Slateport City

Flying around on Nimbus I survey the land below. There’s no sign of Maxie or Groudon.

For a giant volcano monster, Groudon sure moves fast!

I notice a commotion outside the Slateport dock so I decide to land to check it out.

A crowd has gathered around the entrance to the dock, they’re surrounding a news crew who’re filming with Captain Stern.

That’s right Charlie I’m reporting live from Slateport City with Captain Stern! Captain Stern, scientist and explorer for the Devon Corporation has recently made a startling discovery on the ocean floor. Tell me, Captain, what have you found and what could it mean?

Um.. yes.. we recently discovered what could possibly be the habitat of a very large and ancient pokemon on the sea floor. I intend to take an expedition on board my submarine to investigate further. If we discover this pokemon to still be living it could mean that there are still more pokemon to be discovered beyond the 190 or so we know to exist today.

Fools! You have no idea!

- What the…

He’s not wrong…

It’s coming from inside the dock… my submarine!

Stern and the news crew run into the dock building. I barge past the crowd and get into the dock too. Archie and one of the aqua admins are standing atop the submarine.

Ty, are you getting this?

Yes, Gabby. And we’re still live.

I’m standing here now at Slateport docks as we witness Team Aqua for the first time on camera! Exclusive to Hoenn TV!

Yaharrr! We be commandeerin’ this vessel for Team Aqua!

Get off of my ship, you thugs!

- Archie! Stop this, it won’t work! Maxie already failed to control Groudon!

Who’re you?

- You don’t remember me? It’s Caldar!

Groudon was unleashed?! We must act quickly!

- You there! Aqua goon! Don’t you think your captain is acting strangely? For the love of Arceus he’s glowing red!

The name’s Matt and I be First Mate, not goon! Ye must be needin’ new peepers, th’ Cap'n ain’t glowin’!

- You don’t see that? …Does anyone?

No..

Nope.

We set sail for Lilycove! Pursue us and ye be regrettin’ it!

Archie and Matt climb into the submarine and close the hatch behind them. The submarine submerges and sails out of the dock.

My submarine!

- Damn!

While Gabby talks to the camera, Stern approaches me.

Why did you come here? What’s a Groudon?

- You really don’t remember me? I gave you my pokegear for repairs a couple of weeks ago. I saved you from the aqua crew in the museum!

I… er… the museum? I’m sorry but I really don’t remember… I don’t seem to remember much from that week at all… must be the stress of the job, right? So what’s a Groudon?

- It’s an ancient pokemon that was sleeping in Mount Chimney, the leader of the magma cult woke it up with a blue orb artifact. Archie has a similar orb.

You think he wants to get to the cavern I discovered to wake up another ancient pokemon? So along with this Groudon there really are more pokemon to discover? There really are more than about 190 pokemon?!

- Lots more, Captain. Where I come from there are hundreds of different pokemon, nearly 1000!

What?! Where do you come from?

- I come from–

Hey! You there! I’d like to interview you, who are you anyway?

- No time, I’ve got to stop the aqua crew!

I rush out of the dock building and have Nimbus fly me to Lilycove City.

Who was that?

I think he said his name was Caldar?

Lilycove City

As I come in for a landing I see many aqua crew members making their way to the cove. After setting down I follow them to a cave. I have LoafLoaf ferry me in across the water.

Aqua Hideout

Avast! We’ve been boarded! Keelhaul him!

Several aqua goons come to try and stop me but the Colonel and Neo kick them and their pokemon to the walls. As the goons reel in pain I walk through the hideout and explore some of the rooms.

I come across a small office guarded by a couple of electrodes, after dealing with them I find a small stash of items including a master ball.

- What the hell is one of these doing here? They haven’t been invented yet…

Beats me…

I explore further and find a room with the stolen submarine in a pool connected to the sea. Matt stands on a gantry, blocking my path.

- Get out of my way, now.

I ain’t no grunt, ye won’t be gettin’ by me easy!

The Colonel kicks Matt’s pokemon aside and boots him into the water. I peer over the gantry into the pool to see Matt splashing around in a panic. I reach down and offer him my hand. He grabs my hand and I haul him back onto the gantry while the submarine escapes back into the sea.

- You guys love the sea so much, and yet you never learned to swim?

*cough* *splutter* Gah! I couldn’t beat ye but the Cap'n got away.

- Would you at least stop the fake pirate talk? I know it’s Archie who has you talk like that…

Fine… but it won’t matter. You won’t be able to stop Archie wake Kyogre!

Route 124/125

I try to chase the submarine but as the name suggests, it’s underwater. I eventually chase it to deep water where it vanishes into the deep. I make a guess where it was heading and end up at a cave.

Shoal Cave

This doesn’t look right…

- Maybe we should’ve asked for directions at that island city…

As I ponder my next move I’m nearly knocked over by a rolling spheal. I decide to catch it. Pokeball go!

Spheal: This thing would probably be right at home in a pinball machine.

- Welcome to the bench, Bowlarama!

Bowlarama ♂ Lv. 30

- Right, let’s just go to that island city…