Chapter 642: Castelia Park (1)
~Hilda W. POV~
[Unova Region, Next Day, Castelia City – Castelia Park]
Let me tell you something about the Castelia Sewers. If anyone ever tries to tell you that taking a shortcut beneath the bustling, glittering capital of Unova is a "charming architectural experience," do not believe them.
I am the President of the BW Agency. My life revolves around lighting, acoustics, pristine agency floorboards, and the sweet-tinged scent of theatrical makeup. The sewers smelled like wet pavement, despair, and discarded Max Revives left by sloppy trainers.
*Whoosh—fwoom*
The heavy, metallic stench of the Castelia Sewers clung to the fabric of my coat like a ghost we couldn't exorcise, even after we finally hauled ourselves up the rusted iron ladder. My nose wrinkled in sheer, unadulterated disgust.
I brushed at my sleeves, desperately trying to rid myself of the damp, echoing memories of Grimer tracks and murky sludge. I muttered, crossing my arms as I stepped out into the blinding sun, "I swear, if my boots are permanently ruined, Azure is footing the bill for a brand-new designer pair. Agency funds or not."
Azure's voice rang out, effortlessly bright, carrying that infuriatingly breezy confidence of a Trainer who'd done a lot in his experience, yet still looked like he belonged on the cover of a fashion magazine, "Aw, come on, White! Where's your sense of urban exploration?"
He adjusted the strap of his bag, his shoulder-perched Pikachu giving a cheerful "Pika-pi!" while his Eevee nudged against his messy hair. He added cheekily with an eager grin, "Besides, look where we ended up. You can't put a price on a hidden ecosystem right in the middle of a concrete jungle."
I blinked, my complaints dying in my throat as I looked around.
We weren't in the cramped, grimy alleys or the towering, sterile glass canyons of Castelia City anymore. Instead, we were standing in the lush, sun-dappled expanse of Castelia Park. Towering, ancient-looking trees canopied overhead, filtering the harsh Unovan sunlight into dancing golden flecks upon emerald-green grass.
Wild Pokémon—Pansage, Cottonee, and Pidoves—fluttered and scuttled through the underbrush, completely unbothered by the distant, muffled hum of the metropolis just beyond the tree line. Other trainers dotted the landscape, engaged in friendly matches, their Pokémon kicking up dust and laughter.
I breathed out, genuinely astonished. I muttered, "A park... hidden right in the heart of Castelia? I didn't know this place existed?"
As the President and CEO of the BW Agency, I pride myself on knowing the ins and outs of this city—every venue, every billboard, every potential casting ground. Yet this oasis had completely eluded me.
Azure chuckled, walking ahead with his hands casually stuffed in his pockets, explaining himself, "That's because people stick to the paved roads. Always search for the hidden routes. That's where the real stories are."
His shadow hitched, and a sleek, grinning, midnight-purple shape detached itself from his heels. Azure's Gengar materialised with a silent, teasing chuckle, her red eyes gleaming with mischief. True to his word, the group didn't waste any time. The presence of other trainers and wild Pokémon acted like a lightning rod for our competitive streak.
Crispin and Amary from Blueberry Academy, the fiery future Gym Leader Roxie, and Paldea's unstoppable Elite Four Nemona immediately scattered to find challengers. Black, naturally, had already sprinted off toward a distant grove with his Tepig (Tep), Eevee (Vee), and Mightyena (Mighty), muttering something fierce about training regimens and regional competition.
Which left me.
I looked down at my belt. Resting there were two Poké Balls: one containing Gigi, my spirited Tepig, and the other holding Vivi, my sweet, ever-curious Eevee. Ever since Azure and Black had drilled the basics of battling into me back in Striaton City, I'd transitioned from a pure showbiz executive to a reluctant, yet surprisingly invested, Trainer.
And more importantly, Gigi loved it. The spark of battle burned bright in my starter's eyes every time she stepped onto a field. I sighed, offering a small, fond smile as I unclipped both balls and released them, "Alright, you two. Come on out!"
*Flash—Flash*
Gigi squealed, immediately stamping her little hooves into the soft dirt and puffing a small ring of smoke from her snout, her fighting spirit instantly ignited, "Pig-tepig!"
Vivi trotted up beside her, shaking out her cream-colored ruff and offering a cute, encouraging chirp, "Vee-vui!"
For the next hour, Castelia Park became our private studio. It was merely practice for me and joy for my Pokémon as I saw them battle. We sparred against passing rookie trainers, practicing timing, evasion, and basic elemental commands.
I barked orders—sometimes clumsily, earning a gentle tease from Azure—but my tactical mind, usually reserved for scheduling talent and managing studio budgets, quickly adapted to the rhythm of combat. Gigi executed a crisp, fiery Ember that sent a rival's Patrat scurrying into the grass, prompting me to clap my hands in triumph.
I could see genuine joy seen in Gigi's expression. It made my heart ache, seeing how I hadn't seen this side of her before, shaking my head as I knew I was trying to change. And seeing my partner's joy is worth the effort of going through with this.
Phew...
I panted, wiping a stray bead of sweat from my forehead as I sank onto a smooth wooden bench beneath a grand oak, "Okay, let's take a break! You two did amazing."
Gigi happily trotted over, her curly tail wagging a mile a minute, eager to keep playing. Vivi hopped up onto the bench beside me, nuzzling my arm with a soft, affectionate mewl, looking entirely too adorable to belong to a battle-hardened team. I laughed, scratching behind Vivi's long, silky ears. While we rested, a rustling in the dense patch of tall grass beside the bench caught my attention.
*Rustle—Snap*
I froze, half-expecting a wild Venipede or a territorial Trubbish. Instead, a round, pale-blue shape poked its head out. It had a white, cream-colored belly, large, innocent eyes, and a bouncy, orb-like tail.
A wild Marill.
It tilted its head, blinking up at us. Gigi and Vivi didn't even flinch; instead, Gigi let out a friendly snort, and Vivi let out an inviting chirp. To my utter shock, the wild Marill didn't bolt. It waddled right out of the grass, hopped forward with a cheerful squeak, and began circling my two Pokémon, splashing a tiny droplet of water from its tail to draw playful patterns in the dirt.
My eyes widened. Is it... playing with them?
*Pop*
I gasped, nearly falling backward off the bench as Azure's Gengar suddenly phased right through the trunk of the oak tree, materializing upside-down inches from my face with a booming, ghostly cackle, "Whoa—!"
Gengar rasped, her voice echoing right inside my skull like stereo speakers, "Ke-hehehe! The little blue bouncy ball said she thinks your showbiz is fascinating!"
I blinked, my brain stuttering to catch up. Then I asked, confused, "My... my showbiz? What are you talking about?"
Before Gengar could elaborate, the Marill puffed out its chest, letting out a rapid-fire sequence of bubbly chirps and animated gestures, pointing excitedly toward the edge of the park where the towering skyscrapers of Castelia loomed. In the distance, massive digital Jumbotron screens flashed vibrant, colorful advertisements for upcoming BW Agency musicals and talent showcases.
Gengar grinned wide, translating with theatrical flair. She explained in an enthusiastic tone, "She wandered off earlier and saw those big glowing screens out there in the city! She saw your face on the billboards, human! She says she's never seen a human who could battle with such fiery grit and still shine like a literal superstar on a stage. She wants that life. She wants to be a star! A Super Star!"
A deep, embarrassed flush crept up from my collar all the way to the tips of my ears. My jaw dropped. Me? A wild Pokémon... noticed my agency's work? And respects my dual life as a Trainer and a producer?
Never in all my years of scouting talent—from the grandest theatres of Nimbasa to the neon-lit alleys of Castelia—had I ever expected to recruit a passionate, stage-struck Marill in the middle of a public park. I whispered, looking down at the Marill, completely disarmed, "You... you really think I'm a star?"
Gigi and Vivi exchanged a slow, knowing look.
The two partners rolled their eyes in perfect unison, as if to say, 'Here she goes again, getting all emotional over validation.'
Then, they looked at each other and nodded.
Before I could even draw breath, Gigi sprang into action. With a burst of surprising agility, the little Tepig vaulted off the ground, snagging my belt loop, plucked my empty, unused Poké Ball right off its clasp, and tossed it high into the air toward Vivi!
*WHACK*
Vivi barked sharply. With a swift, acrobatic twist, Vivi swung her tail like a baseball bat—WHACK—slamming the sphere directly downward. "Vee!"
*Thwack*
The Poké Ball struck the startled Marill squarely on the head. A flash of red light consumed the bouncy water-type, sucking her inside the capsule in a blink.
*Wobble*
*Wobble*
*Click*
The light went dark.
I sat completely frozen on the bench, my mouth hanging open, my eyes darting from the motionless Poké Ball on the grass to Gigi, who was dusting off her hooves with a smug little grin, and Vivi, who sat down and licked her paw nonchalantly. I shrieked, jumping to my feet, my hands flailing in sheer disbelief, "Wh—What?! How—how did my own Pokémon just catch a wild Pokémon for me?! Is this a hostile corporate takeover?!"
Gengar doubled over in mid-air, clutching her spectral stomach as she roared with laughter, rolling around on an invisible wave of psychic energy, "Gahahahaha!"
*Click-shing*
Before I could process the absurdity of my own team playing matchmaker, the Poké Ball popped open on its own. A flash of white light materialized the Marill, who landed gracefully on her feet, chirping happily and pumping her tiny fists in the air, completely thrilled with her new employment status.
I let out a long, exhausted, defeated sigh and ran a hand down my face. I looked down at the bubbly Pokémon, who was already staring up at me with starry-eyed adoration. I muttered, a reluctant, fond smile finally breaking through my exasperation, "Unbelievable…"
I knelt and extended a hand to pat the newest addition to the BW Agency roster. With a helpless grin, I said to my new Pokémon, "Well... welcome to the team, Marill. Let's... let's call you Marina. Try not to let Gigi and Vivi boss you around too much, okay?"
She cheered, happily nuzzling my palm, "Mar-mar!"
/////
~Hilbert B. POV~
[Unova Region, Meanwhile, Castelia City – Castelia Park]
*Thwack*
I barked, wiping a bead of sweat from my forehead, "Focus, Tep! Watch the footwork! If you drop your guard against a rolling tackle, you're toast!"
I had broken away from the group to get some real, uninterrupted training in. Castelia Park was crawling with wild Pokémon, and with the Unova League heating up, I couldn't afford to fall behind.
The competition this year was absurdly stacked. Not only did we have Nemona bringing her hyper-intense Paldean battle style over, but we also had those arrogant snobs from Blueberry Academy—Crispin and Amary—flexing their specialized training. And worst of all, every time I closed my eyes, I could still picture that snarky grandson of Ghetsis... wait, no, Alder! Benga Alder's arrogant little brat back in Striaton City, sneering and declaring he'd walk through the League to become Champion.
Like hell he will, I thought, my fists clenching so hard my knuckles popped. I've been dreaming about the Champion's throne for nine years. 9 years of studying, analyzing, and sweating over strategy while he was probably napping on a pile of Pecha berries!
Beside me, Tep let out a fierce, determined grunt, flames licking at the edges of his snout, and Vee, my Eevee, flanked us on either side, their eyes scanning the dense treeline, acting as my protection. Suddenly, the sharp sound of a Pokémon battle echoed from a clearing deeper in the grove.
*Thud—CRACK*
"Sawk! Use Low Sweep!"
"Duck! Now hit back with Scratch!"
*Bam*
I crept forward through the ferns, parting the emerald leaves to catch a glimpse of the action. A local trainer—some kid in a backwards cap—was desperately trying to command a bulky, muscular blue Swak. Opposite them stood a wild Scraggy.
And man, let me tell you, that Scraggy was a menace.
I stood in a quiet, densely wooded clearing near the northern edge of Castelia Park, my arms crossed tightly over my chest, watching a frantic battle unfold a few yards away. A frantic, sweating rookie trainer was desperately trying to command his muscular Sawk against a wild, leather-skinned Pokémon that moved with arrogant, fluid grace.
The wild Pokémon was a Scraggy—a pint-sized brawler wearing its own oversized, molted skin like a baggy pair of sagging denim pants. With a lazy, contemptuous yawn, the Scraggy effortlessly ducked the Sawk's martial arts sweep, spun on its heel, and delivered a devastating, high-velocity Headbutt right into the Fighting-type's midsection.
*BOOM*
The Sawk didn't come back up fainting. The rookie groaned, clutching his head in sheer frustration muttered, "Aw, man! Not again!"
Without waiting to recall his fainted partner properly, the panicked trainer grabbed his bag, turned on his heel, and bolted away through the trees, leaving a trail of kicked-up dust. The Scraggy didn't even chase him.
It simply scoffed, adjusted its loose, pants-like skin around its waist with a tiny, clawed hand, and immediately went right back to shadow-boxing against a sturdy oak trunk. Punch, punch, kick. Its dedication was absolute. Its focus was iron-clad.
*Bdmp*
My pulse spiked. Oh, now that is attitude.
My eyes narrowed, a slow predatory grin spreading across my face.
Now that… is a fighter.
My mind raced, grabbing data from my mental catalog. Ever since the Grand Meteor Delta incident back in Hoenn—where Azure and his cosmic-level crew blew a giant space rock to smithereens—energy ripples had washed across the entire planet. Unprecedented phenomena, including ancient Mega Evolutions, had started surfacing for various Pokémon species.
And if memory served me right from my late-night tactical readings, Dark-Type Elite Four member Grimsily possessed a terrifying, powerhouse Mega Scrafty. Currently, my team had potential, but outside of Tep, I lacked heavy-hitting flexibility for the late-game stages. If I wanted options to crush every single rival standing between me and the title, a Scraggy with that kind of grit was exactly what I needed.
And this Scraggy fit the bill to absolute perfection. I called out, uncrossing my arms and stepping directly into the clearing, "Hey! Shed-head!"
The Scraggy stopped its shadowboxing, turning its hooded, yellowish-brown head toward me. Its heavy-lidded eyes narrowed into an expression of open, supreme mockery. It didn't look threatened; it looked like it was daring me to waste its time.
I said, stepping closer, my blood beginning to pump with that familiar, fiery heat that always drove my obsession, "You think you're tough, huh? You just humiliated a trained Sawk without breaking a sweat. But you're wasting your talent punching trees in a public park. How about a real challenge?"
Scraggy let out a harsh, rasping snort, crossing its tiny arms inside its sagging skin-pants and spitting a glob of disdain onto the grass, "Scra-a-ag!"
I unclipped a Poké Ball from my belt and tossed it forward...
I declared in a confident tone, "You want a piece of me? Fine. Let's see if your bite matches your attitude… Mighty, let's go!"
*Flash*
Mightyena materialized in a burst of white light, its dark, canine fur bristling, baring its sharp fangs as it let out a low, echoing snarl, "Grrr... ruff!"
Scraggy didn't flinch. In fact, as Mightyena stepped forward, a heavy, oppressive wave of dark energy rippled off the wild Fighting/Dark-type, washing over the clearing like a sudden drop in barometric pressure.
*Fwump*
Mightyena suddenly stumbled, its ears pinning back as a heavy lethargy locked into its muscles. I thought, my eyes widening in realization, seeing Mighty's Attack power... it dropped by -1 Attack stage!
Scraggy's Hidden Ability... Intimidate!
Even before being caught, this wild Pokémon possessed a natural, predatory aura strong enough to suppress a trained predator like Mightyena right out of the gate. That wasn't just raw talent; that was veteran-level battle presence.
I shouted urgently, the pressure of my daily training regimens with Nemona, Crispin, Roxie, Azure, and Amary flashing through my mind: "Don't let it shake you, Mighty! Shake it off! Use Bite!"
We'd pushed past limits on mountains and in sewers; a little psychological pressure wasn't going to stop us now. Mightyena shook its massive head, growling low in its throat as it surged forward, its jaws snapping shut with dark, crushing energy.
Scraggy didn't dodge. It met Mightyena head-on, ducking beneath the lunging bite with terrifying speed and delivering a vicious, counter-attacking Low Kick right to Mightyena's foreleg...
*CRACK*
I kept focus and ordered, "Mighty, recover! Use Iron Tail!"
The battle exploded into a blur of motion. Dirt flew, grass tore, and the air crackled with kinetic energy. Scraggy was slippery, fast, and hit with a brutal, street-fighting efficiency. Every time Mightyena tried to pin it down, Scraggy used its loose, elastic skin-shedding armor to absorb the impact and slip right out of our grip.
I need to test its limits, I thought, my eyes locking onto Scraggy's movements. If it's going to evolve into a Scrafty worthy of Mega Evolution, it needs to handle raw elemental pressure. I roared, "Mighty! Switch up! Hit it with Fire Fang!"
*Hisss—CRUNCH*
Mightyena's fangs ignited with blistering, orange-red flames as it snapped forward. Scraggy tried to sidestep, but we'd anticipated the dodge.
I ordered instantly, "Now, Thunder Fang!"
The flames vanished, replaced instantly by crackling, yellow arcs of electricity as Mightyena whipped its head around with blinding speed.
*ZAP—CRUNCH*
I shouted, "And finish with Ice Fang!"
Before Scraggy could recover from the electrical shock, Mightyena's jaw snapped shut a third time, frost blooming instantly across Scraggy's leather-tough hide.
*CRACKLE—CRUNCH*
The triple elemental combo hit the wild Pokémon like a freight train, sending Scraggy skidding backward across the dirt, tumbling through the grass until it came to a halt against the roots of a massive elm tree. Silence descended on the clearing, save for the heavy panting of Mightyena and the rustle of leaves overhead.
For a second, nobody moved.
Then, the Scraggy groaned, slowly pushing itself up off the ground. Frost melted from its skin in tiny droplets of water, and burn marks singed its loose-fitting pants. It was battered, bruised, and thoroughly exhausted—yet as it looked up at me, its heavy-lidded eyes didn't hold anger or defeat.
Instead, there was a strange, burning spark of respect.
The Scraggy let out a long, wheezing sigh, sliding its baggy skin back into place with a tired tug of its claw. It didn't try to run away. It just stood there, looking at me, waiting. I walked over, stopping a few feet away, a fierce, confident smirk playing on my lips.
I pulled an empty Poké Ball from my belt and tapped it lightly against my palm. I said firmly, my voice dropping into a firm, unyielding promise, "You're strong. You've got the grit, the attitude, and the toughness to go all the way to the top. Stay with me, and I'll make you a powerhouse. I'll make you a Scrafty that the entire Unova League will fear."
Scraggy stared at the Poké Ball, then up at me. After a long, silent moment, it gave a slow, deliberate nod, stepped forward, and lightly pressed its forehead against the red button of the capsule.
*Click*
The red beam flashed, drawing the shedding Pokémon inside.
*Wobble*
*Wobble*
*Click*
I stood in the quiet shade of Castelia Park, catching my breath as I clipped the newly weighted Poké Ball securely to my belt. A fierce, unshakeable determination settled deep within my chest. That's two down, I thought, turning my gaze toward the glittering skyscrapers of the city beyond the trees. Let the rest of them bring their best. I'm going to be Champion.
And nobody—not Azure, not the Elite Four, and certainly not Alder's arrogant grandson—is going to stop me. Holding the Poké Ball in my hand. I smiled, giving my new guy a nickname, "Let's call you… Scraft for when you become a Scrafty. How about it?"
*Wiggle-Wiggle*
The Poké Ball shook. I'll take that as a yes.
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!
Sidenote: I've also had Black and White names be Hilda White and Hilbert Black in case you guys were wondering whose POV you were reading.