Chapter 320: Beginning of the End (1)
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Lilycover City – Team Aqua's Destroyed Base]
Deep beneath a roiling sky, in what remained of Team Aqua's coastal headquarters, the air was thick with the scent of ozone and brine. The cavernous chamber, once a bustling hub, was now a skeletal ruin, its steel beams twisted like discarded ribbons, its concrete walls gouged and cracked.
Water, an ironic constant in this place, cascaded from the shattered ceiling, forming glittering curtains around the central pool. Yet, despite the devastation, a current of grim satisfaction pulsed through the space.
Archie, the formidable leader of Team Aqua, stood on a makeshift platform above the swirling water, his back to the wreckage. His eyes, typically alight with a fervent zeal, now held a disconcerting calm as they surveyed the rising ocean levels visible through a massive, reinforced window. The world outside was a canvas of gray, the sea swelling to consume the land, and in Archie's mind, it was a masterpiece.
He mused, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that echoed in the cavern, "Yes… The Hoenn region begins to flood exactly as planned. The increase in the sea's energy has caused the ocean levels to rise. A new era, a new world... cleansed by the primordial waters."
He clenched a gloved fist as he continued fanatically in a determined voice, "Soon, the land-dwellers will understand the true power of the sea, the boundless vitality of its embrace!"
*HUM*
A deep hum vibrated through the water, growing steadily louder. From the depths of the central pool, an object of immense size and foreboding design began to ascend. Its metallic hull, a deep, earthy red, bore the insignia of Team Magma.
This was no ordinary vessel; this was the Submarine Explorer 1, a marvel of engineering, a submersible built for the deepest, most crushing pressures of the ocean floor. As it surfaced, water sluicing off its hardened shell, a hatch hissed open.
*HISSS*
Out stepped Maxie, his sharp features etched with a rare blend of urgency and a lingering frustration. Behind him, Tabitha looked equally harried.
Maxie began, his voice surprisingly subdued for a man of his usual fiery temperament, "My apologies, Archie. Navigating the compromised infrastructure of our Jagged Pass base was... challenging. Your friend, Azure, left quite the mess."
Archie merely grunted, a flicker of irritation crossing his face at the mention of the Kanto Trainer. He chose not to dignify Maxie's comment with a response, his gaze already fixed on the next figures emerging from the submarine.
Matt, normally an imposing figure, was a shadow of himself. His massive frame was slumped, one arm thrown over Amber's shoulders for support, his face pale and bruised beneath his bandana. His eyes, usually gleaming with fierce loyalty, were clouded with pain, yet a spark of their old ambition still flickered.
Matt croaked, a weak grin stretching his lips, "It's great, Archie, isn't it? We'll finally be traveling to the bottom of the sea. The source of it all! That legendary Pokémon will be ours!"
*Pop*
Before Amber could fully help him off the submarine's ramp, a shadow fell over them. Archie's Walrein, a colossal beast of ice and water, its tusks gleaming, materialized beside its master. With a guttural roar that made the cavern tremble, Walrein surged forward, lashing out with a massive fin, "WALL!"
*SMACK*
It struck Matt with sickening force, smacking him clean off Amber's support, sending him sprawling onto the wet, unforgiving metal floor. His pained grunt was swallowed by the cavern's echo, and he lay there, gasping, a fresh wave of agony coursing through his injured body, being attacked.
Amber cried out, a hand flying to his mouth. A stunned silence descended upon the hideout. Maxie and Tabitha, who had been observing the scene with a mixture of impatience and professional courtesy, now looked genuinely surprised, their faces betraying a shock at Archie's sudden, brutal act.
*Tmp*
Archie stepped forward, his boots clicking purposefully on the metal. He looked down at the writhing Matt, his expression devoid of pity. He spat, his voice laced with venom, "Fool. Did you truly think your pathetic failure would go unpunished?"
Matt pushed himself up onto an elbow, his eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and dawning horror as he muttered, "What… wh-hat are you talking about, Archie?"
Archie boomed, the name hanging heavy in the air as he roared in outrage, "Mt. Chimney! You and your bumbling incompetence! That Kanto-bred child, Azure, along with that insufferable girl from Petalburg and the Gym Leader of Lavaridge Town... they thwarted our plans, Matt! They stopped us because of your weakness! Because of your failure, our entire operation was set back!"
Matt flinched, the humiliation of that defeat still raw. He remembered the unyielding glint in Azure's eyes, the ferocious power of Sapphire's Pokémon, the scorching heat of Flannery's assault.
Archie continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "And now, because of your monumental screw-up, you will not be joining us. This journey into the depths is far too important to be entrusted to a proven failure."
He turned his gaze to Amber as he added on in a harsh voice, glaring at Matt, "You, on the other hand, Amber, have shown unwavering loyalty, even to this… waste of a grunt. You will accompany us."
Amber, stunned and pale, looked from the injured Matt to the implacable Archie. He nodded slowly, his expression grim.
Matt, lying on the floor, watched him, a wounded roar tearing from his heart as he looked down, defeated with gritted teeth. Archie said with a cruel smirk, twisting his lips as he gestured to Walrein, "Ensure he's… adequately secured. He won't be interfering with our progress."
Walrein let out another low growl, moving to block Matt's path. Matt tried to push himself up, but his injuries, combined with the sheer size of the Pokémon, rendered him helpless against it. His anguished cries faded as he was dragged away, presumably to be restrained. Maxie and Tabitha exchanged a look that spoke volumes.
The alliance between their teams was purely strategic, forged by mutual threats and a converging need for the legendary Pokémon. But Archie's brutality, his willingness to discard his own, sent a chilling message.
It was a stark reminder of the dangerous fanaticism that burned within the man, a fanaticism that Maxie, for all his own intensity, found disturbing. Maxie remarked, his voice dry, masking his discomfort, "A rather… efficient way of dealing with insubordination, Archie…"
Archie simply turned back towards the submarine as he stated, "Time is of the essence, Maxie. Let us complete our preparations."
Nodding, Maxie led his team forward. The Submarine Explorer 1, though mostly complete, needed its final component. From a specially secured compartment within the submarine, Tabitha carefully extracted a glowing, pulsing component – the "heart" of the vessel.
It wasn't merely a power source; it hummed with an ancient energy, a relic that resonated with the very legends they sought to uncover. They guided it into a waiting slot in the submarine's massive hull, and as it locked into place, the entire vessel thrummed with heightened power.
*THRUM*
Archie commanded, his voice regaining its focused intensity, "Activate the protocols!"
*CLICK*
The submarine's internal lights flickered, then stabilized, casting an eerie glow on the faces within. The roar of its mighty engine began to resonate, shaking the very foundations of the ruined hideout.
Maxie stated in a serious voice, his gaze fixed on the rising water levels, "We would have prepared more extensively, but thanks to our mutual enemy, Azure, destroying our bases at Lilycove and Jagged Pass, we were forced to rush this deployment. The Hoenn Pokémon League might launch an attack against us at any moment, now that our activities are so… overt."
Archie nodded grimly, understanding the situation as he stated bluntly, "A necessary risk. The legends, the power… they will be worth it."
*SHUDER*
With a final, tremor-inducing shudder, the Submarine Explorer 1's outer doors sealed with a metallic thud. The engines roared, a deep-sea leviathan awakening. Amber, now positioned at a console, cast a last, regretful glance at the spot where Matt had fallen before turning his attention to the controls.
Under the combined command of Archie and Maxie, the powerful submersible began its descent, plunging into the dark, churning waters. The ancient legends of Hoenn, the primordial powers of land and sea, lie at the bottom of the world, waiting.
And the villains of Team Aqua and Team Magma, an unlikely and uneasy alliance, were rushing headlong towards them, leaving behind a flooded region and a trail of Azure's destruction, heedless of the consequences.
The storm, it seemed, was only just beginning. Unaware that a figure was following them with a hint of disdain on his face, over his breast pocket revealed a Key Stone and the insignia of 'R' over it.
/////
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Fortree City – Gym]
Far above, in the verdant embrace of Fortree City, a starkly different scene was unfolding within the airy, open-concept Fortree Gym. The meeting room, rarely used for such a grand congregation, buzzed with a tense, expectant energy.
Wattson, the jolly Electric-type specialist from Mauville, fidgeted with his spectacles, a rare crease of worry on his usually cheerful face. Norman, Petalburg's Normal-type master and a pillar of stern resolve, sat beside him, his gaze fixed on the entrance. Flannery, Lavaridge's fiery Gym Leader, tapped an impatient rhythm on the polished wooden table, a flicker of genuine concern in her eyes, a stark contrast to her usual boisterous energy.
Wallace, the elegant Water-type specialist and current Water Type Gym Leader, exuded an aura of calm, but even his usually serene expression was subtly tightened. Roxanne, the diligent Rock-type leader of Rustboro, meticulously arranged a stack of papers, her brow furrowed in deep thought.
Brawly, Dewford's fighting Gym Leader, sat cross-legged on the floor, his usual boisterous energy subdued, his hands resting on his knees in a posture of unusual focus. They waited patiently for Winona, the Fortree Gym Leader herself, and Azure.
The air was thick with unspoken questions, the gravity of the situation a palpable weight. Whispers had circulated about rapidly rising water levels, unusual seismic activity, and the unsettling silence from Team Magma and Aqua since Azure's assaults on their bases.
Currently, Azure was receiving a rather thorough "scolding" from Winona for 'borrowing' her Gym without explicit consent – not to mention the considerable damages incurred during a particularly spirited battle between her protégé, Sapphire, and Ruby.
Indeed, Sapphire and Ruby were present, seated conspicuously next to each other. Their recent, fiercely competitive battle had ended in a draw, a testament to their growth, but also a reflection of the deep-seated rivalry and complex history that bound them.
Now, having put aside their personal contest, they sat in a rare moment of quiet anticipation, their usual bickering replaced by a shared, uneasy glance. Sapphire, ever the wild child, had donned a slightly cleaner version of her usual ensemble, while Ruby, still immaculate despite the perils of his journey, seemed unusually subdued, his gaze darting to the entrance every few seconds.
The wait stretched, the tension coiling tighter with each passing minute. Then, the rhythmic swish of Winona's cape announced their arrival.
*Swooosh*
*Thud*
She entered first, her usually graceful stride purposeful and quick. Behind her, Azure followed, his familiar easy confidence somewhat muted.
But it wasn't their composure that drew the collective gasp from the assembled Gym Leaders. It was the two figures Azure and Winona were practically supporting: Tate and Liza, the Psychic-type Gym Leaders of Mossdeep City.
The twin prodigies, usually so composed and brimming with youthful energy, looked utterly drained. Their faces were pale, their eyes shadowed, and their usually immaculate blue uniforms were rumpled and smudged with dirt.
Liza's hand twitched, as if still reaching for a Pokémon that wasn't there, while Tate leaned heavily on Azure, his eyes half-lidded. They looked utterly exhausted, as if they'd run a marathon, and then fought a war, all at once.
Flannery exclaimed, leaping to her feet, her chair scraping loudly across the floor, "Tate! Liza! What in the world happened?"
Wattson added, his jollity completely gone, "Are you two alright?"
Winona gently eased Tate and Liza into two vacant chairs; her gaze, however, remained fixed on Azure. It was a look that conveyed a world of unspoken communication – a weary exasperation mixed with grudging respect, and perhaps, a hint of 'I told you so' about Azure's unusual methods.
Azure sighed, running a hand through his slightly disheveled hair. He gestured to the twins, who were already swaying in their seats, barely clinging to consciousness as he said bluntly, "Well, as you can see, they've had a rather…rough time of it. Winona and I tracked them down at Mt. Pyre. We suspected they might be involved, given the Orbs' connection to that location."
Norman inquired, his tone dry, knowing Azure's reputation for unconventional approaches, "And how, precisely, did you 'track them down'?"
Azure offered a small, apologetic shrug as he said calmly, "Gardevoir's Teleport is quite efficient for reconnaissance. We got there rather quickly. And it helped as I visited before traveling to Hoenn to get my 7th Gym Badge…"
He paused, a grim line forming on his lips as he continued solemnly, "What we found… was concerning. The twins were there, deep within the sacred grounds, but they were… battling nothing."
A ripple of confusion went through the room. Wallace echoed, his serene facade finally cracking, asked seriously, "Battling nothing? What do you mean, Azure?"
Azure confirmed, his voice now serious, all traces of his usual playful demeanor gone as he explained to them, "Exactly that. They were moving with incredible speed and precision, issuing commands to their Solrock and Lunatone, dodging phantom attacks, countering with powerful Psychic and Rock moves. Their Pokémon were clearly exhausted, but Tate and Liza were locked in an intense, seemingly invisible struggle. They were fighting air, but they were fighting it with every ounce of their being."
Ruby and Sapphire exchanged a look, a shared understanding dawning in their eyes, realizing it was either Team Aqua or Magma. Azure continued, his eyes hardening, "It could only mean one thing. They were battling illusions. And given our recent encounters, there's only one Admin who specializes in such tactics: Blaise of Team Magma."
The air in the room grew heavy. Blaise. The cunning, deceptive admin known for his mastery of psychological warfare and illusory Pokémon using fire.
The pieces began to click into place for the Gym Leaders. Azure explained as Winona helped the twins, "The second Winona and I appeared, our presence must have broken the illusion, or at least redirected it. They perceived us as the new threat. They turned their exhausted Pokémon on us, believing we were part of the deception."
He offered a self-deprecating chuckle, trying to keep an upbeat atmosphere, "Naturally, we managed to 'defeat' them rather easily, given their Pokémon were already utterly spent from fighting phantoms."
The room fell silent, save for the soft breathing of the exhausted twins. The Gym Leaders' expressions, already somber, now hardened with a chilling resolve.
This wasn't just about Team Magma and Aqua; this was a deeper, more insidious threat. Blaise's involvement suggested a level of psychological manipulation they hadn't anticipated.
Then, Liza, her voice a reedy whisper, barely audible, managed to speak, her eyes fluttering open, "They… they took them."
Tate, equally weak, nodded, leaning further into Winona's comforting hand, "The Orbs… the Blue Orb… and the Red Orb. They're gone."
The words struck the assembled Gym Leaders like a physical blow. A collective gasp, sharper and more horrified than any before, filled the room.
The Blue and Red Orbs. The ancient, sacred artifacts of Hoenn, said to hold the power to control the primordial deities, Kyogre and Groudon. Key items, indeed. Without them, the legendary Pokémon would be uncontrollable, their power unchained.
Tate and Liza, their shame evident on their pale faces, leaned heavily on Winona and Azure, their bodies trembling from the sheer exhaustion of battling phantoms, of being so utterly, completely tricked. The humiliation of their defeat, not by strength, but by cunning and deception, was almost as heavy as their physical fatigue.
The implications hung in the air, cold and stark. Team Magma and Aqua, despite Azure's relentless efforts to cripple them, had not only managed to activate their grand designs, but they had also stolen the very instruments needed to control the cataclysmic forces they sought to command.
While the combined forces of Team Magma and Aqua plunged into the depths, their plans accelerated by Azure's destruction of their bases, the Hoenn Pokémon League was now acutely aware of the scale of the impending disaster. The world was beginning to flood, the ancient powers were stirring, and the keys to their control were now in the hands of those who would unleash them.
The quiet, weary Gym Leaders knew, with a chilling certainty, that Hoenn was on the precipice of an unimaginable crisis. The true battle had just begun.
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 200 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!