Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Pokédex no Isekai
Chapter Seven: Kanto Conundrum
The crew of The Big Beauty landed the flying ship in an available open field somewhere in Cerulean City. The field in question was located somewhere near the Cerulean City gym, where Dawn and the other reborn trainers were expecting to meet Misty. They had gathered that, unlike in the previous timeline with Team Scorn, the current timeline with Team Heart had never seen any sort of attack on the Cerulean City gym.
This meant that Misty, who was severely hurt and suffered some degree of mental regression in the previous timeline because of Team Scorn's attack on the Cerulean City gym, never suffered any such fate in this timeline. The reborn trainers also figured that Misty also never started getting over her phobia of bug type Pokémon, which she did in the previous timeline albeit at the cost of gaining a phobia towards water type Pokémon.
Misty in the current timeline is unaltered from what one can normally expect, meaning there's no physical issues to heal. But there IS an issue regarding Misty's bond of friendship with Ash and Brock, neither of whom are on speaking terms with Misty although they are on speaking terms with one another. The reborn trainers have absolutely NO idea why things between Ash, Brock, and Misty are as fractured as they are.
Hence why Dawn had Heath fly The Big Beauty over to Cerulean City, at Kenny's prompting. The reborn trainers were hoping that, whereas Ash and Brock seemingly knew the answers but refused to go into detail, Misty would also know but be willing to divulge. There can be no repairing of the bond of friendship between Ash, Brock, and Misty if the reborn trainers don't have the answers. They needed specific, detailed information in order to be of any help.
As such, Dawn and the other reborn trainers made their way over to the Cerulean City gym in order to ask Misty for details. Before coming, Kenny had made sure that Cell, his shiny Scizor who has a tendency to take shots to his schmeat, was in his party. Misty is unaltered in the current timeline, so she still has her phobia of bug type Pokémon. Kenny figured that if push came to shove, he'd use that to force answers out of Misty.
"Let's... save it as a last resort option," Dawn replied after Kenny explained his plan to Dawn, Trip, and Mina. Dawn had for similar reasons rotated in her named Mothim Coupins into her party, as she also had the same idea as Kenny. But Kenny seemed more eager to whip out the nuclear option on Misty whereas Dawn wanted to wait and be absolutely sure that there would be no other way to get what answers she and the others could get.
The reborn trainers had entered the Cerulean City gym, and were greeted by the sight of Misty talking to one of her older sisters, Violet. Misty looked as she normally does; no sign of severe trauma or mild mental regression or anything. Misty did, however, look and sound worried as she spoke with one of the Sensational Sisters as Violet, Lily, and Daisy are known as. The two girl didn't notice the reborn trainers yet.
"Seriously, Violet," Misty said, "Ash and Brock haven't spoken to me in ages! It's bad enough that my boyfriend Sophocles has apparently blocked me, I'm still really worried about him by the way, but now two of my closest friends apparently refuse to speak to me!"
Shrugging, Violet said, "Ain't Ash the Champion of Kanto? Given that we're a Kanto region gym, we can submit an official request for Ash to come over to check things out, and use that as an excuse to get Ash at least to talk to you again."
Scowling, Misty said, "That would be a misuse of League powers, Violet, and the Cerulean City gym could face official reprimands for it."
"Not without us making a scene about how Ash refuses to talk to you despite how you're his friend," Violet retorted.
"He as well as Brock would probably get even more upset with me," Misty explained, "I don't want my friends upset with me."
"Then let some of your other friends help," Dawn called out, making Misty and Violet jump a bit and turn to see Dawn, Kenny, Trip, and Mina standing there.
Settling down, Misty said, "Oh, it's you guys. Boy am I glad to see some familiar faces."
"Yo Misty quick question," Kenny said as he called out Cell, making Misty flinch a bit at the sight of a bug type Pokémon, "Yes or no, would you like it if Cell here were to come up to you and give you a big ol' hug?"
"NO WAY, KENNY!" Misty exclaimed, clearly frightened by the idea of the named shiny Scizor giving her a hug, "ARE YOU INSANE?! YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT BUG POKÉMON!"
Recalling Cell, Kenny said, "Just wanted to make sure you weren't replaced with a double who didn't know you're afraid of bug type Pokémon." The reborn trainers, at a minimum, got confirmation that Misty here never suffered her fate from the previous timeline. Although good as she's never gotten severely hurt, it sucked that Misty hasn't gotten over her phobia of bug type Pokémon.
"Replaced with a double?" Violet remarked, clearly looking confused.
"Kenny... is in his own way trying to make sure Team Heart hasn't infiltrated places here in the Kanto region," Dawn explained.
Nodding once in understanding, Violet said, "Fair enough. So what brings you guys in?"
"We're in Kanto for personal reasons," Trip began to explain, "But we've picked it up that Ash and Brock aren't on speaking terms with Misty at the moment. We have no clue why as Ash and Brock both refused to give us details. We're hoping Misty might be able to shed some light on the matter for us, that way we can try to help fix things."
"The boys are obviously being immature," Violet said with a dismissive wave of her hand, "They just need to own up, realize that they're in the wrong and Misty is in the right, then apologize to her for making her worry."
"I highly doubt it's that simple," Mina retorted, "Ash and Brock aren't the kind of people to act towards Misty as they have been acting as of late, at least without a notable reason. We're hoping to learn what that reason is. Also, what's this about Sophocles also refusing to talk to Misty?"
Looking dejected, Misty said, "It's true. I haven't heard from Sophocles in ages. He hasn't called me, and I apparently can't contact him by any means that I have as I'm blocked on all of said means."
The reborn trainers were a bit surprised to learn that Misty dating Sophocles, the short geeky chubby boy from Alola, hadn't changed from the previous timeline to the current timeline. But, same as with Ash and Brock, Sophocles is refusing to speak to Misty. Another layer had been added to the mystery that the reborn trainers are trying to unravel, and it made Dawn and the others all the more wanting to solve the whole mystery.
They were intending to get to the bottom of it, one way or the other.
A short while later, Dawn and the other reborn trainers sat down in a living room area with Misty and all of her older sisters. "So Misty," Dawn began, "What all can you tell me and the others about Ash and Brock both refusing to speak to you?"
"I'm not too entirely sure," Misty replied, looking somber and dejected, "All I know is that it started very shortly after Sophocles blocked me on all means of being able to contact him."
"Why would your boyfriend block you?" Trip asked, "What did you do to upset him?"
Shrugging, Misty replied, "Again, I'm not to entirely sure."
Folding his arms over his chest, Kenny remarked, "I very much highly doubt Sophocles is in the wrong here. I mean with all due respect to the dude, he's a short chubby geek. And yet despite that he managed to not only score a girlfriend, but said girlfriend is one who is respectfully attractive by conventional standards. Short chubby geeks who find themselves in such a position would know better than to do anything to screw it up."
"Maybe Sophocles has a reason to be upset with Misty," Mina suggested, "And it's why he's blocked her. And Ash and Brock, being guys same as Sophocles, are standing with him. It's the bro code, after all."
Misty automatically looked worried and concerned. "You think that I might have done something to offend Sophocles? What could it be?"
Shrugging, Mina went on, "Maybe he owns a bug type Pokémon and your constant bug Pokémon phobia has gotten on his nerves, especially if said bug type Pokémon Sophocles owns heard of it and got upset over it?"
Looking concerned, Misty said, "Well, well Sophocles does own a Vikavolt. You think Sophocles is upset with me because I refuse to accept his Vikavolt?"
Dawn was about to speak up, but Daisy cut in by saying, "Misty, I say that you ought to just forget about Sophocles. He is, as Kenny said, a short chubby geek. You by comparison are prime goods on the dating scene. You can do WAY better than that Alolan boy."
Getting firm, Misty stood up, turned to face Daisy. "Actually, I don't think that I can do better than Sophocles," Misty said, "And how dare you say I should give up on him."
Gesturing to Misty, Kenny said, "And here we go, yet another reason that I highly doubt that Sophocles would screw up things with Misty. She legit cares about him, to the point she gets pissy when others tell her to give up on Sophocles."
"Actually, I think that Daisy has a point," Violet said, "Girls deserve top quality guys, and Sophocles doesn't make the cut."
"I think that Misty ought to try to pursue things in the romance scene with Ash," Lily suggested, "He's a much higher quality guy than Sophocles."
"Ash is dating that Kalos Champion girl who's also the Kalos Queen of Pokémon Showcases," Misty pointed out to Lily, "Besides, Ash would get even MORE upset with me if I try flirting with him, and that's saying nothing about his girlfriend who I have no doubt would go ballistic on me if she hears of me trying to flirt with Ash."
"Kalos Champion girl who's also the Kalos Queen of Pokémon Showcases?" Kenny asked, looking and sounding confused.
Giving Kenny a wry look, Misty said, "You... you do remember how that Serena girl who's, like, madly in love with Ash is not only the Champion of Kalos but she is also the Kalos Queen of Pokémon Showcases over in the Kalos region, don't you Kenny?"
"We... didn't forget," Dawn said, similarly caught off guard, "We just were so busy as of late we're still on work mode." Dawn, as well as the other reborn trainers, were caught off guard by learning that Serena not only is somehow the Champion of Kalos in this timeline, but she's also the Kalos Queen of Pokémon Showcases in the Kalos region.
Serena in the current timeline not only achieved her dream from the previous timeline of becoming the Kalos Queen, but she also went beyond by claiming the Kalos Champion title from Diantha. Serena had also achieved another dream of hers, that being how she's now in a romantic relationship with Ash. This was something that the reborn trainers were going to be looking into, especially as they eventually have plans to go to the Kalos region.
Gesturing to Trip, Violet said to Misty, "Then how about Trip here? He's a quality guy wh-"
"I'm interested in someone else, with all due respect," Trip cut in, "And you're forgetting that Misty is interested in Sophocles."
Violet was about to speak up, but Misty cut in. "Trip is right," Misty said, "It's Sophocles who I love, and it's Sophocles who I'm worried about."
"If Sophocles having blocked you is why Ash and Brock both aren't on speaking terms with you," Dawn began, "Then maybe we can get answers by speaking with Sophocles."
Scoffing, Violet said, "You guys shouldn't waste your time on him. It's clear he's not worth it."
Dawn gave Violet, as well as the other sensational sisters, a wry look. "...My crew and I would go to Alola anyway regardless, we're doing work on Pokémon research and are going from region to region, so we'll eventually hit up Alola."
"You guys aren't planning on going to regions ruled by the Team Heart Empire, are you?" Misty asked, looking concerned.
Shrugging, Dawn replied, "We're going to have to eventually go to said regions regardless, even more so because some of our friends live in said regions." There's no forgetting May and Max in Hoenn, or Cilan and Iris in Unova. Dawn wonders if folks in Galar and Paldea are doing fine. She also couldn't help but wonder if Kieran, who committed suicide in the previous timeline, might somehow be alive in the current timeline.
There's no Team Scorn secrets for Kieran to take with him to his grave as there's never been a Team Scorn in this timeline period, so there's a fairly good chance that Kieran is alive in this timeline. Sabrina who died in the previous timeline due to Team Scorn's evil is alive in this timeline which never had Team Scorn. Hell, there's a chance that Katsuku Badorigo might be alive in this timeline. The possibilities are endless. But that's something that Dawn and the others are going to have to check up on at a later time.
...
The reborn trainers did a quick review of the Kanto region list of Pokémon, and saw that there was only some evolutions and the legendary bird to register as caught. The legendary birds were going to have to wait, so it was onto the evolutions the reborn trainers went. Most of them were simple as they were all level up evolutions.
Some required trading, and a few required evolutionary stones. Some level ups took longer than others, but the reborn trainers found good places in Kanto to grind for levels. Eventually, Dawn and the others got those evolutions registered as caught. There were only three blank sections in the Kanto Pokédex, but those will require Ash's help.
"Well now," Dawn said as she observed Argent, her alpha Hisuian Arcanine, interact with Fafnir, Dawn's Kantonian Arcanine who evolved a short while ago via a Fire Stone, "All we need to do now is do touch trades with Ash to get Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres registered as caught, and we'll have completed the Kanto Pokédex."
"But Ash is still upset right now," Mina pointed out, "He and Brock are upset with Misty, and all that we've learned is that Sophocles is somehow involved."
"We're gonna have to go to Alola to continue trying to solve the mystery," Kenny said, "Especially as it's clear Ash and Brock don't wanna give details for whatever reason."
Shrugging, Trip said, "Can't we just ask them to give specific details as to what's going on? Or are Ash and Brock too upset with Misty to think about doing that."
Dawn gave a gentle shake of her head. "Chances are that they're too upset to think straight," Dawn remarked, "And it's affecting their judgment and ability to reason." Being upset CAN affect a person's ability to reason, after all, so one shouldn't get too wound up if someone is too upset to be able to reason properly. We're human, after all.
Dawn was about to say something else, but she was cut off when Violet of the sensational sisters came running up to where everyone was at on the ground outside of The Big Beauty. "Me and my sisters' gym is being attacked by Team Heart!" Violet exclaimed, clearly looking panicked at the idea of the Cerulean City gym being under attack.
The reborn trainers were alerted, remembering what happened the last time the Cerulean City gym was attacked by a multi-region criminal organization, albeit in the previous timeline. "Where are Misty and the others?" Dawn demanded, her tone and expression firm.
"We're all outside of the gym," Violet explained, "We were chased out by Team Heart! They all had said something about some guy called Admin Hanae wanting to personally see Misty for some odd reason or another!"
"He's the immediate head of the Sector of Team Heart that's native to Kanto," Mina said, "I also got it that said Sector rules the conquered Orange Islands, so Hanae is technically a Head of State."
"What does Hanae want with the supposed talk he wants to have with Misty?" Dawn asked.
Briskly shaking her head, Violet said, "No clue! Now please hurry! My sisters and I don't wanna lose our gym to criminals!"
The Cerulean City gym was lost due to the evil of criminals in the previous timeline, but in this current timeline the Cerulean City gym hasn't been lost yet. The reborn trainers hoped to keep what happened in the previous timeline from happening in this current timeline, so after they called back their Pokémon who they had out, they all rushed with Violet over to the Cerulean City gym to bring the fight to Team Heart.
After running up to the scene of battle at the Cerulean City gym, the reborn trainers saw that Misty, Daisy, and Lily were all caught up in battling off a bunch of Team Heart members. There was also some Kanto regional security men, but they were as per usual proving to be largely ineffective in fighting off the villains their group was dedicated to fighting off. It honestly made Dawn wonder how Kanto remains free if THIS is the best their region's defense has to offer.
The reborn trainers and Violet were able to join the fray, and Dawn was rather effective with her Kantonian Arcanine and alpha Hisuian Arcanine, using the two good boys to beat back Team Heart member after Team Heart member. Argent and Fafnir are very good boys, yes they are, yes they yes they are. Who wants bacon treats? They do, yes they do.
As the fighting went on, Dawn stopped short when a male voice called out to her, "I hope that my men haven't caused too much trouble for you and your companions, Dawn Berlitz!" Dawn stopped short, and she as well as Argent and Fafnir both turned to look in the direction that the call came from. As such, they saw it when a cocoa skinned muscular pretty boy and a girl who looked to be the Pokémon world equivalent of Latino came walking up to greet her.
They wore identical outfits that seemed to Dawn to resemble traditional Chinese martial arts outfits that were sleeveless, although the outfits were pink and black. The cocoa skinned man also carried two carriers that looked big enough to each house one small Pokémon, although Dawn couldn't see clearly what Pokémon, if any at all, were in said carriers.
Dawn, as well as her very big good boys, instantly became suspicious of the members of Team Heart that approached them. "And who might you guys be?" Dawn asked, "Although I'm willing to bet that you're Admin Hanae and his Admin's Assistant."
"Indeed I am Hanae, Dawn Berlitz," Hanae greeted, "And my Admin's Assistant here is named Emi. We're here to conduct a rather important mission."
"And what sort of mission is that?" Dawn demanded, "You aren't planning on stealing any Pokémon from the Cerulean City gym, are you?"
Gently shaking his head, Hanae said, "On the contrary, I'm here to make some returns. I've got with me a few Pokémon that I wish to turn over to Misty's custody, Pokémon that I believe may help her with getting a few things covered and mended."
Dawn was skeptical of what Hanae was saying. "You want to turn some Pokémon over to Misty's custody."
"I believe that with the Pokémon I wish to turn over to Misty," Hanae said, "She can open discussions with Ash and Brock, mend things between the three of them, repair their friendship."
"...You're not kidding," Dawn remarked, able to tell that Hanae is being serious. Dawn was further surprised when Hanae took out a remote and pressed a button on it, making the glass covers on the small Pokémon carriers clear up and show that they contain Ash's Pikachu and Brock's Comfey. "So let me get this straight," Dawn said, "You had one Pokémon each stolen from Ash and Brock, so that you can give them to Misty who will hold onto them until Ash and Brock come to collect, and then hopefully while Ash, Brock, and Misty are together they can talk things out."
Smiling brightly, Hanae said with one hundred percent seriousness, "Exactly!"
Dawn let out a troubled sigh; even Team Heart thinks that Ash, Brock, and Misty need to talk things out with each other. Granted, Hanae went about it the entirely wrong way, but Dawn could just tell that Hanae was being sincere in wanting things between Ash, Brock, and Misty to mend. She wasn't sure exactly WHY Hanae would want that as, given he's a member of Team Heart, it'd be logical for him to let fractures in friendships among the heroes persist.
Team Heart was providing to be as confusing as Team Scorn in the previous timeline. Dawn was wanting to get to the bottom of this, as well as get to the bottom of WHY Ash and Brock aren't on speaking terms with Misty at the moment. But first, she had some members of Team Heart to take down in a battle. "I hope you're ready to go down, Team Heart," Dawn scowled as she tossed up two balls, "Go, Leni and Diablo!"
"Go, Teddiursa!" Emi said as she sent out a Pokémon.
"Go, Ursaring!" Hanae said as he sent out a Pokémon.
The battle kicked off with seeing Dawn's named Lucario Leni and named Iron Valiant Diablo up against Hanae's Ursaring and Emi's Teddiursa. Dawn wasn't quite done yet, as she first Mega Evolved Leni into Mega Lucario. "Leni, use Aura Sphere on Ursaring!" Dawn ordered, "Diablo, use Brick Break on Teddiursa!"
"Teddiursa, use Scratch on that robotic looking Pokémon!" Emi commanded.
"Ursaring, use High Horsepower on Lucario!" Hanae called out.
Leni was able to speed ahead, conjuring and casting an Aura Sphere that blasted into Ursaring and knock it out before it even got close. As for Diablo, it struck Teddiursa right on the forehead with a rather hard chop, knocking it out before leaping back.
Hanae and Emi were both forced to recall their respective fainted Pokémon. "My order to the men of the Kanto Sector to avoid confronting you if possible is sound and well founded, Dawn Berlitz," Hanae said to Dawn, "You certainly do deserve your titles. It's no wonder you're in the same league, metaphorically speaking of course, as Ash Ketchum."
Dawn merely looked unamused. "You have a degree of legit respect for Ash."
"And it's part of why I want to help mend things between Ash and one of his friends," Hanae said, "If he's weighed down by that foul business, then it'll dull his keen edge as a trainer. It wouldn't do to help keep my edge sharp!"
Dawn saw that Hanae views Ash as something of a rival, and is going out of his way to, in his own way at least, help Ash out. "Do you even know why Ash and Brock are upset with Misty?" Dawn said to Hanae.
"Do you?" Hanae retorted.
"If I knew, would I be asking you if you knew?" Dawn replied.
Shrugging, Hanae said, "I suppose not. But we still have a battle to take care of. Go, Beartic!"
"Go, Cubchoo!" Emi said as she sent out a Cubchoo and Hanae sent out a Beartic.
Gesturing forward, Dawn said, "Leni, use Flash Cannon on Beartic! Diablo, use Brick Break on Cubchoo!"
"Beartic, use Brick Break on Lucario!" Hanae ordered.
"Cubchoo, use Ice Beam on that robotic looking Pokémon!" Emi commanded.
Once more, Leni was the fastest, blasting Beartic with a Flash Cannon and knocking it out. Similarly, Diablo rushed in and struck Cubchoo with a chopping strike to the head, knocking it out before it could attack. Hanae and Emi were both forced to recall their respective fainted Pokémon yet again before sending out their next Pokémon.
"Go Pancham!" Emi said.
"Go Pangoro!" Hanae said.
Seeing the Pancham and Pangoro come out made Dawn take pause at Pangoro; she knew Hanae's history, knew that things in Saffron City would be different were it not for a racist financial supplier. If said rich guy didn't call for Hanae's expulsion from the Fighting Dojo, then Hanae with his Pangoro here could have beaten back the psychic trainer gym when said gym challenged the Fighting Dojo for the rights to be Saffron City's official Kanto region gym.
But now isn't the time for what ifs. Gesturing forward, Dawn said, "Leni, use Psychic on Pancham! Diablo, use Spirit Break on Pangoro!"
"Pancham, use Brick Break on that robotic looking Pokémon!" Emi ordered.
"Pangoro, use Brick Break on Lucario!" Hanae commanded.
Leni blasted Pancham with a powerful psychic blast, knocking it out before it even had a chance to attack. As for Diablo, it struck Pangoro with a strong Spirit Break; Pangoro's partial dark typing saves it from psychic attacks despite Pangoro being a fighting type Pokémon, but a dual fighting dark type as a result of its dual typing is horribly weak to fairy attacks such as Spirit Break. As such, Pangoro went down to the named Iron Valiant.
Hanae and Emi were both forced to, for a third time, recall their respective fainted Pokémon, before they sent out their respective last Pokémon. "Go, Stufful!" Emi said as she sent out a Stufful.
"Go, Bewear!" Hanae said as he sent out a Bewear. Gesturing forward, Hanae said, "Bewear, use Brick Break on Lucario!"
"Stufful, use Tackle on that robotic looking Pokémon!" Emi ordered.
"Leni, use Aura Sphere on Bewear," Dawn commanded, "Diablo, use Brick Break on Stufful!"
The named Lucario sped on ahead and blasted Bewear with a powerful Aura Sphere, knocking it out before it got close. As for Diablo, it struck Stufful on the forehead with a strong chop, knocking it out before it even got to attack. Hanae and Emi recalled their respective fainted Pokémon after that, as they were both out of Pokémon.
"Well, looks like this is our loss," Hanae remarked, "A darn shame too, you Dawn Berlitz are some seriously good competition." Hanae turned around to leave, walking off with Emi. "Make sure that Ash's Pikachu and Brock's Comfey get to Misty so that the boys will have to talk to her, would you?" Hanae said, "Assuming that you have the time to do so between stopping the attack on the Cerulean City gym."
Dawn realized that she can't really stop Hanae and Emi from leaving, especially since Emi was threatening to call for enough Team Heart men to cover her and Hanae so they could escape anyway. It those men come, there's no guarantee they won't try to steal back Pikachu and Comfey. There's also stopping the attack on the Cerulean City gym, which is still in progress.
Dawn, for the sake of Pikachu and Comfey, had to let Hanae and Emi go. She collected the carriers that Pikachu and Comfey were in, then had Leni and Diablo follow her. They had an attack on the Cerulean City gym to stop.
In the end, only three Team Heart members were captured while the rest, including Hanae and Emi, got away. The Kanto regional security men boasted and bragged about how they had captured the three Team Heart members, despite Kenny pointing out how they had been utterly useless and that it was Kenny himself as well as Mina who captured the three Team Heart members.
Dawn then presented the two carriers containing Pikachu and Comfey, while explaining to everyone what Hanae was up to behind taking them. "He actually wants Misty to talk things out with Ash and Brock and get them to be friends again?" Trip asked, looking lost.
"And he figures that Ash and Brock will have to come see Misty if she has some of their Pokémon," Dawn replied. Sighing, Dawn said, "This is starting to become a headache."
"I doubt Ash and Brock will be in the mood to talk to Misty," Mina said, "Especially if they find out they she has their Pokémon that Team Heart stole from them. I can tell that even Pikachu and Comfey are both unamused with Misty." True enough, both Pikachu and Comfey had hostile tones and expressions towards Misty.
Folding his arms over his chest, Kenny asked, "Well we can't fix what's wrong between Ash, Brock, and Misty if we don't know. Only Ash and Brock know, but they both clearly refuse to say what it is. How can we make them talk?"
Dawn, a look of consideration on her face, said, "...I have an idea."
"We're gonna use our big name legendary Pokémon on Ash and Brock directly to make them talk?" Kenny guessed.
"No, we aren't gonna do that," Dawn said, "But I have an idea on how to make Ash and Brock talk."
...
When Ash and Brock got the call that their Pokémon were recovered from Team Heart, they were both excited, but took pause when they were told they both had to come together to Cerulean City to pick up Pikachu and Comfey. When they got to Cerulean City, Ash picked Brock up and they flew on Ash's Charizard and Dragonite, they were greeted by the sight of Dawn, Kenny, Trip, Mina, Misty, the sensational sisters, and most surprising of all, Ash's mom Delia.
"Admin Hanae of Team Heart thought that by stealing your Pokémon and turning them over to Misty," Dawn began, "He can get the three of you talking and fix whatever it is that's wrong between the three of you. Misty had no say or knowing about this."
Immediately, Ash scowled. "What is there to sa- Ow!" Ash was cut off when Delia marched up and not only grabbed Ash by the ear and pulled down, she also grabbed Brock by the ear and pulled down, disciplining both boys at once.
"Ash, Brock," Delia said firmly, "The two of you will tell us exactly what it is that has you upset at Misty and not talking to her! No beating around the bush, no vague answers, tell us exactly what it is in clear, certain terms!"
"Ow ow ow!" Brock cried, "You're pulling too hard, Mrs. Ketchum!"
"And I'll pull hard enough to take the ears off if I have to!" Delia declared, "So unless the two of you both want to lose an ear each, you'll tell us exactly what the prob-"
"Misty broke Sophocles's heart!"
Delia was cut off by what Ash exclaimed, everyone stopped short and looked at Ash in surprise. Misty was especially surprised by what Ash had cried out as his ear was being pulled by his mom, who let go of Ash's ear and Brock's ear in surprise. Stepping forward, Misty with a worried look on her face asked, "Ash, what do you mean when you say that I broke Sophocles's heart? I would never do anything like that to him!"
Glaring at Misty, Ash scoffed and said, "Yeah right! Brock and I got it from Sophocles that not only did you dump him in the cruelest of ways possible, you didn't even have the nerve to do it yourself directly! You had your older sister Daisy do it for you over video phone!"
"Ash and I also got it from Sophocles that Daisy said some rather mean things to him that she said came from you," Brock scowled at Misty, "I'm not saying that you shouldn't have broken up with Sophocles if you honestly felt you didn't wanna date him anymore, but you could of at least had done it gently instead of going out of your way to be both cruel and cowardly about it!"
Misty, a mildly pissed look on her face, said, "I'm sorry, but you guys said Daisy did WHAT?!" Misty then turned to look at Daisy who with Lily and Violet looked nervous, like someone who had been caught in the act red handed.
Turning to look at the sensational sisters, Dawn said, "Don't tell me that you three broke up Misty and Sophocles behind Misty's back and kept things secret the entire time."
"Well in our defense," Violet began, sounding and looking nervous, "Misty really could do better in the dating scene than a short chubby geek like that Alolan boy Sophocles."
Nodding once, Lily went on while also sounding and looking nervous like Violet, "We were only trying to help Misty realize that there are better, hotter looking guys out there for her to scoop up."
"So we figured that it was up to us to set Misty on the right track in the dating scene," Daisy said, also sounding and looking nervous like Violet and Lily, "Me, Lily, and Violet were only doing what we felt was in Misty's best interests."
"THAT WASN'T YOUR DECISION TO MAKE!"
Everyone all turned to look at Misty, an angry and tear streaked look on her face as she regarded her older sisters. "You went behind my back and told my boyfriend that I was breaking up with him, and kept it a secret from me this entire time?!" Misty yelled, "Just because he doesn't pass as a cute enough guy by your standards?! Why should it matter if Sophocles doesn't pass by your standards?! He passed with flying colors by MY standards! That's all that should matter!"
Everyone looked around uncomfortably as Misty began to break down and cry. "And now I have no doubt that Sophocles hates me!" Misty cried, "How is this going to be fixed?!"
"This... may not be the best time to mention this," Brock began, "But Sophocles has already moved on and is already in a relationship with another girl. A local girl in Alola named Selene."
Dawn recognized Selene as the default name of the female player character in the Sun and Moon games from back in her previous life. But that's not important right now as Brock was right in how he shouldn't have mentioned it; Misty hearing that her boyfriend who she didn't break up with thinking she did break up with him and is now dating another girl had made Misty cry even harder.
Kenny slapped Brock in the back of the head for his lack of tact while Delia pulled on the ears of Lily and Daisy while Dawn pulled on the ear of Violet. The sensational sisters had fucked up big time, no dancing around that.
After doing touch trades with Ash to register the Kanto legendary birds as caught, the reborn trainers now had between them all Kanto Pokémon registered as caught, meaning that the Kanto Pokédex was now complete. Although the reborn trainers were at one out of nine Pokédexes full, they weren't really in the mood to celebrate. After all, they just learned that Misty's sisters had all gone and ruined her love life behind her back, solely because they believed they knew better than Misty did when it came to boys.
"Ash and I were really upset with what Misty di... with what we thought Misty did," Brock said as he, Ash, and the reborn trainers talked at Professor Oak's lab in Pallet Town, "It's why we refused to mention what... we thought Misty did." It was clear that Brock, as well as Ash, were guilty with how they were deceived by the scheming of the sensational sisters.
"How can we fix this?" Ash asked.
Folding her arms over her chest, Dawn said, "We're going to have to tell Sophocles what happened, tell him the truth. It's best we do it in person."
"It may be difficult for me," Ash said, "Given how surrounded Kanto is by territories of Team Heart, I as the Champion of Kanto don't exactly have the luxury of going to Alola right now. I need to stay here to help protect the region."
"I'm still doing studying to become a Pokémon Doctor," Brock said, "So I similarly can't leave."
"Can we count on you to handle it for us, Dawn?" Ash asked.
Nodding once, Dawn said, "You can count on me, Ash. Oh, did you inform Serena about what happened?"
"Yeah, and she's rightfully upset," Ash replied, "Also, I told her not to believe anything she hears about people saying what I said unless she hears it from me directly. We don't want Misty's sisters doing to us what they did to Misty and Sophocles."
Gesturing to Dawn and the other reborn trainers, Brock asked, "When will you guys be able to go to the Alola region?"
"It... may not be for a while, to be honest," Mina said, "We have work in other regions to do first."
"Other regions?" Delia said in a worried tone, "You kids aren't planning on going to regions that are part of the Team Heart Empire, are you?"
"We kind of have to go to said regions," Trip replied, "Hell, our next stop is Johto."
"Aside from the Pokémon research we're doing," Dawn began, "We have friends in the regions ruled by Team Heart. We have a few friends in Johto, and Ash and Brock, don't tell me that you two forgot about May and Max in Hoenn."
Gently shaking his head, Ash said, "No, I can't forget friends like that."
Getting up, Dawn said, "My crew and I will first head back to our home region of Sinnoh, and then after resting and prepping, we'll set sail for Johto."
Delia let out a resigned sigh. "I wish that you kids wouldn't actually head right on into the Team Heart Empire, but I guess that you have to check up on your friends."
"We can't leave them hanging," Kenny said, "Oh, and Ash?"
"Hmm?" Ash replied.
"While the lads and I are gone," Kenny said, "I want you and Brock to kick the butts of Misty's sisters for me, alright?"
"Mmm," Ash replied affirmatively with a nod. Brock nodded in agreement as well.
The next morning, The Big Beauty took off from Kanto. Dawn and the other reborn trainers had completed the Kanto Pokédex, after all, so for the time being their time in Kanto was over. They and the rest of the crew flew back to Twinleaf Town, Sinnoh, where they relaxed a bit before they got ready to go over to the Johto region so as to work on completing the Johto Pokédex.
But this would be tricky, as Johto is one of the territories under the banner of the Team Heart Empire. This meant that Dawn and her crew had to tread carefully as they would be tourists right in the heart of enemy territory. Dawn also, in her authority as Champion of Sinnoh, asked for what all info there was on Team Heart activity in the Sinnoh region.
"Hol' up a minute there, twerp," Meowth said as he and James looked to the reborn trainers, "You're serious about us going to Johto? Even though we left it to head to Kanto?"
"It's part of what we're trying to do," Dawn replied, "We're going to have to visit pretty much every region."
Sighing, James said, "Well so long as we abide by Team Heart rules while we're in Johto, I fail to see any harm ultimately."
Looking to James and Meowth, Dawn said, "You guys are worried."
"Why wouldn't we be?" James said, "We're heading to a region that's part of the Team Heart Empire. Their word is law in Johto!"
Shrugging, Mina said, "So what? We just have to avoid pointing out that the Boss's Assistant is fat and we should be golden."
"Babe, Team Heart hates discrimination in general," Kenny pointed out, "They just hate fatphobia the worst."
"Well I'm ready to head into danger," Trip said, "Is everyone else?" The rest of the crew agreed, although James, Meowth, and Heath's autistic niece Omiyo agreed nervously. With a course set, the crew of The Big Beauty set sail for their next adventure. An adventure that will be risky, but it'll be an adventure nonetheless.
END, CHAPTER SEVEN
Author's notes;
This chapter sees Dawn and friends go to Cerulean City because they wanted to work on solving the mystery of the conflict between Ash, Brock, and Misty. A mystery that Admin Hanae of the Kanto Sector of Team Heart also wants to solve surprisingly enough, as he gives over Ash's Pikachu and Brock's Comfey to Dawn to give to Misty so that Ash and Brock HAVE TO come see her and thus get in some talking things out time.
Dawn, getting an idea, calls for Ash's mom Delia first, then calls in Ash and Brock. Delia goes full stern mom on Ash and Brock and makes them spill, in no uncertain terms, why they are not on speaking terms with Misty. Ash as his ear is twisted says that it's because Misty had broken the heart of Sophocles by not only dumping him in as cruel of a manner as possible, but also had one of her older sisters do it for her.
...The only problem is that Misty never wanted to end her relationship with Sophocles, the whole scheme was orchestrated by the sensational sisters and kept behind the scenes. Their reason is that Sophocles, being a short chubby geek, wasn't worthy of dating Misty, so they broke Misty and Sophocles up so as to free Misty up for dating a boy they feel is actually worth Misty's time. Misty, of course, is naturally pissed at her sisters.
While that business is handled, Dawn and the other reborn trainers finish the Kanto Pokédex and make plans to work on the Johto Pokédex next. It'll be risky as they have to go to Johto which is a part of the Team Heart Empire, but they not only have to complete the Pokédex, they also have to check up on friends in Johto. The Badorigo brothers live in Johto.
Also, here's a fun fact for you; with the exception of Jessie, all members of the officer staff of the Kanto Sector of Team Heart are expies of characters from an anime series that I'm fond of. First to correctly guess the anime series in a signed comment gets a shout out in the following chapter. Additionally, the members of the officer staff for the Johto Sector of Team Heart will also be expies of characters from a show I like, but guessing the show in question there will probably be easier.
This chapter sees the end of the Kanto arc, while the next chapter will see the beginning of the Johto arc. Until then, take care.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Tsukune (Palkia), Coupins (male Mothim), Leni (female Lucario), Diablo (Iron Valiant), Argent (male Arcanine; alpha; Hisuian), Fafnir (male Arcanine; Kantonian)
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), Tsunade (female Gastrodon; East Sea), 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)