Chapter 283: Escape
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Nighttime, Route 121]
As the last echoes of the destruction faded, Gardevoir, her eyes glowing with psychic energy, had materialized above the chaos. With a silent nod, she had gathered Azure and his immediate companions into her telekinetic embrace, warping them away from the inevitable, frantic response of Team Aqua's remnants and Lilycove's authorities.
*Shiii*
They reappeared on the quiet, winding embrace of Route 121, nestled on the outskirts of Lilycove City – a place of verdant tranquility far removed from the urban sprawl and the recent devastation. Azure, despite the adrenaline still thrumming beneath his skin, felt a profound sense of relief.
He meticulously set up his tent, the last rays of the sun painting the horizon in hues of orange and purple. While Pikachu and Eevee, ever-present, explored the immediate vicinity with curious chirps and energetic bounds, Azure released a few more of his Hoenn team from their Poké Balls.
*Pop*
His stoic Sceptile, the majestic Ninetales with her flowing tails, and the intelligent Manectric. They stretched, enjoying the open space, while Gardevoir maintained a vigilant psychic perimeter.
After a hearty, albeit simple, meal and a check-up on his Pokémon, Azure had finally allowed himself to rest, drifting into a deep, well-deserved sleep. Azure, despite the adrenaline still thrumming beneath his skin, felt a profound sense of relief.
Resting his head inside his sleeping bag, as he felt the sleepiness of his eyes, he muttered calmly, "Good night, guys…"
Azure slowly began to sleep as his Pokémon came closer to him. They all drifted to sleep after a good night's work…
/////
[Hoenn Region, Next Day, Route 121]
The morning light, dappling through the tent flap, found Azure stirring. A soft weight against his side, a gentle rise and fall, hinted at a presence.
He opened his eyes to see a magnificent Milotic, its iridescent scales shimmering faintly even in the subdued light, curled up beside him. He smiled, patting Milotic's head.
Her long, serpentine body formed a protective arc, her head resting near his chest, a soft, contented purr emanating from her, "Mill…"
A warm smile touched Azure's lips. This Milotic was the final, hard-won prize from the Team Aqua base. Azure had seen the fear, the pain in her eyes, even as she fought back with elegant fury.
He had intervened, not just to dismantle their base, but to liberate this magnificent creature. When the dust settled and Team Aqua's grunts were rounded up, Milotic had chosen to stay with him, a testament to the brief yet profound connection they'd forged in the crucible of battle.
He gently reached out, stroking her smooth, cool head. He murmured, her soft croon a response, "Good morning, Milotic. Sleep well?"
As he emerged from the tent, stretching out the last kinks of sleep, his other Pokémon gathered. Pikachu, ever the first, zapped over, chattering excitedly.
Eevee, with a playful bark, nudged Azure's leg. The others slowly approached Milotic, studying her with a mix of curiosity and respect.
Sceptile lowered its head slightly, offering a silent acknowledgment. Ninetales gave a soft, welcoming purr, her nine tails swaying gently, "Niii! (Welcome to the team!)"
Even the usually distant Metagross, released for a morning stretch, cast a glance, its four brains processing the new addition with analytical precision. Crawdaunt, a feisty crustacean, clicked its claws, a gesture Azure understood as a friendly, if slightly boisterous, welcome.
Slaking yawned, then offered a languid wave, while Swampert nudged Milotic with its head, a silent invitation to share the space. The shiny Blaziken, a vibrant streak of crimson and gold, simply bobbed its head, a silent sign of acceptance.
Golduck sat patiently by the nearby stream, observing the scene, while Shelgon, a tough shell of a dragon, lumbered closer, its powerful frame radiating quiet strength. Each of his team members can recognize Milotic's power being the highest in the group.
Azure chuckled, watching the harmonious, if varied, introductions. He said proudly, patting her flank, "Looks like everyone's happy to have you along, Milotic."
He pulled out a bag of Pokémon food, mixing it with some berries he'd gathered. He said happily offering all of them they're meals, "Hoenn's a big region, full of new challenges and discoveries. I'm glad you're with us."
Milotic leaned into his touch, her eyes, now clear and bright, reflecting the azure sky above. For Azure, this journey wasn't just about winning leagues or collecting Gym Badges; it was about the bonds forged, the lives enriched, and the shared adventure that lay ahead.
/////
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Lilycove City, Hoenn TV Station]
Meanwhile, in the gleaming, hyper-modern skyscraper that housed Hoenn TV in the heart of Lilycove City, the atmosphere was considerably less serene. Archie, the charismatic, impeccably dressed Head of Hoenn TV and the Water Department, sat behind a sleek, minimalist desk.
His public persona was one of a benevolent, forward-thinking civic leader, dedicated to the prosperity and ecological balance of the Hoenn region – a thinly veiled cover for his true identity as the leader of Team Aqua.
His usually jovial, easygoing face was set in a grim, deeply etched frown. The news had started trickling in late yesterday, vague reports of "unauthorized structural instability" near the coast, "unexplained seismic activity."
He had dismissed them, too busy orchestrating a new wave of propaganda against Team Magma, painting them as eco-terrorists bent on turning Hoenn into a parched wasteland. It was a delicate dance, maintaining appearances, subtly controlling the narrative, making sure his own agenda remained obscured by the manufactured chaos of his rivals with his propaganda.
But this morning, the reports had coalesced. The initial vague mentions had sharpened into concrete, damning facts.
A priority dispatch, marked "Eyes Only," lay open on his desk, its contents a poison seeping into his carefully constructed calm. He read it again, his eyes scanning the damning lines as he thought, 'Team Aqua Sub-Aquatic Base, Sector Gamma-7, entirely compromised. Structural integrity failure, Level 10. Estimated cause: Massive energy discharge, consistent with Hyper Beam signature.'
His grip tightened on the edge of his desk, knuckles whitening as he muttered, "A Hyper Beam. One single, devastating attack."
Then came the next paragraph, the one that made a muscle tick in his jaw as he read through his head, 'Prototype Submersible – destroyed. Irreparable hull breach. Recovery efforts are futile. Operational capabilities: Zero. Kyogre awakening sequence, Phase Two: … Aborted.'
A low, guttural growl vibrated in Archie's chest. He thought bitterly, fueled by anger, 'The Submarine! Years of research, billions in stolen funds, countless hours of his best scientists' lives – all reduced to scrap metal at the bottom of the ocean!'
His grand, glorious plan for Kyogre's awakening, his vision of an expanded, purified ocean, his rightful dominion over a watery paradise – it had all hinged on that submarine. And now, it was gone. Obliterated.
He grit his teeth so hard he felt a faint ache spread across his jaw. His eyes, usually a sparkling blue, were now dark pools of simmering fury.
The air in the spacious, executive office grew thick, heavy with unspoken rage. His personal assistant, a young woman named Maya, who had just entered with a fresh cup of coffee, froze mid-step, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.
The usually vibrant energy of the office, the hushed clatter of keyboards, and the murmur of distant voices seemed to drain away. Other employees, catching glimpses of their boss's terrifyingly still, stone-faced expression, quietly averted their gazes, their movements slowing to a crawl.
Sweat beaded on Maya's forehead, even in the air-conditioned room. Archie sensed their fear, their instinctive recoil from his raw anger.
He took a deep, shuddering breath, forcing his features to relax, forcing the inferno raging within him back into its cage. He cleared his throat, the sound a little rougher than usual as he said calmly, his voice surprisingly level, though tinged with an icy edge, "Thank you, Maya…"
*Beep*
She practically fled from the room, leaving the coffee untouched. He picked up his phone, ignoring the steaming mug.
It buzzed with a series of incoming texts from his Admins. Shelly, Amber, Matt. He tapped open the first one.
[Shelly: Boss, terrible news. The base… It's gone. Destroyed. We don't know how. But it was fast. No survivors from the research team. Gone or fled…]
[Amber: Sir, surveillance footage is a mess, but we got fragments. One trainer. ONE. They used a Milotic for that Hyper Beam. The submarine… it never stood a chance against a Gardevoir and… that Pikachu…]
[Matt: And the Milotic, Boss. The one we were prepping for your team. He took it. The trainer just… walked off with it. It was supposed to be for you, as it took all 3 of us to defeat it. He was fast. Gardevoir, I think. Teleportation. We couldn't stop him.]
The words swam before Archie's eyes, each one a fresh stab of betrayal and indignation as he thought angrily, 'A single trainer. Not a rival organization. Not a government attack. One arrogant, infuriating individual. And the Milotic!'
Archie read the text as a Milotic would be perfect for his Water Team. The perfect symbol for him to show his concerns wanting the sea.
The perfect addition to his team, a creature of unparalleled beauty and power, meticulously acquired and conditioned for his grand vision, as he thought bitterly, 'Stolen. Liberated. The insolence!!!'
*Gulp*
He swallowed, the bitter taste of defeat and humiliation coating his tongue. His public persona, his carefully cultivated image, demanded calm.
But inside, a storm was brewing, a tempest far more volatile than any Kyogre could summon. The propaganda against Team Magma suddenly seemed trivial. His primary objective had shifted.
He closed his eyes, picturing the destruction, the stolen Milotic, the smug face of a trainer he hadn't even met. He whispered hatefully, a dangerous promise in the name, "Azure Sky… You have no idea what you've unleashed. You think you've stopped me? You've only made me angrier. I swear, by the deepest currents of the ocean, you will regret this. And that Milotic… she will be mine again."
But he was not blinded by anger. His fury, though potent, was a controlled burn.
He had to understand his opponent. He tapped a command into his desk console, pulling up a secure file. He mumbled coldly her name, a near-silent command on his PC Computer assisting him, "Zinnia… Show me everything on 'Azure Sky.' The Trainer is responsible."
Zinnia, his intelligence Admin, was a master at digging up dirt. He'd tasked her with scouting potential threats and advantageous recruits long ago.
*Beep*
The file loaded, displaying a profile picture of a young man, perhaps in his early teenage years, with intelligent eyes and a subtle, confident smirk. Azure Sky. The name seemed to mock him.
He began to read, his frown deepening with each line as he uttered, "Azure Sky, originally from Viridian City, Kanto Region. Winner of the Ninth Pokémon League Tournament. Defended title in the Tenth Kanto Pokémon League Tournament."
Archie's eyes widened almost imperceptibly as he thought, 'Two League victories? In Kanto? That was no ordinary Trainer. That was a prodigy.'
*Click*
He clicked a video link, the screen displaying a stadium roaring with thousands of spectators. It was the Finals of the Tenth Kanto League.
The battle unfolded before him. Azure Sky, facing off against Kanto's elite. He watched, mesmerized, as Azure's Pikachu, a blur of lightning, dominated opponents far larger than itself. Then, the legendary encounters.
His jaw tightened as he watched Azure's Skarmory, a metallic flying grace, expertly deflect and counter Blue Oak's formidable Zapdos. The air crackled with electrical energy, but his Dragonite unleashed a devastating Draco Meteor and Mega Punch that left the Legendary Bird reeling.
Blue, renowned for his tactical genius, looked visibly frustrated. Next, it was Green's turn, and the one with the most likes.
Her fiery Moltres, a majestic bird wreathed in flames, soared through the arena, raining down scorching attacks. But Azure countered with his Ampahros, whose Mega Evolution shook the Pokémon Trainers Community.
The Mega Ampahros danced around the flames, utilizing its agility and a powerful Electric Moves to ground the Legendary Pokémon, eventually securing a victory with overloading power. Archie, a connoisseur of battle strategies, grudgingly admired the fluid teamwork, the way Azure anticipated every move.
But it was the final match that truly stunned him. Red, a powerful Trainer of Kanto, unleashed his Articuno.
The arena was plunged into a sudden chill, ice shards flying, blizzards raging. Azure brought out his Charizard, whose firepower and willpower were unstoppable.
Archie expected a desperate struggle, a clash of elemental opposites, but Azure's strategy was audacious. Mega Charizard X moved with surprising speed, creating a series of powerful fire-type moves that chased Articuno, subtly weakening it.
Then, with a series of well-placed attacks, augmented by its Tough Claws ability during a close-range skirmish. Charizard X managed to push Articuno to its limit, culminating in a powerful Seismic Toss that finally overwhelmed the Ice Bird.
Archie leaned back in his chair, the screen still broadcasting the triumphant cheers for Azure Sky. His initial rage had cooled, replaced by a cold, calculating determination as he muttered coldly, "This 'Trainer' was not some random punk. This was a force of nature, a tactical genius, capable of defeating Legendary Pokémon. And he had just irrevocably messed with Team Aqua."
A faint plume of smoke still rose in the distance, a ghostly memorial to his destroyed base. Archie's eyes narrowed, gazing out at the ruined coastline, then beyond, to the vast, indifferent ocean.
He contemplatively ran a hand over his chin as he muttered to himself coldly, "Dealing with Azure Sky would require more than brute force. It would require cunning, patience, and perhaps, a carefully orchestrated trap."
He whispered, a predatory glint in his eyes, having an idea, "Kanto, huh? You took my base, boy. You took my submarine. And you took my Milotic."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the Hoenn map displayed on his monitor, then extending, in his mind's eye, to the Kanto region. He grinned wickedly as he uttered, "When I have the power of Kyogre, when I have drowned this world in the oceans it deserves, I will remember the boy from Kanto. And I will get my revenge."
The Hoenn sky might have been azure for Azure Sky, but for Archie, it was darkening, mirroring the storm gathering in his heart. The hunt was on.
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A/N: Reach the goal of 200 to get a Bonus Chapter!