Pokemon: Fire and Ice

Chapter 32

The Giant Chasm was still and quiet. The cloud cover had parted to allow rays of sunlight to pour onto the land. But even with it, it was still a lifeless place. The trees refused to move and there was no wind, as if the atmosphere was holding its breath for a coming tragedy.

Suddenly this eerie silence was broken as an explosion came from the Chasm. A pillar of smoke and dust flew into the air. After several long moments, the debris slowly began to fall back to the earth.

Leisurely watching the explosion were groups of humans wearing black. Team Rocket. They wore bored expression as several more their bombs created similar eruptions. Squeezed between the blast zones were Team Rocket's equipment: ranging from handheld computers to armored vehicles. Team Rocket had set up in a rocky region of the Chasm with a large outcrop looming over them. The agents were losing interest. They were told it would be a "difficult" mission and to be prepared. But nothing yet had happened. Then again they were allowed to blow things up...

This changed as another blast set off. This one was accompanied by hisses of outrage. Like a cloak, the sheet of dust fell to reveal several Cryogonal.

The Rockets watching the explosion jumped, but they weren't given time to react as suddenly the head Cryogonal summoned an orb of energy in front of its frown. The orb fired into an Ice Beam and struck at their feet. The humans yelled as they were engulfed by the force of the attack.

Other groups of Rockets were receiving the same treatment from other violent Cryogonal. The shock quickly faded, though, and Team Rocket countered. They threw out their Pokémon, mostly fire-types, and the battle began. In moments the Chasm echoed with sounds of their fighting.

Off to the side and secured from the battles was the operation's head: Pierce. He stared at the warzone before him with an expressionless gaze, analyzing the situation. Most of the time he was silent, but he would give orders that would quickly be passed on to all the others.

"You really think this is gonna work?" one of the agents asked.

"If Kyurem really cares about its territory, it'll come," Pierce replied without moving his gaze.

Little did they know that within the caverns, Kyurem was stirring. It heard sounds of battle and the voices of his followers. It sensed there were intruders. And these intruders were blackness. The dragon opened its eyes.

***

The Cryogonal fell to the heat of the fire-types, falling like flies. The criminals grinned maniacally and even captured some of the ice Pokémon. This battle was easy. It wouldn't be long before the Cryogonal would be defeated.

Then it happened. Another charge was set off above the outcrop's main entrance, creating a screen of debris over the dark void. Behind the shower appeared two orbs flashing from the darkness. In the same instant, a large figure stormed into the sunlight.

Kyurem took pose in the center of the battle, tossing its head into the sky. It opened its fearsome jaws wide and let out a gruesome roar.

An officer cursed, not expecting the Legendary's entrance to be so intimidating. Pierce was still unfazed.

"Call in some reinforcements," he ordered casually. "And turn all attention on Kyurem. We are to distract it as long as possible."

On the other side of the outcrop, Iris and Cilan were desperately scaling the natural formation. They heard the battle in the distance. They had heard Kyurem's declaration, and it chilled them to the core. But they kept going, determined to succeed in their part of the mission.

Their Pokémon were returned to them, their Pokéballs clipped to their belts with Axew on Iris's shoulder and Pikachu on Cilan's.

After what felt like eternity and several close calls of falling to the forest floor, they found a large crevice leading to the catacombs. The friends exchanged nods of agreement and determined glances. And then one at a time, they squirmed into the dark entrance.