The sea area northeast of Mossdeep City, at a group of islands with no name.
From its place, this was already at the edge of the Hoenn region. If a person traveled a bit more, they would leave Hoenn and reach the high seas of this world!
Dragonite carried Natsui and Misty and left Mossdeep City. It flew for more than one hour and arrived above these islands.
At this time, the sky had thick black clouds. It was not clear if these clouds were natural or from a strange power. Luckily, the clouds hid them well.
Under the clouds, Dragonite looked like a very small black point. It was very hard for anyone to see it in the sky.
Dragonite followed the coordinates and landed on a small island.
On a beach by the sea, Natsui saw Shelly again.
Shelly was sitting on a submarine. It looked like a shark, just like the one that sank before. She sat with her legs crossed. Her skin was a bit tanned, but she looked relaxed. She seemed comfortable.
Shelly waved her hand to say hello to Natsui.
Natsui and Misty jumped to the ground and walked to her quickly.
Natsui looked at the submarine and asked, "Wasn't your previous one destroyed? Where did this come from?"
"I 'borrowed' it from another Team Aqua base, of course," Shelly said as she jumped down. "Team Aqua has these hidden in secret bases everywhere. Even they do not know how many they have. If you find a base with no guards, you can take one. It is not surprising."
It sounded easy, but Natsui knew it was hard. Shelly could do it because she was the second-in-command of Team Aqua. Other people, like the leader Archie or the admin Matt, could not find one so easily.
Only a person who knew about the supplies could know these things.
People could say Shelly was the very smart brain of Team Aqua. She knew where everything was.
He did not ask for more details. He talked about the main business. "Where is Archie now?"
Shelly did not answer at once. She looked at him for a moment.
"I didn't expect you to actually guess right. Although we prepared for this before, to be honest, I really didn't think Archie could survive under those circumstances!"
"What's so strange about that?" Natsui looked at her. "Never underestimate anyone, especially a strong person like him. Think about it this way—if I was in that situation, would you think I would die?"
"You're different," Shelly shook her head. "You are the most unusual person I have met. But Archie is different. I know that guy; he does not have your luck."
Natsui knew what she meant. She thought Archie did not have many Legendary Pokémon. But Natsui thought Archie lived because of his destiny!
A tough man like that would not die from an explosion or the sea!
He was born for the ocean. Nothing bad would happen to him in the water.
So, his return was expected.
However, Natsui knew he could not win an argument with her. Shelly thought he was special, so he let her think that. It made him look mysterious.
"There's no point in talking about this now," he said. "I just received a message from Courtney as well. Groudon and Maxie are also heading this way. They will be here soon. We should hurry up and get to work."
"Maxie and Groudon are coming too?" Shelly heard this and felt the situation was serious. She looked worried. "Honestly, how did they find out about Groudon and Archie being here? I thought we could deal with Archie first. Now everything is happening at the same time. What a coincidence!"
"It's likely the connection between Legendary Pokémon. After all, those two Pokémon have fought for so long; they probably know each other's power. Didn't Kyogre find Groudon the same way last time?" Natsui touched his bag. "But this is fine. I am ready now. I will not let them escape again. This saves us time!"
"I hope so..." Shelly was not so happy. "Don't forget, Maxie has the Indigo Orb. I heard Archie has the Red Orb!"
Archie really had the Red Orb...
The Orbs were not the right ones for their Pokémon. But with an Orb, they could control the ancient Pokémon. They could make them use Primal Reversion. That was a problem.
"Then we should hurry even more."
Shelly stopped talking. She led him and Misty across the beaches to a bigger island.
This island was much bigger than the first one. The forest was thick, and there was a lake in the center. In the forest, they saw a Team Aqua member looking around. Shelly led Natsui and Misty to him.
The member was happy to see Shelly. But he was nervous when he saw Natsui.
"Co... Commander..."
Shelly nodded. "How are things?"
The member told Shelly, "The leader is by the central lake. Groudon is there too."
Natsui remembered Courtney and Shelly wanted to find inside agents. Shelly had already done it.
That is why she was relaxed. She already had people near Archie!
The member showed them the way. They went through the forest to the lake. They looked from behind some big trees.
Many Team Aqua members were on the other side of the lake. They had helicopters, boats, and a big ship. Archie and Matt were on the ship talking.
"They are well-equipped," Natsui said. "It looks like Archie is ready. But where is Groudon? Didn't you say it was here too?"
The Team Aqua member looked at Shelly. She nodded. He said to Natsui, "It's hidden under the rocks in the island. The leader found it. They are about to start the operation."
They arrived at the perfect time.
Shelly asked Natsui quietly, "What do you want to do?"
Natsui thought for a moment. He asked, "As the strategist, do you have any good suggestions?"
Shelly spoke to the member. "There's nothing else for you to do here. Go back first."
The member nodded. "I understand. I'll head out then. Please be extremely careful!"
The member left the forest and ran to the beach.
Natsui was impressed. "I feel like he respects you more than Archie. How did you get him to join us?"
Shelly sighed. "Actually, only some Team Aqua members follow those crazy ideas. Most of them just want to make a living."
Most were there for a job? In a bad group?
Natsui thought that was strange, but he did not argue. He waited for her plan.
Shelly had a plan. She looked at Natsui and Misty. "There are two plans. The first is for us to launch a surprise attack now. We can catch Archie and the others off guard while they are unprepared."
"That's a good idea!" Misty agreed. "They do not know we are here. If we attack now, it will be a big surprise!"
Natsui looked at the people by the lake. He did not say yes or no.
"True, that is the easiest way. It is what people think of first. With my power, I could win quickly. However..."
He stopped talking. Shelly finished the sentence.
"However, there is a big downside to that," she said. "If we do that, they will see us. Team Magma will be careful. They might leave with Kyogre if they do not want to fight us!"
"Exactly. That's what I'm worried about," Natsui said. "That would stop them from getting Groudon. But it would alert Team Magma. If they run away, finding them again would waste time. Things would be out of control. Courtney cannot stop them alone."
Misty understood this. She was young and did not think about it, but she was not slow. She knew the first plan was not perfect.
"So that means..."
"Right, that only leaves the second plan," Shelly said. "We wait and see. Once Team Magma arrives and they start fighting, we will take everything when they are tired!"
"This works too," Misty said. "They will fight until both sides are hurt. Then they cannot get away. We can catch them all at once!"
But she saw that Natsui and Shelly still looked worried.
"Wait, is this plan no good either?"
"It's also very risky," Shelly said. "If we wait, both teams will control Kyogre and Groudon. In their Primal forms, their battle would be too big. If Natsui joins then, the trouble would be huge. It would hurt the whole area."
"What the..." Misty had a headache. "So, is the first method better after all?"
Shelly did not say anything. She looked at Natsui. Misty looked at him too.
They knew Natsui had to decide. If he chose a way, they would do it.
"Actually, the real situation might not be as complicated as we think," Natsui said. "Don't forget, Maxie and Archie failed last time because of us. Now they are back. Do you think they have no defense?"
"You mean...?" Shelly asked.
"Exactly what you're thinking," Natsui smiled. "They want to win and they have ancient Pokémon. But they are afraid of me. They will not fight with all their strength."
"I see!" Misty's eyes were bright. "You mean they will hold back so we do not show up and ruin things? They might not even use Primal Reversion yet!?"
"Exactly! That's it!" Natsui nodded. "As long as we do not show our faces, they will feel uncertain!"
"But..." Shelly saw a problem. "When do we enter? Both sides will hold back. No one wants to be the first to use Primal Reversion. But when we appear, they might work together to fight us!"
"Then we'll just see who has more patience," Natsui said with a smile. "They will keep fighting while we stay hidden. They will use small attacks because they are afraid. But when one side cannot take it, they will have to attack harder. That is when we will strike!"
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