Of Hoops and Holists – Chapter 4
Steven had left more than just a Pokéball and a letter.
"What's the format for these reports again?"
"One inch margins, 1.5 spaced, Times New Azalean."
It was morning, and Steven and May found themselves sitting again at Wallace's table, the smell of hot syrup and pancakes in the air. They were both at laptops, typing away. Steven had a small, black mole-skinned notebook open next to his laptop, pages full of chicken-scratch.
"Don't hold back, please," Wallace snarked. He was at the counter, making pancakes for breakfast, because he insisted that they all needed them that morning. Wallace was obviously being sassy, because without even looking back at them, he could feel the undefined awkwardness from the silence of May and Steven.
"Sorry," May said, "I'm just trying to make sure I type everything out, and I don't want to miss any details."
Wallace began to serve up a few plates, and carried them to the table, placing them in front of the two, then grabbing his own, and joining them at the table. May went ahead and began to eat, while Steven didn't flinch, continuing to type.
"All the more reason the two of you should be having some kind of a dialogue. I don't know what shenanigans you two got into after I fell asleep last night," Wallace said, "but Steven, you need to eat."
Instead of lifting his head up, Steven just lifted his eyes to glare at Wallace from under his silver hair. Even while glaring at him, Steven never stopped typing.
Picking up his fork, Wallace chimed, "Ah, there's the Steven I remember, specifically after a long night of research."
Steven rolled his eyes at Wallace, pushed his laptop to the side, and closed his notebook. He pulled the plate of pancakes in front of him and readied himself to eat. "I just wanted to finish transcribing," Steven said matter-of-factly, "I apparently was jotting down notes about the islands I was visiting. Finishing that, for now, is the only contribution that I can make at this point that I feel is valid, considering my lack of first-person memory. Everything regarding Mossdeep and…Uxie, would only be second-hand information based on what the two of you have narrated to me."
"Oh, yeah," May responded between bites, "I can…write that part up." Wallace chuckled, noticing the stark difference in behavior between May and Steven. May hadn't hesitated for a moment to start eating when he set her breakfast in front of her. Steven hadn't flinched and had continued typing his report. May pushed her plate aside and pulled her laptop in front of her once more, continuing her account.
Steven finished his breakfast in haste, and feverishly looked around the room as May continued to type and Wallace took his time finishing his meal. Wallace picked up on this, and paused to look at Steven with a raised eyebrow in concern.
"Sorry…" Steven muttered, forcing himself to look down into his lap, where he began to fold his hands, "I just really don't know what to do with myself, or where to go from here. I want to keep exploring and researching the phenomenon of these islands because I feel that that's important, but…" he trailed off, and he lifted a hand over his small black notebook that was still on the table. "I'm having a difficult time hypothesizing what our next plan of action should be, what with me not organically having recollection of events of the past two years…"
"Which I think is completely understandable," Wallace picked up for Steven where he trailed off, "I know you've always felt this sense of duty towards Hoenn, Steven, but I think now is as good of a time as ever to put those feelings of obligation on hold, and focus on you."
After tapping his index finger a few times against his notebook, Steven spoke up again. "May, once you've finished…would you accompany me to Granite Cave?" he asked slowly and articulately, but with a hint of sheepishness. "If that's the last thing I remember, and also the place of our first meeting, then perhaps if we revisited together, it could help out with my memory."
Before May could do so much as look up from her laptop at Steven and blink, Wallace had already begun to speak. "I think that's a marvelous idea!" he chimed, and began to clear the table. "While you're gone, I'm going to make some calls. I'm becoming heavily interested in these Plates, especially now that I'm realizing there might be potential in learning about them and learning about more of the lore of Uxie and the 3 of spirit."
"I appreciate it," Steven said.
"What, you think I'm interested in all of that because of you?" Wallace naturally sassed, but changed his tone the moment he saw Steven's face fall in shame. "I…no. Steven, while all of these myths astound me, I think that we can all agree here," he continued, motioning toward May, who evidently was finishing up as she closed the laptop and looked expectantly in return, "that our main focus right now is finding a path toward you getting your memory back."
"Wallace," May started, followed with a sigh, "You had only hinted at it last night, but…do you think that Uxie, and everything with these islands, is leading to something, you know…bigger? Not to cause unnecessary hype, but I think, considering our, yaknow, history, I can only help but wonder."
Wallace hummed. "I don't want to cause any potential worry either, but…" he said, making sure to collect his thoughts before continuing, "Legendary Pokémon only meddle in our lives if they feel we have somehow threatened theirs. A little bit of research at this point is the least I can do, before we go making anyone else upset without knowing it."
"And you're sure I wasn't a tyrant?" Steven asked again.
"Goodness, Steven, no!" Wallace cried, dramatically spinning around from the kitchen sink to face Steven, hands full of suds. "May, please, get him out of here. We need to work on his memories, pronto."
"Oh, y-yeah," May said. "Let me just go pack up my things." She excused herself from the table, and disappeared into the guest bedroom in which she stayed.
Steven pocketed his notebook from the table, and slumped into his chair. "Wallace?"
Wallace rinsed his hands off, dried, and pulled himself a chair to sit down again at the table with Steven.
"You need to be careful, Steven." Wallace said, "May's trying her best to do what she can for you, and you need her right now."
"I…understand that much, but," Steven replied, brow furrowed, "I think I already ruined this."
Wallace immediately narrowed his eyes at Steven and said, "Oh, I know, Steven. These walls aren't soundproof."
Steven's face visibly paled, and his stomach lurched.
"I mean, I don't know exactly what happened, but, well, just what happened in there? Just what were you trying to accomplish?"
"Or, I guess you don't have to tell me, but…" Wallace added after he swore he could see the steam spewing out of Steven's red-stricken ears after his question, "in all seriousness, we need to be keeping an eye out for disturbances. Take care on your way to Dewford. I'll be seeing what literature I can get ahold of and getting in touch with some contacts. Is there anyone in particular you'd like me to seek out?"
"Cynthia."
"…are you sure?"
Steven only side-eyed Wallace. "Absolutely. I'm unaware if she has published any of her findings yet, but, the last I remember, she had been spending most of her time researching the Legendary Pokémon of Sinnoh. Hopefully she'll know something about Uxie. And with Sinnoh being the home of the Plates as well, maybe she'll know something about them."
"Alright…" Wallace started, folding his hands in his lap, "just making sure. I just don't want things getting sticky for you now that May's in the mix."
"Which is why you're getting in touch with her, not me," Steven replied, and then snarkily added as he stood up from the table, getting ready to leave, "while you're at it, get in touch with Winona as well, would you?"
Wallace had evidently not expected Steven to add that last bit, as his face fell, his mouth slightly agape.
"Don't tell me you haven't talked to her once in the past two years?" Steven immediately remarked in response to Wallace's expression.
"Of course I have!" Wallace shot back, "things have just been, hectic, lately."
"You can say that again," Steven said, now packing his last things into a backpack that was on the couch. May entered the room, evidently ready to head out.
"Thanks so much for your hospitality, Wallace," May thanked him.
"The pleasure is all mine, May," Wallace replied, "but now, let's focus on Steven and working him back to where his brain used to be, although, I'd be lying if I said I didn't like this empty-headed Steven at least a little."
Steven side-eyed Wallace for maybe the 50th time that day, and it was hardly ten o'clock. Catching this, May suggested, "Alright, Steven, we better get going…" May was already almost out the door.
"Yes, yes, okay," Steven replied, quickly grabbing his things to follow suit, only throwing a hand in a wave at Wallace, and adding in a smirk at him as he closed the door on his way out. "We're on our way! See you later, Wallace!"
"So, Miss May, what's our plan of action?" Steven asked, following May down the crater city's paths as she pulled her Eon flute from her fanny pack.
The plan was to land in Lilycove. After some awkward deliberation, Steven and May decided that with the combination of riding together for 7 hours to Dewford was a little much at the moment, and additionally, deciding it best to let Latias and Latios rest, considering all the flying they'd been doing for them as of late. They agreed to fly as far as Lilycove, where they could take the S.S. Tidal to Slateport, and either fly to Dewford or ride with Mr. Briney. After landing in Lilycove, they would head straight to the City Harbor, and board the S.S. Tidal as inconspicuously as possible.
And it had almost worked.
May and Steven were inside the Harbor, just about to secure their place on the ship headed to Slateport.
"I'm sorry, but, there's only one open cabin left on the ship," the attendant said, "would you still like the room?"
May and Steven had only briefly glanced at each other in a moment's embarrassment, when a voice from the entrance caused them both to turn their heads again and look.
"There they are! It's Champion May and Steven Stone! And they're about to get a cabin together on the S.S. Tidal!"
"Yes we are," May cursorily muttered, taking no hesitation in whipping out her wallet from her fanny pack and pulling a card out, slipping it into the attendant's hands. "We'll take it, and quickly," May said, with urging eyes. It was impossible for the attendant to not understand, and she hastily complied, lifting the red velvet line holder for the two to pass, and immediately placing it back after the two had passed into the ship.
The attendant only had the biggest grin on her face when the reporters approached the entrance to the ship. "Sorry, but that was our last cabin. The next ferry leaves in about two hours. Would you like to reserve spots on the next trip?"
Now on the ship, and safe from the reporters, May and Steven were able to relax, at least a little bit.
"Alright, we're in cabin 2…" May said, leading the way down the hallway, using a key to let them through the door. Once they were inside the small room, May could only give a soft giggle. "It's nice to be the one calling the shots like this."
Steven could only raise an eyebrow at her, to which May replied, "Sorry, I just mean it was kind of exciting to decide something like that in the moment myself."
Closing the door behind him and helping himself to the small dining table to remove his pack, Steven's brow was furrowed. "You make it sound like I…made you do things?" he said with a hesitantly questioning ring, and he lifted his head up from the table to look at May, who was still standing by the door.
"What?" May immediately responded, her cheeks instantly taking a rosy hue. "No, no, nothing like that," she said, waving her hands in front of her face, "I just meant that, well…" she faltered. Steven had certainly heavily persuaded many of her major decisions in the past 2 years, and it would be a lie to say otherwise. Would she have done anything differently? Not particularly. But it would also be a lie to say that most of her major decision-making was absolutely influenced by Steven.
"I'm sorry that I can't remember," Steven said, filling in the silence that May left. May looked up at him from across the small room, and there he was, with that sad soft smile again, that look that May still didn't know how to interpret the way it made her feel.
"Steven," May replied in the most honest voice she could muster, "you have nothing to apologize for. At least, not concerning your memory. We have no idea why Uxie did this, or what's going on with Hoenn right now."
Watching his head look back down at his pack on the table, but his expression not change at all, May offered, "Hey, I think I'd like to explore the ship a little bit. Do you want to come with me?"
Steven offered her another soft smile, this time with his eyes closed, then looked away again before answering, "That's okay, you go ahead. I think I've got some meditating to do."
May tried her best to keep her chin up, despite hoping he'd come with, and said, "That's okay. I'll keep the ringer on my Pokénav on loud in case you need anything," and excused herself from the cabin.
Truthfully, May wanted to head to the deck to chat with the captain, and Steven not accompanying her could possibly help keep that conversation less complicated for now, considering his current condition. Still, she couldn't help but worry, as he was having a hard time not acting like an abandoned Skiddo about the whole thing.
Carrying herself mildly, May walked down the hall toward the entrance to the deck, kindly waving at anyone who recognized her, but continuing to walk with a purpose so as to not be stopped by anyone.
The deck was less crowded that usual, but still not empty by any means. May tried to not seem too focused as she made her way past the tables of the young and laughing socialites that frequented the S.S. Tidal.
"Had I ever told you that Archie and I were once shipmates?" the old man at the wheel said to May as she approached his side. The captain was no other than Drake of the Hoenn Elite Four, and he always had a peculiar way of greeting her when she came to talk to him on the ship.
"I don't believe you have," May said, "and that's an awfully odd thing to have prepared to say to me first thing."
"Always full of determination, that one," Drake continued, not taking his eyes off of the sea before him, "although, had I known what that determination had been for, specifically, well…let's just say I'm not without my regrets."
May crunched her forehead in response and said, "No way…you can't mean you think you could have predicted his ideals?"
Drake gave a hearty chuckle in response, "Can't say it doesn't cross my mind from time to time these days, lass. Now, Miss May, to what do I owe the pleasure of having a beaut like you on my ship?"
"I wanted to see how things have been on your usual route," May said, getting straight to the point, "and I want to know if you've seen anything weird lately. In general."
"Yer askin' bout the islands, aren't ya."
"So you've seen them?!" May asked with a bit of excitement.
Drake took a deep sigh, and glanced at May for a moment before closing his eyes. "I see various islands from time to time. At first I chummed them up as mirages on these old eyes out at sea for so long. But then I overheard some of the regulars on deck starting to notice the irregularities as well, and I knew it wasn't just me."
"It's definitely not just you," May assured him, "Steven's apparently been attempting to research them for some time now."
"Ah, so the two of ya have come to police me then, eh? For not having said something to The League about this sooner? I hope you can give an old sea dog a break."
"Woah, no way, it's nothing like that," May immediately responded. "And even then, I still have a really hard time seeing myself as, you know, higher ranked than you."
"Atta girl!" Drake's voice boomed, quickly followed by another hearty laugh. For coming off as such a hard-ass most of the time, there was something about the way Drake laughed, had you the chance to hear it, that made you want to bottle it and keep it for the darkest times. "So what're the two of ya makin' of these islands, then?"
"Well, nothing quite set in stone, as of yet," May said, her voice hesitant. "We have our thoughts that there's a Pokémon of some sort that's contributing in some way, but even then, those are only speculations. We don't have much to go off of. Well, except," May added, having a certain realization, "there was one island we visited that we know is most likely from the Sinnoh region. You'll read this in our upcoming reports, but, we encountered Uxie on that island."
Drake grunted. "I hardly read those reports, but it sounds like I'll probably need to start. Continue."
May decided that for now, it was probably best to keep Steven's amnesia under wraps. "I feel like I've done a lot of talking, though. And that's pretty much it. What do you make of these islands? And do you know anything about Sinnoh lore?" May asked.
"To be perfectly honest, Sinnoh is one region that I hardly know anything about," Drake answered. "Hate to say it, but it's the truth. As for these islands, well…" he trailed off before continuing to speak. "I'm still uncertain of just what to think, and I hate jumping to conclusions. But I can tell you one thing: my Pokémon know that something is wrong, and they don't like what's been going on in Hoenn one bit. Have you tried consulting your Pokémon for what they think?"
May was ashamed. The thought hadn't even occurred to her. Had she even paid attention to how her Swampert felt when she called upon him on the island with Uxie? What kind of champion was she, that she hadn't even checked her Pokémon's feelings regarding the regional changes?
Her silence was enough of an answer for Drake, and he closed his eyes, and grunted once more. "Miss May, I think it'd be wise for you to rest up in your cabin for a bit. Assuming the weather stays clear, we have maybe two hours more on the sea before docking in Slateport, and I have a feeling that once we land there, you'll be as lively as always."
"You're not wrong," May responded lightly, bringing a hand to tuck back a strand of hair that blew loose from a sudden breeze. Drake was right about the weather; they couldn't have asked for clearer skies, and a perfect day to be at sea. "I guess I'll get going now," she said, about to leave for her cabin, "but thanks for the talk. I really appreciate it. I need to listen to my Pokémon more when I'm unsure of what to do."
"Aye Miss May, you take care."
When May reentered her cabin, she found Steven passed out in a chair, slumped over the small table, using his pack as a pillow. He had said meditating, but it looked like he meant napping. May walked over to the bed and removed the top blanket, using it to cover Steven's sleeping body, and then allowed herself to curl up in the bed. He didn't have the wrong idea, and it couldn't hurt to listen to Drake. There was no doubt that once they landed in Slateport, they would be busy bodies as always, so a nap didn't seem like a terrible idea. It wouldn't be terribly hard to fall asleep to the swaying of the ship and the sound of waves crashing against the hull.
"Mnmm, please, five more minutes."
"May, please, we've safely arrived in Slateport. It's time to go."
…or that's at least what May was pretty sure she heard. She was about to drowsily protest once more, until she felt cool fingers pushing her bangs back to reveal her forehead. It was the touch of metal rings that caused her to jolt into an upright sitting position.
May was clearly disheveled, clutching the sheet to her chest as she stared at Steven with wide eyes. "I'm awake!" she blurted.
Steven couldn't hide his blush. He knew he probably shouldn't have touched May like that, but he didn't know how else to try to wake her. Just talking to her hadn't worked, and he didn't want to do anything that wasn't gentle. Still, he could still feel how soft her hair was in his fingers, and he cursed himself for the lingering thought.
"I hope you're feeling well-rested, "Steven managed, now forcing himself to walk to the table and grab his backpack, "are you ready to depart?"
"Uh, yeah…" May resonded, still taking a moment to take in her surroundings. She must've napped pretty hard, because she was feeling pretty hazy, "but forgive me if I seem aloof. I'm still waking up."
Steven couldn't help a chuckle. "I imagine at this rate, it's only courteous for me to be nothing but forgiving, considering what you've probably had to mentally go through with me so far."
May took care sliding off of the bed, and joined Steven in leaving the cabin. A sailor was waiting just outside of their door, ready to escort them off of the ship, and his cheeks were rosy with assumptions.
"Thank you, but this isn't terribly necessary," Steven said to the sailor escort as they walked down the hall.
"Forgive me, Mr. Stone, but I'm actually supposed to warn you for what's waiting for the both of you when you get off of the ship," the sailor replied as he was about to lead them through the exit.
Steven stopped walking, and put a hand up for May to stop walking as well. "Warn us? Whatever of?" Steven cautiously and sternly asked, "and please, call me Steven…"
The sailor's hat was now in his hands, and he almost looked ashamed, as his eyes set downcast. He was clearly young, as was directed with what to say. "I'm sorry, Mr. Sto…Steven, but…apparently it caught wind that the two of you caught the ferry for Slateport , so…there might be a hoard of reporters waiting for you in the harbor."
Steven was about to speak, until he noticed that May already had a Pokéball in one hand, and her Eon flute in the other.
"I'm sorry, we didn't get your name," May sweetly said to the sailor, despite her hands depicting that she was ready for action.
"Uh, it's Elroy, Miss Maple."
"Thank you so much for the warning, Elroy, I really appreciate it," May said to the sailor, her words dripping with charm. "Steven, stay close to me and do as I say."
Steven eyed the young heroine cautiously but stayed close as she exited the ship. He was about to make a comment about her evidently being more awake now, but anyone would have been jumped awake at the sight and sound before them as soon as they stepped off of the ship.
"Champion May!"
"Steven Stone!"
"Is it true you shared a cabin together?"
"What's the occasion?"
"What does Gym Leader Norman think of your rendezvous?"
Without missing a beat, May tossed her Pokéball out at the water in the harbor, and leapt out onto her Swampert just as he materialized. She expectantly looked back at Steven with urgency, who needed a moment to realize the moment, and after a two second delay, jumped on Swampert's back as well. The buzz of reporters' voices and cameras' clicks only increased as Swampert ferried them out of the harbor and into the sunlight, where May swiftly blew the calling melody, and in a flash, Latias was there. She lowered herself to almost touching the water so that May and Steven could easily climb aboard her back, and May withdrew her Swampert, and with that, they were high up in the sky, headed towards Dewford.
"Man, we should've timed that!" May called out over her shoulder at Steven, "I bet we got out of there in thirty seconds flat!"
"I appreciate your cheery demeanor, May, but," Steven answered, still looking back and down at the harbor, now with reporters spilling outside and plenty of cameras catching their escape, "do the reporters not worry you in the slightest? You realize that all of this is going to be plastered on every television in Hoenn for the rest of the day, right?"
Steven felt May take a deep breath, reminding him that he was maybe holding onto her waist too tightly, and he loosened. "Are you saying you're not impressed?" she replied over her shoulder, "inventing escape routes used to be your area of expertise."
"That…" Steven started, paused, and blinked a few times to himself, "Is not what I was saying at all. Did reporters bother us like this before?"
"On occasion, but nothing this full blown out," May said. She egged Latias to make a sharp dip, causing Steven's to tighten his arms around May's waist. May only smirked over her shoulder. "They know we tend to escape from them like this with Latias and Latios, though, so this song and dance isn't horribly new news."
"Well, at least no one knows we're headed to Dewford," Steven said, attempting to sound matter-of-factly, "and thank goodness it isn't a terribly long flight."
He wasn't wrong. They could already see Dewford's beaches in the horizon, and slowly, several fishermen popped up in their line of vision.
"To play it safe, we should probably land as close as possible to the entrance of Granite Cave," May said.
Latias managed to land them practically in front of the cave's entrance, exactly what May had wanted. Steven had already prepared his flashlight, and they headed inside.
As they entered the cave, May couldn't help but feel her face growing warm as she remembered the reason they decided to come to Granite Cave. Yes, this was for Steven's sake and an attempt to return some of his memories, but specifically, memories of her. The first time May had come to Granite Cave, that had been when she met Steven for the first time, learned about the ancient Pokémon of Hoenn for the first time, and altogether when the journey for her had truly started.
"So, where was it specifically that we met?" Steven asked as they walked along, jerking May out of her thoughts.
"Oh, uh, the large open room, with the huge murals," May responded, as they made their way down the cavern leading to said room. "You had been studying the walls when I came in. It wasn't anything particularly momentous, but it was still our first meeting, nonetheless," she added, trying to mentally punch out the Beautiflies that were invading her stomach.
They entered the large room, and May could hear Steven audibly gasp. She eyed him with peculiarity, but in an instant remembered that he had lost all memory of this place. She stopped walking and watched as he slowly continued to step forward, looking all around him. Essentially seeing this room for the first time at this point, May could only imagine the wonder that was going through the geology-enthusiast's brain.
Spinning on his heel to face May, Steven declared, "Let's have a battle!"
May only coughed awkwardly. "Um, what? All of a sudden?"
Steven had already drawn a Pokéball from within his jacket and said, "Doesn't it seem right? Here we are, where we first met, so why not engage in what ties us together? Besides, I'm sure a good battle would do us both some good."
May had to admit that Steven's rationality had a good point, although the words engage in what ties us together were ringing in her ears the hardest. Before she could agree, Steven had already thrown his Pokéball between them, and the gray jewel Pokémon Carbink materialized before them.
"That's…strange, I don't ever remember raising a Carbink…" Steven started to say, and seemed as though he was going to continue to speak, but his voice trailed off as he stared intently at his rock and fairy typed Pokémon.
"Steven?" May asked, minor worry in her voice, "Steven, you okay?"
"I think I…remember?"
May felt her chest tighten. "Steven, remember what?" she asked, voice growing with excitement. "Steven, what do you remember?"
Steven's lips were pressed tight, and pink spread across his whole face. "I caught this Carbink because it reminded me…of you."