Chapter 224: Rustboro City
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Morning, Rustboro City]
Azure and his group finally arrived at Rustboro City as he whistled happily, "Whew… talk about the city probing the integration of nature and science. Right, guys?"
Gesturing towards his two partners, Pikachu puffed out his chest, his little red cheeks sparking faintly, ready for anything. Eevee nuzzled against Azure's leg, her large, curious eyes taking everything in, already mapping out potential hidden corners and interesting smells.
They disembarked, stepping onto the solid ground of the Hoenn region, the gentle vibrations of the city beneath their feet a tangible welcome. Rustboro City, the 'Stone of Industry' as the guidebooks called it.
Their immediate goal: the Pokémon Center, a familiar beacon of comfort and care, a place to refresh, regroup, and begin to plan. The streets of Rustboro were a vibrant tapestry of life, with different Pokémon side by side with people.
Trainers with their Pokémon walked alongside workers heading to the local ore mines. Shops displayed everything from rare evolution stones unique to Hoenn to specialized healing items, some of which Azure hadn't encountered before.
Azure's eyes, experienced in reading the hidden nuances of a city, took it all in. He noted the strategic placement of the gyms, the flow of pedestrian traffic, and the subtle signs of the local wild Pokémon population.
His mind, always subtly evaluating, already began sketching out potential training spots and battle strategies, even as he merely observed. The Pokémon Center, its iconic red roof a welcome sight, stood prominently near the city's heart.
Inside, the usual bustle of trainers and nurses filled the air, a familiar rhythm of arrivals, departures, and healing energies. Azure approached the counter, Pikachu still perched on his shoulder, Eevee at his heels, their presence a quiet testament to his journey's core.
Nurse Joy greeted him, her smile warm, her Chansey standing attentively beside her, "Welcome to the Pokémon Center. How may I help you?"
Azure smiled as he replied casually as he reached for his belt, unclipping 9 Poké Balls with practiced ease, "Hello, Nurse Joy. I'm Azure Sky, just arrived in Hoenn. I'd like to register and have my Pokémon checked over, please. These nine, plus my partners here. And one is for my friend, I'm planning to return it after he forgot her at a friend's place."
He laid the Poké Balls on the counter, and Chansey gently gathered them, its pink, egg-shaped body radiating a calm, nurturing aura. As they were taken, Azure felt a familiar, quiet hum of energy emanating from them.
Each Poké Ball held a story, a promise, and a cherished friend, each one an integral part of the expanding family he carried with him. But when he turned to Rara Ruby's Pokémon, he said calmly, reassuring her inside her Poke Ball, "No worries, Rara. We'll meet with your Trainer, Ruby, soon, okay? Just hang on for a bit longer."
Rara gazed at him from within her Poké Ball and nodded. He looked down at Pikachu and Eevee, who looked up at him with unwavering loyalty as he said proudly, "These two, they've been with me through thick and thin. My first partners, my constant companions, the ones who reminded me what this journey was really about."
Pikachu vibrated with quiet pride, his ears perked, while Eevee wagged her tail, pleased by the attention, her soft fur brushing against his leg. Nurse Joy smiled, seeing they're strong bond, nodded happily.
Nurse Joy reassured him, her voice tinged with the familiar kindness of Pokémon caretakers everywhere, said kindly, "They'll be ready in no time, Azure. Please take a seat. Make yourself comfortable."
While waiting, Azure pulled out his Arc Phone, checking for any regional news or league updates. He noted the Rustboro Gym Leader, Roxanne, specialized in Rock-type Pokémon as he raised an eyebrow, reading, "To have a battle against her, I need to finish an essay test, to even – that's total BS!"
Azure frowned, seeing the criteria to even have a Gym Battle against Roxanne, one would need to pass her test. Rolling his eyes in annoyance, he muttered to himself, "Still with the amount of Pokémon I have on me… It might be best to send the newbies back to Oak's place for them to train. My older Pokémon can show them the ropes while they gain experience to learn from them."
Experience had taught him that patience often led to victory, and that understanding his environment was as crucial as understanding his opponents. He felt a light tap on his arm as he turned to see who it was.
Nurse Joy was back, holding his 9 Poké Balls, and Chansey carried a tray with Pikachu and Eevee, who had just finished their check-up, looking refreshed and even more vibrant. She smiled, handing back his precious cargo, "All your Pokémon are in excellent health, Azure. Welcome to Hoenn!"
He clipped the Poké Balls back onto his belt, a comforting weight. He replied, thankfully to Nurse Joy, "Thank you, Nurse Joy. Your care is as welcome as always. Let's go, guys. Time to see what Rustboro really has to offer. The real journey starts now."
With that in mind, he went to the nearby PC's that the Pokémon Center had. Having one online, he called in at Oak's Lab in Pallet Town to see who would call.
*BEEP*
It didn't take long for the screen to reveal Prof. Oak himself as he greeted Azure calmly, "Oh! Pleasure seeing you again, Azure! How's your journey through Hoenn?"
Azure grinned fondly, seeing the Professor as he replied casually with Pikachu over his shoulder and Eevee on his head, "Good. Managed to capture new Pokémon. I called because I'm planning on sending a few back to the lab to learn from my other Pokémon. They could use the experience."
Prof. Oak smiled, hearing this, as he clasped his hands together excitedly, said, "Oh boy! I'll be sure to grab them over Azure! I'm excited to see which Pokémon from Hoenn you collected for me to research!"
Azure rolled his eyes at Prof. Oak's eagerness to study Pokémon but chuckled. He decided to pick Ralts, Corphish, and Slakoth to return because of their low level and increased move pool, along with needing experience to grow.
Sending them one by one, Prof. Oak smiled happily, obtaining them from his end. But then recalled something as he asked curiously, "Oh, and one more thing… did you ever receive the Pokedex that Birch gave you?"
Azure cheekily grinned, causing Prof. Oak to trip at his words as he said happily, "Oh, that old thing? I gave it to a trainer who needed it – oh, look at the time! I must get ready for my Gym match! By Professor!"
Prof. Oak's eyes widened as he yelled, "No wait, what – BEEP!"
Azure sighed a breath of relief as he muttered, "Whew… with that done with…"
As Azure stepped out of the Pokémon Center, the morning sun was high, casting long shadows. He decided to head towards the outskirts of the city, where the industrial areas gave way to more natural terrain, hoping to find a quiet place for his Pokémon to stretch their legs and relax after the journey.
Pikachu led the way, his nose twitching, already picking up on new scents, while Eevee bounded happily, chasing after a passing Wingull, her playful chirps echoing in the air. Azure chuckled, seeing they're carefree attitudes, "Heh. Those two are so playful with each other. It kind of makes me glad they're enjoying this life with me."
"Hey Azure!"
Azure paused, hearing a familiar voice. He turned to see Sapphire with Chic and Rono by her side as he greeted her casually, "Oh? Seems like someone finally showed up? Glad to see you, Sapphire!"
Sapphire grinned as she replied in a casual tone, "Yup! I see you've chilled down."
Nodding his head in agreement, Sapphire noticed his direction was going to the Gym. She said happily, "Oh! Are you planning on battling the gym?"
Azure smiled as he nodded his head, heading towards the Rustboro Gym, replied casually, shrugging his shoulders, "Yeah. I'm planning to get my Gym Badge here first. I want to see if my Pokémon are up to the task."
Sapphire grinned happily, hearing the news, walking by Azure's side as she declared, "Yes! But if those guys come after me again, I won't be able to let them escape the next time!! I wasn't strong enough… I need to train more…"
Azure nodded as they approached the first entrance of the Gym. Sapphire opens the door, declaring out loud, "This'll be fun!! Excuse me!! I'm here for the Gym Battle!! Is the Gym Leader in?!"
*Chirpchirp*
However, she finds no one inside as Azure follows closely behind. Sapphire was baffled as she muttered, confused, "Uh… I thought a Pokémon Gym was a training facility for Trainers… how come there are all these desks and chairs in here? Ain't this the Gym?"
*RING*
*RING*
Suddenly, a bell rings and several people rush inside and start studying. Confused, Sapphire checks as she mutters, baffled by the scene, "What the…? They're all startin' to… study! What is this place?!"
Sapphire checks to confirm that she is at a Pokémon Gym. When Sapphire wonders where the Gym Leader is, she is told by a person entering the room in a casual tone, "No. I'm right over here."
*Skweek*
Gym Leader, Roxanne, has entered the room as she explains herself in a calm tone, "I am Rustboro's Gym Leader and this school's honors student who graduated with the highest grades! My name's Roxanne!!"
Sapphire grins happily as she goes down the stairs excitedly, "So you're the Gym Leader here?! Then… I challenge you!!"
However, she was halted as Roxanne was busy giving test papers to the people who entered her Gym earlier, as she said calmly, "Okay. I'm handing out tests now…"
Sapphire looked in disbelief as she began hopping impatiently in a frantic tone, "I mean, I came here to challenge you to a Gym Battle!! If yer busy with your teachin', ya can fight me after!!"
Believing that she is giving a lesson, Sapphire decides to come back at a more appropriate time as she continued, "Hel-lo?! When and where can I have my Gym Battle?"
*YANK*
Roxanne corrects her and reveals that to face her in a battle, one must take a test, handing her one. The Gym Trainers yank Sapphire to her seat as Roxanne explains cheerfully, "If you wish to take part in a gym battle, you have come to the right place. This exam is the very gym battle you're asking for!!"
*Whish*
Handing her test, Sapphire overdramatically replied, "WHAT?!"
Roxanne explains calmly to the Rookie Trainer, Sapphire, as she heads to her place, "Too many trainers wish to battle me. So I have them take this exam first. I administer the test once a week. Whoever receives the best grade earns the chance to fight a Pokémon battle with me. You just got here just in time to take it. And you…"
Roxanne finally took her time to see Azure grinning slyly as she said bluntly, "And as for you… Azure Sky. You'll be taking the same test as them. I don't show favoritism here even if you are the Champion for another reason."
Azure shrugged his shoulders, yawning boredly, much to Roxanne's mild annoyance, "Ahh… very well then. Let's get this over with…"
Taking his seat and being handed a test paper, Roxanne declared passionately, "All rightie then… You may begin!!"
*Flip*
Azure flipped his paper as he took a seat next to Sapphire, and she sighed in defeat. But she regained her fiery spirit, muttering, "I don't believe this… a test… to have a Gym Battle? Oh well… Pop warned me that every Gym has its own special set of rules!! Hmm.. what does this word say…? 'When a Pokémon is… it loses its…' I'm not so good with… vocabulary…"
Due to Sapphire's poor reading skills, Roxanne suggested smugly, "You may request the reading of a word if you wish… hahahah…"
Sapphire must have someone read out certain words to her, but she manages to finish it. Meanwhile, Azure was calm, taking his test as he thought smugly, 'I suppose it makes sense she put things not known to everyone to learn about Pokémon studies. Thank god Sapphire is mumbling loudly for me to know her answers as she aced the test.'
Azure grinned smugly as he cheated using his meta knowledge to ace Roxanne's test while confidently answering some of his questions. All the while, Roxanne was underestimating Sapphire, assuming her to be an illiterate, unaware of her status of being Professor Birch's daughter.
/////
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Route 105]
*RMBL*
*RMBL*
Meanwhile, somewhere on Route 105, a man on a boat, named Mr. Briney, was alerted by his Peeko the Wingull, "What have you found, Peeko? A… person?!"
Shocked, Mr. Briney checked to discover Ruby floating in the water on top of a log. He muttered, surprised, "How odd. What's he doing floating in the sea?"
*FWASSH*
Using his net, he fishes the unconscious boy out of the sea. He brought him to his boat as he muttered, confused, "Ah, well… I suppose I'll have to help the young man! Seaman's code and all that…"
As Sapphire and Azure prepare for they're own Gym Battle Ruby is dealing with another issue. But that's a tale for another time...
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 100 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!