One rather plain trip through the night, and Mr. Briney had arrived in Slateport. May awoke to see the port town ahead, across the beach.
"Thank you for everything, Mr. Briney," May said, giving him a hug.
"Oh, it was nothing. I needed to get out to sea," Mr. Briney said. May collected her released Pokémon, and crossed the beach to Slateport City. She poked her head in briefly at the Shipyard, only to learn that, unfortunately, Captain Stern was elsewhere. May continued walking, looking about for where Stern might've gone. She heard what she thought was the beginning of a ruckus, and she turned around quickly. The Oceanic Museum was being assailed by a number of hooded bandits, clad similarly to the one she had thwarted twice over at Rustboro.
"That doesn't look good…" May said. She ran into the museum, dashing past the bandits, and climbing up the stairs. In the above room was an oceanographer peering excitedly at a model.
"Are you… Captain Stern?" May asked.
"Yes… oh, you have the Devon Parts!" Captain Stern said, noticing the parts in May's hand.
"And you'll be turning around, nice and slowly, and giving them to me," a voice said. May turned around, the parts flying into Stern's grip. A tall man, clad in plenty of red and wearing quite the intellectual pair of glasses, was methodically approaching.
"Who are you?" May asked.
"…You are a child, yes, but those eyes are filled with a flame that cannot be easily quenched. Yes, I can see why Team Magma falters against you. My name? It is Maxie, head of Team Magma, an organisation devoted to the advancement of mankind. As a child today, your actions may determine the path on which humanity walks in the future. This land exists so that humans may continue, onwards and upwards, onwards and upwards. Humans require a grand stage on which to stand. A land we can stand upon… develop… exploit… the basis of growth in the human endeavour. Team Magma stands to increase the landmass available to the world. This will lead to the happiness of humanity… and, consequently, to all life. I offer you the chance to join us. Join us, child, and we will expand humanity's horizons to levels hitherto unknown. I assure you, your lack of an arm will be a nonissue," Maxie said.
"I wanted your name, not your life story. Not interested," May said.
"Humph. I suppose a child would not understand our goals. I at least tried. It's all yours, Brendan," Maxie said. Coming from behind him was Brendan, Professor Birch's son.
"Brendan? What are you doing, throwing your lot in with bandits?" May asked.
"Bandits? Team Magma's efforts are going towards the benefit of mankind! There can be no other goal than serving them!" Brendan said.
"Brendan…" May said.
"Enough talk, Miss May. Maxie needs those parts… and I think I'll be taking them, now," Brendan said, sending out his Pokémon: a Shroomish.
"So that is your goal… it is mine to deliver the parts to their rightful recipient," May said, sending out her Growlithe. Growlithe charged forward, using a Flame Wheel to strike the Shroomish. The Shroomish spread his Leech Seed attack around, failing to hit Growlithe. Growlithe performed another Flame Wheel, striking down the Shroomish. Growlithe shivered, little purple bubbles appearing about his mouth.
"Poison? You're in no condition to fight like that!" May cried out. She switched Growlithe out for Luxio, while Brendan sent out Slakoth. Luxio shot forward, only to be slammed by Slakoth. Luxio crashed into May's legs, knocking her over. Luxio got to his feet, and growled.
"Lightning Dash Attack!" Luxio said, charging with Spark. Slakoth yawned, ignoring the attack that sent him spinning away, under Brendan's feet, paralysed. Slakoth crawled forward, only to meet Luxio's second Spark. Slakoth dropped, probably not fainted, but definitely too lazy to act.
"Soon, you'll be something competent…" Brendan said, returning Slakoth. He sent out his Combusken, to which Luxio grinned. Luxio roared, using a Thunder Wave attack to paralyse it off the bat. Combusken spun forward, using a Double Kick attack to pin Luxio to the wall, defeating it.
"…I don't even know how that one happened…" May said from the ground. She reached down, and sent out her Pokémon… Popoto?
"…This might be risky…" May said.
"I'll… I'll try to hold on," Popoto said. She fired a Water Pulse at Combusken, managing a confusion. Combusken focused, and charged with a Double Kick. Popoto dodged in the nick of time, scraping a cut and a small flame. Extinguishing the flame off-handedly, Popoto fired a Water Pulse at Combusken, defeating it.
"What… I lost? How?" Brendan asked.
"Brendan… I will give you one chance… please! Abandon Magma!" May said.
"…I let you win that time, May. I will not be so lenient the next. Remember that… because next time, we might be ready for you," Brendan said cryptically. He and Maxie left on that confounding note.
After healing up at the Pokémon Centre, May headed towards Route 110. However, a small smattering of people surrounding one of the buildings inspired her curiosity. She approached carefully, noticing the girl in the centre of the crowd, accompanied by an Altaria. She looked pretty enough, with her sparkling blue attire adorned with fluffy cloud trim, but May found her attire a little too skimpy, her eyes a bit too sharp: standard celebrity fare. She was saying something relatively cliché, to the point where she herself seemed a little bored with the words. May was ready to go, before-
"You, watching with that kind of expression! Have you ever been in a Contest before?" the woman asked, coming up right in May's face.
"Um… uh… no…" May said, trying to step back.
"Perfect! That's what I want to hear! Time to bring you into the fantastic world of Contests!" the girl said.
"Oh… uh…" May said.
"It'll be fun! You don't just make Pokémon strong… you bring out a whole new side to them! That arm of yours won't be a problem whatsoever!" the girl said.
"Hm… uh…" May said again.
"Oh, come on! Here… I've got you a Contest Pass and a Poffin Kit and everything! This'll be a great chapter of your life!" the girl said. May was just about out of noises to make.
"Everyone! We can expect great things from this beautiful girl! That's all for my Scouting here!" the girl said. All of a sudden, the girl's hand had a tight grip on May's, and she found herself being pulled in to the Contest Spectacular Hall.
The girl led May into a room marked VIP, pushing her in. She set May in a seat, and stretched out. May looked around awkwardly.
"Sorry about the mess outside… I fall apart when there are too many people," the girl said.
"Pardon?" May asked.
"…Do you know me?" the girl asked.
"No, and that's making this quite weird," May said.
"Oh… stupid, stupid, stupid! The name's Lisia, Contest Extraordinaire, Queen of the Spotlight, whatever everyone's calling me now. I… well… I thought you might be good at… well… Contests…" Lisia said.
"…You remind me a lot of Brendan, and not in a good way," May said.
"I know, I screwed up bad! But you're just so cute… I had to make sure I scouted you, at least…" Lisia said.
"Yeah, you might want to stop digging yourself deeper right now…" May said.
"Right… gotta get my composure…" Lisia said.
"Truth is; I don't care much for Contests. My mum's enamoured with them, but I just never saw the appeal," May said.
"Aw… but you'd look so cute up on stage! I'm sure of it: you're the 100th Trainer I've scouted, and I've never been wrong yet," Lisia said.
"Hm… I'll consider it…" May said.
"…I guess I can't force you into it… I'm…" Lisia said, tears starting to form in the corner of her eyes.
"I assure you, I didn't mean any harm… but I just don't think I want to go out on stage," May said.
"All right… I guess everyone's gotta be wrong sometime…" Lisia said.
"That sounds like an insult. You've got to work on that," May said.
"I know…" Lisia said mournfully, watching May go on her way.
May walked onto Route 110, still unsure about what she said to Lisia. The poor girl was just trying her hardest… there was no real need for May to lose her patience. Thoughts of reconsidering were crossing her mind, but May was almost positive she'd missed her chance, and resolved to continue. As she walked, she found a small Buneary approaching her. She sent out Growlithe, and stepped back, wondering what would transpire.
"Are you OK?" Growlithe asked.
"No, heathen! I have been besieged by these foul Electrike! Foul… I am in no mood to entertain one as uncultured as you," the Buneary said.
"Wait… if you're intending to leave this area behind… why not accompany us? May is kind to her Pokémon," Growlithe said.
"Hm? A human kindness? You are forgetting them who brought us here, Growlithe. There is no forgiveness for their kind," Buneary said.
"Brought us here? Spare me your religious mumbo-jumbo, big-ears," Growlithe said.
"Spare me your dim wit, wet-nose," Buneary said.
"Nice to see you two getting along," May said.
"You told me she was kind. This is sarcastic!" Buneary said.
"I don't think that word means what you think it means," Growlithe said. Buneary growled, and kicked Growlithe to one side. A soft yelp convinced everyone to turn. A very small looking girl was kneeling over Growlithe, and had been presumably struck by his body.
"Oh my… I'm so sorry…" May said.
"Oh, it's nothing… I can walk it off, or something…" the girl said, stroking Growlithe's side before letting him get back up.
"Who are you?" May asked.
"The name's Melissa… I'm… well…" the girl said.
"Do you have any companions?" May asked.
"No… I… I had troubles… well… I…" Melissa said.
"…Do you want to come with me, then? I've been a little bit of an impatient princess, and maybe befriending a little girl like you might help me with that," May said.
"You… you mean it?" Melissa asked.
"…Yes. What, you have trust issues or something?" May asked.
"A little… there have been a few things…" Melissa said. May nodded, and turned back to the Buneary.
"And if you've got a problem with us, why are you still here?" May asked.
"…I wanted to see your kindness at work, and not just assume it… it's not like I like you or anything like that…" Buneary said. "So… catch me. Do as you wish." Buneary jumped up, and went into May's bag. She came out with a Poké Ball. May made to take it, but the Buneary had activated it, going into the Ball, and catching herself.
"…Somehow, I get the feeling I'm in this for the long haul…" May said, looking between the Buneary that was now hers, and the third somewhat eccentric person she had met in the past few days that was now to serve as her companion.
The trip to Mauville City was relatively uneventful following. May was watching Melissa carefully as she looked around in awe. May asked, but all Melissa said was that she hadn't been out and about much. Coming into Mauville City, May realised that testing her patience may not have been the best idea.
"Wow… this place is big…" Melissa said. She was darting around all over the place, looking at a mirror here, a doll there…
"Settle down, Melissa…" May said. Her eyes turned to notice a food court.
"If you calm down while I get my bearings, I'll get you some food and we can have a talk," May said.
"Wow… thanks," Melissa said. May smiled slightly, noticing the patterns around the place. Despite its rather spacious design, May was beginning to feel like she could navigate this place rather easily.
"All right, Melissa, you hungry?" May asked.
"Yeah…" Melissa said. May led her over to the food court, and the pair of them set their order. They went over to a table, sat down, and waited about.
"Anyway, Melissa… where do you come from? Who are you? Questions like that?" May asked.
"Oh… well… I'm a girl from Sootopolis City… I wasn't too big on a whole lot of anything, really… you know, an average girl with an average story…" Melissa said.
"That makes me more curious… but I won't pry. If you don't want to tell me, that's fine…" May said. Their meals were called, and Melissa went to go grab them. May thought about her questions, thinking maybe they were a little personal, before Melissa returned.
"May? What about you?" Melissa asked.
"I come from Johto, actually… Goldenrod City. My father, Norman August, became Gym Leader of Petalburg City, so we moved here. I'm going to have to face him someday…" May said.
"Wow… yeah, actually, I'm related to Wallace Priordia. That'll be something…" Melissa said.
"Heh… well… my arm was like this from birth. I've adapted… but there's always the people who think I'm useless," May said.
"Really?" Melissa asked.
"…Actually, my parents and people from Johto, mostly. Not many people here have done it… and I'm really grateful…" May said.
"…So… you're going for Gym Badges?" Melissa asked.
"Yeah," May asked.
"Do you want to give Wattson a shot?" Melissa asked.
"Yeah, I'm going to have to if I want to face the Pokémon League Champion," May said.
"Champion?" Melissa asked, clearing out the now finished plates.
"It's just a thought right now… but it's a very big one. I want to face the Pokémon League Champion. Not just for me… think of all the little boys and girls with missing arms, poor vision, hard hearing, or whatever other disability they might have, seeing a girl like me make Rank 10. I'd be a heroine!" May said. She turned and started looking for a map or the Gym, while Melissa took a moment to beam.
"A heroine to those with disabilities… kind of like me, huh?" Melissa asked herself. She hurriedly rushed forward to chase after May.
May and Melissa entered the Mauville Gym, looking around in awe at all of the electricity.
"Hey, girls, welcome to good ol' Mauville!" the Gym Leader, a kindly old man, said jovially.
"Gym Leader Wattson!" Melissa said.
"Aren't you a cutie? So who's challenging me?" Wattson said.
"Me. And I don't think Melissa's one for battling," May said. Wattson looked at her, sizing her up.
"You've got fire in your eyes… this battle will certainly be electrifying! All righty then: let's go!" Wattson said.
Official Gym Challenge! Wattson is challenged by May August!
Wattson sent out a Flaaffy, while May came prepared with Grovyle. Grovyle began with a Mega Drain, leeching the life from Flaaffy. Flaaffy spun into a ball, releasing an Electro Ball. Grovyle evaded it masterfully, using his tail to his advantage. Flaaffy spread some Cotton Spores, to which Grovyle shredded with a Fury Cutter, some of which landed on Grovyle's body. Grovyle stepped back, and used another Mega Drain, finishing Flaaffy.
Wattson's next Pokémon was a Luxio, which used a Spark and a Bite in rapid succession. Even if Grovyle hadn't been slowed by the Cotton Spore, that speed was impressive. May returned Grovyle, and switched her own Luxio. The pair were matching each other Spark for Spark. May stepped back, looking across her Battle Ring.
"Come on, Luxio, you can't excite the crowd with just Spark!" Melissa called out. May and both Luxio looked up in shock. Wattson's Luxio shook himself, and pressed on. May's eyes widened, and she input her command. Wattson's Luxio spread his jaws for a Bite… while May's Luxio spread hers for an Ice Fang. The ice coated itself around Wattson's Luxio, freezing it and defeating it.
"I… that's a new one on me…" May's Luxio said, as Manectric made his appearance. Manectric charged up a Flamethrower, and fired, defeating Luxio with relative ease. May sent out Growlithe, which didn't intimidate the Manectric much. Manectric prepared a Thunderbolt, and May thought things through. She commanded Growlithe to dodge into one of Wattson's machines. Manectric fired a Thunderbolt there, which Growlithe dodged again. The machine behind it whirred, and was sent aflame. Growlithe realised what was happening, and bathed in the flames. It emerged, its Flash Fire ability active. Growlithe roared, and used a massive Flame Wheel to crash into Manectric, sending it into the wall so hard, it bounced off and back.
The Gym Challenge is now complete! The victor is May August!
"…Electrifying! Magnificent teamwork, too! You're one lucky gal, May… and you know how to play around with it, too. Take this Dynamo Badge!" Wattson said. May accepted it, and looked at it in awe. She pulled out her Badge Case to put it away.
"That Dynamo Badge will certify you as a Rank 4 Trainer, allowing you to command Pokémon up to Level 40, even if someone else gave them to you. It also certifies you to clear fallen and rugged rocks. And here's my gift… the TM for Volt Switch! You didn't see it much from me, but it allows your Pokémon to attack and switch at the same time. You might find some use in it," Wattson said. Melissa took the TM, and gave it to May when her hands were less full.
"Thank you, Wattson… we'll leave you to your machine," Melissa said.
"My machine… oh, right. You girls run along now…" Wattson said, turning to his still aflame machine.
Melissa and May stopped at the Pokémon Centre, sending May's Pokémon for healing. While she was waiting, she got a call from Professor Birch, necessitating her to go to the PC to download Professor Hickory's notes. Melissa sat at the table, Popoto and Buneary sitting with her.
"You guys are lucky, being with a Trainer like her… she's so pretty, and confident, and pretty…" Melissa said.
"Yack, yack, yack, lovesickness, boring," Buneary said, curling up.
"Lovesickness? So this is love…" Melissa said.
"You mean you've never had it?" Buneary asked.
"No… I've met a lot of boys in my travels, but never have I been enthralled quite like this…" Melissa said.
"…You have fun with that. I'm not worrying about that love crap," Buneary said.
"May August?" Nurse Joy asked.
"Growlithe!" Buneary said.
"…Sounds like someone's got a crush," Melissa said.
"Yeah, you, you little sneak. Now go get Growlithe while May's busy," Buneary said. Melissa rolled her eyes, and went up to the counter to accept the veterans of Wattson's battle. She returned to see a smiling May with Popoto and Buneary.
"Thanks. You never realise just how many Pokémon are out there until you have to download data on a hundred and ten of them thereabouts. Anyway, we have Professor Hickory's data, time to get moving again," May said.
"Of course, May…" Melissa said. May took her Pokémon, returned Popoto and Buneary, and started walking, Melissa following behind her.
The routes north of Mauville were much nicer than those May had previously encountered. There weren't very many homes for wild Pokémon about, mostly plainlands and such. May and Melissa crossed these routes rather easily, although taking pains to avoid a particularly sandstormy region. They eventually found themselves at the base of Mount Chimney.
"May…" Melissa said.
"Hm?" May asked.
"…Who are they?" Melissa asked. May turned, and noticed some Magma bandits and blue-coated… pirates? Sailors? Whoever they were, they and Magma weren't getting along.
"Team Magma…" May said, looking up.
"…What do you want to do, May?" Melissa asked.
"…Well, Lavaridge Town's up there anyway… might as well drop in on this sorry bunch," May said. She ran towards the cable cars, Melissa following behind, not letting May out of her sight.
May and Melissa reached the summit of Mt. Chimney. Immediately, the sounds of Pokémon battles reached their ears, with vicious calls drowning out any level of heroism. Melissa was shivering in spite of the heat, but May was undeterred. She pressed on, finding a whole crew of blue pirates and red bandits engaged in confrontation. On the opposite side was Maxie, tending to an odd machine. May sneaked past the battle to get to Maxie. Melissa considered following, but the ferocity of the battle convinced her otherwise.
"Maxie… what are you up to now?" May asked.
"…Oh, it's you. I should've known. Those eyes… they are the eyes of determination. I stand here today in attempt to harness the power available here, on Mt. Chimney, to unlock the secrets of this meteorite… we will stop at no end to find the Legendary Pokémon of the landmasses… and awaken it from its slumber. I dare not spill too much to any random nobody… besides, I know it's always a good idea to take down anyone who shows your ferocity. Tabitha! Courtney! Summon C301!" Maxie said. Two rather distinct Magma bandits stepped back from the confrontation, and turned. They stepped in between May and Maxie, before kneeling. Their sleight of hand was impressive and mysterious, enough so that, the blue pirates withdrew, as did the Magma bandits. The two Magma bandits, most likely Tabitha and Courtney, stepped back from their creation, to see it expand, grow to May's height, if not slightly taller.
"May… what's happening?" Melissa asked, tears forming. The creation was finished, demonstrating something… off…
It was a crimson moving mountain, certainly looking like a Camerupt. May scanned it with her Pokédex, and it came up as a Camerupt. But the silver and white of machinery marked its body. The creature roared like a Camerupt. But the saying 'if it looks like a Ducklett and walks like a Ducklett and sounds like a Ducklett, then it's probably a Ducklett' probably didn't apply. It looked like a Camerupt. It was moving like a Camerupt, though there was something in how it was summoned that was a little suspect. It roared like a Camerupt. But this thing was not a Camerupt.
"What is that?" May asked.
"That is the first of our experiments into the marriage of organic and mechanic- C301, a cybernetic Camerupt!" Maxie said.
"Tougher! Rougher! Badder! Magmanetics will take over the world as the brand new superpower. Bonding with Pokémon will be a thing of the past: we can enhance their raw power beyond that of what they are currently capable of!" Brendan said.
"That's… that's horrible…" May said.
"I guess I can't expect a girl like you to understand. After all, any halfway sensible girl in your position would have done something about that missing arm," Maxie said.
"…Nobody. Mocks. The arm," May said, sending out her Popoto. The Camerupt roared, and launched an Earth Power. Popoto dodged from side to side, rather similarly to a fish in water. May was in awe, as Popoto let fly a flurry of Water Pulses. The mechanised monstrosity opposite failed to dodge the pulses. It growled, and let out a Lava Plume. This caught Popoto in the beak, knocking her back down into the ground. May rushed to her side, and pulled her into a hug.
"You can do it, Popoto… I believe in you," May said. She stepped back, and Popoto let out an affirmative echolocation. She turned to the Camerupt, and launched an impressive Water Pulse, fizzling out the Camerupt's circuits in addition to dealing massive damage.
"No… this cannot be…" Maxie said. A noise sounded, and Maxie tapped the side of his glasses.
"Yes… uh huh… mm hmm… OK… we'll be there. Sorry to cut our battle short, young girl, but there is something that desperately needs my attention. As an apology for the rudeness, I implore you take the Meteorite and do with it as you wish. I will not forget the face of the Trainer who bested me…" Maxie said. The Magma bandits disappeared, Brendan shooting May a look that seemed to scream… something. May didn't have a clue what. She turned to Popoto proudly, only to see Popoto having evolved from her battle. Seashells adorned her body, and her fins had become much sleeker. Her body had changed from blue to a bluish-pink. May scanned her with the Pokédex, identifying her new name as Delphi.
"You did great," May said, beaming proudly. Delphi beamed back, allowing herself to be returned to her Poké Ball. She turned to Melissa, who had taken the Meteorite, and the blue pirates who had fought against the Magma bandits, who were approaching. Their leader, a man with gold adornments and clothes that were definitely part bathing suit approached her.
"So you're the girl who's been driving a thorn into Team Magma's side…" the man said.
"Who are you?" Melissa asked.
"My name's Archie… and this is Team Aqua, defender of Pokémon of the sea, and in this one instance, those of the land, too. Team Magma… they've been up to no good before, but it's all been thievery and Pokémon capturing up to now… they've been making bigger plans than I thought. That fiery spirit of yours has been doing us good, you know… consider yourself an honorary member of Team Aqua," Archie said, holding out his hand. May took it uncertainly, but his handshake was far from rough.
"Anyway, that Maxie's pulled the wool over our eyes or something, because he must've found those orbs. We'll handle them from here. But if you ever see a Magma Grunt, make sure he don't get his way," Archie said.
"Wouldn't dream of anything else," May said, beaming. Archie went on his way, the Aqua pirates following him. The two admins, Tabitha and Courtney's counterparts, remained.
"Yes?" May asked.
"…Nothing," the boy said, following Archie.
"Fishy," May dryly remarked.
"Nice one, May. That's my brother, Matt… he's tough and manly, but he looks out for me and has quite the sensitive side… I'm Shelly, by the way. It's nice to meet you…" the girl said.
"Nice to meet you, too…" May said.
"Well... I'll see you later," Shelly said. She gave May a brief hug, before running after Archie and Team Aqua.
"…How bubbly," May mused. Melissa pouted, following May as she made to descend Mt. Chimney through the Jagged Pass.