Chapter 6: Maxie-mum Overdrive
"Wait, you're Steven?" Jake asked. "THE Steven Stone?"
"Yes, that would be me," Steven said. "I received a call from my father that a boy with a Mudkip would be delivering me a letter, so I looked for a trainer with a Treecko. And of course, you have a Grovyle, so it evolved, I assume."
"Wow, how'd you guess?" Jake asked.
"His secretary called me later," Steven admitted. "Sorry I couldn't talk to you sooner. I was doing research on Primal Reversion."
"Oh, yeah, that was it!" Doris remembered.
"Come with me," Steven said. "I need to show you something."
Steven took Jake and his team to Granite Cave, where they entered a room with a large mural. A large behemoth-like creature was terrorizing the countryside, breathing fire and stomping around. The sun was quite large, along with an Omega symbol on top of the creature's head.
"Tell me," Steven asked, "Have you ever heard of the legendary Pokémon Groudon?"
"Yeah, only legends though," Jake said. "Didn't he throw a fit because water existed?"
"Basically," Steven explained. "The story says that Groudon did battle with his brother Kyogre, who beat him and sealed him away in the Seafloor Cavern. People have been there, but there only lays a monument that looks like Groudon. Many have theorized that this is, in fact, THE Groudon of the legend. Thankfully, the only thing that can stop him, the Blue Orb, is kept safely guarded by a family of Dragon Trainers on top of Mt. Pyre."
"Wow," Jake said. "That's a lot of exposition."
"Well, thanks for the letter," Steven said. "It's just a picture of a Wooper that my dad drew, but let me give you this for your troubles." He handed Jake a gray disk.
"What's this?" Jake asked.
"That's the TM for Steel Wing," Steven explained, "one of my favorite moves. Teach it to your Tailow if you wish."
"Thanks, Steven," Jake said. "I'll be going."
"Off to Slateport, right?" Steven asked. "Well, I hope to see you in the Champion's room at the Pokémon League once you have all 8 badges."
"Looking forward to it!" Jake exclaimed, waving and walking off. "Goodbye, Steven!"
"WELL, LADDIE!" Briney said at the dock. "SHALL WE SET SAIL FER THE DOCKS O' SLAETPORT?"
"You know it," Jake said, hopping onto the boat. Off they went, until they weighed anchor at Slateport.
"LAND HO!" Briney yelled.
"We know," Jake, Eren, Harrison, Cami, Shenzi, and Doris said.
They looked around Slateport until they found a building named "Stern Shipyard".
"Think he's here?" Jake asked.
"It's called STERN Shipyard," Harrison replied. "What do you think?"
They walked in, and were almost ran over by a man with a bunch of blueprints in his arms.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" He said. "I'm trying to put together a prototype for this new sub and I-"
"It's fine," Jake said. "Where's Captain Stern?"
"Oh, he's out right now," the man said. "You should find him at the museum."
"OK, thanks," Jake said visibly annoyed.
They walked out of the building and to the museum. As they walked inside, they found…
"Crap, it's Team Magma!" Jake said. The entire museum was swarmed with Magma Grunts. "Let's lay low," Cami said. "Try not to get noticed."
"Hey, it's that kid that stole the parts!" One grunt yelled.
"New plan," Cami said. "RUN!"
They ran upstairs, dodging attacks from Poochyena, Zubat, and Numel used by the grunts. Once they got upstairs, the found two grunts, a man with a sailor's cap, and a man with glasses and red hair.
"Ah," the red-haired man said, "I assume you're the one who's delivering those parts to Stern here?"
"And I assume you're these whackjobs' leader," Jake shot back.
"Guilty as charged," the man replied. "My name is Maxie. I am the master of Team Magma. Now if, you'll excuse me, I have a hostage to force into serving me."
"Not on my Pokénav!" Jake yelled. Eren, Doris, Harrison, Milo, Shenzi, and Cami all stood in battle positions.
"Very well," Maxie said. "Grunts, take him out."
The Grunts sent out a Numel and a Zubat, each with the Magma headband. The Numel started firing off Flame Bursts, barely missing each of Jake's team.
"Eren, take Milo and get out of here!" Jake called. "Get to a phone and call the police!"
"Oh no, you don't!" the Numel said, aiming a Flame Burst at Eren and Milo. However, it was stopped by Doris slamming into its side. "AGH!" It yelled. "Dirty cave-dweller!"
"You don't hurt my friends!" Doris yelled.
"Then I'll just hurt you!" Numel yelled. It fired a Flame Burst, blasting Doris with a critical hit.
"DORIS, NO!" Jake cried. Doris flew back, hit a wall, and fell to the floor.
Doris fainted.
"D-Doris…" Shenzi stuttered. In a rage, she charged at the Numel, slamming her side into its and knocking it out.
"Behind you," A voice said. Shenzi barely turned around before Zubat sank its fangs into Shenzi's body.
"AAAAGH!" Shenzi screamed. She tried to shake Zubat off, but it was draining her blood fast.
"GET OFF OF HER!" Harrison cried, scratching the Zubat with his talons, knocking it out. Shenzi coughed, blood spurting from her mouth.
"No… Shenzi…" Jake said, barely able to move.
"SO, you were able to pull through," Maxie said, stepping forward. "I'm truly impressed."
"Harrison, Cami," Jake said, standing up, "get Shenzi to the Pokémon Center. Now."
"Apologies about your Poochyena and your Zubat," Maxie said coyly, sending out his Camerupt. "But now, it's time to say goodbye to life."
"HOLD IT!" Cried a familiar voice. Jake and Maxie turned to see Steven, Eren, and Milo standing in the doorway. "Maxie Brimstone, as Hoenn League Champion, I hereby place you under arrest."
"As if," Maxie said, taking back his Camerupt and sending out his Golbat. "I must now unfortunately bid you adieu." He pressed a button on his glasses, blowing a hole in the wall. He hopped on the back of his Golbat and flew off.
Steven tried to run after him, but couldn't catch him in time.
"Damn it!" Steven yelled. He spoke into an earpiece. "Arrest all the grunts you can. Send out a search party for any stragglers. Send out a signal for all of Hoenn to find Maxie." He turned off the earpiece and turned to Jake.
"We should get you to the center," He said, avoiding eye contact. "We'll have a burial for Doris after we check on Shenzi."
They walked to the Pokémon Center, where Harrison and Cami were waiting. "Where is she?" Jake asked.
Suddenly, Nurse Joy walked out. "You must be her trainer," She said. "I… I'm sorry. She's not…"
"Let me talk to her," Jake said. Joy walked him to Shenzi's room, where she lay still, barely breathing.
"It got me," Shenzi said.
"Shenzi, I…" Jake said, tearing up. "I'm sorry…"
"Don't beat yourself up over this," Shenzi assured him. "I'll say hi to Daisy, Merp, and Doris for you. Just promise me one thing…"
"What?"
"Make sure Team Magma doesn't succeed in whatever their plan is," She finished.
"…okay," Jake said, barely holding back tears.
"Well…" Shenzi said, her eyes slowly closing. "See you."
"Shenzi… SHENZI!" Jake cried, finally bursting into tears. He threw himself onto Shenzi's body, sobbing.
Shenzi fainted.
The next day, Steven, Jake, Briney, and their Pokémon buried Doris and Shenzi side-by-side.
"I love you guys," Jake whispered. "I'll never forget you."