Low, foamy waves rolled across Route 118. The route was broken by the end of a long salt river stretching into the ocean to the south.
Brendan had healed his Pokemon and left Petalburg early to advance to the next part of the region. Marshtomp stood by his side, gleefully kicking its feet in the shallow waters.
"What do you think, Marshtomp? Can you get me across?"
Marshtomp croaked and splashed happily. Brendan dipped his athletic shoes into the water and grabbed on to Marshtomp's back. Marshtomp propelled itself forward with its arms, first slowly. It gained speed as it gained confidence. Marshtomp kicked its feet, and after a few minutes he and Brendan were standing on the other shore.
Brendan tried to shake the water out of his clothes. He was soaking wet.
At least the sun is warm today, Brendan thought.
"Brendan!" Steven called.
Brendan looked away from his drenched clothes and saw Steven standing a little further up the shore.
"I didn't even realize you were standing there," Brendan excused himself as he approached Steven.
"How are the travels going?"
"Odd," Brendan said.
"Is that so?"
"I keep running into Team Magma. I didn't know they were such a huge presence in Hoenn."
"They aren't usually, Brendan. It seems they are up to something. Something bad."
"Reviving Groudon."
"What?" Steven was taken aback. "Who told you that?"
"Team Aqua first. Maxie admitted to wanting to wipe out the oceans and Pokemon. You don't think it's actually possible, do you, Steven?" Brendan was hoping Steven would provide some comfort.
"You spoke to Maxie? That's wild."
"But can they actually bring back Groudon?"
"Brendan," Steven said. "I want to talk about the letter you delivered to me back in Granite Cave. Devon has been continuing some researching that started in Kalos a little while ago. This research investigates a rumored method of heightening the power of Pokemon. As farfetched as the research sounds when you read it, it has actually proved very promising. We've made some amazing advances in tapping previously unknown potential, but we haven't fully got it figured out. We can't prove anything until we actually make a Pokemon reach its higher form."
"Is that the research Team Magma stole?" Brendan asked.
"It is. The letter you sent me informed me of the situation. I infiltrated the Magma base where we suspected they were holding the copies the grunt made, and I found them. But, Team Aqua beat me to it. They stole copies of the research for themselves."
"So they are going to make super-powerful Pokemon?"
Steven didn't answer. Instead, he changed the subject.
"Let me tell you more of the story I began in Granite Cave. The ancient peoples, crippled by the war between Groudon and Kyogre, turned to their one possible savior. It is said that a powerful green dragon intervened in the conflict, trying to separate Groudon and Kyogre. Alas, it was far outmuscled. The dragon came to rest in Sootopolis, a city built in the crater of a prehistoric volcano, and the natives of Sootopolis looked up to the dragon with great admiration for its efforts to save them, regardless of its failure. Then, something miraculous happened. The people of Sootopolis somehow found a way to infuse their faith into their surroundings. The very stone they walked upon was charged by the energy of the locals. They made a Key Stone that let them harness that energy and transfer it to the dragon, and the dragon underwent a transformation. With its newfound strength, the green dragon returned to the warring Pokemon and put an end to the carnage once and for all."
"Steven," Brendan said. "What is the green dragon?"
"As far as I've heard, no one is really sure. Parts of that legend were almost lost; only a select few ancient Sootopolis descendants tell of their ancestors empowering the green dragon." Steven looked at his watch, then continued. "I think you should keep these legends in mind, Brendan. You may find them to be quite useful in the near future."
"I will."
"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some important matters to take care of."
Steven released a Skarmory and climbed on its back.
"I'm sure I'll be seeing you again, Brendan. Farewell."
Steven waved as the Pokemon flew him away.
Brendan wondered if Prof. Birch had heard the details of the legend Steven just revealed to him. He pulled out his Pokedex and pressed the blue button. A key pad opened on the touch screen. Brendan jotted down notes of the story and submitted it to Prof. Birch.
Having taken his notes, Brendan pocketed his Pokedex and finished crossing Route 118, turning left onto Route 119.
Route 119 followed the river upstream. It was claimed by skyscrapers of tall grass, obscuring most of the path from view. Brendan shoved his way through the first stretch of grass, finding a more accommodating vantage point. Most of the route was geographically complex. The land elevated naturally going north, twice making such sharp climbs that short waterfalls poured into the river.
Along the river, Team Magma grunts stood guard, leading up to a two-story building powered by rooftop windmills. Flashy gold letters along the top identified it as the Weather Institute.
Brendan proceeded through most of the path, going a little over half the distance before reaching the first grunt.
"Hey," Brendan said. "What are you up to?"
"Stay out of our way, Trainer, and we'll stay out of yours," the grunt said, keeping her position.
"Fine, whatever," Brendan responded, continuing his way past the remaining grunts near the river to the entrance of the Weather Institute. Five grunts barred access.
"Trainer," one of the grunts said. "The Weather Institute has closed prematurely today for the progress of Team Magma's glorious visions."
"Well I just reopened it," Brendan said. "Step out of my way."
The grunts laughed.
"Weak trainer, even if you get past us, Maxie will slaughter you," another grunt said.
Brendan gulped.
"So, Maxie's in there? I know Maxie, I've had a few run-ins with him before. Now get out of my way."
Each of the grunts pulled out a Pokeball in unison, obviously having rehearsed for this moment. All of them released a Zubat.
"Go, Electrike! Use Spark!" Brendan said, sending out his Pokemon.
Electrike bared its fangs and sent sparks flying from its now radiant fur, showering all the Zubat with electricity. The Zubat squealed, losing flight one by one and thumping onto the ground.
The sparks quit flying, but Electrike's body kept glowing, indeed becoming brighter. Electrike transformed beneath the coverage of the light, letting out a deep growl as a Manectric once the light eased up.
"Great work, buddy!" Brendan complimented, returning Manectric.
"Trainer, you may pass, but be warned: Maxie will stop you dead in your tracks," one of the grunts cautioned.
"I'll take my chances," Brendan said, shoving past them and into the building.
On the first floor, a young woman was tied up on the ground with duct tape over her mouth. Brendan knelt down beside her on the cold white tile floor and carefully peeled off the tape.
"Team Magma! Team Magma is upstairs!" she whispered frantically.
"I know," Brendan said. "I'll come back for you after I've taken care of them. Why are they here?"
"I don't know. They just showed up and attacked. They went upstairs without saying a word."
"Alright. I don't have a knife, otherwise I'd cut you loose right now. Just hang tight, I'll get you out of this."
Brendan crept over to the stairs, desperately seeking to keep quiet. One step at a time he ascended, crawling onto the landing on all fours when he reached the top. He could see the heads of Maxie and several grunts over a desk. They were all turned the other way. Brendan kept crawling, hiding behind a filing cabinet.
"I'll only ask one more time, sir, where is it?" Maxie demanded.
"How should I know? I'm a meteorologist, I don't research those kinds of things!" a man said, though Brendan could not see his face.
"I know you track the weather very carefully. You ought to be aware of its presence." Maxie slammed his fist onto a desk and yelled, "Now, answer the question!"
"Alright, Maxie. You've got me," the man groaned. "There's been a constant drought over Route 128 as long as we've been keeping record. So far, we haven't found a way to explain it. Its effects are subtle, but it's definitely there."
"See," Maxie said smoothly. "That wasn't so hard, now. I shall spare you your life. And I'll let go all of your employees. I'm glad we can be on good terms."
The grunts led Maxie to the elevator and took it downstairs with him. Brendan waited for the arrow above the doors to show the elevator had reached the ground floor before standing up. Seven people were lined up against the back wall.
"Young man," the person Maxie interrogated, a short man with thick blonde hair, said. "How long have you been in here?"
"I only caught the last of the action," Brendan said. "What was Team Magma looking for?"
"You don't need to know. You're lucky to be alive. Get out of my building."
Brendan waited at the head of the stairs ten minutes to be sure Maxie was gone before going down. The receptionist was untied, but she lied on the ground still. Brendan helped her to her feet.
"Are you okay, ma'am," he asked.
"I'm fine. Just a little freaked out," she said.
"How long ago did Team Magma leave?"
"They left almost straight away. They freed me and left, just like that," she informed him.
"Whatever they are up to, don't worry. I am going to make sure they don't get away with it," Brendan assured her.
Leaving the woman sat behind her desk, Brendan embarked onto Route 119 again. A short ways from the Weather Institute, he could see two trainers battling. As he got closer, he could tell it was May and Wally.
"Hey guys!" Brendan said as he came upon them. They had returned their Pokemon before he reached them.
"Newcomer, you actually made it? I was afraid those baby currents would scare you off," May said.
"Very funny, May. Wally, how are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm great," Wally said, almost pointing his chin at Brendan's face.
"So you two know each other? Wow, Newcomer, you're just lagging behind everybody!" May said.
"Cut him some slack, would you? It's thanks to him I'm even out here," Wally argued.
"It's alright, Wally. She's just messing around," Brendan assured him.
"Oh. I um… sorry," Wally said, nearly returning to the uncertain stance Brendan met him with.
"So, you're responsible for this one, Brendan? Go figure, even your protégé beats me," May spoke through a giggle.
"I'll see you around later, Brendan," Wally said. "I've got to go heal and check on my girlfriend. I want to battle you again later."
Wally walked away without another word.
"So," Brendan said. "How many gym badges have you got now?"
"Still one more than you, I can see," May said, pointing at Brendan's badges. "I thought you said you'd catch up before I reached the next city? I'm already through with Fortree!"
"It's a long way from Lavaridge to Petalburg. That's the only thing that let you keep your lead, May. I'll be ahead of you before you know it."
"Oh, really? Well, at least I know a faster way to travel!"
"Yeah? What's that?"
"Your Pokemon can help you in a lot more ways than you realize. Just like Water types can carry you across water, Flying types will fly you around, if you can tell them how to get there."
Brendan felt his cheeks get hot. He scratched the back of his neck.
"Oops," he said.
"Maybe now you won't fall two badges behind again," May teased.
"Nope. It will be you doing that."
"Keep dreaming. Hey, did you notice Team Magma on this route earlier?" she asked, abruptly changing subject.
"Yeah, I saw them," Brendan admitted.
"You didn't have anything to do with what went down, did you?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Please, Brendan," May said. "You need to be careful. I don't want you to get h—" She let her sentence trail off.
"What?"
"Nothing. I'll see you around, Brendan. I've got to heal my Pokemon."
"Okay," Brendan said.
"Bye."
May hurried off, keeping her head to the ground as she ran. Brendan walked along behind her, not trying to keep up. He saw her enter Fortree City. She disappeared inside the Pokemon Center briefly, then came back outside. Brendan watched her climb a ladder into a tree house as he finally reached the end of Route 119. She was gone by the time he entered the city.