The next morning, while Brendan was still rehearsing for the music competition, May came to visit Wally in their room. Her friend opened the door with a surprised expression, certainly not expecting her visit.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing," she announced, her arms crossed behind her back.
"That's kind of you, but you didn't have to..."
The boys' room was much more impersonal than hers. They hadn't bothered to decorate the walls or clutter the shelves with their belongings. The area near Wally's bed was very tidy, with only a few books on his nightstand along with his training notebook. On Brendan's side, socks and training gloves were scattered on the floor. His camera and video game console were buried in his bed sheets, along with the two pieces of his red pajamas.
"Yes..." Wally sighed as he followed her gaze. "Brendan still struggles with the concept of tidiness."
"I'm not really surprised. He's the chaotic friend."
May sat on Wally's bed and tried to ask more about Wally's well being. As always, the young man remained vague about his health issues but assured her that everything was fine.
"I'm just being particularly cautious in this hot weather. Afterward, I can go back to training..."
He was more reasonable than her. If he had known what had happened to her the previous day, he would probably have given her a bit of a lecture. Now, May had promised herself not to forget her cap and a bottle of water when she went outside. She couldn't afford to faint again.
"You don't have to stress about it, Wally. Anyway, our next opponents will all have fighting-type Pokemons, so I won't be counting on you to face them."
"Oh okay," the boy smiled. "That gives me more time to get back in shape."
He also took a seat.
"And you, are you not too overwhelmed? Being the captain of such a big team now must be a heavy burden. You know, you could rely on Brendan and me a bit more..."
"Yeah, you two could be my vice-captains," she joked. "I find it hard to delegate, but I know I can count on you."
After a moment of silence, she added:
"Sorry if I ever make you feel left out..."
"No, no, don't worry. I didn't mean it that way. I understand that as a champion, you must be used to handling everything on your own by now. And you clearly have the experience... you always know how to call on the right people to win our battles."
"Do you really think so? That I'm doing well?"
Wally seemed taken aback by her insistence.
"Of course... Are we still in the running to win the PML or not?"
May laughed. If it was only the result and not the means that mattered to her team, then Wally was right—so far, she was living up to the expectations of her role as a captain.
After taking the lunch with Wally, May arrived at the cave that Steven was so eager to explore. She wasn't quite sure what to think of this meeting between them that seemed so important for Steven, but she assumed it was a pretext to spend some time together and reconnect. Of course, the former champion was already there waiting for her.
"May," he greeted her like in the old days with a genuine smile.
"Hi Steven..."
"It's good to see that you're wearing a cap today."
"Yeah, I'm learning from my mistakes..."
"Although you won't need it where we're going now," Steven continued. "Come, I'll show you my latest findings."
He gestured for her to follow. As they entered into the cave with its golden hues, she was enveloped by the refreshing humidity of the underground air.
"I've started digging a bit here and there," Steven explained, guiding her through the various tunnels. "And as always in Pasio, I had no trouble coming across interesting minerals. This cave has much more deposits than it could naturally have."
She could sense the excitement in his voice, even though he was trying to contain it. It made May smile; this relaxed version of Steven was probably her favorite one.
"Here it is," the man said, kneeling next to one of the rocky walls. "Take a look."
She crouched beside him. He handed her a rough rock that crumbled slightly under her fingers.
"I found it this morning... It's not a rare stone, but it's a good example of this island's peculiarities. This sedimentary rock doesn't belong here. It is formed naturally in riverbeds when sand particles gather in layers at the bottom of the water... I also found another one," Steven continued, eagerly showing her a black rock that seemed to have been charred.
"A volcanic rock...?" May ventured.
"Exactly," he replied, offering her a proud smile. "Usually, it's impossible to find them in this climate. It's not hot enough..."
"I see... and is it like that with all the stones you find here?"
Steven nodded:
"Those who built this island didn't bother to respect the natural ecosystems at all," he deduced, suddenly sounding more critical. "I suppose it didn't matter to them. But personally, I can feel the difference... Everything here is beautiful, but at the same time... way too artificial for a nature lover like me. Under human control, the landscapes don't have the same charm as in other regions... Moreover, they don't evoke the same emotion in my heart... but that's probably because I know it was all manufactured from scratch..."
May found his thoughts very interesting. She didn't have the same knowledge of nature as Steven, but she shared his opinion. Pasio was a great place for the PML and spending time with friends in summer, but this island didn't compare to the real, untamed nature she found through her journey in Hoenn.
"How did they even create this island, by the way?" she asked. "I didn't even think it was possible to fabricate a place like that?"
"I don't know exactly. But you can be sure it had taken a lot of money and skilled scientists to manipulate landscapes."
May frowned.
"It's quite bad when you think about it," she muttered. "What will become of this island once the PML is over?"
"If it's not maintained by humans, it could deteriorate. There are no wild Pokemons to maintain a natural cycle... That's something that concerns me actually," Steven added with a dejected look. "I doubt the prince cares much about nature... He probably did all this just to impress people, and this island will lose all its interest in his eyes once the PML is over."
May felt a wave of sadness wash over her at this thought.
"We shouldn't even have come here, then, to enjoy this island... it makes us complicit in his actions."
Steven turned to her with a worried look.
"You can see it this way," he acknowledged softly. "But Pasio's fate isn't sealed yet. Maybe Lear will surprise us in a good way? Hmm or maybe I could buy this island from him and maintain it myself."
May stared at him, doubtful. Was he seriously considering it or was he just trying to comfort her? His remark had just reminded her of how wealthy Steven must be to consider buying an island as casually as she would buy a camping tent...
A small noise behind them interrupted her thoughts. She turned her head, distracted. Not far away, a Pokemon was moving in the shadows.
"Oh! Look!" May exclaimed.
Upon closer inspection, it was a Pikachu. The kind of Pokemon that had absolutely nothing to do in a cave.
"They must have lost their trainer..."Steven supposed.
"Are you okay, little one?" May asked the electric-type Pokemon as she slowly stood up.
"Pikachu!"
May approached the small Pokemon, but just as she was about to reach for them, they darted deeper into the cave.
"Hey, where are you going? Don't be afraid!"
She started running after the small Pokemon, with Steven close behind. The Pikachu stopped about a hundred meters ahead, and May rushed toward it.
"May, wait!" Steven called after her. "It's dangerous... The ground looks unstable..."
He barely had the time to finish his sentence that May felt the rock give way under her feet, causing her to slide into the void. She didn't have time to understand what was happening before her shoes hit a hard surface violently, and she nearly lost her balance. She heard a heavy noise, as well as a groan of pain, while debris of rocks and dust rained down on her. May coughed, unable to see anything except a faint glow above their heads. Blindly, she grabbed her Blaziken's Poke Ball.
"Illuminate us, please," she commanded in a muffled voice. "Come on, hurry"
The Pokemon created a fireball at the end of his claws, dimly illuminating the surroundings. They had just descended into a lower gallery... May saw Steven's body shape on the ground, covered in dust, and her stomach twisted with fear.
"Steven?! Are you okay?" she cried as she dropped to the ground. "Steven!"
The young man moved painfully.
"I think so," he grumbled, but May could clearly see the pain on his face.
"Are you hurt anywhere?!"
"My leg and hip... but I'll be okay..."
He struggled to sit up, massaging his skin carefully.
"Sorry," May apologized, torn by shame and guilt. "I should have been more careful; it's my fault!"
"No, it's not your fault," Steven contradicted, his words difficult to articulate. "The ground wasn't solid. It's as if someone dug a hole... and covered it with softer soil..."
"You mean... it was premeditated? We were set up?"
"It certainly seems so," he sighed while attempting to stand.
May slipped her shoulder under his arm on his uninjured side and helped him find his balance.
"Do you hear that?" he whispered.
His face was very close to hers, but for once, May was too worried to be bothered by it.
"No?"
"Footsteps... Someone's coming."
Indeed, now that Steven pointed it out, May could hear a regular tapping sound. Her Blaziken directed his flame in the direction of the noise. Soon, six figures emerged from the darkness, and voices echoed against the rock.
"It looks like we've caught something."
Team Break... May understood, feeling anger tense her muscles. Of course, setting traps in rarely visited caves could only be the work of this inept organization.
"Darn, I was hoping it would be some silly kids; it would have been easier to steal their Pokemons," said the closest masked man.
"Doesn't matter; after their fall, they won't stand a chance against us."
May was still in shock and worried about Steven. Besides, she didn't appreciate the feeling of tiny soil particles clinging to her clothes, skin, and hair, but it would take way more than that to neutralize her, especially against such lousy trainers.
"Come a bit closer! We're waiting for you," May said, positioning herself in front of Steven as a protective shield.
The young man still looked in terrible shape, bent over, with his hands against the wall to stay upright.
"Wait, isn't that the girl with a Blaziken? The Hoenn champion?" another Team Break member said. "What a luck, her Pokemon must be very powerful!"
"Do you really think you have a chance?" May snapped. "Setting a trap to avoid a fair battle just proves that you're nothing but cowards!"
Steven coughed behind her, unclipping his Poke Ball from his belt.
"Let me lend you a hand, May."
"Steven, you're not in conditions to battle!"
"I'm not, but my Metagross is," he smiled weakly.
Steven's steel Pokemon materialized next to May's Blaziken. The Team Break members also summoned their Pokemons, and the six of them attempted to encircle them.
"All right, you five," said the only woman among their cursed group, "take care of the champion. As for me," she continued in a seductive tone, "I'll handle the handsome gentleman accompanying her."
"I can't believe they don't even know who I am," grumbled Steven, casting a sidelong glance at May.
If the situation weren't so critical, she would have burst out laughing.
"You should show them then."
Steven nodded and closed his eyes.
"Metagross! Iron Head!" he commanded, gathering his energy to strengthen his voice. "The earth is precious... You will pay for damaging this cave."
The Team Break members ordered all their Pokemons to attack at once, but May's Blaziken easily evaded them thanks to his speed, countering with a fire attack, hitting them one by one.
"Oh no! Is this the power of a Pokemon champion...? Let's retreat, guys, quickly!"
"I told you it was a bad idea!"
"That was quick," May sighed. She turned her head to make sure that Steven and his Metagross had also won their own battle and that the former champion was holding up.
"Well done, May," he said as Team Break fled down the gallery without looking back.
No need to chase after them, anyway, Steven was probably not able to run after his fall.
"The hole should be big enough for Metagross to get us out of here."
Steven staggered as he went to his Pokemon.
"Are you sure you didn't break your leg or anything?"
"Don't worry, May. I knew worse."
"You don't need to play tough in front of me, Steven," May said as she helped him climb onto his Pokemon.
"I know. I took a good hit... but it should be okay."
May climbed onto Metagross's back as well, recalling her Blaziken. The Pokemon rose slowly in the gallery and went back to the upper level, guided by Steven. Soon, they emerged from the cave, and the Pokemon gained altitude. May was relieved to be in the open air again. She wasn't usually claustrophobic, but this kind of experience was enough to make her lose interest in underground expeditions.
"Team Break is becoming a real danger," she stated. "If they're starting to set traps all over Pasio... we need to warn people. If less experienced trainers had been in our place, their Pokemons could have been kidnapped for good."
"I agree, we must take them seriously."
"But first," May continued, "let's head to the Pokemon center. Heal our Pokemons and make sure you're in good shapes."
Steven nodded, chuckling.
"What's wrong?"
Did he think she was worrying too much about him? She didn't want him to get the wrong idea. Unless he was making fun of her appearance. It was true that she must still have her face and hair covered in dust. But in that regard, he didn't look any better.
"Nothing," he assured her. "Just... I had forgotten how much I enjoyed battling alongside you or just... being in your company."
May felt a warm sensation growing in her chest, reassuring her after that moment of fear in the cave.
"I missed you a lot, May."
She didn't know if he meant that in a deep way or not. But she couldn't help but blush, hoping the dust would hide it.
"I... I missed you too..."
But she didn't dare to look right into his eyes as she admitted it.
"I'm glad you came with me today." Steven added, making her uneasiness even worst.
"You know, when I arrived to Pasio and learn you were there too?..." She asked, eager to start a new subject of conversation. "I kind of secretly wished you would ask me to join your team. We used to be really strong together when we had to battle Teams Aqua and Magma... But you didn't ask and later, you did ask Diantha... and I got stupidly jealous."
Steven seemed surprised by her confession, and his smile faded.
"I knew you would team up with Brendan and Wally... That's why I didn't propose anything," he explained, looking serious. "And besides, would you have even accepted? You barely wanted to meet my gaze.."
Yes, of course. She would never have said no to her two travel companions. May didn't insist. She didn't want to come across as a selfish girl who didn't care about her friends.
"I guess I acted pretty childish, right?" She tried to joke instead.
"No, you didn't." Steven said softly.
It seemed like he wanted to say more, but finally didn't. So May forced herself to smile and stayed silent as he gave his Metagross the direction to the Pokemon center.
Upon arriving at the Center, Nurse Joy agreed to take a quick look at Steven, palpating his ribs and leg as he gritted his teeth to hide the pain. May wondered if it was her presence that made him deny his injuries like that, so as not to make her feel too guilty, or if it was just pride, his image as the former hoenn champion that nothing could break. She regretted acting so stupidly in the cave. If she had thought for two seconds, she would have quickly realized that something was wrong, that the Pikachu was probably bait, and Steven wouldn't have been hurt. Well, it was too late to regret it now.
While the nurse finished examining Steven, May sent a message to the other members of the Hoenn League, as well as to the champions from other regions, to recount their misadventure (without specifying that she was the one who led them into the trap). Then, she informed the various families who were about to leave the center.
"Thank you, champion May," a father with his two children thanked her. "We will stay in the village and be on our guard."
Entering the center, Cynthia, in her summer attire, joined her with a concerned look.
"Ah, May, you're here. I just received your message. How are you?"
"I'm fine, but Steven got hurt..."
"It's almost nothing," he continued to reassure them from one of the center's couches.
Nurse Joy was putting her instruments back into her emergency kit and gave him a reassuring tone, "Nothing's broken, indeed. But you need to take it easy for the next few days, while your body recovers from the shock. Try to lighten your training as well."
"Understood. Thank you very much..."
The nurse bid them farewell and went back to her work.
"We'll see if you actually follow the medical advice this time," Cynthia teased him.
"I always follow them," he replied, though he didn't look very sincere.
"As champions, Lance and I have committed to protecting the people on this island," Cynthia continued, returning to the subject of the Team Break. "Thanks to you, May. In addition to our patrols, I suggest that we send emergency messages to each other, to the other champions and our respective leagues, as you just did today... Apart from that, Lance and I will try to talk to the organizers of the tournament, so they can also mobilize full-time agents."
"This sounds great. Thanks for taking this initiative," May replied.
"No, it's thanks to you, May. You were right to draw our attention to the problem. We can't be taken by surprise anymore. As champions, we must protect the people who came to Pasio to watch us battle."
May smiled, touched by the gratitude of such an experienced champion as Cynthia. She turned to Steven, still sitting on the couch, his hands on his knees, looking tired. He was looking at her too, in his typical Steven way.
She never quite knew what to make of that mysterious gaze, in which she could decipher various different and contradictory emotions: gentleness, admiration, but in a somewhat distant look, with sadness as well. Perhaps a part of him regretted not being in her place right now.
In addition to her title, she had also taken the respect and merit that came with his role as a champion... Or was it something else that was bothering him? Maybe this sadness came from elsewhere...
After all, May had only just started talking to him again. And she realized she had no idea what was going on in his mind, just like one year ago.
