Well, here it is. The first chapter of my newest Fanfic. My intention is to upload a new chapter every couple of days, but knowing myself it might not be that often. To that end, I'd like to ask you all to review if you read the story. If you think it's good, tell me. If you think it's horrible, I don't mind you flaming me, as long as you can give me some reasons. I seek to better myself as a writer, and just saying, "You suck!" is a waste of my time and yours. If you're gonna bash me, give me some reasons. Preferably reasons not regarding the pairing. Anyway, thanks for reading this long intro, enjoy the story, and please review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or its characters.
Chapter 1: Contests, Coordinators and Creeps
The sun was bright and the temperature pleasant as Ash and his friends hit the road one morning, leaving the Pokémon Center behind to continue their journey towards Hearthome City. There, May and Dawn wanted to participate in the Contest; May for the first time, Dawn to try and succeed where she previously failed.
"I can't wait to get back to Hearthome!" Dawn said. "This time I'll do it for sure!"
"This time you'll have me to deal with, so don't get your hopes up," May said, giving Dawn a confident smirk.
"We'll see about that. I'm telling you, you'll never win when I'm there," Dawn retorted.
Ash and Brock woefully listened to the back and forth brags of the girls. For the past few days the Contest had been all either girl could talk about.
"Do you remember when they used to just talk about clothes and shopping all day?" Ash groaned.
"Tell me about it. This Contest really gets them going," Brock agreed.
("And the fact they egg each other on isn't much help either,") Pikachu chimed in.
Because of their years of travel, Ash could understand Pikachu perfectly. The same went for Brock and May, but Dawn would occasionally be puzzled about the Lightning Mouse's words.
Ash groaned softly, affirming Pikachu's remark.
"What's the matter guys? Tired already?" Dawn asked innocently.
"Tired of your Contest craze…" Ash muttered under his breath. Unfortunately for him, May heard him.
"Tired of our craze? Have you looked at yourself when a Gym battle is coming up? Gym battle this, badge winning that, you just won't shut up," she said. Even though she sounded angry, her eyes were sparkling. She loved teasing Ash.
"Yeah, well, that's because…um…" Ash strained to find a way out, but came up with nothing.
"That about sums it up, doesn't it?" May said with a wink to Dawn.
"Yup. All those in favor of revoking Ash's right to complain?" She and May raised their hands and Ash grumbled.
("Can't win 'em all buddy,") Pikachu said comfortingly.
Ash sighed and rolled his eyes as Dawn and May continued their excited conversation. He wondered who he should be rooting for when the time for the Contest had come. Of course, Dawn had a lot of promise as a Coordinator, but May was more experienced. A smile crossed Ash's face as he recalled how May had been when he first met her. She had changed so much, but she was still the same girl he'd met when he had just arrived in Hoenn. Still the same girl he had tutored, traveled with, shared fun times and life and death moments. He shook his head and wondered why he had suddenly started to reminisce.
("Anything bothering you?") Pikachu asked.
"Don't you usually reminisce when someone's not around?" Ash asked.
Pikachu gave him a confused look. ("What? You lost me there,") he replied.
"Never mind," Ash said quickly.
"So May, do you think this Drew guy will be in Hearthome too?" Ash heard Dawn ask.
May shrugged. "Who knows. It'd be fun to see him again, though," she replied.
Ash wasn't sure 'fun' was the word he'd use when Drew was involved. He didn't like the green haired Coordinator all that much, as he reminded Ash of how Gary used to be. Gary had decided to follow in his grandfather's tracks, however, and had stopped being a Trainer. Subsequently he became a much nicer guy, though he still retained much of his cynicism. Drew, on the other hand, was still very much the same he'd always been. Arrogant, yet infuriatingly smooth. Ash wasn't sure why it bothered him so much that May wanted to see him again, but he shrugged it off.
"Are you alright, Ash? You're so quiet," May said.
"Hey, you revoked my right to complain, right?" Ash replied, putting on a tough face and hoping she wouldn't realize he was lying.
"Yeah, 'cause that really works on you," May said sarcastically. "Besides, you look…well, I'd almost say grim, but that's kinda harsh," she continued.
"It's nothing, really," Ash said, trying to look as neutral as possible. May gave him a weird glance and shrugged, returning, once again, to her animated conversation with Dawn.
'I wonder why she was paying attention to me while she was talking to Dawn,' Ash thought to himself.
He was shaken from his thoughts when Brock said, "If you go down to that cliff over there, you'll be able to see Hearthome. From here, it's only a two hour walk at most."
The group ran over to the nearby cliff, and sure enough, they looked upon the skyline of Hearthome City. Ash forgot all about his dark musings and he couldn't help but grin as he saw the sun reflect off the buildings. This was the city where he'd beaten Fantina for her Relic Badge; that had been a difficult battle.
"Hearthome! It's been too long since we last came here," Dawn sighed dreamily.
"That's only because there's a Contest here, isn't it?" May asked, giving Dawn a sideways glance.
Dawn sweatdropped and replied, "No…not at all…" while trying to pull off a genuine smile and failing miserably.
"Don't worry. I won't think less of you for not being cultural," May continued to tease.
"Thanks!" Dawn began cheerfully, followed by an indignant, "Hey!"
Ash silently chuckled to himself. May had to be really fired up, for her to make that many cheap shots. Over time, she had developed the habit of continually teasing everyone nearby as a Contest drew nearer, to better control her nerves. The more nervous she was, the more she teased.
("Dawn had better learn some sarcasm, or else May will drive her completely insane before the Contest has even started,") Pikachu said.
"Heh, it's not so much she doesn't know sarcasm; it's that she's really looking forward to the Contest. Even though she beat May last time, she still wants to prove herself," Ash replied.
As they walked on, May and Dawn gradually became quieter. Ash knew that now they were pretty much in the eye of the storm. Once in the city, they would register for the Contest and start training like there would be no tomorrow. Then, during the Contest, they would give everything they had, and a little more.
During the silent stage, as Ash had dubbed the moments, talking to the girls was useless, unless it was encouragement or advice on how to be better. Ash knew exactly how they felt, because as May had stated earlier, he was exactly the same before a Gym battle. Often he would watch the girls train, giving them tips or serving as a sparring partner for either May of Dawn, as the two Coordinators didn't want the other to know her appeals beforehand.
This was more an issue for Dawn than May, however, as May relied less on planning and more on improvised techniques in the Battle round, a trait she'd taken over from Ash. This was not to say, of course, that she was unprepared.
"Ash, would you mind helping me prepare for the Contest once we've registered?" May asked.
Ash smiled, "Of course. Have you decided what Pokémon to use yet?"
May nodded and replied, "I'll go with Blaziken. She's in peak condition, so she should perform pretty well."
"Alright, then I'll use Infernape. I wonder how they'll hold up," Ash said, already preparing for the sparring in his head. Both Blaziken and Infernape were Fire/Fighting types of Pokémon. Pitting them against each other would mean a heated fight full of powerful blows.
May, meanwhile, was trying to come up with a strategy to battle Infernape. She knew about the Counter Shield and was determined to nullify it somehow. "Well, guys, here we are. Hearthome City," Brock announced.
The others were all shaken from their respective thoughts and looked up. Behind the top of the Pokémon Center in front of them, the dome of the massive Contest Hall was visible.
"I suggest we get checked into the Pokémon Center first, and then head out to the Contest Hall," Brock said. The others nodded in agreement, but before they could get to the Pokémon Center they heard a voice behind them.
"Well, if it isn't May and her friends." The group turned around to face a green haired boy with a confident smirk.
"Drew! Nice to see you!" May nearly shouted, and she ran over to meet him. "So you're entering the Contest as well?" she asked.
Drew nodded and, as the others stood around them, eyed Dawn.
"I don't think we've met before," he said to her.
Dawn nodded. "I'm Dawn! You're Drew, right? I heard a lot about you," she said.
"Oh? Good things, I hope?" Drew said, giving May a sideways glance.
May blushed a little, but Dawn said, "Yeah! That you're a really good Coordinator, and that your Pokémon are very well trained."
"I see," Drew said, still looking at May.
"So Drew, how've you been?" Ash asked. Even though he wasn't that fond of Drew, he still didn't have a grudge against him.
"I've been okay, I guess. I haven't been to many Contests in this region, but my Pokémon are ready for anything," Drew replied, flicking his hair.
"Confident as ever huh?" Brock said.
Drew made sort of a shrugging gesture, not sure how to reply to Brock.
"Nevertheless, it's good to hear that you've been well," Brock continued.
"Same to you," Drew said, slightly smiling now. "Anyway, I'm going to register for the Contest. I'll see you later, May," he said, before walking off.
"Yeah, see you!" May yelled after him.
"Come on, let's get our stuff to the Pokémon Center and get registered as well," Dawn said, seeming even more eager than before. Meeting a new Coordinator, a rival of May's no less, had fueled her fighting spirit.
In the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy greeted them. Brock immediately ran over to her, one step short of drooling all over the counter. "Nurse Joy, please! Take my temperature and measure my pulse, because I think I've fallen ill upon seeing your beauty!"
A white light flashed from Brock's belt and a purple, froglike Pokémon appeared. Its fist glowed purple and it hit Brock in the side. Brock crumpled and Croagunk dragged him away, while Nurse Joy sweatdropped and smiled sheepishly, her facial features mimicked by Brock's friends.
"Um, hi," Ash said, one eye on Brock who lay crumpled in the corner, "We'd like to have a room for four persons, please."
Nurse Joy nodded, and said, "Of course. Are you going to enter the Contest, by any chance?" she inquired, as she rummaged through a drawer.
"Yes, we are!" Dawn said happily. "I've been here once before, but I lost…" she continued, her smile slightly fading.
"Ah well, that's what second chances are for, right?" Nurse Joy said with a smile. "I thought I recognized you, though, that's why I asked. I was a judge last time, and will be again this time," Joy explained.
Her gaze went along the group and came to a rest on May. "And I know you as well, although not from this city," she said.
May smiled brightly and said, "I didn't know people in Sinnoh knew me."
"Oh, the Coordinators do. They also know Drew, Harley and Solidad. You guys are quite the sensation, though not all of you for the same reason."
They all knew what Joy meant, as images of the flamboyant Coordinator Harley appeared in their minds.
"So, Harley is in as well?" May asked, somewhat dreading the answer.
Joy nodded. "Yes, he's been in town for several days already." Her face darkened. "He's also been quite a nuisance." Looking at May, she continued, "He's been trying to get the town riled up against you. In that regard, though, his reputation as a sore loser preceded him and he was booed away from every place he visited. As a direct result, though, he's ready to do his absolute worst. Be careful if you come across him, even before the Contest."
May nodded grimly and Ash, too, felt rage bubbling within him. Harley had caused trouble before, and he had a grudge against May. Who knew what he might do if they met him now. On edge, the group left the Pokémon Center and headed for the Contest Hall.
In the Contest Hall, many Coordinators were swapping ideas and strategies, boasting of their successes, or looking nervous in the presence of so many rivals. May and Dawn walked up to the counter and registered their Pokémon for the Contest.
"May! What a pleasant surprise," a voice said. It was disguised, sweet as honey, but May recognized it, and instantly a wave of dread passed through her.
"H-Harley…so, you're here too?" she said, adrenaline rushing through her body.
A man dressed up as a Cacturne, with long purple hair approached her and Dawn. Ash and Brock quickly ran over to the girls, knowing Harley wouldn't be up to much good.
"Of course I am, silly," Harley said. Even though his voice was still sweet and he had a huge smile on his face, his green eyes were emotionless and cold as ice. "How incredibly nice to see you again," Harley continued to act nice.
"Drop the act, Harley," Ash warned, "We've heard about your attempts to get everyone riled up against May."
An annoyed look flashed over Harley's face, before returning to its former nice look. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Ash. May is my good friend, aren't you, May?" he said, putting his arm around her shoulder.
May cringed and pushed him away. "What are you trying to pull?" she demanded, "Do you think I've forgotten about all the nasty things you did before?"
Harley put on a hurt look and said, "That's all in the past! I've changed, I swear! I'm an honest person now!"
Ash stepped forward. "Then why did Nurse Joy warn us to be careful if we met you? She told us you've been trying to antagonize May with everyone here."
Harley took a step back and muttered, "That pink-haired little…She'll pay dearly…" He looked up again, his face hard and hostile now, finally complementing his eyes. "Just you wait. This will be a Contest you won't soon forget," he said, a wicked, slightly insane grin appearing on his face. With that, he turned around and walked away, leaving the group in confusion.
"What was that all about?" Dawn asked. She'd heard stories about Harley before, but she had never met him. Frankly, the Slateport Coordinator creeped her out.
"That was Harley. He has this pathetic grudge against me for…something, I guess. He always tries to get me in trouble one way or another," May said.
"Yeah, you've told me, but I didn't know he'd be so…eccentric," Dawn said, still feeling shivers going down her spine.
"Nah, he's been worse," Ash said. "One time he dressed up like May. That was at the Grand Festival in Kanto."
Dawn shuddered. "And that guy is our opponent? Great," she groaned.
"Whatever you do, don't underestimate him," May said. "He may be weird, but he's a good Coordinator who isn't afraid to use dirty tricks."
Dawn nodded grimly, but then her face brightened. "No need to worry! Piplup and I can take him, right?"
("That's right,") Piplup said from Dawn's shoulder. Like Pikachu, he didn't like being inside a Poké Ball and rode around on her shoulder. Also like Pikachu, he refused to evolve, even though he could have. Dawn and the others could make out what he was saying, for the most part, but some things still eluded them. Well, except for Ash, who seemed to have a talent for understanding Pokémon, even if he had never met them before.
"Still, you ought to be careful," May cautioned. She didn't want Harley to prey on Dawn as well.
"In any case, let's head back to the Pokémon Center for now," Brock said, "The field behind it is perfectly suited for your training."
May and Dawn gave each other a grin, and they both nodded. It was time to train.
And this is where Chapter 1 ends. Did you like it? If so, please review and tell me what you liked! If you didn't, don't hesitate to tell me. Well, see ya next time!
