"Which pokemon's that?" asked Marie, as Anya threw and caught the new pokeball.
"Guess," she grinned.
Marie rolled her eyes. "Why bother?" she said, but Anya gave her a look. "Oh, all right. Err... carvanha."
Before Anya could shake her head, she threw the ball again, but missed it. It hit the ground and burst open, revealing a corphish.
"Nice!" Marie said, bending down to admire the lobster. It snapped a claw at her, and she stood up quickly. "Where'd you get it?"
"I caught her when I was here earlier," Anya replied. "She was left stranded when the submarine came up."
The two girls were standing on the Team Aqua submarine's deck. Every hour or so, the submarine burst up out of the ocean, revealing a deck with puddles left on it, slowly being dried by the sun. The girls were both sixteen, but Anya was the eldest, with dark brown eyes and wavy brown hair to match, though it was mostly hidden under a Team Aqua bandana.
"You're always up here," Maria said, but with admiration. "And you always get the best catches."
She laughed in reply. "I just nick Kevin's fishing rod and use that," she said.
Anya lived with Kevin and his girlfriend Julie, two adults in their early thirties; quite high up in the Team Aqua ranking system. She knew they weren't her real parents- she didn't know who they were, but Julie always insisted that she call them "Julie and Kevin" instead of "Mum and Dad". Kevin was the most caring and Anya's personal favourite. He always spoilt her, which she loved.
"I'll be able to test her out later anyway," she said.
Maria sighed. "I wish I was coming. But you've got brilliant pokemon and all that."
That made Anya grin. "You're coming to Mount Chimney after we've got the meteorite, so that's good."
"I guess."
It was early in the morning, about half an hour before the selected Team Aqua troops entered Meteor Falls and would find a meteorite to still Mount Chimney, and create a lake for water types to thrive. "Everybody will thank us, now that they can live without the danger of the volcano erupting at any given moment," Archie had explained.
A bell sounded, sounding a little like a fire alarm, but both girls knew that it was the calling-bell for the Team Aqua group to assemble on the top deck. Anya and Marie were on the side deck, so the two girls hugged and said their goodbyes for the time being, while Anya found the stairs to the smaller but more important top deck.
Most people were already assembled, so Anya only had a little time to make sure all her pokeballs were in place- three of them- before Archie started talking. They were in the ocean above Rustburo, so the plan was to climb ashore and to make their way through Meteor Falls to Fallabor, to find Professor Cozmo.
"Frith, Mea, Brummel, Jay..." the leader mumbled, making sure everyone in his team was assembled. He only had the four, but sometimes people liked to swap positions. It was annoying when he needed a particular team, but Archie always made a habit of knowing everyone in Team Aqua's faces. It stopped mix-ups from happening and made the collegues relax more when he adressed them by their names instead of just their last.
"Right, team," Archie contiued, clapping his worn hands together. They weren't talking, but he liked to make a point. "We'll be arriving at shore soon. I only need you to get anyone out of the way, or in case anyone shows up." Nods were exchanged. "You all know what we're doing?" More nods. "Good. No hanging about. We go in, get the professor, find the meterotite and move out to Mount Chimney to meet the rest of the team. The specialists should have already set up the machine, so we only need to activate it; destroy it and move out. Try not to attract attention."
This started up a murmer, but the sub had reached the shore and a section of the deck's rail folded down so that the team could climb aboard. Anya was the first over, swinging over the side rather than bothering to use the walkway. Her feet landed in the sand with a kind of dusty softness, and she scouted the area for anyone that might interfere.
All clear, as far as she could see. Anya shot Archie the thumbs-up and took the responsibility of running ahead, climbing a sloping bank to reach the top and look for anyone else. To her irritation, she saw George Mea climbing up after her, but he was some way behind. She hated anyone to take over from what she could do, and deliberatly trod on one of his hands as he tried to climb up. He gave a yell and slid a couple of yards down the sandy ledge.
Archie neither said nor did nothing about it, except to glare at George for breaking the silence. He didn't care what the team members did, as long as the job was done. It wasn't his responsibility to break up small arguments like a worried parent.
Finally Anya reached the top, and she searched for trainers. Because of the time, there were only a few about, and a tent was pitched about a hundred feet away. One look at Anya's unifor was enough to send the more timid trainers currying, but on eor two advanced forward.
By this time, George had caught up with her, looking angry as he rubbed his sore hand. Behind him came up Richard Frith and Archie himself, finally followed by Kreeth Jay. Archie nodded at George and Anya, who were facing the two trainers, and both released a pokemon.
The two trainers showed no expression at Anya's Sneasel and George's Gyrados, but when the other two released a Sealeo and a Fearow, they began to look uncomfortable and one edged away. The other, however, threw a pokeball to reveal a Sceptile.
"I don't know what you're about to do," he said, "but I don't like it, and I don't think much of your reputation either."
Archie and the others said nothing, but a series of hand signals were exchanged, leaving Archie, Anya and Kreeth to walk up to Meteor Falls. The trainer made to follow, but a Fearow and Gyrados blocked his path and he was forced to battle.
It was eerie inside Meteor Falls. Anya had never been here before, but she felt uneasy. Every small sound was magnified a hundred times or more, making their footfalls sound like a Rydon's. Suddenly archie held up a hand, and Anya heard it too. Voices.
And not just any voice. "How could they be here now?" Archie said, furious. He started to run ahead, up a pathway cut throw ledges of rock. And following him, Anya saw them.
Four Team Magma members stood there, one of whom was Maxie, and the one talking to who seemed to be Professor Cozmo.
"You'll thank us sooner or later," he was saying.
"You!" Archie interrupted, furious. Everyone's eyes flicked up to see the three Aquas standing there, and four of those were filled suddenly with hate.
"Archie," Maxie said, a fake smiled spreading. "You do seem to enjoy following in my dust, don't you?"
"Dust is all you're worth," he spat back. He nodded to Anya and Kreeth, and they stepped forward, most powerful pokemon in their fists.
Maxie made the same motion, his smile real this time. "You're outnumbered," he says.
"We're not leaving without that meteroite!" Archie said.
The frown came back. "What do you want with the meteroite?" Maxie asked.
"To make the world a better place," Archie replied airily. "Hand it over, Professor."
Cozmo clutched the large stone in his arms like a baby. "No! I can't let you use it for your plans- I need this for my research!"
"Oh, just give it," Archie continued, sounding bored.
Anya jumped down and walked over to the professor. He edged back, and suddenly a Magma boy was between them.
"Get out of the way," she said, preparing to throw Ozone's pokeball.
He made the first move. "Stop her, Ore," he said, and a tyrannitar was suddenly blocking her path.
Anya was only mildly surprised to see such a strong opponent. After all, Ozone wasn't exactly a pushover. She let the dragonite out, and it scowled at the rock type.
All around them, other Magma/Aqua battles were starting up, and the lack of Aquas was becoming apparent. Anya willed the others to hurry up. What were they doing?
"Ozone, Dragonbreath."
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the 'spare' Magma trying to take the meteorite off the professor. He was shouting and trying to hold on, but a jerk took it clean out of his hands.
"Ozone, get that Magma!" Anya said quickly.
Her opponent was faster. "Ore, Rock Slide."
The rockfall blocked Ozone's attack, trapping him. Archie was yelling for the team to pull out- the Magmas were all recalling their pokemon and making for the exit.
"This way, team! Hurry! Mount your flying types. Oh, you've arrived now? Just hurry up! We have to get that meteorite- follow them!"
Anya ran after the Magmas and whistled to catch Ozone's attention. He found his way out of the rock pile and flew after her, and she jumped on his back.
Archie followed closely, pursued by Richard on his fearow and George hanging onto a crobat confidently. Ahead of her, she could only just see the flaming tail of a charizard as they all sped away from Metero Falls and the professor crying pathetically over the loss of his dream.
"Catch," Paolo said, grinning, throwing the meteorite to Mikale and making Heath dive violently.
"What you giving it to me for?" he asked, reaching for the stone. "You found it."
"You've got the fastest pokemon," Paolo said, who was riding an aerodactyl. Powerful, but slower than a charizard in flight. "Go on, I think Maxie wants you. Or the rock. I'm not sure which."
"Cheers," Mikale replied plainly, and Heath sped up. Mount Chimney was coming into focus, but ash was falling thickly now and it was difficult to see.
Sure enough, Mazie was gesturing for Paolo, then Mikale to hurry as the meteorite changed hands. When they came within speaking distance, Maxie spoke. "Thank you, Mikale. How well can you drive?"
"A pokemon or a car?"
"A truck."
Mikale thought. By the age of fifteen, all Magma members had to learn how to drive. Mikale thought he was okay, but rubbish at reversing. So he nodded. "I could manage a truck. What's the cargo? How far do I drive?"
"You're carrying members of the team. When the volcano explodes, we don't want to hang around. I activate it and we run. The lava destroys the machine, and we've got two getaway trucks with open backs. I need you to floor it."
Mikale nodded. The rough terrain was no problem- he knew what trucks Maxie meant. More like large vans with a four-wheel drive option.
"Good lad. We're landing soon. Hold onto that for a while."
Meteorite tucked under Mikale's arm, Heath prepared to follow in a sharp dive. Before she could, a fireball caught her tail and legs, throwing them off course. Mikale had to make a grab for the meteorite as he dropped it.
He turned round as Heath flew on, asnd saw the girl who had battled him, riding on her Dragonite. "Give me the meteorite and nobody need get hurt," she said.
Mikale tossed it from side to side playfully and stood up. Heath didn't mind, he just had to keep his balance. Prrobably not a very safe thing to do, but he only wanted to tease her. "You want this rock, heh?"
"Yes, I do want the damn rock. Just give it up before I hurt you."
Mikale tapped Heath's shoulder with his foot, a silent signal. "Come and get it," he said, as the charizard dived down to catch up with Maxie.
Ooh, he had a nerve! Copying his relaxed attidute, Anya told Ozone to follow. To her surprise and relief, Maxie had reached the team of their troops, and a battle was going on. There was still time to get it.
"If you go ahead with this, think how much life you'll destroy!" she said. "Nobody has any use for the volcano, why not turn it into a lake for pokemon and people to enjoy?"
"We want to use it," he said, still standing. He was mocking her, and she knew it. "More landmass equals more houses, more trees, people, pokemon."
"All life begins with the sea."
"Man, you've been seriously brainwashed."
It was unusual for a Magma and Aqua to talk like this, even if they did hate each other and the point was for distraction. The boy's charizard dipped to catch an air current as she tried to hover, and the boy stumbled a little. Anya smiled wickedly. "Shame to come this far, and fall down the Jagged Pass," she said.
The boy stopped. Anya sensed him thinking that he could sit down, but typical Magma pride was stopping that. "The meteor goes with me."
"Not nessercarily," Anya said. "Ozone, Dragon Rage!"
It was illegal, of course, for a pokemon to use an attack on a human, but in both colunies it happened so often that neither Anya nor Mikale thought anything of it. It was just an annoyance, Mikale thought, as Heath dived to keep her human safe.
"Take me nearer," Anya whispered to Ozone. The dragon obliged, and Anya made a jump onto the charizard's back. She knew the pokemon could knock her off with its tail, but with Mikale there too, it was harder for her to judge. And anyway, Ozone was hovering beneath in case she fell.
"Hey!" the boy said in annoyence, as she started to push him off. "Heath, stop her!"
Anya jumped down onto Ozone as the charizard's tail flicked up blindly, and it missed her, instead catching Mikale around the ankles. As he fell, he caught Anya's hand. Heath was beneath him, but he would drop the meteorite if he let go.
Anya smiled sweetly. "Can I have the rock now?"
"No!" Mikale yelled.
"OK." She slid the meteorite out of his hands anyway, and pulled off his hand. "Thank you."
Anya pulled Ozone into a low dive, where she had spotted Archie, while Maxie was busy with the rest of the team. The boy wouldn't have been killed, or even hurt, she thought. His pokemon would have caught him. It was only meant to slow him down.
She quickly jumped off Ozone as the ground came closer, and ran to Archie, who was next to the machine, and delivered the meteor into his arms.
"Excellent, Anya," he said, and slotted it in. The machine lit up brightly, and Archie had only to press the relevent keys for their plan to be complete.
E/N: It might be a bit confusing looking at two points of view, but now you know where the girl is. I prefer Team Aqua for some reason, don't know why I started with Magma. I think Anya's a bit like me O.O
So, to find out what happened to Mikale and who will win the volcano-battle, you'll...er, have to wait. Unless you're reading this after I've updated again, in which case you can review and move on (please).