Galar Region, Wyndon, Rose Tower, top floor.
"Heading to the Unova Region again?"
Leon rubbed his temples with a headache. He had received some intel: supposedly there are bird trio and sealed Legendary giants in Crown Tundra.
So Leon was ready to head to Crown Tundra to check things out.
But wouldn't you know it, Rose called him back to Wyndon with another phone call.
"Yep, and the situation in Unova is more tangled than in Hoenn. Their local evil organization lead is reportedly awakened the Ideals Dragon from the myths and legends, and right now Team Rocket and Team Plasma are tearing it up."
Rose's voice is sultry and strange; he hadn't expected this at all.
In less than a month, Team Rocket has moved on to Unova Region to grow even more—he truly wants to plant Team Rocket's flag across every region.
What's most shocking to Rose is that Unova's own local evil organizations are this powerful.
Rose is oddly relieved; it's a good thing Galar Region doesn't have an evil organization yet; if one showed up like Team Rocket or Team Plasma, it would be a headache.
Rose has also been worried about Future energy running dry; he doesn't want to be bothered by evil organizations.
"Caught another legendary evil organization? They're actually locking horns with Team Rocket?"
Leon pauses at that.
No, why are evil organizations from other regions all so ferocious?
"Hmm, so Alder in person from Unova Champion has reached out to me, asking you to come to Unova Region to lend a hand. Leon, what do you think?"
Rose nods.
"I understand. I'll go take a trip." Leon agrees readily; he's always been kind and eager to help.
"Be careful. Whether it's Team Rocket or Team Plasma, they're tough to deal with."
Unlike when he first went to Hoenn for reinforcements, this time Rose is a bit worried about Leon's safety.
After all, the other regions look dangerous.
Galar Region has only one Leon, and he's indispensable; Leon must not come to harm.
"Don't worry, Mr. Chairman, I'll be careful." Leon grins.
"I've been gathering intel on our region's legends locations. I can confirm the so‑called Sword and Shield heroes are indeed Pokémon!"
"And my subordinates have found some ancient ruins over in Crown Tundra. In ancient times, it seems there was a ruler who governed the whole region, also a Pokémon."
Rose shares the intel he has obtained.
"But sadly there isn't more info, and we don't know where they slumber now."
Rose says helplessly; he genuinely wants to help Leon find these Legendary Pokémon.
If Leon can gain recognition from these legends, a legendary León could surely catch Eternatus!
Then, even if Team Rocket comes to the Galar Region to grow, there'd be less fear.
Primal Kyogre's Primordial Sea indeed has the "table-flipping" power, but if even Primal Kyogre can't beat it, they'd have no standing to bargain with Team Rocket, right?
At the very least, in terms of combat power, they must not be weaker than Team Rocket, otherwise they'd automatically be one notch below Team Rocket.
"Don't worry, Mr. Chairman; no rush." Leon consoles Rose with a hearty grin.
Anyway, Team Rocket's current goal is Unova, not the Galar Region; they still have time.
...
Unova Region, Icirrus City, here revered as the "sky glittering with snow."
Icirrus City's winter snows are especially beautiful; the snows of winter form thick drifts, turning the world into a silver white.
However, it's summer now, so Icirrus City has no snow to speak of.
And Damian and the others have just arrived here.
"We've finally reached it, let's rest here for today and head out again tomorrow."
Damian stretches; though they rode here from Nimbasa City on Pokémon all the way, it's getting late.
The reason they came to Icirrus City is that this is the town closest to Dragonspiral Tower.
Dragonspiral Tower, an old tower whose origins are unknown in the Unova Region.
Back then, N awakened the black dragon Zekrom here and took it away; Damian wants to try his luck here.
According to the plot, Zekrom and Reshiram were once flesh, turned into Dragon Stones a thousand years ago.
The Dragon Stones in Dragonspiral Tower were awakened by N and taken away; the other Dragon Stone was reportedly excavated at Relic Castle and later given to the protagonist by Lenora.
But Damian has already checked with Elesa by calling Professor Aurea Juniper; they didn't find any special stone at the Nacrene Museum.
So the Dragon Stones weren't dug up from Relic Castle? Or perhaps that Dragon Stone is actually in Dragonspiral Tower as well.
After all, the real world and the game plot differ a lot, and Damian has felt that.
So he decides to come to Dragonspiral Tower to test his luck.
"Then I'll book a hotel now."
Caitlin pulls out her phone, asking Damian while glancing at Elesa trailing behind him.
Caitlin's expression is cool; seeing Elesa's extraordinary long legs makes her gaze cooler still.
How long are those legs, anyway?!
"…"
Elesa is perceptive and notices Caitlin's unfriendly attitude toward her, but what can Elesa do?
She understands why Caitlin would push her away for no obvious reason, but she has no strong ideology of her own toward Damian, and if things get tense, Elesa thinks she'd come off worse.
After all, Caitlin is also an Admin of Team Rocket, not someone to mess with.
So Elesa can only pretend not to notice.
"Okay."
Damian nods, ready to enter Icirrus City.
But just as they're about to step in, they hear distant sounds of battle.
"Stop right there!"
A clear, lilting girl's voice screams, and Damian turns his head.
Three people in skintight suits are sprinting toward them, and behind the three, a girl follows.
Shadow Triad.
Damian raises an eyebrow, recognizing these three ninja-like men.
They are the Team Plasma Admin Shadow Triad; Shadow Triad has long been loyal to Ghetsis, who once saved them, hence their loyalty.
Shadow Triad is their umbrella term; the three each have names meaning "darkness."
And the girl chasing Shadow Triad is even more interesting.
A chestnut-haired girl in denim hot pants, white sleeveless top with a black sleeveless jacket over it, bright and youthful.
That's Hilda, the protagonist in Black and White!
"Hey!? Gym Leader Elesa! Stop them! They're Team Plasma villains; they stole a child's Pokémon!"
Hilda's eyes light up upon seeing Elesa and she pleads for help.
Elesa recognizes Hilda immediately and doesn't hesitate, tossing a Poké Ball.
A Zebstrika leaps out, blocking Shadow Triad's retreat.
Shadow Triad stops, backs to each other, facing Zebstrika in front and Hilda closing in behind.
"Ha! We've finally got you! Hand over that child's Larvesta!"
Hilda sprints forward, her pure face flushed with anger, shouting at Shadow Triad.
Shadow Triad doesn't dignify with a reply and instead releases their own Pokémon.
Bisharp, Accelgor, and an Absol; the three are led by them.
Hilda can't back down either, immediately releasing Braviary to join Elesa in pressuring Shadow Triad.
"They're strong."
Caitlin comments on Shadow Triad's three Pokémon.
"Yeah, Shadow Triad are not to be underestimated, but they're utterly loyal to Ghetsis."
Damian shakes his head; he would actually like to recruit Shadow Triad if possible.
Shadow Triad's strength is Elite Four-tier when combined, and they fight in a ninja‑like, creepy style.
But the downside is their loyalty to Ghetsis because he saved them in the past.
Since they're not easily recruitable, better to lock them up.
"Caitlin, help out over there."
Damian surveys the battle.
Hilda's side is holding steady; her Emboar and Braviary press the Shadow Triad, while Elesa is being overwhelmed by Bisharp and Zebstrika's damage.
If Elesa falls, Shadow Triad can retreat with ease.
Caitlin nods and sends Gallade to assist.
Elesa makes up ground; she's overwhelmed by Shadow Triad's strength.
However, at that moment, a white and green silhouette rushed forward, and its arm blade struck Bisharp with full force.
Fighting-type move, Brick Break!
Bisharp lets out a cry of pain as the attack cuts through its body, flipping it midair and sending Bisharp tumbling to the ground, its eyes spinning.
What?
Shadow Triad is startled—another expert?!
Elesa stares at this aura-cutting Gallade, frozen, then turns to Caitlin.
She...
Elesa's heart twists with mixed feelings.
Caitlin's delicate features are calm, her blue glow brightening in her eyes, the massive psychic pressure becoming overwhelming, pressing on the Shadow Triad until they can barely stand.
And Gallade darts forward toward Absol and Accelgor, easily defeating both.
"This is incredible, isn't it?!" Hilda gasps, astonished by the cold, aloof Gallade.
He clamps down on the Shadow Triad, searching their Poké Balls.
"Beautiful, come, we'll see which one you're looking for."
Damian gestures to the Poké Balls he's pulled from Hilda.
"Hmm—yes! That one. Thanks for helping!"
Hilda hurries over to retrieve a Poké Ball with a heart sticker on it, grateful to Damian and the others.
"Don't mention it—we all have a duty to fight Team Plasma's evil."
Damian smiles brightly.
Elesa remains silent, at a loss for words.
Especially after she recalled the article she read last night, "How to Be a Great Maid." Elesa feels dizzy.
Because parts of that article describe things that are quite beyond her; for instance, warming the bed with one's own body heat before the owner falls asleep, so the owner enjoys a warm nest.
And when the owner is mentally fatigued, allowing the owner to rest with a soft knee pillow and giving a massage to relax the mind, etc.
These are arguably tolerable, but some sections are way too extreme for her.
"Yeah! Team Plasma is really terrible; they always steal other people's Pokémon and talk about liberating Pokémon, it's infuriating."
Hilda nods in agreement—Team Plasma is truly evil!
"So, Gym Leader Elesa, how come you're in Icirrus City?" Hilda curiously asks Elesa.
"I've been a bit exhausted lately, so I came out with a friend to clear my head." Elesa replies with a faint smile.
"That's true—handling so many challengers every day must be tiring." Hilda blinks, glancing at Elesa and then at the handsome Damian.
She also feels these two look pretty good together.
Yet Hilda has good intuition: this handsome guy and the noble-looking girl clearly share a closer bond.
So she doesn't say anything salty.
"Then I'll return Larvesta to that kid first; I think she's freaking out, I'll come back to talk with Gym Leader Elesa later, you all—"
Hilda waves at Elesa and the three of them, speaking with an outgoing personality, and she's genuinely curious about Caitlin.
This beautiful, elegant girl is not only incredibly strong, but she also seems to be a psychic as well, right?
"Mm, you go ahead first..."
Damian nods, but before he can finish, a faint, ethereal voice echoes in his mind from nowhere.
"Truth... your... Truth..."
Hearing this, Damian freezes instantly—this is Telepathy, no doubt.
But the question is…
"Your Truth... what is it?"
~~~
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