Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Pokédex no Isekai
Chapter Twenty-two: The seat of the Empire
The skies above Numeva Town, Unova were thundering, the clouds dark with storm. The Big Beauty had to land in Numeva Town and wait for the storm to pass. After the flying ship was able to safely land, the drawbridge shot out so that its occupants can disembark. But no-one on board of The Big Beauty was getting off just yet, although a few of the occupants of the flying ship ran out onto the open air deck and looked out and up into the storming skies above.
"What in blazes was Trip even thinking?!" Barry exclaimed as he, along with Dawn, Kenny, Mina, Lucas, Paul, Leona, and Omiyo all looked up into the skies, "Hopping onto his Latias, calling out that Miraidon thing, and flying off of the deck and into the storm?!"
"He said that he saw something he wanted to check out," Dawn said, "But I do agree that he's being rather reck-"
*THOOM*
Dawn was cut off when a large object crash landed in some of the woods outside of Numeva Town. Dawn saw what it was, and she also saw Trip flying on down towards it on the back of Lisa, his named Latias. Villetta, Trip's named Miraidon, flew next to Trip and Lisa as they all flew right down for what crash landed in the woods.
Calling out Lincoln, her named Latios, Dawn hopped on. "I saw where Trip was going," Dawn said, "I'm going to go see if he needs help." Dawn then took up and off into the distance, to see how her brother is doing with... whatever it was that he's dealing with.
...
When Dawn arrived on the scene, she saw Trip doing battle against Zekrom, the legendary dual electric dragon Pokémon of Unova region lore. In the Team Scorn timeline, Ideku Badorigo had caught Zekrom, but here in the Team Heart timeline it's still a wild Pokémon. Chances are that the legendary Pokémon Enamorus, which was also caught by Ideku in the Team Scorn timeline, was in the Team Heart timeline still a wild Pokémon.
But that's besides the point as Trip was commanding Villetta against Zekrom, with occasional calls for Lisa to lay down support fire to help Villetta. After a few Dragon Pulses from Villetta and Lisa, Trip was able to get Zekrom beaten enough to get down to one knee in exhaustion. Taking the chance, Trip took out a Master Ball, expanded it, and threw it at Zekrom. It went into the Master Ball which landed on the ground and shook for a bit.
The Master Ball then made a clicking sound that indicated capture. "So you caught Zekrom," Dawn said right as Trip collected the Master Ball containing his newly caught Zekrom. Trip perked up a bit when he hears someone, but relaxed when he turned and saw it was just his sister.
"...Yeah, and Imma name it Obi-Wan," Trip said.
Shrugging, Dawn said, "I would have named it Ginei, or maybe Schwarz."
"Well let's just hope that Team Heart doesn't catch wind of me capturing Zekrom here in their home turf," Trip replied as the Master Ball containing the newly dubbed Obi-Wan was sent to Oak's Lab over in Pallet Town, Kanto. Trip then recalled Villetta, hopped back onto Lisa, then flew with Dawn back to Numeva Town.
After the Berlitz siblings got back to The Big Beauty and explained what happened to the usual away team, the reborn trainers got ready to go see Professor Juniper, who they had gotten if from Professor Rowan will be expecting to see them. There was no need for the guests that Dawn and the others brought along with them to know that Trip caught Zekrom.
"Wait a minute, Dawn," Clair, the younger sister of Tabitha, said to Dawn as Clair herself and Tabitha looked to her, "When will you take us to Nimbasa City?"
"Trip, Kenny, Mina, and I have to check in with Professor Juniper," Dawn explained, "We need to let her know we'll be doing field research on the native species of Pokémon here in Unova. Once we're done here, we'll take you and your sister to Nimbasa City."
"Mmm, I can't wait, darling," Tabitha remarked, "I feel like Nimbasa City is just the place for me to make my debut into the world of fashion and fashion design." Dawn nodded in understanding; a bit of a while ago, Tabitha had asked Dawn with help for her to move to Nimbasa City due to wanting to break out into the fashion scene.
Tabitha was unable to do so in Sinnoh due to how Tabitha is, with all due respect, a rather big girl. Dawn with an assessing look figured Tabitha's weight to be comparable to how much Bianca weighs, and Bianca is slated to weigh a shade over a quarter-ton. A girl as wide and round and fat as Tabitha wasn't exactly welcomed in the world of fashion in the free lands.
...But in the Team Heart Empire, Tabitha could strut her stuff and be regarded well. There's also how Tabitha has shown some good degree of fashion sense and crafting clothing; Dawn was betting that Tabitha could compete with the best of them in Nimbasa City. It's rather sad, really, that a girl like Tabitha, given how skilled and capable she very clearly is, wasn't welcomed in fashion in the free lands because she happens to be fat.
Dawn asked everyone in the usual away team, aside from Kenny, Trip, and Mina, to wait on board of the flying ship as the business with Professor Juniper only needed Dawn herself and the fellows that she's bringing along with her. Conveniently, The Big Beauty was parked right next to Professor Juniper's Lab in Numeva Town, meaning that if there is an emergency that the reborn trainers are needed for, the other crew members won't exactly have to go far to find them.
...
Inside of Juniper's Lab, the reborn trainers sat and talked with Juniper and her dad, who Kenny forgot the real name of so he defaulted to calling him Daddy Juniper. Professor Juniper had been able to arrange getting Dawn, Kenny, and Trip the base form elemental monkey Pokémon of Unova, those being Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour. Dawn had Pansear sitting on her lap while the boys had their respective monkeys put away.
"I got the letter from Rowan, who sent it via giving it to a Pokémon he sent me with the claims that he wants me study said Pokémon," Juniper said, "He said that you and your team would be coming here to Unova to do field research on the species of Pokémon native to Unova. But Rowan's letter failed to go into finer detail."
Dawn nodded in confirmation; given that Professor Juniper is the native Pokémon Professor of Unova, it was too risky to share with her the fact that the reborn trainers are working on trying to complete the Pokédex. The reborn trainers had to be VERY careful with who they share that info with, as who knows what Team Heart will do if they were to catch wind of someone trying to get all species of Pokémon registered as caught.
"Can you help us?" Trip asked.
"I'll do what I can," Juniper said, "Send you guys in the right direction and whatnot. But there's only so much I can do, especially given the fact that your field research is going to be general work and nothing specific that I can give further help on."
Dawn nodded once. "It's because Unova is part of the Team Heart Empire."
"It serves as the Empire's seat no less," Daddy Juniper spoke up, looking none too amused by the fact that he lives in a region ruled by the authority of Team Heart, "A seat that's being crushed by the enormous rear end of that enormous, evil girl."
Juniper gently sighed, knowing exactly where her dad's bitter feelings were coming from. "Dad, there's more than just Unova being ruled by Team Heart," Juniper gently admonished, "And there's no excuse to make any sort of mean snippets towards Bianca over her weight."
Dawn picked up a hint of regret in the tone of the younger Juniper. "You know a bit about Bianca."
"...Would you believe me if I told you that Bianca had once been as bright eyed and hopeful as any other young person wanting to get their first Pokémon?" Juniper asked.
"It'd take a lot nowadays to truly surprise me," Dawn replied.
Juniper let out a troubled sigh. "...You see, quite a while ago, Bianca was the same as any other kid or young teen living here in Numeva Town who wanted their first Pokémon. Bianca was actually part of a group of four young teens, all the same age as her. The other three were two boys named Cheren and Hilbert, and a girl named Hilda."
That didn't surprise Dawn, those were the names of player characters and rivals from the original Black and White games back in her previous life. "...Go on," Dawn said.
"One day, I got it that they were all ready to come see me as I could provide them with their first Pokémon," Juniper began, "But there was four of them and only three Pokémon for me to provide, those Pokémon being Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott."
Folding his arms over his chest, Trip said, "Let me guess, you gave the starter Pokémon to Hilbert, Hilda, and Cheren, which left Bianca without one."
Juniper did the so-so gesture with her right hand. "...That's how it happened, but not how I intended it to go down," Juniper replied.
Dawn's interest was piqued. "What do you mean?"
"I had intended for Bianca and the boys to be the ones to get to pick from Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott," Juniper began to explain, "I wasn't exactly amused with Hilda at the time, given how I heard she was a bit of an unruly girl in attitude." Gently shaking her head, Juniper went on, "But I had to handle some business at the time, so I wasn't able to supervise the handing out of the starter Pokémon. I had to leave the task to a pair of assistants I had at the time, telling them specifically that Bianca and the boys would be the ones to get to pick."
"Lemme guess," Kenny began, "The assistants ignored your orders and kept Bianca from getting to pick while giving that honor to Hilda instead."
Gently shaking her head in disappointment, Juniper said, "I didn't learn of what my assistants had done until after Hilbert, Hilda, and Cheren each had four Unova gym badges," Juniper said, "When I asked about Bianca, Hilbert told me that he helped her catch some Pokémon, but after that he had no idea about her because she took off on her own."
"Is there a reason why your assistants blatantly ignored and defied your orders?" Mina asked.
An unamused scowl appeared across Juniper's face. "Yes. They kept Bianca from getting to pick one of the starter Pokémon solely on the basis that she just so happens to be a bigger girl," Juniper said, "They felt that Bianca wasn't worthy of having one of the starter Pokémon just because she just so happens to be fat."
"So fatphobia played a role in Bianca being screwed over," Kenny said, knowing full well that Team Heart views fatphobia as bar none the worst form of discrimination possible.
Juniper nodded in the affirmative. "So what if Bianca was a bit on the heavy side? That did nothing to change what kind of person she was! Bianca was still the sweetest, kindest, most thoughtful girl I had ever met. She was even looked up to by Hilbert's younger sister Rosa."
Dawn recognized the name Rosa as that of the female player character from the Black2 and White2 games back in her previous life, with Nate being the name for the male player character from those games. "Hilbert's younger sister, huh?"
"Rosa is a sweet girl too," Juniper said, "And she has the cutest, sweetest little crush ever on Hilda's younger brother Nate. You kids ought to know Nate, he's the Champion of Unova now. He also is a strong supporter of Unova's elemental monkey Pokémon, and bringing more attention to them and how they're good Pokémon."
"Seems curious that Nate likes those specific Pokémon so much," Mina remarked, "I mean they aren't exactly popular among trainers, even here in Unova."
Juniper looked a bit resigned. "According to Nate," Juniper began, "When he was a lot younger, he fell down a cliff side but landed on a solid enough ledge. This happened because Hilda was angry with him and tried chasing him, he fell down while trying to escape. Anyway, a member of the Unova region Pokémon Ranger Corp rescued Nate when his situation was reported."
"What does that have to do with Nate favoring the elemental monkey Pokémon of Unova?" Trip asked.
"The specific Pokémon Ranger who saved Nate is a member of Monkey Madness," Juniper explained, "A specific subgroup within the Unova Pokémon Ranger Corp. Each member of Monkey Madness has one of the elemental monkey Pokémon, or one of their evolved forms, as a partner Pokémon. The specific Pokémon Ranger who saved Nate has a Simisear."
"...I did hear that Nate's closest Pokémon partner is a Simisear," Dawn said, gently scratching her Pansear around its ears.
Juniper nodded in agreement. "It's the reason why Nate said that when he became a trainer, he fully intended to get a Simisear of his own. Coincidentally, the Pokémon Ranger who saved Nate ended up becoming his step-dad when he married Nate's mom who divorced from Nate's biological dad."
"Why did Nate's parents get divorced?" Dawn asked, she and the other reborn trainers surprised to hear that Nate's parents got divorced.
"Nate's dad, who is also Hilda's dad," Juniper said, a hint of unamused bitterness in her tone, "Didn't like how Nate's and Hilda's mom had gotten admittedly rather big. When she was unable to lose any weight, he divorced her. He also had her sign a prenup before they had gotten married to ensure that she couldn't claim anything from him in case of divorce."
"I'm sorry but what the cinnamon toast fuck is up with that man?!" Mina exclaimed.
Shrugging, Daddy Juniper said, "He's some big shot movie director out of Poké Star Studios, so he naturally has quite a bit of personal wealth, not to mention a lot of fame. All of that had led to him getting a lot of ego and vanity as well."
"When the parents got divorced, the kids also split up," Juniper went on, "Nate chose to stay with his mom while Hilda, who similarly held somewhat fatphobic views, went with her dad. Sometime after the divorce, Nate's mom met the Pokémon Ranger who saved Nate when he was younger. Sparks ended up flying between the two, resulting in Nate's mom marrying the Pokémon Ranger."
Folding her arms over her chest, Dawn said, "Well at least Nate's mom got a happy ending."
Juniper nodded in agreement. "When Nate was old enough to become a Pokémon trainer," Juniper began, "I gave him an Oshawott. I got it that the Pansear he got is actually the daughter of his step-dad's Simisear. Nate then went on his Pokémon trainer journey, and surprisingly became Champion of Unova during his first year. He's been Champion of Unova ever since."
At Mina's request, Daddy Juniper pulled up a photo of Nate being crowned the Champion of Unova. It also showed Nate's full party, that being a Samurott (Unovan obviously), his Simisear, a(n Unovan) Lilligant, an Excadrill, a shiny Haxorus, and a Hydreigon. "That's the party he used to defeat former Champion Alder in an official title match," Daddy Juniper said, "And it's the same party that Nate had used to defeat everyone who had tried for his title."
"Most recently," Juniper said, "Dragon Master Iris tried to battle Champion Nate for his title but lost. It was fairly bad for Iris too, especially as Nate's Excadrill alone defeated half of Iris's team, with Iris's own Excadrill being one of her Pokémon taken out by Nate's Excadrill."
Dawn remembered, from the Team Scorn timeline, that Iris became Champion of Unova but lost the title to Nate. Additionally, Nate's Excadrill reportedly took out half of Iris's team, including Iris's own Excadrill, all on its own. The same thing happened here in the Team Heart timeline, only Nate's the Unova Champion already and he was defending the title against Iris. Things don't seem to change all that much from timeline to timeline sometimes.
"Nate's favoring of the elemental monkey Pokémon of Unova has helped to raise popularity as a whole for them," Juniper said, "Especially for Simisear given that Nate's Simisear more or less is the lead Pokémon of Nate's team. It's also helped draw support for Monkey Madness, who previously were regarded as an eccentric group within the Unova Pokémon Ranger Corp, but now they're seen as some of the finest that the Corp has to offer."
"Here's a fun fact for you kids," Daddy Juniper began, "Hilbert has stated that he not only wants to join the Unova Pokémon Ranger Corp, but he specifically wants to join Monkey Madness. He even got a Pansage which is now a Simisage. And this was before Monkey Madness got more popularity thanks to Nate."
"How are Nate and Rosa doing now?" Dawn asked, "How are Hilbert, Hilda, and Cheren doing now?"
Juniper was about to answer that, but she was interrupted when there was a knock at the front door of the lab. Daddy Juniper got up to answer it, then a few seconds later Daddy Juniper called into the lab, "Hey Dawn! There's a boy wearing a red beret hat, a blonde haired boy, and a purple haired dour looking boy all asking for you!"
"Dour looking?" Paul's voice could be heard calling out.
Dawn recalled her Pansear and got up with the other reborn trainers to go see what Paul, Lucas, and Barry all want. When Dawn got to the front door of the lab, she was able to see a few Team Heart grunts outside that Daddy Juniper obviously didn't notice. "What's the situation?" Dawn asked.
The boys stepped to the side, with Lucas saying, "Umm, we have some... guests here... who are wanting us to go to Opelucid City. There's a number of their fellows here to ensure that we comply with the request."
Daddy Juniper's eyes widened with shocked surprise upon seeing the Team Heart grunts. "Oh geez! What did we do?!" Daddy Juniper asked, clearly worried.
"Nothing that is known to Empire authority," said one of the Team Heart grunts, "But it has reached Admin Wolfgang that Dawn Berlitz and her companionship are here in Unova. As the Admin who heads up the Unova Sector of Team Heart, as well as the Head of State for the Unova region, Admin Wolfgang wants to speak with Dawn and confirm what all business she has here in Unova."
Shrugging, Kenny said, "Well, figures that you guys would come for us. This happened in Johto and Hoenn, so we figured that it'd happen here in Unova."
"Unova serves as the seat of the Team Heart Empire," a second Team Heart grunt began, "Not to mention how Lady Bianca is in Unova. We cannot afford any issues with her security, and you guys being here has even her worried."
Dawn figured that Team Heart would fret over it if she was in the same area as the Boss's Assistant of Team Heart, given that said person is the public face ruler of the Team Heart Empire. "That's fair," Dawn said, "Just let my crew members and I who are off of the ship get on before we take off. I'm assuming that you guys will be escorting us."
"Naturally," said the first Team Heart grunt. Dawn nodded once before she and her crew members who were off of The Big Beauty got back on board before it took up and off into the skies, with the Team Heart grunts going after them on flying Pokémon. Dawn and her crew were about to go visit the capital of the region that served as the seat of the Team Heart Empire.
Even Dawn was a bit nervous, although she kept her cool.
Later, with The Big Beauty parked next to a government building in Opelucid City, the reborn trainers were led through to an office room. Upon opening the double doors leading into the room, they saw that the office room was set up kind of similarly to how Admin Coryn of the Johto Sector had his office room set up over in the Johto region.
Standing in front of the desk that was in the room were a pair of uniquely dressed Team Heart members, one guy and one girl. The guy of the pair was fair skinned, with white hair long enough to be in a single men's ponytail, aside from his bangs which he allowed to frame his face. He wore a pink short sleeved men's causal dress shirt over a black long sleeved shirt, black pants, pink shoes with black shoelaces and soles, and he had a black Team Heart 'H' on his casual dress shirt, over the left pectoral.
The girl of the pair had tannish skin denoting a Latino heritage, with her black hair, about as long as the white hair the boy with her had, in a single ponytail. The girl wore a pink hoodie with the hood worn down, a pair of black baggy cargo shorts held up with a belt, pink socks, black shoes with pink shoelaces, and a black Team Heart 'H' on the hoodie over her left breast. After Dawn and the other reborn trainers were led into the room, the double doors closed behind them, telling Dawn that this was serious.
Gesturing to himself, the guy of the pair said, "I believe that introductions are in order. I'm Wolfgang, Admin of the Unova Sector of Team Heart. That also makes me the Head of State for the Unova region as a whole. The girl with me is Betzabe, my Admin's Assistant." Lowering the arm that he was gesturing with, Wolfgang went on, "You and your crew are here in Unova. Explain yourselves. Now."
A bit harsh compared to when Dawn and the others visited Johto and Hoenn, but considering that Unova is where Bianca resides, Dawn figured that the severity is for Bianca's sake, Wolfgang was being strict because he had the Boss's Assistant's safety and well being first and foremost in his mind. Dawn being in Unova would understandably make Team Heart think that the public face ruler of the Team Heart Empire could be in danger.
Dawn proceeded to conduct herself properly and show strict business like respect and attitude. "My crew and I are here in Unova to conduct field research on the various native species of Pokémon that live in Unova," Dawn explained, "We also have a few friends living here in Unova and we wish to check up on them. We have no intention of doing anything that Team Heart would object to."
Wolfgang gave Dawn a serious, considering look. "...I understand that your companion with the straw blonde hair is your brother," Wolfgang said, catching Dawn and Trip by surprise, "Tell me, who between the two of you do your mom and dad love more?"
"Umm, it's just our mom," Trip said, "Our dad's never been in the picture, at least according to mom because I was adopted."
Wolfgang's expression automatically grew more suspicious. "...So you aren't your mother's child by blood," Wolfgang said, "And you have your sister here, a female sibling who IS your mother's child by blood, to compete with."
"I assure you, Admin Wolfgang," Dawn said, "That me and Trip's mom loves us both equally. She doesn't favor one of us over the other. Gender and blood relation has nothing to do with it."
"You'll have to forgive my boyfriend here," Betzabe said, "And yes, Wolfgang and I are dating. You see, his life growing up didn't exactly treat him nicely, given that he's always been screwed over by his parents in favor of his ten sisters."
"Pure fucking Sexism on their part," Wolfgang bitterly spat, "The people who brought me into the world automatically assumed the worst in me, the worst of me. They were convinced that I was never going to be any good, that I would never do any right. But they assumed the opposite of my female siblings, thinking they were never going to be any bad, that they would never do any wrong. Feh, fucking typical of them."
Gesturing to himself, Wolfgang said, "I was, well before I ever got the chance to prove myself, given the black Mareep of the family label, solely because I'm a boy. And it's far from the only example of Sexism running roughshod over my life, although their firm belief that me being a boy meant that I would never be anything but trouble had led to some of the outside of the family cases of Sexism that I had suffered through."
Dawn wasn't quite expecting this; she had the general idea that all Team Heart Admins had suffered from some form of discrimination, with the specific kind of discrimination differing from Admin to Admin. But she never expected an Admin of Team Heart to have suffered through Sexism, and it apparently was centralized from the Admin's family making him out into the family black Mareep before he even had a chance to prove himself otherwise.
All and solely because he's a boy.
"If it counts for anything," Dawn said, "I'm sorry that you had to suffer through that."
Wolfgang's gaze stayed narrowed, but he shifted his eyes to Dawn. "...There's one more thing that I need to cover while you're here," Wolfgang said, "Well, maybe a few more things, depending on what questions crop up and what becomes relevant."
"What is it?" Dawn asked.
"As you ought to know," Wolfgang began, "Lady Bianca resides here in the Unova region. Do you have any intent on seeing her?"
Shrugging, Dawn replied, "Why? Does she wish to see my friends and I?" Shifting a bit, Dawn went on, "I came here to Unova with my crew so that we can do field research on the various native species of Pokémon that live here, as well as see a few friends. Unless Bianca for whatever reason summons us, or if we see her by chance, I doubt we'll cross paths as I'm aiming for my crew and I to keep to ourselves if possible. We don't seek to cause any trouble."
Wolfgang considered Dawn's words before ultimately accepting them. "If you encounter any of the members of Aincrad," Wolfgang began, "The group of terrorists here in Unova who aim to overthrow Team Heart rule, will you and your companionship be willing to capture them and turn them over to the Team Heart authority?"
"No-one in my crew and I have any idea what any members of Aincrad look like," Dawn replied, "If you have wanted posters of one or two members, I'd appreciate it if you'd let us get a good look so that we'd get an idea on what faces to look out for." Dawn was a bit surprised that Wolfgang was asking her to help with tracking down members of Aincrad, which is to Unova what Hoenn's Heroes was to the Hoenn region.
Wolfgang nodded once to Dawn in understanding. "A very reasonable request," Wolfgang remarked, "We don't have the identities of ALL members of Aincrad, but we do have wanted posters for all of the confirmed ranking members. Copies of those wanted posters will be made and given to you so that you know who to look out for."
Holding up a hand, Mina said, "When we were in Johto and then Hoenn, we were provided with copies of books containing Team Heart enforced laws for the specific regions. Most of said laws on the books are a standard set that's copied and pasted for all regions, but each book has laws that are specific to its respective region. Do you have such law books for Unova?"
Nodding once, Wolfgang walked over to a bookshelf and got two copies of a Team Heart regional law book. Similar to the law books for Johto and Hoenn, the Unova edition of the law book had the same rather obese girl on the cover, but the Unova edition of the law book had the obese girl talking to a pair of persons, one boy and one girl, both dressed similarly to one another and depicted as being equal to one another.
Dawn when she saw that version of the Team Heart law book for Unova figured that it reflected how Wolfgang was in the past a victim of Sexism. Dawn figured that Wolfgang would be keen on having boys and girls depicted as being equal to one another, no one gender being better or worse than its counterpart. Mina got the other copy of the Unova edition of the law book, while Dawn was going to be putting the copy she got in her bookshelf in her room on board of The Big Beauty.
"Just so that you'll be aware," Wolfgang said to Dawn, "While you are here in Unova, expect to see members of Team Heart making sure you won't get up to any trouble, as well as keep you and your crew from trying to see Lady Bianca."
"Fair enough," Dawn said, "Ooh, before I forget." Dawn then proceeded to explain to Wolfgang how she and her crew were helping Tabitha and her little sister Clair with coming to Unova as Tabitha wishes to break into the world of fashion and fashion design, finding it impossible in her birth land of Sinnoh and the other free lands due to her considerable girth, but figuring that one of the lands under the Team Heart banner would be kinder and more accepting.
"Is there anything that has to be done for Tabitha to start on achieving her dreams of working with fashion?" Dawn asked, "Will she even be allowed to work here in Unova?"
"I fail to see how this Tabitha girl will be held back here in Unova," Betzabe began, a hint of an amused smile on her face, "Here in Unova, in the Team Heart Empire, we have no restrictions on letting girls who live larger than life into fashion. In fact, Tabitha will be welcomed with open arms. If your boasts of her skills in fashion are as good as you claim, then the fashion industry here in Unova, centered in Nimbasa City, will be wanting her."
"Yes, the lads and I were all gonna head over to Nimbasa City after our business with Juniper and Daddy Juniper was done in Numeva Town," Kenny said, "But your friends collected us and brought us here before we could do that."
"You'll have to forgive them," Betzabe said, "After all, Unova like what's been established is not only part of the Team Heart Empire, but serves as the seat of said Empire, and Lady Bianca resides here in the region. Unova is one of the most, if not THE most overall, secure locales in the Team Heart Empire. We cannot afford to be careless here."
Dawn nodded once in understanding. "Fair enough."
Smirking a bit, Betzabe went on, "You should start with the fashion building next to the Nimbasa City gym. Elesa, the Nimbasa City gym leader, is also a fashion model and works with the fashion building next to her gym. A number of other fashion designers already work there, including one of Wolfgang's older si-"
"One of the female siblings that the people who brought me into the world favor over me," Wolfgang cut in, looking away to the side with a somber, regretful look on his face, bitter pain in his eyes.
Betzabe stopped short, realized what she said and how it conflicts with what Wolfgang feels, and then fell back from speaking any further. The reborn trainers could all tell that Wolfgang was very clearly hurting over how he had suffered growing up due to his parents blatantly favoring his sisters over him, thinking him to be nothing but bad without ever giving him a chance to prove himself just because he's a boy.
After the reborn trainers excused themselves, they were led out of the office room by some Team Heart grunts, with the double doors of the office closing behind them. Alone in the office with her boyfriend, Betzabe turned to look at Wolfgang, only to see that his head was hanging forward, his shoulders shaking ever so slightly.
A single tear fell down the side of Wolfgang's face.
The Big Beauty was able to take off from Opelucid City and fly for Nimbasa City, where Dawn and the other reborn trainers, after Dawn, Kenny, and Trip sent their elemental monkey Pokémon to Oak's Lab for the time being, intended to drop off Tabitha and Clair. As the flying ship flew, Dawn had a thought that compelled her to call her and Trip's mom Johanna. Using a secure line, Dawn punched in the appropriate number to call to the Berlitz residence in Twinleaf Town, Sinnoh.
After a few moments, the other end of the call picked up. "Hello?" Johanna's voice replied.
"Hey mom, it's me," Dawn said, "Sorry if I called at a bad time."
"Oh no, it's just after dinner, it's not too late in the day for a phone call," Johanna assured her daughter, "Anyway, what's up?"
Dawn then proceeded to explain to Johanna what she and her friends had encountered in Unova, concerning how a boy was heavily disfavored by his parents, and to a lesser extent some of his sisters, in favor of the sisters. She explained to her mom how the blatant Sexism against the boy had been running roughshod over his life, and that it's led him to a dark place.
"I just wanted to be sure that you loved and cared for Trip and I equally," Dawn said, "That you don't favor or disfavor one of us over the other, that our genders, or if we're your kids by blood for that matter, doesn't have any impact on how much you love us."
"Dawn, of course I love both you and Trip equally," Johanna replied, "Your genders, the fact that you're my child by blood while Trip is my child by adoption, doesn't make either of you more or less important than the other. It sounds terrible what that boy you told me about has gone through. I hope that he gets help to bring him out of the darkness he's fallen into."
Dawn nodded once, although Johanna couldn't see it as they weren't having a video call. "I hope that he gets help too, mom," Dawn said before telling Johanna good night and ending the call. Dawn had never mentioned that the boy in question is the Admin in charge of the Unova Sector of Team Heart, she didn't feel that was necessary.
All that Dawn did feel was necessary was bringing up how there's a boy who needs help and, more importantly, needs to know the love of a parent.
END, CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Author's notes;
This chapter sees the Unova arc of this story kick off with Trip capturing Zekrom, who was caught by Ideku in the Team Scorn timeline. After that the heroes go to Numeva Town and get the elemental monkey Pokémon of Unova from Professor Juniper. Also, they get some background info from Juniper and her dad, Daddy Juniper. The info covers a few important characters, including Bianca who is the public face ruler of the Team Heart Empire.
But the time at Juniper's Lab is cut short when Team Heart comes and brings Dawn and friends to speak to Admin Wolfgang in Opelucid City. There they confirm that they have no intention of getting up into Team Heart's face, also they learn about the Sexism that Wolfgang had suffered through, as well as how he had suffered in favor of his ten sisters. The chapter ends with Dawn calling her and Trip's mom Johanna to confirm she loves both of them equally.
Anyway, the next chapter will see Tabitha and Clair in Nimbasa City, as well as introduce at least one of Wolfgang's sisters, probably more than one. It'll also introduce one of the Captains of the Unova Sector of Team Heart plus the Assistant of said Captain. 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), 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)