Chapter 391: Opening Ceremony!
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Battle Frontier]
Meanwhile, a short distance away, perched on an inconveniently placed park bench, was Todd Snap, the eager veteran reporter and photographer. He was bristling with anticipation for the main event.
The Battle Frontier's opening ceremony was hours away, but he had arrived early, determined to capture the atmosphere and, perhaps, snag an exclusive interview. He uncapped his bottle of Fresh Water.
He had been so immersed in reviewing the camera settings that he had drunk far too much already. Feeling uncomfortably full, he decided to dump the remaining contents.
He thought, twisting off the cap and pouring the cold, clear liquid onto the base of a nearby, peculiarly knobby, brown tree, 'No need to waste the bottle.'
Todd stretched, observing the crowd. Suddenly, his eyes zeroed in on the approaching couple as his eyes widened.
His jaw dropped. He murmured in sheer disbelief, "It was Azure Sky. The Azure Sky… And he was with Green, no less. Such a scoop!!"
Todd's eyes widened in genuine surprise, mostly towards Azure. Azure Sky. The name was whispered with awe in the journalism world.
He was fabled to be the most elusive, the most difficult man to get an interview with, a phantom ace who appeared, won, and vanished. This was an opportunity he couldn't pass up. This was his chance.
A grin stretched across Todd's face, already formulating his questions. Todd is adjusting the focus on his camera and begins to approach, his reporter's instinct kicking in, "Mr. Sky! Ms. Green! Todd Snap for the..."
Todd began, rushing forward. But before he could take a third step, the tree he had just watered lurched to life.
*GRAB*
A rough, wooden arm shot out with surprising speed. The knobby bark tightened around Todd's midsection. Todd cried out, dangling helplessly a few feet off the ground, "Agh! What the—?!"
He looked down and saw, to his horror, that the tree had legs and a face. It was a highly irritated, wild Sudowoodo.
The Sudowoodo, enraged by the sudden, chilling application of cold water, tightened its grip on the hapless reporter. Todd yelped, suspended in mid-air, flailing, "Whoa! Hey! Let go! Help! Someone help me!"
His cries immediately caught Azure and Green's attention. Azure and Green stopped instantly, their easy conversation broken by the cry for help.
Green exclaimed, already moving to reach for a Poké Ball, "A wild Pokémon!"
She was trained to respond to danger with immediate action. But Azure subtly moved ahead of her, his hand raised slightly, stopping her from drawing out her Pokémon in hopes of not causing a commotion.
Pikachu and Eevee merely watched, sensing their trainer's intent. Todd, hanging upside down, squinted at Azure as he thought confused, 'Why isn't he releasing a Pokémon? He's just walking up to it...'
*Shiii*
Azure approached the agitated Sudowoodo slowly, deliberately. As he drew near, a faint, almost imperceptible green aura—the unique energy known only as the Viridian Force—emanated from him.
It wasn't an attack; it was a deeply soothing, natural resonance. It was the same energy that had once allowed him to navigate the deepest forests and communicate with the largest Legendary beasts.
The instant the Viridian Force washed over the Sudowoodo, the Pokémon froze. Its anger seemed to evaporate, replaced by sudden calm.
It loosened its grip on Todd, its bark arms drooping slightly. The restorative energy of the Force healed whatever negligible damage the water might have caused, but, more importantly, it quelled the primal rage.
*THUMP*
Todd dropped unceremoniously to the grass with a loud thump, thoroughly shaken. Azure asked calmly, stepping past the now docile Sudowoodo, "Are you alright, Mr. Snap?"
Todd scrambled to his feet, dusting himself off, utterly perplexed as he replied, "Yes, but… why did it attack? And how did you do that?"
Azure pulled out his Arc Phone and flashed the screen toward Todd. On the screen was the Pokedex entry for the Pokémon now standing passively behind him, looking terribly embarrassed.
Azure explained, pointing specifically at the classification section of the device in the Pokedex App, "The Sudowoodo was enraged because of the Fresh Water you poured on it earlier. You see, Mr. Snap, Sudowoodo belongs to the Rock-type lineage. It's a walking contradiction, looking like wood, but hating water."
He lowered the phone as he continued lecturing the reporter casually, "Never judge a book, or a Pokémon, by its cover. It's a common mistake, but an important lesson for a reporter seeking facts."
Azure looked back at the large, bark-skinned Pokémon as he stated, "You're free to head back into the wild now, big guy."
The Sudowoodo gave a low, rumbling acknowledgment, turned on its heel, and shuffled quickly away into a nearby forest of trees, eager to escape the embarrassment. Green, who had been watching the entire exchange, giggled and linked arms with Azure, said mischievously, "Well, that was certainly a unique way to start the date, Sky."
Azure nodded, offering a small, apologetic smile to the stunned reporter as he exclaimed, "We must take our leave now, Mr. Snap. Registration for the Battle Frontier awaits, and we have a date to continue."
Todd could only watch, speechless, as the League Champion and Green walked away, Green's laughter echoing in the morning air.
He looked back at the spot where the Sudowoodo had been, then down at his empty Fresh Water bottle. He had been chasing the biggest story in the region, and he had almost been strangled by a Rock-type pretending to be a tree, only to be saved by the calmest man in the world.
Todd rushed to collect his equipment, shaking off the confusion. He couldn't investigate Azure's strange, soothing power now; he needed to cover the opening ceremony.
But he grinned, a focused, journalistic gleam in his eye as he muttered, "Azure Sky was here. That meant he was going head-to-head with the seven specialized Elite Trainers Scott had hired. The battles would be legendary."
Todd muttered, strapping his camera across his chest, rushing toward the roar of the arriving crowd, "Just you wait, Azure. I'll get that interview with you soon enough. When you're victorious, or when you've battled your way to the top of the Battle Frontier, I'll be there to get your exclusive yet!"
/////
[Hoenn Region, Battle Frontier – Opening]
The salt-laced breeze of the Hoenn coast did little to cool the nervous sweat prickling Azure's neck. For a boy who had faced down legendary Pokémon, stared down Champions without flinching, and mentally mapped out hundreds of battle strategies in the blink of an eye, the simple act of sitting next to a girl on a bench felt like confronting a psychic-type with a team of fighting Pokémon.
A hopeless matchup.
Pikachu, perched on his customary spot on Azure's shoulder, nudged his cheek, a silent question in his soft cry, "Pika? (You ok, partner?)"
On his head, Eevee shifted, her fluffy tail brushing against his hair, a comforting weight. They were his anchors, the constants in a life that had been flipped upside down. But even they couldn't help him navigate the treacherous terrain of a first date.
His companion, Leaf Green, seemed entirely at ease. Her eyes, sharp and intelligent, scanned the bustling crowd of the Battle Frontier's pre-opening ceremony. A small, knowing smile played on her lips.
She had a way of seeing right through his battle-hardened facade to the slightly awkward sixteen-year-old underneath, she said casually, her voice a calm melody against the excited roar of the crowd, "Relax, Azure. It's just a ceremony. You look like you're about to challenge the entire Elite Four at once."
Azure managed a tight smile. He mumbled, earning a playful eye-roll from Green, "The Elite Four is easy. This is… uncharted territory."
He fiddled with the All-Access Battle Pass Scott had given him, the smooth Arc Phone containing the data of the pass cool against his clammy palm. Battling the Frontier Brains? That was the goal.
That was the familiar thrill he craved. This part, the 'date' part, felt far more intimidating to him than any battle he'd ever been in…
Green teased gently, seeing this shy side of Azure, than the always calm-headed Battler she's so used to seeing, "Uncharted territory for the Uncrowned Champion who conquered three leagues? Somehow, I doubt that."
*FLASH*
Before he could formulate a response, the stadium lights dimmed and a single spotlight hit the central stage. A wave of energy washed over the crowd as a woman with a fighter's stance took the microphone, "Welcome, one and all, to the grand opening ceremony of the one, the only, BATTLE FRONTIER!"
The woman, whom Azure recognized as Arena Tycoon Greta, bellowed with infectious enthusiasm, "To give you a taste of the power you'll find here, we're kicking things off with an exhibition match! Please welcome the Serpentine Queen of the Battle Pike, Lucy! And the wild spirit of the Battle Palace, Spenser!"
The crowd erupted, "OOOOOH!!"
From opposite ends of the field, two figures emerged. Lucy, with her long, dark hair and enigmatic eyes, walked with a slithering grace, a massive Seviper coiled at her side. Spenser was her opposite—a weathered man with a kind, yet intense gaze, a powerful Crobat hovering silently above his shoulder.
Greta announced, gesturing to the opposite side of the field where two platforms activated, "Their opponents today will be a computer-controlled simulation team! Go, Electrode! Go, Swalot!"
*Pop*
Two Poké Balls materialized and burst open, revealing the spherical, grinning Electrode and the amorphous, purple blob of Swalot.
Up in a private box overlooking the arena, the other Frontier Brains watched intently. Noland, the Factory Head, adjusted his cap, his brow furrowed with concern as he said neutrally, "Both Seviper and Crobat are Poison-types. With Swalot's Liquid Ooze ability and natural resistance, inflicting poison will be a serious challenge."
Beside him, Anabel, the Frontier Brain's Salon Maiden, watched with an unnerving calm. Her lavender eyes seemed to see more than just the Pokémon on the field as she stated, "Don't underestimate them, Noland. Trust in Spenser's spirit and Lucy's luck. They are Frontier Brains for a reason."
She glanced around, asking curiously, "Speaking of which, where is Tucker?"
The imposing figure of Pyramid King Brandon, standing stoically with his arms crossed, gave a simple, gruff reply, "Haven't seen him all day."
*BOOOM*
Down on the field, the battle began with explosive speed. Spenser called out, his voice echoing with a primal energy, "We'll remove the speed threat first."
Lucy responded, nodding her head as she said her voice a low hiss, "My thoughts exactly. Seviper, Poison Tail!"
Spencer then followed up, "Crobat, Poison Fang!"
*WHIP*
The two poison-types became blurs of motion. Crobat dove, its fangs glowing with a sickly purple light, while Seviper's tail became a blade of toxic energy. They converged on Electrode simultaneously.
*THUD*
The electric Pokémon wobbled, its grinning face flickering as purple energy coursed through its body. It was heavily poisoned and one solid blow from being knocked out of the battle.
*Shfff*
But before they could land the finishing strike, Swalot moved with surprising speed, expanding its gelatinous body to absorb the follow-up attacks, shielding its partner. It then let out a deep, sonorous yawn, a wave of drowsy energy washing over the Seviper.
*YAWN*
Lucy cried, but it was too late, "Seviper, watch out!"
*Zzzzz*
Her Pokémon's eyes grew heavy, and it slumped to the ground, fast asleep. Swalot didn't waste the opportunity.
*HUFFFF*
Its gaping mouth began to glow with blinding white light. Someone in the crowd yelled, "A Hyper Beam!"
From the stands, Azure's eyes narrowed. He was no longer a nervous boy on a date; he was a trainer, a strategist. Green watched him, a slight smile touching her lips as she saw the familiar focus settle over his features.
Beside them, Pikachu and Eevee had procured a shared Corndog from a passing vendor and were munching away happily, their attention split between the snack and the spectacle, "Pika! Bui! (This corndog tastes great!)"
Azure's eye twitched seeing his partner's antics, but he shook his head. He muttered, more to himself than to Green, "That's a risky move. Putting Seviper to sleep was smart, but a Hyper Beam leaves it wide open if it misses or fails to knock it out."
*FOOOMP*
The beam of pure energy erupted from Swalot's mouth, carving a trench in the battlefield as it shot towards the sleeping Seviper…
*BOOOM*
The explosion kicked up a cloud of dust and dirt. When it cleared, there was nothing there but a scorched crater.
*Fwp*
Spenser's Crobat took to the air, ready to retaliate, but Lucy held up a hand, a confident, almost predatory smirk on her face, and uttered, "Patience, Spenser."
From within the dust cloud, a translucent, snake-like husk fluttered to the ground—a shed skin. Green observed, impressed, commenting, "She used Shed Skin to escape the Yawn's effect just before it fully took hold, leaving a decoy. Clever."
Azure corrected, his eyes fixed on the ground beneath Swalot, "More than clever…"
*Rmbl*
He saw the faint cracks before anyone else as he added, "It was a setup."
*BOOOM*
*SMAK*
The ground beneath the amorphous Pokémon suddenly shattered as the bladed tail of Seviper erupted from below. The Dig attack, perfectly timed and executed, struck Swalot from its blind spot, launching it into the air.
*THUD*
It landed with a wet thud, unconscious. With its protector gone, a final, swift attack from Crobat sent the poisoned Electrode spinning out of the ring.
Greta roared, and the stadium exploded with applause, "And the winners are Lucy and Spenser!"
Azure leaned back, a low whistle escaping his lips as he praised them, "They're good. Really good. Lucy's cunning and Spenser's raw power complement each other perfectly. They don't just battle; they flow."
He was already dissecting their strategies, filing them away, creating counters in his mind against them. The ceremony resumed, and a portly man in a loud, colorful Hawaiian suit took the stage.
Scott, the owner of the Battle Frontier, beamed at the cheering crowd and the flashing cameras of the press, "Welcome, everyone! As you have just witnessed, our seven facilities will test you in ways a normal Pokémon Gym never could!"
He grinned, hyping up the crowd as he explained to all his Battle Frontier proudly, "I'm Scott, the owner of this battle arena! The Battle Frontier is on the cutting edge of Pokémon Battles! It's a Pokémon Trainer's dream, a place where they can enjoy 7 different types of battles! And those battles are…"
Scott then gestured to the battle structures as he explained their roles proudly, "The Battle Factory, which tests your knowledge! The Battle Pike, which tests your luck! The Battle Pyramid, which tests your courage! The Battle Tower, which tests your ability! The Battle Arena, which tests your guts! The Battle Palace, which tests your spirit! The Battle Dome, which tests your tactics!"
*RMBL*
Rumbling could be heard as Scott continued revealing the Frontier Brains, "Allow me to introduce you to the trainers who await challengers at the end of each arena… you've met two of them during the battle demonstration…"
He gestured to the line of Brains currently present, "Here you see the best of the best! Greta, Noland, Anabel, Spenser, Lucy, and Brandon!"
He paused, his eye twitching as he noticed the gap in the lineup, "And Tucker will be… right… here soon..."
*FWP*
His words were cut off by a powerful downdraft of wind as a magnificent Salamence descended from the sky, landing dramatically on the stage. Riding it was a man in an ostentatious, flowing costume, his face painted with elaborate makeup.
He struck a pose, basking in the spotlight. Tucker boomed, "Apologies for my tardiness, my adoring fans! Perfection requires preparation!"
Scott sighed, a vein pulsing in his temple as he growled furiously at Tucker, "That dummy! This is a very important press conference!! You were working on your makeup again, weren't you, Tucker?"
Tucker posed flamboyantly as he replied shamelessly, "A masterpiece cannot be rushed, Scott!"
Rolling his eyes, Scott turned back to the press. He continued his speech, his charismatic voice winning the crowd back over.
Then, his eyes scanned the stands and locked directly onto Azure. A wide, mischievous grin spread across his face. He'd known Azure was coming; he'd sent the pass himself. But an opportunity this good was too perfect to pass up.
Scott boomed, going off-script, "But talk is cheap!"
The Frontier Brains glanced at him, surprised by the sudden shift in his tone as he continued, "Why wait a week for the grand opening? I say we give one lucky person in the audience a chance of a lifetime! A special, one-time opportunity to challenge all seven Frontier Brains, starting right now!"
The stadium went into a frenzy. People were screaming, jumping, waving their hands, desperate to be chosen. The Frontier Brains looked at Scott in shock as they thought, 'This wasn't part of the plan.'
Green turned to Azure, asking, "He's not going to…?"
But Azure was already on his feet. The nervousness of the date had been completely burned away, replaced by the white-hot fire of a challenger.
This was his element. This was his stage.
He said calmly, his voice low and steady, "Pikachu, Eevee, hold on tight."
His partners gave determined cries, clambering into their familiar positions as he pulled a Poké Ball from his belt. Green said, a mixture of exasperation and awe in her voice, "You wouldn't dare…"
Azure just gave her a confident grin as he stated bluntly, "Scott knew what he was doing when he invited me."
He vaulted over the railing, a move that sent a gasp through the nearby crowd. In mid-air, he threw the Poké Ball and declared, "Charizard, I choose you!"
*Pop*
With a deafening roar that shook the stadium, the mighty fire-lizard appeared, catching Azure expertly on his back before he even began to fall. With a powerful flap of his wings, Charizard soared over the crowd and landed in the center of the arena with a ground-shaking thud that sent dust billowing.
*THUD*
Azure slid off his back, Charizard letting out a plume of smoke behind him for dramatic effect. Pikachu sparked on his shoulder, and Eevee stood proudly on his head, surveying the shocked faces of the Frontier Brains.
The entire stadium had fallen silent.
*TMP*
*TMP*
He strode forward, his footsteps echoing in the sudden quiet. He stopped directly in front of Scott and the seven Brains, his expression one of pure, unadulterated confidence. He announced, his voice carrying to every corner of the arena without a microphone, "My name is Azure Sky. I've won the Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn League Tournaments."
Murmurs erupted. The press began snapping photos frantically.
"That's the kid! The one who helped stop Groudon and Kyogre!"
"They said he has a Rayquaza!"
"I heard he even defeated former Champion Steven Stone in an unofficial match!"
"The Hero of Hoenn!"
"The Rainbow Hero!"
"The Uncrowned Champion!"
Azure ignored them, his gaze fixed on the seven trainers before him. He smirked as he declared, "You call yourselves the ultimate challenge. The pinnacle of Pokémon battling. They call me the Uncrowned Champion! I'm here to conquer your Battle Frontier and claim a new crown—one made of your Seven Golden Symbols."
Green buried her face in her hands, though a smile was fighting its way through. She sighed as she slyly smiled at Azure's antics, long used to it, "Sigh… He didn't crash the party. He just became the main event…"
The Frontier Brains, recovered from their shock, now looked at him with a mixture of offense and intrigue. Tucker looked personally insulted that his entrance had been upstaged.
Noland was already analyzing him, his mind racing. Greta had a wide, feral grin; she loved a good fight. Lucy's eyes glittered with a dangerous light. Spenser seemed to be judging his very spirit.
Brandon remained impassive, but his eyes had a new, sharp focus. And Anabel… Anabel was staring at him, her violet eyes glowing faintly using her Psychic abilities as she sensed the powerful, unbreakable bond between the boy and his two partners—a bond unlike any she had felt before.
Scott beamed, his plan having worked to perfection. He thought proudly, gazing at Azure, 'This boy was a madman, a force of nature, and the greatest marketing tool I could have ever hoped for!'
He stepped forward, clapping Azure on the shoulder. He declared to the roaring crowd, "Well, folks, it looks like we have our volunteer! The Battle Frontier's grand opening challenge has officially begun!!"
Azure recalled his Charizard and looked from Scott to Noland, the fire in his eyes burning brighter than ever. The date was forgotten. The nerves were gone.
All that remained was the challenge. The Uncrowned Champion had arrived, and the Battle Frontier would never be the same.
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A/N: Reach the goal of 200 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!