Chapter 86:
Starking Mad
"Up and at em!" Buck yelled beside my bed. "Come on, we have an organization to take down!"
Honestly at the volume of his voice, I'm surprised Team Galactic didn't hear us. I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the time on my Pokétch; it was 5 in the morning.
Crasher Wake flung my sheets off. "You have one hour to get changed, wash and have your breakfast!" he boomed. "Or we'll be leaving without you, and we can't have that can we! Well, that or Barry will fine you."
"Okay okay!" I said, still half asleep. I got out my bed and trudged over to the bathroom to get everything sorted.
An hour went by of me getting ready, which also included checking my team was up to scratch. They were.
"Well, what do you know?!" Wake said. "Working together again! Well, Buck hasn't done this with us before, but he's in for a treat!"
Buck opened the door to show the falling ash covering the grey bushes outside. Plants grow surprisingly well on volcanoes because the ash is extraordinarily rich and the bacteria that it has makes them flourish.
"Let's roll!" Buck said.
The entrance to Stark Mountain had rocks that were blacker than at the base. There was a pool of lava right next to us; the heat was near unbearable. Wierdly enough, Team Galactic didn't have the place fully occupied. Two Grunts were guarding the entrance, but that was it.
"What are we gonna do?" Buck asked.
"Battle them that's what!" I said. "It's not like we can sneak by them, this looks to be the only way in."
We simply walked over to the Galactic Grunts. Both had a mix of horror and anger on their face.
"Back in business I see" I told them.
Both Grunts stood their ground. "Keep away, don't interfere with our plans again!"
"Mind if I join?" Buck asked.
I nodded. It had been a while since I had done this to say the least, so I may need a bit of help to remember the good time.
"Go Machamp!" shouted Grunt M, sending out the four-armed Fighting Type.
"You're up Toxicroak!" shouted Grunt F.
"Drifblim, you're up!" I shouted.
"Go Claydol!" Buck said, sending out his Psychic Type. We had the clear advantage.
"Drifblim, start with Shadow Ball!" Drifblim fired the dark blob at Machamp for a fair amount of damage.
"Toxicroak, X-Scissor!"
"Machamp, Rock Slide!"
Toxicroak swiped at Claydol in an X formation for Super Effective damage. Machamp made a bunch of rocks from on top of the mountain come tumbling down onto both Pokémon. Drifblim was hit for a lot more than Claydol because of its Type and the fact that its Defense is lower.
"Claydol, Psychic!" Claydol lifted Toxicroak into the air telepathically, then slammed it down again. Toxicroak was finished.
"Drifblim, finish with Shadow Ball!" Sure enough, that finished the match.
"Gah!" both Grunts, grunted before running off down the path.
"Now that's that sorted, let's head on in!" I said.
Inside the volcano, the rocks were blacker than before. There were no lava pools, but it stunk. We had no clothes pegs, so we had to deal with it. We were on a ledge that led down to the bottom, which had another ledge that you need to get up to the next entrance. The heat was even more unbearable that outside, probably because all the heat was trapped inside the walls.
"Team Galactic must be deeper" Barry said. "Let's not dilly dally, I hate the stench of this place."
There were many rocks that you needed to push with Strength. Thankfully, I had Toxicroak with me to do the heavy lifting. Well, heavy pushing. Before we got to the rock however, we had a Pokemon encounter. It was made of lava and had a grey, circular rock on its back.
Magcargo
219
Fire/Rock Type
Lava Pokémon
Region of origin: Johto
2'07" (0.8 m)
121.3 lbs (55 kg)
Its body temperature is roughly 18,000 degrees F* (9982 C). Flames spout from gaps in its hardened shell.
Slugma -Lv 38- Magcargo
*This is hotter than the surface of the sun, but Scientists have proved that humans and Pokémon are unaffected by it.
The other Pokémon accompanying it was a Golbat. Me and Buck sent out Empoleon and Claydol respectively.
Golbat started with Air Slash on Claydol. This didn't do much.
"Empoleon, Hydro Pump!" Empoleon shot a huge torrent of water at Magcargo. Suffice to say, its fire was put out.
"Claydol, Psychic!" Claydol attacked Golbat telepathically, allowing for an OHKO.
Me and Buck hi fived as we planned our next route.
"Now we won't use Rock Climb" he said. "I don't like scaling rocky cliffs." (Isn't this guy supposed to be a treasure hunter?)
"Keep a look out for Team Galactic to" Wake reminded us.
We got halfway up the ledge. There were stairs so it wasn't hard or anything.
"We'll have a break at the next ledge" Barry said.
"They want the Magma Stone I know it" Buck said.
We all turned to him. The same question was on all our minds; what the Magma Stone is.
"It's a very rare stone that is created under the intense heat of magma. Maybe 4 have ever been found in Stark Mountain alone. There haven't been any others. None have been found on Cinnabar Island, Mt. Ember, Mt. Battle, Citadark Island, Mt. Chimney, Magma Colosseum or Faldera Island. Only here. Many want to get their hands on it, but the reason why it's kept is because it's a birthing pod for Heatran. Whilst they are gendered, they are still legendaries and can't breed, so they work together to created Heatran with the Magma Stone."
At this point, we came across another duo of Pokémon. It was a Camerupt and a purple floating Pokémon with two heads, a skull on its bigger head and gas spewing out everywhere, somehow smelling worse than the current stench we were taking in.
Weezing
110
Poison Type
Poison Gas Pokémon
Region of origin: Kanto
3'11" (1.2 m)
20.9 lbs (9.5 kg)
It grows by feeding on gases released by garbage. Though very rare, triplets have been found.
Koffing -lv 35- Weezing
"We'll do this one!" Barry said, stepping in. "Go Floatzel!"
"I choose Toxicroak!" I said.
"Floatzel, Surf!" Floatzel created a wave that swamped everyone, including Toxicroak who was obviously unaffected.
"Toxicroak, Strength!" Toxicroak took Weezing and threw it on the ground, finishing it. Then, Camerupt started spewing lava everywhere. Toxicroak was hit for a lot.
"That's Lava Plume!" Buck said. "It's a Fire Type move that attacks everyone on the field, much like Surf."
"Speaking of Surf, give it another dose Floatzel!" That wave finished off Camerupt.
After a while, we reached the top of the ledge. This had an entrance into an even bigger room. It would take at least an hour, maybe even two, to scale it. Maybe it would take a lot less longer if Buck wasn't scared of scaling cliffs!
"That's weird" Crash said, eyeing the area. "There's not a Grunt in sight. This is Team Galactic; getting the Magma Stone can't be a two man job."
As we walked along, he had a point. Unless they were all trying to capture Heatran, why would they not scatter around? The Spear Pillar mission was a far more ambitious venture and they had Grunts spread all over Mt. Coronet in order to hinder progress. Surely, they would at least try to stop us before we got to the point of destination.
The two hours it took to walk around we didn't see one Grunt. We just kept battling Pokémon up until we reached the entrance to Stark Mountain's crater.
"Through here is Heatran's home" Buck told me. "I don't often visit here."
"Well," Crasher Wake said cracking his fists together. "Let's give it a visit it won't forget!"
The crater was enormous. Even being high up on a cliff, the heat from the bubbling lava below reached our face. Above us was the blue sky.
"I'm roasting" I told everyone. "How could anyone, let along Team Galactic, bare this? In fact, how could any Pokémon bare this?"
"They can" Buck said. Pointing down, we saw multiple large 4-legged brown-orange Pokémon with grey mouths of steel.
Heatran
485
Fire/Steel Type
Lava Dome Pokémon
Region of origin: Sinnoh
5'07" (1.7 m)
948 kg (430 kg)
It dwells in volcanic caves. It digs with its cross-shaped feet to crawl on ceilings and walls.
Legendary Pokémon
"Who knew that there could be multiple Legendary Pokémon?" I said. "Living together peacefully to."
One Heatran was climbing over the walls. One was having a bath in the magma. Another was nursing young. In the middle of the magma was a large orange stone.
"The Magma Stone" Buck said, just as a large grey helicopter fly over.
"What now?!" Barry shouted.
The helicopter slowly ascending into the crater to the point of hovering inside it. The wind from the propellers almost blew us off our feet, but I could make out who's copter it was by the logo on the side.
"Team Galactic!" I yelled. "Mamoswine can stop them. Use Ice Shard!" I sent out Mamoswine who proceeded to make an Ice Shard. However, it melted before it could even fire anything.
"It's too hot for Ice Type moves" Barry said. "But not for Fire Type moves!" Barry sent out Rapidash, fiery mane and all. "Use Fire Blast!" Rapidash shot a ball of flames at the helicopter. The power seemed to be greatly increased with the feet.
As that moment, the door opened to reveal Jupiter and a Crobat. "Use Air Slash!" she shouted, as Crobat cut the air stopping the Fire Blast. "Well Mars, lookie what we have here. The Champion, Tower Tycoon, the Gym Leader and… Flannery?"
"That's Buck to you!" he shouted.
"We have no time to waste with you Universe ruining cretins. We have a job to do."
From the bottom of the helicopter came a giant claw, like the ones on those rigged machines at arcades where you can win plushies. It slowly descended.
"They're trying to steal the Magma Stone!" Crasher Wake said. "But not on our watch. Quagsire, come on out!" Quagsire came out with its blank expression. "Use Mud Bomb!" Quagsire shot a ball of mud at the copter, knocking it out of focus.
"Keep out of this!" Jupiter yelled. "Skuntank, come out and use Flamethrower!"
Jupiter sent out her ace onto the platform we were at and it fired flames at us. We all swiftly dodged.
"Mamoswine, Rock Climb attack go!" Mamoswine scaled the rocky cliff and then jumped onto Skuntank.
"Again Skuntank!" Skuntank however fired a Flamethrower in the direction of the helicopter.
"Watch it you idiot!" Mars shouted.
"The Rock Climb made Skuntank confused!" Barry said. "Use this opportunity Lucas!"
"Mamoswine, Earthquake!"
"No!" Buck yelled before Mamoswine could cause the tremor. "May I remind you that we're in a volcano? Earthquake could cause a potential eruption!"
Buck was right. In the volcano, it would be impossible to escape. Outside, it could be dangerous to those living in the area. "In that case, stick to Rock Climb!" Mamoswine once again scaled the cliff and jumped into Skuntank. That finished it off and Jupiter sent it back.
By this point, Mars had the Magma Stone almost in the claws grasp.
"Leave it alone!" Buck said. "That's a birthing pod for the Heatran, not yours to steal! Claydol, Psychic!" Claydol used telekinetic energy to pull the hook off its string.
"Urgh!" Mars said. "What is wrong with you! Okay, we'll have to cause a retreat!"
However, the Heatran knew what was up. One of them, the biggest of the lot, made its way to the top of the crater as fast as it could. Then, it created a tornado of fire which hit the helicopter.
"That's Magma Storm!" Buck said. "Heatran's signature move. Only the strongest of the strong can learn it to."
The Magma Storm took the helicopter away into the horizon.
"Oh, come on, it's Team Rocket's job to blast off!" Mars yelled.
"That's right!" Jupiter shouted, as her voice faded into the distance.
The Heatran crawled down to our level.
"Is everything alright?" I asked. Heatran smiled at me. It looked like no Heatran were hurt.
"All's well that ends well aye?" Crasher Wake said.
Heatran then knelt down. It started edging us onto its back.
"Looks like we have a ride!" Barry said.
We all got on as the Heatran scaled the wall and out of Stark Mountain.
Heatran took us all the way back to Buck's house, where we got off.
"I've had enough with heat for a little while" Barry said. "Well, except for the heated matches that are about to go down at the Battle Tower!"
I wasn't concentrating; I was busy looking into the horizon.
"Where did they go?" I wondered.
"Out of trouble hopefully!" Crasher Wake said, slapping my back. "I say hopefully. They could be back for all we know."
"My bro Flint told me that Magma Storm can send ya hundreds of miles away" Buck said. "You don't need to worry about anything, I hope at least. It might not have taken them far. But hey, you can sleep here tonight, the lot of ya!"
That was a generous offer to be taken.
According to the Town Map, there was a desert between me and the Resort Area. It would be a long trek.
