Chapter 261: Desert Trip Complete!
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Later, Route 111]
With the Regi acquisitions complete, Azure decided to return to the entrance of the Desert, as per his arrangement with Sapphire. He set up a temporary camp near the edge of the Route 111 checkpoint, watching the distant shimmering heat.
Sapphire still had another day or two of training, and Azure figured this was the perfect opportunity to focus on one of his most challenging goals: teaching Sceptile the ultimate Grass-type move, Frenzy Plant.
He recalled the immense effort it had taken to teach his Venusaur Frenzy Plant years ago. It was a move that demanded not just power, but absolute control over one's life force, an ability to summon and unleash a devastating torrent of natural energy.
Sceptile, with its incredible speed and razor-sharp Leaf Blades, possessed a different kind of power than Venusaur's stoic bulk. It would require a different approach, a channeling of its inherent agility and precision.
Azure found a secluded, rocky outcrop, a small plateau offering an uninhibited view of the desert, and, more importantly, a safe distance from any potential travelers. He released Sceptile for special training.
*Pop*
Sceptile appeared looking a bit confused as it stared at Azure. Smiling began, his voice calm but firm, "Alright, Sceptile. We're going to push your limits today. We're going to learn the Ultimate Grass Type move you can perform. Frenzy Plant."
Sceptile's eyes widened, a flicker of excitement and apprehension. It had seen the sheer destructive force of the move in battle replays of Azure's Kanto victories, understanding its potential in its free time.
It knew from seeing the training videos that it was a powerful move that only it could learn. Azure explained, kneeling to meet his Pokémon's gaze, "This isn't just about power, Sceptile. It's about focus. About drawing every ounce of natural energy from within you, channeling it, and releasing it in one unstoppable burst. Think of it like your Leaf Blade but magnified a thousandfold. Instead of a precise cut, it's a monumental explosion of thorns and roots."
He demonstrated, using his hands to mimic the surge of energy, the expansive growth, the final devastating impact. Sceptile mimicked the movements, its body tense with anticipation.
Seeing this, Azure smiled, seeing that it got the posture right as he continued instructing it, "Now, try to feel it. Close your eyes. Feel the energy of the earth beneath us. Feel the life force within yourself. Draw it all together, condense it, then unleash it."
Sceptile closed its eyes, its chest heaving with deep breaths…
*Shiii*
Green Grass Type energy began to shimmer around its body, a faint aura that pulsed with its efforts. Azure watched patiently, observing every subtle shift in its posture, every tremor in its leaf-like tail.
Sceptile roared, and a small, chaotic burst of green energy erupted from its body, causing a few brittle desert shrubs to wither instantly. Azure examined the move as he thought bluntly, 'It was far from the colossal power of Frenzy Plant, but it was a start. Only practice could perfect such a powerful move.'
He slowly smiled, seeing Sceptile's hard work as he praised his Pokémon happily, "Good! You felt the energy. But it's wild. Untamed. You need to control it. Focus it on a single point, then let it burst outwards. Imagine a seed growing into a mighty tree in an instant, but that tree is made of pure destructive power."
They spent hours in the searing sun. Sceptile unleashed numerous attempts.
Some resulted in nothing more than a faint green glow, others in small, uncontrolled explosions of energy that left shallow scorch marks on the rock. Its body was soon glistening with sweat, its breath coming in ragged gasps.
The move was immensely draining. Azure commanded, offering a fresh bottle of water and a Sitrus Berry, "Take a break, Sceptile. Hydrate, recover. This isn't a sprint; it's a marathon of willpower. You'll get the move down, I know it."
As Sceptile rested, Azure reviewed its movements. He noticed a tendency for Sceptile to release the energy too soon, or to let it dissipate before it could coalesce into a concentrated attack.
Its agility was a boon for speed, but a hindrance for the sustained focus Frenzy Plant demanded. Azure explained calmly as Sceptile listened intently, "When you gather the energy, don't release it as soon as you feel it. Hold it. Coalesce it. Let it build until it feels like it might burst from within you. Then, direct it. Like a spear of pure force, aimed at your target."
Sceptile, re-energized, nodded. It understood.
This wasn't just physical exertion; it was a mental battle against its own natural impulses. Azure pointed to a large, freestanding rock column in the distance as he instructed, "Focus all that power on that rock, Sceptile."
Sceptile closed its eyes again, its whole body trembling with effort. This time, the green aura around it intensified, growing brighter, more stable.
*RMBL*
The air around it crackled, and the very sand beneath its feet began to vibrate under its condensed might. Azure could see the immense strain, the sheer willpower emanating from his Grass-type partner.
A guttural roar ripped from Sceptile's throat, unlike any sound Azure had heard from it before. A colossal surge of emerald energy erupted from its body, not as a chaotic burst, but as a focused, expanding wave of thorny vines and thick roots…
*TRBL*
The ground trembled violently, and the air filled with the scent of ozone and freshly torn vegetation. The monumental wave of power slammed into the rock column with cataclysmic force.
*BOOOM*
The earth groaned. Dust and debris exploded outwards as the ancient rock splintered, cracked, and then disintegrated into a shower of pebbles, leaving a deep, ragged crater where it once stood.
Sceptile stood panting, its legs trembling, its eyes wide with exhaustion, but also with an unmistakable gleam of triumph. Azure smiled proudly as he thought, 'Sceptile had done it. It learned Frenzy Plant.'
Azure walked over, a proud smile gracing his features. He gently patted Sceptile's head as he said proudly, "You did it, Sceptile. You got it. That was magnificent."
Sceptile leaned into his touch, its immense fatigue overshadowed by the profound satisfaction of accomplishment. Its ultimate Grass-type move, a weapon of unparalleled power, was now at its command.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the desert sky in hues of orange and purple, Azure looked towards the desert entrance. Sapphire would be returning soon, full of her own training stories.
He collected Sceptile into their Poké Balls, a sense of quiet contentment settling over him with Pikachu and Eevee by his side. He gazed at his shadow as Marshadow resided and waited as he muttered out loud, "At the very least, I got you guys around as company. I suppose I gotta wait one more day, huh…"
Resting up in his temporary camp, Azure yawned, having his Marshadow on watch duty. After that, he, Eevee, and Pikachu went to sleep for the next day…
/////
[Hoenn Region, Next Day, Route 111]
The hours passed in quiet contemplation. The only sounds were the whisper of the desert wind and the occasional cry of a distant Skarmory.
Azure slept soundly when he finally retired, trusting in the solitude of the desert and his own vigilant senses. The first rays of dawn painted the eastern sky in soft pastels of rose and gold, slightly awakening him.
Azure stirred, his internal clock as reliable as the sunrise. He began systematically dismantling his camp, packing everything away with the efficiency of years of practice after feeding his Pokémon.
The small fire was extinguished, the ground restored to its natural state, leaving minimal traces of his presence. He had just finished coiling the last rope of his tent when a faint disturbance caught his ear, "Ma… st… e… r…."
A distant cloud of dust, growing steadily larger, appeared on the western horizon. Azure straightened, a subtle smile touching his lips.
Moments later, Sapphire emerged from the haze, her steps perhaps a little weary, but her posture radiating a newfound strength. Her clothes were a bit dusty, her hair windswept, but her eyes sparkled with an invigorated light, no longer just wonder, but also a deep sense of accomplishment.
Behind her, Kirly, Chic, and the rest of her team walked with a noticeable confidence, their movements more fluid, their gazes sharper. Even their dust-caked bodies seemed to hum with new power.
Sapphire called out, her voice hoarse but triumphant, "Master!"
She jogged the last few meters, a grin splitting her face as she said, "I made it!"
Azure simply nodded, his smile widening slightly. He replied, sighing a breath of relief, "I knew you would. It seems the desert has been a good teacher."
Sapphire laughed, a bright, clear sound in the morning air. She was practically bursting with stories, her face alight with every detail of her struggles and triumphs, "It was… something else! I never thought I'd be so happy to see water! And those sandstorms! But Kirly found a way to use the wind for a new kind of Close Combat, and Chic's Flame Charge has never been faster!"
Azure listened patiently, his gaze sweeping over her and her Pokémon, seeing the undeniable signs of growth. The desert had indeed served its purpose.
He shouldered his pack, the weight familiar and comforting. He finally said, his voice imbued with genuine pride, "Excellent. It sounds like you faced your challenges head-on. That's what matters. Are you ready, Sapphire? Our journey continues."
Sapphire met his gaze, her eyes shining with newfound resolve. The youthful wonder was still there, but now tempered with the steel of experience as she replied excitedly, "More than ready, Master. Let's go – "
*GRUMBLE*
But before they could go any further, Sapphire's stomach grumbled. Her face blushed deep red with embarrassment as she muttered, "Woops… seems like I forgot that I need to eat. You wouldn't happen to have any leftovers, Master…?"
Azure sighed helplessly, shaking his head at Sapphire. He replied, grabbing his cooking supplies again as he said casually, "Sigh… I'll start cooking up some meals. I'm guessing your Pokémon are also hungry?"
*GRUMBLE*
The hungry stomachs of Chic, Kirly, and a few of her team members were heard. They all blushed a bit, embarrassed as Azure sighed helplessly, shaking his head, "No worries, I'll be sure to make some portions for you guys as well. Just hold on."
Sapphire's Pokémon cheered happily at the news of getting food, while Sapphire herself was embarrassed by herself. After making they're meals, they began to travel to Route 112 as they're next destination.
Together, the veteran champion and his ambitious student turned their backs on the desert, their path now leading them deeper into their adventure. The desert's lessons were ingrained, a foundation upon which their next adventures would be built.
While walking together to Route 112, Azure pondered to himself, thinking critically, 'Hmm… if I don't let my Regis train, it would be hard for my Pokémon to grow strong fast. Perhaps I should reconsider hiding them as it will cripple my team's growth if I do…'
As they walked, Azure pondered revealing Regice and Regirock to Sapphire when they train together to get the most gains possible. He gave it some deep thought as they walked together…
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A/N: Reach the goal of 200 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!