Chapter 239: Slateport City [Bonus]
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, 2 Days Later, Route 109 – Slateport City]
Two days blurred into one as Lorry carried them across Route 108. They continued, reaching the bustling shores of Route 109, and finally, the vibrant, sprawling metropolis of Slateport City emerged on the horizon.
Slateport City was a symphony of sounds and sights: the honking of ferry horns, the cheerful chatter of street vendors, the distant cries of Wingull, and the constant hum of machinery. It was a port city, undeniably, but with an underlying current of cultural vibrancy that Dewford, for all its charm, lacked.
*SPLASH*
As Lorry gently nudged the docks, drawing curious stares from passersby, Ruby practically bounced off its massive back as the trio reached the end of Route 109 to Slateport City, as he declared, striking a dramatic pose, "Finally! Slateport City! The Contest Hall awaits!"
His eyes shone with an almost manic gleam, already envisioning the cheers and the ribbons as he said passionately, "I'll be there every single day until I get my Slateport Ribbon!"
Sapphire rolled her eyes, her interest elsewhere as she recalled Lorry away. She gestured towards the labyrinthine streets leading deeper into the city in an excited tone, "Contests, Ruby? Seriously? I've got Gyms to conquer, battles to fight! I'm heading straight for the Shop District. I need to stock up on Battle Items. My team could use some new Held Items – Focus Sashes, Choice Scarves, maybe even a Life Orb if I'm lucky. That's where the real action is."
Azure, however, found himself smiling. He had won countless battles, faced down legendary Pokémon, and navigated treacherous terrain, but he had never truly delved into the world of Pokémon Contests.
It was a facet of the Pokémon world he had only observed from afar, a world of grace and performance rather than brute strength. His Kanto and Johto journey had been exclusively about power and strategy in battle.
Now, in Hoenn, he wanted to explore new dimensions of the bond between trainer and Pokémon. Azure said softly, his voice thoughtful, "You know, Ruby, I've never really experienced a Pokémon Contest firsthand, beyond seeing them on TV. I'm genuinely interested. Mind if I tag along?"
Ruby's jaw dropped, then split into a wide, beaming smile. He preened, practically vibrating with excitement as he said excitedly, "Azure Sky, the Champion, accompanying me to a Contest Hall? This is an honor! Of course! You'll see true artistry, real elegance!"
Sapphire groaned, slapping a hand against her forehead. She asked in disbelief, "Are you serious, Master? Don't tell me you're falling for his contest propaganda."
Azure chuckled, hearing Sapphire's response, as he replied casually, "Just broadening my horizons, Sapphire. There's more to Pokémon than just battling, don't you think? It's about their full potential, their expressions. I'll meet you later. You go get your battle items; I'll see what the world of contests is all about."
Sapphire sighed but reluctantly nodded, respecting her Master's choice as she said in a doubtful tone, "Alright, fine. Don't let him talk your ear off about 'sparkles' and 'shimmering attacks.' I'll be busy in the Shop District anyway. Let's meet back at the Pokémon Center by sundown. Don't be late."
With a final, exasperated glance at Ruby, she turned and strode off, her footsteps purposeful, heading towards the bustling commercial heart of Slateport. But paused as she yelled back at Ruby, "And you! Don't forget our bet!!"
Hearing this, Ruby yelled back to remember their promise as he declared, "I won't!! You neither…! You'll be amazed when you hear how my gorgeous Pokémon have swept past the competition in all the Pokémon contests!!"
Finishing off his words, Ruby was already practically dragging Azure towards the Contest Hall in Slateport City, his enthusiasm infectious as he passionately says, "This way, Azure! You won't believe the atmosphere inside! It's electric!"
Azure nodded, getting dragged around with Pikachu over his shoulder, and sighed. Eevee, however, seemed interested in the Pokémon Contest.
But Azure thought calmly, a confident glint in his eyes, thinking, 'If I remember correctly… following Ruby should allow me to catch Team Magma. Let's see what those 3 Admins got against me…'
/////
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Jagged Pass (Team Magma's HQ)]
*KRCKL*
*KRCKL*
Elsewhere, Tabitha and Courtney have joined Maxie in Team Magma's hideout. The sounds of fire cackle around the two.
Courtney, chewing her bubble gum, blew a bubble as Tabitha asked nervously to Maxie, "Hey, boss… what next!"
Maxie eyed his Admins as he poured himself a drink. Maxie says bluntly, "Not sure… not after your both failures obtaining the Scanner. To two children and a Champion of another Region. You've left witnesses… alive."
Tabitha flinched, hearing Maxie's blunt words. But Maxie continued taking a sip of his drink as he calmly said, "But I suppose you were outmatched against a Champion. That could be understandable."
Tabitha gulped, hearing this as Courtney suggested, calmly sitting down on the ground as he said nervously, "Yeah! Why don't we drop by Slateport City and burn it to the ground?!"
Tabitha and Courtney want to stir up trouble so they can push Azure into handing the Scanner over when he arrives in Slateport City. But Maxie pours himself a drink as he said calmly, "Now, now… don't get over enthusiastic, you two. Blaise should be back any minute now."
*Fwip*
Blaise appears, just in time, and calmly says, "I'm back, boss."
Maxie smiled, seeing Blaise as he asked, "Told you. How'd it go?"
Blaise smirked as he began to report to them while shooting Courtney and Tabitha a smug grin, "Things are in good shape. I checked out the shipyard at Slateport City… and Submarine Explorer I is 95% complete! At the very least, I completed my mission."
Courtney and Tabitha rolled their eyes as they thought, 'Boot licker.'
*Woosh*
*Thud*
Maxie tossed Blaise a Poké Ball for his reward as he said happily of the news, "Great! Blaise, for your reward, our team managed to revive this Fossil Pokémon for your contribution! Now you three head over there."
The two stiffened hearing that Blaise greatly accepted his new Fossil Pokémon, Anorith, the Old Shrimp Pokémon. Upon hearing this, Maxie orders the Three Fires calmly, "Show the ignorant citizens that Team Magma has the power to dry up their entire sea with our fiery lava! Burn everything to the ground!"
*Crash*
*Bom*
Maxie tossed the bottle into the nearby wall and brought out his Camerupt. The Three Fires, Courtney, Blaise, and Tabitha, all left following Maxie's order as Camerupt used Flamethrower, burning the room to cinders.
/////
[Hoenn Region, Later, Slateport City]
On the way to Slateport City, Ruby stopped dragging Azure around as he followed his direction. But it was when a man approached them, getting they're attention, "Is that a Poke Ball in your – Oh my! Is that you, Azure!"
Both stopped as a man approached him, noting the Poké Balls in Ruby's hand and commending him for being a trainer at such a young age. But then the man's eyes widened, recognizing Azure immediately.
Both turned to see the man. Azure's eyes flashed with recognition as he smiled, greeting an old friend, extending a hand, out happily said, "Pokémon Fan Club Chairman! It's been a while since we last met! How are you doing these days?"
The PFC Chairman puffed his chest out, taking Azure's hand, shaking it as he returned the greeting in a polite tone, "Been well, young man! I've seen you grow up to be a fine, dashing teen! And your Pikachu and Eevee!"
*Wooosh*
Grabbing hold of Eevee and Pikachu, he hugged them tightly as they cried out. The Chairman went on as he stated proudly, "Oh, you two are so cute and in such fine condition! I see you raised and taken care of them well, Azure!"
Ruby blinked, confused by the interaction, as he asked Azure, baffled, "So… who's this guy? You know him?"
Azure slyly grinned as he replied to Ruby's question in a casual tone, shrugging his shoulders, "Yeah. A nice guy and Chairman of the Pokémon Fan Club. I'm also a member there and helped him during my journey in Kanto. Hey, Chairman, come here!"
Calling out the Pokémon Chairman, he looked over to Ruby. Immediately, he rushed in over overexcitedly says, "Hmm…! Here, let me take a look…!! This one, and this one, and this one, and this one!"
*Pop*
Forcing Ruby's Pokémon out of their Poké Balls, the man praises them as he declares to Ruby proudly, "Oooooh. Delightful! I've made up my mind! I am hereby making you an honorary member of the Pokémon Fan Club! The… Pokémon Fan Club!"
Ruby looked confused, but the Chairman composed himself. He coughed into his hand as he properly introduced himself proudly, "I apologize, young man! Ahem! I'm the Chairman, the big cheese, as it were, of the Pokémon Fan Club! Our Club focuses on the care and love of Pokémon. After all, Pokémon are cute creatures. Your Pokémon are very cute. It's an outrage that people pit such adorable creatures against each other in battle!!"
*Bdmp*
Ruby's skipped a beat hearing that as he thought, 'A comrade!'
*GRAB*
Ruby grabs the Chairman's hand, letting go of his Pokémon and Azure's. Pikachu and Eevee returned to his head and shoulder, shuddering as they cried out, "Pika…/Bui… (Never again…)"
Azure chuckled, seeing his partners get smothered by the Chairman's overaffectionate love for Pokémon. Ruby heartily agrees with the Chairman in a passionate tone, "I agree with you! Totally!"
*Bdmp*
The Chairman's heart skipped a beat as he thought, 'A comrade!'
They both shook their hands as Ruby began complaining that no one else had agreed with him on that point ever since he had moved to Hoenn in a disheartened tone, "This is the first time I've met anyone who understands how I feel since I moved to this region at least. Everyone around here is battle crazy!"
Azure felt his lips twitch, hearing that as he thought, 'Not me, right?'
Both of them snickered at his reaction. Meanwhile, the Chairman nodded his head, patting Ruby's shoulder as he declared proudly, "Is that so? You must have been through a lot already for someone your age… but you needn't worry about any of that in this town!! Slateport City is the place for people like you – people like us!"
The Chairman then turned to Azure with fire in his eyes as he gestured proudly, "Come, Azure! I'll show you around the city!"
Azure sighed, simply nodding to the Chairman, dragging him and Ruby around Slateport City's great sites. The chairman decides to show Ruby around the city, starting with the Slateport Market, where they admire various decorations or useful items on sale.
They eventually reach the local Contest Hall as the Chairman declared proudly, "And best of all… we have a Pokémon Contest Hall! Where we conduct our Pokémon contests naturally!!"
*Sniff*
Seeing this moved Ruby to tears. Ruby declares that it's finally time for his Pokémon to shine in Contests in a determined tone, "Let's go! It's finally time for my team to show off their cuteness, coolness, toughness, and smartness!"
Azure sighed as he casually went inside the Contest Hall, muttering out loud, "Sigh… I wonder how good these Pokémon Contests are?"
/////
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Slateport City – Shop District]
Meanwhile, across the city, Sapphire was in her element. The Shop District was a chaotic symphony of commerce, storefronts crammed together, hawking everything from rare Poké Balls to custom battle gear.
She navigated the crowds with practiced ease, her eyes scanning for specific items. She asked a shopkeeper curiously, who directed her to a display overflowing with various Held Items, "Excuse me, do you have any Choice Scarves in stock?"
She spent some time comparing stats, weighing the pros and cons of different items for her Chic and Kirly. She ended up purchasing a [Charcoal] for her Chic, hoping it would give him an edge in close battles, and an [Expert Belt] for her Kirly, a recent addition to her team, to boost damage rate.
As she haggled over the price of a rare TM, her thoughts drifted to Azure and Ruby as she thought, baffled, 'Master, at the Contest Hall, of all places. I don't get it…'
It baffled her. Azure was a champion, a master of strategy and power, as she continued thinking, baffled, 'What could interest him in something as superficial as contests?'
She shook her head. She continued shopping as she muttered under her breath, "Maybe it was just his insatiable curiosity, that need to understand every facet of the Pokémon world…"
Still, the image of Ruby prancing around on stage with his overly groomed Pokémon made her chuckle. She couldn't imagine Master doing anything so... flamboyant. But then again, Azure was often full of surprises.
She finally emerged from a crowded shop, her backpack heavier with her new acquisitions, feeling a surge of satisfaction. This was her kind of training – tangible upgrades, strategic advantages.
She grinned happily as she muttered curiously in a confident tone, "Yeah… I think it's about time I ask Master for a rematch. But first, let's see if this place has some Mega Stones or Key Stones lying around…"
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 300 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!