This Chapter Belongs in a Museum
Brendan and May leapt from Mr. Briney's boat into the sandy beaches of Route 109. Luckily, the rest of the trip had gone without a problem, short of some slight boredom over lack of things to do on the boat. The weather wasn't quite as warm as it was on Dewford, but it was still beautiful. They bid farewell to Mr. Briney, who smiled and waved before returning to the boat and driving it toward the Slateport harbor. In the distance, Brendan could see towering skyscrapers, as well as an outdoor market.
The trio walked across the beach toward the city, with a few trainers challenging both Brendan and May to battles, some of them being tag battles, but they alternated who fought the single battles
"So, there are a few things we can do in Slateport, first, there's the harbor, and we are supposed to deliver the package for Devon there. Then there's the market, which is supposed to be a lot of fun," Brendan said.
"Or you could stop and say hello to your friend!" said a familiar feminine voice. May and Brendan both looked toward the beach chairs and saw a bikini-clad Lisia, an Altaria was sleeping on the sand next to her and a drink in her hand.
"Lisia!" May said excitedly as she ran over to her friend and fellow coordinator. "How have you been? I haven't seen you since the Petalburg Contest!"
"I've been great!" she said with a smile and she turned to Brendan and Gwen. "And I see you two have been training hard since I last saw you."
Yep, I guess the results are pretty obvious, Gwen said with a little giggle.
"Yes, you look beautiful as a Kirlia," Lisia said. "But I'm surprised that you evolved so quickly."
Yeah, it's a bit of a long story, Gwen said with a smile as she rubbed the back of her head.
"By the way, May, have you decided who you'll partner with for the contest?" Lisia asked.
"Partner?" May asked in a confused tone.
"Didn't you here that it's a tag-team contest? You need a partner to compete with you," Lisia said.
"Wow, then I guess it's lucky we ran into you, otherwise I would have been screwed," May said.
"You know, I'd be more than happy to join you on stage," Brendan said, getting a surprised look from Lisia.
"Really? I never really thought of you as a coordinator," Lisia said.
"Well, I'm more focused on Gym battles and the league. For May, however, I will gladly try contests," Brendan said.
Lisia got an inquisitive look on her face, which quickly changed, showing that she had figured it out. "You two are dating now, aren't you?"
"How'd you figure it out?" May said with a slight blush.
"It's obvious from the way that both of you talk about each other and then there's the fact that you two look at each other the way a new couple does," Lisia said, giggling to herself. "But you two make a very cute couple."
Yeah, but Goldenrod is still really awkward, Gwen said.
"Goldenrod?" Lisia laughed.
"Yeah, she and May gave me that nickname a while ago, and Gwen hasn't stopped using it," Brendan said.
Lisia laughed at that, but quickly regained her composure. "It's good that you have such a strong relationship. A Pokémon and Trainer should be the best of friends."
"Yeah, but at the same time she always seems to find ways to get on my nerves," Brendan said.
Yes, but if I stopped doing it then you'd think something was wrong, Gwen said.
"Yeah, but do you think you could at least tone it down a little?"
Hell no, Gwen said with a smile.
"I figured you'd say that," Brendan said as he shook his head. May and Lisia just laughed at their banter.
"So, Brendan, I think we need to get a room at the Pokémon Center and begin practicing a routine for the contest," May said, interrupting the conversation.
"Alright," Brendan said.
"You know, I think I've tanned long enough," Lisia said as she finished what was left of her drink. "I'll go with you guys, but you shouldn't worry about a room at the center. I have a penthouse in Slateport, and there's more than enough room for all of you. I have my own Pokémon healing machine and a hot tub."
Brendan, if you refuse this offer so help me… Gwen said.
"Relax Gwen, I was going to accept," Brendan said with a chuckle.
"Good, because I was going to accept regardless of your choice," May said.
"Alright, then follow me," Lisia said as she put on a shirt, sandals, and a beach skirt before kneeling next to her Altaria. "Ali, come on, we're heading home." The cloud winged bird raised his head, revealing a pendant with a pink gem with a blue and white streak through the center, catching Gwen's eye. The Pokémon flapped his wings as he followed his trainer.
Is that Altarianite? Gwen thought to herself. Wow, this Altaria must be really strong.
They all walked for a while, walking past the outdoor market, but then they saw the shipyard. "Hey, we need to make that delivery for Devon Corp," Brendan said.
"Ok, here's the address of my building, I will tell the doorman that you will be coming," Lisia said as she wrote it in a sheet of paper and gave it to him.
"I hope you two don't mind, but I'm going to go with Lisia," May said.
"It's okay," Brendan said. "Gwen and I should be fine."
Yeah, sounds like a recipe for a great time, Gwen said sarcastically to herself as she leapt up to Brendan's shoulder. Hey, Goldenrod, you mind giving me a ride there?
"Not at all, Gwen," Brendan said as they departed from the group, heading toward the shipyard while May went to Lisia's penthouse. Brendan got to a security gate, and the guard stopped him.
"Excuse me kid, what're you doing here? You're not a worker," the guard said.
"My name's Brendan, I'm making a delivery from the Devon Corporation," Brendan said.
"Oh, that's right, we were told to expect you within the next few weeks. The office is that trailer over there," the guard said, pointing to an unimpressive, tan trailer with only two windows and a door. Brendan walked over to the trailer, and knocked on the door. The man who opened it was bald and looked to be in his fifties.
"Yeah, what d' ya need?" he said.
"I'm here with a package from Devon Corporation," Brendan said.
"Oh, damn it, of all the times for Stern to be at the museum!" the man said. "I'm sorry to have to send you somewhere completely different, but could you take that to the Oceanic Museum for me? There should be a man named Captain Stern there. He's the one the package is meant to go to."
Brendan pulled out his PokeNav and went to Slateport's map. "Can you mark it for me on this? It's my first time in Slateport," he said.
"Of course," the man said as he looked at the map momentarily before tapping a single point. "Go there, you'll know it when you see it."
"Thank you sir," Brendan said.
"You're welcome, cute Kirlia by the way," he said as they left.
Gwen blushed. Thank you, she said quietly.
The man either didn't hear her or he didn't care, because he just closed the door and went back to work.
The walk took about ten minutes, during which they played a few games of twenty questions. Although, Brendan got the feeling that Gwen read his mind during his turns, since she figured them out with a maximum of five questions.
Hey we're here! Gwen said, pointing to a large, blue building with an oceanic paint design.
"Wow, the guy wasn't kidding when he said that we'd know it," Brendan said. "You ready to get this job out of the way?"
Yeah, it should be easy enough. Just a quick in and out, Gwen said. They walked into the building and what they saw stopped Brendan cold in his tracks.
"Team Aqua," Brendan gasped. "They're here." He began to walk into the museum, but the receptionists didn't take too kindly to that.
"Hey! Kid, it's fifty dollars to enter!" one of them said, drawing Brendan's gaze.
Brendan just rolled his eyes. "Fine, here," he said as he put the money on the counter. "Don't bother with the ticket."
"Thank you sir, enjoy your visit," she said politely.
Wow, they must really be oblivious, Gwen said.
Well, it is an ocean museum, so Team Aqua must not want to cause trouble here, Brendan said. That was when one of the grunts noticed him.
"SHIT, not that kid!" he shouted as he retreated. Brendan and Gwen both looked at him strangely. "You already beat me in Petalburg Woods and Rusturf Tunnel, what more do you want from me?" At this point his shouting was drawing the attention of a few other grunts in the vicinity. "Here, you can have this TM, just leave me alone!" he said as he pulled a black disc in a case from his pocket, threw it at Brendan and sprinted out of the museum. Brendan caught it and saw TM16 written on the top.
"Huh, fitting that a criminal would have the TM for Thief," Brendan said to Gwen.
Well, there are nothing but Team Aqua members here, want to head to the second floor?
"Sure, let's go!" Brendan said as they went to the stairs. Brendan climbed up and they came to a nearly empty floor. The only other person was a middle-aged man wearing a naval captain's uniform sitting by an exhibit of a submarine, examining it and scribbling notes. Brendan approached him. "Excuse me sir, are you Captain Stern?"
The man looked up from his writing. "Indeed I am, and who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?" he asked.
"I'm Brendan Maple, and this is Gwen. We have a package from Devon Corporation," he said for the third time that day. He pulled out the package from his bag and handed it to Stern.
"Ah, the parts finally arrived. Thank you so–"
He was cut off as two grunts from Team Aqua came up the stairs. "Oh no, I knew they were up to something," Brendan said.
May and Lisia had just arrived at Lisia's penthouse and had their Pokémon healed and they were sitting on a large, L-shaped couch, their Pokémon out and relaxing, the girls both had a cup of tea in their hands. They were now catching up. May had told Lisia of the encounters with Team Aqua, Brendan's gym battles, and the meeting with Steven Stone, and Lisia told May about some of the more obscure contests that she had gone to see. There was, however, one topic that Lisia wanted to discuss.
"So, May, how did you and Brendan start dating?" Lisia asked as May was taking a sip of her tea. May almost did a spit-take of her tea at the question. When she had recovered, began to tell the story.
"Well, it's kind of a long story," May said. "I guess it kind of starts the day that Brendan moved to Littleroot Town, right next door to me. I was outside when the van got there and he hoped out of the trailer."
"He was in the trailer?" Lisia laughed.
"Don't ask me why, I still don't know," May laughed with her. "But he was really cute and he had an air about him that I couldn't quite place."
"Sounds like a good first impression, what did you say to him?"
"Well, I never actually got the chance to talk to him that day. He was busy with the unpacking and the rest of the moving process. I didn't meet him until the next day, and by then he'd already befriended Gwen. He came over to my house to introduce himself around ten in the morning, but there was just one problem, when he got there, I was showering," May said. "And my mom sent him up to my room without realizing where exactly I was."
"Oh my, don't tell me. You were in a towel when you first saw him," Lisia said with a giggle.
"Yeah, I was expecting him to start ogling me, but he turned away like a gentleman. When I got dressed, we just talked and got to know each other better," May said. "Gwen was… well, she was Gwen."
"So, you three pretty much became friends immediately after meeting each other," Lisia said.
"Yeah, I guess Arceus just works in mysterious ways," May said with a smile. "Then came the time I really saw Brendan's compassionate side. It was after Gwen had the panic attack from the contest."
"I remember that, Brendan was sprinting out of the contest hall to get her to the Pokémon Center," Lisia said. "He looked so scared for her."
May smiled. "Yeah, that was what showed me how compassionate and selfless Brendan was. I guess that the way he was protecting his Pokémon and how he was comforting Gwen when she needed him just made me fall fast. I didn't even realize it at the time."
"So then what happened?"
"Well, after we beat two grunts from Team Aqua in the Petalburg Woods, we were camping in a tent, but apparently Gwen had her own plans. I woke up and I was in an … intimate position. I enjoyed it, so when he woke up I … kind of … made him stay there for a few more minutes."
Lisia just laughed. "And that's how you two started dating?"
"Yeah, and since then I haven't regretted it at all. We're going to be spending so much time together anyway, it really just makes sense," May said.
"I agree completely," Lisia said with a sparkle in her eye. "By the way, where is he? A simple delivery shouldn't take this long. Do you think he met with some trouble?"
"Probably, but if he did, then Brendan has Gwen, Clint, and Nikki with him for help," May said as she took a sip of tea.
Lisia just smirked. "Maybe I'm just over reacting."
"Hey, you, hand over those parts! We need them for our organization and the betterment of the world," the first grunt said.
"Yeah, and nobody is going to stop us this time," the other said.
"Oh? You want to put money on that?" Brendan said as he stepped forward.
"Who the hell are you?" the first grunt said.
"Who I am doesn't matter to you. What my Pokémon and I are going to do to you two if you don't step the fuck off and leave this museum, however…" Brendan said, trailing off for dramatic effect.
They don't look scared, Gwen said. Actually, it looks like they're trying not to laugh.
Brendan just kept glaring at the two grunts who were barely composed as they seemed to take him lightly. What do you think? Should I go overkill and battle them with you, Clint, and Nikki, or at least give them some solace in belief that they actually have a chance to win? he asked Gwen.
It'll be funnier to let them think they have a chance, Gwen said with a smirk.
Nikki first?
Nikki first.
Brendan threw Nikki's Pokéball out, releasing the energetic sloth from her Pokéball.
"So, this kid is serious. Well, Phil, mind if I take the first crack at him?" said the first grunt.
"Go ahead Hank," the second, who Brendan figured was Phil, said.
"Sweet, come on out Bruce!" he said as he released a Zubat. "Use Supersonic!" The bat shrieked loudly, but it was such a high pitch that Brendan could not hear it at all. Nikki, however could hear it perfectly, as could Gwen.
OW! ARCEUS THAT'S GONNA MAKE MY EARS BLEED! Gwen shouted.
"Nikki, use Fury Swipes!" Brendan called out. Nikki, however, seemed to be disoriented, as she stumbled and fell to the ground.
Brendan, she's been confused, there's a chance she will keep hurting herself, Gwen said.
"Damn it. Nikki, try another Fury Swipes!" Brendan said. Nikki got up again, shaking her head quickly to bring herself from the daze. She then leapt at Bruce, slashing him across the face repeatedly, even leaving a slight scar. After the fifth hit, the Zubat had fallen to the ground, and was knocked out.
"W-what?" Hank said.
"Tch, pathetic," Phil said as he pulled out a Pokéball. "Step aside Hank. I'll do this. Go, Bart!" The Pokéball released another Zubat.
Brendan smirked. "Hey Nikki, are you ready for another go?" Nikki nodded confidently. "Great, use Bulk Up!" A crimson aura flared around Nikki as her attacking and defensive power rose.
"Leech Life," Phil said. Bart flew at Nikki, baring his fangs at Nikki. Brendan just smiled confidently.
"Nikki, hit him with Fury Swipes!" Brendan said. Nikki began slashing the Zubat swiftly and powerfully. This round didn't last much longer than the previous battle.
"As I thought, you're using the same strategy," Phil said as he recalled the now unconscious Bart. "But I still have one more Pokémon left, and he's much stronger than Bart. Go, Michael!" The Pokémon that appeared was, surprisingly, the Kanto water starter's second form, Wartortle.
"Nikki, you've done well, return and get some rest!" Brendan said as he held out Nikki's Pokéball. "Sorry Gwen, but this is Clint's battle." He then threw out Clint's Pokéball, letting out the wood gecko.
"Heh, this should be good, a pure grass-type against a pure water-type. Let's go," Phil said. "Michael, Rapid Spin!" Michael tucked his head into his center as he tucked his head and limbs into his shell and spun as he flew at Clint.
"Clint, dodge and use Bullet Seed!" Brendan said. Clint easily side-stepped the incoming attack, but when he fired his Bullet Seed, Rapid Spin sent the seeds in multiple directions, hitting the walls. Thankfully there was little damage, and the exhibits were miraculously untouched. "Now use Mega Drain!" Brendan said. A vibrant green vine of energy shot out from Clint's head leaf and wrapped around Michael, stopping the attack and beginning the draining effect.
"Michael, push through and use Ice Punch!" Phil said. Wartortle popped out of his shell as he began to move closer, wrapping the vine around his arms as he moved closer, ice energy enveloping his right hand. He got within striking distance and hit Clint hard across the face, releasing himself from Mega Drain, and sending Clint across the floor. Thankfully, Clint stood up and looked pretty pissed.
"Alright, let's finish this, use Fury Cutter!" Brendan said. The leaves on Clint's arms began to glow yellow-green and extended like blades as he ran at Michael. Clint got within striking distance and began to repeatedly hit his target, each hit getting stronger. On the fourth hit, though, he sent the turtle Pokémon bouncing across the floor. He came to rest at Phil's feet, and fainted there.
"DAMN IT!" Phil said. "What the hell will the boss do when he finds out that we failed?"
"That's a good question," said a deep voice. The speaker walked up from the stairs and Brendan could only react in slight fear. This man was dressed like an eccentric pirate captain. His clothing was all blue and white with a golden belt that held a short maroon cape, and a golden anchor charm hanging from his neck. He wore a sky blue bandana with the Team Aqua logo, and a blue wet suit with white underarms. He had an impressive goatee and a make-up X on the bridge of his nose and his eyes. He also wore blue and white water shoes. "What will I do to you two?"
"Boss!" both Phil and Hank said simultaneously as they clambered back to clear space.
"Save it you pathetic louts!" the new guy yelled before looking to Brendan. "Boy, do you know who I am?" Before Brendan could answer, the man continued. "I'm the leader of Team Aqua, Archie. I have heard of a miserable whelps has been messing up our operations, so I'm assuming you're the boy." Archie then began to inspect Brendan and Gwen closely. "I'm sure that you aren't Team Magma, you're not dressed for the part. So I ask you, why do you interfere with our work?"
"Because every time I have encountered your people, they are committing theft, trying to shoot people, or they kidnap Pokémon. I'm just the guy who won't stand for things like that," Brendan said.
"Hm," Archie said in an annoyed tone. "It can't be helped. You're too young to understand our objectives and how they will improve the world. I'll let this go for now, but don't expect mercy next time you interfere. You two, come with me." He gestured to the two grunts, and they left the building.
Brendan was left speechless until Gwen began waving her hand in front of his face. Earth to Brendan! You in there?
"Yeah, I just zoned out for a moment there, sorry Gwen," Brendan said.
I see, well, we should get to the penthouse, May and Lisia are probably getting concerned.
"Right," Brendan said before turning to Captain Stern. "We will be heading out now. Sorry that we had that little fiasco."
"It's no problem. That was some impressive battling," Stern said. "And thank you for the delivery."
Brendan nodded his acknowledgment before departing for Lisia's penthouse. "I really need to take a dip in her hot tub tonight," he said.
Gwen smiled. I was going to say the exact same thing.
Hey everybody, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. For the contents, there are a few points I want to address before I get people bitching at me:
I know, the title is a very bad joke, but if you have read my other stories, then you know that's my type of humor and I will not change it anytime soon.
I chose to switch the Aqua Grunt's Carvanha with a Wartortle since Carvanha is a fish, so it would have a lot of trouble battling on dry land compared to Wartortle.
