May hopped down from the seat of the moving van. Her mother beamed, watching her gain her bearings.
"Are you all right there, May?" she asked.
"Perfectly fine, why do you ask?" May responded.
"Usual reason," her mother said.
"Thanks… but really, Mum?" May asked again, opening the back of the moving truck.
"Yes, May. And please leave that to the kind Machoke the movers lent us," her mother said.
"Mum, most of my bags are rather light. I can carry them!" May said.
"No you can't, May! Just… go introduce yourself to Professor Birch!" her mother said. May pouted, turned on her heel, and walked in the general direction of Birch's house.
May knocked gently on the door of Professor Birch's house, and a young boy opened it.
"Who… who are you?" the boy asked, his eyes cautiously drawn to May's left arm.
"Tee hee… stop looking at my arm! The name's May. I just moved in," May said, smiling encouragingly.
"So you're… you're Norman's daughter, aren't you? It's nice to see you…" Brendan said.
"Shy one, aren't you? So where is your father?" May asked, looking over his shoulder.
"Oh, he's… oh, right! I'm supposed to be helping him! He's… he's on Route 101, if you're interested," Brendan said. May smiled gently, and turned towards that side. Brendan rushed past her, while May simply walked forward.
"Help me!" a voice cried out from the bushes. May's head snapped in the direction of the voice, to see a husky man in a lab coat running from a little Growlithe.
"Someone! In my bag! Please!" the professor cried out. May rushed over to the bag, and thrust her hand into it. She began combing the bag carefully, looking for a Pokémon to use. Her hand found the shape of a Poké Ball, and she grabbed it. She turned to the Growlithe, and tossed the Poké Ball. A Treecko emerged from the confines of the Poké Ball.
"A Treecko… got it! Treecko, use Pound!" May said. Treecko jumped into the air, its tail glowing. Treecko let out an odd sound, and slammed down. The Growlithe growled, and spat a burst of flames. Treecko spun his tail around, putting them out, before performing another Pound. The Growlithe whined, and walked away, its tail between its legs.
"Whew… that was close… say, who are you?" the man asked.
"The name is May," May said simply. "What is your name?"
"Oh, mine? I'm Professor Birch," Birch said. May nodded, and looked down at Treecko. Now that the battle was over, Treecko had gotten on all fours, and was walking around. It eventually climbed May's leg, going through her shirt to get to her shoulder. May giggled slightly.
"Are you all right there?" Birch asked, one eye on May's left arm.
"Yeah, I'm fine. The Treecko's just a little ticklish," May said.
"That's not what I meant," Birch said, gesturing to May's left arm. May followed his gaze.
"Again, why is everyone so hung up over it? Stop staring at my arm!" May said in annoyance.
"Sorry… you've gotta admit, it's kind of notable… and to be perfectly honest, creepy," Birch said. May looked over at her left arm. Her missing forearm wasn't a particular bother to her.
"Anyway, you battled spectacularly! Do you have Pokémon of your own?" Birch asked.
"No…" May said, rather dejectedly.
"Is that so? Then I would like to give to you this Pokémon, Treecko!" Professor Birch said. May smiled, looking down at the Treecko. The Treecko smirked back, and nuzzled May's cheek.
"I think he likes that," May said.
"Splendid. And before I forget, your Battle Ring… wait…" Birch said.
"Battle Ring?" May asked.
"It's a device that allows one to battle without loudly yelling their moves onto the battlefield for the opponent to hear. But…" Birch said, pulling out one of his spares. The wrist-mounted device required precise input to the screen. Not a problem for most people, but a seemingly insurmountable one for May, who only had one hand to work with.
"Give me that!" May said, dropping it into her bag. She would come up with a way for her to use one eventually.
"…What a can-do spirit you have… you'd be a great friend for my son to have," Birch said.
"You mean Brendan? I met him… really shy boy, isn't he?" May asked.
"Quite shy, indeed. I sent him to Route 103 to analyse what species are appearing there. There have been all sorts of new species sprouting out all over Hoenn recently… I want to document what species have appeared where, and see if I can analyse a trend," Birch said.
"Invasive species?" May asked, remembering an article she had read not even a week ago. She guessed it was topical, if not breaking, news at the time.
"Yes, that is the technical term. That Growlithe was one, and I've also seen some Scatterbug and Lillipup crawling about. Not only that, but I haven't seen a single Poochyena in this area for a month. If you have any textbooks documenting the homes of Pokémon throughout Hoenn, I highly recommend not reading them until this crisis has abated," Birch said. "We might even need to rewrite them."
"Well, I'm new here, so I'm not going to give a damn about that," May said.
May wandered along the route away from Littleroot, flipping the Battle Ring over in her working arm as she went. She looked nervously at her left arm. No matter what her mother suggested, she knew she was just as capable as someone with both working arms. She inspected the Battle Ring again, and her thumb went over the face. She looked between Treecko and the Battle Ring.
"Treecko, on the tree!" May commanded. Treecko shot into the air, and used a Leer. He charged forward, and performed two Scratch attacks. May's breast was heaving, watching Treecko's success.
"Might not be able to fit this on my wrist, but…" May said, looking down at the Battle Ring. She stepped forward, tracing the scratch-marks uncertainly.
"Hey," a male voice said from behind her. May turned around in shock, to see Brendan.
"What are you doing here?" May asked.
"This is… this is where my father asked me to go to document the new species…" Brendan said nervously.
"Oh… I meant 'what are you doing here?'" May asked.
"I said… didn't I say…?" Brendan asked. May sighed loudly. Brendan took in a breath, before looking down at Treecko.
"How about a battle?" Brendan asked.
"…Why not? I need to practice," May said. Brendan ran a distance away, and turned on his heel to face May. Brendan tossed a Poké Ball into the air, and out came a Torchic.
"Treecko, you got confidence?" May asked. Treecko nodded, and stepped forward. Torchic jumped into the sky, and shot fire at Treecko. Treecko stepped to either side, before jumping up and scratching Torchic. Torchic was blasted away, landing on its talons. Treecko pressed forward, looking closely at Torchic's movements. Torchic shot a blast of embers forward, and May looked away in fear. When she returned to the field, she couldn't spot Treecko.
"No… what happened to it?" Brendan asked. May looked around, the beginnings of tears in the corner of her eyes. A triumphant cry sounded from the ceiling, and Treecko jumped down, to scratch Torchic in the face. Torchic sunk to the ground, and Brendan returned it.
"I… I… I won?" May asked, looking at Treecko. Treecko jumped up towards May, and nuzzled into her cheek.
"Wow… that's one good Treecko… thank you for that battle…" Brendan said. He knelt down, and sprayed an odd potion into Treecko's face. Treecko felt his energy return to him. Brendan left to return to Littleroot Town, leaving May with Treecko.
"You really scared me there…" May said. Treecko stepped back, and looked at May.
"Dawww, I can't stay mad at you. But still… don't scare me like that," May said. The Treecko gave May a lick on the cheek, and May smirked. She decided to follow Brendan back home.
"I found a Mantyke, two Beedrill, a Vulpix and a Wingull," Brendan said to his father, Professor Birch.
"Hm… a Wingull, you say?" Professor Birch said.
"A good clue that there are still native Hoenn Pokémon," Brendan said.
"Good… I was concerned about that," Professor Birch said. He looked up, and noticed May enter the laboratory. Brendan turned around, and busied himself with the shelf.
"Hello there. Thanks again from helping me with that Growlithe. I'm not really familiar with them… so embarrassing. Anyway… even without a left arm, you're your father's daughter through and through. I can think of no one more prepared to inspect the Hoenn region more than you," Professor Birch said. He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a National Pokédex. He handed it to May, and she looked at in awe.
"Is it all right?" Professor Birch asked.
"…It's… I've never been entrusted with something like this before…" May said.
"I can imagine. A girl with your, er… nature would hardly be anyone's first pick for anything more complicated than moving an empty paper cup. However, you have beaten two Fire Pokémon using only a Treecko. If anyone is better suited to the road… well, they'd be you with two arms!" Professor Birch said.
"…That's the first time anyone's claimed that…" May said.
"That shouldn't be the case. You're too good for that. Which reminds me…" Professor Birch said. Brendan came forward with a small bag. May looked inside it, and saw a pile of Poké Balls.
"That Treecko of yours is good, but I'm sure you'd want more Pokémon to serve as companion. As a sign of my gratitude, I would love for you to accept some Poké Balls from me," Professor Birch said.
"I… I accept… wow… this is all too much…" May said.
"Hey, it's not every day that we meet someone who takes our expectations and shatters them to a million pieces. And I'm not just talking about our expectations of you and your arm," Birch said.
"…Thanks…" May said. She turned, and walked away, her Treecko looking at her.
"That girl's going to become big one day…" Professor Birch said.
"Yeah… I guess so," Brendan said. Professor Birch turned to him, but said nothing. There was nothing he really could have said.
"Mum!" May called out, looking around her house. Her mother looked up from the television, and smiled at her.
"Hey there, May! Where have you been?" her mum asked. May looked around nervously, wondering how to put into words what she was going to do. Any need for words was removed, however, by Treecko climbing up her to say hello.
"Oh my, it's a Treecko!" her mum said, tickling Treecko's chin.
"About him, mum…" May said. Her mum turned to face her, and spotted the Battle Ring and Poké Ball clipped to her belt.
"So… you're going on an adventure, aren't you?" her mother asked.
"…Yes, I am," May said. Her mother approached her, and held out a Pokénav Plus. May took into her hands, and had a look at it. She looked up at her mother.
"You're letting me do this?" May asked, surprised.
"Birch had a talk to me while you were one. I'm not altogether confident he's right on this one, but you've got too much of your father in you for me to stop you. And as they say, if you can't stop them, make sure they don't fall!" her mother said.
"…I'm pretty sure it's 'If you can't beat them, join them,'" May said.
"Whatever. My one made my point. Go get 'em, girl. And come back to me," her mother said. May got on her toes, and gave her mother a peck on the cheek. She turned on her heel, and began her quest.
May walked through Route 101 again, thinking about everything she had heard. After a lifetime of being told she wasn't ready for this… it was quite the surprise to hear that her family and friends were suddenly so supportive… it was a welcome change, but one she wasn't expecting. Her Treecko pointed, and May turned around to face the Growlithe from earlier.
"Now just what are you doing here, friend?" May asked. Growlithe growled at May, approaching her with caution. It started sniffing May's bag.
"Tee hee… silly. I don't have any food in that… probably ought to have changed that… eh, no use crying over spilt milk," May said. The Growlithe kept sniffing, searching for something.
"Treecko, keep it company!" May commanded. She opened her bag, and sifted through her meagre possessions. She made a mental note to stock up in the next town. She pulled out one of her Poké Balls, looking at the Growlithe. She tossed the orb at Growlithe, knocking it back before the ball opened. Growlithe was drawn in, and the ball closed around the dog. It shook about three times, before flashing a bright red. Treecko grabbed the ball, and pulled it over to May.
"I… I got myself a Growlithe!" May said in surprise, looking down at the orb. She sent the Growlithe out from its Poké Ball, and it snuggled into May. May smiled, and started stroking the Growlithe's head.
"So you just wanted someone to pay you attention, huh?" May asked. The Growlithe barked. May got to her feet, and beckoned with Growlithe. She began jogging towards Oldale Town, Treecko jumped on Growlithe's back, and Growlithe began running after his new trainer.
"You OK?" Treecko asked.
"I found myself a new girl! Of course I'm doing good!" Growlithe responded.
After visiting the Oldale Poké Mart for a brief restock of the major necessities (Oldale was too small to house some of the more minor creature comforts), May stepped onto Route 102. She smiled down at Treecko and Growlithe, before looking back across the route. Pokémon both familiar and unfamiliar to May were wondering around the trees and grasses. The various youngsters and lasses were unfazed.
"Hey!" a young girl called out, waving at May.
"Me?" May asked, looking up.
"Yeah, you! You look like an easy fight!" the girl said.
"…Oh, no you didn't!" May said, holding up her Battle Ring. The lass stepped back, and sent out her Zigzagoon. May pointed, and let Growlithe onto the field.
"What… what is that? That's not even a real Pokémon!" the lass said.
"I feel like that's a joke…" May said, looking up and down at the girl.
"Hey, that looks fun!" something purred. May looked up.
"Did you hear that?" May asked.
"Hear what?" the lass asked. May shook her head, and Growlithe charged. The lass's Zigzagoon jumped up, dodging nimbly out of Growlithe's path. Growlithe sent a small fire around his ankles, and slammed the ground, spreading the flames.
"Pssh! You think that's impressive?" the purr sounded again. May jumped, looking around.
"Treecko!" May cried. Treecko nodded, and jumped to action.
"Bug Zapping Mega Slam Attack!" the purr sounded. Twin bolts of electricity shot forward. Zigzagoon was blasted, and Growlithe was lightly scathed.
"Treecko…" May said, stepping back.
"What kind of monster is that, ruining my battle?" the lass asked. May pulled out Professor Birch's Pokédex, and scanned the 'monster'.
"Shinx," May said.
"I want to catch it…" the lass said.
"You? Super Ultra Electric Attack Three!" Shinx cried out, roaring. Electricity shot from her ears, coursing towards Zigzagoon. Growlithe jumped to his feet, and pushed Zigzagoon out of the path.
"Growlithe!" May cried out, watching Growlithe get fried. Growlithe got to his feet, but Treecko held out one hand.
"I will take on this fellow," Treecko said. He turned back to Shinx. May stepped forward, and the lass grabbed both her Zigzagoon and May's Growlithe. Treecko reared back, and opened its mouth. He drained something from Shinx, causing her to fall to the ground. Shinx got to her feet, and charged at Treecko, her ankles coursing with lightning.
"Fast Mega Electric Charge Attack!" Shinx said, preparing to ram into Treecko. Treeck jumped into the air, and used a Pound from above, where the electricity was weakest. Shinx dropped to the ground, shivering. May rushed forward, and held out her hand. Shinx jumped into them, and curled up. May dug into her bag with her other arm, and Treecko pulled out a Poké Ball. He threw it towards Shinx, and Shinx permitted herself to be caught.
"You've got good Pokémon, there…" the lass said, looking down at May. Treecko, Growlithe and the newly-caught Shinx were snuggling into her. May stroked Shinx with her hand.
"Thanks…" May said. She looked back at Growlithe.
"You helped him?" May asked.
"Of course. It's part of the Trainer's code of honour to make sure all Pokémon are in fighting condition once the battle has been won!" the lass said.
"I'll have to remember that one…" May said. She got to her feet, and Growlithe and Shinx jumped to the ready.
"So, we running on?" May asked.
"Why not?" the lass asked. May resumed jogging, Growlithe and Shinx keeping pace easily. Treecko remained on May's neck, sticking on with the touch of his hand.
"…Maybe there's something more to these new guys…" the lass said. A purple-coloured Skitty-like Pokémon emerged from the grass, and looked at the lass warily.
"Zigzagoon, we're getting a new friend!" the lass said.
"FINALLY!" the Zigzagoon said.
May entered the next town, Petalburg. It was quite a bit larger than Oldale and Littleroot, and May wasn't sure whether that made her more comfortable or not. Returning Treecko and Growlithe to their Poké Balls, so as to not draw nearly as much attention, May stepped around the place thoughtfully. Come to think of it, the name 'Petalburg' sounded somewhat familiar.
"And with hard work and proper training, you might just become good enough to defeat me next time we meet," a familiar voice said. May looked up, and noticed her father, Norman, talking to a young girl. The girl nodded, and turned away. Norman turned on the spot, to notice May.
"May? What are you doing here? Where's your mother?" Norman asked, shocked.
"Relax, Dad… I'm on my own journey," May said.
"There's no reason for you to be getting on my Trainer's bad side!" Shinx said, raising its hackles and purring angrily.
"Relax, Shinx…" May said, kneeling to stroke her back. Shinx purred, and cooled down.
"You? On your own journey? Are you nuts?" Norman asked.
"No, Dad. I'm going to become a great trainer in spite of this," May said, waving her stump.
"May, being a Pokémon Trainer is dangerous. It will be tremendously difficult, if not outright impossible, without both arms," Norman said.
"Well, if you keep mollycoddling me, then everything will be impossible," May said.
"…You know… you may just have a point there… you know what, I'll tell you what I'll do. Show me that you can collect four Hoenn Gym Badges, and I'll say you've got what it takes," Norman said.
"Dad…" May said.
"I've gotta find some way to convince you to abandon this Bunnelby-brained scheme of yours. May, you're too delicate for this line of work!" Norman said.
"No, I'm not, Dad. I will show you what I'm made of," May said, folding her right arm across her chest. She sheepishly thought that the gesture would be more intimidating with the other forearm.
"Prove it," Norman said. May nodded, and stormed from Petalburg as she had arrived, only pausing to finish collecting her necessary stock.
"Delicate, precious dear… can't go into the wild… I'll show him…" May grumbled, storming across Route 104. She looked up briefly, to notice the setting sun. As she did so, a curious shape breached the water, and crossed over the view magnificently.
"Shinx, investigate!" May called. Shinx charged forward, and roared. The creature shot above the seas, and approached the shoreline cautiously. It was a beautiful shade of blue that contrasted nicely with the ocean. Its long body had four fins arranged in a circle around it, with a tail fin of a similar shape at the end. A hole sat atop its head.
"Now what was that for, little buddy?" the Pokémon asked. May held up her Pokédex, and scanned this new Pokémon. The Pokédex shot up an error message.
"That's new…" May said. "Maybe there are Pokémon species that have gone undocumented…" May approached the new Pokémon, and looked closely at it.
"I'll have to send a picture of this find to Birch," May said, stroking the side of the Pokémon.
"Whoa, now, missy, I know Popoto are cute and all, but there's no need to go on intruding some personal space!" the Pokémon shrieked. May backed up, and burrowed into her bag. She pulled out a Poké Ball, and presented it to the new Pokémon.
"…I recognise those… right, then. Let's see if you have what it takes to impress me!" the Pokémon said. He shot a blast of echolocation at Shinx, who dodged out of the path nimbly.
"You want me to prove myself? New Super Electric Attack You!" Shinx said, charging into the waters. Electricity coursed through the ocean waves, and Shinx barrelled into the Pokémon. It was sent careening back, quivering with electricity. May threw her Poké Ball, catching the new creature, before returning Shinx. She looked out on the ocean, seeing a few fishes here and there quiver with electricity, before they were snapped up by grateful Sharpedo and the like.
"Wow… nature is unforgiving…" May said. She used a Paralysis Cure on the new Pokémon, before pulling out her sleeping bag and going to sleep.
"Help!" a young voice cried out. May shot awake instantly, sending her Pokémon spiralling away. She scooped up the closest one, Growlithe. Thanking her luck, she released Growlithe.
"What? What's going on?" Growlithe asked.
"Someone's in trouble! Scout it out for me!" May cried out, trying to pack her gear away quickly. Growlithe nodded, and sprinted away. May finished up her sleeping bag, and slipped the other Pokémon into her belt. She jogged after Growlithe, listening to him bark.
"Come on, little boy… just give me the Parts, and you can walk away," a man in a red hooded jumper said, standing over a sickly green-themed kid.
"Parts… I don't have any parts…" the boy said.
"I can see that. Just give me what I came here for!" the hood said.
"HEY! Leave that kid alone!" May commanded, pointing at the hood.
"Oh, look, it's his girlfriend. Couldn't have come up with someone better?" the hood asked, looking down at the kid.
"I don't have a clue who that kid is. But I'm not going to stand idly by as some jerk tears into him!" May said.
"So be it…" the hood said. He pulled out his own Poké Ball, and sent out his Pokémon. A purple-coloured Skitty appeared, smirking at Growlithe. May scanned it, and found it to be called Purrloin.
"See if you can beat this foreign Pokémon!" the hood said. May reached for her Battle Ring, but the Purrloin was charging too quickly.
"Growlithe, dodge out of the path and Ember!" May commanded. Growlithe jumped up, and his mouth began to glow. Purrloin snuck around, and scratched Growlithe from behind. May began to panic, trying to reach her Battle Ring. Purrloin jumped on May, and Growlithe charged it off. May turned, and noticed that the Battle Ring had fallen from its buckle. She scooped it up, and hurriedly punched in some commands. Growlithe roared, blasting Purrloin with several embers, burning it into submission.
"Blast this… I'll remember that!" the hood said, running away from the scene. May turned to face the kid who had fallen.
"And who might you be?" May asked.
"The name's Wally… Devon asked for some parts from Petalburg, and I just happened to be there. I got distracted by something out of the corner of my eye, and then bam! That nutcase assaulted me!" Wally said.
"Ouch… what was it that got you distracted?" May asked.
"Over there…" Wally said, pointing to a small, human-like Pokémon peeking out from a bush.
"Is that a wild Pokémon?" May asked. Wally nodded.
"You got a Poké Ball?" May asked. Wally shook his head. May reached into her bag, and pulled out one of her Poké Balls. Wally took it, and approached the Pokémon cautiously. It stumbled out from the bush, and approached Wally equally carefully. Wally opened the Poké Ball, and the Pokémon entered it. It shook carefully, before snapping shut.
"Wow… a Pokémon… I've never had my own before…" Wally said.
"That looks like the start of a beautiful friendship there," May said.
"Yeah… I'd better go ahead and get these to Rustboro," Wally said. May nodded, and watched him go. She gave Growlithe a scratch behind the ears, before following Wally through the Petalburg Woods.
*This is Team Magma Grunt 008 speaking. Repeat, Team Magma Grunt 008. Magma 509 has failed. Cause of failure: a young girl with no left forearm. Further investigation needed. Over.*
May emerged from the Petalburg Woods, to notice Rustboro City a hoppip, skiploom and a jumpluff away. Sighing in relief, she entered the nearest Pokémon Centre, and gave her Treecko, Growlithe and Shinx to the nurse in attendance. Turning away to the public PC, she punched in the contact details of Professor Birch (which May found in her Pokénav Plus), and Birch appeared on the PC.
*Oh, hello there, May. What can I do you for?* Professor Birch said.
"I found this little fellow here. The National Dex doesn't recognise it," May said, gesturing to the new Pokémon she had found on Route 104.
*Sweet mother of Mankey milk, I haven't seen one of those before! But… the National Dex doesn't recognise it? Hm…* Birch said.
"How big is the National Dex's database?" May asked curiously.
*Well, Professor Oak started the development of the International Pokédex in 1996. Six regions have signed on board for the development, with Elm, me, Rowan, Juniper and Sycamore supplying information on the local Pokémon. It is likely that this fellow comes from another region entirely!* Birch said.
"A Pokémon not in the National Pokédex?" May asked.
*It shouldn't be all that surprising. Let me just…* Birch said, leaning forward, and typing something into his PC. A snap sound sounded, and Birch looked over.
*I now have a picture of this new Pokémon. I'll look for the Professor whose region of influence encompasses that Pokémon's native habitat, and supply you with information about it,* Birch said, turning off the PC. May slumped back, turning to the new Pokémon.
"So what do I call you now?" May asked. The Pokémon let out a cacophony of squeaks.
"Call me Popoto. Popoto the Dolphin Pokémon," the Pokémon said.
"…I'm sure that, if I could understand Pokémon's speech, that would've made sense," May said. The Pokémon flopped forward, into May's lap.
"Miss May J. August, your Pokémon are fighting fit and ready for action!" one of the Nurse Joys said. She raised her hand, and a Joy hurriedly rushed over with the tray of Poké Balls.
"Oh, thanks…" May said, taking the Poké Balls into her lap. She was planning on going to them, but if they were kind enough to hand them out, that would be helpful. The new Pokémon was slumped on her lap, so it was going to be hard to get up as it was.