Chapter 8B
Brendan was in awe at Petalburg City, and at how rustic it looked despite also having a normal city feel. He had read about Petalburg, and how they were the "City where people mingle with nature." These days, some infrastructure was used to expand and modernize the town, but it still felt like one of the few places where humanity and nature seemed to coincide. Brendan was aware at how in shock May was at the sheer feel of the city, so he quickly typed in how the city was described.
Brendan knew that the city used to be the place where the Normal-Type gym was, and although it still remained, the local wildlife had also become one of the main types of pokemon in the city. He remembered how Norman, the old leader, had retired to a smaller job in the gym, leaving the badge rights to a guy named James. He was slightly less strict in his training, but he had beaten Norman earlier, and the two of them were regarded as the best Normal type trainers. Thinking May didn't know this, he quickly fired off a small message to tell her. May replied simply with ok.
Brendan wondered how he would beat James. The new policy with gyms was that you could take any on in any order, but eight different teams were used, depending on how many badges you currently had. Even the weakest team used tended to have at least two pokemon, and himself as well as May only had one. May let him know that she wanted to get some gear for catching pokemon, and the two moved to the pokemart.
In the pokemart, there were surprisingly few items. Some of the best gear was locked behind badge requirements, and the only two things buyable were some potions and pokeballs. Brendan grabbed a couple of potions while May grabbed 5 pokeballs. They went to the front, and had only begun to purchase when they realized they couldn't afford it all. He had a mere 750, and the total was 1400! He heard himself whispering to only get one ball and potion, and grabbed up four balls as well as the excess potion. He put them away, then went to make the purchase.
Ok, only the potential to catch one. That was ok. Most beginning gym battles tended to either be one pokemon left, or an absolute victory. He just worried that the one attempt to catch a pokemon would be met with fai-
RALTS
Brendan tried to scream, and he actually did! For a second, he felt like he had actually broken out of the link, but then realized that May had actually screamed, only for her, it was from a Seedot. He felt himself collapse from the initial shock, but tried to recover. May still hadn't coordinated, so it took a few tries. But what was a Ralts doing THIS far from the tall grasses? As Brendan looked closer, he realized that this was the same Ralts that had almost sent a fruit into his head. Brendan looked closely at the Ralts, and it seemed to tap at the pokeball he had. He got the sense that the Ralts wanted to join him.
He watched as May rolled a pokeball near both the Ralts and the Seedot, and both tapped the capture button. The two entered the pokeballs, and they wobbled around before stopping, telling they had been caught.
Brendan released the two from their balls, and May gave the two their names.
"Welcome to the team, Radot!"
Authors note: Ok, a relatively chunky chapter. Also, we got a new pokemon!