"So you want to travel the Hoenn region?" May's mother asked her.
"Yes. You and Dad always said it was fine back in Johto. And this whole thing was dad's idea anyway." May said.
"Well if your father thinks it's ok then I see no reason why you can't go."
"Really? Thanks mom!" May said before pulling her mom into a tight hug.
"Your welcome sweetie."
The next day, May was dressed up in bike shorts, an orange, sleeveless vest, a green belt with a small bag attached to it along with Torchic and Poochyena's pokeballs, and a green bandanna that her dad gave her a few years ago and a green backpack.
"Well Mom what do you think?" May asked.
"You look beautiful sweetie." her Mom said.
"Thanks Mom." May said with a smile.
"So where are you going first?" Mom asked.
"I'm going to head back to Petalburg and challenge Dad. Then I'll find out where the next gym is and head there too." May said.
"That sounds great. Don't forget to call when ever you get the chance."
"I will Mom I promise." May said as she opened the door and left the house.
"Ok time to head back to Petalburg City." May said to herself.
The trip to Oldale town was pretty much uneventful. A few pokemon shot out but Poochyena easily dealt with them.
When she reached Oldale town she saw Brendan coming out of the pokemon centre.
"Brendan!" May said as she ran up to him.
"Oh hey May." Brendan said to her.
"What are you doing here? More reaserch for your dad?" May asked.
"Yeah. This time he wants me to catch him a Poochyena. But anyway what are you doing here? You look like your about to head out on a journey." Brendan said as he looked her over.
"That's because I am. My dad suggested it and my mom was ok with it." May said happily.
"Cool. My dad sometimes sends me out so maybe I'll run into you." he said.
"Maybe. Well I have to get to Petalburg city so I'll see you around." May said before running off.
May soon found herself on the path she took yesterday to Petalburg City.
And like yesterday she ran into someone who demanded a battle.
"I just got this new pokemon and I want to try it out." her opponent said.
"Alright. I'd like to see this pokemon. Now Torchic let's go!" May said.
"Torchic!" her little fire type said.
"Now let's go Ralts!"
"What's that?" May asked.
"Its a Ralts. They're really rare and I was lucky enough to catch one." her opponent said.
"Well let's see how well it battles. Torchic use ember!" May said.
"Teleport!"
Torchic launched several small fireballs from his beak but Ralts disappeared in a flash on purple light.
"What?" May asked confused.
"Confusion!"
Ralts reappeared and started to glow blue. Moments later Torchic also started glowing blue and rose into the air.
"Tor? Tor?" Torchic said while flapping his little wings.
"Now slam it!"
Ralts slammed its hand towards the ground and Torchic followed suit and hit the ground.
"Again!"
"Torchic ember!" May said.
Torchic launched a barrage of tiny fireballs that hit Ralts causing it to cry out and release it's psychic hold on Torchic.
"Now peck!" May said.
Now able to move Torchic quickly forward and started to peck Ralts quickly.
"Ralts! Ralts! Ralts!" it cries out.
"Now finish it up with ember!" May said.
Torchic launched another wave of fireballs at Ralts point blank causing the psychic type to collapse.
"No! My Ralts!"
"Yes! That was great Torchic!" May said.
"Torchic Tor!"
"I guess we need more practice." he said.
"Before you go. Could you tell me where you found that cute little Ralts?" May asked.
"Yeah. Just outside of Petalburg City." he said.
"Thank you." May said.
May kept Torchic out so he could help look for any Ralts.
"See anything Torchic?" May asked.
"Torchic." he replied with a sad shake of his head.
"Well let's go and see Dad then we'll come back and take a look ok?" May said.
"Chic." Torchic said with a nod.
Soon after May reached Petalburg City with Torchic in her arms and, after getting Torchic checked out at the pokemon centre, went straight for her dad's gym.
She opened the doors and saw her dad and someone she didn't know. And it looked like they were in the middle of a battle.
Her dad had Slacking out and his opponent had pokemon May didn't recognize.
It had black, fingerless hands, a large yellow body, and two red circles on its cheeks.
"Makuhita use arm thrust!"
"Block them!" May's dad said.
Slacking crossed his arms protecting his body from the arm thrusts.
"Now use focus punch!" Dad yelled.
Slacking's fist started to glow white before he delivered a strong punch to the smaller pokemon and sent it flying into the wall behind Makuhita's trainer.
"Makuhita!"
The referee said "Makuhita's unable to battle! This battle is over. The winner is the gym leader Norman!"
May clapped drawing all eyes to her and Norman smiled.
"That was great Dad!" May said.
Slacking ran forward and pulled May into a hug before placing her on his shoulders.
"And of course you were great too Slacking." May said as she rubbed his head.
"King." Slacking said with a big grin.
"Twice in two days. No wonder I'm on such a winning streak today." Norman said.
Slacking walked May over to Norman and she said "Mom agreed. I'm going on a journey."
"That's wonderful babygirl." Norman said happily.
"I know! I'm going to travel the region and battle everyone I meet. And that includes you Dad." May said.
Norman chuckled and said "I knew this day would come. Very well May, if you want a battle you've got it."
May leapt down off of Slacking's shoulder and said "great!"
Norman took his position and May stood where the previous trainer stood.
"Have you managed to catch any more pokemon May?" Norman asked.
"Nope. Just Torchic and Poochyena." May answered.
"Then in that case we'll just have a two on two battle." Norman said.
"Great. Poochyena let's go!" May said.
"Poochyena!" her dark type growled.
"Vigoroth let's rock!" Norman said.
Vigoroth came out of his pokeball and instantly started to beat his chest. Until he saw May and waved at her.
"Vigoroth. This is a battle. Don't hold back just because it's May." Norman said.
"Vigoroth." he said with a nod.
"Begin!" the referee said.
"Poochyena let's start with tackle!" May said.
Poochyena quickly ran forward and leapt at Vigoroth hitting him in the chest and made him stumble back slightly.
"Good power." Norman said.
"Again!" May said.
Poochyena ran forward again and leapt into Vigoroth's chest making him stumble again.
"Alright Vigoroth use slash!" Norman said.
Vigoroth's claws extended and he ran forward and quickly slashed Poochyena making him let out a bark of pain.
"Ice fang!" May yelled.
"Dodge it." Norman said with his arms crossed.
Poochyena's mouth became frost coated. He ran and leapt at Vigoroth who easily avoided it.
"Keep going!" May said.
"Then we'll keep dodging." Norman said calmly.
Poochyena kept trying to sink his ice covered fangs into Vigoroth's skin but Vigoroth easily dodged every attempt.
"Time for focus punch." Norman said.
"Double team!" May said.
Poochyena glowed silver for a moment before making several copies of himself.
Vigoroth punched on of the Poochyena's but ended up hitting a copy.
"Now ice fang!" May said.
All of the Poochyena ran forward, ice covering their fangs. The real one leapt up and sank his fangs into Vigoroth's back.
"Yes!" May said.
Vigoroth started jerking it's body around, trying to dislodge the little pokemon but Poochyena kept hold. Vigoroth tried reaching over his shoulders but couldn't reach Poochyena.
"Fall on your back." Norman calmly said.
Vigoroth stopped flailing about and fell on his back making Poochyena yelp.
Vigoroth was back on his feet in a second and let out a sigh of relief now that Poochyena wasn't trying to freeze his back.
Poochyena on the other hand struggled to get up on his shaky legs.
"Let's end this Vigoroth. Focus punch." Norman said.
Vigoroth's fist started to glow like Slacking's did and he delivered a powerful punch to Poochyena, sending him flying.
Poochyena hit the ground and skidded to May's feet.
"Poochyena!" May said with concern.
"Poochyena is unable to battle! This round goes to Vigoroth."
May scratched Poochyena's head and said "I'm sorry."
May returned her Poochyena and stood back up. That's when Norman said "that's enough."
"What do you mean Dad?" May asked.
"You aren't ready to battle me." Norman said.
"Just because I lost Poochyena?" May asked.
"No because your just starting out. Your not ready for gym battles yet baby girl." Norman said.
May knew in her heart he was right "how do I get ready?" she asked.
"Go out. Travel, battle other trainers, and get stronger." Norman said as he returned Vigoroth and walked over to Dawn and placed his hand on her shoulder and said "challenge other gym leaders. If you lose to them then train and try again. What do I always say?"
May smiled up at him "if at first you don't succeed keep trying until you do." she said.
"That's my girl. You and I will have an official battle once you've collected four other badges." Norman said.
"Ok it's a deal." May said.
"That's my girl." Norman said.
"What's the closest city with a gym?" May asked.
Norman pulled out a PokeNav and pulled up a map and said "that would be Rustboro City."
"Ok. I'll get those badges and come back and battle you." May said with a determined fire in her eyes.
A/N I'm sorry about this chapter. There's something about it I don't like. I don't know what it is though.
That's pretty much all I have to say so until we meet again.
Jaffa3 out.