Pokémon PrismGold

Chapter Forty-Six: "Given The Shaft"

Mark scoffed as he reached back to take Sean's wrist. Pulling him closer to them, he blurted out to Nate. "Gee, can't imagine why no one would want to visit." Nate chuckled, leading them carefully down the tunnel as he replied in a light tone. "Ya. Well, they aren't the type to welcome visitors." The sharp sound of hammers beating on metal with the hiss of steamed water was making Mark anxious. This place felt like a torture chamber. Nate turned down into a side tunnel. Where a burly man covered in oil and sweat, yelled out to people farther down the chamber. "Hurry up with those bars!" Starting up the tunnel, a man grabbed the reins of a large horse to help pull it up and Mark recognized its type from Alola. The horse was impressive enough normally but this one looked much more muscular than normal. The large brown horse had huge hooves that were cased in thick red clay up to its knees. Its long black mane was wrapped into dreadlocks to keep it out of its way and its bangs were cut into a mohawk style to reveal its big stony glare.

A Mudsdale. The horse was harnessed to a large cart that was hauling at least ten tons worth of solid shiny metal bars. The Mudsdale's heavy hooves dug into the muddy floor, shaking its head as it snorted and pulled the load up the slight incline of the tunnel. The burly man tugged on the Mudsdale's bridle, yelling out phrases to encourage it to keep moving. Mark could see the sweat dripping off the Mudsdale, but it obeyed without hesitation. As they drew closer, the burly man yelled out angrily to them. "Out of the way!" Mark pushed Sean back against the tunnel as the Mudsdale trudged passed them. The task looked torturous even for a Mudsdale that could usually haul ten tons without issue. Nate tugged on Mark's arm to keep him going and Mark reluctantly followed. Just as the Mudsdale reached the top of the tunnel, another large man began leading his Mudsdale into the tunnel next. Reaching the room below, Mark gawked at the place. There was a line of men with Mudsdale's attached to carts that were being loaded with metal bars.

The men loading the bars were getting them from caged Melmetals and Meltans. By the cages, Team Rocket members were monitoring them to keep them docile and forcing them to create more bars of metal of a certain size and shape. Whenever one refused, the Team Rocket member pressed a button that exposed the pokemon to blowtorches. Since fire seemed to be the only thing it was afraid of. Mark tensed in disgust. He couldn't believe that Valor was allowing Team Rocket to do this! Walking around the masses of people were Valor's Rangers. Unlike other Rangers that he'd seen, Valor Rangers wore clothes made from thick black leather with bright red patches with Moltres on them. Their faces couldn't be seen beneath their protective gas masks and bright red hard hats. The Valor Rangers barked orders and scolded others that were doing the tiniest things wrong. Nate slowed to look around, uttering out. "They've changed since the last time I was here... What the hell is going on?" Mark swallowed, answering uneasily. "War."

Sean shook his head, asking softly. "Why...? What did we ever do to them?" Mark looked Sean in the eyes, answering with a saddened expression. "Do people really need a reason? Though greed seems to be enough." Nate leaned closer to them, interjecting softly. "My guess would be for power and control. Come on. We need to keep moving." Mark exhaled heavily as the temperature seemed to rise the longer they were down here. Sean stumbled to his knees, causing Mark to stop and grab him. Sean pulled at his jacket, whining out weakly. "It's so hot... I can barely breathe." Mark pushed the jacket off Sean's shoulders, cupping his heated face to see the sweat rolling off him. Nate picked up his jacket, trying to coax them on as he said. "Guys, we are almost there. We can't linger." Mark watched Sean lean against him like he was going to pass out, then told Nate. "He's not doing well in this heat..." Nate bit his lip, looking around as he said mostly to himself. "He's used to the cold and its about a hundred and twenty-two degrees in here." Mark looked at his own skin, seeing the beads of sweat rolling down his tan skin. It was really warm but only slightly unbearable to him.