Rain Dance

<Next Arc>

Our story begins in the coastal village of Surfloat Town. Brandi and her mother, Whiskey, are the Mart owners of Surfloat, although their store, Whiskey's Dealeos, is suffering as of late. Brandi, a pink-haired girl and former cheerleader, dreams of soon competing in the Pokemon League. One night, she receives an invitation to a Beach Party on Surfloat Beach, from current Pokemon Champion Gary Smoke- the man she used to cheer for. Despite the gathering storm clouds, Brandi and her Buneary, Wimpy, set off to the beach.

Kenny Mullet, a boy with dark scraggly hair and sunken, tired eyes, dashes through Routuno Forest on the outskirts of Surfloat Town. He runs through the overgrowth, hoping to escape not only his dark past, but also the Swellow chasing him. One arm is wrapped around a Rowlet nicknamed Bowtie, and the other hand clutches a note telling him to find Theo. He darts towards Surfloat Tower, home of the ChUrch of SlaSlo in the town.

Theo, a tall, non-binary scholar with flowing robes and dark braided hair, lectures young ChUrch acolytes on Pokemon Battling inside the ChUrch of SlaSlo's Surfloat Tower. Theo, and their partner, Meditite, long to venture outside of the Tower more, but are mostly restricted by the ChUrch itself. When Kenny Mullet appears on the doorstep of the Tower with their name and an injured Rowlet, Theo agrees to help the boy, temporarily ignoring their many questions as to who he is. After meeting Mr. Eee in the apothecary, they learn they need Fermented Hyper Potion to heal Bowtie, and so the pair head out to look for it, but with the storm on the horizon, the only place open is Gary Smoke's Beach Party.

Brandi, Theo, and Kenny meet at Gary Smoke's Beach House, and Brandi is able to help the Rowlet with an improvised medicine. Seto Kappa, CEO of Kappa Corp, approaches Gary Smoke about promoting their new Pokeball: the Extreme Ball- said to be able to instantly catch any Pokemon. Gary agrees to test the ball in the middle of the storm. Meanwhile, Kenny makes friends with a boy called Barry Bowlcut, and Theo catches the eye of a small trainer called Tyler. The storm is getting increasingly dangerous; threatening the lives of all at the Beach Party. Theo spars with Tyler; and loses to his powerful Elekid. Tyler reveals himself to be part of Formia's Elite Four, and one who will keep an eye on Theo.

Despite Brandi's warnings about the deadly weather, Gary Smoke heads to the coast with the Extreme Ball, while Kenny, with his camera, records it for the footage. That is, until a flash of lightning reveals a massive pirate ship in Surfloat Cove; the infamous piratical Team Nautilus. A large, kraken-like Octillery is attached to the ship. Gary Smoke is captured by the tentacles of the Octillery, while the massive beast fires an Octozooka at Surfloat Tower.

In the panic, Kenny accidentally reveals himself to be Pokepowered, and unwittingly fires a Dark Pulse at Gary Smoke's Beach House. Barry Bowlcut brands Kenny as an abomination, and moves to attack the now-unconscious boy with his Pawniard. Theo steps in to protect him, terrified but intrigued by Kenny's dark gifts. Theo proceeds to enter Kenny's Mind Palace, an abstract location in Kenny's psyche, and the pair defeat a manifestation of Kenny's doubts in the form of a Scolipede called Pete. Brandi and Wimpy brave the tempestuous ocean in an attempt to save Gary Smoke, but it is too late, and the champion is dragged away to the pirate ship.

The trio dash towards Surfloat Tower to help those caught in the Octillery attack. On the way, they find Theo's scholarly rival and fellow ChUrch disciple, Adri Formonsk escaping the Tower with a stolen tome. They confront them, but Adri gets away to deliver the tome to the pirates.

Theo is heartbroken at the destruction of their home; but is granted a small mercy in the survival of their mentor, Cainan. Cainan reveals to Theo that the tome Adri stole is one of three, each reportedly leading to the mythical ChUrch artifact, the King's Rock. Cainan encourages Theo to pursue their quest for knowledge outside of the ChUrch.

The following morning, Brandi, Theo, and Kenny sit in the remains of Whiskey's shop, completely destroyed by last night's storm. Brandi is determined to gain enough money to rebuild her mothers shop- and the whole of Surfloat Town, eyeing the now-vacant Pokemon Champion spot. Kenny is sure that Theo will have answers for him about his uncontrollable dark Pokepowers. Whilst Theo's irrepressible curiosity about Kenny's Pokepowers, and his connection to the King's Rock, sees them ready to leave too. Brandi, Theo, and Kenny head towards Surfloat square, where the Pokemon League is recruiting new trainers looking to obtain their Trainer License.