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Chapter 27'Glaceon, you did well, return,' May said as she saw Espeon and Sakura embracing on the other end of the battle field. If she'd been done this on her own, undergoing her journey, the loss would have left a bitter taste in her mouth. However, as a gym leader, she couldn't help but feel pride in her friend for rising up, above the challenge that was her gym.
With an eager grin, Sakura called out, 'thanks for the battle, May, your Glaceon was awesome!'
'Not as awesome as your Espeon was today,' May chuckled back as she sauntered towards her friend.
Seeing Kenny come over with a velvet box, May caught his dark eyes as he opened it. He sent her a small smile before she took the badge which was hidden inside. It was a simple grey badge, made of two circles which represented barbells. Her father had designed it, and she knew her friend would notice it immediately. It was just something very Norman-esque, for lack of a better word.
'Sakura, as the winner of our battle in Petalburg gym, I present you the balance badge. The design of this badge was focused upon the idea of unleashing the inner ability of not just yourself, but your pokémon. Congratulations, you fought well and earned this as a sign of your win today,' May grinned a she handed her long-lost friend the badge she'd earned. She could see why her father enjoyed being a gym leader, and could have done this herself, if she wasn't so distraught by the idea of never again entering a contest.
'Wow, this badge screams Norman,' Sakura laughed as she turned to her Espeon, who beamed up at her trainer.
Watching her friend grin at her pokémon, May smiled as she wondered what her father would have done. He'd always been so confident and capable and she was curious to know if he'd have lost to Sakura too.
From behind her, she heard someone step up beside her and turned to see her aid send her a small smile, his eyes shining with joy as he beheld Sakura's childlike glee.
'You fought well, your father would be proud,' Kenny mused, causing her to blink up at him. She honestly hadn't expected him to say anything to her about it.
'Aww, Kenny you're the best!' May grinned before crushing the man in a hug, not seeing her friends share bemused glances.
'You're causing a scene, May,' the man flushed, causing her to chuckle at him as he struggled out of her grip.
'So? You shouldn't say stuff like that if you don't want me to overreact!' May teased back, pinching his cheek slightly, not noticing her friends as they sent each other bemused glances.
In response, the man swatted her hand away, glowering irritably.
'May, is this seriously how you treat your aid?' Misty frowned at the woman, who grinned sheepishly back at her. Whilst she loved Kenny like an older brother, she couldn't help but be thankful for every positive thing he ever said about her.
'What? He's practically family! I've known him since we arrived in Petalburg,' May shrugged as Kenny hissed, 'see? Even your friends think you're manhandling me!'
'Manhandling would be a bit of a strong word for that. I'd call it overly affectionate,' Dawn frowned with clear flair, as Serena giggled at her thoughtful expression.
'So how would you handle him then?' May frowned back at her friends as she glared at them, willing them to explain an alternate, more suitable reaction.
'That's easy, I wouldn't. In case you haven't noticed, the closest thing I have to a gym leader's aid is Tracey!' Misty snapped at the woman, causing the girls to giggle. They had all teased her about the man's arduous attempts at improving her gym, and the orange haired woman hadn't appreciated any of their light teasing.
'Don't even go there! You know the man's smitten with Daisy!' Misty snarled, stomping her foot endearingly.
'But does Ash know that?' Iris mused, causing the orange haired beauty to flush cutely.
'Ash is so thick the only thing he'll notice about Misty is that she's a girl!' Sakura grinned as she took the badge.
Without a word, Kenny snapped the box shut and scrambled out of the room, his apprehension clear to the females he was escaping from.
'Well, well, May, you really scared him,' Sakura chuckled at the woman, who flushed at the remark.
'I did not,' she responded feebly as she saw Brendan enter the room, his ruby eyes widened with worry.
'Well, I'd better continue my journey. It was really great seeing you again,' the Johto woman grinned at May.
'Likewise,' May grinned back before pulling her in for another hug.
'Tell your family I said hi,' May winked at her friend as Misty sighed, 'I'd like to see more of Hoenn, are you going near the water at all?'
'Will do, May! Misty, I'm popping by Slateport City in a bit, want to join me?' Sakura winked from one friend before turning to the other.
'Yes, I'd love that! Water pokémon, here I come! Talk soon, May!' Misty grinned before giving all of the women a brief hug and leaving.
Serena hesitated once before turning to May, 'I'd love to pop by Sootopolis City. I heard that there isn't another place like it anywhere around, and I think it would make a great video.'
'That's great,' May grinned at her friend, trying to stifle her disappointment. Considering how to help her friends, she frowned at the retreating backs of her other friends.
With a huge grin, she said, 'if you join Misty and Sakura, you might be able to catch a ferry from Slateport.'
'Oh, I'd better hurry then, bye everyone!' Serena gasped before rushing out of the door, leaving it open behind her.
When Iris and Dawn simply glanced from May to Brendan, May sent the man an expectant glance. She knew he was worried about quite a lot, but she didn't want to pressure him into saying anything in front of the others if she could help it.
'Orlando's messaged me, he's got into trouble on his way to Mauville City,' Brendan frowned, his lips pursed in a frown as he sent a suspicious glance at their companions.
'Orlando needs help?' May whispered, licking her lips in clear anxiety.
'I need to go see him,' the man responded, nodding his head slightly.
'Well so do I! Let's go!' May hissed before grabbing the man's hand and rushing out of her home.
'Wait!' Dawn's voice cried as she and Iris rushed after them, barely finding Max's and Caroline's bicycles in the shed May pulled her bicycle from.
'Where are we going?' Iris yelled at May, who didn't deign to respond.
'Littleroot, I'll drive us from there!' Brendan called when May said nothing, her mind reeling with thoughts of the younger man being injured, mauled as certainly by the Poochyena that had attacked his uncle the day she'd received Torchic.