Chapter 514: Mural and Assailant (2)
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Celestic Town]
Cyrus stood ten feet away. He wasn't angry. He wasn't even annoyed. He was there, like an inevitable force of nature.
Azure stepped in front of the boys, his eyes locking onto Cyrus. He bluntly stated, "The camera stays with us, Cyrus. Your tour of the ruins is over."
Cyrus said neutrally, acknowledging him for the first time, "Azure Sky… A champion of three leagues. The Frontier Conqueror. Rainbow Hero. You play the role of the knight for a girl who doesn't understand the tragedy of her own mortality. You are an anomaly in this world's equation. A variable that needs... correction."
Cyrus reached for a Poké Ball on his belt, but it wasn't a standard one. It was a Master Ball he brought up.
Cyrus commanded, "Probopass, Mini-Noses…"
*Wooosh*
The small components of Probopass detached, flying like guided missiles toward Diamond's Munchlax. Azure didn't reach for a Poké Ball. He gestured to his Pikachu as he yelled, "Arcanine, Pikachu! Dragonite, go! Extreme Speed!"
*POP*
The two massive Pokémon materialized in a burst of light. Arcanine, a majestic beast of orange fur and fire, and Dragonite, a powerhouse of draconic muscle, became nothing more than blurs of gold and orange.
They aimed to intercept the Mini-Noses and strike Cyrus directly. Pikachu joined with them using their speed as the three Pokémon became blurs of gold and orange, streaks of light aimed directly at Cyrus to end the confrontation before it escalated…
*POP*
… Cyrus's Master Ball opened…
*THWACK*
*THWACK*
*THWACK*
The attack never hit.
The sound of three distinct, heavy impacts echoed through the area—the sound of heavy, unyielding impact. A shockwave of air blasted the dust away, and Azure's eyes widened in genuine shock.
*CRACK*
Arcanine, Pikachu, and Dragonite weren't hitting Cyrus. They were flying backward, hitting the stone walls with enough force to crack the granite.
The three had shocked expressions. His Dragonite and Arcanine were reeling back, their attacks parried by something that hadn't been there a second ago…
*Whip*
Standing in front of Cyrus was a creature that shouldn't have been there. It was a muscular, cloud-dwelling entity with a tail resembling a spotted serpent. Its skin was the color of rich earth, and its eyes burned with a terrifying, ancient power.
Azure whispered, his breath hitching, "Landorus…"
Azure breathed, his knowledge of the Unovan legends—and their Hisuian roots—flooding his mind as he asked in disbelief, "How... how do you have the Great Abundance Pokémon? What is a Legend from Unova doing in your hands?"
Cyrus remained expressionless, though there was a dark glint in his eye as he explained, " Sinnoh was once Hisuian. In the time of Hisui, there were tales of the Forces of Nature. They commanded the earth, the sky, the thunder…"
Cyrus's voice dropped an octave, dripping with disdain, "And the fourth... the Herald of Spring. Creatures of myth, bound now to a higher purpose."
Landorus let out a roar that shook the very foundation of the town, "LANNN!!!!"
*WOOOOSH*
With a single sweep of its massive arm, it generated a surge of raw, tectonic energy. Azure's Arcanine tried to brace itself, but the sheer strength of the legendary Pokémon sent it skidding back against the stone wall.
Azure realized, his gaze falling on Landorus's eyes, "He's controlling them…"
They weren't the cold eyes of Cyrus; they were eyes full of sorrow and a deep, burning disdain for the man standing behind them. It was a captive Legend. Cyrus said coldly, "I have no more time for you… I do not wish to reveal my full defenses before the time is right. But since you insist on being an obstacle..."
Cyrus reached into his coat and produced a second Master Ball. With a flick of his wrist, he stated, "Consider this a small gift."
*POP*
From the red light emerged a beast of volcano and of blazing fire and unyielding power. A massive, lion-like creature with a smoke-grey mane and a body that radiated the heat of a mantle as it roared, "ROAAAARRR!!!"
From it emerged the Legendary Pokémon: Entei, the Legendary Fire Beast. The Volcano Pokémon. Azure's eyes widened further in recognition.
The magnificent beast roared, its mane rippling like fire, but its eyes, like Landorus's, held a flicker of resistance, a deep-seated contempt that belied its controlled movements, "ROOOOAR!!! (YOU CUR!!!)"
Azure gasped in a saddened tone, "Entei… so that's where you were…"
The legendary fire-type let out a long, low growl, "Grrrr… (I'm sorry, Rainbow Hero… but I can't control… myself…)"
It looked at Azure, then at Arcanine, and for a brief second, Azure saw a flicker of apology in its eyes before its body ignited in a pillar of white-hot flame…
*HISSSSS*
Cyrus ordered coldly, "Distract them."
*BOOOOM*
Entei charged into a roaring fire. Swiftly, Azure knew he had to act.
He wasn't just a Pokémon trainer; he was a master strategist, a former champion. Every fiber of his being screamed to protect the others as he shouted orders, "Scizor! Eevee, into Flareon! Arcanine, back up! We're dealing with Entei!"
*POP*
*FLASH*
In a rapid sequence of flashes, Azure's metallic-red Scizor materialized, its mighty pincers gleaming. His Eevee, with a burst of fiery energy, transformed into a sleek, agile Flareon, its fur flaring with the power of Flash Fire.
Arcanine, recovering from Landorus's attack, stood ready, its own Flash Fire ability glowing. The three experienced Pokémon braced themselves, preparing to face the Legendary Entei.
Meanwhile, Landorus, eyes still burning with a strange mix of power and resentment, hovered menacingly. Azure commanded, his voice sharp and decisive, "Pikachu, Magnet Rise! Then Fly! Gengar, Levitate to assist! Dragonite, you're up!"
*Zzzzzt*
Pikachu, recovering with incredible speed, activated Magnet Rise, hovering in the air, then shot upwards with Fly, becoming a tiny, agile missile. From his shadow, Azure's Gengar phased into existence, its Levitate ability making it weightless.
*FWP*
Dragonite, with a powerful beat of its sturdy wings, soared into the sky, joining Pikachu and Gengar, ready to engage Landorus in an aerial battle of epic proportions. The town's center became a chaotic battlefield of legends and champions.
*BOOOM*
*HISSSSS*
*KRA-BOOOOM*
As Azure's Pokémon engaged the two legendary behemoths, the air filled with the clash of elemental attacks and the roar of powerful beasts. Azure shouted over the roars of chaos, "We must ground Landorus! Gengar, use Will-O-Wisp to cut his physical power!"
*WOOOSH*
Landorus swung a massive fist, but Gengar phased through the attack. Then cackling as it let loose a stream of ghostly violet flames!
*HISSS*
Landorus roared in frustration, the burn seeping into its rocky hide, but it didn't slow down, "LANNNNN!!! (Come and stop me, young ones! DO YOU BEST!!)"
*WOOOOOSH*
With a wave of its hand, a Sandstorm erupted in the center of town, and the stinging grit blinded Diamond and Pearl. The Sandstorm tornado locked Azure and his Pokémon, fighting the two Legendaries with his team.
*WHIRLLLLL*
The very earth seemed to quake as a fierce, swirling vortex of sand erupted around Azure's side. Propelled by Landorus's immense power, the sandstorm grew, quickly escalating into a raging sand tornado that effectively trapped Azure and his Pokémon in the middle of town, just outside the ruins.
The air grew thick and gritty, visibility dropping to zero.
*HISSSSS*
Amid the swirling sand and fire, Azure watched Entei. The beast moved with a grace that was painful to watch—it was being piloted like a machine.
It launched a Fire Blast, but Arcanine intercepted it, absorbing the flames into its own coat, its muscles bulging as its power spiked. Azure commanded, "Now, Arcanine! Strong Style Extreme Speed!"
*BOOOOM*
The two fire-types collided, a miniature sun erupting in the center of Celestic Town. The shockwave knocked Diamond and Pearl off their feet. Azure, pinned between the fury of Landorus and the heat of Entei, gritted his teeth.
He looked at his Pokémon—they were top-tier, champions, but they were fighting beings that were literal forces of existence, and they were fighting to protect, while Cyrus fought only to take. Azure's attention, now divided and desperate, was fully focused on defeating the two Legendaries in front of him, to break them free from Cyrus's control, while his other Pokémon struggled against the relentless sandstorm.
And within Cyrus's shadow, his own Darkrai observed cautiously, eyeing Azure and his Darkrai intently with helpless thoughts, 'So this is the hero of this world. I just wish I could tell them to break our jails to free us… but I can't be due to this foul human's damned command over me! Damn it!!'
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Celestic Town (Pearl & Dia's Side)]
Meanwhile, with Azure and his powerful Pokémon completely distracted by the legendary onslaught, Cyrus turned his attention back to the matter at hand. Cyrus, however, stood perfectly still in the eye of the storm.
His face remained a mask of calm detachment, the chaos raging around Azure seemingly an irrelevant sideshow. He wasn't watching the battle of the gods. He was looking at Diamond, who was still clutching the camera.
Cyrus, seeing Azure fully distracted by the dual legendary assault, turned his attention back to them, a cold, calculating glint in his eyes. Cyrus ordered, his voice cutting through the distant roar of the sandstorm, "Probopass, Mini-Noses. Retrieve the camera."
*Woooosh*
Again, the Mini-Noses detached, zipping towards Diamond's Lax. They poked and prodded at the massive Munchlax, which still held the camera with remarkable tenacity. Lax merely grunted, its vast stomach rumbling.
The Mini-Noses, however, dislodged something else. A cascade of various berries—Oran, Sitrus, Pecha—tumbled from Lax's fur and belly, bouncing merrily on the ground.
Lax, ever the glutton, blinked at the sudden bounty. It then let out a defiant belch, a soft taunt at the Mini-Noses that had failed to achieve their objective, "Munch! Lax! (Ha! You took my berry supplies, fools – Wait… NOOOOO!!!)"
The Mini-Noses, frustrated, bumped into Lax again, eliciting a shower of even more berries. Diamond exclaimed, a flash of amusement momentarily eclipsing his fear, "Oh, no, Lax! You forgot you had those!"
Cyrus sighed, a sound of mild annoyance. He commanded in a cold tone, "Magnezone. Magnetic Field."
*VWWOOOMMM*
Magnezone's body shimmered, expanding its inherent magnetic field. The air around them suddenly crackled with unseen force. All metallic objects within a wide radius began to hum, vibrating, then yanking free from their moorings.
Poké Balls, Pearl's and Diamond's Pokédexes, even the metallic studs on their clothes, flew, pulled inexorably towards Magnezone. Cyrus's own camera, having been plucked from Lax's grasp, joined the swirling vortex of metal.
Even the metallic veins just beneath the ground surface reacted, causing faint tremors. Lax let out a surprised squeak as the camera was wrenched from its paw, flying towards Magnezone, "Lax?! (Oh no!!)"
*Woooosh*
*Fwp*
But just as it was almost within the Pokémon's grasp, a flash of blue and gold zipped past. Chatler, Pearl's Chatot, with a squawk of triumph, snatched the camera out of the air with its foot, its small wings beating furiously, "Sqwack! No way, José!"
Pearl shouted, his voice hoarse with urgency, "Chatler, fly! Get out of here!"
Diamond watched, a strange warmth spreading through his chest. Pearl was siding with him! Rooting for his plan!
Diamond said, stunned, a genuine smile breaking through his fear, "Pearl... you really do have my back!"
Pearl snapped, though a faint blush crept onto his cheeks exclaimed, "Don't get sentimental, you big lug!"
Pearl added, his gaze meeting Diamond's, unexpectedly serious, "I just wanted to show my willpower! And besides, I can tell you really want to protect that camera. My emotions are telling me it's important."
In that moment, the often-bickering comedians shared a rare, unspoken understanding. Together, they were ready. Ready to protect that camera.
Cyrus, witnessing this unexpected show of bravado, merely narrowed his eyes as he uttered, "Probopass. Gravity."
*THWUMP*
A wave of oppressive force descended from Probopass. Chatler, mid-flight, suddenly felt as if an invisible hand had yanked it downwards.
Its wings flailed uselessly against the overwhelming pull, and with a desperate squawk, it plummeted to the ground, the camera still clutched in its talons, "Squawk! Call the medic! Call the back-up! Squawk!"
Cyrus watched the small bird hit the earth and slowly turned his gaze back to the boys. He muttered, his voice echoing in a cold tone, "How utterly trivial… this conflict. A petty squabble over a device, while we stand on the holy ground of Celestic Town, whose legend has been passed for ages."
His eyes, usually devoid of expression, gleam with a strange intensity. Cyrus continued, raising his arms, encompassing the vast expanse of the sky, "You should look at the world from a higher point. A more profound perspective. I am Cyrus. And my goal is to create an ideal world, a world without conflicts, without the petty emotions that cloud judgment and breed misery. To achieve this, I seek a mysterious power, one that transcends human understanding."
He lowered his arms, his gaze fixed on Pearl and Diamond as he asked, "Will you search for it as well? You are, I'll admit, remarkably gutsy."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips as he added, "In fact, I am impressed by your willpower and your emotions. These are precisely the qualities I want to see from my subordinates."
Pearl's breath hitched. The pieces clicked into place. Cyrus wasn't just a random villain. He was recruiting. He wanted them to join his organization.
To help him create this 'better world'.
But what Pearl saw was an opportunity as he asked cautiously, "… Are you asking us to join your cause…?"
Cyrus made a fake grin as he answered resolutely, "That's right! I need your youthful energy to create this new world! Just let go of the camera…"
They locked eyes as Pearl slowly nodded. Pearl demanded, his voice firm, his eyes locked with Cyrus's, "Lift the Gravity off Chatler."
Cyrus regarded him for a moment, then gave a slight nod, "As you wish."
*Whump*
The oppressive force around Chatler vanished. The Chatot, still shaken, scrambled to its feet, the camera still in its possession.
Pearl said, his voice quiet but resolute, "Chatler… Do it."
With a defiant cry, Chatler raised the camera high, then slammed it down onto the ground as it used Peck!
*CRACK-SMASH*
The camera shattered, rendered utterly useless. Pearl looked directly at Cyrus, his expression unyielding. His message was clear: he refused. Diamond was surprised as Cyrus's frown deepened.
He would never join an organization that would seek to control, suppress will, or destroy the very world it claimed to be improving. Pearl resolutely declared, "And that… is my answer."
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Meanwhile, Celestic Town's Airspace]
*FWP*
Meanwhile, high above the skies, unnoticed by the unfolding drama below, a magnificent Moltres soared. On its back sat Leaf Green, Kanto's Dex Holder, Azure's girlfriend, and a formidable member of the International Police.
Her Moltres felt the shift in the atmosphere before she saw it. The air turned heavy, charged with the presence of 'The Others.' Her eyes, usually sparkling with life, were narrowed, fixed on the unnatural sandstorm raging over Celestic Town.
Green asked, her eyes narrowing, "Moltres, what is it?"
*WHIRLLLL*
She saw the sandstorm beginning to swirl in the center of the town below. The commotion, the clashing energies, the sheer intensity emanating from below... her instincts, honed by years of battling and investigating, screamed at her.
Below, the scene was chaos. Green watched everything unfold before her to the camera's shattering. She saw the look on Cyrus's face—not anger, but a fleeting moment of cold observation.
Something was terribly, terribly wrong. And she had a feeling her boyfriend was right in the thick of it.
Her Moltres let out a cry, its flames flickering as it felt the presence of Entei below, "Screee!!! (I detect a familiar presence… Entei?!)"
Green whispered into her comms, her eyes fixed on the man in the 'G' suit, "International Police, Leaf Green, arriving on site, Looker. Target identified. But God... Azure, what have you gotten yourself into?"
She looked at the boys standing defiantly against the man with the Master Balls. She saw Platinum huddled with the grandmother, watching with a mixture of terror and pride. Green murmured, her hand tightening on Moltres's neck, "Those juniors down there… they're a lot stronger than you think..."
The air, even at this altitude, felt thick with psychic energy and elemental forces. The wind over Celestic Town howled, carrying the scent of smoke, and the unbreakable spirit of children who refused to let the world go silent.
She spotted the black car, the figures entering the ruins, and the struggle that seemed to be taking place. Her heart pounded, a primal instinct urging her to descend, to intervene. But her training held her back.
She was here for reconnaissance. For now, she chose to wait, to observe the unfolding events. Her gaze, sharp and unwavering, kept a vigilant watch, ready to dive into the fray the moment intervention became necessary.
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!