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-eight: The cub speaks

The Big Beauty was parked in an empty lot next to the local Pokémon Center in Camphrier Town, Kalos. At the request of crew member Mitch, he came along with the usual away team to visit the headquarters of the Kalos region Pokémon Ranger Corp, which was located in Camphrier Town. Dawn could tell that this was a big deal for Mitch, so she allowed it.

"Do you think that your fellow Rangers will be upset to see you back?" Barry asked as he and the others walked.

"Mitch's fellow Rangers have no issue with Mitch," Mitch replied, "But they will question why Mitch has returned to Kalos after Kalosian nobility made their displeasure clear."

Shrugging, Lucas asked, "Do you think that they would care about what the Kalosian nobility has to say about things?"

"Mitch's fellow Rangers have no care for the nobles as the nobles care only for themselves and their own egos and interests," Mitch said.

Nodding once, Kenny said, "Celestial Dragons. Got it."

"But Kalosian nobility still holds much influence in Kalos," Mitch said, "They can have events shaped as they wish, at least to what all extent they can control. It is wise for most non-nobles in Kalos to simply allow the nobility to have their way without putting up a fight."

Dawn was being reminded more and more of the Paldean wealthy elite. "So is there anyone specific who we're looking for?" Dawn asked.

"There is lady Ranger who is old friend of Mitch's," Mitch said, "Her name is Jazmina. She has family of husband and at least three kids last Mitch has heard. Jazmina is also old schoolmate of Mitch's from Ranger school. She was the senior student to Mitch's junior student."

"So she was your senpai," Kenny summed up, "You think she'll be happy to see you?"

"Jazmina always worried about Mitch," Mitch began, "But she ultimately trusted Mitch more than she trusted any schoolmate we had at time we were students."

"Well hopefully we'll be able to get Jazmina's help in drumming up some skilled trainers to help combat against Team Heart," Trip remarked.

Upon arriving at the Kalosian Pokémon Ranger Corp headquarters, the away team and Mitch saw two people stand outside of the front entrance. One was a woman, her fair skin tanned a bit from working a lot outside, and her white hair long and bound back with a ponytail. The lady was about a head shorter than Mitch, but looked older than him by just a shade.

The lady talked to a man who not only was at least as tall as Mitch, but looked similarly as buff as the bald Ranger. This tall and strong man had long pale brown hair combed and brushed back, and he stood with an Ursaring at his side. Both the man and woman were dressed as Kalosian Pokémon Rangers, although the man had the sleeves on his outfit removed, showing of his strong arms.

"I am truly sorry for what the nobility of our region had forced upon you, Jazmina," the man said to the woman, identifying her as Jazmina, the lady that the away team and Mitch were looking for, "You had acted the best you could, made the best decision you could under circumstances that I do not envy you for. You don't deserve what the Kalosian nobility is pushing onto you."

Shrugging indifferently, Jazmina said, "I merely did what I felt Mitch would have done were he there. He had shown what it truly means to be a Pokémon Ranger. Heh, to think that a senior student would take after their junior student, rather than the other way around. Life can be full of surprises, wouldn't you agree Haldor?"

"Mitch could not agree more!" Mitch called out as he and the away team got closer, making both Jazmina and the now identified Haldor turn to face them.

Both Jazmina and Haldor lit up upon seeing Mitch. "Well I'll be damned," Jazmina said, "Mitch has returned to Kalos. And he's brought cubs with him."

"It truly is heartwarming to see you back, Mitch," Haldor said, "And after you were shamed into leaving Kalos by its nobility. But I can sense that there is an urgency behind your return here, unless I am mistaken."

Stepping forward, Dawn said, "Have you heard of the recent attack in Lumiose City carried out by Team Heart?"

Both Haldor and Jazmina took on grim expressions. "Those villains tried to raise ruckus in Lumiose City?" Jazmina said, "Apologies, but I hadn't heard of that. I hadn't had much time as of late, due to how the Kalosian nobility are calling for my exile from Kalos."

The away team and Mitch were all surprised to hear that Jazmina was being given the same deal that Mitch had been given. "And what excuse does the Kalosian nobility have for wanting to kick you out of the region?" Barry asked, "Because I'm feeling fit to fine them for being petty stuck up jerks!"

"It is a... rather delicate situation," Haldor began to explain, "One that I bet Mitch here is very much familiar with. But it's arguably worse on Jazmina as her husband and children also have to find a new place to live outside of the Kalos region, Mitch at least only had himself to worry about when the Kalosian nobility called for his exile."

Gesturing to herself, Dawn said, "We can discuss things in private on board of my flying ship, The Big Beauty. It's currently parked in an otherwise empty lot next to the local Pokémon Center here in Camphrier Town. Would that be acceptable?"

"We also recently recruited a new crew member who is a bard, so she can entertain you both with song while you're visiting," Kenny offered.

"Is she more like the traditional bards of the past in Kalos?" Haldor asked, "Or is she more modern like what you commonly see in Lumiose City outside of cafes?"

"She plays a lute and wears a traditional female minstrel dress," Dawn answered.

Smiling warmly, Haldor said, "It's been a while since I've seen a musician here in Kalos embrace their trainer class's true origin of medieval bards. I wouldn't mind listening to her music playing." The away team plus Mitch, Haldor, and Jazmina all made their way over to The Big Beauty, to among other things discuss with Jazmina what happened to her.

"I had found myself in the same disfavorable situation that Mitch long ago wound up in," Jazmina began as the crew of The Big Beauty ate lunch out on the open deck of The Big Beauty, with the battlefield unfolded and used for extra space. As people talked, Alexis sat nearby and sang as she played on her lute, with her Chatot, Kricketune, and Wigglytuff backing up her music playing. Haldor's Ursaring was even joyfully dancing along to the music being played, drawing amusement from some of the humans.

Jazmina sat at a table with the reborn trainers plus Mitch and Haldor. "You found yourself in same situation that saw to Mitch being shamed out of Kalos?" Mitch asked, looking shocked.

"...What happened?" Dawn asked.

"I had to help rescue people from a couple of sinking boats off the cost of Cyllage City after there was an accidental crash," Jazmina said, "But I had come onto a situation where I was forced to choose between two impossible options as regardless of what I picked, at least one person would die. I couldn't save everyone, and there were no other ways to make either option more favorable."

Gesturing to Jazmina, Dawn replied, "Go on."

"I had to choose between saving a boat with a dozen people on it while letting a boat with one person on it sink, resulting in that person drowning," Jazmina said, "Or the opposite, save the boat with the one person on it but let the boat with a dozen people on it sink, resulting in a dozen people drowning. I had little time to act, not enough to save all thirteen people. In what little free time I had, I asked myself 'what would Mitch do'?"

Dawn could see where this was going. "You chose to save the twelve while letting the one drown."

"Mitch's situation involved trollies going up a mountainside, but the principle is the same," Mitch remarked.

Jazmina nodded once in the affirmative. "It is a duty of the Pokémon Rangers of Kalos to save as many people as possible," Jazmina said, "And if that means sacrificing one life to save twelve, then so be it."

"But let me guess," Kenny said, "The twelve people you saved were civilians while the one person you had let drown was a Kalosian noble."

"Duchess Sarah, first born daughter of Grand Duchess Sabine," Jazmina confirmed, "Personality wise, Duchess Sarah was what Haldor's Ursaring leaves behind in the woods after answering the call of nature. She had even tried levying a false rape accusation against Kalosian regional hero Kaito Fu, but luckily Sabine's second daughter, Duchess Maaya, was able to provide undeniable proof that her older sister was blowing hot air out of her arse."

The reborn trainers were surprised to hear talk of people they remember from the Team Scorn timeline; Kaito Fu, Maaya, Sarah, Sabine. The first was an Admin of Team Scorn while the others are all nobles of the highest ranked noble family in Kalos. The Grand Duchess and her first born daughter were both killed, and Dawn didn't recall what ultimately became of Maaya in the Team Scorn timeline.

But digging a bit here, Dawn learned that Kaito never went villain in the Team Heart timeline due to how Maaya here was actually successful in proving his innocence. Kaito was eventually hired to the staff serving Grand Duchess Sabine's family, assigned the role of bodyguard for Maaya. Kaito, with the girl who the reborn trainers recognized as Kaito's Admin's Assistant back in the Team Scorn timeline, had have a good life ever since.

But the reborn trainers wanted to get back on track. "So you let Duchess Sarah drown in order to save a dozen civilian lives," Trip summed up.

"And I would make the same choice every single time," Jazmina replied without hesitation, "The way that the Kalosian nobility had reacted to the news that I had let Duchess Sarah drown in favor of saving twelve civilians just further proves that I made the right choice, the choice I know full well that Mitch would have made."

"To Jazmina's credit," Haldor said, "Grand Duchess Sabine officially acknowledged the situation and knows that Jazmina was faced with an impossible choice. The Grand Duchess does not hold it against Jazmina for letting her first born daughter drown in favor of saving twelve civilian lives. She had even officially forgiven Jazmina."

"But to the rest of the Kalosian nobility," Jazmina said, "Who views all civilian lives in Kalos as holding less collective value than the life of even one noble, what I had done is an unforgivable sin. Thus they are calling for my exile from Kalos, same as they had done with Mitch let one of their precious noble members die."

Gesturing to Jazmina, Dawn asked, "Where do you and your family plan to go?"

Smirking a bit in amusement, Jazmina said, "Funny you should ask that, cub. My husband and I have both agreed to move us and our four children to the Sinnoh region. I already have an offer in Sinnoh waiting for me, to join the Sinnoh region's Pokémon Ranger Corp. Plus there's no nobles in Sinnoh to raise a stink, and I hear I can find extra work if need be in the militia that Gym Leader Volkner is forming to help defend Sunyshore City."

Dawn returned Jazmina's amused smirk with one of her own. "Tell you what, Jazmina. If you and your family can wait to move until my crew and I are done with business here in Kalos, I can assist with the move. My flying ship ought to be a rather fast method to get from Kalos to Sinnoh."

"Ha! That does sound nice," Jazmina replied, "Although I hope that the younger ones among my cubs won't get up to too much mischief when we're flying."

"Oh, Jazmina," Mitch spoke up, "Mitch remembers you having three kids, but you said it's at four."

Smiling a bit, Jazmina said, "Yeah, my most recent child is my second son. I now have two each of sons and daughters. A fair balance, I would say."

"I had heard she was planning to name her second son after you Mitch," Haldor said, "As you had proven to be what it truly means to be both a Ranger and a hero. But Jazmina instead named her second son Den, citing how you would say that Den is a far better name."

"Ah ha ha ha ha ha!" Mitch laughed in good mirth, "My senpai knows me too well! Den truly is a far finer name than what Mitch has!"

Jazmina looked curious. "Senpai? That's not a word commonly appearing in Kalosian linguistics," Jazmina remarked, "Where did you learn it from, also what does it mean?"

"We had taught it to him," Kenny explained, "Senpai means senior student, Mitch said that you were the senior student to his junior student when you were both in Pokémon Ranger school. I told him that he meant that you're his senpai."

Jazmina looked to understand. "I'm guessing that senpai is a Sinnohian word," Jazmina said, "Sorry cubs, I guess that I have a lot to learn for when you help my family and I move to Sin-"

"Oi, Captain Dawn!" Lance the Cook called out, cutting Jazmina off and making everyone turn to see Lance and Heath walk up to Dawn's table, followed by a butler none of them recognized.

Jerking a thumb at the butler, Heath said, "Some stuck up looking rich fancy guy demanded to be let aboard but we told him no because you didn't approve it yet, so he insisted we at least let this butler of his on board to explain everything."

Getting up from her seat, Dawn turned to give the butler her full attention. Dawn also sensed that Mitch, Jazmina, and Haldor all got up as well, as if sensing that things were going to be involving the three of them as well. "I normally don't allow persons on board of The Big Beauty without my say or at least without me present," Dawn said, "Unless they are members of my crew. What is it that the noble you serve wants?"

"Milord is aware that you are harboring the criminal Jazmina and is demanding an explanation," said the butler, "He and the other Kalosian nobles have made their displeasure with Jazmina quite clear and demand she leaves Kalos to never return.'

"Respectfully," Dawn began, "Jazmina and I are in the middle of discussing plans where my crew and I are going to help Jazmina and her family move from Kalos to Sinnoh. Said plans will involve seeing Jazmina leave Kalos for good, which the Kalosian nobility wants as you said. A bit more time is necessary to finish hammering out the final details and prepare for the move."

"Kalosian nobles aren't exactly fond of having to wait for what they want," the butler explained, "How much time do you think will be necessary?"

"It depends on when my crew and I can finish the field research we're wanting to do on the native species of Pokémon here in Kalos," Dawn said, "As well as how quickly Jazmina and her family can get ready for the move. There's also the fact that Team Heart is currently acting up here in Kalos, and no way are my crew and I not going to help fight off Tea-"

*THOOM*

Dawn was cut off when an explosion coming from Camphrier Town went off. Looking around, Dawn saw smoke rising from the direction of the small castle in Camphrier Town. "There's been an attack in town!" Dawn said, "We need to go handle that! You and your master can try grilling Jazmina later, right now there's danger afoot!"

The usual away team, along with the butler, Mitch, Jazmina, and Haldor, all got off of The Big Beauty to go help with the situation. When they all got off, the butler saw the direction that the smoke was coming from. "It's coming from the small castle in Camphrier Town!" the butler exclaimed, "Milord and the lord of the castle are both there!" The heroes also saw civilians running from the direction of the chaos, with some screams confirming that Team Heart is the cause of the trouble.

"So we got some nobles to go save," Mina said, "Hey, you think that if Jazmina takes part in saving the nobles, they'll ease up on her and not shame her into moving out of Kalos?"

"Ha! You offend them once and they will never let it go," Jazmina replied, "Doesn't mean I won't do what all I can to help save people from Team Heart, though."

Gesturing to Jazmina, Dawn asked, "Would you mind teaming up with me for this one, Jazmina? I get the feeling that I can learn a lot from you about dealing with villains."

Jazmina hummed a bit in amusement. "I know who you are, Dawn Berlitz. Champion of Sinnoh, Monarch of the World Coronation Series. You are stronger than the average cub, there's no denying that. But you also show greater than normal wisdom for one of your age, seeking out what those older than you can teach to you. Sure, let's partner up and bring down this Team Heart siege."

The gathered heroes then rushed off towards the direction of danger, with Dawn and Jazmina sticking together. No matter what it was that Team Heart was up to, the heroes were not going to let them succeed, even if the Kalosian nobility was less than pleased with some of the heroes.

When the heroes arrived on scene, they saw that the castle in Camphrier Town was under siege by a good number of Team Heart members. Acting immediately, the heroes all rushed in to fight off the members of Team Heart, with Dawn and Jazmina sticking together as they had previously talked about. The heroes spread out throughout the castle, although things came to a head when Dawn and Jazmina made it to an office located in the highest point in the castle.

There, found two men who were very clearly nobles being cowed by a pair of Team Heart members, one being a man in a unique outfit. The uniquely dressed man was fair skinned, and he wore a black hat with a bill, the hat covering his hair, but he had a grayish bushy moustache. He wore a pink coat that Dawn felt would be worn by janitors, a black shirt under that, black pants, pink boots, and a black Team Heart 'H' was on the coat over the left pectoral.

The guy with the uniquely dressed fellow was cocoa skinned, wore glasses, had brown hair in dreadlocks, and he wore the male standard Team Heart grunt outfit. "Oi! What do you two bastards think you're doing with those posh noble bastards?" Jazmina called out, making the members of Team Heart take pause.

Turning to look at Dawn and Jazmina, the uniquely dressed fellow said, "We're here to let the nobility of Kalos know that Team Heart soon will be running the whole show here in Kalos. Figured that they ought to have time to let their fellow nobles know that Kalos will soon be under Team Heart rule."

"And who might you be?" Dawn asked.

"The name's David," replied the uniquely dressed Team Heart member, "Third Captain of the Kalos Sector of Team Heart. The guy with me is Phil, my Captain's Assistant."

Dawn was about to speak up, but one of the cowering noble men called out, "You! You're that ignoble witch who had dared to let a Kalosian noble die in favor of saving lesser people! How dare you have the nerve to show your face around where your betters are!"

"Do you really think trash talking someone who came to save you from villains is a good idea?" Jazmina asked, "Especially as things hadn't come to blows yet? You nobles really are something else entirely, you know that?"

The first noble was about to spit more verbal poison at Jazmina again, but the second noble who was with him made him stop. Dawn remembered the second noble from the Team Scorn timeline; he is the lord of this castle in Camphrier Town and is actually a fairly reasonable person. "Don't listen to him, he's just on edge due to the situation that we're in!" the second noble said, "Please heroes! Save us!"

Letting out a huff, Jazmina said, "Well at least one of you remembers your manners. Come on, Dawn. We got a pair of villains to beat." Dawn and Jazmina squared off against David and Phil so as to save the two nobles who were in the office. "Go, Beartic!" Jazmina said as she sent out a Beartic to battle whatever the villains send out.

"Alright, Lincoln! Let's get goin'!" Dawn said as she sent out her named Latios.

"Go, Bellossom!" Phil said as he sent out a Bellossom.

"Go, Cinccino!" David said as he sent out a Cinccino, "Use Bullet Seed on Beartic!"

"Bellossom, use Giga Drain on Beartic!" Phil called out.

"Lincoln, use Aura Sphere on Cinccino!" Dawn commanded.

"Beartic, use Ice Punch on Bellossom!" Jazmina ordered.

Lincoln, being the quickest, conjured and cast and Aura Sphere that blasted right into and knocked out Cinccino before it could even attack. Beartic was similarly able to rush Bellossom and slug it in the body really hard with Ice Punch, knocking it out before it even had a chance to attack with its Giga Drain move.

Both David and Phil were forced to recall their fainted Pokémon before sending more out. "Go, Maushold!" David said as he sent out a family of four Maushold.

"Go, Exeggutor!" Phil said as he sent out a Kantonian Exeggutor, "Use Seed Bomb on Beartic!"

"Maushold, use Hyper Fang on Beartic!" David ordered.

"Lincoln, use Aura Sphere on Maushold!" Dawn commanded.

"Beartic, use Ice Punch on Exeggutor!" Jazmina called out.

Once more, Lincoln was the fastest, and its Aura Sphere attack took out Maushold before it was able to hit Beartic. Speaking of, Beartic rushed in and slugged Exeggutor in the gut with Ice Punch and knocked it out. Dawn for a moment was glad it was a Kantonian Exeggutor and not an Alolan Exeggutor; it may have crashed a hole in the ceiling otherwise.

David and Phil recalled their fainted Pokémon before resuming the battle. "Go, Indeedee!" David said as he sent out a male Indeedee.

"Go, Tropius!" Phil said as he sent out a Tropius, "Use Air Slash on Beartic!"

"Indeedee, use Shadow Ball on Beartic!" David ordered.

"Lincoln, use Dragon Pulse on Indeedee!" Dawn commanded.

"Beartic, use Ice Punch on Tropius!" Jazmina called out.

The named Latios was still the fastest, but this time it used Dragon Pulse to knock out Indeedee. Similarly, Beartic rushed in and knocked Tropius out with Ice Punch, an attack that did four times the usual damage as it hit a dual grass flying type. If Exeggutor were the Alolan variety which is dual grass dragon, it also would have taken times four damage from ice.

Either way, David and Phil recalled their fainted Pokémon. "Durn it," David said, "Phil and I are both wiped."

"Hmm," Jazmina began, "Then that means that you villains will be coming in for ques-"

"Hey, Captain David!" a male voice called from the doorway, making the others see a few Team Heart grunts there, "Are you and Captain's Assistant Phil in need of aid?"

"We are, yes!" Phil called out, "Cover Captain David and I! We need to escape!"

Team Heart grunts started to pour into the room, with Dawn instinctively leaping to stand in front of the nobles, putting them safely behind her. Jazmina, realizing that protecting those who are being threatened by Team Heart takes priority over capturing members of Team Heart, decided to do the same, as much as it pissed her off to have to let the big names get away scot free.

Eventually, the attack on the castle in Camphrier Town came to an end, and Team Heart was beaten. Sure, David and Phil were able to get away, but eight grunt level members were captured. There was a bit of contention because the complaining noble was pissed that the big names that were both involved in carrying out the attack were allowed to escape, but the lord of the castle pointed out that the heroes prioritized saving the two of them.

"I acted in the moment to save as many people as possible," Jazmina said, "That is what I do as a Ranger. Would you rather that I had put the capturing of the big name villains above saving people being threatened by said villains?"

"Don't present me with impossible choices, you disrespectful whore," the first noble spat bitterly at Jazmina, "You are speaking to one of your betters! And also watch it with that tone! You're lucky that my fellow Kalosian nobles and I are insisting only on your exile from Kalos!" Pointing over to where Mitch stood, the first noble snarled, "And what's he doing back in Kalos?! He made the same mistake as you! What will it take for you lesser folk to know that noble lives are simply far more valuable than any number of commoner lives?!"

Shaking her head in disbelief at the petulance of the first noble, Jazmina said, "I'm going to feel a lot better once my family and I get to Sinnoh."

Dawn really wanted to say something, but Kalos is, same as Sinnoh, one of the free lands. The free lands have to stick together in order to fend of the threat of the Team Heart Empire. Although what people were on the same side as Dawn and her crew mates were making her think that, just maybe, total rule over everything by Team Heart might be better. The first noble here was certainly making the idea look very tempting.

Eventually, things were settled down, and peace returned to Dawn and those who are her crew mates and allies. "So that's the kind of attitude you have go go through here in Kalos because you made the best choice you could in the situation you were in," Dawn said to Jazmina, "I have to say, I can see why you think moving yourself and your family to Sinnoh is a good idea. I do not envy you for the hostility you're facing from the Kalosian nobility."

"They need a good clapping about the heads," Jazmina said, "Well, at least the ones who are petty and hostile. I am not blind to the fact that there are at least some goodly nobles here in Kalos. It's just that the ones that are rotten outnumber them by far."

"Ah, the petty and rotten Kalosian nobles are too absorbed into themselves to see that other people outside of their circle are still actual people," Mitch said, "They care not for-" Mitch stopped short when Den, his shiny Dedenne, squeaked out something in Pokémon-talk. "...Mitch is normally very much against you using such colorful language, Den," Mitch said, "But an exception will be made on this occasion, as your harsh tongue is aimed in the right direction."

"Ah yes, you can understand what your Dedenne says," Jazmina said, sounding like someone who was humoring a friend's joke, "Care to share what he said, Mitch?"

"Err, umm," Mitch began, looking mildly unsure, "Den said words to the effect that most Kalosian nobles have Mudbray patties where they should have brains."

Jazmina couldn't help but snort back some laughter. "Ah, it's good to have run into the both of you again," Jazmina said to Mitch, "You and Den always know how to liven up a room, Mitch."

Stretching his arms into the air, Kenny said, "So now, where will our road take us next?"

"We need to continue doing our field research," Dawn said, "I was thinking of eventually stopping off to see Korrina, though. Given that Team Heart is acting up a bunch here in Kalos, I suspect that they may eventually go after the means of utilizing Mega Evolution. That being said, seeing Korrina may be in our best interest, and in the best interest of Kalos as a whole. I think that I speak for all of us when I say that Team Heart ought to not get a hold of the means to utilize Mega Evolution."

"As for me," Jazmina said, "I need to go home, let my husband and our kids know that we have to get ready to move to the Sinnoh region, and that an old junior student of mine plus the crew he's working with now will be helping with the move." Giving Mitch a wry look, Jazmina said, "I bet that my children would love to hear the tales of heroism that you and Den had been able to pull off in your travels, Mitch. Just be sure to spare the... non-child friendly details, mmm?"

Mitch gave a good natured laugh in response, knowing what Jazmina was getting at. The crew of The Big Beauty was able to leave Camphrier Town on relatively peaceful terms, although they were intending to come back to pick up an old associate of Mitch's to help said associate and her family move out of Kalos an into Sinnoh.

It wasn't the first time that The Big Beauty was used as a moving service, but it was the first time it would do a region to region move while staying in just the free lands. It had helped someone move out of the Team Heart Empire and into the free lands, and it had also helped someone move from the free lands and into the Team Heart Empire. This time the region to region move would stay well within the free lands only.

That was something that Dawn had to be grateful for.

(Opelucid City, Unova region)

Bianca, the Boss's Assistant of Team Heart and the public face ruler of the Team Heart Empire, was reading a report at her desk in her office in her mansion home in the wealthy neighborhood located in Opelucid City. As she read the report, she perked up when the door to her office opened, and in walked the usual maid, with Admin Wolfgang following along behind.

"I hope that you're in a rather good mood, Lady Bianca," the maid said in a troubled tone, "Because we got some bad news coming out from Team Heart efforts over in the Kalos region."

Bianca arched a wry eyebrow. "I'm just reading a report I got on how Admin Tress is still hunting for the traitor, former Captain Zed of the Kalos Sector. Is the news you bring me about Zed?"

Gently shaking her head, the maid replied, "No, unfortunately."

"Both main efforts attempted thus far to kick start Team Heart efforts to conquer Kalos and add it as one of the territories under our banner have failed," Wolfgang said, "Even the successfully carried out scheme that the mole working for Team Heart had enacted to get Kalos Champion Serena out of Kalos to make taking the region easier was rendered redundant."

Bianca had a mildly unamused look on her round, plump face. "...I see," Bianca replied, "Tell me, why has the active efforts to take Kalos for the Empire failed so far? Taking Kalos is of great importance to the Boss's plans, we cannot afford to fail here."

With a wry look on his face, Wolfgang replied, "As it turns out, Dawn Berlitz and her companionship are in Kalos now, doing more of their field research."

A hint of annoyance appeared in Bianca's expression. "Damn it," Bianca scowled, "She and her crew just HAD to be in Kalos when the Kalos Sector was actually ready to take the region for the Empire, at least after our mole lured Kalos Champion Serena out of Kalos for the time being. Is there any idea how long Dawn Berlitz and her companionship will be in Kalos?"

Gently shaking his head, Wolfgang replied, "No clue, I'm afraid."

"Umm, what's this about former Captain Zed?" asked the maid.

"Oh, him," Bianca said, "He used to be a Captain ranked Officer of the Kalos Sector of Team Heart, the Second Captain actually. But he was an egotistical, womanizing, incompetent man, and that is putting things lightly about him. He also constantly forgot Team Heart creed, given that he often made the mistake of making fatphobic cracks and other discriminatory remarks."

"How did he leave Team Heart?" asked the maid.

"He led a mission here in the Unova region," Bianca said, "Not only overstepping many bounds, but he also did something to directly antagonize Dawn Berlitz and her companionship by killing the biological mother of Trip Barley, thinking it would intimidate him into leaving Team Heart alone. I directly ordered Admin Tress to decommission Zed as an Officer of Team Heart and throw him into a prison cell until something could be figured out for him later."

"Unfortunately he managed to escape," Wolfgang said, "Now no longer a member of Team Heart, Zed is on his own. Luckily he was never able to get any Team Heart info unless Tress gave it to him, so the damage he can do to us is very limited. But Zed is STILL our responsibility to track down and recapture. We're thinking of inviting Trip Barley-Berlitz to come watch Zed's execution."

"I just hope that Zed hasn't managed to get too far out of the reach of the Team Heart Empire," said Bianca as she went back to looking over the form she was reviewing.

(Melemele Island, Alola region)

"Men, we stand as Alola's first line of defense against the evils of Team Heart," Zed said as he stood before a group of Team Skull grunts. Zed looked as he did in the Team Scorn timeline, only here in the Team Heart timeline he wore a light colored long sleeved shirt under a somewhat darker but still lightly colored sleeveless jacket, similarly colored pants, and boots that matched the coloration of the shirt that he wore.

"It is up to us to fend off those villains and save the world from their evil," Zed went on, "Now then, before we begin, are there any questions?"

"I have a few," Chandler spoke up as he approached Zed, "The hell do you think you're doing? These are MY men to lead, not yours!"

"Stand down, civilian," Zed said, "I'll have you know that I have more military experience in one pinky finger than you do in your entire body."

Holding up a hand, a female Team Skull grunt said, "Umm, actually we follow Boss Guzma and Big Sis Plumeria. Why are you guys even here?"

"Because you guys same as us strive to fend off Team Heart," Zed said, "But we, especially myself, have the leadership skills necessary to manage such large numbers against the similarly sized numbers that those villains in Team Heart will be bringing to the table."

As the Team Skull grunts expressed confusion over Zed and Chandler trying to lead them, Guzma and Plumeria stood off to the side with Eric, Silver, Faba, Minoru, Yoshitsugu, Haruka, and Carmine. "Remind me again why Guzma agreed to work with you and your troop, you fat turd?" Plumeria said as she addressed Eric.

"AY!" Eric snapped, "Don't call me fat!"

"The fact that you make fun of the weight of Champion Elio's girlfriend regularly but can't take jabs people make about your own weight tells me that you're a damn hypocrit," Guzma said, "And for the record, I never actually agreed to work with you guys. You all had just barged in and began doing everything, getting us caught up before we even knew what was going on."

"This is for the good of the world at large," Yoshitsugu said, "We're needing as many able bodied trainers as possible to join the fight against Team Heart."

"So you guys decided to forcefully draft Team Skull," Guzma summed up.

Shrugging, Yoshitsugu said, "Hey, technically me, Haruka, and Carmine weren't in on it until after we got here and Chandler started up shop. We just joined in because all of us are against Team Heart so we ought to stick together."

Sighing in a mildly exasperated tone, Guzma said, "You guys are WAY lucky that Team Heart is the big fish that we need to fry here."

END, CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Author's notes;

This chapter sees the heroes in Camphrier Town where they run into Jazmina, an old associate of Mitch's. Jazmina had ended up doing the same thing Mitch did and as a result the Kalosian nobility (as a whole at least) is shaming her into leaving Kalos. Dawn promises to help Jazmina and her family move to Sinnoh when she and the reborn trainers finish their field research in Kalos.

But an attack on the castle in Camphrier Town is launched by Team Heart, and Dawn with the help of Jazmina defeats the Officer leading the attack. Although the Officer and his Assistant are both able to flee, the day is saved, and the crew of The Big Beauty plans to next head off to see Korrina in Shalour City, figuring that Team Heart may try for the power of Mega Evolution.

Meanwhile in Alola, Zed who is alive in the Team Heart timeline is working with Team Skull to train them up into a force to fight off Team Heart. This steps on the toes of Chandler, and the two of them argue while Guzma and Plumeria stand by and watch with Eric, Silver, Minoru, Faba, Carmine, Yoshitsugu, and Haruka. How this will play out will be seen later on in the story.

Anyway, the next chapter will be seeing some action going down in Shalour City, the city where Korrina is the gym leader. 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)