Chapter 49

Watching the sun sparkle on the stone, May was sorely tempted to walk towards the well-lit pillar. Something about the beaming stone called to her, but Steven's soft gasp held her back.

'It's beautiful… If I were to describe such beauty in terms of a stone, it would be a Sun Stone. No… It goes beyond that… Isn't its brilliance like that of a Dawn Stone? It is as fantastic as a steel type pokémon,' he began, only to fall into soft murmurs that May couldn't decipher.

Whatever he was saying, it was clear that he was deeply touched by the beauty of the stone, and even May could see how beautiful it was, reflecting the light around them. She would have considered his admiration of the stone ironic considering his name, but knew better than to mock people for their names and interests. More than enough people had tried to be punny about her and her brother's names, so May could see it could be a touchy subject for some.

Besides, it really was a beautiful stone.

She was about to tease the man for his indecisiveness in describing the stone, when she saw a blue pokémon shaped like an aeroplane materialise before them, letting out a loud growl.

Realising who it was, May couldn't stop the gasp that escaped her. Awed, she stared at the pokémon, his large body seemed stronger than Latias', and he glared ferociously at the place through which they'd come.

Noticing that Steven seemed unsurprised by the other eon pokémon's appearance, May was about to question the man, when she heard loud, frustrated groans from behind her.

Turning to face the area from which she'd come, May almost groaned herself when she saw two Admins, one from Team Magma, the other from Team Aqua. Neither of them looked particularly pleased with the presence of the other, and they seemed completely unaware of May and Steven.

'Courtney! Who do you think you are to follow me here?!' A burly man with muscled arms scoffed as he flexed his arms in what May thought was meant to be an intimidating manner. It might have worked if they were alone and if it were directed to her. After all, the man was big.

'Excuse me, Matt? Follow you? Don't make me laugh! I came here of my own volition!' Courtney growled as she stomped her foot in irritation, turning to her companion beside her, her Magma hood covering her face and hair.

'Oh did you? So what could possibly interest you here?' The man scowled stubbornly, though the woman was completely unperturbed. May couldn't help but admire her obstinate countenance, something she wasn't able to portray so easily herself.

'Uh, uh, uh! You're not going to trick me that easily, but I'd wager it's the same thing that interests you,' she retorted with a smug smile, flicking her violet hair out of her eyes.

The man responded by glaring at the woman sending a nauseating wave of deja vu through May. She quietly wondered if her affections for Drew had been nearly as obvious before pushing those thoughts away. Now wasn't the time to consider her previous rival. It wasn't like he was going to welcome her back into his life with open arms.

They'd never been close enough for him to forgive and forget her mistakes. The only person she'd seen him ever forgive with ease was Solidad.

Realising that the duo weren't at all likely to end their bickering, she took the initiative by clearing her throat subtly. Instantly, May did her best to stare anywhere but at the duo before them, turning her gaze onto her muddy running shoes.

She could feel Courtney's glaring eyes on her before the woman snarled, '... who are you?'

Sensing a hint of jealousy enter the woman's voice, May glanced up before meeting Matt's curious eyes.

Unable to stop herself, May glanced nervously at Steven before chewing her lip slightly, uncertain of what to say in response. After all she had no idea what either of them were doing here. For all she knew, they landed on the island to battle each other.

Like before, the champion was watching them, no hint of amusement or passion on his face, only an alert wariness on his face, his hands tightening slightly.

'Huhn?! What's this?! You?!' Matt scowled as he dismissed Courtney's presence completely before turning his attention to them.

'You're acquainted with them?' Courtney questioned as her purple eyes narrowed on May in distaste, though May did her best not to shrink at the woman's reaction.

'Hm? Team Magma and Team Aqua, is it? So Latios noticed their coming, and that is why it asked Latias to call on us,' Steven mused as Latios growled defensively, taking a protective stance before the pedestal.

'This isn't good, Steven,' May whispered as both the admins glared at them.

The woman stepped forward, walking past May before assessing Steven. In a soft voice, she said, 'you… I feel I should know you… but why?'

Gritting her teeth, May suppressed the urge to tell the woman to give the champion his personal space. If Steven wasn't asking her to step back, then May had no right to fight his battle for him.

Courtney glanced sceptically at her companion before scowling, 'never mind that, for the time being... get away from me. The pokémon behind you... its mega stone... no more... no less. That is what... That's what we of Team Magma seek. How about it? Will you get away from me... or not?'

Almost instantly, the Aqua Admin jumped up, scowling, 'oh ho! No you don't, Courtney! I have no time to worry about who he is! You should know about me, though! The name's Matt! That's Team Aqua Admin Matt to you! What I want from you is that Latios behind you there. But that Mega Stone… We of Team Aqua are definitely gonna need the transcendent power of Mega Evolution to achieve our ambitions. So Courtney, you butt out. How 'bout it? If you get out of our way, we won't rough you up.'

Seeing the two were about to start fighting again, May hurriedly interrupted, 'I'm not moving. If you both want to battle each other first, you'll be doing me a favour.'

Hearing the man laugh, May hissed as she saw Courtney's eyes flicker from May to Matt.

'Look, I'm not going to let either of you catch the eon pokémon or their stones!' May growled at them both, though she was sorely tempted to step between Steven and the Aqua Admin, lest she realise who the man really was. She had no doubt that the man could take care of himself, but if she took word back of his strength to headquarters, May could predict the negative connotations without requesting the assistance of a psychic and his pokémon.

'That's right. Full points for the correct answer!' Steven beamed as May felt her face burn in embarrassment at the sudden attention. Why was he even assessing her in this?

Did that mean he'd been judging her on her behaviour back on the route and on Latias over the ocean? The thought brought a warmth to her cheeks she didn't like, and she hurriedly avoided looking at him.

Courtney glanced once at May before frowning, '... well then...'

'I'll take part in this battle as well. Let's protect Latios and Latias from these beasts together. We cannot allow them or even a mega stone to fall into the hands of such villains!' Steven scowled, causing May to blink in disbelief.

Was this the same person who'd just been grinning at her? And, more importantly, was she really going to be battling next to Steven Stone? She'd never imagined that she'd ever be privileged enough to battle alongside the champion of Hoenn.

She doubted even Brendan had ever thought of it.

Boy, was he going to be pissed.

May tried her best not to blanch as she heard Matt growl, 'oh ho! If you're really that stupid, then I have no choice but to squash you both! You there, face me like a man!'

Meanwhile, Courtney appeared no happier at the idea of battling Steven and May. The woman's face was contorted in anger as she snarled, '... deleting...'

Blinking as she came face to face with the pokémon of both Team Aqua and Magma, May hurriedly released her own.

A/N: I thought I'd put a bit of a twist from the games here, I hope you enjoyed it :)

Also I'm sorry this is late again!