Chapter 388: Anime Pokémon World (4)
~Azure S. POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Days Later, Metagross Mountain]
A few days blurred into an exhilarating, exhausting whirlwind. We traversed landscapes I only recognized from old memories, battling trainers whose strategies were often wildly different from the ones I was used to.
It was exhilarating, a true test of adaptability, and exactly the kind of training I needed. My Pokémon were loving it, too, the new challenges sparking fresh energy in their eyes. Currently, we were deep in the Sinnoh Region, or at least, what looked and felt like it.
The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine, and the terrain was rugged, leading us ever upward. Our current objective: Metagross Mountain. It was a name that carried a certain weight, even in this parallel world.
I'd seen the signs, almost comically over-the-top, near the foothills: "DANGER! BEWARE THE OFF-COLORED METAGROSS! MANY HAVE VANISHED!"
Oh, I believed it. The locals in the ramen-famous town below were full of hushed tales and wide-eyed warnings. But I wasn't just here to sightsee. I was here for a Pokémon – a specific one.
A Shiny Metagross.
I already owned one, a magnificent chrome beast I'd used in Hoenn, a testament to my luck and persistent time training him from a Beldum. But this one… this one was different. This one wasn't for me.
This one was for Green.
My cheeks warmed at the thought, a foolish, involuntary blush that spread across my face. Green. Fiery. Stubborn. Brilliant.
She was coming to the Battle Frontier with me, as my date, and one she'd accepted with a smirk that promised pure, unadulterated fun. This Metagross would be a perfect gift, a powerful ally to bolster her team, and maybe, just maybe, a small token of… well, I hadn't quite figured out what it was a token of yet.
My feelings for her were a tangled knot I hadn't dared to untangle. Pikachu, sensing my internal turmoil (or perhaps just my rising body temperature), glanced up at me, a knowing, smug grin spreading across his face. Eevee, ever the more subtle of the two, let out a soft chortle, her sleek head tilting.
I demanded, trying to sound stern but failing miserably as my voice cracked slightly, "What are you two laughing at?"
They both just grinned wider, exchanging a look that clearly said, 'He's got it bad. We'd better bring the popcorn.'
I muttered under my breath, "Oh, shut up, you two…"
That only earned another ripple of laughter from my partners. Sometimes, being able to understand Pokémon was a blessing and a curse.
We continued our ascent, the rocky path growing steeper, the air thinner. The mountain itself seemed to thrum with a palpable energy, an almost magnetic pull that hinted at the powerful Pokémon residing within.
Soon, the glint of metallic light caught my eye amidst the grey rock. It was massive, easily twice the size of a standard Metagross, its four legs rooted firmly to the mountain face. And yes, it was the unmistakable, the Shiny Metagross, its X-mark on its face glowing with an ominous intensity.
It was magnificent. And dangerous.
I called out, my voice echoing across the silent peak, "Alright, big guy! Let's see what you've got!"
The Metagross turned its massive body, its four eyes focusing on me with terrifying precision. Without warning, it launched its attack.
*Rmbl*
Several boulders, dislodged from the mountain face with a mere thought, began to vibrate, then shot towards us with alarming speed, propelled by a powerful Psychic. I shouted, tossing my Poké Ball, "Houndoom, stand by!"
*Pop*
My loyal hellhound materialized in a flash of red light, its dark fur contrasting sharply with the pale rock. Quickly, I ordered, "Houndoom, Will-O-Wisp!"
*Ssssss*
Houndoom let out a guttural bark, its jaws igniting with ghostly blue flames. The Wisp flew true, a spectral projectile that hit the Metagross squarely.
*Booom*
Blue flames danced across its metallic body, causing it to flinch and roar in frustration. The burn had been applied. Good.
However, the interruption had a ripple effect. The boulders Metagross had been controlling, now devoid of a clear target, flew wildly out of control, careening dangerously close to us. One particularly large one hurtled towards Pikachu and Eevee.
I commanded, my heart leaping into my throat, "Houndoom, Strong Style Incinerate! Burn those boulders!"
*Sssss*
Houndoom wasted no time, spewing a torrent of intense flames. The Incinerate attack met the incoming boulders, incinerating them into dust and harmless pebbles before they could do any damage.
The air crackled with the heat.
The Shiny Metagross, enraged by the burn and the disruption, moved with surprising speed for its size, sliding down the mountain face, attempting to corner us against a sheer rock wall. Its four legs dug into the stone, its eyes glowing menacingly.
I yelled, knowing we couldn't afford to be trapped, "Houndoom, Dark Pulse!"
*PEW*
Houndoom unleashed a wave of dark, concussive energy. Metagross, still advancing, countered with its own Psychic, creating a barrier of mental force.
*BOOOM*
The Dark Pulse slammed into the Psychic shield, and the air exploded with a shockwave of clashing energies. Dust and debris shot outwards, momentarily obscuring our vision.
When the dust cleared, Metagross was still standing, surprisingly unfazed, but its eyes glowed with renewed intensity. Its X-mark pulsed.
Uh oh. I knew that move. Miracle Eye.
It was targeting me, stripping away any evasive maneuvers I might attempt. Before I could even issue another command, Metagross's Psychic intensified, not against Houndoom, but against us.
*SHIII*
A crushing force enveloped me, lifting me off my feet. Pikachu and Eevee were caught in the same invisible grip, their small bodies struggling against the unseen pressure. We were being pushed, inexorably, towards the edge of a jagged cliff face, the ground dropping away hundreds of feet below into a swirling abyss of clouds.
This Metagross wasn't playing around. It wanted us gone.
I roared, snatching another Poké Ball from my belt and unleashing my steel bird, "Skarmory, go! Steel Wing!"
*Pop*
My magnificent Skarmory, a blur of silver and grey, shot out of its Poké Ball like a missile. Its metallic wings glowed, hardening even further, and it sliced through the air, directly impacting the invisible Psychic hold that bound us.
*SHINNG*
The Steel Wing attack was pure physical force, a brute counter to Metagross's mental assault. The hold shattered, releasing us.
*Thud*
I tumbled to the ground, pulling Pikachu and Eevee close, catching my breath. I urged, pointing at the still-flustered Metagross, "Houndoom, Fire Fang!"
*CRUNCH*
Houndoom, now free, charged forward, its fangs wreathed in roaring flames. It lunged, sinking its fiery teeth into one of Metagross's massive legs. The combined force of the attack and the surprise sent the giant Pokémon reeling.
With a metallic screech, Metagross lost its footing and, with a massive clang, crashed off the cliff face itself, tumbling out of sight. Silence descended, broken only by my own ragged breathing and the chirps of Pikachu and Eevee.
We stared wide-eyed at the empty space where the Metagross had been. I didn't think for a second it was over…
*RMBL*
Seconds later, the mountain began to tremble. A metallic roar echoed from below, and the Metagross, somehow, incredibly, launched itself back onto the cliff face, its four eyes blazing with furious determination.
It was scuffed, dents visible on its metallic hide, smoke rising from where Houndoom's Fire Fang had connected, but it was far from defeated. It wasted no time.
*SHIII*
With another powerful surge of Psychic, it ripped a volley of massive boulders from the mountain, sending them hurtling towards us like cannonballs. I commanded, my voice hoarse, "Skarmory, Drill Peck! Punch through them!"
*SPIN*
Skarmory responded instantly, its beak glowing with energy. It became a living drill, a steel projectile, and rocketed towards the incoming assault.
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
One by one, Skarmory pierced through the boulders, disintegrating them into harmless dust. With no remaining obstacles, Skarmory continued its trajectory, landing a direct, devastating Drill Peck squarely on Metagross's metallic head.
*SCRATCH*
The force of the impact was immense. Metagross staggered, a groan rumbling from its core, and then, with agonizing slowness, it fell to its knees.
Dust plumed around its massive frame...
*Bdmp*
My heart pounded. This was it, right?
But no. This Shiny Metagross was a force of nature.
It refused to give up. With a mighty effort, it pushed itself back onto its four legs, swaying precariously, but its eyes still burned with defiance. It let out another roar, a challenge hurled into the mountain air, "METAAAA!!"
*SHIIIII*
Then, with a desperate surge of power, it unleashed another torrent of Psychic energy, causing more boulders to rip free from the mountain. It wasn't just directing them at us this time; it was shaping them, creating a barrier, and then giving chase, rapidly closing the distance.
It was trying to overwhelm us with sheer power and tenacity. I yelled, "Houndoom, Dark Pulse! Skarmory, Night Slash! Both of you, combine your attacks!"
*PEW*
*SHINNG*
My two Pokémon, perfectly attuned to my commands and each other, moved as one. Houndoom unleashed a potent wave of dark energy, while Skarmory, its wings glowing with sinister power, sliced through the air, creating a shadowy blade that cut through the Psychic barriers.
*BOOOM*
The Dark Pulse and Night Slash converged, striking Metagross simultaneously. The impact was cataclysmic.
Metagross reeled, its metallic body groaning under the strain, and then, with a final, shuddering crash, it plummeted to the ground, creating a small crater where it landed. It lay there, unmoving for a moment, before I saw its body begin to glow ominously.
I shouted, recognizing the raw, swirling energy beginning to gather around it, "It's building for Gyro Ball!"
It was going for one last, desperate, all-out attack.
I declared, my voice firm, "Not happening! Houndoom, Skarmory, Tera Blast!"
Both Pokémon, already positioned, let out their battle cries. Houndoom's Dark Pulse intensified, transforming into a sphere of pure, crackling energy. Skarmory's Night Slash became a blade of shimmering, crystalline force.
*PEW*
They launched their attacks simultaneously. The two beams of Terastallized energy, one dark, one steel, converged into a single, devastating torrent.
*BOOOOM*
It slammed into the Shiny Metagross with sickening force, the mountain vibrating from the sheer power unleashed. The glow around Metagross flickered, then died out completely. Its four eyes dimmed, and its huge body slumped to the ground, utterly motionless.
*THUD*
Fainted. It finally fainted.
I let out a long, shaky breath I hadn't realized I was holding. My Pokémon were panting, but their eyes glowed with triumph.
This Metagross… it was a beast. A true legend of this mountain.
And now, it was ours. Or rather Green's.
A smirk touched my lips. I muttered, retrieving an Ultra Ball from my belt, "Well, that was a workout…"
*BONK*
With a practiced flick of my wrist, I tossed it. The ball soared through the air, hitting the fainted Metagross squarely. It rocked once, twice, three times, and then, with a satisfying click, it sealed shut.
*BON*
A moment later, it pinged, indicating success. I walked over, picking up the Ultra Ball. It hummed softly in my hand, a silent testament to the raw power now contained within. I gazed at it, a genuine smile spreading across my face as I whispered, "Green… I think I found you the perfect gift."
Pikachu nudged my leg, an approving chirp escaping him. Eevee nuzzled my hand, her soft fur a comforting presence. They knew. We all knew.
This wasn't just a powerful Pokémon; it was a symbol—a promise of challenges ahead, and maybe, just maybe, something more. My heart swelled, a mixture of pride, anticipation, and that familiar, foolish warmth.
The Battle Frontier was going to be epic. And with this, it just got a whole lot more interesting. Now, all that was left was more training and possibly collecting a future teammate for my future Journey.
Hmm…
I paused, considering if there were any other Shiny Pokémon I could capture. Then I recalled one in the Unova Region as I smiled, murmuring, "Oh, right… that Shiny Larvesta in the Unova Region… that would make for an excellent addition for my Unova Journey. Yeah… and the golden flames…"
Grinning, it seems like I'll have one more bit stop to make. And after that, I'll probably be prepared for the Battle Frontier as I grind up my team. Time to make a quick trip to the Unova Region.
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 100 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!