Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Pokédex no Isekai
Chapter Thirty-three: Resonance
The crew of The Big Beauty couldn't go to the town of Zapapico right away, also Zapapico is located in Alola now because it was pushed there from Paldea. No, I am not making this up. Well anyway, the crew had to handle a few other things before settling down for the night, but first thing in the morning the large flying ship flew over to Zapapico and landed in an open lot located right next to the town hall.
The reborn trainers got off, along with an away team of Paul, Barry, and Calem. Lucas stayed behind to help Lance the cook prep lunch for the crew. As such, Dawn and the rest of the group made their way into Zapapico to begin asking around for where they can find Ericson's Company, a business group ran by someone named Eric Ericson.
According to what the reborn trainers got on this Ericson person, in his brief time thus far since he had come to the Alola region from his as of yet unknown homeland, he had managed to amass himself a business empire and a fortune that some say makes him comparable to Lusamine. But that's not the reason why the reborn trainers are seeking out Ericson.
No, it has more to do with two persons who are part of Ericson's company. The first one is Chandler, a native of Hoenn and the last remaining leading member of the now defunct Hoenn based group of rebel fighters known as Hoenn's Heroes. Chandler had been able to escape from the reach of Team Heart's power in Hoenn and came here to Alola, where he is now trying to manage the forces of Team Skull into a militia to fend off the native Team Heart threat.
The second person is Zed, who the reborn trainers remember from the Team Scorn timeline as a very troublesome Team Scorn Officer who had extreme luck until one day he wound up dead. Here in the Team Heart timeline, Zed is alive and had been a Team Heart Officer before he was kicked out for incompetence. He somehow escaped Team Heart, went on the run, and came to Alola where he got some degree of protection due to what value he could offer.
But Zed is still roughly as bad of a person. Zed, same in the Team Scorn timeline, had also here in the Team Heart timeline killed Trip's biological mom while a member of Team Heart. Although the protections that Zed has as an informant on Team Heart who's working for the government meant that Trip can't FULLY get revenge, it should be noted that Trip can get VERY creative. Also, Trip has a LOT of powerful Pokémon, including multiple legendaries.
Eventually, the away team made their way into Zapapico's town hall. Inside, they found the mayor of Zapapico talking to a fair skinned guy who looked to be mid to late teens in terms of age. Fair skinned, scruffy light brown hair of chin length, he wore a red Alolan shirt with some yellow flower silhouettes on it, brown baggy cargo shorts held up with a belt, light brown men's leather sandals, and a pair of cool black shades.
He was also notably plump, there was no denying that. Granted, he wasn't enough so to qualify as obese, but he was looking to be getting there. Seeing the plump tourist looking fellow reminded Dawn that she was told that Eric Ericson was notably chubby. A hunch told Dawn that she and the away team may have just found the head of the Ericson Company.
Dawn silently signaled Paul, Barry, and Calem to take positions to ensure that the probable Ericson, if he were to try to bolt, wouldn't be able to get away. With the boys in place, Dawn and the other reborn trainers moved up to where the probable Ericson and the Mayor of Zapapico were talking to each other about some matter of business Dawn didn't pay attention to and quite frankly couldn't give a Raticate's ass about.
"Excuse me," Dawn spoke up, making both the probable Ericson and the Mayor of Zapapico jump a bit in surprise before they both turned to look at Dawn, Trip, Kenny, and Mina, "We're here looking for how to meet with Ericson's Company. We-"
Dawn couldn't even get one more word out before the probable Ericson, who looked to Dawn as if he realized who she and her crew was, immediately tried to make a run for it. Luckily for Dawn and the others, Paul and his shiny Nidoqueen were in his way. On Paul's orders, Nidoqueen grabbed the probable Ericson in a bear hug and kept him from getting away.
Dawn and the other reborn trainers came over, with Barry and Calem closing in with Hitmonlee and a male Pyroar respectively. "...You're Eric Ericson, aren't you?" Dawn asked the struggling probable Ericson as he tried to get out of Nidoqueen's hold.
"Gaahh! Lemme go, you pricks!" screamed the probable Ericson.
"Answer our questions," Trip snarled, "You're being pretty damn suspicious right now, you're only digging yourself deeper!"
"Yes good trainers," said the Mayor of Zapapico to the heroes while pointing at the probable Ericson, "That is indeed Eric Ericson, who heads up Ericson's Company."
Seeing that he was caught and surrounded, the now confirmed Eric settled down. He caught his breath a bit, looked equal parts wary and pissed. "...You bastards found out I stowed away on your ship to escape Johto," Eric said, "And now you wanna get back at me for what all trouble that I had caused for you over that, huh?"
Looking confused, Dawn said, "I'm sorry, but what? You stowed away on The Big Beauty to escape from the Johto region? When? And how?"
"We just wanted to ask you about two fellows who are part of your company," Trip said, "Zed and Chandler. We had no idea until just now that you had stowed away on The Big Beauty to escape from the Johto region."
Eric looked surprised, as well as looking like he realized he'd just screwed up. "Uhh... parley?"
With the reborn trainers and their away team closely following along, Eric was forced to take them to where in Zapapico the rest of his company was working with a large number of Team Skull members to whip them into shape as a militia force to fend off Team Heart. "My main boys are Silver, who you ought to be familiar with," Eric began, "Faba, a former Aether Foundation employee who was fired over a misunderstanding, and some guy named Minoru."
"Yes, we're familiar with Silver," Trip said, "He helped you escape Johto by smuggling you out in that trunk of his, didn't he?"
Eric nodded once in confirmation. "But soon others came to my Company. First was that asshole Chandler, who threatened to report me to the Team Heart authority in Johto unless I put him up in a penthouse suite basically. Then a trio of idiot rebels from the Unova region named Yoshitsugu, Haruka, and Carmine came to Alola."
"Yeah, I have... personal issues with Carmine," Kenny said, his tone and expression making it clear that he's wanting to send Carmine straight to hell.
"And then lastly there's that Zed prick who came in and tried taking leadership of what all forces are being rallied to defend Alola against Team Heart," Eric ended, "He and Chandler constantly butt heads with one another. And this is saying nothing about how those Guzma and Plumeria persons from Team Skull are annoyed that running Team Skull is being taken from them."
Dawn was quite surprised with how many persons escaping the reach of Team Heart had somehow all managed to gather here in Alola. "Well, we're going to be wanting to speak with your Company members," Dawn said, "Originally it was just Zed and Chandler we were interested in, but after you told us some of the others who came to you, we're interested in speaking with them as well."
Eric nodded once in understanding. "Everyone beyond Silver, Faba, and Minoru are troublesome extras," Eric said, "And that Chandler fucker's currently got my balls in a metaphorical vice grip, so I have no choice but to keep the red carpet rolled out for him."
"We got some idea of Chandler's personality already," Dawn remarked as she and the others walked with Eric to see where Chandler and Zed were working with Team Skull members.
After coming over a hill, the away team and Eric came upon an area set up like a military training camp. They saw Team Skull grunts, as well as a few other trainers, being made to go through some exercises. Standing nearby was Zed, who Trip had to resist the urge to kill on sight, talking to someone who Eric identified to them as Chandler. Zed and Chandler were currently having some sort of argument with Guzma and Plumeria of Team Skull.
Looking into the training camp, the away team saw Yoshitsugu and Haruka lead some of the trainers through the exercises, Carmine standing around and basically being bossy, and the group of Silver, Faba, and a short teen with purple hair in a fauxhawk helping a hurt person over to a portable building which Dawn assumed was a first aid station. The heroes were able to figure the short guy to be that Minoru fellow.
"Tell your crew," Dawn said to Eric, "All of them, that we're gonna wanna sit down and talk."
Eric nodded in understanding before he walked over to where Zed and Chandler were arguing with Guzma and Plumeria. Over at that argument, Eric turned around and pointed out Dawn's group to the others, at which point Zed immediately tried to bolt for it, only for Plumeria to trip him up as he tried to run away, making him fall over onto the ground face first.
The away team made their way over, making it clear that Zed wasn't going to be getting away. Even more so when Trip called out Villetta, his named Miraidon, and had it keep Zed pinned.
...
In a mess hall set up at the 'military base', the reborn trainers had the floor while everyone else sat at the tables. Dawn also had the exits all guarded to ensure no-one got away; Lucas was called from The Big Beauty to help out. "Okay, so first thing's first," Dawn began, "Silver, did you REALLY smuggle Ericson out of Johto using my flying ship, yes or no?"
"Hold on a minute there missy," Zed interrupted, "You have a flying ship? When were you gonna-"
"Villetta," Trip called out, prompting his named Miraidon to go over and shove Zed's face into his place at the table he was seated at.
"I have the floor right now, you incompetent oaf," Dawn snarled, "Am I clear?" With Villetta on him, Zed had no choice but to comply. "...Now then," Dawn went on, "Silver. Did you REALLY smuggle Ericson out of Johto using my flying ship, yes or no?"
Silver let out a troubled, resigned sigh. "...Yes, I did."
"Why didn't you tell us that you also wanted to get a friend of yours out of Johto?" Mina asked.
"Because I was afraid you'd refuse if you knew that Eric is wanted by the Team Heart authority in Johto," Silver said, "Something about an attack on a Donzish festival or whatever?"
Dawn's eyes widened a bit out of alerted suspicion. "...Eric," Dawn began, "Are you the same Eric who is wanted dead by Admin Coryn of the Johto Sector?"
"Yeah yeah yeah," Eric said, sounding more annoyed than anything, "So what? That fucking Donz is a member of Team Heart!"
"Dude, you helped to lead an effort that resulted in multiple deaths," Mina said, "An effort you helped carried out because of your Antidodonzic beliefs!"
"Hey, I'm not the real bad guy here, Team Heart is!" Eric defended.
Scowling, Dawn replied, "We... will discuss this later. Now then." Turning to look at Yoshitsugu, Haruka, and Carmine, Dawn went on, "You three... certainly seem to have made a comfortable life for yourselves after forcing me and my crew to get you out of Unova."
"Well MAYBE it wouldn't have been necessary if SOMEONE didn't help Team Heart track down all of Aincrad and bust up Unova's only hope of liberation!" Haruka retorted.
"You guys had kidnapped members of my crew and forced them to join your cause!" Dawn shot back, "What else were we supposed to do?! Let you go scot free?!"
Shrugging, Carmine said, "Well it would have been ni-"
"Time for you to go to Hell!"
*HUWUHPAP*
"Ah! Why'd you punch me in the nose?!"
Dawn and Trip had to pull Kenny away from Carmine after he punched her in the face. "You were suggesting that we should have just allowed you bastards get away with kidnapping my girlfriend, you son of a bitch!" Kenny snarled as he struggled with Dawn and Trip holding him back.
Sucking in a cringing breath, Yoshitsugu said, "Yeah, the lads should have been more careful about who they grabbed from that area of Opelucid City."
After making Kenny behave himself, Dawn said to everyone, "Look. A lot of you have all done some rather reprehensible things in the name of trying to fight off Team Heart-"
"Not me," Chandler chimed in.
"Yes, you especially," Dawn said firmly while she pointed at Chandler, eliciting a grumpy frown out of the man. Lowering her hand, Dawn went on, "But we're all still trying to fight against Team Heart, so we ought to- hey wait a minute, where did Zed go off to?"
Everyone stopped short when Dawn pointed out that Zed had suddenly gone missing. "...Aww crud," Faba said, a look of alarmed realization on his face, "He's probably gone off to use the salvaged Aether Foundation technology we got back from minor skirmishes Team Skull has had with Team Heart in the past!"
"I'm sorry," Trip began, "But did you just say salvaged Aether Foundation technology?"
...
Zed, with half a dozen Team Skull members behind him, had some Aether Foundation technology in front of him. The kind used to create Ultra Wormholes. They were standing out in the open in a field somewhere. "If what that spineless nerd Faba says about this machine is true," Zed said, "Then we can use it to summon an army of super powerful Pokémon, which we can use to defeat Team Heart once and for all!"
"Yo Zed, I'm not sure if this is a good idea," said a male Team Skull grunt with blonde hair.
"If there is one thing I don't like, it's people coming at me with 'I'm not sure if this is a good idea' kinds of attitude," Zed said in a dismissive and mildly annoyed tone. Ignoring all protests from what all Team Skull members were present, Zed immediately turned on the machine and set it to the highest level of power output.
Right away, Ultra Wormholes appeared in the sky, and the first Ultra Beast to emerge from one of them was a Pheromosa. "Greetings, Ultra Beast!" Zed said as he got the Pheromosa's attention, "My name is Zed, Supreme Commander of Alola's military forces against the Team Heart Empire! You are hereby required to submit to my authority and-"
Zed was cut off when Pheromosa spun on its left foot before striking Zed in the gut with a roundhouse kick, hitting him so hard he flew back until his back slammed into a tree. As Zed fell down and slumped on the ground knocked out, the gathered Team Skull members panicked and all ran away from the site of where there were Ultra Wormholes.
Pheromosa, as more Ultra Beasts of various kinds came out from the Ultra Wormholes, sniffed about the air and, apparently catching the whiff of something pleasant, turned around and dashed off in the appropriate direction.
Dawn and the rest of the away team ended up joining the efforts to help bring down the sudden invasion of Ultra Beasts. "This is what I was worried about," Faba said, "My plan with that machine was to fix it up and turn it over to the Aether Foundation in the hopes of establishing goodwill and aid from Lusamine to help build up the militia's strength."
As Dawn had her named Enamorus Cupidos take out a Guzzlord by using Moonblast, she remarked, "There's no way that Zed's gonna be able to get away with this."
As the heroes struggled with the Ultra Beasts, Lillie, Gladion, and surprisingly enough Hau came running up to them. "Yeah, figures Lillie was right about you and your crew being in Alola, Dawn," Gladion began, "And the timing couldn't be better. We need help in dealing with this sudden invasion of Ultra Beasts!"
Pointing to the knocked out Guzzlord, Dawn said, "Well my Enamorus just knocked out a Guzzlord, but we lack Beast Balls to catch it with! We lack Beast Balls to catch any Ultra Beast with!"
Lillie pulled out a purple drawstring pouch and handed it to Dawn. "This contains a lot of Beast Balls," Lillie said, "You and your friends can use these to capture Ultra Beasts!"
Dawn nodded once in thanks before taking a Beast Ball out and using it to capture the Guzzlord that Cupidos defeated. Technically, the reborn trainers also had to get most species of Ultra Beast registered as caught for their goal of completing the Pokédex. This incident, although incredibly reckless on Zed's part, did give the reborn trainers an opportunity they probably wouldn't have been able to get otherwise.
...Trip was still gonna kick Zed square in his balls, though.
Over at Ania's Restaurant, the patrons inside were panicking as members of Team Heart came into the building. These Team Heart members were led by a uniquely dressed Team Heart member who is a fair skinned girl with long light blonde hair. She wore a pink midriff exposing tank top that also had a turtleneck, the baret hat from the female Team Heart grunt outfit, black pants, pink shoes with thick and fairly short heels, a black neck tie worn just a smidge loose, and a black Team Heart 'H' on the tank top over her left breast.
The Team Heart grunt with the uniquely dressed girl was also a girl; fair skinned, chin length dark blonde hair, and she wore the standard female Team Heart grunt outfit. "Alright you pussies, listen up!" shouted the uniquely dressed Team Heart member, "The name's Watanabe, and I'm the Third Captain of the Alola Sector of Team Heart!" Gesturing to the grunt with her, the now identified Watanabe said, "Me and my Assistant Narumi here are gonna be calling the shots around here! Do I make myself clear?!"
Near the back of the dining area of the restaurant, Lana was seated at a table with her little sisters Harper and Sarah. Mallow was with them as well, having brought food to their table when Team Heart busted in. "Ahh! It's scary bad guys!" Harper cried.
"Ahh! I'm scared!" Sarah cried. Both of the little girls buried their faces into the sides of Lana they respectively sat on, and their faces sunk in quite easily due to Lana's Huttish girth.
As Team Heart was harassing other tables, Mallow said, "We're gonna have to stall for time until we can get someone stronger to come in and-"
"Hey! Who are you and why'd you come in through the back?"
Mallow stopped short when she heard her older brother cry out from the kitchen, and a few seconds later a Pheromosa walked out from the kitchen and into the dining area. It sniffed about the air, as if looking for the source of some wonderful smell. The wild Ultra Beast then turned its attention over to the table that Mallow, Lana, and Lana's little sisters were at.
"That's... that's an Ultra Beast..." Mallow said nervously, "What's it doing here?"
The wild Pheromosa walked over to the table Mallow and the blue haired sisters were at. It sniffed at the food there, then looked to the girls with a... with an oddly curious and polite look on its face as if it was asking for a share. Mallow in her experience seldom ever saw a non-aggressive and non-hostile Ultra Beast unless it belonged to a trainer. But this Pheromosa, obviously a wild one, was as curious and friendly as a wild Bounsweet.
The young twins were the first to realize that Pheromosa here was friendly. Harper, who sat closest to where Pheromosa stood, picked up a potato wedge and held it up to Pheromosa. "It's really yummy," Harper said, "Try it." Pheromosa took the potato wedge and ate it, and immediately had a happy reaction that made it clear it enjoyed the taste.
It was after that when Lana's table was approached by Watanabe and Narumi. "Oi, oi, oi!" Narumi said, "Who ever told you guys you can have your Pokémon out? We don't want you to be able to fight back against us, ya know!"
"Easy there, Narumi," Watanabe said, "We need to be careful here. We can't be too hostile towards this party. The one girl is rather large, we could be accused of fatphobia if we're too hostile towards her and her party."
"Umm, the Pokémon that my little sister is feeding potato wedges to isn't ours," Lana said to the Team Heart girls, "It's a wild Pokémon that wandered into Mallow's family's restaurant, obviously looking for food."
"Hey yeah!" Sarah said, then she looked to the wild Pheromosa. "Hey tall pretty Pokémon!" Sarah said to Pheromosa, "The girls in pink and black plus their friends also in pink and black are super mean bad guys and bullies! They're gonna try and steal our food!"
That was all Pheromosa needed to hear before turning on Watanabe and Narumi, entering a stance for fighting and crying out at Team Heart in a challenging manner. Scoffing, Watanabe said, "Great, the kid sicced a wild Pokémon on us," Watanabe said, "We're gonna have to fight! Go, Beedrill!"
"Go, Spinarak!" Narumi said, "Use Fury Swipes on that tall pretty Pokémon!"
"Beedrill, use Poison Jab on that tall pretty Pokémon!" Watanabe called out.
The two bug Pokémon rushed the bug Ultra Beast, but Pheromosa rushed in even faster. It swung around and struck Beedrill with Throat Chop and knocked it out, before continuing with momentum to knock out Spinarak with Stomp. Watanabe and Narumi had to recall their fainted Pokémon and send out their next Pokémon, Remoraid for Narumi and Skorupi for Watanabe.
"Remoraid, use Water Gun on the tall pretty Pokémon!" Narumi ordered.
"Skorupi, use Poison Jab on the tall pretty Pokémon!" Watanabe commanded.
Both Pokémon tried to attack, but Pheromosa swung at Skorupi with Low Sweep, the force of the attack picking Skorupi up and throwing it into Remoraid. Both flew into a wall and were knocked out on impact, forcing Watanabe and Narumi to call back fainted Pokémon again before sending out their next Pokémon.
"Go, Horsea!' Narumi said.
"Go, Seadra!" Watanabe said, "Use Water Pulse on the tall pretty Pokémon!"
"Horsea, use Water Gun on the tall pretty Pokémon!" Narumi called out.
As both Horsea and Seadra took aim, Pheromosa lunged forward and struck both water Pokémon with Lunge, knocking both of them out. Watanabe and Narumi were both forced to call back their knocked out Pokémon. Pheromosa cried out angrily at Watanabe and Narumi, making it clear that it was still mad at them.
"Uhh... we MAY be in trouble here, Watanabe," Narumi said.
Looking around the restaurant, Watanabe saw that the grunts were being troubled by some of the patrons. "Everyone! We're falling back!" Watanabe called out, "Some of you guys cover me and Narumi so we can get away!" Team Heart then proceeded to pull out of Ania's Kitchen, leaving the innocent people be.
The day was saved not by heroes, but by civilians defending themselves, plus a random but clearly friendly wild Ultra Beast. Also, Pheromosa was invited to sit down at the table with Mallow and the blue haired sisters.
An order of potato wedges was called for to be brought to Pheromosa.
Eventually, the issue with the Ultra Beasts was tamed by Dawn and the others. During the efforts, the reborn trainers were able to capture one of each Ultra Beast that they didn't already have registered as caught. The only Ultra Beasts they didn't have between them at the moment was Poipole who Dawn had previously gotten and evolved into Naganadel, and Pheromosa which they touch traded for with Serena back in Kalos.
As the spare Ultra Beasts (not counting the individual ones that the reborn trainers caught, those were kept) were sent back to Ultra Space, the reborn trainers saw Wicke and Lusamine meet up with the group of Eric, Silver, Minoru, and Faba, although clearly Faba was taking the lead for his group when conversing with Wicke and Lusamine. "So you were merely going to fix the machine recovered from Team Heart and return it to us," Lusamine said.
Faba nodded once in the affirmative. "I'm going to be honest, Lusamine. I'm still hurting over how you had dismissed me from the Aether Foundation because of that incident where I was made to look like I was working with Team Heart. You didn't even bother trying to investigate, to verify if what you saw was true or not. You just took things purely at face value and ran with it."
Gesturing to Faba, Wicke went on, "But you still fixed the machine, you still intended to return it to Aether Foundation."
"I believe there is value in Aether Foundation and the Ericson Company forming a sort of alliance," Faba said, "We can both benefit one another, and if we benefit one another than together we can be of benefit to Alola as a whole, particularly when it comes to fending off members of Team Heart." Arching a wry eyebrow, Faba went on, "And by that I mean the actual members of Team Heart."
Lusamine nodded once in agreement. "Yes, both groups do have a lot of power and influence here in the Alola region."
From whay Dawn was seeing, some ground work for repairing relations between Faba and his previous group was being laid. Granted, Faba is too hurt to return to them, even if invited. But he's putting that aside for the sake of the greater good, and what greater good is there than working to bring down Team Heart?
As the adults talked things out, Dawn and her group were met up by a panicked looking Lillie. "There's an Ultra Beast at the restaurant that Mallow's family owns!" Lillie exclaimed.
"What?!" Dawn and her group all exclaimed, before they all ran with Lillie to Ania's Kitchen to go see what was going on.
...
When the heroes arrived on scene, they saw that there was a Pheromosa in the dining area of the restaurant. However, and to the bewilderment of the heroes, it was actually peaceful. Pheromosa was looking curiously at Lana as it had a finger poking into Lana's considerable belly, poking really quickly and making Lana's jolly jelly jiggle. For her part, Lana looked on with a dry, bemused look on her round, plump face, while her little sisters who sat nearby giggled cutely at the spectacle.
It was Mallow who first saw Dawn and Mina walk in. "Yeah, this one here actually isn't aggressive or hostile," Mallow said to Dawn and Mina while gesturing to Pheromosa, "Unless you're a Team Heart member. It actually helped to drive off a group of Team Heart members, including two girls named Captain Watanabe and her Assistant Narumi. Also, civilians helped to capture three rank and file level Team Heart members, two girls and a boy."
"Wait, there were Team Heart shenanigans here while we were dealing with an Ultra Beast invasion?" Mina asked. The next few minutes were spent with both Mallow and Mina explaining their respective stories. Things ended with Mallow saying how Pheromosa ate its fill of potato wedges and moved on to playing with Lana's belly out of pure curiosity.
Speaking of, Dawn got Pheromosa's attention and was able to convince it to let her catch it. The reborn trainers already had Pheromosa registered as caught, but now they have between them one of each Ultra Beast aside from Poiple which evolved into the Naganadel that Dawn owns. "Well, that ought to help with our field research," Dawn said dryly.
Clapping his hands together, Kenny said, "Well both Ultra Beast problems and Team Heart shenanigans have been stopped today! I say that calls for a celebration! Who's up for heading on back to The Big Beauty for a party?"
"Isn't that Champion Dawn's flying ship?" Harper said.
"We wanna go see the flying ship!" Sarah exclaimed, "Can we go, Lana? Please?"
"It's ultimately up to Dawn as it's her flying ship," Lana replied.
Sighing, Dawn said, "We all do need to unwind after today, so why not?" The two young girls both let out excited cheers as they proceeded to run and hop around excitedly. Kenny couldn't help but let out some amused chuckling. Even Dawn found the sight adorable. She was getting the feeling that the party was going to be great.
And so, dinner was had out on the open deck of The Big Beauty. The battlefield was unfolded to serve as additional space as there were guests coming for the dinner. All of the Alolan classmates, plus Lana's little sisters, plus May and Max, plus Clemont, Bonnie, and Lilia, the Kalosian girl who Dawn remembered from the anime in her previous life was the scientist girl with the Buneary. Lilia was actually the best girl for Clemont that was ever found.
However, Dawn was surprised to see Lilia here, and not because she's dating Clemont and living with him and Bonnie. The reason Dawn was surprised to see Lilia was because Lilia here was actually rather big; Dawn was able to accurately guess Lilia to weigh as much as Alexis. Lilia in the anime back in Dawn's previous life was NOT big boned, but Lilia was such here.
"Yeah, my size made it impossible for me to find work in my field back in Kalos," Lilia said, "And not because I didn't fit in lab areas. I couldn't find work solely because me being fat made me 'not good to look at'." Scoffing, Lilia went on, "Since when did girls of science have to have sexy bombshell cheerleader levels of physical attractiveness in order to get work in labs? Such practices offended my teacher and mentor Professor Minerva, she told me an old classmate of hers suffered under similar circumstances as to what I faced. It's part of why she took me on, she wanted me to have what her classmate was never granted, that being a chance."
"I have to agree with how people of science ought to be judged not by appearance but by skill and merit," Clemont said, "It disgusts me that Lilia, a brilliant girl of science, was never able to find work in labs in Kalos solely because her size made her quote 'unappealing to look at' unquote."
Dawn nodded in understanding. She remembered from the anime in her previous life that although there was chemistry between Clemont and Lilia, their work had them go on their own paths so they didn't form a relationship. But here, Lilia was never allowed on any path, so she went with whatever she could get. That landed her work in a science position at the Pokémon trainer school located on Melemele Island, as well as dating Clemont and being a big sister figure to Bonnie.
Gesturing to Dawn, Clemont said, "So you and your friends are doing field research here in Alola, huh? What kind of field research?"
"General research on the various species of Pokémon native here in the region," Dawn replied, "Although Trip, Kenny, and I had caught some Ultra Beasts earlier."
"Yeah, the machine that Zed of the Ericson Company used was returned to the Aether Foundation," Lilia said, "Personally, Clemont and I both wanna check out what all they have in their labs. And one of the girls in the Sex Ed class Clemont teaches, Lillie, her mom heads up the Aether Foundation. Maybe she can help arrange a tour for me and Clemont?" A look of suspicious annoyance appeared on Lilia's face. "...Unless Lillie's mom is also shallow and vain like most Kalosians and won't want a fatty like me over."
"Lusamine is a rather accepting woman," Dawn said, "I'm certain that Lusamine will have no trouble with having you over, Lilia."
...
"She's not a member of Team Heart, is she?" Lusamine asked the morning following the dinner party hosted on The Big Beauty. Dawn and the rest of her away team went to visit Lusamine at her manor, where she was in the backyard enjoying a morning cup of coffee.
"Miss Lusamine," began Lusamine's butler, "You thought the same thing about Master Gladion when you saw he was acting secretive a while ago."
"Wait, you thought that Gladion had joined Team Heart?" Trip asked.
Shrugging, Lusamine replied, "Well he was acting secretive and stuff, I thought he was hiding something! Of course when I confronted him with my thoughts, he like you guys also thought that I was being ridiculous. No, Gladion didn't join Team Heart, he was being secretive because he had realized he's gay and was worried about how Lillie and I would take the news."
"How did you react?" Kenny asked.
"Well first off, I felt immensely relieved that Gladion was NOT a member of Team Heart," Lusamine began, "Second off, I asked Gladion when he was going to bring by his boyfriend to introduce to me and Lillie." Smiling gently, Lusamine said, "I have no problem with my son being gay. I'm a lot more accepting and open minded than what others would give me credit for."
"It also turns out that Master Gladion is dating Kahuna Hala's grandson Hau," said Lusamine's butler, "And Hala has the same feelings on the matter as Miss Lusamine. He isn't bothered by Hau being gay, and is immensely relieved Hau did NOT join Team Heart."
"Well it's nice to hear you support the LGTBQ community," Mina said, "But onto why we're here. Lilia and Clemont want to tour some of the labs and such that Aether Foundation has, but Lilia is afraid you won't let her enter solely because she's really fat. She had faced such discrimination, and for the same reason, back in her home region of Kalos."
"Yes, that would make sense," Lusamine said, "Kalos consistently places as the most fatphobic region in the world. It's little wonder Team Heart hates Kalos, Kalosian belief is the opposite of what is upheld by Team Heart doctrine." Straightening up, Lusamine said, "Well let me be perfectly clear, I by no means hold such views myself. I would love to give two accomplished persons of science a tour of Aether Foundation facilities, regardless of both of them being obese."
"Only Lilia is obese," Kenny corrected, "Clemont is actually rather skinny."
Shrugging, Lusamine said, "Either way." The away team was relieved by how accepting Lusamine is of Lilia's obesity. Lusamine was also accepting of Gladion's homosexuality. The head of the Aether Foundation was a very chill and accepting lady. The acceptance Lusamine has for things others tend to reject would make her an ally of Team Heart, as her accepting views line up with theirs.
But Team Heart is a villainous multi-region criminal organization that controls and rules over half of the world. That's kind of a deal breaker as far as Lusamine is concerned.
END, CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Author's notes;
This chapter sees the reborn trainers meet up with the Ericson Company, and reunite with a number of persons they've run into before. They meet Eric Ericson, who is the same Eric that is wanted for death by Coryn, Marshall, and Ken of Team Heart, and learn that he escaped Johto because Silver smuggled him out, using them as transport. They also run into other unpleasant faces, such as Zed, Chandler, Yoshitsugu, Haruka, and Carmine whose face Kenny punches.
Things then get hectic when Zed takes an Ultra Wormhole Machine that Faba recovered from Team Heart and fixed up, and Zed uses the machine to open up Ultra Wormholes to summon Ultra Beasts as he thinks they'll fall in line and march to his orders against Team Heart. Instead all Ultra Beasts that are summoned go berserk and fly off on rampages, although one Pheromosa is surprisingly chill and just follows pleasant smells in the hope of finding food.
That led Pheromosa to Ania's Kitchen, which is attacked by Team Heart members led by Watanabe and Narumi. Pheromosa, who becomes friendly towards Mallow, Lana, and Lana's little sisters, single handedly beats Watanabe and Narumi before Team Heart has to pull out. And don't forget, Pheromosa was a wild Pokémon at the time it defeated a Team Heart Officer and the Assistant of said Officer. Things are cleaned up and Dawn catches the Pheromosa.
Dawn and her away team then arrange for Clemont and Lilia to tour Aether Foundation facilities with Lusamine, who is surprisingly chill and accepting. Lusamine has no qualms with Lilia being fat, and Lusamine also has no qualms with Gladion being gay. Such acceptance would make her fit in with Team Heart, but Lusamine isn't a criminal. Anyway, the next chapter will see Alolan dex work and backstory expansion for Elio and Selene. 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), Cupidos (female Enamorus)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Black (Giratina), Shallot (male Glaceon), Cell (male Scizor; shiny), Roshi (male Torterra), Zarbon (male Machamp), Kermit (male Politoed)
Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Deelia (Dialga), Lisa (female Latias), Mr. Popo (male Magmortar), Veda (female Abomasnow), Myde (male Empoleon), Villetta (Miraidon)
Mina's Pokémon: (on hand) Scar (male Eevee; scared over one eye), Gardevoir (male), Lucario (female), Umbreon (male; shiny), Espeon (male; shiny), Jolteon (male; shiny)