All the World's a Pokemon - IC

[Major Mario]

Rustboro Clinic - Rustboro City - Hoenn Region @Wriggle

---

"Thanks for your help," Sherry replied before taking off down the halls.

The clinic smelled strange, yet all too familiar to the agent. Sterilized chambers, men in white garb, rubber gloves, and clean tools all reminded Sherry of a time when she should have been outside rolling in the grass or playing with friends. Instead, she was poked and prodded with needles, quarantined from the rest of society as officials tried to figure out the virus contained within her body. If it hadn't been for bioterrorism, she would have lived a normal life. But now that she was outside, Sherry aspired to make the best of what time she had.

She ducked into the room that the receptionist told her about and laid her eyes on the patient within. With a smile, she approached him and stood at his bedside.

"Doing better? Feel free to say no," Sherry giggled, "because if you don't feel better, you're going to feel better real soon."

To prove her point, she gestured for Madame von Crispsuit to approach with the Slakoth.

[WriggleRid3r]

Hoenn Region - Rustboro Clinic

---

"Ah, what do you mean by tha-" The trainer raised his eyebrow, but when Yuuka brought in the Pokeball, it was clear to the trainer what Sherry meant. "You... got my Slakoth back...?"

"He's safe and sound." Yuuka smiled as she tossed the Pokeball back to the trainer.

"I... I don't know how to thank you..." The trainer gasped. Sherry could see that he had drops of tear coming from his eyes. "How can I ever repay this debt?"

[Major Mario]

Rustboro Clinic - Rustboro City - Hoenn Region @Wriggle

---

This. This was what Sherry strived to see when she got off of work. She wanted to see the fruits of her labor hanging from low branches for all to see. She wanted to know that her efforts were not in vain. Seeing that the man was shaking with appreciation from such a random act of kindness was all Sherry wanted to see and more. Perhaps this was how Leon and Claire felt when they rescued the small Sherry from Raccoon City, and if so, the agent understood it perfectly. Her smile widened and she shook her head.

"There's no need to repay anybody," Sherry answered. "All that I ask is that you get better. You've got your partner back, and I bet he's missed you."

[WriggleRid3r]

Hoenn Region - Rustboro Clinic

---

"I... If I see you again, I'll make sure to repay you!" The trainer nodded in determination and thankfulness.

---

"Okay, so we gave back the Slakoth to the trainer, now what do we have to do next?" Yuuka asked Sherry as the two left the clinic. The sun was hanging by the western side, but it was still a long way until the night hits.

[Major Mario]

Rustboro City - Hoenn Region @Wriggle

---

Sherry thought for a moment on Yuuka's question. Time wasn't their enemy, but Sherry had no desire to linger in one place longer than she needed to. The two had done what they can in Rustboro with Team Anarchy, and the Devon Corp. had given out their task for the agent. There was no time limit listed, and the two had all the time in the world to complete their respective tasks. Yet, once again, Sherry had no desire to stay in Rustboro any longer.

She glanced up at the sun before pointing towards the south.

"We go back to Captain Briney and get ourselves a free ride to Dewford Town. I've got a package to deliver there," Sherry said, as if it justified her going there. She looked back at Yuuka. "But what about you? What are you going to do once we deliver the flag to the Captain?"

[WriggleRid3r]

Hoenn Region - Rustboro City

---

"Well I was thinking of challenging the gym here..." Yuuka contemplated as a policeman and a brunette girl approached the duo.

[Major Mario]

Rustboro City - Hoenn Region @Wriggle

---

Sherry blinked and contemplated Yuuka's suggestion. It seemed that she wasn't the only one in the party who had things to do. If Yuuka wanted to challenge the gym, then Sherry figured she could at least stay awhile and support her. Roxanne was a tough cookie, but having a Pokemon who was resilient to hard blows would be her downfall.

"Hmm... I suppose staying here for the night wouldn't hurt, and you could go off and challenge Roxanne, the gym leader, if you wanted to," Sherry said. She smiled again. "I bet your Lotad would be perfect to fight against her rocky party. Just watch out for her-"

The agent was cut off when she noticed the policeman and brunette girl approaching them.

"Hmm? Officer?"

[WriggleRid3r]

Hoenn Region - Rustboro City

---

"I heard reports of two trainers single-handedly taking out Team Anarchy's hideout." The policeman saluted. The brunette, looking bout 16 or so, stood next to him dignifyingly. Didn't Sherry... See her before?

"According to the reports, it says that the two trainers were female at about the age of early to mid 20s... Blonde and green-haired... A Taillow hanging nearby... You all seem to match the description. Are you two the two trainers that attacked Team Anarchy's hideout?"

[Major Mario]

Rustboro City - Hoenn Region @Wriggle

---

"I'm 27," Sherry replied, near indignant. She glanced to the brunette and tried to jog her memory, but she could not remember her at all. "And yes, we're the two trainers you're looking for."

There was no reason to be suspicious of the policeman or brunette, but there was reason to be a little miffed. Age was a touchy subject for the G-virus agent. Because of her 'childhood', her youthful appearance was maintained while her abilities were strengthened. She hated her mask, and she hated it even more when people looked at her and saw a little girl. But, she had done so much already to prove herself as a woman now.

[WriggleRid3r]

Hoenn Region - Rustboro City

---

"Good. We found the right people." The brunette nodded and stepped forward. "I would like to represent everyone in Rustboro City and thank you two for your brave actions."

"Who are you to do such a thing?" Yuuka asked the brunette, who smiled and showed her golden badge with two ridges on it: Stone Badge.

"My name is Roxanne," Roxanne announced. "Gym leader of this city. And I would like to bestow you, as a token of honor, this Stone Badge to the brave trainer who sought out to defeat an aching tumor in the city's safety."

[Major Mario]

Rustboro City - Hoenn Region @Wriggle

---

( OH YEAH TOTES SHERRY REMEMBERS ROXANNE )

"Wow... Thanks Roxanne."

Sherry was more than pleased that their actions were acknowledged, and by the gym leader, no less. From what she had learned, the gym leaders of the region were respected like celebrities, and they had good connections with the cities they placed their bases in. Seeing Roxanne and the police taking an interest in what happened gave some hope for the rest of the region. But why did no-one go after the hideout before? Surely the gym leader could have rounded up a few servicemembers and put the crooks to the blade.

She supposed it didn't matter at the moment, but Sherry wasn't going to forget the ineptitude exuded by the police.

"Well Yuuka, you practically took out those crooks by yourself," Sherry said. She turned to her and gave her a proud smile. "You deserve the credit more than I do."

[WriggleRid3r]

Hoenn Region - Rustboro City

---

"Score!" Yuuka grinned with joyous whim. "But... why didn't you just defeat them by yourself? Surely you're the gym leader..."

"The Team Anarchy were supported by the ex-Team Magma and Team Aqua leaders, Maxie and Archie. We could've defeated them if we didn't want to incur the wrath of the two." Roxanne explained. "Anyway, now that you two have the Stone Badge, the next destination is the Dewford Town."

Dewford Town. That's where Sherry was supposed to meet Chiu, a mysterious enigma who could help with defeating the Team Anarchy and their... well... anarchist plans.

"Dewford Town. Got it." Yuuka nodded, clutching her newly-earned badge with hope and determination. "Before that..."

Yuuka pulled out the moneybag.

"This was in Team Anarchy's base. We managed to retrieve it, but I think it is only fair for the city to use it for their need."

"Ah, that's the city enhancement fund that went missing!" The policeman exclaimed.

"Excellent. We can finally manage to continue the project." Roxanne clasped her hands together with joy. "Thank you all for your help."

"No problem." Yuuka winked as the policeman and Roxanne left. "So... back to meeting the old captain?"

---

"I quit."

"What do you mean, you quit?"

Grunch was determined. After meeting the two female trainers, Grunch questioned his own life. Is this what he really want? What about his Mama waiting back at home in Johto?

Grunch's mother was sick. She caught a rare disease that no one knew about until now. Her life was in danger, and Grunch wanted to find a way to find a cure for this disease so that his Mama could be healthy again. That's why he joined Team Anarchy. He thought, maybe, he could amass enough fortune and information to find the cure... but to avail. These crooks were nothing but part-time drug junkies that just wanted a little excitement in their life. The executives were even worse, focused too much on a grand scheme to even care for their underlings.

He was going to leave Team Anarchy.

"You all, listen to me. I don't care if you choose to follow your path, which will eventually lead to a dead end, or choose to live a better life. But I've decided that staying in Team Anarchy is not worth the risk."

"Bah, you talk big, Grunch. But you're just a sissy inside. You possibly can't leave-"

PUNCH

Grunch the Punch was named so because of his punches. A single punch knocked out a grunt in an instant. The other two cowered in fear. Grunch took a glare at them, took off his Team Anarchy badge, and continued: "From here on now, I choose to follow my own way. Team Anarchy or not, I will crush anyone who chooses to stop me."

Mama, I made some mistakes in the past. Grunch thought as he left the hideout and out to wherever wind will take him. But I hope that, when I meet you again, I can face you with a smile on my face and the cure on my hand. Hang on Mama, I know you can hear me. I'm not gonna let you die.

[Major Mario]

Rustboro City - Hoenn Region @Wriggle

---

Sherry waved off the gym leader and policeman, happy that they were taking back their city now that a hitch had been taken care of. If she were in their position, she doubted what action she would have taken and decided that Roxanne had made the right choice by choosing to keep her citizens safe by ignoring Team Anarchy. A flea was better to have than a tick, after all. No matter how much the flea bothered the community, they would be kept safe as long as someone in power knew what they were doing.

So, now that Yuuka had the gym badge taken care of (through fame and word of good deeds, no less), the path to Dewford was laid out for the two women and their partners. Sherry outstretched her arm and let Claire land on it before giving her an affectionate neck scratch.

"Yep, we head back to Captain Briney. If we hurry, we'll get back to his cabin at or before sunset." Sherry looked up at the sky. "Maybe we'll even be on the ocean when we get back. It'll be cold at night, but at least we're finally getting somewhere."

[WriggleRid3r]

Hoenn Region - Rustboro City

---

"Right. Hopefully we don't run into a hive full of angry Beedrills this time." Yuuka shuddered as the two stepped out of the city, bidding it farewell as they continued towards Petalburg Woods.

[Major Mario]

Outside Rustboro City - Hoenn Region @Wriggle

---

"I hope we don't either," Sherry concurred. "But if we do, we're more than a match for them. I guess going up against Team Anarchy gives you some good experience, and I bet we have some tactics up our sleeves."

It was true, in a way. Even if Sherry wasn't a veteran Pokemon trainer, she could take elements out of the day to day lives of the creatures and attribute them to common life. She could even pluck out her life experiences and use them to train her Pokemon. The importance of falling back to a defendable position, suppressing fire, covering flanks, and stunning enemies may not serve her well enough here in this world, but for her Pokemon, they would benefit tenfold. That is, as long as they understood what suppressing fire was.