Chapter 38
Stepping out of the sleek, silver car the champion had sent to pick her up, May saw the Mount Chimney Cable Car before her, shining brilliantly in the sun. Its cable swept up, into the mountain and May swallowed nervously at how steep the incline was.
Uncertainly, she glanced back at the chauffeur, who said, 'I cannot take you any further. The rest of the way will have to be processed by foot. My apologies for any inconvenience.'
'Don't worry about it, I'll be fine,' May grinned at the man before walking towards the entry way, narrowly avoiding a hiker who was on the lookout for a battle.
'This isn't fun at all, but for some reason I c-can't stop laughing! Hahahaha!' The hiker's voice boomed towards her, though she pointedly avoided making eye contact. She couldn't afford to have a battle now, not with Steven's mission looming over her. Besides, the man was intimidating, with the way he was laughing at seemingly nothing.
She saw a sign for some hot springs higher up, though turned away from it, dimly aware of some reporters snaking their way to the cable car, camera and microphone ready.
Pressing her lips together, May reminded herself that she wasn't visiting Mount Chimney for rest and relaxation, though it might be a good idea to bring her mother here one day.
Seeing a white brick building in the distance, May headed towards it, trying not to look too lost. If you let other trainers know that you were lost, it could be asking for all kinds of trouble that she didn't have time for.
It only took her a moment before entering the glass sliding doors, into the remarkably cooler building, the air conditioning working overtime. May glanced around at the numerous trainers seeking reprieve from the heat, some in heated discussion about heading up or down from the mountain.
Clearly whatever she was investigating had spooked some trainers.
Her sapphire eyes glanced at the numerous people before noticing a blue desk with a blonde receptionist working at the counter, her blouse decorated with a red ribbon.
Walking towards the receptionist, May walked up to her with her pokédollars, grateful she even had any on her.
'The Cable Car is ready to depart. Would you like to board it?' She beamed in a voice that was simply too professional for May. Smiling at the receptionist, May couldn't help but wonder if she'd ever gain that level of professionalism herself.
'Yes, please,' May responded anxiously, hoping that whatever was awaiting her at the top of the mountain wasn't going to be too strenuous. If Steven was sending her it meant he had faith she could handle it, and she had to trust his judgment.
'Please step this way,' the woman grinned as she exchanged the money for a ticket, her hands moving deftly around the counter.
Walking into the bright yellow car, May sat on a wooden bench, locked securely in place by a metal pole. There was the sound of the motor starting up as someone closed the door with a click.
Looking out the window, May tried to hide her nerves as she was lifted up to the top of the mountain, looking down at the trees and pokémon below. If she wanted to peer below, she could, though May wondered how Brendan and Kenny were coping, and just what Steven was expecting her to achieve.
'Thank you for using the Cable Car,' an identical blonde beamed before ushering May out of the exit way.
Exiting the Cable Car's building, the first thing May noticed was the sweltering heat which surrounded her, much hotter than what she'd experienced at the foot of the mountain. Trying not to show her displeasure at the overwhelming heat, May saw a Team Aqua grunt battling a Team Magma grunt. Biting back a scowl, May muttered to herself, 'of course it would be these weirdos.'
Hearing the Magma grunt scowl, May inspected the woman, whose blue, shoulder-length hair reminded May of Dawn.
Blinking at the similar hairstyle, May silently mused if Dawn knew the Magma grunt. She doubted her friend would be pleased to hear that she shared a similar fashion sense with a grunt from Team Magma, especially if she knew the nature behind the organisation. Piplup probably wouldn't appreciate it, either.
Seeing someone in the distance, May rushed forward to see him battling three Team Aqua Grunts. As the pokémon snarled at each other, Maxie scowled, 'you Team Aqua curs dare to impede the great Maxie?!'
'Maxie?' May whispered as she neared the man, his expression stoic, as though undeterred by the heat of the volcano.
'Impertinent… little… imbeciles!' Maxie was muttering under his breath, his red hair slicked back.
If they were battling Maxie, that was one less issue for her to deal with, and something was definitely happening further ahead if the number of battles were an indication.
As quietly as she could, May slipped away from the man, grimacing in disbelief.
Seeing another Team Aqua Grunt staring expectantly before him, May knew he was a guard who'd attack her. Glancing around, there wasn't an alternative path.
She didn't have an option.
Stepping in his line of sight, she placed a hand on her pokébelt, meeting his gaze.
Immediately, he charged towards her, growling, 'we of Team Aqua are working hard for everyone's sake. Like, if there's more water around, water pokémon will be happy and it'll give people places to swim.'
Seeing his poochyena, May snarled, 'I don't have time for this, go Wartortle, use bubble!'
Barely watching as Wartortle made his attack, May glanced up the path and said, 'follow it with ice beam, let's go!'
Clapping her hands for effect, May glanced further on, hoping to plan a way to sneak past any future grunts. This sweltering heat was making her clothes cling to her body and it did not improve her mood, especially since it would put Wartortle at a disadvantage.
Considering her friend back home, she also couldn't help but worry about what he was getting up to in her house. May could only hope that Kenny and Venusaur had a good level of control of the situation with him and that he wasn't completely annihilating her liquor stash.
Next time, she'd take him out for a battle or training. But she'd have to get stronger first, especially with the extensive experience Brendan's team had.
'Poochyena!' The Aqua Grunt cried as May returned Wartortle and snuck ahead.
Seeing Shelly snarl at an unknown man in Team Magma colours, May walked towards them, her expression guarded, sapphire eyes flickering from one person to the next.
'What are you doing here?!' Shelly snarled upon seeing her, dismissing her companion almost instantly.
'I beg your pardon?' May blinked at the woman, uncertain as to what to say to her.
'Did you follow us all the way here from Meteor Falls?! Ha! Well hey, good job, kid. OK. I admit it. You are quite the trainer. And…' the woman paused as she sent a contemptuous glare to the man behind her, who'd scoffed at her words. With a sigh, she continued, 'to Archie… me… and all of Team Aqua, your existence is annoying!'
'Thank you?' May muttered under her breath uncertainly as Shelly flicked her long, dark curls over her shoulders, her blue eyes sparkling with a furiosity May didn't like.
In her deep, commanding voice, Shelly continued, 'the world Archie dreams of would be a utopia for pokémon. I can't let you get in the way of someone who's pushing on toward a perfect world!'
Hearing the woman's words, May wondered what fairy-type tales she was listening to. Didn't Shelly realise that there was so much beauty in an imperfect world? When was anything ever perfect, especially when it was man-made?
'This is for Archie, so prepare yourself! This will finally be the time that I leave that cute face of yours swollen and crying!' Shelly snarled, causing the man behind her to chuckle, his booming voice carrying in the wind to them.
'Go, Grimer and Carvanha!' The woman scowled, releasing her two pokémon.
With a scowl, May released her Wartortle and Beldum, both pokémon scowling at their opponents, sensing May's own frustration.
'Wartortle, aqua jet that Grimer, Beldum, hold back on Carvanha!' May said as Shelly snarled, 'Grimer use sludge, Carvanha Assurance!'
Wincing as the four pokémon's attacks met in a shattering display of types, spraying water and poison everywhere, May was the first to notice that the pokémon were relatively unscathed, though bruised.
'Again, quick!' May said, clicking her fingers for effect.
'You repeat your attacks too!' Shelly snarled, her expression a mask of fury, though May's pokémon were the faster duo, catching Shelly's off guard.
'Beldum, zen headbutt while they're confused, Wartortle, make it a combination with rapid spin!' May called, confusing Shelly as she scowled, 'contest moves?'
'Finish it up with ice beam on Grimer and zen headbutt on Carvanha!' May called before her pokémon charged forward, Wartortle freezing the poison type as the dual steel and psychic type knocked out the water and dark type.
'Wh-what was that?' Shelly hissed as she recalled her fainted and frozen pokémon, the man in the background laughing mockingly.
'Uh. Are you telling me you've upped your game even more since last time? You're a brat with a bright future… My pokémon and I don't have any strength left to fight… Go on… Go and be destroyed by Archie,' she scowled before stomping out of the way, her long hair swaying with each of her movements.
'She'll have to pass through me, first. We don't want a brat to interrupt Maxie now, do we? He's only just taught one of your lot a lesson. You should consider yourself lucky to also have a chance to have your pokémon slaughtered him, though your pesky team aren't getting through me!' The tall, imposing man scowled down as he walked towards them, his insulated red jacket making May feel a wave of sympathy for the man, especially this close to the volcano.
'Tabitha!' Shelly hissed, though the man simply waved her off.
The man inspected May, his eyes lingering on her before letting out a booming laugh. Wiping his eyes, he sneered, 'Ahyahyahya! Isn't this amusing?! Is it really your intention to oppose me, a Team Magma admin, just by yourself? Mmm... Very well then! I'll show you how terrifying adults can be! Ahyahyahya! You're the one who tried to interrupt Team Magma, at Meteor Falls! D-d-do you intend to get in our way once more? Unngh! You're really... really, really, really, really, really, really... really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really... reeeallllyyyy... an obnoxious child, aren't you?! Ahh... Ah... I will... crush you. So that you.. never get in my way... again I'm going to give you some very thorough coaching!'
Sighing, May saw from the determined expression that he wasn't going to drop his demands. With a resigned grimace, she released her Wartortle and Munchlax as Tabitha released a Koffing and a Numel.
'Munchlax, metronome, Wartortle aqua jet,' May called, knowing her pokémon would prioritise attacks as necessary.
Watching Munchlax wiggle his fingers as Wartortle attacked Numel with his super effective water type attack, May couldn't help but smile. Her friends were really well trained, and she couldn't be prouder of them.
'Koffing, self-destruct, Numel, magnitude!' Tabitha growled as the man's pokémon repositioned themselves obviously.
Grimacing as the poison type exploded, May waited anxiously as it hit both her pokémon and Numel, who jumped in the air and landed on the ground in a powerful ground type attack.
Wincing as it hit Munchlax and Wartortle, May saw her normal type release his metronome, only to have it be a grass type attack—leaf storm?
The swirling leaves surrounded the fire type with a dramatic flare, though it didn't have much of an effect.
With baited breath, May waited for the ground to steady before hissing, 'Come on, Wartortle, aqua jet, Munchlax strength!'
Watching Wartortle rush forward, May couldn't help but smile as Tabitha scowled, 'Numel, flame burst!'
Feeling her breath hitch in her throat, May watched as Wartortle released a torrent of water from his mouth, unleashing it upon his opponent. With a sizzle, the fire attack was doused by the water type's move and knocked the Numel out.
'I knew you would be strong. What a shame, though! The Meteorite we got from Professor Whoever is already in our boss's hands! Where's the boss, you ask? Ah, yes, yes, right this way! Oh, I do hope that you can be shown Team Magma's true power! Ahya! Ahyahyahyahya!' The man chuckled before turning his attention to Maxie and Archie, both of whom were standing near a device near the edge of the volcano. It looked like it was precariously placed, almost like it could fall at any moment.
Taking a moment to gather her wits, May took a step forward, trying to ignore the sweltering heat around her.
A/N:
I wonder how the next battle is going to go... or if there even will be one?
I've mentioned this in May's Belated Journey, but I'm setting up a Pat r eon account under ls2l/LSS Russell to start uploading my personal stories up there, uploading them weekly starting in a few days. I'll also be releasing my fan fictions there early (I'm thinking 3 weeks ahead, just as a bonus on top of what I'm hoping to do, so if you're happy to wait, that's perfectly fine), but I'll be focusing on my own works on that site instead. It would honestly mean the world to me to have people read my original work, with my own universe and characters (though you'll probably notice a few similarities with my current stories in the character/writing style)
There's no pressure to join me there, though it would honestly be a dream come true for people to read my original works. Some of them I've been writing for over a decade (a kid version of me says hi haha)
I'm not the type of person to just take a stab at things like this, but I've been told by people to just try, especially since no one I know IRL really likes the same things I do (pokémon, reading, the same music etc) so this is a massive step for me.
Of course, like I've said in May's Belated Journey and Mount Chimney Disaster, anyone taking the time to read my work means so much to me, and I've been super happy since writing again (possibly walking around like a slowpoke, trying to write at every opportunity... oops!)
Thank you all so, so much just for taking the time to read my work :)
Also, don't worry, I won't be plugging it a tonne, just trying to raise awareness for now, partly cause I may need to buy ORAS/Almia games again after losing them in my latest move (and researching the games online just isn't the same, so if there's any errors in my work I'm so sorry)