Pokémon Adventures: GAMER PATH

~Third POV~

[Sinnoh Region, 1 Week Later, Sea – S.S. Sinnoh]

The gentle breeze of the sea was a balm on Azure Sky's soul. His Pikachu, a veteran of countless fights, dozed on his shoulder, its tail occasionally twitching in a dream.

Beside him, his Eevee, with her perpetually curious eyes, chased a Wingull on the deck of the S.S. Sinnoh Ship, her fluffy collar bouncing with every joyful leap. Azure chuckled, seeing this side from his Eevee.

Azure, an experienced Trainer with a reputation that preceded him, leaned back against a wall, closing his eyes. His thoughts drifted back to a bustling café in Viridian City just a few days ago, having a flashback to that day…

/////

[Kanto Region, Flashback, Viridian City – Café]

He'd been there to meet up with Ace Trainer Volkner and Flint. A spark of mutual respect had ignited instantly during their encounter in Johto.

Azure's Pikachu and Volkner's electric partner had become fast friends, chasing each other around the tables in a crackling display of playful energy. Over coffee, the duo from Sinnoh had painted a grim picture of Volkner's hometown.

Azure frowned as he heard what Flint had said bitterly, his usual passionate grin replaced by a scowl, "It's a plague. Gangs have carved up the city. They think our hometown is their playground. It was why both Volkner and I left to train to become Ace Trainers."

Volkner added, his voice a low monotone that couldn't hide his deep-seated frustration for the criminals in their hometown, "And the poachers are worse. They're called 'The Hunters.' They target rare Pokémon from the Wild or Trainers. The local authorities are overwhelmed. The city is losing its light."

The plea was unspoken but clear. They needed help.

An outside force, someone skilled and unattached to the local politics. Azure closed his eyes as he pondered, 'Sounds to me like loot just waiting to be taken. Count me in.'

Now, under the Kanto sun, Azure's decision was firm. He looked at his partners with a smile on his face as he said casually, "Ready for a working vacation, guys?"

Pikachu's ear flicked open, a determined escape from its lips, "Pika!"

Eevee bounded back, nudging her head into Azure's hand with a soft cry, "Bui!"

His main team was already chosen. Besides his two steadfast companions, he'd need tactical superiority.

Scizor, for lightning-fast precision strikes. Gengar, for stealth and subterfuge. Arcanine, for overwhelming power and pursuit. And Dragonite, his ace in the sky, for aerial dominance and transport.

And if worst comes to worst. He clenched onto Ho-Oh's Poke Ball at the ready to unleash its full power. Azure thought slyly, 'While I'm at it, I'll have Celebi check the timeline of this guy's background as well as they're loot. Got to have some decent Pokémon for me to collect…'

Azure grinned as he said casually, getting the two's attention, "So… how soon you wanna bust in ruining they're days?"

/////

[Sinnoh Region, Present, Sea – S.S. Sinnoh]

A week later, Azure stood on the deck of the S.S. Sinnoh, the salty sea spray misting his face. Beside him, Volkner stared out at the horizon, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

Flint paced restlessly, his Infernape mimicking his master's anxious energy. Flint growled, punching a fist into his palm as he declared, "I can't wait to turn up the heat on those thugs! We'll burn them out of every alley and corner!"

Volkner sighed helplessly at his friend as he explained bluntly, "It's not that simple, Flint. They use the Vista Lighthouse as a lookout and for quick getaways to the sky. They're coordinated. The Hunters are even more elusive and more powerful."

Azure listened, processing the information. His gaze was sharp, analytical as he asked curiously, "What kind of Pokémon do these Hunters have anyway? And what are they poaching?"

Volkner and Flint paused a bit to think. Then, Volkner finally answered as he said calmly, "I think… it was mostly Luxio and Electabuzz. But we've had reports of them capturing Pokémon from different regions nearby. And it had been years since we returned..."

A glint appeared in Azure's eyes, one that only his Pikachu recognized. It was the look of a collector who'd just heard a rumor of a rare card.

Helping his friends was his primary motivation, of course. Sunyshore deserved to be a beacon of progress, not a den of thieves. But if these criminals were hoarding rare Pokémon and unique items… well, finding a new home for them in his collection would be a satisfying bonus.

Azure chuckled, holding Ho-Oh's Poké Ball as he thought calmly, 'A finder's fee for cleaning up the streets. But also, a golden opportunity for myself.'

While he had come to help his new friends out, he also came for a golden opportunity. He discussed some plans with Volkner, as he was an excellent engineer, and he was interested in technology, learning from different regions.

It was this interest that was why Volkner asked Azure for insight on how to rebuild his hometown, as he was the creator of the Rotom Phone that's being used worldwide for Trainers and Researchers alike. When Azure heard this, he took the opportunity.

Knowing Volkner is an excellent Gym Leader and tech master of his Anime Counterpart, he introduced Volkner to the ideas and plans of the Sunyshore Tower. Originally an anime-exclusive area, but with his Arc Phone, he showed the plans, getting Volkner's attention immediately.

By then, Azure mentally smiled, grabbing Volkner's attention. He nodded as they both explained in detail about the plans for creating the Sunyshore Tower after dealing with the Criminal Gangs and the Hunters first.

/////

[Sinnoh Region, Later, Sea – S.S. Sinnoh, Sunyshore City]

Their arrival in Sunyshore was jarring. The city was grimy and had this palpable tension in the air. Citizens hurried along the glass walkways, casting nervous glances into the shadowed spaces between buildings.

Azure frowned, seeing the situation as he mumbled to himself, "Didn't think the situation was that bad…"

Volkner sadly chuckled as Flint grinned as they walked around Sunyshore City, "Yeah… welcome to our humble home! Careful to get mugged around here!"

Azure simply raised an eyebrow at that. Pikachu, over his shoulder, sniffed the air, cringed, and Eevee from his head, smelling the foul scent.

From observing Sunyshore City, Azure noticed that the city looked almost abandoned, there were the remains of buildings on the street, and it all looked like a ghost town. But then they saw a wooden sign with 'Grandma's Ramen' written on it fell right in front of the trio.

*Thud*

All three looked closer, and there was a little scorch mark left on it. But then someone spoke to them, "Hey! You three!"

At this time, the door of the shop next to them opened slightly. Azure saw an old woman with grey hair peeking at them through the small opening.

The old woman glanced in both directions before quickly whispering to the three of them in a concerned tone, "You three get inside quickly! There will be a war in this city soon. Or you'll get caught in the crossfire. It's too dangerous for you to be outside currently."

All three nodded as Azure bowed slightly, muttering, "Thank you."

The trio didn't reject the old woman's kindness. Azure was new to the city, and neither Flint nor Volkner had returned for a while to know the specific situation of Sunyshore City. They had to hide temporarily, collect information secretly, and plan first before revealing themselves.

Upon entering the 'Grandma's Ramen' shop, the old lady served them all the special Ramen. Volkner and Flint both started eating, as did Azure, but not before asking curiously, "Hey, so can you tell us any more about this war in this city?"

The old woman named Nana sighed helplessly as she explained to them the situation, getting their attention, "Well, in truth, the Gangs and Hunters fight every day at the same time, they don't care about us citizens at all. Their fights usually do hurt us since no one in town has any Pokémon."

The trio's eyes hardened, hearing that as Volkner spoke first in a disgusted tone, "That's awful… It doesn't even sound like actual battling, more like a full-on street fight."

Nana, noticing Azure's Pokémon and the group's Poke Ball, shook her head as she explained to them, "I wouldn't recommend you get involved with that, those guys don't care they'll send their Pokémon at you, and what's worse they draft trainers to join them, thankfully no one truly strong trainers have decided to participate but even still we don't how much longer we can go on."

Azure gulped his ramen as he asked calmly eyeing Nana, "How long has this been happening?"

Nana paused, considering his words before ultimately sighing as she replied helplessly, "Sigh… years now. Neither side ever comes out on top, so they just keep coming back, and when they come to get food, we must give it to them, and they say that they'll pay us back by keeping our lives."

This made the three boys' blood boil, hearing that. But before they could say anything else to comfort her…

*BOOOM*

*BOOOM*

There were sounds of explosions and sounds of glass breaking. Nana sighed as she explained to them, as they could hear yelling outside, "It's time again. I suggest you stay in here to hide, then as soon as you can, run away from this town for your safety."

"Come on, boys! Kill those fuckers!"

"Stop those Hunters! Show'em who's the true boss around here!"

"YEAH!!!"

"YEAH!!!"

Nana could only sigh as the trio could see the chaos unfolding from outside. Nana poured all of her grievances to them with utmost passion.

The trio saw the two groups fighting outside. One belonged to the Criminal Gangs here, and the other seemingly a professional hunter's attire.

*CRACK*

They could hear the destruction and fighting from outside, one guy was even shot through the window of the shop and ran back out. They could hear screaming from innocent people outside running away from them.

"AH! Run away!"

"Shit! SHIT!!"

"Get here quickly – AHHH!!"

"Mommy, where – Ack!!"

3 of them clenched their hands, hearing this as Flint said, 1 step away from going out there and punching those guys himself, "How can this go on… this isn't right…"

Nana could only sigh helplessly, sensing their intent as she explained bitterly to them, hoping not to get the idea of doing something foolish, "Unfortunately, we can't do anything. Those guys have Pokémon, and we are just regular people. We tried contacting the Pokémon League, but they haven't done anything yet, as Officer Jenny and the Police Force are overwhelmed…"

Just as she said that, Azure pulled himself up, reigning in his burning anger. Grasping at Ho-Oh's Poke Ball, both Flint and Volkner's eyes widened, seeing his move as he prepared to enter the fray.

Nana's eyes widened as she blurted worriedly, reaching out to stop him, "W-wait, what are you planning on doing?"

Outside, there were tons of trainers, gang members, and Hunters, all fighting like animals as Azure had Pikachu and Eevee by his side. But seeing the damage done, Azure's mind snapped with silent fury as he muttered, "Ho-Oh… I need your assistance."

*POP*

Azure didn't waste any time and threw out Ho-Oh. As soon as it came out, everyone stopped seeing a giant rainbow phoenix descend onto the battlefield.

*BOOOOM*

Ho-Oh activated its Ability Pressure. The sudden appearance of the Rainbow Pokémon's willpower forced upon its lesser were suffocating everyone nearby as they saw the brilliance and fury of the Rainbow Pokémon's glare and appearance.

Azure slyly smirked as the ability of Pressure is used, forcing a Pokémon to spend more energy in battle than usual. Or by causing them to become tense, nervous, or fearful of their power.

*Fwp*

Flapping its wings, Ho-Oh unleashed its Pressure ability to the fullest with a cry that sent shivers down the enemy's spine, "SCHEEEEE!!!!! (HALT THIS OR I'LL INTERVENE IN THIS AFFAIR MYSELF!!!)"

Under Ho-Oh's ability, the sea of people, gang members, hunters, and Pokémon realized how weak they were, so with only a glare and intense pressure…

*THUD*

… one by one, they started falling over, foaming at the mouth. Both Pokémon and People who were directly affected by Ho-Oh's presence started falling over, then people, criminal gang members, and hunters/poachers, until everyone fighting was laid out unconscious on the ground.

People innocent of this watching were shocked to see everyone taken down so easily, and after Azure looked inside and gave a thumbs up, declaring with a smug grin, "Sorry, Volkner and Flint! I needed to show off, I promise to leave you the flunkies!"

Volkner and Flint regained their breath as they exhaled in relief. The people started cheering, and that finally, the Criminal Gang Members and The Hunters were the ones beginning to feel fear…

With that, the trio began to capture and hunt down every one of those involved in these attacks. Azure grinned as he opened his Arc Phone and muttered, "Good thing I had Celebi search up the past to dig up these guys' locations. Now… time to start hunting. Right, guys?"

Pikachu chirped happily, raising a fist bump. Eevee barked, baring her fangs. And his Poke Balls shook in anticipation as Ho-Oh stood on guard using its psychic abilities to ensure no one escaped its watch.

Watching Azure's group beginning to clear the crooks, Ho-Oh smiled fondly, recalling its previous partners in a fond tone, 'I suppose all Rainbow Heroes have a sense of justice. Just like those before him…'

With that, Azure and his group began to hunt down every single one of the hunters and criminal gangs without mercy. All three have the items [Sacred Ash] given to them by Ho-Oh, and they could fight for as long as they want.

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A/N: Reach the goal of 300 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!