What happened last chapter: "Alright, Wailord, let's go to Ever Grande City!"
Brendan and his pokémon surfed east of the Hoenn region, hoping to discover new pokémon and even more lands. And perhaps, maybe, become the Pokémon world champions.
Of course, May would be a problem...
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CHAPTER 7: The Storm
The next day, May called back her pokémon back into her pokeballs, and visited the Lilycove Marketmall. Instantly, she was surrounded by employees. "Do you want to buy a plushie? Some furniture perhaps? Or Thunderstones?"
May shook her head no to all and continued looking around, going up and down the elevator occasionally to look for more items. Half an hour later, May's backpack was bulging with full healing potions and ethers. She spotted the elevator, and went into it. "Where would you like to go?" an employee from the mall asked, with an eager-to-help look. "Hmm," mused May. "The roof, please."
"Of course," replied the employee obediently, pushing a button in the elevator.
Immediately, elevator music played as May and the employee stood in silence. "You're the champion-to-be, aren't you?" the employee asked, with a kind smile.
"I hope so." May grinned back, although sadly.
"What are you so down about? I've heard everything about you; you're unbeatable around here in the Hoenn region!"
"That's what it looks like," replied May downheartedly. "Apparently, I am."
"What happened?" asked the employee questioningly.
May considered a moment before telling a complete stranger her problems. But it looked like the employee was kind enough to keep her secret. "…Brendan…" she murmured.
"I'm sorry," said the employee gently, putting her hand on May's shoulder. "You'll both make up in time, I know it. Just believe in yourself…sometime, sooner or later, you'll both meet again."
"But that's the problem! I don't want to see him again…." May said determinedly.
The employee smiled knowingly. "It's just a misunderstanding you guys had in a fight. You may not know that now, but just remember: Follow your heart, no matter what everybody else says."
The elevator finally gave a long ding, and the doors opened. May stepped out for a moment, then turned back. "How did you know we had a fight?" she asked, puzzled.
The employee continued smiling but didn't answer. "Take care, May Maple." She said before the doors closed.
"Wait!" yelled May, pressing the "down" button outside of the elevator. The elevator immediately opened again, but the employee disappeared.
May stood in shock for a moment, unable to move. How in the world did that employee move in a second?
…was the employee just a figment of her imagination? Or was she real?
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Brendan, with his Wailord, finally landed on an island to rest. It suddenly began to rain. "Damn…" Brendan muttered. "Not again…." He then noticed a suspicious-looking small square of deep water. I'd better go check it out, thought Brendan. "Dive!" he shouted to his Wailord, and he obeyed. Together, they both dove into the deep waters and resurfaced, now in a sea cave.
"What the….?"
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May Maple now was leaning against the side of the roof, sighing and enjoying the soft breeze. She enjoyed being in solitary places where she could be alone and just think without getting interrupted for once. She watched as pelippers flew by in the sky, forming a V shape in the sky.
"This is so peaceful….I wish it could this way...forever."
Deciding she had rested enough, she fed her pokémon and finally left in the direction of Ever Grande Island…
Hours later, she was stuck in the middle of nowhere. She had looked at her Pokédex, but had still gone hopelessly lost. "I should have studied more in geography," sighed May, finally putting her Pokédex back in her pouch. "I'll just wait until I reach an island or somebody swims by, and I'll figure out where I am."
Suddenly, it began to rain harshly. May was pelted by hail and other objects flying through the air. "What kind of weather is this?" yelled May to no one. She sighed, and hugged herself, shivering from the cold. She looked down at her squirtle, busily trying to bring them all to their final destination. "Squirtle, take a rest." She murmured, seeing how much squirtle was struggling in the current. "I'll swim. I won't give up, I promise!" yelled May, calling back squirtle in his pokéball.
Slowly, but surely, May started to swim in fast, long strokes. She didn't care. All she cared about was her pokémon, and she had to get them all to dry land fast.
Suddenly, a huge wave overcame her, and May was pushed deep into the sea. "No!...NO! I can't give up now…" were May's last thoughts as she slipped into unconsciousness….
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Brendan crept between the walls of the sea cave, careful to look for any traps. Occasionally, water pokémon came out to attack him, but with his pokémon, Brendan easily beat them without losing any health points.
He saw the end of the cave, and rushed up to it, but was stopped by a huge pokémon, stomping in front of the exit. Brendan's eyes grew wide as he looked up, facing the famous, deadly….Kyogre!
With a swipe, the Kyogre threw him against the walls of the cave. Panting with pain, Brendan summoned his choice pokémon. "Raichu! Thunderbolt!"
Rushing to his master's command, Brendan's raichu made a thunderbolt, immediately injuring the Kyogre. Brendan smirked. "Thunder always electrocutes water."
Brendan knew it was true. According to his research, water pokémon were more vulnerable to thunder pokémon than any other pokémon. Brendan knew he couldn't use his Groudon against the Kyogre unless his other pokémon got knocked out. Water always puts out fires.
The Kyogre then attacked Brendan's raichu with surf. Raichu was hurt, but not that badly. "Are you alright, Raichu?"
Brendan's raichu nodded weakly. "You can do it, Raichu! Quick attack!"
The raichu immediately obeyed his master, and jumped at the Kyogre, snarling and scratching the pokémon. Kyogre roared with pain, its guttural noise shaking the whole cave.
The Kyogre's next move was to sleep. Immediately, it returned to it's full health. It continued to sleep.
"Raichu, thunderbolt!" Brendan repeated. Raichu nodded briefly, and obeyed. The Kyogre continued to sleep, although its face became contorted with pain. "Pokéball, go!" then shouted Brendan, throwing a pokéball against the sleeping Kyogre's face. The Kyogre went into the pokéball with a glowing red light. As the Kyogre was struggling to get out, the pokéball shook and shook, but finally, the Kyogre seemed to give up. The pokéball stopped moving.
Brendan tentatively went toward the pokéball. He picked it up slowly, relishing the moment. "ALL RIGHT!" he finally yelled, holding up the pokéball with triumph in his ruby eyes. His raichu cheered. Brendan looked down at his pokémon with a twinkle in his eyes. "Great job, Raichu! You can take a rest, now." Raichu grinned, and went into his pokéball. He swam out of the cave and back up the surface. He referred to his Pokédex, and continued east. Surfing on his wailord's back, he grinned, breathing in the fresh, crisp air. It had stopped raining, and the sun was out. Brendan had a very good day. He found the second of the three famous pokémon, and he would get to Ever Grande City in just a few hours!
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May woke up again, sunlight shining against her face. "Where am I…?" thought May groggily as she sat up, examining the environment. The island she was on was bare, with hardly any grass growing. Up ahead was a tower about five stories high. May stood up shakily. "What is this place?" she said out loud. Of course, there was nobody else on the island to tell her. Looking up at the tower, she walked forward, knowing in her heart there would probably be no return…
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Preview of the Next Chapter, "Journey to Ever Grande":
"Brendan, what are you doing here?" asked May, not believing her eyes. Brendan once again was in her presence, stronger than ever before.
"I will become the pokémon champion, whether I have to hurt you or not." He said demandingly, coolly at the same time.
"Brendan, you aren't yourself!" May cried out...