Chapter 351: Quest for the Plates! [Bonus]
~Azure S. POV~
[Johto Region, Next Day, Ecruteak City – Gym]
The cool Johto wind whipped past, a crisp contrast to the humid air of Hoenn I'd grown accustomed to. Perched atop my magnificent Dragonite, the world stretched out beneath us in a tapestry of greens and browns, dotted with the quaint, traditional architecture of Ecruteak City.
Pikachu, ever the constant companion, chirped happily from his perch on my shoulder, his fur ruffled slightly by the wind. Eevee, nestled snugly on my head, let out a contented purr, her soft fur a familiar comfort.
I murmured, patting Dragonite's neck, "Almost there, team."
She rumbled in response, a low, guttural sound that always felt like a warm embrace, "Drao! (Got it!)"
My goal was clear: the Plates of Arceus. I knew from my 'past life' — which now felt like a hazy, distant dream – that they were scattered throughout Johto, ripe for the taking, especially during this period of the Pokémon Adventures manga's timeline. The Heartgold and Soulsilver arc was my roadmap, a cheat sheet to power and understanding.
My current mission wasn't about competitive battling, not really. Not anymore. I'd seen my share of glory, having already bagged the Ninth and Tenth Pokémon League Tournaments in Kanto, and even the Hoenn League, though I chose not to be crowned champion.
Titles meant little to me now; the journey, the bond with my partners, and the sheer joy of discovery were my true rewards. Besides, Pikachu and Eevee, my ride-or-die companions from another world, didn't need a formal title to prove their worth.
They were champions of my heart, and that was enough.
The Plates, however, were something else entirely. They held a fragment of the creator's power, an essence that could dramatically enhance a Pokémon's moves.
Think of it like a Miracle Seed for Grass-types, but cranked up to eleven, adding an overwhelming surge of power. I knew for sure there were nineteen in total across the world, and my meta-game knowledge pointed to at least sixteen, possibly eighteen, being present right here in Johto.
The thought alone sent a thrill through me. To find them, I needed a guide, someone with a knack for the unseen.
Usually, I would've gone with Celebi for this. But currently, Celebi is not in my timeline right now as it's a bit busy time traveling, so no idea when she returns. This left me to use the one person who can help me locate him, just like the plot demands.
And who better than Morty, Ecruteak City's Gym Leader, renowned for his precognitive abilities? He was my best, and frankly, only, lead.
A recent change to my team reflected this focus. I'd swapped out one of my usual powerhouses for Weavile, a speedy Dark/Ice-type, whose cunning intelligence would be invaluable.
Mewtwo, still residing within his Master Ball, had telepathically reached out during the switch, his curiosity a cool, analytical wave in my mind. His voice had resonated, clear as crystal in my thoughts, 'Master, you have altered your contingent. This 'Weavile' is a notable addition, but its purpose remains unclear in the context of our current trajectory. What is the significance of these 'Plates' you seek?'
I'd explained it to him simply, concisely, the importance, 'Mewtwo, these Plates are more than just held items. They are fragments of creation itself. Each Plate resonates with a specific type – Fire, Water, Grass, and so on. When a Pokémon holds a Plate matching its move type, that move's power is amplified far beyond what any standard item could achieve. It's a fundamental boost, an overwhelming surge.'
Mewtwo had mused, his interest piqued as he replied telepathically in a curious voice, 'Overwhelming… you speak of a significant increase in power. And you stated there are nineteen in total?'
I paused, then delivered the clincher, the piece of information I knew would truly grab his attention, explaining, 'Nineteen, yes. Though I only know for certain about sixteen, perhaps eighteen, within this region. The others might be here, or elsewhere. And the most fascinating part, Mewtwo, is that all of them originated from a single Pokémon. The so-called Creator of the World.'
The silence that followed was heavy with Mewtwo's processing. I could feel the surge of his analytical mind, connecting the dots, recognizing the profound implications of such an artifact, and the Pokémon responsible for it.
For a being like Mewtwo, crafted from the essence of another legendary, the concept of a 'creator' would be profoundly compelling. Dragonite descended gracefully, landing us just outside the Ecruteak Gym.
*Thud*
As my feet touched the ground, a faint commotion reached my ears – the unmistakable sounds of a Pokémon battle, punctuated by a roar of effort and a cry of defeat. No guards were visible, odd for a Gym under battle.
Curiosity piqued, I gestured to Pikachu and Eevee, who hopped down, ready for anything. I muttered, recalling Dragonite, pushing open the large, ornate doors, "Let's see what's happening in there."
The interior of the Gym was a blur of shadowy light and the scent of ozone. I followed the sounds, reaching the stands just as a battle concluded.
My eyes scanned the field, acknowledging the Gym Leader, Morty, whose Gengar was just collapsing, swirling into a dazed faint. But it wasn't Morty's defeat that caught my attention; it was his opponent.
My jaw nearly dropped. Standing opposite Morty, a triumphant grin on her face, was Sapphire. And beside her, a smug but proud look on his face, was Ruby, a Zorua perched nonchalantly on his shoulder.
The coordinator with a penchant for flashy battles and my wild, untamed student from Hoenn. Here. In Johto.
And they didn't say a word! Ungrateful brats!!
Ruby noticed me first, his eyes widening in surprise as he yelled, "Azure?! What in the… what are you doing here?"
I blinked, a broad grin spreading across my face, answering back equally as confused, "Me? What are you two doing here? Last I heard, you were busy studying ecological changes back in Hoenn."
Ruby scratched the back of his head, a slight blush rising, explaining, "Well, uh, yeah. After that, we figured we deserved a bit of a break. Been showing Sapphire around my home region for a few months. She's… keen to see the sights."
He gestured vaguely at the ancient city. Wait, both of them together…
I couldn't resist. My grin widened, asking bluntly, "Your… girlfriend, you mean?"
Ruby's face turned a delightful shade of crimson, but he remained stubbornly silent, refusing to confirm or deny. He didn't need to.
The way Sapphire shot him a soft, affectionate glance, quickly masked by her usual energetic demeanor, told me everything I needed to know. Some things transcended meta-knowledge. I ship it.
As we walked down to the battlefield, Morty, regaining his composure, handed Sapphire a gleaming Fog Badge. Sapphire held it up proudly, her eyes sparkling.
I called out, my voice echoing slightly in the large Gym, "Morty, my friend!"
Morty's head snapped up, his eyes widening in a mixture of surprise and recognition, greeting me, "The… the Rainbow Hero! Azure! What an unexpected pleasure!"
His gaze flickered to Pikachu and Eevee, then back to me, a hint of awe in his spiritual eyes. He had, after all, witnessed Ho-Oh in the flesh during my League run.
Sapphire, seeing me, let out a joyful whoop, "Master Azure! It's been ages!"
*Zoooom*
She rushed over, throwing her arms around me in a surprisingly strong hug, nearly knocking Pikachu off my shoulder. Still damn strong, ain't she?
I chuckled, returning the embrace as we let go, asking curiously about their well-being, "Good to see you too, Sapphire. You've grown even stronger, I see. And Ruby, you're looking… well-traveled."
Ruby replied curiously, adjusting his glasses, "Always. But seriously, what brings you to Ecruteak?"
I explained, turning my attention back to Morty, making a request, "Business, primarily. Specifically, I need your unique talents, Morty. I'm looking for some… very special items. Items that are difficult to locate by conventional means, but might resonate with your precognitive abilities."
Morty nodded, his expression serious as he stated, "An order from the Rainbow Hero is a pleasure. You granted me the vision of Ho-Oh. What items do you seek?"
I said calmly, watching his reaction closely as Ruby and Sapphire listened, "They're known as the Plates of Arceus."
Morty's eyes glazed over for a moment, a sign his powers were activating. He closed them, his body becoming still, a conduit to the unseen currents of fate. A minute passed, then two…
The air around us seemed to hum with unseen energy. Finally, Morty's eyes snapped open. He didn't speak, but instead, gestured to a small table near the Gym entrance.
On it, a blank map of Johto shimmered into existence, lines and symbols appearing as if drawn by an invisible hand. Morty whispered, his voice slightly hoarse, "Eighteen… Eighteen Plates. Scattered throughout Johto. This map… it shows their approximate locations, and the signs to look for."
I stared at the map, utterly stunned. Eighteen?
My meta-knowledge had been so certain of only sixteen, maybe seventeen at most, featured prominently in the manga. But then again, meeting the Pokémon Origins Mr. Fuji, I shouldn't consider everything that close to the source material.
I repeated, my voice barely a whisper, "Eighteen?"
Ruby and Sapphire exchanged confused glances, neither of them having any context for my surprise. I quickly shook off my internal debate.
Not all things are going to be exact, I reminded myself. The world is always more complex than a story.
I said, thankfully, a genuine smile spreading across my face, "Morty. Thank you. This is… invaluable."
Morty replied, still looking a bit drained from the exertion, "It was my pleasure."
I turned to Ruby and Sapphire as I explained briefly, "It's truly great to have run into you two again. But I really do have some urgent business to attend to. Perhaps we can catch up more thoroughly later?"
They both nodded, understanding. As we exited the Gym, the bustling streets of Ecruteak welcomed us.
I said excitedly, pulling out a Poké Ball, "Alright, my cunning friend. I need your help big time, girl! Come out!"
*Pop*
With a flash of light, Weavile materialized, its sharp claws gleaming, its intelligent eyes immediately assessing its surroundings. I instructed, handing it the newly conjured map, "Weavile, this map. Spread the word."
Weavile took the map with surprising gentleness, then darted to a nearby ancient tree. With swift, precise movements, it began to scratch intricate symbols into the bark with its claws. The scratching sound was unnerving, yet purposeful.
Ruby asked, leaning in for a closer look, "What's it doing?"
Sapphire leaned in curiously as I explained to them in a casual voice, gesturing to the map, "It's marking the tree. Weavile, and its pre-evolution Sneasel, are highly territorial and communicate through these claw marks, leaving messages for others of their kind. It's essentially 'copying' the map onto the tree, in a language only their species understands. This way, other Weavile and Sneasel in the region will pick up the scent, see the 'message,' and spread the word."
Sapphire clarified, her brow furrowed in thought with her arms crossed, "So, they'll help you find these Plates?"
Nodding my head, I confirmed calmly to the Hoenn Dex Holders, "Exactly. It's a network, a living information highway. It'll take some time, of course, for the message to propagate and for them to start finding anything concrete. But I'm patient. And with eighteen Plates to find, I'll need all the help I can get."
I watched Weavile finish its work, giving the tree a final, satisfied sniff before looking back at me for further instructions. I thanked her for her work in a grateful voice, "That's enough for now, Weavile. Return."
With another flash, it was back in its ball. I said excitedly, turning back to Ruby and Sapphire, a genuine smile replacing my earlier focus, "But seeing as I have a bit of free time now, while my furry messengers do their work. I want to know what you two have been up to. Fill me in. All the details. Hoenn, Johto, everything."
My eyes twinkled mischievously as I said curiously, "Especially the parts about ecological studies and… showing Sapphire around."
Ruby's blush intensified, but Sapphire just grinned, her eyes bright with a thousand stories waiting to be told. This was going to be fun.
This was what I truly lived for now: the unexpected encounters, the shared adventures, and the bonds that transcended worlds and timelines. Now… the juicy stories!
/////
[Johto Region, Later, Ecruteak City – Restaurant]
Later, I treated the two to some dinner to hear their stories. Their eyes lit up, and soon we found ourselves in a cozy, traditionally styled restaurant, the aroma of steamed buns and savory broths filling the air.
We sat at a low table, our Pokémon comfortably curled up nearby. Pikachu and Eevee, having a knack for adapting to any situation – a trait they'd honed from our previous journies-hopping escapades – casually sampled some Pokémon-friendly treats I'd ordered for them.
Of course, with their favorite condiments, Ketchup and Mustard. Zoura, still a relatively new addition to Ruby's team, watched them with fascinated eyes before tentatively reaching for a berry.
I began slowly, taking a sip of tea after we'd placed our orders, "So… Hoenn. How have things been since I left?"
I chose my words carefully, knowing the delicate nature of the next few sentences, as I said calmly, "I heard some... big news about what happened with that political shitstorm. The Rayquaza Capture Project, wasn't it? Relating to the Pokémon Association Chairman of Hoenn and Mr. Stone."
The immediate shift in atmosphere was palpable. Ruby groaned, a sound laced with deep fatigue. Sapphire, on the other hand, growled. It was a low, guttural sound, more animalistic than human, a raw expression of anger.
*BANG*
She slammed her fist lightly onto the table, making the teacups jingle. Sapphire fumed, her eyes flashing, and argued, "Big news doesn't even begin to cover it, Master! Hoenn was almost destroyed! And for what? So those two could play god with Rayquaza?"
Ruby rubbed his temples. His voice trailed off, a rare note of disgust entering his usually calm demeanor, "It was... a nightmare. The sheer arrogance, the disregard for life, for the Pokémon, for the region itself... Learning they practically murdered the original Sky Pillar Trainer for Rayquaza... that was the real kicker. It completely discredited the entire Association."
I nodded, maintaining a neutral expression, though internally, I felt a familiar surge of cold contempt for such blatant abuses of power as I said calmly, "I gathered as much. The secrets coming out certainly didn't paint them in a good light."
Sapphire scoffed as she explained fiercely, "Good light?! If it wasn't for Zinnia, Norman, and even Ruby here, along with that Berlitz scientist, Yanase, testifying... who knows if they'd have even faced proper justice!"
They spoke of Zinnia with reverence, recalling her passionate defense of the Draconid people and the true meaning of Rayquaza's existence. Norman, Ruby's father, had leveraged his position as Gym Leader and his undeniable moral compass to solidify the testimonies.
Ruby, with his keen eye for details and his unique perspective as a coordinator and trainer, had provided crucial insights into the events leading up to and during the crisis. And Yanase Berlitz, a geneticist from the esteemed House of Berlitz in Sinnoh, had been instrumental in dissecting the scientific malpractice and ethical breaches involved in the project.
My mind went to the bits and pieces I'd heard through my own channels, mostly whispers carried on the wind. I said calmly, taking another sip of tea, "Indeed. The scale of their ambition, and the depth of their depravity, was quite... something."
They didn't need to know the full extent of my own involvement. While they were bravely fighting on the front lines, bearing witness and speaking truth to power, I had been working in the shadows.
Celebi, my faithful temporal companion, had been invaluable. With her ability to traverse time streams, she'd meticulously collected undeniable evidence – recordings, documents, even suppressed communications – painting a damning picture of corruption and conspiracy that went far beyond mere negligence.
Once I had it all, a digital trove that would make any prosecutor salivate, I simply gave it to Steven Stone, the Hoenn Champion. It was too much of a hassle for me to deal with that hot potato.
Steven, with his connections, his resources, and his own profound sense of justice for Hoenn, was far better equipped to navigate the political labyrinth. Besides, ever since I'd captured Rayquaza, our relationship had evolved, informing my partner of the news of the people who harmed it and getting their punishments.
Any enemy of his was, by extension, an enemy of mine. And with the fate of an entire region hanging in the balance, a little subtle intervention felt justified. The less direct my involvement, the better.
My freedom was paramount, and tangling with regional politics was the quickest way to shackle it. Ruby sighed, picking at a piece of fried Moomoo Cheese as he added on, "And now everyone's just pointing fingers. People are bad-mouthing the Sinnoh Region, saying the House of Berlitz was 'unaware' of this research, despite funding it for years. They're claiming ignorance, even though they were basically underwriting the whole thing."
I murmured, a cynical smirk touching my lips, "Oh, I know they funded it, alright. Along with the Kanto and Johto Pokémon Association Chairmen. They kept Rayquaza hidden in the Goldenrod City Research Building for a while, didn't they? Right here in Johto, under their noses."
Ruby and Sapphire exchanged glances, surprised I knew that detail. It wasn't widely publicized, carefully swept under the rug by those involved.
Sapphire exclaimed, her anger rekindling at the news, "Exactly! But after seeing what happened to the Hoenn Chairman, how he got completely ruined... suddenly, the Kanto and Johto Chairmen are all 'Oh, we had no idea! We weren't informed about how the Hoenn Pokémon Association captured Rayquaza! Nor were we told they killed someone to take it!' Cowards, all of them!"
Ruby elaborated, his tone grim, explaining to me in a disappointed voice, "It's just a huge mess right now for the Pokémon Association in other regions. There's a lot of suspicion, people wondering how the Hoenn Chairman nearly caused the Hoenn Region to be destroyed if not for the intervention of the others who dealt with Kyogre and Groudon. Everyone's questioning everything."
I simply nodded, my expression thoughtful. Politics.
I really couldn't care less about the political shitshow that Steven was now undoubtedly dealing with. It was an endless, draining cycle of power plays, finger-pointing, and self-preservation.
That was precisely why I'd never claimed the Champion title legally, despite winning both the Indigo League twice, the ninth and tenth, and the Hoenn League. Becoming a Champion wasn't just about battling and being the strongest; it came with a heavy burden of obligation.
It would be my duty to look after the region, to represent it, to engage with the very political machinations that so thoroughly disgusted me. And honestly, I didn't want to restrict my freedom for it.
My journey with Pikachu and Eevee was about discovery, about experiencing the world on our own terms, about helping where we could without being constrained by institutional roles. The moment I became 'Champion Azure,' I would be tied down, forced to attend meetings, make public appearances, and navigate the treacherous waters of regional governance.
That wasn't my path. My path was the open sky, the silent forests, the thrill of exploration, and the quiet joy of a shared meal with friends.
It was about my partners and the unique connection we shared, unburdened by human titles or expectations. The true strength, I believed, lay not in a crown, but in the experiences earned and the bonds forged.
The conversation had taken a heavy turn, and I could see the weariness etched on Ruby and Sapphire's faces, remnants of the trauma they'd witnessed. It was time for a change of pace. I managed a gentle smirk, my eyes twinkling mischievously as I asked curiously, "Well, moving on from that delightful topic, how's your relationship going? As boyfriend and girlfriend now, I presume?"
The effect was instantaneous and hilarious. Sapphire choked on her tea, her face turning a vivid scarlet. Ruby nearly dropped his chopsticks, his usually composed features dissolving into a blush that crept all the way up to his ears.
Pikachu and Eevee, sensing the shift, looked up with innocent curiosity, while Zoura merely tilted its head. The tension, for a moment, lifted, replaced by typical teenage awkwardness. And for me, that was a welcome relief.
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 300 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!