Petalburg City, Hoenn Region
Normal-Type Gym.
The gym's polished wooden floors gleamed under the sunlight filtering through the tall windows. The walls, adorned with framed badges and pictures of victorious trainers, gave the room an air of quiet prestige.
Norman, the Normal-type specialist and gym leader, stood near the center of the room. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with short brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard, exuding an air of calm authority. However, his usual confident demeanor seemed uneasy as he glanced at the young girl before him.
"Ah, May? You and your mother settled in okay?" he asked, his voice warm but slightly hesitant.
May, a spirited girl with a red bandana tied over her chestnut-brown hair, crossed her arms. Her blue eyes, sharp with annoyance, met his gaze. "Yeah, we did. Thanks for helping," she replied, her tone clipped.
Norman rubbed the back of his neck, sensing her frustration. "I know things have been tough lately..."
"Dad," May cut him off sharply, her voice tinged with irritation. "Quit talking to me like I'm ten."
Norman flinched at her tone, a pang of guilt flashing in his eyes. He opened his mouth to respond but hesitated, his words catching in his throat. He knew he hadn't been there for her as much as he should have. Clearing his throat, he tried to change the subject.
"I see you've got your Pokémon with you," he said, nodding toward the Pokéball clipped to her belt. "Planning to become a Trainer, huh?"
"Yeah," May said, her voice steady, though her frustration lingered in her posture. "It's one way I can beat you."
Norman's lips twitched into a faint smile, as though attempting to soften the tension, but before he could say anything, the creak of the gym door broke the moment.
A gym assistant stepped inside, bowing slightly before speaking. "Leader Norman, there's a spirited boy at the gates. He's insistent on speaking with you. I thought it best to let you know."
Norman raised an eyebrow, his hand moving to scratch his clean-shaven chin thoughtfully. "A boy, huh? Alright, send him in," he said, his tone light. The interruption was a welcome reprieve from the brewing confrontation with his daughter.
The assistant gave a quick nod and disappeared as swiftly as she had arrived, her footsteps fading down the hallway.
Norman turned back to May, his expression softening as he gestured toward her. "Looks like duty calls. We'll pick this up later, alright?"
May folded her arms, her expression unyielding. "Sure. After your 'business,'" she said coldly before retreating to a bench in the far corner of the room. She sat down with a huff, turning her gaze away.
Norman sighed quietly, dreading the inevitable continuation of their conversation.
The wait didn't last long. Within moments, the assistant returned, this time accompanied by a boy with green hair that gleamed faintly under the gym's lights.
Norman studied the newcomer with curiosity. The boy's pale complexion and delicate frame suggested he wasn't accustomed to the outdoors, but he carried himself with a quiet composure that immediately caught Norman's attention. He was humming an unfamiliar tune—soft, almost melodic.
"Not a Trainer, I assume?" Norman said with a light chuckle. "You look a little young to be here for a battle."
The boy smiled faintly, his gray eyes bright but calm. "Not yet," he replied, his voice soft but steady. "You'd have to wait a few months for me to challenge you."
Norman chuckled, appreciating the boy's humor. "Fair enough. So, what brings you to the gym, little almost-Trainer?"
The boy nodded politely before speaking. "I'm Wally, from next door. My uncle might have mentioned me?" His gaze shifted briefly to May, offering a small nod of acknowledgment.
Norman blinked, the name triggering his memory. "Wally!" he exclaimed, smacking his forehead in realization. "Right! Your uncle did mention you. You're here to get a Pokémon, aren't you?"
Wally nodded, his expression brightening. "Yes, sir. I'll be moving to Verdanturf Town soon, and I was hoping to catch a Pokémon to keep me company."
Norman crossed his arms, considering the boy's request. "Verdanturf, huh? That's a bit of a trip. Makes sense you'd want some company." His gaze flicked toward May, an idea forming in his mind.
"May," he called, turning toward his daughter. "You heard that, right? Why don't you go with Wally and help him catch his first Pokémon?"
May's head snapped up, her eyes narrowing. "Seriously, Dad? You're just trying to dodge our talk!"
"Of course not, dear," Norman replied, his tone far too quick and casual to be convincing. Before May could retort, Norman turned back to Wally and pulled out a Poké Ball. "Here, Wally. I'll lend you one of my Pokémon to help you out. And take this Poké Ball to catch your new friend."
Wally accepted the items with a bow of gratitude. "Thank you, Leader Norman."
Norman clapped his hands together, ushering the two toward the gym doors. "Great! Off you go, then. Don't keep us waiting too long, alright?"
May shot him a glare as she followed Wally to the door. "We're not done, Dad. We'll settle this next time!" she called over her shoulder, her voice sharp with frustration.
Norman gave a small wave, watching the pair leave. The gym fell silent once more, and he let out a long sigh.
"Next time," he muttered to himself.
...
Hoenn Region
Route 102
May, Aspiring Trainer
May let out a sharp huff, turning to the boy walking beside her. "Sorry. You shouldn't have heard that," she said, her frustration still simmering beneath the surface.
The boy, his green hair faintly shimmering under the sunlight, gave a soft smile. "It's not a problem," he said, his tone calm and understanding.
May, however, wasn't ready to let it slide. She scowled, the words spilling out before she could stop them. "It is a problem. My dad should've been the one helping you catch your first Pokémon—not me. But of course, he couldn't be bothered. He's always like this, dumping things on someone else."
Wally blinked, clearly taken aback by her bluntness, but his smile never wavered. "I don't mind. Honestly, I think you'll guide me just as well—maybe even better."
May arched a brow, skepticism flickering in her eyes, but she couldn't suppress the faint grin tugging at her lips. "Smooth talker, aren't you?" she teased, baring her signature tiger tooth.
"Not really," Wally answered with a soft chuckle, his humor matching hers. Then, his tone softened, and his expression turned thoughtful. "Family stuff can be tough, huh?"
May kicked a pebble on the dirt path, watching it skitter off into the grass. Her shoulders slumped as she muttered, "Yeah, you could say that. Dad's always busy—completely obsessed with his 'gym duties.' He didn't even visit once after we moved here. I'm used to it, I guess, but my mom... She doesn't say anything, but I know it bothers her."
She straightened up, forcing a bitter laugh as if to shake off the weight of her words. "That's why I'm working so hard—to become a strong Trainer. Someday, I'll face him in battle and kick his ass. Then he'll have no choice but to pay attention."
May stopped mid-stride, glancing at Wally with an apologetic shrug. "Ugh, listen to me rambling. I'm probably boring you with all this, huh? Sorry."
Wally shook his head, his voice gentle but firm. "It's okay. It's better to let it out than to keep it bottled up." His sincerity was disarming, and he added with a small smile, "And for what it's worth, I think you'll make an amazing Trainer. You'll beat your dad one day for sure."
May blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "That's a bold claim for someone who just met me. Or are you just trying to flatter me?"
"Not at all," Wally said, his conviction unwavering. "I just believe it."
She studied him, searching for any hint of sarcasm, but all she saw was earnestness. "That's a bold statement for someone who barely knows me."
Wally's lips curved into a faint grin. "I'd even bet on it. You'll beat him sooner than you think."
May pressed her lips together, trying to suppress the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You should be careful about making promises, Wally."
"I am," the boy replied, glancing left and right with an exaggerated air of caution, as if ensuring no one else was listening. He beckoned May closer with a mischievous grin, his expression full of intrigue.
Humoring him, she leaned in, curious about what he might say.
"It's because I know the future," he whispered conspiratorially, his lips curling into a sly smirk.
"Really?" May tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. "That's quite a claim. You're not some kind of psychic, are you?"
In the Pokémon world, psychics were rare but not unheard of. Gym Leaders like Tate and Liza from Mossdeep City were said to predict glimpses of the future.
"Maybe," Wally said with a playful wiggle of his eyebrows. "Or maybe I'm just messing with you."
"You cheeky little—!" May laughed, giving him a light shove. She stopped mid-laugh, noticing something about his calm demeanor. He hadn't exactly denied it. "Alright, Mr. Fortune Teller. What kind of Pokémon do you think you'll catch today?"
"Ralts," Wally said without hesitation, his expression unwavering.
May blinked. "Ralts? Seriously? Those are rare. I've trained here plenty and never seen one."
"Don't be surprised when we do," Wally replied, his grin teasing.
May smirked, crossing her arms. "Alright, Mr. Know-the-Future. Let's see if you're as good as you claim."
The two trekked along the uneven path, their steps crunching against loose gravel and scattered roots. The air was thick with the scent of earth and wildflowers, a quiet breeze brushing past like whispers through the trees. After a time, a sea of tall grass unfurled before them, swaying gently in the wind like green waves under a pale sky.
"Pokémon tend to hide in places like this," May said, her voice low with cautious excitement. She reached forward, pushing aside a stubborn blade of grass that blocked their way. "Walk through it, and you're almost guaranteed to encounter something."
She paused, turning her head to glance at Wally. His shoulders rose and fell with uneven breaths, his pale face glistening with sweat. He looked as if he'd been pulled from water—gasping, limp, like a Magikarp flung onto dry land.
"Should we take a break?" she asked worried. "You look like you're about to collapse."
But Wally waved her off, mustering a shaky smile. "No need. It's just... an old issue. We're nearly there, anyway—right at the edge."
May opened her mouth to reply, but the grass ahead suddenly rustled, cutting her off. Instinctively, both of them froze, eyes locked on the trembling green. From within the brush stepped a small figure—graceful, strange, and silent. Its blue hair shimmered faintly in the light, a single red horn protruding from its head like a blade of ruby, and it wore a flowing white robe that shifted with ethereal grace.
Ralts.
May spun around to face Wally, her eyes wide. He looked up, as if sensing her gaze, and that familiar, cheeky smirk curled on his lips.
"Told you," he said.
...
Thanks for reading~