Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Pokédex no Isekai
Chapter Sixteen: Sinnoh Struggles
The crew of The Big Beauty were able to relax in Twinleaf Town, Sinnoh. They had just gotten back from their time in the Hoenn region, and were relaxing before the reborn trainers got to work on completing the next regional Pokédex that was on the list. Luckily for them, the Pokédex for the Sinnoh region was the next Pokédex that they had to work on, so they didn't even need to leave the comfort of their homeland to continue their work.
And there wasn't a whole lot of work to do on the Sinnoh Pokédex anyway; they already got all of the legendary and mythical Pokémon of Sinnoh, and Dawn did a royal fuck tonne of Sinnoh dex work when she first started off as a trainer upon being isekai'd into the world of Pokémon. There were a few spots that they had to touch up on, and bada bing bada boom, the Sinnoh Pokédex would be completed, letting them move on to the next region on the list.
But they could afford to take their time. There's not much Sinnoh dex work to do, and the reborn trainers and their crew had some folks living in Sinnoh that they wanted to check up on. Some good friends as well, as the reborn trainers confirmed that Paul is still alive in the Team Heart timeline. He was killed in the Team Scorn timeline, so it warmed their hearts to learn that Paul not only was still alive in this timeline, he was still working on his redemption arc.
That's Kenny's term for Paul trying to better himself as a person.
"I have to admit it, Captain Twerp," James began as he and Meowth were helping Dawn carry some stuff into the Berlitz residence for Dawn and Trip's mom Johanna, "It'll be nice to kick back and take a load off here in Sinnoh."
"I have to agree," Meowth said, "And we got it that Jessie's still in Hoenn, so we won't run into her here in Sinnoh."
"A part of me kind of hopes that we'll run into Jessie here in Sinnoh," Dawn began, "Because this is where I call the shots."
As the head of The Big Beauty and two of her crew mates finished carrying in groceries for Johanna, the woman herself came in after them. "Thanks for the help, you guys," Johanna began, "And it's nice to know you'll be in Sinnoh for a while."
Nodding once in the affirmative, Dawn said, "I just had to be sure to lock my room on board of The Big Beauty when I'm not on board. Mina is determined to sit down in my special chair that I have in that room, and by no means will I let any butt aside from my own sit down in it."
"I saw your shiny Eevee laying on the cushion of that large and nice papasan chair, Captain Twerp," Meowth pointed out.
Shrugging, Dawn replied, "Ezio gets a pass."
Johanna had a mildly wry look on her face. "You know, I'm not too certain of James and Meowth referring to you as 'Twerp'."
"It's playful banter, mom," Dawn said, "A way that they show that they're chill."
"I believe the proper term is 'insult of endearment'," James spoke up.
Johanna shrugged and decided to let it go, dismissing it as friendly joking around between her daughter and some of her crew mates. Johanna went about putting groceries away when Mina ran into the Berlitz residence with Leona and Omiyo trailing right behind her. "Yo Dawn, big emergency!" Mina cried out, "We're being summoned to Oreburgh City!"
Dawn looked curious as to the location of the summons. "...Oreburgh City?" Dawn began, "Who is calling us to Oreburgh City?"
"Princess Salvia and her maid Freesia," Leona said, "Apparently they're in big trouble!"
That immediately got Dawn's attention. Salvia is the princess of her own kingdom, as well as the girl who gave The Big Beauty to Dawn. That alone would make Dawn wanna go to Oreburgh City and see what Salvia wants. But the bit that Leona added at the end, that Salvia and Freesia are both in big trouble, that told Dawn that something terrible has happened. She knew full well that this could not wait, so she acted immediately.
"Where is the rest of the crew?" Dawn asked.
"Everyone but you, me, Leona, Omiyo, James, and Meowth are on board of The Big Beauty," Mina said, "Also, why is the door to your room on board of The Big Beauty locked?"
"Because only my butt can plop down into the papasan chair in my room, Mina," Dawn said firmly, "But we can go over that later. For now, we need to go see Princess Salvia and Freesia to see what it is that has them in so much trouble."
Shrugging, Leona said, "It can't be too bad, can it?"
"The entirety of my kingdom has fallen to the Team Heart Empire," Salvia said as she and Freesia met with the reborn trainers and most of the rest of their crew on board of The Big Beauty while it was parked outside of the hotel in Oreburgh City, "Freesia and I are the only ones who were able to get out of there."
"Holy crap, princess!" Kenny exclaimed, "Team Heart just invaded and took over your kingdom?!"
Nodding in confirmation, Salvia went on, "I've barely anything to my name. But my name, myself, has to live on free. Team Heart cannot be allowed to take me. As I am the last of my kingdom's royal bloodline, if something were to happen to me that results in my end, the results for my kingdom would by no means he friendly."
"We basically have nothing to us save what we were wearing when we fled the kingdom as it fell to the banner of Team Heart," Freesia said, "Her highness does have her Togekiss, though."
Folding his arms over his chest, Trip asked, "So what can we do to help? It's not like we're in a position to have Sinnoh go to war to help liberate your kingdom from Team Heart rule. You're asking Sinnoh to fight against an empire that rules over half of the world."
Gently shaking her head, Salvia said, "By no means can I ask that of Sinnoh, it'd be too much. All that I can ask... no, all that I can beg for, is protection for myself and Freesia as we work on trying to gather enough allies to go back to my kingdom and liberate it from the banner of Team Heart."
"So you do plan to eventually liberate your kingdom from Team Heart rule," Mina began, "But it's not doable right now. All that you can do is hide yourself as you gather enough allies."
Salvia nodded in the affirmative. "Indeed. And I was kind of hoping that Dawn and the rest of her crew would be able to protect me and Freesia, maybe hide us or something."
Letting out a whistle, Mina said, "That may be a tall order. I mean, no doubt will Team Heart be after the heads of you and your maid here. Yours especially Salvia, given that you did say that you're the last of your kingdom's royal bloodline. No doubt that Team Heart will be gunning for you."
"Her highness is already wanted by the Team Heart Empire," Freesia explained, "Here in Sinnoh, one of the remaining free lands, we have some degree of safety. But it won't be that way for long, especially given the fact that Team Heart is bound to have agents in areas all over the world. Time is of the essence if we're to secure safety for Princess Salvia at least."
Holding up a hand to cut off all protests, Kenny said, "Relax, Freesia. As it just so happens, my film studio Kenny Harris Studios is so great that not even the shenanigans of dragons can do away with its awesome, cringe glory." The reborn trainers all nodded in confirmation; Kenny's film studio which he started up during their time in Alola back in the Team Scorn timeline still happened in the Team Heart timeline, with hardly any changes to who plays what role.
That movie studio netted Kenny a very considerable wardrobe and assortment of various things of costume props and movie makeup items. And as it turns out, Kenny has a set of the stuff he keeps in Alola also in the cargo hold of The Big Beauty. Dawn could tell right away that Kenny, should the crew take in Salvia and Freesia, plans to make full use of his movie makeup skills to disguise both of them so that they can hide in plain sight among the crew members.
Nodding once, Dawn said, "Well we'd be a rather sorry lot if we didn't help you out in this situation, Salvia. I mean you were the one who gave me The Big Beauty. I hope you don't mind that we'll have to add you and Freesia to the crew, with Kenny disguising the both of you with his movie makeup skills and whatnot."
Salvia, as well as Freesia, both nodded in thanks to Dawn. "It is more than we deserve, Dawn," said Salvia, her tone and expression conveying nothing but gratitude.
"Hey, I just had a thought," Trip began, "If Salvia and her maid are gonna join the crew, does that mean that Salvia will take over as head of the ship? I mean she was the one who gave it to us."
"Oh no, I cannot do that to you guys," Saliva replied, "Aside from how it may draw unwanted attention to us, it would be a show of an utter lack of respect and gratitude towards Dawn and the rest of her ship's crew."
Letting out an understanding breath, Dawn said, "Fair enough. Now then, I suppose we'll let Kenny get to work on disguising both you and Freesia with his movie makeup skills."
"I already have names and back stories thought up for the both of you," Kenny began, "You Freesia, you will be Eunice Eldenring. A mid-seventies former winery employee from the Kalos region, who had to take guardianship of her granddaughter when said granddaughter's parents perished in a very tragic cheese factory incident. Now you and said granddaughter are touring the world, wanting to take in all of the sights."
"How... how do you plan to disguise me to make me look decades older?" Freesia asked.
"Kenny's movie makeup skills can let him, among other things, disguise people as very much older versions or themselves," Mina began to explain, "Wrinkles, loose skin around the neck, the works. He once disguised Dawn as an old lady for one of his movies." Indeed, Dawn still played an old lady who died at the beginning of a murder mystery movie produced by Kenny Harris Studios, although Lana's role in that movie was played by the female player character from the Sun and Moon games back in the reborn trainers' previous lives.
Gesturing to Salvia, Kenny went on, "And you Salvia, you shall be Eunice's granddaughter, Chubany Plumperstuffer, a super obese super geeky girl who wishes to find her true love as she travels the world with her grandmother as the latest additions to the crew of The Big Beauty."
"How will you disguise me as having gained a lot of weight?" Saliva asked.
"Fat suits," Kenny replied, "We have fat suits." Indeed, Kenny's movies in the Team Scorn timeline often saw Dawn having to use a fat suit in roles she played, although in the Team Heart timeline the fat girl roles apparently were played by Lana. Which was odd considering her strict aversion to ever appearing fat even if it was for pretend back in the Team Scorn timeline. Did something happen in the Team Heart timeline to make Lana more comfortable with appearing big?
Going on, Kenny said, "And with the right additions of accessories and movie makeup, we can make you look geeky. Trust me when I say that there's no need for you or Freesia to worry about being seen by Team Heart, because by no means will they be able to recognize you."
"Uhh, Kenny," Leona began, "Why are the complicated disguises and back stories necessary? Wouldn't simple disguises, aliases, and short but sweet backgrounds be sufficient?"
"Kenny likes to have fun," Trip said, his expression as dry as his tone.
"And there's a method to my madness," Kenny said, "For example, I have a good reason for wanting to disguise the princess to make it seem like she's a fatty."
Arching a wry eyebrow, Leona said, "Oh? And what can possibly be the reason?"
"I'm not sure if you've realised this by now," Kenny began, the dry look on his face matching his expression, "But Team Heart is fond of fat people."
"...What?" Leona replied.
Shrugging, Kenny said, "Oh come on, Leona! The first thing that Team Heart does after they take over a new territory to add to their Empire is eliminate all forms of discrimination in said territory, and the FIRST form of discrimination that they eliminate is ALWAYS fatphobia! Not only that, but the Team Heart law books we got in Johto and Hoenn both feature the same fat chick on the cover! That tells me that Team Heart likes people who live larger than life!"
Gesturing to Salvia, Leona said, "And disguising Salvia to make it seem she's fat will help her how, exactly?"
"In case we ever have to go to a land that's part of the Team Heart Empire before we're ready to liberate Salvia's kingdom from Team Heart," Kenny began to explain, "Team Heart will take one look at the super geeky looking and super fat girl and not think anything is up with her! It'll be for her own good, you know!"
Folding his arms over his chest, Trip said, "Kenny... has a point, Leona. Team Heart does seem to have a fondness for folks of the well fed variety. And Kenny's also right how a fat suit added to Salvia's disguise will help conceal her from Team Heart presence, especially if we're in a territory that's part of the Team Heart Empire."
"You guys aren't seriously planning to go to a land that part of the Team Heart Empire," Salvia began with a nervous hint in her expression and in her tone, "Are you?"
"Uhh, you just heard us say we were in Johto and Hoenn," Mina remarked to the princess, "And after we're done with field research here in Sinnoh, the next region on the list is Unova accor-"
"You're planning on a trip to the heart of the Team Heart Empire?!" Freesia exclaimed, looking very much panicked. Similarly, Salvia also looked freaked.
"...Respectfully, Salvia and Freesia," Dawn began, "Me as well as Kenny, Trip, and Mina are doing work on trying to get every species of Pokémon registered as caught, at least between the lot of us, mostly me, Kenny, and Trip. This task will necessitate us to go to EVERY region, including those that are part of the Team Heart Empire. We're aiming to complete the Pokédex."
Salvia settled down upon hearing the explanation from Dawn. "...That is a very daunting undertaking indeed, even IF there was no Team Heart. Completing the Pokédex... that would blow even being made a region's League Champion, or the Monarch of the World Coronation Series, clear out of the water. I can see now why you and your crew aims to take such risks."
"Of course, you and Freesia, if either or both of you aren't comfortable with it, don't have to come with us to regions that are part of the Team Heart Empire," Dawn began, "When it comes time for us to head to such a region, you two can stay in Sinnoh with trusted folks. We'll have to make all of the necessary arrangements ahead of ti-"
"No, I think that it will be for the best if Freesia and I accompany you and your crew to wherever you go, regardless of where it is," Salvia replied, "We need to gather as many allies as possible to help us with retaking my kingdom from Team Heart. We may very well find some allies in lands part of the Team Heart Empire, in fact it's very likely given that there is bound to be people in those lands who do not like living under Team Heart rule."
Freesia looked like she wanted to argue, but ultimately respected the word of her princess. "Very well, Princess Salvia. We'll do as you say."
"But before we can get started on that," Kenny said, "We gotta disguise you girls. Luckily we're in The Big Beauty already, why don't you two both go to the cargo hold and-"
"Hey Dawn," Rhyanna spoke up as she came over to Dawn from elsewhere in the ship, "I just got a call from my little brother Mitchell from his gym over in Veilstone City. He has a trio of visitors, one of which is that Paul fellow you and some of the others are familiar with. Apparently Paul heard that you're back in Sinnoh, and he needs your help."
Looking curious, Dawn said, "Well we were planning to speak with Paul anyway, ask him how he's getting along-"
"Check up on the progress of his redemption arc," Kenny chimed in.
Nodding once in agreement, Dawn said, "Yes. Now anyway, what did Paul say if anything about why he needs my help?"
Shrugging, Rhyanna said, "I don't know, Mitchell said something about how Paul's older brother Reggie was arrested by Sinnoh region authorities due to allegations of helping out members of Team Heart."
"Reggie's been arrested?!" the reborn trainers all exclaimed in unison.
Later on over in Veilstone City, the reborn trainers met up over at the Veilstone City gym, which was now ran by Rhyanna's little brother Mitchell who is the gym leader for that gym. The reborn trainers also saw that Barry, who appeared in the Sinnoh games and anime in their previous lives, and Lucas, the male player character from the Sinnoh games in their previous lives, were the two people who had come in with Paul.
The reborn trainers really were glad to see that Paul, unlike back in the Team Scorn timeline, was alive and well here in the Team Heart timeline. But the first time they saw him in person came with learning that his older brother Reggie was arrested by Sinnoh region authorities due to having lent direct and knowing aid to members of Team Heart. However, Paul had the full story and it made it clear that Reggie shouldn't be in as much trouble as he is.
"The two members of Team Heart weren't in Team Heart outfits," Paul said, "They were dressed casually, hell one of them was hardly decent. A van had overturned on the hardly decent member of Team Heart, and Reggie who came upon the scene thought nothing but helping out. He had some Pokémon of his help rescue the hardly decent man by flipping the van back over and pulling him to safety."
"When did Reggie learn that he had helped to rescue a member of Team Heart?" Trip asked.
"The following morning," Paul said dryly, "When Veilstone City police came by to arrest Reggie while presenting him with proof that the men he helped the previous night were Team Heart members." Throwing his hands up into the air, Paul said, "To make matters worse, Reggie's ranch he maintained was shut down and all Pokémon kept there, mine included, were all confiscated by Sinnoh region authorities! I'm out most of my Pokémon aside from the ones I had on hand at the time!"
"Wait, it seems pretty odd, even IF one of the members of Team Heart was pinned under an overturned vehicle, for Reggie to help them," Kenny said.
"That's because, like Paul had said, they weren't in their Team Heart outfits," Lucas said, "They also didn't say anything that would clue a person in on the fact that they were members of Team Heart. Paul's older brother had no idea that he was helping members of Team Heart."
"Wait, if that's the case then why was Reggie arrested or at least is being punished as much as he is?" Mina asked, "He had no idea that he was helping members of Team Heart. How is what is being done to punish him fair?"
"That's the thing," Paul began, clearly unamused, "It's NOT fair. The government of Sinnoh is being paranoid to a ridiculous degree, to the point they'll arrest any non-member of Team Heart on Sinnoh soil seen lending aid to Team Heart, regardless of circumstances."
Dawn had a grim, considering look on her face as she thought about the situation. "...I may be able to do something, but first we'll have to get the opinion of the public on if what happened to Reggie is fair or not."
"It's already hit region wide news," Barry said, mildly troubled resignation in his tone, "The people of Sinnoh as a whole agree that what happened to Reggie is wrong because he had no way of knowing that he was helping the wrong people. It's just that the government of Sinnoh simply doesn't care."
Looking to Dawn, Paul asked, "And what do you mean you may be able to do something about what happened to Reggie?"
Gesturing to Dawn, Kenny said, "Uhh, Paul, you forget that Dawn here, in addition to being the Monarch of the World Coronation Series, is also the Champion of Sinnoh. She's got a lot of swagger with the right people in authority. She could probably pull rank or something to get Reggie off the hook for his screw up."
Sadly enough, the authority figures who run Sinnoh's government refused to budge on releasing any of the people they had arrested on charges of lending aid to Team Heart. Not even popular opinion among the people of Sinnoh, as well as Sinnoh Champion (and World Coronation Series Monarch) Dawn Berlitz calling for it, could get Reggie freed from his arrest for something he didn't even know was a wrong move to make.
Dawn, Trip, and Mina met up in the main area inside of The Big Beauty, where Paul, Lucas, and Barry were sitting around. "So Reggie is stuck in custody for the foreseeable future," Paul scowled, "Great. That's just great."
"I haven't seen such paranoia in one of the free lands since my crew and I were in Kanto," Dawn said, her tone showing she agreed with Paul.
Paul perked up a bit upon hearing that Dawn and her crew were in Kanto. "You guys went to the Kanto region?" Paul asked, "That's where Ash lives, if I recall correctly."
"I heard that Ash," Barry began, "After the Indigo League which used to be shared by Kanto and Johto dissolved and became no more, went on to become the Champion of the Kanto region Pokémon League after Kanto and Johto set up their own separate Pokémon Leagues due to how Kanto didn't want to share a Pokémon League with Johto."
Dawn nodded in confirmation. "Yes, Ash lives in Kanto and he's the Champion of the Kanto League."
"Ash and Brock were also tricked by the older sisters of their mutual friend Misty," Mina chimed in, "We're going to be doing some damage control about that when we get to Alola."
Lucas looked curious at that. "Alola? Why would you go to Alola?"
"Aside from having friendship fixing business there," Mina began, "Me as well as Dawn, Kenny, and Trip are visiting EVERY region to do some special field research on Pokémon in each region. As it just so happens, Sinnoh is the next region on the list so we get to stay local."
Looking curious, Lucas asked, "And what's the field research?"
"Me, Kenny, Trip, and Mina," Dawn began, "Although mostly just the first three, are working on trying to get every species of Pokémon registered as caught."
Paul's eyes widened a bit in surprise. "You guys are trying to complete the Pokédex."
Dawn nodded once in confirmation. "We'd appreciate it if you guys kept your mouths sealed on the subject, we have reason to believe that Team Heart may try to interfere with the task if they were to catch wind of it."
"I can see why," Lucas remarked, "It'd be very inspirational to the people at large if someone is actually able to complete the Pokédex. It may even inspire the people at large enough to rise up and help to overthrow the Team Heart Empire." Gently shaking his head, Lucas went on, "Team Heart is not going to be wanting that."
"So what can we do to help?" Barry asked.
Looking surprised, Trip said, "You guys?"
Nodding once, Barry said, "This sounds like the path to one heck of an adventure! Especially since you guys sound like you're going to regions where Team Heart rules, meaning we can fight them on their home turf! Sign me up!"
"True, we do plan to go to regions that are part of the Team Heart Empire," Dawn began, "But we can't exactly fight Team Heart in lands that they rule. We do, however, have a secondary goal that we can do while we're in lands ruled by Team Heart."
Arching a wry eyebrow, Lucas asked, "What is it?"
"We'll need to introduce you boys to our special guests who had just joined the crew before we met you three here in Veilstone City," Dawn explained, "Kenny should be working on disguising them with his movie makeup skills so that Team Heart won't be able to recognize them, but we'll tell you boys who they are so there's no confusion."
...
As it turned out, Salvia and Freesia had their hair dyed white and blonde respectively, were given sunglasses to wear, and were dressed in more casual outfits. "Yeah, I thought that Kenny's overly complicated ideas for Salvia and her maid were totally unnecessary," Leona said as she and Omiyo stood with a bemused Kenny, "Simple changes and decent aliases should be sufficient to keep Team Heart from finding out who they really are."
Scowling, Kenny said as he folded his arms over his chest, "You never let me tell a story, Leona."
"Your story is overly long and complicated," Leona said dryly, "Here is all the story that is needed." Turning to look at Salvia and Freesia, Leona said, "Salvia, you're alias is Kanna Kobiyashi. You and your older sister Tohru, that being Freesia, left home because you both sought to see the world that lays beyond the simple idyllic countryside where you were both born and raised and had spent all of your lives up until now."
"So... so I'm Kanna and Freesia is Tohru," Salvia said.
Nodding once, Leona said, "Yes, exactly."
Shrugging, Dawn said, "Well at least it covers their disguises and aliases." Turning back to the trio of Paul, Lucas, and Barry, Dawn began, "Yeah, my flying ship's crew can be a bit... eccentric... at times, but their hearts are in the right place."
Paul looked from the others next to Dawn, then to Dawn herself, then back and forth for a bit until he finally settled on Dawn. "I don't suppose that your crew has room for at least one more member, does it?" Paul asked.
Dawn, as well as the others there aside from Salvia and Freesia, all looked surprised. "Are... are you asking to join the crew of The Big Beauty?" Kenny asked. Barry at least made it clear he wanted to join, but Paul saying he wanted to join as well surprised the reborn trainers.
Shrugging, Paul said, "I have nowhere else to go, and I wanna track down some of those idiots in Team Heart and give them a beating because it's their stupidity that got my brother arrested." Giving a look to Dawn, Paul added, "Assuming that you'll have me on your crew, that is."
"Yo, I wanna join the crew too!" Barry exclaimed, reiterating his desire to join the crew of The Big Beauty, "I wanna fight Team Heart as well!"
"I... I don't suppose that your crew has a chef already, does it?" Lucas asked, "Because I'm rather confident in my culinary skills."
"Well we do have the room to welcome all of you," Dawn began, "But I'll have to go over it with the rest of the crew first. They ought to know about it if there's potential new crew members." Paul as well as Lucas and Barry all nodded in understanding before Dawn went about calling for a meeting of the entire crew of The Big Beauty to go over a change in crew roster as well as another potential change to crew roster after that.
"Okay, crew," Dawn said at the all crew members meeting, "First off, we're taking in Salvia and her maid Freesia as new crew members. This is for their own safety as they had to flee their country when it was invaded and taken over by Team Heart. It's especially important to keep Salvia's status secret as she's the last of her royal bloodline."
"I already dyed their hair different colors and had them put on different and more casual outfits," Leona said, "As well as give them aliases to use." Kenny still looked bemused that he wasn't allowed to tell a story.
"Next up," Dawn said to her crew while gesturing to Paul, Lucas, and Barry, "These three guys are also interested in joining the crew so as to help us with fighting off Team Heart. They can also help with the task that Salvia is working. I would like to hear your opinions on the idea of Paul, Lucas, and Barry joining our crew."
"Hey!" Rhyanna said while pointing at Barry, "It's the fining boy! He's the one boy I remember who likes to try to charge people various fines for various reasons!"
"Yeah Barry, you're gonna have to drop that habit if you're joining the crew," Dawn said, "At least against fellow crew members and or import people. Feel free to use that habit to annoy the utter hell out of Team Heart."
Nodding once in understanding, Barry said, "Got it, Captain."
Pointing to Lance the Cook, Dawn said, "Lance, Lucas says that he's got a respectable amount of culinary experience. Are you okay with another person in the kitchen with you?"
"Me and my Sneasel and Mr. Mime will be a bit shorthanded in the kitchen since we're having a now larger crew to cook for," Lance replied, "Another chef is always welcomed."
Holding up a hand, Omiyo said, "Why does the purple haired boy look grumpy?"
"I assume you're talking about me?" Paul asked. After Omiyo nodded in confirmation, Paul let out a sigh. "...My older brother was recently arrested by Sinnoh region authorities. His ranch was seized as were all of the Pokémon he kept there, including most of mine. He was arrested due to lending direct aid to Team Heart members, despite not knowing that they were members of Team Heart due to how they weren't dressed in their Team Heart outfits."
"That is most unfortunate," Mitch said, "You have Mitch's sympathy."
Looking to everyone, Paul went on, "Due to the paranoia against Team Heart that the free lands have, the only way I can set things right, at least as far as I can figure, is if I help to bring down Team Heart. That's why I wanna join the crew, so I can come along and help fight Team Heart wherever you guys go."
Looking to Paul, Dawn said, "Just so you know, our journey will take us to some lands where Team Heart rules, meaning we can't start anything with them there. But we're going to be doing work in Sinnoh first where the people are still free. We're also planning on heading to both Kalos and Alola eventually. Are you okay with fighting Team Heart in just those lands, at least until a better game plan is figured out?"
"Why not Kanto?" Barry asked, "That's a free land."
"We already did work in Kanto," Trip explained, "And Ash is holding down the fort over there."
Paul gave a knowing smirk of sincere amusement. "Yeah, we can trust Ash to keep things over in Kanto settled. Although if possible I wouldn't mind getting to visit him again."
Dawn nodded in understanding. "Knowing Ash, he'll be willing to hear you out if you vent to him about how stupid Sinnoh's government has been in arresting your older brother." Things seemed to be settling down for the time being, and although things might get a smidge more crowded in The Big Beauty, she still had plenty of space for crew. And five new members joined the crew of Dawn's flying ship that day, including the princess who gave the flying ship to Dawn in the first place.
Team Heart's evil is ever spreading and ever reaching, causing Paul's older brother Reggie to get arrested for helping two known members even though he didn't know at the time that they were both members of Team Heart. The expanding force of the Team Heart Empire had also invaded and taken over Salvia's kingdom, forcing her and Freesia on the run for their own safety. Now they both had to hide while using assumed aliases as they work on gathering allies for taking back the land that Salvia by right of blood and birth rules.
Despite coming home to Sinnoh, Dawn and the other reborn trainers can't exactly rest easy.
(Opelucid City, Unova region)
Bianca, the Boss's Assistant of Team Heart and public face that rules the Team Heart Empire, was sitting at her desk in her office in her manor home in the wealthy neighborhood located in Opelucid City, Unova. The Unova region serves as the seat of the Team Heart Empire, but very few know that the Boss of Team Heart, the only member who out-ranks Bianca, has their eyes on a different seat that they want to take.
Bianca pondered that as the usual maid came into the office. "Lady Bianca," the maid said, "As per your request, Unova Champion Nate is here. Shall I send him in to see you now?"
"Yes," Bianca replied, then saw the maid off. A few seconds later, Nate the Champion of Unova came walking into Bianca's office, his Simisear walking alongside him. Nate is the male player character from the Black2 and White2 games back in Dawn's previous life, although no-one aside from the reborn trainers knows that. "I'm glad that you were able to be quick in coming," Bianca said to Nate, "I've got a trip and a task for you."
"What's the mission?" Nate asked. Although he was the strongest trainer in the region, he can't exactly say no to it if Boss's Assistant Bianca has orders for him. She IS the (public face) ruler of the Team Heart Empire after all, and even the Admin of the Unova Sector of Team Heart, the official Head of State for the Unova region, defers to Bianca.
"I'm going to be sending you to the Hoenn region," Bianca began to explain to Nate, "There, you will rendezvous with Johto Champion Gold and a good number of Team Heart men in a plan to flush out and capture Former Hoenn Champion Brendan, who was liberated from a labor camp by the terrorist group Hoenn's Heroes. You and Gold will be working together to bring Brendan down, he is too strong to risk having only one trainer of comparable skill and power face him."
Nate nodded in understanding. He did hear about how Hoenn's Heroes busted into a labor camp in the Hoenn region and gathered some of the prisoners there to join their cause. He also heard that Brendan, the Former Hoenn Champion, was among those collected by Hoenn's Heroes, and they also got Brendan his all star team of Pokémon back. A team like that will be a tall order to best in a full battle, even for Nate himself.
So the idea of having two Champions of regions part of the Team Heart Empire take on Brendan all at once was a sound call. "...I'm ready to go as soon as you want to send me," Nate said, "I just need to first let Rosa know I'm going to be out of Unova for a while. I also wouldn't mind one last kiss from her before I leave."
Bianca smiled in warm amusement at that. "It really is sweet how you two are an item. You really are showing care for a girl who totally deserves it." Bianca allowed Nate to leave so he can go see his girlfriend one last time before leaving for Hoenn to help bring down who is arguably the single most threatening terrorist facing down against Team Heart right now.
Bianca really wished that Sinnoh was a part of the Team Heart Empire. That would of allowed her to order Dawn Berlitz to join the hunt for Brendan. A girl like Dawn, with the Pokémon she's got... she would have been Team Heart's ace in the hole in this case if Sinnoh were a part of the Team Heart Empire right now. But no, no Sinnoh is too risky to try and take right now, especially since Bianca's gotten word that Dawn is back in Sinnoh.
Hopefully she'll stay there for a while.
END, CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Author's notes;
This chapter sees the reborn trainers add a few more members to the crew of The Big Beauty. The first two are Salvia and Freesia, the princess who gave the flying ship to Dawn in the first place and the maid of said princess respectively. They fled to Sinnoh after Team Heart invaded and took over Salvia's kingdom. Only they were able to escape, and Dawn agrees to grant them shelter.
Also joining the crew of The Big Beauty are Lucas, the male player character from the Sinnoh games back in the previous lives of the reborn trainers, Barry, who was in said Sinnoh games as well as the Sinnoh anime, and lastly but most surprisingly of all, Paul the former jerkwad who is still on the path of his redemption arc. Paul's brother Reggie was arrested due to paranoia on part of Sinnoh region law enforcement, and that greatly screws Paul over as well.
But the expanded crew gives Dawn and the others more to work with as they continue on their quest to complete the Pokédex. Meanwhile in Unova, Bianca calls in Nate, the Champion of Unova and the male player character from Black2 and White2, and sends him over to Hoenn to help with tracking down Brendan who had been added to the roster of Hoenn's Heroes.
The next chapter will see Dawn and the others work on the Sinnoh Pokédex, as well as meet some Team Heart members they can actually fight. Paul may also see some development in his story, I'm not sure yet. 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)