Chapter 627: Wheeling and Dealing (2)
~Third POV~
[Unova Region, Meanwhile, Nacrene City – Bushes]
Meanwhile, White was busy with her job; the boys were doing some light training to pass the time. A short distance away from the cinematic chaos, however, a very different kind of intensity was unfolding.
Black stood with his fists clenched, his face flushed with determination as he oversaw his Pokémon's light training regimen. Beside him stood Azure, whose presence always carried an understated aura of absolute capability.
With Pikachu comfortably resting on his shoulder, an Eevee snoozing atop his head, and a cleverly disguised Mew shaped like a Pichu nestled securely inside his jacket pocket, Azure watched the young Unova League hopeful with an analytical eye.
Black shouted, pumping his arm, "Alright, Tula! Let's see that form again!"
*Zzzzzt*
His Galvantula, Tula, rubbed its mandibles together, its electric sacs sparking with volatile energy. Black had asked Azure if Tula could be taught Electro Ball, and Azure had enthusiastically agreed, loaning his experienced Pikachu to show the spider Pokémon the ropes of velocity and mass management.
*CRUNCH-CRUNCH-CRUNCH*
Off to the side, the rest of Black's team was undergoing a rigorous masterclass. Mighty, Black's Mightyena, was grappling with the brutal mechanics of elemental fangs under the tutelage of Azure's Zweilous, learning how to coat its jaws in crackling Fire, bone-chilling Ice, and roaring Thunder.
*Shiii—Whooosh*
Meanwhile, Vee the Eevee was trading mystical notes with Azure's own Eevee, attempting to manifest the deep purples of Shadow Ball and the soft, glittering aura of Wish. Overhead, Black's Brav was matching flight patterns with Azure's imposing Alpha Braviary, absorbing the nuances of Tailwind, Roost, and Double-Team.
Closer to the dirt, Black's Munna, Musha, was hovering quietly, attempting to learn Safeguard from a brilliant, glowing Alpha Larvesta. Azure had promised that Safeguard would be invaluable in keeping Black's booming, deafening yells of his dreams contained inside a psychic sphere—a desperately needed filter for anyone interacting with the hot-blooded trainer.
Black nodded in deep appreciation, though he blinked in confusion when Azure's Zorua suddenly stepped up to Musha, projecting thoughts directly into the air. Azure's voice rang out calmly, translating the Zorua's telepathic static: 'He wants to see if Musha can awaken her hidden ability, Telepathy. My Gardevoir has it. It's rare, but it allows for seamless combat coordination without vocal commands.'
Black's eyes widened, a rare moment of academic curiosity cutting through his usual tunnel-vision ambition. He asked, surprised by the news, "Wait... a Pokémon can have double abilities? Is that even possible?"
Azure offered a reassuring, knowing nod, his slate-gray eyes reflecting the rustling canopy, explaining, "It's rare. Only exceptionally talented Pokémon pull it off. It's not about brute force; it's about depth of potential and a bit of sheer luck finding them. But speaking of potential..."
Azure crossed his arms, looking down at Black's lineup. He commented, "Your team needs Protect. It's a staple in high-tier battles. If you can't mitigate a devastating counter-attack, you're just asking to get hurt."
Black swallowed hard, taking the senior trainer's words completely to heart. He nodded, replying, "Right. Protect. I'll make sure they learn it."
As if anticipating the next lesson, Azure reached into his bag and pulled out a thick, leather-bound manual, tossing it toward the startled teenager. Black caught it clumsily, staring down at the cover with a raised eyebrow.
Black asked, "What's this?"
Azure replied casually, his hand idly stroking the Pikachu on his shoulder, "Training notes. I know the Dex Holder Charmer, Ruby. He owns a Mightyena and raised it to an absolute art form. I called him yesterday evening. He was more than happy to send over some specialized training logs."
Black's jaw dropped. He flipped the manual open. Inside were meticulously detailed diagrams and step-by-step methodologies on how to teach Mighty the vicious strikes of Poison Fang, Psychic Fang, and Super Fang, alongside the elemental fangs and several advanced conditioning routines.
Black breathed, utterly floored, and asked in disbelief, "You... you asked a Hoenn Dex Holder for this just for my team?"
Azure shrugged, a faint, good-natured smirk playing on his lips, replying in a casual tone, "Can't stand a trainer wasting their Pokémon's potential. Consider it a localized networking bonus."
*BZZZ-CRACKLE*
A violent surge of yellow electricity snapped through the air, violently disrupting the training session.
*Thwack*
Tula had released its Electro Ball with far too much muscle memory and zero calibration. The crackling sphere of lightning streaked past the training circle, sailing dangerously close to the film set before blowing up a decorative wooden crate a mere foot away from the panicked director.
The director shrieked, diving behind a nearby bench as soot rained down on his immaculate wardrobe, "YIPE!"
Azure sighed, shaking his head as he commented, "Needs to work on his aim. Put way too much torque into the throw."
Black winced, rubbing the back of his neck, and apologized, "My bad! Sorry!"
Before Black could even apologize properly, the director's assistant came barreling down the path from the plaza, his face pale with horror, and exclaimed, "Sir! Sir! We have a catastrophic emergency!"
The director barked, dusting ash off his jacket, still trembling from Tula's stray attack, "What is it now?!"
The director's assistant gulped as he explained worriedly, "The... the accordion! The antique accordion for the Evening Quartet musician! It's gone!"
The director's eyes bulged. He whipped his head around, his gaze locking instantly onto the freshly charred crate, then onto Black, who was standing right next to the smoking crater with a thunder-charged Galvantula.
Azure and Black both hurried over to see if the Director was alright…
/////
[Unova Region, Later, Nacrene City – Plaza]
Once the two arrived on the scene, the director whispered, his face turning an alarming shade of crimson, eyes directed at Black, "You…! You were the only one training near the terrace where the instrument was resting. You have zero alibi!"
Black started, bringing a hand up defensively, "Wait, hold on a second—!"
The assistant eagerly chimed in, pointing a trembling finger. He added in an obvious attempt to shift the subject, "It's obvious! His delinquent spider nearly blew us to pieces, and now his crew is looting the set!"
*SMACK*
Before the assistant could finish his tirade, the director hauled off and delivered a sharp smack to the back of his assistant's head. "Shut up, you fool! You're the one who left the instrument unattended in the first place!"
The director turned back to Black, pointing a trembling finger, accusing him, "Regardless! You were in the vicinity, and you're prime suspect number one!"
Black felt a familiar, crushing weight of frustration press against his temples. He clenched his teeth so hard his jaw ached as he thought, 'Not now! White's business is on the line, and my terrible timing is ruining everything again!'
But a calm, collected voice cut through the rising panic: "He wasn't anywhere near the accordion's immediate drop zone."
Azure stepped forward, placing a steady hand on Black's shoulder to ground the hot-blooded trainer's escalating blood pressure. He said reassuringly, "I can vouch for him. He's been within my direct line of sight the entire time. They were strictly training."
The director snapped in a sarcastic tone, sneering, "Oh, and we're just supposed to take your word for it?"
Azure didn't even blink. He tapped his belt, and a holographic screen flickered to life as he said, "Rotom, playback video log from the last ten minutes."
A cheery, digitized voice chimed from the small orange appliance floating near Azure's head, "Bzzzt! Alibi verified! Zero tampering detected! They were just sweating and shouting about bugs and fangs, real-time footage locked!"
*Beep*
Rotom projected a clean, undeniable recording of Black sweating over Tula's target practice. The director blinked, deflating slightly, and stated, "Well... alright. If it wasn't them... then who took it? The plaza was empty except for them!"
Black groaned, running a hand down his face. He muttered in disbelief, "Argh, just my luck... it's always my luck..."
White rushed over from the set, her eyes wide with worry as she assessed the situation. But before the panic could fully set in, Azure stepped out in front of the group, a playful, dramatic glint flashing in his eyes.
Azure said smoothly, flashing a wink toward White and Black. He turned to face the gathered crew, raising a hand, "Leave it to me. Hold your applause, everyone. I've already deduced the culprits."
With a dramatic flourish, Azure pulled out a small, old-fashioned British detective hat and popped it onto the head of his Gengar, who had slipped silently out of his shadow. The Gengar adjusted the brim with a ghostly claw and spoke up in a surprisingly proper, deep British accent, adjusting an imaginary monocle, "Indeed, old chap. Elementary deduction points toward a distinct lack of human involvement. The footprints are entirely nonexistent!"
Several crew members gasped, stepping back in shock at the talking ghost Pokémon. White and Black merely sweatdropped—both had already learned that Azure's team defied conventional logic.
Azure announced, playing the detective part with absolute theatrical flair, "Now, to draw out our elusive thieves. But first… give me your pants."
*Swoosh*
He walked over to the shivering assistant and, with a swift tug, ripped the man's comically baggy trousers right off at the waist, leaving the assistant standing in polka-dot boxers with a mortified shriek. The assistant yelled, scrambling to cover himself, "Hey! What fuck are you doing?!"
Azure deadpanned, ignoring the man entirely as he said in a serious tone, "Quiet, Watson is taking notes."
He casually pointed at the director's trousers next…
*Slap*
The director instantly crossed his legs and slapped Azure's hand away, his face turning purple. He growled, "Don't you dare!"
Azure chuckled, "Heh. Relax, I only needed one bait."
*SNAP*
He grabbed the elastic waistband of the assistant's baggy pants, pulled them back like a giant slingshot, and released them with a loud SNAP, launching the stretchy fabric across the open terrace toward the thick cluster of bushes.
*Rustle-rustle-snap*
One of the makeup artists muttered, "What on earth is he doing?"
*Hummm*
Azure's eyes flashed with a faint, otherworldly blue light as his Aura perception locked onto two distinct signatures hiding in the foliage. He slyly grinned and commanded, "Gardevoir. Gentle Magical Leaf, right over the center bush."
*Swoosh*
With a graceful sweep of her arms, Azure's Gardevoir materialized a flurry of glowing, razor-sharp emerald leaves, raining them down into the foliage.
*SQUEEEAL*
Two startled Pokémon leaped backward out of the bushes, tumbling head-over-heels onto the stone patio. Black identified them instantly, his trainer instincts kicking back in as he pointed at the intruders, "A Scrafty and a Scraggy!"
Azure noted, crossing his arms as his Pikachu hopped back onto his shoulder, "Precisely! These two species possess remarkably elastic skin. It seems the accordion's rubberized bellows and accordion-fold leather caught their thieving little eyes. They couldn't resist the texture."
Azure pointed down at the slick, glistening trail left on the ground and added, "And notice the acidic residue? Their signature sloppy saliva."
The Scrafty sneered, whipping its sagging molt-skin around its waist like a pair of punk rock pants, while the Scraggy hissed defensively, pulling its oversized head-skin down like a hoodie. Azure commanded quietly, "Gardevoir, a light Mystical Fire."
*Snap—Hissss*
Gardevoir snapped her fingers, sending a rolling wave of mystical, multicolored flames rippling across the ground. The Scraggy and Scrafty shrieked, instinctively pulling their elastic skin tight over their bodies to insulate themselves against the heat. Turning tail, the two pranksters bolted away from the terrace, diving blindly back into the thicket of bushes to make their escape.
Azure smirked, turning to Black as he asked coolly, "Predictable. Black. Remember what we talked about regarding Tula's trap-setting?"
Black's eyes lit up with sudden, brilliant realization. He exclaimed in a surprised tone, "The spider web!"
The two trainers rushed past the edge of the terrace and looked deep into the bushes. Sure enough, Tula—having picked up on the commotion—had instinctively woven a thick, incredibly sticky Spider Web across the narrow exit route.
But that wasn't all; Tula had infused the structural threads with a low-voltage, continuous current of electricity…
*BZZZT*
The Scrafty and Scraggy slammed headfirst into the electrified webbing, letting out comical yelps as the harmless but startling shock paralyzed their movements, sticking them fast to the intricate silken trap, "SKRRRRT!"
With the culprits gift-wrapped and neutralized, Black strode forward, carefully reaching into the webbing to retrieve the pristine, undamaged antique accordion. He dusted it off and handed it directly back to the bewildered, deeply relieved musician from the Evening Quartet.
Black grinned, giving a thumbs-up, "Here you go. Safe and sound."
White let out a massive sigh of relief, leaning against a nearby pillar. She looked over at Azure, who was casually brushing off his jacket as if he hadn't just solved a local crime syndicate operation in under three minutes.
White thought, watching him with a mixture of admiration and executive appraisal, 'He's incredible at battles, sure, but his deduction skills? His composure? I need to take notes on how he handles crisis management. Once this shoot is done, I'm picking his brain about business security.'
*CLAP*
White clapped her hands, her CEO persona snapping instantly back into place, "Alright, places, everyone! We lost twenty minutes! Let's make it back! Roll cameras!"
The set roared back to life with renewed, frantic energy. The actors hit their marks, the music swelled, and the final sequence of the commercial was captured in a breathtaking single take. As the director yelled, "CUT! THAT'S A WRAP!" cheers erupted across the entire crew.
White walked over, collecting her Tepig, Gigi, and returning Black's Tep while Black recalled his own team. To White's surprise, Azure's Gardevoir gracefully stepped forward, using her telepathy to send a warm, reassuring message directly into White's mind.
Gardevoir's calm, melodic voice echoed in her head alongside an affectionate, knowing grin, 'I will stay with you for a little longer, President White. Just to ensure your set remains safe... and because I find your organizational flair quite fascinating.'
White blinked, a wide, genuine smile spreading across her face. She replied happily, "Ah—thank you! I'd love to have you around!"
She turned to Black and Azure, offering them a bright, encouraging wave. She said in an encouraging tone, "You two! Go crush that Gym battle against Lenora in the Nacrene Museum! Show her what the BW Agency's unofficial associates are made of!"
Black grinned fiercely, slamming his fist into his palm. He exclaimed excitedly, "You got it, White! We're gonna clear that Gym on the first try!"
Azure gave a casual two-finger salute, his Eevee adjusting its position on his head. He said in a casual tone, "We'll be back before dinner. Take care of the set."
As Black and Azure both turned and strode off toward the grand, book-lined doors of the Nacrene Museum for their upcoming Gym battle, White watched them go with a sense of immense pride.
"Hey, President White?"
White turned around to see the director standing there, holding a freshly printed clipboard of his own, looking uncharacteristically serious. White asked carefully, tilting her head, "Yes Director? What is it?"
The director adjusted his glasses, offering a respectful nod. He said firmly, eyeing her carefully, "Nimbasa City just opened up public proposals for a massive new regional entertainment project. Pokémon actors, stage plays, holographic campaigns—the works. I was reviewing your agency's ledger today..."
He paused, casting a glance toward the departing silhouette of Azure in the distance. He said his next words carefully, "...and considering you have talent like that operating under your corporate umbrella, I believe your company is about to enter a massive boom."
White's breath hitched as she thought, 'Nimbasa City? A regional campaign?!'
The director continued, crossing his arms with a confident smirk, "I'm not entirely sure how I want to execute the campaign myself. So, I'm officially leaving the brainstorming entirely up to you, White. Submit a proposal. Let's see how high this agency can really fly."
The director turned on his heel and walked away, leaving White standing alone on the sunlit terrace, her heart hammering against her ribs with pure, unadulterated ambition. The Unova region was opening its doors, and the BW Agency was about to step right through them.
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!