The Supporting Player Wally

"W-Wally? What's wrong?"

Wally shrank back instinctively at the strange look on the young man's face.

"You're Norman's son? The Norman who runs the Petalburg Gym?"

Baimu studied his face. Once someone he knew from a flat screen became a real, three-dimensional person, even a familiar face could be hard to recognize.

Wally was surprised that Baimu knew who he was from his name alone. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Have you challenged the Petalburg Gym?"

"No. I'm planning to challenge the Pokémon Gyms in Hoenn, so I did some research online beforehand. That's how I knew your name."

Baimu shook his head, offering the explanation offhandedly. "I'm Baimu. You can just call me by my name."

As the Petalburg Gym Leader, Norman had a daughter, May, and a son, Wally. Wally had traveled through Hoenn and Kanto with Ash and Brock and had seen plenty of Legendary Pokémon along the way.

Anyone who had watched the show would recognize him.

It seemed that while Ash had gone on to travel through other regions, Wally had finally turned ten and become old enough to set out on a journey of his own.

"I see."

Wally had no reason to doubt him. His father and sister were both famous: one was considered a strong contender for a place among Hoenn's next Elite Four, while the other was known as the Hoenn Dancer and seen as a future top Coordinator.

With the area around them so noisy, the two found a quieter place to chat.

As they talked, Baimu learned that this was Wally's first journey. He was headed for Unova, where the ship would arrive in a week.

"Why not Hoenn?"

"I want to get more experience before I come back and challenge Hoenn. Besides, I'm really curious about the