Chapter 2

Seeing May duck around the corner too fast, her bike casting up the dusty dirt under it, Brendan felt a sinking pit in his stomach. It was the same feeling he got just before any May catastrophe, and Brendan had rarely been wrong.

'Slow down!' He yelled, his voice drowned out by the howling wind, barrelling through the mountain like an alpha bibarel on heat.

The moment she was out of sight, Brendan's heart lurched in his throat. May was far too disaster prone for her to ride like that without a hitch, and, given the windy, narrow path they'd discovered together, he knew care was needed when riding on there.

Brendan also knew May well enough to know that she wasn't going to be careful.

She'd never really been careful when exploring Hoenn with them, why would that change now?

He should've never agreed to that stupid bet. If she wanted a free meal that badly, he'd have shouted her any time she asked. All she had to do was ask.

Cursing, Brendan stood up, trying to increase speed. When it came to food, May had tunnel vision, and he'd been so, so dumb for agreeing. After all, Mount Chimney was notoriously dangerous, with its numerous windy paths, howling winds and overall dangerous terrain.

If only Orlando hadn't been there, Brendan would never have been pressured to agree to the stupid bet. But with his brother there, Brendan knew he would have agreed without hesitation. After all, Orlando would do anything to make May happy, even if it risked the brunette hurting herself in the process.

No, Brendan had a bad, bad feeling about this, and it wasn't just because he'd been forced into the bet.

Why was it so quiet?

'Kyogre, no!' He hissed, pressing forward, trying to decrease the distance between himself and the disaster-prone brunette.

Why did she have to be an absolute magnet for trouble? Didn't she notice where they were?

'I told her to slow down!' Brendan seethed, knowing that she'd taken that narrow turn far too fast, especially on the narrow, rocky terrain.

His bike was built for the wilder terrains, hers, though… well he was surprised she hadn't punctured a tyre. Before, he would have been grateful since he'd be the one who'd have to fix it… now, though.

The pit in his stomach turned into a knot, twisting horribly.

May.

When was that impossible, brash and childish brat going to realise she couldn't keep defying the laws of nature? He'd abandoned his younger brother down below with his old, beat-up bike to keep an eye on May because she was just that reckless.

If his parents found out Orlando had practically been ditched by both May and him, he'd be dead for that. Orlando's pokémon were nowhere near as strong as his, and Mount Chimney was a maze of strange paths and strong pokémon that would give even powerful trainers a hard time.

But Orlando wasn't May, and Brendan knew he could trust Orlando to keep a level head… most of the time.

And one of those times Orlando completely lost his cool was when May around.

Gritting his teeth, Brendan suppressed the vexation he felt. Why would his parents want him to spend time with his brother when he was constantly shoving his nose where it didn't belong?!

The infuriating git still wasn't over his childish crush on May, who was somehow completely oblivious to the whole thing.

The audacity of Orlando to develop a crush on the very person Brendan had liked for far, far longer. At least Brendan tried to keep it somewhat hidden, not that May seemed to notice, too busy running around in her lala world where her pokémon had to ground her and he had to break his neck trying to save her from whatever pokémon attack she'd indirectly caused.

When he caught up to her, she was beyond dead.

Struggling up the steep hill, Brendan shifted his bike into gear, furious that May had charged ahead without him.

May couldn't keep running around like this, she wasn't a damn rapidash! Charging around Mount Chimney like that was going to get her killed!

This was why he was really considering forking out the insane price to buy a mach bike like hers. Then he'd at least be able to keep up with her.

Doubling his effort, Brendan ignored the burn in his calves.

He needed to train his legs, definitely. There was no way he was going to lose another bet against May.

There was the sound unmistakable sound of a crash, jerking Brendan's head up.

Someone screamed.

Silence.

Had May ridden right into someone?

His heart lurched painfully in his throat, his hands clenching the bike handles as he skidded to a stop.

Surely that hadn't been… No, it couldn't. Even May's luck couldn't be that bad.

His heart hurt as he pushed on, his ruby eyes intent on the hidden path she had taken.

Clenching his jaw, Brendan felt his arms shake.

There was no mistaking that scream.

May.

He had to get to her.

On Mount Chimney, with the many jutting rocks and jagged paths, they'd be lucky if she didn't break her neck on a rock.

'Please be ok,' he whispered, forcing himself to keep going.