Chapter 44: Intertwining Pokémon
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Later, Celadon City]
The neon lights of Celadon City buzzed around Azure and his team as they stepped out of the Pokémon Center. After the somber experience in Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower, the vibrant energy of the city felt almost jarring.
He adjusted the strap of his backpack, a wave of exhaustion washing over him. He'd been pushing himself hard, trying to balance training with exploring, all while navigating the complexities of the world around him.
Beside him, Pikachu, his ever-faithful partner, chirped reassuringly, nuzzling against his leg. Azure smiled, scratching behind Pikachu's ears in a thankful tone, "Thanks, buddy. I'm just a bit tired."
The rest of his team milled about, each adjusting to the change of scenery in their way. Growlithe, always radiating a quiet intensity, surveyed the surroundings with narrowed eyes, his fiery spirit burning brightly.
Dragonair, graceful as ever, floated gently, her smooth scales shimmering in the artificial light. Eevee, usually brimming with boundless energy, seemed a little subdued, perhaps still processing the events of the past few days.
And then there was Gastly, the newest member of their team. Gastly remained a wispy presence, hovering silently a few feet off the ground.
Her large, vacant eyes seemed to absorb everything around her, but Azure couldn't quite decipher what she was thinking. He knew she was lonely in the Pokémon Tower, a place of rest for Pokémon, but only the sad ones remained.
He decided to change that. He was proud that she trusted him enough to join the team to help add a Ghost-type to his team.
*Clap*
Azure announced, clapping his hands together in a happy tone, "Alright, team. Time to get settled in, and then we'll start training."
Erika allowed Azure to use the dorms in her Gym for him to live in safety. It wasn't luxurious, but it was clean and had enough space for his Pokémon to stretch their legs.
After quickly unpacking, Azure gathered his team in the larger of the two dorm rooms provided by Erika. He said, turning to Gastly in a calm tone, "Okay, first things first. Gastly, welcome to the team! I know you haven't been with us long, but we're all here for each other. Don't be afraid to let us know if you need anything."
Gastly remained silent, but Azure thought he detected a slight shift in her expression, perhaps a flicker of something akin to gratitude. He smiled encouragingly as he said happily, "We're going to work on getting you comfortable with your abilities and maybe even evolving into a Haunter."
Next, he turned his attention to Eevee, whose ears perked up immediately. He explained to her in a happy tone, "Eevee, we're going to focus on those Partner Moves today. Remember how strong Pikachu's Pika Papow and Splishy Splash were? I want you to be able to use moves similar to his. Are you ready?"
Eevee barked enthusiastically, tail wagging furiously. She was eager to prove herself, to contribute to the team in a meaningful way.
Azure knew she had the potential; she just needed the right guidance and practice. For the next few hours, Azure dedicated himself to training.
He started with Gastly, gently guiding her through basic Ghost-type moves. He was careful not to push her too hard, aware of her fragile emotional state. He taught her Night Shade, watching as she struggled to maintain concentration, her form flickering in and out of focus.
Then they practiced Lick, which she seemed to find slightly easier, a mischievous glint appearing in her eyes as she successfully contacted a nearby training dummy from Erika's Gym. Azure praised, genuinely impressed by her progress, "Good job, Gastly! You're a natural."
Gastly tilted her head, the compliment seemingly unexpected. Azure continued to encourage her, explaining the importance of controlling her energy and focusing her intent on her Ghost-type energy.
Meanwhile, Eevee was working tirelessly on mastering the Partner Moves. Pikachu, acting as both a mentor and a cheerleader, demonstrated Pika Papow and Splishy Splash repeatedly, guiding Eevee through the motions.
Eevee struggled at first, her attempts lacking the force and precision of Pikachu's. But Azure kept him motivated with words of encouragement, reminding her to visualize the energy flowing through his body.
*BOOOM*
Growlithe and Dragonair engaged in their form of training, sparring in the corner of the room. Growlithe's fiery attacks clashed with Dragonair's graceful Bubblebeam, creating a dazzling display of elemental power.
Azure kept a watchful eye on them, ensuring the sparring remained controlled and productive. While watching them, he could see the two respect each other greatly, trying to one-up each other as he thought, 'Huh… They do seem to get along very well. I wonder if they'll develop feelings for how they're going at it?'
*BOOOOM*
Whatever friendly thoughts of his Dragon and Puppy Pokémon forming a relationship ended there as one launched a Hyper Beam and the other a Strong Style Raging Fury. He had a deadpan expression, seeing the damage they're doing as he thought, 'Nope. Seems like I was mistaken to think that. Hopefully Growlithe would learn Close Combat from this.'
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the room, Azure called a halt to the training as he announced in an excited tone, "Alright, everyone, that's enough for today. You all did great!"
He could see the weariness in their eyes, but also a sense of accomplishment. Gastly seemed more solid, her presence more defined.
Eevee, though still unsuccessful in mastering the Partner Moves, had made significant progress, her determination unwavering. After a simple dinner of Pokémon food and sandwiches, Azure gathered his team for a final briefing as he said, "Tomorrow, we're going to explore Celadon City a bit. There's a lot to see and do here. We'll visit the department store. And of course, we'll continue training."
He paused, looking at each of his Pokémon in turn. He continued as he explained calmly with a grin, "We're a team, remember? We support each other, we learn from each other, and we grow stronger together. No matter what challenges we face, we'll face them together."
/////
[Kanto Region, Next Day, Celadon City]
The next day dawned bright and clear. After a hearty breakfast, Azure and his team ventured out into the bustling streets of Celadon City.
The Celadon Department Store was their first stop, a towering behemoth of consumerism. Azure let his Pokémon wander, browsing the various floors filled with everything from fashion to furniture.
Pikachu was captivated by the toy section, his eyes wide with wonder as he gazed at a display of plush Pokémon dolls. Eevee, always curious, explored the perfume aisle, sniffing at the various scents with a delicate nose.
Growlithe, surprisingly, seemed interested in the gardening section, perhaps drawn to the fiery hues of the exotic flowers. Dragonair floated serenely through the clothing department, trailing a shimmering aura of elegance.
Gastly, however, remained close to Azure's side, seemingly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people and stimuli. He gently reassured her, guiding her through the crowds and pointing out interesting items.
After the department store, they made their way to the Celadon City Gym, home to Erika, the Grass-type expert. Azure knew his team needed to be more well-rounded before. However, he wanted to observe her battle style for future reference.
He watched as Erika effortlessly defeated a series of challengers, her Grass-type Pokémon unleashing a barrage of powerful attacks. Azure took mental notes, analyzing her strategies and identifying potential usage to add for his own.
/////
[Kanto Region, a Week Later, Celadon City]
As the days turned into a single week, Azure and his team settled into a comfortable routine in Celadon City. They trained diligently, exploring the city and forging stronger bonds with each other.
Gastly began to open, her shyness gradually fading as she grew more comfortable with her new teammates. She even started to display a playful side, startling unsuspecting passersby with mischievous pranks.
Eevee continued to work on the Partner Moves, her determination fueled by a desire to prove herself. Azure could see her frustration at times, but he also saw her unwavering spirit.
He knew it was only a matter of time before she unlocked her full potential. One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, Azure found Eevee sitting alone on a rooftop of Celadon City overlooking the city.
He approached her cautiously, sensing her inner turmoil. He said softly, sitting down beside her, "Hey, Eevee. What's wrong?"
Eevee sighed, her ears drooping. Her voice filled with dejection cried out, "Eevow… Eevowww…"
Sensing her dejected tone, Azure put his arm around her, pulling him close as he said in a soft voice in a firm tone, "No worries, Eevee. You're stronger than you think. You've come so far already."
He paused, searching for the right words. Rubbing her head, scratching Eevee's ear, he said calmly, "Look, Eevee, it's not just about the moves themselves. It's about the connection you have with your trainer. It's about the bond of trust and understanding. You and I, we have that, Eevee. We're partners."
He looked into her eyes, his gaze unwavering. He grinned as he said confidently, "I believe in you, Eevee. I know you can do this."
Eevee looked back at him, her eyes filled with tears. But in those tears, Azure also saw a spark of renewed determination. She nuzzled against him, a silent promise to keep trying her best.
And then, as if on cue, a surge of energy coursed through Eevee's body. She began to glow, her fur shimmering with an ethereal light.
*Shiii*
Azure watched in amazement as he transformed, her form shifting and evolving. The transformation was complete; standing before him was a Sylveon, a beautiful Fairy-type Pokémon, its ribbons flowing gently in the breeze.
Sylveon is a quadrupedal, mammalian Pokémon covered with pale cream-colored fur with pink feet, ears, and tail. It has light blue eyes, long ears with blue interiors and thicker fur, a tiny nose, two stray tufts of fur on top of its head, and two pointed teeth which can be seen when it opens its mouth. There are two bows on its body: one at the base of its left ear and one at its neck.
Each bow is pale cream with a pink center and trails a pair of ribbon-like feelers. These feelers, which can be manipulated like limbs and extended far beyond their typical length, are pale cream and end at the tips with a pink stripe, then a dark blue stripe, and then a light blue color. It has slender legs with small, three-toed paws and a fluffy, slightly curved tail.
Azure knew that the bond he had with Eevee caused her to evolve. Sylveon cried out happily, nuzzling against Azure's cheek.
He hugged her tightly, overwhelmed with joy and pride. He exclaimed, his voice choked with emotion, "You did it, Eevee! I knew you could!"
Sylveon, radiating confidence and grace, unleashed a powerful Disarming Voice, the force of the attack nearly knocking Azure off his feet. He had finally mastered her abilities, her potential fully realized.
Azure checked his Arc Phone, rubbing Sylveon's head. She nuzzled happily, having a ribbon wrapped around his hand.
[Sylveon the Intertwining Pokémon. Sylveon's ribbon-like feelers emit a soothing aura that erases any sense of hostility, enabling it to stop fights instantly. Sylveon's soothing aura can allow any nearby Trainers to obtain a good night's sleep whenever they go to sleep. When hunting, it swirls its feelers as a distraction while the aura weakens feelings of hostility in its prey, then it pounces on the victim.
It will also wrap its feelers around its Trainer's arm as they walk together, which allows it to read their feelings. When a fight breaks out between Sylveon and Dragon-type Pokémon, Sylveon will bravely charge at them even if they are much bigger than itself; in Galar, this feat is told as a fairy tale.]
From that day forward, the bond between Azure and Sylveon grew even stronger. Together, they continued their journey, facing every challenge with courage, determination, and the unwavering support of their team.