It was quite unusual being back in Rustboro City. Garnet looked around the familiar city with a fond eye. They'd agreed not to spend too long in this city, they would stock up at the PokéMart as it'd be a larger PokéMart than the one in Verdanturf - their next destination. Garnet wanted to reach Mount Chimney before nightfall, her instincts told her there was something going on around that mountain and she needed to know what it was.
The two had bumped into a few trainers on the path to Rustboro, their cash stocks were not going to run out any time soon as no trainer could handle their combination of powerful Pokémon. Sapphire watched as Garnet passed the food isle and walked straight down the section with the Pokémon food and treats. Sapphire had not seen the girl eating or observed her purchasing food for herself instead of her Pokémon… Did she eat Pokémon food?
It was late afternoon when they left the PokéMart, Garnet's pace increased greatly. Sapphire had no trouble keeping up, but the sudden urge that Garnet had to move on quickly was not unmissed by her companion. "Hey, why walk so fast now?" She complained as she broke into a jog to keep up with Garnet's elongated strides.
Garnet looked over at the volcano, the billowing black smoke which streamed out of the top shocked her. When they had passed nothing but a thin trickle of misty steam sprouted up from the mountain. Her gaze fell to Sapphire once again. "We need to get to Mount Chimney!"
Though her reluctance slowed her from performing the action, Garnet recalled Hokori into his PokéBall; she could only carry one of the Pokémon while Titan carried her. Once Sapphire's gaze fell upon the mountain, she knew there was no argument. Her inner determination brought her to grasping one of Garnet's Metang's clawed hands. "Then we should fly there now, hurry up!" Sapphire winked at Garnet, the latter picking up Rayna and holding onto Titan's free hand.
Without another word, the Pokémon shot up into the sky, making a beeline for the churning smoke of the mountain.
"This volcano could hold the power we in Team Aqua need to possess in order to control the super-ancient Pokémon of legend and cleanse the world of land which holds Pokémon back!" Shelly murmured to herself, staring at Archie as he fiddled with the machinery they'd stolen.
A powerful meteorite lay at the heart of this machine, its very presence had churned the magma into frenzy, now the machine had been activated the volcano was sent into a panicked craze. The magma was receding and spitting up a furious plume of dense smoke into the sky.
"Boss, she's coming!" A lookout called down, "Team Magma is coming as well!" Archie looked over to his lookout, who was perched atop the lip of the volcano.
Archie had been expecting both Team Magma and that unusual girl to appear. Hopefully he could thwart both of them in one fell swoop.
The lookout was thrown off balance as the Metang swooped down into the volcano, setting the two girls down carefully on the rock ledge around the edge of the volcano, Garnet glared at the machine, her amethyst eyes glinting angrily in the illuminating orange light of the magma.
Shelly rushed forward, brandishing a PokéBall in her hand, Sapphire rushed to meet her, holding one of her own. Garnet passed the two as she stepped onto the metal platform which the machinery rested upon. Her steps sent out clinking taps as she walked along the walkway - which had no railings to prevent anyone from falling into the magma below.
"The great swell of magma which lies in this mountain holds the power which could be the key to controlling the super-ancient Pokémon…" His gruff whisper travelled to the sensitive ears of Garnet. She strolled forth, her steps ringing sharply against the metal of the walkway. Archie turned to watch her approaching. "I figured you'd come, you stood in our way at Slateport and you're gonna stand in our way here. Fine, let's see how ya do!" He tossed out a PokéBall, a Sharpedo burst from it.
Rayna bounced forward, her body sparking with electrical power to signify her readiness for battle. Garnet narrowed her eyes her instincts knowing there was something wrong here, other than the fact battling on such a platform was inadvisable that is.
"Rayna use Thunder Wave and slow it down," Garnet ordered, her partner sending a bolt of static electricity to partially immobilize the Water-type Pokémon.
"Use Bite," Archie ordered his Pokémon quickly. Sharpedo shot forward and clamped its fangs around Rayna.
"Now use Shock Wave to dislodge it," The green Pokémon obeyed its friend and sent a powerful wave of electricity outwards, Sharpedo had no way to dodge the electrical attack and was flung backwards by the voltage.
Rayna shook off the pain from the Bite. The Sharpedo used a fierce Aqua Jet to slam into the Pokémon again, sending the little Electrike stumbling backwards. Rayna balled electricity around herself, expanding it outwards in all directions. Garnet blinked as she had neither ordered or even known Rayna could use Discharge.
A bright white light consumed Rayna as the electrical attack smashed into Sharpedo. This light pulsated for a few seconds before retracting back to the Pokémon. The new, proud Pokémon raised her head and roared as she eyed up her opponent. Manectric sent another wave of electricity outwards, the Sharpedo unable to cope with the powerful shocks. The Pokémon fell - its energy sapped by Rayna's attacks.
Archie recalled the spent Pokémon. He tossed out another PokéBall, this time a Golbat flapping from the capsule.
Garnet could detect Rayna's pride as it emanated from the Pokémon. She - once again - balled up her electrical powers and sent a powerful Discharge attack for the Flying-type Pokémon. This Pokémon could not take the attack and Archie recalled it.
Garnet's smug smirk was evident. She had expected a little better from a team leader. But apparently Rayna was far too powerful for this man's Pokémon.
His final Pokémon - a Mightyena - growled as it landed in front of Archie. "Use Rock Smash now." The Pokémon obeyed, but instead of pounding towards Rayna, the Pokémon pounced upwards, slamming itself into the rocky wall above and to the left of Garnet. The rocks cracked and crumbled, the Pokémon being recalled before it fell into the magma. "Got word that you can't be caught kid, so I'll have to deal with you another way," Archie barked over the cracking of the rocks, Garnet turned to flee, calling to Rayna to leap across to the rock ledge away from the danger.
Rayna obeyed but the rocks crashed down too quickly for Garnet - who still refused to reveal her true potential to this man or the other.
Maxie and Team Magma watched as the wall crumpled, great rocks and boulders crashing down on Garnet, sweeping her cleanly off the walkway. Metang tried to catch her, but the falling debris was too dangerous to navigate as it crashed down around Garnet.
Both Maxie and Archie watched as the girl with the flaming red hair crashed down into the depths of the churning magma of Mount Chimney.
Subject 663 flew with murder in her eyes. She had the power to make him pay; she had the power to make him suffer! She dived down upon Viridian City, smelling the foul scent of the man who had ordered the murder of her friends.
663's arms snapped to her side as she dove nose-first towards the city, she crashed through the roof of a building in the centre of the city. Her feet touched down, sending a shockwave which tore the ground apart.
"I thought you would come here. What are your intentions now?" Her ruby gaze fell upon the despicable man who stood there very calmly.
"I've come to make you pay you bastard! I've come to deliver the justice you deserve!" She stepped forward, scarlet energy raging around her. Flames of black energy crackled across the floor as she picked her way towards him. He did not move a muscle.
She saw his movement as he pressed a button with his thumb. A machine hidden in the walls activated, a strange blue energy engulfing 663. Her arms were forced to either side of her as the machine sent a constant stream of pain raging through her body.
"Your will could not be broken by easier means, so you leave me no choice but to destroy your willpower by force!"
663 tried to figure out a way to free herself from this painful prison. Her mind was sent into a panic as her muscles refused to listen to her brainwaves. Minutes of sheer agony passed, but she refused to give in to this creature's desires.
She had one shot at escaping. If it did not work then her body would perish. So 663 welled up most of her energy into her chest, keeping a firm grasp on the raging energy despite the added distractions of the torturous pains ricocheting around her entity. When she could hold it no longer, she split the orb of concentrated energy and shot it outwards. The dark red spheres of energy exploded into the walls, making the solid masses crumble into dust.
The ceiling above both her head and his bowed and crumbled inwards, large fractions of it crashing down upon them both.
Subject 663 heard panicked yells as the civilians of this city rushed to help as they'd clearly noticed the disturbance at the gym. 663 burst from the rubble frantic thoughts rushing through her mind. She had no reason to care for people, but she was reluctant to harm those she had no reason to.
Giovanni clawed his way out of another pile of rubble, yelling about a murder attempt. She - hearing the yells and knowing that he had the authority and power to rally the townsfolk into capturing her - started running as fast as a regular human could, just out-speeding the angered mob. She would have to try again another day.
"Uproar in Viridian City as an unknown assailant attempts to take Viridian Gym Leader's life. Gym security cameras were able to get a snapshot of the girl before they blacked out. If you see this girl please call the police as she is considered highly dangerous." The screen flicked to a fuzzy picture of her face. "This girl single-handedly caused great damage to the Viridian Gym and must be carrying some form of weaponry. Do not approach this girl… I repeat do NOT approach!"
663 hid her face with a hood, knowing that she would be found quickly, her appearance was not exactly inconspicuous by any standards. Her anger had been replaced with sorrow for the time being, but her desire for revenge had not been satisfied. She'd heard on the news that Giovanni had sustained serious injuries from the falling rubble but that was nowhere near enough suffering for her liking.
663 knew she would need to master the illusions she could create, if she could hide her more Pokémon-esque form then she could have to alter her human-form to hide her identity fully.
PhantomGalaxy13: Gosh your review made me laugh so much! Archie's master-plan of throwing big rocks at her was perfect! A rather underwhelming chapter this time round, but hopefully next chapter will be a little more action-packed! I do love seeing your deductions of my story! It's amazing to see you looking into the little details i throw out! i'll try to update a little quicker this time though xD! Till next time have an amazing day! -Iris
SelasVictoria: You must really like Steven to have found both of my stories completely separate from each other xD! And I am so grateful and lucky that you did find my stories! I couldn't help but let him make an appearance while Garnet was in Meteor Falls, I'd be disappointed in myself if I let the chance slide xD Until next time have a fabulous day! -Iris
Unknown Guest: Thank you so much for your review! It really means a lot to me that you think os highly of my story! xD Thank you once again for your kind words and i hope you continue to enjoy my fic as it progresses! Have a wonderful day! -Iris