Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Pokédex no Isekai
Chapter Fifty: The war for the world, part three
Anistar City was one of the most heavily contested places in all of the Kalos region right now, with only the capital of Kalos, Lumiose City, being even more heavily contested. But then again, Anistar City is where the late Olympia, the gym leader whose use of psychic powers helped to identify and reveal the truth of Team Heart's true leadership to the world at large, lived in Anistar City before she was... punished... for her sussing out of Team Heart secrets.
Anistar City was currently a bitter bed of hostility as the Kalos rebellion forces were fighting tooth and nail against the oppressive forces of the Team Heart regime which currently rules Kalos with an iron fist. The presence of psychics in Anistar City were the main reason why the rebel forces were doing as well as they were, the hack powers of the psychics that many other persons in the world have no defense against had allowed the rebels to have lasted as long as they did.
But the sheer numbers that the Team Heart forces had at Anistar City had brought to the table had allowed them to not only keep up with the goodly forces, but also slowly begin to overwhelm them. It didn't help the rebels that a good number of what few psychics they had were losing heart, due in combination to what was done to Olympia and what was done to what psychics were captured and taken to some of the Team Heart ran labor camps that could be found dotted all over Kalos.
Luckily for the forces of good fighting to reclaim Anistar City from the hold of oppressive tyranny, they would soon be granted a rather considerable measure of relief when not one but two of the flying ships from the flying ship fleet from Sinnoh came flying in and landed in the safe area that the rebel forces had in Anistar City. Some of the rebels in the safe area, upon seeing the pair of flying ships come in, cheered in relief, knowing them to be backup.
A female rebel who was the leader of the rebels at Anistar City, plus a female psychic who led the psychics at Anistar City, and Professor Gabe, all came over to greet the persons who were in the two flying ships as they came off. The two flying ships landed, the drawbridges shot out, and the respective crews of the flying ships got off to meet with the rebel forces, although one person from one flying ship and two from the other greeted the lead rebel, the lead psychic, and Gabe.
Those persons were Trip, Kenny, and Mina, with Trip wearing a red long sleeved pirate's long coat that resembled a long sleeved long coat worn by a certain pirate who also captained a certain flying ship. "I remember you kids," Gabe said, "You all were are part of Dawn's crew aboard of her flying ship. You have your own flying ships now?"
"It's a long story," Trip replied, "But long story short is that Team Heart should have left Sinnoh the hell alone if they didn't want to be spanked."
"Well it's a good thing that trainers of your level of strength are here," said the lead rebel, "Now we can very easily take Anistar City back from Team Heart hold. We'll be one step closer to liberating the Kalos region as a whole once we take back Anistar City, so we ought to get cracking on it!"
"What all do you guys currently have on the Team Heart forces here in Anistar City?" Kenny asked, his arms crossed over his chest as he wore a firm, considering, serious look that he made mostly to try to look more serious than he really was.
The lead psychic had a look on her face that was equal parts grim, resigned, and heartbroken. "The Team Heart forces here in Kalos... ever since the late Olympia was able to out who their true Boss was to the world at large due to learning of said true Boss's identity with her psychic powers... the Team Heart forces had started a witch hunt targeting psychics, a hunt that spreads all over the Kalos region. Any with psychic powers deemed strong enough are... are given what Olympia got."
Trip, as well as Kenny and Mina, all had grim looks on their faces as they regarded the lead psychic. "Yo that is totally messed up," said Mina.
"Team Heart is just really pissy that their secrets had been outed to folks who know now how to go about working to bring them down," said the lead rebel, "Believe you me, now that we know who the true Boss of Team Heart is, it'll only be a matter of time before we catch them and bring them to stand trial for what their madness had done to threaten the world."
Gabe gave off a rather bitter scoff. "And to think that all this time, it was Yvonne who was the true Boss of Team Heart," Gabe said, "Just what was she thinking exactly? She had one of the most successful Pokémon labs in Kalos going, she was drawing in so much thanks in large part to what all work she did with the legendary Pokémon she looked after for Champion Serena. Why would she risk all of that for... well... what she's done as the true Boss of Team Heart?"
Shrugging, Trip said, "Your guess is as good as ours, Professor Gabe. What we ought to do now is just focus on taking back as much of Kalos as we can so we can force Yvonne out into the open and bring her down before we bring her in for questioning. She owes us, owes the world, a LOT of explaining to do, and by no means are we going to let her get away from owning up."
Nodding once in agreement, Gabe replied, "Indeed. Now, according to the rebel forces that are here in Ainistar City, the two main contested areas are the Anistar City gym and the giant crystal sundial. We still have no idea why Team Heart is so keen on the sundial, and given that I have on more than one occasion seen cloudy trails of smoke rise up into the air from the direction that the Anistar City gym is in, one doesn't have to put in much effort to guess why Team Heart is interested in that."
Trip turned to look to Kenny and Mina. "What do you guys wanna do?" Trip asked, "I can go to either the sundial or the gym, whichever one you guys don't end up helping to cover."
"We'll do the gym," Kenny replied to Trip, drawing an agreeing nod out of Mina, "I have a gut feeling that the gym is where I ought to go." Trip wasn't entirely sure about Kenny's gut feelings; Dawn had in private warned Trip about it when Kenny gets gut feelings, and that was all Trip needed in order to learn that Kenny when he gets his gut feelings can get to his most chaotic.
...But even so, time was of the essence here, and even Kenny knew when and where to be serious. Trip was going to have to trust that Kenny knew what he was doing. Besides, Kenny was going in with some backup, including Mina. Trip was likewise going in with some backup of his own, which included some of the crew members of The Gokai Galleon, the flying ship that he had been made the captain of.
When every had been readied for the next push against the Team Heart forces in Anistar City, the lead rebel called for everyone to storm over to their assigned locations. "We not only have the numbers on our side, but sheer overwhelming power as well!" called out the lead rebel, "Those evil pricker-sticks in Team Heart don't stand a chance! It won't just be Anistar City that the rebellion will take back, it'll be all of Kalos!"
The rebel forces and their allies all gave rallying cheers, their fighting spirit bolstered and flared up right to get them in the mood to bring the fight to Team Heart. "She... could have done better to watch her language at that one point," Gabe said, "But I will admit that her rallying cry was still very effective and it got the job done."
"Oh come on Gabe, lighten up a little," said the lead psychic, "Besides, she's talking smack about Team Heart. Since when were they ever deserving of any courtesy such as having other people be careful with watching their language when talking about them?"
Shrugging, Kenny said, "She's got a point. Besides, you ought to hear what Mina has said in regards to Team Heart. She'd make even a Sailor blush."
"It's true, you know," Mina confirmed.
Sighing, Gabe said, "Well... I suppose that tensions ARE high, given what that mad woman Yvonne has been up to." With little else holding back the rebels and their allies, the forces for good who were gathered in Anistar City went out to their respective destinations, to bring the fighting to Team Heart and to liberate the home town of the now deceased gym leader who had given the world the answer they needed to finally make a breakthrough against the evil organization that ruled over half of the world with an iron fist.
Over at the Anistar City gym, Kenny and Mina rushed in with some rebels, as well as some members of the crew from The Jelly-Filled Donut, the flying ship in the fleet that Kenny was made the captain of. The Jelly-Filled Donut was the name given to Dawn's flying ship back in the Team Scorn timeline, where Kenny convinced Dawn to let him name her flying ship that she got there.
Kenny thought that it was a good name, as he thought that Dawn's flying ship had to sound strong, and The Jelly-Filled Donut was the strongest name for a flying ship that he could think of, and that's because nothing beats a jelly-filled donut. But due to the reborn trainers messing with the timeline to give Ideku a better childhood, Dawn had instead gotten a larger flying ship named The Big Beauty.
Kenny, however, was still able to use his idea for a flying ship name when Sinnoh got eleven other flying ships as a result of Team Heart's failed invasion of Sinnoh. Kenny had come up with five names for flying ships, and somehow all five were used. That just told Kenny that no-one was as good as him when it came to the business or naming flying ships.
But that all is besides the point. Kenny, Mina, and their followers all stormed the Anistar City gym in order to liberate it from Team Heart. The fighting sparked pretty much instantly, although things had looked favorably for the rebels pretty much from the get go. "Hey Kenny!" one rebel called out, "I got it that there's a Team Heart Captain and his Assistant in the stadium of the gym!"
"Got it! Mina and I will rush in to handle them!" Kenny called back. Turning to look at his girlfriend, Kenny asked, "You ready to go spank the lead bad guy here, babe?"
"Lemme at 'em, I'll eff 'em up real good!" Mina declared. Kenny could not help but chuckle a bit in amusement as how eager his girlfriend is to kick some Team Heart fanny. Together, the two of them made their way further into the gym, and right into the gym's stadium where battles at the gym for gym badges took place.
Fitting that such a location would be where Kenny and Mina would battle the boss enemy at the Anistar City gym.
...
Over at the large crystal sundial in Anistar City, fighting between the rebel forces and the forces of the Team Heart regime was strong and fierce. This brutal, unforgiving conflict is what the crew of The Gokai Galleon, lead by Trip, came upon when they arrived at the scene to lend aid to the rebels who were fighting to help liberate Anistar City.
But those who fought on the side of good were nothing if not tenacious. Heroes fought until they either one, they won, or two, until they had nothing left to give and had damn well made the villains fight for the victory that, being villains, they are by no means entitled to. But with the arrival of Trip and his crew from the flying ship that he had been made the captain of, the victory of the rebels in the area of the giant crystal sundial was assured.
But then again, Trip who was part of the charge coming in to back up the rebels was carrying with him an entire party of big name legendary Pokémon. As a matter of fact, he came riding in on his named Miraidon Villetta while his named Lunala Alucard flew alongside him and Villetta. The heroes by no means could afford to play nice right now. Not while Team Heart was still a thing.
The act of seeing two big legendary Pokémon like that come charging in helped to at least distract the Team Heart forces at the sundial for long enough for the rebels there already to score some more damage on them before the forces that Trip was leading actually arrived. And then Trip and the forces that he was leading showed up, the heroes got a significant boost.
Trip got off of Villetta and stood next to it. Pointing to a concentration of Team Heart members that he saw, Trip said, "Hey Alucard, see those Team Heart members over there?" After the named Lunala gave an affirmative response, Trip said, "I want you to go over there and, well... go for a walk." Alucard instantly chuckled darkly in amusement at the order, before going on in and doing as it had been told, relishing in its actions.
While Alucard was going for a walk, Trip looked around the battlefield. "There should be at least one or two big name Team Heart members here," Trip said, "Where do I-"
"Hey! I found the Captain leading the forces here at the sundial!"
Trip stopped short when he heard a rebel call out. Trip with Villetta following him ran in the direction of that call, and eventually found a female rebel staring off against Captain David and his Captain's Assistant Phil. "Oh great, the rat rebel had led one of Dawn Berlitz's companions right to us with her calling out just now," Phil scowled as he gestured to Trip.
"I'm actually Dawn's adopted brother," Trip said as the rebel whose call summoned him stood next to him, "This is where you and the other rebels here in Anistar City will see the end of your tyrannical rule here in Kalos."
"Alright boy, answer us this," David began, "Say that you and the other rebels are successful and are able to remove Team Heart authority from here in the Kalos region. What do you think will happen as a result?"
"The Kalos region will be free again," Trip replied, "Its people able to live as they wish because the tyrants who ruled them with an iron fist will have been removed from power."
"We're more like strict babysitters who enforce rules to ensure that our charges behave themselves," David replied, "Because that's what will happen if Team Heart is removed from power. The people we rule will misbehave."
Trip had a grim, suspicious look on his face as he regarded the Team Heart captain. "You think that the Kalosian people will misbehave without Team Heart ruling over them?" Trip asked.
"All persons not ruled by Team Heart will misbehave without Team Heart ruling over them," David went on, "They simply just cannot be trusted to act properly, especially if they're given the freedom to act as they wish. They will be cruel because no-one and nothing will be active to stop them or to make them act as they ought to."
Trip's expression remained unchanged, but a hint of worried concern seeped into his eyes. "Surly things cannot be that bad."
"We know that you and the rest of your companions were here in Kalos before Team Heart took it over," Phil said, "Surly you had seen evidence of the behavior of the average Kalosian when they are NOT made to behave properly."
Trip... found it a bit difficult to argue with Team Heart on that, actually. He had seen first hand that the Kalosian people are rather vain. They essentially had bullied Alexis, the bard who was now one of the members of the crew on board of The Big Beauty, out of the Kalos region simply because she just so happens to be very obese.
Such an act was blatantly fatphobic, and fatphobia, Trip knows, is the one form of discrimination that Team Heart hates above all others. Trip has no doubt that Team Heart after they had taken over the Kalos region started to stamp out similar acts to ensure that plus sized persons such as Alexis would never be given harsh treatment over their size in Kalos ever again.
But Trip was aware of just how far Team Heart was willing to go to stamp out discrimination, and he had every reason to believe that Team Heart would whip out their strongest tools to punish what they view as the worst discriminatory acts imaginable. "...Surly there's no need for Team Heart to go as far as they have gone," Trip remarked.
"Our actions, as harsh to outsiders as they may seem, are the only way to make sure the people all fall in line," David countered, "Team Heart cannot afford to be soft on those it rules over."
Trip could tell that things were not going to end easy here, if at all, and that Team Heart cannot be swayed no matter what. But then again, they have taken action against other persons who couldn't be swayed no matter what; Trip has personally met at least a few such persons who were so stubborn and full of themselves that they totally wouldn't last long in lands ruled by Team Heart. Trip had it figured that things here could only end one way.
Trip got Villetta's attention. "You ready to fight, Villetta?" Trip asked. The named Miraidon cried out in confident confirmation before it moved in, ready to battle. At around that time, Alucard the named Lunala came flying back over. "...Did you enjoy your walk, Alucard?" Trip asked.
"That wasn't a walk it went on!" a Team Heart grunt in the background and off screen cried out in great pain, "It tortured us!"
"I can't feel my left leg!" another off screen Team Heart grunt, this one female whereas the first one was male, cried out.
All that Alucard did was chuckle darkly in self-amusement. Turning to look right at David and Phil, Trip said, "Well now, Team Heart. We can do this the easy, or we can take things to the point that the property damage will cost... the Alucard amount." Once again, the named Lunala chuckled darkly in self-amusement.
David and Phil wouldn't be ashamed to admit that they had both soiled themselves a little.
...
Kenny and Mina rushed into the arena of the Anistar City gym, and there they found Captain Kenji and his Captain's Assistant Lauren. Kenny still remembered the first time he ever encountered Kenji, back in the Team Scorn timeline. Back then, Kenji was a Captain's Assistant to Zed who in the Team Scorn timeline was just as much of a useless pompous windbag as he is here in the Team Heart timeline. When it comes to Zed, some things never change.
But Kenji? He's changed quite a lot, and Kenny would argue that it's for the better, at least for Kenji personally. Kenny actually kind of sort of liked Kenji as a person; hell, were it not for how Kenji here is a villain, Kenny would have tried collecting him as a member of the crew for The Jelly-filled Donut. Dee and his friends, who all were the big names in Team Scorn's Strawhat Sector back in the Team Scorn timeline, were all good guys here.
Why couldn't Kenji have gotten the same deal? It actually broke Kenny's heart a little when he gave the idea a bit of thought.
But there was no time to waste on what could have beens. Right now, Kenny and Mina had to take on Kenji and Lauren. "There's only one reason why we're here," Kenny said as he glared right at the two Team Heart members, "I don't think you'll need a lot of guesses to get what it is."
Kenji shifted in his stance. "You and the other rebels are here to try to liberate Anistar City from Team Heart's hold," Kenji said, "Well that's highly unlikely to-"
"Highly unlikely?" Mina cut in, "Do you not KNOW who is confronting you?!" Gesturing to Kenny, Mina said, "You ought to know who Kenny here is, what Pokémon he has, what he's capable of! How are you even able to think that Kenny's highly unlikely to win here?!"
"Hey, he's just trying to get our confidence back up," Lauren snapped, "There's no need to jump down his throat because he's trying to bluff, you bitch."
"Oi!" Kenny snapped, "Did you just call my girlfriend a bitch, you twat?!"
"Hey, don't call my girlfriend a twat, you imbecile!" Kenji scowled at Kenny.
"Hey, don't call my boyfriend an imbecile, you simp!" Mina barked at Kenji.
"Hey, don't call my boyfriend a simp, you quim!" Lauren hissed at Mina.
"I can make up words too, you spangledorf!" Kenny yelled at Lauren, "Also, don't call my girlfriend a whatever the hell it is that you just called her!" Tossing up a ball, Kenny called out, "Okay, Shenron! Let's make it cringe!"
"Go, Scar!" Mina yelled as she sent out her named Eevee with the scar that went over one of its eyes, with the scarred eye being closed and the scar going down over the eyelid. When Scar came out, he was joined by Shenron the named Rayquaza.
Kenny then held up his Mega Ring, which he wore on his left wrist, as he called out, "Come forth, eternal dragon! And grant my wish!" This triggered the process of Mega Evolution, allowing Kenny to Mega Evolve Shenron into Mega Rayquaza.
"Go, Poliwrath!" Kenji said as he sent out his Poliwrath.
"Go, Jigglypuff!" Lauren said as she sent out her Jigglypuff, "Use Disarming Voice on Rayquaza!"
"Poliwrath, use Brick Break on Eevee!" Kenji ordered.
"Scar, use Covet on Jigglypuff!" Mina commanded.
"Shenron, use Dragon Ascent on Poliwrath!" Kenny called out.
The named Mega Rayquaza was the fastest, and it flew up and soared right down at Poliwrath, striking it hard and knocking it out before it even got close to hitting Scar. Speaking of, Scar was able to go in close to Jigglypuff and strike it hard with Covet, scoring a critical hit that ended up taking Jigglypuff out in one hit.
Both Kenji and Lauren were forced to recall their respective fainted Pokémon before sending out their next Pokémon each. "Go, Bellibolt!" Kenji said as he sent out his Bellibolt.
"Go, Elgyem!" Lauren said, "Use Psybeam on Rayquaza!"
"Bellibolt, use Chilling Water on Eevee!" Kenji ordered.
"Scar, use Bite on Elgyem!" Mina commanded.
"Shenron, use Dragon Claw on Bellibolt!" Kenny called out.
For a second time, Shenron was the fastest Pokémon in the battle. It lunged right at Bellibolt with claws glowing fiercely with dragonic power, hacking those claws at Bellibolt in a clawing strike that struck true and knocked Bellibolt out before its attack even had a chance to go off and fly right for the named, scarred Eevee.
Speaking of, Scar dashed at Elgyem, who was distracted due to taking aim at the named Mega Rayquaza, and jumped up at it before coming down to bite it hard on the shoulder, doing a lot of damage in a critical hit that knocked Elgyem out before it was even able to finish charging up the attack it was trying to use.
Again, Kenji and Lauren were forced to call back their respective fainted Pokémon before sending their next ones out for battle. "Go, Politoed!" Kenji said as he sent out his Politoed.
"Go, Eevee!" Lauren said as she sent out her own Eevee, one who wasn't nicknamed or had a scar going down over one of its eyes.
Gesturing forward, Kenny said, "Shenron, use Dragon Claw on Politoed!" The named Mega Rayquaza obeyed, and it struck Politoed down with Dragon Claw.
Scoffing at Mina, Lauren said, "You know, my Eevee is a lot cuter than yours. Not having a stupid nickname aside, my Eevee also doesn't have an ugly scar going down over one of its eyes."
"Oh ho ho ho," Mina said, her tone and expression making her look as if she felt it was on now, "I had been planning on showing some mercy, but you just force be to whip out the big guns." Mina then held her forearms and let the sleeves fall down, showing her wrists. It was then that Kenny saw that Mina had a new toy he wasn't aware she had.
"Babe, you got a Z-Ring of your own!" Kenny exclaimed as he saw the Z-Ring that Mina was wearing on her right wrist.
Nodding once, Mina took out a normal colored Z Crystal; it had the unique Z Crystal shape, and the symbol in the crystal looked like an Eevee head with a scar over it. "Yeah huh," Mina said, "And I also got a special Z Crystal here that works for Eevees with scars going down over one of their eyes, so its a perfect fit for Scar, especially since he needs to know Covet to use the corresponding Z move."
Scoffing, Lauren said, "There's no way all of that is real! A Z Crystal that works for Eevees that have scars going down over one of their eyes?"
Putting the Z Crystal into her Z-Ring, Mina declared as she did the normal type Z Move dance, "And you're about to see the full power of the Scareevium Z! Alright Scar, let's give that whore-bucket and her inferior Eevee a taste of your special Z move! Let's go!" After Mina did her dance, Z move energy flew from her to Scar as she called out the name of Scar's Z Move.
"King of Hell style Rengoku Onigiri!"
"Pfft," Lauren scoffed, "The hell kind of a name for a Z move is-"
"EEVEE!" Scar called out, his strong voice once again making him sound like Roronoa Zoro. Scar stood up on his hind paws, put the handle of a knife in his mouth before he held two more knives, one in each front paw, before he rushed right at Lauren's Eevee, blitzing it with the King of Hell style Rengoku Onigiri, striking Eevee hard and knocking it out cold.
As Lauren recalled her fainted Eevee, Kenny let out a whistle. "Wow, I was NOT expecting Scar to pull out THAT as a Z move from his Covet attack," Kenny said, "He really is a notch above the other Eevees out there."
Smirking in amusement, Mina said, "Well Scar IS the leader of the pack of evolved Eevees that I own, so he does have to be able to pull off being a boss." Turning to look at Kenji and Lauren, Mina went on, "As for you two jokers, I believe that you're both out of Pokémon that are able to battle. You know what that means, don't you?"
"Yes," Kenji scoffed bitterly, "The Kalosian rebellion is actually getting close to returning Kalos to the discriminatory hell hole it had been prior to Team Heart rising to power here."
Kenny looked curious, as well as mildly confused, by what Kenji said. "And do you honestly think that an oppressive and tyrannical dictatoral rule is any better?" Kenny asked, "Now don't get me wrong, I'm of the opinion that the raw deal certain groups who are often discriminated against is still very much a raw deal, but is taking over everything and forcing everyone to be nice to each other really the answer?"
"It's the only thing that had been shown to actually work in seriously ending discrimination," Lauren said, "So you tell me. Is there really an effective answer to ending discrimination that doesn't use the Team Heart method?"
Kenny wasn't exactly sure what to say here. He himself honestly thinks that discrimination is wrong; that is something that he will agree with Team Heart on. But Team Heart's methods of taking out discrimination is NOT all that chill. Perhaps later, Kenny could bring up the idea to Dawn and Trip that they could find a way to end discrimination around the world in a friendly and peaceful manner that does not make use of the Team Heart method.
But for now, the tyrannical villainous organization that rules not just Kalos but at least half of the world has to be brought down. With Kenji and Lauren unable to fight or otherwise resist, Kenny and Mina had an easy time detaining the both of them. Regardless, Kenny was still a little bit concerned by what all Kenji had just said. Not just the words in and of themselves, but also the tone in which those words had been said.
...Surly things can't be as bad as what Kenji was saying, could they?
Later, Kenny and Mina met up with the lead rebel in Anistar City, the lead psychic, and Gabe. By that point, the rebels had been able to defeat the Team Heart presence in Anistar City and take said city back from the Team Heart regime. "It's amazing, really," the lead psychic began, "Team Heart thinks that their way is the best and only way for things in the world to go."
"You think that people being able to discriminate against each other is good?" Mina asked.
The psychic was a bit surprised by Mina's question. "...Don't get me wrong, I also don't approve of discrimination," the psychic began, "But taking over entire regions and forcing the people living in said regions to live by a vast and restrictive list of rules, how is that the answer?"
Kenny arched a wry eyebrow. "I agree that it's a bad answer," Kenny said, "But one has to give credit where credit is due. Wanting to end discrimination is a noble cause, it's just that Team Heart went about the cause entirely the wrong way. That's why I aim to have a sit down with Mina, Dawn, and Trip later to discuss with them ways to end discrimination the right way."
"Now that is some smart thinking, young man," Gabe remarked as he gestured to Kenny, "I will admit that you have a point on how Team Heart's aim of ending discrimination is actually a good thing, but as you've pointed out they went about trying to execute the idea entirely wrong. It will be very grand indeed to see so noble a goal like that carried out properly."
As Kenny and Mina were talking with Gabe and the others, Trip came walking on over. "Well David and Phil were easy for me to take down," Trip said, "I'm getting the feeling that Team Heart is going to be going down soon. Well, at least the part of Team Heart that's here in Kalos."
"Yo Trip, quick question," Kenny began as he immediately turned to look right at Trip, catching his attention, "Yes or no, would you agree that Team Heart's goal of ending discrimination is actually a good idea, it's just that Team Heart went about trying to carry out the idea entirely the wrong way?"
Trip had a curious look on his face as he regarded Kenny. "...Yes, I will agree that discrimination isn't all that cool," Trip replied, "And that taking it out would be pretty sweet. But how would we go about doing that? I mean, look at how Team Heart tried carrying out the idea. People don't like being made to live their lives a certain way."
"That's why we aren't going to do things the Team Heart way," Kenny went on, "I was thinking that after we help to end the Team Heart regime, our crew could travel all over the world and do some sort of preaching thing were we convince everyone to not be discriminatory jerks. I figure that if the people see the heroes who ended Team Heart say to not be discriminatory jerks, then they'd be up for listening to what we have to say."
Trip had a serious, considering look on his face. "...I don't know," Trip said, "It sounds like something that would be very hard to sell. There are some people out there who blatantly, defiantly refuse flat out to ever be decent people no matter what."
"I bet that we can convince enough people to still make a notable difference," Kenny replied, "I mean, come on. The vast majority of people in the world are still decent people. And I bet that a lot of them had suffered under discrimination, which we will be preaching against. We've met people as we've traveled to Team Heart-ruled lands who had suffered under discrimination, and had seen their lives improve because of Team Heart rule."
Trip couldn't deny what Kenny was saying. "...Go on."
"I bet that those people will also be on board with the idea of a peaceful, non-Team Heart method of ending what all discrimination there is out there," Kenny said, "I also bet that there's other decent people out there who will also be on board with what we'll be preaching. Not EVERY person out there in the world is either a Zed or a Chandler. Most folks in the world are actually decent people."
Folding his arms over his chest, Trip remarked, "Do you really think it's possible?"
"Pfft," Kenny scoffed, "Oh come on now, dude. You, me, and Dawn have each caught multiple legendary Pokémon, some of which are regarded as deities by some folks out there in the world. If we can catch and command literal fucking gods, then I think it's safe to say that our odds of trying to implement a peaceful, non-Team Heart method of attaining the goal of non-discrimination that Team Heart wants is within our reach."
Shrugging, Gabe said, "Well... he does have a point. Why, I've been made aware of it, due to having seen her using it in the Masters Eight Tournament of the most recent World Coronation Series, that Dawn had caught Arceus itself. If she can do something that outlandish, then I think it's safe to say that trying to end discrimination with a peaceful, non-Team Heart method can be done." Sighing, Gabe went on in a somber tone and with a likewise expression, "It would have been nice if my old classmate Serena was around to see such a world."
Taking a step towards Gabe, Kenny said, "I assure you that the lads and I, once we bring down the wrath of cringe upon Team Heart and take it down for good, will try to use the good guy method of bringing about a discrimination-free world. And we shall also do it in the name of that old classmate of yours who just so happens to have the same name as Ash's girlfriend."
Gabe couldn't help but smile. "...Thank you, Kenny. As eccentric of a young man as you may be, you still do have good moments."
"What can I say?" Kenny replied, "I'm awesome like that." The Kalosian rebellion was still ongoing, but the forces who were fighting for good were not going to give up. They weren't going to stop until Kalos, and then the rest of the world after that, was free from the tyrannical rule of the regime that currently had over half of the world under its thumb. The fighting was going to be fierce, but by no means would the forces of good go down.
...Or, failing that, make damn sure that Team Heart works for any victory they're able to claim.
END, CHAPTER FIFTY
Author's notes;
This chapter sees Kenny, Trip, and Mina help to liberate Anistar City, which is particularly heavily under pressure as the late Olympia, who had via her psychic powers outed Yvonne as the true Boss of Team Heart, had lived there. The other reborn trainers meet up with a rebel leader, a lead psychic, and Professor Gabe before going off to key points in Anistar City to fight off Team Heart and bring their presence in Anistar City to an end.
Trip encounters David and Phil at the sundial, whereas Kenny and Mina encounter Kenji and Lauren at the Anistar City gym. Trip's meeting with David and Phil is mostly skipped over in favor of Kenny and Mina throwing off against Kenji and Lauren. Kenny, in addition to feeling a bit guilty for Kenji due to memories from the Team Scorn timeline, also from the battle there gets an idea that he's got an interest in trying to put into effect.
Mina is also able to show off that she got a Z-Ring while she and the others were last in Alola, and it came with a unique Z Crystal for Scar the Eevee that lets him unleash his inner badass, but that's besides the point. The point is that the good guys win the day in Anistar City, and Kenny brings his idea of a good guy version of the Zero Discrimination Plan to the table. It's an idea that Gabe finds very noble, wishing an old peer of his was around to see it.
Anyway, the next chapter will see some rather harsh fighting in Lumiose City, where Dawn with the help of Leona, Omiyo, and Haldor will actually end up confronting Professor Yvonne herself, in one of the most important fights in the story. What exactly will go down has yet to be determined, but it is going to shake things up, as well as set up things for the next couple of chapters. Things will be picking up from here later. Until then, take care.
...Oh, and Happy New Year (this chapter came out 1-1-2025).
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Tsukune (Palkia), Fangfang (Yveltal), Kurumu (Groudon), Sif (Zacian), Veldora (Koraidon), Odin (Arceus)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Black (Giratina), Zamasu (Necrozma), Shenron (Rayquaza), Porunga (Zygarde), Armstrong (Regigigas), unknown legendary Pokémon
Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Deelia (Dialga), Villetta (Miraidon), Cameron (Kyorge), Tetsu (Xerneas), Rogers (Zamazenta), Alucard (Lunala)
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)