Hi everyone!

Here's an update for May, Gym Leader. Hope you like it.

Chapter 32

Lazing about on May's couch, Brendan snacked comfortably on some chips, his PokéNav chiming nearby. Taking the device out of his pocket, the young man couldn't help but chuckle at a message from his acquaintance, Gary Oak. The Kanto man was visiting Hoenn for a reason he hadn't cared to share with Brendan, though Brendan suspected a woman was behind it, even though he hadn't bothered to enquire. To him, the already insufferable man had seemed more strained than usual, and Brendan knew better than to ask.

Though he was curious as to why Gary would text him about how… attractive Hoenn women could be, albeit he had deemed to woman in question to be far too innocent for his standards. So, though he knew he may live to regret it, Brendan responded, 'I know, there are some really attractive ones out there.'

Gary's response was almost instant, making Brendan wonder if he was feeling lonely.

'I'm not even joking, this glammed up Glameow was walking around Petalburg City and crashed right into me. She was a stunner, but completely clueless. I've never seen any girl as innocent as her, and corrupting anyone like that would be hilarious,' the text read, and Brendan could practically hear the disdain dripping from the man's voice. Even then, the expressed curiosity was enough for Brendan to roll his eyes and wonder as to the man's ulterior motive.

'So why didn't you get her, then?' Brendan responded, already foretelling the response he'd receive from the man.

'She had no idea what she was dealing with. Besides, we both know that she'd get far too attached far too quickly, and a man like me needs to be free,' Gary's response occurred within moments, much to the effect that Brendan had predicted.

'I'm sure. What did she look like?' Brendan questioned his friend as May returned from the gym with her most recent challenger. It was a purple haired man from Sinnoh who looked like the gloomiest man Brendan had ever encountered. He was beyond grumpy, and his first line he had said to May was to criticise her gym, saying it was 'pathetic.'

May's face had turned varying degrees of red, much to Brendan's amusement. He only wished he'd taken a picture to upload it to BuzzNav, though he might not survive the act in itself. It would still be worth it.

'You got lucky to have knocked out two of my pokémon. Your battle skills are weak at best, like another person I know. He was pathetic then, and is even more so now. I'll win this League and I'll show you and him that my initial behaviour was perfectly fine,' the man scoffed as he held out an expectant hand towards May.

'Who are you to tell me how to raise my pokémon? They aren't just my friends, but my family. Now I was raised so I know better than to say how you should raise yours, but whoever you are talking about clearly has the right idea,' May scowled at the man, before visibly recollecting her thoughts.

'Here's your badge,' she continued with an obviously forced smile, though her challenger seemed completely unperturbed by her uncharacteristic faux cheer, especially when faced with such ludicrous notions.

'Norman had better be on his deathbed. Your battle was pathetic,' the man scoffed before stalking away, not seeing May's furious glare after him, her hands clenched in fists.

'How dare you!' Brendan seethed, though the man didn't turn around, simply waving a hand at them, almost as though he wanted to mock Brendan's angered cry.

'Leave it, Brendan,' May whispered, her voice unusually quiet as she turned her attention to the door from which she'd come.

'What? May, didn't you hear what he said? You can't just let him get away with saying things like that!' Brendan scowled, faltering when he saw her sad eyes as she glanced back at him.

'It's fine, dad'll be fine. He has to be,' May responded with a sad smile, turning her attention away from the man, her hand scrubbing against her cheek.

'May,' Brendan whispered, though the young woman walked away, not turning to glance back at the man.

'I have chores to do, Brendan. I won't be long,' May whispered before returning her attention to the gym, her voice choked up with emotions.

The man didn't argue with her as she rushed to clean up the damage left by her battle.

Let me guess if you can guess who the challenger was :D