Steven secured the Mega Evolving bracelet around Saki's wrist, as Latios and Latias danced above in the skies. "They sure do look happy," Saki commented as they glided down towards them. She looked towards Shelly as she stood on the end of the dock with Archie, "thank you again for your help." She said to her as she brushed her hair back.
"It was nothing," she smiled.
"Are you guys going to be ok now?" Saki asked them as they both nodded their heads at her question. "Then I guess it's time for you guys to go home," she choked out as Steven wrapped his arms around her.
"If you're ever in trouble my friends, we're always here to help you." Steven told them as they smiled, before jetting off into the sky and out of sight.
The sound of footsteps landing on the platform of a boat startled them both as they turned towards Archie and his crew. "We'll be taking out leave now, even after what happened today I don't know if Maxie or his Admins have any other ideas."
"But for now at least we can rest knowing we won't be hearing from them for a while," Steven said as Archie grinned.
"But nothing that salty land crazed madman Maxie, he'll probably show his face once he gets another idea in his head. Regardless of what Saki did to that submarine and their hideout, it's only a matter of time at this point." Archie explained.
"You don't really think that Maxie will try to pull another stunt like that do you?" Saki asked, only to earn a saddened look from both Shelly and Archie as they looked down at the deck of the boat.
Shelly stepped forward, "to be honest it wouldn't surprise me. Despite the amount of times we've stopped Maxie and Team Magma he still has a large majority of his grunts and his two cunning admins at his side. If anything the next time we see Maxie he's gonna do something worse than stealing a submarine or capturing and experimenting on Pokemon."
"You don't mean to say…" Steven had a bad feeling surge threw his body as he felt shivers crawling down his spine.
Archie nodded his head, "Maxie still has the red orb in his possession, not to mention the information from the Weather Institute. We all know what his next step will be once he escapes the rubbles of his hideout."
"He's going to go after Groudon." Saki blurted out.
"Exactly, for now all we can do is wait until he and his group are on the move again. But until then you two need to rest," Shelly said, "Maxie already sees not only us as a threat, but you two as well until he activates his ultimate plan there's no idea of what he might try to do to stop anyone from getting in his way."
"If that's the case then keep us updated, if anything happens that's Team Magma related we need to know." Steven told them.
"That's certain lad, we'll keep in touch." Archie said as the sound of the boats engine roared loudly as it began to slowly skid across the ocean's surface.
Archie and the rest of Team Aqua were off towards their next hideout, as Saki and Steven watched them fade away on the ocean waves. They both turned towards the streets of Mossdeep City as they made their way towards Steven's house, "do… you think that we should really just sit around here and wait until that day?"
"We have no choice Saki, we may have destroyed the hideout but that doesn't mean that they're going to stop… not with the information they have now." Steven told her as he opened the door to his house. As they entered, Saki collapsed on a nearby couch as Steven sat next to her.
"Can't we just relax for the rest of the day then?" she asked him as she looked up towards the ceiling. "After everything we've gone through I think it'd be reasonable to just relax," she insisted as Steven shook his head.
"Saki, I don't want to take a chance. Besides even if we did want to relax you're forgetting something." He told her as she looked curiously at him.
"What?"
"Your next gym battle," he smiled as she threw herself back on the couch.
"Oh yea…" She sighed. "I forgot about that," she giggled as she unclipped her Pokeball belt off from around her waist and laid it down on the table in front of her. "The gym leaders here are twins, right?" she asked.
Steven nodded his head, "yes. Liza and Tate, they use Psychic type Pokemon work together, they both use one Pokemon each, but together they are a match that might prove even challenging for you." He told her honestly, sitting up Steven sat next to Saki as she looked down at her belt.
Grabbing the familiar white Pokeball from her belt, "my best bet would be to use Zoroark, and maybe… either Altaria or Ninetails…" she whispered to herself. She meticulously started to plan out moves in her head with each Pokemon set as Steven laughed. "What's so funny?" she asked.
Ruffling her hair, "nothing." He smiled as she gave him an odd look. "I was just thinking that if you're able to beat all eight gym leaders and the Elite Four…. You'll go up against me." Saki could see the look on Steven's face as she stared down at the ground.
"Are you…nervous about that?" she asked him as she heard him sigh.
"Not really…. I know how strong you are, if anything I'm excited about battling you again. Ever since our first battle on the boat from Slateport City I've been anticipating the day I could go against you once more." He told her, as she saw the smile on his face.
"Well then why don't we battle now then?" she asked him as she tried to reach for her Pokeball belt, only for Steven to stop her.
Steven shook his head, "no not yet. I want to wait until you go against me for title as Pokemon League Champion."
"Why?" she asked him, her voice full of curiosity.
"So I can experience for myself the rookie trainer you once were on that battle field and see how much you've improved since then." Steven explained.
"But you've seen me battle numerous times? I thought that alone showed you how much I've improved since then." Saki said. "Besides I have yet to see your entire team," she pointed out as Steven chuckled.
"That's because you'll be surprised by my team, my dear Saki." He smiled at her as he pulled her off the couch and over to window. They both looked out at the vast sea beyond the beach sands of Mossdeep City as a faint island like mass was out in the distance before the large rocks that almost seemed to be a barrier for the surrounding area.
"Well your Skarmory and Metagross are pretty strong, but if the rest of your team is like them… then…. You might just be my toughest opponent."
Maxie stood among the mountains of rubble as he could clearly see the busted and broken remains of the submarine they had stolen from Slateport City. He knew that he had underestimated that girl Saki, as she used Team Magma's hideout as a weapon against him.
After he and his Camerupt had pulled themselves out from that cursed rock slide he saw the damage not only affected the holding area, but everywhere else in the hideout as well. There were only a few rooms that had yet to be affected by the attack, and luckily for him one of them was the development room where they kept the magma suit.
"Maxie." Courtney called out, as he turned around to see her expertly climbing up the mountains of broken rocks. Standing before him, she handed him a few pieces of paper as he took them out of her hands and began to examine them.
"What are these?" Maxie asked her.
"Information regarding another submarine." She said in her monotone voice as he looked up at her very surprised. "I had feeling that the girl might do something to stop us, I found us another back up submarine and this one is much closer."
Maxie looked back at the papers, "so Stern had another one made here in Lilycove City."
"It would appear so, what is our next move?" she asked him as they both walked out of the area and down the severely damaged hallway.
"With the information that Tabitha gathered and another submarine we'll need to move quickly. In three days send a group of five of our Ace Grunts that have a Weezing in their possession and have them go in disguise, tell them to infiltrate the Lilycove Shipyard and steal the submarine. They'll need to bring it here to the entrance of the hideout, from there everything is simple."
A few days later…
Saki stood on the large dirt battle field as she stood across from two young identical twins; both were wearing the same blue silk like outfits as they both had their dark black hair held up with a white wing hair accessory in their hair.
"Let the battle begin!" the referee called out. At the same time they both pulled out a normal Pokeball and in sync they launched them out onto the battle field. On one side a large sun shape like Pokemon was the battle field as its eyes seemed almost halfway closed, as on the other side a Pokemon in the shape of the crescent moon stood by it with a single red eye looking Saki's way.
"Go Zoroark and Ninetails!" Saki called out as her two companions stood in front of her as they looked determined.
"Solrock use Sunny day!" Liza commanded at Solrock sent up a large white orb towards the ceiling as it casted down a bright light. Saki covered her eyes as it felt like the sun had entered the arena and was now shining down upon her.
"Lunatone use Calm Mind!" Tate said as the Pokemon was then covered in a light purple like sheen as it seemed to be focusing on something before the light faded away.
Saki could see Ninetails almost absorbing the sunlight, "Ninetails use Flamethrower on Solrock!" she commanded as Ninetails charged towards it, as she began to spew out a stream of fire from her mouth and towards the rock Pokemon.
"Dodge it!" Liza said as it flew up and away from the attack, but Ninetails continued to breathe out her stream of fire.
"Zoroark use Night Slash!" Zoroark leaped towards Solrock as the numerous black vines sprouted from her back and were aimed towards Solrock.
"Lunatone use Psychic on Ninetails flames!" Tate instructed his Pokemon as the flames began to launch up towards Zoroark in a dragon like shape. "Now use it one Zoroark!"
"Quick use Protect Ninetails!" Saki yelled as Ninetails ceased her flames, her red eyes glowed with a blue outline as a barrier formed around Zoroark as it continued to use Night Slash on Solrock. The flames stopped as Zoroark landed on the ground with Solrock slowly levitating down. "Gotta hand it to you guys that was smart." She complimented.
"Just wait till you see this, Solrock stay back and use Solar Beam!" Liza said as her Solrock stood close by its trainer and began absorbing numerous amounts of sunlight.
Saki knew it would only be just a few minutes until it was ready to launch the beam in her direction, "Lunatone use Hypnosis!" Tate spoke as a strange circular like beam was sent out towards her Pokemon.
"Both of you dodge it!" She commanded, Saki watched as Zoroark jumped out of the way as Ninetails dashed across the field; trying to avoid the attack. Though when Ninetails began to slow down Saki knew that she was hit with Hypnosis. Ninetails lay sleeping on the field as Zoroark ran over to her, "try and wake her up!" Saki suggested as Zoroark began shaking and yelling at Ninetails but it didn't seem to work.
Looking over at Solrock, it started to glow bright almost white "now Solrock use Solar Beam!" she yelled as a large beam of light was shot out from Solrock.
"Grab Ninetails and dodge it quick!" Zoroark pulled Ninetails over her shoulder as she began dashing across the field to over being hit. Solrock kept the beam going as it moved all around to try and hit Zoroark.
"Lunatone use Psychic on Ninetails!" Tate instructed as Ninetails was removed from Zoroark's shoulder and lifted in the air. With the beam heading towards her sleeping friend Zoroark jumped up and took the hit from Solrock as she let out a loud cry.
"Zoroark!" Saki cried as Ninetails and Zoroark both fell to ground in a thin cloud of dust, she painfully watched Zoroark get up after enduring the hit as it seemed that she was in a lot of pain. Ninetails slowly raised her head as she stood up on all four legs and looked back at Saki. "Now you decide to wake up?" she jokingly asked.
Solrock looked as if it was badly drained from the attack it just launched as Lunatone stood protectively in front of it. Silently snapping her fingers Saki thought of a plan, "Ninetails charge towards Solrock and use Flamethrower!" Saki commanded as Ninetails shook off the rest of her drowsiness and dashed towards the sun Pokemon.
"Lunatone use Psychic on the flames!" Tate commanded as Liza looked anxiously at her Pokemon as it was still recharging. The flames from Ninetails were bent and moved around in different directions as Lunatone protected Solrock.
"Zoroark use Punishment on Solrock and don't hold back!" Saki exclaimed as Zoroark quickly disappeared in a thick cloud of black smoke and charged towards Solrock. Lunatone looked confused as Zoroark pulled Solrock into the cloud as it till continued to fight off the flames.
Ninetails ceased her flamethrower once Zoroark appeared and the black cloud vanished, leaving an unconscious Solrock lying on the ground. "Lunatone use Hypnosis on Zoroark!" Tate said; only to be stunned by the blue barrier that surrounded Zoroark.
"Psychic moves don't work on Zoroark, now Ninetails use Flame Charge! Zoroark use Night Daze!" Both attacks hit Lunatone full on as the moon shaped Pokemon fell to the ground unconscious.
"Lunatone and Solrock are unable to battle, the victory goes to Saki!" the referee announced as Zoroark and Ninetails dashed over to her. Hugging them both in her arms she could feel nothing but joy at how much her Pokemon have grown at this point.
Liza and Tate walked over to Saki as they held a small black box in his hand, standing up Saki returned both of her Pokemon back to their Pokeballs. "It's been a while since we've had a trainer like you." Tate said with a smile as Liza nodded her head.
"It's such an honor to have gone up against you guys; you two are pretty tough gym leaders." Saki said as they both seemed overjoyed to hear that.
"In honor of your victory we'd like to present you with this," Liza opened the box. "The Mind Badge!" they both said in sync as they offered the half yellow and pink heart shaped badge to Saki.
Carefully taking it out Saki held in her hand, "thank you both so much." She said.
"We both wish you luck on you next gym battle!" they said as they clapped their hands together and bowed their heads. Saki smiled as she left the gym, still holding the badge in her possession.
Exiting the gym she saw a very familiar man standing outside, "about time you got here!" she joked as Steven turned around. He smiled at her as she jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly, "I missed you."
"I missed you too." He said as he kissed her forehead, "I'm gonna guess that you were able to beat Liza and Tate?" he asked curiously as she held her new badge out for him to see. "I'm so proud of you!" he exclaimed as he held her tightly.
"It was a tough battle, I have to admit I thought they were going to win." She honestly told him as they began to walk back towards Steven's house. "So what did Archie want?" she asked him as Steven stopped. Saki looked up at him as he seemed a bit upset, "Steven?"
"Last night someone broke into the Lilycove Shipyard and stole a submarine; one of the Team Aqua members was in the area when the alarms went off. Apparently Team Magma found out that Lilycove had their own submarine constructed there and took it." He explained as Saki was shocked by the news.
"Does that mean Maxie and his group…?"
Steven nodded his head, "it would appear so. Archie called me this morning to ask me to come to Lilycove and see the scene for myself. There was traces of smog and haze that a only a Weezing could produce all over the place; it'll take weeks for the area to be cleaned and aired out." He said.
"That means there's not much time! With the information Maxie has we could have only have just-"
Boom!
A loud crack shocked threw the area as everything began to tremble viciously, unable to keep their balance both Steven and Saki fell to the ground as it felt like a massive earthquake was striking the entire place. Looking out towards the ocean Saki could see a pillar of bright light being shot into the sky as it seemed to be coming from a long distance away.
As the earthquake slowly started to subside, they both slowly stood up on their feet as the citizens of Mossdeep looked out towards the ocean as well. All of them were shocked and sounded frightened at what just happened, but as Saki looked around there didn't seem to be any damaged to any of the housing or buildings.
"Looks like we're out of time." Steven said, as Saki could feel herself shaking.
"Maxie found Groudon…"
