Chapter 451: First Galactic Encounter!
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Later, Jubilife City]
They walked in silence for a moment, the sounds of the city fading into the background as they delved into more complex emotions. Then, Azure's voice dropped, gentler now. "And… how do you feel about Pryce returning? After everything. The Masked Man. Kidnapping you and Silver. Robbing you both of your childhoods."
Green stiffened instantly. Her vibrant eyes dimmed, and her shoulders hunched almost imperceptibly.
The warmth that had radiated from her moments before seemed to retract, replaced by a cold, internal shiver. She took a ragged breath, her grip on Azure's arm tightening, not out of affection, but out of a need for something solid to hold onto.
She began, her voice a fragile whisper, sharing her worries, "It's… It's complicated. I'm… still processing it. Seeing him again, knowing he was the one who… it brings back so many memories. The fear. The cold. The feeling of being completely helpless."
Her voice trembled, and she quickly looked away, blinking rapidly, continuing, "Sometimes, I can't help but shiver when I think about it. Those memories… they just don't ever really fade, do they?"
Azure stopped walking, gently disentangling his arm to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. His touch was firm, grounding. He said softly, his gaze filled with empathy, "No. They don't. And you don't have to pretend they do. It's okay to feel that, Green. It's okay for those old wounds to ache. You've been through so much. But you're safe now. You're strong. And you're not alone."
He leaned in slightly, his presence a comforting shield against the world as he continued, "If you want to talk about it, really talk about it, I'm here. Anytime. You don't have to carry it all by yourself."
Her shoulders relaxed fractionally under his hand, and she finally turned to look at him, her eyes glistening. A small, relieved sigh escaped her lips. She whispered, her voice still a little shaky, "Thank you, Azure. Just… thanks."
She leaned her head against his shoulder for a moment, drawing strength from his steady presence. Just as the last vestiges of her emotional tension began to dissipate, a sudden commotion erupted from a nearby square.
A loud, agitated voice, followed by several gruffer, more demanding tones, cut through the city noise, "Professor Rowan! We merely wish to 'borrow' your research! There's no need for this… unpleasantness!"
Azure's head snapped up. His eyes, now sharp and focused, instantly spotted the source of the trouble.
In a small plaza, near a decorative fountain, Professor Rowan, his usually composed demeanor replaced by one of indignant fury, was being cornered by two individuals in distinctive, futuristic uniforms – Team Galactic Grunts.
Beside him, Mr. Berlitz, Platinum's father, looked equally distressed, trying to shield the Professor. Rowan roared, brandishing a cane like a weapon, "My research is not yours! It is the culmination of decades of study! You will not lay a hand on it!"
One of the grunts sneered, a sickly 'G' emblem on his uniform shining ominously, "Well, if you won't give it willingly, then we'll simply take it by force!"
Green muttered, her hand instinctively going to her belt, her earlier emotional vulnerability vanishing, replaced by steely resolve, "Speak of the devil…"
Azure's expression hardened as he muttered coldly, "Looks like my 'trouble magnet' reputation precedes me, even away from you, huh?"
He squeezed Green's shoulder once more, a silent acknowledgment of her support, before his gaze locked onto the grunts. He wasn't about to let them harm Platinum's father or Professor Rowan.
Azure stated, his voice carrying surprising authority, cutting through the grunts' threats, "Looks like we're interrupting."
He and Green moved swiftly, positioning themselves between the grunts and the two distressed scholars. The grunts spun around, surprised. Scoffed the first grunt, eyeing Azure's casual attire with disdain, "Who are you two? Interfering in Team Galactic's business will have dire consequences!"
Green replied sweetly, a dangerous glint in her eye, "We're just two concerned citizens. And we don't take kindly to thugs harassing respectable professors."
The second grunt snarled, already reaching for a Poké Ball, "Hmph! Get lost, bitch! This is a grown-up matter!"
Azure said calmly, his hand already on his own belt as his eyes hardened, "I think not. Professor Rowan, Mr. Berlitz, please step back. We'll handle this."
Rowan, despite his distress, recognized the determined glint in Azure's eyes. He exclaimed, briefly startled, "You and… her? Be careful!"
As if on cue, the two Team Galactic Grunts simultaneously threw their Poké Balls, "Go, Crobat! Porygon-Z, time to destabilize!"
*Pop*
Two flashes of light erupted. A sleek, bat-like Crobat materialized in the air, its four wings beating with astonishing speed, its fangs bared. Beside it, a bizarre, angular Porygon-Z, a digital duck-like Pokémon, pulsed with vibrant, shifting colors, its singular eye glowing ominously.
The air around it seemed to crackle with unstable energy.
Green smirked, her eyes alight with the thrill of battle. With a confident flick of her wrist, she sent her own Poké Ball soaring, declaring, "Looks like they mean business, Azure. But so do we. Blasty, let's show them how we do things back in Kanto!"
*Pop*
*THUD*
A powerful roar echoed through the plaza as Green's Blastoise, a magnificent blue tortoise with twin cannons protruding from its shell, materialized with a weighty thud, "BLAS-TOISE! (Here comes the big guns!)"
Its sheer mass shook the ground, and its eyes burned with fierce determination. Azure responded, his earlier casualness completely gone, replaced by a focused intensity, "Alright…"
He knew these grunts wouldn't be simple pushovers if they were targeting Professor Rowan. And a Porygon-Z, especially, could be deceptively dangerous as Azure followed up, "… Ursaluna, it's your time to shine!"
*Pop*
He tossed his Poké Ball high. A burst of deep crimson light expanded before condensing into a colossal, bipedal bear-like Pokémon.
Ursaluna, its fur matted with dark, earthy tones, let out a deep, guttural growl that reverberated through the plaza. Its massive claws, tipped with hardened earth, scraped against the pavement as it landed, causing cracks to spiderweb beneath its immense weight. A thick, earthy aura radiated from its body, a silent testament to its raw, primal power.
This wasn't one of his main battle team members; this was from his bodyguard lineup, brought out for a reason. Pikachu, sensing the shift into battle, leaped from Azure's shoulder, cheeks sparking.
Eevee, however, gracefully hopped back onto his head, positioning herself to watch the unfolding spectacle from a safer vantage point. The Pichu (Mew) in his jacket, however, merely snored softly, oblivious.
The grunts looked stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting such formidable opposition from the Crobat. The grunt stammered, "A Blastoise from Kanto and… an Ursaluna?! Who are these guys?!"
The Porygon-Z grunt yelled, barking orders, "It doesn't matter! Porygon-Z, Tri Attack on the Ursaluna!"
Nodding the Crobat, Grunt commanded, "Crobat, use Air Slash on the Blastoise!
*Fwp*
*Whooosh*
Crobat, a blur of purple, shot towards Blastoise, its wings slicing through the air, sending sharp blades of wind!
*CRACKLE*
*ZAP*
Porygon-Z's body glowed with erratic energy, and it fired three distinct beams of light – one red, one yellow, one blue – towards Ursaluna.
Green's eyes hardened as she commanded, her voice firm, "Blasty, Hydro Pump against that Crobat's attack!"
Azure followed up, commanding, "Ursaluna, meet that with High Horsepower!"
The massive bear roared, slamming its huge paws onto the ground roared, "URSALUNA!"
*RMBL*
The earth beneath it trembled, and a powerful surge of ground energy erupted upwards, forming a protective barrier that absorbed Porygon-Z's Tri Attack. The beams dissipated with a faint sizzle, leaving only residual dust shimmering in the air.
*WHUMP*
*CRUMBLE*
Blastoise, too, was swift to react. Its cannons retracted slightly, then blasted forth torrents of pressurized water…
*FWOOOOSH*
The powerful jets collided with Crobat's Air Slash, creating a miniature cyclone of wind and water that dissolved both attacks. Crobat was forced to veer sharply to avoid the watery backlash.
Azure murmured, a small smile touching his lips, "Impressive!"
Ursaluna was living up to its task. Its bulk and power were undeniable.
The Crobat grunt exclaimed, surprised by the swift counter, "They're stronger than they look!"
The Porygon-Z grunt shouted, "Don't let up! Porygon-Z, use Tri-Attack on Ursaluna!"
The Crobat grunt shouted, "Crobat, target Blastoise with Cross Poison!"
Porygon-Z's geometric body pulsed violently, normal type arcing around it before it unleashed an energy beam towards Ursaluna.
*ZZZTTT*
Simultaneously, Crobat swooped low, its fangs glowing with purple venom, aiming for Blastoise's head. Azure commanded, "Ursaluna, Earth Power! Create a shield!"
Green countered, "Blasty, use Ice Beam on Crobat!"
*RMBL*
Ursaluna stomped its foot once more, and a fissure opened in the ground before it, sending a powerful wave of earth upwards that intercepted Porygon-Z's Tri-Attack. The energy beam grounded itself harmlessly into the earth, sending tremors through the plaza.
*BOOOOM*
Blastoise, meanwhile, focused its cannons, not with water, but with a frigid blast of pure ice. A brilliant blue beam shot out, meeting Crobat mid-flight.
*FSHHHH*
The Crobat shrieked as the Ice Beam grazed its wing, coating it in a thin layer of frost, slowing its flight and making it stumble in the air. The Crobat grunt exclaimed, trying to get his Pokémon to recover, "Whoa, their Pokémon are no joke!"
The Porygon-Z grunt muttered, his face paling, "This is not going as planned. Porygon-Z, try to confuse them with Conversion 2!"
Porygon-Z's entire digital structure began to rapidly shift colors, its data altering itself in an attempt to change its type and confuse its opponents.
*WHIRRR*
*CLICK*
Azure scoffed at their attempts as he yelled, "Don't let it get away with that! Ursaluna, Strong Style Headlong Rush! Take it down!"
The massive bear roared, its eyes gleaming with fierce determination, "URSALUNA! (On it! Two dumbasses coming up!)"
*THUMP*
*THUMP*
*THUMP*
With surprising speed for its size, it lowered its head, thick muscles coiling, and charged directly at the Porygon-Z. The ground shook with each thundering step.
The grunt yelled, hoping to protect its partner, "Crobat, intercept with Brave Bird!"
*Zoooom*
Crobat, still slightly hampered by the ice, nonetheless gathered its courage, enveloping itself in a blue aura before diving towards Ursaluna. But Green ordered, unwilling to let Crobat interfere, "Blasty, intercept Crobat with Skull Bash!"
Blastoise, its head receding into its shell for a moment. And then launched itself forward like a cannonball, a surprisingly agile maneuver for its bulk.
*CRUNCH*
The plaza descended into a cacophony of roars and impacts. Blastoise's hard shell collided with Crobat, interrupting its Brave Bird attack and sending it spinning away, dazed.
*THWACK*
Meanwhile, Ursaluna reached Porygon-Z. The digital Pokémon, halfway through its Conversion 2, didn't have time to react. The sheer force of Ursaluna's Headlong Rush was immense. The colossal bear slammed into Porygon-Z with the power of a runaway train.
*CRAAAASH*
Porygon-Z, its digital form distorting wildly, was sent flying, crashing hard against the fountain's edge. Its body flickered erratically, then went dark, signifying its knockout. The grunt cried out in alarm, "Porygon-Z, no!"
The other grunt hastily recalled his injured Pokémon, eyeing the charging Ursaluna with fear as he yelled, "Crobat, return! This isn't over!"
The grunt screamed, fumbling for another Poké Ball, "What the hell?! How is that bear and turtle so strong?!"
Azure said calmly, stepping forward as his Pikachu hopped down, cheeks sparking, "That's because it's history. And you're about to be a footnote."
With their Pokémon defeated and intimidation clearly failing, the two grunts scrambled, turning tail and fleeing down a narrow alleyway, their footsteps echoing desperately. But Green was already in the way as she stated, "You two aren't going anywhere. We can do this the hard way… or the harder way. Your choice."
The two Grunts chose the Harder Way as they began to battle. Unfortunately for them, they were battling two Trainers at Champion level; the results spoke for themselves of how screwed they were.
The battle was over in less than sixty seconds. The two grunts lay groaning on the pavement, their Pokémon fainted and recalled.
Professor Rowan adjusted his coat, staring at Ursaluna with wide, scholarly eyes. Azure sighed as he asked, turning his attention to the two men, who were now cautiously emerging from behind a large potted plant, "Welp, that's taken care of… Are you alright, Professor? Mr. Berlitz?"
Professor Rowan puffed, adjusting his spectacles, though his voice was still a little shaky, "We are, thanks to you two! That was quite the display, Azure, and you, too, miss. Your Pokémon are incredibly powerful."
Mr. Berlitz nodded, visibly relieved as he said, "Indeed. We are most grateful for your intervention. These hooligans wouldn't let up."
He then eyed Ursaluna with a mixture of awe and trepidation as he whispered, "My word, that Ursaluna… such raw power."
Ursaluna let out a contented grumble, pawing at the ground, its work done. Blastoise returned to Green's side, its cannons still slightly smoking.
Azure chuckled, recalling the massive bear as he introduced Green to them, "Thanks for the compliment. And this is Green, an agent of the International Police."
Soon, Looker appeared from the shadows of a nearby alley, handcuffs already in hand as he said calmly, "Excellent work, you two. I'll take these Galactic agents in for questioning. Though I suspect they won't know much more about their leader."
Green wiped a smudge of dust from her cheek as she informed her senior of her concerns, "They're getting bolder. Attacking the Professor in broad daylight? They're looking for something specific."
Mr. Berlitz expresses his concern with Team Galactic being bold, muttered, "If this Team Galactic is this bold, perhaps I should have my daughter cancel her journey… It's too dangerous for her…"
Azure's expression darkened. He knew the lore. He knew what Cyrus wanted. If the Berlitz family tradition involved gathering materials from the peak, they were unknowingly walking into the heart of the storm.
Azure promised, his voice cold and certain, "I'll keep her safe. I didn't win three leagues to let a bunch of bowl-cuts ruin a girl's field trip."
Mr. Berlitz looked unconvinced but ultimately nodded his head, trusting Azure. His skills clearly showed how he can handle Team Galactic Grunts.
Green smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. Just as Azure was about to turn and leave, Green called out, "Hey, Azure?"
Azure paused as he replied, "Yeah?"
She grinned cheekily as she said jokingly, "Don't try to fight a god by yourself again. It's bad for my heart."
Azure laughed, a genuine, warm sound as he gave a thumbs up, leaving, "I'll try. But you know me, Green. I've always had a flair for the dramatic."
With that, Azure took his leave, returning to the Sinnoh Dex Holders. Looker and Green took the two Team Galactic Grunts and the professors for questioning, but she couldn't help but think, 'Just keep yourself safe, dummy…'
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Nighttime, Jubilife City – Jubilife Grand Hotel]
Late that night, Azure stood on the balcony of the Jubilife Grand Hotel. Below him, the city was a sea of lights.
On the bed behind him, his Monferno, Riolu, and Ralts were curled up, resting for the journey ahead. Pikachu sat on the railing next to him, looking out at the silhouette of Mt. Coronet in the distance.
The weight in his jacket shifted. The Pichu (Mew) poked its head out, its large, intelligent blue eyes reflecting the stars.
Mew gave a soft chirrup, sensing the tension in its guardian. Azure whispered, stroking the Pokémon's head, "I know, buddy. The Spear Pillar. The origin of everything. We're heading right into the thick of it."
He thought about Platinum, her innocent determination to follow her family's footsteps. He thought about Diamond and Pearl, who just wanted to make people laugh. And he thought about Green, carrying the scars of a past that refused to stay buried.
He pulled out his Arc Phone, looking at a photo Green had sent him just an hour ago. It was a selfie of her and Looker (who looked miserable) eating late-night ramen.
Azure muttered to himself, a small smirk playing on his lips, "Ten million Poke Dollars… I should have asked for 50 million."
He looked back at his Bodyguard Poké Balls. The shadows were moving in Sinnoh, but he wasn't the same boy who had fallen from the sky years ago.
He was a Champion. He was a survivor. And he was a friend.
As the moon reached its zenith, Azure closed his eyes, centering his breathing. Tomorrow, they would head to Floaroma City.
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Meanwhile, Veilstone City, Team Galactic HQ]
Meanwhile, in the sterile, imposing depths of Team Galactic's Veilstone City Headquarters, Commander Saturn stood before a large monitor. On the screen, still images from the Jubilife City skirmish flickered, focusing primarily on the young man who had so effortlessly dispatched their Grunts.
A cold, calculating voice cut through the silence of the room, "… So, this is the one. The Sky boy."
Cyrus, Team Galactic's enigmatic leader, stepped into view, his piercing eyes fixed on the image of Azure. His posture was rigid, his expression devoid of emotion.
His voice was a flat monotone, yet it carried an undeniable weight of authority, "Indeed, Commander Mars. Azure Sky. The trainer who, with the assistance of the International Police, apprehended Sird in Hoenn. He is, as my initial reports indicated, a formidable obstacle."
Saturn's eyes narrowed. A vein throbbed in her temple as he muttered, "He captured Sird? The admin who was supposed to retrieve Jirachi's power? Unacceptable. He cost us a valuable asset and a crucial step in our plans."
Cyrus merely steepled his fingers, his gaze unblinking as he uttered, devoid of emotions, "He is more than just a trainer, Saturn. His name has surfaced in connection with… other incidents. Anomalies that defy conventional explanation. Our intelligence suggests he possesses an uncanny ability to disrupt established power structures, to appear at critical junctures and tilt the balance."
He paused, a flicker of something resembling curiosity—or perhaps recognition of kindred but opposing force—in his icy eyes as he continued, "He is a wild card. A variable that must be accounted for."
Saturn asked, his voice tight with anticipation, "What are your orders, then, Master Cyrus? Shall we eliminate him? Remove this 'variable'?"
Cyrus slowly shook his head as he explained bluntly, "Not yet. Not directly. To engage him now would be to prematurely reveal the full extent of our capabilities and draw unwanted attention. He is currently occupied with a trivial task. Let him believe he is merely a nuisance, a temporary annoyance. Monitor his movements. Observe his Pokémon. Learn his weaknesses."
His lips, usually so straight, curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smirk as he added, "He may have captured Sird, but he does not yet understand the true scope of Team Galactic's ambition. When the time is right, he will understand the futility of his resistance when the new world is born."
The image of Azure Sky, a seemingly ordinary Trainer with extraordinary partners and even more extraordinary secrets, remained frozen on the screen, an unwitting target in the cold, calculating gaze of Team Galactic's ambition. The game had just begun.
/////
A/N: Hope you liked the chapter!