Chapter 507: Platinum's Water Gym Battle
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Days Later, Pastoria City]
The morning sun over Pastoria City was filtered through a thin veil of coastal mist, lending a pearlescent glow to the humid air. For Azure, the humidity was a reminder of the Great Marsh nearby, but for the group emerging from the Grand Pastoria Hotel, it was the smell of opportunity.
After five grueling days of specialized training, the muscles were sore, the Pokémon were sharpened, and the anticipation was tactile. Azure adjusted the collar of his jacket, feeling the slight weight of a sleeping Pichu (Mew) tucked against his chest.
Beside him, Platinum walked with the practiced grace of a noble, though her eyes betrayed a glimmer of competitive fire. Following close behind were Diamond and Pearl—the former absentmindedly chewing on a leftover breakfast pastry, the latter checking his Pokédex for the nth time.
Platinum observed, her eyes scanning the paved streets and the sturdy, colorful buildings as she commented calmly, "The infrastructure here is remarkably well-maintained for a city so close to a swamp. One would expect the moisture to have a more corrosive effect on the stonework."
Diamond nodded, swallowing a mouthful of pastry, saying, "It's cozy. But I'm surprised the Great Marsh is right there. It's like having a wild jungle in your backyard. One minute you're getting tea, the next you're seeing a Carnivine."
Pearl, however, wasn't feeling the charm. He crossed his arms, his foot tapping rhythmically against the cobblestones as he muttered, "Don't let the paint jobs fool you. I told you guys, Crasher Wake and the folks here... they're a bit much. My last experience wasn't exactly 'peaceful.' They're loud, they're intense, and they've got a weird sense of humor."
Azure chuckled, looking around at the locals as he commented, "I don't know, Pearl. It seems pretty serene to me."
As they passed a small park, they heard an elderly woman sitting on a bench, a Wingull perched beside her. She was smiling, breathing in the salty air. She murmured to no one in particular, "I feel just right in this town. There's a strength in the air, isn't there?"
Seeing the curious looks from the group, she gestured toward the towering Gym in the distance as she explained to them, "It's all thanks to Wake. People think he's just a wrestler, but he takes every cent of his prize money—every bit of it—and puts it back into these streets. He lives by a simple code: 'The strong should serve the people.' He's the one who keeps the Great Marsh protected, too. Without him, the balance would have been lost years ago."
Platinum came to a halt, her expression shifting from curiosity to genuine reverence. Her scholarly upbringing had taught her about philanthropy, but seeing it manifest in a man who wore a luchador mask was a new lesson entirely.
She echoed softly, having a different impression of Wake, the Gym Leader's work, "The strong should serve the people... A noble sentiment. Uncharacteristically so for such a boisterous individual."
Azure smiled. He had seen many Gym Leaders over his three league wins, but Wake always stood out as a man of genuine heart. He mused to himself, 'At the very least unlike in Kanto we had 5 Gym Leaders being evil and 1 in Johto being stupidly strong. And our original Elite Four were fucking evil (Except Bruno). You guys in other Regions had it easy.…'
He smiled as they continued walking forward and commented, "It makes sense. You don't get to be that strong without understanding what you're fighting for."
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Later, Pastoria City – Gym]
The Pastoria Gym didn't look like a standard building; it looked like a fortress of water. As they entered, the sound of rushing pipes and the hum of massive pumps filled the air. Right at the entrance, a peculiar sight awaited them. A referee, standing rigidly like a statue atop a small, motorized boat, greeted them.
The 'Statue' proclaimed, though it was clearly a man in a very convincing suit, "Halt, challengers! The group of renown has arrived!"
Pearl stepped forward, puffing out his chest as he declared, "We're here for the Gym Challenge! This is Platinum Berlitz and Azure Sky."
The Statue nodded solemnly, the boat bobbing in the shallow canal that served as the Gym's floor as it explained the rules, "The rules are set by the Master of Waves himself! For the Lady Berlitz, the standard challenge: she shall bring three Pokémon to the arena but may only choose two to participate in the battle. You will know the Master's roster, but you will not know which of them he will deploy until the moment of truth."
The Statue then turned its gaze toward Azure, its eyes narrowing behind the mask, and continued, "And for the Ace Gym Match! To push your limits, you must bring six Pokémon and select four for the bout."
Azure reached for the six Poké Balls at his belt. He had chosen this lineup carefully during their five-day retreat. He felt the weight of them: Rotom, Hisuian Lilligant, Tangela, Electabuzz, Porygon-Z, and Froslass.
It was a diverse team, built for adaptability. Azure said, his voice calm, "I'm ready whenever you are."
The Statue continued, "To reach the Master, you must navigate the maze of planks and switches. The water levels change at the press of a button. One wrong move, and the path is submerged!"
Pearl looked at the deep canals and then at his boots as he muttered, "Great. I hope we brought our trunks. We're gonna have to swim, aren't we?"
The Statue barked in a loud voice, "Negative! The path is for the feet! The water is for the Pokémon!"
Platinum had already spotted a large, glowing blue button on a nearby pedestal. Without a word, she stepped forward and pressed it with the tip of her parasol.
*Clunk-whirrrrr*
The sound of massive gears shifting echoed through the gym. A series of yellow and green planks rose from the depths, locking into place to form a bridge. The Statue noted, "Impressive! The lady has the eye of a scholar. You shall proceed. However, the Gym Trainers are hungry for a bout. You must defeat them to clear the path."
The Statue then gestured to the boat as it continued, "As for the observers—the boy of food and the boy of noise—you shall accompany me on the official observation vessel. And it seems your companions wish to join you."
Azure looked down. His Pikachu, Pichu (Mew), and his Eevee were already looking longingly at the boat. From Azure's shadow, a swirl of purple and black energy manifested as his Gengar drifted upward.
The Gengar let out a soft, mischievous cackle, using her Levitate ability to hover over the boat's deck, "Kikiki!"
Azure said to Diamond and Pearl, "Thanks for looking after them, guys."
Diamond said, already settling into a seat on the boat and pulling a fresh bag of chips from his bag, "No problem! We'll have the best view in the house."
Pearl shouted, waving his arms as he encouraged his friends, "Yeah, yeah, just don't take too long, Azure! Platinum! Give 'em a performance they won't forget!"
The Statue took the helm of the boat as it spoke in a loud tone, "Away we go! Into the heart of the deluge!"
*Splash*
The motor sputtered to life, and the boat began to move. However, within thirty seconds, it became apparent that the 'Statue' was more of a referee than a navigator. The boat slammed into a wooden piling, spun forty-five degrees, and headed directly into a dead-end alcove filled with misty pipes.
Pearl yelled, gripping the railing, "Hey! Where are you going?! The battlefield is that way! Are you lost?!"
The Statue panicked, spinning the steering wheel frantically, denied, "The mist! The currents! The Master didn't account for the cross-winds!"
Gengar, floating above the group, rolled her eyes. She leaned over the Statue's shoulder and pointed a ghostly claw toward a hidden passage to the left. She said, her voice a raspy, ethereal feminine tone, "It's that way, you bucket of bolts."
The Statue froze. The boat went silent.
The Statue screamed, his composure completely shattering, "DID... DID THAT GENGAR JUST TALK?!"
Gengar snickered, her red eyes glowing as she replied nonchalantly, "Keep moving, or I'll haunt your lunch."
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Meanwhile, Pastoria City – Gym]
Meanwhile, on the upper planks, Azure and Platinum were a whirlwind of efficiency. Platinum's Empoleon made short work of a Sailor's Wingull, while Azure's Electabuzz let off a controlled Thunderbolt that paralyzed a Gym Trainer's Remoraid before it could even fire a Water Pulse.
They moved in sync—Azure providing the tactical oversight and Platinum executing the maneuvers with predatory precision. It was a testament to their training.
Azure whispered, noticing the air getting even more humid, "We're close… I can hear the crowd."
On the water below, the boat finally emerged from the mist-covered back alleys of the gym. Pearl was sitting at the bow, looking completely defeated. He groaned, "I've lost all hope. We're going to be stuck on this boat until the next generation of trainers arrives. We're never finding the arena."
Diamond said, pointing his half-eaten chip toward the center of the gym, "Actually… I think that's it right there."
Sure enough, the gym opened into a massive, Olympic-sized pool area with various floating platforms. On the far side, standing on a pedestal shaped like a giant wave, was the man himself: Crasher Wake.
He was a mountain of a man, his muscles bulging under his costume, his signature mask bright and intimidating. Azure and Platinum reached the final platform at the same time, and the boat drifted into the spectator zone.
Seeing the boys below, Azure smirked. He whistled sharply as he yelled, "Pikachu! Let's show them how we arrive!"
*Wooosh*
Azure leapt from the high plank. Platinum gasped, "Azure!"
But mid-fall, Azure didn't hit the water. Pikachu scrambled down his back, cheeks sparking, and cried out, "Pikaaaaa-CHUUUU!"
*SPLASH*
Using a burst of Surf, Pikachu manifested a solid, glowing surfboard made of Substitute energy. Azure landed on it perfectly, the momentum carrying him across the pool. He scooped up Diamond and Pearl's boat in his wake, guiding them toward the front row of the stands.
Gengar cackled, hovering over to Diamond. She reached into his bag, pulled out a handful of popcorn, and plopped down beside him. She remarked, crunching on the snack, "Nice entrance, Boss. Haven't seen that since the Lance fight."
Diamond replied, sharing the bag with the ghost, "You said it."
Platinum stepped onto the challenger's podium. Across the water, Crasher Wake roared with laughter, "HA HA HA! So, the young lady and the champion have arrived! I've heard of your exploits, Berlitz! And you, Sky! I look forward to our 'Ace' bout later, but first... let's see if the lady has the resolve of the tides!"
The referee statue (who had finally regained his composure after the talking Gengar incident) blew his whistle, "The match between Gym Leader Crasher Wake and Challenger Platinum Berlitz will now begin! Select your Pokémon!"
Platinum looked at her three Poké Balls. She had Empoleon, Bellossom, and Alakazam. She knew Wake's affinity for Water-types.
She stated firmly, "I choose Empoleon and Bellossom."
Wake grinned, his mask crinkling as he announced, "A solid choice! But I choose... FLOATZEL!"
*SPLASH*
With a splash that drenched the front row, a sleek, orange-furred Pokémon erupted from the water. Its two tails whirled like propellers, and the flotation sac around its neck was fully inflated.
It landed on a floating platform, its claws digging into the wood. Platinum soon brought out her Empoleon, "Empoleon, prepare for battle!"
*Pop*
Empoleon materialized with its held item [Mystic Water] with its arms crossed. Wake shouted, his voice echoing off the walls, "An Empoleon! A creature of the deep! A majestic king of the sea! I am moved by its elegance! So moved, in fact, that I find the standard rules... STIFLING!"
Azure, watching from the side with Pearl and Diamond, leaned forward. Pearl asked, confused, "Wait, what's he doing?"
Wake threw his arms wide as he openly declared, "Lady Berlitz! To truly test the bond between trainer and Pokémon, we must embrace the element! I declare a New Rule for this battle! The water is not an obstacle—it is the arena! We shall use the entire pool as the site of battle! Underwater, on the surface, on the planks—it's all fair game!"
Pearl stood up, nearly falling off the boat as he yelled, "Hey! Is that even legal?! You can't just change the rules because you're feeling 'moved'!"
A passing Sailor, an apprentice of the Gym, leaned over and explained in a helpless tone, "He does this all the time. He makes these outrageous claims to spice things up. It's the 'Wake Way.'"
The Statue/Referee sighed, looking toward Wake as it groaned, "Wake... please. The paperwork for rule changes is a nightmare."
Wake boomed ignoring the statue's pleas, "Nonsense! The fans want spectacle! The Pokémon want freedom! Do you agree, Challenger?"
Platinum looked at the vast expanse of water. She looked at Empoleon. Her Pokémon was a Steel-type, yes, but its heritage was the ocean. It was built for this.
She said, her voice ringing clear, "I accept. Empoleon was born for the waves."
Wake yelled excitedly, "THAT'S THE SPIRIT! BEGIN!"
Platinum commanded, "Empoleon, use Metal Claw!"
Empoleon dived forward, her heavy body moving with surprising agility as she slid across a floating plank. Her wings glowed with a metallic sheen.
*Wooosh*
Floatzel didn't flinch. It waited until the last second before using its tails to propel itself backward into the water.
*SPLASH*
Empoleon followed without hesitation.
Diamond shouted, forgetting his popcorn for a moment, "They're going under!"
Below the surface, the battle became a dance of shadows and bubbles. Through the transparent sides of the pool, the group watched in awe. Empoleon was a powerhouse, her wings cutting through the water like knives.
*BOOOM*
She swung a heavy fist, a Metal Claw strike that sent a shockwave through the water, catching Floatzel in the shoulder. The orange sea weasel grunted, bubbles escaping its mouth, but quickly retaliated.
*BOOOM*
It swung its twin tails in a Swift motion underwater, the golden stars cutting through the drag of the liquid to pelt Empoleon. Floatzel then lunged, its lithe body twisting. It grasped Empoleon's midsection, trying to use its superior speed to pin the heavier bird against the pool wall.
Platinum cried, "Empoleon, don't let it grapple! Use your legs!"
Empoleon's eyes flashed. Despite her wings being pinned, her powerful, flipper-like legs surged. She delivered a crushing kick to Floatzel's chest, the force of the blow sending both Pokémon spiraling apart.
Pearl breathed, his eyes wide, "Look at them go! I knew Empoleon was fast, but this... this is something else."
Diamond checked his Pokédex, the screen glowing in the dim light of the gym as he muttered, "The Dex says Empoleon can swim as fast as a jet boat. But Floatzel uses its flotation sac and those propeller-tails to navigate with more precision. It's an aquatic speed showdown."
*SPLASH*
*BOOOM*
*SPLASH*
In the water, the two Pokémon were a blur of orange and blue. They broke the surface, gasping for air for a fraction of a second, before diving back down in a choreographed spiral of combat.
*BOOOM*
Empoleon fired a Bubble Beam point-blank, while Floatzel countered with an Aqua Jet, the two forces colliding and creating a massive, frothing vortex in the center of the pool. Dia noted, munching slowly again, "They're perfectly matched. Wake really knows how to bring out the best in an opponent."
Azure nodded, his gaze fixed on the water. He was analyzing every move, every turn. Platinum was holding her own, her scholarly mind calculating the trajectories and the fluid dynamics of the battle.
She wasn't just fighting with heart; she was fighting with geometry.
Platinum yelled, her arm outstretched, "Finish the sequence, Empoleon!" Force him to the surface with Drill Peck!"
*SHRIIII*
Empoleon tucked her wings tight against her body, her sharp beak spinning like a diamond-tipped drill. She surged upward from the floor of the pool, a relentless torpedo of steel and feathers.
Wake's grin never wavered as he roared, "COME AND GET IT! Floatzel, show them the power of the tides!"
The gym echoed with the sounds of crashing water and the cheers of the small crowd. As the two Pokémon collided at the surface, sending a massive plume of water into the rafters, Azure knew this was just the beginning.
Pastoria City wasn't just a peaceful town. It was a place where the currents ran deep, where the strong served the people, and where a young heir was finally finding her footing in the roughest of waters.
*SPLASH*
Suddenly, the water erupted. Empoleon burst through the surface, but she wasn't attacking—she was being propelled.
Platinum shouted, "Now!"
As Floatzel surged up behind her to deliver a finishing blow, Empoleon twisted in mid-air. The air around her fins shimmered.
*WHOOSH*
A concentrated burst of air—a Vacuum Wave—slammed directly into Floatzel's chest at point-blank range. The speed of the attack was too much for the Sea Weasel to dodge as it took the attack.
*THUD*
Floatzel was hurled backward, skipping across the water like a flat stone before slamming into the far wall. The referee cried, "Floatzel is unable to battle!"
Pearl cheered, punching the air as he excitedly exclaimed, "Alright! She used Floatzel's own momentum against it!"
Wake wasn't discouraged. He laughed even harder, his muscles bulging, "Not bad! Not bad at all! But can you handle the mud? Quagsire, crush 'em!"
*Pop*
*Plop*
The bipedal, amphibious Pokémon appeared with a dull plop. It looked almost goofy with its permanent grin, but Azure knew better. Quagsire was a wall—thick-skinned and deceptively powerful.
Platinum ordered, hoping to end it quickly, "Empoleon, Blizzard!"
Wake countered, "You too, Quagsire! Blizzard!"
*WOOOOOSH*
The two ice attacks met in the center of the arena, creating a localized snowstorm. The temperature in the Gym plummeted instantly…
For a few seconds, it was a stalemate, a bridge of frost forming between the two combatants. But slowly, the tide began to turn. Quagsire's Blizzard was backed by a massive reserve of stamina…
Empoleon, already tired from her duel with Floatzel, began to slide backward. Her feet skidded on the wet tiles of the platform she had climbed onto. Platinum's voice strained, "Empoleon, hold your ground!"
*SPLASH*
But it was no use. The shear force of the ice and wind pushed Empoleon off the edge. She crashed into the water, the cold sapping the last of her strength.
When she surfaced, her eyes were swirled. Platinum said softly, her voice tinged with a rare moment of regret, "Empoleon, return…"
She looked at the Poké Ball in her hand as she whispered, "You did well."
Wake crossed his arms as he loudly spoke, "One to one! What's your final move, Lady? You've got a Ponyta, I know that. But fire won't help you here!"
Platinum reached into her bag and pulled out a different Poké Ball—one she hadn't used in her previous battles as she declared, "During our time in the Great Marsh, I found more than just mud and frustration. I found a partner who thrives in it. Time to show you… Bellossom, spotlight!"
*Pop*
With a shimmer of light, a small, hula-skirted Pokémon appeared with its held item [Miracle Seed]. It looked tiny compared to the massive Quagsire, its flower-crowned head bobbing gently. Wake grinned as he said happily, "A Grass-type? Traditional, but effective. However, my Quagsire knows more than just water moves! Quagsire, use Blizzard once more!"
The atmosphere slowed down. The frantic pace of the Empoleon-Floatzel fight vanished, replaced by a tense, psychological standoff. Bellossom didn't move. She stood her ground as Quagsire opened its massive maw, the icy energy gathering.
Platinum commanded, "Now, Bellossom! Grassy Terrain!"
*FLASH*
Bellossom spun in a graceful circle. A pulse of emerald energy rippled outward from her feet, turning the floating wooden platforms and even the surface of the water into a shimmering, green-tinted field.
Vines sprouted from the cracks in the wood, and a sweet, floral scent filled the air. Wake yelled, "That won't stop the cold! Fire!"
*WOOOOSH*
Quagsire unleashed the Blizzard. A wall of white death roared toward the tiny Bellossom. But Platinum countered, "Grassy Glide!"
*ZOOOOM*
In a literal blur, Bellossom vanished. Pearl yelled, nearly falling out of the boat, "Wha—? Where'd she go?!"
To everyone except Azure and his Pokémon, it looked like teleportation. But Azure saw the truth. Under the effects of Grassy Terrain, Grassy Glide gained increased priority. It bypassed the normal restrictions of Bellossom's naturally slow speed, turning the tiny dancer into a green lightning bolt.
*Woooosh*
Bellossom reappeared directly behind Quagsire, her body glowing with the lush energy of the terrain. Wake barked, but it was too late, "She's behind you!"
Platinum's voice was a whip-crack, "Energy Ball!"
Bellossom pressed her hands together, forming a sphere of pure, concentrated nature energy. At point-blank range, she slammed it into Quagsire's back. Because Quagsire was a Water and Ground type, the Grass energy reacted explosively.
*BOOM*
A massive emerald explosion rocked the Gym. When the smoke cleared, Quagsire was face down on the platform, out cold.
*THUD*
The silence that followed was broken by the statue's mechanical voice, "Quagsire is unable to battle. The winner is the challenger, Platinum Berlitz!"
Pearl and Diamond erupted in cheers, "YEAH!"
Gengar clapped her ghostly hands, and Pikachu did a little backflip on the surfboard. Wake stood frozen for a moment, his mouth literally dangling open behind his mask. He looked at his fallen Quagsire, then at the tiny Bellossom, who was currently doing a victory dance.
He threw his head back and laughed so hard the rafters shook as he exclaimed, "Hahaha! I've been washed away! Swept out to sea! That speed… that strategy! You're something else, little lady!"
Platinum took a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing as she recalled Bellossom. She walked over to the edge of the pool as Azure surfed back to the mainland.
Platinum admitted, her voice regaining its noble composure, "The Great Marsh was… a trial. It was damp, the mud ruined my boots, and the insects were intolerable. But I learned that beauty can grow in the harshest environments. And I learned to look for strength where I least expected it."
She paused, looking at Wake with a curious expression. She couldn't help but ask curiously, "There is something I must ask, however. Will you have to pay for my prize money out of your own pocket?"
Wake blinked, caught off guard as he replied, "Huh? What kind of question is that?"
Platinum continued as she overheard, "I heard from an elderly woman in town that you use the majority of your Gym's earnings and your own prize money to fund the preservation of Pastoria City and the Great Marsh. If my victory causes a financial burden to the ecosystem, I would feel… conflicted."
Wake stared at her for a long beat, then let out a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of his neck as he replied, "Well… news travels fast in a small town. It's true, I care about this place. But don't you worry about my wallet! The League provides, and besides, a battle fought with all your might is worth more than any stack of Poké-dollars!"
He stepped closer, his booming voice softening slightly, "You fought with everything you had. That's the point of the Gym challenge. To see that fire in a trainer's eyes… that's what keeps this city a-floatin'!"
He reached into a pouch at his belt and pulled out a shimmering, blue-and-silver badge shaped like a wave as he said proudly, "You earned this. The Fen Badge! And take this TM, too. It's Brine. A move that hits harder when the opponent is already hurting. It suits your style—finishing things with a decisive blow."
Platinum accepted the badge with a formal bow, carefully pinning it into her badge case. It was her fifth.
She looked at it for a moment, a small, genuine smile touching her lips as she thanked him, "Thank you, Crasher Wake. Your motto… it motivated me to return here when I felt like giving up on this humid city."
Wake's face turned a visible shade of red beneath his mask. He started fidgeting, looking uncharacteristically embarrassed in a bashful tone, "M-my motto? You mean… 'The ring is my sea'? Or 'I'll drown you in spirit'? Aw, man, stop it! You're making me look like a softie here, Missy!"
Before she could say another word, the giant man turned and sprinted toward the back rooms of the gym. Pearl asked, walking up to the group, "He's incredibly shy without the mask, isn't he?"
Azure said, chuckling, "Hahaha… Apparently."
One of the Gym sailors leaned over, explaining further, "Don't mind the Boss. He wears the mask to protect his 'tough guy' image. But he's impressed. He thinks the Lady here has the potential to go all the way."
The statue chimed in one last time, "The other Gym Leaders may not have a style as… unique as Master Wake's, but they are no less formidable. Be warned."
Platinum nodded, then turned her gaze to Azure. The calm, supportive bodyguard was gone, replaced by the veteran trainer who had conquered three leagues. His eyes were glowing with a competitive hunger.
Azure said calmly, his voice dropping into a lower, more serious tone, "Well. The warm-up is over."
Wake emerged from the back, having regained his composure, his mask adjusted. He looked at Azure, and the air between them seemed to crackle with static.
The boisterousness was gone, replaced by a mutual respect between two masters of their craft. Wake said, his voice deep and echoing, "Azure Sky… I've seen your matches on TV. I've read the reports from the Battle Frontier. They call you a legend in the making. But this is my home. This is my water. Are you ready for an Ace Gym Match that'll go down in Pastoria history?"
Azure stepped onto the challenger's platform, his six Poké Balls gleaming under the Gym lights. Pikachu took his position at Azure's side, his cheeks sparking violently. Azure said boldly, a confident smirk playing on his lips, "I didn't come here to just watch, Wake. I came to see if your tides can handle a real storm."
Wake roared, throwing his arms wide, "THEN LET THE FLOODGATES OPEN!"
The crowd of sailors and apprentices let out a deafening cheer. Diamond sat up straighter, his popcorn forgotten. Pearl leaned so far over the railing that he was nearly in the water. Platinum stepped back to the spectator area; her eyes fixed on Azure.
She had seen him fight many times, but there was something different about this—an Ace Match against a Leader who truly understood power. The battle between the 'Uncrowned Champion' Azure Sky vs 'The Torrential Masked Master!' Crasher Wake would soon commence…!
/////
A/N: Hope you liked the chapter!