Chapter 13: A Race for Time
We were finally on our way. As I stood on the deck of Mr. Briney's boat I took in the beauty of the sea. The water was a crystal blue color, the shadows of various Water Pokémon swimming just below the surface jetting through. Up above Flying types including Taillow and Pelipper covered the skies. But the one thing that stood out to me more than anything else was the scent. I took a deep breath, taking in the salty sea air. I let the breath out shortly after, letting a relaxed feeling wash over me. Moments later Mr. Briney walked up next to me.
"It's been so long since I've been out to sea I've almost forgotten how wonderful the sea is," I commented.
"Aye, the sea can be quite beautiful," Mr. Briney agreed. The two of us stood there, looking out at the sea for a while, before Mr. Briney spoke again.
"By the way, did something happen to your sister?' he asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well, I don't recall her being in a wheelchair last time I saw her," he said. That's when I realized that was the first time he had seen Michelle since the incident with Giovanni and Team Rocket.
"Oh… yeah, she was," I answered. I hoped he wouldn't go any further than that, and thankfully he didn't.
"I hope she recovers soon," he said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Thanks," I replied. He walked away shortly after, leaving me alone with my thoughts of what was to come. I wasn't alone long, for seconds after he left Scarlet walked up to me.
"So, we're really going to meet the legendary Jirachi," she said.
"Providing we can find him before Team Rocket does," I answered. "I really hope we're not too late."
"You almost sound like you're expecting them to be there already," Scarlet commented.
"Knowing Giovanni I'm positive that he's already got goons searching every nook and cranny of Meteor Falls for Jirachi," I replied.
"As much as I hater to say this you're probably right," Scarlet agreed. The two of us stood there looking out over the sea, our thoughts our own but similar. No matter what we had to get there and find Jirachi before Team Rocket did.
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We made landfall two weeks later along a strip of beach to the north of Rustboro City, the closest location to the second entrance to Meteor Falls. Scarlet and Poka had already departed and were on the beach going over the mission with their Pokémon. I was still on Mr. Briney's boat, Foxy sitting on my shoulder, calling home to check on Michelle and Alexis.
"So you made it there safely?" Alexis asked.
"Yup, we made is safe and sound," I said.
"That takes a lot of worry off of my mind," Michelle said.
"I bet it does," I commented.
"(How are Mother, Father and Starlight doing?)" Foxy asked, concerned for her family.
"They're fine, though they are worried about you," Michelle replied.
"As can be expected," I said.
"By the way, Misty called the other day," Alexis said.
"Really? What's up on her end?" I asked.
"Nothing, though she did ask if anything happened over here," Alexis said. "I don't know how but word got to them about that new Team Rocket base that went up near Pallet Town."
"Well with those three idiots still following Ash for his Pikachu I'm sure one of them must have blurted it out," I said.
"More than likely. Anyway I told her you took care of it," Alexis said.
"I'm sure she was relieved to hear that," I guessed.
"She and Ash both," Alexis said. "They wanted me to tell you thanks for them."
"Well you can tell them message received and they're welcome," I replied.
"Hey, Brian! Come on, we've got to get moving!" Scarlet called.
"Okay!" I replied. "Sorry. I've got to get going."
"Okay," Alexis said. "Good luck."
"And be careful," Michelle said.
"I will," I said. I ended the call and hurried to join Scarlet and Poka on the beach.
"Just give me a call when you three are ready to head back to Kanto!" Mr. Briney called.
"We will!" I replied. "Thanks again for bringing us here!" He waved to us as he piloted his ship back out to sea.
"So, what's first on the agenda?" Poka asked.
"Well, it's still early in the day so I say we try to find that second entrance to Meteor Falls," I suggested. "Then we need to determine if and how many Team Rocket goons Giovanni has in there."
"And after that we can determine how to best go about searching without being discovered ourselves," Poka finished.
"Exactly," I answered. With our objectives clear we headed up the beach.
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We had been walking along the beach for nearly 10 minutes, but so far had not seen anything that looked like the second entrance to Meteor Falls. All we had seen were rocky cliffs and a few trees here and there.
"Geez… this second entrance sure is well hidden," Scarlet commented.
"That doesn't work in our favor. If we can't find the second entrance then that gives Team Rocket that much bigger a head start on us," Poka said.
"(Why don't you see if Esther can find it for us,)" Foxy suggested.
"That's not a bad idea," I commented. I grabbed her Poké Ball and called her out.
"(Are my services needed?)" my Gardevoir asked.
"They are," I answered. "I need you to see if you can find the second entrance to Meteor Falls. It's supposed to be around here somewhere."
"(I shall do my best,)" Esther replied. She closed her eyes and concentrated, her body giving off a faint blue glow.
"Can she do it?" Scarlet asked.
"I hope so," I answered. Seconds later the glow left her body and she opened her eyes. She looked to the north and pointed.
"(That way,)" she said. "(I detected a small opening in the cliffs just beyond those trees.)"
"Good work as always," I praised. We continued our trek to the north, and just as Esther had said there was a small opening in the cliffs. As we got closer we could hear the sound of rushing water coming from inside.
"Looks like this is it," Poka commented.
"Seems like it," I answered. I then grabbed a second Poké Ball and called out Maggie.
"(I am needed?)" she asked.
"I need you to see if there are any Team Rocket agents inside the falls," I explained.
"(Leave it to me,)" the Mismagius replied. She then disappeared right before our eyes. Being a Mismagius I knew she be able to use the shadows inside the falls to her advantage and remain practically invisible.
"Will she be okay by herself?" Scarlet asked.
"Don't you worry about Maggie. She's more elusive than a greased-up Grumpig," I joked. Scarlet and Poka just stared at me, Esther closed her eyes and Foxy slapped her forehead with a paw.
"(That… was bad,)" my Vulpix commented. "(Do us a favor and leave the jokes to the comedians.)" Oh well. Looks like my little joke is best saved for the birds. Shortly after that Maggie reappeared.
"Well, what's the word?" I asked.
"(There's a lot more than I thought there would be,)" she reported. "(The entire cave is crawling with Rockets. It will be tough staying undetected in there.)"
"(This shall prove to be quite the dilemma,)" Esther commented.
"Even so we have to get in there and get to Jirachi before they do," I said. I then returned Esther and Maggie, after thanking them for the efforts.
"So, how do we go about searching this place?" Poka asked. "If we stick together it might make it easier for them to locate us."
"But if we separate we lose the strength in numbers advantage," Scarlet said. Both had their points, but in the end there was only one way for us to search this cave out quickly a thoroughly.
"We'll have to split up once we get inside," I said. "If we stick together we won't be able to search the caves quickly enough." Scarlet and Poka both agreed as we all made our way inside the cave.
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Normal POV
Giovanni sat at his desk, his Persian by his side. With the number of agents he had sent to Meteor Falls he had no doubt that Jirachi would be his soon, and then he'd be able to create his ultimate Shifter. As those thoughts ran through his head his videophone came to life, and Marks' face appeared.
"Mark, reporting," he announced. "I've arrived at Meteor Falls as you requested."
"Good," Giovanni told him. "I don't trust those other fools to find Jirachi. That's why I'm personally tasking you with finding and delivering him to me."
"Yes sir," Mark replied. "I shall not fail you." The screen went black, leaving Giovanni alone to his thoughts.
"Nothing will stop me this time, not even that meddling fool Brian," he remarked.
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Holy crap, I wasn't expecting the inside of Meteor Falls to be this dark. I mean, I was here once before the last time I came through Hoenn, but to me it seemed that there was more light inside that time than now. Despite all that there was a mission we were here to carry out, and carry it out we were.
"Okay, we'll split up and search every cave we come across. We'll meet back here in one hour," I instructed.
"What do we do if Team Rocket discovers us?" Scarlet asked.
"Try to avoid them at all costs, but if you have to fight take them down as quickly and quietly as possible," I replied. "That way we won't alert them to our presence."
"Sounds good to me," Poka said. "Well, I'm off. Good luck."
"You too," I said. The three of us went our separate ways for now. We didn't know how long it would take us to find Jirachi, or even if we would. But the one thing we had to do above all else was make sure Team Rocket didn't find him.
Well, we finally arrived at Meteor Falls, but it looks like Team Rocket beat us there. Looks like it's a race against time for Jirachi. Will we win? Or did Team Rocket get too great of a head start on us? Oh, who the hell am I kidding?! There's no way we're going to let Team Rocket beat us, so stick around to see us do work in the next chapter of The Shifter Chronicles!
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