Chapter 409: Battle Palace
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Later, Battle Frontier – Food Court]
The humid afternoon air of the Battle Frontier hummed with the distant sounds of cheering crowds and the crackle of energy attacks, but in the Battle Frontier Food Court, the atmosphere was one of leisurely respite. The sun hung high and golden over the artificial island, casting long shadows through the open-air pavilion where the group had gathered for lunch.
Azure sat back in his chair, a contented sigh escaping his lips. His posture held the relaxed confidence of a veteran, a sharp contrast to the frenetic energy usually associated with trainers his age.
He took a sip of his iced tea, his eyes drifting over the eclectic group sharing his table. To his right sat Green, his date and fellow Dex Holder. She was idly twirling a straw in her drink, her sharp eyes scanning the perimeter out of habit, though a small, genuine smile played on her lips whenever she glanced at him.
Resting on Azure's shoulder was his partner, Pikachu, nibbling on a specialized Pokémon puff, while the mischievous Pichu (Mew) was tucked snugly against his chest, dozing off with a content purr.
Across from them sat the Hoenn Pokédex Holders, Ruby and Sapphire. They were still buzzing with the adrenaline of the recent tournament.
Sapphire said excitedly, leaning forward, her wild eyes sparkling, "I still can't believe the sheer power output of that Charizard."
She gestured animatedly with a fork as she fangirled intensely, "I mean, I've faced strong fire types, but Tucker's team was something else. And you, Azure! The way your Milotic tanked those hits was insane."
Ruby, ever the connoisseur of elegance, dabbed his mouth with a napkin. He countered smoothly, "It was the Dragonite that impressed me. The sheer beauty of its flight patterns... though, of course, Tucker's performance was quite dazzling as well. It's a shame we were knocked out in the semifinals."
Sapphire grumbled good-naturedly as she pouted, "You lost to Tucker, I lost to Azure. No shame in that. We're here to learn, right?"
Green chuckled, leaning her chin on her hand as she stated, "You two did well. But Azure has been doing this for a long time. His experience isn't just for show."
Azure smiled, scratching Eevee behind the ears where she perched atop his head as he calmly said, "You guys have plenty of potential. The Frontier is a different beast from the Gym Challenge. It tests specific skill sets, not just raw power."
He paused, his gaze drifting toward the horizon. He had already conquered the Factory, the Pyramid, the Arena, the Dome, and the Pike. Noland, Brandon, Greta, Tucker, and Lucy had all handed over their symbols.
Only two remained. Sapphire asked curiously, stuffing a dumpling into her mouth, "So… Who's next? The Tower or the Palace?"
Azure opened his mouth to answer, but a sudden tension rippled through his Pokémon. Pikachu's ears twitched, sparking softly. Eevee let out a low, warning growl, the fur on her neck bristling. Even the disguised Mew stirred, opening one blue eye.
A shadow fell over the table.
Azure looked up to see a tall, imposing man standing there. He wore robes that seemed reminiscent of a monk or a shaman, and he carried a long, ornate staff. It was Spenser, the Palace Maven.
The group went silent. Spenser didn't look at the others; his gaze was locked intensely on Azure. Without a word, he stepped forward, the wood of his staff clicking against the tiled floor.
Sapphire asked, her combat instincts flaring, "Uh, can we help you?"
Spenser ignored her. In a fluid motion, he raised his staff, bringing the smooth, polished tip to rest gently but firmly under Azure's chin, tilting the boy's head back.
Green stood up, her hand instinctively going to her Poké Balls, "Hey!"
Azure raised a hand to stop her as he said, halting her, "It's okay, Green. Wait."
He looked up into Spenser's eyes, his own expression calm, though inquisitive as he asked calmly, "Is there a reason you're checking my dental work, Spenser?"
Spenser didn't smile. He leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing as if searching for something deep within Azure's soul. The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable.
Spenser whispered, his voice rasping like dry leaves, "The eyes... They are the windows to the spirit. And yours... yours tell a story of oceans, skies, and earth."
He pulled the staff back, tapping it rhythmically on the ground as he asked bluntly, "You have touched the Blue Orb, haven't you?"
The question hung in the air like a thunderclap.
Sapphire and Ruby exchanged confused glances. Sapphire asked, "The Blue Orb? You mean the one Team Aqua used to wake up Kyogre?"
Spenser nodded slowly, never breaking eye contact with Azure as he stated, "I can see the dull blue glow lingering in your irises. It is faint, masked by your own strength, but it is there. I had heard rumors of a young man who tamed the Sea Basin Pokémon and the Continent Pokémon... who stood amidst the clash of legends and did not break."
He straightened up, looking impressed as he continued, "Most men would be consumed by that power. Their spirits would shatter under the weight of the ancient seas. But you... You are not influenced. You remain whole."
Azure rubbed his chin where the staff had rested as he stated casually, "I've had my fair share of dealings with legends. You learn to keep your head above water."
Spenser smiled then, a genuine expression that softened his stern features as he said kindly, "Come. Follow me to the Battle Palace. We have much to discuss, Kindred."
Green repeated, her eyes narrowing as she processed the word, "Kindred?"
Spenser insisted, turning and walking away with a heavy, purposeful stride, "Come, I'll show you to the Battle Palace."
Azure stood up, adjusting Pichu (Mew) in his arms. He said to the group, a wry grin on his face, "Well… Looks like lunch is over. Let's go see what the Spirits have to say."
/////
[Hoenn Region, Battle Frontier – Battle Palace]
The walk to the Battle Palace took them away from the technological marvels of the Battle Dome and into a lush, dense jungle environment located on the northeastern side of the island. The Palace itself was a majestic structure reminiscent of ancient Mayan or Aztech temples, covered in vines and moss, radiating an aura of antiquity.
As they walked through the grand halls, lit by torches rather than electric lights, Sapphire couldn't hold back her curiosity. She called out, "Hey, Spenser! What did you mean by 'Kindred'? And what does the Blue Orb have to do with you? Azure touched it to stop the crisis in Hoenn, but you act like it's a personal club."
Spenser stopped in the middle of a large stone corridor. He turned to face them, his expression somber. Spenser said, his voice echoing off the stone walls, "I apologize for the theatrics earlier. I became... emotional. It is rare to meet another who has stared into that particular abyss."
Green stepped forward, her arms crossed as she bluntly stated, "So, you touched it too? The Blue Orb?"
Spenser nodded gravely as he looked away, ashamed, explaining, "Yes. Many years ago. When I was a young man, much younger than I am now, I visited friends who were the guardians of Mt. Pyre. I was young, foolish, and arrogant."
He looked at his hand, as if remembering a burn continuing, "My friends were away, and I found myself alone with the Orbs. The Blue Orb... it called to me. Its beauty was captivating, like a deep, endless ocean. I reached out and touched it."
Ruby shivered and asked, "And? What happened?"
Spenser whispered as he gazed at the group in a solemn voice, "Power. Tremendous, terrifying power flooded my body. It felt as if I were drowning and burning at the same time. I saw visions of a great monster, a leviathan of the deep. I was paralyzed by fear. I managed to release the Orb, but the damage to my spirit was done."
He began walking again, gesturing for them to follow as he continued explaining, "For years, I had nightmares of Kyogre. I could feel the ocean crushing me in my sleep. To survive, to keep my sanity, I dedicated my life to training my spirit. I forged my will in the fires of discipline until I became the Frontier Brain of the Battle Palace. And in doing so, I gained a gift."
He stopped at the entrance to the main battle arena, holding his staff tightly as he said calmly, "I can see the mark the Orbs leave on the soul. When I look at Azure, I see the dull blue glow of the Sea. But…"
Spenser paused, looking closely at Azure again, continuing, "… there is more. Deep within, I see a hidden Crimson and a flash of Emerald. You have not just touched the Blue Orb. You have connected with Groudon and Rayquaza as well."
Sapphire's jaw dropped as she asked curiously, "You can see all that just by looking at him?"
Spenser said simply, "The spirit does not lie."
Azure remained silent, though he stroked Pichu's (Mew's) back comfortingly. He didn't deny it. His journey had been long, and the scars—and boons—of his encounters with the weather trio were a part of him now.
Spenser announced, stepping onto the sandy floor of the massive indoor arena, "Enough of the past…"
*FLASH*
Sunlight streamed in from an opening in the high ceiling, illuminating the battlefield. Spencer continued, "You are here for a symbol, Azure Sky."
Azure confirmed, "That I am."
Spencer nodded as he began to explain the rules of the Battle Palace requirements, "Normally, Trainers must test their spirit against six sets of seven trainers before they earn the right to challenge me. It is a grueling gauntlet designed to weed out those with weak bonds."
*Slam*
He turned, slamming the butt of his staff into the sand as he stated, "However! I have looked into your eyes. I have seen the strength of your spirit. To force you through the preliminaries would be an insult to us both. We shall battle now."
Azure grinned, saying excitedly, "Straight to the main event. I like that."
Spenser cautioned, raising a finger as he said boldly, "But be warned. The Battle Palace is unique. Here, we test the trust between Trainer and Pokémon. During the battle, you are forbidden from giving commands."
Ruby exclaimed from the sidelines, eyes widened in surprise, "What? No commands? How are they supposed to fight?"
Spencer smiled cheekily as he replied knowingly, "By instinct. By the bond they share. If a Trainer's spirit is weak, the Pokémon will be confused, unable to attack, or they will use foolish moves. Only those who are truly one with their partners can prevail here."
He looked at Azure as he pointed his staff at him in a knowing voice, "But looking at you... I suspect your Pokémon already know your mind before you speak it."
Azure chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head, replying, "You could say that. We've been through a lot. Words are just a formality sometimes."
Spencer smiled, hearing this as his voice boomed, "Then prepare yourself! Go, retrieve your chosen partners."
Azure nodded as he said hurriedly while handing the disguised Mew to Green, "Give me five minutes! Keep an eye on the little guy?"
Green took the 'Pichu' (Mew), who chirped happily. Green smiled as she encouraged him, "Go get 'em, Tiger."
Azure jogged to the side of the arena where a PC unit was installed. He quickly accessed the storage system managed by Crystal and the others. His fingers flew across the keys. For a battle of Spirit, he needed partners who didn't just have power, but who understood his battle rhythm implicitly.
He returned to the field moments later, clipping 2 balls to his belt. Azure shouted, "I'm ready whenever you are!"
Spenser roared, "Then let us begin!"
Green, Ruby, Sapphire, Pikachu, and the disguised Mew took their places in the spectator stands. The tension was palpable.
Sapphire whispered in a hushed tone as she asked curiously, "This is going to be intense. No commands... I struggle to get my Pokémon to listen, even with commands sometimes. But how will this go down, though?"
Green said confidently, though her eyes were sharp, "Azure will be fine. Watch."
On the field, Azure reached up and patted the top of his head, yelled, "Alright, Eevee. You're up. It's your time to shine."
Eevee, who had been perched there, let out a joyous cry, "Vee! (Finally!)"
Eevee leaped down, landing gracefully on the sand. She didn't need a Poké Ball; she was ready.
Spenser chuckled, "A spirited little one. Very well!"
He threw three Poké Balls into the air simultaneously as he declared, "Come forth! Slaking! Crobat! Suicune!"
*Pop*
Three bursts of white light materialized into three formidable Pokémon. The massive, lounging form of Slaking scratched its belly, the [Scope Lens] glinting over one eye. A four-winged Crobat flapped silently, its form shimmering slightly due to the [Bright Powder] it held.
And in the center, majestic and calm, stood Suicune, the North Wind, a [King's Rock] tied around its neck. The Dex Holders gasped, surprised to see Suicune, as the North Wind slyly grinned, seeing the Rainbow Hero again.
Azure didn't flinch. He tossed his two Poké Balls into the air, declaring, "Let's go! Sceptile! Gengar!"
*Pop*
His Sceptile materialized, a [Meadow Plate] glowing faintly on its chest, blades of grass sharp and ready. Beside him, Azure's Shiny Gengar emerged from the shadows, its pitch-black body stark against the dark corners of the room, clutching its [Gengarite].
Eevee stood between them, the [Eviolite] around her neck boosting her defenses. Azure's eyes locked onto Suicune.
He blinked, a smile spreading across his face. He murmured, greeting Suicune, "Well, I'll be. Hello, old friend. It's been a while."
Suicune's ribbons flowed in a wind that wasn't there. It looked at Azure, and for a moment, the battle didn't matter. A calm, telepathic voice resonated in Azure's mind, 'Azure Sky. The Rainbow Hero. It warms my heart to see you.'
Azure projected back, his grin widening with a subtle nod, 'You too, Suicune. I see you've found a strong partner in Spenser.'
Suicune replied, offering what looked like a nod with a determined expression, 'Indeed. He has a strong spirit. But today, we are opponents. I will not hold back. Unlike the trials before, I'll do everything in my power to win.'
Azure replied telepathically with a knowing grin, 'I wouldn't have it any other way.'
Spenser watched the silent exchange, his eyebrows raising as he murmured, "You speak with the North Wind? Truly, you are full of surprises."
Azure said casually, cracking his knuckles in anticipation, "Let's just say we go way back to the Bell Tower."
He crossed his arms and planted his feet. He looked at his team. He didn't open his mouth. He simply projected his intent.
Win.
Gengar, Eevee, and Sceptile each gave a subtle nod. Their eyes focused against their opponents, prepared to give their all.
/////
A/N: Hope you liked the chapter!