Chapter 489: Gambling Time!
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, 2 Days Later, Veilstone City – Grand Veilstone Hotel]
The morning sun over Veilstone City was not the gentle, golden orb one might find in the rolling hills of Twinleaf. Here, nestled among the jagged, cratered cliffs of Sinnoh's eastern edge, the light was hard and slate-gray, reflecting off the cold stone architecture and the modern glass of the Veilstone Grand Hotel.
On the hotel's private outdoor battle court, the air hummed with an intensity that could only come from high-level training.
*SHING*
A Scizor, its metallic red carapace gleaming like a polished ruby, blurred across the court. It struck the ground with a Bullet Punch, sending a shockwave through the concrete. Opposite it, a newly evolved Torterra—Diamond's partner, Tru—planted its massive feet, letting the vibration wash over its shell like a wave against a cliff.
Diamond called out, surprisingly focused for someone who was currently holding a half-eaten rice ball in his left hand commanded, "Don't let the speed intimidate you, Tru! Steady your breath!"
On the other side of the court, a Dragonite let out a melodious, low-frequency hum, its orange wings beating slowly as it hovered above Platinum's Empoleon. The sheer aura of the Dragonite—one of Azure's veteran partners—was enough to make the air feel heavy.
Azure stood at the edge of the court, leaning against a stone pillar. If one looked closely, a small, pink, feline tail occasionally twitched near the zipper—a Baby Mew, cleverly disguised as a Pichu, resting in its favorite hiding spot. Perched on his shoulders were his two primary constants: a Pikachu with a notched ear and an Eevee with an unusually fluffy mane.
Azure instructed, his voice calm but carrying over the sound of clashing steel, "Focus on the weight of the air, Platinum. Dragonite isn't just a flyer; she's a force of nature. If you can't predict the wind she creates, you'll never land a Hydro Pump."
Platinum Berlitz, the heiress to the most prestigious family in Sinnoh, wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. Her Empoleon, regal and fierce, let out a defiant cry, "Kweeeh! (Go down already!)"
Platinum replied, her eyes sharpening, "Understood! Empoleon, use Aqua Jet to close the gap, then pivot into a Metal Claw!"
As the training intensified, Pearl was busy on the adjacent court, his Infernape—Chimlar—trading blows with Azure's Lucario. The sound of their strikes was like rapid-fire percussion as they exchanged blows.
*Thud-thud*
*Pak-thud*
Pearl screamed, his arms flailing in excitement, "Faster, Chimlar! Match his rhythm! Don't let the Lucario dictate the pace!"
Azure watched them with a faint, nostalgic smile. It had been days of grueling work. He had brought out his 'Main Team' veterans—Arcanine, Scizor, and Dragonite—to act as hurdles for the younger Dex Holders.
It had worked. In just four days, the trio's starters had reached their final stages. The sheer power radiating from Torterra, Empoleon, and Infernape was a testament to their growth, but Azure knew that raw power wasn't enough for what lay ahead at the peak of Mt. Coronet.
By the time the sun reached its zenith, the group was exhausted. Azure called for a halt. Azure said, clicking a few Poké Balls to return his veterans, "That's enough for today. You've all made incredible progress. The starters are acclimated to their new forms, and your coordination is peaking. Tomorrow is the Gym Challenge for the Cobble Badge. Today… we take a break."
Pearl slumped against the fence, huffing as he uttered, "Finally. I think my brain is as fried as Chimlar's Flare Blitz."
Platinum asked, her posture returning to its natural, upright elegance despite her fatigue, "A break? And where do you suggest we go in a city as… industrial as this?"
Azure smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes as he replied in a childish tone, "I hear the Veilstone Game Corner is the place to be. A little change of pace, a little test of luck. What do you say?"
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Later, Veilstone City – Game Corner]
The Veilstone Game Corner was a sensory overload.
"Clink-clink-clink!"
"Ding! Ding! Vreeeeeee!"
The sounds of electronic chimes and the mechanical whirring of reels filled the air, layered over a thick carpet of neon lights—pinks, blues, and yellows—that turned the interior into a perpetual twilight. The smell of metal from the machines was mixed with the faint scent of snacks and the electric tension of a hundred people holding their breath.
Pearl groaned as they stepped through the sliding glass doors, "Azure, I really must protest being the voice of reason here! This is a den of vice! You and Lady have a Gym Battle tomorrow! Setting this example for the Lady is… It's irresponsible!"
Azure just laughed, tossing a coin Case into the air and catching it as he replied dismissively, "Relax, Pearl. It's about timing and observation—two things a Pokémon Trainer needs. Besides, Platinum needs to see every facet of the world, not just the libraries and the battle courts. Right, Platinum?"
Platinum's eyes were wide, reflecting the flashing lights of a nearby slot machine as she added, "It is… remarkably vibrant. The mathematical probability of winning is surely skewed toward the house, yet the atmosphere is infectious."
Diamond was already wandering toward a snack stand near the back as he muttered, "I wonder if they have those limited-edition Rage Candy Bars here…"
Azure said, leading them to the counter as he slammed down a stack of bills, "Come on. Two thousand coins, please. Split between four cases."
The woman behind the counter, looking bored and tired, handed over the small plastic cases filled with gold-colored coins. Azure handed one to each of them. Azure whispered, leaning in close to the trio, "Now… Watch and learn."
Pearl watched with skeptical arms crossed as Azure approached a machine in the corner. It was a standard slot with a Clefairy emblem on the side. To the casual observer, Azure looked like any other gambler…
But Diamond, who was often the most observant of the three, noticed Azure's eyes. For a split second, they didn't just look at the machine; they flickered with a faint, ethereal pink glow as he used his Psychic Ability…
Future Sight (Precognition).
Azure wasn't just playing. He was peering five seconds into the future, timing his button presses to the exact millisecond where the reels would align…
"Whirrrrrr—Thump! Thump! Thump!"
The machine shrieked, "JACKPOT!"
A flood of coins poured into the tray with a deafening clatter-clatter-clatter. Pearl muttered, "Beginner's luck…"
"Whirrrrrr—Thump! Thump! Thump!"
"JACKPOT!"
Pearl's jaw dropped, "Wait, again?"
Azure didn't stop. He moved like a machine himself. He would pull the lever, wait exactly 2.4 seconds, and hit the stop buttons in a rhythmic tap-tap-tap. Every single time, the Clefairy on the screen would pop out of its Poké Ball, dance to a specific beat, and the reels would line up perfectly.
7-7-7.
7-7-7.
7-7-7.
Nearby, a crowd began to gather. People whispered in hushed tones.
"Who is that kid?"
"He hasn't missed a single spin in twenty minutes!"
"Is the machine broken?"
Platinum, caught up in the excitement, began playing the machine next to him. She didn't have Azure's psychic powers, but she had a scholar's mind. She began timing her presses to the beat of Azure's machine.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
Platinum gasped as 100 coins spilled into her tray exclaiming, "I did it! The rhythm! It's all in the rhythm!"
Meanwhile, Pearl and Diamond had drifted toward the center of the room. Pearl had spotted a small, raised wooden stage intended for public announcements or entertainment.
His eyes lit up as he exclaimed, "Dia! This is it! A venue!"
Diamond said, munching on a donut he'd found, "The snacks are a bit expensive here, Pearl…"
Pearl rolled his eyes as he grabbed Dia's shoulder, explaining, "Forget the snacks! We have a captive audience! If we can't make this crowd laugh, we'll never be the greatest manzai duo in Sinnoh!"
Before Diamond could object, Pearl dragged him onto the stage. Pearl shouted, his voice booming over the slot machines, "HELLO PEOPLE OF VEILSTONE! I'm Pearl, and this is my partner Diamond, and we're here to tell you why a Geodude should never play hide-and-seek!"
Azure, mid-Jackpot, glanced over and snickered. The two of them were a disaster and a masterpiece all at once. Pearl's frantic energy and Diamond's slow, deadpan delivery started to draw people away from the gambling.
Diamond said, staring blankly at the audience, "Because, every time he hides, he just looks like a rock."
Pearl screamed, hitting Diamond over the head with a paper fan, "THAT'S THE POINT, DIA! HE'S A ROCK POKÉMON!"
*WHACK*
The crowd erupted in laughter. The tension of the Game Corner, the stress of losing money, seemed to evaporate as the duo performed their routine.
Back at the slots, the manager of the Game Corner—a stout man in a loud vest—was sweating profusely. He was watching the security monitors. One screen showed two boys performing high-tier comedy, distractingly well.
The other screen showed a teenager with a Pikachu on his shoulder who was currently filling his fourth Coin Case to the brim. The clerk whispered nervously, "Sir… He's at 200,000 coins. We're going to lose the quarterly profit in one afternoon."
The manager wiped his brow as he whispered, "He isn't cheating. I've checked the sensors. He's just… he's just that good. If we kick him out, the crowd will riot. Just… let it happen. Maybe he'll leave soon."
Azure, sensing the manager's distress through a faint psychic ping, decided he had had enough screwing the Game Corner over. He stood up, his four Coin Cases overflowing with 50,000 coins each.
He walked over to Platinum, who had managed to earn a respectable 10,000 on her own through sheer focus. Azure asked, "Ready to go shopping?"
Platinum beamed with a smile as she replied, "I believe I have enough for that technical machine I was eyeing."
Azure said, sliding two of his full cases toward her, "Keep your coins, Platinum. Take these. And these two are for the boys."
Platinum tried to refuse, "Azure, I couldn't possibly—"
But he winked at her as he replied casually, "Consider it a bonus for your bodyguard's excellent performance."
By the time Pearl and Diamond finished their set—bowing to a smattering of applause and a few tossed coins—they walked over to see Azure surrounded by towers of Coin Cases. Pearl's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he exclaimed, "What in the... Azure! Did you rob the vault?!"
Azure leaned back, casually tossing a gold coin into the air and catching it as he replied, "Just a good run, Pearl. I told you, timing is everything. Each of these cases has 50,000 coins. Platinum has 1 of her own. I've got 3."
Diamond picked up a case, feeling the heavy weight as he muttered, "This could buy a lot of Malasadas... or... wait, what are the prizes again?"
Azure pulled a glossy pamphlet from the side of the machine and handed it to Pearl as he said, "Take a look. The Veilstone Game Corner isn't just about flashy lights. They have a 'special' stock for people who can actually clear the house."
Pearl's eyes scanned the list, and suddenly, his indignation vanished. His breath hitched as he whispered, "Dratini? They have... Dratini? And Larvitar?"
Platinum noted, joining them as she explained, "Pseudo-legendaries. Extremely rare Pokémon with three-stage evolution lines that rival the power of historical myths. My father mentioned they are often found in the most treacherous parts of the world."
Azure pointed to a section at the bottom, "And the TMs. Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Flamethrower. Not to mention the evolution items. Look, Pearl—a Flame Orb. Perfect for a Pokémon with the Guts ability, like your Heracross."
Pearl looked at the pamphlet, then at the Coin Cases, then at Azure. He swallowed hard as he uttered, "I... I take back everything I said about this being a bad influence. Azure Sky, you are a genius."
Azure chuckled as he grinned slyly, stating, "Go on then. I have more coins than I know what to do with. Diamond, Pearl—take two cases. Platinum, you keep yours. Let's go raid the prize room."
//////
[Sinnoh Region, Veilstone City – Game Corner (Prize Counter)]
The prize exchange counter was tucked away in a quieter, more prestigious corner of the building. The manager was currently sweating profusely as he watched the four teenagers approach. He had been watching the security feeds.
He had seen Azure's uncanny luck. The group then headed to the prize exchange counter. The prize room was quiet, lined with glass cases containing Prizes, expensive Silk Scarves, and rows of TMs.
But in the back, behind heavy reinforced glass, were the Poké Balls. These weren't ordinary Pokémon. These were rare, powerful species brought in from distant regions or deep within Sinnoh's most dangerous caves.
Pearl's eyes immediately locked onto a Poké Ball with a small dragon-wing emblem on the stand. Pearl whispered, his voice uncharacteristically soft, "A Dratini… My dad's… his first partner was a Dratini. He always told me about the day it finally evolved into Dragonite. How it changed everything for him."
Azure said calmly, sliding a filled Coin Case across the counter to the prize clerk, "Then it's yours."
Pearl looked at the case, then at Azure. He didn't argue.
He didn't scold. He just nodded, his eyes shining with a new kind of determination as he whispered, "Thanks, Azure. I mean it."
Diamond leaned against the glass, looking at a Poké Ball containing a small, green, rock-like creature with a red diamond on its chest as he muttered, "A Larvitar. He looks… sturdy. Like he knows the value of a good, slow meal."
Azure said calmly, paying for the second prize, "He fits you perfectly, Dia."
Finally, Platinum stepped up. She didn't hesitate. She pointed to a Poké Ball containing a Gible—the Land Shark Pokémon.
It was a creature known for its wild, uncontrollable nature and immense potential, she stated confidently, "A Berlitz must always be prepared for the highest peaks. A Gible is a creature of the mountains. It will be a fitting companion for our journey to Coronet."
The manager, who was also the clerk, processed the exchanges. Azure stood back, his hands in his pockets. He didn't buy anything for himself. He didn't need to. He had his legends in the shadows and his partners on his shoulders.
Watching the three of them receive their new partners—the "Pseudo-Legendary" trio of Sinnoh—gave him a different kind of satisfaction. He was changing the timeline, or perhaps just ensuring it reached its full potential.
The manager's hands shook as he handed over the three Pokéballs. The trio smiled happily, being given a powerful Pokémon each. After that, Diamond and Pearl used Azure's Coin Case to gather Battle Items they needed, a Reaper's Cloth, and TM's they could use for themselves as the manager gulped, handing over such rare items.
After that, it was Azure that stepped up last as the trio marveled at the prizes. As the manager started ringing them up, Azure leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, "I know you're planning on putting my picture on the 'Banned' list the moment I walk out that door. Save your breath. We're leaving tomorrow anyway."
The manager gulped, nodding frantically.
The group walked out of the Game Corner, the cool night air hitting their faces. They were significantly wealthier, significantly better equipped, and three very rare Pokémon were tucked into their belts.
As they walked out of the Game Corner, the manager literally sprinted to the door and flipped the 'Closed' sign, locking it behind them. Diamond noted, holding his new Larvitar's Poké Ball, "I think we're banned."
Azure laughed, "I'd say we earned it."
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Nighttime, Veilstone City – Grand Veilstone Hotel]
That evening, the penthouse suite of the Veilstone Grand Hotel was a chaotic scene of bonding.
"GIBLE!"
The small, blue dragon-like Pokémon lunged forward, its massive jaws snapping shut on the hem of Platinum's expensive silk sweater.
Platinum said, not pulling away, "Oh! Oh, dear!"
She reached down and gently scratched the top of the Gible's head as she stated, "You are quite… exuberant, aren't you?"
The Gible paused, its black eyes blinking, and then let out a happy cry as it began to nuzzle her hand instead of eating her clothes, "Gib-gib!"
Pearl was sitting on the floor, his new Dratini coiling around his arm. The tiny dragon chirped, nuzzling into Pearl's neck. Pearl whispered, "I'll call you... Ryu. We're going to be the best, just like my old man."
Diamond was lying on the rug, his Larvitar sitting on his stomach. The two of them were sharing a bag of Pokémon Crackers, munching in perfect synchronization.
*Crunch-Crunch-Crunch*
Diamond called out, "He likes the extra salt, Pearl. He's got good taste."
Dia's Larvitar cried out, "Lar. (You too.)."
Diamond smiled as he said, patting the Pokémon's head, "I think I'll call him Tar. He's got a good appetite. We'll get along great."
Azure sat on the balcony, his Pikachu, Pichu (Mew), and Eevee resting on the railing beside him. He watched the three of them—the future of the Sinnoh region—bonding with the powerhouses he had helped them acquire.
Azure said calmly, turning back to the room, "You know… Now that you have Pseudo-Legendaries, the training is going to get twice as hard. These Pokémon don't grow easily. They require discipline."
Pearl said in a determined tone, looking up with a newfound seriousness in his eyes, "We're ready, Azure. After seeing what your Scizor and Dragonite can do... we know the gap we have to close."
Platinum nodded as she added, "I have already contacted the Berlitz family archives. They are searching for the respective Mega Stones. If we are to journey to the peak of Mt. Coronet, we must be at our absolute zenith."
Azure smiled, looking out over the flickering lights of Veilstone. Pearl managed to untangle the Dratini from his face as he asked curiously, "Azure, seriously... why did you do all that? You gave us the coins, the items... You didn't have to."
Azure said calmly, his voice soft but firm, "True. But I want to."
He turned back to them, slyly grinning as he added, "Besides, I really wanted to see the look on that manager's face when you cleared out his TM stock."
The group laughed, the tension of the upcoming Gym battle melting away into the warmth of the hotel room.
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!