Pokémon Adventures: GAMER PATH

~Third POV~

[Unova Region, Meanwhile, Route 2]

Whilst Black and Azure are heading to the Gym in Unova Region's Route 2, casting long, amber shadows across the winding dirt paths. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the sweet, floral aroma of wild Pecha berries. It was a picturesque scene, but for Cheren, it was a source of growing agitation.

*Rustle-Snap*

A bush near the edge of the path exploded with movement. Bianca, whose blonde hair was perpetually a mess beneath her large green beret, let out a startled "Eek!" as a pink, bipedal Pokémon with curled ears and a gentle expression hopped into the center of the road. Bianca chirped, her eyes widening, "Ah! It's an Audino! Oh, it's so cute! I must—wait, where is he?"

She began a frantic, clumsy search through her oversized satchel. Potions, half-eaten snacks, and crumpled maps flew into the air as she dug for a Poké Ball. Cheren stood a few feet away, his arms crossed over his chest, his Snivy looking up at him with an equally unimpressed expression.

The Audino tilted its head, sensing the chaos, "Preeee?"

Bianca finally pulled out a Poké Ball and clicked the center, muttering, "Oh, where did I put it… Ah! Oshawott! Where are you?"

*POP*

With a flash of white light, the sea otter Pokémon emerged, looking slightly dazed. Bianca ordered, "Okay, Oshawott! Use... um... Tackle!"

Oshawott lunged, but it was sluggish. The Audino, despite its soft appearance, was surprisingly sturdy. It absorbed the hit and let out a rhythmic, soothing hum—a Disarming Voice. The sound waves rippled through the air…

*Vwoom-vwoom-vwoom*

… striking Oshawott and sending it tumbling backward.

Bianca cried out, "Oh no! Oshawott!"

Cheren sighed, the sound sharp and clinical. He stepped forward, grabbing Bianca by the shoulder and pulling her behind him, stating, "Enough, Bianca. You're letting it toy with you. Oshawott isn't leveled enough for this encounter."

She whined, clutching her Oshawott back into its ball, "But Cheren! I lost!"

Cheren adjusted his glasses, his gaze fixed on the retreating Audino as it hopped back into the tall grass. He thought, his jaw tightening, 'She is such a dawdler. We're already behind. Every minute we spend on these distractions is a minute Black gets further ahead with the sole working Pokédex.'

Cheren said sternly, his voice flat, "Move. We have to find Black. We need to warn him to take extra care with his Pokédex. Since mine and yours are fried, his is the only one that works. We can't afford any more setbacks."

Bianca pouted, but she scampered to keep up with his brisk pace. Then she exclaimed, pointing ahead of them, "Ugh, you're so serious today. But look! We're already here! Striaton City!"

As the trees thinned, the cobblestone streets of Striaton City came into view. The city was a blend of old-world charm and modern convenience, with brick buildings adorned with flower boxes and streetlamps that glowed with a soft, inviting light.

/////

[Unova Region, Striaton City – Gym]

Striaton City was a marvel of architectural elegance. Unlike the rustic charm of Nuvema Town, Striaton was a city of refinement, where the cobblestone streets were swept clean, and the air smelled of roasting coffee and blooming hibiscus.

Cheren walked with a sense of purpose, ignoring the colorful boutiques. He stopped an older woman carrying a parasol, tipping his head politely but speaking with an intensity that bordered on frantic.

Cheren began, "Excuse me, Madam…"

Suddenly, his lungs expanded, and he shouted at the top of his voice, mimicking Black's motto, "I'M GOING TO BE THE CHAMPION! NINETY-NINE PERCENT CERTAINTY! NO, ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!"

The lady jumped, nearly dropping her parasol. She exclaimed, startled, "Goodness! Such a loud young man!"

Cheren said casually, his voice dropping back to its normal, cool register without any shame of his yelling, "Apologies. Have you seen a boy—likely looking exhausted or shouting that exact phrase—pass by here?"

The woman chuckled, patting her heart, replying, "Oh, yes. A very energetic boy with a red cap. He went right into that building over there—the one with the grand green awnings. It's the finest restaurant in the city."

Cheren said, already turning, "Thank you. Bianca, come on."

As they approached the building, Bianca's eyes widened. She exclaimed, examining the building up close, "Whoa, it's a restaurant! I'm starving! Maybe Black is treating us to lunch?"

Cheren sighed, "Knowing him, he probably forgot we even exist."

*Thud*

They pushed through the heavy oak doors, and the atmosphere shifted instantly. The clinking of silverware on fine china, the soft murmur of jazz, and the scent of five-star cuisine greeted them. But the most striking thing was the group seated at a large circular table near the center.

There was Black, his Tepig sitting on his shoulder, looking like he was in the middle of a heated debate. Next to him sat a girl with a ponytail and a very professional-looking blazer—White. And on the other side of the table sat an Azure that seemed to command the very air around him.

Azure sat with a relaxed, almost regal posture. A Pikachu was perched on his right shoulder, its ears twitching as it nibbled on a high-quality Poke-treat. An Eevee sat directly on top of his head, looking like a fluffy crown. Tucked into the front of his jacket, a Pichu (Mew)—peered out with wide, curious eyes.

Azure looked up as Cheren and Bianca approached. His eyes, sharp and filled with the wisdom of someone who had faced down legendary beasts, crinkled with a faint, knowing smile as he waved at them.

Cheren stammered, momentarily losing his composure, "A-Azure!"

Even though they had met him briefly before their journey began, the presence of a four-time League Champion was always overwhelming. Bianca, however, wasn't looking at Azure, ignoring him.

She was staring at White, her face flushing a deep shade of crimson. She came asking Black with a shocked expression. She shrieked, her voice echoing through the quiet restaurant, "Black! You... you're on a date?! We've been looking everywhere for you, and you're here with a girl?!"

Black nearly fell out of his chair. He looked at Bianca and replied with some confusion, "A date?! Bianca, shut up! It's not like that!"

Azure chuckled, a low, melodic sound, explaining to Black, "Hardly a date, Bianca. It's business. We're currently discussing the logistics of the BW Agency."

Gengar's raspy ethereal voice echoed from the floor with a grinning face briefly phased through the carpet before vanishing again, "Keke... she thinks the loud boy has game. That's the funniest thing I've heard all day."

White stood up and adjusted her jacket. She said to Black and Azure in a casual tone, "Well, Black, Azure, I have some calls to make regarding our next shoot. Tepig and I will head out for a bit. Don't be late for the meeting later."

She gestured to her Gigi—and made a graceful exit. Bianca's eyes followed her, narrowing as she began, "I don't trust her. I'm going to see where she's going—"

Cheren reached out and grabbed Bianca's arm, hauling her into the chair White had just vacated. He exclaimed in a stern tone, "Sit down. You're being ridiculous. We have a message to deliver."

A maid in a crisp uniform appeared beside them and asked politely, "Welcome to the Striaton Gym-Restaurant. May I offer you our 'Trainer's Special' menu? It is designed to bolster the spirits of those aiming for the top."

Cheren said dismissively, "We're just here to see a friend."

*Grumble*

… though his stomach traitorously growled.

Bianca poked the boy in the red cap, interrogating him, "Black! Who was that girl? Why is she bossing you around?"

Black groaned, rubbing his temples. He explained himself to them, "That's White. She runs a talent agency for Pokémon. They do movies, commercials, that kind of thing. And... well, I owe her a lot of money because I trashed some of her equipment. So now I'm her bodyguard/employee."

Cheren and Bianca looked at each other. They said bluntly in perfect unison, their expressions flat, "We don't get it at all."

Black threw his hands up, exclaiming, "What's not to get?! I work, I get to travel, and she helps me manage things! Right, Azure?"

Azure merely chuckled at Black's predicament. Black shot Azure a glare as the older trainer chuckled again and said dismissively in a calm tone, "Don't mind me, Black. I'm just enjoying the show."

The commotion didn't go unnoticed. At the far end of the room, three figures stood near the kitchen doors. They wore matching waiter uniforms, but their hair colors—green, blue, and red—made them stand out like beacons.

The green-haired one, Cilan, noted with a smile, "He's certainly spirited."

The blue-haired one, Cress, added, adjusting his tie, "He's getting into quite a few arguments. Perhaps we should toss him out for disturbing the other guests?"

The red-haired one, Chili, smirked, cracking his knuckles. He said firmly with an eager grin, "Take it easy, Cress. He made a reservation for the full-course service. We can't turn away a hungry customer."

Cilan agreed, adding, "True. We should show him our hospitality first."

The three brothers moved in perfect unison, their movements choreographed and fluid. They approached the table, each holding a ceramic teapot. They said in unison, "Welcome to our establishment!"

Cilan said politely, his voice like silk, "Before your meal begins, we offer a traditional tea service."

*Whooosh—POP*

With a flick of their wrists, they released their Pokémon: a Pansage, a Panpour, and a Pansear. The Pokémon mimicked their trainers. In a dazzling display of agility, the brothers tossed the teapots into the air, catching them behind their backs, pouring the steaming liquid into delicate cups without spilling a single drop.

*Splish-Splash-Pour*

Bianca and Cheren watched, mesmerized. Bianca whispered in awe, "The way they move... It's like a dance."

Black, however, was vibrating in his seat.

He watched the green-haired waiter, 'Grass-type.'

He watched the blue-haired one, 'Water-type.'

And the red-haired one, 'Fire-type.'

Black shouted, slamming his hands on the table, "I've been waiting for this!"

The tea service wasn't just a meal; it was the signal. Black continued, "The tea service means the full course is starting! Which means the Gym battle is starting!"

The three brothers smiled simultaneously. They reached for a set of velvet curtains behind them and pulled.

*SHIIIING*

The curtains fell away to reveal a hidden chamber within the restaurant. On the floor were three large, glowing switches, each marked with an elemental symbol: Leaf, Droplet, and Flame.

Cheren asked in shock, his logical mind momentarily stunned, "Wait, the restaurant is the Gym?"

Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder, its cheeks sparking with a faint yellow glow. Azure answered, standing up and brushing the crumbs off his trousers, "Exactly, Cilan, Cress, and Chili. They're triplets, and they share the title of Gym Leader. It's a unique setup for Striaton City Gym."

Black grinned. He jabbed his thumb to his chest, boasting, "I did my research! I've been studying every Gym in Unova for 9 years!"

Cilan applauded, stating, "Impressive. Then you know how to get past the appetizer. To face us, you must prove your knowledge of the fundamentals."

Cress advised, adjusting his hair, "Choose your path carefully. The type of your Pokémon is the key to your survival."

Chili finished, pointing to the curtain blocks with an eager grin, "Pick the type advantage to move forward! Press the button on the floor that beats the symbol on the curtain. That's the first step to victory!"

Black stepped forward, his eyes locked on a curtain displaying a Water-type symbol. He thought, 'Easy. Grass beats Water.'

He began to move toward the Grass-type switch…

Suddenly—THUMP!

*THUMP*

Bianca jumped onto the Fire-type switch.

*CLICK*

Black screamed, his face turning a shade of red that rivaled Chili's hair, "Bianca! What are you doing?!"

Bianca shouted back, looking proud of herself, "Fire evaporates water! So, Fire has the advantage!"

*EEEE-ERRRR*

A loud, discordant buzzer sounded through the room. Black's face turned a shade of white that rivaled his friend's. He asked, "Bianca... what did you do?"

She beamed, answering Black's question, "I helped! Fire makes steam! Steam is gone! Advantage, Bianca!"

Black's voice reached a fever pitch. He screamed at Bianca, "That's not how it works! And this isn't even your battle! You're going to get me disqualified before I even start!"

Bianca huffed, crossing her arms, and replied in a childish tone, "Oh, hush! It's the correct answer; I just know it!"

Tep, Black's Tepig, didn't like the tone Bianca was using. He trotted over and nipped at Bianca's satchel, pulling on the strap…

*Oomph*

Bianca stumbled, falling onto the floor with a graceless oomph. She shouted, "Hey! Stop it! That's it! Oshawott, go!"

*POP*

In seconds, the arena was a mess of bickering. Black's Tepig and Bianca's Oshawott began snapping at each other, their childhood rivalry flaring up. Cheren's Snivy leapt into the fray to break them up, but within seconds, it was a three-way tumble of tails, vines, and bubbles.

Cheren yelled over the noise, pointing at Black, "Look at this! This is exactly what I'm talking about! Your 'hot-blooded' attitude ruins everything! From day one! You opened the box of starters without us! You trashed the Professor's lab! You broke the Pokedexes!"

Black flinched, his anger momentarily replaced by a pang of guilt.

Cheren continued, his voice trembling with years of pent-up frustration. He finally let it all out as he shouted, "We couldn't even start our journey on time because of you! And you didn't even say thank you to the Professor for Tep! You need to be more considerate of others, Black! You're not the only one with a dream!"

The room went silent. Even the elemental monkeys stopped to watch.

*BUZZZ*

Suddenly, a monitor on the wall flickered to life. Chili's face appeared, looking stern. Then he said bluntly, "Due to unauthorized interference by non-challengers in the preliminary test, the challenger is hereby... DISQUALIFIED."

*THUD*

Black's eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he collapsed onto the floor in a dead faint as his dreams were crushed.

Gengar cackled from the shadows, "Keke! Heart failure at fifteen. A new record!"

Azure sighed, standing up. He walked over to the unconscious Black and nudged him with his boot, helping him up as he said calmly, grabbing Black's attention, "Get up, Black. He's joking."

Chili's face on the screen broke into a wide grin. He answered jokingly, "Haha! Gotcha! We don't ban people for being idiots. That would be bad for business."

Black sat up instantly, his eyes wide, and asked, "I'm not disqualified?"

Cilan's voice came over the speaker, "No. But your companions need a lesson in the basics. Bianca doesn't seem to understand type compatibility at all."

Cheren muttered, "She's hopeless."

Cilan suggested in a calming tone, "How about this? Since you're all here, and clearly you have a lot to work out... we will authorize a special Three-on-Three Gym Battle. All three of you versus all three of us. It will be a 'Learning Course' service."

Black looked at Cheren and Bianca. His frustration was still there, but so was the spark of the dream. He asked them, "A three-on-three? Are you guys in?"

Bianca sniffled, rubbing her nose, replying, "I want to show I'm not hopeless."

Cheren adjusted his glasses, adding, "I suppose someone has to keep you from failing."

Azure looked at the Gym Leaders, who were now standing in a row at the end of the arena. He asked curiously, "And after them?"

Cress said casually, bowing slightly with an eager grin, "After them, we would be honored to battle a Champion. If you'll wait for the dessert course?"

Azure said, leaning against a pillar, "I can do that."

*BEEP*

The screen went dark. Black turned to Bianca, his frustration replaced by a focused, teaching intensity. Black pointed to Oshawott, saying, "Okay, Bianca. Watch this. If you don't understand types, you'll never win. Tep! Use Ember!"

*Fwoosh*

A small burst of flame hit Oshawott. The water Pokémon barely flinched, the fire fizzling out against its damp fur. Black explained calmly, "See? Not very effective. Now, Snivy! Use Vine Whip!"

*WHACK*

The grass snake Pokémon lashed out with two green vines—WHACK! Oshawott let out a pained cry as the Grass-type move landed a heavy blow.

Bianca realized, quickly pulling a Potion from her bag to spray Oshawott, "Oh! It hurt more! So... Grass is good against Water?"

Black said, carefully teaching Bianca, "Exactly. Now, look at the symbols. If the curtain is Water, you step on..."

Bianca hesitated, then stepped on the Grass symbol…

*DING*

The curtain rose. The group moved forward.

The next puzzle appeared. Black let Oshawott demonstrate its effectiveness against the Fire and Rock symbols. Cheren watched silently, his mind racing as he thought, 'Black isn't just a loudmouth. He understands the bond. He's using his own Pokémon's weaknesses to teach her. They're actually... cooperating.'

Finally, the trio reached the back of the gym…

*FLASH*

The lights flared to life, illuminating a professional battlefield. Standing on a pedestal were the three brothers.

The green-haired one said, "I am Cilan…"

The blue-haired one followed, "I am Cress..."

The red-haired one finished, "And I am Chili…"

They shouted in unison, "We are the Striaton Gym Leaders!"

Seeing them, Black, Bianca, and Cheren nodded. Then each spoke, introducing themselves to the Striaton City Gym Leaders.

"I'm Black!"

"I'm... Bianca!"

"And I am Cheren."

Azure stood off to the side, leaning against a pillar. His Zorua, which had been hiding in his shadow, hopped out and sat by his feet. Zoura's voice echoed in Azure's mind via telepathy, 'This should be entertaining. Who do you think will win, Boss?'

Azure watched as Black took his position, the boy's eyes glowing with the singular dream of the Championship. Azure whispered, "Black has the passion… But a Gym battle isn't just about heat. It's about flavor. Let's see if they've prepared the right recipe."

Cilan raised a hand, his expression turning sharp and professional, and stated, "The appetizer and the sides are finished. It is time for the main course!"

"Battle... start!"

The air in the gym surged with energy. Black, Bianca, and Cheren stepped forward as one, their Pokémon ready, the true test of their journey finally beginning in the heart of Striaton City.

/////

A/N: Hope you like the chapter!