Chapter 487: Double Evolutions!
~Azure S. POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Next Day, Veilstone City – Grand Veilstone Hotel]
The morning sun over Veilstone City didn't just rise; it shattered against the jagged cliffs of the surrounding mountains, spilling gold across the marble facade of the Veilstone Grand Hotel.
I stood on the edge of the hotel's private battle court, the cool morning air filling my lungs. It smelled of damp earth, and the faint, metallic tang of the city's nearby meteorites.
I adjusted my jacket, feeling the slight weight in the inner pocket where Pichu (Mew) was currently snoring. On my shoulders, my two constants sat—Pikachu on the right, his cheeks occasionally sparking with restless static, and Eevee on the left, her fur ruffled by the breeze.
I murmured, "Ready for a long day, guys?"
"Pika-pi!" "Vee!"
They were ready. And they weren't the only ones.
Across the court, Platinum was already in motion. She was the picture of noble elegance, even in her jogging gear. Beside her, Diamond and Pearl were trying to keep up as they trained together as usual.
Pearl's voice echoed across the court. He was waving his arms frantically at Platinum's Prinplup, "No, no, no! The timing is all wrong! A bubble beam needs a rhythm! It's like a punchline! Zip, zap, pow! Not drip, drop, plop!"
Platinum replied, her voice cool but tinted with a new glimmer of competitive fire, "I am consulting the data, Pearl."
She held her Pokédex like a sacred text as she stated, "The effectiveness of the move is dictated by the trajectory and the moisture density."
Diamond added, lazily tossing a rice ball into his mouth while his Munchlax, Lax, did the same, "I think it's dictated by how hungry it is."
I smirked. They were a chaotic trio, but they were learning.
But while they focused on the basics for the Fourth Gym, I had to ensure my own team was sharp. We all had 1 week to train and explore Veilstone City, and after we win, we move onto the next destination, but till then, time to train.
I said, unclipping a dozen Poké Balls from my belt, "Time to work."
"Schluk-shik-shik-shik!"
*POP*
The sounds of the expanding spheres were like a rapid-fire chorus. In a burst of brilliant white light, the court was suddenly crowded.
My Monferno landed in a crouch, his tail flame roaring, "Mon-fer!"
Lucario stood tall, his aura sensors fluttering, "Lura!"
The blade-armed Pokémon gave a sharp, disciplined nod, "Gallade!"
The fairy-flyer soared upward, dusting the court in white feathers, "Toge-kiss!"
The Alpha Rhyhorn hit the ground with the force of a falling meteor, the pavement cracking beneath its massive, stony feet, "RHY-HORN!"
My Alpha Gabite hissed, its jagged scales glistening like shark skin, "GABITE!"
The glitchy digital bird Porygon-Z spasmed in mid-air, its head spinning 360 degrees, "Pory-gon-Zzzzt!"
A chilling mist settled in the air as she hovered, her eyes glowing with a ghostly blue light, "Fros-lass!"
H-Liligant landed gracefully, her long legs coiled like springs, "Lili!"
H-Zoroark—a terrifying phantom of white and purple—let out a mournful, haunting howl that made the windows of the hotel rattle, "Zoro!"
Finally, there was the newcomer, "Scy-ther!"
The Scyther I'd caught recently stood apart from the others. He was a powerhouse, a former swarm leader who had been dethroned only by the sheer, overwhelming physical might of my Alpha Rhyhorn.
He was restless, his scythes twitching, clicking his mandibles as he eyed the rest of my team with a mixture of defiance and caution. He was used to being the apex predator. Here, he was just one of the elites.
I gotta work that with him. I said calmly, walking toward him, "Easy, Scyther. You're not in the wild anymore. You're in the big leagues now."
I looked over at my 'Bodyguard' line-up. Blissey was already fussing over a small scratch on Gabite's arm. Ursaluna—the massive, peat-covered bear—sat like a mountain of fur and muscle, yawning.
Absol stood like a sentinel on a nearby pillar, eyes scanning the horizon for disaster. Darkrai and Marshadow were already gone, melded into the shadows of the hotel walls, invisible but omnipresent.
I called out, my voice taking on the tone of a Commander, "Alright, listen up! Platinum and the boys are training for Veilstone's Gym. We are training to be the walls that nothing gets through."
I tapped three specific Poké Balls on my secondary belt—my veterans. I specifically brought these 3 to help me out…
The Kanto crew. Time to make a reappearance, as I called out, "Come out, the teachers are here!"
*POP*
With three distinct POPs, my Arcanine, Scizor, and Dragonite appeared. The air temperature seemed to rise ten degrees from Arcanine's breath alone.
I barked, "Lucario, Togekiss, front and center!"
The two approached. Arcanine let out a low, rumbling growl, and Dragonite landed with a heavy thud, her wings fluttering. I explained to them, "You two are fast. But you aren't Extreme Speed fast. Not yet. Arcanine, Pikachu, Dragonite—you're the specialists. Show them what it means to break the sound barrier."
*CRACK*
In the blink of an eye, Arcanine was gone. A blur of orange and black streaked across the court, followed a millisecond later by a sonic boom that ruffled everyone's hair. He reappeared on the other side, not a hair out of place.
Pikachu followed suit, becoming a yellow bolt of lightning that zigzagged through the air so fast it left afterimages. I asked calmly, "Did you see that? Don't just move. Exist in the space you want to be in. Lucario, focus your aura. Togekiss, use the air currents as a slingshot. Again!"
While they began the grueling process of high-velocity training, I turned my attention to the newcomer. Scyther was staring intently at my Scizor. I could see the hate in its eyes, but that's just a species thing, as they hate the color red.
But otherwise the contrast was incredible—the sleek, green, organic predator versus the red, metallic, calculating technician. I said clearly, catching the mantis's attention, "Scyther… You've got the instinct. But your moves are wild. You waste energy on wide swings. Scizor has been with me for a long time. He's going to show you how to refine those strikes. And if you think you're faster than him... prove it."
Scizor didn't wait. He raised a heavy, steel pincer and beckoned with a 'come hither' motion directing challenge…
*Zoooom*
The green mantis lunged, "Scy!"
*CLANG*
The sound of steel meeting chitin echoed like a blacksmith's hammer. Scyther moved like a blur, but Scizor was a statue of efficiency, deflecting every strike with a fraction of an inch to spare.
They began a deadly dance of blades, a whirlwind of green and red.
I muttered, then turned to the most important part of the day's power-leveling, "Good. Magby, Elekid! You're up!"
The two 'babies' of the team stepped forward. They were energetic, but in the presence of my Alphas and veterans, they looked like toddlers.
I pointed toward the massive Ursaluna as I stated calmly, "You want to get stronger? You want to stand on the same stage as Zoroark and Gallade? Then you must move. Ursaluna, don't hold back too much. Use Earthquake, but keep it localized."
The massive bear stood up on its hind legs, let out a roar that sounded like a tectonic plate shifting, and slammed its front paws down!
*BOOM*
The ground buckled. A shockwave of dirt and energy ripped toward the two smaller Pokémon.
I commanded both, "Dodge and strike! Magby, Fire Spin! Elekid, Thunder Shock! Combine them!"
*FROOOOOSH*
*BZZZZZT*
The fire and electricity spiraled together, creating a searing bolt of plasma. It hit Ursaluna's chest...
*THUD*
… and did absolutely nothing. The bear didn't even flinch.
She simply swiped a massive paw, sending a gust of wind that knocked both Pokémon backward. I shouted, "Again!"
For the next three hours, the court was a war zone.
I watched Platinum out of the corner of my eye. She was watching me, too. Her eyes were wide as she witnessed the scale of my training.
Pearl was silent for once, his mouth agape as he watched my Dragonite spar with Togekiss, the two of them moving so fast they were little more than streaks of white and orange in the sky.
I heard Pearl whisper to Diamond, "He's... he's on another level."
*THWUMP*
Dia said, uncharacteristically serious as he watched Scizor pin Scyther to the ground for the tenth time, "He's not just a trainer… He's a force of nature."
I ignored the praise. I've heard it all the same, that it's stale.
I could never understand why others like it so much. I was focused on the sweat dripping off my brow and the psychic link I felt with my team.
I commanded, "Lucario, now! Extreme Speed!"
Lucario closed his eyes. His aura flared—a brilliant, pulsing blue. He took a breath, and then—
*Pop*
… He vanished. He reappeared right in front of Arcanine, his fist stopped an inch from the fire-type's nose.
[Ding!]
[Lucario has learned the move Extreme Speed!]
I smirked, seeing the pop-up screen as I pumped a fist, "YES! Way to go, Lucario! Togekiss, your turn!"
*WOOOSH*
The air hissed as Togekiss folded her wings, becoming a white arrow. She tore through the sky, a faint sonic cone forming around her beak. She circled the hotel spire and returned in a heartbeat.
Seeing the exhaustion, I called out in a calming voice, "Perfect. Take five, get some berries from Blissey."
I turned back to the other battle. Magby and Elekid were exhausted. Their breathing was ragged, their bodies covered in dust and scrapes.
Ursaluna was looming over them, her eyes glowing with a stern, motherly challenge. I asked, walking over, "Is that it?"
I looked down at them as they panted, with me continuing, "You're at your limit. I can see it. But the limit is just a door. You just must kick it down."
Elekid looked up at me, sparks dancing feebly between his horns. Magby spat a small ember, his eyes narrowed with pure, unadulterated grit...
[Ding!]
[Magby and Elekid have reached Level 30!]
They had reached Level 30. I could feel the energy humming in the air—the threshold of evolution…
They just need a small push. I said softly, "Ursaluna. One more. Earthquake."
The bear didn't hesitate. She reared up, his massive frame blotting out the sun before slamming down with a proud roar, "URSA! (Go my cubs! Grow up!)"
*KRA-KOOOM*
The ground didn't just shake; it erupted. Slabs of stone flew into the air.
The pressure was immense. I yelled, "NOW! GO BEYOND!"
*FLASH*
The two Pokémon screamed—a defiant, piercing cry. And then, the white light of evolution swallowed them both. The light was blinding, far brighter than a standard evolution. It was the sound of cracking glass and roaring engines.
The light stretched, growing taller, broader.
When it faded, Magmar and Electabuzz stood where the two small Pokémon had been. Their silhouettes were fiercer, their power outputs doubling in an instant.
"MAG-MAR!"
"BUZZZZZZ!"
They didn't wait for a command. They lunged at Ursaluna together. Magmar's fist was shrouded in a Fire Punch, while Electabuzz's arm whirled like a turbine for a powerful Thunder Punch.
*THWACK*
They both connected with Ursaluna's stomach. The giant bear slid back an inch. Her eyes widened in surprise, and then a toothy grin spread across her face.
With a low chuckle, Ursaluna simply leaned forward and let out a localized Earthquake hum, "Urrrsa… (You've done well, my cubs. Sleep well.)"
*Vrrr*
*BOOM*
The two newly evolved Pokémon were blasted back, sliding across the court until they slumped against the perimeter wall, unconscious. But I smiled seeing those two manage to evolve.
I called out, "Blissey! On it!"
The pink medic was already there, her hands glowing with Soft-Boiled energy. As the two slumped down, the rest of my Pokémon—even the stoic Gallade and the haughty Scyther—let out a cheer. It was a rite of passage.
They had fought the mountain, they had grown, and they had earned their place. I let out a long, shaky breath, wiping the sweat from my forehead. I smirked seeing those babies grow up to be fine battlers.
As my Pokémon helped them up, I checked my latest status info. I smiled seeing the results shown to me.
[Magmar the Spitfire Pokémon. Magmar's body temperature is nearly 2,200° Fahrenheit (1,200° Celsius), giving its body an orange glow. Because it hates cold places, this Pokémon typically resides in and around active volcanoes, where it is born.
This Pokémon has even been known to spit scorching flames to establish an ideally warm environment for itself. The Magmar found in Alola are said to be sturdier than Magmar found elsewhere.
In battle, Magmar blows out intense flames from all over its body to intimidate its foes and incinerate its surroundings. An extremely well-trained Magmar can block Electric-type attacks with super-heated air.
However, an outmatched Magmar will quickly retreat, using its fiery camouflage and its wavering, rippling glare to blend into any present fires. Magmar is very persistent and will hunt down anyone who manages to defeat it.
It can heal its wounds and weariness by soaking in lava. Magmar has a bad habit of unintentionally burning its prey to a crisp. Its body is always constantly burning. Magmar is feared as one of the many causes of fires.]
|Name: Magmar (Spitfire Pokémon)
|Type: Fire
|Tera: Fire
|Level: 30
|Gender: Male
|Held Item: [Charcoal]/[Flame Plate]/[Wise Glasses]
|Ability: Flame Body
|Nature: Modest
|Moves: Protect, Screech, Confuse Ray, Ember [A][S], Fire Punch [A][S], Flame Wheel [A][S], Fire Spin [A][S], Flame Charge [A][S], Hidden Power [A][S], Mach Punch [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Clear Smog [A][S], Smog [A][S], Faint Attack [A][S], Acid Spray [A][S], Barrier (EM) (5 Moves left to learn)
[Electabuzz, the Electric Pokémon. In the dark, Electabuzz will glow light blue from the electrical charges running across its body. It is constantly leaking more electricity than it consumes. Being near an Electabuzz will cause a human's hair to stand on end.
Electabuzz often gathered groups around tall trees to wait for the upcoming storm. During torrential thunderstorms, Electabuzz will compete to find locations likely to be struck by lightning to absorb the electric power. Electabuzz is often used as an alternative to lightning rods because it is unharmed by the absorption of electricity.
It is also capable of entirely nonverbal communication via electrical currents when near another of its species. Blackouts have been known to happen when groups of Electabuzz gather to consume electricity from power plants; they often get blamed for the occurring power outages.
As a result, Ground-type Pokémon are kept around power plants to keep Electabuzz from raiding, although the blackouts are usually the fault of the electric companies, not Electabuzz. There is ongoing research on using Electabuzz to store lightning until it is needed to be used later.
Electabuzz is sent into a rage by the color red. In battle, Electabuzz windmills its arms, apparently to add momentum to its punches. This method of battle seems ineffective, as opponents can escape in the meantime. Electabuzz typically resides near power plants and can cause blackouts in cities, though it can also be found in grasslands.]
|Name: Electabuzz (Electric Pokémon)
|Type: Electric
|Tera: Electric
|Level: 30
|Gender: Male
|Held Item: [Magnet]/[Zap Plate]/[Muscle Band]/[Punching Glove]
|Ability: Static
|Nature: Jolly
|Moves: Protect, Charge, Magnet Rise, Thunder Wave, Detect, Shock Wave [A][S],Thunder Shock [A][S], Volt Switch [A][S],Thunder Punch [A][S], Power-Up Punch [A][S], Fire Punch [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Quick Attack [A][S], Swift [A][S], Low Kick [A][S], Barrier (EM) (5 Moves left to learn)
Not bad. They grow up so fast...
"Azure!"
I turned to see Platinum walking toward me. She looked slightly intimidated, but she was holding her chin high as she said, "That was... an enlightening display. The way you utilize your veteran Pokémon as mentors... it is a logical and highly efficient method of growth."
I said calmly, leaning against the warm flank of my Alpha Rhyhorn, "It's not just logic, Platinum. It's trust. They know I won't push them further than they can go, but they also know I'll always push them to the edge. You're doing well with Prinplup, too, Platinum. You just need to stop thinking of moves as data points and start thinking of them as extensions of yourself."
She looked at her Prinplup, then back at me as she muttered, "Extensions of her soul... I will take that under advisement."
Pearl yelled from the other side of the court as he asked, "Hey, Azure! Do you think your Dragonite can show my Luxray how to handle that aerial maneuver again? He says he's got the 'vibe' now!"
I laughed, the tension of the morning breaking as I replied, "Yeah, yeah. Give us ten minutes to refuel."
I looked at my team. Scyther was sitting near Scizor now, not fighting, but watching the older Pokémon sharpen its claws on a whetstone. The shiny Zoroark was playing a trick on Diamond, making a bowl of rice balls appear to be a bowl of rocks, leading to a very confused Dia.
I reached into my jacket and felt the tiny Pichu (Mew) stir. Pichu (Mew) peeked its head out, let out a tiny yawn, and licked my thumb before disappearing back into the warmth of the fleece.
I looked at the trio of young trainers and my powerhouse team. I clapped my hands, the sound echoing off the hotel walls, "Alright! Break's over! Porygon-Z, start the Gravity Training simulations! We're going again!"
The court exploded into movement once more. The sound of battle, of growth, and of Pokémon reaching for the stars filled the Veilstone air. And in the shadows, Marshadow's eyes gleamed red, watching, waiting, and protecting.
I just wonder when those Galactic rats would bite.
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!