It was so hot, I felt like I was going to melt. It felt like this room was in the center of the volcano, the air was thick and hot, pressing down against me. "So that's the guy, right?" Buck said as we drew further into the room, the Team Galactic members inside still not noticing us.
"This is it. No fooling around!" He said seriously, clenching his fists and rushing in before me. I was leaning against Looker for support against my strained ankle. Even in all my discomfort, I barely even noticed the pain. All of my attention was on the Galactic scientist and ninja, who dared to steal the camera from me.
"Come on, Dawn," Looker said, surprisingly much softer than his usual tone. He grinned encouragingly at me as he held my arm, helping me walk. I barely even looked at him though, as the scientist began to speak. His back was turned to us, his arms crossed at his back. He seemed to be murmuring to himself, or perhaps to his companion...
"Cyrus disappeared... Mars and Jupiter quit. Saturn said he would look after what remains of Team Galactic." His voice became a dark growl. "But he won't join me. So foolish of him! So very foolish of the rest of them! Throwing away Team Galactic! After all the effort we took as a team to make it grow... That power could have made us rich beyond imagination." As he spoke, he slowly waked towards a pedestal that stood in the center of the room. There seemed to be some kind of red gemstone on it... He uncrossed his arms and lifted it into his hands.
The ninja at his side shifted to place the camera into his pack, and took the gemstone from the scientist as he handed it to him. "But, enough of that." The man said, "that Heatran will be mine."
"Hey you! Team Galactic! What's going on here!?" Buck cried, finally drawing their attention to us.
Only now did they notice our presence. Both spun around, the ninja falling into a battle-ready stance and the scientist blinking his eyes wide in shock. "Eh? What's this, then? Chased me here, have you?" He frowned at Buck, and then his gaze was drawn to me and Looker. I felt my own eyes go wide as I realized I was seeing his face again for the first time since I saved Mesprit from the dreadful machine he had made...
And he recognized me too. A sick, wicked grin stretched across his face upon realizing why I was here. He exchanged a look with his companion and the man nodded. "I like seeing children try their best, but too bad for you- you're too late... as usual." He chuckled darkly and I felt a pit of anger build in my gut. At my side, Looker frowned. "I will awaken the legendary Heatran! I will control the volcano's eruptions to extort money by the millions! Fear me! For I am Charon! The boss of the reborn Team Galactic!"
He nodded to the ninja, who raised his hand up into the air in a fist... then suddenly, the ground beneath us began to shake. "Ah-!" I gasped, stumbling on my sprained ankle and Looker wrapped his arm around me to steady me. Buck crouched to the ground and glared up at the opponent before us. It seemed Charon was not interested in fighting his own battles, and was going to have his lacky do it for him.
Well... that was fine by me, as long as I got back what was mine.
Then suddenly the ground burst open behind Charon. Out came a giant, four legged pokemon made of magma and steel, it's eyes glowing with fury. It roared and set its sights on Buck. "Ahaha!" Charon laughed, moving out of the way for the Heatran as it slowly lumbered towards us "There will be no stopping me now!"
Buck sent out his Claydoll to fight it off, and Looker sent out his Croagunk. I turned to Strawberry at my shoulder and she chirped determinedly, jumping off to face against the Heatran with the others. They fought and dodged the Heatrans' fireblasts, but I could tell right away that it wasn't going to hold out for long. I wasn't sure how we were going to win, Heatran didn't seem beatable...
My attention was distracted by a soft, pale blue light whisp by my face. I blinked and felt it breeze by me, a rush of cool air that was easily felt in this harsh heat. It alighted upon my bag.. I peered down at it. It was... Azelf..?
The gentle apparition of Azelf lifted from my bag and flew over to Heatran- but as he passed by the rampaging beast, I lost sight of him. Claydoll was flung against the wall and I was startled by it. I looked to see if it was okay, and I saw a soft yellow glow move out from behind it. I was shocked... both of their spirits were here..?
Uxie flew over to Charon, circled around him and then landed on the ninja, who had still yet to say a word. Clenched tight in his hand was that red gemstone that Charon had taken. I frowned and looked up at Uxie... he turned to me with his wide eyes... and nodded.
I was beginning to suspect.. that I needed to get that stone from him. I shifted onto my good leg and searched through my bag for a pokeball. My hand gripped around the master ball and I looked back up at the battle. The spirits were gone, and Claydoll had been recalled.
Croagunk and Strawberry were doing better to avoid Heatrans attacks, but they were getting worn down and could easily get hit at any moment... "Strawberry, return!" I shouted at her, and she jumped up, alerted by my call. She scampered back to me and as she did, I pulled Giratina's pokeball from my bag and held it up. I had yet to properly fight alongside him... but now seemed like the best time for it.
As I sent him out, Strawberry climbed up my arm and collapsed across my shoulders. With a loud "ROOOOAAAAARRRR!" Giratina was released, and he towered over the Heatran ominously. For a moment following his cry, the room was silent as everyone took in his intimidating presence...
And then I spoke. "Giratina! Use shadow force on Heatran!"
Giratina disappeared into nothingness immediately. Chaos broke out, with Charon shouting orders to Heatran and his minion. I took the moment of confusion to turn to Looker at my side. "Looker! I think that red stone that Charon took is what's controlling Heatran- we need to get it, and that bag with my camera, back!"
Looker stared at me in surprise as I spoke. He could see the serious look in my eyes. He flashed a confident smile at me when I finished, and gave me a big thumbs up. "No problem at all, Dawn! With your Giratina as the focus there's no way they'll notice my approach!"
He instructed Croagunk to go after the ninja, and right as he did so Giratina reapeared, attacking the Heatran viciously. I called for Giratina to use earth power, effectively using Heatran's own terrain against him. Buck clenched his fists angrily, clearly feeling a bit helpless with his pokemon out of commission. He rushed to me and healed up Strawberry as a way to help.
As Charon, the ninja and Heatran were distracted by Giratina, Croagunk snuck by the battlefield and slunk up next to the ninja. He stood there a moment, peering back and looking for instruction from Looker. From the corner of my eye, I saw Looker do a jabbing motion with his hand. Croagunk mimicked the motion, poison jabbing the ninja right in the waist.
"Gaah!" It was the first sound I had heard the man make, as he cringed and curled down, collapsing to the ground. Out of his hand, dropped the stone, and Croagunk swipped it up. My heart lurched for a moment when I thought he wouldn't grab the bag too, but to my relief he did. Lifting the bag from his shoulder, the small pokemon took back everything we needed.
The effect on Heatran was immediate. As soon as Croagunk took the gemstone into his hand, Heatrans aggression faded. Charon paused in his hysterical anger to blink in confusion. Heatran growled darkly, but it no longer attacked. It seemed more lost than anything, peering up at Giratina as he towered over it. The two stared at each other.
"WHAT? What is this!?" Charon snapped, stomping his foot. "How'd we lose the magma stone!"
"Very well done, partner!" Looker praised his Croagunk as he took the stone and bag from it. Heatran gave a large yawn, and turned to leave. Giratina watched it closely as it slowly crawled back down under the ground, returning to its well-earned rest. Charon growled again, seeing his inability to control the beast.
"You didn't think you could really get away with such criminal behaviours, do you?" Looker announced proudly. "Well I've already heard your confession and I- along with the International Police- are taking you in!" He gripped the magma stone tight in his hand.
"RRAAHH!" Charon stomped his foot angrily, "get up, you lazy oaf! Fight them!" He yelled at his fallen minion, but the poor ninja was evidently not very well-versed in getting poisoned. He barely manageed much more than a vicious glare back up at his superior.
"There will be no more fighting!" Buck snapped angrily, clenching his fists. "We're turning you in!"
As they argued, I looked down at the bag in Lookers hand and reached out to take it from him. He smiled at me and let me have it. I stared at it in amazement... Finally, we were going to see what Charon was so determined to keep us away from. What it was Uxie and Azelf wanted me to find...
Buck and Looker worked together to restrain the two men and guided them out of Stark Mountain. I pet Giratinas nose in thanks for his assistance. Strawberry ran up his face and did a few loops around his head before leaping back onto mine. He snickered in amusement, and then I returned him. As Looker was busy, I sent out Dauphine so I could lean against her to help me walk. As we made our way back down the mountain, we met up with the other police officers. Buck and Looker sent the criminals off with them, and Buck shook hands with me as we agreed to go our separate ways.
"I'm glad I was able to help you guys, this is my home, so it's really important to me." He smiled brightly. "I think you could definitely take on my brother with the kind of power you're packing though!"
I grinned in return, promising that I'd be taking on the elite four very soon. He gave me a thumbs up, "then I'm sure I'll be seeing you back here shortly! We should meet up again and have a battle." I agreed, and we waved to each other as he left.
Then I turned, and blinked when I realized Looker wasn't leaving with the other officers. I blinked at him in surprise and he grinned. "What, you didn't think I'd send you back home injured and unattended? I shall accompany you for as long as you need! Otherwise I would be quite ungracious to my partner!"
I grinned and laughed. "Sure, Looker."
As we arrived home to the mainland at the Snowpoint docks, I felt a different kind of fire burn in my chest. I was going to finally get to visit Bebe. She was going to interpret the footage and I'd finally be able to help Mesprit...
I knew it would be able to help her.