Reaching the outskirts of Rusturf Tunnel, May gave the chauffeur a bit of money, mumbling, 'thank you so much for getting us here so quickly. Take this as a token of our gratitude.'
'I'll wait here, ma'am, until I'm certain my assistance is no longer required. With everything going on, I'd rather know you were all safe,' the man responded as Brendan bolted out of the car, leaving the door gaping open behind him.
Hearing the crunch of his feet on the gravel slipping away, May hurriedly gave the man her pokédollars, nodding in gratitude.
'Thank you,' May said before scrambling after her childhood friend, slamming the door shut behind her with maybe a bit too much force.
'Brendan!' She hissed after taking a moment to regain her bearings. She hadn't been here since she'd travelled with Ash, and Brendan had zipped out of the car without even waiting for her.
Seeing Brendan's familiar hat bobbing ahead of her, May cried out, 'Brendan, wait up!'
'No, you hurry up, May! He's in there somewhere!' Brendan roared back at the woman, though she only rolled her eyes at his unthoughtful response.
Orlando meant the world to both of them, even if he wasn't related to May by blood. Besides, with all of Brendan's unnecessary yelling they were going to have a stampede on their hands. May didn't know about Brendan, but she doubted she'd be able to stop a horde of stampeding pokémon by herself.
'And you're forgetting who inhabits this cave. Be quiet or you'll upset the local pokémon and they'll riot,' May retorted, narrowing her sapphire eyes in anger at her ruby eyed friend.
The man considered her words once before grimacing, 'fine, Sapphire.'
'Anytime, Ruby,' she retorted, poking her tongue out childishly.
Becoming solemn, she muttered, 'they're here somewhere.'
'We'll find them,' Brendan muttered, channelling her earlier optimism, and May had to question how much of it was for her sanity.
Grimacing, the woman glanced at him once before nodding at him and leading the way. Seeing shadows rushing away from them, May did her best not to let her imagination run amuck. She'd always had an overactive imagination, and now Brendan needed her to be strong for him.
Feeling the man place his hand in her own, she glanced up at him and sent him a feeble smile. 'We'll find them,' she reminded him, knowing that he'd be as supportive of her if she were in his shoes.
Seeing a man up ahead, dressed in karate gear, May frowned at her friend, who shrugged uncertainly.
'Must… break… rock… must… reach… girlfriend.' The man was chanting under his breath as they came closer, his hands raw and bloody from his attempts to break the rock.
'What if they're on the other side of that rock? They didn't say if they were heading to or from Verdanturf Town, and they could be anywhere,' May questioned Brendan, whose eyes narrowed in anger. She'd never seen Brendan look so determined before, and it would have made her smile if she wasn't so worried about Orlando.
'Aggron, come on out!' Brendan cried, releasing his steel and rock type pokémon.
The bipedal pokémon roared his name, flashing his silver-coloured armour as he flexed powerfully.
'Use rock smash on that rock!' Brendan commanded, ignoring May as she frantically signalled for them to be quieter.
With a roar, the steel type smashed the rock into tiny pieces, making the karate man nearby's face brighten instantly.
Before he could shower them with gratitude, Brendan had taken May by her jacket, returned his pokémon and stormed through the gap, scowling, 'Orlando had better be here!'
'Brendan, keep it down! The pokémon could riot at any moment!' May hissed at her friend, who sent her a dismissive glance.
'What was that for? Are you listening to me? I don't want to be stuck here battling all of the pokémon, you know!' May growled at the man, who was stalking away from her as she continued to lecture him.
'May, don't treat me like a child. You know I've seen you go through worse tantrums before, especially about food. Besides, what would you do if it was Max? Still be telling me to quiet for the pokémon?' Brendan scowled back, narrowing his eyes in anger as he dragged her through the tunnel they had just cleared.
Considering his words, May swallowed her worry and nodded, 'fine, though you should really consider the wellbeing of the pokémon.'
'I've spent my whole life considering their wellbeing. Let me be selfish this once, all right?' Brendan muttered as he continued to walk through the remaining space left in the tunnel.
'They're not here,' May whispered, her voice shaking with worry.
'He's dead by the time I'm done with him,' Brendan snarled, pulling out his Xtransceiver, his ruby eyes flashing with a fury that would have terrified May if it had been directed at her.
'Brendan,' May whispered, though her friend dismissed her as he continued to walk to Verdanturf Town.
With a grimace, the brunette followed the man, uncertain how she could appease his increasing worries.
Where were Orlando and Wally?
I wonder where Orlando and Wally could be?
Let me know what you think of this chapter and apologies again for being gone for so long!