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Chapter - 4
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Brendan sat in his room, which looked flawless, his mother knew where he wanted his things to be. It seemed like a hotel room to him, from the marble flooring to the renaissance paintings.

The floor was black marble with white veins, the walls were royal blue with a Moroccan pattern and the room had a fall ceiling with dim yellow LEDs that gave the room an aesthetic look.

He had been sitting in his room and playing Pokemon X on his Nintendo 3DS for two hours now, he felt great when no one asked him to study now that his school days were over. Brendan couldn't choose what starter he would pick.

Treecko, Torchic and Mudkip were the three choices, the same Pokemon that Professor Birch was carrying in his bag. Brendan had looked up the three Hoenn starters on the internet to gather more information and see which one of them suited him the best.

But he couldn't choose between the three, all of them seemed considerable. The guests started arriving, his mother had invited the neighbors and some of his father's friends.

His father, Norman had been living in the Hoenn Region for a while in a hotel and the family had finally moved.

Brendan walked down the stairs and gasped when he looked at the number of people. He looked around, searching for any familiar face in the living room.

"Brendan!" Said Birch, walking upto him. Birch wore the same clothes he was wearing earlier the day, the only exception being his labcoat, that he obviously wouldn't be wearing to a party. "There you are."

Brendan was relived to see someone he actually knew. "Professor, glad to see you again. I was curious about the starter Pokemon."

"What about them? Hmm, you haven't decided what you're going to choose, have you?" Asked Birch with absolute certainty.

"I haven't." Brendan said, softly. "I was curious which one of them was the choice of most trainers."

"Most people like to choose Torchic and to be honest, it's because new trainers believe that fire types are the best choice." Said Professor Birch. "And not only here, but every other region, they tend to pick a Charmander, or a Tepig in Unova."

"But wouldn't a water type be stronger?"

"Yes, and no." Said Birch, smiling. "See, if I were to explain the same thing to you about water types. You would just ask me about grass types being stronger than water types. It's not about which one is the strongest, but it's about that which one is the strongest with you."

Brendan understood, he just had to figure which was the optimal choice for him. The Pokemon that would best suit him.

"Anyways, how's your first day in Hoenn going so far?" Asked Birch, probably hoping for a great answer from Brendan.

"I love it." Brendan lied, his family was the moving type but he had stayed in Unova most of his life, and his first day in Unova exceptionally special, he made loads of friends and was the most popular kid in the school. Now, he couldn't go to school to make friends, which was harder.

"Ah, Norman is here!" Said Birch, patting Brendan's shoulder to say - see you around - and then walked away.

At the same moment, a girl walked towards him, she seemed the same age as Brendan. She wore a red t-shirt and blue denim shorts. Her blue eyes were the same as Brendan's.

"Hey, I hope my father didn't bore you." Said the girl, she smiled with her eyes closed for two seconds, those were the longest two seconds of Brendan's life. He couldn't help but look at her.

"Professor Birch is your father?"

The girl laughed. "Yes, I usually get that alot. I'm May."

"I'm Brendan. So, are you also going to choose a starter Pokemon tomorrow?"

"Obviously, I'll be the first one to get it. And I've also applied for the Hoenn League." Said May, confidently, she was really determined to be a Pokemon Trainer.

"That sounds great! Have you decided what you're going to pick? I'm really confused about these three starters."

"Oh, yes I have decided." Said May. "I know people tend to pick fire types but it's nothing about that. It's because I've always loved a Torchic and I want my starter to be one."

"A Torchic? I've never seen it before, so I can't tell." Said Brendan. "I'm only familiar with a Mudkip, and I think it was really cute but secretly strong too."

"Mudkips become huge at their final stage." Said May. "Strong and powerful and all that."

"Sounds good to me."

"It was really nice meeting you." Said May. "I have to wake up early tomorrow, so, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, yeah." Said Brendan, nervous. "Sure, good to see you too."

May smiled and went home. Brendan helped his parents in cleaning the house.

While his mom and dad slept in their room downstairs, Brendan played Pokemon X till the time he fell asleep.

Brendan couldn't believe, he had been waiting for this very day for a few years now. He always wanted to become a Pokemon Trainer and now his dreams were about to come true.

The next day, he woke up with a start, a pretty excited start, he had never been so excited in his life before. He changed his clothes to his new trainer clothes that Norman gifted.

He wore a long sleeved red and black sweater, black shorts over baggy black trousers with yellow cuffs. Fingerless gloves and a white beanie.

His bag was already packed, thanks to his overexcitement for starting a journey.

"I'm very proud, Brendan." Said his mother. "I don't know what you're going to chose, but I know it will change your life forever. Dad must be so happy."

"I bet." Said Brendan. "I'll show you my starter though, Mom."

"Of course you will." Said Mom. "Visit Norman, he won't be home for a few days. Surprise him."

"That I will." Said Brendan, giggling. "And I will also win a gym badge from him."

"Oh, that won't be that easy."

Brendan hugged his mother and was off to Professor Birch's lab. He felt incredible, to be able to step out of his house on his own, without anyone expecting him to come back. The feeling of that kind of independence was unprecedented to Brendan.

"Good morning, Brendan." Said Birch, looking at the young lad who just entered his laboratory. "I hope you have decided what you're going to pick."

"I sure have!" Said Brendan.

"But first, I need a favor." Birch requested. "Don't you worry, you don't have to go to the next town to get me a parcel. Can you bring May along with you? She must be at home, meanwhile I'll arrange everything you'll be needing for your journey."

"That's no problem, Professor." Said Brendan. "I was expecting her to be here too."

Brendan stepped outside and was on his way to Birch's house.

He rang the doorbell and a woman opened the door.

"Oh, you must be Brendan." Said the woman. "I am May's mother, how is your day going?"

"It's going better than I expected, though I hardly keep any expectations." Brendan smiled.

"That's a wise thing to do. And have you picked your starter?"

"I'm afraid not. I am here to take May to the lab. She's running late." Said Brendan.

May walked down the stairs and was at the door. She wore her trainer clothes that had the same color combination as Brendan's.

To Brendan, it was destiny.

"Oh, hi." Said May. "How come you're here?"

"For you." Said Brendan, lost in her eyes. "Um, I mean you're late, fo- for the lab."

May giggled.

"I see you're wearing the same color combination." Said May's mother, laughing.

Both looked at each other, shy.

May and Brendan talked about what they were finally going to pick and had come to a conclusion.

"May, Brendan." Said Professor Birch. Both were distracted by the new trainer standing beside Birch.

"Who is she?" May asked Brendan, whispering.

"You should know, you live here." Brendan replied.

"This is Leaf." Said Birch. "She is an experienced Pokemon Trainer who has participated in the Kanto and the Sinnoh League."

"Hi." Leaf smiled. "Nice to meet you."

"I'm May." May waved at Leaf.

"I'm Brendan." Brendan smiled.

Professor Birch presented the starter Pokemon. On the table were placed the three starters.

Grass type Treecko, Water type Mudkip, and Fire type Torchic.

"Both of us have decided our respective starters." Said May. "I choose Torchic!"

May picked up the third Pokeball.

"And I pick Mudkip!" Brendan held the second Pokeball.

"That's a good choice, both of you." Said Birch. "Leaf, here is your new Hoenn Pokedex, you should be on your way now to the Pokecenter to register yourself for the League."

"Thank you so much, Professor." Said Leaf. "See you later." She waved at Brendan and May, stepping out of the laboratory.

Leaf wasn't satisfied, she wanted to make a friend before leaving the town with whom she would be traveling. But May and Brendan seemed like a couple and she didn't want to interrupt anything.

Anyways she was 12 now, and it felt like a big thing to her. She would be a teenager soon and she had already started acting like one.

Little Root Town felt great, the October wind touched her face, comforting her. Leaf had never felt such warmth in air since Kanto.

She had a feeling that this would be the last time she would be taking part in any Pokemon League.

It was tiring. She wanted more than just a few badges and a photograph to be in the newspaper. What she didn't want was fame. She believed fame to be a trouble and now that one of her friends was a Gym Leader, she knew how troubled he was.

What she truly wanted was to do something that brings joy to her and Pokemon Training did feel good but it didn't make her that happy anymore.

How about a normal life? That would be perfect. Leaf wanted exactly that.

"We can help you find your way to the nearest Pokecenter." Said May, from behind.

Leaf turned around looking at the two trainers she had met in the Lab.

"It's in Oldale town." Said Brendan.

Leaf felt better now. Atleast she had company of ten year olds. Which wasn't the best thing happening to her, but clearly not the worst thing either.

They were walking slowly on Route 101, being very careful of their surroundings, when they heard a growl.

In front of them, stood a Poochyena.

Leaf pointed her Pokedex towards the Pokemon.

"Poochyena, a Bite Pokemon. It has a very tenacious nature. Its acute sense of smell lets it chase a chosen prey without ever losing track." Explained the Pokedex.

"I think it is the same Poochyena. I helped Professor Birch yesterday, a Poochyena chased him and he was finally sitting on a tree, helpless." Said Brendan, realising that May was her daughter.

"Dad told me a completely different story." Said May, remembering what Birch told her.

The Poochyena was very furious, I thought it was very nice but it attacked me. But when I stood angrily in front of him, he got scared, I was so intimidating that it ran away - May thought.

"He doesn't look so frightening." Said Leaf. "And we should consider the heart, not the sharp teeth. He hasn't attacked us yet, so clearly he's not dangerous."

Poochyena sat down in front of Leaf, wagging his tail.

"Go Luxio." Said Leaf, sending out her Pokemon. "Use Spark."

Finally I'll have a Pokemon that is equally powerful as me - Said Luxio.

She is going to catch me? - Asked Poochyena.

Of course she is - Said Luxio.

Listen, don't attack with a lot of power, okay? Because I want her to catch me. That's the only thing I've ever wanted and now it's about to come true - Said Poochyena.

Roger that! - Said Luxio. Using Spark attack with the least power.

Leaf threw a Pokeball at Poochyena. He happily went inside the Pokeball. The Pokeball flashed instantly, Poochyena was caught.

"My first Hoenn Pokemon." Said Leaf, happily. "I think I should send one of my powerful Pokemon to Professor Oak."

"But that was just a Poochyena. Nobody likes a Poochyena." Said May.

"A Pokemon is a Pokemon, whether likeable or not. But you must catch them wisely because you can't keep more than 6 in your team." Said Leaf.

"So is it the same like in Pokemon games?" Asked Brendan. "Fight them to make them weak and throw a Pokeball."

"I have no idea about the games, but my best friend does." Said Leaf. "Anyways it's more or less the same but keep in mind that feelings work too in real life. So if you think a Pokemon wants to be with you. You don't really have to fight it."

"I will definitely remember that." Said Brendan. "This is something coming from an experienced trainer."

"Absolutely worth remembering." Said May.