Life is a lot quieter than it was for the second half of last year, but putting the words together for this chapter was proving to be difficult. I do expect things to get going soon, but for now it's going to take a while. I added an elemental fang to Maxie's Mightyena, just to make the battle more interesting. I'll likely do the same with Archie's Mightyena, later on in the story. Quick note here, make sure you pay attention to nicknames for Chris's Pokémon.

Eruption Prevented

Slowly regaining his senses, Chris came to the realization that he could see his own breath right as he felt his body start to shiver. Almost like stepping into a time machine, he was back in the same snowy terrain of the day his childhood died. The slow, creeping realization of this was nearly enough to make him break down, something only kept at bay by the sound of a faintly familiar voice in the distance. As many factors as he should be prioritizing, the voice was dominating his attention and had completely taken it over once it called his name, the same way he had always loved to hear his name called. That's when it hit him; he knew this voice. "Danielle?"

The cold air shivering his body to the bone was a challenging hinderance to his body's movement on its own, not at all aided by the snow coated landscape only getting higher. Yet hearing her voice again after so long... Chris had all he needed to fight through this hardship. As close as his arms were to his body, doing anything he could with them to warm up he moved through the snow. Every few seconds Danielle's voice would call out, becoming just a little bit clearer every time. Finally, the sweet sound Chris had grown to love so much as a child rang through his ears for the first time in many years. "Chris?" Danielle called out to him in that same sweet tone he had grown so accustomed to in his adolescence.

As comforting of a feeling as this created in Chris, that comforting feeling was quickly done away with after she called his name a second time. This tone wasn't a sweet one, it was one of pure panic. Chris got himself moving again, this time managing to completely fight through the shivers of his body. As he fought his way through the rough terrain, he realized that his body was starting to reverse its aging process the closer he got to the source of Danielle's voice. By the time he had reached his destination, he was the same young child who had witnessed his parent's death at this devastated research site.

But this time, the only person standing at the site was Danielle. Although it was easy to recognize her voice, her face looked a bit blurry to Chris. But he could make out the smile that she had at seeing him, well enough to know that it was forced to mask her terror. Movement suddenly became a very easy thing for Chris, as he rushed out towards her. Then there was the roar. A roar that stopped him dead in his tracks. A glance behind Danielle showed Chris the fading body of the alien invader from that day. And behind Danielle, there was Rayquaza. Only this time, it wasn't done.

Danielle turned around to see it too, as it stared her down. Rayquaza opened its mouth, and a ball of unbridled energy began to form at its mouth. All Chris could do was watch on in horror, as the Hyper Beam was launched right at his childhood best friend.

With a sharp gasp, Chris's eyes shoot wide open as he awakens from his nightmare in a cold sweat, his breath reflecting his terror. He gazes at the digital clock across the hotel room from his bed indicating that the sun will rise in about an hour, as he sits up in the bed and feels his own face in his hands. Once he regained his breath, he pushed the covers off his body and grabbed his pack of cigarettes off the nightstand. His second story room had a small balcony outside the sliding glass door and was new enough of a hotel that he wasn't worried about the railing.

Chris lights and takes a puff of his cigarette, leaning against the railing with his head down as he blows out the smoke into the Mauville City air. The thought that he and Danielle had been trying to convince both his and her parents to let her come with them that summer was a guilt he had long suppressed, only for one dream to bring it right back to him. If they had actually brought her along for that expedition, would she have survived the aftermath of Rayquaza's battle with that alien lifeform? Maybe cooped up close to Chris while awaiting rescue, perhaps. But perhaps not. And Chris knew enough to know the guilt wouldn't be something he could live with.

Then he remembered Rayquaza's very face and clenched his fist tightly in anger. "I will hunt you down." He says silently. After finishing his cigarette, Chris steps back inside his room to down a cup of water, then fill his bottle with more water. Working out was something he began to do in the weeks leading up to his departure from Sinnoh, and an early morning run sounded like the perfect way to get his mind off his nightmare.

It wasn't a run with no destination, however. Chris ran straight over to the shop he had left his bike at for an oil change the day prior. They agreed to hold it for him since he was heading to Verdanturf. He made it into the building right after the owner of the shop, who gave him a nod and an "I'll be with you shortly." Chris nods, buying a bottle of water from the vending machine to pour into his own now empty bottle. "Harper, right?" The owner of the shop asks, the key to Chris's Harley dangling off his finger.

"That's right." Chris responds, as he steps up to the counter for any paperwork.

"Before I get you on your way," the owner starts. "Would I be correct in assuming that you're a trainer? Because I have some tires that are more than capable of getting your bike through the deserts of Route 111. I imagine you'd like to do some training around there."

"I am a trainer, but I have different reasons for wanting to get through Route 111 than you might expect. I'll certainly take those tires if you're offering them."

"Already took the liberty of putting them on, actually."

"Good. I'm ready to pay now, need to get back to the hotel asap."

"I've also got some goggles that I sell for bikers heading through Route 111. They'll keep your eyes safe from the harsh sandstorms that are a daily occurrence out there."

"I appreciate you looking out, boss. But I've been at this long enough to be prepared for that type of situation already."

"Alright, as long as your certain." With that, the shop owner accepted Chris's payment, and his Harley was ready to go. He would smoke cigarette number two for the day, as he waited for the shift change at the hotel. Once he was checked out, it was time to trudge forward to Fallarbor Town. To Professor Cozmo.

The beaten path outside Mauville was a short trek at best, which did little to shed light on just how rough Route 111 was. Even with his goggles also making things easier to see through, it took Chris over two hours to make his way out to the other side of this desert. Along the way, he was barely able to make out a small green creature with a massive cranium, that he could recognize as a Pokémon. This Pokémon was struggling through some sort of pain, and even if he decided not to keep it, Chris couldn't bare to leave it to its suffering. He threw a spare Poké Ball at the injured little creature, and stayed behind to watch the ball flash after a successful capture. Since he already had six Pokémon with him, Chris watched the ball electronically disappear, no doubt returning to Professor Rowan's lab back in Sinnoh. He'd check in on the little fella once he was at Fallarbor's Pokémon Center.

Route 113 was what was between Chris and Fallarbor town, after he finally made it through the desert. It certainly wasn't as rugged as Route 111, but it was probably no less dirty here than it was in the desert. The ashes from the nearby volcano rained down constantly, despite no eruption having taken place in Hoenn in millennia. Yet it seemed like Fallarbor town was safe from this fate.

Parking his bike outside of the Pokémon Center, Chris immediately got on the console to place a call back to Professor Rowan's lab. Rowan himself ended up being the one to answer the phone, much to Chris's delight. "Ah, mister Harper." Rowan greets Chris, with his signature authoritative, yet kind demeanor. "How goes your excursion through the Hoenn Region?"

"I think I'm doing well so far." Chris starts, immediately set at ease after seeing his mentor again. "I'm currently in Fallarbor Town, looking for a man called Professor Cozmo. Would you happen to be familiar with him?"

"I have heard his name mentioned by an old colleague of mine, but have never met the man personally. Even so, when you do meet him, give him my regards."

"I'll be sure to, Professor. May I ask about the Pokémon I captured earlier this morning?"

"Yes, we've received the little one. You've captured yourself an... abnormally colored Trapinch. They are usually a shade of an orangish-brown, but this one seems to an emerald shade of green. I believe this is an example of the shiny Pokémon phenomena."

"Interesting. Is it holding up well from its injuries."

"SHE is, Chris. This is a female Trapinch."

"Understood. Keep me updated about how she's healing. I'd like to bring her with me once the injuries have fully healed."

"I will do so. It should be getting close to lunch time over there as well, so I'd say you could probably catch Professor Cozmo while he's not too busy, if you get going now."

"That's the plan. I'll talk to you again soon, Professor." Chris cuts the call, then takes the briefest of moments to think about his next move. When he takes a look at the Nurse Joy typing away on her computer behind the front desk, he realizes it wouldn't be the worst idea in the world to get his team a checkup. After the usual greeting from a Nurse Joy, she takes Chris's Pokémon onto a trey to bring them out back. She returns at Chris's request after he hands his Poké Balls to one of her coworkers. "You been working in this town for a long time now?"

"About five years." She says with a nod. "Is there something you came here looking for?"

"Someone. I'm looking for Professor Cozmo's lab."

"Oh you won't even need to get back on that bike of yours, sweetie. Professor Cozmo's lab is just a little walk down the opposite side of the street."

"Fantastic. Thank you, nurse."

"Your very welcome. By the time you come back, your team should be ready to go."

Chris nods, then takes a step outside of the Center. He waits patiently for the safe to walk sign, continuing down the sidewalk to Cozmo's lab. But what he finds at Cozmo's lab proves to be nothing short of was a break in, and it had to have happened mere minutes ago. A female assistant was outside of the lab, in pure panic. "Ma'am!" Chris calls out to the assistant, as he takes a step onto the property. "What's going on? Is Professor Cozmo here?"

"H-he was taken!" She responds, clearly shaken up by the whole ordeal. "Team Magma grunts!"

"Magma?" Disbelief sets in quickly for Chris. Despite remembering full well when Looker had informed him of both Aqua and Magma's similarities to Team Galactic from a threat standpoint, what little he had learned of both groups had him believing that Team Magma could be unconventional allies had the situation become to big to ignore. Now it seemed that it may have been wishful thinking all this time. "Which way did they go?"

"The-they went off towards Meteor Falls. The authorities, I... I don't know if they can save him in time, or not!"

"Then it's a good thing I need him. Sit tight, and I'll have him back before you know it."

She expresses her gratitude to Chris, who is already dashing back to the Pokémon Center. Fortunately, the traffic in Fallarbor Town was minimal, as Chris was unable to keep from throwing caution to the wind entirely. Professor Cozmo was his only lead at this point in time, and surely he had more information that could point Chris in the right direction, if not lead him to Rayquaza outright. He moves as swiftly back up to the front desk as building security will allow him to. "Nurse Joy, is my team all ready to go?"

Clearly surprised to see him back so quickly, the Nurse Joy stutters for a moment before she can respond to Chris. "Well as of now, checkups have only been completed on your Swampert and Electivire."

That was more than enough for any trouble Magma grunts could throw Chris's way. "That'll do nicely. Team Magma grunts have kidnapped Professor Cozmo, and I need to go!"

"Say no more!" She responds, before quickly going to the back to retrieve the two Poké Balls. "I know you don't need to be told this," She starts, as she hands Chris his two best Pokémon. "But please hurry!"

Chris simply nods, then gets back outside the Pokémon Center. Almost forgetting to put his helmet on, Chris kickstarts his Harley, gunning the engine down towards Route 114. Unlike the prior two routes he had traversed, this one was completely unaffected by Mt. Chimney. Clean rivers, beautiful scenery. All of it being things Chris would absolutely love to breathe in, were it not for his rather pressing situation. Meteor Falls was never far outside of his line of sight, yet he sped down the beaten path all the same. The terrain of Meteor Falls also proved to be another fine example of Chris's excellent choice of motorcycle.

Now inside the caverns of Meteor Falls, Chris didn't need to look far. The Team Magma grunts did the searching for him, mobilizing to try to ward him off. With not even a hint of fear, Chris revved his engine before going full speed ahead towards the grunts. Once they realized he wasn't playing around, they dived out of his way. One of them ended up right in the water. And sure enough, there was three more standing right by a man that had to be Professor Cozmo. The man was frightened in to total silence, and Chris could only assume that his kidnapping would traumatize him for quite some time.

Before the two grunts could respond to Chris's sudden arrival, his Swampert and Electivire were back out in the open. The sight of two mighty battlers had the Team Magma grunts thinking twice before trying to run Chris off. He could see one of the grunts carrying some sort of large stone in his arm, but couldn't make it out beyond that. Finally, the lead grunt regained his composure. "I don't know who you are, but if you get in the way of Team Magma, don't expect any mercy!"

The grunt goes to pull of a Poké Ball, but then another voice calls out to the grunt. "Hold it right there, Team Magma!" This voice was familiar to Chris. It was none other than Archie, the leader of the rival Team Aqua. "You're badly mistaken if you think you can have your way with the world!" Flanked by two grunts of his own, Archie walks down the Magma grunts.

The Magma grunt than starts cackling like a moron. "Even Team Aqua joins us! But it's too much trouble to deal with you all. We've got the meteorite, so off to Mt. Chimney we go! Be seeing you, Team Aqua dingbats!" To Chris's utter bewilderment, the grunt drops an actual smoke bomb onto the floor, which gives them their avenue of escape. They manage to rush past him, and even the grunt that had dived into the water had made it out of Meteor Falls.

As the smoke clears, Archie approaches Chris. "Didn't I see you before, kid?" He starts. "At Slateport's museum?"

Pushing away the cloud of smoke with his hand, Chris makes his introduction after he stops coughing. "Yes. My name is Chris Harper."

"Back at the museum, I thought you were one of Team Magma's goons. But your barely even a man by the look of you."

Chris nods, still weary of the boss of Team Aqua. "I only just turned nineteen recently."

"I figured as much. You're one odd kid." Chris was about to clarify a bit more, but Archie kept going. "Listen, Team Magma is a dangerous group of total fanatics." Chris bit his tongue at Archie's observation, as his group was hardly any better. "They engage in destruction, claiming to expand the land mass. They are our rivals, the sea-loving Team Aqua!"

His two grunts step up next to Archie. "Boss, we should give chase to Team Magma." One states.

"Yes, yes, we must! We've got to hurry. There's no telling what Team Magma will do at Mt. Chimney!" Archie then turns his attention back to Chris. "Chris, you should keep an eye out for Team Magma, too. Farewell!" Archie and his grunts run off in the same direction as Magma, and all Chris could think was why none of these people ever seem to have vehicles ready.

But now his priority was unattended, and he needed to check up on him. Chris shuts off his Harley, recalls his two Pokémon, then dismounts to go check on poor Professor Cozmo. "Cozmo? A certain Captain friend of ours sent me."

"Y-yes. He said to expect you. Chris Harper?"

"That's right Professor. And before I forget, Professor Rowan sends his regards."

"I... I've never met Professor Rowan."

"I have. It was his request when I spoke to him earlier this morning. Are you injured at all?"

"N-no. Team Magma simply wanted me to guide them to Meteor Falls. But it was all a trick. They took away my meteorite. And then that Team Aqua showed up as well!"

"I was here Professor. I saw it all for myself. What's so important about the meteorite to Team Magma?"

"I... I don't know. I don't understand any of it. But that Team Magma... Mt. Chimney. What?"

"Whatever it is Professor, I'll look into it for you. I have just one simple favor to ask in return. I want you to return to your lab, and send me any information you have about the legendary Pokémon Rayquaza."

"Rayquaza? But... why?"

"My reasons are my own, Cozmo. It is all I ask."

"Very well.."

"Come on, I'll give you a ride back." Both men mounting Chris's motorcycle, he follows his own rule, and allows the Professor to wear his helmet while he takes them both back to Fallarbor Town. Once he's at the lab, Chris exchanges numbers with the professor, and then blasts his way back towards Mt. Chimney. He could remember from the brief glance he took on his way to Route 111, seeing a cable car setup that seemed to go up to the top of the mountain, and his map indicated that there was a shortcut through the Fiery Path. It would seem as though he was done riding through caves today after all.

Had he not glanced at the Pokémon Center as he was rolling back through Fallarbor, he would have left his other four Pokémon behind. As much of a hurry as he was in, Chris managed to keep wherewithal to at least act like there was nothing afoot. Nurse Joy remained none the wiser about the fact that Team Magma was plotting something with an active volcano, as Chris retrieved the rest of his Pokémon. Instead, she simply happy to learn that Professor Cozmo was safe and sound.

However for Chris, there was no more time to waste. He was back on the Harley inside of five minutes, racing towards the Fiery Path. The inside of that shortcut was as hot as its name would suggest, but the short time spent inside made it easy to deal with the temperature. There wasn't going to be enough room for his Harley in one of the cable cars, but that's what parking lots were for. The problem came in the people operating the cable cars initially refusing to allow Chris to go. They were telling him that Team Magma and Aqua had overrun the top of the mountain, and were fighting. They changed their tone when Chris said that that was why he wanted to go up, and that they could only legally discourage him from going up unless law enforcement became involved. Before long, he was on his way up.

The employees of the cable car service weren't lying. Grunts from both sides of the feud were battling each other with Poochyenas. None of them seemed to notice Chris as he made his way through it all, only thinking at the time to keep an eye out for Archie. He found the Aqua boss holding off three Magma Grunts and their Poochyenas, with his own Mightyena. While he was outnumbered, Archie remained none too pleased to see Chris enter the scene. "Griffin!" He says with a growl, still not certain what to think of the boy. "I should've guessed you'd show up!" He extends an arm out to both the three grunts holding him right where he stands, and to the rest of the scene around them, with Team Aqua grunts fighting to foil Team Magma's plan. "See for yourself what the fanatics of Team Magma are up to! They're trying to inject the stolen meteorite's power into the volcano! Doing something like that will cause the volcano's eruption!"

"Then I'll stop them." Chris responds, moving further into the depths of the volcano. If Archie tried to call after Chris, the young trainer did not hear a word of what he said. There were too many towns, with too many people to not act right now. At the mouth of the volcano, Chris could see a lanky man standing by some kind of device. He could just barely make out the meteorite sitting securely into the device, and it was enough of a clue for Chris to assume that this man had to be Team Magma's boss. One single grunt stood between Chris, and the big boss of the organization. His back was turned, and Chris brought his knee into the back of the grunts knee. Dropping to the ground from the forceful pressure that may very well have broken his knee, the grunt soon found himself in a chokehold with no escape. Chris slowly lowered his head to the ground, as the grunt slumped down to sleep.

Chris's intention was to do the same to the Magma boss, but unfortunately for him the man in question turned around. A Poké Ball was now active in his hand as he spoke. "And who might you be?" He asked.

"Someone intending to stop you." Chris responds, activating a Poké Ball of his own.

The man cackles without even opening his mouth. "I had heard Archie bemoaning a child who's been meddling in Team Aqua's affairs. It must be you he meant." The man scoffs. "So you're thinking of interfering with us, Team Magma? Now you listen. Long ago, living things used the land to live and grow. That is why land is all important! It is the cradle of all!"

"And the ocean, having twice the amount of Pokémon living in its depths as there are here on the land?"

"Seems you'll never understand. Maybe you should join Team Aqua, for the brief time we will allow them to continue on. We are dedicated to the expansion of the land mass. It is for further advancement of humankind and Pokémon! And for that, we need the power of what sleeps within this mountain." The boss then stops himself. "There was no need for you to learn that much. It is of no consequence. Once I defeat you in battle here, in the lava you will go!"

Both men launch their respective Poké Balls into the air, and a Mightyena and Breloom stand across from each other. A frightened expression paints the Breloom's face, as the opposing Mightyena snarls at her. But she has the backing of her trainer, who knows her advantages in this battle. "Hitmontree, use Mach Punch!" Chris's Breloom cocked her fist, then launched herself at a high velocity right at the Magma boss's Mightyena.

"A good first move will not save you, child! Mightyena, use Fire Fang!" Embers drip from the opposing Mightyena's mouth, as it dashes forward to chomp down for an intensely hot blow on Hitmontree. The partial fire-type Breloom eats a super-effective hit, but quickly sends her opponent back in front of its trainer.

"We're made of much more. Hitmontree Mega Drain!" Chris's Breloom's fists start to glow with a grassy green energy, and she extends them out to wrap around the highly damaged Mightyena. The Bite Pokémon has what little energy it has left drained to heal Hitmontree, before it collapses to the ground in defeat.

"No matter." The Magma boss states stoically, before recalling his fallen Mightyena. "I have more than enough firepower, and fortitude to topple you." He activates his second Poké Ball, throws out the firepower in the form of a Golbat. Now at a four times disadvantage, Chris can see the unsettlingly confident smile creep on the Magma boss's face.

"Leech Seed!" Chris calls out, refocusing himself from that smile as he realizes he needs to win this battle fast. Hitmontree may go down, but the vines that burst forth from the seeds flying Golbat's way. Wrapped up in the vines, energy would be sapped away from the Magma boss's Golbat as time progressed and would be used to keep Chris's Pokémon in the battle bit by bit. Though this would do nothing for his current massive disadvantage.

But the Magma boss was determined to play with his food. "Golbat, Supersonic!" A strange soundwave went teetering towards Hitmontree, and she could not avoid it in time. Suddenly, she was seeing double in total confusion.

This was still only difficult however, not impossible. "Come on girl!" Chris called out to his Breloom. "Fight through it and use Headbutt!" She heard the command, but confusion had Hitmontree headbutting the ground rather than the Magma boss's Golbat.

"It is over for this one, boy. Golbat, Wing Attack!" His Golbat swooped down with its wings outstretched, dealing the final blow to Chris's Breloom. As quickly as he was ahead in the battle, it was now an even playing field once again. "Your early advantage means nothing, child."

Chris refuses to respond, silently recalling his fallen Breloom. "Freya," he starts, a second Poké Ball already active. "Your time!" He sends out his Psychic/Fairy-type Pokémon to face down the massive Golbat. Not even an ounce of fear in her eyes, Chris's Kirlia maneuvers around gracefully on the battlefield. Knowing full well the risk his first move would take, Chris goes for it regardless. "Freya, Calm Mind!" Her very essence could be felt solidifying itself, as Freya centered herself in the moment. The power built up should be sufficient to deal with the Team Magma boss's part poison-type Golbat.

Assuming Freya survived the confusion. "Golbat, Supersonic!" Still going for the same strategy as before, Golbat emits an odd sound wave right at Freya. Chris's Kirlia is so focused on building up her power, that she only notices the sound wave when it hits her.

Powered up but confused, Kirlia begins to lose her balance. As dire as the situation was, Chris knew it was now or never. "Fight through it, Freya! I know you can! Use Confusion!" Despite stumbling, Freya retains her focus enough to fire off a telekinetic force at Golbat for a huge hit.

The unexpected comes next however, as the Magma boss recalls his Golbat without warning. "I think it is time I force you to realize how outmatched you are." Activating a third Poké Ball, Magma boss throws out the fortitude of his arsenal. Out comes a mighty Camerupt, very clearly with enough bulk to shrug off a meager psychic attack. "Surrender, and we shall hasten your demise boy."

Chris looks at him cross, as he quietly recalls his Kirlia. It was time to take the inhibitors off. "You overestimate yourself." He activates his best Poké Ball. "Trainers won't be what outmatches me in Hoenn. Hawke, let's wrap this up!" Chris's partner takes the field, outstretching his body while letting out his battle cry. The ground shook by his very presence, and now it was Camerupt at a brutal disadvantage. "Let me show you how I almost became champion in Sinnoh, sir! Hawke, use Waterfall!" Chris's Swampert has his inner water essence dripping from his body, as he charges right at Camerupt. The hulking Eruption Pokémon, so clearly a Fire-type even without looking it up in the Pokédex. But unaware of the secondary Ground-typing, Chris didn't expect the behemoth to slam down hard into the ground.

Whatever confidence the Team Magma boss may have tried to hang on to, it was all gone once his best Pokémon went down. "Maxie!" A grunt suddenly called the boss on his radio, unintentionally allowing Chris to learn his name. "We're out of time! The police are nearly here, we have to leave!"

"Damn you, child!" Maxie snaps, before quickly regaining his composure. "But, enough. We shall retreat this time. And I shall be better prepared for you!" A helicopter soon drops down a ladder for Maxie to make his departure. "Do not think you've seen the last of Team Magma, Chris Harper!" He yells out, as the chopper quickly flies away from the scene with him dangling down from it.

Just when he expects Team Aqua to leave, Archie joins him by the machine. "Chris! Thank you!" The Team Aqua boss starts, as Chris stares at the meteorite still inside the machine. "With your help, we thwarted Team Magma's destructive plan! But... whose side are you on?"

"Mine." Chris starts, as he manages to pull the meteorite from the machine. "I need this to get information from Professor Cozmo, for my own goals. I have an Electivire ready to take you on, if you have any objections."

"Not a one." Archie responds, before crossing his arms at Chris. "I hope you realize that with your own inherently selfish goals, you hardly have any right to judge us."

"Maybe. Maybe not. For now, I say we give each other a wide berth."

"Fair enough. We will remain vigilant, and keep up our pursuit of Team Magma. But know this: I already know it is inevitable that we shall meet again."

"Like I said. Maybe. Maybe not." Chris says, walking past Archie and his grunts as he secures the meteorite in his bag. Knowing that the journey down the volcano will be as physically demanding as the one up it, he simply shoots Professor Cozmo a text, rather than calling him. It was now likely time for a long, and hopefully enlightening conversation with the Professor about a certain legendary Pokémon.