Gang War

Despite the azure skies and the gentle waves caressing the fine sands of Slateport's southern shores, an invisible tension had wound tautly around the port city. From the affluent plazas of Shoreside, to the mean streets of Harbor Park, you could slice the thick tension with a knife.

Down by the beach sat an old, alolan styled hut with a horsea fashioned from once healthy, green palm leaves. They had browned with age, watching countless sunrises and sunsets fall upon this large, simple hut, this beloved landmark of Shoreside. It was known as The Seashore House, and was a popular hangout for the youths of Shoreside. Today was no different, and its chairs were packed with young beachgoers looking to take a break from the sand and sun, and chill out in the shade with a cool drink.

However, the summer sun brought all manner of people to the beach. The disenfranchised youth of Slateport's poor, more crime ridden neighborhoods were no exception. Unfortunately they brought the conflicts of the streets with them. All it took was a dirty look and a few choice words. In no time the Seashore house erupted in violence as masses of red and blue clashed in a large brawl. Those wanting no part in the fight mad a mad dash for the exit, leaving the two feuding gangs to duke it out inside.

It didn't take long for the dust to settle. In its wake; a mess of overturned tables, broken bottles, and soiled blue and red bandanas strewn about.

Welcome to Littleroot!

10 years later…

June 20th 2183
11:20 am…

Kicked up gravel trailed a large, white truck as it drove down a narrow dirt road, leaving nasty brown stains along the sides of the trailer it carried. The journey was rough, and once again the truck hit a bump in the road, causing everything inside the trailer to jump, including a fourteen year old girl riding inside. Her name was May Maple, and she had just hit the back of her head.

"Oww," she muttered, rubbing the back of her head. Looking at the boxes surrounding her, she sighed and rested her chin onto her hand. "If I had known how bumpy this trip would be, I'd have taken the car."

Unfortunately for May, hindsight is 20/20, and she was a bit irritated with her parents to ride with them in the family car. She had been for a few days now. If not for them and this move, she'd probably be halfway to Blackthorn (at least that's what she figured).

Just two days, two more days and she would have had her own pokemon and gone off on her pokemon journey! She had gotten everything ready too: clothes, hiking gear, supplies, pokeballs, everything, but then they sprang the news on her…


"Sweetie, I know you've been so excited to start your pokemon journey, but…"

"I've been assigned to the new gym in Petalburg City," Norman (May's father) said, finishing his wide Caroline's (May's mother) sentence.

"Petalburg?" May replied confused. "What, why? Where is that even?"

"It's located in the Hoenn Region, so that means we're moving," Norman answered

"B-B-But we can't move! I was just about to get my pokemon."

"You'll get your pokemon. I've arranged a friend of mine, the local professor, to give you a pokemon so you can start your journey."

"But-"

"No buts, May," Norman interrupted. "We're moving and that's final. Look, things don't always go our way, but you need to be able to adapt. Have patience, you'll be on your journey soon enough."


"I really wanted a totodile," May huffed as she rubbed the creases out of her sporty, red shirt, a trainer's shirt, actually. It was one of the items she bought to start her journey off, that along with a pair of flexible, black biker shorts and a red bandana.

Suddenly May felt the truck coming to a stop.

BAM

Once again May hit the back of her head. Before she could let a cuss escape her lips, the trailer doors opened, allowing the sun's powerful rays to slice through the darkness hiding inside. As her eyes adjusted, May saw a silhouette come into view just at the end of the trailer.

"Hello sweetie, welcome to Littleroot!"

"Hi mom," May replied with a hint of crabbiness creeping out of her throat. She hopped off the trailer to allow the healthy plush of grass underneath to catch her. It was at this time that the mover's pokemon walked over to the back to start taking the Maple's belongings into their new house. One was a gray, humanoid pokemon known as machoke, and the other an ape like pokemon with white fur known as vigoroth.

"Well look at that," Caroline said as she looked upon the mover's pokemon. "Isn't that convenient. Pokemon are just wonderful, aren't they?"

"I wouldn't know," May remarked as she crossed her arms and huffed.

"Oh sweetheart, still grumpy are we?" Caroline said tenderly as she placed her hand on May's shoulder. "There's no need for that. You'll get a pokemon soon."

"I know that…" May sighed, uncrossing her arms and easing up. "I guess I was just really looking forward to starting already. Oh, and to have a totodile! Besides, I'm not grumpy! I'm not a kid, I'm fourteen. Just annoyed is all…"

"Teenagers can get annoyed too," Caroline chuckled. "You know what will cheer you up-And don't say pokemon!" Caroline continued. "Our neighbors have a kid around your age. Why don't you go and introduce yourself while I have the house set up?"

"Okay!" May said with a much more upbeat attitude. At least she wouldn't be lonely while she waited for her pokemon. She strode down the dirt trail towards the neighbor's house, stopping only at a fork in the road to read a sign posted on the side.

~Route 101 ahead. Be wary of wild pokemon~

May looked off in the distance to see the great evergreens flanking either side of the dirt trail, stretching out far beyond what she could see. The wind flowing through their branches almost made it seem as if they were beckoning her to come to them, enticing her with the far off cries of wild pokemon just waiting for her to encounter.

"Soon," May smiled as she continued to the neighbor's house. She walked up the steps and knocked twice

Knock Knock

After a brief moment, the door opened to reveal a smiling, portly woman wearing an apron.

"Why hello there young lady, how may I help you?" the woman said sweetly.

"Hi, my name's May," May said with a smile. "My mom said I should come introduce myself, since we're neighbors now."

"Oh the new neighbors!" the woman said with delight, slapping her forehead. "Why of course, the new gym leader's family, the Maples! How could I forget? Well, it's nice to meet you May. My name is Fio Birch."

"Likewise," May said politely as Fio ushered May inside.

"You know, my husband has been talking about you," Fio said as she took a seat on the couch.

"Me?" May replied confused. "He knows me?"

"Well sure he does. Your father told him all about you. He's the one that's going to give you a pokemon to start your journey with."

"What, your husband is the professor?!" May exclaimed with surprise and delight. "Holy-Wow, can I see him now?"

"Unfortunately you can't right now," Fio replied. "He's not here, and he's not at his lab. I believe he's conducting fieldwork at the moment."

"Oh…" May said, dropping her shoulders in disappointment.

"However, my son has his own pokemon, and has some experience as a trainer as well. He's upstairs, why don't you have him show you his pokemon," Fio suggested.

"Okay," May replied as she got up from the couch and made her way upstairs. Once she reached the top, she noticed a door halfway ajar. She approached it and slowly poked her head inside and saw a relatively neat room with some signs of disturbance such as a messy bed and a slightly ruffled rug. Taking a step inside, May saw that the walls were decorated with band and movie posters that she did not recognize, a bookshelf filled with books ordered alphabetically. Personally she preferred to decorate her room with posters and memorabilia of famous trainers and gym leaders, people of that sort. But hey, whatever floated the boy's boat, and speaking of boy, May finally took notice of him. He was at the fear end of the room, leaned over a desk. He wore what looked like a red and black track. On his desk sat an odd white hat and a dark yellow backpack.

As soon as she saw that the Birch's kid was a boy, she blushed and felt butterflies emerge out from their chrysalides and flutter about in her stomach. She couldn't help it, and she noticed it had started to happen a lot more frequently in recent times. Certain male friends she used to play sports with back in Olivine had now started to make her knees feel weak and those butterflies began to flutter.

"Pokemon fully restored, items fully packed…" the boy muttered, trailing off as he straightened his back out and stood silent. Then, he slowly turned around to come face to face with May. Her cheeks grew even redder when she saw his face. He had soft features and pale skin complimented quite well by his raven colored hair. His eyes were a striking ruby red, a perfect contrast to her light blue, sapphire eyes.

"Hey! You… Who are you?" the boy finally spoke up. He caught May off guard, and she stumbled on her words.

"Uh…Oh, uh, my name's May. I'm your new neighbor. Just moved here today," May said, doing her best to speak casually and not give away the fact that she found the boy cute (although her red cheeks would betray that fact to anyone with a modicum of perception). Luckily for her, the boy was not.

"Oh, well it's nice meeting you May," the boy said as he held his hand out to her. "My name's Brendan."

"Nice to meet you Brendan," May replied, her cheeks still red.

"So you're my new neighbor huh, new neighbor…Hey yeah, I remember now. I heard about getting new neighbors, a gym leader's family. I thought you'd be a boy though."

"A boy, why'd you figure that?" May questioned as the blood in her cheeks started to recede, returning them to a normal state.

"Girls don't like battling," Brendan said simply.

"Is that so?" May replied, narrowing her eyes. "I bet I could make you eat those words."

"Excuse me?" Brendan said with an eyebrow raised, taking offense. "That sounds like a challenge. I got time, want to have a battle?"

May felt her stomach tighten in embarrassment.

"I uhh…I don't actually have a pokemon yet…"

Brendan snickered. "You don't even have a pokemon and you think you can take me in a match?"

"Just 'cause I don't have a-I'll have you know my dad taught me all kinds of things about battling!" May countered. "He's had me running battle drills since I was able to walk!"

"So what? That's like a month ago then, right?" Brendan replied with a smirk. "We'll see about your battling skills when you get actually get a pokemon."

"Fine, it's a challenge then," May replied with her arms on her hips. "Once I get my pokemon, I'll battle you."

"How about we pinkie swear on it?" Brendan said as he raised his pinkie up. "Just in case you get cold feet."

"That'll never happen, but fine," May said as she wrapped her pinkie around his. "Pinkie swear."

"Good!" Brendan said as they both removed their pinkies from one another. "I'm looking forward to beating you…Anyway; I got to run I've got to go help dad with fieldwork…" Brendan threw his backpack over his shoulder and placed an odd hat on his head that looked like a bit of white fluff sewed onto a headband. "Later May, catch you another time."

With that, he made his exit, but not before flashing May a quick smile. She noticed and felt her cheeks become warm once again.

"Catch you later," May whispered as a smile began to form onto her face.

"…Cocky jerk."

What's in the Bag?

Racing down the dirt trail, May eventually found the source of the ruckus: A burly man in a lab coat screaming for his life as a small, gray canine chased him around in circles, snapping at his behind.

"You there!" the man gasped out between breaths. "Y-You, you need to help me!"

"What do I do?" May said urgently

'YAOWWW!" the man cried out before he could answer May. The small canine pokemon had landed a good bite right onto one of the man's cheeks. The pain caused the man to leap high into the air and wrap his arms and legs tightly around the trunk of a nearby tree.

"Look, over there!" the man pointed towards the ground. May saw that there was a brown, canvas bag lying on the grass.

"There's three pokeballs inside! Each one contains a pokemon! Release one to help drive this poochyena away!"

"Alright," May nodded as she strode over to the canvas bag on the ground and reached inside. She could feel many notebooks and papers inside, but no...Wait, something smooth and cool to the touch grazed the back of her hand. It was a pokeball. May grasped the ball and pulled out of the bag. She took a quick moment to appreciate the craftsmanship of the pokeball; the sleek, shiny surface and the sturdy construction. It had been almost a month since she had been in a battling situation, and those were only mock battles with her father. This was her first, actual battle with a wild pokemon. She had been looking forward to this since she was only a little child and saw the older kids leaving their homes to embark on journeys of their very own. Granted, this isn't exactly how she pictured her first wild battle would go down, but she wasn't going to complain. In fact she didn't have the time to complain because the man in the lab coat needed her help. She couldn't let him down.

"Just hang in there a little longer, mister!" May exclaimed as she threw the pokeball out into the air. It opened up horizontally and let a red surge of energy escape from its bowels. The energy spilled onto the ground and formed into a small bird pokemon covered in orange, down fur.

Once her feet touched the soft ground underneath, the little pokemon chirped and bounced up and down happily, unaware of the serious situation unfolding at the very moment.

"Awww, aren't you the cutest!" May fawned in delight, she herself briefly forgetting the seriousness of the situation at hand. She bent at the knees to get a better look at the pokemon. It chirped lovingly at her.

"H-Hey, don't forget about me!" the man yelled out just as the poochyena snapped at him again.

"Oh right! Sorry," May apologized as she was brought back to reality. She straightened back up and looked down at the pokemon. "C'mon, we've got to help this man out."

The chick pokemon nodded and raced over to the enraged poochyena, almost stumbling over its own feet in the process, and swiped at the canine's back with its sharp talons.

The gray canine pokemon yelped in pain before turning around and laying his piercing glare onto the orange chick pokemon. He snarled and charged at the chick, tackling it squarely on the body with his head. The chick gasped as the air was knocked out of it, and fell onto the ground. As it tried to recover, the angry poochyena closed in until it was looming right over the orange bird.

"Look, he's close! Use your beak and peck him!" May suggested. The chick pokemon didn't hesitate and landed a swift peck right onto the poochyena's sensitive snout. The canine howled in pain before finally giving up and scampering into the surrounding underbrush.

"Whew," the man said, wiping the sweat off his brow before jumping off from the tree. He landed on his feet and walked over to May and the orange chick.

"Now that, that was close," the man said with an air of relief in his voice. "Thank you young lady," he smiled before turning his attention towards the little chick nudging at his feet, "and thank you as well torchic. You did great!"

"Torchic chirped happily, pleased at the favorable comment.

"Are you alright, sir?" May asked, pointing at the man's backside.

"Me, oh I'm fine now, thanks to you. And that..." the man peered behind himself to where the poochyena had bitten him. "...Well that will heal eventually. Anyway, now that danger's nowhere to be seen, let me introduce myself. My name is Professor Birch. I run the pokemon lab over in Littleroot."

"Wait, you're the professor!" May exclaimed. "I just met your family!"

"Oh, you just met them, eh?" Professor Birch said as he stroked his thick beard. "Well then you must be from the new family that's moved into town. I understand that you were supposed to get your very own pokemon back in Johto."

"Yeah..." May sighed with a glum look on her face. Torchic noticed this and walked up to her, chirping at her in an attempt to comfort her. May smiled down at the fire type, and as she did so, she instantly perked up once she remembered what her father had told her.

"Hey, aren't I supposed to get a pokemon from you?"

"Yes, that is correct," Professor Birch replied. "Your father has arranged for me to give you a starter pokemon to begin your journey with, and judging by how you kept such a cool head during that encounter with poochyena, I'd say you're ready. Besides, it seems you've got an inclination towards pokemon..."

Professor Birch looked down to see the happily chirping torchic nudging at May's shins.

"I guess I do!" May said with a smile as she also took notice of torchic.

"She's taken a liking to you," Professor Birch observed. He picked up torchic's pokeball and his canvas bag from the ground.

"Alright torchic, time to go back inside."

Torchic chirped in disappointment, but did not complain as she was recalled back into her pokeball. He placed the red and white sphere back into his bag and turned towards May.

"Well I'd say I've had enough excitement for one day," Professor Birch said as he threw the bag's straps over his shoulder. "How about we head back to Littleroot? C'mon, I'll walk you home."

May had to agree. It certainly had been an eventful day and she could already feel drowsiness creeping over her. She nodded at the professor and followed him down the trail back to Littleroot.

Eve of Summer

The Neighborhood of Palmwood, Slateport City
June 20
th 2183
8:19 pm…

A breeze blew in from the west. It was cold with a salt laden scent one would expect, as Palmwood sat right on Slateport's western shore. It proved a bit too cold for the recently shorn head of seventeen year old Maxie and forced him to pull up the hood of his sweater. His hair had been cut into a Mohawk and was consequently vulnerable to the elements. He needed time to get used to it, along with the responsibilities this hairstyle had bestowed upon him.

His older brother was dead. Recently slain by the Harbor Park Gang on the east side of Slateport, it was up to Maxie to take his brother's place, whether he liked it or not.

He didn't like it, not one bit.

Yet here he was. Mohawk atop his head, the brand new leader of the Palmwood set of the 30s. His world had changed forever. His hopes and dreams were dashed under the overwhelming tide of obligation.

He wanted to run, run so far away. Run until he couldn't stop, but if he did he'd never be able to come back. He'd be a coward, a traitor, and his ultimate fate would be a corpse face down in the gutter to be hauled off and forgotten. Besides, where could he run to, where? Where wouldn't he feel the unbearable ache that had taken root in his heart? There was nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. His very soul had been fouled, and all that he could do now was go forward with the path laid before him.

One last night before summer began. It was oddly unremarkable. Maxie could hear the faint crashing of waves hitting the shore intermingled with the usual sounds of the neighborhood's nightlife. The sky was a lovely shade of indigo, a visually stunning yet somewhat solemn backdrop to the silhouettes of the massive palms that lined the neighborhood streets. Silent watchers of the streets' many sins; they saw all the hate, all the blood spilled by its inhabitants. They didn't sway, despite the wind. They paused in anticipation of the red summer ahead.