Draco: Took another long-ass break between Chapter 5 and Chapter 6. {sigh} My inspiration just doesn't give half a damn when I want something to come out. At least now I'm writing this end-of-GenVIII story as deliberately outdated like Eternal Colosseum, but I'm still yet to play Scarlet/Violet as of starting this chapter.

Speaking of, as I mentioned in Chapter 2, Grand Stage has a bit of a story as a game that only starts if your Battle Pass has an average level of 50 or greater. Yes, I said AVERAGE - power-levelling one Pokémon is not enough. You don't necessarily need a whole team of 50s, if you've think F.E.A.R. will work in Level 30 Open rules, but the levels of all your Pokémon must add up to 300 (so the most unbalanced team you can have is three 99s and three 1s). Once you have a team that satisfies that condition, the conversation at the start of this chapter begins when you enter Trainer Mode; for the purposes of this story, Jeanne's party will all be freshly Lv50.

Pokémon and all related properties © Nintendo. Virtual Singers of Piapro Studio © Crypton Future Media.

A Look-er at Unusual Events

"Excuse me, miss! A moment of your time!"

After her close-call clashes in Arrival Colosseum, Jeanne had spent quite some time raising her team (and rewarding them between rounds in the Battle Club). As she stepped onto Main Street, she was considering whether she wanted to spring for a meal at Coronet Diner - which meant the stranger trying to approach her was not left chasing after her because she was on her way somewhere.

Jeanne turned towards him as he came to a stop at arm's length - an older-looking man with black hair, wearing a brown trench coat over a black suit. "Um, hello," she greeted. "Can I help you?"

"I am hoping you can," the man replied. "Pardon my asking, but you are a Trainer of some skill, yes?" Then, when Jeanne glared at him; "Ah, forgive me. It is difficult to answer such a question from an objective standpoint. You see, I have come to Pokétopia for a specific purpose, and I thought that I would not need to be able to battle to achieve it. Alas, in such a busy place bustling with Trainers, I must admit to being... uncomfortable on my own. Thus, I seek a companion - a Trainer who is confident in their skill. Will you be willing to help?"

"I... yes," Jeanne confirmed. "If you're asking."

"Thank you," the man assured. "Please, come with me to Sunny Park." Jeanne's expression must have spoken for her, for the man stopped himself before he could lead the way. "Ah, but you are confused. You see, the villas in Sunny Park are provided to those from other regions who are employed by Pokétopia. I have been given permission to use one of these villas as a base of operations during my time here."

A 'base of operations'? His choice of words caught Jeanne by surprise, but she nonetheless followed the man as he led the way.

+x+x+x+

When they arrived, Jeanne was surprised by what she found.

A pair of folding screens were stood in the villa's entrance to form a smaller room-within-a-room. Within was a small writing desk with a book upon it, a chair sitting up against it; two more chairs were set against one of the screens, and on one of the walls was a corkboard - with several photographs of people that Jeanne did not recognize, connected with string to a piece of paper covered in writing.

"Allow me to introduce myself," the man requested, sitting down at the desk. "I am a member of the International Police. My code name is Looker."

Jeanne started. "International Police...?"

"Indeed," Looker confirmed. "This place, Pokétopia, it is meant to be a peaceful place. A place where people can battle without worries! A place for Trainers to have fun! In a place such as this, the worst thing that should happen should be that someone has met Hatsune Miku, and is so excited as to be very loud." He crossed his arms. "However... there are reports of certain people who have given cause for concern. I wish to investigate these people, and be sure of there intentions. But, as I have said, Pokétopia is a busy place bustling with Trainers, one of which I am not."

He raised his gaze to Jeanne. "And so I ask you again - will you be willing to help me as I investigate these suspicious persons?"

Jeanne nodded. "Yes, I will."

Looker smiled. "Thank you... Ah, but I have not asked your name."

"Jeanne."

"Thank you, Jeanne." Looker got to his feet, approaching the corkboard. "Here, I am gathering information on the suspicious persons that have been reported. We will begin with this one." He beckoned to one of the photos - a young-looking girl whose skin was so pale as to seem unhealthy, with orange hair in a long braid that hung over one shoulder. "There are reports that this girl has been seen with an Ultra Beast."

"Ultra Beast?" Jeanne echoed.

"You are not familiar with them?" Looker mused. "That is to be expected. You see, Ultra Beasts are Pokémon that have come from other dimensions - and not by their own will. They are dangerous when having done so, for they act only on instinct, and will attack whatever they think might get them home. And what's more, Ultra Beasts are powerful - some consider them to be on par with Legendary Pokémon."

He turned to Jeanne. "I take it you understand why this person merits attention. Does she know about Ultra Beasts, and how dangerous they are? If she does not know, how did she acquire them? And if she does know, why has she brought them to Pokétopia? We must seek her out." He stepped towards his desk again. "She was last seen going in the direction of Main Street Mall. There, we shall begin looking for her."

Jeanne nodded. "Understood."

+x+x+x+

Main Street Mall was huge - and busy, what's more, full of Pokémon and Trainers alike. However, after searching for some time, Jeanne and Looker did see the suspicious person they were looking for coming out of Seven Samurai Tutors. The girl was dressed in rather light clothing best suited to warm climes, and seemed even paler in person than she did in the photo; she had her hands hooked behind her as she looked around, her upper body swaying back and forth to a tune in her head.

Looker took the initiative, stepping towards the girl. "Excuse me, miss."

"Oh?" The girl turned towards him in surprise, though a smile quickly returned to her face. "Alola!" She moved her hands before her in what Jeanne recognized as an Alolan greeting... yet her motion was surprisingly stiff, the pattern seeming more rectangular than circular.

"A moment of your time, if you would," Looker requested. Keeping his voice quiet so as to not draw undue attention; "There have been reports of a girl in Pokétopia who... has Ultra Beasts with her. Might you be that girl?"

The girl's smile fell, and she sighed. "Aww... I knew Sticky was gonna draw attention."

Looker blinked. "S-Sticky?"

He and Jeanne watched as the girl seized a Poké Ball from her belt - a dark blue Ball with a grid pattern, circled by four golden arcs that converged on the button - and turned to one side, tossing it lightly to let out the Pokémon within. The figure that appeared there was small and purple, its head seeming larger than the rest of its body combined; it had a somewhat draconic-looking tail, and its otherwise humanoid body had short limbs with no digits. With a quiet cry, it turned to Looker and Jeanne in curiosity.

"I should explain," the girl mused. "My name is Zossie. My home is in what you know as Ultra Space, a city called Ultra Megalopolis."

"You come from Ultra Space?" Looker exclaimed.

Zossie nodded. "That's right. I was part of a group called the Ultra Recon Squad, for an operation in the Alola region. During that time, I was introduced to what you call a 'Pokémon Trainer', and I thought that seemed like something I want to do. So I caught a Poipole as my starter Pokémon and went to Alola for the island challenge. And when I heard about Pokétopia, I thought I'd come here and enjoy it!"

"I see," Looker mused. "Indeed, Pokétopia is a place to be enjoyed by all who visit it. I am sorry for bothering you, Zossie."

"It's alright," Zossie assured him. "Thanks for understanding!"

She started to take off, and Jeanne followed the girl with her gaze. "Ultra Space, huh?"

Looker breathed a sigh of relief. "I am glad that these reports were nothing to be concerned about," he admitted. "Come, Jeanne. Let us return to the villa for now."

+x+x+x+

Once Looker and Jeanne had arrived, the International Police officer breathed a sigh of relief. "I am most relieved that these reports were nothing to be concerned about," he admitted again, moving to edit his corkboard. "If there is one person who can be trusted with an Ultra Beast, it is someone from Ultra Space." He turned to Jeanne. "However, there still remain other reports that demand attention. That is, if you are still willing to help?"

"Of course," Jeanne assured him. "Who's next on the list?"

"That would be this one." Looker beckoned to the photo next to Zossie's; a girl with short black hair, wearing a gray mantle over an outfit that looked well-suited to outdoorsmanship - at least in a temperate region, though her sleeveless top and shorts would be ill-suited to, say, Sinnoh. "This girl has been accompanied by a Whismur who she does not appear to have a Poké Ball for." Before Jeanne could remark on it, Looker quickly explained; "It is not that she is attempting to circumvent a Trainer's limits. She only has five other Pokémon with her, and besides, the Whismur does not appear to participate in battle."

He crossed his arms. "However... she has proven very secretive. She refuses to tell anyone where she has come from, or why she has come to Pokétopia. And it appears that she arrived on merely the power of her Pokémon - she was not on the passenger lists for any of the boats or planes. In addition, all of her Pokémon are Dragon-types, and well-trained ones at that. We must determine what her intentions are. She was last seen travelling towards the Pokémon Nursery."

"Understood," Jeanne asserted. "Let's go."

+x+x+x+

There was indeed someone standing at the fence around the Pokémon Nursery, watching the Pokémon playing together; the girl in the cape did indeed have a Whismur at her side. Looker's photo being largely focused on her center mass, this was their first look at the strange figure bound around her right leg; after a moment, Jeanne realized it was an anklet forged to resemble the Sky Demon... and there was what looked like a Key Stone set into the head.

The Whismur noticed their approach before the Trainer did, jumping lightly and turning to her. "Mum!"

The Trainer turned in surprise, noticing Jeanne and Looker approaching and turning with a smile. "Well, hey there!" she greeted, her attention focused on Jeanne. "It's great to meet you!" Jeanne's surprise must have shown on her face, as the Trainer furrowed her brow. "...It is our first real meeting, right? Yeah, that's right, of course it is!" She set a hand upon her chest. "The name's Zinnia. And you... Well, you're that Trainer who pulled off a great win against Miku! It was... Jeanne, right?"

Jeanne nodded, and Looker took the opportunity to speak up. "It is a pleasure to meet you, miss. Could I have a moment of your time?"

Zinnia's expression changed - Jeanne couldn't quite place it, but it seemed like she was incredibly uncomfortable about something and trying not to be rude. "Sorry," she insisted, "but I gotta visit the Berry Fields before it gets too dark." She turned around.

Of a sudden, Looker was in front of her, interrupting her path. "This won't take long," he insisted. "I am with the International Police, and I have some questions for you."

"International...?" Zinnia stepped back in surprised, her head falling; after a moment, she breathed a sigh. "That's what I get for not wanting to talk about it."

Looker narrowed his gaze. "Talk about what?"

Zinnia looked around; there were no people nearby, and the Pokémon in the Nursery seemed to be at the far end of the fenced area. "I'm a member of the Draconids, from the Hoenn region. If you're with the International Police, I imagine you've heard of 'Grand Meteor Delta'?"

"The giant meteoroid that nearly impacted the Hoenn region?" Looker asked.

"Didn't that make the news?" Jeanne observed.

Zinnia reached for the back of her head with an awkward chuckle. "I guess it kind of did." Her smile vanished. "Anyways, I was one of the people who was working to stop it... kind of. There were a few different efforts to that end. But... some of the things that happened had me questioning myself, and what I wanted to do." She raised her gaze to Looker. "When I heard about Pokétopia, I figured it would be a good place to figure myself out."

Looker crossed his arms. "That hardly seems worth keeping secrets about," he observed.

"It's not like the Draconids are very well-known," Zinnia defended. "Even most people in Hoenn have never head of us."

"But if someone asks where you come from," Looker insisted, "then 'Hoenn' is plenty of answer. And you are not the first person who doesn't know what they want to do." He let his arms fall. "There are so many different ways to spend time with your Pokémon, and with other Trainers - and Pokétopia has almost all of them. If you don't know what it is you want to do, you may just say that to those who ask you why you're here."

Zinnia lifted her gaze to him. "I guess... I didn't really think of that," he admitted. "Thanks... and sorry for causing trouble."

Looker shook his head with a smile. "On the contrary," he assured her, "you have not caused any trouble - and that is why we can part ways happily." He stepped aside. "Now, you wished to visit the Berry Fields quickly, did you not?"

"...Right," Zinnia giggled. "Come on, Aster."

"Mum!" The Whismur followed as Zinnia took off.

Looker turned to Jeanne. "Well, that is another report solved," he observed. "And once again, it was nothing too serious. Come, let us return to the villa."

Draco: When Looker approaches you on Main Street, you have the option of saying 'no' to his request. He will remain near the entrance to Main Street and can be approached if/when you decide you wish to help him. During the investigations, certain topics will again give you a dialogue option that may express familiarity or not, in the same manner as you have such options during the Game Corner conversations about Wonder Trades, Mega Evolution, Z-Power, and Dynamax. In this chapter, the topics in question are Looker's initial mention of Ultra Beasts and Zinnia's mention of Grand Meteor Delta (the dialogue option would only pop up after Looker remarks it's the meteoroid from the Delta Episode, just in case you don't know the specific name).

While investigating with Looker, he will follow you in the manner of such individuals as Cheryl in Eterna Forest and Calem/Serena in Team Flare Secret HQ. If you speak to him, he will offer to abort the investigation for the day; if you do so, he will once again stand at the entrance to Main Street, and speaking to him may resume the investigation. In the event that you abort and then resume, Looker will have a quick reminder dialogue about the purpose of the investigation, sparing you the trouble of seeing the cutscene in the villa again.

After the end result of each investigation, you'll get a quick debriefing conversation at the villa, followed by Looker giving you leave to return to Main Street, similar to the Looker Bureau events in Kalos. Looker will once again be at the entrance to Main Street after you enter a building (or the berry fields) and then reemerge, or else leave Trainer Mode and then return. For the purposes of this story, however, I will be writing it as one ongoing investigation.

Our first person of interest is the Ultra Recon Squad's Zossie. In the post-game of Ultra Sun, she expresses a desire to take on the island challenge for herself one day - and, to be totally honest, I have three chapters of beta for a fanfic about that. One day, I hope to run into her as a Trainer... but I've also hoped to run into AZ outside of Kalos, and we've yet to see His Majesty again, so I don't exactly have my fingers crossed.

Number two is Zinnia, who REALLY needs some fun after all the responsibility she's had to put up with. Her greeting dialogue will change depending on your Colosseum Mode progress; Looker's appearance can occur before you ever touch that menu option, so she would have "saw you passing by on Main Street" (asks for your name), "watched your win in Arrival Colosseum" (confirms your name), and "everyone knows you conquered Pokétopia" (certain "You're [name]!") reactions. Her "before it gets too dark" comment doesn't change if it's noon, dusk, midnight, or the crack of dawn, because it's a thin excuse to not want to talk.