Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Pokédex no Isekai
Chapter Seventeen: Paul's Past
"So wait," Barry began as he along with Lucas and Kenny walked back to where The Big Beauty was parked in Jubilife City. The three boys just got back from checking out a nearby route. "If you along with Dawn, Trip, and Mina need to get a Bibarel registered as caught," Barry went on, "Why don't you just evolve the Bidoof that Dawn said you already own, rather than go out and catch a second Bodoof like you had just done?"
"The Bidoof that I already have, PeanutButter, has to stay AS a Bidoof," Kenny explained, "He'll lose great swaths of his potential and power were he to evolve into Bibarel."
"I've seen that first Bidoof of yours once before," Lucas remarked, "Aside from how it's a shiny Bidoof, it's also much larger than other Bidoofs I've seen, including the one you just caught with the intention of evolving it into a Bibarel."
Barry looked surprised by what Lucas said. "You own a shiny Bidoof, Kenny?" Barry asked as the three boys reached the drawbridge that led up to the open air deck of The Big Beauty.
"PeanutButter is an alpha sized shiny Bidoof, yes," Kenny replied as he and his fellows got onto the desk of The Big Beauty. They were met up by Dawn, Trip, and Paul.
"There you three are," Dawn said, "That means everyone is aboard and accounted for. Look, we need to make a trip to Veilstone City."
Kenny looked curious at that. "That's where Paul and his older brother Reggie lives. At least they did live there up until Sinnoh's government got paranoid and arrested Reggie because he helped out a pair of Team Heart members without even being aware of the fact that they were both members of Team Heart." Arching a wry eyebrow, Kenny asked, "Why are we going to Veilstone City?"
"Aside from that Rhyanna girl wanting to check up on her little brother who took over the Veilstone City gym from Maylene," Paul began, "We just heard rumor that Team Heart is planning something with the long abandoned Team Galactic building in Veilstone City."
"I'm surprised that the Team Galactic building in Veilstone City hasn't been demolished yet," Trip began, "I mean, with how antsy Sinnoh's government gets with criminal organizations, you'd figure that they would call for that building to be demolished by now."
"Sinnoh's government is too busy with trying to help the governments of the other free lands come up with a game plan to deal with the Team Heart Empire," Dawn replied, "Now then, are you boys all ready for a trip to Veilstone City, and potentially knock some Team Heart heads around?" The boys all gave affirmative cheers before everyone got ready to head on over to Veilstone City, to see what all was going on with the abandoned Team Galactic building.
Later in Veilstone City, The Big Beauty was parked in a field next to the Veilstone City gym. This was a deliberate choice on Dawn's part as it gave Rhyanna quick and easy access to the gym that was ran and operated by her little brother Mitchell. Seeing Rhyanna and Mitchell hug reminded Dawn that she wanted to see if their dark mirrors of Carmine and Kieran had a different fate here in the Team Heart timeline.
Dawn certainly hoped so, also she hoped that they were alive and well, Kieran especially.
While Rhyanna and Mitchell caught up, Dawn led an away team of herself, Trip, Kenny, Mina, Paul, Lucas, and Barry to the abandoned Team Galactic building that supposedly was being scouted out by the local Team Heart Sector in the Sinnoh region. "Veilstone City," Kenny began, "You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious."
"This is Paul's and Reggie's home town," Barry pointed out.
"And I was referring to the Team Galactic building and the Team Heart idiots scouting it out," Kenny counter-pointed out.
"Yeah, that reminds me Barry," Dawn began, "You as well as Paul and Lucas still need to get used to how... how much of a character... Kenny can be."
"Some of the greatest minds of all time can be considered eccentric," Paul remarked as he and the others in the away team looked up at the Team Galactic building.
"So what do you think Team Heart has planned for this place?" Lucas asked.
"It's a preexisting building that used to serve as a base of operations for a now long defunct group of villainous criminals," Trip began, "My guess is that Team Heart wants to use it for their own ends after repurposing it and getting it set up properly to their wants and needs."
Paul nodded in agreement. "A logical conclusion to come to. It would save them a lot of effort."
Gesturing to the Team Galactic building, Mina asked, "Why can't the government of Sinnoh just wreck it and deny Team Heart a prize?"
"There's certain legal deals and zoning things that needs to be handled," Dawn explained, "All of that business is admittedly over my head, but I do know that there are laws and such that have to be followed before things like deconstructing a building can be done."
Shrugging, Mina said, "But say there were to be an 'accident' like, oh, let's say a bunch of big Pokémon had a massive battle near the Team Galactic building, and the Team Galactic building just so happened to have gotten caught up in the crossfire-"
"Are you suggesting we wreck the Team Galactic building ourselves and make it look like it was an accident?" Lucas asked.
"Mina, no," Dawn said, "We are not going to take matters like that into our own hands. We need to let the government of Sinnoh handle things by the book."
"You wanna let the same government who had Paul's older brother arrested because he helped two Team Heart members even though he had no idea at the time that they were members of Team Heart handle things here," Mina said dryly.
Shrugging, Kenny said, "I doubt that enough of us have big Pokémon that can accidentally fall into and against the Team Galactic building, Mina."
As Mina scowled, she and the rest of the away team from The Big Beauty were alerted when cries of panic sounded out. Looking around, the away team saw Veilstone City citizens run away from the Team Galactic building as they were chased off by members of Team Heart. Dawn even spotted a uniquely dressed Team Heart member among the lot, although he stood back.
The uniquely dressed Team Heart member was a fair skinned man who was bald, and he wore a black long sleeved shirt under a pink sleeveless jacket, black pants, black shoes with pink shoelaces, and he had a black Team Heart 'H' on his jacket over the left pectoral. He was clearly an adult, but he wasn't too tall of one; at most, he was half a head taller than the average among Dawn and the away team.
The uniquely dressed Team Heart member had standing next to him a rather tall and bulky looking man in a standard male Team Heart grunt outfit. The tall and strong man also looked to be bald, but his beret hat covered his head. The uniquely dressed Team Heart member, clearly an Officer and probably a Captain, held his arms behind his back as if he were an intelligent and calculating but very evil dictator.
"Paul, you're with me," Dawn began, "You and I will go handle the uniquely dressed Team Heart member and the fellow with him. They're probably a Captain and his Captain's Assistant. We need to beat them and-"
'Yo Dawn," Kenny spoke up, cutting Dawn off in the process, "Let me face those guys instead. I feel a disturbance in the cringe. I must face those guys."
Dawn didn't want to argue with Kenny, and she had reason to believe that there was a method to the madness Kenny often exuded. "...Alright Kenny," Dawn said, "You and Paul go confront those guys, the others and I will handle the surrounding Team Heart grunts." With a game plan in mind, Dawn and the away team went about their task of dealing with the Team Heart siege in Veilstone City, with Kenny and Paul going after the probable Captain and the big fellow with him.
The probable Team Heart Captain stopped short when he and his tall fellow were confronted by Kenny and Paul. "Ooh, now who do we have here but some silly little children thinking that they can actually stand up to the force that is Team Heart?" the probable Captain said, looking and sounding more amused than threatened when he and his tall fellow were confronted by Kenny and Paul.
"We're the trainers who are going to beat you and all of your felllows here!" Paul declared, "There's no room in the Sinnoh region for Team Heart!"
The probable Captain gave an amused laugh that made him sound like he viewed himself as an elite of great wealth and or power. "Oh ho ho ho! You certainly do sound like you'll make for some decent entertainment," the probable Captain said, "I suppose that I do owe you an introduction." Gesturing to himself, the probable Captain said, "I am Freddy, Fourth Captain of the Sinnoh Sector of Team Heart. The tall fellow with me is my Captain's Assistant, Ron."
"It is good to be giant man!" the now identified Ron said.
Gesturing to Paul and Kenny, the now identified Freddy said, "If you silly little children think that you're actually capable of standing up to me, well I certainly won't stop you as I could use a bit of entertainment. But don't say that I didn't warn you."
Paul scowled bitterly in annoyance. Team Heart had already gotten his older brother Reggie arrested, and now they were both taunting and underestimating him. Although most of Paul's vast selection of Pokémon were locked away as all Pokémon at Reggie's ranch (including the ones that Paul owned) were confiscated upon Reggie's arrest, Paul still had the six Pokémon of his that he had on hand at the time of Reggie's arrest.
Torterra his starter, coupled with his shiny Nidoqueen, and lastly Magmortar, Gyarados, Electivire, and Aggron. A decent selection, and one Paul fully intended to use in making Team Heart pay for all it had done. Not just to Paul himself and his older brother Reggie, but to the world at large. Team Heart had to go down, and nothing was going to stop Paul from doing what all he could in order to see that vision become a reality.
Paul was about to send out one of his Pokémon to initiate combat with Freddy and Ron, but he was cut off when Kenny suddenly barked, "FiGhT mEh!" at the two members of Team Heart. "FiGhT mEh YoU cOwArDs!" Kenny barked at Freddy and Ron again. Kenny then sent out Zarbon, his named Machamp of questionable sexual orientation, to do battle with the two members of Team Heart that stood before him and Paul.
"I like cut of weird boy's jib!" Ron said as he sent out a Krookodile. A Ralts then came out of its Pokéball from Ron and climbed up Krookodile's back, eventually reaching Krookodile's head and poking out from behind where it waved cutely at Kenny and Paul. Ron had to recall his Ralts before the battle could begin.
Tossing up a Pokéball, Freddy said, "Go, Kadabra!"
"Gyarados, stand by for battle!" Paul called out as he sent out his Gyarados.
"Woah, since when did you have a Gyarados, Paul?!" Kenny asked, actually honestly amazed by Paul having a Gyarados. This was not something that Kenny remembered from the Sinnoh anime back in his previous life. But then again Dawn is the Sinnoh expert, Kenny figures that he'll run this by Dawn after Team Heart is dealt with.
"There's no time for that, Kenny," Paul said, "We have members of Team Heart to defeat!" Gesturing forward, Paul said, "Gyarados, use Crunch on Kadabra!"
"Zarbon, use Dynamic Punch on Krookodile!" Kenny called out.
"Kadabra, use Psychic on Gyarados," Freddy ordered.
"Krookodile, use Stone Edge on Gyarados!" Ron commanded.
Zarbon rushed in and, with his well toned and rippling muscles, slugged Krookodile in the gut so hard he sent it flying straight up into the air. Krookodile as it flew up like that gave an oddly human and panicked girly scream before disappearing from sight. Gyarados was rushing right for Kadabra, but Kadabra's Psychic surrounded it in telekinetic aura that damaged it.
Kadabra was then able to fling Gyarados off to the side, making it crash into the side of the Team Galactic building. "Kadabra, be careful!" Freddy hissed, "Team Heart is aiming to make use of that building behind us!"
Freddy's Kadabra had the decency to look sheepish as Gyarados was able to recover from being flung into the side of the Team Galactic building. Paul in the past would have scolded a Pokémon under his command for such a folly in battle. But he didn't for two reasons; one Paul's Pokémon here is a GYARADOS (not exactly the safest Pokémon in the world to scold), and two Paul has long since become a better person.
"Gyarados! Are you okay?!" Paul called out, concern in his tone for his Pokémon. Luckily Gyarados was able to recover right as Ron sent his Ralts from earlier out despite technically not having called back his Krookodile yet.
Gesturing forward, Paul called out, "Gyarados, use Waterfall on Kadabra!"
"Zarbon, use Poison Jab on Ralts!" Kenny ordered.
"Kadabra, use Psychic on Gyarados again," Freddy said, "And be careful where you fling it this time!"
"Ralts, use Growl on Gyarados!" Ron commanded.
Turning to look at Ron, Freddy said, "Are you kidding me, Ron? You ordered for a non damaging attack?"
"Ralts's Growl very adorable," Ron said, "Its adorableness distract Gyara-"
"ACK!"
Ron was cut off when Zarbon struck Ralts with Poison Jab, knocking it out before it could even growl at Paul's Gyarados. Kadabra was able to try to blast Gyarados with Psychic, but the water cloaking Gyarados as it used Waterfall covered it to an extent, allowing it to actually strike Kadabra and knock it out.
Freddy was clearly pissed as he and Ron recalled Kadabra and Ralts. Sending out his next Pokémon which was a Gothorita, Freddy said, "You foolish little children really are testing my patience! You both need to roll over and allow Team Heart to do as it sees fi-"
*CRASH*
Freddy was cut off when a loud crashing sound was heard, making him and the others turn to see that, while Paul's and Kenny's allies were battling the Team Heart grunts in the area, Dawn's named Palkia Tsukune crashed into the side of the Team Galactic building. "Team Heart needs that building you little twerps!" Freddy exclaimed, "Men! Keep the foolish little children who see themselves as heroes from wrecking up the building behind us any further!"
"Hey, if it means we're able to deny Team Heart a prize that they seek, then why should it matter if we wreck up the Team Galactic building?" Kenny asked.
Growling in frustration, Freddy snapped, "You are REALLY testing my patience, you foolish little child!"
Paul was able to see that Freddy was losing his cool, not only over how badly the battle was going for him and Ron, but also over how the Team Galactic building was taking damage over the course of the fighting against all of the present Team Heart members. This frustration on Freddy's part was something that Paul felt he could try to exploit. "...Heh, looks like the losers are having a tantrum over how they're being pathetic," Paul said, a hint of knowing amusement in his tone.
"You shut your mouth, brat!" Freddy exclaimed at Paul, "Gothorita, use Psychic on Gyarados!"
"Gyarados, use Iron Head on Gothorita!" Paul called out.
"Zarbon, use Stone Edge on Gothorita!" Kenny commanded.
Zarbon, due to distance, was able to strike Gothorita with a Stone Edge that turned critical hit, taking out the Gothorita. Freddy had to jump out of the way as Paul's Gyarados rushed in where Gothorita used to stand before Freddy recalled it when it went down to the named Machamp. As a result, Paul's Gyarados ended up crashing right into the Team Galactic building and causing even more damage to the structure.
Kenny took note of how Paul could have made Gyarados stop before it rammed into the Team Galactic building, but he didn't. Kenny also took note of how Paul was showing some of his pre-redemption arc attitude towards Freddy, but in a way that made it clear Paul was trying to trip up and make Team Heart lose focus. "Are you mad, boy?!" Freddy exclaimed, "Control your Pokémon better! You're wrecking up future Team Heart property!"
"Oh, I'm sorry," Paul said to Freddy with an amused smirk, "I often have trouble hearing the words and concerns of pathetic losers."
"You are just asking for a thrashing, boy!" Freddy exclaimed as he sent out his next Pokémon, "Go, Orbeetle!" After Freddy's Orbeetle came out, Freddy said, "Orbeetle, use Psychic on Gyarados!"
"Gyarados, use Iron Head on Orbeetle!" Paul called out.
"Zarbon, use Stone Edge on Orbeetle!" Kenny commanded.
Once again, Zarbon with the advantage of distance was able to strike down the enemy Pokémon with Stone Edge. And Gyarados, with Paul being able to order it to stop but he didn't, went on to rush through where Orbeetle was before Freddy recalled it, making Freddy jump out of the way to avoid being rammed by a Gyarados going at full force and speed. This led to Paul's Gyarados slamming into ANOTHER part of the Team Galactic building, wrecking it up even further.
"Damn you, you little brats!" Freddy exclaimed, "Do you know how much trouble you have just caused for Team Heart?!" Turning to look at Ron, Freddy exclaimed, "And where in blazes is that damned Krookodile of yours, Ron?!" At that moment, as if on cue, Ron's Krookodile came crashing down from out of the sky after it was punched straight upwards into the sky earlier by Zarbon.
As Ron recalled his fainted Krookodile, Paul said, "Well now! It looks like no matter the time, criminals will always be a bunch of pathetic losers clamoring for what power they can get! You all really do disgust me, you know."
Freddy was about to snap on Paul, but at that moment a bunch of Sinnoh region authorities were fast approaching the scene. Freddy barked an order for some of the present Team Heart grunts to cover the escape of him and Ron. As a result, some Team Heart grunts ended up occupying both Paul's and Kenny's time, allowing Freddy and Ron to get away. Some Team Heart grunts ended up being captured, but the big names got away.
But not ALL names in general got away. It was a small victory against Team Heart, but it was a victory against Team Heart nonetheless. Paul, still wanting to get back at how Team Heart dealings had screwed over Reggie, was going to take any and every victory against Team Heart that he was able go get his hands on.
Later, after what few Team Heart grunts that were apprehended were taken away by Sinnoh region authorities, Dawn and her away team from The Big Beauty had to stay on scene and answer a few questions to the Sinnoh region authorities that showed up. Dawn, as Champion of Sinnoh and the Monarch of the World Coronation Series, was praised for her actions in helping to fend off an attack on Veilstone City launched by Team Heart.
Dawn's away team members were also praised for their actions in helping out as well. There was a bit of concern given that the Team Galactic building, which can't be deconstructed until certain legal things in Sinnoh are approved, took some heavy damage in the process, but it was dismissed as an unfortunate side effect of Dawn and her fellows fighting to stop the Team Heart members who were trying to cause trouble in Veilstone City.
The severe damage to the Team Galactic building meant that it just shot way up on the list of priorities for Sinnoh's government to do something about, especially as Dawn confirmed that Team Heart has its eyes on the Team Galactic building to repurpose for their own ends. The governments of the free lands that are left in the world want to deny Team Heart of as many of the prizes that they seek as what can be managed.
After things settled down and the away team was able to go about their own business again, they went back to the Veilstone City gym. There, the away team was greeted by the sight of Rhyanna and Mitchell talking to, surprisingly enough, Roark and Maylene. Dawn was able to confirm ahead of time that Paul STILL has no idea that Maylene is the super fat and super geeky looking girl who had married Roark.
Also Dawn confirmed that Byron, Roark's dad, is still alive in the Team Heart timeline. But that's not important right now.
"Oh, you're Maylene's friend," Paul greeted to the girl he had no idea is actually Maylene herself. She still hasn't forgiven Paul for what his pre-redemption arc actions had done to her, what said actions had led to. But she HAS come to have some degree of civil tolerance for working with and dealing with Paul if need be.
"I heard that you and some friends helped deal with an attack in the city where Maylene used to be the gym leader," Maylene began, "An attack that was carried out by Team Heart no less. I still recall the attack they carried out in Oreburgh City, where that attack carried out by Team Heart caused a total of eight human deaths and twelve Pokémon deaths, with one of said Pokémon who were killed being Maylene's first Lucario."
Paul felt grim and horrible when Maylene mentioned how her first Lucario had died, although one Paul still had no idea that the girl he was talking to was Maylene, and two Maylene's first Lucario was killed in the attack on Oreburgh City launched by Team Heart; Paul's ballistic actions against Maylene that fateful, infamous day had nothing to do with it. But it still didn't make Paul feel better in the slightest.
Gesturing to Paul, Maylene went on, "Maylene heard how your older brother was arrested by Sinnoh region authorities due to him being seen lending direct aide to members of Team Heart, despite how he had no idea at the time that they were members of Team Heart. Even WITH how much she still is against you, Maylene feels that what happened there is by no means something that you and your family deserves."
Paul nodded once in acknowledgment. "Thanks for letting me know, Maylene's friend."
Turning to look at Maylene and Roark, Dawn asked, "What brings you guys to Veilstone City?"
"We heard about the attack launched on the city by Team Heart," Roark began, "Although it was foiled and everything was settled before we got here, no doubt partly thanks to you Dawn. But we're still worried that it may be a sign of worse to come."
"Pfft, the only big thing that's gonna happen here in Veilstone City is how the old Team Galactic building is gonna be deconstructed a hell of a lot sooner than it otherwise would have been due to how it took some rather nasty damage during the efforts that we gave to give Team Heart the long and hard pounding that they had coming," Kenny replied. Zarbon the named Machamp then came out of his ball on his own to give a resounding, moaning cry of aroused, sensual pleasure.
"Oh yeah, I heard about that," Maylene remarked, "A lot of people in Sinnoh, both residents of Veilstone City and outside of it, feel like Sinnoh's government needs to do a lot more to clear out the leftovers from Team Galactic. And it's especially bad as apparently Team Heart was looking to scoop up that old building to repurpose and use for their own ends."
Smirking in amusement, Kenny said, "Well Paul channelled a bit of his pre-redemption arc attitude to piss off the Team Heart Captain who led the attack to throw him off of his game. You should have seen that bald son of a bitch lose his cool."
Right away, Maylene looked concerned. "His... his attitude before he began bettering himself, you say."
"By no means do I intend to pick that attitude back up full time ever again," Paul began, "But if it helps to throw enemies off of their game, and said enemies are literally criminals who are members of a multi-region villainous organization like Team Heart, then so be it."
Maylene had to accept that, although she was still iffy about Paul showing any of his old attitude. "...Well so long as you save it exclusively for members of Team Heart, they have it coming," Maylene said, "I remember what all Maylene told me about the attitude you gave her, the lengths you went to against her." Gently shaking her head, Maylene said to Paul, "You've done more damage to her than you can begin to guess, and some of it simply is never going to heal."
Paul looked troubled, guilty, resigned. "I know. But it won't stop me from at least trying to become a better person than who I used to be." Firm resolve re-entered Paul's expression and tone. "And I will be starting that by working to do what I can to save my older brother Reggie from the mess that Team Heart's trickery had gotten him into."
Giving a single approving nod, Maylene said, "Good. You if anything care to save good people from bad situations."
After nodding once in thanks to Maylene, Paul said, "Umm, you said you work at a game store in Oreburgh City, right?"
"Y... Yes," Maylene began, "Why do you ask?"
"I... I don't suppose there's any other girls working there, is there?" Paul went on, now visibly blushing with embarrassment, "Girls similar to you maybe?"
"Similar to me... how?" Maylene asked.
"Paul, dude, she's a geeky looking fat girl," Barry said, "Don't tell me you're into geeky looking fat girls!"
"Actually, it's just the quote unquote 'geeky' appearance that I find charming in girls," Paul admitted, his blushing persisting, "I'm not sure why, but girls that people say look stereotypically geeky always strike me as cute." Gesturing to Maylene, Paul said, "Take Maylene's friend here for example. She's pretty cute, at least in my opinion, and I'd of tried flirting with her had she not have gotten married."
Now Maylene was blushing, albeit more out of surprise. "Umm... well I'm literally the only girl on the staff at the game store I work at, and we typically don't see other girls come in unless they come in with their boyfriends," Maylene replied.
Snapping his fingers, Paul said, "Dang it. Oh well, can you blame a guy for trying?"
Roark had a rather amused look on his face. "Well now, this is the first time I've seen or heard of another guy state an interest in my wife."
"Well she is a very fine girl, Roark," Paul said, "Also, Kenny why in blazes are you laughing?"
Everyone turned to look at Kenny, who was hunched over with his arms over his stomach as he was laughing hysterically. "Sorry, sorry," Kenny said as he willed himself to settle down, "I was thinking about a funny joke I heard on my travels. Not exactly the kind of joke to say in polite and or female company, though."
"Well save it for when the guys have poker games in the cargo hold of The Big Beauty," Lucas said, "Some of the guys wanna use a giant wooden spool that's in the cargo hold as a table."
"Giant wooden spool?" Paul repeated questioningly, clearly lost.
"An item that Kenny collected while we were in Hoenn," Dawn explained, "It's a bit of a story that involves us having to play nice with Team Heart as we were in their turf."
Paul had an even look on his face. "Very well. You did mention that there would be times where we'd encounter Team Heart but we can't fight them. I don't suppose you can fill in the new crew members and I about how to act in such situations?"
"Oh shoot, we need to go over protocol with the new crew on how to behave when we go to a region that's part of the Team Heart Empire," Trip said.
Nodding once, Dawn said, "Yeah, there's a few points left to cover." Dawn saw off Roark and Maylene, and then after collecting Rhyanna from Mitchell's gym as well as touching base with the young boy gym leader for a bit, everyone part of the crew of The Big Beauty was back on board of the flying ship before it took off for more adventure in the Sinnoh region.
(Opelucid City, Unova region)
Bianca, the Boss's Assistant of Team Heart and the public face that rules the Team Heart Empire, was laying face down on a padded bench as she was getting a back massage from a spa worker whose outfit was in the Team Heart colors, also said outfit had a black Team Heart 'H' on it. The spa worker did look like her hands looked more like they were sinking into and being pulled out of layers of fat rather than actually massaging someone's back, but still.
It was as Bianca was being pampered that the spa room she was in was entered by her usual maid, who seemed a bit concerned. "Umm, Lady Bianca," the maid began, "Firstly, I'm very sorry to disturb your relaxation time."
"Then why do so?" Bianca asked, arching a wry eyebrow.
"Well there's some news coming out of Sinnoh that you may wanna know about," the maid replied, "Mainly how the old building in Veilstone City that used to serve as a headquarters for the now long defunct Team Galactic had suffered severe damage in a recent attack in the city. Said damage had gotten its deconstruction shot way up on Sinnoh's government's list of priorities. A small number of grunt level members of Team Heart were also captured during that incident."
Right away, a scowl spread across Bianca's round, plump face. "Damn it, that building was perfect for Team Heart's purposes in Sinnoh. How did the damage happen?"
"During the attack in Veilstone City," the maid began, "Sinnoh Champion Dawn Berlitz and some of her companions fought back against the Team Heart men who were on the scene. During all of the fighting, a Gyarados belonging to a new recruit to Dawn's crew for her flying ship crashed into the old Team Galactic building a few times on accident, also Dawn's Palkia crashed into it on accident at least once."
Bianca's scowl persisted. "Well there's nothing we can do about that. Damn it, the plans for when Team Heart eventually added Sinnoh to the Empire kind of depended on that building left behind by Team Galactic. It would have saved Team Heart so much effort. And even IF it's still standing by the time Team Heart adds Sinnoh to the Empire, the damage it has will require repair work."
Indeed, even IF the only damage to the old Team Galactic building in Veilstone City by the time that Sinnoh's added to the Team Heart Empire is what damage it suffered from a few Gyarados crashes and one Palkia crash, it will STILL set Team Heart efforts back a bit until the damage is repaired. But now because of said damage from someone's Gyarados and Dawn's Palkia, there's a fairly good chance that the old Team Galactic building will be gone by the time Team Heart takes Sinnoh.
Looking to her maid, Bianca saw the look of worry in her eyes. "...The news out of Sinnoh isn't your only worry, is it." The way Bianca sounded what she said made it come off as if she were stating someone that she was sure of rather than ask a question.
Nodding once in the affirmative, the maid replied, "Yes, Lady Bianca. Umm, the older sister of Unova Champion Nate is here and she wants to speak to you. She seems kind of irritated."
Bianca didn't look the least bit worried about having to deal with Nate's older sister. "Send her in, I'll see what her worries are."
The maid, surprised that Bianca was so accepting, nodded once before turning around and leaving the room. A few seconds later, the maid came back in as Hilda stormed into the room ahead of her. Hilda is the female player character from the original Black and White games back in the previous lives of the reborn trainers, not that anyone else aside from the reborn trainers themselves would be able to tell that.
Hilda looked much the same as she did in those games, meaning her fine and slender body, highlighted by her outfit, made her a stark contrast to Bianca who was in possession of a Huttish level of girth. "Yo Lardload, what the hell gives?" Hilda scowled upon seeing Bianca.
Immediately, both the maid and the spa worker looked alarmed, but Bianca who recognized why they looked alarmed made them relax. "Hilda, we've been over this," Bianca said as she addressed Hilda as if she were a friend, "You've got to watch what you say around members and affiliates of Team Heart. What you said just now can very easily be considered fatphobic. I've almost lost track of the number of times I've had to pardon you from the labor camps here in Unova."
"Oh yeah," Hilda remarked, "But that's not the point. I just heard that you sent my little brother to the Hoenn region! What gives?!"
"Oh, that," Bianca replied, "Nate is going to be helping out with the re-capture of a very dangerous person who escaped from the labor camp located in Lavaridge Town, Hoenn."
"And you didn't think to inform any of Nate's family?" Hilda asked, "Seriously! I didn't learn of it until I got the news from that little girlfriend of Nate's!"
"Time is of the essence, Hilda," Bianca explained, "Team Heart rule in Hoenn cannot afford to let a person of the level of threat posed by the person who escaped from the Lavaridge Town labor camp run around the region."
"Umm, Lady Bianca," the maid spoke up, "Should I inform the closest guards that Hilda had acted in a fatphobic manner just now?"
Hilda immediately looked panicked, but Bianca waved a dismissive hand. "Let it go," Bianca said, "Hilda is just panicked because she and her folks weren't properly informed about Nate being sent off to Hoenn for work. It's just nerves is all." As the maid understood that Bianca was already giving Hilda a pardon, Bianca looked to Hilda. "Seriously, Hilda. I may forgive it, but my underlings need to be told if I forgive it."
Nodding once, Hilda said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I need to remember I'm not allowed to make cracks about your size."
END, CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Author's notes;
This chapter shows a lot of development for Paul, who in the Team Heart timeline is still alive. Here, his older brother Reggie was arrested by Sinnoh region authorities due to knowingly and willingly lending direct aide to members of Team Heart, although the issue is muddied because they weren't in their Team Heart outfits at the time and they didn't say anything that would have tipped Reggie off about who they were.
There's then some fighting outside of the old Team Galactic building in Veilstone City, and during said fighting the old Team Galactic building gets wrecked up a bit because Paul's Gyarados crashed into it a few times and Dawn's named Palkia Tsukune crashed into it once. Team Heart is defeated and repelled, and although the Captain and his Assistant both get away, a few grunts do end up in the hands of Sinnoh region authorities.
After things there are settled, the away team is met up by Roark and Maylene, who both came to Veilstone City to see how things are doing. Paul still doesn't recognize Maylene because of how fat and geeky looking she had become, and Maylene while pretending she's 'a friend of Maylene's' says to Paul that although she hasn't forgiven him for his actions against her (and probably never will), she still acknowledges he's trying to do and be better, also she says she would never wish upon him and his brother the raw deal Sinnoh's government gave them.
Paul thanks 'Maylene's friend' for Maylene's words before expressing how he thinks Maylene is cute and would have flirted with her had she not been married. Paul here has a thing for geeky looking girls, and Maylene right now fits all of the notes necessary. The reason Kenny finds this hilarious is due to how Paul has no idea he's speaking such flirtatious words to Maylene. Things are settled, and the away team returns to The Big Beauty.
Meanwhile in Unova, Bianca learns of Dawn and her group stopping the Team Heart efforts in Veilstone City before Hilda, the female player character from the original Black and White games, confronts Bianca about sending her (Hilda's) little brother Nate to Hoenn without informing Hilda and her and Nate's folks about it. Bianca smooths things over, and even excuses a bit of fatphobia that Hilda expressed during the confrontation.
Anyway, the next chapter will see Dawn and her crew continue to explore Sinnoh as the reborn trainers work on completing the Sinnoh Pokédex. Although during said adventures they're going to be dealing with a shell shocked veteran who served in a certain war. Until then, take care.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Tsukune (Palkia), Leni (female Lucario), Argent (male Arcanine; alpha; Hisuian), Lincoln (male Latios), Ezio (male Eevee; shiny)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Black (Giratina), Shallot (male Glaceon), Cell (male Scizor; shiny), Roshi (male Torterra), Zarbon (male Machamp), Kermit (male Politoed)
Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Deelia (Dialga), Lisa (female Latias), Mr. Popo (male Magmortar), Veda (female Abomasnow), Myde (male Empoleon), Fourze (male Electivire)
Mina's Pokémon: (on hand) Scar (male Eevee; scared over one eye), Gardevoir (male), Lucario (female), Umbreon (male; shiny), Espeon (male; shiny), Jolteon (male; shiny)