In which we finally get to meet Team Magma.
When May had gotten a call from her father asking if she and Brendan would go and see Hoenn's other important scientist (not that Professor Birch had used that description) the kids had expected boring science-y stuff, notes that May would send back home by transferring a Pokémon to her dad. Instead, they learned that Professor Cozmo had been kidnapped and his assistant was a wreck.
And, conveniently, the people who took him were wearing red hoods.
So now the two were on a much more important mission to Meteor Falls, having left Cozmo's assistant a sobbing mess on the floor. No one had bothered to come along and chaperone, obviously, but they were used to only having the other to rely on in tough situations.
"I still don't get why everything has to be us, though," Brendan said as he followed May into the cave. "We're not on reality TV, are we?"
"Of course not," May said, waving her hand dismissively. "We're good friends of opposite genders, but we're just good friends, and that's too boring for people obsessed with shipping. Reality shows would have had us fight or tried to hook us up or something."
"But this is more than a coincidence."
"That much is a given." May stopped to take a seat on a rock, pulling the tiny book and green glitter pencil out again. "From all the stories I've read, I'd say that either we're on a quest mapped out for us by ancient gods before we were born and this is the only way we can fulfill an ancient prophecy, that we're in some kind of video game and we're up for the roles of protagonists, or that we have really, really bad luck."
Brendan had learned to roll with her ideas, and it didn't take him more than a second to form his reply to that statement. "Or maybe the prophecy mentioned that the Chosen Ones were really unlucky in everything not directly relating to Pokémon."
"That would explain a lot," May agreed, not looking up from her book. When she'd finished writing whatever had come to her head, she got to her feet and put her tools away. "Well, I'm done. Let's go get that meteorite before Professor Cozmo's assistant can drown the town in her tears."
What they found was exactly what they'd expected to see when they got there. Perhaps they'd expected the man who seemed more commanding of the others to be a bit less chubby, but they were right about almost everything else, right down to how the red hoods seemed to be a mark of an organization.
The heavy man was not surprised to see them. "Are these the people you were talking about?"
"Yes, sir," said a red-hooded minion. "They were the ones that chased Team Aqua away in Slateport City. I heard them talking about it in the Pokémon Center before they left to see Lisia."
"But they're kids."
"Yeah," Brendan agreed. "That's what Archie said when we beat his minions. And that's what Blar-Blar said when we beat him, too."
"Who's Blar-Blar?" the hooded grunt asked.
"Some guy in Team Aqua. That's not really his name, but it's fun to say."
The man glanced over at Professor Cozmo, then called a grunt to his side. "Then we'll have a double battle here," he decided. "You two against me and her."
Brendan chose his Pokémon first. "Shroomish, do the thing!"
"Torkoal, take the stage!"
The people in the red hoods each had a ball in their hands, apparently waiting for their opponents to choose their partners first. When they saw that what they were up against had no super-effective type against the Pokémon they planned to use, they called their own team to the fight.
And Professor Cozmo's protests fell entirely on deaf ears.
"This is stupid."
The man, who had been addressed by his partner as Tabitha, was not pleased with his loss, for obvious reasons - he had a Numel, and May had wisely substituted Jerry into the battle. It hadn't ended well for him at all.
"You can't go up against Team Magma alone," Tabitha continued, well on his way into a villainous monologue. "We have the meteorite! With our leader's genius plan, we'll win this war yet!"
"Just like you won that battle, eh?" Archie asked, making his grand appearance with an Aqua grunt on each side.
"I was out of practice," Tabitha insisted. "I'd like to see you do better."
"Oh, I'm sure I can. I actually lead Team Aqua. What do you do over in Team Magma? Aren't you Maxie's coffee boy?"
Tabitha didn't answer. "You kids will get it one day," he promised. Then he focused on his grunts. "Come on, you. Let's go find Maxie and Courtney. They're waiting for this."
He held out a large rock that they assumed was the meteorite in question, and had their suspicions confirmed when Professor Cozmo tried to grab it. He was knocked away by the female grunt that had partnered with Tabitha for the battle, and the red-hooded people walked out of the cave, silently gloating.
Archie's fists clenched. "Team Magma," he hissed, as if the name itself left a bitter taste in his mouth. Then he focused on the grunts, who all jumped to attention, waiting for orders. "Go after them. I'll join you soon, I have children to distract."
The grunts ran after Team Magma, but Archie blocked Brendan and May from the path. "You really aren't working for Team Magma, are you?"
"No," Brendan answered immediately. "We've never even heard of Team Magma until today, and we really didn't want to get involved."
"That's a good idea, kid. Keeps your girlfriend out of harm's way."
Archie seemed to notice May's sound of disgust, if how happy he seemed was anything to go by. "She's not my girlfriend," Brendan said anyway.
"Of course not." Archie dropped the subject, at least. "Am I right when I say that you have no intention of joining Team Magma?"
"As right as you'll ever be," May answered immediately. "Which isn't really saying much, is it?"
Archie pretended not to notice, but his next words came out sounding more than a little defensive. "But you won't join Team Aqua, either."
It was not a question, or a ban to keep them from following him, but a statement from a man who knows his plans were at risk. "No," Brendan said, "we're not."
"We could use people like you. Those who have a real talent for battle even at a young age. But I'll admit it, it is your decision. Just try to stay out of our way in the future."
He started off, ready to catch up with the grunts. With only a moment to alter his train of thought, Brendan grabbed Professor Como by the arm.
"Let me go!" the professor cried, trying to pull himself free. For an adult, he had a surprisingly weak struggle. "Team Magma must be stopped! That meteorite can't fall into the wrong hands!"
Brendan didn't relent. "We'll get you home first. How much damage can Team Magma do with a meteorite, anyway?"
"That sounds an awful lot like tempting fate, Brendan," May pointed out. Her hand rested on the pocket of her bag that she'd put her writing supplies in. "And trust me, I don't think we're strong enough to actually stand a chance against what fate might throw."
Brendan groaned. "Fine, we'll go get your stupid space rock. Get your own butt back to Fallarbor Town, we'll come back later."
"You have no intention of coming back."
"You're right," Brendan agreed. "I don't. But I do need to get you that rock, so I'll send somebody."
"Let's hope you can stand against them," Cozmo said, but May forced a smile.
"Don't worry, Professor," she said, faking politeness. "Brendan and I have experience. We'll make them see. And if not, we'll call in Brendan's dad."
The thought of having Norman fight Brendan's battles for him was almost embarrassing. He'd do it himself, with or without May.
No, he'd better do it with her. Every hero needed a sidekick, and May was the only competent person he knew.