Chapter 465: Foreboding Trouble
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Later, Cycling Road's Southern Gate]
The scent of a Stunky's spray was a powerful, galvanizing force. It was a physical thing, a miasmic wave that seemed to cling to the very air molecules in the waiting room above the Cycling Road's southern gate, turning them greasy and foul.
Azure was the epicenter. Perched on his shoulder was a Pikachu whose ears drooped with disdain, nestled on his head was an Eevee whose nose was wrinkled in a silent snarl, and a Pichu (Mew) trembled inside his jacket, its tiny nose twitching in protest.
They were the source. The residual stench of a territorial Stunky they'd encountered on the route here had clung to them with a stubborn, offensive persistence.
Across the small, utilitarian room, the other occupants were suffering. Diamond, a young man with a perpetually optimistic and slightly confused expression, held his nose with two fingers, his Munchlax, Lax, mimicking him with a low groan.
Pearl, his companion, was less subtle, waving a hand dramatically in front of his face. He complained loudly, "It's like a garbage fire died in here and then came back to life as a ghost!"
Even Platinum, the stoic heir to the Berlitz family, showed a crack in her composure. Her normally placid face was tight, her elegant posture slightly stiff as she subtly leaned away from the source.
The door to the waiting room slid open, and a receptionist stepped in. Her professional smile faltered the moment she crossed the threshold, her nose visibly crinkling and her eyes watering.
She approached the group, her posture ramrod straight as if to minimize her exposure to the air. She said, her voice strained, "Pardon the intrusion… We couldn't help but notice... well, your... aroma."
She gestured vaguely in their direction as she continued, "For the comfort of all our patrons, and for your own, we highly recommend you utilize the bathing facilities on the floor above. Swimwear will be provided."
Pearl let out a huff of laughter as he muttered under his breath, "That's a polite way of saying 'you guys reek, go wash'!"
Azure, who had been silent until now, gave a slow, deliberate nod. His voice was a low, steady baritone that cut through the room's tension, "The Stunky's spray is potent. It would be unwise to proceed like this."
He wasn't just thinking of the discomfort; a strong scent could easily give away their position during their objective, but he also thought, 'Plus, I don't think I can stand another second longer with this stench!!!'
Platinum, however, saw this as an opportunity for more than just hygiene. She turned her gaze to the receptionist, her expression one of regal command, "A commendable suggestion. We accept. In addition…"
She continued, her tone leaving no room for argument, "Please arrange for a full-body massage and a back scrub. The journey has been taxing."
The receptionist's eyes widened, her jaw nearly dropping. She had expected them to grumble and accept a simple wash, not make demands like royalty at a spa. But the Berlitz name carried weight, and the sheer audacity of the request, delivered with such unshakeable confidence, left her momentarily speechless.
She simply nodded, bowed stiffly, and retreated from the room as quickly as she could, likely to consult a manager. Pearl asked, incredulous, "A massage? Now?"
Platinum stated matter-of-factly, as if discussing the weather, "Stress management is a crucial component of any expedition. And we are currently at an impasse due to our... olfactory disadvantage."
Azure didn't argue. He understood the value of maintaining peak physical and mental condition.
He rose smoothly to his feet, the small electric mouse on his shoulder shifting its balance, the fox-like Pokémon on his head digging its claws in slightly as he uttered, "Let's go. We could use a bath before the long road ahead."
They headed upstairs to the designated bathing area. The facilities were surprisingly luxurious for a gate building on a cycling route. The air was warm and steamy, scented with clean eucalyptus and lavender, a blessed relief from the stench below.
In the main bathing chamber, large, stone-lined pools were fed by natural hot springs. Azure, Diamond, and Pearl stripped down and settled into the steaming water, the intense heat seeping into their weary muscles.
Pikachu and Eevee, after a moment's hesitation, hopped onto the edge of the pool, dipping their paws in and chattering happily. Pichu (Mew), wrapped in a small, waterproof towel Azure had procured, floated on a rubber ring, looking utterly content.
The transformation was remarkable. The stench was gone, replaced by the clean, earthy scent of the springs.
Diamond sighed in bliss, sinking until the water lapped at his chin, and uttered, "Ahhh, this is the life. I thought my nose was going to fall off."
Pearl agreed, splashing water onto his face with a cheerful voice, "Tell me about it. I could taste that Stunky smell."
He then perked up, a mischievous glint in his eye. He gestured towards Azure as he asked excitedly in a determined voice, "Hey, Diamond! Let's practice some new material. The audience is right here!"
Diamond's face lit up. He cleared his throat dramatically, "Good idea! Ahem! So, a Pokémon walks into a Pokémon Center..."
Pearl cut him off, striking a pose, adding onto their joke, "And the Chansey says, 'We don't serve food here!'"
Diamond chuckled hearing that as he added, "No, no, you've got it wrong. The Pokémon says..."
Azure watched them with a placid expression, occasionally offering a small, almost imperceptible smile. He didn't speak, but his presence was a comforting, stable force as he enjoyed their comedy.
Pikachu occasionally chittered in what seemed like commentary, and Eevee tilted its head, seemingly trying to understand the odd humor. Pichu (Mew) just splashed its tiny hands in the water, oblivious.
They spent a good hour in the baths, the comedic routine continuing, punctuated by splashes and laughter. Platinum, meanwhile, had her own private session and emerged later, looking completely refreshed and immaculate, her dark hair perfectly styled once more.
After dressing, they reconvened in the main lobby. Diamond pushed open the large glass doors leading to the outside, and the sight that greeted them made him gasp.
He exclaimed, pointing, "Whoa, look!"
Pearl and Platinum followed his gaze. There, piercing the clear blue sky, was the majestic, snow-capped peak of Mt. Coronet.
It seemed deceptively close, a mere stone's throw away across the rolling hills and verdant plains of Sinnoh. Pearl asked, his voice filled with awe, "Is that it? It's right there! We must walk straight there, scale it, and we're at the top!"
Diamond nodded enthusiastically as he declared, "Yeah! We made it to the base of the mountain. All we must do now is climb!"
Platinum surveyed the peak with a critical eye as she stated in a determined voice, "The final leg of our journey. The materials I seek are located at the summit. It is said the air is thin and the spirit is tested."
Azure, who had been quietly observing the landscape, his hand resting gently on the Poké Ball at his belt, gave a single, firm nod as he said calmly, "The climb is the most dangerous part. We must remain vigilant."
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Later, Mt. Coronet]
Meanwhile, far above them, near a jagged cliff edge overlooking the path they had just been admiring, a man stood with his back to the wind. His hair was swept back, his sharp, angular features set in a permanent scowl.
Cyrus, the enigmatic and ruthless leader of Team Galactic, gazed down at the tiny figures emerging from the gate building below. He didn't recognize them as individuals, only as potential obstacles or, in one case, a possible key.
He had no time for distractions. The power hidden within Mt. Coronet was his true objective, a force he intended to harness to reshape the world, to purge it of the weakness and chaos of emotion.
He pulled two Luxury Balls from his belt. He muttered, his voice a low, chilling rasp that the wind snatched away. He tossed the balls into the air, "Your time is now… Magneton. Nosepass."
*POP*
The two Pokémon materialized in flashes of red light. The Magneton hummed with latent energy, its three magnets twitching. The Nosepass stood rigid, its compass-like nose pointed resolutely north.
They had been delivered to him by his commanders, raw materials for his grand design. Cyrus stated, his eyes fixed on the group below, "The mountain's energy is potent. Use it. Evolve. Then, remove them."
*FLASH*
As if in response to his command, the very air around the two Pokémon crackled. A torrent of electromagnetic energy erupted from the Magneton, its form elongating and hardening. With a sound like a thousand magnets snapping together, it reshaped itself into a large, floating Magnezone, its red eye glowing menacingly.
Beside it, the Nosepass groaned as its body expanded and hardened, its stony form growing into the massive, triangular body of a Probopass, its three smaller "noses" detaching and floating around it like satellites.
Cyrus watched the evolution with cold satisfaction. The power of this place was everything he had been told.
He raised a single, gloved finger and clicked it. The sound was sharp, a tiny punctuation in the vastness of the mountain air.
*SNAP*
*FLASH*
But it was the only signal his new Pokémon needed. From the Probopass, a blinding sphere of light—Flash—erupted, shooting down the cliff face like a meteor.
*FWOOMP*
It struck the ground directly in front of the trio and their companions, exploding in a wave of pure, white light that bleached the world of color and forced everyone to shield their eyes with a cry of surprise. The sound was a deafening FWOOMP!
*RMBL*
Simultaneously, the Magnezone unleashed a powerful tremor. The ground beneath the group didn't just shake; it split. A jagged, earthen chasm opened with a tremendous groan, the sound of grinding rock and snapping roots echoing through the valley.
The path was severed, the earth falling away into a dark abyss. Cyrus observed his handiwork from above, his expression unchanging. The obstacle was removed. He turned to leave, his coat billowing behind him…
*Wooosh*
But as he took a step, a flicker of unease, an almost imperceptible disturbance in the world's fabric, made him pause. He glanced back, his gaze sweeping over the dust cloud and the gaping chasm.
Something felt... off. A shadow that was deeper than it should have been. Shaking his head, he dismissed it as a trick of the light and continued his way, his new Pokémon following silently.
He was unaware that he had failed. He was also unaware of the true nature of the shadow that had been with Azure all along…
Cyrus walked with purpose. The air here was thin and cold, carrying the scent of ozone and ancient stone.
His communicator buzzed. He pressed the earpiece. A voice crackled, "Commander Saturn. Report."
Cyrus said coldly, his voice echoing in the mist, "The path has been cleared. The interference has been… dealt with. The Magnezone and Probopass proved effective. The mountain's energy is potent."
Saturn replied while explaining their dilemma, "Excellent. The funds from the Veilstone branch are still low, however. The scientific breakthroughs require heavy investment. I've been considering… alternative revenue streams."
Cyrus paused, looking back down the mountain toward the eastern exit. A cold feeling, like ice water down his spine, prickled at his senses. It was illogical, a lapse in his usually impeccable focus.
He had seen them fall. He had seen the earth consume them.
Logic dictated they were gone. Yet, he felt a lingering… presence…
Something dark. Something that didn't belong.
Cyrus, regaining his senses, said calmly, his voice dropping an octave, "Saturn. Ensure the project proceeds without hesitation. If there are loose ends… tie them up. I will be at the Spear Pillar shortly."
Saturn replied, "Understood, Commander."
The line died. Cyrus stared into the fog for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing. He shook the feeling off as he whispered, "It was nothing. Just the wind…"
He turned and continued his climb, leaving the mist to swallow his silhouette. Along the way, Cyrus's shadow grew with a single eye opened as it thought bitterly, 'Interesting… another of my kin is here. It must be the one that got away... how envious I am of my kin to be able to move freely...'
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Meanwhile, Mt. Coronet – Eastern Exit]
Back on the ground, as the ground split and the blinding light began to fade, the group was disoriented and falling. Pearl screamed, Diamond flailed, and Platinum's eyes were wide with shock.
Azure, however, remained outwardly calm. He had felt the attack coming a split second before it landed, a faint pressure against his senses.
As the earth gave way beneath his feet, he did not fall. Instead, he threw out his hand, not to grab onto anything, but to command, "Darkrai. Dark Void."
*WOOOSH*
From the long shadow cast by a nearby boulder, something detached itself. It was not a reflection, not an absence of light, but a being made of pure, living darkness materializing out of thin air..
It was a silhouette of a nightmare, with red, slitted eyes that glowed like embers in a dying fire. The creature, the Mythical Pokémon Darkrai, rose from the ground as if emerging from a pool of ink.
It did not make a sound. It simply opened its mouth and exhaled. The world dissolved into blackness…
*SHIII*
A sphere of absolute, silent darkness expanded from Darkrai, not with a roar, but with a profound, unsettling silence. It swallowed the chasm, the light, the dust, and the falling bodies of Azure's companions…
*SWF*
It was the Dark Void, a domain of nothingness where spatial laws ceased to exist. Just as quickly as it had appeared, the sphere contracted, pulling everything back into a single point…
*TMP*
When the light returned to the world, the chasm remained, but the group was gone. They reappeared not with a jolt, but with a gentle, disorienting sense of spatial displacement. The world rematerialized around them, the scent of pine and cold stone replacing the dust of the mountain pass.
They were standing on a rocky outcrop at the eastern exit of Mt. Coronet, a completely different location from where they had been moments before. The setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and purple. The air was crisp and cool.
Diamond blinked, looking around in confusion. He patted himself down muttering out loud, "Huh? How...? We were just... I'm not squished!"
Pearl was staring at the ground, then back in the direction they had come from. He spun around, his eyes wild as he was equally as confused, "We were falling! The ground just... opened up! How are we here?"
Platinum, however, was not looking at the scenery. Her sharp, intelligent eyes were fixed on the last figure to emerge from the dissipating shadows. Azure was standing calmly, his hand still outstretched.
As they watched, the dark, spectral form of Darkrai solidified for a moment more, its eyes meeting Platinum's for a fleeting second before it sank back into Azure's shadow, becoming one with it once more.
Platinum's breath hitched. Her usual composure shattered, replaced by sheer, unadulterated shock.
Her mind, a repository of vast scholarly knowledge, instantly supplied the information, 'The form. The shadowy nature. The association with nightmares and darkness. It was one of Sinnoh's most feared and mysterious Mythical Pokémon…'
She whispered, the name escaping her lips like a prayer of disbelief, "Darkrai…"
She took a step toward Azure, her voice rising with an intensity that finally caught the attention of Diamond and Pearl, "You... you have a Darkrai? A Mythical Pokémon? Why was I not informed? The Berlitz family's information network is supposed to be infallible! This is a matter of significant tactical and historical importance!"
Diamond and Pearl froze, their gazes snapping from Platinum to Azure, their expressions a mixture of awe and utter confusion.
Pearl echoed, his voice small, "A... Mythical?"
Azure finally lowered his arm. He slid his hands into his pockets, the picture of nonchalance. Pikachu hopped down from its shoulder to the ground, shaking its head as if to clear it. Eevee, still on his head, let out a small yawn. Pichu (Mew) poked its head out of its jacket, looking around with wide, curious eyes.
Azure said, his tone dismissive, as if they were discussing a particularly sturdy rock instead of a creature of myth, "Sorry, but they're just some things I won't share freely. Darkrai is a trump card if things get tough, but also one that I had no intention of giving you a safety net to rely on when you're still growing. That and he doesn't like other humans so much after his… previous Trainer."
He met Platinum's intense gaze without flinching as he finished, "But Darkrai gets the job done. Although…"
Internally, his mind was working on a different track, 'Magneton and Nosepass, evolving instantly. The precise, coordinated attack. The timing... that was Team Galactic. And the one who would give such orders... it had to be him. Cyrus.'
The name was a cold knot in his stomach. This was no longer a simple bodyguard job. The situation had just escalated dramatically.
Platinum seemed to want to press further, her scholarly instincts warring with the immediate reality of their situation. But before she could, Azure pointed behind them, stating, "The path is gone."
They turned. The way they had originally planned to enter the mountain, the winding trail leading to the main caverns, was completely blocked.
The ground had collapsed, forming an impassable landslide of rock and earth. Their way forward was barred.
Diamond's shoulders slumped disappointedly, "Oh, great. So, we're stuck."
Platinum said calmly, her composure slowly returning, though her eyes still flickered to Azure's shadow every few seconds, "Not necessarily. The eastern exit leads to a different network of caverns within the mountain. It will be a longer route, but it should still lead to the summit."
Pearl sighed dramatically. He flopped onto a nearby rock as he muttered, "More walking? After all that? I'm exhausted just thinking about it."
Platinum ignored him, her mind already calculating the new route. She let out a quiet, frustrated sigh.
This journey was proving to be far more complicated than the texts had led her to believe. But their goal remained unchanged.
Diamond said, clapping his hands together, trying to inject some energy back into the group, "Alright! East exit it is! Let's get moving before anything else weird happens!"
He gave a thumbs-up, a wide, slightly nervous grin on his face. The group, a strange assembly of a transmigrated hero, a wealthy scholar, and two aspiring comedians, turned their backs on the blocked path and the setting sun.
They began their new ascent into the heart of Mt. Coronet, unaware that a new, more immediate threat was already in motion, miles away in the heart of Veilstone City. Unaware to them, Azure's Darkrai pondered deeply inside his shadow, 'That presence… it feels like me… yet depressed… Is this the native of this region?'
Darkrai pondered deeply about this as it itself knew it wasn't native to the Sinnoh Region. It was the sworn guardian of the Shadow Crystal native to the Almia Region. Although it made a mental note to be wary of this region's Darkrai…
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Meanwhile, Veilstone City – Team Galactic HQ]
In the sterile, high-tech confines of his office within the Team Galactic Veilstone Building, Commander Saturn leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking softly. A half-finished report on energy readings from Mt. Coronet lay on his desk, but his attention was elsewhere.
He steepled his fingers, his sharp, intelligent eyes narrowed in thought. The operation to supply Cyrus with Pokémon for his experiments had been a success. The mountain's latent energy had accelerated their evolution perfectly.
But funding remained a constant, pressing issue. Their grand project required resources on an astronomical scale. He leaned back in his leather chair, steepling his fingers. Outside the window, the city lights twinkled, oblivious to the evil plotting within.
He pulled up a dossier on his computer screen. It displayed a list of wealthy families in Sinnoh. Saturn mused aloud to the empty room, "Project Galactic requires capital. And the Berlitz family is known for their… extensive wealth. A shame the heir is currently under protection."
He scrolled down the list, stopping on another name. Saturn smiled, a predatory gleam in his eyes, "However… There are other wealthy families with less… formidable bodyguards. A kidnapping for ransom would be a quick way to fund the energy absorption experiments. It is merely a matter of logistics. But kidnapping that brat will get us the cash instantly, as her family is the most influential in the Sinnoh Region…"
In the silence of the office, the only sound was the hum of the computer and the distant, unknowing laughter of the city outside. The stage was set for a confrontation that would shake the foundations of the Sinnoh region.
He picked up his datapad and began typing, his fingers flying across the screen. The plan was simple and elegant. Kidnap the heir. The ransom demanded would be more than enough to fund the next phase of their research.
A cold, calculating smile touched Saturn's lips. It was a distasteful necessity, but in the pursuit of a new, perfect world, such sacrifices were unavoidable. The project would move forward, with or without the consent of those they would step on to reach their goals.
/////
A/N: Hope you liked the chapter!
Also I hope you guys like the small twist if any of you guys figured out what Cyrus's did to Darkrai...