Chapter 673: We'll Meet Again
~Third POV~
[Unova Region, Afternoon, Nimbasa City – Park]
The afternoon sun beat down on the vibrant, neon-lit pavements of Nimbasa City, casting long, dramatic shadows across the manicured lawns and kinetic sculptures of the Gear Station's outer park.
The air hummed with the faint, rhythmic pulse of passing rollercoasters and the distant, tinny chimes of the Musical Theater, a symphony of urban leisure that felt entirely lost on the exasperated young woman currently kneeling in the grass.
*Swish*
*Thud*
White groaned, dropping her forehead against her knees in utter defeat, shouting, "Ugh! Again?! How hard is it to capture a Pokémon?!!"
A few feet away, an empty Poké Ball rolled pitifully to a halt, having completely missed a delightfully startled Summer Form Deerling by a margin wide enough to drive a double-decker train through. The pink-and-cream Pokémon gave an unimpressed bleat before bounding gracefully toward the safety of a flowerbed.
White slumped further, her shoulders shaking with melodramatic woe as she snapped aloud, "I'm hopeless! Absolutely, unequivocally hopeless! Azure! I am so, so sorry! I've wasted like—what, five of your spare Poké Balls now? My accuracy is a crime against manufacturing!"
She snapped her head up, turning wide, tear-rimmed eyes toward Azure, who was currently lounging comfortably against a polished chrome park bench. A Pikachu rested snugly on his right shoulder, while a plush-furred Eevee had curled itself like a living crown atop his dark hair.
Azure offered a reassuring, easygoing smile, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. He said casually, "Don't sweat it, White. Poké Balls are mass-produced commodities; your sanity, on the other hand, is a rare artisan craft. Besides, you've been running yourself ragged with the agency."
He reached into a woven satchel resting beside him and pulled out a greaseproof paper bag, drawing out a pair of warm, freshly baked galettes that smelled faintly of sweet butter and roasted berries as he said, "Here. Drop the ball-throwing stance for ten minutes. Recharge the internal batteries."
White murmured, her voice softening as she accepted the pastry, "Oh! Thank you."
She took a small, hesitant bite, letting out a soft sigh as the warmth settled in her chest. But the reprieve was brief. Her corporate instincts, honed by years of managing high-profile Pokémon actors, flared back up instantly.
She shook her head as she said firmly, with a serious expression, "Right. No time to waste. I need to clear the board."
*Tap-tap-tap-tap*
With a flick of her wrist, she whipped out her sleek pink Xtransceiver. Her fingers flew across the holographic screen with a practiced, machine-gun tapping rhythm. Azure watched calmly, his invisible, levitating companions—Victini and Meloetta—flitting down from the canopy of a nearby elm to hover just out of human sight.
Meloetta's voice chimed directly into Azure's mind whilst observing her, her tone dripping with its usual haughty tone: 'Honestly, does she ever stop working? Even when she's failing miserably at catching a four-legged snack, she's managing a corporate liquidation. Humans are so exhausting.'
Azure thought back with a silent grin, his fingers gently scratching behind the ears of the Eevee on his head, 'Let her handle her transition, Meloetta,". "Closure is an important step before a new journey. Right, buddy?'
From the pocket of Azure's jacket, Pichu (Mew) shifted. On his Arc Phone, mounted securely to his wrist, a holographic visor flickered to life. Rotom's orange, electric-ball avatar popped up, and a cheerful voice said, "Data check indicates ninety-eight percent efficiency on agency terminations, Master! Though her blood pressure is hitting peak red-zone levels!"
Porygon-Z's synthesized voice added smoothly through the phone's internal audio channel, "Agreed. Her stress markers are dropping by twelve percent per consumed carbohydrate, however. The galette is doing its job."
Meanwhile, White's voice echoed across the open park as she connected to her third business contact of the minute. She explained calmly, "Hello? Yes, Mr. Director! Listen, I'm formally suspending BW Agency operations effective immediately... No, no, the contract is voided. Every single hired Pokémon is being returned to their original owners with full compensation... Yes, I know your Darumaka was set to star in the winter commercial, but my priorities have shifted... Oh, and tell the prop master his Pachirisu was an absolute professional. Goodbye!"
*Click*
She hung up, exhaling a long, shuddering breath that seemed to deflate half the tension in her frame. She tossed the Xtransceiver onto the bench and slumped back beside Azure. ?" Azure asked softly, breaking the silence, "Feels strange, doesn't it. Putting down your dreams spent years building."
He nudged the bag of galettes closer to her. She curled her fingers into fists. White admitted, staring down at her empty hands, "It feels... hollow. I built that agency from the ground up, Azure. Every contract, every starlet, every spotlight—it was my life. But lately, watching you and Black... watching Gigi get so frustrated during our last skirmish with Team Plasma... I realized I've been treating battles like a stage play where I'm standing in the wings, reading the prompt book while everyone else bleeds on the boards… I don't want to be useless, relying on my friends to bail me out…"
A short distance away, leaning against the weathered brick porch pillars of the main Gear Station building, Black stood with his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His intense, amber eyes were locked on White with a look of fierce, unyielding impatience. Next to him, his Pignite, Nite, snorted a small puff of embers into the cool evening air.
A deep, resonant voice rumbled from behind him, "You're brooding again."
Black didn't even flinch. He recognized the heavy, deliberate footsteps of Marshal, one of the Elite Four of the Unova Pokémon League. The fighting-type master stepped onto the porch, his massive frame casting a long shadow over the trainer.
Black muttered defensively, "I'm not brooding. I'm analyzing."
Marshal noted, his arms folded across his formidable chest, "You turned down the Battle Subway offer because your singular focus is the League Gym Badges when your friend reminded you. And yet, White accepted it. You're irritated because you think she's biting off more than she can chew."
Black snapped, turning to face the older man, his eyes flashing with frustration, "Why can't two people trial the Subway together? It makes tactical sense! A shared database of combat scenarios—!"
Marshal interrupted, his voice dropping into a tone that brooked no argument, "Because your paths are fundamentally misaligned. You are a forged League challenger. She is learning how to truly battle for the very first time. Putting you two in a double-train right now would be you carrying her to victory."
Before Black could fire off another counterargument, Marshal reached out with one massive hand, grabbed the startled trainer by the back of his collar, and hoisted him off his feet with casual, terrifying strength.
Black shouted, "Hey! What are you—?"
Marshal grunted, "Stop complaining and start participating!"
With a smooth, practiced heave, he chucked Black entirely off the porch, sending the hyper-focused trainer tumbling head-over-heels into the tall ornamental grass right beside where White and Azure were sitting.
*Thump*
Black hit the turf with a graceless grunt, kicking up a small cloud of dust and sending a flock of startled Pidove scattering into the sky. He scrambled up, brushing dirt off his jacket, his face flushed red. He yelled back toward the porch, "What the distortion world is your problem, Marshal?!"
But the Elite Four member had already turned his back, walking away with a low, rumbling chuckle. Groaning, Black turned his attention to the pathetic scene unfolding a few yards away. White was currently trying—and failing—to coax a wild Deerling out from behind a park bench with a handful of half-chewed galette crumbs.
Black scoffed, marching over, his voice sharp with typical bluntness. He said bluntly, looking at White, "Are you actually trying to catch that thing, or are you just offering it a bakery tour?"
White whipped around, her face instantly souring at his tone. She crossed her arms, instantly defensive, stating, "For your information, I found it adorable! Not that you'd understand aesthetics, Mr. 'I-Sleep-With-My-Pokedex'! Besides, I may have... accidentally startled it. A lot. I think it hates me now."
*WHOOSH*
A sudden, aggressive downdraft ripped through the park, sending loose papers, empty wrappers, and fallen leaves swirling into a chaotic vortex. The amiable atmosphere of Nimbasa City's park evaporated in a single heartbeat.
Perched atop a nearby streetlamp, wings spread wide to block out the dying sun, sat a massive, intimidating Mandibuzz. Its jet-black plumage, bone-white helmet-like skull, and cruel, curved beak radiated an unmistakable, swaggering bad-girl aura. The wild Pokémon took one look at the fleeing Deerling—which bolted for the exit in sheer terror—and then fixed its cold, predatory eyes squarely on White.
White squeaked, taking a frantic step backward, "W-W-Wait a minute…"
The Mandibuzz let out a harsh, mocking screech and lunged downward, its talons gleaming in the twilight. Azure shouted from the bench, "Look out!"
Though he didn't even stand up, merely nodding to his shoulder where Pikachu's cheeks sparked with a warning glow. White shrieked at the top of her lungs, spinning around and taking off at a dead sprint across the lawn, "YAAAAAAH!"
The oversized scavenger bird pursued her with terrifying persistence, swooping low in tight, menacing circles that forced White to duck, weave, and flail her arms like a windup toy. Black barked, "Run faster, White!"
White ran as fast as she could till… White's foot caught squarely on an exposed tree root jutting through the turf, "Whoa—!"
*CRASH*
White went flying face-first into the dirt, sliding a yard across the grass before coming to an abrupt, unceremonious halt. She groaned, lifting her dirt-smudged face just in time to see the Mandibuzz hovering directly overhead, wings tucked back like a missile, preparing to bring a heavy, armored leg down right on top of her spine. But before the Mandibuzz could strike, a bright blue blur zipped past her ear with aquatic velocity.
*THWACK*
Marina, White's usually bubbly Marill, intercepted the diving bird mid-air. The little blue mouse-Pokémon executed a vicious, water-coated Aqua Tail with surprising, thunderous power, sending the massive Mandibuzz skidding backward across the gravel path with a screech of indignation.
White scrambled backward on her elbows, her eyes wide as saucers. She exclaimed in surprise, "Marina?!"
The Marill bounced up and down on its hind legs, letting out a fierce, determined cry. She wasn't running anymore. She wanted to fight. She squeaked, pumping her tiny fists, "Mar-mar-marill!"
Mandibuzz righted itself, shaking its feathered head and glaring daggers at the tiny blue rodent. A purple-hued aura of dark energy began to gather around its wings. Black shouted, his instincts finally kicking in, "It's using Wing Attack! White! Command her! Don't just stand there!"
White blinked, the panic momentarily clearing from her eyes as she looked at her partner. The sight of Marina—usually her cutest, most theatrical mascot—standing bravely between her and a certified aerial predator triggered something primal and fierce deep within the young president's chest.
White yelled, scrambling to her feet, her voice ringing out clear and steady across the park, "Marina! Counter with Aqua Tail! Show her how we do things in the agency!"
Marina didn't hesitate. She spun on her heel, her tail glowing with a high-pressure jet of swirling water, and whipped around in a devastating arc.
*BOOM*
The collision between the water-infused tail and the flying bird's wing created a miniature shockwave of spray and compressed air. The Mandibuzz was launched clean off its feet, slamming down into the soft turf with enough force to carve a shallow crater into the park's grass. Dust and sod flew everywhere.
White whispered, staring at her own hands in sheer disbelief, "She... she did it? I didn't know she was that strong!"
Azure yelled aloud, informing her, grabbing White's attention, "Her ability is Huge Power! Her physical attack is doubled!"
He unclipped a Poké Ball from his belt with a sharp flick. Black snapped, "Don't celebrate yet! That's just phase one! If you want a partner, you must seal the deal!"
*Splash*
Without waiting for permission, Black whirled toward the edge of the park where a stray, shell-armored Tirtouga had crawled up from a nearby decorative stream, attracted by the commotion.
Azure raised an eyebrow from his bench, taking another bite of his galette. He whispered to himself, "A fossil Pokémon in the middle of Nimbasa City? Unova's ecosystems are getting delightfully chaotic."
Black tossed his Poké Ball, declaring, "Scraft, get in there!"
*POP*
Black released his bulky, sagging-pant-wearing Scraggy into the fray. He pointed a finger at the Tirtouga while yelling across the lawn to White yelling, "White! Keep your eyes on your target! Mandibuzz is recovering! Command Scraft and Marina to finish the weakening phase—now!"
The battle became a whirlwind of synchronized chaos.
White ordered, her voice now carrying the absolute authority of a director calling action on a movie set, "Marina, use Water Gun! Keep her pinned!"
Marill cried out, "Marill!"
*SPLASH*
A compressed jet of water blasted the recovering Mandibuzz directly in the chest, keeping the bird off-balance.
Black countered, his hyper-focused aura washing over the area like static electricity, "Scraft, use Drain Punch on the turtle! Don't let it retreat into its shell!"
*Thud*
Scraft lunged forward, slamming its rubbery, tough-skinned fist directly into the Tirtouga's shell with a hollow thud, knocking the ancient reptile onto its back with its flippers spinning uselessly in the air.
Both wild Pokémon were battered, bruised, and thoroughly exhausted.
Black roared, "Now! Throw!"
White screamed, "Take this!"
She unlatched an empty Poké Ball from her belt and hurled it with a newly found, surprisingly decent overhand throw…
*Clang*
Simultaneously, Black flicked his wrist, sending his own sphere spinning through the evening air. Both Poké Balls struck their respective targets dead center. They burst open in twin flashes of blinding red light, drawing the struggling Mandibuzz and Tirtouga inside before snapping shut with a definitive, electronic click.
The two spheres hit the grass, wobbling violently once...
*Wiggle*
… then twice...
*Riggle*
… three times—
*Ding—Ding*
The capture lights flashed green.
Silence descended upon the park, broken only by the hum of the distant rollercoasters. White shrieked, leaping into the air and pumping her fists, "Yes! We did it! We actually did it, Marinia!"
Black let out a long breath, lowering his hand as Nite trotted over to bump shoulders with him in silent congratulations. Azure strolled over, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, stepping around the crater.
He looked down at the shaking Poké Ball containing the giant bird. He commented, "Impressive double-capture, you two. Though, White... are you entirely sure you can control a creature with a personality that abrasive?"
Before White could answer, the Marill at her feet began to glow with a brilliant, intense white light. The sphere expanded as the energy surged through it, shifting shape with the distinct sounds of evolution.
*FLASH*
A moment later, the light faded to reveal a much larger, rounder, and far more imposing form in Marill's place: an Azumarill. White gasped, her eyes sparkling. She said in awe, "Oh, Marina, you evolved!"
Marina cried out happily, nuzzling into White's hug. When she was done, White knelt, grabbing the Poké Ball, stating, "As for you, Mandibuzz... You got a real rebel bad girl vibe! You could be great acting in my Agency. I'm naming you Barbara."
Inside the transparent shell of the Poké Ball resting inside, formerly the fierce Mandibuzz—visibly blushed a deep, comical shade of pink, pulling its face down over its face in mortification at the dramatic moniker.
*FLASH*
Across the grass, Black's Scraggy also underwent a sudden flash of light, evolving into a tall, lanky, tough-looking Scrafty that immediately began swaggering around in its shed skin like a delinquent teenager.
Black exclaimed proudly, "Scraggy, you evolved!"
Scrafty cried out happily with a satisfied grin, "Scrag!"
/////
[Unova Region, Nighttime, Nimbasa City – Gear Station (Battle Subway)]
Later that night, under the indigo expanse of the Unova sky, the neon lights of Nimbasa City painted the Gear Station platform in strokes of electric pink, cyan, and gold. White stood at the edge of the boarding platform, clutching her bag tightly.
Her fully established team—Gigi the Tepig, Vivi the Leafeon, Marina the Azumarill, Solly the Solsis, Lavi the Larvesta, and the newly christened Barbara—were all safely resting in their respective balls, though Gigi poked her snout out of White's tote bag, sniffing the night air curiously.
Standing with her were Black, Azure, and Marshal.
Marshal rumbled, checking a heavy pocket watch, "Everything is set. The Subway Master has cleared the line for your experimental trial run."
As Marshal spoke, a small, metallic sphere rolled erratically across the platform tiles from Black's direction, coming to a gentle halt against Marshal's boot. Marshal looked down, picking it up with a curious arch of his heavy brows.
Then Marshal saw the Tirtouga inside Black's Poké Ball. He grabbed it, surprising Black as he turned the Poké Ball over in his massive palm. He recognized the specific scratch patterns instantly as Marshal muttered, handing it back to Black, "Wait… This is... I released this Tirtouga yesterday after it refused to cooperate with the construction crews down by the bay."
*Tmp-tmp-tmp*
Footsteps echoed sharply against the platform stairs as a tall, broad-shouldered man with a wild mane of white hair and a tattered cloak strode into view, casually munching on a Pecha berry. Alder, the reigning Champion of the Unova League, boomed with a hearty laugh and said lazily, "Ah, Marshal! I was just looking for you! Did you find the city mayor as I asked?"
Marshal replied dryly in a respectful tone to his Master, "He left yesterday on regional business, Alder. And in his absence, I authorized a civilian trial run on the Battle Subway for this young lady."
He gestured toward White. Alder blinked, chewing slowly. He scratched his beard, looking genuinely surprised as he muttered, "Oh? Is that so? They proposed a Subway trial to a brand-new trainer?"
White leaned over toward Black, whispering loudly enough for half the platform to hear, "Is it just me, or does the Champion look less like a supreme political leader and more like a guy who got lost on his way to a lumberjack convention?"
Alder burst out into a booming, infectious laugh. Alder replied in a carefree tone, "Ho-ho! Fair enough, young lady! Fair enough! Though I prefer to call it a 'journey of the heart.' Life's too short to spend all your time behind a mahogany desk."
He stepped closer, his eyes softening as he looked down at White. Alder couldn't help but ask curiously, "Tell me, child... why choose the Battle Subway? You could have gone back to your agency, put your feet up, and let others do the fighting."
White gripped the strap of her bag, her knuckles turning white. She looked past Alder, catching the gaze of Azure—who offered a supportive, silent nod—and Black, who stood with his arms crossed, watching her with total, unblinking intensity.
White began, her voice steady, clear, and ringing with absolute conviction, "Because every time Team Plasma attacked, every time things got dangerous... I stood behind them. I relied on them to save me. I relied on my friends to do the heavy lifting while I just watched from the sidelines."
She lowered her hand, pressing it flat against her chest. Then she confessed, "Even when Azure and Black tried to teach me, I knew I was just holding them back. I was a rookie playing at being a director in a world where people put their lives and souls into their bonds with Pokémon. I don't want to hide anymore. I want to explore the path of battling—not to win medals, not to run an agency, but to understand it. To learn what it truly means to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with the ones you love."
The platform fell utterly silent.
For a long moment, Champion Alder just stared at her, his expression shifting from amusement to profound, quiet respect. Then, he let out a low whistle and bowed his head slightly as he said firmly, "Well spoken. In terms of speeches, young lady... I think you just defeated the Champion."
*Thud*
Black immediately face-planted directly onto the concrete platform in sheer exasperation, while Azure threw his head back and burst into a bright, ringing laugh that echoed off the station's vaulted glass ceiling.
*Ding-dong*
The automated chime of the Battle Subway train echoed across the tracks. The sliding steel doors hissed open, revealing the pristine, sterile interior of the carriage. Standing inside, waiting with rigid, synchronized posture, were the Subway Bosses, Ingo and Emmet.
Ingo called out, his voice sharp and theatrical, "All aboard! This train is departing for a trial of absolute certainty!"
Emmet added with a wide, manic grin, gesturing for White to step inside, "And it's running on express tracks of high-speed determination!"
White took a deep breath. She looked back one last time at the group gathered on the platform. Gigi let out a brave little squeak of encouragement from her bag, and Vivi the Leafeon rubbed her cheek against White's wrist.
White called out, stepping through the sliding doors and taking a seat by the window, "Goodbye, guys!"
Black scrambled back up to his feet, dusting off his knees in a hurry. Seizing the moment before the doors could close, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Hey! White! For the record... I never doubted the BW Agency! Send me the bill for whatever debt you still need to clear when you get back!"
Azure stepped up beside Black, raising two fingers in a casual, parting salute as the train's engine began to hum with building magnetic energy. Azure shouted in an encouraging tone with a wide grin, "Don't say goodbye, White! We'll meet again soon enough—on the other side of the tracks!"
*Hissssss*
The steel doors slid shut, sealing the carriage off from the night air. With a low, gathering roar, the Battle Subway train surged forward, its headlights cutting a bright swath through the urban darkness as it accelerated down the line, disappearing into the neon-lit tunnels of Nimbasa City.
Black stood motionless on the platform long after the red tail-lights had vanished from sight. He stared down at the concrete tiles, his jaw tight. Azure clapped a heavy hand onto Black's shoulder, a warm, grounding weight as he said calmly, "Penny for your thoughts, future Champion?"
Black muttered, his voice uncharacteristically small, "I... I didn't tell her good luck. Before she left. I forgot."
Azure smiled, looking out toward the dark horizon where the faint pulse of the train's electricity still flickered against the clouds. Azure said softly, his Arc Phone buzzing quietly against his wrist as Rotom and Porygon-Z synced their data logs for the night, "Don't worry about it, Black. We'll meet her again on the battlefield. Until then... we've got a dream of our own to accomplish."
Black's shoulders relaxed. He nodded once, a fierce, renewed light flashing in his eyes as he whispered, "Yeah. Let's go…"
And together, the two trainers turned their backs to the tracks, walking out into the vibrant, endless night of the Unova region.
/////
A/n: Hope you like the chapter!