Chapter 486: Veilstone City
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Meanwhile, Veilstone City]
The last rays of the afternoon sun painted Veilstone City skies, casting long, dancing shadows across its modern architecture. But the heart of the city, for a trio of eager young trainers, was currently the outdoor training grounds beside the Pokémon Gym.
They huddled near a fence, eyes wide, whispering amongst themselves as Maylene, the Sinnoh region's own Fighting-type Gym Leader, demonstrated her prowess with her Pokémon. A girl with braided pigtails gasped, her eyes tracking a blur of motion, "Whoa! Did you see that?!"
A boy beside her exclaimed, "She's so fast! And her Pokémon are even faster!"
Maylene, a vision of focused power in her martial arts gi, moved with a fluid grace that seemed to defy gravity. Her Riolu, nimble as a shadow, weaved around a series of training dummies, launching swift 'Force Palm!' strikes with pinpoint accuracy.
Beside it, a sleek, lithe Hisuian Sneasel darted and slashed, its claws glinting as it tore through targets with frightening precision.
*Swoosh*
*Thwack*
*Slice*
Sounds of swoosh, thwack, and slice were heard as they echoed the sounds of their relentless training. The third trainer, a lanky boy wearing a cap backward, murmured, adjusting his glasses, "They say she's a martial arts genius. And her Pokémon inherit that same speed and strength."
The braided girl fretted, her brow furrowed, "How are we supposed to hit something that moves like that? My Roselia's Petal Dance would just whiff past them!"
The boy with the cap mused, tapping his chin thoughtfully, "We'll need something… an item perhaps. Something that can help our Pokémon track or land a hit on such lightning-fast targets. Otherwise, it's a guaranteed loss."
They continued their hushed discussion, their youthful ambition fueled by the challenging spectacle of Maylene's training. Unbeknownst to them, their solution, or at least a piece of it, was already making its way into the city.
//////
[Sinnoh Region, Later, Route 215 Gates – Veilstone City]
*Clop-clop-clop*
The rhythmic hoofbeats of a Ponyta mingled with the faint hum of city traffic as Azure, Platinum, Diamond, and Pearl finally arrived at the bustling outskirts of Veilstone City. The sun, a majestic orb of fiery orange, began its slow descent, painting the sky with a breathtaking palette of colors.
Azure, calm and collected as ever, walked with an easy stride, his partner Pikachu perched comfortably on his shoulder, its tail occasionally twitching in curiosity. Eevee, a fluffy brown shadow, rode regally on Azure's head, ears swiveling to take in the new sights and sounds. Tucked securely in his jacket, a tiny Pichu (Mew) occasionally let out a soft 'Pika-chu!' sound, its big blue eyes peeking out at the world.
Platinum, elegant even amidst travel dust, rode her Ponyta, its fiery mane shimmering in the sunset. Her Prinplup waddled beside them, a picture of polite sophistication. Diamond, always with a snack in hand (a half-eaten Casteliacone, to be precise), bounced along, while Pearl, ever the bundle of nervous energy, grumbled beside him.
Pearl threw his hands up in exasperation, "Ugh, I can't believe it! All those Psyduck blocking Route 210! We had to take such a massive detour! We're practically going backward. Mt. Coronet feels even further away now!"
His Chatot, Chatler, mimicking his gesture with a sharp cry, "Cha-CHA!"
Diamond merely shrugged, taking a big bite of his ice cream. He mumbled, crumbs dusting his chin, "More time for snacks, I guess. And jokes!"
Platinum, her brow furrowed in thought, considered their predicament as she replied helplessly in a tired tone, "Indeed, it seems our direct path is temporarily impassable. Given the hour and the unexpected detour, perhaps the most pragmatic course of action would be to… rest."
Her gaze, usually so focused on their goal, softened slightly as she watched the twinkling lights of the city coming alive. She commented, "Veilstone City appears quite inviting this time of year."
Azure nodded, a faint, knowing smile playing on his lips as he added casually, "Sounds like a plan to me, Platinum. No sense pushing ourselves when there's a perfectly good city right here."
He lightly patted Pikachu. Pikachu chirped in agreement as he added, "I'll go ahead and book us a hotel. You all can take the chance to look around, or do whatever you want in your free time. Consider it a well-deserved break."
The Sinnoh Dex Holders, relieved at the prospect of a comfortable bed and a break from the road, readily agreed. Diamond patted his Munchlax, who instantly perked up at the mention of free time, imagining endless berries as he stated, "Alright, Lax! Let's refine our routine! Gotta be ready for the big stage!"
Pearl corrected his Monferno, Chimlar, mimicking his exasperated sigh, "Sigh, yeah, we could use a small break… And try to get it right this time! The punchline isn't 'You're hungry?!' It's 'That's not where the joke lands!'"
As the comedic duo launched into their animated rehearsal, complete with exaggerated gestures and vocal inflections, Platinum watched them for a moment with an amused, albeit slightly bewildered, expression. Then, a soft gleam caught her eye. Neon lights, bright and captivating, pulsed and shimmered from a distance, painting the darkening sky with vibrant electrical hues.
She thought, her academic curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar spectacle, 'Whoa… What could those intriguing illuminations signify?'
*Clop-clop-clop.*
With a gentle nudge of her heels, she guided Ponyta, Prinplup following faithfully beside them, towards the source of the captivating glow. The city's buzz intensified around her – the distant calls of Pokémon, the murmur of conversations, the faint, tinny music from various establishments.
As she drew closer, the neon lights resolved into an intricate pattern, advertising a place she had never encountered in her academic treatises on the Sinnoh region. She dismounted Ponyta, tethering it gently to a nearby post, and stepped into the building, her elegant gait carrying her past a pair of revolving doors.
A warm, brightly lit interior greeted her, filled with a cacophony of jingling bells, whirring mechanisms, and electronic melodies. The air hummed with an excited energy. Platinum couldn't help but enter…
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Veilstone City – Veilstone Game Corner]
*Ding-ding-ding-ding*
*Click-whirr-clunk*
A jovial man with a neatly trimmed mustache and a sparkly bowtie greeted her from behind a counter, "Welcome, young lady! To the Veilstone Game Corner! Never been here before, have you? Don't worry, it's quite simple! Allow me to show you the ropes of our magnificent slot machines!"
Platinum, her eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and fascination, watched as he demonstrated. He inserted a coin, pulled a lever, and a series of colorful symbols spun rapidly before her.
*Whirrrr*
*Clack-clack-clack*
The metallic arm pulled down, the reels spun, and then, with a cascade of 'Ding-ding-ding!', a shower of coins gushed into the tray below.
Platinum gasped, a rare, uninhibited smile blooming on her face, "Oh my! This is… quite an intricate system of chance and reward! Tell me more about these 'slot machines' and the probabilities involved!"
The manager, delighted to have such an eager, if slightly naive, customer, launched into a detailed explanation, completely unaware that he was igniting a spark of fascination for something far less academic than Platinum was accustomed to. She listened intently with fascination, then, with a confident air, accepted a handful of coins and approached her first machine.
*Click*
She inserted a coin as she thought, 'Pull!'
She gripped the lever, pulling it down with a determined tug!
*Whirrrr*
*Clack-clack-clack*
The reels spun. Her eyes fixated on the images. A Cheri Berry. Another Cheri Berry. And a third!
"Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding!"
"Ka-ching!"
A shower of coins erupted. Platinum's eyes gleamed as she thought excitedly, 'This was… exhilarating! A new kind of challenge, a new form of data to analyze, a new thrill!'
She was hooked.
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Later, Veilstone City]
Meanwhile, the comedic duo had just finished a particularly energetic, if slightly off-key, rehearsal of their routine. Diamond was mid-sentence, describing a particularly delicious sandwich he envisioned, when Pearl's eyes widened, scanning the brightly lit interior of the Game Corner they'd stumbled into.
Pearl's voice trailed off, his jaw dropping, "Hey, isn't that…?"
Diamond asked, his mouth already salivating, "What is it, Pearl? Did you see a Double Scoop Ice Cream stand?"
Pearl pointed a trembling finger towards a cluster of slot machines, "No, you big dummy! It's Platinum!"
Indeed, there she was. Platinum Berlitz, the refined, scholarly heiress, was absolutely absorbed in pulling the lever of a slot machine. A small mountain of coins sat beside her, glinting under the neon lights.
Her usual composed expression was replaced by one of intense focus, a slight flush on her cheeks as she pulled the lever with practiced ease…
*Whirrrr*
*Clack-clack-clack*
"Ding-ding-ding-ding!"
"Ka-ching!"
… another cascade of coins.
Pearl shrieked, his voice cutting through the general din of the Game Corner doing the Joseph Jostar face expression, "OH NO!"
His face contorted in alarm as he exclaimed, "She's gambling! And she's obsessed! We must stop her!"
Diamond, for once, looked genuinely stunned, his Casteliacone forgotten. He mumbled, as if the words didn't quite compute, "Platinum… gambling?"
Pearl stormed over, his face red with indignation as he grabbed her arm, intending to drag her away, "Platinum! What do you think you're doing?! We're supposed to be journeying to Mt. Coronet, not wasting our time and money on… on gambling!"
Platinum, momentarily startled out of her trance, blinked at him. She gestured proudly to her pile of coins as she explained herself, "Pearl! I was merely conducting an empirical study of the permutations and combinations inherent in these fascinating mechanisms! And I was rather successful too, I might add!"
Pearl practically roared, "Empirical study?! You're addicted! Come on!"
Despite her protests, Pearl firmly, but gently, dragged a bewildered Platinum away from the tempting allure of the slot machines, Diamond following close behind, still munching on his now-soggy ice cream, unable to fully process the scene he had just witnessed. He shrugged, following them.
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Nighttime, Veilstone City – Grand Veilstone Hotel]
Later that evening, the Grand Veilstone Hotel shimmered under the city lights, its luxurious facade a beacon of comfort. Azure had indeed booked them a suite, spacious and elegant, a reprieve from their journey.
Pikachu was curled up on a plush armchair, napping peacefully, while Eevee groomed itself meticulously on the soft carpet. The disguised Pichu (Mew) occasionally peeked out from Azure's jacket, its big eyes taking everything in.
*Knock*
*Knock*
Azure called out from where he was checking his Arc Phone, "Come in."
Diamond ambled into the room, a happy grin on his face, holding up a small, lens-shaped device as he exclaimed, "Hey, Azure! Guess what I got?"
Pearl, who had been lecturing Platinum about the dangers of impulse and vice, groaned from the corner where Platinum sat, looking slightly chastened but also still quite curious. Diamond announced proudly, "A Zoom Lens! Platinum won so many coins at the Game Corner, I figured we could put them to good use!"
Azure paused, his thumb hovering over his Arc Phone screen as he heard the news. He slowly looked up, a faint eyebrow raised as he replied in a curious tone, "The Game Corner, you say? Platinum, I must admit, I'm a little surprised. You don't strike me as the type to frequent such establishments."
Platinum's elegant cheeks instantly flushed a light shade of rose. She mumbled, avoiding his gaze, "Well, it was… an unexpected discovery. And I merely wished to understand its operational parameters, Azure…"
Pearl, seeing Azure's attention turn to Platinum, puffed out his chest, ready for backup as he explained, "See, Azure?! She's completely lost it! You need to scold her! Tell her gambling is bad! Tell her it's a slippery slope to ruin!"
He expected a stern lecture, a wise admonishment from the seasoned trainer. Instead, Azure chuckled. A low, rumbling sound that held years of experience and a touch of mischief as he muttered, "Gambling, huh? Brings back memories. Actually, I haven't been to a Game Corner in ages... Maybe I can get myself a world record being banned from Game Corners in every region as a hobby..."
He leaned back in his chair, a nostalgic glint in his eyes as he continued, "If you're going again, Platinum, I might just have to join you. It's been a long while since I've tried my hand at the slots, and I used to be quite good at them back in my younger days, during my beginner journey in Kanto, when the Celadon Game Corner was active. Man… I robbed them for all their worth. Good times…"
Pearl's mouth dropped open. His face was a mask of utter disbelief and frustration as he exclaimed in disbelief, "AZURE! Are you serious?! You're enabling her! You're supposed to be her bodyguard, not her enabler for gambling addiction!"
Chatler, perched on his shoulder, mimicked his expression, "Cha-CHA!"
Azure merely shrugged, still chuckling as he replied while winking playfully at Platinum, "What harm is there, Pearl? It's just a bit of fun. Besides, I've been 'gambling' since I was eleven years old—the best way to get some valuable items, you know. Back then, I just picked up the stray coins people left on the ground, played a few slot machines, and turned them into over 50,000 coins. Used it all to grab TMs and a bunch of Battle Items. Saved me a ton of Pokedollars."
Pearl's eye twitched so violently it looked like it might pop out. He mentally slapped himself as he thought, 'This guy is absolutely no help! In fact, he's probably the worst example Platinum could have right now! How did he even manage to conquer the Battle Frontier and win three leagues with this kind of logic?!'
He sighed, rubbing his temples as he moved topics in a dismissive tone, "Alright, alright, fine. Whatever. But if you're not going to scold her, at least let's put this 'Zoom Lens' to good use. Platinum, you said your Lopunny sometimes struggles with long-distance attacks, right? Let's test it out."
Platinum, still slightly flustered but intrigued by the practical application, nodded eagerly, swiftly changing subjects, replied, "Indeed, Lopunny's Focus Blast can occasionally be less accurate at extreme range. A targeting enhancement would be most beneficial."
Pearl declared, leading the way to the suite's private balcony, "Great!"
Diamond, always up for a demonstration, followed, still occasionally popping the last remnants of his snack into his mouth. Azure, with Pikachu now back on his shoulder and Eevee curled up in his arm, and Pichu (Mew) still nestled warmly, joined them, casually observing the city's twinkling panorama.
The cool night air brushed against them as they stepped onto the spacious balcony. Below, the city sprawled out, a tapestry of light. Pearl pointed.
He indicated a lone tree standing some distance away, beyond a manicured garden. Seeing this, Platinum nodded as she explained, "See that small, slightly isolated tree over there? That'll be our target. Lopunny, let's see what you can do!"
Platinum's elegant Pokémon, a picture of grace, stepped forward, the Zoom Lens carefully attached to its ear, its eyes gleaming with focus, 'Lopunny! (On it, Lady Platinum!).'
Platinum commanded, her voice clear and precise, "Good. Lopunny, use Focus Blast on that tree!"
Lopunny gathered energy, its paws glowing with a vibrant blue light. A swirling orb of pure energy materialized in front of it, humming with raw power. With a powerful thrust, Lopunny launched the attack.
*FWOOM*
The spherical energy projectile shot through the night sky, a blue streak speeding straight towards the designated target. But just as the Focus Blast left Lopunny's hand, a sudden, impossibly fast blur of movement appeared directly in its path.
*Zap*
In a flash of martial arts agility and training in yoga, Maylene, who seemed to have been doing some late-night training in the park below, executed a gravity-defying leap. She twisted her body with incredible grace, narrowly dodging the incoming attack by what looked like mere millimeters.
*CRACK*
The Focus Blast harmlessly exploded against the tree behind her with a resounding 'CRACK!' of splintering wood!
Diamond exclaimed, his eyes wide, "Whoa!"
Pearl gasped, his heart leaping into his throat, "That was close!"
Platinum murmured, more impressed than alarmed, "An extraordinary display of evasive maneuvers."
Azure merely smiled, a knowing glint in his eye. Maylene, landing lightly as a feather on the balcony railing in front of them, looked at the group with an easy smile as she exclaimed, "Phew! Just narrowly missed that one!"
She then looked from the splintered tree to Lopunny, and finally to Platinum. She asked curiously, "Are you all alright? I sensed a powerful attack, but I didn't expect it to come from… here!"
Her gaze sharpened as she took in the Zoom Lens, and she muttered, "That was quite an impressive shot, hitting that tiny tree from such a distance in the dark. You must have used some device to help land that attack, didn't you?"
She paused, then her eyes widened slightly in recognition as she continued, "Wait a minute… you're those trainers I heard about earlier, aren't you? The ones looking for an item to help with speed and accuracy?"
The group looked confused about what she was talking about. Maylene looked directly at Platinum, a competitive spark igniting in her eyes as she stated in a confident tone, "I assume you're looking to challenge me, then? Given that you're testing out gear for precisely that purpose."
Her grin widened as she added, "I expect to see you at the Veilstone Gym, young lady! Come ready for a real fight!"
Then, Maylene's gaze flickered to Azure, who was leaning casually against the railing, Pikachu still on his shoulder, Eevee still in his arms, and a faint, almost imperceptible gleam of the Pichu's (Mew's) eyes from his jacket. Her smile, previously friendly and challenging, transformed into something else – a look of genuine respect mixed with an even deeper, more exhilarated challenge.
She had heard the whispers, seen the scattered reports, and knew the stories. The three-time league champion, the Battle Frontier conqueror, the one whose reputation preceded him like a storm front. The Uncrowned Champion.
She stated, her voice dropping a notch, a hint of steel within it, "And you…"
Her eyes, sharp and assessing, locked onto Azure's as she stated, "I highly expect you to come for your Ace Gym Battle as well. I've been waiting for a challenger like you, Azure Sky. Don't disappoint me."
*Swooosh*
She gave him a knowing half-grin, a wave of her hand, and then, with another effortless leap, vanished from the balcony, a whisper of wind and an echo of 'Swoosh!' the only evidence she had ever been there.
Azure, unperturbed, grinned back. He murmured, his eyes alight with an old, familiar fire, "Wouldn't dream of it, Maylene."
While the Sinnoh Dex Holders talked amongst each other plans against Maylene Azure pondered to himself as he thought, 'With the way things are going... I think its about time to bring back some old friends...'
He eyed their starter Pokemon's as he added mentally, 'Plus I think they need one more push to use their Ultimate Moves. Better bring the old crew together...'
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A/N: Hope you liked the chapter!