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Chapter 11With her heart pounding in her throat, May saw the elevated podium on which Brendan was snoozing beside Roxanne, who stood impassively beside him. The woman's hair was still pristine, though the man's beanie was on the ground nearby.
The woman, upon seeing May, smiled, 'just as I expected. I knew you and your pokémon would be able to get this far.'
Flushing at the remark, May walked up the steps until she stood before Roxanne.
The Gym Leader continued, 'now would you kindly demonstrate how you battle with your pokémon?'
'Geodude, go!' Roxanne cried before releasing the rock and ground type.
'Wartortle, take the stage!' May cried as she spun in a circle and released her pokémon.
Seeing her water type stand before the Geodude, May grimaced. She knew that she had the type advantage, but this battlefield was designed for rock types.
'Rock tomb, Geodude!' Roxanne began, causing May to grimace as the rock type created small boulders, spinning around his body.
'Use rapid spin to deflect it!' May yelled back, hoping that her Wartortle's speed could be used against the slow rock and ground dual type as it released the attack.
'Please, defence curl!' Roxanne cried back, seeming completely at ease with May's strategy as her Wartortle zoomed across the battlefield to rebound the attacks.
'Ice beam!' May called out, ignoring the smug smirk which filled Roxanne's smile.
Hearing her pokémon call his name in acknowledgment, May felt an air of ease fill her as she watched him sending an icy blast towards the small bounder pokémon.
'Use tackle to get that ice off!' Roxanne commanded as the rock and ground type charged forward, towards a nearby rock.
'Soak that rock with your water moves!' May yelled back as her pokémon jumped in the air and began to soak the field.
'Wait, what?' Roxanne frowned as her pokémon landed headfirst into a slippery rock, not at all cracking the ice on his face. Instantly, he was covered in a rush of water as Wartortle continued to soak the field.
May cried out, 'now, Wartortle! Use a combination of rapid spin and water gun!'
The Rustboro Gym Leader stared in disbelief as Wartortle withdrew his legs and head, spinning in a spiral of water before colliding with the flustered rock type.
'Geodude is unable to battle, Wartortle wins!' A Gym's aid cried out, surprising May as Roxanne recalled her Geodude.
'You did well, Geodude. I'm sorry I failed you, I will definitely learn more so we don't have this happen again,' Roxanne frowned at the pokéball before releasing another one.
'Nosepass?' May blinked as she saw Wartortle dance around the stage.
'Nosepass, use harden,' Roxanne said as the pokémon manoeuvred around the battlefield, seemingly unperturbed by the water.
'Wartortle, stand your guard,' May called to her pokémon, hoping to remind him that they were still in battle.
Once Nosepass's dark blue exterior shone over, Roxanne called, 'rock tomb and then tackle,'
'Dodge it and use aqua tail, Wartortle!' May cried, knowing her pokémon could dodge the attacks.
'I knew you'd do that. Zap cannon, Nosepass,' Roxanne grinned before glancing at Brendan who sat with a thoughtful expression on his face.
'Wartortle!' May cried out, but the electric attack had started up, a large, bright beam of light which attacked her water type, rendering it unconscious.
'Wartortle, you did great. Return,' May grimaced before considering what possibilities she could have left. She could rely on Blaziken's strength, but didn't want to risk it.
'Your Wartortle leaves a lot to be desired. He is wilful and immature, something that is definitely not acceptable in a Gym Leader's pokémon,' Roxanne chastised, making a disapproving noise.
Hearing the obvious jibe, May scowled and made her decision.
'Venusaur, take the stage!' May cried before releasing her powerful grass and poison type.
'Saur!' Her pokémon cried before blinking at the unfamiliar terrain.
'Use vine whip to bring that rock type down a notch! Follow it up with razor leaf,' May cried as she glared at her opponent. Her pokémon were well trained, she just preferred them to have a bit of personality. Sure, they didn't always listen to her, but that made her life all the more interesting. What would this woman have her do, force them to listen to her every whim? Her pokémon were her friends an family, not slaves.
'Hmmm, you're letting your emotions get the better of you. A Gym Leader should always be composed, no matter what the situation. Nosepass, sandstorm,' Roxanne called out before her pokémon whipped up a large storm of sand, causing May's vision of her pokémon to become blurry, the storm raging in her ears.
'Everyone is different, and we can't all be rocks like you, Roxanne! Venusaur, create a barrier around you with petal dance!' May called back as Brendan covered his face with his beanie.
'Use rock tomb, Nosepass!' The woman responded, not at all reacting to the jibe.
'Use a combination of razor leaf and petal dance!' May cried out as the sandstorm died, falling to the ground in a pile of leaves.
Seeing her grass and poison type release a powerful combination of grass type moves, May grinned as Nosepass' rocks were sliced in half and his body attacked.
With a grunt, the larger pokémon fell back, causing the ground to shake slightly before he fell on the ground, unconscious and covered in the aftermath of Wartortle's water attacks.
'W-what? Nosepass!' Roxanne cried, appearing visibly shaken.
'You did it, Venusaur!' May cried out before tackling her pokémon in a hug.
'So… I lost… It seems that I still have much to learn… I understand. You fought well, May. I suggest you travel to defeat other Gym Leaders to see just how they run their Gyms,' Roxanne smiled as she moved to shake May's hand.
'Thank you so much, Roxanne!' May grinned back as Brendan muttered, 'unbelievable. She won, and on her first try too. Maybe she can take on Steven if she really thought about it.'
Sending the man an irritated glance, May walked back towards the entrance, taking a moment to admire the fossils she saw there. Silently, she found herself wondering if Solidad had excavated any of them.
Reaching Mr Goodshow Junior, she smiled up at him, 'Mr Goodshow, I won!'
'You did? Well that's excellent news. Make sure you visit the other Gym Leaders too, I'll be with you every step of the way,' the man responded as Brendan frowned, 'who's this?'
'I'm Mr Goodshow Junior. Please forgive me, but I must have a word with Roxanne,' the man said with a small bow before leaving.
'Who is that guy?' Brendan frowned as May shrugged and exited the Gym.
'Wasn't that a little creepy? He just started talking to you and has gone off to talk to Roxanne now?' Brendan frowned at his childhood friend.
In response, May waved him off, 'please, you're the one who was all drooling over the chance to see Roxanne again. I can't believe she remembers you!'
'Let's face it, I'm Arceus' gift to women,' Brendan chuckled, narrowly missing May's attempt at slapping him.
'Did you see that? Oh, the skills! I'm almost as fast as my pokémon!' Brendan bragged as he did a small dance.
'I didn't realise you had a Snorlax,' May jeered back, enjoying the angered flush that filled her childhood friend's face.
'No, that would be you. If pokémon reflected their Trainers, we'd all know what you'd be. A lazy, crying—hey Blaziken,' Brendan's retort became an anxious chuckle as May's trusty starter pokémon escaped his pokéball to glare at him.
'What was that you were saying about my pokémon, diaper buddy?' May frowned at her friend, who leered at her in response.
'Hmm, don't think my defence is being affected by that,' May teased back as she took her Mach bicycle that she'd left outside the Pokémon Centre.
'Should we deliver that letter soon?' Brendan frowned at his friend, who waved him off.
'I'm tired and I want to sleep in my bed tonight,' May said as she yawned slightly. Shaking her head, she continued, 'besides, I'm sure Steven won't mind if we deliver it to him a little late. Mr Briney's cottage is right next to Petalburg, anyway.'
'Yeah, and you have his number so you can always chase him if you need to,' Brendan scowled at his friend, who giggled at his clear jealousy.
'You're so jealous, it's adorable! Oh, Brendan, are you sure you're attracted to women, dear?' She asked before petting his cheek.
'Why do you think Roxanne remembers me?' Brendan scowled back, though May ignored him and got on her bicycle, heading back home.