Hard Enough - Chapter 335 - Researching Rumours

The restaurant ended up being another family establishment. I paused at the entrance as I spotted a pair of familiar wrinkled faces loiterin

The restaurant ended up being another family establishment. I paused at the entrance as I spotted a pair of familiar wrinkled faces loitering near the bar. 

One had a newspaper out and was reading the comic section while the other was colouring in what looked like a child’s colouring-in book. 

Both smirked at me. “Still young at heart Brock?” Gavin of Trovita asked by way of greeting.

That stopped me dead. I blinked. I’d forgotten the pair of them were children at heart.

“You know these days I have to say I’m feeling a bit aged,” I said.

Both men hissed at that but kept up their chosen activities. “Need to fix that,” Garen offered.

“Indeed,” replied Gavin only to reach out and tap his brother on the shoulder. “Oh, tag by the way.”

Garen stiffened. “When did you get tagged? You’ve been with me all day?” 

“Oh, yesterday actually, I just forgot that Honey tagged me.” 

“That conniving old hag!” growled Garen as he shook his fist towards an old woman in the back.

I snorted. “Still playing that game of tag?” I asked.

“Always,” replied the two men. 

“How many are playing these days?”

“Hmmm the original game? There are only eight of us on the island these days but we’ve got two games running with a younger crowd.” Gavin stabbed a crayon in my direction while sniffing. “If you get tagged, make sure you tag an islander before leaving. I’m not having the game stall because some child got clever again.”

Hmmm, that made Mahri’s attempt to ‘touch’ Sabrina earlier rather revealing.

“Never change,” I replied fondly. 

“We don’t plan to!” both men replied only to perk up as Sabrina drifted over. 

“Sabrina!” they cooed in delight. 

Sabrina, rather than just nodding at them, stepped in and gave them both hugs. “Hello Gavin. Garen,” she said with a fond smile. 

They both twitched in surprise. “What’s this? You’ve grown up!” said Gavin.

“Indeed! You used to just scowl at us!” Garen pointed towards a picture and it took me a moment to spot the picture of me holding up a Trovita Gym badge with Sabrina standing next to me. 

I was wearing bright floral colours while Sabrina was wearing black with a little umbrella. She had a flat look on her face, but her eyes were watching me intently and there was perhaps the faintest hint of a smile.

Or I might be imagining it.

“Do you want me to go back to that?” Sabrina asked playfully, and a moment later her face slipped into a dead stare.

I compared it to the picture on the wall. Damn it was a perfect match.

Both men shuddered. ”No! No! No!” they shouted, waving their hands quickly. “No need for that!”

Gavin nodded and held a hand to his chest. “Arceus be gentle, I think she’s gotten scarier. You were a nightmare as a child!”  

Forrest inspected the photo and laughed. “You look ridiculous Bro!” 

That caused people to look at him only for Garen and Gavin to compare us. “Heh, younger brothers,” snorted Garen.

“Indeed,” Gavin nodded wisely. 

Then both of them glared at the other. “I’m the older one!” they shouted at each other. 

I left them to their games and instead moved to claim a table for our group and make a quick order. 

With the others distracted by the former Gym Leaders’ antics I was able to pull Sabrina and Team Rocket aside. 

“So? You mentioned a Research facility? Care to elaborate?” I asked.

“That an order?” Meowth asked snidely.

“No, more a request. There’s something about those facilities that you mentioned that is niggling at me,” I replied casually before gesturing at him. “What’s got your tail out of shape?”

Meowth sighed. “Sorry bossman Brock, I’ve just been a bit worked up cause we’re doing long hours in the sub and it ain’t exactly good for a cat’s head being underwater for so long.”

Jessie and James both shifted and wrapped an arm around Meowth. “Sorry Bud!” “You’re doing great, and we have most of the island marked off now, so we can finish up soon!” said James and Jessie at the same time.

Jessie coughed as James and Meowth stared at her. 

“What? We want a bit more money right? This is solid! Trovita is one of the most hazardous islands!” 

That got a hiss from me. “I’m assuming that’s why you have Milotic and Gyarados out?” I asked.

James smirked. “Both pokemon have learned Whirlpool to save us and they’ve been crucial in allowing us access to sites that no other sub would be able to reach!” he announced proudly. 

“Hmmm good that you’re taking this somewhat seriously,” I mused. A quick glance at Sabrina and an inclination of her head saw me loading up some more files. “If you’re going to be around I’m also going to give you some other targets of interest.”

The trio crowded around Jessie’s transceiver thoughtfully.

“Sub bases? And an airship base?” James read aloud. He glanced up at us. “Is… something big about to happen?” he asked.

“That’s one of the reasons we’re here,” I said, levelling with them. I flicked my eyes towards Ash and his friends, who had been drawn into the game of tag thanks to Mahri revealing she was it. 

“Shouldn’t you be getting your little brother out of here then?” 

That drew a sigh from me. “If only it was that simple. There are some complications that mean we might need them.” I clenched my jaw and exhaled slowly. “For now, it’s important that they stick around. We’ve got protection moving in though.”

I locked eyes with them. “Interested in attending a festival in Shamouti?” I asked. 

The trio shared a look. “We had been planning to attend it… it is supposed to be a pretty big deal to the locals,” Jessie murmured. 

I nodded, recalling that Shamouti had acted as a bit of a funnel for any trainers undergoing the Orange Islands. The festival itself had the normal part to it, while also drawing a lot of attention due to the number of fights that typically broke out on the island during and after the festival for a few days. 

Jessie, who’d continued to flick through the files I’d sent her paused. “There’s really a concern about Legendary pokemon?” she asked.

I nodded. “We’re working on it. If you see an Airship, report it.” I relaxed after giving that final warning. “So? Add any pokemon to your team?” I asked.

James shook his head. “There was an interesting Machoke that I ran into on one island but I  don’t think it would have worked out for me healthwise.”

“Ah, affectionate?” I asked, recalling how James had a certain pokemon magnetism in the cartoons that reared its head occasionally. James nodded sadly.

Jessie huffed. “I’m at a bit of a loss how to handle a larger team, or how to progress my current team.”

“Ah, if you want, I can open up some training slots for you? You can come into the Gym and I can—”

“They can train their pokemon with me as well, but don’t forget that you’re welcome to attend Guradian training sessions,” Sabrina declared. “You’re going to be getting a lot more scrutiny with the Research facility along with other factors. It’s best that any slots allocated to them don’t get questioned. My facilities are expanding as well but no one’s paying any attention to it as I’m being quiet about it.”

“You call appearing on the cover of the Indigo Investor quiet?” Meowth snarked. 

Sabrina smiled knowingly. “Do you know which bets I made and when? Do you know how many companies have my investment in that don’t need to be reported? I have two of the top ten Stabling facilities owned outright through various shell companies.”

“You call appearing on the cover of the Indigo Investor quiet?” Meowth snarked. 

Sabrina smiled knowingly. “Do you know which bets I made and when? Do you know how many companies have my investment in that don’t need to be reported? I have two of the top ten Stabling facilities owned outright through various shell companies.”

“Wowza, that’s kinda impressive,” Meowth replied. “Think you can swing us a bonus?” he asked playfully. 

“If you survive the coming incident, certainly,” she said with a playful smile.

The trio chuckled nervously only for Meowth to cough. “That was a joke, right?” he asked.

Sabrina gave an innocent smile as a menu floated in front of her face. “I think I’ll get the salad with the fish of the day.” 

Meowth perked up at that. “Oooh Fish of the day?” Then he shook his head. “No! Don’t distract us with succulent food! That won’t work!”

“Yeah! It will at least take more than that!” James declared. 

Sabrina giggled at their antics as Jessie put her head in her hands. “This… this is the assistance I have to see me through danger,” she murmured into her hands. 

Despite what she was saying I could see her lips twitching into a smile. She took up her own menu and hummed. “I’ll take you up on that offer as well Sabrina if that’s alright?” 

Sabrina waved her hand lazily, indicating that it was no issue for her. 

Lunch passed quickly with Garen and Gavin loudly retelling my own performance and subsequent adventures around Trovita. 

Forrest watched on thoughtfully. “You didn’t just blow through the islands like we have, did you Brock?”

I shook my head. “Nah, no point. I wanted to build up my team and for that I needed to spend more time with them training them up, working out what was and wasn’t effective.”

I made a circling gesture to clarify when he still looked confused. “This was also only a year into my Journey Forrest. Slowing down worked for me to deepen my bonds and to grow as a trainer.”

I gestured at myself. “The me you see fighting big battles and being Gym Leader? That took years of effort,” I state calmly. 

Forrest coughed. “Yeah, I knew that.”

Gavin and Garen, who’d joined us for lunch, chuckled and shook their heads. “Ah, the folly of the young. They don’t know what they don’t know!” 

I snorted and finished up my meal but noticed that Forrest, Ash, Misty, and even Rudy were quietly thoughtful for the rest of the meal. Meowth amusingly was nodding along while James and Jessie held themselves in faux wise poses like they could see what I meant. Then again, with the sort of lives they’d lived perhaps they did understand.

“Eh! You young ones are too in your heads! Liven up some!” Gavin shouted as he took off a thong and threw it at a nearby jukebox. 

The impact of the thong caused the jukebox to blare to life. Gavin had a moment to smirk and enjoy how cool that had been before an elderly woman that was more wrinkles than skin emerged with her own thong raised. 

“I’ve told you a thousand times, don’t do that!” she roared as she charged at Gavin and Garen with the pair fleeing in the face of the onslaught. 

Rudy perked up. “They’re right!” he announced, turning towards Misty. “Might I have the pleasure of teaching you the local dance?” he asked with a charming smile.

Misty blushed and accepted which had Forrest grinding his teeth. 

Halfway through Misty and Rudy’s dance Forrest threw his own shoe at the jukebox causing it to change songs. 

“Oh! Look at that! New beat, new dancer!” he declared, cutting in on Rudy to start dancing with Misty. 

Everyone watched on as the poor jukebox proceeded to get hammered every minute or so and Misty got twirled and traded back and forth. Jessie and James joined in, not afraid to show off some moves. When the jukebox began blaring songs I actually recognised, I drew Sabrina up for a dance or two, even going so far as to defend the jukebox before sitting down after a few rounds with a pleased flush to my cheeks.

Ash stayed seated with Pikachu enjoying his meal and pilfering what Forrest and Misty had left behind. When the song changed again and Rudy was cut in on Ash shook his head. “Forrest really should quit it. Rudy is so going to get him back for this.”

“He probably thinks it’s worth it,” I replied.

The old woman returned just in time to catch Rudy thumping the jukebox. He turned, expecting to cut in on Forrest only to get chopped by a sandal wielding woman. 

“You’re as bad as the old men! Stop doing that!” she roared. She then turned to the rest of us. “Everyone pay and get out! Restaurant’s closed until dinner!” 

With that declaration everyone quickly finished up and exited. 

Misty glared at the shut door as we walked away. “How does that old woman get away with that awful attitude?” she demanded. 

“She’s old so it’s allowed, and she runs the only restaurant?” replied Mahri. “If you stayed here you could open a restaurant?” she said hopefully only to slump when Misty shook her head.

Rudy coughed and gestured back at the beach we’d arrived at. “Come, let’s go about the first challenges for each of you. I warn you. Should you fail you will have to wait two days!” he declared formally. When the young trio of trainers looked ready to argue he raised a hand. “Gym Policy,” he stated firmly. 

While the younger trio marched down to the beach, Sabrina and I set up on a cliff overlooking the pillars that Rudy was going to use. Team Rocket bid us goodbye and returned to their submarine to continue exploring the local coastline. I made sure to give them a radio and locator beacon in case anything went wrong.

Mahri had set up next to us with all the jittery energy of a small child told to wait here. Kirlia had thankfully taken to distracting her by playing with her. Hide and Seek was easy enough but when Mahri insisted on Tag she would attempt to include Sabrina or I.

Anytime Mahri ran to tag either of us however Kirlia would intercept her and twirl away with a mocking laugh that drove the little girl to chase her.

“We should bill Rudy for babysitting,” I commented as Kirlia lured Mahri away.

Sabrina glanced at Kirlia. “We would have to pay it to Kirlia.”

“Fair,” I replied after considering it for a second. 

The test began with Rudy weaving Ash through the pillars with various targets popping up at the top and even from the centre of certain pillars that you couldn’t see while in the speedboat. 

From our location the course was evident but Ash had to have two pokemon out to fire off ranged attacks as the boat ducked and weaved.

We passed rather handily though and even from here I could hear his jubilant celebration. 

“That’s one of them,” I noted, watching as the course reset itself and Forrest stepped up with Spyro the Grolwithe and his Magneton getting into position.

Straight away I noticed two things playing out. Rudy was going faster this time as he approached the course, and Forrest wasn’t waiting around to start getting off moves. 

Both pokemon glowed or shimmered with a clear sign that Forrest was using Agility for Spyro, and Lock on for Magneton.

Mahri, who’d exhausted herself by this point, stumbled over to watch Rudy aggressively weaving his way through the pillars only for Forrest and his pokemon to expertly blast each and every target. 

When they were done Rudy looked rather surprised while Ash stood and gave Forrest a high five for his work.

I whistled. “Heh, he saw through the trick Rudy was going to pull.”

Mahri growled. “My brother doesn’t play tricks! He was just making it harder cause they’ve already been through the course once!” she declared.

“Ah, so he’ll have to go faster for Misty?” I pointed out.

Mahri made a face that let me know that she was well aware of just how bad her brother’s antics were. 

Sure enough Rudy turned the boat around and went slower on approach. 

Misty noticed.

Misty turned. “ARE YOU LOOKING DOWN ON ME CAUSE I’M A GIRL?” 

I whistled. “Impressive set of lungs on her.” 

“Quite,” Sabrina agreed. We watched as Rudy flapped his arms around, attempting to assuage Misty only for her to demand the hardest, fastest trip through the course that Rudy could manage.

She then doubled down and only used one pokemon.

Her Seadra. 

Despite her pride, I noted that she had her pokemon boost up with Agility and Focus Energy. 

When the speedboat roared through the pillars both Ash and Forrest were hanging on for dear life while Misty stood tall with her arms crossed. 

“Go to work Seadra!” she shouted and Seadra didn’t disappoint, blasting short controlled bursts of water at each target and finishing the run with a perfect score. 

Rudy slowed the boat and gave her an impressed look before saying something that had Misty blushing and Forrest scowling.

Rudy tied the boat away and led the group back to the beach where we were waiting. He cleared his throat and stood tall. “Excellent work all of you. Despite the challenge of this test you prevailed in the end with perfect showings which highlights how strong you and your pokemon are together!” he declared grandly. 

“Tonight I will have you each select three typings for tomorrows three on three pokemon match. I have a wide array of pokemon types and you will face a similar typing for each match. The winner is the first to two victories.”

Rudy then brought out a board with various icons on it. “Due to the need to face all of you back to back, I can’t allow you to choose the same type as another trainer in your group.”

Forrest, who had a fairly strong focus on steel types grimaced but was quickly relieved when he spotted steel, flying, fire, rock, and ground types were available for selection. 

Ash was quick to pick electric then grass and he started reaching for water when Misty cleared her throat. 

Ash retracted his hand and instead grabbed the fire symbol, receiving a nod from Misty. 

Misty went next and grabbed water, psychic, and poison. 

Forrest grabbed Steel, Flying, and Ground which saw Rudy nodding his head. “Very good! Tomorrow we will use pokemon with only these typings! I won’t tell you who the pokemon are, but expect a challenge nevertheless!”

I shot Forrest a look at his selections. Flying type and not Rock? Interesting.

He gestured back up the path. “Now, you can stay the night at the pokemon centre, or my home, whic—”

“We’ll stay at the pokemon centre!” Forrest shouted quickly as he grabbed Misty and Ash and sprinted away. “Bye Brock and Sabrina! See you tomorrow!” he called over his back. 

Rudy slumped. “Urgh, blew it,” he muttered to himself. He glanced up at Sabrina and I but we shook our heads. 

“We’re staying on Shamouti,” I announced. 

“What? Why would… oh right the festival is coming up. Huh, alright then, enjoy yourselves,” he said, mostly to Sabrina, which had me leaning back into his line of sight and staring him down. 

He coughed once sheepishly and shrugged like I should understand. When I didn’t waiver in my stare he bowed his head, collected his sister and departed.

Sabrina stretched. “Hmmm, what say we investigate Trovitopolis?” she asked. 

A quick Teleport saw us over the bay and into the city where we walked along the market stalls that had claimed the green spaces near a long stretch of beach. The Market had various knick knacks and small accessories that I perused idly, not really expecting much beyond the typical tourist bait sort of items.

I did pause at a berry stall to buy up a few trays of berries for my pokemon to enjoy. Orange Island berries were known to be some of the most succulent around.

I walked past a healing crystal booth and gave the rocks on display an amused glance over. They had arranged their stall to display various glass looking diamonds of various colours and sizes along with having a few pink salt crystals that were connected to lamps to light them up. Another part of their stall had some dirty looking gems that had rather bad malformations within them judging by blemishes I could see. 

“Urgh! Selling glass jewels! How shameless!” derided one woman who turned her nose up and marched away. 

The seller, a wiry haired looking man, ignored her and continued to reach into a bag of seeds that he munched on happily. On his neck there was a fairly large burn scar. On his wrist a friendship bracelet that was worn proudly despite the shoddy nature of its creation. 

He had the look about him of a man that would claim Pidgey were all fake and the League was secretly operating them as drones or something. I wouldn’t be surprised if a tin foil hat came out next. 

He made for an amusing looking fellow. Out of habit more than anything I gave the stall another look over and even pulsed my rock energy. 

Something pulsed back and I stiffened. 

I stepped closer and swept my gaze over the stall. What had elicited that response? I pulsed my energy again and noted how the ‘glass diamonds’ that I and the woman had dismissed before were radiating a bright light. 

“Ah, those gems are Type Gems, aren’t they?” I asked.

The man nodded. “Yup! Good for empowering a pokemon move one time when used!” replied the man with a pleased grin. “Good eye there young one!” 

“Hmmm, my name is Brock, what’s yours? “ I asked.

“People call me Explorer Dave cause of all the places I adventure! Hehehe!” he laughed out loud but then gave me a quick look over. “You… You’re from Pewter, ain’t you?”

Before I could reply he waved me off. “Nah, I know you. Not many watch the television around these parts but I caught a few of your fights. You’re a rock specialist aren’t you?”

I nodded and began giving the rest of his wares a slow, methodical inspection, really taking the time to investigate what was here instead of the brief glance I had previously.

I lingered on the small gems with the blemishes in them. I lifted one up and ran my energy through it. 

I blinked in surprise when it began to let off a small glow and echo back the feel of rock type energy. 

Oh damn, I knew what this was.

“Ooooh, shiny!” crowed Dave as he sat up. “How’d you do that?” he asked.

“Skill,” I replied as I tried to hide my shaking hands. “How much? For both,”” I asked, gesturing at the two stones he had. 

The man leaned back, giving me a smug grin. “Hmmmm hmmm, for a fellow like you? Two hundred thousand pokedo—”

“Done!” I said, laying out the money on the table, causing the man’s eyes to bulge.

Sabrina who’d been watching on, sighed like I’d just made a mistake but her gaze quickly sharpened as I snatched up the two stones and pocketed them. 

The man gaped. “I thought I’d set my price high but why do I get the feeling I just got swindled?” he asked.

I hummed. “Where did you get them?” I asked.

The man rubbed his chin. “Tell me what they are and I’ll tell you, that way I know in future,” he demanded. 

I clicked my tongue. I’d gotten away with buying this prize at a bargain already, looked like I wasn’t going to get another bargain bite.

“They are stones that can help empower pokemon with specialised moves if you have the training for them.” I said holding up what could only be Rockium Z in front of me. 

I pocketed the gem and gave my bracer a thoughtful look over. I was going to need to get it reforged so that it had an insert for the new power up method. Looks like I’d be coming back from the archipelago with something else that would blow Oak’s mind. 

“Hmmm, sounds fancy, and vague. I found those two stones in a coral bed. Looked like they’d washed in on the current. Thought they were interesting curiosities, nothing more. I’ll keep an eye out for them in future,” Dave muttered. 

I offered him a business card for Mega Rock Inc. “Call this number if you do,” I asked. 

“Hmmmm, I might just do that. Pleasure doing business Brock of Pewter,” replied Dave. 

I gave Dave another long look. He was still a thin, wiry haired looking weirdo. 

But he’d proven himself. He had items of quality, he just didn’t know their worth.

“Hey Dave, you said you go on tons of adventures right?”

“That’s correct,” he said with a wide smile that revealed he was missing teeth.

“You must keep your ear to the ground for certain rumours then right?” 

He began worrying his lip between his teeth as he gave me a long thoughtful look. “Might be the case that I could know a thing or two… What did you want to know?” 

I squatted down so I was level with him and even went as far as to put my hand up around my mouth so it would be harder for casual observers to overhear what I was about to say. “You ever hear anything like a research facility being made up on any of the islands around here but no one knowing about them?”

“Wooo, you do ask some interesting questions don’t you?” He grinned at me and leaned forward a flicker of something greedy in his eyes. “You think there might be something valuable there, don’t you?” he said with a smirk.

My mind accelerated as I started making leaps of logic. I could see how he thought this was going to play out now that he’d gained that assumption so I cut him off at the pass mentally. 

“Do you have family in the Orange Islands Dave?” I asked casually as my mind went to work on small tells all over his form. 

The goofy friendship bracelet implied a child of some description, and the burn on his neck coupled with his age… it would be a bit of a stretch but perhaps there was another angle to use here.

Dave stiffened. “Is that how you think this is going to—”

“Certain facilities sometimes create certain… items that might be harmful to the environment or the locals. Especially if the man in charge wouldn’t care about such factors,” I stated, speaking over him as I held his gaze. “Some of the facilities we’re looking into? Might just contain dangerous materials… or dangerous people.”

I waved a hand up and down his body. “You‘re old right?”

He nodded slowly his smile turning wry. It was a blatantly obvious question but it helped steer the conversation.

I leaned in closer and glanced at a burn scar on Dave’s neck pointedly. “Do you remember Blaine of Cinnabar?” I asked.

Dave sucked in a breath of air through his teeth and something fearful flickered in his eyes. “Yes,” he rasped. 

I nodded. “We need to know about certain facilities like that. Some of them might be greedy corporations that are merely dumping toxic waste into the ocean, but others…” I trailed off leadingly. 

“I don’t want either, but one of those is a more immediate threat, wouldn’t you say?” I asked.

Dave swallowed and nodded. “Right, of course.” Dave brought out his transceiver and opened the map function. 

“There’s a few islands that aren’t on public maps here, here, and here that might be worth looking into,” he said pointing at three landmarks.” 

I marked each off before Dave moved on. “There’s also supposed to be a food corporation looking into Seven Grapefruit island but I’ve never seen them sampling the local cuisine when I go there,” he said. 

His eyes flickered. “There’s also something of a ghost island that is said to come and go sometimes… It’s only visible on rainy days for some reason and you need to be on Navel Island’s mountaintop.”

“Thank you Dave,” I replied. I reached over and gave his shoulder a squeeze. “Sorry about scaring you like that.” I nodded towards his stand. “You’re onto some real winners here, keep up the good work.” 

Dave nodded and I stood. As I turned to leave he spoke up. “How much would you have paid for those gems?” he asked. 

“As they currently stand without access to more of them?” I replied. “Million easy,” I replied. 

Dave chuckled, some life returning to his eyes. “Yeah I’m not telling the wife that part of today’s story I don’t think.” 

“Maybe stick to the start,” I replied with a playful wink. 

Sabrina linked arms with me and eyed me. “That … was impressive. I think if I ever have to play a Mafia boss for any shows I act in I’m going to channel you just now.”

“What?” I asked a bit off balance with this sudden topic. 

Sabrina smirked before adopting a stoic expression that brimmed with concern. “Hey, you got any family?” she rasped with a husky voice, like she chain-smoked for most of her life. She shook her head. “No no no, you misunderstand, I’m not threatening you, I’m trying to help you,” she continued, adopting a contrite expression.

The mask fell away and she smiled at me. “See? It would be perfect! You can be really scary when you want to be and you weren’t in the wrong.”

I stared at Sabrina. “Are you bullying me? Is that what this is?”

Sabrina giggled and lay her head on my shoulder. “A little, but I was also very impressed with how you handled him. Really turned him around quickly, it was smart. Also,” Sabrina turned so she was whispering into my ear. “It was kind of hot to watch.”

I grinned at her and it didn’t take long for us to Teleport back to our room on Shamouti. 

When everything was said and done Sabrina lay atop me with a thin sheen of sweat. 

“Mmmm,” she murmured happily and I chuckled.

“Now I’m worried that if you ever land a criminal role you’ll be too good at it,” I teased. 

Sabrina hummed. “I’ll talk to some producers and workshop the idea in case my detective show falls through.”

“Hmmm you should see if Meowth wants a role as your sidekick. He’d be great in a criminal film, alternating between your slapstick friend to your quick sidekick.” I panned a hand sideways like I was pretending to read a billboard. “Yakuza Princess! It practically writes itself!” 

Sabrina shot me a look. “I’ll need three seasons of script and a movie plan,” she demanded.

That got both of us laughing. 

Then my ringtone sounded out. I sat up and toggled it on without video on my end. “Hello?” I asked only to see Meowth smiling nervously back.

“Heya Boss Brock, you remember how you mentioned being on the lookout for any Submarines of Team Aqua’s?” he asked nervously.

I nodded slowly only to remember that the video wasn’t on. “Yes,” I said quickly to cover up my mistake.

The video panned and the cave Meowth was in was revealed. 

“How about a sub base?” he asked as a metal dock with various supplies and banners were revealed, all of them stamped with an iconic blue A.

“Set off your beacon,” I ordered, “We’ll be there in ten minutes with support,” I stated before hanging up.

I stood and sighed, knowing tonight’s features were about to get very busy. 

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A.N. Thanks go to my Patreons for your continued support.

Thanks also goes to Twmmy for proofreading this chapter!