Chapter 50
Hearing Steven instruct his pokémon from somewhere behind her, May could barely focus on her own battle. Just thinking about how jealous Brendan would be when he heard made May almost panic. Her best friend was definitely not going to be happy that she was battling alongside one of his heroes.
Matt's low snarl pulled her back into reality, away from whatever Brendan was going to do.
Seeing her newly attained Lapras struggling in the mud, May blanched. Her pokémon was competing against Courtney's experienced Camerupt, who should have been at a disadvantage if May and Lapras knew how to work together. The fire and ground type let out a snarl as he stomped intimidatingly at the much younger Lapras, who looked around frantically.
Trying not to show how flustered she felt, May's eyes met Courtney's as the woman smirked.
'Camerupt, take down,' Courtney said, her voice emotionless despite the smug expression which filled her face.
'Lapras, dodge it!' May cried as she saw Steven release a powerful Metagross, whose roar echoed around the area, making May's latest pokémon flinch. Almost instantly, the Camerupt made contact, causing her Lapras to slide on the ground.
Fumbling for her PokéDex, May scanned her pokémon to see the moves it knew. She knew that she was at a disadvantage, fighting with such a newly attained pokémon, but the choice had been made. Seeing a few good combinations in her pokémon's move set, May called out, 'Lapras, rain dance, followed by water pulse!'
Hearing her latest partner's eager cry, May couldn't help but smile as she raised her head, calling out to the sky.
Almost instantly, dark clouds came rolling above them as the air pressure changed ominously.
'Wow,' May whispered as Matt let out a loud guffaw, 'amazing! I'll definitely beat you now!'
'Steven, I'm so sorry, I didn't think!' May gasped as her eyes widened in shock. She hadn't considered Team Aqua's favoured type in utilising the water-strengthening move. Glancing up, she saw the first droplets begin to fall and longed for an umbrella. She hadn't thought this through.
'That's understandable, May. You shouldn't concern yourself with my battle, rather focus on your Lapras, she needs your support now more than I do,' Steven assured her as his Metagross unleashed a powerful zap cannon, so strong that May could barely look at it.
Stuttering, May turned back to Lapras to see the pokémon roll over painfully in the dirt as Camerupt unleashed a powerful lava plume just before the heavy rain began.
With a snarl, May called out, 'water pulse now! You can do it, Lapras!'
Rearing her head back, Lapras released a strong gush of water, hitting the Camerupt in the side, almost perfectly centre of the middle O. It seemed that Lapras' strength and aim was near perfect, something May was pleased with.
'Awesome work, Lapras!' May grinned as Courtney's emotionless voice could be heard, 'earth power, destroy this thing.'
'Lapras!' May squeaked as her pokémon let out a startled cry as the earth beneath them began to shake unpredictably. The pokémon was glancing from one side to the other, trying to find a safe place.
Feeling determined, May reminded herself that her pokémon needed her help. With a yell, she explained, 'we can do this, Lapras. Use body slam, followed by a close-up water pulse!'
Hearing her trainer, Lapras let out a cry before lurching forward, tackling her opponent to the ground and, with the Camerupt trapped underneath her, leant her head closer to her rival's face. With a loud cry, she sent out her attack, the rain shimmering off her body.
'Camerupt!' Courtney blinked before staring in disbelief. With jerky movements, she recalled her pokémon, absorbing it in a flash of red.
'Yes, go Lapras, I knew you could do it!' May beamed at her pokémon who stared at the empty space beneath her in shock, mud splattered on her fins from where she'd slipped on the ground as the rain continued to pour.
The water and ice dual type took a moment to decipher what had happened before letting out an eager cry of her own, seeming as surprised as Courtney.
'Go, Koffing, eradicate this enemy!' Courtney barked, her visage filled with fury as her soaked fringe lay flat against her forehead. 'Use gyro ball and be quick about it!'
Blinking, May barely had time to digest the events that were happening before she yelped, 'dodge it!'
Moving such a large body was difficult, and Lapras was hit straight on the side of her head, causing her to lose her balance almost completely.
Feeling terrible, May bit her lip momentarily as she tried in vain to ignore the gnawing guilt that settled in her stomach. She hated hurting anyone, but she had to focus. Lapras was tired, and there was no guarantee that it would work. After all, she'd only read about the tactic in her textbooks.
Closing her eyes momentarily as she heard her pokémon cry out, May took in a sharp breath before calling out, 'perish song, Lapras!'
Clenching her hands, May tried to steady how much they were shaking as she heard her acquaintance croon a soft, sad melody that pulled at her heartstrings. It sounded lonely and distant and made May want to rush forward to comfort the pokémon.
Shaking her head to clear it as a ball of light hit her pokémon, May reminded herself that she was in a battle, not watching television. Lapras looked bruised and swollen, her movements stiff. She wasn't going to last much longer, and May needed to wrap this up before perish song came into effect.
'Body slam, Lapras!' May called as the Koffing created another ball of air.
Her pokémon flinched even before the attack hit her. Seeing just how scared Lapras was, May tried to steady her shaking hands as she struggled to maintain her composure. She couldn't look away from her pokémon, whose eyes were wide with fear as she let out a weak cry before May felt her hands act of their own accord.
She couldn't do this.
'Lapras, you were amazing. Return,' she mumbled, her eyes intent upon the ground before she released her second pokémon, not even really focusing on who it would be.
Seeing her grass type land before her, May stared in disbelief before she said, 'use absorb.'
The battle only needed to last a little while longer before Koffing would faint, leaving her team to be victorious.
She watched in disbelief as Courtney laughed, 'Koffing, use self-destruct!'
Hearing the words, May squeaked, rushing forward as the poison type imploded, the sound of the shock wave shaking her to her very core as she saw Shroomish lying on the ground, fainted.
'Shroomish!' She gasped before she rushed forward, cradling her pokémon in her arms.
'You'll be ok, I'll get you to a Pokémon Centre somehow!' She continued, her voice shrill even to her own ears.
She'd never let Shroomish faint before. Why hadn't she relied on Blaziken?
'May,' the woman snarled in disbelief. She blinked once before stating, 'as anticipated. Unanticipated. You. Target lock... completed. Commencing... experiment. You. Forever. Aha.'
Hearing amusement in the woman's voice, May glanced apprehensively at the woman as she held her pokémon in her arms. The woman, to her surprise, seemed to enjoy watching May panic over Shroomish as it struggled to stay awake.
'Returning home,' were the last words the woman said before walking away from May at a brisk pace.
Glancing around them, May frowned, 'Where did Matt go?'
'He left,' Steven shrugged as rain poured down on them.
Feeling confused, May petted her pokémon, barely noticing the rain that soaked her. Focusing on how her hands shook against her now muddied knees, May tried not to relive the fear she saw in Lapras' eyes, or Shroomish's unconscious body. She knew she shouldn't let it consume her, but she'd rather feel the pain herself.
'May?' Steven questioned as the young woman hunched her shoulders as she sensed the man lean down to her level.
'I failed them both,' she whispered as she glanced up to meet the champion's gaze.
Hearing her words, the man frowned before placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
'It's the mark of a good trainer when you worry about hurting your pokémon,' Steven assured her as his steel blue eyes meeting May's sapphire. He sent her a small, sad smile before continuing, 'now, good work, May. You and your pokémon did well. Ah, that's right. We should first heal up the pokémon that fought on our behalf, shouldn't we?'
Hearing his words, May felt her eyes widen, 'you've got enough things to help them?'
Nodding, he began to look after not just his own pokémon, but the pokémon she released for him.
Feeling her face brighten as Shroomish tackled her to the ground, May couldn't help but laugh as her pokémon splashed her in even more mud.
Hearing a deep, hearty laugh from beside her, May flushed when she saw her boss laughing at her crumpled and muddy exterior, her pokémon rubbing more mud on her as he laughed.
Flushing, she scrambled to her feet before the man, who grinned, 'hah… You performed spectacularly, gym leader. We were able to protect both this wondrous pokémon and its mega stone, thanks to you. I'm beyond impressed with your abilities.'
Flushing, May muttered, 'I'm sure you could have done the same thing on your own.'
The man sent her an appraising glance before glancing behind her, 'and it looks as though Latios may have also recognized you as a trainer worthy of his trust. Look. It's trying to offer you its allegiance. I believe it is trying to show that it wants to go with you on your journey. Go on. Hold out your hand to it.'
Hearing this, May turned to stare at the eon pokémon in disbelief before holding out a shaky hand, the rain still pouring on them, though less than before.
She waited anxiously as Latios' big eyes focused on her offered hand before raising his eyes to meet her own.
Unable to stop herself, May smiled as her Shroomish let out an eager cry, trying to push her forward.
Seeing her smile, Latios responded with a loud cry of her own before nuzzling May's hand affectionately.
Blinking, May stared at the pokémon before brushing his neck softly, hoping not to scare him.
'The question that remains is, do you want to offer Latios a position on your team?' Steven mused before May simply nodded, fumbling for a pokéball.
'Do you really want to come with me?' May asked the pokémon, who nodded, calling his name eagerly to her.
'All right, Latios, the pleasure is all mine!' May beamed as she captured the pokémon. Holding the shaking pokéball in her hand, May smiled, 'it's an honour that you think me worthy, Latios.'
When the pokéball stopped shaking, May turned a disbelieving stare onto Steven, who chuckled slightly as the rain finally stopped.
Taking a steel bracelet in the shape of a cuff out of his pocket, Steven offered it to her. He didn't meet her gaze as he explained, 'you should take this from me… I made it from the stone your Skitty found when I first visited you in Petalburg.'
'What? Lugia, I can't take this, Steven! It must have cost a fortune,' May gasped as she held the steel bracelet up in the air, noticing the exquisite workmanship, as well as the rare stone which sat inside it. She couldn't justify taking such an invaluable piece from anyone, especially Steven Stone.
'Yes you can, it was nothing. An Aggron I'm training found the metal and worked it for me, so it really was no trouble at all,' the man responded smoothly, seeming unconcerned by the subtlest hints of disappointment that filled May's expression.
She considered the bracelet momentarily before mentally assessing the hours required to create the item. There was a detail to the cuff that she hadn't seen in any stores, and the gem looked exquisite. Even if it meant next to nothing to the man, she'd cherish the gift given to her by both the champion and his pokémon, which was made possible by a stone found by her Skitty. Her face brightened visibly before she grinned, 'thank you so much, I love it.'
Placing it around her wrist, May sent him a charming smile of her own before waiting patiently. Steven looked as though he had more to say, and she would give him the chance to speak his mind, even if she didn't notice the subtle curve to his lips.
'With the mega bracelet that I just gave you and the mega stones that a pokémon may hold, your pokémon will be able to achieve a powerful boost, quite unlike any usual form of evolution…but only if you are bound by great affection. You will be able to achieve mega evolution. I suggest you try it with Latios the next time that you happen to have the chance in battle,' Steven said, his eyes alight with excitement.
Blinking, May frowned, 'mega evolution? I've heard about it from somewhere. I'm not sure where, though.'
Hearing this, Steven's grin broadened as he asked, 'you have?'
'Yes, though I can't remember any details,' May pouted as she glanced guiltily up at him.
Rather than judge her, the man grinned eagerly, 'it was back on Mount Chimney, though I suspect you were too concerned with your friend to pay much attention to it. Mega evolution is a phenomenon that has long been shrouded in mystery. What is a mega stone? What is a key stone? The process by which bonds between pokémon and people manifest in tangible power… How do we explain that? I hope that the mega bracelet I just gave you might bring us one step closer to finding the answers to these questions.'
Hearing his eagerness, May couldn't help but share his enthusiasm. Beaming, she assured him, 'of course I'll do what I can to help, Steven. I'll let the league know how I'm going, too!'
'If that settles that… Should we be heading back? Together with Latias, waiting so patiently for us there,' Steven smiled at her, pointing her in the direction from which they'd come.
Seeing his smile, May couldn't hide her own as she walked to the eon pokémon, grateful that Steven hadn't asked her to ride on Latios.
After the first ride with the man, she wasn't sure she could ride solo just yet.
A/N: I wanted to stick to the original story, but couldn't justify May having both eon pokemon. Also, I know she flew in the anime with Winona, but I wanted her to start from scratch with the flying since it's been a while :)