Chapter 287: Iron Pokémon
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Next Day, Route 120, Ancient Tomb]
The following day, Azure and his partners made it to Route 120. Pikachu, ever vigilant, rode comfortably on Azure's left shoulder, his bright eyes scanning the lush foliage of Route 120. Eevee, a fluffy brown beacon of joy, perched on Azure's head, occasionally nuzzling his hair as he walked.
Below them, in their respective Poké Balls, rested a formidable team, each a champion, a testament to Azure's skill and dedication. And yet, his current quest wasn't about competitive battles.
It was about filling another, more ancient, void within his growing collection of legendary partners. Azure's Arc Phone map glowed, guiding him through the winding, verdant paths of Route 120.
The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and exotic flowers, the calls of Wingull and Swellow echoing from above. He had explored Hoenn's diverse landscapes for a few weeks now, familiarizing himself with its unique ecosystem, but his primary objective for this leg of the journey was singular: the capture of Registeel.
His research, as always, had been meticulous, leading him to the precise coordinates of the Ancient Tomb. He'd already bested and befriended Regice and Regirock, two of the legendary titans, in the frigid depths of the Ice Cave and the scorching sands of the Desert Ruins, respectively.
Their capture hadn't been easy, requiring strategic prowess and a deep understanding of their elemental powers. Now, they resided in two special Ultra Balls clipped securely to his belt, ready to answer his call, their presence a silent assurance that he was on the right path.
The Ancient Tomb, according to his research, was unlike the desolate, hidden locales of its brethren. It was surprisingly well-known, even marked on tourist maps, a landmark shrouded in local legend.
Yet, despite its fame, it remained an enigma, its colossal, metallic door sealed off from the world. Websites abounded with tales of intrepid trainers and archaeologists who had tried everything from pickaxes to Hyper Beams, only to find the monumental entrance utterly unyielding.
The common consensus was that it was simply too sturdy, too durable, forged from an unknown, impenetrable alloy. Azure, however, knew better. His research had unveiled the deeper truth: the entrance wasn't merely sturdy; it was designed to contain.
It had been sealed by ancient civilizations, not to protect a treasure, but to imprison a force too potent, too dangerous, to be left unchecked. That force, he knew, was Registeel. The Steel Titan.
As he finally approached the clearing, a broad, ancient-looking plaza paved with sun-baked stone, Azure's smile widened. The Ancient Tomb loomed ahead, a massive, cube-like structure of dark, weathered metal, half-submerged in the surrounding jungle.
The entrance, a seamless, circular plate of the same metallic material, bore no visible hinges or cracks. It was a testament to the ingenuity and fear of the ancients.
More importantly, there were no tourists, no curious trainers, no bustling crowds. Just the whisper of the wind through the leaves and the distant cry of a Pokémon as Azure muttered, "Perfect."
Azure murmured, his voice a low thrum of excitement, "Alright, it's showtime!"
Pikachu twitched his ears, a spark dancing on his cheeks. Eevee let out a soft "Eevee!" of anticipation.
Azure unclipped two Ultra Balls from his belt, their sleek, dark surfaces reflecting the dappled sunlight. With a confident flick of his wrist, he tossed them forward as the Ultra Balls popped open…
*Pop*
*THUD*
Out of a flash of light materialized the towering forms of Regice and Regirock.
Regice, a magnificent golem of pure, crystalline ice, shimmered with an ethereal blue glow, its faceted body radiating an intense chill that made the surrounding air crisp. Regirock, a titan of rough, earthy stone, exuded an ancient, elemental strength, its jagged form a testament to geological time.
They stood side-by-side, silent and powerful, turning their singular, glowing eyes towards Azure. He met their gaze with a nod, a silent understanding passing between them.
He instructed, his voice clear and firm as he said boldly, "Okay, guys, this door isn't just strong. It was built to hold one of your kind. Normal force won't work. We need something that resonates with the same kind of ancient, fundamental power. Something you both possess."
He paused, letting his words sink in, then pointed to the impenetrable entrance. He ordered bluntly, "I need you to break it. Not with a specific attack, but with raw, unadulterated brute force. Channel your strength, your essence, into it. Show it the power it was designed to contain."
Regice and Regirock rumbled, a deep, resonant sound that vibrated through the ground. They understood. This wasn't a battle; it was a reunion, albeit one requiring a forced entry of they're combined might.
Slowly, deliberately, they began to concentrate. Regice's frosty aura intensified, tendrils of mist swirling around its limbs. Regirock's stony body seemed to expand slightly, faint cracks of orange energy appearing in its geological plates…
*BOOOOM*
Then, with a synchronized, guttural roar that shook the very foundations of the tomb, they unleashed their combined might. It wasn't a beam or a projectile attack. It was a pure, physical surge of energy, a manifestation of their elemental core, directed with focused intent at the sealed door.
*THRUM*
The effect was not immediate. The ancient metal thrummed, absorbing the titanic impact. For a heart-stopping moment, it seemed as if the legends were true, that nothing could breach its defenses…
*CRACK*
But Azure watched, grinning, Pikachu tensing on his shoulder, Eevee whimpering softly on his head, knowing better. He knew the prophecy: only power like Registeel could break its sealed entrance through brute force.
And Regice and Regirock, being of the same lineage, possessed precisely that. A low, groaning sound began to emanate from the door, a deep, metallic lament. Then, a hairline crack, impossibly fine at first, appeared near the center.
It snaked outwards, branching like lightning bolts across the monolithic surface. Regice and Regirock pressed their advantage, their roars intensifying, their forms glowing brighter with effort….
*BOOOM*
… The cracks deepened, multiplying, spreading across the entire circular plate. The groaning turned into a screech, then a grinding moan, as the ancient metal fought a losing battle against the raw, unyielding will of the two titans…
*CRACK*
Finally, with a thunderous CRACK! that echoed through the entire plaza, the massive door shattered inward. Shards of ancient metal, surprisingly light despite their apparent density, fragmented and collapsed into the darkened chamber beyond, kicking up centuries of dust.
The opening, now a jagged, gaping maw, revealed a suffocating darkness, hinting at the vastness within. Azure exclaimed, beaming happily, "Well done, guys! Let's go meet our third titan."
Pikachu leaped off his shoulder, landing lightly, sparks dancing around him. Eevee, ever curious, jumped from his head and landed beside Pikachu, sniffing the air cautiously. Azure retrieved a high-powered flashlight from his backpack, its beam cutting through the gloom as they stepped over the rubble and into the Ancient Tomb.
/////
[Hoenn Region, Ancient Tomb – Interior]
The interior was vast and surprisingly empty, a single, colossal chamber. The air was cold, stale, and smelled faintly of ozone and ancient metal.
The walls were smooth and unadorned, rising to a ceiling lost in the darkness above. In the very center of the chamber, illuminated by Azure's beam and the faint light filtering from the breached entrance, stood Registeel.
It was magnificent, its form sleek and metallic, forged not from stone or ice, but from a material far beyond human understanding. Its body was a study in geometric precision, a stark contrast to the more organic forms of Regice and Regirock.
It had no discernible facial features, only a single, glowing red eye that pulsed with a quiet, ancient energy. Registeel, sensing their presence, slowly began to rotate, its metallic limbs whirring almost imperceptibly.
Its eye fixed on Azure, a silent, inquisitive gaze. It emitted a series of rapid beeps and boops, a language of pure thought, recognizing the intrusion.
*Blink*
*Beep*
But then, its metallic form froze. Its glowing eye widened, not in alarm, but in a profound, almost stunned recognition, as it sensed the unmistakable auras of Regice and Regirock standing behind Azure.
The beeping stopped. A new, deeper resonance began, a series of clicks and whirs, a complex dialogue that seemed to transcend sound, vibrating directly into Azure's mind as he listened intently.
*Blink*
*Beep*
Regice and Regirock responded instantly, their own unique chirps and rumblings joining the chorus. It was a conversation millennium in the making, a silent exchange only the titans could truly understand.
Azure, usually prepared for a fierce battle, stood utterly still, baffled but fascinated. In his previous encounters with Regice and Regirock, the battles had been intense, a true test of his skill and his Pokémon's strength.
But this was different. This was a family reunion, an exchange of ancient dialects that spoke of shared origins and forgotten histories.
He watched, respectful of the moment, Pikachu and Eevee also silent, sensing the profoundness of the encounter. The communication continued for several long minutes, a symphony of ancient beeps and clicks.
Finally, Regice turned its head, its glowing eye momentarily fixed on Azure, and then made a distinct motion with one of its icy limbs, a gesture that clearly indicated to Azure to approach. Taking a deep breath, Azure walked forward, his footsteps echoing in the cavernous space.
He reached out, not with a Poké Ball or a battle command, but with something far more intrinsic. He focused, drawing upon a unique ability of the Viridian Force, an ability that allowed him to connect with his Pokémon, an almost empathic bridge towards Regice.
It wasn't an attack or a power, but a heightened state of awareness, a spiritual resonance that allowed him to perceive and sometimes influence the deeper currents of Pokémon thought and emotion.
As he extended his consciousness, a wave of information, emotion, and ancient history washed over him. He felt the immense solitude of Registeel, its eons of slumber, the quiet vigilance of its containment.
He felt its surprise, its awe, and joy at seeing its brethren here. He also felt the profound sense of curiosity emanating from it, an ancient being awakened to a world it no longer recognized.
Through the Viridian Force, Azure understood. Registeel saw Regice and Regirock, vibrant and free, allied with this human.
It sensed the respect, the camaraderie, the shared purpose between them. The other Regis were communicating their experiences, their journeys with Azure, the wonders of the modern world, and the sense of liberation they had found.
Registeel, having been sealed away for so long, yearned to witness this progress, to understand how humanity had evolved, to see if the world it was meant to guard had truly changed. It wanted to follow, not out of defeat, but out of a profound, ancient curiosity and a nascent trust.
And Registeel, having sensed the strength of Azure's bond with its brothers and the integrity of his spirit, was drawn to their narrative. Registeel's collective consciousness seemed to convey a resonating thought-form in Azure's mind, 'The world has changed. We have slept for so long. We desire to see how much it has progressed. To understand what has become of the lands we once guarded. My brothers trust you. We will accompany you and bear witness to this new era.'
Azure's heart swelled. This was a victory beyond any battle—a victory of understanding, of mutual respect. He smiled, a genuine, warm smile that reached his eyes as he said aloud, his voice soft but clear, "Thank you, Registeel. I promise, you will see a world worth seeing after all these years."
Azure's heart swelled with a mixture of immense pride and a pang of pity. Pride, for earning the trust of such ancient beings, for becoming a bridge between worlds.
Pity, for the long, lonely existence of the Regis, sealed away, misunderstood, their true purpose perhaps forgotten even by themselves through time. He smiled, a genuine, heartfelt expression.
Azure said calmly, his voice soft but clear, resonating with the Viridian Force, "Welcome to a new path. A path where you can explore, observe, and protect with us. The world needs your unique strength, Registeel. Will you join?"
He held out a spare Ultra Ball, its gleaming surface a stark contrast to the ancient darkness. Registeel's single eye pulsed, then it slowly, deliberately, extended one of its metallic limbs.
It tapped the Ultra Ball, a soft, resonant clink. There was no struggle, no resistance, no defiant roar. Just a silent, almost eager acceptance. A flash of crimson light enveloped the metallic titan, shrinking it, drawing it into the depths of the Ultra Ball…
*BON*
The ball gave a single, solid click, signaling a successful capture. Azure held the Ultra Ball, feeling the weight of centuries, the promise of a new partnership. The Ancient Tomb, once so imposing, now felt oddly empty, save for the presence of Regice and Regirock.
He nodded at his two loyal titans as he said, "Thank you, my friends. You truly made this possible."
With a final, appreciative glance at the magnificent, now quiet chamber, Azure recalled Regice and Regirock into their Ultra Balls. Pikachu chirped happily, nudging Azure's leg, and Eevee leaped back onto his head, seemingly unfazed by the ancient encounter.
As they exited out Azure brought out his Arc Phone. He soon began to read the info regarding Registeel.
[Registeel, the Iron Pokémon. According to legend, Registeel was created by the Legendary Pokémon Regigigas using magma. It used to be worshipped by humans; however, at some point, ancient people started fearing its power and sealed it away.
In Hoenn, it was sealed in the Ancient Tomb; in Sinnoh, it was sealed in the Iron Ruins; and in Galar, it was sealed in the Iron Ruins. Registeel's body is hollow and made of a material that is harder than any other known metal found on Earth. However, this material stretches and shrinks despite its hardness.
Tempered by pressure underground over tens of thousands of years, its body cannot be scratched. It is also rumored that Registeel was born deep underground in the planet's mantle and that it emerged onto the surface 10,000 years ago. It is unknown what it can eat.]
|Name: Registeel (Iron Pokémon)
|Type: Steel
|Level: 60
|Gender: Genderless
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Clear Body
|Nature: Adamant
|Moves: Curse, Amnesia, Iron Defense, Lock-On, Block, Gravity, Protect, Rest, Magnet Rise, Metal Sound, Metal Claw, Flash Cannon, Iron Head, Heavy Slam, Steel Roller, Steel Beam, Hard Press, Superpower, Ancient Power, Bulldoze, Stomp, Zap Cannon, Mega Punch, Mega Kick, Hammer Arm, Hyper Beam, Charge Beam, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Power-Up Punch, Explosion (IM) (5 Moves left to learn)
Azure smiled, reading Registeel's status as he muttered contentedly, "Not bad… with these three by my side, taking down the Weather Trio would actually have a decent chance."
As they emerged from the broken entrance, back into the vibrant sunlight of Route 120. Azure clipped the new Ultra Ball containing Registeel securely to his belt alongside its brethren.
With the three Regis now under his compassionate guidance, Azure felt a deeper connection to this ancient land, ready to face whatever new challenges lie ahead.
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A/N: Reach the goal of 100 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!