Pokémon Adventures: GAMER PATH

Chapter 135: Derailing Storyline [Bonus]

~Third POV~

[Johto Region, Mahogany Town – Gym]

*Fwp*

Arriving at the outskirts of Mahogany Town, Azure, flying on Skarmory's back, decided to visit Pryce with mixed feelings about his goals in mind. Pikachu was over on his shoulder, and Eevee was on top of his head as Celebi was within his GS Ball around his neck.

From above, they reached a steep valley and descended, seeing the entrance of Mahogany Gym created out of ice. Azure recalled his Skarmory as he entered the Gym door, feeling the chill of the cold.

*Thud*

Opening the door, he gazed at the ice sculptors within the gym building, made of ice. Azure couldn't help but be impressed with the design being so life-like as he muttered, "These Ice Sculptors are amazing. Truly, these ice sculptures are made by a professional master."

*Tmp*

Coming in wheels revealed to be Pryce with his Swinub on his shoulder and a Delibird pushing his wheelchair. Pryce notices Azure commenting on his ice sculptors, keeping his nice guy façade as he said happily, "Really? I'm glad that you, young man, appreciate my artwork. Although that isn't the reason you're here, right?"

Azure chuckled, seeing Pryce as he decided to be blunt, holding the GS Ball in his hand, enlarging it, "Heh. It's nothing more than a masterpiece, Pryce. Gym Leader of Mahogany Town. Although I didn't take it that being the Masked Man and leader of Team Rocket was your hobby?"

*Wooosh*

The cold air around him suddenly got colder. He felt a shiver run down his spine as Pryce opened his eyes, narrowed as he curtly replied, "Oh…? Quite the assumption you're making, young man?"

*Zzzz*

Pikachu's cheeks flared, ready to intervene. Delibird's cute appearance vanished with a serious expression, ready to unleash its ice attacks at the ready having drawn its ice saber at the ready. Both Pryce and Azure were in a standoff.

But Azure broke the ice, so to speak, as he said casually, shrugging his shoulders as he dropped some vital info, causing Pryce to frown, "You people from Oak's time are fucking scary alright. But I didn't come to pick a fight, Pryce. I happen to know your goal. You plan to go back in time to reunite your Lapras, La Glace, with its long-lost parents? Right…?"

Pryce's frown deepened, but Azure's words managed to catch his interest. He spoke cautiously as his Ice Pokémon slowly surrounded him from the mist, "You… you know of my plan? Then why have you come here if you knew who I was seeing? You're not exactly an ally of Team Rocket."

Azure smirked as he revealed the GS Ball, making Pryce's eyes dilate as he casually explained to him, "Easy. I'm here to end your plan without having any more lives ruined. And the best way is to help you get your wish! Come on out! Celebi!"

*Pop*

Revealing itself to Pryce, his eyes widened as did his Pokémon. There stood Celebi in its glory, floating near his side as he mumbled in disbelief, "W-What…? How did you manage to capture Celebi-i… and help me?"

Azure smiled sadly for Pryce as he knew his personality, seeing the hope flicker in the old man's eyes. Pryce is a frail man who uses a wheelchair. He rarely leaves his Gym and uses his Pokémon to create fantastic ice sculptures.

With the use of his Pokémon, he also makes it appear like the sculptures can move and attack. Though he barely speaks, he seems to be very friendly. He has come to be known as the Master of the 'Eternal Ice Walls'.

Once his alter ego, Masked Man, is revealed, Pyrce shows his darker side by threatening Will when the latter attempts to flee. He even captures and forces Celebi to bring him to the moment where he lost his two Lapras.

Pryce is a very broken man, seeking connection, even with the children he kidnapped. As he spent his time floating in the crack of time, he came to regret his actions and wanted to make up for them.

Azure had thought of many plans on how to deal with Pryce, till an idea came to him that would end most troubles, 'Wouldn't just helping the old man be better than just confronting him in a pointless epic battle where my Pokémon and others are harmed?'

Just as he thought of that idea, he knew it was feasible, and he had already captured Celebi meaning making this situation in front of him easier. Prior to entering the Gym, Azure discussed with Celebi, recounting the story of Pryce and the two Lapras, simplifying it for Celebi's understanding.

After hearing the explanation, Celebi was stunned. And as the gentle and kind Pokémon that it is understands the situation and agrees to help Pryce long-standing issue.

The entire process took Azure less than an hour – a feat that Pryce and the Masked Man had failed to achieve over several years. This success was due not only to the Viridian Force allowing him to communicate effectively with Pokémon, but also to his skill in socializing and earning trust.

Azure smirked, seeing Pryce's disbelief as he stated bluntly with his arms crossed, "I explained your situation to Celebi, and it volunteered to help."

Pryce froze, stunned by this unexpected development, as Azure approached him. His Pokémon were wary as he placed a hand over his shoulder, as he casually said, "You know, Celebi is very willing to help others. Why didn't you think to talk to it back then?"

Pryce was at a loss for words. Back then, just finding Celebi had been a monumental effort for him as he thought, 'Communicating with it?'

That had seemed impossible without someone like Azure and his unique abilities. It wasn't like Pryce knew of the Viridian Force as his sole focus had been capturing Celebi, ignoring everything else.

Not wanting to push Pryce too far, Azure refrained from teasing Pryce anymore. He respected the elderly and had no intention of bullying Pryce any longer as he said, turning to Celebi, "Alright, let's begin!"

Pryce steadied his emotions and nodded, focusing on Celebi. Under the watchful eyes of Azure and Pryce, Celebi blinked its large eyes and suddenly glowed with a vibrant green light…

*Shiiii*

/////

[Crack in Time]

Guided by Celebi's powers, Azure and Pryce found themselves drawn into the rift of time. Shadows and light swirled around them as the scenery beyond the rift changed rapidly.

Time was rewinding. Pryce, unable to contain his excitement, stared at the shifting landscape outside.

The shifting light and shadows around them, which had begun to slow, now accelerated once more. Finally, everything froze on a single scene.

*Wooosh*

The howl of icy winds rushed from the image, revealing a vast frozen expanse before Azure, Pikachu, Eevee, Pryce, and Celebi. The scene depicted a younger Pryce and two Lapras falling from a cliff as Pryce muttered, "This is it…"

Staring at the sight, Pryce's face reflected a complex mix of emotions: self-loathing for his younger self, regret for his mistakes, and excitement at finally fulfilling a long-held wish. But Azure wasn't one to wait, seeing the danger as he hurled his Poke Ball.

*Pop*

Azure acted decisively as he ordered his Alakazam and Celebi, "Both of you! Psychic to save the parents!"

Heeding Azure's command as the falling Lapras were caught in a psychic. In seconds, both the Lapras were pulled out thanks to their efforts.

*Shiii*

*Thud*

The two Lapras, who had believed their lives were at an end, looked at Pryce with cautious familiarity, letting out a tentative call, "Finally… finally…"

Pryce embraced the Lapras' necks, his voice trembling with emotion. He released his own Lapras La Glace, who gazed at its parents with tear-filled eyes before rushing to their side, "Bi~!"

Nearby, Celebi beamed at the joyful reunion. It's simple happiness that comes from helping others, pure and unadorned.

Azure and Alakazam fist pumped as they thought, 'Nailed it.'

After his initial burst of emotion, Pryce bowed his head in gratitude, "Thank you, Celebi!"

He stroked the smooth neck of one Lapras while stealing a final glance at the haunting scene of his memories – a nightmare that had come to an end. Pryce said, his voice steady as they prepared to return, "Let's go."

They all nodded as they prepared to leave through the rift. As they do so, Azure slyly nods to Celebi as it nods, doing what it needs to do.

*Shiii*

Through Celebi's abilities, Pryce suddenly begins hearing a song and seeing visions of people from his past. He heard the song of the past as tears streamed down his face as he remembered his old self as he thought, 'This song… this is the song the old gang put together to help me… everything I've done… oh god, what have I become…'

Pryce is moved to tears at Celebi's attempt to heal the pain in his heart. He looks at Azure with a sad grin as he wipes the tears from his face, as Celebi goes to him, placing a hand over his head.

*Shiii*

Pryce sees what the future needs. What he needed to do as he looked down in a disappointed tone, "I see… before I go to the void of time, can I at least clean up my mistakes I've made. At the very least, I want to undo the evil I did before departing to the future…"

Celebi contemplated for a bit as it also saw in the distant future where Arceus and the three Pokémon created from it would be destroyed if nothing was done. Originally, it had been intended to follow the script of the original storyline…

But glancing over to Azure, a person whom she couldn't see coming made Celebi rethink its own plans mid-way. Azure Sky was a bug Celebi couldn't see come till he came to you, directly affecting the future.

Seeing that Celebi decided to tag along, seeing his actions. And if a powerful time traveler couldn't see Azure coming, then having him help in the future would be vital.

Celebi ultimately nodded, agreeing to Pryce's request, but needed to fall into the void of time in the Ilex Forest Shrine. Pryce nodded in agreement as Azure smirked as he asked bluntly, "Heh. In that case, before you turn in your Masked Man vendetta, can I ask you, Pryce, for a full-on Pokémon Battle?"

Pryce blinked, somewhat surprised by Azure's request. But harmlessly chuckled, shaking his head, "Ah, I'm so envious… of your youth… You still have so much time ahead of you, so much time to spend with your Pokémon… Cherish that time. And as for your battle, young man…"

/////

[Johto Region, Mahogany Town – Gym]

*Shiii*

Returning to the present time, Azure sighed, shaking his head helplessly, hearing Pryce's response as he said, "I'm afraid I can't at this time since I'll be busy dismantling the newly formed Team Rocket. And you must also free the Trio Beast I've sealed within the burned towers with Celebi's power."

Azure sighed pouting, hearing this, as Celebi chuckled at its trainer's situation as it thought cheerfully, 'Always be cockblocked by plot, eh, master? No worries… you'll get used to it in the future.'

Pryce chuckled, seeing Azure's expression, but contemplated something. Before Azure left, Pryce tapped his cane, halting Azure as he said calmly, "You've done me a great service, Champion. In return, I'll reward you with this. Delibird, if you please?"

Delibird nodded as it flapped its wings, flying away. Azure was confused by this, but no sooner had Delibird returned, handing Azure a Poke Ball and Held Item. Pryce explains to him, "Please take this as compensation for helping me seek Celebi and rescuing La Glace's parents. This is a Master Ball. I've saved it for the day when I can capture Celebi, but… You can see how that went. And the other is Never-Melt Ice."

Azure blinked, being given the gifts, but accepted them anyway. He tucked the Master Ball away as he observed the new Held Item with a light smile.

[Item: Never Melt Ice

Rarity Item: A

Type: Held Item

Description: An item to be held by a Pokémon. It's a heat-repelling piece of ice that boosts the power of the holder's Ice-type moves by 20%.]

Azure tucked away the Never Melt Ice as he turned, beginning to leave. He said happily, "I thank you for the gifts, Pryce. I'll come by here again for that Gym Battle after I collect the first 6 Gym Badges. I want my final Badge to be the hardest battle."

Pryce nodded as he held up his transmitter, announcing as he cheekily said to him, "Sure. I'll be here waiting for when you do, young man, and also… good luck when you get to Clair. That kind of drama is gonna be funny to see."

Azure flinches as Pryce says that, considering his history with Lance and her being related. He snorted, cursing Pryce as he laughed it off, "Fucking old man really knows how to kill my good mood…"

Pryce simply laughed harder, hearing that as Azure left. His Pokémon lightly smiled, seeing the old Pryce return as he made his call in a firm tone, "Every one of Team Rocket, please return to base and do not antagonize the young man Azure Sky. I've dealt with him and halted all actions immediately."

/////

A/N: Reach the goal of 250 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!