When they arrived he turned to face her and Max, with the latter standing behind his sister.
"What were you playing at back there?" He asked irritably, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry dad, I guess I just got so absorbed in the battle that I stopped thinking clearly."
"Are you sure there wasn't anything else?"
"Like what?" She responded, feigning naivety.
"Don't play stupid with me", he responded angrily, "you were trying to impress that boy."
"No way." May tried to hide the truth but her instinctive response to smirk and turn her head around had given her away.
"It's ok honey. I've been there. But you know in this instance things could only end in tears. I don't want to see you get your heart broken", he spoke with a warm sincerity that made May feel protected, even though she didn't particularly like what he had to say on this occasion. She nodded her head in agreement.
"Yeah, I guess you're right dad. But could we at least get to know the Robinsons better and show them some of our world before they leave? Within reasonable limits of course."
Norman contemplated his daughter's words before offering a response: "I think we could manage that, I mean we are already letting them stay with us, but I guess there's not really any reason you and Max can't have some fun with them, as long as you don't wander too far from here. And provided you don't go anywhere your mother and I don't permit you too. And we'll have to provide them with a different set of clothes so they can blend in better of course."
May smiled warmly at her father.
"Thanks dad." Her and Max responded simultaneously, with equal enthusiasm. (**)
May was in a cheerful mood as she returned to the main hall of the gym to invite the Robinson party to lunch.
"We're ready for you now", she announced politely, before leading the group through to the main dining area, where her family always ate their meals, that was, when they were all at home, which wasn't very often these days, something May held mixed feelings about.
As they sat down at the long dinner table where lunch was to be served, her and Max sat together on one side, facing across from the Robinsons, who were all seated on the opposing side.
There was only a minimal amount of conversation between the two groups as they waited for Norman and his wife Carolyn to serve lunch, with the two groups still feeling awkward in each other's presence. This awkwardness was soon broken when lunch was served. The meal consisted of chicken soup, along with a variety of different sandwiches.
"Thank you very much for your hospitality", Professor Robinson announced sincerely.
"You're very welcome", the woman named Carolyn replied in a rather eloquent voice. She was a woman of around the same age as Norman, with a slender build and auburn coloured hair. Her features were quite beautiful. "I've heard you are all on a long journey", she continued in a pleasant tone. May felt uncomfortable that her mother would instantly raise this topic.
"That's right", the Professor answered warily. "We hope to be on our way again soon."
"Well, don't feel in any rush to leave, we're happy to house you for as long as you need", she insisted. But May knew her mother well and that she was one for sounding polite because she was a strong believer that that was the proper way to treat people.
The conversation soon became lighter in tone as the two groups shared details of their day-to-day lives, including their various hobbies and pursuits. May was especially interested to hear about Will's love of all things mechanical, and even more so about Penny's love of reading as well as all things beautiful, which was definitely something May could relate to.
However, the conversation once again took a more tense turn when the man named Major West asked a question about the earlier battle: "so that exhibition back in the main hall earlier, is that part of what you two do?" He asked with curiosity.
"It's part of what I do", Norman answered, with added emphasis. "My daughter on the other hand", now turning to his daughter as he spoke of her in a clearly disapproving tone, "participated in a different stream of battling, one more in line with the performing arts field."
May was beginning to feel a strong sense of shame and humiliation at this point but did all she could to not show it.
"That sounds really interesting", Penny observed. "But what does that mean exactly?"
"It's what we call Pokémon contests", Carolyn answered with a hint of pride in her voice. "Contests are about not only battling but also showcasing a Pokémon's beauty and natural grace. And some of the acrobatics that are performed are incredibly difficult to pull off and just dazzling to watch. May is one of the best in all of Hoenn", now turning to her daughter, her eyes brimming with pride and admiration.
"Wow!" Will and Penny exclaimed in unison, as their faces lit up. "I'd absolutely love to see a contest", Penny announced excitedly. "And I thought that that battle earlier was so exciting." May was still feeling upset but she also gained a sense of satisfaction from her dad being put in his place and most of all from the display of care and love her mother had just shown for her.
"They both seem pretty awesome to me", Major West observed. 'Why does it matter which one someone does?" He asked.
"It's not that simple", Norman responded irritably. "Pokémon gyms are often family run businesses, where the parents will pass ownership onto one or more of their children once they've been adequately trained. It was my hope that May would one day take over from me as the Petalberg gym leader. As you saw today, she's got a lot of potential to be a top class trainer, but her progress has been hampered by her decision to focus on contests."
"But there is still Max of course", Carolyn noted calmly.
"Perhaps, but we still don't know how powerful Max will be as a trainer. May could've been our great hope", Norman lamented.
May noticed the look of disappointment written on her brother's face.
"I think Max….is going to be great!" She exclaimed. "I'm fact, tomorrow I'm going to take him out to catch his very first Pokémon."
"Oh, how exciting! Carolyn responded gleefully. "I hope you two have a great time. And maybe you could invite Will and Penny along. As long as they're appropriately dressed of course", she added.
"You two remember what I said", Norman cautioned the pair, before revealing a stifled smile. (**)
After their interesting lunch with the Robinsons, May and the remainder of the Roberts clan showed their guests to their rooms, which were located on the upper levels of the three storied gym complex. John, Major West, along with Judy and Maureen - once they arrived -, would be sleeping on the middle floor, while Will and Penny's quarters were located on the top level. This level was narrower, with the ceiling curving inwards, which meant a thinner hallway as well as slightly more cramped living quarters compared to those located on the floor below. Nonetheless, the bedroom was of a decent size, containing two beds, evenly spaced apart, and a window which looked out onto some houses and parkland in the distance. Will and Penny expressed their gratitude for their temporary accommodation. May was thoroughly impressed by their good manners. She had met few people of her age who were so polite.
"Please don't feel afraid to ask if there's anything else you guys need, ok. Just say the word and one of us will be happy to help."
"Thanks May", they answered in unison.
This room was normally May's but she would now be sharing a room with Max for the length of the Robinson's stay. As such, it happened to contain a number of her personal items, some of which decorated the concave walls of the sleeping chamber.
May was standing at the entrance a little awkwardly when Will spoke: "What are these?" He asked enthusiastically, pointing at a collection of May's ribbons from her previous Pokémon contest tournament victories.
"They're my contest ribbons. They're awarded to the winners of Pokémon contests", she explained.
"Wow, you sure have quite a collection here", Will noted.
"Twenty three in total, from five different regional competitions", she answered proudly."
"They're so pretty", Penny added.
"Thanks", May giggled.
"And that big trophy there", Will asked curiously, pointing at a large trophy sitting on the top shelf of May's trophy cabinet, coloured in shining black on one side and white on the other.
"That!" She exclaimed, "was for first place in the Unova grand festival!"
"Are grand festivals the biggest tournaments in your profession?" He enquired.
"Sure are!"
After a brief pause, she suddenly became aware that she might have been coming across as conceited.
"Anyway, enough about me, tell me about your world", she insisted, showing genuine interest. "How different is it to here?"
As the brother and sister pair regailed her with stories of their world, she was filled with curiosity, both because their planet - although very distant - sounded so much like earth, and second, because she was curious about the Pokémon-like creatures known as 'animals.' She couldn't imagine a version of Pokémon without any special powers, as strange as that may seem.
"It's easy" they assured her. "Just imagine a version of your Blaziken that doesn't breath fire or zap people", Penny joked.
"I know, I know", she answered defensively, while beginning to blush. "It must seem weird to you guys, but I guess what seems natural depends on what you're familiar with."
"I completely agree", Will affirmed. "It's like all the different kinds of aliens we've met on our explorations. Each civilisation has its own language, you've just got to learn to speak it, whether it's through words, or shared customs, or…
"Love", May completed his sentence, smiling at Will suggestively, while blushing once again.
"Yes, exactly", he answered, smirking with embarrassment, while also blushing. The two began staring at one another intensely, each unconsciously stepping towards the other, momentarily forgetting Penny was present. Fortuitously, a moment later, the penetrating voice of May's father could be heard from all the way down on the bottom level.
"May, Max!" Norman bellowed. "The rest of our guests have arrived."
With that, May and Will quickly broke eye contact and, together with Penny, made haste for the ground floor, each careful to avoid eye contact with the other.
