Chapter Nine: LAPIS CAVE
Early the next morning, Team Invincible awoke, already prepared for their long, almost pointless trip.
Carrying their item case only, the trio rushed away from the base, in an eastward direction.
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…Thus began Team Invincible's long and arduous journey… Across forbidden mountains…
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The three came across a group of very deep fissures in the ground.
"Wow… These fissures are really amazing…" Justin said.
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…Across fields of fire…
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Pat, Justin, and Pika walked across a natural bridge a few hundred feet above a lava stream, which was lined by a forest fire.
"Eesh… I'm a Fire Pokemon and I don't like this…" Pat groaned, staring down at the lava from the weak stone bridge.
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But throughout all of it, the Team kept their heads high, as well as their hopes. Without complaint, they kept going.
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The Team stood in front of a large mountain covered in bluish crystals and rocks, a cave just a few yards away.
"Whew… We sure came a long way." Pika sighed.
"Wow. Look at these weird crystals!" called out Justin in awe, staring at many blue, shining rocks covering the mountain.
"Hmm… I've heard of this cave. This place is dangerous… It's the Lapis Cave." Pat said.
Pika sat down on a rock. "I just hope we can get back to our Rescue Team work… So many Pokemon are affected by the earthquakes, the fissures, the fires, the blizzards…"
"Yeah, who cares about that, Pika? At any given second, a Rescue Team could run into us." muttered Pat as he also sat down.
But as soon as he did, a sound reached their ears…
"I think they came this way."
"They can't get away from all of us!"
"We have to get rid of Pat and Justin quickly…"
Pat screamed. "AAH! They're catching up to us?!"
"We'd better get a move on!" Justin said. All three dashed into the Lapis Cave.
Just like outside, the interior was blue stone and crystal, and it was also dimly lit.
"Pretty…" Pika gasped as she looked at several gleaming crystals.
"Come on, Pika! We gotta go!" Pat shouted, leading the other two deeper into the cave.
Almost immediately, the three ran into a Pokemon: a Zubat. The wild Pokemon launched an attack: Supersonic. It shot from its mouth a series of ten yellow rings at Pika, confusing her, making her wobble about stupidly.
"Ice Beam!" shouted Justin. he launched a light blue ice lightning bolt from his mouth, hitting Zubat for super effective damage, and knocking it out.
After snapping Pika out of her confusion, the trio hurried along.
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Again, Team Invincible ran into a wild Pokemon. Or rather, two: a Nidorina, a blue Poison, quadruped Pokemon with ears having points on them, red eyes, white claws, and dark blue spots on her body, and spikes on its legs, and an Illumise, a Bug Pokemon with a blue body, having purple female-styled "hair" on its head, a yellow and purplish "dress" on its lower body, and a yellow hair bow-shaped object on its head.
Nidorina began the battle, using Double Kick. She turned around and kicked Justin twice, both doing slightly serious damage. Illumise followed Sweet Scent. It blew a sweet-smelling gust around Team Invincible, lowering their evasion.
In retaliation, Pat launched a Flamethrower at Illumise, hitting it with a powerful super effective attack, slamming the Bug Pokemon into a wall for a KO.
Pika followed by sending a blue electricity sphere, Shock Wave, from in front of her mouth and crackling cheeks at Nidorina, also delivering a strong blow.
Justin finished with a water beam, his Water Gun attack, leaving the path clear of foes for the time being. Team Invincible hurried past the knocked-out Nidorina and Illumise.
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Surprisingly, only another Zubat held them up, which was easily dispersed by Justin's Ice Beam.
Finally, the Team reached the end of the cavern, finding daylight on the other side of the mountain.
…But they didn't have any time at all to rest, for, once again, voices reached their ears.
"I see them! There they are!"
"GET PAT AND JUSTIN!"
"Oh, man! RUN!" Pika yelled, the trio dashing away to escape doom.
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"Stop right there! Don't let them get away!"
"…They expect us to stop and wait for them? Idiots!" Pat growled.
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Team Invincible escaped, only to find themselves just passing the Lapis Mountain. But then… They noticed something that was somewhat close to them…
"WHOA!" the Team cried out.
In their sights was a giant mountain… Or rather, a slowly erupting volcano.
"Look at all that lava…" whimpered Pika. "Can we get through here?"
"They're catching up to us! We have to!" replied Pat.
"But what'll we do…?"
"THERE THEY ARE!"
"GET 'EM!"
"No choice! We gotta move it or lose it!" Justin cried out. All three ran off towards the gigantic volcanic mountain…
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"Look at them! They're heading towards Mount Blaze!"
"Are they insane?! Mt. Blaze is doomed desolation! No one has ever come this far before!"
"I don't wanna go anywhere like Mt. Blaze!"
"Only those brave enough will give chase!"
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"Darn it… Where'd those guys go?!"
"They must've gone this way!"
"ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRR!"
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After hiding behind a cluster of gray rocks, Team Invincible managed to evade capture. But surely, Team A.C.T. or other Rescue Teams are on their way… Will they keep evading capture or will their next day be their last?
PM: Taste the power of a cliffhanger! GACK-ACK-ACK-ACK-ACK!