The Chasm

Hoenn was beautiful this time of year. Soaring past Mt. Chimney, May Senri slipped her Devon Corporation Go-goggles over her eyes as she and her Flygon swooped through the everlasting sandstorm blanketing Hoenn’s only desert. The insectoid dragon let out a cheerful cry excited to be passing back through his homeland again, the transparent red globes on the sides of his head protecting his sensitive eyes from the harsh elements.

May held on tightly to Flygon’s slim neck, numbly ignoring the pain of the sandstorm. She was glad to be returning home; she and Flygon had been living in the mountains surrounding Mt. Chimney for two weeks now, engrossed in the special training regimen Steven Stone had assigned them.

“Now remember,” he had told her, “If you happen to stumble across any rare stones while you’re out there training, don’t forget to bring them back with you!”

May smiled from under the bandana shielding her face from the sand; Steven and his stupid rocks… she thought to herself, feeling the overstuffed pack clipped around her waist. She hadn’t been remotely surprised when her Flygon stumbled over a Fire Stone shortly after they arrived on the northern slopes of the mountains. After glancing around, there had been nothing but rare stones littering the landscape.

“Special training my Poké Balls!” she laughed, not really mad at her mentor. “He just didn’t want to travel all the way out here. He’s such a little…”

The loud ringing of her Pokégear suddenly cut through her teasing rant. She quickly glanced at it, patting Flygon’s neck and motioning for him to rise. In moments they were soaring high above the raging storm that coated the landscape below them; May pulled down her bandana and flipped open her Pokégear with her thumb;

“Hello? Oh hey! Long time no see!” she said, a big smile on her face. “I’m good; what’s up? …Of course! I’m guessing that’s open ocean, right? …How many are there? …Definitely, that’s no problem at all! …That’s fine with me! Love Ya! …Bye!”

May closed her Pokégear and resumed her riding stance. After not receiving an explanation, Flygon growled an inquiry.

“Oh come on,” she laughed, “Haven’t you got any patience at all?”

She felt her body shake as Flygon let out a deep roar in his defense.

“We’re just going to be meeting an old friend, buddy,” she assured, winking, “Nothing too strenuous for you. Although we should probably let Steven know…”

Flygon nodded, asking if they should turn around.

“No, let’s keep going. I want to get home to Mossdeep first, and he should be in town anyway.”

Her mount roared in agreement, pumping his wings harder in excitement. Soon the ground disappeared from under them, replaced by the flowing blues and greens of the open ocean.

A warm mist washed over them, cleansing them of the particles that still clung to their bodies from the sandstorm. May breathed a refreshing sigh; she loved the ocean. It had always been a big part in her life, but that’s what happens when you grow up on an island. All of her Pokémon had grown to love it as well; even her ground-type dragon, Flygon—who naturally had quite the aversion to water—would often join her on beach days.

Flygon swooped down and skimmed just above the ocean’s surface, swaying the tips of his wings into the water to feel the revitalizing sensation. He roared with delight, and May stretched out along his neck, scratching the long crest on his head.

After an hour of island-hopping so Flygon could rest between flights, their home finally came into view on the horizon. Mossdeep Island seemed to rise up out of the ocean before them and on its northern ridge, Mossdeep City. Flygon climbed high into the air then dove towards the island with incredible speed, weaving between the few trees that rose higher than the rest of the forests as he followed his instinctive route home. He circled the city several times before gliding gently to rest in front of May’s stone-and-stucco island home.

“I’m home!” May called as she walked through the open door, “And hungry!” She made a bee-line for the kitchen, snatching some fresh cookies from a tray on her way to the dayroom. Sunlight flooded into the room from the skylights high above, and a warm, tropical breeze blew through the open windows. May tossed her pack onto a couch and plopped down next to it, giving half an ear to the TV as she enjoyed her soft cookies.

“…And unfortunately there were no survivors. Back to you, Tyler.”

“Thank you, Maryann. Well Hoenn it’s time to pack your bags and put on your game face, because this years’ Regional Festival is on its way! Reporting to you live from Petalburg City is our own Valerie Kinsley; Valerie?”

“Thank you Tyler; as you know the Hoenn National Festival is the time of the year we all look forward to, and this year the location is none other than the beautiful Petalburg City! And here to talk about all the hype is Petalburg’s Gym Leader, Norman…”

Flygon had made his way into the spacious house, settling himself down behind the couch and watching the television intently. As the reporter mentioned Petalburg City and its Gym Leader, he nudged May, urging her to watch.

“Hey look at that; so Dad’s in the news again…” she said, unsurprised.

May popped the last bit of cookie into her mouth and got up to turn off the television at the same moment her mother came walking into the dayroom.

“Welcome home, May!” she smiled, “I didn’t know you’d be back so soon!”

“I’ve been gone for two weeks, Mom,” May replied, giving her mother a hug, “I wouldn’t really call that ‘soon’.”

“Oh my, has it really been that long already?” she asked, making her way into the kitchen. “Well! Time definitely flies by, even when there’s no one around this house! Between your father off at his Gym and you gallivanting across the region, you’d think there wouldn’t be any work for me to do around here!”

“Well those gardens don’t take care of themselves,” May laughed, noticing that her mother was covered head to toe in dirt.

“That’s definitely true!” she laughed back, washing her hands at the sink in the kitchen. She came back into the room, drying them on a hand towel and nodded towards the couch.

“What’s in the pack this time?”

“Stones for Mr. Stone,” May replied, rolling her eyes.

“That man…” her mother sighed, “I tell you, he needs to find himself a woman!”

And as if summoned to them at that moment, Steven Stone walked through the front door. He was a very handsome man, tall with silvery-blue hair and steel blue eyes. He wore a black suit with two vertical blue zigzags on the jacket, and a red ascot tied about his neck. His fingers were decorated with several large silver rings, displays for a few of his rare gems.

“Ah May, I thought I saw Flygon headed this way! I must say you’re back earlier than expected; what’s it been, five days?”

“It’s been two weeks people!” May said, throwing her hands up in defeat.

“Five days, two weeks, it’s all the same,” Steven gestured, brushing off her outburst. “But now down to business, did my little treasure hunter find any stones?”

May sighed; when he had rocks on the brain, there was little else Steven would talk about.

“You know, I really should start charging you for these…” she said, grabbing her pack from the couch.

Steven smiled slyly, “Now May, even after all those freebies we’ve given you at Devon Corp…?”

“I work for those too!!” she poked back, “I’m your company’s guinea pig remember? By the way, you still owe me for that Devon Escape Rope that didn’t work! I was lost inside Mt. Chimney for over a month! I nearly starved!!”

“Right, right,” Steven dismissed. “Well I guess I’ll be on my way; I recently got word that the other Champions have called for a summit and well, I’m required to attend! Are you going to see your father? The Hoenn Festival is being held in Petalburg this year you know…”

“I know,” she replied. “Actually, Steven, I was thinking about heading out of town, too… A friend of mine in Sinnoh called in a favor, and I haven’t seen her in quite a while so…”

“Is that right,” her mother laughed. “Now wouldn’t it be a strange coincidence if your friend and Steven’s summit happened to be in the same region…?”

Steven shrugged modestly, “I assure you, Ms. Senri, I know nothing about this friend of hers, but,” he added, turning back to May, “If it’s Sinnoh you’re travelling to, I think I may be of assistance! I happen to have a villa over in the resort area of Sinnoh’s Battle Park; you’re more than welcome to stay there until it’s time to meet your friend!”

“You’re the best, Steven,” May smiled, giving him a quick hug. “When are you going to be leaving?”

“Tomorrow morning; I’ll have the S.S. Tidal waiting for us at the pier. I’ll be seeing you then?”

“Definitely!” she replied, “Thanks again!”

“Don’t mention it,” he waved to her, disappearing as quickly as he’d arrived.

“Well, he certainly seems to enjoy making your life easier, doesn’t he?” May’s mother winked, heading back into the kitchen. “What was it he had you doing out at Mt. Chimney this time?”

“Oh, nothing,” May said quickly, sitting down at the kitchen table, “Just some Pokémon training… and a little stone hunting.”

“So just like the last time he sent you away, then?” her mother asked, unconvinced.

“Last time…?” May asked, caught off guard, “Oh, yeah,” she amended, realizing she’d used the same excuse to cover up her previous trips. “I mean, it is Steven after all…” she said, looking out the window into their tropical backyard.

May was only half-lying; Steven had asked her to look for stones while she was out, and while the training wasn’t your run-of-the-mill Pokémon training, it was still training nonetheless. What her mother didn’t know—and what Steven had sworn her to keep a secret—was that their relationship was more one of mentor-apprentice than simply friends.

“Well I’m gonna head out for a bit,” May said suddenly, jumping up from the table. “I’ll be back for dinner!”

“Oh, okay,” her mother said, watching her daughter disappear through the front door.

“That girl,” she said aloud, shaking her head. “Always on the move! It’s no wonder she’s always starving!”

◄►

May walked barefoot along the sandy beach of Mossdeep Island, the ocean washing her feet clean with every ebb of the tide. She made her way along the coast, heading to her own personal cove that Steven had given her a few years back.

Studying under the Champion definitely has its perks, she thought, unlocking the gate and making her way into the cove.

“Come on,” May said aloud, reaching into her pack, “We have work to do.” She pulled out a small blue Poké Ball with black crisscrosses, tossing it high over the water. The ball emptied its contents into the air, the half-materialized creature disappearing beneath the enormous waves it formed on entry. The beast suddenly burst from the water, basking its long teardrop-shaped blue body in the sunlight as it arced through the air; its streamlined body ended in a ribbon-like tail, and its two enormous fins were studded with stubby claws and patterned in red with some archaic looking design. The creature crashed back into the water, showering May with a heavy wave of mist before swimming its way to where she stood.

May stripped off her clothes—wearing her bathing suit underneath—and hopped down into the water next to the enormous leviathan.

“Okay, Kyogre,” she said sweetly, rubbing her wet hands on the creature’s rubbery skin, “Here’s the deal: we’re heading to Sinnoh tomorrow morning. With Steven…”

Kyogre bellowed angrily, showing his rows of giant razor-edged teeth. May could feel the force of his outburst well up inside of her, his emotions pouring into her mind.

“I know, I thought we would’ve had more time, too,” she sighed. “You know he’s gonna ask to see us synchronize…”

“But you have yet to be successful…” May heard, the deep voice literally rumbling inside her head.

“That doesn’t mean I can’t keep trying though, right?!” she encouraged, “Can we please work on it some more? Steven’s been so helpful to me; it’s the least I can do to pay him back.”

Kyogre pushed away from the shore, swimming out into the deeper waters of the cove.

“If it was not for his own weakling of a partner, he would not be pushing you the way he is,” he said.

“Kyogre!” May shot back, “Don’t say things like that!”

“I am only speaking the truth,” he continued, diving deep under the surface. “I have lived alongside of Groudon for eons; how it is that you manage to continually lose to his current wielder is beyond me…”

“I don’t lose!” May shouted after him, “I just don’t win is all…” she added quietly. “Did… did any of your other wielders have such a hard time?” she asked, hopeful.

“I can honestly say they did not,” he replied, still out of sight. “But then again, they were much older than you.”

“So it’s just me,” she said sadly, plopping down into the water. “Maybe I’’m just not meant for you. I mean, it’s possible the Oracles could’ve made a mistake…” she said, her eyes welling with tears.

Kyogre surfaced on the far side of the cove, exhaling heavily from his blowhole before gliding back across the water and nudging the girl with his fin. She looked up at him, her gaze meeting his enormous golden eye.

“The bond we share is no accident, child. I will not lie: this would probably have been easier for you had you been older, but fate has a strange way of taking that which we least expect and improving us by it.”

May looked up at her partner, her eyes still glassy.

“Do cheer up, young one,” Kyogre said, “I have faith that you will get it soon. I am here with you after all…”

“Thanks, Kyogre,” she said, wiping her eyes. She could feel his sincerity; it was nice to know someone believed in her.

May rose and climbed her way onto Kyogre’s back, her bare legs squeaking on his blubber.

“Come on, let’s have a little fun first,” she winked, holding as tightly as she could to his slick skin. “Flygon and I went through a sandstorm today and I can still feel it on me!”

May felt her mount’s body shake, with what she knew was a laugh, and he suddenly arced beneath the waves.

“Hang on,” she heard in her mind, the water rushing hard along her body. May felt Kyogre suddenly change direction, then pick up speed; before she knew it they were bursting from the surface in a flurry of droplets, soaring high through the warm afternoon air before crashing heavily back down into the clear waters.

◄►

“Welcome home, dear,” May’s mother said, her daughter walking through the door and collapsing onto the couch exhausted. She had been too tired to even dress, instead choosing to walk all the way home in her bathing suit. “I thought you said you’d be back for dinner!”

“Sorry…” May mumbled, her face buried in a pillow. “The time must’ve gotten away from us…”

“Us?” her mother asked, raising an eyebrow. “Who were you with?”

May lay silent against the pillow, caught again. She was horrible at lying.

“Oh, just me and my Pokémon,” she said, once again not telling a total lie.

“Of course,” her mother nodded, rolling her eyes. “Well I left you a plate; did you want me to heat it up for you?”

“That would be great…” May said weakly, her stomach growling. Her mom just looked at her bewildered, shaking her head again.

“What in the world do you do that wears you out so much?!” she asked, heading into the kitchen without expecting a response.

I’d like to see you synchronize with a legendary being… May shot back silently. She and Kyogre had worked late into the evening, pushing their bodies to the edge of exhaustion over and over again. They had practiced and practiced, but sadly without success.

Steven’s not going to be happy… May thought, depressed. She just didn’t understand; she’d never had difficulty like this before! Sure it was hard to grasp at first—melding your mind and soul with another’s isn’t the most natural thing to do—but her mentor had been there every step of the way, giving her gentle nudges down the right path. And even without his help, everything else had been easy compared to this!

“Food’s ready!” her mother called from the kitchen, drawing May to the table like a magnet. Despite her fatigued body, May’s eating habits seemed unaffected and she quickly inhaled her dinner, making her way upstairs to her room afterwards.

“Get some rest, honey,” her mother called up after her, “You have a big day tomorrow!”

“No kidding,” May sighed, untying her bathing suit as she entered her room, “I have to somehow tell the most powerful man in Hoenn that I can’t do what he asked me to do. Yeah, that’s gonna go over well…” She took a deep breath, shaking the thought from her head.

“No, think positive!” she encouraged herself, “Maybe I can think of something before I meet with him…” She started pacing her room, thinking hard while packing her bag for the trip. Suddenly inspired, she grabbed her Pokédex from off her dresser and sat on the edge of her bed, opening the green handheld.

BingBing! “Kyogre, the Sea Basin Pokémon. Kyogre is a mythical creature said to have swelled the seas with rain and tidal waves. Kyogre is said to have the power to create massive rainclouds that cover the entire sky and bring torrential downpours to any area.”

“And I’ve got nothing,” May said, closing her Pokédex and tossing it into her bag with her clothes. She fell backwards onto her bed, defeated, finally submitting herself to the inevitable. She stretched out her tired body before kicking her bag onto the floor and curling up under the sheets.

“The rest can wait,” she yawned, too tired to think anymore. She rolled onto her side, feeling the warm night air blow through her open window as she finally resigned herself to sleep.