A Desperate Rescue

"Girl," said a deep voice. May was just beginning to regain awareness. She was currently sure of three things: it was unimaginably hot, she was tied to something, and her head felt like it was about to split open. Her eyes began to flutter open, as she fully returned to consciousness. She was looking at a red haired man with glasses, but she had yet to take in her surroundings.

"Wh-who are you?" she asked. "And where am I?"

"My name is Maxie, I'm the leader of Team Magma. And if you take a look around, you will see where we are. May did as he said, seeing a lot of volcanic rock. Below her was a glass floor, and when she looked through it, she screamed.

"Why are we on a platform over lava?" she cried out.

"It's for an increase in effectiveness of the machine you're currently tied to, but you don't need to know what it does exactly. By the way, we took your pack and Pokéballs, and they're hanging above you. Take a look," Maxie said. May looked up, seeing her fanny pack with her Pokéballs on it hanging just above her. And sitting just above that, was a massive purple bat with four wings. "That is Wayne, my Crobat. He will be watching you to make sure you don't do anything I don't approve of. Now, be a good girl, and stay quiet." With that, Maxie pulled out a blue handkerchief that looked like it was from Team Aqua. "Here, this should help you hold your tongue." He forced May's mouth open and pushed the handkerchief inside. He then took another piece of cloth and tied it tightly over her mouth and around her head multiple times. She had no way of getting it off on her own. He then walked over to the controls for the machine, and was quickly absorbed in whatever he was doing. That was until the sound of a helicopter could be heard. Maxie looked up to find the source before getting back to work, this time he was moving much faster than before.

Meanwhile, Brendan and Gwen were in a Team Aqua helicopter, flying to Mt. Chimney. "Alright, Scamp, let's review the plan again, because you're obviously not getting this!" Archie said. "When we land, you are going to take on the grunts while I take on Maxie. This is the only strategy that ensures Team Aqua will have victory. You keep saying that you're going to get this May girl at all costs, but–"

"I don't give two shits about Team Aqua winning! I thought I made it very clear to you; I am not one of your grunts that you can order around. Once this helicopter lands, I could care less if you were thrown into the volcano. And if May is harmed by the time I get there, so help me both Team Aqua and Team Magma will not survive, because I will see to it that you're all wiped out," Brendan said. Archie flinched back, now that the boy was finally looking him in the eye, there was an undeniable anger and ferocity that hadn't been there when they met in the museum in Slateport. Archie was about to open his mouth to argue, but was cut off when the helicopter landed, and the doors opened. Brendan and Gwen were out of the door within seconds.

"Damn, everybody get moving. Don't let that kid beat us to Team Magma!" Archie called out.

Brendan, however, was not about to wait. Gwen was on his shoulder, and they were moving fast. The first group of Magma grunts didn't notice him, but that was alright. He only had one goal, and he could plainly see a strange platform with white metal edges and a glass floor. There was a square machine with a strange casing on top. Perched on top of the casing was a Pokémon Brendan recognized from Johto: a Crobat. It was a hunch, but Brendan had a strong feeling that May was there.

Brendan, there are three members of Team Magma up ahead, and they know you're coming. They have their Pokémon out already, Gwen said.

"That's fine with me," Brendan said as he got out Turk's Pokéball. "With a name like Team Magma, they probably use ground and fire types. This will be a great battle for Turk."

You should know that the guy who knocked me out in Meteor Falls used a Golbat, so there are bound to be some of them. Maybe some Poochyena and their evolution line, Gwen said.

"We can take care of them without a problem," Brendan replied as they rounded the corner. Just as Gwen said, there were three Magma members ready. One, however, Brendan recognized. "Tabitha!"

"Oh, so you remember me!" the lieutenant said with a sinister smirk. "I was wondering if that hit would cause some damage, maybe some memory loss." While he was mocking, Brendan had been busy scanning the Pokémon that the trio had out with his Pokedex. There were five in total. Two Numels, one Zubat, a Golbat, and a Baltoy. This would be simple except for the Golbat. That would be troublesome.

Brendan was about to send out Turk when a Mightyena leapt over them and began fighting the Magma grunts. "Scamp! I'll take care of these clowns, you go stop Maxie!" Archie said as his own Crobat entered the fray.

Brendan was genuinely surprised that Archie would help him, but he didn't have time for that. "Gwen, teleport us past those three," Brendan said.

On it! Gwen said as she made Brendan and herself disappear and reappear right behind the line of Team Magma. Brendan began to sprint to the glass platform, and as he drew closer, he could begin to see May, and what he saw angered him. She was tied to the machine, bound and gagged. That just pissed him off more.

"MAXIE!" Brendan shouted, getting the attention of the man at the machine, who Brendan assumed was in charge. His appearance definitely fit that of the boss of a criminal organization. When Brendan saw the Crobat look at him, however, he got a sinking feeling that he was about to get in over his head.

"So, you're the boy who tried to interfere with our plans at Meteor Falls," Maxie said as he knelt down next to May. "Well, you should know that if you hadn't gotten involved in our affairs, then we would not have had to take your little friend here." He ran his finger over her cheek, making her flinch in response. Maxie gave a cackle.

"Get the hell away from her!" Brendan roared. "I challenge you to a battle."
Maxie grinned evilly. "I was expecting that. You see, unlike that gibbering oaf, Archie, I am a man of logic and science. He and his followers are under the delusion that expanding the sea is a good idea, and will bring prosperity to humanity, but I know better. Expanding the landmass is the true way to better the human race, and improve the lives of Pokémon too. See, my goals are noble. Do you really want to interfere?"

Brendan kept glaring "You're insane," he said. "But I couldn't care less about what you're planning. I want you to release May!" He could see that she was silently pleading with him to not do anything reckless.

Maxie looked over to his Crobat. "Wayne, go, let's show them how dangerous it is to battle Team Magma." The bat Pokémon fluttered off the machine, and he looked ready for battle. Brendan noticed as May was viciously wrenching and fighting against her restraints.

"What the hell are you doing here? Get away from him!" May said, or at least tried to say, all that could be heard was "MMPHM HMMPH!" in a very shrill tone. Brendan couldn't make out a word of what she said.

"An extremely fast Poison/Flying type, shit," Brendan said. "Well, Nikki, looks like you're up!" he threw out Nikki's Pokéball, and the Vigoroth came out looking angry.

"Wayne, use Poison Fang!" Maxie said. Wayne's teeth began to glow purple with acid and poison. He rushed Nikki, moving so fast that Brendan didn't even have time to issue a counter command. Nikki was hit hard as she slid over the stone.

"Nikki! Are you alright?" Brendan called to her. She gave a shaky grunt in response. This will be much harder than I expected. "Alright, try using Rock Tomb!" Nikki grabbed multiple boulders from the area and began throwing them rapidly at the enemy Crobat. The rocks would've been tough to dodge for any other opponent, but Crobat proved to be too fast for that attack. He dodged them almost effortlessly. "Try using Faint Attack!" Nikki leapt into the shadows of the rocks, drawing Wayne in as he tried to use another Poison Fang attack. Just as he closed in, Nikki leapt out and punched Wayne.

"Wing Attack!" Maxie said coldly. Wayne began to fly directly back at Nikki, his wings glowing brightly.

"Counter that with Slash!" Brendan commanded. Nikki leapt at Wayne with her claws glowing. The two attackers collided, battling fiercely to push the other back. Thankfully, Nikki was only using one claw, so she was able to use the other to slash Wayne across his face. The bat fluttered away. "Great, now try another Rock Tomb, try to slow him down!" Once again, Nikki began to throw stones at Wayne once more. This time, the dazed bat had more trouble dodging. Three of the stones struck Wayne's body, while a fourth hit and broke one of his wings. "Nice shot! That should slow him down!"

"Wayne, use Toxic!" Maxie called. Wayne, who was on his last legs for this battle, flew in quickly, getting within inches of Nikki before spitting a glob of toxins at her. Nikki couldn't dodge in time, and she was hit. When that happened, she began to look very sickly.

"Nikki, use Slash once more and finish this!" Brendan said. Nikki leapt at Wayne with a dangerous look of anger as she slashed him once more across the body. Wayne collapsed to the ground, completely knocked out. Maxie recalled the Crobat with a look that was definitely bad for Brendan. He didn't even look concerned that he had just lost this round. Brendan glanced over at Gwen. "Hey, I need you to get May's belt off that machine. It has her Pokémon on it, and we can't let them stay in Maxie's hands."

Yeah, you got it, Gwen said. She concentrated for a moment before the belt was teleported into Brendan's hands. Brendan placed the belt on the ground, and he refocused on the battle.

"MPHHMMM! MMPHHMMM!" May shouted as she tried to pull on her restraints, feeling the rope begin to rub her arm raw and some blood beginning to run down her arm, dripping off the tip of her finger onto the glass floor.

"Go, Oscar!" Maxie said as he let out his next Pokémon. What came out was a Mightyena, and it looked really angry.

"So, a Dark type," Brendan said. "Nikki, return!" Nikki would not have lasted out there much longer, so it would be best to not let her get hurt any more than she already had. "Clint, it's your turn!" Brendan sent out his Grovyle.

"I see, so you chose a grass type when you first started your journey," Maxie said in a cold and calculating voice.

"Clint, let's show them your newest attack, Leaf Blade!" Brendan called out. Like with Fury Cutter, Clint's arm leaves began to glow brightly, but they were now a deep green. Clint sprinted in, closing the distance in no time before mercilessly slashing Oscar.

"Oscar, fight back with Fire Fang!" Maxie called out. Just as Clint was about to land his fourth blow, Oscar's teeth lit up with fire and he bit Clint's arm. Clint cried out in pain as his arm was burned severely, and the heat the volcano was giving off was making the burn hurt worse.

"Use Bullet Seed to get out of there!" Brendan called out. Clint began firing a stream of energy-coated seeds into Oscar's face, making the wolf let him go. "Alright, we need to end this as soon as possible. Use Screech!" Clint began screeching loudly, making Oscar shrink back to try protecting his hearing. "Now, mix Fury Cutter and Leaf Blade!" On Grovyle's right arm, where he had been burned, he started a Leaf Blade, and on his left he started a Fury Cutter. He closed the distance quickly as he began to hack and slash at Oscar. This time, Clint was even more merciless than before, and even more effective.

"Oscar, use Ice Fang!" Maxie commanded. Oscar's teeth then began to take on an icy glow as his breath fogged from the cold. He bit Clint again, this time on his chest. Clint cried out as the ice slowly crept over his body. "Now use Dark Pulse!" Oscar whipped his head around, throwing Clint into the air like a ragdoll. He then fired a stream of intertwined black rings that hit their target perfectly. Clint gave a cry in pain as he fell to the ground, hitting his back hard. He was unable to continue, and Brendan knew it.

"Clint, return!" Brendan said. "Thank you my friend. I promise we will win this." He then picked out Turk's Pokéball. "Turk you're up!" The little crawfish was eager to battle at this point, and his eagerness showed. "Turk, don't let your guard down. This battle will be unlike anything you've ever experienced." Turk nodded.

"Oh please, you don't have a chance. Oscar, use Thunder Fang!" Maxie called. The Mightyena's teeth began to crackle with electricity as he sprinted at Turk.

"Turk, use Protect!" Brendan called out. Turk was surrounded in a green sphere as Oscar bite down. The sphere threw the dog back, but he just looked angrier. Brendan was getting angrier now. Surely Clint had weakened Oscar enough. Well, no use in holding back anything now. "Drop the shield and use Aqua Jet!" Turk did as he was told. Once the sphere of energy fell, he was surrounded by a sphere of water that quickly turned into a bullet shape. Oscar couldn't dodge in time, and he was sent flying into a nearby rock. Turk skidded to a stop as he returned to Brendan.

Maxie recalled Oscar without a word. He then threw his third, and it seemed like his final Pokéball. "Aesir, you're up my friend." The Pokémon that came out looked like a yak with blue rings on the side and two volcanos on its back, and it didn't just look ready to battle. It looked extremely confident. What had Brendan worried, though, was the multi-colored stone around Aesir's neck.

A Camerupt, Gwen said. It's a walking volcano, and it has a temper. But that's not what has me worried. You see that stone around its neck?

"Yeah, what about it?" Brendan asked.

That's Cameruptite. It's Camerupt's mega evolution stone. This one might be able to mega evolve, Gwen said.

"Shit, that's really bad for us. We may not be able to win this," Brendan said.

Don't doubt us, Gwen said. Turk and I combined may be able to beat it. Brendan nodded. He knew now that Maxie had just been gauging him; testing his true strength as a trainer and seeing if he would need to go all out.

"Aesir, it's time to Mega Evolve!" Maxie said, touching the side of his glasses, which Brendan just now realized had the keystone. Multiple streams of energy extended from Aesir's stone and Maxie's keystone which then connected. The connection caused Aesir's body to take on a multi-colored glow as he began to change physically. His two volcanoes converged into one, three large rocks extended from the three rings on each of his sides. His fur got much longer, including the tufts on the top of his head. When the glow faded, the defining details were shown. There was an "M" shaped marking on his forehead, and there was lava flowing from the volcano on his back.

"MMMMMMMMHHHHHMPH!" May screamed. Brendan knew she was screaming at him, pleading with him to run before it was too late. He also noticed that both her arms were bleeding now, forming a small puddle of blood under her.

"Alright, no more playing around," Brendan said quietly, his blood starting to boil with anger, before turning to Turk. "Hey, Turk, you will need to follow my calls to the letter if we're going to win this. Do you understand me?" Turk must have detected the urgency in Brendan's voice. He nodded in full understanding. "Good, then start this off with another Aqua Jet!" Turk leapt at Aesir, he was covered with the water bullet again. Once again, there was no time for Aesir to dodge. What scared Brendan, though, was that Maxie didn't even try to call for a dodge.

"Lava Plume!" the Magma boss called out. Brendan's eyes went wide as he watched the Mega Camerupt's volcano erupt with an enormous amount of lava. Turk had little chance of dodging and he was covered with lava briefly.

Unbeknownst to the two combatants, the attack had effects outside the battle, as multiple drops of lava hit the glass floor of the platform, melting through and dripping onto the metal support beams. May was still trying to scream out a warning about it, she was fairly certain that her arm was going to be bruised for a while if she made it out of this.

Turk used another Aqua Jet to clear the lava off his body, but he was only able to slowly get to Brendan's feet before collapsing. Brendan's eyes were wide with fear at this point. What the hell have I gotten myself into? He thought as he called his Corphish back to his Pokéball.

Brendan, don't give up, May needs us! Gwen shouted, snapping her trainer out of his fear.

"You're right," Brendan said as came back to himself. "Are you ready?"

I think so, but I doubt I ever will be ready for a challenge this big, Gwen said.

"Yeah, you're right again," Brendan said. "But regardless of if we were ready, we're here now, and we have no choice but to keep fighting."

Alright, now enough motivational speeches, let's get this over with.

Brendan steeled his nerves, still hearing May's muffled screaming, seeing that the blood pool had grown wider, some of it trickling off the edge and into the volcano. This would be the hardest thing he and Gwen had done to this point, but they had to win. "Gwen, start with a Double Team and Calm Mind combination. Keep using both until you can't raise your strength anymore!" Gwen followed Brendan's orders, creating countless clones of herself, littering the entire section of the mountain with her copies. Then each one was surrounded by a green aura as Gwen boosted her special attack and defense, working to get them to their maximum level.

"That won't work!" Maxie said. "Aesir, use another Lava Plume!" Aesir erupted once again, the lava landing on and destroying almost half the clones. Gwen silently cursed. She continued to power up, but the chance that Maxie would miss the next was just cut in half. "Now, use Earth Power!" Aesir stomped on the ground, causing the stone to crack under many of the copies, cutting the number in half again. Gwen just kept focusing. She hadn't been hit, but she wasn't quite at the level she needed to be. "Use Rock Slide!" Maxie called out. With a cry, Aesir stomped the ground again, this time causing rocks to cascade from one of the cliff faces overhead. Gwen was just about to where she needed to be. Then a stone clipped her shoulder. There came a great deal of pain, but she kept concentrating. She needed to if she would save May.

Meanwhile, May was thrashing in fear, trying to get free of her bindings or at least get the gag out. The platform she was on was taking too much abuse. There was no way it would be able to hold out for much longer. Just as she was thinking that, three panels of glass fell from the platform, one of which was right next to her.

"Gwen, are you ready?" Brendan called in desperation.

Three…two…one! Gwen said. READY!

"Great, now finish this with Psychic!" Brendan called out. Gwen's psychic aura was so powerful now that all the rest of her clones disappeared as she was surrounded by a dark blue aura, unlike anything she'd ever produced. Aesir had no chance to escape her grasp before he was thrown not just into a rock, but clear across the volcano's top, crashing into the wall on the other side, and reverting to his normal form. There was no doubt that Maxie had lost as his eyes went wide.

"Aesir!" he called in concern as he ran off the platform and started to make his way to where his Pokémon had landed.

Brendan, however had no interest in that, and neither did Gwen, who was now standing at the edge where the stone transitioned to the glass of the platform, three more panels having fallen or been melted by the Lava Plume attacks. Brendan, that platform won't hold out. It's taken too much damage from that battle. Get May and get off of that thing as soon as possible.

"Alright, but you stay on the rocks, got it!" Brendan said as he took off his Pokéball belt and placed it near May's. Gwen, with a look of absolute terror in her eyes, just nodded. Brendan then made his way onto the platform, which creaked with his weight.

May was screaming at him to stay away, trying to say that he should leave her. But Brendan listened to none of it as he got to the machine May was tied to. He pulled a survival knife out of a side pocket of his bag, it was something he was so glad he had thought to pack it when he left home. With it, he cut both the cloth tied around May's head and the rope holding her to the machine. When she was free, May pulled the Team Aqua bandana out of her mouth, coughing slightly.

"Brendan, you crazy idiot!" May said as she embraced him. "Why didn't you run?"

"I couldn't leave my girl. Now, hugs later, we need to get off this thing," Brendan said. That was when he saw that the machine was holding the meteorite that Tabitha had taken in Meteor Falls. He didn't know why, but he had the feeling that he would need it later on. So, when they stood up, Brendan quickly grabbed the space rock and pulled it out of the machine.

Guys! Hurry! Gwen shouted. Just as Brendan and May took their first steps back to safety, however, the platform groaned even louder than before, and instead of just stopping there, a crash resounded across the entire mountain top. Brendan looked through the floor, seeing that both the supports had broken. He looked to Gwen, his eyes showing nothing but fear. Gwen was the same.

No, she said, her voice quivering. No! Just as she said that, the platform gave out, and Brendan and May began to fall toward the lava. DAMN IT, I ALREADY SAID I'M NOT LOSING YOU TOO! Gwen shouted, her entire body glowing bright white. She grew to just over five feet tall, her hair came closer to her head, making a more mature style. Her dress became a ball gown and her head spikes disappeared, reforming as a single chest spike. Her evolution, however, was the last thing on her mind. With the new boost in psychic power and the remaining effects of the previous battle, she extended her power, catching the two trainers just in time.

Brendan and May, however, saw none of the evolution. Brendan just held May close, ignoring the blood on her arms. "May!" he called over the howling of the wind.

"What?" May said, fear in her eyes as they fell.

"We don't have much time left, so before we die you should know something," Brendan said.

"I know, you don't have to say anything," May said. "I love you too." She gave him a kiss on the lips, tears in her eyes as they drew closer to the lava below them. But then they suddenly stopped.

"Wh-what just happened?" Brendan asked.

"I don't know," May said. In an instant, however, they landed back on the solid rock where the platform used to be.

Brendan sat up when he looked around, and right were Gwen had been when the platform fell was what looked like an older version of his first Pokemon. "Gwen? Is that you?" he said.

The Pokémon turned around, tears in her eyes, and threw herself at both Brendan and May, hugging them tightly. Damn it, don't you two ever do anything like that to me again! This was a new voice for her, but Brendan knew it was Gwen. She now sounded like a woman in her twenties.

"Trust me, we're not doing anything like that ever again," May said.

"Yeah, volcanic base-jumping really isn't fun now that I've tried it," Brendan said, earning a slight chuckle, but that was all that he got. And he understood why. "Hey, May, you know I still have something for you."

Gwen sensed what Brendan meant, so she let them out of the hug, and helped both of them to their feet. "Wait, before you do, let's get our Pokéballs first," May said. Gwen, however, was one step ahead. She teleported the two belts to her hands and gave them to their respective trainers. When that was finished, Brendan started where he left off at Meteor Falls, pulling the jewelry box from his pocket. It had miraculously stayed in during the fall.

"I wanted to give you this last night, but we were interrupted," Brendan said as he handed her the box. May gasped.

"So, this is what you did when you went off on your own the day before the contest," she said. May then opened the box, seeing the pendant and she lost all words for a moment. "Oh, Brendan, it's beautiful!" She took it out of the box and put it on. "I love it!"

Brendan smiled. "I love you," he said as he kissed her on the lips. Then he broke the kiss briefly. "And I promise you that I will never let anybody take you ever again."

WOOOOOOO! Gwen teased with a smile. This just made Brendan and May burst out laughing.

"Well, Scamp, that was an impressive fight you had there!" Archie said as he approached them. Brendan stepped in front of May, defensively, and Gwen teleported in front of him. "Relax, I'm not here to cause trouble. I just came here to ask you something."

Brendan glared slightly. "Go on," he said.

"After seeing this whole thing, are you now convinced that Team Magma must be stopped? Team Aqua could use somebody like you in our ranks," Archie said.

"You're right, Team Magma is a bunch of fanatics who will go to dangerous, even deadly lengths to accomplish their goals," Brendan said. Archie nodded.

"I thought so," Archie said. "You can start as a member tomorrow!"

"I never said I'd join Team Aqua," Brendan said. "In fact, after hearing that you plan to expand the sea, I can tell that you are no different from Team Magma. As far as I can tell, you're no different, and you're just as willing to go to such lengths to achieve your goals." That earned a glare from the Aqua boss.

"I should've figured that'd be the case," Archie said as he scanned over the two trainers and the newly evolved Gardevoir. "I'll let it go for now. You two just need more time and you'll eventually understand my way of thinking." With that, he left, shortly after that, the Team Aqua helicopter flew away, heading east.

"Ok, I'm going to say that is enough excitement for one day," May said. "Let's get off this Arceus-forsaken mountain and find a Pokémon Center."

I couldn't agree more, Gwen said with a smile as she led the way toward Mt. Chimney's Jagged Pass. But you should know that this walk won't be pleasant.

"Of course it won't be," Brendan said, slightly sarcastically as they started down the treacherous path.

Wow, that was an exciting chapter to write. I hope you all enjoyed it. Please review, and let me know what you liked and where you think I can improve.

A fair warning, I know in chapter 12, I said there would be no lemons. However, considering what just happened in the story, I think I said that pre-emptively, because now it fits with the plot of the story. For those of you who don't like lemons in your stories, skip the next chapter. This will only be a one-time (Maybe two) thing in this story.

As always, thanks for reading. Until next time – jmoul18.