Chapter 395: Green's Objective
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Nighttime (July 1st), Battle Frontier – Hill]
Late that night, under a sky studded with a million glittering stars, Azure and Green sat on a verdant hill overlooking the distant, twinkling lights of the Battle Frontier. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of the sea.
Pikachu was curled up on Azure's lap, a ball of golden fur, occasionally twitching its ears at the subtle sounds of the night. Eevee, meanwhile, had found a comfortable nook in Green's lap, purring contentedly as Green gently stroked her soft fur.
Green said, amazed, her voice soft, a rare moment of earnestness replacing her usual playful tone, "Seriously though, that was incredible today, Azure. Noland is no pushover, and you handled his partners well."
Azure reached down, gently patting Pikachu's head as he replied casually, "Thanks, Green. It was a good challenge. Noland's a tough trainer."
He paused, gazing out at the horizon as he asked, "But you know… it just feels like another step, doesn't it?"
Green raised an eyebrow, her gaze fixed on him as she replied, confused, "Another step? What do you mean?"
Azure looked down at his lap, then back at the distant lights. He spoke the words almost absently, thinking out loud, a strange blend of confidence and dissatisfaction, "I mean… I've won three Pokémon Leagues. I've faced down legendary Pokémon, taken on evil organizations, saved the world a few times… The Battle Frontier is just another challenge, another set of trainers to beat. It doesn't really matter which Frontier Brain I battle next. In the end, I'll defeat them all."
Green chuckled, a low, melodic sound that echoed subtly in the quiet night. She leaned to his side, saying softly, "That's awfully confident for someone who was practically a nervous wreck this morning."
Azure shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips as he replied defensively, "Battles are easy. Dates? Not so much."
Green leaned back on her hands, still petting Eevee. Her expression turned serious, her gaze piercing as she bluntly asked, "Alright, enough of the bravado, Azure. I know you. You don't just casually stroll into a place like the Battle Frontier purely for 'another challenge.' You're after something more. Something specific."
She paused, then stated bluntly, her voice dropping a notch, "You're after the Wish Pokémon, Jirachi, aren't you?"
Azure's head snapped up. His coy smile returned, wider now, a glint in his eyes reflecting the starlight. He confessed, looking out into the vast, silent night, "Yup. I'm here for Jirachi, alright, because I have my own wishes that I want to fulfill."
He turned his gaze back to Green, a playful challenge in his eyes as he asked knowingly, "And you, Leaf Green? I'm guessing that Professor Oak sent you for this job right into the Battle Frontier?"
Green stuck her tongue out playfully, confirming his suspicion, "Yup! You got me again."
She then shifted, getting more comfortable as she began to explain, her voice taking on a more conspiratorial tone, "It was actually pretty convenient, to be honest. After you called me for a date in the Battle Frontier, everything just… fell into place."
She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear as she continued explaining, "It all started because of a confidential report about Jirachi. Not just any report, mind you. This one holds detailed information about the Wish Pokémon, like where it would wake up next after its one thousand years of slumber."
Green paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. Then she continued, "And the person who deciphered this incredibly ancient and complex report? None other than Professor Oak himself."
Azure whistled softly, impressed by Prof. Oak's deciphering, and praised him, "Professor Oak? That's quite a feat, even for him."
Green nodded her head, agreeing as she continued explaining, "Right? So, once he had the location, he immediately contacted Scott, the owner and founder of the Battle Frontier. Professor Oak called him to inform him that the place where Scott planned to build the Battle Frontier just happened to be where Jirachi would awaken next."
Azure's eyebrows rose. He said, though a knowing smirk played on his lips, "What a coincidence."
Green replied with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, "Convenient, indeed. But it was a genuine coincidence, from Scott's perspective anyway. Before he started construction, the area was just a remote, undeveloped island. Anyway, I was curious myself, how did Professor Oak even get his hands on such a report? Apparently, he was given it by a rather… enigmatic woman, Ultima. And from what Professor Oak gleaned, she acquired it through methods that were, shall we say, a bit questionable. He didn't elaborate, but I have my theories."
Azure mused, filing the name away, "Ultima, huh?"
Given Ultima's reputation as the Ultimate Moves Master and a powerful trainer in her own right, 'questionable methods' could mean anything from intense research to outright infiltration.
Green continued further as she explained in a hushed voice, "Exactly. But here's the kicker. Professor Oak intends to capture Jirachi himself, and quickly, before any remnants of any evil organization—or any opportunistic individual, for that matter—claim it first. Even with Team Rocket gone, the chance of anyone else knowing about Jirachi's awakening is too high to leave it to pure chance. He knows how dangerous a Pokémon like Jirachi, with its wish-granting powers, could be in the wrong hands."
Azure nodded, "Makes sense."
Green nodded, agreeing as she continued informing Azure, "So, while Scott permits Professor Oak to look for Jirachi within the Battle Frontier, there's a new complication. Weeks before the Frontier even opened, someone else broke into Professor Oak's lab in the dead of night to steal information on it. A thief, possibly from a new organization, or someone working for themselves."
Green's voice dropped to a whisper, though there was no one around to overhear, "Professor Oak was very worried. He's glad that the thief was only able to decipher a little of the ancient language on the Jirachi Report before being spooked off, but it still means the villain knows where and when Jirachi will awaken. Professor Oak guesses that this thief will aim to capture Jirachi on the dates it will be awake: July 1 to July 7."
Azure's eyes widened slightly as he murmured, "July 1st? That's... today, isn't it?"
Green nodded grimly, sharing her dire news with him, "Exactly. And the opening ceremony of the Battle Frontier coincides perfectly with those dates. Professor Oak, naturally, suggested postponing the opening ceremony until Jirachi was safely secured, or at least until the threat passed."
Azure finished, anticipating her next words, "But Scott refused. He trusts that his Frontier Brains would be strong enough to stop the villain."
*Snap*
Green snapped her fingers quietly as she continued, "Bingo! He said as much. He believes his network of trainers and security measures is more than adequate. Professor Oak, though he trusts Scott's judgment, still felt a strong need for more direct intervention. So, he decided to send a trusted Dex Holder to the Battle Frontier specifically to capture Jirachi."
Green gave a cheeky grin as she pointed at herself, boasting proudly, "Which, conveniently, happened to be me. And when you gave me free entry inside the Battle Frontier, I can definitely move around freely and have some fun on the side while doing my duty."
Azure shook his head, a genuine smile forming. He chuckled softly, with Green asking curiously, "Of course, you can. Always finding a way to make it work for you, huh? But that brings me to my next question. You knew all this because of Professor Oak. How did you know of Jirachi appearing here, though?"
Azure, with a deadpan expression, along with his Pikachu and Eevee (who were now both awake, having sensed the shift in conversation, and were looking at Green with equally serious expressions), pointed at the distinctive, intricately carved GS Ball around his neck, worn like a necklace.
Green's eyes followed their collective gaze down to the ancient relic. A blush immediately warmed her cheeks as she smacked her forehead lightly. She muttered, embarrassed, "Right… I totally forgot you have a Celebi in there that can practically search for that answer in the past or future…"
Azure's smug grin widened. He adjusted the GS Ball as he stated, "Exactly. Celebi's foresight is quite useful, wouldn't you agree? So, it seems we have a shared objective, Green. But make no mistake, I'll be the one to catch Jirachi first. And besides that, I want some wishes I want to fulfill myself."
There was a glint in his eye, hinting at desires far more complex than simple battle glory. Green narrowed her eyes, a competitive fire igniting within them as she replied smugly, "Oh, is that a challenge? Good luck with that. Professor Oak asked me to capture it, and I intend to deliver."
The silent challenge hung in the air between them, yet it was laced with a familiar camaraderie, a mutual respect that transcended their current rivalry. Pikachu chirped, as if egging them on, and Eevee let out a playful bark, enjoying the tension.
Suddenly, Pikachu's ears twitched sharply, and it let out a quick, urgent cry, "Pika-Pika! (Incoming!)"
Eevee, startled, sprang up from Green's arms, her fur bristling, "Bui! (I smell two!)"
Azure murmured, his hand going to Pikachu's head, "Whoa, easy there. What is it, guys? Something wrong... again?"
Pikachu pointed a paw towards the path leading up the hill. Eevee barked in agreement, "Eevoi! (People coming!)"
Sure enough, two figures emerged from the gloom, their silhouettes growing larger as they approached. Green squinted as she muttered, "Is that… Brandon and Tucker?"
She looked at Azure, curious, asking, "What do those two want?"
Azure shrugged, a hint of annoyance already creeping into his expression as he replied, "Probably more of the same."
The two Frontier Brains, Brandon, the imposing Pyramid King, and Tucker, the flamboyant Dome Ace, stopped a few feet away, their faces lit by the distant Frontier lights. Tucker boomed, striking a dramatic pose, "Azure! My dear boy! A true spectacle you were today, truly! But now that you've had your appetizer, prudence dictates you should choose your next challenge with flair! The Battle Dome awaits your magnificent presence!"
Brandon, ever the stoic, simply crossed his arms as he bluntly stated, "Young man. Your spirit is formidable. But true strength is forged in the wild, against the forces of nature. The Battle Pyramid calls. Come, test your mettle against my ancient Pokémon."
A vein throbbed faintly in Azure's temple. He looked from Tucker's theatrical grin to Brandon's unyielding gaze as he replied politely, "Listen, guys, I appreciate the enthusiasm. I'll have to face you both eventually, one way or another."
He took Green's hand, pulling her gently to her feet as he continued politely stating, "But honestly, since you're getting on my nerves right now, I don't really want to challenge either of you."
Brandon's stoic expression faltered slightly. Tucker's jaw dropped, his dramatic pose forgotten. Azure continued, leading Green away, Pikachu still on his head, Eevee trotting happily beside them, "It's getting late. And I think I'll take my time challenging you two. For now, though…"
He paused, looking back at their stunned faces as he finished off, "… I think I'll go for the Battle Pike next."
Green chuckled, a soft, mischievous sound, as they walked away, leaving Brandon and Tucker utterly devastated on the hill. She could only imagine the internal turmoil that choice would create.
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[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Battle Pike]
Meanwhile, far across the sprawling Battle Frontier, within the serpentine confines of the Battle Pike, the atmosphere was considerably less serene. Greta, the fiery Frontier Brain of the Battle Arena, was conversing animatedly with Lucy, the Serpent Charmer and owner of the Battle Pike.
Greta exclaimed, gesturing wildly with her hands, "Honestly, Lucy, it's a mess! Noland's defeat, the way that kid took him down… Brandon and Tucker are completely rattled! They're holed up, muttering about how their strategies might be 'too predictable' for a trainer like him!"
Lucy, calm and composed as ever, her long, flowing dark hair swaying gently, merely smiled. She sipped gracefully from a cup of what appeared to be herbal tea as she stated bluntly, "There's no reason to worry, Greta. The Frontier is designed to challenge even the strongest trainers. Noland's loss is simply a testament to Azure's exceptional skill, nothing more."
She set her teacup down on a small table. Her voice was like smooth water, tranquil and assured, "Azure will come when Azure comes."
Greta paced. Lucy continued, her eyes holding a glint that seemed to mirror the scales of her Pokémon as Greeta asked, "But how do you know he'll come to you next?"
Lucy merely smiled, a hint of the mystical in her eyes as she said with a subtle smirk, "I don't. I'm just letting luck see if he comes to me next or not."
The Milotic beside her nudged her hand, as if in agreement, its scales shimmering softly in the dim light. Fate, as always, had its own subtle ways of guiding battles. And Lucy, it seemed, trusted fate implicitly.
The Battle Pike awaited its next challenger, and Lucy was ready. The games, it seemed, had only just begun.
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A/N: Reach the goal of 300 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!