Ghostly Shadows Traviata: An Alpha Sapphire Nuzlocke

Chapter 6: Team Aqua's Purpose

Ash covers every grass blade and tree leaf. The ash threatens entrance into Viata and her team's lungs. She tells her team to hold their breath when they pass through the tall grass. As they walk through, ash kicks up all around them, coating them in powder. There's not a single Pokemon in sight as they make their way through the route. Seems like all the Pokemon have taken shelter from the ash. Viata wonders how Wally would fair here if he visited.

Viata breaks through the last grass patch and sees Fallarbor Town. She shakes herself off before taking any more steps. Lionheart shakes himself off beside her, coating half her body in soot again. The rest shake themselves off with enough distance between them all. Viata shakes herself off again, minding Lionheart's location. She enters the Pokemon Center without wasting any time. She wants her team always healthy.

After the team heals, Viata takes a stroll through town. She stumbles into a home where Professor Cozmo's wife insists that she rescue Professor Cosmo. Viata couldn't deny her. So she and the team set out for Meteor Falls.

A waterfall falls down inside the cave. The crashing water echoes in the cave as loud as a Pokemon's Roar. A little ways into the cave stands a muscular man in a pirate costume with a gold chain around his neck. The end of the gold chain holds a gold anchor.

"Now, I have the meteorite! Team Aqua to Mt. Chimney! There we will see if there is a way to control the ancient Pokemon."

They dash toward Viata.

"Hey, girlie get out of our way! Just try to stop us!"

A man with shocking red hair and glasses steps forward. "This child gives you trouble? I thought you were better than that Archie."

Team Aqua dashes out with Archie trailing behind. "Shut your trap Maxie. Neither of you can stop us. Full speed ahead!"

Maxie approaches Viata. "I am the leader of Team Magma, whose focus is to stop Team Aqua. I'll see you up at Mt. Chimney."

He dashes after Archie with Team Magma Grunts following behind.

Viata just stands there stunned.

Lionheart grabs her upper arms and shakes her. "Combusken!"

Viata looks down at Lionheart and gives him a thankful smile. "Looks like we have to stop Team Aqua from finding an item that can control an ancient Pokemon. But first..."

Viata heads toward a man in a lab coat and wearing glasses. She waves at him. "I assume you're Cozmo?"

"Y-y-yes! Thank you for finding me. Please, you have to stop Team Aqua!"

"Can you get back home safely?"

"Yes! Please stop them!"

Viata runs and waves goodbye. As she hurries back the way she came, she encounters Brandon, who takes her back to Mauville City. From there, Viata heals her Pokemon then sets out for Mt. Chimney.

A cable car station provides the only method of transportation. Stepping through the sliding glass doors, Viata spots the cable car terminal. The temperature of the volcano stifles the air within the terminal. She can barely breathe. She recalls most of her Pokemon into their Pokeballs. If she can't breathe, then they can't either. She doesn't have any fire type except for Lionheart, who stands in a relaxed posture unbothered by the heat and volcanic fumes. Under normal circumstances, high tech gear would be required in order for volcanic exploration. However, this is Pokemon.

Viata shrugs and converses with the lady standing in front of the terminal. After a cordial greeting, Viata steps into a cable car, covered in volcanic ash. The car lurches, spewing some settled volcanic ash, as it moves toward the summit.

The car stops with a jolt once it reaches the top. She steps out. The fumes and heat wash over her entire being, coating her in a sweaty sheen and causing coughing. She covers her mouth and nose with her hand, which helps slightly but not by much. Stairs usher her upward toward the volcano's mouth. There, she finds Team Aqua and Magma fighting. Maxie faces three Team Aqua Grunts' Poochyena all at once causing his Mightyena strain. Other Grunts duke it out one-on-one around the volcano's rim. Viata sees Archie place something within a machine. The volcano rumbles with newfound energy. Viata wastes no time in running over, stumbling from the rumbles and making sure she stays far away from the volcano's rim.

A young woman stops her.

"Persistent child, stop being an annoyance! Go Grimer!"

"Kabuki, I'm counting on you!"

Grimer and Kabuki stare each other down.

Viata takes out another Pokeball. "Hold on Kabuki! Return! Go Thyme!"

The opposing Grimer hurls a large mud ball at Thyme who takes the projectile and shakes off the mud. Thyme still appears rearing to go. In retaliation, Thyme launches a confusion. The Grimer's sludge manipulates in painful positions as Thyme uses Confusion. The Grimer throws another mud ball at Thyme, who shakes it off. That mud ball doesn't do much damage. Thyme goes in for the final blow with a last Confusion that picks the Grimer up and slams it into the ground. The young woman withdraws her Grimer and sends out Carvanha.

Viata sprays something at Thyme. "Here, Thyme take a super potion!"

Thyme flys into the spray and backflips in the air with new vigor. Attacking from behind, the Carvanha flops upward and bares its fangs. Thyme swivels around as the jaws clamp down on Thyme's body. The Carvanha hangs on even after Thyme sends out a Bug Buzz. Thyme barely survives another bite by the Carvanha and fires the final blow that knocks the Carvanha unconscious.

The young woman recalls her Pokemon and steps away. "You'll be crushed by Archie. Team Aqua's cause is too great to be stopped!"

Viata heals Thyme to full health and puts her at the party's front.

Archie turns around and laughs at Viata. "So you think you can stop me? Bring it, kid."

Archie sends out a large black dog. "Go Mightyena."

Viata throws out her Pokeball and calls out Thyme.

Thyme fullters around the battlefield with difficulty. The volcano's temperature threatens to dry out her wings and body. The heat stifles both battlers.

"Thyme use Bug Buzz!"

The Dustox releases green waves that cut into Mightyena. The Mightyena flinches as each wave connects. It launches a counterattack with a crunch. Thyme endures the hit and sends back a final Bug Buzz, felling the Mightyena. Archie withdraws the Pokemon and sends out Golbat. Viata withdraws Thyme and sends out Kabuki.

The Pikachu poses as the bright light fades away. With gentle powerful movements Kabuki channels her electricity. Charging forward, the Golbat swipes Kabuki with a wing. Kabuki smiles. In one swift powerful motion, Kabuki release a ball of electricity that annihilates the Golbat. Archie withdraws Golbat and sends out Sharpedo.

Kabuki once more channels her electric powers and fires an electric ball. The Sharpedo falls before it has a chance to attack.

Archie hits his head in frustration. "A kid! I was beaten by a kid!"

Team Aqua and Team Magma Grunts stop battling and watch the scene unfold.

Viata recalls the posing Kabuki and steps forward. "Stop this plan of yours!"

Archie picks up a call. "They exist? Well then, off to Mt. Pyre we go! Just try and stop us, kid."

Team Aqua dash away from the mouth of the volcano. Maxie confronts Viata. "I miscalculated! We need to go to Mt. Pyre at once! See you there." He leaves with Team Magma.

Viata looks at the machine containing the meteorite and creeps toward the machine, perched on an edge above lava. Gingerly operating the machine, Viata takes out the meteorite and dashes away from the edge to the rim of the volcano. She wipes her brow drenched in sweat and realizes her clothes are drenched as well. She needs to take a shower and wash her clothes.

Viata spends the day making her way down Jagged Pass where she almost loses Thyme to a machop's Karate Chop. By night, the team reaches Lavaridge Town and spends a restful night in the Pokemon Center. Tomorrow, the Gym challenge resumes.