Disclaimer: I do not own any Pokémon or any of their characters; moves, abilities, or any named affiliated with them. All rights go to Pokémon Inc., its writers, game producers, designers, manga artists, etc.
Chapter 2: A Reunion
Just as Corphish aimed its pincers at Treecko and Zubat flew at him wings spread out wide, a glowing green aura protected Max and Treecko.
"This is… Safeguard" Max said aloud. He slowly opened his eyes and saw a familiar friend. Max thought back to a promise he made two years ago to a Ralts, that he was going to return for Ralts once he became a Trainer.
Ralts looked back and smiled at his old friend. Ralts cried aloud and expanded the green aura and repelled Corphish and Zubat backwards.
"What?! Who's Pokémon is this?" the second grunt demanded.
"She's my Pokémon, Ralts use Psychic!" Max shouted proudly. "Ralts!" cheered Max's new Pokémon. A blue energy surrounded Zubat and Corphish and sent them flying up and they landed with a huge thud. "Now the teams are all tied up!" Max said with a smile.
"We'll see about that! Corphish Bubblebeam!" shouted the first grunt. "Zubat use Supersonic!" added the second. Corphish readied its claw like a gun and shot out multiple water filled bubbles at Treecko. Zubat screeched and unleashed several sound waves towards both opposing Pokémon.
Treecko jumped into action and fired off multiple glowing yellow seeds to dispatch the Bubblebeam. "Treecko! You learned Bullet Seed!" Max exclaimed excitedly. However, he then noticed the Zubat releasing sound waves and commanded Ralts to use Disarming Voice. The two sound moves collided but Ralts was unbelievably strong. Once the two moves collided, the Supersonic was sent back and started to confuse the Zubat.
"Zubat! Snap out of it!" commanded its trainer but it was not responding. It then used Supersonic on Corphish and both Pokémon were now confused.
"Let's wrap this up. Ralts use Shadow Ball and Treecko, use Bullet Seed!" Max yelled.
Ralts fired off a dark shadowy ball surrounded by several yellow glowing seeds. It struck both Zubat and Corphish and both fainted instantaneously.
"We won't forget this!" snarled the second grunt as both Team Aqua members returned their Pokémon to their Pokéballs. Shortly after, they ran back the way they came and disappeared.
"Thank you so much young man, I'd like to give you this Dusk Ball to show my appreciation," the Devon worker said with a smile. Max took the minimized Dusk Ball and put it into his bag. "Well, I'll be seeing you then!"
"Wait sir! Those goons might have other members in the forest; it's best if I accompany you back to Devon. There's someone I want to see there anyways," Max responded.
"Very well then" the Devon worker said with a nod. The two set off on the path and there was nothing out of ordinary. They finally arrived at the Devon Corporation and Max sat in the lobby patiently after asking President Stone's secretary if he would see him today. After what seemed like an eternity, a warm and welcoming voice behind him said; "Well, well. Look who's gone off on their own journey".
"President Stone!" Max chorused. He gave the old President a huge great hug and backed up to talk to him.
"You must've grown at least 2 feet! Look! You're at my shoulder now!" President Stone announced loudly.
"Yup, I'm going to go the gym later on to try and get my first gym badge!" Max beamed.
"Well, I shouldn't be keeping you then. But first, I heard you helped protect one of my workers and prevented Team Aqua from obtaining my Devon Papers. Thank you for that Max… AND, to show my appreciation, here is a little something I think you'd find useful" President Stone explained and handed Max a small box with a bow on top.
"Thanks President Stone!" Max gasped; he took the box carefully and opened it. "No, it can't be… My very own Key Stone?!"
"Yesiree, an honest to goodness Key Stone. It's useless unless any of your Pokémon can Mega Evolve, have a deep bond with you, and are holding their own respective Mega Stones. However, I have faith you'll find some along your journey" President Stone declared with a huge smile on his face.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Max repeated over and over. "I'll make sure it won't be a waste of a gift! I guess I'll be heading out now, bye President Stone! Thanks again!" Max ran out of the building and headed off to the Pokémon Center to heal his Pokémon first.
Max left his Treecko and Ralts with Nurse Joy and decided to watch some TV in the Trainer's lounge. There, he watched the Hoenn Grand Festival replay where May and Dawn had their third rematch. It was an intense battle between May's Beautifly and Blaziken, and Dawn's Quilava and Togekiss.
Quilava spewed red-hot flames and surrounded Togekiss as it flew at full speed towards Blaziken and Beautifly with a Safeguard also as armor. May thought quickly and told Blaziken to use Blaze Kick while Beautfily protected Blaziken with Psychic to cancel out the Safeguard. Sure enough, the Psychic obliterated the Safeguard but Togekiss dodged just as Blaziken was about to strike.
Dawn lost points since the flames from Quilava accentuated Blaziken's Blaze Kick, earning it the name: The Fiery Warrior. "Blaziken, let's go! Mega Evolve!" proclaimed May as she touched the Key Stone bracelet on her wrist. "Beautfily! Use Morning Sun as well!" Blaziken became bathed in a shimmering light and was accompanied by the brilliant brightness from Beautifly's Morning Sun.
Blaziken's Mega Evolved Form and Beautifly's dazzling Morning Sun left Dawn with about 1/10 of her original points. However, Dawn was still not going to quit. She called out for Togekiss and Quilava to combine their attacks; she called it the "Fire Sphere," which was a combination of Quilava's Fire Blast and Togekiss' Aura Sphere. It shone with blue and red flames, spread out all over the stage but it was cut short by Mega Blaziken stomping on it. Mega Blaziken then used the flames from the Fire Blast to cloak itself in fire before letting off another super quick Blaze Kick. Blaziken slammed into Quilava with such speed and force, it literally flew off the stage while Beautifly snuck up behind Togekiss during the big flashy stomping and used Silver Wind causing Togekiss to crash to the ground.
"Time's up!" Marian exclaimed, "And the winner of this year's Hoenn Grand Festival is May!"
The crowd erupted into applause as the screen now showed May hoisted up on Blaziken's shoulders waving at her adoring fans while Beautifly soared over the stadium spreading its glitter. May's flowing red dress complimented Blaziken's natural colours very well and she beamed with joy as the screen continued to show the crowd chanting May's name.
"Let's welcome this year's Top Coordinator!" shouted Marian and this is when Nurse Joy interrupted Max and told him his Pokémon were fully healed. When he looked back at the TV, it was an interview with Ash on PokéNews.
"Just you wait, May and Ash. Someday, I'm going to be just as strong as you two and that's the day I will have accomplished my dream" Max thought to himself as he put his Pokéballs on his belt and headed off towards Route 116 to train a little more before challenging Roxanne.