Chili kept a huge smile as he avoided his brothers' constant questions. He wasn't going to bend to them, not this time. He pulled his buzzing phone out as he dodged them again.
"Hello?"
"Hey."
"Misty!" That made the brothers stop. They were pretty sure that Misty was still on their side. "How's it going?"
"Could be better. Listen... we need some help over here. Remember the whole League shift?"
"Yeah... what about it?"
"So far, a spot has been replaced. I have yet to hear about the last one. But this guy is a kid that needs fire help. And I know you have been training with Paul, so I was wondering if you could come up and help us train him to be used to having a full fire team."
"What was his original team?"
"Mostly grass and fire. He did have a few normal types while he was going through the league. He had an Abra to get past Sabrina. But he's not used to a full fire team." Chili hummed.
"I'm on my way. If fire power's what you need, then it's coming!" She giggled at his energy.
"Just don't blow anything up when you land. See you when you get here." Chili smiled as they hung up. Cress frowned.
"What did Misty want?" Chili paused.
"Are you concerned cause it wasn't you?" Cress nodded. Chili sighed. "She wants me to go help her get the new fire gym leader ready to go. It's his first time with a full fire team and he is unprepared. So I'm going up there to help." Cress paused.
"That makes more sense... when are you going?" Chili hummed.
"Let's see how easily grabbing Skyla is." The other two sighed before racing after their brother.
~~~
Ten minutes later. That was a record for Skyla. She dropped him off and promised to be back after he was done. He waved her off before running over to the water gym leader. She smiled as they hugged.
"Was that the only reason I was called out?"
"Yes and no. Start with him, then the Auras are having a meeting. Careful, Brock has been lurking around." He nodded as he went over to the younger gym leader. He was playing with a Ninetails and Arcanine. A Charizard, Flareon, Rapidash, and Chandelure were quietly resting nearby. Chili smiled before clearing his throat, grabbing his attention.
"Hi. I hear you're the new fire gym leader?" He nodded faintly. "My name's Chili. I was told you needed help with your team." The kid's eyes lit up.
"Oh! You're the person Misty said was coming?" Chili nodded. "My name's Flacire. Nice to meet you!" The two boys shook hands as Chili looked over the team.
"Not bad for someone taking the second strongest gym leader position. Shall we get started?" Flacire nodded instantly.
~~~
Brock frowned as the two fire type trainers cleaned up. After what Iris had said about her fights in Unova, he wasn't really trusting Chili. But he wasn't sure what to say after the scene. Misty had joined them, making him question the scene.
"Alright! So then if you need further fire practice, there's a fire gym leader down in Hoenn, an Elite Four in Sinnoh and Kalos, and someone over in Alola. I'm sure they'll help." Flacire nodded.
"Thanks Chili. See you later!" The older two waved as he ran off.
"Wow... that kid has a spark." Misty nodded before dropping to a whisper that Brock almost didn't grab.
"The meeting will have to be in private."
"I know what you mean. I've felt someone watching for a while now."
"Yeah... I'll message the others. You head for the place."
"Got it."
The duo then separated. Brock frowned at the sight.
~~~
"Oh no."
Chili giggled at Gary's red face as Misty and Lillie tried to counter. Jasmine sighed as she nodded to Chili.
"Every time." The redhead smiled as he turned to the mini panic. Tracy silently watched as Gary put his head down and the duo countered Norman's words.
"Guys... you're not going to get anywhere. Split it up and let's get work done." The group nodded at Tracy's words. I'll do the call out. Fire?"
"Locked and loaded." Chili said slyly.
"Water?"
"Never absent." Misty said instantly.
"Grass?"
"Here." Ramos spoke softly.
"Electric?"
"Nope." Volkner said calmly. Clemont sighed at that.
"Normal?"
"Norman." They busted out laughing as he smiled. "Stop screwing that up." Tracy huffed before continuing.
"Flying?"
"Still looking." Winona murmured.
"Bug?"
"Right here!" Viola smiled.
"Fighting?"
"Yep." The two girls, Maylene and Korrina, grasped hands, gaining soft noises from the group.
"Ghost?"
"Phoebe, here and ready!" The Elite Four smiled.
"Psychic?"
"Purposely teleported out." The twins spoke in unison. Gary gulped.
"Stop that."
"Poison?"
"Yep." Janine mumbled, fiddling with her knife.
"Dark?"
"Walked away." The duo, Grimsley and Karen, nodded at each other as Chili growled.
"Fairy?"
"Yep." Valerie said with a smile.
"Rock?" Silence followed.
"Right..." Gary mumbled. "We have yet to find that type. Skip that one." Tracy nodded.
"Should I also skip Ground?" Gary paused.
"We potentially have someone, but they aren't here this time." Tracy nodded.
"Steel?"
"Yep!" Jasmine grinned.
"Ice?"
"Yeah." Brycen hummed.
"We... don't have a dragon yet... right?" Gary nodded. "Then... Lillie?"
"Yep."
"Dawn?"
"Mhm."
"Bonnie?"
"Yeah."
"Clemont?"
"Yep."
"Emma?"
"Hm."
"Falkner?"
"Yeah...."
"Purple?"
"Sadly..." Tracy gulped.
"That's everyone." Gary nodded.
"Three types to uncover." He smiled. "But good job to everyone else showing up." They all smiled. Lillie straightened up.
"I'll start with League business. Ash told me to alert you all about a threat to the league. While it doesn't affect this group as much, he wants you guys to lay low when near league members." The others nodded at that.
"Thanks for telling us. That means we have to be on high alert." Purple gulped.
"Paul also told me to bring this up... but the Darkseid Chain is hoping to work with the other two chains to do the first presentation to the world. They need to know what region is the safest to start in." The group paused.
"Johto. While yes, it's really close to Kanto, Johto is the most neutral region right now. It has been very passive with the war. In fact, when the rangers fought the other rivals, despite having Story Chain members, the whole region just worked on their own businesses." Purple nodded.
"Ok. Then we'll plan for a large presentation there. Can you guys make sure it is a passive event?" Jasmine nodded.
"If you do it in Olivine, you can use the Lighthouse to help with your presentation and we will be able to keep it passive as we can." Falkner nodded.
"Me and some officers will stay on guard for the Turners. We'll act like we're simply doing guard for the league like we normally do." Norman smiled.
"Yeah, because you guys do the best at it. No sarcasm needed." Falkner smiled as Karen nodded.
"I will be sure that the Johto League greets them. After all, it'll feel official." Purple nodded.
"I'll be sure to tell them that. Thanks." Winona hummed.
"I think your best bet afterwards is Hoenn. It lost many of its Turners, so you should have no problems there unless outside help comes in." Purple nodded.
"Ok. Then we'll figure it out after that. Thanks." The others nodded as Gary straightened up.
"The last things I think should be addressed is that the Turners are closing in. We have to do all training and preparing now. I want it done before they launch. Did anyone get any advice or know someone to go to?" Chili paused.
"Oh... uh... Paul said that if we needed training help that he would help us out with that." Gary nodded.
"Alright. Everyone, keep that in mind for training." The others nodded. "Now then, is there anything else that needs to be addressed?" Silence greeted the air. "Alright. I will make calls to see when everyone is available. Next meeting we will be getting our Ground person. Keep a lookout for possible Rock and Dragon. And if you see other good Auras, then great. Split up and keep the good work up." The others nodded as they went out.
~~~
Brock watched as they exited the lab. Several conversations, mostly league related, filled the air. There would be a quick, stray conversation that would disappear quickly before returning to the main conversation. Gary and Tracy stayed at the lab as they murmured something to each other. It was unclear what was said, but Gary got on the phone and paused. That's when Brock heard it.
"Hey Paul. You're not busy are you? Really? Great. I need to talk to you about something. No. Not about the league. This is your personal heath. I already called May and Clemont has already talked to me. Can you come in the next hour? Yeah... I want to do an update about it and... yeah. I want to do it before May's tomorrow morning. So can-"
He paused as he listened to Paul's words.
"Oh really? That would be great. So I'll see you in the next ten minutes when you get here. Yeah- Ok... yeah go ahead and bring those guys. If I can get a check for them, that would be great. Have you been in contact with Max recently? Hm.... Ok. Because I need to talk to Red about his condition and neither of them have given me a contact number. So do you have a suggestion?"
He paused briefly.
"So I should reach out through the Nightwings? Ok..." He smiled. "Thanks. I'll see you and the rangers when you guys get here. Yep. Bye."
He hung up and smiled at Tracy.
"That means we'll be able to do the boys and finish today. May will start tomorrow and we'll have to wait until sometime after lunch to see when Red will be coming. That will work perfectly." Tracy nodded.
"We won't have to talk to Ash, will we?"
"No... not this week. He did tell me that he wanted one on one with me about some of the people we'll be talking to next..." He checked the clipboard in his hand. "Wednesday. That's his only opening for a while. He originally told me he wanted to be here for Paul's, but I told him that he wouldn't make what I was planning."
"He listened?"
"He doesn't want me pulling any cards. I can handle him. But yeah... that's our schedule for the next two weeks..." Tracy nodded.
"Then we better get going. Paul will be here soon and we need to be ready." Gary nodded as the two went in. Brock paused.
"What the..."
Ha. Fight that, Brock. Oh wait... you can't.
If there's a certain scene/fight you want to see, let me or Etta know.
I hope you guys like that. Our first threat will appear soon. Remember, "Hidden Secrets" requests give this book a reason to keep going. Have a great day!