Hi everyone! Welcome back to my little fan fiction. Hope you guys enjoy and thanks to everyone who has read so far. A big shutout to Farla who gave me advice on my paragraphing and dialogue.

Chapter 2: Birthday Gifts Part 1

The Birch family had moved in to Littleroot Town just a couple months prior, near the beginning of spring. The family consisted of the father, Edward Birch, the mother, Lisa Birch, and their son, Brendan Birch.

The Maple family, who had also quite recently moved to Littleroot Town as well from Azalea Town in Johto, were well acquainted with their neighbors the Birches. May Maple, who was the daughter of Norman and Caroline Maple, spent much of her time playing with her next door neighbor Brendan. There were many aspects of him that she liked such as his endless pool of energy, his similar eating habits, his kindness, his smile, and his pokemon knowledge. But there were also those traits that she didn't like such as how he would wake her up bright and early each morning by throwing tennis balls at her bedroom window, and how he would constantly tease her. But other than that, they got along well.

They had learned from each other when they first met that Brendan was just a couple months older than May was. His birthday was on July 2 while May's birthday was on September 20.

His upcoming birthday was the reason why she was in the Littleroot Marketplace looking for a gift for him along with her mother. The marketplace was like the town, small, it only hosted a handful of stalls selling anything from food to electronics. Her mother had decided to take her in order to buy ingredients for their dinner.

May was at first thinking of getting Brendan a book on Pokemon, but after she had visited Brendan's room on multiple occasions she learned that he, along with his father, had already owned the majority of Pokemon books that the local bookshop sold.

She also remembered how Brendan played video games. She remembered the time when he had invited her to play a game called "Mario Kart", how he taught her the controls and then raced against each other. To say she was disappointed after she raced was an understatement. She was somehow convinced that he had purposefully taught her the controls incorrectly just to see how badly she messed up. She remembered how she had yelled at him after she had lost multiple times and he simply laughed it off as if nothing happened.

When she checked the electronics store, she unfortunately found out that the video games the store sold the boy had already owned. Well for the most part, there were some games that caught the girl's attention, but she decided to it would be better to not risk it. After all she didn't have much knowledge on games so she might end up getting something that he would dislike.

After raking her brains for more clues on what he would like she stumbled upon a toy store that sold pokemon dolls. She recalled how Brendan had a pretty decent number of pokedolls in his room.

She was actually quite shocked when she found an entire stash of the toys hidden in his closet and when she brought it up his face had grown a bright shade of red from embarrassment saying that they weren't his.

She of course didn't buy this and a long debate ensued between the two.

"Can you please not tell anyone in class about this. It's kind of embarrassing. And yes these are all mine," he finally admitted after May pestered him about it for the past half hour.

"Don't worry Brendan, I won't tell anyone in class," she responded in a tone that meant anything but.

He raised an eyebrow not buying it before he responded with, "tell anyone and I'll show the class that".

"You wouldn't," she fired back, her own face growing a bright shade of red as well.

"You bet I would," he shot back, pleased that he now had an edge in their little battle as a smirk crept up on his face.

After a moment of silence she finally responded with, "Fine you win this one Brendan, but next time you won't get off so easy".

His smirk grew wider knowing he had won that battle.

Well, let's see from what he showed me and told me about his pokedolls, he said that he had collected the Kanto and Johto starters. He did say that he wanted to get the Hoenn starters as well, but everytime he came to the store they were all sold out. Huh, perhaps I'll be lucky and find them.

"Mommy can we go into the toy store?" she asked pulling on the sleeve of her mom's sweater.

"Sure sweetie. Are you by any chance looking for a gift for Brendan?" she teased which caused May's face to grow red which only caused her mother to start laughing. After her laughter had died down she spoke again leaning down to May's height. "Between you and me, I think he would really like Mudkip, why don't you go ask the lady over there for a Mudkip," pointing at one of the store's workers.

May nodded and stormed to the lady while still thinking what in the world is a Mudkip?

"Excuse me umm... do you have a Mudkip?" She spoke while looking up at the lady who was fixing some of the toy displays. She stopped to look down at May with a small smile on her face.

"Why yes little girl, we just got a shipment of them not too long ago. They're really popular among the kids so they usually almost always sell out. Why don't you wait here and I'll bring you one," the lady said as she went to look for a Mudkip for May.

May nodded before she left and sat down at one of the small chairs placed by the side of the bright wall. Her mom had come to sit next to her but she noticed that she was struggling to sit on the tiny chairs and she almost fell off not once but twice. She cracked a small smile ready to laugh at her mother before the same lady came back carrying a small blue plush of a pokemon May had never seen before.

"Here you go. This is Mudkip the Mudfish Pokemon," the lady said handing the plush to May.

"Thanks," she simply said eyeing the pokemon with slight disgust.

Why would someone want a pokemon that isn't cute she thought. Well I guess it's not too bad. I really hope he likes this.

Her mother stood up motioning for May to follow her to the gift bag display.

"So May which bag would you like? How about this one with the cute hearts?" pointing at a small pink bag covered in pink hearts.

May paused for a moment as her face grew red.

"Mom no! Are you crazy?" she almost yelled. It took her a moment to regain her composure grabbing a blue bag with the words Happy Birthday spelled across.

"This one is much better", she said while avoiding eye contact. Her mother grabbed the bag from her daughter's hands and headed towards the cashier to pay for the plush and the bag. After she had paid, she handed both the plush and bag to May giving her that devious look that always scared the young girl.

"I'm sure he will like it May," her mother teased as the pair was walking back to their house. May nodded hoping that he would, and hoping that her mother would no longer tease her.

The sound of party poppers followed by a loud "Congratulations" soon filled the living room of the Birch residence. Brendan stood on top the chair eyeing the large birthday cake with six candles as if he wanted to plant his face on it.

Everyone clapped as he blew out the candles while Lisa was in the back taking pictures. Caroline had moved to stand close to Brendan and began cutting the cake.

After Brendan had eaten about six or so slices of the cake he was greeted by his father who was holding something behind his back.

"Brendan, I think it's finally time that I give you this little fella," taking out a large glass container containing a blue pokemon egg with multiple orange spots on the surface.

Brendan's eyes widened completely taken by surprise by the gift.

"Dadyou'refinallygivingmemyownpokemosoIcanbetraainernow?" he said frantically although his dad could barely understand.

"Yes I think it's about time you got him. By the way, the pokemon inside is a surprise, so I won't tell you what pokemon it is".

"It's alright, I already love him," he said gently grabbing the glass container and giving it a soft hug.

"Take good care of him, alright".

"I will. Thanks dad".

May who was standing by the side gaining the courage to take her own gift forward was now feeling more self conscious. There was no way that she could compete with the gift he had just received moments ago. She shook her head knowing that Brendan would love her gift no matter what it was(as long as it wasn't bad games). She took in a deep breath and walked towards the boy.

"Congrats Brendan on the egg. I can't wait to see what pokemon your dad gave you". As long as it is not a Mudkip she glumly thought.

"Thanks May. I'm so excited. I finally have my own Pokemon," his signature toothy grin present. She however almost laughed as she saw that his two top teeth were missing.

"So Brendan, I got you this. I hope you like it," she said as she slowly handed him bag.

Brendan who was beaming with excitement gently placed the glass container on the table and grabbed the bag from her hands. His eyes widened as he grabbed the small Mudkip plush in the bag and began hugging it.

"Thanks May. I love him. They were always sold out when I went to the store so thanks".

This time it was her turn to smile as she glad that her gift had made him happy. She gave him a toothy grin which was immediately followed by laughter by the boy as he said, "May you look so funny with your top teeth missing".

"Oh shut up," she countered back. "You also look funny with your top teeth missing," she said which caused the pair to begin laughing uncontrollably.

Pretty short chapter. I think most chapters will probably be about this length.

I added the the Littleroot Marketplace because I think the town is too small and needed more points of attraction.

As for May not particularly liking Mudkip, it's actually part of a running gag that I will introduce soon.

Thanks for taking to time to read. I'll try to get the next chapter up soon.