HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Sirius: To?
SOMEONE!
Sirius: Not this again ...
Muddy: I'm afraid Breezy has finally lost it.
You said that once.
Muddy: I know. Guess what?
Flare: What?
Muddy: Chicken butt! Ahaha! It's funny because you're a chicken, and you have a butt!
Flare: -.-
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. HOW MANY TIMES MUST I SAY IT?
How the Shore Meets the Sea
"I'm tired!" the boy declared, collapsing into an armchair back in the Fallabor pokémon center. "All that battling has worn me out, and then coming back and forth in that volcano ash and climbing Mount Chimney–"
"B Boy, the cable car re-opened," May pointed out, reclining in the armchair next to Brendan's. She squirmed around, trying to get comfy. "Anyway, um ... Thanks again for saving me up there. I really would have," she gulped at this, "probably would have been in deep trouble if you didn't."
"Of course. I am your knight-in-shining-armor after all," Brendan stated smugly, only to get flicked on the forehead. "Ow! I was just kidding! Geez, flicking hurts!"
May giggled, smiling warmly at Brendan. "Hey, how did you know that I was in trouble?" she asked, clinging onto the arm of the chair. She ran her fingers up and down the rough cloth. "Did you hear me scream all the way down here or something?"
"I'm Superman, remember?" Brendan said a little bit arrogantly only to get punched on the arm. "What? You know I'm kidding."
May rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well ... Now what?"
Good question. While Brendan and May battled a few of the Team Magma grunts, he was pretty sure that most of the grunts flocked back if not heightened security. Going back up the cable cars seemed unlikely, so Lavaridge was out of the question still. The boy couldn't help but wonder what Team Magma was up to. Unlike May, who was horrified when she told him of Team Magma's plan, Brendan seemed strangely curious. Intrigued, even. He never really thought of them as evil. Team Rocket from Kanto was evil; they used pokémon as tools of war. But Team Magma ... All they tried to do, so far, was benefit all living creatures. What exactly was bad about wanting to create more land? Hoenn was crowded enough as it is.
"Brendan?" Brendan's thoughts were interrupted as May shoved a pokéball in his face. It was worn out and scratched a bit at the top; Muddy's pokéball. He took it in his hands, running his fingers down its smooth surface, before clipping it back to his belt, May doing the same with her own balls.
"Did you hear me?" the girl asked, admiring the row of pokéballs along her hips.
He nodded. "Yeah. I was thinking about it. Since Lavaridge seems out of the question, we can take some time to go sight seeing and train a bit. Lavaridge also has a new gym leader, and I heard she's pretty tough."
"But we're, like, in the middle of no where. Where else can we go?"
Brendan thought about what was in the area. The pokémon coordinator building, obviously, but he doubted there was a contest today. They could visit that creepy, old man that lived in the ashes, but that didn't sound really appealing either. His mind trailed back to trainer school when he was in geography class. What was there around Fallabor besides nature ... and more nature ... and then after that, some more nature.
Of course; nature.
"I know where we can visit. I think you'll like it, too." He got up from his seat, the cushion of his chair rising up as well. He turned back around, noticing May was still sitting down, comfortable. "Well? Are you coming or not?"
May smiled a trade-mark "Brendan smirk," standing up and stretching her arms above her head. She followed him outside the pokémon center, enjoying the warm wind against her open skin. "I'm coming. Cool your jets, old man."
"Hey, just because my hair color is the color white doesn't mean you can rag on me about it!" Brendan groaned, covering his hair with his hands. "At least my hair is white and clean looking while yours looks like you rolled in torkoal shi – shins! Not the shins!" he wailed as May kicked him hard in the shinbone.
May smiled innocently, standing on her tippy toes, her hands behind her back. "Now what were you saying?"
Brendan hopped, trying to rub his leg with a hand. "Nothing, ma'am."
"Good."
Brendan let go of his leg, putting it down firmly on the ground, and motioned toward the opposite path before walking toward it, May by his side. Unlike Mauville, where it was apparent that the city ended once the concrete subsided from the dirt path, Fallabor blended in with its natural surroundings perfectly. The same trees that were dotted in the small town were still littered about the nature-made path, unlike other cities who had to plant their trees. A peaceful river, complete with waterfall, hugged the land, and whistling taillow chirped in the tall evergreens. Thick, wild grass sprouted everywhere, enveloping the land in greenery.
"Is this the place?" May said in complete awe, running ahead toward the river. She peered into it, staring at her wavy reflection. "I love it, Brendan."
Brendan caught up to her, his hands in his pockets. "Nope. We're close, though." He nudged his head to the side. "This way."
May took one final look at the waterfall, occasionally feeling the light spray from it, before reluctantly turning around to chase after Brendan, walking by his side again. They walked knee deep in long grass, walking past several trainers that were hunched over, looking for wild pokémon. The boy helped May climb up a steep incline that eventually lead to a dark cave. Somehow he knew he would have trouble getting her to go inside.
"This is your surprise?" she asked in disbelief. "Haha. Really funny, Brendan."
"I'm serious, May." Brendan tried to push the girl lightly in, but she stood firm. "You'll love it. I promise. It's like ... two times better than that other waterfall we just saw."
"I hate caves. You know that."
"No, you hate the dark. You hate caves because you hate the dark."
"Hence the statement of I hate caves."
Brendan pulled his backpack around and pulled out his flashlight, handing it to May. "Here. You'll feel better if you have this then. Now get in there. Get down and dirty–" He wasn't sure what happened after that as May whacked him against the head with a closed fist. Dazed, the boy shook his head, trying to shake away the stars that blurred his visions.
"Pervert," she muttered, crossing her arms.
"I didn't mean it like that!" he replied sharply. He reached over and turned the flashlight on for May. "Don't be such a baby, May. I swear you'll love it."
"And if I don't?"
"I'll buy you another pokedoll."
May frowned stubbornly, glancing at the cave entrance with fear and curiosity. "Fine, I'll go in," she sighed, giving in, "seeing as I have no choice but to head forward since of that dumb sandstorm. You're going in first, though." She walked behind Brendan and pushed him forward with her foot.
"Ow!" Brendan complained as he was forced into the cave, stumbling over his feet. His eyes had to stop and focus for a bit, due to the sudden change in light, but once they did, he marveled at his surroundings. Twin waterfalls fell from the cliff side, falling into a clear, crystal pool. The cry of the lone zubat rung throughout the cave, and the smell of wet earth filled his nostrils. The dirt seemed otherworldly, grounded finely and colored a distinct brownish-red and it sparkled like bits of silver glitter were thrown about. Brendan wasn't sure what light source made the cavern sparkle so mysteriously, but he wasn't going to complain either.
"Welcome to Meteor Falls," he announced as May stood behind him, clinging to his arm like always whenever they entered a cave.
"... Wow," May managed to gasp out, staring at the waterfalls with bright eyes. "So tranquil! So romantic." She eyed Brendan, fluttering her eyes. He gulped in return.
"Er ...yeah."
May laughed softly and made her way past Brendan toward one of the waterfalls, her skin becoming moist the closer she got. She bent over a bit, gazing into the water, making out the silhouette of a heart-shaped fish she hadn't seen before. Surely enough, another heart-shaped fish swam to the other one. Her eyes then trailed toward the coastline, and she noticed a crest-shaped, black rock in the water that glinted in the light. Bending over further, she picked it up, the rock slippery. Curious about what the pokémon was and whatever stone she just found, she stood back up, turning around to face Brendan.
"Hey, B Boy!" she said, waving her hand that held the stone. "Come here! I want you to see something!" The girl noticed that Brendan seem distracted, his hands still in his pockets, looking down toward the cavern below.
Brendan watched in wonderment, staring downward, not noticing that the girl was calling his name. His eyes were fixated on a group of people, clad mostly in red and black, and they were digging with shovels. He also noticed a man in a lab coat who was wringing his hands nervously. Someone yelled, followed by whoops by the rest of the group, and then a distressed cry from the man in the lab coat. The group of people in red and black hurried up the cliff side before the man in the lab coat could react, one of them clutching something in his hands. They brushed past Brendan, not giving him a second thought. So much seemed to happen in such a little amount of time, barely giving Brendan time to register it in his mind. Meteor Falls ... so that must mean there's meteors in here, obviously. That man in a lab coat is obviously a scientist. Perhaps he studies meteorites? He guessed Team Magma used him to find them a meteorite for them. Tricked him, possibly, due to the sheer distraught on his face. That meteorite would be used to activate whatever machine May told him about when she eavesdropped on those Team Magma grunts.
The girl's soft voice brought him back to reality. "Who was that? They looked like Team Magma members," she muttered, standing next to Brendan and looking down the cavern with him. She noticed the large, gaping holes that littered the bottom level. "What were they doing here?"
Brendan knew but decided not to answer for fear of upsetting the girl. "I don't know," he lied. He nudged his head toward the scientist. "Come on. Let's go check if that guy is all right."
May nodded in agreement, carefully stepping down the steep decline, grabbing onto Brendan's hand so he could help her. Slowly, the two slid down, reaching the bottom level where the scientist was pacing back and forth, his hands over his face. He was muttering to himself.
"Excuse me, sir," May remarked politely, causing the man to jump back in surprise. "Are you ... okay?"
"That meteorite," he muttered more to himself than to May. "I needed that meteorite and they just ... they just took it from before I knew it. Why? Why would they do that?"
"Who is they? Team Magma?" May questioned.
The scientist nodded, beginning to pace back and forth again, adjusting the glasses that slipped from the bridge of his nose. "Yes. They told me they needed it for research, but they just took it! Snatched it away! I have no idea why."
May looked at him worriedly before nudging Brendan in the arm. "Well?" she demanded. "Are you going to say something or what?"
Brendan seemed to be lost in thought again, something May quickly got used to. "There's some people in blue uniforms coming this way," he finally muttered. "And fast, too."
The girl looked in Brendan's direction, noticing the group as well. "This way, Archie!" she heard one of the men cry, motioning his arm in the direction Team Magma went. The man in front nodded, dressed better than the two other trainers behind him, picking up the pace. He was a tall yet muscular man, revealing his chest through an open-button, navy blue t-shirt. A blue bandanna embroidered with a strange symbol was tied around his forehead, hiding his hair. He rubbed his chiseled jaw thoughtfully, his fingers brushing past his goatee.
"Are you sure?" the man in front questioned, stepping past a hole with ease. The silver dog tags around his neck hit him in the chest lightly.
The trainer behind him nodded. "Positive. I guess they found what they needed, though, since they're gone now."
"Perhaps." The man named Archie looked ahead and noticed the two trainers ahead, both looking at him mystified. "Let's ask them." He walked toward May and Brendan, nodding his head in acknowledgment. "Did you see a group of people dressed in red and black pass through here?" he inquired in a pleasant voice.
Brendan shrugged as May quickly nodded. "Yeah! They went that way!" She pointed toward the other exit. Noticing their weird, pirate-like attire, she couldn't help but ask, "Who are you guys?"
"Team Aqua," quickly replied the trainer behind Archie. "We're trying to put a stop to Team Magma's plans."
Archie nodded in agreement. "That's right. Team Magma has shown no mercy lately, and they'll do whatever it takes to get their goals accomplished, even if it means destroying the habitat of water pokémon. That is why we, Team Aqua, are trying to stop their plans."
May nodded. "You know, I overheard from some Team Magma grunts that they were trying to activate some machine that would cause Mount Chimney to activate."
Archie raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Yes, that's right. That's why we tried to get here as soon as we could. We heard that the only thing they needed to activate the machine was a meteorite." He looked at gaping holes with disdain. "I guess they found one." The leader of Team Aqua quickly shook his head. "Ah, this is no time for chit-chat." He turned to the people behind him and nodded. "Let's go!" And like that, the men hurried up the scaled up the steep incline, running toward the entrance of the cave.
May scratched her head and hesitantly murmured, "Bye," as she waved them off.
"I suppose I should go, too," muttered the man in the lab coat. "No point staying here now that the meteorite is gone." He sighed again, his head bowed down as he walked toward the exit.
The girl was distraught as she turned toward Brendan, her delicate hands clenched into fists. "Team Magma is horrible," she murmured. "They don't care about who they hurt. More land for more habitat. What a load of bull."
"How do we know that Archie isn't the one lying?" Brendan replied quickly but thoughtfully. His mind reveled over Team Magma's plans. "I mean ... Habitat is habitat, after all."
"But imagine it, Brendan!" she cried, waving her arms in the air. Her voice echoed in the cave. "Homes of water pokémon could be destroyed if they go through with their plans! Not only that, but land that is already formed could be caught up in the lava that Mount Chimney would spew. Fallabor would surely be caught in its wake!"
Brendan knew she was right, but he couldn't help disagreeing with her. Nevertheless, he knew that it was a bad time to argue with her. "I'm going to ... get some fresh air, okay?" he choked out, walking toward the exit. May didn't follow him, fuming a bit. Did Brendan really think that Team Magma was good after all that? He must be nuts.
The girl sat on the bottom step of the nature made steps, admiring the rock she held in her right hand. Its shiny, black surface glinted in the light. She forgot to ask Brendan what it was. It looked special.
"It's a moonstone," someone from behind answered for her. She heard the crunching of pebbles underneath thick boots as the person descended down the stairs, sitting next to her. "It helps certain species of pokémon evolve. You know, the moon controls hide tide at oceans."
May turned her head swiftly. "Archie?" she questioned. "What are you doing back here?"
The Team Aqua leader shrugged. "I'm curious about you," he remarked, looking at her thoughtfully. May stared into the older man's eyes; they were deep and blue like hers. "You're that girl that defeated a few Team Magma members at Mount Chimney, weren't you? I heard about it from my admins."
May rubbed the back of her neck nervously, staring at the rock in her hand. "Well, I didn't want to battle them, honestly. I just wanted to get to Lavaridge, so I took the cable car up and spotted them there. Well, they spotted me, really. It's terrible what they're doing." Her fingers curled up around the moonstone as she shivered, the wet earth sinking into her biker shorts. "I just hope that no one gets hurt."
Archie nodded, his finger wrapping around his chains. "I hope so, too. That's why we need people like you on Team Aqua, May. Compassionate people. People that care not only for the things on land, but the things in the sea as well. What do you think? Would you like to join our alliance?"
The question came so sudden. May didn't know what to do. "But what about my travels? My friends? My pokémon?"
"Ah, May. I don't want to be the force that stops you from your dreams," Archie replied quietly. "However, we could use our ally like you. You don't need to join, of course, but if you're in the area and Team Magma is causing havoc, it'd be nice if we had someone kind and compassionate on our side.
It was sweet talk. Pure, buttery sweet talk. She knew it, too, but fell for it anyway. Team Magma made her that angry. "Well, sure. Why not? Maybe I'll help save the world, huh?" May laughed as she took out a piece of paper and pen from her fanny pack and scribbled her pokénav number on it. "That's my pokénav number, so just call me if you need help with anything, and I'll get there somehow."
"Thanks," Archie sighed in relief as he wrote down his own pokénav number and handed it to May. "We really need some strong member like you." He stood up, shaking his legs a bit. "I better get going. I have to meet up with my team again. Goodbye, May, and good luck!"
"You, too, Archie," the girl replied softly, staring at Archie's number. "I just hope I'm not making a huge mistake."
He needed this; he needed the air, the space away from May. So much happened in such a small amount of time, and it wore him out emotionally. He got in one of his first huge fights with May. He then had to rescue her. He then reconciled with her at one of the most romantic places in Hoenn. And then there was Team Magma who apparently took off with a meteorite. There was something about the mountain air, though. It cleared his head, made the butterflies in his stomach go away. He closed his eyes, lifting his arms, the wind making the sleeves of his shirt flap backward.
And like that, a cool voice made reality crash back down. "Don't you just love the way mountain air feels in the afternoon?"
Brendan's eyes snapped open, recognizing the voice. Quickly pulling out a pokéball, he spun around, noticing the tall, elegant form of Maxie glide over toward him, one hand thrust inside the coat of his jacket. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, stepping back a bit.
Maxie shook his head. "Don't get so riled up, Brendan my boy," he replied, his voice smooth like before.
Everything seemed to go in fast forward. Even his words seemed sped up. "What are you doing at Mount Chimney? Why do you need that meteorite? What's going on?" His demanding questions came out in a rushed blur, sounding more childlike than threatening.
Maxie gave a swift motion of his hand. "A little bit of this. A little bit of that. What have you heard?"
"You're using some machine using the power of that meteorite or something to reactive Mount Chimney. Is that right?"
Maxie nodded.
"But why?" Brendan asked, shocked. "Don't you know what that can do to the sea? The homes in Fallabor? All the nature in the area? It'll burn it down to a crisp!"
"Compared to it erupting naturally, Mr. Birch?" Maxie quickly argued back. "That volcano has been under pressure for decades. Imagine if it exploded on its own accord ... All the lava it would spew. It would surely destroy more than the Fallabor area, I'll tell you that. This way, though," his eyes went distant, "if we force the Mount Chimney to explode and in an controlled environment, we'll be able to protect these homes, these pokémon."
Brendan nodded, believing every word. What he said made sense.
"That Team Aqua leader has been spewing his lies to you, hasn't he?"
This got Brendan's attention. "Um, I did run into him, and he did tell me things."
"Don't believe them," Maxie snapped. He then quickly readjusted the collar of his dark red jacket. "They're liars. Cheap, nasty liars. They always over exaggerate our causes, making us look like the bad guys. But it is them that are the bad guys, Brendan. Do you know what they tried to do before?"
Brendan shook his head.
"They tried to flood the land," the leader hissed. "Drown the Hoenn region in water, just for the better of water pokémon. They don't care about their fellow humans, or the pokémon that can't live in water. So selfish. So unnecessary." He walked closer to Brendan, whispering in his ear. "You don't want that, do you?"
That voice ... he recognized it again. "You called me," he murmured. "Earlier today to tell me about my friend."
Maxie smirked, putting his hands behind his back. "I'm glad you pieced it together. Yes, I am the one that called you."
"But why would you want me to defeat your own team?"
"Because I wanted to see how you battle. I saw you on the Gabby and T.Y. report yesterday. You're a hardcore trainer. I also wanted to see if you were loyal toward your friend. It turns out you are. We need you someone like you on our team. Loyal, powerful ... Good qualities. Join me, Brendan. Join my team and me. We could do wonders to this region together."
Brendan bought it hook, line and sinker. He was already convinced anyway, even without Maxie flattering him. "Okay. I'll join," Brendan agreed. At this, Maxie handed him a piece of paper that had his pokénav number on it.
"I already have your number," Maxie muttered, watching Brendan stare at the piece of paper. "I'll be seeing you later, Brendan." With a swift nod, the leader descended down the cliff. Brendan watched his tall form turn into a black silhouette, which then faded away into nothing the further he walked away.
"See you!" Brendan called back, shoving the paper into his pocket. "I just hope I'm not making a huge mistake or worse – getting May angry at me again." He gulped. "I really don't need that." The white-haired trainer shuddered as he walked back into the cave.
Brendan noticed May sitting at the foot of the nature made staircase as soon as he reentered the cave, noticing the mystified look on her face. Curious, he slowly made his way toward her and sat down next to her, noticing the stone clutched in her left hand and the piece of paper in her right. "What's that?"
May quickly shoved the piece of paper in the pocket of her fanny pack. "Ah, trash," she answered hastily.
"Well, I meant the rock."
"Oh. A moonstone." She held it up, letting specs of light reflect on it. "I found it in the water."
"You know, your skitty evolves into a delcatty using a moonstone," Brendan remarked.
"Really?" She raised an eyebrow. "Good to know." She put the rock inside her fanny pack as she turned her head toward Brendan, noticing his wrinkled forehead and the worry in his eyes. "Is something wrong?" May asked quietly.
Brendan gulped. It was better to tell her now than later. "I have a confession," he admitted. "And I'm pretty sure you're not going to like it. But this is my choice, okay? I'm not going to change my mind no matter what you say."
May shifted uncomfortably, looking at her shoes. "You're making me worry, Brendan."
"I know. That's why I should tell you now." Brendan swallowed the lump in his throat. "I ... I saw Maxie outside just now."
This got May's attention. She turned her head toward Brendan. "And?" she demanded.
"And ... he asked me to join Team Magma."
"You better have said no," she muttered angrily.
Brendan licked his dry lips, trying to build up saliva. "Not exactly, May. In fact, I said quite the opposite."
May's eyes went wide and she grabbed Brendan's hands. "You didn't! You didn't join Team Magma, did you?" she cried, holding on tighter to his hands. Tears began to fill her eyes. "Tell me this is a joke, B Boy. You really can't be with them." Her voice began to crack, a few tears slipping down her cheeks.
This was new; in fact, he would have taken an angry rampage over May crying. It tore at his heart strings, seeing her cry like that. "May, stop," he pleaded, pulling one hand away to wipe at her tears. "Don't cry. This isn't something to cry over."
"Yes it is!" she sobbed, sniffling loudly. "Tell me you're lying. Tell me that this is joke. Tell me you didn't join Team Magma."
All of these demands were things that he couldn't fulfill, and he turned his head away. He still could hear her sobs, and it tore him up inside. "May, this is something I believe in," he whispered, his throat dry. "I believe I'm doing something good for this world. You don't have to support me. I just ... I just want you to understand that I really believe in this cause."
May let out a shuddered breath, causing her sobs to cease. "I don't believe in it, though. And I will never, ever like it."
"I know, May."
She let out a playful snort. "Be glad I like you that much."
"I am."
May pushed him teasingly, and Brendan did the same. Smiling smugly, the girl pushed him forward, causing him to flop on his belly onto the earth. She giggled as Brendan rolled over onto his back, staring at her.
"Funny," he muttered. He sat up, a mischievous grin on his face, and before May knew it, Brendan pulled her down on top of him. Immediately she sat up, her eyes wide.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Oh, just getting you back, I suppose," he replied. "I thought it'd be fun."
She smiled, as she placed her hands on Brendan's shoulders to prevent escape. "Not fun now, is it?" Her hair draped around his head like a tent, and he looked up into May's eyes. They looked so blue in the dim light of the cave. He could hear her gentle breathing, her lips partially open. Her lips looked so pink, so soft.
"Yep. Fun," he repeated, his hand running down the side of his backpack, groping for something.
"And why is that?"
Brendan's head arched up and came closer to May's face. She eyed him, confused as he his face got closer and closer ...
"What are you doing, Brendan?" she managed to whisper.
"This." He stopped a few centimeters away from May's face and squirted water from his water bottle toward her. "Gotcha!" He laughed, getting out of May's grasp and running out toward the exit.
"Brendan Birch, you get back here!"
LaTeR dAyZ! Thanks for reviewing!
Last Revision: 7/1/09