'How do you know about this place?' Gary frowned as he stood in the centre of the pokéball on the field, his eyes scanning the empty seats that lined the walls.
'I pulled in a favour with Nurse Joy when I had a mock battle with Iris,' May shrugged, hoping he didn't ask any more questions as the doors opened to reveal Iris leading Brendan, Orlando, Cilan, Max and Steven as well as Ash.
'With Iris?' Gary frowned, though May ignored him, her eyes narrowed as she stormed up to the group with an angry glare.
When she'd said not to bring anyone else, she'd meant it. The more people who saw her battling like this, the more likely her real identity would be released. When she said she didn't want to be champion, she meant it!
'Brendan!' May hissed upon seeing the younger Birch in the entourage.
'What? He wouldn't go away, especially since you asked for your gym rotation! You know he just likes to see you battle!' Brendan yelped, visibly wincing at May's anger.
'And you know precisely why you should have stayed away if he was going to follow you!' May growled as glared up at her friend, though the man ignored her remark, his eyes focusing instead on the newcomer.
'Hey, it's Red! How're you doing man?' Brendan chuckled as he waved at the silent opponent, glancing apprehensively towards the oncoming brunette. He seemed to hope that she would accept his change of topic and let it slide.
Like before, the man curtly nodded his head, silently watching the woman as she reached her childhood friend and glared at him.
'Brendan, how do you know him?' May glared at her childhood friend, deciding to let his distraction attempt work this time. After all, there was only so much she could say to him without giving more away.
'I've been places, May, taken part in a lot of tournaments. You don't take part in them without knowing a thing or two about strong trainers… And Red, well, the man's a legend, seriously. So, what're you all doing here? Why do you need your pokémon? I thought you were done being a trainer after the Steven situation,' Brendan chuckled as rubbed his hands together in eager anticipation.
'I'm challenging him, and Max had better have gotten me what I need,' May responded with a shrug as Iris' eyes widened, flickering between the duo.
'You're what? May, are you fucking insane? When I say that the man's a legend, I mean it! This isn't like that time when I first met Steven and could barely keep my cool. He's almost a legendary in itself! He has defeated every single person who has tried to fight him on Mount Silver! He stands there every single day of the year, rain, hail or shine. It doesn't matter if Groudon and Kyogre are battling in their Primal Forms, he'd stay there and keep training until he hears of a tournament that interests him. May, you can't do this!' Brendan hissed at the woman, though she waved him off and walked to her brother.
She didn't have time for Brendan's over protectiveness. Besides, if she spent her life listening to him telling her what she couldn't do, she wouldn't be anywhere near as successful as she was now.
'Did you bring them?' May questioned her brother, her eyes searching dark ones for an answer.
With a small smile, he offered her the pokéballs, holding out a hand for the ones he'd take care of whilst she battled.
Grinning, May handed some pokéballs, unable to hide the adrenaline rush she was feeling at having a good battle with a stranger.
She'd be lying if she didn't at least admit to herself that she missed this.
But if anyone asked her, she'd rather eat her bandana than admit to a thing.