PMD: Fateful Saviors
Chapter 19: Calamity's Premonition
The next morning, I awoke to the sound of rain pounding the roof of our base with the occasional roar of thunder. I was glad we had a proper home to live in since our tents wouldn't last long against a storm of this magnitude.
"Relaxing, isn't it? I always loved listening to thunderstorms," Erdalla said. I turned and saw her gazing out of the window, entranced, "Maybe it's because I'm a Pikachu, but storms always soothe me. They let me sleep better at night"
"No, no, I get you," I shook my head as I went to join Erdalla by the window, "The constant sound of rain lulls me to sleep too"
"Mm," The Pikachu rubbed my head affectionately before returning to her view out the window. The downpour stained the cobblestone streets of Pokemon Square and looked to shut down business for the day, but Pokemon were still wandering about like usual. Storefronts simply propped up roofs while rescuers endured the storm themselves. Some Grass and Water type Pokemon were even enjoying it, "They say Groudon, the legendary Pokemon who shaped the land, has a counterpart"
"Kyogre, right? Ninetales mentioned it," I recalled the conversation back on Mt Freeze, "That's the one that created the seas wrapping around the world. But… why are you bringing it up?"
"Because we haven't had a downpour this thick in the square for a while," Erdalla thrust her hand outside the window, letting cool water run down her hands, "It makes me wonder how Team A.C.T is faring with the Groudon situation. Kyogre might be on the rise too thanks to it"
"I'm sure they're fine. After all, this is Team A.C.T we're talking about. The strongest team in the square," I reminded the Pikachu, "In fact, I'm sure they're just about wrapping up the situation now and are coming home"
"I surely hope so. Thanks for the optimism," Erdalla sighed with content as thunder shook the base around us. I could hear a yelp of surprise from several of our companions nearby, "Anyways, let's get down to the square and find some work. Howard and Erina should have breakfast ready once we're back"
"I never thought Howard of all people would be good at cooking honestly…"
"I know right? Erina must've taught him or something," Erdalla replied with a smile as we pushed open the door and headed out to the square. Before we could even leave our courtyard however, Lombre stopped us.
"We need you two at the square. Everyone's gathering there already," Lombre reported.
"We were just about to get there. What's the problem?" Erdalla asked, watching the rainwater collect on Lombre's head. It continuously sloshed off his cap, but it didn't faze him.
"I don't know actually. Shiftry's just calling everyone out. He said he had an announcement to make," Lombre replied, "He's gathering a ton of rescue teams up, so it must be important"
"Hm… alright. Let's see what's up then," Erdalla decided and we moved to the square's center, where tons of Pokemon were gathered with Shiftry at it's head. I spotted many elite Pokemon like Meganium, Rhydon, Blastoise, Golem, Raichu, Octillery and more.
"The situation really must be dire. There are renowned rescue team leaders from all over the continent here," Lombre marvelled, "Wonder what Shiftry needs from all of them…?"
"Ahem! Can I have everyone's attention here?" Shiftry called. Everyone ceased their small talk and paid attention to him, "I apologize in advance for dragging you all out here in this downpour but… I have an important announcement to make"
"Well, don't just stand there! Get on with it!" Rhydon cried. His poor Golbat companion was hovering over the rhino to protect him from the rain.
"Right, right. It isn't exactly my style to get up in front of everyone but…" Shiftry cleared his throat, "There's big trouble brewing! Team A.C.T went to Magma Cavern two days ago to deal with Groudon, but haven't returned yet!"
Uneasy murmurings rang through the crowd. With Alakazam's teleportation, it definitely wasn't the return trip that was holding the team back. But a team like A.C.T wouldn't take two days to defeat Groudon, right?
"So what do you want us to do?" Meganium piped up.
"What I'm saying is that we should assemble a team to go look for them!" Shiftry declared, "We need a squad to head into Magma Cavern and find out what happened to Alakazam and his team!"
The crowd went wild with anxiety again. Some were arguing about their chances against Groudon if Team A.C.T couldn't defeat it. Others vehemently denied going due to Magma Cavern itself.
"There's magma flowing everywhere there! I'd burn up if I go anywhere near it!" One Pokemon cried.
"We can't beat Groudon in a fair fight! He shaped the world!" Another proclaimed.
"If Team A.C.T can't handle it, what can we do?!"
"Quiet, everyone! Quiet, please!" Shiftry yelled, silencing everyone, "I'm not asking you to go and fight Groudon. That would be suicide"
"He's merely asking you to go and check up on Team A.C.T," Erdalla piped up from the back, "So by that logic, we should assemble a team that's good for Magma Cavern"
"Yes, yes, what the Pikachu said," Shiftry nodded in agreement, "Magma Cavern is not a dungeon that anyone can go to. That's why I gathered so many Pokemon here today. We need a special team of the best of the best. The ones who can handle the heat"
The crowd again turned to one another, discussing in hushed voices.
"You go. You're decent against Fire types, right?"
"Are you joking? I'm just a little Phanpy. I can't do anything against those kinds of Pokemon!"
"Who will step forward?! Who among us will be the heroes to take on the challenges underground?!" Shiftry cried, stirring the crowd up. Beside me, Erdalla poked my head.
"Say Alfrin, this is a good opportunity. Let's go," The Pikachu suggested before bending down to my ear, "Perhaps this is what Gardevoir meant by your role's climax"
"I wouldn't bother, you two," Lombre interrupted.
"Why not?" Erdalla asked meekly.
"Look around you. There are plenty of better Pokemon for the job," Lombre gestured to Blastoise, Golem, Rhydon and Octillery in particular, "I recognize that you've gotten a lot tougher in the last few months, but there are always stronger ones out there. Sit this one out for the time being, yeah?"
Before Erdalla could protest, Shiftry spoke up again.
"Will no one step forward?!"
"I'll go!" One Pokemon declared and stepped up beside Shiftry, causing the crowd to erupt in applause. It was Blastoise.
"That's Team Hydro's roughneck Blastoise! He's perfect for this!" One Pokemon cried.
"THE Blastoise?! I heard his water cannons can punch through steel!" Another boasted, "Magma Cavern won't know what hit them!"
"Groudon is definitely a Ground type. I'm a Water type," Blastoise said flatly, "It's a simple type advantage. I'll crush him with my Hydro Pump"
"I'll join the party too," Another Pokemon called, joining the cast alongside Blastoise. It was Octillery.
"Whoa-ho! That's Team Constrictor's leader, Octillery. Another good pick!" One Pokemon piped up.
"She's known for consistent and clingy attacks. She ensnares her foes with her tentacles and viciously sprays them with water," Another said, "She'll be a nasty foe to face in any battle"
"Darlings, when I hear of a tough Pokemon, I want to tangle with them," Octillery grinned, "Groudon and Magma Cavern won't forget about me anytime soon"
"Hey, hey! Don't forget about me either!" A third Pokemon called, stepping forth. It was Golem from Team Rumblerock. The same one who fought Zapdos alongside us.
"That's Golem! The brutal and powerful leader of Team Rumblerock!" One Pokemon said in awe.
"His body is rock hard. Supposingly, he can take explosions without taking any damage!"
"I'm well suited to fighting underground," Golem declared, "If Groudon's awakening down there, I'll simply bury him with my Rock Slide. You can count on that"
"Blastoise, Octillery and Golem! I don't think anyone would complain about that selection," Shiftry grinned, "Alright, looks like we have our team. These three will make the journey underground to find Team A.C.T!"
Cheering erupted from the crowd, from both rescuers and square residents alike.
"You're representing us. Make us proud!"
"Good luck! I know you can do it!"
"Let's set off right away. To Magma Cavern!" Blastoise rallied and the crowd made way as the trio walked through, quickly disappearing in the darkness of the rain. After they left, the rest of the rescue team dispersed, either heading back home or staying in the square.
"See? A team of strong Pokemon perfectly suited to combating the dungeon," Lombre told us, "Let them handle it"
"Alright, but I can't help but feel a chill on my back about this…"
"It's probably the rain. Let's find some work and head home for breakfast," I told Erdalla and we headed over to the billboard by Pelipper's Post Office.
…
Another two days past and still no word from Team A.C.T or their rescue team. Erdalla was starting to get worried by the increased frequency of quakes and rainstorms.
"It's just their return trip. You know how slow those three Pokemon are," I assured the anxious Pikachu, but even I was having my doubts. Last night, a vicious quake rocked the house briefly and scared Zeplin into unconsciousness. Erdalla had to recharge him to get him moving again. In another instance, a lightning bolt from a storm nearly struck Natalie after she bought groceries. The disasters weren't letting up and if nothing else, they were getting stronger.
"Did you see how stacked the billboard was? The amount of Pokemon in need of rescue is crazy," Salazar exclaimed after returning back to base, "Five requests from Sinister Woods alone. I'll be back before dinner"
"Here's all the rescue requests from the mail," Natalie dumped an alarmingly tall stack of papers on Erdalla's desk, "We should split up the team to handle all of this today"
With our team on high demand, stress was getting to us all. The anxiety of waiting for news to arrive was starting to drive us up the wall. I went to sleep every night feeling more and more exhausted than the last.
"Alfrin! Erdalla! Come to the square quick!" We heard Lombre shout one morning at dawn, "Team A.C.T's rescue squad is back!"
"Really?!" Erdalla grinned with excitement, "We'll be down in a sec!"
Once we arrived at the square however, we saw Blastoise, Octillery and Golem all battered and beaten up. Team A.C.T was nowhere to be found.
"W-what happened to you three?" Erdalla asked, quivering. She only got a groan as a response, "Shiftry, what the hell happened?!"
"They were all wiped out. Pelipper found them nearly dead at the dungeon's entrance…" Shiftry replied uneasily, "Octillery barely got them out of there with an Escape Orb but…"
"Urghh… that place is seriously rough," Blastoise groaned, "We couldn't even get far enough to see Groudon"
"No sign of Team A.C.T either. They might be already long gone…" Octillery moaned.
"I'm never going to that hellhole again... " Golem shook his head.
"Erina!" Erdalla called to the Chansey who came in to check the scene, "Heal these three Pokemon please"
"With pleasure," Erina nodded and went to work while the rest of us faced Shiftry, who had sweat beading down his face.
"It appears that Magma Cavern is worse than we thought," Shiftry gritted his teeth, "If Blastoise, Golem and Octillery can't handle it, who can?"
"Keh heh heh!"
Instantly, Erdalla jerked her head to the sound of the laugh, "Gengar!"
"What fools you are. This is what you get for trying the impossible," The purple specter cackled as he teleported onto the scene. Erdalla raised her electrified hands, preparing to fry the dastardly ghost, "It's like Shiftry said. If Blastoise's team can't do it, who can? They were the best suited to fighting it"
"That doesn't mean we can't continue trying. The fate of the world and Team A.C.T rests on this!" Erdalla cried, "It's like you said, isn't it? If we continue to do nothing, then the world will fall to ruin!"
"There's a difference here, Erdalla. These Pokemon have more brains and self-preservation than you," Gengar gestured to the uneasy crowd, who were murmuring among themselves. Some were thinking the exact same thing Shiftry and Gengar said while others argued over their chances in the cavern.
"I can't go in there. I burn way too easily"
"I'm terrible with earthquakes. I'll just get beaten by Groudon instantly"
"It's like going in there and knowing full well that you'll be killed…"
"Keh heh heh! See!" Gengar grinned wildly, "There's a difference between this situation and the last. It would be easy to kill Alfrin, but Groudon is a different story. Sometimes you gotta wise up and just give up!"
"Are you saying we just lie down and accept that Groudon and Kyogre will ravage the world?!" Erdalla yelled, silencing everyone, "Never! Our team will go!"
"WHAT?!"
"E-Erdalla, please consider the consequences first!" Erina gasped, "Blastoise's team was wiped out before they could even see Groudon. We'll be destroyed just as fast. Don't let your rashness kill us!"
"Is there no other choice?! Nobody else is going to step up to fight!" The Pikachu shot back, "And if no one is going to fight to save this world, then we'll have to take it into our own hands. Alfrin and Erina, we're moving out!"
"Erdalla! Wait!" I cried as me and Erina chased after the Pikachu, who was marching back to base. The crowd didn't say a word. All of them, including Gengar, were stunned in shock, "I agree with Erina. We can't take on Magma Cavern! Please don't let your grudge with Gengar kill us"
"This isn't about Gengar, Alfrin. It's about the fate of Team A.C.T and the world now," Erdalla repeated with irritation, "It's up to us to save them now, since nobody else is. Even if it costs us our lives, well…"
"We'll die if we stand idle. I can say that much," Fiona stated as she walked towards us, "It's better that we take this chance than do nothing. At least we can avert this crisis before it destroys the world"
"See? Fiona agrees with me," Erdalla nodded to the Absol, "So I'm going to Magma Cavern, regardless if you want me to or not. Join by your own discretion"
"... I'll go. Someone needs to keep you safe from your recklessness," Erina sighed, "My healing will keep all of you topped up"
"Same for me. I'll douse all of them with my Water type moves," I assured, "With all of us together, surely we can succeed"
"That's the spirit," Erdalla smiled proudly, "Now how are we going to be able to get there…?"
"You called?" A Pelipper descended down from the skies in front of us, his bill open and wide, "I heard your decision to take on Magma Cavern and I'm here to help! Climb into my bill and I'll fly you over straight away"
"Whoa… how much is this going to cost us?" Erdalla asked, taken aback, "Usually Pelipper transportation is super expensive"
"Free of charge this time. Your mission is more important than Poke," Pelipper shook his head, "Whenever you're ready, I'll be here"
"Thank you. Let's take some time to prepare before we depart," Erdalla decided and we headed back to base.
…
Half an hour later, we were ready to go. Our toolboxes were stuffed with Oran Berries, Apples, offensive seeds, utility orbs and everything else a rescuer would need. In particular, we packed tons of Rainy Orbs as the rain would do well to ward off all the Fire types in Magma Cavern.
"Everyone ready to go?" Pelipper asked once we were all inside his massive bill. Erdalla nodded and confirmed, "Alright, let's fly! To Magma Cavern!"
With that, we soared, flying off towards Magma Cavern on the northeast tip of the continent, near the cold region where Frosty Forest and Mt Freeze was. Pelipper reported that we'll be there in a couple hours, so I decided to take the time to rest. Despite us being in Pelipper's mouth, it was fairly comfortable.
"It's a good idea to rest before we take on a dungeon like this," Erdalla agreed as she produced a blanket out of her toolbox, draping it over me, "Sleep well, Alfrin"
"T-thanks…" I replied before dozing off, enveloping my world in darkness. Before long however, the dreamscape where I met with Gardevoir appeared.
"H-hm? I'm here again?" I looked around myself, looking for Gardevoir, "Gardevoir! Where are you?"
"Right here, Alfrin. Always here," Gardevoir replied soothingly as she materialized beside me, "You're heading to Magma Cavern right now, aren't you?"
"Yes. It's probably the hardest dungeon our team is about to take on, since Blastoise's squad couldn't handle it," I nodded, "Truthfully, I dunno if we'll make it out alive"
"You and your team will be fine. I'm certain you'll succeed," Gardevoir smiled, "Remember, you've taken on legendary Pokemon like Zapdos, Moltres and Articuno. You are capable of beating out Groudon too"
"But Groudon is in a completely different league than the legendary birds. It shaped the world!" I protested, "I know we can't turn back now, but… do we even have a chance?"
"That is not something I can tell you. All I can say is that go with your head held high and confidence in your heart. You have my support," Gardevoir comforted, "Go with my strength and you'll prevail"
"... Thank you, Gardevoir. I'll try," I nodded, "By the way, do you know anything about Magma Cavern or Groudon?"
"I'm sorry, but no. I only wanted to give you some encouragement," Gardevoir shook her head, frowning, "Why do you ask?"
"It sounded like you know something about him, judging by what you said," I replied, "If our team can beat the legendary birds, we can prevail over Groudon"
"Forgive me, but I can't envision either of your requests," Gardevoir replied sadly.
"Mm, it's alright. Thank you anyways"
"However… I can tell you one thing"
"Huh?"
"Your role in this world is coming to an end, little by little," Gardevoir said sagely, "Your purpose as a Pokemon is drawing to its conclusion…"
"Gardevoir, please tell me what my role here is! I need to know!" I demanded, but Gardevoir already started to flicker out of view, "Gardevoir!"
"It's better that fate runs its course naturally rather than you being able to interfere with it," Gardevoir shook her head, "When the time is right, I will tell you. Perhaps once your adventure is over…"
"There's no point to that! Just tell me now!" I cried, desperate, "Gardevoir!"
"Farewell, Alfrin. May your journey go well…"
With that, my audience with Gardevoir ended and I snapped awake, aware of Erdalla calling my name.
"Oh good, you're awake," Erdalla gazed out of Pelipper's bill forlornly, "Because we've arrived. Welcome to Magma Cavern"
Looking out of Pelipper's bill, I saw a massive crater red-hot with lava and magma. It looked out of place in the cold lands, but there it was, a molten blister in the crust of the earth. I could feel the heat from up in the sky.
"Here we are, everyone! Safe travels!" Pelipper lowered down to the ground level, dropping us off in front of the dungeon, "I'll return tomorrow at noon to pick you guys up. If you aren't back here by then, well…"
"Don't say it. We'll be here with Team A.C.T. I promise," Erdalla replied confidently and Pelipper nodded, "Alright team, this is probably the hardest dungeon we'll ever face. Are we ready?"
"You have my healing hands. I'll keep you all safe," Erina assured, nodding, "I'm ready"
"I will not let the world be ruined by disasters any longer. I'm prepared to lay down my life for this cause," Fiona nodded decisively, "I'm ready. Let's do this!"
"You already know my answer, Erdalla. We're with you, no matter what," I told the Pikachu, "Now come, Groudon awaits!"
"Yes! Team Lazulian, MOVE OUT!"
Our team:
- Alfrin, Mudkip - Fate's Wings
Level 35
Moves: Water Pulse, Ice Beam, Ancient Power and Mud Shot
- Erdalla, Pikachu - Resilient Rescuer
Level 38
Moves: Thunderbolt, Thunder Punch, Quick Attack and Thunder Wave
- Fiona, Absol - Warner of Disaster
Level 34
Moves: Ice Beam, Slash, Faint Attack and Swords Dance
- Erina, Chansey - Pious Healer
Level 31
Moves: Softboiled, Refresh, Egg Bomb and Lucky Chant
Only a few more chapters and this story is coming to an end. I hope all of you enjoyed it thus far. I certainly did while writing it. Coming up next is the journey through Magma Cavern and the fight against Groudon. If you want to be notified when a new chapter releases, favorite, follow or follow me on Twitter at EySharp. If you want to leave constructive criticism, leave a review. Until next time!
