Chapter summary: Cecilia takes on Team Star's Dark crew and discovers there is more to Team Star than initially thought.
AN: First new chapter of the year.
This took a while as I seem to only write a sentence or two a day, but thankfully, the typing was faster.
I'm not a DJ or a musician, so I'm not sure i did Giacomo right, the same thing for Ryme once I get to her chapter.
Pokemon is not mine
West Province Area One: A year and a half ago
"Well, I guess that's that," Giacomo said, bobbing his head to the music he had just composed. This was his fourth attempt, and he planned to share it with the others to see what they thought. This followed a phone call he had received earlier.
"What's going on, Giacomo?" Ortega inquired as he approached with the other bosses. "Did something happen?"
"A bit. I just talked with the big boss about a few things," Giacomo explained as he put his laptop away. "They want to talk and settle on a few plans.
"A few plans? Like what?" Mela asked.
"First of all, it's Operation Star," Giacomo replied. "Additionally, as you know, we have recently welcomed many new members. We thought it would be important for everyone to be on the same page, so I was asked to create a new code of conduct for the team. This way, there will be agreed-upon rules that everyone can follow-more or less." He sounded hesitant to share this for a good reason.
"Nice. You'll devise a great code for us, won't you, Giacomo." Eri exclaimed.
"Ha, no thanks. That sounds like too much pressure," Giacomo laughed, appearing uncomfortable and annoyed. "I mean, yeah, I used to be the head of the student council, and you know how that ended up, with everyone hating me."
"Of course, we understand. You made many stuffy rules that people struggled with," Mela snorted. "After two minutes, we had to replace you, and we did so with a nerd."
"I cannot help but concur; your rules were sheer vexation," Atticus said. "Male students must not have hair longer than 1.8 inches below the nape.' For example," he listed one of the rules everyone disliked.
The dark squad leader pointed at the other male. "That's the point. All of you agree that I shouldn't be let anywhere near the new code."
"But you look out and know what's best for us," Ortega argued.
"And Team Star wouldn't work without you," Eri added. "You've earned our respect many times over," she assured.
"Mela was the next one to talk. "The stuck-up prez isn't you anymore. I'll follow a code made by the Giacomo I see before me any day."
"As will I." Atticus finished.
"Okay, okay. Thanks for the ego boost, everyone." Giacomo smiled despite himself. "I'll write the dam code. Also, I want your input on some music for the operation." The four gathered around to listen to the soundtrack.
West Province Area One: present-day
After visiting the next Pokemon center and finding out about the contest there, Cecilia's only comment after completing it was, "If these nuisances were more male than female and I got a shiny one, I'd be more impressed with myself." It turned out that the Rocky Payload was Bombirder's hidden ability. The other reason for her comment was because her father had a Lucario that fit that rarety.
When it came to shiny Pokemon, Cecilia honestly didn't see it as a big deal. It was just a different color. Some had a close color scheme to a normal one. You often had to take their word for it. Finding a Pokemon with its hidden ability. That was different, and if the Pokemon was more likely to be one gender over the other. Those who found one that fit all three were more note-worthy to Cecilia.
Cecilia and Agravain were now standing at a roadblock that had been put up; Team Star's logo was on it, showing the world who made it. Cecilia looked at her new item, the Clear Amulet, while Agaravain looked over the blockage.
'We might have to deal with Team Star or use Koraidon to jump over. She should clear it easily.'The Zarude said as he looked around for the teams' location.
"While she could with her current jumping height, I doubt most people have one that could if they chose to travel by land rather than by air." Cecilia countered, "I bet if we defeat the nearby team star base, they can be persuaded to move the barricade." She then turned around to find a way to the base and ran into 'Clive,' showing she was going in the right direction.
Clive turned quickly to see who approached him, relaxing his posture and role once he recognized them. "Oh, it's you two, Mis. Cecilia and Master Agravain."
'How did he get here before us?' Agravain asked. 'And now I'm master?'
"Did our benefactor reach out to you, or did you discover that this was the next base on your own?" Although Cecilia had contacted Cassiopeia, she hadn't done the same with Clavell. It wasn't that she didn't trust the director; she just wasn't sure he was the right fit for the operation.
"My own. I've evaluated the battle strengths of the bosses to determine how they were performing before and how powerful they might be now. Mela is the second weakest of the five," Clavell explained. "This boss is the weakest, so the battle may be quick, depending on how accurate this information is."
Cecilia blinked at that. "We'll see, but I would like a list of the bosses; I'm not sure how it will affect the next base I visit." 'It might just be like this one, which is close to the next area I go to.'
Clive nodded in understanding. "Anyway, I own you, Cecilia," he slipped back into character. "Thanks to you, I've been integrated into Operation Starfall until it is complete."
Cecilia was still unsure how joining would benefit Clive's goals. "Do you think that becoming a member will address the team's star problem as a whole, including the bullying of team members and why they persist?"
"If we can get them to talk," Clive admitted, looking less hopeful. "That's why I want you to talk first; since you are closer in age, you may get more answers than I could by speaking."
"And what questions do you want answered?"
"How do I resolve the team star situation? "Clive said, "And what is causing its members' odd behavior?"
'Those are questions we need as well.' Agravin said.
"The situation especially." Cecilia nodded. 'Odd behavior, it could be because of the bullying.'
"As you know, Team Star is subjected to nasty rumors swirling around the school," Clive said. "Both are things I do not want to believe, but I must find the truth; the first is that the bullying caused a worrying number of students to drop out, not sure if it was before or after Operation Star, and the second is that the team is holding out in their bases plotting trouble for the Academy." He told her the rumors were the ones he felt most worried about.
"Wonderful. I'm unsure if that happened before Operation Star, but it became peer pressure afterward. You either fight until they leave, or you give in," Cecilia said. "The latter is more difficult, but I've observed that members tend to stay in the bases most of the time. People talk and speculate about things; I wouldn't be surprised if the journalism club played a role in that, as most people take a rumor and treat it like a fact. When readers take a falsehood too seriously, it can start to feel true." She explained her thoughts on the situation regarding the rumors.
Clavell's face looked thunderous, and there was no doubt that after the whole team's star affair was over, he would make sure the student-run paper stuck only to truths for the rest of his time as director. "Rumors, that's all they are then, even with some truth in it. What I am more concerned with is the team's persistent truancy. They skip classes, not even choosing to switch to online courses. The members that were once a part of the fire crew are the most guilty of this; none of them have set foot on the Academy's ground in a year." He explained.
' Wouldn't that be grounds for expulsion?' Agravain asked while Cecilia did the same.
"I have taken it upon myself to direct an order for Team Star to disband after all the mischief the rank and file of the team have done." Clive looked down sadly. "refusing to comply means I would expel any students affiliated with the team."
"And the deadline you set is coming up," Cecilia realized." Then there has been no response." that would explain why Clavell was doing this.
Clive nodded. "When I heard your conversation with Cassiopeia, it was perfect timing." Cecilia's phone then rang, interrupting them. Speak of someone, and they may answer or appear. Clive began the whisper as Cecilia answered. "We'll talk sometime later. Be careful." He walked away, no doubt to survey the base's layout.
Cecilia sighed as Cassiopeia started to talk. "It's Cassiopeia. Can you hear me? Was there someone with you?"
Clavell mustn't have given his number to the head of the operation, as that would have exposed him as the director. "Yes, I can, and only members of the operation." Cecilia hadn't fully trusted Cassiopeia before and certainly didn't now. As a result, she didn't outright lie or tell the whole truth.
"You are near a Star base, and be warned: Team Star will have its guard up, probably not as much as if you went after the next base immediately," Cassiopeia said, sounding exasperated if Cecilia choosing to spread out the bases were undermining the operation. "After losing one base, this one might not go down as easy."
"Maybe, but I'm stronger than before and know what to expect. Once I understand the squad's main Pokemon type, I'll find it easier to navigate the battle," Cecilia said. She realized that it wouldn't be easier once they became aware of her presence, and she, in turn, wouldn't make it easy for them to stop her.
"Fine, proceed cautiously; I'll be in touch." Cassiopeia sighed before hanging up.
'They have confidence in us.' Agravain was sarcastic in his remark, 'Well, let's see what this base is about.'
Two guards, one male and the other female, were at the gate. Both were wearing violet-colored uniforms.
When she spotted Cecilia and Agravain approaching, the female grunt said, "Whoa, hold it you." It wasn't a friendly tone.
"Rude much," Cecilia responded.
"Behind us is the base of operations for the dark crew," the male guard stated helpfully. Now Cecilia understood the type of Pokémon used by the base and its leader. "We are known as the Segin Squad."
'Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it true that the names of this base and the first one we beat are derived from the stars in the same constellation? What are the odds that the last three will also follow this pattern?' Agravain had a habit of watching the stars and was familiar with most constellations, thanks to a book his first trainer had given him. He also shared this knowledge with Cecilia.
"Et je connais le nom de la constellation, donc c'est plus que probable, mais je veux entendre les noms moi-même pour être sûr( And I know the constellation's name, so that is more than likely, but I want to hear the names for myself to be sure.)" Cecilia wanted to be sure of her theory before any confrontation happened. "so you lot are dark type users that makes things easier for me." she had Pokemon with super-effective moves on her but need more for the raid.
"And we don't take too kindly to random trainers sniffing around." the female added snootly.
Cecilia's eye twitched. "All I did was walk up to you, Brat. Sniffing around means hiding one's presence, which I could do without anyone knowing I was next to them until it was too late." She had been trying new aura techniques and could walk up to some first-stage Pokemon and a few humans without them noticing her.
"Sorry, but if you don't turn around, Amiga, we'll have to send you packing." The male finished.
"It's not happening; at least you're polite," Cecilia said while Agravain snorted.
"Wait, hold up. Didn't the notice mention a trainer with a rare monkey Pokemon?" The female eyed both the trainer and the Pokemon. "Going out on a hunch, is your name Cecilia Rastus and, therefore, the one we must watch out for?"
"Perhaps, and Agravain is a Zarude, by the way. You don't want to get in a fight with him being primarily dark type," Cecilia answered as said dark type smirked menacingly. "As fellow dark-type trainers, I won't use him to put you at ease this time, so please step aside." She wasn't going to ask politely again.
"Perhaps, and please step aside," she says. Honesty and politeness aren't always good things, you know." The male mocked.
"Ugh, you know it doesn't matter who you are; you're not getting through." The female guard snarled. "Buzz off, or you're getting thrashed in battle by me."
"That is what I should be saying to you." Cecilia snarled back, pulling out her Pokeball.
"Grah, people like you are the worst - be prepared to be stomped into the dirt." The grunt stomped her foot in a tantrum before drawing a star with her hands and pulling out a Pokeball. "Go, Murkrow." The avian Pokemon was black with a yellow beak; its head feathers looked like a witch's hat, and its tail resembled a broom.
"Go, Morgana." Cecilia's Tinkatuff appeared.
"I'll act as the ref; this will be a one-on-one battle." The male grunt said, "Once a Pokemon is on the ground for thirty seconds, it is considered fainted."
"Fine, Morgana, use Fairy Wind," Cecilia called. Her Pokemon whipped around her hammer before launching the glowing wind at the dark/flying type.
"Use Gust to weaken or negate Fairy Wind." The Murkrow's trainer called. The bird flapped its wings; the wind it generated mixed with Morgana's fairy move, weakening it and making the dust swirl.
"Get close and use Play Rough." Morgana put her hammer down before pouncing on the Murkrow, tackling it to the ground, where she wrestled with the blackbird. After ten seconds, she got off and jumped back, grabbing her hammer, ready to use it if needed.
"M-Murkrow is unable to b-battle." The ref called nervously. "The winner is Cecilia."
"Why is this intruder so strong." Cecilia's opponent groaned as she recalled her Pokemon. "Grah, How did I lose?"
"Because I use a fairy-type Pokemon rather than a fighting type like most people would," Cecilia answered despite knowing it wasn't wanted.
"Who asked you? Well, whatever." The female snapped before turning to her fellow guard. "She's your problem; now finish up. Would you, bud, hasta la vistar." She did the star sign again before disappearing into the base.
"Hasta... la...vi..star." The remaining guard mumbled half-heartedly. It took a full minute before he spoke again: "She's new. I might have to talk about her attitude with her later." He sighed, not looking forward to it.
"Good luck; brats like that are hard to get to." Cecilia was sympathetic to the male's palit. Agravain nodded in agreement.
"Thanks, but I'm going to inform the rest of the squad," the grunt said, nodding in gratitude. "We'll be coming at you with full force if you set foot inside, so it's best to turn around. Either way, good luck, Amiga. Hasta la vista." The grunt left with that and the hand gesture resembling a star sign.
'Warning heard'
"But not adhered to," Cecilia said as her phone rang, signaling Cassiopeia was calling back.
"I see you got rid of the guards," Cassiopeia said.
"More like a brat and a guard, but that's the situation. Once I step through the gate, they'll come at me with full force, so I hope to gather my team before I begin. I only have one Pokémon that might be effective." Cecilia made her way to the center, even though she knew that most types, aside from Psychic, would also work.
"That makes sense and is a good idea." Cassiopeia agreed. "That base belongs to the dark crew."
"One of the guards told me, "Also known as the Segin squad." Cecilia interrupted, not needing that information again. "What about the base boss?" she did need to know that information.
"The boss's name is Giacomo Seguire; He is, in essence, the boss of Team Star as a whole, and they look up to him." The caller explained, a little miffed at not being the first to share that info. "He is also the one who composed the music they play."
"He made their music?" Cecilia was surprised. The track was good based on what she heard when it played. "Why is someone with that talent a boss?" She couldn't understand that unless it was his love of music that caused him to be bullied.
"He has his reasons, plus he's sharp, and the declaration of war won't ruffle him in the slightest," Cassiopeia said, revealing that music might not be the reason. "His plan most likely will be to wear you down before finishing you off."
"Which means Star Barrage, joy." Cecilia's sarcasm was prevalent.
"It's best to go heads-on with strategic types like him, "Came some advice. "Keep defeating Pokemon until the big man shows up."
"When plans go astray, the person who made them starts to second-guess themselves and most often fumbles at some point, especially with strategists." Cecilia said out loud, "We'll see if Giacomo is such a person."
"Once your team is ready, ring the bell, and the next stage of the operation can begin, "Cassiopeia instructed. "Then, it will be time to wipe the Segin squad off the map." The phone call ended.
The trainer and Pokemon silently walked for a few minutes before Agravain spoke, 'You're going to use bugs, aren't you.'
"Yes, I might use the TM Katy gave me, as well," Cecilia confessed. She looked through her Pokedex to see who would work in the raid and the boss battle.
"This base is flat for the most part, so you should see the Pokemon coming," Clive explained as he met her at the gate. "Are you ready to begin, Cecilia?"
"When dealing with dark types, one must watch their own back," Cecilia said, not answering the question directly. "Clive, you will have to heal most of the raiding party members because Agravain won't."
The disguised director appeared confused for a moment before understanding. Agravain, being a dark/grass type, had a notable weakness to bug types despite most of them being relatively small.
Cecilia took a breath before ringing the bell.
"It seems that members of Operation Star-Fool are finally making a move against our base," the speaker announced, mocking the raiding party for taking a week to reach this moment. Cecilia rolled her eyes. "You know what that means? It's time to shine bright and avenge our teammates."
'Avenge, huh, somewhat accurate.' Cecilia thought, fiddling with one of her pokeballs.
"Hey, intruder. We think the first time was just a fluke." They directed their attention to Cecilia. "Let's see if you can defeat thirty Pokémon in ten minutes. If you succeed, the boss might consider you worthy of a VIP visit. And break a leg," they added, the last part dripping with sarcasm.
"I hope you're ready to eat those words," Cecilia said, releasing her Pokémon. Her first Pokémon was a grasshopper-like creature called Lokix, which had evolved from Nymble. It was black with large eyes and an extra set of legs on its back, making it a bug/dark type. The second Pokémon was Spidops, which had evolved from Tarountula. This spider-like Pokémon was beige-brown with pine green accents and had eight legs arranged in two pairs. Finally, Cecilia's last Pokémon was the only fighting type for the first part. This large, human-like creature, called Hariyama, had evolved from Makuhita. It featured enormous hands, blue legs, and a yellow skirt-like growth around its middle. "Let's begin," she declared.
"You will fall before you reach ten," a grunt yelled as he sent out a puppy Pokémon. It had a brown body with a dark gray snout and underbelly, while yellow fur ran from its head to its back, forming a tail. Cecilia would later learn that it was called Maschiff, the pre-evolution of Mabosstiff.
"Hairyama, use Focus Energy, then follow up with Arm Thrust," Cecilia ordered, ignoring the grunts' comments. "Lokix, use Lunge! Spidops, execute Pounce in tandem!" Her Pokémon sprang into action.
Lokix relied on its legs, while Spidops used its webbing. Both of their attacks had the added effect of lowering the opponent's stats. For example, Katy demonstrated that Pounce decreased the speed stat, while Lunge reduced the opponent's attack stat. These moves helped to make the opposing Pokémon's attacks less powerful or slowed them down enough to be more easily hit.
Hariyama glowed with energy, increasing the chances of landing critical hits before thrusting its hands forward, often striking two or more times against the same Pokémon. Although it wasn't fast, it was undoubtedly effective. Cecilia would have liked to use more Pokemon, but she struggled to keep track of her Pokémon while watching out for incoming attacks, especially from Dark-type Pokémon.
"That's fifteen." One grunt yelled. They kept track without Cecilia asking, "How long has it been?"
Another answered, "Four or five minutes," making it about halfway through.
"Get healed up quickly, and then we'll return to the battle," Cecilia ordered her Pokémon while she focused on devising a strategy to finish the raid in the next few minutes. "Spidops, use Silk Trap; Lokix, use Low Kick; and Hariyama, use Earthquake." This caused a significant tremor, causing many Pokémon to fall to the ground. Thanks to Low Kick, those who remained standing were either already on the ground or trapped in webbing. Even though the leader of this squad was the weakest of the five, she was determined to defeat him.
"That's thirty," a different grunt yelled. "It's not a fluke; it's up to the boss now." Music started to play at that declaration, signaling that the second part of the raid was about to start. The Segin squad's Starmobile resembled the one from Scheder, but it was black instead of red.
Clavell had informed Cecilia that Revaroom was typically a Poison/Steel type; however, Team Star used different types. The first one she encountered was Fire, and the one in front of her was undoubtedly a Dark type.
Giacomo was on top of the vehicle like Mela but was sitting down while listening to the music. Once he came to a stop, he pulled down his headphones and smirked at Cecilia. "Yo party crasher, you've done a number on us; your name is Cecilia Rastus, right?" He even stood up and turned down the volume to talk.
"More or less."
"I'm Giacomo Seguire; I also go by DJ-Vice. You may call me whatever I vibe either way."
"You're DJ-Vice?" Cecilia was surprised to find her new favorite musician like this.
'You're right about him wasting his talent, though this gives him much free time.' Agravain rolled his eyes as he walked up with Clive.
"You're a fan? It's nice to meet you. That is, it would be nice if you hadn't raided my base," Giacomo said, a mix of surprise and seriousness on his face. "How about we skip straight to your outro? I'll even play a fitting requiem for you after I win our battle."
'He better not be flirting.' Agravain snarled quietly. He didn't like males and sometimes females who tried.
"Je doute que ce soit le cas. Il s'agit probablement simplement d'un jargon de DJ que je devrai examiner plus tard (I doubt that's the case. It's likely just DJ jargon that I'll need to look into later,)" Cecilia said, aware of that much. She wasn't interested in Giacomo anyway. "I think you have it backward. You're the one who is going down."
"This will be a two-on-two battle with thirty seconds on the ground being considered fainted," Giacomo said, setting the terms of the battle.
"I assume one of your Pokémon is the vehicle you're on?" Clive remarked, glancing at the vehicle. "I will also act as the referee," he added, positioning himself between the two younger trainers.
"Of course, I can use it as my second choice if that makes you feel better," Giacomo replied as he pulled out a Timer Ball. "Let's get this party started; go, Pawniard!" Pawniard was a small humanoid Pokémon with a metallic body. It had a round head, a red and gray helmet, and a razor-sharp black blade on its forehead. Its face was light gray with no mouth, yellow eyes, and black pupils. Metal blades adorned its upper and lower body, as well as its arms.
"I never thought I'd see a Pawniard after all these years," Cecilia muttered. Her father had a Bisharp, the evolution of Pawniard, and while this evolutionary line could be found in Galar, she had never caught one there. "Go, Mankey!" she shouted, sending out her other Fighting-type Pokémon. Mankey had shaggy white fur covering its round body, a pig-like nose, and striking red irises. Its hands, feet, and long prehensile tail were all brown.
"Declaring war on Team Star is a bad move. You must not have thought it through. Pawniard, use Aerial Ace!" Giacomo, known for his strategic mindset, had trained his Pokémon to use a super-effective move against fighting types, and he undoubtedly had a Steel-type move ready for Fairy types as well. The Pawniard charged at the fighting type, its entire body glowing with power.
"I had different plans in mind. One was to break into your bases without making noise; the other was to come and talk like civilized people. Mankey used Karate Chop to intercept Pawniard." The pig monkey slammed one hand into the blade Pokémon's arm, canceling both attacks. "Now, use Fury Swipes!" Mankey began to swipe rapidly.
"Fury Cutter as many times as you can." Giacomo countered. It was a good move as the move's power increased every time it was used. Pawniard started cutting across Mankey's body.
The two Pokemon suddenly started to roll in the dirt. "Is Mankey using Sessimic toss on its own?" Cecilia was caught off guard that one of her Pokemon would attack without her input. It was a few seconds after this that the dust started to clear.
"Both Pokemon are unable to battle," Clive called out, and both Pokemon were recalled.
Cecilia acknowledged that Giacomo was skilled; he effectively used his Pokémon, but she excelled in versatility. "Go, Olwin," she called, and her Floragato appeared.
"Not bad, Party Crasher, for a first track, but the show is not over. It's time to up the tempo, go Revaroom." Giacomo called as his mobile revved loudly.
To Cecilia's surprise, Olwin stepped back at the noise. She had faced a gargantuan Klawf as a Sprigatito, so she couldn't understand why Olwin reacted this way. "Your Starmobile has the Intimidate ability." That was the only explanation she could think of. Great, that meant each of the Starmobiles had a different ability.
"Got it in one! Use Snarl, then Metal Sound," Giacomo called out as he put his laptop into his bag. The Starmobile emitted a revving and grating sound, making Olwin cover her ears and lower her special stats. "Now, Wicked Torque!" Much like Mela's Starmobile, Giacomo's vehicle had a new move that was likely a Dark-type attack. The car spun around, and Giacomo held onto the railing for support.
"Sautez hors du chemin puis utilisez Voix Enjôleuse (Jump out of the way, then use Disarming Voice.)" Cecilia wasn't sure if her opponent understood a different language, but she planned to use one to gain an advantage. Olwin sidestepped and then produced a pleasant sound. With her aura, Cecilia could almost visualize the attack connecting.
"Use Swift in an arc," Giacomo called. The star-shaped attack arced horizontally.
"Sauter(Jump up)."Olwin jumped over the stars.
"Wicked Torque." Giacomo took advantage of Olwin being in the air; she couldn't dodge, and the blow sent her flying.
"Olwin, can you get up?" Cecilia's Paldean starter struggled to get up.
'Come on, kid! Our trainer is counting on you!' Agravain shouted encouragingly.
Olwin stood up, glowing, signaling her evolution. Once the glow faded, she had grown two feet taller and larger in many ways. Her body was covered in light green fur, and her legs were darker green. The fur on her ears, thighs, and arms was longer. Olwin's mask was pointed and adorned with three green diamonds, resembling perked-up ears, while her real eyes drooped down. She had green claws and pink paw pads accented by a pink flower petal collar. A black cape, its ends shaped like fleur-de-lis, flowed behind her, and a full flower floated beside her.
"Olwin has evolved into Meowscarada, Sprigatito's final form, which is also part Dark-type," Clive explained.
"That explains why I connected with her; I sensed the dark energy within." 'What new moves do you know?' Cecilia pulled out her phone to check for any newly learned moves and their names in Kalosian. "Olwin used Feuille Magik to cover Revaroom's eye." The leaves swirled from the Magician Pokémon into the engine's eye, blinding it.
"Revaroom, use Wicked Torque to shake off the leaves," Giacomo instructed, and his Pokémon spun around, trying to shake the foliage off.
"We need a boost and show these punks what an academy student can be capable of." Cecilia pulled out her tera orb. Terastallization was different than Dynamax/Gigantamax and Mega Evolution. In the first, only the names of moves change to nineteen similar names, while gigantamax Pokemon, which are few and the only ones with form and move names, change. Mega Pokemon only changed from and relies on a powerful bond between Pokemon and trainer to work.
Terastallization didn't do that. It added to a Pokemon form, turning them into hard crystals, giving them a crown that held the clue to the Pokemon's current type, and boosting the type moves. As Olwin emerged from the crystal with her grass crown, it signaled that she had lost her new dark typing and was ready to use her unique move, "Flower Trick." Green flowers flared out, producing leaves as the cat Pokémon threw the pod from one side. Suddenly, an explosion came from above the car, filling the air with smoke.
"Revaroom is unable to battle. The winners are Olwin and Cecilia," Clive said, knowing that the smoke signaled that the Starmobile was out of commission and would stay that way until it was healed.
"What a mic drop," Giacomo muttered, his mouth open. "Guess that's that."
Cecilia, Clive, and Giacomo stood by the big tent after he got down while Agravain and Giacomo's Pawniard entertained the grunts by reenacting Berry Ninja in real life.
"I did my best, as I wrote the code myself, and can't change it now. My days of being the boss are over," Giacomo said. It turned out he was a good sport about losing. "Here's your star badge and the TM you've earned fair 'n' square." He handed Cecilia a black badge featuring a dark type symbol and TM 062: Foul Play.
"Thanks. I need more dark-type moves," Cecilia said, putting them away. "Now we have some questions for you, and I'm going first." She remembered that Clive asked her to talk first to break the ice.
"Okay, I guess I have to; you won, after all." Giacomo was nervous, as he should be.
"My first question is about your code. Did you create it as a guideline or as strict rules to follow? If it's meant to be a guideline, I can see members exploiting loopholes if they're determined enough." Cecilia was concerned that this might be the case.
"Arceus, I hope not, but I created the code as guidelines for the team. If some people view them differently, I can only hope the Bosses clarify what the code truly represents," Giacomo admitted. He didn't like that possibility and realized it could have happened.
"Since I have both your badge and Mela's, can I command your squads? And if I get the last three badges as well, can I do the same with the other bases?" Cecilia had been pondering this rule for the past two weeks and was uncertain about its validity. She also asked, hinting at her doubt regarding whether she could defeat the last three bosses.
The answer didn't come right away. Giacomo pulled out his laptop to check the code and see if there were any rules regarding whether Cecilia could give orders to his former squad and Mela's. "No, not really. You could order us to disband and attend school. Everyone in the squads would have to comply, but some might refuse because of what they experienced there and challenge you to avoid it," he explained, aware of a few individuals who might react that way.
"And I would have to accept the battle." Cecilia knew that rule all too well. However, she wasn't going to do so just yet, as she understood that confronting any place tied to trauma was difficult.
"Though with that Zarude of yours, you wouldn't have to worry," Clive added.
Cecilia snorted. "We'll see after all this is over."
"Haah, so this is how the party ends," Giacomo laughed, letting out a sigh. "I have a few questions if it's not too much trouble. Besides your Zarude, your Pokémon was powerful. That was Terastallization at the end-am I right? Where did you learn how to use that?"
"Technically, the academy can teach you, but I learned on my own through battling," Cecilia admitted. "I had experience participating in the gym challenge in Galar years ago. My neighbor, the current student council president, gave me an orb instead of going through the class to obtain it." She noticed the other person's reaction to the indirect mention of Nemona, though it seemed more related to her actions than to the girl herself.
"So you're relearning the trainer chops at the school? What moves to use' n' stuff?" Giacomo seemed interested. "You like it there, havin' fun?" he hesitated.
"For the most part. I am learning more than I did with private tutors." Cecilia explained, "I love the art class the most."
"No kidding." Giacomo was surprised.
"Sorry to interrupt your conversations, but you're Giacomo Seguire, right?" Clive chose to move forward with the questions.
"Last time I checked." The trainer gave Cecilia a look, asking 'Who is this weirdo?' "Wasn't expecting a guest appearance from a giant pompadour today."
Cecilia patted Giacomo's shoulder, aware of how cringe-worthy Clavell's disguise was. "Once you've answered his questions, we'll discuss your musical career and becoming a professional DJ." She was determined to make him well-known, at least in the neighboring regions, if not across the continent.
Giacomo gave her a skeptical look before he turned up the sass. "Did a Quaxell style your hair?"
'I wouldn't be that surprised; he might have gotten the idea from it,' Cecilia agreed with Giacomo, having looked up Quaxwell in the Pokédex.
"I have a few questions myself. "Clive decided not to react to the jab about his hair. "If you don't mind answering them."Cecilia was prepared for her role to see if Giacomo would lie, but her interactions with him suggested he was honest.
"For the first time in a while, I have free time, but something tells me it will be annoying." Giacomo gave a thumbs up.
"Let me get straight to the point," Clive said. "I understand there has been some bullying. Can you tell me who the instigator and the victim are?"
"That old debate, huh? I'll say that many of my former squad members had been victims. I was even kicked off the student council for the rules I tried to install." Giacomo answered which explained his reaction earlier; it was about the council, though why he had been chosen to make the code still baffled Cecilia.
"So Team Star were the victims, at least in this squad." Clive muttered, "However, we must address the important issue of you and Team Star being expelled if you do not cease your current activities."
"I'm curious why none of you switched to online classes, as they require little in-person attendance," Cecilia added.
"Is that the main things you want to know?" Giacomo wondered if it would be something different. "Well, truth be told, we're waiting for a Pal. I'm not sure when or if they'll return."
"A pal?" Clive looked at Cecilia to confirm this, and she did. "A close friend?"
"They're the strongest boss of all Team Star," Giacomo revealed to their surprise. It's similar to how the top champion is above all as the number one trainer," he said, using an analogy that most people would understand.
'This sounds too much like Team Flare,' Cecilia thought. She was uneasy about the increasing mystery surrounding the team and the feeling that history was repeating itself.
"Yes, we refer to them as Big Boss. They invited all of us leaders into the team," Giacomo added, not noticing Cecilia's discomfort.
"Do you know their location or the last time you spoke?" Clive asked, both for himself and for Cecilia.
"I couldn't tell you even if I knew where they are, loyalty and all," Giacomo stated, demonstrating that he was still not ready to abandon the Big Boss. "But we haven't heard from them in a year and a half, give or take."
"Is that how long ago Operation Star was?" Cecilia could begin to see a timeline.
Giacomo nodded, confirming her theory."We thought they'd get back in touch if we kept the team going," Giacomo explained. Now, they had an answer as to why Team Star was still around. "But the teachers kept pressuring us to quit, and now you two party crashers." While sad at first, the DJ got angry. He even stamped his foot.
"Once again, the option of taking online classes, but I bet you-or someone else-was informed that this was only possible if you were not a part of Team Star," Cecilia reflected aloud. Based on her interactions with the teachers, she found it hard to believe this was true. She didn't regret raiding the bases but was concerned that being associated with the team could negatively impact the boss's future.
Clive didn't answer.
The up-and-coming musician sighed sadly. "Maybe we are done. The Big Boss talked about breaking up the team." Giacomo sounded betrayed by the thought.
"If that was after your operation, I don't believe that's true. Between you and me, it seems more likely they wanted you and the others to be free to go to school," Cecilia explained after a moment of thought. There's still more to uncover, like how Operation Star ended, the identity of the Big Boss, and why they left while everyone else stayed. 'I can only imagine the boss's anguish upon discovering that you chose to stay with the team instead of going to school.'
"Last question. This boss and the team, are they important to you?" Clive asked.
"Is the sky blue?" Giacomo asked sarcastically, then held up his thumb. "Let me use words you academic eggheads could understand: it's my greatest treasure." He finished with a smile.
Clive decided to leave, feeling that he had learned everything he could and needed time to reflect on the revelation about the Big Boss. Cecilia, on the other hand, opted to stay for a while. She wanted to discuss the code with Giacomo, support the young man's DJ career(she was serious about that), coordinate with some members to remove the unnecessary barrage, and have a conversation with Cassiopeia. She also updated Agravin as they left the base.
'You're right about the Team Flare similarities; fortunately, those are students, not hidden terrorists,' Agravain said. 'Regarding this big boss part, why didn't they contact the team after they left to explain if they would be coming back?'
"That is a good question; theories later. Cassiopeia is calling." Cecilia pulled out her phone as a call came through.
'Quick, aren't they.'
"Cecilia, it's me." It wasn't necessary to say, but it might have made Cassiopeia feel in control. "Giacomo's star badge is yours." they had learned to ask.
"Of course. I also have a project to look into on my own about being a patron to a musician." Cecilia said.
"I see... good luck. With the boss defeated, and if you didn't assume control of the base. The Segin squad is done for." Cassiopeia was caught off guard before recovering. "Now Giacomo, too." It took a minute before they spoke, and Cecilia only just heard them.
'They have to know the bosses, but how personal?' Cecilia thought, "You good."
"Yeah, I have a lot on my mind. So, Operation Starfall, you have taken down two bases, but three remain."
"Yeah, and from now on, they will be stronger; I will have to face more Pokemon even if the grunts stick with the thirty in ten." Cecilia did not doubt that.
"I will transfer the LP as promised, and the list of TMs you can access has also grown." The sound of money being transferred rang out, and to see the new TMs, Cecilia had arranged the list to display the most recent ones first. "The TMs will be helpful depending on the next boss you plan to battle. You will also receive berries for your team from the supply unit." Then, they hung up.
'We'll grow them and sell the ones we don't need,' Agravain suggested as Penny approached them with a basket of berries.
"H-Hello. It's me again from the supply unit," Penny said nervously as she handed the basket to Cecilia. Agravain took the basket instead and then examined its contents. Suddenly, everyone blinked in surprise as Koraidon emerged from her Poké Ball. "Wah, what the hell?" Penny screamed.
Cecilia and Agravain were slow to stop Koraidon from walking over to Penny to sniff her and give the young girl the licking of a lifetime.
'I doubt Koraidon knows Lick like she doesn't know Swim or even Fly.' Agravain said after getting the odd Pokemon off Penny, only for Koraidon to curl up and sleep. Meanwhile, Cecilia took out rags to clean Penny's glasses and the younger girl's face.
"Thanks for your help," Penny said, wiping her face and adjusting her glasses. "It drooled all over me. What even is that Pokémon, anyway? A genetic throwback?"
"Her name is Koraidon, and it seems she might be related to Cyclizar somehow," Cecilia said. She hadn't considered the possibility of a genetic throwback before, but now it made some sense. 'I wonder if drool is a move somewhere?' It was a strange thought, but some oddly named moves were out there. "I hope to find an answer soon."
"Um, I'll take your word for it. Is it really that special?" Penny asked, unsure of what she had just been told. "And you seem so calm with a gigantic, motorbike-like reptile Pokémon close to you. I envy you; I saw a huge, glowing purple hand before; that was frightening enough!"
Cecilia pointed at Agravin to illustrate her calmness. If Penny had seen Eternatus in its powered-up state, it would explain her comment; it was unsettling enough normally.
"Your Name is Cecilia Rastus, right? Like Trahearn Rastus, the legendary battler?" Penny knew her father's title among his peers and fellow researchers. "Since you are part of the battle unit, can I ask you something?"
"Depending on your next question, you might receive an answer," Cecilia said. "Despite what the nickname suggests, my father didn't possess legendary battle prowess; instead, he battled legendary and even mythical-class Pokémon as part of his research," she explained. At the same time, she acknowledged that Trahearn wasn't inexperienced; after all, one couldn't battle powerful Pokémon like Lugia and be weak.
Penny nodded to show she understood. "What do you think of Team Star?"
Cecilia paused to gather her thoughts before responding. "If you had asked me on the first day, I would have called them attention-seeking brats." Penny looked apprehensive but remained silent, sensing Cecilia's view had shifted. "However, now it seems that they are people are trying to coexist with others who can understand them to some extent."
"It's interesting, considering some rumors label the team as delinquents," Penny said. "Most were victims of bullying or had difficulty interacting with others."
Cecilia knew of the bullying and had guessed the second part recently.
"Then the misfits and outsiders found each other and formed Team Star to confront the bullies they couldn't face alone," Penny continued. She then realized she was revealing more about the team's background than intended. "That information, um, I obtained by hacking some former students' social media accounts. I also discovered that someone behind the five bosses was responsible for recruiting them in the first place." She was trying to conceal something.
"Giacomo mentioned something similar after I battled him." Cecilia chose not to address what might have been a slip of the tongue for now.
"I usually don't talk this much; my throat hurts," Penny admitted as she gratefully accepted Cecilia's mint. "Good luck with the rest of the bosses and other challenges. Where are we headed next?"
Cecilia was already searching for the nearest boss to her next destination: "East Province, Area Three's Tegtree Thicket. I'll be south of that area next week," she said. "The other squads would be on high alert, mostly wondering who would be targeted next. It's best to wait, just like before. I need to strengthen my skills for the upcoming bosses and might consider using the new TMs."
Penny nodded before leaving, not wanting to endure another licking by Koraidon.
'She might be a former member trying to save her friends, but to get involved in a situation like this,' Agravain said; considering the new information about Team Star, it was a reasonable guess.
"Perhaps this is the only way to save them, but that doesn't make it right," Cecilia said. "Let's discuss what we learned with Clavell and see if he has any additional information." She then woke Koraidon before heading back to school.
When Cecilia returned to the academy, it was evening. After dinner with Arven (he insisted) and leaving Agravain to look after their plants, she went to the director's office.
"Good to see you, Miss Cecilia," Clavell said, looking up from the papers on his desk as he heard the door open and close. "I have been looking into possible identification for the Big Boss, but nothing has stood out." He sounded disappointed by that.
"I doubt it would be easy. I mean, we opened the floodgates on Team Star." Cecilia said, "Plus, we stormed their safe place. We're more of the villains in their story." She told Clavell the location of the next base she would be hitting.
"You make a valid point, even if this is for their future," Clavell agreed. "Now, do you think my disguise is working, or should I change into something more modern?"
"If this were before the first base, I would suggest you eliminate that pompadour and go for a more modern style." Cecilia explained, "Ironically, even though I'm from Kalos, the world's fashion capital, I don't keep up with trends."
"And now?"
"If you change anything, they might realize you're not a student. It's better to let the Bosses think you're just an older student reliving the past." Cecilia said. She was puzzled as to why no one seemed to figure out it was Clavell. Perhaps it was due to her aura powers. Either they suspected something but couldn't prove it, or they were completely unaware and would be caught off guard when he chose to reveal himself.
AN:Berry Ninja more or less Poke-world's version of Fruit Ninja.
keep the sceond talk with Clavell but also changed it.
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