Well I wrote this story partially due to the great reviews I got on my last story and because I heard a quote that made me start thinking of a new story. Like my last story this will be split into two chapters, well I hope you guys like this one.
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"Blaziken, use Sky Uppercut!"
"Sceptile, counter with Slam!"
The two attacks collided in midair as the scoreboard deducted points from both of our scores, and soon after both Pokèmon landed on the ground panting heavily. I had just received my final frontier symbol and we were heading home to Pallet Town when our group stumbled upon a small contest being held for a local festival. With both May and I getting into the finals it was down to each of our fully evolved Hoenn starters. Neither Pokèmon had the upper hand in the battle so far, as it see-sawed back and forth between the two of us. Both of our Pokèmon were at their limit and the end was near.
"Blaziken finish this up with Overheat!"
"Sceptile give it one last Solar Beam!"
Both Pokèmon started to power up their final attacks and launched them at their opponent. The attacks collided as the buzzer sounded for the round to be over. When the dust settled, the result of the battle was a perfect tie. May and I ran to our respective Pokèmon to see how they were and to congratulate them for a job well done.
"I'm sorry to say this but we only have one ribbon to give out." Nurse Joy said as she approached us. May and I looked at each other and nodded.
"I think we know what to do Nurse Joy," I stated and took the ribbon from her. I then tossed it up into the air, "Sceptile, use Leaf Blade!" Sceptile leapt up with his blades glowing and skillfully split the ribbon in half. Each half fell into each of our waiting hands, and together we did a victory pose. "Alright! We won the Terracotta Ribbon!" "PiPikachu!" As the crowd roars with applause May and I give a quick smile to each other and waved to the crowd.
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"Wow that was a great match! Ash you really should think of getting into coordinating." May said as we continued their walk back to Pallet Town.
"Hey that was a one time event, even if I did tie for first. Although you could also say that you've already lost your touch if you almost got beaten by an amateur May." I replied with a large smile on my face.
"Take that back Ash Ketchum!" May yelled as she started to run after me.
"I was hoping for a quiet walk back, but with you two yelling so much that looks like an impossible wish." Brock said as May caught me and proceeded to tackle me onto the ground. I was unable to control my laughter as May was trying to pull my hat down over my head while pinning me underneath herself.
"Well if you guys won't listen to what I have to say then I guess that I won't be making supper anytime soon." Brock threatened. I heard that message loud and clear, and I think May heard it as well. She got up off of me and looked down at the ground, a little embarrassed.
"Sorry Brock," I said as I got up, still trying to control my laughter, "but I couldn't resist making fun of May like that. Besides she takes those things so seriously I was wondering what her reaction would be. Oh and by the way, that was an impressive tackle May." As I said the last part I started to rub my hip, while it did hurt it wasn't too bad. "You're stronger than you look."
May looked back at me and gave a quick laugh, "Well that's what you get for making a joke like that. Besides you could also say that you've lost your touch, not being able to defeat me." She said with a smile on her face.
"Oh so now you are making the harsh jokes," I said in a hurtful tone. "Sure I'll admit; you are the better coordinator, but you still have a ways to go before you beat me in a real battle. Besides its fun getting you riled up like that, Max can't have all the fun."
"You think that's fun Ash? At least when you do it she doesn't slap you on the head afterwards." Max said as he stepped out from behind Brock. "Now Brock, you said something about food, right?"
"Alright I'll make supper, but we will have a nice conversation while eating. None of this yelling or tackling, I'm starting to get a headache."
"Sure thing Brock." I said stealing a quick glance at May.
"Ya we got most of it out of our systems after that last fight."
"God, the way you two fight and make up like that it's almost like you're a couple." Brock said jokingly.
"What! No! We're just good friends having a small squabble, right Ash?" May quickly replied waving her hands.
"Right." I said while trying to hide my disappointment.
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During supper May wanted us to talk about our plans after we got back to Pallet Town. As we talked we continued to eat around the fire, Brock and I sat on one side of the fire while May and Max sat on the other side with Pikachu asleep in her lap.
"Well I was probably going to go check up on my family in Pewter City to see if they need any help and to see how my Pokèmon are doing. After that I'm not sure. How about the rest of you? Ash?" Brock questioned.
"Well I've heard that there are plenty of unique Pokèmon north of here in an area called Sinnoh. So I was thinking of traveling up there and participating in that league. Then after that I might take up Scott's offer and become a frontier brain. At least I would be getting more challenging battles with that job instead of becoming just a regular gym leader. How about you May?"
"Well I really haven't thought too much about it, Drew said that he and Harley are going to Johto to compete in those contests. So I was thinking of heading off over there."
At the sound of this I could feel my heart drop, "Oh," I put on a fake smile and looked over at the youngest member of the group. "And I'm guessing that you are going to head back to Hoenn to get your first Pokèmon, right Max?"
"Yep! I finally get to have my very own Pokèmon! I'm still trying to figure out who to choose though. But after seeing your Sceptile and May's Blaziken, I'll probably choose Treecko."
Even though I asked the question, where Max was going wasn't really the topic that occupied my mind. "So May is going to be leaving us then. I just hope that I can figure out how to tell her before she leaves."
"You like May don't you?"
I snapped out of my thoughts to see Brock whispering to me. Max and May were talking about something to each other; I could hear something about their parents but I turned my attention back to Brock.
"Is it really that obvious? I thought that I was doing fairly well trying to hide it," I whispered back stealing yet another look at May who looked as if she was about to strangle Max. The sight made me smile.
"Well I wouldn't say that it was obvious, but if you look closely enough than it is as clear as day. You're worried about May leaving and going to Johto right?"
I shook my head with that last comment; even if he failed so many times at trying to get the girls Brock still knew a thing or two about his friends. "Well you hit the nail on the head; I just don't know what to do before she leaves."
"You should tell her how you feel; she hasn't made up her mind just yet on where she's headed."
"Ya that's easy for you to say Mr. Flirtatious. And how am I supposed to do that when I'm still trying to keep how I feel a secret from her?"
"That you have to come up with for yourself. But you only have a couple days to make up your mind; otherwise it could be too late. You don't want her to end up with Drew do you?"
I could feel anger well up inside me at the sound at his name. "No of course not," I replied trying to hide the anger, but Brock caught it easily.
"Well there ya go, even more reason to tell her how you feel. Besides what's the worst that could happen?"
"What are you guys whispering about over there?" May asked interrupting our private conversation.
"Oh nothing, just comparing notes to see if we might meet up again in Sinnoh, right Brock?" I responded, a little too quickly.
"Um, right."
She gave us an odd look but seemed to brush it off. I gave a quiet sigh of relief, but at the same time I felt a little forlorn. While I wanted her to know how I feel, the combination of fear and anxiety keep me from actually telling her.
The rest of the night was filled with small talk and jokes being passed around, as this could be the last night out in the field that we spend together. As the rest of them went to sleep I stayed up to think of a way to tell May how I feel about her before she leaves the day after tomorrow. Almost the entire time I was looking over at her to receive my inspiration. I was just glad that everybody else was asleep or else my secret would have been obvious to even a passer-by. After a few hours of thinking and no progress to show I decided to sleep on it and hope that I can think of something in the morning.
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I found myself is a stadium packed full with people. As I looked around I saw Pikachu running up to me from the center of the field where what looked like a bipedal hammerhead shark and a lady dressed in black standing on the opposite side. Every person in the stadium was standing and the applause was almost deafening. After Pikachu leapt up to my shoulder and gave me a congratulating coo, I continued to look around the stadium. I could see Brock, Gary, and my mom sitting among other people I knew in a what appeared to be a reserved section. There was also a girl there that I didn't recognize; she was wearing a white cap with the Pokè Ball symbol on it covering her blue hair. But what caught my eye was a brown haired blue eyed angel running up to me with a gold locket swinging upon her neck. It took a quick second for me to realize that it was May, although she looked as if she was about 18 or 19. She ran up to me and gave me a big hug. I was stunned by this but accepted the gesture with no regrets. "God I must be dreaming. This is too good to be true, please don't let this to end." But it got even better as she let go and went to give me a kiss; at that moment I would have given anything to be able to feel the wonderful touch of her lips against mine.
"Congratulations Ash, I knew that you could win." May said as she gave me another hug, and as she did I could feel something in my pocket. I reached down to get a better look at it and as I pulled it out May's eyes grew and it looked as if her heart skipped a few beats as she covered her mouth with her hands to try and keep herself from gasping. I looked down at the item to see a small velvet box.
"Ash… Is that?" May was almost speechless. I opened the box to find a diamond ring inside, and I knew instantly what it was for. I also found an unknown sense of calmness as I was about to ask the biggest question of my life.
"May," I started as I got down on my knee and the entire stadium fell in to a hush, "We've traveled for years together as best friends. I've watched and helped you grow from an unsure Pokèmon trainer to one of the best coordinators in the world. As we traveled I came to find comfort in your laugh and in your very presence. By this time I don't know if I would be able to live without that feeling of being next to you. So I have to ask you this one question, would you allow me the honor of becoming my bride?"
May has a look of complete surprise on her face. As she stated to cry she leapt into me and I fell onto the ground. I could hear that she started to give me an answer, but as she did a delightful smell started to waft into the area.
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I woke up to find Brock fixing breakfast with May and Max still asleep. "Damn it," I muttered under my breath. "This is exactly why I didn't want it to end, reality sucks." Brock looked up from breakfast to see that I was awake.
"So you're up, were you able to answer the question with all that thinking last night?" he said with a sly smile.
"To tell you the truth, no. But I think I was able to consider the next question I'll have to ask her."
He gave me a quizzical look but didn't continue the topic. Not even Brock will have to learn of my dream last night. That is for my mind only; unless it comes true, then I will tell one other. But by that time it should be only something to look back on and call fate. I got up to go sit next to Brock waking Pikachu up in the process; he gave a big yawn and gave me a long stare. "Okay, so maybe he might know as well. I'll have to ask him about it later."
"Come on Pikachu, breakfast is almost ready." I said to him. He nodded his head, almost as if he knew what I was thinking, and ran up to me to finally give me my good morning coo.
As the smell got stronger Max and then May woke up to the sight of a grand breakfast. While there was still tomorrow morning before we split up, Brock wanted the start of this day to be one to remember. There was sausage, French toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh fruit spread out before us. I could feel my eyes grow at the sight of all the delicious food. We sat down to eat and as usual May and I both grabbed large plates of nearly everything. As we started to inhale Brock's cooking, the other two could only stare at what was unfolding before their eyes. In less than a couple minutes May and I had each finished a stack of pancakes, the scrambled eggs, the sausage, and we were finishing up the French toast.
"Wow you guys must be hungry, I've never seen either of you eat that fast before." Max said to us. I looked over at May as she looked up towards me and smiled. I could feel my face starting to heat up so I did gave a quick smile back and looked back at my food. "We are so similar in many ways; no wonder I fell in love with her."
"Ash you okay? Just a second ago you were eating like there was no tomorrow, but now you are just looking at your food with an odd look on your face."
I could hear who said it and at that moment I didn't want to look up at her for fear of seeing my blushing face. But I knew that she wouldn't let the topic drop. Yet another quality that drew me to her, she cared for anybody, no matter how close or distant they were to her.
"I'm fine May," I finally say to her, "I just have a lot on my mind."
"Oh, well is there anyway that I could help?"
I paused and considered what she was actually asking. "She has no idea of how much she could help, if only I had the courage to tell her exactly how I feel."
"No, there's nothing that anybody can do to help me with this problem. It's something that only I can deal with, and eventually I will overcome it. So don't worry May, although your offer means a lot to me, thanks." I respond with a sad smile on my face. Brock gave a knowing nod of his head, wile May's and Max's faces looked confused.
"Alright Ash if you say so. Oh and its no problem, if you ever need any help don't be afraid to ask."
"Thanks May."
"Oh great, now she might think that there's something wrong me, but at least I will be rid of this gloom in less than two days. Or so I hope"
"Well," Brock started breaking the silence, "we're only about a couple hours outside of Pallet Town. So let's get a good start and get there so we have plenty of time to relax."
"Alright! Ash you need to show me the best place to go shopping there, I have so much that I want to buy before I leave." May cheered as the smile returned to her face. I almost melted right then and there.
"Sure, no problem May. I'd love to. There's a mall about a half-hour walk outside of town. We can go there and you can buy anything you want."
She ran up to me and gave me a big hug, "Oh thank you Ash! You're such a good friend!" As she did this, this morning's dream came rushing back into my mind, and I turned many shades of red. She let go soon after with a slight blush on her face.
"Oh sorry Ash, I guess I got carried away." She said with a small chuckle.
I pulled my hat down to cover my face and looked away from her, trying to hide my own blush. "Like I said it's not a problem."
"Well if you two are done, I think that we should clean up and get going." Brock said, thankfully breaking up the embarrassing moment. So we all pitched in to pick up camp and set out for Pallet Town.
About an hour into the walk back home I purposefully fell behind a bit so that I would be able to have a private conversation with Pikachu.
"Hey buddy, I'm guessing that you know as well as Brock about what's going through my head these last few months?" I whispered to my best-friend sitting on my shoulder.
"Pika." He said as he nodded his head. I should have known that he would have been able to figure me out. I can understand him better than any of my Pokèmon and I'm guessing that the bond is just as strong on the other end.
"Well then I guess I don't have to exaggerate on that topic, so on to the next question. Either you already know what I'm going to be talking about or you want to be informed about said incident."
"Pika pikapika, Pikachu, Pikapi."
"I should have guessed that you knew of what I dreamt about this morning. If the bond between May and I can even get close to the strength of ours it would be a dream come true." I said to him as I scratched under his chin. "So what do you think Pikachu, should I try to ask May to be my girlfriend? You have almost as much of a say in this as I do."
"Pikapika. Chaa."
"Oh, so I'm not the only one with a crush huh? Well Brock was right, like trainer like Pokèmon. So I know your answer then. You're right Pikachu; somehow, someway I'll find the courage to ask her. Who knows? Maybe that dream might become reality." I say with a small laugh.
"Ash! Pikachu! Hurry up! We can see Pallet Town from here!" Max called from a hill in front of us.
"Alright, for now we leave this just between us. Right?"
"Pika," he said while nodding his head.
"Be right there guys!" I call back as I run up to meet them.
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There it is, hope it was good enough. Well like before I'll accept flames as long as they aren't directed towards Advanceshipping. Otherwise everyone please review.
