Chapter 9
The Meteor Falls Passage

Meteor Falls was a huge mountain that was created when a meteor crashed into it, hence the name.  The inside was almost magical-waterfalls graced the walls, at the ground practically sparkled…
Julia and Andrew headed back to Mauville.  They then headed west to Veranturf, where they were confronted by a small boy.
"My name," he said, "is Wally.  What's yours?"
"Andrew," Andrew replied.
"Mine's Julia," Julia answered.
"Cool!  Are you two Pokémon trainers?" Wally asked.
"Yeah," said Andrew.
"Cool!  I have one Pokémon, but I am not allowed to become a trainer yet…"
"Well," Andrew started, "do you want to battle?"
"Cool!  I mean, sure!  I'll use Ralts!" Wally exclaimed.  He threw a Pokéball into the grass.
Andrew took a Pokéball off of his belt and tossed it in the direction of Ralts.  His Corphish met its opponent between the two trainers.
"Go easy on him," Julia whispered to Andrew.
"No way!" he responded.  "If this kid wants to be a trainer, he's going to have to accept the fact that he can lose!"
"Ironic," Julia muttered.
"Corphish, Fury Cutter!"
"Ralts, uh, Confusion!" Wally instructed.  However, before Ralts could move, Corphish struck him and then slashed several times, knocking out Ralts.
"That was quick," Andrew said.
"Aww…I lost…" Wally said sadly.  Both trainers recalled their Pokémon.
"Don't feel too bad," Andrew reassured.
"Well, I'll become stronger, and then we can fight again, okay?"
"Uh, sure, kid," said Andrew.  Wally went back home.
Andrew and Julia, on the other hand, went through Veranturf and then through the Rusturf tunnel.  When they came out of the cave near Rustboro, they turned north and went up to Meteor Falls.
The walked inside and were taken aback at the beauty of it.  However, it was quickly interrupted by the sound of someone in distress.  They ran through one portion of the mountain, and into the main room-where the meteor originally landed.  Julia and Andrew ran over to where the person-a scientist-was yelling.  They found him cornered by several Team Magma grunts and Maxie, Team Magma's leader.
"Maxie!" Andrew called.  "What are you doing here?"
"Greetings, Mr. Anderson."
"Don't you pull that again," Andrew quickly retorted.
"Ah, feisty.  Well, I can damper your spirits..."  Maxie threw a Great Ball out towards Andrew, releasing a Mightyena.  "…With a battle.  What do you say?"
Andrew looked around sternly.  If I can defeat Maxie, the rest of his thugs will quickly fall, or run away.  This is the best shot I have at stopping them.  Andrew smiled.  "Sure."
"Andrew, are you sure?" Julia inquired.
Andrew made a hand gesture, motioning for Julia to step back.  "Of course I am.  Let me take him down right here, right now."  He sent out Grovyle.
"Mightyena, Take Down!"  Mightyena charged at Grovyle, slamming him into the ground.
"Grovyle, Leaf Blade!"  Leaves sliced away at Mightyena, but it did little; Mightyena was far more powerful than Grovyle.
"Finish him, Mightyena!" Maxie shouted.  "Use your Crunch!"  Mightyena clamped down on Grovyle's midriff, doing an incredible amount of damage.  Andrew was shocked as his Pokémon fell.
"Then Corphish, you go!  Fury Cutter!"  Corphish tried slashing again, but it only did mediocre damage.  Mightyena quickly finished off the small Water Pokémon, forcing Andrew to send out his own Mightyena.
"Quite interesting, Mr. Anderson.  This will be quite the battle."
"Mightyena, Headbutt!" Andrew commanded.  Andrew's Mightyena lowered its head and rammed into Maxie's Mightyena.
Maxie observed the damage.  "Very interesting, Mr. Anderson, since you did very little.  Mightyena, Secret Power!"  Mightyena summoned a powerful force, and then shot it at Andrew's Mightyena, one-hit knock-out.
"Shoot!" Andrew shouted.  He recalled Mightyena, and sent out his last Pokémon: Torchic.  "Torchic, this is our last chance…Ember!"  Torchic shot little flames out at the all-mighty Mightyena, burning it.  It still was not, however, enough to knock him out.  "It looks like this is the end," Andrew muttered.
"Finish off his last Pokémon," Maxie started, "with Faint Attack."  As Mightyena disappeared to attack Torchic, the small bird flew into the air, barely dodging the attack.  He landed on a small crag near the top of the cave.  "Get down from there!"
"Torchic, what are you doing!?" Andrew exclaimed.  However, it became all-too clear what Torchic was doing.  He was making room so that he could evolve.
"Another one of your Pokémon is evolving," said Julia to Andrew.  He nodded.
Torchic's evolved form, Combusken, leapt off the rock, foot extended, and kicked Mightyena in the face.  Mightyena rose to counter-attack, but Combusken was too quick; the fiery Pokémon used a Double-Kick on Mightyena, bringing the Pokémon down.
"Unbelievable!" Maxie shouted.  He frantically recalled his Pokémon.  He looked behind him, and then regained his composure.  "Unfortunately, Mr. Anderson, you are too late to stop us…you see, the battle we just had was merely a diversion.  My grunts have already moved the meteorite out of the cave, along with Professor Cozmo."  He laughed a deep laugh.  "Till next time, Mr. Anderson…"  He sent out a Torkoal, and told it to use Eruption.  The lava emitted from Torkoal made the ceiling and walls melt and crumble, causing huge stalactites to crash down on Andrew and Julia.
"Let's go!" Julia shouted.  She and her brother ran out of Meteor Falls, and eventually made it to Fallarbor.
Smoke still rose from Meteor Falls.