Chapter 443: Extreme Luxio
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Next Day, Route 203]
The morning sun hung low over the Sinnoh region, casting long, amber shadows across the rolling hills of Route 203. A gentle breeze carried the scent of Oran berries and damp earth, but for the group walking along the beaten path, the serenity of the landscape was secondary to the sheer presence of the figure leading them.
Azure walked with a relaxing stride. On his right shoulder sat a Pikachu, its cheeks sparking with a lazy, contented yellow glow.
Atop his head, an Eevee groomed its fur, its paws treading softly on his messy hair. Tucked snugly into the breast of his jacket, a small, Pichu (Mew) peered out at the world with curiosity.
Behind him followed a trio that looked far less seasoned. Platinum Berlitz, the heiress to the most prestigious family in Sinnoh, walked with a rigid, noble posture that seemed slightly out of place in the wild.
Beside her were Diamond and Pearl, the bickering duo Azure had recruited after a decisive bet. Azure came to a halt in a wide, circular clearing bordered by thickets of tall grass and jagged rock formations.
He turned to face them, his eyes sharp and analytical. Azure said, his voice calm but commanding, "This is far enough for today. We're a few hours into Route 203. If we're going to make it to Mt. Coronet, you three need to be more than just 'capable.' You need to be proficient. We're stopping here for a two-hour intensive session."
Pearl, always the first to speak, pumped a fist as he exclaimed, "Finally! I was wondering when we'd get to the real stuff. Chimlar and Chatler are itching for a scrap!"
Diamond, meanwhile, was already eyeing a nearby bush for berries as he asked bluntly, "Do we have to do it before lunch, Azure? My stomach is doing that thing where it growls in the key of G-flat."
Azure didn't answer with words. Instead, he reached for his belt.
*POP*
In a series of rapid flashes, the clearing was suddenly populated by a terrifying array of power. His Sinnoh team materialized first: Chimchar, Riolu, the male Ralts, Togetic, a massive Alpha Rhyhorn that made the ground groan, a terrifying Alpha Gible, Elekid, Magby, and the glitching, hovering form of Porygon-Z.
Finally, his Shiny Hisuian Alpha Zorua stepped out of the shadows, its ghostly white and red fur shimmering with an ethereal light. But he didn't stop there. He released his "Bodyguard" line-up as well.
A towering Ursaluna, a serene Blissey, and an Absol stood like sentinels. A chill swept through the clearing as the shadows beneath Azure's feet lengthened unnaturally—Darkrai and Marshadow remained hidden.
Diamond gasped, his half-eaten rice ball frozen halfway to his mouth, "Whoa... That Rhyhorn is... huge."
Azure commanded, "Focus. Porygon-Z, initiate Protocol G."
*BEEP-BOOP*
The Porygon-Z emitted a digital screech, its body spinning rapidly. Suddenly, a translucent, purple dome expanded from the center of the clearing.
*VREEEEEEE—*
The air grew thick. The grass flattened instantly against the dirt.
Diamond and Pearl both buckled at the knees, their breath catching in their chests. Azure explained, seemingly unaffected, "Gravity Training. It's a light field for now, but it will double the effort your Pokémon have to put into every movement. It builds muscle density and reaction speed. Get your Pokémon out. Now."
*POP*
All of them released their Pokémon. Platinum released her Piplup and Ponyta. Diamond brought out Lax (Munchlax) and Tru (Turtwig), while Pearl summoned Chatler (Chatot) and Chimlar (Chimchar).
Observing their team Azure instructed each of them along with his team, "Pearl, take Chatler to the edge of the field. Togetic, go with them. I want Chatler to learn to maintain altitude under shifting gravitational pressure. Togetic will show him how to use Fairy Wind to create 'pockets' of lift. And Chimlar? He's sparring with my Chimchar. No holds barred, but keep it within the circle."
Azure's Chimchar pounded its chest, its tail flame erupting into a roaring blaze, "CHIM-CHAR! (Heh! You got it!!)"
Pearl's Chimlar looked confident as it stepped forward, mimicking the stance, "Chim! Char! (You're going down!)"
Azure turned to Diamond. Lax had already plopped down in the heavy gravity, looking like a flattened pancake as he explained, "Dia, don't worry about Lax it thrive on laziness. Let him stay there; the gravity will naturally harden his hide while he rests. Just make sure he eats enough to compensate for the caloric burn. As for Tru..."
Azure pulled out a small notebook and tossed it to Diamond as he explained, "Those are my notes on Grass-types. I want Tru to focus on 'Mach 1 Razor Leaf.' Don't let him spray them wildly. One leaf. One target. Maximum velocity. Focus the energy into the stem before the release."
Diamond caught the notebook, his expression turning uncharacteristically serious as he replied, "One leaf... okay. I can do that. Tru, let's give it a whirl."
Finally, Azure looked at Platinum. Her Piplup was struggling to even stand, its little flippers shaking under the increased weight.
Azure said sternly, using her formal title with a hint of professional distance, "Lady Platinum. Your Pokémon need to learn how to deal with overwhelming physical pressure. They'll be sparring with Ursaluna."
The massive peat-covered bear let out a low, rumbling, though it looked more bored than aggressive, "Graooo… (Hello little ones.)"
Platinum eyes widened hearing his request. But Azure reassured her, "She'll hold back. But if they don't move, they'll get swatted. While they do that, you're with me and Blissey. Being a Berlitz means being a scholar, but being a traveler means being a chef. You need to know how to nourish your team in the field."
Blissey stepped forward, a portable cooking station seemingly appearing from nowhere. Platinum looked at the raw ingredients—vegetables, Berries, and grains—and then at her gloved hands.
Seeing this she admitted quietly with a nervous expression, "I... I have never prepared a meal without a staff."
Azure smiled softly as he replied calmly, "Then today is the day you start. Blissey, please guide her."
For the next two hours, the clearing was a cacophony of sounds. The SHING of Tru's leaves cutting through the air, the THUD of Chimchars clashing, and the frantic SQUAWK of Chatler as it fought to stay airborne.
Azure moved through the chaos like a ghost, correcting a stance here, offering a tactical tip there. He was watching everything. His eyes drifted toward the tall grass on the perimeter. Something was watching back.
A pair of glowing yellow eyes flickered in the shadows. A Luxio, its blue fur matted and its expression fierce, was stalking the edge of the gravity field. It growled, a low, guttural sound that vibrated in the air, before it scampered off into the brush.
Azure narrowed his eyes but didn't move. He thought, 'An outcast. I remember this one from the manga Peral's Pokémon I believe. It's got a chip on its shoulder.'
As the two hours ended, Porygon-Z shut down the gravity field. The sudden lightness caused Pearl to jump three feet into the air by accident.
Diamond cheered, the smell of Platinum and Blissey's stew finally wafting through the air, "Lunch is served!"
The group gathered around the pot. Platinum looked exhausted, a smudge of flour on her forehead, but there was a faint glint of pride in her eyes as she declared proudly of her first dish, "It... it is surprisingly difficult to balance the spices with the nutritional requirements of a Piplup. But yes lunch is served!"
Azure said happily, taking a bowl, "You did well for a first try."
Pearl, as usual, was in the middle of a comedy routine, trying to keep spirits high. He reached out and WHACKED Diamond over the head.
*CLAP*
Diamond yelled, rubbing his noggin, "Hey! What was that for?!"
Pearl laughed as he argued, "The rhythm, Dia! The rhythm! Our Manzai act needs to be sharp! That smack was to convey my feelings of frustration at your slow eating!"
Diamond argued still munching on his bowl, "My eating isn't slow, it's thorough!"
Platinum watched them, a small smile playing on her lips as she asked, "Is the physical contact truly necessary, Pearl? It seems... painful."
Pearl said confidently puffing his chest in pride, "It's about the bond, Lady! A good smack strengthens the heart!"
*RUSTLE*
The bushes exploded.
*Zoooom*
A blue blur shot out from the foliage with blinding speed. Before anyone could react, the wild Luxio lunged. It didn't go for the food.
It didn't go for the Pokémon. It slammed into Platinum, its claws snagging her expensive traveling cloak, and dragged her backward into the thicket.
Pearl screamed, "Lady!"
Diamond dropped his bowl, the rice spilling into the dirt, "Platinum!"
Azure was already on his feet, but he held up a hand to stop the boys from charging blindly as he stated, "Wait. Look at the pack."
From the shadows, a dozen Shinx and two other Luxio emerged, circling the clearing. They weren't attacking; they were watching.
Diamond said, his voice unusually low and perceptive, "It's an outcast. Look at its claws, Pearl. They're shorter than the others. It's trying to prove something. It kidnapped the 'leader' of our group to show the pack it's still a hunter."
Pearl looked through his Pokédex, his brow furrowed explaining, "It says Luxio communicate through electrical pulses in their claws... but if his claws are too short, he can't talk to them. He's isolated."
Pearl stepped forward, his face softening as he tried to reason with it, "Hey! Luxio! You don't have to do this! We know you're just frustrated! Your disability doesn't make you any less of a Pokémon!"
*ZZZZZT*
The Luxio snarled, sparks dancing along its mane. It tightened its grip on Platinum's cloak, pinning her against a tree. She looked terrified but remained silent, her eyes locked on Azure. Azure said coldly seeing Platinum in need of help intervened, "It doesn't care about your sympathy, Pearl."
He stepped forward, his Elekid hopping down from the Alpha Rhyhorn's back as he continued, "In the wild, strength is the only language that doesn't require claws to speak. It snagged my client. Now it has to pay the price."
Pearl pleaded, "Wait! It's just misunderstood!"
Azure countered as he pointed a finger at the wild feline stating, "It's a fighter Peral. Treating it like a victim is the ultimate insult. Elekid, center stage. Let's show them what a real spark looks like."
The Luxio dropped Platinum—who scrambled away toward Diamond—and arched its back, its fur standing on end. It was significantly larger and more evolved than the Elekid, but Azure didn't blink.
*ZZZZZT*
The wild Pokémon lunged, its body coated in a veil of crackling electricity. Azure recognized that it used the move Spark.
Azure commanded, "Magnet Rise, then Protect."
*VREEE*
*CLANG*
Elekid surged upward, hovering just out of reach as a shimmering green barrier absorbed the Luxio's impact. The Luxio hit the shield and bounced back, snarling.
But Azure followed up, "Agile Style Shock Wave."
Elekid swung its plug-like arms…
*ZAP*
*ZAP*
*ZAP*
Multi-colored bolts of electricity snaked through the air. Because it was a Shock Wave, it didn't miss. The Luxio was bombarded, its fur smoking, but it gritted its teeth and charged again, using Bite.
But Azure countered, "Detect."
*Wooosh*
Elekid's eyes glowed with a faint blue light. It stepped to the side with millimetric precision, the Luxio's jaws snapping on empty air.
Now that Elekid was next to it, Azure commanded calmly, "Now, use the momentum. Strong Style Low Kick."
*SMACK*
Elekid swept the Luxio's legs out from under it. As the Luxio tumbled, Azure called out the finishing move, "Tera Blast!"
*PEW*
Elekid gathered a massive amount of crystalline energy between its arms. The power was far beyond what a typical Elekid should possess—a gift from its studies of his other Pokémon back in Pallet Town on how to refine the move…
*BOOM*
A beam of pure, shimmering energy blasted the Luxio backward, slamming it into a rock. The wild Pokémon slumped, unconscious.
Azure didn't hesitate. He tossed a Luxury Ball…
*Wiggle*
*Riggle*
*BON*
The surrounding Shinx and Luxio watched for a moment. Then, with a collective, dismissive huff, the leader of the pack turned away. They didn't look back at their fallen comrade. They simply vanished into the woods.
Pearl whispered, his voice trembling in disbelief of their behavior, "They... they just left him. He was their friend!"
Azure said calmly, picking up the Luxury Ball, "In the wild, a loser is a liability. They won't support a weak link. It's harsh, but it's the truth."
Pearl sighed, looking down at the ground. He had wanted a more poetic ending, a reconciliation. But then he noticed something. Platinum was standing a few feet away, and she was... smacking herself in the forehead?
*THWACK*
Diamond asked, blinking, "Lady? Are you... practicing Pearl's funny move?"
Platinum froze, her hand still against her brow. Her face flushed a deep crimson as she said in denial, "I... I most certainly am not! I was merely... dislodging a persistent insect!"
She turned away quickly, but internally, she was breathless. She thought excitedly, 'Grandfather was right, The world is dangerous, but there is so much to learn. Even the rhythm of a smack...'
Azure ignored the banter. He looked at the transparent top of the Luxury Ball. Inside, the Luxio had regained consciousness.
It was glaring at him with pure, unadulterated hatred, throwing itself against the walls of the ball. Azure murmured, "Still got some fight in you? Good."
*Pop*
He released the Luxio. It immediately hissed, its fur bristling.
Azure ordered, "Blissey, Heal Pulse."
*Shiii*
The soft, pink wave of energy washed over the Luxio, knitting its wounds and restoring its stamina. The moment it felt its strength return, the Luxio didn't thank them. It lunged straight for Azure's throat, its mouth open for a Bite.
*Zoooom*
It didn't hit Azure. Blissey had stepped in the way, her arm glowing with the white light of Strength. She caught the Luxio mid-air and slammed it into the dirt with the force of a falling meteor.
*THUD*
The Luxio gasped, the air leaving its lungs. Azure stepped forward, looming over the pinned Pokémon with a frown as he thought, 'It went for the kill. And this amount of hatred for me… I do not need a Pokémon that will be this disobedient. It's better to hand this to Peral as I felt his emotions, but first…'
He didn't use a command. He didn't use a move.
*THWUMP*
He flared his nostrils, and suddenly, the atmosphere in the clearing changed. A deep, sapphire-blue light erupted from his body—his Aura—intermingled with the faint, shivering violet of his Psychic prowess.
The sheer weight of his intent was like a physical hand pressing the Luxio down. Azure's voice was a low growl that resonated in the Luxio's very bones, "Listen to me, and listen well. You lost. According to the laws of the wild you love so much, your life belongs to me. You can spend it rotting in a ball, or you can follow me and become strong enough that your 'pack' will look like kittens compared to you."
The Luxio looked up into Azure's eyes. It saw the shadow of the Darkrai lurking behind him. For the first time, the defiance in its eyes wavered.
The pressure of Azure's Aura increased as he whispered, "Do you submit?"
The Luxio's ears flattened. Its tail stopped lashing.
Slowly, painfully, it lowered its head until its chin touched the dirt. It let out a soft, submissive whine, "Luxx… (I… I'm sorry…)"
Azure said calmly, the Aura vanishing instantly, "Good."
The clearing returned to normal, though the grass stayed flattened, unaware that Luxio Azure used his Viridian Force to heal its claws. He looked over at Pearl, who was watching with wide eyes.
He tossed Luxio's Poke Ball to Pearl as he calmly stated, "He's yours, Pearl. It clearly doesn't like me at all. But he'll like you as he heard your voice defending it. But if he steps out of line, I'm the one who puts him back."
Pearl blinked, then grinned, rushing over to the Luxio as he declared, "I'll take care of him! I promise! We'll show that pack what they missed out on!"
Azure watched them, a small, knowing smirk on his face. He knew the history of this Luxio—how it would eventually become a cornerstone of Pearl's team. But for now, it was just another step in the journey.
Azure commanded, whistling for his Pokémon to return to their balls, "Pack up. The sun is moving. Mt. Coronet doesn't wait for anyone."
As they began to walk, Platinum fell into step beside him. She remarked in a stunned voice, "You are... much more intense than the tutors my father hired."
Azure replied, his Pikachu nuzzling his neck, "Tutors teach you how to pass tests, Lady Platinum. I'm teaching you how to survive. There's a difference."
She said softly, her hand reaching out to touch the Pokéball of her Piplup, "I am beginning to realize that."
The group disappeared into the tall grass of Route 203, the sound of Pearl's laughing and Diamond's chewing fading into the wind, while the Pichu (Mew) in Azure's jacket let out a tiny, hidden giggle. Azure sighed as he thought, 'Suppose not every Pokémon I capture is gonna like being caught. Hopefully, that Luxio bonds well with Peral.'
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A/N: Hey folks I'm back! Sorry for you guys to wait but I really needed that time to relax as to not feel burned out but we should be returning to our average everyday chapter releases so thanks for being paitent with me!