Chapter 12: Move Forward
~Azure S. POV~
[Kanto Region, Later, Viridian Forest – Butterfree's Territory]
After some time had passed, I brought out an Oran Berry from my Sub-Space. I made sure to have spares as I let my hand hold the Oran Berry to Dratini's mouth as she began to slowly eat the Oran Berry.
*Munch*
Slowly munching on the Oran Berry Dratini, she loses the swirls in her eyes and slowly stands up. Her gaze darted to me, Butterfree's, then to Pikachu, and finally back to me again.
I could see the gears turning in its head, replaying the battle and analyzing where it went wrong, looking down. Crouching next to it, I said in an amazed tone, "That was amazing. You showed your stuff."
Dratini tilted its head, giving me a look that said, 'Yeah, but I still lost.'
But I quickly added, trying to soften the blow as I explained in a proud tone of her excellent work, "You were holding your own against Pikachu. Not most can handle my partner. Brilliant. Most Pokémon would've been thrown off and panicked. But you stayed calm and acted accordingly."
Dratini shyly looked away, blushing lightly at the praise. But I continued speaking as her head turned to me, "I know what you're thinking. You're wondering if I'm worth following, aren't you?"
Dratini narrowed his eyes as she cried childishly, "Draaa…"
With an eager grin, I was holding my Poke Ball, enlarging it as a show of invitation in a calm tone, "Well, how about you give me a chance to prove myself? Join my team, and I'll make sure you evolve into a mighty Dragonite. You'll be a dragon that no one will mess with. But you've got to trust me."
Pikachu looked eagerly at the scene before me. Dratini stared at the ball and then looked at me.
*Bdmp*
I felt my heart race, thinking she might retract his offer and leave. Instead, Dratini gave the Poke Ball a playful tap with its snout, with a proud cry, "Dra! Dratini!"
*Click*
The Poke Ball opened, and with a flash of light, Dratini disappeared. Then the Poke Ball began to move…
It clicked shut with a satisfying ding. I was positively happy with this outcome. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
I glanced at the Poke Ball in my hand, smiling as I said happily, "Welcome to this Pokémon adventure, little dragon. Glad to have ya onboard."
Mending relations with Dratini was important. If it had tried to attack savagely, I might've let it go, but fortunately, my Pikachu knocked some sense into it.
Not only that, but she was also very young, judging by her height. The entry said adult or growing adolescents of Dratini come to grow as big as over six feet. Hopefully, bonding with it more would help ease the savagery it inherited from Team Rocket.
But I also need to know where my Pokémon would be sent since I have the Boxes tab on my abilities. The Pokémon Storage System allows Pokémon to be stored and transmitted as computer data.
The player can withdraw or deposit Pokémon in several Boxes, allowing them to own more Pokémon than just the six permitted in their party. The first such system was originally developed by Bill.
In the core series games, most regions use nominally different versions of the Pokémon Storage System. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, pastures serve the same role.
Having some concerns, I decided to check on [Boxes] to be sure. And when I did so, a pop-up screen appeared explaining to me the rules.
[Boxes: Within these Boxes are stabilized pocket dimensions suitable for your Pokémon's natural environment in an internal ecosystem suitable for the habitation of various Pokémon. A place where you're Pokémon will be perfectly safe and sustained during their stay.
Pokémon sent here will be deep in hibernation without fear of hunger, while their consciousness will be residing in the [Dream World], a different dimension that Pokémon visit when they are asleep, gradually recovering from being fainted, status conditions, and enjoy dreaming with other Pokémon in their spare time.]
[Box 1/32: 0/30
1: None.
2: None.
3: None…]
Getting to the point, I understood the Box mechanic, rolling my eyes. But I don't see myself collecting that MANY Pokémon in the future. Sigh… shaking my head for now, I had to focus on my situation first…
/////
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Meanwhile, Pewter City – in the west]
In Pewter City, Red is seen with his newly captured Pikachu, trying to befriend the little mouse Pokémon, "Come on! Don't be so stubborn! How 'bout we try to be friends? Okay, Pikachu…?"
*Chakk*
Instead, Red received a nasty shock from the mouse Pokémon, with him commenting to Pikachu as someone gets close behind him in a kind tone, "Geez, you look cute, but…"
Suddenly, the person from behind finally spoke to Red, getting his attention as he turned around to see the person next to him in a neutral tone, "You're taking it easy on that Pikachu, aren't you, Red?"
Turning around, Red was shocked to see Blue talking to him as he spoke to Red in a neutral tone, "You'll never fill your Pokedex playing around like that. I'm embarrassed to have you as a rival on this quest!"
Red didn't take the insult well as the two prepared their Poke Balls on their waist belt but then Blue casually tosses his ball up and down explaining to Red he had better things to do in a confident tone, "But first, my impetuous friend… this town's Gym Leader Brock, is looking for someone worthy to fight him. I intend to do so… and win the Boulder Badge."
Red was confused by Blue's explanation, mumbling, confused, "The Boulder Badge?"
Blue genuinely looked surprised but not before long started to explain to Red about the badges earned from Gym Leaders in a cocky tone, "Don't you know? The Boulder Badge can boost the attack power of your Pokémon. Every Pokémon trainer knows that."
Red cursed back at Blue for being cocky and more knowledgeable than him as Blue proclaims his challenge towards Red in an arrogant tone, "So, here's my challenge to you. Let's see which of us can win the Boulder Badge first. Of course, it shouldn't be much of a match since you can't even train an electric mouse."
Red instantly replied to Blue's response, being hot-headed and accepting the challenge in a confident tone, "I'll take that challenge! And you'll regret it!"
Blue merely laughed back while giving Red a tip on what the Gym Leader specializes in a pitiful tone, "Hahaha! Oh, and one more thing: Brock is a Rock Pokémon Trainer. Your little electric mouse won't be any good against him. Well, good luck."
Leaving immediately as a poster paper flew by with Red sitting down as he opened his eyes, seeing the poster about Brock's challenge in an annoyed tone, "What a jerk… so, the next challenge is tomorrow at noon?"
Feeling excited, filled with energy, and standing back up again, feeling pumped for a challenge in a confident tone, "Let's do it! Blue is gonna be sorry he ever—"
But suddenly, Red stopped himself as he almost forgot to check his Pokémon, recalling how tired his Poliwhirl and Bulbasaur were, reaching out for them in a concerned tone, "Whoops, almost forgot… the Pokémon I brought with me are low on health. First thing in the morning, I need to go to a Pokémon Center and get these guys healed!"
Red is unaware that the Pokémon Center will be out of commission tomorrow from damages done by Team Rocket…
/////
[Kanto Region, Meanwhile, Viridian Forest – Butterfree's Territory]
Meanwhile, Red took care of his Pokémon Azure with his Pokémon Dratini and Pikachu and was prepared as they shifted their gazes to the Butterfree. Azure spoke up, bowing his head to them in a thankful tone, says, "Thank you, Butterfree's, for allowing us to stay with us here! Thanks for sheltering us while we stayed here."
The Buterfree all hummed with a soft cry, "Freee…"
They nodded their heads as one of them got close to Azure. He was confused as one of them handed Azure an item, greatly confusing him.
But he realized with wide eyes that Pikachu was helping the Caterpie using electric-type energy learning Electroweb the Buterfree thanked him for teaching their future generations how to deal with Flying Types.
Not only that, he checked the item that Buterfree gave to him using [Observe]. He was equally shocked by the Butterfly Pokémon's genuine kindness.
[Item: [Silver Powder]
Rarity Item: A
Type: Held Item
Description: An item to be held by a Pokémon. It's a shiny silver powder that boosts the power of the holder's Bug-type moves by 20%.]
With this, Azure left Butterfree's territory, thankful for their genuine kindness as he traversed the Viridian Forest, letting Pikachu and Dratini handle any issues they came across.
/////
[Kanto Region, Later, Viridian Forest]
Azure, with his Pokémon Dratini and Pikachu, is making their way out of Viridian Forest. Along the way, the trio encountered various Pokémon not native to Viridian Forest.
*Thud*
Azure narrowed his eyes as he observed as they continued forward, watching the defeated Geodudes and Graveler. They were defeated easily, with Pikachu and Dratini using the Iron Tail Move to deal the most damage against the Rock-Type Pokémon.
They continued making their way through Viridian Forest as he offered an Oran Berry to his Pokémon. He commented in a calm tone, "It's ridiculous with the different types of Pokémon from other routes all here. The Poison Types, like Ekans or Koffings. Although I haven't seen any other Pokémon besides the Kanto Region Pokémon."
Azure wondered if Giovanni had added any Johto Pokémon, considering the Boss of Team Rocket had handed his son a Sneasel. He had hoped he would see other Pokémon from other regions, but it seemed to be wishful thinking.
Seeing the Gate entrance at the other end of Viridian Forest, the group proceeded to enter, seeking the next town. Azure grinned as he got a new Pokémon, Dratini, in his team, wondering what other Pokémon he would encounter next.
Upon doing so, he noticed he needed to form a proper team. Checking his Arc Phone, he frowned seeing there weren't any movie or anime-related locations shown on his map or info searching on the web.
Realizing this, he thought in a serious tone, analyzing the situation at hand, 'Then I'll need to form a good team line-up in the Kanto Region. Having Electric and Dragon/Flying in the future is secured. But I'll be needing more than that…'
Pondering on his future teammates, Azure needed a Fighting/Steel and Psychic/Fairy to fill his roster. But that left the other two questionable choices he'll need to fill the other two choices for his team.
Unfortunately, he couldn't exactly go out to collect them. He briefly paused, pondering this as he thought, 'Wait… there isn't any rule that says I could collect a Ralts and Riolu in other regions. Besides that, though, they could wait till I have a strong enough team.'
Azure considered the idea and nodded. He ultimately waited to have two slots ready for them when he got the other members of his team, smiling at the thought of being optimistic about the situation.
But he also knew plans could change depending on the situation, as he sighed, 'Sigh… at least I have someplace safe that can take care of my Pokémon. Better see which Pokémon I can get to willingly follow me first.'
Shaking his head for the moment, he grinned, gazing at his two Pokémon in front of him as he said in a determined tone, "Alright, you two, it's time for us to face the gym when we reach the Pewter City Gym!"
Both looked at Azure and followed his enthusiasm, "Pika! Dra!!"
/////
A/N: The Auxiliary Chapters on the MC's current Rotation and Boxes are out. But be warned, they will be updated when they pass a certain chapter number, which I'll try to update.