Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Pokédex no Isekai
Chapter Eight: Across enemy lines
The Big Beauty landed in New Bark Town, Johto early in the morning, around a quarter past six, and near the lab of Johto's resident Pokémon Professor, Professor Elm. The flying ship, once landed, shot out its drawbridge and getting off of it were Dawn, Kenny, Trip, and Mina. "Okay, so we just do some base touching with Elm before we get going on working on completing the Johto Pokédex," Mina said, "Simple as that."
"I don't think it'll be as simple as that, Mina," Dawn said, "Keep in mind that Johto is part of the Team Heart Empire. Team Heart is the top authority in Johto, their word basically being law here. No doubt that we'll have to deal with their rule while we're here."
"We're also going to have to deal with them when we go to Hoenn," Trip pointed out, "Sinnoh will be a break as it's a free region."
Scoffing, Kenny said, "So when do you think that Team Heart will forcefully get all up into our faces while we're here in Johto? We got buds here to check up on, you know!"
Dawn nodded in understanding; they have friends in the various lands that are part of the Team Heart Empire. Particularly here in Johto, which is the home region of the Badorigo brothers, Ideku and Katsuku. Dawn and the others have no idea period how they're doing right now; Dawn's also wondering if Katsuku who was killed in the previous timeline is alive in this timeline. Sabrina the Saffron City gym leader who died in the previous timeline is alive in this timeline, so it's reasonable to assume Katsuku also survived.
Dawn also wondered particularly about Ideku; using the time traveling powers of Trip's named Dialga Deelia to fix Ideku's crummy childhood is the reason WHY the timeline had been messed up as much as it had been. As much as Dawn agreed that Ideku deserves a better childhood, she was certain that causing potential damage to the timeline isn't worth it. She was proven right when she and the others got back and saw that over half the world was ruled by a villainous regime.
But Ideku is still someone who Dawn and the other reborn trainers cared about. Maybe Professor Elm can shed some light on how the Badorigo brothers are doing.
...
"Ideku Badorigo and his biological older brother Katsuku are both doing well from what I've heard," Elm said as the reborn trainers met with him in his Lab, "Technically they aren't brothers right now as they're in the care of different foster families each, but the bond of blood is still present between the two of them."
Nodding once, Dawn said, "Thank you, we're glad to hear it." The reborn trainers were happy to hear that Katsuku was indeed alive in this timeline, and both he and Ideku are students at Blackthorn City Academy. Granted, Dawn was a bit disappointed to hear that Ideku's greatest accomplishment as a trainer in this timeline was him winning the League Conference about half a decade ago where he beat Katsuku in the final round, Ideku in the previous timeline had achieved so much more, but at the very least Ideku is doing well.
Nodding once, Elm said, "As a matter of fact, I heard that Ideku is dating a girl named Ayane. She's the daughter of the couple who owns and runs a construction business in Johto that basically has a monopoly in the field here in Johto. Ayane is also the older sister of Johto Champion Gold."
The reborn trainers perked up at that; Ayane in the previous timeline was a member of Team Scorn, but it was ultimately revealed to be a ruse as she had infiltrated Team Scorn to help bring it down from within. Given she rose to the position of Boss's Assistant of Team Scorn, it was amazing how far and fast she got, especially given all of the acting she and Ideku who was working on bringing down Team Scorn had to do.
But still, Team Scorn fell, and Ideku became a world renowned hero for it. Here in the current timeline, it's highly doubtful anyone outside of Johto even knows who Ideku is due to him being far less accomplished here than he was in the previous timeline. The changes in the timeline can be almost as fickle as the changes that come with isekai. But this isn't the main topic; what is the main topic is that Ideku and Ayane are dating regardless of timeline.
Dawn also remembered from the previous timeline that Ayane mentioned her little brother Gold, who apparently is on the autism spectrum. The reborn trainers all have no clue what Gold is like, but given he's the Champion of Johto in this timeline, there's a fair chance that they can at least ask to meet with him. "You know," Elm began, "It's surprising that someone outside of the Johto region has any idea who Ideku Badorigo is."
The reborn trainers snapped back to attention, realizing that they were caught. "Well, we were doing research on Johto before we came here," Dawn began, "And part of that was looking up history for Johto's League Conferences. We learned about Ideku from that, given his Conference win has a bit of harsh history attached to it."
"Ah yes, how his biological parents were discovered to have been horrifically abusive towards him," Elm said with a somber expression, "Luckily they were discovered and reported, and by a member of the staff of Blackthorn City Academy no less. Ideku and his brother Katsuku were moved into foster care by Johto's Child Protective Services, and they've been there ever since."
"Do... do you have any idea on how the Badorigo parents are doing now?" Mina asked.
"They were released from prison shortly after Team Heart took over Johto," Elm began, "But due to their original sentence expiring. But both ended up getting arrested again about a week later, and for breaking some Team Heart enforced laws."
"So their original stay in prison came to an end," Kenny said, "But they got another stay because they did something to tick off Team Heart."
Elm nodded in the affirmative. "I'm not sure what they did, but Mr. Badorigo is still in prison for his trouble, and Mrs. Badorigo was actually executed."
"Ideku's mom is dead?" Trip asked, looking surprised; the reborn trainers were all surprised, none of them expecting to hear that one of Ideku's crummy biological parents is dead. Given what they had heard Team Heart considers a valid reason to execute someone, then for all they knew Team Heart executed Ideku's mom because she had acted fatphobic. "Wait, do Ideku and Katsuku know that their biological mom is dead?" Trip asked.
"I don't think that Team Heart made news of the execution TOO public," Elm replied, "And Ideku as well as Katsuku are in foster care, so I doubt they know." To the reborn trainers, Elm said, "Now, I got it from Professor Oak that you kids are working on completing the Pokédex."
Dawn nodded once in confirmation. "We are, yes. We're also not sure how Team Heart will react to the news as we aren't sure what they'll do if they know we're aiming to complete the Pokédex."
Elm nodded once in understanding. "Yes, it's very difficult to have private conversations across the Indigo Parallel, both Team Heart and the Kanto regional security force are known to monitor any and all conversations where one side is in Kanto and the other in the Team Heart Empire. Professor Oak was able to send the message to be by having Kanto Champion Ash's Pidgeot fly it to me, the men monitoring communication can't tap Pokémon-delivered mail."
The reborn trainers nodded in understanding of that, also they were surprised to learn that Ash somehow got his Pidgeot back. Dawn was about to speak up, but was cut off by a knocking at the front door of Elm's Lab. Curious, Elm went to answer the door, followed by the reborn trainers. To the collective surprise of the reborn trainers, the person knocking on the door to Elm's Lab was none other than Jessie, formerly of Team Rocket but now of Team Heart.
She was there with her Captain's Assistant Merdez, along with a second uniquely dressed Team Heart member and a somewhat shorter male member of Team Heart dressed in the standard male Team Heart grunt outfit. The second uniquely dressed Team Heart member was fair skinned, had longish black hair, and he wore a black long sleeved shirt under a pink sleeveless jacket, black pants, and black shoes with pink laces. A black Team Heart 'H' was over his left pectoral on the sleeveless jacket.
Smirking in amusement, Jessie said, "Long time no see, twerps."
"Jessie," Kenny said, "You're looking as smug as always." None of the reborn trainers were happy to see Jessie here, especially as she's apparently operating in Team Heart territory at the moment, which means that they can't touch her.
Jessie was about to speak up, but the unidentified uniquely dressed Team Heart member spoke up, "You and your crew are hereby being required to come to Goldenrod City and submit to having your flying ship inspected, as well as report to Admin Coryn to tell him what business you have here in the Johto region. Men in Team Heart will be accompanying you to ensure that you comply."
"Goldenrod City, huh?" Trip said.
"It's the Capital of Johto," Elm explained, "As well as where Team Heart authority in Johto rules from."
As Trip nodded in understanding to that, Jessie said, "Well hop to it, twerps! We don't got all da-"
"You could stand to be a little less rude to Dawn Berlitz and her companions, Captain Jessie," said the unidentified uniquely dressed Team Heart member.
Turning to look at said unidentified uniquely dressed Team Heart member, Jessie said, "Oh come on, Thorn! Do you know how much I've been aching to relish in getting to lord over the twerps here and them not being able to do a thing about it?!"
Looking to the unidentified uniquely dressed Team Heart member, Dawn said, "So you're Thorn."
Nodding once, the now identified Thorn said, "Yes. I'm Thorn, Third Captain of Team Heart's Johto Sector. The short one with me is my Captain's Assistant, Beneston. Jessie was sent here from Kanto to Johto to temporarily fill in for Fourth Captain Sebastian who is currently out of commission due to injury."
"And also to get me out of the danger zone according to Admin Hanae," Jessie said, "But since you twerps are here in Team Heart territory, I can-"
"-And will act in accordance to Admin Coryn's word on the matter," Thorn interrupted, "You still need to learn that even in the lands that Team Heart rules, Team Heart can't do what it pleases, as it pleases, when it pleases. You're still in trouble for straight up trying to force Johto Champion Gold's older sister to hand over to you a shiny Pokémon she owns."
"I thought that we could do whatever we wanted since everyone in Johto has to listen to Team Heart," Jessie complained, "And shiny Pokémon are incredibly rare. Do you know how much we can get for selling one?"
The reborn trainers were glad to see that Team Heart actually had some degree of structure to it, especially in the lands that it rules. And said structure will keep Jessie in line while the reborn trainers have the displeasure of having to put up with her. Dawn has no idea how James as well as Meowth will react to hearing that Jessie is in the Johto region, especially as she can't be touched while on Team Heart turf.
Later in Goldenrod City, The Big Beauty was parked outside of an official looking government building that had Team Heart themed decor here and there; the flagpole outside, which would under normal circumstances fly just the Johto region's flag, was flying a pink flag with a Team Heart 'H' on it above the regional flag for Johto. A number of Team Heart members were filing in and out of the government building.
Dawn and the other reborn trainers followed Thorn, Jessie, and their respective Assistants plus four male rank and file level members of Team Heart off of The Big Beauty. "To be honest," Dawn began, "You guys, aside from Jessie of course, were far less jerk-ish than the Kanto regional security men who searched The Big Beauty a few times over in Kanto."
"Yeah, sorry again that Captain Jessie tried to bully that autistic girl into giving her her shiny Bellibolt," Thorn said, "If it counts for anything, I will make sure to inform Admin Coryn about the incident. I didn't include it in the official report for searching your flying ship, but Admin Coryn WILL be hearing about how Captain Jessie just doesn't seem to get it that she can't just do whatever she wants in Johto just because she's an Officer of Team Heart."
It was true; with the exception of Jessie, every member of Team Heart who was on board of The Big Beauty was strictly professional about it. They engaged in no indulging of vices or anything. Thorn even scolded Jessie for being the exception. There's also how, again aside from Jessie, all Team Heart members who were on board of The Big Beauty were far less asshole-ish than the security men who work to defend Kanto from Team Heart invasion.
As Thorn and the rest of the Team Heart group led the reborn trainers into the government building, Dawn asked, "So we're going to see your Admin, huh?"
"Admin Coryn, in addition to being head of the Johto Sector of Team Heart, is also the governor of Johto," Thorn explained, "Which makes him Johto's Head of State."
"So he basically says what goes, huh?" Trip replied.
Thorn nodded in the affirmative. "You will just have to tell him what your business is here in Johto," Thorn said, "As well as abide by Team Heart laws while in Johto. Unlike how Johto's previous government had a devil may care attitude when it came to enforcing certain laws, the Team Heart installed government in Johto not only actually enforces laws, it also sufficiently punishes those who break the law."
Dawn said nothing, remembering how Ideku's mom, as much of a piece of work as she may have been, was executed for doing something to offend Team Heart rule in Johto. "I see," Dawn said, "So you guys take running things seriously."
The group soon reached a double door that Thorn had everyone stop outside of. "This double door leads into Admin Coryn's office," Thorn said, "He as well as Admin's Assistant Marshall are both waiting in side to review you and your companions."
As the reborn trainers moved to enter Coryn's office, Jessie with an amused smirk said, "Hold up a minute, twerps. You'll need to hand all of your on hand Pokémon over to me before you all can go on in to see the Admin."
"They are required to do no such thing, Jessie," Thorn scowled, "Admin Coryn was on the right to not trust you to operate unsupervised." To the reborn trainers, Thorn said, "Ignore Jessie, she's drunk on power over non-members of Team Heart." The reborn trainers then followed Thorn and the others into Coryn's office, although Dawn scowled at Jessie with an annoyed expression.
...
Inside of the office, the reborn trainers met Admin Coryn, head of the Johto Sector of Team Heart and the Governor of Johto. He stood center in the room, with his Admin's Assistant behind him. Coryn was a mid to late teens person, fair skinned, and reddish hair under a pink ushanka hat. He wore a pink coat with black collar and trim, black gloves, black pants, and black shoes with pink shoelaces. The black Team Heart 'H' was on the flap of the hat that was over his forehead.
As for Coryn's Admin's Assistant, Marshall, he was also fair skinned but looked to be a shade taller than Coryn, at most by an inch. Marshall had black medium long hair, and he wore a pink beret hat with a black poof on it. That's typically the beret hat worn by female rank and file in Team Heart, yet Marshall who is very clearly male is wearing it. He wore a pink jacket with black collar and trim, black gloves, black pants, and black shoes with pink shoelaces. A black Team Heart 'H' was on Marshall's coat, over his left pectoral.
"I never thought that Dawn Berlitz would come over to Johto again," Coryn began, "When word of your arrival here in Johto was reported to Boss's Assistant Bianca, she immediately called for me to figure out what your business is. Given your reputation, Team Heart can't take you wandering about all that lightly."
Dawn nodded once in understanding, able to see it things from Bianca's point of view. "My crew and I are in Johto for the same reason we were previously in Kanto," Dawn said, "Doing field research on various species of Pokémon. We also have some friends living here in Johto who we wish to visit, and we'd like to meet Johto Champion Gold. So long as we can be permitted to do that, we won't try to ruffle any of your feathers while we're in Johto."
Nodding once, Coryn replied, "I fail to see how any of that can be a problem." Coryn moved over to a waist high bookshelf was in his office, on top of said bookshelf were a few copies of a book. Coryn picked up one of the copies and walked over to Dawn before handing it over to her. "This is a book that contains all of the Team Heart-installed laws here in Johto," Coryn said, "It's mostly copy and pasted from the laws of other lands part of the Team Heart Empire, but this version has a few laws that relate specifically to Johto."
Dawn held the book, looked at the cover. It showed a rather obese young adult woman shaking hands with an older man dressed in what looked like traditional religious clothing. "...I understand that Team Heart holds fatphobia as the ultimate taboo," Dawn began, then looked up from the book to Coryn before saying, "And I also heard that you Admin Coryn personally aren't fond of religious discrimination at all."
Coryn nodded once in understanding. "Given that I myself have been a victim of it in the past, I'm not all that fond of it."
Stepping forward, Marshall said to the reborn trainers, "By the way, we need you and your crew to keep an eye out for someone who escaped from prison. The person in question is one of four persons who had led the carrying out of the worst antidodonzic attack in Johto's history. The other three persons have all already been executed, and the mindless idiots they worked up into a frenzy and led into carrying out the attack are all serving life sentences."
Nodding once in agreement, Coryn said, "When the person is found and captured, he will be brought in for immediate execution."
The reborn trainers looked surprised, as did Merdez and even Jessie. "Umm, sir," Jessie began, a hint of timid nervousness in her tone. Hearing Jessie sound like that took the reborn trainers by surprise. "I'm not all that familiar with events here in Johto," Jessie said, "Would you be able to tell us what all exactly happened to warrant wanting to put the guy you're looking for to death?"
Coryn let out a troubled sigh. "...Some time ago," Coryn began, "There was a Donzish religious festival held in Olivine City. Me and my family, which consisted of my parents and kid brother, went there as we're all Donzish. It was attended by other Donzish people living in Johto, as well as a few non-Donzish people who wanted to be friends and support the people of my faith."
Holding up a hand, Marshall said, "I'm one of said non-Donzish people who went to that festival. My girlfriend also was part of the group I went with, along with me and Coryn's friend Ken and Ken's girlfriend Tam. Given how Coryn is a close friend of ours, we wanted to be there to support him as it meant a lot to him."
"I take it that..." Merdez began, looking scared and worried, "...That the festival was where the very bad attack happened."
Coryn gave a single grim nod of confirmation. "Four people, all of them severe die-hard antidonzites, rallied a bunch of ignorant idiots into an antidodonzic frenzy and led them into attacking the festival, solely because they hate the people of my faith. Granted, all attacking persons were caught and arrested, but they just sat in jail for ages without actually being sentenced. Justice was not actually being done to make up for the horrific attack that occurred that day in Olivine City."
Mina gulped nervously. "Yo man, that attack that was done on the festival sounds like it's several different levels of messed up."
"That's putting it mildly," Marshall said, "The attackers more or less weren't being punished for their horrific actions, despite how their attack resulted in the deaths of over a dozen Donzish people and roughly twice that number in non-Donzish people." Marshall, as if acting on instinct, put a hand on his head, to make sure his pink beret hat with a black poof was still there.
"My parents were two of the Donzish people among the victims," Coryn added, "But don't go thinking that I'm having the attackers punished for personal satisfaction. Their crime is real, and it deserves punishment."
Gesturing to Coryn, Dawn began, "You said that the people whipped up into a frenzy by the four leaders of the attack are all serving life sentences, and the attack leaders themselves had all been executed aside from one."
"Yes, the one who escaped and is currently on the run," Coryn said, "If you find him, capture him and bring him in. He has a date with the lethal injection chair."
"Who exactly is the person you're wanting to capture?" Trip asked.
Marshall took out a photo and showed it to the reborn trainers. It showed a gaunt looking fair skinned guy about the same approximate age as Coryn and Marshall. He had long light brown hair and he wore a red t-shirt that looked rather baggy on him. "This is Eric, the person we're looking to capture and put to death," Marshall said, "This is the most recent photo of the asshole, it's what he looked like when he escaped from prison."
Looking at the photo, Dawn said, "He... doesn't look that much older than you or Coryn."
"That's because he formed something of a friend group with me, Marshall, and Ken," Coryn said, "Although it wasn't by choice on part of me, Marshall, or Ken. Eric's mom was the President of the Johto regional HOA, and more or less used her position to force others to follow her whims. That included making other parents force their kids to be friends with Eric. He ended up settling with me, Marshall, and Ken, but it was so he could bully me for being Donzish and bully Ken for being poor."
"And you had to put up with him?" Dawn asked.
"Considering that his mom once bullied a family who ticked her off into moving out of Johto, we kind of had to let Eric do as he pleased," Coryn replied, "Trust me, none of the other kids growing up actually liked him."
"Then during the middle of our teen years," Marshall said, his face slowly morphing into an angry scowl, "Eric and those three others led the mindless idiots into attacking the festival where Coryn's parents and... and other people... were killed. At least the law in Johto FINALLY stepped in and arrested people for crimes against the Donzish people."
"But that's all they did," Coryn went on, "The people, Eric included, were all arrested and sat in jail, but they weren't actually being punished. Their punishments didn't come until after Team Heart rose to power and took over, among other lands, Johto. By that point, I had become the Admin of the Johto Sector of Team Heart, which meant I became Johto's Head of State. After I laid down the law here in Johto to outlaw fatphobic behavior, I got to work on punishing the festival attackers."
"You had the mindless drones sentenced to life in prison," Dawn began, "And the four leaders all sentenced to death."
"Unfortunately for us," Marshall said, "Eric's mom was able to predict what would happen to Eric after Coryn here became Johto's Head of State, a position that puts him well above her silly little HOA President title so she couldn't do jack to retaliate. But she DID manage to get Eric smuggled out of prison. He went on the run and has been missing ever since."
"There's no way that he could have escaped from Johto, we have the borders sealed to prevent people from coming in and out unless we know of it as well as who's leaving and coming," Coryn began, "So he's still in Johto. If you see him, capture him if possible and bring him in. There'll be a reward in it for you if you do."
Dawn and the other reborn trainers weren't sure about bringing someone to their death. Even IF the asshole has it coming, the reborn trainers knowingly and willingly bringing someone to their death does not sit well with them. "...Well hopefully my crew and I will come across him while we're in the Johto region doing field research," Dawn said.
Looking around, Mina said, "You know, I don't know a lot exactly about the Donzish faith. Could you tell me a bit about it?" Dawn saw that Mina was trying to build a friendly relationship with Coryn, a valuable idea if the reborn trainers were to be allowed to operate within the Johto region.
"I'd love to teach you," Coryn said, "But I have other business to attend to. I'm the Admin of Team Heart's Johto Sector and the Head of State for Johto, after all. But I can, however, provide you with a few educational materials on the subject." Again, Mina nodded in the affirmative, showing Coryn that she was indeed interested. Appealing to Coryn's care for his faith was a good way to build up a good rapport with the guys in charge of Johto.
Later as The Big Beauty was flying back to New Bark Town as that's the starting point the reborn trainers planned to start from on their Johto Pokédex completion quest, Dawn and the other reborn trainers were in the meeting room having a private meeting. Mina was going over her copy of the educational material on the Donzish faith, said material Mina got from Coryn. Dawn also got a copy of the material as well, figuring her bookshelf could use a bit more filling out.
"So the Donzish faith basically worships a pantheon of deities that all take the form of Dodonzos," Mina said, "There's seven of these deities total, with the chief of the pantheon being depicted as a shiny Dodonzo."
"Due to how the deities of the Donzish faith are depicted as Dodonzos," Dawn began as she read from her own copy of the material, "The species is sacred to the Donzish people. As such, Donzish people cannot knowingly cause or bring harm to a Dodonzo, barring very niche circumstances."
"There have been incidents where Donzish trainers had to surrender battles because their opponents sent Dodonzos out against them," Mina went on, "Frequently in this one annual water Pokémon only tournament here in Johto, but there was one reported incident that occurred a long time ago where a trainer who had challenged a past Indigo League Champion defeated them and got their title because said Champion was Donzish and the trainer challenging them had sent out a Dodonzo. This was ruled as valid by the Indigo League Commission."
"Kind of weird that they view Dodonzos of all Pokémon as sacred," Kenny said with a shrug, "But I ain't gonna knock 'em for it."
"So what's the plan?" Trip asked.
Setting down a paperback book among the material she got from Coryn, Dawn said, "It's easy. We get every species of Johto Pokémon registered as caught, go visit Ideku and his friends to see how they are doing, meet Johto Champion Gold, and then get the hell out of Johto."
"Aren't we supposed to look for that antidodonzic asshole Eric?" Mina asked, "Because that seems rather important."
"As much of an asshole as he is," Trip began, "You're talking about finding a guy and bringing him in to his death. Can you knowingly and willingly bring someone to their death?"
Looking at the material she had, Mina said, "Given what we know he was a part of, I say let him burn in the fires of the Distortion World." Gesturing to her material, Mina went on, "Hell, this Donzish faith is actually looking and sounding very interesting. I may wanna convert."
"Mozel tov!" Kenny cheered, drawing an exasperated sigh from Dawn.
(Opelucid City, Unova region)
Bianca, the Boss's Assistant of Team Heart and public face that rules the Team Heart Empire, was laying front side down on a massage table at a private spa as she was getting a back massage from a spa worker dressed in Team Heart colors so it's clear the spa worker is a member of Team Heart. The spa worker's hands pushed and kneeded to relieve the tension in Bianca's back, although it looked more like her hands were sinking and being pulled back out of folds of fat.
As Bianca was being pampered, the door to the room she was in opened, and a maid whose outfit consisted of the Team Heart colors came in. "Lady Bianca," the maid began, "We just got word from Admin Coryn in Johto about what Dawn Berlitz and her companions are doing in Johto. They're just doing more field research on Pokémon, much the same as what they were doing in Kanto."
"But they're in our territory now," Bianca said, "They'll be far more easily managed."
Letting out a worried sigh, the maid went on, "But there's still no predicting them, especially Dawn Berlitz. She's the main reason Team Heart can't afford war with Sinnoh right now, after all."
Nodding once, Bianca said, "True. But Sinnoh isn't exactly high on our list of priorities right now anyway. It's Kalos that the Boss has their eyes on. They said as much themselves."
The maid nodded once in understanding. Bianca was using gender neutral pronouns when referring to the Boss of Team Heart, the only person in Team Heart who outranks Bianca. The reason for using the gender neutral pronouns was because the Boss only appears to Bianca, and even then never appears without heavily disguising themselves first, to the point it's impossible to tell if the Boss is male or female.
"By the way," Bianca spoke up, getting the maid's attention, "When will dinner be ready?"
"It is being prepared as we speak, Lady Bianca," the maid replied, "It ought to be either ready or close to it by the time your massage and spa session is over."
Bianca let out a content sounding hum. "Sounds great," Bianca replied, "I'm looking forward to it."
(Blackthorn City, Johto region)
He was running and hiding, has been ever since he was able to give Team Heart the slip. But even he wasn't so full of himself as to believe he can continue to do so forever, at least so long as he remained in Team Heart territory. He knew that his only chance of survival was to somehow find a way to get out of Johto and into one of the free lands. Kanto or Sinnoh or Kalos or Alola, it didn't matter which one, so long as it was one of them.
Kanto was the closest, as it's literally right next door to Johto. But the Indigo Parallel was the most heavily guarded border in the world, and Kanto was surrounded by Team Heart territories. Even if he were to somehow escape into Kanto, his freedom may not be for very long. There's also the fact that if he were to try to escape into Kanto, then chances are he'll be caught and dragged back to his doom here in the Johto region. Not exactly the best fate in the world, and one he didn't want.
But it would give him a springboard into another one of the free lands. Sinnoh sounded the most appealing, even he has heard that Team Heart doesn't wanna risk war with Sinnoh right now due to it being the home region of Dawn Berlitz. With the Champion of Sinnoh who is also Monarch of the World Coronation Series watching over things, he would be able to breathe easy, having been able to give Team Heart the slip for good.
There was also Alola, a tropical paradise that he could very easily get used to. But it would be rather difficult to get there. He also heard that Alola Champion Elio was a strong trainer who took things seriously and would NOT tolerate (what Elio views as) a lack of respect. Elio also has a girlfriend who he cares for deeply, and is protective of both her and her little sisters, especially as the girls and their dad have a rather tense relationship with the girls' mom who is the dad's ex-wife.
Then there was the Kalos region, presided over by Serena, Champion of Kalos and the Kalos Queen of Pokémon Showcases. He figured that a classy region like Kalos might also be right up his alley, but getting there would also be difficult. He heard that Kalos Champion Serena supposedly would drop whatever she's doing if Kanto Champion Ash asked her for help for whatever. A lot of people in the world still aren't sure what Serena sees in Ash.
...But Kanto at least would be his ticket to escaping Team Heart pursuit and getting his freedom. Either by staying there or using Kanto as a springboard to get to another one of the free lands. He just had to bide his time before he can escape Johto and get to freedom. He spotted a Team Heart patrol around the corner of the alleyway he was hiding in, so he ducked back in to hide. He was very tired, but he couldn't afford to rest. Not now.
He, Eric, couldn't afford to stay in Johto. His life depended on it.
END, CHAPTER EIGHT
Author's notes;
This chapter sees the crew of The Big Beauty go to Johto to begin work on completing the Johto Pokédex. However, they learn a bit more about how Ideku is doing in this timeline; they also learn that Katsuku is still alive in this timeline. But things are cut short when Team Heart summons them to Goldenrod City for interrogation.
In Goldenrod City, Admin Coryn gets that Dawn and company are merely doing field research on Pokémon, as well as them wanting to visit friends. Nothing too big. The reborn trainers then learn a bit more about Coryn's background, as well as what drives him as well as his Admin's Assistant, Marshall. Long story short, they wanna see to the death of a 'friend' of theirs.
The reborn trainers are soon able to get to work on Johto dex work, but they are still concerned about working in Team Heart territory. Speaking of, Bianca over in Unova is informed of what Dawn and her friends are up to. Meanwhile in Blackthorn City, the character Eric schemes to escape from Johto and go to one of the free lands.
Remember how I said that everyone in the Officer staff for the Kanto Sector of Team Heart, aside from Jessie, were expies of characters from a series that I like? Yeah, the challenge to guess that series, as of this chapter going up, is still live. Guessing who the Johto Sector Officer staff members are expies of ought to be easier, though.
The next chapter will see Dawn and Trip make some very important captures for the Johto Pokédex, as well as see the reborn trainers meet Johto Champion Gold. Until then, take care.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Tsukune (Palkia), 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)