Chapter 534: Foreboding…
~Azure S. POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Later, Snowpoint City – Pokémon Center]
My shoulders ached, a dull throb that had become a familiar companion over the past few days. Pikachu was curled protectively on my left shoulder, his soft purr a tiny comfort. Eevee, ever the curious one, had made herself comfortable on my head, her soft fur tickling my scalp as she occasionally shifted.
In the inner pocket of my jacket, a tiny, disguised Pichu (Mew) emitted faint, sleepy squeaks, oblivious to the simmering tension in the room. The air here was thick with the scent of antiseptic and the low hum of medical equipment. Two beds were occupied, their occupants still and unconscious. Maylene, the Veilstone Gym Leader, and Candice, the Snowpoint Gym Leader, both lay pale and still, their faces bruised.
They had fought bravely, alongside Platinum, against Team Galactic Commander Jupiter at Lake Acuity. But even with Platinum's sharp strategies, their combined strength wasn't enough. Jupiter and her Pokémon were quite formidable, and their goal had been chillingly clear: capture Uxie. I remembered the scene vividly, though it felt like a blur now.
The shimmering, ethereal Pokémon, Uxie, held captive within a pulsating anti-psychic cage, its emotions filled with fear. Jupiter's cruel smirk, the metallic whirring of the Galactic Bomb powering up.
Platinum, despite her injuries, had been ready to throw herself back into the fray. It was then that my Dragonite had emerged from the sky, cut straight through the device holding Uxie, allowing me just enough time to free it before confronting Jupiter.
Jupiter, furious, had turned her attention to me, but by then, Uxie was free, and Pokémon's absolute presence, combined with my own battle-hardened resolve, had tipped the scales. She would have fled, cursing our names, leaving behind a partially damaged structure and a dazed, but free, Uxie.
Unfortunately for her, I don't play that way. Straight up caught her ass and sent her to Jail, informing Green of the news.
The same couldn't be said for the other two lakes. Azelf and Mesprit… captured. The thought sent a jolt of anger through me, tightening my jaw.
*Whirrr*
A faint sound from the automatic doors broke the quiet. My head snapped up, Eevee chirping softly, her ears swiveling. A familiar figure stepped inside, her emerald eyes immediately scanning the room.
Green. My girlfriend, and a Kanto Dex Holder, is always a welcome blend of calm and fierce determination. She wore her International Police uniform, a subtle badge pinned to her lapel glinting under the fluorescent lights.
She exclaimed, her voice a low, urgent whisper as she registered the scene, "Azure!"
She hurried over, her boots making soft thuds on the linoleum floor. Her gaze fell on Maylene and Candice, then on Platinum, who was resting in an adjacent room, stable but deeply asleep from exhaustion and minor injuries.
She asked hesitantly, "Are they…?"
I assured her, my voice raspy, "They'll be fine."
Pikachu nudged my ear, a silent prompt for me to take a sip from the water bottle on the bedside table. Then I explained their situation, "Just knocked out cold. Platinum, too. She pushed herself too hard."
Green nodded, her brow furrowed with concern. She'd gotten my call before the news broke, but seeing the aftermath was different. She then asked, "And the others? Pearl, Diamond… the Legendary Pokémon?"
A deep sigh escaped me. This was the hard part.
I reiterated, running a hand through my messy hair, "Platinum's out for the count, minor injuries, lack of sleep. Pearl and Diamond went to Lake Valor and Lake Verity, respectively. We split up. The plan was to stop Team Galactic at all three lakes simultaneously. Platinum and I at Acuity, Pearl at Valor, Diamond at Verity."
I paused, gathering my thoughts. It was a strategy born of desperation, hoping to overwhelm Team Galactic's commanders.
My voice was flat, the failure stinging in a bitter tone, "But… Team Galactic managed to bomb Lake Valor. Azelf and Mesprit… they were caught."
Green's face contorted into a deep frown. She closed her eyes for a moment, a barely perceptible tremor running through her shoulders.
She muttered, the curse almost swallowed by the sterile quiet. She opened her eyes, her gaze sharper now, "Damn it! Looker just informed me that Jupiter and her Pokémon were apprehended by the International Police, thanks to your intervention at Acuity. She's being questioned as we speak."
A small victory, but it felt hollow. I grunted, the thought of that smug commander's face behind bars bringing a sliver of satisfaction, "Good. But…"
Green anticipated my next words and asked, "But what about Uxie?"
*Wooosh*
As if summoned by its name, a faint shimmer appeared beside me, coalescing into the ethereal form of Uxie. Its eyes, normally closed, were partially open, observing Green with a gentle curiosity and not using her 'natural ability'.
The Pokémon of Knowledge, now a silent, watchful presence. I explained, reaching out a hand, which Uxie gently nudged, "I managed to get her out of the cage Team Galactic created. Darkrai helped with getting Uxie out. Power of darkness for the win!"
Green's eyes widened slightly as she took in Uxie, safe and free, floating calmly beside me. She deduced, her relief palpable, "So, Cyrus doesn't have all three…. He needs Uxie to create the Red Chain, doesn't he? They can't fuse reality if they're missing a key component."
I nodded, the gravity of the situation settling anew, adding in a calm yet stern voice, "Exactly. He needs Uxie, along with Azelf and Mesprit, to forge that chain and control Dialga and Palkia."
A flicker of hope ignited in Green's eyes as she exclaimed, "Then we've halted their progress! It's a major setback for Cyrus's plan."
I conceded, but my tone was grim, further explaining, "For now, yes. But when they realize they don't have Uxie, they'll do everything in their power to grab it. And their best bet would be after me, being the last known sighting."
My hand instinctively went to Pikachu's head, stroking his fur. Eevee purred, rubbing her cheek against my hair. I continued, my gaze falling on Uxie, whose ethereal face seemed to hold a profound sorrow, "Not only that… Uxie itself wants to rescue its siblings, Azelf and Mesprit, from their clutches."
*Chime*
A faint chime echoed through the Pokémon Center as the automatic doors slid open again. This time, it was Looker, his trench coat a stark contrast to the sterile environment, and Gible-loving, Champion Cynthia, her long blonde hair cascading over her broad shoulders, a serious expression on her beautiful face.
Cynthia greeted, her voice calm but firm, "Azure, Green."
She took in Uxie, floating serenely by my side, and a ghost of a relieved smile touched her lips. She exhaled softly, stating calmly, "Looker informed me of the situation. I'm glad to see Uxie is safe."
Looker, ever the pragmatist, nodded in agreement. His gaze was intense, assessing the room, then settling on me asked, "Indeed. A critical piece of the puzzle, secured. Now, the question remains: what is our next move?"
I didn't hesitate. I was tired of playing defense, of reacting to Team Galactic's moves. I stated bluntly, my voice devoid of emotion, "We storm their base. We battle Cyrus, and we smack some sense into him."
Looker's eyebrows shot up. A deep frown creased his usually stoic face, rebutting, "Storm the Veilstone Headquarters, you say? With Legendary Pokémon potentially involved? That is… a highly aggressive strategy. And extremely risky."
Cynthia, however, chimed in, stepping forward. She said, her voice resonating with authority, "I agree with Azure."
Her eyes glinted with a fierce resolve as she growled, "Team Galactic has done enough damage already. Not only bombing Lake Valor and capturing two of the Lake Trio, but also attacking my hometown, Celestic Town, and attempting to steal ancient artifacts. I'm not going to let him slip away from us now."
A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. Cynthia, seeing things my way.
It was a good feeling.
But I acknowledged, the smirk fading as I considered the broader implications, "The issue is that Cyrus has Legends on his side. The last thing we need is an all-out brawl in Veilstone City, with Legendary Pokémon and potentially unseen ones being unleashed and causing untold destruction."
Pikachu chirped in agreement, his tail twitching. Eevee nodded vigorously on my head. Even the tiny Pichu in my pocket stirred, as if sensing the gravity of the discussion. All parties involved nodded, the unspoken truth hanging in the air.
A direct assault on Veilstone, without a solid plan to mitigate collateral damage, was unthinkable. My smirk returned, broader this time. It was the smirk of someone who had just found a key piece to a complex puzzle.
I pointed at Uxie, still hovering beside me, its form almost translucent in the dim light. I said calmly, my voice gaining a confident edge, "Thankfully… we have Uxie."
Green, Looker, and Cynthia all exchanged glances, comprehension slowly dawning in their eyes. I continued, laying out the plan that had been forming in my mind since Jupiter's defeat, "Uxie can act as bait. Team Galactic is desperate for Uxie. We use that desperation against them. We draw them out of their hiding place in Veilstone City."
Cynthia asked, her voice calm, a thoughtful expression on her face, "Where do we settle this, then?"
Grinning wildly, I declared in a confident tone, "Mount Coronet. It's rugged terrain, its vast, uninhabited reaches… It's the perfect staging ground for a battle of this magnitude, away from civilian populations. We'll force Cyrus to confront us there, where he can't hold the entire region or city hostage."
Looker's eyes narrowed, a flicker of approval in their depths. He responded calmly, "And the International Police, along with the Pokémon League ACE Trainers… we can handle the Grunts and provide support, and crucially, rescue Azelf and Mesprit once the main confrontation begins."
Cynthia, Green, and Looker subtly nodded, agreeing to the audacious plan. It was risky, but it was decisive.
Uxie, however, subtly shifted, its ethereal form rippling. I felt a faint, melancholic tug – a deep, almost telepathic connection to its imprisoned siblings. It was hesitant, feeling their pain, their forced separation.
I placed a reassuring hand on Uxie's side. I murmured, easing her worries, looking into its partially closed eyes, "Don't worry, Uxie. We're not going to hand you over. All they need to see is a 'Uxie'."
My gaze then shifted to Green, a wicked glint in my eyes. I asked, a playful note entering my voice, "Green, do you still have Ditty?"
Green's eyes widened, then a slow, utterly wicked grin spread across her face. It was a mischievous, cunning smile that spoke volumes.
She purred, her finger tapping her chin thoughtfully as she reached for her Poke Ball, "Ditty? Oh, I believe I do. Always useful for a little… misdirection."
*Pop*
In a flash of white light, a pink, gelatinous blob appeared on the floor. It chirped, its bead-like eyes darting around, "Ditto!"
Green said confidently, a genuinely predatory smile, "Ditty has seen Uxie now. With a little bit of my help and some specialized aura masking, we can make Ditty look and feel exactly like the Being of Knowledge to anyone watching from a distance—or through a thermal scope."
Looker and Cynthia caught on almost immediately. A double. A perfect, shape-shifting decoy to lure Team Galactic into Mount Coronet, allowing the real Uxie to remain safe and ready to aid in rescuing its siblings.
A brilliant, deceptively simple plan.
Looker boomed, a rare smile gracing his features, "Excellent! A feint within a feint. This gives us the element of surprise."
He then looked at Cynthia, his expression turning serious again. He rubbed his chin as he muttered seriously, "However, assembling our forces in that short amount of time… surrounding Veilstone City, reinforcing Mount Coronet with ACE Trainers and our own agents… it will take time. At least until tomorrow."
Cynthia stated, her gaze resolute, "Tomorrow it is. We use this time to prepare. Every agent, every Trainer, must be briefed. We leave nothing to chance."
I nodded, feeling the weariness truly settle in now that the immediate crisis was being handled. I said softly, gently scooping Eevee from my head and cradling her like a super villain with a plan, "Then I'll use this time to rest."
Pikachu settled more firmly on my shoulder, his soft breathing a rhythmic comfort. I added, "My Pokémon and I will be ready when the time comes."
As Cynthia, Green, and Looker began to move, their voices low as they discussed logistics and communicated with their respective organizations, I leaned back against the wall, closing my eyes.
Tomorrow, the true storm would begin. But this time, we would be ready. And this time, Team Galactic would be playing our game.
/////
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Meanwhile, Veilstone City – Galactic HQ]
Meanwhile, within the cold, metallic heart of the Galactic Veilstone Building, Cyrus stood before a massive holographic display, his expression as impassive as the steel around him. Charon, his aged, cackling head scientist, fidgeted nervously beside him, adjusting his spectacles.
Charon reported, his voice reedy, "The airships are heading toward Veilstone City, Lord Cyrus. Mesprit and Azelf have been successfully secured from Lake Valor and Lake Verity. Both are intact and responding to preliminary energy readings."
Cyrus merely steepled his fingers, his gaze fixed on the shimmering image of the two Legendary Pokémon on the display. His face held no hint of triumph, only a cold, methodical satisfaction. He stated, his voice a low, modulated hum, "Excellent. Our next step is clear. We will proceed with the construction of the Red Chain. By using the powers of Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf, we will bend time and space to our will, and then… a new world."
Charon gulped, the sound almost lost in the faint hum of the building's machinery. However, he trailed off, his eyes darting to the empty third slot designated for Uxie on the holographic display, just above Azelf and Mesprit, "Ah, yes, Lord Cyrus. The Red Chain. A magnificent endeavor."
Cyrus's eyes, devoid of warmth, slowly turned to Charon. Cyrus said his voice was flat, but the undercurrent of dangerous displeasure was undeniable, "However, only two of the three Lake Pokémon have been captured. The one in Acuity Lake… Commander Jupiter has not returned. Nor have I received any communication from her."
Charon visibly flinched, shrinking under that gaze. His mind raced, connecting the dots. Jupiter's mission… the silence…
Charon stammered, his usual bravado completely absent, "It appears, Lord Cyrus… that Commander Jupiter may have… failed."
A muscle twitched in Cyrus's jaw. He turned back to the holographic display, his gaze not on the captured Legendaries, but on a space where Uxie should have been. He stated, his voice a low growl, "I can well surmise how she failed. That constant thorn in our side, Azure Sky, has once again thwarted our plans."
The name was spoken like a venomous epithet, a testament to the numerous times the young man had interfered with Team Galactic's machinations. Cyrus closed his eyes for a moment, an almost imperceptible tremor running through him – not of fear, but of suppressed rage. The boy was tenacious, skilled, and utterly unpredictable.
He had been a nuisance for too long. Cyrus finally said firmly, opening his eyes, their coldness returning with renewed intensity, "No matter—a temporary setback. The Lake Trio are merely tools. We will acquire the missing one."
He turned to Charon, his gaze piercing. He continued as he said coldly, "Saturn and Mars are to arrive tomorrow night. Upon their arrival, our next objective will be clear: Reclaim Uxie. At all costs."
Charon nodded furiously, sweat beading on his brow, and confirmed, "Yes, Lord Cyrus! At all costs! It shall be done!"
Cyrus merely stared at the empty slot on the holographic display, his mind already calculating new strategies, new contingencies. He would have his new world. And Azure Sky, or anyone else who stood in his way, would be crushed.
Till then, they had to wait. But Cyrus's patience, like his emotions, was a finite and rapidly diminishing resource.
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!