"How disappointing. Fusion Flare."

Time seemed to slow down for everyone as the dragon raised its wings high. A ball of flames even larger than the dragon itself began to grow bigger as it absorbed the fires burning the city. With a majestic roar, the ball slowly came down towards May and Marshtomp.

"May!" Brendan yelled as the ball fell. Green quickly grabbed Brendan's arm as he tried to run towards May. "Brendan STOP! There's nothing you can do!" As Brendan struggled against Green, several thin beams of light suddenly came down from the sky and slammed into the white dragon. Several more beams came down on the ball of fire, dissipating it with ease. May barely managed to return Marshtomp before she fainted. Brendan quickly ran over to check on her.

Atlas growled and crossed his arms angrily. "Tch. His reach extends even to here?" Raika giggled and poked Atlas's ribs "Ooooooh you made the old man angrrrrrry!"

"Hey! You two!"

Atlas and Raika turned and watched Red walk up to them. "What do you think you're doing?!" Atlas laughed at Red as he pulled out a pure white pokeball and returned the white dragon. "She asked for a battle, I gave her one. The city simply got in the way of my Pokemon. That's all."

"How….How can you say that?! Who are you people?!" Red snarled. Atlas smirked and prepared to pull another pokeball out, when Raika quickly grabbed his arm "Atlas, you already made grandpa angry. Don't tempt him any further." Atlas simply nodded and began heading up the road leading into the mountains above Mauville. "H-Hey!" Red yelled. Raika quickly jumped between Red and Atlas and bowed.

"I apologize for my brother's behavior. If it makes any difference, I'll send for someone to repair the damage caused by my brother."

"Very well. Just make sure someone DOES come."

A short older man in a brown army jacket and light brown slacks suddenly came over and patted Red's shoulder. Raika nodded and bowed to the old man before running after Atlas.

"Wahahahaha! That sure was…..a shock!" The old man suddenly laughed loudly. Green stared at the old man "Are you insane?! That… that…. THING practically destroyed the city!" "Aye that he nearly did. However, none of the civilians were harmed, and most of the damage was only caused by fires, which are easily fixable! Am I right, grandson?"

Red suddenly experienced a blast from the past that he wish he never had, as a tall blonde man wearing a green camo shirt, camo pants, and army boots stomped up them and saluted.

"No casualties reported SIR!"

"No…. Please not him of all people…." Green whined. Red watched as the one and only Lt. Surge stomped up to him. "TEN-SHUN!" Red and Green quickly snapped to attention out of reflex. Said reflex came from weeks of training in what was known as 'Surge's Boot Camp Training'. "Private Red, you froze up during that last battle! I thought I trained you to be better than that! Private Green, you did the right thing holding that little private back. He could have gotten himself killed if he had tried to save the other young private!"

Red's eye twitched "And what were YOU doing 'sir'?"

Surge suddenly began crying into his arm "My own black mark in an otherwise spotless record… I failed to halt the enemy when the battle began… Forgive me General Wattson!" The old man now known as Wattson, patted Surges back and laughed. "Wahahahaha! It's nice to know my grandson hasn't changed since he joined the army!"

"GRANDSON?!" Red and Green shouted in confusion/horror.

"TEN-SHUN!" Another reflex courtesy of Surge. "You are in the presence of the king of Electric Pokemon! The greatest general in the history our family, and my grandfather!" Surge quickly turned and saluted Wattson "General Wattson!"

Wattson sighed and shrugged "Alright, alright at ease. Now then, what brings you three to my beloved city?"

"Well…" Brendan began as he came up to the group hoisting May over his shoulder with ease "I was hoping to get my third badge, but it looks like I'll have to wait for a while…"

"THAT'S RIGHT YOU WILL!"

Surge suddenly grabbed Green, Red, Brendan, and May (Who was still out like a light.) all with one arm and began dragging them towards a large not-burned down building outside the city.

"YOU FOUR WILL SPEND THE NEXT SEVEN HOURS TRAINING UNDER THE GREAT GENERAL WATTSON AND I! AGAIN!"

"Three days?! But we just waited-"

"Is that whining I hear Private Green?!"

"SIR! NO SIR!"

-Team Magma Hideout-

"Hey. Hey! HEY! OI! GUARD!"

The current magma grunt guarding Kira's cell took several deep breaths in an effort to ignore him. Kira had been trying to get the guards attention for several hours now without succe-

"HEY MOOOOOOORRRRROOOOOOOOOON"

Snap.

The grunt suddenly jumped to his feet and nearly punched Kira in the face. "WHAT! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT?!" Kira grinned "I've thought it over, and I'm willing to make a 'trade' with your leader, Marty." The grunt snorted and turned away, pressing a button on the intercom nearby "Hey boss, you gotta hear this. The prisoner's got something to tell ya."

"I'm on my way…"

Two minutes later, Magma Leader Maxie, Yukino, and the grunt all stood in front of Kira's cell, glaring down at him. "Well? Are you ready to tell us what you are here for?" Kira quickly shook his head "I got better. Info. Info that I'm willing to trade for my release." Maxie chuckled and shook his head "You must truly think I'm a fool. What information could you possibly have that would be worth a Team Aqua spy's release?"

"I know how to get to Groundon."

Maxie and the grunts eyes widened. "Are you sure Kira?" Yukino asked. Kira nodded and pulled out a map of Hoenn. "Information is power, keep an ear to the ground and a finger in the sky and you'd be surprised by what you learn."

"I don't think that's right…" The grunt muttered.

Kira waved him off and continued. "For example, I know for a fact that Team Magma has spent the past seven weeks searching for Groundon's location with no success. Am I wrong?"

"Hey! You can't speak to our leader like th-"

"How accurate is your information? I'll need something more than your word to go by." Maxie asked. Kira's grin grew wider. "I'll throw in a special tidbit. The chamber where Groundon sleeps is deep below this mountain. Even deeper than where this base is stationed."

"What! It's below us?!" Maxie exclaimed. Kira nodded "That's correct. However the chamber is protected by layer upon layer of rock. And even if you drill deeper, there's still all that magma to go through. So how do you get to the chamber?" Maxie scowled at being treated like a fool but nodded in understanding.

"Very well. However, we have no proof that your information is accurate. Therefore, you shall accompany Yukino to the site."

The deal was made! Kira shrugged "Whatever works. I want to see Groundon as much as you do, Marty." Maxie's raised an eyebrow at Kira's comment "Oh? But I was to believe you were on Team Aqua's side. If not them, and not us… then who's side ARE you on?"

Kira suddenly gave a smirk that sent shivers down everyone's spine. "That's… a…-" He then just as suddenly shot everyone a smile and a wink "Secret~!" Waving off the looks everyone was giving him, Kira smiled and pointed to an area in the upper left corner of the map.

"Now then. After you obtain the meteorite from the Falls…"

-Magma Base entrance-

"Leader! Are you sure it's okay to just release him like that?! He could be leading us into a Team Aqua trap!" Maxie nodded to the snarling grunt "I agree, which is why I will be sending Yukino with him."

"Oi! Let's go! You want to see Groundon or not?"

Maxie turned to Yukino, who gave Maxie her full attention. "Now then, keep a close eye on him. It is very likely that he is leading us into a trap, but it's just as likely that he's telling the truth. I'm counting on you."

Yukino smiled up at her uncle and nodded. They were now one step closer to obtaining Groundon!

As the two made their way down the mountain, Yukino's questioning began.

"So where exactly is Meteor Falls? Your self-drawn map wasn't very good to be honest." "Hmm? Oh, that map. It wasn't made by me." He said with a shrug. "Eh? Then who did?"

"I drew it! Isn't it fantastic?!"

Yukino shrieked as Mew appeared on her right shoulder. "M-Mew! Please don't do that! And stop laughing Kira!" Wiping away a tear, Kira grinned "Why not? She got you so good!"

"So! So! Where are we going?" Mew asked, excitement glowing in her eyes. "Meteor Falls. Yuki is going to grab a meteorite from the caves so they can remove the lava blocking the entrance to Groundon's cavern." "That's right! …Wait, did you just call me 'Yuki'?" Kira gave her a confused look "Err…yeah? Why? I always give people I meet a nickname."

"Yeah! Sometimes he calls me Pink Panther! I still don't get it though…" Mew exclaimed with her tail wagging.

"And I keep telling you. Watch the movie first, THEN you will get it."

"But I DID watch it! What do I have to do with a pretty stone?!"

"Did you even watch the intro cartoon?!"

"But…but you said to watch the movie!"

Yukino watched the two talk as they headed down the mountain and wondered if they would be alright. Sure he LOOOKED strong, but he didn't even have any Pokeballs on his belt! "Err… if it's not too rude to ask… Do you have any Pokemon at all? Besides Mew?"

Mew's eyes shined with excitement "Yeah! Yeah! Tell her about the big dragon! Or the old guy! Or ninja! Or the-"

"While we wait for Mew to realize you have no idea what she's talking about…Yes, I have several Pokemon."

"And then there's the doggie!"

"Oh? But I don't see any Pokeballs on your belt…"

"The doggie's my favorite! Even though he steals my food sometimes…"

Kira shrugged. "Eh, the pokeballs are in my bag back at the Lillycove Pokemon Center. But my team is out doing their own separate jobs I gave them. One or two of them most likely finished theirs by now and are probably watching us right now."

At that moment, Yukino felt several pairs of eyes on her even though there was clearly no one around. It sent shivers down her back.

-Surge's Boot Camp-

"LET'S GO! A NICE BRISK THIRTY LAPS AROUND THE ARENA FOLLOWED BY A RELAXING HUNDRED AND FIFTY PUSH-UPS AND SIT-UPS! THE POKEMON TOO! MOVE IT!"

Red REALLY wished he wasn't in Hoenn at the moment.

After an hour of resting up from earlier events, and reviving May. Red, Green, Brendan, and May were now training under Surge's 'watchful eye' (More like a Raichu with a Thundershock ready to zap any slackers…). Red's Kirila and Green's Kadabra were way ahead of both the human AND Pokemon groups as Kadabra had challenged her to a race while doing the laps.

"Is he… Is he always like this?" May sighed as she ran alongside the human group. "This is tame, actually." Green began. Red nodded "Yeah, he's only making us do thirty laps. I'm a bit surprised myself. He made us do… what was it, seventy laps in Kanto?" "Sixty laps around Vermillion and the surrounding routes." Green quickly corrected him. "We were there for a week and a half before he let us go."

"I HEAR TALKING!"

Brendan continued the conversation as everyone ignored him "But May… what were you doing challenging that guy to a battle? And what was that Pokemon he used? I've never seen or heard of it at all!" "I…I think he said Reshiram when he called it out. The Pokedex had no information on it. But it was clearly powerful, knocking out my entire team with one attack each…"

"DON'T MAKE ME PULL OUT THE WHIP!"

More ignoring.

"It was definitely a fire-type." Green began. "Judging by its power, it might be a legendary Pokemon. But as to which region it belongs to, I have no idea." May groaned and hung her head "My Marshtomp's water attacks did nothing to it at all…" Brendan patted May's back and smiled "Don't worry about it! We'll just get stronger and stronger!" "As long as we don't run into anymore weirdo's…" Green added in, throwing a glare towards Red.

"One can dream…" He sighed in response.

The entrance doors suddenly swung open, and in walked Wattson, smiling as always. "Wattson!" Brendan yelled "Is it time for our battle?" "I'm afraid not lad." Wattson replied, quickly turning his smile into a frown. "I've just been told that repairs to the gym will take a week, the entire city will take even longer."

"Guess there's nothing we can do about it, Brendan. Should we head to the next town then?" Red asked. Green quickly nodded in agreement "Anything to get away from Surge! I had enough of his training to last three lifetimes!" Wattson narrowed his eyes at Surge, who quickly and fearfully saluted him. "Lt. Surge. These children have leave to continue their journey. Are there any problems with this?" The teens could see the sweat pour down Surges face as he nodded quickly. "YES SIR!"

"Good!" Wattson quickly changed to a smile. "Then I suggest you kid's check out Lavaridge town north of Fallabor town. There's a fantastic cavern known as Meteor Falls! The Hoenn Gym Leaders use it often for training new gym trainers and get a little training in themselves!"

"Sounds good to me! There are supposed to be dragon Pokemon in the deeper part of the falls! Let's go master!"

Red sighed in defeat and shrugged "Alright, alright… Meteor Falls it is."

-Fallabor town…-

"Alright, so let's recap."

"Okaaaay!"

"We met those kids in Slateport, the red one told us Kira was heading for Lillycove… right?"

"Yup yup!"

"So we went ALL THE WAY to Lillycove, met that elderly couple who told us Kira was then heading to Mt. Pyre. Still there?"

"Sounds right so far!"

"We fly over to Mt. Pyre, those flight restriction rules are simply ridiculous by the way, searched all over the mountain until some hiker's told us that some silver haired boy was talking to his shoulder about Lavaridge town…"

"It's almost like you're writing the story yourself!"

"…What story?

"Never mind!"

"O…..kay then… The current question is: If we want to go to Lavaridge… why are we here in Fallabor?"

"Call it… a hunch! Boom chi!"

"A hunch, hmmm? Well your hunches haven't been wrong yet. Shall we get searching?"

"Okaaaay!"

-Route 111-

"Alright! We're on our way to Fallabor Town!" Brendan cheered as the group began walking. Oddly enough, silence followed for ten minutes until… "Er… So how has your training been, Brendan?" May asked, breaking the awkward silence. Brendan grinned and pulled out three Pokeballs. "Both my Torchic and Lombre got some great training in thanks to master Brawly in the Granite Cave! I also got a new Pokemon I'm working on called Beldum!"

"Wow! Beldum are supposed to be extremely rare! You are very lucky to find one Brendan!" May exclaimed looking at the pokeballs.

The group walked a ways from the city and soon found themselves near a building that appeared to be built into the mountain side. A sign next to the entrance read

"Trainer Hill. Scale the heights, you hot-blooded TRAINERS!"

"Why is the word 'Trainers' in all caps?" Red asked aloud. Green shrugged and stepped into the building. Red was quickly reminded of the Pokemon League reception lounge as he took in the room. Two counter's stood next to each other, as usual one had a pink-haired nurse sitting next to a healing machine (She waved to Red, obviously recognizing him.), while the other had the usual PokeMart employee in their blue-shirts and white aprons. In between the counters was a slightly long, thin hallway that lead to a pair of white stairs.

"Ah! This must be the beginning of the Trainer Hill! There are supposedly extremely powerful trainers on each floor, some because they have high level Pokemon, and others for the deadly strategies they have up their sleeves! There's even a rumor that most, if not all, the trainers here can go toe-to-toe with the Frontier Brains at the gold rank without breaking a sweat!" Brendan explained excitedly.

Green's eyes quickly glowed "That sounds exciting! You haven't had a decent challenge since that mountain, right Red?" Red just sighed and waved a hand dismissively "I… Think I'll pass. Maybe if I brought my Kanto team, I might but…" "YES! That would be an amazing sight! Red sweeping the hill with his 'Legend Killer' Pikachu! What I wouldn't give to see that!"

"Please tell me no one actually calls Pikachu 'Legend Killer'…" Red groaned. Green chuckled and lightly smacked his shoulder "I told you not to do the interview." Brendan nodded. "Yeah! They showed the battle between Pikachu and Suicune, Raikou, and Entei worldwide! Taking out all three legendary dogs by itself was incredible, but Pikachu didn't appear to have a scratch on it at the end!"

"Not true." The nurse from behind the counter chimed in "I watched that video too, and your Pikachu looked like it was about to collapse! As a Pokemon nurse, I can't say I was thrilled to see a Pokemon in such pain after a battle. I hope you got it proper medical attention afterwards!" The nurse huffed. Red nodded "Pikachu's fine. He's with Oak right now helping with his research." "Pikachu sure loved books!" Green giggled.

The nurse nodded "On a completely unrelated subject, the Trainer Hill is actually not open to the public yet. Unfortunately, we're actually still getting everything set up. Hill trainers returning from training trips, you get the drill."

Brendan gave a groan of disapproval while Red nodded slowly. "Understood. We'll be sure to come back later then. Come on guys."

A few hours of walking and battling trainers later and the group now stood at the bottom of a tall volcano.

"Its… warm." Green groaned fanning herself. "Well it IS a volcano…" Brendan replied with a nod. "Oh hush! There's supposed to be a cavern nearby that leads to Lavaridge right?"

"That's right! It's just a quick trudge through Entei Cave and a brisk walk through the Ash Grasslands, and then we'll be in Lavaridge Town! Just beyond that is the Meteor Falls."

Red turned to May and asked "Why is it called Entei Cave?"

May quickly pulled out her PokeNav and pressed a few keys. "Um, it says on the Nav that this volcano wasn't made naturally and was instead made from Entei's roar a long time ago. The cave was named Entei Cave several generations later when they found faded wall drawings depicting Entei creating the volcano."

"That's not completely true!"

May shrieked as Mew suddenly appeared in front of May's face.

"HA! She got another one!"

"No way…" Red muttered turning towards the ledge above the group. Sure enough, there Kira stood, pointing at May and laughing with tears going down his face. Next to him stood a woman with silver hair and wearing a red hooded outfit with a volcano-like symbol on the chest.

"You always appear at the strangest times!" Red said with a slight smile. Mew quickly flew to Kira's side as he leapt down the ledge with the woman and shrugged. "I thought you were heading for Lillycove."

"I'm afraid that's somewhat my fault…" The woman sighed. "And ALL Mew's fault." Kira quickly added.

"HEY!"

"Is this your partner you mentioned back in Rustburo?" Brendan asked. The woman looked at Kira questioningly, while he shook his head. "Nope. Partner went back to the research lab and I met up with this beauty on my way down this mountain." The womans face flushed slightly as she bowed.

"I am Yukino. Pleased to meet you."

Red and Green nodded. "I'm Fire Red. And this is Leaf Green. Over here we have my self-proclaimed apprentice Brendan Sapphire and his friend May."

"Quite the little group you've got going. Flaming pink."

Red's eye twitched. "We're actually on our way to Meteor Falls. Brendan wants to capture a dragon Pokemon and it would be a good chance to train for the Fallabor Town Gym Leader."

"No kidding! Yuki and I are heading there as well! There's a meteorite there that will help us find one of the legendary Pokemon that's supposed to be asleep in this Volcano."

"Do you really think it'll work? There's a legend in Hoenn that says if Groundon and Kyogre are woken up, the world will come to an end!" May asked. She then crossed her arms and frowned "I wouldn't exactly be glad to see the world end you know…"

Kira's smile suddenly sent chills down Mays spine despite it being a simple smile. "Is that so?"

"W-Well, if we're all heading to the same place, why don't we all go together?" Green quickly asked hoping to cure the sudden silence that fell upon the group.

"Well it would certainly make the trip more exciting, right Yuki?"

Mew looked excitedly between Kira and Yukino hoping for her approval. Yukino watched Mew's tail wag back and forth in matching excitement.

"Come on pretty lady! It's a CAVE! A CAVE!"