Chapter 475: Ghost Gym Battle (1)
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Hearthome City – Gym]
The vibrant energy of Hearthome City Gym hummed, a tangible current in the air, mirroring the high spirits of its patrons. Dust motes danced in the theatrical spotlights that illuminated the grand battle arena, an opulent space where the ancient art of Pokémon combat met modern spectacle.
The scent of battle and the lingering sweetness of burnt sugar from the previous battle still clung faintly to the air, a testament to Platinum Berlitz's hard-fought victory against the Ghost-type Gym Leader, Fantina.
In the stands, Platinum, her aristocratic posture impeccable even while perched on the edge of her seat, watched with a keen, analytical gaze. Beside her, Diamond, ever the enthusiast, munched thoughtfully on a Poffin, his eyes wide with anticipation.
Pearl, a bundle of restless energy, bounced slightly, his arms crossed, a grin already splitting his face. Even Jasmine, the serene Olivine Gym Leader, had allowed a small, intrigued smile to grace her lips, her gaze fixed on the young man now stepping onto the challenger's side of the arena.
Azure carried himself with an effortless grace that belied the immense power he commanded. His eyes, sharp and perceptive, swept across the arena, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk playing on his lips.
A soft yet distinct purr vibrated from inside his jacket, a warmth against his chest. Pichu (Mew), nestled comfortably, only its eyes, a deep, knowing blue, peeking out, observing with playful curiosity.
His true partners, Pikachu and Eevee, sat on his shoulders, their fur twitching with eagerness. Pikachu, ever bright-eyed, emitted a soft Pika! of encouragement, while Eevee, with its soft, intelligent gaze, nudged its ear gently.
Fantina, ever the show-woman, floated across the arena floor, her Mismagius wafting ethereally beside her. With a flourish, she extracted her Rotom Phone, its screen glowing. She declared, her voice echoing dramatically, "And now, for our esteemed Ace Trainer, Monsieur Azure! A demonstration of power, of grace, of… panache!"
*Click*
She pressed a button, and from the floor, a shimmering, translucent scanner materialized, hovering before Azure. Six empty slots, like ethereal Poke Balls, awaited his selection as she explained, "Your Pokémon, if you please, Monsieur!"
Azure gave a nod. He ran a hand over his jacket pocket, a silent acknowledgment to the tiny legend within. His gaze drifted to his belt, where an array of Poke Balls resided. His mind, honed by countless battles, quickly sifted through his options: 'Gible, H-Zoura, Riolu, Rotom. A good mix. A core of raw power, untamed energy, focused discipline, and cheeky versatility. These four would do the job.'
With smooth, practiced movements, he selected four Poke Balls, the familiar click as they slotted into the scanner. The ethereal beams of light flowed over them, their levels registered but a mystery to Fantina.
*Click*
The scanner retracted, sinking back into the floor as silently as it had appeared. Fantina clapped her hands, a sound like rustling silk.
*Wooosh*
Her Mismagius, with a soft whoosh, produced a silver tray on which four Poke Balls rested. With an elegant sweep of her arm, Fantina picked one, her smile widening as she explained, "A 4-on-4 battle, Monsieur Azure! Let the dance begin!"
Azure replied, his voice calm, confident, "Sounds good to me, Fantina."
He drew a single Poke Ball from his belt. With a grin, she declared excitedly, "Let's kick things off, partner!"
*Pop*
In a flash of crimson light, Fantina's first Pokémon materialized. A shadowy bipedal figure with a mischievous grin and glowing red eyes took its place. Platinum exclaimed, leaning forward, "Gengar! That's Fantina's Gengar, isn't it? She uses it in almost all her major battles!"
Pearl nodded enthusiastically as he added, "Yeah, Gengar's a classic Ghost-type! Super spooky and super strong!"
Diamond, however, paused mid-chew, sensing something off. He tilted his head, a slightly confused expression on his face as he mentioned, "Hmm... something feels a little... different about that Gengar."
Azure, meanwhile, had already let his own Pokémon out. He called, tossing his chosen Poké Ball, "Alright, Riolu, let's go!"
*Pop*
A burst of azure energy, quickly coalescing into the familiar form of a bipedal canine. Riolu landed lightly on its feet, a focused growl rumbling in its chest.
Its fur, a blend of blue and black, bristled slightly, its red eyes immediately locking onto Fantina's Pokémon. Around its waist, the subtle sheen of the [Expert Belt] was visible, hinting at the power it enhanced.
The moment Riolu's eyes met the 'Gengar's, a ripple of energy, unseen by most, pulsed through the arena. Riolu's sensitive aura receptors, usually a soft hum of environmental data, suddenly flared with a distinct, discordant note.
Its internal voice, a pure, telepathic pulse, shot to Azure, 'Illusion. Master, that is not a Gengar. It is a Zoroark. A Hisuian Zoroark.'
Azure's expression remained impassive, but a flash of understanding flickered in his eyes. He didn't need Riolu to tell him. Even as he had chosen his initial lineup, he had felt a subtle prickle, a faint echo of something other than Gengar's typical malice from Fantina's selection.
His own aura sense had registered the deep, chilling, yet somehow elegant malice of a Hisuian Zoroark. He merely closed his eyes for a split second, a mental nod to Riolu as he replied mentally, 'I know Riolu... Be careful. Its illusions are potent, even if we see through them.'
Fantina's smile widened, oblivious to the silent communication. She commanded, her voice ringing out, "Gengar, use Shadow Ball!"
*PEW*
The 'Gengar' cackled, a chilling sound that seemed to reverberate from multiple points in the arena simultaneously. Dark, swirling energy coalesced between its hands, forming a malevolent sphere of shadowy power. With a flex of its spectral fingers, the Shadow Ball hurtled towards Riolu.
Azure ordered, his voice sharp and clear, "Riolu, Foresight into Quick Attack, then loop around!"
*WHIZZ*
Riolu became a blur of blue and black. It's small form shot forward, leaving a faint afterimage, narrowly dodging the incoming Shadow Ball as it slammed into the ground behind it with a CRACK and a puff of dark smoke.
*CRACK*
But Riolu didn't stop as its eyes glowed using Foresight, eyeing the Ghost-Type with a knowing gaze. With incredible agility, it used the momentum to dart to the side, then curved around, aiming to get behind the illusory Gengar.
The 'Gengar' was fast. Even under illusion, its speed was formidable. It anticipated Riolu's maneuver, turning swiftly.
Fantina called out, not missing a beat, "Gengar, Dark Pulse!"
*PEW*
A wave of dark, rippling energy erupted from the 'Gengar's' body, expanding outwards in a concussive blast. The energy pulsed with a deep purple hue, carrying an almost palpable sense of dread.
Azure countered, his voice steady, "Intercept with Aura Sphere!"
*FWOOOSH*
Riolu, mid-dash, skidded to a halt. Its paws glowed with a faint, blue aura, and with a focused growl, it launched a compact sphere of pure fighting energy. The Aura Sphere zipped through the air, FWOOSH, meeting the incoming Dark Pulse head-on.
*BOOOM*
The two attacks collided in a brilliant explosion of light and force. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the arena, making Platinum gasp and Pearl instinctively flinch back. Smoke billowed, obscuring both Pokémon for a moment.
Fantina's eyes widened in disbelief as she thought, surprised, 'That Riolu knows Aura Sphere at this early stage! What monstrous talent!'
Azure commanded, cutting through the haze, as he knew the hidden Zoroark was likely taking advantage of the smoke, "Riolu, Vacuum Wave!"
*SHINK*
From within the dissipating smoke, Riolu unleashed a swift, blade-like wave of air, imbued with fighting energy. The Vacuum Wave cut through the smoke, tearing it apart, aimed directly at where Riolu's aura sense indicated the true Zoroark was standing.
The 'Gengar' hissed, a sound that was far too sharp for a Gengar. It shimmered slightly, almost flickering, as the Vacuum Wave grazed its shoulder.
The illusion held, but Azure knew it had taken a solid hit. The [Expert Belt] on Riolu would have amplified that damage.
Fantina laughed, a hint of surprise in her voice, "Oh, a clever move, Monsieur Azure! But Gengar is not so easily deterred! Shadow Claw!"
The 'Gengar's spectral claws elongated, becoming razor-sharp and imbued with shadowy power. It lunged at Riolu with surprising ferocity, its movements swift and unnervingly silent.
Azure ordered, his tone urgent, "Detect, Riolu!"
*WHOOSH*
Just as the shadowy claws were about to connect, Riolu's body shimmered, disappearing for a split second, then reappearing a foot to the side. The Shadow Claw sliced through empty air, leaving only a faint, chilling trail.
Riolu's eyes burned with intense focus as it thought, 'That was a close one.'
Azure immediately followed up, pressing the advantage, "Now, Counter!"
Before the 'Gengar' could recover from its missed attack, Riolu was already moving. Its body pulsed with a faint red energy, a direct response to the energy of the previous attack it had just dodged. It launched itself forward, a blur of concentrated vengeance, slamming its small frame into the 'Gengar'.
*THWACK*
The hit was solid, sending a jolt through the illusory Gengar. For a moment, the illusion faltered visibly. The edges of the 'Gengar's' form shimmered, and a fleeting glimpse of white fur and a more vulpine shape could be seen.
*SNAP*
Then, it snapped back to the Gengar façade. Diamond finally blurted out, a Poffin falling from his slack jaw, "It's a Zoroark! I knew something was off!"
Platinum gasped, her eyes widening as she whispered, "A Hisuian Zoroark? But... how did Monsieur Azure know?"
Pearl, ever the quick thinker, slapped his forehead as he exclaimed, as he shot a glance at Jasmine, who merely offered a knowing smile, "Aura! Riolu's an Aura Pokémon! It can sense things others can't! And Azure probably has some kind of aura sensitivity too, right?"
Fantina, however, was clearly enjoying the unveil as she exclaimed, "Ah, Monsieur Diamond, you are very perceptive! Indeed, my Hisuian Zoroark has been quite the performer today! But even with the illusion revealed, can you truly overcome its power, Monsieur Azure?"
She winked at Azure while commanding, "Zoroark, focus, and use Night Daze!"
The H-Zoroark, no longer needing to maintain the illusion so rigidly, let out a piercing, guttural shriek. Its form shimmered, revealing its true nature – a magnificent, spectral fox, with flowing white fur, fiery red accents, and a long, flowing mane.
The malicious energy it exuded was palpable now, a cold, oppressive presence. Its eyes, now a burning yellow, glowed with intense power. Dark, shadowy energy erupted from its body, creating ripples of distorted reality that washed over Riolu.
Azure commanded, anticipating the full force of the attack as he couldn't avoid it, "Riolu, Brace with Endure!"
A faint, almost invisible shield of determination flared around Riolu just as the distorted waves of Night Daze crashed into it…
*ZZZAP*
The force was immense, sending Riolu skidding backward across the arena floor, a pained grunt escaping its throat. It took the hit, remaining conscious, but its breathing was ragged, its small body trembling from the impact.
Fantina roared, sensing an opening, "Now, Foul Play!"
*Zooom*
Zoroark, moving with terrifying speed, blurred across the arena, its claws already aglow with dark energy. This was it, the real finishing blow.
It aimed for Riolu's chest, intending to deliver a devastating strike, leveraging Riolu's own remaining strength against it. Azure's eyes narrowed. This was precisely the moment he'd been waiting for.
He bellowed, his voice cutting through the roar of the crowd and the sound of Zoroark's charge, "Riolu! Detect!"
Riolu, battered but not broken, forced its trembling body to move. Just as Zoroark's claws were a hair's breadth from its chest, it shimmered again, a desperate, last-second flicker of its form. The Foul Play sailed through where Riolu had been a nanosecond before.
*WHOOSH*
Zoroark's attack missed by the narrowest of margins, slicing through empty air with a chilling SHINK. But this time, Riolu didn't just reappear…
*FLASH*
A strange, radiant light began to emanate from its small form. It wasn't the blue of Aura Sphere, nor the red of Counter. This was a pure, blinding white light, growing in intensity. Platinum whispered, her eyes wide with amazement, "What's happening?"
Pearl shouted in excitement, jumping to his feet, his hands clenched, "It's evolving! Riolu's evolving!"
Diamond, Poffin forgotten, was practically vibrating with excitement, "Whoa! Mid-battle evolution! This is awesome!"
The light enveloped Riolu completely, momentarily blinding the spectators. A powerful surge of energy washed over the arena, causing the very air to crackle. Riolu's form elongated, muscles rippled, and it grew in stature.
The small head gained pointed ears, and the black markings transformed into intricate patterns across its chest and legs, forming distinct bone-like structures. Its red eyes, now larger and more defined, pulsed with newly awakened power. The familiar 'mask' of Lucario solidified around its face.
Lucario roared proudly, "ROOOOAAAARRR!"
With a final, explosive burst of light, the newly evolved Lucario stood tall, its whole being radiating an intense, controlled aura. Its gaze was no longer just focused; it was piercing, seeing not just the physical world but the very flow of energy.
The [Expert Belt], which had once seemed a significant accessory for Riolu, now looked like a mere accent on its powerful new physique. Fantina, for the first time in the battle, looked genuinely stunned as she exclaimed, "Magnifique! An evolution in the heat of battle! Truly a sight to behold!"
Azure watched, a proud smile gracing his lips. He felt the surge of power from Lucario, a connection deep within his own being.
His Aura had grown, intertwining with Lucario's. You did it, old friend, he thought, a wave of pride washing over him, 'Now, finish this.'
Lucario's head snapped towards Hisuian Zoroark, its new senses immediately locking onto its opponent. Zoroark, momentarily taken aback by the sudden evolution, stood frozen. Azure's voice was calm, but held an undeniable edge of command, "Lucario… Strong Style Drain Punch!"
Lucario moved with the grace and power of a seasoned warrior. Its fist glowed with a vibrant green energy, not unlike the draining power of a Giga Drain, but focused into a powerful physical strike.
With a guttural cry, it lunged, covering the distance to Zoroark in a single, powerful bound, "GRAO! (TAKE THIS!!)"
*Zooom*
Zoroark recovered quickly, its malicious instincts screaming at it to defend. It tried to conjure a Shadow Claw, but Lucario was too fast, too empowered.
*KAPOW*
Lucario's glowing fist slammed into Hisuian Zoroark's midsection with incredible force. The green energy pulsed visibly as it drained strength from the Ghost/Normal-type, converting it into vital energy for Lucario.
Zoroark let out a pained, disbelieving shriek, its body recoiling violently. The damage was immense, amplified further by Lucario's fighting type, its [Expert Belt], and the sheer power of its newly evolved form.
H-Zoroark staggered backward, its fiery red mane flickering weakly. Its eyes, which had burned so brightly with malice and cunning, now glazed over. With a final, faint whoosh, the magnificent spectral fox collapsed to the arena floor, swirling into a mist of dark energy before fading into unconsciousness.
*THUD*
Fantina's eyes widened, then a slow, appreciative smile spread across her face. She declared, her voice filled with genuine admiration, "Hisuian Zoroark is unable to battle! The winner is Lucario, and challenger Azure!"
The gymnasium erupted in applause. Platinum clapped vigorously, her face alight with excitement as she praised him, "Absolutely stunning! And to evolve in battle like that! Simply incredible!"
Pearl was practically bouncing as he excitedly exclaimed, "Yeah! Lucario came out swinging! What a comeback!"
Diamond, ever the gastronome, finally picked up his fallen Poffin, taking a bite. He mumbled, then corrected himself, "That was… super delicious! No, wait! Super cool! Lucario is awesome!"
Jasmine simply nodded, her smile deepening. She had seen countless battles, but an evolution in the heat of conflict, followed by such a decisive victory, was always a special moment.
Azure walked to Lucario, a soft smile on his face. Lucario met his gaze, its powerful, new form emanating an almost palpable sense of loyalty and strength.
It lowered its head, nudging Azure's hand gently. Azure placed a hand on its head, stroking its fur. He murmured, his pride swelling, "You were incredible, Lucario. Truly incredible work out there."
Lucario puffed his chest proudly at his praise. Azure then checked Lucario's Pokedex info with a happy expression.
[Lucario the Aura Pokémon. Lucario can study auras to predict the movements of its opponents and track their quarry. With sufficient training, it can read auras to understand how living beings are feeling from more than half a mile (1 kilometer) away. It can even use this ability to sense invisible foes.
However, it sometimes ends up learning information that it would not like to know, causing it to get stressed out easily. It also has the power to manipulate this energy in an offensive manner, such as in the form of explosive spheres of energy. Lucario can understand human speech and has been reported to communicate with humans through telepathy. It was even shown to be able to stop its allies from an Aegislash's mind control using its aura. A Shiny Lucario emits a yellow aura as opposed to the standard blue-colored aura emitted by other creatures.
Lucario's eyes can glow golden or blue when using its Aura Vision. Lucario is prideful and is extremely loyal to its Trainer. It also seems to have a natural sense of justice, as it only trusts Trainers with righteous hearts. It is an exceptionally rare Pokémon that usually lives deep in the mountains, very far from people, to improve its skills.
Lucario are primarily carnivores, hunting their prey in packs, though one was seen eating Berries and plants like roses. It has also been seen eating chocolate, which is not part of its natural diet. Lucario can create a staff in the form of a bone to use in battle. Lucario never lowers its guard, even when sleeping. It is believed that it reads the auras of others while asleep, similarly to when it is awake.]
|Name: Lucario (Aura Pokémon)
|Type: Fighting/Steel
|Tera: Fighting
|Level: 30
|Gender: Male
|Held Item: [Expert Belt]/[Fist Plate]/[Black Belt]/[Lucarionite]/[Lucarionite Z]
|Ability: Steadfast
|Nature: Serious
|Moves: Endure, Work Up, Foresight, Protect, Calm Mind, Aura Sphere [A][S],Vacumm Wave [A][S],Drain Punch [A][S], Counter [A][S],Bullet Punch[A][S], Metal Claw[A][S], Blaze Kick [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Shadow Claw [A][S], Quick Attack [A][S], Bulldoze [A][S], Rock Smash [A][S] (HM), Detect (IM), Mind Reader (EM) (3 Moves Left to learn)
Azure gazed at Lucario's status screen as he nodded happily, thinking, 'He learned Bulldoze and Calm Mind when he evolved. Neat and useful to learn.'
The first round was over, and Azure had made a powerful statement. The dance was far from finished, but the stage had been set, and with his newly evolved Lucario, he stood ready for whatever Fantina would bring next. The true battle had only just begun.
/////
A/N: Hope you liked the chapter!