"Use Peck!" May shouted, pointing towards the small red figure standing weakly a few yards ahead of her. Torchic obeyed and jumped towards the weakened Pokémon, tackling it with its hard beak. The Pokémon flew backwards, landing a few feet away from the attacker.
Now's my chance! May thought as she pulled out a Pokéball, throwing it towards the target.
"Go Pokéball!" She shouted. The red and white ball hit the target dead on, and the Pokémon became engulfed in a bright red light before being sent into the device. May watched with anticipation as the ball shook a few times. Finally, a click was heard and May sighed with relief. She walked over and picked up the Pokéball, happily holding it up in the air.
"Yes! I caught a Wurmple!" She knew it wasn't a very strong Pokémon to begin with, but it was an easy catch and she figured that it could be useful when it evolved. Plus it was really cute! Despite being a lover of strong Pokémon and battling, May was a girl and she did have a girly side. She was glad she was in Petalburg Forest. Suddenly, the sound of slow clapping could be heard behind the sapphire eyed girl. May turned around to see a boy, around her age, standing there with a smug look on his face. He had emerald eyes, matching hair, and wore a black turtle neck shirt, a short sleeved purple overcoat, and light blue pants. May looked down at the green Pokémon that stood beside its trainer. It was a nice grassy shade of green with red and blue roses for hands.
"Nice moves," The boy said as he stopped clapping. "Too bad they were wasted on a Wurmple instead of something with more talent and beauty." May stood there for a moment before the boy's words processed in her brain. Her face turned red at the insult to her newly caught Pokémon.
"H-HEY! Don't you dare insult my Pokémon! Who do you think you are?" She fumed, pointing rudely at the boy. He flipped his emerald locks out of his face and smiled.
"Calm down little girl!" He replied, holding out his hand to quiet her. "If you must know, I'm Drew." He smirked. May bent down and picked up her Torchic, glaring daggers at the boy. "You would be?" he asked, making it sound like bored statement then a question.
"May," May replied simply.
"I see. Anyways, I wasn't insulting your Pokémon, just insinuating that I hope you weren't planning to enter it in any contests unless it evolves." May nearly choked.
"Contests?" She asked, forcing herself to keep from laughing. "Who would want to enter any of those? I'm looking for Gym battles. I'm going to become a Pokémon Master." For a moment, Drew had a look of surprise on his features, but it disappeared in a blink of an eye.
"Oh, I assumed you were, seeing as how people usually catch bug or grass type Pokémon to use for contests. My mistake." He sent May another smug looking smile. "I don't know how I could have confused a battling barbarian such as yourself as someone who loves the beauty and style of Pokémon." May balled her hands up into fists and squeezed her Torchic tighter. The chick Pokémon let out a strangled chirp.
"Barbarian?" She said through clenched teeth. She sent a smug look right back. "W-well I suppose I would rather be a battling barbarian then a…petty wimp!" Drew laughed at the lame insult.
"Nice comeback." Drew sneered. "It almost hurt."
"Why you-!" May shouted as she charged towards the emerald eyed boy. Drew easily planted his hand on her forehead and held her back.
"Well, I had my fun for the day. I need to be somewhere, so if you don't mind, come on Roselia." He urged the Pokémon right next to him. He turned around and waved. "See you around, May," He said with a hint of, was that sarcasm? With that, they walked off towards the exit of Petalburg Forest. May released the death grip on her Pokémon and it fell animatedly to the ground.
"Tooooorrr…" It said. May sweat dropped.
"Sorry Torchic, that guy just makes me so mad! I talked to him for two seconds and already I made an enemy! Did you hear how he said my name? I don't like the tone of his voice! I don't like his voice at all! In fact, I'm going to erase this part of the day out of my head!" She sat on the ground with a huff and crossed her arms. "Next time I see him, oh he's gonna get it! I hate people like him!" May reached into her bag and pulled out a little pamphlet. "Anyways, back onto IMPORTANT matters." She flipped through a few pages until she came to the map. "Let's see, the first I get through the woods, then I'll be on route to Rustboro City. It looks about a day or two away." May flipped the page.
"Tor, Torchic!" Torchic chirped. May pat it on the head and went back to the pamphlet.
"I know you're excited about your first gym challenge! Let's see here…" She skimmed down the page. "…The Gym Leader of Rustboro City is Roxanne who specializes in rock-type Pokémon. We don't have a very promising advantage…" May sighed. "Fire attacks would be nothing against rock." She held out her Pokéball containing the recently caught Wurmple. "Wurmple would stand more of a chance, but you both are affected by rock pretty well when attacked." May mumbled half to Torchic, half to herself.
"MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYY!" A voice shouted out from behind the brunette. May's head shot up and she turned around to see Brendan running towards her.
"Brendan?" May questioned as the white and black haired boy slowed to a halt, bending over to catch his breath.
"F-finally…found you!" He half heartedly cheered between gasps. May smiled.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, standing up and brushing herself off. "You don't miss me already, do you?" she asked in a teasing tone. Brendan finally caught his breath and scoffed.
"You kidding me? Its only been a couple of days. I'm here on a mission." He replied, reaching into the pack that hung around his shoulders. He pulled out a Pokéball and held out his hand, offering it to the girl. May took it in confusion.
"What's this?" She asked. Brendan laughed.
"It's a Pokémon!" He said. May glowered.
"No stupid, I mean what's it for?" Brendan scratched the back of his head.
"It's from your dad. He said that he wanted me to find you and give you one of his Pokémon to use for your first Gym battle." May was shocked.
"Really? But why?" She asked. Brendan shrugged.
"Who knows, but he wants you to call him after you beat your first Gym Leader." May nodded and held out the Pokéball, stared at it intently.
"Well," She smiled widely, "better see what you brought me!" She tossed the ball in the air and a red flash of light shot out to the ground in front of the two trainers, slowly morphing into a large form. May stared at the large white form, face frozen in horror. Brenan laughed.
"Well, probably not what you were expecting!" He smiled. May's eyebrow twitched.
"He loaned me…Vigoroth?" She questioned. Vigoroth swung its arms around happily, running around the area in content at being out of the small ball. May turned towards Brendan. "Why would he send me Vigoroth? I was hoping for something…cuter." Brendan crossed his arms smiling.
"Well, you practically raised Vigoroth since it was a Slackoth right? So you already pretty much know how to use it. Plus you two have a bond~" May sighed.
"Yeah…" She brightened up. "Well, might as well make the most of it! Besides, Vigoroth will stand a much better chance against Roxanne's rock-type Pokémon!" She balled her hands up into fists. "There's no way I'm gonna lose now!"
"That's the spirit!" Brendan cheered. May looked over at him.
"Does this mean that you're going to be heading back to Littleroot town now?" she asked. Brendan scratched his head.
"Well I should, but after the long journey it took me to find you, I think I'll stick with you for a while to make sure you make it to the first city!" May bent over and picked up Torchic.
"Suit yourself," she huffed at the apparent insult. The duo began walking towards the exit of Petalburg woods, talking about their recent experiences.
"So May, have you made any new friends since you left home?" May shook her head.
"Nope. I haven't even talked to anyone yet." A thought crossed her mind. "Well there was this one guy…" A scowl appeared on her face. "He was a big jerk. He insulted my Wurmple and called me a battling barbarian! I think his name was Drew or something stupid like that."
"He can't be that bad!" Brendan exclaimed. "It was just a bad first impression. Maybe you should hang out and talk to him more." May looked back at her friend skeptically.
"Your kidding me right? The kid said I didn't love the 'beauty and style' of Pokémon! He also mistook me for someone who participates in contests! I almost died of laughter!" Brendan thought for a moment, looking around at the sudden appearance of trainers left and right that were working with Pokémon on perfecting battle moves. Something looked off though when a thought hit him.
"Maybe he participates in Pokémon contests?" He suggested, realizing that all of the people around here must have been getting ready for some kind of Contest. May shrugged her shoulders, not noticing her surroundings.
"Who cares? All I know is that he isn't someone I want to run into again." Suddenly, May crashed into something hard, falling back on her butt. She looked up in embarrassment to see the topic of her conversation.
"Drew?" She asked, looking in his clear emerald eyes.
"Oh, it's you." He said in a rather bored fashion, a smirk on his flawless face. Brendan walked over and helped the brunette girl up.
"Is this your friend you were telling me about?" He asked cheerfully. May gasped.
"We are NOT friends!" She shouted. "Anything BUT that!" The white haired boy laughed as he turned towards the green haired boy.
"I see! Well, my name is Brendan!" he said as he held out his hand. Drew smiled and took it.
"Drew," he replied. Then he turned towards May. "So you decided to enter the Pokémon Contest after all?" He smirked, running his fingers through his bangs. May looked out in the background. A large red building stood with a large sign that read CONTEST HALL on the front. She fumed.
"No! I told you, I'm a trainer! I battle! Not participate in stupid little contests!" Drew crossed his arms, the smile never leaving his face.
"That's good; after all, you just missed the signup deadline."
"Good," May shot back. "Contests are for weak trainers who can't last in a REAL battle."
"Uh, May, that's—" Brendan started when Drew cut him off.
"Really?" He asked, sarcasm dripping like venom in his words. "Then do you want to have a Pokémon battle?" May froze in surprise.
"May, you don't—" Brendan tried to say but was cut off by the sapphire eyed girl.
"Wait, what?" She asked.
"You heard me," Drew replied. "Battle me. For a strong trainer like you, battling a weak coordinator like me should be a piece of cake." May nodded.
"May, I—" The ruby-eyed boy tried again, only to be cut off AGAIN.
"Fine, you asked for it!" She smiled and released Torchic from her arms. "Torchic, you're up!"
"Go Roselia!" Drew pointed to the Pokémon that was standing by his side the whole time.
"Maaaay!" Brendan whined. May turned towards the boy with fire in her eyes.
"What? I'm busy! Tell me in a minute!" She shouted, eager to show this green haired snooty fruit loop a lesson. Brendan fell back and raised his arms up defensively.
"Okay okay, but you asked for it!" He smiled. May shook off what he just said and focused on the battle.
Drew, you're gonna get it! Battling is my specialty! May thought with a smirk on her face. Drew seemed unfazed, his trademark smirk plastered on his face.
"Ladies first!" He called across the battle area to May. She smiled.
"You're going to regret that! Torchic, Ember!" Torchic chirped anxiously and obeyed released said attack.
"Roselia, stop it with Petal Dance!" Drew calmly ordered. Roselia made gentle looking petals appear shoot up in the air and shower the field, causing the oncoming flames to dwindle out before reaching the target. May stared in awe at the attack. She's seen it before, but the way Drew's Roselia used it made it look…amazing. She quickly shook off this thought and focused back onto the battle.
"Torchic, Peck!" She shouted, fist pumping the air. Torchic charged towards the green Pokémon at full speed, sharp beak extended. Drew flipped his hair out of his face, only to have it fall back into place.
"Roselia, dodge." He said. Roselia ran towards the approaching Torchic, jumping over it at the last second before the two made impact. "Now use Stun Spore." The grass Pokémon span around in a fast circle, releasing golden-like glitter all over the chick Pokémon.
"Torchic! No! Dodge it!" May shouted. Torchic, who had just stopped the attack, had no time to react to the command as it was showered with the paralyzing substance.
"Tor!" It shouted as it tried to move but couldn't.
"Now use Magical Leaf." The emerald-eyed boy commanded. Bright glowing leaves seemed to dance towards the target as they hit the orange Pokémon dead on. May was stunned, much like her Torchic, but by the beauty of the attack and not from the attack itself. As soon as she saw her Pokémon hit, however, she snapped out of it and shrieked.
"No!" May squealed, hands rising up to her cheeks in astonishment. Brendan let out a whistle.
"A direct hit! Torchic's done for." He exclaimed, looking towards the weakened Pokémon. Torchic laid there on the ground, squiggly circles for eyes that clearly showed that the battle was over. May fell to her knees, eyes wide in shock.
"No way…I…lost…?"