Route 112

I remember last time I was here I cut through the mountain and headed for a town in the north for some reason. Passing by the cable car station I see three goons guarding it and I remember why I didn’t take the cable car to the top of the mountain. It hasn’t come back down yet.

You there! You’d better not be plannin’ on using this cable car!

- Huh?

We’re doing important stuff here, kid!

Yeah so back off, punk!

- Actually I’m heading through the Fiery Path.

Oh… uh… well…

So we’re not going to battle?

- Bye now!

Bye-bye!

Wait, what just happened?

The Fiery Path itself seems a lot shorter than I remember, it’s just a rather warm tunnel and I reach the other side without incident.

Route 111

Hey there, kid!

- Hm?

Wanna see my Secret Spot?

- Nope, nope, nope!

I quickly make my escape from the creepy guy but he seems to be more interested in that tree he was lurking around.

Route 113

Just as I remember from last time I was here, ash is covering everything and my footprints barely last a few moments before being covered. Looking at the town in the distance it’s difficult to tell through all the ash fall but I can barely see the signs of one of those rift things.

Fallarbour Town

Made it to another PC I see. Are you ready for the next batch?

- Yeah.

Be careful, there’s some weird interactions between a few rifts going on in your area. Watch out for some odd stuff.

- Like what?

Ah, Caldar! You’ve got to help me! I’ve been kidnapped and being held hostage at Meteor Falls!

- But… you’re standing in front of me here in the Pokémon Center.

I know but this might sound strange but something has altered time itself! I think it has something to do with those meteorites I was working with.

- Uh-huh…

You’ve already saved me, thanks by the way. But I still need to convince you to actually go there and do it!

You’d better go, paradoxes are messy enough to deal with in normal timelines. I honestly couldn’t predict what could happen in a timeline so fragile as the one you’re in.

Route 114

I’m really not sure if I should hurry or not what with the time travel implied here. I opt to keep a fast pace regardless. As I get nearer the cave I notice the terrain is a lot more crater-y than I remember.

Meteor Falls

I’m almost shoved through the entrance as someone bumps into me from behind.

Ow! Oh hey Caldar!

- Barry?!

You’re here to save Professor Cozmo too?

- Something like that.

C’mon let’s go!

Barry rushes ahead but I quickly catch up to find Cozmo cornered by two people.

Hand over the meteorite, Professor, and we’ll leave you unhurt.

What? No! It’s important to my research!

Just give it here!

How about you leave him alone Saturn and… who’s the ginger ninja?

You two! Quickly, get them! Go Mightyena!

Go Grimer!

Go Wailmer!

- Go Tarkus!

- Shadow punch the grimer!

Water pulse the grimer!

Odour sleuth!

Sludge the wailmer!

Mightyena sniffs out Tarkus while wailmer blasts grimer with a pulse of water before Tarkus moves in with his ghostly punch, grimer throws a glob of noxious goop at wailmer.

- Shadow punch!

Water pulse the grimer!

Snarl!

Sludge the wailmer!

Mightyena snarls angrily at our pokémon, somehow hurting them, wailmer blasts grimer away with a pulse of water. Grimer is sent flying into a nearby waterfall and is washed away. Tarkus bops mightyena on the cheek to little effect.

- Rock smash!

Water pulse!

Swagger!

Mightyena shows off it’s swag, angering wailmer into headbutting the floor. Tarkus gives a rock breaking thump to mightyena’s flank.

- Rock smash!

Water pulse!

Snarl!

Mightyena snarls loudly again, Tarkus ignores it but somehow wailmer blacks out before Tarkus smashes his fist on mightyena’s back.

Go Shroomish! I have a Shroomish?

- Rock smash!

Headbutt!

Snarl!

Tarkus grabs mightyena’s head and drives it’s face into the ground.

Go Carvanha!

- Rock smash!

Mega drain!

Assurance!

Carvanha leaps at Tarkus, slamming into himand dealing critical damage. Tarkus looses his footing and falls into the waterfall. Shroomish drains a chunk of energy from carvanha.

- No! Tarkus!

- Go Ivanova!

- Thunder fang!

Mega drain!

Assurance!

Ivanova sinks her teeth into carvanha’s hide and electrocutes it until it stops moving. Carvanha’s rough skin hurts Ivanova a little but it just serves to annoy her.

Gah! Damn you!

Hmm, it would seem someone has done the hard work for us.

Maxie appears to have been standing nearby with two of his grunts since halfway through that last battle. I don’t remember him ever wearing glasses before, as I look a little closer I notice a keystone set in the side of them. Instead of the usual helix motif in the keystone I see three little stars instead.

- Maxie…

So you know of me already? Word must be getting around. I must thank you for assisting Team Magma in dealing with our enemy here today.

- I’m no ally of yours, Maxie. Your goals are just as twisted as the Aqua Crew’s.

Quickly! Grab it!

On Saturn’s order the plasm goon grabs the meteorite from Cozmo and they both make a run for it.

Hey! That’s mine!

Got it, commander!

They’re getting away! Curse you! I’ll only say this once to you; stay out of our way. Come on, you two, they must be heading for Mount Chimney!

Yes boss!

I’m on it, boss!

Maxie and the two grunts leave to make chase for Saturn.

Thanks for saving me, I just worry about the meteorite…

- Yeah, just remind me to rescue you next time you see me.

What?

- You’ll figure it out.

Hey, where’d your friend go?

- Barry? Huh… where did he go…?