Chapter 337: The LEGENDARY Grind
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Next Day, Route 130, Secret Meadow]
The Hoenn Archipelago vanished behind a curtain of ionized atmosphere as Rayquaza sliced through the upper troposphere. Azure Sky felt the intense wind against his face, a sensation he always welcomed.
Perched securely on his shoulder, Pikachu chirped its excitement; on his head, the sleek fur of Eevee provided a small, comforting weight. They had done it.
Wallace, the maestro of water and a retired Champion, had been defeated, granting Azure his eighth and final Hoenn Gym Badge. But the battle had been a brutal, eye-opening affair, making him reevaluate his team.
Azure's Hoenn core team, though powerful, had buckled under the sustained, elegant pressure of Wallace's Milotic, Swampert, and Gyarados. Victory had been snatched only by the tireless efforts of his reserves.
Now, it was time for isolation.
Rayquaza descended through a swirling rift in the clouds, settling softly onto the Secret Meadow—a hidden volcanic crater lush with impossible greenery, protected by a perpetual meteorological anomaly.
The air here was fresh, vibrating with residual primal energy. Azure slid off Rayquaza's back, gently patting the Sky High Pokémon's emerald scales as he thanked it, "Thank you, my friend. It's time to build a team worthy of the Elite Four."
He clipped Rayquaza's Ultra Ball back onto his belt, though he knew the Legendary would be needed soon enough. Taking a deep breath, he opened his bag and pulled out six specialized Poké Balls.
The rest of his Hoenn team—the other eight—were already en route back to Professor Oak's lab for a well-deserved rest. He needed focus, not distraction.
Azure announced boldly, tossing the six balls high, "Alright, everyone… Let's see the magnitude of the task ahead."
*Pop*
Six brilliant flashes materialized the Hoenn core:
Sceptile, the swift Grass-type, materialized with a silent, battle-ready stance. Milotic, shimmering with iridescent scales, coiled gracefully near a small, clear pool. Gardevoir, serene yet watchful, adjusted the veil of energy around her body.
Metagross, the four-legged behemoth of steel and psychic power, floated heavily, its red eye glowing with computational speed. Salamence, wings wide and powerful, roared a low challenge to the empty sky.
And finally, Alpha Slaking. Not merely large, this Slaking possessed a primal size and a controlled intensity that belied its species' typical laziness. His fur was darker, his movements slightly quicker, and he carried the weight of a true titan.
The six Pokémon looked around, confused by the isolated location and the solitary lineup without the rest. Azure approached them, his expression serious. He gestured to them in a serious voice, "The Hoenn League Elite Four challenge is next. And this time, I won't rely on my reserves. You six will be my chosen team."
A flurry of surprised expressions ran through the group. Sceptile thumped his tail in anticipation. Gardevoir tilted her head, calculating the odds.
Azure continued, his voice low and intense as he explained to them, "Wallace showed us our limitations. We struggled against his strategic use of elemental power and endurance. We need to transcend our current strength. We need to refine our teamwork, synergy, power, and stamina."
The six nodded, the memory of their close calls against the Water-type specialist still fresh. They knew Azure was right.
The Elite Four wouldn't offer close calls; they would offer merciless defeat.
Azure smiled, seeing their resolve as he continued in a happy tone, "Good. Because for the next two weeks, we're going to achieve mastery under the highest pressure possible."
He reached into his bag and withdrew five Ultra Balls. The air grew thick, thrumming with raw mythological energy as he tossed them skyward. Azure declared calmly, "You will train under the guardians of Hoenn itself, rotating based on what you need to improve."
*Pop*
The Ultra Balls burst open, revealing the colossal presences of Kyogre, the embodiment of the deep sea; Groudon, the titan of the earth; Regirock, Regice, and Registeel, the stoic iron fist of the planet. Beside them, Rayquaza materialized once more, its presence completing the six legendary pillars.
Azure's Hoenn team gasped. Even Metagross's calculation centers momentarily faltered as they all thought, baffled and concerned, 'Training against the Weather Trio? That wasn't training; that was survival.'
But Azure wasn't finished. He said calmly, holding up ten standard Poké Balls, "These six will test your limits. But they will not break you, as I know your limits. They will guide you. These ten partners, drawn from my Kanto and Johto championship teams, will offer strategic and personal guidance."
He hurled the ten balls, causing another spectacular flash of light.
*Pop*
From Kanto, four veterans appeared, radiating confidence: Shiny Gengar, its purple body crackling with wicked psychic energy; Scizor, metallic and lethal; Dragonite, the gentle giant, powerful yet serene; and Arcanine, its coat blazing like the sun.
From Johto, six more champions materialized, inspecting the Hoenn team with experienced eyes: Skarmory, the aerial fortress; Tyranitar, massive and menacing; Quagsire, surprisingly focused despite its goofy grin; Ampharos, its tail orb glowing steadily; Houndoom, sleek and intimidating; and Mismagius, spinning silently like a dark dream.
Pikachu leaped off Azure's shoulder to assume his customary mentor role, standing beside his Kanto comrades. Eevee bounded down, prepared to analyze and assist from the ground.
The Kanto/Johto Mentors stood nearly as tall as the Regis in terms of presence, if not height. Groudon rumbled a deep, questioning sound, its molten skin radiating heat. Rayquaza observed the new arrivals with a steady gaze.
The Regis, meanwhile, analyzed the energy output of the ten Mentors. Their combined power was immense—a testament to two championship battles. The Weather Trio exchanged glances; they recognized that a skirmish against this combined Kanto/Johto force would not be a trivial matter.
Finally, Azure brought out his support team. Three final Poké Balls opened as he announced calmly, "Our support staff…"
*Pop*
Alakazam, brain power unmatched; Venusaur, deep green and grounded; and Blissey, warm and comforting. Azure continued, "… Blissey, Alakazam, your focus is healing and logistics. Venusaur, you have a special assignment: Sceptile needs to fully integrate his mastery of physical combat with his Grass-Type moves, and you are the best teacher for that control."
Azure turned to his Hoenn Six, outlining their individual paths. He turned to Sceptile as he explained in a calming voice, "Sceptile. Your goal is speed transcendence and environmental mastery. You will train against the destructive force of Groudon and the sheer pressure of Rayquaza, guided by Venusaur. We need you faster than the wind and capable of striking through mountain ranges."
Sceptile nodded sharply, the scent of earth and heat already challenging him. Azure turned to Metagross as he explained, "Metagross. Your processing speed must hit light speed. You will face the elemental endurance of the Regis, calculating attack patterns and breaking impregnable defenses. Scizor will teach you efficiency, and Gengar will push your psychic focus into the realm of mind games."
Metagross floated higher, eager for the computational challenge. Turning to Gardevoir, Azure explained, "Gardevoir. Control is everything. You will learn to manipulate the battlefield's energy against Mismagius and manipulate space against Tyranitar's sheer brute force. Milotic will teach you defensive flow against Kyogre's torrents, and Ampharos will show you how to channel your raw energy without burning out."
Gardevoir bowed slightly, already sensing the complex webs of psychic energy required for the task. Turning to Milotic, Azure explained, "Milotic. You are our tank. You will spend your first week surviving the simultaneous extremes of Groudon's heat and Kyogre's depth. Quagsire will teach you when to absorb and when to deflect, and the sheer power of Dragonite will test your ability to maintain focus under overwhelming assaults."
The elegant Pokémon splashed her tail, ready to face the deepest currents. Azure turned to Salamence as he explained, "Salamence. You need tactical agility, not just raw speed. Skarmory will push your aerial maneuvering to absurd limits. Arcanine will match your bursts of speed in races, demanding you learn to transition your power between earth and air seamlessly. Rayquaza will simply dominate the skies until you can hold your own."
Salamence let out a confident, but chastened, roar. Azure finally turned to Slaking as he explained, "And Slaking. Your greatest enemy is Truant. Pikachu and Eevee will teach you to maximize every active second with explosive power. Houndoom and Tyranitar will provide a constant, high-damage threat. You must perfect the art of the decisive counter-strike, turning your weakness into the ultimate weapon."
The massive Slaking gazed at Pikachu and Eevee, the two smallest Mentors, and let out a curious low grunt—a challenge accepted.
*Fwp*
*Fwp*
Then, a brilliant white light descended from the sky, followed by a shower of shimmering, emerald dust. Ho-Oh, the Rainbow Pokémon, landed with majestic grace, its vibrant plumage almost blinding.
Beside it, Celebi, the Voice of the Forest, shimmered into existence, a playful twinkle in its eyes. Azure smiled, a wide, genuine grin for the first time since their arrival. He announced triumphantly, "And for even more comprehensive healing and energy refreshment. Celebi and Ho-Oh have answered my call!"
A collective gasp went through the assembled Pokémon. This wasn't just training; this was an assembly of champions and legends, a concentrated forge of power unlike anything seen before.
With a nod from Azure, the training began.
/////
[Hoenn Region, 2 Weeks Later, Route 130, Secret Meadow]
For the next two weeks, the Secret Meadow buzzed with an unprecedented energy. The Hoenn team was pushed to their absolute limits, mentally, physically, and spiritually, through the training they endured.
Sceptile found itself in rigorous sparring sessions with Venusaur, honing its Leaf Blade and Frenzy Plant attacks, learning to control the flow of Grass energy, even developing new strategies for grappling.
Regice, surprisingly, proved an excellent counterpoint, forcing Sceptile to improve its speed and agility to dodge ice beams, and developing new ways to use its natural quickness to weave through frozen landscapes, enhancing its ability to control battlefield terrain.
Gardevoir engaged in intense psychic duels with Alakazam, pushing her telekinetic and telepathic abilities to new heights. She learned to create more intricate psychic barriers against Metagross's raw power and even found herself trying to predict Groudon's earth-shattering movements, improving her Future Sight and Hypnosis.
Mismagius guided her in manipulating illusions and disorienting opponents, adding a new layer to her already formidable psychic arsenal. Milotic spent hours in a specially formed pool, created by Kyogre's influence, refining its Aqua Ring and Recover against the Legendary's overwhelming water pressure.
Quagsire taught her unconventional defensive maneuvers, and with Blissey's support, she practiced exhaustive defensive strategies, enduring barrages from all angles and learning to retaliate with precise, powerful Hydro Pumps and Ice Beams.
Metagross clashed with Tyranitar, the two titans exchanging earth-shaking blows, testing each other's defenses to their limits. Scizor's blinding speed forced Metagross to refine its Gyro Ball and Meteor Mash accuracy.
The Regis, particularly Registeel and Regirock, served as immovable sparring partners, teaching Metagross to find weaknesses in seemingly impenetrable defenses and to endure prolonged assaults, improving its Psychic and Hammer Arm techniques.
Salamence found an eager, equally powerful rival in Dragonite, their aerial duels lighting up the sky. Rayquaza guided, manipulating air currents and unleashing devastating Dragon Ascent attacks.
Ho-Oh, observing from above, helped Salamence tap into the true potential of its Dragon-type moves, showing it how to channel raw draconic energy into its Flamethrower and Outrage, making them burn hotter and strike harder. Skarmory taught it aerial superiority tactics and defensive maneuvers.
Slaking with his natural lethargy was a major hurdle. Gengar found perverse joy in poking and prodding Slaking, forcing it to react quickly even during its Truant turns, developing a bizarre form of combat where Slaking would unleash massive Giga Impacts and Hammer Arms in its active turn, then use the Truant turn to strategize for Gengar's next ploy.
Groudon, with its sheer, unadulterated power, served as the ultimate test, forcing Slaking to use its colossal strength and immense endurance to even stand a chance, teaching it to make every active turn count with devastating effect. Houndoom's fiery attacks forced Slaking to be nimble despite its size.
Pikachu and Eevee, ever-present, watched from the sidelines, occasionally participating in light warm-up drills or acting as mock targets for accuracy practice. Blissey ensured everyone was well-fed and provided immediate healing for any bumps or bruises, while Celebi and Ho-Oh performed more profound restorative miracles, mending even deep exhaustion and quickly restoring spent energy, allowing the grueling training to continue without interruption.
The Kanto and Johto teams, veterans of countless battles and two League victories, offered invaluable insights, shared their own experiences, and pushed the Hoenn team with relentless but constructive pressure.
Venusaur carefully guided Sceptile on energy control, Alakazam drilled Gardevoir and Metagross on battle foresight, and Blissey, Celebi, and Ho-Oh kept everyone in peak physical and mental condition.
The Legendary Pokémon, for their part, acted as ultimate challenges, their presence alone inspiring awe and driving the Hoenn team to surpass their perceived limitations.
By the end of the two weeks, the Hoenn team was transformed. Their movements were sharper, their attacks more potent, their teamwork seamless.
Each of them radiated an unparalleled confidence, a readiness for the monumental challenge that awaited them. Azure looked at them, pride swelling in his chest as he muttered, "They were ready… The Hoenn League won't know what hit'em."
Meanwhile, for the past two weeks, while Azure's secret training unfolded, Littleroot Town was a hive of activity…
/////
~Sapphire B. POV~
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Littleroot Town]
Ruby and I had finally arrived, a triumphant return after weeks of adventure, crisis, and a ridiculous bet. The town, like much of Hoenn, was steadily being rebuilt, signs of Kyogre and Groudon's devastating awakening still evident, but gradually fading under the diligent efforts of its resilient people.
We both arrived at the same time, entering the town from opposite directions, a fitting end to our parallel journeys. Friends, family, and allies streamed out to greet us, relief and joy evident on every face.
Ruby's Mom clapped Ruby on the back, while my Dad rushed to hug me, tears in her eyes. It felt good to be home, even if home was still a work in progress.
Ruby, ever the dramatic one, was utterly shocked when he saw Wallace and Juan, among the welcoming crowd. They, along with the other Gym Leaders – Roxanne, Brawly, Wattson, Flannery, Norman, and Winona – were all present, their expressions warm with gratitude.
Wallace stepped forward, a genial smile on his face. He began, his voice smooth and melodious, "Ruby, Sapphire, on behalf of the Hoenn Region, thank you. Your courage, your determination, it truly helped us through a most difficult time."
The Pokémon Fan Club Chairman, a portly man with a distinctive mustache, also greeted Ruby, adding, "It's been a while, young man! And what a journey you've had!"
Ruby and I grinned, a shared look of accomplishment passing between us. Ruby preened slightly, adjusting his clothes, and replied proudly, "Well, you know me, Chairman. Always striving for perfection!"
I scoffed good-naturedly, then stepped forward, pulling out my badge case. Eight gleaming Hoenn Gym Badges sparkled in the sunlight, declaring, "Hmph! Perfection, my foot! Check it out! All eight, just like I promised!"
Ruby, not to be outdone, produced his own collection of ribbons as he declared, "And I've won every single Contest! My Pokémon are the most beautiful in all Hoenn!"
*Pop*
He then sent out his entire team in a flourish: Nana the Mightyena, Kiki the Delcatty, Rara the Gardevoir, Fofo the Castform, Mumu the Swampert, and Feefee the Milotic. They were all impeccably groomed, their coats gleaming, their poses refined.
He then added, a hint of seriousness entering his tone, "Though it wasn't easy. With the Contest Halls in Verdanturf, Slateport, and Fallarbor badly damaged, they had to set up Battle Tents to replace them. It was a challenge to adapt, but my team rose to the occasion!"
He looked at me, a thoughtful expression on his face as he said, "You know, Sapphire, we both completed our goals on time… you got all eight badges, and I won all the Contests. I guess… the bet ends in a draw."
He offered me a small, almost shy smile. I looked at my own team, still covered in the glorious Hoenn dirt from our last battles, and then at Ruby's pristine Pokémon. A faint blush rose to my cheeks muttered, "Yeah, I guess it does."
Ruby, ever the expert groomer, took one look at my battle-hardened Pokémon and shuddered. He pulled out a brush and a bottle of polish, already approaching my Rono the Aggron, scolding me lightly, "Oh, Sapphire! Your team is a mess! Here, let me at least clean them up a bit."
My friends, family, and even the Gym Leaders chuckled at our familiar dynamic. It was classic Ruby, always obsessed with beauty, even in the middle of a hero's welcome. I just rolled my eyes, a grin spreading across my face.
He hadn't changed, not really.
I watched him fussing over my Pokémon, a confused frown creasing my brow. I started, a little hesitantly, "Hey, Ruby. Do you… Do you remember what we said back in Fortree City before things went crazy?"
I tried to get the words out, the memory of our heated argument, his hurtful words, and my own defiant response. It was hard, especially with so many people around.
But Ruby stopped what he was doing, turning to me with a genuinely puzzled expression as he said knowingly, "What do you mean? I said I was sorry, didn't I?"
My jaw dropped, then slowly, a wide grin broke across my face. He remembered. His apology, though blunt and simple, meant he knew what he'd said and regretted it. His awful words, the sting of them, felt like water under the bridge now.
As the chatter continued around us, celebrating our return, my gaze drifted, searching subconsciously for another familiar face.
My master. Azure Sky.
He wasn't here. Where was he?
I scanned the crowd again, a slight pang of disappointment. I wanted him to see my badges. To see my progress.
Winona, the Hoenn Flying-type Gym Leader, must have caught my searching gaze. She walked over, a knowing smile on her lips. She asked, her voice gentle, "You're wondering where Azure Sky is, right?"
I nodded, my eyes wide. Wallace, who had been listening nearby, stepped closer. He began, a light smile playing on his lips, "He sends his regards, Sapphire. Azure just defeated me for his final Gym Badge two weeks ago. He's been training relentlessly since then."
My heart quickened. He had his final badge!
Wallace continued, his voice laced with a touch of admiration and a hint of curiosity as he said curiously, "He'll be challenging the Hoenn League Elite Four soon, in Ever Grande City. With the League Tournament canceled due to the recent events, the Pokémon Association Hoenn League Chairman extended a special invitation for him to challenge the Elite Four directly."
My eyes widened at the news, a wave of excitement washing over me. He was challenging the Elite Four!
A vivid memory flashed through my mind: Lavaridge Town. Our promise for our first serious battle...
His words are that when I have all 8 Gym Badges, don't hesitate to challenge him.
Wallace's next words barely registered as he continued, "I'm quite curious myself if he can win, though. The Elite Four are not just powerful trainers; each of them is said to have once been a Pokémon League Champion themselves, before taking on their current roles."
But I wasn't listening beyond the initial shock and excitement. Azure was challenging the Elite Four. And I had all my badges.
A fierce, determined grin spread across my face. My master was moving forward, and so was I. He was out there, reaching for his next challenge. And when the time came, when I, Sapphire Birch, was ready, I couldn't wait to battle my master. This Hoenn journey was far from over.
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 100 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!