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Ogerpon's eyes shimmer with happiness as all of its rage and indignity fades in the face of one of its favorite treats, thought to be lost to time. "Pon pon!" I know these!

"I told you." Darts comments, grinning despite himself as his little apprentice totters on her chair, nearly falling into Aile's lap as it drooled over the candy apples. The Masked Pokemon would glance furtively at the channeler, trying to determine if it was a trick of some kind before scooping them both up, unwrapping one immediately and setting to with a wet sticky cronch as its incisors break the candy shell. "Come on now, what do we say?" the hybrid asks his ward, a little condescendingly and sing-songy. Ogerpon treats him to a harsh glare, continuing to chew.

"Phon, *gulp* po pon." I'm not a child, Just Darts, I know how to receive gifts.

She bends low at the waist, giving a deep bow of respect to Aile as she does, her three masks behind her back clattering like wooden wind chimes from the incline. "Ponnn on pon." Thank-you for the apples, they are my favorite. I will not repay this debt today, but in the future, good fortune may come your way. Ogerpon straightens and immediately resumes business, taking another bite of the juicy fruit and hard candy.

"A bit melodramatic.... but better than your last 'thank-you.'" Darts half-grumbles, still smiling regardless. "We'll take it."

--



Those candy apples lasted maybe the lesser part of an hour, as Darts and Ogerpon had taken their leave of the team breakfast shortly after. They both had fallen into a routine of training and sparring, and that was what occupied most of their time. For once, Darts was training with someone he didn't need to hold back against almost at all, and that had been invaluable according to... Teacher.

It let him embrace the full form of his fighting style, unleashing a strength that would daunt a normal opponent. But Ogerpon was no normal opponent, and was a quick study.

Regardless, a few days later they received the missive from Sub, Darts waving the Grass-type over from where it had been taking some time to smack around some training dummies with the Ivy Cudgel it was so fond of. "Hey, we have business. It's Sub."

Ogerpon had quickly adjusted to team living, learning most of the names and designations of people around HQ. Aile, no surprise, had quickly become one of its favorites, but it seemed to carry a healthy respect for Sub as well for some reason, utilizing a reverence it carried for few, Darts included. He knew that prompting his little apprentice with the Leader's name would get it into gear, and it did, causing the Legend to trot over as its club disappeared, the red Hearthflame mask swapping for its standard Teal green.

"Pon pyo?" What are we waiting for? Let's get a move on, Just Darts!

The pair of them would arrive not too long after the text, the gambler crossing his arms and leaning against the wall as was his habit as Ogerpon glanced back and forth, taking the measure of each individual as they approached.

Reno would perk up from his position on the couch in the main area, looking around at the slowly gathering Snagems as everyone else responded to the message. "Sub. I hope this isn't gonna be a major deal since...I think at least three or four of us wanna go to Paldea today." Reno piped up with, looking over towards their leader.

Beau would be slow to filter in, a few leaves and bits of dirt decorating his clothing. "Yeah, I was like.....halfway through some garden care. What are we doing?"

Leslie and Aria would be conspicuously missing from the arriving members, no major explanation offered up for where exactly they were at this time.

Sub watched as everyone filed in one at a time, pleased to see so many Snagems show up. With a sufficient number of teammates present the Snagem leader decided it was time to start explaining why he had called them all here. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice." He said to the group at large before turning his attention to Reno. "Eh...depends on what you consider a major deal. I don't think it isn't anything we can't handle." He reassured the Co-Leader before turning his attention to the group again. "Let me explain why I called you all here..." The man would extend his Snag Machine gloved hand out with the palm facing up and from the implanted Holocaster lens came a hologram of a region many were probably unfamiliar with.

"The Almia region, one of the three regions that are under the jurisdiction of the Ranger Union, our old but since (mostly) reformed enemies. For the past several months I have been keeping a close eye on some strange activity in the region, not trusting the inept Ranger Union to do anything right." With that said the hologram changed to show an unfamiliar symbol, a swirl with 'horns' on either side of it. "Team Dim Sun, a new group on the scene that has been using an oil company as a front to hide their operations. This Dim Sun has been doing some very alarming things lately, experimenting with controlling Pokemon via some kind of hypnotic technology, technology which he believe is derived from Cipher technology, Ein's technology." With that he dispelled the hologram, dropping his hand.

"Try as we might have to prevent Cipher technology from falling into the wrong hands it looks like our fears are quickly coming true as this is the second instance of Cipher tech popping up elsewhere. This is unacceptable. We must find this Team Dim Sun and destroy every piece of Cipher tech in their possession and any technology derived from it. And it's not just because of the technology but also the harm they are inflicting on innocent Pokemon by hypnotizing them to do their biding." The man would fold his arms at this point and become slightly more serious.

"With all that said I had our best operative on the case gathering recon and we know exactly where their headquarters are. I intend on storming their headquarters directly and cutting the head off this beast before it gets out of control. Our most talent agent assures me now would be the best time as their leader is there right now, overseeing some new big project they are working on. I trust this highly skilled, reliable, and astute member's judgement more than anyone. So, prepare yourselves and your teams, we're going to be moving out to the region of Almia and undergoing a raid on Team Dim Sun's headquarters. We'll have to move fast though before the Ranger Union catches onto us. They won't like us poking around in their backyard but we have legal authority to enter any region to thwart Shadow Pokemon or collect Cipher technology. They can complain to the Indigo Alliance if they want to." Sub said with a smirk, he was going to enjoy sticking it to the Ranger Union.

A ding would come from Sub's SNAG, the man perking up and taking out his SNAG to see what it was. "Oh, our plant within the Ranger Union's ranks, the one who did all the recon, is about to show up. Good."

Freth and I listened in, staring in confusion as Sub made his explanation. It never seemed to fail that there was always something left over from prior battles that someone scavenges up and goes to use and whoever this Dim Sum team was, were no exception. Though it did beg the question if we were to go off over there with them armed with our Pokémon, that we’re putting our Pokémon at risk tin getting caught up in this. Last thing we needed was something throwing our Pokémon parties in disarray.

In light of all of that, however, while the gravity of the situation wasn’t lost on her, something bothered her more. She looked around the main room. Sub had his best ‘operative’ already out there? “Uh…best…operative?” Freth asked.

I also took a quick glance around then I stared at Sub, a bit deadpan. I wasn't sure if he was being ironic or facetious. “You sent Larrimore out there, didn’t you?”

"Almia?" Odd asked. That was a name he wasn't familiar with.

"The Ranger Union?!" Lykas barked out. "Why do we care what those idiots think?!" He asked, recalling entirely too well just how the Ranger Union had been a thorn in the Team's side in the early days. "I mean... it's kind of their fault we even exist but... ~/~ 'em." He decided. "Let's go take care of these Cipher-tech dweebs and let the Rangers get as mad as they want!"

"Oh dear... I don't know much about Almia... The Academy didn't cover the Union-regulated regions besides mentioning there are a few that exist..." They stated simply. "I'm going to guess the Indigo Alliance doesn't really get along with them or they'd have their own Pokemon Leagues like the Alliance regions?"

"Well... We might need someone to watch Libelle if we're heading off to Almia..." Odd stated. "We're got options. Fermata's good with her. He can watch her while we're gone."

"I need him for Channeling." Odd pointed out.
Libelle grabbed at Odd's shirt and tugged, trying to get his attention. "Ba ba!"

"And it's feeding time, at that." The Channeler pointed out. "Hang on, sweetheart. We'll get you fed in a bit." He assured the baby.

Clare smirked at the baby. "If no one else can watch her, I'd be happy to." They offered cheerfully.

"I still can't believe I'm going through all this shampoo," Monique thought as she stepped out of the shower. One of the biggest adjustments to life as a hybrid was caring for the Zoroark parts of her. Another was the fact that she had used so little shampoo under the Dome, since it was kind of precious. She didn't exactly live in Flower City, after all.

Of course, all that shampoo and all that water meant it took time to dry. The sheriff of New Po had to almost sit in a dry sauna after showering instead of waiting. And that was before getting ready. She'd learned to let her makeup and most of her outfit be in Illusions, but cleanliness couldn't be left to her Ability.

Monique had mostly reassembled herself with an "everyday outfit": a cream-colored tank top, a pink short skirt, nothing fancy. And her SNAG, which now carried an urgent all-team message asking for everyone's presence in the common area.

As soon as she could, she scrambled down to the lounge. It might have been surprising to some teammates to see Monique so stripped down, no Illusion, but this sounded important. And besides, if it wasn't, she could easily change her visage when they were done.

***

"Almia?" Monique asked, the name of the region hanging uncomfortably off her tongue. "I can't say I have ever heard of it. Or this Ranger Union. What makes their regions so different?"

But hearing Cipher and technology in the same sentence made clear this was a sobering task. She knew all too well what Cipher technology could do to a world, and hypnotizing Pokémon? This was bad. These Dim Sun people needed to be put out of their misery.

Ever since she has returned, Ulla has be reconnecting with her Pokemon that she left behind due to them not being able to join the Fairy Realm. Even some of Leon's Pokemon that he left in Ulla's care. In the few days, she has spruced up their room, battled with her Pokemon to strengthen their bond, and has spent time with her new family members. Today, she was mainly grooming her Pokemon. Except for one that was very distant. It happened to be Leon's Hisuian Zorura. The small ghost type was very cautious. They did grow a liking to Ulla's Lycanroc and Mimikyu though. Zorura was watching from afar as she was grooming Lycanroc.

Ulla looked over to Zorura as she had her hand out. "Zorura. Would you like to be brushed next?" The small dog froze and hid under her bed. Ulla sighed as she didn't know what to do. She was just glad, that Mimikyu and Lycanroc were close to the little ghost. "Master, a moment?" Lucario entered the room and showed her, her SNAG with Sub's message. Ulla stood up and brushed off any fur that got on her dress. "Time to go, lets see what I've missed." She said as she recalled her Pokemon into their respective Pokeballs except Lucario and Zorura, who was still hiding under the bed. She paused then walked out of her room to the common area. Lucario stayed back and knelt down to Zorura's level. "I know, you probably don't understand why Leon left you behind. After all, he was the one who brought you back. But, he must have had a reason. Maybe, Leon couldn't give you something that you needed. But maybe, my Master could. Maybe that's what he believed." Lucario said. It was silent for a moment but then Zorura popped their head out of under the bed.

Lucario smiled and merely nodded. Both of them exited the room together to join Ulla in the common room.