.
"Launchpad, use Wing Attack on Toxicroak!" Trip called out.
Benimaru and Launchpad, being well trained by highly skilled and powerful trainers, were both able to get the jump on their respective targets, pushing them back and keeping them from being able to target their partners in the tag battle. Benimaru even saw his power rise because of the secondary effect of Torch Song. After the enemy Pokémon were pushed back, the second round of the battle proceeded to go, but this time it saw Espartha and Toxicroak go down in battle.
After Ichimichi and Eri called back Espartha and Toxicroak, they respectively sent out Bellibolt and Annihilape. Dawn had Benimaru cover Launchpad by attacking Bellibolt with Earth Power, and Trip had Launchpad cover Benimaru by attacking Annihilape with Wing Attack. Earth Power in addition to being super effective on Bellibolt was bolstered by the special attack buff Benimaru got, and the Wing Attack Launchpad used scored a critical hit, resulting in both Bellibolt and Annihilape going down in battle.
After Ichimichi and Eri recalled Bellibolt and Annihilape, they sent out Dachsbun and Passimian respectively. Given Dachsbun's immunity to fire attacks due to Well-Baked Body, Dawn had Benimaru strike it with Shadow Ball, while Trip had Launchpad keep up in Passimian's face with a string of Wing Attacks. The battle ended when Dawn, after Benimaru knocked out Dashsbun with a Shadow Ball, struck Passimian down with an Alluring Voice attack.
Dawn smirked in amusement as Ichimichi and Eri recalled their last Pokémon, glad to see that not only was Team Scorn's leaders in this attack defeated, but that Benimaru's training was coming along quite well. She even saw that Benimaru had a firm and solid grasp of Alluring Voice, which Rimu had recommended to her she have Benimaru learn upon his evolution into Skeledirge. After Ichimichi and Eri finished calling back their bested Pokémon, Dawn addressed them.
"Whatever it was you guys came here for, you can forget it," Dawn said, her tone towards Team Scorn brokering no quarter.
Ichimichi arched a wry eyebrow at the Berlitz siblings. "You don't even know what it is that Team Scorn came here to collect, do you?"
"All we got it that you plan to rob from the auction houses here in Porto Marinada," Trip said, "And that's all that we need to know!"
Ichimichi scowled as she took a half-step back. She was about to say something, but was cut off when Eri while she held a hand to the side of her head said, "Captain Ichimichi, I'm getting word that we're good to go!"
Ichimichi, as well as Dawn and Trip, looked surprised. "We bought enough time?" Ichimichi asked, looking surprised.
Nodding once in the affirmative, Eri went on, "Yeah, Admin Slime has succeeded in what he needed to do!"
Turning to look at the Berlitz siblings, Ichimichi shot them a reassured, albeit still mildly scowling, smirk. "Well now, it seems our dance here has bought enough time. Team Scorn will be pulling out from Porto Marinada now."
"What is it that Team Scorn here in Paldea is really up to?" Trip demanded, "What is it that you guys really want?"
"Ah ah ah, that would be telling," Ichimichi said, a hint of teasing in her tone, as she waved her right index finger at the Berlitz siblings in the 'ah ah ah' manner. Dawn, however, got vibes from Ichimichi that she honestly had no idea what Team Scorn's true goals in Paldea were. Regardless, after word was sent out by Ichimichi, all Team Scorn members that were present whipped out smoke grenades and used them to mask their escape.
By the time the smoke settled, everyone saw that Team Scorn had disappeared. Dawn scowled in bitter annoyance, as it was told to her that the attack on Porto Marinada was actually nothing more than another one of Team Scorn's diversionary tactics. But the question was what exactly was the real goal that Team Scorn was after, the goal that they had an entire town attacked for.
There was just no exactly figuring Team Scorn out.
...
Aside from some minor property damage, no harm was caused by the Team Scorn attack on Porto Marinada. Dawn and the rest of her group met back up with Freesia, the two butlers with her, and Omiyo who was trying to settle down. "Valutin' Veluza," Kofu said as he wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his right hand, "Just what were those villains up to?"
"They levied the attack on Porto Marinada just now to distract others from something that the head of Paldea's native sector of Team Scorn was doing," Dawn said, "Whatever the real goal that Team Scorn had here is, it succeeded because anyone and everyone who could have combated what was really going on was kept occupied."
"We actually confirmed that Team Scorn didn't steal anything from any of the auctioners," Sho said, "Granted a few Scorn peons stole some grub from the food court near the auction houses, but none of the items up for auction were stolen."
Freesia let out a relieved sigh. "Then that means that Team Scorn didn't steal the Adamant Crystal, the Lustrous Globe, or the Griseous Core."
"Huh?" Kofu said, "How did you know the names of the items that I bought at auction before I met all of you guys?"
"What?!" Freesia exclaimed.
To show what he meant, Kofu got his bag back from Omiyo, who hadn't opened it to peek inside, then went over to a table and pulled out three different items that bore passing resemblances to the respective Orb held items of the Creation Trio. "It turns out that these were the prime goods that I heard were at auction today," Kofu said, "So no prime ingredients for me. I figured that these would make for neat decor items at my restaurant, though."
Pointing at the Adamant Crystal, the Lustrous Globe, and the Griseous Core, Dawn said, "Kofu, those are treasures heavily connected to the primary religion of the nation that Freesia comes from!"
Looking surprised, Kofu said, "Really?" Freesia then explained to Kofu the specific details, clarifying a few things for him. She even informed him of Princess Salvia's presence in Paldea at the moment although she did stress it that it had to remain secret. "Vaultin' Veluza!" Kofu exclaimed, "Well why didn't you say so? And to think that there's visiting royalty in Paldea! Don't you worry, I'll keep my lips sealed on this matter."
Kofu then handed over the three treasures he had to Freesia, and with no other business keeping him in Porto Marinada, he said he'll head back to Cascarrafa so he can have the gym battles against Dawn, Kenny, and Trip. Dawn offered Kofu a lift back to Cascarrafa on The Jelly-Filled Donut, which he accepted. Thus, after the store where Kofu bought his wallet from was found and a few wallets identical to Kofu's were bought, everyone headed back to Cascarrafa.
After the flying ship made it back to Cascarrafa, Freesia and the two butlers took off, citing how they had to bring the three treasures to Princess Salvia. After they took off, Kofu said that he could take one challenge before he would have to call it quits for the day. As such, Dawn and her usual group from The Jelly-Filled Donut went to where Kofu had his gym battles and saw Dawn be the first to go against the Cascarrafa gym.
Dawn won rather handily, sweeping Kofu's team of Wugtrio, Veluza, and Crabominable (who ended up Terastallizing into the water Tera Type) with just Akiza, whose own Tera Type ended up being grass which helped Dawn a great deal. With Dawn having a Water Badge in hand, the heroes were able to retire for the evening, although the entire crew of The Jelly-Filled Donut was treated to dinner at Kofu's restaurant.
The crew, after the flying ship was moved to a safe area within Cascarrafa city limits where it could be watched by security, enjoyed what was boasted to be the best dining in Paldea. Dawn also had to pose for a photo with Kofu as he liked to get photos of himself with certain persons who challenged his gym and won so he could have said photos framed and hung on the wall in his restaurant. Dawn saw that the wall included a photo of Rimu.
The following morning, Kenny had his go at Kofu's gym, winning by using a mix of Panther and Roshi, switching them out as need be. Later in the evening, Trip battled Kofu and won, using Fourze to sweep the lot of Kofu's Pokémon. As such, all three of the reborn trainers had earned badges from Kofu's gym, thus putting each of them at four out of eight Paldean gym badges, the halfway mark in their go at the Paldean gyms.
...
"According to the info I got on the matter from Geeta," Dawn began as she and the other reborn trainers met in the meeting room on board of The Jelly-Filled Donut, "The next gym is in a city called Medali, and the gym leader is named Larry, who uses normal type Pokémon. I also got vibes from Geeta that she's not exactly fond of Larry for some odd reason, as well as how she's a dick to Larry for the hell of it."
Nodding once in understanding, Trip said, "Sounds about right." Looking to Dawn, Trip asked, "So when do we fly to Medali?"
"We'll go in the morning," Dawn began, "It's a bit late in the evening to-" Dawn was cut off when the video phone behind her went off, making her turn to see that a call was coming in on the big screen behind her. Dawn answered the call, and saw that it was Geeta calling.
"What's the sitch, Zordon?" Kenny asked.
"We're ready to clear out the next Team Star base," Geeta explained, "It's located in a clearing in Tagtree Thicket, a forest located near the open air mining area of East Province Area Three."
"Yeah, and speaking of East Province Area Three," Mina began, "That Zapapico place that used to be located near that area is missing. Do you have any idea on what might of happened?"
"I did hear rumors that Zapapico is missing yes, but I find it odd for an entire city to go missing," said Geeta, "And I'm still busy dealing with the fallout of how disastrously the last time we cleared away a Team Star base went. So even if I was interested in chasing silly rumors like an entire Paldean city going missing, I'm too busy trying to deal with how people are saying it's my fault that three Naranja Academy students were killed."
"Well what did you expect?" Kenny asked, "First off, you allowed some wealthy elite idiots to bully you into letting their kids come and watch the Team Star bases get taken down. Then during the first base being taken down, Team Scorn attacked and saw the legacy kids as prime targets. We really were lucky that the legacy kids weren't hurt during the siege on the first Team Star base when it was being taken down."
"That should have been a sign for you to grow a spine and tell the walking pocketbooks to keep their kids out of what it official business of Paldea's government," Mina said, "Work that even without the presence of Team Scorn is still risky. But no, instead you arrange for additional security because the walking pocketbooks bullied you into letting their kids come and watch as Team Star base number two is taken down."
"And then when Team Scorn attacked as the second Team Star base was being taken down," Kenny added, "You put only one trainer on duty to protect the legacy kids. One person trying to protect multiple persons during a siege where all of said persons were in danger. And then said lone trainer gets knocked out and all of the legacy kids were murdered. We're really lucky that the lone trainer themselves wasn't killed too."
"Speaking of," Mina went on, "We got it that you had the audacity to try and pin all of the fault of the rich kids being killed solely on said lone trainer you had assigned to protect them, when it was very clear that said lone trainer was set up for failure. Luckily your B.S. was revealed so the innocent lone trainer didn't have to be stuck shouldering the burden of your screw up while you get to slink away and lick the wounds your pride took."
Sighing, Geeta said, "...Fine. You have a point. But it's not like the wealthy elite of Paldea are ever going to accept responsibility for anything. And they aren't exactly keen on letting others outside of their circle to tell them no. Anyway, I'm going to send you the coordinates of the next Team Star base that we're going to be taking down." A map of Paldea appeared on the big screen, with one area of a wooded area near East Province Area Three lit up and glowing red.
"We'll fly there in the morning," Dawn replied, "It's a bit late in the evening for us to go now."
"That's fair," Geeta said, "We'll start at eight in the morning sharp. I'll see you then." The video call ended, although Dawn was able to save the coordinates of the third Team Star base that was to be taken down. Dawn gave the coordinates to Heath and said that they're needing to fly over there in the morning to deal with another Team Star base.
Arching a wry eyebrow as he and Dawn stood at the helm in the cockpit area, Heath said, "Do you think that Team Scorn will attack at that Team Star base like they did at all of the Team Star bases thus far?"
Shrugging, Dawn replied, "I'm feeling that there's a ninety-one point six percent chance that Team Scorn will attack the third Team Star base, yeah."
END, CHAPTER TWO-HUNDRED AND NINETY-ONE
Author's notes;
This chapter covers the heroes getting badges from Kofu's gym, but they go to Porto Marinada and meet Freesia, the maid who serves Princess Salvia, and help her deal with getting the held items of the Creation Trio that let them assume their Origin Formes. A Team Scorn attack happens in Porto Marinada, but the entire attack turns out to be a distraction, allowing for whatever Team Scorn's real scheme was to succeed.
Speaking of Team Scorn attacks, the crew of The Jelly-Filled Donut are called by Geeta who informs them that Team Star base number three is ready to be cleared away. Given the history they have of Team Star bases being cleared away, the reborn trainers suspect that Team Scorn will attack at the third Team Star base. At least this time no members of Paldea's wealthy elite are going to be at the base to be a liability. Catch you next time, and until then take care.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Benimaru (male Skeledirge), Akiza (female Roserade), Luna (female Luxray), Freyja (female Mabosstiff), Tsukune (Palkia)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Roshi (male Torterra), Elay (male Sandslash; Kantonian; shiny), Moista Fista (male Ursaluna), Black (Giratina; Origin Forme), Panther (female Meowscarada), King Julian (male Grafaiai)
Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Myde (male Empoleon), Mr. Popo (male Magmortar), Alfred (male Marowak; Alolan; Totem), Deelia (Dialga), Launchpad (male Quaquaval), Mike (male Pawmot)
Mina's Pokémon: (on hand) Scar (male Eevee; scared over one eye), Dragonite (male), Gardevoir (male), Umbreon (male; shiny), Espeon (male; shiny), Flareon (male; shiny)