Chapter 48: Growth
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Next Day, Route 16 – 17]
The embers of the campfire still glowed a faint orange as Azure stretched, the cool morning air of Route 16 nipping at his exposed skin. Dew clung to the long grass, shimmering like scattered diamonds in the nascent sunlight.
Around him, his Pokémon stirred, yawning and shaking off the remnants of sleep. Azure said, clapping his hands together, "Alright, team. Let's pack it up. Route 17 awaits!"
Partner Pikachu, perched on Azure's shoulder, chirped excitedly, his tail twitching. Growlithe grumbled a sleepy acknowledgement, flicking his tail, stretching his body, preparing for the journey ahead.
Dragonair, graceful even in sleep, uncoiled elegantly, its iridescent scales catching the light. Eevee, ever eager, bounced around Azure's feet, while Gastly, a swirling wisp of purple gas, simply drifted upwards, his mischievous eyes gleaming.
But it was Scizor who drew Azure's attention. Scizor, with its crimson exoskeleton and formidable pincers, was a force to be reckoned with. He flexed his newly formed claws, the metal gleaming menacingly.
Azure asked, a smile on his face, "Ready to go, Scizor?"
*Click*
Scizor responded with a sharp click of his pincers, a sound that echoed through the quiet morning. The team quickly and efficiently dismantled the campsite.
Azure carefully extinguished the embers, ensuring no trace of their presence remained. He felt a responsibility to the land, a respect for the delicate balance of nature that he instilled in his Pokémon.
As they started down the path that would lead them to Route 17, Azure scanned the surroundings. Route 16 was known for its dense foliage and winding paths, a haven for a variety of Pokémon.
He knew that any encounter could be a learning opportunity, a chance for his team to grow stronger. They hadn't walked for more than an hour when they heard it – a cacophony of squawks and frantic footsteps.
"DODUO!"
*TMP*
*TMP*
The sound grew louder, closer, until the trees ahead seemed to vibrate with the approaching commotion. Azure commanded, his hand instinctively reaching for a Poké Ball in preparation, "Everyone, be ready!"
*RMBL*
Then they burst into view: a herd of Doduo, a blur of brown feathers and powerful legs, stampeding directly towards them. Dust kicked up in their wake, obscuring the path ahead from their speed.
Leading the charge, towering above the rest, was a Dodrio, its three heads squawking in unison, a picture of territorial aggression. Azure exclaimed, recognizing the leader, realizing what they did, "Dodrio! They must be protecting their territory."
The Dodrio screeched, its three heads locking onto Azure and his team. It was clear they weren't going to let them pass without a fight, "DODRIO! DO!!"
Azure calmed himself as he commanded, adjusting his cap, "Alright, team, let's show them we mean no harm, but we won't back down either! Eevee, use Quick Attack to try and scatter the Doduo!"
Eevee, quick and agile, darted forward, a streak of brown fur, attempting to disrupt the herd's advance. But the Doduo were too numerous, too determined.
They swerved around Eevee, their beady eyes focused on Azure. The Dodrio let out another deafening screech, signaling the attack, "DODRIO!!!"
Azure knew he had to act fast. He commanded his team swiftly, "Scizor, you're up! Use Metal Claw on the Dodrio! Pikachu, assist with Thunderbolt!"
*Swooosh*
Scizor launched himself forward, a blur of crimson using Agility. His metal claws gleamed as he slashed at the Dodrio, the sound of metal on feathers echoing through the air.
*Shinng*
Pikachu, perched on Azure's shoulder, unleashed a powerful Thunderbolt, striking the Dodrio with a crackling surge of electricity. Azure eyes narrowed, carefully analyzing the situation as he thought, 'That bird won't go down that easily. And to make matters worse, its herd is surrounding us…'
*Zzzz*
The Dodrio staggered, momentarily stunned, but quickly recovered. It retaliated with a flurry of pecks, each attack surprisingly powerful.
Scizor dodged and weaved, his sharp reflexes honed through countless battles in the wild, eyes narrowed. Pikachu continued to bombard the Dodrio with Thunderbolt, keeping it on the defensive.
Meanwhile, the Doduo continued their frantic charge, encircling Azure and his remaining Pokémon. However, Azure issued his commands swiftly, "Growlithe, use Flamethrower to keep the Doduo at bay! Dragonair, use Twister! Strong Style!"
Both listened with eager grins. They had to hold back in battles as to not cripple their enemies in cities or Pokémon battles but in the wild where Wild Pokémon freely attacked them was fair game to go all out.
*Swooosh*
*Brrr*
Growlithe unleashed a torrent of flames, creating a wall of fire that deterred the Doduo from getting too close. Dragonair, with a graceful swirl, summoned a powerful Twister, whipping around the herd with incredible speed, sending them tumbling.
However, amidst the chaos, Gastly hovered at the edge of the battle, seemingly observing. She drifted closer to the struggling Doduo, attacking them with Thunderbolt.
Suddenly, a bright light enveloped Gastly. Azure shielded his eyes, surprised as he grinned, realizing what his Ghost Type was doing, 'Was Gastly just kill stealing the herd of Doduo to gain EXP? Man… why didn't I think of that!'
*Shiii*
As the light subsided, the familiar blue mist of Gastly had transformed. In its place was a larger, more menacing figure – a Haunter.
Haunter is a purple Pokémon with a gaseous body. It has a round head flanked by three large, spiked protrusions on either side. It has triangular eyes with small pupils and a mouth with a long, light blue tongue. The gases composing its head curve into its mouth to form several pointed teeth.
Disembodied hands with three clawed fingers each float in front of their bodies. Its body tapers into a jagged tail. Haunter's gaseous form makes it one of the lightest Pokémon in existence.
Two spectral hands emerged from the darkness, and a wide, malevolent grin stretched across its face. Azure exclaimed, a wave of pride washing over him, "Gastly… you evolved! Excellent timing! Haunter, use Thunderbolt on the Doduo!"
Haunter cackled, a chilling sound that sent shivers down the spines of the Doduo. He gathered electricity energy between his spectral hands and unleashed a powerful Thunderbolt, striking the center of the herd with devastating force.
*BOOOM*
The remaining Doduo scattered in terror, their frantic squawks fading into the distance as Haunter laughed at the scene, "Kekeke! Haunter! Haunt!"
Laughing over Azure checked his Arc Phone for Haunter's new abilities. He smirked, seeing the improvements.
|Name: Haunter (S) (Gas Pokémon)
|Type: Ghost/Poison
|Level: 25
|Gender: Female
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Levitate
|Nature: Gentle
|Moves: Lick [A][S], Hypnosis, Spite, Confuse Ray, Mean Look, Payback, Curse, Protect, Night Shade [A], Hex, Shadow Ball [A] (TM), Psychic (TM), Substitute (TM), Thunderbolt (TM), Shadow Punch (IM), Perish Song (EM) (2 Moves to learn)
[Haunter, the Gas Pokémon. Haunter hides in very dark places, such as caves, and is afraid of light. If a human or a Pokémon comes near Haunter, it will stalk the victim while floating and beckon it to come closer. Once approached, it will then lick the victim with its gaseous tongue, inflicting convulsions in the victim that last until death.
It can also float through walls. It can control its hands from far away and can control any Pokémon that it touches with its hands. Haunter has also been depicted as being able to create illusions, pull out spirits from an individual's body, and even remove its own eyes from its face.
Despite its predatory nature, it is known to entertain and prank people. It is known to feel intense loyalty to a deceased Trainer. Haunter is known to sleep while floating. A sleeping Haunter will steal the life-force of anyone who comes near using its gaseous tongue.]
With the Doduo routed, Scizor and Pikachu focused their attacks on the Dodrio. The combined power of Metal Claw and Thunderbolt proved too much. The Dodrio, weakened and disoriented, finally collapsed to the ground, defeated.
*THUD*
Silence descended upon the battlefield, broken only by the heavy breathing of the Pokémon. Azure approached the fallen Dodrio cautiously as he asked, his voice calm and reassuring, "Are you okay?"
The Dodrio looked up at him, its three heads no longer filled with aggression, but with a hint of respect. It let out a weak squawk, acknowledging Azure's concern, "Do… Dodrio…"
Being under their mercy, Azure understood they had no chance. But he explained calmly, getting out some potions, "We didn't want to hurt you. We just needed to pass through your territory. We understand that you were protecting your home."
He then turned to his team after spraying some medicine on Dodrio as he said calmly, "Alright, everyone, let's give them some space to recover. We'll continue on our way."
He gave the Dodrio a nod, a gesture of respect and understanding. Then, he and his team moved on, leaving the herd to regroup and reclaim their territory.
As they continued towards Route 17, Azure couldn't help but smile. The battle had been challenging, but it had also been a valuable learning experience. He had seen the strength and resilience of his Pokémon, and he had witnessed the evolution of Gastly into the powerful Haunter.
Azure said, turning to the ghostly Pokémon as he said in a happy tone, "That was incredible, Haunter!"
Haunter chuckled; her mischievous eyes gleaming. She seemed to revel in his newfound power.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, Azure finally reached the end of Route 16. Before him lay Route 17, a long, winding path that snaked its way across a vast bridge, connecting to Fuchsia City.
The bridge was teeming with trainers, all eager to test their skills. He paused, taking a deep breath of the crisp evening air. He knew the challenges ahead would be even greater, but he was ready.
He mounted his bike, revved the engine, and sped onto Route 17. The wind whipped through his hair as he raced across the bridge, the setting sun casting long shadows in his wake.
Almost immediately, he was challenged. A trainer with a team of Flying-type Pokémon swooped down from the sky, determined to prove his superiority.
Azure smiled, his heart pounding with excitement. He called out Eevee in a confident tone, "Eevee, you're up!"
Eevee, hearing her name, trembled slightly but stepped forward bravely. Azure knew it was a risky choice.
Eevee was still relatively inexperienced, but he believed in her potential. He knew that this battle could be the turning point, the moment she truly came into her own.
The battle began with a flurry of aerial attacks from the Flying-type Pokémon. Eevee, however, was agile and quick, dodging each attack with surprising grace as she followed Pikachu's Quick Attack for practice.
*Swoosh*
Azure guided her with precise instructions, helping her anticipate her opponent's moves. He remembered all the hours of training, the careful planning, the unwavering support he had given Eevee, and this was her moment of truth.
Seeing an opening, Azure called out, "Eevee, use Veevee Volley!!"
*Shiii*
Eevee, surrounded in a golden energy, enveloped her as she rushed forward without hesitation, charged forward with incredible speed, slamming into the opposing Pokémon. The impact was solid, sending the Flying-type Pokémon reeling.
*BOOOM*
The trainer was shocked. He had underestimated Eevee's power, determination, and friendship. He quickly recovered and launched another attack, but Eevee was ready.
She countered with a well-timed Covet, knocking the opposing Pokémon out of the sky. The trainer, defeated and astonished, retrieved his Pokémon and looked at Azure with newfound respect as he said in an impressed tone, "Wow, you're really good! And your Eevee is amazing!"
Azure smiled, his heart swelling with pride. He petted Eevee's head as he said, "Thank you. She's got a lot of potential."
He continued down the bridge, facing challenge after challenge. Haunter's Confuse Ray proves invaluable in disrupting enemy strategies with Hex, Growlithe's raw power tearing through defenses, and Dragonair's grace and precision turning tides of battle.
Each victory strengthened his bond with his Pokémon and solidified his determination to become a Pokémon Master. As darkness enveloped the sky, Azure finally reached the end of Route 17.
The lights of Fuchsia City twinkled in the distance, promising new adventures and new challenges, as he only needed to get through Route 18. He gazed at his team, their faces excited. They were tired, but their eyes were filled with determination.
He knew that the road ahead would be long and arduous, but he wasn't afraid. He had his team, his friends, his family. Together, they could overcome any obstacle.
He looked at Pikachu, now nestled asleep on his shoulder. He ruffled his fur gently, a wave of affection washing over him. He felt a surge of gratitude for his bond with his Pokémon.
They were more than just partners; they were his truest friends. As Azure began his descent into Route 18 and then to Fuchsia City, he knew, deep in his heart, that he was on the right path, a path paved with friendship, courage, and unwavering determination.
The journey was far from over, but with his team by his side, he was ready to face whatever lay ahead. He grinned, anticipating the next challenge ahead as he muttered, "That's 4 Gyms down and 4 more to go. Let's see what Koga got on me."