Chapter One:
The boy smiled as he laced fingers with the girl, the strong scent of roses filling the air, creating a tranquil and romantic enviornment for the two lovers. Cuddling, the boy and girl felt the warm wind hug them in its loving embrace as they hugged each other. But even with the girl of his dreams in his arms, the boy couldn't help but worry; worry about what the future had in store for them, worried for where his life was going and worried mainly for the girl.
Because even with this pretty little picture painted on the outside, he could feel terror trying to bubble its way out . . .
"Brendan Birch? Hey B boy, are you with us? Speak Bread Head, speak . . ."
Brendan Birch, Pok?mon Champion in the making, snapped out of his daydream and glared at his partner through crimson eyes. Trying to ignore his ashy-white hair that tickled the back of his neck (making the use of his bandana meaningless), the boy laid down on the grass, dirtying and wrinkling his black and red sweater that matched perfectly with his pants.
"Must you do that?" he asked, annoyed.
"Sorry, but you were spacing out on me," May Maple replied as she smiled innocently. Brushing back a strand of mahogany hair that made its way to her face, the girl trainer rested her head on top of Brendan's stomach, her sapphire eyes watching her lightly tanend fingers fiddle with an empty Pok?ball. Putting the Pok?ball away, May tugged down on her red t-shirt and adjusted the black biker shorts on her hips. "Art thou remember thy meeting today?"
"Okay, okay, no need to talk all . . . Shakespear on me," the white-haired trainer groaned. "I don't see why we need to be here! I'm sure Walter can plan a surprise party by himself!"
Gazing into the endless blue of the heavens dotted with white, puffy clouds, the boy trainer rested his head on open palms white. Smiling cheekily, the sun beat down upon the two, its rays planting chaste kisses on the sweet smelling grass. The grasses danced amongst the wind, their music, the chirping of the birds.
This was the tiny town of Verandturf and what a fine town it was; a relaxing place for both Brendan and May to meet up with Wally, another friend, ally, and rival of theirs.
"Oh come on Brendan. Don't you want to help plan a surprise party for Wanda, Wally's cousin?" May questioned as she sat up and rolled over near Brendan's head to play with his snowy-white hair.
"Seeing as we don't really know her, why not!" Brendan retorted sarcastically.
"Brendan . . ."
"Okay, fine. I'll help the little pip-squeak out seeing as we're probably the only friends he's got."
"Ha, don't flatter yourself Birch, I have more friends than you can count," a voice from behind them piped up.
"So that's like. . . five?" Brendan sat up and turned his head, a smirk quickly tugging at his lips. "Nice to see ya again Wallace."
Wally, or 'Wallace' as Brendan like to call him, only rolled his emerald eyes and pocketed his hands in his khakis. The wind (which was the reason why Verandturf was so famous to begin with) blew up the collar of his clean, white button-up shirt. Kicking the ground, the boy only smiled boldly at Brendan's comment.
"You do know you just made fun of yourself right?" Wally remarked. "Oh, and nice to see you too Brandon. Very nice."
The rivalry between both boy trainers has ceased to a stop in most cases but, in the end, the two couldn't help but make fun of each other. Perhaps it was to give them self-confidence and to provoke the other trainer into giving up. It worked both ways really for when trying to make the other lose, they had to fight to prove themselves winners.
At least that's what May believed. She didn't believe that one of the boys wanted to bring the other down but instead boost their egos and confidence.
Though, she couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Knock it out you two."
"But we haven't even started arguing yet!" Brendan whined.
"Trust me, if you guys do, I don't think you'll ever stop," May stated dully. "Anyways, about this surprise party for your cousin Wally. What should we do for it?"
". . . Hmm? Oh! Oh yeah!" Wally cut off the glare contest between the white-haired trainer and him and smiled at May. "As you guys know from the viv-gram I sent you, Wanda's birthday is coming up. I want to surprise her with a party-"
"Hence the words 'surprise party'," Brendan interrupted.
"-because she helped me teach me the basic of Pok?mon even though she, like my aunt, wouldn't let me go out on a journey," Wally finished as he sat down Indian-style in front of Brendan and May. "So, will you guys help me?"
Brendan made clucking noises by hitting the roof of his mouth with his tongue as he rested a finger on his chin, thinking. "We do have to train for the Hoenn League though," Brendan remarked, trying to get out of party planning. Admittedly, the boy was a lazy bum despite all the training he's done.
May lightly punched Brendan on the arm playfully, amused by his attempt of getting out of the surprise party. "That's in like a month Brendan," May retorted back. "I'm helping and if you were my boyfriend B Boy, you would too!" Eyes narrowed, the girl bore daggers into her boyfriend's eyes, trying to intimidate him.
"Dammit! She got me with that 'if you were my boyfriend' line again!" Brendan groaned, slapping a hand on his forehead. Sighing, the boy ran a hand through his hair nervously as he tore his eyes away from May's. "Okay, fine I'll do it, but not for you Wall Leak, but for my one true love, May!" He reached over and sat May down in his lap.
May giggled and laid her head on Brendan's shoulder, her glower soonly dissolving away because of this.
The green-haired trainer couldn't help but shuddered at the sight. It was true that he did use to like May but even then, since he got over his little infatuation, he found it odd to see his two best friends groping each other. "The cuteness of you two as a couple disgusts me sometimes." Wally rolled his eyes. "But thanks for helping I guess." The emerald-eyed trainer pulled out a notebook from his backpack. "Okay, so we're going to need invitations for guests, figure out who Wanda knows so we can give those invitations to them, get party decorations, get a cater or whatever their called, and this whole mess of crap! So . . . who wants to be in charge of any of these? I've got food!"
"I'll get the guest list!" May shouted.
"Then that leaves Brendan with party decorations!" Wally noted, scribbling it down on his notebook. "It'll be easy for him to blow up the balloons since he's already an air head."
"I'm only right here ya know!" Brendan complained, glaring at Wally from above May's head.
"Oh, do you want me to say that louder then?"
"Okay, let's get to it then, we only have two weeks!" May jumped out of Brendan's lap. "I'll be going around town so see ya guys later!" and with that, the girl trainer walked up to the nearest house and entered.
"Great, I'm stuck with the loser," Brendan groaned as he stood up. "Let's go to Mauville then that way, we can get rid of each other faster!"
"For once in my life, I agree with you," Wally stated. "beside that entire PMS May thing."
"D
amn. Straight."
---
"Okay Birch, we've only got a few hours before we've gotta meet up with May," Wally stated, checking the time on his watch. "So when your done with everything, meet at my house alright?"
Brendan nodded. "Okay."
And with that, the two boy trainers took off in different directions.
Head darting back and forth in somewhat of a frantic search, the boy began to window shop. "Where to get party supplies, where to get party supplies?" Brendan repeated out loud. "Rydel's Bike Shop? No. The Casino? No. The Mauville Gym. I doubt it. Hmm . . ."
The white-haired trainer looked around as he past a secluded part of Mauville. The area was casted with the silhouettes of cloud's shadows, creating a dark and haunted look. Worn down, second-rate shops covered the area and old newspapers littered the already dirty, asphalt ground.
The boy was rather confused by this, wondering if he ever passed this area before. "Hmm, funny, I don't remember ever going into this part of town before," Brendan murmured. "It's like it just . . . appeared out of no where. That's just freaky."
The boy trainer walked down an alleyway when a movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention. Curious, Brendan walked down the alleyway, a lump of fear growing in his throat. Mentally, the boy slapped his forehead because of his stupidity.
"Curse my curiosity!" Brendan muttered to himself. "Wow, that made me sound . . . old. Or something along those lines anyways."
From around the corner of an old fast food resturant, a voice, tinged with that of malciousness and evilness muttered, "I've been waiting for you Mr. Birch . . ."
"So?" Brendan replied absentmindedly, unaware that a voice from who knows where spoke to him.. He slapped a hand on his mouth soon after.
'Crap, now I'm going to get killed because I was sarcastic!' Brendan thought, ashamed.
'What a way to end your life . . . Shit, even I'm sarcastic in my mind. I hate my genes.'
The voice though only laughed, surprising Brendan. "Mr. Birch . . . It has been awhile since I've last seen you hasn't it?"
"I wouldn't know seeing as I can't see you myself," Brendan replied cooly.
"How idiotic of me, not letting you see me!" the voice laughed as he stepped out into the shadows. Simpering, the stranger patted down the his slick hair as if it went askew as he viciously glared at Brendan, his eyes hinting that of hatred and . . . amusement? "Remember me now Brendan my boy?"
The boy was confused by the message written in the stranger's eyes let alone who exactly the stranger was. Then reality slapped him in the face. "Maxie!" Brendan growled. "What are you . . . how the hell . . . I'm calling the police!" The boy trainer flicked out his Pok?Nav only to get it knocked out of his hand and stomped on by the former Team Magma Leader.
"You wouldn't dare call the police on your deal pal Maxie would you?" Maxie laughed mockingly.
"Well I can't now seeing as my Pok?Nav is busted!" Brendan retaliated sharply, stating the obvious. "What the hell are you doing back here? I thought you would be dead by now! Or at least dirty . . ." he noted, noticing that Maxie was rather clean for being on the run for three months. His clothes were still clean with the acception of a few smudges. Perhaps the long, black trench coat that Maxie wore over his Magma uniform kept him clean. Where he got this quote was another myster Brendan couldn't solve.
"Ha, you underestimate me Brendan, surely you would know that I, leader of the infamous Team Magma, would have several tricks up my sleeves to stay alive and be on the run from those annoying pests called policemen."
"I . . . er . . .hmm . . ."
Maxie only smirked in return as the boy's hesitation. "Now, have you heard of this Wally Wood character? I'm pretty sure you have."
"What about him?" Brendan questioned, hands shoved in pockets. Never would he let the Magma leader think that he was intimated by him. He would act cool and pretend that his re-apperance did not affect him.
"Now I want you to think back. Back around a few months ago to around the annual Pok?mon fair here in Mauville City. . ." Maxie trailed off. "Do you remember Brendan?"
Brendan smiled, remembering the first time he kissed May. "Yeah, yeah I do," he stated, a goofy grin forming on his face.
"Now, can you tell me what happened when you crashed into the building during the fair's formal dance?"
Brendan immediately frowned. "Well, llike you said, we crashed into the building, I fainted I guess because I remember I was laying down in May's lap, and then we went outside and we er . . . we um-"
"Tell me, who battled against me that one fateful night?" Maxie demanded.
Brendan blinked twice. "Wally Wood?" he answered hesitantly.
"Very good Birch!" Maxie spat out roughly. "It's good to know you're paying attention. Now, I don't like this kid, probably as worse than you use to. And do you know why I hate this kid Birch?"
"Because he . . . defeated you?"
"Exactly! He defeated me! This puny, green-haired trainer defeated me in front of hundreds of people! Do you know how embarrassing that is to be defeated by him?!"
"I wouldn't actually," Brendan replied cooly.
Maxie only growled as paced back and forth in front of the trainer, his temper rising. "No, if it weren't for him, the world could of been at my mercy and in the palm of my hands. But yet, he somehow defeated me with that stupid Gardevoir of his! If only . . . if only-" The former Team Magma Leader stopped walking and stared at Brendan, a smug smile forming on his face. "Why yes. . . yes, that could work!"
"Do I dare ask what will work?" Brendan inquired, bewildered.
"How much do you hate this Wally character?"
"Enough to despise him but not enough to kill him."
"Why isn't that's ironic."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Because I want you to kill him for me."
The boy trainer let out a snort at Maxie's demand, taking it lightly. "Ah, we all wish for things that we know are never,
EVER going to come true don't we?" Brendan, about to walk away, was pinned down by the neck by Maxie. He squirmed uncomfortably, trying to get out of his grasp but he was rewarded with that of a tight grip on his neck. He began to sputter and cough, slowly loosing his breath.
"You don't get a choice if you want to or not," Maxie glared coldly into the white-haired trainer's eyes. He released his grip on Brendan just enough so that he could talk.
"And if I refuse?" Brendan whispered in a hoarse, gloweing back at the former Team Magma Leader.
"If you refuse?" Maxie raised an eyebrow. "The thought hasn't crossed my mind! Surely I would think that you would happily kill your rival."
Brendan managed to kick Maxie back to release his grip on him. "You're dead wrong then!" he barked, rubbing his neck gently.
"Dead wrong, how ironic again!" Maxie laughed.
"Why can't you do it! You're the one that hates the boy with your heart and soul!" Brendan stated angrily, continuing to rub his neck. Despite his lack of breath, Brendan's voice seemed to get louder with every word spoken out of his mouth. "That is, if you have a heart or soul."
"I don't like getting my hands . . . dirty without having a reason of doing so," Maxie retaliated. "Kill Wally for me, you stay alive."
"I'd rather die than kill my friend!"
"Ah, you didn't let me finish." Maxie waved a finger at him. "Kill Wally for me, you stay alive. But if you don't, you two both wind up dead. Is that clear enough?"
Brendan growled but stayed silent.
"Good! Now let me make this harder for you. If you don't kill Wally, you die, he dies and a person close to your heart dies as well. Now, who is this person close to your heart you ask?"
Brendan glared daggers at the Magma Leader, his fists clenching together in hatred.
"This person would be your loving girlfriend. That's right! May Maple!"
Brendan stomped a foot on the ground, demanding the Team Magma Leader to stop. Eyes narrowed into that of hatred, the boy shouted, "You hurt one hair on her head and I swear I will-"
"What?" Maxie interrupted. "Kill me?"
"Evil little bas-"
"I would watch that tongue of yours Mr. Birch, you never know when it's going to get you into trouble. Be glad that I'm giving you two choices you little brat!"
"Well, lucky me then!" Brendan retorted sardonically.
Maxie only smirked and walked past Brendan and into the fog that clouded the bare streets of the desolate side of Mauville. "Two weeks Mr. Birch, two weeks." And with that, he disappeared yet, his words kept repeating in Brendan's ears.
"Somehow," Brendan started, "I don't think those words are going to be leaving me anytime soon . . ."
---
The sun had already set behind the Verandturn hills as both Brendan and Wally made their way back home, one happy and almost skipping down the road and the other gloomy, head lowered, arms swinging at his side.
Despite the sadness that Brendan dispelled, the weather counteracted his mood. Like almost all days in Verandturn, the night was mysterious yet beautiful, the silver rays of moonlight shimmering down on objects lucky enough to stand in its presense, the stars winking down on those who glance upward toward him.
"So how did things go?" May asked as she spotted the two boy trainers down the road.
"Great!" Wally replied cheerfully, showing May two bags filled with food. "Snack stuff, the usual stuff at parties. How did things go for you Bread Head?"
"Hmm . . . what?" Brendan was dazed off. "Oh, uh yeah, things went great, I got streamers and I ordered balloons in advance and . . . yeah."
May looked at him worriedly. "Are you okay B Boy, you look kind of tired." She placed a hand on Brendan's forehead, checking for a fever.
"Yeah, it's getting pretty late and I've been kinda tired from shopping," Brendan lied, daring not to tell May his little 'talk' with Maxie.
"Oh . . . if you're sure then." May took her hand of Brendan's forehead but couldn't help but look at him concernedly still.
"It is getting late," Wally agreed with Brendan, noting the full moon. "Let's go inside, my aunt and uncle must be worried." The green-haired trainer fished out his house key and unlocked the door, finding only the kitchen lights on. "Shh everyone," Wally warned. "Okay, I'm going to be sleeping in my room while you two can have the living room. I don't care who gets the couch but no making any . . . gross noises alright?"
"What do you take us for?" May asked, bewildered by what Wally said.
"Hey, you'll never know what I meant by 'gross noises'," Wally remarked. "It could be perverted or not, it's all up to you!" He smiled cheekily, winking at the girl trainer. "Good night!" Wally entered his room and shut the door behind him.
"I call couch!" May laughed as she ran past the white-haired boy and jumped onto the couch.
"Whatever . . ." Brendan sighed as he walked over and laid his sleeping bag on the floor next to where the girl trainer was sleeping.
"Hmm? We usually argue about who gets the couch or bed or whatever," May pointed out. She eyed her boyfriend worriedly. "What's wrong B Boy?"
"Nothing," Brendan remarked as he got into his sleeping bag and closed his eyes, trying to forget the fateful events that happened today.
"Are you sure Brendan?" May asked again as she unrolled her sleeping bag on the couch.
"It's
NOTHING May, don't worry it," Brendan replied through clenched teeth. Although he didn't want to admit it, he was seriously getting annoyed by his girlfriend's annoying concern for him.
"Seriously Brendan," May replied, "are you-"
"I said it was
NOTHING!" Brendan snapped, finally losing his cool with the girl trainer.
May stayed quiet and laid down in her sleeping bag on the couch, her eyes stared at the ceiling. "I love you B Boy," she whispered shyly.
Brendan licked his lips and sighed. "I love you too May."
---
Three hours later, the white-haired trainer tossed and turned in his sleep, Maxie's words haunting him in his dreams. Annoyed, he sat up and ran a hair through his hair, his nose wrinkled, his eyes narrowed yet again.
"Latios, what am I going to do?" he whispered to himself.
Pushing and getting up from his sleeping bag away from him, the boy trainer stood up and walked over to the kitchen. Paranoid, Brendan turned around every few seconds as he pulled out a drawer. Finding nothing but spoons, he slammed it shut, frustrated.
"One of these drawers must have a knife!" Brendan complained, opening another drawer.
Luckily - or unfortunately depending on which side you''re on - Brendan found a knife in the next drawer, its sleek, silver blade glinting in the moonlight. Pulling it out, he sighed as he looked at his reflection in the sharp kitchen knife. Was he willing to kill his friend in order to save his other friend not to mention girlfriend? How strong was his love for her anyways?
The white-haired trainer turned around and gazed at the beauty of May's sleeping form. It was at that very moment when he realized that he would do anything for her.
Brendan took in a deep breath as he walked over to Wally's room, knife in hand. Slowly, he placed a hand on the doorknob and turned it . . .
