Chapter 473: Meeting Old Pals
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Next Day, Hearthome City – Plaza]
The sun hung low over Hearthome City, casting long, golden shadows across the manicured lawns of the Grand Hotel. This wasn't just any hotel; it was a sprawling estate catering to the elite of Sinnoh, and its private training grounds were legendary among high-level trainers.
The air was crisp, smelling of dew-kissed grass and the impending battle…
*Fwooo-sh*
A blur of pink and green streaked across the field. Azure Sky, with his hair ruffled by the wind, watched with razor-sharp focus and issued commands, "Lilligant, use Victory Dance! Gallade, counter with Confusion!"
Azure's voice was calm, yet it carried a weight of authority that commanded instant obedience. His Hisuian Lilligant, a slender, elegant creature compared to its Unovan counterparts, spun in a rhythmic, tribal cadence. Her movements were fluid, enhancing her physical prowess with every step.
*Sh-sh-sh-pink*
Gallade, standing tall and regal, crossed his elbow blades. With a sharp Vrip! of displaced air, he unleashed arcs of psychic energy.
*Clang*
The blades met Lilligant's reinforced kicks in a shower of sparks. Nearby, an Alpha Rhyhorn—a massive beast nearly double the size of its common kin—let out a low, vibrating growl that shook the very ground.
*Rumble*
Sitting atop the Rhyhorn's rocky shoulder was a small, unassuming Pichu (Mew), its tail twitching playfully. Azure called out, glancing toward the girl training a few yards away, "Keep your breathing steady, Platinum!"
Platinum Berlitz wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. She looked every bit the noblewoman in her travel attire, but her eyes held a new spark—a fire ignited by the journey and the boy who had been hired to protect her.
Platinum commanded, her voice gaining the firmness of a true commander, "Prinplup, use Metal Claw on the training dummies! Ponyta, support with Ember!"
*Cling*
*Clang*
*Zap*
Her Prinplup's wings glowed with a metallic sheen, slicing through the reinforced wooden targets Azure had set up. Ponyta followed up with precisely aimed bursts of fire. Azure noted, "Excellent. But don't just focus on the target. Focus on the recovery. In a real battle, the moment after your attack is when you're most vulnerable."
Platinum nodded solemnly as she replied, "I understand. Your insights... they are quite different from the textbooks I studied at the estate."
Azure offered a small, lopsided smile as he replied casually, "Textbooks don't account for the wild variables of a Pokémon battle, Platinum. They don't tell you how it feels when a Garchomp's roar vibrates in your bone marrow."
On the other side of the training field, a much louder, more chaotic scene was unfolding with Diamond and Pearl…
*BOOM*
Pearl's voice cracked like a whip, "No, no, no! Dia! You can't just stand there and wait for the attack to hit!"
The blond-haired boy was practically vibrating with energy, his hands gesturing wildly as he continued, "You have to counter! Chimlar, use Flame Wheel!"
The Monferno, Chimlar, tucked into a ball and ignited, spinning like a fiery tire toward a massive Steelix that stood like a shimmering mountain in the center of the field. Diamond (Dia) said, his voice slow and melodic as he gnawed on a half-eaten rice ball, "But Pearl… Lax needs to save his energy for the big finish. Besides, this Steelix is really shiny. It's distracting."
Lax, the Munchlax, stood next to Dia, mirroring his trainer's expression of blissful gluttony as he chewed on a Sitrus Berry. As par of the course for a Munclax.
*Nom-nom-nom*
Pearl groaned, clutching his head at his partner's antics, "It's not just 'shiny,' you dimwit! It's tempered steel!"
He turned to the woman standing calmly beside the Steelix as he yelled, "I am so sorry, Miss Jasmine. He's usually... well, actually, he's always like this."
Jasmine, the Olivine City Gym Leader, giggled softly. She was a vision of gentle grace, her long light-brown hair tied back, wearing a simple yet elegant dress that seemed out of place in a dusty training arena, yet she looked perfectly at home.
Jasmine said sweetly, her voice like soft velvet, "It's quite all right, Pearl. Diamond has a very... unique rhythm. In Johto, we call it 'The Spirit of the Slowpoke.' It can be a very formidable defensive strategy if honed correctly."
Steelix let out a resonant Gron of agreement, its metallic body catching the morning light, "Steeeeeelix~"
Dia said happily, pointing a finger at Jasmine with a carefree grin, "See? She gets it. Hey, Miss Jasmine, do you want a rice ball? I made them with spicy Tamato berries to help with the morning chill."
Jasmine blinked, surprised by the offer, but happily accepted it, "Oh! Um, thank you, Diamond. That's very kind of you."
As she took the rice ball, Pearl sighed, though his eyes softened. He looked over at Azure and Platinum, who were finishing their set as he asked, "Hey! Break time? I think my brain is going to overheat if we don't take five!"
Azure signaled for his team to rest. With a series of red flashes, he recalled most of his heavy hitters. Gallade and Lilligant remained out, along with the Pichu (Mew) in his jacket and his two constant shadows: a Pikachu with a notched ear and an Eevee with a particularly fluffy coat who had been napping in the shade.
The group congregated near a set of stone benches. Azure grabbed a crate of high-grade Moomoo Milk from his pack, handing bottles to everyone.
Pearl said happily, chugging half the bottle in one go, "Thanks, Azure! Gulp, gulp, ahhh! Man, your training is intense. I thought I was a hard worker, but watching you handle twelve Pokémon at once is just... insane."
Platinum sat gracefully, smoothing her skirt. She looked at Jasmine, who was daintily nibbling on Dia's rice ball.
Platinum said politely, her noble upbringing coming to the fore, "I must apologize. In the excitement of yesterday's Contest and our subsequent training, I realized we haven't been properly introduced. You are a friend of Azure's, but I feel it is rude of me not to know the name of the lady assisting my companions."
Jasmine froze, a light blush dusting her cheeks. She quickly swallowed and stood up, smoothing her dress as she introduced herself, "Oh! I... I am so sorry. I'm quite terrible at this. I get a bit shy when I'm not in my own Gym."
Pearl's ears perked up asked, baffled, "Gym? Wait, you're a Gym Leader?"
Jasmine bowed politely, a gesture of practiced humility as she properly introduced herself, "My name is Jasmine. I am the Gym Leader of the Olivine City Gym in the Johto Region. I specialize in the Steel-type."
There was a moment of stunned silence.
Pearl screamed, his voice reaching a pitch that made a flock of Starly take flight from a nearby tree, "JOHTO?! Are you a Gym Leader from a whole different region? And you're out here just... vacationing and helping us?"
Dia stopped chewing as he asked curiously about Jasmine's hometown, "Olivine... that's the place with the big lighthouse, right? I read about the food there. The seafood crackers are supposed to be top-tier."
Azure chuckled, leaning back against the Alpha Rhyhorn's leg as he added in a respectful voice, "She's more than just a Gym Leader, guys. Jasmine is one of the most respected trainers in Johto. We met during my Johto circuit. She actually gave me one of my toughest battles for the Mineral Badge."
Jasmine looked down, embarrassed with a light blush as she replied, "Azure is being modest. He defeated my Lucario with a strategy I had never seen before. When I heard he was in Sinnoh acting as a... bodyguard?"
She looked at Azure curiously as she added, "I was surprised. A Champion-tier trainer like you doesn't usually take stationary jobs."
Platinum looked at Azure, her expression unreadable. She knew he was strong—but hearing a foreign Gym Leader refer to him as 'Champion-tier' put things into a new perspective.
Azure said simply, patting the Pichu's (Mew) head in a casual tone, "It's a favor for the Berlitz family. And a chance to see Sinnoh from a different angle. Besides, these three keep things interesting."
Pearl was still reeling as he muttered, "A Gym Leader... Dia, we were just training with a Gym Leader! No wonder my Monferno couldn't even scratch that Steelix!"
Dia mused, reaching for another rice ball, "I thought it was because the Steelix was made of metal."
Pearl shouted, giving Dia a playful shove, "That's what Steel-type means!"
Jasmine laughed, a sound like silver bells, as she stated, "You three remind me so much of the trainers back home. There's a certain... brightness to your journey. Azure, you've picked a wonderful group to travel with."
Azure admitted, his gaze softening as he looked at the trio, "They're not bad. Platinum has the brains and the hidden talent, Pearl has the drive and the speed, and Diamond... well, Diamond has the heart. And the snacks."
Dia protested through a mouthful of rice, "Hey! But you're not wrong… Nom…"
Azure smirked as he said, standing up, "It's true. But if we're going to get Platinum to the peak of Mt. Coronet, and if you two want to keep up, you gotta work hard, we can't just rely on heart. We need to sharpen the blade."
He turned to Jasmine as he asked curiously, making a request, "Jasmine, would you mind staying with us for a few more days? I want to do a mock-tag battle. Your defensive Steel-types against their offense."
Jasmine's eyes lit up with a quiet competitive fire as she nodded her head, agreeing in a soft tone, "I would be honored, Azure. It would be good for my Pokémon to see the passion of the Sinnoh youth."
Pearl punched the air as he exclaimed excitedly, "Alright! Let's do it! Chimlar, you hear that? We're going up against a Johto Legend!"
The Monferno let out a defiant screech, sparks flying from its mouth, "Skreeeee-cha! (Yeah! You're going down!)"
Platinum stood up, her eyes narrowing as she stated boldly, "If we are to do this, I wish to be included. I cannot simply be the 'client' who watches from the sidelines. If I am to gather the materials on Mt. Coronet, I must be strong enough to stand on that peak myself."
Azure nodded, a flicker of pride in his eyes as he said, "That's what I wanted to hear. Alright, listen up. Here's the plan for the afternoon."
As Azure began to outline a grueling training circuit, the Pichu (Mew) in his collar let out a tiny, high-pitched "Mew!"—quickly corrected to a "Pi!"—and floated slightly before remembering it was supposed to be a grounded electric mouse. It landed back on Azure's shoulder, rubbing its cheek against his.
The atmosphere in the training grounds shifted. It was no longer just a morning workout; it was the forging of a team.
//////
[Sinnoh Region, Afternoon, Hearthome City – Plaza]
The afternoon sun was brutal, but no one felt the heat as much as they felt the intensity of the drills. Azure had partitioned the field.
In one corner, Jasmine worked with Pearl and Diamond. She was teaching them about strategy—how to handle opponents who should, in theory, have the advantage. Jasmine explained, her Steelix looming behind her, "Steel is heavy. But weight is just stored energy. Pearl, use Rayler's Spark, but don't aim for the body. Aim for the ground beneath Steelix's tail."
Pearl nodded as he commanded, "Got it! Rayler, Luxio! Use Spark on the earth!"
*CRACKLE*
The blue lion-like Pokémon launched a discharge of electricity with a cracking sound. The ground erupted in a shower of dirt and stone, causing the massive Steelix to shift its weight to compensate.
Pearl yelled at Dia, "Now, Diamond! While it's adjusting!"
Dia nodded, adding, "Okay... Tru, use Razor Leaf!"
*Swooosh*
The leaves swirled out, not aiming for a direct hit, but clogging the joints of the Steelix's segmented body. It was a tactical play, something Pearl and Dia hadn't considered before—using the environment to bypass the raw stats of a superior foe.
Meanwhile, Azure was focused on Platinum. He had released his Gallade and his Hisuian Alpha Zorua.
The Zorua was a stunning creature, its fur a ghostly white with azure-tipped wisps, shimmering with a shiny, ethereal glow. Azure said calmly, "Platinum, your Buneary is fast, but she's predictable. She moves in straight lines. In the wild, or against a high-level trainer, a straight line is just a highway to a knockout. Zorua, show her."
The Shiny Zorua vanished.
*Whoosh*
Suddenly, three Zoruas appeared around Platinum's Buneary. Platinum commanded, "Buneary, use Pound on the one on the left!"
*Boing*
Buneary leaped, her powerful ears coiled like springs. She struck the Zorua, but her paws passed right through it like smoke.
Platinum gasped, "An illusion!"
Azure countered as he gave her advice, "Everything is an illusion if you don't look with your senses. Don't look with your eyes. Listen to the displacement of air. Feel the vibration on the ground."
*Vrip*
The real Zorua appeared behind Buneary, paw glowing with a ghostly energy. Platinum screamed, "Jump!"
*Fwip*
Buneary reacted just in time, performing a frantic backflip. Azure said bluntly, "Better. Now… Again."
Hours passed, the sounds of battle echoed through the Grand Hotel's grounds.
*Boom*
*Crash*
*Bzzzt*
The hotel guests watched from the balconies in awe. It wasn't every day you saw an Alpha Rhyhorn being used as a literal wall for training, or a Froslass creating localized blizzards to test a trainer's endurance.
Azure's Porygon-Z flickered in and out of existence, running diagnostic patterns on the trainers' reaction times. At the same time, his Alpha Gible—a small shark-like dragon with a massive head—bounced around, playfully nipping at the heels of anyone who slowed down too much.
Azure grinned as he checked his Arc Phone as he mused to himself, "Hmm… were making some good time. Just a couple more days and we'll be ready for the Ghost Gym. Now the only question is who would be good against Fantina…"
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A/N: Hope you like the chapter!