Pokémon Adventures: GAMER PATH

~Azure S. POV~

[Kanto Region, Weeks Later, Pallet Town – Oak's Lab]

The gentle Pallet Town sun warmed my face, a familiar comfort. From my perch on the hill overlooking Professor Oak's lab, the world felt serene, almost deceptively so.

Pikachu was chasing his tail in a patch of sun-drenched clovers, his tiny electrical sacs sparking with playful energy. Eevee, ever the more composed of my two constant companions, was curled on my lap.

This was peace. The kind of peace a trainer dreams of after conquering a Pokémon League or thwarting the latest world-domination scheme.

But for me, though, it was time to do some stuff. After having time to bond with my Pokémon, it was time for me to head to the ancient past of the Sinnoh Region, the Hisui Region.

A time when Pokémon were not partners, but terrifying forces of nature, and humans were intruders in a world that did not belong to them. It was a frontier of unimaginable danger and discovery…

It was the ultimate challenge. I murmured, stroking Eevee's head, "What do you think, guys?"

She let out a soft purr, "Bui…"

Pikachu paused his spinning, trotting over to nudge my hand with his head, his black-tipped ears twitching inquisitively as I said casually, "Ready for one more adventure? The biggest one yet."

Pikachu gave a resolute cry and a tiny spark of courage, "Pika! (Bring it on!)"

Eevee's determined chirp sealed it, "Bui! (Yeah!)"

The preparation took the better part of a week. This wasn't like preparing for the Pokémon League Tournaments. There would be no Pokémon Centers, no friendly Nurse Joy, no convenient Poké Marts.

I packed my bag with everything I could think of: durable camping gear, a solar-powered charger for my devices, water purifiers, a massive supply of Potions and Full Heals I'd brewed myself from berries, and enough preserved food for months. I was going in blind, and I had to be ready for anything.

The most crucial preparation, however, was my team. Pikachu and Eevee would be with me always, their small size and keen senses making them perfect scouts and unwavering moral support.

But for the raw, untamed wilderness of Hisui, I needed power, strategy, and versatility. I spent a long afternoon at Professor Oak's ranch, deliberating. First, my core team, the family I'd fought with through thick and thin.

Gengar, my shadowy trickster, was essential. Her ability to phase through objects and her cunning in battle would be invaluable for stealth and psychological warfare. Dragonite, my gentle giant, was my primary means of aerial transport and a bastion of draconic strength if need be.

Arcanine, whose loyalty was as fiery as his breath, was pure, reliable offensive power and a living furnace for cold nights. And Scizor, with his steel-hard exoskeleton and lightning-fast attacks, was my perfect defensive vanguard.

But Hisui was an unknown quantity. I needed more. For added security, I chose three others. Tyranitar, a walking cataclysm whose sheer destructive force could level mountains, would be my answer to any overwhelming physical threat.

Alakazam, with his genius-level IQ and reality-bending psychic abilities, would be my strategist and my early warning system, along with being an amazing chief. And finally, Mismagius. Where Gengar was a prankster, Mismagius dealt in illusions and curses—a specialist for threats that weren't physical at all.

Standing before the seven Poké Balls laid out on my desk, I felt a tremor of both profound excitement and deep-seated fear. These seven Pokémon, plus Pikachu and Eevee, were my lifeline.

And most importantly, I had my Marshadow in my shadow if the situation called for it. And then, clasped around my neck was Ho-Oh's Poké Ball, as fortunately, I don't need to feed the Rainbow Pokémon, as it draws off the natural energy of the world to fuel it.

But from time to time, I do feed Ho-Oh some high-quality berries or Poke Blocks. But otherwise, the day of departure was quiet.

I said my goodbyes to my friends and the Professor, offering a vague explanation about a long-term research expedition to a remote region. It wasn't entirely a lie on my end.

This wasn't a League challenge; this was a survival expedition. I packed my bag with modern marvels—Max Potions, full-strength Revives, a durable all-weather tent, and a solar-powered charger I hoped would still work.

In the heart of Viridian Forest, where the ancient trees seemed to hold secrets of their own, I released Celebi. The small, green creature hovered before me, its large blue eyes knowing what I wanted.

It didn't need me to speak my destination aloud. It could feel the pull of my desire, the unique temporal frequency I was focused on.

I said excitedly, my voice steady despite the frantic beating of my heart, "Take us there, my friend. To the Hisui region."

Pikachu climbed onto my shoulder, pressing his cheek against mine. Eevee leaped into my arms, tucked securely against my chest.

I returned my chosen seven to their Poké Balls, clipping them securely to my belt. Celebi chirped, a sound that echoed not through the air, but through time itself. A shimmering, emerald-green aura enveloped us.

*Shiii*

The familiar sights and sounds of the forest dissolved into a vortex of swirling colors and distorted noise. It felt like being pulled through a needle's eye, a sensation of immense pressure and weightlessness all at once.

My modern clothing felt paper-thin, my high-tech Arc Phone a cold, foreign object against my hip. Then, as suddenly as it began, it ended.

/////

[Hisui Region, Cobalt Coastlands – Firespit Island]

*Shiii*

The first thing that hit me was the smell: sulfur, salt, and something else… something wild and primal. The air was thick and humid, heavy with the oppressive heat of volcanic activity.

My feet weren't on soft forest loam, but on jagged, black rock that was still warm to the touch. I looked around, my breath catching in my throat.

We were on an island, a desolate spit of land dominated by a smoldering volcano that spewed a lazy column of black smoke into the azure sky—a sky that felt older, wider, and emptier than the one I had left behind.

Rivers of molten rock flowed in lazy, glowing orange streams towards a turbulent sea of the deepest cobalt. There were no signs of human life. No paths, no buildings, nothing.

Just rock, fire, and water. And yet this world felt… sharper. More dangerous. The very air vibrated with a primal energy I had never felt before.

Taking out my Arc Phone, I checked the Map App, seeing that it did show me the Hisui Region. I whispered, "Firespit Island. Located in the Cobalt Coastlands in the Hisui Region… We'd made it."

Pikachu's fur was standing on end, his nose twitching as he scanned our surroundings. Eevee trembled slightly in my arms, her wide eyes reflecting the fiery landscape.

I reassured them, my voice a low murmur but held a confident tone, "It's okay. We're okay. We just must be careful."

I took a few tentative steps, my boots crunching on the volcanic gravel. The raw power of this place was overwhelming.

It was a world still in the process of being born, beautiful and terrifying in equal measure. This was what I had sought. The ultimate untamed frontier.

I was so absorbed in the macro view that I nearly missed the micro. A flicker of movement. A presence.

It wasn't just the heat of the volcano I felt on my skin; it was the heat of a gaze. A powerful, intelligent gaze that sent a shiver down my spine despite the sweltering temperature.

My hand instinctively went to the Poké Balls at my belt. Pikachu let out a low, warning growl, tiny sparks crackling at his cheeks.

I followed his line of sight. There, standing on a high ledge overlooking a pool of bubbling lava, was a Pokémon unlike any I had ever seen in person.

I knew it was a Ninetales, but it was to a regular Ninetales what a lightning strike is to a static spark. It was immense, easily twice the size of any I'd registered or encountered before...

Its nine tails were not merely fur, but flowing banners of molten gold, each tipped with an ethereal, crimson flame. Its cream-colored coat seemed to shimmer with an inner light, and its eyes… its eyes glowed with a fierce, ancient, and terrifying red intelligence.

An aura of raw, untamed power radiated from it, pressing down on the very air, making it thick and hard to breathe. So, just coming here and I've encountered an Alpha Pokémon right away, huh…

Extremely aggressive and territorial. Approach with extreme caution. This was my welcome to Hisui.

A trial by fire, literally. The Alpha Ninetales hadn't moved, save for the hypnotic swaying of its nine tails.

It was watching us, judging us. It was the master of this fiery domain, and we were trespassers. A low growl rumbled from its chest, a sound like grinding stones that vibrated through the soles of my boots, "Grr…"

Running was not an option. Showing weakness here, in my very first encounter, would set a dangerous precedent.

I had come seeking the spirit of this ancient world, and it was now staring me in the face. I had to answer it.

I said softly, lowering her to the ground beside my leg, "Eevee, stay with me."

She pressed against me, resolute. I spoke to Pikachu lightly, "Pikachu, on my shoulder. Be ready."

I unclipped a Poké Ball from my belt. If my knowledge about this land is correct, then shouldn't the ruler of the Cobalt Coastlands be the Noble Hisuian Arcanine and Basculegion…

Welp, time to see how my team stacks up against an Alpha Pokémon. Grinning confidently, I hurled my choice proudly, "Arcanine! Let's show our strength!"

*Pop*

I threw the ball. It opened with a flash of red light and with a ground-shaking roar that challenged the volcano itself. Arcanine materialized, "GRAOOO!!!"

I needed a statement. I needed a force of nature to meet a force of nature.

The air crackled as my partner slammed his feet onto the volcanic rock, his orange and black fur a stark contrast to the Ninetales's elegant fury. He was shorter than the Alpha, but wiser and experienced than wild Pokémon.

But it was when Ninetales' eyes widened briefly, seeing Arcanine, that it got alerted. It stood up with a leveled glare as it growled, "Nin! Grraaao!!"

The Alpha Ninetales tilted its head, its crimson eyes narrowing. It saw Arcanine not as a threat, but as an affront. It opened its maw, and without any warning, a torrent of supernatural, blue-white fire erupted towards us.

*Sssss*

I was surprised to see this, as this wasn't a normal move. It wasn't Flamethrower; it was something older, wilder.

Most trainers would have ordered a dodge. But I knew my Arcanine.

I knew his strength. I yelled over the roar of the flames, "Arcanine, stand your ground! Use Howl to boost yourself!"

Arcanine planted his paws, his loyalty overriding any instinct for self-preservation. He met the ghostly inferno head-on as he howled, "Awoooo!!!"

The fire washed over him, and for a terrifying second, he was completely engulfed. But instead of cries of pain, there was a deep, resonant rumble.

*RMBL*

The blue flames swirled around him, not burning him, but being drawn into him. His body began to glow with a faint red aura, the energy of the Alpha's attack becoming his own thanks to its Flash Fire Ability.

The Ninetales took an involuntary step back, a flicker of surprise in its ancient eyes. It had never seen a creature that could consume its sacred fire.

But to most, though, it never fought against a Pokémon Trainer. It was about to learn that the hard way as I grinned, issuing a command, "Now we're talking! Arcanine, Agile Style Extreme Speed!"

*ZOOOOM*

He became a blur of orange and black, a living comet streaking across the volcanic rock, his paws barely seeming to touch the ground. He moved faster than the Alpha could track, circling it, leaving a trail of superheated air in his wake.

The Ninetales, enraged, whipped its nine tails, unleashing a volley of glowing orbs—Shadow Balls, but larger and faster than any I'd seen. But we've faced worse as I ordered, "Arcanine! Dodge with Agility and use Giga Impact!"

*Zoooom*

Arcanine weaved through the spectral projectiles with impossible grace. His body, already glowing from Flash Fire, erupted into a cocoon of blistering red-orange flame.

He was no longer just absorbing the Alpha's power; he was amplifying it with his thanks to its ability Flash Fire. He slammed into the Alpha Ninetales's flank with the force of a meteor using Giga Impact.

*BOOOM*

The impact was tremendous, sending a shockwave that cracked the rock beneath them. The Alpha roared, this time a sound of genuine pain and fury, and was thrown several feet, stumbling to regain its footing.

But it was far from finished. It rose, shaking its massive head, and fixed Arcanine with a hypnotic gaze. Its eyes glowed, and a wave of pure psychic pressure washed over us as I realized it used Confuse Ray.

*Shiii*

I yelled, channeling all my focus, all our shared history, our bond, into my command using my Viridian Force, "Arcanine, snap out of it! Focus on my voice!"

*Snap*

My partner shook his head violently, a low growl of frustration in his throat. Using my Viridian Force to break through the confusion, Arcanine stood his ground, his pride wounded but defiant.

The Alpha Ninetales saw its opportunity. It gathered its energy, all nine tails rising to point at Arcanine, the blue tips merging into a single, massive sphere of incandescent, otherworldly fire, a Fire Blast.

This was its ultimate attack, a blast that could surely incinerate the very rock we stood on. There was no time for finesse.

It was all or nothing. Narrowing my eyes, I ordered sternly, "Arcanine! All you've got! Strong Style! GIGA IMPACT!"

It was a move of desperation, one that would leave him vulnerable, but it was our only chance. Pouring every last ounce of the power he'd absorbed, every fiber of his being, Arcanine charged.

He was no longer a Pokémon; he was a living embodiment of fire and force, a physical manifestation of our will to survive. Then the world turned white...

*BOOOOM*

The blue sun of the Alpha's attack met the charging golden star of Arcanine's Giga Impact. The collision unleashed a cataclysmic explosion.

A dome of pure energy expanded outwards, vaporizing the steam from the fissures and blasting superheated air across the island. I threw my arm over my face, Pikachu and Eevee huddled behind me as the ground shook violently.

When the light faded, the silence was deafening. Steam and dust filled the air.

My heart was lodged in my throat. As the haze cleared, I saw both figures.

Arcanine was on his stomach, breathing heavily, the energy from the Giga Impact having left him completely drained. He was exhausted, but he was conscious.

Across from him, the Alpha Ninetales was on one knee, its majestic form panting, its spectral flames flickering weakly. Having been pushed this much, the Alpha Ninetales leveled its gaze upon us.

Defiant in the end, it was time for negotiations. I began to walk up, standing next to Arcanine as I spoke up with a calm voice, "Arcanine, use Morning Sun. And Ninetales… how about you and I talk?"

*Wooosh*

Tossing a few Sitrus Berries near its feet, Arcanine took the moment to heal up, regaining its health and stamina. Ninetales looked at us warily but took the chance to devour the Sitrius berries as I used my [Observe] on it.

[Ninetales [Alpha] (F) Lv.75 Fox Pokémon]

A few levels higher than my Arcanine than most of my team. Granted, this could be a very old Ninetales, as its dex entry has said they lived up to 1000 years, and that each tail contains supernatural power.

I wonder if that's why it chose to attack with Fire-type moves despite Arcanine having Flash Fire to counter it. Having taken the bites of the Sitrius Berry, recovering its health, Ninetales raised its paw, waving off to me.

Seems like I managed to grab her attention. Seeing the opportunity, I began to talk in a calm tone, "Ninetales, first let me be the first to say we didn't intend to trespass on your turf. I was hoping to ask if you would allow me to capture one of your kin to join my team."

Ninetales' eyes hardened, hearing that as she gazed into my eyes. It was then trying to take control over my mind, but…

[Due to your Viridian Force, you nullified Ninetales' hypnotic influence!]

Slyly grinning, I could see the shocked expression on its face seeing it tried to control me. I sighed, shaking my head disappointedly, "Sigh… and here I thought we would come to an understanding here. But I suppose you left me with no choice. Arcanine…"

Arcanine looked into my eyes as it glared fiercely at Ninetales. It knew immediately it tried to control me as I gave the command coldly, "… Go and hunt. Teach this Fox what it means to disrespect my kindness for weakness."

Arcanine grinned as Ninetales bit its lips, seeing it pissed off by my Legendary Pokémon. And my Pokémon don't take kindly to anyone trying to harm me.

*Zoooom*

Using Extreme Speed, Ninetales didn't have the chance to retaliate. Arcanine lunged forward as it tackled the Alpha Ninetales down…

*Pop*

I brought out my Pokémon to watch and to provide my protection. My trip to Hisui is going to be an eventful one, I just know it.

/////

A/N: Reach the goal of 350 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!