Chapter 497: Sea Slug Pokémon
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Few Days Later, Route 214]
The crisp, invigorating air of Route 214 whipped around them, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant pine. 3 days had passed since Azure, Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum had left Veilstone, and the synergy among them was growing.
Azure walked with his familiar, unburdened gait, Pikachu perched comfortably on his shoulder, Eevee a soft weight atop his head, and the tiny, disguised Pichu (Mew) emitting faint, happy hums from his coat pocket.
*CRACK*
*ZAP*
*WHOOSH*
Ahead, the sounds of battle punctuated the otherwise serene landscape. Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum were taking full advantage of the open road, pitting their Pokémon against wild encounters and a few eager trainers who spotted them.
Each rumble of a Poké Ball, each cry of a Pokémon, spoke of dedication and growing strength. Most notably, the newest additions to their teams were thriving. Platinum's Gible, a feisty male, zipped through the undergrowth, its ROAR! echoing as it practiced Dragon Rage against a sturdy Geodude.
Diamond's Tar, a Larvitar with an insatiable appetite for challenge, used Rock Slide to send a flock of Starly scattering with a CRUMBLE! and a SCREECH. Pearl's Ryu, a graceful Dratini, weaved through trees, perfecting Dragon Breath with a shimmering FWOOSH that left leaves singed.
They were gaining invaluable experience, their bonds with their trainers solidifying with every shared victory.
Platinum called out, her voice clear and precise, "Alright, Gible, a bit more power in that Iron Head!"
Diamond advised calmly, his Munchlax, Lax, snoring softly nearby, having evidently decided against participating in this round of training, "Tar, watch your defense! Don't let them get too close!"
Pearl commanded, his Chatot, Chatler, mimicking a particularly loud BRAWK! from a Staraptor, "Ryu, focus! Aim for the weak spot!"
The sky, which had been a clear, brilliant blue, began to darken with surprising speed. A cool breeze picked up, carrying with it the unmistakable scent of rain.
Azure, ever observant, glanced up. He remarked, his voice calm, "Looks like we're in for a downpour."
*SPLAT*
A single, fat raindrop landed on Pikachu's nose, making the electric mouse twitch its whiskers. Then, the heavens opened.
*WHOOSH*
A sudden, torrential rain lashed down, soaking them instantly. The gentle patter quickly intensified into a drumming roar against the ground and their clothes.
Pearl yelped, pulling his hat lower, though it did little to ward off the sudden chill, "A-ACK! It's freezing!"
Diamond cried, already half-sprinting, his backpack bouncing, "Run for it!"
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Later, Valor Lakefront]
They dashed through the rapidly deepening puddles, the ground turning slick beneath their feet. The landscape blurred into streaks of green and grey. Ahead, through the watery curtain, a cluster of buildings appeared.
Pearl pointed, his arm slicing through the rain-filled air towards a large, somewhat ornate structure near the emerging shoreline, "There! A building! We can take shelter there!"
Diamond, gasping for breath, his hair plastered to his forehead, managed, "H-hotel…? W-we could stay for the night…"
Hope, and the promise of a warm bed, flickered in his eyes. Platinum, despite being drenched, maintained a remarkable composure.
She shook her head, a stray drop of water sparkling on her cheek as she stated in her tone that left no room for argument, "No, Diamond. While your idea is practical, I already have another place in mind. Hotel Grand Lake is just a bit further. We can all stay there to refresh ourselves properly."
She looked at Diamond, Azure, and Pearl, her gaze firm but not unkind. Azure simply nodded, a slight, understanding smile playing on his lips. Diamond sighed, his dreams of an immediate soft bed postponed, but he knew Platinum always had a plan.
Pearl, ever the pragmatist when it came to comfort, grudgingly complied. As they drew closer to Pearl's chosen building, the sign above the entrance became visible, stylized letters proclaiming: SEVEN STARS RESTAURANT.
Platinum observed, a faint amusement in her voice, "A restaurant, then. Lunch it is."
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Valor Lakefront – Seven Stars Restaurant]
*Squelch*
*Squish*
With a collective groan of wet shoes SQUELCHING and SQUISHING on the polished stone entrance, they scurried inside, leaving a trail of watery footprints across the immaculate floor. The restaurant was surprisingly bustling, a vibrant hum of chatter and clinking cutlery filling the air, oddly contrasting with the storm outside.
Unbeknownst to them, a man seated discreetly by the entrance, nursing a half-empty cup of tea, watched their entrance with keen interest. A fleeting smirk played on his lips as his eyes settled on the distinct, avian print left by Pearl's Chatler.
*SHHHHK*
With an almost imperceptible movement, he snatched up a piece of paper that had been strategically placed where the group had walked, carefully securing the unique Chatot footprint.
Chatler, who had been perched on Pearl's shoulder, suddenly twisted its head, letting out a sharp, questioning, "CHIRP! (Huh?)"
It sensed something. Pearl, however, was too preoccupied shaking water from his soaked clothes as he mumbled, "What is it, Chatler? Imagining things?"
Unaware that in truth, the mysterious guy had already disappeared into the shadows of the restaurant, already aiming to get some more, perhaps more valuable, footprints. Azure took notice but saw his Aura wasn't threatening as he left the man be.
Pearl announced, stepping boldly into the main dining area, his voice echoing slightly over the din, "Table for four, please!"
The cheerful atmosphere, however, shifted almost instantly. Many people and their Pokémon, seated at tables or standing around the various battle stages scattered across the spacious room, turned to glare at him.
*Rmbl*
A low GRRRR rippled through the air as a few Pokémon started to growl. Before Pearl could even process the collective hostility, two trainers swiftly reacted.
A burly Gentleman at a nearby table commanded, "Go, Machop! Low Kick!"
A lady across the room added, her voice sharp, "Bibarel, Water Gun!"
*THWACK*
*SPLASH*
A bipedal Machop lunged, aiming a foot at Pearl's shins as he dodged in time. Simultaneously, a Bibarel unleashed a torrent of water that narrowly missed his face, splattering against the wall behind him.
Pearl yelled, jumping back, his hands up in a placating gesture, "WHOA! HEY! What was that for?! I just came to get some lunch!"
The Machop froze mid-attack, and the Bibarel paused, water still dripping from its mouth. The Gentleman, a refined-looking man with a neatly trimmed mustache, lowered his hand. The Lady, adjusting her glasses, looked slightly embarrassed.
The gentleman said shamelessly, a sheepish grin replacing his fierce battle hardened expression, "Oh, our apologies, young man. It seems this is your first time visiting the Seven Stars Restaurant."
The Lady chimed in, recalling her Bibarel as she said in an apologetic tone, "Indeed. This establishment is quite renowned as a battle site. We merely wanted to invite you to a battle session. It's customary here."
Just then, a waiter, a jovial man with a crisp white apron, approached them with a tray in hand and spoke up, "Welcome to the Seven Stars Restaurant! As my colleagues explained, many people here come to battle and enjoy exquisite meals. We call it 'work time' – battling to earn money for your meal, or simply for the thrill of it!"
He gestured around the bustling room, where various Pokémon battles were indeed in full swing: a Kadabra and a Medicham were locked in a psychic struggle with WHOOSH and CLINK, while an Electabuzz and a Magmar exchanged fiery ZAPS and BOOMS.
The gentleman added, a proud smile on his face, "It's all about sportsmanship, you see."
In the background, a young girl cheered, YIPPEE!, as her Togepi delivered the finishing blow to an opponent's Bidoof. She mused aloud, clutching a handful of Poké-dollars, "Now, what should I spend my prize money on today?"
Pearl's eyes lit up. He glanced at Platinum, who was already inspecting a menu with dignified interest, seemingly unfazed by the earlier skirmish. While Platinum had been graciously footing the bill for their entire journey so far, an idea sparked in Pearl's mind as he thought, 'It wouldn't hurt for him and Diamond to have some spending money of their own…'
Pearl grinned, a competitive glint in his eye as he declared, "You know what? You're on! How about a Tag Battle then? My partner and I are against the two of you!"
He turned and yelled towards the entrance where Diamond and Azure lingered as he yelled, "DIAMOND! Get in here! We're battling for lunch!"
Diamond, who had been peering nervously from behind the doorframe, still dripping wet, startled at Pearl's sudden shout but quickly registered the call to action. With a determined nod, he ran inside, splashing through the last of the puddles.
Diamond declared, pulling out a Poké Ball, "Alright, Pearl! Let's do this!"
Pearl mirrored his enthusiasm. Diamond cried confidently, sending out his Pokémon, "Sol, let's shine!"
*Pop*
Materalizing in a flash of light was Dia's fiery Flareon as it roared, "FLA-REON! (I'm ready for food!)."
Pearl commanded, releasing his powerful Pokémon, "Herc, show them your speed and power, buddy!"
*Pop*
Heracross materialized as it slammed its chest with a battle cry, "HERA-CROSS! (Who do I break someone's face first?)."
The Gentleman chuckled, pleased as he stated excitedly, "Excellent! A Tag Battle, then. This will be quite the show!"
The Lady agreed, a competitive twinkle in her eye, "Indeed."
The Gentleman grabbed a different Poké Ball declared, "Hippopotas, to the field!"
*Pop*
*THUD*
A sturdy Hippopotas appeared with a THUD as it cried out, "Hippooo!"
The Lady grabbed hers as she hurled her Poke Ball forward, declaring happily, "Bibarel, let's go!"
*Pop*
Her Bibarel reappeared, ready for action as it cried out, "Bi! BAREL!"
The other patrons, drawn by the new challenge, paused their own meals and battles, turning to watch. The air crackled with anticipation.
The Gentleman ordered, "Alright, Hippopotas, Sand Tomb!"
*WHOOOSH*
The ground around Hippopotas began to churn, sand swirling violently upwards, attempting to trap Sol and Herc in a vortex. The Lady also followed up as she commanded, "Bibarel, Water Gun!"
*SPLASH*
The beaver-like Pokémon fired a focused stream of water. The attack cut through the swirling sand, striking Herc directly in the side as it protected Sol.
Pearl called out, seeing his Heracross recoil slightly, "Herc! You okay?!"
But Herc shook its head, already anticipating Pearl's next move. Pearl smirked as he commanded, "Good! Then use Brick Break! Go for Bibarel!"
*SWOOOSH*
Herc, despite the hit, was surprisingly agile. It jumped, a blur of motion, soaring over the swirling Sand Tomb that threatened to ensnare Sol…
*CRACK*
With a mighty CRACK! of its horn, Herc brought down a devastating Brick Break on Bibarel, sending the water Pokémon skidding back with a pained cry as it fainted on the spot. Dia yelled, seeing the opening Pearl had created, "Now, Sol! Trailblaze! Follow up on Hippopotas!"
Sol, a vibrant burst of orange fire, ignited with green energy, "FLARE!"
*SIZZLE*
Grass burst from its paws as it dashed forward, leaving a temporary trail of tall grass. It slammed into the Hippopotas, which was still recovering from Herc's attack.
*THUD*
The sheer speed and fiery power of Trailblaze sent the Ground-type Pokémon tumbling backwards with a resounding THUD! The Hippopotas struggled to get up, clearly unable to continue.
The Gentleman announced, recalling his Pokémon with a respectful nod, "Hippopotas is unable to battle!"
The Lady exclaimed, recalling her Bibarel, "Amazing speed! Herc and Sol win!"
*CLAP*
*CLAP*
A round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the surrounding diners. The Gentleman and Lady, along with the young girl who had won earlier, clapped loudly, with genuine appreciation on their faces.
The waiter, ever present, rushed over as he exclaimed, "Congratulations, young trainers! A fantastic display of teamwork and power!"
Pearl puffed out his chest, beaming as he gloated briefly, "Thanks! You know, besides battling, we have another specialty!"
He grabbed Diamond's shoulder, pulling him forward as he continued, "We're also master comedians! And we'd like to perform for our lunch right now!"
Diamond blinked, surprised, but a familiar rhythm kicked in. Pearl and Diamond had a long history of their 'comedy double act.'
Pearl stepped forward, addressing the small crowd that had gathered spoke, "Folks, let me tell ya, embarking on a Pokémon journey is full of surprises! You think you're just gonna walk through forests, battle gym leaders, maybe catch a legendary or two, right?"
He paused for dramatic effect as he delivered the joke, "But then you walk into a restaurant, soaked to the bone, just hoping for a warm meal, and BAM! Turns out it's a battle arena! My mind was blown, I tell ya!"
Diamond, ever the master of the deadpan follow-up, stepped in, "Yeah. And after all that action, I'm already full. This arena is a lot to stomach."
A ripple of laughter spread through the restaurant. Platinum, seated gracefully at a clean table the waiter had swiftly set up for them, watched the boys with an amused smile, elegantly cutting into a sandwich.
She giggled, enjoying the lighthearted show. As the boys performed and Platinum settled into her meal, a thought crossed her mind as she looked around, noticing a missing member of the group, 'Where was Azure?'
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Meanwhile, Hotel Grand Lake (East Seaside)]
Azure, in fact, had slipped away unnoticed, drawn by the sound of the ocean, which was now partially visible from the restaurant's back entrance. The storm had begun to recede, leaving behind a misty, glistening landscape.
*SPLASH*
*CRASH*
He stood near the coast, the rhythmic SPLASH and CRASH of waves a soothing balm. But what caught his attention was on the coast side of the Hotel Grand Lake. Before him, a small herd of colorful Shellos grazed peacefully on the seabed exposed by the low tide, their vibrant bodies contrasting beautifully with the grey sands.
His Arc Phone, held securely in his hand, hummed softly as Rotom, its digital eyes glowing, acted as a translator. Rotom buzzed, its voice an energetic current, "Rotom is confirming that these are East Sea Shellos, Master. They seem quite content."
Azure rather talked normally, but with people present, he preferred to hide his natural ability to talk to Pokémon. It would be a drag for him if he got spotted soon, just after encountering Team Galactic in Veilstone City, as he doesn't want them to know he was very much alive.
Azure focused on the Shellos, a friendly, inviting smile on his face. He said, his voice calm and clear over the receding waves, "Hello there. I apologize for disturbing your meal. I'm Azure, and I'm currently on an important journey through Sinnoh. I'm looking for a powerful Water-type Pokémon to join my team."
The Shellos paused their grazing, their curious eyes turning towards him. Azure continued, his tone earnest, "My journey involves significant challenges, and honestly, some danger. I need a partner who is strong, resilient, and ready for anything. I was wondering if any of you might be interested in such a position."
He wasn't merely looking for a strong Pokémon; he wanted a willing partner. The Shellos looked at each other, their gelatinous bodies rippling with what Rotom translated as a mix of curiosity and slight apprehension.
A few shook their heads gently. Then, from the middle of the herd, a Shellos unlike the others began to approach. Its skin shimmered with an unusual, almost ethereal, blue hue, and its usual yellow frills were a deep, striking gold.
Azure's eyes widened as he thought, 'A shiny!'
This shiny Shellos, an East Sea variant, moved with an eager, determined expression. It let out a series of chirps and gurgles, "SHHHHLO!"
From the gurgles which Rotom swiftly translated. Rotom buzzed, its voice excited, "It says… It says it wants to know if you can help it evolve! It wants to become stronger, to reach its full potential!"
Azure's smile widened to a genuine, warm grin. He said happily, his gaze meeting the Shellos's eager eyes, "I promise you, I will do everything in my power to help you evolve and become as strong as you wish. You'll be a vital part of my team, and we'll face every challenge together."
The shiny Shellos pulsed with excitement, "SHHHHHLO!"
It seemed to understand his promise, a spark of trust forming between trainer and Pokémon. Azure gently extended a Poké Ball. The Shellos, without hesitation, nudged its head against the sphere, and with a soft flash, it was easily captured.
*BON*
No resistance was needed as the Poke Ball clicked, signaling the capture. Azure felt the familiar, pleasant hum of a new connection.
He checked the Poké Ball with a smile. He then checked his Shellos status screen and Pokedex info provided…
[Shellos the Sea Slug Pokémon. Shellos lives along seashores; its color becomes more vibrant the better the quality of the waters it lives in. It is also believed that Shellos's diet, which consists of plankton, also influences its form, though this has yet to be proven. The physical differences between the two forms appear largely cosmetic; no significant changes in capabilities have been observed.
While it can travel onto land, it can only stay on the shore for a limited time before its skin dries out. When Shellos' squishy body is pressed or squeezed, or when Shellos senses imminent danger, a mysterious purple fluid — theorized to be a kind of stress-induced greasy sweat — will ooze out of its body. This fluid is its defense mechanism against enemies; although harmless, it is very sticky and hard to wash off.
Shellos has a friendly disposition and is said to have great regenerative capabilities. West Sea Shellos can extend their necks to incredible lengths. It is unknown if the East Sea form can do this as well.
This species once had a shell on its back long ago and is considered a close relative to Pokémon such as Shellder. Mount Coronet's formation led to an allopatric speciation event, in which the original population of Shellos was separated into two. As a result, Shellos's color and other physical aspects began to vary due to environmental differences and population isolation over time.
The two forms are still able to interbreed; the child normally takes the mother's form, but takes the father's if bred with a Ditto. Recently, East Sea Shellos' population has been declining, while West Sea Shellos has become more abundant than before.]
|Name: Shellos (S) (East Sea Variant) (Sea Slug Pokémon)
|Type: Water
|Tera: Water
|Level: 22
|Gender: Female
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Sand Force (Hidden Ability)
|Nature: Relaxed
|Moves: Mud Sport, Rain Dance, Recover, Harden, Water Pulse, Water Gun, Hidden Power, Mud-Slap, Mud Bomb, Ancient Power, Tackle, Mirror Coat (IM), Counter (EM) (4 Moves left to learn)
Azure blinked as he saw the status screen, and he muttered, "It has Sand Force as its ability? Hmm… I can make this work. Plus, Mirror Coat and Counter? This Pokémon was made to be the regenerative tank."
Content with his newest acquisition, Azure swiftly made his way back inside the Seven Stars Restaurant. He hummed to himself happily, muttering, "I now have a Water Type for the team. Water/Ground is always good to have…"
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Hotel Grand Lake – Seven Stars Restaurant]
He arrived just as Diamond was delivering another punchline, his mouth full of a sandwich Platinum had handed him, "...and then I said, 'I guess you could say my day has gone from rainy to rein-vention!'"
Diamond quipped, earning another round of chuckles, including a delighted laughter from Pearl. Platinum, who had just taken a dainty sip of tea, looked up as Azure quietly re-entered. She said curiously, her voice a melodic whisper, "Azure, there you are. Where did you wander off to?"
In response, Azure simply opened his Poké Ball…
*Pop*
With another flash, the Shellos appeared on the table, immediately spotting Platinum's half-eaten sandwich. With a happy gurgle, the new Pokémon started happily munching on a fallen crumb near the sandwich, oblivious to the ongoing comedy show in the restaurant.
Platinum's eyes widened, then crinkled with delight. She exclaimed, her gaze falling on the distinctive shiny Shellos, "Oh, Azure! You found a new friend!"
She let out a soft, elegant giggle, her eyes sparkling as she watched not just the new addition to their group, but also the spirited antics of Diamond and Pearl, whose comedy act continued, filling the Seven Stars Restaurant with warmth and laughter, dispelling the last vestiges of the storm outside.
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!