Chapter 330: Mossdeep City
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Next Day, Mossdeep City – Pokémon Center]
The Mossdeep City Pokémon Center smelled faintly of sterile cleaning fluid and ozone, a lingering scent from the chaos that had nearly drowned or scorched the Hoenn region just forty-eight hours prior.
Azure felt nothing but a profound exhaustion that settled deep into his bones. He was slumped in a plush visitor's chair near the recovery bay, the bright scarlet of his jacket a stark contrast to the pale blue interior.
The noise of the past two days—the earth-shattering bellows of Groudon, the tidal fury of Kyogre, the desperate commands barked amidst the deluge and drought—had been replaced by the comforting, rhythmic beep of the recovery machines.
On his lap, his two primary partners offered silent comfort. Pikachu, usually buzzing with restless energy, rested his head against Azure's left thigh, his breathing deep and even. Eevee, nestled snugly on the right, occasionally twitched her ears, keeping a watchful, protective eye despite the relative safety.
*Tmp*
Nurse Joy, her face etched with the worry that came from overseeing a city in crisis, had just delivered the prognosis. She had said softly, adjusting her cap, "Your team is stable, Azure. But they need rest, true rest. The sheer intensity of the energy they expended… I recommend at least three days. No battling nor training within the week."
Azure simply nodded, accepting the decree. His team—Metagross, the indomitable anchor; Absol and Swampert, who had fought with localized weather control to mitigate the worst of the chaos; the fiery Blaziken and graceful Milotic—they had all pushed past their limits to stabilize the planet's equilibrium.
Even the mighty Salamence had been taxed to its absolute limit, acting as an emergency transport through localized storms. He sighed, the sound escaping his lips as a cloud of fatigue. The world had been saved, but the cost was monumental. The Hoenn climate was fundamentally changed, a chaotic patchwork of flash floods, sudden deserts, and uncontrolled electrical storms.
He thought, recalling the images of the devastation before he entered the controlled environment of the Center, 'It will take months to bring this back to normal. But I suppose everyone nearly dying is far worse…'
He closed his eyes, welcoming the momentary darkness. But a familiar voice, deep and smooth as polished metal, broke the silence, "Azure. I'm glad to see you upright."
Steven Stone, the Hoenn Champion, stood before him, impeccably dressed even after days spent coordinating rescue efforts alongside the Elite Four. Steven's usually sparkling eyes held a muted seriousness, reflecting the gravity of the recent events.
He chuckled lightly, a sound devoid of genuine humor, seeing the state Azure was in—unshaven, hair slightly askew, and radiating exhaustion. Azure slowly opened one eye, then the other.
His lips curved into a tired, dry smile. Azure shot back, his voice surprisingly steady for the state of his body, "Try fighting two Super Ancient Pokémon and then battling with you against Team Aqua and Magma's leaders simultaneously, Steven. It'll leave anyone exhausted. I think I've aged a decade in the last seventy-two hours."
Steven laughed, a genuine, if brief, sound this time, acknowledging the scale of Azure's contribution. Steven paused, then his voice took on a sharp, serious edge asked, "Indeed. Had you not contained them when you did, I fear we wouldn't have a Hoenn left to salvage. And on that note, how are you feeling, Azure?"
Azure knew exactly what Steven meant. The raw power of Groudon and Kyogre wasn't just physical; it was corrosive, influencing, and possessing.
He recalled the moment of their defeat, the shocking sight of Maxie and Archie's bodies decaying rapidly once the Super Ancient energy was withdrawn, leaving behind nothing but dust and hollow clothing—a grim testament to the fact that they hadn't been controlling the Legendaries, but rather were being animated by them.
Azure shifted, easing Eevee slightly, then reached to his belt. He produced two Poké Balls, both etched with the distinctive markings of Ultra Balls, and placed them gently on the desk beside his chair.
Azure admitted, looking at the balls with a frown on his face, "They tried. The moment those two were captured, it was like a tidal wave of primal frustration and control attempts slamming into my mind. They wanted me to release them, to continue their endless cycle of conflict, using me as a puppet."
He tapped the Ultra Balls lightly. Azure continued, gesturing to the heavy, unique casing of the Master Ball secured on his utility belt, "But unlike Archie and Maxie, I have an antidote. I have Rayquaza. And Rayquaza has... opinions on elemental deities disrupting the balance. They know who the ultimate authority is now."
Steven sighed in obvious relief, his shoulders easing slightly. The possibility of the hero who saved Hoenn immediately becoming the next catastrophic threat was a worry Steven had carried since confirming the capture of the two primal forces.
But deep down, Steven already thought calmly, 'He didn't tell me the full truth.'
Azure looked calm, even arrogant in his power, but Steven didn't need to know the true source of his protection. He didn't need to know about the Viridian Force, the unique, almost mythical ability he had developed during his Kanto journeys—a psychic barrier so pure and impenetrable that it made his mind invisible to all but the most perceptive psychics.
Groudon and Kyogre's subtle, creeping influence, the slow erosion of will, had been doomed the moment they tried to touch his consciousness. Maxie and Archie were tragically weak; Azure was simply impenetrable.
The Viridian Force acted as an absolute psychic shield, a core of unyielding neutrality that repelled external influence, whether it was the chaotic telepathy of primal gods or the insidious persuasion of Pokémon. Maxie and Archie had collapsed because their minds were fundamentally weak against such power; Azure's was fundamentally fortified.
The Legendary Pokémon's attempts at control were doomed to absolute failure before they even registered. He hadn't needed Rayquaza's intimidating power to physically resist them; he simply needed Rayquaza to teach them their place once they were out of the balls.
Steven observed the Indigo Champion for a long moment, watching the relaxed set of his shoulders and the casual way he handled the symbols of planetary destruction. It confirmed Steven's assessment: Azure was truly untouched by the madness.
Seeing Azure's usual, composed attitude, Steven's concerns eased entirely as he thought calmly, 'Azure certainly exhausted, but his core self intact. That's good.'
Steven asked tiredly, genuinely curious, eyeing Azure, what he plans for his recent captures, "So, what is the plan, then? These aren't ordinary Pokémon. You can't exactly drop them off at the Daycare."
Azure leaned back, considering the massive logistical problem he now owned. Groudon and Kyogre.
Two Pokémon that could shatter the world if they sneezed the wrong way. Azure admitted out loud, "You're right. I genuinely don't know. They're strong, immensely so, but they are too much of a hassle. Too much risk."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully while Pikachu stirred softly under his hand as he continued explaining calmly, "Unfortunately for me, I suspect I'm the only trainer in Hoenn—perhaps the world right now—who can keep these two in line without the entire world going completely out of control."
A strange, strategic gleam entered Azure's tired eyes. He was a champion not just of battle, but of planning as he thought cautiously, 'The problem was not their existence, but their catastrophic instability.'
Azure pondered deeply before he murmured out loud his idea, "I've been pondering this since the capture. We need power, Steven. We need clean water. Hoenn is destroyed. We need massive, instantaneous aid that conventional power plants and weather modification teams simply can't provide fast enough."
He gestured vaguely toward the Ultra Balls as he added in a cautious voice, "Maybe… maybe I can bring them out one at a time. Have Groudon use its Drought Ability—controlled, contained Drought, mind you—to superheat massive solar arrays. Instant, world-class electricity generation. Forget small solar panels; imagine having enough power to run entire continental grids."
He shifted his focus to the other Ultra Ball containing Kyogre as he continued, "Or Kyogre, using its Drizzle ability to create purified water. Not just rain, but high-pressure, instantly purified water, solving the global issue of obtaining clean water for millions affected by the flooding and saline intrusion."
Steven blinked, clearly taken aback by the sheer audacity of the idea as he thought, stunned, 'It was pragmatic, brilliant, and utterly insane. Utilizing the weapons of planetary destruction as tools for global recovery? Only he can come up with something like that.'
But hearing his idea had true merit. But Steven said carefully to Azure with a cautious expression, "Azure, that is an incredible vision, but you just battled them. You saw their power. If you couldn't control them—if their abilities straight-up destabilized the balance—then it's no good. The world cannot afford another mistake."
Hearing Steven's concern, he agreed on the subject. Azure said calmly, nodding sharply to Steven's concerns, "I agree. I'm not a fool. Their Abilities are the problem. Drought and Drizzle automatically trigger when they're released, and that's the danger."
He tapped the Ultra Balls, then pointed to three additional Ultra Balls resting subtly on a nearby ledge—balls that Steven hadn't noticed until now. Azure explained, his tone shifting into that of a seasoned tactical strategist, "Fortunately, I had a way to contain abilities before the main event. You recall the incredible damage containment that occurred during the fight? The massive dome that prevented Groudon and Kyogre's powers from completely destabilizing the atmospheric pressure around Mossdeep?"
Steven's eyes widened slightly in recognition as he muttered, "The Regi Trio."
Azure confirmed. He indicated the three Ultra Balls containing Regirock, Registeel, and Regice as he continued, "Precisely! The Regi Trio's move, Block, is not just a barrier for escape. When coordinated, they can project an absolute, energy-dampening field—a spherical dome of pure containment."
Azure leaned forward, the tactical excitement briefly overcoming his fatigue as he explained his plans to Steven, "The plan is this: before I release either Kyogre or Groudon for even a second, I will release the Regi Trio and have them immediately use Block to form a small, localized, hyper-stabilized dome. That dome, combined with the sheer gravity of their collective presence, will contain and temper Groudon's and Kyogre's Abilities. They can use Drought or Drizzle, but the effect will be mitigated and localized only to the area of the dome. Power on a massive scale, with the safety net provided by the Titans."
Steven stared at the five Ultra Balls on the desk, a silent acknowledgment of Azure's foresight and unparalleled strategic resourcefulness as he thought, amazed, 'To turn the very mechanism that had contained the initial disaster into a permanent safety protocol for harnessing that power was genius. It transformed two catastrophic threats into the ultimate construction tools.'
Steven conceded, shaking his head helplessly as he said fondly, "You never cease to amaze. The Hoenn region owes you far more than we can ever repay."
The atmosphere lightened somewhat, the immediate dread of the Legendaries now replaced by the potential of hope. Steven then shifted the conversation as the Champion said calmly, a slight grin returning to his features, "Now, on a different note. Do you intend to challenge the Ever Grande Conference? If so, I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news."
Azure nodded, having anticipated this, as he sighed in a defeated voice, "Sigh… I figured as much. With the climate shift and the reconstruction efforts, the League is busy. I understand the tournament is canceled for the year."
Hearing how Azure was prepared caused Steven to chuckle as he continued, "Ah, good. You were prepared. But here is the good news. The Pokémon Hoenn Association Chairman, after much deliberation regarding your heroic efforts, is prepared to make an exception. You have saved the region, Azure. You don't need a formal tournament victory."
Steven's eyes gleamed with anticipation as he added on excitedly, "You are granted an immediate pass to challenge the Elite Four and me in the Pokémon League, which, as you know, sits just past Ever Grande City and Victory Road. You could challenge them now, or later, once your Pokémon are fully healed."
Azure grinned, a tired but genuine spike of excitement overriding the exhaustion. This was the true goal; the challenge.
Azure replied excitedly, tapping the Master Ball on his belt again, a reminder he would not use Rayquaza in this challenge, "That's excellent news, Steven. Truly humbling… But I can't accept just yet."
Steven raised an eyebrow, muttering, "Oh?"
Azure affirmed, his champion pride surfacing as he said bluntly, "I came to Hoenn to do this the right way. I still have two Gym Badges left to collect. Roxanne, Brawly, Wattson, Flannery, Norman, Winona... they all represented incredible challenges. I want to earn the entire set before I step up to the League. It honors the journey."
He looked down at his Pikachu and Eevee rubbing their heads as he continued in a confident voice, "We still have the Sootopolis and the Mossdeep City Gym to tackle. Once I have those final badges, I'll come straight after you all. And when I do, I will not be using any of my Legendaries. I trust the Pokémon that came with me, the ones that earned their spots on my team, to see me to the end."
Steven's smile broadened, showing admiration for Azure's commitment to the purity of the challenge. Steven said calmly, "A noble commitment, Azure. I respect that deeply. In that case, the Elite Four and I will be waiting. We are all anxious to battle you, not just for the competitive spirit, but in gratitude for saving Hoenn. Phoebe, Glacia, Sidney, Drake—they are all former Hoenn Champions themselves, and they will test you severely."
He paused at the edge of the recovery bay as he added smugly, "I will enjoy watching it all unfold from the very top when you finally reach me."
With a final nod, Steven Stone turned and departed, undoubtedly heading back out to coordinate the continuing relief efforts across the shattered, climate-scarred landscape of Hoenn. Azure watched him go, then leaned back into the chair, the weight of his exhaustion returning immediately.
He gently stroked Pikachu, then Eevee on their heads. The silence of the Pokémon Center settled in once more. The massive responsibility of the Legendary Pokémon was resting on the desk, temporarily inert.
The knowledge that he had to go back out into a destabilized region to complete his journey was daunting.
But the challenge was real. The Champion was waiting.
A genuine, deeply challenging grin stretched across Azure's face, chasing away the fatigue in his eyes. He had two more badges to earn, a world to help heal, and an Elite Four to prove himself against.
Taking a moment, he used his Arc phone to check on his newest Pokémon's status. Groudon and Kyogre's power and info.
[Groudon, the Continent Pokémon. Groudon is believed to be the personification of the land itself, and is also described in mythology as the creator of the world's continents. It is immensely powerful, having control over the land's volcanoes and being capable of summoning intense sunlight.
Groudon can dispel rain clouds with its light and evaporating water with this extreme heat. By summoning magma formations, Groudon can further expand the world's landmass. Groudon can additionally travel on water by using its magma to form a path beneath its feet.
As Groudon slumbers in Seafloor Cavern, it is encased in a layer of rock that will be shattered if it is awakened by the Red or Blue Orb. Groudon was hailed as a savior for evaporating flooded areas of the world. Groudon is normally calm and helpful, but if it encounters its rival, Kyogre, Groudon will engage in a cataclysmic battle against it. This battle can only be stopped by the intervention of Rayquaza.
Groudon is known to enter a deep slumber after this conflict with Kyogre. Groudon can attack its foes by manifesting the power of the land in fearsome blades of stone. It sleeps underground in large magma chambers. Groudon is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Precipice Blades.]
[Kyogre, the Sea Basin Pokémon. Kyogre is believed to be the personification of the sea itself, and is also described in mythology as the creator of the world's ocean. Kyogre is among the most powerful Pokémon, capable of summoning intense rainstorms to cloak the world's entire sky.
As Kyogre slumbers in Seafloor Cavern, it is coated in a layer of rock that will be shattered if it is awakened by the Blue or Red Orb. It is said to have expanded the ocean by generating heavy rainstorms and tidal waves.
Kyogre is hailed as a savior for quenching areas of the world plagued by drought. Kyogre is normally calm and peaceful, but if it encounters its rival, Groudon, Kyogre will engage in a cataclysmic battle against it. This battle can only be stopped by the intervention of Rayquaza.
Kyogre is known to enter a deep slumber after this conflict with Groudon. Kyogre can fly when it has no water to swim in. Kyogre can attack its foes with many beams of blue light energy or by summoning jets of water. Kyogre generally lives deep in the ocean and is said to rest in a deep trench. Kyogre is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Origin Pulse.]
|Name: Kyogre (Sea Basin Pokémon)
|Type: Water
|Level: 65
|Gender: Genderless
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Drizzle
|Nature: Serious
|Moves: Scary Face, Rest, Sleep Talk, Snore, Calm Mind, Aqua Ring, Rain Dance, Water Pulse, Hydro Pump, Water Spout, Aqua Tail, Brine,Muddy Water,Scald,Liquidation,Chilling Water, Ancient Power, Body Slam, Ice Beam, Sheer Cold, Double-Edge, Blizzard, Rock Slide, Hyper Beam, Thunder, Thunderbolt, Waterfall (HM), Dive (HM), Whirlpool (HM),Surf (HM), Origin Pulse (IM) (8 Moves left to learn)
|Name: Groudon (Continent Pokémon)
|Type: Ground
|Level: 65
|Gender: Genderless
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Drought
|Nature: Serious
|Moves: Scary Face, Rest, Bulk Up, Sunny Day, Spikes, Mud Shot, Earthquake,Dig, Sand Tomb, Earth Power,Mud-Slap, Stomping Tantrum, Bulldoze, Scorching Sands, High Horsepower, Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Overheat, Incinerate, Lava Plume, Heat Crash, Fissure, Hammer Arm, Solar Beam, Ancient Power, Eruption, Slash, Stone Edge, Rock Tomb, Thunder, Precipice Blades (IM) (5 Moves left to learn)
Seeing they're levels, Azure sighed, closing his Arc Phone. But he couldn't help but ponder deeply as he muttered, "Bond Phenomenon, huh…"
Recalling his battle with Maxie and Archie, he looked at Pikachu and pondered, "At that time… did we achieve Bond Phenomenon when we battled Giovanni Pikachu?"
Pikachu listening tilted its head as it cried out, "Pi? Pika-chu… (I don't know. But… it felt like I could do anything at the end…)"
Listening to his partner's thoughts, he rubbed his head affectionately as which caused Pikachu to cry in joy. Eevee pouted, darting towards his hand, crying out, "Eevoi! (Hey! I want head pats too!)"
Azure chuckled as he gave his attention to the two, as he could worry about Bond Phenonmeon later. His adventures in Hoenn, far from being over, were about to move into their most challenging phase yet. He just needed a couple of days of sleep first.
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A/N: Reach the goal of 200 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!