Chapter 220: Lombre Larceny
~Wally POV~
[Hoenn Region, Next Day, Verdanturf Town]
"Ahh!"
I woke up from a nasty dream I had last night. I groaned, turning around to see I'm in a hospital bed again…
Whew… strange. Checking my chest, I felt my breathing was better than before, and I'm not feeling as tired.
But then my eyes landed on a bag next to my bed, along with a Box. My eyes widened seeing Kecleon's Poké Ball with a note on it.
Grasping the note, many things were going through my head. But the most prominent being where was Ruby's Rara and Ruby himself – oh no!
I recalled that Ruby fell into the ocean as I fainted. But I shortly woke up with someone carrying me and… telling me Ruby was fine.
Opening the note, I read the contents. It made my eyes widen reading it…
====
To Wally:
If you're reading this, then you must have woken up. No worries, I'm a friend of Ruby. Ruby is fine, as his Rara can detect his emotions; you don't have to worry. I've also noticed you were sick with an illness, so I cured it for you free of charge with the power of the Sacred Ash from Ho-Oh!
Rara explained how you wanted to have a Pokémon. Becoming a Pokémon Trainer despite your illness… I respect that. So, I provided what every good starting Trainer needs for their Journey. The basics and good supplies.
And remember this, Wally, follow what your heart desires and dreams to fulfill; only you can make that possible. The first step is only you can only make. If you don't take risks, you can't create a future!
From Azure Sky.
P.S. The guy who carried you home and Rara's with me.
====
I blinked, reading the note, baffled. Checking my bag, I opened it to see multiple supplies of Pokémon food, Poke Blocks, medicine, Poke Balls, and other items. Not only that, but the official Pokedex from professors is making my eyes widen at this.
Could Ruby have such a cool friend like him? I smiled as I felt no pain from my illness, thanking both Ruby and Azure for giving me such a chance to follow my dream… to become a Pokémon Trainer.
/////
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Petalburg City – Outskirts]
*SPLASH*
*MBL*
*MBL*
In Petalburg City, a crowd has gathered to watch Sapphire struggle to free a Castform from a fountain. Gabby arrives at the scene, yelling at Ty, her cameraman, "Hey! What's going on here, Ty?!"
Ty sees Gabby and gestures to her to see the scene as she asks, baffled, "What's that girl doing paddling in that fountain?!"
Ty explains to Gabby in a surprised tone with a startled voice, "Apparently, a Pokémon fell in… she's trying to save it!"
Gabby asked if it was hers, but Ty shook his head. From the side of the fountain, Mr. Stone begs Sapphire, "That's enough, young lady… have the people from the water works department arrived yet?!"
But Sapphire interrupted him by shouting, searching for the Castform, "Don't give up! I'm sure your Pokémon's in here somewhere! It fell into the fountain, right?!"
Gabby and Ty watch as Mr. Stone begs Sapphire to wait for the authorities. However, Sapphire refuses, because it would be too late if they waited.
Sapphire sniffed the area as she grinned, getting her Poké Ball as she yelled, "There you are! Rono!"
*Pop*
Sapphire has Rono chew the iron pillar of the fountain as Gabby exclaimed in shock, "Is it eating the fountain?! Hey! That Pokémon is eating that metal pillar!"
*MNCH*
*MNCH*
As Sapphire was busy helping Mr. Stone Azure with his Pikachu, and Eevee were walking around till they saw the commotion, muttering, "The hell…? The heck is going on over there…"
Curious Azure decided to investigate seeing Sapphire and Mr. Stone. Seeing this, he waited patiently within the crowd, watching dutifully.
With the top of the fountain weakened, Sapphre easily ripped the top part off, yelling, "Ok… go! Come on!!!"
*SPLASH*
Managing to snap the metal pillar off the mountain, a splash of water erupted from the broken pillar. Water came out, freeing Castform in her hand.
Mr. Stone's eyes watered as he said joyfully, "Castform!!"
"HOORAY!!"
The crowd erupted into a cheer as Azure nodded from the sidelines. Mr. Stone came near as he said in a thankful tone, "Thank you! Oh, thank you…"
However, Sapphire cut him off with Castform freed, she ordered Chic, "It's too early to thank me! C'mon, Chic!! We gotta warm it up!"
*Puuf*
Using its fire, Chich began to warm Castform up. The crowd celebrates Sapphire's rescuing Castform, but Mr. Stone asks if her Rono is all right after eating all of the iron. Sapphire explains that Rono's favorite food is iron and that he has a big appetite.
Realizing that Mr. Stone is the president of the Devon Corporation, Gabby has Ty go interview Sapphire due to it having the potential to be a great news story. Sapphire, not liking television, decides to turn down the interview option and leaps onto a lamppost.
Nearby, three people in maintenance personnel uniforms watch the scene in frustration. They are named Amber, Matt, and Shelly as they saw the scene before them in their disguise.
Observing the scene, they frowned at the situation. Amber explains to their boss the situation via Rotom Phone, "We've got trouble. Some weird girl showed up and destroyed the fountain where we set up our trap!!"
From the other end of the Rotom Phone, the leader of Team Aqua, Archie, responded, surprised, "A child destroyed the fountain?! Very funny…"
However, Amber was completely serious as he explained to Archie they're whole plan was wasted in an annoyed tone, "I'm serious! The president of the Devon Corps walks by this fountain every day with his Castform. All we had to do was trap it in the fountain… then show up disguised as people from the Department of Waterworks and kidnap him. Everything was going according to plan when that girl…"
They explain to their boss via their Rotom Phones that they had sabotaged the fountain as a trap for Mr. Stone, which led to failure thanks to Sapphire's interference. Archie spoke seriously as he ordered from his phone, "I see… this mission must not fail. The president must be kidnapped – Today. I wished to go about this in strictest secrecy… but it appears we have no alternative. Use every means at our disposal and as much force as necessary!! Do I make myself clear?"
*FWUMP*
Matt, Shelly, and Amber removed their disguises as they declared, "Yes, sir!!"
Mr. Stone, nearby, spoke to Sapphire with Castform on his shoulder, said happily, "What's your name? Are you from this city?"
Sapphire, hearing this, shook her head as she explained herself in a casual upbeat voice, "Nah, I'm on a training journey. I'm goin' round Hoenn to battle at all the Pokémon Gyms. My name's Sapphire."
Mr. Stone, hearing this, was surprised but asked in a thankful tone with a hopeful voice, "I see. My name is Stone. At any rate, I would like to offer you my sincerest gratitude. My company is located in the next town over. Would you care to travel with me?"
*Fump*
Sapphire immediately jumps down, prompting Ty to ask, confused, "Something wrong?"
Sapphire sniffing out the enemy growls as her Pokémon, Chic and Rono, prepared themselves as she declared fiercely, "There's somethin' still in there!! Inside the intake hole!"
*KERSPLASH*
Suddenly, three Pokémon leap out of the fountain and attack. From the three Pokémon that leaped out were a Lombre, a Carvanha, and a Sharpedo.
Sapphire sends out Rono and Chic to battle the three Pokémon that have leaped from the broken fountain, as she yelled, "Chic!! Peck! Rono! Tackle!"
Chic used Peck as it pinned down Sharpedo with Peck. And Rono pinned Carvanha down with Tackle attack…
*BOING*
… but the Lombre attacks Mr. Stone and steals a machine from his pockets before running off. Gabby yelled in shock, "That Lombre stole something from the President!!"
*Pop*
Just as Lombre dashed off to escape, it encountered a Poké Ball hurled on top of it. It popped open to reveal Grovyle glaring at the Lombre, surprising it.
Azure commanded, "Grovyle! Agility and Fury Cutter!"
*SHINNG*
With Agility +2 Speed, Grovyle's leafy blades glowed a light green and slashed down at Lombre, forcing it to drop the key component of the Submarine Explorer 1. But before it was dropped to the ground…
*Zoooom*
A yellow blur collected it as Pikachu grabbed it using Extreme Speed. Pikachu returned to Azure's shoulder as he held the machine in his hand, saying casually, "Well, well, well… this isn't something you see every day now, is it?"
Sapphire's eyes widened as she grinned, recognizing him, "Azure!"
Mr. Stone's eyes widened seeing Azure as he thought, stunned, 'Azure! His here! And he grabbed the key component!'
But from the sidelines, Matt, Shelly, and Amber frowned, seeing another Trainer interfere as the Sharpedo and Carvanha backed off from Chic and Rono. Grovyle returned to Azure's side, cautiously looking at the foes, muttering arrogantly, "And here I thought today would be a bit boring?"
The three Water-type Pokémon looked at the situation warily, sensing the power of Pikachu and Eevee. From the sidelines, Matt muttered grimly, "Shit…! This new guy is going to be a pain, and we need that key component!"
Shelly nodded her head, agreeing with Matt as she bit her thumb cautiously, said, "Yeah… and we can't go out in the open. Too many witnesses, as the boss doesn't want the people to know what Team Aqua is up to!"
*Pop*
However, Amber remained calm as he brought out Volbeat as he said bluntly, "No. We just won by revealing our target out in the open. When my Volbeat uses its moves, we retreat! That item is all that matters right now!"
Smiling, he ordered Volbeat, seriously, "Volbeat! Flash and Trick!"
*Swooosh*
Suddenly, a Volbeat rushed forward, getting everyone on guard. But what happened next even caught Azure by surprise, as Volbeat opens his arms and legs wide, and a wide beam of light comes off his body and covers the opponent.
*FLASH*
The held items, the Key Component in Azure's hands, were switched for its Figy Berry. Next, followed by a flash of blinding light as everyone shielded their eyes from the Flash move produced by Volbeat.
But by then, it was already returned as Matt, Shelly, and Amber quickly left the scene. The Sharpedo, Lombre, and Carvanha ran off, too, into the Fountain, escaping as everyone's vision returned to normal.
Azure rubbed his eyes as he muttered, dumbfounded, seeing Team Aqua's effectiveness, "I didn't expect that… they're certainly crafty."
Realizing his arrogance led to Team Aqua getting the item, he returned Grovyle. Azure's eyes glared at his incompetence. But he turned his attention to Mr. Stone, injured as he asked, concerned, "Mr. Stone, we need to take you to the Hospital."
Sapphire, nearby, nodded to help lift Mr. Stone as she said sternly, "Here, let me help! I've got him."
But Mr. Stone managed to get himself in order despite panting in pain as he said to Azure seriously, "Whew… wait. Azure I… I'm sorry we had to meet like this, but… could you do me a favor, young man…? You're planning to travel to all the Pokémon Gyms in Hoenn, aren't you, Sky...?"
*Skrbl*
*Skrbl*
Sapphire listened to their conversation intently. Mr. Stone writes a letter, handing it to Azure as he said in a pained voice, "Could you do something for me on your way…? When you pass through a town named Dewford… look for my son Steven. When you find him, please hand him this letter. And tell him what had transpired here today…"
Azure grabs the Letter, storing it safely, and gets his Arc Phone. But Mr. Stone grabs his hand, halting him, panting tiredly, saying, "No! No phones, please… this must remain secret, young man… I trust you… please Steven… oww…"
After that, he falls unconscious again, as Gabby and Ty grab hold of him, yelling in concern, "Mr. Stone!!"
Sapphire lets the duo hold him as her eyes narrowed. Azure calmly said, using his Viridian Force over Mr. Stone's shoulder, "No worries. I'll deliver the letter for ya as instructed. Just keep yourself safe, old timer."
*Shiii*
A faint glow showed on his hand that only Sapphire watched wide-eyed. Mr. Stone's expression shifted to ease as Azure turned to leave.
Sapphire, seeing this, blinks and quickly follows him in an eager tone, "Hey, wait! I'm coming with you!"
Azure paused, seeing Sapphire tagging along as he raised an eyebrow, asking curiously, "Are you sure? Don't you have a Gym Battle here in Petalburg City?"
She cheekily grinned as she replied, casually crossing her arms, "True. But his busy finding his lost son isn't that why you're leaving the city too?"
Azure chuckled as he replied, "Touche."
Azure chuckled but then said calmly with clenched fist, "Sapphire, you go on ahead. I need to make a few calls and… need some alone time."
Sapphire frowned but nodded her head in understanding. She went ahead further as Azure exhaled calmly, "Whew… okay. Team Aqua just got themselves on the top of my grudge list since they harmed my friend's dad. They'll come a day for me to ruin, but sadly it isn't that day... but one day... I'll ruin they're base. That's a promise..."
Azure coldly grinned at the idea but waited till the time was right. With that, he left for Route 104, continuing his journey.
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 300 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!