Join my p@treon for more chapters
p@treon.com/Tempest_29
"Hello, Grandma Agatha!"
Green quickly greeted the elderly woman after hearing her voice. It wasn't that she felt scared or uncomfortable, but rather because she had just learned that the Elite Four member was here regarding Ash's situation, which filled her with gratitude.
"It seems that Pallet Town has produced some promising young trainers this year!" Agatha observed Green with evident satisfaction in her weathered features.
Pallet Town had long been renowned as the birthplace of exceptional trainers. Many of the region's most outstanding talented trainers had emerged from this small community over the years, though recently the town seemed to have lost some of its former glory in producing elite trainers.
Green's ability to earn the Cinnabar Badge from Blaine was sufficient proof of her considerable skill as a trainer. As for Ash, despite being captured by Team Rocket, his reputation preceded him. Everyone knew he had once thwarted the Rockets' attempt to capture the legendary Pokémon Zapdos. Though he had been taken prisoner now, this incident also demonstrated his strength and determination. After all, those Team Rocket operatives were notorious for abandoning all rules and fair play in their schemes.
"Thank you for your kind words. Regarding Blaine and Ash..." Green responded politely to the Ghost-type Elite Four member, then turned her attention to Blaine. She couldn't hide her surprise at finding the Elite Four here - it seemed the situation was far more serious than she had initially understood.
"Don't worry yourself too much. We've made some preliminary progress in our investigation," Blaine assured her, not holding back any crucial information. "Our intelligence suggests they've captured Ash and may be heading toward Cinnabar Island. We'll be ready to mount a rescue operation when they arrive."
This news brought visible relief to Green's tense expression. She hadn't expected such a fortunate coincidence - it was lucky she hadn't left the island yet.
"Young lady, your name is Green, correct? What exactly is your relationship with the trainer named Ash?" Agatha suddenly inquired, her tone carrying an edge that hadn't been present moments before.
"Ah? We're trainers who began our journeys on the same day," Green replied, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected question. "We're childhood friends who grew up together in Pallet Town."
"Is that so?" Agatha responded with a noticeably stern voice, then seemed to withdraw into herself, apparently unwilling to elaborate further on her concerns.
"Is there some kind of problem, Grandma Agatha?" Green asked cautiously, sensing the shift in atmosphere. Something about the elderly Elite Four member's demeanor when asking about her relationship with Ash had felt particularly intense and serious.
"It's nothing of immediate concern," Agatha replied, closing her eyes as she spoke with measured calm. "However, remember my words carefully. As a female trainer, don't entrust your heart to other men too easily. Only you and your own Pokémon will never betray you."
Green detected something cold and bitter in Agatha's voice as she spoke, an undercurrent of old pain and resentment that sent a slight chill down her spine. The warning left her completely bewildered, her face displaying obvious confusion as she instinctively looked toward Blaine for some kind of explanation.
"Uh... haha! Don't worry about it too much - just listen to what she says," Blaine responded with an awkward smile, then leaned closer to whisper in Green's ear about the complicated history between Agatha and Professor Oak.
Though Green remained somewhat confused after hearing Blaine's quiet explanation, she nodded in understanding. Blaine couldn't help but wipe perspiration from his brow, knowing full well about the painful incident from Agatha's past involving Professor Oak.
Agatha clearly had taken a liking to Green, and observing how much the young trainer cared about Ash's welfare, the elderly woman probably saw echoes of her younger self. When Agatha was young, her relationship with Professor Oak had ended in what she considered betrayal when she felt she had trusted unwisely. However, from Blaine's perspective as a scientist, Professor Oak's ultimate choices and actions had been admirable and necessary for the greater good.
Agatha's favorable first impression of Green had likely triggered memories of her own youth. Seeing Green's obvious concern for Ash prompted the warning about not placing trust too readily in others.
Cinnabar Volcano
"Teams are in position!" At that moment, the three people gathered at Cinnabar Gym had no awareness that three military helicopters had already approached the volcanic crater's airspace, positioning themselves strategically above the mountain.
The crimson magma churned far below, continuously emitting the acrid scent of sulfur. Despite their high altitude, thick plumes of smoke could be seen rising steadily from the volcanic depths.
Looking carefully into the crater, one could discern a circular stone platform positioned at the center of the volcano's mouth. This platform had been expertly carved and polished to create a perfectly flat surface, with white lines marking the boundaries of a regulation Pokémon battle arena.
This wasn't merely a volcano - it served as Cinnabar Gym's official battle venue for the most challenging matches.
The Team Rocket operatives aboard all three helicopters had already secured gas masks to protect themselves from the toxic fumes.
"Excellent! Prepare to drop the explosive charges!" Archer commanded as the cargo bay doors slid open. He peered down at the target below and gave the signal to proceed.
"Roger! Explosive charges are armed and ready for deployment. Beginning three-second countdown!" came the response from the weapons operator.
"Three... two... one... fire!"
As the countdown concluded, the three helicopters maintained their triangular formation. The cargo bay doors opened simultaneously beneath each aircraft, revealing sleek black missiles emblazoned with the distinctive bright red 'R' logo of Team Rocket.
BOOM!!!
Following Archer's order, three explosive devices dropped simultaneously, plummeting directly toward the churning magma far below.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!!!
The instant the three bombs struck the molten rock, they were immediately consumed by the intense heat. Then they detonated with tremendous force, causing the surface magma to surge upward dramatically while producing a deafening explosion that echoed across the entire island.
The entire Cinnabar Volcano began to tremble violently from the artificial seismic activity.
The explosive force launched massive quantities of magma high into the air, creating towering columns of molten rock that surged like enormous ocean waves against the crater walls.
Archer observed this spectacular destruction with evident satisfaction, a cold sneer crossing his features. "Hmph! Come out of hiding!"
SHRIEEEEK!!!!
From deep within the magma came a piercing, otherworldly cry that caused the already agitated molten rock to churn even more violently in response to both the explosion and the creature's obvious distress.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
At that very moment, within the Cinnabar Gym facility located outside the volcano, Agatha, Blaine, and Green were startled by the tremendous explosions. The building's furniture and equipment shook violently, cups rattling on tables and chairs sliding across the floor.
"What's happening? Is the volcano erupting?" Green asked uncertainly, her first instinct being to assume they were witnessing a natural volcanic eruption due to their proximity to the active crater.
"No! That sound pattern is definitely not a volcanic eruption," Blaine declared with authority. As the official Gym Leader of Cinnabar Gym, he possessed extensive knowledge about volcanic activity and immediately recognized that these sounds were artificial in origin. A sense of dread began to fill him.
"It could be that..." Blaine's thoughts raced as he considered the possibilities. If Team Rocket was indeed after Moltres, then the most logical hiding place for the legendary Fire-type Pokémon on Cinnabar Island would undoubtedly be within Cinnabar Volcano itself. With this realization hitting him, he hurried toward the far side of the main hall.
Upon reaching a particular wall, Blaine located a concealed door. He quickly opened it and rushed inside, revealing a dark cave passage that led deeper into the volcanic mountain.
"Blaine!" Green called out with concern, immediately following the Gym Leader into the mysterious tunnel. Agatha brought up the rear, walking with her characteristic measured pace as she calmly followed the two younger trainers into the unknown depths.