Chapter 456: Battle Royale
~Azure S. POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Later, Route 205]
The wind on Route 205 tasted of salt from the nearby coast and the sweet, lingering scent of honey trees. It was a beautiful day, the kind of day that usually invited a slow pace and a long nap under the shade of a wide-reaching tree.
But as I looked at the three teenagers walking beside me, I knew naps were the last thing on their minds. I adjusted the strap of my bag, feeling the familiar weight of Pikachu on my left shoulder and Eevee nestled comfortably atop my head.
Inside my jacket, a small, pink tail flicked momentarily against my ribs before tucking back in. Most people would see a Pichu (Mew) sleeping in my inner pocket. It was a literal myth taking a nap against my heartbeat.
My partner looked at the trio leading the way. Pikachu chirped, sensing my shift in mood, "Pika? (Those newbies okay? They seem… motivated.)"
I whispered, "Yeah, I see it too, buddy."
Platinum Berlitz, the heir to one of the most prestigious families in Sinnoh, was walking with a stiffness that wasn't just noble poise—it was tension. To her left, Pearl was practically vibrating, his hands clenched into fists, eyes scanning every bush as if a Team Galactic Commander might jump out at any second.
Diamond, usually the most relaxed person I'd ever met, wasn't even eating a rice ball. That was the clearest red flag of all.
The Valley Windworks incident had left a mark. I had won, sure. I had fended off Mars, and we had saved the manager and his daughter.
But for Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, it was a wake-up call. The world wasn't just about Pokedex entries and grand tours; it was dangerous. And they felt like they were the ones holding the line back.
I sighed, my boots crunching on the gravel. I wasn't just their bodyguard; I was their benchmark. And right now, that benchmark felt a mile high.
I said, my voice carrying a weight that brooked no argument, "Stop."
The three of them froze and turned. Platinum asked, her hand instinctively hovering over Piplup's Poke Ball, "Azure? Is something wrong?"
I said calmly, stepping forward, "Nothing's wrong, Lady Platinum."
I looked at Pearl's frantic eyes and Diamond's somber face as I continued, "Actually, everything is wrong. You three are wound tighter than a Chatot's vocal cords. You're worried about what happened with Mars. You're worried you aren't strong enough."
Pearl bit his lip as he tried to speak, "We weren't. If you hadn't been there…"
I interrupted, snubbing out any doubt as I stated, "But I was. And I'm going to keep being there. But you're right about one thing: you need to grow. Not because I can't protect you, but because the Sinnoh region won't always play by the rules."
I gestured to a wide, grassy clearing off the main path, bordered by a small stream and a cluster of rocks. I said clearly, "Training session. Now."
Pearl's eyes lit up, responding, "A battle? You versus us?"
I smirked, reaching into my belt as I replied casually, "Not quite. A Battle Royale. Four trainers. Each of us uses three Pokémon. Every man and woman for themselves. You can team up, you can betray each other, or you can try to take me down first. But the goal is simple: be the last one standing."
I saw the spark return to their eyes. This was the language they understood.
Platinum mused, her scholarly mind already whirling, "A Battle Royale… It requires not just tactical prowess, but diplomatic intuition. Very well. I accept."
Diamond shouted, "I'm in! I'll show you how much Tru has grown!"
Pearl yelled, pointing a finger at me in a confident voice, "Don't think I'm going to let you win just because you're the boss!"
I laughed, a sharp, confident sound as I fired back dismissively, "I'd be offended if you did. Let's go."
We took our positions in the four corners of the clearing. The air felt charged, the local wild Pokémon sensing the shift in energy and clearing the area.
I announced, holding up three Poke Balls, "For this match. I'll be using my juniors. Come on out!"
I tossed the balls into the air.
*POP*
With a heavy thud that shook the ground, my Alpha Rhyhorn appeared. He was massive, his stone-like hide scarred from his time in the Hisuian wilds. He let out a low, guttural growl that made Platinum's Ponyta uneasy before it was even released, "Rhy-HRRR! (Who do I have to smash first!)"
*POP*
Next was my female Snorunt. She shivered with excitement, her cloak fluttering as a faint frost began to form around her feet, "Snooo-runt! (Fresh meat, huh? You poor fools are gonna get frozen. Fefefe…)"
Finally, my male Ralts appeared. He was calm, his red horns glowing faintly with psychic energy as he drifted an inch off the ground while holding onto a conjured spoon, "Ralts. (I see this as our battlefield.)"
On the other side, the trio released their teams.
Platinum: Piplup, Ponyta, and Abra.
Diamond: Tru (Turtwig), Lax (Munchlax), and Sol (Flareon).
Pearl: Chatler (Chatot), Chimlar (Chimchar), and Rayler (Luxio).
Not bad, but in a Battle Royale, the biggest mistake is focusing on one person. You must keep your peripheral vision wide. If you tunnel vision on the strongest opponent, the 'weaker' ones will pick you apart
With that, I shouted, "Three… two… one… Begin!"
Pearl barked out orders with his signature rapid-fire delivery, "Chimlar, use Ember on Snorunt! Rayler, Spark on Piplup!"
Diamond added, his movements surprisingly fluid, "Tru, use Razor Leaf to cover Chimlar! Sol, Fire Spin on Rhyhorn!"
Platinum commanded a series of orders, "Piplup, use Water Gun on Rhyhorn! Ponyta, Ember on Snorunt!"
The battlefield exploded into a chaotic mess of fire and water. They were smart—they were all targeting my Rhyhorn and Snorunt first, knowing they were the biggest threats. I commanded calmly, "Rhyhorn, Sandstorm! Snorunt, Double Team!"
*Fissssssh*
Rhyhorn slammed his front hooves into the earth. The ground groaned as a localized cyclone of grit and sand whipped up, obscuring the entire field. Within the swirling vortex, Snorunt blurred, dozens of illusory copies appearing throughout the dust.
Pearl shouted, shielding his eyes from the Sandstorm, "I can't see!" Chatler, use Whirlwind to clear the sand!"
I shook my head as I countered, extending my arm out, "Not so fast! Ralts, Reflect, and Light Screen. Combine them! Delta Shield!"
*SHINNG*
Ralts raised his hands. Shimmering panes of golden and pink energy manifested, weaving together into a geometric dome that pulsed with power.
*CLANG*
The incoming Embers and Water Guns slammed into the shield, dissipating harmlessly. Platinum cried out in disbelief, "What is that?! He combined two defensive moves into a single barrier?"
I called back while continuing my attacks, "It's called innovation, Platinum! Rhyhorn, Smack Down on Chatot! Snorunt, Icy Wind on the field!"
Rhyhorn lunged through the sand, his massive form a shadow in the storm. He hurled a jagged rock with pinpoint accuracy.
*CRACK*
Chatler let out a squawk as the rock clipped its wing, grounding the bird. Simultaneously, Snorunt exhaled a breath of sub-zero air.
*WOOOSH*
The ground, already wet from Piplup's Water Gun, turned into a treacherous sheet of ice. Diamond ordered, "Lax, use Body Slam to stabilize!"
The Munchlax threw its weight down, but the ice was too slick. Lax slid across the field like a bowling ball, crashing into Pearl's Luxio.
*Smack*
Pearl yelled, "Hey! Watch it, Dia!"
Diamond yelled back, "Sorry! It's slippery!"
The chaos was exactly what I wanted. In a real fight, the environment is your best friend or your worst enemy.
And another thing, pressure. Gotta keep the momentum going as I commanded, "Snorunt, Water Pulse on Ponyta! Rhyhorn, Bulldoze!"
*RMBL*
Rhyhorn began to stomp, sending shockwaves through the frozen ground. The ice shattered into jagged shards that flew everywhere. Platinum's Ponyta tried to leap over the waves, but Snorunt's sphere of vibrating water caught it mid-air.
*SHLOSH*
Platinum called out as her Pokémon fell, "Ponyta!"
Abra tried to intervene with a Teleport, but Ralts was faster. I commanded, "Ralts, Mean Look."
Ralts' eyes glowed with an eerie, dark light. Abra froze, its molecular structure locked in place, unable to slip through the dimensions.
Platinum grit her teeth as she realized my ploy, "You've trapped my Abra? Piplup, use Bubble Beam on Ralts!"
Diamond commanded, "Tru, help her! Razor Leaf!"
The two starters launched their assault. A stream of high-pressure bubbles and a flurry of sharp leaves tore toward my Ralts.
I said calmly, "Ralts, Teleport."
*Pop*
Ralts vanished a millisecond before impact, appearing directly behind Tru. I followed up calmly, "Confusion."
*Vooom*
The psychic wave hit Tru from behind, sending the Turtwig tumbling toward Pearl's Chimchar, who was busy trying to land a Scratch on Snorunt's decoys. The battle raged on for nearly twenty minutes.
It was a symphony of sound effects—the boom of Rhyhorn's Rock Slide, the zing of Rayler's Spark, the whish of Snorunt's Icy Wind. One by one, Pokémon began to fall.
Platinum's Ponyta and Abra were the first to go, unable to handle the sheer physical pressure Rhyhorn exerted. Pearl's Chatler and Luxio followed soon after, caught in a crossfire between Diamond's Flareon and my Snorunt.
This is the turning point for them. When the numbers dwindle, the pressure spikes. You can see it in their faces—they're no longer just 'playing' a game. They're fighting for every inch of ground.
I commanded, "Rhyhorn, use Thunderbolt!"
*ZZZZT*
A jagged bolt of yellow electricity erupted from Rhyhorn's horn, lancing through the air. It struck Lax, Diamond's Munchlax, who had been acting as a meat shield for Tru. Lax went down with a heavy groan.
I commanded, "Snorunt, Bite on Sol!"
*CHOMP*
Snorunt lunged at the Flareon, her teeth glowing with dark energy. Sol tried to counter with a Fire Spin, but the exhaustion was showing. The Bite landed, and Sol fainted.
Now, it was getting down to the wire. I was left with a heavy-breathing Rhyhorn, a shivering but determined Snorunt, and Ralts, who looked remarkably fresh thanks to his constant Teleporting.
The trio, however, was down to their Starter Pokémon. Piplup, Tru, and Chimlar stood side-by-side. The three starters of the Sinnoh region.
They were bruised, their breathing ragged, but the look in their eyes… it was different now. The hesitation was gone.
Pearl muttered, his voice low and serious, "We're not losing this, guys."
Diamond asked, "Together?"
Platinum agreed, "Together."
I smiled, hearing their teamwork. Perfect.
I commanded calmly, yelling out loud, "That's what I wanted to hear. Rhyhorn, Dragon Rush! Snorunt, Frost Breath! Ralts, Psyshock!"
This was the final push. Rhyhorn became draped in a blue, draconic aura, charging like a freight train. Snorunt launched a beam of pure freezing energy, and Ralts solidified psychic power into physical bolts.
"PIPLUP, BUBBLE BEAM! MAX POWER!"
"TRU, RAZOR LEAF! DON'T GIVE UP!"
"CHIMLAR, EMBER! BURN THROUGH IT!"
The three attacks converged into a single, spiraling beam of elemental energy. Water, grass, and fire spiraled together, creating a beautiful, chaotic drill of power. It looked pretty cool not gonna lie.
*BOOM*
The collision was deafening. A massive cloud of smoke and steam erupted in the center of the clearing…
I felt the shockwave ruffle my hair and Eevee's fur. When the smoke cleared, Rhyhorn was on one knee, his eyes swirled. Snorunt was flat on her back, out cold.
Only Ralts remained on my side, hovering shakily. On their side, the three starters were barely standing.
They were leaning on each other, a tripod of sheer willpower. I said, genuinely impressed, "Not bad. But Ralts still has one more trick. Ralts, Future Sight!"
*SHIII*
Ralts' eyes turned a stark, glowing white. He pointed at the three starters, and the air around them began to ripple with impending doom.
Pearl screamed, "We have to finish it now!"
"Chimlar, Flame Wheel!"
"Piplup, Peck!"
"Tru, Tackle!"
They charged. They put every ounce of their remaining energy into this final, desperate strike. And then, it happened…
*FLASH*
As they ran, a brilliant, white light began to emanate from their bodies. It started with Chimlar, then spread to Piplup, and finally Tru.
Pearl gasped, nearly tripping, "What? Now?!"
The light grew blinding, stretching their silhouettes, changing their shapes. Chimchar's proportions shifted, his limbs growing longer, the flame on his tail intensifying into a swirling crown of fire.
Piplup grew taller, his beak sharpening, a regal cape-like structure forming on his back. Turtwig's shell expanded, a thick, woody stem sprouting from his back as his body became sturdier, like a moving fortress. The three evolution lights merged into one giant pillar of radiance.
*VROOOOOM*
The Future Sight energy crashed down at that exact moment, but the sheer force of the evolution energy acted as a natural shield. When the light faded, three new Pokémon stood in the clearing.
Monferno. Prinplup. Grotle.
The air was silent for a heartbeat. Then, out of nowhere, my Ralts began to glow as well finally evolving as it reached its level.
*FLASH*
I whispered, "You too, buddy?"
Ralts' petite frame grew, his legs lengthening, his red horns shifting into a more elegant, knight-like crest. The green 'skirt' he wore became more like a tunic.
Kirlia.
The four newly evolved Pokémon stared at each other. The exhaustion was still there, but it was replaced by a new, surging power.
Platinum whispered, her hand over her heart, "They… they evolved."
She looked at her Prinplup, who let out a dignified, resonant cry, "Prinplulp! (Of course! Was there any doubt?)"
Pearl cheered, jumping up and down, "Monferno! You look awesome!"
Diamond just walked over to his Grotle and patted its new tree-like growth as he said proudly with a goody grin, "Good job, Tru. You're bigger. That means you can carry more snacks, right buddy?"
Grotle gave a slow, happy nod, "Grooo! (Yes!)"
I walked over to my Kirlia, who was testing his new balance. I placed a hand on his head, praising him, "Great job, Kirlia. You handled the chaos perfectly."
I turned back to the trio, who were now fussing over their Pokémon. I could feel the atmosphere had shifted. The weight of the Windworks hadn't disappeared, but they were no longer crushed by it.
They had grown. Literally.
I felt a tug on my jacket. Pichu (Mew) poked his head out, yawning widely. He looked at the evolved Pokémon, gave a tiny, approving nod, and went back to sleep.
Pearl called out, running over to me as he proclaimed, "Azure! Did you see that? The Flame Wheel became so much faster! And his tail! It's like a torch!"
I nodded, seeing their growth and praising their Pokémon. I then stated happily, "I saw, Pearl. You guys did excellent. You didn't just fight me; you learned to fight with each other. Hopefully, this lesson will be good for you in the future."
Platinum approached, her Prinplup following behind with a measured gait as she said gratefully, "Thank you. I realize now that my anxiety was hindering Piplup—no, Prinplup's—potential. We must be steadfast if we are to reach the peak of Mt. Coronet."
I nodded, looking toward the horizon. The mountains were visible in the distance, their jagged peaks piercing the clouds. I said lazily, stretching my arms, "We've still got a long way to go to Eterna City. But for now…"
I reached into my bag and pulled out a handful of high-grade berries and some specialized Pokémon crunchies I'd made myself as I finished, "For now, we eat. Even bodyguards need a break."
Diamond's eyes doubled in size as he cheered, "Food? Lunch time!"
As we sat down in the grass, the evolved Pokémon interacting and the teenagers laughing, I felt a sense of peace. I looked at my reflection in the stream nearby. Sixteen years old, a multi-regional Champion, and now a mentor.
I guess the 'bodyguard' job is turning into a 'teacher' job, I thought with a smile. Pikachu hopped off my shoulder and started sharing a Pecha berry with Monferno. Eevee was curled up on Grotle's back, taking a nap.
Pearl said, his mouth half-full of a sandwich, "Hey, Azure?"
I replied, "Yeah?"
Pearl grinned as he stated in a confident tone with a proud voice, "Next time… we're taking down that Rhyhorn."
I chuckled, leaning back against the cool grass as I fired back, "I look forward to it, Pearl. But next time, I might just bring out the Ursaluna. So you better keep training."
The look of pure horror on Pearl's face was worth the price of the berries alone. Route 205 was quiet once more, but the journey had only just begun.
Eterna City was waiting, and with it, the mysteries of the Berlitz family and the growing shadow of Team Galactic. But looking at the trio, I knew they were ready. And if they weren't?
Well, that's what a bodyguard is for––
*Shiver*
I felt a shiver run down my spine. I turned to look around but couldn't understand why… it must've been the wind…
/////
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Meanwhile, Pallet Town – Sky's Airship]
*Click*
*Click*
Meanwhile, back at Azure's Airship in Pallet Town, a certain ghostly Pokémon was tapping on a mobile computer. The Ghostly figure revealed to be Azure's Gengar as it spoke to itself, "Gen… gar… (Okay… and… there!)"
*Tap*
Clicking on the enter tab, the screen changed to reveal an educational language video as it played, "Hello, fellow language speakers! Today, we will learn how to speak…"
Gengar grinned, rubbing her hands mischievously as she cackled happily, "Gen! Gar! Gen!! Kikikiki!! (Hehehe!! It's about time to level up my ways to mock people to their faces! It's time to learn human language to see their shocked faces and my impeccable singing voice!)."
Gengar cackled happily as she began to learn the human language on her own. But that's a story for another time…
/////
A/N: Hope you liked the chapter and would you guys like some chapters what Azure's Pokemon do while his in his journey?