Chapter 16: Rise
Ash and May could never have known that in the hours before they arrived at the sea side New Magma had been setting up operations not far from where they would end up. They arrived on the ridge having pin pointed Groudon's location. All their equipment and staff were moved including the small scientist team appointed for this specific mission, a security team equipped with riot gear and stun batons, and finally Fane and Captain Gregson who would oversee everything. They drove by truck and had set up all the equipment they needed and at the time of Ash and May's arrival they were nearly ready.
"So professor Lund, tell me again how you came across this technology that can apparently control even legendary Pokémon." Gregson asked the head of the science section.
"Well Captain have you heard of a man named Professor Colress?" Lund asked.
"Yes he was a scientist that was arrested for his involvement him Team Plasma, a criminal organisation in Unova." Gregson replied.
"Correct you see I was one of his students before he joined Plasma, he designed a machine that would control and bring out a Pokémon's inner power. Though I wasn't able to copy exactly what he had created I was able to recreate the controlling section of his machine, it makes any Pokémon completely controllable." Lund explained.
"However it does require different calculations for different Pokémon types but that won't be a problem as we are only going for Groudon." Lund concluded.
"Exactly professor, you just make sure that you hit Groudon with that beam when I summon it." Fane spoke as he made his way to the command chair.
"Yes sir, by the way how do you plan on awakening him?" Lund asked.
"Well I've kept that secret for a long time in case anything went wrong but now I can reveal exactly how I will do just that." Fane reached into his bag and pulled out a glass case. Inside the case was a bright blue orb.
"Sir is that the blue orb said to be able to command Groudon." Lund asked in shock.
"Not quite, after the events of eight years ago the red and blue orbs were hidden, even with all of our intel gathering we couldn't locate them. However the ancient civilisations that created those orbs made backups in case something where to happen to the originals. In the ancient writings this is known as the lesser blue orb." Fane explained.
"But sir you know that the people who held onto those things were consumed by its power." Lund explained.
"Yes we are aware of that, which is why I will only use it to call Groudon up from the earth and once he has appeared you will take over." Fane revealed.
"An excellent plan sir." Gregson acknowledged. "Now are you ready Lund?"
"Yes all preparations are complete, all we need is the go ahead." Lund nodded.
Fane took one final look at his men and grinned confidently, all preparations had been met and on his orders they would begin reshaping the region and in enough time, the world.
"Sync the control devices activation with the activation of our sleeper viruses, that way we can raise Groudon and knock out any law enforcement at the same time." Fane ordered.
"Roger that sir, synced and ready." Lund replied.
"Alright then, activate the device." Fane spoke lowly.
Lund grabbed the activation leather and pulled it down bringing the large machine to life. As it powered up it groaned lightly, but everyone knew what would happen and so covered their ears in anticipation. A loud bang boomed from the machine as it reached full power making a group of Wingul take to the air in surprise.
"Never get used to that." Lund said as he shook his head.
Fane didn't waste any more time, he opened the glass case and grasped the blue orb in his hand. Pulling the orb out Fane could sense the energy almost seep into his hand and up his arm, he ignored the temptation of letting the power seep further into his body and instead held it above his head and forced his will over that of Groudon's.
"Groudon hear me, rise from your slumber so that you may reshape this land in my image." Fane uttered with strength and conviction.
The blue orb began to glow, faintly at first but it slowly built in brightness until a blinding flash of light blasted out of it lighting up the whole area around them and leaving the shoreline in an eerie silence.
"Well what happens now?" Lund asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"Just wait, soon you'll see." Fane said knowingly.
Soon after he had spoken the earth began to shake. The shaking increased and the sensors of Lund's machines began to come to life trying to pinpoint the epicentre of the tremors, but was unable to as the source of the quakes was slowly rising from deep below the earth.
The intensity of the shacking continued to increase and slabs of the cliff face began to break away when a sudden loud rumble and crash echoed from over the ridge that separated New Magma from the small inlet and to May and Ash. One of the men stationed at the top of the ridge saw the cause of the rumbling and called down to Fane.
"Sir Groudon has appeared, down this inlet." The grunt called out.
Fane placed the blue orb back in its glass case and secured it in a safe compartment beneath his chair.
"Lund be ready to fire that beam as soon as we are in sight of Groudon. Gregson reform the defensive line from the top of that ridge once we get up there." Fane instructed.
Getting nods from his right and left hand men New Magma began to move all their equipment to the top of the ridge eager to get look at the prize they had waited so long for.
Ash ran over to May who had fallen to her knees and wrapped his arms around her. She gripped his shirt praying that the series of events that had just unfolded had to be for any other reason other than Groudon breaking through to the surface. The tremor continued until a huge bang sounded. May peered up and saw a small landslide halfway down the inlet and then the shacking stopped.
Ash looked around the area surveying for any damage, he then looked down at May checking that she was alright but she seemed quite shaken up.
"May you still with me?" Ash asked.
May nodded slowly and steadily rose to her feet, she walked to the railing overlooking where the landslide had occurred. A large cluster of earth and boulders were clumped together halfway down the right side of the inlet almost completely blocking off the water going back and forth to the ocean. It was then that she noticed the steam.
Huge amounts of steam were billowing out from under the boulders and filling the air. Ash stood beside May and followed her line of sight also noticing the strange amount of steam coming from the base of ravine. He then noticed something bright and orange seemly oozing from the side of the rocks. The closest thing he could compare it to was lava or magma but how could that be?
Suddenly something burst from beneath the rock pile sending boulders, dust and the steam in all directions. Fortunately Ash, May and Pikachu were unharmed by the flying debris and it was then that May saw the creature for the first time.
Rising out of the scattered debris appeared a massive red body with thick armour and white spikes running along its sides. The thick tail flicked up revealing the four blade like ends, then the giant Pokémon reared its head showing a mouth full of sharp teeth and piercing yellow eyes. The beast stood over ten metres tall and the sight of it brought back the vivid memories of when Ash and May first encountered it, despite being older and far more experienced they were still shocked to their cores.
The legendary Pokémon of Hoenn took a deep breath and let out an incredible ear piercing roar that by itself shock the land around it causing the trio watching it to cover their ears as the sound seemed to go right through them. Groudon looked around the area as if scanning for something or someone, it then pulled its feet out of the remaining rocks and started moving towards the ocean. As it did lava started to pour out of the hole it had made in the side of the gorge, hitting the water and melting anything in its path.
Ash pulled his hands away from his ears even as they were still ringing and watched Groudon begin to move, each step making a loud thump and compressing the rocks and earth beneath its huge weight. He then noticed the heat, as he looked up into the sky he noticed the clouds in the sky disappearing and the intensity of the sun increased. He had felt this under the effects of a Sunny Day move before but this was far more intense.
Ash didn't know why or how Groudon had appeared but he knew it had something to do with that blue light that appeared before. All Ash knew was that there was little chance Groudon would appear for no reason and if left to roam the damage caused could be catastrophic. Ash ran further down the walkway in Groudon's direction not sure if he could somehow communicate with it but hoping he could at least distract it.
"Groudon!" Ash shouted when he was directly on Groudon's left side.
May heard Ash's voice and snapped her head in his direction, she had been so overwhelmed by Groudon's appearance that she hadn't even noticed Ash had run off. Not only that but her worst fears had been realized, a normal person would have most likely run in the face of such power but Ash was getting closer and trying to stop it.
"Groudon stop!" Ash shouted even louder.
Groudon suddenly stopped walking and turned its head in Ash's direction, as soon as it saw Ash its eyes narrowed slightly almost as if it somehow recognised Ash from Monsu Island years ago. It was possible as Groudon had presumably been asleep for all that time but to recognise Ash especially after he had aged was quite astounding. Ash didn't take the time to appreciate this fact and tried to talk the giant Pokémon beneath him.
"Groudon you've got to stop this, your damaging this coast line!" Ash shouted even though he doubted an ancient Pokémon like Groudon would be able to understand human speech like other Pokemon could.
Despite his doubts Groudon tilted its head slightly at Ash's words, making him wonder if it had indeed understood him or was confused as to what this human was trying to say. A part of his plan had worked, he had gotten Groudon's attention and stopped it from moving forward. Hoping his luck would hold out Ash attempted to speak to Groudon again while we had its attention.
Before he could do this however a sudden blue beam came from the opposite side of the ravine and struck Groudon. The mighty creature reeled forward as a blue field covered its body. Roaring in a mix of shock and pain Groudon thrashed its head from side to side as the power of professor Lund's machine completely took over its body.
"Groudon what's wrong?" Ash shouted but couldn't hope to compete with Groudon's deafening cries.
The blue glow around Groudon's body faded and in its place Groudon's eyed glowed a deep red, brighter than its own armour. Ash looked over to where the beam had come from and saw the cause. On the opposite side of the cliff was a group of people in red outfits all clustered around what looked like a large mobile machine. It had multiple personnel seeming to be working and typing in commands into it surrounded by a group of armed guards and in the centre sat a man who had to be their leader, watching the whole event unfold.
"Is that, Team Magma? How is that possible we stopped them years ago?" Ash asked himself.
Another blue light shoot out from the strange machine and hit Groudon. The legendary moaned momentarily before turning towards the ocean and continuing back along its original path.
"Those people up there, they must be the ones who summoned Groudon somehow and now they are controlling it." Ash told Pikachu who responded angrily.
"Whatever is going on here we have to put a stop it. Pikachu are you ready?" Ash asked.
Pikachu nodded sternly when Ash heard May's voice calling him from behind. He turned around to see her running towards him, her face full of worry.
"Ash what are you thinking?" May asked emotionally.
"Listen May some group of people are controlling Groudon over there, I don't know what they're planning but it can't be good." Ash told her. "We've got to get over there and do something ok." With that Ash turned around and began to walk when May's hand grabbed his wrist stopping him. Ash turned around and saw that May had her head dipped and her hand seemed to tremble.
"Please I don't want you to leave me." May uttered her voice almost inaudible with the sound of Groudon's footsteps in the background.
"I have to May." Ash told her.
"But why, why do you have to do this." May asked her trembling only increasing.
Ash looked past May at the overcome Groudon, its will, its power, its freedom taken away from it. To him there was no question of what he had to do.
"Because May, it's not just the fact that as a member of the Elite Four and keeper of the peace, or the fact that manipulation of any Pokémon like this is a crime." Ash told May as he moved in and placed both hands on her shoulders.
"It's the fact that there is a Pokémon that needs my help and will always give everything I have to help others. That is my ideology, the way I live and the very reason I came to find you in the first place." Ash spoke sombrely.
"Listen I want you to get to safety, run as far as you can away from here and I will take care of everything." Ash instructed May who still stared blankly at the ground.
"Don't worry I'll fix this and come find you straight away." Ash whispered and then lightly kissed her on the head.
Ash could tell she was scared and he didn't want to have her worry about him but what he wanted more was for her to be safe.
Pikachu knew that this was an important moment for the young couple but sensing the growing danger in the air had to get Ash moving, he jumped onto the ground and called out his name getting his trainers attention. Ash turned to Pikachu before giving May one last hug and let her go, running down the path so they could confront this new group.
"Deep down, I knew that would be your answer." May spoke softly.
"I'm sorry but I have to live by my ideologies as well." May spoke as she peered up and watched Ash and Pikachu run down the path.
"I know you won't forgive me, but my loyalty must belong to New Magma."
Ash didn't hear the sound of the Pokeball opening but what he did hear was Pikachu's cry of surprise. He turned around and saw Pikachu surrounded by a purple light and being lifted up into the air.
"A Psychic attack, but who's using it?" Ash gasped.
His eyes darted around looking for the trainer or the Pokémon that was attacking them but was unable to locate anyone. Pikachu called out again and Ash saw him being pulled back along the path they had just come from. Then he saw May, standing there with an almost haunting gaze on her face. Beside her was her Mismagius floating in the air and its eyes aglow slowly pulling Pikachu towards them.
"May w-what are you doing?" Ash called out, completely dumfounded as to why all this was happening.
"I'm sorry Ash." May spoke with a mix of significance and regret in her voice that almost sounded like it was weighing her down.
"But this is and always has been, my mission."
So that everyone knows I have made Groudon a lot larger than he is depicted in the anime or the games as he's only meant to be 3.5m high, so relatively speaking not as big as you might have first thought. I just think Groudon is so intimidating in appearance that he should be closer in size to the large dinosaurs he's based off, if not a bit larger. Also don't expect me to dive too deep into Primal Evolution, I'm going with the law given to me from the Advanced season in the anime not the games and most likely not with that new sub series about Mega Evolution from the X and Y series. Though I've got to admit those episodes are fantastic. Till next time everyone!