A/N: My apologies for not uploading a chapter in so long. It is just that I have been given little comments making me feel if my story is unloved.
And the plot is coming in Chapter 27 and 28. Yes. The plot. It should have come earlier am I right? But Team Galactic came in Veilstone too.
Disclaimer: If I was Pokemon I might have had the decency to change the Isshu Legendaries. They are Dragon-types, just like the Sinnoh Trio. Yeah, they fit the theme of Ying and Yang but still.
Chapter 25: At Least we have New Clothes
Rain hammered down on their umbrellas. Around them was a soaked world, permanently lush and very used to the sky water brought down by Kyogre. The outlines of their feet were printed in the watery mud to be washed away before you remembered it was there in the first place. The angled liquid managed to get under the walking tents too. The water was wild and at times a wind stirred up, snatching their protection from their grasp to send a barrage of the transparent substance down. Everyone was soaked to the bone as they charged on, head on to the rain which collected in their shields anyway. While they shivered, their eyes darted around, in constant search of shelter. None greeted their eyes merely bridges composing of cylindrical pieces of wood strung together with string and ledges you had to look out for, or else you would trip and receive a face full of mud.
Not the best thing guaranteed.
And Ponyta were seen under the nearby trees, trying to keep their vibrant fires flickering on. Maril stood in the rain happily though. This meant that there was the occasional Water Gun aimed at them. Luckily they all missed for the group was running as fast as they could without collapsing on the ground. They clambered onto a mound of higher ground to survey if there were any nearby settlements. This time their eyes visibly brightened when they spotted a large building nearby.
The only way they could get there was by going across one of the soaked wooden bridges. Brendan went on it first slowly, and May went on next. She was hesitating; when she put her foot down the bridge wobbled slightly. Very slightly but in this landscape it meant all the difference. Brendan used his free hand to stretch across his umbrella canopy to hold onto May's hand. He blushed slightly as they held hands. Wally was not far behind though as they navigated the logs before they met solid yet slippery ground.
They continued hurriedly as they reached the trees again, and managed to scramble through them. Soon a path emerged, yellow in color. It too was muddy, though in a lesser quality. Water trickled from the top of the gradually becoming steep hill. The rain began to clear, but as they looked back, they saw that rain was still pounding down on the route, confusing them greatly, but they trudged onwards, and lowered their umbrellas. By now it was not raining and the building was apparent. May recalled Dawn telling her about the friend that was there: Leona who bore a hairstyle similar to Kenny's.
As they attempted to dry their clothes, the brunette in question came out with a smile.
"Welcome!" Leona exclaimed, stretching out her arms. Overhead the sun shone brightly. Brendan glanced at it before averting his eyes. Remember kids; never look at the sun directly!
None the less, Brendan was quite puzzled.
"Why is it not raining up here?" Brendan blurted out to Leona's proud grin who was probably asked the question many times before. So she recited her answer.
"Our hot springs are enjoyed by every species of Pokemon!" Leona replied patriotically. "However, this area is home to many Psyduck and Golduck. One of their abilities is what we call Cloud Nine, which neglects weather conditions, providing us with nice days all year round!"
"Wow." May exclaimed awe. Leona looked over at her.
"So you must be Dee-Dee's friend." Leona stated. Dawn had kept in touch with her; after all, Leona was a childhood friend to Dawn, along with Kenny. They were to Dawn like Brendan and Wally were to her.
"Yeah, I'm friends with Dawn." May answered even if Leona had not asked her. She had stated it. Because of an incident involving a Minun and a Plusle, Leona and Kenny now called Dawn Dee-Dee, which to May made no sense. When they talked in Japanese they would say Pikari, as Pikapika was onomatopoeia for sparkling.
"I think you guys need some time off, the Hot Springs is this way, and the changing rooms are over here." Leona informed them, strolling away while pointing to a building. Nearby, steam rose.
May leapt in with her green bathers on, causing a large splash. She turned to look at her Pokemon. Blaziken decided not to jump in, while Wartortle, who had stayed on her team, jumped in straight away. Venusaur thumped over to the edge of the water and jumped in, causing a small earthquake and large waves crashing about to May's amusement. Venusaur decided to relax at the bottom of the onsen. Glaceon delicately pounced in, and Piplup dived into the water. Beautifly daintily landed on one boardwalk. Larger tremors could be felt as Rhyperior and Aggron stomped down to the Hot Springs with Brendan. His Chimchar scrambled around, but decided not to enter the water, being a fire Pokemon. Brendan's Swampert swam through the water smoothly and Shiftry relaxed into it.
Wally had a hard time deciding which Pokemon he should send out to enjoy it. Leona's Hotel had a device for obtaining Pokemon from elsewhere after all. In the end he sent out Sceptile, Gardevoir, Altaria, Flygon, Wormadam and Turtwig who all enjoyed the sauna.
"This is awesome!" May exclaimed as she floated on her back. Piplup floated along side her. A withdrawn Wartortle spun past them.
"Isn't it?" Wally agreed as his head emerged from beneath the water with his hair soaked and his pale sapphire eyes sparkling. Ever since they left the Café and headed on the route, it was raining down hard. Brendan had left earlier to do an errand, but came back before they left. He was now relaxing too. They had thought it was rather peculiar, but dismissed it as training. He was not as obsessed as Ash Ketchum, but he did like to train quite a bit. Leona walked over to the Hot Springs, fully clothed though.
"I would like to inform you that there are three passages to and from our Hotel. One back to the Mountain Hut Maid Café…"
"We should have been alerted earlier!"
"The one you came up and one to Veilstone." Leona finished, ignoring Brendan completely. May beamed at her as she swam over to the edge.
"So they are mainly rain-free?" May questioned. Leona nodded at the fellow and older brunette before she left the edge with an underwater summersault; five seconds later she surfaced somewhere in the middle of the very large Hot Spring Swimming Pool. She was thinking about her upcoming Veilstone Contest. Yes, it was in a week, but that was very close! She hummed to herself as she floated. She glanced over at Brendan and Wally, who were now discussing tactics. She smiled to herself. She may as well enjoy the sunlight while she could.
"Alright! Veilstone!" May whooped as she raced to the bottom of the hill the next day, creating a small sandstorm at her feet. Brendan caught up with her with his prized Running Shoes but Wally was not very lucky; he still had weak lungs even if he had been cured of his illness. They waited for him. He thanked them and they walked down more slowly. However, once they reached the stony city, May raced over to the colossal building that was the department store. Brendan looked over at Wally, who shrugged.
"Fine, let us give May the day she wants." Brendan grumbled. Wally chuckled slightly.
"There are bound to be stuff for us in there too you know." Wally reminded him before heading over to the brunette figure standing out the doors. They muttered a few words to each other before the green haired Wally shouted out to Brendan.
"Meet us on the rooftop when you are done!" Wally informed him. Brendan glanced up the store and gulped. When he lowered his head they were already gone. Brendan sighed in defeat and went up to the glass doors, which slid open. He peeked in and decided he would face this challenge.
The challenge of the female mind.
Not that he was being sexist of course.
"Wow!" May exclaimed as her eyes sparked at the sight of rows upon rows of berries. There were Razz Berries, Nanab Berries, Nomel Berries, Wiki Berries, Oran Berries, you name it! Wally smiled his nice smile at her happiness. They were in the basement food court, where all the berries and other edible objects were. The place looked nothing like a basement of course. That would not be good for customers. The brunette coordinator was in the berry market clearly. Adjacent to it was the Bakery which had fresh poffins of all kinds and lava cookies and RageManju or buns. Some crazy people thought those things were candy bars. However, they were clearly steamed buns from Mahogany Town in Johto. That place did not snow though, despite being in the north. The buns appeared to be very popular. When an old man turned around, Wally gasped in surprise.
"What is wrong, Wally?" May questioned as she paid for her bagful of berries and peered at the bottom as if the bag would break any second. Wally gestured over to the old man he had seen near the bakery; it was Professor Rowan. Next to him was his assistant, Lucas who was a good friend of Dawn, she had heard. May wondered if the professor remembered them. Could he remember every trainer that came to visit him? He seemed to be a wise one. Of course he was a wise one. He was one of the best Professors there were around! Apparently Professor Oak was his junior in terms of intelligence and rank.
"Oh May and Wally!" he said joyously.
It seemed like it.
"Professor Rowan!" the two of them chorused together. Lucas went over to them.
"Hey, I am Lucas." The navy haired trainer introduced, holding out his hand to shake. May shook first, and Wally followed suit. The navy haired trainer had a grin on his face.
"If what Professor says is right, than you are friends with Dawn Berlitz?" Lucas asked the brunette coordinator in a calm and clear voice. A grin crept onto her face. An evil one too.
"If what she says is right, than you have a crush on her." May chanted. Lucas did have a blush on his face.
"Eh, I heard she is popular with the guys…" he mumbled nervously, lowering his head and examining his shoe like it was the most interesting thing present. He was right though. How many people were Dawn paired with? Paul, Ash, Kenny, Barry, even Gary, Brock, Zoey and…
She winced.
…Herself.
But then again, Zoey and she were not guys so that did not matter.
"So Wally, where is ?" Professor Rowan asked. May refrained from sniggering at Brendan's nickname. It was so formal and Brendan was anything but. But of course! That must have been why he recognized them; through their fathers. Hers and Brendan's anyway. Poor Wally was left out.
"He is upstairs somewhere." Wally gestured roughly by pointing at the roof causally, wondering if he had gone straight up to the top floor.
"Ah." Professor Rowan exclaimed. "I am here simply for the buns. They are my favorite food ever since I went over to Johto to meet up with Professor Elm."
The two of them nodded kindly. They noticed that Lucas was checking his Poketch with a frown.
"Professor, I am afraid we have to go. We said this would simply be a fifteen minute break…"
Professor Rowan looked surprised at his assistant.
"Well! Time flies by so quickly! We better aid Samuel's grandson on his latest mission. Bye, May and Wally! Say hello to Brendan for me!" Professor Rowan said with a chuckle. Lucas nodded as they ascended up the elevator and thus departed from the store.
"What are we going to do now?" Wally asked after they had eaten their lunch. Soon he wished he did not ask as a sinister grin appeared on May's face. Soon after he felt his hand in hers, and he was being dragged to his feet and slowly towards the elevator.
"We are going shopping for new clothes! I bet Brendan would get mad if I got his outfit dirty." May chanted in a happy yet evil way. Wally gulped as they rose to the fashion department.
"And I heard that Dawn was the fashion obsessed one." Wally mumbled.