Chapter 2: Encounter
Brendan left at first dawn, his mother wished him best of luck and with his brand new Running Shoes and Pokedex, he booked it back to Oldale and crossed Route 102 in a blaze of fire, the same fire he battles with. There was no stopping such an impressive juggernaut of strength, he had no equal. This battle fervor was only stopped by his arrival of his initial destination: Petalberg City, where his father Norman presided as the gym leader. Looking at his watch, it occurred to Brendan that he had spent just over an hour reaching Petalberg, at least he was still close to Mom, Brendan thought.
He knocked on the door to the Gym, from the outside, it seemed bland on the outside, basic concrete with a brown shingle rooftop. And than he walked inside. Dad's gym was inspired completely by their home back in Johto; bamboo furnishings, cushions on the floor, a strict "No shoes" policy past the doorway. A challenger walked out in a bad mood, cursing his own luck and spouting profanities about how cheap Johtonians were in combat and how tacky he thought the decor was. Norman followed him with a heavy sigh
"Come back once you toughen up. I'll be waiting." Norman stepped out from the dojo, exasperated, he walked towards his son.
"Whoa, now that was quick, when did you leave?" Norman did not expect to see his son so soon.
"At first light, who was that?" Brendan's voice was disturbed, why was this guy such a bad sport and spouting excuses?
"I'm afraid that this is the true nature of Hoenn, Brendan. It's full of racist delinquents like that one, they are entitled to everything, even gym battle victories. But if they intend to be spoon-fed, they have another thing coming!" Norman was furious, a new kind of rage was building, similar to that of Brendan. It was a brief episode, and led Norman to his next question: "Do you know where you are going at all?"
Brendan hadn't stopped to think where he would go next, he just knew his father was a gym leader, he was a stranger in a new place and asked for guidance; "Does it matter? Can't I just fight you now?"
Norman laughed. "You can fight me but you won't last two seconds. I would go-" He was cut off by the entrance of a newcomer: he was pale, far more pale than either of the Johtonians, bright green hair, he was scrawny and limp-looking.
"Umm… excuse me, I didn't mean to interrupt, but I was… wondering if you could help me…
The boy asked, he was incredibly shy, and Brendan couldn't think of how to respond. Norman was the one who stepped forth.
"Hold on, boy. First off, if its help your seeking you should state your name first. Second off, lighten up! We aren't going to hurt you or anything." Norman's statement was reassuring, but it didn't help his confidence.
"Okay… well, you see…, I am going to move to Verdanturf soon… my dad thinks it would be better if I had a Pokemon..." He stammered out. The father and son exchanged glances, Norman nodding with a smile replied.
"Well, that's simple; Brendan, go with him and make sure he does this proper. Here you can borrow my Pokemon and here is a Pokeball. Go for it!"
May woke with the sunlight filtering through her window, she was slept later than she had anticipated. She stepped into her daytime clothes quickly and gathered up her belongings and whatever confidence she could warrant and stepped out of her room. Her parents were sitting downstairs, enjoying some coffee.
"Morning, May! Finally out of bed to chase down the neighbor boy, huh?" The professor sat in his chair, grinning.
"Chase him down? What do you mean, Dad?" She never knew Brendan had left.
"Well, he certainly has a head start on you, that's for sure. He's already at Petalberg I think." The professor grinned again "Go get him, sweetheart."
May's mouth fell open, he said he wasn't going on journey and he just left, didn't even say goodbye or ask for advice? Was he insane? Foolish? Heartless? Whatever, she had to find out. And than she was off, booking it for Petalberg with a wind-like speed.
Brendan escorted Wally to nearby route 102 so that he could catch a Pokemon. He walked scared, like at any point he would be assailed by someone or something. Wally, did eventually walk into the tall grass.
"Pokemon just show up when I'm sitting in the grass like this...right?" Wally stuttered.
"Yup, just keep your eyes peeled and make that throw count, I don't want to bail you out if you miss." Brendan gave him a reassuring smile, he was afraid, it was brand-new to him. Even though Brendan had never caught a Pokemon before, he at least knew how.
Then it appeared, giant green bowl-cut, tiny pale body with what looked like excessively saggy pant legs, a Ralts. Wally threw out the loaner Pokemon from Norman, tossing it very wimpily to release the small Zigzagoon.
"Now Wally, you have to attack the Pokemon if you want to catch it, but not too much otherwise, your chance will be lost forever." Brendan said, Wally took his advice and put into practice. The Zigzagoon rushed forward with a feeble tackle as if it had done this before. The Ralts fell over but got up immediately, it was certainly a fighter. It growled at the Zigzagoon, but it was too late.
"Go, Pokeball!" Wally's feeble throw managed to bonk the poor Ralts on the head, knocking it over as the red hue engulfed it. They both watched the shakes on the Pokeball with suspense, and than click! Ralts had been caught. Wally dragged his feet to pick it up, and as he did, the biggest smile grew upon his face. "It's mine, all mine! I caught a Ralts!"
Brendan couldn't help but grin, Wally was scared just step into the grass and now he was brimming with confidence. Just like yesterday, the presence of Pokemon empowered Wally, gave him newfound courage and happiness. They walked back to Norman's gym together, Wally now excited for the move to Verdanturf and Brendan excited for his first gym battle wherever it may be.
Once they got back to the gym, Wally thanked both Norman and Brendan and was off to his new home in Verdanturf. Norman smiled as Wally left, which Brendan questioned.
"What are you so happy about, finally face a good challenger?"
"No, part of being a gym leader is protecting the denizens of your town, taking care of their needs, being someone to look up to. Wally has made a good first impression for me. Being new, people are hesitant to approach me." He replied with a smile, but this one was different from before, it was anticipation. "Now then, let me tell you your next destination. But first, some family business." He reached forward and locked the door.
The room was filled with tensity, gone was the sunny gym and now was a cold, dark room. Norman walked towards a veiled box, and spoke: "Our family holds a dangerous and powerful secret, if exploited, it could ruin the world. This is why we left Johto. To escape and embrace peace."
He uncovered the veil. There was a massive set of armor, it was red at the top, with gold streaks, these streaks ended with a beautiful emerald tinge. In the center, pure pearl white and ended with that same emerald tinge. And at the bottom of this Johto inspire armor, a charcoal gray ending with white triangles at the pant legs. He spoke again with that same serious tone: "This armor if a gift, a gift not to be trifled with, only our bloodline may receive such a gift." The gauntlets of the armor held a Pokeball, but unlike any that Brendan had seen: It had the design of a rainbow and etched into it was some ancient scripture that was unintelligible. "This is our destiny. We are protectors of the peace. This is the secret of our bloodline. Do you understand? Your next destination is Rustboro City. Go now." And Brendan left understanding nothing other than becoming powerful and where his first gym battle would be.
Brendan walked out and reached Petalberg Woods fairly quickly, it was impossible to miss, the mass of trees was the only way forward. In the woods, there were many Pokemon, but only one stood out to him as he conquered over the puny trainers of the woods and the horde of Bug and Grass type Pokemon, a single Shroomish that actually survived getting hit by Mudkip. And he did what any sensible trainer would do and caught it. He continued through the woods when until he heard screaming, two different voices from the sound of it.
Brendan quickly scaled one of the plentiful tree to locate the sound of the screams. And than he saw it, it was May and some sort of business man who were being assaulted by some sort of thug, wearing blue and had a bunch of crossbones all over. He than jumped down and joined the fray.
May was screaming, a lot, hoping for some strong trainer to help her. And he did. The trainer jumped down from one of the trees and slammed into the Team Aqua grunt, he didn't bother with a battle against May, he just grabbed at her. She couldn't tell who this trainer was, he was pale, that's all she could tell. He sent out a Shroomish and slammed the grunt down, without hesitation. Both May and the Devon worker began to thank him when she realized who it was, Brendan!
"Oh thank you so much, you were remarkable, here take this as thanks, go to go now!" He handed Brendan a Great Ball and left.
It was just May and Brendan now, she stammered out, "Thanks for that, I don't know what we would've done without you."
Brendan shrugged, "Just doing the right thing, who were those guys?"
"That thug you beat up was from Team Aqua, they are pretty notorious around here, the other guy is from the Devon Corporation, the biggest company around here, think Silph Co. in Kanto and you are in the right direction."
The two of them now walked out of the forest, May finally pushed the question she had been waiting to ask. "So since when are you going on a journey, and with a Pokedex no less?"
Brendan sighed, he didn't want to talk about the sudden change, it was all about his father's belief in an ancient bloodline that Brendan didn't even know existed until today or how he was destined to be the strongest trainer in the world. He needed an excuse quick. Or not.
"You Johtonians and your secrets, it's all right you don't have to tell me if it's private. But we should work on your tan, you stick out like a sore thumb." She winked at him, whatever the reason was one thing was clear, he saved her. And that's all that mattered to her. She leaned her head on his shoulder, which caused Brendan to blush and trip over his words.
"Uh, I got to get to Rustboro quick for my first gym badge, gotta go!" He skedaddled away from her onto the big city in front of him.
Exasperated, May said, "He's such a mystery, maybe that's why I like him so much." She let out a small giggle and watched him storm forth into Rustboro city.