Hi everyone,
Here's another update. Please let me know what you think! :)
Chapter 28Scrambling out of Brendan's parked car, May glanced around her at the familiar bicycle bridge, seeing a flock of flying types flying around the top of the bridge.
'He's said that he didn't have a bicycle with him so he's out on route 110 somewhere. I think he's still with Wally, but I'm not sure,' Brendan grimaced as they glanced around them.
Seeing a woman near the entrance of the side path, May asked, 'excuse me, but have you seen a man with black hair and another with green anywhere?'
'What? No, sorry,' the woman said, looking a little forlorn.
'That's quite all right, thank you!' May grinned at her before shaking her head at her friends.
'We're not splitting up, but let's see what we've got!' Dawn grinned before grabbing May and Iris and jogging ahead, searching for Orlando.
Sending a disinterested glance at the pokémon which surfaced on the other side of the small stone fence, May soon found herself facing Orlando, his grey eyes filled with a sheepish guilt she knew.
'Girls, go get Brendan, but make sure you explain to him that his brother is unscathed,' May frowned at them, causing them to blink in surprise. Thankfully they didn't question her as they turned to find the man.
'Hey, May! It's been ages! Nice timing, too. I was just searching for pokémon, you know? My dad and uncle are always going on about how nature used to be even more diverse, way back in the day. He says that there used to be way more kinds of pokémon than there are now! So that's why we do fieldwork, him and me. We really want to find out what happened to those pokémon in the past.' The man chuckled, though she could recognise his guilty smile anywhere. He was rambling, and they both knew why-Brendan would be furious with him for not updating him with the all clear.
'Right, and you're trying to tell me that you weren't expecting me or Brendan to come here when we heard you were in trouble?' May frowned at the man, causing him to flush in embarrassment. It was rare for her to cut to the chase, but she had been as worried as Brendan had been.
'Eheh, that was probably Wally. I'm sorry, May, he just got in a bit of a sticky situation with his pokémon. Oh! That reminds me, on my journey up to now, I've met a lot of different pokémon, and I think I've gotten to understand a lot of them, too. Me and my pokémon have really grown, they're really strong! So, how about a little battle?' The man grinned at May, causing her to blink at him. She couldn't help but notice the anxiety in his eyes as he grabbed a pokéball and twirled it in his hand.
'Go Slugma!' Orlando called, releasing the fire type pokémon.
Blinking in response, it took May a moment to decipher what was happening. Realising that the man wasn't going to give her much of an option, May sighed, resigned with the idea of battling him.
Taking a pokéball of her own, May released her Munchlax, 'Munchlax, take the stage!'
'Slugma, use ember!' Orlando called as May said, 'Munchlax, secret power!'
Watching her pokémon jump forward, May didn't see her friends return with an enraged Brendan, who growled upon seeing the impeding battle.
Munchlax was hit by the fire attack as his attack collided with the fire type. Whilst he didn't take significant damage, it was still enough to cause him to grimace slightly.
May watched in amusement as Slugma began to teeter on the ground before falling asleep.
'W-what? Slugma!' Orlando gasped as his brother chuckled.
'What's so funny?' The younger brother snapped at the man.
'That's easy, secret power has a different effect depending on the terrain. I wouldn't expect you to know that, though,' Brendan scoffed before winking at May. The woman did her best not to smile too obviously at the older man's taunt. After all, Max had done the very same to her when she had started her journey, and their banter was bringing back many memories.
'Don't you of all people lecture me after everything we've done in the field together! Go, Wailmer!' Orlando snarled as he released the giant water type, sending a moody glower at his brother, who smirked in response.
'I'm glad Misty isn't here,' Iris chuckled before Dawn nodded at the idea.
With a frown, May turned to her pokémon, who was scratching his back lazily. Clicking her fingers, she called out, 'Munchlax! Solar beam!'
'Astonish!' Orlando cried, though Munchlax dodged the attack with ease.
'Unleash it!' May called out just before her Munchlax released the powerful golden attack from his mouth.
The younger brother from Littleroot Town looked like he was about to release his last pokémon, but Brendan stepped in, 'enough!'
'It's obvious you've both been busy training, but this battle is over! Orlando, accept your defeat, May, bow out with style. There is no point in pointlessly hurting your pokémon,' Brendan glowered from one person to another, causing Orlando to sulk slightly.
'I'll take care of your tired teams first, then you can explain what's happening,' Brendan said before offering Munchlax an oran berry and his brother an awakening and max revive.
'Some guys came out of nowhere to attack Wally and myself. They were sprouting nonsense about eradicating the land or the water. I don't know what they wanted with us, but they battled both Wally and myself. I won, but Wally… he lost. He's taken it really hard, too, though he's trying to put on a brave face.' Orlando grimaced as he scratched the back of his neck nervously.
'Team Aqua and Magma!' May hissed as her friends grimaced, uncertain of what to say.
'Yeah, that's their names. You know them?' Orlando grimaced at her, his eyes widening slightly in fear.
'I've encountered them a few times. Where's Wally now?' May asked, ignoring her friends' searching gazes.
'He's in Mauville City,' Orlando grimaced, scratching his arm nervously.
'Then let's go visit him. Come on, Orlando,' May said before grabbing Brendan and Dawn's arms and walking ahead.