Chapter 639: Castelia City
~Third POV~
[Unova Region, Later, Castelia City]
The Skyarrow Bridge was more than just a feat of engineering; it was a rhythmic pulse connecting the heart of Unova to its wilder reaches. As the trio stepped off the colossal suspension bridge, the sheer scale of Castelia City hit them like a physical wave.
Skyscrapers of glass and steel pierced the clouds, reflecting the afternoon sun in a blinding mosaic of gold and blue. The air was thick with the scent of sea salt from the harbor, expensive perfume from the boutiques, and the unmistakable aroma of street food. Behind them, the man who had accompanied them—Geoff—tipped his janitor's cap. He was still clutching a mop, looking every bit the humble maintenance worker despite being the CEO and President of the Battle Company.
Geoff chuckled, leaning on his mop as he watched the bustling traffic, and said happily, "Well! Castelia is a big place. Try not to get lost in the shadows of the towers. And remember, the Battle Company is always looking for talent!"
White shouted back, her eyes already scanning the crowds, "We won't forget, Geoff! Thanks for the lead!"
As the CEO of the BW Agency, she didn't see just buildings; she saw billboards, talent agencies, and networking opportunities. White turned to Black and Azure, her hands on her hips as she said excitedly, "Can you believe it? The scale! The logistics! The exposure! Black, do you realize what this means? If we can get Gigi a spot in a commercial here, the BW Agency's stocks will skyrocket!"
Black, however, was staring up at the tallest spire, his eyes wide. He couldn't help but gasp, saying in shock, "Is that… the Gym? No, wait, that's a business building. No, wait, is that a Pokémon Center that's ten stories tall?"
He shook his head, his usual hyper-focus momentarily fractured by the sheer sensory overload. He said in a determined tone, "I need to train. I need to find Burgh. I need to become the Champion!"
Azure said, shifting the weight of the Pikachu on his right shoulder while the Eevee on his head let out a contented 'Vee!', "Relax, Black. We just got here. You'll burn your brain out before you even set foot in the Gym if you don't pace yourself."
Azure looked every bit the seasoned traveler. He carried himself with a quiet confidence that set him apart from the younger duo. Inside his jacket, a small, disguised Mew—mimicking a Pichu—wiggled comfortably. His Arc Phone, a device that shouldn't technically exist in this era, hummed in his pocket, housing the digital spirits of Rotom and Porygon-Z.
White chirped, scolding Black in a casual tone, "Azure's right! First, we need to look the part. Black, you're covered in bridge dust. Gigi needs a professional massage to keep her fur coat glossy for the cameras. We're going to get some Casteliacones, find some new outfits, and then—and only then—will we talk about Gym battles."
Black groaned, but he knew better than to argue with White when she was in 'President Mode.' Black sighed and said in a defeated tone, "Fine… But as soon as the sun hits the horizon, I'm hitting the battle courts… and getting some new clothes…"
Azure smiled, tapping his Xtransceiver. He said casually, "You two go ahead. I want to do some solo scouting and place our reservations for the Gym. Burgh is a busy man; he's an artist as much as a leader. I'll call you when I'm done."
White teased, waving as she dragged a protesting Black toward the luxury district of Mode Street, "Don't get into too much trouble, 'Genius'!"
/////
~Azure S. POV~
[Unova Region, Castelia City – Battle Courts]
*Clack-clack-clack*
As the duo vanished into the sea of commuters, I took a deep breath. Castelia was a hive of activity. The sound of thousands of shoes hitting the pavement created a percussive backdrop to the city's life.
I pulled out my Arc Phone. The screen shimmered with an interface that would make a Silph Co. engineer weep.
I whispered, "Rotom, Porygon-Z, you there?"
Rotom's voice chirped from the speakers, modulated and energetic, "Logged in and ready to zap! Hecking busy signals in this city, though! Bzzzt!"
Porygon-Z's more mechanical tone followed, "Data packets stabilized. Gym registration accessed. Booking for: Azure Sky and Hilbert Black. Estimated slot: a few days from now. Confirmation sent."
I smirked, replying, "Perfect. Thanks, guys."
I began to wander toward the central plazas. I've seen many cities across the regions—Saffron, Goldenrod, Lilycove, Jubilife—but Castelia had a specific 'Old World meets High Tech' vibe that always felt unique. As I walked past a sunken battle court near the harbor, a heavy explosion caught my attention…
*BOOM*
A plume of fiery smoke billowed into the air, followed by the acrid, sweet smell of burnt toxic gas. My interest was piqued. I moved to the railing, looking down at the court. On one side stood a girl with violet hair styled into wild, gravity-defying pigtails, clutching a bass guitar like a weapon.
That was Roxie, the future Poison-type Gym Leader of Virbank. Across from her was a boy with a chef's scarf and a confident, fiery glint in his eyes—Crispin, a student I recognized from the Blueberry Academy in the future… or rather, in the current timeline's hidden depths.
Roxie's Seviper was slithering back, its scales singed.
Roxie shouted, her voice raspy and full of punk-rock energy, "Come on, Seviper! Don't let a little heat stop the rhythm!"
Crispin yelled, his arm outstretched, "Too late for a soundcheck, Roxie! Magmar, bring the heat to a rolling boil! Use Eruption!"
The Magmar let out a guttural roar, "MAGGGMARRR!!"
*SHRRRRR-BOOM*
The ground beneath it cracked as a massive pillar of lava and pressurized magma erupted from its back, flooding the battlefield in a wave of blinding orange light. The heat reached all the way up to where I was standing, a dry, searing wind that ruffled my hair.
Seviper didn't stand a chance. When the smoke cleared, the Poison-type was fainted, and the court was scorched black.
Roxie groaned, recalling her Pokémon. She said in an annoyed tone, "Agh! Totally out of tune! I told you we should have practiced that counter-beat, Seviper."
Crispin grinned, wiping sweat from his forehead. He cheered, "Great flavor, Magmar! That was well-done!"
As I watched them, a presence moved beside me. It was silent, almost clinical. I turned my head to see a girl with long, lavender-grey hair and a gaze so sharp it could cut through a Protect move. She moved with a stiff, almost robotic precision, her posture perfectly vertical.
"Observation: You are Azure Sky."
Her voice was flat, formal, and devoid of the chaotic energy of the two below. I said, nodding, seeing a nametag on her uniform, "Amarys… I recognize the uniform. Blueberry Academy, right?"
She adjusted her glasses with a mechanical flick of her wrist. Then replied neutrally, "Correct. I am Amarys. I have been monitoring your progress through the news cycles. Your reputation precedes you. Four-time League Champion. Frontier Brain conqueror. The 'Genius of the Generation.' Your presence in Unova was 98.4% likely to result in a sighting in Castelia City today."
I chuckled hearing that. I couldn't help but ask curiously, "I didn't realize I was being tracked by the Blueberry Student. Does the Academy allow its students to run the Gym circuit here in the mainland Unova?"
Amarys replied, her eyes drifting back to the court where Roxie and Crispin were now arguing about the battle, "It is a specialized exchange program. Roxie and Crispin are here to gather 'inspiration.' Though their methods are… inefficient."
My eyes drifted down to Amarys's belt. There, nestled among her standard Poké Balls, was something that made me pause. A [Tera Ball]. Its crystalline surface caught the sunlight, refracting it into a rainbow of terrestrial energy.
I smiled to myself. It looked like my little 'intervention' a few months ago had truly changed the trajectory of this world…
/////
[Flashback - Months Ago, Kanto Region, Prof. Oak's Lab]
The smell of old books and sterile laboratory equipment filled the room. I was sitting on a swivel chair, watching Crystal—the Johto Dex holder—coordinate a group of Chinchou in a large tank. In my lap, Manaphy and Phione were splashing around, their blue bodies glowing softly.
Crystal said casually, her Marill bouncing at her feet, "Azure? You're staring into space again."
I replied dismissively to Crystal, "Just thinking about the future, Crys. The world is getting bigger. We need better tools."
*BEEP*
I turned to my computer screen. A video call was active. The woman on the other end had long, flowing hair that looked like a nebula and eyes that held the weight of a nation's League. I said casually, leaning forward with a friendly smile, "Lady Geeta. Have you reviewed the blueprints I sent regarding the Terastal energy pockets?"
Geeta replied, her voice elegant yet firm, eyeing me with an appreciative smile, "I have, Azure. The concept of capturing terrestrial energy within a portable sphere… it is revolutionary. Professor Sada and Professor Turo are fascinated. But how did you come across the mathematical stabilization for the Tera Ball? It should have taken us decades to figure out the crystalline lattice."
I hummed, looking at my Arc Phone resting on the desk. Because it's all in the database of my Arc Phone, containing the data needed. Every discovery from every timeline, archived by the Alpha Pokémon itself.
I said aloud with a smug grin and puffing my chest out, "Let's just say I have a knack for seeing the potential in things. And Geeta? If you manage to mass-produce these for your Elite trainers, remember the favor you owe me. I want Paldea and Unova to have a bridge for talent. The world's going to face some heavy hitters soon. We need trainers to be capable of more than just basic moves."
Geeta laughed softly. She replied with a friendly smile, agreeing to my terms, and said, "You are a strange young man, Azure Sky. A genius, a champion, and a visionary. Very well. If this 'Tera Ball' project succeeds, the Paldean League will be in your debt. And I'll see to it that the Rotom Phone project Nemona's father is working on gets the funding it needs. It was your design, after all."
I said happily with a wink and an eager smile on my face, "Just trying to make the world a bit more connected."
/////
[Present, Unova Region, Castelia City – Battle Courts]
I snapped back to the present as a loud shout erupted from the battle court.
"Wait! Is that—? No way!"
Roxie and Crispin had spotted us. More specifically, they had spotted me.
*ZOOOM*
Before I could say a word to Amarys, the two of them were sprinting up the stairs of the sunken court. Roxie was swinging her guitar case, and Crispin was nearly tripping over his own scarf. Roxie screamed, skidding to a halt and nearly face-planting into my chest, "YOU'RE AZURE! The guy who used a Poison-type Gengar to sweep the Sinnoh Frontier! That Gengar—is it here? Can I see it? Does it know how to shred?!"
I mentally raised an eyebrow hearing that. Are my own feats getting exaggerated now on what Team I used?
Before I could ponder more on that, Crispin pushed in from the other side, his eyes shining as he asked, "And the Arcanine! I read that your Arcanine can heat its Extreme Speed to the point where it leaves a trail of blue fire! I need to know your secret! What kind of Berries do you feed it? Is it a Spicy-Dry blend?"
Amarys sighed, a long, weary sound. She said neutrally, "Apology."
*POP*
Her Reuniclus appeared from a Poké Ball in a flash of green light. Then she added, "Their excitement levels have exceeded acceptable social parameters."
The Reuniclus's eyes glowed blue...
*Whoosh*
Two columns of psychic energy—Confusion—grabbed Roxie and Crispin by their collars, lifting them off the ground. They dangled there, legs kicking, still shouting questions at me with excited expressions.
I said, rubbing the back of my neck, "Let them down, Amarys. It's fine."
I looked at the crowd. People were starting to stare. A group of office workers had stopped to point, realization dawning on their faces as I muttered, "It seems my reputation preceded me a bit more than I expected."
Amarys said, her Reuniclus slowly lowering the two troublemakers, "You are a celebrity, Azure. Your battles are studied in the Academy's curriculum. You are considered a 'Perfect Hybrid' of tactical genius and raw power."
I muttered embarrassingly, "I'm just a guy who likes Pokémon…"
Rotom chirped from my pocket, "And a guy who likes to show off! Bzzzt!"
I shot Rotom a light glare as he blew an electric blue raspberry at me. Suddenly, the shadow beneath my feet stretched and elongated. It wasn't the shadow of a human or a skyscraper. It was jagged, dark, and seemingly alive.
A voice, raspy and feminine, echoed from the ground, "Oh, quit being so humble, Boss. It's bad for the brand!"
Roxie froze, her jaw dropping. Crispin turned pale. Even Amarys's eyes widened by a fraction of a millimeter.
Slowly, my Gengar rose from the shadow. Her body was a pale, ghostly black instead of the usual purple, and her eyes burned with a mischievous crimson fire. She didn't just emerge; she performed, striking a pose with her tongue lolling out. Gengar cackled, "Hello, fans! Please, hold the applause—or don't, I love it,".
Roxie stammered, "It… it talked! Vocally talked!"
I explained, sighing while rubbing my temples, "She's a bit of a special case. Learned to speak human language after an English class mixed with some vocal cord manipulation she learned from a Chatot."
Gengar ignored me, floating over to Roxie...
*Woosh—Scribble*
She grabbed a permanent marker from Roxie's pocket—how she knew it was there, I'll never know—and with a lightning-fast motion, she scrawled a jagged, stylish signature across the body of Roxie's Rock Star Guitar. Gengar winked as she said cheekily, "There! Now it's a collector's item, kid. Play a B-flat for me sometime!"
Roxie looked at her guitar, then back at Gengar, and then let out a squeal that probably broke several windows in the neighboring skyscraper. She exclaimed happily, "OH MY GOD! THE SHINY GENGAR SIGNED MY AXE!"
Gengar boasted, puffing out her chest and snapping her fingers at her, "You're welcome! I accept payment in high-quality Malva-brand candies!"
A new voice entered our minds—smooth, cool, and mocking: 'Don't listen to her! She's just a glutton for attention.'
Zorua didn't speak vocally, but his telepathy was crystal clear. Crispin leaned in, staring at Zorua as he muttered in disbelief, "A Zorua that can project telepathy? This team is… It's like a dream team!"
I said tiredly, feeling a headache coming on, "His a handful, is what it is. Look, if you three want to talk, maybe we should move somewhere less… public? I can feel the tourist cameras starting to click."
Amarys nodded as she noted, "Agreed. There is a 92% chance we will be swarmed by a mob within 5 minutes if we remain stationary."
Crispin shouted, his energy returning in full force, "I know just the place to chill out! The Casteliacone stand is just a block away, and I know the guy! Best ice cream in the world! My treat!"
Roxie said, already dragging me by the sleeve, "Ice cream? Now you're talking!"
I looked at Gengar, who was currently trying to juggle my Poké Balls, and Zorua, who was judging her. I sighed, but a smile crept onto my face. I whispered to myself, "Well… Castelia is never boring."
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A/N: Hope you like the chapter!