Hello one and all to another episode of Pokemon SVTA but a bit different, I figured since I might take a while on the next chapter due to school, I decided to do a side story chapter set after chapter 29, nothing too major but think of it as an extra chapter at the end of a Manga volume. It was going to be the prologue of chapter 30 but it ended up feeling a bit too long to be a prologue so hence it's status as a 'in-between' chapter.
It was a beautiful night in Paldea, everyone was sleeping, looking at the stars or partying at the clubs. Within the city of Mesagoza, we see Clavell (in casual clothing) and Inteleon walking down the steps to an underground bar, there, we see a man around his mid-60's with ash-blonde hair and some sunglasses (A/N he resembles Stan Lee in a way) alongside a Scizor by his side and some employees working the tables. There weren't too many patrons in there as the employees relaxed as Clavell and Inteleon walked in with Clavell seemingly confident.
"¿Cómo te va la vida Héctor? (How's life going for you Hector?)" Clavell says getting the man's attention who smiles warmly.
"Ah Clavell, Inteleon, ha pasado un tiempo, ¿no? (Ah Clavell, Inteleon, been a while, hasn't it?)" Hector exclaimed as Clavell and Inteleon sat on the bar stools as Clavell smiles.
"Los estudiantes, el papeleo y la jerga de nueva generación me mantienen ocupado. ("It has, students, paperwork and the new generation slang sure keeps me busy.)" Clavell says as Hector smirks.
"Tu Paldean es tan claro como la burbuja de una Aruquanid en comparación con tus días en Naranja ("Your Paldean is as clear as a Aruquanid's bubble compared to your days in Naranja.") Hector said as Clavell smirks.
""Gracias a ti, eso es ("Thanks to you, that is.")" Clavell says as Hector laughs before grabbing his notepad.
"Yeah, things have been busy ever since you last arrived 3 months ago. Got some new guppies working the tables and though a handful, I do think of them as my children." Hector says as a random male employee pops up next to Hector with stars in his eyes.
"Really!?" he says as Hector has a sterner expression, "Wash the glasses, little grunt." Hector says with light sternness as the employee got right on that task before getting back to Clavell.
"As I was saying, I recently reconnected with my brother in Sinnoh, haven't talked to him in 13 years and now he decided to sober up well, job wise anyway. It seems he changed life around from Pokemon Hunting to owning a bar and having friends in high places." Hector says as Clavell looks intrigued.
"Out of all documentaries I watched, I never expected that turnaround." Clavell says as Hector chuckles.
"Yeah, apparently he encountered those friends back when he was a hunter and now, they're his regulars, was it fate?" Hector says as he grabs two drink glasses, "The usual Pandejo and forest fresh water for you and Inteleon?" Hector continues as Clavell and Inteleon shake their heads.
"Not this time amigo. This month's special, Memoria de nuestra amada y eterna agua de manantial. (Memory of our beloved and Eternal Spring water)" Clavell says as Hector focused on Clavell while the male employee from before pops up again.
"Should I handle it sir?" the employee says as Hector shakes his head, "No, no, this one is personal. Go home for the rest of the night kid and tell everyone they can go too. Call a taxi for that sleeping guy and his Magmar doing the robot." Hector says as the employee nods and everyone leaves the building including the drunk guy and his dancing Magmar as Hector prepares the drinks giving Memoria to Clavell and the spring water to Inteleon.
"It's the anniversary of the kid's death, huh?" Hector said a bit somberly as Clavell nods a bit more seriously, "Yeah, even after a year, I feel guilty about not doing anything to help my students through their issues and their conflicts. It's why most of our teachers and head staff left, their as guilty about themselves as me." Clavell says as Hector sighs.
"Don't blame yourself, it must've not been easy for anyone involved but this drink helps honor their spirits in the afterlife." Hector says as Clavell gives a slight smile before he continues, "Was there something else that brought you here? I can tell by your expression that there's more to your story." Hector says as Clavell smiles.
"You caught me. You remember the Starry Skies incident, right?" Clavell asks as Hector nods, "Yeah, wasn't that caused by these Star hooligans?" Hector says as Clavell gave a shrug.
"There's a bit more to this story, there's possible corruption involved and Uva maybe involved and so I was hoping you would help out in this scenario." Clavell says as Hector looked on suspiciously as Clavell placed 500 Pokedollars on the table.
"Go on."
"Our former security guard retired out of shame for not preventing Team Star from 'bullying' some students but from what I was told and able to find out, Uva may have more ties to this and the reports the guard filed were inaccurate, the witness accounts didn't display any names and some files are outright missing. Team Star may be innocent than what I expected or at the very least, they aren't the true perpatrators." Clavell says as Hector is even more curious.
"Whereabouts?"
"Unsure. I tried to get information from one of Team Star's bosses and I'm waiting on info from a good Arcanine loving friend of mine, but I only got the basics aside from a couple of details."
Earlier that day.
We see Ash, Nemona and Penny depart from Giacomo with Nemona mending her friendship somewhat with Giacomo and heading back towards Cascaraffa leaving Clive and Giacomo alone as Clive turned to Giacomo.
"Aren't you going to catch up with your friends, old man?" Giacomo asked as Clive shook his head, "Nah, I fly solo and team up when the time is right. I'm actually here to talk to you." Clive says shedding his Clive disguise to his regular Clavell disguise shockig Giacomo as he stepped back.
"Your-"
"I know, I just want to know what you know about the Starry Skies incident and any behind the scenes intel you have about your organization, and you'll be free to go." Clavell says as Giacomo looked conflicted.
"I should fight back but- fine, but not here. I don't want them to know." Giacomo says as Clavell nods and calls up a Squawkabilly taxi while Giacomo texts Pedro to say he'll be back later.
We see Giacomo and Clavell sitting across from each other as the mood is intense and both appear to be nervous, but Giacomo sucked it up and spoke.
"If you're expecting a novel's worth of information, you'll be disappointed." Giacomo says as Clavell shook his head, "I'll take any information." Clavell says as Giacomo gritted his teeth yet sighed.
"Ok, on that day of the incident, we saw Uva students walking into the city terrorizing people and so we made the order to protect them and as you might imagine, the news came around and controversy was spreading that we were the ones behind this. But something felt strange, my comrade Ortega saw who was responsible for leading the Uva students but was pulled aside by security guard Tiroso and when Ortega came back, he refused to say anything." Giacomo says as Clavell seemingly heard this name before.
"Wait a sec, Platano academy's Ortega Rivière? The son of toy business mogul Otto Rivière?" Clavell says as Giacomo nods, "Yeah, is there a reason why you asked?" Giacomo asked as Clavell shook his head.
"No, sorry, his father is a former student and friend of mine." Clavell said as Giacomo's eyes showed a slight darkness.
"Yes, and former is well deserved. Our bosses are from different schools but that's not the- He's normally stubborn and quick to anger but well-meaning but he didn't want to say anything to us, not out of stubbornness but his eyes showed fear and told us to just let it go, but we couldn't just forget about it and after much arguing, we split up afterwards and never told this to our subordinates." Giacomo says as Clavell's hands shook in anger.
'They were silenced!' Clavell thought to himself angerly, the thought that his own employee would be involved in something like this made his blood boil to the core. Clavell calmed down enough though.
"Did anything strange happen afterwards, followed or something?" Clavell asks with concern his voice as Giacomo looks down, "It felt like it at times, someone watching me from afar seemingly just trying to put me down if I were to reveal something." Giacomo said worryingly as Clavell looked on in sympathy.
'Someone's watching him or possibly, even everyone in Team Star. Is Tiroso behind this? Uva? No matter, I'll search for them.' Clavell thought to himself as he softly smiled.
"Let's change the subject, we're almost there. What are your goals for Team Star, did you have the same reasoning as the other bosses and who is your real boss?" Clavell asked as Giacomo sighed.
"Well, each of our goals are the same but at the same time, different from one another and all I want is for students to have fun but after Grace's death, I was scared of losing more of my friends and so I tried pushing them away, I'm glad Nemona was as stubborn to reach me though. Although as for my boss, heh, I don't actually know." Giacomo says surprising Clavell.
"You don't?"
"Nah, we all formed not knowing who our real boss was, but 'they' found us individually and saw us as unique practically saved my life. Practiced making tunes one day with the goal of confessing my feelings towards Grace with my music and had fun but certain people didn't like what I was doing and attempted to trash my set, but a Rotom phone saved me via Thunderbolt and drove them off. They wanted to hear my music and they loved it and we talked for a while about our interests and having fun and then, they asked me a question that would change my life." Giacomo says fondly as Clavell was curious.
"What would that be?"
"They asked 'If you were in charge of souls who have been broken by the world, what would you give them?' My answer, 'To give them freedom and fun.' It seemed like it impressed this individual as they asked me to form a team with them and 4 others to give students their freedom and allow them to not be judged for who they are. Funny, later on, our Cassiopeia told us to quit to save ourselves, but we couldn't, they helped inspire us to be more expressive for who we are and allow us to fight so decided, 'It's do or die!' we said." Giacomo said fondly as Clavell smiles.
"Then this Cassiopeia saw great potential in you, you care for your friends and want them to have fun. I failed to notice that with Team Star and their students and I want to make that up somehow." Clavell says as Giacomo looked more serious now.
"Yeah, so please keep your promise and don't take their futures away because I got them into this, they deserve to be happy over me so please don't ruin their lives!" Giacomo said desperately as Clavell looked on shocked.
"Normally, I would expel those who are of Team Star. But it's thanks to a certain boy that helped me wake up to the harsh truth of reality and how many of you are suffering. As I said, I was blind to the whole thing and now I seek to fix it, so you're not expelled." Clavell says as Giacomo looked surprised and even had a couple of tears dropping down his face.
"Wha- really?" Giacomo said emotionally as Clavell nods, but he gets somewhat serious, "However, I will be thinking of a punishment for you all for you actions of vandalism once I find all your bosses." Clavell said sternly as Giacomo nods.
The Squawkabilly taxi lands on the ground as both get off the taxi and Giacomo prepares to leave walking away from Clavell confusing him.
"Where might you be heading, young lad?" Clavell asks as Giacomo turns to him casually, "I have to apologize to a certain someone for worrying them, maybe he can help me with my assignments and then I need to see my grandparents." Giacomo says as Clavell nods, and both head their separate ways, but Giacomo stops.
"Do you know where he lives?" Giacomo asks as Clavell stares at him with a deadpan expression, "Go see you grandparents first and then I can help you at Type Circle."
Upon hearing the story, Hector breaks a glass he was washing out of anger with Clavell not being surprised.
"They manipulated a child and silenced them!? The damn nerve of those perpetrators. I'll have my boys search around Levincia for clues to this Tiroso's whereabouts." Hector says as Clavell nods.
"How much do I owe you?" Clavell asks as Hector shakes his head.
"This one's on the house, you want your students to have a bright future, right?" Hector asks as Clavell nods.
"Yes, I'm ready to go through hell and back to solve this mystery." Clavell says with determination as Hector sighs.
"You know you could be fired for searching much deeper into this."
"That maybe but as long as my students have a future, I'm willing to go through the worst. I don't care if I'm hurt, beaten or dragged by those enemies, I want my students as well as those from our fellow schools and sister schools to feel safe and welcome for who they are and not made fun of for what they are. As long as they're happy, that's what matters to me most." Clavell says seriously as Hector smirks.
"That's the Clavell I know." Hector says as Clavell smiles and prepares to leave, "Mantente a salvo viejo (Stay safe old man)." Hector says as Clavell nods.
"Tu tambien viejo (You too oldster)." Clavell says walking out of the bar.
We see Giacomo and Clavell at a nearby orphanage, which was a huge, delicate looking house within Mesagoza with Giacomo seemingly nervous. Though hesitant, Giacomo knocked on the door and door opened to reveal Nurse Joy who appeared a bit groggily but looked to the two and she opened her eyes in surprise.
"Giacomo, your back!? Saguaro, Saguaro! He's here!" Nurse Joy says as Saguaro hurries down the stairs in a panicked shock.
"The pizza delivery guy, that was fast I ordered about two minutes ag-" Saguaro stops upon seeing the individuals at the door and suddenly, Saguaro trembled a bit.
"Hi Mr. Saguaro, am I late to homeroom?" Giacomo says as Saguaro walked slowly towards Giacomo who was a bit nervous.
"372 days since you last appeared in class, when you last turned in your homework, and a week and a half after the incident. I was afraid that I lost another student and now you show up after a year, worrying your grandparents sick and me trying to search for you for a long time. I wanted to help you if you spoke up, but you were afraid of what I would've said if I had found out about your status with Team Star. If I had lost anymore of the people I cared most about again, I-I-I" Saguaro couldn't find the words, and neither could Giacomo who started to cry.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't want you to worry about me because I was afraid, and I wanted to handle this on my own. I thought people wouldn't care about some pathetic, sad, no life who constantly makes things wors-" Giacomo stopped as Saguaro hugged him.
"Don't you ever go calling yourself that and don't go running off worrying the people care about you the most again! I can help you, Clavell can help, your grandparents. I don't want to lose another student. Don't go telling yourself that, you're one of my most talented students and I wouldn't have it other- way." Saguaro says starting to break down as Giacomo hugged him back finally reconnecting with his teacher once more.
END
And with that, we end a side story. Not too long like a main chapter but it's at least another chapter until I have enough time to write chapter 30. I don't have too much to say but probably expect these side stories similar to chapter 21.5 set after a chapter (though usually after a main, important chapter) but until then, happy Halloween.
Character Bio:
*Hector Fogata (Male, 64, birthday: May 5th, hometown: Medali, Paldea)
*Name: Hector (Holding Fast in Greek) and Fogata (Bonfire or blaze in Spanish)
*Hector is the brother of a certain proprietor in Sinnoh who had a dark profession in the past but turned it around owning a bar (you can probably guess who). He was also classmates with Clavell when they attended Naranja academy when they were around their teens and when Clavell decided to go to school. He was formally a police officer and one of the top officers as well until an incident occurred 35 years ago when he failed to protect a little girl from a major crime and passed away in his arms.
His fellow officers covered up the case and pinned it on in innocent person, realizing the corruption of those types of officers, he exposed them and left the police force opening his bar 'Paraíso' for those who were mistreated. He looks stern but is well-meaning and cares for children including his beloved 3 grandchildren so when he hears that Tiroso silenced a student, you can imagine his reaction. He has 3 children one of whom is the theater/battle instructor Cycas at Naranja academy who was similar to Ash in personality when she started her own journey at that age.
*Pokemon: Scizor (male): His starting Pokemon and the only Pokemon he has from his past; he lost an eye in an accident once as a Scyther and thus is called 'The one-eyed metallic puncher' thanks to stopping criminals with a powerful Bullet Punch.