2: Worldwide Rivalries

Devon Corp. had always been rivals with other industries for some period of time. Ever since it went big with the introduction of the Hoen Pokemon League, it stayed one of the largest contenders. New generations of companies came and went in popularity, but the Devon Coproration was always remembered as one of the top companies. Most of all, however, was Silph Co. in Kanto. Despite mutual respect in similar fields of research and development for Pokemon, the latter had been trying to buy the former for some time. Mr. Stone, the executive President and CEO had been adamant as a Mega Swampert (well, most Swampert) of keeping it for his son, Champion Steven Stone!

Now Steven had lost the title of Champion of Hoen, and Wallace was filling in for it. With his mentor Juan coming out of retirement to run Sootopolis Gym and Brendan leaving for work, Mr. Stone had hoped his son, the ex-Champion of the Hoen League, would settle down and take over. Maybe he could become more focused on actual work rather than purely just on the exploration of rare items and the mere possibilities of technology, as oppose to creating them.

When Brendan mentioned to Mr. Stone through sincerely pure conversation about his loss to the Pokemon University graduation board, the wealthy and successful man offered him a chance to start out at one of his offshore companies, Devon Corp's last big chance at a comeback in a new demographic with great ways to minimize waste and produce as long as the demand was there. It was all seasonal and temporary, but if everything worked out alright (which it never seemed to with Brendan) he could maybe get on full time and grow with the new company branch!

Oh, speaking of rivalries...

"Berndan Birch!" he heard a familiar voice. It was one that usually made him feel joy before at a possible future, but now it was just a painful reminder at failure to capitalize and form a long-lasting relationship. "What are you doing showing up here and not telling me!?" she 'teased.

"MAY?" he tried his best to avoid her. "You came out here alone?" was his first and natural response after everything that happened.

"No," another friendly yet painful reminder came out of the other nearby boat "she hasn't."

"Wally? You too huh?" More like "E tu, Walle?"

"Yup!" May said excitedly, shoving a knife in Brendan's heart further as he held Wally's hand. "We've outgrown the Battle Resort and are going to try the new Battle Tree!" Not sure how one outgrows a luxury beach resort and the fancy life and hot girls that go with being a Pokemon Master there. Then again, for being so basic, the atmosphere of Alola in ways felt nearly as extravagant.

"OH! I forgot the best part!" she exclaimed, now grabbing Brendan's hand after greeting and rubbing Swampert's chin to its' satisfaction (traitor.) "We spoke to the local Professor here and he said we could pick up our own new starter Pokemon!" Wally nodded in shy confirmation to Brendan's slightly puzzled response of "You're completely starting over, hu?" It didn't make sense to him to forget about your past accomplishments like that. Wally had come a long way from Petalburg to the babes and battling at the beach. Now he was just like he was before. Grant it, it wasn't just the Pokemon that made him strong, but they helped each other! And now, they were gone, simply for a chance at a reboot.

...come to think of it, one could argue Brendan was doing something similar, but his was for a stable income and benefits. That's why he left most of his team: to not be distracted, not start completely over!

"OH MY ARCEUS! That makes three of us! WE COULD EACH GET A STARTER AND START OUR NEW JOURNIES TOGETHER!"

"WHA!? NO WAY!" ...that came out louder than Brendan intended, yet he stayed firm, even as May's huge smile he once loved slowly faded away. "I'm only here for work! Swampert is my service Pokemon and I have no account linked for Pokemon catching." Brendan had no intention of being the third wheel here! "Besides, there's no league anyway!"

"Actually," came a young masculine voice that wasn't Brendan's and certainly not Wally's "There isn't one YET!"

"Professor!" May exclaimed, ditching the others and running to a new guy. Guess some thing will never change. "Did you get out video message?"

"Eh, yeah I did May; it's been 6 months since we spoke... on a live chat."

"...oh... hehe...right." she replied. That nervous laugh was much like the ones she did before back in Hoen. Like, when she seemed to pour her heart and soul out to Brendan when they first met. Those body parts seemed much bigger at the time... among others."

"Alola Wally!" the Professor walked over, ignoring May on his arm and doing what Brendan could only assume was 'greeting' May's last boy-toy. Maybe now he's this guys. There certainly was something off about this "magic rainbow" motion the guy was giving him. Brendan could only assume (for his own safety) that it was just local customs and not just a grown man behaving like a predatory crime offending Mr. Mime.

The man turned, much to Brendan's nerves and Swampert's alertness. It now sensing his trainers unease and ready to jump in between it if the need be. It takes a true bond and real special relationship between a Pokemon and Trainer to put the other's safety before their own, especially based on the consequences of each other's actions. Then again, one could assume that's meant to be a part of any long-lasting relationship. Still, it took a great relationship to know how the other was feeling without ever having to look.

"Oh, Hello." he waved like a 'normal' person to Brendan. He could just be showing off for May. However, Brendan got the feeling he was actually being welcoming. "Are you here with May and Wally trainer?"

"No sir," he said politely, straitening up as best he could and putting a hand on Swampert for reassurance "My name is Brendan Birch, and I'm not here as a trainer. May, Wally and I are... just lived close together back in Hoen for awhile."

"Wait, are you Professor Birch's son!?" asked Professor Kikuyu. "My name is Professor Kyukui." The man lit up as he introduced himself by his full name, extending his hand out for a mano-a-mano shake. "It's an honor to meet the relative of a fellow researcher!" Brendan hesitated only for a split second, nervously reaching out down in his pocket with one hand and going in for a shake with the other.

Something glowed subtly in his pocket as Swampert and Brendan's arms seemed to flex a bit together in unison. "Nice strong grip!" the Professor grinned. "Hey, is that a Mega Bracelet!?"

"Uh... uh, yeah,' right here. He slipped it off his wrist in his pocket to pull it out and show him. Hopefully it seemed like he wasn't somehow using it just now. Swampert smiled nervously thinking they got away with it together.

"Awesome! I've never actually seen one in person! Mega evolution is something very rare in Hoen! Usually only the professional trainers from other lands come and use them here! We don't even have that many Mega Stones available here since they are only found in the wild elsewhere. We just offer what ones we can for sale at the Battle Tree, kind of like the resort in Hoen but with much less resources." Brendan smiled and felt confident in himself, until Kikuyu added "You better keep those item's safe from local or tourist thieves that may try and snatch a rare item to sell, let alone Team Skull!"

"Team Skull?" May asked quizzically, tilting her head like a dumb...

"Ah, but that's enough about that! You said you're here on work anyway, right?" he interjected "Must be for manual labor?"

Now Brendan was upset again "No, but they said to bring a working companion if I had one, just in case." It wasn't exactly a lie.

"Ah, now I see," Kyukui hopefully also lied "May," he turned back to his 'new girl' "did you and Wally bring your crystals too?"

"No sir, Mr Kyukui!" she replied. She was a bit overly more chipper than usual, which Brendan had once believed to be impossible. "I came to start fresh! And make room for my Z-Ring!"

Wally nervously tucked is hand in his pocket to hide an amulet shape and say something...

"Z-Ring?" Brendan asked, breaking up the conversation with a sigh of relief from Wally.

"Ah," the Professor smiled, more to Brendan's dismay "It's special device used to perform more powerful moves to be done on the island. Only a strong trainer with an equally strong Pokemon that are close to them can master the special art of activating it in sync with the movements of their partners can perform such awesome moves."

"Or if you just find the stone!" May said, causing everyone to nearly fall over like it were an anime.

This really seemed to taunt Brendan and even Wally a little. Did he have any idea what Mega Evolution was like!? Mega Evolution was when a Pokemon (and sometimes the trainer) unlock it's inner strength, insane power uncontrollable without the bond between a trainer and its' companion. Something Brendan and Swampert felt they had truly mastered and had become nearly unstoppable because of it.

...at least to anything that didn't have a grass move.

"Anyway, come!" Kyukui ended the conversation. "Let me show you all around. After all, all three are you are still on your own journeys here, so I might as well get you all acquainted with the area."

"Really!?" May practically yelled, squeezing the oxygen from Wally's hand and turning it purple. "Great! LET"S GO!" May yelled, pulling Kikuyu and Wally with super-human strength along the boardwalk before Brendan could give a moderately pleasant "thank you."

Another figure about their age watched from a smaller boat offshore...