Chapter 49: Route 18
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Nighttime, Route 17 – Campsite]
*Crackle*
The crackling campfire cast dancing shadows on the weary faces of the assembled trainers. Azure, his face smudged with dirt and exhaustion, tended to his Pokémon.
Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, nibbled on a berry, its red cheeks glowing faintly in the firelight. Growlithe, basking in the warmth, let out a contented rumble.
Dragonair, coiled elegantly nearby, hummed a soft, melodic tune that seemed to soothe the air. Eevee, nestled close to Azure's leg, was fast asleep. Haunter, in its playful way, was spooking other campfire goers, while Scizor stood guard, its metallic claws gleaming in the firelight.
Routes 16 and 17 had been punishing. The constant battles, the relentless Wild Pokémon, and the sheer length of the watery causeways had taken their toll.
Tonight, however, was a night for rest and recuperation. Azure shared stories with other trainers, exchanging tips on navigating the routes and tales of challenging Pokémon encounters.
He learned of a particularly aggressive pack of Grimer and Muk lurking near the entrance to Route 18, information he tucked away for later. As the embers began to die down, Azure settled into his sleeping bag, his Pokémon surrounding him like a protective blanket.
He closed his eyes, the sounds of the night – rustling leaves, distant Pokémon cries, and the gentle lapping of waves – lulling him to sleep. Tomorrow, he would face Route 18 and the challenges that lay ahead, ultimately leading him to Fuchsia City and the Poison-type Gym Leader, Koga.
/////
[Kanto Region, Next Day, Route 17 – 18]
The morning dawned bright and clear, a welcome change from the previous days. Azure ate a quick breakfast, packed his bag, and addressed his team. Azure said, his voice filled with determination, "Alright, everyone. We've got Route 18 to conquer. Let's be careful, especially with those Grimer and Muk we heard about. We're one step closer to Fuchsia City!"
Pikachu squeaked in agreement, leaping onto Azure's shoulder. Growlithe let out a snort of fire, ready for action. Dragonair shimmered with anticipation.
Eevee, still a bit sleepy, rubbed against Azure's leg. Haunter giggled mischievously, disappearing into the shadows and reappearing behind a nearby tree. And Scizor cracked its claws, eager to battle.
The team set off, the sun warming their backs as they traversed the grassy path. Route 18 was surprisingly peaceful at first.
Wild Pidgey soared overhead, and gentle Bellsprout swayed in the breeze. Azure remained vigilant, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of trouble.
*Gurgle*
*Sloop*
Suddenly, the ground began to bubble and churn. A foul stench assaulted their nostrils as his mind was in full alert, 'Ah fuck here we go again.''
From the murky earth, a horde of Grimer and Muk emerged, their slimy bodies glistening in the sunlight. They were even more numerous and aggressive than he had anticipated as they roared out, "MUK! GRIMER!"
Azure shouted, grabbing a Poké Ball as he barked out commands, "Here they come! Growlithe, you're up! Use Ember!"
*Brrr*
Growlithe roared, unleashing a stream of scorching embers that struck several Grimer, causing them to recoil in pain. But the attack barely made a dent in their numbers.
More Grimer and Muk surged forward, their toxic sludge splattering on the ground. Azure commanded, "Scizor, Metal Claw!"
*Swooosh*
Scizor darted forward, its metallic claws slashing through the air, leaving deep gashes in the Grimer and Muk. But even Scizor was struggling against the sheer volume of opponents.
The Sludge Pokémon swarmed them, their toxic touch weakening Azure's team. Growlithe was beginning to tire, his flames flickering weakly. Scizor was covered in slimy sludge, hindering its movements.
Even the ever-vigilant Pikachu was struggling to dodge the incoming attacks. Azure realized they were in serious trouble. He needed to do something, and fast.
He recalled Growlithe and Scizor for some rest. He commanded Dragonair and Haunter swiftly as he yelled, "Dragonair, use Twister to get them away from us, then Haunter, use Shadow Ball!"
*Swooosh*
Dragonair let out a deafening cry and unleashed the powerful move, sending any Pokémon flying away from them. Haunter followed up with a barrage of shadow balls, launching at them.
As Azure frantically searched his bag for potions, he noticed Eevee trembling beside him. Usually playful and energetic, Eevee was now clearly terrified by the onslaught of Poison-type Pokémon.
The creature looked at Azure, its eyes filled with desperation. In that moment, something extraordinary happened. A surge of energy coursed through Eevee's body.
*Shiii*
Its fur began to shimmer and glow, its form rapidly changing. Azure gasped as he watched Eevee evolve. Its ears elongated, becoming sleek and pointed. Its fur turned a vibrant lavender, and a single ruby gem appeared on its forehead. Eevee had evolved into the Sun Pokémon Espeon.
Espeon let out a powerful cry, its psychic energy washing over the battlefield, "ESPEON!! ESPE!!!"
*WOOOSH*
The Grimer and Muk, startled by the sudden transformation, faltered in their attack. Azure shouted, his voice filled with renewed hope, "Espeon, use Confusion!"
*Shiii*
Espeon focused its psychic power, lifting several Grimer and Muk into the air. The Sludge Pokémon writhed and struggled, but Espeon's grip was too strong. With a flick of its head, Espeon sent the Grimer and Muk crashing into each other, creating a chaotic pile of slimy bodies.
*BAM*
The tide had turned. Espeon's Psychic attacks decimated the remaining Grimer and Muk, sending them scrambling back into the earth. Pikachu, invigorated by Espeon's power, unleashed a series of Thunderbolt attacks, finishing off any stragglers.
Haunter, seeing this, began to use Psychic to attack the Sludge Pokémon without mercy. Soon, the battlefield was silent, the air thick with the lingering stench of poison.
Azure knelt, his hand trembling as he reached out to Espeon. He said, his voice choked with emotion, "Eevee… Espeon… You were amazing!"
Espeon nuzzled against Azure, its lavender fur soft and warm. Azure could feel the psychic connection between them, a bond forged in the heat of battle. He knew that this evolution was more than just a transformation; it was a testament to the trust and friendship they shared.
With their opponents vanquished, Azure took a moment to heal his exhausted team. Pikachu had some minor injuries, so he gave him a little potion to heal him up. Dragonair and Haunter weren't too injured, thankfully.
Taking a moment to breathe, Espeon returned to Eevee as she barked happily, managing to evolve when it mattered. Rubbing her head, Azure smiled as he said happily, "Everybody rest up for a minute, then we make our way to Fuchsia City!"
Taking the moment to rest, Azure checked his Arc Phone. He looked up the info on Espeon data for him to learn.
[Espeon the Sun Pokémon. Espeon's velvety fur is so sensitive that it can sense minuscule shifts in the air, allowing it to predict the weather and its enemies' thoughts and movements. When doing so, the tip of its tail quivers.
The gem on Espeon's forehead glows when it unleashes psychic energy from the gem and darkens when all of the built-up energy has been exhausted. Espeon builds up its psychic power by bathing in the sunlight. As such, it does not handle battles at night well. Espeon is known to sleep deeply during the night.
Espeon shows extreme loyalty to any Trainer that it considers worthy, even being said to have awakened its psychic powers from its desire to protect its Trainer; some sources, however, theorize that its powers were born from its need to keep itself safe.]
Azure smiled lightly, reading the entry for Espeon as he rubbed Eevee's head, much to the Evolution Pokémon's joy. They continued their journey along Route 18, the encounter with the Grimer and Muk serving as a stark reminder of the dangers that lay ahead.
But Azure and his team were now stronger, more united than ever before. Espeon's evolution had not only turned the tide of battle but had also instilled a renewed sense of confidence in the entire team.
As they approached the outskirts of Fuchsia City, Azure could see the domed roof of the Gym in the distance. He knew that Koga, the Poison-type Gym Leader, would be a formidable opponent.
But with Espeon by his side, and the unwavering support of his team, Azure was ready to face any challenge. The sun began to set, casting long shadows across the path.
Azure paused, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. He looked at his Pokémon, their faces reflecting the warm glow of the setting sun as he said, his voice filled with determination, "We're almost there. Fuchsia City awaits. Let's go get that Gym Badge!"
Pikachu squeaked in agreement, leaping onto Azure's shoulder. Growlithe let out a snort of fire, ready for action. Dragonair shimmered with anticipation.
Eevee nuzzled against Azure's leg, its psychic energy pulsing with confidence. Haunter giggled mischievously, floating ahead to scout the way, and Scizor cracked its claws, eager to battle.
Together, Azure and his team marched towards Fuchsia City, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The road to becoming a Pokémon Master was long and arduous, but with courage, friendship, and a little bit of luck, Azure knew he could achieve his dreams.
/////
[Kanto Region, Meanwhile, Fuchsia City – Gym]
Meanwhile, as Azure and his team head towards Fuchsia City, inside the city, the Fuchsia Gym is having another issue. Inside the Gym Dojo lies the substitute Gym Leader of Fuchsia Gym, Janine, the daughter of Koga.
Janine lies in her meditation as one of the Ninja under Koga's command arrives to deliver the news in a stern tone, "Miss Janine. The Muk and Grimer were sent to capture Wild Pokémon to restock the loss from the Game Corner, which had been defeated. They returned to us injured."
Janine listened as she exhaled from her meditation, responding in a neutral tone, "Sigh… It's a shame, but we can't do anything drastic yet. My father left me in charge of the Gym while his doing his secret mission. From this point forward, we can't make ourselves known, having a connection to Team Rocket."
The Ninja bowed and kneeled, responding, "Yes, Miss Janine!"
*Wooosh*
The Ninja vanished instantly using a Ninja Art. Janine calmed herself as a purple, chiropteran Pokémon with a small, round body. It has long, pointed ears, yellow eyes with red pupils, and a small mouth that usually has its teeth bared. On its body are two pairs of wings: an upper pair that is slightly larger and a lower pair that developed from its hind legs.
Both pairs have green-blue membranes, but the lower pair's membranes are only visible from the back. The upper wings have two claw-like fingers near the middle. On the bottom of its body are what appear to be a pair of stubby feet or tufts of fur.
The Pokémon is shown to be Crobat perched over her shoulder as she muttered, "We must keep appearances. While Father is off on his mission, we must face any challenges of any challenger that appear from Crobat. We must show them the creeping horror of Poison-type Pokémon."
Crobat merely nodded with a smug grin, extending its wings, "Bat!"
Janine smirked but retained her training in meditation. While meditating, she thought in a determined tone, 'I won't let anyone take the Soul Badge. Unless they defeat me, they won't be winning anytime soon.'
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A/N: Quick update! The Boxes and Team Rotation currently for the MC's team have been updated, showing the current Pokémon he has for his Johto Team! Pikachu and Eevee are his bodyguards, so he has only 3 Pokémon for sure in his team!