--------------------------------------------

In this chapter you’ll find carefully hidden clues to the various plots advancing in the background. Then some that are as obvious as a Tauros on your foot. There’s also plenty of stuff that's just for fun (aka to throw you off the real track(unless that's BS too!)). Good luck figuring it out!

------------

Somewhere in jungles of North Hoenn

------------

Towering trees blur by, thunderous crashing echoes off the scattered rock spires. The Despot Pokemon, Tyrantrum, crushes everything in his path while racing forward. Riding atop this house sized dinosaur is a woman with tan skin and a long braid of dark hair. The white scarf shielding half her face doesn't hide the scowl in her remaining eye.

Today, someone is challenging Dragon Master Zinnia’s reputation of being unstoppable. A madwoman in green, athletic wear with a wild, blonde mohawk descends from above and takes another slash with her strangely thin Duoblade. The twin blades pokemon slicing rends into Tyrantrum’s red scales. Massive jaws snap towards the woman only for her to burst into mist.

Now two of her leap from branches at both sides, aiming for a cross cut to the neck. Tyrantrum performs a miracle of agility, leaping into a spinning Dragon Tail. Each of the blondes parry the strike up, forcing themselves to the ground in an impossible, perfect mirror of each other. Two strikes against the dinosaur's left and right heels cause him to roar in pain.

Zinnia screams in rage, “Who are you?!”

A giggle echoes around the forest, even as Tyrantrum rushes forward.

“Just a wandering fairy,” Once more she drops from the canopy above, spinning like an aircraft propeller, “Out to slay a dragon!”

Tyrantrum’s Roar sends her flying away in a poof of mist.

The dragon master shouts over her opponent’s repeated laughter, “I will not be delayed by some stray idiot!!” Flashes of pokeballs reveal Noivern and Altaria, “Shred this crazy bitch to pieces!”

“How unfair,” suddenly the voice is only a sultry whisper, directly over Zinnia’s shoulder, “That’s not proper for an Elite Four member.”

Every hair on the back of Zinna’s neck stands up as she glances back, right into a kiss on the cheek from the psychopathic blonde.

Her form once more fades into mist, “Let's do this again sometime, my treat!”

Just like that, she's gone. Zinnia’s three dragons keep racing forward but no more chaotic laughter haunts the deep forest.

“Okay, maybe we shouldn’t have laughed at that warning from the village.” recalling her responsibilities as the madwoman alluded, “I’ll ask Brenden to do a trainer search and put out a warning for the younger dragon trainers.”

Zinnia and her dragons continue their mission west, determined to avoid any more delays.

---------------------------

Mossdeep Space Center

---------------------------

Glass shatters on a balcony within a large atrium that many would describe as something straight out of science fiction, real space age stuff. Which is obvious seeing as this is the Mossdeep Space Center.

“You know ladies, you keep breaking windows and we’ll see who the insurance company really blames.” Jason Rocket, JR, or Junior as the big boss calls him, fixes his ruffled purple hair, “Do you ever tire of this same old dance? I show up to work, you chase me off, there's a reason folks hate reruns.”

“Give us the rock Jason!” Grace Ketchum dashes forward, just behind her Mightyena. The hound growls out some variety of threat that makes the man roll his eyes.

Down below, Iris Cerulean and her Glaceaon lead the security squad around the curvin hall. Up above, Crystal Harrison swoops in with her Tropius.

Jason just sighs while rolling up his suit cuffs,, “All this fuss over a rock.” the sound of grinding metal ringing across the whole space causes everyone to grimace or flinch, “Ah, that’d be my ride. This has been fun ladies but really more trouble than it’s worth.”

He chucks a stone orb slightly larger than a pokeball further across the atrium while leaping from the balcony. Landing on the back of his Skarmory, a final shriek shatters an exterior window allowing him to escape while Crystal has no choice but to catch the falling stone lest it shatter on the floor.

Grace palms the ball of her Mandibuzz, wishing it was large enough to ride. Looking at the broken window, “Hypocrite.” Then calls down to the crowd of security personnel and scientists, “Professor Emerald, is the Meteorite still in one piece?”

A bald, barrel chested man with a weird blonde mustache holds up the grey orb and crushes it to the gasps of everyone. “A fake, he played us.”

“Arceus Damn it!” Grace shouts before leaning over the railing, then whispering so the rest don’t hear, “He pulled the same trick for my eighth birthday party. Stupid jerk.”

Crystal flys up on her Tropius once more, “Hey Grace! Isn’t this just like the egg hunt game at your eighth,”

“Ya, ya… at least then it was just a Grimer in a plastic toy.”

Boot steps signal the arrival of a scowling man behind them, every pressed seam of his blue suit warning of his hardline reputation.

“Well?”

Crystal ducks back below the railing.

Grace snorts, “Traitor.” Standing straight and speaking up towards the man. “Sorry Commander Tate, Jason really is the best thief there is.”

He nods towards the broken atrium glass, “Then I guess you better get moving if you hope to catch up to him.”

Failing to maintain a straight face, Grace deflates a little, “Story of my life.”

-----------------------

Mauville Mayor’s Office

-----------------------

Mayor Joe Wattson frowns at a screen wall. Within the video meeting, his family’s rivals mirror his attitude. While the League may over incentivize cooperation over competition, blood feuds are not so easily watered down.

Mrs.Devon is pushy as usual, “We should increase variety before product launch.”

Her tragedy of an idiot husband just nods in the background. Joe would sooner raise a ground type than let their son, Winston, anywhere near Naomi.

He speaks up, “We’ve been over this. It could be years before we’ve miniaturized the tech enough to move beyond large bags.”

Holly rushes into the room and hands her fiance a note, an email from Inspector Anabel. It’s the background check for the engineer that sabotaged the Zekrom.

Turning his attention to the other man on the call, “Mr. Silver, it seems one of your employees found his unpleasant end here in Hoenn.” Sending the traitor’s personnel file, “Care to explain why your man left Silph Co.”

Joe can see the man’s eyes browse the information packet from behind that long red hair. Someone hands him a note of his own.

Silver’s smooth drawl, “It seems the fellow was fired for harassing his coworkers to loan him money. Couldn’t kick his gambling addiction.”

Mrs. Devon snorts, “Good riddance then.”

Wattson presses, “Are we just going to ignore the part where you own the Casino as well Saul?”

The owner of Silph Co. levels a blank look, telling the others in the meeting he needn’t bother answering. “Shall we get back to actual business? I’ve better things to do than compare HR problems. In regards to the bags, I don’t mind holding off on public release, we already have a sizable contract with the League.”

While Devon and Silph move the next major innovation one step closer to reality, Mayor Joe wishes he could send his daughter’s bodyguard on a business trip to Kanto.

---------------------------

Waters West of Lilycove, the S.S. King Tide

----------------------------

In the ballroom of Hoenn’s latest cruise ship, all the passengers sit huddled on the floor.

A barrel of a man with a pointy red beard raises his voice, “Place all your jewelry, watches, or anything else valuable in one of the bags. Everyone puts something in, everyone walks away in one piece. I don’t care if all you have are a fancy pair of shoes. Put them in, or prepare to swim.”

His big Kingler snaps its claws, daring anyone to be a hero. A dozen men and women dressed up in baggy pants, swimwear, and green bandanas, start spreading out holding canvas sacks.

Each of them are followed by their various water type pokemon. With the exception of one fellow and his Kricketune. Although the bug is quite rude about poking anyone taking too long to toss something in the sack.

May rolls her eyes next to her girls, someone looking at her would think she’s moping rather than scared. They’d be right.

“This is like the fifth time I've had this happen I think.”

One of her wards, Patricia, pushes up her glasses and whispers, “I read a theory on a Pokket board that the pirates are actually hired by the cruise line. The guests get some excitement, insurance covers any damages, and all the ‘Loot,’ gets conveniently recovered in a raid that supposedly takes place later.”

Vermilya snorts, but it was ladylike if anyone tells her mom, “Ah yes, cause everything on Pokket is true.”

Jaunita, the orphan with a scandalous backstory, hugs her knees, “Miss May, I don’t have anything for the bag.”

The other girls and May go still, each of their minds saying, ‘Oh Shit.’

Before they can come up with a plan, a pirate gal nudges Vermilya with a boot, “You’re up punks. Earrings, necklaces, spare fancy pokeballs, let’s see it.”

May blurts out the first thing that comes to mind, “We’re dirt poor.”

Pirate woman just arches a brow, “Ya… sure May. Everyone knows famous trainers have to beg for scraps.”

“Eh he he,” seven time Hoenn contest champ May, can only awkwardly laugh.

The high seas bandita glances around before squatting down and whispering, “Look, just pretend to toss something in. No one wants you to send out a Blaziken and toast our ass. It's just a tourism gimmick.”

Patricia nudges the open mouthed Vermilya, “Told you.”

Captain Pointy Beard laughs menacingly, “Almost done folks, looks like we’re in for a nice haul!”

His Kingler blows some cheerful bubbles Booom! only to jump in fright with everyone else as one of the walls explodes inward! The entire ship lurches on the water.

“That’s good news my friend.” A hulk, tan skinned with a maze of black tattoos all over his bare chest save for the white symbol of a long disbanded team. At least as far as the public is aware.

Captain Matt, former leader of Team Aqua steps past the wreckage, flanked by a huge Crawdaunt and a menacing Kabutops.

Vermilya whispers to her teammate, “What about them Patty, are they part of your cruise heist conspiracy too?”

May nudges her, “Save the sarcasm for later girls.”

The pirate gal that was pretending to rob them mere moments ago also whispers, “I take it back May, please toast them!”

More aqua grunts start walking into the ballroom.

Matt bows to the crowd, doing little to lessen the fear in the room, “I’d just like to thank you all for attending this lovely fundraiser. Your generous donations will go to a great cause.”

The new arrivals grab the loot sacks from the fake pirate’s hands and shove the pretenders down with the original passengers.

He continues, “I want you to know that these campaign funds will go directly to my efforts to become Admiral. Team Armada will rule all the sea from here to Sinnoh HA hahahaa!”

“Uh, Captain!” an Armada (formerly known as Aqua) grunt with an equally nervous Floatzel has stopped in front of May.

To her credit, May is still seated, calmly considering her options, “Hi Matt.”

Hoenn’s Admiral Elect swallows whatever aggressive outburst he was about to make, “Hey there Miss May… Lovely day for sailing, right?”

Her brow raises, “Water’s a bit choppy today Matt.”

“Yes well, shame that…” he signals with his eyes to the rest of the crew, back the way they came in, “Sorry we can’t stay for the Buffet, have a nice afternoon Bye!”

Eye twitching in irritation, May withdraws a brilliant sapphire premier ball, “Blaze, please inform Matt his boat is sinking.”

Ribbons of flame dance from the talons of a champion class, Mega Blaziken.

“Swim for it Lads!” Shouts the man, intent on escaping to raid another day.

More flashes of pokeballs light up the room! May’s Ampharos, Patricia’s Escavalier, Jaunita’s Primarina, Vermilya’s Nidoqueen, Captain Pointy Beard’s Kingler, even that random Kricketune begin battling it out with the retreating Team Armada miscreants.

While plenty of small fry get rounded up for the rangers to sort out, Matt and his strongest lieutenants break free to return whatever they sailed in on. No ship was spotted.

May and her team have the awkward pleasure of being treated to a strange dinner with the cruise ship’s captain and her brother, who removed the fake pointy beard.

-------------------------------

Next time: Kurt and Naomi vs Lavaridge Gym Leader Torch!

-------------------------------------