Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Pokédex no Isekai
Chapter Thirty: Gabe of Anistar
A large number of prisoner transport busses pulled up to a non-descript location were a number of Team Heart members waited with a Kalosian noble in their captivity. Guarding the noble was a uniquely dressed Team Heart member; a fair skinned man with reddish orange hair, he wore a pink jacket that was worn open to reveal the black shirt underneath, black pants, pink shoes with black shoelaces, and he had a black Team Heart 'H' on the jacket over the left pectoral.
With that guy was a male Team Heart member who was tan skinned to suggest a Latino heritage, had scruffy black chin length hair, and he wore the standard male Team Heart grunt outfit. The two members of Team Heart saw it as some security men came out with a number of captured Team Heart members. The members of Team Heart who weren't captured were on guard as the head of the security men approached the two Team Heart members who were guarding the noble.
"This had better be all of them," said the uniquely dressed Team Heart member to the head of the security men, "If even one person is missing-"
"I assure you, Captain West," the head security man cut in, wanting to smooth things over for the sake of the noble who was in danger, "All of the captured Team Heart men in Kalos are here, as per the demands of your organization." The head security man didn't wanna do this, give up every last one of the captured Team Heart members who were currently held in custody in the Kalos region. This was undoing a LOT of effort against Team Heart on Kalosian soil.
But a member of the Kalosian nobility was captured and in danger. Those in Kalos who weren't of higher birth had little say in the matter when the nobles are on the warpath, and nothing can set them off more than one of their own being marred. A kidnapping like this certainly would mar the pristine facade of the Kalosian nobility, and they were not going to settle down anytime soon. The head security man did not begrudge those who regularly deal with the Kalosian nobility.
With the assurance of the head security man, the now identified Captain West had the captured Team Heart members come and join him and the others. After all of the captured Team Heart members were with West, he not so gently shoved the Kalosian noble he had forward towards the head security man.
"Are you just going to stand there and let him get away with that disrespect towards me scot free?!" the Kalosian noble snarled at the head security man, "I demand that you take action to make him pay for doing that! I'm too better than anyone else here to be disrespected!"
"We're outgunned since we were told not to bring any Pokémon," the head security man said, "And we're HEAVILY outnumbered. There is no way we can do anything against Team Heart here and get away with it. There's no choice but to let it go."
"Let it go?!" exclaimed the Kalosian noble, "You want me, a member of the Kalosian nobility, to let go of a slight that criminal villains had done to me?! Are you mad?!"
"Let's cheese it!" exclaimed the grunt with West, getting all of the other members of Team Heart who were there to turn and run.
West, looking mildly annoyed, called out, "Hey Bernard, I'm the one who gets to call orders here!" All of Team Heart then took off, leaving the security men and the Kalosian noble be. But things here were far from over, especially if the Kalosian noble who was slighted had anything to say about it. One does not easily slight a Kalosian noble, if at all.
They're just like Paldean wealthy elite, just a different breed of Celestial Dragon is all.
A short while later over in Anistar City, The Big Beauty was parked in an open lot next to the local Pokémon Center while the reborn trainers were in the meeting room on board. They were having a private talk to discuss the progress they made on completing the Kalos Pokédex. They were close to done, Kalos introduced so few new Pokémon, but there were still a few species to cross off of the list of species from Kalos registered as caught.
"Hey, did you hear that the Kalosian noble who was kidnapped from Shalour City by Team Heart was returned recently?" Kenny asked.
Nodding once, Dawn said, "Yeah, but Kalos had to give up ALL members of Team Heart who were captured in return, putting Kalos back at square one in dealing with Team Heart."
Looking to Dawn, Trip said, "Is there any word on when Serena will come back to Kalos from where she's at right now in Kanto?"
Dawn gently shook her head in the negative. "No clue," Dawn began, "But hopefully it's going to be really soon. Serena really needs to hurry it up with helping Ash get the Kanto Sector of Team Heart to settle back down."
"So why are we here in Anistar City?" Mina asked, "You think that Team Heart may try to go after that big ass purple crystal in town?"
"Actually... I got it from Professor Sycamore that Professor Gabe is in Anistar City right now," Dawn began, "Professor Gabe graduated top of his and Professor Sycamore's class, Professor Sycamore says we ought to seek his insight to help deal with Team Heart."
Arching a wry eyebrow, Mina said, "Wasn't Professor Gabe the one who tried to boot Professor Minerva from a party simply because she stated a personal opinion of hers that just so happened to be a bit on the controversial side? And also it was Professor Sycamore who hosted that party so Professor Gabe had no real right to boot Professor Minerva from the party?"
"We still ought to go see Professor Gabe anyway," Dawn said, getting the others to agree to go and see Professor Gabe. They didn't have much else, and a point was raised on how the giant crystal in Anistar City might be threatened by Team Heart at some point. The reborn trainers figured that, at minimum, they could share their concerns with Gabe if he isn't already aware of the idea that Team Heart may possibly go after the aforementioned giant purple crystal.
"Hmm, yes," Gabe said later when the reborn trainers, accompanied by the rest of the usual away team, met up with him, "I can very easily see Team Heart being interested in the Sundial. I'm quite frankly surprised that no-one else had thought of it yet. Truly a failing on Kalos's part. I'll be sure to let Kalosian authority about the possibility, children. Don't you worry."
"Is there anything else that we ought to know?" Trip asked.
Sighing in a resigned tone, Gabe said, "Unfortunately, there's the fact that Kalos's government had to give up all members of Team Heart that were in custody in order to reclaim the Kalosian noble who was kidnapped from Shalour City. The demands of the Kalosian nobility, who often are unable to see anything that isn't part of their world, don't like it if their group is dealt any manner of marring."
"So Team Heart in Kalos is back up to full strength," Paul said.
Holding up his right hand with just the index finger extended, Gabe went on, "Not necessarily. Team Heart had demanded the return of all of their members who were custody in Kalos. They never said a thing about wanting back any and all confiscated Pokémon. Team Heart's Kalosian membership may be back up to full, but the power that the can bring to the table is still partly diminished."
"So Kalos's government used exact words to appease Team Heart's demands without letting them get too strong again," Dawn surmised.
Gabe nodded once in confirmation. "Some folks in the Kalosian government, as well as the select few Kalosian nobles who I would say are actually noble, worry that Team Heart may not take all that kindly to such a move. But considering it was done in a bid to make it as unlikely as possible that Team Heart can take Kalos, the Kalosian government as a collective felt that it was the right call to make. Kalos does, understandably, wish to remain as one of the free lands."
Nodding once, Lucas said, "Yeah, I can see that. Team Heart already owns over half of the world, what parts of the world that Team Heart doesn't have dominion over have to do what they can so as to remain outside of said dominion."
Barry was about to speak up, but was cut off when a girl dressed as a lab assistant came running into the room at the lab in Anistar City that the away team and Gabe were in. "Professor Gabe!" cried the assistant, "Terrible news!"
Instantly, the away team and Gabe were on alert. "What happened?" Gabe asked.
There was a breaking news report on how a facility in Kalos was broken into by Team Heart. Said facility was where all Pokémon confiscated from captured members of Team Heart were all being kept, but all of said Pokémon were taken back by Team Heart. Additionally, a few guards were also killed during the attack on the facility, including an older guard who was stated in the news report to be three days from retirement.
The report also confirmed and showed that the attack was led by a Captain West and his Captain's Assistant Bernard. A surviving guard said that West remarked how Team Heart was pissed that the Kalosian government, when they returned all captured members of Team Heart, decided that it was a good idea to withhold the Pokémon of said captured Team Heart members. According to sources, a total of seven guards at the facility were killed in the attack.
"Atrocious," Gabe said, gently shaking his head in disbelief as he and the others all saw the news report, "The lows that Team Heart is willing to sink to seems to be without end."
"Yeah, this was something that might have happened," Dawn said, recognizing Captain West as the Officer who managed the hostage exchange that got back all of the captured Team Heart members from the custody of the Kalosian government. Now West had also gotten back all of the confiscated Pokémon that belong to the Team Heart members who were captured. Team Heart in Kalos now is truly back at full strength.
As the heroes and Gabe learned more about the breaking news story, they heard that Professor Minerva was at the facility at the time it was attacked, but she was knocked out and was left laying on the floor because she was among those fighting to fend off Team Heart. She was no worse for ware after the attack ended and she woke up. Some folks who were asked about it expressed some degree of surprise that Minerva was left alone by Team Heart after being knocked out.
"Well that woman IS a Pokémon Professor," Gabe said when the away team asked him about how he felt about Minerva's presence at the facility when it was attacked, "Logically Team Heart would want to get a hold of her, either as a hostage or to make her help them with tech and whatnot. The fact that she was left alone after being knocked out tells me that Team Heart obviously had no idea who that woman was."
Dawn arched a wry eyebrow at Gabe. "You refer to Minerva as 'that woman' in a way that makes it clear you don't hold her in high regard," Dawn pointed out.
"And why should I?" Gabe replied, "You heard what she said back at Sycamore's party. How can any sane person have such thoughts? Team Heart is composed of nothing but villains who want only to force their ways and views upon others, and yet that woman thinks that Team Heart might actually have a point behind them. It's madness to actually agree with such foul beings."
Dawn shifted in her stance a bit. "...Would you believe me if I told you that my crew and I, when we went to Unova for our field research, helped a girl move to Unova because she felt that she'd be able to be accepted there and also break out into the field of work she wanted to get into?"
"I'm sorry," Gabe said, "But did you just say that someone actually wanted to move into the Team Heart Empire? Are you serious?"
"We also helped someone living in the Team Heart Empire move out of it and into the free lands," Dawn went on, "But that's besides the point. There are all sorts of people that are out there in the world, Professor Gabe. All sorts of ideas on what's good and bad, right and wrong. It's a matter of prospective, really."
Gabe arched a wry eyebrow at Dawn. "Don't tell me that you actually think that Team Heart is in the right with what they're doing," Gabe said, looking mildly concerned.
Dawn gently shook her head in the negative. "Oh no, I'm still wholly against Team Heart and will do what I can to help out against them. But that doesn't mean I won't acknowledge that some people will actually be interested in what Team Heart has to offer. What some folks view as bad may not be the same to other folks."
"Dawn has a point," Paul remarked, "We need to be more open minded about others in order to understand what all Team Heart truly is up to. Better understanding Team Heart will be key to help those against them bring them down."
Gabe looked surprised for a moment, before he settled down. "...Perhaps there are words of wisdom in what you children have to say after all," Gabe remarked, looking and sounding a little bit humbled, "I had been so caught up in hysteria against Team Heart that I didn't consider all of the possibilities that are out there. I really ought to be more open to trying to understand all points of view that others may have."
"But we still do need to keep Team Heart from taking Kalos and adding it to the list of territories that are under their banner," Kenny said.
Chuckling a bit, Gabe replied, "Oh, that has never been up for debate. Of course we need to keep the Kalos region among the free lands. Just because we ought to be more understanding of the ways of Team Heart doesn't mean we should let them run the show here in Kalos, or let them continue to run the show in the territories that they've taken over. Lor'aye in particular wants to see Orre free from the rule of the Team Heart Empire."
"Yeah, I still remember how Lor'aye held Minerva up by the front of her shirt because her words suggested that Orre was incompetent, or words to that effect," Mina said, "We saw her do it again over at the Tower of Mastery in Shalour City, where she and Karly there ran into Minerva who was there on her own."
"Ah yes, Karly and Lor'aye," Gabe said, "It's a terrible shame that they and some lady named Melissa got some terrible heat due to the nasty business of those Team Heart villains taking the one noble from the event at the Tower of Mastery. The nobility of Kalos is as vengeful as they are petty, don't go thinking otherwise."
"I'm surprised that they're allowed to get away with as much as they have," Kenny said, "Can't the government of Kalos do anything about it?"
"I'm afraid it's not as simple as you're saying," Gabe began, "Half of the politicians in Kalos are from the various noble families, and a good few members of the other half got their positions due to the influence of the Kalosian nobles. Kalosian nobility controls enough of Kalos itself where noble word is effectively law."
Shrugging, Dawn said, "Great. That's just great. The nobility of Kalos, well most of them at least, are reminding me more and more of the Paldean wealthy elite."
"The only difference is that the Paldean wealthy elite unfortunately live under the banner of the Team Heart regime," Gabe said, "You know, it's actually kind of ironic how it took straight up villains marching right on in and taking over everything in Paldea to make the Paldean wealthy elite eat the serving of humble pie that they had due. Mind you, I would never wish the oppressive rule of the Team Heart regime on anyone, and I certainly do NOT want what happened in Paldea to happen here in Kalos."
"Hypothetical question," Kenny began, "IF, and this is a big if, the Kalos region were to fall to Team Heart rule, would the Kalosian nobles finally be made to own up for their petty, vengeful ways that they make others here in Kalos suffer under?"
Gabe looked to be considering the question carefully. "...Yes, I can realistically see that being a very certain outcome were the worst case scenario to come to pass," Gabe said, "Especially as the Kalosian nobility has been known to hold up values that are the opposite of what Team Heart's been known to push in the lands that they rule, such as upholding conventional standards of physical beauty as the standard to meet."
Trip nodded once in understanding. "The whole 'thin is in' mentality." Gabe gave a single confirming nod. Trip was also pretty sure that a certain someone needs to be taught in the Team Heart timeline a lesson that she learned in the Team Scorn timeline.
Kenny was about to speak up, but was cut off before he could get a word out when an explosion was heard coming from somewhere in Ainistar City. "What in blazes was that?!" Gabe exclaimed as he and the away team ran out of the lab to go see what's going on.
Outside in the city, the away team and Gabe saw that there was smoke rising into the air from the direction of the sundial giant purple crystal. The skies above, painted beautifully with the orange of a setting sun, were choked with ebony smoke, fouling the air with cinder and fume. "The sundial's under attack!" Gabe exclaimed, "Who would dare do such a thing?!"
Seeing the civilians running from the direction that the sundial is in, also a few of the civilians were all screaming that Team Heart was striking, Dawn said in a dry tone and with a likewise expression, "Take a wild guess."
Scowling bitterly, Gabe said, "I may be well versed in the study and research of Pokémon, but when it comes to battles, I'm woefully under-equipped. I'll have to stick with helping to escort civilians out of harm's way while you and any other heroic trainers willing to fight Team Heart-"
"Hey! You're Sinnoh Champion Dawn! Aren't you friends with Champion Serena?"
Gabe was cut off when a random male voice called out, making the heroes and Gabe all turn to see a male trainer approach them. The reborn trainers all recognized the male trainer as Calem, the male player character from the X and Y games back in their previous lives. He looked as he did by default in those games, even dressed the same.
Gesturing to Calem, Dawn said, "Umm..."
"...Oh! I ought to introduce myself," Calem said. Gesturing to himself, Calem began, "The name's Calem, and I'm aiming to train until I'm strong enough to take on and defeat Kanto Champion Ash."
"That's a very bold thing to aim for," Paul cut in, "Why do you wish to defeat Ash? To take his title?"
"There is something Ash has that I'm interested in, but by no means is it his title as Champion of Kanto," Calem said, "What Ash has that I want is Serena's affections!"
"You... have the hots for Serena?" Mina asked.
Shrugging, Calem said, "What guy WOULDN'T have the hots for Serena? Being both the Champion of Kalos and the Kalos Queen of Pokémon Showcases aside, Serena is bar none the cutest girl that Kalos has to offer!" Doing a spin and giving off a flirtatious air that reminded Dawn of some of the antics of Brock, Calem went on, "And I shall soon prove to Serena that I'm a better guy for her than Ash could ever be! I shall show her tha-"
*THOOM*
Calem was cut off by another explosion coming from the direction of the sundial. "You can have a manhood fight with Ash later!" Kenny said to Calem, "We need to stop the shenanigans of Team Heart right now! How strong of a trainer are you?"
Looking curious, Calem said, "Umm, I've earned eight Kalos gym badges. I also have a full party of fully evolved Pokémon." Calem then pulled a sleeve back to reveal he had a Mega Ring. "I can also Mega Evolve my Blastoise if need be," Calem went on.
"Good, you're with us," Dawn said, "Unless of course you don't wanna help fight off Team Heart."
"Actually, I will stick with you guys," Calem replied, "I get the feeling I'll get to run info Serena sooner if I do." Dawn rolled her eyes at the antics of the newfound and unlikely ally in the fight against Team Heart as all of the heroes ran towards danger.
...
Over in the area of the sundial, the heroes saw that Team Heart was on the move. A few Team Heart grunts were carrying away chunks of purple crystal, clearly blown off from the giant purple crystal sundial which was now massively busted up. There were also loads of other Team Heart grunts in the area fighting off trainers who came by to challenge them.
"Calem, you're with me," Dawn said, "Everyone, we're going in to fight Team Heart!" The away team and Calem all rushed in to challenge the Team Heart members. While the rest of the away team took up the attention of other Team Heart grunts, Dawn and Calem rushed in towards where the busted sundial still stood. It was there that Dawn spotted two Team Heart members she identified as Captain West and his Captain's Assistant Bernard.
"You two got to Anistar City quickly after your act at the facility where the Pokémon confiscated from captured Team Heart members were being kept," Dawn said evenly.
"Team Heart here in Kalos has some good tech, including good vehicles," West said, "But that's besides the point. We're here to bust up the sundial here and carry away as many of its chunks as possible. It's a big purple crystal, chunks of it are bound to be worth a mint."
Scoffing, Calem said, "Typical Team Heart behavior. Well you two are out of luck, because you're dealing with Sinnoh Champion Dawn and the future boyfriend of Kalos Champion Serena here!" Dawn couldn't help but roll her eyes at Calem being so in love with Serena; it was like Tierno all over again. Tossing up a Pokéball, Calem said, "Go, Blastoise!"
"Alright, Leni!" Dawn said as she sent out her named Lucario, "Let's get goin'!"
"Go, Herdier!" West said as he sent out a Herdier.
"Go, Tinkaton!" Bernard said. After all Pokémon were out for battle, Bernard said, "If you would be heroes agree to play nice, we'll-" Bernard was cut off when Dawn Mega Evolved Leni into Mega Lucario while Calem Mega Evolved Blastoise into Mega Blastoise. "..Well, we're boned!" Bernard said upon seeing the two Mega Evolved Pokémon.
"We can't give up yet, Bernard," West said, "Herdier, use Work Up!"
"Tinkaton, use Thief on Blastoise!" Bernard ordered.
"Leni, use Aura Sphere on Herdier!" Dawn commanded.
"Bastoise, use Water Pulse on Tinkaton!" Calem called out.
Leni was the fastest, conjuring and casting an Aura Sphere that flew at and blasted right into Herdier and knocking it out. Similarly, Blastoise's Water Pulse flew into the oncoming Tinkaton and knocked it out with a well aimed critical hit. Both West and Bernard were forced to call back their respective fainted Pokémon.
Sending out his next Pokémon, West said, "Go, Orthworm!"
"Go, Ambipom!" Bernard said, "Use Thief on Blastoise!"
"Orthworm, use Iron Head on Lucario!" West ordered.
"Leni, use Aura Sphere on Orthworm!" Dawn commanded.
"Blastoise, use Aura Sphere on Ambipom!" Calem called out.
Both Mega Evolved Pokémon conjured and cast Aura Sphere attacks at their respective targets, knocking out both Orthworm and Ambipom before either of them got even close. For a second time, West and Bernard were forced to call back their respective fainted Pokémon. Things were not all that hot for them right now.
Sending out his third Pokémon, West said, "Go, Komala!"
"Go, Murkrow!" Bernard said, "Use Thief on Blastoise!"
"Komala, use Body Slam on Lucario!" West ordered.
"Leni, use Aura Sphere on Komala!" Dawn commanded.
"Blastoise, use Dragon Pulse on Murkrow!" Calem called out.
The two Mega Evolved Pokémon fired their respective attacks at their respective targets, with the named Mega Lucario taking out Komala, and the Mega Blastoise taking out the Murkrow. Both West and Bernard were forced to call back their respective fainted Pokémon for yet a third time, and the fact neither of them sent out any more Pokémon told Dawn that she and Calem won.
"Aww jeez, we're wiped, West," Bernard said, "We're in trouble unless we get some flunkies to distract these kids for long enough for the two of us to cheese it!"
"Neither of you villains are going anywhere," Calem said as he stepped forward, "You two shall both be paying for your crimes against Kalos, and Champion Serena will totally think that I'm awesome and will be more tha-"
"Captain West!" a random female voice called out, cutting Calem off as a number of Team Heart grunts came over at that moment, "Are you in need of assistance?"
"Yeah!" West said to the grunts while pointing at Dawn and Calem, "Keep these guys occupied so that Bernard and I can escape!"
"Let's cheese it!" Bernard exclaimed as he and West both turned around and ran away. Due to the present grunts, Dawn and Calem couldn't go after them, meaning that the big names in an act that Team Heart carried out got away yet again.
But that wasn't going to stop the heroes from capturing as many Team Heart grunts as possible.
After the heroes repelled Team Heart efforts and had things settled, damage assessment was done. The sundial was busted in half, with the bottom half still standing and the top half laying on the ground next to it. It could be repaired with an ancient technique involving the use of special powers supposedly held by Carbinks, but the patch work would be VERY obvious unless someone somehow brought in the mythical Pokémon Diance to lend aid.
Surprise surprise, that's what the reborn heroes did. Although they DID ask to remain anonymous about the whole deal.
Then there was the captured Team Heart members. Out of the many Team Heart members who struck in Anistar City, only seven were captured, an estimated ten percent at best. The Captain and his Assistant both got away, and there was still how the sundial was damaged and Team Heart got away with chunks of it to sell on the black market and or to private buyers as they saw fit. This was not an entirely clean win for the heroes today.
As Dawn and Calem made their way up the drawbridge of The Big Beauty, Dawn remarked, "Yeah, you're going to have to follow certain rules if you're coming along, Calem."
Nodding once in understanding, Calem said, "Fair enough."
When the two of them got onto the open air deck of the flying ship, they were met up by the other reborn trainers plus Leona, Omiyo, and Salvia. "Yo Dawn," Mina began, "Why is the flirtatious goof who wants to try and win Serena over from Ash following along?"
Jerking a thumb at Calem, Dawn explained, "Calem here is actually joining the crew, believe it or not. He's proven to be a strong trainer, and given that we're usually dealing with Team Heart, we're going to be needing all of the strong trainers that we can get our hands on."
"And respectfully," Calem went on, "I'm far from the only guy in Kalos who likes Champion Serena."
Nodding once, Trip said, "Yeah, we know. There's this trio of friends named Tierno, Trevor, and Shauna living here in Kalos, and Tierno of that trio likes Serena."
Calem perked up. "Oh, I'm familiar with that trio of friends. I'm actually personally friends with Trevor, and Shauna has on multiple occasions made it clear that she has the hots for me the same way I have the hots for Serena. I..." Looking troubled, Calem went on, "...I also am on good terms with Tierno, which makes what happened to him and his family all the more of a shame."
The reborn trainers perked up. "What happened?" Dawn asked, instantly alarmed.
"Tierno and his family moved out of Kalos," Calem began to explain, "More or less bullied into it by the general popular opinion of the Kalosian people at large. Tierno and his family are notably big people, and being big like that isn't exactly favored here in Kalos."
Scowling in annoyance, Kenny said, "Oh, of course. Of COURSE Tierno and his folks are bullied into leaving Kalos because they live larger than life!"
Gesturing to the heroes that he's joining, Calem said, "If you want, we can go visit Trevor and Shauna. I hear that they both recently got some sort of apprenticeship under Professor Sycamore who works in Lumiose City. Knowing the Professor, he's gonna wanna study the bond between me and my Blastoise because I can Mega Evolve her."
Nodding once, Dawn said, "Yeah, that does sound like Professor Sycamore. Well anyway, we ARE gonna wanna see Trevor and Shauna, but there's still a bit of work that the lads and I have to do for the field research we came to Kalos to do. After we do said field research, we'll head to Lumiose City and see them."
"And while you're with us," Mina said, "We can discuss your romance options, pursuing a Sakura type while there's a Hinata type waiting and wanting."
"Does that make Ash a Sasuke type?" Kenny asked. Calem wasn't exactly sure what to make of the eccentricities of some of the crew of The Big Beauty, but he was getting the feeling that he was going to be having fun as he traveled around the regions, taking in the sights as he helped to fend off the threat of Team Heart wherever they may appear.
(Opelucid City, Unova region)
Bianca, the Boss's Assistant of Team Heart and public face ruler of the Team Heart Empire, was sitting at her desk in her office at her mansion home in the wealthy neighborhood in Opelucid City. She was taking care of some desk work when a knock at the door alerted her that someone was coming in to see her. "Who is it?" Bianca called out.
"It's me, Lady Bianca," the usual maid called out, "I have news coming out from Kalos!"
"Enter!" Bianca called back out, prompting the maid to enter the office. The maid came over and handed a small stack of stapled together sheets of paper to Bianca. As Bianca's eyes scanned the words while flipping through the pages, an amused look formed on her round, plump face. "Ah, so the efforts we're making in Kalos are effective," Bianca said.
Nodding once, the maid said, "Yes, Lady Bianca. Even with the presence of Dawn Berlitz and her companionship in Kalos, things are proceeding on schedule. Although it is rather obvious that the main reason we're as successful as we are in Kalos right now is due to the efforts of our mole that we have over there. If it weren't for what all the mole has done since Team Heart began active work to take Kalos for the Empire, then I highly doubt we'd see any success in Kalos right now."
A frown formed from Bianca's lips. "It's ironic. The mole was able to get Kalos Champion Serena lured out of Kalos, but that effort was rendered moot because Dawn and her friends had arrived in Kalos for whatever reason. And knowing our luck, Serena will return to Kalos in time for a changing of the guard that would ensure a protective presence for Kalos. Quite the pickle, really."
"At least Captain West has led multiple successful efforts," said the maid, "Getting back loads of captured Team Heart men from Kalosian authority, getting back all of their confiscated Pokémon, and I just got word that he succeeded in his mission in Anistar City to get chunks of the giant purple crystal sundial in that city."
Bianca couldn't help but smile in amusement. "Well no wonder Admin Tress says that Captain West is the best Captain that the Kalos Sector has to offer. He gets results." Leaning back in her seat, Bianca asked, "Kalos Champion Serena should still be in Kanto. Tell me, what word is there from our efforts over in Kanto?"
"Things are winding down from the push that Admin Hanae was able to muster up, I'm afraid," said the maid, "At the current rate of things, Champion Serena will finish up helping Kanto Champion Ash and be able to return to Kalos soon."
Bianca let off an annoyed scoff. "And Team Heart efforts over in the Kalos region will be set back to square one," Bianca said, "Dawn and her friends have the most annoying timing that I've seen out of anyone who gets up in the face of the Team Heart Empire."
"We can only hope that Dawn Berlitz and her companionship will be leaving Kalos soon," said the maid, "And hopefully there will be a window, or at least enough of a window, between them leaving and Serena coming back, to let Team Heart get some progress in on the plans to take Kalos for the Team Heart Empire."
Bianca nodded in agreement with the maid. "Indeed. As stated before, taking Kalos for the Team Heart Empire is of the utmost importance to the Boss. Team Heart cannot fail in taking Kalos, we've got to succeed in doing so, preferably sooner as opposed to later." The maid nodded once before she had to excuse herself and take off to continue her daily work at the mansion.
With the office door closed behind the maid, Bianca back to being alone in her office leaned back in her chair. Dawn and her band really did have the most annoying timing sometimes for Team Heart efforts. But they are still a tricky enemy to deal with, especially as Team Heart cannot afford to go to war against the Sinnoh region right now.
Things here had to be handled very carefully.
END, CHAPTER THIRTY
Author's notes;
This chapter sees Captain West and his Assistant Bernard make several successful scores for Team Heart in the Kalos region, most of which help to get Team Heart in Kalos back up to full strength. But Team Heart in Kalos aren't the only ones getting stronger, the crew of The Big Beauty get a new crew member in the form of Calem, the male player character from the X and Y games. Here Calem has the hots for Serena, similar to Tierno who here got a raw deal due to his size.
Meanwhile in Opelucid City, Bianca scowls as she learns that, even with the help of the mole that Team Heart has working for them in Kalos, things aren't going as smoothly for Team Heart efforts in taking Kalos as she'd like. It's important to the Boss of Team Heart to take the Kalos region for the Team Heart Empire, after all. Anyway, the next chapter will see another siege on Lumiose City launched by Team Heart. 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), Entreri (male Sneasler; alpha)
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), Villetta (Miraidon)
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)