Chapter 106: Screech Pokémon
~Third POV~
[Alola Region, Weeks Later, Melemele Island, Route 2 – Hau'oli Cemetery]
Azure Sky, a name whispered with respect and awe in the Kanto region, stood at the Hau'oli Cemetery, the humid Alolan air thick with the scent of plumeria and the salty tang of the ocean. He was a student once more, a temporary resident of the Alola region, a Z-Power Ring gleaming on his wrist.
His partners, Pikachu and Eevee, nuzzled against his legs, their familiar presence a comforting anchor in the strange new land. Behind him, nestled in his backpack, were the restless Poké Balls containing Charmeleon, Ivysaur, and Wartortle – his new team, forged in the Alolan sun.
He had come to Alola seeking knowledge, a deeper understanding of Pokémon and their bond with humans. He knew he was a powerful trainer, but he felt a hollowness in his knowledge – a lack of formal learning that sometimes left him feeling inadequate, especially around the more strategically minded trainers like Blue.
The experience had been humbling and enlightening. He'd learned about Z-Moves, the unique relationship between Pokémon and the land of Alola, and the importance of understanding a Pokémon's natural abilities rather than just relying on raw power.
He earned his Z-Ring after completing his Island Trial, yet his journey had been abruptly halted when he inadvertently purified a corrupted Spiritomb within this very cemetery. The experience was overwhelming, leaving him hospitalized and shaken.
Now, weeks later, he was back, drawn by an inexplicable force. He asked Pikachu and Eevee, his voice barely above a whisper, "Ready, guys?"
They chirped in agreement, their tails twitching nervously, "Pika. Bui!"
The cemetery exuded an unsettling aura, a palpable chill that belied the tropical climate. Gravestones, weathered by time and sea air, leaned at odd angles, casting long, distorted shadows in the late afternoon sun.
He wasn't just here for closure; he was here to learn on an assignment. He wanted to understand the spiritual connection between Pokémon and the afterlife, to confront his fear of the unknown.
And, if he was lucky, he hoped to find a Misdreavus, a mischievous Ghost-type Pokémon that perfectly embodied the ethereal nature of this place. He envisioned training it, mastering Ghost-type moves, and adding a new dimension to his battling style.
Plus, he was planning a journey to Johto after his Alolan sojourn, and Misdreavus, with its origins in Johto, seemed like the perfect companion for that leg of his journey. And if he were lucky, finding a Dusk Stone would be very helpful.
He took a deep breath and stepped carefully between the gravestones, Pikachu perched on his shoulder, and Eevee padding softly at his heels. He murmured, more to himself than to his Pokémon, "Let's be respectful."
As he ventured deeper, the air grew colder. He could feel the weight of unseen eyes watching him, a prickling sensation on the back of his neck.
He stopped before a particularly old-looking gravestone, its inscription almost completely worn away. He called out, his voice echoing slightly in the stillness, "Is anyone there?"
A faint, spectral wail answered him. A wispy, purple form materialized before him, its large, round eyes regarding him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
It was a Misdreavus. It whispered, its voice like the rustling of silk, "Mis…"
Azure's heart leaped. He reached for a Poké Ball, his fingers trembling with excitement. But he paused as he used his Viridian Force.
Something about this Misdreavus felt different. There was a sadness in its eyes, a weariness in its spectral movements. He asked softly, "Are you alright?"
The Misdreavus tilted its head, its gaze unwavering. It floated closer, its ethereal body brushing against his hand.
*Shiii*
Azure used his Viridian Force to see Misdreavus' past to understand. A jolt of cold energy coursed through him, followed by a vision – a fleeting image of a young woman, standing by this very gravestone, weeping.
Azure gasped, pulling his hand back. He understood. This Misdreavus was tied to this place, a lingering presence mourning a lost loved one. He lowered his Poké Ball, his initial desire to catch the Pokémon fading away.
He couldn't simply capture it, not when it was so clearly bound by grief. He said, his voice filled with empathy, "I understand. You're protecting this place, remembering someone special."
The Misdreavus seemed to relax slightly, its purple aura dimming. It let out a soft, mournful cry, "Mis…"
Azure sat down on the ground, his back against the gravestone. Pikachu and Eevee nuzzled against him, sensing his shift in mood.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the image of the grieving woman. He channeled his energy, his connection with his Pokémon deepening the sense of peace and understanding within him.
In that moment, Azure took out the Poke Flute. He began to hum a melody, a simple tune that helped ease the Pokémon and departed souls.
The melody filled the cemetery, a soothing balm against the lingering sadness. Pikachu and Eevee joined in, their cries harmonizing with his hum.
The Misdreavus floated closer, drawn to the music. It circled them, its ethereal form shimmering in the fading light.
Slowly, the sadness in its eyes began to dissipate, replaced by a flicker of hope. He continued to play the Poke Flute, his heart filled with compassion.
He didn't know how long he sat there, but as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, he felt a shift in the atmosphere. The chill in the air receded, replaced by a gentle warmth.
The Misdreavus floated before him, its eyes now bright with a newfound energy. It nudged his cheek with its spectral body, a gesture of gratitude.
Then, to his surprise, it bumped the Pokéball at his belt. It was a clear sign!
He blinked, stunned. He stammered, hardly daring to believe it, "You… you want to come with me?"
The Misdreavus nodded, its eyes sparkling with anticipation, "Mis! Misdreavus…!"
Azure carefully picked up the Poké Ball and held it out. He asked curiously, "Are you sure, Misdreavus?"
The Misdreavus responded with a soft, ethereal laugh and tapped the button with its head, "Mis!"
The Poké Ball clicked, and the Misdreavus vanished into a beam of red light. The ball shook once, twice, then clicked, signaling a successful capture.
*BON*
He held the Poké Ball in his hand, a surge of joy coursing through him. He had caught a Misdreavus, but more importantly, he had helped a lost spirit find peace.
He stood up, Pikachu and Eevee jumping to their feet beside him. The Hau'oli Cemetery no longer felt ominous, but serene, bathed in the soft glow of twilight.
He took out his Arc Phone, checking on Misdreavus' status. He smirked, impressed by this Misdreavus status.
|Name: Misdreavus (Screech Pokémon)
|Type: Ghost
|Level: 11
|Gender: Female
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Levitate
|Nature: Timid
|Moves: Growl, Psywave, Spite, Astonish, Confusion, Hypnosis, Shadow Sneak, Ominous Wind (EM) (4 Moves Left to learn)
[Misdreavus the Screech Pokémon. Misdreavus lives in caves. As a nocturnal Pokémon, it spends its days sleeping in darkness and its nights startling people with mischievous tricks. Since it loves watching frightened people, it is known to yank and bite at people's hair or sneak up on them and cry and shriek in a way a child would.
Misdreavus can use its "hair" to grasp objects and other Pokémon, as if it were hands. Flutter Mane shares a resemblance to Misdreavus. It was theorized to be a giant Misdreavus reborn as a pterosaur ghost.]
He knew this was just the beginning of his journey. He still had much to learn, much to experience.
But he was now more confident than ever, not just in his battling skills, but in his ability to connect with Pokémon on a deeper level, to understand their needs and their desires. He knew the Johto region was beckoning him, and he was ready to answer the call, Misdreavus by his side.
/////
[Alola Region, Next Day, Melemele Island, Hau'oli City – Pokémon School]
The next morning, Azure approached Professor Kukui's classroom with a newfound spring in his step. He saw Kiawe, Mallow, Lana, and Sophocles already gathered, chatting excitedly about Pokémon.
Ilima was there too, radiating an aura of quiet confidence. As he approached, Ilima turned to him, a warm smile on his face as he greeted him, "Azure! Glad to see you're feeling better. We were all worried when you were in the Pokémon School Nurse Room."
Azure replied, returning the smile as he rubbed the back of his head, "Thanks, Ilima. I'm feeling much better now. I caught a new Pokémon yesterday."
He held up the Poké Ball containing Misdreavus. The other students gasped in surprise. Mallow exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder, "A Misdreavus? That's incredible!"
Lana nodded as she added in an impressed tone, gazing at him, "I heard they're quite rare around here."
Kiawe stepped forward, his fiery gaze meeting Azure's. He grinned as he said, "I expect to see you use it in battle soon, Azure. I want to see what you can do."
Azure nodded, his competitive spirit ignited. He replied excitedly, "You got it, Kiawe. Prepare to be surprised."
He spent the rest of the day in class, absorbing every bit of knowledge he could. He studied the intricacies of Z-Moves, the unique characteristics of Alolan Pokémon, and the importance of respecting the natural environment.
He trained with his Alolan team throughout the day; his Pokémon were ecstatic to have Misdreavus as their new teammate and took every moment to play with it and learn about their new friend. After school, he trained his new Misdreavus near the beach, where they were able to connect more.
As the day came to an end, Azure stood on the beach, watching the sunset paint the sky with vibrant colors. Pikachu and Eevee were frolicking in the sand, while Misdreavus hovered nearby, its ethereal form glowing in the twilight.
He smiled. The world was vast and full of wonder, and he was eager to explore it all.
*Zzzzz*
In a golden flash of lightning trail Tapu Koko found its trainer bonding with Misdreavus. It tilted its head, confused.
Azure turned to see Tapu Koko as he greeted him in a casual tone, "Hey Tapu Koko. You seem confused?"
Tapu Koko bobbed its head, agreeing as it leaned closer, extending its hand. Azure grasped it using his Viridian Force to translate its thought, 'I'm confused about you? You have the power to beat me. Yet requested me to obtain the Z-Crystals, granting more power? Yet your kindness with your Pokémon doesn't strike me as greedy human that Tapu Fini deal with…'
Understanding his point, Azure sighed as he explained to Tapu Koko, listening to its trainer's words, eyes widening through the Viridian Force, 'Sigh… because I need them for a future threat. A threat that I might not be able to defeat even with Mega Evolution. It was the main reason why I came to the Alola Region seeking greater power from the Z-Crystal to use Z-Moves, and even though… I fear that might not be even enough.'
Tapu Koko's eyes widened, hearing this. It could sense Azure's genuine concern as Misdreavus looked nervous at their guardian, but Pikachu and Eevee calmed her down in the background.
Tapu Koko stood for a moment, understanding his words. But as it wasn't within the Alola Region, it wasn't Tapu Koko's concern but seeing how such a trainer interested him and sparing against his other Pokémon felt conflicted.
Thinking for a moment, Tapu Koko said before it left, 'Wait one second.'
*Zzzzz*
Waiting for a few minutes, Tapu Koko appeared in a trail of electricity as it said with Azure using Viridian Force to translate, 'I might not help you in your battles as it's not my duty. But… it doesn't mean I can support you with these stones. They'll help you greatly and for the little one next to you.'
*Zzzz*
Finishing his words, Azure looked at the stones left to him. His eyes widened using [Observe], realizing these important evolutionary stones.
[Item: Moon Stone
Rarity Item: S+
Type: Evolution Stone
Description: A peculiar stone that can make certain species of Pokémon evolve. It is as black as the night sky. However, unlike the other stones, this one can be used infinitely without losing power.]
[Item: Sun Stone
Rarity Item: S+
Type: Evolution Stone
Description: A peculiar stone that can make certain species of Pokémon evolve. It burns as red as the evening sun. However, unlike the other stones, this one can be used infinitely without losing power.]
[Item: Shiny Stone
Rarity Item: S+
Type: Evolution Stone
Description: A peculiar stone that can make certain species of Pokémon evolve. It shines with a dazzling light. However, unlike the other stones, this one can be used infinitely without losing power.]
[Item: Dusk Stone
Rarity Item: S+
Type: Evolution Stone
Description: A peculiar stone that can make certain species of Pokémon evolve. It holds shadows as dark as can be. However, unlike the other stones, this one can be used infinitely without losing power.]
[Item: Dawn Stone
Rarity Item: S+
Type: Evolution Stone
Description: A peculiar stone that can make certain species of Pokémon evolve. It sparkles like a glittering eye. However, unlike the other stones, this one can be used infinitely without losing power.]
[Item: Ice Stone
Rarity Item: S+
Type: Evolution Stone
Description: A peculiar stone that can make certain species of Pokémon evolve. It has a snowflake pattern in it. However, unlike the other stones, this one can be used infinitely without losing power.]
Azure's eyes widened, seeing this, but she smiled, storing them in his Sub-Space. He smirked as he said happily, "These will be useful. Thanks for being considerate, Tapu Koko… but I wonder if he'll be this kind if I asked Tapu if it could show us where the Totem Pokemon are so I can use them to grind the Kanto Trio... Heh."
/////
A/N: Goal of 150PS for a Bonus Chapter!