Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Pokédex no Isekai
Chapter Nineteen: Ha ha, I'm a member of Team Heart!
The Big Beauty landed in a snow dusted field next to the Pokémon gym located in Snowpoint City, Sinnoh. After the drawbridge came out and touched down to the ground, Dawn plus her away team of Kenny, Trip, Mina, Lucas, Barry, and Paul all came out. When they did, they were immediately greeted by Candice, the gym leader who runs the gym in Snowpoint City. "Hey, Dawn!" Candice said in a tone of excited greeting, "What brings you to Snowpoint City?"
"We're wanting to check something out over at Snowpoint Temple," Dawn began, immediately getting a look of mild concern out of Candice, "Assuming that's alright."
"Why do you wanna check out Snowpoint Temple?" Candice asked, the concern in her tone as well as her expression clear, "You don't think Team Heart might be planning something there, do you?"
"No, that's not it at all," Lucas said, "According to Kenny, there might be something relevant to the legendary Pokémon Regigigas down in Snowpoint Temple, as that's where Regigigas came from."
Candice let out a relieved sigh. "Oh thank goodness," Candice began, looking and sounding relieved, "For a second there, I was worried that Team Heart might be planning to pull something here in Snowpoint City, like what I heard they had pulled off in Veilstone City and over on Iron Island in recent events. That Team Heart lot is rather nerve wracking to deal with. I have no idea how folks who deal with them on the regular pull it off."
"It's a grim yet necessary job that someone has to do," Paul remarked.
Dawn nodded in agreement with what Paul had said. "So anyway Candice," Dawn began, "I'm glad that you're here. We came looking for you first thing because we got it that you can grant people the okay to head on into Snowpoint Temple."
Arching a wry eyebrow, Candice said, "Oh yeah, I forgot that I had that authority. Yeah, if you and your friends wanna go in in, you can do so. Wait, I'll have to come along so that I can tell the guards at the Temple that you and your group have permission to enter." And so, with Candice following along, Dawn and her away team made their way over to Snowpoint Temple so that Kenny can look around for anything that might be relevant to his named Regigigas Armstrong.
...
"Oh yeah, I heard about how Pyramid King Brandon was killed in an attack that had be launched by Team Heart a while ago," Candice said as she and the others made their way over to Snowpoint Temple, "So you're telling me that you Dawn plus Kenny and Trip were given custody of Brandon's legendary titans by Brandon's surviving family."
"Dawn said something about how it's important for the field research that she, Trip, Kenny, and Mina are all doing," Lucas began.
Candice nodded in understanding. "Fair enough," Candice said, "Ooh, what kind of field research is it, by the way?"
"General field research on the various species of Pokémon that live in each region," Dawn replied. She still had to keep it secret from most everyone that she as well as the other reborn trainers were trying to complete the Pokédex for every region out there. There's no telling what Team Heart would do if they were to learn that someone out there is trying to get every species of Pokémon registered as caught. It's potentially rather dangerous information.
Candice took the answer at face value. "Fair enough," Candice said right as the group reached the entrance to Snowpoint Temple.
"Oh!" said the female guard standing outside of the entrance to Snowpoint Temple; there were a pair of guards, one male and one female. They were dressed as Ace Trainers in winter wear from the Sinnoh games back in Dawn's previous life. The female guard was fair skinned and had very long golden blonde hair.
The male guard was a head taller than the female guard, maybe an inch or two taller, and was a fair skinned fellow with spiky combed back black hair. He kept silent as he allowed the female guard to do all of the talking. "What brings you by, Candice?" asked the female guard.
Immediately, Candice was a bit confused by the presence of the two guards outside of Snowpoint Temple. "...The both of you are new," Candice began, "And I've never seen either of you before. New guards for Snowpoint Temple are usually ran by me before they're started on the job."
"It was a bit of an emergency situation," the male guard began, "The previous usual guards for this shift were admitted to the hospital. Reportedly, they were assaulted by members of Team Heart."
"Oh no!" Candice exclaimed, clearly alarmed, "Are they alright?"
"They'll make it," said the male guard, "But they have no idea why the Team Heart members, if they really were assaulted by Team Heart members, assaulted them. If you want more info, you'll have to go and ask them for it."
"Fair enough," Candice replied, "Oh, by the way, Dawn and her crew here have permission to enter Snowpoint Temple."
"Umm, we can't really allow anyone period to enter Snowpoint Temple," the female guard began, "There's reports of unruly activity among the wild Pokémon living in Snowpoint Temple. We're going to have to ask that everyone stay outside until we get reports that the activity has settled down."
"You underestimate the powers of cringe, moxie, and The Hose that the lads and I can bring to the table," Kenny declared, "Trust me when I say that we're more than capable of handling ourselves of we head into the Temple, doing down in as deep as possible." At that moment, Kenny's named Machamp Zarbon the came out of his ball on his own and gave off a resounding, moaning cry of aroused, sensual pleasure.
Kenny, with some degree of meekness, recalled Zarbon. "...Sorry about that," Kenny apologized.
Gesturing to the guards, Candice said, "Just let Dawn and her friends into Snowpoint Temple. There's no way that anything down there can pose a threat to them. Anyway, Imma go check for those usual guards. Can you give me their info so I can find them?"
"They were taken the the standard hospital for humans that's located closest to the main Pokémon Center here in Snowpoint City," the male guard began, "You can't miss it." Candice nodded once in thanks before she turned around and took off running. After Candice was out of earshot, the male guard said to Dawn and her fellows, "It really is rather dangerous down in Snowpoint Temple right now. I'd really rather that, for your own safety, you and your fellows here all stay out of the temple until the coast is clear."
Gesturing to herself and her away team, Dawn replied, "Candice has a point, my crew here and I can very easily handle ourselves." Dawn and her away team then proceeded to make their way down into Snowpoint Temple, walking past the two temple guards in the process.
After Dawn and her party were down inside of Snowpoint Temple, the female guard said, "What do we do now, Captain Silas?"
"Damn it," replied the now identified Silas, "We're gonna have to radio in to the men we got working inside of Snowpoint Temple, let them know that trouble's coming." Turning to the female guard, Silas said, "We ought to go in as well Penelope, help at least some of the men get away. It'd look really bad if ALL of the rank and file we got down there gets captured."
Nodding in agreement with Silas, the now identified Penelope said, "I'm right with you, Captain Silas."
Dawn and her away team proceeded to make their way right down into the deepest reaches of Snowpoint Temple. As they made their way down, Dawn said, "Can someone keep an eye on what's going on behind us?"
Paul was quick on the uptake. "You're suspicious of the guards outside of the entrance to Snowpoint Temple," Paul remarked.
"They seemed rather insistent that no-one enter Snowpoint Temple, even if they have the okay from Candice to do so," Dawn began, "Call me paranoid, but I get the feeling we're going to find more down in Snowpoint Temple than what Kenny is looking for."
"Lucas, you're with me on lookout duty," Kenny said, "The two of us will be covering the rear." Zarbon the named Machamp came out of his ball again to give off a resounding, moaning cry of aroused, sensual pleasure. Recalling Zarbon, Kenny said, "...Sorry."
As the group turned a corner to go down another flight of stairs, Dawn made the group stop in their tracks. "...There's people down there," Dawn said.
Immediately, the members of the away team readied themselves for trouble, but even they weren't suspecting a number of Team Heart members to come rushing out from within the depths of Snowpoint Temple. "Hey! It's trainers who aren't members of Team Heart!" one female Team Heart grunt cried out, "One of them must own that Machamp that we heard cry out earlier!"
"Well good going, Kenny," Trip said dryly, "Your gay Machamp gave away our position to members of Team Heart!"
Looking curious, Barry asked, "Can Pokémon actually be homosexual like that? I mean, I don't object to the idea, but I've never heard of it happening before."
"Yeah, Pokémon can be homosexual like that," Kenny said, "Zarbon, my Machamp, is one such example. So is my Mr. Mime Hisoka, also Zarbon and Hisoka are lovers."
"That's actually a rather inspiring story, you would be hero," the voice of the male guard from earlier called out, making Kenny and Lucas turn to see the male and female guards from outside of Snowpoint Temple come walking down, effectively trapping Dawn and her away team in something of a pincer attack. However, the temple guards were no longer dressed up in the Sinnoh Ace Trainer winter wear outfits that they were wearing earlier.
The female guard was now dressed in the standard female Team Heart grunt outfit. As for the male guard, he wore a unique outfit that consisted of a black sleeveless top under pink sleeveless torso leather armor, black shorts under a pink leather armor waistcoat, pink leather armored boots with caps that cover the knees also the boots have black tips on the toes, black arm warmers that cover from halfway up the backs of the hands to the elbows, pink leather armor forearm guards, and he had a black Team Heart 'H' on the torso armor, over the left pectoral.
Kenny scowled as he and Lucas prepared to face off against who's obviously the Team Heart Officer that's leading whatever mission Team Heart is doing at Snowpoint Temple. "Dawn was right to be suspicious about you two," Kenny said.
"Yeah, I figured that Sinnoh Champion Dawn Berlitz would be too smart to fool," said the male guard, revealed to be a member of Team Heart, "Now my men and I are gonna have to fight our way out of Snowpoint City. But before we get to the fighting, I suppose you ought to be given the courtesy of our names. I'm Silas, Second Captain of the Sinnoh Sector of Team Heart. The girl with me is my Captain's Assistant Penelope, also Penelope is my girlfriend."
"Yo Lucas," Kenny began, "I hope you're ready for a real fight, because we're gonna have to lay down the hurt on these mo-fos before us."
Lucas gave a single affirmative nod to Kenny. "This is my first time fighting someone from Team Heart above the level of the standard rank and file. I'm a bit nervous, but I'm ready and willing to help you as needed."
Kenny gave a single nod back. "Exactly the attitude I like to hear, Lucas," Kenny said, "Now let's give these Team Heart jokers the long and hard punishment that they have coming!" Zarbon the named Machamp came out of his ball on his own yet again to give off a resounding, moaning cry of aroused, sensual pleasure. Shrugging, Kenny said, "Well you're already out Zarbon, so I guess that I'll be using you for this battle!"
"Go, Gallade!" Lucas said as he sent out a Gallade, "Let's double the fighting type power we got!"
"Go, Primeape!" Silas said as he sent out a Primeape.
"Go, Lilligant!" Penelope said as she sent out an Unovan Lilligant. Gesturing forward, Penelope said, "Lilligant, use Pollen Puff on Gallade!"
"Gallade, use Aerial Ace on Primeape!" Lucas ordered.
"Zarbon, use Poison Jab on Lilligant!" Kenny commanded.
"Primeape, use Cross Chop on Machamp!" Silas called out.
Out of all of the Pokémon in the melee at the moment, Lucas's Gallade was the fastest, striding forward with Aerial Ace to strike at Primeape and take it down in one shot. Clearly a critical hit, and it was further bolstered by Sharpness. Zarbon, free of threats made against him, went on to strike the Unovan Lilligant with Poison Jab, taking it out before it could strike Gallade.
Both Silas and Penelope were forced to recall their fainted Pokémon before the battle could proceed. "Go, Audino!" Penelope said as she sent out an Audino.
"Go, Sharpedo!" Silas said as he sent out a Sharpedo. Gesturing forward, Silas said, "Sharpedo, use Waterfall on Gallade!"
"Audino, use Protect!" Penelope ordered.
"Gallade, use Sacred Sword on Audino!" Lucas commanded.
"Zarbon, use Dynamic Punch on Sharpedo!" Kenny called out.
Audino threw up a protective barrier that would block all attacks. Gallade rushed in to strike at Audino, but the Protect blocked the strike. As for Sharpedo, it rushed at Gallade but was punched in the side of the head by Zarbon who was using Dynamic Punch. Granted, Zarbon scraped his knuckles up a little bit due to Sharpedo's Rough Skin, but Sharpedo went down before it was able to strike Gallade.
Silas was forced to call back his fainted Sharpedo and send out his next Pokémon. "Go, Glaceon!" Silas said as his third Pokémon, a Glaceon surprisingly enough, came out to battle. Gesturing forward, Silas said, "Glaceon, use Ice Beam on Gallade!"
"Audino, use Protect again!" Penelope ordered.
"Zarbon, use Stone Edge on Glaceon!" Kenny commanded.
"Gallade, use Sacred Sword on Audino!" Lucas called out.
Audino was able to throw up a protective barrier again, albeit with some strained effort. Gallade's Sacred Sword was blocked a second time. But Zarbon's Stone Edge, flying out from a glowing sphere over Zarbon's holy land as he cried out in a moaning tone of aroused, sensual pleasure, flew right at Silas's Glaceon, striking it with pinpoint accuracy. Glaceon ended up being knocked out because it was hit by the load that Zarbon had fired.
Silas recalled his fainted Glaceon. "Damn it, I'm out of Pokémon that can battle!"
"Then I'll do what I can to buy time!" Penelope said, "Audino, use Protect again!"
"Gallade, use Sacred Sword on Audino!" Lucas ordered.
"Zarbon, use Dynamic Punch on Audino!" Kenny commanded.
Audino was able to pull off Protect again for a third time in a row, keeping it safe from the attacks of both Zarbon and Gallade. Penelope looked worried, but was relieved when a few regular Team Heart grunts came rushing past Kenny and Lucas before two of them ended up taking positions between the heroes and the leaders of the villains in this attack on Snowpoint Temple.
"Captain Silas sir!" one of the free grunts began, "Are you in need of assistance?"
"Yes, please," Silas said, "I'm out of Pokémon that can fight and Penelope has only her Audino. We need at least two of you to stay here to keep the heroes before us busy so we can escape."
"Oh come on!" Lucas cried out in a tone of complaint, "At least stick around long enough so that Kenny and I can fully beat you and your Assistant!"
"Team Heart has a very busy schedule, would be hero," Penelope said as she recalled her Audino, "We don't have time to play games with the likes of you." Penelope and Silas then turned around to run out of Snowpoint Temple with some of the grunts with them as the two who took positions in front of Kenny and Lucas proceeded to take over battling them.
Kenny and Lucas both scowled in annoyance, knowing that the Officer and his Assistant got away before they could even be properly defeated in full.
Eventually, the siege on Snowpoint Temple carried out by Team Heart came to an end. Out of the estimated twenty Team Heart members, counting Silas and Penelope, who were at the temple, only six were captured. The others, again counting Silas and Penelope, were able to escape capture, and thus escape justice.
As the police of Snowpoint City were loading up the captured Team Heart members, Candice came back and saw what was going on. She was shocked to learn that the two new temple guards were actually Team Heart members in disguise, and they were the ones who had assaulted and sent to the hospital the usual temple guards for the shift.
As it turned out, Team Heart heard rumors that strong wild Pokémon lived in the deepest reaches of Snowpoint Temple, so they decided to see if it was true. Silas and Penelope were the lookout who would send anyone away with warning to not go in due to 'dangerous activity from all of the native wild Pokémon down in the temple'.
Had it not been for Dawn and her away team showing up because Kenny wanted to check out the temple due to its connection to Regigigas which he has custody of, then Team Heart may very well have succeeded in their goals. Thankfully, the away team from The Big Beauty had saved the day and sent Team Heart packing once again.
But security was still tight in Snowpoint City and especially around Snowpoint Temple, to the point that the heroes couldn't go back in after they had helped to bring the captured members of Team Heart out. Kenny was rather disappointed, as he was hoping to learn more secrets that would help to unleash the true power of Armstrong.
"So those two guards we saw were actually members of Team Heart in disguise," Candice said to Dawn and her away team after things were settled, "And they were gonna keep people away from Snowpoint Temple while some of their fellows were down in the temple looking for all of the wild Pokémon that were reported to be down there."
"Obviously they probably think that the wild Pokémon down there," Kenny said, "Assuming that there IS any, are strong. Given that Snowpoint Temple is where Armstrong used to dwell, any wild Pokémon living down in the temple are probably strong like Armstrong. Probably not AS strong given that Armstrong is a legendary, but the point remains."
Trip nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it'd make sense for regular wild Pokémon in an area where a legendary Pokémon dwells would be strong." Trip DID have memories of playing PLA back in his previous life as Piper. "I have no doubt that Team Heart would use such Pokémon to help them with their conquests of the remaining free lands," Trip went on.
"It's all the more reason for us to do what we can to keep Team Heart from trying to take over the Sinnoh region," Candice remarked, "Wouldn't you guys agree?"
"Exactly," Paul replied, "Having Team Heart running things would be terrible." Paul was speaking from some degree of personal experience, brought about by how Team Heart trickery had resulted in Paul's older brother Reggie being arrested due to not knowing that two guys that he had helped were members of Team Heart.
To Dawn and her away team, Candice asked, "So where are you guys headed off to next?"
"We still have some work to do here in Sinnoh," Dawn began, "I'm thinking that we may need to visit the routes near Sunyshore City next."
"Ah, Sunyshore City," Candice said, "The city where Volkner is the gym leader. Hey Dawn, you aren't gonna bust Volkner's chops for how he once just left a bunch of Beacon Badges in a box in front of his gym and allowed trainers to just take one due to how he had grown bored with how so many challengers during that period were easy for him to beat, are you? I mean you ARE the Champion of Sinnoh, you COULD give Volkner a stern talking to over that."
"Actually, I agree with Candice on that one," Paul said, "That was highly unprofessional of Volkner."
Nodding once, Dawn said, "I'll warn him against doing similar stuff in the future, but I won't bust his chops over stuff he did BEFORE I became the Champion of Sinnoh." Her gaze narrowing, Dawn went on, "That being said, I am kind of hoping a gym leader in Sinnoh messes up in a way that lets me chew them out for their stupidity." Dawn had seen plenty of stupidity, both in the previous timeline and in the current one, and she wants to exercise some authority to tell off said stupidity.
Looking to Candice, Barry asked, "So what did the usual guards say when you visited them over at the hospital?"
Shrugging, Candice replied, "Something about the Team Heart members who attacked them saying something about the beach area in Sunyshore City. Which is why I'm glad that you guys are heading towards there, I'm worried that Team Heart may try to pull some sort of totally bogus business over in Sunyshore City. And as strong of a trainer as Volkner is, even he will be in some trouble if he's on his own in dealing with Team Heart shenanigans in Sunyshore City."
Candice has a point; one strong trainer on their own, no matter how strong and skilled they are, can only last so long against the legion of numbers that Team Heart is capable of bringing to the table. As such, Dawn decided that she would be having the crew head on over to Sunyshore City to see if Volkner wouldn't mind having some help slash backup in dealing with the stupidity that Team Heart likes to bring to the table.
On board of The Big Beauty as it flew to Sunyshore City, Dawn was sitting in her papasan chair in her personal room, her shiny Eevee Ezio sitting in her lap as she (Dawn) read a book, when there was a knock at the door. "You can come in," Dawn called out. The door opened, and in walked Princess Salvia, her hair still dyed white and she was now wearing a casual outfit that reminded Dawn of one of the outfits for female player characters in BDSP back in her previous life. Salvia was also still wearing sunglasses.
"Can we talk?" Salvia asked, closing the door behind her, "It's about how you plan to head to Unova after your work here in Sinnoh is done and over with."
Dawn arched a wry eyebrow. "Lemme guess. You either want me to not head there period, or you want me to leave you and Freesia somewhere safe before my crew and I head to Unova."
Gently shaking her head, Salvia replied, "No, it's neither of those things." Looking to Dawn, Salvia went on, "I was just wondering if you and your crew really will help Freesia and I find some allies to help us liberate my kingdom and its people from Team Heart rule."
Dawn gave Salvia an understanding look. "Salvia, of course my crew and I are gonna help you and Freesia with that," Dawn replied, "Whatever made you think that I wouldn't?"
Salvia gave a bit of a nervous chuckle. "Sorry, I guess that I was just being overly worried for nothing is all."
"Letting our nerves get to us is something that happens to the best of us, Salvia," Dawn replied, "We just need to sometimes take a step back and relax." Dawn recalled Ezio, set the book she was reading aside, then got up and walked up to the princess. "You just have to have patience, as well as a little bit of faith. We'll get your kingdom liberated from Team Heart rule yet."
Salvia gave a small but gentle and sincere appreciative smile. "Thanks, Dawn," Salvia said, "Anyway, why are we heading to Sunyshore City again?"
"We got it from Candice that there may be some Team Heart activity going on over in Sunyshore City," Dawn explained, "Granted Candice said something about the beach area, but there are other places that Team Heart could hit up in Sunyshore City. There's also how Sunyshore City produces a fair amount of electricity, and there was one incident where taking out one building resulted in a city wide power outage. Team Heart may learn from history and try to pull something similar."
Salvia shuddered a bit. "Yeah, we can't afford to let Team Heart cripple any major power structures in Sinnoh. It could help pave the way for them to take over Sinnoh as a whole."
Dawn then asked if there was anything else that Salvia wanted to ask about, to which Saliva replied that she got everything she needed and said she would go see Freesia now to let her know that there was no need to worry about not being able to gather allies to help them with liberating their kingdom from Team Heart rule. Salvia left, closing the door behind her, and leaving Dawn be.
The reborn trainer settled back down, got cozy in her papasan chair. She called Ezio back out, picked her book back up, and resumed reading. Team Heart was still a constant threat, one that the heroes who would fight against them have to constantly be on their toes around. Even more so in all of the various lands where Team Heart had already won and now rule all in said lands with the iron fist of their Empire.
The very idea of even trying to fight such an opponent, one who had already won for the most part, was a very daunting task. Dawn and the rest of her crew were going to have to help Salvia and Freesia with gathering allies to help with liberating their kingdom from Team Heart rule, as they not only can help with liberating said kingdom, they can also help with bringing the fight to Team Heart itself, and maybe start to deal with and get rid of Team Heart.
...A task easier said than done, though.
(Lilicove City, Hoenn region)
A grand gala party was being held at one of the finest party halls in the Hoenn region, where the top of Hoenn region society were invited to mingle with each other, as well as mingle with the top names in the Hoenn Sector of Team Heart. The party was being thrown by Team Heart authority in the Hoenn region, with party socialite Captain Vivian leading the running of the party, for one reason and one reason only.
Hoenn's Heroes, the native group of 'rebel fighters' (they're terrorists according to Team Heart) in the Hoenn region, has been apprehended for the most part.
Sure, a few stray grunt level members managed to escape during the purging, but the Pyroar's share of the membership of Hoenn's Heroes were all captured and arrested by Team Heart authority. This lot who was arrested included all of the leading members of Hoenn's Heroes, which meant that the few stray grunt level members who escaped have no leadership to guide them. The terrorists who had been threatening life in Hoenn have been effectively defeated.
Team Heart had won, as it always does.
Hoenn was further surprised when Brendan and his cousin Chad, as well as all of their arrested family members, were officially pardoned by Team Heart authority, their pardons issued by Boss's Assistant Bianca herself. Brendan even had his title of Champion of Hoenn reinstated, solving a bit of an issue the Pokémon League for the Hoenn region was dealing with at the time.
Among those socializing at the gala party in Lilicove City were May and her little brother Max, both talking to Brendan and Chad. May, tears in her eyes, had her arms around Brendan as she hugged him tightly. She had been distraught over Brendan being arrested, forcefully taken from the labor camp in Lavaridge Town by Hoenn's Heroes who forced him to join them, and was on the run until he and Chad were able to bring Hoenn's Heroes down from within.
"Considering what my Uncle Chandler has done," Brendan said when May let go of him, "I wouldn't be surprised if Team Heart decides to sentence him to execution. I believe that the overall leader of Hoenn's Heroes has already been executed."
"Well I'm just glad that you're no longer a criminal and had been given a clean slate," May replied, wiping a tear from her eye.
"...I never intended to go against the word that rules Hoenn," Brendan remarked.
"So Brendan," Max began, "I heard that at one point, the Champion of Johto and the Champion of Unova both confronted you at the same time."
Brendan nodded in the affirmative. "I could probably go toe to toe with one of them at a time, but not both at once or one immediately after the other. That would be a rather tall order to fill, even for me."
"It's very hard to imagine anyone being able to take on multiple Champion-level trainers at once, or one after the other in quick, immediate succession," Chad remarked, "I think that one would have to have at least multiple legendary Pokémon to be able to at a minimum have a shot at doing that."
May gave an agreeing nod to what her boyfriend's older cousin had just said. "The number of those who meet said requirements can be counted with just the digits on your hands," May said, "In fact, I think that only one hand would be necessary for that."
True, there aren't a whole lot of trainers out there with Pokémon commonly thought to exist only in lore. In fact, many haven't even seen such Pokémon, at least in real life right in front of them. The luck few who do have such Pokémon are undoubtedly leading figures in the world, able to make the likes of even Team Heart think twice before acting.
Those Pokémon of lore, and the trainers who command them, can easily shape the way that things in the world end up playing out.
...
A short while later during a private and heavily guarded dinner set at the gala hall away from the main event, Boss's Assistant Bianca was seated at the head end of the table as she and her guests were all catered to. This included Brendan and Chad, although May and Max weren't invited. Very few persons who Brendan was familiar with in some capacity were allowed at this party, to highlight how exclusive it was.
Brendan recognized Gold and Nate, the Champions of Johto and Unova respectively. Brendan also saw Admin Ken, the head of the Hoenn Sector of Team Heart and Head of State for the Hoenn region, talking to some fellow in a unique Team Heart outfit; Brendan had no idea who the mystery fellow wearing aviator shades was, but the reinstated Champion of Hoenn had gotten it that Admin Ken's fellow he was talking to has Downs Syndrome.
Brendan also saw the Captains of the Hoenn Sector of Team Heart, plus their respective Assistants. And speaking of Officer's Assistants, Ken's own such Assistant, Admin's Assistant Tam, was sitting next to an empty chair that was between where Tam sat and where Bianca sat. Brendan could only assume that the empty seat was for Ken when he got done talking to his fellow.
"So Brendan, Chad," began Doval, the Captain's Assistant who used to serve the now deceased Luis but now serves the fellow talking to Ken, "How does it feel to be pardoned and become citizens of the Team Heart Empire again?"
"Like I've been welcomed back to a home I never had any intention of leaving," Chad said.
"He took the words right out of my mouth," Brendan remarked.
Nodding once in understanding, Fourth Captain Kin said, "I guess that we did kind of jump to some wild conclusions there. Although you've got to understand, we were thinking with the safety and well being of Hoenn first and foremost in mind. We were worried that if one apple in the batch had gone bad, then it'd spoil the whole lot."
"I believe that it was Lady Bianca herself who had said that a more careful eye ought to be used moving forward to check everything to make sure fresh fruit isn't accidentally tossed out with the rotten lot," said Third Captain Eliza.
Brendan nodded once in agreement, a part of him wishing that such consideration was granted the first time around. But silver lining, the lot he had been given had allowed Brendan to bring and end to the blatant, defiant, oblivious stupidity of his Uncle Chandler. Sure, Brendan may have doomed what little hope (if there was any) Hoenn had of being free of Team Heart rule, but he was able to make Chandler eat that much needed serving of humble pie.
Additionally, it's Chad that is publicly known to have been the one to sabotage and betray Hoenn's Heroes to the Team Heart authority in the Hoenn region; no-one outside of Brendan, Chad, Bianca, and Ken knows the truth of the matter. Bianca with a hint of sly amusement admitted in private to Brendan that not even the Boss of Team Heart themselves knows the truth of the matter.
Brendan, after assuring Bianca that the secret was safe with him, was able to continue going about being happy that his life had been fixed and put back on track. It was now, as Brendan was enjoying the private dinner, that a pair of male Team Heart grunts both came barreling into the private party, catching the attention of everyone. Both grunts had looks of alarm on their faces.
"Oi you two," Ken snarled, "This is a private party. So unless you have a reason to barge in on the dinner party that Lady Bianca herself is heading up-"
"We just got word from the labor camp that the leading members of Hoenn's Heroes were all taken to," said the first grunt, "The terrorist Chandler was able to escape and is on the run!"
"WHAT?!" Brendan exclaimed angrily as he stood up rather forcefully from his seat. Brendan wasn't the only one pissed off that Chandler had escaped; Chad also stood up rather forcefully from where he was seated at the table.
Nodding once, the second grunt said, "We've confirmed that no other leading members of Hoenn's Heroes had escaped, and the escape of Chandler had spurred the guards at the labor camp to just execute the other remaining leading members of the defeated terrorists."
"Is there any idea where that bastard is at right now?" Brendan asked, "Is backup needed to bring him back in? Are there-"
"Champion Brendan," Bianca called out to Brendan in an understanding tone, "Relax." Surprised, Brendan calmed back down, he as well as Chad sitting back down in their seats. "We'll find him, he's only one man," Bianca replied, "And he's got no means of fighting back." To the guards, Bianca said, "Wait, did he take any Pokémon with him?"
Gently shaking his head in the negative, the first grunt said, "No. We've been able to confirm that he's got nothing but the prisoner's garb that he was last seen wearing."
"Then he'll be easy prey when he's found," Bianca said. To Brendan and Chad, Bianca said in a tone of gentle understanding, "There's no need to get alarmed, you two. I know full well that Chandler is not of the same kind as the rest of your extended family. His sins against Team Heart are his and his alone." A hint of knowing entered Bianca's eyes. "But Champion Brendan, since you seem so eager to help recapture Chandler, if he shows up in a land outside of Hoenn and needs pickup to be brought back here to face judgement, would you care to be part of the team sent to collect him?"
"I'd like to see anyone try and stop me," Brendan replied, deadly serious. Bianca, sincerely amused by Brendan's answer, gave an amused howl of laughter. Brendan really was proving to be loyal to the Team Heart Empire.
END, CHAPTER NINETEEN
Author's notes;
This chapter sees The Big Beauty go to Snowpoint Temple in Snowpoint City so that Kenny can check it out for potential clues about Regigigas. But Team Heart shenanigans happen and screw things up. To make matters worse, this is the first time that an Officer and Officer's Assistant pair from Team Heart wasn't fully defeated, Penelope had one Pokémon left when she and Silas got the opening they needed to run away.
Everyone has to leave the temple, but they're sent in the direction of Sunyshore City because of rumors that Team Heart may act up there. Meanwhile in Hoenn, a party is thrown to celebrate the wholesale downfall of Hoenn's Heroes. But the celebration is short lived as it's reported that Chandler was able to escape and is on the run, necessitating the execution of all other leading members of Hoenn's Heroes as Chandler is the only one who escaped.
Bianca, seeing the eagerness in Brendan's eyes, offers to make him part of the team sent to collect Chandler if he somehow makes it out of Hoenn, an offer Brendan accepts. Anyway, the next chapter will see some stuff go down in Sunyshore City. Until then, take care.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Tsukune (Palkia), Leni (female Lucario), Argent (male Arcanine; alpha; Hisuian), Lincoln (male Latios), Ezio (male Eevee; shiny)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Black (Giratina), Shallot (male Glaceon), Cell (male Scizor; shiny), Roshi (male Torterra), Zarbon (male Machamp), Kermit (male Politoed)
Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Deelia (Dialga), Lisa (female Latias), Mr. Popo (male Magmortar), Veda (female Abomasnow), Myde (male Empoleon), 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)