I have decided that I will try and work with some sub-plots too that can tie together into the grand scheme of things... But the first of these sub plots will be introduced at the end of this chapter so carry on! I am also looking for Gym leader ideas! A fire type gym has been done obviously in chapter 2! So please submit your gym leaders! Include a name, speciality and their team of 6! Also looking for names for the "bad guy" organisation. So any suggestions are welcome!
Last time: Ash and Cedric both challenged the Aldham City Gym and both managed to win their first badge. Ash had simply overpowered Laurence whilst Cedric seemed to strike lucky with his newly caught Litleo. May had also just agreed to do an exhibition performance for the Aldham City Contest which is where we join them.
Chapter 3: May's Time To Shine
"And the crowd goes wild!" The announcer shouted through the microphone.
May's Beautifly had produced an incredible display that had the audience in the palm of her hand as golden dust showered them. They subsequently produced a small curtsy to show their appreciation. The contestants all gazed at her in awe as she passed them all backstage. She was congratulated by so many people she had lost count from all except one. A young girl named Luna Rose.
"Seen that one before." Luna stated with a snide tone.
"Yeah I've done it a couple of times before! I only had 20 minutes to prepare so stuck with what I knew! Hi I'm May!" She extended her hand trying to keep a positive attitude. However, Luna was having none of it.
"Just leave, you are just average, the only reason you won Top Co-ordinator was cause the best were competing in Hoenn. No wonder you couldn't win it in your home region." Luna had a sadistic smile plastered on her face.
"May I ask how long you've been doing this?" May asked.
"8 Years." Luna responded, clearly realising which direction the conversation was going.
However, May didn't follow that up with a snide remark. She merely stated, "Well hopefully, one day you get to compete against me in the exhibition at the end of today! You must have a lot of experience!" May gave the girl a smile. "Good luck!"
Luna departed without acknowledging the comment. May sighed, looking forward to being able to just chill for a few hours, at least so she thought. A TV crew broadcasting the whole event live managed to convince her to join the panel for the day.
The preliminary rounds passed without too much quality. Most performances were at a decent standard but lacked real creativity. That was until Luna had her performance. With her Empoleon they had displayed Empoleon's raw power with a nice amount of elegance for good measure. The host could not help but ask May's opinion.
"So May, Luna Rose put in a strong performance! What are your initial thoughts?"
"Well to be honest, I thought it was a very good performance very creative. But for large parts of it Empoleon was actually out of sight usually submerged in water. We can't forget that the Pokemon should be at the centre of the performance not the moves! But her performance showed a tremendous amount of potential and I'd be very surprised if she didn't at least make the semi-finals today if not the final!" May let out a small smile, contented with her constructive criticism of Luna.
"So you think she maybe has an outside chance?" The host was clearly pressing for something more definitive.
"All I am saying is that when you reach the semi-finals anything can happen from there on out. Being the favourite doesn't necessarily mean you will win! But if I had to bet on it, I'd probably go Luna right now. It depends how she does in the battle stage above all else! "
As the day passed and edged closer to May's battle against the winner, it reached the final stage and Luna had made it.
"So May, Luna has made the final, you called it right! Do you think she will win?" The host asked.
"I would have to say so, her opponent has scraped through a couple of matches quite luckily and had some favourable type match ups. Luna has had the harder battles but still won them all quite comfortable."
Luna was glaring over towards the TV box at the top of the stand where May was sitting. She clearly was not happy about Mays comments no matter how justified they were. However, this had to go to the back of Luna's mind, she had a contest to win.
"And it's all over! The host announced. Luna has won! She will now be presented with the ribbon and the opportunity to battle May Maple!"
May was dressed in her costume again presenting Luna with her ribbon. "Well done!" She said. Luna just shrugged off the comment, clearly not interested. "Would you like to battle then?"
The reporters and cameras were all on her. It would be May's first battle in Jiolt, this was a big story. But Luna had a different idea.
"Nope. I don't want to battle co-ordinators beneath me." Luna turned and walked out of the arena. The whole crowd silent and shell shocked. The reporters rushed over to May looking for a comment before falling silent to hear her reaction.
"Luna had a very strong contest today and thoroughly deserved her win. Firstly I'd like to offer my condolences to the runner up! You have done well today, and if you work hard to expand your repertoire you are destined to do very well. As for Luna, I respect her right to not challenge me, and I only wish that one day I will be able to battle her in a competition. Unfortunately due to being a Top Co-ordinator I will be unable to compete here, however, I will definitely visit numerous contests whilst here. Thank you!"
May had once again proven that she was the media's golden girl. However, unlike other regions where they looked for her flaw, Jiolt seemed to love that she was the golden girl. In Hoenn in particular the press were ruthless and tried to tarnish her reputation with false rumours that it was all a put on, which it wasn't. Occasionally May did have a temper, but she really did try to be nice to everyone because she wanted to.
Ash and Cedric appeared at the Contestants entrance waiting on May who seemed very tired once she stepped out.
"May! You were great today!" Cedric exclaimed.
"Thank you! Sorry I couldn't see you guys, I got roped into press work and stuff, but it was a lot of fun! I was a bit disappointed to not have a bottle at the end."
"That's okay May!" Ash gave her a small hug as he said this. It took May by surprise but she enjoyed it. Ash had always been so caring towards her and moments like this she truly cherished. A relaxing sensation swept through her body and the rather intense day seemed to wash away.
Being a top co-ordinator was a lot of fun at times, but sometimes the pressure would occasionally get to her. Although here it seemed to be about the co-ordinating rather than being a celebrity, a refreshing change of pace. Sadly though she couldn't help but feel a little bit riled that Luna had refused to battle May. No matter how talented Luna was, May felt that Luna's arrogance was unjust.
"So May why did Luna not want to battle you?" Cedric was still a bit baffled. It was not every day you had the opportunity to test yourself against someone of immense talent. Luckily though he had Ash but very few had that luxury.
"She just didn't seem to like me, I tried being nice to her but she did her most to try and rile me. I was just disappointed not to get to battle her." May's face displayed a rather forlorn expression.
"Well how about this, it may not be a contest battle but how about we battle?" Ash had a smirk, he knew May wouldn't be able to resist that offer. Cedric considered the prospect. May was clearly very experienced but she was a Contest performer, not a battler. It would be two very different styles, Ash rather unorthodox, May flamboyant displaying the grace only contests can provide.
"Let's do it. 3 V 3 sound good?" May asked. Cedric hadn't realised but when Ash fed his Pokemon he did so on his own. He only knew of two Pokemon on hand, Charizard and Pikachu. "And how about you make it 3 of the Pokemon you have been hiding from us?" May gave Ash a wink.
"Only if you are sure May… They are very powerful." May nodded enthusiastically, she enjoyed a challenge.
After a half an hour walk they made it to the outskirts of town which coincidentally had a Pokemon Centre. A small battlefield lay to the side of the centre which would be the venue for the battle.
"Okay… Go Gengar!"
"A Gengar huh? Go Glaceon!" May called out.
"Gengar let's start this off with a Sludge Bomb!" In an instant, Gengar coughed up a toxic sludge that hit Glaceon straight in the face impeding its vision.
"Glaceon clean it off with your paw quick!" May was desperate already, she didn't know what moves Gengar could use. Glaceon managed to clean it off but just as it looked up…
"Gengar use hypnosis!" Ash called out, he was being ruthless in this match barely giving May a second to think. Before May could even call a response Glaceon was fast asleep on the ground. "Now use Dream Eater!" Gengar floated over Glaceon and indulged itself in Glaceon's dream causing significant damage. Once Gengar was done Glaceon awoke but collapsed to the ground unable to battle.
"So May, next Pokemon?" May was feeling even more determined, but had no idea what the other two Pokemon were. "Gengar return. Go Golem!"
"Why did you switch out Gengar?" May was puzzled.
"You said you wanted to see other Pokemon of mine, so say hello to Golem!" Ash gave a thumbs up to Golem who subsequently gave a thumbs up to May.
"Okay if you are going for Golem… Go Venusaur! Use vine whip!"
"Quick Golem dodge then use Rock Polish!" Venusaur's vines came crashing down just where Golem had been, but this was no ordinary Golem, much quicker than usual.
"Venusaur use frenzy plant!" May screamed. Venusaur duly obliged and upon stamping its foot on the ground vines starting stretching out of the ground to attack Golem.
"Golem use Rollout and Flamethrower at the same time!" In a flash Golem began rolling through the plants at tremendous speed whilst unleashing the flamethrower. The flames burned the vines from the frenzy plant before they could even reach Golem. "Now head straight for Venusaur!" A swift change of direction sent Golem crashing straight into Venusaur knocking it unconscious.
May subsequently returned Venusaur. "Okay last chance saloon, let's go Blaziken!" Blaziken was released onto the field and looked as pumped as ever.
"Return Golem, let's go Dragonite!" Dragonite erupted from the Pokeball and roared in a similar way to Charizard would. Blaziken was not shaken by this however.
"Blaziken use flamethrower!"
"Dodge it Dragonite!"
Once again, May's Pokemon had not been quick enough to hit Ash's.
"Now Dragonite use Dragon Claw!"
Dragonite sped towards Blaziken its hand at the ready swirling with green energy. Upon contact it sent Blaziken flying back past May. But Blaziken was by no means done, it jumped from its landing spot all the way back onto the battlefield.
"Right Blaziken use Blast Burn!"
"Dragonite counter with Dragon Rush!"
As the flames from Blaziken erupted and made their way towards Dragonite, Dragonite had covered its whole body in green energy and launched itself straight at it. The collision caused a massive explosion. But just as it began to clear Dragonite came flying through the cloud and continued straight for Blaziken. With such speed Blaziken could only stand and watch in fear as the 7 foot tall Dragon came crashing into him. Blaziken now lay in a small crater half way between Ash and May.
"Good battle May!" Ash proclaimed, May responded with a smile, but her eyes betrayed her. A single tear developed, she had never felt so weak and helpless. Just where had Ash found those Pokemon? She couldn't resist she had to ask.
Ash proceeded to explain about his battle on the mountain, his encounter with Red and the four Pokeballs left to him. Cedric and May seemed dubious, Cedric even questioned if the loneliness could have played tricks with his mind. Ash could only point at his Pokemon and ask how he could have got them otherwise. Upon releasing the three Pokemon he had used in the battle to heal them, Cedric and May verified with them that that had indeed been the actual story.
"Wow! So you have met Red? What was he like?!" Cedric was full of questions, the legend of Red was known to all trainers, and only two people in the world could know if it was true but they kept it quiet.
"I don't really know. When I made it to the top of Mt Silver, he turned to me and released a Pokemon without saying a word. He didn't even shout commands, it was almost as if he could communicate telepathically with them. It was an intense battle, Charizard was running on empty against Gengar but managed to pull through for me. I picked up a note explaining who he was and that he had lost the ability to talk, there was no mention of how long ago it was he wrote it either." Ash paused to take a breath and collect his thoughts. The whole thing seemed a little off. Why did Red train there? And where exactly did he go?
These thoughts remained in the trio's head throughout the rest of the day. After a brief visit to the Pokemon Centre, the trio were on their way, still puzzled by the story of Red.
That night
"So guys, are we ready to release the equipment?" Gary Oak enquired.
"Yes! We are just letting the wind die down, should only be a minute then we are good to launch." One of his aides responded.
The team at the Foxedge Town lab were at the cutting edge of science. Accurate readings and maps of the Heaven Reaching Slopes as well as thermal data would all be used in the search for legendary Pokemon. It had taken months planning this but finally it had all come together. A small device contained all the technology to take these readings but was also light enough to be carried by a weather balloon.
From a financial perspective they had to get this right. The device itself cost hundreds of thousands of Pokedollars and due to the extreme temperatures no technology could fly it across the mountains and back. Thus, high powered radios would send the data back to the lab as the weather balloon carried it above the mountains.
"3… 2… 1…. Launch!"
This was it, Gary's heart felt like it skipped a beat. His entire career could be judged on this one moment. Well technically on the data that this one moment could bring, but if this went wrong they would be shut down most likely.
The balloon rose up, the team looked carefully, and the tension was so thick it could be cut through with a knife. Once it cleared the trees and reached 100 feet it would be a smooth ride.
"It's at 70 feet!" Just as the aide called over a small burst of wind caught it shifting it a few yards, the whole team could see failure. But it never came to that, the balloon corrected its course thanks to another small burst in the opposite direction.
"Thank Arceus… It just passed 100 feet."
The tension soon subsided and the group slowly walked back into the lab, all except Gary. He remained to stare up at this moment, this potentially life changing moment. It was very much like being an explorer in the vein of Columbus. A previously unseen part of the world from human eyes was within the mountain range and Gary with his small team would be the first to witness this remarkable occasion.