let's go on a JOURNEY! (POKEMON ORAS)

3. SUPPORT

May went bursting through the doors of Petalburg City's gym. "I'm here to see my dad!" she shouted.

The gym keeper was taken aback at her sudden entrance. "Um... Norman will be with you in a moment, ma'am!" he said, confusion apparent in his voice. He disappeared behind a door, leaving the brunette and her Mudkip to themselves.

While they waited, they glanced around the lobby. The interior was heavily influenced by old dojos and ancient architecture. The door opened up again, and this time the gym keeper came out with Norman in tow.

"May!" he exclaimed. "It's almost been an entire week since we've seen you."

'No different from any other time,' May solemnly thought to herself. As cool as it was having a gym leader for a dad, the hours were rough on her and her mom. The two never got to see him, and when they did, he was always rushing off again. It's good that he's happy with his job, but what about her? What about her mom?

"Hey dad, I caught my first pokémon!" she said with a smile, trying hard to push past her negative thoughts. "It's a Lotad!"

As Norman pressed on for details, a few people slipped into the gym unnoticed. It wasn't until someone cleared their throat that anyone paid them any mind. Now, all eyes were on the middle-aged man and the younger boy right beside him. The green-haired boy had an even smaller build than May. He appeared to be very fragile.

"Hello, can we help you?" Norman asked.

The man nudged the small boy forward. "Go on, ask him."

"Excuse me... I... I'd like help capturing a pokémon..." he said in a tiny, meek voice.

Norman smiled. "Lucky for you, we happen to have an expert on catching pokémon right here. May, won't you help this boy out?"

As much as she didn't want to help this complete stranger, she knew she didn't have a choice. "Yeah, sure. Follow me!" May said, walking towards the exit. "I'll see you later, Dad!"

May and the boy headed back out to Route 102. "...My name is Wally," the boy said.

"Nice to meet you. I'm May," she replied. The two had come up to a large patch of tall grass. "So, Wally. The most important part of catching a pokémon is having plenty of poké balls. You should also weaken it first. But, since you don't have a pokémon yet..." She laughed nervously, but was distracted by the sound of rustling grass.

"...Oh! Um, is there one over there?" Wally said, pointing at something coming through the grass. A tiny Ralts popped out in front of them, and stared at the two with curiosity.

Her jaw dropped. This pokémon looked really rare! She was heartbroken that she couldn't have it for herself. But, she was happy knowing that catching it could possibly make this boy's entire life. "Mudkip! Weaken that pokémon for me!" she shouted.

"Kip!" Mudkip obliged. He fired off a Water Gun attack, which hit the pokémon head on. It stumbled back, knocked right off of its feet.

May took the poké ball that was in her hands and threw it at the pokémon. Hoping that this would be as easy as the last time, she watched as the ball flashed and flickered, and finally glowed one last time. "Right on!" she exclaimed. "Alright Wally, it's all yours now! Take care of it, okay?"

"Wow! Th-Thank you so much!" Wally exclaimed. He hurried over to the poké ball and held it in his hands.

"No problem, my pleasure," May said with a smile.