Pokémon Adventures: GAMER PATH Chapter 264 264: First Kiss! [Bonus]

~Third POV~

[Hoenn Region, 14 Mins. Later, Mt. Chimney]

High above, at the very summit of Mt. Chimney, Team Aqua's operations were in full swing. A massive drilling machine, a monstrous construct of tal and whirring gears, humd ominously, securely affixed to the jagged rim of the volcano's crater.

Its enormous drill bit slowly descended into the bubbling, superheated magma below, sending tremors through the mountain. Amber, a lean and serious Team Aqua Admin, stood observing the scene, a grim satisfaction on his face.

He checked his data pad, its screen glowing with complex calculations. Amber murmured, his voice cold and efficient, "Matt should have finished off Sapphire and her Kanto friend by now. Good. His mission is complete."

He looked out over the drilling operation. He grinned smugly as he muttered, "And mine is nearly there as well. The volcano's activity will be suppressed. The natural order shifted, just as Lord Archie commands."

He tapped a communication device on his wrist as he asked, "Shelly, report."

A crisp, confident voice responded as Shelly appeared, explaining, "Amber. I've t with Professor Cozmo, as planned. And I have the teorite."

Amber's lips curled into a rare, thin smile. Feeling confident, he exclaid, "Excellent. Everything is proceeding as calculated. Just as long as Shelly and Matt don't ss this up, no one would stop us…!!"

/////

[Hoenn Region, anwhile, teor Falls]

Miles away, nestled deep within the cavernous expanse of teor Falls, Professor Cozmo, a disheveled but brilliant scientist, bead. His eyes, usually hidden behind thick spectacles, shone with childlike wonder as he carefully extracted a gleaming teorite from a deep vein in the cavern wall.

The air here was cool and damp, a stark contrast to the volcanic heat of Mt. Chimney. Beside him, Shelly, another Team Aqua Admin, watched with an almost predatory patience, seeing Cozmo work.

She was dressed in civilian clothes, a beguiling smile on her face, but her eyes held a calculating glint. Her Starmie, a powerful companion, watched from a distance as she muttered, "Everything is going according to plan, Amber. I'm at teor Falls. Yes, I t up with him. He's right beside . Isn't that right, Prof. Cozmo?"

Digging into the crater of a teorite, Prof. Cozmo wiped the sweat off his face as he replied excitedly, "Yes, right! Thanks for everything… for the opportunity to do research on these minerals here with you. And for funding my research to boot!"

Shelly walked closer as she happily explained cheerfully with her Vibrava nearby, "No need to thank us. We want a talented man like you to be able to concentrate on your research without worrying about your budget. Team Aqua will always be right behind you to fund your work."

Prof. Cozmo smiled as he heartfully replied in a thankful voice, wiping his glasses, "Thank you. The sea is the source of all life on this planet. Your organization understands that. And you're making a great effort to protect it and those who live in it. I applaud you."

*CLANG*

Professor Cozmo enthused, carefully placing the teorite he dug up into a padded container as he said excitedly, "Remarkable, simply remarkable! This specin… its composition is truly unique! It's all thanks to Team Aqua's incredibly generous funding. Without your support, I never would have been able to acquire the equipnt necessary for such an extensive excavation."

Shelly's smile broadened. Her words were smooth, a silken lie masking the true, sinister purpose behind Team Aqua's 'generosity' as she said smoothly, "It's our pleasure, Professor. We believe deeply in the advancent of science. And this research… understanding the origins of our world, the very building blocks of the universe… It's a noble pursuit indeed."

She reached out, her fingers brushing the teorite's surface. She said excitedly, "A magnificent find, Professor. A magnificent find."

She just had to make sure it was the right magnificent find. The one that would help carve their new world from the old.

She calmly said as Prof. Cozmo secured the teorite, getting his attention, "Er… Professor Cozmo… I don't an to rush you, but… could you bring that teor you just dug up with you?"

Fully trusting Shelly, he happily agreed. Unaware, she smiled with a narrow glare eyeing his teorite…

/////

~Azure S. POV~

[Hoenn Region, anwhile, Mt. Chimney – Cable Car]

*SMACK*

Kicking my foot onto Matt's beaten-up head, I felt good once we tied this bastard up. He literally tried drowning us.

Fucking fake ass stupid pirate.

After showing off, Eevee could evolve and regress into her normal type form. We defeated the Matt Admins easily when he knocked his head against the wall… fuck it. Double Tap baby!

*SMACK*

And I just made sure, for extra asure, to completely knock him out. Currently, I'm wet from having been nearly drowned as Marshtomp helped Chic up.

I made sure to lock his Poké Balls to ensure no further problems. I even recalled his defeated Pokémon as I was about to tie him up… I looked at Sapphire.

But Sapphire wasn't looking at Matt or his Pokémon. Her eyes were fixed on Flannery with worried concern.

The water level had reached the young Gym Leader's chin, and more alarmingly, the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest was gone. Her face was pale, her lips tinged blue, making my eyes widen.

Sapphire cried, her voice laced with terror as she yelled, "Master! Flannery… she's not breathing!"

Oh… that's bad. Like VERY bad.

My heart hamred in my chest. Not breathing.

The words hit like a physical blow. Without conscious thought, I pushed through the way, reaching Flannery's side in an instant, checking her wrist…

*Bdmp*

Her pulse was faint, almost imperceptible. She needed air, and fast.

I tore off the gag that was muffling her mouth and, without hesitation, tilted her head back, pinching her nose. I took a deep breath.

Sapphire's voice trailed off, a strange mixture of awe and bewildernt in her tone, "Master… what are you…?"

*Chu*

I didn't answer. I pressed my lips to Flannery's, exhaling a slow, steady breath into her lungs. I pulled back, checking her chest, then repeated the action.

*Chu*

Once, twice, forcing air into her still body. As I did, I was dimly aware of Sapphire's gasp, and then a flush of crimson spread across my student's face.

She's blushing, I thought, a fleeting, absurd observation amid the crisis. Watching … kiss Flannery. The thought, even in that dire mont, made a faint warmth rise to my own cheeks.

I continued the compressions, counting them out, then another breath, willing her to respond. Co on, Flannery, fight!

*Chu*

On the third breath, a shudder ran through her body. Her eyes fluttered open, wide and disoriented.

A weak cough escaped her lips, and then, a gasp, as she desperately sucked in air. Sapphire cried, relief flooding her face, "She's breathing!"

Flannery's eyes, unfocused at first, slowly zeroed in on my face, still re inches from hers. She let out a small, startled shriek, a sound of profound surprise and, perhaps, sothing else, "Ekkk – "

*Chu*

And before I could even process what was happening, she leaned forward, her lips finding mine again, this ti with a confused, almost desperate intensity. It was a proper kiss this ti, not a life-saving resuscitation.

Her lips, soft and surprisingly warm, pressed against mine, deeper than I'd intended, lingering for a beat longer than I expected. My mind, usually so clear, completely short-circuited.

I felt the electric jolt of surprise, the warmth of her touch, and the lingering taste of… well, of nothing, but it was still a kiss. When she finally pulled back, her face was a spectacular shade of crimson, rivaling her own Magcargo's fiery shell.

Her eyes darted away, unable to et mine, then flickered to Sapphire, who was now covering her mouth with her hands, trying to stifle a giggle. Flannery stamred, her voice raspy, her gaze still avoiding mine, "W-what just…?"

She looked utterly mortified. But I couldn't help teasing her.

A small, playful smirk touched my lips, even as I felt my own cheeks warm. I said playfully, my voice lighter than I intended, reaching down to untie the ropes binding her, "Just saving your life, Gym Leader. You were out cold. Good thing my student here knows a thing or two about first aid."

I gestured to Sapphire, winking. Sapphire let out a choked laugh as she bluntly said, "You an you know a thing or two, Master!"

Flannery's head snapped up, her eyes wide as she finally processed the full implication of what had just happened. Her first kiss…

With . And she'd kissed back.

Steam, I swore, began to taphorically erupt from the top of her head. Her face was a perfect, fiery embodint of embarrassnt.

She mumbled, looking utterly scandalized, even as I helped her sit up, carefully removing the last of the ropes, "My… my first kiss…"

She glanced at , then quickly away, her cheeks burning as she stamred, "And I… I kissed you back!"

I offered, trying to sound reassuring, though a burst of mischief was bubbling up inside as I said, "Well, you just woke up and reacted. Perhaps you were disoriented. A natural reaction, really."

She glared at , a spark of her usual fiery spirit returning, though heavily doused in mortification as she muttered, "Disoriented? You… you…!"

She trailed off, unable to find the right insult, her embarrassnt overwhelming her as she stamred, "Even if you did save my life, that was… that was…!"

I simply chuckled, handing her a towel I kept in my pack, which Eevee had retrieved for , wiggling its eyebrows, "Take it easy, Flannery. You've had a rough ti."

Pikachu did the sa, with both having a knowing look. I felt my eyebrow twitch at they're smug expressions.

These two have been tainted by Gengar, alright. And they were the most responsible ones too… damn it, Gengar!

But I could still see the internal battle raging within her. The gratitude for having her life saved, warring fiercely with the profound, overwhelming embarrassnt of having her first kiss taken, in such an unexpected and public manner, by soone who was, technically, her rescuer.

The cable car continued its slow, steady climb, carrying us further into enemy territory. With Flannery now free, I spoke up, getting their attention in a serious voice, "Not to burst anyone's bubble here… but if Grunt here was confident taking us out here. Then we'll be expecting a whole group of Team Aqua waiting for us. Or rather waiting for him."

Pointing at the knocked-out Matt, their eyes widened. Flannery's eyes narrowed, growling in a fierce voice, "That's right!! I was ganged up on by two of their mbers, Shelly and Amber! Team Aqua is up there, doing sothing terrible!"

*Klang*

The cable car, now half-empty of water, continued its journey. Flannery added, her usual bravado mixed with a new urgency, "They ntioned stopping the volcano's activities!"

I nodded with a grim expression on my face. I looked at Sapphire, then at the smoking peak of Mt. Chimney, holding my Poké Ball tightly as I stated sternly, "Then we follow. We can't let them succeed. Rest your Pokémon quickly. The real fight has just begun."

*Wooosh*

With that in mind, I tossed Flannery a few Full Restores as she caught them. I stated calmly as Sapphire grabbed her dicine, "Here you go, Flannery. You'll need them to heal your team for what's coming next. Having a Gym Leader would be helpful, and you can count on us."

Her face flushed looking at bashfully. Her cheeks turned red as she took the Full Restores as she stamred shyly, "T-Thanks… but don't-t think I like you-u or anything-g kiss-sing -e… Baka!!"

I smirked smugly as she turned to heal her Pokémon. Such a Tsundere.

With that, I checked my Status of my Pokémon with my Arc Phone as the wind carried the faint growl of a drilling machine, a prelude to the impending clash between land and sea, fire and water.

|Na: tang (Iron Claw Pokémon)

|Type: Steel/Psychic

|Level: 44

|Gender: Genderless

|Held Item: [Expert Belt]

|Ability: Clear Body

|Nature: Adamant

|Moves: Cosmic Power, Gravity, Telekinesis, Reflect, Light Screen, Agility, Hone Claws, Iron Defense, Miracle Eye, Pursuit [A][S], Zen Headbutt [A][S], Iron Head [A][S], Bullet Punch [A][S], Flash Cannon [A][S], Psychic [A][S], Psyshock [A][S], Power-Up Punch [A][S], Thunder Punch [A][S], Ice Punch [A][S], Protect (TM), Magnet Rise (IM), Confusion [A][S] (IM), tal Claw [A][S] (IM) (5 Moves left to learn)

|Na: Ninetales [Alpha] (Fox Pokémon)

|Type: Fire

|Level: 41

|Gender: Female

|Held Item: [Charcoal]

|Ability: Flash Fire

|Nature: Modest

|Moves: Disable, Nasty Plot, Calm Mind, Roar, Attract, Confuse Ray, Will-O-Wisp, Safeguard, Pain Split, Agility, Flathrower [A][S], Ember [A][S], Inferno [A][S], Fire Blast [A][S], Fla Wheel [A][S], Incinerate [A][S], Fire Spin [A][S], Quick Attack [A][S], Hex [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Extrasensory [A][S], Energy Ball [A][S], Shadow Ball [A][S], Protect (TM), Mystical Fire [A][S] (IM), Healing Wish (IM), Hypnosis (IM), Power Swap (IM), Heat Wave [A][S] (EM) (1 Moves left to learn)

|Na: Golduck [Alpha] (Duck Pokémon)

|Type: Water

|Level: 41

|Gender: Male

|Held Item: [Mystic Water]

|Ability: Cloud Nine

|Nature: Hardy

|Moves: Screech, Hypnosis, Skill Swap, Soak, Psych Up, Amnesia, Disable, Yawn, Taunt, Haze, Flip Turn [A][S], Bubble Beam [A][S], Water Pulse [A][S], Aqua Tail [A][S], Hydro Pump [A][S], Liquidation [A][S], Zen Headbutt [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Clear Smog [A][S], Psychic Noise [A][S], Protect (TM), Dive [A][S] (HM), Whirlpool [A][S] (HM), Waterfall [A][S] (HM), Surf [A][S] (HM), Future Sight [A][S] (IM), Simple Beam (IM), Psychic [A][S] (EM) (0 Moves left to learn)

|Na: Sceptile (Forest Pokémon)

|Type: Grass

|Level: 39

|Gender: Male

|Held Item: [Miracle Seed]/[Sceptilite]

|Ability: Overgrow

|Nature: Hasty

|Moves: Screech, Agility, Detect, Double-Team, Grassy Terrain, Dragon Dance, Leafage [A][S], Giga Drain [A][S], Energy Ball [A][S], Grass Pledge [A][S], Grass Knot [A][S], Frenzy Plant [A][S], Slam [A][S], Fury Cutter [A][S], Quick Attack [A][S], Pursuit [A][S], Assurance [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Protect (TM), Dual Chop [A][S] (IM), Leaf Blade [A][S] (IM), Synthesis (IM), Leech Seed (IM), Magical Leaf [A][S] (EM) (1 Moves left to learn)

|Na: Crawdaunt (Rogue Pokémon)

|Type: Water/Dark

|Level: 39

|Gender: Male

|Held Item: [Mystic Water]

|Ability: Adaptability (Hidden Ability)

|Nature: Jolly

|Moves: Dragon Dance, Harden, Hone Claws, Taunt, Protect, Water Pulse [A][S], Liquidation [A][S], Bubble Beam [A][S], Crabhamr [A][S], Knock Off [A][S], Night Slash [A][S], Razor Shell [A][S], Liquidation [A][S], Double Hit [A][S], Vice Grip [A][S], Dig [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Dive [A][S] (HM), Whirlpool [A][S] (HM), Waterfall [A][S] (HM), Surf [A][S] (HM), Swift [A][S] (IM), Aqua Jet [A][S] (IM), tal Claw [A][S](EM) (1 Moves left to learn)

|Na: Gardevoir (Embrace Pokémon)

|Type: Psychic/Fairy

|Level: 37

|Gender: Female

|Held Item: [Twisted Spoon]/[Gardevoirite]

|Ability: Telepathy (Hidden Ability)

|Nature: Timid

|Moves: Teleport, Double Team, Heal Pulse, Hypnosis, Calm Mind, Wish, Recover, Gravity, Imprison, Telekinesis, Attract, Disarming Voice [A][S], Confusion [A][S], Draining Kiss [A][S], Psybeam [A][S], Psychic [A][S], Future Sight [A][S], Moon Blast [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Protect (TM), Dazzling Gleam [A][S] (IM), Magical Leaf [A][S] (IM), Destiny Bond (IM), Disable (EM) (0 Moves left to learn)

|Na: Slaking [Alpha] (Lazy Pokémon)

|Type: Normal

|Level: 37

|Gender: Male

|Held Item: [Silk Scarf]

|Ability: Truant

|Nature: Adamant

|Moves: Yawn, Slack Off, Encore, Rest, Endure, Sleep Talk, Uproar [A][S], Furry Swipes [A][S], Snore [A][S], Covet [A][S], ga Punch [A][S], ga Kick [A][S], Headbutt [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Chip Away [A][S], Throat Chop [A][S], Night Slash [A][S], Play Rough [A][S], Protect (TM), Swagger (IM), Focus Punch [A][S] (IM), Counter [A][S] (IM), Body Slam [A][S] (IM), Crush Claw [A][S] (IM), Slash [A][S] (EM) (2 Moves left to learn)

|Na: Shelgon (Endurance Pokémon)

|Type: Dragon

|Level: 35

|Gender: Female

|Held Item: None

|Ability: Overcoat (Hidden Ability)

|Nature: Naïve

|Moves: Leer, Scary Face, Iron Defense, Roar, Dragon Breath [A][S], Dragon Claw [A][S], Twister [A][S], Draco teor [A][S], Flathrower [A][S], Dragon Rage [A][S], Crunch [A][S], Headbutt [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Zen Headbutt [A][S], Hydro Pump [A][S], Protect (IM), Dragon Dance (IM), Dragon Rush [A][S] (EM)(5 Moves left to learn)

|Na: Manectric (Discharge Pokémon)

|Type: Electric

|Level: 30

|Gender: Male

|Held Item: [Magnet]/[Manectite]

|Ability: Lightning Rod

|Nature: Serious

|Moves: Thunder Wave, Double Team, Howl, Odor Sleuth, Roar, Charge, Electric Terrain, Magnet Rise, Protect, Spark [A][S], Thunder Fang [A][S], Shock Wave [A][S], Thunderbolt [A][S], Volt Switch [A][S], Wild Charge [A][S], Rising Voltage [A][S], Thunder [A][S], Quick Attack [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Crunch [A][S], Iron Tail [A][S], Electro Ball [A][S] (IM), Discharge [A][S] (EM) (0 Moves left to learn)

|Na: Marshtomp (Mud Fish Pokémon)

|Type: Water/Ground

|Level: 30

|Gender: Male

|Held Item: None

|Ability: Damp (Hidden Ability)

|Nature: Relaxed

|Moves: Screech, Protect, Supersonic, Foresight, Curse, Liquidation [A][S], Earth Power [A][S], Water Pulse [A][S], Water Pledge [A][S], Mud Bomb [A][S], Rollout [A][S], Rock Smash [A][S], Rock Throw [A][S], Rock Slide [A][S], Ice Punch [A][S], Dive [A][S] (HM), Whirlpool [A][S] (HM), Waterfall [A][S] (HM), Surf [A][S] (HM), Mud Shot [A][S] (IM), Ice Ball [A][S] (IM), Mirror Coat (EM) (1 Moves left to learn)

Slowly, I smirked, seeing my team's level. This will be a good training warm-up, but not only that… I took a small glance at Flannery.

From what I recall… Lavaridge Town has a breeding house of Fire-type Pokémon. And it's where I can get a Torchic if I help out Flannery, as she has higher authority…

With a Torchic, I'll have my Fire and Fighting type for my Hoenn team. But first ti to kick so pirates' ass…

/////

A/N: Reach the goal of 300 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!