Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.

Pokémon: Pokédex no Isekai

Chapter Thirteen: Meeting the Champion

The reborn trainers were searching Route 110 for Pokémon in the Hoenn Pokédex to catch. "We have a few names to cross off of the list here," Dawn spoke up, "So let's keep an eye out for any Pokémon out here. And if it's one we need, we catch it."

"Aye aye, captain," Kenny said.

The reborn trainers searched around, and during the searching, Trip spotted a Gulpin inching away into the tall grass. "Oh no you don't," Trip said as he ran after the Gulpin. When Trip got into the clearing he was chasing Gulpin into, he surprisingly came across Latias, laying on the ground and clearly asleep. Gulpin was nearby at a pile of berries, having its fill.

Trip was forgetting the Gulpin for the time being; taking out a spare Master Ball, he expanded it and tossed it at Latias, who never saw it coming due to being asleep. After a few shakes, the Master Ball caught Latias. Trip then chucked an Ultra Ball at the Gulpin and caught it too. With two more Hoenn Pokémon crossed off the list, including the last difficult one, Trip was eager to return to see the rest of the reborn trainers and tell them the good news.

...

Later in Slateport City, Dawn and the reborn trainers were going over all of the Pokémon they caught on Route 110. "Well thanks to Trip, we no longer have any difficult catches to make here in Hoenn," Dawn said.

Shrugging, Mina said, "I dunno. I heard that Feebas can be rare as balls." In a lot of the games back in the reborn trainers' previous lives where Feebas can be found in the wild, Feebas tended to be incredibly difficult to find.

"Well hopefully in our case it won't be as bad," Dawn replied, "Anyway, I-"

*knock* *knock*

Dawn was cut off by a knock at the meeting room door on board of The Big Beauty; the reborn trainers were having a private meeting in the meeting room on board of Dawn's flying ship. Dawn, a curious look on her face, went to answer the door. Surprisingly, it was Sho.

"Yo Dawn," Sho began, "Some girl named May is waiting at the base of the drawbridge, waiting to come aboard. She's got some little dude and some dude around her age with her. May says that she knows you."

Dawn nodded in understanding and, with the other reborn trainers following her, went to see if it really was May their friend.

Exiting out onto the open deck of The Big Beauty, Dawn and the others went to where the drawbridge connected to the ship and disembarked. As they made their way down, the reborn trainers spotted their friend May; it was indeed her. She also had with her Max, her little brother, and a boy that Dawn was able to visually identify as Brendan, the male player character from the Hoenn games back in her previous life.

Brendan here looked like his Emerald version incarnation, although his outfit looked a bit baggy. "Dawn! Kenny! Trip! Kenny's girlfriend!" May called out, "Didn't think that I'd see you here in Hoenn!"

"Long time no see," Dawn called back as she and the others made their way down, "And it's great to see you as well, Max."

Nodding once, Max said, "Thanks, Dawn."

Looking to Brendan, Mina said, "And who are you?"

"Oh, this is my boyfriend Brendan," May said, "He's the current Champion of Hoenn, did you know that?"

"We got the gist from Professor Birch," Dawn remarked. Looking to Brendan, Dawn said, "How's it feel to be the Champion of Hoenn?"

"I feel a lot emptier about it than what I had been anticipating," Brendan replied, "But then again I have no-one but my dirtbag uncle to thank for that."

Trip nodded once in confirmation. "We got the gist of that as well from Professor Birch."

Brendan scowled. "I still can't believe that my Uncle Chandler would go so far, just to get what he wanted. Do the hopes and dreams of other people not matter to him, only what he wants is all that matters? Just where does he get off?"

Gesturing up to her flying ship, Dawn asked, "You wanna talk about it?"

...

Up on board of The Big Beauty, Brendan vented about how much he resented his uncle for resorting to trickery to ruin his cousin's life. "And worse of all it made me mad against the wrong person for no reason!" Brendan said, "I was prepared to tear Norman a new one because I thought Chad's life being messed with was all on him!"

"Well the truth came out and things were done to punish your uncle," Dawn said, "Well, he got what he had coming one way or another."

"Say, what are you guys doing in Hoenn?" Max asked, "I mean, I'm surprised you'd want to come visit here. You all live in one of the free lands, and Hoenn is part of the Team Heart Empire."

"We're doing field research on the various species of Pokémon living in Hoenn," Dawn said. It's best not to let the truth out, even to friends. Team Heart may hear of it one way or another unless it's kept on a need to know basis. "There's also the fact that we have friends living in the various lands part of the Team Heart Empire," Dawn said, "We're not about to just NOT check up on them to see how they're doing."

May nodded in understanding. "It's great that you care enough to take the risk. I'm still worried about how my family and I live in a region were Team Heart's word is law. You can be arrested just because you're overheard saying the wrong thing in public!"

Shrugging, Mina said, "Just don't say or do anything discriminatory and you'll be golden."

Brendan scowled. "My Uncle Chandler discriminated. He discriminated against Chad's dreams of competing in the Hoenn League." Brendan pounded the surface of the table he and the others all sat at. "Just where did my Uncle Chandler get off, huh?" Brendan said, "Why does he think the only use a son has is to be an extension of his father?"

Kenny had a serious look of consideration on his face. "You speak the truth, Brendan."

"Sons don't have to be an extension of their fathers!" Brendan said, "Sons can be their own people! I mean, look at me! My father is the regional Pokémon Professor for Hoenn, yet I didn't go into Pokémon research like him! I went after the Hoenn League instead, even became the Champion of Hoenn in the process!"

"The same can be said for daughters not necessarily having to follow in the footsteps of their mothers," Dawn remarked, "My mother Johanna is a Top Coordinator for Contests in Sinnoh, and yet I went after the Sinnoh League instead."

Gesturing to Dawn, Brendan said, "Thank you! That's my point exactly! Kids don't have to uphold and continue legacies started by their parents!"

Holding up a hand, Max said, "Umm, I am actually interested in being a gym leader like me and May's dad. I'm not being forced or obligated into it, I'm naturally interested in it on my own. It's just that I don't wanna specialize in normal type Pokémon like me and May's dad does, I wanna use dark type Pokémon instead."

Nodding once in understanding, Brendan said, "That is perfectly acceptable, Max. Your path is your own to write as you see fit." Dawn and the other reborn trainers were surprised to see that Max in the Team Heart timeline, rather than have a bunch of doggo Pokémon, has a full team of dark type Pokémon instead.

Max still has the shiny Mightyena, but now his other Pokémon are Inciniroar, Shiftry, Crawdaunt, Sableye, and Hydreigon. A very robust and strong dark type Pokémon team, with a few choices picks. And there's nothing wrong with Max wanting to be a dark type gym leader; there actually is a lack of dark type gym leaders out there, so the more the better.

Dawn was about to speak up, but she saw Brendan perk up as he saw something. "Oh, Chad!" Brendan said, making everyone turn to see Mitch escort someone dressed in a business suit up onto the deck of The Big Beauty. The suit person was fair skinned, about the same height as Mitch, and had long dark hair.

"Oh guys, that's Brendan's cousin Chad," May said, "He works at Devon Corporation as a manager for trainers who represent Devon Corporation's interests. Chad got assigned to Brendan."

"Hey Brendan, we gotta go," said the now identified Chad, "Captain Vivian of Team Heart's Hoenn Sector is in town to host a party, and she heard that you were in town and wants you to come. She wants to make her party the talk of Hoenn, I guess."

"Captain Vivian, huh?" Trip said, "Does she know we're in town as well?"

Looking to the reborn trainers, Chad said, "Oh, umm, I don't know, but I bet you guys coming will really shake things up."

"Well lads, we got us a Team Heart Captain to meet," Kenny said as he stood up from his seat. Dawn was also interested in familiarizing herself with the Officer staff for Hoenn's native Sector of Team Heart, so it was best to head down to Vivian's party.

Later, the reborn trainers, along with May, Max, Brendan, and Chad, were all at a fancy party hosted in a ballroom at a high-end hotel. It was there that the reborn trainers met Vivian, Second Captain of the Hoenn Sector of Team Heart, as well as Kay, who served Vivian as her Captain's Assistant.

Vivian was a fair skinned girl with long, curly yellow blonde hair, and she wore a pink long sleeved coat with black collar and trim, black pants, black shoes with pink shoelaces, and a black Team Heart 'H' on her coat over her left breast. Kay wore the standard female Team Heart rank and file outfit, as she's just a Captain's Assistant.

"I heard that Dawn Berlitz and her companions were in Hoenn, yes," Vivian said, "But I was not at all expecting you guys to be in Slateport City when I was throwing my party here."

"What's the party to celebrate?" Dawn asked, "Or is it just for a social gathering?"

"Oh, just for a social gathering," Vivian replied, "Although I did recently get the cutest new purse ever! Of course it had to be in pink and black only, even when I'm not working I've gotta keep representing Team Heart, you know."

"Me and the rest of the lads here had seen Admin Ken," Trip said, "And he gave Jessie a rather strong chewing out."

Rolling her eyes, Vivian said, "Oh yeah, that idiot who used to be a part of the now long defunct Team Rocket. You know, I'm surprised she hasn't gotten the boot yet for all of her stupidity. She has gotten away with WAY too much, at least if you ask me. Most other members of Team Heart, were they in Captain Jessie's position, would have gotten the boot or worse by this point."

"I often wonder if the higher ups of Team Heart might sometimes have too much heart," Kay remarked casually.

Gently shaking her head, Dawn said, "Jessie is as lucky as she is stupid. But her luck will run out if she gets sent to Sinnoh, let me tell you."

Nodding in agreement, Vivian said, "Oh totally! A good number of Team Heart Officers will say that you'd do Team Heart a favor by taking care of Captain Jessie yourself."

"Perhaps Admin Ken can be convinced to somehow get Captain Jessie sent over to Sinnoh," Kay remarked casually, "Given Captain Jessie's history and Admin Ken's near non-existent tolerance for stupidity, it shouldn't take too much, especially if we're lucky."

"I believe that Hanae is the Admin who is ultimately responsible for Jessie," Kenny said, "So if it's sending Jessie to where the lads and I can have fun with her, you may have to clear it with him first. And I think he sent Jessie to Team Heart territory to protect her." Gently shaking his head, Kenny went on, "Not entirely sure if he can be convinced to let Jessie go to Dawn's stomping grounds."

As Vivian took another sip of her drink, Dawn asked, "So Vivian, how often do you host these social gathering parties?"

"Whenever I have the free time," Vivian replied, "There's a lot of notable people in Hoenn after all, despite how it's ranked as the overall poorest region in the world for at least the past half decade."

Nodding once in agreement, Brendan said, "Yeah, Hoenn doesn't have the most robust economy in the world among the other regions."

Folding her arms over her chest, Dawn said, "I got it that Admin Ken is very much against classism, having suffered under it himself."

"Oh yeah," Vivian began, "Ken from what I gathered had grown up in a lower middle class family with his parents, an older brother, and a younger sister. Things had always been real tight for Ken's family money wise." Shrugging, Vivian went on, "Well, I doubt that Ken is struggling money wise now, given his position in Team Heart."

Dawn nodded in understanding. "He's the Admin responsible for Hoenn's native Sector of Team Heart, which makes him Hoenn's Head of State due to Team Heart taking over and ruling Hoenn."

"When we were in Johto," Trip began, "We got some details on a guy that Ken along with Coryn and Marshall were quote unquote friends with. A guy named Eric."

Vivian's expression instantly turned into an unamused scowl. "That bigoted bastard?" Vivian said, "What about him?"

"He's currently wanted because he escaped from custody," Mina said, "But it's assured that he can't have gotten out of Johto at all. What all do you know of Eric's history?"

"Only that he's racist," Vivian began, "Bigoted, antidodonzic, and pretty much embodies every other kind of discrimination you can think of. If it's a group that can be discriminated against, then you can bet your last bit of money on it that Eric will discriminate against it for that reason. Essentially no-one likes him. I hope he's caught."

...

(Melemele Island, Alola region)

Eric, while he was getting something set up in a store front that he, Silver, Faba, and Minoru were all working in, let out a sneeze. "You okay, Eric?" Silver asked.

Shrugging, Eric said, "Meh, it's nothing."

Later on back in Slateport City while the party was still going, Dawn spoke with May while the others were talking. "So how's your career in the Pokémon Contest scene?" Dawn asked.

"Oh, I've gotten some wins against my usual rivals," May replied, "Partly due to training my Pokémon with Brendan's. In fact, I once entered a couples contest while bringing Brendan along."

Dawn arched a wry eyebrow at that. "You brought the Champion of Hoenn as your partner in a contest for couples."

Nodding once, May replied, "Well it was actually for coordinators and their dates. Although I did make a number of heads turn by bringing Brendan as my partner. We got past the appeals round just fine, and Brendan took care of the battle round for us."

"Lemme guess," Dawn said, "All of your wins in the battle round came from straight up knocking out the opponents' Pokémon, rather than reduce their point gauge to zero or have more points left than them when time was called."

Shrugging, May said, "Well knocking out an opponent's Pokémon IS a win condition in the battle round for Pokémon contests. Although I was asked not to enter with Brendan in future couples contests."

"Aside from that," Dawn said, "Is there anything else going on?"

Looking a bit concerned, May said, "Yeah, a fair chunk of the people in the fan club for my dad had been arrested."

Dawn looked mildly concerned to hear that. "Well they DO have a reputation for being roudy as well as pushy. But then again, Hoenn IS part of the Team Heart Empire, so chances are that they all had done something to tick off Team Heart."

"No no, it was just the roudy thing," May said, "They had done to another person aiming to challenge my dad's gym what they had done to Brendan's cousin Chad long ago. At least THIS time the person who was aiming to challenge my dad was able to rest before the battle. But the incident was still reported, and it's starting to make my dad look bad."

Dawn sighed. It would seem that even Norman himself has some degree of trouble in trying to get his fan club under control. "You think that the arrest of some of their fellows would be enough to deter them and make them calm down finally?" Dawn asked.

Gently shaking her head in the negative, May replied, "I doubt it. Hey, did you know that part of all of the training that Brendan did before he started earning Hoenn gym badges was because he was intending to deliberately provoke my dad's fan club into battling him?"

Dawn looked surprised to hear that. "Brendan was deliberately provoking your dad's fan club?"

Nodding in confirmation, May explained, "Brendan sat out in a public park in the area of Petalburgh City where the fan club is based out of. He took out a banner that said 'Declaration of intent to challenge Petalburgh gym leader Norman', stuck a pole in the ground next to a bench, hung that banner from the pole, sat on the bench, and waited for the fan club to take the bait."

"Did they?" Dawn asked.

"Brendan had barely sat down for a minute before they came," May replied, "And as he was counting on, they all challenged him. But it didn't deter Brendan, and he defeated them all using only his Manectric. He then went on to defeat my dad in an official gym battle later that day."

Dawn could see why Brendan would be so keen on challenging Norman's fan club; they were among the unknowing pawns used by Brendan's Uncle Chandler to ruin the life of Brendan's older cousin. It made sense that Brendan would want to do something to get back at Norman's fan club. Dawn was about to say something else, but was cut off when a panicked looking female Team Heart grunt had come running over to where Vivian stood.

The female Team Heart grunt got Vivian's attention, whispered something into her ear. Immediately, Vivian looked an even mix of horrified and disgusted. "Well fuck," Vivian could be heard swearing, "Admin Ken is not going to like that."

Dawn could tell that something bad happened, but she and May were too far away to ask Vivian what had happened. And the First Captain of the Hoenn Sector was too far away for Dawn to catch up to before said Captain left the party that she was hosting, bringing Kay with her. Dawn wanted to know what had happened, but she was figuring that it would make the news soon enough.

Later that evening, as Dawn and the other reborn trainers were settled in Mauville City, they heard on the news that a rebel group had launched an attack Fallarbor Town. Said rebel group was stated to be aiming to remove Team Heart authority from the Hoenn region by any means necessary. The act they had carried out claimed several lives; five members of Team Heart, three civilians, and a rather unlucky pair of Spinda.

What made the losses even more shocking is the fact that one of the slain members of Team Heart was Luis, the First Captain of the Hoenn Sector. The rebels who aim to remove Team Heart authority from the Hoenn region saw the slaying of Luis as a major win, and there were already reports coming out from certain far reaching areas of Hoenn that people were celebrating the death of a Team Heart Captain.

Several people were actually arrested due to celebrating the act of terror carried out in Fallarbor Town, due to how it showed support for rebel forces that would see to the downfall of Team Heart authority in the Hoenn region. "So there's rebel forces in all places where Team Heart rules," Kenny said evenly as he and the other reborn trainers met privately in the meeting room aboard The Big Beauty, "You think that they all had drawn blood from Team Heart?"

Gently shaking her head, Dawn replied, "No clue."

"Is there any word on how Luis's Captain's Assistant is doing?" Trip asked.

"It's confirmed that Doval survived and can resume duty within days," Dawn began, "But Admin Ken is going to have to wait on letting Doval go back into the field to do work until the person he picked to take Luis's place is trained up."

"So Admin Ken has already picked Luis's replacement," Mina said, "Do you know who it is?"

"I don't know the guy's name," Dawn replied, "All I know is that he apparently was one of Ken's original choices to be made into a Captain, but was sick at the time and didn't get better until after the cutoff point. The new soon to be Captain will have Doval assigned to them as an Assistant." Arching a wry eyebrow, Dawn went on, "Also, the new soon to be Captain has Downs Syndrome."

"The new soon to be Captain has Downs Syndrome?" Mina asked, looking surprised, "Huh, that's got to be a first. Never heard of a villainous team employing people like that."

Gently shaking her head, Dawn said, "Team Heart doesn't discriminate, abhoring the very idea of discrimination itself. I doesn't surprise me that they'd recruit anyone, regardless of disability, to their ranks. In fact, they'd probably do so to avoid being accused of ableism."

"Is there word that there will be a service for those killed in the attack on Fallarbor Town?" Trip asked.

Gently shaking her head, Dawn replied, "No clue. But I figure that if there is, it'll be a private affair for Team Heart to mourn their lost members, with only family of the deceased allowed to attend said service. As for the nonmembers of Team Heart and the two unlucky Spindas, I'm not sure what all plans are being drummed up for them."

"I still can't believe that Pokémon were killed in a terrorist attack carried out by rebel fighters," Mina said, "Pokémon being killed is arguably worse than humans being killed. At least if you ask me."

"There are a fair good few people out there who'd probably agree with you, Mina," Dawn remarked. Well, the reborn trainers now knew why Vivian left the party she was hosting earlier in the day with a scowl on her face. Rebel fighters carried out an act of terror in Fallarbor Town with the aim to strike at Team Heart and try to remove their presence from the Hoenn region. From the perspective of some folks, on paper it's good they're trying to get rid of Team Heart.

But in practice, they're causing more damage than they ought to, and they're building a bad name for themselves. Things are not as clear cut black and white as they'd like.

The following morning, Dawn and the other reborn trainers were watching local news in Hoenn via the monitor screen in the meeting room aboard The Big Beauty. The leading story in the news was the attack in Fallarbor Town which claimed a combined ten lives. Dawn noted how Team Heart was including ALL lives that had been lost, including the two Spinda. Mina would later get it that news in the free lands wouldn't count Pokémon in such death tolls.

The highlight of the story about the terrorist attack carried out by the rebels in Fallarbor Town was how Captain Luis is one of the victims. There are reports coming in from all over Hoenn of some folks celebrating the death of a Team Heart Officer, and a few arrests had been made in that regard as those arrested had been viewed as 'being sympathetic towards terrorists who would threaten the stability of the Empire', as an official spokesperson representing Team Heart had said during an earlier interview.

The news report ended by going over the fact that Admin Ken had selected someone to take the late Luis's place as a Captain of the Hoenn Sector of Team Heart. Nothing in known publicly about this new Captain, not even if they'll be made First Captain or if the surviving Captains will all go up a number and the new Captain will be made the Fourth Captain. Dawn and the other reborn trainers were probably among the very few in Hoenn who are aware of any other details about the new soon to be Captain.

The news report also said that the rebels who carried out the attack on Fallarbor Town had all gotten away and are at large. But several of them had been identified visually, and rewards had been offered for info leading to their captures. Dawn and the other reborn trainers did not need more than one guess to figure out what Team Heart authority intends to do with any and all of the rebels who had taken part in that attack on Fallarbor Town.

"Hey, the news report mentioning who all had been killed in the rebel caused terrorist attack on Fallarbor Town reminded me," Kenny said, "We need to catch a Spinda for our quest to complete the Pokédex for Hoenn."

"Kenny's right," Trip remarked, "And we can easily find them in the soot covered route east of Fallarbor Town. We can just fly over, go to that route, and catch the first Spinda that we find. And then we can go to the route WEST of Fallarbor Town to get all of the Pokémon there, as well as go to Meteor Falls. At least I think that cave is called Meteor Falls. The cave with Solrock and Lunatone in it! We go there!"

Dawn had a look of serious consideration on her face. "...I also wanna visit Fallarbor Town itself, see first hand what all damage had been wrought by the rebels fighting to liberate Hoenn from the rule of Team Heart. I can't say I condone their reckless actions... but at the same time I also can't say that Team Heart's hands are fully clean either."

"Ooh, the grassy area outside of the Lunatone and Solrock cave has Zangoose and Seviper," Mina said, "Those two are rival species, aren't they?"

"Indeed," Dawn replied, "But the ones we catch will have to learn to get along with one another."

"Hey, hey," Kenny began, a hint of amusement in his tone and expression, "Did you know that, despite how they're depicted as rivals, Zangoose and Seviper are actually capable of breeding with each other?"

Shrugging, Trip replied, "Meh, it's not as far out there as Skitty being able to breed with Wailord."

"You want me to find a girlfriend for Jibanyan?" Kenny said as he spoke of his shiny Skitty, "Ooh, I'm not entirely sure how he feels about bigger girls."

"Hey," Mina began, "Wouldn't it be funny if Kenny not only ends up getting a Wailord while we're in Hoenn, but it's female and has romantic interest in Jibanyan?"

Dawn, with a dry look on her face, added in a likewise tone, "Bonus points if if ends up being shiny just like Jibanyan."

"Girls, come on," Kenny said, "Don't try to jinx things for Jibanyan like that. What did the lil' dude ever do to either of you?"

Clapping his hands together, Trip said, "Well everyone, it seems that Fallarbor Town is our next destination. We'll check out the soot covered route for a Spinda, then we'll mosey on over to the area in the direction of what I think is called Meteor Falls for what all lays over there." Trip gave off a bit of a scoff. "Some fan of Hoenn I am. I can't clearly remember the name of the cave where one can find Lunatone and Solrock. I bring shame to Hoenn."

"At least you aren't bringing more water to Hoenn," Dawn said, "Hoenn's got plenty of water as it is." The reborn trainers all shared a good natured laugh before leaving the meeting room. Dawn then told Heath that they were going to be heading over to Fallarbor Town next to look into the Pokémon native to the routes around Fallarbor Town. Heath said that security is bound to be tight in Fallarbor Town due to the recent rebel caused terrorist attack, but he'll see what he can do.

Dawn was certain that she and her crew wouldn't have any trouble, especially as they've established with Admin Ken that they're in Hoenn purely for 'doing field research' and seeing a few friends.

(Opelucid City, Unova region)

Bianca, the Boss's Assistant of Team Heart and the public face that rules the Team Heart Empire, was sitting at her desk in her office at her manor in the wealthy neighborhood in Opelucid City over in the Unova region. The very well fed girl had just gotten word about the attack in Fallarbor Town, Hoenn, carried out by a group of rebel fighters native to Hoenn. Several members of Team Heart, including a Captain in Admin Ken's Sector, were killed.

Arrangements were made for all who were killed, and Bianca had gotten confirmation that Ken has already found and is currently training up a replacement for the slain Captain. Bianca was interested to hear that said new Captain that Ken is training has Downs Syndrome, but given how highly Ken has spoken of said new Captain, Bianca can't see how the disability would get in the way of the new Captain's ability to carry out their duties.

And Team Heart has no issue with employing people like that. Other places tend to exclude those with disabilities or disorders, but not Team Heart. Team Heart does not discriminate. Bianca had to give credit to Ken for keeping an eye on the new Captain that he's training up. In Bianca's opinion, all that the new Captain that Ken is training has to do is NOT follow the example set by Captain Jessie, and they'll be good to go in their career as a Team Heart Captain.

As Bianca was going over some forms, the maid that usually attends to her came into the office. "Pardon the intrusion on your time, Lady Bianca," the maid began, "But some of the staff here were concerned when you shut yourself in your office here suddenly."

Bianca let out a sigh. "I'm just going over forms related to how several men of the Hoenn Sector were killed in a terrorist attack over in Fallarbor Town," Bianca explained, "One of said men who was killed is Captain Luis. Admin Ken is currently training Luis's replacement."

"I just hope that the new Captain that Admin Ken is training won't take after the example that had been set by Captain Jessie," remarked the maid, "Oh, umm, if me saying something negative about a Team Heart Officer is allowed."

"Jessie has it coming," Bianca replied casually, "There's no need for you to worry about occasionally giving her chops a light busting." Bianca leaned back in her chair, let out a sigh. "Things in Hoenn with their native group of rebel fighters are almost as bad as how things here in the Unova region are with Aincrad."

"There are still no leads as to where Aincrad is based out of," the maid began, "But we did track down some Aincrad sympathizers and had them arrested."

Bianca nodded approvingly of that bit of news. "Good show. We cannot allow for people to openly support those who would see the Team Heart Empire be taken down. Well, we can't let them do so without consequence. The people need to know that those terrorists are trying to do away with the authority that actually protects the people."

The maid nodded once in agreement. "We'll get those terrorists caught sooner or later, Lady Bianca. They cannot escape justice forever." Looking a bit curious, the maid went on, "Oh, while I'm here Lady Bianca, should I go ahead and let the rest of the staff know that you're fine, just having to deal with work related to the tragedy in Hoenn?"

Bianca nodded once in agreement. "Indeed. Also, let the staff know that the weekly Saturday social party will go on as per usual." Arching a wry eyebrow, Bianca said, "Who do you think will win the weekly Friday tournament in Driftveil City?"

The maid gently shook her head. "No clue, Lady Bianca. But I did hear that the sporty older sister of the Unova Sector's Admin will be entering yet again in an attempt to win."

Bianca, upon hearing that, gently shook her head as she gave off a chuckle. "That sports jockey just doesn't give up, does she?"

"It's clear that she wants to take advantage of how you grant a favor to the winners of the weekly Friday tournaments in Driftveil City, Lady Bianca," the maid began, "What boon do you suspect she'll ask of you if she is able to win?"

"She'll probably ask for her spoiled brat princess little sister to be released from juvie," Bianca said, "That's what the Unova Sector Admin suspects."

"In theory," the maid began, "The Admin of the Unova Sector could potentially ask you to pardon said spoiled brat princess little sister, as she's his little sister as well. As such, I find it odd that he hasn't asked about it."

"His relationship with most of his family... isn't exactly the best in the world," Bianca began, "In fact, their treatment of him as a whole is most of why he ended up joining Team Heart. They treated him as if he bore a black spot, solely over something that happened before he was even born."

The maid looked concerned to hear that. "That... that doesn't seem fair."

"That's because it's NOT fair," Bianca replied, "The parents discriminated against him over something that he had no control over. And it led to some of his sisters treating him similarly as bad. Well, they're reaping what they sowed. I just hope for them that they're happy with the choices that they had made."

"I don't think that they are happy with the choices that they made, Lady Bianca," the maid replied.

Rolling her eyes, Bianca said, "I know. I was being sarcastic."

END, CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Author's notes;

This chapter sees the reborn trainers make a few captures, including seeing Trip get the last Pokémon of lore for Hoenn that the reborn trainers didn't have yet. After that they go to Slateport City where they meet May and Max, plus May's boyfriend Brendan, the Champion of Hoenn. They all then go to a party hosted by Captain Vivian of the Hoenn Sector of Team Heart.

At the party, they mingle a bit before they see Vivian have to leave. As it turned out, rebel fighters wanting to liberate Hoenn from the rule of Team Heart launched an attack on Fallarbor Town, which took several lives including that of Captain Luis. Admin Ken is soon reported to be training a brand new Captain to fill in for the late Luis.

The reborn trainers then get the idea to go to Fallarbor Town, but to catch the Pokémon on the routes around the scarred city. Meanwhile in Unova, Bianca speaks with a maid about what all had happened, saying that the rebels trying to remove Team Heart from power have to be stopped. Things will continue from here in the next chapter, so until then take care.

Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Tsukune (Palkia), Leni (female Lucario), Argent (male Arcanine; alpha; Hisuian), Celebi (gender unknown), Ezio (male Eevee; shiny)

Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Black (Giratina), Shallot (male Glaceon), Cell (male Scizor; shiny), Roshi (male Torterra), Zarbon (male Machamp), Kermit (male Politoed)

Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Deelia (Dialga), 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)