The Patron Quadrilogy: The Legend Begins

Chapter 42

Tuesday, October 17th, 3:00 a.m.
Brimstone Pub

"Finally, we're home!" Brendan said with a yawn as May, Steven, and Ash waited as he unlocked the door.

"Well, you guys are," Steven said. "I still have to make my way back to my home."

"You're welcome to spend the night here, Steven. It's late enough as it is, and tomorrow we need to start preparing."

"Which is why I need to head home," Steven told him. "There's some stuff I need to take care of. Would you mind if I spoke to you, alone?" Brendan paused, before gesturing for Ash and May to enter the Pub.

"I'll be in soon. You guys go get some rest."

"I'll sleep in one of the booths," Ash told him.

"You sure?"

"I've slept in a sleeping bag for years on on ground that wasn't always comfortable. So yeah I can sleep in a booth."

"Alright," Brendan said with a shrug.

"I'll be in our room then," May told him. "I'll stay awake until you're done here."

"No, you need to sleep, May. You've pushed yourself way too much today. Rest and recover."

"I could say the same to you," she pointed out with a yawn.

"I don't know how long I'll be," Brendan told her. "Don't stay up for my sake."

"Alright, Brendan." She sighed before going inside. Brendan turned to Steven.

"Come with me," he told the Patron of Rayquaza, before propelling himself to the roof with his flames. He heard Steven land on the roof a few seconds after he did.

"So, you wanted to talk?" Brendan asked.

"Yeah, I did," Steven replied. "Lately, I've been thinking about how crazy our lives have become. The three of us. You, May, and myself. One minute we're all just Pokémon Trainers fighting Legendary Pokémon and trying to save the world. And now, we have Powers. And soon we're going to be fighting to save the world again." In the pale moonlight Brendan could faintly see Steven frown. "But this time...."

"One of us is probably going to die," Brendan finished Steven's thought. "Yeah, I've been thinking about that a lot as well. Truthfully, it's been on my mind ever since Groudon told me about what it took to take down a Patron of Darkrai in the past." The pair were silent for a few moments.

"He's going to be going after her," Steven spoke, breaking the silence. "May, I mean."

"You mean he'll be going after me first," Brendan corrected him. "As long as I'm standing he's never going to get near her."

"He knows that, and we both know that he has absolutely no intention of facing us alone. If we gained anything from the battle we just endured, it's that there are Patrons in this world that either agree with Harley or are in this for money. And above all else, May now knows that as well."

"I'll admit, I'm scared for her." Brendan confided in Steven. "You and I both know the type of person she's always been. She'll put others before herself. I never told anyone this, but when I told May about what Harley was, about how powerful he is, do you know what she said to me? She considered letting him kill her, hoping that afterwards, Harley wouldn't harm anyone else."

"I've witnessed you take a Dragon Claw to the head. Over the years since I've witnessed you face dozens of people who wanted a fight. I've seen you take risks that would make most people piss themselves. And you just told me that you're scared. I honestly wasn't sure if you were physically capable of feeling fear."