Frenzy Plant

<Previous Arc - Next Arc>

The trio strides towards Surfloat Square, determined to obtain their Trainer Licences and begin their journey. In the square, Theo, Brandi and Kenny meet Candy, a Pokemon League employee who teaches them how to get a Trainer Licence via the Trainer Academy in Routuno Forest. Their first test, they're told, is that they'll need a second Pokemon before arriving. Before they leave, the trio spy four trainers who are planning on heading to the trainer academy too- Heron, a blue-haired perfectionist, Hannah, a slum dog with a heart of gold, Vespa, a mysterious ChUrch-adjacent figure, and Hedrald, an aspiring journalist with an interest in magic.

The pep rally is interrupted by Team Hellsing, who broadcast footage of Kenny's Pokepowered outburst on Surfloat Beach the night before in Rain Dance, presumably captured by Barry Bowlcut. Team Hellsing are very opposed to Pokepowereds, seeing them as challenges to the world order. As the Hellsing broadcast turns the crowd increasingly hostile, our heroes decide to lay low, and head into Routuno Forest, which will inevitably lead them to the Trainer Academy further ahead. Brandi spies Paladins, the ChUrch of SlaSlo's capable enforcer trainers, on the main path to Surfloat, ready to investigate the attack on Surfloat Tower the night before. Having fled said tower, Theo wants to avoid them at all costs, so the group head into the undergrowth, hoping to find a shortcut. Brandi proceeds to get them lost, leading to a nasty encounter with some bug-type Pokemon. In the ensuing skirmish, Brandi catches a rabid Skorupi she calls Gary, and Theo catches an unsuspecting Sewaddle from overhead.

After setting up camp, Kenny explains to Brandi why he ran away: he left his sister, Dora, in a coma; after an incident at a local fair the last time his Pokepowers accidentally went haywire. As the others sleep, local wine-monger Drunfisk and his daughter Gertie approach the camp to enlist Kenny's aid- Drunfisk's other daughter, Alyza, was abducted some time ago by the piratical Team Nautilus. Having witnessed the Hellsing broadcast in Surfloat Square, Drunfisk and Gertie figured the Pokepowered Kenny may be able to help, especially as Alyza also has Pokepowers. To aid with the mission, Gertie gifts Kenny a Magikarp, whom he promptly names Moustache.

The team makes their way through the forest, besting a team of bug catchers on their way, and one of the bug specialists, Darius, gives Theo a Kabuto named Cabbage. As Theo, Kenny and Brandi arrive at the Trainer Academy, they find it is built into an enormous tree, named the Sephiroth Tree, a mysterious natural monument that moves around the Formia region periodically. Here they meet Professor Honey, and her aides: the torpid Calico standing in for the usual Junction, and the sardonic girlfriend of Honey, Astor- both of whom Theo fancies immediately. Also at the academy is champion swimmer Andros, along with the other potential rookies spotted in the square: Vespa, Hannah, Heron and Hedrald. Ever the socialist, Kenny introduces himself to a gruff groundskeeper named Billy, and a toff called Barnaby Timms, a wealthy young man with a Ducklett, and an eccentric demeanor.

Brandi observes Andros displaying odd behavior, and follows him and his Psyduck out of the main reception. Brandi attempts to ask him a question, but, startled by the interaction, Andros pushes Brandi down a flight of stairs. At the base of the stairs, an injured Brandi discovers the former aide to Honey, Junction, tied up inside a locker. Calico arrives with his Sawk, and is revealed to be the reason why Junction is captive. He takes Brandi to the medical wing, where she is cared for by a medically trained Ursaring, aptly called Nursaring, or Teddy. Calico reveals that he's a spy for Team Nautilus, and threatens Brandi into tracking down information and recruiting students for them during the ensuing Trainer School tournament.

Theo, meanwhile, is intrigued by Honey's weather research. They talk to Astor, who is far from interested, instead distracted by the fact that ChUrch Paladins have entered the Trainer School. Theo asks her why Honey didn't intervene with Surfloat Storm, and it's only then that Astor turns to face Theo and realizes that they're an escapee from the ChUrch of SlaSlo. Astor is aware that the paladins are looking for an escapee, who they suspect to be the culprit of the stealing of an important tome and Surfloat Tower's destruction. Astor assumes this must be Theo, and signals a paladin. Utilizing a fountain-based distraction from Kenny, Theo manages to slip away from Astor and the Paladin into the weather lab. Inside, Theo finds an experiment chamber involving countless Castform. Theo makes use of the misty terrain to send a Confuse Ray at the pursuing paladin, then dons their robes. Now dressed as a paladin, Theo makes a break for it, finding Astor quickly, and begging her to support them against the accusations of the ChUrch. Astor is convinced, but says to protect them, she will remove Theo from the tournament rankings, and they will masquerade as Astor's assistant in order to stay in her sight.

Meanwhile, Kenny accidentally activates a switch in the fountain, sending him into the water biome, one of the stadiums for the upcoming Trainer School tournament. There, he witnesses Andros having a conversation with the enigmatic leader of Team Mystic, Fray, and discovers Andros has Golduck Pokepowers. Fray notices Kenny, and she explains how Team Mystic looks to support all Pokepowered people, and implies she in interested in him before leaving. The tournament match-up is announced:

Hedrald will be against Barnaby Timms, Vespa gets through on a by due to Theo's expulsion, and Kenny is paired with Andros, whilst Brandi is up against Heron. The tournament begins in the biomes, which are accessed via a magnet train. Astor and Theo are stationed with Professor Honey, Calico, and Candy in the adjudicator box. Hedrald manages to triumph in a surprisingly intense Zigzagoon on Zigzagoon against Barnaby. Brandi faces the cold-mannered Heron, and meets Heron's sister, Bash, beforehand, who points out Brandi is far from alone in finding her brother's attitude unpleasant. Heron defeats Brandi's team in a tight battle, overcoming Wimpy with a powerful Porygon and Hoothoot.

Kenny faces Andros, Bowtie the Rowlet preforming magnificently, defeating Andros's Inkay and Psyduck. Andros, horrified, falls into the water as his Pokepowers begin to activate. The assembled onlookers begin to panic, noticing something is wrong. Kenny dives into the pool to help, activating the drainage pipe between the pool and the atrium fountain, sucking both contestants back into the empty atrium. Andros totally loses control, shattering the weather lab with a powerful Pokepowered Psybeam, releasing a flood of Castforms. In a final gambit, Kenny enters Andros's Mind Palace, but fails to rescue Andros from his own powers, and Andros is left comatose.

With the release of the Castform, the tree is now in a weather-based chaos. Brandi goes to rally the other competitors, including Hannah, Bash, Barnaby, Hedrald and Heron, to help rescue Kenny after he disappeared following his match. Their plans to help are thwarted, however, as ChUrch Paladins, still hunting for Theo, explore the training area. After Kenny breaks a hole into the Trainers Lounge and knocks out the Paladins, Brandi helps lead an evacuation of the students of the Tree, before coming back for Kenny.

Meanwhile, more Paladins block the magnet train's route out of the water biome. Astor and Theo use their Braixen and Meditite to power the train to safety. however, the now psychically propelled train loses control, and ends up crashing into the desert biome. Astor is terribly hurt. the Paladins track the judges there, and a battle begins begins between the paladins, and Honey, Candy, and Theo. Theo manages to defeat Paladin LeBon, with the help of Meditite and Kabuto. Theo, desperate to help the injured Astor, manages to access another secret passage through the Sephiroth Tree, and both of them sink through the sands and into the atrium.

Our heroes are finally reunited in the atrium. Meditite helps evacuate Astor to the medical wing, while Theo, Brandi and Kenny head into battle against Team Nautilus's Calico and his Sawk. The group win by a hair, Sawk proving a massive challenge for them. Afterwards, the now-released Junction calms the escaped Castform, and is reinstated on Professor Honey's team. With the immediate conflicts concluded, the ChUrch wants answers- they don't know who is responsible for the attack on Surfloat and the stealing of the tome if it isn't Theo. Calico reveals that Team Nautilus were the entity behind the destruction of Surfloat, omitting Adri Formonsk's role in the plot. Theo's name is cleared, but they are still excommunicated from the ChUrch for fleeing the tower, and the Paladins leave with Calico as prisoner. Finally, one more person wants to speak to Theo, Brandi and Kenny- Candy. She is impressed with the trio, and explains that, along with Vespa, Hannah, Bash and Heron, the three of them are invited to head to the Pokemon League, and have the opportunity to become part of her personal unit, known as the Special Defenders.

On a branch of the Sephiroth Tree, the gruff groundskeeper Billy transforms back into Fray's Zoroark, eyeing the Pokepowered Kenny from afar.