On the way back, May walked up beside Ethan with a friendly smile and introduced herself first. "Hi! I'm May, from Petalburg City!"
"Ah, hi…" Ethan was about to introduce himself when a sudden burst of laughter cut him off.
"Wahahaha!"
The laugh sounded cocky and ridiculous at the same time. In the next instant, a shadow shot out from the grass. A huge mechanical arm snapped forward toward them, and a giant battery-shaped robot with a bold red "R" painted on it rolled into view.
"Who are you?!" Professor Birch and May both took a step back, faces tense, asking in unison.
The hatch on the robot opened, and three figures stepped out.
In front was a woman in a purple uniform with long black hair and a sly grin. Beside her stood a man in the same uniform wearing sunglasses, trying to look cool. At their feet sat a Meowth in a custom uniform with a little bell at its neck.
"If you insist on asking so sincerely," the woman said, striking an exaggerated pose, "then we'll kindly answer you!"
The man matched her pose. "We're here to bring trouble and make it double!"
Ethan let out a tired sigh when he saw them. "You again, Team Rocket. You really never give up."
He knew them far too well. Back in Kanto and Johto, this trio had constantly tried to steal other people's Pokémon. He never expected them to chase him all the way to Hoenn.
"Pidgeot, out! Use Brave Bird! Pikachu, use Iron Tail to break that mechanical arm, then follow with Volt Tackle!" Ethan fired off orders immediately.
"Pidgeot!" Ethan threw a Poké Ball. A flash of red light, and a massive bird Pokémon appeared. Pidgeot's eyes were sharp, its wings spread wide as it beat the air with a powerful cry.
"Pika!" Pikachu braced itself. Its tail hardened like iron and whipped forward at the incoming mechanical arm.
Clang!
Metal rang out as Iron Tail struck perfectly, snapping the arm apart. Right after that, golden electricity flared around Pikachu's body. It turned into a streak of lightning and slammed straight into Team Rocket's robot.
At the same time, Pidgeot dove like an arrow, wrapped in a pale glow, crashing down with Brave Bird.
Boom!
Volt Tackle and Brave Bird hit together. The robot exploded and collapsed into a pile of scrap.
But the blast was too strong, and the shockwave hit a bicycle nearby.
That bicycle, May's bicycle, was torn apart in the explosion, twisted into useless metal.
Ethan stared at the wreckage, his mouth twitching. In Kanto, he had accidentally destroyed Misty's bike. Now he had done it again in Hoenn. The title "bike destroyer" was following him everywhere.
"Hey, kid! That's not fair, we didn't even finish our intro!" the woman snapped, glaring at him.
"Yeah! Meowth didn't even get a line in!" Meowth complained.
"Wobbuffet…" the man muttered, sounding helpless.
Then all three shouted at once, "What a horrible feeling!"
They were swept away in a flash and vanished from sight.
Professor Birch and May were still frozen, the whole fight ending before they could fully process it.
"My bike…" May finally reacted. She crouched down, hugged her knees, and burst into tears. She had prepared that bicycle for her journey, and it was gone in seconds.
"I'm so sorry! I'll pay you back, I promise," Ethan said quickly, full of guilt as he rushed over.
"Pika…" Pikachu padded up too and nudged May gently, clearly feeling bad.
May cried for a bit longer, then wiped her face and shook her head. "It's fine… You didn't do it on purpose."
But her eyes were full of questions as she looked at Ethan. "Who are those people? And did that Meowth just talk like a human?"
Professor Birch leaned in too, just as curious. He knew Team Rocket was a criminal organization from Kanto that stole Pokémon, but a Meowth speaking human language was still hard to believe.
Ethan explained, "They're bad guys who steal Pokémon. As for why that Meowth can talk, it learned to. I heard it did it to impress a female Meowth… and it still failed."
"That's awful," May said, anger replacing her tears. "Stealing someone's Pokémon is the worst."
"Alright," Professor Birch said, clapping his hands to change the subject. "May, you still need to choose your first Pokémon."
At the mention of a starter Pokémon, May's expression brightened immediately. "Right!"
Professor Birch led Ethan and May back into the lab.
Inside, the research facility was neat and simple. A large worktable filled the center of the room, covered with equipment and documents. Photos of Pokémon hung on the walls, both wild and partnered Pokémon, like a record of countless adventures.
Professor Birch walked to the table, took three Poké Balls from his bag, and set them down. "Okay, May. Time to choose your first Pokémon."
May stepped closer, staring hard at the three Poké Balls like they were treasure. These were the Hoenn starters: the Grass-type Treecko, the Water-type Mudkip, and the Fire-type Torchic. Each one had huge potential.
She took a deep breath and nodded.
Professor Birch picked up the first Poké Ball. "First up, Treecko!"
He pressed the button. Red light flashed, and Treecko appeared, a small green gecko-like Pokémon with sharp eyes and a long, agile tail. It stood upright, looking at May with calm curiosity.
May suddenly shivered and stumbled back. "It's staring at me!"
Ethan, watching from the side, almost wanted to say it out loud. It's just looking at you.
Professor Birch gave an awkward chuckle. "Treecko is naturally a little proud. It's just observing you, not threatening you."
May still looked uneasy. "I… I want to see the others."
Professor Birch nodded, returned Treecko, and picked up the second Poké Ball. "Then second, Mudkip!"
The ball opened, and the same blue Pokémon they had seen earlier appeared. Mudkip's eyes lit up when it saw May, and it trotted toward her happily.
May took another step back and shook her head quickly. "But Mudkip doesn't really listen to me…"
Ethan's thoughts were blunt. That's because your commands were a mess.
Professor Birch patted Mudkip's head. "Mudkip is gentle. If you spend time with it, it will listen. But if you're not feeling it, let's see the last one."
May nodded at once. "Yes! I want to see the last one!"
Professor Birch picked up the third Poké Ball, smiling like he already knew what would happen. "Then last, Torchic!"
He released it. A flash of red, and a small orange chick Pokémon appeared with bright eyes and a tuft on its head. It looked around curiously, then spotted May.
Torchic immediately ran to her feet, rubbing against her leg and chirping happily.
"It's so cute!" May gasped. She crouched down carefully and lifted Torchic into her arms. "Okay! I choose you, Torchic!"
"Tor!" Torchic chirped, nuzzling her face affectionately.
Professor Birch smiled, clearly pleased. He opened a drawer, took out a Pokédex and six empty Poké Balls, and handed them to May. "Here. Your Pokédex and six Poké Balls. Work hard. I'm sure you can become a great Trainer, maybe even surpass your father."
May's father was Norman, the Petalburg Gym Leader, a powerful Trainer in his own right.
May accepted the items, her expression turning determined. "Yes! I'll do my best!"
Ethan smiled. "Then let's do our best together."
May's face stiffened for a second. "Y-Yeah!"
Then she muttered under her breath, so quietly it almost vanished, "Even though… I'm not sure I actually want to be a Trainer…"
"Hm? What did you say?" Ethan asked, not catching it.
May waved her hands quickly and forced a bright smile. "Nothing! I'll do my best!"
Ethan didn't think too deeply about it. He was about to say goodbye and head to register for the Hoenn League, but Professor Birch spoke first.
"If you're both going to enter the Hoenn League, you need to register at a Pokémon Center. The closest one is in Oldale Town. If you leave now, you should make it there by evening."
"Got it. Thank you, Professor," Ethan said.
May sighed dramatically. "Walking all the way there makes me nervous… If only I had a bicycle."
Ethan's mouth twitched again as he remembered the shattered metal on the ground. He cleared his throat. "Then… how about we travel together? It'll be safer, and I can help out."
"Yay!" May's mood flipped instantly. With Ethan and Pikachu around, she didn't have to worry as much about wild Pokémon.
"Pika…" Pikachu scratched the back of its head, still embarrassed about the whole bike situation.
Professor Birch watched them with a pleased expression. "Good. Traveling together is safer. Work hard, and be careful on the road."
"Understood! Thank you, Professor Birch!" Ethan and May said together.
They waved goodbye and headed for the door.
Pikachu jumped up onto Ethan's shoulder, chirping cheerfully. May hugged Torchic close, smiling as she walked beside him.
Sunlight poured through the lab windows, painting their path in warm gold.
Their Hoenn adventure had only just begun.
(End of Chapter)
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