Chapter 501: Lake and Shadow (2)
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Lake Valor (Dia's Side)]
With Azure's arrival, the dynamic of the battle shifted dramatically. Rotom zipped around the battlefield, a blur of electric energy, its cackle a constant source of annoyance for the Scientists and their Pokémon, "KEKEKE! YOU BOYS DONE FUCKED UP!!"
Azure eyes twitched as he mentally sighed to himself, 'Sigh… I really should've stopped Gengar influencing Rotom…'
Azure, ever the experienced trainer, flowed seamlessly, calling out commands with a natural rhythm, ignoring Rotom's comment, "Alright, Rotom, Strong Style Discharge! Go all out!"
Diamond followed up, barking, "Tru, go for an Earthquake!"
*ZAPPPP-KABOOOM*
Rotom glowed with blue energy, the air crackling around it as it gathered power. A powerful bolt of electricity slammed into all Pokémon involved. Drapoon, the sturdy Pokémon, recoils with a pained screech, and Kricketune buzzed painfully, "DRAAA!!! KRIIIII!!!"
*RMBL*
*CRACK*
At the same time, Tru stomped his foot, and the ground around Drapion and Kricketune began to tremble. The earth split and shook, forcing the two Pokémon to lose their footing and take the damage.
Diamond, initially a bit overwhelmed by Azure's rapid-fire instructions and Rotom's unconventional fighting style, quickly adapted. Azure ordered, "Rotom! Thunder Wave don't let them off!"
*ZAP*
He saw how Azure directed Rotom to use its natural speed for evasive maneuvers or quick, annoying attacks like Thunder Wave, paralyzing Drapion momentarily. Azure grinned as he followed up, "Strong Style Shadow Ball!"
Rotom then switches to Strong Style for a powerful attack like Shadow Ball as it cackled, "KEKEKEK! EAT SOME BALLS BUG!!"
*WHOOSH*
*BAM*
… the Shadow Ball slamming into Kricketune, causing it to stumble back. Seizing the opportunity, Dia commanded, "Lax, use Chip Away on Drapion!"
With his Munchlax, no longer threatened, rushing in to land a few solid blows while Drapion was stunned. Azure cheered as he followed up, "Good one, Dia! Rotom, Confuse Ray on Kricketune, then Agile Style Air Slash! Keep it disoriented!"
*WOBBLE-WOBBLE*
Rotom spun, emitting a disorienting beam that struck Kricketune. The bug Pokémon stumbled, looking dazed. Then, Rotom conjured blades of air, slashing at Kricketune from multiple angles...
*SWISH-SWISH-SWISH*
The Scientists grew increasingly frustrated as one roared, "Enough of this! Drapion, use Night Slash on Rotom!"
The other Scientist barked out, "Kricketune, Bug Buzz!"
Drapion, shrugging off the paralysis, lunged, its claws glowing with dark energy. But Rotom, anticipating the move, phased slightly, becoming intangible for a moment.
*WHOOSH*
The claws passed harmlessly through its form. Rotom cackled at Drapion's miss, taunting it, "MISS ME BIG BOY! BZZZZT!!"
Meanwhile, Kricketune, still disoriented, let out a discordant wave of deafening sound that washed over the area, "BUZZZZZZZZZZZZ!"
Diamond yelled, "Tru, Protect!"
Tru pulled his head and limbs into his shell, creating a protective barrier. Azure commanded, "Rotom, use Uproar to counter that Bug Buzz! Then hit them with Hydro Pump in your Wash Form!"
Rotom's form shifted slightly, its energy coalescing into a powerful sonic blast, "CAN I GET A YEAHHHHHH!!!"
*KRA-KOOM*
The two sound waves clashed, creating a jarring cacophony, but Rotom's Uproar was stronger, pushing Kricketune's Bug Buzz back, stunning it further. Then, Rotom took on a spin in a flash of light…
*FLASH*
Rotom changed into its Wash Form, jets of water erupting from its base. A powerful stream of water slammed into both Drapion and Kricketune, soaking them and pushing them back against a small hill.
*FWOOOOOOOSH*
Diamond cried, "Alright, finish them off, Tru! Leaf Storm!"
*SWISH-SWISH-SWISH*
*WHIRRRRR*
Tru, seeing his chance, unleashed a storm of razor-sharp leaves. The leaves tore through the air, striking the dazed Pokémon with full force.
"DRAP-IOOOON!"
"KRICK-KRUNE!"
*THUD*
Both Pokémon staggered, then collapsed, swirling eyes indicating they were knocked out. The battle was over.
The Scientists, their faces a mixture of disbelief and fury, were quickly subdued by the group. Azure, with a few deft movements, had them tied up with some rope he mysteriously produced from his utility belt.
He chirped, wiping his hands on his trousers, "See? Easy peasy."
*WHOOSH*
*FWOOOOM*
*FLASH*
As they finished securing the last knot, a blinding flash of light erupted from the very center of Lake Valor's island. It pulsed once, a brilliant azure glow, then faded, leaving behind only the shimmering heat haze.
Diamond and Platinum stared, bewildered. Diamond wondered aloud, shading his eyes, "What was that?"
Platinum's brows furrowed as she muttered, equally bewildered, "It felt… powerful. Like nothing I've ever seen."
Azure, however, felt a different kind of sensation. His lips curved into a faint, knowing smile as he thought, 'Ah, Azelf… awakening, is it? Just as the legends say. Or plot reveliance occurring. Either one would work.'
He subtly adjusted his jacket, concealing the faint glow of his Omni Ring in his pocket, a quiet response to Azelf's powerful presence. He knew Pearl must have encountered it. He just knew.
*SPLASH*
A moment later, they heard splashing. Looking towards the lakeshore, they saw a rather comical sight: Pearl and Dr. Footstep, bedraggled but alive, paddling furiously on a large, splintered log.
Diamond cheered, "Pearl! Dr. Footstep!"
They finally reached the shore, scrambling off the log. Pearl, soaked to the bone, gasped for air. He panted, spitting out a mouthful of lake water, "That… was… wild! We got dropped right in the middle, had to swim on this… this tree stump!"
He then caught sight of the tied-up Scientists. His eyes widened, asking, "Whoa! What happened here? And… should we have done that?"
Dr. Footstep, ever pragmatic foot fetish scientist, picked a piece of seaweed off his coat as he declared righteously, "They are villains, after all, young Pearl. They impede the natural order of things."
Azure nodded in agreement, a mischievous glint in his eye added, "Yep, bad guys get tied up. It's practically a rule."
Dr. Footstep then, to everyone's exasperation, knelt beside the defeated Drapion as he muttered, "Ah, yes, even in defeat, the footprints tell a story. See here, the almost imperceptible tremor in the claw prints… this Drapion isn't pleased by its trainer. It desires a return to the wilds, to its natural hunting grounds, rather than being overworked in such an ignoble fashion."
He sighed dramatically as he added, "A sad tale inscribed in the sand."
He then started to move towards Kricketune as he began to explain its story, "And now for the Kricketune's…."
Pearl quickly interjected, grabbing the doctor's arm before he could launch into another detailed analysis, "No, no, Dr. Footstep, we get the idea!"
Diamond, remembering the blinding flash, pointed towards the island. He asked Pearl curiously about the prior event, "Pearl, you were out there! What was that bright light we just saw? It was huge!"
Pearl blinked. He thought for a moment, genuinely trying to recall. He'd been in the heart of the lake, closer than anyone to the island. But his mind was… blank.
An odd fuzziness. He stated, genuinely confused, "A bright light? I… I don't remember. Strange..."
*Thud*
He rubbed his head, a strange weariness washing over him. But before anyone could press him further, his eyes fluttered, and he slumped forward, fast asleep, snoring softly into the sand.
Azure suppressed a chuckle as he thought knowingly, 'Azelf's influence, no doubt. The memories of direct encounters are often wiped. After all, it can control the wills of people simply by asking to forget what is in its area of control... Well almost all wills of people. I'm the exception.'
He shot a glance at the island, a silent acknowledgment to the legendary Pokémon he knew was now back in its slumber. Platinum, who had been listening quietly, felt a sudden wave of exhaustion herself.
She yawned, her eyes growing heavy. She suspected she might have fallen asleep while standing if not for Empoleon gently nudging her awake. Azure sighed as he muttered, "Sigh… I suppose we can take a break here till they're awake. Dia can you help me out in making dinner later?"
Diamond nodded with a carefree grin, "No problem! We gotta eat!"
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Sunset, Lake Valor]
When Platinum next woke up, she found herself not on the sandy shore but nestled comfortably in a sleeping bag. The sun was higher now, casting long shadows. She stretched, pushing herself up, and looked around with a slight frown.
She lamented, brushing a stray leaf from her arm, "A sleeping bag? Outdoors? Oh, Empoleon, if only we were in the grand hotel right now! The finest sheets, the most exquisite cuisine… this is hardly fitting for a Berlitz!"
Empoleon, however, didn't share her sentiment. The regal Pokémon honked softly and pointed with a fin towards the lake, towards the very island where the light had flashed. Platinum paused, a slight sigh escaping her.
She listened. The gentle lapping of the water, the rustling of leaves in the breeze, the distant cries of wild Pokémon. A Staravia chirped from a nearby tree, a Psyduck waddled by the shore, its soft quacks echoing peacefully.
A wave of tranquility washed over her. The crisp, clean air, the natural symphony of the wild… it was entirely different from the manicured gardens of her family estate or the sterile perfection of a luxurious hotel suite.
A small, genuine smile touched her lips. She murmured, closing her eyes for a moment, "You're right, Empoleon… I can only truly experience this when I'm outdoors. The sounds of nature… they're quite relaxing, aren't they?"
*BEEP-BEEP*
Just then, her Pokédex let out a cheerful beep. She opened her eyes to see Azure, Diamond, and Pearl approaching, all looking much more refreshed. Pearl was still a bit disheveled, but he was wide awake now.
Azure greeted with a cheerful wave, "Good morning, Princess! We let you sleep in. You looked pretty tired."
Diamond held out a steaming bowl as he explained, "Here, soup! Found some wild berries and Azure helped me cook them up."
Platinum said thankfully, gratefully accepting the bowl, "Oh, thank you, Diamond. It smelled delicious."
Pearl, now fully energized, decided to perform his usual antics as he said his jokes, "And to properly wake you up, prepare for a recap of the amazing and incredible events at Lake Valor!"
He launched into a dramatic retelling of the Staraptor incident, emphasizing the height, the danger, and the sheer audacity of Dr. Footstep, conveniently omitting any mention of a blinding light or memory loss.
He then went on to describe the battle with the Team Galactic scientists, giving a highly exaggerated account of his own (non-existent) bravery in action.
Dia, meanwhile, happily munched on some dried flakes he'd found. He mused, looking out at the serene lake, "It's good to know peace has returned to this place."
Pearl agreed, his chest puffed out, "Peace, yes! I propose we rename this magnificent body of water! From this day forward, it shall be known as… 'Lake Quiet'!"
Diamond, however, was already distracted by his flakes. He held up two different varieties. He said, popping one into his mouth, "Mmm, these are the 'Quiet' flakes, and these are the 'Noisy' ones!"
He offered one of each to Platinum, making her chuckle softly into her soup. Azure joined in, grabbing a few flakes from Diamond's hand. He winked, munching on them loudly, "Naw, I think they should be 'Chaotic' and 'Fun'!"
Platinum, sipping her delicious soup, looked around as she asked, "Speaking of our earlier adventures, where is Dr. Footstep?"
Pearl waved a hand dismissively as he said, "Oh, he went to report the scientists to the local police. Said he even gave them a special 'Footprint Ribbon' because he sensed their Pokémon were very attached to them, despite everything."
Pearl shrugged as he contemplated, as he said, annoyingly, "Said it was important for trainers to understand their Pokémon's feelings."
*CLAP*
Azure clapped his hands together as he declared loudly, "Alright! As fun as our little detour has been, we're officially off-course. Time to get moving!"
As the group gathered their things and began to leave Lake Valor, Pearl couldn't help but glance back at the island in the middle of the lake, a faint, lingering sense of wonder in his eyes. He still couldn't recall anything specific about the light, but the island held a strange, undeniable allure.
Azure noticed Pearl's gaze. He didn't comment, just offered a small, knowing smile. He knew Pearl had encountered Azelf, even if the memory was gone. The flash of light was proof enough.
Unaware of the trio of Dex Holders, Azelf, remaining perfectly invisible to the naked eye, silently observed them from its cavern. Its focus, however, was keenly fixed on both Pearl and Azure.
It sensed the extraordinary power within his Omni Ring, a faint yet undeniable echo of Arceus itself. And then, there was the device on Azure's waist – the Arc Phone, pulsating with ancient energy.
Azelf tilted its head, a silent curiosity as it thought, 'So it truly is The Original One's power… how did a mortal earn The Original One's favor?'
Just as it deepened its observation, Azure's head snapped towards the island. A cheeky grin spread across his face, his eyes sparkling with amusement. He hadn't seen Azelf, not truly, but he'd detected its aura, a faint ripple in the energy around him.
He thought, giving a nearly imperceptible nod towards the island before turning to follow the others, 'Found you, you little rascal.'
With Azure gone, Azelf gave a final, silent pulse of energy, then vanished deeper into its secluded cavern, returning to its quiet slumber, its secrets once again veiled as it thought boldly, 'What a mysterious being… It hasn't inherited any of my Willpower, nor Mesprit's Emotions, nor Uxie's Knowledge. And yet somehow embodies all of them at once in his very existence without The Original One's work on him. His clearly not of our world. What a curious creature it is…'
*Ripple*
Returning to its hiding place in another dimension Azelf smiled as it thought assured, 'And yet his Pokémon all share his aura. Emotion, Knowledge, and most potent of all… Willpower. Quite the curious creature he is.'
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Somewhere, Meanwhile with Dr. Footstep]
Meanwhile, Dr. Footstep, walking the tied-up scientists towards the nearest police station, suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes widened, fixing on a set of delicate, distinct tracks in the dirt.
He exclaimed, pulling out his magnifying glass with renewed vigor, "Wait! These footprints! A Weavile! Oh, the elegant patterns of its claws! I simply must categorize these! FOR MY HONOR AND RESEARCH!!"
He completely forgot about the bewildered and increasingly annoyed scientists, dragging them along as he painstakingly followed the Weavile's trail, muttering excitedly to himself about the wonders of footology.
The Scientists groaned in pain and annoyance, muttered, "Please… just take us to prison already… we don't want to spend any more time with this foot loving pervert…"
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!