Chapter 403: Vs Arena Tycoon Greta (1) [Bonus]
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Afternoon, Battle Frontier – Battle Arena (Entrance)]
At the Battle Arena entrance, Scott, the dapper and highly stressed owner of the Battle Frontier, was utterly failing to maintain order. The media had turned into a ravenous horde, demanding information about the recent chaos that had swept the facility.
Scott wiped sweat from his brow, his usually composed facade cracking under the pressure, "Please, gentlemen and ladies! I assure you, all is well! The Frontier Challenge will continue shortly!"
He pulled out a sleek Rotom Phone, the screen illuminating his anxious face. He muttered into the device, his voice laced with genuine worry, "There is no helping it. Not when we're dealing with the thousand-year slumbering Jirachi—and the villain who aims to capture it..."
Just as he was about to give up entirely, a collective cheer and the sudden quieting of a portion of the press signaled the arrival he desperately needed. Scott smirked as he thought, 'Bout time they came!'
The three remaining active Frontier Brains strode into view: Greta, the Arena Tycoon, her usual fiery enthusiasm dampened by exhaustion; Anabel, the Salon Maiden, her posture grim; and Tucker, the Dome Ace, radiating forced theatricality. Trailing slightly behind them were Green, looking sharp and professional, and Azure, who had Pikachu over his shoulder and Eevee firmly affixed to his head.
Noland, Brandon, Lucy, and Spenser were nowhere to be seen. They were currently busy securing the stolen Rental Pokémon back to the Battle Factory, having successfully apprehended the culprit, Sird, who operated under the false identity of 'Gulie.'
At Green's insistence, the notorious villain was being discreetly handed over to the International Police behind the scenes. As the press surged forward, Anabel stepped swiftly, placing a restraining hand on Scott's arm before he could start his usual spiel, redirecting them.
Anabel's voice was low and dangerous, audible only to the immediate group, "Wait, Scott. Do you know everything about Jirachi and Guile? Did you know about Guile Hideout from the very beginning?"
The seriousness of the conversation immediately caught the attention of the surrounding press and reporters. They noted how the three Frontier Brains looked bruised, scraped, and utterly exhausted, injuries that spoke of a recent, fierce battle they hadn't bothered to mask.
Before Scott could be interrogated further, Tucker, recognizing the imminent disaster of bad publicity, took swift action. His majestic Salamence soared into the air with a roar, releasing a magnificent, large ball of fire—a controlled explosion of pyrotechnics—that erupted harmlessly high above the arena, showering sparks like temporary stars.
Tucker bellowed, his voice amplified by years of showmanship, "Ladies and gentlemen! Apologies for the temporary delay! The illustrious Frontier Brains were simply engaging in intense, exhaustive, secret training! We simply forgot to fix ourselves up before we rushed back!"
He grabbed the still-pensive Greta by the arm, steering her toward the arena's entrance as he declared, "But this training, orchestrated by yours truly, will bring an exciting, explosive result to the next contender! Arena Tycoon Greta, show them what true preparation looks like!"
Greta, recovering her focus, nodded sharply, her eyes already locking onto the young man standing a few feet away. While Tucker ushered Greta and Azure into the arena, Anabel remained, cornering Scott.
She pressed, "Well, Scott?"
Scott sighed, running a hand through his impeccably styled hair. The jig was up. He confirmed Anabel's suspicions with a slow, reluctant nod.
He admitted, his face hardening slightly, "Yes, I knew. I purposely withheld the information."
Tucker, hovering near the entrance, spun around, aghast, "You—what?"
Scott ignored him, speaking only to Anabel as he explained bluntly, "I needed the Frontier Brains to grow stronger. Complacency is the poison of power. If you know exactly what threat is coming, you prepare for that threat. But if you are suddenly blindsided and still emerge victorious, that proves true strength."
He then revealed the origin of the plot with his arms crossed, stating, "It all started with a report about Jirachi. A highly detailed report outlining exactly where and when the Wish Pokémon would wake up next after its thousand years of slumber."
Scott paused for dramatic effect as he continued, "The person who deciphered this highly complex, ancient text was none other than Professor Oak."
Tucker slammed his fist into the air as he yelled, shocked, "That scatterbrain! Why didn't he tell us?"
Scott interjected swiftly as he explained, "He told me. He called me one day to inform me that the precise location he had earmarked for the Battle Frontier just happened to be where Jirachi would awaken. He also warned me about the potential for opportunistic villains."
Tucker was furious as he demanded answers, "You had a warning of a threat! And you refused to tell us so we could prepare for Guile's arrival?"
Scott raised an eyebrow, his arrogance returning as he stated, "Would knowing have guaranteed your victory, Tucker? The weak will always lose, regardless of preparation. But the strong will win, even if they don't know what they're facing."
Green, who had been listening to the exchange with a weary expression, sighed and stepped forward, interjecting, "Well, if it makes you feel better, Scott, the whole Jirachi situation has been completely handled."
Scott grinned, relieved as he asked excitedly, rubbing his hands together, "Excellent! Then when do I get my wish? Professor Oak promised me one wish if I oversaw the protection of the location until its awakening."
Green's grin was sheepish, bordering on teasing as she said, "Ah, well. Unfortunately for you, Scott, I didn't capture it."
The air went silent. Scott froze, his manicured hands hovering mid-air. Green finished sweetly, "The one who did was Azure. Which means, Scott, that your claim to the wish, promised by Professor Oak, is now null and void."
Anabel let out a quiet snort of suppressed laughter, covering her mouth with her hand. Tucker threw his head back and let out a booming laugh, relishing the look of abject horror on Scott's face. Karma was efficient.
Scott slowly turned, his face pale as he asked with a pleading expression, "He… he plans to share those wishes, right? He's a good kid, right? The Uncrowned Champion always shares the spoils, correct?"
Green pursed her lips as she slyly grinned, bluntly stating, "Probably not any time soon. He seemed quite protective of the little star. And he's a petty Loot Sableye, too. So, a big fat now Scott…"
Scott dramatically slumped against the nearest pillar as he uttered, "I am ruined. Utterly ruined. My dreams of a yacht shaped like a Metagross… dashed."
But Scott was nothing if not resilient. In an instant, his dramatic depression vanished, replaced by a sudden spark of excitement, "No matter! I need a good, exhilarating battle to fix my emotional landscape!"
He spun on his heel toward the arena entrance. Green watched him go, then turned to Anabel and Tucker as she asked curiously, "Is he always like this?"
Both Frontier Brains solemnly nodded, their expressions deadpan.
Anabel confirmed, "Every day."
Tucker added, "Twice on weekends."
They followed Scott toward the elevated stands, knowing that Greta, having likely witnessed Azure's decisive skill during the frantic operations in Artisan Cave, was eager to test the young Champion's abilities firsthand.
/////
[Hoenn Region, Afternoon, Battle Frontier – Battle Arena]
Inside the massive Battle Arena, the atmosphere hummed with anticipation. Azure stood opposite Greta, his hand resting lightly on Eevee, who had gracefully dismounted to stand beside Pikachu at his feet.
Suddenly, with a great churning of gears, a colossal, dazzling roulette emerged from the ground in the center of the stadium. This was the mechanism that determined the number of Pokémon each trainer would use in the match.
*CLANG*
Following Greta's instruction, Azure stepped forward and pulled the lever. The spinner whizzed, the clicking sound echoing throughout the silent arena, before halting abruptly. The needle landed on the number three.
Greta declared, her competitive fire fully reignited, "A 3-on-3 match it is!"
*GONG*
A resounding gong rang out, and both trainers took their positions.
Greta, the Arena Tycoon, sent out her first Pokémon as she declared, "Let's do this! Go! Umbreon!"
*Pop*
Umbreon. The Dark-type radiated a cool, defensive aura, its golden rings glowing faintly. It held a small, crystalline object in its paw—a [Chesto Berry].
Azure made a quick tactical change to his prepared lineup. He wasn't relying solely on his League Champions for every battle.
Azure murmured, tossing a Poké Ball the size of a tennis ball, "Time for a change of pace. Quagsire, let's go!"
*Pop*
The cheerful, dim-witted Water/Ground-type materialized, its wide grin seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere. Azure had recently retrieved the [Leftovers] item attached to its body.
Watching from the stands, Scott frowned as he muttered, "Quagsire? Against an Umbreon? A Water/Ground-type against a Dark Type... What an odd choice for a three-time League winner."
Green's lips twitched upward into a knowing smile as she replied, "Don't let that goofy grin fool you, Scott. Quagsire caused Red and Crystal major problems during the Tenth Pokémon League Tournament. Any of Azure's Pokémon are unique in one way or another. Never underestimate any of them."
The referee's arm dropped, signaling the start of the battle.
Azure commanded instantly, "Quagsire, Rain Dance!"
*RMBL*
Quagsire clapped its hands, summoning dark, heavy clouds that instantly began to pour rain over the arena. The battlefield conditions shifted drastically, powering up Quagsire's Water-type moves and activating its core ability, Water Absorb.
Greta immediately went on the offensive as she ordered, "Umbreon, Dark Pulse!"
*PEW*
Umbreon fired a powerful surge of dark energy. Azure seemed unconcerned as he countered, "Agile Style Dig!"
*Rmbl*
Quagsire plunged into the softened, rain-soaked earth, disappearing just as the Dark Pulse struck empty air. The move, while powerful, would have been largely ineffective against the bulky Quagsire.
Thanks to its Typing, it would only get some of the Dark-type neutral damage, but Azure wasn't in the mood to absorb hits yet. Greta, however, wasn't done yet as she ordered, "Umbreon, Curse!"
*CRUNCH*
Instead of searching for the submerged Quagsire, Umbreon tensed its body, channeling dark energy inward, sacrificing speed for massive increases in attack and defense. And when it was done…
*CRACK*
Quagsire smashed through the ground directly beneath Umbreon, striking its target with a powerful force attack. Umbreon stumbled, but its massive defense boosts meant it was mostly unscathed.
*Wooosh*
It retaliated swiftly without waiting for orders. Umbreon's tail hardened to metal as Greta ordered, "Iron Tail!"
*CLANG*
The heavy, metallic tail slammed into Quagsire, knocking the ground-type back several feet. The audience gasped, but the blow had an unexpected result.
Quagsire's ability, Water Absorb, triggered, instantly absorbing the rainfall washing over its body, healing the minor damage taken from the Iron Tail. It was as if the rain itself were a restorative balm.
Scott acknowledged from the stands, impressed, "Fantastic defense!"
Greta commanded, "Faint Attack!"
*Booom*
Umbreon kicked off the ground, a blur of dark speed. Azure countered quickly, "Quagsire, Drain Punch!"
*SLAM*
Quagsire threw a glowing fist, but Umbreon was too fast, dodging the attack and closing the distance. Before Quagsire could recover, Umbreon locked eyes with it as Greta followed up, "Confuse Ray!"
*Shiii*
The disorienting psychic energy hit Quagsire squarely. Its eyes spiraled, and it began wobbling unsteadily.
However, Azure knew just the strategy to counter confusion as he barked, "Quagsire, stop! Slam your head down! Clear the confusion!"
*Bang*
In typical Quagsire fashion, it obeyed the simplest command, slamming its head hard into the mud. The shock cleared the confusion instantly, and the [Leftovers] item on its body recovered a small portion of its health.
Greta saw the opening as she commanded, "Umbreon, Knock Off!"
*SMACK*
Umbreon sprinted forward, slamming into Quagsire with its paw, successfully forcing the [Leftovers] item off its body and into the mud. But in doing so, Umbreon was now dangerously close.
Azure yelled, capitalizing on Umbreon's proximity, "Now! Strong Style Drain Punch!"
*SMASH*
Quagsire connected a glowing fist to Umbreon's flank. This time, the hit was solid, fueled partially by the Rain Dance and Quagsire's natural bulk.
Umbreon skidded across the ground, badly hurt, the Curse boosts having only bought it time. Greta remained calm as she commanded, "Rest!"
*Zzzzz*
Umbreon curled up, instantly falling into a deep sleep, which completely restored its health. Simultaneously, it used the [Chesto Berry] it held, instantly waking up, fully refreshed and ready for more.
Tucker shouted from the stands, "The Curse strategy is paying dividends!"
Azure pressed the advantage, knowing he needed to apply heavy pressure. He commanded, "Hydro Pump!"
*SPLASH*
A massive, high-pressure jet of water launched toward the Dark-type. Greta countered, "Agility! Leap high!"
*Wooosh*
Umbreon leaped into the air in the nick of time, the Hydro Pump blast exploding where it had just been standing. As Umbreon hovered momentarily in the air, Azure saw his chance as he commanded, "Quagsire, Surf!"
*SPLASH*
Water gathered rapidly around Quagsire, churning into a massive, towering wave that crashed across the arena, chasing the airborne Umbreon. Greta's eyes widened as she thought, 'I can't let it consume Umbreon!'
Greta commanded, "Shadow Ball! Charge!"
*CRACKLE*
Umbreon, unable to escape the wave, charged a dark, swirling orb of energy and launched it at the advancing water. It was a desperate move designed to slow the attack.
Azure's eyes narrowed. But he slyly grinned as this was the moment for the unique genius Green had alluded to as he commanded, "Quagsire! Liquidation! Form a bat!"
*Splash*
Quagsire's hands molded the surrounding water. In an instant, the water around his fist solidified into a massive, streamlined baseball bat made entirely of high-density water. Azure gave the final order, "Home run!"
*SMACK*
Quagsire swung the water bat with staggering force, connecting perfectly with Umbreon's oncoming Shadow Ball. The attack was not destroyed but redirected, smashing back into the airborne Umbreon…
*BOOOM*
Before the Dark-type could recover, the towering Surf wave slammed into it, dragging it under the surging water. Umbreon was battered but recovered quickly, emerging from the diminishing wave.
It was severely weakened now. Greta clenched her fist as she commanded, "Umbreon! Use Crunch!"
*Crunch*
It retaliated with a vicious Crunch, clamping down on Quagsire's arm. Quagsire easily tanked the blow—the damage was mitigated by its Water Absorb healing the minor wounds thanks to the rain.
Azure yelled, "Ice Punch to the face!"
*SMACK*
Quagsire drove a freezing fist directly into Umbreon's jaw, forcing it to release its hold and retreat sharply. Greta recognized the urgency as she commanded, "Double Team! Attack all at once!"
*Wooosh*
Umbreon generated multiple identical illusions, and the clones charged Quagsire from every direction. But Azure countered calmly, "Surf! Wide sweep!"
*SPLASH*
Quagsire summoned the last vestiges of the wave, sweeping the entire battlefield. The surf struck and dissolved all the clones, but just as the real Umbreon was about to connect with a powerful stream of water, it glowed briefly as Greta ordered, "Detect!"
*Wooosh*
Umbreon dodged the final connection of the Surf, revealing itself in the open, momentarily safe but isolated and exhausted. Greta saw her opportunity for a finisher as she ordered, "Umbreon! End this! Hyper Beam!"
*Shiii*
A strange, dangerously bright light began to gather in Umbreon's mouth, charging the ultimate move. Azure's eyes widened, recognizing the danger as he ordered, "Quagsire! Protect! Now!"
*CLANG*
A shimmering green barrier instantly materialized around Quagsire, blocking the devastating energy blast of the Hyper Beam. The attack dissipated harmlessly against the shield.
Umbreon was now locked into the mandatory recharge period, unable to move. Azure stated softly, "It's over, Greta. Quagsire, Drain Punch!"
*SMASH*
With the power of the rain and its own restored vigor, Quagsire launched itself forward, slamming its fist one final, decisive time into the Dark-type. Umbreon cried out, its eyes spinning before it collapsed onto the wet ground, unable to continue.
The crowd erupted in cheers. Azure's unique approach to battle—turning a defensive, often underestimated Pokémon into an offensive rain-swept powerhouse—had earned him the first point of the match.
Azure smiled down at Quagsire, who gave him a cheerful, idiotic salute. He had secured the fourth step on his journey to conquer the Battle Frontier. Greta, despite the loss, wore a fierce, satisfied grin.
She had gotten the test she wanted. The Uncrowned Champion was every bit as formidable as the rumors suggested.
But unaware to them, his eyes hardened as he saw the pop-up screen, 'Ah fuck… can't you please stop this Darkrai. I don't need to be sleep deprived in battle.'
[Darkrai uses its ability [Bad Dreams]!]
[Ding!]
[Due to the User's Viridian Force, it blocked Darkrai's ability!]
Azure's eyes twitched, seeing this as he thought, 'Darkrai… you and I have some talking to do when this is over. But for now I gotta focus on the battle.'
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 300 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!