Chapter 316: The Charmer Vs. The Conqueror (1)
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Next Day, Fortree City]
The humid air of Fortree City clung like a second skin, a testament to the verdant canopy that enveloped countless homes, creating a whimsical metropolis among the treetops. For Sapphire, however, the day was anything but whimsical.
A storm brewed within her, hot and volatile, mirroring the brewing ecological disaster threatening Hoenn. Below her, Chic, her fiery Blaziken, darted through the leaves with practiced ease, a blur of red and orange against the emerald.
*Zooom*
Sapphire's voice, sharp with an intensity that belied her ten years, cut through the rustling leaves, "Quick Attack, Chic!"
Chic obeyed, a streak of speed slamming into a startled Shiftry, sending it spiraling down towards the forest floor. A follow-up Blaze Kick shimmered, then connected, rendering the wild Pokémon unconscious.
*BAM*
Sapphire praised, landing lightly beside her partner, the leaf bikini she favored offering little resistance to the surrounding foliage, "Good work, Chic!"
Her eyes, usually bright with adventurous spirit, were still clouded by a simmering rage. Ruby. That infuriating, infuriating boy. His smug disinterest, his blatant disregard for Hoenn's plight, gnawed at her.
Ruby spoke of beauty and contests, while the very earth groaned beneath their feet. Determined to channel her fury into productive action, Sapphire marched towards the Fortree City Gym.
Winona, the Gym Leader, was perched on a high platform, tending to a flock of her Swablu happily chirping. Her serene expression faltered slightly when she caught sight of Sapphire in her usual jungle attire.
Winona mused, a faint smile playing on her lips as she said curiously, "Sapphire? My, you certainly make an entrance. And… that outfit. Still living wild, I see."
Sapphire demanded, bypassing pleasantries, "Winona! Train me! Again!"
There was no room for small talk when Hoenn was teetering on the brink. Winona studied her, a glint of understanding in her eyes despite her initial surprise as she agreed, "Very well. It seems some old flames need rekindling. And perhaps, new resolve needs to be tempered."
*Wooosh*
She descended gracefully, her cape billowing as she added calmly, "Let's see how far you've come."
The Gym's battle arena, an open-air platform overlooking the vast forest, became their stage. Sapphire wasted no time, sending out Rono, her sturdy Lairon, Phando, her powerful Donphan, and Troppy, her majestic Tropius.
Winona countered with the elegant grace of Masquerain, the fluffy purity of Swablu, and the delicate beauty of Beautifly. The battle was a whirlwind of elemental strikes and strategic maneuvers.
Masquerain's deceptive speed and water attacks challenged Rono's steel defenses, but the Lairon's Iron Head proved too much, eventually felling the elegant bug. Swablu's defensive Cotton Guard and Sing vexed Phando, but the Donphan's Rollout gained momentum with each hit, eventually overwhelming the small bird.
Beautifly, with its gusting winds and dazzling attacks, put up a fierce fight against Troppy, but the flying dinosaur's Aerial Ace and Razor Leaf barrage, bolstered by its natural speed among the trees, finally secured Sapphire's victory.
Even as her Pokémon celebrated, Sapphire felt a strange mix of satisfaction and continued frustration. The victories felt hollow. This wasn't the true challenge, not the one that truly mattered.
From the shadowed hallway, Brawly and Roxanne watched, their expressions unreadable. Winona, however, wore a genuine smile as she extended her hand, offering a badge crafted from a single, iridescent feather, "Remarkable, Sapphire. Your spirit is as untamed as ever, but your skill… it has sharpened considerably. You carry the weight of this region, don't you? Consider this proof of your acceptance. You truly are ready to fight for Hoenn."
Sapphire snatched the Feather Badge, a surge of fierce determination momentarily eclipsing her anger as she declared, "I won't let you down, Winona!"
After the battle, Sapphire led her victorious Pokémon to the Gym's healing machine, the soft hum of its mechanisms a comforting sound. As her partners rejuvenated, her mind, unburdened by immediate combat, drifted back to Ruby.
She thought with a hint of disdain in her expression, a bitter taste in her mouth, 'He's so strong. Stronger than anyone I know. But he just… lets things happen. He stands by while Hoenn burns and drown.'
The memory of finally witnessing his true power, a raw, untamed skill that surpassed her wildest imaginings, still stung like a fresh wound. And then his callous dismissal, his refusal to wield that strength for anything but his superficial contests.
He'd said with his actions, 'I won't help.'
It felt like a personal betrayal, a mockery of her own dedication and passion for battling, which she wore like a badge of honor. She thought he was a good person beneath all the preening, but his actions had shattered that illusion.
A sudden, cheerful pop broke her reverie, "Pika-Pika! (Sup!)"
Sapphire whirled around, her hands instinctively reaching for her belt. Standing there, leaning casually against the wall, was Azure with a friendly smile.
Perched on his shoulder was a familiar, bright-yellow Pikachu, and nestled comfortably on his head was an adorable Eevee. Sapphire's fury evaporated, replaced by wide-eyed surprise, which swiftly morphed into undisguised joy, "Master! You're here!"
Azure Sky, the Indigo Champion, held up a hand in a friendly greeting, "Hey, Sapphire. Long time no see. You've grown a bit, haven't you?"
Sapphire practically bounced. Hope flared within her as she asked expectedly, "What are you doing here? Did you hear about... about Hoenn? The Ancient Pokémon, Groudon and Kyogre, are awakening?"
Azure, with his unparalleled strength, his Indigo League victories alongside his beloved Pikachu and Eevee – he would be the answer! She had been his temporary student, a whirlwind mentorship from Rustboro City to Lavaridge Town.
He had taught her so much, refined her raw talent, and honed her instincts. But eventually, she had left, feeling like she was always in his shadow, needing to forge her own path, become her own Trainer.
Yet, right now, seeing him, she couldn't help but feel a profound relief. Her Master had returned, surely drawn by Hoenn's cry for help.
Azure's smile, however, wavered slightly. He scratched the back of his neck as he said, bluntly, looking slightly embarrassed, "Actually, Sapphire… I'm not here for that."
Sapphire's joyous expression froze as she uttered, "What?"
Azure, seeing her stunned, comical expression, had the urge to laugh at her face. But he kept it down, keeping his word as he said, a touch too casually, "The ancient Pokémon, the natural disasters… It's a bit out of my jurisdiction, you know? Just passing through Hoenn on a new journey of my own."
Sapphire stared, dumbfounded. Then, her surprise shifted to a familiar anger, tinged with a fresh ache of disappointment as she pleaded with him, "But… Master, your strength! You're the Indigo Champion! You could help more than anyone! This isn't just a gym challenge, this is…"
Azure held up a hand, a sly grin spreading across his face. He winked knowingly as he added casually, "I said I wouldn't directly help. But… perhaps I could be persuaded… Under one condition."
Sapphire narrowed her eyes, suspicion mixing with a desperate hope as she uttered, "What condition?"
Hearing her response, Azure's expression turned unusually serious as his tone became serious, though the grin never quite left his lips, "You're a brave kid, Sapphire, I know that. And a strong one. But you're also… 10 years old. Charging headlong into a conflict involving Super Ancient Pokémon, legendary forces of nature… that's beyond reckless. It's dangerous. So, my condition is this: you defeat a Trainer I've chosen. If you lose, that Trainer takes your place in this… effort to save Hoenn. You sit this one out."
Sapphire bristled as she gritted her teeth, hearing her Master's condition, "Sit it out? You think I can't handle it?"
Seeing her expression, Azure said sternly with a serious expression, causing Sapphire to flinch under his stare, "I think you can handle a lot, Sapphire. But sometimes, even the strongest Trainers need to prove they're not just strong, but wise. And that they can assess a threat properly. If you want to fight for Hoenn, you need to be sure you're ready to face anything. And if you're not… then someone else has to step up to protect you, and the region."
His words, despite their underlying concern, stoked the flames of defiance in Sapphire. She recklessly agreed, "Fine! I'll take your challenge! And I'll win! You'll see!"
Azure's smile deepened as he excitedly said with a knowing voice, "That's the spirit. Come on, then. The Fortree Gym's main battle area should do nicely."
As they walked, Sapphire's mind raced, trying to guess who Azure would have chosen instead of her curiously, 'Another Gym Leader? One of the Elite Four? Someone from his own Kanto or Johto journey?'
*Bdmp*
Her heart pounded with a mix of anticipation and indignation. She wouldn't lose. She couldn't lose.
/////
[Hoenn Region, Fortree City – Gym]
They reached the expansive battle platform where Azure had just defeated Winona. Azure gestured towards the opposite end as he declared, "Alright, Sapphire. Your opponent, your replacement, if you lose, is right over there."
Sapphire's gaze followed his hand, and her world screeched to a halt. Standing on the far side of the arena, his usually immaculate hair slightly windswept, a serious, almost strained expression on his face, was Ruby.
The words ripped from her, a guttural yell of pure, unadulterated shock and a resurgence of her earlier fury, "RUBY?! What are you doing here?!"
Ruby flinched, his shoulders tensing, but he held his ground, his eyes meeting hers with an uncharacteristic resolve as he thought, 'Ouch… yeah, I totally deserved this one. I owe ya one big time, Sky…'
Azure, completely unfazed, simply shrugged as he repeated himself nonchalantly, "Someone who would replace you, remember?"
He popped a berry into his mouth, his Pikachu and Eevee already producing a bag of popcorn from what seemed like thin air, rustling it excitedly, "Pika! Bui! (Oh! This drama is gonna be so good!)"
Azure twitched an eyebrow at their antics, but continued, "This will be a full 6-on-6 Pokémon battle. Standard rules apply."
Sapphire's mind reeled, 'Ruby?'
Ruby, who had dismissed the entire crisis?
Ruby, who cared only for contests and his Pokémon's beauty?
Ruby, who had planned to move back to Johto after his Hoenn Pokémon Contest run?
This made no sense to her as she thought conflicted by this turn of events, 'Yesterday, he wouldn't lift a finger for Hoenn. Now, he was here, willing to fight for it?'
It was a bewildering, infuriating shift, and despite all her anger, a sliver of confusion pierced through as a single question popped into her head, 'What had changed?'
Hidden in the shadows of the hallway connecting to the Gym's main office, Brawly and Roxanne watched the unfolding scene with keen interest. They had been informed of Azure's arrival, but Azure had specifically asked them not to tell Winona, subtly hinting that he had his own plans.
Winona had been so quick to recruit Sapphire, perhaps too quick, they now thought, especially after learning the child's true age. Roxanne whispered, a concerned frown on her face as she said worriedly, "10 years old… Children shouldn't be dragged into this kind of danger."
Brawly nodded, his usually jovial expression grim as he added in a solemn voice, "We're Gym Leaders. Our duty is to protect the younger generation, not send them to face threats bigger than they can handle."
Azure had, however, a way with words. He had persuaded them, with a calm, unwavering conviction, that if Sapphire could prove her skill, her resolve, and her readiness, then she had every right to join the fight.
And who were they to argue with him?
A Trainer whose prowess was widely regarded as being on par with the likes of Wallace and Steven Stone themselves?
Azure's logic, coupled with his reputation, had been unassailable. Not only that, but his capturing the Regi Trio and Rayquaza swayed them a lot, considering he already agreed to help, but Sapphire didn't know this.
Sapphire, still reeling, roared at Ruby. Her initial fury, which had momentarily subsided with Azure's appearance, now surged back with a vengeance yelled, "You still don't make any sense, Ruby! You wouldn't help before! Now you're here to fight me?!"
Ruby finally spoke, his voice surprisingly firm, cutting through the anger in her voice as he said in a determined voice, " Sapphire… As your – whew… as your friend, I wouldn't allow you to go into danger unless you can beat me first."
Sapphire gasped, momentarily stunned, hearing that word, 'Friend?'
Her eyes narrowed then, a new fire igniting within them. She yelled, pointing an accusatory finger, "You… you don't make any sense at all! But if you're asking for a beating, then I'll happily oblige!"
The air crackled with unspoken tension, with anger, confusion, and a burgeoning, desperate hope.
The stage was set. The battle for Hoenn's future, for Sapphire's role in it, and for the complex, tumultuous relationship between two young, powerful Trainers, was about to begin.
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 100 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!