Hello everybody and welcome to chapter twenty-eight of Hoenn Adventures! I have literally no idea what will happen in this chapter – all up to my brain! Enjoy!

Earlier that night…

Brendan had easily reached Mauville City from sprinting from Verdanturf Town and across the short route 117. He had wanted to make some distance from Verdanturf so May or Wally couldn't follow him easily. Mauville's lights were easily the brightest source of light in Hoenn and, due to its appearance being a shopping centre of some sort, it had most of its shops open and, surprising Brendan, a lot of people were out at this hour causing him to wear his blue hoodie (A/N The same he wore when he was in Dewford).

He hadn't bothered to check in with the pokemon centre since his pokemon were fully healed from earlier and Brendan wanted to get to and from Lavaridge Town as fast as possible: even if it meant sleepless nights. Brendan walked to the entrance of route 111, the route to the north of Mauville City when he heard an all too familiar voice.

"Ohh, look at this honey!" A feminine voice exclaimed causing Brendan to take a glance. He glanced up seeing that it was Caroline, his mother, and Norman not far behind putting on a fake smile to keep his public image up and due to him being swarmed by fans for autographs and questions. Norman looked to where his wife was pointing and saw that it was a small model of Prisim Tower, a tribute to Kalos' capital, Lumiose City, in the middle of the courtyard. Much like the city itself, it shone a bright yellow. Norman once again gave a fake smile before returning to the bombardment of questions he was being asked. Brendan had a look of anger in his eyes but they were unseen due to his hood.

That no good…lying…deceiving…bastard! Brendan thought as he looked at Norman's fake smile he was putting on They'll all know soon enough! They'll see you for who you are! Brendan was now clenching a fist as his teeth gritted under his hood giving angry looks, though they were unseen due to his hood, towards Norman. He wanted to go over to his mother but diminished the thought until an idea popped into his head. He can't act like his normal, angry self in front of all of these people. It's a risk, but it's worth it. Brendan thought as he walked over to his mother who was several steps away from the swarm of fans. Caroline was too distracted by the sights that she didn't see Brendan walk over to her.

"Hello, mom." Brendan said still with his head down. Caroline looked at Brendan instantly recognizing him.

"B-Brendan?! W-why are you here?!" Caroline exclaimed loud enough for Norman to hear causing him to look over in the direction where his wife had spoken. Caroline looked around quickly for something "I-isn't May with you?" Brendan lifted his head up slightly and shook it saying "no".

"She…was." Brendan replied "I-".

"You two didn't break up did you?" Caroline asked almost instantly but Brendan shook his head saying "no" again.

"Nothing like that. The situation's kinda difficult." Brendan said lifting his head slightly again now able to make eye contact with his mother. His eyes widened slightly as he saw a bruise on her right cheek. Caroline instantly threw her arms around her son embracing him in a hug. Brendan could see in the corner of his eye Norman try to get through the crowd that surrounded him but the crowd fought back causing him to make no progress what so ever. Brendan returned the hug after smiling slightly as Norman's failed attempts "He hasn't done anything to you, has he?" Caroline pulled back from the hug rubbing her right cheek slightly trying to hide the mark.

"N-no not a-" Caroline began giving a weak smile.

"Don't lie. I already saw it." Brendan interrupted "I already told you that you should tell me."

"I-I know but…" Caroline removed her hand from her cheek revealing her mark again "I don't want you to worry."

"I'll worry either way!" Brendan retorted but in a calm voice "It won't be long now, I promise." Caroline nodded and gave a genuine smile: something she had not done in a LONG time.

"I know." Caroline said putting her hand under Brendan's hood ruffling his hair slightly. Her movement caused the hood to drop completely revealing his identity. Norman was still watching the scene unfold and his eyes widened and his hands grew fists as he, once again, made a break for it through the crowd.

"Mr. Norman, where are you going? I still have so many questions!" A fan called seeing Norman go through the crowd.

"YOU!" Norman exclaimed causing the crowd to step back a bit and for Brendan and Caroline to look at him as both of their eyes widened. Brendan had just now noticed that his hood was down revealing his face.

Oh shit! Brendan thought as he saw Norman stomp over.

"Brendan, run!" Caroline told Brendan turning him around pushing him slightly as Brendan gave her a worried look "Quick!" Brendan still didn't move.

"No. Way." Brendan replied turning around and facing Norman who had a fist ready. Brendan shut his eyes ready for the impact with a slight smirk on his face. Caroline looked worried and confused but they were both answered when a figure stood in front of Brendan with a green protective shield "Right on que."

"You will NOT hurt Master Brendan you vile creature!" Gallade exclaimed looking into Norman's cold, angry eyes. Norman threw more punches trying to break the shield but to no avail.

"You would think the "great" Norman of Petalburg City would know that protect cannot be broken easily." Brendan joked causing Norman to punch harder and a slight crack appeared on the protect causing both Brendan and Gallade to go wide eyed and Norman smirked.

"Don't think you're safe because you're hiding behind your stupid pokemon!" Norman exclaimed still throwing punches to the protect "Fight like a man!"

"That coming from you? Puh-lease!" Brendan countered "It sure is "manly" to beat up your wife, isn't it?" Brendan asked causing the crowd, and now people around, the gasp. Some even looked over at Caroline seeing the bruise on her right cheek while Norman grew angrier as he still kept punching the protect until he launched one final punch causing him to stop "Hit a nerve?" Norman remained silent for a second.

"You think I did that?" Norman asked not looking up "That clumsy bitch fell down the stairs."

"Bullshit!" Brendan countered again "Don't even TRY to get yourself out of this! You know full well that you caused that mark!" People looked over at Norman to see his expression grow even angrier – an expression that could send Arceus, Darkrai and Giratina all together running for the hills. Brendan had begun to walk away seeing that he had done his deed but turned around to say one last thing "Oh, and that "clumsy bitch", was still able to raise a child for fifteen years while dealing with your abuse!" The crowd gasped again as Brendan walked away putting his hood up hiding his angry expression. Gallade still held the protect up for a short while but teleported away returning to his trainer's side.

"I-Is that true, Mr. Norman?" Someone asked after a long moment of silence. Norman didn't reply, he kept his head down as he walked away.

"Norman, I-" Caroline begun following Norman but Norman turned around pointing a finger right at her.

"You can fuck off! I have nothing to do with you!" Norman exclaimed earning another gasp from the people around as Caroline's eyes began to well up seeing the sudden outburst of her husband "If I ever see you or that boy again, you're both dead, you hear me, cow?!" Caroline didn't respond at first but her face soon grew stern.

"Get your dirty finger away from me!" Caroline ordered slapping Norman's hand away "Fifteen years I've dealt with you! I still had hope that the man I fell in love with was still there, but I see that I was wrong!" Caroline kicked Norman right in his private area making the grown man fall to the ground and clench it in pain. Caroline stormed off in the opposite direction to Brendan heading to the Mauville Hills apartments "Don't even think about trying to come home either! You're not welcome!"

And with that, Caroline carried on leaving the Gym leader on the floor still clenching his area in pain as the people who witnessed the scene stood over the cowering man some kicking him while others insulted him by either throwing objects at him or calling him the worst of names.

That was an eventful night in Hoenn, and it was in its most famous city.

Present time…

"There is a way that you could catch up to him…" Steven suggested making May look up at him "Rydel."

"R-Rydel? The bike company?" May asked in confusion and Steven nodded.

"They sell bikes in Mauville City. The Acro and Mach bikes. Acro being the slower of the two but being more easier to control and ables the rider to do tricks while the Mach bike, while harder to control, is the fastest of the two." Steven explained "I think I can convince them to give you a bike for free though, seeing the situation and my high status." Steven said slightly proudly and May nodded in agreement. The two walked through Mauville to the opposite side, the east side, to a small bike shop. As they walked towards the shop, two people, two men, were discussing an event but all the two could hear was "Norman" and "His son, Brendan?" May stopped when she heard Brendan's name and headed over to the two that were talking about the event.

"What about Brendan?" May asked the two as they both looked at her up and down making May feel slightly uncomfortable. One of the men snapped his fingers seeming as he remembered something.

"You're his girlfriend, right?" He asked.

"Now's not the time for this! What about Brendan?!" May exclaimed causing the two to back up a little.

"Alright, princess, alright. We'll spill." The other man said putting his hands up in surrender. May blushed slightly at the compliment but shook it off and the two men explained what had happened earlier with Norman and Brendan leaving out little to no details. May was shocked to hear the events but was slightly happy that Norman was getting what he deserved after all of these years, especially hearing Caroline's actions.

"H-how long ago was this?" May asked once the two men had finished. They both looked at each other before answering.

"About an hour ago." One man said but a small grin came across his face, the same for the other man too. May didn't like this at all so tried to get away but one of them men grabbed her arm "Don't you think we should be rewarded for telling you what you wanted to know? I DO like what I see after all." The man slowly moved his arm down May as May froze with fear and worry.

"Ahem." Steven said seeing what the two men were doing to May "What do you think you're doing?" The two men looked at Steven and quickly ran off "Didn't know I was that intimidating." Steven joked as he saw the two run off. He turned to May who looked like she had been traumatized "May, those perverts are gone now. It's OK." May snapped out of her trance and hugged Steven causing the champion to jump a little.

"Thank you." May said as Steven smiled patting May's back.

"Anything for a friend." Steven replied "C'mon, let's get you a bike and get you to Brendan." May nodded and let go as the two walked into the bike store "I was able to make a deal with Rydel. He's quite a nice person and understands the situation completely." May nodded still staying quiet as she was still slightly traumatized by what had just happened. The bike shop was quite small not being larger than the average house's living room. It had many bikes on display that had multitudes of colours. The flooring was wooden floorboards and the walls had multiple pieces of paper on them such as certificates the shop of been given or facts about bikes.

"Ah, you must be May!" A kind man exclaimed coming from the back of the counter. Rydel was a man who looked to be in his late thirties or early fourties – this was backed up by his hair almost being completely bald except for a black line of hair that went from his left ear to his right around the back of his head. He wore a yellow short-sleeved shirt and grey trousers with black, formal shoes. He had black eyebrows and brown eyes with a kind smile "Steven told me your issue and I'd be happy to help!" Rydel stuck out a hand for May to shake and she shook it giving a weak smile not wanting to be rude which Steven saw and put a reassuring arm on her shoulder. Rydel decided not to ask about why May seemed a little strange so continued on "Which bike would you like, the Acro bike or the Mach bike?"

"Acro, please." May replied "There would be no point in crashing due to the Mach bike's speed."

"A good choice. You can feel free to change whenever you like." Rydel stated "Just give me a moment." Rydel then went into the back of the shop as a lot of noise, mostly footsteps, were heard "You! Slacker!" Rydel suddenly shouted "Make yourself useful! Get this customer her order!"

"Y-yessir." The employee replied and he then followed his orders and proceeded to get May her Acro Bike "Er…what colour did you want again?" The employee looked at May revealing his face allowing May to see that it was the same guy who had tried to have his way with her outside of the bike store. He quickly looked away once he, too, recognized who he was talking to also eyeing Steven in the process. There was a second of silence before May answered.

"D-doesn't matter." May replied and the employee nodded picking out the first Arco bike he saw. It was a bright red colour that had a pair of soft, rubber wheels instead of the hard, rubber wheels on the Mach bike; this was likely used to make the speed difference in both bikes. He unclipped the bike from its chain and moved it over to May keeping his head low.

"Thank you for shopping at Rydel's Bikes (!) Tell your friends (!)" He mumbled quickly then walking away, not in shame, but in fear. May nodded and smiled weakly before leaving the store. She had expected to see Steven but he had already left.

"Typical Steven never saying a formal goodbye." May joked as she made her way to the entrance to route 111. The time was now around midnight but May didn't feel an ounce of tiredness, even if she did she wouldn't be able to sleep "I'll find you, Bren, no matter what." And with that, she rode off into the distance.

Sorry for not updating yesterday, I only had half of this chapter completed and wanted to do more so it was postponed. I'll catch up one day! Stay tuned!