Chapter 620: Hidden Grotto
~Third POV~
[Unova Region, Next Day, Route 3]
The next day, the morning sun cut through the heavy canopy of Route 3, casting golden, fractured beams over the cobblestone paths and the vibrant, dew-kissed underbrush of the Unova countryside. The air was crisp, carrying the earthy scent of damp forest moss and wild Apricorns.
Just the night before, the tranquil woods had echoed with the clandestine movements of Team Plasma grunts attempting to flee the Dreamyard with Black's Munna, affectionately known as Musha. But Azure's sharp-eyed Gengar had put a swift end to that, intercepting the cowards and ferrying them directly to the Striaton City police station.
With the immediate threat neutralized, the trio—Black, White, and Azure—had returned to the winding paths of Route 3 to continue their journey. Only the nature of the journey had fundamentally shifted.
White walked a few paces behind the boys, a small notebook clutched in her hand, frantically updating a meticulously color-coded schedule. Yesterday's revelations in Fennel's laboratory—sparked by Azure's blunt, eye-opening demonstration with his Golett—had forced White to confront an uncomfortable truth.
She had spent all her time treating her Tepig, Gigi, as an actor, a star meant for commercials and stage plays, while systematically suppressing the fire in the pig Pokémon's soul. Gigi wanted to battle. Gigi wanted to grow. And White, terrified of being a "bad Trainer" or ruining her partner's potential, was finally stepping up to the plate.
*Click*
White tossed a pristine Poké Ball toward a rustling patch of tall grass…
*Thwack*
The ball sailed completely wide, bouncing off a thick oak root before splashing uselessly into a shallow, babbling stream. White groaned, her shoulders slumping dramatically. She exclaimed, frustrated, "Ugh! This is impossible!"
A sharp bark of laughter broke the morning air. Azure leaned casually against a mossy boulder, a Pikachu resting comfortably on his right shoulder while a quiet, dozing Eevee curled atop his head. From the Arc Phone in his pocket, a blue holographic screen flickered as Rotom poked its head out.
Rotom chirped, earning a glowing, warning glare from the girl, "Bzzt! Error! Target was a stationary stump, White! Not even a Pokémon!"
White sighed, clutching her head in mock despair, "I know, I know!"
She turned to Azure, her expression softening into an apologetic grimace as she said bitterly, "I'm sorry, Azure. You gave me a whole case of these things yesterday, and I haven't even caught a single one."
Azure assured her, flashing an easy, reassuring grin, "Don't sweat it."
He reached into his coat and produced a brown paper bag, tossing it toward her. He said casually, "Catching your first wild Pokémon is always about rhythm. Here, take a break. Grab some snacks."
White caught the bag gratefully, pulling out a handful of sweet Berries.
*Crunch*
Black stopped in his tracks, turning back with a raised eyebrow. A half-eaten Oran Berry paused halfway to his mouth. He finally asked, "Hold on. Back up. Snacks? What brought this on? Since when do you take mid-day snack breaks, White?"
White swallowed, wiping her hands on her skirt. She explained herself, "While you were out cold, Black—Azure showed me something. He proved that I was practically holding a leash on Gigi's real dreams."
She glanced down affectionately at the little fire pig trotting at her heels, continuing, "I... I realized how much I was neglecting her potential. When Azure had his Golett attacked first to force the issue..."
White winced, shivering slightly at the memory, adding, "Well, let's just say my heart nearly stopped."
Black blinked, slowly turning his gaze toward Azure.
Azure offered a sheepish, slightly embarrassed smile, scratching the back of his neck. He quickly explained, "Hey, look, desperation breeds clarity! I had to show her that Gigi wasn't made of glass. Besides, I would've stepped in if things got too rough."
White muttered, though there was no real venom in her voice, "You could've done it without inducing a mild panic attack…"
Azure slumped against the boulder in exaggerated defeat. He apologized genuinely, sincerely, about the trouble he caused, "My sincerest apologies, oh grand manager of the BW Agency. Please spare me."
Black let out a low whistle, crossing his arms as the pieces clicked together in his head. He finally said in a cool tone, "So that's why your schedule looked like a scrambled-egg recipe this morning."
He looked at White with a mixture of sympathy and determination. He said with a grin, "Look, I couldn't watch you fail all day. If you're gonna be a Trainer, you gotta actually, you know... catch something."
White protested, her hands flying to her hips, "I've never done this before! In the agency, the Pokémon are already trained, scripted, and delivered!"
Azure spoke up, pushing off the boulder, "Then we change the situation."
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. He said cheekily with a knowing grin, "Rule number one of teaching a total greenhorn: use a location where the prey has nowhere to run. It narrows the focus."
Black's eyes lit up. He asked, "A Hidden Grotto?"
Azure nodded, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. He replied with an eager expression, "Precisely! Follow me."
/////
[Unova Region, Route 3 – Hidden Grotto]
The entrance to the Hidden Grotto was concealed behind a dense, almost impenetrable wall of weeping willows and thick briars. Pushing past the heavy curtain of vines, the trio stepped out of the bright sunlight and into a secluded, cavernous clearing.
The atmosphere here was thick with moisture and the sweet fragrance of wild honeysuckle. Towering ancient trees formed a natural dome overhead, allowing only shafts of emerald light to pierce the gloom.
Azure held up a hand, signaling for absolute silence. He crept forward a few paces, gesturing for Black and White to peer through a thick patch of ferns…
*Rustle-rustle*
In the center of the mossy clearing sat a small, fluffy creature with brown fur and a cream-colored ruff around its neck. White's breath hitched. Her eyes went wide, sparkling with pure, unadulterated delight whispered, "Oh..."
Black whispered, a broad grin spreading across his face, "An Eevee… Hey, White—looks like you found your target. It's cute, too."
White echoed, her professional composure instantly melting away into sheer adoration, "Cute? It's completely, utterly adorable!"
Emboldened by her excitement, White stepped forward a bit too quickly, her boot snapping a dry twig beneath her feet.
*Snap*
The wild Eevee's ears instantly flicked back. It whipped its head around, locking big, luminous eyes onto the intruders.
Instead of fleeing into the brush, the Eevee let out a sharp, indignant chirp, squared its small shoulders, and charged straight toward White, "Eevoi!!"
White yelped, stumbling backward in a blind panic, "W-Wait! Go away!"
Black laughed loudly, crossing his arms, "Look at that! It's not even running away from her—it's looking down on her! It thinks she's easy prey!"
White shrieked, her heel catching on an exposed root, "Black, help!"
*Thud*
She tipped backward, tumbling hard onto the mossy turf just as the wild Eevee leaped into the air, its paws glowing with a sharp, metallic sheen. Azure's eyes narrowed as he thought, 'Iron Tail incoming!'
Black lunged forward, his hand diving instinctively toward his belt to release Tep or Tula, but he was too far away.
He didn't need to be.
*Whoosh*
A streak of fiery pink darted past Black's shoulder.
Gigi dashed in front of the fallen manager, opening her snout wide to release a sudden, perfectly timed burst of bright orange flame.
*BOOM*
The Ember collided squarely with the ground inches from the wild Eevee, kicking up a cloud of smoke and forcing the fierce little normal-type to flip backward and land safely on all fours, coughing lightly.
Black froze, his jaw practically hitting the ground. He stared in absolute shock at the little fire pig, who stood proudly, tail wagging with fiery determination, muttering aloud, "Did... did Gigi just...?"
Azure chuckled softly from the shadows, adjusting the Pichu (Mew) inside his jacket. He said in a knowing tone, "Told you, Black. The fire's always been there; she just needed permission to let it burn."
White cheered from the ground, scrambling back up to her feet, her eyes shining with newfound respect for her partner yelled, "Good girl, Gigi! Now, we need to weaken it first, right? Azure said so!"
White pointed a shaky finger forward. She ordered, "Gigi, use Ember again!"
*Fwooosh*
Gigi squealed eagerly, stomping her little hooves before launching a second, warmer wave of fire. The flames washed over the wild Eevee, singeing its fur and visibly tiring it out. Black cheered, pumping his fist, "Awesome! You got it!"
Then, his expression fell flat as White turned to him with a panicked expression. White shouted over the rustle of the leaves, "Okay, it's hurt! What do I do next?!"
Before Black could answer, the air in the grotto shifted.
*Rustle-rustle*
The first Eevee let out a sharp, piercing cry, echoing against the stone walls of the grotto, "EEEVOI!!!"
From the dense thicket on the opposite side of the clearing, a rustling sound preceded the appearance of a second Eevee. This one didn't hesitate; it immediately blurred into motion, executing a blindingly fast Quick Attack straight at Gigi's flank.
*Zoooom*
White cried out, her heart leaping into her throat, "Gigi! Look out!"
*SMACK*
The impact sent Gigi tumbling across the damp grass. The little pig let out a pained squeal, but immediately bounced back up, shaking her head and letting out a defiant cry to reassure her trainer that she was fine.
Two against one. The wild Eevee duo had flanked them.
Black grinned, a fierce, competitive spark igniting in his chest. Hot-blooded as ever, the realization hit him like a lightning bolt muttered, "Well, what do you know? Looks like I need a new team member too!"
Stepping up shoulder-to-shoulder with White, Black reached for his belt. He declared, "Let's make this a double battle! Tula! Front and center!"
*POP*
With a fluid motion, Black tossed a Poké Ball into the clearing. A flash of white light revealed Tula, his lanky, neon blue Galvantula, who chittered sharply and rubbed its mandibles together.
Black called out, his voice ringing with absolute authority, "Alright, White! If you want to catch one, you gotta command your Pokémon to hit hard! Tula, use Electro Ball! Gigi, follow up with Flame Charge!"
White commanded, her voice surprisingly steady, driven by the fierce pride in her partner's eyes, "You heard him, Gigi! Flame Charge!"
Tula spun rapidly, weaving crackling, golden electricity into a dense, humming sphere of energy that shot forward like a meteor. At the same time, Gigi engulfed herself in a brilliant, roaring mantle of orange fire, charging like a miniature freight train.
*CRASH-BOOM*
The combined impact of electricity and fire lit up the dark recesses of the Hidden Grotto in a blinding flash of light. The twin explosions kicked up a massive wall of dust and steam, sending both wild Eevees crashing backward into the trunk of a massive oak tree. When the smoke cleared, both wild Eevees were panting heavily, swirls in their eyes signaling they were on the very brink of exhaustion. Black shouted, "Now! Don't let up! Throw 'em!"
Without a second thought, White whipped a standard Poké Ball from her belt, putting all her weight behind the throw. Next to her, Black mirrored the motion, launching his own ball with practiced precision.
*Thwip-click*
*Thwip-click*
Both Poké Balls struck their targets, absorbing the two Eevees in flashes of crimson light. The spheres dropped to the mossy ground, rocking back and forth once... twice... three times... till finally...
*Ding—Ding*
The catches were locked.
The grotto erupted into an immediate wave of celebration. Black threw his hands in the air, laughing loudly, while White clapped her hands together, a massive, relieved smile breaking across her face.
White shrieked, running over to scoop up her Poké Ball, "We did it!"
She hugged it tightly to her chest, exclaiming, "I actually caught an Eevee!"
Gigi danced around White's feet, squealing in sheer triumph. The little fire pig puffed out her chest, clearly intoxicated by the intoxicating, sweet taste of her very first victory.
Beside her, Black picked up his own Poké Ball, a wide grin stretching from ear to ear. Then he said firmly, grabbing her attention, "Alright! Time for step two. White, watch closely—this is how you tame a wild Pokémon and earn its loyalty."
*POP*
Black tossed the ball back into the clearing. The red light materialized, revealing the newly caught Eevee. The little normal-type wobbled on its paws, still wincing from the burns and electrical shocks of the battle.
Before the wild Eevee could even react, Black reached into his pack, pulled out a pristine Super Potion, and sprayed it gently over the creature's back. The cooling mist immediately knit the singed fur and soothed the bruises.
*Spary*
As the Eevee blinked in surprise, the dim light caught the tip of its tail—forming a distinct, perfect heart shape. Black noted with a chuckle, "A girl, huh…"
He knelt slowly, extending a hand. He praised his Eevee proudly, "You're tough, you know that? And you didn't run away when your friend was in trouble. I respect that. I want a Pokémon with that kind of grit on my team."
The female Eevee tilted her head, staring up at the loud, passionate trainer. Slowly, cautiously, she stepped forward.
Instead of shying away, she nudged her head against Black's open palm. Taking the cue, Black reached into his pocket and offered her a handful of premium sweet treats, which the Eevee eagerly snatched up and chewed happily.
Rotom hovered nearby, recording the scene with a happy lens-click. Azure chimed in, stepping closer with Pikachu perched securely on his shoulder, "See? The secret to wild Pokémon loyalty is a three-step formula: First, battle them hard to prove your strength as a trainer. Second, show them kindness by healing their wounds. And third..."
Azure tapped his temple knowingly, adding, "Keep them well-fed. You'd be amazed how fiercely loyal a wild Pokémon becomes when it realizes it never has to worry about its next meal in a competitive ecosystem."
Black nodded firmly, looking over at White. He said confidently, "He's right. You gotta feed 'em good."
White blinked, following Black's exact example.
*POP*
She summoned her newly caught Eevee, administered a gentle spray of potion, and offered a handful of Berries. The second Eevee—another girl with exceptionally fluffy fur—accepted the food greedily, nuzzling right into White's palm.
Azure watched the scene unfold with a quiet, satisfied nod.
Black grinned, looking down at his new partner. He said firmly, "Alright! Until I figure out what evolution suits you best, I'm gonna call you Vee."
White whispered fondly, scooping up her own newly-tamed partner, "And you… Your name is Vivi."
Both Eevees seemed to approve of the names instantly. With synchronized chirps of joy, the two little normal-types leaped forward, covering both Black and White's faces in sloppy, affectionate puppy-licks as laughter echoed through the quiet canopy of the Hidden Grotto.
Azure chuckled, petting his own Eevee as he said fondly, "You were very cute when you were like that, ya know?"
Eevee pouted, turning her head away. But Azure noticed her wagging her tail happily, appeased by his head petting.
/////
A/N: Hope you enjoy the chapter!