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Early morning in the pokemon center just outside the area of Hoenn known as the Valley of Steel. One of the more iconic zones within the areas collectively called Groudon’s Fangs. Spires of rock jut up from the earth from here, clear to the northern coast.

I take a sip of coffee while petting Miss Wick, Houndoom is resting on the lobby couch with me.

”You Kurt?” asks a man with shaggy red hair and khakis, “I’m Hodge from the Lavaridge ranch.”

As I stand and shake his hand a woman in overalls rushes up, “Oh Arceus, what did they do to ya girl?!” She begins checking every inch of Houndoom’s body as the dog’s tail gently wags. “Dear Arceus, what about the puppies?!”

Pointing towards the emergency hallway, “Three survived, critically malnourished. They’re all tubed up in special isolation beds. This girl… Well, I can’t judge her. At least she’ll live.”

Hodge runs a hand over the pokemon’s shattered external bones. Looking at the woman, “What do you think Vivi?”

Vivi rubs the dog’s ears and checks a handheld scanner as Wick licks her hand, “I think her days as a Mega evolved pokemon are over. She’ll heal, but I think she’s out of the team for worlds. My brother’s gonna be heartbroken, this and the pups. At least they made it.”

The rancher sighs and looks at the displays above the medical reception counter. His eyes checking the pokemon and their updated conditions, “A lot of those pokemon match partners of some of the missing persons listed on the league network for Hoenn.”

Geez, “First I’m hearing of that.”

Naomi speaks up as she and the other two kids walk from the cafeteria with breakfast, “That's because the league doesn’t let high profile trainers going missing make headlines.” They set their food on a nearby counter with stools. Citro tosses me a bagel.

Hodge carries on her point, “When someone with a known strong team disappears, the last thing the league wants is average trainers going missing as well, trying to be heroes… Flannery was investigating.”

Ah, dots connect, “I didn't spot her missing husband in the mountain.”

Citro speaks up with his mouth full of pancake, “They got him,” he swallows, “Sorry, I heard one of the Aces talking. He said they snagged the guy trying to escape right when they teleported in.”

Hodge sighs, "Well, I don't know what got into my brother. But rumor is he should be happy he made it out of that mountain alive. At least until Flannery gets to him."

Oh shit, that's right! I knew that name sounded familiar!

Jane stabs her spoon in a bowl of oats hard enough to break the ceramic, “You going to tell me what happened yet Old Man?”

Glancing at the ranch couple, I’d rather not talk about it in public but the duo look interested in hearing it. He made it sound like rumors are already floating around.

“Fine, but I'm sparing the bad details.” I sit back down, “I flew in, got the drop on the airship. Tunneled past the entrance. Took out the security office. Senior told me to make straight for any captive pokemon.” I point at the wall displays, “Once set loose, they fought with all their last strength. Rico was trying to get Houndoom here in a cage to run off with…”

Looking at the Ranch woman, “They had to pop a spine disk back in place, keep her off her legs if you can. Anyway,” leaning back to stare at the ceiling, “Rico seemed to be in charge of the caged up pokemon. Including the dead pups. This gal used one nightmare of an Overheat to make her complaints felt.”

I pause, waiting for Jane to say anything but all I hear is Vivi tearing up while hugging the dog.

“Between the rampaging megas, the ace team, and Senior showing up, it sounds like most of the loose ends got burned off.”

“Fearow,” Jane’s voice is hoarse with a mess of emotions, “Where is the bastard’s bird?”

Looking in her determined eyes hidden by messy red bangs, “I have his pokeballs still… I actually have a whole mess of ‘em.” Turning to the Ranch couple, “If no one comes to collect I may need your help off loading them.”

Jane doesn’t say anything.

After a moment Hodge responds, “It’s not unusual for confiscated pokemon to reach breeder ranches. We can discuss the details when you get to Lavaridge. In fact, you can see how the pokemon you caught in Alola are doing.” He turns to Naomi, “On that note, you can pick up your order Miss Watson.”

Naomi practically squeals in excitement causing her teammates to wince.

Vivi puts her hands on her hips, “You better treat her like the Ponyta princess she is!”

Of course that just makes the giddy Wattson girl nearly leap out of her seat.

Well, guess that’s another stop to make, “We should get going.”

Our resident redhead still seems to be thinking things over as she helps Citro clean up.

“See you later Kurt,” Hodge nods to the display, “We’ll be here until they’re all cleared to ride a truck to the ranch. Stop by before your gym battle.” He smirks, “I know Flannery’s boy is looking forward to stumping your stump. You should get any tips you can from the handlers at the ranch."

“I may be a rookie, But I really didn't plan on bringing a grass pokemon to a fire gym.”

Houndoom whines as I step away, almost trying to hop off the couch.

Vivi calms her down a bit before looking at me, “Seems she really likes you… My brother has always worked closely with the ranch so his team is pretty flexible. Maybe he’ll let you take Houndoom for a last romp in the rookie circuit once she’s healed up.”

Depends on how the league feels about borrowing a semi retired, high tier pokemon.

“Well, if it works out I’d be glad to have her.”

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After heading back to our rooms to collect our belongings, I only get three steps into the lobby when Wattson Senior calls out, “Kurt. Come over here for a minute before you race off into the valley. You kids go ahead and load the car.”

Jane just stoically grabs my bag and keeps moving for the exit. Her head lost in her own angst. Citro motions at her back to me, wondering what to do.

Quietly I tell him, “Just let her think for now. Ask once we get on the road.”

Naomi is scowling at her grandfather, “Don’t let that old schemer trick you into anything Kurt.”

“The only thing he’ll get me to sign is a pay raise.”

She rolls her eyes at my smirk and heads for the door.

As I sit down, “The couches are getting some mileage today.”

Senior snorts, “You’ve never sheltered in one for a Rage event then. Imagine every trainer in the area crammed into this lobby for hours or days.”

“Let's hope I keep that record.” I tap the fancy little display on the coffee table, this thing doubles as a vending machine tipped over. Cracking open a can, “So what’s the final say on last night's leisure flight?”

“Ha,” just like his granddaughter, the man hands me a tablet.

It's my trainer profile again, I spray my coffee a bit across the table, “11 Points?!”

My new world's total is sitting at 28 out of 50 points and I still have two more seasons to keep earning!

The old man nods as a clay figure, Baltoy, appears out of nowhere to whipe the table with a rag.

“3 for the op, 2 for capture of the poacher, 2 for Flannery’s ex, 4 for… removal of Tabitha. Mind you it would have been 6 if you brought them in alive.” he pauses to scratch the scruff of his beard before sighing, “But they probably would have escaped again. That Mega Solrock is too powerful to keep out of wherever it wants to be.”

He points to a case handcuffed to one of his security guards, “You're lucky the miniature sun didn’t feel like rescuing its trainer. When we checked its ball this morning the pokemon was already gone. Satellites picked it up leaving the atmosphere.”

While we're on the topic, I start unloading pokeballs from my trainer bag, “Now that we've got here let's talk about loot and what to do with all of these.”

Twenty something pokeballs of all varieties roll about.

Senior nods, “Send Rico’s pokemon to the Mauville Ranch until that Jane girl calls and requests otherwise. She’s been granted ownership of all of Rico’s property in the eyes of the law. This was his last strike… If he ever wakes up.”

I refuse to feel bad for the bastard, “Coma?”

“Yes,” he sighs, “Personally, I expect a Nope to be visiting him soon. The man is dead in any way that matters.”

“Not to his daughter,” there's a bit of heat in my voice, “She may need to speak to him to get any real closure. Him biting it to a Dream Eater won't help.”

“It's fine Kurt.” The red head speaks up from behind me.

Senior and I watch her walk around and grab her fathers ball belt off the table. She looks at Wattson, “I’m releasing most of them in the valley. All but the dumb bird.”

Stroking his beard, “The Tyranitar might be a problem, same for the Mega Heatmor.”

Jane frowns but counters, “Roxanne and Flannery can take them.”

Senior nods, “That’ll work for your father's team. As for the rest, we’ll split them amongst the Ranches for now. Mellow the feistiness a bit before releasing any that don't find new trainers, back to the wild. Unless any caught your eye, Kurt?”

Ya, I don’t have time to play rehab counselor. It's past time I really buckled down on the pokemon I have.

“I’m good with that. What else is there?”

He pulls a jagged, orange crystal the size of a golf ball from his shirt pocket, “Look familiar?”

I can see glowing energy lines like Lichtenberg burns moving around inside the crystal, “An unrefined mega stone?”

“Close enough,” he takes out a few more, each a different shade, some with contrasting energy compared to their color, “They were harvesting mega stones from live pokemon and attempting to dilute or fuse them into something any pokemon can use. You see, when a mega pokemon dies, it imparts part of its will on the remaining stone. Don’t ask how it works. That's like asking for a Nope visit.”

So they needed the pokemon to still be breathing while they worked on the stone. “Nasty stuff.”

The old man points at the patient info displays, “Most of the trainers those pokemon belong to are presumed dead. Finding some of their belongings at the base confirms it. We’re at a bit of an impasse. These diluted stones might be worthless or priceless, we’ll be issuing them out to gym leaders to experiment with. Want one? I'd say you eared first pick and as a certified Lab Trainer it's allowed.”

He shows me a list of the tainted creations, my first instinct is to tell him hell no. I spot one name that makes me pause however. The boy would never have the resources to get his own.

“Manectric, Citro could use it.”

Wattson grunts, “Not as if I don’t have ten more in the vault… I’ll trade you for a traditional stone.”

“Sure.”

“In exchange, how about,” he begins, but I cut him off.

“I think that's enough for now.” I stand up and stretch, “You can take the airship refurbishment costs out of my reward poke and ship it to Rustburo. I’ll play with it after the current season.”

The scowl could probably scare some office worker but an annoyed old fart won't phase me.

“I’ve got pokemon to train sir, loot and money will only take our team so far. We’ve got some catching up to do I'd wager.”

His frown instantly turns to a feral grin, “Too right ya do. Naomi is falling behind her rivals.” He sits back and points at the Trainer Network on one of the lobby TVs, “That Stone girl has five badges already and Vermilya finally stuffed her pride and got some lessons. Nidoking and the like are Not the fluffy kitties she grew up with.”

I stand up, “We’ll get there. See you later Big boss.”

Walking away Jane steps up, “Really? No big bonus reward?”

Glancing at her, she seems far more present than she was even fifteen minutes ago. I notice the worn, old pokeball clenched in her hand. “Nah. Ever gonna tell me what the deal with that Fearow is?”

Slow coming to a stop, she looks at the ball, “You gave Lacy a Leafeon… He gave mom a derpy baby Spearow.”

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