Pokémon Adventures: GAMER PATH

Chapter 91: Rock Skin Pokémon

~Third POV~

[Johto Region, Days Later, Mt. Silver – Mt. Silver Cave (Summit)]

The crisp Kanto air stung Azure's lungs as he scaled the treacherous slopes of Mt. Silver. His breath plumed out in white puffs, each one a testament to the altitude and the sheer, unforgiving cold.

Below him, the sprawling Kanto region stretched out like a patchwork quilt of greens and browns, a world he'd conquered. He held the Indigo League Champion trophy in his mind, a shining beacon of his past triumphs.

But now, the trophy felt distant, almost irrelevant. Mt. Silver was a different kind of challenge, a personal one.

Currently, he and Red are training in Mt. Silver separately to prepare themselves against the Elite Four. But they'll always contact Red using his Rotom Phone and Azure his own Arc Phone to ensure nothing bad happens when separated from each other.

Beside him, Pikachu, his ever-faithful partner, perched on his shoulder, his electric sacs crackling faintly. The other members of his team followed close behind: Eevee, tail wagging with boundless energy.

Gengar, its mischievous grin barely visible in the dimming light; Arcanine, its powerful muscles rippling beneath its fur; Dragonite, wings gently stirring the air; and Scizor, its metallic claws clicking against the rocky terrain.

They were more than just Pokémon; they were his family, his comrades in arms. Azure said, his voice a little breathless, "Whew... Almost there, guys. Let's find a place to rest for a small break."

As if on cue, Eevee perked up, its ears twitching. It darted towards a dark opening in the mountainside, a yawning maw in the rock that promised shelter. It chirped, urging Azure forward, "Eevee! (Over here!)"

Intrigued, Azure followed, his team close behind. He pulled a flashlight from his backpack, its beam cutting through the oppressive darkness.

The cave was surprisingly large, the air within still and heavy. The temperature, however, was noticeably warmer than outside, a welcome reprieve from the biting wind.

He ventured deeper, the beam of his flashlight dancing across the rough walls. Strange rock formations jutted out from the ceiling and floor, casting eerie shadows that played tricks on his eyes.

A sense of unease prickled at the back of his neck. He cautioned, his hand instinctively reaching for a Poké Ball, "Stay sharp, everyone."

The cave opened into a wider chamber. In the center of the chamber, nestled amongst a bed of soft moss, was an Egg.

It was large, about the size of a basketball, and a deep shade of green, almost olive-colored. The shell was smooth and unblemished, radiating a strange warmth.

Azure approached cautiously, his team flanking him. He'd seen Pokémon Eggs before, but this one felt different, somehow… powerful.

Tapping his hand over the Egg using the Viridian Force, he was surprised, muttering, "What? This little one's life energy… It's very high for an Egg."

Pikachu squeaked, its ears twitching nervously as it asked, "Pi? Pika? (What is it?)"

Azure replied, his voice hushed with awe, eyeing the Green Pokémon Egg using his Viridian Force to understand, "I don't know, Pikachu. But it's a Pokémon Egg. One that is full of life from sensing it."

He scanned the cave, searching for any sign of the parent. He said, turning to Arcanine, whose keen sense of smell was legendary, "We should look around. See if the parents are nearby. Arcanine, can you pick up any scents? Use Odor Sleuth to find out."

Arcanine sniffed the air, its nose twitching. It padded around the chamber, its keen eyes searching.

After a moment, it returned to Azure, shaking its head. Azure muttered confused, "No luck. Maybe they left it behind? Or maybe they're out hunting."

He felt a surge of responsibility. He couldn't just leave the Egg here, alone and vulnerable. He decided to wait, to see if the parents returned.

*Crack*

As he knelt beside the Egg, examining it more closely, he noticed a faint crack snaking across its surface.

It was barely visible, like a hairline fracture in glass. He exclaimed, pointing to the crack, "Hey, look! It's hatching!"

*Crack*

The crack widened, spider-webbing across the Egg. The air crackled with anticipation. Everyone in the chamber held their breath, eyes glued to the Egg.

*CRACK*

Suddenly, with a sharp crack, the Egg shattered. A small, rocky Pokémon tumbled out, landing clumsily on the moss.

It was a Larvitar, its green rock skin and diamond-shaped markings gleaming in the flashlight's beam. It wobbled slightly, its large, innocent eyes blinking in confusion.

Azure's heart melted. He'd never seen a Larvitar hatch before.

It was a moment of pure, unadulterated wonder. The Larvitar looked around, its gaze finally settling on Azure.

Its eyes widened, and a small, almost imperceptible smile formed on its face. It chirped, a soft, high-pitched sound that echoed through the cave, "Lar? Larvitar!"

And then, it did something Azure never expected. It scrambled towards him, its tiny legs moving as fast as they could. It reached his legs and began to nuzzle against him, emitting soft, happy coos. It was imprinting on him.

Azure was stunned. He gently scooped up the Larvitar, cradling it in his arms.

The Larvitar snuggled closer, burying its face in his chest, sensing that his Viridian Force gave a comforting sensation. Azure said, his voice thick with emotion, "Well, hello there. Looks like you've chosen me."

Pikachu hopped off Azure's shoulder and approached the Larvitar cautiously. It chirped, tilting its head, "Pika?"

The Larvitar looked up at Pikachu, its big eyes filled with curiosity. It reached out a tiny, clawed hand and gently touched Pikachu's cheek. Pikachu squeaked in surprise, then seemed to relax, nuzzling against the Larvitar in return.

The rest of Azure's team gathered around, their curiosity piqued. Eevee sniffed the Larvitar cautiously, then licked its face.

Gengar grinned, its red eyes gleaming with amusement. Arcanine nudged Azure's hand with its nose, as if to say, "Welcome to the family."

Dragonite let out a soft rumble, a sound of contentment. Even Scizor seemed to soften, its normally stoic expression easing slightly.

Azure knew what he had to do. He couldn't abandon this little Larvitar. It had imprinted on him, and he felt an inexplicable connection to it.

He would raise it, train it, and help it reach its full potential. He said, nuzzling the Larvitar affectionately, "Okay, little guy. Looks like you're coming with us."

He pulled out a spare Poké Ball from his backpack. Larivtar looked at the Poké Ball with curiosity, then back at Azure. With a gentle smile, Azure touched the Poké Ball to Larvitar's head.

The Larvitar was enveloped in a red light and drawn into the Poké Ball. The Poké Ball shook once, twice, then clicked shut.

*BON*

Azure held the Poké Ball in his hand, feeling a sense of responsibility and excitement wash over him. He had a new member of his team, a new friend, a new challenge. He quickly brought out his Arc Phone to learn its info and Moomoo Milk for it.

[Larvitar the Rock Skin Pokémon. Larvitar is born deep underground, far from its parent. It emerges to the surface and grows by consuming soil, and it will enter its pupal stage upon eating an entire mountain's worth of earth.

This pupal stage is an evolution called Pupitar. Larvitar usually lives in mountains, hills, and caves. It adapts poorly to bright lights. It is possible to find a Larvitar holding a half-eaten clump of earth while it sleeps. It is believed this is due to Larvitar falling asleep after filling its belly.]

|Name: Larvitar (Rock Skin Pokémon)

|Type: Rock/Ground

|Level: 1

|Gender: Male

|Held Item: None

|Ability: Guts

|Nature: Adamant

|Moves: Leer, Tackle, Earth Power (IM), Stone Edge (IM), Ancient Power (EM) (3 Moves left to learn)

He looked at his team, their faces reflecting the flickering light of the flashlight. They were ready.

He was ready. Azure said, his voice filled with renewed determination, "Alright, guys. Let's meet up with Red at the camp near the springs for the night. Tomorrow, we continue our climb, and Larvitar will be joining us on our journey."

Having Arcanine use Teleport, the group finds themselves returned to their campsite first. They were building a small fire to ward off the chill, but also away from the springs as to not combust.

Azure sat by the fire, the Poké Ball containing Larvitar clutched tightly in his hand. He thought about the future, about the challenges that lay ahead. He knew that raising a Larvitar wouldn't be easy. Larvitar were known for their stubbornness and their insatiable appetite. But he was determined to do his best.

He looked at his team, his loyal companions. He knew he couldn't have made it this far without them.

And he knew that with their help, he could face any challenge, any obstacle. As he drifted off to sleep, he dreamt of Larvitar, of the future they would share. He dreamt of battles and victories, of friendship and loyalty. And he knew, with absolute certainty, that he had made the right decision.

The next morning, Azure and his team continued their climb up Mt. Silver. Larvitar, safely tucked away in its Poké Ball, was never far from Azure's thoughts. He knew that one day, Larvitar would be a powerful ally, a force to be reckoned with. But for now, it was just a small, vulnerable Pokémon who needed his love and guidance.

As they reached the summit of Mt. Silver, Azure gazed out at the breathtaking view. The Kanto region stretched out before him, bathed in the golden light of the rising sun. He had conquered the Indigo League, he had climbed Mt. Silver, and he had found a new friend along the way.

He released Larvitar from its Poké Ball. The Larvitar looked around in awe, its eyes wide with wonder as Azure handed it a Moomoo Milk.

It chirped happily and nuzzled against Azure's leg, drinking the milk happily. Azure said, his voice filled with pride, "Welcome to the top, Larvitar. Welcome to our adventure."

Their journey was far from over. But together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, stronger and more united than ever before.

*Beep*

He suddenly paused as his Arc Phone alerted him to the news. He checked his Arc Phone, reading the news in a startled tone, "Latest news update from the Kanto News. Update: A Trainer ruined the surfing contest and has taken control of the Prize Dragonair, dragging the contestants into the sea. Concerning the news, half of Vermillion City is destroyed by Dragonair's Hyper Beam attack! Medical emergencies are on the way to see any injured or casualties who were unfortunate enough at the time…"

Azure eyes narrowed as he read the latest news update, gazing at the horizon of the Kanto Region. He took a deep breath and exhaled in an annoyed tone, "Sigh… those Elite Four are just asking for an ass whopping now. Better inform Red of the news because, hearing this, I doubt he'll want to wait."

Turning his back to leave Azure began to climb down the summit of Mt. Silver. However, a determined glint shone in Azure's eyes as he returned down…

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A/N: Hey guys, author here with a deal! Get this to 100 PS to get another chapter!