Ok this is one of my specialty love stories (specialty, feh! Me saying 'specialty'…). anyway if you're like me and don't like the Drew x May match-up then you should leave now and never come back. (You're probably wondering why I'm doing this then…*thinks* good question. I'll get back to you on that) This was just random inspiration, so don't expect it to be that great. (sorry Harley fans, he's not in this one) BEWARE, SOME GORE MAY OCCUR. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. And special thanks to my friend Kelli for coming up with the evil dude's name and "special relative". Thanks buddy, you totally rock!
All is fair in Love and War:
Part One of Two
Prologue
"Okay, good job, Typhlosion!" Cerise called to her loyal starter Pokemon, who had just finished off a combo-technique of Blast Burn and Flame Wheel and was now standing proudly before the Pokemon it knocked out, a Wartortle.
The host's voice rang out through the entire Contest stadium. "And there you have it folks! Our winner is Cerise of Blackthorn City!"
Cerise took a long sigh before walking up to accept the ribbon and hold it up, as if showing it off to the entire world. Now she could enter the Grand Festival, what she was dreaming of ever since she could walk, and now her dream was going to finally come true. The final ribbon she needed to enter the Grand Festival for the first time. All hers.
The thought of the Grand Festival made her heart jump. Maybe, just maybe, she had a chance of victory, of fulfilling her dream. That ribbon she just earned made her think it's all possible. That maybe…she could be as normal as anyone else.
She walked out of the Contest stadium, Typhlosion at her side. "We earned this. We did this together, the two of us…" she paused to smirk. "Remember our first Contest? The chaos? I can't believe we set that judge's hair on fire. Well, he looks better, now that he's bald, with that hair he never did look right…" She laughed.
"Hey, Cerise!" a voice called, causing her to turn. The coordinator that she battled in the final round, May.
Cerise scowled. "Yes?" she managed to ask. For some odd reason, May sent her on edge, even though they weren't acquainted that well. Cerise just felt she should keep her guard up when around her.
May smiled. "I just wanted to congratulate you on your victory. You and your Typhlosion were awesome," she said, the sweetness of her tone cutting though Cerise like a knife.
Cerise thought, 'I know. But what's with the compliment? One thing I hate about compliments is the cherry sweetness that goes on top.' But instead Cerise replied, "Oh, uh, thanks. No big, you just really su—" she stopped herself in the nick of time.
"What did you say?" She was glad May didn't hear all of it.
Cerise shook her head and bit her lip. "Nothing. I gotta go." She turned to leave, but then ran into someone, setting her off. "Watch it, buddy!" she snapped.
"Drew!" May exclaimed, her smile turning into a look of surprise.
Cerise backed off a few feet and then looked at the face of the person May referred to as Drew. His green hair shined in the light, as if it was wet. And Cerise never admitted it, but she liked the wet look, especially on this kid.
"May, surprise surprise. Never thought you'd be hanging with the coordinator that just wiped the floor with you," Drew said nonchalantly, using his middle and pointer fingers to brush his bangs away from his face. "Or are you being soft and making friends, like you do with every other person?"
"No!" Cerise blurted out uncontrollably. It was true though. She didn't want May as a friend, not now, not ever. Friends are for people that can't help themselves.
May and Drew turned and stared at Cerise because of her rather rude statement. But that was her though, rude was her signature.
"What are you talking about, Cerise?" May questioned, obviously hurt. She looked like she was about to cry.
Cerise mentally rolled her eyes. 'Emotional freak,' she thought. 'I say one word and she has a nervous breakdown. Can't people be normal around here?! But that kid over there on the other hand…' she trailed off her thought, taking a quick glance over at Drew. She knew she had to wrap this all up.
She tried to smile, but it turned out like she ate a year-old Oran Berry with mold on it. "Well, um, it was nice meeting you, Drew, but like I said earlier, I gotta go. Come on, Typhlosion." She turned around and started off running for the Pokemon Center.
But as she was running, she smiled and thought to herself, 'Drew, eh? Wow, he's…different than most…'
Chapter 1 *Cerise's POV*
Something was wrong. Very wrong. Something very wrong with me. Me, I wasn't sure who that really was anymore. I knew things have changed so much, but I didn't know what to think of these changes. Good, bad, I couldn't tell the difference between them. Summing it all up, I was a nervous wreak. And I didn't know why.
I tried to concentrate on my Contest practices. "Okay, Delcatty, use Iron Tail!" I yelled, throwing a Frisbee in my Prim Pokemon's direction.
"Caaa!" Delcatty cried, lunging at the Frisbee and then hitting it with her tail, sending it flying back at me.
I let out a yell and ducked, the Frisbee flying right over my head. I sighed and turned to see where it had gone.
Much to my surprise, Drew was standing there, Frisbee in hand. "You gotta work on your reflexes," he advised suavely.
'That voice,' I thought, 'God…' That is when I realized I was staring. So I shook my head in annoyance of myself and asked, "Do you mind?" gesturing to the disk in his hand.
He threw the Frisbee back to me. "You working for the Grand Festival?" he asked.
I looked up, surprised. 'Oh man, he's asking me stuff!' "Uh, yeah of course!" I answered, too enthusiastic for my own liking. 'Yeah of course?! That is what you could come up with?!' I was yelling at myself for being so stupid.
"Huh." He shrugged and turned away, obviously about to leave. I knew for a fact that I was boring him. I was just surprised he was talking to me.
"Hey, did you want something?" I questioned. "'Cause you just kinda…appeared out of nowhere or whatever." I threw the Frisbee to my Delcatty, who chased after it after it was taken by a breeze.
"No, just passing through here on my way to the Pokemon Center."
I tried to take back my normal, ignorant attitude. "Okay, whatever. I guess I'll see you then. Ya know, more important things to attend to." In actuality, I had nothing to do whatsoever aside for training. Training I didn't feel like doing.
So I decided to be the one to walk away. I took a step. Not a word. Another. Okay, the safe zone is coming. And then one more. No one said anything, but then it hit me. Where the heck did Delcatty go?!
Delcatty never left my side. Ever. I made the mistake of turning back to Drew. "Uh, did you conveniently happen to see the direction of which my Delcatty went?" I asked. 'That's smooth, real smooth,' I thought.
Drew stared at me as if I was an idiot at first, but then answered, "No, not after it chased after the disk."
Suddenly, May came running frantically. I instantly tensed and put up my guard. "Guys! All of the coordinators' Pokemon have disappeared!" she cried. "All of my Pokemon are gone!"
I was about to say it wasn't my problem, but then I wouldn't get Delcatty back. "Yeah?" is all I could say without sounding worried. As far as I was concerned, worry was weakness. Weakness wasn't me. Weakness was everything I refused to be or show. I never wanted to rely on others; that showed how puny a person could be. And I knew I wouldn't—I couldn't—be that person.
As I was trapped in my thoughts, May kept shouting at me, "Cerise! Aren't you going to do anything about this?!"
I blinked a few times, getting back to reality. Somehow without me noticing, Drew had disappeared practically out of thin air and May was in my face.
"Cerise!"
"What?!" I snapped, forgetting everything for that moment. 'Get out of my face! I don't need to help you!' I thought.
May started pulling my by the arm. But I resisted and punched her in the cheek, breaking free. "I'm not going to help you get your stupid Pokemon back!" I yelled angrily, U-turning back to the direction of the seashore.
"Cerise, please!" May cried, the feeling of tears stabbing me in the back. I could always tell if someone was crying, I just felt it. "I need your help…" her voice turned to nothing more than a whimper.
I stopped. "Where's Drew?!" I snapped sassily. "Ain't he gonna help you?" The words slipped right out of my mouth without even considering what I just said.
May took a long pause, taking a deep breath. "He is; he already left to try to track the Pokemon's location." Her voice was forced, like she was trying her hardest not to start crying any more than she was. Pathetic.
I instantly turned at this. For some reason, her answer caught a niche on my attention. I could only stand there, staring back at her with an unresponsive look on my face. 'Drew…' I tried to stop my thoughts.
I sighed and asked, forcing the words out through gritted teeth, "How much do you care that I ditch?"
She seemed confused of my question at first, but then answered firmly in a little more than a whisper, "I need your help. I don't care what you do, just get my Pokemon back." She then added rather pathetically, "Please."
I cringed. Her pleads, her voice, her overall helplessness. It killed, but I shook my head. I hated emotion. I just hated it. "…No…"
I walked off and she just stood there, tears beginning to roll…
Chapter 2 *May's POV*
Stand there was all I could do. And I cried silently. I just couldn't understand why Cerise refused time after time to help me. All of those coordinators. All of the Pokemon had disappeared and she backed away from what she should have done.
"Cerise…" I stopped when Cerise didn't even make a gesture that she heard or even wanted to. And I knew by now she didn't want to. For some motive, she just didn't care about anyone but herself.
Then that thought finally hit me like a bullet. She was selfish; she only cared for herself and her own wellbeing! Nothing else even mattered! This angered me. Probably much more than it should have.
I chased after Cerise, who had gained distance between us by this time and was out of sight. But I had to find her and see exactly what her problem was.
"May!"
I stopped as Drew ran up to me. He was out of breath and beads of sweat covered his face, which was practically white. By this, I knew something was terribly wrong.
"Drew, are you okay?" I asked worriedly. Cerise had to wait for now. Drew always came first. "Did you find the Pokemon?"
He took a long breath. "I found them, but who stole them…he has..." He passed out.
Luckily I caught him as he fell and gently laid him on the ground. "Drew!" I cried. "Drew, wake up! Drew!"
"He's out cold. He isn't gonna wake up right away, you know."
I looked up. Cerise was standing before me, being taller, towered over me. She had the same emotionless look on her face as before. As if she didn't care what happened to Drew.
"You're back?" I questioned anger still in my voice. I wanted it to show; I wanted her to know we weren't done yet. I wanted her to know that her attitude hurt, and to see her wrongs, I reasoned with myself. That thought made me feel like I was doing the right thing.
She tossed her head slightly and her black hair swept away from her eyes. "Who says I left?" She didn't have any enthusiasm whatsoever with that statement.
I was about to answer, but then she took me by surprise by crouching next to me. She looked at Drew from head to toe. All the while, her expression changed from nonchalant to almost…what was that…concern?
She stood up in one quick motion, glancing away at the distance. Her eyes looked as though they were black. "That answers it then," she said, not directing the statement to me, but rather to herself.
"Where you going?" I asked, thinking she was gonna leave again and not even bat an eyelash in distress of anyone else.
"I have business." She turned to the sky and threw a Pokeball, a Swellow appearing. I was waiting for Cerise to give a command, but all she was nod to the bird Pokemon, which immediately gave a fierce cry and flew off.
"What are you doing?" I asked, curiosity getting the best of me.
"I said I have business," she said through gritted teeth. She didn't even glance my way, just kept her eyes on the sky.
Her stubbornness made the question slip from my lips. "What's your problem anyway?!" I kinda regretted snapping as I did.
She instantly spun around and glared at me. "My problem?! You shouldn't be asking what MY problem is!" she snapped furiously.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" I questioned, trying to keep my temper down but failing horribly. "Because you're just so perfect yourself!" In a few seconds, I was on my feet.
"Hey, you're no angel! Though you act like you think so! 'Oh the world is just so perfect and I make friends with everybody!'" Her hands were balled into fists, as were mine.
That one hurt but I couldn't stop yelling. "Well, you're just so selfish! You don't care about anyone or anything but yourself! Just to get ahead, you let everyone who is counting on you down! All's fair in love and war, but for you, there's no such thing as love, is there?! No one loves you, because you don't love anybody! Nothing matters to you, does it?!"
Much to my surprise, Cerise stopped. She shook her head, her eye color seeming almost a grey now. "No…you don't know what I've been through…what has all happened…you'll never understand…" Her voice was the quietest I've ever heard it, almost like, she was depressed. I couldn't believe it. Cerise…depressed?
I held out my hand. "Hey, I'm sorry," I said, trying to take back everything I said, even though I kind of didn't want to. There was a voice inside me that wanted to keep yelling, keep kicking when she was down.
Cerise turned. "No, May, you'll never understand. Not now. Never." She backed off from me. "You have it too good…"
*Cerise's POV*
I shook my head and stepped away from May. I didn't want her near me. To hear what I was hiding all this time. No I couldn't tell her; it was weakness. Friends showed weakness…
"What are you saying?" May asked, her voice soft. I hated that; she was trying to be nice. Couldn't she go back to yelling like before? Even though yelling hurt, kindness hurt even more.
"No, I can't tell you…"As I took another step back, May took one towards me. 'No,' I thought, 'Back off. Just leave me alone. I don't want you here.'
"Please tell me, Cerise," she pleaded.
I turned my head away in rejection of her pleads. Something yelled out to me to tell her, that maybe she'll understand, but I blocked out that voice. I had enough of listening to it. It kept me alone for too long, there was no way I was gonna listen to it.
"No, I won't—I can't…no." I kept fighting with myself. This time the voice was getting louder, ringing and ringing. It wouldn't go away. "It causes so much—too much. I just can't…"
"You can tell me, Cerise." May was drawing closer, trying to make closure with the tension between us. I stepped back, keeping my eyes to the ground.
"Go away," I growled. My eyes laid upon Drew, still unconscious. What could have done that damage? I answered my own question uncontrollably, 'Nothing that'll stand in my way. It'll pay for what it did…' I had no idea why that was my answer. I never sought revenge for anyone else. Ever. What was this about?
"No, not until you tell me what's wrong." Much to my surprise, May had an innocent smile on her face. It burned like fire.
"Then I'll leave." I turned away and began to walk away from May.
She then stepped forward and did what she never should have done: She put her hand on my shoulder. No one ever touches me…
Chapter 3 *Drew's POV*
I awoke to see May and Cerise talking. Immediately, I had my suspicions; Cerise didn't like May at all, anyone could tell that.
I sat up, my head throbbing. But that wasn't of my concern; May had caught my attention. She put her hand on Cerise's shoulder, and I immediately knew that was the wrong thing for her to do.
Cerise spun around and without laying a hand on her, flung May to the pavement. By Cerise's expression, I knew something was up. It was almost like her anger sent May to the ground. Even though I knew that wasn't really possible.
"Hey, what was that for?!" May snapped, sitting up.
Cerise said nothing for a few moments. "…Don't touch me…" she threatened. "Or that'll happen again."
May stood up. "Just tell me. No harm can come from it, can there?" She smiled, keeping her eyes on Cerise.
Cerise stood there, her eyes in a straight stare. "……" She looked as though she was about to say something, then decided against it. Then we locked eyes, but then she looked away.
She then turned away and said to May, "I wouldn't be so sure…Just look alive, alright?" She walked away, a Swellow then swooping down beside her.
May seemed confused on what Cerise had said. "Look alive…?" She spun around and finally noticed me sitting there. "Drew! Are you okay?"
I turned away, keeping up my ignorant style. "You notice now?"
May flushed. "Well…uh…did you see all that?" she questioned, probably hoping I didn't see her in one of her dull moments.
I stood up and slid my hand into my pocket. "Depends what you call 'all'." I stared past her, in the direction Cerise had gone. I didn't exactly feel like locking eyes at that moment. That would always jinx it, and May would say something stupid. Not saying she wouldn't say something unintelligent anyway.
"Oh, so, uh…" May trailed off, not knowing how much I really saw. Her expression said she wanted to change the subject. "Do you know what the deal is with Cerise?"
This caught my attention. Last time I checked, her and Cerise were enemies. Or at least that's what Cerise thought. "No, but what she did—when you touched her, it was like her anger sent you to the ground, not physical force. I didn't even see her push you back."
"That's what I was thinking about, too." May looked off into the distance. She put her hand to the back of her neck. She then held out her hand, her fingers covered with blood. "What kind of anger does that?"
*Cerise's POV*
I was now in a run, angry with myself. I had done what I vowed to never do; I showed off my power. My anger.
"Swellow, where is he?" I questioned, turning to my bird Pokemon. "…We need to find him…"
Swellow jutted sharply to the right and I swerved to follow. Nothing was going to stop me from revenge. Nothing. Anger was one thing, this was war. And in war, all is fair; in war, there were no rules. And I was intending to go all out.
What was this? This was no longer for Delcatty, as much I cared about her. No, there was a hidden feeling I couldn't place. A feeling I've never had before…
Swellow landed at my feet. "Swellow swe," it chirped worriedly. I decided to return it to its Pokeball. It wasn't one of my attacker Pokemon, mainly a scout.
"Okay…" I felt mumbling would help me soothe my anger. I knew I could use it to my advantage though.
The city was all around me, but before me, was a stadium. A Contest stadium.
But it was trashed, a giant hole blown through the wall. The bustling commotion was gone. Long gone. In fact, it was completely deserted, not a soul around any part of the city. I knew they all fled to safety.
I was all alone, how I had wanted it to be. How I knew it would be. May not here, begging. Pleading to help. I could admit I was helping, but not because of her. Not because of the captured Pokemon. My own reasons.
I stepped forward without a word into the stadium. But thoughts flooded my head and I couldn't keep them all straight. Why was I doing this? What would I gain from this? What was happening to me?
I walked to the stage itself, where all the Pokemon were captured in some sort of force field of darkness. All the Pokemon were crying out, as if trying to keeping something from getting near them mentally.
"Who dares near?!" a voice yelled. It echoed all around the Contest stadium, so I couldn't tell where it was coming from. But I could feel the presence of a human.
"I have a score to settle!" I yelled back, anger rising just from hearing that voice. That voice, I knew by the voice. That was the person I had to get revenge on. Revenge. That sounded perfect to me at that moment.
"No one battles me and lives to tell," the voice growled. It sounded like it was right behind me, so I spun around. No one.
Suddenly, a hand clamped over my mouth from behind. I struggled to get free without avail. But instead it seemed like it was getting harder and harder to breath. In. Out. In…
Anger swelled from within and then it took control. I let it release and whoever had their hand over my mouth flew back. When I turned, it wasn't a person. It was a Deoxys. A black one. But right then, its hands had turned back into its original tentacle form.
"Back off…" I growled. It felt right that I'd finish everything off here and now. No holding back. I had to give it my all. Revenge never holds back and neither shall I.
"Such anger, this should be good."
A hand was put on my shoulder. I was now momentarily wiped from that last blast, so I just merely looked back. This time it was a human. I recognized his looks from somewhere, but couldn't place him. Probably some idiotic TV program. An infomercial most likely.
I kinda just stood there, not saying a word. Where had I seen him? I decided not to care, he looked like an idiot. I opened my mouth and closed it again. 'Well, at least I know I have nothing to say…'
"What is your problem?"
There it was again. I didn't take it last time, so I knew I had to fight for my own honor again. It just felt right.
"What do you mean problem? You have a problem to have hair like THAT!" I started yelling at myself again. I should have thought of something better. I knew I could have. It was just an awkward moment, that's all. Because if he was "evil", wouldn't he do the evil laugh and then trip on his cape?
To my own surprise, I was actually chuckling. I never laughed. Ever. Not since everyone found out about my "problem". I guessed things were actually turning a little more normal. But why? Everything started changing ever since…him.
"Actually, I was told this hair style was 'in' right now." How the heck did we get onto the subject of hair…? Oh yeah…
"By who, a bush?" That, I knew, wasn't my style, but I decided to go with it, since it more or less just fell out of my mouth.
For a moment, he didn't say a thing. The obvious answer was no, but I wanted to hear his response. If he even gave one. He'd be an idiot to try to counteract that one, it was too off topic. Off topic, that wasn't like me.
"So exactly who are you?" I asked, the curiosity finally eating at me enough to ask. I wanted to know just who he was and where I saw him.
He stepped back rather quietly. "My name…" He spun around and tripped on his cape. There it was. Okay, now I knew he was evil. "…is Bance!" He had a very awkward glint in his eye like I should be swooning over him.
I stared at him. "I honestly do not care anymore," I said flatly. "I have no idea who you are and I don't think I should figure it out…"
"Bance, my name is Bance!"
I continued to stare. "I'm leaving…"
"IT'S BANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I stopped short. Bance…Bance…huh, don't recall. Oh well… He made me completely forget my original intention of coming here.
"The twin brother of Lance!!!"
I widened my eyes in instant realization. 'That's the idiot I saw on TV. Imagine. Him having a brother; that makes me sick.'
"And keeping with family rep, I challenge you to a battle!!!"
'This guy needs meds,' I thought. "Fine, if you're even worth my time…" I was about to add more, but decided against. I didn't exactly play by those rules anymore. Ever since He came…
Chapter 4 *May's POV*
By the way Cerise was acting, a pure hate, I was reluctant to help her. After all, she did refuse to help first. 'She could die for all I care,' I thought, but I knew that wasn't true. I just couldn't hold anything against anyone that had so many problems.
I stopped myself of the thought. Problems. She was angered whenever I said she had problems. There had to be something more behind that than just being offended. She actually went through with dealing physical pain.
"So where exactly is this person?" I asked, looking up from the ground to Drew, who was a few feet ahead of me. "And what makes him so…strong?" I didn't want to word it that way, because it might offend Drew, knowing he just got beaten by him, but I couldn't think of any other word to replace it with.
He didn't answer either of my questions, so I gathered he was just gonna wait till we got there; I'd probably know the place anyway.
Then a random thought hit me: when's lunch? Ash always said I liked food, so I guess he was right, for me to be thinking about that now.
Wow, Ash hadn't crossed my mind much since I met Cerise. I was too busy arguing with her to even care. All of the fights me and Ash ever had were usually about what we would have for tonight's dinner.
I sighed loudly, apparently loud enough for Drew to hear.
Because he heard it, he said, "Save some air for everyone else." He didn't even turn my way, but I knew this was normal for him. That was his style, I knew. I didn't DARE mess with HIS style.
"Yeah sure," I said unenthusiastically. I turned my head to look around for anyone wandering the streets, even though I knew there wouldn't be anyone. No one would even dare. Well, they wouldn't if they cared at all about their Pokemon. Or maybe even their own safety.
"You know you don't have to come if you don't wanna. I can handle this myself." There went his ignorance and overconfidence.
I just smirked. "You say that 'cause you care," I said half jokingly, half not.
Drew ignored my comment, even though I was sure he heard me. Well, at least pretty sure. With Drew, one could never be sure of anything.
I was about to do the typical little kid, "Are we there yet?" but didn't when Drew stopped abruptly, and I nearly ran into him. This must be it.
I looked up at a trashed Contest stadium. I was in shock; the only place I really felt at home, where I felt I belonged. It was being used for evil purposes. And I wasn't about to let that go unpaid for.
When I glanced over at Drew, he had the expression on his face that said the same. The stadium meant just as much to him as it did to me. I knew that full well without even seeing his face.
He gave me his ignorant smirk when he noticed me staring at him. "Last chance to back down," he said. "Or can't you stand to see me take the glory without you getting some little bit of it?"
I shook my head and put my gaze back at the stadium. "No, I'm not backing down now. And it's not for the glory—it's for the stadium," I replied, rather proud of my answer.
"Fine, it's your funeral." He started for the stadium.
'My funeral?' I thought, 'Did he actually expect death as a consequence of this or just as a figure of speech?' I shook that thought out of my head. I didn't want to be thinking of death, I hated it. I just needed to look forward to the future, past that threat. 'There wouldn't be anything to worry about, right? I just have to stay calm. I've done a lot of other stupid, life-threatening things. I even almost got eaten by a tree-shaped rock formation, got locked in a capsule in an underwater city, and almost got eaten by a rampaging evil Groudon. How hard could this be?'
I still had a knot in my throat, but I decided to go through with this. 'If Drew's doing it, so will I.' I took the first step and stopped, getting an unusual rush of adrenaline. I hadn't been this pumped since the last Grand Festival. I felt as though I could take on anything and get a good clean victory with ease.
I started again walking toward the Contest stadium. My heart was beating nearly out of my chest, and I knew this would be it. Maybe this would be my last battle. I smiled, knowing that I would fight for all that I cared about: all the coordinators which I had so many rough Contests with, my Pokemon which had stood by my side through thick and thin, and…Drew.
Chapter 5 *Cerise's POV*
"Typhlosion, use Flame Wheel!" I balled my fists and gritted my teeth. I was losing. How could I win against a legendary Pokemon? It was impossible, a lost cause. But yet, why was I still fighting, like there was no way I could lose, like revenge would solve it all? I answered my own question: Because revenge would.
My fire Pokemon became a fireball and charged toward Deoxys, who was presently in Attack Form. But it quickly changed to Defense Form and created a force field around itself, similar to the one holding in all the Pokemon.
Typhlosion hit the force field and flew back. "Typhlosion return!" I held out my fire Pokemon's Pokeball and a red beam sent Typhlosion into it. I held the ball to my chest and squeezed it hard. "Don't worry. You tried your best." The only ones I was ever kind to were my Pokemon, they were all I had.
"Haha, give up yet?"
I turned. "No, I haven't. Remember I have a score to settle." I began to pull out my Umbreon's Pokeball, my last Pokemon. I sighed and threw it, my Eevee evolution appearing in a flash of light. I didn't want to do it, but I knew I had to. I didn't want Umbreon to go through any more, yet I knew I couldn't turn back now.
"Umbre?" Umbreon questioned, turning to me. I took one look at him and where his front left leg should have been. I regretted sending him into battle now.
"You can do it, can't you?" I asked. "I need you to."
"You expect to win with THAT?" Bance's insult set me on edge. No one EVER hurt my Umbreon, emotionally or physically. He went through enough pain already, without someone else interfering.
"Shut up!" I could feel my anger rising, almost to the point I couldn't control it. 'No, I can't lose it now.' "Umbreon, Shadow Ball!"
Umbreon created a dark orb and released it at Deoxys, who just absorbed the attack without taking any damage. It had been so long since Umbreon was in a battle, I couldn't even remember the last time. It was before the fire that took them away from me…
"Hehe, pathetic." He just didn't get it.
I glared at the figure before me with pure hatred. Umbreon didn't deserve anything that he went through. "What do you know?!" I snapped. "You don't know anything that happened to Umbreon! What he sacrificed is something that you could never understand!"
"Cerise!"
I turned and saw May running toward me. I mentally rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to Umbreon. "Shadow Ball again!"
Umbreon sent a dark orb at Deoxys with the same result. Nothing. I knew he was trying his hardest, but it just wasn't enough. It seemed like nothing was enough. "Bree!" Umbreon tried again without avail. "Umb!" And again.
"No, Umbreon, it's no use." I said, my Eevee evolution turning toward me. I gestured to it to come to my side, but I didn't notice that it didn't. I then turned to May. "What are you doing here?" I growled.
"I came…to make sure you were okay," she replied sheepishly. "I couldn't stand to let you get yourself killed."
"Roserade, Magical Leaf!"
I turned and noticed for the first time that Drew was fighting Deoxys with his Roserade. He was urging it on, even though the attacks seemed to be doing nothing. It seemed no matter what we did, we were doomed to failure.
"I don't need you," I growled, not even turning to look at her, rather keeping my eyes on Drew, who was crouching beside his fallen Roserade.
"If you're using a handicapped Umbreon, then I'd say you do! What were you thinking putting it out there in battle?!"
"I need this win!" I was surprised I actually told the truth this time. The victory meant something to me that I wasn't sure of. But I felt I should—I had to—win this no matter what.
"Umbreon!" The cry of my Eevee evolution rang out through the entire stadium. It wasn't of fear or alarm. It was of pain.
I turned to my Umbreon, who was on the ground, a gouge on his chest oozing blood. When I saw that pain he was in, I felt my heart stop and I lost all ability to move. My feet wouldn't let me; I couldn't go tend to his wounds as much as I wanted to.
"…No…" My voice was strained, in a horse whisper. My entire world was crashing down on me.
"Help it!" May was trying to push me toward Umbreon, but I didn't budge. Even if I tried, I couldn't help Umbreon. I wanted to, but I just couldn't.
May tried to put all her weigh into one single push which caused me to fall to my knees. "Don't you care about your Pokemon?!" she questioned. "It could die! Are you really that stubborn to not even help a Pokemon in need?!"
That stung, but I didn't say anything. It was too late to save Umbreon, I knew. I wished I could pay it back for what it did for me, but that seemed impossible. Not now, it was already over.
"Cerise!" May kept shouting at me, that maybe I would just get up and save Umbreon. I wanted to, and I wished May could just see that and realize I couldn't.
"…I-I can't do it…" I rested my forehead on the ground and brought my fist down in a frustrated anger. "…Umbre-Umbreon…"
Umbreon let out a heart-breaking cry, before glowing a blinding light and disappearing. I knew he was dead. Gone.
Tears were pouring down my face and I yelled out in sheer agony. "Umbreon! You didn't deserve it! You didn't deserve me! I'm sorry!"
"Hehe, pathetic wimp."
I stood up, hatred growing toward the figure before me. He didn't know Umbreon's past. How it intertwined with mine so crucially.
"How dare you speak of Umbreon that way!" I shouted, my anger getting the best of me. I ran at him, but Deoxys made a force field. I couldn't stop so I hit it and fell back. I felt darkness in the force field, darkness like I've never had. Like I could never have.
May ran to me. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, grabbing my shoulder to try to help me up.
I still didn't like her touching me. I hit her arm away and said, "I told you I don't need your help."
"Still. No matter what you say, you're my friend, even if I'm not yours. It's okay to be different; different doesn't matter. It's your true intentions."
I was slightly confused that she was say something like that at a time like this. Yet somehow, it vaguely got to me. "Whatever." I stood up and turned to Drew, who surprisingly still had Pokemon able to fight.
He didn't bother turning his head towards me; he just kept focusing on the attacks his Absol was launching. By the expression on his face, I knew he was determined to win; he had a motive that propelled him, as I had. And like me, he would face defeat.
*Drew's POV*
I felt Cerise's stare, a different stare than normal, but I ignored it. The battle was my main concern presently, and it seemed like Deoxys was unbeatable. Nothing anyone threw at it would even slow it down.
"Drew."
"What?" I questioned, keeping my focus on my Absol. When it was knocked out, I returned it to its Pokeball and turned.
"I need a favor." Cerise's voice was somehow different from how it normally was. It was hard, but at the same time, it held a depressing tone. This slightly took me by surprise since it was so unlike her.
"Like what?" I pulled out another Pokeball and was about to throw it. "And what are you planning on doing?" I wasn't going to do anything until I learned of Cerise's plan for the risk it might end badly for someone, namely me.
"You have to distract Deoxys for me."
I decided not to even ask why for the reason that she probably wouldn't even say. Sure it was most likely something personal, but I didn't care as long as she was out of my hair. I didn't want anymore distractions.
"Whatever, just don't get me killed." I threw my final Pokeball and my Flygon appeared in a bright flash of crimson light.
There was a slight pause as I awaited Cerise's response. "…Uh…thanks." By the way she said it, I could tell that she didn't thank people that often. And that she actually meant it.
*May's POV*
I saw Cerise talking to Drew, but I stayed put. There was something different about how she talked to him than she did to me. Her grey eyes looked midnight when he replied to her.
But then I saw Cerise run off, as if she was fleeing. 'After all of this, she would run away?' I wondered. Then I said aloud, "I'll find out myself," and ran after her, past the battle that was about to begin between Deoxys and Flygon.
Drew turned as I ran past. "May, what are you doing?!" he questioned.
I replied quickly, "I gotta make sure Cerise doesn't die!" A cloud of dust arose from Flygon's Hyper Beam and I lost sight of Drew, but I kept running. I ran for Cerise's life.
Chapter 6 *Cerise's POV*
I felt a determination that I never had before. I had to make sure Umbreon's sacrifice wasn't for nothing. That I didn't regret remembering him save me those years ago. The scenes of the fire played in my mind over and over, and over and over I tried to make them stop.
I reached the far wall of the Contest stadium, out of Bance's sight, yet still in the building. It was all going according to my very rash and poorly thought of plan, but I was already doing it. And I was already planning on dying, so I decided to compromise.
"Cerise, what are you doing?!"
I turned slightly, hearing the all much too familiar voice of May. From chasing after me, she looked worn out, even though it wasn't that far. Yet small droplets of sweat covered her face.
"What?" My voice had lost all enthusiasm, so it sounded more like a statement. "Why did you follow me?"
"I don't want you to be killed." May paused, choosing her words carefully. "I know you have…abilities. But you should use them without anger…" She was watching my expression, to see if it changed while she spoke. "Nothing beats the power of friendship, not even the greatest hate."
I felt like gagging then and there, but something in that statement that I mentally held on to, though I didn't do it purposely. It just got stuck in my mind, and I knew I probably wouldn't forget it.
I turned away and looked around to see if anyone was watching. "Leave if you don't want to die," I mumbled, though the seriousness shown through. I couldn't have cared less what May did, as long as she stayed out of my way.
"Then why are you doing this?!" She was being way too loud.
"Shut up!" I spun around and threw my hand over her mouth, that maybe Bance or the Deoxys didn't hear her. But saying something and it happening is what the primitive people call 'jinxing it'.
"What do you think you're doing?" The voice didn't come as much of a question, more of a statement that sounded like he was saying, 'You're going to regret trying to pull something.'
I jumped slightly, the sudden voice taking me by surprise. I knew my plan was completely demolished. Because the point of a sneak attack was to be sneaky, something that wasn't exactly May's strong suit. Her strong suit was more in the category of stupid.
"Crap. Good job, May," I mumbled, her name feeling weird in my mouth. I stepped forward, ignoring whatever May was saying at the moment. I heard her voice, but not the words that were coming from it. That was mainly for the reason that I didn't care.
I shouted out at the figure before me, "I'm going to make you regret what you did to Umbreon! He saved my life, and now I'm returning the favor! He may not be here now…" I turned away and cringed at the thought before continuing, "…but the least I can do is repay him!"
He laughed at the vows I was making. "You should have died those years ago."
My eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "How do you know that?" My voice didn't hold the anger it held before. I took a deep, strained breath. "Y-you…" I let all my hatred come. "…you killed my parents!"
He laughed once more, a laugh that didn't even seem human. "And you're next."
I gritted my teeth, striving to hold back my tears. My fists were balled and at my sides as all of those memories flashed back uncontrollably. The fire blazed more than it had in reality as I stood there, unable to do anything. As I watched my parents die.