All right, here's the ContestShipping fic I promised! Although it doesn't really fall into the 'philosophical' or 'parody' categories, and I don't know if it's going to be short or long (though I would suspect the latter if I were you), I promise that it will be interesting!

Thanks everyone for reading, and let me know if you like it, hate it, or whatever!

~PikaForce

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It was raining outside.

The emerald-haired man stretched in bed, his eyes wide as he took in the sparkling droplets by the window. The outside house lights were on, illuminating each and every raindrop, and he admired the beauty in each miniature diamond clinging to his window. He figured that being a Pokemon Coordinator had given him a sense of beauty, of style. Many years ago, he had once told his future wife that she had no style…he winced. Bad mistake.

A low rumble of thunder rippled through the countryside, reaching the man's ears. He gave his wife a sidewise glance. She was sleeping peacefully, her eyelids closed smoothly over her pale features. He raised a finger and touched the tip of her nose, and he could've sworn that the shadow of a smile crossed May's face. He grinned sleepily.

He had lain awake for several minutes when he decided that he would get up and drink something hot. He knew very well that he would not be able to fall asleep again after waking up and wasn't about to fight it. He slid off the bed, running a hand through his hair, and rubbing his green eyes. A pair of black slippers ("manly slippers" according to his beloved) awaited his cold toes, and he readily slipped his feet into them.

He was fully ready to get downstairs and drink his hot…tea, he decided. Chamomile. Or did he want peppermint? He shrugged off the thought.

But first, he reminded himself, he wanted to check on the baby.

She was sleeping, the glow from the lights outside shining on her perfect, round face. He smiled gently, brushing a strand of her tufted emerald hair away from her tiny forehead. She looked very much like her father.

"-And that's a good thing," May had told him firmly when he had objected to such stipulation. "I married the most handsome man in Hoenn."

"Only in Hoenn?"

"Don't push it," she'd said, shoving him playfully. "You're never going to change, are you, Drew?"

"We've only been married five years," he objected in a mock-whiny voice. "I've got time. I'm twenty-six, for goodnesss sake!"

The glare she'd given him was all he'd needed to give a prompt response. "As long as you don't want me to," he'd said, taking her arm like a gentleman.

May had rolled her deep blue eyes. "Of course I don't." Her lips were pressed together in a thin line, but that hadn't stopped them from softening when he'd kissed her.

"As long as you don't want me to change," Drew muttered, pulling back into the present. He kissed his little girl on the forehead and turned to take the stairs.

Halfway down the two flights, the power went out. He refrained from banging his fist on the stair rail in frustration. Living out in the country had been May's idea. Still, if she didn't want the superior technology and amenities that LaRousse City offered, that was just fine with him…she could deal with the power outages. Frowning, he grabbed a flashlight from the landing and went to light some candles.

Luckily, there was enough hot water left in the sink for him to pour a cup of tea. He grabbed a packet of whatever and stuffed it into the mug, drinking deeply. Whatever it was, it tasted warm and spicy and very good.

Now, what to do? No TV…no instant messaging with the Ketchums at three in the morning…he had to grin at that notion. Ash wouldn't be asleep either; he hated thunderstorms. Pikachu would revel in them. So…what's a guy to do at this time of night with no power?

Scrapbook? Why that thought popped into his head was a mystery to him. Ah, yes…May's been bugging me to look through them and see what I thought. He shrugged noncommittally. I'm sure they're fine. But while I've got nothing better to do –

Lighting a fresh candle, the green-haired man swiped a scrapbook bound in sky-blue linen from the bookshelf. This one looks older. He flipped to the first page, expecting pictures from maybe a couple of years ago, on vacation with the Ketchums. Something recent.

Therefore, what he got was a bit of a shock.

Drew put a hand to his forehead, eyes wide, as he scanned the photographs. These brought back memories in tidal waves…no, he amended, in tsunamis. He was fourteen in these photographs; so was May. Not that they were together in many pictures on this page…he sighed. Memories indeed.

He was tempted to go on to the next page, but there were so many good moments just on this single piece of paper…and there would be plenty of time for the others later…there was the time when he'd nearly confessed to May how he felt about her…and the time when she'd taken a dare and stolen his newest gadget – Drew shook his head in amusement, unable to finish the thought, along with the long string of thoughts that came pouring after it. How had all of that happened in one year?

And why am I suddenly so…sleepy? Drew flicked his hair impatiently away from his face in a lifelong gesture, determined to stay awake to see more photos…but the tea (or whatever it was) was warm…and the candlelight was very soothing…Drew's grassy head finally rested on a picture of himself and May at the Hoenn Premier, an exclusive Pokemon Contest that he'd been eligible to enter after winning his first Grand Festival at age 13…

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Drew shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked the length of the marble counter at the front desk. The receptionist was extraordinarily busy at the moment, so he decided to do something that he'd been thinking about doing for a long time.

There was a large mahogany table gleaming in the corner of the spacious entryway. The young Coordinator sat down and took out a sheet of paper from his pack, along with a jet-black ink pen. He stuck the tip of the pen in his mouth for a moment as he thought. Then he began to write.

Dear May,

I'm at the Hoenn Premier. You know, that Pokemon Contest I was telling you about the other day? Did you qualify to compete?

Wait. That sounded…presumptuous. Besides, if she had made it, she would be here, right? He sighed and crossed it out, debating on whether or not to just throw the letter away and try again…

"Hey! It's Drew!"

Drew's head whipped around, his hand automatically covering the letter-in-progress. "Ash?"

The dark-haired Trainer walked over casually and leaned against one of the many marble columns that adorned the floor and ceiling. "Hey, Drew! Long time, no see, huh?"

Drew flicked his hair. "Yeah, I guess. Say…what are you doing here, anyway?"

"May's here, competing." Ash shrugged, as if the answer was obvious. And in a way, it was…just not expected.

Drew smoothly shuffled the partially-finished letter into his pack without a second glance, trying not to let Ash know how much he had been hoping that May would make it. Allowing himself little emotion, he eyed Ash speculatively. "Well…where is she?"

Ash jerked his thumb back to the receptionist's desk, still swarming with Coordinators. "Back there. I told her it would be better to wait until the line – or I guess, the mob – had cleared out a bit, but…you know May. As usual, she wouldn't listen." He chuckled. "She's been so eager to get here, and so eager to see -"

Me? Drew finished mentally. He leaned forward slightly in his chair, then caught himself. Tch. Why do I care?

All of a sudden a redheaded young woman came tearing out of the crowd of Coordinators, smiling brightly as she waved to them across the room. "It's May!" she called to Ash. "She's signed in!" When she caught sight of Drew, her eyes widened in surprise, but she smiled. Was that a devilish glint in her bright blue eyes? Drew wondered. He shrugged off the notion.

Upon hearing the news, Ash pumped a fist, yelling, "Yes! Thanks, Misty!" When Drew looked askance at him, the Trainer smiled sheepishly and said, "We've been waiting here for over two hours."

Drew smirked. He would have waited for the line to clear; in fact, he was doing it now. Knowing May, however, it was obvious that she'd wait in any line if she could be one of the first Coordinators to get in.

"I'm in! I made it!" The girl being speculated upon raced forward across the plush carpet towards Ash and his redheaded companion. May flung her arms around the girl, saying, "I can't believe I finally made it in, Misty! That line -"

"Or that mob," smirked Drew, waiting for her to notice him.

"- Or that mob," May amended, "was just killer – wait," she said, her blue eyes widening as she spun around, "Drew!?"

The emerald-headed young man smiled smugly, thoroughly enjoying himself. "None other."

"Oh, Drew!" she cried, running towards him, on the brink of a hug. "Are you entering, too?"

"Yeah," he said, drawing out the word, as well as a rose from his shirt pocket. "However, unlike you, I have the gift of patience, and furthermore -"

May squished him in a quick embrace, and if Drew hadn't turned to look at her in mild alarm he would have noticed that Misty wore a triumphant smirk.

"Hello to you too," he said warily. This wasn't what normally happened between them: No insults (at least not many, for Drew had only had so much time), no angry, screaming May, no subtle flirting on Drew's part (or May's, for that matter)… And Drew was a man of habit. He handed her the rose, hoping that it would magically change her back to normal.

May laughed, taking the crimson flower and stroking a petal absentmindedly, as if trying to remember something. Then, to both boys' surprise, she stuck out her free hand to Misty. "Oh, yeah! Can't believe I forgot! Ten bucks, puh-leeze."

Misty laughed, unwrinkled a faded bill from her bag, and struck it into the other girl's palm. "It was totally worth it," she said teasingly, wriggling her eyebrows.

Drew shared a look with Ash. It said, Oh, boy, what're they up to this time?

May laughed again at the looks on their faces. "Nothing to worry about, guys," she assured. "Just a bet."

Drew flicked his hair from his bright green eyes with two fingers. When it came to May, he didn't miss a thing anymore. "What bet?"

Misty stepped in as May opened her mouth nervously. "Just a stupid dare. Hey, Drew, the line's pretty much gone! Looks like May was one of the last people to register," she added, wiggling her eyebrows. "You'd better hurry up, Coordinator Extraordinaire."

Rolling his eyes and with the ever-present smirk playing on his lips, the Pokemon Coordinator shoved his hands in his pockets and walked slowly to the registration desk.

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So…you like it? Love it? Hate it? Then REVIEW! This was pretty darn fun to write, and I plan to add more humor in the near future, so stay tuned for more flashbacks/silliness!

Force be with you,

Pika