Bronze and Jake got off the high-speed tram and walked through the narrow, bustling mortar streets of Brimber City.
Mt. Brimber loomed above them, gently smoking with a hidden fire within its depths. Amon Amarth, the Mountain of Fire, long dormant, yet still acting like a rebellious teen, spewing ash and flame just frequently enough to be alarming, but not strong enough to be a hazard.
Built into the volcano, Bronze could see the Fire-type Gym, his next target.
After going through the red-brick hewn Gym Entrance, they were met by a greeter, a blustering, thickly-built woman, clearly thinking that she was not being paid enough for such a taxing job.
"I am afraid, young trainers, that I have some unpleasant news for you. Gym Leader Sebastian has left to go inside Brimber Volcano itself! I personally don't see why he would do such a thing. If you two want to get him back here, I would advise going east down Route 5 until you find the entrance to the volcano. Or, you could just wait. The Gym Leader is a rather unpredictable fellow."
"We'll go see where he went," Bronze said. "If we can't find him, we will come back, and wait. Thank you for your service, it should be a Gym Leader's job to notify when he will be out and when he is back. In any case, the Gym should at least be closed..."
The greeter waved them off, and they returned into to the city.
Brimber City was smaller than most towns, mostly due to many people's fear of living under a somewhat active volcano. However, it had been picked to be the Fire-type Gym site by the Pokémon Association, being both a site of historical interest, and a possessing a geographical feature appropriate to the type. Why the Gym Leader had gone, Bronze could only guess.
Jake clearly was not pleased with having to enter a volcano.. "Listen, I'm sure Sebastian has a reason for leaving so unexpectedly! Why is this our job? Have you even ever been inside a volcano? There could be toxic fumes, hostile Pokémon, or even lava flows!"
"If that was true, do you think this sign would be here?" Bronze showed Jake a town billboard with a large amount of notices and brochures pinned to it, one of them being a tour for the interior of the volcano, in two days.
Bronze and Jake trudged through Route 736, a savannah-like lowland with cliffs fencing it in. Hills containing explosive ants and Durant dotted the burnt sides of the path, ready to swarm any fool who stepped on them. Across a scorched field was the carven entrance to the volcano, darkness visible through it as a blanked of smog.
"I'm going to stay here!" Jake said. "You tell me what you found. I am not going into an active volcano, and I don't care what money-grubbing quacks say about it! I am staying put, thank you, goodbye, end of story!"
His pleas to Jake that the volcano was not dangerous going unheeded, Bronze stepped through the archway, being immersed in the gloomy darkness of the tunnel.
Once he had been consumed by the dark passageway, Bronze turned on aaradyed flashlight, and saw that the cavern was completely linear. The long curve of the tunnel eventually settled down into a obsidian staircase, from which red light shone from above.
Bronze continued walking, only to have his self-charged beam of light dance across a man lying on the floor, seemingly asleep, his hands folded across his chest.
Bronze gently patted him, causing him to wake up with a jolt, grabbing one of his Poke Balls. "Who are you?!" He demanded, "Whu-why did you wake me up? I have important things to do, many things!"
"Sorry, sir," Bronze replied, rolling his eyes. "You have been missing for awhile, and I came to look for you. I need to challenge you, by the way. And if you are doing so many 'important things,' it would be better to not fall asleep on duty. Did you even answer any calls that you received!"
Sebastian got up. "No, I'm sorry. This narcolepsy is a killer, I fall asleep if I don't have sugar for a few hours. Well, I guess you don't know why I am here."
"No, sir," Bronze said, weary with the journey. "Is it normal for you to go off without any warning, or to tell anyone where you are going to be, or for how long you are going to be gone?"
"Hold your tongue!" Sebastian said. "A few hours ago, I spotted a group of people in strange black uniforms head to the volcano on my usual patrols. The other half of my group went of to the Northernmet without me, so they didn't know where I was. I assumed that Team Rocket was conducting some illegal business inside the volcano."
Team Rocket, or something else? Bronze thought. Team Rocket has not been active for a while, and in Roria? Something doesn't feel right.
"I just came here to check what they were doing," Sebastian continued. "But I guess I fell asleep on watch, and I never really went up into the central cavern. Curse my neurological condition! If you're up for it, I think you should follow me to the chamber to investigate. I make no promises about your safety, but you have a look about you that tells me that that you know how to handle yourself. Onward!"
Bronze nodded in affirmation, and the two started up the staircase. It continued up, up, up, the vertical exaggeration unbelievable. Sebastian passed the time by talking about the ancient Logarians and Rorians, and their expert craftsmanship, before the old empire fell.
"Yes, there were no finer trainers of Pokémon or architects in the ancient world than the Logarians, surpassing even the Romaniods of Ancient Kalos, or the mariners of Hisui, or ancient Sinnoh. To delve out a volcano is a incredible and risky undertaking, and it nearly miraculous that it was pulled off."
"A miracle?" Bronze said. "I don't think so. Miracles lie outside of known science. If the volcano was not active, then to build a tunnel through the slag-heaps on the side of it could be done with slaves, or magma-resistant Pokémon."
"Perhaps, young master," Sebastian said. "But the Logarians did not enslave until the years leading up the the Downfall. It is indeed a shame how it fell, under rather strange circumstances as well. You likely have read the Legends of Arceus, but whether that is myth of history, we cannot be sure of. Regigigas is a formidable being, but it certainly could never bring a whole empire to ruin, unless it was far stronger in ancient days."
But Bronze, even though he was very interested, was more concerned about whatever the uniformed people was doing here. Soon, after another few minutes of climbing, the pair reached the top.
Through another arch, Bronze could see a stone bridge connecting the stairway to a circular stone platform in the middle of a absolutely massive chamber, where magma bubbled all around, sparks dancing from the incinerating depths. The heat was incredible, but the noxious gases and smoke were being vented out of the volcano through the crater above them.
Also, at the near edge of the dais, stood several uniformed Team Rocket members, a strange, esoteric device, and one particularly unique man with a respirator on his face.
Sebastian stepped forward, but the leader turned and sent out a Aegislash, snapping his fingers. "Ahhhhhh, we have visitors. Please, sit down."
Bronze had no intention of doing so, but he suddenly felt a enormous force pressing him to the ground, like a iron vice. Sebastian was also forced to the ground as well, and in that moment, Bronze noticed the Aegislash's eye shining.
It must be using some psychic force!
Suddenly, both Sebastian and Bronze were completely frozen, sitting on the warm rock.
"Hello, dear Gym Leader," The commander said. "But I don't recognize you, child."
His voice was extremely raspy, but it was obvious he was relatively young, judging from his mannernisms and the cocksurness that comes with the assurance of youth. The device began to rumble and belch steam, and Bronze could see some reddish object being formed in a central compartment. A enormous amount of raw energy could be felt going into it, permeating the nooks, crannies, crevices, and everything in between.
"I am Admin Henry. While your waiting for the show to begin, I suppose there isn't any harm in telling you my own history."
Bronze still could not move, but he was mildly interested, in the way that you would be interested in the childhood of a serial killer. What did this man have to say?
"Before I joined Team E...Rocket," Henry began. "I once bought into the barbaric ideal that Pokémon battling was enjoyable, even for the Pokémon. I truly admired powerful trainers who sent their Pokémon out to fight brutal battles. However, that changed with a pivotal moment in our world's recent history, one that also changed my brother, Eric."
"When the Masked Man attacked the Pokemon League in Johto, seeking to capture time itself, many other trainers and people outside of the Pokedex holders fought of the forces of Team Rocket. Many senseless injuries and death occurred that day. I was one of those." Henry gestured to his respirator.
"But I ask you this, young master. If it had not been for us, would Team Rocket's next rise have been greater if it were not for all those who fought? Are there monuments to us in the courtyards and palisades? Do you hear our names echoed in the somber halls of bureaucracy and formality? Are we honored?"
"No. We are forgotten! Utterly forgotten! Instead, those miserable, spoiled Pokedex holders receive fame and fortune, while we wallow in our misery! Now, I must tell you what I am. I am going to kill you two, anyway, so just enjoy yourselves..."
"We here are members of Team Eclipse. I detest our posturing and pandering, and disguising ourselves as the foolish rankers of Team Rocket. The coming universe is our lot, and is only for us, a plain bounty for all the loyal servants of the Great Djinn! In the new world, all shall be equal. We will have removed the reproductive instinct. Not all men are created equal, but all men are equal. None shall rule above anyone else! And, young master, that is why our cause is just. I personally hold you, Sebastian, with great personal umbrage, as you not only stand by as terrible institutions destroy more lives, you aid them, and the terrible practice of Pokémon battling!"
Sebastian managed to grunt out a stuttered phrase, the Aegislash amused at his efforts. "What...are...you...going...to...do?"
Henry laughed, a sound like chains being dragged through muddy gravel. "Well, I suppose it's time for another lesson. I am sure you lovely pair knows that the two orbs used to control Kyogre and Groudon were solidified aspects of Primal Energy, yes? However, those orbs were absorbed and destroyed to transform the two Pokémon into their Primal Forms, so that they could destroy the approaching Grand Meteor Delta, about a year and a half ago."
"But, in actuality, the Primal Energy that formed the orbs still abounds, especially near the embodiments of the Earth and Sea! Groudon lies here, sleeping in its own dark slumber, ever brooding upon its ancient rivalry. No amount of raw force could awake it...well, that is not true, as Team Aqua and Magma accomplished such a thing. However, completely controlling the embodiment of the Land, not just jolting it out of a long torpor, is its own equation. But the Primal Accreciator holds the answer."
"Force is useless...but to concentrate the Primal Energy once again into orbs...that would give complete control over the Prince and Power of Earth! Yes, this device will soon reform the Red Orb! And hereafter, Team Eclipse shall control the very earth! In this, we shall crush our foes, and the inept servants who were of no use to us. Then, our illustrious leader shall be able to work his designs, teasing out the secrets that Arceus has hidden from us, and the new world shall then come."
Pacing, Henry waited for another minute, and once he saw a flash coming from the central compartment, he reached into it and pulled out a glowing, iridescent Orb. The light of it moved and cleaved the chamber like the broiling flows of liquid rock, the granite-red luminescence a product of the nuclear bellows of the Core of the Earth.
Henry walked to the edge of the rock platform with the Orb in hand, and concentrated deeply, his hand absorbing the Primal Energy, a risky action. "Groudon! Awake! Heed the call of the Orb!"
At first, nothing happened. A spark grazed Henry's arm, making him falter.
Then, ever so slightly, oh so faintly, Bronze felt a rumble. Then a second, far stronger one. Soon, the entire volcano was shaking, with debris flying everywhere, the Aegislash lessening its hold over Bronze and Sebastian in order to create a energy shield. Soon...
Groudon emerged.
The most massive creature Bronze had ever seen, Groudon was quite awake. It had massive, unbreachable armor plates completely covering it's burning midsection and mighty back. It's ridged head bore two massive eyes the size of floodlights, their gaze a scorching analysis that few could endure. The heat that radiated off its body was as a consuming and open flame, and some of the grunts cowered from its ancient splendor. Bronze remembered the old legends about its power, and how, in the deeps of time, it forged the very foundations of the earth. It roared, clearly annoyed at being disturbed by the Orb once again.
Henry concentrated again, and Groudon began to relax. "Good. Prince and Power of the Earth, you are now under our command, and ours alone. You are no pay homage to Arceus no longer. Look, ye mighty, and despair! We have captured the Beast of the Earth! Now, the creation of the new world will be unopposed, as the might of Team Eclipse has grown ever greater."
Chuckling, Henry pulled out a Master Ball.
Once Groudon saw the Capture Device, it went completely mad. Magma flew everywhere as the beast thrashed and flailed, and Bronze and Sebastian felt the control of the Aegislash lift as it conjured a much stronger shield for the platform to protect the Eclipse members from the fiery darts. Henry had fallen, causing the new Red Orb to roll across the floor into the lava, destroying it.
Henry looked at the two once again, as he and the other grunts began to run toward the exit. His Aegislash moved toward the pair, blades spinning ready to kill-
Thwok! Sebastian's Magmar had blasted the eye of the Aegislash with a scorching punch. The creature wailed back to its master, accidently decapitating a single grunt, both body and head falling into the blazing sea.
"I am disappointed in this outcome of events." Henry said, recalling his Pokémon. "However, it was established from the start that this mission was unlikely to succeed. Goodbye, dear friends. I will leave you to contend with Groudon..."
And with that, the admin vanished down the stairwell.
Sebastian ran back to where Groudon had begun to settle in the lava, reading for a unstoppable onslaught.
"Groudon!" Sebastian pleaded. "Lord of the Earth, your quarrel is not with us! Please, do not pour your wrath upon the innocents at the base of your realm! Disperse back to your slumber! In the name of Arceus Elyon and Rayquaza Sulumno, you are to cease and desist!"
Groudon shifted so it could look at Bronze better. After examining him, Groudon gave a final roar, before sinking back to the depths of the magma sea.
It was over.
Sebastian limped over to Bronze, his foot having been injured by a falling stone. "I am terribly sorry that you had to go through this ordeal. Anyway, I think you deserve some sort of reward... here, take the Brimstone Badge for your efforts."
Holding out the swirl-shaped badge, Sebastian let Bronze seize it and pin it to his bag.
"Sebastian, I think my friend Jake will have heard Groudon's roars, along with most people in the town." Bronze said. "I need to get back to him and tell him what happened!"
"Sure!" Sebastian said. "I hope he challenges me sometime, and you as well. But this is no time for battling. Anyway, if you go west of Brimber City, you should end up on Route 192. Then, you can get to Rosecove City, a remnant of the ancient harbor of Taurlonde and the site of the last battle of the Terramist Wars. I hope you don't run into any more Team Eclipse or Team Rocket members, or any other ne'er-do-wells. And I do need to get medical attention for this foot!"
Bronze went down the winding staircase with Sebastian, and out of the volcano, ready to tell Jake his tale.