Chapter 400: Vs Pyramid King Brandon! (2) [Bonus]
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, (July 3rd) Battle Frontier – Battle Pyramid]
Azure had lost his two defensive anchors, but Brandon had suffered losses, too. Regirock and Registeel were both down. Now, only one Pokémon stood on each side, the atmosphere thick with anticipation.
*Pop*
Without hesitation, Azure sent out his last Pokémon, Arcanine. Arcanine materialized as it roared with its held item [King's Rock], "Graooo!!"
Brandon's voice cut through the tense silence, resonating with a renewed focus, "You've fought admirably. It comes down to this. We both have one Pokémon remaining."
He paused, a flicker of a smile playing on his lips as he admitted, "Though I must admit, you are at a distinct advantage. Your Fire-type Arcanine, holding a [King's Rock], against my Ice-type Regice, with its [Chesto Berry]. A clear type advantage in your favor."
Azure said nothing, his gaze fixed on Regice, mentally recalculating strategies. He knew type advantages weren't everything, especially against a Frontier Brain and a legendary Pokémon.
*SHUNK*
Regice lumbered forward, its massive leg lifting before stomping down with immense force, a potent Stomp attack aimed directly at Arcanine. With a roar of defiance, Arcanine pivoted, its powerful tail lashing out, meeting the legendary's attack.
*CLANG*
A metallic clang echoed as Iron Tail blocked the blow, the impact sending shockwaves through the air…
*FLASH*
Suddenly, a brilliant flash of light erupted in the sky above the Battle Pyramid, so intense it momentarily eclipsed the sun. Both trainers and even the Pokémon involuntarily looked up to the sky.
A celestial being, small yet radiating immense power, hovered briefly in the azure expanse – Jirachi. Its single eye blinked, then with another silent flash, it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Brandon, caught off guard, blinked, shaking his head slightly, and uttered in confusion, "What in the…?"
/////
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Battle Frontier]
Meanwhile, a whirlwind of concern and urgency propelled Green out of the main Battle Tower building. Pikachu and Eevee, sensing her heightened emotions, clung to her shoulders, their own eyes darting around.
She knew Azure was in the final throes of his battle with Brandon, and she couldn't miss it. Rounding a corner, Green collided with a figure emerging from the press area.
Papers flew, a camera clattered to the ground, and she stumbled back, regaining her balance. A familiar voice exclaimed, "Hey! Watch where you're going!"
Green looked up, recognizing the disheveled but enthusiastic features of Todd Snap, a prominent Pokémon photographer she'd crossed paths with before replying, "Todd? Oh, sorry! No time, Azure's battling Brandon! We have to go!"
Todd, ever the opportunist, scrambled to pick up his camera, his eyes lighting up as he said excitedly, "Azure? The three-time champ? Battling the Pyramid King? This is huge! Lead the way, Green! A scoop like this could make my career!"
He fell into step behind her, his camera already poised. They burst into the viewing area just as the monitor flickered to life, showing a live feed of the Battle Pyramid's summit. Green's eyes immediately locked onto the screen.
She exclaimed, a wave of relief washing over her, quickly followed by a fresh surge of anxiety, "He's winning! And he picked Arcanine!"
The image of Azure, commanding his Arcanine with such skill, brought a cold dread to Green. The Frontier Brains knew.
They knew about the stolen rental Pokémon. And with Azure's unparalleled skill and his history, as far as they were concerned, he was the prime suspect. And she, by association, was also in trouble.
She muttered under her breath, her brow furrowed, "Damn it. This is bad. The press, with no Pokémon of their own, are obviously not the thieves. But Azure... he's too good. They'll assume it's him, or me, or both of us."
Green squeezed her eyes shut briefly. She had her International Police identity to clear her name, a secret she guarded fiercely.
But Azure? How could he possibly clear his name?
Pikachu, sensing her distress, nudged her cheek, then suddenly pointed a paw towards the top of the monitor, where a faint, shimmering afterglow remained from the celestial event, "Pika! Pika-chu! (Hey, look up!)"
Green looked up, her internal panic momentarily receding as she asked, confused, "What is it, Pikachu?"
As she watched, the shimmering light faded completely. Todd, oblivious to Green's deeper concerns, lowered his camera, a puzzled expression on his face as he asked, confused, "Did anyone else see that? A flash in the sky? What was that thing? A new Pokémon? I didn't get a clear shot!"
But Green wasn't confused. Her heart leaped into her throat, a cold shock running through her. She had seen it clearly.
The single eye, the wish tag... it was unmistakable. Her target. The very Pokémon Professor Oak had tasked her with capturing.
She whispered, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and renewed determination, "Jirachi... it finally appeared…"
Now wasn't the time, but the stakes had just gotten even higher.
/////
[Hoenn Region, Battle Frontier – Battle Pyramid]
Back on the Battle Pyramid, Azure's patience had worn thin. Brandon, still distracted by the vanishing Jirachi, was momentarily lost in thought.
Azure's voice cut through the silence, sharp and indignant, "Hey! Brandon! Pay attention! This is a battle, not a stargazing convention!"
He pointed at Arcanine, who stood defiantly, still blocking Regice's efforts as he continued speaking, "You said you'd finish this battle in a minute! My Arcanine has been blocking your attacks for longer than that! Where's that 'minute' now, huh?"
Azure had a competitive streak a mile wide, and seeing his opponent lose focus, especially after a bold claim, truly grated on him. Brandon snapped out of his reverie, a scowl replacing his momentary bewilderment.
He shot a piercing glare back at Azure, clearly annoyed as he replied, "Hmph. Insolent child. You may have a point, but your victory is far from assured."
His focus, now razor-sharp, returned to the battle. Azure commanded, his voice ringing with renewed vigor, "Arcanine, Strong Style Flamethrower!"
*Sssss*
Arcanine roared, unleashing a torrent of hot searing flames from its mouth. The inferno surged forward towards Regice, engulfing the Iceberg Pokémon in a fiery embrace.
Regice, however, merely stood its ground, its icy form shimmering as it endured the attack with an almost indifferent resilience. Azure's eyes narrowed as he thought, 'The legendary Pokémon is a tough nut to crack…'
Brandon countered, his voice booming, "Regice, Blizzard!"
*WOOOOSH*
A chilling gale erupted from Regice, a swirling vortex of ice and snow that swept across the platform. It was a massive attack, capable of engulfing everything. Azure braced himself, knowing this was going to hurt.
The icy blast slammed into Arcanine, coating its magnificent fur in a veneer of frost. Seeing it, Azure thought worriedly, 'Okay, that was bad. Regice's Special Attack is certainly no joke.'
Azure knew he needed to keep the pressure on. He quickly commanded, "Arcanine, Strong Style Iron Tail!"
*Shiii*
Shaking off the ice, Arcanine lunged forward, its tail glowing with metallic energy. It swung at Regice, but the legendary was quicker than it looked. Brandon ordered, "Regice, Ice Beam!"
*PEW*
A searing blue beam of concentrated ice energy shot from Regice's eye, intercepting Arcanine's trajectory. Arcanine, with a burst of speed, managed to twist its body, dodging the direct hit.
*CRACKLE*
However, the Ice Beam slammed into the platform, instantly freezing half of the solid stone floor into a slick, treacherous sheet of ice. The sudden change in terrain completely negated Arcanine's forward momentum, forcing it to skid to a halt.
Azure yelled, hoping to use Arcanine's incredible velocity to cross the icy expanse, "Extreme Speed, Arcanine! Don't let up!"
*Zoooom*
Arcanine burst forward, a blur of orange and white, but Regice was already preparing its next move. Brandon ordered, "Ice Beam, again!"
*PEW*
*CRACKLE*
Another frigid beam lanced out, this time striking the other half of the platform. In a matter of seconds, the entire battling surface was transformed into a vast, shimmering rink of ice. Regice, being an Ice-type, seemed to glide effortlessly across its new domain, its movements becoming fluid and swift.
Arcanine, meanwhile, struggled for purchase, its paws slipping and sliding, its momentum broken. Brandon commanded, seizing the opportunity, "Now, Focus Punch!"
*SHIII*
Regice began to glow with concentrated fighting energy, its massive fist drawing back for a devastating blow. Azure's eyes widened. A direct hit from Focus Punch on a struggling Arcanine would be catastrophic.
Azure roared, making a desperate call, "Arcanine, Flamethrower! Burn it!"
*SSSSS*
Despite its precarious footing, Arcanine unleashed another Flamethrower, a desperate burst of fire aimed at Regice's chest. The flames connected, and for the first time, Regice flinched, a faint sizzle accompanying the burning sensation on its icy body…
*Sizzzz*
The Burn status effect took hold.
Azure pressed, seizing the fractional opening, "Now! Fire Fang!"
*CRUNCH*
Arcanine, snarling, lunged forward with surprising agility, its fangs blazing with fire. It clamped down on Regice's arm, the fiery bite exacerbating the burn.
The [King's Rock], clutched in its mane, shimmered. The combination of the burn and the [King's Rock's] 10% flinch chance worked its magic. Regice cried out, its concentration broken, and the Focus Punch fizzled out.
It flinched!
Brandon's eyes narrowed as he commented before commanding, "Clever, Azure. But not enough. Regice, Ice Beam!"
*PEW*
Regice, still slightly off balance, fired a rapid Ice Beam. This time, it didn't just freeze the floor. Pillars of solid ice erupted from the ground, surrounding Arcanine in a rapidly forming tomb of crystal-clear ice.
Arcanine, caught off guard, struggled to escape as the walls closed in, freezing it solid within the structure. Azure shouted, his heart pounding, "Arcanine!"
Brandon, with a triumphant gleam in his eyes, surveyed the immobilized Arcanine. He followed up, "Now, Regice, Rest!"
*Zzzzz*
Regice, its body glowing with a soft, restorative light, settled down on the ice, instantly falling asleep. Its wounds began to mend, the burn fading away. As soon as it closed its eyes, the [Chesto Berry] it held shimmered and dissolved.
Regice immediately woke up, fully refreshed, its stamina completely restored, and its burn status cured. Azure gasped, watching in dismay as his opponent was reset, "No way!"
He had played his hand, inflicting the burn and the flinch, only for Regice to recover instantly. This was the might of a legend.
Azure yelled, his voice strained with urgency, "Arcanine use Strong Style Flame Wheel! Break free!"
*Crack*
A faint flicker of fire emanated from within the ice pillar. Arcanine, despite its icy prison, was trying to move. It spun its body, gathering fiery energy. The ice pillar began to crack, groaning under the internal heat…
*BOOM*
With a final burst, Arcanine exploded free, a blazing wheel of fire hurtling across the ice. Azure commanded, "Charge! Towards Regice!"
Arcanine, momentarily regaining its footing, raced towards the newly awakened Regice, a burning comet across the icy field. But Regice was ready.
Brandon thundered, "Regice, Ice Beam!"
*CRACK*
A powerful Ice Beam, perfectly aimed, connected squarely with Arcanine. There was a sickening CRACK as the fiery dog was enveloped in ice, instantly freezing it mid-charge and trapping it once more, this time in a column of solid, unyielding ice.
Azure screamed, his voice raw, "Arcanine, Flame Wheel! Now!"
But Arcanine didn't move. No flicker of flame, no defiant growl…
It was utterly still, frozen solid.
Brandon's expression was one of undeniable pride. He looked at Azure, a smug satisfaction in his eyes as he declared, "It would seem, young Champion, that your 'unyielding conviction' has met its match. Regice is the victor. I am the winner of this battle. Today, you finally lost."
A heavy silence descended upon the Battle Pyramid. Azure clenched his fists, his jaw tight as he thought, 'Was this it? Had my journey to conquer the Battle Frontier ended here? No…'
*TRBL*
But then, a faint, almost imperceptible tremor ran through the ice pillar. A low growl, barely audible, rumbled from within, "Grrrr… (Not… yet…)"
Brandon murmured, his brow furrowed, "What?"
*CRACK*
Suddenly, with an explosive burst of fire, Arcanine shattered its icy prison!
It was not out!
The Flame Wheel had been building, silently, underneath its icy shell. Before Regice could react, Arcanine, a blazing projectile, slammed into the Iceberg Pokémon with incredible force…
*BOOOM*
The impact sent a jolt through Regice, and another fiery mark appeared on its body—the Burn status was re-inflicted!
The battle was far from over.
Azure cried, a surge of renewed hope coursing through him, "You really are something else, Arcanine! Let's finish this!"
Brandon gritted his teeth. He was stunned seeing the battle wasn't over as he commanded, "Regice, Focus Punch!"
*Zoooom*
Regice, still reeling from the surprise attack and the re-applied burn, slowly began to charge another Focus Punch. With a grunt, it swung its massive fist, connecting with Arcanine and sending the fiery legendary dog skidding and bouncing across the slick ice field.
*BOOM*
Arcanine roared confidently, regaining its balance precariously, "Raaaaor!! (Heh! You think that puny attack will work! I've had worse!)"
Azure barked, seeing a flicker of opportunity, "Arcanine, keep using Fire Fang! Again and again!"
*Zoooom*
Arcanine, fueled by adrenaline and defiance, lunged at Regice. Its fiery fangs snapped out, biting into the legendary Pokémon.
*CRUNCH*
*CRUNCH*
Regice flinched, the [King's Rock] working its magic once more. And before it could recover, Arcanine struck again with another Fire Fang, getting a rare second consecutive flinch!
Brandon swore under his breath. He quickly commanded to recover the battlefield, "Regice, Ice Beam! Trap it again!"
*PEW*
Regice, shaking off the flinches, unleashed another Ice Beam. This time, it created a wider, more elaborate tomb of ice, encasing Arcanine much more securely.
*CRACKLE*
With its opponent immobilized, Regice once again used Rest, its body glowing as it healed and cured the burn. Azure felt a cold knot of dread as he thought, 'This cycle is dangerous. Regice is too tough to wear down like this…'
He needed something decisive. Azure yelled, his voice echoing with desperate determination, "Arcanine, use Flame Wheel to break out of the ice! Then, Flare Blitz! Full power!"
*CRACK*
The ice tomb cracked. Arcanine was already charging its Flame Wheel from within. With a furious roar, it melted and shattered its icy prison, bursting forth in a blaze of glory, "Arf! RAOOOO!!! (Take this ice cube!!)"
*ZOOOOM*
It didn't pause, didn't hesitate. Instead, it continued its fiery charge, its entire body engulfed in furious, self-damaging flames: Flare Blitz.
But from that moment, Regice instantly woke up, fully restored. Regice, now wide awake, saw the charging threat. Brandon commanded, hoping to freeze Arcanine once more, "Ice Beam!"
*PEW*
A powerful Ice Beam shot forth, but Azure had anticipated this as he countered, "Extreme Speed, Arcanine! Dodge!"
*Zooom*
Arcanine, a blur of motion, swerved at the last second, narrowly avoiding the frigid blast. The Ice Beam carved a deep gouge in the ice where Arcanine had been a split second before.
Azure's final, audacious command sliced through the air, "Now, Teleport!"
*Swf*
Arcanine, mid-stride, vanished in a shimmer of light, reappearing instantly behind the massive Regice. The legendary Pokémon, still focused on the spot where Arcanine had been, was utterly blindsided.
Azure roared, pouring every ounce of his will into the attack, "STRONG STYLEFLARE BLITZ!"
*BOOOOOm*
Arcanine, its body a fiery cannonball, slammed into Regice's back with the full, accumulated momentum of Extreme Speed and the powerful Teleport. The impact was phenomenal.
*WOOOOSH*
*THUD*
Regice, a creature of immense weight and durability, let out a pained cry as it was lifted off its feet, tossed like a rag doll. It smashed against the far wall of the Battle Pyramid with a resounding thud before it could even contemplate another attack.
The silence that followed was deafening. Dust and ice chips rained down. Regice lay motionless, a faint gleam in its single eye fading.
The automated announcer boomed, its voice finally breaking the tension, "Regice is unable to battle! Arcanine is the winner! And the victory goes to Azure Sky!"
Arcanine, panting heavily, its flames flickering, turned to Azure, a look of fierce pride in its eyes as it howled in victory, "Awooooo!!!! (I've won!)"
It had done it. They had done it.
Brandon, after a long moment, slowly clapped, his expression a mixture of awe and profound respect as he stated, "Unbelievable, Azure Sky. To improvise such a daring combination… Flare Blitz, Extreme Speed, and then Teleport for a surprise attack. A truly brave tactic executed flawlessly. You are a remarkable trainer, perhaps one of the finest I have ever witnessed."
He walked over, his stoic demeanor replaced with genuine admiration as he said boldly, "You have earned this."
From his pocket, Brandon produced a gleaming, dark-blue symbol, shaped like a shield with an intricate design. He handed it to Azure as he said proudly, "This is the Brave Symbol, proof of your victory and testament to your courage under pressure."
Azure took the symbol, his fingers tracing its smooth surface. A smile, wide and genuine, spread across his face.
He quickly slotted it into his Frontier Pass, the collection of hard-won symbols growing steadily as he said respectfully, "Thank you, Brandon. It was an incredible battle."
Brandon nodded, a thoughtful look on his face as he asked curiously, "So, Azure. With this victory, you've conquered 3 of the 7 Battle Frontier facilities. Tell me, which Frontier Brain do you intend to challenge next?"
Before Azure could respond, a flurry of motion burst onto the platform. Green came rushing over, Pikachu and Eevee perched excitedly on her shoulders, their cheers mingling with her own.
Green exclaimed, reaching him just as he was about to answer Brandon, "Azure! You did it! That was amazing! Absolutely incredible!"
She caught his arm, her eyes wide as she subtly squeezed, a silent message passing between them as she said sweetly, "Oh, my gosh, you must be exhausted! Let's get you cleaned up and something to eat! We've been watching the whole time, and trust me, you need a break after that!"
Her voice was cheerful, but her grip was firm, a clear attempt to steer the conversation away from any mention of rental Pokémon or future challenges that might invite further scrutiny on the "stolen" Pokémon situation.
Azure blinked, a little surprised by her sudden intervention, but seeing the subtle warning in her eyes, he caught on. He gave Green a brief, knowing look, a silent acknowledgment of her quick thinking, before turning back to Brandon with a tired but victorious smile as he replied happily, "She's right, Brandon. A break sounds good right about now. As for my next challenge… I'll decide after a good meal and a long rest."
He winked, the weight of the moment temporarily lifted, eager to celebrate his latest, thrilling victory. But trouble will still be coming as he used his Viridian Force to heal his Team…
/////
A/N: Reach for the goal 200 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!
Also we've finally reached the 400 Chapter mark! I've got to say I didn't expect to make it this far but hopefully I can continue writing to the future regions. Thank you guys for always giving PS and comments to help motivate me.