Chapter 290: Ruby and Sapphire's Reaction
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Next Day, Verdanturf Town]
Miles away, in a quaint Pokémon Center of Verdanturf Town, Ruby hummed a cheerful tune as he prepared breakfast for his Pokémon in his private room. The aroma of freshly mixed Poffins filled the air, a delightful blend of sweet and savory that promised a perfect start to the day.
The Hoenn morning sun, gentler than Fortree's dappled light, streamed through his kitchen window, illuminating the joyful anticipation of his team. His Gardevoir, Rara, stood patiently by the counter, a picture of serene elegance.
Mumu, his recently evolved Swampert, rumbled contentedly, his massive form a stark contrast to Rara's grace. Nana, the Mightyena, wagged her tail with playful energy, while Kiki, the Delcatty, stretched languidly, in feline relaxation.
And then there was Feefee, his magnificent Milotic, whose iridescent scales caught the light as she gracefully navigated the space, a vision of fluid beauty. Fofo, the ever-changing Castform, floated above the table, its form shifting subtly with the microclimates of Ruby's home.
Today was a big day. The next Pokémon Contest in Verdanturf Town was just around the corner, and Feefee, with her stunning beauty and Ruby's careful choreography, was poised to make a splash in the Beauty category.
Ruby's heart swelled with pride as he spooned out their individualized breakfasts, each one tailored to their preferences and needs. As his Pokémon happily devoured their meals, Ruby's Rotom Phone, sitting on the counter, vibrated.
*VIRB*
He picked it up, intending to check the weather forecast for the contest, but his eyes were immediately drawn to a notification from the Trainer's website. It was an update from an account he followed: "Pokemon Master."
Ruby tapped the notification. His initial reaction was a soft groan of mild annoyance as he read the post.
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From Pokémon Master:
Location: Fortree City, Hoenn Region
Challenger: Azure Sky
Prize: 500,000 Poke Dollars
Details: I've arrived in Hoenn. Seeking worthy opponents to test my skills and my team. Any Trainer who can defeat me in a 1-on-1 battle (or other agreed-upon format) will earn a substantial reward listed above. Let's see what Hoenn has to offer! Reply to this post to arrange a battle.
====
Ruby blinked, baffled by seeing this. But then he checked the replies down below...
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Replies:
[The Trainer: Azure, are you serious?! 500k?! You'll break the bank!]
[The Fighter: Hahaha, classic Azure! Never one to shy away from a challenge. Good luck, Hoenn Trainers, you're in for a treat!]
[Hoenn_Enthusiast_97: This is insane! Imagine beating the Azure Sky. And for that much money!]
[Professor_Sam_O: Is this wise, Azure? Such a high-stakes challenge might attract the wrong kind of attention.]
[Misty_Waterflower: Woohoo! Go get 'em! Show Hoenn what Kanto's made of!]
[Elite_4_Bruno: A champion's declaration. Hoenn will be buzzing. Time to scout out challengers.]
[The Evolver: Azure, you better share some of that Poke Dollars! Just think of poor me - er I mean Silver!]
[Exchanger: Azure, if you make a move on big sis, or reply to her text, you'll be courting death!]
====
Ruby murmured to himself, "Azure Sky…"
He remembered the name and the face distinctly. Azure's battling posts often cluttered his feed, filled with powerful Pokémon and aggressive strategies that, while undeniably impressive, were far removed from Ruby's own artistic pursuits in Pokémon Contests.
He had only followed Azure out of a peculiar sense of gratitude. He recalled how Azure gave him a Prism Scale that helped him in his dreams to become the best Pokémon Coordinator as he smiled fondly at the memory.
The subsequent evolution of his beloved Feebas the Feefee into the stunning Milotic she was today had been a moment of pure magic, a gift he couldn't repay. It was because of that act of kindness, that fleeting moment of shared passion for Pokémon, that Ruby felt compelled to keep an eye on the Indigo Champion.
Now, he scrolled down Azure's latest post, his annoyance giving way to a more complex cocktail of emotions as he read out loud, "Defeat me, earn 500,000 Poke Dollars? Typical Azure, always raising the stakes."
He watched the embedded videos of Azure's past Kanto battles. He couldn't deny the sheer power and elegance in Azure's approach.
His Ninetales, a swirling vision of fire and grace, executed moves with breathtaking precision. His Gardevoir, radiating psychic energy, commanded the battlefield with an almost balletic quality.
Ruby found himself appreciating the beauty in their strength, the raw artistry of a perfectly executed attack. Then, his eyes widened as he muttered, "… What the hell?! This son of a -"
In one of the newer post-battle videos, Azure was congratulating his team, and among them, his gaze fixated on a truly magnificent Milotic, its form nearly identical to his own Feefee. A pang of bitterness, sharp and swift, struck Ruby.
It had taken him weeks of arduous searching, countless failed attempts, and a painstakingly cultivated sense of aesthetics to find his Feebas, to nurture it into the beauty that was Feefee. And here was Azure, the battle-focused champion, casually showcasing his own Milotic, seemingly acquired with such ease.
He sighed, shaking his head helplessly, muttering in a bitter voice, "Sigh… It wasn't fair, but then again, life wasn't always fair."
He'd learned that much. He knew Azure wasn't just a battler; he clearly appreciated Pokémon deeply, nurturing their beauty and strength in equal measure.
He remembered Azure's calm, almost serene presence, even amidst the chaos of battle, a trait Ruby admired. A small, wry chuckle escaped him.
In the end, Azure had helped him get his Feefee into Milotic. He couldn't stay truly bitter for long. The shared love for Pokémon, even with vastly different expressions, transcended fleeting envy.
*Click*
He closed the Rotom Phone, setting it back on the counter. The online world, with its battles and grand challenges, faded into the background.
His focus sharpened, returning to the present, to his beautiful Pokémon, to the upcoming contest. Feefee, sensing his renewed determination, nuzzled his hand gently.
He stroked her head, feeling the smooth, silken scales under his fingers. He murmured, his voice filled with renewed vigor, "Alright, Feefee… Let's show Verdanturf Town its true beauty. Let's make that stage sparkle."
His dream of becoming the best Pokémon Coordinator burned brighter than ever, undisturbed by the ripples from a distant champion's challenge. He grinned as he felt determined to make it to his goal, "We'll get there soon, and then I'll finish my bet with you, Sapphire. I'm just almost there…"
/////
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Route 118]
Far away, amidst the rustling reeds and gurgling streams of Route 118, Sapphire adjusted the makeshift cooking pot over a small, crackling fire. The morning sun dappled through the dense foliage, painting shifting patterns on the ground.
Around her, her team was already buzzing with energy, their training regimen never truly pausing. Kirly, her Gallade, practiced graceful sweeps with his arm blades, a flurry of focused energy.
Chic, her Blaziken, unleashed controlled bursts of flame, scorching the dew-kissed grass with precision. Rono, the Lairon, charged a sturdy tree trunk, its metallic hide clanging against the bark as it honed its Iron Head.
Phando, the Donphan, rolled across an open patch, kicking up dust in a powerful display of momentum. Troppy, her majestic Tropius, soared overhead, catching thermals and circling gracefully, its wings a vibrant green against the blue sky.
Even Relly, the Relicanth, was doing laps in a nearby, surprisingly deep pool, its ancient form moving with surprising agility. Sapphire watched them, a fierce pride swelling in her chest.
Every Pokémon on her team had been carefully chosen, painstakingly trained, and imbued with her own unwavering determination. They were strong, incredibly strong, and they were getting stronger every single day.
It had only been a few days since she'd left Lavaridge Town, since she'd made the conscious, painful decision to separate from Master – Azure. The memory still stung, a mix of liberation and lingering vulnerability.
For so long, her path had shadowed his. His strategies, his guidance, his immense strength had been her north star, her safety net.
She'd learned so much, grown exponentially under his tutelage, but a nagging voice had whispered in the back of her mind, a seed of doubt that blossomed into a stark realization: she was becoming too dependent.
Taking a deep breath, she'd told herself, staring at her reflection in a hot spring, seeing not herself, but a shadow, "I can't become a true Pokémon Master if I'm always following someone else's lead. My victories must be my own. My mistakes must be my own. My path must be forged by me."
The separation had been amicable, if a little bittersweet. Azure, ever perceptive, had understood her unspoken need for independence. He'd simply nodded, a knowing smile on his face, and wished her well, telling her to find her own strength.
And find it she was. The training had been relentless, pushing both herself and her Pokémon to their limits. There were no shortcuts, no easy wins, just raw effort and unwavering focus.
The solitude of Route 118 was a welcome companion, allowing her to concentrate entirely on her goals. The smell of sizzling berries and freshly brewed Pokémon-food wafted from the pot.
She stirred it with a ladle, her Rotom Phone propped up on a convenient rock nearby, playing soft environmental sounds. Suddenly, a notification pinged, cutting through the serene atmosphere.
*BEEP*
"Pokémon Master has issued a new post."
Sapphire froze, her hand hovering over the pot. She whispered, her heart giving an unexpected jolt, "Master?"
She hadn't consciously sought out his updates, but her Rotom Phone was set to follow his Bulbapedia account, a habit formed during her time with him. Her finger, almost of its own accord, tapped the notification.
The screen lit up with Azure's challenge. Her eyes widened, reading the words in a stunned tone, "...Anyone who can defeat me in a Pokémon battle will earn a reward of 500,000 Poke Dollars."
A wave of mixed emotions washed over her. Admiration, first and foremost, as she muttered, "This was so Master. Always pushing boundaries, always seeking the strongest challenges, always finding a way to make things exciting."
Then, a flicker of something else – a competitive spark, a yearning that she thought she had suppressed. She scrolled down, seeing the burgeoning comments.
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Replies:
[500k?! Is he serious?!]
[Pokémon Master in Hoenn? This is huge!]
[Pfft, easy money. My Sceptile will wipe the floor with him.]
[Don't be stupid, he won the Indigo League twice. You'll just lose your entry fee.]
[Is this a joke? Azure doesn't need money. What's his game?]
[Master always finds a way to motivate the region, huh?]
====
She ignored the chatter, her gaze fixed on the post. Then, a sudden, almost irresistible urge compelled her. She navigated to his past battle videos, the ones chronicling his Indigo League victories.
She clicked on a seemingly random one, a fierce match against a Dragon-type specialist. Her Pokémon, sensing a change in her focus, gathered around, their breakfast momentarily forgotten.
Kirly tilted his head, Chic chirped curiously, and even the airborne Troppy descended to observe. The video played. Azure's Pikachu, a blur of yellow lightning, danced around a lumbering Dragonite, weaving in and out of its attacks, striking with pinpoint accuracy.
Then Eevee, demonstrating an astonishing adaptability, switched tactics mid-battle, using a perfectly timed attract to disable an aggressive Salamence before finishing it with a powerful Swift. Azure himself, calm and collected, issued commands with a quiet confidence, his eyes tracking every movement, every shift in momentum.
Sapphire watched, spellbound. A slow smile spread across her face, part wonder, part fierce determination.
She saw the nuanced strategies, the impeccable timing, the deep bond between trainer and Pokémon. No flashy theatrics, just pure, unadulterated skill and an innate understanding of battle dynamics.
She found herself subconsciously analyzing the moves, second-guessing the opponent, imagining how she would counter in that situation. Despite the recent separation, despite her vow for independence, she couldn't help but feel a rush of pride.
This was Master, her mentor, the man who had shown her the true depths of what a trainer could become. The battles were captivating, a masterclass in Pokémon battling combat.
She felt the familiar warmth of admiration, but this time, it was tempered by something new, something sharper. She thought fondly, her smile broadening into an eager grin, 'He's still incredible. But... I will be too. I have to be.'
The realization solidified within her. Watching him, feeling that surge of inspiration, was not a step backward into dependence.
It was a catalyst. His challenge wasn't just for strangers; in her mind, it felt like a personal gauntlet thrown down, an unspoken dare…
Become strong enough to face me.
Her internal fangirling was real, an undeniable part of her, but it no longer overshadowed her own ambition. Instead, it fueled it.
The goal was no longer just to be strong, to be independent, but to become strong enough. Strong enough to stand as his equal, to challenge him, to perhaps even surpass him one day in the future.
She announced firmly, her voice filled with renewed vigor, the last vestiges of self-doubt burned away by the fires of determination, "Alright, team… Breakfast is ready. And then... we train harder than ever before."
Her Pokémon, sensing her renewed resolve, let out excited cries. They devoured their meal with gusto, glancing occasionally at the glowing Rotom Phone where Azure's battles continued to play.
They understood. Master's challenge wasn't just a distant event; it was a new benchmark, a distant peak to aim for. The road to becoming stronger than Azure, stronger than "Pokémon Master," was long and arduous, but Sapphire and her team were ready to walk it, every step of the way.
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A/N: Reach the goal of 200 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!