***Obligatory Fan-fiction Disclaimer:

Although the author of this story is FierceDeityMask, the story below utilizes characters and concepts that in NO WAY belong to the author. The material in this story is predominantly owned by the developers and producers of the Pokemon franchise. This story is not to be reproduced or reiterated without the author's express consent and should be posted and viewed only on . Once again, all credit for ideas, characters, and designs go to their respective owners, predominantly NOT this author.***

***Authors Note: This is where the story actually starts, but you need to read the intro before you will understand some of the background info. This story will change characters a lot as it progresses, so expect a number of different viewpoints."

Ancient Ways

Fire Chapter 1: The Heart of the Mountain

200 years after the Rise of Barbaros, the land had settled into a new system, a totalitarian empire with Barbaros at its head. Seemingly, Barbaros was immortal as he had not a year on him since his takeover. His imprisonment devices were formidable, even the mightiest of pokemon could be caught with a little bit of effort. Granted, only previously caught pokemon had to exert themselves, humans merely bossed others around. But not all the people and pokemon had fallen to the fearsome new capture craze. People of the Old Ways, as the practice of respect between species was now called, had hidden and prospered in exile. Now the coming of age ceremony for a young boy and a pokemon coincided in one of those clans, so both were being celebrated simultaneously. The story begins at the ceremony, in the ancient town of Vulcanis. Hidden deep within a volcano know as Mount Magmara, the town was set in volcanic tunnels too inhospitable for the unadapted Superiors.

(Ancient Ways will be back right after this message, in the mean time, which Pokemon evolves into Seviper?)

A quick word about how human's can use pokemon moves before the story begins. Like pokemon, a Human can focus his/her internal energy, the nature of which is not fully understood, to perform supernatural acts, but the difference is that humans do not have a natural restriction on the moves they can use like the Power Points of pokemon. They could easily use their moves indefinitely if such an attempt did not get harder with each consecutive move, if they push themselves too hard they can weaken, faint, or in extreme over-extensions simply die from exertion. This is not true for any move a human has affinity for, so if the move matches up with the inherent "type" the human is born with, there is no danger of over-extension at all. (If you guessed Arbok you were obviously not paying attention! Now back to our show!)

"C'mon Houndour, let's go to the ceremony!" The Human boy named Pyros was an eager youth, he always went poking around and rushing into things where he didn't belong.

"You mean let's race to the ceremony? You never go anywhere, you always have to race!" Houndour had been taking care of Pyros since they both were pups. But he never got tired of it, mostly because every mess Pyros got into was unique, and required a different solution. "Remember what the elder said, 'Swift fire burns brightest..."

Houndour was interrupted by Pyros, " ...but you always burn out just as quick' I know, I heard it a bajillion times!"

Then from behind them came a third voice, "Heard yes, but have you learned anything?" The two jumped at the same time. They turned and saw the elder, a pokemon named Torkoal approach slowly. He continued, "Today is a big day for both of you! I remember when I was coming of age, I had so many jitters I erupted twice! So boys, tell me... How do you feel today?"

Pyros responded immediately, "Like I could torch Barbaros'...

This time Houndour interrupted him, but for a different reason...

"We both feel fine, why do you ask?" He said quickly to omit the incoming expletive.

Torkoal gazed thoughtfully at them both for a long time, (which was one thing Pyros hated...), and then sighed, (which was another thing). He spoke slowly and deliberately, as though the words were more important in meaning than he was letting on, "Today, as with all Ceremony of Age, the two of you must face a Trial. The nature of this trial and the things it entails are secrets I cannot reveal. But the goal is simple: reach the Heart of Magmara, and conquer the challenge there. You must leave in five hours time, or wait until next year. You may take anything with you, but the two of you must travel with no one but each other, to enlist aid is to forfeit. Stay safe and stay strong. Should you return by tomorrow, then you will be granted all privileges of the Clan of Vulcanis. I wish you luck... farewell." The last word sounded pained, almost as if the old Torkoal was saying good-bye to a friend he would never see again.

Houndour was anxious to begin, but he knew they needed supplies. He reined in Pyros and set off as fast as he could to get things for their trip. A rope (he couldn't use it but Pyros might), a sack, a compass, food, and a couple Ethers ( Just in case they needed a power boost. Which he hoped they would not.), shoved it all into the sack. Then the two set off to the town gate to begin questing to the Heart of Magmara, the only trouble now was finding it.

"Are we there yet?" Pyros asked.

"No, we haven't been there the last twenty times you asked and we are STILL not there yet!" Houndour was hard to annoy but Pyros was really outdoing himself this time.

"Do you even know where were going?" He had asked this one a lot, too.

"NO! WE ARE NOT THERE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE 'THERE' IS! SO BE QUIET!" Houndour finally snapped and bit Pyros' hand none too gently.

"OWWWW! What was that for?" It was hard to tell whether or not Pyros even realized what a jerk he was being at that point.

"Shhhh! Did you hear something?" Houndour dropped to a ready stance.

Pyros, sensing that trouble was approaching, prepared himself for combat. "No, but something huge is coming, I can feel it."

A disembodied noise resonated through the tunnels.

~Leave this place.~

"Who's there, show yourself!" Houndour had a sneaking suspicion that he knew the nature of the sound.

~You dare to command me? You DARE oppose my will? This is MY mountain! I shall NOT abide your insolence! MAGMA STORM!~

"Pyros, get down!" Houndour sensed the attack coming, and attempted to warn his partner.

Pyros attempted to follow his orders, but just as he dropped a rumble shook the ground and set him off balance. At this point the entire mountain seemed to shudder and the cavern walls around them became as hot as a furnace.

"No..." Terror filled Pyros as he heard a sound that scared children of his village witless from an early age. Magma leak.

Then as swiftly as the heat wave came, wave after wave of molten lava blasted the duo from all sides. Houndour knew that it was hopeless for them to try to escape the way they came, so he grabbed Pyros from the ground in his teeth, and dug a hole for all he was worth.

The dig was torturous, heated ground burned his paws and lava seeped down from above at the angle he was digging in. A enraged roar was heard above, a mix of metal grinding and hot steam hissing. At last they fell through to another cavern.

The two took a moment to gather their wits, but their break was cut short by the noise again.

~You will not escape! I will never let you take my Heart!~

Pyros finally spoke, "His heart? Houndour is that the god the Elders talk about? The one who's the 'Heart of the Mountain'?"

"Yeah, it's him all right. The elders call him Heatran. He's our challenge! Pyros get ready!" The worry in Houndour's voice was obvious. How would they fight their god? Could it even be done?

"All right, Houndour! Here goes everything!" Pyros was also worried, but he knew that losing wasn't an option.

But neither one of them was truly ready for the next battle, their showdown with Heatran.

TO BE CONTINUED IN...

Fire Chapter 2: Fiery Face-off