May and Melissa dismounted, and May called Latias into a Poké Ball. The pair looked up and around. Fortree City was a city suspended above the treetops, with ladders and bridges dotted around for navigation. May took one look at them, and jumped on.
"May?" Melissa asked.
"What?" May asked, holding onto the ladder with all three limbs as she turned.
"Don't you think that's a little… risky?" Melissa asked. May shrugged, and continued climbing. She ran atop the canopy walkways, and entered Fortree Gym. Melissa followed behind her, much more slowly.
The Fortree Gym was a rather impressive sight. There was no back to the room: it was open to the sky. Standing at the far end of a beam was Winona, the Gym Leader, arms spread out as if in flight. She jumped, using the beam as a springboard, to land in the more stable ground of the battlefield.
"Welcome to Fortree, challenger," Winona said.
"…I have so much respect for you right now," May said.
"Yes, I get that a lot. Ready to fight?" Winona asked. May held out her Poké Ball. Winona nodded.
Official Gym Challenge! Winona is challenged by May August!
Winona led with her Swellow. May chose to start with Arcanine. Arcanine shot forward, using a Flame Wheel attack to strike at Swellow, causing a burn. Swellow let out a tuft of energy.
"Big mistake, May. Guts doubles Swellow's attacking power while inflicted with a status condition like burn," Winona said. Swellow used a U-Turn, switching herself out to Winona's Mantine. Arcanine yelped, but Mantine's Surf came too fast for May. Winona's advice had stunned her more effectively than any Pokémon attack. May switched to Luxray, who used a quick Spark to take out Mantine, no problem. May had to act quickly.
Winona switched back to Swellow again. May commanded a quick Spark, hoping to take out the Swellow, or at least significantly draw back her options. But Swellow dodged nimbly to one side, and it was the beam Winona perched on that stopped Luxray from falling out of the Gym. Luxray scrabbled back on to the arena, not even prepared for Swellow's U-Turn. Swellow returned to Winona, to be replaced by Talonflame.
Talonflame spread its wings dramatically, and shot forward with a Brave Bird. Luxray was taken out, even with resisting Flying moves. May withdrew, gritting her teeth. She switched to Delphi. Delphi launched several Water Pulses, two of which struck- the rest were to limit Talonflame's dodging options. Talonflame shot forward, using another Brave Bird. Delphi quickly dived down, dodging the attack, and allowing Talonflame to strike the ground behind her, recoil doing her in.
Winona sent out Swellow again. May clenched her fist, knowing she had to do something about U-Turn. She commanded Delphi to stay on her guard, preparing an angle. Delphi waited, and struck with a Water Pulse as Swellow propelled forward with U-Turn. Swellow still struck true and returned, but her burn was still costing her endurance. Winona replaced her with a Togekiss.
"Better come back anyway, Delphi…" May said. She sent out Durant, who skittered forward. It burrowed under the ground, dodging Togekiss's Aura Sphere.
"Now why did you use a Ground move in the Flying Gym?" Winona asked.
"Never assume you know what your opponent is doing," May said. Durant's head popped out of the ground behind Togekiss. It jumped up, and struck with a Metal Claw. Togekiss shook it off, and Durant dived under the ground. Togekiss turned its back on the hole, readying an Aura Sphere for Durant's tactic. Durant jumped straight back up, striking Togekiss from behind again. Togekiss fainted, and Winona was left with Swellow. Swellow charged with a Brave Bird, but Durant simply burrowed back underground, emerging once Swellow's burn finished it off.
The Gym Challenge is now complete! The victor is May August!
"Well, May… I must say, that was quite the fun battle," Winona said.
"Agreed," May said.
"It's almost without question that I grant you the Feather Badge. You're now Rank 7, and can Fly wherever you have once been, as well as having command over level 70 Pokémon you get from others. There's also my TM, Roost. It allows a Flying Pokémon to regain its composure, but it must perch to do so," Winona said, handing over Badge and TM.
"Interesting move," May said. She and Melissa left, and Winona turned to resume her perch.
May and Melissa, after the customary stop at the Pokémon Centre for heals, bonding and rest, set out on Route 120 for the next town. Melissa was walking beside May, considering reaching for her hand, but stopping herself. The two were good friends, but she was still too shy for something like this?
"Help… Help us…" a voice said, from underneath the waves. Melissa turned, and May stopped too. A Gastrodon appeared from beneath the waves.
"Whatever is the matter, East Gastrodon?" Melissa asked.
"At the Scorched Slab… there's someone attacking our home…" the Gastrodon said.
"May… there's trouble," Melissa said. May jumped on Gastrodon's back.
"Lead the way," May said. Melissa nervously boarded, and the Gastrodon led them back to the scene of the problem.
The Scorched Slab was a small cave in the middle of a lake, lying underneath a bridge. Honestly, it was easy to overlook, and according to the Gastrodon, this made it easy for some Pokémon to hide. However, some Trainer was causing mayhem in there. After entering the Slab, May disembarked from the Gastrodon, and on a whim, caught it. She began running through the caves, ignoring the several Fire and Poison Pokémon heading the opposite way. Melissa followed behind, less successfully.
"Yes! The Legendary Pokémon of the planet's core, Heatran!" the Trainer said. May recognised that voice anywhere.
"Brendan…" May said. Brendan turned from the hole he had created, and gasped.
"May… perfect! May, please, you've gotta come with me!" Brendan said.
"Wha… no! Why would I? I find Team Magma repulsive, you pathetic, and Courtney robotic. Plus, someone's got to look after Melissa!" May said.
"May…" Melissa said, blushing.
"You rank her higher than me? But…" Brendan said.
"If there's a good enough excuse, I'd like to hear it…" May said. Brendan opened his mouth, before groaning.
"I heard that," May said.
"May… please… I can't…" Brendan said.
"Make good choices? I gathered that," May said. Brendan brought his hand to his belt, and drew out a Poké Ball. May sent out her Lupus, and Brendan a Pikachu. Lupus howled, and sent a Flamethrower flying forwards. The Pikachu was sent backwards, but it resumed its feet. It charged forward, preparing a Volt Tackle, and striking. Lupus spun around on the spot, making sure to stay on her feet. The Pikachu reared back for a Thunderbolt, and Lupus shot an Ice Beam up at the Pikachu. The Pikachu screeched, and fell to the ground.
"No… that was the only Pokémon I had on me…" Brendan said.
"Poor planning?" May asked. She turned to Lupus, who was growing larger. A beautiful white fur with red markings trailing along beside her was growing, and her face became much more elegant. May pulled out her Pokédex, and identified Arctos.
"Now that's just… a freshly… dang it! This is all your fault, May! Your fault! Just you remember that once I come back with the upgrades needed to take you down," Brendan said. He stormed from the room, leaving May and Melissa to watch as an angry Heatran emerged from the hole Brendan had made.
"Are you all right?" May asked.
"Stupid… kabooms… just after I got to sleep with the missus, too!" the Heatran said.
"…We're sorry for how Brendan acted. I assure you, we can make him see the error of his ways, one way or another," Melissa said.
"…You're not the queen of kabooms?" the Heatran asked.
"No. The king's gone now. You can get back to your missus, now," Melissa said. Heatran nodded, and started retreating into the ground.
"…That was a potential catastrophe," May said.
"But what did Brendan mean… you'll remember that?" Melissa said.
"It means he's crazy and wants me in ways he'll never have me. Come along, Melissa, we've got to move on," May said. Melissa followed May quite closely.
May and Melissa emerged from the Scorched Slab, and continued along Route 120 and the following Route 121. Melissa was wringing her hands nervously behind May, and May was starting to get distracted at the sight.
"Are you OK?" May asked.
"Sorry, May… I'm just… I'm just scared…" Melissa said.
"Scared of what?" May asked.
"Scared… of losing you," Melissa said. May froze in her tracks, and turned to look at Melissa.
"Scared of losing me?" May asked.
"Yeah… it's just… I see you… and I want to stay in your arms… please, May…" Melissa said.
"…You know what? That Mega Stone thing gave me just the thought…" May said, burrowing into her bag. She pulled out the Eon Pendants- one with a ruby, one with a sapphire.
"Here… take this," May said, holding out the sapphire pendant, the one depicting Latios.
"…What is this?" Melissa asked.
"This is an Eon Pendant. You wear one, and I the other. It has been said that the bearers of a pair are destined to be lifelong companions," May said, slipping the ruby Latias pendant around her neck. Melissa put the Latios pendant on hers.
"May…" Melissa said.
"Melissa, I trust you. You're cute, you're loyal, and you're always there. I would be honoured if we formalised our friendship," May said.
"May… thank you," Melissa said, giving May the tightest hug she could muster.
*WHOOSH*
May pushed Melissa away, and both of them worriedly checked May's stomach for any accidental injuries. Melissa looked up, and pointed at the peak of Mt. Pyre, the mountain of Route 122. A black speck appeared above it, becoming larger and more human-like… it was headed straight for them. May moved about, trying to catch the Pokémon… only for it to land on the ground at her feet. May and Melissa surrounded it. 'It' was a Sneasel, a female one, if the short ear-feather was to be believed. Through a combination of the events of Mt. Pyre and her fall, she was well and truly fainted.
"What do we do?" Melissa asked.
"We take her to the Pokémon Centre," May said firmly.
"Lilycove's not far. Come on!" Melissa said. She scooped up Sneasel, and the pair bolted as fast as they could to Lilycove.
The pair entered the Pokémon Centre, and Melissa ran to the counter.
"Good evening! Welcome to the… oh my word!" the Nurse Joy on duty said. She ran around the counter, and looked at the Sneasel in Melissa's arms.
"Is it really bad?" Melissa asked.
"Not so bad that we can't fix it. But it'll take a little longer than normal… a lot longer than normal," Nurse Joy said. She pressed a button, and a Blissey and an Audino walked up with a stretcher. Sneasel was placed on them, and hurried to the back room.
"This might take a while… do you two want rooms to spend the night?" the Nurse Joy asked. Melissa nodded, knowing that May was behind her now. Nurse Joy dipped under the desk, and came out with a pair of room keys. She passed them to Melissa, and she headed upstairs, May following.
Melissa was on edge that night. Not just on Sneasel's behalf… May had just become her friend. A lifelong friend, if the legend of the Eon Pendants was to be believed. She pulled out the Latios Pendant, and admired it for a little. She smiled, before reaching for her wig. May wasn't going to drop in to her room, so Lisia felt fine discarding her alter-ego for a little while, at least. She left the room, leaving Melissa's clothes folded on the bed, and the wig carefully hidden from casual view. She headed to the Contest Hall. She wanted to share her elation with the world. She entered the Contest Hall, and looked about in awe. She submitted herself for a Beauty Contest, pulled out her Mega Tiara, and prepared for the thrill.
Contests were a totally different ballpark to battles. It was her and three other Trainers, using a Castform, a Milotic and a Lopunny, all pitching in to prove their appeal. Showing them off in a spectacular display was one thing… it was another for their talent. Castform brought about a beautiful snow, Milotic swum about in an elegant arc, and Lopunny spun around on the spot, using some combination of Mirror Coat and Heal Bell for a splendorous glamour.
"Are you ready, Ali?" Lisia asked. Ali nodded. Lisia touched her Mega Tiara, and Ali Mega Evolved, clouds swirling around her. The crowd was getting excited by Mist, before Ali switched to a Dazzling Gleam. She finished the appeal with a Draco Meteor, slamming into the ground in an explosion not unlike fireworks.
"Ali! Lisia! Ali! Lisia!" the crowd was chanting. This was what Lisia lived for. That… and the gentle caress of May.
Lisia exited the Contest Hall, looking towards the Pokémon Centre. She spotted a small group of Magma bandits walking away from the Pokémon Centre. Lisia yelped, and ran towards the Pokémon Centre as fast as she could.
"Did any Magma bandits come in here?" Lisia asked, entering the building. She looked around, and noticed the place had emptied out. Except for the Nurse Joy, who was left bound and gagged behind the counter. Lisia yelped again, and ran around to untie her.
"Thanks… you're right. Some Team Magma bandits did get in here… they knocked me down, tied me up, and went upstairs. When they came down, they were carrying an unconscious girl… she looked kind of familiar… and her left forearm was missing…" Nurse Joy said.
"MAY!" Lisia cried out. She bolted up the stairs, and barged into May's room. Several of May's Pokémon had received cuts and scrapes, and were strewn across the room. Nurse Joy had followed, having managed to get out of the ropes.
"…I'm calling the police…" Nurse Joy said.
"Nurse Joy… I need you to heal these Pokémon. And then I need you to tell me where Team Magma hangs around," Lisia said.
"…You're not going up against them, are you? That's insane!" Nurse Joy said.
"And abandoning May is even more insane!" Lisia told her right back. She pulled out her Latios Pendant.
"She is my world, my lifelong companion. And I'm not going to sit back and let Team Magma tinker with her ticker! I'm going after her," Lisia said.
"…You're a celebrity. You can't just waltz in there. That'd be insane!" Nurse Joy said.
"I have a plan for that. Just help May's friends," Lisia said. The Nurse Joy bowed, gathered them up, and left Lisia to her thoughts. She went to her room, and pulled on her clothes. She looked about, and noticed that the room seemed slightly disturbed.
"Oh no… May, be all right…" Melissa said.
May awoke, looking around the room. It was quite large, and patterned with all sorts of Hoenn-native Pokémon... except that they seemed… different. A mechanical tail here, a bionic eye there… this room was patterned with mechanical Pokémon.
Team Magma was here.
"How are you doing, May?" a voice asked. May looked up, and noticed Brendan approaching her.
"You! What have you done with me?" May asked.
"Calm down… hear me out. You see… I never actually had any siblings, older or younger… May… will you be my older sister?" Brendan asked. May stared at him blankly.
"…That's not how that works, Brendan. You don't just up and decide I'm your big sister. Plus, I don't even like you. I find you pathetic, dumb and gullible. Am I really the girl you want as your big sister?" May asked.
"Yes… you're beautiful, you're determined, and you care a lot about that Melissa girl. Who, might I add, has now abandoned you. Besides, any such minor flaws can be ironed out with a few dozen lines of code," Brendan said.
"Excuse me? Did you just say you were going to make me into a mechanical human?" May asked.
"Well, of course! The Almost-Mecha-Camerupt has provided us with the building blocks to make magnificent Mechanical Pokémon, and even mechanical humans! My lovely girlfriend, Courtney, has already volunteered as the first, becoming better in just about every way thanks to our procedures," Brendan said.
"Better? At what? Being a pawn of Team Magma, or being your girlfriend?" May asked.
"That is neither here nor there, May. Courtney is a brilliant innovation to the world, and I will show it that. However… May, you might just have to help her out with that. Showcase another facet of the mechanisation process," Brendan said.
"All right, that's it! You have insulted Melissa's honour, shown the utmost disrespect to your girlfriend, and have threatened much more than my life on several different occasions in the past five minutes. Maybe it is time to stop calling you pathetic… but this ain't what I had in mind for character development. You're an awful human being, a monster too big for a pocket. Team Magma is going to meet a sticky end, and there can almost be no doubt I'll be there. But for now, I take my leave," May said, storming from the room. She sealed it shut behind her, before she remembered she was supposed to be the captive.
"…How's that for subverting stereotypes?" May asked. She looked around, and started trying to make a break for it. There'd be no stopping Brendan from sounding the alarm, so she needed to find the exit quickly.
Melissa sailed in on Delphi, and returned her to her Poké Ball. She fumbled with switching Poké Balls, eventually just sending out the next of May's Pokémon she could find- which happened to be Sneasel.
"Huh? Wait… are those guys…" Sneasel asked. She watched a pair of Magma bandits run along the halls, overlooking Melissa and Sneasel.
"Do you remember a girl with a missing forearm when you met me?" Melissa asked.
"…Vaguely. Why?" Sneasel asked.
"Well, she's the official trainer between us, but right now, she's been kidnapped by these guys," Melissa said.
"…Are you sure you're not my trainer?" Sneasel asked.
"Yeah, I'm sure. I'm no great shakes at battling… it's just me and Ali as my sister," Melissa said.
"…I will defend you either way. You have a certain…" Sneasel said.
"Any time tonight would be great," Melissa said. Sneasel curtseyed, and held up a Razor Claw. Hurriedly evolving into the frilled Weavile with nary a second thought, she darted from shadow to shadow. Melissa followed clumsily, looking around for any clues on how to navigate the place. Her heart was racing… what would May look like when she found her? Knowing her, she'd probably have made more of a mark on Team Magma… but if she was mechanised, like Courtney…
May looked around this room, still lost. What sounded like the alarm had well and truly been sounded, and Magma bandits were teeming out from everywhere. May spotted a Magma bandit in this room, and dived behind a row of boxes. She crawled past, the soft flesh on her left elbow rubbing on the cold ground. May bit back the sounds of pain, wondering how much longer she could stay hidden like this, before she heard something that sounded like a Pokémon. She switched positions, and slid across the back until she reached the box emitting the noises. She let out a similar noise, hoping the Magma bandit wouldn't notice.
"…What… what is that?" the Pokémon asked.
"Stupid Clefairy… how am I supposed to catch that pesky girl if that keeps distracting me? Knowing my luck, she's right behind…" the Magma bandit said.
"C'mon, May… think, think, think…" May muttered to herself. She heard the Magma bandit's footsteps stepping closer.
"Clefairy, Metronome," May said. She heard the tell-tale wiggle of a Clefairy's finger waggle, and stepped back. The ground began to shake about, and the Magma bandit teetered. He fell on his back, and a few of the boxes dropped on top of him. Clefairy's own box fell on its side, bursting open and sending the Clefairy spilling out towards May.
"Again! Again!" the Clefairy said.
"We've gotta get out of here," May said, scooping up the Clefairy, and looking about. Clefairy wiggled it's finger again, and a Thunderbolt dropped on top of a lock, frying it and popping the door open.
"…Sure," May said, charging through it. Still more maze-like paths.
Melissa was running through the area, until she bumped into Tabitha, being knocked to the ground. Weavile turned around, and darted back, growling at the Magma bandit.
"Please… don't hurt me…" Melissa said.
"Don't worry, little one. We're not… I'm not a bad person, and you mean nothing to Team Magma. You don't have to fear me," Tabitha said, holding out his hand. Melissa took it, and Tabitha helped her off the floor.
"Where's… where's May?" Melissa asked.
"May… we don't know," Tabitha said.
"Please… I need her. I don't care if you put me through what you're putting her through… just please, let me be at her side," Melissa said, starting to tear up.
"No, I mean, we don't know where she is. Brendan had her kidnapped so he could turn her into his big sister… I don't get it much either. But she escaped, and she could be anywhere," Tabitha said.
"May…" Melissa said. As if on cue, May came bursting through a far door, a Clefairy in her arms.
"Melissa?" May asked.
"MAY!" Melissa cried out. She bolted forward, and gave May the biggest hug she could muster. May was knocked to the ground, but smiled as her arms went around Melissa.
"Where were you?" May asked. "Brendan said you'd abandoned me." Melissa started to tear up again.
"Oh, no, Melissa, don't cry, I'd never believe him," May started.
"I was participating in a Contest! I wanted to share my happiness with the world! But I abandoned you in your time of need, and almost lost you! Don't worry, May… I'm here… I'm here…" Melissa said, amidst wails and sobs.
"I know, Melissa, I know… calm down, just calm down…" May said, stroking Melissa's back. Melissa's wails began to settle down.
"May…" Tabitha said, looking at May. Melissa helped her up, and May glared at Tabitha.
"You in on this mess?" May asked threateningly.
"…I'm going to be honest… this is a family business. Maxie is my father, and whatever's left of Courtney is my sister. Sure, the Magma grunts aren't related to us… but we're family. And I'm going to be honest: that's about it," Tabitha said.
"Hm?" May said.
"I'm sick of this mess. Landmass this, roboticise that, overhaul the Hoenn ecosystem for no reason… they're my family, but that doesn't mean I'm going to sit back and give tacit approval for the mess they're diving into," Tabitha said.
"You're…" May started.
"May, Melissa… I understand that, strictly speaking, you would rather have nothing to do with us, just going on your way. May, you have the Pokémon League to challenge. And then after that, you'll just want a rather quiet life together. Am I not correct?" Tabitha asked.
"Well… I did want to do some exploring," May said.
"I'm fine with that," Melissa said.
"My point still stands. Team Magma means nothing to you. You just find yourself roped into our mess. As we speak, Maxie and that robot who claims to be my sister are more than likely in that submarine we stole, on their way to the Seafloor Cavern to wake up Groudon," Tabitha said.
"You stole a submarine?" Melissa asked.
"What the heck is a Groudon?" May asked.
"See? If you gave anything other than passive discontent about our existence, you'd know this stuff. I know you don't want to get in our hair. You know you'd rather stay away from us. I call for you to stay away from us, and us to stay away from you," Tabitha said.
"That sounds…" Melissa said, feeling pleased.
"Wait… so I'm just supposed to take the fact that Brendan wants to turn me into a robot maid big sister lying down?" May asked.
"Oh…" Tabitha said, looking down.
"Speaking of which, how much of Courtney is your sister?" May asked.
"…A certain percentage of her reproductive system, most notably the pleasure organs, and I think she's got a little of her brain… and I'm less sure on this one, but she might actually still have her heart…" Tabitha said. May and Melissa blanched.
"Yeah, maybe this truce isn't going to work…" Tabitha said. The wall beside them thumped, and shattered. Courtney stepped through it.
"Courtney? What are you still doing here?" Tabitha asked.
*Leader Maxie requested that I remain to smooth over the May crisis. Boyfriend more appropriate to the Groudon awakening ceremony than I, so I remain.* Courtney said.
"…Tabitha? I would like to reiterate that Brendan wants me to become that," May muttered.
"…Yeah. My idea was good on paper, though…" Tabitha muttered back.
*Brother Tabitha… your loyalties. They have been called into question by Boyfriend. Are you going to continue your service to your family units?* Courtney asked.
"Courtney… this isn't right. And you know this isn't right. My shy little sister… I'm not talking to you, Courtney unit. I want to hear my little sister. Courtney, whatever part of your brain is still functional… the heart I think may or may not be in there… tell me this isn't what you want," Tabitha said. Courtney's eyes turned into blue rings, with a blue orb circling around. A rather dull loading sound was echoing. She blinked again, and her eyes returned to normal. She dropped to the ground.
"Courtney!" Tabitha said.
"I… I can't hold it much longer…" Courtney said.
"Courtney!" Tabitha said, pulling Courtney into a hug.
"Big brother… I'm sorry. I regret taking up that operation," Courtney said.
"I knew it… just… I think I can reverse the process…" Tabitha said.
"…You haven't roboticised a Pokémon yet. You look away during the procedure. You couldn't reverse the process," Courtney said.
"…I'll learn how. I'll keep you by my side. You will become a human again… I think," Tabitha said.
"That's not how it works…*sigh* my organs wouldn't have survived," Courtney said.
"Huh?" Tabitha asked.
"Tabitha… I'll be like this… forever… I… don't worry… I'll be your sister… always…" Courtney said.
"That Courtney robot? That's not my sister…" Tabitha said.
"Tabitha… you have to help Dad and Brendan… help them see the error of their ways. Then they'll reboot my programming… make me me again…" Courtney said.
"…I will, Courtney," Tabitha said.
"…Systems… crashing… must… reboot…" Courtney said, before closing her eyes. She shivered, and got to her feet.
*Now booting up programs…* Courtney said, a robot once again. Tabitha turned to May and Melissa, who were crying at the sight.
"Go. Exit's that way. She'll remember she wants to hunt you down eventually…" Tabitha said. May and Melissa nodded, and May led the charge to escape.
May and Melissa hopped on Delphi's back, and Delphi began the swim to get them as far away from Team Magma's base as possible. Melissa called a few directions to get them towards Mossdeep, despite the relative predictability of going to the next Gym town.
"Melissa… you said you're into Contests?" May asked. Melissa shivered.
"It's OK if you don't want to talk. I just…" May said.
"I abandoned you, May…" Melissa said.
"No, you didn't. You have a life outside me. I didn't need to know where you were all the time. Although, until this blows over, I will need to make sure I know where you are," May said.
"…" Melissa was looking at May with uncertainty.
"I don't want either of us to go down by Team Magma's hand. I don't even want to know what would happen to you, now that they know how important you are to me," May said.
"…I promise, May. I'll be closer than your own shadow," Melissa said.
"…That's a tad creepy," May said.
"It's just an expression, at any rate… I don't plan on abandoning you again," Melissa said. May smiled, and pat her hand. Delphi slowed down, and May and Melissa disembarked at Mossdeep City.