Chapter 617: Route 3
~Third POV~
[Unova Region, Striaton City – Outskirts]
The sun beat down upon the paved stones of Striaton City's outskirts, casting long, sharp shadows from the decorative lampposts and the grand, slate-roofed Pokémon Center. Near a splashing stone fountain adorned with the likeness of a leaping Basculin, the air was cool with mist.
Azure leaned against the rim of the fountain, his arms crossed over his chest. Perched securely on his right shoulder, Pikachu gave a soft pika-pi as it swiped a tiny paw over its right ear, while Eevee—comfortably settled atop Azure's tousled brown hair—let out a contented, bubbling yawn. Tucked safely inside the inner pocket of Azure's dark jacket, a Pichu (Mew) shifted with a faint, playful squeak.
The voice belonged to Black, whose fiery red eyes were narrowed in typical, high-octane impatience exclaimed, "What took you guys so long?"
Catching up to them, Bianca puffed out her cheeks, waving her hands in exasperation. She mocked in a high-pitched tone, "It wasn't our fault! Cheren just wouldn't stop thanking the Gym Leaders! Over and over! 'Thank you for the rigorous tactical assessment, Cilan, Chili, and Cress,' blah, blah, blah!"
Cheren adjusted his glasses with a slightly flushed face, offering a polite, structured smile. He defended himself, stating, "Proper gratitude is essential for growth, Bianca. Acknowledging superior strategic execution fosters mutual respect."
Black snorted, crossing his arms. But smiled knowingly as he said, "You've been a stiff, polite guy since we were kids, Cheren. Never changes."
Cheren retorted smoothly, though there was no real heat in it, "And you've been loud enough to wake up a sleeping Snorlax since we were kids, Black."
Bianca turned her attention to Black, her eyes wide with sudden remembrance. She said happily, "Oh! Right! Professor Juniper told me to make sure you keep in touch, Black. She was worried you'd get lost in your own head again."
Black barked defensively, though his hand instinctively went to his belt, "I don't get lost in my head; I focus on my dreams!"
With a quick flick of his wrist, he tossed three small, sleek rectangular devices toward his peers. He explained casually, "Here. Take these. Xtransceivers. Got a whole box of them as a bonus for shooting that commercial with the agency."
Azure caught his effortlessly, turning the high-tech communicator over in his palm. Black tossed one to Cheren and Bianca as well, before looking directly at Azure. Black added, pointing a finger at him, "And you need one. Since you never use yours, and White insists you need to stay in constant contact with the 'Boss.'"
Azure rolled his eyes so hard it looked painful. He let out an exasperated sigh, muttering under his breath, "Why on earth don't people in this region just use Rotom Phones? It would make life infinitely easier instead of carrying around these clunky, outdated walkie-talkies..."
At that exact moment, a holographic screen flickered to life on Azure's belt clip. The glowing, orange-bodied ghost-electric appliance popped its head out of the Arc Phone interface. Rotom buzzed indignantly, its screen flashing red and blue, "Hey! Who's clunky?! I am a state-of-the-art dimensional communication and database hub! I resent being compared to a piece of consumer electronics!"
Azure muttered back under his breath, "Quiet, Rotom, you're ruining my immersion."
Cheren, Bianca, and Black stared at Azure in varying states of utter bewilderment. Cheren noted plainly, eyeing Azure's customized gear, "We aren't rich enough to afford whatever high-tech gadgetry that is."
Black narrowed his eyes with his arms crossed and asked, "Seriously. Where do you even get that stuff? You look like you're made of money. I mean, you've got to be rich when you saved the world, right? You had to be rewarded…"
Azure suddenly felt the weight of three pairs of probing eyes. He coughed awkwardly into his fist, his cheeks dusting with a faint pink. Looking away with an exaggerated innocent expression, he began to softly whistle a cheerful, entirely off-key tune while gazing up at the Striaton sky.
*Clack-clack-clack*
Out of the shadows cast by a grand oak tree, a sleek, shadowy form manifested with a malicious yet affectionate chuckle. Gengar materialized right beside Azure's shadow, its crimson eyes glinting with amusement.
Gengar's voice echoed loudly to everyone standing nearby, causing Bianca to jump a foot into the air, "Keke! Look at him squirm! The great champion of four regions, caught red-handed looking like a spoiled multi-millionaire!"
Cheren muttered, eyeing the Gengar, "… Still not used to talking Pokémon. Seriously, how does one train a Pokémon in human speech?"
Black declared, entirely unbothered by the supernatural as he turned back to Bianca, "Ghosts in Kanto are weird. Anyway, Bianca, have you seen my Tep—in any of those commercials yet? They play them on every screen in the city."
Bianca blinked, shaking off her shock. Then answered bashfully, "Oh! Now that you mention it, I did see one when we were entering the city! But I was too busy looking for you to pay attention to the screen."
She gasped, pointing a finger at him. Realization hit her as she exclaimed, "Black! You work for a real talent agency?!"
*Fwump*
The sound of light footsteps heralded the arrival of White, the president and manager of the BW Agency, who jogged up to the group. Her white cap bobbed as she stopped, catching her breath.
White asked, looking directly at Black, "How did it go?"
Black grinned widely, his hot-blooded energy returning in full force, and replied proudly, "Great! My friends fought right by my side! And Azure here swept all three Gym Leaders without breaking a sweat."
White nodded approvingly, her sharp business eye scanning Azure's composed posture as she said happily in a professional tone, "Naturally. The BW Agency only associates with top-tier talent."
She turned her bright gaze to Cheren and Bianca, saying to them, "If either of you ever need acting gigs, stunt work, or professional representation for your Pokémon, just give my agency a call. My services are top-tier."
With quick farewells and a wave of hands, White and Black turned toward the western edge of the city, heading out toward the wilderness. Bianca yelled, suddenly realizing she hadn't secured his contact info on the new Xtransceiver, "Wait! Black! What's your number?! How are we supposed to stay in touch!!"
Cheren immediately panicked, grabbing Bianca's arm. He sprinted off after the receding figures, his long strides eating up the pavement, exclaiming aloud, hoping to catch up to them, "Quick, let's catch up to them!"
But it was in vain; by the time they reached the corner, the pair had already vanished into the bustling crowds of Route 3…
/////
[Unova Region, Later, Route 3 – Tall Grass]
The transition from the paved civilization of Striaton to the untamed wilderness of Route 3 was marked by a sudden, drastic shift in atmosphere. The air grew thick with the scent of damp earth, crushed pine needles, and wild Apricorns.
Towering, ancient trees cast a canopy overhead, their leaves rustling like whispered secrets in the brisk Unova breeze. The group marched alongside them past the rustic, timber-framed Pokémon Trainer School that sat nestled against the rolling hills.
Azure announced, stopping at the edge of a vast, undulating field of tall grass that swayed like a green ocean under the sun, "Alright! This looks like a good spot to get some training in. We should split up. If Black and I stay in the same area with our teams, we'll end up arguing over every wild Pokémon that pops out."
*Crack*
Black cracked his knuckles, a wide, predatory grin spreading across his face, agreeing, "Good idea. The tall grass here is dense. One step in, and you're surrounded. It's the ultimate proving ground!"
Without waiting another second, Black plunged headfirst into the sea of emerald blades, White trailing close behind him with an exasperated sigh.
White muttered, her voice fading into the rustling brush, "Honestly, that boy has no survival instincts outside of battling."
Azure smirked. He turned to his own roster. Grabbing his Poké Balls, he exclaimed, "Alright, team. Time to stretch our legs."
With flashes of bright white light, Azure's massive lineup materialized around him!
*POP*
Zweilous reared back, its two distinct necks snapping through the air with a menacing hiss. Beside it, the majestic Alpha Braviary let out a piercing, razor-sharp cry that shook the leaves from the nearest branches, its massive wings unfurling with a powerful thrum.
Pawniard knelt on one knee, its blade-like arms gleaming in the filtered sunlight, while Axew—the tiny, battle-hungry dragon—leapt up and down, letting out eager, high-pitched war cries that matched Pawniard's intense energy.
Gengar cackled from the shadows, her ruby eyes glowing, "Krrr-he-he-he! Finally! Blood for the blood god!"
From inside Azure's mind, a calm, deeply resonant telepathic voice echoed. Zoura spoke smoothly, stepping forward with its illusory dark coat rippling like liquid ink, 'Let us make this efficient!'
No sooner had the team formed up than the ground beneath them trembled…
*Rustle-rustle-CRACK*
A massive swarm of wild Pokémon erupted from the tall grass in a coordinated ambush. Dozens of low-level Patrat scurried forward on all fours, chittering aggressively. Above them, a cloud of Yanma buzzed violently, their four transparent wings beating a frantic, deafening tattoo against the air, accompanied by sleek, purple Purrloin darting through the undergrowth with bared claws.
And towering above the fodder were two high-level threats: a fully evolved, fiercely territorial Unfezant whose steel-grey plumage flashed dangerously, and a wild Zebstrika, its black-and-white striped flanks crackling with raw, unbridled electrical current.
Azure commanded calmly, his hands tucked into his pockets, "Initiate combat protocol. Go, wild guys!"
The battlefield exploded into motion.
*BOOM*
Zweilous surged forward, its twin mouths glowing with dark, destructive energy as it unleashed a devastating Dragon Breath that parted the swarm like a red sea. Alpha Braviary launched itself upward with a thunderous flap of its wings, diving straight toward the Unfezant in a magnificent display of aerial supremacy, striking with a ferocious Brave Bird that filled the clearing with a shockwave of displaced air.
On the ground, Pawniard and Axew became a blur of steel and scales. They didn't just fight; they reveled in the chaos. Pawniard sliced through incoming Purrloin with Metal Claw, sending sparks flying against the stone-hard ground…
*Clang-clang*
… while Axew spun like a top, its tiny tusks glowing with Dragon Rage as it batted away a swarm of Patrat.
Rotom's voice blared from the Arc Phone as it projected a minor electrical dampening field, while Alpha Larvesta and Pignite converged on the Zebstrika, "Eat this, you oversized zebra! Rotom Shock!"
*FWOOSH*
Pignite slammed its heavy, muscular frame forward using Flame Charge, leaving a trail of scorching heat in its wake, while Larvesta—its fiery horn blazing with intense, sun-like radiance—crashed into the electric beast's side. The Zebstrika let out a startled, pained neigh before collapsing into the grass, overwhelmed by the sheer, tyrannical heat. Within minutes, the swarm broke.
The surviving Patrat, Yanma, and Purrloin scattered into the deeper brush, tails tucked between their legs. Azure exhaled slowly, watching his team reset their stances without a single scratch of concern.
He sighed in relief as he praised and warned his team, "Good work, everyone. Keep your guards up. The wild; it doesn't forgive hesitation."
/////
[Unova Region, Meanwhile, Route 3 – Tall Grass]
A few yards away, deep within a particularly thick patch of tall grass, Black stood chest-deep in green foliage alongside his tiny, energetic partner, Tepig.
*Rustle*
A wild Pokémon leaped out from the shadows of a fallen log, baring its fangs with a hostile screech. The Wild Pokémon was revealed to be a Wild Liepard. Black ordered, pointing a resolute finger forward, "Tep! Don't let up! Rock Smash, now!"
Tepig charged forward with a squeal of determination, its hooves kicking up a cloud of loose dirt. Its foreleg glowed with a dense, rocky aura of compressed earth as it slammed directly into the wild Pokémon's chest with a resounding CRACK!
*CRACK*
Liepard flew backward, bouncing off a thick oak trunk before sliding limply into the grass, completely knocked out. Black pumped his fist into the air, kneeling to scratch Tepig behind its floppy ears, praising him, "Ha! That's how it's done! Great job, buddy! We're one step closer to the League!"
From a nearby bush, White parted the long grass with two fingers, peering out with a deadpan expression. She asked nervously, "Are you done? Did you win?"
Black grinned, standing tall and brushing dirt from his shorts. He looked around at the undulating sea of green stretching out toward the horizon, saying in a confident tone, "Obviously. You know, White... just one step into this tall grass can get a trainer surrounded by wild Pokémon. It's dangerous, chaotic... and it's the absolute best place to hone a Pokémon's true skills!"
Inflamed by his own dramatic flair, Black threw his arms wide to the open skies, his voice booming across the clearing, and yelled, "LISTEN UP, UNYIELDING HEAVENS! MY POKÉMON AND I—WE ARE GOING TO CONQUER THE UNOVA LEAGUE! WE ARE GOING TO REACH THE ABSOLUTE SUMMIT, NO MATTER WHAT STANDS IN OUR WAY! THAT IS OUR DREAM!"
*Pop*
A soft, floating purple orb drifted lazily out from a clump of moss, bobbing right in front of Black's face. It let out a soft, dreamy yawn, its large, black eyes blinking sleepily. Black blinked, dropping his dramatic pose, and asked in a confused tone, "Musha? Hey, come back here!"
The Munna drifted away, ignoring its trainer entirely as it floated aimlessly toward a dense, fog-shrouded thicket deeper on Route 3. Cursing under his breath, Black lunged after his wandering Pokémon, crashing wildly through the high brush, and yelled loudly, "Wait, hey! Where are you going?!"
He hadn't gone ten paces before the air turned cold. A sudden, unseen force slammed into his chest with the kinetic force of a speeding truck.
*Zoooom—THUD*
Black let out a sharp gasp of air, his eyes rolling back into his head before he hit the damp earth face-first, instantly knocked out cold. White eyes widened as she reached to grab him as Black's vision turned dark…
/////
[Unova Region, Meanwhile, Route 3 – Tall Grass]
Meanwhile, back near the center of Azure's clearing, the chaos of battle had settled into a quiet, focused routine. Drilbur and Golett were hard at work clearing debris, their mechanical joints clicking rhythmically as they moved heavy stones, while Minccino and Zoura provided long-range support and illusory cover to keep any lingering wild threats at bay.
Pignite and Larvesta patrolled the perimeter, their bodies radiating residual warmth that kept the damp chill of the forest at bay. When the last of the hostile wild Pokémon officially fled, Azure immediately dropped to one knee. Placing his palms flat against the rich, dark soil of Route 3, he closed his eyes.
*Hummm*
An emerald light shone around him. His Viridian Force.
A soft, emerald-green light—warm, ancient, and pulsing with the life-essence of nature itself—spread outward from Azure's hands in a glowing ripple. It washed over his tired team, knitting microscopic muscle tears, soothing bruised fur and scales, and restoring their stamina to absolute peak condition in a matter of seconds.
Pikachu rubbed its cheeks against Azure's cheek with a happy pika, while Eevee purred softly from its nest on his head. Right as Azure stood up, dusting off his jeans, a gentle rustling broke the silence of the woods.
*Swish—swish*
Stepping out from behind a broad-leafed fern came a bipedal, pink-and-white creature with floppy ears and a pouch-like belly. It was an Audino.
The wild Pokémon tilted its head, its large, expressive blue eyes fixing entirely on Azure. It didn't assume a fighting stance. Instead, it let out a soft, melodic chime…
*Ding-dong*
And walked right up to the human, sniffing his boots before looking up into his face. Gengar's voice chimed in from the shadows, the ghost Pokémon phasing her head through a nearby tree trunk with a toothy grin; translated: "Keke! Well, well, well. Listen to its heartbeat, Boss. She says she can 'hear' your soul. It's picking up the resonance of your Viridian Force."
Azure blinked in surprise, muttering, "Oh? It can feel it?"
Darkrai's telepathic voice added smoothly within Azure's mind, 'Indeed, Master. It recognizes a pure, protective life-energy. It knows you are a healer at heart. And it seems... it wants to volunteer.'
The Audino stepped closer, holding out its soft, rounded hands in a welcoming gesture, letting out another gentle, musical chime that resonated with pure trust. She wanted to join him. Of her own free will, without a battle, without a capture struggle.
Azure was taken aback, a rare look of genuine astonishment crossing his features. He stared down at the gentle creature, his mind flashing back to his grueling journeys across Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh—where he had fought legendary beasts and saved the world from the planetary catastrophe of Grand Meteor Delta.
A slow, warm smile spread across his face. He reached into his belt, retrieving a spare Poké Ball with a crisp, clean finish. Azure asked softly, eyeing Audino, "You want to travel with me? Gotta warn ya now, it can get tough, so I expect you to fight when needed. But I can guarantee you won't regret it."
The Audino nodded vigorously, its ears flopping up and down in delight. It reached out and gently tapped its own paw against the center button of the capsule. A beam of red light enveloped the Pokémon, drawing it inside in a flash.
*Click*
The ball rolled once... twice...
*PING*
… and locked with a definitive ping.
Azure picked it up, a chuckle escaping his lips. He muttered in a happy tone, "Welcome to the team."
He held Audino's Poké Ball firmly in his grasp. He could feel the gentleness radiating from her as he smiled softly, checking her info.
[Audino the Hearing Pokémon. Audino has floppy ears with thin, curled extensions on the underside. It can use these ears as radars, and it has an incredible hearing ability. The feelers on its ears act like stethoscopes in that it can feel the beat of another Pokémon's heart to assess the Pokémon's feelings and overall physical condition.
The feelers are also able to determine when an Egg is close to hatching. It has an incredible sense of hearing, where it can even hear a rolling pebble from a mile away. Audino is said to have a kind heart.]
|Name: Audino (Hearing Pokémon)
|Type: Normal
|Tera: Normal
|Level: 24
|Gender: Female
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Healer
|Nature: Docile
|Moves: Growl, Healing Hand, Refresh, Attract, Baby-Doll Eyes, Life Dew, Amnesia, Play Nice, Pound, Tackle, Double-Slap, Secret Power, Disarming Voice, Draining Kiss, Zen Headbutt, Healing Wish (EM) (0 moves left to learn)
He reached into his [Sub-Space], his fingers brushing against a hard, multifaceted gemstone he had carried with him since his early journeying days—an [Audinite] Mega Stone. A healer on the squad would not only keep his battle-hungry monsters in top shape, but having a Mega-evolvable Audino in Unova was an unfair tactical advantage he couldn't pass up.
*Whooosh—POP*
With a toss of the new sphere, the Audino reappeared in a burst of light, immediately trotting over to Pignite and patting the fire-type's shoulder with a soothing pulse of energy, perfectly integrating into the group's dynamic.
Azure chuckled, tucking Audino's Mega Stone away safely for a later date, muttering, "Welcome aboard—"
"AZURE HELP!!"
A sudden, sharp scream pierced the air from deeper within the route—unmistakably White's voice. The lighthearted mood evaporated instantly. Azure snapped, his eyes narrowing, "That came from the trail ahead!"
*Woooosh*
Before Azure could even issue a command, Gengar dissolved into a shadow, flashing ahead to analyze the situation at light speed. Following right behind her, Audino's hyper-sensitive ears twitched, picking up the directional frequencies of the distress call and leading the team sprinting through the brush.
Bursting through a thicket of tall grass, Azure's team found a chaotic scene. White was standing there, wringing her hands in panic, while two women—Fennel, the eccentric researcher, and her assistant, Amanita—were kneeling on the ground.
Between them lay Black. The young trainer was completely unconscious, floating a foot off the ground.
Gengar's voice echoed as she maintained a steady, glowing blue aura of Telekinesis beneath Black's limp body, preventing him from hitting the dirt again, "I've got him, Boss! Safe and secured!!"
Fennel exclaimed, eyeing Gengar in shock, "That Gengar can talk?!"
Amanita asked, equally shocked, "How?!"
Azure demanded, jogging up to the group, his Pokémon fanning out defensively around them, "Not the time! What happened?!"
White gasped, her eyes wide with lingering fear, and muttered, "Fennel and Amanita were passing by! They found me screaming when... when Black just collapsed out of nowhere! His Munna—Musha—is completely missing!"
Fennel pushed her glasses up her nose, looking concerned. She exclaimed in a concerned tone, eyeing Black worriedly, "We need to get him somewhere stable. My lab in Striaton City isn't far. Help me carry him!"
Azure ordered, falling into step beside Fennel as they began marching back toward the city limits, "Right. Gengar, keep the telekinesis steady. Let's move."
As they walked, Azure glanced sideways at White, who was nervously chewing her thumbnail. His sharp eyes scanned her empty belt. That was when he made his decision as he thought firmly, eyeing her and Gigi, 'Okay… she needs to learn how to defend herself. And… she needs to realize her Gigi can fight.'
Azure knows in the future, White's Gigi would betray her for N, would occur decided to nip this issue in the bud. Hence why he allowed Black to get attacked to make a point across to White that she needs to step up.
He mentally chuckled as he thought firmly, 'Not the first time I had to train a Trainer into a good battler. Let's see what she can do under a proper instructor.'
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!