Chapter 68: Legend of the Mirage Tower
"Morgan, what are you doing! Stop!" Lucas cried out in terror. Lucas and Morgan rarely saw eye to eye. They insulted each other's appearance, intelligence, and on rare occasion, their mothers, but even under their bickering Lucas respected his rival and considered her a friend. Granted, the two didn't know each other that well, spending more time fighting than trading stories about growing up, but Lucas would never expect after all their time in Sinnoh and now their travels in Hoenn that his fellow Cherrygrove Trainer would do what she was doing now. And he knew he had to stop her before she did something she would undoubtedly regret. At least he hoped so. He hoped she would regret it, but as she stood, her teased black hair shadowing her face, her heavily made up eyes empty and terrifying and her dark purple and normally pouting lips deadpan, he wondered darkly.
Lucas, Morgan and Skyler had gone to Meteor Falls to discover if they could find the legendary dragon Pokemon Rayquazza. They had talked to the falls' expert Professor Cozmo and explored the falls most of the day. From inside the cascade Morgan had a strange feeling as they explored the darkness and stumbled on the secondary underground falls where they interrupted a Team Cosmic operation.
The three Trainers captured two Cosmic grunts, freed the pack of captured Bagon the two had entrapped and proceeded to interrogate them. They learned the grunts were there for the same reason Skyler was: to find Rayquazza, albeit for more nefarious reasons than the Dragon Tamer's sense of adventure. But as they pushed the grunts for answers, with one of the men pinned under the foot of Morgan's Tyranitar Achilles, Morgan gave a command that horrified her companions.
"Achilles, crush him." Morgan's tone was so cold and so detached for a moment Lucas didn't think he really heard it. Even the Pokemon gave his Trainer a perplexed look before moving.
The grunt beneath the foot changed his tone from defiant to as frightened as his companion, who was screaming and sobbing over a hand bitten by Diablo, "Okay, Okay! Mirage Tower, they're at Mirage Tower!"
Morgan remained silent, and her Pokemon knew his Trainer was dead serious. He began to enact her command when Lucas grabbed her arm, "Morgan, we get it, the bluff worked, he said all we needed to know. Call Achilles off!"
"Why?"
"Morgan, stop!" Morgan didn't move, her demeanor still terrifyingly cold and dark. Lucas grabbed her by the shoulders and tried to shake some sense into her, but when she finally locked eyes with him, the look in her eyes filled him with real fear.
"Celes! Icebeam!" Skyler's Dragonair whipped up to the massive dark type and blasted a concentrated beam of freezing energy squarely at Achilles' chest. The surprised Tyranitar was knocked off the human being and crashed into one of the cavern's walls. The released victim wheezed and coughed, his sternum seemingly shattered by the Pokemon's attack. Skyler remained by both Cosmic grunts to prevent their escape, as well as act as a defensive wall in case the girl called her Pokemon for another attack.
"Jesus Christ! What the actual hell, Morgan!" Lucas continued to violently shake his rival by the shoulders, equally disturbed by not only the horrific scene he nearly witnessed, but by fear for his friend.
Morgan finally answered him, "Why did you stop him?"
"Morgan! Get your freaking act together! That was a human being! One of the worst felonies you can commit in this nation is to use a Pokemon to commit murder!" Lucas snarled, "I am a freaking short-tempered, violent SOB and even I wouldn't do that!"
"You were the one who told me how bad Cosmic was, that they were willing to kill people and Pokemon to achieve what they want! That means they are just as bad, or even worse than Team Rocket! What would be so wrong about killing someone like that!" Morgan shrieked, her tone finally broken from her heartless monotone to express real emotion. Lucas immediately realized what caused the girl to snap. Morgan's father was an anti-Team Rocket Gym Leader murdered by the organization when the girl was just a child. Over the months Lucas had informed his rival of all the crimes he had seen Team Cosmic commit, and having seen it for the first time herself, the terrible memories of her past came forward.
"Because that makes us as bad as they are! We can't ever sink to their level! This wouldn't have been what your dad wanted!" Lucas found the magic words. Upon hearing mention of her father, Morgan's eyes lit up and her head whipped around to where the man was still on the ground, struggling for breath.
"Oh my God, what have I done?" Morgan was barely holding back tears now, the eyeliner around her eyes starting to warp, "Is he—is he going to be okay?"
Skyler nodded his head, "Luckily your Pokemon seems to know you better than you know yourself. The grunt might be making a lot of noise, but his chest is barely bruised. The Tyranitar was hardly touching him. Morgan, if you really want to stop Team Cosmic then what we need to do is head to Mirage Tower, and we need to go there now. The legends say that Rayquazza is either here, in Dewford or at the Mirage Tower. We already know it's not at one of the first two places. If Rayquazza is real, then that means it's where the other half of Cosmic's operation is now. Cosmic cannot get that Pokemon,"
"Then let's get out of here as soon as the Pokemon League shows up. We can tell them what's going on, but it's going to take them some time to build up enough forces to deal with Cosmic. Time isn't a luxury we have if they're at the tower," Lucas agreed. But before the three Trainers could do anything, a small grunt of 'Bag!' came behind them.
One of the freed Bagon had remained behind and was now waddling over to Skyler. The blue haired Trainer regarded the Pokemon with a smile, while his Dragonair tilted its head curiously. The small dragon type continued to grunt and squeak enthusiastically in front of the human, and it was clear what it wanted. It was so grateful for Skyler's help that it wanted to become the Trainer's Pokemon. In what Lucas imagined was probably a Dragon Tamer custom, Skyler grabbed a Pokeball from his bag and bowed before the small Pokemon, "Great dragon, like my ancestors before me and my descendants to come, in the name of the Dragon Tamers of Blackthorn, I swear to honor our partnership for as long as you fight beside me," Skyler then tossed the ball to the Bagon who was sucked inside. In what was obviously a mere formality, the Pokeball shook four times and clicked, and the Pokemon was added to Skyler's team.
The teens wasted no more time. With Morgan back to her senses the Trainers dragged their Cosmic prisoners to the falls outside, where Steven, Wattson, Flannery and several other high ranking Pokemon League representatives and police officers were waiting for them. Once again Lucas explained what was going on, and once more the highest ranking Trainers of Hoenn agreed with him. If what the grunts had said was accurate, and if the legends of Rayquazza was true, the League needed people at Mirage Tower immediately. With the seriousness and strength of Cosmic in Hoenn already known, the League knew they needed to avoid the full-on assault that had almost paralyzed Sunnyshore City. They needed a final strike, one that would cripple the Hoenn branch of the organization, but such a strike would take time. Lucas, Skyler and Morgan volunteered to go ahead, and Steven prepared them for the mission.
Mirage Tower was an ancient ruin, the only surviving building in the desert off of route 111. The desert was harsh and inhospitable, even with the power of human technology. Constant sandstorms crippled electronics, interfered with radio signals, and made paved roads a moot point as they'd be buried most of the time. The desert was left to nature, and only the most determined Trainers and archaeologists bothered to traverse the brutal land. Only a few times a year for brief periods, the winds would quell and the tower would become visible, like a mystical mirage. No one knew how the tower was built, especially given how it was thousands of years old, but its purpose was clear, like the shrine deep in Granite Cave and the caverns of Meteor Falls, it was said to be the last place the mythic dragon Rayquazza called home. There was no way to go by car, tank or helicopter, so the only way to travel was either on foot or by Pokemon, hence the difficult position the Pokemon League was in. The upside was that if Cosmic was there, even with a large group, they wouldn't have any easier a time bringing in equipment or manpower than the Pokemon League would have. Like placing the grunts in Meteor Falls, the teens would use the same strategy: a small group could move faster and be undetected, and send back information with a Pokemon so the League could strike. The race against time began. For Lucas and his friends to get to the tower and beat the organization to a Pokemon, that if real, would be capable of catastrophic power.
Steven also supplied the teens with traveling clothes, their exposed skin would be pureed by the sand blasting winds, and the Trainers themselves prepped for the battle ahead. Lucas arranged his team again, focusing on Pokemon that could survive the sands and at the same time still offer a good variety of tactics to any Trainers or obstacles he would face. With a mix of recent standbys and old favorites Lucas put Diablo back in storage with much protest from the Pokemon and brought out his Torterra, his Steelix, his Garchomp Jaws, his Rhydon Panzer, kept Bruce the Swampert and of course, his Eevee Gizmo. With so much time used to get everything settled, the Trainers were forced to leave Fallarbor Town just as the sun was beginning to set.
The three walked back the northern side of Mount Chimney, the ash once again clouded the air, obscuring the stars that were rapidly filling the night's sky. The ash only lasted a short time as they kept walking, ignoring the exhaustion from their already long day. They had to keep going, even if it meant not sleeping all night. The Trainers had to make it to at least the mouth of the desert before morning, or the tumultuous heat of the day would make travel impossible, and even more time would be lost. None of the three complained, or even said anything to one and other as they traveled, the last time addressing each other personally at the Pokemon Center in Fallarbor Town before Steven had sent them off. Even if there was time Lucas could think of anything to say. He had seen a terrible side to a friend today, a side that could make this upcoming quest dangerous, but the same time he couldn't bear to undermine or stop Morgan from coming along. Skyler seemed to be of the same mind. Though he didn't know Morgan personally, he was familiar with her from her mysterious time in Blackthorn City, the time the dark type Trainer didn't talk about and didn't allow the Dragon Tamer to mention either. The teen hoped his trust in the dour girl wasn't misplaced, especially with Rayquazza, and a ghost from his own past complicating matters as well.
At a brisk pace the three Trainers headed east until the crags that made up the peaks around Mount Chimney opened up like a natural gate just as the glimmer of dawn appeared ahead of them. Even with the massive rocks acting as a wall, the heat and wind of the approaching desert crackled at their skin and lips. Quickly, they dressed in the light and durable desert gear provided by the CEO, placed the scratch resistant googles over their faces, and prepared for the even more exhausting leg of their journey. Though for this part they could use a Pokemon to help the trek, they would have to spend special attention to avoid getting lost or caught in an even worse sandstorm, or cornered by one of the vicious Pokemon that thrived in the unwelcoming environment.
"I choose you, Achilles," Morgan said and she pulled out her Pokeball.
Skyler gently but sternly put his hand over hers, preventing her from throwing the ball and summoning her monster, "I think it would be best if we used one of Lucas' Pokemon for this part,"
Morgan didn't miss his meaning, "I know I screwed up, very, very badly. It won't happen again,"
Skyler's tone was kind but authoritative, "Morgan, you are an amazing Trainer. Far more qualified than me. Both of you are," He then addressed Lucas as well, "I know I'm just a shut in from a small town, and I have no right to tell either one of you what to do, but I do know what it means to almost throw your future away because of rage. Let's just say the rivalry between my cousin and my sister has gotten...ugly, at times.
"We are about to go into a giant Cosmic operation, and you snapped just seeing two grunts. Not only that, I'm worried about Lucas, too. His ex is the person in charge of the Hoenn branch. I don't know what it was that pushed you that far, but it's clear the both of you have a personal stake in this. And so do I. Even if I'm not qualified enough as a Dragon Tamer to train Rayquazza, it's my birthright to make sure it doesn't fall into the hands of someone who will use it for evil. If I thought you two couldn't handle it I would have said something back in Fallarbor Town, I know you can. And I trust you. I trust you because Lucas trusts you, and I would trust Lucas with my life. I'm asking you for now to trust me. Please keep your Tyranitar back until we absolutely need him,"
Morgan's expression was hard to read. She seemed like she wanted to argue, but failed to find a flaw in Skyler's reasoning. She nodded and put the Pokeball away. Lucas summoned the Steelix he captured on Iron Island and the three went on the snake-like creature's back. The steel type moved quickly and easily through the dunes and rocks, but the spray of the blowing sand in the air slowed its gait. It was nearly impossible to tell where to go, maps all but useless since compasses were affected by some unseen magnetic force, the Pokevice offline for similar reasons, and navigating by landmark or sky pointless. Their pace was frustratingly slow, and they were frequently attacked by Pokemon. As they progressed both Lucas and Morgan had captured a Cacnea, while Skyler caught a Trapinch, a small ground type the Trainer said would eventually be a dragon type. Unlike the Bagon that happily went along with the Dragon Tamer, the Trapinch was ill-tempered, and was only captured because it refused to let the Trainers and their Pokemon free. Even after the difficult battle Skyler repeated his Dragon Tamer oath, this time over the Pokeball.
Soon the cool desert air from the night became an inferno as the sun got higher and higher into the sky. All three Trainers were drenched with sweat, and already exhausted from their long walk. Fortune was with them that day, or perhaps Rayquazza deemed the three Trainers worthy to see its shrine, because after a few brief but agonizing hours after the sun rose, a tall looming shape became visible in the sands.
Lucas patted the Steelix on the side of its face and pointed towards the shadow. The Pokemon grunted in understanding, and slowly and carefully slithered towards the direction its Trainer indicated. The closer they got, the sands began to slow and soon the winds ceased entirely. There stood Mirage Tower, the massive monument to the Bringer of Winds, Rayquazza, the Pokemon the ancient people of Hoenn thought brought about and controlled the winds. As the three absorbed the sight and saw how they seemed to be in a bubble where no air moved within the raging desert storms, Lucas could understand why they thought as much. But now was no time for awe, more pressing matters were ahead of them.
Cover was rare, only a few rocks surrounded the otherwise exposed tower, and so Lucas was forced to recall his loyal Pokemon. The three jogged to the largest rock they could find, and observed their enemies. Cosmic grunts paced back and forth in front of the ruin's entrance. Though from their meandering pace and glossed over look, they seemed to expect no company. The harsh sands were sentry enough, but the tattooed teen had to give his ex credit, even not believing anyone would come, Marcia had still put out a security detail. The few guards had not seen the three, and they still had the element of surprise. Pulling off their protective but restrictive desert gear, the three planned their ambush. Lucas' Garchomp was summoned forth and told to dive under the ground, swimming beneath the sands until just the right time. As the two guards closest to the door crossed paths to trade places, the land shark would dive up, knocking both men unconscious. Skyler took care of the guard furthest left while Morgan addressed the right, both using ice attacks from Skyler's Dragonair and Morgan's Weavile to freeze the last two grunts solid. In the desert heat there was no danger of the woman and man freezing to death, and they bought enough time to go inside.
Carefully with Lucas in the lead, the three Trainers raced inside the ruin. They were fortunate. Immediately inside the ruin was totally abandoned, just a few dropped papers indicating that Cosmic was inside. The three figured the majority of Cosmic and their subordinates were deeper inside, intent on finding the mystic Pokemon for themselves. That meant Lucas, Morgan and Skyler could lower their guard slightly as they raced to catch up and stop the group. And it gave them precious time to plan exactly how they would do so.
The ruins were dark, cool and utterly labyrinthine. Looking from the bottom level the three could see almost to the top of the tower, but creeping up the inner walls were dozens of staircases that led to various rooms. They could see some of the ancient steps ended in dead ends, while others would weave into one pathway and then continue out from a doorway next door. But only investigation would prove of going into the one doorway would mean being able to exit the other.
"Should we fly to the top of the tower?" Morgan asked, "This tower was obviously built to be a maze, and I bet most of these rooms have traps. It would probably prove fastest if we simply avoided the stairs altogether except to get to the top floor,"
"If our goal was to reach the top of the tower, that would make the most sense, but that's not we're doing here," Skyler replied, "We need to see how big Team Cosmic's operation is, and how far they've come. We need to find them,"
"Well, logic states that they're probably aiming for the top themselves. Experience has taught me that whenever you're looking for something valuable in a tower, it's always going to be top floor in the hardest to get to room. And since Rayquazza is a wind dragon, it's probably going to be in the highest part of the structure," Lucas stepped forward and gauged their options, "I hate to say this, but I think Morgan's got the right idea,"
"Not to mention if we get to Rayquazza first, that will be the most efficient way to stop their organization. There's no way we could take on an entire group of Cosmic fighters with just the three of us. I thought you wanted to catch Rayquazza," Morgan added.
Skyler bit his lip and looked back to Lucas, before letting out a small breath of frustration, "Of course I'd want to catch it, or at least try to catch it. But here's my problem. If Cosmic is smart enough to put up guards in spite of it being nearly impossible to get here, and thinking that no one else knows they're here because only those two other grunts were at the secondary operation, why wouldn't Cosmic be smart enough to try flying up there first?"
"Damn. You make a good point..." Morgan grunted.
"Well, we need to make some kind of decision. Those guards we clocked outside will wake up soon. And when they do they're going to radio their commander to let them know we're here. Then we're really screwed. We still aren't sure what we're going to do when we find Cosmic except do our best to let the Pokemon League know what exactly we're up against. I'm not sure if we realized this because we're so determined to help Pokemon, but we may have accidentally signed up for a suicide mission," Skyler crossed him arms, "Lucas, it's all up to you pal. You've gotten us out of tough scrapes before,"
"Skyler's right. If anyone is the king of barely making it by the skin of their teeth, it's Rooster Boy,"
Lucas grunted at the Gothic and neon dressed Trainer but accepted the responsibility. The teen pulled out a Pokeball from his belt and summoned his Pokemon, "Torterra! Razor Leaf! Aim it at the sky!"
The massive land turtle appeared before his Trainer and shot several large, sharp-edged leaves at the top of the tower. A strange roaring seemed to shake the building and a blast of air rushed from one side of the top exposed floor to the other. The leaves the Pokemon threw were hit by the air and blasted apart, the pieces fluttering back down to the floor. It was there that teens noticed the little bits of blue and lavender fabric, as well as feathers of some flying type in a pile near where the minced leaves had fallen that they had missed earlier in their exploration. Though thankfully there wasn't enough to indicate the death of any living thing, there were still small pools of human and Pokemon blood on the floor near the scraps. Morgan covered her mouth in horror while Skyler swallowed nervously.
Lucas gingerly stepped around the scene, "Guess we're taking the stairs,"