Chapter 311: Sootopolis City
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Next Day, Sootopolis City]
The sun, a molten gold disc, dipped below the horizon, casting long, ethereal shadows across the crystalline waters of Sootopolis City. Azure, his signature Pikachu perched contentedly on his shoulder, and Eevee nestled on his head, breathed in the salty air.
Their arrival via Salamence had been a discreet affair, a swift flight that bypassed the watchful eyes of the region. The massive stone archway of Sootopolis City rose from the mist like the mouth of an ancient beast. Its black walls reflected the surrounding jungle, while waterfalls cascaded down its sides, creating a perpetual curtain of spray that glimmered in the late afternoon light.
The city's streets, built upon an island of volcanic rock, were a labyrinth of bridges and terraces, each leading to a different vista of the sea below. Azure's Salamence descended gently onto the central plaza, dropping him down, Pikachu, and Eevee onto the polished stone.
Azure said excitedly, brushing a stray leaf from his jacket, "Looks like we're finally here. Sootopolis City!"
His eyes scanned the city's silhouette—gleaming towers of glass, the shimmering pool at the city's heart. Pikachu hopped from his shoulder, ears perked, while Eevee let out a soft chirp, its eyes bright with wonder.
They had travelled thousands of miles together, weathered battles that had left their marks, and now, after a brief respite on their journey, they stood poised before a new challenge. He walked toward the central fountain, the sound of water mingling with the distant hum of conversation.
The city was unusually quiet; no trainers shouted across the plaza, no bustling market stalls hawked their wares. Azure's intuition told him something was off—Wallace, the Water-type Gym Leader and chief of Sootopolis, was nowhere to be seen.
Azure mused, recalling Wallace's habit of Pokémon Contest rather than staying in the city's limelight, "Probably off on some research… or Pokémon Contest."
He ventured further, admiring the way light played off the basalt columns, the way the air smelled of ozone and sea salt. He paused near a statue of an ancient sea dragon, its eyes two polished sapphires that seemed to follow him.
Azure felt a strange pull, as if the city itself were humming in anticipation. It was then his Arc Phone buzzed, a soft chime that cut through the tranquility.
*Beep*
He glanced at the screen: [STEVEN]—the name blinked in bright teal. Azure moved to a more secluded alcove, the soft murmur of cascading water providing a natural privacy screen.
Finding a secluded alcove behind the fountain, Azure settled onto a stone bench. He pressed the call button, and the familiar voice of Steven filled his ear, crisp as a steel blade, as he said, stunned, "Azure! Finally! I've been looking over the satellite feeds from Mossdeep. You really did it—caught Rayquaza! And… you have a Master Ball with it inside? Show me, will you?"
Azure smirked, pulling the Master Ball from his belt. The sphere glowed with an inner light, the faint silhouette of Rayquaza faintly visible through the metallic casing.
Azure said proudly, his voice echoing slightly in the cavernous space, "Here's the proof. The Sky‑High Pokémon is officially in my team."
Steven's eyes widened, his usual calm demeanor momentarily shattered. He was silent, processing the sheer impossibility of it all.
Azure, sensing the stunned silence, decided to press his advantage, a subtle boast a welcome indulgence. He let the Arc Phone's camera pan over his other Poké Balls, revealing not just the usual array of powerful Pokémon, but three distinct, Ultra Balls containing the Regi Trio.
Azure continued, his voice laced with theatrical flair, "And just in case you were wondering what else I've been up to, these three are also… with me."
Steven's jaw slackened. He stammered, the names barely a whisper, "Regirock, Registeel, and Regice?"
His legendary Pokémon knowledge was renowned, and the sheer audacity of Azure's claim, coupled with the visual evidence, was overwhelming as he muttered, "You encountered the Regi Trio? Here in Hoenn?"
Azure chuckled at Steven's dumbfounded expression, a low, resonant sound as he said coolly, "Indeed. A rather straightforward encounter, all things considered. I ran into each of them on the way here. Regirock in the Desert Ruins, Regice in the Snowy Cavern, and Registeel on its own little tourist spot along the route. I thought they were just legends, but actually… they're real."
Steven's mind raced, gears grinding as he re-evaluated his meticulously planned contingencies. He'd had a backup plan, a desperate measure designed to awaken the Regis should the need arise.
He'd intended to decipher an ancient text, entrusting its secrets to a blind person with highly sensitive touch capable of understanding its nuances through touch, and then task his Elite Four with their capture. But Azure had rendered that entire endeavor moot, a colossal waste of time and resources.
Steven's voice was a mixture of admiration and frustration as he said, "I spent months trying to decode the stone tablet—had a blind scholar help… all to awaken them, to have the Elite Four capture them. And… You just… shattered their seals?"
Azure simply grinned smugly, causing Steven's eye to twitch. But taking a deep breath, Steven finally managed, his voice filled with genuine bewilderment, "But… how? Their chambers are sealed with such an ancient, unbreakable force. Not even the most potent Pokémon moves could touch those seals."
Azure leaned against a moss-covered wall, the sun dappling through the lush foliage. He recalled the events with a calm, almost detached air that belied their immense power answered calmly, "Ah, yes. The seals. A fascinating challenge, to be sure."
He paused, letting the anticipation build till he finally answered Steven's question, "For Regirock's chamber, I utilized Mega Gardevoir's abilities. She created a contained singularity, a miniature black hole, if you will, powerful enough to erase the seal without causing any collateral damage."
Steven blinked, trying to reconcile the image of his elegant Gardevoir with the creation of an interdimensional void. Azure continued, unfazed by Steven's stunned expression, "As for Regice's chamber. I simply… backtracked. Once Regirock was free, I brought him to the Regice chamber. I reasoned that a Pokémon of its immense power, designed to contain beings of similar caliber, would be capable of breaking the seal through sheer brute force. And, as you can see, it worked perfectly."
Steven was speechless. The logic was convoluted, the methods mind-bogglingly unconventional, and the implied power levels astronomical.
He'd spent years researching and strategizing, only to have his plans rendered obsolete by Azure's seemingly casual displays of overwhelming force.
There was a long silence on the other end. Steven's voice softened as he said knowingly, "You… you're not… you're cheating the whole system. The Association will be livid. And what about Kyogre and Groudon? They're still dormant, and the world's balance hangs on that."
Azure reassured him with a grin, his tone shifting back to the matter at hand, "No need to fret, Steven. The Kyogre and Groudon situation. With Rayquaza by my side, we'll manage it. Besides…"
He added, a glint in his eye, the sky above him as he stated bluntly, "Team Magma and Team Aqua have made my journey in Hoenn unnecessarily… interesting. I feel a rather strong urge to return that favor."
Steven let out a sigh of relief, a faint smile playing on his lips as he warned his friend, "The Pokémon Association won't be entirely pleased with the unauthorized capture of Legendaries, you know."
Azure scoffed, tapping the Master Ball as he stated bluntly, "If they're that displeased, tell them to say it to Rayquaza's face. If they're strong enough, of course."
Steven's chuckle deepened, his amusement evident. He was well accustomed to Azure's bold pronouncements and unwavering confidence as he said calmly, "I will, Azure. And I look forward to seeing your full team at the Ever Grande City League, once this crisis is resolved. After all…"
He added, his voice laced with anticipation of they're battle, "You'll be fighting with the very team you've assembled throughout your journey, won't you?"
Azure confirmed, a glint of challenge in his eyes, "Naturally."
*Beep*
The call ended, leaving Azure in the quiet hum of Sootopolis. He exhaled, a breath of relief escaping his lips. He muttered to his Pokémon, a subtle nod to the potential eavesdroppers, "Should be careful what they overhear."
*Tmp*
As if summoned by his words, a figure emerged from the shadows of the alcove. Juan, the former Water-type Gym Leader of Sootopolis City, stepped into view, a knowing smile gracing his lips.
His presence was as serene and flowing as a gentle tide. Juan, with a melodious voice, chimed from the shadows, "Indeed. One must always be mindful of what whispers drift on the wind."
Juan his presence exuded a calm authority. Juan continued, his smile a gentle curve, "The Pokémon Association has requested that league officials keep a close eye on you. The capture of the Sky High Pokémon has caused quite a stir."
He glanced at Azure's Master Ball, a knowing amusement in his eyes as he added knowingly, "But I see what the Sky High Pokémon saw in you. You are not the brute the Chairman portrayed."
Azure, surprised by Juan's sudden appearance and insightful observation, spoke up, gesturing toward the hidden side street that disappeared into a shaded archway, "Those… details can wait. I was hoping you could spar with me. I've heard you mentored Wallace. I'd like to see how you train your water‑type Pokémon, especially now that… well, Wallace isn't around."
Juan's eyes twinkled, a smile playing on his lips as he went into a poetic rant, "Ah, the old master‑teacher. He left me with a philosophy: Water is both a gentle stream and a devastating flood. Its elegance lies in its adaptability. I specialize in it because its streamlined forms… they move with purpose, yet they surrender to the inevitable pull of the current. And yes, they're delightfully vulnerable to electric types—an irony I relish in contests."
Azure chuckled as he commented on Juan's poetic style, "Seems like you haven't lost your poetic touch."
Juan replied, his voice soft like a distant tide, "Words are my water, Azure. They flow, they carve, they endure."
The two trainers stepped into the secluded courtyard behind the gym, a lush garden where koi swam lazily in a crystal pond, and massive lily pads floated like emerald islands. The garden's center held a shallow arena, its floor sanded to a fine, even surface, perfect for a quick battle.
Juan suggested, extending a hand toward the water‑type Pokémon perched at his side—an elegant Milotic with iridescent scales that reflected the sun, a Swampert whose amphibious body glistened with droplets, and a fierce Manectric, the odd one out, but a lightning‑type companion that Juan kept for balance, "Let's keep it simple."
Azure nodded, sending out his Metagross, its steel‑blue plating glinting ominously, followed by Sceptile, Gardevoir, and a Shiny Blaziken whose flames burned a brilliant crimson. Juan announced, "First round—speed. Milotic, use Aqua Ring!"
*Splash*
A silvery barrier of water formed around Milotic, its body shimmering. Azure responded with Sceptile's Leaf Blade, the green blade slicing through the air with a crisp, slicing sound.
*SHINNG*
Milotic's Aqua Ring deflected the attack, sending a ripple of water that washed over the arena and splashed onto Azure's Metagross.
Metagross's eyes glowed a deep violet as it absorbed the impact as Azure ordered, "Use Protect!"
*CLANG*
Metagross was generating a translucent shield that bathed both fighters in a protective field. The clash continued, each trainer reading the other's moves with the precision of seasoned veterans.
Azure's Gardevoir soared, its ribbons trailing like auroras, while Juan's Swampert surged forward, the ground trembling beneath its heavy step. A sudden burst of Hydro Pump sent a geyser toward Gardevoir, but the Psychic‑type's Calm Mind heightened its defenses, deflecting the watery torrent with a wave of psychic energy.
As the battle intensified, Azure's Pikachu and Eevee darted around the edges, occasionally delivering quick Thunderbolt and Quick Attack to keep Juan's Manectric on its toes. Juan said curiously, wiping a bead of water from his brow, "You're strong. But I'm curious—how do you handle a Sky‑High Pokémon in the middle of a duel?"
Azure smiled, lifting his hand as he said, calmly shaking his head, "You would lose. That's a fact, and I want my Pokémon to learn from this experience."
Juan studied Azure's face, seeing his deep trust in his Pokémon. Juan said thoughtfully, "Remember, the water's depth is often hidden beneath a calm surface. Keep that in mind when you face the ocean's true fury."
The sparring round ended with a mutual nod, both trainers acknowledging each other's prowess. They withdrew their Pokémon, allowing them to recover, and sat on a stone bench beside the pond.
Juan remarked fondly, sipping from a small wooden cup, "Your battle style is… intriguing. You rely heavily on versatility, a bit like the currents themselves—ever‑changing, never predictable. And those Regi… you truly opened the sealed chambers. I must say, I'm impressed by your ingenuity."
Azure chuckled, his eyes flicking to the glimmering water as he replied, "The Regi weren't meant to be locked away forever. The world needs them, but only if they can be used responsibly. I think the Association should learn that sometimes, to earn the trust of Pokémon, one must be determined and trusting to earn they're recognition. Not through some orb or machine to control them."
Azure then began to pat his Pikachu and Eevee as they cried happily at his touch. Jaun smiled, seeing Azure's character as he thought, 'I see… so that's how you earned they're recognition. You trust them fully and challenge them head-on. To be able to befriend not only ordinary Pokémon but even Legends… that's a truly remarkable gift.'
Juan merely smiled as he continued sparring with Azure for the upcoming days. And during those days, his team has grown stronger, battling a former Gym Leader and picking up some tricks during those days…
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A/N: Reach the goal of 200 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!