Chapter 651: Manipulate Pokémon
~Third POV~
[Unova Region, Later, Castelia City – Breeder House]
The air in Castelia City carried the sharp, salt-kissed tang of the Unova harbor, mixed with the rich aroma of roasted street-vendor Casteliacones and the ambient hum of a million scurrying footsteps. Towering skyscrapers of glass and steel pierced the hazy blue sky, casting long, geometric shadows over the bustling plazas. Beneath this concrete canopy, however, lay quiet pockets of warmth.
Inside the sun-drenched, herbaceous halls of the Castelia Breeder House, the atmosphere was a stark contrast to the dizzying rush outside. Rows of polished enclosures, flourishing potted ferns, and the gentle murmur of healing machines set a peaceful stage.
Azure stood near the center of the room, adjusting his jacket collar as a faint clink echoed from his shoulder. Pikachu chirped, adjusting his tiny stance before rubbing his fuzzy cheek against Azure's jawline. "Pika-pi!"
Azure muttered with a low, amused chuckle, his eyes scanning the remaining enclosures, "Easy there, buddy."
Nestled comfortably on top of Azure's head, Eevee let out a soft, contented sigh, its fluffy tail swishing lazily back and forth like a pendulum. From inside the inner lining of Azure's jacket, a tiny, high-pitched squeak piped up, accompanied by a telepathic nudge brushing against the edge of his conscious mind: 'Is it time for snacks yet, Dad? This jacket pocket is getting a bit cramped with all these gadgets.'
Azure suppressed a grin, keeping his lips barely moving as he sent a mental reply to the disguised Mew masquerading as a Pichu, 'Hold on just a minute, Mew. We're finishing up an adoption drive, not a buffet.'
Azure said, turning his gaze toward the resident Bug-type Gym Leader who was leaning against a wooden counter nearby, "Honestly, Burgh. I didn't expect you to invite us all back here after dealing with that entire Team Plasma mess. Though, I suppose these little guys needed a safety net more than anyone."
Burgh adjusted his artist's beret, a sympathetic sigh escaping him. He explained the situation to them in a helpless tone, "Indeed, Azure. Team Plasma's rhetoric of 'liberation' left a lot of innocent Pokémon stranded. Some managed to find their way back to their original trainers, but the wild ones, and the ones abandoned because their trainers fell for the propaganda... they had nowhere to go. I'm just glad you, Black, White, and our visiting friends were here to help find them proper homes."
Around the room, the rest of the eclectic group was busy bonding with their new companions. The air was thick with the sounds of chirps, growls, and triumphant declarations.
*Bzzzt*
Across the aisle, Roxie grinned ear-to-ear, her spiked choker glinting under the lights as a small, purple, slug-like creature with a glowing yellow crest nuzzled against her boot. The Toxel let out a tiny static pop that made Roxie cackle. She said excitedly, eyeing her new partner, "Hell yeah! A Toxel! You and I are gonna make some heavy metal noise together, little guy!"
Crispin was currently wrestling with a cluster of six orange, interconnected sphere-Pokémon that were rolling around his ankles in a synchronized loop. Crispin yelled across the room, pointing a spatula-like finger, "Whoa, whoa, hold on, you guys! Easy with the spinning! Man, Skarmory's got nothing on you- wait, Amary got the Skarmory!"
Amary merely adjusted her glasses with an unimpressed, analytical look, watching the sleek, steel-feathered bird preen its razor-sharp wings inside an open-air enclosure. Amary noted coolly, though a slight twitch of her lips betrayed her satisfaction, "It requires high-maintenance care and specialized mineral diets… A logical acquisition for my tactical team."
Nearby, Drayton lazily chewed on a piece of straw, his eyes half-closed as a small, sandy-brown Pokémon with massive, shovel-like jaws dug a miniature crater right into the facility's designated indoor sandbox. The Trapinch grunted, tossing a clump of dirt onto Drayton's shoe cried out, "Trap-pi!"
Drayton didn't even flinch. He said lazily, liking the little guy, "Yeah, yeah, whatever. You've got attitude, kid. Let's see if you're as lazy as I am."
Iris cheered, pumping her fists in the air while a stout, bipedal dinosaur-like Pokémon with a natural helmet of iron scales clanged its tail against the tile floor, "Oh, come on, Drayton! At least try to look enthusiastic!"
The little Steel-type bellowed happily, practically vibrating with excitement, "Aron!"
Iris beamed, crouching down to scratch behind its horned head. She said in a cute tone, "You're gonna be as tough as steel, I can tell! Right, big guy?"
Not far away, Nemona was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet, her hands clasped together as she stared down into a dark, shadowy corner where a small, purple, ghost-like figure with a single, unblinking red eye hovered silently.
Nemona squealed, pulling out a prototype Rotom Phone to snap a picture said, "Oh, you're so cool! Look at those spectral wavelengths!"
The Duskull tilted its head, letting out a hollow, echoing sound that sounded suspiciously like laughter, "Kuh-kuh-kuh…"
Nemona smirked even wider at Duskull's attitude. She said excitedly, "We are going to battle so much, you have no idea!"
Black stood a few paces away, his arms crossed over his chest, his brow furrowed in deep, hyper-focused thought.
Next to him, a rugged, bipedal crocodile Pokémon with a jagged snout and sharp orange stripes stood tall, glaring fiercely at the wall as if sizing up an invisible opponent.
Black muttered, his eyes narrowing in mutual intensity, "A Krokorok… You've got fire in your eyes. You want to reach the top, don't you? You want to challenge the strongest out there and make your dreams a reality!"
*Smack*
The Krokorok slammed its tail against the ground, letting out a sharp, gravelly roar, "Kro! Krorok! Krok!"
Black declared, pointing forward dramatically, "Alright! From now on, your name is Krok! We're heading straight for the Unova League, and we're gonna win it all!"
White stood nearby, watching the spectacle with a gentle, patient smile. Resting on a pedestal beside her was a small, gelatinous, emerald-green creature encased in a transparent, psychic membrane.
The Solosis didn't make a physical sound, but a warm, melodic voice echoed directly inside White's mind: 'It is a pleasure to meet you, White. Your thoughts are so wonderfully organized. It is peaceful here.'
White blinked, a soft chuckle escaping her. White said softly, gently tapping the glass-like barrier of the Solosis, "You can talk directly into my head? Oh, that is amazing! In that case… I'll name you Solly. You'll fit right in with the BW Agency. No excessive battling required—just your wonderful communication skills to help me manage the team. Welcome aboard."
Azure watched his companions settle their new partnerships, a fond smile gracing his features. But as he turned his head toward the far corner of the breeder house, his eyes locked onto a presence that had been watching him for the last ten minutes.
It was impossible to miss.
Standing beside a tall ficus plant was a Gothorita. Her lavender skin and black, dress-like body remained perfectly still, but her large, intelligent eyes were locked onto Azure with an intensity that bordered on piercing.
She didn't blink.
She didn't move.
She simply stared, her psychic aura humming softly in the background like a low-frequency tuning fork. From inside Azure's Arc Phone clipped to his belt, a holographic projection of Rotom flickered to life with an electric buzz.
*Bzzzt-click*
Rotom-Phone buzzed, its digital eyes spinning in circles. Rotom said, "Warning! Warning! High psychic activity detected! That Gothorita is staring right through your soul, Azure! She's analyzing your timeline or something! Creepy-deepy!"
Azure whispered back, tapping the screen to silence the electric spirit, "Quiet down, Rotom. It's rude to judge."
*Hummm*
Simultaneously, a flash of violet light materialized near Azure's boots as Gengar phased up through the floorboards. Her scarlet eyes glinted with mischief as she crossed her stubby arms and let out a low, teasing chuckle as she whispered aloud, "Hehehe... looks like someone's got a secret admirer, boss. Should I cast a curse on her just in case she's reading your diary?"
Azure replied smoothly, "Not necessary, Gengar."
He took a slow, deliberate step forward until he was standing just a few feet away from the psychic-type. He didn't speak out loud. Instead, he reached out with his own formidable psychic power and brushed his consciousness against the Gothorita's mind as he asked telepathically, 'You've been watching me for a while now. Is there something you wanted to tell me?'
The Gothorita blinked. Her lips parted slightly, and a soft, melodic cry escaped her—a sound that carried an undeniable grace. She raised one small hand, pointing a delicate finger not just at Azure, but outward, toward the vast, unpredictable horizon of the Unova region.
Through their telepathic link, a wave of profound imagery washed over Azure's mind. She wasn't just reading his past as a four-time League Champion or his battles against legendary threats; she was peering into the fog of war that constituted the future.
And for the first time, the Gothorita projected a sense of absolute awe. She had seen countless futures branching out and collapsing, but Azure's path was shrouded in a brilliant, blinding light—a destiny so bright, even her precognitive abilities couldn't fully map it out.
And she wanted to walk beside him to see where it led.
Azure's expression softened into a warm, genuine smile. He chuckled softly, reaching into his belt and unhooking a standard Poké Ball as he said coolly, "You see a bright future, huh? Well, I wouldn't expect anything less from a partner like you."
He tapped the center button of the sphere against the Gothorita's forehead. With a flash of crimson light, the psychic-type offered no resistance whatsoever, dissolving into a stream of energy and snapping inside….
*Click*
The Poké Ball gave a single, quiet click on the floor. Azure scooped it up, a sense of quiet satisfaction settling over him as he checked her status info.
[Gothorita, the Manipulate Pokémon. Gothorita uses starlight as the source of its power, and can use its psychic powers to arrange rocks into the shapes of constellations. It can also use these powers to control people and Pokémon with hypnosis, leading people astray and putting children to sleep before kidnapping them. Because of this, Gothorita is known as the Witch of Punishment. Some people believe Gothorita is from outer space, although this connection is yet to be confirmed.]
|Name: Gothorita (Manipulate Pokémon)
|Type: Psychic
|Tera: Psychic
|Level: 35
|Gender: Female
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Shadow Tag (Hidden Ability)
|Nature: Calm
|Moves: Tickle, Fake Tears, Flatter, Embargo, Heal Block, Telekinesis, Hypnosis, Psych Up, Confusion, Psybeam, Psyshock, Future Sight, Psychic, Pound, Double Slap, Faint Attack, Miracle Eye (EM) (4 moves left to learn)
After reading her status info, Azure nodded, appreciating his new partner's moves and Hidden Ability. Azure said aloud, turning back toward the group as Pikachu nuzzled his neck again and Eevee yawned on his head, "Well… Looks like everyone's got a full roster now."
With their adoptions complete, the group exited the Breeder House, stepping back out into the vibrant, sun-drenched avenues of Castelia City. The towering skyscrapers cast grand reflections across the glass storefronts, and the sea breeze carried the distant calls of Unovan Pokémon. Burgh stood at the doorway, waving them off with a cheerful grin. He shouted, "Safe travels, everyone! May your inspiration never run dry!"
Iris shouted back, waving energetically with Aron clanking faithfully at her heels, "Thanks for everything, Burgh!"
/////
[Unova Region, Later, Castelia City – Plaza]
As they reached the edge of the central plaza, the massive group that had formed during the Team Plasma crisis finally began to fracture. They had spent enough days tangled in investigations, kidnappings, and gym matches in Castelia City. The road ahead called to each of them.
Drayton announced lazily, digging a finger into his ear as Trapinch trotted along beside him, "Welp! This is where we part ways! Me, Iris, Crispin, Amary, and Roxie gotta keep moving. Got gym badges to collect and academy quotas to fill."
Roxie added, strumming the air with an imaginary guitar pick while Toxel puffed out a cloud of harmless smoke, "Yeah! Don't fall behind, Black! Azure! We expect to see you both tearing up the Unova League tournament when the time comes!"
Black declared, his eyes flashing with fierce determination, "You bet we will!"
Nemona cheered, her Rotom Phone already buzzing with notifications as Duskull floated faithfully at her shoulder. She said happily, "Good luck out there! My company's got some new Rotom Phone firmware updates to test out, but I'm gonna be racing you to the top of the League too, Azure! Don't you forget it!"
Azure laughed, giving her a casual salute.
He said in a challenging tone, "Bring it on, Nemona!"
With a chorus of farewells and well-wishes, the Blueberry Academy contingent, along with Nemona and Roxie, turned and vanished into the churning sea of pedestrians, their colorful figures gradually swallowed by the bustling Castelia crowds.
In an instant, the grand assembly melted away, leaving the group reduced to its core trio once again: Azure, Black, and White.
Azure stretched his arms above his head, his joints popping satisfyingly as he said curiously, "Alright… So, what's the plan? Do we head straight north toward Nimbasa City for the next Gym, or—"
*Bribribrip—Bribribrip*
A sharp, digital chime cut Azure off. Black froze, his hand instinctively darting to his belt to pull out his Xtransceiver. The holographic screen flickered to life, projecting the exasperated, emerald-haired visage of Professor Juniper.
Juniper's voice blasted from the speaker, sharp enough to make Eevee on Azure's head twitch its ears, "Hilbert Black! Just where do you think you ran off to without even saying goodbye to the lab?!"
Black flinched, instinctively taking a step back as if the professor could reach through the screen and grab his ear. He replied helplessly, "W-Wait a minute! We did meet before, Professor! It's just... you were busy inside, and I was outside..."
Juniper scolded, crossing her arms on the projection, "That is not what I meant, and you know it! You broke the Pokédexes I handed you, you took off with Tepig without filling out the proper documentation, and you've been causing a chaotic trail of battles across Unova!"
Black let out an overwhelmed groan, rubbing the back of his neck. He said in a helpless tone, "Gah! Cheren already chewed me out for all of that! You don't have to list the catalog of my sins!"
Despite her stern tone, Juniper's expression softened into a small, fond sigh. She said in a proud tone, "Still... I suppose I can't be too angry. Word reached me that you're taking good care of the Pokédex data. I've been receiving logs from your device, and that Tepig of yours has already evolved into Pignite! Not to mention, you've been winning your Gym Battles and even played a major role in solving that Pokémon kidnapping case right there in Castelia City."
Juniper leaned closer to the camera, her eyes gleaming with professional curiosity. She asked, "You've collected an impressive amount of data in a very short span of time, Black. Tell me, what's your goal with all of this?"
Without missing a beat, Black puffed out his chest, his eyes burning with that familiar, hyper-focused intensity as he declared, "My dream is to win the Pokémon League! I want to meet as many Pokémon as I can across Unova, understand them, battle alongside them, and discover everything this region has to offer!"
Juniper smirked, a knowing glint in her eye. With a sly grin, she said happily, "Thought so. Well, since you're so eager to encounter new and rare Pokémon... I happen to have a special task for you."
Black leaned in closer to the screen.
He couldn't help but ask curiously, "A task? What kind of task?"
Juniper instructed in a firm tone, tapping a stylus against her desk, "Take the ferry over to Liberty Garden, just off the coast of Castelia City. There's a very specific, mythical Pokémon rumored to inhabit the island—a little sprite named Victini. I want you to go find it and add its data to your Pokédex."
Before Black could formulate a response, he blinked stupidly, turning his head toward White. He asked curiously, "Uh... White? How are we supposed to get to a private island? Do we just swim across Castelia Bay?"
White let out an elegant, exasperated sigh, placing her hands on her hips as she adjusted her business satchel, stating, "Honestly, Black, do you ever think ahead? You need a boat, yes... but more importantly, you need a Liberty Pass to dock there."
Black's jaw dropped slightly. He exclaimed, "A Liberty Pass? Where are we supposed to get one of those on short notice?!"
With a smug, triumphant grin, White reached into her bag and pulled out a crisp, laminated, gold-embossed ferry ticket, holding it up between two fingers so it caught the Unovan sunlight in its glory.
White stated proudly, her tone dripping with executive competence, "As the President of the BW Agency, I always make sure my business portfolio includes VIP travel permits. Fortunately for you two, I already acquired one."
Black stared at the pass, his eyes wide with utter disbelief, while Azure let out an amused chuckle, shaking his head. Azure smiled, adjusting his jacket as Pikachu chirped a cheerful agreement, "Well… Looks like our itinerary just got an upgrade. Liberty Garden, huh? Let's go meet a mythical Pokémon tomorrow morning and then hit the road to the next city."
With the plan set, the trio turned their backs on the bustling harbor, ready for whatever eccentricities the Unova region was going to throw at them next.
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!