Chapter 114: Armor Bird Pokémon
~Third POV~
[Johto Region, Next Day, Violet City]
In Violet City, Gold and his Aipom arrived as he sighed, rubbing his stomach, "Man, am I hungry…"
"Thief!! Stop him!!"
"S-Somebody –!!"
But soon, a thief steals Earl Dervish's package and escapes on his herd of Donphan. Gold is buying a rice cake as he says happily, "Yeah! One of your famous rice cakes! This looks so good…"
*DMDM*
*DMDM*
*DMDM*
But when the thief passes by, his rice cake gets covered in dirt, thanks to his herd of Donphan ruining it. Gold tried to get a new one, but the owner said sternly, "I'm not the one who got dirt all over it!!"
Enraged, Gold chases after the thief as he brings his skateboard in a pissed tone, "So that guy thinks he can mess up my rice cake and get away with it, does he?! Fat chance!! Get back here!!"
Riding his skateboard after the thief, the Earl asked Gold for his assistance, "Ah, young man! Are you going to get my pouch back for me? I'd be so grateful!"
*WMP*
Earl asks Gold to recover his bag for him. But Gold bluntly stated, riding past him, "Get your pouch back? I wasn't planning on it! I just want him to pay for my rice cake!"
*WMP*
Earl slipped down in shock at Gold's blunt words. Gold continues chasing the thief and says that all the thief needs to do is buy him a new rice cake. The thief orders Donphan to attack, "Nuisance! Donphan, Horn Attack!"
Avoiding the attack, Gold retaliates as he orders Aibo, "Double Team!"
This causes Donphan to get confused and crash into a wall, defeated. Gold smirked, seeing this as another Donphan crashed landed, and the pouch was flown over to Gold as he jokingly said, "That's why I ever follow the herd! Ahahaha!!!"
To thank Gold, Earl buys him a huge stack of rice cakes. Earl then tells Gold that Professor Elm's assistant is coming to Violet City. Meanwhile, Professor Oak and Professor Elm are having a conversation about Gold. Professor Oak says he is worried because Gold is even more hotheaded than Red.
Back in Violet City, Gold says that he needs to get some results or Professor Elm's assistant will yell at him for taking Exbo. He asks the thief if he has seen Silver, but the thief hasn't. Luckily for Gold, a nearby girl has seen him. She tells Gold that Silver is at Sprout Tower as he recklessly rushes over.
/////
[Johto Region, Meanwhile, Violet City]
Meanwhile, as Gold chases after Silver in Sprout Tower, Azure has just arrived at Violet City. Now, standing at the entrance to Violet City, he felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness.
He had heard that Violet City was home to the Violet City Gym, led by the Flying-type expert, Falkner's Father. A chance to earn his first Johto League badge!
However, the whispers carried on the wind had pricked his ears more than the promise of any badge. Rumors of a powerful Pokémon, exhibiting unusual aggression, rampaging in the area outside the city.
A Pokémon unlike any seen before. The responsible thing to do would be to head straight to the Gym.
But responsibility had never been Azure's strong suit, not when the allure of the unknown beckoned. He confided in his partners as he asked curiously, "Pikachu, Eevee, what do you think? Gym first, or investigate the rumors first?"
Pikachu, always eager for a challenge, hopped off his shoulder and sparked a small jolt of electricity in agreement. Eevee, usually more cautious, let out a determined, "Eevee!"
Azure grinned. He knew what he had to do. He decided against heading straight to the Gym, "Alright, adventure calls!"
Instead, he asked some locals in Violet City about the rumors. An old woman selling berries pointed him towards the west, towards Route 36, muttering about a metallic screeching that kept her awake at night.
Hearing this, Azure smirked, adjusting his cap. His heartbeat increased as excitement followed his body turning to Route 36 Gate.
/////
[Johto Region, Later, Route 36]
Route 36 was a stark contrast to the peaceful routes he had traveled before. The air felt heavy, charged with an unidentifiable tension.
The trees lining the path were scarred, their bark ripped and shredded. The usually vibrant green of the foliage was dulled, coated in a fine layer of dust.
He walked cautiously, Pikachu on high alert, his cheeks crackling with electricity. Wooper, despite his usual cheerful demeanor, stuck closer to Azure's leg than usual.
Larvitar, sensing the unease, finally woke up and clung tightly to the inside of the backpack. Only Misdreavus seemed unbothered, flitting through the damaged trees, its eerie laughter echoing in the unsettling silence.
*Swooosh*
Suddenly, a flash of silver caught his eye. A gigantic Pokémon, its body a gleaming suit of armor, was perched atop a rocky outcropping. Its wings, sharp as razors, were spread wide, as if challenging the world.
It was a Skarmory, but unlike any Skarmory Azure had ever seen. Its plumage, normally a dull grey, shone with an almost unnatural brilliance. Its eyes, normally calm and calculating, burned with a fierce, almost manic energy.
The Skarmory unleashed a deafening screech that echoed through the route, the sound grating and metallic, sending shivers down Azure's spine. Trees swayed in the force of the sound, and small pebbles danced on the ground.
Fear, mixed with a healthy dose of awe, gripped Azure. This was the Pokémon he had heard about, the one that was supposed to be captured by Falkner.
This was the source of the unrest. Azure shouted, his voice barely audible above the echoing screech, "Skarmory! What's going on? Why are you doing this?"
The Skarmory turned its head, its burning gaze fixing on Azure. For a moment, it seemed to consider him, its eyes narrowing. Then, it let out another ear-splitting screech and launched itself from the rock, diving towards him with incredible speed, "Skar!!"
*SWOOOSH*
Azure yelled, adrenaline coursing through his veins, "Pikachu, use Extreme Speed!"
*Zoooom*
Pikachu, responding instantly, shot forward like a yellow lightning bolt, slamming into the Skarmory before it could reach Azure. The impact barely seemed to faze the armored Pokémon, which retaliated with a brutal Wing Attack to counterattack.
*Wooosh*
But it missed as Pikachu avoided it with Agility, landing back towards Azure. Eevee leaped from the backpack, landing gracefully on the ground, its fur bristling. It barked, ready for battle, "Eevow!"
Azure commanded, "Eevee, use Covet!"
*Swoosh*
Eevee charged, but the Skarmory was too fast. It avoided the attack with ease and retaliated with another Wing Attack, only for Eevee to avoid with ease, much to the Armor Bird Pokémon's annoyance.
Azure quickly moved his hand over Houndour's Poke Ball on his belt. He recalled Houndour, his Dark/Fire-type companion.
Houndour's Fire typing gave it an advantage. Azure shouted, releasing Houndour from its Poké ball, "Houndour, I need your help!"
*Pop*
Houndour, eager to battle, emerged with a fierce bark, "Awooo!"
Prepared for battle, Azure smirked as he ordered, "Houndour, use Flamethrower!"
*Sssss*
Houndour unleashed a stream of fire towards Skarmory, but the Skarmory dodged the attack with practiced ease, its metallic body reflecting the flames. Azure realized he had to try a different approach.
He thought about the rumors he had heard. The old woman had mentioned a screeching sound as he thought curiously, 'Could there be something wrong with the Skarmory?'
He remembered a passage from his Arc Phone relating to taking care of Pokémon for an essay he did in the Alola Region. It spoke of instances in which Pokémon in pain would act aggressively.
Thinking this, Azure shouted again, trying to project his voice, "Skarmory! I don't want to fight you! I just want to understand! Are you hurt? Is something wrong?"
The Skarmory paused in its attack, hovering in the air, its gaze still intense, but now holding a flicker of something else… confusion? Pain?
Azure couldn't be sure. He took a step forward, slowly, carefully. He said, his voice softer now, using his Viridian Force to give off a comfortable feeling, "I'm Azure. And these are my friends. We just want to help."
*Fwp*
The Skarmory flapped its wings nervously, its eyes darting from Azure to his Pokémon. It was worried but felt the Viridian Force coming off from Azure, releasing a comfortable presence as it looked conflicted.
Finally, it let out a low, mournful screech, a sound that was different from the earlier, aggressive cries, "Skar… Skar!!"
This was a sound of distress. Azure continued to approach, his heart pounding in his chest. He noticed something then, something he had missed in the heat of the battle.
One of Skarmory's wings was damaged from where Azure saw. Not visibly broken, but there was a dark stain spreading across its metallic feathers, and it was holding the wing at an unnatural angle.
He stopped a few feet from the Skarmory, extending his hand slowly. He said gently, "I see it. Your wing is hurt. We can help you."
The Skarmory hesitated, then slowly lowered its head, allowing Azure to approach. He carefully examined the wing.
There was a deep gash hidden beneath the feathers, possibly caused by a sharp rock or a falling tree branch. The wound looked infected. He smirked as he placed his hand over its wound using his Viridian Force.
*Shiii*
A green light covered Skarmory's wing as it began to rapidly heal. Skarmory blinked, stunned, seeing this, but didn't resist, instead feeling comfortable as if the wound wasn't there.
As Azure tended to the wound, he felt a strange connection with the Skarmory. He could sense its pain, its fear, its loneliness. He understood now why it had been acting so aggressively. It was hurt, and it was scared.
When he was finished, he stepped back, giving the Skarmory some space. He said in a gentle tone, "There. That should help. It will take time to heal, but you'll be alright."
The Skarmory looked at Azure with gratitude in its eyes. It let out a soft coo, a sound that was almost melodic, "Ska…"
It nudged Azure with its head, a gesture of thanks. Then, to Azure's surprise, the Skarmory lowered its head further, offering its open Pokéball-ready head to Azure.
It wanted to be caught. Azure blinked, surprised.
He had initially planned on confronting and calming the Pokémon, as well as catching it. But looking at the Skarmory, at its powerful, yet vulnerable presence, he felt an undeniable pull. He knew, somehow, that this was meant to be.
He picked up an empty Pokéball and gently touched it to the Skarmory's head. The Skarmory willingly was absorbed inside the ball, as the ball clicked shut, signaling a successful capture, much to his joy.
*BON*
Azure picked up the Pokéball, his heart pounding with excitement. He had just caught a Skarmory, a rare and powerful Pokémon. And not just any Skarmory, but a Skarmory with a story, a Skarmory that needed his help.
He looked down at Pikachu, Eevee, Houndour, Wooper, Misdreavus, and Larvitar, his team. They had all played their part in calming the Skarmory, in showing it kindness and compassion.
They were more than just Pokémon; they were his friends, his partners. He knew that his journey in Johto was just beginning. And he couldn't wait to see what adventures lay ahead of them.
Checking his Arc Phone, his eyes widened seeing its level. And grinned, making the right choice, claiming it before Falkner.
[Skarmory, the Armor Bird Pokémon. There are red feathers under the sheaths that cover its sharp wings, and each feather can be moved independently. Its wings are hollow, allowing it to travel up to 185 mph (300 km/h).
Its steel wings become tattered and bashed in from repeated battles, but once a year, the battered wings grow back completely. This process restores the cutting edges of its feathers, which are sharp enough to be used as blades and sharper than any man-made sword.
Its skin and feathers are solid due to being raised in very harsh conditions. Its nests are usually found in thorn bushes, where continual scratching of a young individual's skin will eventually harden it into an iron-like state. However, water can cause Skarmory's hard body to rust easily, so it stays in its nest on rainy days.
In ancient regions where these Pokémon are common, warriors would use the sharp feathers that fell off Skarmory as swords. It is a popular Pokémon that is used for heraldic designs, and in Galar, it has violent territorial clashes with Corviknight.]
|Name: Skarmory (Armor Bird Pokémon)
|Type: Steel/Flying
|Level: 30
|Gender: Female
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Keen Eye
|Nature: Impish
|Moves: Leer, Peck, Sand Attack, Fury Attack, Metal Claw, Agility, Wing Attack, Slash, Swift, Air Cutter, Feint, Spikes, Whirlwind, Fly (HM), Steel Wing (IM), Roost (EM) (6 Moves left to learn)
Azure smirked, seeing its move sets already know which role Skarmory is taking. He thought of examining the status in an excited tone, 'This Skarmory is a beast! Spikes and Whirlwind! Add Stealth Rocks, Toxic, and Taunt… man, this is gonna be a key controller in my team.'
And with his team beside him, he knew he was ready for anything. He returned his other Pokémon, then took his Skarmory out of its Pokéball as he said happily, "Welcome to the team. I'm Azure, and we're going to be great partners."
But their perfect moment was interrupted when someone declared, "Azure Sky! I challenge you to a battle!"
Azure felt mildly annoyed, turning his head. His annoyance shifted to surprise and confusion, seeing Soul Silver himself challenging him, as question marks appeared above his head, confused.
/////
A/N: New goal of 50 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!