Chapter 80: Ninth Champion
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Later, Pallet Town – Oak's Lab]
The celebratory party at Professor Oak's lab was in full swing. Laughter and chatter filled the air as Azure, surrounded by his friends and mentors, basked in the glow of his victory against Red in the finals.
Leaf Green and Blue Oak teased him mercilessly, recounting embarrassing moments from their shared journey. Daisy Oak fussed over him, making sure he had enough to eat.
Fire Red, a stoic figure, offered a rare but genuine smile. The Good Gym Leaders were invited to discuss other topics or what the future holds for them.
Professor Oak raised his glass, his eyes twinkling with pride. He announced proudly, "To Azure Sky, the new ninth champion of the Indigo League!"
Everyone cheered, raising their glasses in a toast. Azure smiled, feeling a warmth spread through him.
He looked around at the faces of his friends and the people who had supported him every step of the way. He said, his voice filled with gratitude, "Thank you. I couldn't have done it without all of you."
The party continued late into the night. Azure shared stories of his adventures, recounting the challenges he had faced and the lessons he had learned.
He talked about the Pokémon he had met along the way, each one leaving an indelible mark on his journey. Leaf Green leaned in, her eyes shining with excitement as she asked curiously, "So, what are you going to do now, Champion? Are you going to rest on your laurels, or are you going to take on new challenges...?"
Azure grinned. He shook his head, rubbing Arcanine's head as he said calmly, "Rest? Not a chance. This is just the beginning. There are so many more Pokémon to meet, so many more battles to fight."
Blue Oak chuckled. He added, gazing at Azure as he said cooly, "Always hungry for a challenge, aren't you, Azure?"
Azure replied, nudging him playfully, "You know me too well, Blue."
Nodding his head, Azure asked curiously about the trio's plan for the upcoming years, "I was wondering what you three plan to do?"
Hearing this question, Fire Red spoke in a determined tone, his eyes shone a fiery glint, adjusting his cap, "Heh. Simple, I'm planning to challenge you again. But till then, I'll help Prof. Oak complete his Pokedex while training."
Blue Oak leaned his back against the wall with Charizard leaning nearby as he said calmly, pulling out his Pokedex, "Simple. Continue to train and hone my skills as a trainer. I have a lot of work to do after this, but a simple celebration party sounds nice."
Nodding his head in understanding, he turned towards Green as she stated bluntly, sitting on top of her Blastoise, "For me? I'm gonna search for the person who controlled that bird… that bird snatched me and took my childhood away from me. So, I have plenty of time to go on my quest."
All nodded in understanding as Prof. Oak explained to them about Green's dilemma, gifting her a Pokedex. Prof. Oak explained that six years ago when a little girl was abducted by a large Legendary bird Pokémon.
Having a grandson of the same age, he felt the need to help out in the search and involved himself in the investigation so thoroughly that he could never forget her face. Years later, he was left shocked when he saw the same girl on his security cameras, having stolen a Squirtle out of his laboratory.
Green even explained the reason why she resorted to theft. She had to grow up in a strange place without any family, only knowing that she came from a place called Pallet Town. Later, she found out that two boys her age, also from Pallet Town, had been provided with Pokémon and a Pokédex and had been able to start their journeys.
Despondent, she begins to cry, wishing she had the opportunity to go on the same journey that they had. Professor Oak approaches her privately at the time and places a Pokédex into her hands, asking her to promise him that she understands now that stealing is wrong. He announces her as the third Trainer from Pallet Town.
The boys nodded their heads, understanding Green's story and her motivation. But then Red asked curiously about Azure's goals, "Since you've wanted to know our plans, what's yours, mister champion?"
Hearing this, Azure chuckled as Pikachu and Eevee climbed over his body as he said calmly, "As I've said before, go have more adventures and future battles. But I don't mind inviting some new moves for me to sell to have a stable income for my Pokémon. Unlike you two, I don't have a sponsor."
Green chuckled at his predicament as she corrected him cheekily, "Correction! Make those 3 sponsors by Prof. Oak!"
Azure rolled his eyes, seemingly pouting as Green took the time to enjoy the moment. He sighed at Green's antics of teasing him.
As the party wound down, Azure found himself standing on the porch of Professor Oak's lab, gazing up at the stars. But he was soon approached by Prof. Oak as he said curiously, getting his attention, "Say, Azure, I've heard from Red that you have your own Pokedex? Do you think I can see it?"
Turning around to face Prof. Oak, Azure shrugged his shoulders as he revealed his Arc Phone, handing it to Prof. Oak to examine. His eyes marveled, feeling the Arc Phone as Azure explained, "Sort of. This is a… family heirloom of mine. It was said to be given to my ancestor by a Legendary Pokémon, creating it, which provided my family vital info about Pokémon, among other things."
Azure had to carefully choose his words when he showed the Arc Phone. But hearing this jolted Prof. Oak as his eyes widened as he blurted excitedly, "Nani?!! This was made by a Legendary Pokémon! But it looks… so advanced…"
Testing the Arc Phone, even Prof. Oak had to admit that it was more advanced than his Pokedex. Even more impressed that a Pokémon created it.
*Shiii*
Instantly, it flickered into light particles as his head darted towards Azure, holding it in his hand as he said happily, "Yeah. This Arc Phone was blessed by a Legendary Pokémon long ago in the Hisui Era, from what I know about it. But can I ask why you brought up the topic of Pokedex's Professor?"
Being stunned for a moment, Prof. Oak controlled himself as he coughed into his hand. He explained with an excited smile on his face, "Ahem! Right, I'm getting off topic. I wanted to ask if you wanted one? I don't have one made yet, but I can make you one after helping those 3 deal with Team Rocket."
Azure felt touched by this, but he knew that the current Pokedex was outdated to him. The current Pokedex is still too simple for his taste, but he found the right situation to introduce him to something… revolutionary.
Pokémon in other regions are also recorded, but only the names and photos of Pokémon in other regions are recorded, and there is no data information at all. But then Azure suggested an idea to make him freeze as he said calmly, "Say you said you were working on the Pokedex, right? A digital encyclopedia?"
He grinned, puffing his chest out as he explained to his Pokedex. What he explained, though, was rather too simple for the current Pokedex he was making.
Only recording the Pokémon in the Kanto Region. Pokémon in other regions are also recorded, but only the names and photos of Pokémon in other regions are recorded, and there is no data information at all.
Deciding to nudge Professor Oak in the right direction, Azure said curiously, his honest opinion, "It sounds good, but kind of limiting. Why don't you try integrating Pokémon into the electronic Pokedex so that the Pokémon Pokedex will be more intelligent?"
Professor Oak looked shocked as he looked at him and said, stunned, "Oh, Pokémon integrated into Pokedex Pokémon! Azure, how did you think of this?"
Smiling at this, he took the bait as he thought in a serious tone, eyeing Prof. Oak, 'What this world needs is the Rotom Phone. It was when I was in this world that an idea suddenly struck me. What if I used my earnings to invest in Nemona's Father's company in Paldea to provide the research directions to accelerate the development of a Rotom Phone!'
It was a brilliant idea, but there was one problem. At first, he was a nobody with no connections other than with the Good Gym Leaders of Kanto and had no way of meeting someone as wealthy and influential as Nemona's father.
But with his current profession being the Ninth Pokémon League Champion and gaining Prof. Oak's trust as well as being assigned as his assistant in move research, the possibility opened for him. Still, the thought lingered, 'I found myself mulling over the potential functions of the Rotom Phone as depicted in the anime. I had always assumed the Rotom Phone was primarily for navigation and positioning—a tool to assist Trainers during travels… but introduced early? This will revolutionize the Pokémon Adventures world greatly! And I gain BIG profit out of it.'
Thinking carefully, Azure phrased his words as he said to Professor Oak, as he caught his interest in the subject, "Professor, why don't you try to integrate Pokémon into the electronics Pokedex, like Rotom? I read that Rotom in the Sinnoh Region can attach itself to home appliances and make them smarter. I've actually been trying to draw sketches here, based on my Arc Phone. Please take a look."
Taking out of his Spatial Bag were the sketches and documents written in pencil on an electronic device shaped like a Rotom. The title beneath it read Rotom Smartphone as Professor Oak read it out loud, "Rotom Smartphone?"
He took the sketches as his eyes widened, taking his leave as he said in a stunned tone, "Wait… Azure, can I take this? I might know some people who might be able to make this a reality…"
He smiled at this and nodded as Azure said, chuckling at the end, "Sure. Just make sure I get a yield for it. Ha."
Professor Oak laughed lightly, turning to leave. With that, let the seed of growth set as Azure, just need to wait till things go full swing for the creation of the Rotom Phone.
But before he left, though, Professor Oak asked curiously, "Oh! How could I forget! Do you have a place to stay for the night?"
Azure flinched as he explained his backstory to Prof. Oak, making his eyes widen. Seeing this, he placed a hand over his shoulder as he said determinedly, "I see I never knew… still, for everything you and those three have done for Kanto, I would like to welcome you to a place to stay along with your Pokémon. If you would like, of course?"
Azure grinned, hearing this as he nodded, agreeing. Prof. Oak smiled, clapping his hands together as he said, giving Azure a place for him to stay, "Oh, excellent, I was hoping you'd agree. Now I have a small observation hut that you can stay in, just on the other side of the river outside. I used it to observe wild Pokémon, but I haven't required it in a while. It has a heater, a bed, and power. So, it should do just fine for you. You can stay there as long as you like until you're ready to go. Seeing as you've nowhere else to stay."
Azure bowed to him in thanks, as he said in a thankful tone, "Thank you, professor."
/////
~Azure S. POV~
[Kanto Region, Nighttime, Pallet Town, Oak's Lab – Hut]
The professor laughed as he told me to carry my belongings. Quickly standing up, I moved my belongings inside the spatial backpack and moved to follow, picking up my bag as we left the room and headed out of the lab.
After a brisk 15-minute walk down the road and across a small bridge to the other side of the river. In a small layby area next to the river was a small wooden cabin with what looked to be a water wheel generator attached to its side with a wheel in the water.
It wasn't extremely large, but big enough to house two or three people comfortably. Oak let me in when he opened the door, letting me see inside.
There were two small single cots and both a stove and a small iron furnace in the back connected to a water storage tank that looked to be fed into a small connected bathroom, so I'd have hot water for showers and such. There was also a small table, a couple of chairs, and a fridge next to the stove.
I said happily, bowing my head as Pikachu and Eevee checked the area playfully curious in the background, "It could do with a good sweeping and dusting, but otherwise, it's just fine. Thank you again, Professor!"
Oak smiled as he asked me another question curiously, "That's good, why don't you get settled in? I have some things to do, just rest up, champion."
I nodded as I thanked Oak as he left. I looked at my Pokémon and smiled, as I said to them in a happy tone, "Well, guys, for now we're living in Pallet Town for a time. No doubt, some challengers would be coming our way to test themselves. But together we'll try to be the very best like no one ever was."
All my Pokémon cheered, hearing my words, making me happy. After all, just being a Champion is merely our first true step to becoming the Pokémon Master. With that, I slumped onto the bed as Eevee and Pikachu cuddled into the sheets.
Arcanine slumped over outside with Dragonite nearby for warmth, yawning. Scizor sat down cross-legged in a meditative state, sleeping, and Gengar?
Gengar was playing with my Arc Phone, reading Webtoons on there. There was no real harm as I fell asleep, curious what the future had for me… and what ways to change this boring world to be a bit… fun.