Chapter 2: May
"Hurry!" The brunette trainer was panic-stricken. She was sweating; her hands trembling as she hastened herself around town, frantically searching around for the source of the cries for help. It felt like she was choking as she tried to breathe but the worry overcame her. "Quick, where is it coming from?"
"I think it's coming from there!" Brendan dashed, leading her to his direction. He could hear the screams and yells; it was so loud that it was almost heard by the whole town, leaving them stopping in their tracks. He wandered around, but it didn't seem like the sound was inside the town at all. "May, I thin-" he turned to May and he cut himself off after seeing her. She was on the ground, hands covering her face as small sobs were heard. Tears stung her eyes as she struggled to breathe, trying to wet her dried lips. It felt like everything bad came to May's mind and it all just exploded.
"Are you okay?" He knelt down, trying to look into May's eyes.
"It's terrible," May cried. "I couldn't br—breathe, a-and running a—and… makes it all worse."
Brendan couldn't tell what she was trying to say, but he knew there was something wrong with her… and he could relate to that in a way.
"Listen, May," He stood up, bowing down in order to meet eye contact. "I'll take care of this… why don't you go home and take a res-"
"No."
"What?"
"I can't." May followed Brendan, grabbing his arm. "I need to help him, something I didn't- didn't do before..."
"Huh?" Brendan confusedly shrugged. "I don't… I don't understand."
"No, it's nothing." She slowly wiped away her tears. "I'll just help."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. We need to hurry before it's too late!"
Brendan nodded his head, breathing out. "It looks like it's coming from there." He pointed to a narrow exit, short trees surrounding the grassy path.
"Oh no, it looks like it's Route 101. Let's go!" She sprinted, with Brendan racing her as he followed.
"HELP! HELP!" The frightened professor cried out on what was probably the thirtieth time, fearfully running around in circles, trying to exhaust the horde of Poochyena – although it seemed that it was him exhausting himself.
"Oh, thank Arceus!" The professor sighed in relief, jumping behind a nearby, quite fragile bush as protection. "May! You're here!"
"Let's do this, Torchic!" She said, sending out her beloved starter Pokémon. Torchic determinedly chirped as he waited for his owner's command. "Ember!"
The chick Pokémon waddled forward hastily, suddenly a ball of fire emerged from his open beak as he managed to gush out the fire ball – penetrating through a Poochyena with its blazing heat.
"You there!" The professor exclaimed, pointing at Brendan. "Quick, quick! The bag, the bag! Get a Pokéball! May can't handle this alone!"
Brendan reacted quickly and rushed to the bag's side; his hands scrambled in the bag, searching for the Pokéballs with unease. A few moments later, two Pokéballs rolled out of the bag. Quickly thinking, he got the nearer PokéBall and cast it off as a mud fish Pokémon emerged from the round portable device.
"W-what is that thing?" Brendan was baffled at the species new to him. "It's a water-type, right?"
"Yup," May affirmed. "Make it use Water Gun or something, I've already beaten two of the five Poochyena!"
"Alright then, use Water Gun."
Mudkip did as what was told and positioned itself, a small torrent of water erupted from her mouth, flailing against one of the Poochyena, whimpering as it rushed off.
"Only two more to go!" Brendan grinned.
"Alright! Torchic, use Scratch!"
Torchic nodded; he rapidly sneaked towards the gullible wolf Pokémon and once he was at proper distance, pressed himself forward against him.
The two starter Pokémon smirked as they cornered the last Poochyena, visibly shaken and threatened. Before any of the two trainers were able to make their move, Professor Birch stopped them. "Wait!"
"What?" They both said at the same time, tilting their heads in disarray.
"I think it's enough for now," Professor Birch smiled, looking down at the Poochyena, signaling it to go free.
"Thank you for saving me… both of you! I thought it was the end." Professor Birch chuckled softly. "I'm Professor Birch. You must be Brendan, right? The gym leader son?"
Brendan proudly grinned. "Uh-huh!"
"Let's go to my lab and talk about this more, okay?"
"Sure!"
"I—I'll be going..." May quivered, looking down and pacing back to Littleroot.
"Wait, May!" Brendan held her arm, trying to make eye contact again. "Is everything okay?"
May looked back, only smiling – however it was visibly fake. "Just let me be," she sighed, drifting off. Her state was just like how she was a while ago, her hands were shaking, she was breathing in and out… although in a much softer way. She was overwhelmed from it all, and wanted to get back home as soon as possible and rest.
"What's wrong with her?" Brendan asked, trying his best to not sound rude; he was genuinely interested, is all.
"She's gone through a lot, but let's just shrug it off." Professor Birch tried to lighten up the mood. "She's a strong girl, she can handle herself."
"Is that so? Well, to the lab then?" Brendan sang out.
A bell chimed a melodic tune as May opened the wooden door to her house. "Hey, mom," she greeted, her arms crossed, biting her bottom lip. She minced to the living room, sitting down on the wool couch.
"M-may I?" She directed to the television, stuttering a bit.
"Of course, dear." Her mom replied back in her usual joyful tone as she wiped the dishes.
She scooted herself to the edge of the couch, opening the cabinet of the nearby end table. She fumbled her hands inside the cabinet until she finally got hold of the remote control. Closing the cabinet, she scooted herself back to where she was before and pressed on the "open" button of the remote. The television played a kid's show about a little girl taking care of her stuffed Pokémon. Normally, this kind of show wasn't her type, but it did lift up her spirits. It can make her forget of all the chaos going on and she can just imagine herself on the kid's world, with no problems and worries.
Knock knock.
"I'll get it," May insisted. She shut off the television and traversed through the living room to the foyer, where she opened the door. It was Brendan.
"Hey," Brendan started, not knowing where to begin. "Well- do you mind if I come in?"
"No, not at all. Make yourself welcome." May smiled, opening the door even wider to fit him inside.
"So," He sat on the couch.
"Uh-huh?"
"Uhm, I got a Mudkip from your father…" Brendan stuttered a bit. Despite being a social guy back in Johto, dealing and meeting with all sorts of people, he didn't know what to do in this situation.
"That's nice. Looks like you've got an advantage against me, huh?" May giggled. "What brings you here, by the way?"
"Ah, right," He slightly stammered. "Uh, you know, well- well I'm not the one who'd live a quiet life and be some average run-of-the-mill guy, right?" May nodded, listening attentively.
"So, your father suggested if I could take on the Pokémon League Challenge, you know? And get out of this sleepy town… no offense."
"None taken."
"I thought of it for a while, and I was thinking if you'd travel as well… so I could have a little competition on my hands… so will you?"
"I would," May sighed. "I really would, but I'd probably get all overwhelmed with everything again."
"Huh?"
"I guess it's my turn to tell a story now," May sat down beside Brendan on the couch. "You know that thing I felt when I heard my father's cries?"
"What?" It was the only thing that came out of Brendan's mouth, but in his head formed endless possibilities on what happened to May. He breathed in and out, soft enough for the other to not notice, and anticipated for the continuation.
"I had a brother," May began. "I had a brother and he was mauled by a bunch of wild Poochyena."
Brendan gasped. "What happened to him? Where is he now?"
"He was taken to the hospital, injured really bad." May mourned, tears once again stinging across her cheek. "He's now a trainer, I guess he got over that really easily – and it took a long time for me to get over how my brother almost died. And while I was battling, I felt happy… because I know this was going somewhere, but now I just went back to some gloomy old bore, and I don't know why."
"Well, I'm sure he's okay now. I mean you still contact him, right?" Brendan tried to brighten up the mood, to give off an aura of optimism.
"Of course."
"And you'll be okay too, you pulled that battle amazingly, you'll be able to become an amazing trainer!"
"It means a lot, thanks. It makes me happy now I've finally told this to someone." May smiled, as the white-hatted boy wiped his tears and gave her a pat on the back.
"I think…. I think I can do this."
"So, are you coming?"
"Of course!"
