Chapter 635: Pinwheel Forest
~Third POV~
[Unova Region, Later, Pinwheel Forest]
The canopy of Pinwheel Forest was a cathedral of ancient, towering oak and beech trees, their leaves forming an emerald vault that filtered the Unova sunlight into shifting dabs of gold and shadow. The air smelled of damp earth, rich loam, and the sharp, clean scent of pine sap.
Azure adjusted the strap of his backpack, a small rustle coming from his collar as Eevee shifted his weight to get more comfortable on top of Azure's head. On his right shoulder, Pikachu gave a soft, sleepy pika, while deep inside the pocket of Azure's jacket, Pichu (Mew) nudged a warm, comforting mew against his ribs.
White called back, her hands on her hips as she huffed slightly, trying to dodge a rogue root snaking across the dirt path. She said happily aloud, "Come on, Azure! Pick up the pace! Nimbasa City isn't going to wait for us, and the BW Agency has a talent scouting schedule to maintain! If we're late, the whole commercial lineup is going to fall apart like a house of cards built by a toddler!"
Azure replied, his voice a steady, calming baritone, "Relax, White..."
He glanced around, taking in the serene wilderness. He said reassuringly, "We literally just finished helping recover the Dragon Fossil from some cowards. A little sightseeing never killed anyone. Besides, I'm looking for a specific type of Bug-type. Or maybe something else interesting."
Black muttered, his eyes wide and fixed on the northern horizon, completely ignoring the lush greenery around him, "Interesting? Forget bugs! Think about it—the Skyarrow Bridge! It's the longest bridge in the entire Unova region! Steel cables, suspension architecture, the way the wind hits the suspension towers at high speeds—it's magnificent! I can already see myself crossing it, marching right into Nimbasa to win my fourth badge!"
A soft, floating chime echoed from the Munna hovering beside Black, "Musha... (Hummm… Black's dream~)."
The pink, dream-eating Pokémon gave a gentle pulse of light, trying to anchor Black's runaway thoughts before his brain practically overheated from pure, unadulterated hype. Azure chuckled, signaling his friend, "Hey Black, your Munna is gonna eat your dreams again…"
White sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she said, "Black, you're doing it again. You're getting tunnel vision. Look at the trees! Look at the moss! Appreciate nature for five seconds before you start imagining yourself standing on a podium!"
Before Black could offer a fiery rebuttal, a sudden, violent displacement of air made the ancient leaves overhead shiver…
*FWOOSH*
A sharp, compressed pocket of atmospheric pressure blasted past them. Azure's muscles instantly locked, his combat instincts—forged across dangerous situations—screaming a warning. On his shoulder, Pikachu's ears flattened against his skull, and Eevee dug tiny claws softly into Azure's hair.
*Whoosh-sh-sh-sh*
*SWISH*
Black started, his eyes widening, and exclaimed, "What was—?!"
Before the sentence could finish, a razor-sharp gale erupted from the dense underbrush. It wasn't just wind; it was a gale-force tempest carrying hundreds of glowing, emerald-edged leaves!
*SHCK-SHCK-SHCK*
The attack wasn't aimed at their faces or their vitals. With terrifying, surgical precision, the blades of wind slashed exclusively at the fabric of their garments…
*Rip—Tear—Fray*
Black blinked, stumbling backward as his vest suddenly acquired a neat row of aerodynamic ventilation holes down the back. White shrieked, clutching her jacket as the hem was neatly sliced off, fluttering away into the bushes like a green-winged moth.
White gasped, her face pale. She screamed, alarmed, "A whirlwind? Was that a sudden weather shift? In this forest?!"
Azure said quietly, "No…"
His eyes narrowed, focusing on a fleeting, emerald blur darting back into the canopy at supersonic speed. To Black, it was just a smudge of green light. To White, it was a terrifying mystery.
But to Azure?
His pupils briefly contracted, a faint, ethereal blue ring of aura flickering deep within his irises. He thought, 'There.'
A slender, quadrupedal form with sleek, mint-green fur, elegant pink horns sweeping back like a regal crown, and a dark, leaf-like mantle draped over its shoulders. It possessed a gaze so sharp it could cut glass.
A single name ran through his thoughts: 'Virizion.'
The Legendary Pokémon of the Swords of Justice had paused for a fraction of a second, stunned that a human—a mere boy—was not only tracking her trajectory with his naked eyes, but meeting her glare head-on. Virizion's nostrils flared, a surge of raw, primal hostility radiating from her posture.
She had raised her head to strike, ready to summon a Sacred Sword to teach the intruders a lesson. But then, she caught the faint, shimmering blue pressure of Azure's aura. A sudden, unexpected flinch rippled through her forelegs.
*Whoosh*
In the blink of an eye, the green blur dissolved into the wind. The pressure vanished as if it had never been there.
Black stammered, his fingers twitching as he reached instinctively for his belt. He said in a confused tone, "Did... did you guys see that? That wasn't the wind! Something ran past us! Something fast!"
Azure said, his tone flat, though an adventurous spark danced in the corner of his eye, "It wasn't just something, Black…"
He reached up to stroke Eevee's head, calming the small Pokémon down. Pikachu chattered, crossing his little arms and nodding in agreement, "Pika-pika."
Suddenly, a digital chime rang from Azure's pocket. The Arc Phone slid open on its own, and a small, floating holographic orb popped out. Rotom's face flickered onto the screen with a cheerful electric blue glow and chimed in, "Bzzzt! Did someone mention a high-speed anomaly?!"
Rotom buzzed, zipping in a tight circle around Azure's head. And added, "My internal sensors detected a massive surge of Grass- and Fighting-type energy moving at Mach speeds! That wasn't normal weather, ro-tup!"
Azure muttered, "Thanks, Rotom. Put a pin in it."
From the shadows of the nearby bushes, a faint, ghostly giggle echoed. A pair of violet, luminous eyes blinked into existence. Gengar's voice echoed aloud, dripping with playful mockery, "Kekeke... humans getting startled by a pony-deer thing. Want me to go pop out and scare it back, Boss?"
Azure replied with a casual smirk, "No, Gengar, stay in the shadow. Let's see how this plays out first."
White insisted, frantically pulling at the frayed edges of her jacket, "We have to get out of the forest!" "If my agency sees me looking like I walked through a shredder, my brand image is going to plummet into the negative digits! Come on, Black! Move!"
Black didn't move. He stood frozen, his eyes locked on the spot where the blur had vanished. He could feel his heart hammering against his ribs—not from fear, but from an intoxicating, reckless surge of adrenaline.
Black whispered, "Wait—"
White snapped, interrupting him, "No time to wait! Nimbasa City! Musical theater! The Ferris Wheel! We are on a schedule—!"
Azure interrupted, his voice dropping an octave, carrying an absolute, unyielding finality that made both White and Black snap their heads toward him. Azure cracked his neck, a predatory grin touching his lips as he said firmly, "No. We are not leaving."
White blinked. Then asked, "Excuse me?"
Azure said, stepping forward, stating in a blunt tone, "You heard me. A Legendary Pokémon of the Unova region just ambushed us, shredded our clothes without provocation, and ran away like a coward after getting caught staring. I'm not about to let some quadrupedal antelope with a leaf fetish think she can punk us in her backyard and get away with it."
Black's jaw dropped, then slowly stretched into a massive, ear-to-ear grin. He said eagerly, "You... you saw it too, didn't you, Azure?!"
Azure returned with an eager grin and replied, "Crystal clear."
That was enough for Black. He wasn't gonna miss this encounter.
Black shouted, "Musha!"
*Pop*
Black pulled the sphere from his belt and tossed it into the air. With a soft pop, the round, pink dream-eater materialized, floating beside him. He asked excitedly, "Musha, clear my mind! Pull up the data on what we just saw! I need details!"
*Chomp—num—num*
Musha's eyes glowed a soft, soothing lavender, then she chomped down on his head to eat his dreams to get a better recollection of his memories. A psychic projection flickered in the air between them for a brief second—a detailed, crystalline image of Virizion, her mint-green coat, her pink horns, her fierce, unyielding glare.
Black whipped out his Pokédex with a speed that defied physics. The mechanical scanner whirred, matching the holographic memory against the regional database.
*BEEP*
Black grin widened more upon hearing the Pokédex's answer in a mechanical tone: "[Virizion, the Grass-Wander Grassland Pokémon. A legendary Pokémon of Unova. Legends say it fought alongside Cobalion and Terrakion to protect Pokémon from human wars. Extremely wary of humanity.]"
Black stared at the screen, his chest heaving, his eyes practically turning into glowing star shapes. He exclaimed in an excited tone, "It... It's real. A living, breathing Legendary! And it's right here in Pinwheel Forest!"
White groaned, her hands flying to her face as she said in a frightened tone, "Oh, no… I can see the gears turning in your head, Black. Stop it. Right now. You are not going to try and catch a Legendary Pokémon! That's suicide! That's front-page news for all the wrong reasons!"
Black shouted, completely fired up, his hot-blooded nature boiling over the brim, "Are you kidding?! If I catch a Legendary Pokémon right now, before we even reach Nimbasa, think of what that does for my journey! And—more importantly—when I finally battle Azure in the Unova League..."
Black pointed a finger directly at Azure, a fiery declaration in his eyes. He said in a determined tone with an eager expression, "...having a Legendary in my corner will give me the ultimate edge!"
Azure chuckled, folding his arms. He said slyly, "Cute, Black. But you're getting ahead of yourself. First, we have to find her."
Black roared, "On it! Brav! Come on out!"
*POP*
With a majestic cry that echoed through the leafy canopy, a massive, sharp-taloned bird materialized in a flash of white light. Braviary ruffled its impressive red-and-blue plumage, letting out a proud screech, "BRAVVV!!!"
Not to be outdone, Azure reached for his belt and tossed a heavy Poké Ball. Azure commanded, "Let's stretch our wings, Braviary!"
*CLANG*
*SCREEECH*
Azure's Braviary—towering, muscular, and radiating the heavy, dominant aura of an Alpha specimen from the distant ancient past—burst forth. The sheer displacement of wind caused the surrounding shrubbery to flatten into the dirt. Even Black's Braviary took an involuntary step back, blinking in awe at the sheer size and power of Azure's flyer.
Black breathed, still amazed as ever to see Azure's Alpha Pokémon. He said in awe, "Whoa... That thing looks like it could carry a truck!"
Azure replied casually, "It can."
He turned to White, who looked like she was about to faint. He asked cheekily, "Come on, White. Up you get."
White protested, backing away until her spine hit a tree trunk, "I am not getting on a giant prehistoric bird of prey! I am the president of the BW Agency! My insurance policy does not cover 'accidental aerial flinging by a Legendary bird-wrangler'!"
Azure said, effortlessly scooping White up by the waist and hoisting her onto the back of his Alpha Braviary before swinging up right behind her, "Quit complaining; you'll love the view. Just hold on tight!"
Eevee curled up securely on Azure's shoulder, while Pikachu perched right on the crown of his head. Azure shouted, "Black, lead the way! Follow the trail of shredded leaves and atmospheric distortion!"
Black leaped onto his own Braviary and replied, "Right behind you! Let's move, Brav! Full speed ahead!"
*FWP-FWP*
*Swoosh*
With twin roars of rushing wind, the two massive birds launched themselves straight up through the emerald canopy, blasting past branches and into the open sky above Pinwheel Forest. White screamed, clutching handfuls of Braviary's neck feathers so tightly her knuckles turned white, while Black laughed like a maniac, pointing the way toward the northern clearing.
Below them, the wind trail was unmistakable: a swirling ribbon of displaced leaves and broken twigs cutting through the deep green woods. Minutes later, the trail abruptly ended in a wide, sun-drenched clearing surrounded by ancient, moss-covered monoliths…
/////
[Unova Region, Pinwheel Forest - Rumination Field]
The air in the Rumination Field felt heavy, almost sacred. Sunlight poured down through a natural gap in the trees, illuminating a ring of flat, weathered stones that looked like they had been placed there by ancient hands.
*THUD*
Black's Braviary touched down first, kicking up a small cloud of dry leaves and dust. Black dismounted smoothly, his boots hitting the turf as he looked around in awe. He muttered, "This... this has got to be Rumination Field. The legendary resting place."
*THUD*
Azure's Braviary landed with barely a whisper, the massive bird folding its wings with practiced grace. Azure hopped down, holding a hand out to help a shaky, green-faced White dismount from the Braviary. White groaned, swaying slightly, complaining to Azure, shooting him a glare. "I think my stomach is currently in my shoes… If we survive this, I am billing you for emotional damages, Azure."
Before Azure could offer a witty retort, he paused, listening; a low, resonant sound vibrated through the air…
*Hummmmm*
It wasn't just a sound; it was a telepathic echo that rippled directly inside their minds, sending a sudden, chilling vibration through their bones. Black and White both flinched, clutching their heads as the psychic pressure pressed down on their thoughts.
Azure, however, didn't even blink. He merely stood his ground, his expression neutral, his internal aura flaring just enough to shield his mind from the intrusion…
*Swir—rrrrrl*
In the center of the field, a sudden mini-tornado of wind and glowing leaves materialized out of nowhere. The whirlwind spun with fierce intensity before dying down in a soft, elegant collapse….
*Whoosh*
As the last leaf fluttered gently to the ground, Virizion stood revealed. Her mint-green coat gleamed in the sunlight, her pink horns held high, and her dark, leaf-like mantle swaying slightly in the residual breeze. Her eyes—narrow, sharp, and dripping with ancient distrust—locked onto the three humans.
Black breathed, his excitement momentarily overriding his headache. He exclaimed in an excited tone, "A Legendary... It's really her!"
White gasped, taking a cautious step backward. She saw her expression as she warily asked, "She looks... angry. Very, very angry."
Virizion didn't move her mouth, but a sharp, telepathic voice echoed directly inside all three of their heads, cold as winter ice: 'What do fragile, disruptive humans want within the sanctuary of the Sacred Swords?'
Black, momentarily losing his usual filter, stepped forward, waving his arms. Recalling how they were attacked asked, outraged, "Hey! You're the one who attacked us back there! You shredded our clothes! Do you have any idea how hard it is to explain to a stylist that a Legendary deer-thing used us as target practice?!"
Virizion let out a low, dismissive snort, her gaze sweeping over them with utter contempt. She replied mentally, 'So what? You humans are the root of all destruction. Every step you take brings ruin to the land.'
White blinked, taken aback by the sheer hostility. She asked, confused by her sudden hostility towards them, "W-Wait a minute! We didn't do anything to your forest! We're just trying to get to Nimbasa City!"
Azure's calm voice cut through the tension. He said in a calm voice, eyeing Virizion, "Her hostility isn't surprising."
Both Black and White turned to look at him, surprised.
Azure stepped forward, his hands shoved casually into his jacket pockets, shrugging his shoulders. He continued explaining to them, "Think about it, guys. The Sacred Swords have every reason to hate us. Generations ago, humans and Pokémon lived in harmony—until a massive war broke out. A war so destructive it scorched the Moor of Icirrus and put countless Pokémon lives in mortal peril."
Virizion's ears twitched slightly, her gaze snapping toward Azure with a sudden flash of sharp curiosity. Azure continued, his voice steady and respectful yet entirely devoid of fear, "When the war showed no signs of stopping, three Legendary Pokémon stepped forward. They took the displaced Pokémon under their protection and fought against human armies to put an end to the madness. Ever since that day, they've carried a deep, unyielding belief that humans bring nothing but harm, chaos, and fire to the world of Pokémon. Even to this very day."
Black stared at Azure in shock. He asked in a shocked tone, "How do you... How do you even know that? That's ancient history!"
Azure gave him a deadpan expression, stating in a blunt tone, "Because I read the Legends Series by Prof. Juniper, Vol.1? What, didn't read the book? Weren't you boasting to have read every book in the libraries?"
Black groaned, muttering in disbelief, "Not every book, just the ones that involve battling or previous Hall of Fame Champions…"
Virizion's telepathic voice resonated once more, carrying a distinct note of cold confirmation: 'You speak with knowledge of the old wounds, human. Yet knowing the past does not absolve you of your nature. Leave this field at once, or face the wrath of the wind…!'
Black's jaw set. The hot-blooded ambition flared back up in his chest. He declared, "Alright, look, I respect your history and everything, but you can't just attack people and tell them to leave! I was thinking about catching you, but now—"
Before Black could finish his sentence, Virizion lowered her head. Then her eyes dilated, releasing a menacing presence…!
*MENACING-MENACING*
*FWOOSH*
An invisible, crushing wave of aura and physical pressure erupted from the Legendary Pokémon Virizion, staring intently at the intruders. The pressure she was emitting hit the clearing like a physical wall.
*Thud*
Black froze dead in his tracks by the invisible force. His muscles locked up instantly, his boots glued to the dirt. Next to him, Black's Braviary stiffened, wings half-spread, unable to move a single feather.
Black thought frantically, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, 'Wh-what is this?! Her pressure... It's paralyzing me! I can't even get close to her, let alone battle her! I thought catching a Legendary would be tough, but this... this is a completely different dimension of power! My strongest Pokémon is completely frozen!'
White was shaking like a leaf, clutching a tree trunk for dear life as the heavy aura pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Then, a quiet sound broke the silence.
*Tmp-tmp-tmp*
The distinct crunch of a boot stepping forward.
Black's eyes widened in sheer disbelief as he saw Azure calmly walking past him, completely unfazed by the oppressive pressure that had paralyzed a champion-in-training and an Alpha-class bird.
Azure sighed lightly, rolling his shoulders. He said dismissively, "Honestly, Virizion... you thoroughly provoked me back there."
He stopped a few meters away from the Legendary Pokémon, looking her dead in the eye. A faint blue glow still lingered around the edges of Azure's irises. Azure asked, a teasing, lighthearted smirk playing on his lips, "Is that truly all you've got? Compared to Mewtwo's Pressure ability, yours feels like a light summer breeze. A minor shrug at best."
A tiny, muffled chirp came from Azure's jacket pocket, as if the legendary feline inside was nodding in total agreement: "Pichu! (Yup! Uncle Mewtwo is super scarier pressure than this girl's pressure!)."
Virizion's eyes narrowed into angry slits, her telepathic voice ringing with insulted fury, 'Arrogant human! You dare mock the Sacred Swords?!'
Azure said smoothly, "Not mocking you, just stating facts."
He reached up and tapped the Pokéball on his belt, recalling his massive Braviary in a flash of red light. He added casually, "I know my Braviary is outclassed by raw legendary power right now. But..."
Azure tilted his head toward his shoulder. Pikachu hopped off, landing lightly on the mossy turf. The electric mouse stretched its front paws, adjusted its tail, and let out a single, sharp spark of yellow electricity.
Pikachu muttered, his eyes locking onto the legendary antelope with an expression that clearly translated to, "Pika-pi (Let's see if this grass-pony can even kick me out of her field. Been a while since I've humbled a Legendary.)"
Virizion stared down at the small yellow rodent, her expression shifting from fury to absolute disbelief as she thought, surprised, 'A rodent? Daring to challenge a member of the Swords of Justice?!'
Virizion roared mentally, 'Foolishness beyond measure!'
*ZOOM—FLASH*
With a blinding flash of green light, Virizion lunged forward at supersonic speed, her horn glowing with the razor-sharp energy of a Leaf Blade. A green streak tore across the turf, aimed straight at Pikachu's chest.
Azure commanded lazily, "Pikachu, intercept."
*ZAP*
Pikachu didn't even flinch. He vanished in a streak of white light—Quick Attack—reappearing directly in the path of the glowing green blade. With a fluid, acrobatic spin and practiced movement, Pikachu's tail hardened into a dense, metallic grey—Iron Tail—and brought it down with a resounding CLANG!
*CLANG*
The collision of Iron Tail and Leaf Blade generated a violent shockwave of wind and sparks that blew the surrounding leaves into a frenzy!
*WHOOSH*
The shockwave swept backward across the clearing, hitting Black with enough force to send him stumbling backward.
Black cried out, losing his balance, "Whoa—!"
*Thwack*
Black's Braviary—having finally shaken off the paralysis just in time—spread its wings and caught Black by the collar, setting him down safely next to a wide-eyed White. Both Pikachu and Virizion backflipped away from each other, sliding across the dirt to gain distance.
Virizion skidded to a halt, her hooves tearing up two deep trenches in the soil. Her eyes were wide with pure, unadulterated shock. She was looking at a mouse—a tiny, common mouse Pokémon—that had not only blocked her signature move head-on, but had pushed her back with sheer physical force.
Across the clearing, Pikachu casually dusted off his left shoulder with one paw, letting out a small, bored yawn as if he had just swatted away a particularly annoying Butterfree. Azure turned his head slightly toward the stunned duo behind him, offering a calm, instructive smile.
Azure said, shaking his head good-naturedly, "Take notes, Black. That's lesson number one when you're challenging a Legendary Pokémon: stop daydreaming, keep your eyes open, and watch a real master in action."
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!