Hi all,
Sorry this was a little late. A warning that there will be profanities in this story as the characters are older.
Hope you enjoy and let me know what you think!
'Kirlia is unable to battle, Wartortle is the winner! That means that the winner of this battle is the Gym Leader, May!' Kenny, the young man with dirt brown hair and black eyes called, raising an arm in May's direction.
Hearing this statement, May couldn't help but smile softly at the defeated expression of her opponent. She'd seen that expression on a few too many people's faces over her journey, and knew just how crushing defeat could be.
'You did great, Wartortle, return,' May praised her pokémon before recalling it, hoping no one noticed her partner's victory dance. As Gym Leader, she didn't think it was appropriate to gloat at another's loss, especially a budding Trainer like Wally.
'Thanks Kirlia,' Wally muttered in a dejected tone, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
Seeing this, May knew that he needed someone to encourage him. When she'd been younger, she'd seen that same look cross not just Ash's face, but also Brock's and her friends, Brendan, Dawn and Orlando.
'Munchlax, please go get my Xtransceiver from my belt in the kitchen,' May frowned at her teal coloured pokémon, who nodded once and lazily went out of the room.
With a brisk walk, she headed towards her opponent, whose light blue eyes were focussed on the red and white pokéball in his hand, a frown filling his face.
'You fought well, Wally. Please do not take this one loss personally,' May assured him upon reaching the younger man. Seeing him behave in such a dejected manner, May couldn't help but picture her rival behaving in a similar manner upon losing his first contest to Solidad, the woman who had come to mentor them both.
'Did I?' The younger man frowned, lifting his eyes up at her, his expression hopeful.
'Yes, you did. You're forgetting that a Gym Battle is like a test. You might not win the first time, but you can go out there and learn from your mistakes, grow with your pokémon and come back to challenge us again. Besides, for your first Gym, I think you did very well,' May grinned at the younger man, whose eyes were brimming with tears.
'Now, let me make that call I promised you I would,' May winked at the younger man before taking her Xtransceiver from her Munchlax, who scratched his back lazily.
'Thanks, Munchlax,' May grinned before dialling a number she'd memorised long ago.
'Hello Brendan speaking,' the very familiar voice of her childhood best friend grinned in her ear.
'Guess who!' May beamed in the device, giggling as she pictured her friend rolling his eyes. Taking a leisurely walk to her remaining pokémon on the seats in the stands, May glanced back to see Wally in discussion with Wallace, who seemed to be reiterating May's sentiments.
'Oh, couldn't get enough of me, could you? Has Blaziken finally cooled down over hearing the harsh reality that my starter pokémon is much better than him?' The red eyed Trainer bragged, purposely pushing the buttons which annoyed May.
'Hello, sweety, it's so great to talk to you,' May responded in an overly sweet voice, wishing that she didn't have visitors so she could yell at her friend as she wanted. Sometimes being raised to behave in public was such a chore.
'Ah, you've got company. I can say whatever I want and you finally won't have a go at me,' Brendan chuckled in her ear, making her pout.
'I'm that predictable, huh?' She frowned into her device, unaware of the bemused glances her visitors were giving each other upon hearing her statement.
'May, diapers, remember?' Brendan laughed, reminding May of just how well they knew each other.
'Oh, fine, I get it, you know me as well as Max, mum and dad, but would it kill you not to tease me so?' May grumbled, momentarily forgetting her onlookers, who had begun chuckling slightly at her words, Kenny included. The latter was probably aware of the things Brendan was saying, much to her embarrassment.
'Hmmm, it took you long enough to realise that I'm practically family, all you need to do is learn that I'll never stop teasing you. Now, what do you need?' Brendan's voice sounded in her ear, light and amused.
'Huh? Oh, right, remember Orlando?' May whispered, taking the time to sit beside her pokémon in the stands, Skitty taking the opportunity to jump onto May's shoulder.
'Yeah, he's my brother, of course I remember him. If by that extremely vague question you mean, 'do you remember your brother is heading out on his journey tomorrow from Littleroot Town?' Then yes, I remember that too. The little Torchic won't stop bragging about it, he's so excited. What, has his enthusiasm reached Petalburg too? Are you thinking of ditching the Gym so you can join him? Should I tell you both about the Swellow an Beedrill?' The man's voice frowned in her ear, sounding thoroughly confused.
'Please, that's disgusting! Besides, you know I'd never do that to my parents or this Gym. Nah, I've got a challenger who needs a hand with his own journey. He's not the fittest fiddle I've seen, but he's determined, I'll give him that,' May grinned as she considered Wally, who was still on the battle field talking to Wallace.
'A kid? Orlando won't appreciate having to play nurse, May,' her friend grimaced, probably recalling his and her own departure on their journey.
'Brendan, I'd like to think that I know Orlando a little better than that. This guy isn't your regular Trainer, he's had to delay it, like Max and Orlando. Besides, something about him makes me want to help, I don't know why,' May muttered into the device, glancing hesitantly at Steven, who stood off to the side, contemplating the strange stone Skitty had discovered.
Instead of hearing her friend's response, May blinked when she heard the dial tone, a sign that her friend had ended their conversation. Staring at the device, May wondered if her friend had walked out of reception, but knew that wasn't the case since he had perfect reception in Littleroot Town as well as on the way to Petalburg City. Glancing at Beautifly, May grimaced, 'he hung up. Of all the times I could really have used his help, he hung up. I can't believe it.'
'Please, you know I wouldn't do that to you, even if I wouldn't exactly call you a damsel in distress,' Brendan's voice chuckled as he slid down the aisle, landing quite confidently near May, who was unimpressed at his antics. Her father had never let herself or Max treat the Gym with quite that amount of flare or familiarity, and she didn't appreciate the man doing it when she still felt she couldn't.
'Brendan, how did you get in?' May questioned as she took in her black haired friend, whose muscles were accentuated by the tight, red windbreaker he was wearing, on top of black track suits, which had fire emblazoned at the bottom.
'May, don't you take that tone with me! You didn't lock the door, as usual. One of these days, you're going to get into trouble for doing that,' Brendan scolded, rubbing the top of May's head teasingly.
Poking her tongue out at her friend, May growled, 'whatever, you know Blaziken and the rest can take care of any intruder.'
'And what if the intruder was as strong as any of the Elite Four?' Brendan scowled at her, his red eyes filled with an anger and protectiveness that May knew others struggled to create in her friend.
Rather than feel flattered, May saw an opportunity and struggled to bite back a knowing smirk.
'Well considering I've got both Steven and Wallace here today, I think I'm covered for the not so Elite Four,' May winked at her friend, whose mouth dropped at that response.
Letting out a gasp, her friend stared at the group of men in disbelief, his ruby eyes widening in disbelief as his eyebrows disappeared under the black part of his beanie.
'Oh shit! Are you fucking kidding me? I can't believe it, you're actually telling the truth. How did you get them here? Do you have any idea how long I've been training and competing just so I can one day have the honour of talking to them?' Brendan growled, turning to glare at his younger friend for holding out on him. After all, May knew as well as Brendan's father, uncle and brother just how obsessed the red eyed man was with the Elite Trainers of Hoenn, as well as those from other regions to a lesser degree.
'They accompanied Wally, the challenger, here,' May shrugged in an off-handed manner, pointing to the man with the chartreuse coloured hair.
'That hair colour, does he know your rival?' Brendan frowned, his jaw setting in anger. He recognised it as well as May did, after all, she'd shown him an image of Drew from a Coordinating magazine and told him all about her rival, though the man was rumoured to have a girlfriend, May clung to hope.
'Brendan, leave it,' May whispered, turning her troubled gaze down onto the floor as she saw her Gym's aid, Kenny, cleaning the ground, maintaining a respectable distance between himself and the three men.
'May, he broke your heart without even giving you a second thought. He didn't even think to come and check on how you are. After all of his promises and pretty little roses, don't you think he should have come to visit you? What are you waiting for?' Brendan glowered, returning to a well discussed topic that usually left May feeling more dejected than before.
'One, he didn't make me any promises. Two, I haven't spoken to him since dad's been diagnosed. Three, just leave it, please,' May whispered as she struggled with tears. Brendan was only reiterating the thoughts she had been struggling with herself, and she hated them, especially since she had those very thoughts herself.
'I'll leave it, but only because you asked. You're like a sister to me, and I hate to see anyone treat you like this, especially while Max is in Almia and your dad's in hospital. Besides, it's not like I can ask Kenny to look after you when he's as worried about your family as you are,' Brendan murmured into her ear, gingerly kissing the top of her head as he pulled her into a hug.
Briefly returning the hug from her best friend, May suppressed her desire to stay in his warm arms and broke away from him. With a sad grimace, she muttered, 'look, I'd love to take out my anger and resentment for Drew out on Wally, but I can't. I don't know if they know each other, and I don't care. They're not the same person, Wally's battle style told me as much. He can't go on his journey alone, Brendan. He's sick and only has one pokémon. Could you convince Orlando to join him, for me, please?'
Scratching the back of his head, Brendan considered May's pleading sapphire eyes. With a heavy sigh, he growled, 'only cos it's you. Orlando would go to Mount Chimney for you if he thought you'd wanted it.'
Flushing at the information, May scratched her arm anxiously, uncertain of how to respond.
'Let me handle this,' Brendan responded with a warning glare at May's flustered exterior.
Having seen that same look on his expression before he tried one or another combination to impress others, May knew her friend would be trying to play it cool.
'All right, which one of you is to be travelling with my brother?' Brendan called, jumping down from the stands in a typically dramatic manner. He briefly sent his friend a glance to reiterate she remain silent, though she wasn't going to let it slide if she could help it.
'Brendan,' May scowled, not appreciating the man's familiar treatment of her Gym, let alone its guests. She was especially irritated since she knew it was to impress the two older Trainers who were glancing at him in a bemused manner.
'What?' Her best friend shrugged at her, though they both knew that he was aware of his actions and her reactions.
'Brendan? You're the Trainer that goes across the world, challenging tournaments and Leagues,' Steven frowned, his light blue eyes meeting Brendan's bright red.
'Uhh, yeah, you've heard of me?' Brendan frowned, a slight flush filling his cheeks as May walked down the stairs until she reached him. Judging by his flush, any attempt at remaining cool had flown out of the Gym's doors faster than a Rapidash could run.
'Naww, could little Bren-Bren be blushing?' May giggled, teasing him with an eager grin, pinching his cheek slightly as Kenny tried, and failed, to suppress a chuckle at May's obvious vengeance.
'Quiet, you!' Brendan pouted, elbowing her not so subtly in response as his eyes frantically flickered to the two guests who were watching their show with bemused smiles.
'I've heard you help your uncle with his studies, is it true?' Steven questioned as Wallace's gaze flickered between the two younger friends, his countenance surprisingly serious at the friend's interactions.
'I try when I can,' Brendan shrugged, trying to appear indifferent, though May knew he was as proud as could be. After all, two men who could be called his idols weren't just talking to him, but were actively aware of his presence. She could already see his ego inflating ridiculously.
'I'm sure he appreciates the notion, after all, researching pokémon is a very noble cause with a vast amount of topics to study. When you have a moment, I'm sure my father would appreciate you visiting him at the Devon Corporation,' Steven smiled before turning his quiet gaze onto May, who felt herself flushing, though she was clueless as to why. She could see Brendan struggle to bite back his childlike grin at the revelation and felt the urge to tease him, though controlled herself.
'Congratulations, May, your battling style was quite unique and made for quite an enjoyable show. If you have any questions about the League, here's my number. I suggest you contact me so I have yours too, in case we need you to be present at any League events,' Steven smiled before handing May a business card.
'Thank you,' May whispered, her sapphire eyes widening as Brendan sent the man a very obvious glower before turning the glare onto May, no doubt for attaining his idol's contact details without so much as asking for it.
'Steven is correct, it is quite clear from what we have seen today that you are not only an efficient, but also caring, nurturing Leader for this Gym. Without even stopping to consider your movements, you have encouraged Wally and provided him with a possibility of meeting friends, which is more than I could have hoped him to achieve so quickly on his own. For this I can only thank you on behalf of Wally's family, who I can also call my own,' Wallace beamed, bowing slightly to the stunned brunette.
'It was nothing, I was only doing what I felt was right. Besides, we're not too sure if Orlando and Wally will get along,' May blabbered, feeling slightly flustered at receiving such high praise from the international superstar.
'Blaze!' Blaziken scowled, jumping past a stunned Kenny before flicking May's forehead slightly.
'Heh, thanks Blaziken,' May whispered, realising that she had been making a little bit of a fool of herself.
Muttering its name in a proud manner, Blaziken crossed his arms confidently before turning to glare at a suddenly apprehensive black haired man.
'May, of course, I'd recommend you contacting my father too. If memory serves me correct, you two already know each other,' Steven called as he and Wallace headed to the exit of her gym.
'Ummm, if I'm allowed to leave the Gym I might visit him,' May frowned at the man, uncertain as to how she could respond to that.
'Of course you can, Champion's orders,' Wallace laughed heartily, leaning on Steven's shoulders, though the latter seemed unamused by the intimate gesture.
'Well, are we going to introduce the two would be travellers or not?' Brendan laughed, taking his hat off to throw it at May.
Barely catching the white beanie, May glowered moodily at her friend before hearing her pokémon call out in eager anticipation.
'All right, Beautifly, Blaziken, Munchlax, with me. The rest of you, stay at home—Venusaur's in charge. Kenny, please lock up after me!' May grinned before rushing out after her friends, Beautifly floating above her head, the other two running behind her.
'Come on, where's Orlando?' May grinned, covering Brendan's eyes with his beanie as she rushed up to her best friend.
'He's at home, probably playing games,' Brendan muttered, his voice muffled by his beanie.
May giggled and rushed past the others in their group, dancing around her Blaziken as she went. She couldn't help but feel elated after being told she was allowed to leave the Gym. She hadn't felt too sure about leaving it alone with Kenny for extended periods, but having the Champion's approval made her feel more at ease, even if it was only for short periods of time.
'It's good to see you have such a good relationship with your boyfriend, May,' Wallace smiled, though it didn't seem to meet his turquoise eyes, which were transfixed on May's suddenly pale face.
Recalling Dawn expressing similar sentiments with regard to May's feelings for her childhood friend, May felt her face flush to rival that of a tamato berry. With a gasp, she quickly hissed, 'Brendan and I are friends, nothing more. We've known each other since we were little children and I simply couldn't see him as anything more than a brother, at most!'
'My apologies, I thought that your interactions with each other were more intimate than they were. I sincerely hope that I have not offended you with my mistake,' Wallace muttered, bowing slightly as Brendan frowned, lifting his hat from his eyes.
'Oi, May, what's the deal with covering my eyes? You want me to become as accident-prone as you?' Brendan snapped, scowling at the brunette without registering her mortification.
'What was that?' May called back innocently, feigning not to have heard.
'You two definitely share a close bond, just like you do with your pokémon. They clearly have a deep level of care for you too,' Steven murmured, surprising her by making a remark on it.
'Oh, well my pokémon aren't just my friends, but they're also part of my family. I don't think I could have survived my journey without my friends, and I know I would have struggled all the more with my dad being where he is now if I hadn't had their support,' May responded demurely, unable to meet the man's perceptive gaze.
'That's an interesting take on pokémon,' Steven smiled down at her, catching her by surprise. She hadn't thought anything she might say would interest the influential man, but couldn't help but smile slightly in response.
'Well, I've had a lot of time to think about it, and I've had this idea since I was influenced by my friends and family. I'm sure Wally will be influenced by the friends he will meet on his journey too,' May shrugged as she led the group down the busy streets of Petalburg, which were filled with trees and young families.
They walked past an ice cream parlour and headed onto Route 101 to take a shortcut Brendan had discovered as a child. It cut their walk in half as they headed into the quaint town that was called Littleroot.
'Now, how to get him outside,' May muttered to herself as she reached the nearby house of her friends, a two storey house similar to her own, surrounded by green shrubbery.
'Leave that to me,' Brendan winked as he released his own Blaziken.
Recognising her friend's plan, May whispered, 'Brendan, I don't think that would be recommended.'
'Relax, what could possibly go wrong?' The man chuckled before signalling that his friend go on.
'What about your mu—' May began, but the question died in her throat as Blaziken climbed the outside of the house before clambering through an open window.
'I can't watch,' May grimaced as she turned her gaze onto her feet, unaware of the confused glanced Steven, Wallace and Wally were flickering each other.
'Any moment now,' Brendan chuckled, rubbing his hands together as May tried to suppress a squeak.
The serene silence that was the signature of Littleroot Town was broken by a bloodcurdling scream, followed by Brendan's eager laugh.
'Brendan Birch, you get your white little beanie into this room right now!' The angry roar of Brendan's mother yelled, causing May to wince as she saw the horrified expressions of her companions.
'Brendan, your mother will never forgive you!' May hissed as her friend waved her concerns off, still doubled over laughing as an older brunette in a purple, floral dress stormed out of the house, a white apron wrapped firmly around her waist.
'Brendan Birch, when I call you, you had better answer!' The small woman growled as she stormed onto the path and grabbed her son by the ear, dragging him into the house without so much as glancing at the others.
'Well, that was quite a first impression,' Wallace frowned as the youngest member of their group squeaked.
'Mrs B. is lovely, honestly. It's just that Brendan likes to push the limits a bit too often,' May chuckled as the woman returned to the porch, frowning at the four visitors with hands on her hips.
'May, is that you?' The woman frowned, her gaze intent on May's anxious face.
'Hey Mrs B., how've you been? I've got to say, I tried to stop Brendan, but Blaziken was already on his way up,' May grinned at the woman, trying to ignore Wally's pale face as he pulled a puffer out of his pocket.
'Oh honey, I can't even remember the last time I saw you! You've grown so much these few years, I honestly keep forgetting you're a young woman, especially with how much Brendan's missed you when you were both on your travels! Honestly, I'm so sorry for what's happened to your father, he didn't deserve it!' The woman rambled, rushing away from her home and crushing the younger brunette woman in a tight hug.
'Thanks, Mrs B.,' May whispered, trying to suppress the grimace as she gingerly returned the embrace. She'd received many hugs from the woman, but never had any been quite as emotionally taxing as this one was. It took all of her resolve not to break down and cry, like she had as a young child after bruising her knee.
'Honey, if you need anything, I've told Brendan to tell you that I'm just a call away, though you can't always trust boys to pass on messages. How are you holding up in that big house of yours? Did you really have to send Max so far away? You should visit us more, especially if you're lonely, our house will always be here for you,' The woman continued, pulling apart from May as she rubbed her arms. She was so intent on the younger woman that she appeared to be completely oblivious of her other visitors, her warm gaze intent on May's suddenly distraught face.
'Thanks Mrs B., Brendan did pass on the message. I wi I didn't, but I had to send Max off, he was just wasting away and it was killing me. He's far too smart to just sit at home and wait for dad to get better,' May whispered as the first tears began to fall. She'd managed to hide them for the best part of two years, but something about the woman's motherly hugs was just pushing her limits.
'Oh honey, you go inside and wash your face. You're staying the night, and I'm not hearing any buts from you. Caroline's been keeping me updated and you need someone to look after you now more than ever. If only those boys of mine hadn't kept me so busy! Go on inside, I'll let Kenny know to look after your pokémon too, and I won't hear any arguments from you,' the woman whispered before sending May inside, her attention finally turning to her other visitors.
'Now, as for you two, I cannot believe either of you would stoop this low. The girl's father is in hospital, her mother is hours away from her and her brother is in another region. Do you honestly think that intimidating her with your prowess and power was a good thing?' The woman scowled, turning her gaze onto Steven and Wallace, who seemed to wince slightly at her anger.
'The jury's out on that one,' Wallace grimaced, his expression wistful.
'I beg to differ, we had to assess her abilities now, lest others say the League is becoming soft. You know we put this off for as long as possible, and she handled herself with precision and poise. If I didn't know better, I'd say she is a natural. Besides, Norman would insist on all protocol being followed,' Steven responded as he sent the anxious Wally a disinterested glance.
'Exactly, Norman would want protocol to be followed. Last time I checked, neither of you are part of the Pokémon Investigation Agency. Why are you throwing protocol away for May? Do you think that Norman would want you to do this, too?' The woman lectured, glaring at the two men as though they were her own sons.
'Well, Wallace insisted that the circumstances required a personal visit. I simply adhered to his request to offer May our support in this difficult time. Her father is still one of the most reliable Gym Leaders I've encountered, and she is surpassing my expectations, especially given her age. Besides, we are both acquainted with the young woman and I am quite impressed with the improvements she has displayed since our last encounter,' Steven responded, appearing completely unperturbed by the older woman's anger.
'I suppose your father is right, you are as impatient as ever, Steven,' Mrs B. sighed, her gaze flickering to the third spectator to her lecture.
'My father's speculation has nothing to do with this. When I heard that something had happened to Norman, I thought it was best to pay my respects. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to delay this. However, I thought I'd tend to it sooner rather than later,' Steven shrugged as Wallace remained mute on the topic, surprising all of his companions.
'And who's this young fellow?' Mrs B. frowned as she considered Wally's pale complexion.
'He's family of mine, May's challenger and the reason we're here,' Wallace explained, placing a comforting hand on the shoulder of the man with chartreuse hair.
'Then I suppose you'd better come in. I'll make extras for dinner,' Mrs B. frowned as she turned to her house, her guests following her.