Chapter 550: How I got my Pokémon Banned…
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Battle Zone – Battle Castle]
Azure took the Castle Pring, its cool metal a tangible representation of his achievement. He carefully slotted it into his VS. Recorder, joining the collection of his other hard-earned Frontier symbols.
It was then that Caitlin, the enigmatic Battle Chatelaine, stepped forward from her ornate throne. Her presence commanded attention; she was an ethereal figure, draped in elegant white, her deep indigo hair cascading around her.
Her eyes, usually pools of serene wisdom, held a flicker of something new as she gazed at Azure. Her voice was a soft, melodious whisper, yet it resonated through the vast hall, "Azure Sky. I confess, I find myself… captivated."
Her gaze intensified, a knowing glint in her eyes as she added, "Not merely by your exceptional skill as a trainer, which is undeniable, but by your… resolve. There is a steel within you, a quiet determination that is truly admirable."
She paused, a delicate hand rising to her chin, stating, "You bring a certain… excitement to these halls."
Darach, standing respectfully beside her, offered a polite nod, a faint, proud smile on his face. He was accustomed to Caitlin's infrequent but profound pronouncements. But then, an unsettling shift occurred.
*FSH-FSHO-FSH*
Caitlin's exquisite features began to alter. Her eyes, which had been so sharp and perceptive, slowly became blank, distant, as if staring into an unseen realm. Her lips parted, and a single word escaped, whispered at first, then gaining a strange, hungry intensity.
She murmured, "Fight… Fight… fight… I want to… fight."
As the word repeated, a tangible energy seemed to coalesce around her. Her long hair, previously flowing smoothly, began to stir, then rise, strands lifting as if caught in an unseen current, defying gravity. It framed her face in a wild, disheveled halo, giving her an almost unhinged, crazy appearance. The serene Chatelaine had vanished, replaced by a creature of raw, untamed desire.
A gasp rippled through the few spectators who had remained, most of whom had already begun discreetly making their way out, sensing the uneasy shift in atmosphere. Even Darach blanched, a tremor of fear passing through his usually stoic frame.
He moved swiftly, gracefully, to stand between Caitlin and Azure. He interjected quickly, his voice laced with concern, "Chatelaine Caitlin! Perhaps… it is tea time, Chatelaine. Or perhaps a delightful television program? There is a special on the Sinnoh Gourmet show tonight."
Darach's words, gentle yet firm, seemed to slowly pull Caitlin back from the precipice. The rising energy around her subsided, and her hair, after a final, defiant tremor, gradually settled back into place.
*Fssssh*
Her eyes regained a semblance of their former focus, though a lingering intensity remained. She repeated, her voice returning to its melodic tone, though still containing a hint of the strange fervor, "Tea… and a show."
Darach let out a silent, almost imperceptible sigh of relief. He knew this side of Caitlin all too well. He, too, transformed into a different person when engaged in a battle, becoming sharper, more cunning, fully immersed in the tactical dance.
But his transformation was nothing compared to Caitlin's. Her secret, one he guarded fiercely, was the terrifying truth of her expanding Psychic abilities. These powers were inextricably linked to her emotions, especially her explosive temper.
A loss, a moment of intense frustration, could unleash a torrent of uncontrolled psychic energy capable of immense destruction. It was precisely this volatile power that prompted Darach to act as her proxy in battles, shielding the world, and indeed Caitlin herself, from the potential catastrophe.
Azure, however, had watched the entire spectacle unfold with an unnerving calm. Pikachu had merely blinked, Eevee tilted its head, and Pichu (Mew) merely gave a small yawn from inside Azure's jacket. Now, Azure tilted his head, his gaze direct and unwavering as he looked past Darach to Caitlin.
Azure stated bluntly, his voice cutting through the lingering tension, "You're a Psychic, but you have horrible control."
Darach froze. His eyes widened in horror, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow. He shot a frantic, silent glance at Azure, pleading with him to retract the statement. This was the one truth he had painstakingly kept hidden!
Caitlin, surprisingly, seemed utterly unbothered. A faint smile, one of genuine interest, touched her lips. She didn't deny it, didn't react with anger. Instead, that distant, focused look returned to her eyes.
And to Darach's utter dread, Azure then agreed. He offered, shrugging slightly, "A quick battle, then?"
Caitlin froze again, a statuesque figure, her eyes wide. She muttered, the word a soft echo of her earlier frenzy, "Battle…"
*FWOSSSSH*
Slowly, inexorably, her hair began to rise once more, forming that wild, frantic halo around her head. A wide, almost manic smile stretched across her face, transforming her ethereal beauty into something truly unsettling.
The air around her pulsed with barely contained psychic energy...
Darach exclaimed, his voice hushed but urgent, filled with genuine alarm, "Azure Sky, what are you doing?!"
He mused internally, concerned about giving Azure the stink eye, causing this scene to unfold, 'The Battle Castle was expensive to repair! Please back out now! You have no idea what you're dealing with!'
Azure merely shrugged again, completely unfazed. He said calmly, holding up a single finger, "I've faced worse. One versus one. Simple rules."
Caitlin's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with a newfound, terrifying delight. She repeated, her voice filled with a crazy, joyful enthusiasm, "One versus one… Yes! Darach, you will be the referee!"
Darach, looking utterly defeated and deeply concerned for the structural integrity of his beloved Battle Castle, could only nod solemnly. He knew there was no talking her out of it now.
They took their places on the elevated platforms opposite each other, the majestic battle arena, now empty of spectators, stretching between them. Caitlin, with a flourish that belied her manic excitement, tossed a Poké Ball into the air.
She declared maniacally, "Gothitelle!"
*POP*
A pale purple Pokémon, elegant and mysterious, materialized mid-air before alighting gracefully onto the field. Its flowing, dark body was adorned with star-like patterns, and its intense, focused eyes seemed to gaze into the very fabric of time. A faint, dark aura shimmered around it, revealing the presence of its held item: a [Life Orb], a risky choice that amplified its power at the cost of its health.
Azure grinned, a spark of challenge in his eyes. He commanded, "Alright, then. Let's send in the star. Gengar! You're up!"
Gengar appeared, floating mischievously above the arena floor. The shiny Gengar, its body a ghostly black, looked down at its trainer, then at Gothitelle. It had been in the middle of enjoying a juice box, and upon its sudden summoning, it spat out a mouthful of purple liquid in surprise, "Phthhhht! The heck, boss?!"
She wiped her mouth with a spectral hand, then grinned, her sharp teeth glinting. But seeing the psychic girl with a maniac grin, she grinned, seeing this, and agreed, "Oh? Duty calls, eh? Heheheh!"
Azure chuckled, "Hah! Indeed, it does."
Gengar, still grinning, put a ghostly hand into its own mouth, seeming to search for something. For a moment, she looked puzzled, then her eyes lit up mischievously. It stuck out its long, purple tongue, and there, nestled safely on its tongue like a peculiar jewel, was a shimmering, dark purple stone: its [Gengarite].
*THWUMP*
As Gengar readied itself, a palpable surge of energy emanated from Caitlin. It was a raw, unseen force, a tempest of psychic power that seemed to ripple through the air, making the very ground beneath them hum….
*HUMMM*
This profound energy poured into her Gothitelle, causing the Pokémon's aura to intensify, its eyes glowing with an alarming, amplified power. The arena seemed to darken subtly, the air growing heavy and charged.
[Caitlin has boosted her Pokémon via Psychic Booster!]
[Gothitelle has her Sp. Attack and Sp. Def boosted by +2 Stages!]
Azure blinked, reading this as he thought, 'So that's how it works. This might put up a decent warm-up.'
Darach, standing at the side as the reluctant referee, visibly sweated. He kept one anxious eye on Caitlin, whose crazy smile was now fixed, her hair still slightly rebellious. But when he glanced at Azure, his eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Azure stood there, utterly unperturbed, with a casual confidence in his posture. Pikachu merely watched with unblinking curiosity, Eevee yawned delicately, and Pichu (Mew) had nestled deeper into Azure's jacket, seemingly having decided the unfolding drama was a comfortable lullaby.
None of them seemed remotely affected by the oppressive psychic pressure.
Darach's voice, though firm, held a noticeable tremor, "T-Trainers, begin!"
Caitlin commanded, her voice sharp and eager, "Gothitelle, Psychic!"
*WHOOSH*
Gothitelle's eyes flared, and the air around Gengar shimmered violently. A colossal, unseen force slammed into the white ghost, aiming to crush it. Azure's command was swift, his tone calm, "Gengar, Strong Style Shadow Ball, straight through it!"
Gengar, with a wicked grin, quickly conjured a swirling orb of dark energy between its hands. Instead of dodging, it launched the Strong Style Shadow Ball directly into the incoming Psychic wave!
*CRACKLE—POOF*
The two attacks collided head-on, creating a localized burst of distorted light and shadow, cancelling each other out in a puff of smoke.
Gengar taunted, its voice raspy and gleeful, "Heheheh! Nice try, lady!"
Caitlin's next command was rapid, "Focus, Gothitelle! Future Sight!"
*SHIII*
Gothitelle's body glowed faintly, and a ripple of energy spread out from it, disappearing into the fabric of the arena. This was a delayed attack, a prediction of future damage. Gengar tilted its head, momentarily intrigued.
Azure countered, knowing Future Sight would land eventually, "Don't let up, Gengar! Dazzling Gleam!"
*SHIMMER*
Gengar's hands glowed with brilliant, multi-colored light. It unleashed a blinding wave of fairy energy that surged towards Gothitelle.
Caitlin commanded, her eyes narrowed, "Light Screen!"
*SHIII—PANG*
Gothitelle, with minimal movement, erected a transparent barrier of light before it, just as Dazzling Gleam struck. The fairy-type attack was absorbed, its power significantly diminished. The barrier, however, still pulsed, a testament to the attack's strength. Azure instructed, "Nasty Plot, Gengar. Then Sludge Bomb!"
Gengar's eyes glowed with malevolent energy as it plotted its next move, its special attack stat sharply rising. She cackled, then conjured a glob of viscous, purple sludge, "Time for some real fun!"
*SPLORCH*
With a powerful flick of its wrist, it hurled the Sludge Bomb at Gothitelle!
Caitlin's voice was sharp, "Dodge and Thunderbolt!"
*CRACKLE-ZAP*
Gothitelle, surprisingly nimble despite its elegant appearance, phased slightly to the side, narrowly avoiding the noxious projectile. Almost instantaneously, lightning crackled around its body, and a bolt of pure electricity shot forth, striking Gengar directly.
Gengar let out a grunt of surprise, but its ghostly form absorbed much of the damage. She shook her head, a faint buzz lingering.
Gengar taunted naughtily, "Ooh! Spicy!"
*THWUMP*
Caitlin's smile grew wider, the psychic energy around her intensifying. Her inner excitement was boiling over, manifesting as a shimmering heat haze above the arena as she said excitedly in a confident tone, "Your resolve is admirable, but let us see if your Pokémon can withstand the power of true foresight!"
Azure's voice was calm, "It's show time, Gengar!"
*Click*
He touched the Omni-Ring on his wrist, the Mega Evolution Emblem glowing vibrantly. He raised his arm to the air, roaring, "Unleash your true power! Mega Evolve!"
*FLASH*
The Omni-Ring pulsed, and a brilliant beam of light erupted from it, engulfing Gengar. The air crackled with raw energy, swirling around the ghost Pokémon. It twisted and distorted, morphing into a larger, more menacing form. Where once it was black, now its body has become a spectral white, its lower half sinking into the ground, grounding it to the spiritual plane. Its eyes, now a vibrant red, burned with an eerie intensity.
Darach inadvertently announced, his voice filled with awe and renewed apprehension, "MEGA GENGAR!"
Mega Gengar let out a deep, guttural chuckle. But she grumbled good-naturedly, then her red eyes snapped back to Gothitelle, now filled with a focused, predatory gleam, "Ugh, still hate this white shiny look for my Mega Form. But a job's a job!"
*THWUMP—CRACK*
The psychic pressure from Caitlin surged, now a palpable wave, pushing against the very structure of the Battle Castle. Cracks began to spiderweb across the arena floor as her excitement and engagement reached new heights.
Her wild smile was now radiant, almost beatific in its madness. The very air shimmered with her unbridled power. Yet, Azure remained unconcerned, even letting out a casual yawn, as if the escalating chaos was merely background noise. Pikachu, Eevee, and Pichu (Mew) continued to watch, their expressions unchanged. Caitlin commanded, her voice barely containing her glee, "Gothitelle, calm yourself. Psychic!"
*Thwump*
Mega Gengar, rooted to the spot, seemed to absorb the incoming Psychic attack, barely flinching. She cackled at the attack as she announced boldly, "Heheheh! My turn now, lady! Focus Blast!"
*KABOOOM*
Mega Gengar's hands gathered glowing blue energy, rapidly forming it into a colossal orb. With a mighty roar, it launched the incandescent sphere towards Gothitelle!
Caitlin yelled, her eyes flashing, "Trick Room!"
*WZZZZZT*
Gothitelle, despite the imminent danger, focused its psychic energy. The arena warped, distorting spatial dimensions around it. The Focus Blast, normally swift, seemed to slow down dramatically as it entered the distorted zone, giving Gothitelle just enough time to side-step it, though the sheer force of the explosion still sent ripples through its body. The Trick Room was set, reversing the speed order for five turns.
Gengar cackled at the Trick Room, admiring her play, but cackled, stating, "Oh, a speed swap, eh? Clever! But I'm a ghost, dear! I don't care about your silly speed tricks! Time to blow this box! Shadow Ball again, mighty one!"
*SHIIII*
Mega Gengar conjured another, even larger Shadow Ball, its aura pulsating with dark energy. It hurled it with immense force towards Gothitelle, who now, under Trick Room, was deceptively faster due to its naturally low speed.
Caitlin screamed, practically vibrating with excitement, "Energy Ball! Block it!"
Her hair was now fully upright, a maelstrom of indigo around her head, and her eyes burned with an almost insane joy. She was completely lost in the battle, her psychic power surging out of control, causing light fixtures to crack and ancient tapestries to ripple erratically on the walls. Gothitelle fired a vibrant green Energy Ball, but Mega Gengar's Shadow Ball, charged with the power of the Distortion World itself, was too potent…
*VWOOSH—CRASH*
The Energy Ball exploded harmlessly as the Shadow Ball tore through it, continuing its trajectory toward Gothitelle!
Caitlin managed, her voice strained as she fought to maintain control of her Pokémon and her own surging power, "Teleport!"
*SWF*
Gothitelle vanished an instant before the Shadow Ball struck, reappearing several feet away, panting heavily. The [Life Orb] was starting to take its toll, and the near miss had shaken it. Gengar mocked with her arms crossed with a confident grin, "Heheheh! Quick one, aren't ya? But you can't escape the inevitable!"
Caitlin's roar was almost inhuman, her voice reverberating with pure psychic force, "Psychic! Full power!"
*RUMBLE*
The entire Battle Castle groaned under the strain, fine dust beginning to rain down from the ceiling. A visible, purple aura of pure psychic energy erupted from Caitlin, flowing like a river of raw power directly into Gothitelle, pushing the Pokémon beyond its limits. Gothitelle's eyes blazed, and a massive, crushing wave of psychic force slammed into Mega Gengar.
*KRAKOOM*
The very air shrieked.
Mega Gengar, despite being partially rooted, was pushed back slightly, a faint reddish gleam surrounding it as it resisted the immense pressure. She conceded, shaking its spectral head, "Ngh! Alright, that was a good one. But it's not enough!"
Azure's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of his deeper focus emerging. He saw the uncontrolled surge of power, the potential for disaster. He ordered, "End this, Gengar! Strong Style Giant Shadow Ball! Full power!"
*CRACKLE*
Mega Gengar let out a terrifying, guttural roar that seemed to tear through the fabric of reality. It began to draw in all the ambient dark energy, the shadows themselves, into a single, titanic orb. The Shadow Ball that formed was colossal, easily twice Gengar's size, pulsating with malevolent power, crackling with dark lightning. The air around it grew cold, heavy, as if the void itself was opening. It was not merely an attack; it was a manifestation of pure darkness.
Caitlin, however, was in a euphoric trance of battle. Her eyes were wide, unseeing, her smile stretched to its limit. She was screaming now, her voice raw, empowered by her runaway psychic abilities, "Gothitelle! Psybeam! Give it everything you have! Show them the true power of a Psychic!"
*PEWWWW-BOOOOOOM*
Gothitelle, pushed beyond its physical and mental limits by Caitlin's commanding psychic flood, became a conduit for pure psychic fury. Its body became a beacon of crackling psychic power, and it unleashed a torrent of purple energy, a concentrated beam that tore across the arena towards the incoming Giant Shadow Ball.
*BOOOOOM*
The collision was cataclysmic. Dark energy met pure electricity in a blinding maelstrom of light and shadow. A concussion wave ripped through the arena, sending dust and debris flying. The sound was deafening, a prolonged THUNDEROUS ROAR that vibrated through the very bones of the Battle Castle.
It was a fireworks-like display on a terrifying scale, a spectacle of raw, untamed power that illuminated the entire hall in flashes of purple, black, and a searing kaleidoscope rainbow. The impact created a vast cloud of smoke and steam that billowed upwards, obscuring the entire battlefield.
Azure shielded his eyes slightly, but his expression remained calm. Pikachu and Eevee merely braced themselves against his body. Pichu (Mew) merely snuggled deeper, unbazed. Darach, however, was openly gasping, his hands clenched, his heart pounding against his ribs, fearing the inevitable destruction.
*Crack*
Slowly, agonizingly, the smoke began to dissipate, revealing the aftermath. The arena floor was scorched and cracked; several of the ornate pillars supporting the ceiling now sported gaping fissures.
In the center, Mega Gengar floated, still in its powerful form, chest heaving slightly, a faint shimmer of dark energy still lingering around it. Her red eyes were sharp, focused on her opponent.
And lying on the scorched earth before it, unmoving, was Gothitelle. Its eyes were closed, its body faintly twitching…
It had fainted.
A hush fell over the devastated arena.
Even Caitlin, whose psychic power had begun to recede as abruptly as it had surged, was silent. Her wild smile slowly faded, her hair gently settling. She stared at the fainted Gothitelle, then at Mega Gengar, then back at Gothitelle.
She froze.
The casual, almost effortless way Azure and Mega Gengar had defeated her, even with her power surging, had stunned her into utter silence. Her mouth was slightly agape, her eyes wide with bewilderment and a strange, unfamiliar emotion.
*Flash*
Mega Gengar, with a final, satisfied chuckle, began to shimmer, reverting to her ghostly black form. She grumbled, shaking her head, "Finally! Back to normal. Hate that white body. Makes me look like an El Blanco Gengar!"
Azure, as if nothing particularly momentous had occurred, simply turned to leave, Pikachu stretching on his shoulder, Eevee preening on his head. He said casually, beginning to walk away, "Good battle, Caitlin. You've got potential, but you really need to work on-"
"REMATCH!"
*CRACK—CRUNCH*
The single word erupted from Caitlin, a primal scream of frustration and fury. The air around her violently distorted, shattering what remained of the nearby light fixtures. A powerful, unseen force slammed against the arena walls, causing more cracks to appear with loud CRUNCHES that could be heard!
Darach winced, closing his eyes, knowing this was precisely the explosive power he dreaded. Her hair shot straight up again, a tempest of indigo, and her eyes, no longer blank, blazed with an incandescent fury as she yelled, "I demand a rematch! A full battle! You will not defeat me so casually!"
Azure paused, a faint sigh escaping his lips. He slowly turned back, his expression neutral. He stated, his voice calm amidst the psychic storm, "Only if you offer me a reward of my choosing, should I win."
Caitlin's enraged expression morphed into a crazed grin. She agreed as she said confidently, "Agreed! Prepare yourself, Azure Sky! A full six-on-six battle! And this time, there will be no holding back!"
Azure sighed again, a deeper, more resigned sound. He knew exactly how this would end as he thought, 'Sigh… I have better things to do than play with a spoiled, powered psychic brat. Welp… time for the fabled Darkrai sweep.'
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Nighttime, Battle Zone – Resort Area (Villa)]
The scene shifted, the setting sun painting the Sinnoh Resort Area in hues of orange and purple. Azure relaxed in the lavish comfort of his new Villa, a sprawling, elegantly furnished residence that overlooked the tranquil waters of the resort.
He had won it just hours ago, a prize from his decisive rematch against Caitlin. That battle, a full six-on-six, had been a clean sweep, ending with Azure's mythical Darkrai, a creature of pure shadow and nightmare, utterly dominating Caitlin's remaining Pokémon.
The reward, offered by a still furious but now defeated Caitlin, had been a place, fully stocked for the next few days. It just so happened to be her own personal villa, which she had wagered and lost in her explosive rage. Gengar, now contentedly floating beside Azure, nibbling on a Poffin, let out a delighted cackle, "Oh, that was evil! Using a high-level mythical Dark-type against a Psychic specialist! Heheheh!"
She clutched its ghostly belly, writhing with mirth, wiping a tear off her face, said happily, "Her face when Dark Void put her final Pokémon to sleep, followed by Dream Eater… the tantrum was glorious! Absolutely glorious!"
Gengar then broke into a full-blown, maniacal cackle, rolling around the room, bumping harmlessly into the expensive furniture, echoing with its ghostly laughter. Azure chuckled, a genuine laugh escaping him, and added, "She definitely won't be forgetting that lesson in humility anytime soon."
Darach, however, was certainly not his biggest fan now. The Battle Castle, already battered from their earlier 3-on-3, had faced the full brunt of Caitlin's six-on-six defeat. The psychic fallout had been catastrophic.
Darach had relayed a terse message after the battle, "The Battle Castle looks as though it was attacked by a rogue meteor shower, Azure. We are… banning Darkrai from future Frontier battles."
Azure hadn't seemed to mind. He felt he had adequately 'taught that girl her place' in battle, a sentiment Gengar wholeheartedly shared.
For now, the battles were over, and it was time for rest. Azure surveyed his team, who were enjoying their own well-deserved supper.
He smiled, praising them. He addressed the trio who had defeated Darach in the Battle Castle, "Magmortar, Froslass, Gallade. You all performed excellently at the Battle Castle. Truly remarkable."
Magmortar puffed out its chest, a satisfied ROOOAR rumbling from its core. Froslass floated gracefully, a delicate blush on her icy cheeks, while Gallade bowed its head in humble pride. Their joy was palpable, a testament to their bond with Azure.
Azure leaned back, sipping on a warm cup of tea. He mused curiously aloud, half to himself, half to his present companions, Pikachu, Eevee, and Pichu (Mew), "It's interesting, the connections between them all. The Gym Leaders, the Elite Four, and the Frontier Brains… they're all powerful trainers, each with their own unique challenges and philosophies."
Gengar, still recovering from its fit of laughter, floated back over. She asked curiously, recovering from her laughing fit, "So, who's next on the list, boss? More screaming psychics? Or perhaps a giant clown?"
Azure grinned, a spark of anticipation in his eyes. He shook his head as he replied to his next target, "Neither, Gengar. The Battle Arcade is next. I hear its Frontier Brain has a unique approach to battle."
With that, Azure finished feeding his team, ensuring they were well-rested and prepared. He then settled down, ready to enjoy the luxurious comforts of his newly acquired villa to the fullest, eager for the challenges that the Sinnoh Battle Frontier still held.
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!