Chapter 367: Wanted
~Third POV~
[Sevii Islands, Four Island – Lorelei's Home]
The sudden, jarring blare of the television interrupted their tense, quiet retreat. The screen, usually tuned to serene nature documentaries, flashed crimson with an emergency broadcast symbol.
The group could only stand in stunned silence at what was occurring. Carr grinned, a cruel, cold expression that promised destruction, "Attention, citizens of the Sevii Islands! We are Orm, Sird, and Carr. Our patience is limited, and our objectives are singular. We demand the surrender of these four! Red, Blue, Green, and Azure. Hand them over, or watch your sanctuaries burn."
Lorelei's eyes narrowed at the inclusion of the fourth name. Red was known, Blue was obvious, and Green was the elusive female holder. But Azure?
Blue jumped up, staring hard at the screen as he clarified to the confused Lorelei, "Azure? Suppose Team Rocket doesn't want any chances of him moving freely around. He and Red were the cause of their downfall after all…"
Lorelei nodded, getting up to speed. She stated gravely, "They know who holds the true power. His capability certainly matters to them."
*RMBL*
As the broadcast continued, the screen shifted to a live feed of the Icefall Cave entrance. The ground trembled beneath Lorelei's house. Carr sneered, "You have five minutes to decide! We've already split up to maximize efficiency."
*RMBL
A geyser of black smoke and earth shot into the sky near Island Five. Carr declared maliciously, "I, Carr, will begin the systematic destruction of Five Island!"
A chilling, spectral green energy flared near Island Six. Sird's cool, unnerving voice cut in, "Orm will handle Six Island."
Sird, draped in her characteristic purple cloak, then looked directly into the camera lens, her eyes twin pools of icy malice as she added coldly, "And I will personally ensure Seven Island is purged of resistance. Your time starts now. Deliver Red, Blue, Green, and Azure, or face annihilation."
*BEEP*
The television went dark after that. The only sound was the distant rumbling of the impending assault.
*SLAM*
Blue slammed his fist into the wall, rattling a shelf of Squirtle figurines as he gritted his teeth, uttering in frustration, "Team Rocket, or whatever they call themselves now, hasn't learned a thing! I'm going to Six Island. Orm needs a lesson in strategy."
Red pushed himself up, wincing but determination hardening his gaze. He looked at Lorelei as he said resolutely, "I'm fine. I'm ready. Three opponents, we must meet them head-on. Carr is the brute. Five Island."
Lorelei nodded, assessing the precarious situation. Her eyes hardened as she said coldly, "There are three threats, and ostensibly three of us capable of confronting them directly. Red, you head to Five Island, but be careful of Carr's tactical use of Explosion. Blue, Six Island is yours. I will go to Seven Island. Sird is the most insidious; my Slowking's precognitive abilities might counteract her psychological attacks."
She paused, counting the targets. Then she asked curiously, "But that leaves Green and Azure unaccounted for, and they are clearly targets the Beasts want for a specific reason. We are spread too thin."
Blue turned to Bill as he stated, "Get us transport, now. Seagallop."
Bill fumbled for the communication device as he replied nervously to them, "I'll try to coordinate. But we can't cover all three threats and maintain reserve."
Red squared his shoulders. He exhaled as his eyes hardened, saying, "We will manage. They won't shatter the Sevii Islands."
/////
[Sevii Islands, Meanwhile, One Island – Pokémon Net Center]
The salt-laced wind of One Island carried a deceptive calm. Inside the sterile confines of the Pokémon Network Center, however, the atmosphere was suffocating. Celio, a man whose life was dedicated to the smooth operation of the Pokémon Transfer System, gripped the edges of his desk, his knuckles white.
The monitor before him, usually displaying complex network diagnostics, was hijacked by a low-grade static screen overlaid with the grotesque faces of three figures: Orm, Sird, and Carr—the infamous Beasts of Team Rocket.
Orm's synthesized voice boomed, distorted by the poor bandwidth but carrying undeniable malice, "People of the Sevii Islands. We are not here to threaten you. We are here to offer peace. But peace requires a price."
Sird leaned into the frame, her eyes cold and calculating as she continued ordering, "We know that the so-called heroes—Red, Blue, Green, and Azure are amongst you. They are disruptive elements. They are the reason for the instability. Hand them over. Do this, and the islands will be spared the cleansing fire. Refuse, and you will share their fate."
Carr offered a terrifying, silent grin, emphasizing the threat. As the broadcast abruptly cut back to standard emergency static, Celio sprang into action.
This was not a simple regional disturbance.
Celio muttered, furiously typing commands to trace the signal source, "An electromagnetic pulse. A powerful one, localized enough to hijack the Network broadcast without taking down the main power grid. Amateur hour? No, too precise."
He realized the severity. If Team Rocket had the power to disrupt the Network's signal this deeply, they could tamper with the Pokémon Transfer System itself—a catastrophe far exceeding a simple threat.
He reached for the secure line to call Bill on Cinnabar Island. But before the phone could ring, the external alarm blared.
Celio's door burst open, revealing two frightened Network technicians as one stammered, his eyes wide with fear, "Mr. Celio, there are people… outside. A huge crowd. They're demanding to know if Red, Blue, or Green is here."
The second added, shame warring with desperation on his face, "They want to turn them in. They said if we don't hand them over, Team Rocket will destroy the islands."
Celio felt a cold wave of dread. Team Rocket hadn't needed to use force; they had weaponized fear and self-preservation, turning the islanders against the very people who had fought for them.
*Bang*
*Bang*
*Bang*
The heavy metal door of the Network Center rattled violently, followed by a chorus of panicked, angry voices. People screamed.
"Where are they?! Where are Red, Blue, and Green?!"
"Give them up! Give them to Team Rocket!"
Celio peered through a reinforced window, his heart sinking. A furious mob had gathered outside, their faces contorted with fear and desperation.
Farmers grasped rusted tools, fishermen clutched boat hooks, their own low-level Pokémon nervously pacing at their heels.
They weren't acting out of malice, but out of terror, willing to sacrifice a few for the perceived safety of all. Celio called out, his voice straining, "Please, everyone! This isn't the way! We need to think—"
A woman shrieked, her face red in rage, and argued, "Think?! My children are on Bond Bridge! If we don't do what they say, they'll destroy the islands! Give them up, Celio! For the good of the Sevii!"
Outside, a cacophony of panicked shouts and angry demands rose into a deafening roar. The citizens of One Island, driven by terror, were banging against the reinforced gates, sacrificing loyalty for the illusion of safety.
/////
[Sevii Island, One Island – Pokémon Net Center]
Separated from the turmoil by three heavy doors and a winding corridor, the medical room offered a tense sanctuary. Azure sat beside the cot where Green lay.
*Shiii*
Azure was a study in quiet intensity, with the vibrant yellow of Pikachu, who perched on his shoulder, and the soft tan of Eevee, nestled by his knee. He was focused, his hands glowing with a soft, pale green light—the manifestation of his rare healing ability, Viridian Force.
He had spent hours repairing the systemic damage inflicted on Green, mending the mental and physical exhaustion that had nearly broken her. Green's eyes fluttered open slowly, a deep weariness still clinging to her, but the haunted look was gone.
She whispered, her voice rough, "Azure… you didn't have to stay."
Azure replied, his tone professional and low, "Relax. You're not fully stabilized."
He looked far more seasoned than his age suggested, a man who carried the quiet weight of fighting battles he intentionally wasn't celebrated for. Just then, a small television mounted high in the corner—left on for background noise—flashed with the static that preceded the Three Beasts' declaration.
Azure watched the screen, Pikachu twitching its ears irritably. When Orm's face appeared, Green gasped, pushing herself upright despite Azure's restraining hand. She whispered, shock hardening into fury, "They know we're here…"
Azure, however, merely sighed, a short, sharp expulsion of breath that signaled mild annoyance rather than genuine surprise. Azure said calmly, pulling his hands back as the healing light faded, "Of course, they know. This is the Sevii Islands, Green. Team Rocket owns the information flow here. They just needed to give the populace an excuse to panic. With this stunt."
The sound of the panic arrived moments later: a dreadful pounding, the shouts of hundreds of frightened, angry voices demanding their surrender. The commotion outside intensified, the shouts growing louder, more desperate.
Green's head snapped towards the door, her eyes wide with alarm. She scrambled off the cot, instinctively reaching for her belt, only to find it empty. She cried, a fresh wave of panic rising, "My Pokémon!"
Azure raised a hand, a half-smile playing on his lips. He held out her Poké Ball belt, each capsule emitting a faint, healthy glow as he said casually, "You forgot these. Completely healed. Ready to go."
Green snatched the belt, her fingers brushing against the cool metal of the Poké Balls. She released her partners, and a burst of light filled the small room. Jiggly (Wigglytuff), Blasty (Blastoise), Clefy (Clefable), Nido (Nidoqueen), and Moltres materialized, all looking vibrant and energetic, their eyes sparkling.
Green hugged her Jiggly, a choked sob escaping her lips as she greeted her partners, "You're all okay… thank Arceus."
But as she counted them, her smile faltered. She asked, her voice tinged with fresh worry, "Ditty… where's Ditty?"
Azure's expression remained flat. He said bluntly, gesturing towards the door, "We don't have time to look for Ditty right now. The whole angry mob of islanders out there doesn't exactly look too friendly. And they're not just after Red and Blue anymore. Your name and mine were specifically mentioned."
The raw anger in the mob's voices was now unmistakable, their screams filtering through the walls, "Turn them over! They're responsible!"
Green flinched, clutching her Pokémon, her face paling. The hate in their voices was palpable, a chilling wave washing over her.
Azure, however, was unmoved, his deadpan expression betraying no emotion. He'd heard harsher words directed at him, seen worse mobs.
Azure said calmly, his gaze piercing Green's, "So… What's your plan? You're not exactly in prime fighting shape, even with the healing."
Her resolve, even after her ordeal, was unwavering. Green lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper, "I'm not going to run away. Not when my parents are at stake."
Azure's lips curved into a soft, almost imperceptible grin. He murmured, the word carrying a surprising warmth, "Good. Because I'm not running either. This battle is ours."
He paused, then continued, his voice taking on a strategic edge, "I'll be heading to Island Seven. That's where Sird is located. You, however, should head to Two Island."
Green looked at him, confused. She asked, "Two Islands? Why?"
Azure explained to Green his plans for her in a calm voice, "That's where Red and Blue learned the Ultimate Moves from Ultima. You should use this chance to heal fully and obtain those moves when you encounter her. You'll need them for what's coming."
Green nodded slowly, the logic sinking in. The sounds outside were intensifying, the relentless banging against the gates a rhythmic pulse of dread.
The mob was close to breaking through.
Before she left, Green stepped closer to Azure. She said softly, her voice sincere, leaning towards him, "Thank you, Azure. For everything. For healing me, for putting up with me, and for protecting me this long."
*Chu*
She rose on her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. This surprised him as Green said resolutely, "Good luck. Don't get caught."
*Pop*
With a flash of determination, she released Moltres. The legendary bird materialized with a majestic squawk, and Green vaulted onto its back. She opened her Rotom Phone, the map glowing to show the route to Two Island.
*FWP*
With a powerful beat of its fiery wings, Moltres burst through a skylight, soaring into the evening sky like a phoenix ascending, leaving a trail of shimmering embers. The mob, momentarily distracted by the fiery bird, roared with renewed fury.
Azure sighed, a helpless, almost exasperated sound. A light blush dusted his cheeks, a rare sight that didn't go unnoticed.
Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, let out a chortle, his electric cheeks sparking with amusement, "Pika! (Oh my!)"
Eevee, at Azure's feet, giggled, wagging her fluffy tail, "Eevow! (Is this character's love interest showing!!)"
Azure grumbled, his face flushing deeper, "Oh, shut up, you two!"
He shook his head, pushing aside the fleeting embarrassment. He had other things to do. Unlike Green, who had opted for a dramatic aerial exit, Azure preferred a different approach.
Unlike Green, however, Azure rarely did anything by halves, and he certainly didn't believe in discreet exits when a statement was required. He strode toward the main entrance of the Pokémon Net Center.
He walked calmly towards the main entrance of the Pokémon Net Center. Just as he reached it, the reinforced gates outside finally buckled under the mob's incessant assault, bursting open with a crash.
*CRACK*
The crowd surged forward, a wave of human desperation and anger. They saw Green's Moltres disappearing into the distance, then their gaze settled on Azure, standing alone in the doorway, exiting casually.
Someone screamed, "There he is! The last one! Grab him!"
They surged towards him, a sea of angry faces, their makeshift weapons glinting ominously. Some had their low-level Pokémon out, ready to attack. Azure merely clicked his tongue, a sound of profound disgust.
His eyes, usually a calm azure, were now hollow, devoid of any discernible empathy for the terrified, desperate crowd. He saw their fear, but it was overshadowed by his annoyance. He uttered, his voice dangerously low, yet carrying clearly over the din, "Tch. You lot already annoyed me enough. And you even dare to lay your hands on me… pathetic."
In his hand, a sleek, metallic Master Ball gleamed. But quickly switched it for one of his own partners as he thought, 'Whoops! I've almost shown my hand here. Can't show Rayquaza or Mewtwo just yet… but my best doggo would work.'
With an almost imperceptible flick of his wrist, he tossed it into the sky. It exploded in a burst of blinding white light, expanding rapidly, followed by a sudden intense spike of heat within the area…
*Pop*
"GRAOOOOO!!!!"
*THWUMP*
An unnatural sense of primal fear descended upon Pokémon Net Center. It wasn't just the shockwave, though the very ground trembled beneath their feet. It was a crushing, unimaginable pressure that bore down on every living being.
*Clang*
*Thud*
The angry mob, so ferocious moments before, froze mid-stride. Their weapons clattered to the ground, forgotten. Their Pokémon, even the most aggressive, whimpered, sweating profusely as they instinctively backed away, tails tucked...
*RMBL*
From the dissolving light, a powerful, loyal form materialized, its fur bright and distinct as it landed down using Roar. Azure's Arcanine growled, standing between Azure and the Angry Mob as it growled, "Grrrr… (Step one foot closer to my Master and his mate… and you'll be burned alive…)"
A guttural growl rumbled deep within Arcanine's chest, a sound that vibrated through their bones, followed by a thunderous roar that ripped through the air, sending the entire mob toppling backward in terror as it used Roar, "GRAOOOO!!!!"
*WOOOSH*
Dust, displaced by the legendary beast's arrival, swirled around them. The sheer scale of it, the Champion level of power it exuded, stole the air from their lungs.
Azure cleared his throat, his voice now devoid of any annoyance, replaced by a chilling calm. Azure hurled his next choice, grinning smugly…
*Pop*
Revealing out was a very pissed off Dragonite as it made the crowd flinch. Dragonite gracefully lowered its body, allowing Azure to step onto its back.
Pikachu and Eevee, unfazed and accustomed to such displays, nestled comfortably near his shoulders. Azure said calmly, his voice carrying effortlessly over the stunned silence, "Good. At least you lot have brains to know who not to fuck around with."
His gaze swept over the prostrate, trembling figures below as he continued, "And just to let you all know, I have better things to do, and oh… to those of you wanting to capture us… just know… I'll remember it."
The implication hung heavy in the air, a silent, terrifying promise of future retribution. Those who had dared to dream of turning in Azure, of capturing him for Team Rocket, now understood the catastrophic depth of their mistake.
Their faces, pale with fear, contorted into groveling submission and whimpering. They had poked a dragon, and it had stirred.
Azure's lips curled into an intentional, menacing grin, a stark contrast to his usual deadpan. He knew he wasn't going to harm them. This was merely a light scare, a chilling reminder of who held the true power in this unfolding drama.
With a final, dismissive glance, Azure recalled Arcanine happily praising it, "Good work, old boy. I knew you scared them shitless."
Arcanine puffed its chest proudly, barking, "Arf! (Damn right!)"
Recalling Arcanine, he patted Dragonite's head. The Dragon Pokémon let out another, less aggressive but equally imposing roar, before ascending into the darkening sky, leaving the terrified, bewildered islanders to pick up their dropped weapons and their shattered composure.
Azure looked towards the distant speck of One Island, a small island against the vast ocean. He looked down at the cowering, groveling citizens of One Island. They were no longer a vengeful mob; they were just scared people who had made a catastrophic error in judgment.
He knew the path ahead was fraught with danger, with Sird waiting on Island Seven. But for now, the wind whipped through his hair, carrying him closer to his unseen enemy, his legendary partner soaring effortlessly through the clouds. The game was on.
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 200 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!