Continuation of Chapter 16 - The Purification Quest

TRIAL OF THE RUINS

Azalea's eyes widened slightly. "A Bronzong?"

Charles quickly brought out his Rotom Phone to scan it. His Rotom Phone said, "Bronzong, the Bronze Bell Pokémon. One slept for over 2,000 years until it was accidentally awakened at a construction site."

Noticing its intimidating glare, Professor Rowan spoke up, "It must think we're here to cause trouble."

Bronzong made an angry and intimidating growl, flipping around and aiming its bottom at them. Realizing what was about to happen, Charles spoke up sternly, "This is bad. We must run while we can! It's going to use Flash Cannon!"

Professor Rowan protested, "But we need those documents. Without them, we can't find the artifacts."

Azalea stepped forward, facing Bronzong, and put her hands up as a sign of surrender and innocence. She spoke in a gentle and soothing tone, "Bronzong, we mean you no harm! We're not trying to destroy the ruins."

Charles, wearing a worried expression, stood beside Azalea. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked sternly.

Azalea ignored him and continued to speak to Bronzong, despite its imminent attack. Still in a gentle and comforting tone, she said, "Please, all we want is for you to give us back those documents."

Normally, Bronzong and other intimidating wild Pokémon wouldn't listen, but Azalea was different. For some reason, Bronzong felt a sense of ease, honesty, and truth coming from her. Usually, it would have attacked other trespassers despite their attempts to communicate, but Azalea's voice and aura were different. They made Bronzong almost friendly toward them.

Bronzong slowly lowered itself to the ground, causing Charles and Professor Rowan to be stunned and shocked. Azalea, on the other hand, kept her warm and soft gaze. Bronzong slowly gave the documents back to them.

Professor Rowan grabbed the documents and thanked Bronzong. "Thank you."

Soon, Bronzong left, leaving the three of them alone.

Charles sighed, addressing the two of them. "Come on, we must find them before more Pokémon come."

The trio continued deeper into the ruins, scanning for any signs of evidence or clues that could lead them to the artifacts, while being cautious of their surroundings. Suddenly, they found themselves in a vast, ancient hall, dimly lit by shafts of sunlight filtering through cracks in the ceiling.

Azalea whispered, "We must be getting closer..."

As they ventured further into the hall, they came across a large stone slab adorned with intricate carvings and symbols depicting an ancient ritual involving light. In the center of the chamber stood a pedestal with a crystal lens atop it. They surveyed the room, noting several mirrors and crystalline structures positioned around it, though many were misaligned. Runes carved into the walls glowed faintly as sunlight touched them, indicating their significance.

Charles groaned, recognizing the challenge ahead. "Argh...it's a puzzle. I hate puzzles."

Professor Rowan consulted his document, identifying the puzzle as the first trial: The Light Alignment. He approached the pedestal, experimenting with the mirrors to direct sunlight through the crystal lens. However, without proper alignment, the light scattered, failing to hit the intended runes.

Azalea sighed in frustration, noticing the puzzle's complexity. "This can't be good..."

Suddenly, a Spiritomb materialized before them. Charles smirked with excitement, eager for the challenge. "Finally, a challenge!"

He swiftly summoned his Golurk, surprising Azalea. "I didn't know you had other Pokémon up your sleeve," she remarked.

With confidence, Charles addressed the Spiritomb. "You help Professor Rowan solve the puzzle while I deal with our guest here!" His gaze locked onto the spectral Pokémon, ready for battle.

Charles grinned confidently as his Golurk materialized before the Spiritomb, ready for battle. The eerie presence of the Spiritomb did not faze him; instead, it only fueled his determination.

"Golurk, let's start with Shadow Punch!" Charles commanded. Golurk's fist glowed with ghostly energy as it launched itself towards Spiritomb, aiming for a direct hit. Spiritomb, reacting swiftly, phased out of the way, reappearing a short distance away.

"Not bad," Charles remarked, observing Spiritomb's agility. "Now, set up Stealth Rock!"

Golurk slammed its fists into the ground, causing sharp rocks to erupt from the earth around Spiritomb, creating a hazard zone. Spiritomb winced as it was hit by the rocky debris, but it retaliated with Dark Pulse, sending dark waves of energy towards Golurk.

"Golurk, use Ice Punch!" Charles commanded. Golurk's fist froze over with ice as it charged at Spiritomb, aiming to exploit its ghostly weaknesses. Spiritomb, anticipating the attack, dodged Golurk's punch and countered with a powerful Shadow Ball, striking Golurk directly.

"Golurk, shake the ground with Earthquake!" Charles ordered. Golurk pounded the ground with immense force, sending shockwaves rippling through the chamber. Spiritomb, caught off guard, was struck by the seismic force, weakening its defenses.

"Now, Golurk, finish it with Shadow Punch!" Charles declared. Golurk's fist glowed again with ghostly energy as it sped towards Spiritomb, this time hitting its mark. Spiritomb let out an eerie wail as it faded away, defeated.

Charles recalled his Golurk with a satisfied smile. "Well done, Golurk. You did great."

He turned to Azalea and Professor Rowan, who were still trying to align the mirrors. "How's it going with the puzzle?"

Azalea adjusted a mirror slightly. "It's tricky, but I think we're close. A little more, and I think we'll have it."

Professor Rowan nodded, focused on the runes. "Just a few more adjustments, and the light should align perfectly."

Charles nodded, looking around to make sure no other Pokémon were going to come up to them again. After overcoming the challenges, they carefully adjust the mirrors and crystals. They realize that the mirrors must be positioned to create a pathway of light that passes through the crystal lens on the pedestal and then reflects onto the correct sequence of runes. They finally align the mirrors perfectly, and the beams of light converge through the crystal lens, creating a focused beam that illuminates a series of runes on the wall. The runes glow brightly and a low rumble echoes through the hall as a hidden compartment in the wall slides open.

Inside the compartment lies a shimmering, ancient artifact - the Psychic Ward Crystal. Professor Rowan carefully takes the crystal.

Charles returned Golurk into its Pokeball, smirking. "Alright, now that—" Before he could finish his sentence, the ground beneath them suddenly dropped away, and they found themselves falling once again. Charles exclaimed in annoyance as they screamed, "NOT AGAIN!!!"

They landed on the lower ground without any trouble this time. Charles sighed, looking around the dim cave. "Luckily, there aren't any Pokémon coming towards us."

Azalea whispered as she brushed dirt off her shoulders. "Come on, let's go find some other clues."

Professor Rowan consulted his document again. "We must find the second puzzle: The Symbol Match."

Venturing deeper into the ruins, they entered a large chamber with a massive stone door adorned with numerous carved symbols. The symbols were arranged in pairs, etched into tiles scattered across the chamber floor. A faint, otherworldly glow emanated from the symbols. They approached the stone door and examined the tiles. Each tile had a symbol, and they realized they needed to match the symbols in pairs to unlock the door. The walls of the chamber depicted scenes of ancient rituals and battles, providing clues to the correct symbol pairs.

Charles groaned, facepalming. "Argh..another puzzle."

They began by stepping on what they believed to be a pair of matching tiles. A low rumbling filled the chamber as the door started to shift, but it abruptly stopped halfway. Quickly realizing they needed to find all the correct pairs to fully unlock the door, they set about methodically matching the symbols, using the clues from the chamber walls to guide them.

As they worked on matching the symbols, a group of Claydol suddenly appeared from the cracks in the walls. Charles mumbled, "Not just one, but three Claydol..." He quickly used his Rotom Phone to scan them. The device displayed, "Claydol, the Clay Doll Pokémon. Claydol is the evolved form of Baltoy. These ancient Pokémon are said to come alive when a mysterious light instills life into clay creatures created in ancient times. Claydol can fly and are able to fire beams from both arms."

Charles smirked confidently. "Hehe! Another challenge!" He called out his Golurk again.

The Golurk emerged with a determined expression, ready to battle. The three Claydol hovered ominously in the air, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. They moved in unison, as if synchronized, spreading out to surround Charles and his allies.

The first Claydol raised its arms, firing a powerful Hyper Beam at Golurk. Golurk braced itself and took the hit, the beam crashing against its rocky body. The second Claydol floated closer, conjuring a swirling Sandstorm that whipped around the chamber, reducing visibility and causing damage over time to Golurk.

Charles shouted, "Golurk, use Ice Punch on the second Claydol!" Golurk rushed forward, its fist glowing icy blue, and struck the second Claydol, dealing super effective damage and momentarily freezing part of its body.

Meanwhile, the third Claydol moved swiftly, releasing a Psybeam that struck Golurk's back, causing it to stagger. Golurk shook off the confusion, retaliating with a Shadow Punch aimed at the third Claydol, hitting it squarely and pushing it back.

The battle intensified as Golurk used Earthquake to shake the ground, causing the Claydol to lose their balance momentarily. Charles commanded Golurk to set up Stealth Rock, laying traps on the ground that would damage any Pokémon switching in.

The Claydol responded with another barrage of attacks, attempting to overwhelm Golurk with continuous Psybeams and Ancient Powers. Golurk, however, maintained its resilience, dodging and countering where possible, using its bulk and strength advantage to endure the assault.

After a fierce back-and-forth, Golurk managed to take down one of the Claydol with a well-placed Ice Punch, shattering it into pieces. The remaining two Claydol, sensing their disadvantage, began to retreat, disappearing back into the cracks in the walls from which they had emerged.

Charles let out a breath, recalling Golurk to its Poké Ball. "Phew, well done, Golurk! That was tough."

Azalea and Professor Rowan approached Charles, relieved. Azalea patted Golurk's Poké Ball affectionately. "Nice job, Charles. Your Golurk is really strong."

Charles grinned proudly. "Thanks! But we're not done yet. Let's finish solving this puzzle and find those artifacts."

After overcoming the challenges and carefully matching all the symbol pairs based on the clues from the inscriptions, they finally unlock the stone door. It slowly grinds open, revealing a hidden passageway leading to a smaller, inner chamber. Inside the inner chamber lies the Runic Amulet, an ancient amulet inscribed with runes that provide resistance against mind control. Azalea decides to take the Runic Amulet, sensing its protective power.

Professor Rowan consulted his records again, speaking thoughtfully, "Hm, it seems we have two more puzzles to face before we can confront the Guardian."

Charles groaned in annoyance, "Are you kidding me? Two more?"

Undeterred, they continued to venture deeper into the ruins, searching for the third puzzle. As they proceeded, they entered a grand chamber at the heart of the ruins. The chamber was circular, with a domed ceiling adorned with a complex star map depicting constellations. In the center of the chamber lay a circular mosaic on the floor, surrounded by ancient stones marked with star symbols. The star symbols closely resembled those depicted in the star map on the ceiling.

Professor Rowan hummed, examining the room, "This must be the third puzzle: The Celestial Constellation." They realized they needed to arrange the stones in a specific order to recreate a constellation pattern and solve the puzzle.

They began by placing the stones based on their intuition and the patterns they observed in the star map. However, the stones did not align correctly, and the starlight that filtered through the cracks in the ceiling failed to illuminate the runes on the walls. The ancient star map on the ceiling was faded, making it difficult to discern the correct constellation.

They studied the star map closely, comparing it with clues found in the inscriptions and murals throughout the ruins. After overcoming the challenges and carefully arranging the stones to match the constellation pattern depicted in the star map, the trainers successfully recreated the constellation. The starlight filtered through the cracks in the ceiling and converged on the mosaic, causing the runes on the walls to glow with a soft, ethereal light.

The runes on the walls revealed a hidden compartment, containing the Celestial Talisman. This ancient talisman depicted the constellation they had recreated, imbued with strong mental fortitude. Charles reached out to take the Celestial Talisman, saying determinedly, "Great, one more left."

With the Celestial Talisman in hand, they moved on, their resolve strengthened as they sought the final puzzle and faced the Guardian that awaited them deep within the Celestic Ruins.

As they ventured deeper into the ruins, they came across a solemn chamber, its walls adorned with ancient statues and carvings of the region's legendary Pokémon. In the center of the chamber stood a colossal guardian statue, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. The statue held a tablet inscribed with riddles and enigmatic puzzles.

Charles sighed in relief, "Finally... this must be it."

Approaching the guardian statue, they examined the tablet inscribed with the riddles. Each riddle seemed to be a test of wisdom and knowledge about the history and lore of the Sinnoh region. The walls of the chamber depicted scenes of ancient battles and rituals, providing clues to the answers.

Professor Rowan began by attempting to answer the riddles based on their intuition and the patterns they observed in the inscriptions. However, their answers were incorrect, and the tablet remained sealed shut. Suddenly, a group of ancient Pokémon guardians emerged from the shadows, including Golurk and Dusknoir.

Azalea whispered, "Maybe next time I should be the one answering the riddles."

Just as Azalea was about to bring out her Poké Ball, Charles stopped her, smirking, "Like you said, you should be the one to handle the riddles. Let me do the fighting."

Charles brought out his Braviary and Diggersby, ready to face the Golurk and Dusknoir.

As Dusknoir and Golurk emerged from the shadows, they wasted no time in attacking. Dusknoir unleashed a powerful Shadow Punch, aiming straight for Charles's Braviary, while Golurk charged forward with a devastating Dynamic Punch aimed at his Diggersby.

Reacting quickly, Charles commanded his Braviary to evade the Shadow Punch with a swift Double Team, creating multiple illusory copies that confused Dusknoir. Meanwhile, Diggersby countered Golurk's Dynamic Punch with a well-timed Stone Edge, causing the ground to shake as sharp stones flew towards Golurk.

Seeing the confusion caused by the Double Team, Braviary swooped in with a powerful Brave Bird, aiming directly at Dusknoir and delivering a fierce blow. At the same time, Diggersby followed up with a powerful Gunk Shot, aiming for Golurk's joints and hindering its movements.

Despite their initial attacks, Dusknoir and Golurk remained resilient. Dusknoir retaliated with a menacing Shadow Ball, launching it towards Braviary's illusory copies, trying to discern the real one. Golurk, on the other hand, used its immense strength to shake off the effects of Gunk Shot and retaliated with a devastating Earthquake, causing the ground to tremble and throwing Diggersby off balance.

Charles remained focused, quickly commanding his Braviary to counter Dusknoir's Shadow Ball with a precise Aerial Ace, dodging the incoming attack and delivering a powerful strike. At the same time, Diggersby regained its footing and unleashed a powerful Hammer Arm, aiming for Golurk's vulnerable joints and dealing a significant blow.

The battle raged on, with Charles and his Pokémon unleashing a flurry of attacks while Dusknoir and Golurk fought fiercely. With each exchange, they pushed themselves to their limits, determined to emerge victorious and claim victory in this ultimate test of strength and strategy.

Braviary, having successfully landed the Aerial Ace, circled back into the air with its wings outstretched, ready for the next command. Dusknoir, shaking off the hit, prepared another Shadow Ball, this time aiming directly at Braviary with more precision.

"Braviary, Hyper Beam!" Charles called out.

Braviary's eyes glowed as it charged up an enormous amount of energy. It unleashed the Hyper Beam straight at the approaching Shadow Ball. The two attacks collided in mid-air, creating an explosive burst of light and energy that shook the chamber.

Meanwhile, Diggersby was locked in a fierce struggle with Golurk. Golurk's Earthquake had destabilized the ground, but Diggersby quickly responded by digging underground to avoid the brunt of the attack.

Golurk scanned the area, trying to locate Diggersby. Suddenly, the ground beneath it erupted as Diggersby emerged with a powerful Dig attack, striking Golurk from below and sending it staggering backward.

Charles seized the moment. "Diggersby, Hammer Arm!"

With immense strength, Diggersby lunged at Golurk, its arm glowing with power. It struck Golurk squarely in the chest, causing the massive Pokémon to crash to the ground.

At the same time, Braviary, having recovered from the recoil of its Hyper Beam, soared back into action. "Braviary, Brave Bird, now!"

With astonishing speed, Braviary enveloped itself in a fiery aura and dove towards Dusknoir. Dusknoir attempted to block with another Shadow Punch, but Braviary's momentum was too great. It struck Dusknoir with incredible force, sending it reeling.

As the dust settled, both Golurk and Dusknoir were struggling to rise, their movements sluggish and labored. Charles knew this was their chance to end the battle.

"Braviary, Aerial Ace! Diggersby, Stone Edge!"

Braviary's swift and precise Aerial Ace struck Dusknoir once more, while Diggersby's Stone Edge sent a barrage of sharp stones towards Golurk, knocking both Pokémon down for the count.

The chamber fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of Charles and his Pokémon. The ancient guardians had been defeated.

Azalea and Professor Rowan, who had been diligently working on the riddles during the battle, finally solved the last one. The guardian statue's eyes dimmed, and a hidden door at the back of the chamber slowly creaked open.

"Great job, Charles!" Azalea exclaimed, her eyes shining with relief and gratitude.

Charles smirked, returning his Pokémon to their Pokéballs. "Piece of cake. Now, let's get that final artifact and finish this quest."

After solving the last puzzle, it was time for the three of them to claim the final artifact. To do that, they must face the Guardian's Trial. As they enter a grand, circular chamber, they see three stone platforms, each guarded by a powerful Pokémon statue. The platforms are inscribed with ancient symbols and runes, indicating that these are the final guardians of the sacred artifacts. The air is thick with anticipation, and a sense of ancient power resonates through the chamber.

They examine the three platforms, each marked with a different symbol. The center of the chamber features a large, ornate pedestal with a glowing orb, hinting that they must defeat the guardians to access the final artifact.

Charles smirked, feeling the excitement running through him again. "Hehe, I feel another intense battle coming our way!"

They step onto the first platform, and the statue of the first guardian Pokémon, a Golurk, comes to life. Even though they haven't battled yet, Charles and Azalea know that this Golurk is far stronger and more powerful than the last Golurk Charles faced.

Azalea smirked, looking over at Charles. "Think you can handle this on your own?"

Charles scoffed, preparing his Pokéball. "Are you kidding?" He throws out his Pokéball, revealing his Mamoswine. "I never get tired of battling strong opponents."

The ancient Golurk's eyes glowed with an eerie light as it moved into a battle stance. Charles was ready, his Mamoswine pawing the ground in anticipation.

"Alright, Mamoswine, let's start with Ice Fang!" Charles commanded.

Mamoswine charged forward, its massive tusks coated in frost. It chomped down on Golurk's arm, the icy fangs sinking deep and causing Golurk to shudder from the cold.

Golurk retaliated with a Dynamic Punch, its fist glowing with intense energy. It swung at Mamoswine, landing a heavy blow that sent Mamoswine skidding back.

"Mamoswine, shake it off and use Ancient Power!" Charles yelled.

Mamoswine roared, summoning ancient energy that manifested as glowing rocks around it. The rocks shot forward, crashing into Golurk and pushing it back.

Golurk responded by slamming the ground with an Earthquake. The chamber shook, and the ground beneath Mamoswine cracked, causing it to stumble.

Charles gritted his teeth. "Hang in there, Mamoswine! Use Ice Shard!"

Mamoswine quickly formed a large shard of ice and hurled it at Golurk. The shard struck Golurk square in the chest, freezing part of its body and slowing its movements.

Golurk, now moving slower, tried to launch a Shadow Punch. Its ghostly fist extended toward Mamoswine, but Mamoswine managed to dodge just in time.

"Finish it with Take Down!" Charles commanded.

Mamoswine charged with all its might, slamming into Golurk with its full weight. The impact was immense, and Golurk was thrown backward, crashing into the wall behind it. The ancient guardian struggled to rise, then finally collapsed, defeated.

Charles grinned, recalling Mamoswine. "That's one down. Ready for the next?"

Azalea nodded, stepping forward. "Let's see what the next guardian has in store for us."

They moved towards the next platform, their determination unwavering as they prepared for the challenges ahead.

Professor Rowan stepped forward onto the second platform, revealing a Spiritomb materializing from the shadows. Once again, Charles decided to take it down by bringing his Golurk back into the fray.

"Alright, Golurk," Charles called out, his voice steady with determination. "Let's show them what we've got!"

Spiritomb's eyes glowed malevolently as it hovered above the ground, a dark aura swirling around it. Charles knew this battle would be tough, but he was ready for the challenge.

"Golurk, start with Earthquake!" Charles commanded.

Golurk stomped the ground with tremendous force, causing a seismic wave to ripple through the chamber. The ground shook violently, and Spiritomb wavered, struggling to maintain its form amidst the tremors.

Spiritomb retaliated with a Dark Pulse, sending out a wave of dark energy that slammed into Golurk. Golurk staggered but quickly regained its footing.

"Shake it off, Golurk! Use Shadow Punch!" Charles shouted.

Golurk's fist glowed with a ghostly energy as it lunged forward, striking Spiritomb with a powerful blow. Spiritomb let out a piercing screech, clearly affected by the hit.

Spiritomb countered with a Hypnosis attack, its eyes glowing hypnotically as it tried to put Golurk to sleep. Golurk's movements slowed, but Charles was quick to react.

"Golurk, don't let it get to you! Use Ice Punch!"

With a swift motion, Golurk's fist became encased in ice, and it delivered a chilling punch to Spiritomb. The impact caused frost to spread across Spiritomb's form, slowing it down further.

Spiritomb, now desperate, unleashed a Shadow Ball. The dark orb shot towards Golurk, exploding on contact and sending Golurk skidding back.

"Finish it with Shadow Punch, Golurk!" Charles commanded, his voice filled with resolve.

Golurk's fist once again glowed with ghostly energy as it charged forward, delivering a final, decisive punch to Spiritomb. The dark Pokémon let out a final wail before dissipating into shadows, defeated.

Charles recalled Golurk, a triumphant smile on his face. "That's two down. One more to go."

Professor Rowan nodded approvingly. "Excellent work, Charles. Let's move on to the final guardian."

Once Azalea stepped onto the final platform, it revealed the last obstacle: a formidable Spiritomb, the Guardian. This Spiritomb exuded an aura of immense power, far surpassing the strength of the previous Pokémon Charles had battled. Just as Azalea prepared to face it, Charles intervened.

"I wanna show the Crimson Queen just how strong I am," Charles smirked. "So let me handle this."

Charles called out his Golurk once more. Azalea noticed the subtle fatigue in Golurk, recognizing its earlier efforts. Concerned, she spoke up, "Hey Charles... maybe you should..."

But before she could finish, the battle had already commenced. Fueled by his determination to impress Azalea, Charles overlooked the pressure he was placing on his Golurk.

Spiritomb began with a Dark Pulse, sending waves of dark energy towards Golurk. Golurk braced itself, taking the hit but remaining steadfast.

"Golurk, use Shadow Punch!" Charles commanded.

Golurk's fist glowed with ghostly energy as it lunged forward, striking Spiritomb with a powerful punch. Spiritomb recoiled but quickly retaliated with Hypnosis, its eyes glowing as it tried to lull Golurk to sleep.

Golurk's movements slowed, but Charles urged, "Stay strong, Golurk! Use Ice Punch!"

With a determined swing, Golurk's fist became encased in ice, delivering a chilling blow to Spiritomb. The impact caused frost to spread across Spiritomb, momentarily hindering its movements.

Spiritomb, angered, launched a Shadow Ball, the dark orb colliding with Golurk and sending it staggering back. Golurk was visibly struggling, its earlier fatigue becoming apparent.

"Come on, Golurk! Finish it with Earthquake!" Charles shouted, his determination unwavering.

Golurk mustered its remaining strength, stomping the ground and sending a seismic wave through the chamber. The ground shook violently, and Spiritomb wavered under the onslaught.

Spiritomb, however, wasn't done yet. It launched another Dark Pulse, catching Golurk off guard and delivering a critical hit. Golurk fell to one knee, clearly exhausted.

Azalea watched with a mix of concern and admiration, understanding the pressure Charles had placed on Golurk. She stepped forward, ready to intervene if necessary, but her faith in Charles' resolve held her back.

With one final push, Golurk stood tall. "Shadow Punch, Golurk! Give it everything you've got!" Charles commanded, his voice filled with resolve.

Golurk's fist once again glowed with ghostly energy as it charged forward, delivering a final, decisive punch to Spiritomb. The dark Pokémon let out a final wail before dissipating into shadows, defeated.

Charles recalled Golurk, a triumphant smile on his face. "We did it," he said, his voice a mix of relief and pride.

Azalea nodded, her eyes reflecting admiration. "You did great, Charles. Now, let's claim our prize."

After gathering all the artifacts—the Psychic Ward Crystal from the Light Alignment Puzzle, the Runic Amulet from the Symbol Match Puzzle, the Celestial Talisman from the Celestial Constellation Puzzle, and finally, the Elder's Seal from the Guardian's Trial—it was time for the trio to head to their next destination: Mt. Coronet, in search of the final piece for Mindweaver, the Psychic-Resistant Barriers. However, they decided to take a detour to the Pokémon Center first.

Charles laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Okay, okay, I admit it. That was out of character for me, pushing Golurk to face so many strong Pokémon back to back." He leaned against the counter, waiting for Nurse Joy to heal up his Braviary, Mamoswine, Diggersby, and especially his Golurk.

Azalea sighed, crossing her arms. "What makes someone a strong Pokémon trainer isn't just using your Pokémon over and over to win every single time," she lightly scolded.

Charles groaned, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I guess I was just..." He trailed off, his mind wandering. "Missing the thrill of battling strong opponents, you know?"

Azalea noticed his sudden introspection but chose not to press him. She smiled softly, closing her eyes. "I completely understand that, I do."

She leaned back against the counter, raising her head to gaze at the ceiling. "But promise me that you'll take care of your Pokémon and not pressure them just because you miss the thrill of tough battles."

Charles sighed, whispering, "I... I promise."

His demeanor shifted back to his usual self. He lightly punched Azalea's shoulder. "After this, I wouldn't be surprised if we end up saving the entire world."

Azalea chuckled, smiling. "Well, you'd better get used to it then, being the one who always has to save the world."

Charles smirked. "Not too much pressure, huh?"

Azalea crossed her arms, jokingly. "Hey, if things get worse, I'll make sure to comfort Sonia."

Charles burst out laughing. "Hey now, don't think so low of me!"

Nurse Joy returned with Charles' Pokémon, fully healed and safe in their Pokéballs. "I'm glad to inform you that your Pokémon are in full health, Charles."

Charles smiled, taking his Pokéballs back. "Thank you, Nurse Joy."

As they prepared to leave, Charles asked Azalea, "Hey, where's Professor Rowan?"

Azalea hummed. "He was waiting for us outside the entire time."

Charles chuckled. "For an old man, he's quite brave. He wasn't even scared the entire time we were in the ruins."

Azalea smirked. "Yeah, because he had us."

Charles laughed at her comment. "True that." He then let out an exaggerated groan. "Argh, I am so not ready to face the cold in Mt. Coronet."

Azalea chuckled. "I didn't know you disliked the cold. Guess I still don't know everything about you, huh?"

Charles joked lightly, "Hey, don't worry, mate. You will. As long as you don't ditch me out of the blue like Raihan and Leon did when we were kids."

Azalea's eyes widened slightly in surprise at his statement. "They... left you?" Though he was joking, she sensed there was more to it.

Charles' expression softened. He smiled gently. "Let's... talk about that another time... when we're not busy saving a region."

4700 Words

This might've been the longest parts yet. This is the second part of the Sinnoh arc and it's not even over yet. Also we got one tiny little crumb about Charles life