Thank you all for your kind words and feedback, I do honestly appreciate it. I'm sorry this update is a bit late.
Chapter 8Huffing in exhaustion, the trio were doubled over in a heap after they had finished cleaning the living room. By some miracle, there wasn't a single shred of evidence of May's battle with Brendan, and that was something all three were all very grateful for. Even the TV had survived their battle unscathed, looking pristine after it was buffered to a healthy sheen by an extremely flustered Brendan.
'Oh Arceus, help me! I can't breathe,' May gasped as she clutched her side.
'Getting a bit unfit, are we?' Brendan teased, causing May to glower in clear anger.
Hearing a chime coming from her Xtransceiver, May glanced down to see a message from the friend that had started her mood.
'Hey, I'm alive. I managed to talk things out with the others. I never realised my videos were so popular!' Serena's message read, causing the Johto woman to let out a light chuckle.
'Who messaged you, your boyfriend?' Brendan teased, wiggling his eyebrows knowingly.
'Please, she's my girlfriend!' May retorted, an angry flush filling her face.
Seeing the man wiggle his eyebrows flirtatiously, she squealed, pushing him away in disgust.
'Hmmm, damn, I was hoping I'd finally get to give someone that boyfriend speech I've had memorised since I was twelve. Shame, hey? Why don't we go visit Mr Stone? You might be able to meet the one on the way,' Brendan questioned, causing the woman to blink.
'Mr Stone?' May frowned, repeating the name with slight confusion.
'You know, the Devon Corporation's president. Steven said we should go visit him, and I'd rather it be sooner rather than later. Honestly, May, do you live under a rock? You should be grateful I've known you since we were in diapers else I might just think you're from the middle of nowhere,' Brendan chuckled as Kenny failed to maintain a poker face.
'Oh shut up! Let's go!' May snapped at the man before returning some pokémon and pushing him out of the door.
She hesitated once before glancing at Kenny, 'do you want to come?'
'No, I'm fine staying here, thanks May,' the man responded with a light chuckle before May called a farewell and closed the door.
'Bet you I can beat you!' May giggled as she rushed to the side of her house and took out her shiny blue Mach bicycle.
'What? No way! That's cheating!' Brendan scowled as his eyes flickered to his red Acro bicycle on the ground.
'Not in my book, it isn't! You can go places I can't!' May cried as she began to pedal, knowing her friend would find it difficult to keep up.
Passing by a few faces she recognised, May rang the bell on her bicycle in greeting, trying to ignore the temptation she felt to swing by the ice cream shop which was out of her way.
Riding through the tall grass, the young woman ensured she didn't hit any pokémon, a feat Brendan would definitely not consider in his haste to catch up with her.
'Hmmm… Not a one to be found…' May heard someone say, causing her to lift her eyes out of the grass and onto a tall man with brown hair, wearing a lab coat and business pants. It didn't take her long to realise the man was a Researcher, though they weren't usually found outside of inhabited areas. They rarely liked to do any fieldwork from what Professor Birch had said, mentioning something about their cleaning habits.
Considering what a Researcher could possibly be doing out in Petalburg Woods, May hopped off her bicycle and walked up to him. From what he'd said, he'd been searching for something, and if she could help, she would.
'I'm sorry, sir, but are you looking for something?' May asked, causing the man to gasp and turn to face her.
Seeing his bespectacled eyes, May tried to suppress her grimace as she noticed his stern expression, his thin lips pulled into a slight frown.
'Hello, have you seen any pokémon called Shroomish around here?' The man questioned, his voice as stern as his demeanour, his hands clasped tightly around his clipboard.
From behind him, May felt her mouth run dry as she saw not one, but two figures stalking towards them. One wore a striped, blue and white shirt, his hair tied out of his face by a black bandana. The other wore a red hoodie, which was worn over a long-sleeved brown shirt. He wore loose red pants, and they both had steel-capped boots. Teams Aqua and Magma, both in Petalburg Woods doing Lugia knows what.
'He's mine!' The Magma Grunt scowled as the Aqua Grunt snarled, 'I saw him first!'
'I was going to ambush him first!' The Magma Grunt snarled, taking a menacing step forward.
'Are you kidding me? Why did I have to dawdle? I would have gotten in first!' The Aqua Grunt snarled, taking a menacing step forward.
'What are you talking about? I got sick of waiting, you wouldn't have ever gotten in first!' The first Grunt snarled as the researcher let out a slight whine.
'No way! You, Devon Researcher! Hand over those papers!' The second snarled, taking a step forward.
'Aiyeeeeh!' The man yelped before jumping after May, visibly shaking.
'You're a pokémon Trainer, aren't you? You've got to help me, please!' The man hissed in her ear, almost making her role her eyes in disbelief. She couldn't help but wonder why the man, who was a grown adult, was asking her to protect him. She wasn't the weakest young woman, but she definitely was far from the strongest. Besides, didn't he have any pokémon of his own?
'Huh, what do you think you're doing?' The Aqua Grunt snapped at the man, his eyes narrowed in angry frustration.
'Leave him alone, he's done nothing to you,' May growled, deciding that she was the only person who could help the Researcher. After all, she had no idea where Brendan was, and she preferred to help others if she was going to wait around anyway.
'What, you're the one who's going to protect him?' The Magma Grunt chortled, causing the young woman's irritation to increase.
'So what if I am?' May snapped back, clenching her hands by her side. She didn't like where this conversation was going, especially since she could see the scepticism in their eyes.
'No one who crosses Team Aqua gets any mercy, not even a beautiful lady such as yourself!' The man snarled, his grey eyes narrowed in anger.
'Hey, that's what I was going to say!' The Magma Grunt snarled, taking a step forward towards his opponent.
'Are you a Team Aqua member too?' The first man questioned, scratching his bandana slightly.
'What? No way! Doofus, I meant for Team Magma! Right, she'll battle me!' The second snapped, punching him slightly.
'No she'll battle me!' The first man snarled as May tried not to sigh in exasperated impatience.
Taking her pokéballs from her belt, she released Wartortle and Munchlax. With a snarl, she scowled, 'I'll take you both on, right now.'
The men scrambled back slightly, appearing intimidated before releasing two Poochyena.
'Wartortle, use aqua tail, Munchlax, you use strength,' May cried as the duo before her cried, 'Poochyena, use bite!'
'Hey, I said bite, you use another move! Stop talking at me!' The duo continued as May tried not to bring a hand to her face in despair. She barely had time to see her Wartortle's water embraced tail attack one of the dark types as Munchlax pushed the other against a nearby tree.
'While they're confused, rapid spin! You use metronome, Munchlax!' May cried before her Wartortle withdrew in his shell and began to spin, Munchlax wiggling his fingers whilst saying his name.
'Go!' May cried as Wartortle hit both of the Poochyena, who had started to fight as heatedly as their Trainers.
Crying his name, Munchlax released a powerful dragon breath attack, which rendered both of their opponents useless.
'This was all your fault!' The duo cried before returning their pokémon and scrambling away, still verbally abusing the other as they ran.
'Team Aqua will definitely get what we're after in Rustboro!' The Aqua Grunt cried, though his voice was barely audible to May.
'No way, Magma will get there first!' The Magma Grunt snarled back, though May's eyes were focused on the tree Munchlax had taken to inspecting.
'Good job, guys!' May grinned at her friends as the Researcher rushed to face her.
'Whew, that was awfully close! Thanks to you, he didn't rob me of these important papers. I know, I'll give you this as my thanks!' The man grinned before giving May a few Heal Balls.
'Ah! Didn't those thugs say they were after something in Rustboro, too?' The man frowned before his eyes widened. With a gasp, he cried, 'uhoh! It's a crisis! I can't be wasting time!'
Blinking in surprise, May watched the man jog off, not seeing Munchlax as he pushed the tree, his eyes blinking up ahead.
'Wartortle, Wartortle!' Her water type cried, waving his arms in the air as he jumped for her attention.
'What's wrong, Wartortle?' May frowned as she heard the sound of a bicycle cracking twigs.
'Yo, May that was such a Poochyena thing to do! You don't leave your pack behind, ever!' Brendan snarled, his face red with anger. He didn't see Munchlax's eyes widen as he frantically ran to May, crying his name in fear.
'Munchlax!' Her pokémon cried before jumping up and hitting the pokéball's button, effectively returning himself.
'M-Munchlax?' May blinked at the pokéball in her hand as Wartortle almost began to cry.
'Uhoh, what did he do?' Brendan scowled as May caught Wartortle in her arms, his large eyes focused on the tree.
'I may have had a battle here,' May frowned as she heard what had caught her pokémon's attention—the soft noise of a flying type's wings.
'What? Why in Groudon's name would you do that?' The man snarled as he saw a horde of Tailow glaring at them.
'Never mind that, get on your bike!' He shrieked, jumping back onto his Acro Bicycle as May scrambled for her Mach Bicycle.
'Hurry up May!' The man hollered, racing ahead.
'Waaaait!' May cried as the pokémon began to fly towards her, their beaks shining in a peck attack.
'Wartortle!' Her pokémon cried in agreement, though Brendan didn't return for them, knowing that May had the advantage of escaping over him.
'I'll teach him! What was that he was just saying about leaving your pack behind?' May hissed as her friend came to an abrupt halt before releasing a Shiftry. She saw him say something to his grass type before the pokémon nodded once, jumping into the trees.
'Brendan Birch, you are dead!' May screeched as she began to pedal, her water type letting out a small tear.
'Use your pokémon, you dolt! Are you or aren't you a Trainer?' Brendan's voice called back, though it only enraged May more.
'Wartortle, ice beam!' May called, hoping her pokémon could still see well enough to fully utilise the move.
The pokémon let out growl before jumping onto her shoulder, releasing the ice attack.
'Shiftry, now!' Brendan's voice snarled as he jumped on his Acro bicycle and jumped over a ledge.
'I didn't know you could do that!' May hissed at her friend, though he rolled his eyes and responded, 'only smart people can do it. I'll act as a decoy, Shiftry and Wartortle will keep you safe. See you in Rustboro!'
'Brendan!' May hissed, though her childhood friend waved once and began to cycle off, Shiftry forming a protective barrier around May and Wartortle.
'Lugia help me, Birch, when I get my hands on you!' May hissed as she began to pedal harder, knowing that Shiftry would keep up with her.
Reaching Rustboro City in record time, May didn't wait before reaching the Pokémon Centre.
Seeing the Nurse Joy smile eagerly up at her, May said, 'Nurse Joy, can you please take a look at my pokémon? I'll be back in a moment. Shiftry, with me! Brendan's in trouble!'
'What's happened?' The woman asked as she saw May put the pokéballs in a tray.
'Nothing you need to worry about, hopefully,' May responded with an anxious smile before she and the dual grass and dark type bound out of the pristine Centre.
Hearing her childhood friend's frantic cry, May frowned, 'Shiftry, get in there and use energy ball.'
The grass type nodded once before jumping towards his Trainer, listening to May's command as readily as he would Orlando's.
She heard the man cry once before he and his pokémon appeared, leaving an infuriated horde of pokémon behind.
'What did you do to them?' Brendan scowled at his friend, who grimaced as she pulled him off his bicycle and into a hug.
'I didn't do anything, I swear!' May whispered in his ear, though neither of them believed it. Pokémon did not get this worked up by nothing.
'Really? Just like you didn't startle those Tentacool with your cries as a kid!' Brendan sneered, causing her to flush in anger.
'I'll have you know that that left me traumatised! Those pokémon used attacks on me!' May scowled, stomping her foot and jabbing a finger in his chest.
'Oh? Did I just not get attacked to protect you from more trauma? I can't help but feel that you're not all that grateful for my sacrifice!' Brendan retorted back, enjoying the snarl which escaped May's throat.
'You're impossible! You know I was worried sick about you! I'd never ask you—or anyone else—to get hurt for me!' May hissed at the man, turning to stomp back to the Centre, barely suppressing tears of frustration.
'Yeah, but you wouldn't have me any other way! You love me,' he chuckled, wincing slightly as he felt a bruise on his cheek form, following the woman on the grey stone pavers at a slower pace.
'That's a matter of opinion,' May scowled to herself, barely seeing the pretty stone buildings around her.
'Hey, cheer up, May. You know I can't stand seeing you cry. Besides, doesn't it amaze you how big Rustboro City is compared to Littleroot?' Her childhood friend chuckled as he swung an arm around her shoulders.
'Yeah, yeah, get on with it!' May scoffed, jabbing him with her elbow. Feeling a sense of triumph at seeing him wince, she continued, 'I wonder where Orlando and Wally are now.'
'They'll probably have fought Roxanne by now. Good old Roxie,' Brendan chuckled as he rubbed his hands together eagerly.
'Oh Ho-Oh, no, Brendan!' May gasped, pushing her friend away as he chuckled.
'What? Let's just say she was really impressed by my Mudkip back in the day,' Brendan chuckled, as May tried to suppress the urge to be violently sick.
'You do not go there when I'm around, that is disgusting!' May hissed at the man, who argued, 'hey, I treat you as I treat Orlando. Trust me, I've spared you the details because you're a girl.'
'Oh Kyogre, Groudon and every other legendary, I'm going to be sick,' May hissed as the man grinned at her.
'Hey, I didn't even tell you about the times I've encountered her in Tournaments,' Brendan mused, wiggling his eyebrows at her in a suggestive manner.
'Ok, that's enough. I do not need to hear about this from you—ever!' May hissed back before stomping into the Pokémon Centre and walking towards the Nurse Joy there.
'I thought you'd be back soon, here's your pokémon, May,' the Nurse smiled eagerly, completely unperturbed by the younger woman's previous outburst.
'Thank you Nurse Joy, I'm sorry for having left quite so suddenly,' May apologised, bowing slightly.
'It is quite all right. We all understand just what it means to be young,' the woman smiled as her eyes flickered to Brendan's limping state.
'I see you've met your friend,' the woman said, her eyes considering Brendan's bruised physique.
'Yes, he's been quite injured,' May grimaced as she began to pocket her pokéballs.
'I can see that. Do you have any business here in Rustboro? I'd like to have a quick look at your friend's bruises, as well as his pokémon.' The woman asked, her eyes softening at May's concerned visage.
'That sounds like an excellent idea, Nurse Joy. Brendan, I'll meet you in Devon Corp. Behave, or I'll be having words with your mother,' May said to her friend, who glowered at her warning tone.
With a lighter step, May walked out of the Centre, a small smile on her face.
Seeing a large sky scraper in the city, May decided not to investigate the city. Rather, she opted to visit an old friend—Mr Stone. She highly doubted that Brendan would resent her too much for seeing the man without him.
Reaching the tall building, May let out a cry as a Team Aqua Grunt yelled, 'out of the way! Move it!'
Landing on the ground in a heap, May saw a Team Magma Grunt run after him, hollering, 'get back here! That's mine!'
'Wait! Pleeeaaase! Don't take those parts!' The familiar voice of the Researcher she'd encountered in Petalburg Woods cried.
Seeing him run after them, May let out a sigh before rushing after him.
'Sir, wait!' She cried as she saw him come to an anxious stop at the city precinct. How she'd managed to get herself involved in even more strife was beyond her, but she knew she had to help the man again.
'Oh! You again! You're that fantastic Trainer who helped me in Petalburg Woods! Help me! I was robbed by Team Aqua! I have to get the Devon Parts back!' The man cried as he clutched his clipboard to his chest.
Hearing this, May hesitated, remembering the trouble she'd caused the last time she helped the man—Brendan's bruises were proof enough. She didn't want anyone else to be hurt, especially with Officer Jenny so close.
'If I don't… I'm going to be in serious trouble…' the man pouted at her, his eyes imploring her to help.
With a sigh, May knew she had to ensure least try. Without further hesitation, she rushed past him, following the two Grunts.
Dodging the tall grass, May did her best to avoid any pokémon she might encounter, nodding once to the man standing outside a house near the cave.
Anxiously, May smiled at him, hoping she wasn't being too happy.
'Grrr what's going on? I was digging the tunnel without any tools when some goons ordered me out! That tunnel's filled with pokémon that react badly to loud noises! They could cause an uproar. That's why we stopped using heavy equipment for tunnelling. I'm worried that those goons will do something stupid and startle the pokémon into an uproar,' the man snarled, running a hand through his black hair, his dark eyes glaring at the nearby tunnel.
'I'll have a look, sir,' May responded before stumbling towards the entrance to the cave. Seeing a familiar older man up ahead, May felt her breath hitch in her throat.
'Mr Briney!' May cried, rushing towards the man.
'May! Ohhh what am I to do? We were just out on our walk, Peeko and I, when we were attacked by some odd thugs. And those scoundrels made off with my darling Peeko! Where are yooouuu?! Peeeeeeko!' The man cried, glancing around them as if searching for the water and flying type.
'Don't worry, I'll get Peeko back, Mr Briney,' May whispered, touching his arm reassuringly before walking towards the cave.
Rushing into the cave, May sorely wished that she had some back up. However, with Brendan being out in the Pokémon Centre, she knew that now wasn't the time to demand her childhood friend be there.
Seeing a light on one side of the tunnel, she grimaced and walked down it, the silence making her skin crawl. Trying not to notice how her steps echoed around the walls, May did her best to keep her eye on the light that was before her.
'Hey, Aqua, where are you?' The Magma Grunt's voice snarled from behind her, though May didn't turn to look.
Seeing a silhouette in the distance, the young woman from Petalburg did her best to sneak up on the man, seeing the familiar outline of Peeko near him. She did her best to be as stealthy as possible, though she knew she wouldn't be anywhere near as stealthy as a dark type pokémon.
'What? Are you coming? Come and get some, then!' The man snarled upon hearing her foot crunch on the ground.
Hearing that, May grimaced once before coming out of view, walking into the man's dim light.
'Grah, keelhaul it all!' The man yelled, his eyes widening as he stared at May.
'It's you! The hostage pokémon turned out to be worthless! And to think that I made this getaway into this tunnel to nowhere!' The man snarled, clenching his gloved hands into fists.
'As for you! Now you're here to battle me again? Really?' The man hissed before releasing another Poochyena.
'Poochyena, use howl!' The man hissed as May released her Skitty.
'Skitty, counteract with blizzard!' May called to her pokémon, seeing her run around in a circle.
The normal type pokémon paused in her movements before releasing the ice attack onto her opponent, who faltered slightly.
'Oh no you don't, use bite!' The man snarled as May heard the other Grunt come closer.
'Poochyena, while they're distracted, get the files!' The man snarled as a flash of light revealed the other pokémon.
'Peeko, you're with me,' May called through the haze as she saw Skitty step back, towards her. Seeing the way the flying type lifted his claw, May leant down to untie the pokémon, making soothing noises as she worked.
'Skitty, jump up and get those files,' May whispered to her pokémon, who responded once before rushing up ahead, towards the Grunt.
'Don't you use a Poochyena against me!' The Magma Grunt snarled as Skitty jumped towards the Aqua man.
Taking the files in her tiny mouth, the pokémon rushed back to May as Peeko cried his name as he flapped his wings uncertainly.
'Give those back!' The Aqua Grunt snarled as he lunged for the pokémon who scrambled back towards her Trainer with clear fright.
'Leave her alone!' May hissed back, stepping in front of her friend protectively.
The man, in response shoved her violently out of the way, causing her to crash painfully in the wall of the cave.
Letting out a strangled cry, May didn't see the wild pokémon that began to whimper, only focused on taking her pokémon and escaping the enclosed, dark space.
'Come on Peeko!' May cried before rushing to the entrance to the cave.
Running through the dark cavern, May let out a small sigh as she glanced over the files to ensure she had everything. Seeing a bulky contraption stapled into the paperwork, May assumed this was the device the Researcher was after.
'This is all your fault!' One Grunt cried as May slipped out of the lit up exit.
'Are you kidding me? The boss told me this would be a slick-and-easy job to pull. All I had to do was steal some parts from Devon. Tch! Then you two showed up and all chaos breaks loose!' The other snarled back, causing May to grimace slightly. She didn't like the sound of either organisation having a boss, not that she'd vocalise those thoughts.
'If she wants 'em that badly she can have 'em!' The man continued before stomping off.
'Hey, that's what I was going to say! Stop stealing my lines!' The other one snarled, though May had left the cave to see Mr Briney pacing anxiously outside.
'Peeko! Am I glad to see you're safe! My Peeko owes her life an' freedom to you, May!' Mr Briney cried as he turned his friendly face to May's.
'It's nothing, Mr Briney,' May chuckled slightly, struggling to contain a flush.
'Nonsense! If there's ever a thing I can do to help you in turn, don't hesitate to tell me. You know where to find me,' the man grinned before he hobbled off, Peeko flying over his head protectively.
With a small smile, May glanced down at her Skitty, 'well, I suppose we'd better find that Researcher, and then get to Brendan.'
The pokémon cried her name in eager joy before rushing ahead.
With a light laugh, May followed her, knowing that Brendan wouldn't believe her about the day's events even if she'd told him.
Once again, thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and any feedback is greatly appreciated :)