Kyogre and Groudon Arise

Part 5

By Tigerseye

After ten more minutes, Latias touched down out of the sky onto Lilycove bay. I staggered off Latias' back, and the Magma Member followed suit. I turned to him, smiled, and then we both fell into each others' arms with pure relief.

'Thank you so, so much,' I said, stepping back looking into his aqua-marine eyes that sparkled from beneath his hood.

'No problem,' he answered. I grinned at him. I didn't know how or why, but I really felt like we connected.

The mist had cleared completely now, and Lilycove City sat, deserted and silent as an open ocean, glowing in the morning sunrise. It was a beautiful sight. The sky was as clear as it always is in Hoenn, and Wingull were already squawking and flapping about. I suddenly realised how tired I was.

I reached into my bag and felt around for Latias' Pokéball. I found it, and walked over to my wonderful, faithful Pokémon. I stroked its neck, thanked it, and then returned it in a blaze of light.

It was then that I realised something.

The Orbs weren't in my bag.

'They've stolen them,' I muttered miserably.

I glanced back at the Magma Member, and suddenly realised that he had finally taken his hood down. His face was slightly tanned golden, like honey, and brown-blond hair surrounded his face, streaked with blond, slightly damp with the sweat of the recent adventure. His eyes sparkled, the colour of the sea in midsummer.

'We'll get them back,' said the Magma Member reassuringly. 'Don't worry about it.'

I stood up. 'My name is Rosanna, by the way,' I told him, suddenly realising that I hadn't had a chance to tell him before. He smiled.

'I'm Jack,' he answered simply, running a hand through his hair. 'And hey, don't worry about those Orbs. They'll be easy enough to snatch back.'

I looked at him curiously, and took a breath. 'Why…?' I asked, too tired to find the words.

'…am I helping you?' he finished for me. I nodded. 'Well… despite the fact that I'm in Team Magma and all that, I don't exactly think that Maxie's being as intelligent about this as he could be. He's a decent guy, but…'

I nodded in understanding, wishing I could think of something to say. I looked into his face.

'Thank you.'

'You're welcome,' Jack answered, and smiled. 'I'll see you soon.'

I smiled. Then, without a word, he pulled a Pokéball out of his pocket, and released Wailord into the sparkling sea. He leapt on.

'I'll see you soon!' I called, and waved.

'Bye!' he called back, and with that, he rode off into the sunrise, silhouetted against the glittering sea.

I turned and walked slowly back along Lilycove City's paths, the sun warming my back. The City was glowing with the sunrise, in shades of orange, pink and yellow. I saw Zahra's house, the rose beds in the front garden glowing in rainbow colours. I silently opened the front door, and tip-toed upstairs.

I pushed open Zahra's door. She was fast asleep on her bed, snoring quietly. The room was basked in an orange glow from the sunrise flooding in through the open door. I pulled off my trainers and my jacket, and collapsed onto my bed. Within five minutes, I was fast asleep.

*     *     *

'Rosanna?'

I murmured in my sleep and turned over.

'Rosanna!' someone hissed. I mumbled, and opened my eyes. An unfocussed scene unfolded before me.

'…Zahra?' I asked, staring up at the figure leaning over me.

'How did it go? What happened?' she questioned eagerly. I smiled at the memory of it all.

'Hang on,' I said. My vision cleared and I glanced around. It was half-past twelve in the afternoon and I felt indescribably better for my sleep. I got out of bed. Zahra was bobbing around, desperate to hear my tale.

Sunlight was flooding through the windows onto the floor. Auntie Melody came upstairs and saw me.

'You slept in a long while today!' she said. I nodded.

'Yeah, I was really tired already,' I explained, not wanting to mention the Magma Members or anything. I noticed that she was carrying a tray with some sandwiches on. She pushed open Zahra's door. I followed her in. Auntie Melody placed the sandwiches on the floor, smiled at us, and left.

I sat down on Zahra's soft carpet. The rest of the room surrounded me; Zahra's orange duvet covers on her bed, the pale orange walls, and the soft orange carpet under my feet. Zahra smiled at me.

'So then,' she said, taking a sandwich. 'What happened? You were gone for ages! I was really starting to get worried…'

And so I told her everything. The ambush, about the escape from the Team Magma base, about Maxie and how he had locked me in the control room, how I had been rescued and how we had found the Orbs. Zahra's eyes widened as I told her about falling off Latias and how I had been saved, and finally, how Jack was actually against Team Magma.

'It was amazing,' I commented, biting into a sandwich. 'Scary, but amazing.'

Zahra had gone very quiet.

'Are you okay?' I asked. She nodded slowly.

'I've got something… to tell you,' she said gradually. She stood up, and opened her wardrobe door. I stared up at her, wondering what it was. She pulled down a spotless uniform, hung on a coat hanger.

'…Zahra, what's that?' I asked, eyeing it. I could almost recognise it, but somehow it didn't seem completely familiar. A short black and white striped t-shirt hung over a pair of blue trousers with white circles down one side, and on top of the hanger was a blue head-scarf with a logo on it - a letter A made out of crossbones, but with a large oval for the top bit. A pair of black gloves was in the trouser pocket.

'It's a uniform. I belong to Team Aqua,' she said.

Team Aqua was another organisation of teenagers, but completely the opposite of Team Magma. They travelled around the world, trying to stop cruelty to Pokémon all over Hoenn.

'I… I became a member recently,' Zahra said slowly, not sure how I would react. 'Archie, the leader, is a good friend of mine.'

I wasn't sure what to say. 'Wow,' I managed, beginning to smile. 'That's awesome! How come you didn't tell me before, though?'

'I wasn't sure what you'd say,' Zahra replied, looking down to the floor. She put the uniform back into the wardrobe. 'I have to go for training sessions three times every week, tactics, Pokémon skills, how to care for wounded Pokémon, and also battling skills. But we're on mid-year break now, so I don't have to go until the beginning of next month.'

'Wow,' I said again, intrigued at how it all worked. I took another bite out of my sandwich.

'Erm… would you like to come and meet some more Aqua Members?' Zahra enquired, looking at me hopefully. 'They're probably at the base round the back of Lilycove. They're all really friendly. I'm sure you'll get on well with them all.' The sun shone in her eyes. I nodded eagerly.

'That would be great!' I answered. 'Yes, please.' Zahra grinned, apparently pleased with my reaction.

'When shall we go?' I asked, finishing my sandwich.

'How about now?' Zahra suggested, smiling. I beamed in reply.

'Okay. Just let me have a shower - I'm covered in sand and all sorts from the Magma base,' I answered. I took some denim crop-trousers from my suitcase and a white and pink flower-pattered top. I padded into the bathroom and showered, washing my hair. It would soon dry in the Hoenn heat.

When I'd finished and dressed, I went back into Zahra's room and collected my bag. We were all set.

I followed Zahra downstairs, walking into the hallway. The blue tiles were shining in the light of the sun, and I noticed the familiar family pictures and plants. Auntie Melody was in the kitchen, humming a popular song and wiping down the surfaces.

'Mum, Rosanna and I are going to the training area. I'll see you just before tea, okay?'

'Okay, have fun,' Auntie Melody answered. I turned, and, leaving the cool, airy kitchen behind me, followed Zahra out of the front door and into the sweet-smelling front garden. Roses dotted the lawn, attracting insects and Beautiflies. We walked down the path, and then turned to the right.

Lilycove was as lively as ever, the familiar noises of gossip of Pokémon contests; the sweet smells of the market; the children playing 'Tag' and the people hanging out washing in their gardens. The clear blue sky, thickened with haze completed the scene, a perfect backdrop. A soft breeze stirred my indigo hair.

'This way,' Zahra said, catching my arm. I followed her round the back of Lilycove Museum, into the cool shadow of the great building. Here, a forest spread back from the city as far as the eye could see. Zahra slipped round a tree trunk, and disappeared.

As I followed on, I found where she had gone. A small opening lead into the thick woods, lush undergrowth surrounding me. I ran to catch up with Zahra. Her crimson hair fluttered in the breeze.

'What's this place like?' I asked, walking with her along the mossy path, bordered by small red flowers. I watched as Beautiflies fluttered and landed on the larger flowers in the distance. I could hear a stream running somewhere in the forest. The trees were so thick around the path that nothing could be seen behind them. The forest seemed to stretch for miles.

'It's wonderful,' she answered. 'You'll love it. We have others too, but this one is the nearest. This is where the Aqua Members hang out in the holidays when the training season is over. It gives them a chance to build their skills, and just to have a chat.'

I stepped over a branch that twisted across the path. The trees were taller here, soaring dizzily above our heads. I could hear Taillow singing in the distance, sweet and melodious. Suddenly, the path widened out into an enormous clearing.

'Wow,' I whispered.

A circular clearing greeted me, with an enormous tree right in the middle, surrounded by wild flowers. The lush grass here had been cut shorter, and a small pool of crystal clear water rippled over to the far right, fed by a gurgling brook that, once through the pool, tumbled over rocks and headed towards the sea. Shrubs, flowers and trees of all kinds encircled the area, thickening towards the edges, some growing inside the clearing, where I saw other people and trainers, some with their Pokémon. The soft ground was dappled in sunlight and the scent of honeysuckle floated on the breeze. It was a wonderful sight.

'Like it?' asked Zahra, grinning at my expression. 'I'll introduce you to some of the other Members.'

I followed her down a grassy slope and into the clearing. Some people called out to Zahra and waved. I saw people sitting in the trees as well, filling Taillow-feeders or just chatting. The atmosphere was amazing.

'Look,' she said. 'There's Archie! Why don't we tell him about Team Magma? I'm sure that Team Aqua can help us.'

I followed Zahra closely over to the pool, and saw that someone there was sitting in a patch of sun and doing some paperwork. He wore a white and black striped shirt with blue trousers. A navy cloak of office encircled his body, and he wore a belt with a silver Team Aqua logo on. His black hair was thick and fairly long around his face, with a side fringe. His green eyes sparkled.

'Hello Zahra!' he said cheerfully, standing up. 'Nice to see you! And who's this?' he added, looking at me.

'This is my cousin, Rosanna,' Zahra answered. I smiled.

'Nice to meet you,' I said.

'Erm… we've come to tell you some bad news, involving Team Magma,' Zahra began, fiddling with a strand of crimson hair. 'We think that they're doing something that's dangerous to other people, and we wondered if you might be able to help us.'

'Argh, that Team Magma,' he said with annoyance. 'They're always causing trouble. What are they up to now?'

'Well… it's Rosanna's story really.' Zahra nudged me as if to say 'go on.'

So I told Archie everything. Right from when I'd had the dream, up to now, including the visit to Mt. Pyre, when I had got the Orbs, the ambush at the camp, how I had been captured, how Jack had rescued me and how we had escaped on Latias, how the Salamence had caused me to fall, how Latias had saved me and how Team Magma now had the Orbs.

'…And I know that they're planning to wake Kyogre and Groudon because Maxie basically told me,' I finished. Archie was astonished.

'You're one amazing trainer,' he said, smiling. I blushed and beamed back at him. 'But we must act at once. I've been planning the fall of Team Magma for a long time now - they're eventually going to do something completely stupid and harm everyone - but this is by far the worst thing I've heard them planning. We need to destroy them for good.'

Archie began pacing back and forth, deep in thought. I was suddenly worried. I didn't want Archie to destroy Team Magma forever. I bit my lip, thinking of a compromise.

'Well, we could at least give them a chance,' I suggested. 'Maybe we could steal back the Orbs, put them in a safe somewhere that they can't get them and then tell them how stupid they're being.'

Archie fixed me with his gaze. '…I suppose that is a better idea,' he murmured to himself. Then he smiled at me and Zahra.

'You know, we could use your cousin on the Team,' he said to Zahra. 'She'd make a great Admin.'

I grinned to myself. I made a mental note to ask Zahra about joining Team Aqua.

For the next few minutes, Archie, Zahra and I sat in the sun whilst forming a plan. We finally settled on the idea that tomorrow night, we'd meet in the clearing, and venture off down to the Seafloor Cavern to steal back the Orbs. Then we would band together and speak to Maxie, and lock the Orbs away in the Mauville police station safe. Then, hopefully, we wouldn't have any more problems.

I sighed with relief when we had the plans sorted. We left Archie to do his paperwork and Zahra took me to meet Rhea, a friend of hers. We climbed up a tall tree with smooth branches and dark leaves to sit next to her, where she was reading a book in the dappled sunlight. She and I got on really well. We talked about all sorts of things, staring through the canopy of trees to where you could see the shoreline in the very distance, misted with haze.

It was five o'clock when we said goodbye to the Aqua Members and began walking back along the path to go home for tea. The scent of the evening was closing in, and the sun was still a bright globe above the clearing streets of Lilycove. The sky was deep blue, and still thick with haze. We walked back up the path, and inside Zahra's house.

'We're back!' Zahra shouted down the hall, kicking off her dusty trainers. I took mine off too, and put them in the cupboard.

'Okay,' called back Auntie Melody. 'Tea will be ready in about an hour!'

Zahra and I went up the polished stairs to Zahra's room. I sat down on the orange carpet, the evening sun streaming through the open window and the sound of Taillow-song in our ears. We played a game of cards.

Just as I won my second game, Auntie Melody called us for tea. We put the cards away and leapt down the stairs, the smell of lasagne floating in the hall. We went out into the colourful garden where Leon was playing catch with Uncle Matthew. Flowers bordered the neat lawn under the deep blue sky. A gentle breeze stirred my hair.

'Here you are, girls,' Auntie Melody said, putting down our dinners in front of us. I thanked her, and we both tucked in.

After dinner, we wandered back up to Zahra's room to play on Zahra's games console. We did so, having a great laugh as the light of the sun faded through the windows and the evening drew in.

We got ready for bed quickly, and climbed under the covers. I said goodnight, and I fell into a contented slumber.

*     *     *

I was standing, alone, in the centre of somewhere that I knew almost too well. The ceiling of the Seafloor Cavern was dizzyingly high, as always, covered with stalactites, and the floor was covered in sand. I suddenly heard voices, and turned slowly to regard where they were coming from.

'I got the Orbs back from that girl,' the Admin said, her blue hair spilling out from her hood. She held out her gloved hands, showing Maxie the gains of the chase. The red and blue glows of each Orb illuminated the faces of the several Magma Members, crowded round in awe.

'Good.' Maxie turned, cloak swirling out behind him. 'We will start the awakening tomorrow. And then, Kyogre and Groudon will arise, and be ours!'

A spontaneous cheer erupted from the gathered members, except one.

With dark, determined eyes, Jack stepped forward from the crowd.

'Maxie,' he began. 'I don't think this is the best idea you've had.'

Maxie turned, his triumphant smile fading fast. Jack stood his ground, almost Maxie's height. Maxie narrowed his eyes.

'And what gives you the right to oppose my plans? I know what is best for Hoenn, Jack, so don't interfere. You're as bad as that meddling rookie.' Maxie turned to leave. Jack took an irritated breath.

'She's right, though. You know it, Maxie.'

Maxie turned, eyes blazing.

'I say what goes on around here!' he shouted. Jack took a step forward with unwavering confidence.

'I'm just trying to say what is best for us all!' Jack countered, staring into Maxie's face with the utmost cold he could muster.

Maxie took a breath, as if to say something back, but his face relaxed into a pitying smile. He shook his head, and looked down from Jack's face.

'Whatever you say. But your opinions aren't going to make much difference, are they? No matter. Kyogre and Groudon will be awoken, whether you like it or not.'

Maxie and the gathering of Magma Members dispersed, going different directions. Jack was left there, shoulders tensed, breathing through clenched teeth, fists held tight. He sighed and looked down in defeat.

'They'll see,' he muttered to himself, shaking his head, dark eyes opening with blazing fire of determination.

'They'll see.'

*     *     *

'Have you got everything ready for this evening?' Zahra asked me. I nodded, biting into an apple.

It was the day after the dream, and Zahra and I were getting ready to join forces with Team Aqua and steal back the Orbs from Team Magma. It was lunch time, and the sun was streaming in through the window, as always, lighting the terracotta tiles on the kitchen floor and glowing on the white walls. Auntie Melody had given us permission to go out late that evening, provided that we were back before midnight.

I was tingling with excitement; I couldn't wait to get to Team Magma and bring them down once and for all. Zahra had been told the whole story of my dream when I had woken up that morning, and was even more spirited about the whole operation.

'Right then,' Zahra began, proudly wearing her Team Aqua uniform. I stared up at her face, her sparkling maroon eyes twinkling and her crimson hair standing out around her face. She put her hands on her hips, and fluttered her fringe.

I threw my apple core into the bin. 'I can't believe that we're actually going to do this,' I said, smiling. Zahra grinned back. 'I hope we'll be able to do it in time; I've got to go home tomorrow.'

'Oh yeah,' Zahra answered. 'Don't worry. We'll do it.'

The evening came quicker than I thought it would. The sun was tinting orange over Lilycove City as we ate our pasta for tea.

I put my plate over when I had finished. 'Are you ready?' I asked Zahra, after thanking Auntie Melody for the meal. She nodded, and ate her last mouthful. She bounded upstairs, with me following, and we both collected our bags. Umbreon and Espeon were safe in their Pokéballs, tucked away in my bag. Zahra opened the front door. The smells of Lilycove hit me: honeysuckle, sweet market smells and the salty scent of the sea. The haze-thick sky was blue, and the sun a glowing globe of fire sinking lower in the sky.

'We're off, again!' giggled Zahra as we walked down the path through the rose-beds. We turned right, and slipped behind the great brick wall of Lilycove Museum, squeezing through the gap in the trees to the mossy path. The sun dappled the ground, and I could hear Taillow singing a melodious evening chorus.

We arrived at the clearing, and saw many more Team Aqua Members, chatting and waiting for us to arrive. When he saw us, Archie walked over to greet us.

'Hi,' he said. 'Are you ready? It's going to be difficult, but I'm sure we'll do it.'

I nodded. Zahra smiled at me as we exchanged determined glances. Then, the whole of Team Aqua released their flying Pokémon, and climbed on. I released Latios, its sapphire feathers fluttering in the sweet breeze. There was not spare time for anyone to be awed at the legendary; we needed to act fast. Zahra clambered on behind me, and we took off into the heavens. A flock of mixed bird Pokémon rose into the cerulean sky, and we began to fly towards the entrance to the undersea cavern. The dark-green forest disappeared beneath us. With Archie leading the way, we disappeared into the haze.

I saw the watery island rise out of the sea as the waves crept away from it. We touched down out of the sky, and landed silently on the sandbank, returning our Pokémon. Zahra slid off Latios' back and her feet splashed into the watery sand. I turned to Archie.

'We need a lookout team of about four,' Archie said quietly. Four skilled Aqua Members grouped together and agreed to wait atop the island, in case some Magma Members surfaced. With that sorted, the rest of the team was ready to descend.

'Go, Corsola!' I called, releasing Corsola into the water. She bobbed up and down, and I climbed nimbly onto her sturdy pink back. It was good to be adventuring again; Surfing, Diving...

'Dive!' I commanded. Without a delay, Corsola dived beneath the sparkling golden surface of the sunlit sea and I felt the bubble enclose me. I paused, and, sure enough, saw Archie and two other members perched on a Wailord's back, the enormous Pokémon still able to swim easily. I saw the rest of the Team descend, some others on Wailords and some on other diving Pokémon. I caught Archie's eye, and he signalled down. I grinned, and dived.

I marvelled at the underwater scenery as we turned horizontal again and carried on slowly swimming along the sandy-bottomed trench. Cliff edges rose sheer on both sides, and sand shimmered with the sunset above. Clamperls and Relicanths hid in the silvery green weed.

I saw the black entrance yawning out of a cave side, and disappeared into it. The rest of Team Aqua followed, rising up, and breaking the surface. As I had hoped, the familiar sandy entrance cavern of the Team Magma base was deserted. The rest of our group joined me, staring round at the dizzyingly high ceiling, the craggy walls and the stalactites so far above us.

'Do you know the way to where the Orbs might be kept?' Archie asked me, returning Wailord in a blaze of white light.

'Erm…' I muttered, thanking Corsola and returning her. 'I'm not sure where they'll be kept. I know the way to Maxie's office, and the Control room and the Security place, but…'

Archie paused in thought for a moment, while the rest of the Team waited nervously. We didn't have time to waste.

'We'll just use our senses,' I said. 'We haven't got time to work it out. Team Magma is probably waking the legendaries now. We need to be quick.'

I dug my hand into my pocket and released Umbreon and Espeon, just in case of a sudden battle. Espeon's lilac fur shimmered with the mysterious silver light, and Umbreon smiled at me, his pitch black coat shining in the light. With my two precious Pokémon at my heels, I began to run towards the entrance to the Cavern, Team Aqua following in my wake.

My footsteps turned to clunking as I hit the metal tiles. I was unnerved that there were so few Magma scouts about. Something was going on. Suddenly, as I skidded into a cavern with a large pool of water lapping in the middle, I heard voices over the dripping of the stalactites.

'This way,' I called, swerving round the metal barriers and down a passage to the left. I heard someone running faster behind me, and turned to see Zahra jogging with me, smiling determinedly. My heart thumped with nerves as I beamed encouragingly back at her.

Abruptly, we ran into a bank of fog. I slipped to a halt, and listened hard. I could hear running water, and voices. Continuing slowly, Espeon and Umbreon following silently at my heels, I walked into the fog. Zahra followed.

'I think we're close,' Zahra hissed. I nodded, mute with nerves. Archie was following me closely, the rest of Team Aqua pursuing in silence.

Suddenly, the tunnel that we were walking along opened out into an enormous cavern, bigger than the entrance cavern. The air was thick with fog, glowing eerily and lighting the gigantic area. Stalactites from the high ceiling dripped onto the ground, making a symphony of splashes. I stopped, glancing around through the thick mist. I could hear the voices louder now, echoing off the craggy walls.

'Go on,' Archie muttered. I took a deep breath, and began walking into the slightly clearing fog, seeing flashes of red further on, behind some rocks. I clenched my fists in determination. Then, I saw them.

The whole of Team Magma was standing down a staircase from us, in front of an enormous pool of water, swirling mysteriously. Maxie stood before them, facing the pool, with two glowing objects grasped in his gloved hands. The Orbs.

Glancing around, I saw Jack amongst the rest of the team, watching Maxie with folded arms and an expression of contempt. I held my breath as the leader of Team Magma called out some words.

'It is time! I command thee, Kyogre, spirit of the sea, and Groudon, spirit of the earth, by the power of these Orbs from the place of your birth, Mount Pyre, to rise and to conquer -'

But before he could finish, something made me act. This just couldn't happen. Not now.

I didn't think to what I was doing. With my heart pounding in my ears, I launched myself down the damp stone steps, Espeon and Umbreon following eagerly, and shouted as loud as I could.

'NO!' I leapt the last few steps, and, without a thought, dived into a roll with my hands hitting the ground first. Pain shot up my arms to my elbows and my hands burned, but I ignored it. I tucked my head under, rolled over faster than I'd ever done before, and swung my legs into the back of Maxie's knees and made him fall. The Orbs spun through the air. I saw it as if in slow motion, and grabbed them out of the fog. It was the most amazing and thing I'd ever done. I beamed to myself. A spontaneous cheer went up from Team Aqua, and then they realised that they'd given away their position.

'Stupid child!' Maxie spat, recovering and trying to snatch the Orbs back. But I moved them away. 'But, no fear,' he continued, a smile playing across his tanned face. 'You have not saved anything. For Kyogre and Groudon have awoken!'

I bit my lip. It was true. As Team Magma swarmed towards Team Aqua, the roof began to shake, bits of rock falling from the ceiling. Espeon and Umbreon mewed in shock, running to me for protection. I saw Maxie crouch to the ground out of the corner of my eye. And then, I saw them.

Two dark shapes rose from the water, at the same time, and the shaking grew more violent. I shielded my head with my arms, and peered through the dust at the two silhouettes rising above the stirring water. I heard the first give a loud call like singing whales. An enormous blue body passed overhead from me, and shot upwards, cracking the ceiling and letting the fresh air in. It was such a relief that it was not below the sea.

The second silhouette arose, but the dust was so thick that I could see where it went. I saw a red shape disappear into the fog, and then I heard a thunderclap from outside. Without being able to see what everyone else was doing, I covered my face with my arm as the rock fall got even worse, and the choking dust thickened more.

I closed my eyes and began trembling, Espeon and Umbreon pressed against me, the Orbs still protectively shielded by my other arm. It was true. It had happened.

Kyogre and Groudon had arisen.

*     *     *

Onto Part 6...

Back to Library 1

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