The next morning (2)

Em woke alone in the bed, to the sound of a shower running. He felt sticky and sweaty and very much also in need of a shower. He debated hopping in with May but decided to let her have her own shower. If she had wanted him to join her she’d have woken him up.

May stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her head but otherwise nude, and smiled widely as she realized Em was awake.

“Good morning! I just took a quick shower, I didn’t think you’d wake up so soon. We could have showered together, sleepy head!” She winked and stuck her tongue out at him before starting to get dressed.

Em hopped off the bed and gave May’s butt a squeeze as he stepped into the bathroom for his shower. She giggled and swatted his hand away playfully. After showering and getting their morning routines out of the way, the pair headed downstairs to retrieve their pokemon.

They could tell it was Kyugo on duty by the lecherous smile she gave them as they approached, it was far from the sweet smile that was standard for Nurse Joys.

“Thank you for waiting. We’ve restored your pokemon to full health. We hope to see you again~”

She handed the trainers their pokeballs with a wink, then returned to her usual demure demeanor as if nothing had happened.

Being a Nurse Joy must be an incredible amount of emotional labor. That paired with the medical expertise needed for extreme cases… Truly amazing women.

Em and May stepped out of the center and into the dim sunlight of early morning.

“So! Shall we check out your mom’s gym?”

“Nah, we aren’t strong enough to face her. Let’s keep training along the routes for now.”

May thought about it for a minute, a finger placed pensively against her lip.

“Mmkay! Onwards!”

She grabbed Em by the arm and started pulling him along through Petalburg. Before they could speedwalk right on through to the next route, though, they were stopped by a boy.

“Hiya! Are you maybe… a rookie trainer?”

“Yup!” May answered immediately.

“Do you know what pokemon trainers do when they reach a new town?”

“Yup!” May’s chipper attitude was dauntless.

“They first check what kind of Gym is in the town.”

“That’s right!” May moved to brush past the kid who was clearly still in trainer school and wanted someone to test his knowledge with. But the boy tugged on Em’s shirt, pointing to the Petalburg Gym.

“See? This is Petalburg City’s Gym.” The boy pointed to the sign next to the front door. “That’s the Gym’s sign. Look for it whenever you’re looking for a Gym.”

The boy kept looking at Em and May expectantly. He was creeping Em out a little bit.

“Fine, we’ll check out the Gym, kid.” May sounded exasperated for a bit, but bounced back immediately. “Let’s go see your mom, Em!”

They walked into the Gym arm in arm, its automatic doors welcoming them. Ma was waiting in the lobby.

“Hm? Well, if it isn’t Em! So you’re all finished moving in? I’m surprised you managed to get here by yourself.”

Em quirked an eyebrow and looked to May, who was still firmly attached to his arm.

“Oh, I see. You’re with May. And you both have pokemon. Hm… Then I guess you’re going to become a Trainer like me after all, Em. That’s great news! I’ll be looking forward to it!”

A different boy from the one earlier came in. He was Em’s age but small and frail.

“Um… I… I’d like to get a pokemon, please…”

A new trainer? The local Gym’s a great place to start.

Em moved aside, pulling May with him, so that the new kid could speak to Ma.

“Hm? You’re… Uh… Oh, right. You’re Wally, right?”

“I’m going to go stay with my relatives in Verdanturf town. I thought I would be lonely by myself, so I wanted to take a pokemon along. But I’ve never caught a pokemon before. I don’t know how…”

“Hm. I see. Em, you heard that, right? Go with Wally and make sure that he safely catches a pokemon. Wally, here, I’ll loan you my pokemon.”

Wally received a Zigzagoon!

“Oh, wow! A pokemon!”

“Hm. I’ll give you a pokeball, too. Go for it!”

Wally received a pokeball!

“Oh, wow! Thank you! Em… would you really come with me?”

Em nodded, and the three young trainers headed off into the tall grass close to where Em had beaten Tiana.

“Em… Pokemon hide in tall grass like this, don’t they? Please watch me and see if I can catch one properly.”

A pokemon jumped out of the tall grass and growled cutely at Wally.

“Whoa!”

Wild Ralts appeared

“Go Zigzagoon! Use Tackle!”

The little striped pokemon ran at the little green and white pokemon, slamming its tiny body and making them both tumble to the ground.

Zigzagoon used Tackle!

The ralts cowered and covered its face with its tiny hands, making adorable mewling sounds. Wally’s borrowed Zigzagoon looked reluctant to hit it again.

Wild Ralts used Growl!

“Use Tackle again!”

The Zigzagoon got back to its feet, shaking dirt off of its fur before running towards the Ralts. It held back in its attack, but still hit true, sending the Ralts tumbling through the air for a few seconds.

Zigzagoon used Tackle!

The Ralts almost looked to be pleading with the Zigzagoon, battered and bruised, making the cutest little pitiable sounds possible. The Zigzagoon looked back at Wally, also pleading to end the battle.

“Zigzagoon, that’s enough! Come back!” Wally recalled the Zigzagoon to its pokeball and faced the Ralts himself. “You throw a ball now, right? I… I’ll do my best!”

Wally rummaged around in his bag for the pokeball that Ma had given him, while the Ralts looked up at him curiously. When he found it, he tossed it at the Ralts. He missed terribly, but the Ralts wandered over to the pokeball anyway, letting itself be caught.

Gotcha! Ralts was caught!

“I did it… It’s my… My pokemon! Em, May, Thank you! Let’s go back to the Gym!”

Em nodded reassuringly. Before the trio set off again, back to the Gym where Ma was waiting for them.

“So, did it work out?”

“Thank you, yes, it did. Here’s your pokemon back. Em, May, thank you for coming along with me. You three are why I was able to catch my pokemon. I promise I’ll take really good care of it.Oh! My mom’s waiting for me, so I have to go! Bye, Em! Bye, May!”

Wally ran outside.

“Now…” Ma began. “Em, if you want to become a strong Trainer, here’s my advice. Head for Rustboro City beyond this town. There, you should challenge the Gym Leader, Roxanne. After her, go on to other Pokemon Gyms and defeat their Leaders. Collect Badges from them, understood? Of course, I’m a Gym Leader, too. We’ll battle one day, Em. But that’s only after you become stronger.” Ma gave him a reassuring smile and tousled his hair.

Em beamed proudly back at her, then set off with May to Rustboro. Or at least, he tried. Yet again they were stopped before leaving the city limits. This time by a lady in cool shades.

“Excuse me! Let me guess, from the way you two are dressed, are you a pokemon trainer?”

She turned away from them and was silent for a few moments. Em started to pull May towards the next Route, but the lady continued.

“Well, maybe not. Your clothes aren’t all that dirty. You’re either a rookie Trainer, or maybe you’re just an ordinary person.”

She turned to face them again, halting Em’s escape attempt in its tracks as she struck a pose.

“I’m roaming the land in search of talented Trainers. I’m sorry to have taken your time.”

She walked off in the same direction Em and May were planning to go without a second glance.

There sure are some weird people in Hoenn…