Disclaimer- I don't own pokemon
Author's note- Sorry for the wait. I really hate how this chapter turned out but I had lots of crap going on and I wanted to get past this part. I promise the next chapters will be better.
Chapter 4- A friend's farewell
"Brendan Birch, I challenge you to a Pokemon battle."
Those words hit Brendan like a ton of bricks, and for a few moments he just stood thunderstruck, his mouth hanging open. He couldn't have heard right. There was no way that May would ever say something like that. The look of challenge in the girl's eyes snapped Brendan out of his daze, "You're not kidding are you?"
May didn't respond. Instead she reached inside her jacket pocket and pulled out a pokeball. Brendan saw the look of sadness pass across the girls face when she looked at the enlarged ball in her hand but it was quickly replaced with grim determination. Brendan knew that May was facing some inner conflicts but he was equally aware that if he refused this battle than May would never forgive him.
Grinning slightly in spite of himself Brendan unclipped a pokeball from his belt, "Alright May, if you insist." Enlarging the ball he stared into May's eyes. "Just don't expect me to go easy on you." Brendan pressed the small release button on his pokeball, opening in a flash of red light, moments later a small orange bird no bigger than a foot stood between May and Brendan.
May recognized it immediately as the Pokemon that had helped chase off the Mightyena. The most noticeable thing about the small creature was just how much energy it seemed to have. Constantly hopping from one foot to the other the bird never stopped moving for a second.
Taking a deep breath May released her own Pokemon. The lizard appeared before its master, stick held at its side. Kojiro, seeing that he was he was about to engage in battle, bowed deeply towards Brendan and his Pokemon then took a fighting stance. The bird seemed immensely amused by his actions and began chirping wildly.
"What's with the hyperactive feather duster?" May asked, eyeing the Pokemon in question.
"His name's Blazer. He's a Torchic, and he's not hyperactive he's just… excitable" Brendan retorted.
"Right." May's eyes hardened, "Let's start this."
Brendan's grin faded and nodded. Blazer seemed to notice the change in his master's demeanor and stopped chirping and glared at it's opponent, continuing to hop the whole time. Kojiro put his stick into a defensive position and awaited orders.
Brendan acted first, "Blazer, attack!"
The firebird's reaction was faster than May could believe. Before Brendan had even finished talking the bird had bolted forward eyes blazing. Kojiro was so surprised by the small bird's ferocity that he barely managed to dodge as Blazer slashed with his talons. As soon as the bird landed it lunged at Kojiro again, intent on slashing the lizard to ribbons with its claws. Instinctively Kojiro dropped to the ground and rolled under the leaping bird. After he had passed under, he quickly got to his feet and brought his stick up to intercept another attack. The bird had tried to peck at the lizard's eyes but Kojiro batted Blazers attack away.
"Don't let up Blazer! See if you can get that stick away from him." Brendan directed his Pokemon. Looking at his opponent Brendan could see that she was overwhelmed by the speed in which Blazer moved. 'She may be a born natural but a rookie's still a rookie.'
"May! Your Pokemon relies on you to give it orders! If you don't you'll never win!" the boy yelled to his friend.
"Worry about yourself!" the girl replied. "Kojiro, don't let that bird outmaneuver you! And don't just stand there, attack back!"
Brendan just shook his head, 'She has so much to learn.'
Blazer lunged forward again, hoping to tear Kojiro's stick out of his hands. The lizard ducked out of the way and slashed forward with his stick, hitting Blazer across the chest, putting all his might behind it Kojiro used the stick to fling the bird away. The bird chirped in surprised at the sudden change in direction but he twisted in mid air and used its small wings to flutter to the ground.
For reasons that May barely understood she found herself screaming, "Kojiro, attack it now!"
The lizard was only a green blur as it lunged forward at it's opponent. The small bird hadn't even reached the ground and it was completely defenseless as Kojiro brought his stick down in a devastating slash that sent the firebird sprawling.
Brendan smiled inwardly, 'Wow. I've never seen a Pokemon that fast with so much raw strength. Its reaction to commands is a little slow, but for a rookie it's phenomenal. The sad part is, May doesn't even realize how good she could be. Some people get all the luck."
"Not bad Bob. Not bad at all." Brendan grinned, "Blazer, end this!"
The small bird hopped back up from the ground and glared at Kojiro, eyes ablaze with fire. For the first time the bird stopping moving and stood still. May wondered what had changed when she noticed something was wrong. All across the small birds body tiny flickers of flame were dancing among the feathers. The flames grew in size and the small creature's black eyes blazed a bright orange. The sun had just disappeared over the horizon and the low light added a sense of eeriness to the creature. Letting out a forceful shriek flames erupted from the bird's open mouth. The all-consuming inferno sped towards its target, intent on burning it and everything else to the ground.
May knew that Kojiro couldn't dodge the attack; the fireball was just to fast, the full force of that blaze would hit him. Something deep inside of her, past all the prejudice and hatred, in the very core of her being flared to life and all she heard as she shielded her eyes from the inferno was her own voice screaming, "Dodge it!"
The blaze struck the ground where the lizard stood and the sand erupted into a vicious firestorm causing Brendan to shield his own eyes. "That's enough Blazer!" the boy shouted over the roar of the fire. Blazer ceased the attack and the flames subsided. It took a little longer for the sand and dust to settle. Brendan opened his eyes to view the results. When the cloud settles instead of the charred body of a Treecko, Brendan saw something that shocked him beyond explanation. Nothing. The sand had blackened and small glassy patches were all that marked the spot where the lizards had been moments earlier.
The lizard in question was now nearly ten feet left of the point of impact, tired and slightly singed but very much conscious and in fighting condition.
Brendan couldn't believe it, "How?"
May opened her own eyes, and gaped at the lizard as well, "Kojiro dodged it?"
Brendan gritted his teeth, 'How could a Treecko dodge that? I'll have to ask Dad where the hell he managed to catch it. Gotta finish this battle first though.'
"You're Pokemon's fast May. But it can't keep that up forever."
May barely heard him she was so shocked. All she could do was gape at the green lizard that had just outrun a speeding fireball.
Kojiro himself was tired, very tired. He had used all his energy to dodge that last attack and even then he had barely avoided it. Looking back at his master he saw her staring at him a look of shocked awe on her face.
"How did you do that?" the girl asked, almost whispering.
'I did it because you asked it of me.'
Even though Kojiro never said a word, May understood what the lizard wanted to say. Nodding wordlessly May raised the pokeball in her hand and pressed the button, Kojiro disappeared in a flash of red.
"It's over Brendan. You win."
The sudden change caught Brendan off guard. "What did you say?" he asked his friend, confusion etched on his face.
"The battle is over. You win."
"Oh…um… alright." Brendan withdrew Blazer and walked over to stand beside May. "Are you alright?" May turned to look at his face and Brendan could see small tear lines on her face.
"I'll be fine. I wanted to see something and I did. I'm sorry for everything."
Brendan waved her apology off, "It's alright."
May poked a finger into Brendan's chest, "But listen here Brendan. You'd better win that stupid League thing of yours or you'll have to answer to me." Brendan looked down at her surprised. May tried to look stern but she couldn't help but smile.
Brendan shuddered, "A fate worse than death."
"Hey!"
Brendan laughed out loud and started walking towards the town, "Come on, it's getting late. And you have school tomorrow."
The two made their way back to town and eventually found themselves in front of their houses. Brendan stood there for a moment staring at his house. Letting out a sigh he turned to May, "Well, I guess this is it."
"Yeah…"
"Good luck with school. And don't give up on that lizard of yours. Pokemon aren't that bad."
May was silent for a few seconds, "If you say so."
"Always the stubborn one, that'll never change will it?"
"Not if I can help it."
Brendan laughed, "Well that's good. I'd hate to have you change on me while I'm gone."
May started towards her house. "You'd better write," she called over her shoulder.
"I will."
When May reached her front door she opened it and turned to look at Brendan, "Well, good luck." Brendan nodded, and May went inside closing the door behind her.
Brendan stared at the closed door for a long while then he turned and went into his own house.
The next day most of the town turned out to see Brendan off.
Brendan's mother was crying, "Remember not to talk to anybody who look like they might mug you. And brush your teeth, and…"
"Mom, I'll be fine."
"That's right Lisa, he'll be fine" Professor Birch let out a laugh, "he's a grown man now."
"But…"
"Mom, it'll be alright. I'm only gone a year." Brendan said.
"I guess you're right." His mother sniffed back some tears, "but you be careful."
"I will." Brendan hugged his mother and picked up his backpack. "Well I'm off."
Waving goodbye to the townspeople he turned and headed out towards Oldale. He'd had walked for a few minutes when he heard someone call his name. Turning around he saw his father heading towards him, moving as fast as he could with crutches.
"Dad, what are you doing? You know you shouldn't run with that leg of yours."
The Professor waved it off, "I have something for you, my boy." Reaching into his coat he produced a small ball and he handed it to Brendan. "I need you to hold on to this for me."
"What is it Dad?"
"I found it when I was in the desert. Somebody is after that rock and I don't think I should leave it in the lab. I hate to do it to you but no one will suspect that I gave it to you."
Brendan nodded and put the ball into his pocket, "Sure Dad."
"And I have one more thing for you." Reaching into his coat again, he produced a large bottle of dark red liquid; passing it to Brendan he winked. "Don't tell your mother."