Pokemon True Emerald

by Exdeathmore

Chapter 10: Admin Thoren Strikes!

"That's wonderful, May!" May's mother said as May spoke to her on a video phone in the Rustboro Pokemon Center. "Your very first Gym badge, how exciting! Can I see it?"

"Of course!" May said, opening her badge case and held it in front of the screen. "So, what do you think?"

"I'm proud of you, May. And I'm sure your father would be proud, too. Speaking of which... a few days ago, he started coming home every night, instead of sleeping at the Gym in Petalburg."

"Sounds like he started taking my advice," May giggled.

"Well, I don't know what you said, but I certainly appreciate it. It's been so lonely here ever since you left..."

"I'm sorry, mom... I'll come back and visit sometime, I promise!"

"Don't worry about me, sweetie, I was just talking. Just keep doing your best! I'll be rooting for you!"

"I will, mom! I gotta go now, bye!" May waved to her mother as she hung up. She then let out a big sigh. "The teacher said I should try going to Dewford Town, but where am I supposed to get my hands on a boat?"

"Excuse me!" The nurse at the counter called out to May. "Did you just say you needed to get to Dewford Town?"

"Yes, I did."

"If you're looking for a boat, you could try asking Mr. Briney."

"Who?"

"Mr. Briney. He used to be one of the best sailors in all of Hoenn, but now he's retired. He owns his own boat, and I'm sure he would help you if you asked."

"Really? Where can I find him?"

"He lives in a beachside cabin west of Petalburg City. Occasionally, he takes a walk through here to Route 116. If you're lucky, you might run into him right here in the city. You can't miss him; he's always with his Wingull, Peeko, and keeps her out of a Poke Ball."

"I'll go look for him right now! Thank you for the information!" May bowed politely, and raced out the door.

Outside, May patrolled the streets, looking for anyone with a Wingull. Her search brought her to the front of an enormous building. The word "Devon" hung over the entrance of the building.

"Not here, either..." May sighed. She looked around and noticed the sign. "Hm? Devon? Isn't that...?"

"Outta my way!" somebody shouted. May looked ahead, and saw someone running straight towards her. It was a man, with brown hair and a light, shaggy beard, wearing a green uniform and cap, with black gloves and boots. The man ran right into May, knocking her down. He kept running, not even offering to help May.

"Ow..." May groaned, rubbing her behind as she got back on her feet. "Jerk!" she yelled at the man, shaking her fist, but he was already out of sight. "Hmm... I think I've seen that outfit before..."

"Help! Stop, thief!" another voice yelled. May turned back towards the building and saw someone else coming. She recognized them as the Devon employee she met in Petalburg Woods.

"It's you!" May said. "And who are you calling thief! ?"

"Oh my, it's you!" the Devon employee recognized May. He ran up to her and clutched her hands. "I'm saved! Oh, thank goodness you're here! You have to help me!"

"Wait, what? What are you talking about?"

"I was just robbed! A man in a green uniform! He just brazenly marched into the Devon Corporation building, took the package I was supposed to deliver, and bolted out the door!"

"Green uniform? Now I remember! That guy who tried to rob you before was wearing the same thing!"

"Yes, yes! And now they did rob me! Please, you helped me before! I have to get that package back!"

"Of course! I saw him go down this way!" May and the Devon employee ran down the street, asking anyone they passed if they had seen the uniformed man.

Eventually, their hunt brought them to the edge of the city, to Route 116.

"It looks like he already left the city," May said. "Were we too late?"

"Wait, wait... oh yes, I remember! Hahah!" the Devon employee laughed. "He's trapped!"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Route 116 is a dead-end!" he explained. "At the end of the path is the Rusturf Tunnel, a tunnel that's being built through the base of Mt. Chimney to connect Rustboro City to Verdanturf Town. It would've been finished by now, but construction was halted when the workers found out that the digging machines were startling and agitating the wild Pokemon living in the area. The thief will be cornered with nowhere to go!"

"I'll go after the thief," May said. "You stay here and call the police in case he comes back this way." She raced down the path, hoping to close the distance. Along the way, she heard somebody screaming.

"Help! Vandals! Savages!" the voice cried out.

"Now what?" May asked. In the distance, she saw a bald, bearded old man lying down on the side of the path, struggling to get up. "Hang on!" May shouted to the old man as she rushed over. "Are you okay?" she asked as she pulled him to his feet.

"Ooh, ow... I'll be fine," the old man said. "But Peeko...! My darling Peeko!"

"Peeko?" May heard that name before. "Are you Mr. Briney? The old sailor?"

"Yes, I–who are you calling old! ? I'll have you know that I'm still shipshape, you disrespectful whippersnapper!"

"Ah, sorry! What happened here?"

"We were on our walk, Peeko and I, when we were jumped by an odd-looking thug in a green outfit. That scoundrel made off with my darling Peeko!"

"Don't worry, Mr. Briney. I'll bring Peeko back safely!"

"I'm coming, too! I–" Mr. Briney took one step, and there was a loud popping sound. "Ooooh, my back! That rapscallion will pay for this!"

"You shouldn't move!" May said. "Just wait here and leave it to me! I'll come back for you!" She helped Mr. Briney sit down against a nearby tree, then continued down the path.

At the end of the path was a steep, rocky hill. May could see construction equipment gathered in front of a large passageway. The equipment looks like it hasn't been touched for a long time.

"This must be the Rusturf Tunnel," May said. "Now where did he...?" Suddenly, there was a loud squawking coming from inside the tunnel.

"Gah! You bit me!" a voice shouted. "Just pipe down and come with me, already!"

"Hang on, Peeko!" May shouted into the tunnel as she ran inside. "I'm coming to save you!"

"Stay back!" the voice shouted. "I have a hostage! I'll do... something!"

"Something? What kind of threat is that?" May reached the end of the tunnel, and spotted the man in the green uniform, looking at the rock wall. He was holding a wrapped box in one hand, and a frightened Wingull tucked under his other arm.

"Gah!" the man stomped the ground angrily. "The tunnel wasn't even finished yet! ? When I get my hands on the guys responsible for scouting this place...!"

"You there!" May shouted at the man. "Let Peeko go, and give that package back!"

"Argh! This hostage is useless if someone came after me anyway!" He turned around and saw May. "...Oh. It's just some kid."

"And who are you supposed to be?"

"Heheh... you asked who I am, so now I'll tell you!" the uniformed man struck an odd pose, like a superhero from a children's show. "I am Thoren, one of Team Zephyr's Administrators, in charge of reconnaissance and threat assessment! And soon, you will be left trembling in terror of my mastery of my mighty Bug Pokemon!"

"..." May stared blankly at Thoren. "...Pfft! Aaahahahahah!" She suddenly burst out laughing, clutching her sides.

"What? What's so funny? I'm trying to be dramatic, here! You should be gasping in wonder and awe!" He dropped the package, reached into his uniform jacket, and pulled out a Poke Ball. "Let's see if you're still laughing after this! Go, Dustox!" He threw the Ball out, and a large bug Pokemon with green wings and eerie yellow eyes appeared from it.

"Dustox..." May pulled out her Pokedex and opened it.

Dustox – the Poison Moth Pokemon. It is nocturnal, and instinctively drawn to light. The dust that coats its wings is highly toxic.

"Wait a second..." Thoren took a closer look at May. "A little girl with a Pokedex... so, you're the one who tripped up my man in Petalburg Woods. It's your fault I had to go through the trouble of stealing this package from Devon myself, so now it's time for some payback!"

"We'll see about that! Go, Torchic!" May quickly threw out Torchic's Ball and called him out. "Torchic, Peck!" Torchic ran up to the Dustox and leapt towards it.

"Dustox, Protect!" A green light appeared around the Dustox. Torchic bounced off as he struck the light. "Now counter with Confusion!" Its eyes started glowing, and Torchic started floating into the air. It flew off in one direction, slamming into the rock wall.

"Torchic, hang in there!" May cheered at him. "Use Ember!" Torchic took a deep breath, and spewed a stream of flames.

"Protect!" The green light appeared again, nullifying the attack.

"Don't let up, Torchic! Ember again!"

"Protect again!" This time, however, there was no light, and Dustox took the full force of the attack. After being pelted by the flames, it crashed to the ground, knocked out. "Gah!" Thoren recalled his Pokemon.

"Wow, that was a little... disappointing," May commented. "Either you're lying about being some kind of leader, or you guys are really weak."

"Urgh... you're just like the other Admins, always looking down on me. Just because I use Bug Pokemon doesn't mean I'm weak! This was supposed to be an easy job! They should've gotten Adder to do this, he's the infiltration expert!"

"You're beaten, so just give up already!"

"In that case, time for Plan B..." Thoren muttered. He suddenly pointed behind May. "Ahhh! What's that! ?"

"Huh?" May turned around, but saw nothing.

"Plan B!" Thoren screamed, throwing Peeko at May and knocking her down as he ran past her. "Later, kid!" he shouted as ran out of the tunnel.

"Ow!" May got back up in time to see Thoren escaping. "Get back here!" May shouted at him, but he was already gone. She looked next to her and saw Peeko. "Oh, Peeko! Are you okay?" Peeko cawed, stretching her wings. Meanwhile, Torchic ran to the end of the tunnel and chirped, poking at the package on the ground. "The package! Did he actually forget it? Oh well, his loss, I guess." May picked up the package. "Thanks, Torchic. Get some rest, now." She recalled Torchic and turned to Peeko. "Come on, Peeko. Mr. Briney must be worried sick about you!"

At the tunnel entrance, May had just reached the exit, with the stolen package in hand and Peeko perching on top of her head.

"Peeeeeekoooooo!" a familiar voice called out. Peeko hopped off of May's head and glided down the road. Up ahead, May could see Mr. Briney approaching. He grabbed Peeko and started hugging her. "Oh, Peeko! Am I glad to see you're safe!"

"Mr. Briney?" May was surprised by his quick recovery.

"It'll take more than a bad fall to keep this old sailor down!" he said proudly. "I owe you, lass! You saved my darling Peeko! What's your name?"

"I'm May, and you're welcome!"

"Well, May, like I said, I owe you! If there's anything I can do in my power, don't hesitate to let me know!"

"Actually, I was looking for you before. The nurse at the Rustboro Pokemon Center said you have a boat, and I was wondering if you could give me a ride to Dewford Town."

"Hah! Is that all? Of course, lass! I could sail us to Dewford in my sleep! Just meet at my cabin by the beach when you're ready to go! Do you know the place?"

"Yes, I've been in the area before. It shouldn't be too hard to find a house there. I better get going, I have to return this package to its owner." May said goodbye to Mr. Briney and Peeko as she hurried down the path, back to Rustboro City.

'That's the second time I've seen and fought someone from this Team Zephyr,' May thought. 'I hope I haven't gotten myself involved in something bad...'

Elsewhere, Thoren was breathing a sigh of relief.

"Heheh, Plan B worked perfectly! Another daring escape, successfully executed by yours truly! Now to deliver the package to the boss, and..." He looked around, and patted down his uniform. "...Gah! ! I left the package in the tunnel! The others will never let me live this down! This is the worst day of my life! That kid with the Pokedex is gonna pay for this! !" His screams of annoyance echoed through the sky.